5

Sasuke woke up groaning with a case of a splitting headache. Every move he made seemed to throw the world into a swirling mass of color. He closed his eyes to block the spinning world. He massaged his head and took deep breaths. When he felt that it was okay he opened his eyes to survey his surroundings for the first time.

Orchard scenery greeted his eyes.

"Where the hell am I?" he growled, his brows creased in a frown. This certainly wasn't his room. Was this a gen-jutsu?

"Gaara! This better not be your doings!" he yelled into vast plain.

"I always like it when you pout. You look so adorable," came a familiar voice that Sasuke knew and loved.

"Aniki!" the boy shouted as he scrambled on his feet.

Sure enough Itachi was behind him, leaning on a tree with his arms casually crossed on his chest. Wasting no time he launched himself onto his brother but the older sibling sidestepped him, sending Sasuke ungracefully head first onto the ground. Itachi chuckled.

"Foolish Otoutou," he rebuked gently.

Sasuke sat up, flustered. He looked away biting his lower lips, trying hard to suppress the tears.

Itachi's mouth curled into a gentle smile.

"Come here Otoutou," he waved his hand in a welcoming gesture.

Sasuke looked at his brother. Itachi could see the battle of 'Should I?' and 'Should I not?' in his little brother's face. Then Sasuke smile and walked over to him, his earlier embarrassment totally forgotten.

As the boy neared, the older Fujiwara poked Sasuke's head with his index finger.

"Ite," Sasuke winced then traced his forehead with his right hand. "Aniki, what did you do that for?"

"I'm sorry Sasuke," Itachi said, his voice wistful.

"You should be. My forehead hurts," his mouth forming into another pout.

"I have to go, Sasuke." Itachi's voice was barely a whisper.

"Nani? But you just got back!"

"I can't be with you anymore. I-I have to go somewhere…"

Tears were forming again in Sasuke's eyes, blurring his vision.

"I knew it!" Sasuke rocked back and forth. "I knew this would happened."

"Knew what would happen?" Itachi questioned.

"That one day you'll find a girl in one of your voyages and fall in love with her. Now you'll think I'm troublesome and leave me alone."

Itachi chuckled and patted Sasuke's head. "Where did you get that idea from?"

"Gaara," he replied childishly. "I thought it was only a way so that I would kiss him. But it turns out that he is right."

"No, I haven't found anyone yet. I just have to go."

"Naze? Don't you love me anymore?" Sasuke whimpered. "Did I do anything wrong? I-I'll promise I'll be good from now on."

"Iie Sasuke. I still love you and you didn't do anything wrong either." He chuckled softly. "I could hear someone calling me so I have to go."

A blubbering Sasuke clung tightly to Itachi's robe.

"Don't go! Please don't leave me!" he sobbed. Pride can go to hell for all he cared. He just wanted to be near his brother. If it means that his brother would stay, he would cry his eyes out everyday. "I'll do anything you ask, Aniki. I'll take a bath everyday!"

"Baka! You always take a bath."

"Then I'll wear those stupid dresses you always bring back home!" Sasuke's voice was edging on panic. "I-I'll even d-drink milk if you want me t-too."

"Gomen Sasuke," Itachi tried to calm the younger boy. "I truly wish to stay but I can't. But I won't truly be gone. I'll always be here..." Itachi laid his hand on Sasuke's chest, "…with you."

"Yada! I don't want this. Take me with you," he clutched his brother tightly, not wanting to let go.

"Sasuke," Itachi soothed. "Don't be afraid. We will meet again one day…we just have to part for now. If you ever feel lonely just close your eyes and think of me."

"Aniki! Please don't leave me!" he whispered.

"Goodbye Sasuke. I love you."

Sasuke glanced up only to see Itachi fading away.

"ANIKI!" Sasuke tried to hug his brother only to find the ground meeting him. Itachi was…gone.

Sasuke shivered, his body curled and his tears can't seem to stop falling toward the ground. The grass seemed to wilt and die until the ground was bare.

"Are you crying Sasuke-kun?" came yet another familiar voice, but this time it was the voice that Sasuke loathed.

"There, there," the silky voice cooed. "You can cry on my shoulder."

Sasuke stiffened and sat up abruptly.

"Orochimaru!" he hissed.

