Sakura couldn't have missed it if she tried. And to think that she was worried that she wouldn't find Ena and Eri's house and asked Hana for directions before she left.

It was, indeed, as Hana said, a castle-like house: it was huge and seemed to be made of the most luxurious looking stone/ceramic.

It was the only other house in the compound that could rival the main family's manor in terms of size and opulence.

Sakura felt humbled as she headed towards it. She knew from her studies with Eri that her father, lord Hiromi, was a high-ranking police force official who headed the biggest branch family in the Uchiha and controlled a significant amount of land.

She should have expected his house to look like that.

She timed it; it took her 15 minutes after gaining admittance into the gardens to finally reach the front door of the house.

She took a second to compose herself before knocking. She'd had a long day, she had no plan for how she was going to handle the last round of the Anbu qualifiers, but training with Ena, Akemi, and Akira was bound to clear her mind or at least distract her from her thoughts for a while.

"Good evening," an elderly maid answered the door almost instantaneously.

"Hey, I am here to see Ena-chan. I am…"

"We were expecting you, my lady," the woman said in an emotionless voice, but Sakura had grown adept at reading Uchiha, and a slight curl of the woman's upper lip assured her that she was not a big fan. "Please, come in," the woman added.

Sakura complied. Stepping in she had to take a moment and contemplate how spacious the place was. It was the kind of spacious you only find in the outdoors. Sakura counted almost 10 living room sets spread out over the giant place, which, alongside the high ceilings and the gold and white theme, gave the entire setting a royal theme. At the other end, a ceiling to floor glass window gave a clear view of the gardens which lent the place an even more spacious feel.

If she was claustrophobic she would be cured by now.

"This way," the woman said, gesturing for Sakura to take a seat.

Sakura lowered herself cautiously on the nearest chair.

And with that the woman was gone, leaving the girl to feel very awkwardly out of place in the extravagant room.

Sakura tried not to fidget.

"Sakura-sama," Ena and Eri's mother greeted, walking up to Sakura.

The girl got up and a second later remembered that she was the heir's wife and should not stand up upon greeting anyone other than Fugaku and Mikoto.

It was too late though, for the woman had spotted the transgression and narrowed her eyes minutely in disapproval.

"Hibari-sama," the girl greeted, attempting to sound unmoved, "I am here to meet with Ena-chan, we will be…"

"I am aware," the lady interrupted. Sakura remembered how cold she was at the party and was not surprised to note that her demeanor had not changed.

The woman was dressed in a traditional kimono, and had her grey streaked hair tied back in a low bun. The few streaks of grey were the only indication that she was older, otherwise her face had nary a wrinkle. She looked like someone who took very great care of herself.

Sakura watched her assume her seat, as she herself once again sat down.

It was difficult though, for the lady said nothing.

She just sat there, watching her. She wasn't just looking at Sakura, she was maintaining intense eye contact.

Sakura wanted to smile, that's what people did to dilute awkward situations where they had nothing to say. She also contemplated saying something, maybe about Ena or the Fire-dragon challenge or Itachi or something.

She fought all these ideas down for something told her that the woman was being exceptionally cold just to get a reaction out of her. Eri's mother wanted to make her squirm.

Joke's on her, Sakura had spent many a silent hour with Eri during their lessons.

She was almost immune to the awkwardness that comes from sitting silently in a room with someone.

And so, the girl leaned back in her seat, interlaced her fingers in her lap, put one leg atop the other and held the woman's gaze.

It was long, way too long before the silence was broken.

And it wasn't Hibari-sama who broke it either, it was the elderly maid who walked in with drinks in hand.

Sakura finally looked away from the woman who, in turn, had shifted her attention to the maid as she set the drinks down on the table between them and gave a small bow and addressed Hibari saying: "the drinks, my lady."

Sakura half expected the woman to take her own drink or say something back to her maid.

Instead, Hibari quickly reestablished eye contact with Sakura and the room fell back into dead silence.

The woman had Eri's unique ability to sit as still as a statue for long periods of time. Sakura really admired that ability; they didn't seem to feel the need to fidget or shift in their seats or anything. They just sat completely still, eyes ice-cold and unblinkingly fixated on a single point for inhuman amounts of time. For lady Hibari, that single point just so happened to be Sakura's eyes which was getting more and more uncomfortable to bear by the second.

*Maybe she's entranced, maybe I am captibating, * Sakura pondered, *I might be able to do genjutsu after all. *

*That or your giant forehead is hypnotizing, * Inner chimed in, *we've finally found a use for it. *

*Nah, if it had such powers I would have hypnotized you into shutting up years ago,* Sakura shot back.

