Title: Make Me a Child Again Just for Tonight

Summary: Sasuke is still the little brother Itachi adores. Slight ItaSasu. Oneshot.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto Masashi.

A/N: Revised.

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Sasuke smiled wistfully as he sat in his chair, which he had placed beside his bedroom window. He placed both arms atop the window sill and rested his head on it, his features softening as it was alighted by the moon's brightness. It was past ten o'clock in the evening of the twenty fourth of December; his nii-san should be home already.

He could hear his mother going around the house busily preparing for the family's feast. Uchiha Mikoto may be a soft spoken woman, but it was unexplainable how the Christmas season, which was rarely celebrated by their people, could turn her into a vibrant person. However, it was not the Yuletide feast that Sasuke had been anticipating; it was Itachi who would be home after two months of training and continuous ANBU S-class missions.

Oftentimes, Sasuke would throw a tantrum just to delay his nii-san's departure. The little Uchiha really hated it when his older brother went off to long-term missions; it was something which was yet to be understood by an eight year old boy who had only desired for his brother's attention.

Itachi would spoil his brother an hour or two before beckoning him to be a good little sibling and son because after all, he was to be the man of the house when his nii-san was not around.

Sasuke woke up with a start realizing that he had overslept. He cursed himself softly as he forgot his duty to be on guard for his brother's arrival. Suddenly, arms tightened around him from behind. He gave a startled squeak when as a warm chuckle was stifled in his hair.

"Nii-san!" Sasuke squealed happily despite the initial pout of irritation as he wasn't able to feel his brother's presence. He turned around to face his smiling brother. "Don't surprise me like that!"

"You look like you could get some sleep, otouto," Itachi murmured, amusement in his face. He changed his position, which had jostled Sasuke almost off his lap who yelped at the unexpected motion. He laughed his soft laugh that Sasuke absolutely loved as he repositioned his little brother properly despite being in a bed.

"What took you so long?" Sasuke grumbled as he buried his face in his brother's neck. "Otou-san was starting to get angry because you never returned his letters, you know." Sasuke let himself be held and comforted by the strong arms around him. It felt like home again.

"It does not matter," Itachi replied, burying his face in his otouto's hair, its familiar fragrance kept him calm, reminded him of Konoha, reminded him of his beloved brother. It reminded him of his sanity. "I'm here."

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Uchiha Sasuke stared with wide eyes at the pale face of his brother as he straddled Itachi into submission. Sweat, blood and tears hardening as the cold wind of winter unmercifully drifted by them. He tightened his hold on Itachi's neck, but could do nothing further. It was mocking; seeing Uchiha Itachi lay his everything, holding nothing back, and offering it to his otouto.

"How could you?" Sasuke whispered harshly, not trusting his quivering voice to fulfill his goal from the beginning of his dark life. His red Sharingan eyes slowly returning to its natural color.

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, letting his Sharingan slowly lose its dominance. He reached for Sasuke's nape and pulled him towards his chest. Amidst, the night's howling noise he could hear his little brother's harsh gasps for breath. And surely, hot tears streamed and dampened Itachi's black cloak.

"It does not matter," Itachi whispered into the cold December night. "I'm here."

END

A/N: Reviews are appreciated. Thank you.