Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto

Chapter 21!!

The next morning sun came through the window and made Itachi groan. He lifted his head and groaned before plopping it back into the pillow. Something snuggled against his chest and he looked down. Sasuke snored softly against his chest and he smiled gently. The previous nights events went through his head like a bullet and he smirked. He couldn't believe how far they had gotten and how Sasuke had responded to him like that.

Itachi knew they were crossing certain borders way too soon. He honestly wanted to wait until Sasuke was a bit older to do such things, but he couldn't help it. But if they were going to go all the way, he would wait if necessary and make it special for them.

A month had gone by and Sasuke's recovery had gone very smooth. He returned to school and was smothered by his friends and their questions. Sasuke had desperately wanted to join soccer this year and hopefully it wouldn't be too late. He was ecstatic when the gym teacher allowed him to join the team a few weeks late. He stood on the field, wearing his cleats and trying not to shiver from the breeze. There was only a few weeks left of summer and soon fall would be upon them.

He rushed forward and kicked the ball to Kiba a bit down the field. Naruto ran up beside them as they made their way to the goal. Kiba took the ball and passed it to Neji who was behind one of the other team's players. Neji easily dodged everyone in his way and kicked the ball into the goal. The goalie grumbled as Neji was swept up in cheers from his friends.

"Well done, practice is over for today, see you all next Saturday!" the coach yelled. Sasuke wiped the sweat from his forehead and smiled at Naruto who ran up to him and gave him a bear hug.

"I'm so glad you were able to join the team this year!" the blond yelled in excitement. Neji walked up behind them with Kiba in tow.

"Us to, we're going to have a bitchin' team this year!" Kiba laughed.

They all headed out of the school field and walked down the sidewalk. Itachi had to be called in to work for an important presentation so Sasuke decided to be with his friends. They were all heading over to the arcade for some much needed gaming. Sasuke had been dying to have fun since he was allowed to be out of his wheel chair. Naruto had his arm slung over his shoulders as he chatted away. Neji and Kiba were behind them talking about something. Now that practice was over they wore their regular clothes. Sasuke chose to wear his favorite blue shirt that day with a jacket, his brother wouldn't let him out of the car until he promised to wear one from now on. The doctor told him his immune system might have taken a blow. Sasuke decided to wear one anyway against the nearing cold. They had made it to the arcade when Sasuke spied a familiar red convertible parked out front. Sasuke smiled when his brother's friend Pein waved at him.

"Sasuke!" he yelled. He walked over to the other and smiled.

"Pein-san, what are you doing here?" he asked. The other handed him a cell phone and Sasuke blushed, he must have left it in the car this morning when he got out for practice.

"Your brother freaked out when he found it when he got out going to work. I swung by on his lunch break to pick it up. He said he would call you around four to ask what you want for dinner," he said. Sasuke nodded and pocketed the cell phone.

"Sorry you had to run all the way here," he apologized. Pein waved it off.

"Don't worry about it, see you later Sasuke," he smiled. The raven watched as Pein started the car and headed down the road. He pocketed his cell phone and went to join his friends who were waiting for him by the entrance to the arcade.

"You want me to what?" Itachi yelled across the office. Kakashi rubbed his aching head at the loud noise.

"You don't have much of a choice; it is a part of your job. You're one of the few I trust with this project and the only person I can send," Kakashi explained. Itachi felt sweat gathering on his forehead.

"I know that sir, but there is too much going on in my personal life. My brother just recovered and left the hospital not even a few weeks ago. I can't leave him home by himself!" Itachi explained. Kakashi shook his head.

"How old is he?" the man asked.

"He's sixteen," Itachi said, crossing his arms. Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

"He's old enough to watch himself, isn't he?"

"Not when he is still weak!" Itachi almost hissed. "I just can't, it's too soon!" Itachi tried to argue. Kakashi shook his head.

"Can't you hire a sitter? Or send him to a friend's house? There is no avoiding this Itachi," Kakashi tried to explain. Itachi ground his teeth together and tried out several scenarios in his head.

Could Kisame watch him…Scratch that, the man can't keep his own goldfish alive for more than a few days. Deidara? No…Who knows what shady people he talks to through the real estate business. Pein? Hell no! Where there is Pein there is Sasori…

Just the thought of him leaving Sasuke alone with him made his blood boil.

"I'll let you think it out. The trip isn't for another week, okay?" Kakashi offered. Itachi bowed stiffly but said nothing as he left the office.

Sasuke was in front of the stove cooking. Itachi never called him around four so he just started to cook dinner at home. He was a little worried; usually Itachi never forgot things, even the small ones. He jumped a little when he heard the front door slam. He briefly wondered if Itachi had a bad day. He decided that just in case it was safer for the other to come to him first when he knew he could calm himself down.

