Roses

A story by Songstone

Songstone: Mmkay. I challenged a friend to a writing contest. XD Seems like the other one wasn't enough. And you know what? I lost! D: Again. Geez, I'm bad at contests even if I love them so. XD

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

"You . . . surely, you must be joking." Sasuke crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow over at his brother, who was seated at their kitchen table. "He gave you roses?"

"Yes." Itachi said simply, not bothering to look over his shoulder at Sasuke. He glanced up, though, and tilted his head at the small vase of roses that he had put in the center of the table. He plucked the card out from between two of the flowers and opened it up after he read the outside.

"To Itachi-san. From Kisame."

He read the small note carefully and then smiled slowly, turning in his chair."He remembered that I was allergic to daisies." He said tonelessly as he held the card out to his brother. "So he got me roses."

Sasuke's eyebrow rose even more at hearing that and he reached over, taking the note from his brother to read for himself.

"Itachi-san." He started aloud, walking over and taking a seat besides his older brother. "I remembered that you told me you were allergic to daisies. I was planning to get you something special, so that was why I asked in the first place."

Itachi smiled softly at hearing the note read out loud. He fingered the red rose petals and sighed through his nose, waiting for Sasuke to continue.

"These roses are symbolic, Itachi-san. And they're pretty. Though, nothing on earth can ever compare to your natural beauty--oh God, you've got to be fucking kidding me . . ." The younger Uchiha brother lowered the note in his hand and glared down at Itachi, shaking his head slowly. "He's such a dork." He scoffed, laughing slowly.

Itachi's small smile faded and he narrowed his eyes up at Sasuke before he snatched the note away from between his younger brother's fingers. "Shut up. I think it's . . . sweet." He muttered, the word tasting strange on his own tongue. He looked down at the card and then cleared his throat, finishing what Kisame had scrawled out on the note.

"There are thirteen roses in this vase, Itachi-san." He began slowly. "Twelve are real roses that will wither away and die in time. But there's one rose that will remain forever. It's a fake flower." Itachi reached over and pulled the said item out from the bunch of roses, holding it in one hand for Sasuke to see. "And I promise you now, as I will continue to promise you again as long as I live."

He placed the note back between two flowers and looked down at the fake rose in his hands. "I'll love you until the last rose in the vase dies." He grinned and lifted the flower up to his nose, sniffing at it. Even if the rose was plastic, Itachi could swear that he smelled Kisame's scent on it.

And that alone made the gift of roses even sweeter.

Songstone: Ah! So corney. XD But I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway!