Note to the reader: I can't… it's too much… I MUST IMPLY YAOI. Those who have read Confessions understand me… I hope. This will not be a yaoi fic but I'll use yaoi as a "spice for my soup". Soup referring to fic. I hope to open your minds to slight implication of yaoi, like what I did to the other readers.

Don't hate me.

And one more thing… I'm dying… I'm losing my passion for Angels… unlike in Confessions, I am not much into this fic. I don't friggin' know why! Maybe because Sasuke was seductive then unlike here. Hmmm…

It's vacation! Weeeeeee! But I still have to study for the college entrance exams. Wow… I'm going to be in fourth year next school year.

Summary: If she's taken away from you would you dare take her back?

CHAPTER IV- Sibling Rivalry or Amity?

It was a breezy Sunday morning. Some teens were obviously sullen becausethe next day was the start of another week of classes. Others were enthusiastic however because December was at hand. That upcoming season of Christmas started the wave of anxiety among couples who had started counting their allowances. Gifts were like requirements. It was as if people, of any status in life, would die during the upcoming winter if they didn't have a gift to please others.

That was how much people were brainwashed.

And yet, even if practicality had driven right into their brains, they couldn't help but do the traditional way of Christmas.

Traditions. They were way back before. Yet many still lived by them—other times, they were even controlled by traditions. But people still had to stick with them for the sake of the past.

The past.

Perhaps Sakura could only hope that Sasuke considered loving her a tradition of his heart.

Sasuke slightly moved his head to keep his eyes away from the light. It's morning…damn… Another morning meant another day under the observation of the judges of the heavens. He withdrew his hand which was still clasped within Sakura's hold. He felt like no blood ran through the veins of his wrist since the pink head had kept it in custody of her hold. Sasuke moved and sat upright to free himself to flex himself.

Sasuke's gorgeous onyx eyes moved to scan the room and realized that he fell asleep. He cocked his head to the side to relax his veins and then he ambled towards the door. He turned the knob and pulled the door open. At that very moment, he saw a figure standing right before the door. He had the same death glare of an Uchiha and his hair was under the same raven ink.

"Sasuke, I'm surprised to see you here."

Sasuke found himself doing something he thought he had done before. He was cooking omelet. It was extremely weird why he was doing that but he felt calm when he did so. He was just turning the omelet from one side to the other, giving the food a battered look when it reached the table. When he placed the plate on the table, he seemed to slam it. Itachi and Sakura even looked at him with speaking eyes.

"What?" Sasuke was agitated by the looks they gave him. Instead of waiting for a decent answer, he got himself a piece of the omelet and then ate it with rice. The other two looked at each other and then began eating silently.

"Sakura," Itachi started the conversation, "why are you—"

Sakura looked down on her injured arms and then smiled weakly. She didn't know if she'd say what happened—Itachi might start a killing rampage if ever she did. "This is nothing really—"

"She was attacked I think." Sasuke answered instead.

"And you did nothing?" Itachi's eyes darkened.

Sasuke stopped eating and then glared at the older Uchiha. "What the hell are you trying to tell me?" He paused and then continued with a more emphasized tone. "You weren't even there in the first place." I didn't even have to do that if not for this damned condition.

Itachi did not respond but he resumed eating and then changed the topic. "Perhaps you should go with me to another city. I have a house there where you can stay. I also have friends there who could take very good care of you." The last sentence was still directed to Sakura but Itachi shot his dagger looks at Sasuke instead.

"Itachi—"

"Wait a minute." Something struck Sasuke hard and so he cut Sakura's sentence. "You are not taking her anywhere."

"And why not?" Itachi's eyes showed more of his emotion than his words. "Would you not be happy now that you would be free of her?"

"NO!" Sasuke suddenly pounded his palms on the table. What the fuck did I say? "I mean—yeah, of course I would—"

"Then it's settled." Itachi crossed his arms and leaned back easily against his chair.

Sakura just eyed the two, confused whether she would stay or not. But she just sighed and then looked down on her bruises and cuts, reminding her of the events which happened last night. Kakashi-sama… why is he always there? Her lips suddenly trembled and her mind raced to a hypothesis. Kakashi-sama would not do that to me—he can't— She stopped. The suspicion was driving her insane. Was Kakashi the one attacking her all along?

