Warnings: Incest

A Family Affair

Chapter Thirteen

Itachi wouldn't lie, the last couple of days had been what could loosely be called "hectic" at the best of times. (And "hellish" at the worst.)

Not accounting for the events of Saturday evening, as he thought it best to try and keep that as far from his mind as he could while at work, he had spent all of Sunday as, what he was deciding to graciously refer to as, "a mess." He'd barely slept, ate even less, and neglected the chores he needed to do around the house. Which might not have seemed like such a big deal except for the fact that he hadn't been able to even look at Sasuke's clothes in his laundry basket without feeling like he was going to break down. Again.

He'd managed through it though, somehow. But after finally falling asleep at three on Monday morning, clutching his phone in his hand (just in case Sasuke called again), he'd been rudely and abruptly woken up after only three hours by his alarm. Telling him, in no uncertain terms, that it was time to get up, pull himself together, and go to work.

So that's what Itachi did.

It had been a bit of a rough start and it shouldn't have been surprising to find out that he'd almost called in sick three times in the span of the hour it took him to actually get ready, but he'd done it in the end! He'd made it to work! If only, he'd had to remind himself, for the small chance he had of seeing Sasuke.

And, while it had taken all day, a minute or so after Sakura left his classroom Itachi finally got his wish.

He got up from his desk and went to the window that overlooked the front yard of the school but he didn't see Sasuke at first. To be fair, he was clutching his phone in his hand and not paying attention to much else as he read back over the last few texts he'd sent his brother. Ones that had gone unanswered and (even worse) unread over the weekend.

"What?"

"Sasuke, I'm confused. What are you saying?"

"I think we need to talk about this."

"Why won't you answer your phone?"

"Could you just talk to me for a minute, that way I can try to understand what's going on?"

"Sasuke?"

"Sasuke, please. I've tried calling you; I've tried calling the house. Could you just answer me?"

"I'm coming over to mom and dad's."

"I'm here. Would you please come down and talk to me for a few minutes?"

"That's all I'm asking for… Just a few minutes."

"Sasuke?"

"Please, tell me you're not serious about this…"

"Please."

But finally, Itachi looked up and almost dropped his phone as his heart skipped a few beats in his chest.

Sasuke was there—like right there! Standing by the front gate, looking at his phone. And Itachi knew he only had a second to react.

He considered running out there and trying to catch his brother, then begging Sasuke to talk to him (in the least embarrassing way he could on the side of the road, of course). But he didn't know if he would have the time for that.

If he would be quick enough or convincing enough or…just enough.

So he didn't move from where he stood. Instead, he looked back down at his phone, unlocked it and scrolled down through his previous sad attempts to reach out to his brother so he could send a new message.

Sasuke was right there, after all. With his phone in his hand. So he couldn't — no, he wouldn't — ignore his text this time…

Right?

Well, he supposed all he could do was find out. He took a deep breath and just bit the bullet, typing out a new message.

"Sasuke, could you please come to my classroom?"

He hit the last few letters slowly, reading back over the message again and again. His mind working overtime to try and convince himself of what he already knew, that this was a bad idea. Because if Sasuke wanted to talk to him then he would have responded by now. Or at least looked at even one of his messages.

And if his brother wanted to see him then, well…

Itachi shook his head. Thinking like that hadn't helped him over the weekend and it wouldn't help him now. So he needed to do this. He needed to at least give it a shot. If only to try and help Sasuke to understand that he just wasn't ready to give up on them. Not yet. Not until he had some kind of explanation.

And the only way he could do that was by actually sending the message. No matter how futile it seemed.

His fingers still hovered over the keyboard though. His eyes were fixed on the blinking cursor on the screen. He counted to three in his head as slowly as he could manage, breathing out the last number before he finally moved.

"I just want to talk is all. Even if it's just for five minutes. So…please come."

He added the words before he could think better of it and then hit send.

As soon as he did there was a light tapping on the door behind him and Itachi spun around, almost dropping his phone in alarm as his heart beat a rhythm in his chest that was both panicked and hopeful as the door started to open.