Itachi stepped in and set his suitcase on the kitchen island, looking more glum then angry. He looked at Sasuke in surprise at the worried face the boy was giving him. He immediately panicked.

"Sasuke, what's wrong?" he asked, walking over to the boy and touching his face. Sasuke blinked before smiling and shaking his head.

"Nothing, really, I was just a little worried at why you looked so down," he replied. Itachi sighed in relief before his eyes wandered to the stove. His eyes went wide in realization.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to call. Now you went and had to cook dinner again," he apologized. Sasuke smiled and poked his cheek.

"I always cook Nii-san!" he laughed. Itachi felt his insides melt at the heavenly sound. It was a huge relief that Sasuke started smiling again. Itachi didn't hesitate to kiss those smiling lips and wrap his arms around his waist.

"My boss wants me to go on a trip next week for an upcoming project. I'll be gone for a few days at the most," he mumbled miserably. Sasuke raised his eyebrow.

"Is that what you're so glum about?" the younger asked. Itachi scowled.

"Am I the only one who is upset by this?" he wondered. Sasuke giggled and turned back to the stove.

"Naruto has been complaining that I haven't been hanging out enough with him. I'll ask him and his parents if it's okay to spend those days at his house, okay?" he said. Itachi felt himself go blank and then suddenly he felt stupid.

"That's right…You have friends too," Itachi mindlessly said out loud. Sasuke felt his eye twitch in irritation at the comment.

"Yeah and they are way more normal then yours!" he said back. He suddenly went pale a moment later.

"You weren't seriously going to leave me alone with Deidara or Kisame were you!" he asked, whirling on his older brother. Itachi gave a nervous laugh and rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, no…I…" he started.

"Deidara will pinch my cheeks to death and Kisame will find some way to traumatize me! He can't even keep a fish alive for more than a few days!" Itachi blinked.

Great minds do think alike…

Itachi shook those thoughts away and smiled.

"Alright then, call Naruto tomorrow for me would you?" he asked. Sasuke nodded.

"Okay."

Itachi sat miserably on the plane next to his boss who was grinning like an idiot. The week had passed too fast for his liking and all he could get at the airport terminal was a brotherly kiss on the cheek from Sasuke. With the Naruto's parents and his boss around he couldn't get into the full blown make out session he wanted to with his brother in the men's bathroom. Itachi scowled as people sat down and put their luggage in their overhead compartments. Kakashi was already bothering the poor stewardess with questions about the in-flight movie.

"Will you relax Itachi? The flight is only going to last a few hours and your brother is in safe hands. You don't get out much do you?" his boss asked. Itachi glared at him and tried not to pout.

"I like to stay home," he said. With Sasuke... "I haven't been separated from Sasuke for more then a few hours at least. He doesn't like the thought of me never coming back. Just like our..." Itachi stopped himself when he realized he was rambling. Kakashi's smile suddenly pulled down a little.

"Your...?" he tried to continue. Itachi looked away and tapped his arm rest with his finger. Just like our parents...Bastards.

"Never mind," he said. Itachi continued to look out the window as the plane started taking off. Kakashi looked at him with wondering eyes until the next stewardess he could bother came down the row.

Sasuke sat on Naruto's couch admiring the new flat screen TV. Naruto's dad was a business man and did very well in his field. The blond was currently in the kitchen loading a tray with snacks excited that Sasuke would be spending three days with him. All they did was talk on the way home from the airport, catching up on all the anime Sasuke had missed when he was in the hospital. The blond came bouncing back in and put the tray on the floor before flipping on the TV.

"So how much of Bleach did you miss?" Naruto asked him. Sasuke sat on the floor next to him and put a saltine cracker in his mouth from the tray. Sasuke loved things covered in salt.

"The last one I saw was when Orihime was taken by Aizen to their base and they discover her missing," he replied. Naruto smiled.

"You may call me Kami because I just happened to TIVO that episode!" he announced happily. Sasuke smiled and did a mock bow.

"Oh thank you the annoying blond one!" he laughed.

I wonder what Nii-san is doing right now?

Itachi exited the plan looking a bit green. The plane had hit some turbulence and he had started to feel sick after it didn't stop for a good fifteen minutes. He took a swig from his water bottle and gulped it down, shaking his head. Kakashi came out behind him looking fresher than a daisy. Itachi truly hated this man who gave him big fat paychecks. He reached into his pocket and took out some saltines and munched on them to clear the nausea, he suddenly stopped.

Sasuke loves saltine crackers...

Itachi already missed his baby brother as he sadly munched on his crackers.

It's only been a few hours and I already miss him! Man, I hope this trip goes fast!

Kakashi thumped him on the back as he passed him.

