(01START)

It all started with a few words. Words that were oh so innocent but pierced deep through the heart at the same time. It was delivered with no malice or bad intentions that it could have been brushed off easily. But over time, it accumulated to unimaginable heights that it left him gasping for breath.

And he found himself drowning.

An A-? You'll do better next time, right, Sasuke?

Disappointment

You lost to that Hyuuga child? I see. Go see Itachi. He's better at fencing than you are. I'm sure he'll be able to teach you.

Disappointment

You're principal called me today saying you were in a fight. Sasuke, we didn't raise you to be that way. Itachi would never have done something so humiliating.

It was written all over their faces.

But Sasuke was just a child. Compared to so many others, he'd had a lot of achievements for a parent to be proud of. Ever since he started school he was second in class, just right after Nara Shikamaru. Shikamaru was a genius and his IQ was higher than most adults so it was okay to lose to him right? At least he didn't lose to Neji in that, right?

Itachi was much better when he was you're age, did you know Sasuke? You're big brother graduated top of his class and he received a full scholarship from Hidden Leaf Middle School, too. He's just the perfect son, isn't he?

Sasuke was just eight, he can do better, promise. He'll be so good that they wouldn't even think to compare him to his big brother. They'll be so proud of him, just you wait.

He'll be better. He'll be perfect, too. Just like Itachi.

(01)

July 23 20XX, 7:10 am

Sasuke turned nine today. And he was very happy about it. After all, just a few more years and he'll be as old as Itachi! Never mind that his big brother would be much older than he was today.

There was going to be a party, too. Just for him. His mom, er, mother and father invited a lot of people just to celebrate. Sasuke also invited some of his classmates, even though he didn't want the girls to be there. Kiba said they had cooties or something. Neji was also coming because his father insisted on it. He hates Neji. They weren't even classmates since Neji was older than him. He also hated that about the boy. No one was allowed to be older than Sasuke except Itachi. Because Itachi was his brother.

Itachi was perfect.

It was not unusual for Sasuke to be up early. His father didn't like it when he was late for breakfast. Even though it was his birthday, today was Saturday and there was a little chance that he would be forgiven, he still didn't dare be late. Today was very special.

Tidying up his bed and changing his clothes, Sasuke made his way to his bathroom. The look on his face when he saw it in the mirror was that of a wide eyed child with still too much fat on his face. He frowned at it. Standing straighter, he tried to mimic the expression Itachi and his father always has. He narrowed his eyes just so and pulled down the corners of his lips-they tried to lift up into a giddy smile but he forced it down anyway. The look was so different and funny that he had to look away for a second. Uchihas didn't laugh over silly things. They were cool and stoic, whatever that meant, and they didn't laugh.

It took him five minutes to reign in his mirth. By that time, his face was so red he looked like a tomato! His stomach grumbled at the thought. After brushing his teeth, he dashed out of his room, his rapid footsteps muffled by the thick carpet.

Sasuke's room was located at the east wing on the second floor of their house-mansion, a lot of people always called it-next to the second library and just a couple of doors away from Itachi's room. He really liked his room. It was the bedroom nearest to Itachi's and-as guilty as he was to admit-very far away from their parents' room. But don't get him wrong, he loved his parents very much; especially his mom-mother, but sometimes his father scared him. He was always very serious and there was that one time when Kiba was over and he played a prank on him. His father was so scary then that Kiba actually cried. Sasuke wanted to cry too but he didn't want to look like a baby.

He stopped a few steps away from the dining room, looking down on himself to check if everything was perfect, which it was. He patted his head, pouting when his hands met those stubborn locks at the back. Kiba said it made him look like a duck. He felt nervous which was stupid. It was his birthday, and they were celebrating today, with a party, too. There was no reason for his father to forget about him. Today was his day.

He knocked on the large double doors two times and the doors opened immediately.

