車輪の兄弟

Sharingan no Gokyoudai

-Brothers of the Sharingan-

Summery: In which, Itachi has been captured and is being held in Kumogakure. Sasuke must travel to see him, in the hopes of bringing him back to Konoha, or gaining information about Akatsuki. Having to visit the man in his holding cell, with the Raikage refusing to give over the Uchiha murderer, will Sasuke find he still holds a bond with his brother?

Disclaimer: This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Use only as directed. Flammable.

A/N: Hoorah! A new chapter.

And what a milestone this one is -phew- glad it's done.

This chap is dedicated to AsterUchiha from DeviantArt, who did a lovely fanart for this story, which you can all view by the link in my profile. Many thanks to her! And even though I'm not sure you'll appreciate it, this one is for you!

Now, on with the story! Yosh!

Chapter 9: So Little Time

The boy's eyes fluttered open, light streaming into his room through the nearby window, and he was momentarily overtaken by the assault of his senses - blurry images around him clearing slowly, as he lay wrapped around his warm sheets.

He was still for a long moment, staring at the wall adjacent to his bed, as his mind ran over the process of awakening to a new day, and recognition of his surroundings slowly came to him.

Sasuke moved tiredly then, groaning merely for the sound of it, as he rolled over to gaze at the digital clock on his bedside table. Blearily squinting at the time as it flashed in red on the clock face, the Uchiha was slightly surprised to see that it was past ten in the morning. It had been this way for almost a week now, and yet the brunette was still shocked every morning when he awoke to find he had slept past the sunrise.

There was something about the village of Kumo that did wonders for the mind, Sasuke thought, as he kicked the blankets off of his legs and slowly rose from the warm mattress - stretching widely as a very simple happiness filled him at the good night's sleep he had had, accompanied by thoughts of the day before, when he had been in his brother's cell.

Smiling lazily, Sasuke could hardly help the giddy chuckle that rose to his lips as he thought back on the time he had spent with Itachi in recent days. Rubbing a hand through his messy hair, the boy padded slowly into the bathroom of his temporary apartment, and came to stand before the mirror. Gazing sleepily at his reflection, the young Uchiha brushed his fingers through his hair, as sudden recollection of his brother doing the same rose to the forefront of his mind.

Eyes widening slightly, a slight blush overcame the boy's face then, as he recalled the feeling of his brother's slender fingers lacing through his thick locks. Shaking his head, Sasuke attempted to rid himself of the memory, and the strange feeling which had been accompanying any thoughts of his brother as of late - some kind of need, an urge not only to be around Itachi, but to be close to the older Uchiha. It was strange, and it frightened Sasuke a little bit to have these unfamiliar feelings for Itachi and not know what they meant, after he had so recently thought he had hated the other man.

Looking back into the mirror at his flushed complexion, the boy rubbed at his cheeks then in an effort to regain his calm composure. Gazing deeply at his reflection, Sasuke saw the unguarded confusion in his own eyes, and pulled a face at himself.

'Get it together,' He thought. 'Whatever you're feeling is completely normal... probably.' It must be the lingering awkwardness of their renewed bond, the boy supposed, as images of his brother's face lingered in his mind.

Sighing to himself then, the brunette set about dressing for the day; though thoughts of his brother never fully left him, and smiles continued to erupt on his expression as he thought of words they had said, and the memories that had been exchanged.

Soon enough, Sasuke finally emerged from his room, making his way through to the kitchen, his mind focused on the idea of eating before going to see the object of his distraction.

Stepping into the tiled room, though, the boy paused suddenly as his gaze flickered over to the dining table outside the kitchen, and he was surprised when he laid eyes on not only his blonde roommate, but their old sensei as well, sitting quite companionably together, drinking coffee.

"Sasuke!" Naruto greeted warmly, waving unnecessarily from where he sat as he faced the dark-haired Uchiha, and very nearly knocked over his own coffee mug. "We wondered when you were going to get up, teme!"

Sasuke merely nodded, a slight smile upturning his lips as he paused, before walking over to the small circular table with his fellow Konoha-nins.

