For Fai, who requested Sasuke's reaction to Reika's fight with the girls and him waiting up for her that night after her detention. I hope I did it justice; Sasuke is such a hard character to do correctly. Fair warning, though, this is largely a rewrite of scenes from Pinwheels, just from Sasuke's point of view, which, because I suck, didn't change very much. Also, ew, abrupt ending. Sorry about that.

Spoiler warnings (which I forgot to do last chapter): None for canon Naruto, since this never happened, and for Chapter Seven and Chapter Eight of Pinwheels.

Hope you like it!


Detention

Summary: Sasuke loved his little sister. Really. Even when she got into fights and 'forgot' to tell him important things.

It was entirely unexpected. Sasuke did not get along with everyone, but he was generally good at dissuading confrontations. People could get as mad at him as they wanted; they wouldn't dare attack him.

The day was normal; Reika had hypocritically shooed him away to 'socialize' –ugh – and then proceeded to hide in a tree herself. Sasuke did what she wanted, talking to the childish creatures that he shared a class with, mostly because of the look she gave him when he didn't. It wasn't the normal look; it wasn't angry or disappointed or unimpressed. It was heartbroken.

Sasuke was almost entirely certain she was faking it, but he still fell for it.

So he was 'socializing' with the irritants, keeping one eye on Reika because that was just what he did. He was her older brother; he was allowed to be protective. And so he noticed when she dropped down from the tree, landing in the midst of three girls. Sasuke didn't recognize them, but he figured they were in Reika's class.

Though a little surprised that she was willingly interacting with her classmates, Sasuke didn't think much of it, disregarding it as insignificant. It startled him when one of the girls jumped at Reika, easily being sidestepped, and the other girls imitated her, attacking Sasuke's little sister.

Needless to say, he was furious. Sasuke started shoving his way through the crowd to his sister, cutting one of the irritants off mid-sentence. He didn't care. Entangled in the crowd that was growing around them, Sasuke momentarily lost sight of the four brawlers.

When he emerged from the mass of people, it was to see the fight over, Reika's teacher standing in front of the instigator. Reika was lying on the ground, unmoving.

Sasuke hurried over to her – oh no not again not like this – barely seeing as the other two girls moved to stand with their friend. He fell to his knees beside his little sister, leaning over her, and noted with relief that her eyes were open, focused dully on her teacher and classmates.

"Reika?" Sasuke said to Reika to get her attention. It took a couple of moments for Reika to notice him, her eyes focusing on his face. "Reika, are you okay?"

Instead of giving an answer, Reika said randomly, "Hey, Sasuke, think I could pull off being a zombie?"

What? What did that have to do with anything? Sasuke stared at her, somewhat worried that her unrelated topic meant that she wasn't in her right mind. But then, he figured, Reika was always a little weird, so it probably meant she was okay.

He smirked at her, recognizing an opening for sibling teasing. "No, Reika, I don't think you could pull off being a zombie right now." You don't look dead this time. "You're too pretty now."

Reika gasped, sounding scandalized, and whacked Sasuke on the arm – which didn't even hurt – bursting into laughter immediately afterwards.

They sat together in comfortable silence. Sasuke didn't want to speak, not now that he had made sure his little sister was okay. He was worried, now; he wasn't sure he could handle her getting into fights a lot, as ninja did. But then, he could understand her desperate need to be able to fight.

"Uchiha." The voice came from above them, startling Sasuke. Looking up, he recognized Reika's teacher.

Sasuke knew that she had probably been referring to Reika, but he was Reika's guardian, technically… "Yes?" he said at the same time as Reika.

"The younger Uchiha," the teacher clarified with a faint smirk. "How are you feeling?"

Sasuke looked back to Reika, also wanting to know the answer.

"I'm not too badly off," Reika avoided the question.

"Really." The teacher's voice was dry. Reika nodded, seemingly oblivious to her teacher's disbelief. "Think you can stand up, then?" the teacher challenged.

"Yeah, probably," Reika said with a nod, standing with her teacher's assistance. "Where'd the others go?"

Sasuke stood up, too. He fully intended to go with his sister.

"Waiting in my office," the teacher answered, and continued with, "Let's go to the bathroom and get you cleaned up, and then we'll join them, okay?"

Understanding immediately why Reika would be joining the others, Sasuke glared fiercely at the teacher. His sister was not at fault here, and she definitely didn't deserve to be questioned right after being assaulted! Not to mention that she was five.

Reika gave an understanding look. "Sure," she said, interrupting Sasuke right before he would have started an angry tirade in her defense.

Sasuke turned to give her a shocked look. Catching his shocked look, Reika smiled at him, patting him on the arm lightly.

It's fine, Sasuke, it meant.

He frowned slightly. Reika may have been okay with it, but Sasuke was not. "I want to go with," he said.

Reika's teacher gave him a knowing look. Sasuke bristled slightly. She didn't know anything.

"Sorry, Uchiha." The teacher did not sound at all apologetic. "Stay out here, please."

Sasuke scowled at her, knowing that that 'please' did not make it a request. "But –" he argued anyway.

"Stay," the teacher said.

I'm not a dog! Sasuke thought, annoyed.

