Everything in my life

by Porcelain.Memories

An ORPHAN child with a dark past,HARUNO SAKURA is acclaimed to be the BEST cold-blooded CIA AGENT and ASASSIN, training under OROCHIMARU. But the price she paid was loneliness and inability to love. That, until she is being entrusted with a crucial MISSION:protect SASUKE and his reputed company from a secret exclusive CRIMINAL organization,while posing as his personal MAID.

15. His past - whispers from another time

CHAPTER 14

The pink haired agent curled her rosy lips up, in a small smile, taking a hold of the white piece of paper. She knew exactly what to do, it was just so obvious. The answer was right in front of her.

Sakura closed her green eyes, took the check between her small fingers, and tore the paper in half, startling Sasuke, who raised his head and looked at the woman in front of him, astonished.

Any other woman in her place would have taken the chance to make a run for it and live in luxury. But she was no ordinary woman. And the young heir in front of her, was no ordinary man. "Picture perfect…."

"Sakura…you…" The Sound agent didn't give Sasuke the chance to finish what he was about to say, because as soon as she threw the useless piece of paper in the air, she came right behind the said man, and without even thinking about what she was doing, put her hands around his waist in a tight embrace, resting her head in between his shoulder blades, giving in to his unique amazing smell.

Right there and then, Sakura made a vow in front of God and her racing heart: she was not going to let anyone touch Sasuke as long as she was around, mission be damned. She felt his body going stiff, but surprisingly, he didn't push her away.

"I don't care….about it…I don't care about anything! As long as you want me around, I am not going anywhere!" Her voice came muffled, because she was having her face glued to her boss` hot body.

The feeling of his warmth was giving her a sense of security and peace of mind, even though she has seen a demonic side of him. Yeah…she already established that she was insane.

"Why…are you willing to go that far?" Sasuke was stunned upon hearing what his maid was telling him. She was willing to remain by his side, after everything she has been through?

With a monster like him? Was she just as crazy as he was? Of course he wanted the pink haired maid to stay, especially after all that happened.

He only had bits of memories of what occurred to him in the past 2 days, but the only thing that was vivid into his mind, was her. Only her. And it was addictive.

The young Uchiha wanted to seriously turn around and hold her tight to his body, never letting the young woman go away. But he couldn't be that selfish…not any more. "To a girl like her…"

"Because I am your maid. And you are my boss. I got your approval…and I am not going to let you down." Inside, Sasuke was fighting the urge to put his hand over the two gentle smaller ones, crossed in front of his chest, but he refrained from doing so.

He played many people in his life, but he wasn't going to toy with this young woman's feelings any longer.

He wasn't a fool, her feeling for him were more than obvious, but unfortunately for her, the raven haired Uchiha couldn't return them. /Let her in…/ Those words were still echoing into Sasuke`s mind like a mantra, urging him to make the right choice, for the first time in his life.

" My approval…" In the other people's eyes, he was the perfect catch. But in reality, the life he was living was far from ideal. And the fact that monsters from his past were emerging from the shadows to plague him, was his own fault, for committing so many sins.

"…what for?" The reason why Sasuke refused any type of bonding, apart from his two friends, was because no one had to suffer the consequences of a life full of regrets along with him.

The serene attitude of his maid while expressing her choice to stay was intriguing him, for he knew she was different from the others.

And the way she was bravely talking to him like she was not in the slightest afraid to approach a man that almost raped and killed her was even more confusing. He has offered her what he thought it was a one life chance, but this young lady had another vision of life accomplishment.

Sasuke wanted to laugh at the irony of it. Just like his dead drunk sailor friend Suigetsu has told him in the club, Sakura was one in a million, but apparently he was the only one to not see it.

His maid managed to bring back feelings he was certain he got rid off when he realized nothing in the world was for free and no one was welcoming him with opened arms, without asking for something in return.

"What do you mean, Sir?" Sakura felt Sasuke`s hands resting over her own for a moment, then praying them apart, successfully putting some distance between their touching bodies. The rosette was eying his back, worried. What was he talking about?

The said man took some steps away from her, slipping both hands in his pockets, like he always did when he was bored or disinterested and that didn't sit right with Sakura.

When Sasuke was pushing people aside, acting like he didn't care about anything beside his well being, she felt insecure. The raven haired boss was already a difficult man to read, and him being the embodiment of an iceberg, was making it more difficult for Sakura to approach him.

"For staying here…working here…" Wasn't this the reason why Sasuke has hired her for? Sakura watched the retreating frame of the Uchiha, following his movements.

He was like an animated statue, meant to represent perfection of shapes, but unable to express emotions. In each viewer's opinion, it stirred completely different feelings.

"…Is that really your only reason?" The thought of her approaching him and playing the caring woman in order to seduce and rob him later, crossed Sasuke`s mind more than once.

But he refused to think so low of the only person that had the guts to speak her mind and defend her moral values in front of him, without trying to get under his skin, like all the others. "Even I can read the honesty in your glowing emerald eyes…"

"Are you implying I am having ulterior motives?" Incredible, how the man in front of her managed to manipulate all the situations in his favor, because he made Sakura having a mood swing without the help of any substance.

There she was, dead worried for his well being, confessing she was staying by his side, even if he was the leading actor in Nightmare on Elm Street, and the egocentric bastard still found it appropriate to accuse her of wanting to cheat on him.

Sakura was tempted to take the check and write so many zeros on the piece of paper, until the pen run out of ink. "Stupid motherfucker…see if I am saving his chicken ass shaped hair again…"

"Is it true?" Sasuke knew he was hurting her, making her angry, he knew it, but he had to be sure. No, deep inside, his heart already knew the answer. The Uchiha didn't forget what happened in the club, oh no.

He had distorted memories of what occurred two days ago, that was true, but some things were imprinted into his mind. But his more rational part urged him to stay alert.

A woman that was willing to work for him after he almost…was a rarity. Of course anyone in his place would have been suspicious.

"What do you think?" Sakura bit back sharply. She was no more in the worried maid mode. The insensitive jerk wanted to play hard to get? No problem, the pink haired assassin had the perfect attitude to show him.

Was he accusing her of having hidden reasons? Of course it was the truth, Sakura was certain any other woman in her place would have run from the Addams Family's home, upon seeing her boss going bananas.

"Heh…you know exactly what I think about Sakura…otherwise you wouldn't be asking me."

Sasuke turned his head over his shoulder, giving the infuriated little rosette a small smirk, to anger her more. A bitter Sakura was a honest one. "Honesty…such luxury in the world we live in"

"I think you are not being fair with me. If I had another reason for staying here, I would have accepted the money you offered…and beat your stupid smirking face until not even your ancestors would be able to recognize you, you imbecile."

"Hn…true. But you being by my side could benefit a woman like you more than just money." Yeah, Sasuke knew he was crossing the limits they have mutually established, but he was not the one to back up first and watch a mere youngster corner him.

"Hear the asshole…envisioning himself larger than money…he is more delusional than he looks…Is that so?

I thought lower-class people like me are all superficial simple minded monkeys in search for something they never had."

Sakura was furious. She was mentally strangling her boss like he did to her 24 hours ago, but the way she was picturing herself, was being more proficient than he was.

"I never said you were a commoner, Sakura." Sasuke couldn't help but appreciate the woman that was eying him like she wanted to close the distance between them and skin him alive.

No one could blame the heir for wanting to stir her up more and hear what she had to say. Everything his maid said, was not just for the heck of it.

She choose her words carefully, betraying skillfulness and sparkling intelligence; the irony and the deep meaning behind those sentences were carefully slipped in between her acid remarks.

"You don't say it aloud Sir, but you are implying it. I am a woman of my word. Only a woman that doesn't have a backbone would have went against her principles and sell her soul for something so scandalous as money…give me a damn pen, I am going to put so many zeros on that check, until the bank is going to beg for mercy!"

"Then tell me Sakura, why is your reason for still being here, after all that happened, in this room, in this house…into my life?

They were beating around the bush and the youngest Uchiha was getting impatient. For the lack of better terms, he felt like hell. The effect of the drug was still present; the acute headache was getting worse and his general mood screamed danger.

Sakura crossed her arms and closed her eyes, looking bored. Deep inside she was angry and…something else.

For an unknown reason, what her boss thought about her was really important for the Sound agent, because her heart skipped a beat when he took a hold of her hands and walked away from her embrace.

"I already told you Mr. Uchiha, I am you maid. And like any good maid, I am here to fulfill your wishes." Of course her virgin mind missed the innuendo in her words.

On the other hand, Sasuke caught the hidden message no problem. And that was bothering him. The need to feel her to be close to his body, her invigorating amazing smell and the warmth radiating from her perfectly shaped body were screaming for him to come and have a taste.

The memories of her moaning under his touch, the way her jade orbs were getting darker with every move he made and the obvious lust and desire in her trembling figure were rich into his mind and were plaguing him. She was a Goddess in every way.

No, Sasuke knew Sakura was not the ugly looking girl she was letting the others to believe. Call him crazy, but one of the reasons why he called her to come and pick him up was too see her dressed like a real good looking woman.

The Uchiha was not stupid, he knew her only way to get in the club was to get rid of her beggar clothes and become Cinderella.

Was she concealing her true looks from him on purpose? No problem, the smirking raven haired man had the perfect solution.

Only if he wasn't that drunk and drugged to take a better look at her…damn he couldn't remember clearly her appearance, but he was feeling it to the tips of his fingers; like a blind man getting to know the world around him by touching and feeling things.

And damn was he enchanted by her.

"If you want to…I want you to do it" Sasuke felt like punching his stupid apparently awake conscience. Was he given an overdose?

Because he was still hearing a second voice in his head, repeating the unspoken words from the bottom of his heart. "I don't need such childish and useless things as feelings; life taught me better than to trust the others…"

/Are you sure?/

Oh great, he was talking to imaginary friends again, asking for their advice, like a kindergarten little one. Sasuke was seriously entertaining the idea of visiting a doctor.

