To those generous souls that blessed me with reviews thank you, thank you, thank you! Even if it is only one review, you guys have no idea how motivated that makes a writer feel. On a completely unrelated note Pandora Hearts is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.


THE NEXT DAY

"SASUKE! TEME! MOVE YOUR LAZY ASS! I DON'T WANT TO BE LATE AGAIN!" Shouted an irritated Naruto, arms wildly spinning about in emulation of an electronic fan.

"Naruto if you weren't so dense you would realize we are 25 minutes early, and stop screaming, I can hear you just fine." Sasuke sounded too tired to be dealing with an over energetic Naruto at 7 in the morning. His hand covered his face for a few moments attempting to make reality disappear, and his headache with it. He had slept so badly. A restless feeling had kept him awake almost the entire night. The fact that he couldn't find the reason behind it drove him even more insane.

Gaara popped seemingly out of nowhere and made Naruto scream like a girl. He also found it necessary to ask about the event Sasuke had mentally suppressed. Or tried to avoid thinking about the entire night, was he missing some kind of connection with something there?

"So, how did it go with the Devil a.k.a. Itachi?" The redhead eyed Naruto with a somewhat wary air as he watched him dangle from the side of the bench they were occupying.

"He paid me the $200. I didn't think he would do it, but he did." Gaara was not the sort of person who made use of facial expressions, but not even he could control the small frown that appeared between thin eyebrows. What was wrong with Sasuke? He wasn't a fountain of happiness exactly on a regular basis, but he sounded unusually down. Perhaps more questioning was required?

"Did he say anything about the price?" Green eyes dipped to the side to observe as Naruto teetered over the edge as he watched avidly a group of giggling girls walking by. Sometimes the blonde was too much like an animal. A horny animal.

Sasuke shook his head and after a quiet sigh leaned back, exposing a pale neck as his head laid on the back of the wooden bench.

"No, right after I said the price he took his wallet out, counted the money, and gave it to me. Not one ounce of protest, or anything at all actually."

The concerned frown on Gaara's face became a little more noticeable. If Sasuke's plan had gone smoothly, then why did he sound depressed? No, it was not sorrow. It sounded more like he was disappointed. But why would he? Perhaps Itachi was not the only one hiding things here.

"I see. That confirms it then; he cares greatly about someone. I mean, who in their right mind would pay $200 for two poems and a picture?"

Sasuke straightened up so fast that he almost broke his back, while Naruto started laughing uproariously. Apparently he had been paying attention despite not looking like he was. He was such a sneaky fox.

"You mean it was a test? We didn't need the 200 bucks?" The blonde looked amused between Sasuke's shocked face and Gaara's blank expression.

"Yes, it was a test. We only need about 60 dollars. It's a carnival, not Disneyland." The redhead answered diplomatically. Sasuke looked annoyed for a moment, possibly for being used as a pawn, but then smirked in that way that told everyone he had won despite circumstances.

"Well I guess I end up with 140 bucks for myself. Thanks G-Man if it weren't for you I would not have dared to ask for such an amount."

His smirk dissipated almost as fast as it had appeared, and the same forlorn tone that had pervaded his previous answers showed up again in the next words. Gaara couldn't help but to notice the shift. Sometimes he seriously considered telling Sasuke to see a psychiatrist because his mood swings bordered on bipolar. It only got worse when the topic was Itachi.

"If you think about it that way, then it is true that the person must be really important for Itachi. If he paid without even batting an eyelash about it." A distressed look covered his features and Gaara had the distinct feeling that Sasuke was unaware of making such an expression.

"Great. Now I'm all curious about who it could be. Extremely curious." The brunette secretly wanted to smack himself. Why did he feel such a desperate need to know? Because it was not just that he wanted to know, it was more like he needed to know. His self-analysis was interrupted by Naruto's unexpected outburst.

"Hey teme! Why should you get all the extra money?! Give me 40 bucks man! I wanna buy that new anime that came out, don't be a greedy whore!" Naruto jumped on Sasuke and attempted to search his pockets while Sasuke valiantly tried to fend him off. The boy was like a dog with a bone sometimes when it came to money. Anyone would think that Iruka didn't spoil him rotten, and he was some starving hobo.

