Thanks to all those who reviewed! Okay, Sasuke's reaction at first may seem weird but it will make sense afterwards. To tell you the truth, this is probably how I would have felt and reacted!
"The mans name is Itachi!" she said the name without a clue that the man who saved her was the man who murdered his family except the raven haired boy in front of her.
The air around them grew tense but Sakura was oblivious to that certain drastic and tragic fact that everyone knew. She noticed that Sasuke's face
started to twist with agitation. "Jerk-sama, what's wro-"
She was cut off as he jumped up from the ground and turned to the tree where he was lying on just a moment ago. He seemed as a crazed animal. He looked so distraught and confused and such sadness and rage was written all over his face. Many dark emotions appeared on Sasuke's face and they kept on shifting from anger to rage until he gave a heart wrenching shout and punched the tree with all his might. The tree snapped in half from all the
force he applied to it. You could see where the tree was cut it was sizzling and smoke mingled with the air from the heat and power of his punch.
Sakura just stared at him with shock from his outburst of rage. Even though it seemed incoherent, she felt sorry for him. All those troubled feelings he is experiencing now she knew them with all her heart and she knew how terrible they are but why? 'Why is he feeling like this? It couldn't be something I said? Or is it?'
"Jerk-sama, what's wrong?" she said softly. He turned to the source of the voice only to find her! He turned like a wild animal but froze when he saw her. He didn't know why but it hurts too much to just see her! He quickly turned away and just ran as fast and as far as his legs could carry him. He didn't care where he was going; he just wanted to get away from her.
Every time he thought of her, a pang of pain went through his chest grasping his heart as if it was squeezing it. He didn't know why! But it hurts to see her look up to…him…so much and admire him. He couldn't even say his brother's name. It hurt too much to know that he sacrificed his own family for
the sake of knowing he could do it! Just for that…he killed everything that meant to Sasuke and supposedly what was everything to…Itachi!
'Is that why he felt sad!' He thought angrily.
'He kills his family but saves a dying girl! Why! Why did you do that Itachi? I am so confused! You could kill your entire clan but you couldn't leave a dying girl! What made you save her! And why her! Why not my family! I am not being selfish, I just don't understand! Did you train her to kill me? To defeat me? Or make me stronger! You knew I would come and kill you so you left her. You knew we were going to meet someday, so you trained her to make me remember that I will come to kill you and I must be stronger! You saved her because when she comes here she will remind me of your despicable self! You are a bastard Itachi! I swear you are! You were always the planner and you could always see things before they happen! You always knew such things! You bastard! I don't need her to remind me of you! That hateful memory is burned into my heart and soul and it won't go away no matter what!'
He made his way through the forest and his legs carried him to somewhere where least expected to be. His old home. The home which he left long ago because of the many painful memories. He felt something wet form at the corners of his eyes. 'It couldn't be!' The boy thought in horror. He locked that away that luxury that made him release the pain but he held onto that pain to make him stronger. To make him emotionless but now, tears are forming and that are threatening to fall down. 'She did this to me! We met only yesterday and she is already ruining everything for me!'
He was seething with anger that he never noticed the held back tear slide across his soft cheeks followed by another and another. He never realized that he was shedding tears like when he was ten. He never noticed until he heard something behind the bush. He didn't need to turn around as the that something emerged from the bushes. It was a person. A girl most likely judging from the light, soft footstep sounds. It couldn't be! It was her!
"What do you want?" he snapped. Not bothering to turn around. He didn't want to see her.
"Jerk-sama! What's wrong? Why did you run away angrily?" she said in a voice full of genuine concern. He was startled. A moment ago she hates him, then she fights him while declaring she will kill him, they are enemies but now…she is acting like a concerned…friend. 'What's wrong with this girl? She is weird!'
"Nothing is wrong! Everything is just fine! Now leave me alone!"
"Like hell you are fine!" he was getting on her nerves. She advanced towards him and grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. He didn't struggle. He didn't have the time to. She saw his face. His cheeks and eyes were red from all the salty tears that burned.
'He was crying…' she was surprised and shocked to see the human ice block actually shedding tears. It wasn't like him. He looked so helpless and vulnerable. Her heart went out to him. It touched her heart. He just stared at her not bothering to wipe away his tears. They were like this for several moments. Staring at each other until Sasuke broke the silence.
"Why did you come?" he said in a low raspy voice. He turned and wiped his tears. All the icy coldness was restored.
Sakura sighed. "Idiot! Did you think because you were angry and crying, I won't let you tell me your part of our deal! I want to hear your story!" she said in mock anger.
"I wasn't crying!" he snapped. His pride wounded.
