R e d W a t e r

C h a p t e r V

Itachi drove me back later that night. Once arriving home that night, I found myself extremely exhausted. Mom hadn't noticed I was gone, so I headed directly to my room and fell into my bed, fully clothed. Homework completely forgotten, my eyes slowly closed as I drifted off to sleep.

Sitting on Itachi's dark gray bed covers, I felt his arms around me, holding me protectively as I rested my head on his chest. We were silent for the longest time. And though a thousand questions ran through my mind at the moment, I didn't dare say a single one for a while, not wanting him to let go of me.

When I finally spoke, my first question was, "Why didn't you come back for me, Itachi?" My voice was just above a whisper as I asked him this.

School the next morning was seemingly endless. The rest of the day dragged on as I eyed the clock on the wall above the classroom door ever so often. The teachers lectured me when I told them I didn't do the assignment due that day, but paid no attention to their words.

Some girl named Ino asked me out that day at lunch. At first I didn't even know what she was saying.

Itachi didn't respond at first and his grip on me tightened. "Sasuke, I…I thought you hated me. I mean…I killed him…and yet you don't care?"

I looked down, unsure of how to answer. "…Dad…I-I don't know. He was the guy that scared the hell out of me…the one person I couldn't turn to in the family when I had a problem. Dad was just a stranger that beat the crap out of me every time I did something bad…" I paused, struggling for words.

"Sasuke? Sasuke, are you going to answer me?" A feminine voice asked me and my head jerked up.

"W-what?" I frowned, unsure of what the blond girl in front of me wanted. "What did you say?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to go to the movies with me." I saw a tinge of pink appear on the girl's cheeks.

"Eh…I'm sorry, who are you?" I was still very confused. Was she popular at this school?

Shock, devastation, and heartbreak were clearly written across her face but I didn't apologize, still too wrapped up in my thoughts to care. "I-Ino! I'm in all of your classes, Sasuke!" She was on the verge of tears by then.

"Oh…yeah, I thought I saw you somewhere before." I muttered, looking back down at the food in front of me that I purchased. Mashed potatoes. They looked absolutely revolting to me at the moment. I had an appetite for just about nothing right then. "No…no I don't want to go out with you." I told her , finding myself unsympathetic to her as I did.

I guess she was crying by then, but I had already switched the topic back to Itachi in my mind. No one. Not her, nor anyone else in this world mattered anymore. Just Itachi.

I picked my fork again, just playing with the uneaten mashed potatoes. I heard some people try and comfort Ino but didn't turn back to see if she was alright.

Itachi had answered many of my questions by then and I was lying on his bed, staring at absolutely nothing in particular. Just a blank off white ceiling above. Itachi was lying beside me, sitting up slightly with his arm supporting him. I felt his eyes on me and I smiled. "What are you thinking about now, Itachi?"
"Maybe…in a few years, we could find a way to let you stay here with me. We could live here and it could be like this always, Sasuke. Would you want that?" He asked me.

"Well, of course I'd want it…" I rolled on my side, now facing him. "…but mom. I should stay with her. I mean, now that she doesn't have Dad, she'll be alone in that apartment. I don't think I could do that to her, Itachi."

Itachi sighed but nodded. "I guess you're right." he brushed a loose strand of hair out of my face. "But at least I get to have you right now." Itachi gave a small smile, his fingers now trailing down my cheek. Before I could think through what I was about to do, I leaned forward, pressing my lips to Itachi's.

Three more classes went by and finally school was over. Gathering my things to go home, I stood up to leave. As I began to walk home, I had the sudden impulse to see him again. I knew we had planned to find a day where I could come over again and perhaps stay the night, but I was desperate to see his face again. Calling for a taxi, I paid the driver and told him the location of where Itachi lived.

Looking out the window, I smiled slightly, knowing I'd be in his arms again soon. The taxi driver didn't speak much, giving me a lot of time to think.

Itachi pulled away quickly, surprised at my sudden action. I was shocked too and looked away. "I-I'm so…sorry, Itachi. I don't know why I did that…" I felt myself blush in embarrassment. I dared to glance up, worried he'd be mad at me. But his response was completely different than I thought it would be.

"It's alright." he whispered, lifting my chin for me to face him again. "It's alright, Sasuke." Itachi shifted closer before kissing me gently on the lips once more. This time I didn't even think to pull away as Itachi deepened the kiss, now hovering over my body.

The taxi pulled up to Itachi's apartment. I thanked the driver and got out, feeling my heart skip a beat in my excitement. I approached the apartment slowly before knocking on the door.

Once I broke the kiss for a breath, I smiled up at my brother, who was centimeters away from me. He was about to give me another kiss before I stopped him for a moment, telling him, "Itachi…I….I love you."

I stood, waiting for the door to open. When there was no response, I knocked again. Then--

The door opened, reveling a slightly surprised Uchiha. "Sa--" I didn't give him a chance to say a word before throwing my arms around his neck and crushing my lips onto his. Itachi had a hard time closing the door, very sidetracked by my sudden appearance and…well, me kissing him.

He pushed me into a wall near the front door and quickly the kiss deepened.

"Itachi, who was at the door?" A male voice called from a different room.

"Oh, shit." Itachi whispered after breaking away and wiping his mouth on his shirt. I did the same and tried to straighten my hair out. "Eh…it's my brother." Itachi called back.

A guy with long blond hair came in, giving me a very cheerful smile. "Haven't seen him for a while. How are you, Sasuke?"

It was Deidara. Itachi's old friend from school. "Um…I'm good. How about you?" I gave a half smile.

"I'm great. I haven't seen you for like two…three years, huh? Damn you've gotten taller. What are you now, fourteen, fifteen?"

Itachi was eyeing me as he talked to Deidara again. "So, uh... Deidara, I guess I'll see you later." Deidara's smile vanished.

"What? I've only been here for a few hours." He complained.

"Yeah, well I haven't seen my brother for two years. So I'll be seeing you tomorrow." Itachi pushed his blond friend out of the front door, handing him his shoes before slamming the door in Deidara's face.

"ITACHI?!" the blond yelled from outside. "I can talk to your brother too, can't I?! Come on! Open the damn door!"

"Go home, Deidara." Itachi yelled back as he spun around to face me again, snaking his arms around my waist before capturing my lips once more.

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