The said rosette caught the meaning as well, because her face was getting red and she was pouting. Adding her body language to the way she looked like, it was the funniest thing the Uchiha has seen in his life.

"You want me to…what exactly Sir? What are your…desires?" Oh Sakura was hearing mental ovations. She was using his exact words to catch him out of guard. How much from the past events was he able to remember? She was going to find out.

Sasuke looked at his maid, a frown plastered on his face. Was that an invitation? "What are yours, Sakura?"

For some unknown reason, that particular last statement was familiar to him, but Sasuke wasn't able to make the connection between the events. It was just obvious that those were his lines, because Sakura was too oblivious to the implications of the words to use such lewd language.

The Sound agent's full lips curled down into a small scowl. He didn't seem to envision himself uttering those words during his flirty mood swing, but he was trying to find the logic in her question. "Smartass…"

"I really want to know…what happened in here." Sakura pointed her finger in the direction of the covered in permanent marker walls and desk.

Screw Sasuke and his mind games, she wanted to know what happened when she was asleep. And since those damn CCTVs and microphones weren't working in the office, her only chance of finding out the truth was to ask the brooding man.

"…" Sasuke went silent upon hearing Sakura`s wish. Of course she was entitled to get an explanation of his strange behavior, but he wasn't sure he wanted her to know. From his part, the dark eyed young Uchiha knew what he had to do.

No matter how nagging his conscience might be and no matter how painful the need to bring her closer to him and hug her was, Sasuke was not going to let her enter his world. "I cannot let her in."

/You are just being stubborn/

"I am, but I am not doing it for myself, I am choosing the best path for both of us." Sasuke knew the silly game of flirting had to stop before they both passed the path of no return. For the first time in his life, he decided not to be selfish.

Sakura was not going to be trapped into his lonely crafty life. Even he, was not going to taint his conscience with such a sin. And the stupid voice in his head was annoying the heck out of him.

/You cannot decide for her as well/

Before he could stop his mouth from uttering the words, Sasuke answered Sakura`s question. "This…is not something new."

If she wasn't resting her back on the bookshelves behind the large wooden desk, Sakura would have fainted. "WHAT?! What the hell is he talking about?"

"Sir, are you telling me that you have done something similar before?" Ok, so him being drugged in a club, by a gang of international criminals, going on rampage because of the side effects of the LSD, was one thing. But hearing that he has acted that evil before was changing the game completely.

"So you drafting weird things on the walls is not a one time occurrence? Please tell me you haven't painted The Last Judgment from the Sistine Chapel as well."

The Uchiha left the unspoken words hang in the air. He let his endless black orbs wander the walls around him, without saying anything.

He felt his heart constrict and his muscles going tense. Sasuke clenched his jaw tightly, unconsciously fisting his hands. He didn't want to go there; his past memories were too disturbing.

He had the answer on his tongue to add to the vivid images engraved into his skull, but he didn't want to let Sakura know the truth.

The young heir already established he was going to close his heart from his maid, so sharing bits of his troubled past meant allowing her one step closer to his real self, in the form of a bond he wasn't ready to accept.

/Tell her/

"Shut up will you?"

Sakura was patiently waiting for her boss to tell her something. Anything would suffice. She was seeing it in his dark beautiful eyes: the internal turmoil. She knew those must have been horrid past events he was probably having second thoughts of wanting to share with a stranger.

"Mr. Uchiha were you…"

"Just like now…back then as well…" Sakura saw hesitance written all over her boss` tired face. It was crystal clear he was having second thoughts of telling her what was bothering him.

And the fact that she was apprehensive when seeing him pinch the bridge of his nose, looking almost…troubled, made her wonder just why did she care so much about a man she has just met?

Sasuke turned his body in the direction of his maid, fixing her with his hard obsidian eyes, wondering how her flashing green chartreuse eyes could contain so many emotions for someone that attempted to hurt her.

Was she that oblivious of the world she lived in, or the false impression of naiveté was confusing him?

"During the high school days…I was a drug addict." He saw Sakura`s eyes go wide, her jaw dropping to the floor, unceremoniously, obviously not expecting such a confession from him. But Sasuke was telling her the truth.

"A drug addict? Then…it means…Sir, are you aware of the fact that you have been given a psychedelic substance?"

Sakura was astonished and she was not even trying to hide it. Her boss has been taking drugs, for real? My Goodness, and to think her shishou Tsunade was only joking when she called her…In all honesty, the emerald eyed girl was expecting anything but that.

No one would have been able to tell that a man like Sasuke Uchiha has been an addict of any psychoactive substance; he was not having the traits.

Sasuke nodded once in confirmation, not taking his eyes from her. That was a serious matter and Sakura was aware of the consequences.

The black jet haired man was trusting her with a very important secret, choosing to be genuine with her, for some unknown reason. And of course she got the silent message: what she was about to hear was not to leave the office.

"I had been an addict of two drugs: cocaine and LSD. And I am well aware of the fact that it is the former I have ingested, because the symptoms match the previous trips experiences."

"Is this the real reason why you have called me to come and pick you up from the club?" Sakura couldn't believe her ears. What her boss was trying to tell made absolutely zero sense.

"To be completely sincere, yes."

"I cannot believe it! You knew from the very beginning what was about to happen, yet you called me of all the people to come and suffer the consequences, without having any idea of what I am going to deal with?!"

The stupid bastard…Sakura was one step back to go and stab the man in front of her with a long senbon, right in the heart. "I am not sure if the imbecile has one to begin with…"

Right there and then, the Sound agent felt betrayed. And to think it was her boss the one to always accuse her of hiding her past from him, having ulterior motives. But he felt no remorse in endangering her the first time he got the chance to do so.

She wanted to cry in frustration. Never in her life has Sakura felt so ashamed of herself. She was stupid to believe Sasuke was a considerate man. Apparently, he was beautiful just on the outside.

"This is exactly why I have called you, of all the people."

"Why? Because I of all the people was the least riskier option?"

"…because you of all the people would have been able to handle it best."

Sasuke had no idea of how to make her understand his real motives and the livid pink haired girl was not following him. Why was it so difficult for her to understand that he wanted her to be there, no matter the situation?

/It is you who makes it so difficult to understand/

Ok, where was the shut button, the Uchiha was getting annoyed. Vaguely, he heard Suigetsu`s words echoing in his mind. "Denial my friend, denial…" He would have never guessed his alcoholic friend even knew such complex words.

"And how would you know if I am able to hold my ground or run away?" Oh the cocky lying bastard was playing the emotional genius.

Sakura wanted to murder him and fed him to that big dog that chased her the first time she came to Tokyo. He was basically admitting he used her, with the most serene attitude ever!

"Because I trust you, Sakura." Ok, that was something the said maid didn't expect. He what? Sasuke freaking Uchiha was having faith in her to entrust his well being in her capable hands, as well as ensuring her own safety?

That was a good one. But…when she looked into his light swallowing endless coal orbs she could have sworn she saw something flicker. Like a small remain of a crushed emotion, trying to bloom into the endless frozen surface that was his core.

Even in her angered state, Sakura couldn't deny that the honesty he was showing was palpable. Surprisingly, she didn't find a bitter remark to match his tone.

"Heh…I am glad I managed to earn your acknowledge…Mr. Uchiha. After all, it is you that always doubted my every move."

Oh, she was sarcastic and she wasn't hiding it. The fact that he told her the truth didn't make up for the fact that she was being used. Well…she was his maid after all but…"damn what an imbecile mission. I am going to charge CIA twice the price."

"Don't be annoying, it is you that gave me the reasons to do so."

Even so, there was something Sakura really found it odd. When she has started the mission she wasn't told about her boss being an addict, nor was it written in his file. Was it because no one else knew?

What about Uzumaki, who has studied in Virginia as well? "How did you overcome your addiction? Supposing you did it…?"

Sasuke threw her a dark heated glance. Was she implying he was still taking drugs? Nonetheless, his recovery was even more disturbing than his addiction. It was mostly that thing the Uchiha didn't want to remember.

"I got help."

"No shit Sherlock…help? I assume you mean professional help." It was hard for the Sound agent to imagine a younger Sasuke in rehab, fighting his drug abuse addiction. She eyed him suspiciously.

Of course Sakura had no idea of how his much younger self has been in the past, but he didn't look like a man to be controlled by something else, be it another human or a hallucinogen substance.

He was the kind of guy that liked to have his mind clear and devoid of emotions. "Emotions…is that the reason why he did it?"

"I wouldn't call it professional. More like…unconventional." Sasuke was darting his obsidian eyes from the writings on the walls to the broken wooden surface of the desk, clenching his teeth.

There he was reminiscing painful past life events he wanted to forget, but found himself unable to do so. All the time his maid was sleeping in his bed, peacefully, recollections from his high school period hit him full force, disturbing his sleep. All the pain and struggle…and those images…

"What do you mean unconventional?" Of course, nothing could have been normal when it came to the young Uchiha. But Tsunade`s words rang in her brain. "They all had extrasensory perception…so was it true after all?"

"…" Sasuke refrained from giving her another explanation. He already told her all too much and knowing Sakura, she was going to put two and two together. But what he told her was sincere, there were three people that knew he had been taking drugs and Naruto and his maid were two of them.

"What exactly does this mean, Mr. Uchiha? I mean all this…formulas? Is this math?" The Sound agent didn't press her boss further with more explanations.

She knew he was making a great effort when letting her know bits of his past and that was enough for her. But back to more important stuff, she had to figure out what the hell was he tried to tell when he redecorated his boring office room. "Painting symbols on the walls like cavemen…"

"To be completely sincere, I have no idea myself." Indeed, just like the previous time, the raven haired Uchiha has no idea of what that meant, nor that he cared too much.

All he wanted was to go upstairs, shove two sleeping pills down his mouth and die for a month. He was worn out. Of course, he couldn't neglect his responsibilities and just run away…like his brother.

"Damn weasel…"

"You don't have any idea? What an imbecile stupid asshole…Well I suppose if you say you don't know, it goes without saying that the person who helped you recover couldn't understand as well?"

