Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on the previous chapter. I was very surprised that so many of you are still reading my stories. It definitely motivated me to write a new chapter, but then life got busy and I couldn't update when I wanted to.
This chapter is a bit slow, but hope you enjoy it.
Hinata maintains her composure even as her dignity and the little confidence she possesses is ripped to shreds by the man she can't help but adore.
'It's okay though,' she tells herself. If the couple months of radio silence didn't prove how little their time together meant, the words said aloud tonight left no room for doubt. It's better to be aware of where she stands than to foolishly hold on to feelings that aren't reciprocated.
The chilled wind cools her inflamed cheeks now that Hinata is no longer protected by the artificial warmth of the library. The path to her dorm is directly ahead of her, but it's well traveled and will likely be used by the two individuals she has no reason or desire to encounter again. Double checking for her wallet, she changes course to the train station.
Rounding the corner, hidden by the shadows, Sasuke is propped up against the red bricked wall of the library. What looks like a blunt is held between his lips while he uses one hand to thumb the flint wheel of a silver lighter. He mutters under his breath when the low flame is extinguished by the brisk breeze.
After he tosses the lighter in the trash he doesn't look in her direction as he asks, "heading out?"
Hinata nods her head, then remembers he isn't looking her way, "Yes. Sorry to cancel." Sasuke had taken time out of his busy schedule on a Friday to help her with a finance class she couldn't quite master on her own. Hinata didn't want to waste more of Sasuke's time since she was certain she wouldn't be able to retain any information tonight. "Maybe we can reschedule."
"I'll walk you back," Sasuke slips the blunt into his coat pocket and pushes himself off of the wall.
"I'm not going back to my dorm."
Sasuke's eyebrows rise slightly at this. Surprisingly glumly, he reasons, "ahh, time to unwind."
Hinata catches on quickly. She wants to believe that during their time spent together Sasuke has recognized that she isn't as spineless as most people believe her to be. But it's only been a couple of months and the supposed evidence of her running after Naruto doesn't really support the image of someone who has gotten over their first love.
"No," Hinata defends with more vehemence than is probably needed, "nothing like that. No. I want to go-" She really wants to go home to Konoha, but as that isn't an immediate option, the next closest thing will have to do, "I want to go to Neji's."
Sasuke's demeanor shifts and it seems his mood has lightened, "You know we live in the same building, right?"
"I don't want to interrupt your plans with Suigestu-san."
Sasuke scoffs, "He's just killing time. I have to be up early in the morning anyway."
"Still no answer?" Sasuke asks as he turns the steering wheel to enter the underground garage of the condo building he and her cousin call home.
"No. Strange. I don't remember him mentioning any work or clan-related plans this weekend."
"Maybe personal plans?" Using the rear view camera, Sasuke effortlessly backs into his reserved parking spot. Hinata follows him out of the car and into the building.
How self-centered of her to have not considered Neji having a life outside that of her immediate family. She feels ashamed, as if she doesn't see him as more than a tool to further her family's status.
The elevator opens its metal doors and they step inside. Sasuke taps the floors to Neji's floor. When the doors open Hinata presses the button to shut the door.
"I'll wait in the lobby," She can't bring herself to intrude and rob Neji of whatever free time he worked hard for. It was an emotionally exhausting evening, but she would prefer to hang around until her cousin is available at his convenience.
"What makes you think he'll respond tonight," Sasuke teases with a smirk, he hits the button to his floor. When the bell rings and the doors open, he invites her over, "You can chill at my spot. I'll drop you back to campus if he doesn't respond tonight."
The rich aroma of curry greets them upon entering the suite the Uchiha brothers share.
"You're back early," Itachi calls from beside the stove where he's scooping out steaming rice into a stainless steel food container.
Sasuke grunts a greeting in return as he kicks off his boots and moves forward. Hinata neatly removes her shoes and places them to the side of the welcome mat.
With his back facing them, Itachi lowers the heat under a single pot on the stove, "There's a salad in the fridge and I did groceries."
The barest hint of surprise is detected by the arch of a brow when Itachi turns to greet his brother. "Hinata. You're gracing our home with your presence again."
Hinata stares at Itachi's unexpected choice of kitchen accessory. Realizing she is staring, decorum and routine return quickly in the form of a low bow, "Thank you for having me."
