Hey my lovelies *Creepy wink*
Thanks a lot for those who reviewed the last time.
I hope you like this one :D Cuz for some reason unbeknownst to myself; it kinda is one of my favorite chapters in the whole story. This and the last chapter (hehe, but that's a whole other story).
Sakura braced herself for impact as she was sent flying through the trees, while her luck assisted her in accomplishing the almost impossible task of hitting every branch on her way to her inevitable plummet towards the ground.
You'd think that spending the first 2 hours of this training literally running around Konoha with Gai and Lee would have been enough. But apparently her tyrant of an instructor really wanted to see the girl suffer. And suffer she did, as for the last hour and a half she's been having her ass handed to her in what Itachi called 'Taijutsu training' session. However, Sakura was convinced that it was more like 'let's snap Sakura in half' session.
The girl landed with a dull thud, practically feeling her bones shuffle around and reposition in locations that they should never be at.
Less than a fraction of a second after impact Sakura was back on her feet, knowing full well what was to come.
And just as she expected, the guy who just flung her half way through the clearing casually reappeared in front of her, Kunai at hand.
In an almost instant projectile motion those Kunai were sent travelling at a devastating speed towards the still staggering girl. However, Sakura quickly pumped some chakra to her feet and parried.
But of course, this was by no means the end of it, as Itachi suddenly materialized behind the girl, having found the time to move in the split second where Sakura's attention was drawn to the Kunai.
Nevertheless, Sakura who has been suffering through his trainings every day for almost two weeks now, was on her guard. Knowing that she couldn't outrun him, as he was an inch away from her (not to mention much, much faster than her); she turned around, quickly blocking the Kunai he aimed at her back with one of her own.
A few seconds later Sakura retreated backwards and stood facing the Uchiha, with a smug expression on her face as if to say; 'I totally saw that coming'. Which was in fact what she was thinking at the moment.
What she didn't see though, was the clone that just materialized behind her. Said Uchiha lookalike once again kicked the girl. This time though; her back hit a tree, she felt pain spread through her body, while her mind absently remarked that the clone has disappeared.
*This could only mean one thing.* She thought, and just like she expected, the real thing was about to attack.
Sakura attempted to parry, but wistfully she realized that her lower back and right foot have taken a lot of damage from the last attack; to such an extent that it would take her no less than five minutes to be able to move at the same speed again.
The girl's mind frantically shuffled for a way out of this solution. Her brain somehow went into slow motion and started highlighting every move the Uchiha made on his way to land a devastating blow that was sure to once again send her flying into a completely hostile immobile object.
Bracing herself for what she knew to be coming, and following her cowardly mind's instructions; Sakura closed her eyes, balled her hands into small expectant fists and waited for the blow.
However, what the girl got was a completely different impact.
Sakura's eyes flew open as she felt something demandingly move against her lips in deep, inviting caresses.
Her heart started beating frantically. Itachi had made it a point to keep his distance from the girl, he has only kissed her two times and they were both on the first day where he's confessed his feelings for her. However, over the subsequent weeks he's declared that her complete and undivided attention should be devoted solely to her training, given that the Anbu exams were fast approaching. Accordingly, the Anbu captain has been determinately keeping his distance.
Sakura really hated that, (not that she'd ever tell him about it).
That's why right now, and without even knowing what was happening, Sakura found herself kissing back.
Itachi's lips were surprisingly warm, caressing her lips a little softly in the beginning, before systematically getting more demanding as they moved against hers in perfect rhythm, pushing her towards a dangerous edge with every deep caress.
She wanted to throw her arms around his neck, to come closer, but before she could do it; Itachi drew back.
Sakura almost groaned her protest, but she settled for a mental blowout where she punched her inner self square in the face for no fault of the alter ego's own.
*You're insane.* Inner Sakura remarked, as she ran away crying, not that Sakura really cared at the moment, as her attention was caught by the Uchiha smirking down at her.
Much to her embarrassment, she soon realized why he was smirking; which was simply because Sakura has literally been pouting at him since he drew back, as if asking him 'why?'.
And so Itachi answered her pouted question, "That was your punishment for closing your eyes and allowing your opponent to hit you."