Inner gave her a shocked look, *what are you talking about? My contributions are what you live for. Without me talking to you, you'd go insane. How dare you imply that you want me to shut up?*

*I did not imply, I said it, in fact I have been saying it since I developed rational thought. Let me say it again just in case,* Sakura mentally drew in an exaggerated breath, *Shut up!* she mentally enunciated.

Inner looked mortified, *you… you… you… ingrate! * Inner yelled.

Sakura was confused, *how are you surprised by this… I mean…*

*We're done!* Inner yelled.

*Excuse me?*

* .done,* she said slowly. *I am not talking to you anymore,* she added, *I quit.*

And with that, Sakura watched her inner-self storm off into a dark corner of her mind.

She sweat-dropped, *well that was a fruitful conversation, * she pondered with a shrug, but just as she did Sakura's attention was drawn to Ena who just walked into the room.

The conversation was indeed fruitful for it had effectively managed to distract Sakura from lady Hibari and her cold stare long enough for Ena to walk in, greet her mother and ask Sakura to follow her to the training grounds.

Sakura gave lady Hibari a curt nod and opted to say nothing as she followed Ena out of the room.

.

Saying that she saw Sasuke do it a million times would be an understatement. She could recount the sequence that went into the fireball Jutsu in her dreams: Snake-Ram- Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger.

She had never attempted it though, never even thought of trying it, even when she first saw Sasuke do it as a child and was awed by it, that was the end of it: she was awed and then she moved on.

The Grand Fireball jutsu was Uchiha specialty and she did not feel any need to give it a shot.

Her main affinities were towards Earth and water, but she knew that she had some affinity for Fire and that she had some potential for genjutsu.

She had only mastered Earth Jutsu's and some water Jutsu's though. She had jotted down many mental notes to start practicing her fire skills the moment she gets some free time.

Only problem is free time never came and now she stood, fidgeting, as the children watched her closely. They had asked her to go first what with her being the adult and all.

Too much pressure, this 'being an adult' business. Does being mentally a toddler count for nothing?

Resigning herself to her fate, Sakura put her hands together and performed the seals impeccably, before bringing her hands up to her face and going: 'poof.'

That was it, the sound 'poof' was all that came out.

She cleared her throat as Ena opened her mouth to talk, "I know," Sakura interrupted, "I'll work on it."

"But…but the contest is in a few days…"

"Sakura-sama, this is important, we need to…"

"Sakura-sama please do not let them get to you, you can do it…"

The three children started ranting at her as Sakura looked up to the sky and gathered her resolve.

She put her hands in the succession of seals again and this time she concentrated her chakra towards her lips, bringing to mind the image of fire blowing out.

She breathed deeply and blew.

This time a small flicker blew out and Sakura jumped back, "ouch!" she said, bringing her hands to her lips, she had burned herself a little.

The three children laughed.

"Real mature," Sakura said, with a small smile as she brought a hand up to heal her lips. "let's see what you guys can do," she added mischievously.

.

"Well that was something," Sakura said patting Akira on the back.

The little boy gave her a nervous smile, "we're screwed."

Ena and Akemi gasped.

"Akira, language," Akemi reprimanded.

"I will tell your mother," Ena promised with no hint of teasing in her voice. She really was going to tell his mother.

Sakura grinned, "it's just a start, you guys, we have a bit more than a week to train. We'll get the hang of this."

"We're very screwed," Akira sighed.

The two girls frowned at him before they cast their eyes over the fireproofed area of the gardens.

"We didn't need to fireproof, did we?" Ena said, rubbing her forehead, "we didn't really produce much fire."

"Sakura-sama did produce some fire that last time," Akemi said, trying to be positive.

"A lighter produces more fire than that," Ena said sharply.

Sakura raised an eyebrow, "at least I didn't just produce some smoke and choke on it," she said, tousling the girl's hair.

Ena glared at Sakura before raising her head up haughtily, "it's very tricky."

"We'll get better, you guys, we just need to practice. Now it's getting late, how about I buy you some ice cream before we call it a day?" Sakura offered and much to her surprise the kids did not show any excitement at the proposition of ice cream.

"I'll just go to sleep," Ena said, deflated.

"And I'll go home and think about how screwed I am," Akira said, "the entire clan will see me choke on smoke."

"Akira…" Akemi ran after him but not before giving Sakura a small bow.

Sakura and Ena exchanged a look.

"I guess, I'll head home too," Sakura said.

"Ah, Sakura-sama," she heard a male voice from behind her and watched as Ena jumped, turned around, and bowed, real low.

"Father," the girl said.

"Hiromi-sama," Sakura greeted.

"I take it your practice session went well?" the grey-haired man looked almost exactly like he did on the day of Sakura's party. His hair was tied back into a low ponytail that hung down his back and he was dressed in a traditional black Yukata, topped off with a white haori.