Itachi graciously unbinds a frilly apron secured around his waist and neck. Plump birds seemingly drawn for a children's cartoon are printed across white pristine cotton and the frills are of a deep red shade. He folds it neatly and tucks it into a kitchen drawer. The transition from househusband to clan heir happens quickly to the point where Hinata guesses that Itachi may have been embarrassed to have been caught in his wife's kitchen attire.
"You are always welcome. Do you and Sasuke have plans for tonight? I hope it doesn't involve-."
Sasuke gruffly butts in, "She's on her way to visit Neji."
"I see," Itachi nods his head, then disappears down the hallway to his bedroom.
Hinata moves closer toward Sasuke to whisper, "Is that Izumi-san's?"
Sasuke huffs, "Nope. That's all Itachi. Chosen and purchased by him."
"He looks adorable," Hinata can't think of another way to describe seeing the usually polished monochromatic Uchiha heir.
Sasuke rolls his eyes, "He has a thing for birds and you have a thing for-."
Itachi's return interrupts Sasuke from finishing his sentence.
"I always hoped Sasuke would show interest in my hobby. Hinata, are you a fan of birdwatching?"
Near the fridge with a glass of water, Sasuke answers for Hinata, "Not everyone is as boring as you, nii-san."
"What a shame." Itach rests his travel bag on the wooden floor as he searches the closet for his jacket. "Sasuke. Father is expecting you to be on time tomorrow. Do not be late." Itachi gently but firmly reminds. "Refrigerate the curry when it's cool and wash up. Your sheets are in the dryer."
"Yeah, yeah," Sasuke hovers over the stove, stirring the aromatic medley of vegetables and tofu.
"Please stay home tonight. You can't afford to be late." His older brother warns. From the corner of his eye he glances at Hinata, "and be good."
"Heard you the first time," Sasuke rolls his eyes, but with no real signs of annoyance or irritation. He turns to Hinata, "hungry?"
Hinata's stomach grumbles, in response a plate is placed in front of her. Sasuke scoops out rice and curry on both their dishes.
"How are you getting home?" Sasuke directs the question to his brother.
"I have a ride," Itachi answers without offering more information. He kneels to secure the boots on his feet.
"Izumi knows who is taking you to see her?" Sasuke turns to face his brother with a cheeky grin.
Itachi chooses to ignore his brother's question. "Good night, Hinata. Sasuke, be good," Itachi warns one last time and shuts the door closed.
Hinata is curious about the identity of Itachi's driver, however she keeps her lips sealed. She doesn't dare inquire about something she shouldn't be privy to.
They eat in silence, seated on tall bar stools at the kitchen island. The food is mouth-watering and delicious. Hinata moans softly in appreciation, "This is amazing."
" Good at everything he does," Sasuke says in between bites of his food.
"You and Izumi are really lucky." What a treat it must be to live with and be loved by a caring and generous person like Itachi. Their relationship is reminiscent of hers and Neji's. However, Sasuke and Itachi are siblings by blood, not by choice or paternal relation. More importantly, they were born into their family on relatively equal footing. Neither brother's existence was for the purpose of serving the other and If such a choice was made, it was voluntary. The same couldn't be said for her and Neji's life together.
"Lucky me," Sasuke murmurs, slightly dejectedly.
Those two words carry a lot of weight, and Hinata assumes she can relate. Whether or not she was born to be served, Neji's possession of natural intelligence and skill skews favour and acknowledgment away from her.
While she knows what it's like to be overlooked in favour of one deemed better, she still thinks Sasuke is in a better position. Or at the very least, he was spoiled rotten by his big brother. That should make up for whatever misgivings he had with being Itachi's younger brother.
When their meal is finished, Sasuke diligently scrubs their dishes clean and packs the leftovers away just as Itachi instructed. She offers to help him make his bed with the fresh, hot linen from the dryer. Afterwards, they sit in the living room, with Hinata on the sofa and Sasuke seated cross legged on the floor. The TV is on in the background playing a movie that barely captures her attention.
Sasuke too pays little attention to the movie on the slim screen, preoccupied with the notes in the thick, heavy binder. It doesn't appear to be school notes, so Hinata guesses it's pertaining to the meeting with his father. She lowers the volume to ensure he isn't disturbed.
Time slowly passes this way, with periodic glances at her phone in search of Neji's response. At some point in the night, she falls asleep on the couch. When she awakes, diluted shades of amber are peeking through the thick blinds left of the television. She shifts a blanket off, one that wasn't present when she was awake.