"Well the car should be in front of the airport. Our hotel is really close to the city so anything we need can be phoned in. Man, I love it when the business picks up the bill, don't you Itachi?" he smiled. Itachi tried not to roll his eyes.

"Cheapskate..." he mumbled under his breathe. They retrieved their luggage and wheeled it out to the front of the airport. As they passed Itachi noticed many people admiring him and his boss. Itachi chose to wear his deep black business suit with red tie and a pair of his best shoes. Kakashi wore a deep vanilla colored suit with a blue tie. They walked to the front where a car was parked. A man holding their company logo stood by the car. Kakashi walked over and talked with the man. Itachi was already sliding into the seat while the driver put their luggage in the trunk. Itachi smiled when he remembered that Sasuke had packed his case for him. He had also made a bento for him for the plane but he would wait till dinner to open the loving treat. His thoughts were still on Sasuke when Kakashi slid in next to him and shut the door.

"It's about time I had a damn vacation!" he happily said. Itachi scowled beside him.

"It's about time they sent you to the mental hospital," Itachi said.

The car ride didn't last for more than twenty minutes. Their hotel was right in the middle of the city, very close to restaurants and stores. Itachi gazed at the scenery while his boss went inside to get the room keys. He nodded at the driver when he received his luggage and wheeled it inside. They were staying at a four star hotel, complete with a pool in the basement. Itachi briefly wondered if Sasuke packed him some swim trunks. They took the elevator to the third floor and wheeled out into the hallway. Kakashi handed him a keycard.

"My room is down the hall, number 24. Half the presentation is tonight so be set and ready by six. We'll meet in the lobby, if you need anything ring room service, I have everything on our bill set up to go to the company," the silver haired man grinned.

Itachi took his key card and said nothing as he headed for his room. He swiped the card and headed inside. The first thing he noticed was the smell, like all clean hotel rooms that was the first thing people noticed. A nice view could be seen of the city from the veranda with a chair set out on the ledge. The bathroom was a decent size with a full sized bath. The bed was a twin with a large dresser next to it with a large mirror. He sighed and sat down on the bed, throwing his luggage on the floor.

I should take Sasuke on a vacation…

He smiled when he thought of all the places he could go with the boy. All the things they could do together. Swimming, hiking, maybe a cruise…

With those thought Itachi suddenly blushed.

Pressing that smooth body against the side of the pool edge while taking off his shorts…Clutching him tight as moonlight filtered through their cruise cabin window.

Itachi took a deep breath and felt his loins tingle. He had been thinking a lot about it lately and he wanted to ask Sasuke to be sure. His brother would be seventeen soon and he knew it was the right time to ask. He swallowed his access saliva and picked up his phone. He dialed a number and held it to his ear.

It was later now and Naruto's mother was cooking in the kitchen. Naruto's father Minato would be home soon and Sasuke had been hanging out in Naruto's room reading manga and surfing the web for funny videos. All his friends had agreed to hang out tomorrow after school and he was trying to find them something to do besides the arcade.

Bring. Bring…Bring…Bring…

Sasuke heard Naruto's home phone go off downstairs and then it suddenly stopped.

"Sasuke sweetie! Your brother is on the phone!" Kushina called from downstairs. Naruto looked at him with a teasing smile.

"Wow, your brother waited at least eight hours before he called!" he laughed. Sasuke rolled his eyes and pushed Naruto off his bed as he walked past him.

"Shut up," he said, walking down the stairs. Kushina smiled as he handed him the phone. Sasuke put it to his ear as Kushina walked into the kitchen.

"Nii-san?" he asked affectionately in to the phone.

"Sasuke," he smiled, sitting on his bed. "I miss you," he said straight away. Sasuke on the other line blushed and smiled as he leant against the wall.

"I hope your flight was okay? I know you get sick and…Well I miss you too. I know it's only been a few hours but…You know," he rambled. Itachi on the other line licked his dry lips and cleared his throat.

"Sasuke, I don't want to sound like a coward when I say this but…I think it's the right time to ask you something," he said, sounding hesitant. Sasuke tilted his head on the other side.

"It's okay Itachi-nii, but you know you could tell me anything. What is it? Is something wrong?" he asked. Itachi took a deep breath and loosened his work tie.

"Sasuke, I've been thinking about us the entire plane ride over here. I wanted to ask you this but not pressure you by being in the house and around you. I wanted to ask…To ask…" he stuttered. Sasuke blinked in confusion and worry.

"Nii-san?" he called out worriedly.

"To ask you if you wanted to be with me Sasuke. I know it's a bit soon but I can't stop thinking about you that way…Sasuke, when I get back…I want to make love to you."

Ooh lala...

PLZ R&R!

TBC