SakuIta The Other Side

Whoo, go me! I was on a roll. Well, until now. So I have a fave to ask you, my lovely readers who have taken the time to read up until this chapter.

The reason I haven't updated more recently, although I have had the time to do so, is because I have come across a writer's block. Not because I can't come up with anything, but I simply have too many ideas and they keep getting mixed up. So, if you could assist me by giving me brief ideas for the next chapter, (after you read this one) I would be really grateful.

Enjoy! ;)

*RECAP*

After finally calming down because Ino's mom told them to cut it out because they were scaring away customers, the girls settled in a giggling huddle.

"I can't believe you scored with an Uchiha!" Ino exclaimed, not for the first time. Hinata nodded.

Sakura couldn't believe it either. But she wouldn't change it for anything.

*END RECAP*

"Hey, Itachi, can I talk to you for a moment?"

Itachi looked up from his book, Historical Ninja Wars, to gaze at Sasuke, who was leaning casually against the wall by the library's door. However, Itachi's sharp eyes caught the slightly nervous tension on his little brother's shoulders, signaling to him that whatever Sasuke wanted to talk about he wasn't completely at ease with.

"Of course, little brother," Itachi replied smoothly, taking a colorful red, purple and blue glittery bookmark that Sakura had made for him a Valentine's Day a few years back. He set it between the pages of his book before closing it, setting it on the coffee table beside his chair and walking over to where Sasuke patiently waited.

Once the two Uchiha brothers were face-to-face, Sasuke an inch or so lower than Itachi, Sasuke silently motioned his brother to follow him with a tilt of his head, gesturing to the front door of the house. "Let's take a walk."

Itachi agreed and slipped on his shoes. He was slightly puzzled by his brother's choice of location for a conversation that did not come easy to him. Normally, if it was something as serious to him as this topic appeared to be, Sasuke preferred sitting down on a chair with a table between him and the person he was talking to, as if in a meeting.

After walking in silence side by side for a few minutes, they reached the park. It was spring, so the colors were bright and lively. Itachi looked around, taking everything in as he waited for his brother to start the conversation. He noticed that the Cherry Blossoms were beginning to bloom. They were a little earlier than usual, but that only added to their beauty. And maybe it would be one of those years where not only did they bloom earlier, but maybe they will remain a little longer too.

Watching the elegant trees wearing the beautiful flowers with pride, Itachi was reminded of Sakura. Some have, undoubtedly, made fun of her hair, yet she wore it with pride and dignity. Ah, how he lavished the night before, having her finally beginning to open up to him after so many years. It was not only satisfying and full of contentment, but it was also marvelous in its own little way.

Sakura…Itachi thought. My dear pink-haired angel…

Of course, Sasuke chose that time to speak. He sat on the nearest bench and motioned for Itachi to join him. Itachi obliged. After a few hesitant attempts, not knowing how exactly to start, Sasuke licked his lips, sighed then leaned on his knees with his elbows before turning his head to look at Itachi in the eye.

"Listen, Itachi," he began, cautiously. "What I wish to talk to you about is about Sakura."

Itachi stiffened, only the slightest, and kept his face impassive as he waited for his brother to elaborate. After another deep breath, Sasuke leaned back and spoke once he'd closed his eyes. "Don't worry, Itachi. It's not that I disapprove of your relationship with her." Itachi relaxed, but looked at Sasuke curiously. Then what was Sasuke getting at? He didn't have to wait for long.

"What I mean is, I'm happy that you two like each other," Sasuke opened his eyes and smirked at his brother playfully. "I've been waiting for this to happen since I realized you harbored those kinds of feelings for her. You two are really dear people to me, and I'm happy you two are happy with each other." His eyes suddenly darkened and his smirk vanished. He sat straight up and looked at Itachi with more seriousness than the elder Uchiha had seen him show. "What I'm getting at, Itachi, is that although I'm happy for you, if – and it's a big if – you two break up and it's your fault, I will back up Sakura and not you."

Itachi raised his eyebrows at his little brother. Before, he'd never have been this bold. But Sasuke wasn't finished. "You're my brother, Itachi, but Sakura is not only my teammate but one of my best and only friends. Naruto and I know her inside and out, as she knows us, and I really care about her. Particularly her heart. If you guys break up, the only time I'd take your side is if what Sakura did was completely wrong, such as… I don't know… making out with another guy in front of you while the stepping on your picture or something like that. Which, as we both know, has a chance of slim to zero, even if she accidentally took her patients' meds. Which has a nonexistent chance since she doesn't even have meds of her own." Sasuke sighed and slumped back on the chair, seemingly exhausted as if that little speech had drained all his energy.

Itachi looked at his brother for a surprised moment before he chuckled, causing Sasuke's head to come up, looking at his brother questioningly. Itachi got it. If things got awkward between himself and Sakura, it was guaranteed that Sasuke would be in the middle of it and he'd get the worst end of the stick. After all, not many can easily decide between family duty and friendship loyalty. Especially if that friendship was as long and strong as the one Sasuke and Sakura shared. And he couldn't blame Sasuke for taking Sakura's side if things did end like that. Sakura was, despite her monstrous strength, intelligence and force of will, delicate. Just like the flower she shared her name with, if she wasn't cared for, she would wither.

"Don't worry, Sasuke," Itachi smiled. "I promise you that things won't come to that. Not as long as I live. I swear it on the Uchiha name." He heard Sasuke suck in his breath. That was one serious oath. Itachi chuckled once more, standing up and pulling Sasuke with him. "Come on, little brother," he said. "We both have stuff to do."

Sasuke allowed Itachi to lead them home, just as he had done many times on previous years. He congratulated himself for having the courage to speak to his brother like that, unaware that his thought's matched the said brother's.

As they were walking, Sasuke remembered someone that would have said the same thing to Itachi if he had been in the village when all these occurred. He smiled, picturing the scene that was surely not too far away. "Naruto is going to have a kick out of this," he muttered.

Itachi heard him, and he smiled too. His Sakura had many knights in shinning amour, it seemed. He would gladly meet them all head-to-head until he was the last man standing, and the last and only knight for the sole pink-haired jewel by the name Sakura Haruno.