A/N: Hello, everyone! I felt such a drive writing this chapter that I'm already done and it's long. Forgive me. And forgive me more because I know that you're not going to like this chapter. That's all I'm saying and my answer to my last chapter's question and a new question will appear at the end. I would also like to dedicate this chapter, again, to my dear friend Hitoko-sama because I wouldn't have figured out the dialogue without her! Thanks again girl!

I DO NOT OWN ANY of the Naruto characters, nor do I own the story. Oh how I wish so I know what the heck happened to my two favorite Uchiha brothers but no. Thank you for those who have reviewed and voted and the winners will also be revealed at the bottom. I hope you all continue giving me your support, tips, or criticism because I accept and love them all. Every single one helps me become a better writer. Thank you and enjoy.

Ch. 24: My Confessions

'Now where in the world did that boy run off to?' Itachi wonders, walking through the hallways of the castle. After Sasuke practically abandoned him in the training room and Naruto ran after his protector, Itachi was still sitting on the ground, getting over his shock of his little brother rejecting him.

Sasuke rejected him. After what just happened last night, he rejected Itachi?

Okay, something is seriously wrong here. Sure the boy wasn't fully 'there' when they kissed but when you're drunk with blood, you go by instincts and feeling. Sasuke kissed him for a reason last night and he rejected his brother when he was presented to him on a silver platter. What's wrong with that picture?

As the workers were leaving to go back to work, along with many others, Itachi was still on the ground in shock. The only one who approached him was Suigetsu.

"Don't worry about it, Itachi," he said to him after patting his shoulder to bring the older prince back to reality. "I think Sasuke's pride was hurt since you just kicked his ass when he's been using his powers longer than you have. At least I know that the rumors of you being a genius are no joke. Just give him some time and then you can try again."

If Itachi was a self-conscious girl, he would have blush from Suigetsu's last comment before he walked away waving. But since he's not, he just stares at the short white hair human with a dumb-struck expression and blinking eyes. Suigetsu walked back to the rest of Sasuke's friends, Karin and him still on bad terms with each other it looks like, Sakura practically looking just as excited as a teenage girl getting ready for her first prom night, Hinata taking in her protector's squeals and excited plans about her future wedding, and Kimimaro, Juugo, Madara, and Mikoto have their eyes on Itachi. All four of them are smiling at them; Kimimaro and Juugo being friendly and Mikoto and Madara looking rather proud. Then all of them left and Itachi was still sitting there on the ground even after everyone else evacuated the place. It took him a while to realize that he needed to find his younger brother and clear up the confusion in his head right now. So he's walking in the hallways, looking for his baby brother and the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. Where could they be?

"I don't understand why you let such an opportunity pass by you like things like that happened all the time!"

Found them.

"That was probably your only shot!" Itachi hears Naruto yell to who he believes to be his little brother and when he looks out from a hallway at the corner, he sees Naruto indeed talking to Sasuke. From how it looks with Sasuke's back facing him and being able to see Naruto's confused and worried face, Naruto must have caught up with his protector and blocked his walk way. Since this looks like such an interesting conversation, Itachi remains hidden and listens. Maybe he might get some answers since it appears that none of them notice he's here, he hopes.

He hears Sasuke let out a frustrated sigh before he says, "There was no way in hell that I was going to let him kiss me in front all of those people. How can you even think of that happening?"

That's….is a good point. Last night, it was Sasuke who wasn't thinking straight and now caught in the moment, Itachi was the one who wasn't thinking straight. If they had kissed in front of all of those people, that would probably be problematic if the brothers themselves didn't know what the heck is going on between them. Maybe it is a good thing they didn't, but Naruto had other thoughts.

"Because it might have been a once in a vampire life-time golden opportunity? Teme, that was your chance and you let it slip pass you like a fish in water!"

Now Sasuke is really starting to get annoyed. "As I said, there was no way in hell I was going to let him kiss me in front of all of those people. It was bad enough he made me go into full-vampire mode in front of Sakura and now I'm going to have to listen to her oh so great plans of how we mate. Jeeze, it's bad enough I had to listen to her flirting and now I get to listen to that. Wonderful. I'm pissed off at him more than anything right now."

