Sasuke was sitting in Tsunade office waiting for today's instructions. He felt a little bit lightheaded, "unreal" as he described this condition. Maybe he shouldn't have skipped breakfast in the morning, but he was so angry again without any particular reason, and again couldn't gulp down any food. He averted his eyes from glary lights of the dawn that were like daggers piercing his brain. He had drunk just coffee and he felt now his limbs were almost at a point of shivering. It was strange to experience at the same time body weakness and strength, but he liked this sensation.

"... are you listening?" Hokage reproached him and gave him questioning look. There was something off with the boy, but to be honest, there was always something off with Sasuke.

"I'm sorry... I just didn't hear your last words, ma'am."

"I said you work under Sakura's command today again. And try to be nicer to her. If I hear any complaints from her, you'll regret it," seeing startled look at the boy's face, she soften her tone. "I mean, don't behave like a prick, act like a normal person and try to have some small talks with her like you were colleagues. You're scarring people when you keep silent for eight hours straight. Remember it's your punishment working here, not hers."

The boy sighed, nodded his head and looked down. Conversations with him were rather monologues. It was complete contrast to talks with Naruto.

"Well, I'm not saying you behave bad; to be honest I'm quite content with your work. I just ask you to be more social."

Sasuke couldn't believe his ears. He had just been praised. Shivering of his right leg got out of control, but Tsunade couldn't see it from her desk. Was she manipulating him or did she truly mean it? Probably it was just another meaningless talk of her to which he attached too much importance.

Kuso. It was pathetic what he's been doing, ending up in such condition. He should really take better care of himself.

There was knocking at the door and Sakura entered the room. She was already clad in a white apron, hairs in ponytail, holding some files. She gave Sasuke a fleeting look during which he politely bowed his head, and she stopped beside him before the desk.

"Lady Tsunade," she greeted her superior and offered Sasuke a small nod.

"Sakura, you're just in time," said Hokage with a smile. "As I told you yesterday, I arranged some help for you."

"I've already said I don't need help, especially from unprofessional, but if you insist," she sighed with resignation and sat beside Sasuke. She gave him another, emotionless look as she was judging his practical value. She caught eye contact with the boy, because he's been furtively observing her.

"I'm looking forward to working with you," he said a polite phrase to escape the situation. Sakura nodded her head in response. Tsunade smirked with satisfaction.

"Sakura, let's drink some coffee before we start, shall we?" proposed Hokage. "I should have cookies somewhere," she started to look through her drawers. "Uchiha, go to the kitchen and brew coffee for us, will you?"

He came back with a tray and found the women chatting. The mood in the room apparently lighten up when he was gone. He passed the cups and sat on his previous spot, not sure he should participate in this conversation. As he assumed he would not be spoken to, he stared through the window observing changing colors of the dawning sky.

"Sasuke... and where's your cup? You don't drink with us? asked Tsunade.

Uchiha was forced to focus on reality.

"Oh, sorry. I... I've already had my coffee..." he murmured. It turned out this was an invitation and not a command to serve them. He didn't get it and now felt somehow embarrassed. He didn't want to be noticed more than necessary.

"A cookie?"

"Mhm, thanks," he unwillingly took it as he couldn't refuse. He slowly chewed it piece by piece. That was odd and he didn't like it. Hokage calling him by his given name and treating him as one of her co-workers? He just didn't understand it. He was accustomed to hostility or indifference and that was clear situation. Somebody being nice to him was horrible – he realized. It made him feel being in debt, no matter how insignificant the kindness would be. And fraternizing with anybody in the town was useless. He was not part of the town and there was no future waiting for him. He did want nothing from the town – not forgiveness, not recognition, not friendships - didn't he? The cookie he ate felt like a stone in his stomach.

"So, Sasuke-kun, how do you do? I've heard you live with Itachi-san now," Sakura apparently tried to be polite. Just what the hell did happen when he was in the kitchen? He felt "unreal" and his thoughts didn't proceed straight. Maybe he misinterpreted things.

