I Want You For Myself (Sasuke/Itachi Romance)

11. Night Gone Up In Flames

I could feel her warm cheek resting against my neck, her arms carefully wrapped around my neck as I carried her on my back. The soft synthetic fur of the stuffed dog I had won her occasionally brushed my chin as she held it tightly in her hand. I was surprised she was still was carrying it. To be honest, I thought she would have lost it by now with how she acted tonight.

I sighed, "That's the last time I ever take you to a festival."

She giggled in my ear, "Ooh well, it was fun while it lasted." She was a giggly drunk, which I guess could have been worse. She could have been an emotional one, and then I wouldn't have known what to do if she started crying. She fell quiet, for a second and I thought maybe she had finally passed out.

"I hope you had fun too Sasuke," she whispered almost sadly.

I picked my words carefully, "I did for the most part, but I should have watched you better." If I had, she wouldn't have gotten drunk off her ass. She didn't even drink that much either, maybe like two or three cups.

"This was my first time drinking ya know? I was always scared to, because I saw how bad father got after drinking." Well, I suppose that would explain why she was such a light weight.

"Then what made you drink tonight?" I asked.

She smiled falsely, yet I could still hear her voice tremble as if she was going to cry again, "I just...needed to get my mind off some things."

I realized then that whatever she hadn't told me yet, must have really been bothering her for her to want to escape. We finally came up to her house and I gently set her down on the ground, guiding her to the door.

"Well. We're here."

She smiled weakly up at me, still trying to appear happy, but her blue eyes told me otherwise. "Thank you, Sasuke. It really helped getting out tonight. You always did know best."

She turned away quickly reaching to open the door, trying to hide the tear that escaped her eyes, but I had seen it. She froze in place, feeling the soft familiar tug on her hair, but still refused to face me. I stared down at my hand that gently had her soft, dark and long hair entangled around my fingers.

This had always been something I had done since we were kids. It was just to tease her at first, but it turned into my signature way of getting her attention. I think her hair had to be my second favorite thing about her, but nothing could beat her eyes that were a kaleidoscope of colors.

When she moved into my home, I hated her at first. As a child, I felt like all the attention was directed towards Itachi and now that Akira was there, that would mean even less attention for me...but she grew on me. I hadn't noticed it, but gradually wherever she was, I was. I became protective of her, and in the process we had become best friends in a sense.

She would tell me everything, and I know we've grown apart these past years, but it still irked me to see her not telling me what was bothering her. I laughed softly to myself realizing that even after all these years, I still had this fierce desire to protect her. I guess old habits die hard.

"Just tell me," I said softly, "I want to help you, Akira...You don't have to be so alone all the time."

"I can't." her voice shook desperately as she choked back tears, "I couldn't bear it if you hated me Sasuke..." she whispered.

Hated you? What was she talking about?

I grunted as she turned and threw herself against my chest, her arms encircling me in an embrace. I had no time to hug her back before she ran into her house, slamming and locking the door.