Something protruded outward from the ground a few feet away. It grew steadily upward. It was gooey at first before gradually forming colors. Black first before the color of pale skin appear. Sure enough it was Orochimaru.

"Stay away from me," Sasuke snarled, his hands already on the move on performing hand seals.

Orochimaru casually brought his hands together and do the restricting jutsu, leaving the boy paralyzed. (A/N: Remember the jutsu he performed before laying the cursed seal on Sasuke?"

"That's not a nice thing to do," the serpent-man said silkily.

"What do you know of nice, you freak?" Sasuke spat.

"A lot actually. Let me show you," he said as he cupped the younger man's cheek before he started to ravished Sasuke's neck like before.

"Hanase!" Sasuke shivered with revolt as Orochimaru's tongue slid along his neckline.

Orochimaru ignored him as he continued his assault. He bit the sensitive skin here and there.

"Hanase!"

Hands groped and felt all through his body. Tears resumed to break loose.

"HANASE!"

And Sasuke woke up sweating profusely on his bed.

"Calm down," he took deep breaths. "It's only a dream. Only a dream."

Sasuke suddenly frowned. This wasn't his room. It was a bedroom but it wasn't his. And why is the room seemed to rock back and forth. It was as if he was on a ship.

"Where the hell am I?" he growled. "What the hell happened?"

Sasuke racked his brain for any clue to what had happened. It wasn't a good thing to do as the memories came flooding back. Gaara punching him…Orochimaru trying to molest him, Naruto…Naruto filling up his brain cells and…Itachi. With the memories, the pain and sense of guilt came crashing back, harsher than ever.

His entire life had changed drastically overnight. He has no one…he's alone…there was nobody…too tired, he didn't resist the overwhelming tide of tears anymore. It flowed down.

There was a rushing of footsteps outside the room. Sasuke quickly dried his tears and put his icy composure. He may have no one but he will certainly not let anyone caught him crying. He would rather die first.

"What happened?" Naruto slammed the door wide open with a kunai in hand. He wore a looked of alarmed.

"Dobe! What are you doing busting inside with a weapon in hand?"

"I thought a pirate might somehow snuck on board and found you."

"There is no pirate in this room except for me. But you'll have to check under the bed since I didn't manage to do just that before I was knocked out and kidnapped."

Naruto scowled darkly. "Why did you scream?"

"Why did I scream?" Sasuke repeated, confused. "I didn't scream at all."

"You did. Why do came I came in here armed?"

"I did not scream. In any case, I can protect myself thank you very much." Sasuke said dryly.

"Yeah right! And I suppose you could protect yourself like the time that snake tried to molest you."

Sasuke turned into a shade of crimson.

"I had other things in my mind at that time. Nobody would come near me without my notice if I hadn't anything in my mind like now." He boasted, which was ridiculous since…

"Hello," a voice came beside him.

"Frickin' hell!" Sasuke yelped and came tumbling down the side of the bed with Naruto's anger in tow. The room was filled with his laughter.

"I knew that the gods had bestow my handsomeness to a distraction."

Sasuke gave Naruto his best death glare but Naruto was to busy laughing. Seeing that it was pointless Sasuke glared at the person responsible for his new, unnecessary predicament.

It was a woman. She had a long dark hair like his and an enchanting set of hazelnut eyes.

"Gomen. I didn't mean to scare you." She said sweetly and extended her hand. "Let me help you up."

Sasuke slapped her hands away.

"No thank you. I can do it myself," Sasuke straightened up to prove it.

"That's not a polite thing to do." Naruto frowned, all his earlier amusement gone. "Haku-chan was only trying to help you."

"Well, I don't need any," was the haughty reply.

"What is your problem?"

"My problem?" Sasuke repeated, yet again.

"Yes! Your problem!" Naruto pressed on. "You've been acting like a bitch ever since I met you. I thought it was because you were concerned with…" Naruto stopped, "…but no. I see that you're a bitch naturally."

"I'm not a bitch! And I don't act like one." Sasuke's voice grew higher. The nerve of the man to say that he's a bitch. What does he know? He knows nothing about him.

"Could've fool me," Naruto scoffed, his voice matching Sasuke's. "You are a BITCH! A bitch with constant P.M.S!"

Sasuke was about to continue to say what he thought of the man but he was interrupted by Haku's laughter.

