Twin Brother's Two Halves One Soul Chapter 4: Just the two of us together, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fatal Frame.

Pairings: SasuIta

Warnings: Yaoi, twincest/Uchihacest, Blood, foul language, gore? OCCness, disturbing scenes, grammar errors. (Hehe, I believe it deserved to be a warning).

Author's comment: Oh, a fast update sort of. ^^ Once again this chapter is quite long, but hey at least it's more shorter than the last chapter.

I would like to thank ever readers who read, review, favorite, and alert this story. It made me very happy. X)

In this story, Itachi is the older twin while Sasuke is the younger twin. I believe the first chapter said that Itachi just a bare seconds older than Sasuke.

So, without further ado, Onward to the story :)

Chapter 3

Just the two of us together…

"My beloved sun…how I adore you the most of all…the way yours eyes twinkle like thousand distance heavenly gems when you chuckle, when you amuse, when you smile that angelic smile that was direct to me…and yet as long I could never redeem myself of my fault…my mistakes.…you're a epitome of forbidden melody I can not have for eternity…I can never meet you again…I don't deserved to be in your presence…that's the consequence of my mistake for what I done to you…"

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For Itachi, the horror movie episode didn't draw his attention away from feeling someone's watching his being from a posterior view. Though he was sitting on a large blue beanbag,

facing the large television in an equally large living room, five minutes ago he was actually sitting on the couch with his uncle. However his brother and Uncle had taken the couch after

Sasuke yelled at their uncle, when he had came back downstairs to change into something more suitable than standing around half naked, to move away from him so he could sit there. His uncle didn't really obey his order quickly, and Itachi wisely cut in sensing the rising extreme anger radiantly from his twin's being and seeing his left hand was clutched into a fist in inner anger about to release on his uncle, by getting up the couch and announced he would be sitting on the beanbag.

His uncle looked greatly relieve that he won't get punch by his temper brother, and start talking about the movie they were about to watch, then afterward, realizing he and Sasuke wasn't listening to him ever since the beginning, he'd left the room to get some drinks. After their uncle had left and the movie start playing, he had also left intended to change his clothes and putting away the stuff panda bear leaving Sasuke by himself. It only took him a few seconds to place the cute bear gently on his bed, and change his clothes putting away the kimono his brother allow him to kept in one of the wardrobe, then at the last seconds brought a book with him as he went back downstairs. When he'd remerged in the drawing room, he saw Sasuke was staring at him half-reclining on his seat; the movie playing by itself in the background forgotten as the occupants was having a staring contest. He couldn't break his gaze away from his brother who was also still staring at him, his eyes were quickly scanning him over before bringing his gaze back to his own, as if his whole being had became a large stone that won't budge. Thankfully the intense, to him, eccentric staring contest was broken when their Uncle came up from behind him at the entrance of the living room, shouting 'Popcorn!' which made Sasuke broke their gaze first, his head angle to the side, gazing at their uncle from behind him, a brief frown on his pale red supple lips before it morph into a scowl. Unlike his twin, he merely looked over his shoulder at their uncle-- who was chucking nervously under the dark glare that was sent by Sasuke's, his hand scratching his head of flowing black hair--, then turn around and stride back to his seat, absently trying to come to a conclusion of why his twin were angry at their uncle in the first place but didn't drew much.

And now, even he was sitting on the large beanbag, he could feel the stared penetrating through the beanbag and onto his back then linger slowly away as one portion of his mind was still recalling what the women said and the strange conversation with Sasuke, while the other was focusing on that owner of the stare. He didn't need to discern who the owner of those eyes was because it's very oblivious; it was his brother, Sasuke. He didn't understand why he kept staring at him, or perhaps this what his twin meant when he said he's 'going to get back at him' by staring and studying him? Either way his brother must try a harder and better tactics of whichever plans he have for him though because by staring at him won't make him unnerved since he had been use to those secret penetrating stares for a while and counting.

"This is a fucking lousy movie, uncle. Why can't you rent another one that's more interesting, liked full with tons of blood and torture screams?" was the deep lazy drawled from behind him making him snapped back to attention and his eyes focus simultaneously of the movie on the large television screen, on a tall gleaming black furniture, flashing through different scene which he supposed to be watching not letting his mind drift off to his twin. Even he couldn't see him, Itachi can picture in his mind his brother is in a idle laid-back position, one of his legs prop up on the couch, one of his arm draped over his forehead, his finger, attached to his other hand, idly twirling the chain of the Uchiha crest necklace around his slender finger, a habit Sasuke had developed a year ago when he's bored, insanely bored, his twin had told him. And when he's bored he tend to get easily anger more than usual, and also liked to tease him so he could get the bored ness out of his systems, want to be entertained, it was one of his growing habits.

Over the years, Sasuke possess many habits of growing up from a boy and now to an adolescent. He would always scratch the back of his neck when he's nervous or uncomfortable, and a while before it seemed he'd given birth of the ruffling his hair into the uncomfortable category. His elegant eyebrow would twitch one, and twice when he get annoyed, he would ball up his fists in pent up anger before releasing the anger through his fist by colliding it harshly against a object or a person who happen to be in his fury state mind way. He would bit his lips when he's in deep thoughts. And his milky cheekbone will obtained a healthy pink hue when he's embarrassed then start stuttering in between sentence he tried to form, and Itachi realized that his twin normally have it when it was involved with him.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun. But it seem I don't like bloody scenes in movies it's to scary for me," His uncle replied, and he could picture an image of his brother with a scowled on his face aiming at their uncle and getting ready to shout a snide insult to him. After a pregnant silence that filled the room only disturb by the action that takes place in the movie, Itachi shifted his eyes away from the movie that didn't completely caught his interest, then turn sideways on his seat, gazing subtly over the large beanbag onto his brother without him noticing when there was a unusually silence on his part.

It seem the image he pictured within of his mind of Sasuke's laid-back posture did become real and he was proud that he could harness the gifted ability to create replica image in his mind while not looking at Sasuke directly. His brother was in a idle laid back position, his left leg prop up on the white couch, his left arm draped over his forehead, while his right hand was twirling the chain necklace around his finger, his eyes were half-lidded, as though he was lost in thoughts, engrossed to the chain spinning around his finger not noticing his staring. And right next to his twin were their uncle, who was to engrossed of watching the movie, one of his hand holding a plate of sushi that Itachi had prepare for him, while the other, clutching a half-eaten sushi, was pause midway, an inch away before his parted lips, which Itachi finds it amusing as he observed his brother and uncle without their notice.

Nevertheless, his staring was cut short when Sasuke's eyes was no longer half-lidded, his onyx orbs lost the daze look within them as he snapped his vision from the necklace, dropping the chain so therefore it hung back to it rightful posture, directing and leveling him with a curious gaze. And Itachi didn't look or shifted his gaze away from his twin as though if he did it will show weakness and submissive on his person, when Sasuke's pale red lips twitch the slightest and so, so slowly turning from a thin line into a pleased smirk, proud that he single-handedly caught him staring at him. "Itachi, why are you staring at me?" Sasuke asked, his face taken in an amused mix with a confuse expression, as he straighten his posture and stood up, giving a stretch, making his shirt rode shortly, revealing a creamy stomach. Throughout the whole movement, his brother didn't lost the smirk on his face as he flopped down on the couch, resting his head in his hand, elbow on his knee propping him up and looked at him, his eyes glittering in amusement and his feature lost the confused look as if he already came into a conclusion of why he was staring at him, which he actually did but to Itachi isn't not the right one. "Oh, I get it, princess. You can't resist my good looks can you?" his twin asked teasingly making sure to put a emphasis on that nickname, which made the older twin lightly glared at the smug younger one, knowing he was toying him, trying to get a emotions out of him by using that word.

Rather instead, Itachi softened his glare and smile softly. "What good looks, Sasuke? We looked exactly the same.." he comment lightly, and the older twin distantly notice that their uncle were paying attention to their 'conversation', the movie flashing in the background and humming through different scenes and the sushi forgotten in his hand.

Sasuke falter slightly, his smirk dimming down just a little before returning back with full force, his brother have to point out the oblivious. "No, we don't. I look much manlier than you, princess,"He retorted, and relished how his twin's eyes glitter. He really enjoys riling up his perfect brother, it was so much fun.

Madara quickly interjected when the atmosphere turn more tense and his long-haired nephew glared at the playful younger brother, as he turned to his spiky haired nephew and spoke for the first time a serious tone. "Sasuke-kun, I believe you must stop. You're a young man now, not a boy, and as a man you must know when to stop and not to stop depend of the situation." He tiredly told his nephew, though his countenance was grim.

"I'm just playing with him nothing serious," Sasuke defend himself with a half-hearted smirk, but, that Madara observed, from the way his eyes were searching for Itachi's owns as the older twin tipped his head down, --making his bangs hid his feature, blocking his attempt--, to looked at the book on his laps. It was palpable that the younger twin wanted to apologize to him but he didn't as if he was denying himself on not saying it. The elder Uchiha frown mentally to himself; Sasuke was always the more prideful one complete opposite of Itachi.

A soft sigh was exhale, which made Madara turned his attention to his older nephew and he absently note that his spiky haired nephew dart his gaze from his lap and onto his brother, and Itachi raise his feature so they no longer hidden from view as he gave a small smile of reassurance. "Sasuke is right, Uncle. I'm just being…childish. I shouldn't take every thing seriously."

The younger twin looked rather relieve that his twin was no longer angry at him? "See, Uncle, stop being overdramatic. Itachi isn't angry at me," He said airily, waving his hand as to dismissed what just happen, scratching his neck with his right hand before intertwine both of his hand behind his head, reclining on the couch, as he stared up on the ceiling. His eyes trailing from one spot on the white mass then to the large rose-wooded china closet glitter brightly from the light of the chandelier hanging from above a few feet's away where he's at, idly. He slowly was getting more accustomed to his home, more to the drawing room though.

The elder nodded to the older twin a glowing smile on his feature. "That's good to hear. Now, Itachi-kun, I want to ask you something…" At that moment, Madara looked sheepish of what he's going to say and asked his nephew, as he scratches his neck sheepishly and Itachi notice how similar his uncle and brother are.

