Starting AN: Woo! 400! Yes, it makes me smile. That's why I got this chapter done faster. -does happy dance-

Disclaimer: Standard

Chapter 21
The Sharingan Reprise

She was already at school an hour before hand. She currently resided in the library, pouring over whatever homework she still had left to do. Apparently her teachers had no sympathy for a competing athlete, and dumped a good four hours worth of work on her shoulders.

'Urg…' she thought, clearly displeased, but thankful she was almost done, 'teachers really need to get a life.' There was only two more pages of physics questions left. Joy. 'Ah screw it. I'll finish it at lunch.'

Sakura gathered up her scattered textbooks and began to walk towards her locker. The hallways were more crowded now; some people stopped to follow her with their eyes. Then they went on whispering. "…yeah I heard. So that's her?"

"Really? She doesn't seem all that special to me…"

"Well I heard that it's been going on for awhile now."

She rolled her emerald eyes. Did people have nothing else to talk about? More importantly, it was only day 1 back from Golden Week, and they were already talking. Well, that was gossip for you. Ignoring the comments, she rushed up to her locker and placed her unneeded books and binders inside it. She had chemistry class first. The joys of taking all three sciences. It was a good thing the school had semesters. Of course, that also meant that this time, she had no spares.

Her class was just down the hall, so she still had some time to kill before the bell would ring, some ten minutes from now. Still, she decided to step inside before anyone else were to get there. It made it easier not to pass anyone else with some twisted version of a twisted story to tell.

Though, she was surprised to see someone else there. Sitting at the back of the class, staring out the window, was none other then Tenten. Sakura paused at the doorway. She hadn't seen her in a few days. Well, there were the bus and airplane rides, but they never actually exchanged words. "Uh…hey…" she finally managed to say uneasily.

The brunette snapped out of her daze, and looked back to the door. "Hey," she greeted in return. "You're here kind of early."

Sakura took her assigned place at the desk in front of where the other sat. "Yeah, well, I can say the same thing about you."

She laughed, "Well, chem class is a good place to think. It has the best view." To prove her point, she fixed her brown eyes outside again. Out the window was the front of the school, directly over the entranceway. Now that it was spring, the trees already were regaining their leaves, giving once again a nicer picture of all the trees that were around the complex.

"I guess…" Sakura said, also looking outside. She spotted Naruto walking alongside Sasuke (surprisingly enough). The energetic blond looked like he was desperately trying to get some point across, judging by his actions of frantically waving his arms in the air. "Oh, yeah. We didn't have a lot of time to talk the last little bit of the trip. How was it?"

"Hmm? Oh, it was pretty good," she replied, zoning out again.

The other continued to watch out the window. It was like a weird television show. A lot of people she knew were still there. Ino was standing behind Chouji and Shikamaru, most likely yelling at them like always. She also managed to spot Lee pointing an accusing finger at Neji, who had brushed it away and was now out of view, due to the fact he'd entered the building. She heard Tenten sigh. "Still fancy him?" she grinned.

"So what?" the other shrugged, giving her friend her full attention now that he was out of view.

"So nothing. I just wanted to know how it was going with you two."

"It's going just fine, thank you."

"Good to hear," her features were still set in a smile. Now that she thought about it, Neji and Tenten made a fairly good couple. Neji was quiet, handsome, and always needed someone who could understand. Tenten was outgoing, cute, had a ton of patience (and everyone knew you needed patience to deal with Neji) and was totally an understanding person…sometimes.

"Anyway, so I hear that you and Sasuke are now an item, hmm? Figures."

Sakura turned the color of her hair. "Where'd you hear that from?"

"It's kind of hard to miss the rumors. I've just overheard," she replied simply, watching the other female squirm. "But…if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay too."

The pink haired one chuckled, and straightening out the hem of her school uniform's skirt. "Thanks." The five-minute bell rang just then. Some more people had come in, taking their respected seats. Thinking more on the whole couple thing, another thought hit her. "Oh yes. What did you think of…his eyes?"

