Itachi looked up at the sky. I sighed as I knew he just finally realized how late it was. Huh, I guess so. Time flies by fast.
On the way back to the Uchiha compound, the wind started up. We should have headed back earlier, I complained, It s starting to storm.
A crack of thunder proved my point, along with the fast-falling rain. Don t tell me you re afraid of storms... Itachi muttered.
I m not afraid--
Good, He quickly interrupted as he picked me up and sprinted.
Let me down! I have my own two feet! I yelled over the wind.
The grass is soaking, and I m sure your coordination would compliment it just perfectly.
I blushed in embarrassment. You re such a jerk, I lied.
Itachi didn t respond as we reached the Uchiha compound.
Itachi, Reya! Itachi s mother greeted us. You should have headed home earlier. You would have been able to avoid this awful storm.
...I told you, I muttered to Itachi through chattering teeth.
Instead of making a smart remark, Itachi simply put his arm around me in attempt to keep me warm. Mother, he said, Get a blanket and some extra clothes for Reya. There s no way she s going home in this weather. She ll have to stay here tonight.
I can t...I mean, you don t have to go to all this extra effort-- I started to say until Itachi covered my mouth.
It s fine, Reya, Itachi s mother said. We like having your company.
Inside was warm...thank God. The blanket helped, too. I pulled it as close to my body as possible.
Hello Sasuke, I said as I saw the young boy come into the room. Okay, he was only a year or two younger than me, but still...
Hi.
Huh, typical response.
I turned my attention to Itachi. Don t you have an ANBU meeting tonight? I asked.
Sadly, yes. It seems like I have to leave your safety in the arms of Sasuke, Itachi replied.
Sasuke blushed with embarrassment. He must have sensed something in Itachi voice that I hadn t noticed. I smiled at him. Well, I trust Sasuke.
Itachi didn t say anything as he left.
I wish Itachi could trust me like you do, Sasuke said.
It ll come with time. Coming from his student, it took him a while to trust me as well, I replied as I patted the ground beside me, telling him to sit by me.
He accepted the offer and took his place right beside me. What is it like to have my brother as a teacher?
Honestly...kind of weird, I answered. I guess...it s mainly because it s as if he s expecting something of me that I don t have.
Like what? Sasuke asked, his full attention on me. Wait, since when was he as big as me? Our faces were actually on the same level.
I blushed after noticing this. Like...like Sharingan.
A silence took over as we sat there...together, just staring at each other.
Soon enough, Sasuke broke the silence as he looked away and said, I don t mean to be personal...but have they figured out where you came from?
I looked down at the ground. The Third Hokage finally took some blood tests. Until we figure out more, I m still classified as a missing-nin.
I... Sasuke started, but stopped as if he was thinking about what he was gong to say. I don t want you to leave, but yet...I want you to find your real family.
I know what you mean, I assured Sasuke. I m scared to meet my real family. I mean, what if they abandoned me for a reason and don t want me back? I m afraid...that would hurt too much.
But you can always come back to my family, Sasuke said, You re practically part of the Uchiha clan by now.
I smiled. Thank you, Sasuke...I think you ve just become my favorite relative.
Sasuke smiled as well.
I looked at the clock. It s time to go to bed.
Sasuke nodded, Good night, sister.
Good night, love, I said, almost on the verge of tears.
Sasuke is my family.
Thunder sounded again.
I sighed as I laid there, eyes wide open and awake.
Reya? I heard Sasuke whisper.
Come in, I replied.
I heard his light footsteps against the wooden floor. He laid down beside me, facing me.
What s wrong? I asked.
I overheard my parents talking to Itachi.
I waited for further details, but It seemed I would have to prompt him. What did they say? I asked.
Well...apparently Itachi didn t go to the ANBU meeting.
My eyes widened in surprise. But we saw him leave...what could he have been doing during the meeting?
That s what worries me, Sasuke said. He doesn t even tell you, his own pupil, what he s been up to. If he s been doing bad things, you may get in trouble, too.
I nodded. Yeah, but what worries me the most is the fact that Itachi is becoming so distant.
Yeah...I remember when he first started training you, Sasuke said, He would always tell us how much you were improving...and then, he just stopped talking. It s almost as if he s planning something terrible and is afraid he ll give something away if he speaks.
Are you afraid of him, Sasuke? I asked.
Of Itachi?
Yeah.
Well...are you? Sasuke asked.
No. I think he has a reason behind all of it, I answered, even though it was partially a lie. I had to admit, I was somewhat intimidated by Itachi.
Then I m not afraid of him either.
I closed my eyes as I finally felt sleepy. Sasuke?
Yeah? He replied.
Don t leave me.
I won t, He promised as he held my hand.
Reya!
I rolled over and mumbled some incoherent words.
Reya, please! I need to tell you something!
Okay...Sasuke sounded pretty helpless, so I got up. Anyways, I m not that heartless.
What is it? I asked.
The other Uchihas who are members of the ANBU were just here, Sasuke informed me.
They didn t search me while I was sleeping, did they? I asked, cringing at the thought.
Sasuke gave out a little laugh. No, apparently Shisui, my cousin, wasn t at the ANBU meeting either--
--So he and Itachi were--
--I m getting to it, relax. The ANBU members came with a note.
What kind of note? I asked.
A suicide note.
My stomach dropped. Itachi didn t commit suicide, did he?
No, Shisui did. But the ANBU members thought Itachi killed Shisui, Sasuke explained.
Why?
In order to get a higher form of Sharingan called the Mangekyou Sharingan, one must kill his or her best friend.
I felt all color drain from my face. Shisui was Itachi s best friend...
I saw Itachi activate his Sharingan recently. His eyes look different.
Oh God... I felt myself panicking. It all seemed like a dream, but I knew it wasn t. I couldn t believe Itachi would kill his best friend for power. Unless...
Do you think someone is influencing Itachi? I asked.
Sasuke shrugged. Maybe...I don t know...
Can I ask you a favor?
Yeah, sure.
Keep an eye on Itachi.