Chapter 4

SCANDAL!
UCHIHA ITACHI GAY?!

This was the first thing that greeted Mikoto Uchiha when she picked up the paper that morning. To say she was surprised was an underestimation. She was shocked, stunned and astounded all together.
The sight of her oldest son suck— doing that to another man would probably haunt her for the rest of her life.

She stared at the paper for a long time until Kakashi called to her "Mikoto-san?" he said.

Mikoto raised her head distractedly to see a concerned Kakashi coming closer. Her first reaction was to hide the papers behind her making Kakashi stop short giving her a strange look, it made her realize her actions weren't very smart.

"Oh Kakashi what are doing here, "She asked flushing slightly.

Kakashi stared at her with his one good eye before returning to his normal posture.
"Is there anything else you would need? "He asked.

She was about to have her mid- morning snack before that paper disturbed her now she no longer had the appetite. Mikoto looked at the still covered palette and steaming tea pot then back up at Kakashi.

"Please tell the maids to get rid of this I'm not feeling very hungry anymore" she said.

"Yes," Kakashi replied.

Mikoto got up from her chair and started for the door the papers squeezed in her hands. At the door she turned to Kakashi.
"Where is my son Kakashi" she asked.

"Which of them?"Kakashi's concern was in his voice.
A pause and Mikoto stared at the bronze handle of the door then shook her head.
"Never mind" with that she left the room.

Kakashi stared after her for a while before pressing a button under the table that will set off an alarm in the kitchens.

Itachi thought after a cool bath he would feel better but no such luck. He had to ask the maid to get him something for his hang over and it was delivered by Sai to his room who gave him a strange look.
"What" Itachi asked when it became irritating.

"What What?" was Sai's reply.

With a sigh Itachi dismissed the boy.

The medicine kicked in later and he started to feel his headache lessen greatly. Feeling a lot better he decided to have breakfast despite the fact that it was almost noon. He knew Sakura had probably already had hers so he didn't bother going for her.

His breakfast was laid out for him in the garden where he wanted to feel cool and fragrant breeze.

He sat under the sunshade his mouth starting to water and he realized he was truly famished. Just as he would dig in his mother came in- more like rushed in- which was rather unlike her.
"What is it mother?" he asked alarmed.

Mikoto looked flushed and she just stood there gaping. Concerned Itachi got up to approach her but suddenly she was pushing her hands behind with something hidden in it.

"Are you okay mother?" Itachi asked.

"Why yes, why wouldn't I be" she couldn't meet his eyes.

"Oh come on out with it, what is it "Itachi said not in the mood to talk much.

With an exaggerated sigh Mikoto walked over and placed the squeezed papers on the table.
Itachi raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic behavior of his mother but said nothing, instead he opened the papers and what met him was the image of someone that looked liked him doing something that was inappropriate to say the least. The name on the headline made it seem like it was him but of course it wasn't.
But then again he couldn't remember much of last night, could it be-

A groan escaped his lips before he could help himself.
It was possible that he had really-
he felt sick just thinking about it. He swallowed a few times to keep bile from rising to his mouth.
He was probably drunk the time and that's why he couldn't recall any of it but who took these pictures. Could it be that someone working for the papers was at the club that night? But to take pictures at such a place.

Itachi pushed the paper uninterested in what it had to say.

"What does this mean Itachi? " Mother asked taking a seat beside him.
"Is it true what the papers are saying, are you gay?"

"Of course not!" Itachi snapped then sighed" I'm sorry mother, it's not true, I'm engaged to Sakura and I have never once being interested in another man" he said softly.

"Then how did this happen" she picked the paper to stare at it but Itachi quickly collected it and tore into as much pieces as he could Mikoto could only stare.

"I can't remember much of last night but I'm sure that this must have happened due to my lack of control , I never should have let Sasuke talk me into drinking" Itachi said while tearing the paper then balling it up.

