I'm back, everyone! Here's a gift from me! I'm celebrating because I have no failed subjects for the semester. I'm so happy about that because I have been struggling not to fail! Anyway, I think I'll be updating regularly because it's summer vacation now though I still have summer classes for one subject... But I think I'm good.

Again, RnR. :)

Chapter VI
Bothersome

The room was filled with people who featured similar characteristics as him. Dark hair, lean built and dark eyes. By instinct, his feet had brought him in front of the kitchen door. He looked at the door knob, noting that it was just the level of his eyes. He'd grown the last few months, noted Itachi. He twisted the knob to find a tall and slender woman bent over the sink, singing a wonderful and familiar melody as she continued her task. Seeming surprised, the woman turned her head to him and sighed in relief when she realized it was only him.

"Good afternoon, Itachi-chan," she greeted, stopping the running water from the faucet. She took off her gloves and started towards him. Meeting his eye level, she knelt on one knee and planted a kiss on his forehead as she caressed his hair with on hand. "How was school? I hope my invited guests won't disturb you while you study for the examination week," she said apologetically. "It's only for today, anyway. It's Sasuke's birthday after all."

He shook his head. "A little gathering will not distract me from my studies, Okaa-san," Itachi cheerfully answered. "I do not have much to study, besides. I've already read in advance during my free time."

"Oh, good," cheered her mother. "Can I count on you to watch Sasuke for a few minutes? You're fathers busy with all the guests. Sasuke is sleeping in his bedroom so make sure to be quiet when you enter, okay?" When Itachi confirmed her request, he gave him a light pat on the head and exited by the back door. "I'll be back," she bid him.

He marched to the guest room to cross over to the bedrooms. As he walked behind the couch placed in the middle of the well-furnished room, his father called out his name.

"Yes, Otou-san?" He answered when his father pulled him closer.

Mr. Uchiha had been talking to four people when he pulled Itachi closer. "This," he said with a hint of pride in his voice. "This is my eldest son. He advances from 2nd grade to 3rd grade in a few weeks. He excels very well in school and in his tae kwon do sessions."

The people his father had been addressing to exchanged words—words of praise and pride at the young Uchiha.

He pulled back from his father's grasp. "I would like to excuse myself, Otou-san," Itachi said in a very polite yet cold voice. "Okaa-san asked me to look after my little brother." Without waiting for his permission, Itachi walked briskly into the hallway where three doors stood and entered the first one on the left.

And in there, was a tiny crib which held his little brother a prisoner behind its bars. Sasuke was no older than a year or two. He was so adorable and it didn't surprise Itachi that he thought so despite his indifferent thoughts about puppies and babies. Sasuke was his little brother after all.

Sasuke was busy playing with his baby blanket when he noticed Itachi's presence. He looked at him through the messy hair that covered his eyes. Hurriedly, Sasuke crawled to Itachi, his arms reaching through the bars. When he realized he couldn't get through to his older brother, he bawled.

He pulled a chair near his crib to assist him in leaning over the barrier that separated them and carried the baby in his arms without difficulty. He was used to this. His father was not around when his mother gave birth to Sasuke and so he was the one to carry him after his mother did.

With Sasuke in his arms, the baby's crying ceased. Itachi glanced down on him, strands of his long hair falling in front of his face, tickling his little brother's nose. Sasuke giggled and he couldn't help but smile at the sound of his infant laugh.

In a blink of an eye, Sasuke was already seven years old and Itachi was hugging his little brother, looking at the ocean over Sasuke's shoulder. Sasuke wriggled out of his hold and gripped his hand.

"Onii-san," the younger cheered. "Let's go to the party room where Okaa-san is!" He kept pulling Itachi but for some reason, his feet remained glued on the floor. "Let's play there!"

The reason became clear, however, when a man, a few years older than he was, stepped beside him, pushing his hands into his pocket. He was a couple years older. Tobi. He was a distant relative, apparently. And that was why he was on this boat right now, too.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," he began, glancing at Tobi warily from the corner of his eyes. When his eyes were on Sasuke once again, he poked his forehead with a smile. "Maybe later again?"

Sasuke frowned a marched away from Itachi without a word. Really, that child. It would take less than five minutes for his anger to wear off, he knew. He had memorized him after all.

"So how do you want to go through this, Itachi?" Tobi asked the second Sasuke was out of earshot.

