It wasn't often that Itachi would indulge in his brother's wishes.
"Niisan, you promised to help me train today!"
He would raise a hand, motioning for the young Uchiha to come forward; Sasuke would, a hopeful expression on his face - only to change into a scowl when a finger was flicked against his forehead. "Later, Sasuke."
The dark eyes of the elder remained emotionless at the boy's hurt expression.
"Niisan, can I help?"
Itachi would look up from whatever it was he was working on at the time before looking away, turning his attentiong back to the scrolls or weapons. "No, Sasuke. When you're older."
Again, the flash of hurt was ignored.
"Niisan?"
Opening an eye from where he laid on his mattress Itachi took in the huddled form of his brother, frail shoulders shaking in an effort to keep from crying as his fingers clutched tightly at his blanket. There was a soft sigh, followed by the sound of rustling fabric as the sheet was lifted.
"Come, Sasuke."
It was time like those, when Sasuke would leap into bed and curl up against his brother's chest that the mask would slip, falling off compleatly when the small form relaxed against him, delicate fingers clutching at the front of Itachi's pajama top. A calloused hand would move to stroke at the sleeping boy's back, dark eyes soft. "Soon, Sasuke..soon you will be mine and mine alone." It was with this thought that the older Uchiha would drift off, an arm wrapped protectively over his younger brother throughout the night.