Itachi has half a mind to just go up to his little brother and defend what happened. Okay yeah sure part of it was his fault, but it was Sasuke's own fault as well. He allowed himself to turn full-vampire mode. It wasn't just Itachi. Though, the only reason why Itachi wanted to go up and defend himself is because he wanted his brother to calm down and think rationally. There are other things to worry about than arguing whose fault it is.

"You know, you don't have to go through the arrange mating."

That not only caught Sasuke off guard when Naruto said that. It also caught Itachi by surprise. Maybe it is a good thing that he's still hiding.

Naruto looks at his protector with his blue eyes full of sincerity and pleading and he suggests to him, "You can say 'no' to her. She might get upset about it, but she'll understand."

Now Sasuke is definitely confused with the jinchuriki in front of him. "What are you talking about, dope?"

"I'm talking about going against your feelings. The only reason why you're willing to mate with her is because she's a stand-in. Why not just follow your heart for once and be a man about it!"

Now he knows where the blonde is getting to. "There is no way in this damn world am I going to do something like that! Mating with Sakura is my only option of getting mother and father off my back about being alone for the rest of my existence. There is no other choice for me."

No matter how many times his protector is going to say that, Naruto is not going to back down this time. He is going to tell him exactly what he's been wanting to say about this idea right here, right now. "Of course there is! Itachi-teme was willing to kiss you, wasn't he? That's proof enough that you have a choice, let alone a chance."

"The person who tried to kiss me was the person I created. My brother died a long time ago."

And there he goes saying it again, but now there is the confirm answer that the person he's talking about is Itachi. Now he's not an idiot. He figured it out but that doesn't mean that he still can't feel the surprise to actually hear his little brother admit it.

Naruto tries again, "Sasuke, seriously! How many times are you going to go off on that? It's obvious that you don't believe that. It's about time I speak and you listen, teme!"

"How about you just shut up, already Naruto?"

The Kyuubi Jinchuriki didn't expect to hear that. Sure Sasuke was getting irritated with him on how he kept pestering the topic but he never thought that the prince would actually snap at him like that. It shocked him where he stood. He couldn't think of anything to say and his body just couldn't move from the overwhelming shock. That gives Sasuke the chance for Naruto to use those ears of his. "You don't get it at all so shut the hell up! The person I cared deeply about, the person I would rather be with than Sakura is dead! He went off to fight with the Kaguya clan and he died in battle! The person who came back, looking exactly like him was not my nii-san. He was someone else! Someone who belonged to another person. He changed and it was because of that ludicrous feeling called love. You and everyone else believe it to be a wonderful thing when it's not! It's absurd, it's disgusting, it changes people, and it breaks people beyond repair. I should know because that's exactly what happened to nii-san with that human!"

As soon as he said that, Itachi became just as shocked, if not more, than Naruto when his protector snapped at him. His eyes widen in complete disbelief and for a moment, his mind was not working. Does Sasuke…know?

Finally getting over it, with now pity in his guts because he knows where these words are really coming from, Naruto allows some of that pity to melt away his shocked expression and he dares a step to his protector with a hand of comfort reaching out to him. "Sasuke…"

Slap

And Sasuke slaps it away before it got too close. The shock returns and the blonde could only stand there with wide sky blue eyes as angry onyx eyes stare right through him; piercing and burning through his very being. "Just leave me the fuck alone, Naruto. There is no way you can possibly understand. You have Hinata. Someone who loves you for who you are. She doesn't try to change you and she loves you. You don't know what it's like to not be loved in return."

One by one in Itachi's mind, the pieces begin to fall together, but at the same time he didn't think he could believe it. He can't believe that Sasuke knows about Shisui. They never met! He can't believe these feelings his little brother is spitting out at their god's host, and he can't believe the words he's saying now. So badly he just wants to ask, 'what are you talking about? I don't understand', but his mind doesn't work like that. He heard it all and he understood it all.

When Naruto didn't move from his spot and his face had already softened back into lonely pity, it just made the raven haired prince all the more angrier. This time, he allows his eyes to glow dangerously red and he shouts, "I said LEAVE!" It just leaves a sharp pain piercing right through the blonde's chest with the metal still piping hot.