It took several seconds for Itachi's mind to register where he had heard that line before. But when the answer was finally given light, it was too late for them. He had already dropped the lighter and no sooner, the whole boat that carried his whole clan burst in flames.

He panicked, running around the deck, looking for his little brother who had seen him drop the lighter earlier. When he finally caught a glimpse of a small figure running through the crowd, he ran after him. However, when he almost caught him, his little brother jumped for the water.

()

His dream was far from pleasant, that was for sure, though his awakening was the complete opposite. It was heavenly. It was something he had not felt in a thousand mornings.

His eyes opened the minute the sun pierced through the thin of the curtains and his eyelids. He woke up with the face of Sakura in a tranquil slumber inches away from his. This, he could remember from last night, having fallen asleep on the floor with his head on the couch. But what he could not seem to recall was how the heck his hand intertwined with hers in the middle of the night.

He smoothly untangled his fingers from hers, and quietly strode to the bedroom and to the bathroom.

Like most people, he did most of his thinking inside the shower. He braced himself against the tiled walls of the bathroom, feeling the pelting of the water droplets on his bare body. With one hand, he slicked the loose strands of his hair back in place.

What really did happen last night? Was she just so drunk, intoxicated by the alcohol, to the point that she had been carried away by her pent up feelings? Was it wrong that he had taken advantage of her?

Honestly, she was also partially to blame for what had happened. When she'd hidden the fact that he was in the bathroom with her from Erika and was able to fake being a sober tone, he realized that she was completely aware of what was happening. Or probably not. He was not at all familiar with her in her drunken state of mind, after all. That was the first time he'd ever seen her like that. Still, she pulled him into the bathroom with him and that was as much as a man could handle.

What would she say if she ever remembered what they had done last night? How would she react to the fact that Itachi had seen her topless? What would she say about him changing her clothes in the middle of the night? Heck, he did not even put on a pair of trousers on for her. What would she say about that?

She was most likely to blow a fuse.

Finally deciding on what to do, Itachi rinsed himself up and dressed up. Fortunately for him, she was still fast asleep on the couch when he stepped out of the bathroom fully clothed.

Before he left for Central City College, he left Sakura a sandwich he made himself. And with one last look at the young lady, he was off to Central City College… Specifically the Siren College building inside the CCC campus. He had brought his compositions with him and he planned to lock himself inside a room to finish his song.

He made his way across several blocks, carrying a messenger bag with him. As he rounded a corner, he found his blonde colleague opening up the bakery. Itachi knew Deidara was well aware of his presence but merely chose not to pay him any mind as he unlocked the front door of the bakery and enter without a word.

The darker of the two's paces slowed as he walked past the entrance of the bakery on his way to CCC.

The sound of chimes jingled behind him. "Leader wants to see you tonight," the younger said.

Itachi stopped fully, taking into consideration what he just said. Surely, Deidara would have to answer to Pein if he didn't show up like he ordered him to. He was always like that—subtly taking out his anger on the first person he sees.

"Kindly inform him that I am not available tonight," he started, his voice remaining dry as ever. "I will meet with him when I find time and that will not be in more than a week."

He resumed walking. Deidara's eyes were on his back, Itachi knew. It was just at the back of his head. Though tempted to glance back at him and tell him to go about his business, he let the younger have the satisfaction of simply glaring at him right now. He didn't have time to pick with him, anyway.

()

The sight of an empty living room greeted her as her eyes fluttered open. A warm feeling washed over her and she was certain it had nothing to do with the warm glow of the morning sun penetrating through the window and into the living room. However, at the same time, she felt a draft… Or maybe it was just her.

It took a while before her eyes fully adjusted to the light and as she lay on the couch, she continued to wonder why the hell her head hurt so much. Nothing was going to make her head feel better if she just stayed on the couch though, she thought. And so, in one swift move, she pulled the covers off of her waist and grimaced when she found her bottom-half unclothed.

What happened last night, anyway? And why did her cheeks burn whenever she tried to recall?

She ran a hand through her messy pink locks and looked to her feet. A pile of clothes were carelessly placed on the floor just by the end of the couch. Something inside her told her that looking at them would help enlighten her of the happenings from last night. And so, she scooted over to the end of the couch and picked the pair of trousers up.

They were slightly wet which means it must have been raining last night. The trousers did not help at all save for the fact that they were her pair. She folded them neatly and made a mental note to wash them later. Next, she picked up the shirt which seemed a bit familiar.

