Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the characters.

Sometimes I wonder how could my life change so much, but wasting my time pondering in those why's are not going to help me now, that's for sure. But I do like to think about the time that has passed. Apparently I brood too much, or so my dear brother says. As for me, I like to recall my momeries even though I don't do it as often now day and that it's probably because of that fur of sunshine sleeping at my side.

Invading my personal space, trampling with my peaceful days, running around and making a mess of my house, helping me with the garden, running my errands, staying quiet while I brood, watching while I practice with my sword, laughing every time I get caught in one of his pranks, disappearing when he thinks I am mad, getting sick and passing out in the garden, watching me cook with drool sipping from the corners of his little mouth, hiding behind my leg whenever I got out to the town, or simply running to open the front door to my brother.

This kid, has made me see the world differently; a world much more brighter and bigger than I ever thought it could be. Maybe its his boisterous personality, or his obnoxious laughter, maybe is how the sky its painted in his wide innocent eyes or maybe I was just lonely. One thing I am sure of, I'll give away my life to make this brat happy. I couldn't accepted it at first and I even treat him worse than dirt and I regret every single time I did. The only thing I can do now its to make Naruto smile, every time I can, to undo what I once did in the past. Trying as I might, to show him that he is not alone anymore, that I care for him and I will protect him, that he would not go to bed without eating or without clothes in winter because I swore in my dead family honor that I would never witness something like that again.

The little fox, he got me wrapped in his finger. Not that I would give him anything, even though I do but I will not stand by and watch him suffer, he don't deserve any of that.

The thing about him, he forgives anything from anyone, anytime. No matter what I said or did to him, he would come back the next day flashing that blinding smile of his. Sometimes I wonder how I grew to love this little fox, but the answers lay deep in my heart because I do know why I love him.

After too much thinking I decided that no else matter nor the opinions other may have, or how I could be view upon the citizens. I, Uchiha Sasuke, care only for Naruto, my sweet little fox.

"Sasuke, you know how much your cousin and I have been working to help you. Can you at least try?" Itachi's calm voice sounded exasperated as he tried to reason with his younger copy. After all the things he and Obito did for Sasuke, he was still as closed as ever. Not that he would blame his younger brother for anything, but everything that happened to him took a toll in his mental abilities or so Itachi thought. After the unfortunate incident of his family being murdered, Sasuke's wife and soon to be born child died, this time because they couldn't be on time when she needed help; and thus Sasuke refusal of social interactions even company.

Itachi had his eyes trained on Sasuke emotionless face, looking for hint of life in those black abyss of his.

Moving his head slowly, Sasuke took on the house in front of him. It was old, rundown and old, with broken windows, unkept garden and falling fences, heck! He could even see holes in it. Nonetheless, it was rather appealing being all traditional and built in dark oak wood. The house, he deemed had personality and a special charm too.

"Brother, I am aware of what you and Obito have been doing. I'm just tired." Said Sasuke, tiredness evident in his tone.

"Then can't you try? Obito fought his way out to have this house arranged for you and I worked my self too. Why not find a new life here, in konoha? Its not bad at all, I must add." A slight smile playing in Itachi's face.

"You are right, it's not. Stop worrying so much brother. Now tell me, where's Obito?" Sasuke asked while walking rather slowly towards the front door of the house.

"He is looking for an apartment for both and while at it, visiting the police department. He insist in putting me through some application test with him." racking a hand through his hair, Itachi walked at the same pace Sasuke did.

"You mean, like applying for a job, at the police station? For both?" At that Sasuke could hide the slight amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Laugh all you want little brother, but we do need money to survive."

"Yeah, we do."

Was his simple reply, letting himself brood again ignoring the cautious stare Itachi was giving him. To Sasuke, Itachi was being a bit panaroid and overly protective of him. Of course, he would understand why, but the younger needed some time alone with his thoughts. The world was moving too fast for him and he was still trying to coupe with the loses in his life. His brother got the implication of his words, he simply stayed a few steps back with the keys of the house hanging in his fingers.

"Hey Sasuke, think fast" he said as the keys were already flying, with precise aim to Sasuke's head. But of course, his younger brother knew, putting the back of his hand against his head, waiting for the keys to land on his palm. They knew each other so well, words were just a formality.

Itachi watched curiously as Sasuke fumble with the lock, apparently it was stuck or broken. Feeling sadden by staring at his younger copy, he turned around ready to take his leave. The sight of Sasuke's back never failed to give him the chills. As if, like a firefly, he would dissapear in the middle of night and never come back.

Little brother, heaven knows I want to keep you safe. Only the moon knows how many sleepless nights I stayed up thinking if I am to see you again.

"Sasuke..." Itachi called, facing at the gates, not daring to look back.

"Hm..?"

The creaking noises of the opened door, the gentle hum of the wind passing through the grass, the clashing of the keys, a full minute had passed and the brothers had yet to make a sound but as the welcomed silence came it vanished.

"...I will bring you dinner later, you might want to start cleaning the house. Oh, and Obito said you will have to fixed it too." A twitch of and eyebrow; a playful smirk.

Sasuke turned around only to see the retreating silhouette of his dear brother, closing his eyes and breathing deep he turn and entered the house.

