Genre : Romance, Drama, Angst, General.

Details: Alternate Universe. Characters are a bit OCC (out of character). Does not follow the manga/anime at all.

Rating : Mature –Sexual Themes, Violance,Language.

Disclaimer : Masashi Kishimoto owns Naruto for forever.

(Graveyard, The Grings)

3rd April.

It was raining.

Sakura was watching when some men buried her parents in the soil. No tears, no expression, just nothing. She didn't feel anything anymore. She didn't feel anything… time seemed to slow and stopped everything around her. Naruto held her left hand tight, and didn't let go of her hand. She didn't feel any warms anymore.

Because she 'can't' feel anything anymore.

As the officiator continued to read the poem, Sakura stared at her parent's closed casket. An odd feeling rose in her chest. She was retreating into herself, into her thoughts. She was pushing everything—external and internal—away. Her eyes narrowed slightly. Everything was muddled, anyway; too confusing for her to gather her bearings.

She knew that nothing lasted forever.

It was quite a big burial ceremony, because her parents weren't just an ordinary people. They were a quite famous even though they weren't nobles. Many famous people and celebrities came and saw Sakura with pity in their eyes.

She didn't have parents anymore. It was so fast—too quickly. It seemed like a dream, a nightmare. She still remembered well that last night she was still a child and her mother told her a story, and then her father cooked something good for dinner. A family. How warmth?

"They are a good people. How could they died? Poor child."

"They died because of the car accident."

"How ironic."

"What will happen to Haruno's inherited?"

"I don't know. It's sure tragic, I heard their daughter had been proposed and they died a week after that."

Sakura understood that her life could be affected by the living, but what she was starting to understand more deeply was that her life could be affected by the dead, as well. Everything had changed with her parent's death, and she didn't know exactly how to cope. She hadn't had the time to handle it all, either.

When Naruto the laced their fingers together and squeezed her hand, Sakura tore her eyes off the ground and cut them over to Uzumaki Naruto

"Sakura, It's done."

Sakura closed her eyes and trembled.

"No! They couldn't die! It's impossible. Car accident? No way!"Sakura yelled to her Uncle, Haruno Arashi. Her eyes were full of tears, she couldn't bear any longer.

"They died, Sakura."

"No! They don't. They are still alive!"

"They are dead!"

"NO! A car accident won't kill my parent, they—"

Her uncle slapped her left cheek. It was shocked both to her own uncle and Sakura. But her uncle didn't say sorry, he closed her eyes. And said firmly, "Listen Sakura, I know it will be hard for you. But listen to me. Your parent didn't die because of merely car accident."

"W-what?"

"It's because of our rival company, Uchiha Cooperation. I don't have any prove right now—but Uchiha Fugaku will likely do something like this to his rival. It's not the first time Uchiha Cooperation's rival died because of unknown dead. There were like three people died, and all of them died because of car accident. And they were all Uchiha's rivals."

Sakura was speechless.

"It was all because of Uchihas."

Her uncle's words were echoing again and again in Sakura's minds.

"Naruto,"Sakura hissed.

"Yea?"said Naruto, his tone didn't as cheerful as always.

"I can't forgive them."

"What?"His voice was cracking.

"I will prove it that Uchihas were the one did this to my parent. They deserve to be in jail, no death, they deserve—hell! I swore in the name of Haruno, I, Haruno Sakura would take down Uchiha's Cooperation."

Naruto stared hard to emerald eyes. Blue met green. They stared each other in a few minutes. Naruto didn't say or do anything. He lost in his thought. And Sakura held his hand tight, it felt as if she wanted to crush his hand.

There were no more words exchanged between them.

After all, there was no need.

After a little nod from Naruto, Sakura knew she just got an ally.

What would she do now? What could she—Sakura shut her eyes as she felt another pang of discomfort in her chest as the rain fell. They were getting worse as her body became more and more familiar with them. It hurt. Everything just hurt. And it hurt to realize that that her life had changed. It hurt to change.

"It sure is a tragic irony,"she whispered to herself.

The Sweetest Cherry

Episode Two

Tragic Irony

(Hospital, Medistra Hospital)

3rd April

It was raining outside.

"Do you know why your brother loves rain?"it was his mother. Uchiha Mikoto—stared to the apple and didn't say anything. She only stared at the red apple and didn't chop it.