Surprisingly enough, Sasuke let the words hung in the air, neither confirming nor infirming her question. But the short glistening in his charcoal eyes and his dead serious face told Sakura it might have not been such a mystery.

She connected her emerald orbs with his obsidian orbs, looking for the unspoken words. So there was someone that knew what those writings meant? "The why is he…"

"Sir, do you have any memory of what happened in the past two days?" That was what the rosette assassin wanted to find out in the first place. Did he know about her appearance, the shooting episode, him playing James Bond?

Oh God, the affectionate moment from his room…Sakura had troubles in keeping a neutral façade, but deep inside she was drowning in shame. His touch has never been more present in her mind than on that moment.

She broke the eye contact, not being able to look at him anymore, without remembering the way he looked like when he was caressing her skin, with those strong, but gentle hands.

At that, Sasuke let a small knowing smirk appear on his lips, almost amused by the way his maid was flashing her grass green eyes up like trying to picture some past events and was nibbling her lower lip, avoiding looking in his general direction.

"Hn…"

His onyx orbs sent an intense short glance to her soft petal rose lips, inhaling deeply to control his racing heart. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't erase the remembrance of her appetizing mouth.

And to think he has been so close of feeling the aroma and the silkiness of that skin…He shook his head once in disbelief.

That was insane, how would he be able to keep a safe distance from the woman shying in front of him, when all he wanted was to take the required steps in her direction and pull her into a ravenous kiss?

"Oh God please tell me he doesn't or else I am screwed! Sakura felt the need to hide under the desk. That insightful staring on his beautiful dark eyes and the sexy smirk…she felt butterfly rise in her throat…again.

The effect of the handsome man was obvious and all the rosette could think of was how to go and touch him. She wasn't going to be selfish, just once would suffice…of course it wouldn't, who am I going to fool, I want to let my hands roam all over that hard body of his…

Much to the Uchiha`s amusement, his maid slapped her cheek hard once, shaking her head in disbelief. And to add to the already awkward tension between them, he knew exactly what she was thinking about.

/See? You want her and she wants you as well./

The other voice in his head got a painful ignore. Sasuke was good at ignoring annoying loud things. That's how he was able to tolerate Naruto and Suigetsu.

"Well I must confess Sakura, there are some interest things that make me wonder…just how much do you actually hide…behind those hideous big glasses and baggy clothes of yours?"

"Wanna come and find out you jerk? You are avoiding my question Sir. But I am aware of the effects of LSD so I assume you only have fragments of distorted images and probably flashbacks."

Inside, Sakura was praying to all the known Gods, even the ones that weren't invented yet for him to not remember anything related to her, or else she was screwed. And the smirking bastard had the guts to mock her even in those circumstances.

Sakura already knew they were both senile. Just who in their right mind would carry on such a conversation, when one of the speakers tried to kill the other one?

But the she realized that was the way the two of them could communicate the best and that made her smile inside. They already had a small bond and her boss was willing to not let it sever.

"You have no idea…Of course; I would like to hear everything that happened from the moment I called you, until now. If you would be so kind to not let any important DETAIL aside, I would be more than grateful."

Sakura`s body winced upon hearing her boss` demands, hitting the piece of furniture behind her so hard, it made a red candle that was resting on a higher shelf, fell right on her head, with a loud bump. "What the hell…is this weirdo a voodoo practitioner or something?!"

"Auch!" Sakura was rubbing the throbbing painful area of her head, cursing Sasuke on the inside. Everything was harmful around that man.

Meanwhile, the said man was looking at the pink dyed maid with disbelief. She was a walking disaster. But her silliness was entertaining. And refreshing.

The Sound agent got a more serious attitude and told Sasuke what he wanted to know, with as many details as she could, leaving aside some more…juicy events.

It was not like she could have told him about how he was pleasing her, in his intoxicated state; it was too humiliating for her pure mind. Or so she thought…

She debated on not telling him about his shooting skills, but he was meant to find out from the media anyways.

Sakura was not stupid, she knew there were many people that saw the incident and at least one of them was going to be a loud mouth and tell the others about it. You do not see an Uchiha heir killing people in clubs, on daily basis.

But she lied to him, letting him know that it was a gun she managed to steal from one of their chasers when they were attacked. Of course Sakura knew he probably didn't believe her story, but her boss didn't question it further. Instead, he seemed in deep thought.

Sasuke probably knew the implications of his actions and was formulating a back up plan. Most likely he would have to bribe the media and not let the information spread.

"I see…it got pretty bad."

"…Yup…"

There was an uncomfortable silence between the two of them after their short briefing. Sakura had her eyes glued to the floor, and her boss was looking to the window, absentmindedly.

The pair knew there were many unspoken words left and important details overlooked. They were probably debating what to ask and what to keep a secret and not spoil the already fragile questionable relationship they had.

It was Sasuke that broke the awkward stressful stillness.

"Sakura I am only asking you this, one more time. Are you sure you want to stay here? Like I told you, I will not move a finger if you want to leave, nor will I try to force you into acting like all this mess never happened.

You can even sue me for rape and killing attempt, I will not stop you, and you have my word."

"Pfff yeah…and you will use a bunch of lawyers to prove you weren't in your right mind and avoid the penalty…like I said: I am staying here, unless you personally throw me outside."

Of course, Sasuke tried to deal with the situation like he was conducting a business related meeting. He came with the most logical solution, convenient to both the parties.

But Sakura didn't give a shit about that. What was bothering her, were his statement of not moving a finger if she left him or not.

Like he didn't even care if it was her or another woman. The emerald eyed agent looked over her shoulder, her gaze cast on a hard covered book. On a second view, it looked pretty old, but it was too close for her to read the title.

For some unexplained reason, she felt a constricting sensation in her chest, upon thinking that Sasuke really didn't give a damn about what happened to her.

Not only did he call her when he was in real danger, like what happened to her was not important, then coming up with lame excuses to cover his lack of interest, but she was not even worth of an apology. "So you wouldn't try to stop me if I wanted to leave…"

Sasuke felt like he could breathe normally, for the first time in 48 hours. The thought of his maid leaving was making his mind fill with some sort of panic. He closed his onyx orbs for a moment, exhaling deeply.

He was insane if he became so attached to a stranger in such a short amount of time. And why was she acting like she was disappointed? Did the small ugly looking woman in front of him expecting something else from him? But what?

/Tell her you wouldn't want anyone else to take her place/

As if. The Uchiha wouldn't be caught dead saying such a thing to Sakura, even if he knew it was the truth. He couldn't picture another girl staying by his side, doing what she did.

Sakura was special; she was something else…something more, she was someone he could trust. He even told her something not even his parents were aware of.

A loud Ring! interrupted the conversation. Sasuke pulled his phone out of his pocket, looking at the ID caller. When he got off the bed, the first thing he did, after taking a long hot shower, was to check on his agenda.

There were over two thousands missed calls and voice mails flashing on the screen of his smartphone, but the stoic man erased every single one, without looking at the content. Other dramas to add to his already messed up thoughts? No thanks! Better safe than sorry.

"Juugo?"

"Mr. Uchiha, thanks God you have answered, I tried to reach you since yesterday!" The gentle secretary Juugo sounded really shaky and impatient. Like Sasuke could give a rat's ass about what happened to the Mangekyou or his business partners.

From his point of view, it could burn to ashes or be hit by a crashing plane. He was going to eat pizza and drink a bottle of Cola and laugh his head off watching the show.

"Hn…I was busy." Yeah, the Uchiha was busy all right. There was some minor problems preventing him to go work, namely being drugged by a whore in a club or molesting his maid or redecorating his office.

"I understand Sir, but no matter what, you have to come here as soon as possible."

"What is the rush?" Of course, Sasuke knew that when being the heir of a billion dollars company, there were many things to be dealt with, like following the stock exchange or keeping an eye to the possible investors and other competitors.

It was not child's play. But he didn't like the scared tone in his usually calm secretary's voice.

And his answer almost made the raven younger Uchiha slap the phone on his door…again. He was gripping the device so tightly, like he was keeping his nerves on leash. From all the things…

"Your father is here."

He hung up immediately, not even waiting for Juugo to finish what he was about to say. It didn't matter anymore. If that loathsome man was there, waiting for him, it usually meant serious shit.

And Sasuke was afraid he didn't have the required energy and self control to deal with his father. Other people might think Fugaku felt blessed to have such a capable son and their relationship was really good.

In reality, his father was the raven haired young man's number one enemy. Sasuke hated his father's attitude with burning passion.

Sakura watched her boss acting like he was under the drug's influence all of sudden, again. His intent to destroy something or punch someone was obvious from the murderous aura he was emitting.

But she knew it was related to the conversation he had on the phone. What disturbing news has his secretary Juugo told him, to change his attitude from extremely tired and bored, to "killing people that annoy the heck out of me" mode?

Sasuke brushed his spiky hair off his face, messing it even more than usual, letting out a loud sigh. "I have to go. I will probably be back around midnight.

There is a load of work waiting for me out there…as well as a ridiculous brooding clown, not missing the chance to remind me how much of a disappointment to the family I am."

"Of course…Sir." Sakura watched the retreating figure of her boss. He took his black suit jacket, leather briefcase and car keys and exited the office room, not before stopping his movements in the door way, turning his head over his shoulder, addressing her in a bored tone.

"I am calling someone to repaint this shit and have the desk replaced." And left. The Sound agent followed him until she saw his car speed up to the streets, not exchanging any other words with her boss. Deep inside, she couldn't help but feel worried.

It was more than obvious he was completely worn out, exhaustion visible in his every move. He looked deprived of sleep and food and she knew he felt queasy as well. And he had to deal with God only knows what troublesome company related matters in his state…

As soon as she couldn't see his car on the alley, Sakura sprinted to her room taking her camera. Repaint the walls?

Sure, but not until she took a hundred of photos, from all the right angles and send them to Orochimaru. Those writings and numbers were not random, Sakura was certain about it.

