This version is only with brotherly love. For some Sasuita/Itasasu go to the next chapter.

The drive home was quiet. Sasuke could hardly concentrate on the traffic, but Itachi said nothing. Back home they stored away their shopping in silence. Sasuke wanted to confront Itachi about Hidan and the other guy. What did they want from them? But Itachi shook his head. Again he said he would explain 'later' and vanished into his room, closing the door tightly.

Even thought it was childish, Sasuke tried listening on the door. He could hear Itachi talking to someone over his cell, to more than one person actually. It wasn't easy hearing what was said. Itachi was very quiet so mostly all he got were some scraps and bits of words.

The first person Itachi talked to seemed to be involved in the earlier events. He said the name Kakuzu, which Hidan had already mentioned. Could this be the man from the parking lot? As they continued talking it became clear how angry the vampire was. Sasuke could hear 'you dare', 'mission', 'leader', 'keep control' and 'interfere'. One time it sounded as if someone was screaming at the other end of the line.

During Itachis second call his anger was gone. His voice was passive. The useful words Sasuke could make out were 'try a different way' which was much, 'possibility', 'trust in me', again 'leader' and the occasional 'yes' and 'I understand'. This call didn't take long.

The third call was the longest and it shocked Sasuke hearing Itachis voice nearly pleading to the person he had called. He was very quiet, the only useful words Sasuke could make out were 'sorry', 'help', 'believe me' and most important 'brother'. After Itachi said that one word there seemed to be a slight uproar at the other end of the line, which made Itachi raise his voice in sudden anger, before he fell silent again.

"Why the hell are they listening too, Kisame I …"

He then seemed to be in a heated, but very quiet, discussion with more than one person. Sasuke could hear no more. He desperately pressed his ear to the door, but it was completely quiet. What was that about a brother? Was Itachi perhaps talking to his brother or someone he saw as his brother?

Suddenly the door opened, sending Sasuke sprawling on floor. Very slowly he looked up from the ground at Itachis questioning but otherwise impassive face.

"Eavesdropping is immature."

Sasuke snorted at the lecture and stood up, leaning against the door frame arms crossed over his chest and glaring at the still impassive vampire.

"If you would stop avoiding the subject and tell me what these guys wanted from us, from ME, I wouldn't have needed to do so."

Itachi sighed in desperation. Why did hunters have to be so damn curious, Sasuke wouldn't be happy with his answer and he hated lying to him. But he had to say something.

"It isn't that easy. It has something to do with my past, these guys were here for me, not for you. I'm not ready to tell you, first I need to do something about it, then we can talk. You have to trust me on this."

This was not the answer Sasuke had hoped for, even if he was glad that Itachi at least told him something. Still he had hoped for a little more trust in him from the older.

"What do you plan on doing? I could help, you know."

Itachi shook his head, even though Sasuke being willing to help him warmed his heart. Couldn't he just give it up already.

"I don't want you involved in this."

Sasuke understood, somehow. Still, he wanted answers, he needed them. And he didn't want to leave Itachi alone with the problems he seemed to have. He took a deep breath, ready to argue as it suddenly rang at the door.

"What now!"

Sasuke growled lowly as he stalked to the front door. Ripping the door open he came face to face with Suigetsu, who looked at him depressed and solemn. He had a bag with him, which only meant one thing: he and Karin had another big fight and she threw him out of the flat they also shared with Juugo.

Sasuke sighed. He was used to this by now, but the timing couldn't have been worse. And it was the first time this happened since Itachi lived here. He threw a worried gaze over his shoulder. Itachi knew what he had to do when there was a visitor, he hoped he was fast enough.

"Again?"

"It is not my fault, really!"

"You know better than to fight with her, come in."

Sasuke stepped aside to let Suigetsu inside, who immediately went to the spare bedroom. On the way he absently stroked over Amaroqs aka Itachis head, who sat by the couch. Itachi had stuffed his belongings under the bed in a hurry. He would smuggle them into Sasukes room later. After Suigetsu passed him he silently went into the bathroom to hide his toothbrush and other things.

Looking around the corner he watched Suigetsu store his bag at the end of the now made bed. This would be troublesome, after all he needed to go to work tomorrow and he had no idea how long the young hunter would stay.

Later that night both hunters were sitting on the couch talking and drinking. Itachi thought it educative, they talked a lot about school life, missions and their time together. Seemingly Sasuke forgot about him, otherwise he wouldn't have talked so freely and somehow Itachi was glad to be able to learn one thing or the other about Sasuke. But still…

'growl'

The growling sound made Sasuke stop what he was about to say and look down at Itachi. Again Itachis stomach growled in hunger and he laid his ears flat on his head looking at Sasuke with reproach. The younger had forgotten to get him something to eat. He had managed to steal into his room and shift most of his belongings to Sasukes room while the hunters were eating in the kitchen. But he had not been able to sneak into the kitchen and eat, and damn was he hungry.