What if it was Sasuke, he wondered? What if his brother had come to him on his own? To apologize, to explain…

To take him back.

The thought of that alone made Itachi's heart flutter and he took a step forward.

"Sa…" he started to say. But his brother's name died on his lips as the door opened further and he saw who was behind it.

"Ah!" the principal, Jiraiya, exclaimed when he saw him. "You're still here. Excellent!"

"Jiraiya…" Itachi said slowly. The hopefulness quickly melted from his body, leaving him cold and raw like an exposed nerve but he cleared his throat, hoping Jiraiya wouldn't notice his lack of enthusiasm to see him. "What're you doing here?"

"I just came to see you—to talk," Jiraiya answered. As soon as he said it though, he gave Itachi a quick once over and then pointed at the phone he was still clutching to his chest. "Unless you're busy? Were you expecting someone?"

"What? No," Itachi answered quickly, lowering his hands to his sides and slipping his phone into his pocket in a way that he hoped didn't scream that he was lying. "I just wasn't expecting you to still be here is all."

Jiraiya chuckled. "I could say the same of you, but I'm glad that you are…" He trailed off and suddenly his jovial attitude changed, calming to a quiet seriousness. "Do you have a minute?"

"Of course." Itachi gestured toward his desk, inviting Jiraiya in. "Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yes. Yes…" Jiraiya answered as he stepped further into the room. But his sigh a moment later contradicted his words and made Itachi raise an eyebrow in question. When Jiraiya caught his look, he waved his hand dismissively. "It's just that… Well, this is your last week here with us."

"It is."

Jiraiya nodded a few times to himself. Like he hadn't quite believed it until Itachi confirmed it for him just now. But he cleared his throat and seemed to take it in stride.

"Well, I was looking over the paperwork earlier—getting ready to file everything, you know? But I couldn't help but wonder… Is there anything we might be able to figure out in order to keep you on here?"

Itachi couldn't help that his eyes widened a little.

Of course, it wasn't like he hadn't noticed how shocked Jiraiya had seemed when he gave his resignation, but he hadn't really thought that things would come to this. That Jiraiya would try to get him to stay. It was a nice gesture, and Itachi couldn't say that he didn't appreciate it, but…

"I'm sorry," he started to say. But Jiraiya quickly help up both his hand and stepped toward him.

"If it's a matter of money, then we can talk," he said quickly. "There isn't much in the budget, but there is some wiggle room if—"

"No," Itachi interrupted. "It's not that at all."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow at him, looking skeptical. "It's not? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure," Itachi confirmed.

Jiraiya hummed, seeming to consider this as he looked Itachi over. Then he took a few steps away, almost like he was going to take Itachi's answer at face value for what it was and call it a day. But then he seemed to think better of doing that and shook his head as he turned back around.

"Then why are you leaving?" Jiraiya asked plainly. "I didn't question it when you gave your resignation. Honestly, I think I was too shocked to say much of anything at the time, but you're one of our best teachers, Itachi. You're good at your job, the students love you, and you seem passionate about what you teach. So…" Jiraiya shook his head, looking utterly confused. "What's behind this decision?"

"It's…"

Immediately, his mind leapt to Sasuke. To the life he'd been ready and willing to build with his brother, to the plans he'd been making every night as he laid in bed either with Sasuke at his side or on the phone with him. Plans that would get them out of the village, plans that would be able to explain both their absence and their togetherness to their family and their friends.

Only now…

"Yes?" Jiraiya prompted.

Only now, after being ready and willing to give up everything, he'd suddenly been left just as alone and empty as he had been when he'd started.

And the thought of that — the reminder of everything that had happened — made him want to turn and look back out the window behind him. It made him want to reach for the phone in his pocket. It made him feel like he was breaking all over again.

"It's…personal," Itachi finally managed to answer.

"Personal?"

Itachi nodded.

"Don't get me wrong, Jiraiya; I've loved working here," he said. "But I've…gone through some things, and I think it's just time for a change."