Those were formulas, possibly math or physics and they were serious matter. Not only that, but the other weird designs and symbols written half in Greek and half in other possibly ancient language needed special analyze. "I need another damn job…"

Mangekyou HQ, Tokyo

As soon as Sasuke parked his car into the underground parking lot, he took the elevator and rode up to the sixteen floor, not sparing his subordinates a single glance.

He was royally pissed and the fact that he was going to find Fugaku in the confinement of his office was giving him the headache of the century.

From all the people that could have bothered him at that time, it had to be to most hateful person in the entire universe. Sasuke already knew his father was going to scold him for neglecting his duties and entangle in the Blue Lagoon scandal.

It was the hottest topic among the celebrities gossip, making the headlines of all the newspapers, along with a senile 90 years old filthy rich hag from Tennessee, who left her $60 million fortune to her golden fish, Shakespeare.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Sasuke sprinted to his office door, not even acknowledging Fugaku`s eight bodyguards` presence, who bowed their heads respectfully upon seeing him, grabbing the knob roughly and pushing the door opened.

"I should have taken a small dosage of LSD before coming here…"

Uchiha Fugaku was lying in the black comfy chair, behind the office desk, eying his son with a passive look on his brooding face.

Despite the fact that his branded clothes looked clean and ironed, his face was a mess. He had purple bags under his eyes and he was throwing malevolent glances in his direction. The elder Uchiha was not impressed.

"Hello, son. I am glad you managed to clear your busy schedule and spare your father some time."

The way Fugaku let the words roll out of his tongue sounded more like he was cursing his son, not greeting him. On the inside, he was probably doing the exact thing.

Sasuke looked at the man that was occupying his chair like he was the Grim Reaper, in search for his soul, coming to escort him to the pits of Hell. In the younger Uchiha`s vision, that was exactly what an encounter with his "dear" father meant.

"Cut the crap and state your business. I am not here to chat."

Sasuke was tempted to turn around and leave. There was nothing to discuss with the man that was glaring daggers in his skull, hating his mere existence to the point where the dark eyed younger Uchiha really thought he was blaming the day when he was born.

"Hn…I see you are still having that rude behavior in the presence of your superiors."

Fugaku was looking at his infuriated son, bored. He was trying to reach him for two days, wasting his precious time in search for the black sheep of the family.

In his mind, Sasuke was the reason Itachi gave up his rightful position, to make place for his younger brother, as the CEO of the Mangekyou.

"When I am going to see someone superior to me in this room, I am going pay my respect. Until then, I am the CEO here, so anyone that has a business with me should address me from the other side of the desk."

Sasuke was basically spitting the words in his father's face. Unbelievably, that loathsome man's attitude towards his own son was insulting.

All his life, the ebony haired Uchiha has sought for his father's approval and care, but was given the cold shoulder whenever he needed most.

Under no circumstance will Sasuke ever show that pathetic excuse of a father any sort of gratitude. In his view, his maid Sakura deserved it more than his predecessor.

Fugaku dropped his stone façade consequent to his child's statement, his mood taking a similar turn to Sasuke`s maleficent one, both of them pinning the other one with a heated equally dark gaze, that would make dead ones tremble in fear.

The amount of hate between the two relatives was so intense, it was palpable.

"How dare you insult your own father, you brat!" Fugaku jumped from his seat, slamming both his hands on the hard wooden surface of the large office desk, causing the air in the room to vibrate with the force of the impact.

It was always a pain in the ass to deal with his younger son. He took a newspaper that rested in front of him and threw it at his unresponsive son`s feet, making the thin sheets of paper scatter in all directions.

Sasuke didn't even flinch. He kept his hard stare on his father all the time, not backing away or showing any sort of fear. Fugaku was the kind of man to control the others by using force and inflicting fear.

Sasuke on the other hand, was more into mind control and manipulation, the brute strength not being his style. Not that he was lacking in that department…

He threw a quick glance at the flying papers, catching one of the closest one in his left hand. The fact that his wrist was bandaged didn't escape Fugaku`s sharp eye.

"Is that the way the Mangekyou`s CEO should act?!"

Sasuke read the first two lines in the first column, on the front page.

/INTERPOL puts an end to an international drug organization. Uchiha heir caught in crossfire. Many suspects detained. Blue Lagoon temporary closed/

"Hn…I thought you knew better than to trust this shit." The raven haired Uchiha already took care of the media and internet, but he couldn't stop the magazines and newspapers that were already on the shops` shelves from being bought by customers. The internet was on fire as well.

"Are you denying the facts son? There are people that saw you shooting a man!"

"It was self defense." Sasuke was well aware of what he did back then in the club. He was not at the peak of the trip at that time, and when he realized Sakura was in danger, his body acted on his own accord, doing his best to protect her from being hit.

"Self defense my ass! I am curious on how are you going to explain that to the judges. See if they are going to believe such a story!" Fugaku was enraged.

The last thing he expected was for his ninja younger child to interrupt his breakfast, by making the headlines of all the news, and a lot of phone calls from film producers to offer Sasuke a contract for an action movie (they have appreciated his skills)!

Fugaku took his private jet and flew all the way to Tokyo to make sure his son hasn't run away with the circus. Apparently he didn't…yet.

Upon hearing that, Sasuke gave a small smirk. "I already did that, or else I wouldn't have been standing here, facing you…although I am sure you wouldn't have been in too much grief seeing me behind the bars…"

Fugaku eyed his son in disbelief. Of course Sasuke had all the resources needed to escape such an event, without a criminal record, after all, all the rich people were using their money to escape penalty, but still…

"Really now? And how did you manage to avoid jail, mind asking you?"

"I have…connections." Although the younger Uchiha didn't want to start talking about his links, his mind was cracking at the simple thought of asking that person for favors. But he wouldn't be caught dead behind the bars.

"It doesn't matter. Do more stunts like this and this company is going to lose the investors` faith. Are you even aware of how is the stock market going, or were you too busy with drugs and whores to give a damn about what happens in this company?"

"There he goes again…" Sasuke knew that no matter how much he was working his ass for his damned company, Fugaku would always find something to complain about.

He couldn't even stand the idea of his younger child leading his family's dearest treasure, as well as the fact that it was not his brother Itachi the one doing it.

"You know me all too well father, don't you?"

"I am not interested in understanding what is going on in that head of yours Sasuke, but I don't want the Mangekyou to go bankrupt because of your incompetence. See this?" Fugaku took a file from his suitcase and shove it to his offspring, roughly.

"This is a copy of all the auction markets from the New York and Tokyo Stock Exchange. Mind enlighten me why in the world did Mangekyou`s shares value dropped with 0.12 % in the past two moths?"

Sasuke eyed the said paper, throwing it back on the desk in front of his angry father. He has been studying the stock exchange intently, never failing to keep his stocks on a high price, but still attract many investors.

When it came to business, the ebony eyed Uchiha was brilliant. He had no rival in terms of business skills, but his father was never going to see just how lucky the company was to have him as the CEO. In Fugaku`s narrowed mind, he was just the shadow of his older brother.

"Because I used the profit as dividends and divided it between the shareholders, instead of raising the registered capitaland grow the number of the shares and sell them on the stock market."

Sasuke didn't understand why was his father so concerned with that loathsome company, because he was not the CEO anymore. Technically, Sasuke has been appointed by the shareholders to be the next CEO, by votes and shares transfer on his account.

But the tradition required Fugaku to give up his title and make his son the next heir, as part of a Ball or a huge party, in which all the other heirs and company owners gathered and celebrated.

It was a silly thing in most of the people's opinions, because legally, the Mangekyou belonged to Sasuke, as the rightful heir.

"And who gave you the right to do so?! Do you want to ruin this company?!"

"I am entitled to do as I please, as the rightful CEO of the Mangekyou. Besides, the exchange rate was not beneficent for our shares, because of the Walmarkt`s loss. It would have been a dumb idea to sell at a lower price."

Of course, the death of the international holding Walmarkt CEO has affected the stock market dramatically, because there were many investors that went bankrupt after the sudden drop of the shares values. Sasuke has been smart in not listing more of his own stocks on the auction market.

"Heh…you have no idea how to run this company! You just act like this is your playground to do as you please and play the saint, while your competitors are waiting for a chance to ruin you!"

Sasuke bent his head, facing the ground. His mind was still dizzy from the drug, and there he was, being accused of incompetency, when in reality, his father had no idea of what he was talking about.

Everyone was more than stunned when finding out the Mangekyou didn't suffer any loss, while some other companies that were Walmarkt investors had to lower their authorized share capital.

"Of course…if it is not Itachi in my place, you will never be content. In your eyes, my presence and efforts would not suffice to fill in his place…I was never your son…"

"Itachi would have been more capable and skilled in business than you will ever be! You are just a spoiled brat, without a backbone and too soft and lenient for the world you live in. You are just like your mother!"

Fugaku could have sworn the air in the room turn into million invisible electric needles, piercing his skin. Never in his life has the previous Mangekyou CEO seen such a vile gaze as the one his own son thrown in his general direction.

"Don't…"

The aura around Sasuke changed completely, while he was taking small steps towards his standing father. He was not angry. He was not enraged.

He was livid. For him, his mother was the image of a saint and he would be damned if he let such a low life excuse of a loving father and caring husband to taint the iconic matriarch.

"…ever…"

Unconsciously, Fugaku`s body stirred, when seeing his child approaching him, his shoulders going stiff. He was a powerful man indeed, but not even himself could have handled such an evil figure.

Sasuke`s eyes were wide open, his midnight dark stare so heated, that it gave the feeling of his irises basically reflecting the light, swallowing its life force, making his father sense the murderous intent through his every pore.

He was fisting his hands, his whole body trembling with rage.

"…badmouth…"

He came right in front of his father and was basically dripping venom from his extremely low baritone voice, making the blood into Fugaku`s veins freeze. He was the perfect picture of a demon, in human shape.

"…my mother!"

Sasuke could have taken any shit thrown at him from his father. He didn't give a damn about what the others thought about him. But never was to touch his mother in any way, while he was still breathing.

