Extra: My Dear Aniki: The Sequel / Author's Note:
My Dear Aniki: The Sequel
Written by: Hell Jashin
Excerpt:
Itachi's heart was thudding so painfully it was hard to breathe. His entire world froze, and he grew dizzy. Suddenly, a hand was on his arm and warm, obsidian eyes laid worriedly on him.
"Are you okay?"
That kind, concerned voice, the same pitch, the same tone, the same everything. Itachi's breath hitched, making it impossible to utter any words. Sasuke… Otouto… watashi no ai. His brain supplied.
But there was no recognition in his eyes. No familiarity. No love.
He found himself being walked over to the nearby breakroom and gently urged to sit down on one of the benches. "I'll go get you some water," Sasuke said.
Immediately, Itachi's hand was on the boy's wrist, gripping so tightly that he didn't even notice the strength he put into it. All he knew was that his hand was shaking.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke frowned, his other hand coming to pat the man's hand as if to steady him. "Is there someone I can call for you?"
You.
"I'm… okay," he rasped. "I'm better than okay."
The boy looked unconvinced, lips twisted downward. Finally, when he realized Itachi wasn't going to let go anytime soon, he resigned. "Do you want me to sit with you for a while?" he offered.
"Yes."
So they sat, side-by-side, for the first time in this lifetime, and a bout of silence echoed between them in the empty room.
"My name is Sasuke," the boy eventually said as if filling the void between them. If Itachi wasn't so deprived of his voice, he might have thought it odd that the boy needed to fill the comfortable silence between them when, in their previous lifetime, they sat side-by-side in harmony, enjoying each other's company.
"Is your birthday on July twenty-third?"
Eyes narrowed, suddenly suspicious, and Itachi cursed under his breath. He was too eager.
"How did you know?"
"A personnel file crossed my desk recently, and I happened upon it," he fibbed.
"Oh." Sasuke responded, seemingly taken with the lie. "You must have a good memory then."
Itachi berated him silently for being so trusting. This was not okay. His Otouto could easily be taken advantage of if he didn't question people's motive. The boy could not live life like that without someone to protect him… unless there was someone in his life already.
Itachi found a second bout of an anxiety attack hit him, suffocating him in a sea of misery. He held it in, a vicious cycle of calming thoughts bombarding his mind. No, absolutely no way. Otouto wouldn't. He can't. He's so young.
His eyes roamed the expanse of skin in front of him, searching for any indication of someone else. There was none.
"Tell me about yourself, Sasuke."
"Hmm… would that help you calm down? You were a little shaky there."
Itachi nodded wordlessly.
"Well, today is my first day with the company. I interviewed for the Administrative Assistant position, but they told me I was unqualified because I didn't have enough years of experience. So they put me in IT since they noticed I have extensive training in that. It's been kind of a slow day, so I've been wandering around."
Itachi's shoulders twitched in interest. "Who did you apply to be an Administrative Assistant for?"
"Um... It was the CEO. You know, the big guy. His name is Uchiha Itachi."
"Ah. I'm somewhat familiar with him."
"Really? I hear he's tough to get along with." Sasuke's brows furrowed cutely, and Itachi had to turn away to hide a smile.
"He can be nice, too."
Sasuke shrugged. "Doesn't matter anyway. I was rejected, so I probably won't ever cross paths with him."
"You never know. Tell me more things about you."
"Uh, like what?"
"How old are you, Sasuke?"
"23."
Itachi was 28 this year. Five years apart. Same as their previous lifetime.
"Do you live alone?"
"Mhmm." The boy began swinging his feet forward and back as he hummed under his breath.
"Any family?"
"No. I kind of have been by myself for a while now." He shrugged as if unperturbed, but Itachi saw traces of loneliness in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and anger flashed through his eyes. That was not okay. His Otouto should not have to wander this life alone, especially if Itachi was here. Unacceptable.
An unbearable load of guilt sat stiffly on top of Itachi's shoulders. He should have found the boy sooner. He should have done something, anything, to allow their paths to cross sooner.
"What kinds of hobbies do you have?"
The boy shrugged again. "I don't really have much going on. I guess I like to read and write stories. Watch movies in bed. Oh, and I like to cook."
Itachi smiled softly. That sounded a lot like his Otouto. "Sounds like peaceful hobbies."
"Mhmm, I don't really like loud things or crowded places."
"They are quite miserable."
Sasuke huffed a laugh. "Tell me about it."
"Do you like sweets?" The real question the man wanted to ask was 'Do you still like sweets?' but he refrained from adding a second blunder to the conversation.
"Who doesn't?"
"You're quite an honest one, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Sasuke's eyebrow arched. "What do you mean?"
"Do you have long, honest conversations with strangers you've just met?"
Sasuke's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Actually, I don't usually talk this much. But you seemed a little sad to me and you weren't feeling well, and something inside me just told me I needed to help you."
"Very thoughtful of you," Itachi murmured fondly. "Do you also allow strangers to touch you and hold your hand for long periods of time?"
"Oh, I actually forgot you were still doing that. Can you please let go now?" The boy smiled sheepishly and tugged at his hand.
Begrudgingly, Itachi loosened his grip, allowing the boy to pull away. He instantly regretted it, a void filling his chest.
"Anyway, I should get back to my department, or they might actually fire me on my first day," Sasuke said, brushing off the back of his slacks. "Are you okay to walk now?"
Well, given that Itachi immediately stood up as soon as the boy did, he couldn't really make a case for himself at this point. He simply nodded in response, reveling in the small smile shot in his direction.
"Thank you for keeping me company."
"Sure," Sasuke said easily as he waved. "Maybe I'll see you around."
"Count on it," Itachi whispered, but the boy was already gone.
Immediately after, Itachi took long strides to his office, making it his mission to search the recent employee files for his Otouto's paperwork. Sure enough, tucked at the very bottom of his bin, laid a plain manila folder with half a dozen resumes inside. They were all candidates for the admin position that he denied the need for a few weeks ago.
Itachi snatched the boy's application from the file and tossed the rest in the trash. He stepped outside his office, where the admin assistant's workspace was, and made eye contact for the first time with the newbie that the company hired for him.
He opened his mouth, speaking to the young man behind the desk for the first time. His exact words were as follows:
"You've been demoted. Report to reception downstairs."
My Dear Aniki: The Sequel (coming soon)
Author's Note:
I'm a nostalgic person. My love and admiration for this couple goes beyond words, and when I think of them, I just feel content and adoration.
In the anime/manga, Itachi sacrificed so much. I can only imagine what he went through by himself all those years. When Madara revealed everything to Sasuke in the anime, I sobbed so hard. Now, simply thinking of it makes me cry. I'm a headcase, I know.
I just want to give Itachi a happy ending, a gift of sorts, so even though he suffered in silence till the very end, in my world, he is the opposite: loved and happy, spending the eternity of his days and lifetimes with his precious Otouto.
Like I said, I'm nostalgic, and this has to be my favorite story I've ever written about the pair. So, of course, I can't freaking end it like that. Hence, a sequel titled (and get ready for a spectacular title): My Dear Aniki: The Sequel. Coming soon to theaters near you.
Long live ItaSasu.~
Love,
Hell Jashin