Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters.
"..." : speech
Italic : thought
Chapter 9.
Itachi: 17 years old
Sasuke: 9 years old
When I came home my friend's engagement party, I found Sasuke and Neji on the couch, watching an action-film both of the boys were too young for.
"Sasuke! What have I told you about watching that film?"
With wide open eyes, the boy jumped up from his seat and started to stutter.
"I-I... We..."
Then Jiraiya stepped in from the kitchen with a huge bowl of popcorn and smiled at me.
"It's okay, Itachi. I wanted to watch it myself and I told them it was alright. I'll turn it off if it becomes too violent."
I glared at him and grabbed Sasuke's arm, pulling him away from the couch.
"I don't care what you said and it's not okay. I've seen that film and I don't want Sasuke to watch it!"
Seething with anger I rushed up the stairs, dragging my mortified little brother with me. I practically threw Sasuke on my bed and towered over him with my hands on my hips.
"Nii-san, please... I-I'm sorry!"
It took me a few moments to realize that I actually wasn't angry at all. I was just shocked. This was the very first time that Sasuke had done something against my wishes and I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that my cute little Angel could actually be naughty.
"I-I said we c-couldn't... but J-Jiraiya-san said... I'm so sorry Nii-san!"
The way Sasuke was looking at me with those big obsidian eyes, watery with unshed tears… I felt so bad for acting like I had. He sat there, on his hands and knees, looking up at me with something that could almost resemble fear...
"Don't be mad Nii-san, I'm so sorry..."
He was begging me now, letting the brimming tears fall freely over his pretty face. Instantly I sat down on the bed, almost throwing myself at him.
"It's okay baby, I'm not mad anymore. I'm just not used to you disobeying me."
I cupped his chin and looked in his eyes. When he wrapped his arms around my neck and sobbed against me, I felt even guiltier. How could I have treated him so rough? How could I have acted in any way that could remind him of our abusive father?
I stroked his hair and crushed his shaking frame against me, silently cursing myself.
"I'm sorry baby. I love you so much and I'm so sorry. You know I would never ever hurt you, right?"
He nodded against my chest, a few hiccups throwing the motion off a little.
We just sat there for a few minutes. Sasuke's sobs had stilled and he seemed to be dozing off. I sighed when I realized I would have to apologize to Jiraiya as well. He was still our legal guardian and I had no right to talk to him like that, even though I didn't really feel that guilty about that part. In my mind, Sasuke was still mine and only mine...
A few months after Pain and Konan's engagement party, I received their wedding invitation. Since it was set on a Saturday and the invitation clearly said 'Uchiha Itachi and guest' I decided to share this with Sasuke. He had never been to a wedding either and ever since I had told him about how two of my friends from work were getting married, he wouldn't shut up about it.
He asked me so many questions I couldn't answer him, from lack of experience, I figured he would just have to find out for himself.
Needless to say, he was ecstatic when I told him we would go together. He started bouncing in his chair, not even caring when I pushed him back down and scolding him for being so careless with the cutting utensils in his hand.
"Calm down Otouto, we are having diner. Now sit back down before you cut yourself."
"Or me…" Jiraiya winced when he saw the sharp blade of Sasuke's waving knife flash closely in front of his face and lightly slapped the boy's wrist away.
But whatever everyone did and said, Sasuke didn't take those shining dark eyes off of me. Just looking at me with such adoration, that I began to wonder if I had accidentally said something else instead of inviting him with me to this wedding. It couldn't be that much of a deal, right?
"Really Nii-san? Like, really REALLY?"
"Yes, really."
Another happy cheer and an uncontrolled flash of metal made Jiraiya flinch backwards again and he roughly grabbed the knife out of Sasuke's hand this time.
"See how you are going to cut your meat now, Sasuke" he grumbled, even though we all knew he was just as unable to be mad at the little boy as I was.
"You know what? I think you won't be able to eat it at all now, so why don't I just take it…"
He proceeded to reach for the steak on Sasuke's plate with his fork, but was halted mid-table when he received a sharp slap on the wrist.
"Let the boy eat his meat, he still needs to grow. Unlike you…" Tsunade smirked at her husband while she gave a thankful Sasuke his knife back.
Quickly making work of his steak in case Jiraiya would find an unguarded moment to steal it, Sasuke focussed his eyes on me again.
"Sffoo I cabbee youff dab?"
I lightly pinched the bridge of my nose and closed my eyes while shaking my head warily.
"Good god, Otouto. Have you no manners at all? Please don't talk with your mouth full!"
Sasuke bowed his head in shame as a rose-coloured flush crept over his cheeks.
"Fwowwy…"
Jiraiya chuckled, but quickly buried his face back in his plate when Tsunade and I shot him matching angry glares.
When Sasuke finally swallowed the last bit of steak, he lifted his eyes back up and gave me a questioning look.
"Now you can say whatever it was you were trying to say earlier" I grinned at him.
"So I can be your date?"
My eyes widened and my eyebrows must have shot up into my hairline. But before I could answer, Tsunade giggled and reached over the table to ruffle her hand through his naturally messy hair.
"Aren't you the cutest thing ever?" She smiled and started to clean the table and gather the plates.
"You know what? I think you two should look your best at that wedding, so why don't we go out tomorrow and buy you both some fancy new clothes? My treat of course."
I chewed on my lip. I really hated it when they would buy us stuff. Since I had a good job by now, I could easily pay for most things myself. I realised it was coming out of the goodness of their hearts, but I felt like we already owed them so much… And also, I hated shopping.
