"There, all done, Tanaka-san," Sakura said, gently placing her hand on the old lady's frail shoulder, "I have prescribed some medicine for your headache. It is nothing serious. Your vitals are stable and you should start feeling better soon."

Tanaka-san's wrinkled face broke into a warm smile. "Oh, dear Sakura, you're an angel. Thank you for coming all the way to our little village to help us. You bring the healing touch of the city to our humble homes."

Sakura returned the smile, her emerald eyes reflecting genuine compassion. "It's my pleasure, Tanaka-san. Please do not hesitate to call me if you need anything."

As Sakura prepared to leave, Tanaka-san's granddaughter approached her with a small gift. "Thank you so much, Sakura-san. This is a token of our appreciation."

Sakura graciously accepted the gift, feeling a sense of fulfillment in her heart. As she left Mrs. Tanaka's house, she marveled at the contrast between the bustling city life and the serene simplicity of the village.

Tsunade-shisou had sent her to this remote village that morning to attend to some elderly patients who were not in the condition to leave their homes. She often did that, sending her doctors to remote locations, to make sure everyone was receiving healthcare no matter where they lived.

Sakura had spent the entire day in the village, attending to different patients of all ages. By the nighttime, after spending over 12 hours on her shift, she was exhausted and ready to head back home. She gathered her things, bid goodbye to the nice people of the village, and hit the road.

Midway through her journey, Sakura's car, a hybrid that had served her well for years, emitted an unusual sound before slowing to an unexpected halt. She furrowed her brow, her fingers instinctively trying to restart the engine, but the dashboard remained dark, and the car sat silently on the quiet road. The realization dawned on her – she was stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Sakura took a deep breath to calm down and assessed the situation. She glanced at her phone, realizing the signal was weak in the rural area she found herself in. The surroundings were dimly lit, and there was no sign of a gas station or any immediate help.

She popped the hood, hoping it was a simple issue she could identify and possibly fix. After a brief examination, she found nothing obvious. The night air was cool, and the only sounds were the distant chirping of crickets.

Out of options, she pulled out her phone and called Itachi. It rang for a few seconds and he picked up. But there was static and she was unable to relay to him about the situation.

Sighing, she dropped the call and sent him a text instead, explaining the situation. With the help of the navigation app, she was also able to pull out her exact geolocation and send him that too. Thankfully, Itachi responded immediately.

"Sakura, stay inside the car. I'm sending help."

Sakura frowned and replied, "You're not coming?"

"I'm sorry, I wish I could come and get you myself, but I'm held up somewhere. But don't you worry, I'm sending Sasuke. He will be there soon."

Sakura bit her lip and looked around. The road remained empty with no car in sight. However, she could hear occasional rustling in the trees nearby. She supposed she had no choice but to wait.

She settled back into her car. Her exhaustion from working a long shift was starting to weigh her down. She rested her head back to the driver's seat and closed her eyes, hoping Sasuke would be here soon.

Sasuke had been sleeping in his apartment when his phone rang. Groggily, he checked his phone and glanced at the caller. Itachi. Wondering why his brother was calling this late, he picked up.

"Hey, what-" Sasuke started.

"Sasuke," Itachi interrupted and swiftly briefed him on the situation. "I need you to go and pick her up," he stated. He paused then added, "Please."

Sasuke sat up abruptly. "Uh, yeah, no problem." He hoped he didn't sound overly concerned. Itachi already sounded worried enough, and understandably so – he was her boyfriend, not Sasuke.

"Thank you, Sasuke. I will send you her location," Itachi said and dropped the call.

Sasuke hastily dressed up, snatched his keys, and rushed out. As he hit the road, he steered toward the location Itachi had provided. Her location was quite a distance away. It would take a while before he reached her, and he couldn't help but hope that she would remain safe until his arrival.

After driving on the road for a long time, Sasuke finally spotted Sakura's car at a distance. He slowed down and parked in front of her car. Turning off the car, he stepped out. The moon was bright tonight and he could easily make out the figure inside the car. Walking toward her car, he leaned in front of the driver's seat window and looked inside.

The concern etched on his face softened as he took in Sakura. She was dozed off, her head tilted to the side. Her lips were lightly parted as her chest rose and fell with steady breaths. Her rosette-colored hair was messy, with loose strands falling down the side of her face. She looked incredibly peaceful. Sasuke felt something constrict in his chest. At that moment, he wished for nothing more than to reach out and trace a finger down her face, to tuck her loose strand behind her ear. He longed to take her in his arms, rest her head on his shoulder, and run his fingers through her hair, to take her face in his hands and ki-

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He shook his head, reminding himself that his brother had entrusted him with the responsibility of taking care of his girlfriend and bringing her back safely. He was here to honor his promise, not to lose himself in the sight of the woman he loved.

