Disclaimer: The plot is mine, but not the characters.

Author's Note: You do NOT have my permission to copy, translate, use, and/or replicate this work on any platforms, including but not limited to online sites, electronic publications (epub), and print/copy text.

Summary: In their second lifetime, Itachi meets his dear Otouto again. Unlike Itachi, who was reincarnated with all of his memories, Sasuke is the exact opposite. His memories are gone, the love is gone, and his undeniable bond with Itachi is gone. Itachi is crushed, the millions of memories they created together mocking him in his head, but he will stop at nothing to make Sasuke his again. ItaSasu. Sequel to the original My Dear Aniki.

My Dear Aniki: The Sequel

Written by: Hell Jashin aka H.J.

Part 1:

"I want you to stop making me worry about you!" Sasuke yelled. "Don't you get it? I love you. I do. I love you differently and more than I've ever loved anyone, and because I love you, I want you to take care of yourself!"

"Oh," Itachi said dumbly.

Sasuke snapped. "Oh?" he repeated incredulously. "I tell you I love you and want what's best for you, and you say oh? Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Say that again."

Sasuke scowled. "What?"

"Say it again."

"Ugh, you're such a child, Aniki."

"Tell me again, Otouto," Itachi repeated, smiling.

"No," he grunted, staring anywhere but at Itachi's face. A beautiful blush painted his cheeks. "You're crazy. Why would I say something like that ever again?"

"But I want to hear it, baby," Itachi breathed, nuzzling closely. "Tell Aniki. Pretty please?"

"I love you, Aniki," Sasuke murmured.

Sasuke groaned and his hands found their way into Itachi's hair. "A-Aniki, fuck."

"I love you, too, watashi no ai. I love only you."

"Aniki…" Sasuke called, voice drowsy.

"Yes, Otouto?"

"Let's go back to Japan in June, Aniki," mumbled the boy.

A soft, bewitching smile lifted Itachi's lips, and he found himself exhaling a breath he didn't even realize he was holding.

"Mochiron, watashi no ai."

"I realized you've asked me to be your valentine for so many years, but I've never asked you, Otouto. So I'm asking you now. Will you be my valentine forever? Not just this year or next, but for the rest of our lives and the lifetimes to come? I promise to love you each and every day. I promise to do my best to be a person worthy of your love. I want to spend eternity with you, Sasuke. Please say yes."

Sasuke choked back a sob, fingers gripping tightly onto Itachi's. "Why do you always do this to me?" he groaned, digging his face into Itachi's chest to hide his tear-stricken gaze.

"...Is that a no?"

"It's a yes, Aniki. You idiot…. An eternity is a long time, you know."

"Thank goodness."

Sasuke's features softened and he locked eyes with the man. His heart fluttered in his chest, causing blood to rush to his cheeks. "Thank you for loving me, Aniki," he whispered adoringly, words so full of love that even the apples of Itachi's cheeks were tinged a pale shade of pink.

"Mochiron, watashi no ai."

Heavy panting echoed in the room, followed closely by a loud wail as Itachi jolted awake in bed.

"Otouto!" he screamed, sitting up abruptly. His chest heaved so hard that he could see it without having to look down. Sweat drenched his entire being and his brain was foggy at best, but he ignored it, his eyes searching wildly next to him for the boy while his hands moved hysterically over the covers as if the boy was hiding underneath them.

And then, the brain fog dissipated and reality set in, slamming into him like a high-speed train. NO, his brain begged, panicking. Nononononononono. NO.

A pained whimper, so unlike him, escaped his lips. He flung the covers away, searching the adjoined bathroom just to be sure. He even threw open his closet, but he only found clothing that belonged to him. He checked underneath his bed, hoping to see the large treasure chest that his Otouto would stash his snacks in, but all his hand came in contact with was empty space.

"NO!" he shrieked. "Why did you do this to me?!" he screamed, staring up at the heavens above. "Just why?"

Silence was his answer.

And he went nuts.

Itachi found himself trashing anything and everything within sight. The lamp, the pens and notepads on his desk, the painting on the wall, and even the covers could not escape his wrath. The newly fitted curtains were torn clean off their pedestals, the ottoman was kicked to the curb, and the glass vases along the window sill were slammed into the floor, shards of glass cascading everywhere.