"Sasuke," Reika said. She entwined her fingers with his. "Thank you, but I'll be fine." Sasuke frowned at her, and she gave him a hopeful look. "Just stay out here? Please?"

Sasuke tried to be angry with her, but he just couldn't. Somehow, Reika's 'please' was much more convincing than her teacher's. Possibly because she actually meant it.

"Fine," Sasuke agreed unhappily.

Reika smiled at him brightly, cheerful as ever despite her injuries, and the teacher led her inside.

Sasuke stalked back over to the group of simpletons he'd been 'socializing' with before. He kept his face emotionless, and they didn't seem to notice anything wrong.

Idiots, Sasuke derided them. He much preferred the company of his sister, three years younger though she was.

He was upset; he was supposed to protect her, and he couldn't. Not from the fight itself, not from stupid teachers thinking it was her fault, not from Itachi, not from anything.

I need more power.

Reika reappeared just before the end of lunch, and didn't say anything about how the meeting had gone. Sasuke assumed they hadn't thought she was at fault, or she would have said something.

The next day, however, they were walking out of the Academy, the school day over.

"By the way," Reika started awkwardly, "I kind of, uh, got detention for the fight yesterday."

Sasuke had to do a double-take, having not expected that. "You got detention?" he asked, getting annoyed. Not with Reika, though he would have preferred if she'd told him earlier, but with her teacher, who had apparently given her detention for defending herself.

Some system, he grumbled to himself cynically.

"I got detention," Reika confirmed, oblivious to his inner monologue.

"It's been a week," Sasuke protested weakly. Of course his little sister would have gotten herself a detention within two weeks of starting school. Of course.

Reika shrugged at him, unbothered. "I know. I'm just that skilled, clearly."

Sasuke rubbed his forehead. "Clearly," he agreed with a sigh. She really was. "And it's tonight?"

"Yup," Reika said carelessly. It was obvious she wasn't concerned about the detention.

Sasuke sighed at her again. "You couldn't have told me earlier? Like, I don't know, yesterday when you actually got the detention?"

"I forgot?" Reika shrugged again. He narrowed his eyes at her, unimpressed with her avoidance tactics. It worried him, sometimes, how independent his little sister seemed to try to be. She was still five; she wasn't supposed to be doing things like getting into fights – okay, that was a ninja thing – and hiding detentions.

"Do you know what will happen?" Reika said suddenly.

Sasuke recognized that she was changing the subject, but he went with it anyway. "No, I don't know," he said. He continued with a snarky, "It's not like I've ever gotten detention, you know." and raised his eyebrow at her.

Reika scoffed. "Pfft. You're just jealous," she bickered back. "Think I should bring the scrolls?" she wondered after a moment.

"How should I know?" Sasuke said. Detention could be anything, from sitting in silence to doing a ridiculous workout. "I guess. I mean, what's the point if you don't learn anything?" he reasoned. Besides, it wasn't like bringing the books could be a bad thing, even if she didn't get a chance to read them.

"That's true," Reika acknowledged.

Sasuke debated with himself over whether or not to offer to stay. On the one hand, Reika was his little sister, and he'd obviously wait for her. On the other hand, actually offering, showing that he cared… it left him a little more vulnerable than he cared for.

"Do you want me to stay?" he offered anyway. It didn't matter with Reika, he figured. "I can wait 'till it's over."

Reika half-smiled at him, looking like she appreciated the sentiment of the offer but not the object of it. "No, it's fine," she said, rolling her eyes teasingly. "I know the way back."

Uh-huh. Sasuke was sure she did. "Really?" he said skeptically. "'Cause I seem to remember you getting lost… a lot."

Reika blushed, turning a rather impressive tomato color. "I – I meant to do that," she lied. She let out an awkward cough. "Whatever, that's not the point." She shoved him, but he barely felt it. "I'll be fine, okay? Go home."

Sasuke gave her an unconvinced look. Like he was just going to leave his little sister. "That's believable."

"You wound me, dear brother," Reika said, giving him a blank look. "No, but really, I can take care of myself, Sasuke." She cringed, clearly recognizing how unbelievable it was.

And it was unbelievable. Reika was not an intimidating figure; she was of incredibly diminutive size, with large eyes and messy hair. Frankly, she was, though Sasuke hesitated to use the word, adorable. And that was without considering her aforementioned lack of ability to navigate.

"Okay, that was a lie," Reika spoke again before Sasuke could. "But really, it'll be fine. What could happen?" she widened her eyes, staring intently into Sasuke's own, and looked very earnest.

Sasuke sighed a little on the inside. "Reika –"

"Please, Sasuke," Reika cut him off. She looked at him with big, watery eyes. "Trust me?" she said it pathetically, as though she would be absolutely heartbroken if he did not.

As always, Sasuke was well aware that she was manipulating him. And as always, he gave in anyway, if unwillingly. "Fine," he conceded the argument. He was aware of how important her autonomy apparently was to her, though he just wanted to keep her from getting hurt… "But if you get lost or something, don't blame me."

Reika was unimpressed with his warning – and also suddenly perfectly calm. "'Course not," she consoled, shoving Sasuke in the direction of the gates.

