Times With Them from Time to Other: Chapter 2 - a Naruto fanfic
Mmm, chapter two is here x3 originally posted here: http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/view/589585/
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"Kaasaaaaan!" He pouted panting once she stopped.
She pursed her lips playfully back before smiling down at him again.
“A good wife is in charge of the food, Sasuke. That means buying it as well as cooking it.”
Gasping, Sasuke was immediately wide awake.
"Hai!" He replied quickly, jumping out of bed and starting to get dressed.
Mikoto laughed at her sons antics, enjoying how easy it was to get him to do chores now. She would almost miss it when he grew out of this phase. She leaned back, suddenly remembering they were in Itachi’s room.
“Don’t you think you’re getting a little old to be sleeping in here?” She asked, glancing around. It was so neat, she couldn’t even do the mom-tidy-up that most mothers got to indulge in.
"Nu-uh," Sasuke shook his head with a smile just as he had pulled his shirt over his head. "Aniki makes me feel happy," he giggled. "And you sleep in 'tousan's room," he pointed out.
Mikoto gave him a hurt look.
“You’re not happy in your own room? You’re not happy when Itachi isn’t around?”
Blinking, Sasuke looked curiously at his mother and realised what he had said and quickly shook his head.
"I'm happy then too... but... he makes me lots and lots happy," he tried explaining. "And I never have troubles sleeping in his bed."
Mikoto sighed. She could imagine the quarrels that will erupt when, eventually, either Itachi or Fugaku or herself put their foot down on the subject.
“Well, just remember that if Itachi asks you to leave him alone you do it. A good wife minds her husband, the same as a good husband minds his wife.”
Looking startled up at his mother, Sasuke was shocked at the sudden words, tears already starting to well up into his eyes.
"Itachi-niisama wouldn't...." he sniffled softly.
“Sasuke, everyone at one point wants to be alone, even Itachi and even you. I’m not saying he’ll tell you to go away every night, but on the very, very rare nights he’d like to spend to himself, it’s your job as a good wife to give him that.” Mikoto explained, closing her eyes to his teary face and assuming a lecture pose.
Nodding sadly, Sasuke pouted. "But I do! I leave his room when he tells me to..." he muttered unhappily.
Mikoto smiled, ruffling his hair and standing.
“And that’s all I’m asking of you to do, Sasuke. Just respect your brothers wishes when he voices them.”
"If I didn't, Itachi wouldn't be happy with me," Sasuke just replied softly, walking out of the room, not wanting to talk any more about the subject.
Mikoto looked a little startled at Sasuke’s words and actions. Had Itachi done something? Had Itachi not done something? She chewed her lip, standing up and hoping to cheer Sasuke up at the store. Maybe she’d by him a special treat; of his choice, of course
Of course, Sasuke wasn't certain Itachi would stop liking him, but he was already trying the limits at times, and he didn't want to risk losing his aniki. He couldn't imagine how it would be if Itachi started pushing him away seriously.
Hours later they returned, fresh rice and vegetables in tow along with the meat for that nights dinner. Mikoto smiled at her son, letting him carry the vegetable bag, planning on letting him chop and fry tonight.
With her watchful unwavering mother eyes on him, of course.
Munching on one of the tomatoes his mother had bought him, Sasuke's mood was better now, having gotten tomatoes to munch on, as well as the promise he'd get to make Itachi's dinner tonight.
“Sasuke, I’m going to start boiling the rice. Would you mind chopping the vegetables?” Mikoto asked as they reached the kitchen. “Then I’ll let you do all the frying.”
"Hai hai," Sasuke smiled happily, excited that he would be allowed to do the frying for once. He had chopped vegetables before though, so that was no big deal. It was not worse than handling a kunai after all. Grabbing the vegetables laying in water and getting clean, Sasuke started working on his task.
Mikoto smiled at Sasuke, starting up the rice while keeping a watchful eye on him.
"There!" Sasuke said in satisfaction once they were cut, the pieces of approximately the same size and no nicks or cuts on his hands.
“The rice isn’t ready yet honey, but when it is you’ll get to fry it with the vegetables.” She said while pulling the skillet down, starting up the stovetop. “Put the vegetables in; I’ll tell you when to add the rice, alright?”
"Hai," Sasuke stuck his tongue lightly out between his lips in concentration as he put the vegetables in the frying pan, trying to make sure that none of them escaped to the floor.
Mikoto couldn’t help but smile. Her youngest was just so adorable. She could imagine what a heartthrob he’d be later in life. She sighed. Maybe even get over his brother and bring a pretty girl home…
“Alright Sasuke, time for the rice. Ready honey? Be careful.” She added, pouring some of the rice herself before leaving the rest for Sasuke.
Making a startled sound as he took the casserole, finding it quite heavy, Sasuke struggled as he poured the last of the rice into the pan.
"There!" He exclaimed, putting the empty casserole on the counter before he started stirring in the mix.
Mikoto smiled more, drifting back into her thoughts. Maybe she could convince Itachi to find a girl and dispel Sasuke’s neediness? Or at least pretend to find a girl. With his looks she was sure none would mind. There were days she was sure he was prettier than any girl in his generation.
“Alright Sasuke, that’s good.” She said, nudging him away from the stove. “I’ll finish it up and you can go clean yourself up, okay?”
"Hai!" Sasuke nodded, happy he had gotten to cook for his aniki. Skipping upstairs he got into the shower and started cleaning himself up as asked of him. Letting warm, nice water hit his back, Sasuke smiled happily, hoping Itachi would like the dinner he had helped making.
Mikoto hummed as she finished making the food, setting the dishes and keeping it hot. She knew Fugaku would be away from dinner tonight and set aside a dish for him to eat when he got home. She was surprised by the sound of the door sliding open and Itachi’s voice announcing his presence.
“You’re home early, Itachi. Sasuke’s in the shower and dinner isn’t done.” She said as Itachi entered the kitchen. He nodded, sitting at the table.
“I was able to finish quickly. Will Father be joining us?” Mikoto shook her head. Itachi nodded again.
“Sasuke will be glad you’re home early.” Itachi smiled faintly. Sasuke would be happy, until Itachi tried to tell him to sleep in his own bed tonight.
"Aniki!" Sasuke, just out from the shower with wet hair and just dressed, stormed down the stairs to glomp his aniki.
Itachi caught Sasuke around the waist, ruffling his wet hair affectionately and sprinkling both their faces with water.
“Hello otouto. Good to see you warmed up the shower for me.”
Giggling, Sasuke clung to his aniki. "Sasuke made dinner for aniki today!" He exclaimed proudly, closing his eyes as he buried his face in Itachi's neck.
Mikoto shook her head at the two, waving her hands in a shooing motion.
“Itachi, take Sasuke upstairs while I finish the rest of dinner. You can take a shower too, since it is already warm.” She laughed at the last, Itachi nodding in acceptance. He smirked faintly, slipping his arm down Sasuke’s back and hoisting him up as he stood, cupping one soft buttock and thigh to keep him from slipping.
“Shall we, Sasuke?” He asked, already heading for the stairs.
"Hai, hai," Sasuke nodded, wiggling a bit in Itachi's grip, getting comfortable against him.
Itachi chuckled at his brother’s response, stepping into his own room rather than Sasuke’s. He dumped Sasuke onto his bed with a slight bounce, turning to find a towel and clean clothes to change into.
“Try not to get my pillow wet while I’m gone, otouto.” Itachi said over his shoulder, standing with the clean clothes and towel in hand.
"I won't," Sasuke grinned happily, continuing to bounce on Itachi's bed innocently, enjoying the extra spring in Itachi's mattress.
Itachi stepped close to the bed, leaning over to lightly poke his brother in the forehead.
“If my beds dry then maybe next time we can take a bath together like old times, eh?”
"Yes!" Sasuke's face lit up as he rubbed his forehead, even forgetting to pout because Itachi had poked him. "Sasuke would like that," he giggled.
“Speak properly and I might even wash your hair for you.” Itachi said with a faint smile with an even fainter smirk curling the edges. He ruffled Sasuke’s hair, heading for the door.
Once Itachi was out of sight, Sasuke jumped down and ran to find his own towel. He was so not going to make Itachi's bed wet, especially when he had promised to bathe with him. That was something they hadn't done for years, at least since Sasuke was 5, and he remembered it had always been nice to take a bath with his aniki.
While Itachi showered, he thought over the best way to tell Sasuke ‘no’ and stick with it. Although easy to let the boy down when he had a valid excuse such as a mission or a meeting, making up one and lying to the boy was another matter. Possibly his only weakness.
