So, with nothing to do in the summertime, I will type. Lah. Here we go again!

Disclaimer: I don't have anything witty or original to write here. If I did, maybe I would own Naruto. Not.

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Sakura woke in an empty room, the sunlight streaming brightly through the lace curtains and casting shadows in the floor. But something was missing; she'd already gotten used to Itachi's presence in her room.

She quietly followed the maid down to the dining hall and sat listlessly at the table before her mother and father.

"Daughter, do you feel well today?" her mother asked worriedly as she watched Sakura wave away the maid who tried to place toast before her. "Eat some food, dear."

"I am fine, mother," she replied softly. She relented and accepted the food, taking a piece of toast between two fingers and crumbling it. Abruptly, she rose and swept the crumbs off of her dress – today she wore an elegant gown of severe grey. "I need to take a walk to clear my head."

"Take care, daughter," her father said gravely. "Perhaps visit your friend the countess."

"Soon to be marchioness," Sakura reminded him. "She and Lord Neji will be married soon."

Nodding his agreement, her father shooed her out the door.

The sky was azure and only blemished by a few white clouds, reflecting the complete opposite of the turmoil which raged within her heart.

"Sakura!" Tenten cried as the maid answered the door. "Come in!"

"Hello, Lady Sakura," Neji greeted her solemnly. "Tenten has told me everything, and no words can express my sorrow."

"It does not matter," Sakura replied softly. "I have spoken with the older Lord Uchiha, and I predict that I shall not see much of Sasuke after this. Just Sakura, please."

Neji's creamy eyes widened. "You spoke with Itachi?" he demanded. "Lady – " at her glare he amended, "Sakura, as your friend I advise against speaking to him. He is a rogue of the worst kind."

"I know," she nodded. "He has agreed not to mention me to Sasuke. Once his rival is gone, we shall see Sasuke's true intentions."

"On a different note," Tenten cut in, "have you eaten anything? No? Then Neji and I must show you a wonderful place for a picnic! I had one of the cooks prepare sandwiches and fruit. Come, let us go!"

Gaily she snatched Sakura's hand and tugged her outside, leaving Neji to take the basket and follow them out.

Surprisingly, the secret picnic location was deep within the public gardens, where large, leafy bushes hid them from view of the other people strolling through the paths.

"This is beautiful!" Sakura exclaimed in wonder, looking about her at the tiny stream that ran beside where they sat.

"It is," Tenten agreed, beginning to unpack their food. "Would you like butter, or would you like meat?"

"I would like meat, please," Sakura requested. She fell silent as footsteps approached, accompanied by a high-pitched giggle.

"Oh, Sasuke, it is so nice to be walking with you on this fine day," a female voice sighed.

A chuckle. "Of course, Karin. Won't you come walking with me again tomorrow?"

Tenten glanced sharply at Sakura, who had paled to an ashen grey. Neji shook his head and placed a finger to his lips.

"Will that Haruno girl not be angry when you escort me instead of her? I thought you were courting her." Karin's voice dripped malice and contempt.

Sasuke paused. "I have said nothing to anyone about courting her," he said calmly. "My brother seems to have lost interest in her. The game is over; I can only assume that I've won."

"Let us go to my house, then, to celebrate!" Karin exclaimed happily. "We can spend all the time we like here tomorrow, and my husband is out today."

"Of course," Sasuke agreed courteously. "Lead the way, my lady." Slowly, Karin's giggling faded into the distance.

Tenten, whose skin had taken on a cadaverous pallour, looked at Sakura. The brunette's fists shook with rage. "That – "

"Tenten," Neji warned. His fiancée fell silent but glowered in the direction of the absent couple.

Sakura sighed softly. "It does not matter now. I can go on with my life without worrying that I am a pawn in some game."

"It seems a high price to pay," Tenten said worriedly.

"And what am I to do, then?" Sakura countered calmly. "If I attempt to take revenge, I will only draw attention back to myself."

"Sakura has a good point," Neji murmured. "Now, perhaps we should divert our attention back to the food."