"What is it, Uncle?" He pressed.

His uncle let out an exhausted sigh before gathering himself to tell him. "I want to ask if you can go to the attic to retrieve a box of fresh and dried lemon grass herbs in there for me. It's located on the sixth floor, there's a stairway near Sasuke's room it will indisputably led you to the third floor the same with each floors. I would've gone there myself if I wasn't so busy." Itachi knew what his uncle meant by being busy. "Itachi-kun, you don't have to go if you don't want. I don't want to put this burden on you." His uncle quickly added.

Itachi took a while before he delivered his answered. To get to the garret, he'll need to cross the third, fourth and fifth floors to get there, which he had never been on before since he'd recently got here. But he couldn't disappointed his uncle, he need the herbs. And then with a fierce determination, pushing the flutter of slight dread that suddenly made its home in his stomach away, and making up his mind, the older twin answered. "It's okay, uncle. I will go."

Madara looked joyful though there was looks of sheepish on his countenance to tell his nephew to gets the herbs where he supposed to be getting its. "I'm glad then, Itachi-kun." Then the elder Uchiha tilted his head thoughtfully, as his eyes traveled to his spiky haired nephew, who was staring at his twin whom seems oblivious to the stare, and he smiled secretly to himself when something dawn on him. "I think Sasuke-kun should go with you, Itachi-kun." he stated firmly, giving no rooms for argument or protest from both of his nephews.

The older twin was about to emit a protest as politely he could or sway his Uncle's decision because he can gets there on his own. He didn't need his brother to guard him liked a prince protecting a princess from a troops of enemies trying to took over the palace she reside in, but his twin beat him to it, in a way. "That's a great idea, Uncle. I'm coming with you whether you liked it or not, princess," Sasuke said a haughty smirk on his face, realizing that he was actually agreeing with his uncle for once, and Itachi softly glared at his brother but posing no argument further, as a tiny sigh fled from his body. His uncle and brother treated him as a fragile transient black rose, its not liked he will suddenly fainted on the stairs but he conclude it was no use arguing. He didn't want to disobey his uncle's wish if that is he want for his safety.

In the maze of his thoughts, he wasn't aware that his twin was standing in front of him. It was when a hand flicked his bangs, he brought his gaze to Sasuke, who was staring at him in return, a smirk still on his princely countenance, his right hand extended in front of him, offering to help him up. "Shall we get going, princess?" It appears that his brother had permanent given him a nick name that he could use to annoy him.

Itachi stared at his brother's hand for a minute, then holding his book to his chest; he placed his left hand gracefully on the palm of Sasuke's, and allowed his twin to guide him out of the living room.

It was when they reached the large spiral staircase after a few strode; Itachi pulled his hand free from his brother's loose grip and unknowing missing the disappointment look flicker on his twin's feature, staring up at the large staircase, and all the same in his peripheral vision, he saw his brother leaning against the large post of the unblemished white staircase, his arms folded across his chest. A second tick by, and Sasuke sighed softly as he slowly uncrossed his arms and made a quick hand sweeping motion up the stairs when neither of them makes a move to headed upstairs. "Well, ladies first," He commented to his brother, a large smirk form on his lips, but its was hastily morph into a pain grimace by a light jabbed to his stomach when his angelic twin glided pass him and ascend up the stairs, therefore leaving him behind to recover from the jab and then afterward with no delay he followed his beloved brother after he recuperate from its. It was his task to secure Itachi's safety anyhow.

During the silent trip upstairs, Sasuke discreetly stared at his twin's back, more above his waistline not below, his eyes spellbind to his brother's thick exquisitely hair which grew a little pass his waist, swaying and brushing against Itachi's lower back with each steps he took-- movements hardly a whisper--, made the younger twin hypnotized, not paying attention to anything in particular only locking his focus solely on that hair.

As they reached the second floor and walk into the hallway. The young teen, no longer spellbound, thanks his lucky stars that he hadn't tripped or fell down on the stairs and maybe broke a limb, making him look liked an idiot to his twin's eyes for not watching and paying attention to his footing.

Well, not really. The younger twin believes that his brother would be too worried over him if he did suffer a broken limb than think he's an idiot, but he would most certainly feel liked an-over-obsessed-of-his-brother's-hair idiot.

Back downstairs, on the first floor, in the living room, sitting on the couch with an empty plate. Madara smiled to himself before finishing the last sushi, a knowingly trickle shining in his eyes as he listen to his nephew's footsteps slowly faded up the stairs. "At least they're finally alone together," Madara said to himself, getting up from the couch and headed to the kitchen, intending to wash the dishes and then afterward retire to his room to continue researching for that cure.

----

True to Madara's words, there was a staircase near Sasuke's room, at the end of the large, narrow hallway, which the younger twin did not realize before; than again he'd never got the chance to actually explore his home throughout. So, reaching the staircase, after a silence bathe walk, and heading up, they land onto the dim-lit third floor.

The hallway of the third floor was more dim-lit than the second floor, the painted light blue wall were glowing faintly from the light of the black chandelier hanging from above the ceiling, the light bulbs flicking on and off on the holder making the surrounding forbidding. And Sasuke quickly made a mental note to tell his uncle to changes the light bulbs so he would be more comfortable if he should ever ventured here again. To Sasuke, the hallway reminded him of a corridor, more school's corridor where there were many lockers and doors leading the students to class. Except this hallway lacked lockers, only consist of many guestrooms and picture frames lining up the wall. The floor, the young teen notice, was a linoleum floor different from the second floor, which was built with floorboard.

After he'd finish examining the hallway in small detail, he strode with graceful fast steps, easily catching up with Itachi who had walk on ahead of him. His eyes, narrow, encased in a hard shell, and searching scanned the hallway for any sign of a staircase that will surely led to the fourth floors, as he walk beside his brother matching his twin's careful elegant steps with each step he took, and perfectly in tune. It was so silent in their walk as if they walking in a ghost town, that Sasuke started fidgeting, playing with the hem of his shirt in the strange silence as its continues to stretch not giving any hint its going to break anytime soon. Finally deciding to break the silence since he just couldn't take it anymore if it continues further, it was almost driving him into a breaking point.

"So…"Sasuke began conversationally, walking to a near room and opening the door, poking his head inside, it was completely dark. And so without further ado he search for the light switch, his hand feeling the wall blindly in the dark, but soon gave up. Beside he didn't really have time to look inside the room, as he then went back to Itachi's sides and continue, flickering his eyes in a side long glance at a picture frame when he strode pass, absently. "Where do you think the stairway is at?"

It was silent before Itachi finally spoke in that melodies voice, his shoulders relax, and his manner light as his eyes scanned their surrounding. "I believe it's located at the end of the hallway," he softly supplied helpfully for both of them. And he finally turned to looked at his twin directly ever since from the trip downstairs, and saw Sasuke was nodding while mumbling, 'That's reasonable' before switching his gaze away from his brother. "Sasuke…"

"Hmm…"

"You didn't need to come with me…I can take care of myself…" Itachi told his twin, kept on walking even as Sasuke faltered in his steps on what he just said.

Blinking in surprise at the sudden statement, the younger twin quickened his pace, and so he round in front of his twin's path and walked backward, a solemn frown etched on his handsome feature. "I know that, I know you can protect yourself, Itachi," Sasuke reassured his brother, his voice softer than normal stating that he could understand his brother can take care of himself without his assistance. Then all the sudden his expression changes from a frown to a small teasing smirk, the haunting mood lifting its veil away from them and dispelling it completely. "But you know it's my duty to protect you, princess. Liked in the fairytales I heard of, where the handsome prince engage into a battles against dragons and warlocks, to reach the castle, and save the damsel in distress from her wretch fated." He finished, abruptly halting in his steps and almost making his brother collide into him, a good-humored small smile on his full lips, and, not at all deterred that Itachi was glaring at him softly, he boldly reached forward and ruffled his twin's hair, the silk strands so soft beneath his callous fingertips. "You're my little princess, Itachi." He added seriously, he was admitting the truth, there were no uncertain in his voice giving away that he was lying. Itachi is his princess, the one he sworn to protect, the one who is his weakness, and his whole world. Immediately, his hands was gently batted away by his brother's own, and he have to chuckles when his twin's normally neat hair was sticking up in disarray, giving Itachi the perfect look that he'd just got ravished and molested on the same spot.

Sasuke blinked rapidly, realizing where his thoughts were heading to. 'Crap.'

Clearing his head away from his traitorous pervert thoughts, he subtly flicked his eyes to his brother, watching as Itachi reached-- after he'd wordlessly handed him his book to hold for him-- for the white ribbon shape of a butterfly bow of his hair and untie its. Then like waterfall, his beautiful dark hair tumble down in gentle waves, making Sasuke's face heat up, as he continue to stare at that hair, falling onto his twin's shoulder briefly before slipping and disappearing pass behind those slender shoulders. And then there were a sudden loud groan which he'd just heard at the moment when he'd craned his head to stare at the black chandelier, trying to maintain his composure. The younger twin inwardly frowned; his eyes scanning around the almost dark hallway, trying to locate the sound coming from, however to his disappointment he didn't locate any.

"You know," He began suddenly, when he brought his attention back onto Itachi, causing his twin to pause in his task of tying his hair back with that piece of large ribbon as he stare at him to finish his sentence. "You should keep down…it looks beautiful that way." As the sentence left from his lips and when his cheeks start tingling, signifying he would be blushing in a matter of seconds, he virtually regrets voicing his opinion as he eyes his brother nervously. He had compliments Itachi, more onto his hair though, but it's make no difference since the owner of the hair was his brother all the same. Still, he could hardly believe that his twin has this great effect on him, turning him from the, calm, cool, collected, cold, confident, and prideful Uchiha Sasuke into a blushing crazy mess.