Well, I guess this was a better explanation than admitting that he lost all semblances of self control when he saw her standing there looking all cute and flustered with closed eyes (actually admitting that his stoic highness actually found a use for the word 'cute' even if it was in his deepest thoughts was embarrassing enough on its own). He just had to touch her, to kiss her, to taste her and for the life of him when she started to kiss back he knew for a fact that one more second of this and he would never be able to let her go. If he had stayed for a mere instant more he would have never been able to force himself to stop. And so, mentally cursing his responsible nature, Itachi forced himself to draw away.
So the Uchiha opted for a spin off story that'd cast him as a captain punishing his underling in a rather extraordinary (Ahem, inappropriate) way. After all, admitting his true motives would completely ruin his legendary reputation as an ice sculpture.
Itachi paused eyeing her amusedly. "You are not supposed to enjoy your punishment." He added with a sly half grin, before thoroughly enjoying the becoming blush that graced the girl's face.
However, soon, Sakura's temper flared, and she crossed her arms across her chest, mentally screaming, *Cocky bastard.* While inner Sakura for once playing the voice of reason; informed Sakura that she was indeed enjoying it, only to be punched in the face once more.
Sakura narrowed her eyes at the Uchiha, "Fine." She said darkly, causing Itachi to smirk once again, as he knew for a fact that she'd do her best to return the favor. *Let's see who'll be smirking the next time, Mr. Hot shot.* She mentally bellowed.
*You should just kiss him right now, and when he kisses back you draw away.* Inner Sakura suggested. *Or not.* She added dreamily. *Don't draw away.* She advised with a sigh.
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Sakura," Itachi called trying to snap the girl out of whatever mental trance she was stuck in, when the girl looked up at him, he was once again all business, to such an extent that the girl involuntarily gulped. "It's time for the next section of our Taijutsu training."
"There's another section?" She almost screamed.
As a response Itachi calmly walked past her, clearly expecting her to follow.
*Oh, God, life's just too unfair.*
.
"Yes, Yes, it's true now would you people just shut up and go mind your own business." Ino hissed, waving a dismissing hand as she walked out of one of her classes. This was like the hundredth time this morning that someone asked her to verify whether Sakura really is dating Itachi.
Not that Ino was complaining or anything. I mean, even if it wasn't her own relationship; Ino was thoroughly enjoying the greener than green looks of sheer envy and repressed spite that crossed the faces of those girls (and some guys), as she so helpfully informs them that Itachi was indeed with her friend.
*Not technically, but who cares.* Ino thought with a mental smirk. I mean, yes they weren't officially dating, and Itachi wasn't officially not engaged to Anko (yet), hell they didn't even act like a couple (given that Itachi was constantly beating her ass in training, with the most romantic thing he ever uttered being that Sakura is slowly becoming less likely to embarrass herself at the Anbu placement exam, yup he was that romantic!). However, Itachi did confess his love to Sakura; which was all Ino needed to start spreading the news around campus like her life depended on it.
The blonde flipped her hair, as she pondered whether she could devise some plan to take the credit for Itachi and Sakura getting together. I mean, it was a plan of hers that got them talking in the first place wasn't it?
*Otherwise, my monstrous fore-headed friend would've been silently drooling over him from a distance up until now.* She thought proudly. *Goes to show that even big fore-headed freaks do stand a chance in life after all. And they say miracles don't happen.* She mentally bashed her friend, unable to stop the small haughty smile that normally accompanied teasing Sakura; from spreading across her lips.
Ino jotted this down as a potential insult for Sakura (of course she might have to postpone using it if Sakura's hair is in such a bad shape that Ino has to pull the plug on all her lined up insults in favor of focusing on it. And truth be told, more often than not Ino thought it was).
Practically bursting with excitement at the potential for delivering a particularly scathing insult, regarding Sakura's hair; Ino started to make her way towards the training grounds where Sakura was; after all Sakura's hair was always worse after training. Not to mention that Itachi practically beats the self esteem out of the girl, which makes insulting her after training all the more rewarding for the boisterous blonde.
*That's what best friends are for.* She thought excitedly. However, less than a second later, the girl's smile of mirth unconsciously turned into a feline like baring of teeth, and she absently noted a little snarl that escaped her throat as every fiber of her being seemed to have been instantaneously put on high alert.
Could you really blame her though?
