I don't own Naruto…sigh.
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Uchiha Mikoto was a lady well known for four traits that she possessed: beauty, intelligence, elegance and kindness. Yet no matter how refined the ebony haired woman may be nobody would be brave enough to even dare cross her path when angered. She was actually the only woman alive who was able to make the mighty Fugaku Uchiha stutter and put him to his knees. And right now, even if the Uchiha matriarch who was donned in a simple yet sophisticated red dress and matching red stilettos with a few accessories (a pair of gold bvlgari dangling earrings and bracelet), appeared very refined and lady-like to her guests, offering a charming smile and kind remarks to anyone in front of her, Itachi knew very well that his mother's patience was now hanging on a very, VERY thin wire. And it was all because of his younger brother, and just as the thirteen year old Uchiha, who was currently leaning in the doorframe dressed in a sleek black tux predicted, his mother was now on her way to him.
"Itachi, do you know where your brother is?" asked Mikoto whose voice laced in sweetness did nothing but to make Itachi shiver.
"I think he's hiding in the attic kaasan."
"Thanks dear" and with that his mother dashed across the huge mansion and up the stairs in order to draw out her younger son from hiding. Seriously, it was times like this that Mikoto wished the house wasn't so big.
Itachi sighed at his mother's antics and went back to the scenario before him when a sound of giggles caught his attention. There, a little to the right of the fountain was a group of girls that was whispering and giggling, pointing to his direction.
With a groan the dark haired boy murmured "fangirls" at his breath and went to the kitchen, with the thought of joining Sasuke into hiding.
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"Uchiha Sasuke, just what do you think you're doing here?" Mikoto, with her hands on her hips, asked her son whom she found in the attic sitting on the farthest corner possible.
With a groan, the newly turned seven year old Uchiha stood up and went to his mother. Sure he didn't want parties and everything that goes with it, but Sasuke never liked the thought of going against his mother's wishes, he was after all his mama's boy.
"I don't want to be down there" he said gruffly
"But sweetie it's your birthday. This party is for you." Mikoto said while bending downwards to dust off his tux.
"Parties are for girls" he said with a pout.
"Sasuke, this is our gift for you. You would like to make your mother happy by joining us down there right?" Mikoto said with a smile, finding her little son's tantrum adorable. Knowing her youngest son, she knew that Sasuke would never be able to say no to anything she wants. Even if it wasn't exactly the type of thing Sasuke enjoyed, he just never found the strength to disagree when it comes to his mother's happiness, making him his mother's favorite. Which is the exact reason why she chose that particular statement, sure Mikoto might be abusing her power over her son already, but well, it was actually that attitude of her that enabled her to snag Fugaku as her husband.
"If you go down there and be a good boy, I promise I'll give you a reward later."
"You say that every time kaasan" but nevertheless, went downstairs with his mom, for he knew he'd never be able to win an argument with her.
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"Sakura will you please stop that?" exclaimed a beautiful pink haired woman to her daughter who was currently stomping her feet.
"But mom, I don't want to go here" Sakura whined, wearing a red baby doll dress and white shoes. Her short pink hair was kept back by a white headband that emphasized her huge forehead, weird as it may seem though, it suited her well and made her all the more cute and adorable.
"That's not nice dear, Sasuke-kun attended your birthday party a few months ago remember?" asked her mother, hoping that guilt-tripping her daughter would do the trick.
"I don't care" she huffed
Her mother sighed and rolled her eyes, if there was one attitude Sakura inherited from her father that she doesn't and perhaps will never approve of, it was his stubbornness. Seriously her father Satoshi Haruno was a great man, smart, kind, loving and had a strong determination and Hana was sure her daughter was all that, but really did it have to go that far for her to inherit his stubbornness too?
"Can you just do this for me and for your aunt Mikoto?"
"Hmpf, fine"
"That's my girl." Her mother said, though still not quite satisfied with her daughter's answer as they entered the Uchiha estate.
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The party was being held inside the Uchiha's lush gardens and by lush it means ABSOLUTELY lush, with rare orchids that can be spotted here and there, pots of daisies, jasmines, roses, lilies, suntans, tulips, bougainvilleas and many other floras in neat arrays. But despite the hundreds of pots of different foliages, strangely enough, dozens of round tables covered with extravagant tapestries and not to mention the chairs that go with it, still were able to find a suitable space. The guests were busy chattering with each other, obviously enjoying the party as waiters went around serving the food, all just for Mikoto's favorite son.
"Hana, Sakura-chan I'm so glad you could come" Mikoto said with her arms wide open.
"Mikoto-san" Sakura called, with a huge grin plastered on her face as she ran to hug Mikoto's waist, while her mother followed to place a small kiss on the Uchiha matriarch's cheek.
"Oh Sakura you look lovely, doesn't she Sasuke?"
"Hn" the said boy glared.
"Sasuke, be nice!" his mother hissed
Sakura grinned, but stopped short when her mother told her to give Sasuke his birthday gift.
"It's from mother" Sakura said gruffly, extending her hand with Sasuke's gift.
