Sakura stayed in the Uchiha training ground until long after the sun had set. She was effectively exhausted and was laying down on her back looking up at the stars. She had decimated a large area of the woods with Itachi keeping a quite watch over her from a safe distance away. She heard soft footsteps approach and she turned her head to find Itachi coming up to her. She moved to sit up but Itachi raised his hand.

"No, relax. Do you mind if I join you," he asked in a deep tone. Sakura jerked her head to indicate he could sit beside her and he took his seat. He leaned back on his hands and looked up at the glittering stars. "Beautiful," he breathed out quietly. Sakura nodded her head silently.

"It's strange," Sakura said puzzled.

"What is," Itachi asked looking down at her face.

"No matter where I was in this world, the heavens never changed. Always twinkling, always there. It made me feel closer to home to look up and know my parents were looking at the same nightly heaven. But looking at the night sky here, I've never felt more isolated in my life. Though the sky looks the same, everything I've known is far away never for me to see again," Sakura admitted. She sighed and shook her head, "it's hard to explain it."

"I think I understand," Itachi said looking back at the night sky. "Whenever I felt alone I always looked at the moon knowing my little brother was looking at the same moon. It made me feel closer home," Itachi said aloud.

"Your brother is a piece of work," Sakura scoffed with indignation.

"I can only imagine what he has done now," Itachi let out a light chuckle knowing his little brothers antics.

"He-" Sakura stopped herself reliving the memory of him groping her and slapping her when she broke his nose. Her face felt hot and she turned her head away. "He's. . .how should I say this? A jerk," Sakura settled on after a moments pause. She nodded her head thinking of how well the descriptor, however childish, fit him.

Itachi let out a laugh, "I can concur. Though underneath that jerkish exterior is a loving and loyal man. He's trying to deal with the loss of his lover. I will admit, he's going about it in the wrong way," Itachi said closing his eyes and waving his hand in a dismissive manor.

"I miss home," Sakura hiccupped as she blinked away tears.

"You are home now, this is your home. My family is your family," Itachi said softly. He reached inside of his pocket and pulled out a small dark navy cloth with the Uchiha crest and whipped away her tears. "I'm glad to be your brother. I never thought I would have a little sister who challenged my brother," Itachi chuckled and gave Sakura a small caring smile. Sakura could see he was genuine.

"I always did want an older protective big brother. Hopefully you'll scold Sasuke when he treats me poorly," Sakura joked with him.

"Of course, how dare he mistreat my cute little sister," Itachi reaffirmed and the two chuckled for a few moments. Itachi stood first, brushed the dirt from his pants and turned and held a hand out for her. "Let's go home."

Sakura now smiling grabbed his hand and accepted the help up. She too dusted herself off the best she could and the two walked in relaxed silence back to the manor. They passed the gate to the forest and Itachi noticed how the two guards watched Sakura pass by with lustful eyes. Itachi cleared his throat and the two men immediately looked away.

When Sakura saw the glowing lights of the back of manor some yards away she turned to Itachi and said, "thank you for making me feel better. I'll try harder to be understanding with Sasuke. And thank you for the advice."

"That's what an older brother is for," Itachi said slinging his arm around her shoulders. Sakura felt the familial bonds grow for this man, she smiled and shoved him away in a playful manner.

"Don't you two look close," came Sasuke's rough voice from the porch. Sakura felt her body stiffen and the smile on her lips quickly fell to a scowl. She turned her head to look at Sasuke and was taken aback by how handsome he looked in the lighting of the night. His skin was a beautiful cream color and his eyes looked like as black as the night sky, he was standing there in a navy long sleeved shirt and black pants. His arms were folded over his chest and his face held the face of contempt.

"My little sister needed time away from her jerk soon to be husband. Can you blame her for fleeing to the more attractive brother," Itachi chuckled sitting on the porch to remove his shoes. Sakura stood there awkwardly ringing the black gloves in her hands.

"Attra- ha older brother please. You are happily married," Sasuke chuckled back shaking his head.

