Chapter 7: "The Last Time - Broken Promise"
Itachi: 14 Sasuke: 7

The last time. Itachi knew that the time was over; he had no more time with his otouto. Tomorrow would his mission be completed, the clan slaughtered and he would have to harm Sasuke, lie to him.

He lay in his bed, looked at the white moon. He feared for tomorrow, but there was nothing to do about it. It was long past midnight and he could not sleep.

Suddenly, he felt another presence outside his door, someone was there. Seconds later the door opened and a very well known little Uchiha stuck in his head shyly.

"Nii-san? "

Itachi turned around. "Can't you sleep, Sasuke? What's..." He paused when he saw the tears running down Sasuke's cheeks.

He sat up. "What's wrong, otouto?", he asked, slightly worried.

Sasuke entered the room; his little body shook with tears. He walked up to Itachi's bed.

"Nii-san, I…I ... h-had a ... te-terrible nightmare ... c-can I ... sleep wit-with you?" Sasuke was overwhelmed by sobs. Itachi held out his arms. "Come, otouto," he said gently.

Sasuke crawled into his lap, eased, but continued to cry against his shoulder. Itachi hugged him tightly. "Shhh, otouto, don't worry, I'm here," he comforted him.

Finally he lay down with Sasuke close to him. Sasuke snuggled against Itachi's chest, safe in the warmth of his nii-san's strong body.

Itachi rubbed his brother's back comfortingly, and Sasuke's crying soon turned to light hiccups, until he fell silent.

"I love you, nii-san," Sasuke whispered against Itachi's neck. Itachi stroked his hair.

"You can sleep in peace, little brother. Nii-san is here and will protect you no matter what, just as he promised. "

Itachi sighed inwardly. He wished he could always be at his brother's side and protect him. But fate had chosen a different path.

Sasuke looked confused. He pouted with his cute little childish face. "Um?"

Itachi smiled sweetly. Sasuke could not remember the time when he was only a few months old and the nine-tailed fox attacked the village, and Itachi had sat with his helpless little brother in his arms, and promised to protect him, whatever happened.

Itachi was filled with sorrow at that memory. He wished with all his heart that he could fulfill his promise to his beloved little otouto. He gently kissed Sasuke on the soft skin between his eyebrows.

"Nii-san," Sasuke muttered, a little sheepishly. Itachi just smiled.

He saw how Sasuke peacefully drifted off to sleep, secure in his arms. He hugged his otouto close to him. This was the last moment they would have together, the very last time before they would be torn apart forever. But Itachi did not care now. No matter how heartbreaking it was, Sasuke would get a better life than he himself had, even if it meant that they had to be apart.

Just to see Sasuke asleep in his arms, free of nightmares for the last time, with a happy smile on his face, was worth all the pain that he would have to suffer. Single memories floated through Itachi's mind, from their wonderful childhood that made Itachi feel alive.

What would he do without Sasuke? How would Itachi's life been like if he didn't have his beloved little brother in it?

Itachi pressed his forehead against the sleeping child's, breathed in the sweet scent of his little otouto. Without Sasuke ... he would not be worthy of living. It felt as if he would die without him.

The night slipped past, the moon went behind a cloud and darkness closed in around them.

But Itachi held Sasuke close to him, looked at the sleeping child. The time to say goodbye approached. They had no more time.

Seven years was everything they had.

I'm so sorry otouto.

The last time.

I love you, Sasuke. I love you more than you could ever know.

Authors Note: I don't know if I'm trough with this story yet. Anyway, stay tuned and please leave a review ...