Sasuke felt his cheeks prickle with an annoying heat as his words sunk into his brother's mind, and resist the urge to fidgeted when Itachi just stared at him, a hint of suspicion glint in those pretty eyes, and somewhat thoughtful as they examined him, his hair still taking in the shape of a flawless high ponytail in his slender fingers. Then all so slowly, Itachi loosened his grips on his hair, and then in no time all the strands tumble down in graceful waves descending to his lower back, while some thick tresses settled onto his shoulders before gravity befallen on them, tumbling down over his clad chest.

Itachi smirked at his twin's overheated blush that was spreading from his cheek and downward to his neck as he stroked his silk strands, abstractedly. And with a soft 'Thank you.' he retrieved his book back from his brother once Sasuke's blush faded, and start resume his walking, his twin following next to him. "If that's your wish, Sasuke, I'll follow your opinion, although I still liked my hair tie into a ponytail."

The younger twin knew it was a stupid question to ask but he couldn't help himself of asking, he was curious. "Why?" He asked kind of detachedly since he was still out of it that his twin just listened and obey to his opinion without questioning him on his part, and wanting to keeps his eyes off his heavenly brother and that hair, which a pair of the strands, in front of his twin's chest, was curling into cute ringlets, bouncing with his movements.

He turned his head around at the same Itachi turned his also, and their eyes met, then his cheeks begin to prickle when he saw his twin gazing slightly up at him, tilting his head in a curious naïve manner, his eyes were a little wider, dancing with that little light, and his long bangs swish softly against his high fair cheekbones, making him look so adorable naïve of what he's going to say. "When we were still in Konoha, it came to my notice that there were many citizens that kept staring at me, when I have my hair down. So then, I'd come to a decision to tie my hair into a ponytail, but they still stared at me. Do you know why, Sasuke?" 'Huh, I thought he could've figure it out on his own of why they stared at him, since he's very clever, than again Itachi can be very naïve in situation in some cases." Sasuke mused, not realizing, at all, that his brother had evasive his question.

The young teen shrugged lightly, switching his vision onto the hallway stretching ahead before them, as he keeps on walking. The answers was plain oblivious. "I wouldn't blame them, considering you're very beautiful. You have this gifted beauty that made them totally go gaga over you," He replied dryly and he kept on walking, not realizing that his twin slow down a little at what he'd said, as if it was normal to compliment your own brother no less and telling him he's beautiful in other people's view. It was not until a second's later tick by, and a imaginary rock was thrown onto the back of his head that he'd realized what he just said and made him froze on the spot.

'Fuck.' Sasuke thought horrified. Dammit, he had to say Itachi looked beautiful, he should've said something that doesn't involve the terms 'Beautiful' or something along that effect. What's up with him lately? He kept blurting out random things, and got himself into these awkward predicaments. Now he need to covered up what he said before his twin start thinking he's a friggin pervert brother that had a things for him. It seemed he was doing a lot of talking without comprehending beforehand.

He blame it on his brother, he was making him crazy in so many ways even though he wasn't aware of it. Or he was aware of it?

"W-What do you mean?" The older twin stuttered slightly. He tried to keep his voice steady of what his brother had explain to him in which he wasn't fully prepare coming from his twin, but it was too late, the stutter already seeps into his voice before he could prevent it, no doubt Sasuke have heard it.

Lucky for Itachi, his twin didn't hear the stutter in his voice as he was too busy trying to find a conversation that was distracting enough to make his brother forgets what he'd said. Why wasn't his brain functioning properly when he's in the moment of a crisis, he have to wonder.

"It's no big deal. They tend to stared at me also," Sasuke said coolly, after a while of thinking, trying cover up of what he had said a minute ago by bringing his calm façade back up. And it worked with the way his twin gazed at him in a curious way and dismissing what just happen liked he always do. The young teen bit back a sighed of relief. 'Shoot, that was a close one.'

At the time he began walking again, Itachi's spoke up in a questioning and uncertain voice that had him falter in his steps and have to stop, because he hadn't expected his twin brought it up all the sudden. Really, his twin has this great effect on him and even in his voice too. "Yes, but I've notice that there are usually the female's population that stared at you though, not most men's do," Itachi affirmed with a cute nod, that make the adorable long ringlets bounce with the light movement, drawing Sasuke's eyes to its like a bee is drawn to a honey.

Giving his head a mental shake and bit his lips in frustration when his cheeks tingle again, the younger twin tore his gaze away from his twin's pretty face, staring at the staircase located a few meter away from them where once they'd came, forgetting what they were talking about as his mind was creating a aching turmoil in his skull.

It was frustrating, so frustrating that those emotion kept on affecting him whenever he would looked at his brother. He hate this time that he was going through the period of puberty, making him feel like this instead of a normal brother. His puberty and his hormones was the cost of those annoying feelings that won't just disappear, it made him feel like this, made him stare at his twin, made him acts like this, he was sure of it. Because he's not in love with Itachi, he just cares about him, there's a difference between love and brotherly love, he wasn't supposed to feel the previous one because it was so wrong, it was taboo and look down upon. And he absolutely refused to believe he's lusting after his twin in this current time, now that is even more taboo than being in love, its more in the wrong zone. Lust is easily mistaken as love, but it wasn't. It's just the feeling of sexual or crave desired to use someone's body to satisfy that needs without a show of affection. Then afterward, once that person is contented he/she will tossed the person they'd use aside, like a piece of litter that was thrown on the dirty streets in a cold rainy night. He doesn't feel that and he would never use the term 'lust' on his brother, he would rather admitted that he's in love with Itachi than lusting after him, now that saying something.

Beside even if he was in love with Itachi, he knew that his twin won't feel the same way. His brother only sees him as a brother, an adorable younger twin that he care about and will gladly act selflessly for, and that it, nothing more, nothing less.

He couldn't understand why his heart gave a pain-filled lurch.

Blinking in realization that he was spacing out on his brother, he brought his gaze half way back onto Itachi's and was about to say something only have his mouth muffled by a soft delicate hand placed over his lips, giving him a heated sensation coursing through his body by that soft skin texture. Sasuke resisted the desire to brush his lips against the soft warm fingers, his twin's hand is so soft liked velveteen, everything about his brother is soft, including his voice, hair, cheeks and waist--He could feel the softness of his waist through his clothes. The younger twin marvel how Itachi's hands still retained the softness of them even he washed dishes and prepared cuisine. Shouldn't his hands texture become rougher? But it didn't, and he can't question that. And then, still in that line of thoughts, the young teen dreamily wondered if Itachi's lips were as soft as the rest of him. As quickly as that thought come it was quickly gone in matter of seconds when Sasuke mentally slapped himself before his thoughts could venture further into the forbidden territory.

Turning his feature more directly onto his twin's, catching the way Itachi wasn't facing him, his head was angle at the side, making the longs bangs frame part of his beautiful feature, his delicate brows was burrow in concentration as if focusing on something. And when Itachi finally turned to face his brother and caught the questioning gaze his twin gave him, he quickly responds of his action of why he clasping his brother's mouth which Sasuke wasn't complaining though. "I heard something…its sound like a groan," The older twin explained, removing his hand away from his twin's warm lips and turned to look at the direction where the sound came from which was at the ceiling.

The younger twin stared at his twin's hand a moment longer, hanging gracefully at his side, feeling the sudden powerful impulse to take his brother's delicate hand in his, intertwining their fingers together, and then keep holding it and never let go.

Sasuke flushed at his own thoughts and hastily dispersed its, glad his twin didn't saw the blush, and then followed his brother's gaze to the white ceiling as another groan followed by a creak was heard. Then it clicked him, realizing where those sounds were coming from, the pipes of the manor made the groaning sound, the same sound he heard before, why didn't he realized it sooner? "I think the groaning is coming from the pipelines of the manor, this manor is quite old anyway, the pipes might be getting rusty," The younger twin suggested, scratching his neck briefly and stepping forward, intending to get the lemon grass as quickly as possible and get the hell out of here. He gets the feeling somebody watching him again among the indistinctively elongated shadow dancing on the wall created by the flickering hanging chandelier above.

As he stepped forward there was another loud groan, louder this time, from above his head, and he stood true to his words, it was the stupid pipes, nothing else. Sasuke turned his head around and saw his twin still looking up the ceiling, there was a glint of uncertainly that crossed his feature before returned blank but the young teen caught it. His brother seemed alarm by that sound and that realization made the feeling off being watched ebb away from him only a tiniest of bit, as a cunning smirk spread across on his lips.

-----

"Perhaps…" Itachi said softly still uncertain what's making the groaning sound. He has to slightly disagree with his twin he wasn't sure it the pipes. Tearing his gaze away from ceiling, he started to walk across the expanse of the hallway. Then stop suddenly when there were cool breathe hitting against his exposed neck and a something wet was holding his shoulder back, seeping through the fabric, making his skin crawl as shiver racked down his spine when a icy childish voice with a lilt of playfulness of a young child drew closer to him and whisper, so softly, to his ear. 'Are you going come soon to play with us? We want to play with you. Want to play a fun game.'

"Sasuke…" The older twin called, he wanted to look at the something on his shoulder but an alien instinct prevents him, preventing him from glancing down. Quickly turning around to address his brother, thinking it was his twin mimicking strange childish voice, only to meet an empty silent narrow hallway and the staircase a few meters away from him where he and Sasuke previous came from.

His brother had disappeared…

"Sasuke," he called softly once again, his voice echoing down and rebounding in the dim lit hallway liked as if he was in a tunnel of a mountain instead, feeling something clench around his beating heart when his twin didn't respond nor appeared back. At a sheer moment of the desperation, he craned his neck downward to look at his shoulder, the same spot where he felt something wet was grabbing him.

There was none…there's nothing grabbing him…

The older twin cautiously lifted his hand and touched his cloth left shoulder, the fabric wasn't wet…it was dried.

What does it mean?

Was it all an illusion that he was experiencing that cast its spell over him? A moment of illusory…

It still didn't explain his twin's disappearance…

Then a terrible thought wash over him…

Did something happen to Sasuke? No it can't. He didn't tell his twin anything what the woman told him…she told him the something will come after his brother if he tell Sasuke…or perhaps she was deceiving him about her warning?

