A/N: Hey folks! This is the author speaking. Again, thank you for taking time in reading my stories! Before anything else, I'd like to dedicate this chapter to the queen, Sakura for her brithday! Without her, there wouldn't be Sasusaku hehe. Anyways, enjoy!

CHAPTER 32: IN–TEAMMATE SIDE B

"There's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood and understanding someone else." ― Brad Meltzer

...

Onyx eyes opened blearily. The summer heat was lulling him back to sleep. The boy glanced at his alarm clock, groaning aloud.

11:00 AM

He missed breakfast.

The 8-year old lad sluggishly got up. It wouldn't do him any good if he stayed on his bed. While fixing his beddings, sharp pangs of pain made him stop. He looked down at the angry red welts marring his wrists. Apparently, the marks served as punishment for being in 5th place at yesterday's test.

He rubbed his injured wrists. Who knew being hit by a thin & pliant bamboo stick would be painful? Mentally counting the other scars he had since he first started school, he deduced these ones were the 20th.

If seen by an unaccustomed individual, the bruises were sure signs of abuse. However, it reminded Sasuke of his harsh upbringing. Years of experiencing numerous castigations eventually molded the youth to respond callously to pain. He wasn't alone since his brother started way younger than him.

As sons of Uchiha Conglomerate's CEO, belonging to an esteemed lineage such as theirs had an underlying burden. Both were expected to excel in everything, hence the Spartan rearing. Failure wasn't tolerated. If committed, punishment followed.

Such was the irony of hard work.

Itachi often reminded him that doing good things stop punishments. But, the more he did good things, the punishments severely increased. Sasuke didn't mind the harsh treatment. In his eyes, he'd endure everything as long as Itachi stayed with him.

Sasuke made his way downstairs. After breakfast, he'll go straight to work on his summer homework. He was halfway down when he saw Itachi & his mother having an argument at the foyer. Worry creased between his brows, seeing a huge suitcase next to Itachi's feet.

"Itachi, don't do this! You're still young, there's still so much for you to do."

Sasuke stopped. 'What is going on?'

Itachi gently disentangled himself. "Gomen, 'Kaasan. I can't stand 'Tousan's manipulation of my own life. I refuse to be his pathetic little puppet."

Mikoto decried his reasons. "You're an Uchiha, Itachi. You're supposed to act like one! What do you think the other families will say? And the tabloids! They will never let this one down. Cease this rebelliousness!"

"Let him go, Mikoto."

Both of them looked up to find Fugaku standing mere feet away from them. His deadpan expression frightened Sasuke. He hated how their father used his towering physique & menacing look to subdue them. Right now, his mother was cowering at the sight of him.

Finally reached the two, Fugaku gave his wife a stern look. "No need to grovel at his feet. Let him do what he wants." Facing his son, he added, "I respect your decision to leave this family. Once you set foot out of this house, you're dead to us. Don't even expect financial aid."

Mikoto was aghast. "Fugaku! He's our son!"

Itachi heaved a sigh. The last time he heard his father uttered those words was when he disowned their cousin Obito due to his love for a commoner. "You'll throw me away for a petty reason?"

His father's voice oozed sarcasm. "A son involving himself with a bunch of rebels is good reason enough to be disowned."

Sasuke's eyes widened. He ran towards them to intervene when he saw Mikoto's reproachful look.

Fugaku took note of his presence. Pointing a finger at Itachi, he spoke, "Sasuke, this ingrate brought shame to this family by associating himself with depraved people. Instead of showing repentance, he'd rather leave us for his so-called friends. Is that a right thing for an Uchiha to do?"

Sasuke jumped to his brother's defense. "But 'nisan didn't do anything wrong! Please reconsider!"

Fugaku's stare was cold as steel. "He chose his own freedom over yours, Sasuke. He chose to abandon our family for his own selfishness."

"That's not true!" Sasuke grabbed Itachi's arm, onyx eyes watering. There's no way his brother would abandon him. They were in this together! "You said we'd endure this together. As long as you're here with me…" he choked.

Itachi was speechless. Hearing his brother's desperate plea was making him cave in. "Sasuke, I…"

Mikoto immediately shielded her youngest son with her body. She glared at her husband. "You're willing to lose your eldest son over a small matter? Are you even listening to yourself?"

Her husband's next words shook them to the core.

"As a matter of fact, I do." Fugaku answered. "I don't need to impose my will to an ingrate. There's someone much suited to be the next heir of the Uchiha Conglomerate." He turned to his youngest son who was tightly hugged by his mother. "Sasuke will fill his role quite nicely."

Itachi's eyes turned to slits. The nerve of his father! "You wouldn't dare!"

Without a word, Fugaku yanked Sasuke from Mikoto's arms then dragged him upstairs. The boy could hear Mikoto's deafening screams & Itachi's protests as he was thrown out of the estate. Before he knew it, he was standing alone in his father's study with the door slammed shut.

"Shit," Sasuke cursed, bolting upright. His ragged breaths broke the silence in the living room. Nine years had passed yet those wretched dreams kept bringing him back to being a hopeless 8-year old who arduously spent his childhood years meeting their father's expectations. His scars throbbed as he began reliving everything.

