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Chapter 15

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The Spring Bitch- I mean Bash

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Thank you guys so much for the unwavering support for this story. Everyday I get a new fave or follow for it and it just pushes me to continue this journey with this fic. I am really appreciative of each and every one of you who takes the time to read this story and fall in love these characters. You guys are my muse!

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Dark charcoal eyes stared blankly at the ceiling of the canopy bed she resided in. She felt a presence next to her and turned her head to see her husband sound asleep, his back turned towards her. Mikoto sat up in bed and stretched her limbs with an audible pop. Damn she was starting to get….slightly less younger. Her head still throbbed from her fall in the shower and she wanted to do nothing more than to crawl back under the sheets, but she was Lady Uchiha and her duties beckoned her to start her day.

She really couldn't wait to retire and have Sakura take over as Lady. She craved the day to come like fresh water. She idly thought to start sneaking prepping skills for the young medic without her getting the idea that Mikoto was grooming her for the position. Sakura's suspicions wouldn't be wrong by a long shot.

With an inward chuckle, Mikoto reluctantly got out of bed but found herself hugging the column of the canopy for dear life as the room began to spin and she felt nauseous. She concluded that she was in no shape to fulfill any duties and crawled back in bed gratefully, her chest heaving from all the energy she exerted from doing that little task.

This was no good, not only did she have to plan the Uchiha Spring bash, she had to book a venue, get invitations in order and make sure everyone had an outfit to wear. With a frown, she made a call to an attendant in the household for them to deliver an important message to everyone. After hanging up, she made another phone call, one she would regret making but it needed to be done.

"Hello?...Oh hello Violet, would you mind doing a favor for me?" Mikoto rolled her eyes as she listened to the woman's annoying voice on the other line. If she was still an immature child, she would've silently mocked the lady's way of talking with an ugly face. "I'm not doing so well, I'm a bit under the weather- but I will be fine soon so rest assured. I just need some help planning the Spring Bitch-I mean bash." Mikoto visibly cringed, cursing the Kamis for allowing her to voice part of her thoughts.

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A week passed and the Spring Bash came quick. Violet made it an all white party with one pop of color so Sakura decided that her hair was a pop of color enough and wore an all white spaghetti strap lace dress (complimentary of Lady Uchiha). The dress was tight around the bust area and showed off the milky skin of her breast while hugging her body down to her waist before flaring out. Sakura wore a pair of white wooden wedges with straps that criss-crossed her ankles. Her hair was down and curled at the ends. She fiddled with the long strands and wondered if she should cut it soon. Would Itachi think her short hair was cute?

She shook the thought out of her head. She shouldn't care what he was about her hair.

Itachi came downstairs with car keys in hand and looked the image of perfection. Sakura nearly cat called him like a woman crossing a construction site but she stopped herself. His hair was pulled back with a white ribbon and he donned a white button down and silk vest with crisp white pants and black loafers.

"You look hot," Sakura winked but Itachi blew off her playful flirt.

"I feel like a dork."

Sakura placed her hand on her chin. "I think it's the shoes, I think the shoes throws it off. Why black though?"

"Sakura, at this point, I don't really give a fuck about the damn shoes." He deadpanned her, causing her to laugh out loud. Any other person would have assumed he was being cold and a jerk, but Sakura could tell his jokes from his serious moments.

She shrugged at him. "Fine, but don't look at me when your mom gasps in horror at your choice of attire." Sakura followed behind Itachi as he and Sasuke- who decided to join them all walked to the white luxury car they decided to take.

Itachi opened the door for Sakura and whispered to her before she sat in. "Did I mention how good you look today?"

Her heart skipped a beat and Sakura blushed with a smile. "Thank you, I try to look my best for events like this."

"You did a good job."

They arrived at the venue and Sasuke was the one to usher Sakura out the car. Absently, she took his arm and Sasuke shot a smirk his brother's way much to Itachi's quiet jealousy.

They hated the venue. It looked plain and overdone. They knew for a fact this event didn't have their mother's touch. Mikoto usually strived for a different more extravagant venue than the last year and this one wasn't even half the quality of the other ones in the past.