"Certainly," Sakura laughed gaily, completely reverting back to the joyful young woman she had been before. Tenten wondered at her sudden change in mood but said nothing at a cautionary glance from Neji.

"It grows late," Neji said at last, once the sandwiches had been devoured with enthusiasm. "Tenten and I shall walk you to your home."

"Thank you!" Sakura answered cheerfully. "I hope that we will be able to do this again someday."

"Of course we will!" Tenten exclaimed, standing up and pulling Sakura with her. "Come; your parents will be worried for you."

"Thank you," Sakura said again, this time in a very different tone. "For everything."

"We are glad to stand by you," Neji replied, raising a hand and awkwardly patting hers. "My cousin, Lady Hinata, also seems pleased by what she has been told of you. I think you can count on her to at least consider assisting you, should you require it."

Observing the ground as they walked, Tenten spoke quietly. "You know we'll stay by your side no matter what, Sakura."

Sakura nodded, speechless with gratitude, and waved goodbye as she slipped into the house.

"Daughter," her father greeted her as she entered. "You will accompany your mother and me to a party being hosted by a friend of ours."

"Your gown has been laid out on your bed, lady," one of the maids chimed in. "If you require assistance, call for one of us."

Sakura nodded silently and climbed the stairs. As she approached the deep emerald dress on her bed, a dulcet voice spoke up.

"Before you begin to undress, I believe I should announce my presence. After all, I am no saint."

She whirled, beryl eyes flying wide open. "Itachi! What are you doing here?!"

"I have said nothing to Sasuke about you, but I did not promise to stop visiting you," he elucidated calmly. "And I have no intentions of leaving you alone."

"I see… Well, if you will turn around, I need to change my clothing."

"Certainly." He complied courteously. "Tell me: Did you truly believe that I would stop visiting you because of my brother?"

"Yes, I did," she replied bluntly. "Can you help me tie this?" He spun, and she gestured toward the velvet tie at the back of her dress.

Deftly tying it into an elegant bow, he leaned down and breathed, "If you truly believed that, you are naïve."

She pulled away and scowled. "Will you stop doing that?" she hissed fiercely. "It makes me feel strange."

He merely smirked at her unwilling revelation. "Your parents will be waiting for you," he told her. Unexpectedly, he kissed her soundly on the lips and disappeared, leaving her standing there dazedly in her room.

Sakura was strangely silent throughout the carriage ride. She only awoke from her trancelike state when her father spoke.

"Where is that young man who is courting you, daughter?"

He watched in worry as her lips compressed into a straight line. "He is not courting me, father."

"What?!" he roared, his face colouring in rage.

"He said nothing about courting me, if you will recall," she said quietly. "I do not think he will come by any more." She did not elaborate.

With that enigmatic reply, she turned and stared outside, leaving her father to fume on her behalf.

"Daughter?" her mother ventured tentatively. Sakura faced her, a silent inquiry in her eyes. "Has… erm… Did Lord Uchiha…"

Sakura's brow furrowed as she caught her mother's meaning. "He kissed me farewell once, but nothing else happened," she murmured.

She blushed as her mother heaved a sigh of relief, thinking of Itachi, and everything he had done. She decided that perhaps it would not harm her to keep that from her mother.

"Master, mistress, my lady," a servant bowed as he opened the carriage door. "My master awaits you."

The Haruno matriarch swept past him grandly. "Ah, there is the marquess himself!" she exclaimed.

Her husband stepped out of the carriage behind her. "Indeed, my dear. How are you, Kabuto, my friend?" He slapped the white-haired man on the back so hard that his spectacles almost fell off.

Readjusting his glasses, Kabuto straightened up. "It is so nice to see you again, my dear Lord Haruno," he said smoothly, flashing a charming smile in Sakura's direction. "Who is this beautiful young lady?"

"This is my daughter!" the earl replied cheerfully, pushing Sakura forward.

She dipped a polite curtsy, keeping her jade gaze on the ground. "It is nice to meet you, my lord," she murmured demurely.

A finger under her chin prompted her to look up. Kabuto met her eyes through his glasses. "And what is your name, little one?"

At the name, she froze. "S-Sakura, lord," she stammered, her mind flying to the face of another.

