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This is the second to last chapter.

As always, hope you enjoy it! :)

Spring of 2021 – Present Day

Sakura's smile slips off instantly.

"Mom?" she says carefully, eyeing the woman with suspicion. "What are you doing here?"

Sakura's parents had visited her apartment only once before, when they had wanted to see where she lives. Since then, they had insisted that Sakura make the drive to their house. She didn't mind. She had ready excuses to ditch majority of the invitations.

Mebuki offers a small smile that comes out as a grimace. "May I come in?"

Sakura hesitates, then opens the door properly to let her mother inside. She leads her to the couch in the living area. Mebuki gingerly takes a seat on one end. Sakura doesn't join her. She waits by the television instead.

Sakura watches as her mother takes a look-around. Itachi's belongings are scattered throughout her apartment, such as his black hoodie draped on the back of the couch, his white shoes by the door that he alternates with dark blue ones – Sakura makes a mental note to remind him to bring his sports shoes for the weekend – his favourite whacky-looking bright green mug is on the coffee table, and there's a distinct sense of a male's presence in the space.

Sakura waits for her mother to comment – it's right there, all the excuses she might need to tattle on her life some more – but it doesn't come.

Instead, Mebuki asks, "How have you been?"

To be honest, Sakura wants to throw her out of the house. The rage that she had suppressed since Itachi's confession months ago comes boiling up to the surface. She had spoken with Itachi only once about her parents, on the rooftop of his apartment building, and never did it again. Every time she allowed herself to think about it, she felt the betrayal rising to the surface to suffocate her. It was better to avoid it altogether.

"I'm fine," Sakura replies through clenched teeth.

Mebuki gulps softly, nods. "That's good. I was worried."

"Really?" Sakura laughs coldly and Mebuki flinches. "You were worried about me? Are you sure you were not worried about how I – a girl – was shaming my so-called gender community? Shaming all the other women in the world by my unladylike antics?"

"Sakura, that's not–"

"Please," Sakura cuts her off, feeling so riled up she's surprised there's no steam coming from her ears. "Don't you dare deny it."

Mebuki flinches again.

"Look," Sakura takes a steady breath in. "I have to get to work. I don't have the time for this right now. If you want, stay here. And we'll talk about whatever you came here for after I get back home."

Mebuki nods immediately, eyes wide. "Thank you. I'd like to stay, if that's alright."

Sakura nods, feeling her head throb at the temples. "As long as you understand the boundaries between us. Also, yes, my boyfriend comes over regularly. He'll be joining me for dinner tonight."

Not letting Mebuki respond to that, Sakura storms to her bedroom and shuts the door behind her, taking more deep breaths. She shoots off a text to Itachi.

My mother is here.

She throws her phone on the bed, grabs her towel, and starts to freshen up. By the time she's dressed for work, Itachi has replied.

You okay?

Going for work. Told her she can stay here until I get back.

Alright. Anything I can do?

Kiss it better tonight.

He sends a flying kiss emoji. I'll begin right away.

Despite the turbulent emotions battling inside her, Sakura breaks out in a laugh. She focuses on the affection she has for Itachi, lets it take hold of her for the moment. It's a far more pleasant feeling than the anger and betrayal.

Sakura packs the sandwich to eat it later at the office. She doesn't think she can stay in her apartment a moment longer. Mebuki doesn't offer any words as Sakura is leaving and she is honestly relieved.

Sasuke badgers her once more during lunch break.

"Sasuke, hold on a minute!" Sakura says exasperatedly. "Let me just finish this bit."

Sasuke falls into Rin's chair, crossing his arms, almost pouting like a child. Rin is sitting on the desk beside Baji's computer, legs dangling cheerfully.

"Something is off," Ebisu mutters, frowning at his own computer screen. "Sakura – check this once."

Sakura walks over to stand behind him. "What's up?"

"So this client Baji got yesterday – the one with the Renaissance sword – the history is murky. I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. I think we need to make a trip to the museum, have a word."

Sakura rubs her forehead. "Can we not do it over the phone?"

"I'm afraid not," Ebisu responds. He removes his spectacles and cleans it for the hundredth time that day. Baji and Rin join the two, crowding around Ebisu to peer at the screen.

"For the love of god," Sasuke groans. "You can discuss this after the break!"

