Forbidden: Love of Brothers

WARNING: Some...artistic liberties taken...Sasuke is 19, Itachi 24 going on 25.
I needed some sort of age progression to explain Sasuke's current relationship
with Naruto and his enlistment with ANBU. I'm taking some liberties regarding why
Itachi did what he did also, hopefully no one will flame me for that. This way just
works better with our story.

AN: Much love to you katieneko923, whoever reads this owes her, this story is based on our rp.
Without her well...I suppose I'd only have half a story to post. Honestly I don't think it would
be half as good without her input.

~:~:~:~:+:~:~:~:~

Sasuke’s eyes fluttered open to the movements of Itachi's chest, his breath slow and even, the warmth pleasant and calming to the younger Uchiha. Sasuke smiled snuggling closer and whispered “You didn't leave after all.”


Itachi whispered back, “I told you I wouldn't.” He opened his eyes slowly waiting for the blur and haze he was becoming accustomed to waking with fade.


Sasuke closed his eyes brushing his hand lightly across Itachi’s chest. “Yeah...you did...Itachi,” Sasuke’s eyes opened catching a glow on the horizon. The sun was slowly rising in the distance. “Shouldn’t we go soon?”


“If we do not wish to be caught...we'll have to leave very soon.”


Sasuke closed his eyes and turned his face against his brother’s chest for a moment before rising, finding his pants, and pulling them back on. He began then, to search for his shirt.


Itachi sat up and grabbed his clothes, which managed to, somehow, remain very close together. He lifted a hand slowly and pointed to some of the taller grass. “Over there…”


Sasuke looked toward the tall grass. Sure enough he could see his shirt through a few of the shorter blades of grass. Itachi’s eyesight obviously wasn’t deteriorating as much as everyone believed.
“Oh…” Sasuke blushed slightly and ran over to get it, quickly pulling it on. “Thanks”


If one had not been aware of a time in which the brothers behaved this way with each other, one might have thought Sasuke was losing his mind or perhaps that they were trapped in a very odd genjutsu.
Even Itachi noted that to an outsider, seeing Sasuke act this way with him, with no attempts whatsoever to take his life, was a bit odd. It almost made him smirk. No one else knew about the true nature of his relationship
with his brother. Itachi dressed quickly. “You're certain that you wish to come with me?”


Sasuke walked over to Itachi and looked up at him, smiling like he did long ago, in their youth. “Positive.”


“Very well.” Itachi answered pulling on the cloud covered cloak. He brushed it free of the slightest amount of dirt and silently pondered his brother’s smile. How long had it been since Sasuke last smiled that way? “Come then.”
Itachi said turning and heading for the forest that lay beyond the open field. “We should get as far from here as possible before the sun rises completely.”


Sasuke followed silently, watching his brother’s back. “Nii san...” Sasuke’s eyes focused on the red clouds that adorned the cloak his brother wore, and his eyes caught a glimpse of the metal of the ring on his hand.


Itachi glanced over his shoulder. “Hm?”


“How long...have you been with them...that organization?”


Itachi thought for a moment. He had joined when he was about fifteen… “About nine years now…”


“So when you...” Sasuke thought back to the night he had arrived home, finding the clan dead in the streets, dead in their homes, dead everywhere…and his parents, dead on the floor. “That night....you weren't with them at the time?”


“No...I wasn't.”


“Hm...” Sasuke remained silent for a few minutes, his gaze drifting down to his feet.


“It bothers you...”


“Um...no...I was just curious. I thought maybe there was more behind it”


“No...But it does bother you. After all...I told you once everything was an act, tell me Sasuke, what leads you to believe I'm not acting right now?”


Sasuke’s head jerked up, his eyes wide and focused on the cloud in the center of the cloak on his brother’s back. If Itachi had been looking, he’d have seen the sad, pained expression in his brother’s eyes.

“I can't really say, maybe I'm just naive...but...you are showing your weaknesses. And I don't believe you're the type to show to them just anyone...and you...” Sasuke thought for a moment.
“What makes you think I'm not acting? I could very well kill you.”

