Thanks for the feedback everyone, I am taking into consideration the characters you want to see in upcoming chapters of Reverie. This one is dedicated to anonymous reviewer and fredisagirl.

Disclaimer: I suppose since these are required, I must say, "I do not own anything of this fic but the idea!"

xlv — masquerade II

"The family thinks you've been acting strange," Kagome remarked as she plucked an onigiri from the plate on her lap.

That would be an understatement, Nee-san. Itachi's unfaltering gaze was fixed on the unknowing depths of the forest, his hands lax on his knees.

"…Being an ANBU must be a tough job."

"It… can be somewhat demanding at times," he confessed. Itachi's eyes subsequently lowered to the triangular rice ball being held up to his lips. With a lithe hand he accepted the onigiri, in lieu of allowing his sister to feed him as she often had while he was a boy. The young man bit into the morsel, its plain taste and simple consistency gracing his mouth as he chewed and then swallowed. His teeth didn't make it to the center where a surprise core ingredient lay in wait, however, for Itachi turned to face Kagome. "Will you ask of me as well?"

Kagome's eyes widened a fraction, before she realized what he was saying and shook her head with a smile. "Iie. I won't." She wouldn't attempt to pry into his life as the others had, that's what she was claiming. Itachi regarded her for a long while, assessing the truth of her words in her expression and body language. When he concluded she had no underlying motive for having approached him with his favored (or was; nowadays he hardly had a taste for anything…) dish, Itachi nodded.

"Nee-san, arigatou."

His sister grinned at him, gratified by his acceptance, and she leaned back with one arm situated behind her on the rock. Her chin tilted upward and she examined the blue skies supervising them from above, the sun being obstructed by the means of wayward clouds. Itachi continued nibbling thoughtfully on his onigiri, his eyes set on the dirt terrain before him.

"Ne, Otouto-kun, do you know who you belong to?"

Itachi paused, a chunk of rice laced with seaweed and tuna set between his teeth.

Belong to, he pondered on the meaning of the words. If he belonged to anyone would it not be his clan, the Uchiha… or perhaps ANBU and the village? He resisted the urge to grimace darkly, the words of a certain Uchiha Madara returning to haunt him.

"You belong to the world, Otouto-kun," Kagome answered simply, smiling at the sun which was peaking through a gap present in a colony of clouds. "…and in turn, the world belongs to you."

Silence that was companionable and yet heavy fell upon them.

Kagome stood up with her plate of onigiri in her hands, placing it on the spot next to Itachi where she had prior sat. Then she was in front of him, her palm on the top of his head.

"Don't ever forget," she told him lowly. "You belong to no one else."

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.

—Jimi Hendrix

Author's Note: I always believed Itachi was conflicted over whether his allegiance should lie with his village or his people. (Among other things, but you know.) Anyway, "Masquerade" has two more segments to be posted, but I'm going to warn you now that if you want to maintain that endearing image of brother Itachi and sister Kagome in your head, you may not want to read them.

7 Cardinal Sins Results: 1) Minato (as requested by AnimeFreakAmanda), 2) Suigetsu (as requested by Thyme Spirit), 3) Kakashi (as requested by darksilvercloud & Speedykitten1643), 4) Itachi (as requested by an anonymous reader), 5) Yahiko (as requested by Sin of the Fallen), 6) Kiba (as requested by Kag Fan), 7) Sai (as requested by Akikazu); it was all done in a first come first serve order. Thanks for your input guys, I'll be working on these.