Sakura was mystified however. The venue looked so modern and hip to her. It was a square building with blunt windows carved into it. Lanterns were decorated outside and around it alongside ivy that expanded around the backyard of the venue.

Inside, they took their seats at a table where Mikoto was already seated with a glass of wine, talking to Fugaku who nodded his head at her words. The patriarch's eyes darted at the sight of the trio entering and gave a nod of acknowledgement towards them.

"Hello," Sakura greeted happily as Itachi took the chance to take out her seat. Sakura thanked him before sitting down. Just as Itachi was going to take the next seat, Sasuke plopped himself down.

"Thank you, Itachi." Sasuke smirked.

"No. Get up." Itachi deadpanned.

"Don't be so mean big brother, she was my friend first." Sasuke mockingly joked with a smirk.

"If you don't get up, I will get on the microphone and tell the entire family and friends stories of you wetting the bed and blaming your stuffed teddy bear." Itachi's eyes grew dark with the promise of his threat. He meant business.

Sasuke stared him down challengingly and when Itachi moved to walk towards the stage, Sasuke hastily stood up and surrendered his seat.

"Asshole." The youngest Uchiha grumbled as he took a seat at the end of the table.

Sakura watched the interaction with a shake of her head. At least the two got along better than before.

The young medic soon realized as the soiree got along, that their table was considered the spot. Heads of other clans passed by to speak to them, prominent figures showed their faces and complimented Lady Uchiha and Sakura as well and many promising heirs paid their respects.

She noticed that Tsunade couldn't be of attendance because of the shortage of hands at the hospital from Sakura's extended absence, however, Naruto was still around and mingling with people. Sasuke had ordered himself, his brother, and Sakura glasses of wine. Unlike Sakura, the Uchiha brothers loathed this kind of soiree because it forced them to put up a facade of a well together family who is the epitome of perfection and to mingle with people they wouldn't talk to on a regular day. They were ready for it all to be over.

Itachi was the extremely grateful at the moment for not having his business anymore. Sasuke had to constantly network his self to other people and talk amongst crowds of stuffy old men and women that Itachi could tell irked him. With no business or stress, Itachi was able to relax and partake in conversation with his sweet Sakura who seemed more excited about the event than anyone else in the room.

Heels clacked against the wooden platform as they came to stand in front a microphone. Fiery red nails curled around the shaft of the pole while the other hand steadied the microphone. With a mischievous smirk, she called everyone to attention.

"Good evening, everyone." Violet swept her eyes over the crowd and landed them right on her target in front of her. "I hope the bash has been going well." She listened to the light chatters of approval from the crowd beneath her. She watched people quickly shuffle to their chairs before continuing.

"I feel so honored to have the opportunity bestowed upon me with organizing, and designing the bash this year; a job usually done by the matriarch of the Uchihas, but alas, she hasn't been feeling so well but I am happy she was able to make it today." She gestured a hand towards Mikoto who feigned a smile as she kissed her hand and blew it at violet.

Inwardly, Mikoto was steaming with anger. She was so livid that she couldn't even think straight. She hated herself for giving this woman such an honor. The whole bash looked utterly cheap and unsophisticated. Mikoto wouldn't even do so much as take her fifty-cent centerpieces. This event was one of the most anticipated ones of the season and Violet turned it into a primary school luncheon. Where did all the funds go into this? Obvious not in the décor. If she weren't Lady of the clan, she wouldn't even had showed her face to this event. Hopefully, next year Sakura would be the one planning the Spring Bash. She trusted Sakura's taste and opinion more than she trusted Violet's daughter, Kiyi, alone in the same room with her cousin.

"Tonight, we celebrate the blooming of a new season, faces, endeavors, friends, and foes." She paused for effect, hearing small chuckles at her joke. "And to welcome a newcomer in our presence." Her purple hues never wavered from her target's face. "I would like to thank Itachi Uchiha and his lovely date, Sakura Haruno for attending tonight. With his health problems, we know it's been a challenge, but we appreciate you doctor Haruno for lending your time and your hand to make the next heir to our clan well again." Violet expressed with mock sincerity. Sakura smiled politely, feeling all eyes shift to her. She wasn't one for the limelight and simply tipped her glass towards Violet who seemed wickedly amused.

