A/N: And the long-awaited chapter is here!

I've recently been distracted with a few things in life, but it happens! I've read the last few reviews and some of those questions will be answered in the next few chapters.

While Itachi was understanding of the Hokage's demand to house the pink-haired menace, he was averse to explaining the mission to his family. Mikoto would understand and possibly like the idea of having another girl around. His father was a completely different story. The Patriarch was a stubborn, hard-to-please man, with an ego bigger than the Hokage mountain. Doesn't come close to the violent tendencies towards his family. The only one Itachi is worried about is Sasuke. He's a very impressionable child. As a big brother, he had sworn to protect Sasuke from any enemy of the village since he first held him. Figuratively, the mission would not be hard, but even if Itachi wasn't willing to admit it out loud, playing big brother and Anbu captain was becoming increasingly hard.

Itachi jumped down from a roof standing at the invisible line separating central Konoha from the outskirts. Looking down at the unconscious girl in his arms Itachi wasn't sure why she hadn't attacked him yet. He figured there was a difference in how she perceived threats. As a ninja, moving with or without a teammate in a precarious situation 'unconscious' was always a threat. Instead of dwelling on the thought Itachi let them venture down memory lane. A hardened gaze shifted to the kanji circling the whole of Sakura's pale wrist. She had managed to break the silver bangle with a large burst of chakra. It was unheard of from his knowledge. The Hokage wouldn't elaborate the other reason, but Hiruzen looked disturbed as if expecting the outcome. Itachi didn't know how to handle an enemy that was strong, but elusive.

Looking away from the hazardous puzzle in his arms, Itachi started to pay more attention to road. The Uchiha banner was starting to pop-up on various walls. They were very patriotic about their symbol. Sometimes it sickened him how much people praised it.

"Nii-san!"

The familiar call was coming from the left. His Uncle and Aunt waved from there sweet stand. Running towards him with a small paper bag clutched in his hands was Sasuke. A small backpack on his back indicated he just arrived from school. Probably a function he completely forgot about.

"Nii-san, you missed the small challenge banquet at school." A small pout appeared on Sasuke's small face. Lip stuck out, eyebrows drawn together and head tilted to the side he was an exact replica of Mikoto. Well, a replica of her from years ago.

Adjusting the girl in his tired arms again Itachi stepped closer to his little brother. Supporting Sakura's form with one arm fully the other was used to reach out. Two fingers poked Sasuke in the forehead.

"I'm sorry. I was called to the Hokage office."

It was true. He had been on his way somewhere (the function he forgot about) then was informed by the Hokage to check on the new charge of Konoha. He wanted to sigh, but reframed when Sasuke didn't immediately respond. His dark gaze had been on the pink haired girl in Itachi's arms.

"Who is she?"

If Itachi was a lesser man an outward flinched would have showed. By the hunch in those small shoulders, balled up fist and set frown – Sasuke was upset. When his younger brother looked up Itachi saw it. Something he disliked the moment it manifested because of Fugaku's insistence to have the perfect son. Jealousy.

"She will be staying with us. "

Itachi knew anything deterring his attention from Sasuke would be close to unforgivable at times. If it were another person Sasuke couldn't tolerate it. Shifting his arm under Sakura's legs again he was started off towards the main house again, nodding his head for Sasuke to follow.

"Come on, Mother is waiting for us. "

It took a moment until Sasuke fell in line walking along side his brother. He was quiet, sulking the whole way home, thinking his nii-san was taken away from him. This thought replayed in Sasuke's mind reaching the front door to their house, walking inside and watching his mother gush over the pink-haired girl. She still decided to stay unconscious through that whole ordeal.

"Such pretty hair!" Mikoto's squeals could be heard in the back of the house. Cleaning up another room across from Sasuke's and Itachi's a clean futon was laid out with a large duvet. Placing Sakura under the blanket Mikoto glided around the room removing small boxes from the space. Itachi watched from a corner by the window. It was scary how easy it was to make his mother happy. Her form became a blur with how fast she moved. Soon the room was full of light-colored sheets, pillows and clothes he had no idea that were in his house.

Mikoto smiled kindly, hanging a few more kimono's in the closet that did not share the Uchiha signa, or darker colors he's never seen her wear. Sasuke had left a while ago mumbling about 'girls with weird hair' and 'how unfair' something was.

"These were mine at your age." Long fingers pulled a sleeve from a cream-colored kimono with light blue lilies dancing on the shoulders. Her gaze was soft while petting the soft material. Itachi didn't speak when Mikoto was reminiscing about the past. He hardly knew anything about his grandparents. Details about his mother's life before becoming Matriarch of the Uchiha clan was always a gift.

"Your grandmother, my mother, hated the fact that I wanted to be a kunoichi. She thought at one point, after I turned chunin, that I was a lesbian."

Itachi stared at the woman before him. What was she getting at?

"Instead of buying me new weapons for missions or teaching me a justu, she would buy kimonos. She hoped the bright colors paired with my beauty would catch someone's eye…"

Mikoto's voice grew hollow towards the end. A life she couldn't touch flashing before her eyes. Itachi didn't want to know if Sasuke and him were included in that dream.

Fingers falling from the kimono Mikoto faced Itachi ignoring the third person in the room. It's not like Sakura could hear their conversation. Her gaze was full of guilt and pity. Pity for who? Itachi was sure he knew who.

" When I met your father, I ran from him. Both of our parents led us into an oimai we both did not want. I was at the peak of my career, newly turned jounin and … "

Itachi held his breath. He never had a knack for stomaching love stories. No matter who it was, a love story always indicated a happy ending. He was a pacifist at heart and didn't believe in fairy tales. His clan had taught him to be realistic. The relationship between his mother and father differed from how he thought a relationship should look like.

"And your father had been in love with someone else. A girl outside of the clan."

This was news to Itachi. He didn't expect the rule driven clan head to break the rules. No, not only break the rules, but disregard them by falling in love outside the clan. Now, it made sense, his father was displeased with Mikoto no matter what she did because he didn't love her. Or maybe that had changed since the years have passed.

Mikoto's expression didn't tell a different story. She had let her marriage to Fugaku define every aspect of her life. So much of her life has flown by in this very house due to her submission. She only felt whole again when Itachi and Sasuke were born. Fugaku's behavior by that time had simmered to heavily veiled threats. She looked at Itachi not bothering to sugarcoat her next words. He was a big boy. She wanted to protect him but maybe she could make him understand his family a little more.

"I saved all these clothes to one day pass them on to a daughter. As you can see, your father and I only had Sasuke and you."

If Itachi read into her words Mikoto would be glad. If not, she had shared all that she could. Gaze fleeting to Sakura's unconscious form then the doorway Mikoto took her leave. There was no way to end the conversation. Itachi was a curious person, but wouldn't push her buttons unless he really wanted too.

Itachi watched his mother leave. He had half the mind to follow her out of the room, but what would that do? His mother had her own secrets. Pursuing them would not benefit him.

A/N:

Sorry for the wait. A medical bomb dropped on me and I needed time to think of what I'm going to do.

I'll be putting out the next chapter either tomorrow or the day after.

- NuteWelt01