I know. It's the apocolypse. Regular updates. Let's see how long that last, eh?
Read on!
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Sasuke flicked his hair back in irritation. His wife was almost nine months pregnant, and so she could not drive up to get him at the airport, where he'd just gotten back from a business trip. He was now forced to catch a taxi, a thing that he very much disliked. Not only were they overpriced, but the taxi drivers could never leave you alone. They always seemed to have to ask you how your day went or try to make small talk about the weather. And of course, the cars were filthy.
Sighing dejectedly, Sasuke walked off the plane briskly and headed over to where his flight's luggage was currently spitting out. He tapped his foot impatiently as he looked for his suitcases, his steely black eyes hardening as he watched person after person drag their heavy bags and such away, until there was no luggage left.
He cursed under his breath and turned to a young man who was behind the controls, flicking through a magazine idly. "Excuse me," Sasuke said, somehow rude despite the fact that he was using manners. "Is that all the luggage?" he asked slowly, scowling.
Suddenly, a finger tapped on his back. "Hello, foolish little brother. Long time no see," a smooth voice said casually. Sasuke whirled to find himself face to face with his older brother, Itachi, who was grinning smugly, with his arms spread open as if expecting a hug. Next to his feet lay Sasuke's matching black suitcases.
"What do you want, Itachi?" Sasuke spit, ignoring his brother's arms and leaning down to pick up his bags. "Why did you get my luggage? I am perfectly capable of getting it on my own." he said nastily.
Itachi's expression wilted, and he nodded reluctantly. "I know, Sasuke. I'm sorry. I came to drive you home. We have some things to talk about." Itachi scrubbed his face tiredly, and Sasuke saw faint crying circles outlining his brother's feminine eyes.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, but nodded slightly. Driving with Itachi would be better than catching a cab, anyway. At least the car was clean and he didn't have waste money on the drive. "Fine," he snapped. "Let's go, then."
His older brother led the way to his silvery blue Honda Civic. Sasuke made an appreciative noise. "Is this new?" he asked, a slight tint of envy coloring his voice. Itachi was the heir to their family business, Fire Fan Industries, which he had taken over after he'd turned eighteen. Sasuke worked for the company as well, but he had nowhere near as much money as Itachi. Sasuke often wondered why Itachi still lived in his little apartment in the city, but he obviously didn't make a point to ask him.
Itachi shrugged. "I got it as a gift from one of our partners about a year ago. It's nice. Has decent gas mileage. I'm probably going to look into buying a Nissan Altima when they come out. They sound sweet." Sasuke was stunned at the nonchalance of Itachi's car talk. He was looking into buying an expensive hybrid, and all he could say was it 'sounds sweet'? He shook his head minutely as he got in the passenger's seat.
"Sakura and I had been looking into buying a new car, too. You know, for the baby." Sasuke smiled tauntingly, as he saw Itachi visibly tense. His older brother didn't turn on the car; he just sat there motionless for a long minute, staring at his keys and quivering slightly. "Huh," Sasuke said triumphantly. "I knew it. Sakura a touchy subject for you, brother? Been screwing her behind my back?"
No sooner were words out of his mouth, Sasuke found himself pinned up against the window by Itachi's strong hand around his throat. "Don't you dare talk about Sakura like that," he hissed into Sasuke's face. Sasuke's vision began to blur as Itachi narrowed his eyes and let go of Sasuke, sliding back into his seat as if nothing had happened. "Actually, that's one thing I'd like to discuss with you, Sasuke. Buckle up," he added as Sasuke sat rigidly, massaging his no doubt bruised throat. Sasuke did as he'd been told and buckled his seat belt as Itachi started the car and pulled out of the airport smoothly.
"What? Look, brother," he sneered. "I know the truth. You and Sakura had been having an affair. But that's over now, okay? You won't be able to use her as your little fuck toy any longer." Sasuke knew he skated on thin ice, but he didn't care. It was enough to see the vein in Itachi's temple tighten as he clenched his jaw convulsively.
"I guess you're right, Sasuke. Because Sakura is dead, as our luck would have it," Itachi said quietly. Sasuke frowned at his brother. What a warped sense of humor Itachi had.
"Whatever, Itachi. Don't play your mind games with me," he said angrily. He understood know. Itachi was just trying to mess with his head, as he had done every other time they'd met over the past fifteen years. His scowl deepened. If Itachi thought this plot was going to work on him, then he was sorely mistaken.