"Good morning, Sasuke." The redhead maid greeted him, her smile so bright it made Sasuke blush. He smiled back at her. Karin was always so nice to him and when his parents were out, she would always play with him in the garden. Out of all their maids Sasuke loved her the most. He also loved her hair. He thought that the color matched her personality, it suited her.

His parents were already at the long dining table-he didn't know why there were about twenty seats there, they were only four of them. His father was reading something and his mo-ther was making phone calls after phone calls and typing furiously on her laptop. He really wanted to clear his throat, just like his father sometimes does, to catch their attention but he didn't want to be rude.

Karin had already pulled his seat, right next to her mother and was calling the other maid to serve his food. Her mother looked up from her laptop and smiled.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke." She said, leaning to him to give his forehead a kiss. His father looked over at him and grunted. "Happy birthday, son."

Sasuke smiled politely and mumbled a thank you. Both his parents resumed their work as Karin placed a plate of bacon and egg as well as an empty plate in front of him. A mug of milk was placed beside it.

"Happy birthday." Sasuke looked up and flashed Karin a much brighter smile.

"Thank you."

His day was already starting perfectly. Trying to tone down his excitement, Sasuke slowly ate his breakfast, making a face when he had to gulp down the milk. He tried not to rush since usually, breakfast was the only time of day he can spend with his parents. They always spent mornings like these, eating silently and doing work-in his parents' case. But today, he can spend the day the way he wanted and his parents were staying home for his birthday. Maybe later tonight, if he could gather enough courage, he would ask his mother if he could sleep with them. That would be the best birthday gift ever.

A knock on the door made all of them look up and a second later one of their butlers, Danzo, entered.

"The catering has arrived, sir, as well as the flowers you ordered." He addressed Sasuke's father.

His father stood up. "Very well. Have them arrange the garden immediately. Dear," Mikoto looked up, covering the phone with a delicate hand. "Have you contacted all the guests? I remember Takeda saying he won't make it."

"Yes, but he's sending his brother as proxy so it's fine. I also informed them about the change in time. That reminds me. Karin." She called, ignoring her husband as she addressed the maid. Fugaku was already walking over to Danzo-Sasuke hated that man-talking about arrangements and hors d'oeuvre. "Have Genma pick Itachi at the airport at one."

Sasuke perked up at this. Itachi was coming home? Really?

"Yes, ma'am." Karin followed Fugaku and Danzo out, closing the door behind her and leaving Sasuke with his mother.

He couldn't contain the question in. "Itachi's coming home?"

Her mother smiled at him. "Yes, Sasuke. But try not to be a bother to him, okay? He's had a very long week as it is." The smile on her mother's face was very bright for some reason. Sasuke really couldn't blame her; he was just as excited to see his brother again.

It had been a very long time since Sasuke and Itachi played together. Part of the reason was that Sasuke didn't want to ask, he was much too old for playing and his father insisted that he play the piano instead. Sasuke hated it. It was even playing, it was studying and he didn't want to study during play time. Another was that Itachi was super busy. Always. Ever since he started highschool-he'd skipped a few grades because he was a genius, or so their mother said. Shikamaru was a genius, too, but he wasn't skipping any grades. Too lazy to do so, most probably.

Itachi was coming home, though, so they would definitely have time to play. And he was sure that Itachi would have a present for him. He never forgets even if their mother and father sometimes did, too busy they were with work. He would have to forgo playing with Kiba and the others, though. He really wanted to stay with Itachi all day. He missed him so much.

"Finish your breakfast, darling. Iruka will be here in a while." Her mother said, gesturing for Karin, who had returned from her errand to clear the table. She stood up and placed a kiss on his forehead, soothing the frown there. "Be a good boy and don't cause any trouble to your teacher, okay? He's a really good teacher and you're very good at what you do, too."