In response to his question Sakura watched Ena fidget. Given how nervous the normally composed girl seemed, Sakura half expected her to lie and say that everything was going great.

Instead the girl bowed her head even lower, "no, Outo-sama, we are not doing so well," she confessed in the same clear voice she normally used.

"I am sorry to hear that," he said, and his face actually softened as he looked between the obviously mortified girl and Sakura, "will you give up Ena?"

The girl's head shot up fast, "of course not, sir, I will persevere, I will be the best to ever do a fireball jutsu. By the time the competition comes around, I promise, I will make you proud."

Hiromi nodded slowly, "very well then," he said with a small smile.

It always threw Sakura off when Uchiha other than Shisui and Mikoto smiled. Not that Uchiha other than Shisui and Mikoto smiled that often or anything. But on the few occasions that it happened, it was like walking home and having your cat grin at you by way of a greeting. It just seemed unnatural.

"were you going off to bed?" Hiromi asked his now excited daughter.

"yes, father, I was just going to see Sakura-sama off first."

"That won't be necessary, Sakura-sama was not properly welcomed to our house. I cannot possibly have her leave here thinking that we are rude."

"Oh, no, Hiromi-sama, I don't think…" Sakura started.

"Please…" Hiromi interrupted, gesturing for her to walk ahead of him.

Nodding her goodbye to Ena who was apparently past her bedtime, Sakura walked off with the head of the largest branch family.

Her day just refused to end.

.

This man was Itachi's ally, she knew that.

And when he came to her house for the party, he was nothing but nice and polite to her.

Still, she thought it wise to be cautious anyways, for he was an Uchiha higher up and you never know with those people.

It was very difficult to be cautious around this man though, since something about his demeanor was refreshingly different from all the other Uchiha.

As the two of them walked through his forest-like back gardens he opened by saying, "on a scale from 1 to 10 Sakura-sama, how rude would you classify my wife?"

Sakura gawked at him and almost halted mid step. She couldn't fight back a small smile as she contemplated whether to answer truthfully and say 10 or to be diplomatic.

"let me guess, she's an 11, but you will say that she was perfectly pleasant because you do not wish to offend me," he said, smiling at her.

Sakura shrugged and he laughed.

"You know, in this family that's actually a much sought out quality," the man declared.

"curtness?" she asked before she could stop herself.

"They call it: respectability, knowing your own worth and value," Hiromi corrected. "When I was of marrying age I fell for this beautiful woman, she was of lower standing, an Uchiha from a small branch family who did not really stress good manners as much as my family does. I was young and innocent at the time, so I brought her to meet my father."

"And?" Sakura questioned.

"She made a huge mistake, Sakura-sama, a fatal one."

Had she been sitting Sakura would be on the edge of her seat. But she was walking so there was no risk of toppling off.

"She smiled at him and said, 'it is an honor and a privilege to meet you,' with honest eyes and an open demeanor, and my father was appalled."

"Appalled? but…"

"Sakura-sama, many people in this clan are morally opposed to smiles and overt displays of politeness. We are reservedly polite, curt almost, we do not compliment people and we barely smile at them. We teach our children to be reserved and closed off, we view this as a component of toughness. We don't believe that anyone would respect someone who is kind, gracious and full of smiles."

"That's very rough, what kind of life is that, especially for a child. Children need to be free to act according to their nature."

"Yes… rough indeed. Of course, we don't tell our children that overtly, we just punish them for stepping out of line and we lead by example. Whenever we see someone laughing out loud or being too friendly, we treat them like dirt and so our kids learn to do the same. In this clan if you do not act tough, you do not get respect."

Sakura was silent for a long moment letting what he said sink in. This went from a discussion of a former lover to clan's rules and mores in less than a second.

"That's why Hibari-sama does not like me," Sakura concluded.

The man nodded, obviously happy that she has caught on to his meaning, "at the party you gave her the biggest smile and shook her hand openly instead of standing back and giving her a reserved look. And today you got up when she first came in. My wife immediately associates that with weakness and so she feels like she is superior and hopes to show you that by establishing dominance."

"Hence the staring contest."

The man nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "She's great at that, is she not? Her stares are world class."

Sakura laughed before turning somber, "I don't want to be that way," she declared, "I don't want to be mean and reserved. I like being kind to people, I like joking and laughing and lending a helping hand when I could."

"I do too," Hiromi stated.

That didn't surprise Sakura.

"But if you choose not to follow the clan's unspoken rules about manners, you will have your work cut out for you. They will think you weak and you would have to prove yourself to every person you meet. You don't have to play by the rules of nobility Sakura-sama, but you must be willing to prove yourself. And when you meet someone who only responds to displays of dominance and haughty nobility, you need to be able to match them glare for glare."

