Note:

Thank you so much, DeeDee ( MsDeeDeeStyles on Twitter), for proofreading!

She is nervous.

That much is evident in the way she stirs uncomfortably in the shotgun seat.

I had picked her up by her apartment building just minutes ago, and that initial nervousness seems to have only multiplied as I drive us in silence.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I ask in an attempt to fill the silence, and to distract her from her own thoughts.

She glances at me, her thumbnail in between her teeth. "Hm?"

"You don't need to be so worried."

At this, she finally gives me a reaction by rolling her eyes. "You say that like your family is normal."

"And what is normal?"

She stops herself before the retort she had on the tip of her tongue exits her lips. "Hm, I guess your normal is different from mine. There were a lot of lighthearted jabs around the table growing up. My mother likes to nag and was definitely the more serious of the two. My father makes the lamest jokes but matches my mother in resolution when it came to it. They were pretty lax in raising me compared to other parents, though."

I only nod, eyes trained on the road.

"What is your normal like?"

Having never been asked that question before, I take a moment to ponder my response. When was the last time it wasnormal? This past year had been one to begin a new routine. I'd seen my family every week at our weekly dinners, but things had obviously shifted ever since Itachi had left.

I'd grown increasingly busier as the year pass, thus limiting the time that I do see my family to ever truly realize what our new normal looks like.

It's contained. Though it always has been to an extent, the elephant in the room had become multiple elephants in the room. There were things not allowed to be discussed at the table, an unspoken and unbroken rule to keep the peace, and with every addition to the list of unmentionable topics, the more it felt like nothing was being said at all.

"Sasuke?"

She looks at me, a mix of slight concern and expectancy. I had gone quiet, it would seem. "That's a difficult question."

"It seems so." She hums in thought. "Let me rephrase it, then. When you introduced a girlfriend to the family, how'd they react?"

I scoff. "I wouldn't know. I never have."

She stares at me, wide-eyed. "You've never brought a girl over?"

"No one worth bringing home."

This is apparently very amusing to her seeing as she bursts into laughter. "That answers that question."

"I fail to see what's so funny."

"Well, it's a very fuck boy answer coming out of someone I assume is the complete opposite of one."

"'Fuck boy'?" I repeat the unfamiliar and offensive-sounding term.

"Manwhore."

"You have an abundance of insulting nicknames for me, it seems."

"I just said that you're the opposite of one. At least on the surface. Is there anything you're not telling me, Mr. Uchiha?"

This time, I roll my eyes. "You're addressing me wrong."

"Alright, Sasuke." She smiles, mirth lifting her spirits and fading out the anxiety that had her stewing in silence. Good.

"Introducing anyone to my family is bound to bring lectures on time with family being strictly that. For family."

"Sounds like a very tight-knit unit."

"It was."

It was until recently, or perhaps, it had never been, and I was just too blind and naive to notice.

Upon past ruminations on my family since Itachi's sudden disappearance, I'd realized just how much of the inner workings of the company (and even the family to a certain extent) I had been shielded from, either from my mother through swift and near expert skills in changing topics of conversation or my brother's ease in deflection. Father and grandfather would just end certain discussions outright and bluntly.

I'd once thought it was because I hadn't yet been granted the responsibility it took to know of certain things. Even now, as the metaphorical head of the family business, I've yet to be given the courtesy of the information he had shielded me from in the past.

The thought that I'm still being coddled to this day is aggravating. Have I not done enough to gain their trust and confidence? What have I yet to accomplish that will finally let me gain that respect?

"Hey, are you okay?"

Sakura's voice brings me back to reality, and I realize my grip on the wheel had tightened. I also realized I'd been driving on autopilot and that we had arrived at the manor.

"I'm fine."

She looks unconvinced but doesn't press further. She does, however, tentatively rest a hand on my thigh, giving a light, reassuring squeeze. The motion brings color to her cheeks that I catch before she looks away, clearing her throat.

"Since we're supposed to look engaged, and all…" She trails off. "Whatever you were thinking of made it seem like you needed some kind of support."

It's a clumsy attempt at placation, but somehow, it does work, and I find myself grateful all the same.

"Thank you," I mutter.

She turns to me, appearing pleased and relieved by my response, and smiles. With one more deep inhale, she looks to be bracing herself. "Alright. I guess, it's time to be on."