He could hear his father's harsh words inside his head. Whenever he failed to meet his expectations, he felt the loud slapping sounds of the bamboo stick as it landed on his flesh. It wasn't enough, though. He recalled the excruciating smell of his arms being burned by his father's cigarettes & the metallic taste of blood whenever he beat up the bullies who slandered his family name.

Sasuke wasn't a hypocrite; he still respected his family name. The only thing he hated was how cold & unfeeling Uchiha Fugaku turned out to be.

He laughed bitterly. His childhood tragedy hindered his chances of a normal life. Even after they left the mansion, the trauma his father did to him was psychologically unbearable. Itachi often kept his sanity in check by assuring him that he will be all right, so long as he doesn't give in to his inner demons.

The bright light from the hallway casted a soft glow on his wrists. Seeing the jagged lines made Sasuke's mood darken further. "This is nuts, I'm totally beyond repair. Even moving on is not possible." A nagging feeling told him that his well-attained freedom from Fugaku's influence was fleeting.

CRASH!

He blinked. What a way to break someone's moment.

As if on cue, an eerie glow emanated from the kitchen. Soft, rustling sounds followed. Recalling the crunching sounds outside, Sasuke cursed. Sleep would be difficult at this rate.

Ambling forward, the irate teen harked back at himself that it'd be the last time he'd let that memory disturb him. Sudden blasts from the past were irritating. Bracing himself, he stopped at the doorways. 'Better not be an intruder.' But then if it was, then he'd have a toy to vent on.

He saw none other than Sakura hunkered down in front of the fridge.

Sasuke didn't know whether he'd go through with his "venting out" plan or knock her silly. "What in the hell are you doing?"

Said intruder jerked out of her euphoria. She opened her mouth but her answer came out in white spurts & puffs. Noting the bottle of whipped cream on her hand, he sighed. "What are you doing?"

Miffed, Sakura swallowed the sweet confection. "This is my house. I can do whatever I want."

He rubbed his temples to ease the prolonged headache. "Don't you think it's a bit late for that?" And she's supposed to be asleep...

Sakura fumed. She didn't like being told what to do, especially, from someone with similar age as her. Partly the fault was hers since she made him stay for the night. Getting mauled or followed by a fan girl was life threatening, in Sasuke's case. "I need sweets so I can sleep better," she explained.

He echoed. "You can't sleep too?"

She nodded, attention back again on the fridge.

He crossed his arms. Even if he isn't alone in that department, this girl definitely has to sleep. They have school in the morning. 'Better put her out so I can continue pondering unnecessary thoughts.' Sasuke noted.

Whenever he had a bout of insomnia or a bad dream, he'd spend the night brooding. It was a nightly ritual that offered him a somber yet calming effect. Come to think of it, this habit of his started right after his brother left the house. Damn repressed thoughts.

Sakura pressed something cold against his cheek.

"What…the!?"

Green eyes lit up with humor as she placed a cup of vanilla ice cream on his hand. "Here. You could use something sweet too."

He hated sweets. "No thanks."

Sakura pouted. "Sasuke-kun, when the owner of the house offers the guest a treat, they normally say thanks. You made it sound like I offered you natto." She spooned a huge chunk of ice cream in her mouth. "Delicious."

He tried the iced confectionery. The taste was bland, yet still sweet for his liking. "The coldness will do."

She smiled. "Glad you like it. You look like you need to chill."

Confusion marred his features. "Huh?"

"Chill. Like relax?" Drizzling whipped cream on her ice cream, Sakura continued. "You're spacing out earlier. I thought it's just my imagination but I can tell something's bothering you."

His face hardened. "I didn't space out."

The petal-haired teen smiled perceptively. He's so stubborn. "Your face says it all." Finishing her ice cream, she washed the cup on the sink. "You don't say much, but, even with your uncanny ability of secrecy I can still tell."

That was a first, hearing it from someone he knew for a few months. He didn't expect there'd be someone out there that had the ability to see through his well-guarded self. Was he that easy to read?

He stared back at her. No, she could only tell by reading his facial expressions. Haruno didn't have the slightest clue to what was on his mind. He never relayed any stories to her regarding his personal life or the past for that matter.

Even his friends didn't dare to ask him either.

His grip around the ice cream cup stiffened. He can't afford to show cracks in his façade. He won't allow it.

After returning cup inside the cupboard, Sakura saw Sasuke's conflicted expression. "Sasuke-kun?"

He didn't answer.

Worried, she went to his side. When he still didn't acknowledge her presence, she tapped him on the forehead. "You okay?"

He grunted in response.

She prodded on. "You sure you're okay?"

Sasuke glared at her. "Did anyone ever tell you, you're a nosy girl?"

Satisfied he was being his normal grumpy self, Sakura smiled. "I've been told that a lot."

Instead of retorting, he glanced at his ice cream. The poor thing melted due to his glare's intensity. Without a word, Sakura snatched his cup & emptied its contents. Contented, she handed it back to him.

Sasuke gaped at his now empty cup. "If you wanted my share, you could've asked."

Sakura laughed, snatching the can of whipped cream on the counter. "I can't let a good ice cream go to waste."

Sasuke washed his cup, drying it then returned it in the cupboard. She never ceased to amaze him. She looked thoughtful earlier when she gave the ice cream…only to snatch it back a few moments after. This was one side of Haruno Sakura he didn't expect to see. His gaze drifted towards the slight discoloration on her pajama top.

"Haruno."

"What?"

