Chapter summary: There are some things that are never meant to be told and then there are some things that eventually must be told in order to keep something or someone that you love. Itachi experiences just how difficult it is to come clean with his brother after so many years have passed.

Chapter warnings: Incest, as usual, a bit of language, on behalf of Sasuke, and Itachi acting just a tad bit OOC in the beginning.

Chapter pairing: Ita/Sasu

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto! So please don't sue!

Too many firsts

Chapter six: First questions and hesitant answers

Though it had been days since Itachi's little attempt to bed his brother, Sasuke was still not letting the man touch him, and simply, it was beginning to get under Itachi's skin. It wasn't that Sasuke didn't want Itachi to touch him, because he very much did want it, but he was punishing his brother for what he had done, something that Itachi had caught on to very quickly after Sasuke had began avoiding his light touches and kisses. And really, Itachi was most unhappy with the current way of things.

But although Itachi was unhappy about Sasuke's current behavior towards him, he was trying his hardest to make his brother forget about what he had done, not that it was something that could be forgotten so easily. All he really wanted was Sasuke's forgiveness though and so knew that he could go on for a while longer without touching the teen as long as he got it in the end, but he would admit to himself that being able to lay his hands on the boy again would be a wonderful plus.

And so, with his brother's body in his mind, like it usually was, he set to work, trying his hardest again to make his brother forget and forgive. "Sasuke! Please! I have begged you; I have pleaded with you, and still...you continue to torture me," it was said, in a very overdramatic manner, the moment that he spotted Sasuke in the kitchen after walking out from the hallway. Sasuke didn't bother answering him as he just continued to fill his glass with water.

After a few seconds the most the younger did was turn the tap off and look out the window above the sink while Itachi came up behind him quietly, thinking that he could get away with surprising him with an embrace from behind. "Touch me and you'll die," Itachi sighed when he heard his brother's words as Sasuke got a drink of his water, hearing Itachi's hands flop back down to his sides after he spoke. "You can't kill me, Sasuke. You love me too much; we both know that. So just...let me hug you at least," Sasuke looked out the window as if he were in thought for a few moments and Itachi began to bring his arms up once again, thinking that his brother was just going to agree.

"No," Itachi had expected that much and so the moment he dropped his hands to his sides again he was ready to try another tactic. "What if I say that I'll do anything?" these had been the words Sasuke had been waiting for, and so the raven-haired teen turned around and looked at his brother with with an eyebrow raised in interest as he placed his glass down on the counter. "Anything?" Itachi nodded, feeling that he finally had Sasuke right where he wanted him. "I have a question for you then, and I want you to answer it, honestly." Itachi could only nod again, too focused on being able to touch his brother's body again to actually realize the horrible situation that he had just stepped right on into. And it was all just because he was trying his absolute hardest to make up for his wrongdoing.

For a moment silence just hung around them as Sasuke thought about how to word the question that had been going on unanswered for years. "...Why?" that was the best way that he could think to ask it, though Itachi seemed just a bit confused. Had the elder not been so focused on making his brother happy, and making himself happy, then he would have realized just why the question lacked any other sort of explanation.

But as it was, Itachi was confused and it showed on his gorgeous face for Sasuke to see, which only caused the younger to sigh as he knew that he would have to explain just what he had meant. "I was eight, Itachi. I was eight and you killed everyone...except me. Now, why?" it was just then that it dawned on the elder raven-haired Uchiha just how completely idiotic his confusion had been. The same question had only been on everyone's minds since it had happened and with no absolute reasoning to go on they just mostly assumed that he was crazy sometimes.

"Oh...that..." it was the initial, and only, response that Itachi gave his brother and it was an answer that did not make Sasuke happy. "Yes, that. Now you said anything, Itachi. So you'd better have a damn good reason for that," it was blatantly clear that Sasuke was getting angry, if he hadn't already been the entire time, and so Itachi took a step toward him, in attempted comfort, but the teen only sidestepped him and began backing away. "Until you give me an answer you will not come near me."

The step that had been taken forward just seconds before was then taken backward as he turned toward his brother, giving the boy some space as he still continued to stay silent. The unnerving silence stretched for some time as they looked at one another before finally, Sasuke had had enough. "Fine. If you can't even tell me why you did it... Then you can just consider all this," he paused to motion frantically between the two of them a few times, "over. Because I am not going to deal with someone who won't tell me the truth; not even if I love you."

The moment after Sasuke finished speaking he turned quickly and began to walk from the kitchen while all Itachi could do was watch him, wondering just how everything had taken such a horrible turn. He only watched his brother walk away from him for a moment though, "Sasuke, wait," he said softly, causing the teenager to stop just at the threshold though he didn't turn around. Itachi was silent again as he stared at his brother's back, knowing that he couldn't lose the teen; knowing that he'd probably lose his mind without his brother, or perhaps he would find his mind. But either way he didn't want Sasuke to end everything between them just because he couldn't answer such a simple question.

"I'll tell you. Just..." he couldn't finish his sentence; he couldn't bring himself to plead with his brother to not end their relationship because it just wasn't like him. After another moment of silence passed Sasuke turned around slowly and looked at Itachi, who hadn't moved at all from where he stood in the kitchen. "Then explain," the tone was very demanding, and at any other time Itachi would have found it a turn on, but being in their current situation his mind was set solely on explaining what his brother wanted to hear.

