YON:

Sasuke: Age 3

"'niki!"

Itachi's hair was pulled. He looked away from the television at the toddler in his arms with a raised brow. "What did you do that for?"

The older boy received a buck-toothed grin the size of Jupiter, and he momentarily stopped bouncing Sasuke in his lap.

"Pretty."

"Oh? You think my hair is pretty?"

Sasuke nodded enthusiastically, and Itachi found the boy steadying himself on his feet, couch cushions sinking underneath his weight. Two tiny, chubby hands covered Itachi's cheeks, pressing clumsily against his supple, pale skin.

"Bootful." The three-year-old giggled like he knew the world's most sought after secret.

Itachi's eyebrow remained raised. "You mean beautiful?"

Another excited nod. "Bootful! Bootful! Aniki is so bootful!"

Sasuke's smile widened as he caught the first glimpse of a rare smile from Itachi, and his eyes drifted shut briefly underneath the warm palm that found its way into his soft spikes.

"That's sweet of you to say, Otouto."

"You're beautiful, Aniki," Sasuke murmured as if he was whispering a secret in a room full of people. His back arched off the bed, beads of sweat dripping down his body, as he dug his fingers into Itachi's silk-like tresses and cradled the man's face against his neck.

A grunt vibrated along his chest, so close to his right ear that he shuddered and nearly came again. "I love you," the teenager whispered, groaning when he felt a hot tongue trail up his neck and finish off with a wet kiss just below his ear. "I love you so much."

Even to Sasuke, himself, his words sounded wistful, bearing the resemblance of his heart being torn out of his chest at a torturously slow pace. Tears sprung from the boy's eyes, but whether they were a result of sorrow or pleasure, he did not know.

The movements against him grew frantic, desperately so, as if his Aniki understood what he was saying and was responding in kind. But the reality of it all was discouraging, because there was no way the sleepwalking man, who crept into his bed naked in the middle of the night, had any inkling about his actions.

And Sasuke was a despicable person for taking advantage of that and doing such horrible things to an unconscious person.

He'd been so hurt when Itachi had no memory of their first night together. He felt rejected like a lovesick boy who had confessed to his crush of seventeen years and was tossed aside like he meant nothing. Their first time together, and Itachi had no recollection. At that time, Sasuke's behavior was only a reflection of a sliver of the pain he had felt inside. The scale to which he was crushed was indescribable.

So, in reality, was this situation a blessing or a curse?

Squeezing his eyes shut, he allowed the remainder of his tears to dribble down his red cheeks. "You have no idea how much I love you," he whispered. His words were so quiet that they were fleeting and nearly nonexistent like a ghost walking through walls.

At this point in time, Sasuke's hole felt incredibly supple, soft to a degree that he could feel his Aniki sink in with little to no resistance. It clenched around the thick length when it was inside, greedy as ever, forcing the man to jerk his hips in response and grind into the deepest depths of his core.

The grip on the back of Sasuke's knees grew tighter, hiking them up and wider, and Itachi dragged his cock out only to use gravity to pummel back inside the boy. Sasuke muffled his scream the best he could, but it still echoed in the room.

"Take it. Take it. Take it," came the mutterings of his Aniki as he slammed mercilessly into his prostate and continued to ruin his hole.

"A-A-Aniki… Aniki… A-Aniki!" the seventeen-year-old sobbed, hands pressing desperately against Itachi's lower belly, as if trying to stave off the power of each of his thrusts.

However, that was only an illusion, a sense of comfort for him, because the placement of his hands did nothing for him and only encouraged the man to take and take until Sasuke was such a sloppy, wet mess that he didn't know how to respond or what to do with himself.

Despite his blurring vision, Sasuke could feel the ruthlessness in each of his thrusts. Desperate, they were. Undomesticated. Untamed. With desire so potent it could burn down an entire building. Itachi's thrusts felt more determined than the previous night's, almost as if he was seeking comfort from Sasuke's body.

Yet, somehow, his Aniki also managed to convey an aching sweetness in his actions. The way he held him, the trail of wet kisses he left along every inch of Sasuke's body, and even the way he hovered over him possessively like he was shielding him from the world.

Sasuke lasted longer this time, and he only drifted off from exertion for a few minutes, but when he had regained consciousness, he could feel the chill of the room on his skin coupled with the empty bed. He winced hard when he rolled onto his side and pushed himself off of his bed.

