Chapter 11: Age 19 Part 2

Rating: T for language, mention of drugs

Sakura remembered the first time Itachi defended her. It was against his own brother. She was nineteen years old; he was twenty-two years old.

A week had passed since Itachi confronted Sakura about Sasuke's behavior. She procrastinated going to the Uchiha's residence since their conversation. However, on a rainy evening she found herself in their kitchen with a rosy face. Her body didn't have any tears left to cry. With her head between her hands, she leaned back against the white counter. That morning she decided it was finally time to talk to Sasuke herself. And while she knew it was inevitable, it didn't make the process hurt less.

"I don't know what you what me to say," Sasuke stated with his arms out in front of him.

Sakura's head snapped up and her nostrils flared, "How about an apology, Sasuke?"

"An apology?"

"Yes!" she emphasized with her hands on her hips. "An 'I'm sorry' would be greatly appreciated!"

He scoffed, "I have nothing to apologize for."

"Yes, you do!"

"What for?" he asked while slightly raising his voice. "I haven't hurt anyone. I'm not one of the guys that goes around messing people up or offing them."

"But you have hurt people!" she practically yelled. "Think about all those with addictions you're enabling. Even if you can't see it, you're hurting them and their families. And you've hurt me, Sasuke! Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"You're over-reacting," he replied while shaking his head. "I'm just making more money with it."

She let out a puff of air before shaking her head. Once she began talking, her sentences kept flowing like word vomit. "You really don't care at all, do you? You don't care how this is effecting everything – effecting our relationship. You're a drug dealer, Sasuke! You've been lying and sneaking around about it. So don't lie to me, because that just proves you know it's wrong! I can't believe you had the nerve to say you were at the restaurant this whole time –"

Sasuke cut her off and his voice was ice cold. "God, you're such a bitch," he growled. She gasped in shock. Sure, he had accused her of nagging him before but had never called her names.

"Do not call her that, Sasuke," Itachi interjected as he came into the kitchen. Sakura jumped at his voice. Because of their loud arguing, neither of them had heard him arrive home.

Sasuke bit the inside of his lip and stepped closer to Itachi. "Stay out of this," he warned.

"Not when you're verbally abusing her."

"What we talk about is none of your business," Sasuke spat.

Itachi raised an eyebrow, "Your business is my business, considering you live in this house. Judging from what I've heard, you have no plans to stop with Orochimaru."

"Oh, like you're so perfect!" Sasuke bellowed. He looked between Itachi and Sakura. "You both think you're so high and mighty. Like I don't see how you two look at each other!" He turned toward his brother and accused, "How you practically undress my girlfriend with your eyes!" At that comment, Itachi narrowed his gaze and his face became stony. Sakura's mouth dropped open and she steadied herself on the counter. Sasuke balled his fists when his brother didn't respond. He yelled, "What – are you two fucking each other while I'm not here?"

"No," Itachi promptly and firmly answered with an unwavering stare. "We have not been sleeping together. I've been treating Sakura like a human, like someone more than a plaything." He added with venom, "Maybe you should try that for once."

"You wanna know what you should try?" Sasuke sarcastically asked. "You should try getting over it. You're jealous because I have something you don't. I have what you want and I'm coming out on top for once. And you can't stand it."

"She is not a thing to possess," Itachi seethed.

Tears stung Sakura's eyes. She felt so many emotions. At the top, she felt guilt. As much as she tried to tell herself she wanted Sasuke like every other girl their age, she doubted she ever really felt that way beyond high school. She always wanted Itachi a little bit more.

And beneath remorse, she felt rage. She then realized she and Sasuke had been stagnant for too long. The flame they initially had in their relationship had dwindled long ago. She should have already broken up with him. Sasuke was her first everything and while she was scared to let that chapter of her life close, she knew it was time.

Sakura took a deep breath. The brothers were arguing between themselves but she stopped their voices with one word. "No."

There was silence between the three. The men looked at her expectantly. Sasuke scrunched his eyebrows and repeated, "No?"

Sakura shook her head and took another deep breath. She looked Sasuke in the eye and replied, "I'm not doing this anymore." He didn't respond but looked at her in shock. He didn't think she would be the one to end things between them.

"Saku…." Sasuke started to protest but stopped himself. Sakura felt a pain in her chest recognizing that would be the last time he would say her nickname.

Sakura didn't look at Itachi but felt his piercing stare. She reached into the front pocket of her jeans and retrieved the expensive necklace Sasuke gave her. She held it out to him and said with a feeble shrug, "I'm not staying like this."

Sasuke remained silent and placed out his hand for the dangling jewelry. Once it was firmly in his hand, Sakura nodded solemnly. She stole a quick glance at Itachi before looking back to Sasuke. She softly said, "Goodbye, Sasuke."

With that being said, she left their kitchen and walked out the front door.

Sinking into her car's seat, Sakura sighed. She expected to feel many things after breaking up with Sasuke, but relief was not an emotion she anticipated. She allowed herself to cry on the drive home but then made a promise she wouldn't cry over Sasuke again. Moreover, she was glad she didn't let her now ex-boyfriend see her cry.

Sakura didn't notice the sad smile Itachi gave her as she left their home. After all, Itachi Uchiha bared witness to a special event in Sakura's life; even though he had defended her, she stuck up for herself in a greater way.