Itachi took a step forward, his dark eyes roaming around the hallway for any sign of his brother, intending to looked around for his twin, not convinced at all by his reasons and assumptions that something bad might happen to him.

And not yet convinced at the slightest bit…that Sasuke left him by himself…

Shortly after he steps forward there was another loud groan from the ceiling, and scarcely a sound of a door creaking open from behind him, but he paid little mind to the groan, not while he just saw something black ran around the corner at the end of the hallway not so far away from where he is at.

A sigh of relief fled from Itachi's pink lips as he walked faster almost to the point that he was actually running, believing it was his twin who was toying with him. Maybe it was his relief and his heart pounding in his chest and into his ears that was obstructing his sense of hearing and cutting off his alertness, he wasn't sure, because soon enough he found himself caught by the wrist, pulling him backward to a warm chest, and a smooth warm hand clasping over his mouth, preventing him from screaming, not that he will. He still has his dignity intact and its going to stay that way unless he decides otherwise.

Rather than using his resort to bit the hand covering his mouth, he, instead, start to struggle against his assaulter, his self-defense instinct kicks in, as he use his left elbow to lightly jab his assaulter where he thinks is the stomach. A pain groan was heard from behind him as his elbow connect with the unknown person's stomach, and yet his assaulter still have him trapped, then it occurred to him that the groaning sound familiar, even though he came to a somewhat conclusion who the person is, it didn't stop him from adding a few more light jabs to the person's stomach.

It was the last jab that the hand covering his lips was removed and then after maintaining distance away, he swiftly turn around to cast a cold glare at his assaulter, while keeping his face impassive, panting softly as he gather his breath back, not giving any thought that his hair was disheveled, that some long stands was brushing into his eyes.

His assaulter was none other than his twin, Sasuke, the one who he worried over for, the one is laughing loudly even though he look slightly in pain, one of his hand was supporting himself on the wall, while the other was wrapped around his stomach as he bend a tad over, laughing uncontrollably which made the hallway echo.

Yes, his brother wasn't chuckling liked he usually do, he was laughing which was rare sound to behold. Sasuke had never laugh for the past two years, but here he was laughing. However, the older twin know that this was the last laugh he would be hearing for a while or year. Itachi wanted to be angry at his twin for making him worried, but he knew he couldn't, not while Sasuke's resonant chuckles was sending pleasant shiver down his spine and spreading through his body.

"Sasuke…that was not amusing," Itachi said, when he retained his breath back, and then fix his hair as best as he could with one hand, it one reason he don't like his hair kept down, the stands will have tangle when its in disarray and its really hard to get the strands untangle by your hands or a comb. At this point, he considered cutting his hair if it grew even longer, he just couldn't handle the difficultly if its reach the ground, albeit he wonders if his twin allowed him to cut it since it seemed he liked his hair long.

As that thought slip away from him another one came back to him, as a trouble frown decorated on such a pretty lips, making him recalled what his brother had told him that his hair looked beautiful when its down… he acknowledge those words… and he listen to him…he couldn't figure out why he did even till now…though he remember a strange feeling to obey Sasuke's opinion as if he didn't he will somehow disappoint his brother.

"Your reactions were, princess. See I told you I'm going to get back at you for the pinch and the stomp to the foot earlier," His twin's mirth-fill and teasing voice pierce through his lines of thought as he continues to laugh non-stop after he said that. Glaring softly, Itachi lightly slapped him across the shoulder and then inwardly frown as another bout of rich laughter erupt from Sasuke.

"I hate you sometime," Itachi told his twin mildly, gracefully turning around and ran his slender left hand through his long hair, wanting to get some stubborn tresses untangle and of course trying to remain unaffected of his brother's chuckles that was slowly ebb away.

Sasuke stopped laughing, though there was a few light chuckles here and there, as he register what his beloved twin had said, not looking affected by that word coming from his brother's beautiful lips. To prove that, he placed his hand over his chest, where his heart is located, as he squeezed his eyes shut in a fake pain looked. To Itachi, it would have pass for a looked of agonizing pain if his twin wasn't actually faking it. "Ouch, now that stung, princess. You wound me. My heart is aching and crying in despair. Please, take this knife out of my chest, Ita," The younger twin said in an intended overly dramatic voice, then, peeking through his parted eyelids by a diminutive seeing that his twin was glaring at him, he grin at the potent effect of both nickname to exert more hidden emotions from his brother. And he had to wonder why he liked teasing Itachi even though he know he's going to obtain pain in the end by his twin's gentle nature. Perhaps he's a masochist.

The younger twin snorted to himself at such thought. Tch, he don't find pain is pleasurable, matter of fact it hurt liked hell. On a different note, he just find his brother looked beautiful when he's amused and annoyed, his eyes twinkling in that dark sea reflecting the stars of heaven from above was absolutely breathtaking to be the only one to glimpse the change of Itachi's disposition in his point of view.

Sasuke stared at the guestroom door knob he was leaning on, his head turned aside, making his bangs frame his eyes, when his stomach start fluttering with bunch of butterfly as that knowledge pass, his brows furrowed in irritation. He needed to stop thinking liked that.

"Sasuke, why do you keep giving me nicknames…" His brother sort of questioning voice pulled him away from the depth of his inner musing as he blink lethargically and stared through veil of bangs to his brother. It took him awhile to answer; he was still out of it.

"Eh…They are not both nickname…Ita is the nickname I given to you,…while princess is a pet name," He finally spoke lazily, biting back a yawn and out of habit, reaching into his pocket for his cell-phone to check the times, only to have his hand met empty pocket, then he slowly realized his phone was in his room. He clicked his tongue in annoyance to himself, how can he be so forgettable. Then, when he finish silently berating himself, dark orbs surveyed Itachi, watching his reaction if he offended by the 'pet name' phrase. Although he like the princess name, he found its suite his brother excerpt he doesn't see Itachi as a spoiled type, hence his little pet name for him, even though Itachi doesn't like to be called 'Princess' for some reason he couldn't remember. There were none from what he observed, his twin just tilted his head in a curious and confuse manner, his parted bangs brush elegantly against his fair cheeks, his left hand pausing in its tasked of straighten his hair of tangles.

"Pet named?" Itachi asked. His delicate brows knitted in confusion as the word rolled smoothly and yet hesitantly over his tongue as though he just learned to pronounce its, which Sasuke finds it amusing.

The younger teen nodded gracefully, shifting foolishly against the guestroom door when it came to his notice that this conversation they were currently having was getting a tad stranger. He got to change the topic for an unknown reason he couldn't just fathom. And once he has his decision decided, he pushed himself away from the oak door and strode to where his brother is at. "Just admit it, princess, that you got scared when I've disappeared," He teased, quickly changing the topic so hastily that make Itachi forgot what they were talking a seconds ago as he glared at his smirking twin and tenderly batted his brother's hand away from his hair when he made to ruffle it once again.

For a while of struggle, the older straighten his hair effortlessly from the tangle, making them neat and flawless again as they tumble down in graceful waves, to Sasuke amazement's by the fact that his twin did gracefully with one hand, to his lower back. Then he responds, playing with one strand idly as he gazed at his brother calmly, eyes steady, voice strong in tone. "Sasuke, I was not scared for myself…I was…" He abruptly stops himself before he finishes it, closing his eyes tiredly and turning his feature to the side his strength was seeping away from him, not knowing how his brother going to react, despite the inching of his throat, begging him just to admit what he was feeling when his twin disappears it not that he's going to lose anything.

A pair of hands landed gently on his shoulders, making him look back to Sasuke, who had move more closely to him, and apparently it was somewhat a mistake. When his eyes met his twin's intense one, he felt something snapped within him at the adoringly look of his stare which was asking him to continue, evoking a reaction from him. And before he knew what is happening, his lips were moving on its accord so smoothly without his consent. "I was…more worried about you," He admitted softy, his voice so soft even to his ears as his voice echo slightly in the hallway. Itachi pulled himself away from his brother's in some sign of defeated, his head tipped downward, gazing to the book in his arms solemnly, not wanting to looked at Sasuke who must be ready to laugh at him for displaying such weakness in front of him. Generally, he doesn't admit what he's truly feeling out loud, it was always kept inside him with no one would never hear ever. Yet, now his twin was affecting him in way he couldn't decode ever since that night when his brother were in a fever-state, since then everything was spiraling out off his control when he's in near range with his brother.

Meanwhile, Sasuke was taken aback at the straightforwardness of his brother, not expecting to hear the confession, feeling a familiar bitter burning taste on his tongue and guilt seeping into his mind of his childish action for making his twin worried, wanting him to apology as he surreptitiously watched his Itachi turning away from him, hiding his feature by his bangs. It must be hard for him to accept the fact that he just admitted what he is feeling. And now as he stare at his twin's back, the younger twin felt bad and guilty for making such a angel that descend from heaven worried over a short-temper mortal.

Guilt… it was familiar feeling to him that basically often occurs when Itachi came into the picture. Around the early age of 13, He had always would feel guilty when he accidentally release his anger verbally on his twin in a rash reason, it was a spur of the moment and next thing he knew after the mist of anger, annoyance, and bitterness faded away from his eyes, he saw his brother silently left his room, so unaffected like nothing happen but he knew better, leaving him baffled of the aftermath.

And god, the feeling of guilt unexpectedly came into him that struck him harshly and left him breathless. His twin had this spell cast over him, although he know his brother isn't a sorcerer, that made him want to jumped off his bed rushed after Itachi and forcefully spun him around then gets on his hands and knees, tossing his stupid pride away--because dammit, his self-esteem wasn't helping at all to lessen the situation only cause more problems--and asked for forgiveness.

He just couldn't handle the knowledge that he hurt his brother, physically, mentally, emotionally, in whichever way. For Itachi's sake he would willingly become his servant or a dog thus he could be redeemed of what he had said.

For him, if he wasn't such a coward, he will stomp his dignity into dust as long his brother won't withdrawn from him, pushed him away and create a indestructible barrier between them. He would even crawl on his hands and knees, and knock on Itachi's bedroom door with one hand so desperately until his knuckles bleed as long his twin open his heart to him once more.