When he was done, it looked like a tornado had hit his room. Nothing remained neat and tidy. Nothing remained unbroken.

Hands in his long hair, which upon such action was dragged away from his shoulders, clenched tightly as his body slid along the wall adjacent to his bed, and he found himself sobbing hysterically.

"I miss you so much, Otouto. Where are you? You said you'd find me in this lifetime, too," he whispered in excruciating pain, tucking his tear-stricken face between his knees. The broken objects at his feet mocked him, laughing at his misery.

This was the twenty-eighth year of Itachi's existence and never once did he cross paths with Sasuke. He'd been searching since he was willing and able. When he was a kid, his eyes darted everywhere. He waited years for his Otouto to be born, even going as far as demanding a baby brother from his kaa-san, but when he was five, Mikoto had a hysterectomy and his hopes were stomped on and tossed into the garbage.

He didn't know how much longer he could withstand this kind of punishment.

Itachi sat there, tucked away, until light began streaming through the window, creating silhouettes of every inanimate that laid on the floor. When he heard footsteps approaching his door, he stood abruptly, bypassing the maid who stared at the room without comment. Afterall, this was a common occurrence. Almost every night. She was used to it by now.

The drive to work was hardly anything special. In fact, it was so mundane that Itachi felt the leftover anger resurfacing, evaporating within the car's insides and painting a dark cloud over his day.

"Welcome, Uchiha-sama," the receptionists greeted when he walked through the glass doors.

He grunted, the most welcoming response he'd ever given, and rode the elevator to the twenty-fifth floor, where he bypassed the new assistant that was hired to delegate his daily duties. He ignored the man, too, slamming his office door shut.

Itachi sunk into his office chair, the snippets of last night's dreams playing repeatedly in his head. Those memories, the ones he cherished so much, seemed to be mocking him, goading him about the lack of the boy's presence in his current life. The man glared out the window and only had a silent moment for himself before a knock echoed in the room and Kakashi walked in.

"I heard from a little birdy that someone's in a bad mood today," the silver-haired man said.

Itachi glowered, but did not respond to the comment. "What do you want?"

"Would you mind stepping down to the twenty-fourth floor to confirm the layout of the place before they begin construction?"

"I fucking mind," Itachi muttered. "Tell those idiots to refer to the blueprint that was presented. It's not fucking rocket science."

"Well, sure, but last time you said that and saw the finished product, you trashed the place because it wasn't up to your standards."

He must have been too antsy in his office that morning, because he stood and began walking in said direction. More agreeable than usual.

"Thank you," the man said in a sing-song voice.

When Itachi stepped foot on the twenty-fourth floor, caution tape and tarp was everywhere. He walked through the place, taking note of the layout and number of rooms that were recently renovated. Nothing out of the ordinary stuck out like a sore thumb so far.

He stopped in front of a room with a "Break Room" placard hanging above it. As per his instructions, the men had knocked down the wall to the adjoining room and combined the space into one, so that the place could encompass more furniture as well as an additional vending machine and fridge.

His intention was to roam the new room, but it was taken away from him when someone bumped into him from behind with an 'oof' and, due to the surprise of another person on the abandoned floor, Itachi tittered forward a step or two.

"Oh shoot, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" A boyish voice said from behind.

His eyes hardened readily with a glare as he swiveled around, anger brewing in his chest. Who the fuck had the audacity to not only touch him, but bump into him as if he was invisible? He readied himself to rail on the person, but as soon as he set his eyes on the boy before him, any words he had on the tip of his tongue disappeared.

Immediately, the anger melted into complete and utter shock. His mind turned blank. His entire system shut down, and his eyes had widened to such a degree that his face must have looked comical. Like a bobble head. See? Even his thoughts weren't making any sense.

It was a miracle. It had to be because, in the light of day with the sun shining through the windows behind him to illuminate his figure, Sasuke stood in front of Itachi as beautiful and breathtaking as he remembered.

A wheeze escaped the man's lips.

Itachi's heart was thudding so painfully it was hard to breathe. His entire world froze, and he grew dizzy. Suddenly, a hand was on his arm and warm, obsidian eyes laid worriedly on him.

"Are you okay?"

That kind, concerned voice, the same pitch, the same tone, the same everything. Itachi's breath hitched, making it impossible to utter any words. Sasuke… Otouto… watashi no ai. His brain supplied.

