"Happy birthday."

Sakura felt soft lips pressing against her neck and stirred. She smiled as they moved towards her cheek and then lips. She rolled over and wraps her arms around his neck. She kissed him back as his hands roamed over her body. He moved on top of her and deepened the kissed. Her pulse quickened by the feel of his body against hers. Still half-asleep and eyes closed, Sakura pulled him close and urged him on. His lips hungrily moved to her neck and she craned it to give me him more access. She sighed as his lips moved down her body, trailing kisses down her curves. He then came up to her to kiss her again.

"Sakura..."

Sakura gazed up as dark curls surrounded her vision. She traced a thumb across his lips and stared into the deep, dark eyes staring down at her.

Sasuke?

Sakura gasped loudly and she shot up in her bed.

"What's wrong?"

Sakura blinked rapidly and rubbed her eyes. Once her vision cleared, she saw Itachi sitting beside her. Itachi who had been showering her with the kisses now looked worried.

"Sakura?"

"No-nothing. It's nothing." Sakura stammered, "Sorry, I think I had a weird dream." She ran a hand down her face, hoping Itachi couldn't see the mortification on her face.

"Well, that's not good," Itachi pulled her close and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You're supposed to be nothing but happy on your birthday. You want to talk about it?"

Sakura managed to calm herself down and looked up at Itachi. She forced a smile.

"It was nothing. Don't worry. I will be fine, just give me moment."

Itachi looked at her for a moment then nodded. "Okay, well, why don't you freshen up while I make you a breakfast."

"Sounds good." Sakura place a hand on his cheek and pulled his mouth to hers. She gave him a deep kiss, hoping it will chase away the troubling feeling in her stomach. It didn't. Later, she went to the bathroom and turned on shower. Once in, she put her head in her hands, trying to calm down.

What had just happened? Why was she having these weird dreams about Sasuke, of all people? Her dear friend. Itachi's brother. What kind of a woman was she to have such a thought about the brother of the man she loved? She stood like that for a long while, trying to make sense of all this when there was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Sakura, you okay in there?" Itachi called.

"Yeah, just finishing up. I will be right there," she called back and hurriedly cleaned up and dried herself. Once dressed, she went to the living room where Itachi had setup breakfast. She smiled at him as he handed her coffee.

"Thank you," she said, giving him a kiss. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

"What's going on?" He murmured. Sakura sighed inwardly. Itachi was not the kind of man you could easily fool. Not that she was trying to. But she obviously could not tell him.

"Like I said, just a weird dream. I'm okay now." She tried to assure him.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it? You were pretty shaken up when you woke up." Itachi prodded.

"Honestly, I have forgotten most of it," Sakura said, pursing her lips, "you know how dreams are." She gave a nervous laugh.

"Hm," Itachi looked closely at her, tracing a finger across her jaw. Sakura looked up at him, not breaking the eye contact. He finally nodded. "Come, let's have breakfast."

Sakura sighed in relief and nodded.

"Heyy Sakura! Happy birthday!" Ino rushed to Sakura and gave her a tight hug. The hall in Uchiha manor was decorated with birthday decorations and there was classical music playing. Sakura was dressed in an emerald cocktail dress that matched her eyes. Her medium length hair were stylishly unbound across her bare back. Her long silver heals elevated her height more that usual. She looked exquisite.

"Thank you, Ino! I'm glad you came" Sakura hugged her back, and glanced at the person at her side. "And who is this gentleman?"

"Ah," Ino blushed lightly and wrapped her arm around his, "Sakura, meet Sai. My boyfriend."

"Boyfriend?" Sakura raised an eyebrow at Ino, who had forgotten to mention anything about him to her before. Then she smiled at Sai and offered her hand. "Nice to meet you, Sai."

Sai shook her hand. "It is your birthday today." He stated it like a fact.

"Er, yeah. It is." Sakura said with a bemused expression.

"No, no, Sai. Remember what I told you to say?" Ino prodded.

Sai thinks for a moment then nods. "Ah, yes," he turns to Sakura again, "happy birthday."

"Sai has trouble with social situations, so I've been helping him navigate them. Isn't he just the cutest?" Ino said, gushing over her new boyfriend. Sakura grinned at them.

She and Shikamaru had a rough breakup a few months ago. He had soon moved on with his new girlfriend Temari, which had really pissed Ino off. But now she seemed really happy with Sai. At least that's what Sakura hoped.

Before she could say anything else, she spotted Naruto entering the hall. Her stomach did a somersault when she glanced at the person he was with. Sasuke.

He wore a black vest over a white shirt and black slacks. His hair were styled into spikes. He looked breathtaking. Sakura gulped and averted her eyes. She could not face him.

"Excuse me," she said. Instead of walking toward them she turned and climbed up the stairs.

Sasuke watched Sakura make her way upstairs. His eyes narrowed at her tensed shoulders and the faint flush on her neck.