She held the shirt before her and frowned when she realized it was inside-out. With a groan, she pulled the outsides back out and almost gasped when she had seen the front. This was the shirt Itachi had bought for her to change in last night. And she, in fact, did change in it. And it just occurred to her that changing was not the only thing that happened in the bathroom last night.

A groan escaped her lips as she remembered herself begging Itachi for more after the first kiss. She felt a heat in between her legs as the feeling of Itachi's manhood against her core rushed back to her.

Well, this was just great. After he finds her crying in the rain because she discovered her boyfriend's secret affair with her schoolmate, she ends up having the hots for him. That sentence didn't sound right in so many ways.

I must not be right in the head, she thought to herself. The thought of her engaging in such an act with Itachi once more felt so wrong yet right at the same time.

This was not good. This wasn't supposed to be the trail of thought she was supposed to go down. She was supposed to be thinking about her medical mission that was going to happen in just one more day.

Yes, the medical mission—her three days away from Itachi—that should do her some good in forgetting about whatever happened in the bathroom. She should really begin packing her clothes for the trip. However, just as she was about to head for the bedroom, the sound of her empty stomach reminded her that she had not had breakfast yet after all her fretting over last night.

She let her feet take her to the kitchen and found a sandwich on the table made by Itachi, probably. There was a note beside the plate with a nearly incomprehensive and formal handwriting on it. It looked as if he were in a hurry when he scribbled the note down.

I'll be back at 5:30. Be here.

Where had he gone to, anyway? It wasn't like he had classes today. It was a Saturday, after all. But still, she didn't know his schedule so maybe he did have classes.

In the next several minutes, Sakura found herself consuming the sandwich slowly, wanting to appreciate the food he prepared for her with every bite. She looked out the window and wondered about Sasuke.

Sasuke, she thought to herself. Now that she was thinking sober, she finally realized how dumb she was for believing that someone like her could change Sasuke. No, it could never be her. He turned her down once. How stupid was she for thinking that he had changed his mind about her?

Maybe it was just Sasuke's fault. She did everything she could for him, after all. Sacrificing her plans just to meet him halfway—she did that a lot. She did nothing to upset him, she was confident about that. Maybe it was just his choice. It was his mistake for letting her go.

No matter how much she wanted to tell herself that, Sakura couldn't bring herself to blame him. It wasn't his fault she was boring, dull, too caught up with her dreams and easily attached. It wasn't the breakup that upset her. It was how she found out, how it happened and how she finally came to see the light.

Naruto. The name echoed in her head. A genuine smile formed across her lips as she recalled in her head the sound of Naruto's voice as he told her everything about Sasuke last night. Yes, she could remember his trembling voice over the phone. She knew he was worried about how she would react and she knew that he was surprised about her almost-calm reaction. She was too. But then again, maybe she expected it from the very beginning that's why she didn't feel as much pain as before?

Or maybe it was because of something else?

No, there was no other reason for her to feel less pain than expected. Or was there?

Itachi. Now that guy was a person she never imagined she'd be thinking of in her time alone. Why did the name suddenly cross her head while she was on a certain trail of thought? It wasn't like Itachi helped cushion her fall when she found out about Hinata. It wasn't like she knew he would feel concerned about the issue.

However, she was sure she saw a hint of concern in his eyes before she left the table to run in the alleyway. There was something there and it was a feeling that involved her and she was quite sure that after all the gang business he's been through here, it was probably the first time he had felt like that in a very long time.

Brushing the thought aside, Sakura pushed her chair back and brought the empty dish to the kitchen sink for washing. After a few minutes, she decided it was high time she did her laundry too. It would be embarrassing to have Itachi wash her underwear for her. That was for certain.

She spent the whole morning washing and drying her clothes by the window in the kitchen, listening to whatever song played on the music channel on TV. When she felt fatigue creeping in, she would take a few minutes to rest in front of the television and just watch a whole episode of a cartoon before resuming her task.

By 3, she was done cleaning everything, including Itachi's bathroom and kitchen. Rummaging through the bedroom and the living room didn't feel right. She was afraid to come across anything she mustn't come across or anything that would peak her curiosity. The framed pictures of him and his younger brother were already enough to drive her mad with questions.

And with the pictures bothering her, she turned down the volume of the television and approached the shelf filled with frames of pictures and certificates. She first scanned through the certificates that either had the words Best in _ or Champion. No certificates that implied he was ever in second place which was very impressive.

