Chapter 44 – Itachi's Chapter (Part 6)

No matter where I went I could not find Sakura. She was not at Ino's, Hinata's, Naruto's or Kakashi's. I looked at the church, high school and even her old dojo just in case. I checked my apartment but she was not there either. I began showing her picture around to see if anyone had seen her. No one did. I did not know where to go. She had nowhere else to go. Then I remembered the park. I walked in the empty park looking for her.

I saw her. She was on a bench crying. I came close but she did not see me. I stepped a bit closer but stopped when I saw someone coming out of the shadows. I stepped away when I saw it was Sasuke. He must have snuck out of the house.

"Sakura," His voice was low. She looked up at him.

"Sasuke-kun?" She wiped some of her tears away, "Why are you here?"

"Itachi has been looking for you for hours and still hadn't found you. I came to get you to take you home," He held out his hand. She shook her head. He put his hand back into his pocket.

"You're so annoying," He sighed.

"Why do you always say that?" She started crying again. He took her chin and made her look up at him.

"Because you are. No matter where I go you're always there even if it's just in my head. No matter what I say you always seem to do what I don't want you to do. You say you love me when you shouldn't. You make me angry when you're with other guys. I do not like how you make feel at all. It is so annoying and that is why you are annoying and why I don't like you at all."

"Because I make you feel like that?"

"Yes."

Sasuke was being surprisingly open with his feelings.

"I kissed you because I was so aggravated with you. I just kissed you. I did not mean for you to think it meant anything. I do not want to lead you on. It was just a form of relieving the aggravation like punching a dummy."

"Kissing me was like punching a dummy?"

"Yeah."

She laughed.

"Sasuke-kun, have you ever have the slightest inclination that you might actually like me back?"

Sasuke blushed.

"I mean, that's how I feel about you. You're always in my head. You never do what I want since you're always with others and not me. It is super annoying but that is what it is like when you like someone sometimes. Sometimes I get so aggravated with you that I want to punch you or kiss you. I don't do either though. And sometimes I don't like you at all because of the way you make me feel but I still love you. So think about it, Sasuke-kun. Do you even think you might like me?"

"I don't want to like you," He answered.

"Why not?"

"Because….we're too different."

"Too different?"

"You're so carefree, naïve, loud, open about how you feel and you're too persistent. I'm not. We're opposites."

"Opposites attract, Sasuke-kun. Yin-yang."

He shook his head.

"Just come home."

"Sasuke-kun, kiss me."

"What?"

"Kiss me. If you feel nothing more than stress released from it then I'll give up on you."

No, Sakura! Don't give up on Sasuke!

"I'll come home with you and I'll act nothing more than a sister at the most. Deal?" She put her hand out for a handshake. He looked her over. I want to burst out and yell at them not to go that. She could not give up him!

"Okay," Sasuke shook her hand.

He leaned down and touched her cheek so he could get it right. I wanted to stop them but I also wanted to see them kiss. His lips pressed against hers. They remained like that for a few moments before he finally pulled away. She looked up at him and he looked down at her.

"So?" Her voice was so full of hope. My own heart was swelling up with hope.

"Nothing. I didn't feel anything." He had to be lying!

"Okay," I could tell she was as disappointed as I was.

"Let's go now," Sasuke waved for her to follow him.

"Okay," She stood up and followed him. I began to follow them from a distance so they couldn't see me. I made sure not to go into the house till it had been at least five minutes.

"I couldn't find Sakura," I informed Mikoto.

"Sasuke snuck out and found her," She told me.

"Oh?"

"She went straight up to bed as did Sasuke."

"Okay. I think I'll stay here tonight, if that's okay."

"That's fine," She smiled. I went up the stairs to Saskura's room. I knocked gently.

"Who is it?" She asked.

"Itachi."

"Come in," She sighed. I entered and shut the door.

"Itachi, I'm sorry you went everywhere to fine me," She apologized.

"It's okay," I took a seat beside her on the bed. We sat in silence.

"Itachi, you didn't love me?" She suddenly remembered the night's earlier conversation.

"I love as a sister. I only wanted to help you both. I'm sorry," I apologized again. She sighed.

"I forgive you, Itachi-nii-san," She offered a little smile. My heart warmed with the sound of the affectionate "nii-san" returning to my name.

"I want to be honest with you," I said.

"About?"

"I did find you tonight."

"You did?"

"Yes, but I didn't approach you because Sasuke came. I listened and saw everything. I don't want you to give up on Sasuke," I told her. Tears started welling up in her eyes.

"I don't either. But a promise is a promise," She sniffled.

"But love is-"

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I know what love is, Itachi-nii-san. I will always love Sasuke-kun but I have to not act on it anymore. Oh, it hurts so much," She began to cry. I took her into my arms. I let her cry into my chest till she fell asleep. Why did Sasuke have to be so…Sasuke?

I stayed the night in Sakura's room. When morning came, I left. When all the Uchihas came down to breakfast, the air was thick with tension. We all kept silent even Mikoto. Then Sakura came down the stairs. She looked fine. She looked better than fine. She didn't look like she had cried for hours. She looked happy. She took a seat next to me.

"Good morning," She greeted us all.

"Good morning?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You seem very chipper this morning," Mikoto said.

"Yes. I am sorry for running off last night. It was very immature of me. Please forgive me."

"All's forgiven," Mikoto smiled.

"Good. I am so grateful for everything you all do. Oji-san and Oba-san, thank you for allowing me to stay here and treating me like a daughter. Itachi-nii-san, thank you for being my big brother. Sasuke-kun, thank you for being my friend. But I think I'm old enough now to stay at home alone. I mean I am seventeen and it is just next door. I already called my parents this morning and they said it was fine. So, I guess this will be my last breakfast here. Thank you so much for everything."

"You can't leave!" Mikoto screeched.

"Oba-san, it will be for the best," She touched my mother's hand.

"But-"

"I think she is right, Mikoto," Fugaku gave Mikoto the look.

"Thank you, Oji-san. I will my things from here tonight when I get back from work."

Mikoto frowned. She remained silent the rest of the morning meal. Sakura ate very quickly and dismissed herself before the rest of us finished. It was so weird.

"This is your fault!" Mikoto yelled at Sasuke.

"My fault?" Sasuke sneered.

"Leave him alone, Mikoto. It's Sakura's decision," Fugaku stared her down. She huffed then left the table. It was about to get very different around here.