The brunette looked surprised, and looked at the girl in front of her strangely. Her face relaxed a moment later, and the corners of her lips curved into a tiny smile. "They were so cool."

Sakura chuckled quietly. "I thought you might say that."

Sasuke sat in the middle of the class, tapping the back of his pencil on the desk. This was such a waste of time. This teacher just never ever stopped talking. He just made grade twelve law class that much more boring. His onyx eyes scanned the class, though his head remained unmoving. Everyone else looked equally as bored, if not, half-asleep. This wasn't exactly what anyone needed, first thing Monday morning.

To make matters worse, Rock Lee had been talking to him from his seat diagonally behind Sasuke. He was talking about…Sakura…so it seemed. "So I just wanted to say…no matter what the circumstances, I shall never give up on Sakura-san. Love shall always prevail! Oh, Gai-sensei, I hope you're proud of me!"

Whatever he'd just been saying hadn't exactly reached the Uchiha's ears in coherent words. It was just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo that'd gone in one ear and out the other. He was never quite in the mood to listen to Lee's rants.

"Lee. Did you hear a word I just said?" the teacher had stopped in mid-sentence, and all attention shifted to the boy with the thick eyebrows.

There was a pause. "I'm terribly sorry, Sensei. It shall not happen again, I assure you."

"Well see to it that it doesn't. In any case, switch spots with Hyuuga." Neji, who'd been staring at the front of the room (of course not paying attention), frowned slightly, but picked up his bag anyway. Lee whispered an "I'm sorry" as they crossed paths.

When both were once again seated, the teacher continued on with the lecture. Sasuke once again went back to taping the eraser side of the pencil on the wooden desk top, the words of the teacher again going through one ear and out the other. Wouldn't it have been easier for them to just give them the textbook and then the exam? That made so much more sense. No, the real reason why he was studying law in the first place was…

"Will you cut that out. It's highly annoying," the stoic Hyuuga commented quietly, snapping his arch rival from his thoughts. The other gazed uncaringly toward the other through onyx orbs.

"Well live with it, Hyuuga. You're annoying, but you don't see me complaining," was his reply, matching his soft yet curt tone.

The brunet's mouth curved into a half smirk. "Wonderful comeback, Uchiha," he remarked, but the other remained uncaring. "I really think they could use you on the debate team. I hear they're short a couple members this year."

Sasuke ever-so-slightly rolled his eyes, "Why don't you just go and…hold on, why am I even talking to you?" He turned his head away, and abandoned his writing utensil and drummed his fingers instead.

There was silence once again between them, but Neji seemed awfully talkative today. "I'm guessing she knows, huh?"

Even more irritated now, Sasuke turned back. "So what? She knows about you too. It's the reason why you two are close now, isn't it?"

"Perhaps." It was all the way back in the first year of middle school that both of them could tell the other had a 'special limit' about them. It was almost like intuition. "You'd better not hurt her. If I hear one atrocious thing about this, I'll personally tear you limb from limb."

"I'm shaking," the Uchiha now showed his irritation in his voice. "You're big brother act sickens me."

"Ahem," the teacher stopped his lesson again. "Is there something you boys would like to share with the class? Both solemn males gave an evil glare, making the teacher take a step back. "Uh…right then, carrying on…"

"Well that's unfortunate for you," Neji continued their previous conversation. Thankfully the clock was ticking down and it was almost time for lunch. In exactly…hmm…a minute.

Sasuke felt sick to his stomach. That was the feeling he sometimes got, talking to Hyuuga Neji about matters that weren't his business. "Maybe you should worry about yourself for once. You can start by telling your girlfriend to cover that mark on her neck. It's disgusting to see."

Neji looked taken aback and was probably going to retort, but the bell rang, and immediately Sasuke got out of that room. Yet another score for Uchiha. He smirked inwardly.