"Sasuke, I'm sorry. Sakura died giving birth to Y- to her baby last weekend. We didn't call you because we thought you'd be angry. It's true. You've got to know how badly this hurts to tell you, because you are correct. Sakura and I had been seeing each other behind your back. She took a paternal test before she died, too, and I'm afraid the baby is mine." Sasuke stared dumbly at his older brother. He shook his head in pure disbelief. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'd like to think that you loved her, and so I am deeply apologetic that it had to turn out this way."
Sasuke just stared at him. "Sakura is… dead?" he forced out slowly. Itachi just nodded sadly. "You… you killed her. And took my baby. God damnit, you took my baby and killed my wife!" he roared angrily, slamming his fist on the dashboard in fury. Itachi shook his head, and opened his mouth to spout more nonsense, but Sasuke wouldn't hear it. "Pull this goddamn car over, Itachi, so I can punch your stupid face off!" Itachi sighed.
"I had thought this might happen," he said, a tinge to his voice that Sasuke imagined had been quite well rehearsed. Then, before Sasuke could see, Itachi punched him hard in the gut. Sasuke wheezed harshly, and everything went black.
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Itachi looked at his younger brother's limp form sorrowfully. He had driven to Sasuke's house carefully and then carried his unconscious body up to his door and fished around in his pockets for the key. After unlocking the door and laying Sasuke on his couch next to his suitcases, Itachi sighed uselessly and ran a hand through his long black locks. He just couldn't win could he? Itachi had decided to just knock Sasuke out instead of fighting him for fear of either of them injuring each other. It was the more sensible thing to do, but now that tension would build up even more.
Turning away, Itachi whispered quietly, "I still love you, brother."
Drifting from unconscious to asleep, Sasuke's subconscious took these words and played them in a dream sequence, along with baby blue blankets and spinning Sharingan eyes. When he eventually awoke, Sasuke wouldn't remember those five caring words, but his subliminal mind would.
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Itachi slumped into his kitchen to find Kisame and Deidara cooing over Yuri, who was giving them a funny face, as if she didn't believe the two fruits in front of her were supposed to be making her laugh. It would have been almost humorous if Itachi wasn't feeling so depressed. He waved the two away and scooped up his tiny daughter, who giggled slightly at his touch. Itachi's heart melted as he gazed into her spring green eyes. "Hello, darling. Did these goofballs take good care of you?" he asked her, smiling.
Yuri gave him the skeptical look and he grinned, and turned to his two friends. "She wasn't too much trouble, I hope?" Kisame shook his head vigorously.
"No way," the blue-ish man said, flapping his large hand. "She was an angel. So? How did it go? You don't look dead. Did you kill him?" he asked hopefully. Itachi sighed, and the air he blew out his mouth made Yuri giggle again. She was so beautiful. Itachi laid her down again in his bouncy seat and scrubbed at his face.
"No. I didn't kill him. I just knocked him out after he started yelling. Didn't want to make a scene, or drive off the road. After that, I dragged his sorry ass back to his apartment. End." He shrugged. "Sorry it wasn't bloody or anything." Kisame pouted slightly. "Just you two then? No Ino?"
Kisame shook his head. "Her three year-old had some sort of play date. Just as well. That kid has got to be the smartest, bossiest, little kid I've ever met. The lip on that boy!" Itachi chuckled. He could picture a miniature Ino ordering around adults. It was a very humorous image.
"Well, thanks for watching her, guys. This probably won't be the last we hear of Sasuke. He seems to think I stole his child and killed his wife." Itachi rolled his eyes disdainfully as Deidara and Kisame cracked up. After they'd said their goodbyes, the two men left in Deidara's little slug bug and Itachi was left alone with his daughter.
Yuri stared at him expectantly. Itachi just groaned. "You know, your uncle Sasuke isn't anything but trouble. Why does he have to argue with everything? Why am I always the bad guy?" he asked her. Yuri stuck out her bottom lip. "I haven't done anything! But he just convinces himself that I've done all of this stuff! I'm the root of his problems."
She made a little grunting noise. "Well, I guess he's the root of my problems, too." He sighed, and then shook his head. "Look at me, talking to you like you understand me." He chuckled, as Yuri made little whimpering noises and started to cry.
"Shh… I didn't mean it!" Itachi picked her up, and realized that she had soiled her diaper, and sighed. All of those faces had probably just been from gas. So much for a sympathetic ear. Itachi busied himself with changing her diaper. He sure wasn't ready for this father stuff, that was for sure.
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So, I realize I've disappointed many of you because I decided not to include that fight scene, but I just am not good at that sort of thing. I also realized that this is a very short chapter. I'm terribly sorry, but oh noes! I've run out of plot! -cries- What shall I do? I have no ideas... Please help me, lovely readers! I need inspiration!
Keep reading, and review, please!