"I did it because they were going to kill you, Sasuke..." it wasn't the easiest sentence that he had ever said in his life nor was it the one of the best, and the look on his brother's face told him that Sasuke simply didn't believe him. Sasuke scoffed, "Yeah, okay, Itachi. Whatever," Itachi moved toward him as Sasuke shook his head, disappointed with his brother's lie. "I'm not lying. Sasuke, I would never lie about something like this... Not when..." he couldn't say it, but not when their relationship was on the line. For some reason the words just didn't want to leave him.

The onyx eyes of his love narrowed at him. "I don't give a damn. Itachi, you are lying to my face and don't even deny it. Why the hell would my family want to kill me?" that had been the question that Itachi had never wanted to hear in his life, simply because he never wanted to have the chance to answer it. "Sasuke, please...don't make me answer this..." even though he was nearly pleading with his brother he knew that he would still have to answer if he wanted to have a chance at any future relationship with Sasuke.

"No, Itachi. Either you fucking answer or," Sasuke point at himself and at the door, "I'm gone." Another sigh broke from Itachi's lips as he looked away from Sasuke, running a hand through his hair after a moment as he attempted to think of the best way to explain just what he knew, but when he couldn't find a good way he closed his eyes and tapped his fingers against his arm. He really didn't just want to blurt it out...but it was beginning to seem like he didn't have much choice. "Father thought..." he began quietly, shaking his head, "Father thought that you weren't living up to my status and that you were going to disgrace the clan because you would never be like me..."

Sasuke was silent as he heard the words leaving his brother's mouth slowly and in a near whisper. His anger was almost wiped away by the wave of shock that swallowed his body, continuing to devour him as his brother continued to speak. "Mother didn't want to have you killed, but she could not go against Father. She argued that you would get stronger—that you would be better than me one day, but he would not hear it. He had made his mind up and that was that," Itachi finished his explanation and opened his eyes just to see Sasuke shaking his head. "No..." Itachi's eyes turned down to the floor.

"No... Itachi...you have no idea what you're talking about... There is no way that you could know any of that... There is no way that they wanted me dead!" Sasuke quickly turned around and walked from the kitchen, furious with his brother as he headed to the door. Itachi could only take the few steps through the kitchen that it took to get to the threshold, turning to look at Sasuke. "You have a right to leave," he said, "but you haven't heard everything yet." He had started this and he knew he was damn well going to finish it.

Sasuke stopped at the door, "There is nothing else left to hear, Itachi. I can't listen to your lies any longer." Itachi was silent for a moment, wondering briefly if there was anything left of their relationship to salvage any longer. "I was the one who was supposed to kill you, Sasuke," he watched as Sasuke stood up just a little bit straighter and he knew that he had the boy's attention for a few more moments at least. "...You're lying..." Itachi ignored the words and walked closer to the younger.

"I was supposed to kill you but I couldn't. Sasuke, I couldn't hurt you; not like that..." Itachi squeezed his eyes shut for a second and shook his head as his mind began flashing back to the night that he had been ordered to kill Sasuke. The thoughts were gone from his mind quickly and he opened his eyes, focusing again on Sasuke. "I couldn't do it because I love you. I told you...I have always loved you, Sasuke."

They stood there for minutes, feet apart from one another in silence as the information that Itachi had given Sasuke sunk into him, causing him to purse his lips and shake his head. He didn't want to believe it; he really believed that there was no way he could believe that his brother had once been told to kill him. "It was because of that love—this love, Sasuke, that I killed them because I couldn't kill you. I couldn't lose you." Finally, Sasuke turned toward his brother. "You killed them because of me, that's your answer?" Itachi didn't respond, knowing that he didn't need to, and after a moment Sasuke took a step forward.

"Thank you."

"Don't say that."

Sasuke walked to the man in front of him and looked into his eyes, looking utterly serious. "You saved my life, Itachi. I will thank you for that," he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around the man's waist loosely while Itachi just stared down at him. "I did not kill you because I love you, Sasuke," he had never once thought about it as saving the young boy's life, all he had done was what he knew he had to do at the time, and he would repeat the act in an instant if he had to. "You spared my life because you love me, Itachi. I owe you my life," Itachi couldn't help the small smile that broke across his lips as he brought his arms up around the teen's smaller frame.

"Your love will do me just fine, Sasuke," Sasuke smiled when he heard the words and stood there listening to his brother's heartbeat for moments, finding that it was finally time to give the man what he wanted. "Itachi..." Sasuke trailed off, looking up at the man after a moment. Itachi looked down at him questioningly before the teenager smiled. "I'm sorry," he apologized before moving up to kiss the man softly, "and I forgive you."

Itachi nearly sighed the moment that he felt his brother's lips against his own for the first time in days, kissing the teen back quickly but just as quickly pulling away. "I love you, Sasuke." A light smile fell over Sasuke's lips when he heard the words just before he pulled Itachi back down to kiss him again and Itachi gladly kissed him back.

TBC...

A/N: Here is the edited chapter six, bit different from the original, but I like it more. So I hope you enjoyed it and I hope you review. Thank you.

SandXDemonX13

TTYFTDS