But before I could object, Sasuke was on his feet and hugged the blonde woman tightly, beaming a smile at her in the process. Jiraiya winked at me while he wiped his mouth with his napkin and chuckled as he leaned back in his chair.
"It looks like the decision has already been made, Itachi-kun. Your silent objections have been noted, taken into consideration and blatantly thrown aside. Sorry."
Sasuke couldn't believe his luck. He was out shopping, one of his favourite things to do, and with his Aniki no less! Normally Itachi hated shopping, but today, he was actually walking around the huge department store, holding his brother's hand tightly. Every now and then his eyes darted towards the man that he loved so much, finding the somewhat annoyed look on his Nii-san's face still exceptionally beautiful.
Suddenly Itachi turned his head, catching Sasuke's stare and smiled softly. Sasuke could practically feel the heated blush burn on his cheeks.
Crap, he saw it…
"So what would you like to wear to the wedding, Otouto?"
Sasuke's stomach jumped a little, his brother's deep smooth voice always bringing that certain warm tingle to his tummy. He still wondered what it was, but he had since long decided that he liked the way his Nii-san made him feel.
"I want to look just as beautiful as you, Aniki!"
Itachi chuckled, resting his warm hand in the boy's hair. It always gave Sasuke a sense of utter satisfaction when he made his brother smile. It was something not many people achieved and Sasuke felt proud to know he was one of the few people who could make his Nii-san happy.
"So, matching outfits then huh?"
Sasuke almost squealed with joy, until he remembered how Neji had told him that it made him look cute and adorable. So he quickly swallowed the noise back. He didn't want to be cute or adorable. He was a boy for heavens 'sake. Boys were supposed to be cool, not cute.
And just as he was thinking that, Tsunade jumped out from behind a clothing rack and held out some weird looking clothes with an ecstatic grin on her face.
"Look Sasuke-kun, I found the perfect outfit for you to wear! Isn't it absolutely adorable?"
Again that word… Sasuke scowled a little while he inspected the fabrics that were practically shoved in his face and brushed them aside with a look of utter disgust in his eyes.
"I don't want to wear something like that!"
Tsunade's face fell a little, while she looked back at the outfit in her hand, inspecting it one more time.
"Are you sure? You would make such a cute little sailor and it would go so well with the theme of the wedding, since it's held on a boat. And it even comes with this precious little hat!"
To Sasuke's relief Itachi jumped to the rescue and politely waved off the woman's good intentions.
"It's okay, Tsunade-san, I think Sasuke and I are going to look for a nice suit."
And with that, the two brothers dashed past her and left behind the blonde a little disappointed.
"I don't get it, they have the rest of their lives to wear stuffy suits…"
She couldn't help but grin when she eyed the little outfit one last time before putting it back on the rack. It really would've looked so utterly adorable…
Sasuke followed his Aniki around the store, surprisingly enough not even looking at most of the clothing articles they passed. Even though he loved shopping, he just couldn't seem to get his thoughts away from the feeling of his Nii-san's long fingers wrapped around his own smaller ones. He thought it was weird; it wasn't as if them holding hands was something new to Sasuke, but the warmth spreading through his insides and the nervousness definitely was. He bit on his lower lip, trying to figure out what was making him so skittish lately. It certainly had something to do with his Aniki, since it only happened whenever they were close, or when he was thinking about him.
"How about this, baby?"
Startled from his thoughts, Sasuke looked up and gasped a little when he found Itachi's face close to his own. Trying to cover up his embarrassing blush, he quickly turned his head a little to see what his brother was pointing at.
The mannequin was dressed in a beautiful navy suit, not too formal and not too casual, and Sasuke nodded his head in approval. That would look really good on his big brother…
"Excuse me sir, we would like to try this on please?"
The attendant nodded and quickly gathered the clothing items and directed them to the fitting rooms.
"I'm sorry sir, but there is only one empty room available right now. You would have to take turns, or wait for a little while. I hope you don't mind."
"Oh, that won't be necessary; we can share a fitting room. Thank you very much for your help"
Before Sasuke knew what was happening, he was locked inside the spacious enough room with his Aniki. His beautiful Aniki, who was currently half-naked and in the process of undoing his belt. And little Sasuke just stood there, staring. His mouth half open as his eyes drank in the sight of his brother's muscular upper body.
Right. That was happening a lot as well lately. He was starting to notice things about Itachi. Things like how soft his fingers were. And how thick and long his eyelashes were. And how his skin was so flawless. And how his eyes would curve slightly when he smiled…
Trying his hardest to ignore another one of those strange and unfamiliar stirrings in his body, Sasuke began to fumble with his own clothes. When he gave an annoyed sigh at the uncooperative buttons of his shirt, he heard Itachi chuckle again.
Already dressed in his new pair of pants, that looked impeccable on his brother's frame, but still naked from the waist up, his Nii-san knelt in front of him and placed his hands over Sasuke's now trembling ones.
"Here, let me help you Otouto…"
Sasuke was just lost in the moment. He picked a spot on the wall in front of him and just stared at it intently, while his brother helped him into his new outfit. Why was he acting so stupid? And why was his heart beating so fast? And why did his Aniki smell so very, very good?
"What's wrong, baby?"
"N-Nothing…" he stammered while he lowered his eyes away from Itachi's burning gaze.
Another chuckle and a light peck on the tip of his nose made his cheeks heat up impossibly and he had to suppress the inclination to cover his face.
"You look so handsome, baby…"
Sasuke clenched his eyes and threw his arms around his Aniki, burying his face in the strong neck.
Why do you make me feel so weird, Nii-san?
To Be Continued...