"You're up," Sasuke notes from some area near the kitchen. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, her vision begins to focus and she sees his dark outline.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep," Hinata nearly tumbles off the sofa. She immediately picks up her phone and is disappointed that her calls and texts are yet to be returned.
Sasuke doesn't respond to her apology, "You know where the bathroom and towels are. There is a spare entry card in that bowl." Sasuke points towards the sleek table in the foyer. Squinting she discerns a matte black, ceramic bowl with a tiny crow attached to the rim.
Now that she is awake, Sasuke flips on the light in the kitchen.
Quietly advancing closer to the kitchen, Hinata offers, "May I make you breakfast?"
"No time," Sasuke pours coffee into a thermos with the Uchiha emblem printed across the silicone sleeve. He plucks a large, ripe tomato from the fridge, "this will do for now."
Out in the foyer he slides his feet into a pair of sleek, black oxfords. It matches perfectly with his dark trousers and crisp, white tailored shirt. The fabric settles around his form as if it was sewn specifically to mold his body. His appearance is more akin to a fashion shoot than a meeting with a corporate executive parent.
"You look nice." Handsome would be a better descriptor. She's too shy to utter this word, thinking it inappropriate.
"And you have drool on your face," Sasuke replies with a look that's half smile and half scornful.
Hinata immediately covers her mouth.
"There should be a new toothbrush under the sink." She's grateful when she hears the door click shut.
Alone, she showers, brushes her teeth and has no choice but to borrow a large cotton t-shirt from Sasuke while she waits for her clothing from the day before to wash and dry.
She attempts to study, but bombarded with memories of the exchange between Sakura and Naruto, the words go right over her head. Scooting down the large t-shirt to ensure her naked bum isn't directly on Itachi's sofa, she pulls the blanket over her body and turns on the tv.
She falls asleep again, and this time she is brought back to the land of the wakeful when she hears her phone ring. Finally, it's Neji.
"Hinata-sama, sorry I missed your call. I had a prior engagement and didn't hear my phone. Is everything okay?"
Hinata glances at the clock on her phone, it's past two in the afternoon and he sounds as if he has just woken up. She reads between the lines and easily figures out what he had been up to. Well, maybe only because Sasuke planted the thought in her mind.
"I just wanted to say hi." She didn't want to explain to Neji that her broken heart once again led her to his building and that she ended up spending the night with a man infamous among the city's female population. Taking the train back to campus was a much preferred option than seeing her cousin today.
"Are you sure? I can leave right now," She hears a hushed female voice in the background whine in what sounds like disagreement.
"I'm okay, Neji nii-san." Hinata exchanges a few more reassurances, enough that Neji is satisfied that her safety and wellbeing are secured.
Hinata retrieves her garments from the dryer.
Before leaving, she can't help but to treat herself to Itachi's food. As she's eating at the counter, Sasuke returns. He grumbles out a mumbled hello. He kicks off his shoes, drops his keys on the counter and yanks off his tie.
With a loss of what to say at his sour mood, Hinata asks, "Should I reheat some leftovers?"
"No," Sasuke stomps toward his bedroom.
Hinata doesn't know if this is her cue to leave. But she doesn't want to seem rude or appear to be a scared kitten. At the very least, she should thank him for his hospitality. She waits.
Fifteen minutes later, he emerges in joggers and a hoodie with his earlier slicked back hair tugged out in their natural unruliness. Despite the casual clothing, he still has the appearance that he's groomed to partake in a photoshoot.
"I'm going for a walk," He sits on the couch to slip on a pair of thick socks.
"Give me a second," Hinata grabs her books on the coffee table. She tries to make a mental note of her belongings so that she doesn't leave anything behind.
"You're welcome to join me. I can give you a ride after." He hands her a scarf and a fuzzy hat, "It's cold out."
"Okay," she replies, relieved to have not been kicked out.
A brisk ten minute walk brings them to a large park. It's mostly empty, save for a few folks walking their dogs. The air seems fresher and cleaner now that they are away from the major roadways. Meandering down a winding path flanked by naked cherry blossom trees, they stop at a frozen pond encircled by a few wooden benches.
Gloved hands dust sprinkled snow off one of the benches which Sasuke uses as his seat. Hinata joins him.
Bringing back out the blunt, which she assumes is the same as the one he pocketed last night, he also fishes out a new lighter from his jacket pocket. The afternoon air is still, allowing the lit end to begin its fiery ascent.
