Author's Note: I thought of deleting this story. Because honestly, I don't want to write a creepy story. But then I thought it over and over. There is only one person that gave me that review. I can't please everyone. With that in mind, I think I can accept that kind of review as a different point of view and try to find the positives instead of feeling down and think about discontinuing. I thank you for those who want this to continue.

Though with the author note I had posted before, I had thought more people would say that this was creepy. But none say so. So, without you guys, I think chapter 3 will not be posted. I really, really sincerely thank all of you, even you who feel that this story is not up to your standard.

Thank you. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 3: Good Night

A few days went by and Shisui felt his attempts were unsuccessful.

The more he interacted with her, the more odd Sakura's behavior (her classmates, too) looked to him; often automatically making him cringe inside. However, he paid more attention to treat her nicely by saying what would benefited her, like; "Girls your age should eat as much as they can to look good in the future" because she went on a no rice diet for the majority girls in her class did so to impress either Sasuke or another boy they were after.

Sakura was Eight, she wasn't supposed to be a self-conscious girl at that age. He often said to her; 'your 'love' toward Sasuke hindered your growth as a kunoichi' and the like. However, 'please just focus on your duty as an academy student' was more common.

He didn't know how he always automatically criticize her, but he said what he thought was best for her. It was different when he was with Itachi because he was forced to interact with her. With Itachi, he was natural and his emotions were free. When he was with Sakura... he was as harsh as he was with Itachi, but more so because the girl actually missing some common sense in his opinion.

Shisui felt that the girl needed it. Her parents were strangely negligent with her emotional developments, they were only concerned when something that can be seen showed up, so he felt he had to step up like he did with Itachi who had a dense father and a busy mother.

He knew Sakura didn't like it. Even so, he would not stop for he felt that it was necessary.

But then one day, Sakura herself decided that enough was enough.

Even if Shisui said to her that crushes at her age were bad and that it was wrong to have one, Sakura thought that it was him that was in the wrong. A plenty of girls in her class had one or two boys they liked, and that was the proof that Shisui was wrong; because it can't be wrong when so many people her age had it.

Although Sakura knew Sasuke-kun didn't know her and she almost knew nothing about him, she felt that her feelings were true love... or maybe it was respect and admiration of Sasuke-kun's skills (Shisui had once said that it was not 'love' and had said that it was admiration or respect), but Sakura knew she liked Sasuke-kun.

But not adults stuff like in the books (she once read her father's secret stash of confusing books and she found that she didn't like Sasuke-kun like the heroine liked the hero, she didn't want to undress him after all).

"Kids your age should train, not following their crushes around." A passing comment from Shisui who spotted Sakura, who unconsciously started following Sasuke after the academy was over. Every day he would comment something like that, trying to convince her that having a crush is a bad news whenever she did or said something about Sasuke.

Honestly, it was getting irritating and also annoying. Sakura couldn't tolerate it anymore this time, so she retaliated instead of letting the older boy speak his mind.

"What's wrong with me following him?" She stood there behind the bushes where she could spot Sasuke, who was on his way back home, easily. "I wouldn't follow him back to his house, I couldn't even if I wanted to!" Because it's in the Uchiha district where outsiders can't enter easily.

"It's a crime that would make the," Shisui let out a pained cough, "Police Force arrest you if you're not an academy student." Shisui folded his arms in front of his chest, trying to erase the thoughts about his clan. "Just focus to study and train hard to become a good kunoichi. You're not at the age to 'love' someone else other than your own family."

Sakura clenched her fists. "Who are you to say that to me?" She took a deep breath. "I don't have a bad intention nor do I neglecting my studies." She closed her eyes and opened them a second later.

"Fine. Say what you want, Shisui-san," then she stared up directly at the ghost that kept bothering her without her consent, "but please, shut up about me liking him. I like him. I can like whoever I want," she declared, hotly, her hands on her hips, "and it's my feelings. You're not me, so you don't know how I feel."

Shisui raised his eyebrows at the oddly mature way Sakura was speaking. "I saw that you read too many books about romance. You might have deluded yourself, thinking that being in love is great and because Sasuke is the number one popular boy in your class-"

Sakura bit back a growl and turned her back away from him. "Please shut up, Shisui-san." Sakura's voice was breaking. She wiped the frustrated tears that escaped her eyelids and muttered, "How can you say that... that I... I like Sasuke-kun because of those reasons...?"

Although he wanted to continue, Shisui held back and kept silent the entire way to Sakura's home (Sakura had forgotten about following Sasuke to the Uchiha district's entrance already). He felt that he went too far when he heard her crying silently.

He felt like a bully now.

For almost a week, he didn't talk with Sakura.

When he mulled it over, he was starting to think that Sakura was right. He went overboard trying to control her, didn't he? Because what he witnessed with Sakura was something new, something so foreign that he never experienced himself. He only knew it from... the books he read and the people he observed.

In that way, he and Sakura were alike. Books. Back then when Masato died, he started to use books as his guide to life. To a life where Sarutobi Masato, his best friend, was no more to guide him.