Gingerly, he walked toward his door, noting that it was left ajar and any clothing Itachi had left on the floor was gone.

Neat freak, Sasuke couldn't help but think with a twitch of his lips. Even in his sleep, he had to keep his room tidy. The amusement left his face when he realized that his Aniki must have wandered back to his room. With a glance out into the hallway, he confirmed that Itachi's bedroom door was closed and there was no trace of the man anywhere.

His heart fell to the pit of his stomach again, allowing it to be submerged in acid.

You left again.

'Of course he left,' another voice in his head said. 'What? You want him to wake up naked in your bed covered in your fluids? Get real.'

Sasuke ignored it, swallowing the growing pain in his chest, and stepped into the bathroom to clean up. He could feel a thick trickle of warm cum drip down his inner thighs, and it was the only comfort he found as he washed away the evidence of his transgressions.

His body ached just as much as the first time, if not more, and the number of hickies he received had multiplied, darker than the previous ones, which faded in blue, green, and yellow hues. These new ones were purple, ached, and stung, proving to Sasuke that they were very real.

It's not a dream.

Sasuke pressed two fingers into his hole and dug into it gently. When he pulled them out, he stared at the thick fluid coating them and a twinge echoed in his heart."Not a dream," he reassured himself, words drowned out by the showerhead.

It was four in the morning when he laid down in his sheetless bed. He had thrown everything in the washer to soak before getting into bed. He would turn it on once he woke up, so the machine didn't wake up Itachi.

Curling into his blanket, Sasuke closed his tired eyes and slept like the dead.

He didn't know what time it was when he woke up. All he knew was that he felt groggy, exhausted, and heavy-hearted. He woke up sad. HA. Imagine that.

The house was incredibly still, silent, and Sasuke's first thought was where his Aniki was.

When he gathered enough brain cells and found his phone, he realized it was Sunday and just shy of noon. Sasuke groaned and rubbed at his face before he carded his fingers through his messy hair, forcing himself to wake up and get up.

If it was Sunday, then his Aniki would be at the school library studying. The mere thought of not having to be a puddled mess, stuttering and yearning and turning red, in front of his Aniki was a small comfort, but Sasuke still tugged on another light turtleneck and covered his lower half in a pair of comfy, somewhat form-fitting sweats.

After he brushed his teeth, he descended the stairs cautiously, noting the silence that rang in the house like a gong in a monastery. When he was sure Itachi wouldn't spring out of nowhere and interrogate him or overwhelm him with his stares, his shoulders sagged, and instant guilt hit his core for feeling relieved his Aniki wasn't home.

It was so stupid to feel such a way, but he had cried in front of Itachi last night and screamed at him like a little kid when his Aniki wouldn't let him go to his room. Then, he had proceeded to welcome the sleeping man into his arms and into his body in the dead of the night.

So naturally, he was trying to avoid seeing his Aniki first thing. He was embarrassed for his behavior and guilty of his sins.

Sasuke hadn't been very hungry that afternoon, but a bowl of savory porridge was sitting on the dining room table with a little note next to it.

My dear Otouto,

Remember to eat.

Love,

Aniki

Tears prickled at the corner of his eyes when he'd read the note, and he gingerly tucked it into his pocket without so much as a thought and carried the bowl and spoon with him to the couch in the living room. There, he ate it slowly in front of the television, adjusting his position often on the lush sofa to accommodate his stiff, achy limbs.

It was probably twenty minutes after he had finished eating that he heard the sound of a car outside and keys jingling out front.

He hadn't bothered to get up this time, the soreness factoring greatly into that. When the main door shut and keys were tossed into the bowl next to the foyer, he tried to remain as relaxed and normal as he could.

"Otouto, Aniki is home," Itachi called out to the house, toeing off his shoes.

Embarrassingly, the nerves dissipated and Sasuke could feel his spirits lift from simply hearing his Aniki's voice, and he tried to squash the lovesick look on his face when Itachi's flickering eyes located him and a soft smile overtook the man's face.

"Welcome home, Aniki," he greeted, softer than he anticipated. He remained curled up on the couch, staring up at the man.

The last time he spoke to the man, he was screaming in his face when Itachi only wanted to comfort and protect him. Sasuke had felt bad about it after, but didn't know how to address it in his state of distress. And now, judging by his tone of voice and the gentle look on Itachi's face, they seemed to have reached a silent impasse, a sign to allow bygones be bygones.

