It is frightfully embarrassing to read through ones own publications to find spelling, grammar or wording errors. Such things really make readers go, "What the hell?" And prompts them (you) to reel in confusion and experience doubt in the competencies of the author. If you've experienced such while reading the fanfiction, I am truly sorry. On the other hand, I hope you can disregard such techincalities and enjoy the story anyways.
Thank you, for choosing to read this.
Conventional.
There were many people that both Hisaki and Itachi Uchiha were acquainted with. For instance, they both knew Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shisui Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake and Minato and Kushina when they still lived. Thus, it was rather a surprise that two people who lived in the same village, ran in the same social circles and were a part of the same clan, did not know each other. In fact, it was such a surprise that no one had ever thought of introducing them, having always assumed they knew each other.
They met each other under rather conventional circumstances. Curiously, it was under the same circumstances that many mothers of young children became acquainted. They met at the park, where they'd taken their younger counterparts, Sasuke and Naruto to play.
By the time most people had graduated the ninja academy as Genin, Itachi had already been promoted to a Chuunin, by which time he'd already mastered his Sharingan. Itachi didn't have much in the way of a childhood, thus when Sasuke expressed his desire to go play in the park, Itachi found the whim to be unprecedented and strange.
"Aniki," said Sasuke, scowling slightly at Itachi's hesitation to play with him at the park. He stood as tall as he could, arms crossed at his chest, brows furrow and lips in a distinctive pout. "Please, you promised you'd play with me!"
Sasuke stood a half Itachi's height and the older Uchiha couldn't help but find his stand more comical than anything. He always liked that Sasuke was so animated. And even as Itachi surveyed his brother rather bemusedly, he couldn't say no. Itachi gave soft chuckle, nodded his head towards the door and felt happy as he watched Sasuke exclaim in happiness and run right out the door.
It was a nice day outside, the kind of day where the weather alone made it worth living in Konohagakure. The sun was shining, the sky a perfect sky blue. Even the scattered clouds were so fluffy and white that they seemed painted. People were out and about greeting on another with friendly 'hello's and giving greeting to the two Uchiha brothers as well.
Sasuke walked a bit in front of Itachi, garnering smiles of frank adoration from passers-by. He was a very handsome boy, even at six. After a while, Sasuke got bored of walking by himself and waited for Itachi to catch up before taking his older brother's hand and leading him to the park.
For such a beautiful day, there was a surprisingly small number of people at the park. In fact, there was only one child playing at the playground, a small blonde boy, the same age as Sasuke. It was Naruto Uzumaki, son of the fourth Hokage, the host of Kyuubi. His guardian was sitting on the park bench by the slide, a teenage girl with long black hair pulled back in a loose plait save for the fringe of hair that rested just above her eyebrows. She sat in a neat position, legs together, back straight, just as one might expect in a rather formal classrooms.
Sasuke paid no mind to this girl. Instead he eyed Naruto furtively, and turned to look up at his brother. It was clear by the crease of his brows that he was hesitant to play there now that someone else had intruded upon what he'd hoped to be his space. Sasuke frowned a little and Itachi chuckled. Kids were so weird.
"Go on," he said softly so that only Sasuke could hear and he gave his brother a light push towards the playground. Sasuke walked forward a few steps, eyes fixed on Naruto, who hadn't noticed him. He turned back to look at Itachi again. Itachi gave him an encouraging nod and he walked all the way to the sandy confines of the playground.
Itachi walked towards the bench where Naruto's guardian sat. She watched him as he walked towards her, not looking away when he met her eyes, not even when he sat down beside her. She had the same dark eyes as himself and Sasuke, and with mild, undetectable surprise, he registered the fact that she too was an Uchiha.
He had never met an Uchiha he'd never met before. The thought came out strange, even worded silently in his head. He supposed it was arguable that he would never meet an Uchiha he'd never met because at the moment when he would meet them, he would have met them. It was very mixed up and confusing, and Itachi had a time sorting the thoughts out. The point, however, was that he didn't know who this Uchiha girl was.
"Thank you," she said softly, as Itachi had a silent debate of whether or not to introduce himself. He'd always had a hard time making friends. Itachi looked to her and she was smiling at him, aware that he had heard her. Her statement hadn't required any kind of reply what so ever. She had simply thanked him, however, it was so unprecedented –Itachi had never had any sort of exchange with her prior- that she prompted a response anyways.
"For what?" he asked her.
"For not leaving," she said. And as she did so, her gaze turned from him to the blonde boy on the swing.
Naruto, swinging back and forth, was watching with undisguised curiosity as Sasuke sat in the sandbox, making a sandcastle looking uncomfortable, and completely ignoring him. Itachi understood at once. No doubt the playground hadn't been empty all day. Only when she'd decided to take Naruto to play. She smiled sadly at the sight of him.