"Izumi complains of the smell indoors. Claims she is allergic," Sasuke explains as the reasoning to this particular destination, "but she says that about everything. Curry, fruit. Soon it will be water."
The tip of the wrapped paper flickers with each inhalation.
Hinata wonders what it would be like to live with an in-law. She believes there would be some level of envy present, likely minute, at having to share your sibling with an outsider.
Hinata wrinkles her nose at the herbaceous scent, but tries not to let it bother her. Given that they are outdoors, she's hopeful that the scent won't cling to her clothing.
As the minutes tick by, Sasuke's rigid posture relaxes as does his expression.
"Rough meeting?" Hinata boldly asks, hoping the substance consumed will help spark conversation.
"Yeah," The way he chews on his lower lip tells her that there is more he wants to say, but maybe he isn't comfortable opening up to her.
Sasuke turns the tables, "Did you get your closure?"
Hinata returns a puzzled look.
"With Naruto," he clarifies.
Despite spending the past couple of weeks studying together, the events of Christmas hadn't been broached. For this Hinata was tremendously grateful.
Today is different. Her stifled emotions require an outlet, "I think so," she begins hesitantly, "but it was mostly reaffirmation?"
"Of what?" Sasuke asks.
"Of his feelings for me," Hinata never considered herself proud, but she couldn't deny that it hurt her ego to know Naruto likely never reciprocated any of her feelings, "or lack thereof."
"He'll come around."
This is exactly the type of hope Hinata has been working hard to get rid of. After learning of Naruto's involvement with Sakura, she had no choice but to keep her distance in order to protect her own heart. Yet, late at night there was a desperate side of her that yearned for his prostration. One that hoped he would see her as more than something that was meant to be easily disposed of. She believes that hope is nearly extinguished now, but she doesn't want to play with fire.
"I don't think so." Too much time had gone by. Naruto's momentary interest was lost.
"Trust me, he will. He can't do better than you."
Hinata doesn't know if Sasuke means this as a compliment or an insult. Even though she has been told this on many occasions by her sister and roommate, Hinata interprets it unkindly.
"Because I come from money?" It's likely the only thing that she possesses that Sasuke would find noteworthy.
Sasuke taps the edge of the blunt to remove the accumulated ash.
"Nah. That idiot could care less about shit like that." Sasuke's assessment mirrors Hinata's, minus the part about Naruto being an idiot. "Just trust me, he can't."
Hinata has grown tired of hearing these default statements directed at her. They are superficially adorned words that carry no true merit. These sentiments are undeserved for two reasons, the first being their untruth, and secondly, while they stem from concern, their overwhelming falseness only leads her back to a descent into inner turmoil.
"You don't need to do that," Hinata protests, ready to end the pity party held in her honour and against her will.
"Do what?"
"Try to make me feel better," Hinata could handle the pitiful words of encouragement from Karui and Hanabi. They shared intimate moments of their life together, it was easy to open up to them. But not from Sasuke. Not from someone who seemed above romance and heartbreak. She doesn't want his pity.
"I'm not trying to make you feel better, I'm just telling you the truth," Sasuke defends a bit tersely.
Not wanting to further aggravate him, but still wanting to explain herself Hinata continues, "It's not true." Evidence against his claim is the existence of his ex, "Sakura-"
"It's not even a comparison."
Hinata readily agrees, Sakura embodies everything she aspires to be - from her physique to her self-assuredness and intellect. In comparison, Hinata felt inferior. She understood Naruto's obsession, however she had hoped her kindness would've won his heart in the end, especially since the object of his desire didn't wholeheartedly return his feelings.
Sasuke didn't stop there as he clarifies, "Sakura is an opportunistic child."
"You shouldn't speak ill of an ex partner," Hinata chastises, "she cares so deeply for you. That's not fair." As hurtful as Sakura's scheming was, she figured it was done out of desperation for a love that she thought was within reach. How could she not sympathize?
"That's on her, not on me. I'm not obligated to return her feelings," Sasuke's response seems rehearsed, as if he's said these same words on numerous occasions. "And I'm not speaking ill of an ex. I'm stating facts, from my perspective, about a woman I've known since I was a child."
Sasuke breathes out a lungful of herbal smoke, "I don't believe her supposed "love" is genuine. It's just from a place of juvenile obsession. I represent what she thinks is important in life, and I'm the closest she's ever gotten to it. That's all there is to it."