Her eyes shifted to the frames above the certificates and found pictures of Itachi receiving awards and standing side by side with Sasuke. There was also one of him cradling a very young Sasuke against his chest. The length of his hair was similar to that of the length he kept now and he wore it in the same way—in a pulled back ponytail.

Another caught her attention, and this time, she intended to study the picture longer. She could never do it with Itachi around the house. It always felt as if he was going to order her to pay no attention to the pictures and just go on with her business.

It was an old candid photo of a very young Itachi on his toes, trying to get a glimpse of, whom she guessed was Sasuke, who was in the arms of a very beautiful dark-haired woman whom she assumed was their mother. His mother's eyes were on Sasuke, looking at him as if he were an angel with a smile that could melt the heart of their test proctor, Ibiki. His mother was beautiful and she wondered if that's where Itachi and Sasuke both inherited their natural appeal from… Not that she was saying that Itachi was handsome. Maybe he got it from his dad. She couldn't tell. There wasn't a single picture of him on the shelf or anywhere else. What did his father look like?

Where were his parents anyway?

As if he was going to tell her such personal information.

She turned her attention to the clock. It was still 3:30. Sakura decided to take a long shower after an episode of Champion Chef and be dressed by 5:00 and wait for Itachi to return from there on. And so, with that planned out, she jumped back on the couch and switched the channel.

He was almost done with his song, counting in the melody he had heard in his dream… His mother's melody.

Now he remembered how she used to sing it to him and Sasuke to lull them to sleep at night. Even after falling asleep as a child, Itachi swore he could still hear her voice through the night. It made him wonder if she stayed beside them the whole night, singing the song over and over again.

And what if she did? Would it make Itachi more heartless for what he had done several years ago? After she stayed to protect them from the shadows that lurk invisible in the dark of the night, he repaid her by burning and drowning her with the rest of their clan. It was unjust, he knew.

His heart wrenched a little and a chill ran down his spine as he recalled hearing the screams of her mother…He heard her but he did not save her. He couldn't. As far as he could remember, she was already trapped in the party room, flaming debris falling upon her and everyone else in the room. There was no way he could have gotten to her in time.

The thought of his mother's death drifted away when the classroom door slammed open against the wall behind it.

"Excuse me," the guy in the doorway said. His uniform was not of the Sirens. He looked more like a Da Vinci-an, one who came from the arts and design college part of the CCC. "I am Takahashi Kanzuo, the Vice President of CCC Student Council. I'm sorry but you have to leave. We're clearing out all the rooms in every building for tonight's festivities."

Itachi nodded at him once. "Of course," he said quietly before getting up to pack his bag and leave the room. The vice president thanked him courteously. He gave him a dismissing wave but never looked back.

As he walked in the wide hallways of the college, he could not help but look down on the Common Grounds that was located between all 7 buildings of Central City College. It was wide and at least half a kilometer. Events and celebrations that involved the whole of CCC normally occurred in the Common Grounds. A stage for entertainment would be set up in front of the Main Building and stalls and booths would border the perimeter.

As of now, the people who were at present in the Common Grounds were Student Council officers, professors and moving staffs. They were setting up for CCC's grand night tonight.

Itachi, however, was not one to celebrate such things with other people. In fact, he rarely celebrated anything at all. During the Freshmen Acquaintance Party, he was recognized as the only freshman who didn't attend the party.

Rounding the corner, he caught a glimpse of the wall clock just above the elevator as he waited for it to stop on his floor. It was 4:30. He suddenly wondered what would make the perfect dinner for tonight. There was a delicatessen shop somewhere nearby that sold affordable pastries and other delicacies that were meant to last for at least 3 days.

But walking to that shop meant he had a longer distance to walk home since his apartment was west of CCC but the shop was in the far east. If he were to walk home, he would arrive sometime around 5:45 but if he took a cab, he would arrive before 5:30 and have just enough time to prepare.

And so, when he'd finally had it all planned out, he started for the shop, carrying his pack on one shoulder, avoiding empty alleyways and streets. If he wasn't careful, an Akatsuki might catch him and force him to report to leader.

No. Not tonight.

After crossing a few blocks, Itachi pushed open a glass door that led right into the haven of delicacies. There were not a lot of people who knew about this place and it was supposed to be kept that way for there were people who labeled this place as their secret hideout.

