Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

a/n: I write because I love to :) It's readers' choice to read, and writers' choice to write. Thank you readers & reviewers!

Chapter 13: A Pink Sky

The sky was a blushing pink, and the blonde sat on the porch with his stomach growling for food.

"Ugh, I can't take this." He grumbled, and rubbing his stomach, he thought, 'Maybe I should just break in –' He raised his fist and felt the rush of his chakra, but abruptly stopped when he heard footsteps.

'About time!' "SAKURA-CHAN!"

Naruto swung around to face the pink-haired girl, and outstretched his arms for an embrace… which was, of course, greeted by a fist.

"Ouch! Saku –"

"At least try to act like you've got some decency, Naruto…"

It wasn't Sakura, but a caramel-haired woman muttering in annoyance before him.

"Ah! Me-Mebuki-obasan!" A pure look of horror flashed across Naruto's face as he backed away slowly. "I-I've got somewhere to go… haha…"

"Where do you think you're going?"

Mebuki gave a glare, and tossing her handbag – which hit the blonde perfectly on his head – she reached for the door, fumbling with her keys.

"You're coming in to help me for dinner. Sakura should be coming soon too."

'Helping with dinner? Aww… Not again.'

Naruto could only complain inwardly as he remembered the last time he had to help her: Naruto had offered to make cup ramen and he had ended up with a messed-up kitchen, a good beating, and a bowl full of vegetables.

"Obasan…" Naruto's eyes suddenly dimmed to that of the darkness inside the house. "Sakura-chan, I heard she…"

Mebuki didn't bother to turn the lights on as she started unpacking the groceries.

"Yes, so you've heard. Fridge." She paused to hand Naruto a pack of frozen meat.

"But why did she choose to –"

"For the same reason you promised her you'd bring Sasuke back. Left cabinet." Naruto took the bag of sugar. "But you know already." She softly finished.

Naruto's blue eyes widened in surprise as he muttered, "Am I that obvious?"

Mebuki gave a sad smile in response and her hands reached up to turn the lights on.

"Naruto, bring out the eggs, sugar, carrots, lettuce, and –" Her voice was suddenly sharp, the previous graveness broken and dissipated away.

"Obasan! I just stored those away!"

"No complaining in my kitchen!" She hand-chopped Naruto's head, a sounding 'thwack' following in unison. "If you'd like dinner, that is."

"Ouch… No wonder Sakura-chan's so violent –"

Another hand-chop and a sounding 'thwack' quieted the blonde for a… brief moment, before he started yammering again.

"Wow, the sky's so pink – it's so pretty." Sakura gave a light laugh and Sasuke looked at her flowing pink hair to agree.

"Hn."

Secretly, Sakura searched for other paths they could take before they'd return home – she wanted this stroll to last just a little longer. Maybe she could ask him more questions, then.

It was when they came across a set of very old yet beautiful buildings that Sakura realized she had made a mistake. Sasuke froze, and he slowly stepped towards the Uchiha district like he was hypnotized.

Perhaps, he was. Itachi seemed to haunt him eternally.

His body started shaking in a violent tremor as he chanted in a whisper: "I must kill him."

'Kill… who?' Sakura questioned in silence, too afraid to voice aloud. Instead, she gently reached for his hands. Taking his large hand into two of her soft, smaller ones, Sakura warmly squeezed it. The shaking man turned toward Sakura and it was the sight of her that brought him back to reality.

"Hah… I forgot… I've already killed him." A bitter laugh followed but Sakura saw.

For the first time, Sakura saw an expression – a feeling – break out into Sasuke's usually calm, masked face. But his face now read agony and pain.

"Sa-Sasuke…" Sakura's voice was trembling too, now, as she slowly brought him closer.

It wasn't an embrace, but the two stood there together on the deserted street for a long time, before the dark sky brought them back to reality.

When they walked back home, neither of them spoke a word.

a/n: Neji's birthday is forgotten for this chapter... Cough... Such a flaw (oh the horror). The birthday party talk will come soon.. But the next chapter.. I don't know :( I'm sorry but my updates will be irregular now. OMG Was Sasuke OOC here? :(