But there was no recognition in Sasuke's eyes. No familiarity. No love. No ecstatic welcome. Nothing.

He found himself being walked over to one of the benches in the room and gently urged to sit down. "You don't look too good. I'll go get you some water," Sasuke said.

Immediately, Itachi's hand shot out and found the boy's wrist, gripping so tightly that he didn't even notice the strength he put into it. All he knew was that his hand was shaking. In fact, his entire body was trembling to a degree that it was visible to anyone who laid eyes on him.

"What's wrong?" Sasuke frowned, his other hand coming to pat the man's hand as if to steady him. "Is there someone I can call for you?"

You.

"I'm… okay," he rasped. "I'm better than okay."

The boy looked unconvinced, lips twisted downward. Finally, when he realized Itachi wasn't going to let go anytime soon, he resigned. "Do you want me to sit with you for a while?" he offered.

"Yes."

So they sat, side-by-side, for the first time in this lifetime, and a bout of silence echoed between them in the empty room.

"My name is Sasuke," the boy eventually said as if filling the void between them. If Itachi wasn't so deprived of his voice, he might have thought it odd that the boy needed to fill the comfortable silence between them when, in their previous lifetime, they sat side-by-side in harmony, enjoying each other's company.

"Is your birthday on July twenty-third?"

The boy's eyes narrowed instantly, suddenly suspicious, and Itachi cursed under his breath. He was too eager. He wasn't thinking straight.

"How did you know?"

"A personnel file crossed my desk recently, and I happened upon it," he fibbed.

"Oh." Sasuke responded, seemingly taken with the lie. "You must have a good memory then."

Itachi berated him silently for being so trusting. This was not okay. His Otouto could easily be taken advantage of if he didn't question people's motives. The boy could not live life like that without someone to protect him… unless there was someone in his life already.

Itachi found a second bout of an anxiety attack hit him, suffocating him in a sea of misery. He held it in, a vicious cycle of calming thoughts bombarding his mind. No, absolutely no way. Otouto wouldn't. He can't. He's so young. He doesn't remember me, but that doesn't mean he'd go and do that with someone else.

His eyes roamed the expanse of skin in front of him, searching for any indication of someone else. There was none.

"Tell me about yourself, Sasuke."

"Hmm… would that help you calm down? You were a little shaky there."

Itachi nodded wordlessly.

"Well, today is my first day with the company. I interviewed for the administrative assistant position, but they told me I was unqualified because I didn't have enough years of experience. So they put me in IT since they noticed I have extensive training in that. It's been kind of a slow day, so I've been wandering around."

Itachi's shoulders twitched in interest, the shock slowly easing out of his body. "Who did you apply to be an administrative assistant for?"

"Um... It was the CEO. You know, the big guy. His name is Uchiha Itachi."

"Ah. I'm somewhat familiar with him."

"Really? I hear he's tough to get along with." Sasuke's brows furrowed cutely, and Itachi had to turn away to hide a smile. God, some things never change. Everything about the boy's features were the same: his fair skin, his beautiful eyes, the ink black hair that sat messily above him, and the way his brows furrowed when he was experiencing confusion, recalling something, or thinking too hard.

"He can be nice, too."

Sasuke shrugged. "Doesn't matter anyway. I was rejected, so I probably won't ever cross paths with him."

"You never know. Tell me more things about you," Itachi responded, attempting to quell the excitement in his voice. He wanted to know it all. Everything.

"Uh, like what?"

"How old are you, Sasuke?"

"23."

Itachi was 28 this year. Five years apart. Same as their previous lifetime.

"Do you live alone?"

"Mhmm." The boy began swinging his feet forward and back as he hummed under his breath.

"Any family?"

"No. I kind of have been by myself for a while now." He shrugged as if unperturbed, but Itachi saw traces of loneliness in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and anger flashed through his eyes. That was not okay. His Otouto should not have to wander this life alone, especially if Itachi was here. Unacceptable.

An unbearable load of guilt sat stiffly on top of Itachi's shoulders. He should have found the boy sooner. He should have done something, anything, to allow their paths to cross sooner.

"What kinds of hobbies do you have?"

The boy shrugged again. "I don't really have much going on. I guess I like to read and write stories. Watch movies in bed. Oh, and I like to cook."

Itachi smiled softly. That sounded a lot like his Otouto. "Sounds like peaceful hobbies."

