003 | Remembering | Video?
[The scene that plays on the feed is most certainly nothing in the City; a five-year-old boy sits on the porch of a more-or-less traditionally styled Japanese house at dusk, cradling an infant in a sling and crooning softly to him. Despite the difference in years, the boy is immediately recognizable as Itachi; the prominent creases that slice away from his eyes are less dramatic in child-pudgy cheeks, but still quite visible. From what little the view shows of the house and garden around him, it's obviously richly appointed; not a hard guess that his family is fairly wealthy.
He's cradling the infant with intense fascination and tenderness, seeming to be completely absorbed in watching him, in listening to the soft burbles of sound he produces, in rocking him, singing to him softly, and just being with him. This is the proudest big brother who was ever proud of anything, and nothing exists in his world except this baby with his soft cap of dark hair and deep eyes that watch the world with half-focused interest.
But then a shiver runs up his back, and he looks up at the dark sky. "What's that...?" It's a thin whisper, a child's fear, and the infant starts to fuss in his arms. "You can feel it too?" Itachi murmurs, rocking the baby and trying to soothe him. "You're just as strong as me, Sasuke... I knew it. Shh, shh... it's okay. I'm your big brother... I'm always going to protect you." He looks up, though, and his face is pale and frightened as the infant Sasuke's fussing escalates to outright crying. "Why do Mom and Dad have to be gone now...?" Even at five, Itachi knows that what's coming is more than he can face. But he's still trying to be the strong brother. "Shh... I won't let it hurt you, Sasuke. Your big brother's here. You're gonna be okay." He keeps rocking the baby, now hunching protectively over him as if he could shield Sasuke from the incoming danger with his own small body.
The earth seems to shake, and Itachi clutches at Sasuke, his eyes going wide with fear. He's fighting it, though. He can't be afraid because he has to be the big brother, the strong one. That's his job now.]
He's cradling the infant with intense fascination and tenderness, seeming to be completely absorbed in watching him, in listening to the soft burbles of sound he produces, in rocking him, singing to him softly, and just being with him. This is the proudest big brother who was ever proud of anything, and nothing exists in his world except this baby with his soft cap of dark hair and deep eyes that watch the world with half-focused interest.
But then a shiver runs up his back, and he looks up at the dark sky. "What's that...?" It's a thin whisper, a child's fear, and the infant starts to fuss in his arms. "You can feel it too?" Itachi murmurs, rocking the baby and trying to soothe him. "You're just as strong as me, Sasuke... I knew it. Shh, shh... it's okay. I'm your big brother... I'm always going to protect you." He looks up, though, and his face is pale and frightened as the infant Sasuke's fussing escalates to outright crying. "Why do Mom and Dad have to be gone now...?" Even at five, Itachi knows that what's coming is more than he can face. But he's still trying to be the strong brother. "Shh... I won't let it hurt you, Sasuke. Your big brother's here. You're gonna be okay." He keeps rocking the baby, now hunching protectively over him as if he could shield Sasuke from the incoming danger with his own small body.
The earth seems to shake, and Itachi clutches at Sasuke, his eyes going wide with fear. He's fighting it, though. He can't be afraid because he has to be the big brother, the strong one. That's his job now.]