"People have a tendency to ostracize that which they cannot comprehend or empathize with. The result is that anyone with the slightest abnormalities becomes alone, misunderstood and friendless," she said. There was a pause in which both parties reflected on her words. She turned back to Itachi, smiling at him. "I'm Uchiha Hisaki, I don't think we've ever met before."
"Uchiha Itachi," said Itachi, feeling uncomfortable. There was always so degree of discomfort in introducing yourself, particularly to someone who bears the same surname as yourself. Uchiha was not exactly a common name and Itachi felt as though he should have already known Hisaki, if not for the sole reason of sharing a surname then at the least because she was in the same clan as him and likely lived in the Uchiha complex as well.
And of course, there is an even worse feeling that comes with not knowing someone who knows you already. It makes the humble feel as though they are extremely pretentious. Hisaki gave Itachi that exact feeling of guiltiness when she nodded in understanding and said, "Oh, so you're Itachi Uchiha." What was that supposed to mean with the exaggerated 'you're'? The tone in which she said it could have implied anything.
"I've heard about you," she explained further and she laughed when his eyes narrowed the slightest in suspicion of what she might have heard and who from. "All good things," she assured him quickly and they didn't say any more to one another for the duration of their time together.
Instead, they sat in awkward silence for a while. It felt as though they ought to have something to talk about. Both were of the same clan and probably had some acquaintance in common. Otherwise they could have discussed the goings-on of the village, Sasuke and Naruto, the weather. Yet neither felt like forcing conversation on the other. After a while, the discomfort dispelled and both were left to their own thoughts and devices, watching idly as their younger companions play near but not with one another. They too were hyper-aware of each other's presence.
At last, it was Hisaki who ended the prolonged suffering of two shy boys. She stood up in a swift movement, straightened her clothes and dusted herself off. "Well it was nice meeting you, Itachi-san," she said to him. Her voice was soft and girlish. The type of voice that could have just as easily been shrill and sharply penetrating on the ears, but it wasn't. Instead, when she spoke, it was like a daydreaming girl, humming a melody to a song that no one really knew. "Thank you again… It's not every day that Naruto gets to be the one to walk away."
With that, she turned away from him, not even waiting for Itachi's response. She walked towards Naruto. "Naruto, it's time to go," she said to him. The boy whined in protesting response, the kind of thing Itachi had witnessed in Sasuke an infinite number of times. Kids really did all act the same. And just like Sasuke always obeyed him, Naruto dragged his heels on the sand to stop his swinging, hopped off and followed her. She smiled at him, offering her hand out to him. Naruto took it, as if it was the most natural thing in the world yet the scene was strange and novel to the two Uchiha brothers who looked on.
Uchiha were very exclusive to interacting within the clan. Witnessing Hisaki holding the hand of a very obviously not Uchiha, Naruto, was unnatural and didn't feel right. But neither Hisaki nor Naruto noticed the two staring as they walked away. They discussed dinner plans, Naruto cheering as she offered to buy him ramen. As they walked out of sight, Sasuke breathed a sigh of relieve. All previous discomfort forgotten, he promptly ran up to Itachi and demanded that Itachi help him build the sandcastle.
People have a tendency to ostracize that which they cannot comprehend or empathize with. The result is that anyone with the slightest abnormalities becomes alone, misunderstood and friendless.
Itachi remembered her words when he lay awake in bed that night. He thought of all the times when he felt trapped and alone, and when no one could understand him despite his desire for them to be able to. He remembered realizing that he was the kind of person that people liked to admire from afar yet no one wanted to be close to. And he reflected on just how true her words had been.
Sasuke had wandered into his room in the midst of the night. He stood at the doorway, careful not to enter until he had permission.
"Aniki," he said timidly.
"What is it, Sasuke?" asked Itachi, staring the six year old down. Sasuke looked nervous and hesitant, just as he had been at the playground that day.
"I couldn't sleep," he explained, sounding a bit ashamed that he wasn't braver. "I had a nightmare. Will you let me stay here for the night?"
Itachi's features softened as he beckoned his younger brother into the room. Sasuke looked embarrassed but delighted. He climbed onto Itachi's bed and lay comfortably beside him. Itachi was the best big brother in the world. He was brave and smart and the best ninja Sasuke knew, which was why he felt safe with Itachi. Sasuke smiled as he closed his eyes.
"Thanks aniki," he murmured, falling back into slumber. "You're the best."
And beside him, sleeping soundly, lay Itachi's proof that he was not completely alone. Itachi had only ever felt distant and alone because he chose to be. The younger Uchiha really had no idea how much Itachi owed to him. It was Sasuke's unconditional love that made Itachi feel assured, and more resolved than ever to be a better brother, the kind of brother that Sasuke wanted.