She hummed quietly to herself, though the water drowned out most of the sound. She placed the wet plate on top of the pile, and then turned off the taps. She peeled the yellow rubber gloves from her hand, and exited the kitchen.

For the second time that day, the raven-haired employee asked the same question. "Why are you here?"

Sakura was now standing behind the counter, looking at a couple sitting in the far corner. She liked to see this kind of thing. Smiling to herself, her response came, unlike the last time he'd asked a half-hour ago. "Because I wanted to stay with you. But you're working so I might as well help too, right?"

With a sigh of sorts, Sasuke gathered some empty glasses on the counter and threw them into a big gray bin. "Whatever…you aren't getting paid, you know."

"I know," she said just as happily as she was before, "but I'm doing something productive. Though, your boss says he may need some extra help on Friday night. I can get paid then." Her green eyes focused once again at the couple.

The Uchiha picked up the bin and wandered off to the kitchen, muttering something incoherent under his breath. She saw this as the perfect opportunity to intrude. "Hi there," she placed her hand on their table, making them both jump. "And what can I get the lovely pair on this lovely evening?"

"What are you doing here, Sakura?" came Ino's cold question in reply.

"I didn't know it was a crime to be somewhere," the pink haired one smiled again, then turned to the other, "and how are you doing?"

"As good as I was when you saw me in class?" was the reply of the lazy genius, Shikamaru.

"Nice to hear. Um, would you be so dear as to fetch your drinks from the front? Heaven knows Sasuke is terribly busy," Sakura asked in a sugarcoated voice.

"Right…" the male said standing up. In female language, that meant 'Girl talk. Leave if you want to keep your hide.' Once he was at the front of the café, he never even glanced back.

"That's cute, y'know. You don't find many like him."

"I don't know what you're talking about," the blonde spoke, looking out the window, "we're here as friends, nothing more. You read too much into things sometimes."

"Perhaps…but aren't you fooling yourself a bit?" the other asked, though nothing came in reply. She continued, "You seemed quite mad when Temari was taking up all his time at Ichiraku last week. What was that about?"

"I think you're paranoid."

"Well I think you're missing out. Ino! Wake up and smell the roses! He…" she lowered her voice to barely above a whisper, "likes you, Ino. Face it. He was trying to make you jealous. I can see it…you may not see it…I bet others see it though. And frankly, you like him back."

Ino blinked once, before the corners of her mouth tugged slightly upwards. "I still think you're paranoid. I like Sasuke-kun, that much won't change for awhile. But thanks."

"My pleasure. Anytime," Sakura moved aside so Shikamaru could reclaim his spot, carrying a tray of two shakes. "See you guys around later, okay?" With that, she disappeared into the kitchen.

"Sasuke-kun! That really isn't fair!" complained Sakura, trailing behind the smirking Uchiha, who had in his clutches her pale green purse. It was around 7:30, and the two were taking the scenic route home, since the girl was fond of that one. "Sasuke-kun!"

"Oh be quiet," came his response, as he moved her purse out of her reach again. "You complain so much, it's past annoying."

"You said that yesterday too," the female teen huffed, once again failing in attempt to get her purse back. She should have never asked him to hold it. Then again, maybe this was his way of showing affection. How she ever liked this man was still a mystery. She sighed. "This is taking way too much effort."

"Someone's out of shape."

"No, someone's just damn stubborn." Their eyes met for a brief moment, challenging one another. They continued down the path, Sasuke's apartment now in view. "Well then at least offer me a drink when we get to your place."

Once again, the Uchiha moved her possession out of the way of her last futile rescue. "Such a demanding girlfriend. I should have never committed to this." Both were down the long row of budding trees.

"You know, you don't have to act in front of me. But with terms in commitment, you're a bit too late for that." The metal stairs clattered beneath both their feet. "Finally," Sakura let out a sigh of relief, when her purse was returned. "That's the last time I'm letting you hold it…Sasuke-kun?"