"Sakura," Itachi caught her attention, "we'll travel by night so prepare your things by afternoon."

"Sure." Sakura said solemnly as she eyed Sasuke who pretended not to sense her heavy look.

After eating a short breakfast, the three decided to hear the morning mass. Sasuke revolted for a few minutes (He said that he hated god for throwing him down from heaven.) but then he obliged when Sakura pleaded. He didn't want to be soft towards her but he didn't know why he just couldn't be harsh enough. He knew he hated her yet he could not deny that he found amusement in watching her.

At morning, when he's half awake, he couldn't keep his eyes closed whenever Sakura disrobed herself in the room. She didn't seem care whether he'd see her or not. It bothered him for some reason he could not define. But the fact was he didn't watch her being naked because he wanted to drool over her body. He wanted to see her because something told him that he needed to—he missed that girl who used to be so familiar to him in a way.

At evening, when she got home, he'd secretly follow her with his eyes and observe every bit of movement she made. He'd stay behind a door and observe her for minutes before he could realize that he was already seen by Sakura. And at night, he'd wait for her to sleep so that he could stare more closely at her face under the moonlight. Sasuke would clench his fists because he was blinded by the fact that Sakura was the reason why he was dumped in Earth. But something about her softened him to the extent that he'd forget the world around him.

And now, that morning, Sasuke was once again persuaded by Sakura to come to church. Sasuke couldn't do anything and so he rode the cab with the other two to the church.

"Thank you." Sakura handed the taxi driver bills.

Itachi came out of the car and opened the door just beside Sakura's. He guided her out and then suddenly sighed exasperatedly when Sasuke went out of the cab. Sasuke, however, was dumbfounded when he caught sight of the church. He stood there, with eyed focused on the aisle. What is this? He felt like he was seeing a movie scene… everything went clear.

There was a man swaggering up the stairs of the church towards the altar.

"Father!"

There was an old priest who ran to the man who went to the altar.

The man was bleeding.

"Call the ambulance!"

The man smiled.

"I love her."

"Sasuke?" He turned and saw Sakura and Itachi gazing at his blank face. "Come on."

Sasuke, perhaps embarrassed, glared at the two and then walked away leaving the two in wonder. The three sat at the second row from the front. They waited for some more minutes before they heard the church bell ring. The people stood and the choir began singing the entrance song. Sakura joined the singing while the other two, who sat beside each other, didn't even part their lips.

The priest who was aided with acolytes, moved slowly through the aisle. He was almost bald and only had few white hairs on his head and his eyes were bluish grey. He seemed to stare at one direction and his face was sullen yet it still maintained its gentleness. Sasuke watched the old man move up the aisle and stand behind the altar. His eyebrows met. He seemed to recognize the old man though he did not believe at first. He glanced at Sakura and then thought. I must have really been here in Earth before.

The priest coughed a little, perhaps to clear his throat, and then began the mass. He didn't look down on the papers or the book propped open for him. He seemed to have memorized the entire thing. His wizened lips parted and there came out ghastly words which sent chill up Sasuke's spine. The priest's tone was calm but very melancholic as he went on. He looked around to see if the people were freaked out by that seemingly walking corpse but no one seemed to mind. They even looked concerned. Sasuke shrugged to get those things off his head. He simply obliged to what the commentator was saying and everything went fine.

After at least an hour, the choir finally raised their voices for the closing song. As Sasuke looked around, he saw children tugging their parents' sleeves. Other teens couldn't keep themselves from sending text messages through their cellular phones and the older ones just had to yawn. Mortals. He smirked to himself and slipped his hands into his pockets. His fingers voluntarily fidgeted for something he unconsciously wanted—almost needed.

"Sasuke." The younger Uchiha gently moved his head to meet the eyes of the older. "I'm taking her home."

Sasuke felt his lips curve into a peculiar smile. His onyx orbs traced the lips of Itachi. "Sure… whatever."

Itachi did not reply. He just placed his arm around Sakura's shoulder to nudge her homeward.

"Aren't you coming home?" Sakura appeared to be quite irritated by Itachi's arm. Sasuke and Sakura's eyes met for a few seconds. The raven head broke the contact and then said softly, "I'll catch up." He seemed to address the statement to the older raven head for he eyed him.