Fugaku thought he was powerful and imposing? Let him have a taste of what Uchiha Sasuke really meant. His father knew nothing about him and for that particular reason, he was the one cowering in fear, although he did his best to hide it.

"Hn…do as you please. I don't give a fuck. But don't come crying when things will go downhill."

The older Uchiha couldn't take his son's piercing stare, that was practically devouring his spirit, almost cutting his air supply. The powerful bloody killing intent was so obvious, it was painful to stand close to him.

"Get out…of my office…off my life."

Without any other word, Fugaku took his suitcase and left the office, throwing a glance over his shoulder to his child.

Sasuke was glued to the floor, body stiff, head turned around slightly on his side, with his ebony locks covering his contorted in anger face partly, hiding his onyx eyes. The amount of dark energy radiating from him was overwhelming.

The elder Uchiha father grabbed the knob and pushed the door opened, giving his bodyguards a pointed look and proceeded to the elevator. When he took his phone out of his pocket to call for his pilot, he observed his hand was shaking in fear.

"I cannot recognize the man I talked to anymore…"

As soon as his father closed the office door with a loud thud, Sasuke punched the glass of the office shelf behind him, breaking it into tiny pieces. He felt a strong wave of hate taking control over his mind, blinding his judgment.

The fact that he was not able to feel any other sort of emotion, beside negative ones, was his father's fault, for forcing him into becoming something he was not.

The Uchiha felt his world crumble and what remained from his heart blend with the deadly silence surrounding him. Right there and then, he felt no part of him being alive.

Small drops of blood leaked from his knuckles, blending with the broken glass, reflecting a distorted image of his face. "Who is the real me?"

Sasuke left his body fall to the ground, kneeing in front of his large panoramic window, with his sweating forehead glued to the cold surface. He held his left wrist with the right hand tightly.

That damned mark was burning him like crazy. The young heir attempted to calm his nerves, inhaling and exhaling deeply, doing a simple yoga exercise to cool off. He knew the flashbacks are going to be present into his dreams from then on, so he had to be mentally strong.

"Damn it…"Sasuke had a way to soothe his internal battle for a a brief moment he was tempted to…"No, I must fight it myself."

Knock Knock

"Mr. Uchiha, can I come in?"

Sasuke stood up, brushed his raven hair once, and shoved his hands into his pockets, still facing the window. Seeing the people run aimlessly on the street somehow matched his thoughts. He was also chasing an impossible dream.

"Yes."

Juugo entered his boss` large office, a cup of tea in his hand, silently offering it to the troubled Uchiha. Sasuke accepted the beverage, taking a sip. He felt some of the tension leaving his muscles. "Black Ceylon lemon tea…" his mother's favorite.

"I am glad you are here, Sir. Have you heard the latest news?" Of course, Juugo was avoiding the encountering between the son and the father, as well as the latest scandal, on purpose.

"News?"

"Yes. You have a message from the Organizing Committee, that arrived yesterday morning. Due to the unfortunate death of such an important CEO, the upcoming Charity Ball has been postponed."

Now that took Sasuke by surprise. He knew the recent events had made the world's stock markets shake, but the Ball had a long tradition between the most prominent families.

Sasuke knotted his eyebrows, thinking deeply. If they went that far to delay such an important event, it meant the world's economy was more at risk than he thought.

"How much did they postpone it?"

"A month, Mr. Uchiha." The said man nodded once in understanding. He took another sip of the tasty tea. "30 days…" He had stuff to do.

"Juugo, bring me the files with the Swiss bank account, as well as the graphics with all the bond valuations of our stocks. As far as I am concerned, the market price for our bonds it's higher than its face value, which means we do not provide any discount."

"Yes Sir."

The dark haired Uchiha threw his suit jacket on the sofa, and took a sit on his leather chair, pulling out his laptop from his briefcase. He let his long fingers fly on the keyboard, his sharp mind already in working mode.

"Now let's see what is the exchange rate between the Japanese yen, the Us dollar and the Euro."

Sakura has spent a good half an hour to take as many photographs as possible, from all the right angles. She was going to download them and sent them to Orochimaru for analysis.

If those writings needed an expert's opinion, he was going to send them to someone who works in the field.

"Gosh, when the hell did he have time to write all of this in such a short amount of time?" /They were all genius level/ Yeah, now that scared Sakura: a genius Sasuke to add to his insanity. That guy…

After she took one more set of pictures, the Sound agent went upstairs, connected her camera to the laptop and selected copy then paste.

She was going to print a particular picture with the set of characters that looked like hieroglyphs, to have a better view. Staying glued to the screen was tiring for her eyes.

"35 minutes of waiting…oh well." Sakura minimized the transfer tab, then pressed the video call option. She really hoped her friend was not in some sort of mission, God only knew the pink haired assassin needed a little girl chat. Her hormones went nuts!

"Cherry!"

"WHAAA…what the hell Rin?" Karin`s face appeared on the large LCD screen, startling Sakura. She was doing her daily beauty ritual, which consisted in applying a banana and honey facial mask…and two slices of cucumber on her forehead. Her sparkling red hair was tied up in a small bun. She looked horror.

"Honey, it takes effort to look this good duh. Remember, we used to do this twice a week?"

Sakura let out a small sad smile. She missed her life in Italy so much, especially Karin and Orochimaru. "Yeah…"

"So, watts up girl? I tried to call you, but you haven't answered. I got worried." Every agent from the Sound and Akatsuki heart about the Hummingbird incident and the involvement of the Uchiha heir, as well as other tricked rich men and women.

It was CIA who hacked some of the press systems and erased the information, to not let it spread. Although it was a little bit difficult to spot the online streaming.

"Kariiiiiiiiiin I need help!" Sakura lay on the pink cotton mattress of her bed, on her tummy, prompting her head in her hands, brooding comically. She didn't need to maintain any cold façade in front of Karin, they were like sisters.

"Yeah, I can see that much. Just look at your hair, it looks like a nest grown up miraculously on the top of your head. And those clothes…

omg you should run before some old hag sees you and go in cardiac arrest." Karin was shaking her head, comically, not wasting the chance to make fun of her friend. Sakura was really funny when angry.

"Not with that you bitch!"

"Bitch? Please don't insult the whores by comparing them to Karin, sluts have their pride you know." Another woman, with an equally ridiculous looking clay and yoghurt face mask appeared beside Karin, waving her hand energetically to Sakura.

"Anko?! What are you doing there? Are you guys plotting some NASA rocket hijacking or are you practicing witchery?"

Sakura was already panicking. It was pretty bad she had to utter those shameful words in front of her friend Karin, but Anko joined the party as well…no good. No good at all.

"Ha! I am being called a slut by a skimpy looking old woman, clad in black net, while being pregnant! Can you believe this woman's guts, Cherry?!"

"Hey, what is wrong with flashing my killer looking body from times to times? My husband likes it, if you know what I mean." Anko winked knowingly at Sakura, making the younger woman take a pillow and plant her face on the soft surface. Those two agents were unbelievable.

"No Anko, we don't want to imagine Orochimaru`s perverted fantasies, that would make our brain scream in pain."

"OKAY! Can we please put and end to this stupid conversation and focus our attention to the main reason why I called you?!"

Anko put her hands on Karin`s shoulder, leaning into the small webcam, trying to shove Karin away. The said woman held her ground, glaring daggers at the purple haired older woman. "Sure thing kiddo. So, what is the matter?"

"I have one hell of a problem called Uchiha Sasuke!"

The two women from the other side of the world began to laugh hysterically. Sakura was certain the base of the house started to shake. "I…HAHAHA…just what could be the problem in that matter Cherry? Did he turned gay over night or have you discovered he is a drag queen?"

"Let me guess: You have seen him naked and now you have erotic fantasies with him every time you close your eyes?"

Sakura felt her face go tomato red. Incredible how those two so called friends of hers managed to turn every conversation into a pornographic chat. Well…there was some truth in their bashings, but that was beside the point.

"You…you two are horrible, you know that?"

"Honey, those trashy looking clothes of yours are horrible. We just got an upgrade."

"Yeah, I mean…you live in a luxury house with the hottest specimen on the entire Universe, as his slave! This is any woman's darkest fantasy!"

"What are you talking about Anko, I am not his servant!"

"…I wouldn't mind being commanded by that hunk of a sexy ass man from time to time." Karin was having so much fun watching her virgin friend challenging her red head, with that huge blush of hers. Poor woman, she was so lucky, but inexperienced. What a waste.

"You are already being commanded by all those fags you bed Karin, so back off. So tell us Sakura, how many hours per day do you spend rewinding those CCTVs from your boss` room and bathroom, huh?"

Sakura felt like banging her head on the laptop. What kind of ridiculous things couldn't that woman talk about?

"Anko, I am not stalking Sasuke in the bathroom or when he does god only knows what things in his room. I put the cameras there for professional reasons. Beside, who would want to see him parading naked through his house?"

"Any straight woman, lol"

"Kiddo, don't tell me you are into women now? Because if you do, I am coming there to give you therapy!"

"I am not LESBIAN Anko!"

"Of course not, that Uchiha Sasuke is more beautiful than most of the women, so that would have been a waste of good material." Anko threw her head off in laughter. The pieces of lemons on her forehead, flew on the sofa they were staying on.

"Stop talking about him like he is some sort of GOD!"

"So will you send us a copy of the recordings then?"

"No!"

"Ok ok, shish…don't need to be so possessive. But just so you know…I don't mind sharing."

"You can have all of his stupid ass if you wanna, I don't want anything related to him. He tried to strangle me yesterday!"

At that the two women went silent. Of course, they knew Sasuke has been given drugs from Tsunade. But no once could reach Sakura ever since.

"Oh…so he is a feisty one, huh?"

"Cherry, you should search for some whips and handcuffs when you clean his room, I am sure dude has an impressive collection."

"Hellooo, Earth to the two lunatic women, responding please! Don't you see any problem with the fact that my boss almost killed me with his bare hands?"