Something was wrong. Did something happen between her and Itachi? He wondered. He searched for Itachi and found him at the other end of the hall, engaged in a conversation with their father. He looked as calm and composed as ever and hadn't noticed Sakura's departure upstairs.

Sasuke breathed in and squared his shoulders.

"I will be right back," he muttered to Naruto and made his way through the people towards the stairs. Once he reached the top, he noticed the door of his old bedroom slightly open. He slowly made his way towards it and gently pushed the door open.

He heard water running in the bathroom. He closed the bedroom door and waited. Soon, Sakura emerged from the bathroom and gasped loudly when she spotted Sasuke standing in the middle of the room.

"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed. "What are you doing here? You—you shouldn't be here!" She looked flushed and a little breathless. Now, Sasuke was a little worried.

"Is everything okay, Sakura?" he asked calmly.

"Yes, everything is fine," Sakura said, forcing a smile. "Can you please leave? It is not appropriate for you to be here."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, this is my room," he pointed out.

Sakura's eyes widened and her face turned a deep shade of pink. She stammered apologies and tried to leave.

"Sakura, wait," Sasuke called to her when she reached the door. She stopped. "I want to talk to you about something."

Sakura turned, looking at him warily. "Oh? Can it wait until after the party?" she asked nervously.

"Probably not," Sasuke said, taking a step towards her. Sakura took half a step back but then forced herself to stay, willing her body to relax.

"I wanted to tell you that I'm leaving."

Sakura blinked. "What?"

"I'm leaving the country tonight. For good. I came here to honor your wish, as a friend, and I thought you deserved to know that."

Sakura stared at him, searching his eyes, as if not understanding what he was saying. "Why?" she asked quietly, her eyes starting to fill up.

Sasuke gazed into her beautiful emerald eyes, the same eyes that had been his undoing the very first time he saw them. He watched a small tear trail down her cheek and had to restrain himself from wiping it away with his thumb.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke murmured, "but there is nothing for me here. I need to find my place in this world elsewhere."

"I'm here," Sakura blurted out. Sasuke gave a small, sad smile and shook his head.

"No," he said, stepping aside. "You're not."

"Sasuke!" Sakura turned around and called to him as he turned the door handle. "Please don't leave." He could hear the trembling in her voice. His resolve almost crumbled right then and there. He tightened his grip on the door handle and turned his face halfway towards her.

"Sakura," he spoke her name softly, "thank you."

Then he opened the door and left.

There was a loud cheer as Sakura cut her birthday cake. She smiled in gratitude as everyone clapped and wished her a happy birthday. To others, she looked radiant and happy, but something still nagged at Itachi's mind. She had gone upstairs for a while, and when he asked about it, she dismissed it by saying she needed to use the bathroom. Itachi had searched her eyes but found no hint of a problem. So, he pushed his thoughts away and focused on his upcoming surprise.

Her closest friends had gathered around her, and she was now chattering with them. He smiled fondly, thinking about the ring in his pocket. Tonight was the night he would propose to her, right here, in front of their families and friends. It had been a long time coming, and they were finally ready to start the next chapter of their relationship.

He walked over to the DJ and murmured instructions about the music. He changed it to the melody of one of Sakura's favorite songs. Then he slowly walked toward where Sakura was standing, chatting animatedly with her friends, his eyes never leaving her beautiful face.

Everything around him faded as he gazed at the woman who had been a part of his life for over two years, who had trusted him and stuck by his side even through the rocky parts of their relationship. He didn't notice that he had stopped in the middle of the hall, just staring at her. Her laughter rang in his ears like a song as her friend Ino said something to her.

Itachi put a hand in his pocked and wrapped his fingers around the ring box. This was it.

But just then, something happened.

Right as the last of Sakura's friends left her side, and no one was looking at her anymore, there was the slightest shift in her expression. Itachi, who had been gazing lovingly at her only a moment ago, immediately picked up on it and narrowed his eyes.

For just a few seconds, Sakura's face had changed from happy to troubled. Her eyes moved toward the other end of the hall. There was a longing in her eyes. And heartbreak. And something so soft and tender that Itachi felt a pang of jealousy for the person who was the subject of such a gaze.

He followed her gaze to the person she was looking at and almost took a step back. At the receiving end was Sasuke, half standing in the shadow. He was gazing back at Sakura, with a softness in his eyes and a hint of longing. Itachi never thought he would ever see such an expression on his little brother's face for anyone.

Worst, he never thought his brother would look at Sakura, of all people.

A rush of emotions surged through Itachi. Confusion, betrayal, and anger. His mind raced as he tried to process the implications. Sasuke, his stoic and distant brother, had feelings for Sakura. And Sakura, with that tender, heartbroken gaze, reciprocated those feelings.

The ring in his pocket felt heavier than ever, a symbol of a future that suddenly seemed uncertain. He clenched his fists, trying to steady himself, but the world around him felt like it was spinning.

At that moment, everything changed.