Sakura's gut felt uneasy about all the sudden attention on her but she dismissed it as simply having bad nerves. They were honoring her! Who wouldn't feel a little uneasy about such a prestige being bestowed upon them. When it was time to mingle again, soft jazz music played as people began to repopulate the dance floor. Women swayed to the music with their partners and men conversed in circles with glasses filled with dark liquor.

Feeling so humbled by Violet's kind words, Sakura excused herself from the table and walked to a circle across the room where the short older woman stood, however she was momentarily by a young couple who asked her questions. Meanwhile a certain silver haired man slithered pass Mikoto's line of vision and she found herself being excused from the table to go talk to some friends of the family- which wasn't a total lie.

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Kakashi felt a light poke in his back and he turned to see the bright smile of a beautiful woman standing before him. Her hair was pent up into a lovely bun with small jewels nestled within and two pieces of hair falling on each side of her face. She wore a white silk robe dress that daringly exposed one creamy leg clad in a nude stocking and thin strapped heels. Her attire looked saucy and fashionably daring, but only on Mikoto, she looked the epitome of femininity and class. He wondered how she was able to do it.

"Kakashi, fancy seeing you here. I didn't even know you were coming!" The matriarch smiled with genuine happiness as she hugged the man. Her light rosy perfume engulfing his senses.

"Yes, well the invite was extended out to me from a woman named Violet." Mikoto's face nearly fell but she didn't show it. That didn't sound right at all. Kakashi wasn't on the list of people she sent to Violet, but she couldn't investigate that now. She was just happy to see him.

"Oh...isn't that nice of her. Well how is everything?"

"Good, good. How are you?"

"Well I cannot say the same since that nasty fall. I've been aching all over. I do believe a thank you is in order for saving me. If it weren't for you, I don't know if I'd be standing here right now." Her eyes twinkled with sincerity. "Come, let us go outside for a chat. I don't want the whole clan to hear the details of my downfall. That'll be like telling my enemies my weakness." She laughed.

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Shisui was dressed in a black buttoned down, a white tie and a matching vest with black slacks. He quietly fumed from the entrance of the venue. How dare Itachi wear something so similar to him! And look so damn good in it too!

However, he must admit, the shoes threw it off a just little.

Behind him, his mother Kokoro and his father entered in arms with one another. They were all fashionably late and quickly scurried to the table they shared with the head family.

Itachi locked eyes with Shisui and they stared off at one another as Shisui slowly sat down.

"Itachi.." Shisui addressed him in a clipped tone.

"Shisui.." He nodded back in acknowledgement.

After a moment, the older Uchiha sighed. "Look Itachi, I don't want no trouble today. I'm here to enjoy my family."

Itachi dismissed his words for a moment, swishing around his drink in his hand."That's funny, that was my intentions as well." Itachi sipped from his glass of bourbon that he ordered when Sakura wasn't looking.

"Itachi!" His aunt, Kokoro gushed. She hugged him with a big kiss on the cheek. "It's so nice to see you, how is everything?"

Itachi was unphased by her open display of affection towards him and allowed her to pelt him with kisses and hugs. She straightened up his collar, wiped her lipstick from his cheek with her thumb and smoothed his hair back. "It's going fairly well, Aunt Kokoro."

The caramel skinned woman smiled warmly towards her nephew. "That's good, I'm happy for you. Now where is my Sasuke so I can give him a big hug?"

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The sun was dipping low beneath the horizon as the duo stood outside the building. It was fairly chilly outside for a spring night so many guests did not step out into the beautiful courtyard. It left the matriarch and General alone to converse without any prying ears. "Oh Kakashi," Mikoto laughed, lightly slapping his shoulder. "That was too funny! You're an excellent story-teller."

He crinkled his eye in a smile. "Why, thank you Lady Uchiha, I am sincerely touched someone other than my best friend enjoys my humor. I wish Sakura would have more of a sense of humor."

