Sasuke knows something is wrong when he comes home and Itachi is sitting at the kitchen table instead of in his room with the door shut.

He knows something is very wrong when he says hello and Itachi actually replies and smiles back at him.

Sasuke knows he ought to start running away as fast as he can (though if Itachi wanted to he could probably catch up within seconds) when Itachi continues smiling and asks in a very pleasant tone how Sasuke's presentation on Kunai throwing went.

Sasuke stammers a "Good, thanks Nii-san," and mentally scolds himself, he should be braver. Even if Itachi is acting weird, he will always love his nii-san. So. Sasuke plops himself down on a stool across from Itachi.

"How was your day, nii-san?" he asks. Sasuke is very unnerved. But he is also ecstatic. Because Itachi is acting the way Sasuke has always dreamed. Like a caring older brother. He wonders how long this will last.

"Wonderful, Sasuke. A little boring, but I suppose it will pay off in the end. A ninja never slacks off. You'll remember that, won't you?"

Sasuke nods enthusiastically, trying very hard not to bounce up and down. His stool wobbles.

"I was wondering if you'd like to train this weekend?"

Sasuke is concentrating very hard on balancing, and as the stool sways to the left, Sasuke leans to his right to counterbalance it (Itachi is mildly impressed). What Itachi has just said registers and he abandons his efforts and instead hops off. He leans and puts his elbows on the kitchen counter and feels like his face is about to crack his grin is so wide. He can't seem to decide on how best to express himself so in the end he yells, "I'd love to!"

He propels himself backwards, nearly trips on his own feet, but manages to careen around the table to dive into Itachi. Sasuke wraps his thin arms around Itachi's bony frame and seems quite content to never let go.

"I love you Nii-san! Thank you thank you thank you!"

And Itachi awkwardly pats him, an odd expression on his face. It's like he's feeling two very strong emotions at once and because he does not show affection often, does not know quite what to do. But he has seen his parents do this sort of thing.

So he gently squeezes Sasuke back, wondering what this feeling is called. It's not sadness, and it's not love. Itachi doesn't know what it is. But it doesn't seem to matter, because Sasuke understands this much at least. And he doesn't let go, so Itachi doesn't either. It's nice, Itachi thinks, whatever this is.

Shisui said only two days ago that he loved Itachi, and then when Itachi stared uncomprehendingly at him, Shisui only sighed and muttered things under his breath. And then he sort of hugged Itachi, only it didn't feel as good as it does with Sasuke. And then Shisui kissed him on the lips and cried a little (but not a lot because shinobi aren't supposed to cry) when Itachi only blinked at him. Itachi tenses slightly now, wondering if Sasuke will try to kiss him.

Sasuke and Shisui are both important to Itachi. But Sasuke doesn't want anything from him. Nothing but love. And he doesn't demand it, so that's okay. It's okay, Itachi tells himself as he breathes slowly.

"Itachi?"

Itachi looks down at the spiky locks. "Hmm?"

"I love you."

That's what Shisui said. So Itachi responds the same way he did before. "I know."

But unlike Shisui, Sasuke doesn't pull away. So Itachi figures it's okay to let him hold on a little longer. Sasuke's body is warm and Itachi finds himself shivering as he presses closer. Something about this isn't right, Itachi can tell. And if his parents come home, he'll have to pull away. But he likes the way Sasuke feels nestled against him. And until then, there's no harm. They're brothers and this is what Sasuke has always wanted. And maybe, Itachi has always wanted this too.