Pretty Lights?

[one_without_wings]

Sasuke really, really wanted to see the lights. He heard about how autumn was coming and how pretty it would be. After dinner, which he had eaten very slowly, he sat outside on the porch to wait for these lights to come out.

Somewhat uncharacteristically for him, but a trait that may be believed shared for the Uchiha since it happened so often... he fell asleep. He had taken a blanket, perhaps feeling too warm, too comfortable, and not all that good. He still did want to see those lights... He was definitely feeling all too nice and warm right here.

Comments

[itachi_san]

Itachi helped him into his lap, and leaned back so Sasuke could be as comfortable as possible. He probably made for a bony pillow, but hopefully, wrapped in that blanket, it would be all right.

"Just keep the cloth... on your forehead... I'll wake you for the lights. But after you've seen them... You need to get back in bed. And rest, so you can get better."

[one_without_wings]

"..hnn.... niisan knows best.." he shifted ever-so lightly, and after a short while drifted to sleep. It would probably have been good if he had taken some tea.

When Itachi tried to wake him, however, he was sleeping soundly.

[itachi_san]

There were beautiful lights in the sky. Or, from Itachi's view, colorful blurs. He nudged Sasuke again.

"Outoto... Look up. It's like the colored fire, but in the sky. You need to wake up... for me..."

Not only that, but he would need to get his brother inside, in bed, and Itachi wasn't strong enough to actually carry him there. (A shadow clone just might be in order...)

[one_without_wings]

It took a few nudges, but he did stir and opened his eyes halfway, rubbing them before looking up.

"There they are." it was, as the villagers had told him, really amazingly pretty. "How do those light... even appear?" there were so many unexplained phenomena in this village. "Is it that genjutsu again..?"

[itachi_san]

"I don't know..." He whispered, kissing the top of Sasuke's head through his mask. "Maybe... some shinobi in the sky is having his little brother... help him make colored fire too..."

No logic there, just unrivaled cuteness.

[one_without_wings]

There was a light laugh, and a faint smile, even through his tired features as that little bit of sun peeked through. "Yeah... that's gotta be it." He took a few sips of the now-cold tea, settled comfortably against his brother, wrapped in that blanket.

[itachi_san]

They watched the lights for a little while longer, but the cool autumn night wasn't anyplace for a sick boy. Itachi had been scolded about that himself enough times.

"No sleeping out here, Outoto... You should be in bed." He insisted, but knew how tired Sasuke was. "You don't have to go all the way upstairs. You can... sleep in my bed... It's not far. Come on..."

He nudged him a little, not really able to lift him to the ground or the bench without help.

[one_without_wings]

"...hn.. but m'gonna get you sick... if I sleep there.." after all, it was entirely possible he would. "M'just.. gonna spend the night in the livin room. That'd be good... right?" he had at least dropped off his brother, or was it rolled off, and got to the ground fine. Putting one foot in front of the other seemed an otherworldly effort.

"...the lights were pretty though.."

[itachi_san]

Itachi bit his lip. Sasuke was right. He was probably doomed to catch anything that someone brought into that house, especially if he let them sleep right in his bed.

"Then we'll just... have to get you into your own bed..."

Because sleeping in the living room? That wasn't good enough. Itachi passed out on that couch (or that floor) many times. It really wasn't comfortable, or conducive to recovery.

He weaved the signs for a shadow clone, and let that version of himself pick the little Sasuke up off the porch. It went inside first, and Itachi followed.

He even followed it right up the stairs. This was Sasuke, after all. And for Sasuke, he'd do anything!

[one_without_wings]

The boy held on weakly to the clone, looking back at his brother. He had to say he couldn't even remember him going up the stairs, so this was some sort of miracle to behold, and he watched with slightly widened eyes.

"Niisan..." he was doing it. He really was.

[itachi_san]

There was definitely a part of Itachi that wished he'd gotten the oxygen tank instead of a mask. Climbing a flight of stairs was not an easy task, but he made it up, not too long after the shadow clone did.