Because he doesn't want to lose that trust Itachi's have and the beautiful real smile which his twin regularly present to him, it was for him, for him only, and he couldn't have it in other way. That simple yet so beautiful smile gave him life to go on, bestow him with strength in way words could accurately express.

In spite of that he didn't go after him, no matter how he want to so much, his pride was preventing him, leaving him to stay in his dark room wallowing up in his guilt and his weakness that inhabit his mind.

The young teen could make a good guess of why Naruto kept calling him 'bastard.' At time he was an insensitive jerk, an ass, a bastard and an ice prince to his twin back then.

But that was in the past, he would never be cruel to his brother again, he changed his personality sort of.

He wondered if Itachi remember about that day though and forgave him…he regret it so much for saying that…nevertheless he gets this feeling his brother already had.

He had his reason for being a bitter boy, you know. And his father was the subject of those reasons. But right now it not the time to go on a trip down memory lane. He has to say something.

"Itachi," At his named being called the said twin turned himself around to the direction of the voice, lifting his head up, staring through his veil of lash at Sasuke. Still on guard if his brother will start laughing at him.

"Yes?"

Itachi observed his brother's right hand moving to the back of his neck, scratching it no doubt, as he turned his feature to the side, chewing his lip in deliberation, reassuring the older twin that his brother won't make fun of him by the way he took his time, before bringing his countenance to his view.

"Thanks," Sasuke softly murmured, dropping his hand back and stare at the floor that caught his interest. Tch, liked it did in the first place. He distantly realized that the groaning above him where, he assumed, coming from the pipes lines of the manor stop it rackets for some reason or another.

The older twin blinked innocently, tilting his head in a confused deceiving way, feeling a warm flutter in his chest, "For what?" He asked gently, already knowing what his brother meant just by that one syllable, however he wanted Sasuke to continue what he mean without holding it back. He noted that his twin didn't say 'Thank you' and it didn't upset him, it was expected from his brother who is quite prideful.

Itachi hid a chuckles in his throat before the sound could venture out, his brother look adorable when he was about to scratch his neck again only to caught himself of his habit, dropping his arm to his side and glaring at its liked it was the source of making him become nervous. "For…worrying over me, I shouldn't done that," His twin finished hesitantly, bringing his eyes back up the glare still in place, although it wasn't on him, staring at something on the side, and glaring at the specific area as if he loath the very realization that dawn on him that he just apologize to him. Aside from the glare, the older twin heard the apologetic tone in Sasuke's voice and it was enough to hold back the chuckles from being heard, for his brother's sake. After all, he couldn't chuckles, his twin had in someway apology to him twice, and he had to save his brother's dignity before it's completely gone because of him.

Composing his amusement underneath the mask he wore, the older twin commented, "Its okay, Sasuke. I'm not angry at you," And he smiled, reassuring his twin that he shouldn't feel guilty about what happen when he saw his brother brought his gaze onto him with an attentive look. A seconds pass, seeing that Sasuke had gotten the unspoken message through his smile, he turned gracefully around only to pause in his intentions to walk to the end of the hallway, presuming thinking that the staircase is located around that corner of the flicking hallway, when he remembered a small happening.

"Sasuke…"

"Hmm…"

"Can I ask you something?"

The younger twin shrugged even though his twin couldn't see him, feeling the guilt slowly recede away from him and replaced with a sense of relief. "Sure…go ahead."

"…Did you run around the corner of the hallway up head earlier?" Itachi queried, referring to the time of his brother's disappearance to scare him. He knew the answers was plain as days, his brother came up from behind him not in front, but he want to know, to know if he actually…

"No…I didn't run around the corner…I was hiding in one of the guestroom behind us…" The older twin heard his twin said, clarify his bizarre confusion, yet its gives him the feeling of uncertainly. He didn't have to turn around to know if his brother was lying or not, he could hear in his voice there was no hint of hesitation or undertone of lying mischievous. So coming to confirmation, he wasn't lying.

…in delusions that it was Sasuke running around the corner: it doesn't surprise him that his assumption was proven false, this hallucination had been bothering him as in lately.

A hurried faint footstep was sounded from behind him breaking the silence and rebounding into his ears, indicating that his brother will rush around to stand in front of him to ask what's wrong. His twin is predictable even by the sound of his movement, the older came to realize that. Of course he came to that realization when Sasuke did come to stand in front of him in a blink of seconds. It was odd that he could read his twin easily just by the sound of his movements.

"Itachi, what's wrong. Why do you ask me that?" Sasuke asked calmly, though there was worry hints in it. Already, getting the feeling of trepidation which is building up when his twin asked that. Did Itachi seen something that he wasn't supposed to saw, again the young teen mentally scold himself for his disappearance, if his brother did see something that traumatized him, he was to blame of his childish game.

Before his self-pity can even have the slightest chance to resurfaced into his mind and reverted him into a sulky mood, his brother's quell that feeling in its process by glancing up at him and smile dimly as dim as the hallway they were standing in. "It's nothing, Sasuke," Itachi reassured him, his smile was reassuring him, its may conquer his self-pity, however, its doesn't suppress the feeling that something's wrong that came moments after. That feeling focus around Itachi's smile, it wasn't bright like usual and his brother's eyes didn't shine a little along with the effect, it was…a fake smile. Sasuke came to that firm conclusion, as he subtly watched his brother glance down on his nemesis --the book he's holding so gently in his arms which drew his twin's attention away from him. There's something bothering him, why did his brother asked him if there was none? He realized Itachi hid lots of secrets to himself, and those significant secrets were hidden in his eyes where he couldn't read him well. His twin's eyes can compare to the dark sea where bunch of secrets of history were hidden in their swaying depth. The younger twin wanted to know what's bothering him, but he don't want pressure his brother since he doesn't want to tell him for a reason, his twin must have a reason. The only thing to do was waited once Itachi is ready to tell him.

The flicking light bulbs hanging above kept occasionally flick around them which made Sasuke started getting edgy, making him recalled the nightmare that haunted him, and quickly he grabbed onto his brother's wrist, tenderly pulling Itachi more closer to him. Afraid if he doesn't his twin would disappear with the flicking lights. Yes, he knew he was being paranoid though if some experience a nightmare liked he does that you killed your own brother in an evil forest then you won't think as such.

The younger twin heard his brother made a soft, curious noise when he had grabbed his wrist, but didn't pull away or say something, making the his heart swell up in him to have his twin this close to him.

Though that feeling come and go eventually when Itachi start pulling his hand away. He tried to that is but couldn't since the younger twin was still gripping his wrist. Turning his feature around to his twin, the older twin frowned. "Sasuke, we have to get the lemon grass. …Can you let go?" He asked quietly, reminding his brother what their task was, and he absently hoped he didn't sound to stern.

Sasuke frowned tightly, his brow knitted in confusion, when his heart begun to ached at the 'Let go' phrase emerging from his twin's fragile lips as though he heard it somewhere before, and subsequently he tentatively released his brother's wrist, it will be strange if he didn't while simultaneously makes Itachi gets suspicious of him. He receive a gentle smile from his brother for releasing him, however the light of the smile didn't heal his aching heart as he observed his twin walking away from him with such innate grace. The younger twin doesn't understand at all why he have sudden powerful desire to rushed after Itachi and held him in his arms, whispering sweet words to him and plead him to not create more distance between them.

And to add to Sasuke's confusion, he didn't understand why his eyes were getting blurry with unshed tears at the affect of the 'Let go' phrase. Angrily at himself while pushing that desire away, he blinked rapidly to get blurriest out of his eyes, running a hand over his face in exhaustion, and then followed his twin in a slow pace.

It was official, he have problems.

"Shit," Sasuke hissed in agony, gritting his teeth together to kept from crying out when after the moment he steps forward, a sharp icy pain that felt liked sharp ice electrify needles was shoved into the palm of his left hand sending bolt up his arm and downward to his palm. It took his will power to not cry out in pain as the ice needle seems too sunk deeper into his palm as if trying to tear the skin, muscle and tendons apart in to pieces from the inside out. In the midst of his agony, he didn't notice or feel that there was a red strange symbol on his forehead, underneath his bangs that overshadowed his eyes, taking shape of a bright red lunar.

Having enough of this torture, the younger twin brought his left palm to his view, immediately seeing in his agony eyes, and through the dim lit flickering hallway, that his left cloth hand was shaking uncontrollably on its own. Gritting his teeth to hold back a yell as another freezing pain shock through him, he clutched his left palm with all his might into a fist, to cease the shaking.

It didn't cease…its still shook on its own accord in a violent involuntarily tremor.

----

Meanwhile to Itachi, he had to stop walking when he realized there were no sound of footsteps was following him thus confirming his thought his twin wasn't walking ever since he headed ahead of him. In slight surprise he looked over his shoulders, spotting his brother standing stiff on the same spot in the hallway, the flickering light create obscure shadows on his form. Sasuke wasn't moving, his head was kept down, body stiff in an odd manner, and in his regularly concern the older twin turned fully, facing his twin as he stood a little away ahead of him, "Sasuke?" He called softly. His brother didn't answers nor moves to acknowledge he'd heard him, thus he tried again, thinking his twin didn't hear him, his voice was soft in a way. "Sasuke…"

Jerking his feature up at the direction of his twin's voice, Sasuke inwardly cringed when he saw his brother making his way toward him. Composing his face into a mask of calmness, not wanting Itachi to worry about him, he smile slightly in his calm façade after he bit his tongue gently as another waves of freezing pain crashed into him, "Yeah?" He inquired, hoping in all hope that his voice wasn't lace in pain.

Apparently the pain didn't launch up in his voice from the way his brother's gaze innocently up at him when he was in right front of him. "Sasuke, are you alright?"

Nodding his head, Sasuke closed his eyes; not wanting to submit to the desire that he had previously felt, wanting nothing more to close the gap between himself and Itachi, just for that warmth his twin's possess. "Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?" He quietly murmured.

"You're trembling," Itachi confirmed, as he observed his twin's face now that he's nearer, taking in his closed eyelids, the way he bit his lips as if he fighting something. Then liked he was in a some sort of trance the older twin moved his right hand to hover in front of Sasuke's elegant feature, action hesitant, before touching his brother's smooth cheekbones.

