Hey guys! so sorry for the late update. I've been very busy with school.

Anyway, hope ya'll enjoy this one! :)


Chapter 4

Why Can't You

For weeks now, Sakura continued the duty of being Sasuke's best friend. She's still helping him on courting Karin even though it hurts her, still. She arranged dates for them, continues to deliver Sasuke's gifts whenever he couldn't give it himself, helps in organizing Sasuke's surprises, and everything Sasuke asks her to do.

She smiles and laughs even though she felt the opposite. She was still friendly with Karin because the girl's so nice and is also friendly, which irritates her more. And maybe Karin knew that she and Sasuke are best friends – only best friends.

"Heart or flower?"

"Heart. Why are you asking me this question anyway? That is so random." Sakura said with a chuckle.

"Secret. You'll know in time," Sasuke smiled.

They were at the Uchiha backyard and as usual, she was on the swing. Sasuke's under the tree, reading a book. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

She loves days like this because it's where she and Sasuke spend the whole day together. She missed the days when they were alone. Just the two of them.

Flashback.

"Sasukeeee! Will you help me on the swing?" asked an eight year old Sakura.

"Okay, wait," replied the eight year old Sasuke.

"There," he said as he pushed her forward on the swing.

"Push me harder so that I can go higher, Sasuke," she requested.

"I can't. You'll fall," he replied.

"P-leeease," she pleaded.

Sasuke sighed and he did what she asked for. Sakura flew outwards from the swing maybe because of Sasuke's powerful push.

"Kyaaaahhhh! Huhuhuhu," she cried.

Sasuke ran to her and saw that she had a bruise on her left knee.

He sighed, then smiled. "Don't cry now, Saku. come on – he let out his right hand to help Sakura get up – let's get that booboo (bruise) fixed," he said, helping Sakura to go inside the house where their parents are.

"Saku! Hey! Earth to Sakura!" Sasuke waved his hands in front of Sakura's face.

"W-what? Oh!" she said as she went back to reality, which means the present.

"Come on, let's go inside. Let's get some snacks," he invited.

"Sure," she replied as she followed him inside the house.

After they ate, they did a lot of things together, like what they did when they were kids up to the time when they were not busy with their school life or Sasuke pursuing Karin. They played on the swing, they climbed a tree, they raced snails, and other things. They fell asleep under the tree with Sakura wishing that moments like this would last forever.


Sakura was really excited because Sasuke's birthday is coming in two weeks. She really wanted to give something special to him. She was walking towards their classroom when someone called her.

"Hi, Sakura." It was Karin, smiling at her.

"Yes?" she asked in a friendly manner.

"Can I ask you something?" she asked shyly.

"Of course. What is it?"

"Is tomato still Sasuke's favorite food?" she asked, uncertain.

"Yes, still is."

"Thank you." Then she went ahead of her.

Why's she asking me that? Uh, maybe because you're the best friend and you'll know these things?


"So, Sasuke's birthday is in two weeks from now, right?" asked Tenten.

"Uh, yeah," answered Sakura. They are currently at Charm's Cafe, the group's favorite hang-out place every Friday after school. Everybody was there except for Karin and Sasuke because they didn't invite them on purpose and also because they have gone somewhere else. They were having a meeting about a surprise party for Sasuke.

"What are we going to do?" asked Ino.

"I know! Mrs. Uchiha always throws Sasuke a birthday party right?" asked Naruto, his hands clenched into a fist and pounded it on his other hand.

"Yeah, it's like a tradition. We are all invited, remember? As always," answered Sakura, matter of fact.

"I know that! What I'm saying is, Sasuke's birthday falls on Friday, right? So let's throw our surprise party for him on Saturday!" Naruto said energetically with a big grin on his face.

"Wow, I can't believe I'm saying this but… what exactly are you planning Naruto?" asked Neji.

Grinning, he answered, "Let's have a separate celebration! Let's go to a resort! Just us friends because as we all know, Sasuke's birthday party that his mother throws includes all his relatives and we never really have that much fun because he's busy entertaining them. Let's have bonfires and singing and food!"

"That's a really good idea, Naruto!" Sai said eagerly.

Still grinning, "Thanks Sai. Let's just tell him it's for the gang to have fun."

"Wait, who's going to tell this to Karin?" asked Hinata.

"I'll tell her," volunteered Tenten.

"Okay, so that's it, then?" said Lee.

"Yup! Me and Hinata are in charge of looking for a good resort," volunteered Naruto, and Hinata nodded in agreement. "We'll just inform all of you, and Sakura? Will you please tell Sasuke about the resort thing? Well, except for the surprise part," Naruto added and requested.

"Sure, I will," answered Sakura with a smile.

"Great! Will you guys agree that it's going to be overnight?" asked Naruto again.

There are some hesitations but in the end, they all agreed. They continued their meeting, assigning everyone a task, talking about what their gifts would be on the party with Mrs. Uchiha, and everything else. Basically, laughing. Well, everyone participated except for the ever so bored Shikamaru.