"That doesn't stop some women," Itachi challenged lifting his brows to accentuate his point as he stood on the porch a few steps away from Sasuke.

"Well. . .back off," Sasuke pathetically threatened a blush rushing to his face. He didn't know why he said that, it wasn't as if he had feelings for the woman. In fact Sasuke wanted her gone more than he wanted her around.

Itachi raised and jammed his finger against Sasuke forehead. He lowered his head and whispered low enough for only Sasuke to hear, "you don't have to worry about me. You should worry about other men."

Sasuke turned to say something but Itachi was already walking down the hall his footsteps barely audible. Then it was just he and Sakura who was still standing some distance away from the porch.

"How was training," Sasuke asked.

"Huh? Oh, it was good. It felt good to relieve stress," Sakura shrugged her shoulders and looked around the yard. There was a pond and the walked to it and stared at her blurred likeness below. She wasn't very beautiful right now, she had dirt all over her.

"That's good. Try not make a habit of being out late. The rules are different here," Sasuke gently scolded. Though there were no rules or curfews, he didn't want her running away or possibly obtaining a , ihe didn't know why he felt this

"Oh, ok. Thank you for letting me know," Sakura said looking over at him smiling. Sasuke felt his cheeks heat up and he quickly turned his head.

"I had dinner sent to your room. I'm leaving now," and with that he abruptly turned and left her alone in the yard.

Sakura watched his retreating form and felt her cool heart melt a tad. He made sure to have dinner sent to her room, it was very thoughtful of him. She would have to repay his kindness.

Back in Sakura's room she changed into her bathing robe and she when she exited she found Itachi walking towards here with clothes in hand. She looked at him quizzically asking, "what are you doing big brother?"

"Being a big brother and lending my little sister something to sleep in," he said stopping front of her and held out a bundle to her.

"Oh, thank you. I hadn't thought of that," Sakura said as she reached out for the bundle from him.

"That's what a big brother is for. Enjoy your bath and see you in the morning," Itachi chuckled and walked down the hall.

"See you in the morning," Sakura called after him cradling the bundle of close to her chest. She made her way to the bath, bathed and went back to her room with no further run ins from Sasuke which relieved her.

Morning came and Sakura stayed under the covers, it was her last day as a single woman. Though in her clan she would pray at a temple and drink with friends, here she didn't know where the temples were or have any friends. She dismissed the maids as soon as they had entered to ask if she needed assistance. Dismissed was not the right word, more like commanded they leave her alone for the rest of the day.

Sakura heard ruckus outside of her room and when she peeped out from underneath her covers she caught a glimpse of Sasuke bursting into her room looking for her with a mean scowl. She slowly pulled the covers back up over her face hoping he wouldn't find her. Though if anyone looked, it would be clear as day someone was under the covers.

Sakura heard loud footsteps thud against the floor and then the blanket was ripped from off of her. She lifted her hand up as a sign of hello but Sasuke was not having it today.

"Are you some sort of child? Hiding under the blanket when things are too rough handle," Sasuke scolded her loudly. Sakura furrowed her brows in annoyance and sat up.

"Do you really want to test me seeing how easily I broke your nose yesterday," she seethed out with venom in her voice. She was getting tired of Sasuke's flip flop towards attitude her.

Sasuke irritated with her unruly behavior roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her hard. Sakura sucked in a breath and swung her leg with all her might catching him off guard and breaking one of his ribs. He let go and stumbled back.

"What the hell," he proclaimed glaring at her. He grasped his side and winced in pain.

"You suddenly grabbed me, and after yesterday's groping incident I was only defending myself," Sakura said innocently standing there in a large Uchiha crested shirt and black tight shorts.

Sasuke gave her a strange look and then chuckled, "when did you have time to steal my shirt?"

"Your what? Itachi gave this to me late last night," Sakura said confused looking down at the dark navy shirt.

"That is definitely my shirt. Check the bottom left corner of the shirt. Should be two initials stitched there in black thread," Sasuke instructed shaking his head. Itachi would try this stunt to force them closers together. He knew his older brother meant well, but he was getting tired of people meddling with his relationships.

