Why me?

By: Gemini Kiss

Disclaimer: I don't have any rights to Naruto


8 years ago

Seven-year-old Sakura was sitting on a swing in the park watching the sun slowly go down as dusk was quickly approaching. The pink haired child was used to this everyday routine she'd be dropped off at the park at noon and being picked up before dusk. Ever since her dad died when she was five her mother worked as a civilian nurse and promised Sakura that next year she wouldn't be lonely when she attends the ninja academy.

There was nothing wrong with being at the park almost all the time, but no one would play with her or it would simply be deserted. Sakura's pink locks blew in the wind as she gently tried pushing her self on the swing.

The park was silent, and it seemed like time stood still. Then there was rustling in the bushes that made Sakura jump, she eyes the bushes with fear in her eyes. Her mother always told her not to talk to any random strangers. Then a blonde boy burst through the painful branches with tears running down his whiskered cheeks, a few other kids followed in suit. They were throwing rocks and sticks at the poor boy.

"GET BACK HERE YOU MONSTER!" The kids yelled in unison. Sakura immediately recognized them to be the same kids that bullied her before Ino-chan came along to scare theme away.

Sakura was confused and then felt angry. These bullies were being mean and throwing things at the boy. She would not let them hurt another person so they can laugh. She wanted to be just like Ino-chan and not be afraid of them just because they were older.

She jumped off the swing with little effort proving her practicing to be worth all the bruises and scratches she received.

Sakura approached the group that now was hovering over the scared boy. At first she didn't know what to say and her voice came out soft and timid.

"A-ano, please let go of him," She said quietly.

"Oh, look! It's the pink-haired brat with the big-forehead!" One girl sneered.

The other kids snickered. Sakura lowered her head at the insult; she was already ready to give up when she heard a whimper. Her head snapped up and jade eyes widened when she saw the boy's arm bleeding. She had never seen so much blood in her life, maybe a little from her scrapes and cuts but never a flow of it.

She looked over to see a boy holding a sharp twig grinning like a two-year-old that just won candy. Sakura watched as the other kids laughed at the blonde's pained expression. That's when she felt anger course through her veins.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE! WHY DON'T YOU GO PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE FOR ONCE?" She shrieked loudly causing the bullies to cover their ears to block out half of her voice.

"Stay out of this forehead, or we will beat you up, too." A boy spoke up.

Sakura glared at them with defiance clearly evident in her eyes. She had never felt so brave and loved the feeling of having some control.

"Like we're scared of a little weakling like you," Another boy spoke up.

Sakura didn't say anything; she didn't care what they thought. She tensed and summoned enough courage to push through the small herd to reach the hurt boy.

"Hey!" They protested angrily.

She ignored them and held a hand out for the boy to take. Sakura wondered why the boy was so scared of her. She was only trying to help. She felt all shy and timid again, her bravery was slowly leaving her.

"C-come on, l-lets go p-play, I j-just w-want to help y-you"

The blonde looked at her shocked. After what seemed like a long time in Sakura's book the boy took her hand. When he stood the bullies made a circle to trap them in. Sakura was scared again and didn't know what to do. She knew she couldn't push them out of the way again.

The bullies began to close in on the two. Sakura felt like she was about to cry. Where was her mommy?

"You kids shouldn't pick on others smaller than you," a deep voice said.

Everyone turned their attention to a tall boy and a little one about Sakura's age. One of the kids, possibly the leader, was about to make a snide comment until he say the Uchiha clan symbol on the shirt. As soon as the other kids followed their leader's gaze they scrammed.

"T-thank you" Sakura said quietly. The hurt boy didn't say anything, probably to shocked with the whole situation.

"Hn," the tall responded.

"Aniki!" The older boy looked down at his younger brother. "Can I play with them?"

Before the elder Uchiha could answer his little brother sped off to ask the two to be his playmates.

"Do you want to play?" The younger Uchiha asked the two confused kids.

"Um…sure?" Sakura replied unsurely. She looked over to the boy who had widened eyes.

"R-really? You want to play with me?" The blonde boy choked out.

The mini Uchiha's head bobbed like a bobble-head from nodding his head fast.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke! What's yours?" He asked the two.

"I'm Haruno Sakura," She replied quietly. Sakura and Sasuke turned to the other boy waiting for his answer.