"But he didn't, so what is the problem then?"

"Yeah Cherry, I mean, we avoided Death for so many times that I am sure the Grim Reaper will charge us extra when that day will come."

Ok, so her friends were laughing at her. Sakura had no problem in beating the two women to a pulp, but she was too troubled to scream at them. The rosette really needed their advice, and it was not like she could call her Papa for the "Talk", or God forbids Tsunade.

"I know, but I was so scared, I mean you should have seen him, he looked possessed!"

"Why do I have the feeling that this is just half of the story, heh?" Karin followed her friend's beat red cheeks, letting her amber eyes roam to her face and neck. She took another look, in disbelief.

"Cherry…are those hickeys?"

Sakura unconsciously tried to cover the incriminating bite mark of her neck, with her large T-Shirt, bowing his head in shame. Of course her too observant friend read her like an open book.

She was so out of topic when it came to this kind of subjects, it was painful to watch. She was playing with the hands in her lap, nervous. "Kind…of.."

"Oh my GOD, Anko can you see this? Sakura got her first love mark!"

The said laughing woman wiped an imaginary tear from her eyes, comically. The conversation and Sakura`s face were too priceless. The pregnant woman was having fun. "I see this honey, this children…they grow up so fast." Karin snorted loudly.

"Is there anyone listening to me?! This is not a love mark, he was drugged! You should see his office room, the walls are covered in permanent marker. He wrote formulas and hieroglyphs!"

"Oh, so dude has an artistic side as well, how romantic."

"Yeah, you should ask him if he does body art as well. I know I would like his hands to roam over my body. Maybe add some hot chocolate syrup to make the foreplay more enjoyable."

"Karin.,,Anko…there is nothing artistic in a lunatic acting like a zombie in need for brains!"

Sakura was getting mad. Ok, so there she was trying to have a normal friendly conversation, about a topic that was alien territory for her poor innocent mind, and of course those two witches found it entertaining. She knew Karin and Anko were demented, it was a fact. And they were perverted as well.

"You know what I think Sakura? You are too tense and frustrated and that is not healthy. You have to loosen up." Karin crossed her hands, trying to appear serious. Some of her facial mask started to leak of her forehead.

"I agree with this skank kid. I say…you should drug that handsome boss of yours more often and let him perform magic with your body, he seems to get his facts straight when intoxicated and God only knows you need it."

"Sakura bolted to her feet, pressing the mattress of the bed, making a hole, her face twisted in anger and pointing her middle finger in from of the laptop.

"You …you two are crazy! How in the world do they let you walk freely on the streets, without leashes and muzzles? I think the mental hospital has a hole in the fence, because you guys are even more insane than Sasuke and he has his photo in the dictionary, near the insane explanation!"

"Then if you think we are insane, why are you calling us for advice then?" Karin retorted smartly. She was crazy and bitchy she was aware, but a stupid woman she was not.

"Because I deal with a mad situation and I need mad people to give me advice, doesn't it sound legit? And yes, you are crazy, Karin you especially, but you are not a lost cause yet. Anko, I gave up on you the moment when you dressed up like a pink Playboy bunny and hided in Papa Oro`s birthday cake."

"There was nothing wrong at my costume. Haven't you seen his delighted face?" That was indeed a birthday party to remember.

Sakura has never seen Uchiha Itachi and the Hyuga heir laugh so hard. Tobirama Senju looked like he wanted to throw up right there and then. Jirayia on the other hand, was throwing with money, cheering on her. Hidan fainted and fell in the punch.

"I am not crazy, I am just eccentric!" If Sakura thought Karin was insane, she hasn't met her family members. Kushina was a subject the red headed woman was avoiding like plague.

"You deny the fact that you are not insane? Karin you are the one that gives the poor children Fitness bars on Halloween! And Anko you got that wrong. Oro was not enchanted, he was petrified! You were clad in clothes made of mint dark chocolate, for God's sake!"

"So what? I am doing those fat children a favor. The number of diabetic people is rising and I don't wanna feel guilty of ruining their lives."

Sakura slapped her forehead. "Ok, listen…as you have said…there was something else going on between me and Sasuke…I will not go into all the story, because I am sure Tsunade already told you everything." The two women nodded once. Indeed, Tsunade called Karin and told her what Sakura said. Then she disappeared.

The pink haired agent took a gulp of air to calm her racing heart. For some reason, she started to replay the events and the image of her hot boss hovering over her, looking like an untamed beast, oozing sexiness and raw masculinity was making her stomach constrict and her body temperature to rise.

"I…I mean he…when I tried to cool off his burning body…you know from the LSD…he grabbed my hand and pulled me on the bed then…ah…he pinned me on the mattress, caging me with his body."

She covered her red guilty face with the palms of her hands. Sakura couldn't even describe those images without getting bothered.

Karin and Anko listened to their virgin friend relating the juicy story, amused to no end. Oh that was entertainment in the purest form. "Ok, I like where this is going…next! Tell us everything and don't you dare skip any detail!"

"Well…then he…he didn't want to let go of my hands, no matter how many times I asked him to do so…not that I complain, he was hella good in his ministrations…and then I…

I mean he…started to move his…body…and and…" Ok, she was stuttering and her mind couldn't form a coherent sentence. Sakura took a hold of the silky pillow and covered her burning face, letting out a small scream of frustration.

It was Karin that started to laugh first. Anko wasn't laughing, because she had more decency than that. She was in hysterics, rolling on the sofa, a hand on her stomach, tears in her eyes.

"HAHAHAHAHA…OMG this is priceless! Look at you Cherry, you are so into him that you cannot even spell the words correctly BHWHAHAHA."

"Sttttop laughing will yea? I haven't called you to laugh at me!"

"HAHAHA Kiddo…let us give you a hand, because you are drowning in salty waters…BHWHWHAA…So what did he do next? He felt you up?"

"He grinded his dick on your own pussy, letting you feel how hard he was?"

"He massaged your breast and your stomach with his skilled hands?"

"Did he slip a hand on your panties as well?"

"He planted small kisses down your neck and face, suckling, biting and licking your skin, as well as your earlobe?"

"More importantly, did he steal your first kiss as well?"

Sakura couldn't hear anymore of the questions. She hid under her blanket, not being able to face their friend's laughing faces. The mental images were more vivid than ever, making her go crazy.

She didn't know why, but Sasuke`s soft touches were imprinted into her skin, like a tattoo. She could even feel the hotness of his body blending with her senses. It was intoxicating.

"Cherry, come out of your shell and enlighten us, before we go into even more detailed things like you to going completely naked and…" Sakura pulled the soft blanket off her messy hair, brooding at the screen.

"Stop it right there Miss or else I am going on rampage!"

"Honey, the only thing going on rampage in this conversation is your hormones! It is painfully obvious you want him and I am ready to bet my whole Prada shoes collection that he wants you as well."

"Yeah…this crazy red headed bitch is right, kiddo. I mean…I know he was under the LSD influence, but even so…you said he was gentle and not forced himself on you like a normal shitfaced rapist would have done, so if both of you want it just as much, why not go for it?"

"GRRR you don't understand, I cannot go there and seduce Sasuke, he is the guy I need to guard for Heavens sake! What would Papa say about this?"

"Who the hell cares what that snake weird looking boss of us says, no offense intended Anko, this is your life honey.

Your mission is to make sure Uchiha stay safe, but no one told you that you are not allowed to form a connection with him." Surprisingly, Karin was right. Orochimaru only advised Sakura to not get close to her boss, but he didn't forbid her from doing so. Even so…

"Anyways…you didn't answer our previous question Sakura." Karin pointed her finger at the webcam, giving Sakura a knowing smirk. She was not going to avoid the hot topic. Karin knew her friend was innocent, but she couldn't remain a virgin all her life.

"Grrr…he did everything you mention, except he kept his hands on my hips and stomach, and we didn't kiss…unfortunately…"

"Omg Cherry do you even realize that? I mean a drugged guy managed to keep his hands at bay and didn't even stoke a single kiss from you, when you were basically at his mercy!"

"Karin is right kiddo, you don't see anything like this happen nowadays."

Indeed, Sasuke didn't cross the line, even if he had her at his whim. Sakura knew her boss had moments of lucidity and he still didn't take advantage of her. Was it possible for him to have felt more than lust as well? "Yeah…I guess you are right…"

"Sakura, answer me this. You said that brat wanted to strangle you. What stopped him from doing so?" That was what really interested Anko. The crazy pregnant woman was really observant when it came to read people's gestures and behavior.

"I honestly don't know. I remember starting to lose consciousness, because of the lack of air. Gathering all the energy I had left, I managed to tell him to stop….but I don't know if it has any sort of relevance, I used his name, not Sir or Mr. Uchiha, like I normally do."

"Wow…" Karin was left speechless. Sakura was not even aware of the implications of her statement.

"Cherry, you basically tamed an unleashed demon, by saying his name. That means you trapped him in your spell! This is big."

Of course the pink haired shy agent was not aware of the meaning of Sasuke`s weird behavior, that was why she called for an advice. But her friend made it sound like it was really a big thing and that threw Sakura off a little.

"And? What was his next move? Did he leave you there without any other word or…"

"Well, you can call me crazy, but I think I felt a cool breeze of air, fanning my face and that made my body react to the outside stimuli and I was able to inhale deeply. I was not even aware of him leaving the room, probably because of the dizziness."

Anko`s eyes went wide at that. "What? So you say that he basically stimulated your innate reflexes, by breathing in your face to determine you to take a gulp of air? Hell it sounds like one of the romance books I am reading."

"I can assure you there was nothing romantic in that one. And I was crying intently for two hours in his room, while he was vandalizing his office downstairs." Sakura felt a sharp pain in her chest upon remembering the horrid events.

"Sakura, in a more serious note, I think I know what your problem is. Sasuke is basically the first man to get close to you in a more intimate way and that makes you confuse of your own feelings. Am I right?"

