Okay, so some people have been wondering, so I'll clear up the confusion. Sakura is not blind, she is using the Jutus that Shikamaru made. She appears blind, that's all.

-Lady-of-Laughter

Standard Disclaimer Applied...Sigh

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Sliding over to the side of the bed, away from Sasuke, Sakura found the edge and stood up. Remembering to keep her arms up to go along with the mission of appearing blind, Sakura slid her feet along the floor in a shuffle towards the window. "Where are you going? The door is the other way." From his tone Sakura was sure he thought she was a simpleton.

Sighing, Sakura answered, "I'm not trying to find the door, I'm going to the window." At this time Sakura was very happy that just three months ago a woman had come in for some healing. Her eyes had been badly damaged, how, the woman wouldn't say, and she was very nearly blind. After three days of examinations and discussion Sakura had been able to heal her and send her on her way, with perfectly intact sight. Until now, Sakura didn't realize how valuable that visitor had been.

With all that time to study her, and her actions, Sakura knew some of the things that helped a blind person around, things that seeing people took for granted. "The window isn't that way." His voice was antagonizing, did he think she was stupid?

"Yes, the window is this way." This time his voice was suspicious as he asked how she knew where the window was. Because she was blind and all, so there was no possible way she could find a window right?

Feeling exasperated and ready to hit his head with tree, Sakura silently thanked her quick mind when an answer formed right away.

"I can tell the window is over this way because of the heat. The room is cooler over there on that side, and warmer here. Which means that a window is over here, and probably open, allowing the sun to shine in on the floor, therefore heating this side. Over on that side, by the door in the shade, is a cooler atmosphere and ground. I can feel the warmth of the floor on my feet, and it gets warmer as I move this way."

No comment was forthcoming from the Uchiha. And in that silence, Sakura inwardly cheered a victory, he couldn't say he didn't believe her, because the side of the room where the window let in the sun was warmer than the other side. And once he put his mind to sensing the difference, he would feel it too, leaving her in the right and him the wrong. Of course, she knew very well that the window was closed, but stating that it could be open when it wasn't, was helpful in keeping up with the whole 'can't see anything' game.

"I heard the rumors, and I know they are fact, not just rumors. You joined Akatsuki, before killing Itachi and Madra, some say it was to get closer to Madra so you could kill him. I know better, and I know that the reason you took over Sound again with Team Hebi, was to help them with the task of destroying Konoha. So you managed to kill them all, even Madra, supposedly to protect the village from them carrying out Madra's plans from years ago. But you never came home, you stayed in Sound. Just know that, no matter what you, or anyone else says. I. Don't. Trust. You." Sakura let out a sound that very nearly resembled a snarl.

Those thoughts had long since gone from her head, until he returned, and then they came back to remind her that, in joining Akatsuki even for a short time, he had probably aided in the tragedy that left her world shattered. Even if he had trained very talented Sound Ninja's, taking them with them and Team Hebi, and destroyed the Akatsuki members, didn't mean he didn't have his own plans.

Keeping her face carefully away from his view, Sakura let out a smug smirk, before letting a frown surface. She had a plan, one she would execute at the right time and place, but getting to that time and place alone might prove difficult. Finally making her way to the window ledge, Sakura tipped her head forward until her forehead rested on the warm glass. Tears welled up, unwilling to be shed and fall down her checks, they sat in her eyes, blurring the view.

The bright, warm day taunted her. The cheerful chatter of villagers, the high octave calls of small children, a dog yapping in the distance, all the signs of a happy village moving on with life. Time and life stops for no one, that was one fact Sakura had become very mindful of. Things she couldn't escape, like those reminders, just served to bring back thoughts of the things the deceased would never see, hear, feel or experience again.

But today, of all the days, months, and years that Sakura had managed to smile and laugh, today she couldn't bring herself to put on the mask. Time and moving on with life had dulled the pain, but only minimally. The thought that the original three of Team 7 were now all alone, all three without family, all orphans, made a spiteful smile cross her lips. You never really realized how much family meant, until it was taken. The Original Team 7 kids really were three of a kind. Even Sai knew what it was to be alone. She was the last to finally know the truth of a broken life.