She moves to open her door, but my hand reaches out to stop her before she can reach it.

"Wait."

Exiting the car before her, I make my way to her side and open the car door for her. As soon as the door opens, she watches me with an entertained interest.

"Don't start," I mutter as she steps out. The door closes behind her. "I should think I would be respectful to my fiancé."

She raises a brow, teasing. "You think, huh? Well, I'm not complaining. If you do get engaged for real someday, you'll have had your test run."

"'If'? Thank you for the vote of confidence," I say drily.

Sakura looks surprised, mouth slightly ajar after my comment. "So you do want to get married? In the future, I mean."

"It's to be expected that I do."

"But do you want to?"

I shrug. "It doesn't matter what I want."

Displeasure and dejection cloud her features, a small frown darkening her cheery disposition. This shift is not because of me, however, but for me.

Jade eyes look up at me with pity.

It's frustrating.

"I don't need your commiserating."

"I'm not—" She stops herself, pausing briefly as if to search for the right words. Then, she sighs. "Look, I don't know the extent of just how complicated lives like yours is, but as an outsider, I can't really help but feel some sort of empathy."

"You were an outsider."

She gives me a conciliating smile. "I guess I'm going to be getting a lot of firsthand experiences, but still, I don't think it's fair. Not having a say in what you truly want in life."

Leaning against the car door, she looks up at the sky in thought. "But I think you're going to tell me it comes with the territory, huh?"

I was. Her accuracy softens the atmosphere. "Already have a read on me, Ms. Haruno?"

"You're kind of predictable now, Mr. Uchiha," she says. "But you already know you can't be calling me that in front of your family."

"It just doesn't have the same effect. As a journalist, you should know the importance of how language is used in context, correct?"

"Telling me how to do my job, too." She shakes her head, but her enjoyment is clear as day. "Who are you? My boss?"

I let out a breath of amusement, a soft chuckle escaping my lips. "Facetiousness suits you."

Sakura grins, and only now do I realize how the space between us has closed. She's a breath away, and yet discomfort evades me.

"I think it suits you, too."

"Don't get used to it."

Her grin turns mischievous. "That sounds like a challenge."

A cough breaks through the conversation, interrupting us before I could get a response in. Sakura stills, face coloring a light shade of red, as her hands reach up to my chest in a motion to push me away.

I stand my ground, frozen as I meet the glistening eyes of my mother.

"I hope I haven't interrupted anything," she says.

I look away, mortification that I haven't felt since I was in high school emerging despite myself. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long. I didn't hear anything too telling, if that's what you're worried about, Sasuke." The insinuation in her voice is not missed.

Great.

My hands grasp Sakura's wrists, removing her touch from my chest as I lead her around the car and to my mother. She takes the short moment to compose herself, though some color remains on her cheeks.

"Mother, this is Sakura. Sakura, meet my mother, Mikoto Uchiha."

My mother's grin is bright and wide as she wholly ignores Sakura's outstretched hand, instead opting to engulf her in a warm embrace. "I'm so glad we're finally being properly introduced."

The sudden embrace surprises Sakura, but it only takes a second for it to register and for her to return it. "It's great to finally meet you, too. Properly."

Mother gives her a final squeeze before she removes herself and shifts her attention back to me. My embrace ends swiftly as she pulls back, her hands on my shoulders, inspecting me from head to toe with a proud smile that withers into a pout.

"Have you been sleeping properly?"

I sigh. "Mother."

"We've talked about this, honey. You need to take care of yourself. Especially now that you have someone in your life."

"Mother," I attempt to stop her before she goes on.

"A fiancé, your future wife, is not your primary caretaker. You have to be partners, and that means that you owe it not just to you but to your partner to respect yourself enough to rest."

"I know, mother."

She looks unconvinced, and usually, that would mean continuing the earful she's begun giving me. However, she ends it there for now, opting to focus her attention to the woman beside me, yet again.

"He can be a handful, at times," she says.

Sakura glances at me. "Oh, really? I couldn't tell."

The irony is not lost on my mother, and it only makes her look even happier than she had been already. She takes Sakura's arm, looping it around hers as she brings her close. "Thank you for coming in a little early. I wanted to spend some time with the woman that my ever-so private son has been hiding from us."