It's Sasuke's birthday tomorrow and Sakura was helping Sasuke's mother in preparing the food and decorating the backyard. Her mom was there, too. It was a nice Thursday twilight, actually.

"Dear, could you please buy some of this?" asked Sasuke's mother to Sakura, handing her a list. They were in the kitchen.

"Sure thing, Aunt Mikoto," she accepted the list then read what is in there. "Okay, so, I'm going to the grocery store now," she added.

"Thanks, dear. Oh, wait! Sasuke! Sasuke!" her Aunt Mikoto called.

"Where is Sasuke?" wondered her Aunt. "You're not going to the grocery store alone, dear. You've got to have some company. It's not safe for you to go alone. Let me call Itachi so that he can drive you there, he can accompany you to buy those stuff. Itachi! Come here!"

When Itachi heard her mother, he immediately came down because he doesn't want to upset or make her mother wait. It's not a good idea to make her mother angry because you'll gonna see hell breaking loose.

"Yes, mom?" he asked.

"Go with Sakura on buying things at the grocery store," she ordered him.

"Sure, mom," he answered.

"Uhm… Aunt Mikoto? I think I'm okay going there on my own," Sakura said.

"Nonsense, dear, I'm not going to let you walk or take the bus, it's dangerous," she insisted.

"Well, okay. If it's okay with Itachi-nii," she said, looking at Itachi.

"Sure, I'll go with you, Sakura-chan. I'm not doing anything since we've just finished our exams yesterday, and this is for Sasuke's birthday. Wouldn't want anybody to harm you," he smiled at her and put his hand on her head and made a mess of her hair.

Sakura laughed then looked for her mother. Then she saw that her mother was in the backyard setting the tables.

"Mom! Itachi-nii and I are going to the grocery store!" she informed her mother.

"Okay, dear. Take care," her mother replied while putting a cloth cover on the table.

"Bye, mom, bye Aunt Mebuki!" Itachi said goodbye to them.


"So, what's next on the list?" asked Itachi, carrying the grocery basket full of things that they already have halfway on the list.

"Let me see, Hmm... It's..." Sakura looked at the list and she was about to tell Itachi that it's flour but she heard giggles nearby. When she looked at the direction of the ones who were making the sounds, she saw that it was a bunch females looking at Itachi. Even the sales assistants were looking at him.

"Well, what is it?" he asked.

"Uh, Itachi-nii? Is it always like this?" she asked him while looking at the direction of the girls. He then looked at the direction she was looking at.

"Oh, I don't know. I never seem to notice," he replied, still looking at the ladies without any interest.

"Never seem to notice, eh?" she chuckled.

"I'm serious," he said, chuckling too.

"Okay, whatever you say," she said, still laughing lightly.

Ugh! Uchihas and their good-looking genes.

"Come on, let's buy the flour and the rest on the list so that we can get out of here. Aunt Mikoto really needs these," she added.


"Okay, that's the last one," Sakura said while putting the butter on the basket.

They were on their way to the counter when she bumped into somebody.

"Oh, sorry," Sakura apologized without seeing the face of the person she bumped into.

"It's okay," came the reply and it was from a woman.

When she looked to see who it was, she noticed that the person was a very attractive woman. It was someone the age of Itachi and she was staring at him.

"H-hi, Itachi," said the woman, blushing.

Great! Is she another fangirl of Itachi-nii?

"H-hey, Izumi-chan," Itachi greeted back, blushing also.

Hm. I guess not.

"Uh, hello? Uhm, we need to go now." She doesn't want to sound rude but time is running and the ingredients and other stuff are needed so she cut off the obviously awkward silence between the two.

"Oh, sorry," the girl named Izumi apologized.

"Uhm, see you Izumi-chan. By the way, this is my little sister, Sakura-chan," Itachi informed her.

"But I thought that you only had a brother?"

Sakura answered for Itachi, "Nice to meet you, too, Izumi-nee, but we have to hurry. There's no time to explain. Come on, Itachi-nii!" she pulled Itachi.

"I'll see you," Itachi told Izumi.

They paid at the counter and after they paid for all the things that they bought, Sakura pulled Itachi to where the car was, eager to go back to the Uchiha house and wanting to get rid of the girls who were following them because of Itachi.

Inside the car, on the way home, Sakura noticed that Itachi was awfully quiet so she decided to break the silence.

"Itachi-nii? You're awfully quiet. Is there something going on?"

"Huh? Uhm… no." came his reply.

"Is this about Izumi-nee?" she asked frankly but smiling from ear to ear.

"W-what? What are you talking about?" Itachi almost lost control of the car as he laughed nervously.

"Don't worry, Itachi-nii. You obviously like her. If you want to, I can keep it a secret." She teased.

"Please don't tell anyone," he pleaded, impliedly admitting that he liked the girl.

"Sure," she assured him.

"She's my classmate at Konoha U. Well, she had been my classmate since high school but I've never really talked to her before because she was a transfer student. We're not that close. Not until college when I knew that she took the same program as me," he explained.

