A/N: I think a lot of people misunderstood last chapters finishing sentence. It was not a hint to a lemon. Though there will be one soon (I promise I'll make it worth the wait), for I think it would be odd for Sasuke to automatically get it on with Itachi just after finally accepting his feelings for him.
Special thanks to a friend of mine, who's interest in the story has really helped inspire me to write on more than one occasion. And of course thank you to all my readers and reviewers! I never expected this story to be such a big hit, I just wanted to blow off some steam after being annoyed by my sister. Once again I promise I'll make the lemon worth the wait!
Chapter 14: Comfort zone
Everything seems to have slowed down, and though the question of 'why' still lingers in the back of my mind, I don't find it as important anymore. Maybe because now, I truly believe that when I ask, Itachi will answer. Also my brother seems more important. Itachi right now is more important then the actions of the past. I can feel the same selfish protectiveness and love I used to feel for him, every time I saw him go to his room alone as a child.
Though Itachi hasn't changed. To any on looker it simply seems that we've given up on fighting for the moment. A break to heal wounds gotten during the war. Little do they know the war is over. We still don't speak to one another in the presence of others. For example, at dinner we ignore one another but after, I sit in my room, affectionately holding the locket around my neck. Fumbling with it like I always do, though not at all contemplating about the past. Though occasionally I still like to think on it, though I know I could get the answer from him easily. To a point, maybe I'm a little afraid of asking. Would this change my view of my brother in anyway? Will it make him look insane? Is the reason for his murder out of pure insanity, or protection fashioned by love? Yes I have to admit I'm a little afraid of what his explanation would be, but at the same time it's something that I'll eventually will have to ask. The new relationship we are forming would be unable to go on unless we get this out of the way. But for now I wish to indulge in my brothers company alone.
"Sasuke, I'm going to do some over time at my job. I'll be taking the night shift this weekend. I think the guy who usually did the night shift is in the hospital or something. Either way my boss asked me to do it this weekend. Just this once, will you and Itachi be fine alone?" Kakashi questions, I think a little uneasy about the way I've been acting. I say nothing just nod, Kakashi looks at me for a long time before smiling, and taking his leave. Most likely going to go explain the situation to Itachi.
I continue with the homework I was working on before Kakashi had interrupted me. Only to be once again disturbed, by the opening and closing of my bedroom door. "What do you want?" I say somewhat harshly, just in case Kakashi was upstairs.
"Friday night you'll be on your own," Itachi explains coldly. I turn to face him.
"Why?"
"Forgive me," he says poking me in the head, as he goes on to explain, "I had promised a classmate of mine I'd watch 'Hannibal Rising' with him."
"That's fine," I mumble. "Does Kakashi know?"
"Yes, I won't be gone the whole night," Itachi says emotionlessly, before leaving my room. I felt some disappointment, because lately Kakashi hasn't been gone too often, and I would only go to Itachi's room occasionally in secret at night to have some time alone. But, I was also somewhat relieved to see my brother spending time outside the house, making friends.
"Dude that must suck, a whole weekend having to be all alone with your brother. He'll be in charge, he might even have an emo party, seeing as Kakashi won't be there and all."
"I doubt that, anyway tonight I won't be bothered with him," I tell Naruto.
"Well I guess Saturday and Sunday you can just lock yourself in your room. Though you'll have to eat." I roll my eyes at my blonde friend, who only gives me a grin, and looks straight ahead when the teacher yells at him. I wonder how Naruto would react if I were to tell him about how much my relationship with my brother has changed. I wouldn't though of course. I don't see how it's anyone's business but mine and Itachi's.
I sit alone on the couch, Itachi and his friend went to see a four fifteen showing of the movie. Kakashi was getting ready to leave.
"Itachi should be back around six thirty or so. You'll be fine on your own for that time right?"
"Yes," I sigh out, a little annoyed. I don't need to be babied. Kakashi then says his farewells and leaves to go to his job. When he opens the door, I could hear the light pitter patter of rain drops. I watch TV trying to pass the time, and I catch myself glancing at the clock often to see if it were close to the time Itachi's expected home. God I feel like some love sick schoolgirl, and I somewhat grumble at myself for acting this way. I tell myself to just sit and wait, and stop being so impatient.
In the end I turn off the TV and let my mind drift to my brother, along with listening to the soothing sound of the rain outside. The urge to know why came up, but once again I don't think I'm ready or really want to ask right know. Itachi is still a mystery, and I doubt that he'll ever really stop being that. But for now I don't want the thin vale lifted, I'll wait for a time where I really want to know, about his past actions. I just recently stopped living in the past, I just recently started looking at everything with new eyes, not old biased ones. Why go back to the past so quickly? Why not just live in the present and enjoy the new experiences? I let out a sigh, the light shower from earlier turns into a loud thunderstorm.
