A/N: So this is chapter 26. I'm apologizing in advance for any spelling errors. Like I said in the last chapter, my vision is messed up (double vision in one eye. Weird, huh?). So forgive me please! I tried to correct as many typos and other errors as well as possible.

Sasuke groaned as a ray of warm light crawled over him, heating his skin and filtered through his eyelids and took that moment to burry is face in his pillow. Even though he clearly remembered saying at some point in his life that he quote "Would never get a good night's sleep" unquote, he woke up that morning feeling nearly the best he had ever felt. It was pretty cool not waking up to an empty room or tossing and turning throughout the night because of stress and bad dreams. Sasuke sighed and opened his eyes, squinting at the bright ball of sun peeking around the thick curtains.

"You're finally awake."

Sasuke heard Itachi say and turned over on his stomach to see his brother already fully clothed and eyeing him with lathered shave gel spread over his face. For whatever reason that was obviously beyond him, he never imagined that his brother would need to do such a normal 'guy thing' because during the entire time they had inhabited that small apartment together, Sasuke had never once even seen the other male even pick up a thing of shave gel, much less a razor. So needless to say when Sasuke jumped out of bed and padded over to the opened door of the bathroom, he found it rather amusing although he'd never laugh about such a stupid thing aloud. Besides, it wasn't like men didn't shave. He should have expected Itachi – as a grown man - to grow stubble every now and then like all the other human beings out there that had succeeded in finishing the final stages of puberty, right? But even after rationalizing this obvious natural phenomenon that went with being one of the guys, he still couldn't help but watch the repetitive action from his position in the doorway as he rubbed some sleep out of his eyes and tried to fight down a loud yawn. Now that the situation had presented itself to him he realized that he had never once seen anyone shave in his entire adolescent life except for on television.

That being said, would he know how to do it when the time came to shave off the small bits of stubble he currently had? Or would he end up with a bunch of bleeding razor cuts because no one had ever taught him? Sasuke made mental notes as he continued to observe the raven. He noticed the way Itachi would tilt his head just slightly, sometimes frowning only the tiniest bit and how after every single swipe he would slip the triple bladed razor under the running sink water and then examine it to make sure it was clean enough before beginning the process all over again. Everything Itachi does is careful. Sasuke thought and found himself slipping into the small bathroom a little further in order to get a better look at what Itachi was doing and suddenly, for the first time in a long time, at that exact moment when Itachi paused midway, razor still pressed against his cheek and gave him a long, curious gaze, Sasuke thought that Itachi looked more like a big brother right then than he ever had when they were small and had been wishing for stubble to shave like their father.

Maybe it was because this was precisely how he had always seen older brothers be in the movies. The cool ones were always portrayed as being in shape with nothing on but a pair of boxers and a white t-shirt on complete with a short white towel tossed behind their necks and over both shoulders. The mean brothers though were either very unattractive or so good looking to the point that it would seem unfair that the younger brother was not as striking as the jerk (who were by the way, always checking themselves out in the mirror and never had a kind word to say). Itachi was obviously the initial one.

Maybe he was just being sentimental but somewhere in between the time they had spent together last night just keeping each other company to the time he woke up this morning to stand where he was currently standing, did he feel that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to know this more grown up version of Itachi who now no longer had to dream of shaving and no longer played hide and seek with him as a source of fun or poked him in the forehead a hundred times a day. Maybe he could get to know the present day Itachi because really, he didn't know anything about the other male at all. It made Sasuke feel a bit uneasy knowing that regardless of how much or little Sasuke knew about his brother that Itachi still seemed to know just about everything having to do with him – even though the younger Uchiha never actually mentioned what he liked and disliked – based on some kind of instinct or common sense that Sasuke must have either lost or failed to acquire along the way.

"When you get ready to shave for the first time …" Itachi began, razor still pressed to his jaw and sounding as if he was heading up on what was to be a grueling lecture rather just than giving pointers on shaving. "… try to make sure that you take your time because if you rush, you might knick yourself and more than likely won't notice until it starts burning and bleeding after you finish."

When Itachi's steady voice reached his ears, Sasuke blinked and soundlessly walked toward the edge of the sink when Itachi gestured him over with his hand.