He couldn’t tell Sasuke he was afraid he’d have another wet dream, as he had the previous two nights. Sasuke already knew…somewhat, what was going on and had weaseled his way back into Itachi’s arms. Maybe he’d lie about having a mission in the morning…but that wouldn’t work well, considering how he didn’t have anything to do tomorrow. He’d planned on helping his mother around the house, actually. The clan was being too pushy as of late and he’d requested a day off. He sighed, leaning into the warm water.
Tell him to assassinate the leader of a village in under twelve minutes without getting caught, no problem. Tell him to successfully lie to Sasuke? Ridiculously difficult.
Making sure his hair was getting really dry, or as dry as he could with a towel so that nothing would drip on Itachi's bed, Sasuke hummed happily to himself as he crawled back up into the bed, pulling the covers over himself.
Breathing deeply, he inhaled the scent of his brother and smiled. He really liked being Itachi's wife, and hoped it would last forever and ever, so that he could crawl in and cuddle with his aniki every night.
Itachi, having decided he’d simply say he had a headache or was too tired, finally turned off the shower after washing his hair and body. While he toweled off he was hit with inspiration, pulling a curl to his lips as he dressed and walked out of the bathroom.
He’d bribe Sasuke.
“Did you keep it dry?”
"Hai! Sa.. I did!" Sasuke nodded seriously. "Not a wet spot!"
Itachi smiled slightly, patting Sasuke’s head as he sat down.
“Good. Now Sasuke, tonight you’re going to sleep in your own room, okay?” Itachi began, keeping his hand in the boys hair, petting. “Tomorrow I don’t have anything planned and I’d like to sleep in a little on my day off, right?”
"Wh... aniki..." Sasuke's face fell before he started to pout unhappily. "Why?" He muttered sullenly. "I can be silent when I go to school!" He insisted. "I won't wake you, I promise!
Itachi shook his head.
“No Sasuke. You can handle sleeping in your own bed for one night, can’t you? A good wife can handle it when their husband is away. What do you do when I'm on missions that keep me overnight?” He smiled kindly, stroking Sasuke’s soft locks. “And if you can do that for me, I promise to try and get a Sunday off just for you sometime, okay?”
Lighting up again, Sasuke smiled slightly, hopefully. "Really?" He asked before biting his lower lip. And he knew that if Itachi really wanted to be alone, then he should let him. Besides, a good wife didn't cling too much, wasn't that what his mommy had said?
"Okay," he nodded with a small sigh. "I'll miss you tonight though," he pouted.
Itachi ran his hand through Sasuke’s hair one more time, drawing back with a smile.
“Good boy.” He reached up again, poking Sasuke in the forehead. “I think dinner will be done soon.”
"Anikiii!" Sasuke pouted and rubbed his forehead. His brother always did that, for some reason, and though he pouted and whined about it, Sasuke knew he liked it.
"Do you think you will like it?" He asked, biting his lower lip.
“You heard what Kaa-san said right? If you made it with love there’s no way I couldn’t like it.”
"Yeah..." Sasuke nodded and looked down a bit shyly. "But I'm not sure if that's one of the things adults just say without really meaning," he pouted slightly. "And.. I like hearing you say you like it..." he murmured at the end.
“It’s not something adults just say, but the full meaning is a little…complex. If I love you and you love me, then it won’t matter if the food physically tastes bad, I’ll like it because you made it for me.”
"Is... is that possible?" Sasuke asked confused, tilting his head to the side, not understanding.
"So.. you would like anything Sasuke made for you?"
Itachi paused. He did love Sasuke, just not in the way he was explaining…He’d understand when he was older.
“If you love me, then yes, anything you make I’d like.”
Giggling, Sasuke glomped his brother. "I love you lots and lots aniki!" He stated happily.
Itachi put an arm around him, sighing. He wondered what it would be like when Sasuke grew out of this phase. Oh god, what would it be like when Sasuke went through puberty? He almost laughed. He could just imagine a 12 year old Sasuke asking him how long it would take for hair to grow on his chin…and other areas, if this clinging devotion kept up.
“Alright, let’s go see if the food ready, yeah?”
"Hai, hai," Sasuke chirped, pecking his aniki's cheek quickly. He didn't look forward to spending the night alone, but in the meantime he'd try to spend as much time with Itachi as he could, to make up for that.
Standing, he took Sasuke’s hand and lead him out of his room, knowing full well how giddy it would make him.
“Oh, I was just going to get you!” Mikoto said with a laugh as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Itachi let go of Sasuke’s hand, sweeping some hair out of his eyes as he smiled at his mother.
“I take it dinners ready, mother?” Mikoto nodded, waving them towards the kitchen, following after her two boys.
Grinning happily as he bounced down the stairs, hand in hand with his brother, Sasuke felt like he was bubbling over. Itachi had been so very nice to him lately and spent a lot of time with him, more than ever before, and that really made the little boy happy.
Itachi sat down at the table, his mother graciously sitting across from him, leaving the seat beside him open for Sasuke.
“I don’t have any missions tomorrow.” He announced. “Would you like some help around the house?”
Getting into the free seat beside his aniki, Sasuke waited impatiently as their 'kaasan put food on the table, the conversation uninteresting to him, because no matter how much he wanted to be home with Itachi when he for once was home, he had to go to school, and even if he had wanted to skip, they had a project coming up, and he couldn't miss that.
"Sure Itachi, it's always nice to have help around the house." Mikoto said with a smile. Itachi nodded, beginning to eat the food. After a couple bites he turned to Sasuke, giving him an encouraging smile.
"It's delicious."
Beaming at the praise from his aniki, Sasuke blushed faintly as he grinned happily. "I'm glad you like it, aniki," he managed to say after a moment of suppressing the urge to say 'yay' or something childish like that, and searching for the proper thing to say in return.
Itachi smiled kindly, his mother nearly beaming across the table at them both.
Continuing to eat his food, Sasuke glowed from happiness for the rest of the dinner, though he behaved himself as he should, if only because he knew Itachi would want that. He didn't appreciate it when Sasuke was too childish.
Itachi helped clear the dishes when dinner was through, still speaking with his mother about what they would do tomorrow.
"I plan to sleep in a little, so Sasuke will be in his own room tonight." Mikoto smiled, ruffling Sasuke's hair.
"Poor boy. He'll stay up half the night pining."
"Will not!" Sasuke pouted, denying the truth. Of course he would be up most of the night, getting scared by the shadows on the wall and longing to feel his brother's soothing breathing against his soft skin as they slept. However, he wouldn't admit it, not just like that anyway, especially as he was supposed to be a big boy now.
"He's a big boy." Itachi said with a faint smile. "He hardy needs me anymore."
"Oh, he'll always need you Itachi don't be so mean. You always need family." Itachi's smile faded, recounting just how little he needed his family. Honestly, Sasuke and Mikoto were the only ones deserving to live...
"Aniki?" Sasuke asked, noticing how his smile disappeared. "Sasuke will always need you," he murmured, getting up to hug his older brother around the waist, which was as high as he could reach.
Itachi brought his hand to Sasuke's hair, feeling an urge to hold him close. Sasuke, his only salve from the stress that was the rest of his 'family'. He tilted his head down, smiling softly at the little boy.
"Thank you, Sasuke."
Beaming at the smile he had gotten from his aniki, Sasuke just hugged Itachi a bit tighter before he pulled back with a small yawn.
"Nee... can we cuddle a bit before I go sleep in my own bed?" He murmured a bit shyly, wanting to spend at least some with with Itachi before bedtime.
Mikoto had to suppress a giggle at her youngest's request. He was so attached to Itachi, it was adorable.
"Let him have his Itachi-time, dear." She spoke to the elder brother. "You'll come to miss it when he grows older."
"Please aniki?" Sasuke looked pleadingly up at the older Uchiha, looking quite hopeful.
Itachi pushed Sasuke away, nodding to his mother.
"Alright." He turned, heading for the stairs, knowing Sasuke would follow along behind him.
Making a soft noise of happiness, Sasuke bounded off after him, staying close behind him all the way to his room.
Itachi stepped into his room, moving to his bed and sitting down, swinging his legs up to lay leaning against the headboard.
Jumping so that he could climb up into Itachi's bed, Sasuke settled himself in his lap, yawning softly again as he closed his eyes, content to lean against his aniki.
Itachi sighed, a little in contentment and a little from stress. He enjoyed Sasuke's company, the small, soft body pressed against his as he slept. But now that he'd hit puberty, now that his male anatomy was becoming active...He sighed again.
"What am I going to do with you, Sasuke?" He asked rhetorically.
"Do with me?" Sasuke asked puzzled, having no clue of his aniki's inner distress. "I... I don't understand...?" He looked up at him a bit worried about his older brother.
"You don't need to." Itachi said, wrapping his arms around the younger boy. "Just a little longer, then I'm going to bed, okay?"
