Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and Kudozaki Lucine. The rest belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

Uchiha Sasuke |

"Don't. Touch. Me." Lucine growled viciously, giving me her coldest glare, "I swear I'll break your arm." It didn't seem like an empty threat this time, judging by the frigidness of her eyes.

Sighing, I decided to let go of her. "Why are you so cold to me today?"

"Why, you ask?" She repeated, and I could see the disbelief and anger in her honey eyes as she looked into mine, almost as if she couldn't fathom that I had just asked that question. "If you don't know the answer to that question, then you're an idiot." She shook her head and walked out of the kitchen, and I immediately chased after her.

I felt a tugging sensation in my chest as I watched her walk off, "Lucine, wait." I called out after her, but she didn't stop and kept ignoring my calls. Running after her, I grasped her wrist and pinned her to the wall. "Please..." I begged, moving my lips to her ear as I let my hands run down her waist sensually, "I shouldn't have been so forceful. It's just you looked so irresistible, I couldn't control myself."

She placed her hands on my chest and pushed, "Stay away." Although she kept a leveled tone of voice, the fury within her was simmering in her eyes.

Hurt by her rejection, I tried a more different approach. I hugged her to my chest, ignoring her earlier threat, I know she would never hurt me like that. "Lucine." My voice trembled as I said her name, and desperately I tightened my hold on her, nuzzling her neck to get a whiff of her scent. "Please, forgive me. I'm sorry for scaring you."

Harshly, she pushed me away, enough to make me stumble a few steps backwards. "You say you're sorry, but you don't really mean it, do you?" she snarled and pushed me again, her sudden aggression leaving me surprised, "I don't want you to touch me ever again. I hate you, Sasuke. I hate you so much."

I winced at her words and the cruel tone she used on me. My eyes widened at the hatred in her eyes, and I didn't even know what to say in that moment, she has never looked at me that way before. At that moment, it felt like she had just ripped my heart out of my chest, just to throw it on the floor and stomp on it. My hand went up to my chest, right over my heart, as I clutched my shirt tightly. She didn't spare me a second glance as she turned away and walked off.

Turning to her again, I desperately reached out for her wrist with my hand, but it was too late as she was already too far away, it was like she just slipped right through my fingers.

Seconds, minutes, hours passed as I just stood there, leaning against at the wall as I stared at the spot where she stood moments ago. "Lucine." I uttered hoarsely, that was when I realized that a few tears had rolled down my cheeks.

Sighing shakily, I decided to make my way to my room slowly, feeling horribly empty. When I was inside my room I laid down on the bed, facing the ceiling. Despite the despair coursing through my blood, my face remained blank and unfeeling.

"I hate you, Sasuke. I hate you so much."

The words coming to mind back made me close my eyes in attempt to block out the memory, but it was all in vain. It's almost like she had burned those words onto my skin. The raw emotion in her eyes and the icy tone of voice, it all wouldn't go away. Why did fate make him love someone so much if it was going to hurt like this?

Gravely needing to push those harmful thoughts away, I tried thinking of some of the happiest memories I shared with her. The happiest were usually the ones from the time when we were kids.

My sobs echoed throughout the room. I was curled into a ball in the corner of the wall, the tears just wouldn't stop. The more I tried to shake off this awful and dreadful feeling, like I was drowning, like someone was choking me and I couldn't breathe, but I just wouldn't die.

Even when I heard the door open, I didn't look up. "Sasuke." I heard Lucine's soft silvery voice call out to me, but I didn't answer as I kept crying into my arms. But Lucine kept trying, and when she called out my name again I noticed that she stood right before me. "Sasuke."

"What do you want?" I snapped, but it sounded more like a whine as my voice was hoarse from crying.

"Come to bed with me."

I frowned at the sudden request and looked up at her. There was a calm and patient look on her face. For someone who had lost her family mere days ago, she didn't look very upset. But I knew that wasn't the case. Lucine was simply trying to be strong for me, which just made it worse. She couldn't even mourn them, since I was too busy being weak. Itachi took even that from her. I wiped my tears and sniffed, "Why?" I tried to sound more gentle this time, I knew she was trying her best. She even tried to make okonomiyaki today, but she ended up burning it so we had to eat cup ramen instead. Not that it mattered, whatever I eat taste like ashes in my mouth anyway.

"Because, I will sing to you."

Normally, I would be overjoyed, as I like to her voice and she very rarely sings even when I beg her too. Her voice is soft and comforting and it makes me feel safe. The feelings reminds me of when my mother used to read my bedtime stories. The reminder of my poor, innocent mother was enough to my eyes well up with tears again and there was a lump in my throat. "Go away, Lucine-chan."

She didn't oblige. Instead she held out her hand to me, clearly expecting me to take it. My frown deepened, and even though I just stared at her, she did not lower her arm even once.