"I might as well teach you how." Itachi said as he finished up, washing off the excess gel and patted his face down with the soft towel hanging around his neck. Sasuke was closer to Itachi than he thought he would ever be on a normal day and the unique scent of whatever kind of shave gel Itachi had just used invaded his nostrils with unexpected vigor.

"You already finished." Sasuke stated matter-of-factly, raising a brow when he felt a pair of hands take him by the shoulders and guide him over to the mirror where Itachi had once previously stood.

"That's why you're going to shave and I will instruct you." Itachi replied and no more than a couple seconds later, grabbed Sasuke's hand, squeezed some gel out of the container and into his palm. "Apply it on."

"This is a waste of time and stupid." Sasuke frowned at Itachi through their reflection in the mirror. "I barely have any stubble."

"Just do it." Itachi demanded lightly, and smirked when he noticed Sasuke's ears turning red as he reluctantly rubbed the lathered gel on his practically nonexistent facial hair.

"Now what?" The younger raven asked quietly mostly out of embarrassment; partially out of mild irritation and just wanted to call it quits when Itachi pulled out a new razor that looked exactly like the one he had seen him using earlier. What was the point in shaving when he didn't have anything to shave? He felt like a little kid playing pretend.

"Fill the basin with water and wet the razor."

Sasuke, slowly getting used to the idea of shaving an imaginary beard and mustache, did as he was instructed and with inquiring onyx orbs, studied the blade and tried to reenact on himself the same thing he had seen Itachi shave. "It's this way, right?" He asked while trying not to think about how silly he thought he looked with the stuff spread on his face.

Itachi nodded, "Yes. Shave in the same direction your facial hair grows. When you get under your chin, shave towards your chin instead of away from it. After that, you're done."

Sasuke regarded him for a moment before returning his concentration to the task at hand. It had been some time since he had last seen that look from his brother. The intense yet friendly stare while he tilting his head to the side as if either only slightly perplexed or very much intrigued reminded him of those rare but greatly appreciated occasions when Itachi would have the time train or help him.

Honestly, Sasuke thought to himself as he dipped the razor in the water and finished clearing away the last bit of his make-believe facial hair, he didn't think he would ever be doing something like this with his brother of all people. He thought that maybe he would learn on his own just like he did everything else. But there he was, standing in the bathroom and letting Itachi teach him how to shave his face. This would be another thing that Itachi has done for him since coming back to the village while Sasuke had yet to do anything for him. Sasuke sighed and patted his face dry with the white hand towel Itachi had used after rinsing away any leftover shave gel. Perhaps he had grown a little more facial hair than he originally thought because his face felt way smoother than it had last night, he noticed after running a hand across his jaw.

Lately, he felt as if he were becoming some spoiled and selfish man who was always on the receiving end of things but never giving anything of equal or greater value. And that may have been true. It was certainly true for Naruto. The blonde had wasted years of his life chasing after him and trying to save his ass from darkness but what did Sasuke have to give back? And Sakura, she helped heal him and Itachi's injuries countless times because was the only one who could next to Tsunade and he never even thanked her. Kakashi had acted as his mentor and sensei for all that time and also tried to save him but even now he hadn't given him an apology for what he'd done. Even seven years ago on the day - when they were labeled as being the Rookie Nine - everyone from the squad raced after him and practically died trying to bring him back home. All he did for them was run away to Orochimaru and spare Naruto's life. But what bothered him the most was Itachi. Because as much as he convinced himself that he secretly hated it, they were family. Itachi was his blood and the others were water. Itachi threw away everything and ruined his entire life for him and the village and what he got in return was worse than nothing but even so, Itachi never once came out and brought it up. The few times he did, he never put the blame on anyone at all, only himself. He didn't blame the fourth Hokage, Danzo, the Elders or the Leaf because in the end it was Itachi's decision.

Sasuke looked away from the mirror and gripped the edges of the sink. Itachi did tons of things for him like the time he bought him those clothes and sneakers because he hadn't thought to bring any that didn't bear their family crest. He made sure they had food and money. He trained him and treated his wounds during and after the time they were held captive. Itachi put up with his moody bullshit on a daily basis and even protected him on more than one occasion. But then, the two times Itachi really needed him, he couldn't do anything. He couldn't save Itachi when he was bleeding out from his wrists that night in the bathroom and he couldn't save Itachi from almost getting beat to death in the prison. If his older brother ever needed him again, would he be too weak to come through for him?