Seeing that there is no need for him to be here anymore, Naruto does as his protector orders him to do; for once. He moves to the side, a bit unsure if he should really leave or not, and then runs pass Sasuke, leaving him there. However when Naruto is passing the hallway Itachi is in, for just a moment without slowing or hesitating his steps, Naruto looks to the side and he looks at the older Uchiha, eye-to-eye, as if giving him a message. From the look on his face, he's pleading Itachi to do something. The long hair vampire sees that look of plea and sorrow before Naruto turns away and runs away. His footsteps echo in the supposedly empty, silent hallway and only when it faded away to nothing did Sasuke grit his teeth together, clench his jaw, and hit his fist against the wall. Itachi's eyes slightly widen in his own way of slinching when he heard that fist and he looks back out to see several cracks in the wall and possibly a small crater as well.

"Damnit!" the boy curses before gritting his teeth tighter and clenching his fist tighter to the point his fingernails are piercing his skin. Itachi smells the scent of his blood and maybe now is a good time to come out before the boy bleeds out any more unnecessary blood.

"Sasuke."

When the younger vampire prince turns around in the direction Naruto just ran off too, he sees his brother revealing himself to him. Sasuke looks absolutely shock to see him here with non-red eyes wide as Itachi looks worried and a little shock himself.

"Sasuke, how did you…"

Without giving him the chance to even try and finish that question, Sasuke looks away and tries to walk away. Caught off guard with his 'running away', Itachi goes after him. Hearing his rushing footsteps trying to catch up with him, Sasuke tries to go speed walking.

Damnit, how much did he hear?

"Sasuke, wait!" Itachi calls, sounding a little upset that his brother is walking away from him. "Sasuke!" The boy still doesn't stop.

'Now this is getting ridiculous!'

Having just about enough of this and wanting answers now, Itachi uses super speed for just a moment so he can grasp Sasuke's arm and stop him. The boy made the mistake of looking up at his older brother with the same shock expression before and now he's looking at hard solid, slightly cold eyes.

"Sasuke, did you know?" he asks, his voice sounding much colder and harsher than his eyes.

Sasuke looks away and he asks, looking not at all intimidated by his brother's behavior, "Know what? What the heck are you talking about?" Yeah, like Itachi is going to believe that.

"If you really didn't know, you would have looked at me in the eye when you said that." Sasuke looks back at him then before his brother pulls his arm a little harder so he can be closer. "You know, Sasuke. Don't you dare lie me."

Looking into those eyes, it was almost intimidating, to Sasuke that is. For anyone else, they would probably have been scared out of their mind and quake in the older Uchiha brother's hold. But there is one other small difference between the two brothers. Sasuke is supposed to be the master and yet his servant is standing before him acting like he's the dominate one. Though looking at him right now, even if Sasuke orders him to drop the issue and leave him alone, Itachi would just pester him some other time. He won't let go of the issue.

When Sasuke answers, his voice sounds like he has a little strength in it to show that he'll answer but he won't be frightened by him. "Yeah, I know."

Receiving that answer, Itachi doesn't know rather to feel relieved that his little brother is telling him the truth or if he should be cautious and concerned because for Sasuke to know, it either has to be when he bit him to turn him back into a vampire or he found out when they were younger. So he asks, "For how long?"

"How long I knew you were head over heels in love with a human or how long I knew he even existed?" Sasuke yanks his arm off and thanks to the earlier anger caused by the dope, he starts lashing out at the man in front of him. He starts off with a soft angry voice and then it grew till he was shouting in rage. "Blood never lies. You can learn so much from it, brother. When I fed on you that day when I got a glimpse of what sunlight really looked like, I learned from your blood that you were acting weird because you couldn't get a human out of your head – a human by the name of Shisui. He saved your life when you survived the battle between us and the Kaguya clan. How long I knew that you were in love with each other? It was shortly after you started running off in the middle of the night, leaving Kakashi to train me so you can play husband and wife with that human! I followed you after telling Kakashi I was sick and couldn't train, and you know what I found? I found you sucking face with him!" Now Itachi is surprised. His little brother knows all the way since then and looking at his face right now, he can not only see the anger clear as day, he can see so much pain behind them. So much betrayal… Sasuke takes one step towards him and continues, "You knew the rules back then before they changed! Either suck the human dry or turn him if you wanted to mate with him so badly. You can't mate with a human!"

