This chapter contains an incest scene, however it is very light and will not be consumed all the way through.

"Sasuke, it certainly can't be said that your friend is ugly, on the contrary, he has perfect poses, very fine. But, damn it, he's a skeleton. I'd like to consider it but this guy apparently isn't well. Did he reduce himself to this state to run for office? He looks like you too. However he is not suitable, traits too marked, a lot of defects. Beautiful sin hair looks like it was licked by the cow. I am sorry."

Genma looked up from the photos Sasuke had submitted to him. If it hadn't been for his horrendous habit of always keeping some object in his mouth to mutter and for that eternally inquiring gaze on anyone he had in front of him, he would also have had a pleasant appearance. His shoulder-length straight brown hair would have looked gorgeous with those reddish highlights he boasted, if he hadn't kept it captive in the everlasting bandanas he wore on his head. He had loads of them and in different colors however he could very well have done without them.

He is an examiner, judging is his job, perhaps he always needs to nibble on something to release tension. He has a personal style, albeit a very questionable one.

Today his incisors, slightly worn down by that whim, had been taking it out on the stick of a finished lollipop for an eternity. Sasuke hadn't told him that the one portrayed in those secretly obtained shots was actually his brother. He couldn't do it, not after Genma had seen the subjects in the photos.

Itachi definitely needed to change his life. It had been more than a month since he had returned to the family home together with Sasuke but he appeared deeply depressed, he ate practically nothing and often spent whole days curled up under the covers in his room. Sometimes Sasuke slipped into bed with him, felt him relax under his caresses. The younger rested his head on his shoulder and remained motionless as if the presence of his Nii-san made him feel protected from nightmares and pain. Only now did Sasuke fully realize how much he missed him.

Whatever night work Itachi did had abandoned him, the younger had felt relieved by this since he had never been convinced of the story that he was a watchman. They had had very few opportunities to talk to each other and these doubts about him had not yet been clarified.

Don't rush, Nii -san, you have all the time you want. I am sure that one day you will tell me everything.

Sasuke had been hired as a model in this agency, for now his assignments concerned photos for advertisements commissioned by various make-up companies, stylists and hairdressers. That was fine with him, it was a job he liked and he had taken the trouble to go and look for one that was inherent in the course of study. Genma had started to make him understand how he was the best element they had for this reason he was trying to propose him also for important fashion shows. It had occurred to Sasuke that Itachi could also be an ideal candidate for this and he had secretly taken those photos of him.

"No, Genma, he's so skinny by nature, I assure you he didn't do it to get hired here. Anyway, thank you for taking it into consideration."

Heartbroken, Sasuke took his folder back to go home.

Itachi hadn't been on any modeling diets yet it was evident that he wasn't feeling well at all. He wasn't even that way of birth, as he had explained to Genma even though the manager's sharp look made him understand he hadn't bought it all the way.

Sasuke's brain was racing again, that's why he'd been walking to work for the past few days. The headphones put on at full volume and the sustained step weren't enough to relieve him of the tension generated by what had been reprehensible for obtaining those photos. The initial idea hadn't even been completely wrong, a pleasant evening between two brothers who meet again after a long time. They were relaxing on the couch after dinner, the TV was on but muted. More than ate Itachi had nibbled at a few bites, as usual. He was curled up in the Marvel maxi black sweatshirt that Sasuke had given him after a few days of being under the same roof again, it was really giant, it reached below his knees. The back leaning on the armrest, the right shoulder on the backrest, the elegant feet on which he put the purple nail polish, emerged from under the sweatshirt leaning on the seat. Itachi had greatly appreciated that gift, he never took it off while staying at home.

"Nii – san, we absolutely have to taste this. It attracts me a lot, I've never felt anything like it."

Sasuke had reappeared from the kitchen where he had disappeared a few seconds before without the major asking for anything. He held a bottle of rosé wine in one hand, the condensation formed on the glass showed that it was very fresh, two glass goblets in the other hand.

When he wasn't at work, blinded by the continuous flashes and lights, Sasuke would lose those poses set ordered by the photographers going back to walking with his legs apart and sitting resting his right ankle on his left knee, highlighting the strong lean muscles of his calves and thighs. He managed to get them quite developed despite not doing much sport, he only went for a run a couple of times a week, now he wore only a gray t-shirt and a pair of tight black boxers. He still marveled at how Itachi managed to look subtle and elegant unknowingly, effortlessly, no matter what he did. In his opinion, Genma should have taken him into consideration for this alone.

"Actually me neither, let's see if my Otouto had a good idea."