Itachi stopped. “I can see it in your eyes. You have no intention of killing me.” He turned and looked directly into Sasuke’s eyes. “Even if it were all an act, you would not kill me.
The best way to tell if someone is lying is to look them in the eyes."


Sasuke looked down and to his right at the ground, watching a beetle flutter it’s wings against a blade of grass. of grass “...You were...always like that Itachi, aware of everything...and I didn't know a damn thing.
Especially back then, I thought…I thought you…” He clenched his fist. “I thought you disliked me.”

Itachi watched Sasuke curiously.

Sasuke’s hair fell into his face, covering his eyes and the tear that fell silently to the ground. He hated crying, especially in front of Itachi.
“You never paid attention to me...not until that one night...and I thought after...that that was all you wanted from me. I was willing to do that...I thought if it made you notice me...then...”
Sasuke’s speech broke as another tear slipped free, and then another. He bawled his fist tighter and jerked his head up, turning his angry eyes to Itachi, remnants of the tears staining his cheeks and shimmering lightly on his eyelashes.
“Why'd you leave?! You left me all alone Itachi! I hated living after that...why did you...”


“After what I did,” Itachi interrupted, “...did you really want me there?”

Sasuke’s tears stopped at those words. He was rendered speechless.

“You wanted to kill me then...after all...I was the one who caused all the pain you were feeling.” Itachi stepped closer to his younger brother and gently took his chin in his hand. “I did not wish to leave you, but I had little choice.
My actions forced me to leave Konoha, and you could grow up there, safe and innocent. Look at me Sasuke, and tell me. Am I lying to you?”


Sasuke obeyed his brother and looked into his eyes. There he saw only truth. No deception, no acting, just the truth. He squeezed his eyes shut determined to hold back the few tears still aching to be shed.
He leaned forward violently, pushing his brother back slightly as he buried his face against Itachi's chest.


Itachi wrapped his arm gently around Sasuke while his other hand lightly stroked Sasuke’s hair. As he did so he felt Sasuke’s hand reach up behind him and tightly clutch the back of his cloak.
“I'm pathetic, I never got stronger, and things haven't changed at all.”


Itachi drew Sasuke closer and spoke in a low but firm voice. “You are stronger....and things have changed.” Itachi lowered his head further and whispered softly, “I am proud of you Sasuke.”


Sasuke remained silent...the man he admired most in his youth was proud of him...what could he say to that? He nodded after a moment and quickly wiped his eyes. “Sorry.”


“You need not apologize. “


“Yeah....we should keep going”


Itachi nodded once. “You're certain you're ready to keep going? It's a long way still.”


“I can handle it. I'm not a kid, I told you. You think an ANBU member like myself would be that weak?”

Itachi smirked and continued walking, unable to keep back his comment. “Well just a few seconds ago you were calling yourself pathetic...
glad to see your opinion of yourself has improved...”


“Tch...shut up and keep walking.”


Itachi picked up his pace a bit chuckling quietly to himself. Sasuke always walked into comments like that, and it brought back one of the few good memories he had.
Sasuke kept close to Itachi, matching his pace. “Hmph...”


The older man glanced at the younger out of the corner of his eye. He smirked slightly and broke into a swift run,
which in turn, led to Sasuke gritting his teeth in irritation after recovering from his initial surprise, before he too broke into a run.


“JACKASS.” Sasuke growled through clenched teeth.


Itachi held back his slight urge to laugh at his younger brother’s frustration.


Sasuke however took the opening, smirked and in a swift motion, moved in front of his brother and turned to face him, stopping him in his tracks.
He smirked and crossed his arms in a rather triumphant manner.


“So we're to turn the trip into a game?” Sasuke heard Itachi call from behind, further ahead on the path.


Sasuke turned as the clone in front of him vanished in a puff of smoke. He suppressed the urge to twitch. “YOU JERK. How the hell did you…”


“Fastest hands in Konoha..." Itachi answered lifting a hand and turning it over in the faint light that broke through the forest."Don't be angry with yourself
...even with the sharingan you might not have noticed when I did it.”


