"Do you have this in a smaller size?"
That's the third time he's had to ask that question about the skirt his father requested to the sales clerk, and for all she knew, he was a she. Well, she had no reason to believe Itachi was a boy, from his long, slender legs left bare from the short pleated skirt he wore to the black blouse that covered up just enough to give the impression he was just flat-chested. The beads he wore on his left wrist were oversized and clattered about on his thin joint. But what really enticed was the black choker that was clasped around his throat, plain black, but very, very sensual. His hair was pulled back into a ponytail, as always, and a few strands of hair hung freely around his face.
"No, ma'am, I'm sorry..." her voice trailed off as Itachi sighed. "But I'm sure we have something else you'll like," she added quickly, with a smile.
Itachi nodded, replacing the skirt and its hanger onto the rack, following the sales clerk.
"Oh, how about this? It's by the same designer as the previous skirt you picked out. It would look great with your top, as well."
Itachi shook his head.
"It has to be violet."
"Oh. Okay, well..."
"Um..." Itachi began, then turned to retrieve the skirt, bringing it back. "Do you know anywhere I could have this fitted?"
"Oh, yes," the sales clerk smiled. Itachi did, too.
-o-
Having the skirt fitted wasn't as awkward as Itachi had feared. And, thanks to his fluency is five languages, including Korean, he could hear the tailor commenting to her friend on how underweight he was. Though, he was used to it. He ignored it.
He dreaded returning home to his father, so he decided to kill time (And money) at the mall's local freak hangout, Ringer's. The store itself was offensive to most adults, but you'd see the occasional twenty-something frequenting the store. Itachi really came there, though, to browse through offensive and gorey apparel, from zombie tee-shirts to pins of the middle finger. Today, though, was different. He was a girl, today, meaning looking through the guy's section was a no-no, but he'd be goddamned if he wasn't gonna at least pick up a few finger hair clips.
Itachi made a bee-line for the tee-shirt racks despite himself and his appointed rules (He couldn't help it!), pushing through each cotten shirt, smiling and laughing occasionally. He was looking over a "Warning: Do not feed the Zombies" shirt when suddenly the shirt was knocked from his hands.
"Oh, sorry," a boy with incredibly messy hair apologized, picking up the shirt for Itachi, who took it back with an, "It's okay."
They met eachother's eyes for a few seconds. The boy nodded, then turned around, shoving the person behind him.
"See what you did, asshole? You knocked me into that girl. Quit actin' fuckin' stupid!"
"Don't fuckin' push me!" the other returned, shoving him back, right into Itachi, who, in turn, dropped the shirt and caught him before he hit the ground, knocking a few tee-shirts down in their wake.
Itachi lay Shisui down carefully then stood, approaching the offending teen.
"'Sup, babe?" The boy cocked his head in a supposed nod, "See me take out that pri-"
He didn't have much time before Itachi's fist cocked back, then made contact with his face. The teenager went sputtering backward, crashing into a display for adult costumes, coughing and wretching, attemtping to free himself from the lingerie and plastic. Itachi picked up the "Warning: Do not feed the Zombies" tee and payed for it at the counter, leaving before the cops showed up.
-o-
"What took you so long, Itachi?" Fugaku asked as Itachi came in through the front door, toeing off his sandals carefully and pushing them off to the side with his foot.
He cleared his throat. "Couldn't find the skirt in the right size. I had to-"
Suddenly, Fugaku slapped him. "Did I say to stop, Itachi?"
Itachi shook his head, no, his voice becoming lighter, holding the bags with more of an effeminant elegance. "No, Father."
"That's what I thought. What, now, about the skirt? Tell me, then go get me more Jack," Fugaku placed the empty glass on the side table, sitting at the couch again, planting his feet on the footrest in front of him.
Itachi placed the bags down on the lounger and picked up the glass, fingering it delicately. "I had to get the skirt fitted. It was too big."
"Ah," was all he said as Itachi went into the kitchen, pulling a half-empty bottle of rum off of the top shelf of the pantry.
