Author's Note: Points to make: I'm a jerk for leaving this for four months, I know. And I can't promise that the wait for the chapter after this will be any shorter. I suck, I know.

On a brighter note, this is a favorite chapter of mine. All Itachi and Sasuke interaction! C: Also, this chapter reveals lots more about Sasuke's backstory so I think you guys will enjoy it (even if it is kinda sad - spoiler!). I'm thinking that next chapter, Sakura will discover all that you get to discover now but I'm still playing with it. You guys have anything you want to see happen next? Tell me in a review or message!

Taking Chances

6. Just Between Brothers

~And maybe this is goin' too fast. And maybe it's not meant to last…~

"She's awfully cute."

Sasuke quirked an eyebrow at his brother's remark. It seemed an odd thing for him to say, especially while he was typing up one of Sasuke's papers due the next day.

Mistaking the eyebrow as questioning, Itachi explained further, "That Sakura-girl of yours. I see why you've taken such a liking to her."

"Do you, now?" Sasuke drawled, absently flipping his text to the next page. He had very little interest in discussing this with his brother in their shared apartment.

It had been a week since Sakura had been hired at Roses and Violets and she seemed to be getting on very well. She had finally started to become comfortable in Konan's presence and even grew a small liking to Yahiko when she met him. Apparently she thought he seemed quite clueless and, as a result of that trait, cute. Sasuke vaguely wondered if that's what Sakura first thought about every guy she met.

"She's friendly, helpless and sweet. You're gentle, supportive and considerate. She's perfect for you!"

Sasuke snorted as he scribbled away at his notes; it was amusing to hear Itachi go off on a sappy romance tirade, even if it was done mostly to irritate him. "Actually, she's new to Oto and without a friend. It would've been wrong not to do something."

"Yes, no one disagrees with that, little brother. But meeting her every night? Providing her with a job? Going for coffee every day after classes? Walking her to the shop every shift she has? Admit it, you're already hooked!"

"Go suck face with Konan, Itachi."

"Not a bad idea. But Sakura might feel awkward while working in the shop. Perhaps I should lend her my key so she can keep you company here?"

Sasuke tried very hard to ignore his brother's laugh as he threw a couch pillow in the elder's direction.

The following silence was unexpected from either brother but once it settled, neither did anything to break it. For a few minutes, the only sounds to be heard were the rustles of paper and the press of a laptop's keyboard. It was the vibration of Sasuke's cell phone that broke their recently solidified concentration.

Dismissing the business of his brother, Itachi once again returned to transferring the written words on to the open Word document but became distracted when he noticed Sasuke stuffing his still-vibrating phone down the side of the couch.

Itachi's face became a little more somber. "Karin, was it?"

"Yeah," Sasuke spat.

Itachi gave a small sigh, "You're still sore over that?"

"Am I not allowed to be?"

"No, it's just foolish of you. It's not as if she started the relationship with the intention of hurting you. She's not really at fault."

Sasuke scowled and looked away from his brother's piercing gaze. That was a pathetic excuse and he knew it. "So you're on her side?"

"There are no sides, Sasuke. What happened, happened unplanned. She didn't mean for it to happen, and neither did Suigetsu for that matter. You can't always beat fate, little brother."

Suigetsu. Sasuke mentally frowned at the fact that he hadn't seen his best friend in ages. Absently, he wondered if a swimming competition was coming up soon and he had simply been too busy practicing. Or maybe all Suigetsu's time had been taken up by his girlfriend. The very thought soured Sasuke's mood considerably.

Attempting to get away from his thoughts, Sasuke scoffed, "Didn't know you still believe in fate, Itachi."

Itachi gave off a gentle smile and replied, "Hard not to with the way life often plays out, don't you think?"

"No, I don't."

"You can't tell me that things don't happen for a reason, Sasuke."

"And you can't tell me that the future can't be changed!"

"But why are you always so concerned for the future?" It was a question that he had wanted to ask Sasuke for many years. Prodding further, Itachi continued, "You're not there yet, you can't do much to affect what you don't know will happen; I don't understand why you won't live now, little brother - in the present."

Sasuke gripped his left shoulder tightly – his scar was burning with the memory. "Because I don't want to lose someone precious to me ever again," he confessed.

A quiet fell over the two as both remembered times filled with sugar cookies, kisses on boo-boos, stories by the fireplace, tomato stained cutting boards, a musical laugh and the warmest of hugs.

"You're talking about mom, aren't you?" Itachi gently pressed. His brother said nothing. "Sasuke, you had nothing to do with what happened – it was an accident."

Sasuke often became angry whenever anyone spoke of the 'accident' turned 'tragedy'. They had no idea, absolutely no idea what he had had to do with the accident! He had never told anyone after the fact – why bother when already he hadn't spoken when it really could have counted? He had seen the other car – he had seen him! He had been too young at the time to know what was odd about such a fast-moving vehicle so he hadn't paid it any mind and listened to his dear mother as she asked him important questions and held his hand across the street...

"You'll always look out for your baby brother or sister, won't you Sasuke?"

"Of course, mom! I'll be the best big brother, even better than Itachi! You just wait and see!"

She laughed .And then she screamed.

And the next few memories were a shove to his back, the smell of gas, the sting of concrete, the sound of a collision, the shine of a million diamond shards falling to the ground, a burning agony in his left shoulder and a mother who wasn't asking him where it hurt.

Itachi had moved to sit beside him when Sasuke broke away from his memories. His brother had placed a hand over his own on his shoulder, prying his fingers away and making sure that he didn't apply damaging pressure. It's what Itachi had always done, through both their lives (piggy back rides, and songs late at night; a warrior to combat the monsters in the closet, and a sparring partner in the art of tickling; a person he could trust to hide the broken vase, and keep the knife from harming his fingers). He was a good big brother – something Sasuke never got to test for himself.

His rage spent for now, Sasuke released his shoulder and relaxed his body – it was suddenly very tired.

"Was that fated to happen too? Mom dying?"

Itachi sighed. Sasuke had asked him this question many times before and he had never been satisfied with the answer.

"Fate isn't about dreading what comes next or blaming unfortunate events on something predetermined – it's about realizing that some things are out of your hands, learning to accept that, and move on."

"Move on to what?"

"The next good thing that happens."