Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto… I own Gaara! hides from Japanese lawyers who are pulling out their pretty black guns Fine! I don't own anything okay! Oh yeah I don't own the song either. It's done by Smile Empty Soul. Great band if I do say so myself.

Warnings: AU. Child abuse. OOC? Hints of shonen-ai so if you don't like it don't read it! A not happy Sasuke family, so if you want them to be happy get lost! Angst! You have been warned so don't flame.

OKAY! This fic is angst because I just love angst. Not an oneshot! They're probably around 11 years old about now, but you can do whatever in your little heads at the moment. There will be shonen-ai (boy love) soon so be patient all you shonen-ai lovers. In this one Itachi didn't massacre the Uchiha clan and several other things involving Sasu are different, thus it's an AU. There are too many 'poor Naruto' fics and not enough 'poor Sasuke' fics. Thus this was created! Be nice and R&R

It always looked so good.

-I walk into the room

you don't have to scream I can hear you

bad trip, the needle sticks

you get your kicks from confrontation

I try to make it past

I don't wanna get into it right now

can't this family have one day

to get away from all the pain-

Sasuke crept across the barren hall and with each footstep the wooden floor betrayed him with a throbbing whine. The wood felt freezing beneath his bare feet and his toes instantly curled away from the icy touch. His dark eyes shifted carefully around the shadowed area, despite the time he knew his parents would still be awake. The low rumble of voices could be heard from the other room, where he could only assume his parents were. He paused in the hallway, an internal battle racing through his head: should he go talk to them or not?

He trained extra hard that day, much later into the night than planned, but he didn't think his parents would mind; his father was constantly going on about being as skilled as his brother and his mother was always downcast by the lack of harmony in their little family. His mother used to be so kind about the fact Sasuke wasn't a genius like his brother, but things changed slightly with time. Arguments were constantly formed over Sasuke's lack of progress, therefore giving his mother her own reason for him to get stronger: to end the constant quarrels.

'What is the point of them knowing I worked extra hard today?' He asked himself bitterly. 'They probably haven't even noticed I'm late'. His black irises shifted to corner of his eyes and his head bent downward.

Sasuke exhaled as he made up his mind; in the end his pessimistic side took over. He didn't want to deal with them right now; he was so tired, both physically and emotionally. He had no desire to see the disappointment that always lingered in their eyes whenever their gaze fell upon him. Even when they were smiling at him he could still grasp that ever present dissatisfaction lingering inside them, hiding poorly under the thin surface.

He tried to desperately to be as great as his brother was at his age, but he was left in the dust. That dust was choking him, strangling him until he could barely breathe. He didn't know if he could last much longer against the overwhelming emotions swirling around him, inside of him. It was like a constant ache deep inside of him, crushing him from the inside out.

The rumbles of the voices in the other room got louder and Sasuke raised an eyebrow. 'Are they fighting?' He asked himself anxiously. Suddenly a piercing crash shattered through the silent air like a sword slicing through skin. Sasuke's head whipped around to the door, his eyes wide and scared. It sounded as if someone hand thrown a vase in the other room. Shouts now mixed within curses contaminated the air in a chaos that Sasuke was lost in. He had no idea about what was going on or what they were fighting about. He wanted nothing more but to run away, but he stood rooted to the spot.

"MAYBE IF YOU AT LEAST MADE AN EFFORT TO HELP HE WOU--" The shouts of his father could be salvaged through all the noise, only to be cut off by his brother's voice.

"What's the point! So you can use him too?" His brother's normally calm and quiet voice was ridden with fury. "I'm sick of all this crap, I'm leaving!"

A door slammed open and soon Sasuke saw his brother storming down the hall. It was like when you gaze at the sky on a stormy night and see only gloom. The older boy's face was composed, but it was clear that he wasn't as collected as he appeared when he collided headlong into his younger brother. His head jerked downward and he blinked once at the sight of his brother. Sasuke gazed up at him with miserable eyes that mirrored the older boy's pale face. Their appearance was so alike, it was impossible to not recognize them as brothers. There was silence between them, the seconds unused dying with each breath.

"Why are you home so late?" Itachi questioned at last, as if nothing happened.

"Training," Sasuke said flatly. His brother made a strange noise from the bottom of his throat, it sounded like disgust.

"You're all fighting about me," Sasuke went on, whispering hoarsely. "Aren't you?"

"…Yeah" Itachi replied emotionlessly, before adding swiftly. "I'm leaving."