Mikoto's eyes widen considerably.
"Sasuke was there with you?" she asked with a shocked voice that made Itachi look at her.
"You went out with Sasuke when this happened, could it be that he did this! Would Sasuke really go this far?"
This gave Itachi something to think about. Would Sasuke do something like this? What did he hope to achieve because this not only affected Itachi but Father as well. Not to mention the family's name!
But Sasuke hated him so it would be understandable for him to do this, still to go to such extent just to humiliate him was too much.

Just then a memory that had been behind his mind's eye came into focus and Itachi could remember himself— no Sasuke helping him out of the club and into the car then when they got home Sasuke was the one who helped him into his bed and took off his shoes. He even covered Itachi with the blankets and tucked him in, something Sasuke had never done before.

Itachi blinked not sure what to make of this memory.
Sasuke had helped him at his most disgraceful moment making sure that mother didn't see him that way then took care of him even then. Did that prove that Sasuke really wanted to change the way their relationship has been since their childhood, then that would mean he had nothing to do with this.

Mikoto sighed from beside him.
"What do we do now, if Sasuke is really the one to do this your father would never forgive him. He could be disowned or worse" she said.

"I don't think Sasuke had anything to do with this Mother—"

"What? Are you serious, it's obvious he is the one who did this it's no news that he has always wanted to hurt and humiliate you one way or another. " Mikoto argued.

"Perhaps but what if he wanted to start anew, if we blame him for this when all he wanted was to try and be civil with me then we would be pushing him away and who knows what he would do when cornered like that" Itachi said thoughtfully.

Mikoto nodded reluctantly "Still who else would have a motive to do this?" she asked.

"I don't know, maybe there had just being a reporter among the crowd that night? " he Shrugged "either way it won't be wise to blame Sasuke until we find solid proof."

Mikoto nodded and said" Then your father? What would we do about him, he won't be pleased"

"Leave it to me, I will take care of it" Itachi replied.
Mikoto placed a hand on Itachi's concerned.
"Do you intend to take the blame?" she asked

"It is my fault after all I was the one who lost control of myself and let myself be carried away, "Itachi replied but his mother still looked unconvinced so he collected her hand and squeezed reassuringly "Don't worry it will be alright I promise"

Mikoto sighed got up and kissed Itachi on the head.
"Alright I will leave you to your breakfast." she said and left.

But Itachi no longer had the appetite to finish his breakfast.

That evening the rain that fell was rather strong and unnatural.
The family was seated in the living room discussing the event that had occurred.

"How could you have let this happen Itachi!" Fugaku bellowed.
" I expected so much from you"

Itachi was standing beside Sakura and his father seating beside Mikoto who tried to placate him but to no use.

"I wanted any Scandal about this family to stay off the news until I close an important business deal but you two couldn't let that happened could you, now this" He flings the news paper across the room to Itachi's feet so Itachi with his head bowed slightly could see the image of himself and that man.

"And Sasuke, why did you take your brother to a club, was this your plan all along"Fugaku asked his expression deadly

Sasuke smiled, it was time to play his part in the plan but his brother interfered.
"No Father Sasuke had nothing to do with this it's all my own doing" Itachi said and Sasuke could only turn and look at his brother stunned to hear his brother defending him.

He wanted Itachi to look up so he could see the emotion in his eyes but no Itachi's head remained submissively bowed.
What are you planning Aniki, He thought, surely you are smart enough to know this is my doing.

"How can you be sure, in the same night Sasuke asked you to go out with him that happened doesn't that tell you something" Fugaku insisted.

Itachi looked up and Sasuke could see defiance in his eyes despite his subdued appearance. When Itachi opened his mouth he said the most unexpected words.
"Why are you so willing to believe the worst of him Father? "

Now Sasuke's eyes were as wide as his fathers. They both stared agape at Itachi.
"Maybe he has nothing to do with this, why do you jump to conclude that it's his doing without any proof"

"Because I know him!" Fugaku shouted"I know what he his capable of"
he turned to Sasuke and gave his most impressive glare that though Sasuke was no longer afraid of, made him think twice before opening his mouth.

"Still father, don't you see you are alienating him from the family by doing things like this, it's no wonder he didn't come home for almost a year" Itachi countered.