Sakura rolls her eyes. Sasuke is actually a good HR, from what she has experienced until now. He spends time with different departments on a regular basis, jokes with them, mentors his own team of one HR executive and one intern. In the three weeks that she's been here, Sakura has participated in a game of Chinese-whispers last week, followed Casual Fridays protocol happily, and witnessed Sasuke good-naturedly pranking a brunette from Accounts by showing her a fake salary slip for a non-existent company driver. She had fondly smacked in the head for it.

On the other hand, Sasuke retracts to being the little shit she knows so well every time lunch break rolls around. It's weird and she has stopped trying to figure him out.

"Can we push it for Monday?" Ebisu asks sheepishly. "I'll go over the other clients by the end of today."

"Yeah, no problem," Sakura sighs. "I'd rather go on Monday, too."

Rin catches on to the tone instantly. "Bad day?"

Sakura hums. "Something like that. Anyway – let's take that break before Sasuke pouts his cheeks into oblivion."

"Hey!" Sasuke expectedly reacts. "Just for that, you're paying today."

When Sakura is driving back home from work, she finally allows herself to think about the impending conversation. It gives her a headache, her temple throbbing with the amount of stress a single confrontation with her mother brings out in her.

Itachi has texted her that he'll wait until Mebuki leaves before coming over to give them time and privacy. Sakura is grateful. She wonders what her mother would say when she learns that her boyfriend is the same man Aunt Guren drove away.

Mebuki is sitting on the couch when Sakura returns as though she hasn't moved from her place at all.

"Welcome back," Mebuki greets nervously.

Sakura's neck does a weird nod-jerk movement in surprise. She goes to her bedroom to dump her things, freshen up, change into more comfortable clothes before assuming her stand near the television once more.

"How's the school?" her mother asks hesitantly.

Sakura almost snorts derisively. "I don't work at the school anymore." She tells her about her current employment in brief, skipping over how she got the job.

"Why did you resign from the school?"

"Long story," Sakura says curtly.

Mebuki is quiet after that. Sakura studies the kitchen counter for something to do other than looking at her mother. She is not going to be the one to start any kind of talk. Her mother came to do that, and Sakura is in no hurry.

When the silence becomes stifling, tense, Mebuki sighs. "Are you going to come back home?"

"For what?"

"Sakura, don't be difficult."

Sakura's blood spikes, her eyes snapping to Mebuki. "Excuse me?"

"I came here to talk," her mother frowns.

"Then talk."

"That boy," Mebuki begins directly. Then she takes a deep breath. "Sakura – was that boy troubling you? And before you get angry, just hear me out."

Sakura's mouth snaps shut.

Mebuki continues. "Guren came to me one day about him, saying how he's convincing you to have sexual relations with him. She said that if we speak with the boy, he will leave you alone. You wouldn't have to deal with troublesome boys on your own. It makes sense, doesn't it? Protecting your daughter from making mistakes?"

Sakura doesn't answer immediately. There are so many wrongs in what she has heard that she doesn't know where to start.

"Did Aunt Guren tell you how she knew that?" Sakura eventually asks.

Mebuki nods. "She told me she checked your phone."

Sakura stares. "And you don't see any problem with that?"

Mebuki turns to the floor between them. "I didn't think much of it. When someone comes to tell you that your daughter might in trouble of that kind, you don't wait to think of the methods for too long."

Sakura gulps. "Okay. Fine. Even if we let that slide, why didn't you come to me?"

"There are all kinds of people in the world, Sakura. Some might manipulate you so well that you don't realise you're making a mistake."

And then Sakura laughs so hard, it's painful. She ignores Mebuki's startled gaze, clutching at her stomach, shoulders shaking. What a goddamn irony. It's like coming full circle.

When she calms down enough to speak, her laughter dissolving into a distinct stinging behind her eyes, she wraps her trembling arms around her in protection.

"Mom, listen. To be honest, I don't care about that. I mean, yes, I'm mad at you for it, definitely. But it's not going to change anything. Besides, Itachi and I – we're good now."

Mebuki opens her mouth, then closes it again.

"You have to understand that it's not just about that anymore," Sakura continues. "It's everything. The way you let Aunt Guren dictate my life. Hell, your life, too! She's your sister, I get it. But – I was your family, too. You treated me like I was a random kid, not your daughter. And why wouldn't you? I was a child for Aunt Guren and she behaved accordingly. And you did everything she did, never stopped to think that you're not just her sister, but my mother, too."