"Mhmm, I don't really like loud things or crowded places."

"They are quite miserable."

Sasuke huffed a laugh. "Tell me about it."

"Do you like sweets?" The real question the man wanted to ask was 'Do you still like sweets?' but he refrained from adding a second blunder to the conversation.

"Who doesn't?"

"You're quite an honest one, aren't you?"

"Huh?" Sasuke's eyebrow arched. "What do you mean?"

"Do you often have long, honest conversations with strangers you've just met?"

Sasuke's eyes twinkled with mirth. "Actually, I don't usually talk this much. I'm not usually taken with strangers either. But you seemed a little sad to me and you weren't feeling well, and something inside me just told me I needed to help you."

"Very thoughtful of you," Itachi murmured fondly. "Do you also allow strangers to touch you and hold your hand for long periods of time?"

"Oh, I actually forgot you were still doing that. Can you please let go now?" The boy smiled sheepishly and tugged at his hand.

Begrudgingly, Itachi loosened his grip, allowing the boy to pull away. He instantly regretted it, a void filling his chest.

"Anyway, I should get back to my department, or they might actually fire me on my first day," Sasuke said, brushing off the back of his slacks. "Are you okay to walk now?"

Well, given that Itachi immediately stood up as soon as the boy did, he couldn't really make a case for himself at this point. He simply nodded in response, reveling in the small smile shot in his direction.

"Thank you for keeping me company," Itachi uttered.

"Sure," Sasuke said easily as he waved. "Maybe I'll see you around."

"Count on it," Itachi whispered, but the boy was already gone.

Immediately after, Itachi took long strides to his office, making it his mission to search the recent employee files for his Otouto's paperwork. Sure enough, tucked at the very bottom of his bin, laid a plain manila folder with half a dozen resumes inside. They were all candidates for the admin position that he denied the need for a few weeks ago.

Itachi snatched the boy's application from the file and tossed the rest in the trash. He stepped outside his office, where the admin assistant's workspace was, and made eye contact for the first time with the newbie that the company hired for him.

He opened his mouth, speaking to the young man behind the desk for the first time. His exact words were as follows:

"You've been demoted. Report to reception downstairs."

H.J.

The elevator doors dinged and Sasuke found himself standing in front of a large reception area. With awe, he noticed that the entirety of the floor only had two rooms: a reception area, with a large u-shaped desk facing the elevators, and double doors that led to an office. That was it.

His mind had a hard time comprehending just how large the office must be if it took up an entire floor. With a small box of his things in his hands, he walked over to what he assumed would be his workspace and set it on top of the counter.

When he glanced around the place for a second time, he noticed that there wasn't much around. The u-shaped desk marble counter in front of him was completely bare. Even the walls and waiting area were unbelievably empty as if uninhabited. As if people didn't make a habit of hanging around here. Like a ghost town.

"It's kind of dreary," he muttered under his breath.

"Oh? Is it now?" A deep, low voice spoke from behind.

Sasuke gasped and his eyes widened a fraction as he twirled around. As soon as he set his gaze on the familiar looking face, he exhaled a laugh and patted his chest in relief.

"It's you. Oh man, you scared me. I thought it was the big guy."

It was the nicely dressed stranger that he met earlier. This time he didn't seem to be suffering from vertigo. In fact, he looked super upbeat and healthy, a bewitching smile on his lips.

"Dreary, you said?" the man repeated, tone dripping with amusement.

Usually, the boy would have stopped talking then and there, but for some reason he felt like he could be honest with the long-haired ravenette standing before him as if he had known him his entire life.

"Maybe just a bit," Sasuke replied, biting his bottom lip. He waited nervously for the man to say something harsh or mean, but it never came.

Instead, the man's lower lip twitched. "And pray tell, how would you spruce up the place?"

Sasuke snorted instantly, but covered his mouth when he realized he let it slip. It was a bodily response. But really, come on, the incredibly gorgeous, seemingly no-nonsense man in a pristine suit before him used the term "spruce up." That seemed so out of character and definitely warranted some laughter. So it wasn't Sasuke's fault.

"I would add a pop of color here and there, possibly some flowers on the counter and magazines and snacks in the waiting area."

"You would, huh?" The man murmured, staring at Sasuke.

The boy shrugged. "Anyway, what are you doing here? I thought this floor was only for the big guy?"

