This will be an Itachi/Sasuke story meaning INCEST. It won't be hardcore but if the concept bothers you leave now! You have been warned.

Otherwise ENJOY!

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me. I wish... )

'blah' - Means speech.

blah - Thoughts.

Brothers

I won't let you down…

The only thing Sasuke knew that he was surrounded by warm softness. His instincts kicked in and he snuggled closer to the source of the warmth without actually investigating the source of it.

He enjoyed the comfortable state he was in, but like all the good things it came to a sudden end as he heard firm knocking on his bedroom door... wait…room? How? When..?

He blinked his tired eyes open only to find himself in his bed his legs tangled in the sheets and his arms and head buried deep in his soft white pillows.

Knocking again. 'Sasuke?' came his mother's familiar voice 'Are you alright?' His door started to slid open. 'Can I come in?' Her voice was worried now and Sasuke wondered what was she that madeher upset.

'Come in 'Kaa-san' Sasuke's words were muffled by the pillows 'What's wrong?'

'You tell me Sasuke' Suddenly she was righ in front of his futon kneeling and putting some unknown items next to the his bed. 'Not just both of you were late yesterday, but Itachi brought you home and told me that you fell asleep by the river!'

Sasuke sat up and in an instant yesterday's images came back flashing through his still sleep-fogged mind. The training, the look his father gave him, the river, his brother huggi-… he blushed slightly as he remembered the last image and then looked up at his mother.

'Was Tou-san angry?' His voice timid.

His mother looked at him for a few seconds her then put her hands in his hair trying to arrange the stubborn black spikes. 'Not really dear. Not angry. Though he was a bit upset with Itachi.'

Sasuke's eyes widened instantly. 'With Nii-san? But why?' It came out almost as a demand. Mikoto frowned a little at his son's small outburst then took one of his arms in her hands and put what seemed like a colourless and odorless cream on it then started to rub it in Sasuke's skin gently.

'He was upset because he pushed you too far yesterday. Your body can't coop-'

'But Kaa-san'Sasuke interrupted impatiently 'Tou-san was the one that wanted me to get stronger. He was there too' His voice seemed to die away at the very end of his sentence.

'I'm aware of that Sasuke' He could hear irritation in his mother's voive now.'There is a reason why he was there along with Itachi'

'Wha-?' Sasuke didn't understand. His confusion was clear on his face.

'Kaa-san' He hissed as his mother rubbed a little harder on his arm.

Sasuke sighted. ' If he thought it was too much why didn't he stopped the training?' The words came through clenched teeth.

'Because, Sasuke, he wanted to know how the two of you communicate during training.'

'Was it a test then?' Sasuke sighted again. This time defeated. 'Sort of.' His mother smiled at him, and the little boy didn't know why but it unnerved him. 'There…that should do the trick' She rubbed on the boy's thin arm one more time before handling him a cup of hot tea.

Well…Sasuke thought it was tea but obviously he was wrong. 'Drink all of it Sasuke' Came the warning as the mother saw his son's grimace. 'It helps your muscles to heal faster however it needs a day to take full effect. The soreness should be gone by tomorrow' His mother smiled brightly at him then took the mug from Sasuke's hands.

'Oh…the ointment on your arm will help to ease th-'

'Kaa-san' The boy interrupted 'I know already. You have been taking care of us for a long time.' He tried to smile but he ended up making a pained grimace as he made an attempt to stand up. His mother sighted heavily. 'Don't do anything brash today Sasuke.'

She gathered her things and started to walk out. Before she could slide the shoji door open a soft 'Kaa-san' stopped her. 'Yes' She answered turning around. 'Where is Nii-san?'

The corners of Mikoto's mouth turned upwards slightly. 'Well it seems something very urgent came up, because his Sensei, Kekka-san, and his teammates came for him early in the morning.'

Sasuke stared. 'W-what?...Why?'

'They recieved a very important mission from the Hokage-sama that takes them to Water-country. Itachi's female teammate's special ability was needed and thus they decided to send the team.'

Sasuke stared at the ground.

She looked at his son gently. 'It's okay Sasuke. He will be alright.'

'Hai Kaa-san. I-I know…I know he will' He finished.

How ca he be not? He isn't making mistakes...he isn't weak. Like me.

'Oh…and Sasuke…Tou-san is waiting for you in the dojo. He is expecting you after lunch. I advise you to relax a bit until I'm ready with the food.'

'Hai Kaa-san' He answered dutifully. When his mother closed the door behind her he winced.

Relax…yeah right. That will make me stronger.

He ignored the pain in his body as he was heading out of his room towards the gardens.

A little shuriken practice won't hurt.

In the kitchen Mikoto's hand stopped its movements, leaving the half-chopped fish alone for a moment. A soft whisper of a voice echoed in her head.

'…I-I know…I know he will'

Then the knife resumed to its work again.

After an awkward lunch with his mother Sasuke was trying to take determined steps towards the dojo while unpleasant thoughts made their sneaky way in his mind. I'm weak. And now Tou-san is upset with Nii-san because I can't keep up. I'm pathetic.