Kakashi smiled in greeting from under his mask, as the Uchiha came to sit beside Naruto, the boy yawning widely. "Been sleeping well, Sasuke?"

The raven-haired young man looked up in slight surprise at the question, gazing to Kakashi's playful expression in confusion for a moment, before he smirked lightly and nodded. "I have, Kakashi." He answered, knowing full well the implications of his sensei's words.

Naruto, sitting beside him and beaming like a torch light, was oblivious to their meaning as he simply smiled and began chattering away to the both of them. Sasuke tuned out the most of whatever the taller boy and his sensei were talking about, though his eyes immediately trained on the completely untouched and quickly-cooling cup of coffee which sat before the blonde (must have been Kakashi's idea, he surmised, as he knew that Naruto hated the stuff), and reached out accordingly to take the blonde's mug himself, sipping at the warm liquid comfortably - Naruto shooting him a grateful look in response.

"... with each of the kages still vying for the right to give punishment. Things seem to be improving, though." Kakashi finished, Naruto nodding as he listened intently to the information on the negotiations between the two heads of state, and Sasuke finally tuned in on the conversation.

"But, I thought Tsunade-baachan said she was going to bribe that Raikage guy or something?" Naruto asked then, his brow furrowed in confusion; as Sasuke looked between them, now listening attentively.

"Well, we can only wait and see. Perhaps they will reach some arrangement," The silver-haired jounin shrugged, "The worst case scenario would be Konoha taking aggressive action against Kumo to win the case." He informed, running a hand exasperatedly through his hair as he gave a helpless sigh. "Either way, I think it's unlikely the matter is going to resolve itself anytime soon."

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly, and without warranting it, the boy suddenly felt a sense of excitement fill him at Kakashi's unhappily-spoken words. With somewhat of a shock, the young Uchiha realised that the older man's words pleased him - after all, it meant he would get to spend more time with his brother, here where everything was at a standstill. And though the feeling surprised him immensely, the knowledge of his true feelings on the matter dawning in his mind, Sasuke made an effort to appear as weary as the others at the news that they would most likely have to stay in Kumo a fair while longer.

Perhaps the trial would never come to a close. Maybe, just maybe, Konoha would never reach an agreement with Kumo, and Itachi would stay here forever... safe and cared for, in the criminal institution, in his cell, where Sasuke could come and see him everyday-

"Wha'daya say, Sasuke?"

The raven-haired boy's head whipped up in surprise then, as he was faced suddenly with the wide blue eyes of his friend, brought instantly back to the company at hand.

"What?" He asked in confusion, his distraction dwindling as he focused once again on the words of his friend, as it inevitably seemed he had supposed to have been listening.

Naruto rolled his eyes playfully at the Uchiha's lack of concentration. "I said, teme, do you wanna go train later? There's some really good sparing areas down in the forests, and I'm dying to try 'em out!" The blonde enthused.

Sasuke stared at the other boy blankly for a moment, uncomprehending of the request, before he nodded quickly, his eyes shifting back to stare at the top of the table as he replied evenly; "Sure, later."

Naruto grinned widely at the response, "Great!" He cheered instantly, his excitement palpable, before his gaze drifted over to the clock on the kitchen wall as though on cue. "Oh, shit," He swore then to himself, standing abruptly from the table and disrupting Kakashi's coffee cup, "I was supposed to meet Tsunade-baachan fifteen minutes ago! She'll have my head," He informed the other two, before snatching his hitai-ate from the table and making his way out of the kitchen towards the front door.

Kakashi did not turn in his chair, as his fingers drummed against his own settling mug, and called over to the fretting boy as he left; "Remember Naruto, tonight, the tower at six."

The blonde boy stopped abruptly, his mind evidently whirling with incomprehension, before he nodded, his face breaking into an obliging smile. "Right! I'll see you guys later!" He called, grinning widely when Sasuke's eyes met his own - the blonde waving excitably to his smaller friend.

Sasuke rose his hand simply in farewell, a slightly amused smile alighting his own expression, as he watched Naruto disappear out the door, closing it a little too loudly, before a comfortable silence came to rest between those that remained.

"Six tonight, the tower?" Sasuke asked in question then, one eyebrow quirked in mild curiosity.