Stop, Stop defending me Aniki! I don't need you to defend me. Sasuke shouted in his head.

"What has come over You Itachi, you of all people know what he is capable of, have you forgotten what he did to Sasori?" Fugaku asked pointing jabbing fingers at Sasuke.

Yes, yes father remind him how much I hurt him in the past that would snap him right out of this stupidity, even as he thought this Sasuke anticipated Itachi's response. The fact that named has been called meant everything. His brother couldn't have forgotten neither could he have forgiven, Sasuke knew that much because he too...

Itachi's eyes left his father and a pained look touch his face. He was biting the inside of his cheek to hold it all back.
"Yes but that's all in the past father, people change but it seems to me you can't accept that Sasuke can change. Maybe he really wishes to have a clean slate but your behavior would make him think again."

The two had a staring contest until Fugaku sighed and sat back down.
"I won't care anymore, do whatever you want " he said.

Itachi nodded and left the room pulling Sakura with him.

Sasuke realized that he was now mostly alone with his father then got up and started to leave as well.
At the corridor he heard Itachi talking to Sakura, probably convincing her that he wasn't gay. Sasuke stood there for some time listening hoping for something he wasn't really sure of then left once he noticed them moving away.
He reached his room on the second floor and flung himself into a chair only then did he allow what happened to play back in his mind.

" you are alienating him from the family" Itachi's quiet but strong voice echoed.
"People change but it seems like you can't accept that Sasuke can too-"

Why would he say that? Is it a trick to pull Sasuke in? Yes it must be. His brother was probably cooking up some plan to get back at him. Itachi couldn't possibly believe that he wanted to change. Yes that move he made was not meant solely for Itachi but father as well and Sasuke only said those things he said to Itachi to fool him into coming with him, he wasn't even discreet enough or he would have affected his plan after two nights out or more. Still, for Itachi to say those things Ugh. What is wrong with Aniki?! He is not stupid he should be able to see through my plans by now.

Sasuke sighed and let his head fall back to the Chair as he stared at the ceiling.
Still why was he feeling this way, so confused and unable to comprehend his own feelings on what is brother had said. His mind kept fluttering away from thinking about it; he didn't want to search inside himself for fear of seeing something he didn't want. He didn't want his brother's acceptance or forgiveness or- anything else for that matter. He just wanted... Wanted... What he wanted which was... To... Ugh! Damn it why did Aniki have to say those things!

Sasuke was ranting and unable to think straight so better to leave the thinking for another time. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his Samsung Galaxy to look for some distraction. He scrolled down his contact list looking for someone who could take his mind off things his eyes landed on the name 'Ino' his ex-girlfriend, she was a good fuck but was too loud and dumb not to mention clingy if he called her now she would probably start thinking they were getting back together or something, which of course Sasuke had no intention of doing, two weeks of that was enough to last him two life times.

'Sana'
"Hmmm" Sasuke murmured under his breath. She wasn't so bad perhaps she would do for now she was in Japan after all maybe they could meet up. Sasuke pushed the call button but what showed on his screen was 'Calling Dobe' how did that happen he wondered but shrugged it off. He was not so bad perhaps he would even be a better company than Sana would.

The phone rang four times before the Dobe answered.
"Hey Naruto" Sasuke said as he got up from the couch and relocated to the balcony.

"Hey Whats up Sasuke!"Naruto replied with such a happy voice it made Sasuke laugh a little.

"It's great, my plans are working out well... except for a few setbacks" he replied remembering to mention the lasts problem he was having.

"Hope you didn't do anything too extreme" Naruto said with the tone of someone who knew it was a lost cause.

"Extreme?" Sasuke feigned surprise," No of course not, I wouldn't go too far"

" Uh huh, Sasuke you don't know the definition of going too far, you go overboard every time you plan things, you always like to hit fast and hard and leave your opponent gasping for breath" Naruto said with insight.

"Oh" Sasuke said with interest leaning on the railing" You know me that well" he asked.