“...Tch....someone thinks highly of himself.” He transported beside his brother, hoping it was him this time, and put his arms around him. “There.”


“We should keep going...” Itachi said quietly.


“You’re just mad I caught you.” Sasuke muttered.


“Hardly...It's just that it's been a while since we set out...and we've barely covered any real ground.”


Sasuke sighed. “Nii-san you’re no fun…let’s go.” Sasuke said releasing Itachi and continuing on the wooded path.

Itachi tilted his head. “You make it sound like you want to sleep outdoors a few more days.”


“How far do you exactly live?”


“About three days walk from Konoha.”


Sasuke looked back at Itachi; slightly surprised by the distance his brother had covered to see him.
“What...three days...and you came all that way?” Itachi simply nodded in response. “You really do care, huh?”


“Yes I do.”

Sasuke returned his gaze to the path before them. “I must admit though, I can't wait to see your house.”


“It's nothing special, nothing that would draw too much unwanted attention.”


“...but being that you’re my brother and we’ve become so....close. It should be interesting.”


They walked then in silence for a while, Sasuke began to feel awkward with the silence between them.
“...Hey Itachi, do you remember that talk we had...when you said that there weren't any other brothers like us in the world?”


“Yes...I recall that.” Itachi answered quietly, slightly surprised that Sasuke could recall that day so clearly.


“Well, what did you mean by that...really?”


“I meant many things. Tell me, what did you think I meant by it?”


“Well...I didn't really know what you meant...I was only eight. But...if I were to say it now to you,
I suppose it would mean that we are the only brothers that love the way we do.”


“That is one of the many things I meant, easily one of the more important things it meant.”


“...so if you were asked to kill me, would you?”


“If I were asked to kill you? No...I would not.”


“Then what other option would you have? You surely couldn’t just leave.”


“If I ignored a direct order to end your life....I would probably be killed for it.”


“I figured; let's hope that doesn't happen then.”


“Though.....I would make whoever handed down the order suffer first...even if I was killed...”


“Of course.”


“Though, I thought for sure...after going to Orochimaru, you'd be ordered to.”


“Perhaps I was…” Itachi answered softly, his voice silky, and almost mischievous. “...and my orders were simply.....misplaced or forgotten......”


Sasuke smirked slightly. “You sure that’s not just an excuse?”


Itachi however, shrugged with feigned innocence. “Well I certainly have no recollection of any such orders.” He said softly.
“...and no one else in Akatsuki seems to recall them either...” he added with only the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.


“…That's evil.”


Itachi sighed softly, the faintest traces of disappointment marred his calm and steady voice. “And I'll never get the credit I'm due for it...”


“...probably not”


“Oh well...the less they know the better.”


“Right...so whoever made that order anyway?”


“Our leader.”


“I see...well, it's no like I follow Orochimaru anymore.” Sasuke threw in his inner thoughts under his breath. “The guy was a total pedophile.”


The comment made Itachi’s eyes narrow darkly. “I'm very much aware...”


“And how would you know that?” Sasuke asked avoiding looking at his brothers eyes, the look was almost murderous.


“He was a member of Akatsuki when I joined at fifteen...he had an unhealthy interest in me and my sharingan.”


“...that’s...disturbing.”


Itachi listened agreeing silently with his brother, but continued his story. “Much to my intense displeasure...I believe he learned of your existence through me.”


“Hm...It’s ok...It was a mistake on my part to go with him.”


“It was still my fault he learned of you to begin with...” Itachi forced his focus onto the barely visible and overgrown path ahead of them. “Apparently I talked in my sleep occasionally.”


“...you talk in your sleep...really?” Sasuke looked at Itachi curiously. “I really wouldn’t have expected that.”


“I didn't expect it either...but I had not mentioned you out loud, and he once asked me who "Sasuke" was.....then he told me I was talking in my sleep. It wouldn't surprise me. I had nightmares and dreams often.”