"Come on, Sasuke, my arm is getting tired". Much to my surprise, a smile formed on the corner of her lips, and the sight made my breath leave my lungs. I was afraid to even blink, feeling as if I lost sight of that smile even once it would go away. This is the second time I've seen her smile, and this time it's directed at me.

As if in a trance, I didn't notice that I was already reaching my hand out to her, I was under her spell and had lost all control of my body. Her smile widened as she grabbed my hand and helped me stand, and then guided me to my bed. We laid down, covering ourselves with the duvet. Lucine wrapped her arms around me and made me rest my head on her chest. I immediately felt at peace when I felt her warmth. I felt safe and comforted, and for a split second, it almost felt like I was in my mother's arms again.

When she started petting my hair I naturally closed my eyes and let out a quiet sigh. Hugging her tighter, I buried my face in her neck to inhale the nice scent that clung to her skin. Seconds later, I heard Lucine sing a lullaby. Her voice was soothing and soft, and it made my eyes finally give in to the mental exhaustion.

If she was trying to get me to go to sleep, it was working, because as soon she finished her song, I felt myself drift away into a deep sleep.

The last thing I felt was a gentle kiss on my cheek and her whispering, "Sweet dreams, Sasuke."

The memory was from some days after the massacre. It's been a long time since I last heard Lucine sing, and it was also the last time I saw her smile. Never will I forget her smile, the most beautiful smile I had ever seen, and nothing I've ever seen has ever compared to that.

I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach, finally realizing how much I had scared her back in the forest. I hurt her and I didn't even apologize. Of course she would hate me after something like that. I felt ashamed at my actions, remembering the way I had no regard for her feelings and just stepped over the line.

"I need to make it up to her." I decided, hoping it wasn't too late. Not wanting to waste another second, I got out off bed and ran out of the room.

Walking down the hallway, I noticed how dark it was outside, so it must have been in the middle of the night. She was most certainly sleeping, but right now that didn't matter. I had to right the damage I had done.

When I got to her room, I took a deep breath and opened the door slowly. As I stepped inside, I looked around. The only source of light was the moonlight that was shining through the window. Lucine laid in her bed with her back to me. Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward.

|Kudozaki Lucine

Hearing the door open behind me, I already knew it was Sasuke. He actually came.

"Lucine." I heard him call out carefully, his voice was hoarse, which let me know he had been crying. Hadn't I been so angry at him, I'd almost feel guilty. He has always been a crybaby.

I heard his footsteps coming closer to the bed, until I felt his presence right behind me. "Are you awake?"

"No." I said in annoyance, but genuinely curious as to what he had come to say.

He sighed shakily. "I need to say something." Not feeling the need to say anything in return, I kept my silence and decided to wait. "Please just listen." I still didn't say anything, which he probably took as a sign to continue. "What happened earlier... I'm truly sorry. I really am. I hurt and scared you, and I shouldn't have done that." I felt him fidget nervously at my silence, as I remained quiet even after his heartfelt apology. "Do you forgive me?" he asked after a few moments of silence, the desperation seeping through, he sounded like he was on the brink of tears again.

Honestly, I'm surprised that he's actually apologizing. He even sounds genuine.

"Do you forgive me?" He repeated again, sounding like he was about to lose it. I frowned, almost in pity. He's so pathetic, I thought, but couldn't deny the warm feeling in my chest, slightly touched at his apology.

I switched sides, now facing him. He was on his knees, looking directly in my eyes, and I looked right back indifferently. Maybe, just maybe the old Sasuke is still there, somewhere, buried deep inside. Knowing that I had already forgiven him, even before his apology, I felt a bit angry at myself. It seems that I simply can't say no to him, no matter how much of horrible of a person he can be. Maybe if I had been just a bit more harsh with him from the beginning, maybe then the old Sasuke would come back, maybe he wouldn't have turned into this in the first place.

I closed my eyes and moved backwards to the other side of the bed, so that there was more space next to me. It was quiet for a while, and I understood that he hadn't figured out what I was signalizing. Sighing, I closed my eyes and moved the duvet so he could get in beside me. I didn't open my eyes to see his reaction, mostly out of pride, but I suspected he was probably surprised by the action.

It took him some seconds before he got in, which he did rather eagerly, and once he was tucked in beside me, it got quiet again. I opened one eye to look at him, and saw him already looking at me, a fascinated, almost dazed look in his eye. Closing my eyes again, I turned my back to him again, waiting for him to break out of his stupor.

It didn't take long after that before his arms hesitantly wrapped around my waist, he did it so carefully it was as if he was afraid to touch me.

"Just this once." I allowed, which made him tighten his hold on me and now press his back against my chest. I heard him let out a content sigh, his breath tickling the side of my neck.

"Sweet dreams." I murmured under my breath, soon going back to a deep sleep, his hold remaining firmly around me for the rest of the night.