A/N: Thank you to QueensGambit~^^

2 chapters in 1 dayyy! Eee see I warned people it's updated irregularly. Part of me really wants to get this short story over with. Here it is.

15.

They lived their life as a happy family for the first five years of Sasuke's life.

It was like in a fairy tale. Their mother shielded them from any harsh looks and malicious intents that came their way.

They were simply two brothers and that's all they were.

Itachi usually came home before dinner would teach Sasuke artifacts of knowledge.

Simple things, like 2 plus 2. Even simpler ones, like knowing all the colors and spellings, then learning not to judge anyone based on them.

Sasuke always listened to Itachi tentatively, although Itachi wondered if his little brain was going to remember these things by the time dinner rolled around.

They were happiest when Father wasn't home for dinner. Conversation was allowed and there was nobody at the table banging on Sasuke's chubby knuckles because he couldn't hold his chopsticks correctly.

Mother would bring a big batch of the two brother's favorite soup and give them both a big bowl. They both ate and drank and happily, discussing the events that were most important in their lives.

Sometimes it would be the bird that lived in the backyard. Sometimes it would be dandelions that Sasuke was growing. Sometimes it was about Itachi's little girlfriends.

At least, Sasuke thought they were his girlfriends. His mother always giggled, but Sasuke saw nothing funny in his observations. His older brother was popular and had a lot of friends, but they happened to be girls and they happened to follow him from home to school and from school back home.

"Will I get a lot of girlfriends?" Sasuke asked Itachi quite seriously one day.

Mikoto was giggling endlessly while Itachi smiled and said, "Yes, you will."

It was quite an adventure, thinking about what was going to happen in his future with all the girlfriends he was going to get.

At least Itachi was right about one thing. He did get a lot of girlfriends when he grew up.

Most of Sasuke's life was spent in the gardens, with Mikoto. He helped his Momma weed out the crabgrass and pull out tall dandelions. Mikoto knitted a pair of woolen gloves just for his little chubby hands and he loved them dearly.

Most of the time he wore hand knit things made by Mikoto. He thought it was the best thing in the world to be able to wear them, because they were made by his mother and his mother was the most amazing girl in the world.

The night before he went away from homeMomma was hugging his little body tightly as she cried and cried. It was the middle of December. Sasuke wondered what was going on, because amazing girls who are able to create clothing out of nothing are not supposed to cry.

He didn't understand anything at that time. He was so small, so small...

Years later, Itachi came and visited Sasuke. There was a hint of something in Itachi's eyes that Sasuke was almost afraid to face. The news of their father dying was, despite everything, not easy to face.

"Come back, Sasuke." Itachi said, breathless. He had run to the orphanage as fast as he could, "Come back home and you will live with me - we will have a bright future together. There are great things waiting for you and me."

But Sasuke refused. He couldn't remember his old life anymore and cared little for it.

Itachi didn't force him. He visited Sasuke more frequently after that and would send him card after card, often filled with money.

Years later, when Sasuke thought back upon this one night, he asked himself, "What is the lowest, dirtiest way of survival?"

And so he was the first Uchiha to ever step onto a club stage.

Like Tears 3

16

Itachi stood in the living room as his little brother appeared before him.

They were in Itachi's office, which consisted of a shelf full of books and an extravagant table covered in files and paper. There were vases and statues and a velvet curtain so smooth that it looked like a dance floor for fairies.

Itachi frowned at Sasuke's shabby appearance - his little brother was bruised all over.

He had last seen Sasuke a few years ago. He made a habit of visiting Sasuke every couple of years. Ever since he has had the power of hiring a private detective without his father knowing, he has been keeping an eye on Sasuke.

Sasuke wasn't very appreciative of that fact. He often ignored Itachi or avoided him like the plague. Itachi would then, in turn, blame it all on Fugaku.

"It's time for you to comeback home now, Sasuke." Itachi said, "Everybody who was prejudiced against you is gone."

Sasuke made no sound.

"Do you want to return to that life?" Itachi asked, raising an eyebrow.

Sasuke laughed violently, "What do you want? What did you want? What is it that you want from me? Is it atonement? Redemption?"

