Simple Choices

Chapter Eight

"Oh, stop fussing with it; it looks fine," Neji said with an amused smile as he swatted Itachi's hands away from readjusting his own black tie for the umpteenth time within the last hour.

"I know, I know; I'm just....nervous," Itachi admitted with a small sigh as he willed his hands not to go up to his tie again as he instead chose to thumb at the edges of the cuffs of his long-sleeved back dress shirt that were barely visible from underneath his jet black Ermenegildo Zegna suit.

"Well, you look great and I'll be with you the whole time," Neji stated positively as he gently pulled at his own white sleeve cuffs so he may straighten out any wrinkles from forming on his own shirt underneath his solid black Brioni suit which Itachi had had made specially for him within the week.

Itachi and Neji were both standing inside their smartly coordinated, silver and black bedroom as they finished dressing and readying themselves for their early afternoon meeting with Itachi's parents who lived on the other side of town – the crisp, bright hour of the morning pouring brilliant rays of light into the house and making a genuine offer to ease Itachi's apparent distress over the forthcoming situation.

Along with Neji's sensible and clean look with his pressed white shirt and tailored black suit that accentuated his leaner stature perfectly, the Hyuuga had also chosen to wear his long, chocolate mane in a low braid that ran down the length of his back with only a few, loose strands to frame around his pale face. Not only did Neji's mixture of black and white highlight his pleasant and soft-looking skin, it also brought out his pastel lavender eyes even more to battle against the darkness of his suit while practically glow against the brightness of his shirt at the same time.

Itachi, on the other hand, had chosen to wear black on black, as he had kept his shirt, suit, and tie the same inky midnight hue as he also reasoned to keep his lengthy hair in its usual low ponytail. However, as his every article of clothing matched the color of his dark hair, the Uchiha's equally charcoal-black eyes looked as if they could cut right through a person in their emphasized and smoldering gaze, while his naturally tanned skin-tone was rivaled rather stunningly by the lack of any lighter colors.

Knowing that he was just stalling for time as he kept pulling at his sleeves and the front of his exceptionally complimenting black jacket, Itachi sighed quietly, licked the roof of his mouth, and said seriously, worriedly to his lover, "Do I really look alright?"

Neji smiled warmly at Itachi's mild bout of insecurity that he knew was brought on only by the imposing stress that the day with family presented, and began walking up to his older, taller lover until he was close enough to kindly place his palms on the flat, hard planes of Itachi's solid chest as he cast his lovely, crystal-colored eyes into Itachi's unmoving black ones.

"Yes, you do," Neji purred sweetly as he continued to hold Itachi's gaze with his own as he peered up into the handsome face of his black-haired lover with a gentle, understanding smile, "...even though you look like a damn yakuza who is about to break someone's kneecaps, but it's still very, very sexy."

At this, Itachi laughed out loud – a sort of brief, caught-off-guard sputter of chuckles that made his eyebrows quirk up and his devastatingly attractive smile to curve his luscious lips.

Itachi had long mused that he appreciated Neji's moments of quirkiness and spontaneity, as the Hyuuga always seemed to say the right kinds of things to him at just the right moments where the Uchiha could not help but perk back up and be reminded of how much joy, happiness, and love there was in his simple life with his beautiful, witty Hyuuga.

"Let's just hope that my parents don't think I look like a yakuza, because then we'll be in trouble," Itachi commented with his smile having shifted into a playful smirk down at his younger lover as the Uchiha placed his hands on top of Neji's and brought them to his lips to kiss the Hyuuga' fingertips affectionately, appreciatively as he generally did feel a lot better since he had laughed and shared a good-natured joke.

Both men chuckled at Itachi's comment and Neji continued to smile cutely as Itachi placed another gentle kiss to his fingertip before their gazes met again, this time with less seriousness and trepidation while Itachi showed more confidence in what was to take place later in the day.

"You look great, too. I love you in that suit," Itachi added as he purposefully let his gaze travel down his lover's trim form in front of him that looked positively delicious as the black suit jacket hugged his waist enticingly before draping loosely over his flawlessly-shaped hips and supple ass.

"I love this suit, too, Itachi," Neji chimed merrily as his whole face seemed to brighten up as he spoke his words of sincere gratitude to his forever-charming lover smiling down at him, "It fits me perfectly and it's really comfortable to move around in, however…"

"However?" Itachi asked, his smirk dropping a bit from his face as he cocked an eyebrow at his Hyuuga lightly pressed up against him with his hands still being held by his own.