"Yes you were!" she snapped back but then her eyes softened. "You know, I have been told by someone close to me that crying is the first step toward emotional healing."
"I already allowed myself to cry as much as I want five years ago and that was supposed to be the end of it, forever. But now I am crying like a weakling. I am not a weakling yet I am crying like one!"
Her voice took a sharp tone. "You think crying is for the weak? Wake up Jerk-sama! It takes real courage for someone to cry and admit their feelings to themselves. The world is full of cocky weak fools who don't cry thinking it will make them appear weak! Is that what you care for! Appearances! Are you so vain that you care what people think of you! People who are strong do not care for what others think of them! They believe in themselves and if you truly believe you are strong Jerk-sama, you wouldn't give a damn about what people may think of you!" her voice softened and she put a hand on his shoulders. She looked up at him and smiled warmly.
"Be proud that you can cry. You deserve to cry! You are human! You should be proud of yourself that you are able to cry! Some people can't and here you are being angry that you are crying! Cheer up and lift your head up high. If you want to make yourself stronger, learn to live with your sad memories with a smile. It's so much harder but also much better than forever brooding and then withering away not making any use of your life. Come on Sasuke, smile and cheer up and live another day making yourself stronger to achieve your ambition and goal!"
He was amazed at how this girl interpreted everything in life. To be able to cry while not caring what people think is courage and strength? It makes you stronger. He couldn't help smile. Even if it was a small smile it was a smile of pure joy and relief. 'So this is your strength Big Forehead-chan. It is to make all those around you feel happy and safe and make them feel as if they were on top of the world with strength. You are amazing Sakura!'
"You called me by my name, Sasuke. Not Jerk-sama!" he told her cheekily.
"Yeah well, I got caught up in the moment! Don't let it get to your head!" smiled sheepishly then her smile turned mischievous. "We are still enemies Jerk-sama! I'm gonna pay you back for that kick you gave me! It hurts you know! I'm gonna pay you back so nicely for that kick!"
"its not my fault you are so weak and don't know your own weaknesses!" he shot back while rolling his eyes heavenward but that cheeky glint couldn't go unnoticed.
"Me weak! I was kicking your big fat butt so hard! You were losing!"
"Hah!"
"Shut up!" she snapped. "Hey! Weren't you going to tell me what happened to you?"
Somehow he wasn't bothered anymore to tell her his story. She removed her hand away from his shoulder and walked towards a chair. He didn't realize how comfortable he was when her hand was on his shoulder. 'So soft, so warm…sigh huh! Snap out of it man!'
He followed her and told her everything he told Naruto. About how his brother betrayed his clan. How everyone died. How he cried with despair and promised to kill his brother. How he tried to leave but every time he found himself back in the village. He told her everything except his brother's name.
She felt so sad for him. She knew how he felt but at least he knows the murderer while she is wandering aimlessly without knowing who is the monster is. She has one clue, his snake-like yellow eyes and that disgusting smirk of his. Only that.
"I'm sorry." She turned her head away.
"Yea…me too. I'm sorry that I couldn't save them all." He said bitterly.
"That doesn't make sense! Why did you get angry when I told you the name…of…the…guy…" she gasped. Her eyes wide with horror. "No… it can't be…Itachi is your…brother?" she could barely breathe. Everything seemed wrong now. The person who saved her was the one who killed Sasuke's parents.
"Yes. Itachi was my brother." He said grimly. "I am sorry but that is the truth. Itachi always had a way about ruining people's lives."
"But he was so kind and he saved me. He seemed so sad!"
"What has been done had been done! No feeling could ever change that and no act of kindness could either!"
"Yes but I…I…I…" she started to cry. Sasuke felt anger and his resolve of killing Itachi was getting stronger. 'He made her cry! He'll pay!'
He sat next to her. "Cry all you want Big Forehead. I swear I will kill him!"
"But why did he train me!" she said shakily between sobs.
"Probably because he wanted me to get stronger when I train with you and let me know some of his techniques." He said bitterly. "And most of all to make you remind me of him! Like I will forget what he has done!"
She sobbed harder. He looked at her with a look of pain on his face. He wanted to soothe her and calm her down but he knew he should let her cry all she wants.
'Crying is the first step to emotional healing and after you have healed you will become stronger!' He thought sadly. 'It will take time for the wounds in our hearts to heal Sakura but I promise I will kill Itachi for you, me, and my family!'
This is the edited copy! Thanks hagane-girl! Thank yous next chapter! Oooh! I went to a wedding and it was amazing! A true Kuwaiti wedding! It was my best friends brothers wedding! It was awesome! Ah gotta go! See ya!