Itachi tries to defend, "Shisui and I didn't mate. I knew the rules, Sasuke, but I refused to turn him into a bloodsucking parasite, let alone kill him."

"'Bloodsucking parasite'?" he repeats, just making sure he heard his words correctly. His voice wasn't as loud or angry as it was before. He just sounded like he was trying to understand. When he did, he lets out a chuckle and waves his arms in the air with a grin on his face before facing his brother again. "Brilliant! Thanks for the insult. I should have known you would still feel bitter towards us vampires. Once a vampire hunter, always a vampire hunter! You people will never change!" He shouted that time.

For some strange unknown reason, Itachi can read Sasuke. Before he couldn't since he couldn't tell when his brother was going to have one of his dramatic mood swings but now looking at him, having this conversation, and him spilling about everything he knows, Itachi feels like he can read him like a book. He's angry, that's a common observation. But that is all coming out from how hurt he is. He's revealing exactly the kind of scares and wounds he has; the wounds Itachi gave him.

"I have, Sasuke."

Huh?

The younger prince did not expect to hear that. Nor did he expect his brother to grab him again and then force him to the wall. When he looks after his back pressed against the wall, he's shock beyond movement as similar black eyes are staring right through him. Looking at those eyes is giving him chills. Good chills, bad chills; he couldn't tell. He just feels something in his guts and chest that's leaving him frozen and almost makes him feel…vulnerable.

With his hand pressed against the wall that's not too far from his little brother's head, he leans on it for a bit of support so he can ask, "Sasuke, do you love me?"

That brought the boy back to reality. "Wha-! Where the fuck is this coming from?"

"Answer the question, otouto. Do you love me?"

He didn't answer right away. With how close his brother is and this question, Sasuke is starting to breathe through his mouth, his chest rising up and collapsing down. He's too close. Lucky for him, Sasuke was able to tear his eyes away from the captivating ones in front of him before he answers, "…no."

So now he's trying to hide. Maybe coming on him was a bit too strong. Itachi lets a deep, soft breath before he confesses his own little truth. "Before you fainted last night after you took some of my blood, you kissed me." Instantly that got his little brother's attention. He still looks to the side but his eyes are wide and his mouth becomes a solid straight line. Itachi was sort of hoping that he would look at him but it's probably needed to say a bit more of what happened. "You told me about the pain I caused you and you told me you were and always will be willing to do anything for me. Then you kissed me, and I kissed you back." As soon as he said that, Sasuke's head sharply turns to look back at him with eyes still wide and shocked by now with a slightly open mouth. The second he looks back at him, Itachi's other hand rises up to the boy's face and his fingers gently caress the soft flesh. Upon looking at him and feeling his touch, Sasuke really does feel vulnerable and he's seeing complete sincerity and seriousness in his older brother's eyes. "Before you fainted, you said something about not being able to forgive yourself for doing something on that day. I'm not going to ask you what it was until you answer me first if you really don't love me or you do."

"Why would it matter anyway if I do or not? Nothing would change if I said yes."

That's as much as a 'yes, I love you' as Itachi is going to get. But still, it made him melt inside. Maybe there is a reason why he feels completion with Sasuke. What if it was never Shisui but it was always Sasuke? It could explain on how terrible he would feel when his little brother was upset with him and how carefree and at ease he would feel when they're laughing and smiling together. Itachi is no genius. He doesn't know all. He's just naturally talented with a sword and his mind just thinks strategies and battle formations. He is flawed. He can't see true love when it's staring at him right in the face.

"Yes it would," he says a little gentler. Then his hand slides down from Sasuke's cheek down to his arm. The boy had to suppress a shiver when that hand went down. He followed it so he could see that hand grasp his and then lift it towards Itachi's face. He kisses that hand ever so gently and so lovingly that Sasuke's cheeks started to turn red. This cannot be happening, can it?