"I'm sure you would love me even more if I wasn't wearing it, right?" Neji commented suggestively with a playful, wicked smirk curving his full, pink lips as he teased his Uchiha who instantly smiled and chuckled in his chest again at his light-eyed lover.

"You know me too well," Itachi concluded smartly with a quick dip of his head, his long, raven bangs falling even further into his eyes and across his handsome face, as he pressed a chaste kiss to Neji's lips – Neji eager to meet and succumb to his older lover's wishes the moment he felt Itachi's warm breath ghost over his cheek.

"Are you ready to go then, Neji?" Itachi asked as their lips naturally parted; Neji's hands sliding down and around Itachi's waist so he could just casually hold onto his lover while they spoke.

"Yep," Neji answered adorably, simply with another encouraging smile to his lover; the sheer quickness with which Neji had answered also suggesting to Itachi that he had, in fact, been ready for a while and had just been waiting for him to ask.

"Alright…" Itachi stated thoughtfully with a definite sense of finality laced in his words and timbered tone as he lingeringly took his hands off of his angelic lover so he may brush back some of his own unruly bangs out of his face and adjust his black tie one last time for the day, "…we'd better get going."

X

Ding-dong.

Upon hearing the doorbell to the front entrance sound throughout the impressive and astonishingly grand manor, a beautiful woman whose age could only be slightly hinted at by the beginnings of wrinkles around her lovely, black eyes, rushed to the giant, double wooden doors to receive the guest.

Normally, the residents of the Uchiha manor would have an attendant answer the front door, but the woman; who had just finished placing the last jewel-encrusted pin into her long, raven hair that she had chosen to wear up in a simple but elegant twist that showed off her graceful neckline that was opened up even more by her velvet dress; knew that she wanted to be the one to answer the door first as she knew exactly who was standing on the paved walkway outside at the moment.

"Oh, Itachi! My goodness, you look so handsome!" the stunning woman with features impossibly similar to Itachi's exclaimed as she opened one of the large and tediously designed wooden doors to reveal her gorgeous eldest son.

The woman, dressed in a tastefully contoured dark blue gown with long sleeves that hugged her arms before expanding out around her dainty wrists that had intricately detailed patterns of the outlines of white sakura blossoms that swirled around her waist, threw her slender arms around Itachi with a loving smile gracing her soft, pleasant face.

"I've missed you so much," the woman said, her tender voice full of emotion, as she ended her embrace with her tall son so she may look upon him some more, "I am so glad you came."

"Hello, mother. It has been a while," Itachi spoke evenly but not coldly to the smiling, sophisticated woman in front of him who was still warming his heart with her lovely smile that appeared to almost make her cry.

"It certainly has, my son, but you seem well and…" Itachi's mother commented politely before her gaze caught sight of something just off to Itachi's right and added, "Oh, I must apologize! Who is this with you, Itachi dear?"

Cordially, Itachi stepped out of the way as Neji approached Itachi's mother while Itachi stated, "Mother, please allow me to introduce you to Neji Hyuuga. Neji, this is my mother, Mikoto Uchiha."

Neji bowed respectfully to Itachi's mother, making his long, brunette braid slide over one of his shoulders, as he said, "I am very pleased to meet you, Uchiha-san."

When Neji rose up from his bow, Itachi's mother was still smiling invitingly with a little hint of a blush across her pale cheeks as she said affectionately, "You can just call me Mikoto from now on, and it's a pleasure to meet you as well, Neji. Please come in, you two; your father is waiting for you, Itachi."

Itachi stepped into the large, white-stoned manor first but Mikoto gently grabbed onto his arm to hold him back for a bit so Neji may walk out in front of them.

"Itachi, he's wonderful! How did you two meet?" Mikoto chimed excitedly but quietly to her eldest son so Neji would not hear them gossip about him as the Hyuuga walked further into the massive, marble-floored foyer, as her midnight black eyes twinkled while they met Itachi's equally onyx orbs in their brief moment of light-hearted secrecy.

Itachi offered a small, pleased smile to his delightfully upbeat and beautiful mother; his eyes casting a quick glance to his Hyuuga who was busy marveling at the giant marble columns that were on either side of the unbelievably large, burgundy staircase that could be accessed from either the right or the left as it created a remarkable arc to behold upon entering, before stating just as quietly to his beaming mother, "Well, I just sort of ran into him at work…and realized I did not want him to run into anyone else ever again."

"Oh, sweetie," Mikoto praised sweetly before angling her head up so she may kiss her tall son on his cheek, "He's as cute as a button and I'm so happy for you! Well now, let's join your father in the dining room."