Itachi closed his eyes and thought back to that day many years ago, when he saw his mother holding Sasuke's small wool sock and cry, "He was so tiny... So tiny..."

Itachi waved off his guards, giving the two brothers some privacy.

Sasuke looked his brother straight in the eyes and asked, "Did you kill Father?"

Itachi remained unfazed. He said loud and clear, "Yes."

"How?" Sasuke didn't show much emotion either.

"I shot him." Itachi answered simply. "He was begging and screaming for mercy. I asked him why he wouldn't provide mercy when he took away my brother."

Sasuke slumped down on the couch, unsure of what to say.

Itachi leaned back against his chair.

Without much room for question, he said, "You are going to college."

Sasuke didn't argue. He thought of the pink haired girl with the bright smile. Somewhere in his heart, it stung like a bee.

"Alright." He responded, his face blank.

"Forgive me, Sasuke. I do not yet have the power to eliminate Orochimaru." Itachi said sincerely.

Sasuke did not reply.

The smile playing at the corner of his lips did not disappear as he said, "I'm used to it."

Itachi exhaled in frustration as he waved Sasuke away.

The act of self-abuse only works on those who really, really love you.

In Sasuke's case, it works.

17.

Sakura came to Japan on a boat.

She wasn't supposed to, but she came because she thought this would be the only place she could fit in with her absurd hair.

Haha... Not really.

She came because her recently deceased father was Japanese and he used to tell her stories of ninjas, geishas and feudal lords.

But the ride was anything but pleasant. She found herself on a slave boat, where physical abuse and lack of human rights went hand in hand. They had no food and barely any water, let alone any sanitary equipment, so many people died on the crossing. She was one of the last to survive this trip. Anyone from the tiny cabin they were locked up in who died on the journey was carelessly thrown into the ocean.

But despite everything, she survived. The moment they landed on Japan's shores, she made her escape and ran for dear life. She ran and didn't stop until she reached a bus stop, where a kind driver took pity on her and allowed her to come on for free.

The bus took her all the way to the other side of the city that she didn't even know the name of.

She didn't have a penny on her, but luckily it was the summer so it was warm enough to sleep outside at night.

She leaned against a light post in a parking lot; she was so thin that she could almost fit entirely behind the post and not be seen.

The club near the parking lot she stayed around the most seemed very festive and loud. But Sakura was afraid to approach, even just to ask for a cup of water.

One day, when the back door opened, she decided to take a peek at the kinds of people who spent their time at such a place. She stayed hidden behind her lamp post, keeping very still.

Out came a couple - the man was extremely handsome and they both seemed extremely rich.

They were touching each other while walking through the parking lot. Sakura watched timidly as they got into a car and stayed in there for almost 45 minutes.

Sakura thought she must be really happy, to be so loved by him.

Eventually, however, the girl stumbled out, looking quite stunned and the car started moving - the man from before in the driver's seat.

He drove past Sakura's lamp post without a second glance, fast and reckless.

The lights shone through the car window and onto his cheekbones. They were almost shiny. It made Sakura stare in amazement as light danced upon his emotionless face; they flashed from his cheek to his jaw, like tears.

She stared after Sasuke, breathless. But he didn't notice at all.

Just like two years later.

Sakura still lived in that little apartment Sasuke left her. No one came to bother her ask her to leave. She was truly forgotten by everyone.

So she continued to live there, hoping that one day he would return.

But he never came back.

She took up several jobs in order to support herself, such as Tonton care taker, a waitress, and finally as a florist.

On one particular day, she had to run an errand to deliver some flowers to the local university. It was quite a large bundle of flowers and she drove her truck very carefully and parked right at the backdoor of Student Union hall.

A representative came to greet her and helped her bring in the flowers. He was a tall blue eyed boy who complimented her looks, saying that she was cute. Sakura blushed and thanked him.

He asked for her phone number, but she was too busy to reply, because her eyes were glued on the raven haired boy walking down the steps, away from her.

She forgot to breathe, her eyes following him all the way down those steps. He was alone except for his bodyguards, who were fending off his many fan girls.

Sakura make a slight choking sound as she watched him get into a limo and drive away.

He would never know that she watched and waited for him, even after he had long since forgotten her.