At that simple touch, Sasuke opened his eyes blurrily, catching the way his Itachi's eyes scan his face in a concerned way. When the soothingly warmth of his twin's fingertips seemingly to seep into his skins and melting the painful freezing sensation that inhabit his body, flowing throughout his body and to his left hand. To his amazement of Itachi's bless warmest, the same hand, which a seconds ago, was shaking indiscernibly at his side, now still in its movement as the agony pain evaporate away from him.

Shaking his head, the younger twin respond softly while leaning subconsciously into the warmth of his brother's delicate fingertips pressed on his cheek, craving for that warmth and touch, only his touch, a touch that it's so tender, "It's nothing." And before Itachi can asked another question, He gave in to his building desire, lifting his left cloth hand up to touch his brother's own as he cradled Itachi's fragile fingertips against his skin in a unspoken 'Thank you'. Thinking of him as an angel that he never wanted to lose, an angel he devoted his whole being to protect and never harm him.

As Itachi was momentarily distracted, he was gazing at the their joined hands in wonderment which Sasuke have to inwardly smirk at his twin's cuteness, he gallantly slide his right arm around his brother's waist, the other was just gently removed from his twin's hand to place on Itachi's upper back, pulling him flush against him.

The unexpected sudden movement made Itachi dropped his book on the floor, landing with a soft 'Thud' that reverberate in the hallway, in order to grabbed onto Sasuke's white shirt into tight fists for securely as he felt his twin's wrapped his arm around him. Their body's flushed against one another. Sasuke was hugging him, shivering and feeling familiar warmth in his chest when his brother's deep voice was next to his ear in seconds. "Itachi…can I hold you…" It wasn't a demand, it wasn't an order, and certainty his brother wasn't asking him, it was a simple request, a request of a brother who's in dire need of comfort. Does that mean something's bothering Sasuke? If his twin want to hold he will gladly allowed him as it can comfort him.

Sasuke, in the meantime that Itachi was mulling over his cloud of decision, was in guard mood, panicky slightly of his actions, in case his twin will pushed him away, slap him across the face immediately after for touching him and being a pervert--and he was not!. In his opinion, there's nothing wrong to hug your own brother flushed against you, its not liked he's corrupting Itachi or anything. The younger twin rolled his eyes to himself, who was he kidding? This gotta be the strangest display of brotherly affection known to man. Never less, he had to admit to himself that hugging Itachi right now reminded him of his nightmare, excerpt this is real. Over the years he'd never hugged his twin ever that has their whole body touching one another. In other words he doesn't know how Itachi will react to this affection, and therefore that's why he'd want to know if his brother will allowed him to continue holding him further.

He didn't need to panic any more, however, when Itachi pushed himself away a little, still in his arms, to flicker his eyes up at him and apparently its looked like his twin had decide if his angelic smile wasn't an evidence, "It's okay, Sasuke. You can hold me," Itachi finally whispers softly, smiling up at him, though the beautiful lit of his sunshine smile couldn't help illuminate his concern for him also as his eyes roamed his countenance. "Is something the matter?"

"It's nothing," Sasuke replied quickly, charm nonetheless that his brother is worrying about him no surprise there, moving his arms to encircle his twin's slender soft waist again now that Itachi have given him permission, carefully pulling him where he belong. And as his twin's body collide softly into his own, he placed his chin on Itachi's shoulder, feeling his heart doing professional somersault in joy that he yield to his impulse, just wanting for a brief moment to know what it felt liked to hold his brother in reality and to feel he never had to let him go anytime soon.

Unable to help himself, the younger twin inhaled softly, Itachi's addicting sweet beautiful scent flow into his nostril without any to hinder in its course of action, resisting the desire to thread his fingers through the magnificent soft hair when ones long strands brushed softly against his fingertips. And Sasuke couldn't help but vaguely notice how well-formed their body's fit perfectly together as he held his brother secure against him in the dim-lit quiet hallway. It almost felt they were no longer in the hallway as if they'd drift into their own fantasy world, a sanctuary where he kept his twin safe in the depth of beautiful chamber locked away from the danger of the outsider world.

"I'm fine, Itachi," He reassured his brother warmly. His voice sound exhausted and wearily in the aftereffect of the pain that had left him, echoing down the hallway, when he felt Itachi was about to maneuver his feature up to question him. "Everything's fine. Nothing bad going to happen to you, I'll protect you with my life being. I won't allow any thing to harm you." Even he said those sentences quietly. Sasuke clearly realized the way he said it, its sound liked a mantra that he kept repeating to himself, again, again and again to remember his sole important purpose to protect his twin from harm as if he would suddenly forget under a tragic bizarre circumstances.

Quickly, Itachi pulled away from his twin's shoulder in worried at what he'd said. Be no mistaken, he was touched that Sasuke want to protected him but the way his brother said those touching and ambiguous sentences, it made him sounded liked he would only focus on him instead of his own well-being, and its left him at lost of words for once. "Sasuke, I appreciate that you want to protect me for that I'm thankful, but remember you have to take care of yourself also, okay?" The older twin said after a while as he watched his brother merely blinked then lowered his head, his bangs framing his eyes which made it hard to read him, never less he hope his words got through his twin. And when Sasuke raised his feature back onto him, Itachi tapped the bridge of the younger twin's nose with his index finger in sudden impulse, making Sasuke's blink confusedly at the unfamiliar gesture and go cross-eye in the process. "We should get going."

The young teen made a soft agreement sounds after he silently curse the lemon grass for ruining the moments between him and Itachi as he released his twin, opting to ignore the feeling of emptiness when his brother drew away from him, and allowed him to pick his book back into his arms. When Itachi bended down to pick up his book, Sasuke quickly lifted his left hand to his view as he observed it wearily, it was no longer no shaking liked before, he doesn't know why was its shaking anyway when he took a step forward as if something eerie triggers the pain to response.

Whatever the pain was, it was gone now. He hoped it won't surface anytime soon, he couldn't deal with that suffering pain twice a row in one night.

On another issue, he decided that once they'd retrieve the lemon grass, he can undo the cloth since he figured the wound got to be healed by now. He thought to himself as he ran up to catch up with his twin, whom had walk on ahead of him while he was busy pondering.

----

Finally, the twins reach around the corner of the hallway, and just liked Itachi had predicted there was a black staircase at the narrow corner. Sasuke smirked as he and his twin strode slowly to the staircase, his brother is always right, go figure. He soon realized there, as in now, were no bubbling feeling of jealously he use to felt when his twin outdone him more than one occasion. The younger twin supposed he'd admitted to himself he could never beat Itachi in more than anything. His brother was gifted with any amazing trait, so perfect. How Itachi could be such a picture of perfection, with no flaws shining liked a silver untouched mirror that have many people's admire the beautiful inanimate object, was beyond him.

So perfect and beautiful at the same time it stole his breath away whenever he would looked at him in secret, appreciating his beauty.

Which is what he's doing now, he was aware that he thought his twin is beautiful again but he wasn't annoyed he has to get use to its sometime. And his smirk grew a little bigger when he saw Itachi was absently playing with the cute ringlets of his hair using one hand while the other was holding his book to his chest as he walked quietly next to him.

If he could add another opinion to his brother…he found him to be cute also.

Although the smirk turn to a tight frown when he was faintly aware that this section of the hallway was more darker than he'd and Itachi previously came from the other end. It was quite eerie, he have to say, with the form-less dark shadows reflecting on the darker tone blue wall, doing absurd yet spine-calling dancing seemingly lengthen as they walk quietly pass. And if that isn't enough, the younger twin felt somebody walking soundlessly behind him, invisible to the human's eyes as the thing stare at his back with an angry glare that could burn crisp hole onto his back and the silence surround him. He have to looked over his shoulders a couple of time to make sure nobody was behind him, as he edge a little closer to his twin, feeling quite stupid when there was no one, then he was about to sigh in relief but he caught himself. Why he would be relieved anyway? Was he relieved that there was no one walking behind him confirming his thought that this manor is haunted? He wasn't sure.

"Itachi, do you think I'm good looking?" Sasuke asked seriously, in a subtle way. Honestly he doesn't understand why he asked this random weird question, but he need to create a conversation, and talking is only way to keep his mind off that somebody's following him.

The older twin turned his feature around to his twin at the sudden strange question, his hair slipping through his fingers, beautiful eyes widened a fraction, and it took lots of awareness to keep his book from falling away from his arms, as he came to a stop a few inches away from the staircase. "Excuse me?" He asked a little hesitantly after he found his voice.

Sasuke held back a chuckled as he observed his brother's reaction. Yes, this conversation was starting to turn out well. Just seeing his twin's react like this had already made him forgot somebody was following him. "Do you think I'm good looking?" He repeated, striding confidently closer to Itachi, that his twin has no choice then to take a few steps backward until his back came to contact to the wall. He didn't flinch when his brother cast a lethal glare which told him to stay away from him a little, as he placed both of his hands on either side of Itachi's head, giving him an inevitable escape, their face a breath away from the other.

Itachi swirled his gaze to his book in his arms, his only escape to keep from looking at his brother, and those alluring dark stormy eyes. "I don't know, Sasuke, but I think you can be compare to a prince in a fairytales," He murmured belatedly a not of tension in it, hoping his twin gets the hint to drop the topic and moved away from him. Truthfully, he didn't know how to answers. If it was somebody else that ask him then he would gave that person his honest point of view with no hesitance. However, this was his brother asking him, so it a very different case that left him speechless again.

Sasuke, on the other hand, was only encouraged by his brother's response to let the subject died yet as he smirks haughtily; eyes darken to a more seductive look unnoticed to him. In one fluid movement, he gently snatched the book out of his twin's hand, sending a devilishly smirk in Itachi's direction, and threw the book carelessly over his shoulder with a graceful flick of his wrist. A soft thud was heard a second later, indicating its lands a few meters away. Before Itachi barely even react the slightest at his rude actions, he efficiently grabbed both of his brother's fragile wrist and pinned both of them above his head onto the blue wall with one hand.