"Okay..." Sasuke nodded, yawning again, knowing that it was about time he went to bed as well. The problem was... he might not be able to sleep because of Itachi.
"I'll miss you tonight," he murmured with a small pout.
"We'll see each other tomorrow, when you get back from school." Itachi said, squeezing his arms a little before pulling away.
"And you'll let me sleep in your bed tomorrow night?" He asked hopefully with a small smile. And maybe, just maybe, Itachi would have the time to train a bit with him after school the next day.
'If I don't have another problem tonight...' Itachi thought to himself. "Maybe. We'll see what my plans are."
"Thank you, aniki," Sasuke giggled softly, closing his eyes slightly
Itachi let him be for a few moments before nudging him to get off.
"Have fun in school tomorrow."
Repressing a pout, Sasuke nodded.
"Night aniki," he gave him a quick hug before he skipped off to his own room.
Itachi shook his head at the retreating form, pulling out a book to do some reading before bed.
~~~~~~
The next morning, Itachi woke to clean boxers, a little irked.
"Was it because he was gone, or just random...?"
Having writhed and had trouble sleeping all night, Sasuke padded sleepily downstairs in the morning, yawning and rubbing his eyes, a pillow being pulled after him as he went to eat breakfast. Or something.
Itachi heard his little brother moving around and decided to lay back down and feign sleep. He'd always enjoyed lounging in the warmth of his bed while awake, sometimes setting his alarm 20 minutes early to simply luxuriate. He would wait until Sasuke left.
"Mommy?" Sasuke asked sleepily, regressing in the way he spoke because of his sleepyness. "....Isn't nii-chan awake yet....?"
Mikoto turned, nearly cooing at her most adorable son and his sleep ruffled hair.
"He wanted to sleep in, remember? Get ready for school and you can have him all to yourself when you get back."
"Awh..." Sasuke sighed sadly, still rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he sat down at the table, hugging his pillow and trying to get some few seconds' rest before breakfast.
Mikoto shook her head, quickly setting out the food.
"Don't forget to brush you're teeth before you leave."
"I won't..." Sasuke nodded, lifting his head before he slowly started to eat his breakfast, yawning in between.
Mikoto sat across from him, eating her own food happily, planning out the chores for the day. With Itachi home, she could get so much more done!
"Thanks for the food," Sasuke yawned once he was done before getting up to brush his teeth and wash his face before going to school.
~~~~~~
Three hours later, Sasuke entered the library of his school, going to do some research on the new task they had gotten. Or one of them. Of course, the one he needed to research was a task on a level much higher than his class, but they had gotten it as a practice-task and as a way to put their own knowledge into perspective, and not get all arrogant about it.
Neji looked up as another student came in, raising a brow. It was unusual for anyone to come in unless forced to by the teacher. He himself only came because the rest of his class was insufferable at lunch time.
Ignoring any other students in the library, Sasuke went to the right section and used a few seconds looking at the different books before he grabbed a few and went to sit by the nearest table, where a brown-haired... guy? Well, he thought it was a guy, sat. The other had feminine features, almost like himself and his aniki, but he also had long, smooth hair that did nothing to give a clue to it being a guy or a girl.
At the younger's staring Neji directed his gaze, tilting his head slightly back to appear as though he were looking down.
"What?"
Immediately disliking the other boy's - his voice identified him as that - attitude, Sasuke scowled.
"Nothing," he replied doing the same tilt of his head before demonstratively turning away from the boy to look in one of the books he had found.
"If it is nothing then don't stare at someone." Neji sniffed, returning to his own book. Stupid younger students, thinking they could act like that to him.
"Hn," Sasuke pouted slightly. "I wasn't staring," he retorted haughtily.
"I believe looking at one particular person for a long time constitutes staring." Neji responded without even deigning to look up again.
"Then you shouldn't leave a doubt whether you're a girl or a boy," Sasuke retorted, looking down at his book, not wanting to look at the other either.
Neji lifted his eyes, narrowed and angry.
"You're one to talk. You could easily pass for a girl if your hair wasn't unnaturally defying gravity."
"Well, your hair is long and shiny and girly as well!" Sasuke replied with a smirk, looking up to meet Neji's gaze challengingly.
"Better than that unruly, unnatural mass on your thick head." Neji said coldly, tilting his chin haughtily.
"It's not!" Sasuke replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. "My hair's really soft actually. But at least I wouldn't be mistaken for a girl!"
"The only one stupid enough to ever mistake me for a girl is you."
"Yeah right, I bet everyone thinks so, they just won't say it to your face."
"Well then at least they're smart enough to not so rudely say it to my face, you heathen."
"Better that than whispering about it behind your back!" Sasuke was about to get up and hit that pretty face, when a chair was pushed back and someone else stood, glaring half-heartedly at them.
"Cheh... troublesome," the new boy muttered to himself, and Sasuke couldn't help noticing the strange way his hair was spiked up... like a pineapple... and even more gravity-defying than his own hair. "You guys are noisy, if you're going to argue, do it outside... troublesome..." Sasuke blinked and suddenly recognised the boy. They were in the same class, but the other, Nara he thought his name was, was always sleeping, so he hadn't noticed him much.
Neji turned to the boy as well, eyeing him up and down. He was younger than him, probably in the stuck up dolts class, his hair spiked even worse than the impudent little kids was. Overall he didn't impress, but he didn't annoy him the way the other one had, which showed improvement.
"He is rather troublesome, isn't he?"
"Meh..." Shikamaru looked at both pretty-boys, internally rolling his eyes. "You're both equally troublesome and equally girly," he replied in the end in a bored voice.
"And you're disturbing my sleep."
"I was only being so uncomposed due to this stupid boy, I assure you." Neji said, flicking his eyes at Sasuke. "As to my appearance, I doubt either of you will go far if your standards for gender are hair length."
"I was only being so uncomposed because he," Sasuke looked pointedly at Neji. "Thought I was staring at him."
"And you're equally rude too," Shikamaru added with a sigh. Why did he always stumble over the troublesome people and having to deal with them.
"Besides, you both would still look like girls even if you had short, spiky hair, now end of discussion," he sighed. "I want to go back to sleep.
"Better to look like a female than a fruit I suppose." Neji said, though he did admit the newest one was better than the first one. Both were annoying at any rate.
"What's your name anyway?"
"Cheh... troublesome," Shikamaru repeated himself, not raising to the bait and becoming angry or insulted. "Nara Shikamaru," he yawned before slumping down by their table, too lazy to keep standing.
"Hyuuga Neji." Neji said, looking at the first boy expectantly.
Blinking as he was expected to introduce himself, Sasuke sighed and pushed away all anger from their previous argument. It had been rather childish after all, he decided.
"Uchiha Sasuke," he added his name to the list.
"I've heard of your clan." Neji said to the little Uchiha. "But not the Nara clan."
"I've heard of yours too," Sasuke replied seriously, trying to act more than his age.
"Cheh..." Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "I'm not surprised. It's not as..." he looked for the right word. "Famous, as the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans."
"To think the Uchiha's let you have such wild hair." Neji said, casting a sidelong look at Sasuke.
Sasuke pouted at the remark. "We can have any hair-do we want in the Uchiha-clan, as long as it's not indecent," he replied, though he wasn't sure what an indecent hair-do would be like, but he supposed that it meant having hair like a delinquent or something.
"In the Hyuuga clan, your hair would be indecent." Neji spoke idly. "As would Shikamaru's."
"Well, your hair looks more girly than any other hair I have ever seen. Including my anikis," Sasuke replied. And it was true that his aniki had girly hair, but he liked it, and other than some feminine qualities, there was no doubt that his aniki was a boy.
"It only looks girly because it's long and you're too narrow minded to think that perhaps long hair can be for boys." Neji retorted.
"Really?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "My father and brother has long hair too. But they're manly as well."
"I highly doubt that." Neji said. "Especially since you just said your brother's hair was shorter than mine."
"I did not. I said yours looked girlier!" Sasuke huffed. "My aniki's hair is longer than yours, if you absolutely must know."
"Hey!!" Shikamaru grumbled, already getting a headache from their childish arguing. "It doesn't matter okay?"
Neji, about to respond, snapped his mouth shut. If someone from a lowly clan he hadn't ever heard of considered their argument beneath him, than it really was a pointless argument.
"Why are you in here then, Nara-kun?" He couldn't bring himself to use the term 'san' with someone so...unprofesional.
"Troublesome.." Shikamaru sighed, but he felt quite thankful the two shut up about their silly argument. "I came here to get some peace and quiet. And to sleep," he shrugged.
"Sleeping is no way to learn anything, Nara-kun." Neji said. "Or do your parents not care if you fail?"