"On the rocks?" Itachi called through the open door.
"Of course."
He nodded, letting ice clamor into the glass, filling the rest with the amber liquid, replacing the bottle. He brought it out to his father, who took it without a word.
Itachi leaned over the bag, taking out the skirt. Fugaku let his eyes wander over his son's body, smirking slightly, when Itachi turned around.
"This one, right?"
Fugaku nodded.
"Okay, good," he replaced it in the bag, going to sit in the lounger.
"Ah ah ah, Itachi," Fugaku patted the spot next to him, motioning for Itachi to sit. With remorse well-hidden, he sat down carefully, leaving a distance between himself and his father. Fugaku smirked, placing his hand dangerously high on Itachi's leg, slowly slipping it up his theigh. Itachi closed his eyes, trying to hide his disgust, and allowed this personal intrusion. His toes curled into the carpet slightly, his back straightening as Fugaku's hands slipped beneath his skirt, which was far too short already.
"Something the matter?" he tried. Itachi shook his head no and Fugaku laughed aloud, pulling his hand away and finishing off the remainder of his alcohol in one swig, standing and walking into the kitchen. "You know, your cousin is coming for the summer, apparently. His parents are going over to some foreign country for a while, and they think it would be a good idea for you to meet. Ridiculous, right?" he let the glass clatter into the sink. "But, yeah. His name's Shisui, a total dumbass, but Mikoto favors him, so what the Hell ever," Fugaku came into the living room, eyeing his son once more, "Be a shame if he got attracted to you, wouldn't it?" he laughed, again, a bark of a laugh. "Go change, Itachi, you look like an easy slut."
Itachi stood. "Yes, father."
-o-
Itachi ascended the stairs and closed his door, locking it. He unzipped the skirt, pulling the blouse over his head and discarding it. He turned to look in the mirror, going to undo the clasp on the choker, but stopped. He tilted his head upward slightly, eyeing it, realizing how well it seemed to disguise anything suspicious. He left it on, lowering his chin again, discarding his clothes in the hamper by his bathroom door. He slid open his closet door and pulled out the first pair of jeans he saw, distressed slightly, but still girly enough for Fugaku, and a black spaghetti-strap tank top, brushing out his hair, then pulling it back, clipping his bangs back on the left side with a shiny black barette. Itachi looked himself over and sighed, reapplying eyeliner to his lower lids, blinking twice. He ran chap stick over his lips, rubbing them together, and decided he looked good enough to meet his cousin. Itachi let his gaze run over his painted nails and matching toenails, a shiny black laquor. For a split second, he hated his life. He shook of the dark thoughts, though, and hit the power button on his PlayStation 3, picking up the remote and selecting "Dead Rising 2".
-o-
"Oh, fuck it all!" He hollered at the screen a few hours later, as Crystal and Amber sneered rude and altogether provocative jeers at him, dropping his Dualshock onto the ground at the foot of his bed, burying his face in his arms, when he heard his mother call his name.
"Coming!"
Itachi hurried down the stairs, stopping suddenly when he saw a boy leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, chewing on gum absentmindedly, a mop of messy brown hair on his head. The boy from the mall...Itachi thought.
"You're going to love her, Shisui, she's into video games and rock music, and all that..." Mikoto looked for the word to use, "Stuff! you're into."
But Shisui wasn't paying attention. He was looking at Itachi, instead, who had stopped dead.
"Hey," Shisui smiled, cocking his head in a nod, just as the teen who had earlier.
"...Hey," Itachi returned, walking down the stairs slowly.
"Nice to finally meetcha," Shisui pulled his cousin into a tight hug once he reached the landing. Itachi squealed slightly in surprise, but allowed the hug. He couldn't help but note how Shisui smelled absolutly incredible, considering he smelled like cigarette smoke, liquor, and Axe. He closed his eyes.
Itachi pulled back and took in Shisui's incredible smile. His teeth were remarkably white for a smoker, and his skin had a light tan. His eyes were a deep, deep brown, and his eyelashes were thick and long, angling at the corners just enough to appear as if they were pointed, giving him a very Oriental look to his dark eyes.