The man smiled, nodding in acquiescence. "It is."

"Oh… Oh." The words echoed in the boy's head before a lightbulb went off. Sasuke's jaw dropped as he did a double take, falling a step backward as if an invisible force shoved him. His eyes flared open and he gasped loudly, staring up and down at the man in black.

"No way," he uttered in surprise, pointing at the man. "You?"

"Yes. Me."

"Uchiha Itachi?" he asked, flabbergasted, as if praying he was wrong.

"Yes."

"No, excuse me," the boy sputtered, clamming up. "I meant Uchiha-sama."

Itachi waved him off, completely relaxed and casual. "Itachi is fine," he spoke.

Sasuke gawked. The man was nothing like the rumors said he'd be. He was expecting something to be thrown at his head, or at the very least a death glare.

"Is that why I suddenly got transferred here?"

"Yes."

"I mean, I just met you an hour ago."

"So?" The man folded his arms over his wide chest, arching a brow as if challenging the boy to reject the position he was offered. But he didn't.

"Wow," Sasuke muttered.

"Yes."

"Okay… so why didn't you say anything when I was talking about you without knowing who you were?"

"Hmm, were those things you said meant to be mean?"

Sasuke frowned. "Of course not."

"Then, I don't care."

"So you're not going to yell at me?"

An odd look was shot in the boy's direction. "Do you want me to yell at you?"

Sasuke shook his head vehemently.

Itachi left it alone, eyeing the box on the counter and began walking toward his office. "Make yourself at home, Sasuke," he said, leaving the boy be.

"Wait, Uchiha-sama!" Sasuke called, running after him, stopping abruptly when the man paused.

"It's Itachi," he said. "Call me Itachi."

That made Sasuke nervous. He wrung his hands together before him and he didn't know how to respond. What if other people heard him call the boss that? Wouldn't he get admonished for such a disrespectful way of addressing him?

"Um, can I not call you that?" he asked hesitantly.

The man turned around, bestowing another odd look on the boy, causing him to shrink back. This time, he looked slightly annoyed.

"Absolutely not," Itachi replied in a clipped tone. "My name is Itachi. Why would you call me anything, but that?"

Sasuke was speechless. He was putting him in a tight spot.

"How about Itachi-sama?"

"No." Itachi's face was completely blank and his tone was incredibly sharp, so much so that he wasn't sure if the man was humoring him or angry.

Sasuke bit his lip and looked away from that penetrating stare, missing the heated look that flashed across Itachi's eyes. At that moment, the boy decided that he'd try his best not to call the man at all; that way, he wouldn't have to use his name.

"Was there something you needed, Sasuke?" the man asked after Sasuke had stood there without uttering another word.

"Ah, yes, there was," the boy said, snapping out of his thoughts.

Itachi arched his brow and folded his arms, staring at Sasuke as if he'd been impolite just now. "Yes, there was…?"

Sasuke flushed underneath the steady, expecting tone. How was he supposed to avoid calling the man's name if Itachi called him out on it?

"Yes, there was… Itachi," he forced out, the name sitting oddly on his palate.

"Tell me, Sasuke," Itachi said.

Sasuke didn't know why, but the way Itachi weaved his name into most of his responses caused funny things to happen in his belly. It was as if the man actually liked the sound of his name. Additionally, the man's tone was a breath of fresh air. The words were filled with confidence, clear as day, as if the man knew exactly what he wanted and could easily communicate his thoughts.

"What do you need me to do first?" he asked.

In a flash, a shiny, black card was in his face, tucked between Itachi's index and middle fingers. Sasuke's gaze went from the card in front of him to the smirk on his face. "Weren't you going to redecorate, Sasuke? Here. Do so to your heart's content."

The boy eyed him suspiciously. "Really?"

"Absolutely."

"Are you going to yell at me after if you don't like the decorations?"

The man's brows furrowed slightly, a foreign, mysterious emotion brewing in his gaze. "Never," he uttered, and for some reason, Sasuke knew that he was being sincere.

"What is my budget?" he asked as an afterthought.

Itachi shrugged, as if money was the least of his worries. "Spend to your heart's content," he said, a trickle of amusement in his voice. "Fill this dreary space with whatever you'd like. Go crazy. Buy an inflatable tube man for all I care."