“So…you moaned my name?”


Itachi couldn’t help but smirk and twist his brother’s words. “Now who thinks highly of himself? I woke up in a cold sweat, shaking, unable to breathe, someone said I looked terrified...
I had a nightmare that I did not let you go...that I had killed you. As I said, I woke up terrified.”


“Oh...” Sasuke found himself unsure of what to say. Itachi and terrified only belonged in the same sentence in his youth, when he had been terrified of the man his aniki was becoming. “It's hard to imagine you terrified.”


"Is it really?"


"Well, yeah. You always seemed so calm, fearless even."


“You’re a member of ANBU now, surely you understand why I had to seem that way.”


“Hm, well if you say it that way...I have had a few call me cold and heartless.”


"Many have said the same of me." Itachi replied leading them further off the main paths to the usual villages, deeper into the wilderness.


“Hm...That makes me wonder” Sasuke said smirking slightly. “Did you have...fan girls?”


“You mean the girls that would stalk you everywhere, going on about how you were so perfect and how you would one day be theirs?”


“Yeah those.” Sasuke said, slight irritation in his voice as he recalled the many times Sakura, Ino, and even the entire female portion of his classes would say the same things.


“I've dealt with my fair share of them.”


“They’re annoying huh?”


“Very much so.”


Sasuke noticed a river ahead of them. “Are we...coming to a dead end?”


“We head north after crossing the river.”


“You really do live far off.” He glanced at Itachi out of the corner of his eyes.


“It serves its purpose being so far out of the way of everything.” Itachi answered keeping his gaze focused on the path,looking for the subtle differences that marked the path they would
take after crossing the river.


Sasuke suddenly became very aware of what a loner Itachi was. “Are you sure it's ok I stay with you?” Itachi merely nodded in response.


“Ok then.” He watched his brother a little longer before Itachi glanced at him, and he looked away concealing a light blush.


Itachi quickly crossed the river hiding a slight smirk in his cloak and listened as Sasuke quickly followed suit.


Sasuke tried to speak, but found no words would come forth. He wanted to speak, wanted to end the intolerable silence that had fallen between them.


He eventually gave in, swallowed his pride, and ran up behind Itachi, grabbing his hand. Itachi glanced down at Sasuke’s hand before looking at his younger brother, who was staring determinedly ahead, a bright blush staining
the pale skin of his face. Itachi looked ahead, and lightly tightened his grip on Sasuke’s hand.


“Nii san…”


“Sasuke?”


“I’m happy...that I'm with you like this now, its sort of...a relief. Like I still have family.”


“You do still have family...and you always will.”


Sasuke nodded and gently squeezed Itachi’s hand. “…Back there, you…you said I’m beautiful. You meant it…”


“Yes, I did mean it.”


“Why? I’m not as innocent as you think.”


“It doesn't make you any less beautiful to me...”


“You’re the only one to ever call me that. I’ve had sexy, handsome, cute even, but never beautiful.”


"Then perhaps...people are not looking as deeply as I've been."


The Uchiha brothers walked along the riverside hand in hand, most of the trip carried in a remarkably comfortable silence until night had slowly fallen upon them. The way before them pitch black,
with only the floating crescent moon lighting the way, every now and then, even it’s light falling behind the clouds.


Sasuke sighed, “If we continue on we’ll lose our way. Should we set up camp?”


Itachi stopped and glanced around. Even he was likely to get lost in the darkness of the forest they had entered just prior to sunset. “Probably.”


“Ok then...” Sasuke kicked aside some weeds and grass and bent down to pick up a few large dry sticks. He found a campground, set the sticks down, and continued searching for more, which were quite difficult to find in the dark.
He propped the wood together, and after a sequence of hand seals, used a fire jutsu to start a small bonfire. He threw in some dry grass to force the wood to burn. “What are you waiting for?” Sasuke said sitting down near a large rock.
He nodded to the ground beside him.