"O-Of course " Naruto was suddenly nervous Sasuke couldn't fathom why.
" We are friends aren't we, and friends know everything about each other"
Sasuke could almost see the blonde nodding as if that made perfect sense and he was proud to have arrived at such decision.
Sasuke had no idea why the blonde was so cautious but ignored it.
"Yeah, I guess" he said not that he agreed completely.

"Why did you call anyway" Naruto quickly changed the subject

"I needed company, it's boring over here and my thoughts were suffocating me"

"And I was the first person you thought to cal>l" A note of joy was in Naruto's voice as he said this.

"No, I dialed your number by mistake and thought why the hell not you're not so bad when you are not too loud." Sasuke felt that was a compliment but the blonde's voice turned depressed when he said "Oh right"

What was his problem? His mood has been like up and down since they started talking, if the Dobe had not been a guy Sasuke would have thought he was PMS-ing or something.

"So what's going on over there" he asked ignoring his friends depression that was starting to travel through the phone to him.
"Oh nothing much I got a job this morning-"

as Naruto continued to talk his mood lifted and the depressed cloud turned bright and happy it made Sasuke relieved and lifted his own depression it made Sasuke wonder not for the first time what it was about Naruto that had this effect on him.

The next day Sasuke was yet to come up with a plan on how to deal with his brother, instead he started to avoid him and Itachi continued to look for him.
It was in the evening when Itachi cornered Sasuke on the hallway to the lift.

"Sasuke" he called.
Sasuke wanted to ignore him but his body wouldn't move with his mind, he stopped and turned half-way.

"I'm really busy right now Aniki" he said

"Please Sasuke I won't take too much of your time" Itachi replied walking around to face Sasuke properly.
Looking directly at His brother really made it unfair for Sasuke, it made him think thoughts that had no place in his head. Thoughts like would it be so bad if he could get his brother to look at him this way instead of with barely concealed hatred. But he pulled the thought and broke it's spine to make sure it never walked again.

"Fine, what do you want" Sasuke snapped.
Itachi looked startled and Sasuke found himself apologizing and making excuse for his behavior.

"I just wanted to say I'm sorry" Itachi said something most unexpected.

"For what" Sasuke asked

"For doubting you, for a moment I couldn't shake the idea that you were responsible for that catastrophe in the news" Itachi elaborated.

"Then what changed" this was the question he really wanted answered it would explain his brother's unusual behavior.

"I remembered how you took care of me that night, something you wouldn't have done if you had malicious intent towards me." Itachi responded as if it was obvious.

Damn.
"You were not suppose to remember that" Sasuke muttered.

"What?"

"Oh now I understand why you don't doubt my 'sincerity' to start anew with you."

"And I also realized how much we've managed to ostracize you especially dad, he was so quick to blame you" Itachi continued

"Can't blame him considering what I have put you through in the past." Sasuke tried to remind Itachi of how bad things had been between them instead of acting like Sasuke expected his brother laughed.

"You were really such a pain in the ass Sasuke" he said with something that sounded like fond annoyance which was crazy.

"For most of my life I thought I hated you and would always hate you but I really want to try and understand you if you will, we are brothers after all and we shouldn't continue like this, it's high time we gave you a chance to change."
Itachi was smiling and he looked so different as if he was at peace with himself and the world and it made Sasuke speechless.
"Why don't you come with us tonight?"

"Us?" Sasuke asked feeling uneasy

"Sakura and I wanted to see a traditional play and mum says she knows a place" Itachi answered with a welcoming voice that Put Sasuke on edge.

Sasuke acted like he was really considering it then brought up the objection that their father wouldn't want him there but Itachi shook it off saying that their father wasn't coming and had in fact left for the US that morning.
Sasuke also thought of other objections but they didn't hold much weight.

So that's how he found himself dressed in blue shirt and black jean with deep blue coat riding in his Dodge Viper to a popular restaurant that he has been to a few times. He could still see his brothers red HummerH3 moving ahead with his fiancée and their mother riding with him.

Sasuke almost gave in to cowardliness and ran away but he managed to pull himself back from such undignified act, telling himself there would be a way to humiliate his brother in the restaurant and he wouldn't want to miss the look of dismay on his brother's face when he finds out Sasuke really didn't want his brotherly love or anything of the sort.
With determination Sasuke, sped up a little to catch up.