18.

That night, Sakura came home, tired and exhausted. She locked the doors behind her and turned on the lights.

And then she screamed.

There was a man - a snake-like man sitting right in her living room.

He asked very politely, "How are you, Sakura-chan? Shall I make you some tea?"

Sakura didn't even get a chance to respond as the snake like man twirled his fingers around her teacup.

"Stop screaming, it's unbecoming."

Sakura shut up.

Orochimaru stepped up and said, "Sakura-chan, I've decided to kidnap you, so I may use you to blackmail Sasuke-kun."

Sakura asked in a shiver, "Why would you want to do that?"

Orochimaru smiled ever so slightly, "So I can taste him again, of course."

Sakura did not have a chance to be disgusted, because she was injected with a sleeping potion.

Orochimaru stepped outside of the tiny apartment, his henchmen carrying Sakura.

He looked at the dead man in the car parked at the corner of the parking lot.

"Looks like you won't be doing and reporting to the Uchihas anytime soon." Orochimaru laughed sadistically before getting into a limo.

This city was always in perpetual motion. The laughter and the party never ended. Everything just went on and on and on.

Orochimaru laughed gleefully to himself as he dialed the number of Uchiha Sasuke.

This was going to be a lot of fun.

19.

There once was a girl who fell in love with a young man, but she was very ill and soon died. After she had died she became a spirit and prayed to God to let her have a chance of seeing him again. God took pity upon this girl and said, "You may see him under one condition. You must wait five hundred years."

The girl willingly agreed and God turned her into a bridge.

So time passed and after five hundred years, she finally saw the young man again. Longingly she watched as he crossed her within but a few moments.

"Are you satisfied, my child?" God asked.

"No," she said, "I wish for him to hug me just once."

"It shall be so, but you will need to wait another five hundred years."

The girl agreed with less enthusiasm this time. She turned around and was changed into a tree.

This tree lived for five hundred years and one day, the man she loved came and rest under this tree. He put his arms around her for a brief moment before he was on his way again.

The girl faced God and He said, "My child, would you like to wait another five hundred years so that you could be his wife?"

The girl replied, "No, I can't wait anymore…"

God smiled and said, "Wonderful, because this man has been reincarnated 10 times and already waited for you for a thousand years."

Then she turned around and saw him, waiting for her.

She would never have known, until she let go of what was in front of her.

Sasuke sat in his car night after night, watching as Sakura entered and exited out of that apartment.

She would never know.

20.

Itachi was furious when he discovered that Sasuke had disappeared.

"Where has he gone?"

"Presumably to find Orochimaru." Kakashi replied.

Itachi frowned, "Why?"

"That girl..."

Itachi slumped on to the leather seat, "Kakashi, the sole reason I forbid him from having any interaction with that girl is to prevent things like this to happen. Why did he put himself in danger for that girl again?"

After a brief pause, he continued, "Nevermind, what's done is done. Have you tracked Orochimaru?"

"Almost, sir." Kakashi's voice dripped with sarcasm, "With all due respect, Uchiha-San. If you were to fall in love once in a while, you might understand Sasuke-San more."

Itachi scoffed in the face of love.

Kakashi chuckled. He was going to find love one day and it would bite him in the ass.

They stepped towards a helicopter while Itachi was complained mentally about how slow this vehicle was. Obviously no man or women should be able to touch his baby brother. It pained him to no end to realize what Sasuke had become. He was purposely trying to go against the Uchiha heritage. He didn't even think of himself as Uchiha.

Itachi began to wonder whether it would be a good idea to leave him alone, just ensuring he was well taken care of with support money.

But as soon as that thought came to mind, it was tossed away. His baby brother needed to take care of himself in this world. He needed to get a degree and a normal job. Itachi had every confidence in Sasuke's ability to become a great... Whatever he was majoring in.

Itachi naturally thought all of Sasuke's actions were justified. It was not Sasuke's fault for getting into this mess. Sasuke was simply too attractive and appealing for his own good.

This theory amused Kakashi to no end.

Itachi once yelled at Sasuke.

It was right after he had attempted to venture out and find that girl, only to find himself in a car face to face with his brother.