"I won't fail," Shikamaru replied with a roll of his eyes. "I just get bad grades because I sleep during tests..." he yawned carelessly.
"If you're so tired why not sleep more at your house?"
Shikamaru looked at him lazily. "Have you met my mother?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I believe I didn't even know your clan name before this, Nara-kun." Neji responds with an upturned chin.
"My point exactly," Shikamaru yawned. "If you did, you'd know why I don't sleep as much at home."
"No wonder she doesn't care about your grades then." Neji said. He didn't have any parents, but his uncle was strict enough to cover the lapse of both parental units.
"What? No, of course she cares about them," he sighed. "That's why I'm not getting much sleep there. She's constantly nagging!"
"Then why not just pass your classes so she won't nag you?" Neji said as if it were obvious.
"And pass up on sleeping at school?" Shikamaru smirked. "Nah, not worth it. She'd just find something else to nag about."
"Why go to school if you plan to fail then?" Neji asked. This carefree kid was interesting. His parents cared about his grades yet he did nothing to pick them up. He seemed intelegent, yet he was too lazy to prove it. He seemed to not be proud of his natural gifts, a concept completely foreign.
"I told you I wasn't failing," Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"You told me you were sleeping through tests and that's why your mother was nagging you."
"Because I don't do all the stupid essays and tests and stuff, yes," Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "It's not my fault the tasks they give us is too easy and boring," he added after a while, sighing again. "They're troublesome!" He stated.
"Busy work, it teaches the lesser-minded students." Neji said, agreeing with him this time. It was boring and useless, to him anyway, but he did it anyway. It was that or pain. "But it only takes a moment and then you avoid what I assume is lengthy nagging?"
"Cheh... it takes time writing. I don't bother," Shikamaru shrugged. Besides, I told you my mother would just find something else to nag about."
"So rather than appeasing every little whim, you simply pass your classes and ignore her." Neji stated. It seemed as though Shikamaru were in his situation, with a strict authorative figure, but taking the complete opposite path for dealing with it. It seemed strange, but then Neji felt certain Shikamaru's mother couldn't send her son into writhing agony with a thought.
M-hm," Shikamaru smirked, nodding once. "Basically, yes."
"You are strange, Nara-kun." Neji said, dipping his head to look levelly at him.
Chuckling, Shikamaru smirked at the older boy.
"Thanks," he just replied.
Neji's mouth twitched a little in amusement at the younger boy.
"Are you in here often, Nara-kun?"
Raising an eyebrow at him, Shikamaru's smirk didn't lessen.
"Nah, I'm usually on the roof," he replied, pointing up to a window that lead outside to the roof over the entrance to the library. "It's troublesome now though..." he sighed. "It's raining."
"What grade are you in?" Neji asked. No student was allowed to go up there, he knew, but he also knew not many teachers cared if you snuck up there. The students were training to be ninja, if they fell off a roof that was just proof that they weren't worth it.
"His grade," Shikamaru pointed lazily to Sasuke. "We're in the year under you," he added to clarify their ages.
Neji's chin tilted a little defensively as he remembered the Uchiha, looking down on the raven haired boy.
"Hm, perhaps we'll see more of each other. I'm in here frequently."
"Me too," Sasuke just replied as Shikamaru nodded.
"So..." Shikamaru started with a smirk. "Anyone want to join me and skip school?" He asked casually.
Neji gave him a look. He actually wouldn't mind skipping, but he knew the painful consequences.
"I'll have to decline."
"No," Sasuke just gave Shikamaru a level stare. "My aniki wouldn't be happy if I did." He stated.
Shikamaru just shrugged. "Suit yourselves." He just replied.
"What would you go do if you were alone then?" Neji asked.
Shikamaru shrugged.
"I'd wait until it stopped raining and go somewhere to watch clouds," he replied.
"You would fall asleep on a hill, wouldn't you?" Neji said, his lips quirking into a small amused smile. "You're too lazy to stay awake."
"Of course," Shikamaru nodded, admitting it without problems, making Sasuke giggle amused. Skipping school... it did sound tempting he had to admit that... but it would disappoint his aniki, and he didn't want that.
"It'll stop raining in... 10 minutes by the way," Shikamaru sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"And how can you tell that?" Neji asked, focused on Shikamaru and ignoring Sasuke.
Shikamaru just shrugged. "I just know," he smirked, deciding to mess a bit with the Hyuuga and the Uchiha.
"Haven't anyone told you I have magical powers?"
"Magical powers?" Sasuke asked, eyes widening before he pouted. "No one has magical powers!" He exclaimed.
Neji snorted, tilting his chin in disbelief.
"What's your clans speciality?"
Shikamaru just shrugged. "Shadows," he replied with a bored drawl.
"Convenient." Neji said. "Mine deals with the eyes."
"Of course," Shikamaru nodded. "And yours do the same, just in a different way, I suppose?" He asked the Uchiha who nodded, before frowning.
"Yes, but other than that they are nothing alike," he said, feeling he needed to state that there were huge differences between him and the brunette.
"Of course there is. simply put, yours is second-rate to mine."
"Is not," Sasuke huffed. "My aniki is better than any Hyuuga. He doesn't need that stupid Byakugan of yours."
"I'll bet your aniki is only a chuunin, at best." Neji sniffed.
Smirking smugly, Sasuke fixed Neji with a haughty, smug look.
"Actually, Itachi-niisan is an ANBU captain," he stated calmly. "The youngest one since Hatake Kakashi."
Neji's eyes widened. Uchiha Itachi was this impudent little kids older brother?! He narrowed them, disguising his surprise with disdain.
"You don't take after him."
Startled by the rather harsh remark, Sasuke stared at the Hyuuga before lowering his head. Neji had hit way too close to home.
"I know... everyone says that..." he murmured softly, in a thin, sad voice. "Even though I always do my best..."
Neji was a little startled by the sudden submission, but he held his resolve.
"At least you have a chance. Even if I were to be as successful as Itachi-san, I would be considered beneath others."
Sniffling softly, Sasuke tried hard to collect himself again. Wiping away a tear before it could escape from his eye, he looked up at the older boy.
"Beneath others? How?" He asked in a thin voice, still not completely himself again. Talking about his family's disappointment in him always made him too emotional and sappy.
"I am forever beneath my clan. I am an outsider, unwanted and unloved by those inside." Neji said, a note of sadness slinking into his own childish voice. "I am a Hyuuga branch member and will live my life on the outside no matter my accomplishments."
"Branch... member?" Sasuke blinked. He hadn't heard about that before. "What does that mean? Why... why are you looked down upon?" He asked curiously. As much as he disliked, or had disliked, the Hyuuga, he didn't like the sound of that... of being a branch member.
"I'm of lesser blood. The branch families are the most diluted blood-line of Hyuuga." Neji explained, pulling strength into his voice. Even as a branch member he was better than this Uchiha. He need only remember the teary eyes the other had had moments ago.
"That's bullshit," Sasuke huffed, rolling his eyes to Neji's explanation.
"Swearing is the sign of nothing competent to say." Neji responded, though internally he couldn't help agreeing.
"No, I mean, it IS bullshit. There's nothing logical or sensible about it. It's just elitist crap," he huffed. He wasn't quite sure what elitist meant, but he thought it sounded right in that combination. It was an expression he had heard Itachi use once when he thought no one but their cousin Shisui had heard him.
"And it's not swearing. It's just not a pretty word," he added after a while.
"I disagree with your reasoning, but arguing with you on the point is tiresome." Neji said, dismissing him and turning to Shikamaru. "Your clan does not strive for young, successful shinobi?"
"Not in the way your clans does," Shikamaru shrugged. "Sure, they encourage us, and wants us to become good ninjas, but they don't care about the clan's pride. The good of the village and the children go before that." He looked up again and out the window before he smirked. Following his gaze, Sasuke gasped.
"It has stopped raining!" He exclaimed surprised.
"Highly perceptive, aren't you?" Neji said, not willing he was impressed himself.
"Hn," Shikamaru just replied with a shrug. "Just paying some attention," he replied, stretching.
"Well if you were right about how long that took then we'll have to leave soon." Neji's lips twitched again as he regarded the Nara. "Unless you're skipping, of course."
Shikamaru waved at them with his hand, smirking lazily. "Have fun in class," he just replied.
Neji stood up, not waiting for the bell. He waved to Shikamaru slightly, nodding curtly to Sasuke and left.
Nodding back at Neji, Sasuke gathered his books before smiling slightly at the Nara and waved. Despite coming off on the wrong foot with the Hyuuga, he thought, with a fuzzy sensation in his tummy regions, that he might have made his first friends. Schooling his face back into indifference as usual, he walked back to class.