"She does, she does- just not with you." They laughed for a moment before the matriarch leaned back against the wall of the building and sighed. "I could tell you more stories of Sakumo if you'd like. We had quite an age gap- he being way older than me, but we were still pretty close when I was a kid. We played baseball together on the same team." Kakashi shot a questioning glance Mikoto's way.

"Oh shush, I was very good at baseball as a child. I could've gone pro- y'know." She huffed before continuing. "He met your mother from the math club at our high school during homecoming week when he came back from his base. She was a senior at the time. The boys use to call her jail bait even though she was turning eighteen in a week after he met her."

Kakashi scratched the back of his head and slightly cringed. "Wow...Good job dad. You were ready to risk it all." Mikoto laughed.

"Yes, well, he didn't ask her out until her birthday and he kept coming all the way back to Konoha every weekend to see her. He was stationed in Suna beneath the Kazekage tower, but he would take the sand train and two buses all the way back to Konoha. We called him an idiot for it. But he called it love." Kakashi nodded at the thought about it. After his mother passed away, his father was pretty withdrawn as a person but he still took care of Kakashi as a great parent. Kakashi could always remember being such a pain-in-the-ass as a kid and he often talked back and got into mischief all the time. The young Hatake never asked Sakumo about his mother because it always caused the man to clam up when any other time, he talked exuberantly about Kakashi's poor lifestyle choices and his possible negative influence on his dear, precious granddaughter.

"What was she like?" Asked Kakashi.

Mikoto raised her chin in thought whilst tapping her manicured finger on her bottom lip. "Well, she was a nerd." Mikoto stated bluntly and Kakashi raised his visible brow at her. "I mean that very respectfully- she was a nerd. Number one in her class, high marks in all her courses and kept her nose in her books. She didn't start slacking off until she met Sakumo and I guess he taught her being number one isn't always what you strive for- I'm just guessing that last part. I just know for a fact after she met him, her grades slipped, she fell to rank two in her class, but she was the happiest people have ever seen her." Mikoto smiled and rested a warm hand on Kakashi's arm.

"Sakumo made her really happy. He helped her get out of her shell." She continued. "I didn't really keep up with them after she left high school, I believe she moved to be closer to Sakumo while he was still in the service and the last time I saw her…." Mikoto's words trailed and her eyes grew sad for Kakashi.

"You don't have to say. I know." He gave her an eye crinkle of assurance, but she knew it was forced.

"My condolences." A chill brushed passed her exposed flesh and she shivered. Kakashi shrugged off his leather jacket and offered it to the matriarch who raised her delicate brows. Not one to be rude, she allowed him to drape the heavy material on her shoulders and she could feel the warmth of his body still lingering inside the jacket. They talked a little while longer until Mikoto checked her wristwatch.

"We should be returning soon." She said, taking off his jacket and giving it back to him. "You should come over for some tea soon. I'll tell you more stories I know about Sakumo if you tell me more stories about little Sakura." With that, Mikoto politely excused herself back to the party before anyone suspected her absence.

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Sakura could hear them talking. She couldn't make out the words but she felt eyes on her and conversations drop to hushed whispers as she parted through the crowd of people. She wondered what was some of the people's deal but she brushed it off as she neared the circle of elders and the woman named Violet.

Violet instantly noticed the figure of the pinkette from the corner of her eye and changed the subject in the circle as Sakura moved into earshot.

The young medic was just about to interject when she heard her name fall from the lips of the woman she was just about to thank.

"I'm happy to see the Haruno child thriving well for herself." The older woman said. "Even after the massacre."

"Indeed, tis' a shame she has to carry the burden her mother father both left on her shoulders." An elder man huffed. "She has done well for herself nonetheless, and she has done well to further our plans with Itachi now that his health is back on track. He cannot make anymore excuses."

"Don't forget she befriending Itachi has proved to increase her standing in the clans, perhaps she could use the heir to restore some honor to her family's name." Sakura's hearted plummeted in her stomach and her throat went dry. Why were they talking about her like this? Why were they talking about her family? What brought this entire subject up?