"Oh," The silver-haired jounin answered with a dismissive wave of the hand and an easy smile, "Just more of the negotiations with Tsunade, work in progress." Kakashi gazed over to Sasuke casually then, his eyes sweeping over the relaxed form of his former student, as he smiled lightly from under his mask. "And what, may I ask, do you have planned for today, young man?" He asked in an incredibly fatherly tone.

Sasuke smirked in response, his expression amused, as he sipped languidly at the coffee mug nursed in his hands. "Not much." The boy replied casually, "Breakfast, some light independent training, going to see my exiled criminal brother - the usual."

Kakashi gave a wry grin in response to the light humor of his pupil, as his arms crossed in front of his chest in a way that was made to appear as though the conversation were casual, though Sasuke picked up immediately that the topic was being carefully approached by the other man.

"I meant to talk to you about that," Kakashi informed him simply then, "You've been visiting Itachi a fair bit lately. And, do catch me if I'm mistaken about this, but," The silver-haired jounin gave him a suspiciously amused look, "I doubt you would have called him 'my brother' a few weeks ago."

Sasuke was unable to withhold the surprise he felt at those words, as he realised suddenly how much even his general reference to Itachi had changed. Kakashi was right - only weeks ago, before all of this mess had begun, Sasuke would never have referred to Itachi as his brother, unless it were strictly necessary. It was startling, to see how vastly his view of Itachi had changed over such a small amount of time.

Shielding his momentary slip of composure, though, the young Uchiha fixed his old sensei with an amused smirk. "I suppose so," He answered the other man obligingly, his gaze skittering back to the coffee he held in his hands, now colder than he would have liked to drink, but sipping from it anyway. "Is it not a good thing?"

Kakashi leaned forward on the table in front of him then, sidestepping the answer he knew Sasuke was waiting for, and immediately dropped all pretenses at casualty as he fixed his eyes firmly on the carefully blank expression of the Uchiha boy.

"Naruto has been worried." He told him plainly then, and Sasuke's eyes flickered back to his own attentively. "And frankly, so have I." The Jounin admitted then, his gaze intense. "You have been spending an increasingly troubling amount of time with Itachi in his cell. It has come across in conversation more than once during negotiations that his influence on you might soon become... negative."

Sasuke frowned at this, his eyes filling with indignance, and he prepared to argue the matter with the man, before Kakashi rose one hand to silence the boy.

Sighing lightly, the older man spoke with a softer tone then, as he placated the Uchiha. "It is not that I do not understand." He told the boy, "Rediscovering your bonds with Itachi is important, and something none of us ever hoped you would ever be able to gain again. But," And at this, Kakashi's tone became more stern, "You cannot blame us for being concerned. Everything surrounding Itachi is still... questionable, to say the least."

Sasuke remained silent for a moment, thinking over the words of his sensei seriously, and realised he had been careless. Not once had be thought of how his constant visits to his brother's cell would appear to those who cared about him. With a defeated sigh, the boy nodded his understanding.

"It is true, things are going well between Itachi and I - much more so than I had thought they would," Sasuke admitted quietly, avoiding the jounin's eyes as he gazed instead into the dark liquid of his coffee mug. "I mean, we-" The boy paused for a moment, "We are able to talk, and spend time together - it is... beyond a miracle." The brunette whispered lightly.

Kakashi's attention was rapt, as he nodded encouragingly. "And do you find that you are relaxed in his presence?"

Sasuke hesitated to answer that question, his eyes flickering back to Kakashi's once more as he was met with the now demanding expression on his old sensei's face. He knew the importance of his answer, and though it would perhaps have been wiser to lie, he chose instead to tell the silver-haired man the truth.

"Yes." The Uchiha answered, just a bit defensively, as his dark gaze locked with the other's, asking in some way for a level of understanding. "He just... makes me feel comfortable. Like he's-"

"The brother you knew." Kakashi finished the thought, as a deep frown came over his features.

Sasuke was taken aback, before he nodded in surprise, as the older man gave a withered sigh. A slight amount of shock stayed with the boy as he thought over Kakashi's words and what he had been about to say, and a silence between them stretched.

