Chapter – 1: Beginning

Where was I… ah right. And so, the story begins…

Once upon a time in a village far away from civilization, there lived a prince of darkness. Abandoning his responsibilities, he ran away from home in hopes of finding happiness. But, instead of happiness, he found regrets…

"Sasuke! Get your ass off the bed. We have to leave in ten minutes."

"Itachi! Leave me alone, I don't want to go."

Facing my family is something, I am not yet equipped for. Our family owns a multinational corporation. We deal in everything on the face of the planet, from groceries to electronics to tourism services. My Brother will be the 6th generation owner of the business. So, what is wrong you ask? Me. I, a twenty-four-year-old teen fiction author penned Susanoo Uchiwa, am afraid of myself. I have had vivid hallucinations since I was a child, they tend to blur the border between reality and imagination. This helps me write my books, but it also made me run away from my family and friends at eighteen. I ended up in Suna attending the local university while working for a publisher there. I started my life completely free from my past and was happy for some time, that is until I met my brother three years ago. He wriggled his way back into my new life.

Now, he wants to drag me back home for our parent's 30th wedding anniversary celebration.

"Sasuke, I have packed your bags, picked an outfit for you. I have done everything. It's only for the weekend. Stop being a baby and come with me. Mother is worried about you idiot; you haven't spoken to her in 6 years at least now come and show your face. All they want to know is you are alive." His voice changed mid-sentence it was soft, almost a whisper, it was heavy with concern.

To be honest, I want to go back home to see my mother. She has been my solace, but I don't want to face her disappointment either. I fled home by lying about my whereabouts. I was supposed to live with my grandpa and attend Sound University for International Business Management. Instead, I emptied my bank account and left the Sound. I bought a ticket to a place as far away from home as possible: changed my identity, got admitted to Suna university for creative writing, and rented a small apartment nearby. I came here in hopes of a new start.

"Brother, I meant it when I said I don't want to go. I told you to leave me alone."

"Sasuke you are my gift to them. I kept quiet because you wanted me to. You said you were happy writing and didn't want to face our parents, but now you cannot even write, what do you want to stay here for?!"

That was low, he knows how much I hate my situation now. Even if he is right, I hate that he has caught on to what is going on in my life. Since my birthday last year, I have been having issues with writing. It feels like my imaginations have stopped altogether and I don't know why. The words that used to flow like water are not flowing anymore.

"Itachi! Stop! And Get out! Don't come back here!"

I jumped from under my covers and aggressively pushed him out of my bedroom. I try to wrestle him out of my apartment, but he uses his full body to stop me from pushing.

"Sasuke stop mopping! you cannot throw me out. Now get dressed and come with me. Don't make me force you, brother."

I give up. I know him better than anyone else. Once he has made up his mind he will not give up. I must go with him. I resign, "Fine, have it your way."

"Good, now go get dressed." He pushed in the direction of my bathroom.

I huffed and slammed the bathroom door as I entered to do my morning routine.

I take off my clothes and hop into the shower. The warm water soothes my nerves. I am scared, I will be meeting my parents after six years. The pressure is unbearable but what scares me more is what is going on in my life right now. I graduated two years ago, and initially, my writing career was good. After my brother came into my life, I have started to realize what I have lost. Gradually my writing quality went down, two months ago, I finally lost the job I had since I came to Suna. I am completely lost in an abyss.

I hear a knock followed by, "Sasuke". Gaara is here? I get out of the shower, wrap the towel around my waist and walk out. "Gaara what are you doing here?"

"Your brother didn't tell you? I am also coming with you guys"

"So are we." I see Deidara, Sasori, Temari, and Kakuro standing behind him, waving at me.

"So, this was why you were so sure I will come with you this weekend?" Itachi just started back at me, neither accepting nor denying what he has done. I am completely drained emotionally and physically; I have no will to fight anymore.

XXX Third person POV XXX

At the airport:

Hell: is where Sasuke is now. His friends are excited to finally meet his parents, his brother is happy to finally take him home, but he is feeling nauseous. He didn't want to leave his sanctuary. He didn't want to face the past. He didn't want to feel again. He had gotten used to the laid-back life in Suna, his fun-loving friends who don't pry into his past, his job, that came naturally to him. He had moved on with life until Itachi came back into his life.