"It could change a lot." Itachi lowers his hand and he moves closer to his brother's face. Sasuke instantly knew what his big brother is going to do. At the moment, he just couldn't move as Itachi's lips are now only an inch away from his own. "Sasuke…"

He's going to kiss him. Out of his own will and desire, he is going to kiss Sasuke. Usually when one is about to kiss someone and those feelings that he felt not too long ago come back, one wouldn't have the strength to refuse him a second time. But Sasuke still has that same feeling that stopped him the last time. The one that made him feel disgusted.

"Get off me!" He finally found the will and strength to move. He pushed Itachi away from him and like before, Itachi has that same dumb-struck expression on his face. Sasuke rejected him again when he can now tell that he wants it just as much as he does. But why? His question is shortly answered when Sasuke spats out more words. "You heard what I told Naruto! Love is the real bloodsucking parasite! It sucks you dry of any happiness you could ever possibly possess. It tears you limb from limb till there is nothing left. It changes you till you are no longer recognizable to those around you. That human changed you into someone completely different than the nii-san I used to know! He even took you away from me and used love as an excuse to convince you to become a murdering vampire hunter! That human deserved to be burned to death in that village."

"Be quiet, Sasuke!"

Bam

A second later, Itachi's fist hit the wall close to Sasuke's head again, cracking it from the force. The younger sibling didn't expect that to happen. He didn't expect Itachi to lose his cool like that. Anger, maybe but not like this. He can't see his face because his bangs are hiding it away from his view. All he could see is anger radiating off his body in Itachi's own collected and dangerous way. It actually almost made Sasuke afraid.

"Just be quiet. You have no right to say anything about him," he hissed at the boy.

'Itachi!'

Itachi can still hear them. He can still hear Shisui call for him. Whether or not the older prince realizes that he was never the one, the human was still precious to him. He was the first human Itachi had ever met that was like him; acceptance of what he was and acted completely normal around him. He was his first kiss and he was the first person who the prince said 'I love you' to. He was his first real experience to love and Sasuke has the galls to say that to him? Thos memories are still fresh and they hurt like hell.

"You have no idea what it was like. You could claim to love me all you want but you have no idea what it was really like. To love someone with all your being and to receive that same love in return. You have no right to talk about Shisui and I like that. There is no way you could possibly understand."

"Yes I could."

Immediately that captures the older prince's attention. He looks back at his little brother in surprise and confusion. "Uh?"

Looking at him, Sasuke has a pitiful half smile on his face. Oh how wrong his brother really is. When he spoke his first sentence, it started off soft and then it got bigger instantaneously. "You heard me, you fuckin coldhearted, self-rightous asshole!" He loses the smile on his face and now he's back to shouting, expressing everything and letting everything go. "You know something? You have no right to talk to ME about love! Sure you may have gotten the chance and experience of being loved in returned but you never went through the pain of betrayal and a broken heart! You told me that you loved me! You told me that there is no one on this earth who you could love more than me! You told me that you would never leave me! And yet as soon as your Shisui was attacked, you went running off to him and left me! You abandoned me when you said you wouldn't! You choose that human over me! You loved him more than me and you have the nerve to lecture me about a broken heart? Who the hell do you think you are, you bastard? I hate you! I hate you!"

As soon as he said that, Itachi grasps him again and pulls him towards him till his arms wrapped around the boy. Sasuke's eyes widen again and his anger instantly disappears when he's now pressed against Itachi's chest and those arms are around him in a pleading but gentle and warm hold. This chest that feels so warm when it should feel so cold to the touch. This chest that has the comforting scent of his precious older brother, and this chest that would relax him into deeper slumber. And these arms… These arms that would catch him when he fell, that protected him from harm against the nightmares and monsters under his bed, and made him feel loved and wanted. He feels them all again, as if he's being purified, and he feels the desperation in them as well.

"I'm…sorry," Itachi whispers to him. Sasuke believes it. Even his voice sounds apologetic and it suddenly made him feel really bad for screaming like that. Itachi's arms tighten around him and he adds, "But you're right. I have no right and no matter how many times I apologize, it won't change what I've done. All of my words were turned into lies and I broke so many promises to you because I was overwhelmed with grief. Nothing I can do or say can erase the pain I've caused you over the years. But I truly am sorry."

