Sakura stayed seated on her new bed as Sasuke left the room. Soon, Izumi entered with a bright smile on her face. She was dressed in a simple gray t-shirt and black shorts, Sakura assumed these would be the same clothes she'd wear when she got hers. Izumi sat on the mattress across from hers.

"Hi again!"

"Hello..." Sakura was still hesitant, why was this girl so stupidly happy? She was worried, she didn't mind her fellow assistant being positive, but the young girl thought her cheery attitude was bordering on insanity.

"Itachi-kun asked me to show you how to prepare dinner for the family." She stood up and grabbed young Sakura from her bed, leading her into the kitchen. Both girls washed their hands thoroughly. "The first thing we do is prepare the vegetables. Sasuke-san doesn't like them much, but his father insists we include them." Sakura listened closely. Although Izumi may be insane, she was clearly a proficient assistant and Sakura knew she could learn a lot from her. She taught her how to hold the knife and chop a variety of vegetables in 3 separate ways. Standing on a step stool at the counter, Sakura diced onions, chopped spinich and julienne'd carrots. The two girls then dumped the produce into a large bowl, which Izumi took to the stove.

"Can you wash the knives and the board? Mikoto-san doesn't like a mess." Sakura nodded, carrying the dishes back over to the sink and stepping on the stool again. She listened as Izumi turned it on and began cooking the vegetables, explaining to her how much oil was the proper amount and what heat setting to cook it on. She began washing the dishes.

Sasuke followed his brother into his father's study. A middle aged man sat behind a huge wooden desk, everything on it in perfect organization. Sasuke stepped forward.

"Father? I have chosen my servant. She's in the kitchen, learning how to prepare dinner with Izumi." His father nodded.

"Very well, Sasuke. However she is not Izumi's responsibility, she is your property now to train and discipline." The young boy bowed his head respectfully, he was nervous of having to care for Sakura, but he felt excitement brewing beneath the surface. He wanted to impress his mother and father, as well as his brother. He wanted to be good to Sakura too, give her a good life and make sure she would be treated well. He knew he still had a lot of growing up to do, that her training wouldn't be complete for years. In truth he wasn't sure when Izumi's training was finished, but he did know that there were days when she'd be glowing and Itachi wouldn't be able to keep his hands off her, he'd blow off his entire schedule and follow her around and watch her do her duties all day long.

A lot of times, on these days, meals were late and laundry was left undone and Izumi slept in Itachi's bedroom rather than the servant's corridors. The little Uchiha heir asked his mother one day when he was 7, why Itachi and Izumi sometimes would completely disregard their responsibilities and spend the day with one another. He knew the two belonged to one another, that Izumi was meant to serve his elder brother and in return Itachi was to take care of her and keep her in good health, though at the time he assumed that was the extent of the relationship.

"Because, Sasuke, Itachi and Izumi are very much in love," his mother had explained to him, "and sometimes, they want a day just to enjoy with each other without interruption." Sasuke had scrunched his nose up at his mother's explanation, he loved his brother yet he never would imagine a day where the two would solely spend time together, and so much time locked away. He had inquired further, only to hear his mother's tinkling laugh.

"Oh Sasuke, love comes in all kinds of ways. Itachi and Izumi love each other very differently than you and he, or you and I. And sometimes they want to express that love in private. You've studied about it, the bond between a servant and their master is a very intimate matter. There are things about their relationship you or I will never know, just as someday there will be things between you at your servant that no one else will know."

He had decided to stop asking at that point. He was still confused, yet he felt reassured that one day he would understand what his mother meant. The idea of having a close, intimate bond intrigued him. So did having someone to care for, he'd watched his parents and brother care for people his entire life. It felt like a right of passage towards becoming a man and he spent years waiting for his turn. Now that it was, he vowed he would be the best master towards his Sakura. The two had more than a lot to learn of each other and he would, he'd get to know her well so he could be a good master towards her, just as he'd expect her to know him to be a good servant.

Sasuke exited his father's study with Itachi. The two boys walked down the hall and entered the kitchen, watching the girls prepare supper. Izumi stood at the stove, cooking something that had a savory and delicious smell filling the kitchen. Sakura stood on a little blue stool, chopping up vegetables in preparation for the next day's meal. Itachi approached Izumi, greeting her softly and striking up a conversation. Typically, Sasuke would listen in to what his brother and Izumi were talking about. But today his focus was on Sakura, watching her movements and the cute concentrated look on her sweet face. Her eyes staring intently at the knife and spinach, eyebrows furrowed deeply and lips in a determined pout, she chopped away at the greens.

Then, there was red. A few drops spilled out onto the counter and Sakura began a scream. Without much thought, Sasuke grabbed the girl by her arm and rushed out of the kitchen. The sound of the knife hitting the ground faintly in the background just barely registered in his ears. Sakura cried, whimpering pathetically every couple seconds. In under a minute, Sasuke had gotten her from the kitchen into a side bathroom and sat her down on the edge of a bathtub.

"Sit." He instructed, opening a medicine cabinet behind the mirror and taking out a band aid. She nodded and sat down, still in pain from her cut.

"I-I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun... I've never used a knife before and-" She began trying to explain her mistake, but he didn't want to hear it. He pressed gauze to the injury and wrapped tape around it, holding both her hands in his own. They were such small, soft little dainty things. He kissed her finger tips. It was okay, he wasn't angry with her mistake and it was suddenly very urgent to him that she knew that. He wiped her eyes and pulled her closer to him, his hand on the back of her head.

"Don't worry, you're learning." He said, resting his forehead against hers. Her skin was warm, he found. She smiled a little at his understanding. "Don't rush through preparations, start earlier if you have a lot to do. Today you'll set the table, tomorrow you can try preparations once more." She nodded.

"Okay, Sasuke-kun. Thank you." He kissed her forehead, taking another moment to comfort her before standing up. He held her uninjured hand and took her back to the kitchen. From there he told her where they kept the silverware, plates, and glasses and had her get enough for him and his parents and brother. He then told her where everyone sat and where to put the utensils. She wasn't very quick on her feet, but she did what he asked.

"You and Izumi eat in the kitchen. Servants only eat with us on special occasions." He explained, taking her back. She once again nodded her response. Izumi came round and served his family their supper while he settled Sakura into the kitchen.

"How's your hand?"

"Much better, now..." She told him. He left with that reassurance and returned to his dinner.