She hasn't seen the guy for two weeks, courtesy of the fact that she's been avoiding him like the plague. Last time she saw him, he managed to give her new hope in life. He freakin kissed her and carried her off bridal style. But then the bastard had the nerve to go try and kiss her best friend not 30 minutes later.
Ino stiffened at the mental image, her very demeanor screaming, *BASTARD.* As Sasuke who initially seemed to be just as taken aback at seeing her came to stop in front of her, his face painstakingly unreadable.
"Listen, Ino…." He started in a detached voice, having every intention to use the leverage he has over her, and by that I mean the fact that she adores him; to get her to effortlessly forgive him. After all, with his cool charm, does any woman really stand a chance?
However, the Uchiha was promptly interrupted.
"Screw you!" Ino said in an unperturbed tone. Her tone was quite a casual one, as if she was saying 'good morning' or something. It was the tone she normally used to verbally tear to shreds those who annoyed her.
For his part, Sasuke was taken aback a bit. His onyx orbs widening by a fraction as he regarded the girl.
"What?" He questioned.
"Screw- You, Uchiha."She said drawling out the words, for him to understand.
In normal circumstances he would've killed the person who dared say something like that to him. However, at the moment he was way too shocked to activate his Uchiha pride.
"Ino," He started once again after collecting himself. "I understand that you are upset…." He said, making sure that his voice came out level. For the life of him he just didn't know why he was being so apologetic. I mean, he's Uchiha Sasuke damn it; he doesn't have an apologetic bone in his body. Or so he thought.
"Spare me."She cut him off.
"Listen…." He started again, this time in a sharper tone. "I can explain why I left that day…."
"No, you listen to me." She once again interrupted coldly. "I know for a fact why you left; you went to Sakura." She beat him to a conclusion.
"There was a reason for that." He rationed not really knowing what to say next.
However, he soon didn't have to say anything as the girl gave a sardonic laugh as she rolled her eyes at him.
"Oh yah…" Ino chipped in. "I know that reason very well." She declared. "It's because you're a pompous jerk; who thinks that he's better than everyone else. You think you can play with anyone's feelings and this person should just be grateful that they had none other than 'the' Uchiha Sasuke play with them."
"That is not…."
"It's the truth." She accused. "And I can't believe I once fell for you. But you know what? I fell for you without even knowing you. I thought there was something. Anything remotely human underneath that cold exterior. But I soon discovered that, unlike me; you're nothing but a pretty face. That's all you are, you're like a glorified Uchiha escort or something. And I want nothing to do with you or your pretty face anymore."
This time, Sasuke's expression really did change. Actually, it changed a couple of times, shifting from surprise and shock and moving past confusion and prideful indignation and up to and including utter disbelief.
He continued to look at her with incredulous eyes, as the girl flipped her hair haughtily and moved past him calmly as she continued towards her destination.
For her part, Ino was nothing but satisfied. She's been an idiot for so much time and she's fooled herself for long enough. She actually made a pact with herself that when she finally sees him, she won't get angry or yell, but calmly and methodologically let him know how much of a colossal dumbass he really is. And now, she couldn't be happier, albeit a bit sorry that she had to be in love with such a jerk.
*I'll go get ice-cream.*She concluded as she shifted gears and headed towards the ice-cream store.
In her wake, a still disbelieving Sasuke was left to stare at her back, thoroughly incapable of wrapping his head around having just been called 'nothing but a pretty face' and an 'escort'. Involuntarily, his calm onyxes bled crimson as he pondered the thought. More so, when his clever mind actually started to systematically show that his actions in the past actually did align with the proposition of him being just eye candy with no content and no values.
*Damn it.* The younger Uchiha thought. It seems, as if he just can't turn around these days without making a shocking revelation about how much of a jerk he was. But to be honest, this was the first time someone actually did spell it out for him like that.
.
Sakura gave a tortured battle cry as she rerouted as much chakra as she could to her right fist for one last explosive blow. The girl paused momentarily to look over her handy work with worn out pride.
After all, it did take her almost three hours to achieve this, and all what was left to this agonizing training was the delivery of the final blow.
And so she did, with one final strike she brought the mountain like formation she's been struggling with for the last three hours to its rocky knees.
Sakura sighed exhaustedly. *Finally.* She pondered tiredly, as she mentally cursed Itachi for giving her such an excruciating task. I mean, who the hell orders someone to take down a mountain anyways?