Sasuke found himself laughing, his face lighting up like a Christmas tree. His laughter echoed through the spacious floor, the sound of music to a certain spectator's ears. "I have better taste than that!"

Sasuke found himself on the receiving end of a small smile. "I'm looking forward to it, Sasuke."

The boy nodded enthusiastically.

"I'll have a car meet you out front. Just look for a tall man with long blonde hair."

"Okay!" the boy chimed, sending a wave back. "I'll be back soon."

"Sasuke, one other thing," Itachi said before he let the boy go. "You get three hours. I want you to be back by 1PM. Don't be late."

Sasuke nodded swiftly, and the elevator doors chimed and closed, drowning out Itachi's mutterings.

"If you don't return in three hours, I'm going to tear down the city to find you."

Downstairs, a black BMW with tinted windows pulled up in front of the three-tiered water fountain. A man in a black suit stepped out and glanced around, grinning at him from ear-to-ear when he spotted him. His hair was so brightly bleached that it was impossible not to spot him.

"Sasuke-kun? Hey! I'm Deidara. I'll be your driver."

The boy nodded, thanking the man who held the door open and shut it after him.

"So where to first?" the man chirped. He seemed so full of positive energy. Sasuke could easily see him talking for ages without even having to stop for a breath.

"Do you know of any flower boutiques in the area?" he asked as he slung on his seatbelt.

Sasuke met Deidara's stare on the rear-view mirror, noticing that the blonde's face was scrunched up in confusion.

"Did Uchiha-sama ask you to order flowers for a special occasion? Like someone's birthday or something?"

"Um, no."

"Oh, thank goodness!" the blonde exclaimed, laughing carefreely. "That would have been wuh-eird! I mean, like, man, if pigs could fly."

Sasuke's face scrunched up, but he chose not to comment back.

"Anyway, yes, there are quite a number of boutiques along Fifth Avenue downtown. Any particular kind of flower you're looking for?"

"Hmm, actually, yes. I was thinking of red and black-colored flowers. Do any of those stores sell black ones?"

"Oo, so specific. I like that. I know just the one you want. I'll give you my number when I drop you off, and you can give me a call or send me a message when you're about ready."

"Thank you."

The flower boutique that Deidara left Sasuke at was exactly what he wanted. As soon as he stepped inside, his eyes zeroed in on the bouquets of black dahlias behind the counter. They sat far away from the rest of the selection, no doubt a rarity of its kind.

He made a beeline for them, catching the eye of the worker behind the register. "Anything I can help you with, sir?" the man asked.

"Those, please," Sasuke said instantly, pointing at the dahlias. Contrary to their name, the black dahlias were closer to crimson or dark purple than black, but they screamed of regal elegance, something that Sasuke found particularly suiting when comparing them to Itachi. They would look beautiful on Itachi's desk in his office. Sasuke had not seen it yet, but he had an inkling the man's office was just as empty as the rest of the floor. "I'd like all of them."

"Ah, interesting choice. You're the second customer I have that goes for these. They're quite hard to come by these days."

Sasuke hummed in response, glancing around the store. "Can you put together a vase of decorative flowers for me? I was thinking maybe a combination of white daisies, bright red carnations, and some burgundy chrysanthemums."

The man behind the counter whistled. "Looks like I better get started. Got my work cut out for me."

"Thank you. Oh, and can you arrange the black dahlias in a vase, too?"

"Yes, sir. Do you want to wait or would you like them delivered?"

"Do you do same-day deliveries?"

"For such pricy goods, absolutely. Let me take down your information, and we'll have them sent out to you in the next few hours."

By the time Sasuke roamed around downtown with Deidara, he was nearing the three-hour mark he was given. The blonde was driving down a more local area of the neighborhood, pointing out different shops and eateries, and Sasuke had zoned out for most of it until he heard Itachi's name.

"Oh, and there's the coffee shop that Uchiha-sama goes to often. It's not like a Starbucks chain or anything, but it serves the best coffee within a one-hundred mile radius. It's quite spectacular. Uchiha-sama would often leave work midday just to go there."

"Wait!" Sasuke shrieked, causing both of them to jolt when Deidara hit the break.

"Jesus! What was that about?" the man asked, staring wide-eyed at Sasuke.

"Do you mind pulling over for a moment? I'll be right back."