"You have a…" The Uchiha didn't get to finish as she squirted a huge dollop of whipped cream in her mouth. Splotches of sweetened confectionary coated her lips & the sight of it made his mouth twitch.

He wasn't a huge fan of sweets but…

He wouldn't mind trying it from her mouth.

Wait.

Since when did he want to kiss Haruno?

Sasuke's too observant gaze betrayed him. The petite girl still savored the cream. She should get punished for making a condiment looked that…that disturbing. Disturbing wasn't the right word. It was more of…stimulating.

He winced inwardly. The gods of puberty must be laughing at him right now.

Stupid whipped cream.

Stupid stain.

It gave him terrible…terrible ideas.

His patience snapped.

The damn stain had to go.

Sasuke grabbed the dish rag, quickly soaking it with soap & water. Stupid Haruno had a profound talent for attracting stains. In just two strides, he was in front of her. The pinkette looked at him questioningly. Without warning, he grabbed the edge of her top & yanked it above her waist.

Sakura squeaked, almost fainting due to their close proximity. Her exposed stomach quivered under his attentive gaze. "What are you…" she trailed off as he hastily wiped off remnants of the cream. Kami-sama, she almost bashed him on the head with the can of whipped cream! Well, almost. Still, he could've told her about the stain on her shirt.

A few more vigorous strokes & the stains were gone. Pleased with his work, Sasuke returned the rag on the sink. Noticing Sakura's heated gaze, he explained. "Sorry, but that stain's bothering me."

Sakura sucked in a breath. She wasn't upset.

He was such a clean freak! But then, it wasn't Sasuke's nature to take advantage of the situation.

A memory flashed inside her head.

Even though 'that' happened a few months ago, the sensation of his lips claiming hers burned in her memory. Not to mention what happened afterwards.

Flashback 1.0! (During the events of Chapter 29: Turn of the Tide)

The moment his lips captured hers, Sakura's eyes widened. This wasn't…wasn't supposed to happen! She tried thinking rational thoughts but, hell no! Not when Sasuke was doing wonders to her mouth. He lightly nibbled on her lower lip. When her mouth slightly parted, he plunged his tongue inside to meet hers.

It was hot.

It was hot, wet & sweet.

Uchiha Sasuke was a damn good kisser!

This…this kiss would change everything!

They're supposed to start out as friends…but, kissing your newly acknowledged friend wasn't part of the "Getting-to-know-you" process!

Immediately, they broke apart. Rather, Sasuke abruptly broke the kiss.

He got off the bed, raking his hands on his hair in an irritated manner.

Sakura was abashed by his sudden actions. She reminisced the first time their lips locked…it was during the school festival. After their kiss, he quickly fled the scene…all the while muttering about contracting cooties from her. Instead of getting offended by his outbursts, she found it funny since it was purely accidental.

An accidental peck with the certified pin-up idol was meant to be forgotten.

This time, it was different. It was rare for him to make such a forwarding act.

With bated breath, she waited for him to speak. Yet, his expression was unreadable. He kept on muttering, "What…did I just do?" Albeit, more to himself but loud for her to hear. Impatient, she called his attention. "Sasuke-kun?"

He finally calmed down. When he faced her, she was surprised at his icy countenance. "Sasuke-kun, I…"

He raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don't. I knew it. This was a bad decision."

Her cheeks flared in anger. How dare he? He initiated the act & now he's blaming her? He was so…Shannaroooo! Grabbing his arm, she exclaimed. "Excuse me? You're the one who started it! And, what do you mean by a bad decision?"

Sasuke didn't flinch from her tight grip on his arm. His words dripped ice. "This."

Her green eyes mirrored confusion. "This what?"

He effortlessly freed himself from her hold. "This."

Onyx met emerald. "What you said to me earlier was completely wrong, Haruno. This would never work."

Before Sakura could react to his outburst, he turned around & left the room.

Several minutes later…

She stayed on her spot. Emotions welled up inside her - hurt, shock, even anger. She tried her best to grasp the issue. What the hell's going on? He already agreed to be friends. Then, he did the unthinkable! Now he had the gall to say she botched on her efforts?Putting her hands on either side of her face, her cheeks were still hot.

Until now, she was still blushing?

What in the world's happening to her?

One thing for sure, she was utterly confused with his actions.

She remembered his onyx eyes. Even as they kissed…his eyes reflected flickers of anger…& was there loneliness?Maybe he wasn't talking about the kiss. He must be referring to something else...

Her eyes widened in realization.

Did he pertain to a relationship? She may have felt a certain attraction towards him but she didn't intend to jeopardize their bond! Her heart clenched. Was this the one Itachi-san referred to earlier?

He only stated the obvious that she might be in love with him.

And maybe…maybe he was feeling the same way?

Sakura laughed at the idea.

No way.

She was rejected outright before she could even utter a confession.

It wasn't fair!

He's not the only one confused by this sudden development!

"Sasuke-kun, you baka! Friends weren't supposed to do that!" she yelled out loud. "Leaving me hanging like this…" Tears fell from her eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

Only the emptiness of the room & her sobs could be heard.

End flashback!

Sakura bit her lip. Not a very pleasant memory since she cried her entire heart out until morning came. Sasuke stayed true to his word as he kept ignoring her during breakfast. It was pretty obvious that he wanted her out of his house so she left in a hurry, even refusing Itachi-san's offer of a ride home.