That Izumi is very lucky! I wish Sasuke would feel the same way about me, too.

"Don't you worry Itachi-nii! You're handsome, and kind, and thoughtful, and everything a woman wants in a man. I'm sure she likes you too!" she reassured him.

"Thank you, Sakura-chan."

"You're very much welcome."


After they got out from the car, they hurried to the kitchen and helped in preparing the food for tomorrow. Well, the food that requires the use of the refrigerator because the ones that will be cooked by fire will be done for tomorrow as the party will be in the afternoon and they don't want the food to spoil. They also helped in decorating the backyard.

They waited for their fathers to come home from work so that they can eat together. While they were eating, only one person was missing from the Uchiha-Haruno families – Sasuke. They did not wait for him because they were already hungry. The Haruno family ate at the Uchiha's because preparations were not yet finished. Sakura was about to ask when he appeared at the door to the kitchen.

Speaking of the angel. Where did he gone to?

"Hey, son! Where have you been?" asked Sasuke's father.

"Watched a movie," he answered, smiling.

"Sorry, we did not wait for you even though this party's for you."

"It's alright, dad," he said, smiling. "I already ate," he added. "And I thought, I told mom where I was going," he wondered, looking at the direction of her mother.

"You did? Sorry, it slipped my mind," her mother chortled.

"You know I never go anywhere without telling you, mom," he reasoned, still smiling.


After they've eaten, Sakura volunteered to wash the dishes. While she was washing the dishes, the others continued to do the things they set aside before dinner. Sasuke also helped considering he was already there.

They've finished putting up everything and the foods that needed to be refrigerated were done. They already prepared the ingredients for the food to be cooked tomorrow. All they were waiting for was for the cake to bake. Their fathers were now watching football on the TV. Their mothers were in the kitchen making the icing for the cake. Itachi was already in his room, listening to music, and Sakura was at the backyard, on the swing.

Maybe Sasuke's in his room.

"Hey, Saku!" she bolted from the swing because Sasuke appeared out of nowhere.

"Sheez. You scared me!" she yelled at him.

"Sorry," he sat at the other swing.

"What were you thinking of?"

You.

"Nothing," she said calmly. "So, where have you been? Really?" she asked even though she knew he was with Karin and it hurts her.

"I was with Rin. I asked her out and she agreed," he said while looking at the ground, smiling.

Ouch!

"So, that means she said yes to you already. Are you now officially his boyfriend?"

"No, she didn't answer me yet. But I'm willing to wait."

What is up with Karin? I thought he loved Sasuke.

"Did you have fun?" she asked, faking a smile.

"Of course I did! We watched the movie Catch Me… I'm in Love. I never thought I would watch a romantic comedy movie but that one was great, I guess. It was what she liked to watch and I had a great time. Then we ate at a restaurant," he explained enthusiastically.

Wow, Sasuke is really happy and it shows.

"How about you? What did you do this past afternoon?" he asked.

"Oh, nothing. I was just here, helping in preparing for tomorrow," she grinned at him.

"Sorry, I didn't help," he apologized.

"It's okay, it was for you anyway," she smiled at him. "At least you had fun," she continued with a smile. The fake smile that nobody would notice that it's fake.

"Yeah. Thanks Saku –

He got up then came to her, pulled her up then hugged her.

– You're the bestest best friend ever!"

She hugged him back. "And you're also the bestest best friend ever!" she tried to make her voice sound happy and energetic and her voice did well, even though her heart said the opposite.

"Oh! I almost forgot. This Saturday, we are going to Ivy Hotel & Resort. The whole gang will be there. They said that it's for all of us to have fun together. Don't worry because Karin was invited. It is overnight but I already asked Aunt Mikoto and Uncle Fugaku and they agreed. Sorry that I almost forgot to tell you. We'll be going together, okay?"

"Ah. Sure. But will we be picking up Rin?" he asked.

"Nope. She said she will go ahead. But don't worry, you'll still see her," she assured him then smiled.

"Okay." He smiled back.

"Great! We'll be going there this Saturday, at 4:00 in the afternoon. It will be fun! We'll have bonfires!" she said happily.

"Okay, okay," he chuckled.


I just want to thank these following awesome people for always giving reviews:

pinkypinkypinky, FreakyVee, XxlizziexcielxX, digzzz, -Gothic-Porcelain-, shana176534, shadowangel513, Tiger Priestess (thanks for your suggestions. I already thought about that.. though I added a little twist. Anyway, Thanks a lot! :) ), and DarkShadowSakura

And for those people who also showed interest in my story:

StealthFire718, CiiCiinREX, Haylin-chan, SweetAngels123, - scrimsone -, BlueSakuraLauren, ding-a-ling-lee, ProBowler, Cherry Torn, GabbaGabba, 4evergyaru03, LaLa Lane, sakurasasuke4evah, .Vili-chan., and mapis15

Thanks a lot guys!

Ya'll rock!