Not as good as Itachi, though. Sasuke held in the whine that threatened to come out. He didn't want to have piano lessons on his birthday. What if Kiba came early and saw him. The boy told him the other day that piano was for girls. He wanted to tell her that but the look on her mother's face made him change directions. "Yes, mother."

She smiled fondly at him. "Your father's not here."

Of course. He smiled. "Yes, mom."

There was a knock and another maid entered the room. "Madame, a call for you from Mrs. Yukimura." She said.

"I'll get it. Connect it to my office. Tell her I'll be just a minute."

"Yes, ma'am."

She turned back to Sasuke. "Remember what I said, okay." She glared playfully at him and Sasuke grinned.

"Yes, mom." He hesitated for a bit, not sure if it was okay to say it now. But he really wanted to tell her. "I love you." He blushed.

Her mother's smile softened and she knelt in front of him. It made them almost the same height, Sasuke smaller by a few inches. Someday, Sasuke thought, someday I'll be tall enough to hug her properly. I'll be strong enough to give her a piggyback ride, too.

"I love you, too, Sasuke." With a soft kiss to the cheeks and a tight hug, she left.

A sniffle made him turn around. "That was so sweet, Sasuke. Will you give me a hug, too?"

Sasuke blushed furiously. "S-shut up, Karin."

"Watch your mouth, young man. It might your birthday, but I can still make you wash it with soap." She chided, putting away his plates on the trolley. Sasuke frowned when she didn't pull it away, instead kneeling down to pull something out of the bottom, hidden by the cloth placed over it. She placed it on the table and Sasuke just about flooded the room with how much his mouth was watering.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke. You're pretty old now, but I'm sure you're not too old for a cake."

Was Karin kidding? No one was too old for cake, especially if it was dark chocolate. But…"Aren't you going to get in trouble?"

"Not if you tell anyone. Besides, Madame also helped in making it." She placed a spoon on his hands.

"Thank you," Sasuke said between bites, not caring if it was bad manner. "Thank you."

(01)

2:00 pm

The piano lesson turned out to be quite fun in the end. Iruka-sensei had given him a gift that, much to Sasuke's delight, wasn't piano related. It was a book called Le Petit Prince. He said it was a children's book but it wasn't too childish that he was sure Sasuke would enjoy it. It was pretty thin but Sasuke would still read it. He loved reading, about knights and dragons and enchanted places full of magic. Sasuke's secret dream was to be a ninja. The only person he'd told about it was Kiba because Kiba said that he wanted to be a ninja, too, and Sasuke thought they could be partners. Kiba refused, saying that the spot was saved for Akamaru. That was the day Sasuke had his one and only fight.

The lesson ended an hour early and Sasuke was allowed to play out since Kiba was already there. They stayed away from the gardens fearing that they would somehow destroy something. Besides, there were too many adults there. They would just giggle at them when they start playing ninja.

After much rough housing and chasing one another behind bushes, they both sat under the shade on a large tree. Sasuke didn't know what tree it was; just that it was the oldest tree in the universe. It was even older than Itachi.

"Here!" Sasuke startled when Kiba shoved a badly wrapped package on his face. He was about to shove it back when he realized it was a gift.

"A gift? For me?" Sasuke asked, confused. Kiba said he wasn't getting him anything.

"Of course. My momma made it. And I helped, too." Sasuke unwrapped the package and found about a dozen badly shaped cookies, vaguely resembling puppies.

"These are peanuts and these are raisins and those are the chocolates you love so much." Kiba scrunched up his face.

"But I hate raisins." Sasuke grumbled, snatching the peanut ones and taking a bite. It was good.

"Yeah," Kiba said, also snatching one for himself, "But it's my favorite. I hate dark chocolate so you eat it and I'll eat the raisins. We can share with the peanuts." He explained.

"But you said these are for me." Sasuke said, finishing his cookie and getting another one.

"Yeah, but you're not going to eat the raisins anyway, so I'll just help you. Hey!" kiba whined when Sasuke put the cookies out of his reach.