As if he knew he was being thought about Sai walked into the room with Kakashi and Naruto.

"Sakura, we heard about last night. How are you today?" Feeling like the last father figure in her life had save her from spending too much time alone with Sasuke, Sakura turned around, but couldn't manage a smile. Before she could think of an answer Sai spoke, apparently he felt the sudden need to be social, weird.

"Heard you had another fit last night Ugly."

Under any normal circumstances Sakura would have gave him a light punch, sending him into another room, or at least yell up a storm at him. But today nothing happened. Not because she had a mission to complete, and remain seemingly blind and unable to fight him, but because there was no will. She didn't feel the need to fight, to rage, to take offense, she didn't even feel the need to live at this moment. It was a bad moment for them to come, she was too busy watching the haunting nightmare that was her life.

A guttural sound came from her bed followed by a voice, with a tone of superiority. "So you're the one who took my place on Team 7? Hn. Not as impressive as I'd been led to believe. Of course, no one can take my place in anything, no one can measure up to me." So his-egotistical-highness decided to speak? And the first thing he did was insult someone. Somehow, she wasn't surprised. Although the nod of greeting to Kakashi was unexpected.

"Ahhh, Sasuke, good to see you home! I hope you've been taking good care of our Cherry Blossom. She needs to be protected now, especially after such a tragedy. And Sakura, sorry I'm late." Kakashi had the good grace to look repentant, without using an excuse. Not so Typical! Although it irritated her that he was telling Sasuke to take care of her. She was not weak! She could care for herself, and she would never trust him with her life, he couldn't be trusted with anything! He was here to destroy them, not help, and she would make sure that he was never given the chance to take the only good things left in her life away!

Now all attention turned to Sai, except for Sakura, who kept her head straight, staring. He stood studying Sasuke, who in turn looked Sai up and down before giving a snort and moving to stand by Sakura and stare out the window she had abandoned. Only when Sai spoke did he glace over his shoulder with a lifted brow at the man's fake smile.

"From descriptions, you must be Uchiha Sasuke. The one they fight for, train to beat and bring home. Nice to meet you. You must be staying if you are going to be protecting Ugly, how about a nickname, what should I call you? Something like-"

At that point Naurto, being unusually quiet until know, smacked a hand across Sai's mouth. "uh, hehe, maybe you shouldn't give him a nickname…err I mean, well-" finally Sakura, tired of his bumbling attempts to shut Sai up before he make a very bad mistake, spoke to clear it up.

"Today is not a good time to give, or even use nicknames. Unlike us, if you choose a bad nickname, Sasuke will not hesitate to kill you."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Sai's fake smile and little wave before turning back to the view of the Village, while Naruto and Sakura spoke and advised the pale man. From this room he could be the outline of the Uchiha complex bulk in the distance. Memories, thoughts and a longing filled him. Happy days were gone, but the sight of his home made him wish for them back, and reinforced his desire to build his clan again, and have them live there, in his home.

Sakura thought she knew so much about his time in Akatsuki, but she didn't, how else was he too keep Konoha safe? Like with Orochimaru, he was determined to grow stronger and break them from the inside. His goal was to keep Konoha safe, as his brother had, to stop another world war, meaning that he had to keep up the pretense, just as Itachi had.

He had killed his brother, and had to avenge his clan against the other one, who had been the true destroyer. Even if Itachi had been ordered, or somehow made to kill the clan, why everyone? Not everyone would have cared if their clan wasn't 'the best.' A good amount had always rolled their eyes at the notion, they simply wanted to live peaceful in Konoha. They had friends, family and jobs, and they were happy with it, without having to be the best clan in the world. There was no need to kill a whole village or clan to gain that title, and Itachi had only been protecting the village, and Sasuke.

He had to be there to dispose of Madra for his evil, what better way to do that than to be in his group, gathering information and planning? Once he had eliminated Madra and the rest of Akatsuki, he had retreated to Sound, determined to dismantle it and eliminate that threat. He would follow in his brothers footsteps, as their father hand wanted him too, for a time. His brother was the one in the right, the one who challenged Sasuke to get stronger, so that he would be able to eliminate the threats to their beloved home.