Jiraiya made a little noise in the back of his throat as he settled his hands on his hips. He didn't exactly look happy, as was apparent by the frown tugging insistently at his lips, but he didn't argue. And Itachi was sure that it was hard for him not to.

"Well, we'll be sorry to see you go; you know that," Jiraiya said after a few seconds.

"I do."

Jiraiya gave him a little nod and then studied him for another moment, looking like there was something else he wanted to say. Itachi supposed he thought better of it though when Jiraiya just shook his head and turned to leave. But right before he reached the door, Jiraiya spun back around.

"If you do change your mind though," Jiraiya said. "Or if there's anything I can do to change it, please let me know."

His tone was almost pleading and Itachi could admit that he felt bad for the man even as he nodded in acknowledgment before Jiraiya left. Not bad enough to change his mind, of course, but for a second — just one second — he did consider it. Mostly out of pity, but also because there was a voice inside of him. A tiny, quiet voice that reminded Itachi that there was no reason for him to leave the village anymore. Not when Sasuke wouldn't be going with him.

I'm not giving up, he told himself. Not yet.

And for a second, he felt confident. Like he was still making the right choice. Like things could still turn in his favor. But then he pulled his phone back out of his pocket and turned around to look out the window again just to find that—

"Oh…" Itachi's shoulders sagged.

Just to find that Sasuke was gone and that his messages were still unread.

Sure you're not giving up? The voice inside of him nagged. Because it seems like he did.

"Shut up," Itachi muttered under his breath.

He turned away from the window and moved to busy himself with packing up his things so he could leave for the day. Trying (and failing) to rid himself of the voice, of the doubts that had been creeping in and out of his mind since Saturday night.

Because he couldn't give up. Not yet.

Not just yet.

XxX

In retrospect, Sasuke should have known something was wrong long before he sat down across from Sakura at the casual barbecue place they ended up at after school. He should have picked up on it by the way she'd greeted him at the main gate—wide-eyed and looking more than a little alarmed about something. To the point that she had grunted out half a greeting that Sasuke barely caught before trudging past him and down the road.

He should have picked up on it by the way she'd walked next to him, stiff and all but stomping down the sidewalk the whole way. Always half a step ahead or behind him and far enough away that they weren't casually bumping into one another like usual.

Hell, if he were any kind of good friend, he should have picked up on it solely because Sakura was quiet. Through their whole walk, after they'd sat down, and even now as they waited on their food to be brought over.

But had he?

No. Of course not.

He'd been too wrapped up in himself the whole time. Staring at the few pictures of his brother that he'd taken over their short time together, wallowing in his own sadness, absolutely blinded to everything else around him. Even his own best friend.

But he could fix it!

Now that he was aware enough, Sasuke was determined to put his own worries aside and give Sakura his attention. After all, getting his mind off things was kind of the point of going out, right? So Sasuke straightened up and cleared his throat a little, glad that it seemed to catch Sakura's attention enough for her to look at him.

"When I said no boy talk," he started, keeping his tone light. "I didn't mean we couldn't talk at all. You know that, right?"

"Mm." Sakura bobbed her head a little, ambiguously enough that Sasuke was able to get exactly zero read on whatever was going on. He frowned and shifted in his seat.

"What is it, Sakura?" he asked. "Is everything okay?"

She studied him for a long time in silence. Long enough that Sasuke started to feel like squirming. He hadn't been under such intense scrutiny from anyone aside from his mother in a long time and he definitely didn't appreciate it now.

But finally, right about the time Sasuke felt like ducking under the table to get out of her sight, Sakura leaned back in her chair. She said one word.

"No."

"Oookay, way to act cryptic about it," Sasuke said. Though he was honestly just happy she'd said anything at all. "What's going on then?"

"I don't know," Sakura answered. "Why don't you tell me?"

"Huh?" Sasuke tilted his head to the side, thoroughly confused now. "What're you talking about? Tell you wh—oh, thank you."

Their server brought over the meat they'd ordered and sat it down beside them, interrupting Sasuke mid-sentence. He nodded his head in thanks again and waited for the server to walk away before he turned his attention back to Sakura.

