Chapter Four

A/N: I'M SO SORRY. OH MY GOODNESS. I've been so busy with school… It's my senior year and I've been so distracted with my school work, friends, looking for employment and not to mention college applications.

I would have started writing more if I hadn't been busy. So, if you're still reading this: I love you.

OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.

ENJOY THIS NEW CHAPTER!

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"Mama… Why are you crying?" A soft voice spoke from next to a pink-haired woman. Green eyes looked over at her concerned son and she smiled while wiping away the tears.

"Oh, sweetie… Mommy's sorry, don't worry; Mommy's not crying anymore." A pale arm wrapped around her son's small form and pulled him into his mother's embrace. Small hands gripped the front of her pajama shirt.

The woman ran her fingers through her son's soft, dark hair while she hummed a small tune. The two stayed curled up together on the warm bed until they heard a faint buzzing noise.

"Who could that be…" The woman turned and picked up the phone. She glanced down at the screen and almost shuddered.

We need to talk

Itachi

Sakura sighed and put the phone back where it was; she wrapped her arms around her son again and breathed in.

Kyo wriggled out of his mother's arms and sat up. Sakura looked up at him with a puzzled expression.

"Mama… Who was that scary man?" Sakura sucked in a breath. She was hoping Kyo wouldn't ask. He was a smart boy, easy to handle, and hardly asked for things… She didn't know how to even begin to tell the tale.

"It's no one Kyo needs to worry about, okay?" She put a hand to his cheek, "He's just someone Mommy doesn't want to see, that's all. Don't worry, okay?" She ran her thumb up and down his cheek with a small smile on her lips.

Sakura's phone buzzed again and she frowned; she turned and grabbed her phone again.

I'm coming to your flat

Itachi

Sakura's eyes widened and she sucked in her breath. She had never thought he'd come to her home. It was her safe zone. The one place people couldn't enter. It was her and Kyo's small, special place.

What did he want to know so badly? What was she supposed to do if it all came rushing back? What would her parents do? What would her old friends say? What about Kyo? Would they take him away from her? Would she have to go back to the life she tried so hard to run away from?

No. No, she was not weak anymore. She'd grown from her past traumas and if her past nightmares wanted to resurface than she was going to fight. She was not about to lose her life that she now had. She would protect Kyo and she would protect her life now. No one was going to step all over her again. No one was going to manipulate her again.

"Mama?" Kyo's voice interrupted her thoughts and she looked at him, he looked confused with concern in his adorable eyes.

Sakura stood and picked Kyo up from their bed. He giggled and a warm smile fell onto her lips.

Yes… This is what she would do anything for. This little child in her arms, the one true treasure she had in her life. Her precious Kyo.

A loud knock came to attention from the living room and Kyo wriggled out of her arms. Sakura wanted to stop him but he was too quick for her and ran out of the room. The knock came again until she heard the click of the front door being unlocked.

Sakura quickly walked out of the bedroom and was greeted by a tense atmosphere. Kyo had his two hands on the door as Itachi stood in front of the opened door. Kyo looked scared but challenging whilst Itachi merely gave a once over and moved his strong gaze at her.

Sakura frowned and bit her lip. Had Itachi told him who she was? It was a possibility… But why would he care? Was he going to use her for an advantage for something?

"May I come in?" His deep, velvet voice rang out in a calm and calculating way. Kyo's eyes widened and he ran to hide behind Sakura's legs. She didn't want him anywhere near her home, her family or herself… But she didn't know what else to do. A small nod followed his question and she watched him step inside and took his shoes off.

"Sorry to intrude." He spoke softly. Sakura could feel Kyo's hand tighten on her shirt as he walked into the apartment more fully. Giving Kyo a small pat on the head, she guided him to the hall and into their bedroom.

"Mama…" She gave him a small smile before she turned to head back to the living room.

"Alright… Tea?" He nodded and she led him to her kitchen.

"Have a seat at the table, then…" He, again, nodded and took a seat at the small table that sat in the back of her kitchen. He remained quiet while she made tea for the both of them. It wasn't peaceful per say, but it was calm and held no ill will.