That was why when he met Itachi, who had almost the same problem as him, he had instantly taken a liking of him. Itachi was one who had tried his best at life, who hadn't given up at the first opportunity because he was too brilliant for his age and adults couldn't understand him. In his opinion, Itachi was simply different than normal... almost like him, but different. He kind of relates to Itachi because of that.

Like Itachi, Shisui was often called 'brilliant' or 'talented' or 'once in a generation'. That was why the clan held a high expectation when he graduated the academy at 5, a remarkably young age. Much like Hatake Kakashi, he was regarded as one of the youngest students to graduate.

"Sakura," he began, "I'm sorry."

"Following Sasuke around doesn't benefit either you nor Sasuke. I had thought that it rendered you incapable of studying seriously and... your thinking capability, to be honest. That's why I didn't like it," he said, gently, as he plopped down beside a sulking Sakura. "Moreover, he's my close family; for that reason, I don't like it when you said that you liked him while almost never personally interacted with him and knowing almost nothing about him."

He let his hand touch the girl's shoulder, not minding the burning feeling he feels whenever he touches her. "Liking someone is a wonderful thing, I admit, and no one should ever judge you for that. But, it is a great deal when you are declaring that without even having one real conversation with him. I would like it if you talk to him first. As a friend, you know? You will be 9 next year, right? There's no hurry to be mature in the matter of love."

Sakura nodded, her head down, not wanting to meet his eyes. It was a surprise for her that Shisui apologized and admitting being Sasuke's family. While she knew that he was an Uchiha, judging by the clan symbol on his back, he never once mentioned that he was familiar with Sasuke.

"Okay, Shisui-san." Sakura nodded and wiped the escaping tears away. She was upset and a bit of afraid that Shisui would be mad with her outburst. She was relieved when he apologized and she also understood where he was coming from. "Thank you."

One month went by after he apologized to Sakura for being insensitive. Shisui was strolling the village's streets, without even thinking, because he didn't need to think about it, following Sakura who was on her way to the academy.

Accidentally, he overheard two men talking, although hushed, he still could hear it clearly.

"I want to kill this guy."

"He's too strong for you. After all, not everyone could kill the Uchiha in one night without anyone noticing."

"Like kamaitachi; he's bringing bad luck to his own clan. His parents shouldn't have had named him Itachi."

"... shhh, don't say his name out loud."

"Just saying his name wouldn't kill, you know."

He was reminded that his clan was no more. His negativity was back with full force.

He remembered the moment when he arrived in this world as a ghost. He had appeared in the Uchiha district, bared with no life. He had speculated that it was Danzō who had done it, but... to think that these people saying it was Itachi.

There was no way.

His rage towards Danzō was multiplied, and it extended to Sandaime and his teammates who did nothing to stop that madman from threatening Itachi.

He could picture it. Itachi was being forced by that rat Danzō to massacre the clan.

Damn it. I'm sorry, Itachi. I'm really sorry.

Sakura could feel the slightly chilling air that Shisui exuded, so she stopped skipping on her toes and glanced on and off to her follower's direction. She knew if she spoke to him in public, nothing good would happen, so she opted to watch him.

She let her gaze wander to the old lady sitting at the tea shop nearby.

There was a guy with silver hair talking to that lady. Something about him made her curious so she squinted.

A brown haired girl, around 4 years or so older than her, was following the guy around. And she was transparent.

Sakura shook her head, not wanting to confirm it. One ghost was enough for her.

Itachi.

It was not Danzō.

His clan was wiped out by the very person he had sworn off to not ever betray, although Itachi was forced to do it.

Shisui clenched his fists tightly, as he struggled to comprehend it.

He was standing at the corridor near Sakura's bedroom because he didn't want to be outside watching the moon.

He was here thinking about his situation, not caring how cold he sounded when he brushed off Sakura earlier.

He needed to vent but he was intangible.

And so Shisui meditated to clear his mind, something he rarely does unless he felt it was necessary.

Today's homework was given by Mizuki-sensei who liked to give difficult problems that sometimes were not even taught yet. Unlike last time, Sakura considered herself lucky because she had a senior shinobi that only she can communicate with.

"Shisui-san, can you help with my―"

With his back turned, Shisui bit out, "Don't talk to me right now."

Sakura hugged herself as chilling winds around her made her cold.

"Shisui-san―"

He was gone in a blink of an eye. Sakura stood there, frozen. She didn't know he could do that.

"... what happened?"

Sakura let her eyes glide to the direction of her room's door. Shisui was outside since afternoon and her room was cold even with the heater turned on, likely because Shisui was behind that door, upset or something.

Suddenly the chilly air disappeared, and Sakura was greeted with the sight of Shisui walking through her room's door.

"There's something I want to talk about tomorrow." Shisui's eyes were concealed by his unruly bangs. "Good night."

Sakura's train of thoughts stopped the moment she heard that. A relieved smile formed on her face as she eyed Shisui's leaving form.

"Good night, Shisui-san."