"So what is it, Sakura?" he asked again. He picked up his chopsticks and poked at the meat on the plate, looking for whatever seemed the most appetizing to him. "What am I supposed to be telling you?"

"Oh, I think you know."

She leveled a look at him over the table. One that made Sasuke's brow furrow as he picked up a thin piece of steak with his chopsticks.

"I think I can promise you that I don't," he said.

Immediately after those words left his mouth though, Sasuke regretted them.

At first, he wasn't quite sure why. It could have just been the way that Sakura shifted, crossing her arms over her chest the way his mom liked to do when she knew he wasn't telling the truth. Or it could have been the look she shot his way, a steely gaze made of emerald fire that burned cold and collected.

Whatever it was though, it didn't matter. At least not once Sakura opened her mouth. Again saying only one word—a name that made Sasuke drop his chopsticks as his blood froze to a stop in his veins.

"Itachi."

All at once, it felt like the world had fallen out from under him.

Because it wasn't just a name. Not just a casual statement or acknowledgment of his brother's existence.

No, it was an accusation. The same one Naruto had made. The same one Naruto had been right about.

"I… Uh, I—W-What? What about him, Sakura?" Sasuke asked, shaking his head as he fumbled over his words. Trying to stay calm. Because why shouldn't he be calm?

Sakura didn't know. She couldn't know. He didn't know how she could know.

But the look in her eyes…

"I think you know, Sasuke," she answered. She shifted and her voice dropped down close to a whisper when she continued with a simple, "I know."

The words felt like a violent stab to his gut. Something that both made him hurt but also detach from what was happening as it brought back the memories of what had happened on Saturday. Making him reel as he tried to hold onto himself in the moment.

But his fear from earlier had been realized.

Sakura knew.

She knew and she was looking at him just the way he'd feared she would. Like she had no idea who he was anymore.

"I… We…"

He tried to search for the right thing to say. For something to say. Anything that could make this go away. The words wouldn't come out though. Stuck behind his fear and the panicked slurry of no, no, nonono that was begging him to run.

Sakura either didn't seem to notice this or, more likely, she didn't care. She leaned forward, put her hands on the edge of the table between them, and said, "We need to talk about this."

"No."

The word was out of Sasuke's mouth before he even realized it. His mind finally reacting. Trying to get him out and away from this situation before things got worse. Because they would get worse.

"No," he repeated. This time though, his body seemed to get the idea that he needed to leave and he moved.

He didn't exactly feel what was happening—the movements his body was making, but he was aware that he was moving. That he pushed his chair back from the table. That he grabbed his bag and stood. That he looked Sakura dead in the eyes and said, "We are not talking about this."

Right before he bolted out the door.

After that, it was a blur. He ran for what felt like minutes but could have been longer. Letting his feet just carry him until he couldn't breathe anymore. Only then did he stop, doubling over and gasping for air.

He wasn't quite sure where he was, at least not at first. It wasn't until he finally pushed himself upright again that he recognized the place. The park just a few blocks from the Hyuuga compound where he used to play as a kid.

Usually it was bustling with activity, full of parents who brought their kids after school. Now though, the park was empty save for him. The swings were still and the slides looked sad in the waning light, and Sasuke realized only then that it was getting late.

In the back of his mind, he had the vague thought that he should get home but he didn't turn to leave. He walked over to the swings instead, dropping his bag on the ground before plopping down on the swing at the end.

His mind was still racing even here in the quiet of the evening, trying to piece together exactly what had happened. Trying to figure out just how Sakura had…had…

No.

Sasuke shook his head. He didn't want to admit it — not yet — that he'd somehow fucked up this friendship, too. But he remembered the look on Sakura's face when she'd said his brother's name.

The shock, the condemnation, the—

"Did you really think I wouldn't find you here?"

Sasuke jerked around suddenly on the swing, the chains jangling together harshly as he spun the seat around, and his eyes widened when he saw Sakura standing behind him. Her backpack was slung over one shoulder and she stood with her hand on her hip, looking him over the same way she had when she'd walked up to him after school.

She took a step toward him and Sasuke jumped up from his swing, ready to run again.

