I'm in college, my dearest readers. College is a piece of work and has made me a piece of work myself. I haven't forgotten you. In fact, I've been outlining the rest of this story in what was left of my spare time sooo I finally have chapters coming your way. I received a few requests to permit fan art concerning my story and so you know, yes I'll allow it. Just don't forget to link me so I can see it too! 3

His first week there was perhaps the most painful week since scavenging for food as a war orphan. Not because sensei wasn't feeding him... but because sensei was trying to parent him. She belonged among toddlers with how worrisome and curious she was, asking him of his hygiene habits before permitting him access to her toiletries and inquiring about his literary skills. She wouldn't allow him to eat after a certain hour, made him wash every single day, had him fold and press his clothes... it was never ending! The ones that infuriated him the most to have to answer to towards a woman like her included but was definitely not limited to:

"How long has it been since you celebrated anything? Like-ya know, birth? New years even?"

"You hit puberty, right?"

"So have you already had...? No? Yes?! No... Oh-sorry for asking, geez."

"Morning or night person? Seriously? Well I'm on a tight schedule so-"

"Dude-don't pick and flick in my house! Didn't anyone ever teach you manners?! Oh wait... mom issues! Sorry."

Most things were over exaggerated, such as how late he would stay up beyond her bed time, in which case she would time him exactly 10 minutes past when she would turn off the lights before coming to him and telling him he was making too much noise and sleep was precious to her so yaddayaddayadda...

His bed was currently a loft above hers to preserve space in the room for his dresser full of-oh right-forgot to mention she took him shopping as if he were a boy getting ready for another school year.

"Yay sales-" or something like that. He couldn't remember. He could only recall feeling insanely warm from people watching her play mommy out in public.

She meant well, he was certain, but he wasn't sure how much of this he could take before attempting an assassination just to silence her constant nagging. As he lay there in bed his 13th day in her apartment, he listened quietly to her soft breathing as she slept. He had learned how to keep the bed from making any noise as he tossed and turned trying to fall asleep. He hadn't dared snoop around.. well at least not yet. He was still trying to learn the ins and outs of this place so that if he did decide to educate himself by analyzing her belongings, he would know exactly where to return it to, at the exact angle/tilt it was at as she left it. This desire to fish through her things, maybe it was childish, but this woman was studying him so hard-how come he couldn't do the same back?

As he released a sigh, he held a hand over his mouth, realizing his mistake and froze. There was no movement or sound from below this time. He finally cracked the system! If only he could just fall asleep.

This sucked. This sucked so bad because throughout the past 13 days she kept pushing and could only manage really dumb questions. At first she felt bad, but it became fun after a while. The worse the questions, the better she could project a mom and son experience upon him. It wasn't warming him at all but at the end of the day she would waltz off to her colleagues and get a high five with each comedic performance.

This all kicked her in the rear one day when she was summoned to Tsunade's office.

"I don't expect much from you other than your compassion and dedication to these kids. However-"

The pinkeye stiffened under her superiors steely gaze and looked off to the side, preparing her nerves for the scolding she was about to receive.

"You can't go around playing house as an excuse to abandon your duties as a sensei. If you want to make an impact on this kids life, give him a chance-maybe let him in a bit. I wouldn't trust you just because you gave me a roof over my head if I was not too long ago an orphan of war. This kid needs a strong foundation and it's time you grew up, Sakura. You're not a kid anymore."

Sakura blushed, feeling the wrath of Tsunade and quickly nodded before rubbing her arm with a gloved thumb. "My apologies... I will stop messing around, Lady Tsunade."

And now she was laying beneath his loft, looking up as if trying to see through it. She needed to break through to him... and her lack of empathy to match her short patience was definitely a wall between them. Hearing his sigh confirmed he was still awake. Perhaps this was a window of opportunity for them... Maybe they could start over.

Without allowing herself to think it through, she slid out of bed. Sasuke turned to face the wall to pretend he was asleep when he felt the bed shake.

"Psssst. Hey-" she whispered.

Sasuke bit his lip trying to fake sleep still till he felt the bed shake a little harder only to find that she had climbed up the ladder and was poking at his side.

"Sasuke, I know you're awake. Just quit faking," she demanded in a sharper whisper.

He hesitated to respond before finally sitting up seeing she had her chin pressed into the edge of his mattress while one hand clung to the ladder. She clearly hadn't fallen asleep yet but why was she up?

"...Well?" he muttered almost afraid to ask.

"Well come down here," she said with her eyebrows pointed. She looked a bit cranky. As he remained still and quiet she looked off to the side a few times and back at him before adding, "please."

Seeing her pout in annoyance-it was charming... well maybe not. He was tired anyway. As he climbed down, she stepped off to the side with a hand behind her back. He crossed his arms and grunted, wordlessly asking what she was hiding.

"Nuh uh, come on." she waved him over to her window before climbing out of it and onto her balcony.

Sasuke glanced around, wondering if this was another mommy test. When he found no potential threat, he followed her out the window. She was seated with her back against the bar railings and a paper bag in her lap. He sat beside her, leaning towards her to try and see inside of her bag.

"Wait-" she said, pushing her index finger against his forehead to push him away. "I wanted to apologize... I'm new to all of this, remember? So, I know this move has been difficult. It's been hard on me too. Ultimately I've learned next to nothing about you. Just that well-you don't like me and I get that. But I do... care about you... sometimes!" Her final word was sloppily added in.

Sasuke went from his typical cold stare to something a bit warmer. His gaze softened as he looked at her. She looked desperate, helpless even as she fought to pick the right vocabulary. When she looked back at him, she thought she caught him smile and it made her tremble for he seemed to closely resemble someone... someone dear. But in this moment she could not draw a match. Instead she rubbed her eyes only to find he had leaned closer to see if she was crying.

"Sakura...?" he spoke softly as he tilted his head.

"-I'm fine, Sasuke... I have something for you." she handed him the bag and hugged her knees as she waited for him to open it. "Now to be fair, since I interrogated you for answers and seem to have only fulfilled one detail... you get to ask me one question every time I ask you one so we can know each other better. Right?"

Sasuke opened the bag and felt his jaw tighten, was it joy? No, he would play it off as amusement in his sensei. He reached into the bag and pulled out a bright red tomato. So she had learned something after all... But a free question? Any type at all? He would have to make this good in order to get even with her. His eyes shifted back towards her, his lips parted, the question fell like silk and she lit up like fire.

A letter from Sakura

Itachi

These days have been mentally troublesome. I know your mission is out there in Suna. Please bring me back some of that candy. I won't forgive you if you come empty handed. Been planning a vacation. You're requesting time off when you return~

Sakura

PS If you don't, I'm taking the kids in your place and leaving you to babysit the brat. 3