He had smiled slightly with a wink, Sasuke had been delighted to have seen that flash of brightness on his brother's face after weeks of absolute darkness.

Itachi stretched his legs on the sofa seat accepting the first glass, Sasuke was slightly worried because he was drinking without having eaten practically anything, however the contentment for their newfound relationship made him ignore everything.

"I have to congratulate you, Otouto, people don't usually appreciate rosé wine, they also accuse people who like them of not understanding anything. You know what? The judgment of others should never affect anyone's life."

Sasuke laughed shaking his head, incredible how Itachi managed to thread philosophical discourse into practically every little aspect of life, this too helped to fill him with charm. The younger one felt over the moon seeing his brother in such an uplifted mood.

They had both made the second toast, Itachi fully extended his spindly legs resting them on top of his brother's, toes extended, ankles together and knees slightly bent. Though at their finest, it wasn't a studied pose, they never were. Itachi's shoulders had relaxed on the pillows, his body had emerged a little from the sweatshirt.

There was something in Sasuke's head pounding. If he poured the third glass for both of them the bottle would soon be empty, so the younger one deliberately slowed down the act of drinking to allow Itachi to empty his glass before the same happened to him. Using that ruse, Sasuke refilled his brother's glass twice more. The major's cheeks were pleasantly reddened, his eyes shining, he placed the finally empty goblet on the floor, leaning back on the cushions. Sasuke drank what was left in his glass in one gulp, he wanted to have his hands free to be able to place them on his brother's calves. At first he remained motionless making that contact as light as possible, then realizing that Itachi's muscles hadn't stiffened he began to massage him slowly. He had climbed up to the beginning of his thighs, a little above the knee, Itachi had let out a small moan closing his eyes as he let his head rest on the back of the completely limp sofa.

Sasuke snorted slightly, what was wrong with that? It was simply the thrill of being reunited with his brother after so many years. He confused what he was feeling with the burst of emotion he had been keeping himself from feeling for so long.

I've always been my own worst enemy.

The hands were still attracted by Itachi's silky skin, they made their way up the slender thighs lifting the edge of the sweatshirt, something told him to stop when there were just a few millimeters left to discover his intimacy. Sasuke retreated momentarily straightening his back without however taking his eyes off his brother who now seemed to be asleep. He stood petrified until Itachi sighed as he shifted his position, Sasuke couldn't tell if he was asleep or if he was just lightheaded from the wine. The major had exerted a little force with his legs to lean more firmly on the back, the sweatshirt had risen displaced by that movement. The tight black boxers that Itachi wore came out. Although he was very thin, his proportions remained perfect. Itachi had wrapped his hands around his waist, as if he was shivering. He knew he shouldn't have, yet Sasuke felt drawn to those unknowingly harmonious poses. He blamed himself savagely as his torso began to bend over his brother's body as if it had escaped his will. He uncovered it almost up to his chest pulling up the maxi sweatshirt. Being so thin, his abs were evident even though they weren't very developed. Sasuke stopped for a moment to stare at Itachi's belly moving with the rhythm of his breath.

Fulminea came up with an idea to help Itachi find a job but above all to create an opportunity for him to get his life back in his hands. Sasuke knew that the time wasn't ripe to carry on a speech projected into the future, Itachi was still too depressed to look forward after what happened to Nagato. He quickly climbed the wooden stairs to enter his room, he had re-emerged shirtless, camera in hand and tripod.

Was there a need to pose as a criminal to take pictures?

Finished asking that question, he found himself again in front of the sofa on which Itachi was lying in the grip of the hangover of which he had been an accomplice.

I'm bad, I'm a coward!

Meanwhile the camera was already on top of the tripod with that angry eye-like lens already out. Sasuke set it to video mode. After making sure Itachi was in focus, he pressed the start button. He bent down again on the major aware that he was entering the frame, Sighing he slipped over his brother's body, he slowly leaned against it while he was losing the support of the hand he was using to undo his hair, he had tried to make the movement progressively to don't wake him up, the red elastic slipped out of that raven hair as smooth as oil in a flash.

Sasuke stood admiring his beautiful face, the signs of pain and the accentuated pallor made him feel a pang in his heart, he caressed it. Then he had turned for a second to look at that merciless target.

But what the hell am I doing?

The younger one knelt down in conflict, he would have slapped himself. He approached again trying to convince himself that there was nothing wrong with just getting pictures to show Genma. He bent over Itachi again, taking off his sweatshirt to leave him wearing only his boxers and the simple necklace that he himself had given him. Running one hand behind his back and the other under his legs he began to lift Itachi slowly.