"You're back early," he murmured, watching as the smile continued to stretch and bloom on Itachi's face.

His Aniki bent down and pecked Sasuke's forehead. It was natural and swift, something he'd done a million times before, and Sasuke did not thwart his touch this time, remaining utterly still underneath the man's ministrations.

"I got you a little gift," Itachi said. He sat himself down next to the boy and presented him with an elegant white pastry box with yellow handles. "There's a little bakery that just opened on campus, and it's been very popular," he continued, extending the cutely designed transparent box out to Sasuke. "I bought you a few of their cakes and pastries. I would have been home earlier to spend time with you, Otouto, but there was a long line."

Sasuke simply stared, stunned.

Then, elation and giddiness blossomed in his chest, spreading warmth throughout his veins.

His Aniki had thought about him enough to go out of his way to buy something for him. Okay, not that that was new or anything, but since they had been intimate, this moment felt more surreal… and YUP, he was completely disillusioned right now and knew it, too.

There was no special meaning behind the gift. Not to Itachi. He was simply doting on Sasuke like the big brother he was. In fact, the pastries must have been an apology gift for his incessant demanding ways last night, which caused Sasuke a lot of tears, so it probably was something to cheer him up. His Aniki had always gone out of his way to repair their relationship, and this was no different.

But Sasuke didn't care, because, while he stared into his Aniki's kind, affectionate eyes, it was happiness that he felt in that very moment. Pure, innocent happiness.

Sasuke only noticed that he had yet to reach out to accept the little gift when Itachi arched an eyebrow at him and stared at him weirdly. "Otouto-chan," he said in an almost sing-song manner, completely unlike him. "Take it."

Sasuke choked on his own spit inconspicuously, thank fuck, and it left his mouth drier than the Mohave Desert. "What… what did you just say?"

God, now he was squirming underneath Itachi's attention, being increasingly weird with each passing second. A fire burned in his groin, and memories flashed in his mind.

"I said take it, Otouto," Itachi repeated. He reached out to unfold one of Sasuke's fidgety hands from the other in his lap, turned it over so his palm was facing up, and set the delicate treat box on top. His Aniki, bless his beautiful self, then smiled at him.

"T-thanks, Aniki," Sasuke said, smacking himself mentally to stop the onslaught of dirty images from bombarding his brain. He shook his head briefly and his hands clasped tightly onto the box.

He was not going to be one of those pavlovian dogs who were conditioned to respond to a single phrase. Hell no. That'd make his life a living hell.

The boy cleared his throat, trashing his stupid thoughts. "I, um, wasn't expecting you home till later in the evening."

"Mm, but I missed you dearly, Otouto, so I came home early."

"Uh huh," Sasuke muttered skeptically, but he let it go because his Aniki was sporting a rather goofy smile. "How is your thesis coming along?"

"We can't rush genius, Otouto," Itachi chided, causing the teenager to snort.

"You seem like you're in a really good mood today," he commented.

"How can I not be when my tamashī is paying attention to me?"

"Pfft. You're kind of laying it on thick, Aniki," Sasuke snickered, only succeeding in garnering a beautiful, soul-searching chuckle from Itachi. A small smile settled on his countenance after and he gingerly stood, walking over to the kitchen with the pastry box in his hands.

He heard footsteps pad behind him closely, and he nearly rolled his eyes. Itachi was still obsessing over Sasuke's emotions, but the boy kept his mouth shut because he knew the man was coming from a good place.

"You want one of the cake slices, Aniki?" he asked, opening a cabinet to pull out two plates before Itachi even responded.

His Aniki's voice echoed from behind him, where the man pressed another kiss on his cheek before he hitched himself up onto the kitchen counter. "You know me so well, Otouto."

Sasuke fought a blush while he opened another drawer to grab two forks. "You're so touchy feely," he muttered, feigning irritation with a small huff.

"I must get my daily dose in. Like vitamins, Otouto."

He set down the utensils next to his Aniki on the counter and began opening the box. "Do I look like a vitamin to you?"

"You're better than a vitamin, Otouto. You're all natural."

Sasuke's movements paused and slowly, his widened eyes moving to analyze Itachi's face in the wake of his words. He blinked once, twice, and then… he doubled over, one palm slapping onto the marble counter to prevent himself from rolling onto the ground. Laughter rang throughout the house and then some. In no time, he developed stomach pains from laughing so hard and his face had grown as red as a tomato.

