Chapter 2

It happened on a day just like today. It was a perfect spring day. The cherry blossom trees were starting the bloom. I remember thinking that it made everything look a little more pretty.

You see, I have always loved the spring. It was the season I was born in after all. Plus, flowers of different colors would start to bloom. I loved picking flowers with my mother. She would teach me the language of flowers, which would help me start a friendship with Ino later on in life.

That day was also extra special. It was the first time Sasuke lost it in class. It seemed he had had enough of all the derogatory remarks being thrown my way aside from Ami's bullying.

Sasuke had stood in front of my crying form and shouted at her, "Stop it! Nobody hurts my Sakura! She is my best friend and is a whole lot nicer than you. You're not even pretty. My brother said girls like you are not good people. He is right. You are one of the worst!"

I remember being shocked, not just with the fact that Sasuke called me his best friend but also with him speaking that lengthy. You see, he never talked more than a few words, a sentence at best.

Definitely though, it wasn't near the shock that Ami got. Looking back, I would judge the look she had that day as like being poured with ice water. It obviously made Ami cry but I am not, never going to feel sorry for her. In a way, she had it coming.

No one messed with Uchiha Sasuke. Since he claimed me as his best friend at that moment, it suddenly went without saying that if anyone messed with me, they were also messing with him.

Thinking about it now, it is one of the things that make me miss him more. He was always my knight in shining armor. For a 5-year-old boy, he was really, really chivalrous. He never made fun of me like the rest of the kids, or made me feel inferior because I was somehow different. He never teased me of being small. He showed me that I was being foolish by letting others get on my nerves. He taught me how to start loving myself.

Till this day, I firmly believe that that was an amazing feat for one young such as him.

Looking at it now on an adult perspective, it is somewhat weird that the two of us became the best of friends when at first glance we are so different.

Who knew, or even cared to look, that we were more alike than anything?

XxXxXx

"Haruno Sakura I presume."

Itachi saw the woman in front of him stiffen for a brief moment. She was certainly not expecting any help or his words. He watched as she found her inner composure and smiled at him.

"Yes," Her gentle voice replied, "I am she. Thank you for giving me my papers back. Although, I would like it better if I knew the name of the person in front of me now."

"Uchiha Itachi," He answering as he grasped her forearm and helped her up. "I believe that we have a meeting now."

Sakura nodded while Ino and Naruto approached. Ino laid a hand on Sakura's other arm. Itachi's cool gaze shifted to the newcomers. Ino then introduced herself, "I am Yamanaka Ino, Sakura's business partner."

Itachi gave a nod of affirmation as Naruto stepped up and offered, "I'll lead them to the conference room to setup, Uchiha-san."

Without another word, he took Sakura's portfolio from her and hooked her arm to his, "Come along, Sakura-chan, Ino. I'll show you the new projector. It's easier to manipulate too."

Itachi couldn't help but watch as the hyperactive blond led the two towards conference room 1.

"Uchiha-sama," his senior PR staffer said, breaking his quiet contemplation. He gazed at her through the corner of his eyes. "I apologize for-"

"Enough, Tanaka-san. I have seen everything."

Tanaka Sayaka was about to offer an excuse but immediately closed her mouth when Itachi looked straight at her with an unreadable expression. "Dare not lie to me, Tanaka-san. What is the reason for your unprofessional behavior?"

Sayaka inwardly swallowed hard. How could she tell her boss that the reason why she had intentionally bumped into the girl at the last minute was because she didn't like another girl threatening her position there at the company or her prospect of having the handsome Uchiha Itachi for herself? She had seen how easily the girl attracted the attention of her male and some female co-workers.

The girl looked fragile but exuded a confident aura that didn't fail to make people standup and pay attention. The mere fact that the girl didn't flaunt it made her dangerous in Sayaka's mind.

How could she tell Itachi that when she saw the girl holding some sort of portfolio, she immediately knew that she was the one they were potentially hiring and had wanted to make the girl feel embarrassed enough to think twice than to work there?

Seeing that Sayaka wasn't going to offer him an answer, Itachi glanced at his watch. He knew that he had already given them enough time to setup. He turned his back and made his way towards the conference room. Not knowing what else to do, Sayaka and another, frozen PR staff member in charge with the upcoming banquet followed.

XxXxXx

Ino was annoyed. She wanted to walk up to the woman who she saw was screaming at her best friend. She didn't even help her pick up the papers that were scattered!

"Cool it, pig," Sakura suddenly said as she took out her electronic tablet from her purse. "She's not worth it."

"Yeah, you're right. That bitch doesn't deserve the light of day." Ino replied as she folded her arms across her chest. Her comment made Sakura and Naruto laugh.

"If it makes you feel better, there are a lot of people working in this building who don't like her." Naruto said as he took the remote and handed it over to Ino. "I don't like her. Plus, she doesn't smell that good. She wears this insane amount of perfume. There's an on-going bet here."

