Sasuke knew that something was different. Ever since he came back from the mission with Orochimaru, Mei was not the same. Although she behaved as usual, she was more distracted and distant. She stopped asking him to take her on missions, she no longer showed her resentment towards Orochimaru, even with Kabuto she was cooler than before. Sasuke waited for Mei to talk to him about it, but she never did. It was unlike her. A worm of doubt started eating at his chest. Something deep inside whispered that he was losing her, and yet he refused to believe it. Sasuke knew that it was time to clear the misunderstanding. Sasuke knocked on her door and waited. There was shuffling behind the door, something fell, and he heard Mei cuss under her breath. The door swung open.

"Oh, hey," Mei smiled and stepped aside, allowing Sasuke to walk in. It felt like ages since the last time he was in her room. It was still messily organized with books, flasks, and test tubes all over the place. Sasuke looked at Mei who quickly stoppered one of the flasks and set it aside. Her hair fell on her face, hiding it from his gaze. She set the flask aside and stretched.

"What are you working on?" he asked starting from afar. Mei shrugged. He could tell that she did not want to elaborate on the topic.

"I'm just running a couple of tests on the new medicine I've been working on for a while."

"What is the medicine for?"

Mei was silent playing with her locks. "Lung infection," she finally responded. Sasuke nodded and sat down. Mei turned away and continued examining the progress of her experiment. Occasionally she would make notes and go back to the equipment. "Did you want something?" she asked not turning around.

"Want to visit Yugakure tomorrow?" he asked. He watched her back tense and relax.

"No, I have a lot of work to get done." She responded.

Sasuke did not like it. He stood up and walked closer. His hand landed on her shoulder. Sasuke turned the girl around causing her to drop the notes she was holding. Mei looking confused, but her confusion was almost instantly replaced with irritation. "Sasuke, what is your problem?" she questioned slapping his hand away.

"That is my question." He hissed back. "What the hell is wrong with you, Mei? Ever since I came back from Kirigakure, you have been distracted. At first, I thought this was temporary, but it has been almost two months and you've distanced yourself from me even more." He spat each word into her face. "So, I want to know, what the hell happened while I was away?" the bitter look on his made her feel guilty.

"I'm sorry," she sighed ignoring the closeness of their bodies.

"You are sorry?" the amusement in his voice changed to anger. "I'm going to need something more than that Mei," Sasuke brought his face dangerously close to hers. Mei pushed him away trying to get more space between them. This side of Sasuke was intimidating and she did not like it.

"Sasuke, you are overstepping your boundaries," her eyes sparked. Mei pushed her hair behind her back and crossed the arms on her chest. What was happening? Over the many years they have known each other, they have never been in a similar situation. Sasuke tensed. The fire in her eyes confused him. He eyed her head to toe trying to find something that could shine the light on the situation. It was then that he noticed…at the crook of her neck, right at the start of her long-sleeved t-shirt, was a bruise-like mark. He jerked his head, eyes instantly becoming cold. He took a step closer, filling her personal space with his presence. Sasuke barely his teeth in an angry sneer. His cold fingers traced her neck and stopped at the bite mark.

"Oh…I see," his curled lips made her gulp. "Who is he Mei?" Sasuke took another step towards her, making their chests touch.

"That…that's none of your business," he could see the panic in her eyes, but her he continued pressing himself against her.

"Is that so, Mei?" Sasuke smirked. The look in his eyes was deadly. At that moment she could not help but think how much Sasuke's and Itachi's eyes looked alike. The girl gulped and placed her hands in front of him. Sasuke ignored her attempt to stop him. "Since when is it none of my business?" his hand connected with her neck. "I've always…always…" Sasuke's voice became quieter. He looked into her eyes. Mei's eyes widened in shock. Those dark eyes reflected so much hurt.

"Don't say it," she whispered. "Please, don't say it."

"Don't say what?" Sasuke chuckled darkly. "Huh, Mei? Don't say what?" Sasuke released her neck and stormed out of the room. The door slammed shut causing pieces of the ceiling to fall on the floor. Her knees buckled and she crumpled down onto the floor. Mei broke down and burst into tears.

/

It was already dark when Mei slipped out of the hideout. She quickly made her way to the place of their meeting. Itachi was already there. Itachi turned his head noting that something was wrong with her. She stopped in front of him looking down at her feet. Itachi wrapped his arms around her and transported them to a safe place. Itachi stroked Mei's cheek, gently forcing her to look at him. Mei obeyed. Her eyes were still puffy and red, a clear of sign that she had been crying. Itachi furrowed his eyebrows.

"What happened?" he questioned.

Mei's nose tingled as she felt another urge to cry. She sniffled and told him everything that happened between her and Sasuke. Itachi listened carefully, occasionally stroking her back.

"I don't know what to do anymore." She mumbled. "I'm so confused." Mei hid her face in her hands trying to take deep breaths. Itachi transferred her onto his lap, reasting her head against his chest.