~~~~~
"Kaasaaaaan!" He pouted panting once she stopped.
She pursed her lips playfully back before smiling down at him again.
“A good wife is in charge of the food, Sasuke. That means buying it as well as cooking it.”
Gasping, Sasuke was immediately wide awake.
"Hai!" He replied quickly, jumping out of bed and starting to get dressed.
Mikoto laughed at her sons antics, enjoying how easy it was to get him to do chores now. She would almost miss it when he grew out of this phase. She leaned back, suddenly remembering they were in Itachi’s room.
“Don’t you think you’re getting a little old to be sleeping in here?” She asked, glancing around. It was so neat, she couldn’t even do the mom-tidy-up that most mothers got to indulge in.
"Nu-uh," Sasuke shook his head with a smile just as he had pulled his shirt over his head. "Aniki makes me feel happy," he giggled. "And you sleep in 'tousan's room," he pointed out.
Mikoto gave him a hurt look.
“You’re not happy in your own room? You’re not happy when Itachi isn’t around?”
Blinking, Sasuke looked curiously at his mother and realised what he had said and quickly shook his head.
"I'm happy then too... but... he makes me lots and lots happy," he tried explaining. "And I never have troubles sleeping in his bed."
Mikoto sighed. She could imagine the quarrels that will erupt when, eventually, either Itachi or Fugaku or herself put their foot down on the subject.
“Well, just remember that if Itachi asks you to leave him alone you do it. A good wife minds her husband, the same as a good husband minds his wife.”
Looking startled up at his mother, Sasuke was shocked at the sudden words, tears already starting to well up into his eyes.
"Itachi-niisama wouldn't...." he sniffled softly.
“Sasuke, everyone at one point wants to be alone, even Itachi and even you. I’m not saying he’ll tell you to go away every night, but on the very, very rare nights he’d like to spend to himself, it’s your job as a good wife to give him that.” Mikoto explained, closing her eyes to his teary face and assuming a lecture pose.
Nodding sadly, Sasuke pouted. "But I do! I leave his room when he tells me to..." he muttered unhappily.
Mikoto smiled, ruffling his hair and standing.
“And that’s all I’m asking of you to do, Sasuke. Just respect your brothers wishes when he voices them.”
"If I didn't, Itachi wouldn't be happy with me," Sasuke just replied softly, walking out of the room, not wanting to talk any more about the subject.
Mikoto looked a little startled at Sasuke’s words and actions. Had Itachi done something? Had Itachi not done something? She chewed her lip, standing up and hoping to cheer Sasuke up at the store. Maybe she’d by him a special treat; of his choice, of course
Of course, Sasuke wasn't certain Itachi would stop liking him, but he was already trying the limits at times, and he didn't want to risk losing his aniki. He couldn't imagine how it would be if Itachi started pushing him away seriously.
Hours later they returned, fresh rice and vegetables in tow along with the meat for that nights dinner. Mikoto smiled at her son, letting him carry the vegetable bag, planning on letting him chop and fry tonight.
With her watchful unwavering mother eyes on him, of course.
Munching on one of the tomatoes his mother had bought him, Sasuke's mood was better now, having gotten tomatoes to munch on, as well as the promise he'd get to make Itachi's dinner tonight.
“Sasuke, I’m going to start boiling the rice. Would you mind chopping the vegetables?” Mikoto asked as they reached the kitchen. “Then I’ll let you do all the frying.”
"Hai hai," Sasuke smiled happily, excited that he would be allowed to do the frying for once. He had chopped vegetables before though, so that was no big deal. It was not worse than handling a kunai after all. Grabbing the vegetables laying in water and getting clean, Sasuke started working on his task.
Mikoto smiled at Sasuke, starting up the rice while keeping a watchful eye on him.
"There!" Sasuke said in satisfaction once they were cut, the pieces of approximately the same size and no nicks or cuts on his hands.
“The rice isn’t ready yet honey, but when it is you’ll get to fry it with the vegetables.” She said while pulling the skillet down, starting up the stovetop. “Put the vegetables in; I’ll tell you when to add the rice, alright?”
"Hai," Sasuke stuck his tongue lightly out between his lips in concentration as he put the vegetables in the frying pan, trying to make sure that none of them escaped to the floor.
Mikoto couldn’t help but smile. Her youngest was just so adorable. She could imagine what a heartthrob he’d be later in life. She sighed. Maybe even get over his brother and bring a pretty girl home…
“Alright Sasuke, time for the rice. Ready honey? Be careful.” She added, pouring some of the rice herself before leaving the rest for Sasuke.
Making a startled sound as he took the casserole, finding it quite heavy, Sasuke struggled as he poured the last of the rice into the pan.
"There!" He exclaimed, putting the empty casserole on the counter before he started stirring in the mix.
Mikoto smiled more, drifting back into her thoughts. Maybe she could convince Itachi to find a girl and dispel Sasuke’s neediness? Or at least pretend to find a girl. With his looks she was sure none would mind. There were days she was sure he was prettier than any girl in his generation.
“Alright Sasuke, that’s good.” She said, nudging him away from the stove. “I’ll finish it up and you can go clean yourself up, okay?”
"Hai!" Sasuke nodded, happy he had gotten to cook for his aniki. Skipping upstairs he got into the shower and started cleaning himself up as asked of him. Letting warm, nice water hit his back, Sasuke smiled happily, hoping Itachi would like the dinner he had helped making.
Mikoto hummed as she finished making the food, setting the dishes and keeping it hot. She knew Fugaku would be away from dinner tonight and set aside a dish for him to eat when he got home. She was surprised by the sound of the door sliding open and Itachi’s voice announcing his presence.
“You’re home early, Itachi. Sasuke’s in the shower and dinner isn’t done.” She said as Itachi entered the kitchen. He nodded, sitting at the table.
“I was able to finish quickly. Will Father be joining us?” Mikoto shook her head. Itachi nodded again.
“Sasuke will be glad you’re home early.” Itachi smiled faintly. Sasuke would be happy, until Itachi tried to tell him to sleep in his own bed tonight.
"Aniki!" Sasuke, just out from the shower with wet hair and just dressed, stormed down the stairs to glomp his aniki.
Itachi caught Sasuke around the waist, ruffling his wet hair affectionately and sprinkling both their faces with water.
“Hello otouto. Good to see you warmed up the shower for me.”
Giggling, Sasuke clung to his aniki. "Sasuke made dinner for aniki today!" He exclaimed proudly, closing his eyes as he buried his face in Itachi's neck.
Mikoto shook her head at the two, waving her hands in a shooing motion.
“Itachi, take Sasuke upstairs while I finish the rest of dinner. You can take a shower too, since it is already warm.” She laughed at the last, Itachi nodding in acceptance. He smirked faintly, slipping his arm down Sasuke’s back and hoisting him up as he stood, cupping one soft buttock and thigh to keep him from slipping.
“Shall we, Sasuke?” He asked, already heading for the stairs.
"Hai, hai," Sasuke nodded, wiggling a bit in Itachi's grip, getting comfortable against him.
Itachi chuckled at his brother’s response, stepping into his own room rather than Sasuke’s. He dumped Sasuke onto his bed with a slight bounce, turning to find a towel and clean clothes to change into.
“Try not to get my pillow wet while I’m gone, otouto.” Itachi said over his shoulder, standing with the clean clothes and towel in hand.
"I won't," Sasuke grinned happily, continuing to bounce on Itachi's bed innocently, enjoying the extra spring in Itachi's mattress.
Itachi stepped close to the bed, leaning over to lightly poke his brother in the forehead.
“If my beds dry then maybe next time we can take a bath together like old times, eh?”
"Yes!" Sasuke's face lit up as he rubbed his forehead, even forgetting to pout because Itachi had poked him. "Sasuke would like that," he giggled.
“Speak properly and I might even wash your hair for you.” Itachi said with a faint smile with an even fainter smirk curling the edges. He ruffled Sasuke’s hair, heading for the door.
Once Itachi was out of sight, Sasuke jumped down and ran to find his own towel. He was so not going to make Itachi's bed wet, especially when he had promised to bathe with him. That was something they hadn't done for years, at least since Sasuke was 5, and he remembered it had always been nice to take a bath with his aniki.
While Itachi showered, he thought over the best way to tell Sasuke ‘no’ and stick with it. Although easy to let the boy down when he had a valid excuse such as a mission or a meeting, making up one and lying to the boy was another matter. Possibly his only weakness.
He couldn’t tell Sasuke he was afraid he’d have another wet dream, as he had the previous two nights. Sasuke already knew…somewhat, what was going on and had weaseled his way back into Itachi’s arms. Maybe he’d lie about having a mission in the morning…but that wouldn’t work well, considering how he didn’t have anything to do tomorrow. He’d planned on helping his mother around the house, actually. The clan was being too pushy as of late and he’d requested a day off. He sighed, leaning into the warm water.