Uchiha Sasuke was silence for a few minutes. He didn't know the answer and if he knew the answer, he won't answer it after all. He only looked the pathetic man in front of him. He was in bed, he looks pale and thin.

Uchiha Itachi—was the biggest bastard in the world.

He made a lot of people worried about him and for a year he only slept like a dead man.

It wasn't if Sasuke cared about him. Sasuke didn't even remember Itachi's voices anymore. He didn't remember anything except what Itachi did to him. He only remembered about his words to Sasuke and all the things he did to Sasuke.

'Foolish brother,'he said.

Uchiha Itachi was a scary man. Everyone scared of him, there was something in him that made people back off from him, and didn't want to mess up with him. He was a perfect son and a perfect in everything he did. Too bad—he looks no perfect anymore.

He got brain tumor.

It was sure tragic.

He was someone on top before, and now? He couldn't even open his eyes.

They tried many things—everything. They lost a lot of money because of Itachi, and his father even already gave up. And yet, his mother still and still believes that someday Itachi would wake up. The doctors already tried to 'wake him up'; but it was failed. The doctors said that Itachi wasn't ready.

It was a miracle until this very moment that Itachi still alive.

Sasuke never—or will likes Uchiha Itachi. They were never close—heck—Sasuke even didn't remember when the last time they talked each other. When they met each other, before Itachi got the tumor, they only glared each other and didn't share any word. It sure was weird, but, Uchihas always like that.

'Foolish brother,'he said.

That words were his magically password, it was always echoing and echoing in Sasuke's head. Uchiha Itachi always said harsh words, that Sasuke always hated. And yet, he knew that all his words were the truth.

Uchiha Sasuke was a different person from Uchiha Itachi. They may look same, but Sasuke wasn't that bright. And the truth hurt, no one knows that Sasuke actually was an 'Uchiha'. Except maybe, some people. They only knew Sasuke as Sasuke, without last name. The reason? All the people only knew that Uchihas only had one child, Uchiha Itachi.

Everyone in the Uchiha Cooperation knew Sasuke. He was a CEO, but only a few people knew that he was actually an Uchiha. He didn't use his real name, he only told the clients and his people that his name was Sasuke. Without family name. Because, he wanted gain his success not because his name. He was an independent man, beside, from his childhood no one realized he was actually there. Everyone eyes always stared to a familiar prodigy man, Uchiha Itachi, who was currently in Hospital for years.

The news about Uchiha Itachi was in Hospital wasn't a secret either. Everyone knew Itachi was an Uchiha, and yet no one really know that Sasuke actually exist as the second child of Fugaku and Mikoto, Sasuke was an invisible for his own parent and everyone's eyes. The only things that made everyone realize about Sasuke was, he was currently in engagement with the famous model, Cisian Karin. It was on the news, magazine, newspaper, everywhere. And yet 'Uchiha' name never came out. It was only 'Cisian Karin new boyfriend? Sasuke.'

But he felt comfortable. He felt comfortable because everyone didn't suck his up because his money and only for greed. His father either—never really gives much attention to him in the office. When they met each other, Sasuke only gave a nod and his father walked away. Again—he was invisible.

Uchiha Sasuke never exist, it was only 'Sasuke' that they knew. And somehow, Sasuke never tell anyone too about his family name. Because, he hated it. He hated it when people always compare him to his brother. Sasuke didn't remember too when the last time he told people that his name was 'Sasuke, only Sasuke'; and not 'Uchiha Sasuke'.

He scoffed.

"He always stares to the rain,"said his mother and she chuckled. "I don't know why he loves rain that much."

Sasuke couldn't hold it anymore. He stood up and walked from the hospital's room.

He could felt his mother stared to his back. And shut her eyes.

000

Sasuke walked as fast as he could from that room. It was exhausting in there, even though it was only fifteen minutes but it felt as if he had been there for days. His mother looked so pathetic, she had lost herself after the incident of his brother happened. Her mother already lost everything.

Only for what?

For someone like Uchiha Itachi.

His mother lost her money, times, and maybe—she already lost his second son.

She forgot everything, she forgot she had a husband, she forgot she had another son.

She was insane.

Sasuke took his phone and saw many missed calls.

From : Karin

Subject : Where were you

Uchiha, I need talk with you now. Where are you? I called you for many times yesterday and yet—what? You don't answer my damn call! I am your fiancée, you should 'respect' me more.

I want you to call me NOW.