The raven-haired male looked from his door, to down below. His eyes scanned the area for a moment, then frowned. Something wasn't quite right. It was a gut feeling. And truthfully he could feel the air grow heavy. "Something's wrong."

"Huh?" she looked back and saw nothing out of the ordinary. It was like the last time she'd been here. The area was quiet, the cars sitting in their places on the paved parking lot, and the light hum of the wind through the trees. "I don't think…"

"Just…shut up for a second," Sasuke snapped back, none-too-nicely. He fished the house keys from his jean pocket, and opened the door. Inside the house was dark, as he'd left it in the morning. Frowning, he stepped inside. She followed suit, but didn't make so much as a peep.

The door closed with a slight creak behind Sakura. She swallowed. Was the tense air what could have been causing the sudden change in attitude? There was a shiver that went down her spine, and her emerald orbs fell on Sasuke. He was still rooted in place. Looking around the still darkened apartment, the door was still a fraction open. But while she turned to close it, the corner of her eye caught something red, actually a pair of red objects. What had really sent her jumping backwards with a scream was when the things blinked.

Sasuke made a sharp 180, looking back in the direction of behind the door's path. She could have sworn she saw his eyes widen for a moment, but it was quickly replaced with a murderous stare. Through the darkness, he could still see his thin figure. He stood there still unmoving, like a stone. "You…how dare you show your face to me!"

The pink haired girl covered her mouth in surprise when the figure's hand quickly reached out and slammed the door shut. Her eyes were starting to get used to the dark little by little. Why was it that every time she was in this house something weird happened?

"Hn. Rude as always, foolish little brother," came the deep and drawling voice that Sasuke hadn't heard in forever.

Things were starting to piece together in Sakura's mind. Gleaming red eyes, the speech 'foolish brother'; this was his older brother, Uchiha Itachi. The younger Uchiha was practically shaking in rage. "Get out, now."

"What horrible manners you have. I guess nothing's changed since you were a little brat."

He could have snorted, had he not been so filled with hatred at this point. "You aren't one to suddenly drop in and visit after 8 years. What do you want?"

Sakura looked on between the two. She'd never seen him this angry before. "My calculations being correct, I came to wish you an early 18th birthday, little brother." She got a better look at this Itachi. His raven hair was dead straight and fell just bellow his shoulders. He was wearing and unzipped black trench coat, and currently had his hands in the pockets. His face resembled what Sasuke might have looked like, had he been his brother's age, though this Uchiha had two noticeable lines under his cheekbones.

"Like hell you did, bastard. I know what you really want."

"Ho? Then this'll be easy."

"You aren't getting your hand on a single penny, I'm making sure of that. So before I decide to kill you, get out of my house." There was practically steam venting off him, and a small trail of blood leaked from his left palm, from clenching them too tightly.

The older one ignored him completely, and took note of Sakura, who unconsciously took a step back. "And who is this? This is a surprise; you weren't the one to open up to girls."

"She's no one."

Sakura tried to keep her jaw from dropping. What was he getting at? "I wouldn't say so. In fact, I'm beginning to think she's someone deeply important."

"Well, you'd be wrong."

Before either of the teens had any time to react, Itachi had grabbed the pink haired one by the arm, pulling her close. She flinched at the grip, his hands may have been warm, but they felt icy on her skin. "So…" his voice was that of a coo, "if she were to drop dead now, you wouldn't care the slightest?"

There was silence for a moment. "Not the slightest," the younger Uchiha's voice now resembled his brother's, that cold tone. "But I'd have you charged for murder in an instant."

"Really?" his grip on the still flinching girl tightened, "even if you couldn't prove it. Even with…" Sakura gazed up to her captor's eyes. The comas in the eyes of his Sharingan started to warp. She suddenly found it very difficult to breathe. "Even if she was cursed?" Sasuke still stood rigid in his spot, teeth clearly clenched. "You're still as bad a liar as when you were young, little brother. Your eyes never lie."