The pain Itachi caused him or the feelings Sasuke is making him feel? The boy doesn't know anymore. For the first time, he doesn't know what to do. But he knows what he wants to do. He wants to be seven years old again and just hideaway in Itachi's arms and stay there. He doesn't want to face the real world anymore. He wants to stay here at this exact moment, forever. But all good moments must end, especially when you've held something so terrible that you no longer deserve what you want.

"Heh, you should see yourself."

Itachi didn't expect to hear that, or for Sasuke to push away from him and back away. Back all the way to the wall again and just look up at the ceiling with that pitiful crocked smile on his face again. "You look extremely pathetic right now, nii-san." 'But the truly pathetic person…is me.' "You're apologizing for the pain I deserved." His head then faces down to the ground. 'I'm making you feel guilt for something I did.' His hands rise up to his face and he hides his eyes away with the palms of his hands and his fingers mixing with his raven hair. "How extremely pathetic indeed."

Now he knows what to do. He can't hold it any longer. He has to let it go.

Not understanding what he's saying or why his brother looks like this, Itachi asks, "What are you talking about, Sasuke?" almost sounding like he's going to regret asking that.

Sasuke lifts his head up from his hands and with the crocked smile still on his face, his eyes show so much more. "You think those vampires attacked that village just for the heck of it? You forget. Those vampires, those Sound Vampires were a killer-for-hire gang. Taking any payment such as money or blood for any kind of job."

When he said that, something else clicked in Itachi's mind. Another memory full of fire, a burning house, and a cowering in fear vampire, pleading for his life to be spared. His words ring in the older prince's ears at the remembrance

"We didn't attack for no good reason! We were hired to do it and given permission to carry it out!"

But that would mean…

"Sasuke, you didn't…"

Sasuke chuckles one more time and he answers, "I was the one who sent out the attack." And just like that, every little piece, no matter how shattered that Itachi pulled back up to keep his sanity, breaks completely and falls – never to be picked up again. Now he is the one who's frozen as his little brother, his lover's murderer, just keeps talking. "Out of my own selfish desires to make you mine, I killed your love. That human was in my way and I got rid of him. I'm the one who you're supposed to take your revenge on. That human didn't turn you into a merciless vampire hunter. I did. I created you. I made you kill so many other vampires in my place that it only made the guilt all the more sweeter for me to enjoy. I don't know rather to be grateful for it or break down completely because it's too great."

From the looks of it, Sasuke might break down. His eyes are starting to shine in the light with tears. Not including that one tear last night, he hasn't cried in twenty years since Itachi left. Now he just fills like a pot full of the rain that fell from the sky and it's finally beginning to overflow. That rain of misery and never-ending guilt.

But Itachi doesn't completely see that. He sees his brother's face but all he could think about is one thing.

"You…killed Shisui."

Now looking at him, Sasuke gives him 'are you stupid' face. "Do I have to repeat myself?" he asks. Then he loses his smile and now his expression is completely washed over with sorrow and plea. "Ever since I was a child, I knew you were the one. You made me complete. You made me happy and you were the only one who ever truly understood me. I knew it was wrong and I knew that not many will ever understand because we're brothers but I didn't care! I would have been willing to fight anyone in to the death for it. Even now as I'm standing in front of you, I…" His hand reaches for Itachi's cheek, then but before he could even touch it, he stops himself. He stares at his brother in a pleading way, so similar to how it was last night, but he looks away and drops his hand. His voice became dead. "There was probably a reason why I kissed you in that closet last night. Maybe it was because when I saw you kissed that man so many years ago, I was upset that I didn't get my chance. The pain was so great that I didn't feel anything but that unbearable pain in my chest. I didn't want to eat, I didn't want to sleep, or do anything at all. I only wanted to feel a pain greater than the pain I was feeling in my chest, but nothing could cover it up. Do you remember that time you tried to get into my room but I told you to leave me alone?"

Itachi remembers all right. It was the first of many events that lead to that terrible night.

"Sasuke, it's me. Won't you let me in?"

"No! Especially not you!"