Turning around with a proud half grin, Sakura's eyes made a quick sweep of her surroundings, in pursuit of her coach who she assumed was standing behind her and watching her carefully this entire time.
However, the girl was appalled to see him completely oblivious to her latest achievement as he sat serenely under a tree, flipping through the pages of a magazine. For a second there she cursed her luck, as she really didn't need an oblivious instructor who'd rather read than observe her train (she had Kakashi for that.)
Sakura promptly and rather angrily stomped over to the Uchiha, mentally praying that what he was reading didn't end up being a porn based magazine. Sakura actually shuddered at that last thought while inner Sakura doubled over in laughter.
As a response to her shadow being cast over the pages of his magazine and to the fact that her Chakra was slightly flaring; Itachi looked up with an uninterested look on his face.
"I'm done." Sakura said smugly in response to his raised eyebrow.
"You sure took your time, Sakura." Was his unimpressed response.
Sakura twitched. *Damn pompous Uchiha!* She mentally roared.
"You weren't even looking." She accused. "Aren't you supposed to watch me train?" She said hands firmly placed on both sides of her hips.
"Not when it takes you three whole hours to accomplish a mundane task." He intoned, returning his eyes to the pages of the magazine at hand, and in the process completely ignoring the indignant glare Sakura just gave him.
"Mundane?" She said balling her fists. "In what world is bringing down a mountain a mundane task?" She questioned irritably, "I mean…."
She trailed off, however, when the Uchiha fixed her with an icy glare of his own, as he calmly got to his feet, their blaring height difference momentarily intimidating the girl into complete silence.
"Are you questioning the orders of your coach, Sakura?" He questioned in a deadly tone, all traces of calmness and relaxation draining from his face only to be replaced by frightening intimidation.
"N-Not really…." She mumbled.
"Not really?" He repeated in the same dangerous voice.
"I… I mean not at all." She said quickly.
At that the Uchiha relaxed a bit.
"Hn."
Sakura let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding, as she let her eyes break contact with the Uchiha's and pan down toward the ground. She had to do a double-take, however, bringing her eyes back up to stare at the magazine in the Uchiha's hand.
Almost instantaneously the girl gulped, raising a hand to point tentatively at the publication.
*Worst than porn! Worst than porn!* Sakura mentally screamed, as inner Sakura resumed her laughing fit.
"Is-Is that…?" Was all she managed.
Instead of saying anything, Itachi visibly relaxed and leaned back against the branch of the tree he was previously seated under. These actions paired with his mischievous smirk; assured Sakura that this magazine was in fact what she thought it was.
"I thought I took it away that other day." She said wistfully. She was practically talking more to herself than to him.
"You did not hide it properly." He said, smirk still in place. He then paused eyeing her amusedly. "I did not know you were a big enough fan of me Sakura; as to buy such magazines." He teased.
"I didn't buy it!" She declared defensively. She really didn't. It was Ino who bought this stupid magazine, before proceeding to shove it in her face just to show how much of a catch Itachi really was. Not that she didn't know that already, although she was starting to question how much of a catch he really was as she pondered how much he enjoyed both mentally teasing and physically tormenting her, *and not even in the good way.* Was inner Sakura's brash remark regarding physical torment.
"I must admit, this does have some very accurate pieces of information." Itachi reflected skimming through the pages of the magazine.
"It does?" Sakura questioned curiously. As far as she was concerned the information included in this thing was just as accurate as one of Ino's: juicy pieces of gossip.
"Hn." Itachi concurred, finally settling on a page to read from. "While the fact that I can divide by Zero is just as false as the fact that I am capable of slamming revolving doors; I must admit that the last line is in fact true." He intoned.
"What's that?" She questioned inching towards him, as if to take a look.
Itachi smirked once more and turned the magazine around so that she can read.
Sakura quickly scanned the page, promptly landing at the last line.
'Uchiha Itachi doesn't use pick up lines, he simply says 'now'.
After reading the line, Sakura raised her head and looked sheepishly up at the excruciatingly handsome Uchiha.
"Now." Came his rich baritone that made it that much harder for the girl to breathe normally.
She gulped, and quickly attempted to regain her bearings.
"Nope." Sakura said with a brilliant smile.