"Sasuke"

Sasuke heard Itachi call him but he didn't say anything. Instead, he chose to alternate between staring at his whitening knuckles and contorted reflection on the small faucet. Every time he looked at himself, he would start to feel the way he looked on that faucet; a warped mess that seemed to never get any better no matter which way he turned or tried to look at. Internally, he felt disfigured and ugly. It was as if he had a hole hiding somewhere deep under his skin and whenever he made an attempt at filling it the damn thing would get even bigger than the last time. That feeling only worsened recently and it bothered him because it always would start out as familiar twinges in his chest and stomach then lead to a heavy pitting in his abdomen. Whatever he was feeling, it made him nauseous. Perhaps he just wasn't strong enough to protect the people he cared for.

"Otouto" Itachi said and Sasuke looked on as Itachi went to pick up the towel that had been dropped to the tiled floor. "Are you okay?"

Should he have said 'yes' or 'no'? Maybe he would have been better off not replying at all because he was never good at expressing things like his emotions unless they reached a point where he couldn't hold it in any longer. He wasn't any good at it because it just wasn't a part of his character. But if he did tell him 'no' and let his brother in on the little fact that he definitely wasn't okay, would he be able to tell him the reason? Would he be able to tell Itachi that he felt guilty for not being able to save him and that if he had then he would not have been inflicted with those horrible wounds? Would he be able to say that last night's nightmare was his fault because he hadn't been strong enough to prevent the cause? What would Itachi say if he could tell him everything?

Sasuke released his firm hold on the sink along with the breath he had sucked in and turned to the door. Itachi had already gotten dressed for the day in a loose fitting shirt and white shorts. Had he really been standing there just thinking for that long?

"No" He finally admitted, falling under the pressure of Itachi's concentrated gaze that – at that moment – seemed to bore holes right through him. When he saw that the other wasn't planning on interrupting him anytime soon he continued. "Do you think I'm strong?" He asked; a mixture of apprehension, anger and sadness laced in his voice while he stared at Itachi, who pursed his lips and frowned.

"I think you're strong enough to overcome anything."

"That's …" Sasuke began, biting the inside on his cheek to keep from shouting. He felt pissed off and a whole bunch of other things. "That's a lie. It's a fucking lie." Clenching his teeth as the words dripped out, and looked at his open left palm then dug his nails into it with his right hand as a way to relieve the steadily building tension. "I couldn't do shit. This entire time, I thought I was strong Itachi. I thought I was one of the most elite ninja out there but when it came time to actually-" Taking a breath, he cut himself off. He was embarrassed, talking too fast and had too many different emotions swelling up. First, he had to recollect his thoughts. "Those scars and lacerations," Sasuke said, taking a new approach and made a gesticulation at Itachi's torso. "Those wouldn't be there if I had been able to do my job and prevent it from happening. You're … You're my niisan and I wasn't even able to – ah!" Sasuke exclaimed and brought his hand to his forehead when Itachi walked up and poked him.

"It's not your fault and you're still stronger than ever." Itachi explained, "I don't want you to blame yourself for things that were out of your control. As brothers, as unique brothers, we have a bond that inimitable. Our job is to protect and help each other but neither of us will be able to fulfill that job perfectly each and every time. It doesn't make you or me any weaker but it can make us a bit stronger."

"We need to get down to work." Sasuke, deciding to change the subject, said after letting the information sink in as he brushed past and dug out something to wear from his drawer. "There's not much time left." The response he was waiting for never came. The only thing he got in return was the key card to their room and a few neatly folded bills shoved in his hand. He didn't even get to ask what he was about to do or where he could possibly be going before Itachi hastily slipped on his shoes and literally ran out the door. Well, that was weird. So weird in fact, that what Sasuke really wanted to do just then was go after Itachi. Then perhaps find out where or what he was so in a rush to go, do, or see. But he as strong as his curiosity was, he figured that it wasn't any of his business. If it was then Itachi would have invited him along. Still, as he stood dumbly, now entirely alone, he felt ticked off that the bastard didn't even tell him where he was going at least.

