There was a stargazing festival in the early part of Eighth Month; everyone would dress up and head to big open parks and rooftops to see the stars that were especially clear and bright during this part of the year. Sometimes a meteor shower came at the same time, and then everyone would stay later and count them. It was an excuse for the younger children to stay up late and play in the streets, their shouts adding to the festive feeling.
Itachi and Neji had gone up to their overlook above the Hokage monument, surprised and delighted to find no one there. They brought a blanket but ended up putting it down and laying back on it, as everyone knows that the best way to do anything involving the stars is to lay down. They said little, enjoying their time off that coincided for once, and watched as the constellations spun overhead and listened to the noise of parties drifting up from the village below. Their hands were clasped between them.
Neji's eyes followed a meteor as it streaked across the sky. "Make a wish," he muttered with a smile on his face. When he was young, he'd always wished on stars. Until he was four, it was a wish to make his father proud. After that, he'd slowly stopped wishing.
"A wish?" Itachi asked, confused.
"Didn't your parents ever tell you to make wishes when you saw a falling star?"
"…do you think my parents would?"
Neji had looked over, and now he looked back up at the sky, feeling a little foolish. "I suppose you're right."
A silence. Then: "What did you wish for?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't come true."
"I see."
Another meteor burned up thousands of feet above them. Looking over, Neji could see Itachi's brow furrowed in thought, his lips moving slightly. When Itachi was done, he turned on his side and stared back, expression serious as ever.
"What was your wish?" Neji asked.
"I can't tell you," Itachi said slowly, a smile creeping across his face. "It wouldn't come true if I did." He leaned over and kissed Neji, lightly, tasting of starlight.