Shock, touched, relieved and slightly angered. All those emotions flickered on Sakura's face as she read the note obviously sent by her fiancée. There seemed to be enough money to buy a small house with. How rich is he? She wondered quietly and then berated herself. That's beside the point! HOW DARE HE WATCH ME! How dare he send me money! We're through! What doesn't he understand? Sakura tried, in vain, to make herself angry at him over this, but she could not. It was the sweetest thing anyone had done for her, and she hated him a little bit for it.

"Who's it from?" Sora questioned, "a billionaire?"

Sakura sighed to herself, "It doesn't say… maybe it's just our lucky day."

"If we were lucky, I'd be sleeping at home in the mansion right now." Sora shot at her, still upset they had abandoned their new home so quickly.

"Sora, you need to understand-"

"Stop treating me like a kid! I can understand perfectly!" he was so exasperated at being babied by her he snapped.

Sakura remained silent. "I don't understand why I'm being punished here! The way I see it, Mr. Kakuzu did everything because he wanted to protect you! He was saving you from Dad, and all the pain he was causing. He did everything for you and you left him without letting him explain." He drew a heavy breath, "what I understand is we both left the best home we've ever lived in without so much as thinking about it." He grew quiet, "I don't want to live in fear that we're going to die hungry, or travelling from one hotel to the next; I won't be able to take it."

Realization dawned on her face, Sakura hugged her brother tightly. "Thank you for telling me, I can see I was being unfair. We can't go back just yet, though."

Sora looked annoyed, "why not?"

"Because… I can't face him right now. He killed our father, Sora. I've never dealt with that before."

Her brother shifted from one foot to the other, "You don't know why he did. Maybe you should hear his side before you decide whether or not you can face him again."

Again Sakura hugged her brother, "You're pretty wise, for a midget…"

Sora smiled crookedly, "Less body, bigger brains." He laughed quietly, making Sakura's heart warm. "Which is more than I can say for you, Sis." He stuck out his tongue and ducked at she swung her hand half-heartedly at him. It felt like ages since she had spent time with her little brother; even under the circumstances it was great to get to know him a little better as a person. "So, where to, sister?"

Sakura shrugged, "I honestly don't know…"

"FOOD! I need food!" Sora crowed like a baby bird, holding his growling stomach. "Please, please, pleaaase!" He hopped up and down, darting to and fro around his laughing sister. She chuckled at his antics and thanked Kakuzu silently; he had found another way to brighten her life and make her brother happy, which was more than she could have hoped for. She would return to him and talk, sometime soon, but now she needed to be away from him to gather her feelings and sort them. Sakura only hoped that he would forgive her and wait; she wouldn't blame him if he didn't, though. A part of her knew he would wait for her because it was just the man he was; he didn't let many people into his life, so he would not be so careless as to throw away something that could have been saved. They shared something special and Sakura hopes he can feel it as well.

"We'll go home soon, Sora… soon." She smiled sadly, and ruffled his hair. Sora gripped her hand in his smaller one and held onto it, making his sister feel bubbly inside. She lead him to a place full of painful memories; their old house was dark and eerily quiet.

Sora backed up slightly, "Sister..?" he sounded unsure.

"We may as well get some more things from the house before its sold to some random ninja…" she mumbled to herself, turning the unlocked door with hesitance. She nearly called out "we're home!" but stopped herself, feeling sadness crush within her. Sakura could feel her expression fall and felt the small squeeze of a hand within hers. She squeezed back, reassuring that she was there for him as he was for her.

The two ventured upstairs, Sakura went to her room, Sora to his. Rummaging through the mess that was her room, Sakura tried to salvage anything. Her hairbrush was on the floor, her favorite picture of Ino and her was underneath a broken lamp but still intact. She rooted through the rubble, gather small things of importance to her. Her team picture lay broken in a shattered frame, but she saved the picture. She could always buy another frame. The kinoichi smiled at the picture of her crazy group; Sasuke and Naruto looked annoyed with each other, which was nothing new, and Kakashi looked exasperated. Sakura remembered when she use to think her lazy sensei has hot; she had been a very hormonal 14 year old. She had obviously grow up the last 4 years, although she knew she had a long way to go. Maybe… I'll grow up with Kakuzu by my side…

A tear fell from her eye, startling herself with sudden emotions. Did she really miss him that much? "Stupid… hormones…" she grumbled quietly and shoved his memory into the back of her mind where it screamed until she busied herself by looking for more keepsakes. Humming a small tune to herself she threw everything into a small duffle bag and walked into Sora's bedroom.

"you ready?" Sakura poked her head in, only to see her brother on his bed crying to himself, holding a picture of his father, mother, Sakura and him. When he heard her, he shoved the photo away and hastily wiped his eyes.

"Y-yeah. I'm sick of this stupid place. We can go." He got up and attempted to move past her; Sakura did not move, instead she leaned down to his level and hugged him.

"I know it's tough, Sora. You don't have to pretend. I understand, Sora, and I'm here for you always. You're not alone in this. I'll always be your big sister, no matter what." She felt her own eyes water and let the tears fall freely. She and Sora would cry together, bonding them to a similar fate. They will get past this, someday, and they will always be together.

"They're both gone, sister. They left us… We're alone." Her brother sobbed, feeling truly alone.

"They will never leave us, Sora. Mom and Dad will always watch over you, like I will. I may not be as kind as Mom, nor as strong as Father, but I will do my best to be there to comfort you and to protect you when you need it or feel alone. We will always have each other because you're my baby brother and I would do anything for you." Sakura felt Sora grip her t-shirt tightly, more sobs wracking his small frame.

"S-s-sister…" he sniffled quietly.

"I love you too, squirt." She pulled away and kissed his forehead.

It was silent for a moment until Sakura cleared her throat, "Are you ready to go?"

Sora nodded slightly, picking up his bag, leaving his comic books on his book shelf. Sakura pointed to them and he turned.

"No comics?" her brow raised.

"I don't need them." Sora moved past her and ventured back downstairs, Sakura glanced at them before opening her bag and putting a few of his favorites in it. He would thank her someday.

Sakura dropped the last comic book she attempted to smuggle into her bag and leaned down to pick it up; something beneath his bed caught her eye. Curious, she pulled out a small box and opened it. It held a few trading cards a bunch of old pictures. Sakura wondered why he kept so many outdated photographs, but seeing a picture of her mother among them, she understood. Refusing to intrude further on Sora's privacy she closed the box, putting it in her bag along with the photo Sora had been crying over before. She also spotted his old teddy bear, abused and worn sitting in a chair in the corner. Carefully she picked it up and returned downstairs to her brother. Sakura threw the bear softly to him and went outside; Sakura smiled again when he came out after her, teddy cradled in his arms. Every boy pretends to be a man, but when it comes down to it, sometimes they just need to be a boy again.