"Sasuke, what's gotten into you? Come on now. Open this door!"

"No! Just shut up and leave me the fuck alone!"

"We've tried everything, Itachi-sama. We're worried that he might starve himself to death."

"I'm surprised. He's never this upset. But I'm sure that it won't last for long. He'll come out eventually. When he does, tell him to meet me in the garden. I need to speak with him."

"Are you going out again, Itachi-sama."

"Yes. But I'll be back shortly."

"I heard everything outside that door and I just snapped. Instead of banging down the door or ordering me to come out like the nii-san I used to know would do, you decide to go and meet that human. You cared about him more than your own brother. So I hired those sound vampires and I gave them permission to attack. I just didn't want you to leave me. I didn't want to lose you. It was my worst fear and my darkest nightmare. But it was a useless attempt from the beginning. You left me either way and you came back as an entirely different person – someone who wanted me dead. I should have known that nii-san was gone forever when he went off to battle, never again to return…" He chuckles one more time but softer compared to the first couple of time and the smile on his face is small and very faint. "I should have known and yet I ignorantly believed he would come back to me. I was and still am so, so stupid."

And then there was silence. Nothing but defending silence between them. None of the humans who went back to work in the castle were even near this area. There was no sound what so ever and it gave the brother's plenty of time to think. Slowly but surely, Sasuke's words were starting to sink into his brain. Sasuke killed Shisui. His little brother killed one of the most important people in his life. It's just…It can't be true. It can't be. Not when…not when…

Not when Itachi has already learned how to love again.

How the older prince just wants all of this to be a dream. Another terrible nightmare his mind could impossibly think of this absurd possibility. But it's the truth. It's looking at him right in the face and speaking to him directly; no one else. What do you do now? Itachi doesn't even know how to feel. He feels greatly shocked, deeply hurt, betrayed, and yet looking at the boy in front of him, he still feels that pestering yearning to reach out and touch. Touch him and make everything feel better again.

So he tries. "Sasuke…" His hand reaches out towards him but when he called out, Sasuke flinched at his name and the softness of Itachi's voice when he used it. He could see the hand reaching for him and he didn't want it.

Slap

Like Naruto, Sasuke slapped Itachi's hand away before he could even come close to touching him. The action leaves the older prince and Sasuke looks back at him, glaring. He doesn't want it. He doesn't want pity. He doesn't want sympathy. He wants everyone to just leave him alone. Leave him and let him rot in hell.

"Don't touch me. You're free to do what you want." If his slap didn't shock the older Uchiha enough, his little brother's next words did. "You can go wherever the hell you want and do what you want! But the last order I'm gonna give you is when you're going to kill me, you better do it as a vampire because I would damned if I were to be killed by a human."

So he's willing to accept death then? Or is he just stating the obvious choice of what is to come next? He killed a hunter's important person and like all hunters, when something is taken away from them, it becomes their drive. Revenge. That's what it is but does Itachi feel that? What else is he supposed to feel then? Unable to know how to feel and knowing that if he doesn't contain them, he will go out of control, he goes back into his doll like state.

"You told me that I could do what I want now, Sasuke. You don't have that control over me anymore."

Everything becomes dead. His facial expressions, his voice, his body language, and his words become nothing but the cold harsh truth. Sasuke sees that change in his older brother and he only allowed a moment of it to affect him. Itachi is back to how he was in the trial. Back to where he started.

Hilarious, isn't it?

"Heh, you're right. So why the fuck are you still standing here? Get the fuck out of this castle!"

I told you guys you wouldn't like this chapter. I'm sorry but something like this is bound to happen sooner or later right?

Anyway, the answer to my last chapter's question is the reason why Sasuke feels so guilty is because he ordered for Shisui's life to end. For those who have not voted this exact detail, that's okay because your vote still counts if you include that Sasuke feels guilty because of Shisui. My winners are 'Saber Amane', 'Hitoko-sama', 'Sasuke-Fan-723', 'WraithReaper' and 'DelicateGreenEyes xx'. Thanks and you guys now have the privilege of voting for one of my 'Which ItaSasu Story is Next?'

My new question is: What is Itachi going to do now?

Thank you again and I'll see you all next time!