Haruno did not say another word but she simply gazed down on her bandaged arms and followed Itachi out. The Uchiha sat back down and waited for the rest of the attendees to leave. He observed the looks of the people for they intrigued him. Some almost gaped as they looked down on his face. Most noticed the shape of his muscular body despite the hindrance of clothes. A few did not notice his existence. But definitely, someone halted beside him. Sasuke glanced up and noticed that the man paled.

"Chris…" a gentle voice called the man's attention. The color of his face returned and he quickly ran to the ghastly priest who was sitting on a chair. "Get me my cane."

Sasuke stood up and followed the man in white with his eyes. He ambled towards the old priest and stopped right before the altar. He didn't know why but his eyes rounded like saucers and his lips parted as if he was to say something out loud. There was a name escaping his mouth. He didn't recognize the name but his whole body seemed to push him to shout out.

"Father…Luis…" Sasuke uttered.

The old priest's placid face suddenly showed unimaginable horror. His lifeless eyes shot sideways and his fists clenched. He suddenly shouted, "My son!" and began stretching his arms out to reach nothing. Sasuke was confused of what to do. His feet drew him forward but he kept on stepping back. Before he thought he was about to lose his mind, he fell to his knees and gripped his head. Voices started to chant names and events started leaking into his mind. He could not understand but when he fell on all fours, his senses told him that he knew the place, the altar, the church and most especially, Father Luis.

"Fa—"

"Please…" the acolyte named Chris shook his head and then said softly, "he's ill. Please come back tomorrow if you may."

Sasuke looked at the old man who was catching his breath. He felt a stinging pain of knowing that he once loved the priest like a real father and now, the mere sound of his name sent Father Luis into a deranged fatal anxiety. Sasuke eyed the acolyte and then nodded without slight provocation or defiance. After which he led himself out of the church which was, now clear to him, once home.

The day went on like usual and the setting of the sun reminded Sasuke that Itachi would take Sakura soon. For some reason, he hurried home and felt uneasy as the taxi cab he called moved slowly because of the traffic.

At last after minutes, he arrived at the front door of his destination. He swiftly swung the door open and then proceeded to the room. He did not see anyone so he almost slammed the door close and went to the kitchen. There, he saw a familiar bundle of pink hair tied in a cute knot. Some strands of her mane fell on her white easy shoulders. Her nape exposed for adoration and her neck was uncovered for admiration. For a moment there, Sasuke stared and said to himself in a gasp, "damn she's gorgeous."

For some cause, Sakura looked over her shoulder and noticed Sasuke's presence. "Sasuke," she wiped her hands and then covered a bento box with its lid; "you're early."

Sasuke didn't reply but instead, he observed the surroundings. After looking around he asked with a quite stern voice, "where's that guy?"

Before she could even reply, the door opened and there came in Itachi in full black. He looked at Sasuke, then at Sakura and ended up at Sasuke again. "Let's go Sakura."

Sakura gazed into those onyx eyes which the younger raven head possessed. She was waiting for a word… a word… she wanted him to say "stop".

Sasuke felt frustrated for a reason that made him point his finger at his brother. "Wait a minute… I would not be able to go back to heaven if you cheat me of my chance—and only way."

Itachi had motioned Sakura out. "My friend Kisame is outside. He'd take you to my home." He eyed Sasuke and continued. "I'll catch up."

Sasuke was to retaliate when Itachi closed the door thus, leaving the two alone. Their eyes locked for seconds before the younger, who was the more talkative of the two, began his rant. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Keeping me from getting back to heaven? If you want to help me, thank you whoever you are—"

"Itachi."

"I don't your name even." Sasuke retorted. "But I don't need your help. The judges are not stupid enough to believe that I took care of her when all the while you did the job—"

"Sasuke…"

"—I don't remember you so don't try messing up with me. You don't know what I could do since I know no attachment—"

"Shut up."

"What?" Sasuke's eyes sharpened.

"I don't care about you. I only think of Sakura's welfare. So whatever the consequence is, I'm still taking her away from danger—away from you." Itachi's words went sharply against his ears.