I want talk about our marriage, my parent already talk with your father.

We need a lot of things to prepare.

Sasuke sighed. And as if something big hit him, he remembered what just happened to him before he went to this hospital. He had a great night with a stranger. There was no words to describe that weirdo – woman. She was an ok woman. He knew from how she talks, that she was quite intelligent, and her gesture, that she was raised well.

She knew the situation really well too. She knew when she had to talk and when she had to shut up.

But it was only one night stand, and there wasn't anything special.

Just forget it.

Sasuke dialed Karin's number.

"Sasuke – kun, hey."

"Hn."

"So, yah, do you have time this afternoon? I am planning to have lunch with your father, and you have to join it too."

"I will be busy…"

"I checked up your schedule, you don't have any meeting for this day nor last day. Where were you? You weren't at home."

"I had dinner with friends."

"Friends? Who?"

"None of your business."

There was a pregnant silence. Sasuke knew that he just hurt Karin.

"Look, you don't need to worry. I didn't do anything."

Lies.

"Oh. Really, Sasuke-kun?"

"Yes."

Lies.

"Where were you last night?"

"With Deidara and Sasori."

Lies.

"Well, of course you were. I felt stupid for not call Deidara-san or Sasori-san. I should have known..."

"Sure."

Lies.

"I am sorry, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn."

Lies.

"Are you gonna come this afternoon? It's the same place as last week."

"I will check my schedule."

Lies.

"But you don't have any schedule!"

"I have some documents that I should report."

Lies.

"I will ask your father about that document. You should have a refreshing!"

"Sure. Another time."
Lies.

"Where are you now?"

"Hospital."

"Ok. How was your brother?"

"He is same as always and you don't need to come to my house tonight."

There was a pregnant silence again.

"I will call you again, Sasuke-kun,bye."

"Aa."

Sasuke closed his phone and held his phone tight.

He knew he was wrong. He did a lot of wrong things, he hurts Karin for many times, he lied a lot to Karin, and yet he did all of those for Karin. He didn't know what he felt for Karin or what Karin felt for him. He knew Karin was an intelligent, beautiful, and independent woman. She knew her place. She knew what she talks about. She knew many things.

She knew too lot about him.

Karin was someone special for Sasuke and that was one thing he sure about. He didn't want to hurt Karin, that was the reason he lied. And yet, he knew that all this time he had spent with her were just lies. He had going out with Karin for one year, and had been her friend for many years. He knew what Karin likes, what she dislikes and what she thinking.

He didn't know to how could he ended up with Karin, and will marry with her in a few months. He didn't know when he asked her to marry him, or how he did it. And he didn't know why he did it either. It was confusing. It just happened. Too fast. And Karin was too good for someone like Sasuke.

It wasn't because of their parent. Sasuke didn't want to marry her because of his parent. Sure, his father talked about how good Karin would be if she became Sasuke's wife. But, Sasuke never really listens to it. The reason why Sasuke wanted to marry Karin was, she was there. She always there. Beside him, waiting him and comforting him. Smiles to him and cheers him up.

She needed Sasuke and Sasuke needed her too.

As simple as that.

"Do you like me?"she asked and her eyes gleamed.

Sasuke didn't reply. And Karin only smiled—Sasuke never knew what the meaning of her smile.

She cared about him too much.

And he cared too much about her too. Damn.

Caring and loving was a different thing.

There wasn't such a love between them. He only respected her, and she respected him as well.

Sasuke knew all along that Karin never love him. Never see him. When he was with her, she always avoided his eyes. She was scared to him. And he didn't know the reason for years, but he knew it now. He knew why Karin always avoided his eyes.

Because, Sasuke looks too much like his brother.

And Karin always—and will always loves Uchiha Itachi. Not him.

And Sasuke? Sasuke never really hope for anything.

(Restaurant, Bassdor Restaurant)

3rd April

All the men in that room stared to her. She was beautiful—not pretty. She wore black suit and short jeans, and scraf. She looked so fashionable, and in fact she was fashionable. She wore black glasses, she used pink-light make. She was quite tall and slim, her skin was milky-white, delicious. Her hair was silky, red and long.

She walked like a model and smiled to the waiter and said she had appointment with Mister Uchiha. Her voice was soft and lightly. The waiter blushed when she came to him.

In every ways, she was perfect.

Yes, Cisian Karin was a perfect woman. Women and men adored her.