"Woah, Sasuke, calm down," she said when he went to grab his bag. And, for whatever reason, he paused with his hand around the strap and looked up at her. Both of her hands were up in front of her now, in the same gesture you'd make to try and calm a scared animal by showing it you meant no harm. She eased forward another step. "I just want to talk to you. Please…"

"I… I don't—"

"Please," she said again when he hesitated. "I'm not mad at you or anything. I'm just…" She sighed and let her arms sag down a little. "I'm just trying to understand, okay?"

That took Sasuke by surprise. Not because of what she said exactly, but how she said it. There was honesty and compassion in her tone, something completely different from what it had been at the restaurant. And it made Sasuke relax. Just a little bit.

He let go of his backpack and slowly straightened up, keeping his eyes on Sakura as she walked over to him. She stopped two swings down from him and gave him a thankful look. He nodded in return before he took a deep breath and sat back down on the swing he'd vacated.

"How'd you find me?" he asked after he wrapped his hands around the chains.

"Seriously?" Sakura questioned with a laugh. She stepped a little closer. "We met here, Sasuke. And you always used to come here when things were bothering you in junior high."

Sasuke looked down at his feet, knowing Sakura wasn't wrong. But still…

"You couldn't have known I'd come here," he said quietly. "I didn't even know I was coming here."

From his peripheral, Sasuke saw Sakura shrug.

"No," she admitted, moving closer again. This time stopping when she stood at the swing next to him. "But I know you. I know what you're thinking when you're scared and, well… You were definitely scared when you left before."

Sasuke pulled in a slow breath, trying not to remember what happened before.

"I was," he admitted.

"Because you thought I was angry?"

Sasuke started to nod but he stopped himself and shook his head instead.

"No, because I… Because I know…" he trailed off and looked up at Sakura, unable to utter the words that finally made this all real.

Because I know you're not going to keep being my friend.

As she looked at him, Sakura's expression changed. Softening until she sat down on the swing next to him. And they sat in silence for a few seconds before Sakura finally lifted her arm to point at a spot across the grass from them.

"You remember when we were little," she started. "That afternoon when Ino was bullying me, long before she and I were ever friends? You came over, told her off with all the sass a seven-year-old could muster, and then asked me if I wanted to play with you."

"Yeah, I remember," Sasuke answered. He looked over at her, confused. "What about it though?"

Sakura smiled but didn't look at him, seemingly stuck in her memory of that day.

"We played until we couldn't beg our mom's to stay any longer and then, right when we were about to leave, I told you that it was the best day I'd ever had…" She paused and looked over at him. Her smile brightened just a little more. "And then I told you we'd be best friends forever."

Sasuke's nostrils flared and his hands tightened around the swing's chains until his knuckles hurt as emotions well up in his throat.

"But… Earlier you seemed…"

Sakura sighed softly. Not in exasperation but in disappointment.

"I know," she said. "And I'm sorry. I wasn't handling it the best; I was still processing. But I'm here. I'm listening. And I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

Silence sat between them as Sasuke processed her words. As he heard and felt the gentle kindness and honesty in her voice. As he slowly allowed himself to recognize that someone was telling him that it was okay.

Okay to feel. Okay to be. Okay to speak and explain something that had been—no, that still was precious to him.

It hit him all at once, hard and unrelenting, and successfully dislodged the hard ball of emotion from his chest.

"I love him, Sakura," he sobbed. "I love him so much."

XxX

Over the next forty-five minutes, Sakura listened to Sasuke explain everything.

At first, it had been through tears and sobs and whispers, with Sasuke glancing around them often to make sure no one had come upon their quiet sanctuary. But slowly things changed. His voice became confident and his tears had dried into small bursts of laughter when he'd tell her about something Itachi had done or said when she asked the occasional question.

By the end though, Sasuke's mood had turned solemn again. The same as it had been when she'd seen him in the morning. But now at least she knew why. Now she understood everything.

"So that's what Naruto was threatening to tell me," she mused, putting the pieces together when Sasuke trailed off once his story reached back around to where she'd come in on Saturday. "That you and Itachi were together… What, was he hoping that I'd act just as shitty as him?"