Raising his hand, he gently knocked on the window. Sakura immediately opened her eyes, a hint of panic in them. However, relief washed over her face as she saw Sasuke, and a warm smile replaced the initial worry.

"Hi," Sakura said, stepping out of the car and standing in front of him.

"Hm," Sasuke grunted, "you weren't scared, were you?" He asked, his sharp gaze noticing the brief moment of panic.

"Me? Scared?" Sakura scoffed, trying to play cool, "Never!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at her. She sighed.

"A little bit," she admitted with a sheepish smile, "and I can't thank you enough for coming to rescue me, Sasuke. I owe you one," Sakura said gratefully.

Sasuke shrugged, "think of it as a payback for all the times you helped me."

"I don't know," Sakura said coyly, a teasing smile playing on her lips, "I don't think any of that compares to what you've done for me tonight." She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and smoothed down her dress. Sasuke shifted on his legs, trying not to notice her actions, and he put his hands in the pockets of his cotton jeans.

"Don't worry about it. We're friends, remember? Now come on, let's get you back home."

"Wait, what about my car?"

"Leave it here. I will send a tow truck tomorrow to pick it up." He took out Sakura's bag from the car, handed it to her, then locked the car. Sakura still looked mildly concerned.

"Don't worry, your car will be safe. It's only a matter of one night."

Sakura thought for a moment, then nodded, her smile returning, "Alright. Thank you, Sasuke."

As they drove through the quiet night, Sasuke noticed her stifling yawns as she tried to stay awake and engage in conversation with him. He was about to suggest she take a nap in the car when her stomach growled loudly.

"Sorry," Sakura mumbled, her cheeks tinted with embarrassment. Sasuke shrugged nonchalantly but now his focus was shifted to finding some place for her to eat. After a few more miles, he spotted a gas station. He turned toward it, eventually halting the car in front of a small cafe that was miraculously still open. Despite Sakura's protests, he guided her inside the cafe.

The small cafe felt warm and cozy, with soft background music creating a calm atmosphere. They were the only customers, making it a quiet and peaceful place to eat. After ordering from the friendly server, Sasuke and Sakura sat in comfortable seats, surrounded by the comforting scents of freshly brewed coffee and delicious baked goods.

Their orders arrived promptly, and Sasuke observed as Sakura's eyes lit up at the sight of the delicious meal before her. She dove in and Sasuke bit back a smile as she devoured her food. He leaned back in his chair, content to sip on his coffee, taking in the scene.

"Aren't you going to eat something?" Sakura asked, her mouth still partially full. Sasuke shook his head.

"You should try the cheese sticks. They're delicious." She said, taking a bite of another one. Sasuke almost chuckled as a long strand of cheese dangled from her mouth.

"I'm good with just coffee. But you need to slow down a little or you could get sick. Need I remind you of a simple medical fact when you are the doctor here?"

Sakura shrugged as she took a long sip of her coffee. "I can handle it."

And handle it, she did, gobbling down everything on the table. Once finished, Sasuke cleared the bill, and they resumed their journey. Sakura sighed happily, all signs of sleep gone from her face. She was way more chatty now and talked about her day with Sasuke, who listened and hung on her every word.

"You know, it's a real shame that people in remote villages do not have easy access to healthcare. They have to travel so far whenever there's a medical emergency."

Sasuke nodded. "It must be tough for them." Sasuke glanced at her, a sense of admiration in his eyes. "You're doing important work, Sakura. Making healthcare more accessible can change lives."

She smiled appreciatively. "Thanks, Sasuke. It's what I've always wanted to do—making a difference in people's lives."

They were silent for a moment, then she asked, "What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"What are your hopes and dreams?"

"Are you asking where I see myself in 5 years?" Sasuke asked, smirking. He was usually a quiet and composed man, but with Sakura, he couldn't help becoming a chatterbox and engaging in playful banter with her.

"Come on, you know what I mean. You're always so mysterious about yourself. What are your likes, dislikes? What aspirations do you have?" Sakura looked at him expectantly.

Sasuke raised one shoulder, eyes fixed on the road. "There's not much to tell. I've had everything I ever wanted handed to me in life. When the time comes, I will probably join Itachi and shadow him." Sasuke paused, deep in thought. "I had considered joining intelligence once. In fact, both Naruto and I had wanted to pursue that career. But, that was a childish dream."

"No dream is childish," Sakura said softly.

Sasuke said nothing. He didn't want to delve into this topic, didn't want to contemplate what could have been. Being the younger son in the family, he had fewer responsibilities than Itachi, but that didn't mean he could pursue anything he wanted in life. His fascination with intelligence and spywork, and the subsequent backlash from his family, had proven that.

