Guess what, ppl?? I don't own anything!! I can't get sued, yayh!! You can't sue me, nananananana... ¬¬ I wish I owned Naruto, though... :( I would make Sasuke such a total whore... ;)

Alright folks, this is AU, but not a big AU... as in, we're still in Naruto world, ninjas and all, but one little thing changes: Itachi never kills the Uchiha clan... they are mostly dead, but it was a most misfortunate thing which happened because of some war I don't really put mind into, cause its got nothing to do with the story. So, Itachi lives ALONE with Sasuke, and takes care of him, and is actually content with his life... somewhat. In this chapter, ages are as they follow:

Itachi, 14

Sasuke, 7 (I don't know if those two have a 7 year gap, but let's pretend they do...)

Uchiha Itachi suppressed a groan, his stoic self not allowing himself to fall in the temptation of such mundane gesture, but it was really hard to keep himself, when his litle brother would insist on throwing his things all over the house, when he had explicitly told him not to. Over and over again.

Before he even took a step into the house, Itachi heard the soft steps of the only other habitant in the house, who came into view, moving quickly around the house, a heated look on his face, like he had forgotten something very important, picking up the ofending garments from the floor.

"Aniki!" Sasuke gasped, while lowering his body to pick up his sandals, a blush decorating his young, six year old face. Hurriedly, he picked up his sandals, not looking up at his brother. "Gomen ne, Aniki..." Suddenly, Sasuke looked up, a dreamy look on his face, his sudden excitement completely contracting with his previous embarrassed mood. "But I had just gotten my first kunai practice today, and I was so eager, I started training when I got home, so I..." Sasuke's voice dropped by the end, and his young eyes drifed away from his big brother's gaze, looking at anything but the older youngster in front of him.

"You forgot to pick up after you, again, then" Mutely, Sasuke nodded, tightening his grip on the small bundle of assorted toys, scrolls and clothes in his arms. He wanted to please Itachi so much... He knew how hard it was for his Aniki, taking on the responsibility of taking care of him, while still being a teenager, and also being an ANBU leader, and an splendid ninja in Konoha, maturing way before his time, mostly for Sasuke, when Itachi assumed his new role as both big brother and father... his Aniki didn't deserve to have him disturb the little times he spent at home being annoyed by Sasuke's messy habits. "Foolish Otouto..." To his surprise, Sasuke had heard the tiniest bit of mirth in his big brother's voice, something that pleased him to no end. "My mission was a total success, better than expected, actually... I got a bonus."

Sasuke heard soft feet moving across the room randomly, and he looked up, to find Itachi picking the haggardly thrown items which remained. Hastily, Sasuke ran to aid his brother in the task, his mind divided between the conversation, and his task. "That's great, Nii-san!" Itachi nodded solemnly, picking up the other sandal, and handing it to Sasuke.

"I think that, while you put everything in place, I could make something for dinner, and celebrate your brand new ninja equipment... it's not fair to have you use my old one, don't you think, Sasuke?"

Sasuke's whole face lightened up, a wide smile formed in his face at the words. His new ninja weapons!! his own! "ARIGATO!!" the young kid screamed and, dropping everything in his arms in the process, jumped and tackled his Aniki, hugging his stomach as strong as he could, a sense of gratitude so great, he couldn't put words into it. "Thank you... thank you so much, Aniki..." Sasuke whispered against the strong stomach, burying his face in the fabric. "When will they arrive??"

"Sasuke, you dropped all your things again"

The young boy looked behind himself, at all the things laying on the floor, this time... his bag had opened, and all his academy material was scattered around it. He groaned, and felt the heat of his blush take over his cheeks. /Won't I ever end picking up??/ "Come on, Sasuke, let's get this things to your room, so I can start dinner"

Discreetly, Itachi watched his little brother do as he bid, as Sasuke slowly, carefully set his bag in order, and picked everything, folding it neatly before taking it into his arms if it were a garment, and rolling it if a scroll, all the while humming to himself, and with the most excited smile on his face, no doubt thinking of the kunai, exploding tags and more brand new weapons he would be getting soon.

In a few minutes, the Uchiha brothers finished, and Itachi deposited his things on Sasuke's arms silently. Sasuke stood there, for a moment, just looking at his big brother, a look of pure admiration in his eyes, the softest of smiles in his eyes. "Arigato... Aniki" He softly whispered, and almost skipped his way to his room, leaving Itachi alone with his troubled thoughts.

/He's too beautiful/ Itachi's mind offered, thinking back to the soft smiles, the rich laughter, the warm hugs when Itachi never expected them, and the innocent face... As he moved to the kitchen, Itachi felt a knot in his stomach, one he knew all too well, and he vaguely wondered, how would he ever deal with the things innocent, sweet Sasuke awoke in him?? And if he couldn't, and gave into the delicious temptation Sasuke was scaringly becoming, how could Itachi ever get up from that again, if Sasuke's only weapon was the growing emotions Itachi had over him??