A sudden fear rose within Itachi. He didn't know what it was, where it had come from, or even how it had come to be. All he knew was he didn't want to die.

It was too late to block the attack completely, so he shoved both of his arms in front of him, preventing fatal injuries. Sasuke screamed with rage. He didn't care anymore. Let them die, he thought, insanely. Let them all jut die. You're the only one worthy enough to live. You know it's true.

"You can't use any jutsus now," Sasuke sneered at Itachi. "Both of your arms are shattered. You'll be lucky if you can ever use them again. Of course you won't get that chance. I will kill you."

"You're so weak I can beat you without my jutsus," Itachi snapped back. "And if you really meant to kill me then how come I'm still here alive in front of you."

"With the curse mark," Sasuke began. "No one can stand in my way."

"So I've heard," Itachi drawled. "But is this the way you really want to become?"

"I don't think you're really in a position to be asking the questions here," Sasuke spat.

"I am ashamed to admit that you are an Uchiha," Itachi said, still in that calm monotone that masked his true emotions. "To resort to such sinister ways."

"Like you're one to talk," Sasuke muttered. The affects of the curse mark were beginning to catch up with him. He was feeling light headed and very much like he should be lying down instead of trying to fight. But, being the stubborn jackass he was, he refused to call it quits just yet. He charged at Itachi for what he hoped was the last time, but luck was not on his side and he found himself underneath his brother's butt in a matter of seconds.

"There is something you need to know Sasuke," Itachi announced. "It is my only hope that you will try to understand."

"Let go of me you bastard!" Sasuke yelled.

"No," Itachi said simply. "Not until I'm through saying what I need to say."

"Say it then," Sasuke snapped through clenched teeth. The curse mark slowly swirled down into the original mark on the back of his neck.

"Life is for living," Itachi replied. "Not for wasting on goals you know you have no chance of accomplishing. So isn't about time you got a life?" (A/N-BURN!)

"That's it!" Sasuke threw his brother off him and began beating him senseless. Itachi, unable to use his arms, wasn't holding up quite as well as before. "MY WHOLE LIFE I'VE HATED YOU! –Punch- EVEN BEFORE YOU KILLED THE CLAN! YOU WERE ALWAYS THE WALL THAT STOOD IN MY WAY AND I HATED THAT! -Kick- YOU NEVER CARED ABOUT ME, OR MOTHER, OR FATHER OR EVEN SHISUI WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR BEST FRIEND! -Slam into wall- I NEVER UNDERSTOOD YOU…I never…never…"

And suddenly Sasuke was on the ground, tears and blood alike running down his face. He tried to get back up, but fell, coughing, back onto the cruel unforgiving ground.

Itachi stood above him, blood dripping off the ends of his sleeves, and stared into his eyes.

"You are weak," he stated blankly. "What a disappointment."

"Kill me," Sasuke rasped. "If I am weak I have no right to live."

But Itachi couldn't consent to his wish, because Uchiha Sasuke was already dead. And he had been for a very long time.

A/N- I feel so guilty that it took me this long to put up a chapter and it wasn't even that long! Die self-die! I am a shame to FF. I don't even have a good excuse…besides writer's block…anyway I'll try to get the next chpt up in the week…or month…school's almost out YAY! Ahem…random