A/n: I really like this chapter. It is very emotional; you will feel it while reading. Try to see things both thru Sasuke's and Shisui's eyes.
Chapter XIV
Chapter Fourteen Summary: a new character is entering the stage, rather, breaking into, shattering the world of one little boy, causing plenty of troubles and... jealousy?
Itss been six months since Sasuke's fourth birthday when Itachi brought Shisui for dinner for the first time. Tall and ever-smirking Shisui happened to be his cousin, five years Itachi's senior yet seeming younger. Clan's pride, excellent ninja, young genius - Uchiha Shisui couldn't but notice the rival growing and he had to take him under his wing afterwards. Training and roaming in whereabouts together while Sasuke was unaware of it. The only thing he knew was that his elder brought his, as he put it, friend to dine with them. Sasuke hated Shisui from the first sight. The way the teen impudently talked with nii-san, each casual gesture when he ruffled his hair made him see red. No one, nobody dares ruffle nii-san's hair! Sasuke could not figure out how it was possible to treat the unearthly creature of his brother in such a way. All the more so, how come Itachi endures it?
"Ahh, so this is the youngest, Tachi-kun?" asked Shisui bending down to Sasuke, spiteful fires burning in his eyes as he studied the boy.
Sasuke all but choked in indignation - he called his brother Tachi-kun! How dare he?! Meanwhile Itachi nodded, calmly observing the guy with impenetrable dark orbs.
"Hey-hey, why pout, baby?" Shisui gave a wink making the other furrow his brows before stepping back.
Itachi, still, expressed no reaction.
"Hurt? Tachi-kun, can he at least speak?" he burst out laughing, squeezed Sasuke's cheek, forcing a whine, and then a slap on Shisui hand followed before the little one ran away wiping off angry tears.
At that dinner, Sasuke sat gloomily poking chopsticks in the rice all the while stealing a glance at the lively and talkative cousin. Why is Itachi so serene as though nothing out of ordinary is going on? Why does father seem so composed? Why is mother smiling at the rascal's jokes offering him more food? How come? What for?
"Sasuke," Mikoto said warmly looking at her son. "Why aren't you eating? You should, to get stronger and become a good shinobi."
"Don't want," grumbled he in response staring into the plate.
"Your mom is right, Sasuke-chan," added Shisui. "I would eat a lot when I was your age."
"I'm not like you," followed a stubborn reply, more irritated because of Shisui's remark.
"Sasuke, please be kind to Shisui-san," even though smiling, Mikoto was warning him.
It was just when Sasuke lost his temper. Once on his feet he almost overturned the bowl and shouted,
"I shall not!" and ran out with tear-stained eyes.
From behind a frightened voice of his mother and clinging of dishes, as she was obviously about to go after him and solace but strict father made her not.
Later that night when Shisui was leaving, Sasuke did not go to see him off, by this gaining a rebuke from Fugaku, together with Mikoto's tears, Sasuke staring at the floor all the while. That night after the two were gone to their bedroom, he sneaked to Itachi's place. As usual, he found a lit desk lamp and Itachi lying on the futon, book in his hands.
"Nii-san," he shifted from foot to foot at the threshold avoiding eye contact.
"What is it, Sasuke?" he looked up, Itachi's black orbs, illuminated by the lamp light, seemed golden.
Silence fell between the two.
"Will you close the door?"
The other complied, then hesitantly came up and flopped down onto the futon, close to brother.
"Nii-san... don't let him come here again."
The second looked at Sasuke, surprise in his eyes.
"Shisui's my friend and parents don't mind him, they'll be glad to invite him one more time."
"Please," Sasuke sniffed, chin against his knees. "Please, don't let him. I don't like him. Please. Nii-san?"
He looked up at Itachi carefully, the former examined his face for a while before returning to the book.
"Fine."
Sasuke's lips bloomed with a smile at once and he flung himself at Itachi, somewhat cautiously though, not to disturb.
"Go to bed, Sasuke."
"Ok!" was a merry answer, a peck placed on nii-san's cheek and a closed door afterwards.
The other saw him off with his gaze and went on reading.
***
Itachi had kept his word. He would spend rather much time with Shisui, but it never occurred that Sasuke would meet with his cousin, that is how he settled it. Sasuke, however, hated him no matter what for Shisui once dared to grip his brother's attention. Itachi spent so little time with Sasuke and now Shisui was going to... completely steal him from Sasuke!
Time passed. The brothers grew up, and Itachi was getting stronger, quickly catching up with the elder friend. Shisui who has always been thought the best of the best, suddenly felt that he was receding into the background. He did not even understand when everything changed, so fast was that alteration – he recalled Itachi, that quiet boy, who was silently watching him, carefully studying jutsu's that Shisui graciously showed him, adopting and diligently practicing the techniques. Now the young man realized he could barely compete with the younger friend - in their sparring, he would often find himself defeated, and his skills were no longer needed. Now it was Itachi who became the pride of the Uchihas, and Shisui, who had never taken this child seriously, this boy, five years his junior, was starting to feel... envious.
At thirteen Itachi became the ANBU captain thus making Shisui his subordinate. The smug Uchiha could barely put up with the fact and despite all efforts, he didn't succeed in thinking Itachi his friend like before. A vile feeling firmly rooted in his chest, and he couldn't help it. Itachi, in his turn, seemed like he couldn't care less. What Shisui thought or felt was of no importance, what did matter was that Shisui would have to render him a service, namely, give Itachi Mangekyou Sharingan.
The last thing the cousin saw before his death were three black stripes merging in one into the trident of Mangekyou.
The last thing he felt was malignant envy.