The stinging behind her eyes is worse than ever now. She refuses to cry.

"Then there's dad who never does anything at all. I mean, it's almost as if I don't even have one. On top of all this, you had zero respect for me. Do you know how backward your thinking is? Even if I tell myself that it's because you grew up in such an environment, you're programmed to think like that – I was born in different times. You refused to see that. You refused to change your beliefs even when your beliefs trapped me, as well."

Mebuki is openly crying now. She procures a handkerchief from her purse, dabbing at her eyes and nose. Sakura looks away, lips trembling.

"All you had to do was see me as your child," Sakura says lowly. "Not a girl, not your sister's niece, but your child. Was that so difficult?"

Sakura's eyes spill over finally. There's years and years of hurt coursing through her blood, head rushing with memories in reverse –

Uchiha Itachi.

The man she had once loved, deeply, senselessly, is now staring back at her with surprised black eyes that she has not quite managed to forget even after five years.

"How – Sakura. I don't understand," he says and finally locks his gaze. "What was it about him?"

"I don't know," she weeps. "I don't know, I don't know. I wish I knew, Lee. I wish I still didn't feel so terrible. I wish I could move on. But it's unfair to you."

In this moment, she wishes more than anything that Itachi was here. Nothing more than even a friend. She regrets her decision of cutting loose, despite knowing it was the right one, but doesn't think it's wrong to miss him from time to time, especially in moments when she wants to curl up and knows that Itachi would have forced her to face herself.

What if.

Don't, she grounds her thoughts immediately. No point.

"Kabuto thinks there's more."

"He always thinks there's more!" Sakura complains. "He never trusts me with these things. He believes that I might just dump him any second for another person."

Karin raises one pointed eyebrow. "He had a reason to do that before."

Sakura ignores the skip in her heartbeat at the clear implication of that person. "He doesn't have any now."

Sakura will not hesitate a heartbeat. Itachi might have hurt her, tested her patience, might have confused her, but he was Itachi and Sakura believes that she can forgive him –

If he just asks for it.

If he just explains himself.

If he just decides that he is willing to take efforts. For her.

It takes Sakura almost an hour to finally admit that she's dating.

Temari and Ino exchange looks, and then Temari asks, almost softly, "Does Itachi know?"

Sakura shakes her head. "You both must know by now that we're not friends any longer."

Ino sighs. "Yeah. We didn't think you meant it."

"Sakura," Itachi sighs painfully. "You don't … you don't get it."

"Then explain."

"I can't keep dragging you along with me."

"Then don't."

"That's why I'm doing this."

"There's another option," Sakura reminds him.

"I'm not ready."

Sakura tries not to hang up again.

"I can't–" she forces out instead. "I can't keep doing this either."

Silence. And then Itachi cuts through it, sounding slightly freaked out. "What? What do you mean?"

"We're over, Itachi. I want you out of my life. I don't care. About – about this friendship. Or anything. We're done."

Her Christmas break with her family was full of unnecessary remarks already. Even Itachi hadn't returned home for it because he had opted to work through it instead, which made it all the more worse. How do they expect her to do anything with them sitting on her head for every little thing? Moreover, Mebuki even took her to the side and asked her if she was still in contact with Itachi after what Aunt Guren had disclosed.

Sakura glares at her. "Of course, I am. And since we are on that topic, maybe a little respect to people's boundaries would be a good start if you plan on mentoring someone."

Mebuki huffs. "She was only looking out for you! And isn't it a good thing that she did? Putting some sense into a young woman is not criminal."

"Don't you dare-!" Itachi hisses, leaning on the table with both fists. Samui shrinks back, her hand falling limp beside her. "You're proving me right! Why can't you just pause for one goddamn second and see where things go? Why can't you fight back?"

Itachi's words feel like a slap on her face. She has fought plenty, Sakura wants to retaliate. She fights with her mother on a daily basis. She fights her insecurities all the time. She fights the urge to kiss him at least a million times in a day. She fights the instinct to do something whenever Itachi finds a new girl he is interested in.

