The next morning, everything seemed cool and calm; no one dared act recklessly when Uchiha senior returned from mission. If the mission was a success, he would go straight to bed for rest. If it failed, on the rare occasion that he was unsuccessful, he'd spend several hours barking out orders and picking at every single insignificant non-mistake in sight. Mikoto and Sasuke stood waiting for him at the door; Faith decided she wouldn't be missed and slept in.

Uchiha Fugaku walked in quietly and proceeded to his room without a word to his wife or second son, who gazed expectantly at him until he vanished behind a corner. Sasuke looked down, disappointed once again; he had hoped that his father's aloofness toward him would change now that he mastered the Katon technique. Breathing easier, Mikoto left Sasuke's side and headed off toward her husband's room slowly, almost reluctantly, not wanting to spoil his good mood, but she had to tell him about Sasuke and Faith before…before it gets too late.

Sasuke, feeling slightly neglected, trudged back to mope in his room but ran head first into his brother. "Ni-chan! I didn't see y…" Sasuke gaped at his brother who was soaking wet and seemed to have tears in his eyes, though it could've been water. They usually cleaned up at the police station before coming home, so Sasuke was shocked to see his brother in such a state. "A-are you o-ok?" he stammered.

"Ya," Itachi answered in a voice that was barely audible and turned to walk away, looking foggy and dazed. Then he stopped midstep and added without looking back, "Sasuke, learn to take care of yourself."

"Ni-chan, what do you mean?"

Itachi held up a hand and cut him off, then continued walking, or rather half stumbling, half drifting, to his quarters, and left Sasuke standing there frozen in the spot.

From her favorite tree, Faith watched the entire scenario at a safe distance; she had planned to sleep through their return but a voice kept on nudging her to go check it out, after all, it is important to keep track of Fugaku's mood. But she hadn't ever expect to see Itachi like that, soaking wet, crying, stunned. The look on his face took her back, back to her old village on one winter day when she saw her neighbor walk home with a gang of armed men. He wore the same mortified expression with the same tears pouring down his cheeks. Faith remembered that thirty minutes later they found him, his wife and the group of men stabbed to death, and she wondered who Itachi was about to kill or possibly who he had just killed. In her reverie, Faith didn't notice that Fugaku had returned to the courtyard accompanied by his wife, who was making timid gestures and attempts at restraining him, but her moments were too soft and went unnoticed.

"Sasuke," he called sharply.

Sasuke turned his head, cricking his neck in the process, "yes father?"

"You are not to speak to Faith anymore. You will not go anywhere near her room. Do you understand me?" Fugaku commanded in a calm but strict voice that threatened to crush any rebellion.

"Wha…why?" said Sasuke, his voice rising due to panic and confusion. His eyes darted from Fugaku to his mother, who was making a point to not make eye contact and looked very flustered and wrong footed.

"You understand, that when the time comes, the clan will find an appropriate match for you," replied his father. Fugaku turned on his heels and strode out of the picture, finalizing his orders. Mikoto stole an apologetic glance at Sasuke and trailed behind her husband with her shoulders slumped in a guilty fashion.

Shaking his head, Sasuke couldn't believe his senses. Why wasn't anyone talking to him? Why isn't his father mad? Maybe he was mad and he just wasn't yelling. And what is up with his brother? Seeing as everyone was making an effort to ignore him, all Sasuke could think of to do at the moment was wander back to his room and hope that he'd wake up from this bewildering nightmare.

AN thanks to everyone who review. Trishell, Puppy Paws Kitty Klaws, bisha, and NightRain0.

As promised, here's a picture of faith at this point of the story…

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