She was abruptly jerked back to the present as Kabuto spoke again. "A beautiful name to fit a lovely face," he smiled. "I must greet one more guest, but I shall find you afterwards. Go inside and I will be there shortly."

Her father chuckled, ushering his daughter and wife inside. "All right, then, Kabuto." To his family, he said, "Let us find a place at the table."

A silvery glint of familiar eyes caught Sakura's attention, and without warning she spun. To her slight disappointment, the shimmering quicksilver eyes belonged not to Neji but to a young lady with pale violet hair.

She looked up. "Would you like to sit here?" she asked politely in a voice so timid that Sakura had to strain to hear her. Her eyes traveled across Sakura's face and to her hair; her face lit up in recognition. "Yes, you should sit here."

"Thank you," Sakura's mother said as she and her husband sat. The young woman touched Sakura's sleeve, tugging her gently into the seat beside her.

"It is nothing," she replied quietly. Turning back to Sakura, she examined the pink-haired girl closely. Sakura suppressed a shudder at her disconcerting gaze. "My cousin speaks highly of you, Lady Sakura."

Realization hit Sakura, who inhaled sharply. "Neji's cousin? Then you must be Lady Hinata!" she exclaimed, keeping her voice low.

Lady Hinata nodded serenely. "I am. I – "

"Hinata!" an audacious voice called. A young man with cerulean eyes and blond hair settled into the seat at Lady Hinata's right. He paused. "Oh, I apologize. Am I interrupting?"

Lady Hinata frowned lightly. "Indeed you are. Lady Sakura, this is Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto, Lady Sakura Haruno."

"Just Sakura, please," Sakura interjected.

The blonde grinned sheepishly. "I didn't mean to interrupt, Hinata, honest! You can call me Naruto."

"I wonder," Sakura hesitated delicately, "what Neji has told you of me, Lady Hinata?"

She smiled shyly. "You may call me Hinata, Lady Sakura," she murmured.

"Only if you call me Sakura," Sakura replied, returning the expression.

Hinata nodded in satisfaction. "Very well, then. I have not been informed of the complete details – Neji would never even think of betraying your trust! – but I have managed to glean the gist of your predicament from what he has mistakenly let slip. I convey my condolences." Her eyes, so expressive when lifted from the floor, shone with unspoken sorrow and compassion.

Sakura bowed her head, closing her eyes briefly. "Thank you," she whispered. "Neji and you are too kind to me."

"Lady Sakura!" Kabuto called genially, sliding easily into the seat beside her. She looked up, startled, seeing Hinata's slight frown deepen.

"My lord Kabuto," she returned demurely. Her eyes widened when he began to place food on her plate.

"Eat something, my dear lady," he told her gently.

"Oh, no – " she tried to demur, but he waved away her protests with nonchalance.

"Come; I will be offended if you do not eat," he said jauntily.

Grimacing to herself, Sakura took a few polite bites before declaring herself satiated. Glancing around, she saw Hinata incline her head in a tiny gesture of approval.

Finally Kabuto turned his attention to the mauve-haired lady on Sakura's other side. "Lady Hinata," he acknowledged her with a stiff nod. "I was expecting the duke."

Mercurial eyes hardened fractionally, and a low growl rumbled forth from Naruto's chest. "My father regrets that he could not make it tonight," Hinata said coolly. "He sent me in his place; I hope I am an adequate replacement."

"I see," Kabuto nodded curtly. "Send His Grace my regards. If you and Lady Sakura will excuse me, I must see to my other guests." With an adulatory kiss to Sakura's hand, he disappeared among the throng of people.

"I abhor people who fawn over others for no reason," Naruto remarked with tangible loathing in Kabuto's general direction. "And those who judge people by gossip and rumours." His azure eyes had darkened in anger to mazarine, and Hinata placed a delicate hand over his shaking fists.

"Please, Naruto…" she murmured in a luculent voice; and though it could barely be heard over the babble, Sakura knew it could become the lucid sound of a ringing bell, commanding attention and respect when needed.