Laughing, he pulls Sakura out of the doors, onto the sunny pavement. Sakura is still very much aware of his hand still holding hers. He doesn't let go even as they start walking in the park's direction, and she doesn't comment.

"You really want to see the ducks?" she asks him.

Itachi catches her eye. "Why not? Unless, you want to do something else?"

She grins. "Nah, ducks are fine."

Sakura gulps discreetly. She has placed her other hand on the shoulder, like she has seen countless of times before. What she hadn't expected was it to feel so – pleasant. Warm. She feels the same way she had felt, looking out at the crowd in the gym, the same sense of belonging coursing through her veins in Itachi's arms.

It's a little overwhelming, all these emotions. Or perhaps just one emotion. She thinks she might know what it's called.

Has Itachi introduced Shiho to his parents?

Probably not. Sakura can't see that going down well. Not to mention the fact that her mother and Aunt Guren will probably find some fault in her choice. Sometimes it feels as though they exist in Sakura's life just to contradict her, just to make sure that she has to fight harder for the things that she wants. Either fight or let it go. And after a point, fighting doesn't seem worth it anymore.

Anyway. So yes, Sakura has zero interest in dating Itachi.

Mebuki ignores her and continues. "I've never met them before. She's going out with two boys. I can't say I'm too surprised. You know how she can get – with her constant meet-ups with the boys in our neighbourhood. And they're all bad boys, you know. I've told her a million times to stay away. She just doesn't listen. Look what has happened. Going out with two boys during school break."

Sakura's skin flushes and she tries to breathe deeply. It doesn't work.

"I can still hear you!" she snaps at her mother. "And I'm not stupid to go out with just anyone! They're my friends!"

Mebuki holds the phone to her shoulder, levelling a look on Sakura. "If you're going out, then just go out. I'm trying to talk to your aunt here! Don't be so disrespectful."

Sakura swallows the string of angry words down.

Despite not really being in the "mix of things", Sakura has heard the rumours. The rumours about how Itachi likes some girl from their batch, and how a few girls think that puberty is being extra kind to him. They're not wrong. It's the phase of their teenage years when Sakura is of the same height as Itachi, but knows that it won't last long. Aunt Guren was telling her how girls stop growing after a certain age, and how she'd have to be extra careful around boys.

Maybe she should politely ask Itachi to move away? But this just feels too nice.

Somehow, it feels embarrassingly awkward to be sitting here with Itachi and his friends and listening to them talk about it so openly. She actually got her periods two months ago, and her breasts have started to show. Which is why she's wearing the hot, stuffy school blazer inside the cafeteria during summer.

It's Sakura's turn to bark out a surprised giggle. "You get scared of ghosts?"

Itachi's chin props up and he folds his arms across his chest. Classic defensive stance. "You don't?"

"They're not real."

"That's not what I asked, Haruno."

"I don't because they're not real, Uchiha."

And Itachi gets this look on his face, the amusement slipping away until he's more wry than anything else. "People can get scared of things that are not real. Things that don't exist."

Sakura has no friends yet. She'd made some over the years but no one was a good fit. She fell out with them for some reason or the other, and she believes it to be completely okay. Except that now instead of occupying a small space in the large cafeteria, she has to occupy a small space on open grounds. Which is a completely different thing.

Before she can take a step in any direction whatsoever, though, the soccer ball rolls towards her, bumping on her ankles.

She blinks down at it, goes to pick it up with her hands when someone suddenly stops her.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing?"

Uchiha Itachi is jogging right at her. He's removed his uniform blazer and tied his long hair in a messy bun. The school tie is limp around his collar. There is a slight sheen of sweat trickling down the side of his face and sweat patches under his arms.

A boy is passing just then and he accidentally bumps into her desk.

Her books jostle and fall to the floor with a clatter.

"Oh, sorry," he quickly apologizes, bending down to pick them up for her.

He's the Uchiha boy, the one with long hair that he ties in a ponytail, and always gets in trouble with all their teachers. She stays away from him on pure principle. Aunt Guren says that it's always better to stay with sincere students, like this bespectacled girl, and not this boy.

Mebuki gathers herself eventually.

"Sakura, she is my sister," she says. "I don't know how to explain it to you. But Guren and I – there's a reason why you've never met your grandparents. We both ran away from the house at a young age to our uncle's house. I won't go into the details, but we looked out for each other. When I married your father, had you, Guren was with me. She has been my rock through the years. I trust her."