"...The same," Itachi smiled back shyly, averting his eyes. Suddenly, he met Fugaku's, and bowed his head.
Mikoto smiled, wrapping her arms around their shoulders. "See? Isn't this great? Family! We're all together now, and for the whole summer! We're gonna have fun! Are you hungry? Korea is an awful long ways away. I'll make you lunch!" and Mikoto sped off into the kitchen.
"Is she always like that?" Shisui asked.
Itachi nodded. "C'mon. I'll show you my room."
"Sounds good."
-o-
"...and this is the guest room, right here, where you'll sleep," Itachi smiled. "Feel free to decorate it. We never have anyone over anyways, and I'm sure Mama would love to see your own 'Personal Style'," he emphasized with air quotes. "She loves for us to express ourselves. Did you meet Sasuke yet?"
"Your little brother? Yeah. He's pretty cute."
Itachi absolutely beamed. "He is. Well, this is my room," Itachi pushed open the door.
"Dude..." Shisui walked in.
The walls were painted in an eloquent black pattern, a huge bed in one corner adorned with black and white silk sheets, the closet door covered in posters of various bands and video games. A collector's case of video games was stacked on one side of the sleek modern entertainment center, and the words "You have died" were plastered on the screen of his 32" flat-screen. The hardwood gleamed in the light, and various game accesories were scattered across the floor. Posters of video games were tacked to the wall.
"Oh!" Shisui picked up the Dualshock. "The twins?"
"Yeah. They're total bitches, really. Lay down and die, Goddamnit!" he laughed. To his delight, Shisui laughed too.
"Yeah, they piss the Hell outta me. Oh, good, you saved before you got in there. A flamethrower is helpful, but it won't do them in alone. Too weak, and too variable. But if you jump up on the lights hanging from the ceiling...right...here..." he motioned, "there's a broadsword. That'll take care of them. And there's steak in the bar right there, too. You can get, like, two if you get one, save, then go back. Same with the sword, just in case."
"Really?"
They sat down on the bed together and Shisui handed him the controller. "Your room is fuckin' awsome, dude," he leaned back on his hands. "You are the most badass chick I have ever met. And I know some people, man."
"Uh...thanks..." Itachi blushed, smiling.
-o-
"Yes! Yes!" Itachi shouted as Crystal fell to the ground, jubilant. "Now to take care of Amb-wait...what?"
"Cutscreen. Just watch," Shisui smiled, watching the screen.
"Huh...? Oh, damn!" Itachi bolted upright from his position on his stomach on the end of the bed.
"Yeah. 'She was my...other half!'" Shisui quoted.
"But she stabbed herself in the stomach!"
"Yeah, that happens," Shisui said off-handedly, chuckling. "Aren't you glad you finally beat them though?"
"Hell yeah! It's bad enough that they both have bigger breasts than me."
Shisui nuged Itachi gently. "Oh, c'mon. You'd really want breasts like that? Your back would hurt, guys would stare at you...and, plus, I don't think you'd look too good with huge tits like them. And theirs are fake anyways."
Itachi looked over at him, blushing, blinking incoherently. He shook it off and turned back to the game.
-o-
A few hours later, Mikoto ascended the stairs to Itachi's room, opening the door quietly. "Guys, it's time for-oh!"
She smiled when she saw the both of them asleep, draped across the bed awkwardly as music thudded from the speakers. "Guess they're tired." she shrugged, turning and closing the door behind her.
-o-
A/N: Here's the first chapter of Big Girls Don't Cry~
My next chapter story I've been working on for a while.
Itachi: She actually just left it sitting in her hard drive. I have dust on my skirt! (XD)
Either way, hope you enjoyed~I decided to post the first chapter as a sort of preview. I wanted to see everyone's reactions first.
So, yeah! Tell me what you think, so Itachi can wear some pants for once! (Poor boy/girl/Itachi thing :D)