note.
Slight reference to the time where Sakura totally pwned Naruto and Sasuke in training in this chapter. Itachi is seriously the dream older brother (and brother-in-law).
Also, on another note - please don't expect replies if you leave a guest review. There isn't a reply option. So please don't complain on another review, saying stuff like 'you haven't replied'; you're putting me in a very awkward situation X'D
track 30.
Sakura was about to knock on the mahogany door of the Uchiha residence when Itachi walked out. Instinctively, she hid her swollen face under pink hair. But not before he caught a glimpse of the tears. She usually felt sub-par in terms of looks when around the fair skinned and dark haired family, but it was even worse when she compared herself to Sasuke's older brother. With his glossy mane and aristocratic bone structure, she felt even smaller next to him in her current state of ruined mascara and puffy eyes.
The two of them had never talked to each other privately - without the presence of either Mikoto or Sasuke - but she found that there was something comforting about Sasuke's older brother. A certain reassurance about him that made her feel as if everything would be okay. Even if he did make her feel like a very unattractive human being.
"Can you climb trees?" He said. Calmly. Nonchalantly. As if asking about the weather.
"Huh?"
"Can you climb trees?" Itachi repeated. Looking up at the tree outside his younger brother's room. They both knew it annoyed Sasuke to no end as it knocked on his window whenever the wind was strong.
"I'm so good, I might as well be walking up them with my feet flat." She joked, hoping to lighten the mood and distract him from her post-crying face, well aware that he had seen it. Both Itachi and Sasuke, averted their gaze when aware that they've seen something they shouldn't. She learnt that when she was soaked in the rain.
He readjusted the scarf around her, tightening it just as Mikoto had - overlapping the left layer over the right - before leading her to the base of the trunk. "Climb up to Sasuke's room. Otou-san is home, if anyone calls to find you he won't hesitate to say you're here."
"How did you know?" She hadn't told anyone. Not even Sasuke.
"An older brother's intuition." Itachi didn't reveal anything, but Sasuke had discussed it briefly with him. Asking him for advice on the girl. His younger brother had expressed worry over the fact that a friend's relationship with her parents were faltering - but he could guess the rest. "You should hurry up. I'll be leaving now."
"Itachi nii-san." She called out after him. Her voice was strong through its thin timbre. Trying out the foreign name she never had the luck to use before. "Thank-you."
"You're always welcome, Sakura."