"Sasuke... can you please call Tomoko for dinner?" Mother asked me gently.

I nodded in response and headed to the garden. Once out there I saw her sat on the ground Indian style, eyes closed and muttering something under her breath. I couldn't really make out what she was saying but I've seen her do this a couple of times.

It's been about two months since Tomoko-chan and Haruo-kun moved in with us, now Haruo is working hard to become a ninja so he can become Tomoko-chan's guardian. Not that he didn't appreciate us, but I think he just didn't want to rely on my family all the time.

"Er... Tomoko-Chan?" Immediately she stopped and turned to look at me. "Sorry to interrupt but... dinner is ready."

She gave me a sweet smile, then got up on her feet and without a word, went inside to the kitchen. I couldn't help but sigh, Tomoko still hadn't said a single word and was beginning to worry my mother.

My father, was a little more understanding about the situation. In his own words, he would say "the girl lost everything, I wouldn't want to talk to either". That was my dad for you, straight to the point, brutal honesty.

I soon followed her inside and sat at our table along with Father and Mother. "Where's Nii-san and Haruo-kun?"

"Itachi is on a mission... and I'm not sure about Haruo" my Father answered "do you know anything Tomoko?"

But all Tomoko did was shake her head back and forth, pretty much saying she had no idea. My mother looked at her from across the table with concern. Slowly, she put down her chop sticks and linked her hands on the table.

"Tomoko-chan?" she softly called "why don't you talk?"

I glanced at Mother then at Tomoko who was sat next to me, as usual she didn't say a word but continued eating.

Fugaku sighed loudly, "are you really going to do this Mikoto?" He asked, clearly annoyed.

"Tomoko-chan..." mother whispered, not taking any notice of my father, "it's been two months, and all of us are really worried about you".

"Oka-san..." echoed a voice from the hallway "she sleeping and eating well, I'm sure when Tomoko feels ready she'll speak". I looked in the direction and saw my brother walk through.

"Nii-San!" I yelled excitedly and went to hug him. Even though he never really hugged back, he occasionally put his hand on my head.

I let go of my brother and looked up at him, he was looking at Tomoko with a small smile. "Right? Tomoko-Chan?" She didn't answer him, instead she pressed her lips together then carried on eating.

"Itachi? Why are you home so early?" Father asked.

Itachi Shrugged "we completed the mission quicker than expected".

"But wasn't it a B rank?" Father asked, Itachi didn't say anything and started eating which caused my father to smirk "as expected of my son".

Suddenly the sound of the front door came through the house "I'm back!" Haruo called.

As Haruo walked in the kitchen my mother stood up and placed her hands on her hips "and why were you out so late Haruo-Kun!? I was starting to get worried!" my mother told him crossly.

Haruo nervously scratched the back of his head "Ah sorry, sorry... I guess I lost track of time".

Mother wasn't convinced "just what were you doing? The academy finished hours ago!"

Haruo threw his hands in defence and told her it was nothing to worry about, but mother was too stubborn and demanded him to tell her.

"Okay, okay! But... it's really embarrassing" Haruo muttered "I-I can't read..."

"what, I didn't catch that?"

"I said I can't read okay! Happy now, neither me nor Tomoko can read!"

Silence followed the room afterwards, Tomoko gazed at her brother with a concerned look. Haruo then stormed out into the back garden; With his sister following not long afterwards.

"Well" spoke father "that's something the Hokage forgot to mention".

"Sasuke did you know about this?" Mother asked me.

"What? No! She doesn't talk remember?"

"Itachi?" Asked father sternly.

"It's not that they can not read at all" my brother explained, "they just can not read our language, the dúnsæte (mountain people) are taught to read the ancient writings of their lady of light. Although its common for them to learn the modern tongue that we use, it is not deemed necessary to learn our literacy".

"So... That means what?" I asked.

"It means that Haruo is required to take evening classes to learn our language, and obviously, Tomoko will as well as soon as she joins the academy".

"Well I understand why he's been taking extra classes, but why didn't he tell us?" My mother questioned.

Itachi shrugged "that's something you need to ask him" was all he said them turned to me, "Sasuke, maybe you should check to see if they're okay" he suggested.

I gave my brother a nod and went the same direction that they did. I soon found them outside sitting next to each other, looking out to the garden.

"I'm sorry you had to see that Tomoko-sweostor..." Haruo told her. She gazed up at her older brother with a soft smile as if to say she understood.

"It's just... I miss cennestre (mother) so much! And I'm so worried about you not talking, I just feel so pressure to make things work" he explained. Tomoko took hold of his hand and smiled sadly, it was just a couple of days ago, that the investigation was finished and the team could not find any traces of their mother's body, so she was pronounced dead.

"I should probably go back inside and explain myself" Haruo stated as he stood up and started to make his way inside. I hid behind the doors so he didn't see me, I expected Tomoko to follow but she didn't.

I decided to walk over to her and see if she's okay. "Tomoko-chan? Is everything alright?"

She didn't look at me, she just gazed up at the stars. Just as I was about to give up and walk back inside...

"Don't go..."

I was stunned, was she speaking now!

"Tomoko-chan? Did you?"

Tomoko turned to face me but didn't say anything.

"You just talked didn't you? I knew you could!"

It was kind weird hearing her talk, her voice was soft, timid. Considering her age, she sounded a lot more reserved than some girls my age, it made a nice change.

She gave me a smile "I'm sorry..." she softly spoke.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for?"

"For worrying your family... I guess, I couldn't find a need to speak. After what happened to my mother, I didn't really trust anyone but my Aaron oh erm... i mean Nii-San."

"So... what changed?" I asked her.

"I guess, I started trusting other people again, but you more than anyone..."

I wasn't expecting that so I asked her why.

"Because you didn't talk to me as if I'd lost my mind, or as if I wasn't in the room, you and Itachi treat me as a person... as if I'm good enough".

I couldn't help but smile "You'll always be good enough for me Tomoko-Chan!"

I could see a faint blush in her cheeks "you think so?"

I nodded "Yeah! You are my friend after all!"

Tomoko's eyes widened slightly but then grinned... that was the start of our friendship.

My alarm clock ran loudly through my room which awoke me from my dream, it had been a while since I remembered that. It's not often I dwell on that part of my life anymore, because now it no longer feels real.

Sitting up in bed I thought back to mine and Tomoko's childhood. She was probably the person I trusted the most back then, I told her everything. But as we got older, we drifted apart. Her and her brother eventually moved out of the Uchiha compound and along with me Tomoko started the ninja academy.

We stopped talking, I'm not sure why but we did. Even during the academy days she avoided me like an illness, and at some point, became friends with that Hinata girl. But now we are on the same team, something I never saw coming.

But why the hostile attitude? Why does she hate me so much? I don't recall saying anything that could hurt her feelings, to be honest there are a lot of things I can't remember. I would ask her what her problem was, but I had more important things to think about... my revenge will always come before anything else.