Wow. Just...woooow.

I really just haven't felt like writing for the LONGEST time now. And how long's it been? Four months? DUUUDE. Longer.

Hope this makes up for it? SORRY.

And, may I just say, I think this is my best chapter yet!

Sasuke eagerly opened the box. Inside, tucked tenderly in sheets of soft packing paper, was Itachi's most prized possession.

His stuffed weasel.

Confusedly, and extremely, extremely cautiously, Sasuke pulled away the paper and delicately cradled the old, raggedy toy in his hands. Its eye had long since fallen out, its fur now coarse and hard, its ear ripped at the top from when Sasuke had once gotten ahold of it during his teething period...it was Itachi's childhood playmate, the one object that the ninja, who was dedicated to detaching himself from material and sometimes emotional things as much as possible, still cared for.

Sasuke's eyes began to water as he realized what this must mean. He looked up at Itachi, who smiled almost shyly beside him.

"I...well...it's about time I grew out of such childish tendencies, as to hold onto such a thing," Itachi stumbled for an excuse. "I don't need it anyway, and, well...I thought you'd like to have it?"

Sasuke wiped the tears away, hoping to look more composed than he really was. It had to be true, all of this, the real Itachi would never have done this for him...

Sasuke laid the stuffed animal on the ground and hugged Itachi abruptly. Itachi was late to respond, but pulled Sasuke into his lap and held him there.

"Thank you," Sasuke murmured.

Itachi just nodded and then let Sasuke go, and Sasuke had known he would; this Itachi was a kind fellow but often became unsure of himself in emotional situations. He took up the book and handed the stuffed animal to Sasuke.

"Take good care of it," he warned.

Sasuke nodded and took the gift gratefully, and turned back toward the house.

Itachi began to make his way to the house when he realized Sasuke wasn't in tow. Looking back, he saw the boy staring disappointedly at the grass.

"If we go back," Sasuke grumbled, "I'll have to go to bed."

Itachi blinked and then a grin broke out across his face. "True," he said, almost to himself. "But Mother would get worried if we stayed out too long...we really must go back..."

Itachi looked down at Sasuke, just a few feet away, with playful eyes.

Sasuke's eyes flashed with understanding. "But, we don't have to go just yet..."

"Well, if you won't go, I guess I'll have to make you..."

The book was on the ground in a flash, and Sasuke charged in the opposite direction. Their backyard consisted of a small pond, but it was surrounded by woods and Sasuke sped toward them, knowing his way around them like he did the back of his hand.

Sasuke clutched his present and bolted through the trees, and found himself laughing almost hysterically. He was playing tag with the boy who had killed his family. Though he felt it untrue now, all a dream, the fake-memories still remained, those hurtful days alone, and yet they didn't make any difference now. All that mattered was right now.

Sasuke heard the crunching of leaves and twigs, and knew Itachi was right behind him. Sasuke knew better than to believe that this noise was just Itachi being clumsy--Itachi would never have made such unnecessary noise in a chase, he was a high-class ninja. But it was a game.

Sasuke's feet thudded loudly on the muddy shore of the pond. Mud splashed out around him as he raced forward, the thrill of the chase running in his veins.

"Watch out..." a thin voice cut through the darkness.

Itachi was there then, tackling Sasuke to the ground, making sure that Sasuke was unharmed as they hit the ground. Sasuke giggled uncontrollably, grasped his prized gift to his chest, keeping it safe, and chuckled into its fur. He was on his side, in the mud and dirt, with Itachi's arms wrapped around him, and he could feel Itachi's chest rise and fall as he laughed, too. The sensation was more than Sasuke could bear, and he curled himself into a ball, overjoyed that he was playing with his older brother, unable to believe it. Itachi just wrapped his arms tighter, and rolled over so Sasuke was on top of him, looking up at the stars that were now becoming brighter and brighter as the day began to close.

Itachi pointed then. Sasuke followed the outstretched finger to the brightest star in the sky, winking at them.

"See that star?" Itachi whispered. Sasuke nodded.

Itachi's tone turned suddenly serious. "Whenever you see it, think of this moment. Think of how happy we are, how much fun we had, on your eighth birthday. Whenever you're sad, you feel alone, and you want to cry, just remember--I'm there. I'll always be there for you, Sasuke. Never forget that."

Sasuke nodded softly, gripping the weasel to his chest. He could feel that what Itachi was saying was of great importance to him, and Sasuke peered at the star and remembered its place in the sky. "I will," he whispered.

"Good," Itachi said, tightening his grip on Sasuke and hugging him fiercely. Sasuke let himself be hugged, marvelling at Itachi's strength.

"All right," Itachi said after a moment, sitting up. Sasuke blinked and realized that he was exhausted. He looked up at Itachi with tired eyes.

"I know, I know, you're tired," Itachi chuckled, standing and repositioning Sasuke so that he hugged his chest, weasel firmly against him with one hand while Sasuke's other gripped Itachi's neck. "I'll carry you back."

The next thing he knew, Sasuke was being carefully laid upon Itachi's bed, stuffed animal still almost glued to his side, and realized he had somehow been dressed in his pajamas while he had been out cold. His new book was laid carefully on the bedside table, beneath the soft light of a lamp. He gazed at Itachi with half-closed eyes.

"Oh, so you're awake, are you?" Itachi said softly. "I thought for sure you were out like a log."

Sasuke just blinked and smiled lazily. "How could I sleep on a day so great as this?"

He could hear the gentle clinking of plates being washed, the buzz of his father's television, the hum of the air-conditioner. Most of all, he could hear Itachi's steady breathing.

Itachi pulled Sasuke up and under the covers, and then he fell in, too. He gently tucked Sasuke in, right beside him, and then shut off the soft lamp light on his nightstand, so the only light illuminating the room was the soft moonlight streaming through the window.

Sasuke could feel himself dozing off, head against Itachi's chest, so he said before he lost himself completely, "I love you, Itachi."

Sasuke was just awake enough to hear Itachi's gentle reply. "I love you, too, Sasuke. I always have, and I always will."