*WHYYYYYYYYYYYY!* inner Sakura wailed. *You are trying to kill me. That's what you're trying to do. Why the hell would you refuse? Give the man what he wants you imbecile. Do it noooooow* She roared, saying the last 'now' as if she was trying to hypnotize Sakura. She was waving a little pocket clock in front of her other self's face.
Sakura rolled her eyes. *Idiot, that's payback for when he said; I was enjoying my punishment too much.* She said evilly.
*Damn you and your stupid ego.* Was inner Sakura's response. *Do Ittttt.* She added in a ghostly tone. *Do itttt. Do itttttt.*
For his part, Itachi merely smirked at the girl who was looking challengingly back at him.
"I see." He said reflectively.
"Hah?" Sakura who was expecting some sort of reaction intoned.
"I am merely remarking that it seems as if not everything you read in a magazine holds true." He said in all seriousness seeming as if he actually believed that that last line was true. This caused the girl to break into a fit of laughter.
In the process she completely missed the warm look the Anbu captain was giving her. After all she just proved the esteemed; 'Uchiha Weekly' to be wrong.
Hell, I guess if any of those women who wrote this got a sniff of the fact that someone actually had the audacity to give a casual 'nope' to their heartthrob, they'd probably come for her.
*Do Ittt.*
.
Sasuke stiffened, unable to stop himself from giving a physical reaction to the roaring sound. It has been ten minutes now and it hasn't stopped, if anything it has only gotten worse. And to think that at one point in time; he might have thought that hurting the blonde was a bad idea. Hell, but those times are gone.
Sasuke slightly flinched as yet another wave of raucous laughter tore through the atmosphere. The Uchiha narrowed his eyes at his best-friend, who was currently rolling around the ground and laughing hysterically.
Blondes were really getting on his nerves today. Maybe, it was better to stick with brunettes or even redheads until the day was over.
And to think that he did bring that all on himself. Did he really have to go and tell him what happened with Ino?
Sasuke berated himself, informing his tortured mind that it should've known better.
"Ohhhhhhh," the mirthful blonde intoned mid giggles. "She practically called you a whore." He laughed.
"Escort." Sasuke corrected despite himself, before mentally face palming at his own stupidity.
"Pretty, pretty, pretty Sasuke-kun." Naruto said teasingly and enjoyed the quick blink of crimson that flashed across his friend's eyes. "You're like a dumb blonde or something" He declared.
"That would be you." Sasuke said crossly.
But much to the raven's dismay the boy in front of him simply laughed on. "I'm not the one who's all looks and no substance, Sasuke-chan." He said fluttering his eyelashes cutely.
Sasuke twitched, trying his best not to lunge forwards and strangle the giggles out of the boy.
However, a second later the Uchiha was relieved when the blonde promptly stopped laughing.
Suspiciously, Sasuke looked at the blonde, only to find him looking uncannily contemplative. In a second the boy shifted his eyes to the Uchiha and scowled at him.
Sasuke tried to ignore him. He really did. But he just couldn't for the life of him dismiss the curious yet rather infuriating blues regarding him meaningfully.
"What?" Sasuke hissed.
"I finally figured it out." Naruto said absently.
Sasuke merely narrowed his eyes at him.
"You have loose morals." He declared happily, as he got to his feet and pointed at the Uchiha as if he just discovered his deepest darkest secret. "You are a bimbo…. That is why you kissed me in class when we were young." He declared looking every bit as relieved as someone who just finished a 10000 piece puzzle.
Reflexively and without even thinking Sasuke actually rolled his eyes.
"Your stupidity knows no bounds." He declared.
"You liked me." Naruto declared. "It was no accident like you tried to make it into. Slipped off the desk my ass, you totally liked me." He surmised.
Sasuke blinked, "You were the one who slipped off of the desk." He accused. "You landed on me." He added, opting not to add 'lips first'.
"You could've avoided it." Naruto argued. "But noooo!" the blonde pushed on before pausing for a second to wag a finger at his raven haired friend. "Oh." He added as if he just made another revelation. "That's probably why you're so bad with women." He announced. "Poor teme, I am flattered; but I have a girlfriend so I must assume that I like women and not men." He said rather apologetically. "I'm sure you'll find a guy soon though." He soothed.
Sasuke, who was initially regarding him with mixed feelings, was and for lack of a better term, STUNNED.