"Then we have nothing to speak about."

"No, listen. When you said you loved the boy, I had a fight with Guren after you left. I can see why she did it – maybe you can't and that's okay."

"You're not listening!" Sakura hisses. "It's not just about him! Mom, we are just too different, okay? I'm happy that Aunt Guren was there for you in your difficult times; really, I am. That has nothing to do with me, though. The life I had in your house – it was suffocating. I'm doing good on my own. I'm happy on my own. It's best to keep it that way."

Having her mother in her house, dressed in a simple grey dress and white cardigan, hair tied in a neat bun, Sakura searches for the inherent love children have towards their parents, the responsibility they feel to make their lives easier, but it's just not there. As a child, being badgered every day over the littlest things had pushed her away from this idea, but not entirely. There was some part of her that had wanted to see her mother happy, be the reason for that happiness, craved the acceptance, moulded herself to what she might like.

Until she just couldn't.

Showing respect should not be inherent, she thinks. It seems like an obvious understanding – of course, of course, respect must be mutual on all accounts – but Sakura had missed that part of learning.

Aunt Guren, for whatever reason, firmly believes that she is entitled to command the people around her, including her sister and niece. Sakura doesn't have to deal with that shit anymore.

"You want me to leave?" Mebuki asks quietly, sounding genuinely heartbroken.

Sakura grits her teeth. "Yes, please. There's too much history to magically cure it all in a single evening."

A defeated silence stretches out between them.

Mebuki stands up, clearing her throat, sniffling, ironing her dress with her hands nervously. "Maybe I can make more visits, in that case."

Sakura startles, not having expected the words. "Huh?"

Mebuki tries for a watery smile. "You're right. Everything won't be cured in a single evening. I'd like to work on it, though. Sakura – you are my child. I must have done a terrible job of showing it, and that's not your fault. It's mine. I'd like to rectify it, if you give me a chance."

Sakura winces. "Mom – I can't – Aunt Guren–"

"Without her," Mebuki states firmly. "This is not about her. It's about you and me. If you don't wish to associate with her, I'll respect it. You're a smart woman, Sakura. I need to learn to start trusting you, as well. You've built a good life here. I can see it."

Sakura swallows down more tears.

"Think about it," Mebuki suggests.

Sakura nods, her throat closing up entirely.

When Itachi arrives, he brings dinner with him.

As soon as he settles on the couch, Sakura climbs on his lap, burying her face in his neck, breathing in the warm scent. Itachi holds her tightly.

"How did it go?"

"She wants to work on it."

"Do you?"

Sakura jerks one shoulder. "Can't get any worse, can it?"

Itachi rubs his hands along her arms soothingly. "You don't have to do anything if you're not comfortable with it."

"I know," she sighs. "I told her I'll think about it."

"Alright."

"How was your day?" she mumbles. "I missed you."

Itachi places a kiss on her hair. "My boss is slowly losing it."

Sakura snorts. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

They sit in silence for a while. On a whim, Sakura licks behind his ear – it's one of his ticklish spots.

Itachi squeals in surprise, making her laugh. "Sakura!"

"Oh, I'm Sakura, now, am I?" she teases, skimming his throat with her nose.

He gulps. "When you do that, yes."

Sakura hums on his pulse. "Now?"

"Cherry," Itachi groans, his hands tightening on her waist.

"That's better," she bites his earlobe in approval.

Itachi turns his head to catch her lips suddenly. Sakura responds, needing this, needing him, needing to remind herself that things turned out okay in the end. Itachi is here, with her, and maybe, that's all the passion she needs in her life.

And it's okay.

Itachi is the bonus she got, someone who loves her with all his heart, and sure, you might be meeting multiple people who are perfect for you in a lifetime – but there's only one Uchiha Itachi, the one with all the nicknames and smirks, the one who was willing to break his own heart if it meant Sakura gets to keep her family. He did not want to be the reason for anyone's broken home. Did not want to become his father.

Maybe her passion is to build a better home than her parents did. Maybe Itachi wants the same, someday, having a partner who wouldn't cheat on him in the longer run, someone who has his back through all the ups and downs. Maybe they can give that to each other.

Wouldn't that be something?

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One chapter to go! :)