It took them several weeks to put that issue to a close thanks to Naruto's efforts of reconciliation. If it wasn't for him, she wouldn't be able to reconnect with the elusive Uchiha.

Hence, she'd never let the blond's efforts go to waste. She didn't want to ruin her fragile amity with Sasuke for sentimentality. So she feigned annoyance at his impulsiveness. "You could've told me. I would've done it myself."

The Uchiha only fingered the spot where the stains were. He was exceptionally proud of his stain-removing skills. "Hn."

"What?"

Haruno owed him big time "Klutz."

She blushed. His handsome face was clearly within her view.

Seriously, the guy was born flawless! He should blame his parents for possessing faultless sets of genes. Didn't Itachi-san also at some point of his life experienced a tough time in dealing with his own fan club? After all, he's also a by-product of an ideal procreation.

She scolded herself. She was now close to being Sasuke's fan girl. 'Ino will kill me once she knows I'm having dirty thoughts about her crush!' Ino proudly considered herself as Sasuke's number one fan. The flaxen-haired beauty can throw a very mean fit if she finds out Sakura let her crush stay in her place for the night. Though, she wholly understood Ino's admiration for the stoic Uchiha.

Sakura couldn't blame the fan girls either. She admired their attempts to either cop a feel or steal a lock of his hair. Her crazy encounter with the horde at the supermarket was unforgettable yet she was fortunate enough to avoid getting trampled by them.

But being his friend certainly had its own advantages.

She can move & breathe without hyperventilating if they're staying in the same room. She can sit next to him without getting burned. Her blush turned deeper, knowing that she & Sasuke did even more than just sitting.

Oh no. Not that again.

The stupid kiss + rejection memory!

"Haruno."

She blinked. "H-Huh?"

He poked her forehead. "Quit dozing off."

Darn, she forgot he was right there with her. 'Pretty bad move, Haruno. If he finds out you're reliving that night, he'll bolt,' Sakura scolded herself, ridding her cognizance of lingering thoughts.

She had a slight pang of disappointment. He didn't seem to be affected by their kiss at all. Brushing thoughts aside, she returned the whipped cream inside the fridge. "I wasn't dozing off. I was just…thinking."

He cocked his head to one side. "Thinking of what?"

The fridge closed with a loud klunk. "Unnecessary thoughts."

Sasuke's mind took a different turn.

With the dreaded stain gone, he was back to ogling her face. She was doing it again. That puffed-out cheeks & pouty mouth tactic. It was the only gesture that instantly drew him to her. His treacherous mind reran a particular event that kept him awake for several nights.

Flashback 2.0! (See chapter 29: Turn of the Tide)

A pillow slammed at his face, jolting his stupor. Annoyed, he grabbed the pillow and glared at the girl who tried hard not to laugh. "I'm awake. This question better be good Haruno or I swear I'll make you regret waking me up."

She was unfazed by his threats. Her expression turned from mirth to serious. "I know! But, I really need to ask this because…I'm confused."

He raised a brow. "I'm listening."

She stared at his eyes, filled with fatigue. It really was a bad time, but she had to ask him to put her mind at ease. "Um, earlier," she began, uneasiness getting the best of her, "why did you ask me how I'm doing with Neji?"

When he didn't respond, she continued. "Because, I'm thinking…that maybe, you're just concerned about me because I'm his girlfriend."

Sasuke was taken aback. He scratched his head bafflingly. "I don't see any problem with that. I asked you that because actually, I don't know how to open up a conversation with you. Since he's your boyfriend and I knew him, wouldn't it be right to ask how the two of you were doing?"

Sakura didn't know how to respond. A hand went up to her chest, trying to soften the thudding noise of her heart. "W-why would you ask me something like that?"

"I already told you that…what the hell?" He straightened himself, fully awake. "Haruno, why are you asking me about these kinds of things?"

The blushing girl didn't respond. It was too embarrassing. Her emotions were going haywire and if she couldn't control herself right now…she might do something she'll regret. However, he waited for her answer. She hesitated. "I…It's because…most people who ask those kinds of questions are friends and I…I don't know if we're on that stage yet."

He sighed exasperatingly. "What you're trying to say is I asked you that question because I'm thinking of you as my friend?"

She nodded.

He sighed again. Frankly, they weren't even on the friendship stage yet. But he constantly had that unsettling feeling of wanting to be there for her every time she's putting herself at risk. Isn't that called friendship? Or pity? The Uchiha was still unrelenting of placing Sakura within his circle of trust. The two of them may not be friendly with each other but he was slowly developing interest in her.

Was showing interest in her an indication of friendship?

He stared at her. 'What about a relationship then? Since she and I unwittingly kissed on several encounters.' Again, Itachi's words replayed like a tape recorder. A relationship with her was surely a possibility but not necessarily. And besides, it's better to avoid big bad Hyuga's dark side.

Finally, he made a decision.

"Haruno," he began. The pinkette stared at him. She was waiting for him to continue. "If asking you that question means I'm concerned for you as a friend, then, I guess I'm beginning to see you as one."

Her eyes were filled with repressed humor. "Really?"

He couldn't help but smirk. Yup, she was slowly growing on him. "Yeah."

End flashback!

'And the unthinkable happens,' Sasuke grimaced. After she told him he was untouchable, he decided to set things right by proving her wrong. Unfortunately, kissing her wasn't part of the equation. Kissing his rival's ex-girlfriend wasn't right at all.