"I see…"

Sasuke knew it was pointless to argue with his brother once he decided to do something. He sighed deeply and stared at the floor in misery, if he was as good as his brother his parents wouldn't have started that fight and Itachi would have stayed longer. It was his fault, everything was.

At first his father was never concerned with Sasuke, hardly acknowledging him or caring. But at least that meant Sasuke wasn't constantly chided about not being as amazing as his brother, at least not all the time. However that luxury didn't last too long because as soon as Itachi left home, his parents were suddenly only too concerned about how far behind Sasuke was compared to his brother. Sasuke was their last hope in having a perfect child; strong, smart, and obedient. For awhile Itachi brought the family honor with his stunning skills, but he was such a rebel he drove his parents insane. Sasuke was different, the opposite; he had average skills for having a blood limit, but he did what he was told.

Itachi must've noticed how depressed Sasuke was because he looking at him with an almost sympathetic expression. Itachi gave him a pat on the head and ruffled his brother's messy hair, before saying in a low rolling voice. "I'll stay longer next time." He removed his hand from Sasuke's head and walked hastily out the door before the younger teen could reply.

Sasuke stared after his brother, that's what he always was doing; staring at his brother back, being unable to catch up. His black eyes became morose again, his head hanging. His brother always said that he'd stay longer, yet it never happened; his visits were shorter each time. Soon he probably wouldn't come at all. Then Sasuke would be stuck alone at his house, with only his parents for company. It was just another one of his brother constant broken promises. Sasuke could swear that he could see his brother destroying each and every promise right before his very eyes.

The pale boy's shoulders slumped; now he would have to deal with his already infuriated father alone. The shadows around him seem to grow as his brother's footsteps faded away and new ones approached. Slowly the black haired boy parted his lips and whispered a simple phrase into the musty air. "Brother, you're a liar."

-And through the night I see the light

shining from the neighbor's windows

I dream of life where I'm safe

in a home where I am not alone

some day I will lay me down

on the grass where everything is greener

it always seems so good on the other side-

A blond haired child sat in his bed and his blankets pooled around his knees. A childish hat was drooping off his head, his pajamas a ridiculously vivid blue. The color of his downcast eyes matched that bright shade, but at the moment his mood was anything but bright. No, if you were to give his mood a color it would be a dark sad blue, not a bright one. He rested his head against the cool glass of the window his bed was against; the glass felt icy against his warm cheek He let out a low sigh; his breath steaming up the window, making it difficult to see through.

His house was utterly silent and the emptiness reminding him of how alone he was. No one was in the small home, no one, but him. He was always alone, ever since he could remember. Just as he knew he was hated from the moment he was old enough understand those hatful glares and whispers. He never comprehended exactly why people loathed him so much, it simply had always been that way. At school he had no friends, he was shunned completely. Before a few naïve children would try to make friends with him, only to realize what a mistake that was once when everyone else looked down on them for it. At his age all anyone wanted was acceptance, yet that was one of the things Naruto never got. It was as if he was born into this world to be shunned and then left in solitude.

"If only…" There had to be something better than this empty life.

Naruto's gaze caught sight of the next door neighbor's house, the cheerful glow emitting from it. As if saying, "Come here! There is love and happiness here! Ha! You don't have that idiot!" He smiled bitterly as he imagined a huge advertisement for the house; silently humoring himself. In the commercial someone with a deep jaunty voice would say: "Are you tired of your home? Feel like you might as well get a box to live in to escape you're house? Are you lonely from the silent nights in your hollow life? Then buy 'A better life than yours' it comes with a family and the welcoming house with it! You'll never be lonesome again, guaranteed!" Then a tiny fast voice would hastily mention the price and all the flaws with the 'product'

Naruto let out a derisive snort and rolled over onto his bed so his head was no longer facing the window. The blankets swirled around his small body, but he didn't bother to straighten them. He thought of all the kids constantly complaining about their family, while he lived on without one. What could possibly be bad about having people love you and acknowledge you; to have people to return to each day? Before closing his eyes he muttered into the air.

"Some people don't know how lucky they are."

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Kuri: Okay that's all for this chapter! Review or I'll sic Sasuke on you! Right Sasuke?

Sasuke: Hn.

Kuri: Um…That means "Yes I'll slit your thoat in your sleep if you don't review!" Right Sasuke?

Sasu: Hn.

Kuri: Why do I bother asking?

Sasuke: That's what I was wondering.

Kuri:…..Shaddup I control your fate mwahahahahahaha!

Sasu: ...