My words from me to you: It's about 3 to 4 years since my last update. I thank all who are anticipating this. Hehehe…

P.S: don't forget my reviews. Many thanks! (the more the reviews, the merrier!)

CHAPTER 12

The 5th prince, Sasori sat by Sakura as she lay asleep on the bed in her room. He gazed at the young lady silently with a mixture of thoughts while Deidara paced up and down the room, cursing himself under his breath.

"How should I account this to Neji?… I even promised him with such confidence that I'll look after her… Screw this whole damn thing!" Deidara seethed angrily, worry and guilt clouding his mind.

"You should calm down Deidara… Now that she's fine, you should not dwell on what had happened. Rather, you should think of what you're going to do in the future to avoid this happening again." Sasori spoke calmly, holding Sakura's hand in his, making sure her pulse is stable.

"But I…"

"No need for the guilt Deidara. Neji will understand. At the very least, we prevented the worst from happening." Sasori spoke again. He clearly understood Deidara's feelings. To be honest, deep down, this matter had sowed discord within the 5th prince. He cannot help but feel agitated and troubled by this although he was not showing it on the surface. He pretended he didn't know anything.

In actual fact, he knew it all too well…

[FLASHBACK]

"Tell me, what exactly happened."

Yue-er said nothing but continued sobbing. She couldn't bring herself to say what happened. It wasn't just because of the embarrassment and humiliation the 6th prince had brought onto her. Yue-er knew by heart that Itachi would do exactly what he said.

"Out with it while I'm still patient. If this goes on, I'm afraid I'll lose it." Sasori whispered dangerously, with eyes that seemed to pierce through Yue-er's very soul.

This time, Yue-er began crying rather hysterically. There wasn't anyway out for her. She has been driven to a corner where she has nowhere to hide or run. Then, stupidity got hold of her. She would rather die than be humiliated and betrayed by the 6th prince. That instant, Yue-er smashed the cup onto the floor and snatched a broken piece. Her hand began to bleed profusely for the cut was deep. Fear and insanity had become so overwhelming for her that she no longer felt the pain being inflicted on her physically. She raised her bleeding hand high up and slashed her wrist hard.

Sasori's eyes widened. He didn't hesitate to rummage through the cabinets in the quiet room of the medical hall to find whatever he can to stop the bleeding. Then, alas, he managed to find a bottle of pseudoginseng root powder (a type of Chinese herb powder that can help stop bleeding caused by traumatic means), some Chinese angelica pills (a type of medicine that can nourish blood and help conditions like anemia or dizziness) and some sterilized clean cloths. After gathering the items he needed, Sasori knelt down beside Yue-er and carried her carefully in his arms. Yue-er's face was starting to turn pale and cold.

"Never do these foolish things again." Sasori reprimanded softly as he cleaned her cut in a fast and precise manner, carefully covering the cut with the medicinal powder and dressed her wound with the sterilized cloth to prevent further bleeding.

"Eat this." Saying so, he gently popped the Chinese angelica pills into Yue-er's mouth. Yue-er swallowed the pill with much difficulty as tears flowed down her cheeks endlessly. She felt sorry towards not only to Sakura but also Sasori. Sasori had been benevolent towards her even though she had made a grave mistake.

The 5th prince carried the poor palace maid and gently laid her on the bed for her to rest. "I asked of you to tell me what had happen. I do not remember asking you to take your own life. You should be glad that there isn't much blood you lost." Sasori spoke sternly at Yue-er. "I do not know what had happened… but I would be here to listen when you're… ready to talk… Take your time..." He added, this time in a gentler tone with a soft look in his eyes.

Yue-er's eyes fell as Sasori stood up and took his leave. She felt sorry for all the trouble she made and she felt guilty towards the 5th prince. She knew Sasori was just there to help.

"Sasori-sama…" She called out weakly before Sasori could open the door to leave.

"I'll tell you everything…" She sobbed.

[END OF FLASHBACK]

Sasori shook his head slightly to keep his mind straight. The more he think about it, the angrier he becomes. To Sasori, there is no way he can swallow this atrocity. He turned to Cui-er and Official Zhang, (who was one of the Imperial Physicians) and ordered them to pay extra attention to Sakura for her body was still weak. She needed nourishment and rest.

Princess Tenten wasn't in any mood for her ignorant behaviour either. She sat quietly by Sakura's side and watched her sadly. "If only I'm more observant then this wouldn't had happen…Why would Yue-er do such an inhuman thing?" She muttered bitterly. "Thank God that both the baby and the mother are okay… Father will be really upset if he gets to know about this…"

Upon hearing this, Sasori turned over and looked at Princess Tenten and Deidara. "Don't let Father know about this... I do not want him to worry…" Sasori requested. "I will settle this myself." He added before he left the room, leaving Sakura in their care.

………………………………..

"The 5th prince asked to see you Itachi-sama." One of the palace maid spoke timidly with her head bowed low.

Itachi sipped his tea slowly as he sat under the pavilion beside the lake in the Imperial Garden, enjoying the cool breeze of the evening. "Things are getting interesting… Even Sasori is in the picture…" Itachi chuckled softly to himself at the thought.

"Itachi-sama…" The palace maid asked again, this time rather nervously.

That snapped Itachi back to reality instantly. "Allow him." Itachi answered coolly.

The 5th prince stepped into the pavilion and waved his hand, gesturing for the palace maids and eunuchs there to take their leave. All of them bowed and backed away, leaving the 2 princes alone in the quiet pavilion.

"Why Itachi?" Sasori begun. "You know the girl is innocent, so is the child and Neji… This has got nothing to do with them…"

"Indeed… this has nothing to do with Neji and Sakura…" Itachi replied, continuing sipping his tea.

"Then WHY?" Sasori asked again, putting much emphasis in his questioning tone. Sasori couldn't help but feel agitated over this despicable act from his blood-related brother who was also born to the same mother as himself.

"I wanted Sakura. Simple as that." Itachi answered. Somehow, his tone was a little mocking.

"Stop this insanity please Itachi. Enough of this… Why do you want to keep on holding onto the grudge for so long? I cannot do anything if this atrocity goes on! You know very well what Mother said before she died!" Sasori seethed angrily as he pulled Itachi towards him by the arm.

"Don't tell me about Mother! Like I told you, THIS HAS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH HER DYING!" Itachi retorted angrily, jerking his arm away from Sasori's grip. He hated to be reminded of his mother's death. It made his blood boil and increase his thirst to kill those people he abhorred and believed to be the ones who pushed his mother to hell.

"I do not care Sasori. I do not care whether it's his fault or not. As long as he remains child to that murderess, I do not sympathize him and never will! Have he went through the pain I endured watching mother die in front of my very eyes? No! Why can't I take Sakura away like how they took Mother away? What is wrong with loving her?" Itachi glared, his eyes piercing and cold.

"Itachi… I-"

"Enough said brother. You're the only closest kin I have now… If you do not want this relationship to end, do not interfere into my matter." Itachi gave his final word in a viperous voice before leaving his elder brother alone in the pavilion.

Sasori watched Itachi's silhouette disappear into the night as he dropped on the chair. The 5th prince had never felt anything more wretched than seeing his very own brother consumed by hatred and treachery. How can he guide Itachi when his heart is so resentful and hurt?

"Mother… I'm sorry…" Sasori whispered sadly.

END OF CHAPTER 12