It wasn't supposed to happen.

He wasn't supposed to like it.

But he did.

Their kiss made him lose reason. Had they gone further, her offer of friendship would be for naught. So he did what he think was best by acting like a complete bastard.

Flashback 1.0! Sasuke Version

The word that came to his mind as he crashed his lips on hers was…addictive.

Addictive to how she responded to his sudden invasion. It brought an unfamiliar feeling inside of him. He'd always stick to his childhood belief that girls would bring cooties to boys once their lips touched. And this certainly proved that damn theory wrong!

He was more absorbed in her muffled responses as he inadvertently explored every inch & corner of her mouth. His hand buried itself on her soft-pink tresses, unconsciously bringing her closer to him.His brother was right; the cooties theory was wrong.

Her hands on his chest were trying to push him away. In response to her defiance, he gently bit her lower lip. Her soft gasp made him bolder, slipping his tongue inside. Haruno's lithe body completely melted against him, the softness of her curves drove him to no end.

This was really happening.

Itachi was right.

I was attracted…attracted to her.

Until something inside him began to break.

His eyes opened.

Like a last minute deterrent, memoirs of his childhood flashed in his mind. The sickening feeling of abandonment caused Sasuke to break off from the kiss.He immediately stood up, already regretting what he did. "What…did I just do?" he muttered aloud. He wasn't…he wasn't supposed to lose control! Not like this!

A muffled sound broke his thoughts.

What he saw took his breath away.

Haruno was trying to catch her breath. Yet, her flushed face & slightly parted lips caught his eye. Her swollen bottom lip was by his doing, no doubt. Green eyes were filled of unspoken questions-questions that Sasuke was too afraid to answer. Knowing the pinkette's persistent nature, he'd have no other choice but to explain his actions.

He recalled their 'first' kiss at the School Festival.

He didn't realize he got stung by a bee. Itachi called him a selfish bastard after he left the girl at the marriage booth. He couldn't help it. He was caught up by his imaginary claim of having cooties that he didn't see her reaction.

Now, he could clearly see it.

Hers was intrusive & reflected confusion. Underneath that look he felt something else. Warmth, comfort…that annoying feeling of pleasantness…& other kinds of fuzzy feelings he couldn't comprehend.

The wall he took several years of his lifetime to build was easily shattered by their mere kiss.

He was unwittingly drawn to her. If he didn't get away soon, it would lead to something much more.

"Sasuke-kun?"

He wanted more.

"Sasuke-kun, I…"

He raised a hand, cutting her off. Accepting her friendship was wrong. It dawned on him that didn't have all the time in the world to fend off Hyuga's aggressive nature. "Don't. I knew it. This was a bad decision."

The expression on her face swapped from being dazed, to getting shocked then finally, anger. Adding more to his incredulity was her sudden grabbing of his arm. "Excuse me? You're the one who started it! And, what do you mean by a bad decision?"

He didn't flinch from her grip. Getting involved with her & incurring Neji's wrath was not a part of his plan. He had to end it. "This."

Confusion marred her features. "This, what?"

He effortlessly freed himself from her hold. "This."

Onyx met emerald. He was good in keeping people at arms' length. A nagging feeling tugged at him, saying rejecting her friendship was…wrong.

He made up his mind.

Haruno Sakura would ruin everything.

He dealt the last blow. "What you said to me earlier was completely wrong, Haruno. This would never work."

With that being said, he left the room. He felt his entire body run cold as he slammed the door shut. What a cold & unfeeling bastard he was. And it was all for the best. Itachi & his friends were enough for him. They already learned not be invasive when it came to his personal affairs. He didn't need another friend.

Having more would make them delve deeper into his despicable past.

If it were her…

The memories flashed again. Fists tightly clenched, he mentally counted to ten. The feeling of wanting to bash something filled his mind.

"Sasuke-kun, you baka! Friends weren't supposed to do that!"

His eyes opened. A bitter smile formed on his lips. That brought him back to reality. She hasn't given up on him, eh? Leaning against the door, he listened…

"Leaving me hanging like this…what did I do wrong?"

She wasn't supposed to be this affected. He did her a huge favor by averting possible suspicions that'll make a target by Neji. Judging from her ex's recent advances towards her at their school; it clearly meant he wasn't over her.

Deciding she needed space, Sasuke left.

End flashback!

Sasuke flinched. He was dead-set on distancing himself from her. But before he could enact on his plan, his ever observant brother noticed something was amiss after Sakura's abrupt departure the following day.

Itachi had the knack of linking Sasuke's love life to his cheesy chick flicks. After the weeks passed with no sign of the pink-haired girl, he eventually grasped the fact that his little brother had something to do with it. Being the gossipy older brother that he was, he decided to confront Sasuke about it while he was making supper. "Aren't we missing something?"

The younger man continued to stir the miso soup.

Itachi shrewdly tapped a finger under his chin. "We're seeing less of Naruto-kun & Tenten lately."

"Busy," he grunted.

"Busy for what?"

Damn his brother for being so nosy. Sasuke needed a distraction, pronto. "Midterms. Would you mind setting the table?"

