#5 – Brothers
"Welcome! Oh…Itachi-boy, you don't look so good. Did you not sleep well last night?"
"Good Evening, Hana-san. There was some…disturbance, but nothing I can't handle." Itachi managed a weak smile to the Dango Store's lady boss as he put on the red apron and bandana on autopilot. He gratefully accepted the ginger tea that she had prepared before slipping into position behind the counter.
"Ever since you came, our store's seeing more customers, especially with females," Uchiha Hana commented gaily while counting away at the cashier.
"It seems that way," Itachi replied as he scanned the room of lady patrons laughing and gossiping away under the dim orange glow of the lamp. He was secretly hoping that it would mean some dango on the house for his supper after work. He was facing some serious dango withdrawal syndrome; the last time he had some was three days ago.
"Welcome Takada-san, what can I help you with today?"
"Y-You can just call me Yoshino! And…the usual please, Uchiha-sama- I-I mean Uchiha-san," Yoshino quickly corrected with a diffident blush.
"Jyaa, Yoshino-san, five sticks of dango with chocolate toppings?"
"Yes pleaseeee," Yoshino answered and decided she could finally die without regrets.
After reluctantly selling off the last stick of dango to a lady who would not stop giggling, he waved goodbye to Hana and exited with a dejected sigh.
"What's with the sigh?"
"Sasuke? What are you doing here?" Sasuke pocketed his phone and handed him the small paper bag that he had just given to the last customer.
"I just finished meeting a client, and since I know you're working today, thought I could drop by." Sasuke smiled to himself as he watched his brother chewed away blissfully at his favourite snack. Always making time out of packed schedules, they would occasionally meet and catch up with one another's lives, tittle-tattling about inconsequential things as they ambled along the bustling night street.
"Come on Itachi, I don't see why you're still working at Aunt hana's place. You don't even get free dango!"
"It's near my place, and that last stick was originally reserved for me."
"Come and work at our company. My Accountant just quitted, and you're good with numbers. I'll pay you triple of what you're getting."
"I'm satisfied with what I'm earning now." The truth was, he was barely earning enough to cover his daily expenditure. If he had the foresight to register his name in the university as anyone other than one of the top three richest clans in Konoha, his GPA would have easily secured him a full scholarship. Heck, he would even offer to pay for Kisame's rent, so long as he could get the hell out of his place.
"I still don't understand why you're so attached to that store-"
"Did Father pay you to do this?"
"W-What? Of course not! You know it's…my dream to work along side with you since young," He grumbled with a pout as Itachi's eyes softened and poked his cheek with the dango stick.
"I'll think about it."
"You always say that."
"You know what, I'm famished. Shall we stop by your favourite ramen store? My treat." Itachi knew his distraction worked as the corner of Sasuke's eyes lit with a sparkle.
"I'm still feeling quite full, but since you're hungry, I don't mind accompanying you," Sasuke responded with an insouciant shrug.
"Aren't you an accommodating brother, Sasuke?"
"Glad you realised; you must have done some incredible deed in your past life to be blessed with this great sibling."
I'm an only child so I'm not really sure, but I've heard that siblings fight all the time over who gets the toilet first.