"You just want to eat cookies."

"Fine. But I helped make them so I also have rights to eat it so there." Kiba stuck his tongue out and reached again for the box. This time Sasuke let him.

"This one looks like Akamaru." Kiba decided before biting of its head.

"No it doesn't. It doesn't even look like a dog."

"It does, too. Look, here's the tail and the chocolate looks like the spot on his back, see?"

"You look like you're both having fun."

Sasuke jumped up immediately, cookies forgotten, when he saw the person walking towards them. It had been maybe a month, maybe two, since they'd seen each other. His hair was longer, tied in a ponytail, his voice slightly deeper than Sasuke was used to and-

"You're huge." Kiba exclaimed, voicing Sasuke's own thought. Itachi had grown very much since their separation. Now Sasuke barely reached his waist. So unfair.

Itachi smiled fondly at Kiba. It was no secret that his big brother somehow adored Sasuke's friend, out of them all. He didn't know why since compared to his other friends, Kiba was loud, and annoying and a prankster to boot, the complete opposite of Sasuke. Sasuke met Itachi halfway, giving him a very awkward hug. Kiba was next to him, cookies in hand and offering it to his brother.

"I helped make them." He boasted.

"Is that so?" Itachi picked one, dark chocolate since both he and Sasuke hated raisins and Itachi didn't like peanuts. He took a bite and chewed slowly. "Their good."

Kiba smiled proudly and went back to their spot, leaving Sasuke alone with his brother at last.

"Happy birthday, little brother." Itachi ruffled his hair, making it stand on end. Sasuke tried to make it stop defying gravity to no avail.

"Thank you." He mumbled, looking down at his feet and shuffling awkwardly. He wanted to know what Itachi's present for him was but he didn't want to sound very demanding. He was a big boy now and big boys can wait.

"What's wrong Sasuke?" Itachi asked, kneeling down so he could see Sasuke's face.

"…I missed you…" Sasuke said to his toes, blushing bright red to his neck.

Itachi chuckled and poked him on the forehead. Sasuke gasped in indignation and looked up, finally meeting his brother's eyes. "I missed you, too."

Itachi smiled at him, kindly, with so much affection that had been lacking in Sasuke's days recently. His eyes looked tired and Sasuke didn't like that. He knew Itachi was old but he shouldn't look like that. Sasuke reached a hand and tried to wipe away the lines under his brother's eyes. They wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried but the action made the dark red eyes soften.

Sasuke could wait for his gift. Right now he wanted Itachi by his side. He grasped Itachi's hand-so very rough and much bigger than his own-and tugged, making the older boy stand up and follow his brother silently. Kiba was already waiting for them and Sasuke sat beside him, patting the place next to him and silently telling Itachi to sit. Itachi did so, with a soft smile on his lips.

"Hey, hey," Kiba said after they made themselves comfortable. "I saw you on TV last week, ni-san. Are you an actor now?"

Sasuke jerked his head so fast his neck hurt. "Are you?" He didn't know about that. He rarely watched television, choosing to spend his time with books, so this was news to him.

"I'm not, Kiba. It's really nothing special." Itachi answered shortly, and didn't say more. Sasuke pouted. He'll just ask later.

Itachi eyed Sasuke for a moment. "Don't you want to know what I got you for your birthday?"

Kiba sat straighter and leaned towards Itachi, shouting very close to Sasuke's ear. "I do! I do!"

"Shut up. Kiba. It's not your birthday!"

"But I want to know! I want to know!"

"I'll know first and I'll just tell you later!"

"No! Itachi-ni-san, tell me!"

"Now, now…calm down you two."

"Itachi, there you are." Their squabbling halted as they saw Sasuke's father approaching them, a familiar man walking beside him. "Hizashi here wants to talk with you."

"It's okay, I think the kids are quite busy." Hizashi Hyuuga said, raising a placating hand towards them. The dark haired man waved it off.