Nodding, Itachi and Mikoto strode forward towards Neji; their shoes making staccato 'clack' sounds against the expensive white and black marble flooring and the three of them walked to the right of the giant, maroon-carpeted stairway and entered into the main dining room where Itachi could already see his father standing by the table to regard them.

The dining room was trimmed in a dazzling white where each surrounding wall contained an impossibly descriptive mural where rich shades of blue and green were mostly used. The table in the center of the room was of a hazelnut wood grain where four matching, high-backed chairs sat in pairs on both of the elongated sides.

Above their heads, a sparkling gold and crystal chandelier shone with such immaculate radiance that Neji thought he might have to shield his eyes should he stare for too long at the glimmering, curved object.

"Son, you seem well…?" Itachi's father asked curtly but not harshly, as he and Itachi shook hands respectfully upon the latter approaching him.

"Yes, I am; thank you, father," Itachi replied earnestly to his stern, proud father who was dressed in a equally expensive black suit with a single, thick stripe of a different gradient of black running down each straight pant leg, with a dark green shirt, tie, and kerchief that was folded to perfection in his left breast pocket.

"Honey, I'd like you to meet Itachi's good friend, Neji Hyuuga," Mikoto said happily to her somewhat gruff but otherwise handsome husband as she stood by Neji's side and placed both of her small hands on top of his black-clad shoulders supportively.

Neji had swallowed hard upon seeing Itachi's fierce-looking and completely intimidating father, as the older man who Neji could also see some of the resemblances to Itachi, was positively militant in his stature, speech, and overall aura that he emitted to others.

Itachi's father lowered his calculating, dark eyes to Neji; his darling wife still smiling next to the brunette; before he said, "Hyuuga. I've heard of that name before. Tell me, are you related to Hizashi Hyuuga of the H & H Armored Defense Systems Corporation? We worked closely with them in the military as they are one of the biggest suppliers of special defense weaponry."

Neji had swallowed hard again upon hearing a few things that he really had not wanted to hear; things that he had spent the last few years of his life trying to forget; but he knew that he needed to answer Itachi's father with the truth.

Nervously, Neji replied, "Y-yes. I am his son."

Itachi's father immediately quirked up his thin, dark eyebrows at the small, young man in his presence, Mikoto equally surprised by his side which was still translating as another, cheerful smile, as he said, "Well, how about that! How is Hizashi these days?"

"U-um…dead, sir. He died when I was still really young," Neji reported loyally, too fearful to break his gaze away from the large, older man in front of him and look to Itachi whom he knew had to have been positively stunned at the moment.

"Oh my…you poor thing," Mikoto cooed to Neji soothingly as she gave his shoulders a slight squeeze and held an understanding, somber look her in her lovely eyes at him.

"Hmph," Itachi's father breathed thoughtfully, obviously taking in the information and pitying the young man before him before he schooled his features and stuck out his large, tanned hand for Neji to shake, just as Itachi had done, "Well, that's too bad. He was a hell of a man, I can tell you that much. I am Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi's father, and you are welcome here in my home."

Neji's face brightened up considerably, his every feature going from completely worried to utterly awestruck, as he smiled warmly at Fugaku who was shaking his hand a little too roughly for the slender, younger male as he said, "Thank you, sir!"

Neji had felt like he had won some sort of prize as the four of them made their way to the dining room chairs; Itachi sitting next to Neji while Mikoto and Fugaku sat on the opposite side of them; as he had just been accepted so warmly in this household with these people, people that were important to Itachi thereby meaning that Neji also held them as important.

Neji could not stop smiling as he sat down in one of the large, wooden chairs.

Itachi had been initially shocked upon hearing about the death of Neji's father who had apparently been rather significant in the business sect of the nation – the Uchiha's mind already piecing together that that might explain as to why Neji had been working the streets for money when they had first met.

Pain, stress, trauma; a means of temporary escape…any and all of it would account for Neji's behavior in the beginning and now Itachi finally knew why.

However, upon witnessing his usually stoic and icy father extend such a sincere welcome to his lover, Itachi was beside himself with joy. He had wanted so dearly for his parents to accept Neji; needing for these two, strong and valuable points in his life to somehow connect; and they had…as easily as Itachi himself had accepted Neji into his life and into his heart, his parents had followed suit and were welcoming both of them into their home and back into their own lives.

The four of them had just gotten situated in their seats; Mikoto making sure that she sat directly across the table from Neji for some unknown reason; before several, well-dressed maids came in from the adjacent kitchen area with steaming bowls of soup in their hands.

"So, Itachi, how has work been at the hospital?" Mikoto asked politely as the small, white bowls were placed in front of each of them, prompting the seated four to place their napkins on their laps and ready themselves for their meal.

