Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
An Absurd Proposal - 5
Itachi looked up at the tree that leaned over the intersection of the paths connected the Hyuuga and Uchiha estates.
"You could have just asked me," he commented. Wisely, his stalker realized he had been caught, and revealed himself without further encouragement.
"Itachi." Sasuke said by way of greeting as he dropped down.
"Foolish little brother."
The younger Uchiha leaned against the fence next to Itachi. He rolled his eyes as adopted a similar position to his brother's - hands deceptively relaxed at his sides, and feet crossed in a casual way.
"Are you just never going to drop that stupid epithet?"
A faint smirk quirked Itachi's lips. "As a reward for using a big word, I am happy to comply, my silly tiny sibling of the male persuasion."
Sasuke gagged. "I give up. That's worse." Itachi made a soft noise of amusement.
They lapsed into a moment of comfortable silence. Sasuke broke after a minute.
"So who is she?"
"Hyuuga Hinata." Sasuke turned his head to stare at him.
"No wonder Mom's been sighing so much - Dad won't like that."
"Father is aware of my intentions."
Sasuke's eyes brightened triumphantly, and a sly smile creeped across his face. "Will you name a nephew after me? I'll be a great uncle." Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"You are being presumptuous, and yet again prove your role as my foolish little brother." Sasuke faced dropped and he scowled at the reminder of Itachi's favorite pet name for him. "Hyuuga-san possesses a very unusual trait that I do not usually encounter," Itachi went on to explain. "I find myself curious on how the Sharingan affects her."
Sasuke blinked, his face oddly blank. "It's illegal if they're under the influence of the Sharingan."
Itachi blinked, his face impassive. Then he closed his eyes as if to ward off a migraine. "You have been spending too much time with our future Rokudaime, perverted little brother."
"What do you think I'm talking about, perverted big brother?"
Sasuke simply looked angelic. Itachi held out for nearly half a minute before he huffed in fond amusement. His little brother was incorrigible, but he wouldn't have him any other way.
To think that this carefree, mischievous Sasuke might have never had the chance to grow...Itachi had disobeyed direct orders only once in his life, and that was Danzo's missive to exterminate his clan. To rebel or to comply: either path left him trapped between cold, unyielding walls.
Itachi looked back at Sasuke, and the younger gave him a questioning look. The elder shook his head, signaling that it was nothing.
No one else will know just how close the Uchiha had come to extinction that day. Not even the Sandaime. Other insiders were already...disposed of. But thinking back to that day, even if he had to repeat that excruciating choice a thousand times, Itachi was certain he would have always picked the same.
He was loyal to the end, and he will not betray his family.
The soft feel of Hinata's chakra pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. Itachi looked up.
"You should go," he told Sasuke. "She scares easily." And Itachi wasn't sure how she was going to react to him this time.
Something about the subtly darker tinge to Itachi's expression discouraged any wisecracks. Sasuke nodded and made his exit after a simple "Good luck".
AN: You know the Overly Attached Girlfriend meme? Itachi would be the perfect Overly Attached Big Brother.
Or the I've Got 99 Problems one: "I've got 99 problems...but a clan ain't one of them."
Actually, that one fits Sasuke as well. Any other memes you guys can think of?