"Naruto get off! I don't even have the money on me right now. Besides, focus! Itachi's mystery crush alert here! We have to find out who it is. Maybe we can help him get with her, and maybe, hopefully, he'll turn human again. He could even possibly be a nice brother to me." It was all stated in almost one breath.

Sasuke realized after he had said it, that it was an incredibly brilliant idea. His eyes widened a fraction while his brain processed it. Why had he not thought of it before? Oh yeah, he was too busy focusing on his own confusing thoughts and desires. Not that he had any feelings or anything, he didn't really care if Itachi was nice or not. But it would be more convenient if he were; yeah that was it, convenience.

The joys of denial were never more fully enjoyed by an Uchiha, than when he was able to completely justify his irrationality with perfectly rational lies.

Gaara observed the circus that transpired too close for comfort and swiftly stood to avoid a collision. On the up side Sasuke's spirits seemed to lift after sprouting some self-righteous plot to assist his brother. The redhead wondered how much of it carried a hidden agenda. You could never tell with Sasuke. He was so good at lying to himself that others found it hard to discern his actual motives since he, himself, didn't know. What a complicated person.

"Hey geniuses the bell is about to ring. Unless you want Kakashi on your ass again I strongly suggest you start walking." He eyed the other two teens as they reluctantly stopped fighting. They grabbed their things and followed the redhead while maintaining their verbal assault on each other. Could those two ever stop fighting?

AT LUNCH

The three boys were huddled together in a corner of the cafeteria plotting Itachi's romantic success, or what they thought would be success. The identity of the romantic interest had to be identified before any definite plotting was to occur.

"So...how can we figure out who's Itachi's prey?" Anyone who heard Gaara speak might have had the misleading impression that he was a mafia boss trying to dispose of a body. Definitely not playing matchmaker.

The other two males in front of him looked very business-like too. Although Naruto's eyes kept skipping to the adjacent table where an adorable girl known as Hinata Hyuga was shyly discussing history with her friends. While Sasuke looked like someone who might fry his brain if someone didn't stop him from over thinking. Despite these minor distractions responses to Gaara's question were swift. You just didn't leave the redhead hanging after all; it might cause severe bleeding.

"I think the best course of action is to get inside his room again and look for more clues." Sasuke's suggestion was met with a pair of raised eyebrows. At times, thinking too hard was not very productive.

"I think we should stalk him for a while. Learn his moves; see if he treats someone in an especial way that may hint to who the girl is, ya know? Besides it would be all movie-like. Us being like secret agents and stuff. Sasuke was in his room already, and the only thing left that might hold some kind of info would be the computer." Replied Naruto almost tripping over his words in his haste to lay down his brilliant, if merely movie-induced thought.

He eagerly leaned on top of the table to see what kind of reaction his friends would have to the idea. Okay, so the blonde was not like a dog with a bone with just money. He was like that with everything.

"For once I agree with Naruto. Sasuke if we could get inside that computer, we would get something, I'm sure. I mean you said the security was pretty tight; he must have something of importance there. Related or not to this topic, we must find out what it is. Do you have any idea what your brother does during his spare time or during the weekends?" Apparently getting inside Itachi's head had somewhat equal value of delight as eating a cookie for Gaara. If his slightly psychotic expression was anything to go by that is.

Sasuke looked to the side and observed the passing students. His voice was distant when he answered.

"If I knew what he does he wouldn't be the mystery he is to me. We will have to follow him and find out. The computer problem well, I'm not sure it will be so easy, but we could try anyways. I mean if we do learn about what he does, it should be easy to predict when he will be home right?" Sasuke didn't seem too excited about trying to enter Itachi's domain. Perhaps his previous experience had sobered up his curiosity in that particular realm. Itachi could be pretty intimidating when he wanted to.

"Yes, it should, so when will we start?" Gaara had replied without looking at Sasuke. Instead his forehead had creased with an annoyed frown while his mouth thinned. He was intently focused on the way Naruto's hand was trying to sneak into his space, dangerously close to HIS cookies...