Hinata shakes her head. Being in the upper tier of society could easily skew a person's perception. She sees this within her own family, the way they believe everyone below their financial status has an ulterior motive, "I don't see her that way. She works hard for what she wants. She seems driven."
"I'm not denying that and I'm certain she'll make a name for herself. But her view on life is warped. She's greedy, and for some reason she believes I can grant her the lifestyle that she covets." Sasuke laughs to himself, and then confesses, "fucked up thing is that she doesn't realize I'm broke. Without the charity of my brother and mother, I am in no better position than her."
Hinata doesn't believe this. They were still in school. Financial precarity was synonymous with being a student, even for some of the ultrarich. "You're graduating soon and you'll begin working with Itachi and Fugaku-san."
"I'll be working under them, that's the only certainty."
"But that's only temporary," Hinata reasons that Fugaku's harsh method may be in response to proving nepotism wasn't a factor in his children's success.
"My father had a meeting with some foreign investors today. Itachi couldn't attend, so he volunteered me. I was thrilled that he even agreed. I spent the last two weeks researching the investors and preparing for this meeting and you want to know how it went down?"
Hinata realizes this is likely the reason for his sour mood.
Sasuke stubbs out the shortened blunt and flings it in a nearby trash can.
"Everytime I opened my mouth, he would interrupt and send me on a coffee run or have me refill everyone's drinks. He made me took notes like a fucking secretary."
"You're still learning-"
"Why send me to school, when I could do his bidding with less than a high school education?" Sasuke huffs.
Hinata couldn't suppress her giggle, even with the fury emanating from the man beside her, "You're reading too much into this."
"Am I? The last straw was when he entertained the idea of one of the investors introducing 'Fugaku's pretty son' to his teenage daughter who is obsessed with K-pop."
"Are you more upset that your father didn't acknowledge your intelligence, or because he treated you like a woman?" Hinata's eyes widen when she realizes her thoughts were said aloud.
Sasuke scowls, then leans closer to her to flick her on the forehead, "You're mean. And I take back everything I said. You're just as bad as -"
"Stop," Hinata rubs her forehead, "You're not broke. That meeting sounds normal for a student, Sasuke."
"It's bullshit," Sasuke rises from the bench and dusts a bit of ash from his otherwise pristine jacket. "Let's go home, I'm hungry."
"You could have left some for me," Sasuke leers at Hinata after bringing the final spoon of curry and rice to his mouth.
"I only took one spoonful, I left most of it for you," It was the truth but still she felt bad since the meal wasn't meant for her. "I can make you something if you're still hungry."
"I am and you should," Sasuke replies expectantly.
The refrigerator is well stocked with fresh produce, soy milk and tofu. All ingredients for healthy meals, but would it be sufficient to satisfy a high man's cravings?
Not knowing the answer as she has no prior experience to draw from, she asks, "Would you like a vegetable stir fry?"
Sasuke shakes his head.
"Soup?"
"Won't be enough. Hand me the bag of grapes."
Hinata does as is told and continues inspecting the contents of the fridge. The top drawer is filled with pulls out one and is deep in thought trying to remember a hearty tomato dish, when Sasuke supplies, "Yeah, tomato cake."
"Tomato cake?" Hinata repeats, unaware of such a dessert.
"Yes," Sasuke replies enthusiastically. He places all of the tomatoes from the drawer into the sink. Then grabs a baking dish from the pantry. "Izumi made it once. It was really good."
Decision made for her, Hinata pulls out her phone to search for a recipe. Surprisingly she finds one and the pictures of the finished cake actually look delicious.
Hinata preheats the oven and works on the batter, while Sasuke washes and purees the tomatoes; clearly already familiar with the recipe. Sasuke does the final step of mixing the tomato puree into the batter. She sets the timer on the oven, places the pan in and joins Sasuke in the living area.
At his insistence she opens her text book and notebook. She explains the nature of the case study she was assigned with. In his current mental state, she is skeptical of the knowledge Sasuke will convey, but still she listens. He nods his head as he pours over her notes and details of the task. Using simple analogies and real life examples, he explains the intricacies of risk assessment. She cuts in at areas that are still somewhat difficult to grasp, and with surprising patience he further breaks it down for her. When the timer on the clock signals that the cake is ready, she is more confident in her ability to tackle the assignment.