The older twin wasn't please at the development as he struggles vainly against Sasuke's iron yet gentle grip on his wrist, not understanding why he was doing this. "Sasuke--" Itachi was about to chide his twin for throwing his book not giving any thought to ask him in any possible way, though his words magically died in his throat when Sasuke tenderly tilted his feature up to looked at him by his slender fingers. Then those callused fingers trailed to his cheek with a gentle touch as light as the spring breeze before stopping in order to tucked his bangs behind his ears making Itachi still in his movements at the show of affection.

"Isn't the real prince better…?" Sasuke whispered lowly into his twin's ear, it wasn't a question, the tone turn a more husker that send shiver down the older twin's spine, still he looked unaffected on the outer surface, this time, at their close proximity that left little expanse to breath. Although in the inside, his brother's alluring deep voice revolved around his head making him feel a alien warm sensation on his cheeks, then as he tried to rid it affect by glancing up his eyes instantly fell on Sasuke's owns. Those beautiful passive dark eyes that could compare to a roaring dark storm clouds which is filled with uncontrollable destructed emotion can immediately strike when temper, were now more stronger in itself. Again like before they were in the city festive. His twin's eyes were unreadable. The strong barrier of mentally and physically defense was back up, making him look liked an enigma. Frankly, that looked in his eyes reminded him as himself whenever he gaze into a mirror.

Itachi's lips purse to a frown at that shocking knowledge as he continue to study those eyes unashamedly. He didn't even bother to glance away or switch his vision to another destination; if he did he would've saw the smirk on his brother's face that had boldly leaned more closely to him. It was when a cool breath hitting against his lips and a familiar musky, spicy, lighting mix with wind scent override his nose, his eyes switch in its attention scrutiny looked on to Sasuke's feature, only to have those eyes widened at their more sudden closer proximity which he mentally had to scold himself of not being more aware. He tried to edge back only to be painful remained that he was literally trapped between the wall and his twin, feeling a warmth in his chest at way those eyes were study him. To add more affect that Sasuke have on him, his palms, that still remain a captive in his twin's hold, turn sticky and it seem Sasuke notice as well if his arrogant smirk wasn't a evident.

Why were they sticky? They had been dried before Sasuke have him in this awkward position. His body was betraying him, and his logic thoughts. Itachi didn't understand. He didn't understand why he felt the warmth in his chest had turned into thousand of butterflies fluttering around in a whirlpool from his chest then moved lower to his stomach. He didn't understand why he felt exposed as if he was naked despite he was cloth as Sasuke looked at him with those dark storm cloud eyes. His gaze travel over his feature then aftermost traveled to his body, a smirk still playing on his full lips.

He didn't like not knowing, it was too new for him.

The older mild-manner twin tried to speak again to remind Sasuke that they should get going and released him but his voice box wasn't working. He couldn't even summon the energy to force his lips to move liked his strength had already seeps the seconds away from him when his brother happened to touch his cheek.

Which made Itachi stiffen under the cool temperature and smooth skin before deliberately relax completely under his twin's touch. Mind going fuzzy, brain shutting down except his sense of sight and touch as he vaguely came to unspoken answers to his brother's previous, before the second one, question while leaning into that gentle fingers.

Granted, Sasuke is alluring in general more than a prince in a fairytales.

----

Meanwhile, the younger twin's smirk change into a soft smile, eyes soften as he watched his brother leaned into his fingers, making his stomach do flip-flop and his heart beat at incredible pace. Somehow he didn't regret that he had succumbed to his impulse at the moment he had Itachi trapped to the wall. Never less to say he was glad that Itachi wasn't desperate enough to escape him to use his last resort to kneel him in the place the sun doesn't shine. It won't be a pretty picture if that happen, but knowing his brother so well, bless him, he won't consider hurting him that involve to permanent scar him just because he was trapped. And yes, just having his beautiful twin pinned to the wall, long pretty hair fell down over his chest and having his arms held captive in his relentless hold above, he doesn't regret it at all. He think he won't even regret it if he would happen to released his brother later on, who had came out of his small daze, and get slapped across the face because in the end its what he wanted, to be near Itachi and to rid the feeling of emptiness. That feeling were too escalating in his chest that he need his twin to suppress it more than one way, cutting the distance, and now that he's in near him, the feeling of hollowness ebb away at the affect of Itachi's sweet scent, making him almost brought his feature to rest on his brother's collarbones to receive more of that sweetness as his stomach quivers, reacting to their closeness.

Itachi didn't know that he wasn't the only one uncomfortable at their proximity that left no room to barely move.

Truth was he couldn't be separated from his brother, not the slightest, not for a second, not at all. It was liked they are chain together in all form, a substantial sympathetic phenomenon chain that can't be severe apart. To be separated from his twin is pure agony for him a knowledge that he whole-hardly experience at the festive, and he wanted to be near Itachi, thus the pain of emptiness would be relieved.

His heart just ached so painfully as if a pair of twins dagger was impaled in his chest and twisted the organ whenever he thought being without Itachi.

He wasn't shameful to admitted to himself and maybe to the whole world where everybody would hear him if he have the guts though, to declare that his twin is precious to him, too precious to him, too never want to lose, because he was a blessed sight to behold. Especially when the increasing sparking light in his brother's eyes outshine the haunted melody dark sea when he would chuckles.

It was a blessed melody he would hear every time he does.

Then as he gave Itachi's pink lips a analyze look which was parted slightly in exhalation, his vision traveled upward practically on its own to an area of his brother's angelic feature.

To those eyes…despite it was cover in a daze look on the surface…the inner depth remain hollow and blank.

The reality of his brother's death coming eventually closer struck him repeatedly twice in a row in one night. That wretched disease would take him away when both of them turned sixteen next year. It was supposed to be a happy occasion for both of them, he could already imagined a image of them blowing the candles on a twin's cake, one half represent their choice of flavor, his would be a tomato flavor--Yeah, he'd already had decide what flavor and coating this early. Itachi's flavor would be absolutely strawberries. Their friend's going to be there, a lot of, talking, screaming, yelling, barking, squealing, whispering, gossiping, swearing, music blasting across the expanse of the living room, playful insulting that make the manor shook would take place at that day and he would be sporting a painful rung in his ears till the next day then have Itachi came to tender him if it doesn't go away. After they finished slicing the cakes, they and their friends would go to the garden, and sat down, talking and discussing about the future, their future's plan, and dreams of adventure to travel across the world that spread much larger than the vast ocean.

It could happen as long he is cure, but he knew that the aspect of being together doesn't looks so good now. And he was frustrated at that disease for slowly draining his twin's life, scared and worried over his brother that might leave him so he can never be blessed of the sight of him. He could feel Itachi leisurely slip through his fingertips already, which was pressed gently to his cheeks, like ice melting through his fingers, sliding painfully away and leaving him cold.

Itachi doesn't deserve this, he doesn't deserve this fate. His brother had done nothing wrong in his life! He'd never been cruel to every living's being. He was always selfless, a selfless angel who put people's need before his owns, a selfless person who took the brunt fall that was meant for him instead letting him get injured.

An angel liked this doesn't deserve to die!

He couldn't lose him. He refused to lose him to death hand. That insistent of not wanting to lose his twin kept whirled around his head even as touch his brother's soft cheek. Instinctively, at that touch, Itachi's eyes lost the daze look within him as he fixed his twin with an attentive looks, pink lips parted in unspoken question even though he just regain the ability to talk. Apparently, his breath was knocked away at how breathtaking his brother was. Despite the gloomy hallway, his twin's milky complexion permeated through it when one light angle on his feature and eyes, making his already milky skin obtain a stunning silvery hue, dark eyes glimmered liked stars. In all Sasuke looked like…a moon child. 'I'm not letting you die."Sasuke stated firmly in his mind, his fingers not stopping in its course of movements as they tucked a few strands of soft long bangs behind his brother's ears. 'As long I'm still breathing, I'll never let you escape me. I won't let you, death, or anyone else released the chains that bind us together.' A possessive glint met that statement in the younger twin's dark orbs as those thoughts came to an end.

Thud!

But as soon those thoughts came to an end, there was a loud thud that came from the ceiling, causing the two siblings to sharply move away from the other like nothing had happen.

Like it never happen in the first place…turning into a forgotten shattered memory.

Thud!

A another loud thud was heard, destroying the silence, and the two brother's locked their gaze onto the ceiling as they found themselves wait patiently in baited breath, surmising that there would be another thud.

Thud!!

And they weren't disappoint unfortunately though, when there was third loud thud that vibrate the ceiling, causing the chandlier, near them, to sway back and forth under the tremor as Sasuke eye its warily. It better not fall…

Thud!! Thud!!

Two loud thuds follow the third, like someone took a step.

"…There are only three of us living here, right?" Sasuke asked his twin who had moved more closer to him during thud period, already knowing what answers Itachi would surely given him, once it's become deadly quiet.

"Yes…" Itachi asserted as he trailed off, letting a suffocating silence followed after his words, a silence that was begging to be broken. Yet it broke two minute later by a series of low thud was heard, echoing down from the staircase that led to the fourth floor and the older twin continue. "I stand true."

Shortly after his twin's words left from his lips, Sasuke was already walking to the staircase, wanting to find out what cause those sounds and get the lemon grass. Afore, he was having seconds thought that involve to take his brother and ran back downstairs, telling his uncle to get the lemon grass himself, however if he follow that impulse, he would undoubtedly be a coward to himself, and giving Itachi the impression that he was a weakling. If he supposed to be a prince, whom his twin finds him to be, he shouldn't run away from danger, he must face whatever it is right in the eyes. What was the point of running away when you don't know what it is? Then as an after thought, he turned to his twin for a moment. "Itachi, you should go back downstairs. I go get the lemon grass, then come back down," Sasuke told his brother, averting his eyes from Itachi when he caught the blink of surprise on his twin's pretty face, afraid he might changes his mind and ignoring the faint cries of his heart at the result that he had declare them to be separated for a while. It was for a while, he reassured himself and his heart, and he would be reunited with Itachi again when he got through this task.