The brunette pondered the question for a moment, but seemed to reassure himself of something with a small shrug. If they were going to do this crazy stuff, they might as well start already. Insanity will be insanity. Besides he might start doubting things and back down. Sometimes thinking too much was truly detrimental to progress. So heads on it was.

"How about tomorrow?"

Naruto huffed and sputtered for a moment as if someone had tasered him.

"Hey teme it can't be tomorrow! We are going to the carnival remember?"

Sasuke threw him an annoyed glare. Leave it to Naruto to be so simple minded.

"Oh shut it, this is more important than any carnival dobe."

"SAY WHAT?! I had invited a whole bunch of people who wanted to come!" The blonde pouted fiercely. He had finally crossed the line and actually dared to touch the cookie. Gaara slapped his hand with enough strength to almost bruise. He threw the blonde a threatening look that screamed: "Try it again and you'll lose your hand!"

Naruto recoiled to the farthest end of the table, and glared at the other two defiantly. They were such sourpusses! Jeez.

"Fine bitch do what you want, me and Gaara will check it out, but don't complain later about missing the action." Sasuke stood up and gathered his things. He tilted his head to the side to hide his smirk. Naruto was too easy to manipulate sometimes.

"Well I may be a bitch, but I ain't your bitch teme! Fine I'll sacrifice my social life for your sake. That's right, I love you that much. Of course you won't appreciate it, being the ungrateful slut you are." A dazzling smile with martyr flair had taken hold of the blonde's face. He stood up too, hands on hips, beaming eternal friendship rays. Sasuke almost chuckled; Naruto sometimes was too kind for his own good.

Behind the loudness and depravity, behind the arrogance and stupidity, there was so much heart, that it was impossible to measure with words. The dark haired boy was silently grateful for the blonde's existence. That didn't stop him from further riling up the poor guy though.

"HA. HA. HA. You are sooo funny Naruto...but drop the act of selflessness. We know that you are just as curious as we are about Itachi's life. So deal with your little sacrifice." The blonde looked affronted by Sasuke's sarcasm. Gaara had already started walking away and didn't even bother saying goodbye.

Sasuke followed, but turned after a few steps. He gave Naruto a small smile and spoke with the sweetest voice he could muster.

"Oh, and Naruto? You are my bitch."

A ferocious roar was heard across the school. Sasuke's name might have been heard after it too.

(Sasuke POV)

FRIDAY

Damn. I'm so excited about this; it isn't the thrill of the spying only, but the fact that even if he is unaware of it, I will be spending time with my brother. I had not felt like this before, ever, so alive and mindful of every little thing on my surroundings.

Heh. The bastard doesn't know what he's got coming. Yes, he is still a bastard. It's going to take a lot more than loving someone to change my view of him. Just because he has romantic issues doesn't mean he has to be a frigid bastard with me. I need to figure out who the person is, and if possible give Itachi a little push into doing something about getting with her.

That would make me very happy, I don't know why, but imagining him with someone makes me happy. Maybe because I have always thought that aniki is really lonely. Lonely people are mostly unhappy, and despite his dastardliness I don't want him to be unhappy.

I still remember our childhood, and the good times we spent together. Well as good a time as you can have with a person like Itachi. I know I can't get it back, but I have Naruto and Gaara. I don't think nii-san has anyone. Although, I wouldn't mind offering him a chance to rebuild our bond, not that he would take it anyways. The bastard. Gah, why am I such a cream-puff?! If I don't hurry I'll be late for our first mission.

Now lets see, what I should I wear? Something comfortable and non-suspicious, black jeans and a gray tank top should do it.

(Normal POV)

Close to 30 meters away from the Uchiha state a black car was conspicuously parked. A redhead was at the driver's seat, a pale boy next to him. In the back was an oblivious blonde making out with a girl that he had introduced as Hinata Hyuga. Two occupants were almost in spasms of annoyance, while the other two were too into each other to care or notice.