The sound of a key unlocking the door gets my attention. I look at the clock and notice it's seven. He's late, I tell myself as I see Itachi stepping into the house soaking wet. He has a bag in his hand, and I wondered why he had it, and what was inside. After all he only said he was going to the movies, though it's obvious he had a side trip. I watch my brother take off his shoes along with his wet coat, and then enter the living room, seemingly ignoring my presence. He sets the bag he has on the table.
"I brought some food, have you eaten yet?" He questions.
"No," I answer simply. Itachi reaches into the bag to pull out a small box, he hands it to me. I open it to find rice balls, one of my favorite dishes. I smile shortly to myself, it may just have been coincidence, but I like to think that Itachi knew all to well I loved this snack. Itachi had another box for himself which contained sushi. I take a bite out of one of the rice balls, and after swallowing ask Itachi:
"How was the movie?"
"It's a risky decision to make a sequel or not. It really should depend on the plot line, not how much the audience like the first movie. It's even riskier to make a prequel." He explains, walking towards the stairs. He then disappears, coming back awhile later in a plan black shirt and sweatpants.
"Kakashi bought a movie recently. I think it's an older movie though, called 'Death by Numbers'. Interested?" I offer us an activity. I had read the back of the movie earlier this week, sometime around when Kakashi had first bought it. It didn't sound too bad, and seeing as it's an older movie it may not have unnecessary nudity and gore. Itachi sits down on the couch, and I go to find were Kakashi had put the movie.
The movie started, and I continued to eat my fill of the food Itachi had brought me. It was pleasant and I sat close to my brother who was also eating. The storm outside was raging, but both of use weren't bothered by it. Until the lightning decided to take our power away.
"Just great," I say with irritation clear in my tone. Itachi gets up and heads to the kitchen, coming back out with two flashlights.
"Here," he says handing me one, "The power should come back on."
I set the flash light right side up, so that it's shining on the ceiling. "We get a chance to bond, to spend time with one another and this happens," I think out loud. Itachi's flashlight flickers, before going off.
"We have tomorrow too, little brother. Sunday as well," Itachi reassures me in a monotone voice as he sets down the dead flashlight. The light the other flashlight is giving off is very weak, and the area my brother and me occupy is very dimly lit. I inch a little closer to my brother, he looks handsome in the light. I think to myself that we really hadn't been really alone in a long time. Yes sometimes at night I would sneak in a pleasant conversation and occasional hand holding but not much else. Those nighttime meetings were usually short, anyway. As I was thinking all this, Itachi as if he's read my mind intertwines our fingers.
"Are you no longer curious?"
I stare at him blankly, "What do you mean?" He didn't answer, though it didn't surprise me at all. The phrase could have a double meaning, either asking why I'm not so curious in our relationship, or if I no longer wonder about the 'why' that's plagued me so badly before I gave into my emotions.
I rest my head on Itachi's shoulder, thinking about his question. Really, before I had given into my confusing thoughts, there were more moments of kissing between us. I hadn't kissed Itachi since I had said those three words his ears had dreamt of hearing since we were younger. Or so I like to believe. I have already answered myself about why I don't really want to inquire about my aniki's past behavior. Really that's all Itachi's questions are, is him asking you to ask yourself. He expects no answer as much as he doesn't plainly and clearly give them back when you ask him something. Or maybe he didn't need the answer. I'm sure Itachi knows how to read me as much as I can just tell when he's very happy, even when he looks like he's just unfazed to anyone else.
I lean up to kiss my nii-san, my fingers exploring his ponytail. The thought of uniting his hair seemed very pleasant. I imagine what he'd look like with his hair flowing around his face, I don't recall ever seeing my brother with his hair not pulled back. Itachi pulls away but an inch, and kisses my chin moving down towards my neck. I tilt my head back, to give him more room to work with. His hand crawls under my shirt, and my skin tingles in response to his touch. I shutter, taking in air between my teeth, my hand stroking the arm that's under my shirt. Running my figures up along it, until I reach the start of his T-shirt.
I wanted a kiss again, and I lower my head so it's harder to get to my neck. Itachi gets the hint, and our lips meet, tongues wasting not time to come together. It was heavenly, but we were pulled out of our sweet kiss once the power came back on, the TV starting up again loudly like it had never been shut off.
A/N: This chapter was what we would call a filler. Next chapter the long awaited answer to 'why'.