And she was proud about herself.

She walked to familiar man that was sitting comfortable in that fancy restaurant. He smirked when he saw Karin and Karin only nodded. She sat across the man and took of her glasses. She ordered a cup of earl grey tea. She crossed her legs and smiled lightly to the man.

"Good afternoon, . Oh, should I congratulate you first? I saw in the newspaper today, your business suddenly—I mean, went so well."

"You don't need to be polite with your future father-in-law."

"Same goes to you, Sir,"she smiled.

"So, have you prepared everything?"

"No. Sasuke-kun seems to be busy, he said he got some documents to finish off. And it's impossible for me to finish it alone. I need talk to Sasuke about this big day. I mean—I, we both don't want it to be ordinary weeding."

"Yes. You are right. Document to finish? I just heard about that."

"Me too. Actually I checked his schedule yesterday, and it said he don't have anything for this day,"she sighed. "But I guess I was wrong, he is a busy man. Me too, as a woman should understands it."

"About that child. I guess, I have to say something to you, Miss Cisian."

"Karin is okay."

"I think you should tell him to do his jobs properly and don't go to clubs anymore nor talk with his useless friends. You know very well, his best friends are. They are not good enough for him. You should warn him about that."

Karin raised an eyebrow.

"Not good enough? Sir, I think about whose Sasuke-kun's being with, is not one of my business. Sasuke-kun knows what's best for him and what he should do. He isn't a child anymore."

"But he still wrong, and always wrong."

"I am sorry Sir, I don't have things to say about this problem. But, you should know Sasuke-kun always do his best."

"You don't know anything."

"Sure, I don't. But, I think you don't know either."

The air became tensed. And the waiter came with the hot tea. Karin took the tea and drank it elegantly.

"If your parents said that Sasuke isn't a good person, would you believe your parents or Sasuke?"

Karin was silent for few minutes.

"Do you testing me right now?"

"Do I look like testing you?"

"I don't follow anyone,"she said firmly.

Karin drank the tea again, her eyes looks gleamed.

"Nor do I believe anyone. I believe in myself, and before I knew Sasuke already became my chose."

Fugaku watched the woman in front of him with no words explained.

"How is… your other son. I mean, Itachi-san?"

"Only times waiting for him."

Karin nodded.

"He—would be shocked when he woke up to see his brother married before him. He's a person that always wanted to become number one."

"He already is,"Fugaku said.

"Yes. He already is." She stared to her tea.

"Do you like Sasuke?"

Karin was speechless to Fugaku's question. She stared to the man and stared back to her tea, smiled.

"Do I have rights to answer that question bluntly? It was embarrassing for this humble woman to say this to someone like you, Sir."

"Did you just avoid my question, Miss?"

Karin looked at the window and saw the rain.

"It is raining..."

Fugaku looked surprised and saw the window.

"What about it?"

"I always and always like—no—love Uchiha Sasuke. And yet, he always blind to notice it."

Fugaku was silent. It was pregnant silent. Karin still watched the rain, as if the rain were a beautiful rainbow.

"Do you think your son—Sasuke-kun, likes someone like me?"Karin asked and smiled.

Fugaku was silent again.

There was no word escaped from his mouth.

Karin closed her eyes and stood up.

"I will bid you a good bye, Sir. It was nice, call me anytime if you have a time. And yah, see, you don't know about your son that much, right? You can't answer my question."She smirked and walked away.

The sounds of her heels were echoing in Fugaku's minds.

000

Karin walked from that fancy restaurant and went straight to her car. She dialed Sasuke's phone number and sighed. The rain was heavily and it taunted her. She hated rain. It was so noisy. The rain made her remember about many things, the good and bad things, it mixed.

"Hn."

"Where are you?"

"Work."

Lies.

She knew.

She knew all along that he always lied to her. He always and will always lies to her. He was quite a beautiful liar, because he lies too much. Too much lies. The first time he had lied to her was when he asked her to marry her. It was a big surprise for her, she never expected it. It was unlike Uchiha to say something like 'marry'. Dear god—it was forbidden to someone like Karin to imagine Sasuke said it to her.

But, she knew. It was a lie. She didn't know either why he asked her to marry him. For escape?

It hurts too much.

Because, Karin knew all along that all he said were just a lies. Even though it was only lies, she was happy.

"I will come to your office."

"No."

See?

He was lying.

"Why?"

"I am busy."

