Note: I haven't been able to update recently because of school and all the commotion in our area due to bomb threats and power outages (meaning no internet).


Itachi felt much like a leper with the way Konan was avoiding him the following night.

He watched the blue haired woman flit like a butterfly whenever she saw him approaching. Now Itachi was a patient man; it was a common virtue among the Uchihas, but he was no martyr. A person can only handle so much.

Maybe she's playing hard-to-get? Itachi quickly shoved the ridiculous idea aside. Konan was not one to play games, a trait which he found respectable. Her beauty was such that among the throng of overdressed women in the party, she stood out wearing a simple black dress. It would have been excusable had she decided to toy with men's hearts. However, she had done no such thing.

This brought him back to his original and most dreaded assumption - she was interested in someone else. Who? He knew not. The only men she spent particularly a lot of time around were Yahiko and Nagato, which was understandable since they were a band after all.

Overall, it was a convoluted issue that he would have to let go for the time being.

Just in time, his gaze fell upon a certain cherry head arriving at the scene.


Sakura tried not to dwell too hard on the fact that the Boss had insisted that she accompany him at his "birthday party".

She had been tempted to decline politely seeing as this mission had already forced her out of her comfort zone. But to be the leader's date? It was an open invitation to fraternize with the enemy. While she was at it, she might as well forsake Leaf Co. and follow Sasuke's footsteps.

But it was for the same reasons that she had grudgingly accepted the offer. This mission was not a luxury vacation filled with self-pampering. She was loyal to Leaf Co. and will do anything in her power to find Sasuke and bring him back. If that meant discomfort and relinquishing control, so be it. If that meant submitting her dignity to the masked pervert that was snaking his arms around her waist...

her eyes darted around the populated ballroom in search of an open bar.


Pairs of eyes, notably onyx ones, watched the pink haired beauty beside the Boss.

She wore an ecru dress which hugged her curves with a v-shaped neckline that bared a modest amount of cleavage. Her pink locks were kept in a messy chignon, revealing peridot earrings that correlated with her green eyes. She was beyond beautiful. And judging from the roomful of people who had been shut silent, their breaths stolen by her presence, he knew he wasn't the only one.

She was breathtaking.

However, he was alone in noticing that there was something amiss in her smile. He watched the Boss pull her around the room as he introduced her to everyone. All the while, her fingers fidgeted and her smile was forced. When presented the opportunity, he saw her make a bee line for the bar. Feeding his curiosity, he decided to join her.

"Bit early to be hitting the bar, don't you agree, Sakura-san?"

As he sat down, her emerald eyes flashed with a mixture of surprise and impatience. "I'd say the same to you, Itachi-san."

"I'll have a sidecar, Kakuzu," he told the bartender separately before responding, "I'm only here to accompany you."

"Accompany me?" Sakura laughed at the absurdity. "What your Uchiha brains not smart enough to figure out I wanted to get away from company?"

"I'm not here to cater to your convenience."

"Then why are you here?"

"Bored. I thought you might entertain me."

Sakura raised her brows at his suggestive answer. She was unsure by what he meant but she gave him a once-over nonetheless. He was wearing a maroon dress shirt which was slightly unbuttoned and black pants. His drab clothing deepened the darkness of his sombre eyes. He was handsome, there was no point in denying that. Sasuke will look like this in a few years...

Meanwhile, Itachi saw her defensive expression shift into alarm. He was confused until he saw her eyes drop to his shoes and slowly ascend to his face.

I thought you might entertain me.

He smirked at the realization.

"Good enough for you?"

Her muddled eyes met his mysterious ones. "Hm? Oh uh, pardon me?"

Itachi cleared his throat hiding an amused smile. "I heard that there will be a meteor shower tonight. Would you like to watch it with me?"


Konan narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Itachi and the new dancer, Sakura, as they exited the ballroom doors.

Had he already moved on?

For reasons unknown to her, she did not feel relieved as she thought she would. On the contrary, she was peeved and flustered.

Only yesterday he was determined to have her attention, almost demanding it. Now, he did not even spare her a glance before he left. She knew it shouldn't matter because she could never return his love.

She was used to his affection, that was all. Subconsciously, she had taken comfort in knowing that she could always fall back on him.

Konan shook her head and tried to stifle the new-found possessiveness that she felt.

Ridiculous. He'd never fall for the cherry head anyway.