Today, there were not a lot of people inside the shop. There were only two students in separate tables and a couple occupying one booth. Typical.

"How may I help you today?" Asked the man on the counter. He prepared his tray as he watched Itachi select from the overhead menu above him.

"I'll have an order of Delicacy Set C. Please replace the Chocolate Biscotti with a serving of Strawberry Shortbread," he paused for a moment, looking again at the menu. "Also, an order of cinnamon rolls and Sunday Quesadillas."

When the employee asked for a moment to retrieve his order, Itachi brought out his wallet and pulled out the exact amount to pay the man with. He smiled at the picture of his mom and Sasuke that he had kept in his wallet through the years before shoving it back down his back pocket.

The man returned with a big paper bag in his hands, the name of the shop printed in an elegant font in the middle of the brown bag. Itachi inspected his order first before paying the man what he was due and was off to hail a cab.

The sky was beginning to darken a little and he saw a shade of orange somewhere in the horizon. The sun was about to set. He needed to get home fast. And with that being said, a cab stopped in front of him and he immediately slipped himself in the front seat.

During the whole ride, he kept wondering if Sakura were to appreciate his choice in pastries and food. Not that he wished to please her just for the sake of pleasing her but it was to get to her better side just in case she thought negatively of the events that occurred last night.

He arrived in front of his apartment in no time at all, thanks to the taxi driver who really knew his way around the city.

Upon unlocking the door to his unit, he found an unconscious Sakura on his couch although not in the way he had left her this morning. She was properly dressed and was sitting on the couch with both feet on the cushions while her head was leaning against the back rest of the sofa. The orange glow of the sunset defined her features dramatically, making her look like a real dream. She was wearing a puffy white blouse with army green skinny jeans on and a pair of boots placed on the floor just right in front of her.

He wondered why Sakura was sleeping sound on the couch when his note said he would return at approximately 5:30. But his question was answered when he heard a ringing sound from the clock in his living room. His house clocks were set 30 minutes advance for him to avoid being late in class and meetings.

Itachi moved to the kitchen, grabbing a backpack near the shelf filled with pictures on his way and moved the contents of the paper bag in the pack quietly so as not to wake the lady in deep sleep. He then slipped in his room and searched for the Siren hoodie he had bought a year ago and a blanket which he had placed inside a smaller knapsack.

When everything else was prepared, he stood behind the couch and leaned over to whisper in Sakura's ear.

"Sakura," he said in a voice ever so smooth and gentle.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard her name slip from his lips and when she found his face inches away from hers when she opened her eyes.

He regained his normal posture and walked away from the couch to retrieve the hoodie and the smaller knapsack from the kitchen and handed it to her. "Wear this," he told her as he tossed her the neatly folded hoodie. "And do not forget to carry this. Hurry up or we'll be late." After placing the bag on one end of the couch, he proceeded to put on a pair of shoes, not even bothering to look back and Sakura asked what they were going to be late for.

Zipping up the hoodie over her blouse, Sakura pulled the hood on over her head, making it so that her hair was fully concealed along with her forehead. She then stepped into her boots and pulled the zippers up as well before slinging the knapsack over a shoulder.

Itachi already had his pack on one shoulder as he opened the door for Sakura.

()

It took the both of them nearly 30 dead silent minutes to arrive to their destination. Of course, Sakura didn't know they were at their destination until Itachi had pulled her in a very tall building near the alley where Itachi hid her the first day they came across each other.

The whole place looked like a shabby run-down condominium which had not had new occupants in the last couple of years. Sakura would bet her whole wardrobe that not even half of the building was currently being used.

"Good evening," greeted the manager behind the counter as he waved at Itachi courteously. It looked as if they paid no mind to Itachi's coming in and out of this place though he was obviously not a resident.

The dark haired man faced the manager and ordered Sakura to stay in the middle of the lobby as Itachi approached the counter. It did not take long for the two of them to finish whatever they were talking about.

Itachi led Sakura to the elevators where they waited for at least a minute for the lift to stop at the ground floor. He entered first, pressing the button numbered 28 as the doors closed after Sakura managed to pull herself in quickly enough.

There were only two of them in the cramped and tiny space of the elevator and they were to stay like this for the whole trip upwards. While Sakura stood inches away from the doors, she could see in the reflection of the stainless doors that Itachi was resting his back against the back wall of the elevator, looking back at her through the reflection.

