Itachi stared at his mother in horror. "I haven't even trained her in the Uchiha ways." He said, trying to earn the pinket some time with them.

Mikoto stared at him. A smile brushing her lips for all but a moment. "Then you will accompany her for 3 months, I cannot allow her to stay here." She said, her eyes straying to the windows.

Mikoto was smarter then she appeared and often caught the haunted look Sakura held deep in her eyes when in the same room as Fugaku.

Itachi bowed and exited the room silently, Mikoto knew this decision would make her son's mad and she was willing to accent the feelings.

Sakura sat in her room; it had been hers for so little a time. A bag sat in front of her she had packed only a few spare changes of clothing and all the rest was medical supplies she was required to bring along with weapons.

She walked over to the door and removed the Jo. She had gotten into the habit of placing it there when she wanted to be alone.

Sasuke came in and sat next to her his face stoic he wasn't the least bit happy that she was leaving, and it further angered him that Itachi was going and he was expected to stay home.

Sakura took his hand and walked him over to her closet she stopped briefly and smiled, remembering all the times she had won hide and seek in her attic.

Sasuke looked at her as her hand, grasping his, disappeared into the shadows. The rest of him followed behind. He heard a muffled clang and soon the two of them were heading up a set of stairs.

Sakura pushed a door up over her head and Sasuke heard it hit the floor that sound, too was muffled.

Sasuke cleared the stairs and gasped, Pink, Red, Blue, and Green Chakra threaded the walls and when Sasuke touched it softly it flowed into his body like a storm calming him and at the same time he was filled to the brim with energy.

Sakura smiled at the pleased look on his face. "There is only one reason I kept this together for as long as I have." She said taking him to the brightest corner of the attic. She kneeled in front of him and revealed to him, a garden.

This garden isn't what you would usually find in the 'Better Homes and Gardens' magazines.

Every flower seemed to resemble a friend, the bright neon orange one had 6 black filaments stretched out from either side of the flower and the heart of it was a startling cyan blue. A alienated version of a Tiger lily.

Another was a beautiful velvet blue 2 silver filaments were twisted into a heart above the flower starting from the middle of the flower which was a soft lavender. A distinctive Iris.

There were only three flowers remaining two resembling a Casablanca Lily ones petals were black and the filaments swirled around the like a pin-wheel. The middle was crimson red. Its sibling was quite the opposite the petals were the crimson red, the filaments folded themselves into the middle and the middle itself was onyx.

The last one was a hybrid Valentine Flower, the many crazy filaments were pink at the tips and twisted in every direction the pedals themselves were pink threaded with green veins the middle was a soothing mint green.

Sakura smiled and stroked each flower in turn, as her soft hands caressed the black Lily Sasuke shuddered as an electrical tingle went up his back.

"Naruto and Hinata both grow one of these on their window sills." Sakura said stroking the pink flower.

"If I never left my room, it was because of this." She said quietly. Sakura leaned forward and brushed the orange petals up-ward. "What Sakura?" a sleepy Naruto voice came from the heart of the plant. Sasuke drew a kunai and stared at the plant.

"I just wanted to show Sasuke the point of my flowers." Sakura said softly, she softly tugged one of pedals and Naruto groaned. "Stop pulling my hair." He said and went silent, no doubt passing out on the floor.

Sasuke watched her unearth the pink flower, she pulled a ceramic pot from the ledge on the lowest level, she replanted it and handed it to Sasuke.

Sakura softly placed a hand on his cheek. She slid it down and to the back of his neck, she brought her face closer to his and whispered "Please, take care of my garden." The words seemed so sincere and thick with tears.

She smiled and laid her head on his chest pressing a soft kiss on his jugular. Sasuke froze and wrapped his arms around her, he was a good 9 inches taller then her. Sakura laughed softly and pulled away, she moved Sasuke's hands away, her hair had brushed against the blossom in his hands and had in return tickled her.

Sasuke smirked and brought the blossom to his lips and kissed it gently, Sakura gasped and brought her hand to her hair, a small blush spreading across her cheeks.

Sakura took his unburdened hand and pulled him with her down the stairs they went and Sakura sealed the door behind them. As they entered the light of Sakura's room she pulled a small scroll from behind her back and handed it to Sasuke.

"This is everything you will need, instructions and supplies to take care of my flowers," she said, pulling her own scroll from behind her back.

"Let Naru and Hina-chan know that I have my own saplings but it will take a few weeks until I can communicate through them." She said lightly twirling the scroll in her hand.

Itachi knocked on the door and called out "Sakura? Oka-san wanted me to tell you that your escort team is here." And with that he left.

Sasuke looked at Sakura, and his smile dimmed. "What am I going to do without you?" he asked setting the plant down on a shelf, he took her into his arms and held her tight.

Sakura, in turn wrapped her arms around him. She laughed thickly and smiled "Well, you might kill Naruto and Hinata won't be very happy, you and Naru-kun will have to work hard to stay in school." She said thickly. "But when I come back, I'm going to whip you butts!" she said pulling away slightly.

Sakura grabbed her bags and rushed from the room, already the light in the world seemed that much dimmer.

{{{{./blog/uploaded_images/Kath_Daleyorchard_  If anyone can tell me what this flower is called I will be eternally grateful!}}}}