Itachi walked slowly to the fire. It was unusual for it to get so dark; he usually did not have to stop to set up camp. “I usually keep traveling.” He covered his eyes with a hand and lightly rubbed his forehead.


“Hn...you need to relax more.”


Itachi sat slowly looking at the blurry outline of the fire without his sharingan. His sight had grown far worse than he expected. “I suppose. I don't rest often when I travel this far. It tends to be safer to keep moving.”


“Ha...Piss a lot of people off? Must have, to have that many enemies.” He stood and moved beside Itachi before sitting back down gracefully, leaning in against his brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry.
I’ll protect you...even if you are a cold bastard.” He said smirking.


“And what makes you think I need protection?” Itachi asked almost curious as to what his brother’s response would be.


“Possibly not...but even so, I’ll protect you.”


“Do as you please...as long as you don't get yourself killed.”


“Hm? That would upset you? Well the same goes for you.”


Itachi looked at Sasuke before looking back at the fire. “You don't have to worry about me Sasuke.”


“I know, but I do anyway.” Sasuke snuggled a bit closer almost involuntarily.


Itachi placed his arm around Sasuke and gently pulled him a bit closer. “Then I shouldn't tell you anything that would worry you further correct?”


“Hm, you can tell me anything... I’m sure I could handle it.”


Itachi closed his eyes and breathed out slowly. “Without the sharingan I can barely see Sasuke. Depending on how often I use it, I could be completely blind...within the next year.”


“I know."

Itachi tensed slightly. "You do?"


"Kakashi told me...I was furious.”


“Furious?”


“Well, at that time, I didn't think it'd be a fair fight, fighting a blind man.” Sasuke smirked.


“You're too predictable though. I wouldn't need my sight to beat you.....so you were furious because you figured it wouldn't be a fair fight hm?”


Sasuke fought the urge to twitch. His brother was as arrogant as always. “…Bastard...well, I suppose that's part of it. I've always wanted you...to look at me with acceptance...you couldn’t do that without your sight, could you?”


“I suppose not...”


“...you did...last night for the first time since I was nine....why is it that you're so distant from everyone? Are you afraid of being hurt?


“I don't know. It is easier to be alone, I suppose. I've never really belonged anywhere Sasuke. Genius...prodigy...I was always something, and never myself to other people.
I quit trying to be close to people when I realized something would always set me apart. Whether it be my abilities or simply others perceptions of me.”


“Tch...You’re nothing special.” Sasuke said in his typical, cool, arrogant way before his voice softened a bit. “…Just a man, just Itachi.”


“You're the only one who'd say that.”


“Hm...Everyone else is more blind then you.”


“I suppose...it's because I've never viewed you that way, my cool nii-san yes, but never genius or prodigy. I thought if I worked hard enough I could be as good if not better…I’m nothing special so why would you be?”


“Oh but you are something special.” Itachi said softly gazing into the blurry firelight. The warmth of which so reminded him of the younger man at his side.


“Hm? You think so? Why’s that?”


“I would not hesitate to kill anyone else who stood in my way. You however...you could try to kill me in this very moment, and even if I defended myself, I would never kill you. You hold power over me. No one else can say that.”


Sasuke froze for a moment. “You do have a soft spot…that’s kind of…sweet.”


“...Sweet?”


Sasuke nodded. “Mhm...Like, cute. Hn…when did you become cute?’ He asked in a teasing manner, knowing Itachi would rise to the words in an instant.


“Never.”


Sasuke chuckled and leaned his head back against this brother’s shoulder looking up into his eyes. “And a sense of humor too? Has the world ended?”


“I don't know what you are talking about.” Itachi answered glancing at his brother. “Sense of humor...?” He shook his head lightly at the words. “Hmph....you must be delusional.”
He muttered, a slight smile curving his lips for only seconds before fading.


Sasuke pouted slightly. “Well you’re no fun…”


“So you've said many times...”


“Tch...jerk.” Sasuke replied with a slight sigh. “I’m trying to get you to open up, it’ll do you some good.”