Sasuke had his brother's head resting on his shoulder, his breath brushing the white skin of his neck. He stood up to pry Itachi's butt off the couch, his weight making him grit his teeth as he pressed all the way into his arms, but he remained steadfast and silent for fear of waking him. Standing finally, Sasuke turned to that fierce target, brought his face close to Itachi's, their identical perfect noses brushing as well as their lips.

"Otouto… what are you doing? I have an headache…"

Sasuke stopped terrified, Itachi just mumbled with his voice thick with hangover, he didn't even open his eyes. The minor was not sure whether or not he was aware of the situation or whether he was in boxers in his brother's arms in front of a camera lens. Their lips had just touched.

"Don't worry, Nii – san. I'll put you to bed, okay?"

"I love you" Itachi whispered hugging him.

Sasuke had laid him back on the couch breathing a sigh of relief. His brother's wisdom had come to his aid, albeit unconsciously, as indeed it had been all his life. He put his beloved Marvel black sweatshirt back on him, carefully covered him with a soft plaid and kissed him on his forehead deciding to leave him alone.

"I love you too."

He turned off that infernal camera by removing it from the tripod, watched with a blank gaze that furious eye close again. He went back up the stairs carrying his devices with his hoping that the next day Itachi wouldn't remember anything. He crashed onto the bed, his eyes lost on the ceiling beyond the teal paper chandelier. He turned the camera back on to see if he could get anything good out of it for Genma to review.

Forgive me again Nii – san, I love you but I gave you the wrong love. I'm always too impetuous to fill the gaps that I opened with my hands in my heart. Now I understand that I have to love you right, know that I will do everything just to help you.

He decided to start right away, he went to the computer trying to extrapolate from the video some frames that could be interesting to make Genma notice Itachi. In some images they appeared together, however it was not necessary to confess to his manager that they were brothers even if the extreme resemblance they had could have left no shadow of a doubt. Once the shots came out of the printer in paper form he didn't hesitate to delete the damned video from the camera.

He didn't even make sense to keep those stills printed now. Genma had given his verdict and anyway Sasuke wasn't sure Itachi was really cut out to be a model, he never liked being the center of attention despite the fact that he inevitably attracted his due to his looks and mannerisms. Even if Genma had hired him in the long run, that job would have worn him out beyond belief.

Sasuke had been standing in the street in front of a garbage can for a good five minutes meditating on the fate to be reserved for those images; if he really he had thrown them he would never have had the opportunity to get something similar again. The one made against his brother had been a cowardice that he certainly had no intention of repeating.

No, Nii – san, it was my umpteenth mistake, I have no justification this time. How could I even conceive of such a thing? With all the problems you have this was the last thing you needed.

Thinking this he had reduced the photos to small strips with his hands, having destroyed them of him made him feel so relieved that he smiled; he decided to take the headphones off his ears and walk calmly home enjoying the sounds of the city. Returning home, Itachi would really find the life he was entitled to, this time.

The major returned shortly after, Sasuke had heard the movement of the door being opened and closed as slowly as possible. He quickly wiped his hands off the rice flour he was making his brother's favorite sweets with. Sasuke hated dango and sweets in general, however Itachi could swallow little else lately, and then he decided to surprise him. Sasuke walked smiling towards the entrance to welcome his brother in the best way now that finally their life seemed to have taken the right direction. He stopped tilting his head sideways dazzled by the light that entered through the glass door. Itachi was there against the light, Sasuke could only see a dark shape apart from the dark red leather pants and black ankle boots, he didn't remember seeing him so elegant lately, however he was still and silent in an eerie way.

"Nii-san?"

Sasuke began to be gripped by the doubt that he was actually a stranger, perhaps a robber. He called out to him a couple more times with his voice shaking but feeling the adrenaline that was preparing him for action should it be needed. Finally Itachi decided to emerge from the shadowy area, tears falling from his chin like a broken faucet, his face almost completely submerged in hair, he was shaking. Sasuke had never seen him so broken, he never got to know how he was giving in to emotion.

"Nii – san, what happened to you?"

Sasuke accompanied him to sit on the sofa, he wrapped his waist around him realizing how much his ribs protruded. He melted with love now, with the right one, the one that from now on would never let him miss again. He offered him a cup of tea and a saucer with his favorite sweets, Itachi's shaking hands accepted while his eyes, though unable to stop the tears, showed a smile and sincere thanks.

"Otouto, I have to tell you several important things, I will probably take up a lot of your time."

"Anything you need, I'm listening."

The time had come. Despite everything Sasuke felt relieved.