"I-I'm Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto stuttered nervously.

"YAY!" Sasuke squealed happily. "Oh! Over there that's my aniki Itachi," Sasuke pointed in the direction where his brother was standing.

Sakura looked at Itachi and couldn't seem to tear her gaze away from him.

Sakura's staring contest was interrupted when Sasuke dragged them over to the slide. Soon enough, all three of them warmed up to each other.

They were having so much fun and so dirty that they would have to soak in a tub for days. They threw dirt at each other and squealed in delight.

Itachi watched the whole thing with great interest. The Kyuubi boy seemed to be happy and not as depressed as he normally looked. Itachi was actually glad he decided to step in and get rid of the bullies; it seemed to do a lot of good for the world. The pink-haired girl fascinated him for some reason. The way she looked at him with sparkling emerald eyes with gratitude and hope just made him feel important.

Sakura's mom finally came to retrieve Sakura and noticed the two boys she was playing with. Sakura's mother smiled softly. As the two left they waved their good byes.

"We'll play again tomorrow Naruto-kun and Sasuke-kun!" Sakura yelled over her shoulder happily.

{!}

From that day on, Sakura and her two boys became closer and closer.

Sakura would damn all the gods to hell, is she could.

Why? Well, to begin with her teammates just drove away one of the brave men that actually had the guts to go out with her. Can't really blame them either, I mean would you really want to be dating a woman with a hot temper, and a killer punch on top of that? Not to mention her over-protective teammates that send glares and death threats to any man that looks at her with interest.

Normally she would enjoy their protective nature when not on the battlefield, but now it just seemed suffocating. Her date, Kenji, was the last male shinobi that would step up to her teammates and go against their 'Do not touch our precious Sakura' rule. Surely after this no man would go near her.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi went too far this time.

Today was the annual Konoha festival and Kenji was her escort. Of course, Sakura didn't notify her teammates, and they had a tantrum. Not even giving the poor man a chance to defend himself they practically chased his ass all over Konoha blowing fire balls, and whatever else their torturous minds thought of.

Sakura was so embarrassed she ran home, and bolted her front door and windows. She cried and threw random objects to vent most of her frustrations. Once she calmed down she ignored all the pounding and commotion coming from her front door. She needed a plan to get back at them, they would never learn if she just forgave them like she has been doing for the last few years.

The shouting and banging outside stopped eventually. Not being able to think of any good blackmail ideas she went to take a hot shower, hoping it could clear her mind and give her an evil imagination, and clean herself up. Sadly it didn't work, well for the imagine part.

After a few moments she ventured into her small closet full of crap. Finally she emerged, with a small music box. Sakura grinned in happiness but then felt sadness waver through her entire being. Pushing the emotion aside she sat at the kitchen table, blew off the dust and lifted up the lid letting the music course through her ears. Standing up the Rosette, made her way to the cupboards to make herself some tea. As she sat down again with her tea in hand; she mentally made a list of possibilities.

Burn Naruto's life supply of ramen...

Steal Sasuke's banjo...

Take a picure of Kakashi without his mask on...

Sakura frowned. None of these ideas would work for this type of situation. She needed something that would affect all her boys...

Itachi...

The name hit her like a ton of bricks. A large grin broke out on her face. Her team-mates did not take too kindly to the impassive weasel, especially Sasuke. Ah, revenge may work in her favor after all. Itachi is her ANBU captain, and she is his squad's part time medic. 'Hmm...time to pay Itachi a little visit.'

Sakura stood in front of the elder Uchiha's door now. As far as she knew Itachi wasn't the type to attend social gatherings, and was normally hanging around the compound if not wandering the village or outside of it.

Knocking softly, Sakura heard of what sounded like a "What?"

"Um, Uchiha-san may I speak with you please?"

A few moments later Itachi was standing at his door with a grim expression on his face.

'Not good not good at all' Sakura grimaced.

"Yes, Haruno-san?" His tone had a tint of hidden anger under it's impassiveness. Feeling her confidence slowly recoil, she spoke quickly.

"I need your help to get back at my team!" Now this caught Itachi's attention. Sakura wasn't sure if he heard her correctly, but she guessed he had from the way his eyes were dancing in amusement.

"For?"He drawled lazily.