Suigetsu laughed.

"You aren't a very good handler if you forget to feed your charges, you know."

"Shut up!"

Sasuke was thinking hard. Couldn't Itachi have endured his hunger till they went to bed? How should he feed him in front of Suigetsu. If he tried giving him dog food he would surely get it thrown right back into his face, not that he had any. After some more thinking he went into the kitchen, making Itachi an instant noodle soup, it was the best he could think of.

"Noodle soup? For real? Is that even good for him?"

Suigetsu looked skeptical as Sasuke carried the soup past him into his room. Itachi would probably not want to eat as a dog, especially in front of Suigetsu. He even smuggled chopsticks for Itachi to use. Itachi followed him, his paws making soft noises on the floor. In the room, where Suigetsu couldn't see he bared his fangs at Sasuke in a silent growl. He was not happy. Sasuke sighed and closed the door, this was not the last he heard of this, Itachi could be resentful.

"Why not? I left away the spices. At least it is better than normal dog food."

He sat back down next to a still frowning Suigetsu.

"I have seen no bowl, no toys and no blankets for Amaroq. And no dog food, what do you feed him anyway? You should invest more money into him."

Sasuke glared at the table in front of him and crossed his arms.

"I get it alright. Stop annoying me."

It was already past midnight as they both went to bed. They drank a lot of Sake and were both tired. After Suigetsu vanished into the spare bedroom Sasuke slowly opened the door to his room and stuck his head inside. Itachi was laying on a makeshift bed, a simple thin mattress, deep asleep. At least, this was how it seemed.

Sasuke stepped up to the mattress smirking, he grabbed it and yanked hard. Itachi hit the ground with a silent 'ooff'. He glared up at Sasuke, but before he could do or say anything the younger had firmly put his hand over his mouth hissing at him quietly.

"Quiet! Suigetsu could hear us."

Both went very quiet for a moment, listening for any sounds…nothing. Slowly Sasuke leaned closer to Itachi to whisper into his ear.

"Don't think you're off the hook. I will let the subject go for now, but I won't forget about Hidan or the other guy, Itachi. I do trust you, but my trust only goes so far. And if you need help with the matter, I will help you, if you like it or not."

With that Sasuke left Itachi on the ground and went to bed.

The next morning Itachi woke up to a small breeze blowing around his nose. He wondered, if Sasuke was already up and left the door open. He opened his eyes, only to jump up in shock.

In the open door stood Suigetsu, grinning widely. He held his finger to his mouth with a jerk of his head towards the still sleeping Sasuke and beckoned for Itachi to follow him. Itachi raised an eyebrow and pulled on a shirt, following after Suigetsu and silently closing the door behind him. Suigetsu sat at the couch and after debating for a second Itachi sat next to him.

"Don't worry about Sasuke. After what he drank last night he won't be waking up for some time. You surely wonder why I'm not surprised about you, Mr. Amaroq."

Itachi chuckled. He had suspected Suigetsu to know more about him than he let on. He had noticed the times Sasuke took him out to meet his friends. Suigetsu would always stare at him with a thoughtful frown on his face. And he did not treat him as a dog, like the others did. Also, Itachi had noticed that Suigetsu was more ruthless during his hunts, but he wasn't as bend on killing every vampire he saw. After all he had lived together with vampires for years during his time with Orochimaru. For now it seemed that he had nothing to fear of him.

"Actually, I wonder why you are not attacking me or the like. But indulge me, how did you found me out? I'm Itachi, by the way."

Now it was Suigetsu turn to chuckle evilly. Sasuke would surely kill him for speaking with Itachi. This made it all the more worth it.

"I have no intention of killing you or revealing you to the hunters. That would be no fun. Besides, Sasuke seems to like you. I don't want to get into trouble with him. About how I found you out, well I didn't know what exactly was going on till I saw you sleeping there. But I always thought that 'Amaroq' did not quite behave like a dog, even a hunters dog. Sasuke has changed too, he's calmer than before and not so bent on killing vampires anymore. As I came here yesterday it became clear that he does not live alone. I saw the bags under the bed, the rooms are tidier than before and there's all the food, like sweets, that he normally wouldn't eat. Well, that's all and today I decided to take a peek into Sasukes room. Now you need to tell me, how did you manage to get Sasuke to let you live with him?"

Itachi smirked, he liked the young hunter, even if he talked a lot.

Sasuke woke up to a huge headache. He moaned and turned around only to bolt right up. Itachis mattress was empty and he could hear Itachis AND Suigetsus voices from the living room.

Groaning Sasuke stood up and walked to the door. He peeked his head out of the room, staring into the grinning faces of both Itachi and Suigetsu. He glared at them.

"Someone mind telling me what the hell is going on?"

Suigetsu grinned.

"Don't look so shocked Sasuke. I can keep a secret."