Tell him to assassinate the leader of a village in under twelve minutes without getting caught, no problem. Tell him to successfully lie to Sasuke? Ridiculously difficult.
Making sure his hair was getting really dry, or as dry as he could with a towel so that nothing would drip on Itachi's bed, Sasuke hummed happily to himself as he crawled back up into the bed, pulling the covers over himself.
Breathing deeply, he inhaled the scent of his brother and smiled. He really liked being Itachi's wife, and hoped it would last forever and ever, so that he could crawl in and cuddle with his aniki every night.
Itachi, having decided he’d simply say he had a headache or was too tired, finally turned off the shower after washing his hair and body. While he toweled off he was hit with inspiration, pulling a curl to his lips as he dressed and walked out of the bathroom.
He’d bribe Sasuke.
“Did you keep it dry?”
"Hai! Sa.. I did!" Sasuke nodded seriously. "Not a wet spot!"
Itachi smiled slightly, patting Sasuke’s head as he sat down.
“Good. Now Sasuke, tonight you’re going to sleep in your own room, okay?” Itachi began, keeping his hand in the boys hair, petting. “Tomorrow I don’t have anything planned and I’d like to sleep in a little on my day off, right?”
"Wh... aniki..." Sasuke's face fell before he started to pout unhappily. "Why?" He muttered sullenly. "I can be silent when I go to school!" He insisted. "I won't wake you, I promise!
Itachi shook his head.
“No Sasuke. You can handle sleeping in your own bed for one night, can’t you? A good wife can handle it when their husband is away. What do you do when I'm on missions that keep me overnight?” He smiled kindly, stroking Sasuke’s soft locks. “And if you can do that for me, I promise to try and get a Sunday off just for you sometime, okay?”
Lighting up again, Sasuke smiled slightly, hopefully. "Really?" He asked before biting his lower lip. And he knew that if Itachi really wanted to be alone, then he should let him. Besides, a good wife didn't cling too much, wasn't that what his mommy had said?
"Okay," he nodded with a small sigh. "I'll miss you tonight though," he pouted.
Itachi ran his hand through Sasuke’s hair one more time, drawing back with a smile.
“Good boy.” He reached up again, poking Sasuke in the forehead. “I think dinner will be done soon.”
"Anikiii!" Sasuke pouted and rubbed his forehead. His brother always did that, for some reason, and though he pouted and whined about it, Sasuke knew he liked it.
"Do you think you will like it?" He asked, biting his lower lip.
“You heard what Kaa-san said right? If you made it with love there’s no way I couldn’t like it.”
"Yeah..." Sasuke nodded and looked down a bit shyly. "But I'm not sure if that's one of the things adults just say without really meaning," he pouted slightly. "And.. I like hearing you say you like it..." he murmured at the end.
“It’s not something adults just say, but the full meaning is a little…complex. If I love you and you love me, then it won’t matter if the food physically tastes bad, I’ll like it because you made it for me.”
"Is... is that possible?" Sasuke asked confused, tilting his head to the side, not understanding.
"So.. you would like anything Sasuke made for you?"
Itachi paused. He did love Sasuke, just not in the way he was explaining…He’d understand when he was older.
“If you love me, then yes, anything you make I’d like.”
Giggling, Sasuke glomped his brother. "I love you lots and lots aniki!" He stated happily.
Itachi put an arm around him, sighing. He wondered what it would be like when Sasuke grew out of this phase. Oh god, what would it be like when Sasuke went through puberty? He almost laughed. He could just imagine a 12 year old Sasuke asking him how long it would take for hair to grow on his chin…and other areas, if this clinging devotion kept up.
“Alright, let’s go see if the food ready, yeah?”
"Hai, hai," Sasuke chirped, pecking his aniki's cheek quickly. He didn't look forward to spending the night alone, but in the meantime he'd try to spend as much time with Itachi as he could, to make up for that.
Standing, he took Sasuke’s hand and lead him out of his room, knowing full well how giddy it would make him.
“Oh, I was just going to get you!” Mikoto said with a laugh as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Itachi let go of Sasuke’s hand, sweeping some hair out of his eyes as he smiled at his mother.
“I take it dinners ready, mother?” Mikoto nodded, waving them towards the kitchen, following after her two boys.
Grinning happily as he bounced down the stairs, hand in hand with his brother, Sasuke felt like he was bubbling over. Itachi had been so very nice to him lately and spent a lot of time with him, more than ever before, and that really made the little boy happy.
Itachi sat down at the table, his mother graciously sitting across from him, leaving the seat beside him open for Sasuke.
“I don’t have any missions tomorrow.” He announced. “Would you like some help around the house?”
Getting into the free seat beside his aniki, Sasuke waited impatiently as their 'kaasan put food on the table, the conversation uninteresting to him, because no matter how much he wanted to be home with Itachi when he for once was home, he had to go to school, and even if he had wanted to skip, they had a project coming up, and he couldn't miss that.
"Sure Itachi, it's always nice to have help around the house." Mikoto said with a smile. Itachi nodded, beginning to eat the food. After a couple bites he turned to Sasuke, giving him an encouraging smile.
"It's delicious."
Beaming at the praise from his aniki, Sasuke blushed faintly as he grinned happily. "I'm glad you like it, aniki," he managed to say after a moment of suppressing the urge to say 'yay' or something childish like that, and searching for the proper thing to say in return.
Itachi smiled kindly, his mother nearly beaming across the table at them both.
Continuing to eat his food, Sasuke glowed from happiness for the rest of the dinner, though he behaved himself as he should, if only because he knew Itachi would want that. He didn't appreciate it when Sasuke was too childish.
Itachi helped clear the dishes when dinner was through, still speaking with his mother about what they would do tomorrow.
"I plan to sleep in a little, so Sasuke will be in his own room tonight." Mikoto smiled, ruffling Sasuke's hair.
"Poor boy. He'll stay up half the night pining."
"Will not!" Sasuke pouted, denying the truth. Of course he would be up most of the night, getting scared by the shadows on the wall and longing to feel his brother's soothing breathing against his soft skin as they slept. However, he wouldn't admit it, not just like that anyway, especially as he was supposed to be a big boy now.
"He's a big boy." Itachi said with a faint smile. "He hardy needs me anymore."
"Oh, he'll always need you Itachi don't be so mean. You always need family." Itachi's smile faded, recounting just how little he needed his family. Honestly, Sasuke and Mikoto were the only ones deserving to live...
"Aniki?" Sasuke asked, noticing how his smile disappeared. "Sasuke will always need you," he murmured, getting up to hug his older brother around the waist, which was as high as he could reach.
Itachi brought his hand to Sasuke's hair, feeling an urge to hold him close. Sasuke, his only salve from the stress that was the rest of his 'family'. He tilted his head down, smiling softly at the little boy.
"Thank you, Sasuke."
Beaming at the smile he had gotten from his aniki, Sasuke just hugged Itachi a bit tighter before he pulled back with a small yawn.
"Nee... can we cuddle a bit before I go sleep in my own bed?" He murmured a bit shyly, wanting to spend at least some with with Itachi before bedtime.
Mikoto had to suppress a giggle at her youngest's request. He was so attached to Itachi, it was adorable.
"Let him have his Itachi-time, dear." She spoke to the elder brother. "You'll come to miss it when he grows older."
"Please aniki?" Sasuke looked pleadingly up at the older Uchiha, looking quite hopeful.
Itachi pushed Sasuke away, nodding to his mother.
"Alright." He turned, heading for the stairs, knowing Sasuke would follow along behind him.
Making a soft noise of happiness, Sasuke bounded off after him, staying close behind him all the way to his room.
Itachi stepped into his room, moving to his bed and sitting down, swinging his legs up to lay leaning against the headboard.
Jumping so that he could climb up into Itachi's bed, Sasuke settled himself in his lap, yawning softly again as he closed his eyes, content to lean against his aniki.
Itachi sighed, a little in contentment and a little from stress. He enjoyed Sasuke's company, the small, soft body pressed against his as he slept. But now that he'd hit puberty, now that his male anatomy was becoming active...He sighed again.
"What am I going to do with you, Sasuke?" He asked rhetorically.
"Do with me?" Sasuke asked puzzled, having no clue of his aniki's inner distress. "I... I don't understand...?" He looked up at him a bit worried about his older brother.
"You don't need to." Itachi said, wrapping his arms around the younger boy. "Just a little longer, then I'm going to bed, okay?"