"Um, well, you see they won't let me have a relationship and end up scaring away any guy I date," Sakura felt her anger and confidence build up again "And they don't like you very much so I want to know if you would play as my pretend boyfriend."

Itachi blinked. Then he let out a small chuckle.

Sakura glared "What?"

"I will help you,"

"Look I don't need you to be the one-" Sakura cut herself off and stared at him oddly. "Really?"

Itachi nodded.

"Why?"

Biting back a sigh he replied with the same grim expression he greeted her with.

"My foolish little brother stole my hair-dryer and hair products,"

Ah, that would explain his made mood. Sakura was about to ask why he would use such things, but he sent her a glare that made her close her mouth.

"Let me walk you out,"

Itachi escorted Sakura through the kitchen where Mikoto raised a suspicious eye-brow. Instead of answering her silent question, Itachi pushed Sakura forward.

Once at the door she was about to ask what his problem was when his lips came crashing onto hers.

Shocked she froze like a statue. Itachi pulled away, with an arrogant smirk on his lips. Sakura's fist was an inch from his face, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Now, now Sakura we are a couple that's not the correct way to treat your boyfriend."

Itachi gently pushed Sakura outside and closed the door.

Unconsciously Sakura's hand flew to her lips.

Numbly making her way out of the compound she couldn't help but notice the way her name rolled off his tongue.

'Just what exactly have I gotten myself into?'

{!}

The next night Sakura got off her hospital shift with a bloody, coffee-stained nurse uniform. She really hated the fact that she forgot her extra clothes. So to make up for it, she tried to get home as quick as possible and hopefully make it without anyone noticing her and no one was going to get in the way.

Next thing she knew she was being dragged by Sasuke along, with Naruto on the other side. "What the hell Sasuke? I need to go home!" Sakura said angrily.

"You're having dinner at the compound tonight," Wait what? There was no way she was going to step into that compound looking like a hot mess with judgmental-bastards shaking their heads in disapproval just cause chicken-ass won't let her change. That was just not going to happen. "Uh-uh. No way. I need to at least change into something…better,"

That's when Sasuke actually noticed what she was wearing. Oh boy. Now he understood, but if he was late, his Okaa-san wouldn't let him have any of her homemade Dango or Onigiri for two weeks. Sasuke cringed at the thought and picked up his pace. Sakura would just have to suck it up and deal with it.

It's not like Sasuke planned this either. Like out of nowhere his mother orders him to bring his two teammates over for dinner; what was her excuse again? 'I haven't seen you're teammates for a while! You've been hogging them Sasuke-chan! That's not fair!'

'Hogging my ass,' Sasuke thought bitterly.

Naruto just beamed in silent happiness and didn't really care what was going on around him. Of course he loves Mikoto's cooking and her personality so it should be fun and just as a little bonus Naruto could get dirt on Sasuke and use it against him later on and what was so good about this evening was that Itachi wouldn't be present…or so he hoped…

Naruto noticed Sakura's bloody nurse outfit and frowned. "Eh…Sakura-chan what happened to you today?" Sakura sighed. "Let's just say I had a long day." And by long day she meant, people whining like babies while she was trying to concentrate, people running into her, stressing her out, and her patients getting blood all over the clean fucking hospital floors just to say 'hi' to her. Sakura sulked and Naruto gave her a large grin that made her instantly brightened.

Sadly, this gave the Rosette the fuel to continue to argue with Sasuke.

Naruto's head soon began to hurt as his teammates kept arguing about Sakura turning around to go home and change. He took a deep breath and purposely let out a large and dramatic sigh, once he had successfully captured Sakura and Sasuke's attention he stated the obvious.

"Why don't you just sneak her in and let Mikoto dress her up in something nice, before anyone can notice she's even in the compound." That was one of the smartest things Naruto has ever suggested. "Dobe did you just-" Sasuke was cut off by Naruto's arrogant voice. "Why yes, yes I did Teme,"

It was silent for the rest of the way. It was quite rare to have Naruto actually think, well you know, about something that had made sense.

Once outside the compound's gates Sasuke snuck them in without being noticed. Thank the heavens. For Naruto kept bumping his head on whatever was in front of him. He had six painful bruises popping up on his head. After the continuous sneaking around the trio finally reached Sasuke's house. Taking off their ninja sandals at the door they headed for the kitchen.