"Oi! Naruto! Do you HAVE to be doing that NOW? Exclaimed a very irritated Sasuke. He was on the verge of jumping on Naruto and choking him to death like the yellow chocobo he was. Had the obnoxiously blonde person not said he was going to sacrifice his social life? What part was supposed to be the sacrifice?! Because clearly the part about shoving his tongue down someone's throat had not been included.

"Eh. Teme don't worry about it, I got it covered. When and if Itachi goes out, Hinata leaves, and we will be able to follow without a problem. You didn't think I would take her along while spying, did you?"

Naruto sounded like the voice of reason, but Sasuke and Gaara strongly begged to differ. The brunette rubbed his temple and looked straight ahead. He was really nervous, he didn't need Naruto messing around and making him even more stressed. Anger was not going to solve anything, Naruto tended to only get more defiant when confronted aggressively.

"With you one never knows, besides we are supposed to be inconspicuous. A girl getting out of a black car, in the middle of a deserted street, is anything but inconspicuous." Sasuke made eye contact through the rearview mirror to hammer his point across. Sometimes the blonde was just like a misbehaving child that needed to be shown the right path, firmly. Just as Sasuke expected, he pouted his infamous pout, but nodded in agreement.

"Fine, fine. Hinata I'm sorry, but I'm gonna take care of business here. I'll see you tomorrow? Mr. I-ruin-Naruto's-fun over here wants to do just as his name says." He added a cheeky grin to salvage his dignity. Hinata-chan was sooo cute. But perhaps Sasuke was right and it wasn't exactly the right time. He could get her later…

"I don't mind Naruto-kun, I'll see you tomorrow." She gave him a small smile between blushes; and got out of the car after getting another peck on the lips from the hot blonde.

Not too long after her departure a red car with a black panther drawn on the side pulled out on the street. Sasuke had to strangle a gasp. Itachi was going out! They had their chance! His hands started to sweat profusely and his heartbeat increased rapidly.

"That's it! Follow it Gaara!" Sasuke's eagerness carried clearly through his voice, while his inner child jumped up and down in joy. The driver just gave a curt nod and sped to a comfortable velocity, easily keeping the distance between them and their prey. His green eyes glinted like glass with predatory malice.

After 30 minutes of driving, and a bitching Naruto who wouldn't shut up about what type of music Sasuke played. Their target stopped in front of a store that displayed its name proudly as "Welcome to Paradise" in a big pink sign, with resplendent yellow letters. The place was a kid's toys store and Itachi went in, coming back fifteen minutes later with his hands full of bags. He put everything inside the trunk of his car and drove away.

As the secret agents continued their mission, an uncomfortable silence filled the car. Naruto started to fidget so much that Gaara felt the need to glare at him through the rearview mirror. Scandalously blue eyes met icy green. The blonde yelped and embarrassedly rubbed the back of his neck. What could he do? It wasn't his fault that his personality was not made for long introspective speculation! Sorry if he was not a big pile of emo like some people.

"Umm… guys? What if Itachi is a pedophile that befriends little kids with toys; then takes them some place to "play", and kills them afterwards?" He stated in a horrified whisper that was met with thoughtful silence.

Sasuke looked out the window, perhaps intending to not answer the idiocy of the blonde. However, Gaara uncharacteristically chose to take pity upon the poor imaginative soul. If Sasuke was bipolar, Naruto was most likely on the beginning stages of schizophrenia. The redhead wondered where that left him in the mental diseases spectrum.

"Well we can't say not to that, but lets wait until the end to draw conclusions. I'm sure there is a plausible explanation for this." He replied while making fancy moves on the road in order to keep up with the red car. Even Sasuke, who was not generally impressed by a whole lot, raised an eyebrow to some of Gaara's maneuvers. A career in NASCAR should have been highly considered. Naruto seemed to disagree, holding on to everything he could for dear life.

Confusion clouded their minds when they approached a beige building that seemed to be a hospital. Nurses, doctors, patients, and passersby openly stared at the trio as they (supposedly) stealthy followed Itachi through the white halls.