"Yes…I think you are, Rin. I mean I don't know why but…I cannot even be upset with him and that makes me go insane! He has this mood swings that makes it impossible to guess what his next move will be and I don't know how to act in front of him."

Sakura made a small break in her speech to calm herself. She started to tremble and she felt her emerald eyes glisten. Why did she feel the need to cry? She fisted her hands in her uncombed hair, pulling tightly, like wanting to hold on her sanity.

"I know I should be scared of him, but I cannot help but react to his voice, to his body, I can even feel his warmth brushing my skin and it makes me hot and I feel this intense feeling down there whenever he touches me and and the butterflies in my stomach wont stop fluttering whenever he smirks at me…I don't know what to do!."

Anko and Karin eyed each other for a moment then looked at the almost crying face of their beloved agent friend. Of course they knew just how bad her situation really was, but there was nothing they could have helped Sakura with. The road to romance is for each living to take, alone.

"Cherry, if you want my advice, I say go for it, mission be damned. I mean it is more than obvious that what you feel for your sexy raven haired boss is more than chemistry or lust, because you are aware of his feelings as well."

Karin was a hundred percent certain of the fact that her best friend was going to call her sooner or later, from the first time she cried on the phone.

But even she was not that delusional to say a possible relationship between Sasuke and Sakura was difficult. They were two different people, living in completely different worlds and their only connection was based on a cover. Romance cannot bloom from a lie.

"Not even you trust what you said, Rin, I mean he is not going to look at someone like me. In his eyes, I am an ugly, lying poor maid. He can have every woman he wants, without even moving a single finger. Why would he want me of all the people?"

Sakura was in the verge of tears, almost screaming. But she didn't care, the lack of sleep and stress was making her an emotional wreck.

Anko listened to the conversation, thinking about her much younger friend's situation. Her experience was required and she knew it, because the pregnant woman was no more in playful mode. "Kiddo, answer me this one question: have you fallen for Sasuke Uchiha?"

Sakura didn't even need to give too much thinking on that question, because she had the answer implanted into her racing heart. She could feel her every fiber scream the name of Sasuke in pure ecstasy every time she caught the smell of his unique fragrance.

She got off the bed, and headed to the window, looking at the shining sun, letting its rays caress her pale tired face. "I…I don't know…what I feel for him, is so confusing."

"Listen to me Cherry, no matter what you decide to do, you have my undying support! Stop looking for any logic in this situation, because is not your brain that is shot by Cupid's arrow, it is the heart my dear.

Let your feelings speak for yourself." In Karin`s opinion, all the CIA could go fuck itself, for as long as she cared. When it came to the people that were dear to her, the red headed Uzumaki didn't let anything to distract her attention.

"Although it absolutely pains me to admit it, Karin is right kiddo. Remember, Sasuke is the first man to get close to you and considering what kind of man he is, any sane woman in your place would feel attracted to his charms.

But, before you do something that could cost you dearly, make sure your feelings are not temporary and remember that his own thoughts towards you might not be entirely genuine.

Don't let the bastard play you, you don't deserve it. If he wants you for real, then he is going to fight for you and show you respect."

Anko didn't like where that was heading. She knew that for a Sound agent, mission came first.

But she was a woman in love as well and the pregnant knew all too well that she was not going to have second thoughts if at some point in life, she was going to have to chose between career and her husband.

Sakura knew the two CIA agents were right. It was up to her to sort out her feelings and deal with the situation. But she trusted Sasuke. He managed to take control over his mind and restrain himself in front of her, even in a tight situation. "you are right guys…"

"Honey, let me tell you one more thing. You are the best damn CIA agent I know and I am not joking. But more than this, you are a woman. And being a woman has its wonders. I know you are busy, but don't try to deny your body's needs.

Try to listen to your own person talking more often and get to know yourself better. You are almost 23 years old and you hormones are basically screaming for you to not deprive them of release.

I am not trying to be a pervert here, but if you don't want anymore humiliating experiences like the previous one, I say you should let the other brain think for yourself more often…if you get what I mean.

You might not be aware of the changes and sensations, but your body knows how to react to men, out of your own accord. You were obviously aroused by the Uchiha`s presence and he knew what to do to turn you into a puppet.

He might have been a gentleman and only tease you and mock you, but maybe other guys out there wont be that lenient. We don't want a drama to happen here, do we?"

"….Karin I think that was your longest speech, since you talked Sasori into why is he going to die a virgin if he continues to play with dolls and paint his nails."

Sakura listened to her friend Karin, trying to dig in what she was telling. Know her body better, otherwise she was going to respond to every gentle touch and get fooled by the others? That sounded logical.

Of course, she knew Sasuke could be versatile, but she was certain he was not that much of a deprived player to toy with her feelings. She saw it in those shimmering onyx orbs, when he thought she was going to leave him…shame, guilt, self restrain…

"You are right Rin. You too Anko." The rosette CIA agent wiped out some tears that fell on her reddened cheeks. "You are the craziest and most perverted women I know but you are right. Thank you guys."

Sakura gripped her laptop, bringing it close to her face and planted a kiss on the screen. Her friends smiled and did the same. It was a ritual they had, to let the other know that even if they are separated by the distance, their hearts are united.

"Soooooooo….tell me Cherry…is he a proud specimen of the male species or do you have to look for his dick with the GPS?" Karin couldn't stop herself for asking. My God, Sakura turned ten hues of red and bit her lower lip in guilt. So she was not so innocent after all.

Sakura took a grip of the pillow that was resting somewhere behind her and threw it on the laptop screen, crossing her arms in front of her chest, glaring daggers at her virtual audience.

"You do realize that had no effect, don't you?" That was Karin`s banshee laughing, echoing through the stereos.

"Yes, I do. But it helps me not go crazy." She heard Anko muttering something about virginal sex deprived teenagers needing professional therapy and some strippers but she covered her ears, not letting the wicked woman to corrupt her any further.

CLICK!

Sakura looked at the laptop, seeing that her download was ready, as well as her printer. She put paper into the device, pressing enter to print the photo.

"Ok guys, I have stuff to do. I am going to call you later, ok?"

"Ok Cherry, good luck and don't forget to love us from time to time!" Karin drew an imaginary heart on the air, sending small kisses to her best friend. She really missed Sakura and their gatherings. Life was boring in Ravenna without her.

"Good luck kiddo and don't forget to tell me if that Uchiha brat does something to you. I would personally come and put an end to the next generation of weird Uchihas."

"HEHE I will hold you on that Anko." Sakura closed the conversation tab thinking that Anko was probably talking serious.

That woman was the craziest thing from the Sound and that spoke volumes, because if one paid attention, being insane was a requirement to join that office.

"What the fuck…" The photo print was over, but all that the pink haired agent held in her hands, was a blank photo paper.

She quickly checked the folder with all the photos, not believing her eyes. Her fingers trembled on the black keyboard, shaking her head in shock, her heart almost skipping a beat.

"Nothing…there is nothing in here…impossible…" The folder was empty and so was her camera. Sakura was stunned when realizing that there was not even a single photo caught on the film. Everything was blank. She hasn't taken a single photo of the walls.

She took a sheet of paper and a pen and sprinted towards her boss` office. As soon as she arrived inside, she took a sit at the large broken table, paying attention not to injure herself and started to copy the contents from the walls.

"I should have known nothing works on this haunted freaking room…" She was too slow, that was going to take her the whole day. Sakura couldn't find any reasonable explanation to what was going on.

She even attempted to take a picture with her mobile phone, with the same results. The emerald eyed woman thought of the strange electromagnetism that was manifesting in the office. That was the only believable explanation.

RIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGG

"Oh no…" She only managed to copy two walls, which has already been difficult because there were unknown symbols and she didn't know ancient Greek, when she heard the front door's bell ringing.

She took her piece of paper and went to the door, opening it slightly.

There was a team of four people in the yard, clad in uniforms, two of them carrying a large wooden office desk.

Sasuke has told her he was going to have everything replaced, but damn was he fast. "Couldn't he have waited till tomorrow, I didn't finish copying the formulas…"

"Good afternoon, Miss. Mr. Uchiha has sent us here to repaint some dirty walls and replace his office desk. My name is Hiroyuki Hamada and this is my team. Now if you would be so kind to let us inside?"

"Ah…yeah sure, come in please?" Sakura opened the front glass door wide and let the men do their job, leading them to the said office.

Surprisingly, no one said a thing, nor were they shocked to see what they had to cover in fresh paint. "Bunch of weirdoes, just like him…at least the moron told them I don't speak Japanese…"

While the said people did their job, Sakura managed to copy some more of the written content, but unfortunately, not entirely. Oh well, it was better than nothing. She was going to send a copy to Orochimaru later on. "Technology is so overrated…"

It was 1 am when Sasuke came home from his office, looking even worse than when he was under the LSD influence. He was obviously dead tired.

Sakura has tried to rest her equally tired body, but sleep never came to her, so when she got sick of thrashing her body like a baby in search for his Teddy Bear, she went to the kitchen and prepared a cup of hot chocolate, resting her exhausted frame on the window seat, listening to the small drops of rain dancing on the glass surface, lulling her to slumber.

"Hn…you didn't strike to me like the type of night owl, Sakura." The said woman turned her head in surprise, upon hearing Sasuke`s low husky one. He came into the kitchen, after throwing his suit case on the coffee table.

He had no idea where his suit jacket landed, nor did he give a damn about it. Plus his eyes were foggy and stingy. Those liquid crystal displays were a blatant joke.

"Well, you didn't either Sir…you scream I am Dracula, let all the garlic come to me please, from then km radius, you stupid night werewolf, but it is midnight already. The clock doesn't lie."

Sakura let her tired emerald orbs roam over her approaching boss` lean figure. He looked like he was ready to faint right there and then. That was one hell of a workaholic person.

The pink haired girl really hoped he wasn't drinking or flirting again, instead of doing his job, because God help her, he was in for a good beating and she was there to reshape his face.

Sasuke let his body fell on the chair, crossing his fingers in front of his face, looking absentmindedly at his maid. "Were you waiting for someone?"