"Nonsense. I'm sure Sasuke and his friend can play by themselves. Come, Itachi."

They were taking Itachi away, just when Sasuke had him. Adults were selfish people, even his father. It was bad, thinking this way, but he couldn't help it. They just take and take and think that everything was theirs. This bitterness made Sasuke hold Itachi's hand, preventing the older boy from walking away.

"No." He said defiantly.

Itachi frowned. "Sasuke, not now. I promise I'll play with you later."

"NO! You always promise you'll play but you don't!" Even Kiba was starting to fidget beside him, looking between the brothers and their father.

"I'll be quick, Sasuke. Just play with-."

"NO! Stay here! They're just going to make you talk about stupid things! Don't go with them! I WON'T LET YOU!"

"Sasuke!"

The word came from Itachi, but the slap that made Sasuke's head snap to the side was delivered by a heavy hand.

"Acting like this in front of a guest, have you no shame?" His father's eyes were as cold as ice and sharp as a knife. He was angry. "I don't know what's gotten into you, but this is enough. Go to your room."

Sasuke looked up, wanting to argue but Itachi, hand slack on Sasuke's, stopped him.

"Go, Sasuke."

It was this that made him cry. Even Itachi, who was his favorite person even though he broke promises sometimes, were on the adult's side. If he wasn't going to get the one thing he wanted, then it might as well have been any ordinary day.

Sasuke ran.

(01)

4:30 pm

It wasn't the first time his father hit him, but it was the first time he did it in front of someone. Now he wouldn't be able to face Kiba, he was so ashamed. He didn't even do anything too bad. Why was his father like that? And Sasuke thought that today at least, his father would be proud of him; for being a year already and already he's won tons of awards. Kiba never got any award but when Sasuke saw him with his parents, they were always happy. Why was he different? What was he doing wrong?

Or maybe he wasn't really in the wrong maybe it was them they were wrong all of them

"Sasuke? Honey are you okay?" his mother's voice shook him out of his dark thoughts. The door was opened and she was there, standing a little hesitantly but still beautiful in her dark blue dress. She was looking at Sasuke sadly.

"Honey, you need to get dressed. The guests are coming. How are we going to start the party if you're not there?" She walked closer and sat on the edge of the bed, her hand immediately seeking his under the comforter. "You're father didn't mean to do that. He's just stressed with all the preparations. He wants this day to be perfect for you. You know that, right?"

Sasuke didn't say anything, just nodded. He let himself get pulled out from under the covers and be dressed. His eyes were wet and puffy and his mom kissed both of it, saying that it will make all the pain go away.

He didn't really believe it. He also didn't believe anything she said about his father. He was always like that. He never did see anything Sasuke did as something to be proud of. Sasuke was always a humiliation. A disappointment.

Well, that was just perfect. He was a failure, Itachi was perfect, his mother was a liar, no matter how unintentional, and his father was selfish.

(01)

6:52 pm

Sasuke's mood didn't improve. It just got worse and worse. He couldn't look Kiba in the eyes and the kids he was supposed to be playing with, until the party officially started, were huddled in the living room, talking amongst themselves and pointing fingers at him. Kiba was in the middle of them. He had been approached by two girls earlier, bugging him about useless things and asking if he was okay. They already knew. Of course Kiba wasn't known to keep his mouth shut but it still hurt to see him talking with Neji of all people, about him getting slapped in the face in front of Neji's father.

Itachi was nowhere to be found.

Sometime ago, he spotted Karin, busy with carting food to and fro, and asked him if he could just skip the party and go to bed early.

"What are you talking about, Sasuke? This party is for you. Look, you're father's already entertaining some guests and I'm sure he's telling them how proud he is of you. And you get to talk later at the opening. Just wait there with the kids and play, yeah?"

It seemed that Karin, at least, didn't know what happened earlier. Sasuke knew it wouldn't be long before she did, since the whole world and their moms already did.