Had he really come to think of Itachi as the brother he had once known, and not as someone he was just now getting to know? Had the man that waited in that cell for him every day become his family once again?

Averting his eyes from Kakashi's now troubled expression, the boy avoided the shame he felt within him, as he instead told the elder man softly; "I spoke to him, like you said I should... about the things that were bothering me."

The jounin was slow in answering, and when he did, his tone was carefully curious. "And? Are things better now?"

Sasuke waited until he caught the other man's eyes with his own, before he answered. "I have regained my brother because of it."

Those softly-spoken words seemed to hit home for the silver-haired man, as Kakashi's eyes widened a fraction, and he seemed momentarily stunned by the idea that it had been he who had inadvertently reunited the Uchiha brothers. And then, with a deep breath, and a hand through his hair, the elder man smiled suddenly at his student - and Sasuke felt he had won some small battle.

"I am glad for you, Sasuke." Kakashi finally told the boy, slapping the young Uchiha on the shoulder in a matter of congratulations, as he stood from the kitchen table. "I will mention to Naruto that all is well, and you just need some time with your brother."

Sasuke could not help the thankful expression that rose to his face at his sensei's words, and a light smile curved his lips earnestly, as he replied; "Thank you, Kakashi."

The jounin nodded easily, raising a hand in farewell as he turned around and made his leave of the apartment, making his way towards the front door as the conversation came to an end. His hand resting on the doorknob, though, the man did not turn around to face his student as he called one last time;

"Sasuke."

The Uchiha's gaze rose to the man's back questioningly.

Kakashi hesitated, before he finished quietly; "Be careful. Do not loose sight of the fact that Itachi's days are numbered."

And with that, before Sasuke could make any reply, the silver-haired man had shut the door behind himself, and left the boy to his thoughts.

With a more than shocked expression coming to rest on his face, the Uchiha merely sat there in his little kitchen, immobile, for some time, as the jounin's words hung in his mind - the cruel and undeniable reality.

Itachi's days were numbered.

The dull thud of his feet as they hit the pristine tile floor underfoot echoed lightly through the hallway, a steady rhythm of his movement, as he made his way around familiar turns and memorized corners to the very heart of the building.

Sasuke tried to suppress the sorrow that accompanied his more troubled thoughts, as Kakashi's words stayed with him. Yamada had not been able to accompany him to the location of Itachi's cell as of late, and Sasuke had declined the offer of another ANBU escorting him, so the boy was instead left to dwell on his worries alone.

The young Uchiha had given himself an hour of simply sitting in his temporary home, before he could no longer stand the truth of what the silver-haired jounin had told him, and had escaped into the village marketplace. Luckily, while he was there to distract himself from thoughts of the trial and the impending death of his only living family member, Sasuke had remembered his promise to Itachi when he had spotted a small shop.

Now holding a small pink box full of his brother's favorite treat, the boy made his way finally to Itachi's holding cell, a good while later than he had first intended. It was approaching the afternoon when Sasuke finally came to stand before the door which read 'Criminal Nine' in ornate hiragana, and the boy was almost hesitant as he reached forward and opened the door - sealing it behind himself quietly.

Turning slowly to face the contents of the room, and who he knew was waiting for him, Sasuke was for some reason slightly startled when he saw that Itachi was looking right at him from where the man stood in the cell, apparently having rose when the boy had entered, and was now smiling at him pleasantly.

Something unknown spiked within Sasuke's heart as he felt his muscles melt suddenly, a relaxation he had not known since that morning returning to him, as he returned his brother's happiness with a shy smile of his own.

"Sasuke," The elder Uchiha spoke in greeting, his tone gentle and filled with a level of affection the boy had yet to grow used to. "You are later than usual." He admonished lightly, though his voice was playful - dark eyes shimmering with amusement.

Sasuke fought the giddy smile that threatened to spread over his expression, feeling not for the first time as though he were that same little boy who had once asked his brother for help with kunai throwing, as he averted his eyes suddenly, ignoring the heat that rose to his cheeks - and instead held out the small pink box he held.

"I brought you some dango, like I promised." He informed the other as stoically as he could manage, gaze fixed on the floor.