Sakura finished making tea and sat a cup in front of Itachi and for herself before she sat down. She took a sip and closed her eyes. Jade tea made her feel better even in the worst of situations. She could hear Itachi taking a sip as well before he spoke.

"I believe you know why I'm here, correct?" Sakura, still with her eyes closed, nodded. He returned her nod.

"What happened, Haruno?" She sighed and opened her eyes to look at him square in the face.

He hadn't changed much since the last she saw of him. His face was well defined, handsome and sharp. His eyes were the beautiful shade of black as they were back then. His pale skin went well with his jet black hair; he had let it grow a little more than what she remembered. His stress lines on either side of his straight nose were deeper; his lips were in a thin line as he waited for her to speak.

She let out a sigh while her eyes softened. She had no idea where or how to begin, not that she was willing to tell him anything quite yet. Things were moving too fast for her; she wasn't ready to face these issues just yet. It's been five years, yes, but to have it thrust upon you in just a short week was too much for her to handle all at once.

"There's no need for formalities, Itachi-kun." Her voice was calm, but her eyes held strong emotions behind them. Anger, sadness, desperation, hurt, loneliness and exhaustion: they were all bottled up inside.

It was Itachi's turn to sigh as he looked at her. She looked tired, dark eyes, hallow skin and hunched shoulders. "Sakura… "

He watched as she smiled and sat her cup of tea on the table.

"What happened? Whose child is that? Why are you here?" He asked questions one after the other, watching her eyes for a reaction. He was calculating her, observing her every move. Sakura closed her eyes again and reopened them before she spoke.

"Itachi… I know you want answers; I know you want to know what's going on… But the past is the past and it needs… No, it has to stay in the past. You can't reopen this chest, Itachi… I can't even reopen this chest… Just please… Leave it alone; leave me alone."

Itachi's eyes narrowed at her last few words. Where was the confident woman he had known before? She would have never begged like this; she would have stood her ground and challenged him. He felt disgust, pity and curiosity all at the same time as he watched her take another sip of tea.

"Where did your confidence go?" He replied and Sakura's shoulders sank even lower. He hit her where it hurt most. Her already beaten ego was being torn all over again. Piece by piece, just like he had done… She felt wetness at the corners of her eyes but blinked them away.

"Itachi… Please, do not go there. Don't dig up old wounds." He observed her again; he had seen the beginnings of tears at her eyes and how she had blinked them away. He had watched as she squeezed her cup a little tighter and the tense of her shoulders. He wanted to get her angry, to stand tall and burst with confidence, to see her intelligent sparkle in her eyes… He wanted to see the woman he had known, not this pitiful and shy woman that had replaced her.

"Weak."

It took one word, one small word. Tears formed and fell from her eyes. Soft, shaky breaths fell from her lips until they turned into sobs. Itachi watched her as she continued to cry. He knew he had went low, but he needed to know what type of woman she had truly began. He was greatly disappointed…

With a sigh, he stood and picked up their glasses from the table. Sakura had moved her hands to her face as she cried on. He drained the tea and cleaned their tea cups and her tea pot. He sighed again before he walked into her living room to her front door. He put his shoes on before he opened the door and walked out.

"Oh, hello, dear." A soft spoken voice caught his attention and he turned to see an older woman with a warm, motherly smile on her face. She reminded him of his mother and he gave her a small smile in return.

"Hello," Itachi replied with a small bow.

"I didn't know Sakura-chan had such handsome friends." Itachi nodded, but hadn't replied.

"Oh, sorry, dear, you're probably busy… Have a wonderful day." She spoke and he bowed again.

"Thank you, have a good day as well."

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A/N: ANOTHER QUICK AUTHER'S NOTE.

Oh my god. I'm so sorry… I really am…. And it's so short, too.

I couldn't figure out what else to writ other than this… I hope you don't hate me too much…

But…

THANK YOU for reading! It means a lot, it really does!