Then Sakura asked something completely unexpected.

"Have you ever been in love?"

Sasuke shifted his eyes from the road and stared at her. Her eyes were soft as she gazed back at him. He searched her emerald eyes, hoping to find something—what, he didn't know.

"Have you ever been in love?" The question echoed in Sasuke's mind as he continued to stare at her.

Itachi discreetly parked his car outside the corporate warehouse when Sakura called him. The call dropped due to a poor connection, but when she texted him about her situation, he wanted to leave immediately and rescue her. He sighed in frustration when he realized he couldn't just abandon his mission. He had suspicions about this quarter's low numbers. If his suspicions were correct, then something significant was going to happen at the corporate office. He needed to be sure of everything before taking any action. So, he called Sasuke instead and asked him to pick up Sakura. Once he was satisfied that Sakura would be okay, he silently exited the car.

Itachi stepped silently through the dimly lit warehouse, his steps muffled by the echoing emptiness of the space. The air was heavy with the scent of cardboard and mustiness, and the distant hum of machinery created a low, ominous undertone. His eyes scanned the surroundings, noting the irregularities that had prompted the investigation.

His department had reported unexpectedly low numbers despite his meticulous planning. Itachi, renowned for his thoroughness, couldn't fathom the discrepancy. Determined to unravel the mystery, he had decided to visit the warehouse in person.

He took his time checking the logs and taking note of the inventory using a flashlight. As he continued stealthily moving through the aisles, he caught a glimpse of movement near the back. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on a shadowy figure hunched over a desk cluttered with financial records.

The man, engrossed in his illicit activities, hadn't noticed Itachi's presence. Itachi approached with a quiet resolve, his footsteps deliberate and soundless. Itachi cleared his throat, breaking the man's concentration. The man froze, his eyes widening in shock as he realized he was no longer alone. Slowly, he turned to face Itachi, a guilty expression etched across his features.

"Itachi-sama" the man stammered, attempting to conceal the documents, "I wasn't expecting to see you here at this time of the night."

Itachi tried to look nonchalant. "I came here looking for something. What are you doing with these records?"

The man hesitated for a moment before a nervous chuckle escaped his lips. "Just making sure everything is correct in the files. We have big purchase orders coming in. We don't want the inventory to be out of stock."

Itachi's gaze remained unwavering. "So, if I look at those records, I will find no understating?"

The man faltered. "I—what are you insinuating?"

"Cut the crap!" Itachi snapped, his demeanor no longer calm. "Who put you up to this? Who bribed you to understate the numbers so it would seem like this company was losing money?"

An uneasy silence hung in the air, shattered when the man's desperate eyes darted toward a hidden firearm on the desk. With trembling yet swift hands, he reached for the weapon, aimed it at Itachi, and fired.

"Have you?"

Sakura blinked in surprise. "What?"

"Have you ever been in love?" Sasuke surprised himself by throwing the question back at her.

"Wha- of course I have!" Sakura sputtered. "Itachi. I love Itachi," she said forcefully.

"And you're deflecting again," she said, composing herself. "I asked you first."

"Are you happy with him?" Sasuke asked, pretending he didn't hear her.

"Where is this coming from?" Sakura sighed exasperatedly. "Of course I'm happy!"

"Do you see a future with him?" Sasuke asked again.

Sakura opened her mouth to answer then shut it.

Two things saved Itachi from getting shot and bleeding out on the floor: one, the time he spent in the military. He had faced much bigger weapons in much more critical situations than this one. He was quite adept at analyzing his opponents' moves and quick on his feet to act. Second, the man was a terrible shot. Not to mention, his hands were shaking like a leaf in the wind. When he fired the gun, it flew past Itachi's right shoulder. Before the man could take another breath, Itachi was on him. He grabbed the wrist in which the man held his gun and twisted it. The man yelped and dropped the weapon. With his other hand, Itachi grabbed his throat and shoved him against the wall. Hard.

The man groaned in pain, unable to free himself from Itachi's formidable grasp. His eyes pleaded with desperation as he looked up at Itachi.

"Please don't kill me," he begged, his voice shaky, desperation dripping from each word.

"That depends more on you than me," Itachi replied, his gaze unwavering. "So, I will ask you again. Who put you up to this?"

"Mr. Inoue," the man said defeatedly, his shoulders slumping as he acknowledged his involvement. "He - he paid me to remove records and understate the numbers."

"Why?" Itachi growled.

"I don't know," the man cried desperately, "I'm just a lowly man. He offered me good money to do this for him, and I didn't object."

Itachi's expression hardened, but he maintained his grip on the man. With a determined nod, he made up his mind.

Sakura glared at Sasuke, her eyes flashing.