It wasn't long – thirty minutes later – before Sasuke found his own thing to keep himself busy with though because before he knew it, he had also gotten his own shoes on made an exit out the door to do what he said he would do which was: get down to work. Sasuke idly toyed with key card resting inside his pocket as he walked down the busy morning streets of Kumogakure, peering through a few display window every now and then whenever he saw something that appealed to him although those moments came far, few and between. The small store and food shops seemed endless. Even though his hometown was way bigger, it didn't have half as many places to go as this village did. Konoha, admittedly, had more homes than stores and for Kumo it was the exact opposite. Sasuke sighed and squinted against the bright sunlight that loomed over him and – if it could – practically set his raven hair on fire. It was hot yesterday and damnit, it was hot today if not even hotter. Yesterday was roasting and today it was blistering. It was so hot in fact that he was already starting to sweat and it would be a downright miracle if he did not get sunburned right through the very clothes he was wearing. He didn't see how the people here could be happy in all this heat. Even his breath felt quite literally hot and warmed his esophagus with every tiny inhale. He was thirsty and irritated. He was thirsty because he was hot and he was irritated because thirty minutes had quickly turned into an hour and he still hadn't heard a word about Akatsuki or anything else that could have any correlation to the group. Frustrated, Sasuke stopped in his stroll, leaned against a sizable window and from there proceeded to dig his sneakered heel in the mulch lining some random ice-cream parlor. Of course he wouldn't get anywhere by simply walking around. He needed to think; think about what he knew. But right now he was too overheated to think and the window he was pressed against was cold and suddenly the idea of stopping for ice-cream sounded enticing even though he didn't particularly like sweets. However, the thought of having something cold running down his parched throat was too good to pass up so with that, he walked through the doors, a bell jingling as he pushed them open, and the cool air immediately chilled the sweat clinging to his skin. Looking around, he saw a lot of things. The first thing he noticed was the smiling and relieved faces the many men, women and children sitting around in various booths, each with a full or in most cases, half serving of the cold treat. The second thing was the soft music and third, the long counter lined with precisely twenty tubs of ice-cream protected behind a short wall of glass, each a different flavor and a few different colors.

"Chocolate" Sasuke said briefly and handed some tall guy behind the counter his money. "Two scoops."

"Sure, it's hotter than hell out today isn't it? Good day for some ice-cream."

The onyx eyed teen chose to ignore the rhetorical question. It wasn't that he was shy or stuck-up. He just didn't make a hobby out of talking to people he didn't know unless he had a reason to.

"Here ya go, man." The employee said as he handed Sasuke his change and moved down from the register to the line of ice-cream where another guy was currently busy putting multiple scoops of ice-cream on a cone for a large man wearing a too tight shirt that failed tremendously in concealing the bottom half of the fleshy stomach that hung over his brown pants. He watched the tall guy with platinum blonde hair hover his hand over the tubs for only a fraction of a second before diving right into the chocolate bin and retrieving two neatly shaped scoops of chocolate ice cream. "Here ya go, man." The blonde said for the second time in a row and Sasuke wondered if saying that particular line was required whenever they gave change and ice-cream to a customer.

Sasuke tilted his head and grabbed the cone. "Thanks"

"No prob. Try not to bake out there, man."

I'm already baked. The Uchiha responded silently and with his ice-cream in tow, walked out of the parlor and into the scorching heat that was summer. Sasuke sighed and momentarily closed his eyes when he took a small lick of the chocolate cone, the cold substance glazing over his tongue and molars and freezing his throat as it went down. Ice-cream wasn't as nasty and 'sweet' as he had originally assumed it would be and for a moment he wondered why he had never given it a try as a kid. Now, Sasuke thought as he took another lick. I can finally think.

Instead of thinking of where he would find information about Akatsuki, he ended up pondering where Itachi had run off to. It was in that instant, did Sasuke realize how much he actually hung around his brother. In the beginning, when Itachi hurried out the room without saying a word, he thought that he would still be able to enjoy himself and maybe do something useful relating to the mission. But here he was, having – so far – no luck with digging up anything, baking in the sun, eating a chocolate ice-cream cone to cool off, and bored out of his freaking mind. Before him and Itachi had reunited, he was perfectly fine with doing tedious things like this. Matter of fact, he had rather enjoyed it. Back then he could spend hours just snooping around to find whatever facts he wanted with just himself but now it was different. He wasn't up for it. He had gotten so accustomed to Itachi just being there strolling along right beside him with a straight face, striking up conversations and gesturing towards a restaurant or small time shop they should check out that now, now he admittedly didn't know what the hell to do. And the thing he knew he should be doing, he didn't really feel like doing after all. A small part of him felt concerned and annoyed over the fact that he had already begun to rely on his company like he did. Sasuke shook his head as he walked further and further down the road not only because he hoped that someone somewhere would be talking about Akatsuki but also because he was looking for Itachi, hoping he would run into him eventually.

