The young Itachi leaned closer into the wooden crib to take a better look at the new addition to the Uchiha family.

"Itachi, this is your younger brother, Sasuke". His beaming mother said as his father looked on with a rare smile.

Sasuke… My otouto.

He was fascinated by how small Sasuke's fingers were, yet so perfectly formed. His hand is clenched so tightly into a fist! Itachi stretched out a hand and gently stroked his younger brother's little knuckles, marveling at this first touch of the being he had only felt moving in his mother's womb for the past nine months.

*grabs!*

What-…

Those tiny digits were now firmly wrapped around Itachi's index and middle fingers, clasping them with surprising strength coming from such a small being. Baby Sasuke continued sleeping, yet, the strength of his grasp did not loosen.

Little Itachi looked at his mother in surprise, which then softened into wonder. He looked back at Sasuke, feeling his heart open to this little tyke who was holding his hand so tightly.

"Okaasan, otousan, arigatou…!"

Late at night, when the whole household was asleep, little Itachi stirred from his sleep. He had heard a new sound that had never been heard in this household before. Pulling his blanket aside, Itachi donned his slippers and padded down the hall into the nursery. He could just see the outline of the crib through the paper of the door. Sliding the door open as quietly as he could, Itachi approached the crib. Baby Sasuke was sniffling, not quite at the crying stage yet. His face was scrunched up and his nose was shivering as he fretted from whatever it was that was bothering him in his sleep. Those tiny fists were now moving restlessly. Itachi began to rock the crib gently, making soothing sounds to try to calm the baby down.

"Nakunai, Sasuke. Oniichan is here."

*Rock, rock, rock*

The rocking motions seemed to indeed calm the baby down. Baby Sasuke soon stopped whimpering and his face smoothed out, forming the peaceful expression of sleep once again. Itachi stifled a yawn with one hand but continued rocking the crib for a little while more, just in case Sasuke should awaken. Finally, when the moon was high up in the sky, Itachi stopped his rocking, and glanced down at his baby brother. Good, he is fully asleep now. The moonlight streamed into the room, and lit up Sasuke's sleeping countenance. Itachi gave a satisfied, albeit tired smile. Stifling another yawn again, he left the nursery, this time keeping the door slightly ajar just in case Sasuke should cry again.

Oyasumi, otouto.