The boy didn't wait for a response and unlocked the door, stepping out in the middle of the street to run into the coffee shop on the corner. There was no line when he stepped in, thank goodness, and he walked up to the register where an older lady stood.

"What can I get for you?" she asked.

"A large coffee please. Whichever one you think is the best roast you have."

"Sure thing. Any room for cream and sugar?"

Sasuke tilted his head, thinking for a moment. Itachi didn't seem like a man who would take his coffee with anything, so he shook his head. "That's okay."

He pulled out some cash and handed it to the lady, dropping his change in the tip jar. By the time he was done paying, a hot cup of coffee was placed on the counter, tightly sealed with a lid and ready for travel. He grabbed it quickly, but carefully, eyes darting to the clock on the wall.

1:03PM, it read, and the boy silently cursed under his breath. He was late.

It would take ten minutes to drive back and an additional few to ride the elevator up.

H.J.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Taptaptaptaptaptap. TAP. PLOP.

The pen in Itachi's hand flew across the room, hitting the sofa by the window, and fell onto it. His palms slammed against his desk as he stood, teeth gritting in anger. The digital clock on his desk read, in neon black numbers, 1:21PM.

One-fucking-twenty-one.

His Otouto was late.

This was unacceptable. He knew he was very clear about the three-hour window that he was allotted. Any more, and Itachi grew frantic. He had just been reunited with his Otouto. There was no way he'd let the boy disappear on the same day. No fucking way.

Itachi made a beeline for the door, jerking it open only to pause immediately when he bumped into the boy. Sasuke's palm was outstretched as if he was ready to knock.

Jesus fucking lord. About fucking time.

He was relieved, yet the irritation he felt from having to sit at his desk and wait twenty-one minutes for the boy to show up had pent him up in disastrous ways.

"I told you by 1PM, Sasuke! Not after." Itachi growled, snapping at the boy.

Instantly, he knew he had made an error in judgment because his Otouto shrank back from his raised voice. "I'm sorry," Sasuke whispered. "Please don't be mad."

Itachi exhaled harshly and turned back around to walk into his office. The boy followed, door shutting behind them. The man threw himself on the sofa, ironically next to the pen he tossed, which sat innocently in the crevice by the armrest.

"Deidara told me last minute about the coffee shop that you always go to, so I went to get it for you," his Otouto said, and that was when he noticed the cup in Sasuke's hands. The boy sat it down on the coffee table, but otherwise did not move.

Itachi's harsh gaze softened, and some tension eased away from his stiffened shoulders. He chose not to respond, afraid that more frustration would penetrate his words.

The silence must have been hard on Sasuke because he began to rant. "I forgot to ask Deidara before I got out of the car, so I didn't know what your usual was. I didn't think you'd like a latte or anything, so I got you black coffee. They asked if I wanted to add cream and sugar, but you didn't seem like someone who drank anything other than black coffee, so I said no."

Fucking hell, could his Otouto be any cuter AND thoughtful?

Itachi huffed a breath, anger dissipating from his aura. He picked up the coffee and took a sip. Sure enough, it was the blonde roast he ordered nearly every day from the shop. How could he stay mad at him when he was late because he was thinking of Itachi?

"Are you going to fire me now?"

Itachi's eyes flickered over to Sasuke. "Absolutely not," he stated. "Do you want me to fire you so badly? Tough luck. Hand me your phone."

Sasuke's eyebrows drew together in confusion, but he produced his phone from his pocket. It was instantly snatched from his hand, and Itachi began hammering on the screen.

"In the future, you will tell me exactly where you are if you are going to be late. Actually, even if you're not late, you will tell me exactly where you are. Do you understand?" the man said, returning the phone and staring at Sasuke pointedly.

He took a second to glance at his phone and, sure enough, Itachi's name was saved under his contacts and an outgoing call had gone out to the man's phone. He nodded his head. "Okay."

"I have your number as well now. Be sure to check your phone often in the event I call or message you."

"Yes."

Itachi sighed. "Yes, what?" he admonished.

Sasuke nearly rolled his eyes. He knew it. The man was doing it deliberately. "Yes, Itachi," he replied, emphasizing the last word.

"Brat," the man muttered. "Have you had lunch yet?"

Sasuke looked up. "What?"

"Lunch. Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet."

Itachi made a noise of disapproval, standing and grabbing his coat off the back of his chair. "Let's go," he commanded.