What the—Sasuke, perhaps reached the peak of his patience, started punching the older Uchiha even though it was futile. He was sentenced not to hurt any mortal for any invalid reason. Every punch of his missed; every kick and other style of assault were useless. Itachi just evaded the attacks without breaking a sweat. You're wasting my time. Itachi raised his fist and punched Sasuke sending him down to the floor. Sasuke wiped his cheek and smiled sarcastically.

While Sasuke was still half-lying on the floor, Itachi felt a queer creeping feeling climbing his spine. His eyes were engulfed by the peculiar interest in the teen. What was he thinking? Even he could not explain what. But something drove him to do the unexpected.

Sasuke noticed the mysterious look Itachi was throwing him. He decided to slowly stand up and move away but to his shock, the older Uchiha pushed him against the wall. He squirmed away but Itachi's hold was far stronger and firmer than his strength. He almost yelped when the older pressed his lips against his. Sasuke tried to fight the incestuous attack but to no avail. He pushed Itachi away with all his power only to fall into the captivating sensation of lust… Gently, his eyes closed and his fiery fists fell down to his sides. He became oblivious of the world and only Itachi's warm tongue kept his heart beating in fast strong pounds.

Itachi had dropped Sasuke on the bed after at least and hour. He walked backwards, away from the bed and looked at his younger brother who was peacefully enveloped by a comforter. He secretly smiled to himself as he picked up his black outfit from the floor. He wore it and buttoned it up while saying to himself, "I could never deny this feeling… After fixing himself, Itachi went out of the house silently so as not to wake up Sasuke.

Two hours after, the younger Uchiha's eyes opened and fixed their gaze at the empty bedside desk. There was no clock there but his mind involuntarily reminded him of time. Sakura. His breath seemed to say when he sighed heavily. His eyes closed once more and after a few more seconds, recognized the appearance of the place where he was. Dammit! He bolted upright and observed the area. His clothes were thrown to the side and some pillows were on the floor. The bed was a complete mess yet it was comfortable for a certain heat still lingered on it—a certain heat which was also felt fervently burning in his lips.

"Itachi." He mumbled and then looked down on the hurricane-swept sheets. Somewhere in his mind, images, words and other information started making a scene. The scenes which connected themselves formed a part of his lost memory. Everything about his brother began flooding him. His face, his voice and even his past… Sasuke squinted as if trying to ease the pain of information overload but he didn't realize that within a blink or two, he had already a complete memory of Itachi.

"My friend Kisame is outside. He'd take you to my home." The words suddenly banged heavily against his head. He needed to take that mortal back. Sasuke didn't need to think about his older brother or what a fuckin' adventure they had that night, he almost jumped off the bed and grabbed his clothes. He rushed out of the house and was about to call a taxi cab when he realized something: He didn't know where that Kisame take Sakura. Just then, he felt a strong chest pain similar to what he felt days ago—the magic bound by heaven was working. The pang was hell but he needed it now to find the girl. While clutching his chest, he yelled for taxi and directed the man to where the pain led him.

If I am not mistaken, he thought while he watched the night lights flash against the car window, she's hurt. The pain was almost unbearable. She's badly hurt. Sasuke bit his lip to prevent himself from moaning because of pain. He kept his mind intact as he tried to trace where the pain seemed to alleviate. An hour passed and still there was no sign of Itachi or Sakura. He still urged the driver to go further until they reached a mountainside highway. There was a roadblock for there seemed to be an accident. Ambulances and police cars had surrounded a breakage in the iron baluster.

Sasuke quickly went out of the car and went straight to the accident scene.

"Excuse me but you're not allowed—" a police officer was approaching him.

There was something in the breeze that made Sasuke look down. He saw a forest thousands of feet below. And after realizing how far it was, he looked at the approaching officer with eyes not filled with anxiety but with calm decisiveness. What the hell is he thinking? The officer quickened his pace and yelled, "Stop! Do not go any further!"

It was too late. Sasuke flung himself down without hesitations. The other people called a helicopter to aid them in finding the car which went overboard and to find the man who suddenly jumped down to the forest below but they did doubt that he'd survive. The policeman who ran after Sasuke looked down and saw no sign of the falling Uchiha…

END

Sorry for the late update and crappy chapter. I guess the next one would be… hmm… romantic? Just check it out. Ahaha…