The cake is surprisingly tasty, a nice blend of tangy and savoury. She watches in amusement as Sasuke shoves nearly an entire slice into his mouth and hums in appreciation. A documentary about snakes In Asia plays in the background, one which fully captures Sasuke's attention.
When the documentary is over, he walks over to the kitchen and returns with a bottle of sake. He offers Hinata a glass. While hesitant to drink again, she tells herself that maybe it's a good idea to build her tolerance. She feels safe doing this with Sasuke.
One glass provides a nice, warm buzz. In the time she spends nursing one glass, Sasuke has already downed three.
"You shouldn't drink your problems away," Hinata concludes that his attraction to substances may be a result of the issues he faces with his family. It's the only thing that makes sense, as his life seems perfect in every other facet.
"Don't start," He rests his empty glass on a coaster. "You're not going to kill my buzz - again."
"Again?"
"Yes, again."
"When did I-"
"When you brought up those two idiots." Hinata frowns and Sasuke corrects his statement, "that idiot and my ex-partner." Hinata smiles, even when she hears him mumble "as if I want to spend my free time discussing those two."
"You owe me," Sasuke proclaims.
"I owe you?" At this point she feels like a parrot, but she nods her head. "Okay, fine. Do you want another cake?"
"Nope," Sasuke shakes his head, "something better than that." The smile that is shone her way is mischievous and somewhat predatory. The fine hairs on her arms raise in response. She blames the alcohol for the way she lightly shivers in anticipation of his request.
Hinata doesn't understand why she's disappointed when he brings up the topic of fake dating again. While skeptical she relents and agrees to attend a small get together for his parent's anniversary. Her one condition is that it isn't explicitly stated that they are an item. His parents could jump to that conclusion on their own and rid Sasuke of whatever marital burdens placed on him. Once she doesn't lie, then there will be no need to ask for their forgiveness when they eventually learn the truth.
With a bit of prodding, she sleeps on his bed and he retires to Itachi's room.
The next morning when she awakes, he is still asleep. She sends him a thank you text for having her over for the weekend and helping her with the assignment. Not wanting to disturb him for a ride back to school, she quietly exits the unit and makes her way to the train station.
She spends her time reviewing her notes and jotting down ideas for her assignment. As she is walking towards her dormitory, she hears her phone buzz. With a hot cup of cocoa in her palm and a pastry in the other, she ignores it. It pings again and again.
Annoyed, she grips the paper bag between her teeth as she climbs the stairs and uses her free hand to rummage through her bag for her phone.
Before she unlocks her phone, she's notified of three unread messages from Karui. She doesn't know what in the world Karui could be texting her about on a Sunday morning. Knowing that she will soon find out, she drops the phone back into her bag and opens the door to her floor.
Instantaneously, she wishes she could go back thirty seconds in time and read the messages.
Naruto is seated next to her door, knees drawn to his chest and face in his palms.
She realizes there is a small window of opportunity where she can retreat and he likely wouldn't notice. That possibility vanishes when a neighbor from further down the hall opens their door to begin their mid-morning study session.
Naruto looks up and spots her. He waves at her with a sad smile on his face.
Hinata's immediate reaction is to console him. Knowing where this might lead, she turns in the other direction.
It is cowardly to run, but isn't that true to who she is?
Before she could turn the doorknob leading to the flight of stairs, Naruto grabs her wrist and gently asks her to, "Wait."
"I just want to talk, to apologize," He explains.
"You don't need to," Hinata feels like all of the progress she made over the weekend is now ruined. Thoughts of Naruto had mostly vanished from her mind while she was with Sasuke. She wishes she was still at his apartment.
"I need to. Just five minutes, Hinata."
Naruto says it with such intense earnesty, that she has no choice but to give in. He looks grateful when she nods her head and he silently follows her back to her door.
You know what's surprising? I just realized my Sakura-centric chapters have some of the most comments. Even though I am not a fan of hers, I really love writing about her toxic obsession with Sasuke. It's so easy to do. And I guess you guys enjoy it too?
I'm tempted to write a messy story about these two, but I doubt anyone would read it. Maybe I'll just have to focus on their relationship in Crave.
As always, I would love to know your thoughts, predictions or concerns.
Also, is anyone intrigued in Itachi's role in this plot? I kinda have an unhealthy obsession with him now, so expect that he'll have a bigger role in this plot in a few chapters.