"It's been going very well, actually. I recently got switched to day shifts instead of working overnight, so that's been a big relief," Itachi informed his parents truthfully as they all began to diligently taste their soup.

"Oh, that's great to hear! I'm glad it's working out for you, then," Mikoto replied before smoothly bringing another spoonful of the reddish-brown soup to her lips.

"And you, Neji? What do you enjoy doing?" Fugaku asked the young man sitting across the table who had just finished sipping another spoonful of the hearty, salty broth that he genuinely found himself enjoying.

Neji cleared his throat a bit before replying, "I've taken quite a liking to cooking Italian food lately. I really enjoy it and I feel proud when my lasagna and tortellini dishes come out just right."

Mikoto and Fugaku chuckled politely at Neji's humor and the Hyuuga utilized the light-hearted moment to look over at Itachi who was blushing a bit across his nose as he was wise to the reason Neji enjoyed cooking Italian food so much – him.

After the soup, the maids dutifully brought out the main course which was pan-seared and lightly seasoned fish with rice, a medley of vegetables, and a variety of breads from which to choose – the servings were not as big as they could have been since this was just a mid-day brunch instead of an actual dinner.

"The food is excellent…very good," Itachi commented generally around another bite of the perfectly prepared fish and rice as the four of them ate in a comfortable silence where conversation was not forced, but more naturally occurring when someone truly had something on their mind.

"Indeed," Mikoto replied before she winked at both Itachi and Neji and added, "I find it best to keep your father on a much healthier diet now that we are in our older age."

Neji wanted to laugh so hard but he forced himself to just keep chewing on his vegetables that were ready to be swallowed until the feeling went away – a simple understanding nod of his head being his only acknowledgment to Mikoto's cheeky comment.

"Itachi," Fugaku started solemnly, his face that of contemplation and seriousness as he set his water glass back onto the sturdy table before locking piercing black eyes with those of his son, "…are you planning on visiting him today?"

"Him?" Neji thought to himself as he only chewed his food and darted his milky-lavender eyes between his equally serious lover and the eldest male at the table who was waiting patiently for an answer.

"Yes," Itachi replied squarely as he blinked at his father and added just as smoothly, "Neji and I are to go there right after this."

"I think we all should go. What do you say, dear?" Mikoto offered as she turned towards her husband next to her and cast her lovely gaze his way as she proposed the idea.

Fugaku blinked his naturally half-lidded and evidently aged eyes; the matured lines around them due to either going through general life or having experienced war and absolute strife and hardship during his time; before he said, "We all shall go pay our respects."

X

Two hours and twenty-seven minutes later, after Itachi, his parents, and Neji had finished brunch at the Uchiha manor, chatted comfortably for a while in the parlor over coffee, and then made arrangements to drive in two, separate cars about thirty-three minutes out east where it was not yet populated with big businesses and housing additions and still maintained its natural beauty with grassy fields, subtle hills of rock and lime, and a few produce farms.

Riding alongside Mikoto, as Itachi and his father had opted to take Itachi's car themselves so they may talk along the drive, Neji's lovely eyes were captivated by the passing scenery as it had changed in only a short period of time from large, ornate houses and manors to pure, vegetated lands that seemed to span on forever with its lush greenery and art-worthy lines where treetops ended and the sky began.

"Neji dear, how much has Itachi told you about our youngest son, Sasuke?" Mikoto piped up suddenly as she continued driving down the long stretch of road that seemed to be inclining up over another hill – her voice serious but still gentle as she posed the curious question, obviously wanting to talk about the subject with the Hyuuga and answer any questions he might have at the moment.

"Oh, um…he told me," Neji began, feeling a bit cornered by how the question was worded to him as his mind battled over how to state a proper, polite answer, "…he told me how he died, but he never told me what he was like when he was alive."

Upon hearing this, Mikoto smiled nostalgically before she replied, "Itachi…was Sasuke's hero. He would follow him around everywhere, nag at him about little things…he wanted to be just like his big brother."

Neji was looking at Mikoto now, his face that of heart-felt and sympathetic appreciation of the memory as he nodded briefly in response before speaking.

"I am…truly very sorry for your loss, Mikoto. If I could take it away from you all, I would," Neji said gravely, meaning every syllable of what he had just spoken to Itachi's kind-hearted mother with the face only treasured angels are blessed with.

"You know, Neji…"Mikoto started cheerfully, regarding Neji's completely serious comment with a much lighter one of her own as she cast a quick look over to the young, attractive and equally well-meaning brunette male in the passenger seat next to her, "…I think Sasuke would have liked you a lot. I think he would have been really happy that you and Itachi are together…I know I am."