Karin looked up the window and saw the rain.

"It is raining."

"So?"

Karin could hear that Sasuke annoyed tone when he heard 'rain'.

"Do you like rain, Sasuke-kun?"

"No."

Karin chuckled.

"Why?"she laughed, soft.

"It was annoying."

Karin only chuckled and didn't say any word again. She knew Sasuke loved silence, just as how much that Itachi loved it…

"How about you?"he asked.

It surprised her. Sasuke just actually asked her a question.

"I—rain is okay. But if you hate it, I will hate it too,"Karin said and laughed.

"You sure are weird."

Karin laughed and stopped. He suddenly saw her wallet and opened it. It was a photo of three people. Her, Sasuke, and Itachi. Itachi smirked, and Sasuke looked annoyed. They were in a beach, and it was one of the happiest moments in her life. She still remembered when they took that photo. Itachi was still healthy back then, he wasn't as thin and pale like now. He was still an Itachi.

And Sasuke wasn't same like this. He was more cheerful, even though not that cheerful. He could still—smiled a little.

And now, Sasuke seemed as dead as Itachi.

She'd never admit it, but at that moment she ached to be a kid again. She wanted to return to a time when all she had to do was run to Sasuke and Itachi's arms to find comfort and safety. A twenty-one year old woman shouldn't have as many regrets as she did; a twenty-one year old woman shouldn't feel as old as she often felt.

And thinking about everything just made her feel older.

"You ok?"Sasuke asked and Karin suddenly remembered she was in call with Sasuke right now. She closed her wallet.

"I am ok. I just met your father."

"My father? What did he say to you?"

"Nothing. He just asked me a question."

"What question?"

There was a silence.

"If I love you or not."

Sasuke didn't reply her anymore.

"Do you think I love you, Sasuke-kun?"Karin asked, almost whispered.

Sasuke didn't answer. And Karin only smiled at his silence. A sad smiled.

And it was the end of their phone call.

000

Sasuke stared at the hospital window, no, he wasn't in his brother's room anymore. He was in hospital's canteen. They were many people there, eating and talking, some women giggled and stared at Sasuke. Sasuke ate his bread silently and drank his coffee, it wasn't that pleasant. He always hates attention, he never really came to public places.

And beside, hospital's food weren't tasty.

Sasuke scoffed.

He wanted something fresh, fresh breads. Not bread for sick people like this.

Sasuke opened his phone and saw a text from Karin.

From : Karin

Subject : Sorry

Forget it.

Forget it? How could he forget it? What just Karin asked was something that—ridiculous.

He didn't know the answer—hell—how could he know the answer. Karin was never really talk much about her life, secrets, and her problems. She believed that she could take care of her own problems alone. And Sasuke didn't really cared either. It wasn't if they were madly in love each other, right? They were only in status with name, nothing else.

But he couldn't help himself but thinking about her question.

'Do you think I love you, Sasuke-kun?'

He scoffed again.

If he should answer that honestly, the answer would be no.

Sasuke didn't reply her text and walked from the canteen. Women still stared at him.

Sasuke walked to Itachi's room. When he finally reached to Itachi's room, he stopped right in front of the door. His hand touched the door knob and yet he didn't move a muscle.

"He has grown up right, Itachi?"

Sasuke could hear his mother's voice. It wasn't that loud, but Sasuke could hear it clearly.

"Your brother will be marries to Karin. Such a perfect couple, right? I wonder what will you say when you wake up."

Sasuke still didn't move.

"Itachi when you wake up I will make your favorite food, and I will let you do anything you want."

He could hear a woman sobs.

"Itachi, you are a perfect son of mine. So please—"

His mother was crying.

"Please—Itachi, please wake up. I need you, son, please wake up. Your mother is here."

Sasuke mind was blank. And he didn't know what to think anymore.

"I need you—you are my son, my only and one."

And the world became black.

A/N : Don't know what to say ;_;. *silent*. Again- English is not my first language.

Well, anyway, here! Please review, I love long review, lol. Anyway, I know that I describe Karin like she was a goddess or something like that, but don't you guys bored with typical Karin? Slut and bimbo! But, anyway, she still a bitch, believe me. About her feelings too, you guys would find it soon enough what she felt about Sasuke. And this is SasuSaku, so yah. So, what do you think will happen to them? REVIEW.

Suggestions and Criticism will be appreciated.

Review?