"You... you need... rest... Sasuke. If you want to... get better faster..." came a voice from the hallway. The clone, meanwhile, was carefully tucking him into bed.

Itachi returned not too long after with a fresh washcloth from the second floor bathroom, and put it on Sasuke's forehead.

"There you go..."

[one_without_wings]

"I have... the best niisan ever.." the boy gave a light smile even through the apparent exhaustion. And he truly did have the best brother anyone could ever ask for.

He did hope he could feel better tomorrow. His brother did deserve some steamed cabbage as thank you gift...

[itachi_san]

"Sleep well, outoto..."

Soft words were followed by a light poke on the forehead.

[one_without_wings]

"Love you, niisan." were the softly exhaled words as the boy let his eyes closed, headed towards a dreamless but restful sleep.

[itachi_san]

When morning came and little Sasuke woke up, he would find his big brother half-sprawled, half-draped over the giant Mister Roary. It didn't look like a very comfortable position, rather like he'd been leaning against it keeping vigil and eventually dozed off. His mask was still on, and it was muffling a slight snore.

[one_without_wings]

Once the boy woke, he did feel immensely better. It was a slight sock to find his big brother nearby, since usually it was -him- going to invade the older one's room or bed. "Niisan...?"

[itachi_san]

There was a damp washcloth on the side of Sasuke's pillow. Clearly, Itachi had refreshed it during the night, more than once. He probably hadn't been asleep all that long.

He stirred when he heard his name, sliding off Mister Roary more than actually getting up. It took him a moment to figure out where he was and why he was on the floor. But when he did, "Hm..? Did you... need something? Are you feeling any better?"

[one_without_wings]

"Yea~" He gave a nod and crawled out of bed to latch against his brother. "It's all gone and I'm feelin better!"

[itachi_san]

Children could bounce back from anything. Even flame fever only kept Sasuke down for a couple days. But Itachi was very relieved to hear those words.

"That's wonderful..." He put an arm around his brother and hugged him tightly. "Now... how does breakfast sound?"

[one_without_wings]

"It sounds awesome!" Sasuke gave a hearty laugh, nuzzling happily into his brother. "We gonna make ourselves omusubi, right?" it might be a predictable breakfast, but neither of them ever minded.

[itachi_san]

"Easy there. You were... feverish all night... I'll make some rice porridge." he offered instead. "Though, I think Mom brought in... a fresh basket of tomatoes yesterday."

He paused for a moment.

"That's if... I can get up first..."

Sleeping on the floor/Mister Roary left quite a crick in just about everything.

[one_without_wings]

"What's the difference between the rice porridge and the omusubi?" there was the slightest child-like pout. "They're both rice, aren't they?" He was right in a way, wasn't he?

He frowned lightly, pondering. "If I eat the rice porridge then, it means I can have tomatoes later?" This sounded like a good trade-off.
Getting off his brother, he made an attempt to help him up, although the effort left him panting. "..w-whoa... sort of dizzy.." he did feel better though, but just a tiny bit of that sickness still stuck. Nnothing that would stop him for long, though

[itachi_san]

"One is easier... to digest..." Itachi would be the expert on that. He smirked a little. "...Might let you sneak a tomato now."

Getting up wasn't easy. But seeing Sasuke fatigued from attempting to help him was even harder.

"Careful there, Outoto..." Itachi ran a hand through his hair. "Don't exhaust yourself if you're... not feeling well. You should probably get back in bed... I can... bring something up for you..."

Itachi glanced out the door with a worried look on his face. Climbing up the stairs was quite a challenge, but for Sasuke, he'd do it again, down and right back up.

[one_without_wings]

"...but niisan..." he protested weakly. Going back in bed? So what if he was feeling no so well? He actually was better than yesterday. Plus, there was indeed the matter of his brother needing to get downstairs, then back up and down again whenever he would need.

[itachi_san]

"I'll... be back in a few minutes, outoto. You just... take it easy..."

He stretched his sore muscles and made his way down the hall. A few minutes, of course, would stretch on for longer than that. But Itachi did move as fast as he could, while trying to balance both himself and a couple of bowls of ridge porridge (and one tomato).