"Sakura, where are your manners?!" Hana exclaimed, giving Sasuke his chance to grin.
"Anyway, why don't you two find a table, while Hana and I talk for a while?"
The two kids groaned, but proceeded nonetheless, for they knew that it was a losing battle with their mothers. The two sat down beside each other in the farthest table where they were the only two occupants. Sakura took the time to eye her surroundings, and she definitely appreciated everything she saw. Suddenly remembering her mother's words a while ago, she felt guilty on how she treated Sasuke and sort of wanted to make it up to him. She glanced at the said boy beside her, noticing the bored expression on his face.
'Ne, even if he's such a jerk, he's still cute' Inner Sakura said giggling
'You call that cute?'She huffed
'Aaaw c'mon be nice, it's his birthday after all and he did give us this headband during our birthday'
'Fine'
The ebony haired boy eyed the little girl beside him, and from the frown in her face, he could easily tell that she was having an inner battle.
'Weird' he thought
"A-ano Sasuke-kun"
"Hn"
"Happy birthday"
"Hn"
"Is that all you're going to say?" Sakura snapped losing her patience easily
'Gee, talk about approachable'
"You should say thanks you know" she snapped
"You're annoying"
"Well it's not my fault; I was just trying to apologize"
"You call that apologizing?" the dark haired boy asked, sarcasm dripping from his voice.
"Hmpf"
"You're not doing a good job"
"I shouldn't have come here"
"Nobody asked you to"
"You're so ungrateful, I even wore this headband 'coz I thought you'd appreciate it!"
"It's from kaasan and it makes your forehead look bigger" he said nonchalantly
The pink haired girl's gasp made him turn, emotionless onyx met shocked, hurt and glassy emerald. And that was when he realized that she was on the verge of tears. Guilt ate his insides and tried to think of a way to apologize.
"Take that back" she hissed, fist clenching in anger. Her mood suddenly changed faster than Sasuke could blink, and before he could open his mouth, he suddenly found himself toppled on the grass, his cheek throbbing, he also noticed that the murmurs of the crowd suddenly stopped. To say that he was shocked is an understatement, he was flabbergasted, for he realized that Sakura Haruno just punched him, and it hurt.
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Sakura was sitting beside the window of her pink bedroom, staring at the scenery as she recalled the happenings during the day. She still remembered the angry shouts of her mother as she scolded her about proper decorum on the way home. She felt bad about disappointing her mother and hurting Mikoto-san's feelings, but Sasuke Uchiha had just insulted her forehead, sure it was huge she knew that already, but did he just have to be so blunt? He hurt her feelings and he didn't even apologize, so she vowed that she would make him pay, even if it takes her her whole lifetime to do that.
With that thought in mind, she stood up hurriedly and got on her bed, opened the top drawer that was beside it and took out her journal and pen. She paused for awhile thinking what to write, and then as a thought hit her; the girl smiled and scribbled something down.
'There all finished' she thought happily
'I never knew we were quite an artist, though that's a bit sadistic don't you think?'
'After what he did to us this morning, of course not'
'You punched him, remember?'
'He deserved it'
With that thought, inner Sakura seem to have disappeared and have already agreed with her. Sighing happily, she took one last look at her masterpiece before hitting the sack. There on her journal was a drawing of Sasuke with his chicken butt hair, his eyes were crossed out and his tongue sticking out, next to it was a note saying, "Payback time Sasuke Uchiha!"
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Sasuke was already in his pajamas and was currently sitting on the couch after being nursed by his mother, and it wasn't a good experience. He had to endure his mother's reproaches, telling him that it was his fault for provoking Sakura, and not behaving like the gentle man he should be. Truth be told, his mother's reprimands made his cheek hurt more, not that he would admit to it though. He was just about to stand up when Itachi suddenly entered the room, a smug expression abruptly appearing on his face upon seeing his younger brother. Sasuke groaned, knowing that what was about to come won't be good.
"You look like you're in pain otouto" Itahi said grinning
"It's not that painful" the younger boy lied
"You sure? Your cheek looks like a tomato"
"Bug off aniki"
"She sure does have a good arm doesn't she?" as he moved to take a seat across the seven year old
"No" he said, though even if he hated the fact that his aniki was rubbing it on his face that he got hit by a girl and clearly enjoyed it, he can't help but inwardly agree with that statement.
"And she's cute too, don't you think so otouto?"
"She's ugly" Sasuke said, but surprisingly, he blushed.
Itachi always took pleasure on teasing his younger brother, and he just found the perfect opportunity, when the little girl he always called weak managed to punch him. But nothing prepared him for the sight of a blushing Sasuke, so he decided to push it some more.
"You'll never know, she just might be your girlfriend one day" he said, feigning indifference
"Not gonna happen" Sasuke said and hastily stood up, crossed the room and climbed up the stairs, all in just a split of a second. But no matter how fast he tried, Itachi didn't miss the darker shade of red that stained his cheeks.
"Interesting" Itachi said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.