INTERMISSION

So hello my lovely readers! I apologize profusely for the long delay, but I made another two stories (I must secretly be a masochist) and writers block sucks.

BUT. I have been working on the next chapter, it's just that I want to make it amazing so I keep erasing and rewriting it, thus causing further delay. Plus I'm also a bit sad because my first one-shot has been ignored. And I only got three reviews on the last chapter of this story. Sadness.

Anyhow, because you have all been so awesome with the Story/Author Alerts despite the lack of reviews, I've decided to give you this little break, a bit of a short side story really, until I am satisfied with the next chapter which should be up in the next week or two. I am working hard on it.

But if you want to encourage me to update sooner, reviews really do work wonders. And if you could give my lonely one-shot a go too, that really boosts morale for a faster job. Anyway, enjoy!

"Hey, Sakura?"

"Yeah, Itachi?"

"Can you explain me something? I really can't make sense of it."

"Wow, Itachi Uchiha is confused? This is a first. If you can't figure it out, what makes you think I can?"

"You really give yourself too little credit, Sakura."

"It's called modesty, Itachi. But you are the prodigy here. If you can't figure it out, why should I be able to?"

"Because you have a formidable mind."

"Uh-huh."

"You are sharp, intellectual, and very precise."

"Keep talking."

"And you are a million other great things; among them the strong will to fight and your also formidable looks."

"So I have a formidable mind and body?"

"Indeed."

"What about my personality?"

"Possibly one of the best traits you posses which I adore so."

"Alright, alright. You've sucked up enough. I'll help you, but only because I love you."

"I love you, too."

"I would hope so, or else I'd be really annoyed. And angry. And hurt."

"A bad combination on anyone, but especially on you who have the strength to blow away mountains with your finger."

"Exactly."

"Hn."

"I know. I love you."

"I love you more."

"I love you the most."

"I love you the best."

"This is getting us nowhere and very quickly off track."

"I don't mind. I love your kisses too. Would you deny my lips their water of life?"

"Now that was just cheesy, yet it makes me happy - mmmf. Itachi! Don't kiss me when I'm in the middle of a sentence! That's rude. And you call yourself a gentleman."

"Even gentlemen have their moments."

"Sure, whatever."

"Do my kisses not satisfy you?"

"What? No!"

"They don't?"

"No! Wait, I mean yes! They - hey, don't look at me like that! Are you laughing at me?"

"Heh. No; you are just adorable when you get flustered."

"You're a meanie."

"You still haven't answered."

"Sigh; alright, your kisses are my ambrosia. I admit it. What was it that you needed again? Don't chuckle at me; it's not my fault your kisses are intoxicating."

"Hn. You are one to talk."

"Don't you start with me."

"Fine. As I was saying, another reason you can help me figure it out is because it involves you."

"Does it really?"

"Yes."

"Well then, I guess I can help. Maybe. Shoot."

"I was wondering why you called Ino 'Ye.'"

"…"

"…"

"That's it?"

"Hn."

"Why are you curious?"

"It's a curiosity about you, and it intrigues me."

"Right."

"I'm serious. It's the little things that usually count the most."

"Uh-huh."

"Sigh. Are you going to tell me, or is it a secret, my dear Cherry Blossom?"

"I'll tell you. I just find it odd that you're interested in that, that's all."

"…"

"Well, you know how she calls me 'Pink' due to my hair color? Well, I decided to return the favor and call her Yellow, but that didn't quite have the same effect."

"I can see why."

"Exactly. So I decided to just shorten it to 'Ye.' It's just one syllable like my nickname, plus by coincidence it's similar to the first syllable of her last name."

"Ah."

"Plus it's better than her calling me 'Forehead' and me calling her 'Pig.'"

"Hn. But you still call each other those names, am I right?"

"Yeah. They are our childhood nicknames and after we got over our little dispute we kept using them until they stuck. We just figured we'd grow up a little."

"It's fine to grow up. Just promise me you won't do it so quickly that you become an old lady without m– ouch. That was mean on you, Sakura. What did my shoulder ever do to you aside from being your occasional pillow?"

"You deserve it and you know it."

"Hn."

"Don't you smirk at me, mister."

"Hn."

"Stop saying that! You're just like Sasuke in that aspect."

"He got it from me."

"You don't say."

"Don't frown, Blossom. I was just teasing you."

"I know, I know. I'm teasing you back."

"Are you now? Why are you smiling like that? What are you up to?"

"Hn. Wouldn't you like to know?"