A/N:For want of happy endings and plowing through writer's block. We'll see what happens.

Act I.
Reunion

Now: Itachi.

When Itachi first saw his brother in the reflection of their target's forehead protector, (pale and dark eyed and so, so, much taller), he waited with equal parts hope and dread for that innocent face to twist into anger and hatred, "It's been awhile… Sasuke."

"Uchiha Itachi"

At those words, Kisame finally turned his head to acknowledge the most recent arrival to their little group in the middle of the hotel corridor. If amusement could be a poison, his partner's voice was laced with it, "Hou… You seem to be familiar with Itachi." He felt Kisame's gaze land on him.

They'd been working together for several years now and had developed a mutual respect for one another with the understanding that neither would hesitate to the kill the other. It wasn't a healthy friendship by any standard definition, but it was unexpectedly comfortable.

He didn't need that familiarity to know that the man was scenting for blood, sensing a delicate situation and poking to see where it would hurt the most out of bored curiosity, "Who is he?"

He studied the scared little boy in front of him. Was he the reason his brother was here? "He's my younger brother."

He heard Kisame shift, interest noticeably growing, "I heard the whole Uchiha clan was destroyed…by you."

Ignoring the gasp of apparent recognition by the jinchuriki, he activated his sharingan – a guaranteed reminder of that night – and slowly turned around to face his brother.

A part of him was relieved to see that his brother had managed to activate those eyes. He was slightly disquieted, however, by the apparent lack of expression on Sasuke's face. The child had always worn his heart on his sleeve.

Though, it wouldn't completely surprise him to find that he had caused that change in character.

"Why did you leave me alive?"

A small pang of dismay dug its way deep, where he swiftly buried it. Foolish little brother, has no one taught you not to leave an opening like that? Why had the authorities let him leave the village? Carefully, he cultivated and channeled that general disgust towards ineptitude to the surface,"If you've forgotten, perhaps I shouldn't have." He raised his killer instinct. To his left, Kisame chuckled darkly, clearly enjoying the latest turn of intents.

Despite his actions, Sasuke hadn't responded. Itachi narrowed his eyes.

This whole time, Sasuke hadn't so much as blinked.

The pain behind his eyes was almost a familiar presence by now, but it was a reminder that he didn't have time for this. He didn't have the time to linger and memorize the features of his brother's face – at least not with a Sannin nearby, and not while he was on assignment.

But he never would have the time because his days had been numbered, if not from that day, then by his own body.

Those thoughts. He blinked as he registered the uncharacteristic turn they had taken and even before he had fully settled on his conclusions, he leapt.

He grasped empty air and sharply pivoted in time to hear a gasp of pain. Glancing up, he saw that Kisame had swung down instinctively with his Samehada, the tip of it scraping down along the back of his brother's upper arm – where it was wrapped around the blond child's torso.

Kisame snarled; his face was contorted in a rictus of surprise and excited anticipation. But even as the tendons in Kisame's hand stood out in preparation for the backhand follow-up swing, there was a small pop - and his brother was gone.

Deactivating his Sharingan, he silently stood, while Kisame remained frozen with his arm outstretched.

There had been a foreign presence in his mind and all indications pointed to Sasuke being the culprit. Hidden in his long sleeves, he felt his fingertips twitch.

What had his brother done?

Abruptly, Kisame snapped the sword back and replaced it on his back. Kisame let out a breath that was half a laugh, half a sigh, "Saaah, why didn't you kill him?"

A/N Cont: Can't believe I actually started another story involving the Uchihas. I blame Itachi.

Next up is a 'Then:' chapter, where Snape 'wakes up'. Two guesses which scene he wakes up in. hah.

Updates are probably going to be irregular.

Thanks for reading!