disclaimer: I do not own Naruto~
summary: This is not a love story, but it is a story about love. —Sasuke/Hinata
notes: I am literally only surviving on coffee at the moment.
Itachi talks for an hour—his voice is soft and comforting, and it sort of… floats. Sasuke listens attentively, with wide amazed eyes, as his brother spins a tale of enemy ninja and forbidden scrolls—and then, at some point, that inkling of truth disappears entirely, and Itachi is just telling stories; he talks about dragons and a mermaid who took him to the depths of the sea, just off the coast of Iwa. He leans forwards and sips his tea, and Sasuke leans forwards and clings to every word, and then his brother says, "I believe that is enough—it is far past the time of talking, little brother. You should be asleep."
"I want to hear more," Sasuke whispers—but his voice is a little slurred. He's tired.
"You're barely staying awake as it is," Itachi chuckles.
"You haven't heard about my adventures, yet."
"Oh?"
"I met a—" Sasuke yawns, rubbing his eyes. "—very strange person, with eyes like a ghost. She was very shy."
"She sounds very interesting," Itachi says, as he picks up the teapot and cup—he places them in the sink, rinsing them before leaving them to dry, and then turns, wiping his hands down on a towel. "What is her name, then—this ghost-girl of yours?"
Sasuke doesn't reply.
He has fallen asleep with his head in his hands at the table.