"He couldn't hide me forever."

"And thank goodness for that!" Mother laughs. "Sasuke, dear, I hope you don't mind if I steal your fiancé for an hour."

Sakura does her best to appear confident, but I see semblances of the anxiety she had when I had picked her up resurface. Before I could say anything, my mother begins to walk away, taking Sakura with her.

"Your father and grandfather should be arriving in an hour. I trust you can spend an hour by yourself, right, honey?"

There's a silver lining to mother's insistence on having Sakura to herself. With the news that neither father nor grandfather have yet to arrive, I have the manor to myself. The house staff are busy preparing the dinner, and seeing as I've no need to rest, despite my mother's nagging, I can wander as I please.

I walk up the stairs to the second story of the manor, assured steps to the room I haven't entered for a year now.

The cedar door greets me as I stand before it. The familiar grooves are unchanged to no surprise. Yet, my hand hovers over the handle, confidence fading slightly.

Sakura is right in treading the topic of my brother. The mere suggestion of him sours my mood. Perhaps that is why I've spent the year avoiding it, with the exception of hiring Kakashi in search of him. My family does their best to avoid speaking of him, as well, and I've done my part as the replacement and doing the job that's been handed to me.

I've spent the year drowning myself in doing said job in avoidance, and why is that?

I grit my teeth.

Whoever claimed introspection was a lightening activity is mistaken. Ruminating on this right now will do me no good.

I have less than an hour left.

Ripping the band aid off, I open the door.

My brother's designated room remains kept and clean. The unused bed has its sheets tucked and its pillows immaculately pressed. Dust is absent, the large navy carpet that fills the middle of the space looks to be newly vacuumed.

I take a cautious step forward. I didn't know what to expect. I shouldn't be surprised they've maintained the room.

Scanning the room, nothing seems out of sorts. There's a stack of books on the desk by the large window and nothing else. In normal circumstances, I would feel invasive coming here with no warning, but who is here to stop me now?

Emboldened by burgeoning anger, I start with the desk, inspecting the books atop it and finding nothing unusual, nothing between the pages. The desk drawers contain nothing of importance either.

Continuing my search throughout the room and still finding myself empty handed, I sigh. What did I expect? Nothing damning could possibly be here. It's more likely that I'd find something in Itachi's penthouse apartment downtown, and Kakashi had already tried with nothing to show for it.

I stare at the closed door, just about ready to leave. Taking one more look around me, I stop my perusal at the door to his closet.

Despite doubts, a desire to inspect it before I end my seemingly useless search blooms.

The closet is the same size as I assume every closet is in the manor. Hangers of suit jackets and pants are on the racks and folded clothes are stacked beneath them. I take a slow walk about the space, resigning myself to coming out of the room with nothing to show.

I open and close the numerous dresser drawers, a half-hearted attempt, before stopping once I recognize a familiar presentation box.

The dark navy box adorning a luxury brand's logo sits in the corner of the drawer, taking up a quarter of the space.

It's the gift I gave Itachi on the last birthday I saw him. I gave it to him here in the manor where the celebrations took place.

A well of emotions I struggle to understand surface, and I don't even know why. It's just a watch. He has multiple.

I take the box in my hands, lifting the top up and find the watch presented in the middle of the unnecessarily large case. It's seemingly untouched, the guarantee card and small (also unnecessary) manual tucked inside a removable pocket.

There's something else, though.

Removing the guarantee card and manual, what's left inside the pocket is a business card. In the back, a written note.

You're going to need my help.

Why would Itachi need the help of the infamous owner of Club Gutsy?

Note:

I'm back! and it didn't take months for it to happen three updates in a row!

anyway, hope you liked this chapter! I really enjoyed writing it, particularly the car scene and Sasuke's attempt to quiet his insecurities bc haha too real.

if you've read the socmed au, you'll know about what's coming when we get to club gutsy but of course, there will be necessary additions for ~drama~

next chapter, we have the family dinner and boy oh boy let's hope our main couple makes it out unscathed

lastly, if you follow me on twitter, under the announcement tweet for this chapter, there are outline photos and voice notes I've posted that helped in writing the chapter. go check it out if that's something that interests you or if you wanna listen to how stupid I sound sfjhsdjfhsf