08-05-09, 4:00 PM
the last thing {Naruto Fanfic, Sasuke-centric}
Anime Relations: Naruto
When Sasuke was a young boy, one of his biggest fascinations was Itachi’s hair. Sasuke often wondered if his older brother ever let his hair down from the ponytail. He even fell asleep with the ponytail on and Sasuke hid in Itachi’s closet and watched him prepare for bed to make sure of this. Itachi must have removed the ponytail when he took a bath, but before he could find out for sure, Itachi found him in his hiding place inside a cabinet and forced him to leave.
Late one night, after Sasuke had finally given up on the mystery of Itachi’s hair, the little boy wandered around the hallways of his house searching for cookies and a glass of milk.
Sasuke spotted Itachi in the living room and was about to ask where their mother hid the cookies, but stopped when he realized that the door was halfway open with Itachi’s unmoving hand resting on the doorknob. Itachi was wearing what he called his “work clothes,” an outfit mostly composed of white and midnight blue tight fitting cloth. A white mask with red markings was tightly clenched in his other hand and a red hair tie was wrapped loosely around his wrist.
Itachi’s hair was messier than Sasuke expected it to be. It looked tangled and fell from his shoulders in uneven bundles. Though as messy as it was, it looked soft and delicate, like the black feathers of a raven.
Itachi only glanced back at Sasuke before turning his head forward and stepping through the small opening of the door.
“Wait!” Sasuke yelled and ran as fast as his small legs could carry him. Itachi’s hand fell from the doorknob and he waited patiently as Sasuke caught up to him, wrapped his small hands around his palm and pulled Itachi back into their house.
“Where are you going?” Sasuke asked and Itachi kneeled until his eyes were leveled with Sasuke’s. Itachi’s hair framed his face, it made him look older and his face gaunter. The small, reassuring smile that formed on his lips seemed almost out of place.
“Don’t look so worried. I’ll be back soon.”
His answer only made Sasuke more worried and he tightened his hold on Itachi’s hand.
“You’re going to do something dangerous, aren’t you?”
Itachi’s smile fell and he sighed, not really knowing how to respond.
“Sasuke,” Itachi began, “I must leave now, but I promise you that I’ll be safe. Now, go to bed.”
“You never keep your promises!” Sasuke yelled stubbornly, ignoring his older brother’s request.
Itachi paused, then smiled again and said, “Trust me on this one. I’ll be fine.”
Itachi moved to stand up, but Sasuke abruptly wrapped his small arms around Itachi’s neck and pulled him into an embrace. Itachi froze at the sudden contact and Sasuke wondered if something as simple as a hug could really be so foreign to his older brother.
“Did mom ever hug you?”
“Of course she did,” Itachi responded. “I’ve just… forgotten how it feels.”
The two fell silent and Sasuke shifted uncomfortably, wishing Itachi would at least move or respond in some way. A cool breeze blew through the opened door and Sasuke shivered. He snuggled closer to Itachi and rested his small head against his brother’s neck, the long locks of hair pressing against Sasuke’s cheek.
After a few moments, Sasuke reluctantly asked, “Do you really have to go? You’re never around anymore.” Sasuke knew that Itachi hated when he whined, yet he couldn’t help but ask.
For a moment, Itachi seemed to actually consider his request.
Itachi dropped his mask, the wood clattering onto their polished wooden floor. Itachi’s gloved hand rested on Sasuke’s shoulder and slowly pushed him backwards, until their faces were mere inches away.
“I have certain responsibilities,” Itachi said. He had a distant look in his eyes, as if a sudden thought had distracted him and taken him some place faraway.
“Don’t follow in my footsteps,” Itachi continued, “It’s the last thing I’d ever want for you.”
Before his words sunk in, Itachi suddenly pushed Sasuke away, stood up and hastily began tying his hair into the ponytail. Sasuke heard the soft thud of footsteps coming from the hallway and their mother soon shuffled into the room. She didn’t notice them at first, but blinked in surprise when she spotted her eldest son retrieving his mask from where it fell on the floor.
“Itachi? Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you have left by now?”
“Yes, but I got distracted,” Itachi responded and looked pointedly at Sasuke, who pouted in response. “Don’t expect me to return until morning.”
Then, he was gone. As his mother led him back to his bedroom, Sasuke wondered why Itachi’s embrace left him feeling colder than the frosty night air.
A few blocks before they reached their usual meeting place with the rest of Team 7, Sasuke asked, “Why do you keep your hair long?”
Sakura smiled brightly and almost responded, “Because of you, of course!” But, Sakura noticed the weary, almost bored expression on Sasuke’s face and knew he wasn’t ready for her answer.
“I’ve wanted long hair since I was a child. Why do you ask?”
Sasuke looked up at the sky and avoided her questioning gaze. “Nevermind. It’s not important.”
A/N: Written years ago. Have yet to watch much of Shippuden, so some things here may no longer be canonical.
Posted by bellpickle | 08-05-09, 4:00 PM | Add a comment