"You're crossing the line here, Sasuke," she said coolly.

"I didn't know there were any such lines between friends," he said, unbothered by her anger. Something had snapped open inside him and he was letting it all out.

"Well, friend, I will have you know that Itachi and I are perfectly happy with our relationship. And yes, I do see a future with him. In fact, I can't see myself being with anyone else than him," Sakura replied in a serious tone, losing all friendliness.

"Could've fooled me," Sasuke muttered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Sakura snapped.

"It means your relationship isn't as perfect as you make it out to be," Sasuke snapped back, his frustration from the past two years finally taking hold of him.

"How da-" Sakura started but he cut her off.

"Dating for over two years, living together, yet you two hardly see each other. He is always away for work, and you're busy with your job. What time do you even get to be 'perfectly happy' in this relationship?" Sasuke's frustration poured into his words as he confronted Sakura with the harsh reality of her seemingly ideal relationship.

Sakura's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and defiance in her gaze. "We make it work. And if you're mad at having to pick me up tonight because he couldn't come-"

"You know it's not about that!" Sasuke growled, frustration intensifying. "It's about the fact that you're living in a bubble, Sakura. You're so wrapped up in wanting this picture-perfect image of your relationship that you're in denial about what's really going on."

Sakura crossed her arms, a defensive stance. "And what do you know about it? You don't understand our relationship."

Sasuke stopped the car by the roadside and turned to her. He leaned in, his eyes intense. "I understand more than you think."

They both stared at each other for a few intense seconds. Then, finally, Sakura's resolve shattered. Her eyes welled up and her lips trembled, then she buried her face in her hands, overcome with deep sobs.

Sasuke sat back in shock, his initial intent to confront now replaced with a sense of unease. He had expected resistance, perhaps anger, but he hadn't anticipated the emotional storm that Sakura was enduring. The intensity of her breakdown caught him off guard.

The car filled with the sound of Sakura's sobs, the vulnerability she rarely showed now laid bare. Sasuke hesitated for a moment before tentatively placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Sakura," he spoke softly, unsure of how to comfort her. He took a deep breath, his mind was now clear from the anger and frustration that had overtaken him earlier.

Gingerly, with his hand still on her shoulder, he turned her toward him. She didn't resist when he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. Sakura buried her face in the crook of his neck. Sasuke stroked her back and tightened his hold on her as she continued to release the pent-up emotions that had remained hidden beneath the surface for too long.

"You're coming with me," Itachi declared, releasing his hold slightly. "We'll resolve this with the authorities."

The man nodded frantically, realizing the severity of the situation. Itachi, maintaining a firm grip on his arm, guided him towards the entrance of the warehouse. The flashing lights of police cars could be seen in the distance, responding to the earlier disturbance.

As they emerged from the dark confines of the warehouse, the police officers approached, ready to take control of the situation. Itachi handed over the would-be assailant, detailing the events that transpired and the man's confession. The police officers, recognizing Itachi, swiftly took charge, placing the man under arrest.

He chose to omit the detail about the man understating the numbers. He intended to confront Mr. Inoue himself and handle that matter internally. There was no need to involve the police at this stage.

Allowing the police to handle the rest, Itachi stepped into his car and drove away. Sasuke had texted him earlier, confirming that he had picked up Sakura. With the assurance that she would be safely returned home by his brother, Itachi redirected his path to his parents' house. There, he knew he needed to have a conversation with his father.

After Sakura calmed down, the remainder of the journey unfolded in silence. She kept her gaze fixed outside the window, and Sasuke focused on navigating the road. He hadn't anticipated this night taking such a sour turn between them, but at the moment, there seemed to be no words that could mend the situation.

Upon reaching the apartment building, Sakura mumbled a quick thanks and began to exit the car.

"Sakura, wait," Sasuke called out. She hesitated, then turned to face him. Her eyes were still red from crying, but she had a blank and unreadable expression.

"I—," Sasuke started, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all those things. I crossed a line."

Sakura nodded but didn't look like she had entirely accepted his apology.

"Will you be okay?" he asked, genuine concern coloring his voice.

Again, she nodded. "Yeah, I will be okay. Thank you, Sasuke." Without waiting for his reply, she exited the car and didn't look back.

Once inside the apartment, Sakura surveyed her surroundings. She had moved into Itachi's apartment the previous year. She had been delaying that decision until they were engaged, but after a conversation, she had agreed to the move. Back then, she had felt it was the right thing to do, a step toward the future she envisioned with Itachi.

Now, she didn't know. She still loved Itachi, she knew that much. But how long could this go on? Sasuke's line of questions had deeply disturbed her tonight. With a deep breath, she entered the bedroom and began packing her belongings.