And to think that he was supposed to be used to the blonde's little eccentricities by now.
"How is it possible for you to function with such warped logic?" Sasuke questioned in awe. "How do you not walk around in circles, and bump into walls?" He said tonelessly.
"I am sorry if I've been the one holding you back, teme." Naruto said, pushing on as if Sasuke didn't say a thing, he then walked over to his friend and whispered thoughtfully, "I just don't feel that way about you."
Once again, Sasuke felt the need to roll his eyes. But, concluding that if he gave into that urge every time he got it around the blonde, his eyes will soon resemble a quickly revolving fan.
"Not if you were the last guy on earth." Sasuke pitched, matching his friend's thoughtful tone but in a rather mocking way.
For a second, Naruto looked shocked and then he pouted.
"You kissed me you know? It wasn't the other way around." He said in a hurt voice. "You can deny it all you want to."
"Dobe," Sasuke hissed, quickly getting exasperated with the whole situation. Someone else would've thought Naruto to be kidding. But knowing the blonde's antics, Sasuke was certain that Naruto was having a real brainstorming session here.
"Gentlemen!" Came a relaxed tone that caused both guys to snap out of their argument.
"Ero-senin." Naruto said by way of greeting, while Sasuke merely glared at the new arrival.
"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation." He started boisterously.
"You were eavesdropping." Sasuke deadpanned.
"I was doing research my boy." Jiraiya declared.
"You were eavesdropping." Naruto reiterated.
"Anywho…" Jiraiya pushed on brushing them both off. "While the weirdness level of your relationship never seizes to surprise me, I choose to push past your, ahem 'accident'" he said in a rather coy tone, causing Sasuke to glare at him even harder and Naruto to grin. "And talk about the lady in question in this conversation."
"What lady?" Naruto questioned obliviously.
"I believe Sasuke-Kun is in need of my assistance with the lovely miss Yamanaka." The toad Sanin declared.
"I need nothing of the sort." Sasuke intoned.
"No, he doesn't, he likes me; but I'm not into men." Naruto declared.
"Shut up, dobe." Sasuke hissed.
"Anywho…." Jiraiya interrupted. "My advice is precious my boy. Men travel half way across the globe to get the opinion of the great Jiraiya-san the master of maiden hearts." He declared. "Now listen; women need to be treated with respect. You need to appreciate them."
"Says the man who has a porn collection that requires its own storage facility." Naruto scoffed.
Jiraiya glared at his apprentice, before shifting his attention to the extremely uninterested Uchiha. "Buy her flowers, get her chocolates, woo her with sweet words and when the time is right," He declared in a ta-da sort of manner, "Plant one on her." He finished, proving yet again why he's the number one pervert in a country littered with perverts. "Seduce her, flirt with her….."
"Knock her on the head and use her in your experiments." Came a hissing noise that caused Naruto and Jiraiya to jump and Sasuke to promptly curse his luck as he watched the snake Sanin slither towards him.
"What the hell are you saying?" Jiraiya asked his demented comrade. "Don't do that, and if you're gonna experiment with women try an experiment out of one of my books." He advised with a lascivious wink.
"Do you have an experiment that could help him get over me?" Naruto asked innocently.
"I have an experiment that involves five women, a dog, a shoe lace and copious amounts of lotion; it could make him forget anything." Jiraiya declared, waving a copy of his latest creation.
"Good, good." Naruto approved. "But I'm very hard to forget, so we might need two dogs." He surmised.
"I have an experiment that could make his body mine." Orochimaro said helpfully, stunning both the toad Sanin and his apprentice for a few seconds.
"Yah, why not." Naruto finally concluded. "We'll keep that as pan B." He offered with an awkward laugh. "So what do you think, Sasuke-Kun? Which experiment is it gonna be?" He questioned, however, when he turned to look at Sasuke the boy was nowhere to be found.
"He ran off." Jiraiya concluded.
"Noooooooooo!" Orochimaro said in monotone and an expressionless face, which made it even creepier. He then turned and walked away like he couldn't even see the other two.
"Wow." Naruto concluded.
"Wow indeed." Jiraiya conceded with a low whistle.
Now I shall just sit back and wait for your reviews.
Review for me and I'll post the next chapter within the coming two days ;)
Next one's the meeting with the council and the start of the unveiling of the last plot twist :D