Itachi regarded him with a grin, a satisfied glint in his eyes.

"What the hell?" he said comically, voice hoarse from his guffaws, brushing a few droplets of tears away while looking at Itachi incredulously as if what he said was the dumbest thing ever.

As his expression mellowed out, a sense of nostalgia hit.

This is the way things should be, he thought.

"Are you practicing pickup lines on me again?" he accused with a raised eyebrow.

"Practicing? Again?" Itachi pressed a dramatic palm to his heart. "I'm not practicing, Otouto. I'm using them. Practicing would imply that I plan on reusing them to pursue others."

Easy for him to say.

Sasuke turned back to the cakes, unable to hold Itachi's mischievous stare any longer. His Aniki didn't understand the weight of his own words.

"Why wouldn't you?" he muttered, trying not to allow those thoughts to besiege him and ignite his core with jealousy.

He would settle on the green tea slice for his Aniki since Itachi was a huge fan of matcha. As for him, he'd go with the one with the Oreo on top. Yes, that would do.

"Why would I when I have you?"

Sasuke nearly dropped the green tea cake midair, but managed to save it at the last millisecond and set it gingerly on the small white plate.

His heartstrings tugged and burned. He wanted those words to mean what he wanted them to mean, not what he knew Itachi had meant. No way would his Aniki desire him in such a filthy way.

The boy cleared his throat and closed the box up, slid it into the fridge, and pushed Itachi's plate toward him before he leaned against the curvature of the marble counter with his own. He didn't dare dignify his Aniki's words with a response, and even if he did, he was at a loss for words.

The way Itachi just said things, so natural like the air they breathed, was commendable. Sasuke could never just say words like that without croaking or flushing or looking away… but then again, Itachi was Itachi, and Sasuke was, well, Sasuke.

They chipped away at their dessert slowly, bathing in the rays that filtered in the large bay window.

"I'm sorry about the way I acted yesterday, Aniki," Sasuke eventually said in a quiet voice, feeling incredibly small.

The fork that was making its way up to Itachi's mouth froze midair before it was set back down. Sasuke cursed himself for his bad time and for ruining his Aniki's sweet tooth moment, but he had such a hard time tasting his own cake when he felt so guilty about his actions. He had screamed in his Aniki's face, acted like a complete brat, and trampled all over Itachi's feelings. In a word, he was ashamed of his actions.

His Aniki was quiet for a moment, and then he was hopping off the counter and Sasuke found himself face-to-face with Itachi.

"Don't be sorry, watashi no kokoro. When I think back on it, I must have scared you yesterday, so I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have forced you to do something you didn't like. Please forgive Aniki."

"You didn't force me to do anything I didn't want!" Sasuke denied immediately, floored by the complete skepticism and guilt he saw on Itachi's face. He had done that. He was the one who put that self-questioning look on his beloved Aniki's face.

Sasuke found himself gripping onto the hem of Itachi's shirt, desperate to get his Aniki to see that it wasn't true. Sasuke had just been upset at himself. He didn't want to be found out. It wasn't Itachi's fault! It had never been his Aniki's fault.

"A-Aniki, I'm telling the truth!" he insisted, fisting the material in his hands. "It's not you. I really like sleeping with you in your bed. It's one of my favorite things in the world. I just- It was just-" Sasuke found himself tongue-tied, frustrated that he couldn't say what he really wanted to.

He found gentle hands covering his own, tugging on them lightly so he'd release the material between his fingers. Sasuke dropped it instantly, an apology hanging off of his lips. However, instead of brushing his hands off afterward, Itachi pulled them around his own waist and wrapped his strong arms around Sasuke's nape and shoulders.

"Shh… it's okay, Otouto. Do not worry over such things."

Sasuke's arms instantly tightened around his Aniki's body, and he exhaled a shaky breath. He dug his face into Itachi's chest and hid. "I- I don't hate it, Aniki. I really don't. I actually really love it," he whispered. "So please don't say that."

"I understand, Otouto. You are always welcomed into Aniki's bed no matter what, so do not fret."

"Okay," Sasuke sniffled. "A-are you sure?"

"Of course, Otouto. I wouldn't say it otherwise."

"I love you, Aniki. I'm sorry for being a brat," he whispered.