Neji's mouth fell open as he stared at Mikoto in shock for a moment, far too grateful and surprised at such a declaration of approval and trust before he swallowed the spit that had collected uncomfortably in his mouth.

The blushing Hyuuga turned his head to face the front once more as he shyly muttered to Itachi's mother, "Th-thank you…Mikoto."

Freeing a hand from the steering wheel, Mikoto swiftly placed her hand on top of Neji's hand that was resting on top of the center console and gave his slightly larger one a meaningful squeeze, her radiating smile never leaving her face.

"No…thank you, Neji," Mikoto said to the Hyuuga; essentially implying that she was truly grateful that someone as special as him was with her son Itachi after all.

X

Eighteen minutes later…

Itachi and Neji were standing in front of one of the many, tall grey stone tombstones, the Uchiha family gravesite being one of the larger and more decorated plots, where the katakana etched into hard surface clearly read 'Uchiha Sasuke.'

Mikoto and Fugaku had already placed a bundle of flowers at the base along with some incense and were now standing a little ways back to give Itachi and Neji some space and time alone.

Both nicely-dressed men carefully got down on their knees on the smoothed-out pavement slab in front of the tombs and it was Neji who placed a single flower stem by the grave before the two of them quietly put their hands together to silently pray for the deceased.

It was a long while before Itachi and Neji stood up from their spots, Neji becoming increasingly worried for his grieving, troubled lover, as the Hyuuga placed a gentle but firm hand on top of Itachi's nearest shoulder comfortingly.

Itachi sniffed sharply at the air, but no tears were visible.

"I'll uh…just be right over there with your parents. Take all the time you need, okay?" Neji said quietly to his older, handsome lover who only nodded his head in acknowledgment before Neji gingerly took his hand away from Itachi's shoulder and walked towards the Uchiha's parents who were standing off to the side on the main walkway.

Itachi sighed out heavily, his eyebrows barely furrowed together as the Uchiha struggled to keep his composure in front of his baby brother.

"Hello, Sasuke," Itachi began quietly, almost whispering the words as his fingers curled into tightly balled fists at his sides while he continued, "it's me, your brother…Itachi. I just…wanted to…"

Itachi's brows furrowed even more, his internal battle with himself practically coming to a staggering stalemate, as Itachi wet the inside of his rapidly drying mouth and felt his tears finally run down both of his tanned cheeks.

"I miss you so much…so…much…"Itachi continued, almost through gritted teeth as his throat was threatening to painfully close up on him and rob him of any further speech, "…I miss your smiling face and the…the way you would beg me to play with you before dinner."

More tears fell as Itachi smiled sadly to himself at such a soul-breaking memory of his dearly departed little brother.

Itachi cleared his throat, his handsome face turning deathly serious and horribly pained as he continued to voice his inner-most thoughts out and only hoping that somewhere Sasuke was able to hear him.

"Every day, I work so hard for my patients so I can watch them get better…and every day, I think…'why couldn't that have been you; why couldn't that have been Sasuke'…but I know that that wish will never come true no matter how many times I try," Itachi confessed sorrowfully to the ever-silent but patient grave of his cherished younger brother as he closed his charcoal eyes in deep thought before he spoke another word.

Inhaling a large amount of the refreshing afternoon air, Itachi opened his teary eyes; his warring thoughts settled, his emotions having calmed, his inner peace returning so he may say something positive to his sibling.

"Something wonderful has happened, Sasuke," Itachi reported as he allowed his lips to form a half-smile as he felt his warms tears dry on his cheeks, "…I've met someone who just…brightens my every day and makes me feel things I never thought possible."

Itachi was fully smiling now, his soul feeling rejuvenated and cleansed as he spoke so freely to Sasuke's grave, just like the spunky raven-haired boy was standing right in front of him and listening intently to his older, idolized brother.

"Sasuke…let me tell you about Neji Hyuuga, the only person who could make me smile after you," Itachi said aloud to his brother's grave with a light, fluttery feeling in his chest and a brilliant but simple smile on his face as he began to happily inform his baby brother about his lover with eyes of lavender silk, hair of rich, creamy chocolate, and a heart so pure and unblemished that it often made Itachi consider the possibility that Sasuke had personally asked God to send down his most precious angel to take care of him in his place.

X

Author's Note: Whoa, sorry it took me so long to update. My idiot computer crashed and I had to re-write this chapter and deal with all that mess. However, epic win, because I am so done with this story now lol. I look forward to any comments you may have about it and such. Thanks!!!