“You think so?”


“I do... it helped me a lot. Go on, try it. Tell me something and confession or something, it's embarrassing the first time but you'll open up.”


Itachi tilted his head slightly allowing himself a moment to think before speaking. “When I found out I was going to be a brother...I was happy. I was looking forward to it...
even though I knew I wouldn't be the best brother...”


Sasuke couldn’t keep back a soft chuckle. “That’s adorable.”


“…I think you’re enjoying this too much brother…”


Sasuke smiled. “I won’t lie. I am. Hm, very well, you remember that girl? Aki, I believe she was one of your suitors. Well…I hated her. She was sweet, caring, and gentle, but I hated her.”


Itachi chuckled himself. “I didn't like her much myself. But why did you hate her?”


“Jealous I suppose, I always spied on you two when she came over, and when you told her you weren't interested and she ran off crying…I spent the next couple of minutes smiling, I was so happy.
But when I finally got to my room, I broke down. I felt horrible.”


“Why?”


“Well...For one I was getting enjoyment out of someone's tears, secondly, at that time I thought I could never be like Aki and tell you how I really felt. Not that it mattered, you would have never had me…you were my brother.
That’s what I thought.”


“I see. I was always curious...about what had you upset that day.”


“...I figured you might have noticed, though, it’s still a bit embarrassing.” He brought his hand up to the other side of his brother’s face and gently stroked Itachi’s cheek. “I’m just glad you’re talking to me like this now.”


Itachi lifted his hand and brushed his fingers lightly over the back of Sasuke’s hand. “I know you are.”


The younger Uchiha smiled slightly before sighing, letting his body rest completely against Itachi’s, his hand returning to his lap. “Nii-san…”


Itachi looked at Sasuke for a moment. “Hm?”


“It feels good, huh? Not working all the time.”


“It does...”


“hm...” Sasuke leaned back, closing his eyes, “Is there anything else you want to tell me? Secrets…Dreams?”


Itachi kept his gaze focused on the fire. There was much he could tell his brother, so much, and yet, there had always been a secret he had been aching to tell Sasuke. One that haunted him so greatly…He breathed in slowly and spoke, his voice grew suddenly very cold, bitter, and dark.
“Father was very aware...of what happened between us. I began to hate him about that time...I was punished for it, but I expected such. I did not hate him for that...so much as when he forbade anything more between us.”


Sasuke was frozen, even though he felt suddenly hot. His father had…known? “F-Father he…why didn’t…why didn’t I know this!?”


“I was forbidden to speak of it.”


Sasuke tried to speak, but words wouldn’t form. If their father had known…“a-and...Mother?”


“She did not know. Father did not wish her to know…he was far too ashamed of me to admit what had passed between us to anyone, even her.”


“ Itachi....I....” A silent tear slipped from Sasuke’s eyes, hidden by the darkness, hidden behind raven hair, hidden from the world, hidden from all, except from Itachi. “I-I’m sorry…”


“For what?”


“I didn’t know...”


“I never understood anything....I never understood...You were so distant with me after that. I blamed myself…and I was upset.”


“I'm sure you noticed my missions became quite suddenly more frequent around that time?”


“Yes, but...f-father...he did such an awful thing. I thought…thought you hated me, and when I asked father why, he told me that you were…different.”


“And he probably didn't sound too pleased when he said it...”


Sasuke thought back, at the time… “Mm....no…he didn’t. That changes so much…so many emotions...why didn't father speak to me about it?”


“He favored you always...I was older, he assumed I forced you, and therefore I was at fault and I alone.”


Sasuke turned slightly, breaking the embrace, his dark eyes wide in shock.“He favored me? But I always thought…he could care less about me. He was always calling you the “link” he was always saying, that I might be great like you…you were all he talked about.”


Itachi’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, rather in sadness; there was a look of intense emptiness and even bitterness in his eyes. “All he would ever talk about with me was the clan and my missions. I would hear him at night though...always talking to mother...always about you.
You were his pride and joy...” Itachi stopped and shut his eyes; the bitterness in his heart seemed very well to pour out from his voice. “I was simply a tool to boost the clan's ego.”