"STOP!"

Sasuke heard a shrill scream and quickly whipped his body around to see what the commotion was and spotted a pregnant woman down the road holding her rounded belly and shouting a steady repetition of words as a male sped off towards him with impressive quickness.

"STOP! SOMEBODY HELP! HE'S A THEIF! STOP! THEIF! STOP!"

Sasuke frowned at the male running his way with a purse and with unbelievable speed, Sasuke extended his arm and roughly grabbed the young man by the collar before he could get the chance to brush by.

"What the fuck is your problem? Let me go!"

Sasuke eyed the guy and let him go but not without first prying the purse away from the male's tight grip.

"Bastard"

He heard him growl out and it was when the male whipped his head up to reveal a set of pissed off grey eyes, did Sasuke get the chance to look at him – not that he wanted to.

"Lay off me!"

"Here" Sasuke told the woman who smiled brightly as she shuffled up to them.

"Thank you very much." She said and then turned to slap the thief still in Sasuke's grasp. It hurt like hell, Sasuke knew because the sound was so loud that it echoed and for the aftermath, left an angry red whelp on the guy's left cheek. "I don't know how to repay you."

Sasuke shrugged. "It's okay." And it really was. He didn't stop the guy because he wanted a reward or a pat on the back. He just thought that it since he was perfectly able to stop it, then there wasn't an excuse not to. Plus, he hated seeing civilians –especially women – getting treated wrongly by those stronger than them.

"I own Akebono Bakery – the only bakery in town. We're right on the corner. It's run by me and my husband, you know. But he's out on business." She informed and took out a cigarette even though smoking was unhealthy for her and the baby she was unmistakably carrying. "If you ever decide to come around – and I hope you do – I'll let you and a guest order whatever you want on the house for your troubles. God that young man really had me worked up. I'm not used to screaming at the top of my lung in case you didn't notice." She finished, shooting a disapproving look to the man still struggling in Sasuke's hand and took a long exaggerated drag of her cigarette, most likely to calm her nerves, her raspberry hair blowing across her round but pretty face as a small wind wafted between them. And Sasuke did notice because her voice had already become hoarse. "So I'll be expecting you to drop on by, alright?"

"Thank you." Sasuke said and once the lady smiled and walked, or more waddled, off down the road, eventually disappearing into what he presumed was Akebono Bakery, he let the guy in his grasp go.

"Lemme guess." The guy said while dusting off his shorts. "You must be a ninja, right? If you're here under cover or some secret crap like that, you're doing a piss poor job at being discreet."

Sasuke's eyes had widened momentarily before returning back to their usual size. How did this guy know he was a ninja?

"Nobody around here ever does shit, by the way. That's how I knew you must save people for a living. And I just kinda figured it was being a ninja. That's why the people were just standing around looking like a bunch of scared idiots while I tried to run off with her purse. Keyword: tried until you dropped down from the clouds and got in my way just so you could pretend to be the angel of some hard smoking, liquor loving pregnant lady. I wasn't really pissed off though."

Sasuke just stared partly out of (his ever present) irritation and partly because he was just speechless. What the hell was with this guy? He didn't know what to say and he wasn't exactly sure he even wanted to say anything so he just looked on and watched the currently nameless male reach in his pocket and pull out a pack of cigarettes, lightly tapping the bottom to get one out and lit the stick with a rusty lighter after shoving the pack back down in his pants pocket.

"I mean, yeah, you fucked up my shirt with this huge wrinkle but I'm not mad. I can always make up for the lost finances later on tonight. I was just trying to see if you were as cool as you look. So I cussed you out a bit and put on a big show. Want a smoke? I usually charge but I'll let you off this time because you almost kicked my ass back there and that was pretty awesome."