Her small body was drown in that damned large T-Shirt she was so attached to, but her hair was damn and sticking to her face. She probably had a shower before coming in the kitchen.

"Yes, I was waiting for the neighbor's Golden Retriever you handicapped stupid excuse of a jerk…there is no one beside you that lives in here, so I think it makes the answer even more obvious, Mr. Uchiha."

And the ebony haired Uchiha couldn't help but watch her delicate gestures, entranced by how she was elegantly holding the hot cup of chocolate in between her hands and the way she was taking sips of the said beverage, acting like a lady.

And the fact that she was doing it out of reflex was even making it even more obvious that she wasn't an ordinary woman.

"Are you hungry?" Her soft voice echoed through the kitchen, making Sasuke snap out of his reverie. He covered his face with his hands, thinking about how much he worked just to get her out of his mind, without success.

He was plagued by images with her curvy body and soft skin, moaning loudly under him, almost encouraging his movements.

"I am not going to accept anything that is not your tomatoes and basil sandwiches." Seriously, Sasuke couldn't imagine his life without this maid's tasty sandwiches, expensive caviar and Kobe beef be damned.

Sakura let out a small smile. Of course she knew her boss was secretly worshipping her food, and that brought her a great happiness.

She hasn't realized until then that since she first started her mission, the house was not a lonely place to return anymore. It was both weird and pleasant to have someone living under the same roof.

Sharing the privacy with someone else was something so new to Sakura, but not unpleasant. She rose from her sit, taking the sandwiches from the food storage container, serving them on a plate to her expecting boss.

All the ways, she couldn't help but feel nervous when coming close to him. Sasuke was eying her intently, his face devoid of any emotion.

"Hn…" The said man took a bit of the said food, letting the tasty piece of toast whole grain bread fall in his rumbling stomach. He didn't have any food in two days and he was starving!

"You are welcome!" Sakura said sarcastically. "One day…I am going to plant my foot up his monosyllabic stupid brooding face and imprint the brand logo of my sneakers on his forehead, turning him into a human billboard…stupid conceited jerk…"

"By the way, if you don't mind me asking this…that mark on your left wrist…is that a tattoo?" Sakura was dying to find out about the small moon on her boss` wrist. She was waiting for a good opportunity to bring out the subject, but she couldn't restrain her curiosity.

Sasuke stirred his movements, taking a short break from stuffing his face (was he that hungry?), but didn't look at her.

His dark gaze was glued to the plate in front of him. Sakura knew he was again debating whether to let her know about the strange mark or not. She waited patiently for him to tell her. He looked in deep thoughts.

He wetted his lower lip with the tip of his tongue and closed his eyes briefly, then let stare fall on his wrist. "This…is not a tattoo. It is a birthmark."

"Really?" Sakura was surprised. Birthmarks were irregularities on the skin, caused by either excessive skin pigment or increased blood vessels and are usually red or brown, depending on the type.

But Sasuke`s small crescent moon was dark blue, just like ink, which was even more strange. "A small crescent moon…it is really unique. I have never seen something like this before."

But indeed, it was really beautiful. Sakura secretly wished for him not to conceal it, but then she realized others might question if it was a tattoo or not and in the high society it was not something to flash.

"Unique…indeed…"

Sasuke went silent after that, munching his food, not sparing her any glance, but it was not the awkward type. Sakura took a sit on the other available chair, finishing her chocolate, thinking about how much of a mystery the Uchiha was.

"One could never get bored with such a person…"

Same time, unknown location

RIIIINGGGGGG

"Speak!"

"Everything went as planned Sir, we have what you are interested in."

"Excellent. I knew you were capable of doing it. Have you encountered any troubles?"

"Beside a really ugly looking woman who wasn't aware of our intention, everything went according to the plan."

"Good. I am waiting for you to send me the things, by the end of the week. They are going to be shipped to me in secret. No one is to find out about this."

"Of course Sir. My lips are sealed."

The stoic man ended the call, a wicked smirk plastered on his face. He crossed his arms on his backs, looking at the map in front of him.

"Not let's see…what kind of connection the two of them have…I will allow no pest to stay in between me and my dream world."

He took his phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. God if that man was not loathsome. Just like his idiotic ideas and vision of peace or shit. "Load of crap…"

"Now for the second part of the plan…"

1:30 am Tokyo, Sasuke`s home

After finishing the last bit of his food, Sasuke took his plate and put it into the sink, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.

He threw a glance at his maid. She was washing her cup, humming a chorus from a song, her emerald eyes half closed, moving her hands expertly on the porcelain surface.

Before he could stop himself, the raven haired Uchiha took the necessary steps towards her, coming right behind her, shadowing her much smaller frame. Upon feeling his warmth radiating on her back, Sakura turned around, not realizing how close her boss really was.

"Sir…?" All the words she wanted to say, got stuck in her throat as soon as Sasuke raised his hand and run his fingers gently through her wet hair, brushing some tendrils of her pink locks from her face.

To her utter shock, Sakura did nothing to stop him, but her dazzling jaded orbs never left his handsome profile.

His midnight jet eyes were following the movements of his right hand, holding a sparkling emotion that the Sound agent couldn't place, but it made her heart melt like lava.

And when she felt her boss` hand delicately brush his fingers down her neck, tracing her collarbone, she closed her eyes, unconsciously leaning into his touch. She attempted to push him away, like he did back then in his office, but she couldn't.

The tingling sensation and the way his fingertips were dancing on her skin was like a hot lazy summer day, caressing her senses. Whenever Sasuke was around, he pulled her out of time.

"I hurt you…" The gentleness in his low velvety voice made Sakura`s heart skip a beat. She almost couldn't believe this was the man that tried to kill her not too long ago, radiating dark energy to the point it made the air freeze around him.

Sasuke was looking at the fragile creature that was gripping the edge of the sink with both hands, like her very life depended on it, trembling under his touch.

Seeing her without those ugly glasses and her ridiculous hairstyle was another story. He wanted to trail his fingers on her clear pearl perfectly shaped face so much it hurt him not to do so.

It was just too bad she has closed her emerald eyes, because Sasuke could have sworn he was going to be trapped into those shimmering green nephrite gems that reflected the light in a way that called his hidden inner from his darkness to light.

All her traits screamed innocence and it was exactly that purity what made her so different from the others.

He followed the pattern of the purple finger marks on her neck, wanting nothing more than to cut his hands for laying his fingers on her, the guilt burning his mind to the point he felt like going insane.

"You didn't want to do so." Karin told Sakura to listen to listen to what her body was telling her and it was exactly what she did in that moment.

And the answer was simple: her all being was screaming for her to pull him closer and do something, anything, just to feel his skin on her. The need was unbearable, but somehow…she couldn't find the strength to do so.

It was Anko`s advice that stopped her. She had to be sure of both their feelings, before getting closer to the man that was caressing her skin. The possibility of Sasuke toying with her feelings was something she had to pay attention to.

"Are you afraid of me, Sakura?" The said woman opened her eyes and fixed his black sapphire ones, looking for any sort of hidden intent. She found none. He was being honest with her and the soft tone in his voice betrayed his remorse.

"No." She was not. Sasuke made Sakura experience new feelings, as well as bringing to light denied emotions, locked into the depths of her conscience, but afraid of him she was not, because the jaded eyed girl knew he was not going to hurt her, even if he couldn't think straight.

She didn't forget how he shielded her in the club, when he shot their chaser. For the first time in a long time, Sakura felt secure.

"You should." Sasuke couldn't believe his ears. He could read her genuine feelings into those brilliant glowing eyes that were looking into his core and it ignited something inside his chest.

And the need to brush his lips on her plump pastel pink ones made him close his eyes tightly and retract his hand, before he did something he would regret. He swore to himself not to toy with her feelings any longer.

She wanted from him something he couldn't give her. He only knew how to respond to her body language, but he had no idea how to react to her heart's longing.

He slipped his hands into his pockets, attempting to leave the kitchen. But he didn't miss the disappointed look on her face when he pulled away from her.

And before he could stop himself, he whispered a word he didn't imagine ever telling to anyone beside his mother.

"Arigato, Sakura." And the said lady was certain her heart stopped beating and her eyes sparkled with an unidentified emotion that rose from the bottom of her heart like a snowdrop blooming from the frozen land, at the beginning of the spring. It was the very first word she truly learnt in Japanese.

"By the way, Mr. Uchiha, the men you have sent today, have replaced the broken desk and repainted the walls."

Sakura could have sworn Sasuke broke his neck with the speed he turned his head over his shoulder, eying her like she has grown another head.

"Sakura…I have not called for anyone to do those things."

The deadly silence that fell between the pair was broken by the breaking news that was heard on the kitchen radio.

And their eyes got wide opened upon hearing the shocking news, both of them sprinting in the direction of Sasuke`s office. Sakura thought she was going to faint.

"We interrupt this program to announce the latest news from Indonesia. The heir of the famous cosmetic brands company, Amy Watanabe, has been found dead in her hotel room from Bali.

Police officers refrained from giving any information regarding the tragically death, but witness stated she had a large cut on her chest, in the shape of a pair of compasses."

Author's Note: Omg thank you guys for beautiful reviews, you have no idea just how glad you made me:* It brings me a lot of joy to see people are really interested into reading my story, and for this particular reason I try to put all the effort into making it better. I am glad you liked the previous chapter.

Well, to tell you the truth, I have tried everything to separate the lines, with no success. For some unknown reason, it just won't appear in here. I am going to look into this more. And thank you, being told I am on of your favorites, among so many talented authors here is an honor.

Congratulations for guessing what Sakura did next, you guys are smart. I am going to reveal more of Sasuke and his past, as well as the mark on his wrist, but you have to be a little patient, because it is really difficult for me to connect all the things I have in mind. But no, I will not kill him, he is my favorite character so no such drama here!

I absolutely promise there will be a Naruto and Sakura interaction in the upcoming chapters. Hehe I am glad to find another Naruto fan from Europe (I am sorry if I get this wrong) like me in here.