"Okay..." Sasuke nodded, yawning again, knowing that it was about time he went to bed as well. The problem was... he might not be able to sleep because of Itachi.
"I'll miss you tonight," he murmured with a small pout.
"We'll see each other tomorrow, when you get back from school." Itachi said, squeezing his arms a little before pulling away.
"And you'll let me sleep in your bed tomorrow night?" He asked hopefully with a small smile. And maybe, just maybe, Itachi would have the time to train a bit with him after school the next day.
'If I don't have another problem tonight...' Itachi thought to himself. "Maybe. We'll see what my plans are."
"Thank you, aniki," Sasuke giggled softly, closing his eyes slightly
Itachi let him be for a few moments before nudging him to get off.
"Have fun in school tomorrow."
Repressing a pout, Sasuke nodded.
"Night aniki," he gave him a quick hug before he skipped off to his own room.
Itachi shook his head at the retreating form, pulling out a book to do some reading before bed.
~~~~~~
The next morning, Itachi woke to clean boxers, a little irked.
"Was it because he was gone, or just random...?"
Having writhed and had trouble sleeping all night, Sasuke padded sleepily downstairs in the morning, yawning and rubbing his eyes, a pillow being pulled after him as he went to eat breakfast. Or something.
Itachi heard his little brother moving around and decided to lay back down and feign sleep. He'd always enjoyed lounging in the warmth of his bed while awake, sometimes setting his alarm 20 minutes early to simply luxuriate. He would wait until Sasuke left.
"Mommy?" Sasuke asked sleepily, regressing in the way he spoke because of his sleepyness. "....Isn't nii-chan awake yet....?"
Mikoto turned, nearly cooing at her most adorable son and his sleep ruffled hair.
"He wanted to sleep in, remember? Get ready for school and you can have him all to yourself when you get back."
"Awh..." Sasuke sighed sadly, still rubbing sleep out of his eyes as he sat down at the table, hugging his pillow and trying to get some few seconds' rest before breakfast.
Mikoto shook her head, quickly setting out the food.
"Don't forget to brush you're teeth before you leave."
"I won't..." Sasuke nodded, lifting his head before he slowly started to eat his breakfast, yawning in between.
Mikoto sat across from him, eating her own food happily, planning out the chores for the day. With Itachi home, she could get so much more done!
"Thanks for the food," Sasuke yawned once he was done before getting up to brush his teeth and wash his face before going to school.
~~~~~~
Three hours later, Sasuke entered the library of his school, going to do some research on the new task they had gotten. Or one of them. Of course, the one he needed to research was a task on a level much higher than his class, but they had gotten it as a practice-task and as a way to put their own knowledge into perspective, and not get all arrogant about it.
Neji looked up as another student came in, raising a brow. It was unusual for anyone to come in unless forced to by the teacher. He himself only came because the rest of his class was insufferable at lunch time.
Ignoring any other students in the library, Sasuke went to the right section and used a few seconds looking at the different books before he grabbed a few and went to sit by the nearest table, where a brown-haired... guy? Well, he thought it was a guy, sat. The other had feminine features, almost like himself and his aniki, but he also had long, smooth hair that did nothing to give a clue to it being a guy or a girl.
At the younger's staring Neji directed his gaze, tilting his head slightly back to appear as though he were looking down.
"What?"
Immediately disliking the other boy's - his voice identified him as that - attitude, Sasuke scowled.
"Nothing," he replied doing the same tilt of his head before demonstratively turning away from the boy to look in one of the books he had found.
"If it is nothing then don't stare at someone." Neji sniffed, returning to his own book. Stupid younger students, thinking they could act like that to him.
"Hn," Sasuke pouted slightly. "I wasn't staring," he retorted haughtily.
"I believe looking at one particular person for a long time constitutes staring." Neji responded without even deigning to look up again.
"Then you shouldn't leave a doubt whether you're a girl or a boy," Sasuke retorted, looking down at his book, not wanting to look at the other either.
Neji lifted his eyes, narrowed and angry.
"You're one to talk. You could easily pass for a girl if your hair wasn't unnaturally defying gravity."
"Well, your hair is long and shiny and girly as well!" Sasuke replied with a smirk, looking up to meet Neji's gaze challengingly.
"Better than that unruly, unnatural mass on your thick head." Neji said coldly, tilting his chin haughtily.
"It's not!" Sasuke replied, narrowing his eyes slightly. "My hair's really soft actually. But at least I wouldn't be mistaken for a girl!"
"The only one stupid enough to ever mistake me for a girl is you."
"Yeah right, I bet everyone thinks so, they just won't say it to your face."
"Well then at least they're smart enough to not so rudely say it to my face, you heathen."
"Better that than whispering about it behind your back!" Sasuke was about to get up and hit that pretty face, when a chair was pushed back and someone else stood, glaring half-heartedly at them.
"Cheh... troublesome," the new boy muttered to himself, and Sasuke couldn't help noticing the strange way his hair was spiked up... like a pineapple... and even more gravity-defying than his own hair. "You guys are noisy, if you're going to argue, do it outside... troublesome..." Sasuke blinked and suddenly recognised the boy. They were in the same class, but the other, Nara he thought his name was, was always sleeping, so he hadn't noticed him much.
Neji turned to the boy as well, eyeing him up and down. He was younger than him, probably in the stuck up dolts class, his hair spiked even worse than the impudent little kids was. Overall he didn't impress, but he didn't annoy him the way the other one had, which showed improvement.
"He is rather troublesome, isn't he?"
"Meh..." Shikamaru looked at both pretty-boys, internally rolling his eyes. "You're both equally troublesome and equally girly," he replied in the end in a bored voice.
"And you're disturbing my sleep."
"I was only being so uncomposed due to this stupid boy, I assure you." Neji said, flicking his eyes at Sasuke. "As to my appearance, I doubt either of you will go far if your standards for gender are hair length."
"I was only being so uncomposed because he," Sasuke looked pointedly at Neji. "Thought I was staring at him."
"And you're equally rude too," Shikamaru added with a sigh. Why did he always stumble over the troublesome people and having to deal with them.
"Besides, you both would still look like girls even if you had short, spiky hair, now end of discussion," he sighed. "I want to go back to sleep.
"Better to look like a female than a fruit I suppose." Neji said, though he did admit the newest one was better than the first one. Both were annoying at any rate.
"What's your name anyway?"
"Cheh... troublesome," Shikamaru repeated himself, not raising to the bait and becoming angry or insulted. "Nara Shikamaru," he yawned before slumping down by their table, too lazy to keep standing.
"Hyuuga Neji." Neji said, looking at the first boy expectantly.
Blinking as he was expected to introduce himself, Sasuke sighed and pushed away all anger from their previous argument. It had been rather childish after all, he decided.
"Uchiha Sasuke," he added his name to the list.
"I've heard of your clan." Neji said to the little Uchiha. "But not the Nara clan."
"I've heard of yours too," Sasuke replied seriously, trying to act more than his age.
"Cheh..." Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "I'm not surprised. It's not as..." he looked for the right word. "Famous, as the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans."
"To think the Uchiha's let you have such wild hair." Neji said, casting a sidelong look at Sasuke.
Sasuke pouted at the remark. "We can have any hair-do we want in the Uchiha-clan, as long as it's not indecent," he replied, though he wasn't sure what an indecent hair-do would be like, but he supposed that it meant having hair like a delinquent or something.
"In the Hyuuga clan, your hair would be indecent." Neji spoke idly. "As would Shikamaru's."
"Well, your hair looks more girly than any other hair I have ever seen. Including my anikis," Sasuke replied. And it was true that his aniki had girly hair, but he liked it, and other than some feminine qualities, there was no doubt that his aniki was a boy.
"It only looks girly because it's long and you're too narrow minded to think that perhaps long hair can be for boys." Neji retorted.
"Really?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "My father and brother has long hair too. But they're manly as well."
"I highly doubt that." Neji said. "Especially since you just said your brother's hair was shorter than mine."
"I did not. I said yours looked girlier!" Sasuke huffed. "My aniki's hair is longer than yours, if you absolutely must know."
"Hey!!" Shikamaru grumbled, already getting a headache from their childish arguing. "It doesn't matter okay?"
Neji, about to respond, snapped his mouth shut. If someone from a lowly clan he hadn't ever heard of considered their argument beneath him, than it really was a pointless argument.
"Why are you in here then, Nara-kun?" He couldn't bring himself to use the term 'san' with someone so...unprofesional.
"Troublesome.." Shikamaru sighed, but he felt quite thankful the two shut up about their silly argument. "I came here to get some peace and quiet. And to sleep," he shrugged.
"Sleeping is no way to learn anything, Nara-kun." Neji said. "Or do your parents not care if you fail?"