Itachi complied, taking plates out of the cupboard. Sasuke was a force to be reckoned with whenever he manned the kitchen. While setting the tableware, he commented. "You know, it's so lonely when it's just the two of us eating dinner." Hearing no response from Sasuke, he continued. "Whenever its exam time, your friends would usually come here straight after school for a study session."

Sasuke turned the stove off. "Kurenai-sensei assigned tutors for those who had problems during class. If you're feeling lonesome, I'll call Tenten to come here."

His brother pretended to shed a tear. "Wow, I'm touched. And Naruto-kun?"

"He's not coming."

"Oh?" A rare feat for Naruto missing an opportunity to glomp his brother! Done setting the table, he sat on the chair. "It's unusual for Naruto-kun to pass a free meal."

Sasuke's answer was barely audible as he ladled soup on two bowls. "Tutor."

"Hm?"

"He has a tutor."

"Oh." That's something…new. Seeing his brother's rigid form, he noted, "Who's the tutor then?"

"Haruno."

"I see. You got dumped by Sakura-san for Naruto, eh?"

Sasuke glared at him. "I wasn't dumped! Kurenai-sensei assigned her to be the dobe's tutor!"

Itachi waved a hand flippantly. "Hai, hai. I understand you're peeved at Naruto-kun for taking Sakura-san's attention away from you." As expected, whenever Sakura was mentioned, his brother would throw a hissy inwardly laughed. His brother never failed to amuse him.

Even after his brother sat down & they began eating, the older Uchiha continued pestering him. "So, any ideas why Sakura-san's not here lately?"

An eyebrow twitched. "No idea."

"She left in a hurry last time. I figured you had something to do with that," Itachi replied curtly, sipping the soup. Before Sasuke could come up with a retort, he thrust his empty bowl at him. "More please."

Sasuke filled the bowl with soup to the brim. Itachi was a cruel shrewd! He should've known his brother would side with Haruno instead of him. Against his cute younger brother nonetheless! "I shunned her."

"Why?"

His eyebrow lifted at Itachi's open-ended remark. "She wanted to be friends. I thought it'd be okay so I agreed."

Chewing sounds. "And?"

Sasuke swallowed. It was now or never. "Then I kissed her."

Itachi's jaw dropped. This…this was juicy! To think his little brother would mature this soon! "And then?"

"I told her it'd never work so I left."

Silence filled the dining room.

Itachi didn't know whether he'd laugh at his brother's antics or cry in frustration. Little Sasuke was a hopeless dumbass with pitiful social skills. It'll take a long time for his brother to graduate from his childish ways.

But then, Sasuke's distant response was expected since he was solely brought up by their father's Spartan methods. Suddenly, he thought of the time he took his brother away from the Uchiha Mansion. When he finally saw Sasuke, the Spartan rearing already caused detrimental effects to his character. Once a vibrant boy, he was reduced to a violent catatonic due to years of physical & mental abuse. And when Itachi thought it was too late to save him, Sasuke managed to recognize his brother behind his puffed out lids.

It was then & there he decided to get him away from their father.

Itachi's flashback!

Mikoto's tearful gaze locked his as he guided Sasuke inside the car. She couldn't bear to see her sons leave their house but as a mother, she had to prioritize their safety first. While her husband attended a conference in the Land of Waves, she contacted Itachi & helped him sneak his brother out of the mansion.

Once Sasuke was safely buckled in his seat, she turned to Itachi as he closed the door. "It'd be better if you didn't tell me where you're taking him," she spoke. "I don't want to lose another son."

Itachi gave her a comforting hug. "You'll never lose us, 'Kaasan. Sasuke needs to spend some time away from the mansion. I promise to update you from time to time."

She nodded. When Itachi was finally inside the vehicle, she signaled the guard to open the gate. Her fears were finally laid to rest as she watched the car sped away towards freedom.

End flashback!

'Better put that memory to rest,' he reminded himself. There were other things he needed to focus on. Like mending Sasuke's fractured bonds with Sakura-san. After all, he strongly approved of her as his brother's potential friend or significant other. "Sasuke, don't you want her as a friend?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Sasuke turned to food as his salvation from interrogation. "She's Hyuga's ex-girlfriend. I don't want to associate with any of that bastard's friends. They're both popular in my school & I want to graduate without any interference from them."

Itachi snapped his fingers. "I don't see anything wrong with that. You said so yourself. She's Neji-kun's ex."

Sasuke frowned. His brother obviously missed the point because he was clearly rooting for Haruno. "You don't get it do you 'Nisan? I don't want her to get hurt by Hyuga's jealousy. You saw what he did at the supermarket." He's a newbie at relationships but even he could tell that Hyuga was manhandling his girlfriend. Scratch that, his recently rumored ex-girlfriend.

Seeing Itachi's eyes on him, he added as an afterthought. "I didn't want my façade as Suke to get blown."

His brother sipped his tea. "I understand the need to hide your identity, ototou. However, it doesn't change the fact that you coldly disregarded Sakura-san's good intentions. Honestly, did you try to explain why you rejected her?"

"I…" His brother hit the mark. He made a rash decision to cut Haruno off. Even if he came up with a dozen reasons to deter his brother's argument, it was painstakingly obvious.

He was wrong.

"We have to be completely open with each other."

Those were Haruno's words all right. If he struck a friendship with her, he'd have to be entirely honest with her. Eventually, he had to let her know that he wasn't the weak nerdy guy she knew at school. That was a complete no-no. Aside from being Neji's ex, there's a huge chance she'd slip & he'd find out that his rival was studying in the same school as him. In unpleasant circumstances courtesy of his thugs.