Sasuke stared in disbelief at the inside of said house, it seem more like a jungle or a spider nest. Holes on the floor, splinters, broken panels, broken windows, spider webs that would put fishing nets in shame. The air, its was suffocating. The strong scent of humidity mix with the wood and the dust. Trying not to dwell to much on it, he walked to the kitchen and almost fainted. Mold, mold covered almost everything in the relatively modern kitchen. Mold and lime, all colors. By the look of it, he wouldn't dare to imagine the bathroom at this point but things needed to be done.

Shaking the images of his head, he took of his shirt wrapping it around his neck, mouth and head. Searching around for the backpack Itachi left, he found it by the front door. Rummaging, he took out a washing cloth. As he lift his gaze he noted a broom and a mop innocently against the wall and he couldn't help but smirk at the thought. Sneaky bastard, always thinking of everything aren't you? I bet you are laughing your ass off right now.

The sun was setting when Sasuke finally clean the whole house, inside that is. He opened all the windows, the doors, the panels, to let the air flow. Feeling really accomplished with himself, he took the shirt off his head and went straight to the master bedroom. While cleaning he found out a balcony in the master bedroom. Since the house was built traditionally, the paper doors and the panels slide off, and thus he noticed how the floor extended from the bedroom. With a bit of work, he knew he would love his new living place. The view from the bedroom to the back garden was breathtaking, even though the need to put a lot of effort in said garden. Walking towards the balcony, he sat in the middle, leg crossed and eyes shut. It was some sort of trance, he listened to the chatter of the people going down the road, the occasional laughter of childrens playing, the chirping sounds of the birds. Lulled by such tranquility, he drifted off to the unconsciousness of his mind wanting to forget. Until he heard the unmistakable voice of his brother, calling him from the front door. Waking up from his dream-like trance, Sasuke got up rather sluggish and walk towards the front door, opening it and letting Itachi in. Stepping aside, he let his brother admire the hard work he put on the now clean house. No words were exchange only the rustling of the bags Itachi had in his right hand.

Tired of the force silence, Itachi turned his gaze to his brother and held out the bag for him to take.

"Here's dinner. You got MMiso soup, eggplants and baked tomatoes filled with meat." He announced, feeling a bit of pride when his younger brother opened his eyes wider. Then he continued. "I've tasted the food and its good. A small store down the road to the police station, I recall its called 'The Fan'."

"Hn" was Sasuke's response even though he was a bit ecstatic to try the food.

"Oh, almost forgot. I put two large water bottles in the counter, I'll be back tomorrow with breakfast and I put some money beside the bottles in case you want to go out." Bags being handle to Sasuke, Itachi chose to ruffle his brother's hair before leaving without saying a word. He smiled when he was about to close the door, at the barely audible muttering of Sasuke's voice.

"Thanks."

With the bag of fresh home made food, he stride to the bedroom opening the paper doors and sitting comfortably on the balcony, ready to dig in. Sasuke pulled out the bowls with an uncharacteristic enthusiasm. Eager to taste the feast he had been brought, he inhaled the firsts bites, starting with the bake tomatoes. After calming down, he continue eating in a rather slow pace, just savoring the taste and let it dissipate in his mouth. 'This actually taste heavenly, I might have to thank him once more...tsk.'

Soon enough, the thirst was making his way up to the troath and he faintly noticed he left the water back there in the counter. Scowling at his own forgetfulness he stood swiftly and walk inside once again, straight to the kitchen.

However, what he did not expect at his return was to find the balcony empty, no sign of his food what's so ever not even the bowls. At that he growled, the sound roaring from the back of his troath. Feeling extremely pissed off, he looked around a bit frantic. Maybe it was some stray cat or dog, but the desire to kill it was far more greater. Eventually, Sasuke calm down and sigh in defeat.

'Heh...no use crying over split milk.'

After growing tired, he went back inside closing the doors and preparing to call it a night but he failed to notice at the far corner of the balcony a bundle of blond curling up, ready to sleep.

Weeks passed by and Sasuke established in a routine, a ritual to have his mind clear and be able to coupe with the changes around his life. Waking up just after dawn, he worked mostly in the garden the whole morning. At noon Itachi would bring him lunch and stay a while for a chat. Once his brother finished and went on his way to work, Sasuke would go to the garden once again only to meditate and practice kendo for a few hours. Since the house was fixed within the first week, he did not have anything else to do, only some minor adjustments here and there. At dusk, he would receive Obito and Itachi for dinner, exchange a few pleasantries, talk about the jobs and then go back. That was his normal, with what he felt at ease.

However, there was another routine he develop a few weeks back. After the incident with his food he decided that having a pet wasn't a bad idea. He like the thought of taking care of it, even though he was yet to see the little rascal. Out of the pity of his heart, Sasuke stared leaving the leftovers of his food in the balcony. Not even once he tried to see the famous animal, he was content enough knowing that the food wasn't there.

Sasuke bent down leaving the leftovers in one of the corners of the balcony.

"Tsk..." He frown, looking at the food. Racking his right hand through his hair, he looked around only to find nothing.

'...tsk...ungrateful mutt. You don't even have the decency to show yourself, to me the one that has been feeding you.' With is inner ranting, he closed up the doors and went inside, a bit pissed off at the mutt for not showing it self. Trying not to think about the mutt, he went to the closet, took out some blankets and a futon, ready to go sleep. While arranging the futon and changing into some sweatpants, Sasuke heard some shuffling just outside the bedroom but this time he decided to ignore it. If the thing ate, it was completely fine with him. Taking his place in the futon, hands behind his head he slowly lost consciousness until the next day.