Sasuke shrugged and kicked at the ground, spraying loose gravel in front of him.

"I think he just wanted to scare me," he said. "And it worked, of course. But I don't know if he actually would have done it or…" Sasuke trailed off and then scoffed, shaking his head before he continued. "Actually, I take that back. What the fuck do I know? He probably would have."

Sakura nodded to herself, sure that she and Sasuke were having the same thought. That neither of them knew who Naruto was anymore.

"Well," she said. "In the immortal words of myself from earlier today: screw Naruto!"

She used her feet to push herself sideways on her swing until she bumped into Sasuke's side. He looked over at her and they both laughed as she swung back over and hit the empty swing on her other side.

"Thank you," Sasuke said when they quieted.

"For what?"

"For being here," he answered. "For listening. For… Well, you know…"

He trailed off with a little shrug but Sakura knew exactly what he'd been about to say.

For not judging me.

"Well, that's kinda what best friends are for, Sasuke," she said lightheartedly. "I don't judge you about this and you don't judge me when I tell you that I think Sai's cute."

Sasuke looked over at her and tilted his head to give her a look that said, um, no.

"Yeah, sorry, but I'm definitely still judging you for that."

Sakura laughed. "Fine, I guess there's no accounting for taste with you."

"Excuse me?" Sasuke scoffed indignantly. "No taste? Have you even met my br—"

Sasuke stopped short, his mood shifting entirely. She knew he'd been about to say the word 'brother' casually. Like it was normal for this kind of thing, to feel the way he did. Like he was going to allow himself to feel normal about it.

And the fact that he didn't made Sakura's lips turn down in a slight frown. She reached out and touched his arm as it hung loosely around the swing's chain.

"It's okay, Sasuke," she said gently.

He nodded slowly, seeming to take that in but he was still quiet for a few seconds. Maybe debating with himself over whether that was true or not, or maybe just trying to gather the courage.

But finally, he breathed out, "He's beautiful."

The admission made a smile pull at Sakura's lips and she let out a wistful sigh.

"Yeah, he is."

Sasuke turned to her and quirked an eyebrow in question. She raised her own in response, her smile widening into a full-blown grin. "What? Like I don't have eyes?"

Sasuke let out a little laugh and shook his head. Then he turned away from her and was silent for maybe a three count before he asked, "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"How did you…" he paused and gestured vaguely with both of his hands. "You know, figure it out?"

"Mm." She kicked at the ground gently, pushing off enough to swing just a little bit. "Well, as I might have mentioned, I have eyes." She shot him a cheeky look and kicked against the ground again to keep swinging. Then she shrugged. "And I talked to him."

Sasuke's head swiveled in her direction so quickly that Sakura was surprised he didn't hurt himself.

"You did?" he asked, his eyes wide. "And he told you? He—"

"No," she interrupted, shaking her head. She drug her feet against the gravel to stop herself. "No, he just asked about you. About why you weren't responding to him."

"Oh…"

She nodded and gave him a soft look, adding after a moment, "He's worried about you."

Apparently Sasuke hadn't been expecting to hear that since Sakura saw tears start to well in his eyes again.

"He…" Sasuke muttered. "He is?"

Sakura nodded. "He seemed upset. Kind of… Lost, you know?" She tilted her head to the side thoughtfully. "Like how you seemed this morning."

Sasuke looked down. Pain was clear on his face and Sakura wondered if she'd done the right thing by telling Sasuke that. Heck, honestly, she didn't even know why she was telling Sasuke at all, considering how shocked she'd been about everything a few hours ago.

But looking at Sasuke now, after she understood the whole story… Well, she couldn't exactly say that she really approved of the whole thing but it was clear that Itachi made Sasuke happy, in ways that she could barely hope to look forward to one day. So she didn't see any real reason to try and keep them apart.

"You know," she said quietly, shifting on her swing. "Itachi's house isn't too far from here."

"What?"