Sasuke pressed his lips together until they turned white and still in complete silence, brushed passed the male with the intention of going back to the hotel.

"My name is Motou Hisoka [1] by the way." The young man called out from behind, taking another drag of his cigarette. "I don't know what ninja would be doing here though unless they came as nosey asses."

This made Sasuke look over his shoulder and glare at the blue haired male. This guy was annoying and he wanted to keep on leaving but something going off inside his brain made him pause in his tracks.

"You look bored."

True.

"If you're as sick of this heat as I am, you'll get a drink with me."

And that's how he ended up exactly forty minutes later at a dingy, run down, hole-in-the-wall bar that smelled of stale smoke, fake leather and sweat. It was the kind of bar didn't have a problem serving alcoholic beverages to those under the age of twenty-one as long as at least one of those underage, young adults had, in their possession, a fake ID, which Motou-san did.

"I take it you're not much of a drinker."

Sasuke looked up from his still very full drink, to Motou-san who was sitting on a barstool next to him wearing a half smirk that almost appeared to be mocking him. "No" He answered, and pushed the drink away. At least he hadn't purchased it. "I'm not a drinker. So what is it that you want Motou-san and who are you? Why are we here? I don't like to waste time."

Motou snickered and swished the ice cubes around in his glass. "Okay, Mr. Killjoy. Relax. I'll tell you backwards. We're here because that's just the way shit ended up. And I hate formalities so cut it out with the 'Motou-san' bull crap and call me Hisoka." He told him and before continuing, downed his liquor in one huge gulp.

Sasuke wondered how was it that, five glasses later, the guy still wasn't drunk.

"I'm an eighteen year old who lives in a box. This whole place is like living in some kind of invisible, indestructible box and what I want is," Suddenly, the smirk Motou wore disappeared as quickly as it came and he became serious. "For you to make up for the money I lost while you were trying to be a freakin' vigilante slash ninja. But you did spare my ass and I hate owing people so I guess that since we both owe each other, I thought we could strike up a deal. Since we owe each other big time, and I mean big time."

Sasuke turned back to his glass, watching the ice cubes melt in the cup and took off the lemon slice, squeezing the juice in the beverage. He had contemplated walking out and he had also thought about telling Hisoka, the strange teen who bought him a drink and offered him a smoke after Sasuke humiliated him, – though he declined to both – that he didn't owe the guy anything and to get lost. But of course, thinking and saying were two totally different things.

"This village doesn't have any shit worth knowing about to shinobi except for the fact that most of the factories are tied up with that group, umm … Akatsuki or whatever. I've lived here mostly all my life so I know a lot about what the factories do and say and I can tell you if you do something for me."

"What?"

"Give me forty-five thousand, nine hundred fifty yen [2] and I want to be provided six meals a day for at least three days."

Sasuke scowled and hopped off the barstool, ready to walk out. "No" He didn't care if he had valuable information. There was no way he was going to give him that much yen and provide him with food like a housewife or slave. He didn't even have that much money! And what the hell did he need six meals for? This was bullshit and Motouwas also apparently full of bullshit. But still, Hisoka may be their key to finding out something good and with only one week left …

"Deal but no meals." Sasuke said reluctantly and peered over his shoulder just in time to see the other teen plaster on that damn smirk with an aura that was so condescending, it made him sick. It was kind of aura that read, I fucking knew it.

"Okay, deal it is then. I have a question of my own though."

"What is it?"

"Why are you such a smartass? There's only room in this world for one and that's me."

Sasuke turned back around and walked out the bar, the morning sun still as bright and hot as ever, a harsh contrast to the dim and chilly bar he was just in. Then he felt a small smirk form on his lips when Motou-san or … Hisoka caught up beside him, the remark still ringing in his head. No, he didn't like the guy and he probably would begin to hate him. "Tell me what you know."

TBC

[1] – Motou Hisoka is my smart mouthed, thieving OC who took 3 days to create. Yeah, three days. His name actually makes sense. Motou, his last name, means origin or place of origin and Hisoka means secret. So together it means secret place of origin. I hope you liked him. I know that OC's can be very annoying and silly, especially when the author's are trying to describe them from head to toe and make them seem all extra amazing lol.

[2] – 45, 950 yen equals out to exactly 500 US dollars