The room suddenly felt hot and suffocating but she listened on, allowing the bustle of the guest to mask her in the crowd.

"She should be careful of how she uses Itachi. If she steps too close, she will get her little heart broken." Violet spat.

"What makes you think that?"

She snorted as if it was obvious. "He is going to be betrothed to Kiyi of course after this stupid compromise is over with. Six months is fastly approaching and he hasn't chosen anyone. He can sleep with the Haruno woman all he likes- hell, even after he's married but he better not try to wed her. He should know her dishonor will shame us all for those who remembers what happened to the Harunos. I will not allow it!"

"Violet makes a valid point." The group agreed.

"Does Itachi even know about the Harunos?" A man with thick glasses asked.

"He most likely doesn't since the Hokage wiped them from the books and forced people into secrecy about them, but if I have to, I'll tell him before he gets too invested in that girl. She should know more than anybody that who ever knows about her family knows she is a blemish on another family's appearance and reputation- especially to the older generations. The Haruno girl should just go marry some commoner- or even Shisui. Both of them are…" She snapped her fingers as she fumbled for the right word. Sakura's world was crumbling as she listened to each steely word that pierced her. "Mistakes? No-no...nuisances is the proper word I'm looking for. Yes, those two would be very happy together." She laughed.

"..She is right," Another agreed.

"I know I am, so he can enjoy his fooling around with her but she will never be Lady of the Uchihas. Just look at her, she has pink hair. At least when Fugaku chose Mikoto over me, she had a decent shade of hair and not some terrible birth defect." The woman cackled and prompt the other groups to chuckle. Sakura grabbed a lock of her hair self-consciously. Just then, Violet's head turned and she stared directly into Sakura's eyes and her whole demeanour shifted to the fake sugary sweet one she had when she was on stage.

"Oh, Sakura! Come join us, we were just talking about how amazing your work has been for Itachi!" The woman gestured for her to join the group but Sakura shook her head as she back away, tears forming in her eyes. Violet's smirk turned evil as she watched the terror and betrayal swirl in the young medic's eyes.

Sakura back up and bumped into someone who was laughing at a joke before they turned to glare at her rudeness and it caused the young girl to crumbled under their scrutiny. "I'm sorry," She whispered afraid as she backed away from them and into a woman who lost control of her wine. The dark red liquid sloshed over the rim and landed on Sakura's hair and dress. The woman tried to apologize profusely but all Sakura could do was turn and run away from the scene.

In her haste, she tripped on her way and caught herself on a table, hearing gasps from the patrons occupying it. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," She chanted fearfully as she ran away, snatching herself from anyone's attempts to console her. All eyes were on her now. They were looking at her, she knew they were laughing at her. Mocking her and her family. All she could hear was laughing and their judgemental whispers. She was a fool to think Itachi liked her, to think he wanted her. All this time they knew, they knew and she was their fool- their toy. Her throat felt dry and her chest was tight. Panic blared sirens in her head as she tried to find an exit. She needed an escape. This room was quickly beginning to look like a cage to her and all she could see was violet eyes at every turn. A wicked cackle in her ear as she desperately seeked an out.

Sakura ran into the nearest bathroom and hid in the biggest stall. She crammed herself in the far corner and slid to the ground where she pulled her legs to her chest in a desperate attempt to make herself as small as possible. Tears formed in her eyes but she didn't dare let them fall. She had to bury these emotions, she was stronger than this. This was just another lesson she had to learn about letting people in. She won't make this mistake again.

All this time, she should have listened to her inner conscious that told her to get away, to put more space between her and everyone, to never let anyone in and she didn't listen. She was a terrible fool.

She bit her lip and tried to count the tiles on the floor, trying to calm herself down. She didn't want anyone to hear her. She didn't want them to laugh anymore, she didn't want to feel their stares. She just wanted the security of isolation.

A few moments later she heard heels clack against tile and heard a gentle tap against the stall she was currently occupying. She hoped it was Mikoto, but a part of her didn't want anyone near her.