Sakura grabbed the front of the shirt lifting and as Sasuke had said there were two small initials stitched in black thread. SU. Realization dawned upon her and as if the shirt was on fire she tugged it up and off of her body throwing it at his face.

"Are you kidding me," she screeched covering her naked upper half with her arms.

Sasuke's face flushed bright red when he reached up and pulled the shirt off of his face. There stood Sakura half naked in front of him and just as he had thought yesterday she was indeed a beautiful woman. Toned stomach, toned legs, delicate curves on her waist. Sasuke dropped the shirt to the floor and closed the gap between them pushing Sakura back on to the bed.

"What do you thi-"

Sasuke cut her off putting his lips to hers effectively catching the kunoichi off guard. When Sakura's brain registered what was happening she unwrapped her arms from around her and started to push back on Sasukes chest. Sasuke reached up and pinned her arms down on the bed and started to kiss her neck.

"No," Sakura let out weakly.

"No," Sasuke questioned as he raised his head from her neck to look at her. Tears were pooling in the corner of her eyes and she had a look of a scared rabbit.

"I don't want this," Sakura said in a shaken voice.

"I. . .I'm. . ." Sasuke stuttered before getting up off of her. Sakura looked up at the ceiling and took in a deep wobbly breath in. "Sakura I'm sorry," Sasuke said quietly removing himself from above her. He stood some distance from her and turned his back to her ashamed at his own behavior.

Sakura grabbed the blanket from the bed to shield her naked form from him. She stared at his back for some time and something inside of her felt sorry for the man. He was only a man, and she a beautiful woman. But she couldn't entirely blame him for the situation either, she had been part of the cause as well. . He had never used her name until now and to her own dismay, she like how it sounded coming from his lips. Something childish in her brain told her to take this opportunity to tease him.

"You must find me attractive to jump me in my own bedroom," she teased giving him a sideway look and a smile.

Sasuke spun quickly to face her surprise written on his face. "N-no, you…you were...and then I…no I don't find you attractive at all," Sasuke concluded. He cursed himself for being so easily manipulated by this womans beauty and charm. The Senju must've taught her how to wield her beauty like a weapon just like how Itachi had taught him how to wield a blade. With deadly precision.

"Get out of here before I change my mind about fixing you up...again. I'll be out soon," Sakura said from her bed moving her hand in a shooing motion to signal him out of her room. Sasuke complied and waited patiently outside of her room for her.

Sakura dressed similarly to the clothes from yesterday and came from out of the room. She jerked her head for Sasuke to follow her back into the room. He sat on her now made bed and Sakura summoned her healing chakra to her hand and placed it on his side. It took everything in Sasuke's will power not to jump. He had never had healing chakra on him and was caught off guard that the chakra had a warm touch to it.

"Sorry about the kick, that was uncalled for," She said looking at Sasukes side.

"I'm sorry too, I shouldn't be rough with you. You are a victim too," Sasuke said softly. He then placed a hand on her head and smoothed her hair down. Sakura's face blushed at the innocent gesture and felt her heart skip a beat. The motions, however small and simple, comforted her.

"Thank you," she whispered before looking up at him. She was surprised to find him smiling down at her.

"I lied," he confessed.

"About," Sakura inquired her interest piqued.

"You being beautiful. You are extremely attractive and I couldn -"

Sakura cut him off by putting a hand over his mouth.

"It's ok. I knew it was a lie. No one can resist these charms," she winked at him causing Sasuke to sigh and shake his head. He reached up and removed her hand from his mouth held her hand in his for a few moments before letting go.

"I will tell Mother and Father you are too ill to come pray at the temple. Stay here for the day,"

"Temple? No, I want to go. Let's go," Sakura said quickly as she got up and exited the room.

Sasuke was confused as to why she was so eager to head to a temple to pray for a successful marriage and an heir to be born. He deduced that she must have fallen in love with him. He chuckled to himself and followed her out slowly. She was a very interesting woman with long pink hair, beautiful emerald eyes and purple seal on her forehead.