Prologue

The whole world to me is shrinking.

Maybe it's just me but, I guess the world didn't seem that big to me anymore. I don't remember which part of the world I've moved to, or did I bother to remember the name but, I'm tired of waking up every single day knowing that my father's going to come back home one day and say we're moving. Again.

The other month it was Arizona. The month before was Singapore and the three months way before that was Seoul. Moving around from country to country had me growing tired of making friends, knowing that I'll have to move again the next time my dad lands a new assignment elsewhere. He was a family man, yes, evident that we had to be dragged around with these "adventures" of his.

I switched sides on my bed, gazing at the bright blues skies from my window that I refuse to have them covered with blinds. Everything in the house didn't remind me of anything. I could only see the outlines of my housemaids running around in the house or doing chores since it was the same for each house we decided to live in. Even just a few months ago, the only thing I could remember were the house maids rushing everywhere in the Uchiha house to assist us. Other than that, it was Itachi sleepwalking all over the bungalow. However, that was all I could ever care to remember about growing up, no matter which house we were in.

I slipped out of the bed, heading straight for the dining table when one of the housemaids called to say my father and brother just came back. I didn't bother calling the tutor to come for home-school when I knew what type of day it would be. I dragged my feet on the freshly polished marbled floor and opened the door to the dining room. Not that it was the worst day I ever had but, it was truly exhausting. I wonder if it must have been shown in my face since the housemaids didn't bother greeting me good morning.

So when my dad gathered the family at the table to announce some news, I wasn't surprised when he said we were moving again. My father's momentary burst of involvement with the Japanese Motor companies and some budding technology-based side companies; I wasn't that excited as how my mother was acting. But it must be just that –momentary, since I was waiting for him to state the short time period we were going to stay in Japan.

However, he had said something off the script in my head.

"What do you mean we'd be staying until I go to college?" I raised my voice, only to notice the stern look both of my parents gave me. I bowed in apology before I sank back down into my seat.

"Well," my mother gave a short look to my father then to my brother before she grinned widely, "Your brother's company offered a rather permanent partnership contract with your dad's."

"How's that possible? Itachi's only been working for a month!" I flung my hands, still not able to believe the news. I still couldn't decide between being happy or angry since I was really taken to surprise this time. Not that I hated the news at all.

"I have my talents," Itachi formed a smile at the corner of his lips, triggering the frustration that was built within me. I didn't liked it when he always seem to be doing something remarkable in his prime while I wasn't doing anything much but schooling. At my age, Itachi was already getting companies calling for his name. I didn't want to remember that but, my father would always remind me of the gap we both have.

"I thought you'd be happier though," Itachi faced me.

I then gave him a forced smile, "Do I seem happier now?"

I walked through the front yard, making a mental checklist of which box I hadn't empty yet. The long walk from the front gate to the front patio of the house made me realize that my mother had called up for more garden decorations to dress up the house entrance was a little amazing. It had been a while to see her putting up effort on embellishing the house. Her favorite bright colored tulips lit up the pathway up to the house and a bunch of peonies graced up the front steps to the house.
I'm glad my mother tried her best to making it homely.

It had been a few days of unpacking and unloading in the house we were supposedly going to live for the next few years until I graduate. The familiarity of it made arranging the furniture in my room to my liking was like a routine.

The boxes had been set aside to the front pathway of the front gate and I was only waiting for what's left of it to be taken out with the rest of the garbage. Not that I was assigned to check on the late night garbage man and help him with the boxes to the truck. That was the job of the new housemaids of the house. I was simply taking a breather and a night walk after just so I could be away from the audible silence my family was talented in making.

I watched the cars drove by the house, and observed the house right in front of mine. An iron gate stood between me and the large honmune styled minka built upon a small hill. The breeze made me feel a good shiver and the full moon lighted up the wet granite of the road after the rain. The road seemed to shimmer in the moonlight, rather eye catching in its own right.

Soon I grew tired of waiting and took my walk down the road, and was greeted by an abundant number of city lights gleaming at me. Within a few minutes, my feet landed myself to the nearest convenience store, opposite a large residential apartment.

The place was empty and I decided to grab a can of coffee, only to realize I still had American notes within my pocket that was yet to be exchanged. And when I finally purchased my drink and strolled out the store, I heard piercing screams and exasperated shouts from the apartment across from where I was.

The cries and howling from the opposite building didn't cease until there were loud slams of doors crashing audibly. A little irritated, I glared up towards the building, only to see dark figures clashing at each other at the front entrance. It was like a battle inside with all the shrieking involved inside the apartment but the residents didn't seem to be unfazed by it.

Within seconds, a girl stepped out.

She glared at me, as if it was wrong for me to be staring and being curious to the commotion. And when she did, I caught sight of her eyes. And damn, her eyes were enticing. It gleamed like the damp texture of the road, in fact, glassy. And when she stared me down from across the road in her emerald eyes, I knew she wanted to be left alone.

I heard more yelling from the building, calling out her name — Sakura was her name, with much rage. And I knew well that it would only fuel her temptation to leave. And so she did.

She took one glance back at the building's entrance glass doors before she dashed on her own two feet. I was greeted by another series of sounds. The rustling of leaves clashing against heavy footsteps had kept me from my tranquil solitude. She went further down the slope before she disappeared at the end of the street; the mess of scattered wet leaves that was pushed to the side of the path were the only traces that she was ever even there.

I took one last sip from my canned coffee before I took my leave.

"Sakura, huh?"

A/N: Hello, have you enjoyed the prologue :) Hope to know what you guys think about it. So far I have thought much about the first few chapters and the story's really not going to start of simple, I can tell you that /

Hope you guys like it :)