“...I was completely clueless...” came the frustrated quiet growl from the younger man. More than anything, Sasuke hated being unaware of what was happening around him. It made him feel powerless, weak, and foolish. “…and I feel horrible, didn't u ever hate me?”


Itachi shook his head. “How could I hate the only one who loved me?”


Sasuke looked at his older brother with sad eyes; he leaned in and lightly pecked his brother’s cheek before looking intently, yet sadly into his elder brother’s eyes, his hand resting on his brother’s cheek where his lips had previously touched. “You’ll never be a tool. Not to me…I love you Itachi.”


Itachi tilted his head lightly against the warmth of Sasuke’s hand. “I know Sasuke.” He whispered, his hand brushing lightly across Sasuke’s cheek and down his neck.


Sasuke smiled, his eyes closed. “You know, I used to be third captain of the ANBU, I’m horrible though. I was too soft, and I could never hide my feelings. I wish I could be like you Itachi. I’ve tried, tried so hard, but I can’t.”


“Why would you wish to be like me?” Itachi shook his head, sounding almost repulsed by the mere thought. “That…is the last thing I would want.”


“I'd be so much stronger...sometimes...I just feel like a failure...the weak link.”


“If you wanted to be like me Sasuke...you would have to part with your humanity to a certain degree. I would never wish you to do that.”


“I've already parted with many things Itachi.” He leaned against the elder man’s shoulders and sighed. “I once gave up my home and fiends for power, I’ve spent almost 4 years regaining the trust I betrayed. Still not everyone sees me as I am…I’m a traitor.”


“And for the most part...because of me.”


“I didn't say that.”


“You didn’t have to, it's simply understood. For the most part...your goal was to defeat me...kill me...even if it meant becoming a traitor. I suppose I pushed you too far.”


“Itachi don’t blame yourself. You weren’t in control of me…I’ve made my own mistakes.”


The brothers talked, until the firelight faded, until Sasuke fell to sleep, and Itachi vigilantly kept up the watch. The resumed the next day, covering a greater distance with less weight on their hearts, they traveled far and rested at sundown.
They resumed their talk of their father, what he knew, what Itachi was punished for, and what Sasuke had been left in the dark regarding…until exhaustion from the day’s travel bore it’s toll on Sasuke, claiming him in sleep.


Itachi gently lifted his brother onto his back, as he had carried the younger man in their youth. He covered almost all the distance to the place he resided when he was not out on a mission when Sasuke stirred slightly.


Upon waking, Sasuke found he was being carried on the back of his elder brother. The feeling was familiar, comforting and so he allowed himself to be carried. His cheek rested lightly against the back of his brother’s shoulder and he whispered, gently against Itachi’s ear, “Aniki?”
Sleep was still apparent in his voice as he continued, “You can put me down…”


“Rest. We'll make better time this way.” Itachi answered quietly.


“You're tired too. I'm sure...I'm....worried, not only are you tired, but I’m more weight on you. Your heart rate has increased a bit.”


“I'm fine...I'm physically stronger than I appear...and I am much stronger than I was when I was thirteen...the added weight isn't that bad...I've had to carry Kisame when he's been severely injured...much to my displeasure...and you are considerably lighter than he is...”


“...well yes...I would imagine I'm more pleasurable to carry than Kisame...least I hope so.”


“Rest assured...much more pleasurable to carry than Kisame...”


Sasuke whispered again in his brother’s ear, “We should be close, right?”


“Yes, you were asleep for quiet a while. We'll be there shortly.”


“Ok...” Sasuke leaned in closer, kissing his brother’s ear lightly.


Itachi glanced over his shoulder slightly. “When we arrive you should sleep for a while...”


“You should too, um…where should I sleep?”


“The bed. Where else?”


“Yours?”


“There's only one bed...I don't exactly have company often.”


“Yeah...sorry...wasn't thinking. Are you gonna sleep too?”


