Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Author's note: I wanted to write a story that was sweet and touching and this is what I came up with. Please enjoy and don't forget to review.
"Dear little brother,
For all the pain I have caused you in your life, I am sorry. That night, so far back, plays and re-plays back to me every night under the full moon, and I realize just how hard it was for you to be suddenly plunged into loneliness. Every night my heart cries out in anguish over the dark and terrible path I have set before you. And for that, I beg your forgiveness…"
Sasuke stared dumbly at the letter for several minutes, shocked. Suddenly, an acid ball of hatred welled up in his chest and he let go of the letter, his chest heaving. Then, before the letter had reached the ground he whirled and walked down the stairs towards the basement. When he reached the bottom, he blindly stumbled forward several steps and then collapsed onto his hands and knees with his fists clenched. It was terrible; the brand of hatred that had been etched onto his soul by fire was burning so strongly and yet something else inside of him had been awakened and he longed to just let all of his hatred go. But even if he wanted to, could he? Was it really that simple? A fluttering sound reached his ears and Sasuke looked up. The letter had been blown by the wind and was now descending the basement stairs. Fluttering like a lost bird, it came to a stop in front of Sasuke. He picked it up and slowly rose to his feet. Scanning the page, his eyes rested on where he had left off, and slowly, almost hesitantly, he began to read.
"…My actions were based deeply on my love or the village and for you. The path I have set before you is for you to tread, but do not tread it alone. Maybe our paths will cross yet again, but, if that is not meant to be, please accept my written apology. Please forgive me, little brother.
Itachi"
Sasuke, as if in a daze folded the letter and dropped it gently on the large shrine. "Mother, father, please…help me" he whispered and then he turned and plunged up the stairs.
Itachi unfolded the paper and read the message a fifth time. It was short and in Sasuke's neat handwriting, and yet, it conveyed such emotion.
Itachi sat back and stared ahead, unmoving, as slowly, a single tear ran down the side of his face and fell onto the folded letter in his lap. Somehow, he felt that miles away, his little brother too, was shedding tears.
The message he had conveyed was short and simple
"Thank you, big brother"
Thank you for reading. Don't forget to review [please]