"What's so funny?" he glared at the boy he had mistaken for a girl.

"Yeah. What's so funny?" Naruto demanded.

Wiping a tear off his face, he replied, "Oh, nothing." He obviously lying and the two knew that though they didn't manage to ask Haku any further because another commotion outside in the corridor had caught their attention.

"Let me go Iruka-sensei! I want to see what's happening." came a voice that Sasuke hadn't heard before but sounded familiar, followed by a "Yada!"

The trio waited as the struggle continued until a dull thud echoed with an "Oomf!" There were several footsteps coming their way and a boy appeared on the doorway.

"You must be the pirate princess," the boy squealed with delight.

Sasuke found himself staring a young version of Naruto, minus the whisker-like slashes on the cheeks. Kyu was donned in a yellow suit made of pure silk. Sasuke felt a deep empty feeling. This, then, was the sort of creature he might have been. Never was he be able to walk free to dress as a boy and not a girl.

Kyu strode over nonchalantly, unaware of the effect he had impressed upon Sasuke, his eyes critically analyzing Sasuke.

"Kyu!" Naruto roared when he found his voice. "Dammit! I thought I told you to stay above until I said it was safe!"

Kyu only pouted. "I was worried that you and Haku would be outnumbered and needed help. And it was so boring up there."

In spite of himself, Naruto's expression softened and he chuckled.

"You really are an Uzumaki: restless and adventurous." ("Not to mention reckless," Haku muttered. "And dumb," Sasuke said under his breath.) Naruto shook his head. "Next time at least wait until I shouted for help. Will you do that much for me?"

"Of course I will," Kyu simpered. "You know I'm nothing but an obedient brother." He smiled complacently. Naruto chuckled again and ruffled an indignant Kyu on the head.

Watching them, Sasuke felt the first pang of jealousy he'd ever known. Not only he can't dress and act like a boy that he was meant to be, he doesn't even have a brother anymore.

"And this," Kyu said, shaking Sasuke out of his reverie, "this must be Fujiwara Itachi's young sister. You look different from what I imagined. You certainly don't look ugly." Kyu was blunt and always say the things that popped inside his head without thinking the consequences. Maybe that's why other boys usually picked a fight with him.

"What's your name?"

"Sasuki," Sasuke snapped.

"Mind your manners girl!" Naruto growled.

"Who died and you my guardian?"

"Your brother," Naruto was about to say then quickly changed his mind. "Since you're on my ship and under my charge I guess that makes me your guardian. So what I say goes."

"One, you're not my mother!" Sasuke riled up. "And two, you frickin' kidnapped me. I didn't ask to on your stupid ship."

Kyu giggled amidst the squabble. "I like her already."

"How dare you say…!"

"Enough!" A shout came from the doorway. It was Iruka. "Out! All three of you! Sasuki-chan is my patient and I will not tolerate you people harassing her."

Naruto was about to defend himself but Iruka cut him off. "I don't care to hear your explanation. You, Naruto, you should know better than to pick a fight with a sick girl."

"I'm not sick…" Sasuke began, annoyed.

Iruka's expression softened as he turned to the boy beside the bed. "Yes, you have a fever for the last few days."

"Excuse me, what?" Sasuke said, confusion clearly visible on his face. "How can I be sick without my knowing it? And I never fell sick before."

"You were sick. You didn't know because you were unconscious for three whole days," Iruka said in a soothing voice. "Your body probably had taken the toll with the lost of Itachi-san."

Sasuke was going to argue some more but he stopped at the mention of his brother's name. The need to cry was overwhelming but he just stared at Iruka emotionlessly.

"Oh, okay. If you say so then." He whispered.

Sasuke's sudden turn in nature alarmed Naruto. The need to comfort his young charge was strong and he almost succumbed to it. But Iruka beat him to it.

"Everything is going to be alright. Just drink this tonic and go back to sleep."

Sasuke complied like an obedient child. The confusion Kyu and Haku feltwere evident on their faces. Where did the little spitfire go? Naruto had forgotten to fill them in with the reasons as to why Sasuke was with them.

Iruka ushered the three out of the room.

"I'll come for a visit when you're a little better," Kyu said over the buzzing sound in Sasuke's head. Then Sasuke dozed off into a dreamless slumber.