A maid sauntered to the group and they were told to go to the garden. The party was starting.

Sasuke never bothered looking when those people were decorating. He was really surprised to see their already beautiful garden transformed into something out of a fairytale.

Lights were wrapped around every tree and bush making them glow ethereally. In the middle was a cluster of flowers surrounding a fountain. The sound of splashing water made for a good background noise along with the soft violin playing somewhere. The tables were all round, lit by old fashioned lamps that hang from a pole sticking out from the middle of the table. This and the lights form the trees and bushes were the only things illuminating the place. There were also a collection of flowers at every corner, much like the ones in the middle, only fewer and without the fountain. In front was a platform, decorated with more lamps and lights and flowers, and on it was his father, holding a microphone and talking to someone.

The atmosphere lifted his mood somewhat. He thought, after seeing what they did just to celebrate his birthday, he should still enjoy it, even on his own.

He was hoping to sit beside Itachi but the older boy was still engaged in a conversation with another old man. He seemed interested but to Sasuke he was just being politely bored. He wanted to save his brother from that but he was afraid his father would see him and reprimand him again so he just walked to his seat. Her mother was already there, chatting with Mrs. Tachibana, if Sasuke remembered correctly. The woman wore too much make up and tried very hard to look slim even though her stomach was trying to tear her very fit gown down the middle. She always talked in a very high pitched voice, and her laugh was annoying. So was the big mole on her chin. He wondered why his mother even bothered to talk with her since she too, was constantly complaining about the other woman.

Someone cleared their throat politely, the sound echoing from all the speakers placed around the garden. All eyes turned to the platform and on his father.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Before everything else, I would like to thank you for giving the time of day to celebrate with me something so very important. And also, thank you for your congratulations and gifts. I cannot truly express how happy and proud I am." A pause, and he turned his face to the side, smiling at someone.

His father was happy. And proud. He remembered Karin's words form earlier and had to smile a little. Karin was always right. And then he remembered something else she'd said. He was going to talk? In front of all these people? He paled. How was he going to do that? What was he even going to say?

He looked to his mother, trying to catch her attention but she was completely focused on what was being said in front.

Okay, he can do this. He'll just walk there and say thank you, enjoy the cake, and have a pleasant evening. That was good enough.

He fidgeted a little, wiping his sweaty hands on his pants and looking back at his father. He had started talking again.

"For years, ever since our son was born, I knew that he was someone I could be proud of. The moment he showed me his first perfect exam and the moment he won a quiz bee. But tonight, let me tell you, that I am and will always be proud to be the father of such a brilliant boy. I knew what I should expect but he surely delivered more than what I expected. Tonight let us celebrate," Sasuke gulped. His father was going to call him forward, any moment now. He just hoped he didn't trip on anything. That would be embarrassing. "My son, Itachi Uchiha's college graduation."

There was a round of applause as Itachi walked slowly, gracefully next to his father. He bowed his head and their father slung an arm on his shoulder. It was a very uncharacteristic gesture from him and Itachi seemed to be just as surprised as Sasuke.

"Only sixteen and already, this son of mine, have already accomplished many things than even I could never have done. He's already surpassed me in many ways and as a father this makes me so…happy and so proud, to have him in my family. He's the son I could ever hope for and I could not really ask for more." A glass of something was handed to him by a waiter.

"Tonight, join me as I celebrate this momentous day. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, let me share with you my happiness." He raised his glass and every one followed his lead. After that, many guests gathered around Itachi and his father, shaking his hand and congratulating them both. His mother was too busy gossiping with other wives to notice that the seat beside him was empty.

Nobody noticed as Sasuke walked away.

(01END)

Next chapter will be a little darker and will introduce more characters and also Naruto. Please bear in mind that this story will contain some sensitive issues concerning children (i.e. child labor, child abuse, substance abuse) but there will be no pedophilia here. I hope.

Review?