It was more like Naruto and Sasuke would shove at each other every time they got to a corner while Gaara walked ten paces behind them. He simply followed the trail of staring people.

Itachi had stopped at an office and gone in for a few minutes. He came out with a small lady, who must have been in her late sixties. She smiled at him continuously and seemed to gently push him towards the end of the hall with her small and shriveled hands. The secret agents looked puzzled at each other but followed the odd couple.

Naruto made a crack joke about Itachi liking old ladies and Sasuke gave him such a resounding smack across the head that it resonated throughout the hall. They had to dive headfirst into a side room when Itachi stopped and looked behind him.

The old lady guided Itachi to the last room and waved him in, he entered reluctantly after looking down the hall once more. Gaara forced the other two to remain still for a little while. Since the hall ended, they couldn't walk all the way over to the end without being caught. Soon after though, the old lady walked by, apparently Itachi had been left alone. When her steps had been silenced by distance Naruto peeked both ways and tip toed closer to their target area. He suddenly threw himself flat on the floor.

Sasuke glared at the blonde for his antics, but when he walked closer he realized they were necessary. There was a relatively small glass window near the door that allowed for a perfect view of the inside, and Sasuke assumed of the hall too. Gaara and him bent down and approached the blonde. They whispered furiously, trying to decide who would take a peek, but finally decided that everyone should look. They were all too curious.

If Naruto had been a Looney Tune his mouth would have hit the floor at the sight that greeted them. The room was not a room at all, but a huge circular hall. There were beds with children everywhere, and Itachi was currently in the middle being assaulted by hug thieves. That's what Sasuke mentally called them. How dare they touch his aniki so freely while he wasn't even allowed a smile!

But Itachi apparently had no problem upturning the corners of his lips for the little devils. Sasuke's throat became a desert. His brother was smiling. Sure, it was barely perceptible, but he was smiling. Itachi. Was. Smiling. A few of his brain cells were blown to smithereens by the velocity with which the thought hit him. But perhaps more disconcerting was the feeling of wanting to be any of those kids. It was such a devastatingly strong desire that Sasuke felt the need to grip the edge of the window relentlessly in order to ground him. What was wrong with him? Why did Itachi drive him to such desperate feelings?

"Can I help you dears?" A stupefying melodious voice carried over to the staring trio.

Naruto being the scaredy-cat he was threw both arms in the air and screamed, "We have been caught!" and attempted to dash away from the scene, but was effectively stopped by Gaara's quick reflexes.

"You have been caught?" Echoed the old lady, who did not even surpass Naruto's shoulder in height. Sasuke attempted a friendly smile that came out looking like a grimace. His mind was in such turmoil over the confusing sensations that kept tearing through his chest that even Gaara winced at the weak excuse that came from his lips.

"Oh, pay no mind to him. Unfortunately he is mentally challenged." Naruto was about to reply in complete indignation to Sasuke's outrageous insult, but Gaara's fingers constricted his neck fiercely. They needed to get out of there soon, or someone was going do something stupid. The redhead was specifically concerned about Sasuke, who seemed to be looking at those kids with a mixture of hunger and blood thirst. That look could never be considered healthy.

"Right…" The old lady seemed doubtful but smiled after a moment.

"So can I help you with something? Have you come to see the children?" Sasuke looked inside the room once more at the mention of the little thieves. What was it about Itachi that just made him lose his mind? Oh yeah, he was a bastard. Who apparently liked children, and smiled at them. Disregarding common courtesy or privacy issues he went for the kill; consequences be damned.

"Who's that man?" The old lady, who's nameplate read Dr. Raleigh seemed taken aback by the sudden question, but she smiled nonetheless.

"Oh, that's one of our biggest benefactors. He comes almost weekly. He's such a modest person though, hardly ever wants the kids to know that he is the one who brings the presents. We are very lucky to have him." She looked over to the group of kids that were currently trying to braid Itachi's hair with kind eyes. Sasuke couldn't take it anymore. He angrily turned around and stalked out the hospital.