He could practically hear the light amusement in his Aniki's words as he responded. "I love you more, watashi no kokoro."

H.J.

After dinner, Sasuke found himself lying on his stomach flipping through a novel he found on Itachi's shelf. When they had finished eating, his Aniki had insisted on doing the dishes and shooed Sasuke away. He had found himself bored out of his mind and found the book sticking out of Itachi's bag, so he figured why not?

The novel had a rather enticing cover, too. A hooded male figure, faceless and hidden in the shadows, with a pair of black angel wings stood ominously on it. It was also holographic so, when Sasuke tilted the book, a second image of another figure with a pair of white wings popped up. Fallen, it was titled.

The teenager was about six pages in when he heard Itachi's footsteps coming up the stairs.

"Otouto, don't lie down after eating. It's not good for your tummy," he heard his Aniki chastise as he stepped into his room. "Did you finish your homework?"

"Yeah, Aniki," Sasuke said distractedly as he flipped the page.

"Otouto? Did you hear me?" Itachi said, stopping at the side of his bed. "You need to sit up or you'll get a stomach-"

Whatever the man was going to say flat-out stopped as if he had been cut off or he'd lost his voice. Itachi's brows furrowed, and next thing Sasuke knew, the book was yanked away from him.

"Hey!" Finally, the boy's eyes settled on Itachi. His indignance melted into a whine as he sat up. "Aniki, I was reading that."

"Where did you get this?" his Aniki questioned with a sour look on his face. He stared at the book in his grip with utter distaste, confusing Sasuke.

"I found it in your bag."

"Found it where? I don't own such a filthy piece of garb-" Itachi stopped himself, and then, his eyes were narrowing in revelation and an angry look settled on his features. "Kyuubi." He hissed that single word like he had cut it up into indistinguishable pieces a million times over in his head.

"Uhh… Aniki? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Otouto."

"Can I have that book back then? It was really interesting."

"Oh, for the love of- no, Otouto. You shouldn't be reading these kinds of books."

Sasuke's brows furrowed in confusion at Itachi's odd behavior. "Which kinds of books? Supernatural? Fantasy?"

His Aniki opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it and snapped it shut. He left the room hastily without another word, the book imprisoned in his grip, making Sasuke arch an inquisitive brow.

Less than thirty seconds later, his Aniki returned, book gone and replaced with a weird looking tube.

Itachi cleared his throat, making Sasuke sit a little straighter. When a guilty look hung from his Aniki's facade, the boy's eyes widened in realization and he nearly pushed himself further back against his headboard.

"I'm healed," Sasuke found himself claiming.

"One application doesn't completely heal you, Otouto. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't have to."

Sasuke swallowed hard and shook his head. "I already applied it today, and it doesn't hurt or anything."

Clearly, judging by the look on Aniki's face, he wasn't buying it.

"Otouto," came his Aniki's light scolding, which was coupled with a small frown. "I know it's unpleasant, but it's necessary."

"Then, I can do it myself," Sasuke stated, indignant.

"You won't be able to get it deep enough," Itachi explained.

"How would you know?" the boy snapped immediately. He recoiled and flinched at his own tone and dropped his gaze into his lap. "Sorry, Aniki," he said quietly.

"It's okay, Sasuke. I know this is hard, but I'll be quick. Just like last time, okay?"

Sasuke began to sweat. He understood that there was no way out of this, so he began to panic over the second bit of detail: his swollen sphincter.

His Aniki had fucked him last night, too. If Sasuke was lucky, the swelling would be identical to the day before. If he wasn't, it'd be much worse and cause Itachi to be more suspicious of the circumstances.

Sasuke had been too out of it that morning to even give his hole a glance, but from what he felt during his shower, it was puffy as it was tender. However, he did feel the soreness was alleviated throughout the day, so maybe he'd be able to claim that his body was just slow to heal if his Aniki suspected anything.

When Sasuke finally agreed, his reluctance was evidence. He made sure only to pull his sweats and briefs down enough to reveal the flesh being treated. If his Aniki caught a glimpse of any fresher would, he'd go ballistic and Sasuke would absolutely not be able to talk his way out of it.

The boy held his breath when Itachi quietly inspected his hole and only found oxygen again when the man didn't comment on its appearance. A millennial must have passed before he felt an ointment-lubricated wet finger pressing delicately against his hole.

