It was a summer day, one of those perfect ones that seem to go on forever and ever, where time stills and you have it all to yourself.

And in that day, Sasuke sat on the bank of the river, the wind blowing soft caresses against him. He stared down, seeing his reflection and the reflection of the one next to him, his brother's.

It had been one of the rare times that Itachi wasn't being pushed onto some mission or another. So he had decided to bring Sasuke out here for some reason, away from the prying ears of the other Uchiha. It was a surprise, he had said. Sasuke really didn't care about that as long he could be with his brother, but still, he was curious.

Now, they were alone, together. Sasuke leaned against Itachi, resting his head against his chest. Itachi responded to him and brought up a slender hand to his little brother's hair, stroking it.

Sasuke asked, "So niisan, what's the surprise?"

"I have been promoted," Itachi replied in his usual unemotional manner.

"Really? That's so cool!"

"Yes. They have let me into ANBU."

Sasuke frowned. "Then…I won't be able to see you as much."

Itachi remained silent. He continued stroking Sasuke's hair.

Then, Sasuke smiled again. "But I know what I'm going to do! When I graduate from the ninja academy, I'm going to train really hard and then I can go to ANBU so we can do missions together. Right, niisan?"

His older brother nodded and then wrapped his other arm around Sasuke's waist, pressing them closer together. The two sat there, listening to the steady rhythm of eachother's breaths, the steady flow of the river. And there they were, with no one to watch them.

Then, unexpectedly, Itachi brought his hand down to the curve of Sasuke's check and turned his head towards him. Looking deep into his eyes, Itachi leaned closer, until their lips touched. And even more unexpectedly, Itachi kissed him. Sasuke wondered why he was doing this, but he didn't resist.

Sasuke never had been so close to him before. They had kissed, but now he new it was something different. Something deeper, but so warm at the same time, as if he was going to smelt. He didn't want it to end…

But finally, they broke away. Itachi looked back at Sasuke with some strange sort of shame.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Just stay like this longer for me."