Was the world coming to an end? Why was it that everything he had assumed about his brother was wrong? Where was the evil bastard he had envisioned for years? Where was the anti-social sociopath? Where was the person he was supposed to hate? How was he supposed to hate someone who was nice?!

But Sasuke wouldn't be fooled! Oh no. It was just wrong; it was a lie. Itachi was probably putting up a show; he wasn't content with just being the perfect son he had to be the perfect citizen too!

Sasuke chose to ignore the fact that there was no one to put a show for. Especially if Itachi did not like having his efforts recognized. But if the world had decided to be the complete opposite of everything, then Sasuke felt entitled to be insane too, and make no sense. He needed to hate Itachi; he needed to. If he didn't hate him, then how could he explain the torrent of wild feelings that the mere mention of the name could bring?

A little shaken about their discovery our boys kept following the man. The three of them mostly fighting with their rational side which kept telling them the person they saw at the hospital wasn't Itachi but someone else. They arrived at the next stop without further comment. Even Naruto seemed to find a need for quietness and contemplation. He was sort of ashamed about calling Itachi a pedophile before.

Gaara wrinkled his nose while he parked. The area they were at was rather run down and shady, the sort of place where organs might be bought. Itachi had parked and left the car with a small bag that seemed rather suspicious. He had entered a deplorable looking house after checking his surroundings with slightly hurried steps.

Sasuke was annoyed by the lack of sight they had of the house, but it couldn't be helped. If they had gotten any closer it would have been obvious, the place was oddly deserted almost like a ghost town. He was actually surprised that Itachi had not noticed; for some reason he expected his brother to be the sort of person who sensed being followed, there was just something about him.

After half an hour of impatient waiting the door opened, and a man of nineteen or perhaps twenty, strode out. He exuded confidence even in the gaudy set of clothes that hugged his frame. A certain level of confidence was needed to feel confident in that particular set of clothes, or so Sasuke thought.

Pale skin and black hair was all that Sasuke and his companions could discern from the distance. The man stood there smoking for a few minutes, taking small puffs out of a lazily held cigarette. Something seemed to call his attention to the inside of the house and he turned to look. Whatever it was, it seemed to elicit a good response, because he started clapping and made an exaggerated show of doing a "once over"; enough for it to evident even to relatively distant observers.

Another person emerged then; it was another male. His hair was very dark and long, almost reaching to his lower back, optical stripes of blue mingling here and there. Tight black pants adhered to his body like hydra plants to walls. The top was a simple crimson, mixed with complicated black designs that fell easily upon slim shoulders and shifted colors with each miniscule movement. Even from their inconvenient position the boys could tell that the man was wearing heavy eyeliner.

He looked hotter than the deepest recesses of hell.

After they ran their eyes up and down about twenty times the three teens in the car realized something; something that was perhaps sort of important and had escaped their attention.

The guy was Itachi... Correction. The GUY they had been CHECKING OUT was Itachi...

Oh, yes. Everyone was questioning their sexualities right about; now. Gaara and Naruto seemed to go into shock, while Sasuke's mind resembled a collision between two galaxies at epic speeds.

Sasuke POV

Fuck. Who is that guy with my brother? And how come he looks so friendly? Dammit Itachi! Why do you get along with all these strangers and you can't even have a conversation with me?! And why do you look so damn sexy!

That's so wrong man! I'm not supposed to think my brother looks sexy! I'm not gay, am I? Hell, focus here Sasuke!

It isn't time to decide how you swing! This is a crusade for the sake of your brother, I think.

Why does it look like the only one he has problem with is me? To everyone else he is just another 20-year-old guy. What the hell is his problem? I'm his brother, he's supposed to be nice to me dammit. I will get to the bottom of this even if it kills me! Bastard.


Okay readers. Here is the deal. People work for money, in fanfiction people work for reviews. Don't be a thief. Is it really that hard to scribble a line or two? Even if it is to insult me? I particularly like insults, or constructive criticism. I have done two chapters for Poison so I'm going to work on Resonance's fifth chapter now. I suppose that means that unless I feel VERY motivated to do the next chapter it won't be here for a while. Motivation spawns from reviews. It really does. Thank you for reading!