"Sasuke, do you have any pride left at all?" Itachi asked solemnly.

Sasuke sneered.

"If you love her, if you want her, don't you think you should at least have something to support yourself with? Are you planning on working in a club for the rest of your life?" Itachi raised his voice.

Sasuke stared coldly at Itachi, "She loves me for who I am."

"Then you owe it to her to have a better life," Itachi said, "Unless you want me to transfer funds in your account every month, I suggest you start learning."

Sasuke turned to his original little apartment. Through the window he could see that she was cooking alone. Now she was eating alone. Something was glistening on her cheek. It looked like tears.

He turned away from the small apartment and drove back to Uchiha Manor. His brother by his side, equally emotionless.

21.

Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!

With five gun shots, Sasuke killed off the five henchmen who were in the warehouse with Orochimaru.

Orochimaru's eyes widened in surprise, but he caught himself and hid behind Sakura, using her as a human shield.

"Coward." Sasuke growled, kicking the light blue haired man who was lying on the ground. Just a minute ago this man had tried to tie Sasuke to chair.

"Haha, sorry," Orochimaru hissed, "But when facing death, I don't care if I am a coward or not."

Sasuke frowned in disgust as he cocked the gun and pointed it at Orochimaru's head.

He hid further behind Sakura. Sakura was blind folded and only half conscious. She could hear Sasuke's voice and yet she showed no sign of recognition.

"Sakura?" Sasuke whispered.

Suddenly the door burst open. Sasuke glanced back, keeping an eye on Orochimaru. The intruders turned out to be Itachi and Kakashi, along with some henchmen.

"Orochimaru, you have gone too far this time." Itachi said coldly, "You need to let the girl go."

Orochimaru laughed in their faces. "I guess I'll just grab onto this girl and never let her go then, huh."

"Kakashi." Sasuke said, "Hand me your weapon."

Kakashi glanced down at his rifle and made no comment. He tossed it to Sasuke without another word.

Orochimaru shifted behind Sakura, making sure all his vitals were protected by Sakura's tiny fragile body.

Sasuke aimed it at Orochimaru.

"What are you going to do, Sasuke? Shoot me? You can't kill me with one bu-"

BAM!

The bullet was fired with pinpoint accuracy and Orochimaru was dead before he hit the ground. It pierced though Sakura's collar bone and into Orochimaru's heart.

Sasuke dropped the rifle and pried Sakura's limp body away from Orochimaru's cold hands.

She was heavily sedated. Her eye lashes fluttered and she saw an image of Sasuke in front of her eyes.

"Ambulance, Kakashi, call an ambulance!" Itachi ordered Kakashi, who immediately began to dial.

Sakura felt warm, for the first time these past few years. Sasuke hugged her tightly, his hands trembling.

"You trusted me," he whispered.

"Always," she muttered.

Then, she fell into the darkness.

22.

Sakura woke up in a very elaborate room, covered in Christmas decorations. The curtains were red, stockings hung above the fire place and there are little dangling bells everywhere.

She looked outside and realized it had begun to snow.

Sasuke was beside her, sleeping soundly.

Sakura struggled to get up and her movement woke him. She watched as his eyes opened. He was overjoyed that she had woken up.

"Sakura," he said, "Did you sleep ok?"

"Yes," she muttered. "Is it snowing outside?"

"Yes."

"Where are we?"

"In... Uchiha Manor."

Sakura laid her head down on her pillow and asked, "Was this your home?"

"Yes..."

"What happened to me?"

"Collar wound. It's healing."

"Alright," she sighed.

Her throat constricted as she asked, "Is Orochimaru dead?"

"Quite." Sasuke wrapped his arms around her, "What would you like to do?"

Silence ensued.

Sasuke looked at her and saw Sakura put the back of her hand on her eyes and whisper, "I would like to go to sleep."

A string of liquid rolled down her cheeks. Sasuke kissed them away and they tasted salty, like tears.

"Alright." Sasuke said.

He hugged tightly her as they both drift into dreamland.

END

A/N: Ok I have to admit. The ending is rushed and it's weak. I was really tired out and I ran out of ideas for this story. The next story is going to be good…I think. I hope you guys will like it.