"I'm sorry." He finally said. "If it wasn't for me, none of this would have happened."

"Don't say that," Mei wrapped her arms around his neck. She looked into his eyes trying to convey the unsaid words, but Itachi already knew. He always knew and he felt the same way.

"Mei, I have a selfish request," he said. He waited for her to say something, but she did not, so Itachi continued, "No matter what happens, please remain by Sasuke's side."

Mei tensed in his arms. Her grip around him got stronger. "Nothing is going to happen," she responded.

Itachi smiled as he ran his fingers through her hair. "But if something does," he pressed gently, "Please do not leave his side. He will always need you."

"But Sasuke… he…"

"I know." Itachi kissed her forehead. *I've always known.* he thought to himself.

"Nothing will happen," she repeated stubbornly. Itachi smiled indulgently, as if she was a child and hugged her tighter. A cough tickled his throat, but he did not mind. At that moment he felt alive. He felt happy.

Mei cupped his face and brought it closer to hers, their lips were almost touching. "Hold me," she whispered against his lips. And he did.

/

As she approached the hideout, something felt unsettled. From afar she noticed clouds of smoke billowing into the sky. Fear paralyzed her for a moment before she sped up to the hideout. Mei coughed looking around. The smoke burned her eyes and made it almost impossible to see anything.

"Sasuke!" she called his face loudly, but there was no reply. "SASUKE!" Mei ran around trying to find a way to enter the hideout, but the entrances were blocked with fire. "SASUKE!" she screamed coughing.

"Mei,"

She turned around abruptly. Sasuke appeared behind her. His face blank and emotionless. Mei threw her arms around him feeling tears moisten her eyes.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

Sasuke removed her hands from himself. "Where's Kabuto? And Orochimaru?"

Sasuke did not reply. "Sasuke, what did you do?"

He continued staring at her. "Kabuto disappeared and Orochimaru is…gone." Mei wanted to ask what he meant by "gone" but he spoke first. "There is nothing left for me here, Mei," he said. "I am leaving. I will ask you once," Sasuke looked into her eyes. "Will you come with me?"

Sasuke was not going to pressure her. If Mei decided she was going to leave his side, so be it, but nevertheless he had to ask.

"Yes." She replied. "I will come with you."

Sasuke nodded and started walking away. Mei threw a final glanced at the place they called their home for more than two years. She felt no pity and no regrets. She turned away and followed Sasuke.

/

Itachi watched them walk away from the ruins of the hideout. He knew that a new chapter was about to start for them. Just like he knew that his chapter in the books of their lives was about to finish.

/

The next months have been busy. Sasuke and Mei travelled around to various Otogakure bases to recruit three new team members. At first, he was reluctant, but as proud as Sasuke was, he realized that he needed a team to accomplish his goal. Every decision Sasuke made after leaving Orochimaru's hideout bought him closer to his revenge and it scared Mei. It terrified her. They never spoke about what happened between them, pretending like that episode of their lives exploded together with the hideout, but she knew that their relationship suffered a blow. Inevitably they started drifting apart. Attempt to restore their relationship crossed her mind, but Mei ignored it. Sasuke's mind and heart were closed off, as if he tried to exclude her from his life, yet he still wanted to keep her close. She often thought that the Uchiha brothers had more in common than they thought. They were both stubborn, proud, and selfish; and the way both brothers looked at her… it was identical and somewhat unsettling.

Mei watch as their new team walked ahead. Sasuke walked first with Karin by his side, Suigetsu was closely behind them. Mei and Juugo closed the procession. Karin chirped cheerfully, trying to get Sasuke's attention. It was not a secret that she liked him and every time she had the chance, she showed it. She could hear Suigetsu's screeching teeth. She smiled involuntary. Suigetsu's reactions to Karin were her source of amusement. Mei glanced at Juugo. Out of the three individuals, he was the only one who occasionally worried her. Juugo was like a ticking bomb, without the timing mechanism. She could never tell when he was going to explode. Juugo mumbled something.

"What?" Mei asked.

He glanced at her as if she was an empty place and looked away without a response.

Mei sighed. No reaction was better than a bad reaction. Mei slowed down, allowing Juugo to walk ahead. Four people continued walking, each one having their own reasons for being in the team. She looked at Sasuke's back. Despite their reasoning for being in the team, the main reason they were here was to help Sasuke eliminate Itachi. Although Itachi was the cause Sasuke's hatred and obsession, Mei still did not know why the older Uchiha did what he did. She had many chances to ask him, but she never bothered. Mei furrowed her eyebrows. She already made too many mistakes; she did not want her ignorance to be another one.

"Oi, Mei, are you coming?" it was Suigetsu. He stopped and waited for her. Mei smiled weakly and hurried towards him.

"Coming."

Mei levelled with Suigetsu and they quickly followed the rest.