She smiled at him weakly and avoided his gaze but when she looked back at the reflection again, his eyes were still on her as if he were a panther examining his prey.

Ding went the elevator. Sakura finally let go of the breath she was holding unconsciously as the doors slid open. She jumped out of the elevator almost too eagerly.

Where the elevator led them was a small space behind a glass barrier with a glass door in the middle. On the other side of the barrier, however, was a wide space. No doubt, this was the rooftop and it was still a blur why they were here and how the hell they were to go to the other side because the door was locked when she tried to push it.

"Do not force it," said Itachi as he motioned for her to step aside. From his back pocket, he managed to pull out a key and unlocked the door. "Go on ahead."

Sakura pushed the door open and was met by a cool breeze that swept her hood away from her hair, leaving her locks messy and tangled from being kept under the static-prone cloth. "What are we doing here, Itachi?"

He didn't answer her at once. Carefully, he dropped his pack in the middle of the area and went to see the view over the barriers that stood at the perimeter. She followed instantly, pulling off the sleeves of the hoodie as she walked, and upon reaching the same place Itachi had been standing, she could have sworn that at that very moment, her heart had been taken away by Central City.

It was already dark and it was the first time Sakura noticed it not for the city lights that shined brightly from the city down below. The roads were clearly distinguished thanks to the careful placing of streetlights. She could see a large fountain—a very tiny one from the view up the building—illuminated by a dozen floor lights from a distance and she guessed that was the famous CC Park. However, there was one part of town that was not as bright as the others.

"Why isn't that place lighted like the others?" Sakura asked innocently, pointing at the spot that stood out from the rest.

"It is usually as bright as the others," he started. "But not tonight. You will soon find out why." He turned away from her while she continued to muse over the view, still not over the fact that Central City was a very beautiful city at night.

However, she was aware that the more beautiful it was at night, the more dangerous it was too. Half of the city must have criminals walking around. Everyone was an easy target at night too especially those who had just come home from work since they were exhausted and their alertness is reduced by almost half.

She sighed, again noting how different the area she pointed earlier to Itachi looked. Sakura squinted her eyes in hopes to figure out what the place was but to no avail. There was nothing to indicate what the site was. All that she could see were seven large buildings that formed a circle, leaving space in between them.

Finally, Sakura turned her heel to help Itachi in whatever it was she had been hearing him do while she had been looking out at the view but when she had faced him, he had already spread out the blanket that apparently was in the bag she was carrying. He was now on both knees, pulling out the contents of the pack he was carrying, laying it all in the middle of the blanket.

When he was done, he walked away from the blanket and stood near a small platform where a satellite dish was placed and leaned over to push something. In an instant, an emergency light that hung on the glass barrier flickered on, giving light to the very spot Itachi had placed the blanket.

He returned to the blanket wordlessly and took a seat. "Dinner is served," he told her as he looked at her from the corner of his eye.

Slowly, Sakura approached the blanket and smiled at what he had prepared for dinner. There were two plates of quesadillas set before him and the other was clearly meant for her. The other foods in the middle of the blanket were mostly pastries and she doubted he bought them from Deidara's.

After finishing the quesadillas, Itachi offered Sakura with a plastic cup and poured in the apple juice he had packed in the bag the last minute.

"I'm sorry," she said before taking a long sip from her cup. He only tilted his head at her, a clear sign for her to continue. "What happened last night was… Well, I shouldn't have done that. I was drunk, I know. But I'll admit that I..." She trailed off and swallowed. "I may have known what I was doing too… And I'm sorry."

His eyes were on her for a long time. The silence made her uncomfortable and she tried to ease herself by drinking more of the juice.

"You must not apologize, Sakura," said Itachi, reaching for a cinnamon roll. "There is nothing for you to apologize for. In fact, I should be the one to ask for forgiveness."

"Why?"

He took a bite, not minding her until he had swallowed the cinnamon roll. "First of all, I changed your wardrobe last night without your consent. Second, I am sorry about what Sasuke had done." Her eyes left his. "On Sasuke's behalf, I apologize. What he had done to you was unforgivable and unjust."

"You don't have to ask sorry for him. What's with you and Sasuke, anyway?" Her hand reached for the shortbread but before she managed to grab one, she halted, realizing what she had just asked him.

Another breeze passed them by, breaking the silence that Sakura's question had caused.

"I killed our family," he plainly said.