They arrived at the restaurant that was located in an area where the Japanese way of life of similar to the Edo era. People were walking about wearing kimono, both men and women. The buildings were still in the usual old fashioned pattern.

The old lamps lit the roads as the Uchiha family and one extra made their way into the restaurant. They were welcomed by restaurateur and led to a round table very close to the stage where they can see without obstruction.
Itachi pulled a chair for his fiancée and sat beside her as Sasuke did the same for their mother. The way they were seated Sakura and Sasuke sat close to each other in the middle. Sasuke turned to look at her and found her face flushed but for the life of him couldn't figure out why. He turned away, dismissing its relevance.

They ordered their meals and started to eat. As they moved food around the table Sasuke and Sakura's hand would brush every now and then. At first Sasuke thought it was only expected giving how close they were seated but then later after their meal Sakura's hand still kept touching his body, it irritated Sasuke but he thought it could not be helped.

The sake was really good and as the light dimmed and the play started Sasuke relaxed to watch. Sakura suddenly bent down under the table exclaiming something like my purse or bag. Sasuke didn't pay it any attention until her hand brushed his crotch and he jumped.

"Are you okay Sasuke" Mikoto asked as Sasuke had startled her with his sudden movement.
"...No, I'm fine. I just need to use the bathroom if you will excuse me." he got up and left the table thinking what the hell was wrong with his brother's fiancée. Three minutes later Sasuke was about to return to the table when he saw Sakura heading over his way. He stood aside and when she was in reach pulled her into the bathroom ignoring her yelp.

" What are you playing at?" he growled into her ear as he held her to himself.

"Nothing" she replied in a panicked voice.

"Don't play with me! You've been touching me all night, what are you trying to do?"

"I'm sorry, I have just been unable to forget what almost happened between us yesterday and I'm nervous," Sakura replied and Sasuke pulled her away from him with a scoff.
Did she really think he wanted to do anything with her? The only reason he had bothered was because he thought it would anger his brother and hurt him. Come to think of it, if he does make out with his brother's fiancée that would be an equivalent to a slap in the face for all of Itachi supposed kindness.

"Did you really think of it?" Sasuke asked changing his behavior. He pulled Sakura to him and pressed to the tiled wall of the bathroom.

"Then is this—" Sasuke kissed her brutally, bit on her lips roughly and whispered sensually, "What you want?"

"Do you want this." he pulled the strap of her red gown off her shoulders and lowered it slowly till it exposed her soft looking breast. They were round and full, she has a very gorgeous looking breast Sasuke admitted as he pinched her nipple to tease it then he palmed her full breast carelessly and squeezed till she cried out, biting her full lipstick red lower lip as if in pain or in unbearable pleasure. Sakura moaned her breathing had turned into panting and she was writhing against him.

"Do you really want this," he said and his mouth lashed on her breast and bit and sucked her nipple.
"Yes!" Sakura shouted with a loud moan. She was going to be very noisy in bed Sasuke decided.

His hand caressed their way from her other breast to the curve of her hips then to her leg which he raised and hooked to his waist. And he rubbed against her as he sucked and bit her neck. He was hard and he rubbed his erection against her. His right hand entered between her legs and tore her panties enough to get his hand into her wetness. And his brother's fiancée went wild moaning and pushing against him. Suddenly she tensed and tried to pull away from him.
"What, you don't want this anymore" Sasuke asked not letting her go

"Sasuke let me go, Itachi—" She said pushing against his shoulder, Sasuke turned with wide eyes and met his brother's cold eyes. They were familiar, that look too. It was the last look he gave Sasuke three years ago then he left.

"The play is about to finish," he said, turned and walked out, leaving the door and the two occupants shaken by his appearance.

Sakura right her clothes and only spared him a glance before she hurried out the door and Sasuke pulled himself against the wall with a sigh, till the very end Aniki didn't do anything I expected, he thought.

To Be Continued...