Sanzo's Guardian Angel: Thanks!

Chapter 4:

"Damnit. Why am I so fucking confused? Is it his pleading for death that's throwing me off?" He walked over to Sasuke and picked him up, walking upstairs to Sasuke's room and laying him in his own bed, throwing the covers over him. "Rest ya damn brat." With that said, Itachi walked from the room, leaving the door open this time.

The next morning, Sasuke slowly sat up, still sore from the two previous nights. His door stood wide open and he caught a glimpse of his elder brother walk past his door. Then the figure backed back up and stopped just in the frame.

"Morning kiddo." Sasuke was a bit confused. He thought it was just a dream, so went along with it.

"Morning." Everything felt real. It sounded real too.

"Come on. Breakfast's been ready for a couple of minutes." Sasuke nodded and went to stand, only to fall back onto the bed from the pain. Itachi had expected this and walked over, helping him up. He helped the younger to the kitchen and sat him in the chair. Sasuke just watched his elder brother as he walked over to the counter and began fixing a couple of plates. He sat one infront of Sasuke.

"Staying home today?" Sasuke nodded, regretting his choice for a moment. "Alright." The young teen blinked. Was he hearing his elder brother right? Was he going soft? Or was he just toying with him? Sasuke was about to ask Itachi something when Itachi spoke first to cut him off.

"Look Sasuke." There was a short and awkward silence. "You should go visit mom's grave."

Yeah, Sasuke thought, Itachi is going a bit soft on me. When breakfast was over, Sasuke managed to stand on his own.

"May I be excused?"

"Head to your room and rest for a little while longer." Sasuke nodded, walking for the stairs. When he was out of ear shot, Itachi let out a frustrated sigh and called one of hi 'clients'.

"Rireyu."

"Itachi. Where are you at Ri?"

"Um, why?"

"Sasuke's going to see our mother's grave later and I want you to watch him."

"You're letting him leave the house?"

"It's just a short time."

"Right. What's next? Friends over all night?"

"Do you want to be next on my 'To Kill' list?"

Silence.

"Well?"

"No."

"Good girl. I'll call after he leaves, you can meet him up there."

"Yes sir." They hung up. Itachi walked up to Sasuke's room to see him with his nose crammed in a book. He was studying.

"Sasuke?" Sasuke looked up.

"Huge test next week. I had almost forgotten." Sasuke continued to look at Itachi for a moment.

"Alright. Don't kill yourself."

"Why, do you want to be the one to do it?" Itachi felt his anger rise.

"Exactly, little bastard."

"Quit acting like you care!" Itachi had lost it and pulled a kunai knife out, pinning Sasuke to the bed, the knife at his throat.

I knew it. I knew he was just pretending. Sasuke thought as he was once again in fear of his older brother.

"Listen here you ungreatful brat."

"Or what?" Sasuke was now toying around, hiding his fear.

"Or I'll kill you." Itachi pushed the knife onto Sasuke's neck more and cut into his skin slightly. Sasuke felt the small trackle of blood run down his neck.

"Get off of me! When someone finds out, they'll turn you in and you'll be sentenced to death." Sasuke said, his eyes closed. He wanted to cry. Why was he wanting to cry at that thought. Itachi pushed down harder, peircing Sasuke's skin more before withdrawing. A tear streaked Sasuke's face. Itachi glared at his younger sibling. Sasuke slowly sat up and glanced at Itachi, then to the floor.

"Quit teasing me."

"What do you mean Sasuke?"

"Quit acting like you're going to kill me, the stop half way through." Itachi thought a moment, realising his own pattern in his routine with Sasuke.Abuse him until he couldn't stand, come close to killing him, freeze up and stop, letting him live. Itachi sighed, realising he cared for Sasuke and beat him in attempt to convince himself it was Sasuke's fault and not his own. Despite all of it, Sasuke had never told on him. To be quite accurate, Sasuke had quit socializing for quite a while. Years, actualy.

"Itachi, I'm afraid." Sasuke finaly said. Itachi tilted his head and looked at the younger one.

"Explain."

A/N: Leaving it here for a small cliffy. READ THE NEXT CHAPTER FREAKS!