"Exhale through your mouth slowly, Otouto," his Aniki murmured.

Sasuke closed his eyes and did as he was told, wishing his Aniki would stop rubbing circles against the ass cheek that he pried open. He also wished Itachi would stop speaking to him in that low, sultry voice.

A thick finger sank inside of him as he exhaled and by the time all of the air had left his lungs, his Aniki's index finger was deep inside of him, twisting and rubbing the medication along his channel.

Sasuke's breath hitched and his face flushed terribly. The second time was just as embarrassing as the first, he decided, but he welcomed the embarrassment because it prevented him from getting an erection underneath Itachi's ministrations.

The index finger retreated before two fingers pressed against him. "One more time, Otouto. Exhale slowly through your mouth for Aniki."

If Itachi asked him to do anything like that, he'd drop everything and oblige. He'd do anything for his Aniki whether the man knew it or not.

"Good, just like that," Itachi murmured. "Almost done."

Sasuke gritted his teeth and dug his face cheek into the pillow. With horror, he felt his nether regions twitch in interest, but before they could pop out to play, Itachi withdrew his fingers and his other hand patted his cheek.

"All done, Otouto."

Sasuke didn't have to be told, not even once, to pull up his pants. He did it so quickly that the fabric of his briefs dragged painfully along his thighs, but he could not be more relieved to sit up again.

He sat there quietly as his Aniki set the tube on Sasuke's nightstand and stepped into the bathroom to wash his hands. When he came back out and sat at the edge of the boy's bed, Itachi ruffled his spikes fondly while Sasuke's cheek remained as pink as Sakura blossoms.

"Do you want to stay home tomorrow, Otouto? I can call your school to excuse you."

Sasuke shook his head, timid almost. "No, thank you, Aniki. I want to spend some time with my friends."

Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but it was half true. Sasuke could use a change of pace and environment.

Sasuke looked up from his lap when his Aniki remained quiet. When his eyes settled on Itachi's face, he nearly gasped.

The distinct look of rabid anger had taken over his Aniki's countenance, filling his wild eyes with a murderous intent, as he glared down at the bed. But when Sasuke blinked to reassure himself that he wasn't seeing things, the look was gone and replaced with a look of nonchalance.

"A-Aniki?" Sasuke said in a hushed tone.

Itachi must have noted his hesitance because he patted his thigh gently with one hand and gave him a small smile.

"I'll drop you off at school tomorrow morning, okay?" he said.

"'Kay, Aniki."

"Good boy. I'm going to leave the ointment here for you to apply to your other… wounds, okay? Make sure you do it before you go to sleep."

Sasuke sighed internally in relief. Itachi must have known what he'd been thinking initially, aware of his embarrassment and distaste for the routine, and decided, with his divine judgment, to allow him some grace.

"Thank you, Aniki."

"You're welcome, Otouto. Don't sleep too late. My door is open if you need anything."

Itachi stood, leaned over and pressed a kiss to Sasuke's cheek, and began heading toward the door.

"I love you, Aniki," Sasuke said just before Itachi shut his door.

A genuine smile appeared on Itachi's face. "I love you, too, watashi no kokoro. Sleep well."

That night, Itachi did not visit Sasuke's room, and Sasuke slept deeply.

He dreamt of his Aniki's beautiful smile and the warmth of his embrace.

As his Aniki stated, he drove the boy to school the next morning. Sasuke had a belly full of oatmeal and scrambled eggs as did his Aniki, and they sat in a comfortable silence for the majority of the ride.

"Make sure you call me if you're not feeling well, and I will come pick you up, okay, Otouto?"

Sasuke allowed a pfft to leave his mouth. "You're such a worrywart, Aniki. You're the one who never comes home in time for dinner."

"Never again, Otouto," Itachi murmured. "I promised. Remember?"

Sasuke nodded.

Itachi pulled up to the curb a few meters from the get even though he usually dropped Sasuke off at the roundabout in front of the school. That made the boy's brows furrow in confusion.

"Aniki?" he asked when Itachi turned off the ignition.

The man was staring at his dashboard, a foreign look stuck on his face. He finally turned to look at Sasuke, bestowing upon more confusion and unease.

Sasuke watched as his Aniki opened and closed his mouth several times as if his brain was trying to piece together the words he wanted to say before he said them. He waited patiently until the foreign look smoothed out into a form of determination, and Itachi turned in his seat to face him.