Right before Sakura had the chance to greet Mikoto she was being held captive in a death hug.

"Oh, Sakura-chan I missed you so much!" Mikoto squealed in delight. Everyone knew that Mikoto adored Sakura and vice-versa but still, it was like mother and daughter. Except Tsunade got to Sakura first, but nonetheless! Mikoto finally let go of Sakura when she noticed that the Rosette had turned into an un-natural shade of purple. Sasuke's mother gasped when she saw Sakura's bloodstained uniform.

"Come, come I will find you something decent to wear, and hopefully I can get that coffee-stain out along with the blood," Before Sakura could have anymore precious intakes of air she was being dragged once again by another Uchiha.

Sakura was in Mikoto and Fugaku's master bedroom, waiting for the elder woman to return out of her abnormally large closet. It was four times the size of Ino's and let me tell you; the pig had a huge ass closet. "Um, Mikoto-san where's your husband?" Mikoto waved a dismissive hand as she walked out with a few potential choices in her arms. "He's talking to his brother next door," Sakura simply nodded in response. "Here you go Sakura-chan!" Lady Uchiha chirped happily. The Rosette looked at the outfit with interest.

It was a pretty light blue dress that had pretty purple, pink, and green patterns along the edges of it. Simple, but cute, she had to admit. Sakura changed into garment quickly. It fit her perfectly. It was modest but showed off some of her curves that were now filling out. Mikoto let out a happy sigh. Then catching Sakura off-guard she wrapped Mikoto wrapped a red obi around the Rosette's waist. Sakura sighed. She should've seen that one coming. From experience Sakura knew how tight Mikoto could tie these things.

"It looks so pretty on you Sakura-chan! You can have it, if you want," In other words, Mikoto's words meant to keep it or be forced to have it and to avoid Lady Uchiha's wrath she nodded. The female Uchiha tied Sakura's hair back neatly and they headed into the kitchen.

The boys had clearly got into a disagreement about something. Naruto was holding a spoon and Sasuke had a…spork? Sakura sighed and snatched the 'weapons' away from them. "Sakura-chan, Teme said that spoons can't be weapons so I mocked his precious spork!" Naruto complained. Mikoto giggled at the situation not seeming to care one little bit that her youngest son was being called a bastard.

Then Mikoto noticed Naruto's bruises, and quickly dragged Naruto into the living room with her, absolutely refusing to let Sakura heal anything.

Out of ear shot, Mikoto began to pry at Naruto as she wrapped his had in bandages.

"Is something going on between Itachi and Sakura?" Mikoto asked excitedly.

"Huh?" Naruto asked. Mikoto bonked him on the spot where he already had a huge purple bruise.

"Owie!"

"Does my eldest son and Sakura-chan have a relationship?"

"NO WAY! THAT CAN'T BE POSSIBLE! She didn't tell me anything!" Naruto panicked.

"Um Mikoto-chan, do you have a bathroom?" Sakura asked awkwardly as she poked her head throw the door frame.

Mikoto nodded her head and was about to give her directions to the one in the hallway but had a better plan. "Go down the hallway and make a right, you'll see a blue door. You'll have to use Sasuke's, since I'm working on the guest bathroom."

Sakura gave her a quiet thank you and walked scurried away, leaving Mikoto to her thoughts. Luckily Sakura had never been in "Sasuke's" room before and didn't really know her way around the house, far as Mikoto knew.

'Perfect. If no one will tell me I'll force them too.'

Sakura was lost in her thoughts as she followed Mikoto's directions. She did come to a blue door. She opened it hurriedly and walked in. Then she stopped. His room was clean. Sasuke's room is never clean, from what Naruto has told her. Feeling a bladder cramp she hurried to the door that she guessed, had to be the bathroom. The bathroom was steamy as if someone had just taken a shower...

Sakura gasped when she Uchiha Itachi in nothing but a towel. He stared back at her with a slow smirk making its way across his lips.

'How the hell did we forget that Itachi's door was blue?'


Gemini Time: Well did you guys enjoy? I fixed up my many spelling and grammer mistakes. Ugh. Sadly I do not have a Beta have no idea how it works to have one! I know I'm pathetic...

So...please leave a review, or maybe add this story to your alerts! Favorites too!

Ja ne!^^