AN: Hey, I live! Hard to believe, isn't it? ...Sorry about the super-long absence. I was busy with school, and then I was working, and then I went to Japan for two months, and then I had to leave for school again, and now I'm at school, and... yeah. Sorry.
Anyway, I wrote this while I was in Japan. I can't even remember what inspired this one... But yeah, it's Itachi and Sasuke, and contains spoilers for after *coughcough* SOMEONE'S death. But I might be editing it eventually, cuz I randomly do that. Anyway, enjoy! And remember, reviews are love! *heart*

"Little brother… What on earth do you think you're doing?"

Sasuke resolutely kept his eyes shut. "Sleeping. And dreaming, apparently." There was silence for a long moment, and the young man knew that his guest meant something else entirely. "You told me to avenge the clan, that day. I'm just doing what you told me. I'm taking justice for our family, and for you."

A heavy sigh. "Foolish little brother… Would you destroy the very thing that I gave my life to protect?"

"They took your life! They forced us into our positions, they are responsible for everything! They could have—"

"They could have let the coup come to pass. They could have allowed the complete destruction, not just of the Senjuu clan, but of the entire Land of Fire at the hands of its enemies. …This was the best way."

"They deserve death."

"I deserved death. Do not rest my fate upon the shoulders of the innocent. The current Hokage had nothing to do with it. The townspeople had nothing to do with it. The shinobi had nothing to do with it. The one who made the final decision was Danzo, and Tsunade greatly distrusts and dislikes him. It won't be long until he is removed entirely."

"Not long isn't soon enough."

"Patience, Sasuke."

"Don't talk to me about patience."

"…Naruto's been quite patient. You know he's still waiting for you, still looking, still fighting."

"…"

Itachi tilted his head to the side, surprised by the lack of sarcastic response. "And you're still waiting for him to give up."

Sasuke forced a derisive snort. "No, I'm waiting for him to get himself killed. You've heard his nindo. 'I never go back on my word.' He's stubborn enough that he'll never give up."

A soft chuckle. "True enough. …Might I ask why you haven't opened your eyes or looked at me?"

"Does it matter? It's a dream anyway. There's no point, because it's not real."

"…I suppose…"

"Don't try to tell me it's actually possible to talk to the brother that you yourself killed."

"I wouldn't know. I've never killed a brother myself. Though I did have several meetings with a betrayed father and a hurt and worried mother. Not to mention a best friend who was far too forgiving and understanding for my taste."

"…I thought you seemed a bit off your rocker at the end."

"Ahh, so your wit and sense of humor haven't died entirely. I was afraid they had joined your personality."

"Oh. Ha. So funny."

"Well I thought so." Itachi paused, and sighed almost silently. "Please reconsider. I gave my life, and took even more, to protect something… and you seem hell-bent on destroying it. And yet, you pretend to respect my memory, and expect others to do the same."

"The village didn't deserve that sacrifice."

"…Sasuke, the village wasn't the final, deciding factor. It wasn't the thing I lived and died for."

Sasuke awoke with his heart pounding, and tears pouring down his cheeks and soaking his pillow. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why he would be crying. He had no memory of his dreams that night, but one phrase was left drifting about his mind for days afterward.

"I did it to protect you."