"Otouto, do you recall what I said the other night about… seeing other people?" Itachi began, a disgruntled shadow forming on his features.

Sasuke paused and suddenly found his heart hammering against his chest. How could he forget?

He nodded with a gulp, dragging his Aniki's gaze to his neck for a second before it flickered back to his face.

"I… Aniki doesn't like- it's not a good idea to-" Itachi released a frustrated growl as he stumbled over his words.

Sasuke figured he didn't have a nice way of going about saying it, but was attempting not to repeat his previous behavior and said words, so he did it for him.

"You want me to break up with who I said I was seeing," Sasuke confirmed, a lick of guilt trickling in from his lie. Therefore, he tried to be careful with his words.

"I want you to stay far away from that boy," his Aniki hissed, losing to his self-control. He grunted and ran his hand through his hair in frustration.

Sasuke berated himself for feeling the sensations he did at that very moment. Like someone had blasted the AC in his face on a hot summer day. It was soothing that his Aniki cared that much about him to get upset over things like that.

The only thing he hated was the state of distress his Aniki was in… all because of the lie Sasuke told to cover up the truth.

"Is that why you looked angry last night?" he asked quietly, noting the sharp intake of breath from the man.

"Not at you," Itachi said. "I didn't mean to show that to you. But that boy did all those things to my baby," Itachi hissed underneath his breath. "I can't stand it."

Upon hearing Itachi's statement, Sasuke's stomach felt funny. Like it was doing handstands and cartwheels. He reached out to cover Itachi's hand, which was tightly gripping at the joystick, with his own and gave it a squeeze.

"I will, Aniki," Sasuke found himself saying. "I'll stay far away."

"Good," Itachi grounded out, still fixated over details that Sasuke did not want to harp on.

He leaned over the console, kissed the man's cheek sweetly, and unbuckled his seatbelt. "I made you a bento and put it in your bag. Make sure you eat it, okay? Don't eat too many sweets and make sure you come home for dinner."

With each of the boy's words, the anger chipped away from Itachi's countenance until what was left was a tinge of amusement. "Yes, my dear," he answered dutifully, causing Sasuke to blush like a new housewife.

"Shut up," he muttered with any heat as he unlocked the passenger car door. "I'll see you at home, Aniki. Have a good day."

Before Sasuke could open the door and step out, his arm was jerked toward the man and his kiss was returned twofold: one on each side of his face. Then, he was released and given a smile brighter than the stars in the countryside.

"I'll be home for dinner…" The look on his Aniki's face morphed into a mischievous form of mirth as he finished his sentence. "…Boku no tsuma."

Sasuke's face instantly turned ten shades darker and he released what seemed to be a high pitched shriek of embarrassment and frustration mixed into one. "Ugh, Aniki! Why'd you have to go and ruin a moment? I told you your jokes aren't funny!"

The amusement in Itachi's eyes multiplied, shimmering brightly as he took in Sasuke's reaction. Clearly, he was in disagreement with the boy's remarks.

"I love you, Otouto," he said with a big grin on his face. "Have a good day."

Sasuke huffed loudly and pushed open the door, stepping out onto the sidewalk. "Eat your bento!" he ducked down to say before he slammed the door in his Aniki's laughing face.

"Stupid, Aniki, making me blush before school," he grumbled half-heartedly as he kicked a pebble aside. What was up with his Aniki calling him his wife? Just the thought of the term made his face uncomfortably hot.

Sasuke made it to the front steps of school seconds later, fist bumping Neji, who was hanging out waiting for him.

"What's up?" the brunette greeted.

"Yo."

A flash of blond hair turned him blind and Naruto was hooking his arms around Sasuke and Neji with a grin the size of his positive attitude on his face. "Are you guys ready for a kickass week?!"

Sasuke winced at the loud pitch of his voice and gave the blond a shove. "Stop screaming in my ear, Naruto," he said. He hitched his backpack higher in his right shoulder as the three began entering the gates.

Naruto laughed boisterously and returned to his side like a magnet, slinging his arm back in place around Sasuke's shoulders. His other arm remained around a nonchalant Neji. Sasuke rolled his eyes, but didn't push him away the second time, surrendering to his overly ecstatic nature.

As he disappeared through the gate and finally from view, what Sasuke did not realize was that his Aniki was watching the entire scene with a clenched jaw and rage clouding his eyes.