Her green orbs focused on the younger of the brothers. His eyes were also gleaming red. "It also comes out for every Uchiha when they're desperately scared." His blood limit shouldn't have naturally appeared for at least another fifteen good minutes. "Burn in hell," Sasuke seethed.

Itachi pushed the girl from his grip, so she fumbled with her footing and fell to the carpeted ground. "Seems you're as uncooperative as ever. Well it's fine by me," and for the first time, the cool façade of the older one turned menacing, as his eyes narrowed. Sasuke couldn't seem to peel his eyes away from his brother's cursed Mangekyou. "Then perish quickly."

The sickening feeling started in the pit of his stomach, and quickly turned into a feeling of excruciating pain. Though he wouldn't show weakness in front of his brother. The feeling quickly spread to his legs, head and chest. His breathing became irregular, and he could feel beads of sweat forming on his brow.

When Itachi was satisfied with his work, he opened the door to exit. Just before, he added some parting words. "Such a shame, foolish little brother." The door closed softly behind him, and there were footsteps on the metal stairs outside.

When the other Uchiha was clearly out of earshot (they'd heard the roaring of a car engine) Sasuke fell to his knees. He felt like he was suffocating. His mid wasn't working properly anymore. He managed to let out an extremely loud scream of pain. This startled the girl next to him, snapping her out of her daze.

"Sasuke-kun!" she spoke for the first time in awhile. "Sasuke-kun, what's wrong?"

His pale fingers dug as best they could into the carpet. All he desperately wanted now was for the pain to go away. And Sasuke could deal with pain. This was serious. He felt his head being placed at the base of her neck, though he wasn't feeling too much of anything at this point.

"Sasuke-kun…calm down…please. There's nothing wrong."

His breath was starting to return, though still irregular. "No…" he managed to choke out, "no. This is his curse. The power…of the Mangekyou." She waited patiently, stroking his back softly as he slowly regained his breath. He was still tense all over, but at least the pain was slowly dying down. "You heard him. Soon…I'm going to die."

Her emerald eyes shot open, as she looked down at the Uchiha in his usually frail state. "No. Don't say that."

"It's true. He killed my parents like that too."

"You're wrong!" she told him flatly, "The 'curse' only works because you believe it does. Snap out of it. You aren't the Sasuke I know. You're stronger then this. You aren't going to let your brother beat you, right? Be strong…and don't believe him."

"Urg…" was the only sound he managed. He was all too mentally drained to speak again. 'To not believe…huh?' He felt his eyelids close, the curse of Itachi fresh in his mind.

Before he slipped into total unconsciousness, he could hear the faint words of: "I'll be here, okay?"

AN: Wow. I decided to but Itachi in there. I love him, really, but sometimes he should just stay away from Sasuke. Honestly! Now he'll die! -does long sigh- It's kind of sad. Where is Sasuke-kun in the manga? I'm hoping it'll be like the 300th chapter special or something. Ah, getting off topic here. Does he die? I don't know. I haven't gotten there yet... -get shoes thrown at her-

I tried to cram as many pairings as humanly possible for me to write in this chapter. And just to clarify on something, Neji and Sasuke both know about each other's blood limit. They're smart, after all. They figured it out awhile ago.

It's only when you get past 20 chapters when you realize that a story really is getting long. Well, for me. It's hard to keep the interest going for so long. Alas, it's way too late to give up on this. I'll probably just cram the tiny bit of ideas I have left into a few chapters. Yes, I shall end it after 24 chapters. That's 3 left. Wow. Ending. Hmm. Means I can work on my others stories! But I hate writing endings. I totally suck at them. I wish they could write themselves…

Don't expect next update to come as quick. I was just happy that I reached 400 and that I did well on my exams. I'm rid of math and history class! Yeeees! I'm so relieved. Those classes…honestly…were pure torture.