He could almost feel the palpable pleasure that the elder felt then, as it seemed to drift in waves through the room, and the boy listened as his brother's light footsteps approached him, and Itachi's legs soon came into view from where he stared at the ground.

Cool fingers brushed his own, as the box was taken gently out of his hands, and even as he dropped his arms back to his side - Sasuke could not, for some unknown reason, find the will to raise his eyes and look at his brother again.

"Arigato, Otouto."

Itachi's voice was closer to him than he had anticipated; the low, even tone of the man's voice soothing and yet stirring - sending emotions that the boy could not understand rocking through his body - and Sasuke was, for a moment, immobilised.

Then, he felt a gentle hand come to rest on his head.

Gazing up suddenly in surprise of the gesture, the younger Uchiha was mesmerised, as he found himself gazing once more into the endlessly gracious face of his brother. Itachi smiled down at him fondly, as the boy merely gazed up at the elder, dark eyes wide and almost uncomprehending, as the man's hand rubbed the top of his head affectionately in appreciation.

Almost in a daze, Sasuke found his voice again. "Of course, Aniki."

The name slipped from his lips as naturally as breathing - and with the exchange of familiar and deeply personal terms, seeing the way Itachi's eyes softened at the name, Sasuke felt a warmth spread through his entire being - and suddenly, he was in his element once again. As quickly as that, all traces of previous hesitance, of anxiety, and of worry, ceased to exist in the presence of his brother.

The irony did not escape him.

"Please, Sasuke," That same gentle voice drifted to the boy once again, drawling his name as it so liked to do, as Itachi turned away from him and walked further into the cell, sunlight shining in through the ever-open window. "Sit with me."

The boy did not hesitate this time, as he followed his brother quietly - the both of them coming to sit at the low, darkly wooded table in the centre of the room; and when the pink box of dango sticks was offered to him with a cheerful smile from his older brother, Sasuke accepted.

Talk soon arose between them, followed by laughter, and before long the same friendly, intimate atmosphere that they remembered came to reside between the two brothers. It was magic, Sasuke thought, and he was elated by the feeling of comfortability he had with Itachi, the soft smiles they continued to exchange, and the soft chuckling that his brother bestowed apon him every now and then.

For the first time in his life, Sasuke felt close to Itachi.

And as their laughter died down once again, after a humorous tale that Itachi had told him of a village he had been to, Sasuke's gaze lingered on his brother. The elder Uchiha's expression was carefree in his pleasure, the ever-present steaming teapot sending a soothing aroma into the air, as the man slowly ate away at the sticks of dango.

The boy allowed himself a small smile at the peace he found with his brother, the difference of it stark against all that he had grown up believing Itachi was, and he was thankful - even as he felt a question he had as yet ignored suddenly rise within him, and with only a moment's thought, decided to voice it.

Lowering his own forgotten dango stick, Sasuke spoke softly then, as he carefully gained the other Uchiha's attention, his tone imploring in their so-far comfortable conversation.

"Ano... Itachi," The boy spoke the other's name hesitantly, unaccustomed to the use of it being so casual - and when the elder gazed to him attentively, the dark-haired youth averted his gaze, his voice reluctant. "I know that... we haven't really talked about what happened... back when you left, but I-" Sasuke's eyes widened then, as he saw Itachi visibly tense - and fell silent. The man was still, as he gazed ahead of himself distractedly, eyes suddenly far away - and despite the boy's previous confidence, he shook his head in apology. "I-I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... never mind."

No agreement was made, as Itachi was pensive and silent, sitting perfectly still as he watched the boy gazed decidedly away from him, an embarrassment filling his expression. After a moment, the older Uchiha relaxed and smiled.

"Sasuke," He spoke slowly, pausing in his words as though they required great thought, as he often did - though his tone held a great gentleness. "You can speak about anything with me, I want you to know that." He told the boy comfortingly, and when Sasuke's eyes returned to his own with some level of shock, the elder had to resist the sudden urge to touch him.

"You... you don't mind?" Sasuke questioned hesitantly, his voice reduced to a whisper.