"Mhm, I do," catching Tsunade's look he added "Thanks."

"I sometimes see Itachi-san and ... "he stopped tracking Sakura's polite talk. He didn't want to be mean, it just he felt this inside shivering... and the sky turned light blue... and his iris opened on the bright light giving him bit dizzily but amazing feeling of space...

"So, Sasuke, do you like your work here?" he just barely caught another question.

"No I don't" – no, he said it only in his imagination. In reality his throat produced just "mhm" what the girl must have taken as "yes".

Today they worked at geriatrics. Sakura checked up at her patients and Sasuke - as wordlessly as he could - worked as an errand boy delivering files, medicines, fulfilling small requests like moving a bed closer to window etc. Sakura ordered him to provide some easy medical assistance like doing simple check-ups, injections, changing bandages. He let Sakura give him detailed instructions although thanks to his master he was no novice in these activities.

Sasuke couldn't stand this work. The elderly people seemed not to know who he was. They were nice and thanked effusively for any minor favor offered to them as it was a great deal and not his obligations. They shared stories of their lives, most of them including motive of a family member not visiting them or having being cheated. He was fed up with "sonny" and "you have a good heart". Because he definitely hadn't got a good heart and it was such a ridiculous lie. Almost every granny commented on his facial "tattoo" – some complaining about youth extreme fashion trends and ruining his pretty face – like he had any saying in this; some remembering their grandchild also having tattoos. But he had to keep a mask and smile, because what can you do else seeing their naive attitude and irrational faith even in the worst people like him?

Sakura talked and talked, listened to their stories, so Sasuke fortunately could just silently disappear behind the stream of her words. Breathing hospital air, he was away, reliving in his mind scenes from the time after his capture, when he lay forgotten in prison hospital. He barely existed then. He was glad he also skipped lunch today so the "unreal" feeling grew even stronger. The worst was after all Sakura. At the end she actually thanked him for behaving properly –like he was some wild animal. Maybe she was right, maybe he was not exactly the same human as them...

When he later met with Yamato he received usual hostile words. What exactly – he could not remember. On some level he knew captain mocked him and offended, but he stop listening long ago. He also got it that his passive aggressive attitude drew the man mad. But he couldn't help it, couldn't find motivation to behave courteous. After unexpected, odd kindness he experienced, the things were back to how they were supposed to be, with what he learnt to deal. His lack of reaction often resulted in Yamato shaking him by the arms, but then he laughed because it was so hilarious and Yamato stunned at his behavior would end the meeting. He was not afraid anymore. After all he didn't belong to this town.

Sasuke decided to indulge himself and spent the evening at a boulevard leading to the ninja academy – where he used to wait with his mother to pick up Itachi after school. Mother was a sacred memory. Only about her love he was almost sure, however he was also angry at her docility toward Father. But the memory was soon interrupted. Something was done to his body, something he couldn't talked about or admit even before himself. And he was stained, and he was evil and he could no longer be his mother's good boy.

Cold air tingled at his skin. Evening dark covered the grayness. Weakened Sasuke drifted away in sleep, reliving the past. The day proved full of surprises however. Sometime later, a blond-haired pedestrian was walking by, apparently coming back from Iruka – the only sensei known to stay to the late night at the school. He suddenly stopped as he spotted disgraced Uchiha on the bench. As he confirmed the boy is sleeping, the blond dared to come closer and spent a good while observing him. He drew his hand toward Sasuke's face and traced flowery patterns on his cheeks, but without touching him. Then one could see as the blond ninja straightens, his irises turning into vertical slits, breathing heavily and clenching his fists. Quick scrunch of the road stones and pedestrian disappeared just in a moment Sasuke woke up.

Confused young Uchiha looked around for the sound that woke him up. But before he could think clearly Itachi came running, and in the same moment he was lifting him up and scolding him for making him worry.

AN: First and foremost - thank you for your reviews! Your feedback is really important for me. I'm sorry for not updating more often, I hope it would change during holidays.

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