"I won't fail," Shikamaru replied with a roll of his eyes. "I just get bad grades because I sleep during tests..." he yawned carelessly.
"If you're so tired why not sleep more at your house?"
Shikamaru looked at him lazily. "Have you met my mother?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I believe I didn't even know your clan name before this, Nara-kun." Neji responds with an upturned chin.
"My point exactly," Shikamaru yawned. "If you did, you'd know why I don't sleep as much at home."
"No wonder she doesn't care about your grades then." Neji said. He didn't have any parents, but his uncle was strict enough to cover the lapse of both parental units.
"What? No, of course she cares about them," he sighed. "That's why I'm not getting much sleep there. She's constantly nagging!"
"Then why not just pass your classes so she won't nag you?" Neji said as if it were obvious.
"And pass up on sleeping at school?" Shikamaru smirked. "Nah, not worth it. She'd just find something else to nag about."
"Why go to school if you plan to fail then?" Neji asked. This carefree kid was interesting. His parents cared about his grades yet he did nothing to pick them up. He seemed intelegent, yet he was too lazy to prove it. He seemed to not be proud of his natural gifts, a concept completely foreign.
"I told you I wasn't failing," Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"You told me you were sleeping through tests and that's why your mother was nagging you."
"Because I don't do all the stupid essays and tests and stuff, yes," Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "It's not my fault the tasks they give us is too easy and boring," he added after a while, sighing again. "They're troublesome!" He stated.
"Busy work, it teaches the lesser-minded students." Neji said, agreeing with him this time. It was boring and useless, to him anyway, but he did it anyway. It was that or pain. "But it only takes a moment and then you avoid what I assume is lengthy nagging?"
"Cheh... it takes time writing. I don't bother," Shikamaru shrugged. Besides, I told you my mother would just find something else to nag about."
"So rather than appeasing every little whim, you simply pass your classes and ignore her." Neji stated. It seemed as though Shikamaru were in his situation, with a strict authorative figure, but taking the complete opposite path for dealing with it. It seemed strange, but then Neji felt certain Shikamaru's mother couldn't send her son into writhing agony with a thought.
M-hm," Shikamaru smirked, nodding once. "Basically, yes."
"You are strange, Nara-kun." Neji said, dipping his head to look levelly at him.
Chuckling, Shikamaru smirked at the older boy.
"Thanks," he just replied.
Neji's mouth twitched a little in amusement at the younger boy.
"Are you in here often, Nara-kun?"
Raising an eyebrow at him, Shikamaru's smirk didn't lessen.
"Nah, I'm usually on the roof," he replied, pointing up to a window that lead outside to the roof over the entrance to the library. "It's troublesome now though..." he sighed. "It's raining."
"What grade are you in?" Neji asked. No student was allowed to go up there, he knew, but he also knew not many teachers cared if you snuck up there. The students were training to be ninja, if they fell off a roof that was just proof that they weren't worth it.
"His grade," Shikamaru pointed lazily to Sasuke. "We're in the year under you," he added to clarify their ages.
Neji's chin tilted a little defensively as he remembered the Uchiha, looking down on the raven haired boy.
"Hm, perhaps we'll see more of each other. I'm in here frequently."
"Me too," Sasuke just replied as Shikamaru nodded.
"So..." Shikamaru started with a smirk. "Anyone want to join me and skip school?" He asked casually.
Neji gave him a look. He actually wouldn't mind skipping, but he knew the painful consequences.
"I'll have to decline."
"No," Sasuke just gave Shikamaru a level stare. "My aniki wouldn't be happy if I did." He stated.
Shikamaru just shrugged. "Suit yourselves." He just replied.
"What would you go do if you were alone then?" Neji asked.
Shikamaru shrugged.
"I'd wait until it stopped raining and go somewhere to watch clouds," he replied.
"You would fall asleep on a hill, wouldn't you?" Neji said, his lips quirking into a small amused smile. "You're too lazy to stay awake."
"Of course," Shikamaru nodded, admitting it without problems, making Sasuke giggle amused. Skipping school... it did sound tempting he had to admit that... but it would disappoint his aniki, and he didn't want that.
"It'll stop raining in... 10 minutes by the way," Shikamaru sighed, scratching the back of his head.
"And how can you tell that?" Neji asked, focused on Shikamaru and ignoring Sasuke.
Shikamaru just shrugged. "I just know," he smirked, deciding to mess a bit with the Hyuuga and the Uchiha.
"Haven't anyone told you I have magical powers?"
"Magical powers?" Sasuke asked, eyes widening before he pouted. "No one has magical powers!" He exclaimed.
Neji snorted, tilting his chin in disbelief.
"What's your clans speciality?"
Shikamaru just shrugged. "Shadows," he replied with a bored drawl.
"Convenient." Neji said. "Mine deals with the eyes."
"Of course," Shikamaru nodded. "And yours do the same, just in a different way, I suppose?" He asked the Uchiha who nodded, before frowning.
"Yes, but other than that they are nothing alike," he said, feeling he needed to state that there were huge differences between him and the brunette.
"Of course there is. simply put, yours is second-rate to mine."
"Is not," Sasuke huffed. "My aniki is better than any Hyuuga. He doesn't need that stupid Byakugan of yours."
"I'll bet your aniki is only a chuunin, at best." Neji sniffed.
Smirking smugly, Sasuke fixed Neji with a haughty, smug look.
"Actually, Itachi-niisan is an ANBU captain," he stated calmly. "The youngest one since Hatake Kakashi."
Neji's eyes widened. Uchiha Itachi was this impudent little kids older brother?! He narrowed them, disguising his surprise with disdain.
"You don't take after him."
Startled by the rather harsh remark, Sasuke stared at the Hyuuga before lowering his head. Neji had hit way too close to home.
"I know... everyone says that..." he murmured softly, in a thin, sad voice. "Even though I always do my best..."
Neji was a little startled by the sudden submission, but he held his resolve.
"At least you have a chance. Even if I were to be as successful as Itachi-san, I would be considered beneath others."
Sniffling softly, Sasuke tried hard to collect himself again. Wiping away a tear before it could escape from his eye, he looked up at the older boy.
"Beneath others? How?" He asked in a thin voice, still not completely himself again. Talking about his family's disappointment in him always made him too emotional and sappy.
"I am forever beneath my clan. I am an outsider, unwanted and unloved by those inside." Neji said, a note of sadness slinking into his own childish voice. "I am a Hyuuga branch member and will live my life on the outside no matter my accomplishments."
"Branch... member?" Sasuke blinked. He hadn't heard about that before. "What does that mean? Why... why are you looked down upon?" He asked curiously. As much as he disliked, or had disliked, the Hyuuga, he didn't like the sound of that... of being a branch member.
"I'm of lesser blood. The branch families are the most diluted blood-line of Hyuuga." Neji explained, pulling strength into his voice. Even as a branch member he was better than this Uchiha. He need only remember the teary eyes the other had had moments ago.
"That's bullshit," Sasuke huffed, rolling his eyes to Neji's explanation.
"Swearing is the sign of nothing competent to say." Neji responded, though internally he couldn't help agreeing.
"No, I mean, it IS bullshit. There's nothing logical or sensible about it. It's just elitist crap," he huffed. He wasn't quite sure what elitist meant, but he thought it sounded right in that combination. It was an expression he had heard Itachi use once when he thought no one but their cousin Shisui had heard him.
"And it's not swearing. It's just not a pretty word," he added after a while.
"I disagree with your reasoning, but arguing with you on the point is tiresome." Neji said, dismissing him and turning to Shikamaru. "Your clan does not strive for young, successful shinobi?"
"Not in the way your clans does," Shikamaru shrugged. "Sure, they encourage us, and wants us to become good ninjas, but they don't care about the clan's pride. The good of the village and the children go before that." He looked up again and out the window before he smirked. Following his gaze, Sasuke gasped.
"It has stopped raining!" He exclaimed surprised.
"Highly perceptive, aren't you?" Neji said, not willing he was impressed himself.
"Hn," Shikamaru just replied with a shrug. "Just paying some attention," he replied, stretching.
"Well if you were right about how long that took then we'll have to leave soon." Neji's lips twitched again as he regarded the Nara. "Unless you're skipping, of course."
Shikamaru waved at them with his hand, smirking lazily. "Have fun in class," he just replied.
Neji stood up, not waiting for the bell. He waved to Shikamaru slightly, nodding curtly to Sasuke and left.
Nodding back at Neji, Sasuke gathered his books before smiling slightly at the Nara and waved. Despite coming off on the wrong foot with the Hyuuga, he thought, with a fuzzy sensation in his tummy regions, that he might have made his first friends. Schooling his face back into indifference as usual, he walked back to class.