Itachi had spotted him through the window of a conference room. Sasuke was on his way to the publishers when he was suddenly pounced on by his brother. He was so surprised that he lost balance and hit his head on the pavement. For the first time in his life, lying on the pavement he felt his brother's tears on his shirt. Despite his instincts to run away, he stayed there consoling his brother. Itachi vehemently fought to take Sasuke back home immediately. But Sasuke refused, saying he wasn't ready to face the past. He also made Itachi promise to keep his location a secret from their family. That was three years ago.

His close friends didn't know who he is. He wanted to keep them as far away from his past as possible. With Itachi's entrance, that wish crashed and burned. He was forced to reveal his identity. His friends were understanding and didn't pry into it much. Afterall, Gaara and his siblings were the heirs to Shukaku Corporation, while Deidara and Sasori were Itachi's business partners. Sasuke was still doubtful about taking them home.

Today, as he sat on the uncomfortable chairs at the airport with his blank notebook and pen, he wondered how his life is going to change tomorrow. Konoha is a 26-hour flight ride away.

Itachi glanced at his brother worriedly, "Tachi, don't worry so much everything is going to work out." Deidara comforted him gently. "I hope so too Dei." Itachi turned to face his lover. This trip is nerve-wracking for two reasons, his brother was coming back home after six years, and two he was finally going to propose to his long-time lover at the party. He didn't know how well his plan is going to go.

He met Deidara five years ago when Nagato forced him to attend a business party. He and his family had a difficult time coping with Sasuke's disappearance. They had found out where he was as soon as they got the news about his escapade, but they decided to leave him alone thinking he would come back as soon as he got over his depression. However, they underestimated Sasuke's trauma, he didn't reach out to them at all. Itachi was the most affected. He refused to go out unless it was an absolute necessity. Seeing his friend in such a desolate state of mind, Nagato dragged him to the party.

Itachi being broody dismissed everyone's presence. He refused to socialize for almost two hours when a blond approached him. "Itachi! Hi, it has been a long time, how are you?"

"Naruto. I am good, how are you? Are you here with Uncle Minato?" Frankly, he was shocked to see him here. A year has passed since he last met Naruto. And their last meeting ended with his brother disappearing from all their lives.

"Yeah, Dad wanted me to attend it, my mom is at home with my grandparents. Come let me introduce to my cousin. Dei!"

Itachi was stunned at the person standing before him. He has seen his fair share of beauties. He was a playboy before Sasuke's disappearance. But the person before him was exotic. His flowing blond hair tied up in a ponytail and the fringes covering his left eye. His tailored suit, which looked like it belongs to a… jungle. It was covered in ferns and flowers, but somehow it matched the man very well. The blond shook Itachi's hand enthusiastically. "Big fan, I have heard a lot about you! My name is Deidara Uzumaki"

"Itachi Uchiha. Nice to meet you."

Naruto grinned and faded into the background. "Have fun guys!"

That's how Itachi met the love of his life. The one who would share his burdens and his rants about his absent brother. The one who would love him wholeheartedly. The one he would love with all his being.

Three years ago, Deidara moved to Suna to open a base is Suna for Akatsuki Corp., Itachi volunteered to help him move into his new home in hopes of accidentally meeting Sasuke. He had no such luck and was preparing to go home when, on the last day, he saw him walking on the opposite side of the road. That was three years ago since then he used every opportunity to be with his boyfriend and be there for his brother in hopes of bringing Sasuke home one day. However, Sasuke had changed, he refused to come back. Deidara's 3-year stay in Suna was coming to an end, Itachi panicked, he had no other reason to come to Suna. He didn't want his parents knowing he met Sasuke behind their backs, they had all decided to let Sasuke take his time coming back home. Finally, using his parent's upcoming 30th-anniversary party. He decided to bring his brother home.

Home, once again his whole family will be together, and he would use this opportunity to get engaged to his love. Resting his arm on Dei's shoulder, he lets the other rest his head on his shoulder.

In the airport, sitting in an intimate position, Itachi is excited and nervous about what tomorrow will bring for him.