Tenten & Naruto were the only ones who knew his little secret. Oh, and his perverted teacher Kakashi-sensei too.

He glanced at the scars on his arms. Memories of his childhood abuse haunted him, like a horror movie being played on a projector. Onyx eyes smoldered. There's no way he'd let anyone know about his past traumas. Not even his friends knew about it. He only allowed Tenten a glimpse of his scars to prove he wasn't perfect. On the other hand, Naruto assumed he got it from all the fights they had when they were young.

They assumed his impeccably cold & indifferent nature was due to his prestigious upbringing & was expected to act like one. Little did they know it was an impenetrable wall he created to hide his flawed self.

Which is why the very thought of Haruno finding out about his decrepit side sickened him.

Only Itachi knew his true nature.

'Best to come clean now.' Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "I lied."

His brother only raised a brow.

Sasuke glared at his half-hearted reaction. "I lied. I wanted Haruno to be my friend. I just didn't want her to know about the real me."

Itachi stilled. This was the first time his brother opened up. He never thought that it would be related to…that.

Sasuke continued. "I didn't want to tell you this, but, recent events made me recall every little thing. Until now, I can still hear otousan's criticisms inside my head. I didn't want to burden you, Naruto & Tenten. Even Haruno. I thought I moved on…but, I couldn't."

"This happened when exactly?"

Sasuke closed his eyes.

School Festival.

The burnt paper flowers.

Haruno's bruised cheek.

Her helpless state when he found her at the school's rooftop reminded him of his past self. To everyone, she was a popular girl who had an amazing boyfriend. Little did they know, Neji treated her like trash. After seeing her crying next to the burnt flowers sporting a bruise on her cheek, he didn't hesitate to help her. His reason at first was because she's an outsider who treated him equally despite his garish appearance.

During their school project, he was afraid of getting caught by her. Knowing her misogynistic boyfriend's tendency to hit the pinkette whenever he saw her with another man, he decided to protect her by keeping her out of harm's way.

Eventually, his silent promise of protection became a routine. A routine that increasingly developed into a habit. He even surprised himself by asking her how she was doing with Neji. Uchiha Sasuke never showed concern for outsiders. If it were his friends or his brother, he wouldn't hesitate to ask.

Pinky assumed his actions were of a friend showing concern. Once again, she kindly offered her friendship. Who was he to refuse? So he decided to go along with it, in order for her to stop pestering him.

Until she commented that he was untouchable.

He was used to being untouchable.

He wasn't used to hearing that from someone he barely knew.

Tenten understood he was perfect, while Naruto presumed he was being protective of his family. Regardless of their brutal feud, they allowed him inside their tightly-knit circle. He was grateful for Naruto's display of loyalty & Tenten's outspoken nature. They're the only ones who kept him at bay so he decided not to tell them about his past.

Remembering Tenten's words that he'll be in trouble if he further associated himself with Haruno, he hated to admit she was right all along.

He hated to admit Haruno Sakura's efforts of friendship weren't in vain.

He hated to admit he already acknowledged her as a friend.

He hated to admit she got under his skin.

He hated to admit he wanted more from their friendship.

Solemnly looking at his palms, he murmured. "I kept repeating to myself that as long as these scars remain, Haruno & I cannot be friends. I avoided her because I know she'll never be able to handle the truth. I never told Naruto & Tenten about it either because I don't want their pity."

Itachi nodded sadly. "Don't you think they deserve to know? After all, one good look at those scars & they'll figure out that those weren't caused by fights."

"Tenten knew," Sasuke replied, resting a hand under his chin. "She didn't pry any further. As for dobe, he already assumed I got these from our fights." He was grateful for their respect to his personal space.

"And Sakura-san?"

Sasuke stared at his hands.

"You never intended for her to know," Itachi answered for him. Underlying Sasuke's words & actions, he did care for Sakura's well-being. And being a crafty liar, he added Neji to the mix to dissuade his self not to get close to her.

Protecting Sakura from Neji was only a front.

He wanted to protect her from himself.

His stupid, stupid brother.

He was already doing an act of love.

Who knew he was such a softy?

He poked his brother's forehead. "Foolish little brother. What's there to hide? Everything is now in the past. Yes, you can relive it all over again. But it doesn't change the way you are now."

"Yeah, but…"

Itachi rolled his sleeves up, bearing the same serrations on his arms. "We both share the same painful memories. Like I told you before, as long as we have each other we'll endure anything that comes to our way. Are you afraid of them rejecting you?" When the younger man didn't answer, he clasped his hands. "Trust them more, ototou. Your friends deserve to know. They'll help you overcome the past. Just like what I did with my friends."

Sasuke blinked back tears. Itachi chose the wrong moment to spout his cheesiest lines. Needless to say, he was touched. His brother rarely expressed sentiments. "But, I…"

The older Uchiha smiled. "Don't be content with just Naruto, Tenten & I as your sources of comfort. In time, you'll find someone who's willing to share your pain & stand by your side at all times. Be patient. Reach out to others." He gave a sly smile. "You get what I'm saying?"

Sasuke snorted.

Satisfied, Itachi stood up. He volunteered himself to wash the dishes for tonight. Casting a glance at his brother who was still sitting at the dining area, his lips curled into a smile.