He winced. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately. Not that he didn't have a reason. I'm causing trouble in the family just by being myself. Way to go Sasuke. Smooth.

His stomach twisted as he stood before the door of the dojo. Then he steeled himself. A deep breath. The door slid open to reveal his father sitting with his legs crossed at the far end of the room reading a yellowish scroll intently.

'Tou-san' He bowed with respect.

'Sasuke' Fugaku said without looking up. He then motioned with his hand for Sasuke to sit down in front of him. The little boy did just like that mirroring his father's posture. Normally he would have sat on his knees but they were even painful to walk upon not to mention sitting on them.

'Sasuke' The deep voice came again and the boy looked up. 'Your brother has been sent on an important mission so he can't train you for the time being'

Sasuke let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. His father still wanted his brother to train him. The thought made him forget all the pain his sore body was causing him.

'Though we discussed the matter yesterday and there will be changes in the pace of the training.' Sasuke mentally grimaced at the word „discussed". It meant his father speaking rather loudly and forcefully to his brother who usually had his head bowed and his knees underneath him responding with quiet „Hai"-s to his father's strong words.

He witnessed a few of these occasions and discovered that Itachi was more tired-looking and annoyed after the encounters. His father however always looked quite satisfied.

'I admit that I expected too much out of you yesterday.' The voice brought Sasuke back in the present though not in the nice way. Silence was taking over the sickly white room. It was as if he was expected to say something. So he did.

'I will do my best Tou-san. A-and I won't let you down' The little boy was trying to put as much determination in his voice as he he could muster at that moment.

He bravely looked up to meet his father's gaze. Usually reading his father's eyes was nearly impossible but now he believed he could see a hint of ackowledgement in the dark orbs. Maybe he wasn't a total failiure after all. At least in his father's eyes.

'While your brother is away you are to study the special doujutsu of our clan which includes reading these scrolls' He handled the small boy a handful of old scrolls. 'I expect you to understand, analyze, and memorize them one by one.'

'Though you are still young to actually use any of these moves it will be benefitial in the future for you to have the knowledge.' He eyed the boy for a while as the information sunk in. Then said 'I know it's not an easy task but also I know you will do well'

Sasuke's head jerked up from the scrools and Fugaku could see gratefulness spread accross the small boy's face along with a little blush on his cheeks. His answer was timid and barely even a whisper. 'Hai Tou-san. I-I won't let you down'

Three days have passed in the same manner. At least for Sasuke. His father was barely making an appearance at home because of the work the Konoha Central Police has been getting lately. His mother was busy with housework and Sasuke with the scrolls. His father wasn't joking about them being difficult. It merely took all of his concentration to be able to simply understand what was written there.

It was past midnight he was sure. The moon illuminated his pale skin already bathing in the orange colour of a single candle on his desk. The whole house was disturbingly quiet.

His father arrived long after dinner this time, and almost immediately went to sleep. His mother joined him after an hour or so but not before telling Sasuke not to stay awake until dawn this time. Sasuke felt bad already for breaking his promise.

I can't let Tou-san down. His eyelids started to feel heavy. He has faith in me now. His chin was coming closer and closer to the desk. I can't make a mistake this tim-

Before he could finish his thought he was sound asleep his head flat on his desk.

Someone was knocking rather loudly on the door of the Main House of the Uchiha compound causing all the Uchiha inside to stir awake. Sasuke jerked his head up forcing his dark sleepy eyes to open.

The small light of the candle had died out and only the full moon shone through the little boy's window making him see only half of his room.

He could hear the soft footseps of his mother walking towards the door. Silence for a long time. Then a small scream jerked him fully awake and afraid that his mother could be in danger, he ran towards the main entrance of the house where the scream came from.

Apperantly his father had the same thoughts because they bumped into each other in the hallway. Getting up in a flash Fugaku held out his left hand signaling Sasuke to stay put. The black haired boy stared at his father's expression.

He couldn't remember him being more serious before. His eyes showed the expression of a shinobi. A true shinobi. In a blink of an eye he was gone. Sasuke didn't even dare to move.

He flattened hif back against the wall behind him and listened intently. First there was a kind of silence that hurt his ears then he could hear fragments of hushed words. He only recognized two of the voices. The ones that belonged to his parents.

The third voice was familiar enough but he couldn't put a finger on it.

Despite his father's last words he decided to investigate further. Besides, if there was a conversation going on surely there won't be a fight. That didn't explain the scream though.

I have to be careful.

He tiptoed his way towards the voices. They were coming closer. Then all of a sudden there was light everywhere. He soon realized that someone switched on the lights. As his eyes were good enough to focus again his gaze wavered at the scene in front of him.

The image will haunt him until he dies. It burned itself in his mind forever. There in his father's arms was his brother's body. His brother's limp body. Skin so pale as if he was dead already.

He didn't recognize his own voice for it came out with a chocked sob.

'Nii-san'

Then there was dark again.

Kaa-san- Mother

A/N: Update! Feh...it was a long one…for me that is. I know some of you probably thinks that this never gonna be incest. Just you wait ! They need time after all. )

Next time you can see in my Itachi's mind!!!

Review please! It makes me write faster!!!