“I don't need as much rest as you do. But I will for a while.”


“I'm not weak Itachi.” Sasuke stated, slight annoyance creeping into his voice.


“I never once said you were.” Itachi countered smoothly.


“I...don't have forever with you. I don't wish to sleep it away, but I will sleep a bit.”


“Very well. Just make sure you get enough rest.”


“I will…” Sasuke said lifting his head just enough to see a small cabin a bit ahead.


“I told you it wasn't much…” Itachi said looking up slightly. “Needless to say...no one bothers me though.”


“I like it, really, it’s peaceful. Uh…so will you put me down now?”


“I'll put you down inside. The more you rest now the less you'll need later.”


Sasuke allowed himself a small smile. “You seem happier Itachi.” He said resting his chin on Itachi’s shoulder. “Your eyes are softer…I suppose that’s it.”


“Being alone hardens one a great deal against all things, even the ones they love...your acceptance of me, despite the past, has helped soften me a great deal. I did believe after all, that you would simply continue to hate me, and eventually kill me.”
He turned his head slightly to look at Sasuke. “Having you with me...perhaps it has made me happier...a bit lighter even.” Itachi entered the cabin and set Sasuke down gently.


Sasuke looked around for a moment. “I already told you…I hate what you did, not you, not my nii-san.”


“It had to be done.”


“Because they would never accept us? I understand that now...” Sasuke’s eyes fell on a faint glimmer of light reflected across the room. He walked over to a small table and picked up a frame with broken glass. “…You…kept this?”
Sasuke found himself looking at an old photograph, of him and Itachi, him as a child, holding on tightly to his elder brother’s arm. Itachi was looking down at him, smiling…smiling one of his very rare, but genuine smiles.


“One of the only things I did keep to remind myself of the past we once shared.” Itachi explained.
Sasuke set it down slowly and looked around the cabin.


“Rest Sasuke...” Itachi commanded gently.


Sasuke entered Itachi’s room. The bed was large, with red and black…were those…satin sheets??? “Well then a small cabin and a bed like this…” He glanced at Itachi. “…Pervert.”


Itachi moved to the doorway. “I got accustomed to comfort that's all...” He glanced at Sasuke. “Never slept on satin sheets I take it?”


“No…usually I sleep on cotton.”


“So did I, and then, I got better accustomed to comfort...satin is softer, gets warmer in the winter, and stays a bit cooler in the summer.”


“Really? Hm…” Sasuke said softly walking to the edge of the bed before pulling his shirt off and tossing it to a corner, removing his pants, and tossing them with it, leaving on only his boxers. He slowly crawled onto the bed.


Itachi removed his cloak and tossed it onto a chair, then his shirt and threw it onto the same chair. He removed his shoes and his pants and folded those neatly, before placing them over the edge of the chair and sitting on the bed.
He looked over his shoulder at Sasuke. “The bed might be a bit softer than you are accustomed to.”


Sasuke groaned softly and snuggled deeper into the pillows. “God...” He smiled peacefully against one of the soft red satin pillow covers. “It’s so...sexy.”


Itachi laid back on the bed and looked at Sasuke through strands of dark hair. “Sexy?” He asked softly, as though the word was almost foreign to him.


Sasuke turned toward his brother. “Well, I feel it anyway.” He said slowly wrapping his arm around his elder brother’s waist. “Is that weird?”


Itachi shook his head slightly and whispered to Sasuke, “Now…try to rest.”


Sasuke, in response, leaned up and kissed his brother lightly before whispering back to him, “…Night.” He slowly laid his cheek against Itachi’s chest, his arm still wrapped around his brother’s waist.


Itachi ran his hand lightly down Sasuke’s back and watched him silently for a few moments before answering, “Good night…Sasuke.” before slipping into the deep sleep that was already claiming Sasuke, who at his words, snuggled deeper into the sheets, and closer to the elder man.


As sleep pulled them both away from reality, the faintest of smiles curved the lips of the elder Uchiha.