His foolish little brother was contemplating.

Until now he was contemplating. And staring at the same time on Haruno's slim back while she was heating a pan filled with milk on the stove.

Sasuke admitted begrudgingly that he wasn't being fair to his friends. Naruto & Tenten chose to ignore the issue so they didn't notice that it adversely affected him inside. Although he was grateful to his friends' respect for his private matters, it didn't occur to them that maybe he needed their help. On the other hand, Pinky directly asked him but she absolutely had no idea what was bothering him.

Maybe he really needed someone who'd listen to him after all. No holds barred.

He raked a hand on his uneven spikes. It wouldn't hurt to open up to her now, would it?

Clinking sounds broke his musings. Sakura placed a steaming mug of warm milk in front of him. His eyebrow went up in an inquiring look.

"We both need sleep, right?" she reasoned out, sipping happily from her own mug.

He blinked. She really was a sucker for sweets. Thoughtful and…

"Annoying."

"Hm?"

He raised the mug to his lips. "You're annoying."

Green eyes flashed in defiance. "Gee, thanks." He was clearly teasing her. It took her a long time to get used to his sarcastic nature. Naruto once bragged that it was one of his attractive traits. She rolled her eyes. The blond boy must be blinded by his admiration.

"Haruno."

"Hm?"

Sasuke put his mug down. He eyed her levelly. "Why did you ask me to be your friend?"

She looked at him as if he'd grown two heads. "Why are you asking me?"

"Don't counter my question with another," he argued.

Sakura shrugged, gulping her drink. "I got curious."

"Curious?" he echoed. That didn't sound right.

Sakura leaned against the counter, a brief smile crossing her lips. "When I first saw you puking your guts out during your parents' party, I thought you were funny because you suddenly ran away like a crazy fool. But…"

"But?"

"Turned out you had a bad mouth when you said I was Neji-kun's pet."

Sasuke smirked at the memory. He only said it out loud because he was irritated at Neji flaunting his girlfriends like prized trophies. He once thought of her as an annoyance at first. And he was wrong.

Sakura's expression changed from wistful to regret. "Neji changed after the party."

"In what way?" he asked.

The pinkette learned about her ex-boyfriend's insecurities the hard way. She wanted to continue loving him, wanted to bring back the good times…but it was impossible. "He never looked at me the same way again. His jealous streak intensified, to the point he'd hit me whenever I commit even a slight mistake. The only thing that didn't change was his urge to best you. That's when I got curious."

"Why would you get curious over something that's trivial?"

"Because it was unusual," Sakura explained. "Neji was very proud. He'd never bow down to anyone, let alone pay attention to another individual. Then again, he regarded you as someone he needed to overcome, a rival."

"Rival, huh? Perhaps," Sasuke mused, drumming his fingers idly on the granite countertop. "Neji & I have a rough history. We never saw each other eye-to-eye. Plus, it had something to do with our families."

"Like a family feud."

Sasuke chuckled. "Aa, Family feud: Business edition. The Hyuga Corporation & the Uchiha Industries are known as the two top competitors in Business. Neji & I were basically bred to tear each other's throats."

"I often see that kind of family drama on TV shows. I didn't think it'd be intense," Sakura remarked. Neji never told her about his family life. He was too reserved. The only thing she knew was the fact he's cousin to Hinata, a quiet girl from her class. She poured herself another batch of warm milk. "I didn't know that Neji-kun was that prominent."

"He's a misogynist."

Sakura chided. "I don't see him as that. Behind that reserved exterior, he's actually a caring individual." She recalled seeing Neji always coming to Hinata's side when they were still together. His display of familial affection towards his cousin was enough for Sakura to fall in love with him.

Seeing her friend's disbelieving look, she continued. "When we dated, I had no idea he belonged to an elite family. For me, he was simply Neji-kun. He was so down-to-earth that he attracted a lot of supporters, mostly from the athletic clubs."

Sasuke cussed silently. Those supporters included Chouji & his band of thugs. So, Hyuga was their ringleader, huh? That little…"Pretty charismatic of him," he remarked through gritted teeth.

The pinkette remained pensive. She remembered her former Home Ec partner, Suke. She didn't have the chance to admit to her bespectacled classmate that Neji ordered the thugs to bully anyone whomever they wished. To date, Suke was still bullied at their school & she couldn't do anything about it. Neji wasn't charismatic. He was nothing more but a plain bully.

"He wasn't charismatic," Sakura admitted ruefully.

Sasuke noted the slight hitch of her voice. He chose not to prod. Itachi told him that patience was the key in reaching out to people. Even common sense dictated that interrupting someone from talking wasn't good. Taking their mugs with him, he turned to Sakura. "I'll heat up another batch. From the looks of things we won't be sleeping for a while."

Mildly surprised at his intentions, she answered. "Okay."

After all, the kitchen was becoming too small for such intense conversations.

A/N: And there you have it! Like the previous chapter this one focuses on Sasuke's POV. To avoid confusion, I marked each flashback with their corresponding chapter in case you might want to backtrack on some stuff. The series of flashbacks served as back stories to my previous chapter titled "A Very Long Hiatus". So, I 'd like to thank you all for taking the time to read. No questions for now on! Reviews are much appreciated since I want to know what you guys think. See you guys on the next chapter!