"Alright, Hinata," Naruto sighed reluctantly. "I'll calm down, but only for you." The caustic spark in his eyes did not dim as the night passed.

Hinata flashed him a fond smile and looked to Sakura. "You have found a way to discourage your false suitor?"

"Who, Lord Sasuke?" Sakura asked. Naruto's head flew up suddenly, and she accidentally drew the knife across her finger. As blood welled up in the shallow cut, she waved the apologetic blonde away and sucked on her finger, tasting the cupreous liquid on her tongue.

"Yes," Hinata confirmed, creamy eyes flickering toward Sakura's parents to ensure that they did not overhear the conversation.

Sakura pulled her wounded appendage from her mouth. "I have asked the marquess to refrain from mentioning me in front of Sasuke," she told Hinata quietly. "Without a reason to pursue me, he has turned his attentions back to the viscountess Karin."

Hinata raised a delicate eyebrow. "You have seen him with her, then?"

As Sakura folded her hands primly in her lap, the lord beside Naruto knocked over a plate of grapes. Naruto ducked under the table to retrieve the silver dish as Sakura replied, "I was having dinner with Tenten and Neji in the public gardens, and they walked past us without noticing us. We couldn't exactly miss Karin's voice."

The Hyuuga heiress allowed herself a small, sardonic smile. "Yes," she agreed. "The viscountess does have a distinct voice."

"You have been too kind to me," Sakura said as Naruto surfaced again, clutching the plate at last.

Hinata's smile softened into something more genuine as she looked at the downcast young woman beside her. "Things will work out in the end," she said soothingly. "You have the Hyuuga – and, it would seem, the older Lord Uchiha – on your side. Someday the younger will regret his callous actions."

Naruto frowned and opened his mouth to say something, but his actions went unnoticed, for Lord Haruno had stood and offered his arm to his lady.

"Sakura, we are leaving," he intoned. "Your mother does not feel well." Indeed, her mother's face was pallid and drawn.

Startled, Sakura stood. "Of course, father!" she exclaimed.

"Ah, how dedicated a daughter you are, Lady Sakura," Kabuto's oily voice purred into her ear. He had materialized out of nowhere.

She curtsied to him politely, keeping her gaze on the floor. "Farewell, my lord." Without waiting for a response, she turned to clasp Hinata's hand. "It was nice to meet you, Hinata, Naruto. May we meet again."

"We shall," Hinata nodded, deep violet tresses falling forward over her shoulders to shield her face.

"Goodbye, Sakura!" Naruto told her energetically.

"Lady Sakura," Kabuto began, but Hinata cut him off quickly.

"Your parents are leaving," she pointed out suddenly. Kabuto's attention was momentarily diverted.

Sakura shot Hinata a grateful look for her subtle avoidance of Kabuto's speech and took advantage of the distraction to flee the hall. Kabuto's glasses shimmered eerily.

In the carriage, Sakura's mother seemed to have recovered a little. "It must have been something I ate," she brushed it off. "So, daughter. What did you think of the marquess? He seemed bewitched by you."

Sakura's eyes fluttered closed. "He was kind," she mumbled, rubbing her eyelids sleepily. "I'm so tired…"

She had just enough energy to make it back upstairs and undress for bed. The maid took the navy gown away and turned out the lights.

"Itachi, I know you're there," she murmured into the darkness. A chuckle, and someone sat on the edge of her bed, stroking her head in calming motions.

"Hello, little one," he said in his dulcet voice. "You look half-asleep."

"More than half," she replied from beneath her covers. "Sing me to sleep?"

"I do not sing," he told her with mock injured dignity.

She laughed softly, opening verdant eyes to peer up at him. "Of course not," she murmured sleepily. "How will I get to sleep now?"

"Look into my eyes," Itachi told her. She obeyed meekly, and his eyes flashed carmine.

The last thing she saw was his thin lips curling upwards into a tender smirk before the oblivion called sleep overtook her. She never felt the light kiss that fell upon unmoving lips.

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Dun dun dun… Kabuto and his shimmering glasses… By the way, I've had so many reviews that I'm basically crying with gratitude. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It's time to go to bed now, so I'll see you guys later.