A/N: Oh, by the way, happy 七夕(Chinese valentine's day) everyone! I had originally written this chapter based on the Chinese lunar calendar, as this year, QiXi comes right after the week of ghosts. Of course (phail), the Japanese have succeeded in their centuries-long conspiracy to thwarp me by using a different calendar. So, here's to hoping it still makes sense! (Not that any of it does, anyway)

The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.

-Pamela H. Johnson

Over the next week, Sakana had met all of the people from Sasuke's former life, and probably more. The fact that he didn't know who to be jealous of, Sasuke reminded himself as he watched Sakana discuss some arcane aspect of shoji with Shika-probably-maru-as-half-the-village-males-sported-that-ending, was a sure sign that he was a better man than that, and therefore was not jealous at all. Sasuke took a deep breath, and forced a smile when Sakana turned to ask what was wrong. His cheeks still hurt from the other time he smiled.

He had to hold back further waves of not-jealousy, when Sakana had disappeared for an entire day in the company of Ino and her terrifying horde of tittering girls. Shika-whatever-his-name-was almost kicked him out of the house again, grumbling about the noise and yawning at the same time. Sasuke ground his teeth. He was going to have to file a petition for Tsunade to stop messing with the time. Some people had lives they wanted to live out (datte ba yo)!

When Sasuke saw her the next day, Sakana's eyes looked pink and puffy, but that might have been makeup to match her new pink sandals that the girls help her pick out, as she said smilingly. He pointedly ignored Ino, who looked like she'd cleared the cupboard of cream.

The day after was the beginning of Bon. Konoha was busier than usual, as family from distant villages all gathered together in remembrance. Sasuke was alone. Shunning the festivities going on all around him, he made his way down to the Uchiha cemetery, the forever-suspicious ANBU dogging his every step. He rounded the corner that marked the boundaries of the Uchiha plot, and saw it. Grave upon grave upon grave, in a never-ending field of the deceased, a mind-boggling number, the newest, from the same event.

Eight years, he whispered silently. Eight years that he'd wasted. Living his life? Ha! While the bodies of his parents and kin lay rotting here, waiting to be revenged. Sasuke could feel the faceless accusations of the tombstones, of the ANBU weighing him down on all sides. He swept his arm through the air, as if to sweep aside all the illusions of this world. Here was the truth: revenge, and nothing else.

He bent to the task of sweeping the dirt in front of the first grave, broom clutched in a white-knuckled grip.

"Shikamaru! Thank goodness you're here!" cried Sakana, gliding into the fourth-floor apartment, "Do you know where Sasuke is? I've been looking for him all week! I-"

Shikamaru jerked his thumb towards the back of the living space. As Sakana babbled eloquently her profound thanks, Shikamaru snorted and muttered something about the roof and watching his clouds in peace. The troublesomeness of it all.

"Sasuke," Sakana breathed as she floated into the dimly-lit room.

There was no hint of recognition. Sasuke crouched immobile, holding a kunai up to what little light there was.

"Sasuke," she tried again, flowing closer like water, and then halted, as Sasuke turned to face her.

A trick of the light, it had to be, made Sasuke's already dark eyes disappear in shadow.

"Speak," he growled.

"Sasuke, Tanabata is next week," she said bravely, "Would you—would you like to go to the Festival together?"

Sasuke stood, in a single fluid motion, like an elegant predator.

"Go now," was his grating whisper, "Go now and never come back."

"Oh fine," she said, tilting her chin up bravely and holding back tears, her silver orbs glowing like opals, "Forget that I braved an entire days with the girls, endearing their every tease and taunt, all for your sake! Forget that I pulled you out of your little shell of misery! Forget that I ever saved you!"

And with that, she fled. Sasuke held himself as still as he could, holding back those waves of not-jealousy. It was not elation, he told himself, it was even bet-

Bon-A Japanese festival honoring the dead from July 13 to the 15. There is a Welcoming Obon dance festival as well as a Farewell Obon one, and many families gather back in their hometown, hanging lanterns in their doorways and visiting graves of those deceased as well as local temples. Sasuke has a pretty heavy burden on his shoulder, being the only member(well, one of two) left of the Uchiha clan. This festival would probably be an especially painful blow.

Tanabata- Tanabata is the Japanese equivalent of QiXi. There's a story behind it, but my lore's rusty and it's easy to find. There's a festival connected to it, and traditions, such as writing out wishes on a slip of paper and tying it to bamboo. Although most places in Japan celebrate it on July 7, I made Konoha celebrate Tanabata on August 7, part of a minority, um, simply because it wouldn't have worked in my timeline otherwise.