"Little girl," The voice was cold and unforgiving. "This is Violet and don't forget what I am about to tell you. I'm going to honest. I don't like you, I don't like the way you sound, the way you look, the way you carry yourself. Frankly, I don't like anything about you and you are standing too close to something that I want. What you see here, what you have just been witness and victim to, let it be a warning for you. I know more about you than you know about yourself. This battle isn't about you and it does not concern much of you, but if you want it to, it can. Just watch yourself….Oh and, Welcome to the Uchihas." She chuckled before leaving Sakura in the bathroom where the tears in her eyes finally fell.

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A few men came and went from the bathroom, having her realize she locked herself in the men's bathroom but Sakura remained rooted to the ground until she heard a rap at her stall again. She said nothing, she didn't even look at the feet of the person. She waited for them to go away and leave her be but they persisted.

"Sakura," It was Kakashi. "A woman told me you were in here. She said you got upset because someone spilled wine on you and you ran in here. Is that true? I'm sure the spill isn't that bad. It'll be a bitch to get out, but we'll find someone who's good at getting those stains out." He stuck his ear to the stall to hear her but she said nothing. "Are you okay?" Something in him told him this was more serious than just a spill.

Kakashi got down on his knees and tried to slide under the stall just to see Sakura balled up in the corner, her head down and the tips of half her hair dripping with remnants of alcohol. He walked towards her and squatted down to rub her back. "You wanna talk about it kiddo?"

Without lifting her head, she shook it 'no.'

He sighed. "You wanna go home? We can take the back door outta here if you don't wanna be seen."

She didn't respond soon but she nodded her head. He's seen her like this before and knew she was in no shape to walk on her own. He lifted her into his arms and slid her purse on his shoulder and walked out with her. Since the room was dark and poorly lit with flame lanterns, Kakashi was able to escape from the back of the buildings and through a hedge archway where he spotted his black Mercedes in the parking lot. Usually he didn't drive luxury cars but he somewhat hoped he would be going home with a woman that wasn't his daughter tonight. Nevertheless, she was the woman in his life that came before all women and his little girl was in distress.

He opened the back door and slid Sakura in the back seats, not bothering her to sit up. He unlaced and slid off her shoes and tossed them on the floor and sat her purse on the floor next to her head. He shrugged off his jacket and offered it to his daughter. She reluctantly grabbed it and draped it to cover her upper body including her face.

They drove in silence and halfway through, he heard Sakura's muffled sobs but didn't say anything. He knew she just wanted to be alone at this point.

They pulled up to an apartment complex and Kakashi pulled into his familiar parking spot. He grabbed all Sakura's belongings and noticed she ended up crying herself to sleep. He scooped her up in his arms again and walked up to his apartment door.

He fumbled for his keys and shuffled through them a few times to get the right key. After unlocking the door, he opened it and stepped inside the dark apartment. The AC was left on high and chilled the whole living room. Kakashi closed the door with his foot and walked through the dark corridor and up a set of stairs. He nudged open a door to a room he hadn't been inside in years but knew it was still exactly how it was left.

The stale scent of perfume still lingered inside and he laid Sakura's sleeping form on the full sized bed and untucked her green and pink covers to fit over her. He fixed the pink veil over her bed so it could cover her from the blowing wind of the AC and reminded himself to turn it off so she wouldn't catch a cold under it like she use to. He absently remembered when they first painted this room for her. Tsunade had just told them they were receiving a little girl to take care of and advised them to make her feel comfortable. It was Obito's idea to paint the room pink and coax Kakashi into doing the task.

He gave one last glance at her sleeping form and sighed before closing the door. Kakashi knew that she wasn't going to be back at the Uchiha manor anytime soon and made preparations to talk to Itachi about what happened in the morning.

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All weird mistakes are mine! I wrote this chapter in one day and proofread it the next morning so I might not have caught all weird mistakes, but they're all mine!

Thanks for reading, Fave and Follow, Read and Review and thank you so much for your support!

And yep, Violet has a plan and she won't be stopping it anytime soon. Next chapter we'll dig a little bit into Sakura's past.