Such attempted of reassurance faded fast, though, when he found his left arm encased in a strong grip, preventing him from walking onward. On the other hand, it wasn't the grip around his wrist that prevented him from walking. He realized the grip may be strong but there was gentleness and fragileness in it. He could easily yank his arm free, but if he did that, he was sure he would dislocate his brother's fingers under his roughness force. And he couldn't have that if he does injured him, he was afraid to harm him, afraid to handle Itachi in any way than with the utmost care as if he would shattered into pieces of broken glass.

It wasn't the grip of his wrist than, it was rather the soft voice behind him, and he wished his twin didn't sound so fragile and breakable with a tint of lost in it since he already was, as if he was trapped in a maze of illusion and couldn't find the way out. "No, Sasuke. I come with you." He doesn't need to hear it in his voice too. "I'll go wherever you will go…just don't leave me alone…"

Please don't leave me, don't walk away, and don't leave me alone with them…again like you did before so long ago.

Sasuke turned his head curiously, and his body follows along, wanting to know howhis brother got the logic that he would leave him alone; it's not he'll leave him forever, but his body froze at those stunning orbs, shining with willpower. His twin's voice and appearance may confirmed that he was fragile but his eyes betrayed, in a good way, and for a second the younger twin almost forget that Itachi wasn't a delicate angel in reality, for a second. "No, Itachi. I'm not bringing you with me. That is final," Sasuke said sternly as his feature darkened, he could feel it change. Itachi's resolve may be strong; still the younger twin won't surrender to him. On another matter, he has a reasonable reason of why he didn't want his brother come with him. Itachi saw it too, but he didn't flinch nor look away as he met those deadly dark stormy orbs bore into his self-control dark ocean ones.

A tense silence follow the statement as both pair of onyx orbs fought against one another in the battle of willpower, trying to force the other to submit. The battle was force to come to an end a moment after, when Itachi and Sasuke evaded their eyes from each other. There was no winner, it was a draw. If they kept it up, it's likely they won't get anywhere.

"I won't let you go alone, Sasuke. Even it means you have to hurt me," Itachi insisted, emphasizing his point by tightened his grip still around his brother's left arm. He won't allow Sasuke go upstairs by himself, not while something was sounded from the fourth floors. Then suddenly his body was on edge when his twin gently removed his grip around his wrist. At first the older twin thought Sasuke would pulled away from him, and he was in guard just in case he would have snatched his twin's wrist again if that is his motive. However instead Sasuke took a hold of his hand and ran his thumb along the back of his hand, tenderly.

There was a sharp inhale that attracted his stare from their hands onto his twin's face. Staring into his countenance, the mild manner brother observed as Sasuke look off to the side, eyes closed in deep thoughts, stance ridge, and movement uncertain. Still, despite his eyes were shut, Sasuke didn't stop his finger movement, a display of comfort as he continue to ran his thumb along the soft skin texture at the back of his brother's hand methodically, shutting him out of his sight and mind yet still connected to each other.

In the depth of his mind there was a great war going on which made his head ache. His conscience and his heart was sending mix signal, not cooperating at all, wanting him to make a choice, to leave his twin, or take Itachi with him. And making a decision is one of his weaknesses; he doesn't know the outcome would be. It could be a good one, or a bad one that make him regret soon after. Right now, his conscience, which doesn't sound annoying he might add, told him that he shouldn't bring his brother with him…he will brought harm upon him if he does. What harm he asked, his conscience didn't tell him. While his heart was telling him he should take his twin with him, don't leave him by himself, danger will come after him. Then, curiously not mocking though, his heart asked him does he want Itachi to suffer by himself again? Or risks taking his brother with him, yet even he's harm, he was by his side. He won't be alone. If he leaves Itachi, he would make a fatal mistake. Sasuke asked what mistake? What it meant 'again?' however, his heart didn't continue any further, letting him mull over the wisely and strange familiar words.

Later on it's seem to Sasuke ,who head ached along the way, the small war had become an eternal war, a great battle between his heart and conscience, trying to overpower the other. Yet, lucky for him, it couldn't continue any longer, for the record every war are draw to an end. One must submit to the other either willingly or bitterly, while the other is declared as the victor. This wasn't any difference, the conscience was defeated, and the heart won in decision making. Left with no choice, the younger twin follows his heart. Hoping he won't regret it and his heart won't disappoint him.

Reopening his eyes, he had to blink a couple of time to adjust to the dim hallway before his vision fix on Itachi. His eyes soften from the hard look at the mere angelic face, letting his lips curled into a comforting smile, he halted his thumb movement. Then slowly he grabbed his twin's hand into his own, stubbornly ignoring his heart that told him he can with no trouble interlock their finger together, as he commented, his decision was made. "All right, you can come with me. But stay close," He said gently, voice soften as he watched Itachi's lips morph from a frown into a small smile, a relieving one, Sasuke guessed, that he decide to bring him along. It was flabbergasting, really, that the mere mention or thought about his brother's safety make him submit, while exceptionally goes to prove Itachi is his weakness.

Itachi nodded as he offered a smile to his brother, his hands tightened around Sasuke's own one, a gesture to show that he understand. "Okay than. Wherever you go," He finally replied in a clear, strong voice. And Sasuke was left in awe again at the strength of those eyes that betray his brother's appearance. Undoubtedly it appeared Itachi want to come with him, instead of letting him go by himself. Was his brother worried about him? Whatever the cases may be, the younger twin couldn't help but be…flattered by the fact his twin want to face whatever it is that cause the loud thud along side him. And he felt bad that he didn't want him to come along earlier even though it was somehow a good reason.

"Then let's go," Sasuke murmured, and, taking his brother's hand, he led them to the front of the dark staircase.

Staring up the stairs and squeezing Itachi's soft hand in reassurance and comfort, he tentatively placed his right foot on the first step and maneuver his body up, feeling his brother follow suit next to him. Then, as if in cue, when they were on the first steps, there was a loud thud that was heard ahead of them follow by a thunderous groan, which Sasuke had thought it was the pipes before, vibrating down the stair, causing Itachi to stand more closer his brother.

Sasuke held his breath as he waited for the vibration to reside away, running his thumb over the back of his twin's warm hand comforting, when he felt Itachi stiffened beside him, and slowly, yet surely the tight grip on his hand relaxed. Then as a few seconds pass, and he was sure the vibration ebb away, he and Itachi shared significant nod before slowly ascended up the stairs.

The younger twin just hoped he didn't make a fatal mistake for his brother's sake and for himself.

Yet, as long they have that significant bond and influential trust in each other, they'll be okay in end…

…Right?

----

----TBC...

Hmmm, the plot's thickened, but it's far from being over. It's just the beginning for both of them.

To answers everbody's question, there is something going on with Sasuke' left hand. What it is, is yet to be told. And no Itachi didn't see the red eerie lunar mark on his brother's forehead.

I really don't like scary childish voice...hehe, that was random.

^^ Sasuke so gentle to his twin. Though he swear alot in this story, even he's in pain lol. Still, I really like to portrayed him this way, a kind, foul mouth, short-temper, rash, emotional brother. It's different. I don't want to make Itachi's swear though since it doesn't suit him, a swearing brother. I know every readers would disagree on that, but it's okay, everybody is entitled to their own opinions. :)

If everybody is wondering when the twins going to get to village. They won't yet, but soon. I don't want to rushed the story and have them get to the village all the sudden. So, I hope it's okay?....

Hehe, Sasuke really love his twin's hair.

As the story goes along I will tell the relationship between the brother's when they were younger and of course their parents...

Sorry for making Itachi's OCC, but I need him to be in this story. And Sasuke also too. If everyone's think he is...

Is the manor haunted? You will find out in the next chapter...

Okay then, Review please or not ^^

Review reply: ^.^

Deviline12.1: I'm glad I update too! Yeah, Sasuke protect your brother, make sure he won't get hurt. I'm glad you enjoyed how much Sasuke adored Itachi, he so, so adore him. HaHa, I love that scene too, the little bird think Sasuke's hair is a nest. But Sasuke doesn't think so lol. That's great to hear, I like to portray them both differently too, they like the opposite of one another. One is mild manner and one is short-temper one XD. Ahh, the little girl. I hope you will continue reading since it's going to get more scarier. Oh, sorry for the extremingly long chapter, but glad you like it. And you welcome!! Panda bear cuteness!

Blackbeta: Thank you. I love that line also^^, Sasuke swear so much. I'm glad to hear that you don't mind Itachi being OCC. It's just really hard to keep him in-character, but I hope one day, I would. I don't know when. Yes, you are right. Songs and lyrics really inspire you to form idea and also relax the tension from your body after a bad day, which I sometimes feel. I agree with you again, it's rare to read him as a gentle brother. Sasuke is usually portrayed being more angry to Itachi. And, yes, I adore Itachi being the submissive brother to Sasuke too. It's rare to find an submissive Itachi's to his brother story. As for Itachi, Yep you're right, he really care and worried over his twin. He rather be hurt than let Sasuke be harm. I do too, I love Itachi being protective over his brother also, Same goes with Sasuke, which is rare. It goes to show there something's amazing fondess or something else, between the brother's.^^ Thank you once again, I'm glad you love this story. Yes, as the story goes along, there will be some twist added into this. Oh, you not annoying! I'm fond of long review and short ones, so it's okay. ^^ Yay, Panda bear!

Imayame21: Hi, ^.^ yay I update! I'm happy too lol. Yes, that chapter was super fluffy and cute, glad you enjoyed it. XD OMG, Thank you so much for telling me, now I fix it. :)

Unknownlight: Great to see you again. You are right, I'm making up my lateness by this long chapter^^ . Yep, some angst will be added along soon.

Paula: It's great you like this story. Hope you ejoy the third one.

Inuyasha fangirl: Hehe, I can't stand my grammar mistakes, it make me angry X) But glad you find them to be okay. Yes, Sasuke as a gentle brother is rare to find.

MOMO: Okay I update. Hope you enjoy the third chapter. :)

Okay than, hope everbody have a good day and night. xD