"Bet?" Sakura's curiosity peaked.

Naruto smirked and motioned as if he was whispering to the girls but knowing Naruto, it wasn't as 'private' as he intended. "Yeah, I bet she has been putting her little black book into good use."

Sakura and Ino's jaws dropped. They were stunned with Naruto's revelation. It only took a moment for both girls to understand the underlying meaning to his words as they started laughing really hard. Naruto snickered and started laughing with them.

"I suppose she really is a 'black' beauty then." Sakura couldn't resist commenting, renewing their bout of laughter.

Itachi, having found them, resisted the urge to quirk an eyebrow. It was Sakura who stopped laughing first, having heard the door open. She reached out to Ino, who was nearer to her. Ino glanced at Sakura and then following her gesture to the door, stopped laughing as well. Naruto reduced his mirth to his trademark grin.

Itachi sat at the head of the table, Sayaka and another following his lead. Naruto then took his place near Itachi. Ino and Sakura sat next to each other.

"It has come to my knowledge that you are excellent in event designs, specializing in flower arrangements and glass sculptures." Itachi started.

It was Ino who answered. "We always try to cater to the client's specifications although we are also known to give advice to have a more polished look."

Itachi nodded. "In three months, this company will be having its annual banquet. This year, the proposed theme is all about clarity. This is why I am entertaining the idea of having glass as this year's main decor aside from the usual flower arrangements." He explained. Itachi then turned to face Ino. "Show me samples of what you have done and then I will decide from there. Whether or not we shall talk about the details will be determined after."

Ino sighed. "From what I understand, you are more interested in the glass aspect of the design and its over-all impact on the design. You should be directing this to Sakura. We may be business partners and co-designers of events, but she is the one who specializes in glass."

"Her?" Sayaka couldn't help but verbalize. "But she's blind. Surely she is not capable to capture the true orders of clients. I mean how can she?"

Before anyone could react or say anything else, Itachi said in an emotionless voice, "If you think that this is a joke, then take your fun elsewhere. We are not playing games and I am not in the mood to take part in childish endeavors."

Ino was livid with the comment as Naruto also wanted to verbally lash out on his boss. But Sakura laid a hand on both their arms. "If that is how you feel," Sakura then stood, "then we better be on our way. Thank you for your time even if it seems as if it was a waste." She then turned to Naruto, "Could you please disconnect my tablet?"

Naruto didn't know how to react for a moment but Sakura's softly called his name, snapping him from his thoughts and complied with his friend.

Sakura then turned to Ino and said, "Let's get going. There will be other clients." She didn't care if the owner of the company and his staff were there to hear as she said her next words, "They are the ones who sought our help. They can seek help from others. I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone, much less to an overbearing company."

At Sakura's words, Sayaka couldn't help but flare up, "Why you bitch! How dare you insult this company!"

Itachi watched things unfold with a cool expression. It was an interesting turn of events.

Sakura didn't show that she was affected by Sayaka's words as she turned towards the woman who seemed so scorned with her. "Now that I am sure that you are not one of my clients, I will not hold my tongue. You listen and you listen well because I am not in a mood as to be kind enough to repeat what I am going to say for that slow brain of yours."

Sakura paused. Ino had her arms crossed in front of her. She was fighting back a smirk. She knew her best friend well and could guess what she was going to lash out at the pompous woman. Naruto snickered as well.

"You have a way of stating the obvious." Sakura said sarcastically. "Yes, I am blind. I am visually disabled, not invalid, nor am I ignorant. I have heard about this company and the business entails. Based on your presence in this room, I know that you are a PR personnel, not an officer or even the manager of your committee, because you tend to let that tongue of yours get away from you."

"From what I can tell, the only reason why you are still here is because you most probably have a good work record so your obvious lack of ethics and manners are overlooked. In retrospect, I doubt you will be ever made the head of PR because you might just tarnish this company's image by your lack of 'social grace'. How you became a PR with your attitude will perhaps always be a mystery to me but honestly, I don't care to find out. I don't like you. I know what I am capable of and if you or Uchiha-san deem me 'incapable' simply because of my eyes, then why should I waste my time here? Oh and for the record, that stunt you pulled in the hallway? Remember it. That was one moment you failed and you ended up simply embarrassing yourself."

Sakura then turned away from a gawking Sayaka, who seemed to be seething with anger too. She took her portfolio and purse before slowly but gracefully left the room guided by Naruto and followed by Ino.

Itachi was right in his assumption. It was an interesting turn of events. Listening to Sakura's little speech made him rethink his judgment of her. The points she had stated were right on the mark. It seemed that she was more capable than he originally deemed her for. He was thinking that he might just let that little slip of a woman get the project and see where it goes.

With that thought, Itachi stood and turned to leave. As he reached the door, a small smirk reached his lips. He whispered to himself, "Clarity indeed."

(to be continued...)