Chapter 22

Third Person POV

Atop a mountain overlooking Magnolia...

Itachi sat on a boulder, staring off into the distant ocean.

He felt a small presence appear from the bushes behind him.

Turning his head, he glanced back, unsurprised to see the Guild Master of Fairy Tail emerge from the shadows before turning his gaze back to the ocean.

Makarov stood a few feet away from where Itachi sat, staring at his lonesome back.

"My boy, you've been here for a few days since your return from another job. What is it that you're thinking about?"

'How to earn more badass points,' is what he wanted to say but he told Makarov,

"I was just thinking about my past."

Makarov opened his eyes in realization.

'That's right! Itachi had never told me of his origins.'

"Itachi. Is it alright for you to tell me? Maybe I can offer an old man's wisdom."

Itachi didn't answer for a few minutes. Makarov stood, waiting patiently.

'What could he be thinking of?' wondered Makarov.

However, what Itachi asked next left Makarov confused, shocked, and hurt.

"Master. If all of Fairy Tail was to die, no matter what. How would you feel?"

Makarov stared at Itachi's back, knowing that he must have had a severe loss.

'So it was family...' thought Makarov, gaining new insight on Itachi's situation.

"I would feel devastated. Fairy Tail is my family and all the members are my children. I could not go on should they pass."

Itachi nodded, expecting his answer.

"So then... if you could save half of the members... you would, wouldn't you?"

Makarov nodded without hesitation.

"Of course."

Itachi stopped talking and Makarov looked on wistfully.

"Then... half of them survive, and half of them perish. Right?"

"Right."

"Now, what if the half that passes are to die by your hands. Would you do it? Would you kill one half to save the other? If nothing is to be done, then both sides will be destroyed."

Makarov remained silent for a few moments as he began to slowly see through Itachi's situation.

'Itachi... just what horrible trauma have you gone through...?'

He sighed, telling the S-Class Mage,

"I could not live with such a sin of killing the family members I love, but I also could not go on, knowing that I could have saved half of them but chose not to."

Makarov then sighed as he looked at the lone man.

"Itachi. I understand what you are trying to tell me. You face such a situation, where neither options are correct nor false."

Itachi let the silence linger for a moment before turning around, his scarlet red eyes now in a curved spiral.

"I will not tell you. I will show you."

"Tsukuyomi."

Makarov's vision suddenly blurred as he heard Itachi's voice.

He eventually regained focus to see a courtyard entrance where a younger version of Itachi walked up.

And sitting on his shoulders was someone similar in appearance to Itachi.

'This is... his past...?'

---

Makarov's eyes readjusted as he once again saw Itachi's lonely back.

The sun had begun to set.

He blinked, feeling something wet slide down his face.

He felt like he had been watching for months, completely immersed in Itachi's story.

Makarov felt anger, sadness, joy, and despair as he witnessed Itachi's life and predicaments before coming to Fairy Tail.

Itachi turned to look at Makarov, smiling wistfully.

"So tell me, where should I go? To the left where nothing is right, or to the right where nothing is left...?"

Makarov felt his heart shake as he heard that question from Itachi.

'He has been through, so, so much.'

"Itachi..." he began.

"Your life, it has far tougher than any I've seen. Old as I am, even I cannot offer you advice. But I will say this."

"No matter what you do, or where you go, you will always be apart of our family at Fairy Tail. We will be sad and devastated to see you go. You have a home here and it will always welcome you."

Itachi stood up, and looked at Makarov with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear that."

---

As Itachi and Makarov were walking back to Magnolia, Itachi said,

"I did not leave immediately on another mission as I'd like to attend the Annual Guild Masters meeting with you today."

Makarov looked at him in surprise and immediately agreed.

"Of course, that'd be great."

Then he asked,

"But why so suddenly my boy?"

Itachi looked forward and said mysteriously,

"I have a feeling that the newly formed Team Natsu will be present."

Makarov then looked up at him in terror,

"Wait, why? What do you mean? Will I have to write more of those dreadful papers cause of those brats?!"

Itachi smiled at him and reassuringly.

"That's why I'm coming along."

Makarov sighed in relief, thankful for having such a reliable mage in his guild.

(AN: Another thanks to Kul for the awesome salutations!)