She lifted one shoulder in a casual half-shrug. "It's, like, what—three, four blocks away? If you wanted, we could go over there. You could exp—"

"No," Sasuke said quickly. "No, I can't do that Sakura."

"Why not?" she asked, her brow furrowing in question and frustration. "We'll just go over, you'll explain what happened and—"

"No," he said again. This time his tone was harsher, colder, and he stood up from his swing. She stood, too.

"But Sasuke—" she tried to say, wanting to reason with him. But he wasn't having it.

He held up his hand to quiet her before he reached down and grabbed his backpack, holding it tightly by one strap when he stood back up.

"I already told you this morning, Sakura. It's better this way," he said. His eyes were red and he still looked like he was on the verge of tears, but his tone betrayed none of the sadness she was sure he felt.

"But why?" she argued. "Why do you think that?"

"Because I can't let him get hurt, okay!" he snapped.

However, once the words were out of his mouth, he closed his eyes tight. Like he regretted saying anything at all. But after a second, he took a slow breath and then continued.

"If this got out—if people found out… Then he could lose everything. Everything he's ever worked for just because of me, and I'm…" he shook his head. "I'm not worth that, Sakura. I'm just not."

Sakura frowned. "Don't you think he should be the one to decide that?"

"No. I don't," Sasuke said firmly. His tone making it clear that this was the end of the discussion and that she needed to stop.

So she stayed quiet.

Sasuke looked thankful for that. That she had stopped pushing him to make a choice that she knew he did truly want to make, no matter what he forced himself to say or believe.

Because he wanted to go see his brother. He wanted to explain, to apologize.

It was all crystal clear by the pained look in his eyes and it hurt Sakura not to speak up again. Not to fight with him until she'd either talked some sense into him or had to drag him down to Itachi's door and drop him there. Like a neighbor bringing a misdelivered package to its rightful owner.

But it wasn't her place to do that, apparently. Her reach as Sasuke's best friend seemed to stretch only so far before he decided he needed to push her away. At least when it came to this.

"I'm going now," he announced into the evening air around them. "I'll see you tomorrow and stuff…"

"Tomorrow," she replied as she watched him turn and walk away. Leaving her alone in the park and feeling like she could have (and should have) done more. "Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow…"

With a sigh, she sank back down onto the seat of her swing and drug one foot back and forth over the gravel. Listening to the sounds the rocks made as they tumbled over one another as she thought. About Sasuke, about Itachi, about how unfair it seemed that she could do nothing to help.

Especially considering that she'd already had a chance to tell Itachi what little she'd known about what was going on with Sasuke earlier. But nooo. She'd thrown that opportunity away so quickly, hadn't she?

"And now what am I supposed to do, huh?" she grumbled to herself, kicking a little harder at the gravel in frustration. "It's not like I can just pick up my phone and…"

Sakura stopped herself and her eyes widened as her brain raced ahead of her words. Forming the idea so easily that she was both surprised and ashamed that it had taken her this long to come up with it.

Because she could just pick up her phone.

Not to call Itachi, of course. No, she didn't have his number in order to do that. What she did have though, thanks to the class assignments that she turned in, was just as good.

His email address.

So Sakura shifted on the swing and all but yanked her phone out of her pocket, almost dropping it in the process, and unlocked it without a second thought as to whether Sasuke would be angry at her about this later or not.

Honestly, she didn't care. She just knew what she had to do.

Her fingers moved over her screen quickly, hurriedly typing out what she could without giving away the fact that she knew the truth. Tapping and tapping and tapping away until…

XxX

Ping

Itachi looked up from his book when he heard his phone chime. He reached for it quickly, all but tossing his book aside. His heart flip-flopping in his chest as he dared to hope that maybe — maybe — Sasuke had finally responded.

But the feeling only lasted right up until the moment he unlocked his phone and saw that the alert had just been a new email.

"Of course," Itachi sighed to himself in defeat. He started to put his phone down without even bothering to check it but something stopped him before he could. Making him hesitate before he swiped at the notification to open it.

And immediately, he was glad he did. Because the email was from Sakura to his school account and the subject read simply: About Sasuke…