Sasuke didn't fight her too hard. He had agreed to leave her there. Obediently, he started on the walk home. The further away he got, though, the more his older brother sense of protectiveness wailed at him that he was leaving her unprotected.

His last chance before he wouldn't have been able to see the Academy, he gave in to the alarm, spinning back to face the Academy. He found Reika still standing there in the courtyard, looking utterly tiny. Seemingly annoyed with his hesitance, she waved at him to keep going.

Fine, fine. Sasuke continued walking away from the Academy. At the very least, Reika's teacher was there to protect her.

Unless it's her Reika needs to be protected against, Sasuke thought bitterly, but didn't turn around. He couldn't spend every minute of every day of the rest of their lives with her, and she'd be fine without him. Probably.

Of course, Sasuke may have said he wouldn't wait at the Academy, but that didn't mean he couldn't still wait up for her. He knew better than to think she'd get home soon, however; some of the other students had talked about how terrible and long detentions were. That still didn't prevent them from continuing to get detentions, though.

Since he'd be waiting for a while, Sasuke took out his homework to do, as he usually would after school. It generally took him about an hour to do, so he figured that Reika would be getting home about the time he finished.

He was wrong.

An hour and six minutes later, Sasuke had finished his homework, and his sister was nowhere to be seen.

Sasuke frowned to himself, now worried. He couldn't help it; Reika was five, and he'd left her alone, and she was only in her first month of the Academy, there was no way she could defend herself if she was attacked on the way home. Or maybe her tyrannical teacher was keeping her at the Academy, forcing her to do – something horrible, or something.

But then, Reika would get mad at him if he showed up looking for her and she wasn't in danger. And, he supposed, it wasn't really likely that she'd get attacked – they were in a ninja village and she was an Academy student – nor that her teacher would do anything too mean.

Fine, I won't go looking for her, Sasuke decided. Yet.

In an attempt to distract himself, Sasuke read his scrolls and books for a while. He then decided that he couldn't sit still anymore. He cleaned the house a little, making sure everything in the kitchen and bathroom and his own bedroom was in its place. Reika's room remained untouched, as he wasn't willing to enter it without permission.

Still antsy after finishing, Sasuke changed into his pajamas. Maybe Reika would get back faster if he was ready to go to bed (Sasuke didn't believe it, either). Also, it would deter him a little from leaving, since he'd have to get dressed first. Of course, it wouldn't really deter him much, since his sister was more important than the mild inconvenience of changing clothes.

At two and a half hours since Sasuke had gotten home, he decided that he was going after her, and she could be mad at him all she liked. With perfect timing, as he started towards his room, he heard Reika's key rattling in the lock. The door creaked open and she stumbled in, closing and locking it behind her.

Sasuke breathed out, unspeakably relieved. She's okay.

But what could have taken so long? He wondered. "Reika, what took so long?" he questioned, realizing belatedly how rude that was.

Reika didn't seem to mind, smiling at him as she emerged from the entryway, dropping her bag on the table. "One of the others tried to ditch, so we ended up spending an hour extra waiting for them. And then Iera-sensei made us run twenty laps."

So that's the teacher's name.

Sasuke had to contain a smirk, not wanting to annoy her. Reika was just so – um – funny, a disgruntled look on her face about the laps. "That sucks," he offered, trying for sympathetic.

"It does," Reika agreed, either missing or ignoring his falsehood. She blinked. "Did you really stay up waiting for me?" she said accusingly.

Of course he had, but saying that made him sound like a doting parent waiting up for their teenager to get back from some illicit party. "Of course not," Sasuke lied to conserve his reputation.

Reika snorted and waved him towards his room. "Liar. Go to bed, seriously."

"Only when you do," Sasuke said evenly. Reika looked like she needed it more, anyway; she was wobbling, and wasn't focusing very well.

"I am," Reika pointed out. She groaned unexpectedly, and looked sleepily miserable.

Now worried, Sasuke asked, "What's wrong?"

"We have school tomorrow," she answered with a pitiful look.

We do, don't we, Sasuke realized. It was a stupid thing to forget, but he had. He resigned himself to hating himself in the morning. "I'm going to bed," he decided.

Reika rolled her eyes at him. "I know. Goodnight." She stared at him expectantly, apparently waiting for him to go to his room.

"Goodnight," Sasuke answered automatically, not paying attention. He was suspicious, now, that she wasn't actually planning to go to bed. And she needed to go to bed, because sleep was important, especially for young children. Sasuke ignored the fact that he was acting like a mother hen, sitting on the edge of his bed and listening intently. He wanted make sure she went to bed.

It became rather obvious once he heard the shower turn on. It made sense; Reika had apparently just done a lot of running, and she generally preferred to shower in the evenings anyway.

He still waited up until he heard the shower turn off and Reika wander into her room. Of course, she could still stay up, since she had books in her room, but it wasn't likely. Why would she stay up to read tonight when she could just read tomorrow?

Sasuke reflected that he should probably trust his sister more, but she was five; he wasn't being unreasonable in his protectiveness. Maybe when she was older (which, since she would always be younger than him, would be never).