Itachi merely smiled at him, as the tenseness between them seemed once again to ebb away, and after taking an appropriate pause - the younger Uchiha found his courage once again, staring down to the smooth surface of the table before them.

"I just thought..." Taking a deep breath, the boy bravely met his brother's eyes. "I'm not really ready to talk about... everything that happened - but I want to eventually!" He added quickly, to which Itachi nodded understandingly, amusement in the elder's eyes. "But... I just wanted to know if, well... if over all the years that you were - gone... was there anything you kind of... missed?" The boy asked, embarrassment in his voice as he stumbled over his words, and he explained hurriedly; "I mean - was there anything you thought about?"

Itachi blinked in slight surprise of the question, as Sasuke's voice drifted out to become quiet again, and a smile spread across the larger man's face. The boy's dark eyes looked to him with an innocence that warmed the core of Itachi's being, and without hesitance then, the older Uchiha replied.

"There was one thing that I missed most of all from my previous life," He told Sasuke softly; an emotion that he had hidden for all of his life rising to give edge to his voice. "And I thought about it every day." He confided, as he then began to lean forward towards his brother.

Sasuke was still, his eyes wide as they reflected the awe he felt, his brother smiling gently - now leaning closer, dark eyes holding his own as they shimmered with some unknown emotion, long hair falling elegantly over his shoulder - and had the older male always been this handsome?

A hand came to rest lightly over his own then, strong fingers dancing under his palm, a thumb rubbing his knuckles soothingly - and Sasuke's eyes widened as he realised his brother's silent answer.

It was him.

He was what he had missed.

The admittance was an emotional blow to the younger Uchiha, as he struggled for words, his breath caught suddenly in his throat as Itachi continued to gaze into his eyes, the look intense and impossibly loving - and in that moment, Sasuke knew that Itachi cared for him; truly, and completely.

Without his permission, the boy's fingers closed around Itachi's hand in turn, the touch intimate, as the look in Itachi's eyes became fierce. Leaning forward, closer and closer, the elder continued to advance on the youth - the distance between them slowly closing; and though Sasuke was confused, he was trapped by the intensity of the other Uchiha - captured by his own wonder, as he reveled in Itachi's affection.

Later, he would lie to himself about what followed.

The touch of the hand over his own was soft, as Itachi continued to lean closer to him, and without restraint, the man placed his cheek against Sasuke's own - the older Uchiha's warm breath hitting the youth's ear in soft puffs; and Sasuke had to suppress the strange shiver that ran down his back at the intimacy of their embrace, as his eyes slipped shut.

"Sasuke..." His name, whispered so quietly, like it were a secret between just the two of them - here, where they hid from the world. "Sasuke... I love you."

A gasp almost escaped him, as the boy closed his eyes tighter, a hot blush rising to his cheeks at the undeniable tenderness of the words, as they seemed to hit him physically - and there was something about the way that Itachi said them, something that was different from everything that had happened between them so far - and the man's voice was low and sultry, like Sasuke had never heard it before, as he repeated the private words.

"I love you..."

The cheek against his own moved back then, and Sasuke almost believed that the moment was over, though his eyes remained shut and his breath was somehow quicker than it had been before - the thumping of his heart against his ribs sending his blood hot, and a need that he could not hope to understand overtook his senses.

Suddenly then, he felt something warm and damp, like breath, against his lips - and the smell of something unknown, something maddeningly appealing, that made his heart ache and his breath short, before there was pressure - and like a shattering of something precious, the boundary was broken.

The boy's eyes shot open, and his heart might have stopped - as his older brother was leaned over him, their hands clasped, and Sasuke knew that something horribly wonderful had happened.

Itachi was kissing him.

A/N: Oh yeah, thats right, you read correctly. The yaoi is here!

I've had a fair few reviews in recent days about readers fretting over me going too quickly with the yaoi, but if you haven't ever read one of my stories before, let me tell you - the last of your worries will be that I'm going 'too quickly'! It's not like I'm gonna have a lemon anytime soon O.O Sorry to those who are waiting for that - but everything will happen in good time! Quality before quantity, anyone?

As usual, I am grateful for the patience of my readers, and I give you promise of my speedy return!

Arigato. -bows-

-Emerald-