Sakura nodded.

"I can do that."

"From what my wife told me, you've already done that," Hiromi said with a fatherly smile. "How about a drink?" he finished as they emerged onto a clearance where a table and some chairs were set up.

"Sure."

.

Sakura spent a surprisingly pleasant half an hour with Hiromi.

He struck her as the sagely uncle figure she did not know she needed.

He was calm and full of good stories.

He told her about the time his wife went to the elders to complain about him because he resisted her decision to move Eri into her own quarters at age 3.

He just thought the girl was too young and was told by almost everyone that he was spoiling the child and that he should leave all matters of raising her up to her mother and stand back.

He also told her of how much heat he took when he supported Itachi's decision to marry her. He did not care though, for he knew that this decision was for the best and that is what would benefit the clan most on the long term.

And then he regaled her with tales of Fugaku as a child. He told her that the man once went through a genjutsu test where they made it seem like he had the choice between either saving his mother or saving clan secrets from getting into the wrong hands. Fugaku was 9 at the time and he chose to sacrifice his mother for the clan.

The clan hailed him a hero, meanwhile Fugaku's mother wouldn't talk to him for a year.

Sakura laughed, and so did Hiromi and by the time she made to leave, he told her that she was doing an excellent job and contributing more to the clan's wellbeing than they ever expected. He told her that Itachi was very proud of her even if he won't say that to her face.

Sakura blushed and thanked him.

.

Her brief encounter with Hiromi gave her some idea as to why he was Itachi's go-to guy. He was a good and understanding ally to have.

Sakura was on her way out of Hiromi's house, ready to call it a day when she saw something… well, let's say it was rather peculiar.

Sakura squinted at the sight of a buxom blonde, in a tiny pink dress, trying desperately to climb up a tree next to Hiromi's house.

The woman had climbed almost halfway up the tree, obviously headed for a nearby window. She had gotten a foothold and was attempting to hoist herself up a branch when her foot slipped.

A high-pitched squeal ensued as she slid back down at a devastating speed.

She would have hit the ground if Sakura hadn't caught her in her arms.

"Oh," the woman said, blinking up at Sakura, "thank you, sir."

Sakura frowned as the woman's face lit up in realization.

"Are you a woman?"

She hadn't been asked that before.

"Sorry, sorry," the woman said with a booming laugh as Sakura set her on her feet, "it's just that catching someone in your arms is such a guy thing to do."

"I like to defy stereotypes," Sakura snickered, "and you're welcome by the way."

The woman laughed again, loudly, too loud almost, especially for someone who was just trying to sneak in.

She caught herself and stopped mid laugh.

"Thank you," she paused, "you handsome, strong, young lady, you," she added.

Sakura grinned, "that's better," she said, "now why are you trying to break into Hiromi-sama's house?"

Blue eyes blinked at her and Sakura couldn't help but notice that the front of the dress was just as skimpy as the back with a neckline that plunged so low, leaving almost nothing to the imagination, "who's Hiromo-sama?"

"Hiromi-sama, he's… never mind, why were you climbing up the tree?"

"Oh, I have been called here, someone offered me my weight in money if I stop by. She's a pain, but she's loaded, so I came over. She sent someone to get me and gave me the most complicated instructions to get here secretly. God, I hate her."

"Her?"

"Yeah, a stick in the mud… you know, looks like a porcelain doll… kinda a robot."

Sakura nodded, "you're here to see Eri-san."

"Maybe," the woman shrugged, "she said she can't come to me because her parents don't like her going out at night," she rolled her eyes mockingly, "the asshole is having me climb up a tree. After knocking me out, mind you. But she sent a big check, a huge check, and she promised to match it. Pride, doesn't put food on the table, you know."

"Sure."

"Wanna help me up the tree?" the woman asked with an inviting tilt of her head.

"Not really," Sakura smirked.

"What if I say please," she said sweetly.

"Flirting with me will get you nowhere."

"What if I pay you?"

"Not big on money," Sakura shrugged.

"Name your price," the woman ordered.

"I wanna sit in on your meeting with Eri. Even if she resists and asks me to leave, you have to insist on me staying," Sakura said with a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

"You got it," the woman agreed with ease. "My name is Honey, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Honey."

"Are you gonna carry me up the tree?" Honey questioned.

"I am afraid I must," Sakura answered.

"My knight in shining armor," the woman laughed.

.

If her never ending day needed something to top it off, it was a bizarre twist. And this was the most bizarre twist it could have possibly taken.

Sakura sat on Eri's bed, in Eri's huge room, being glared at by Eri who did not know who to direct her glares at: the grinning Sakura or Honey who was rummaging through her stuff and giving low whistles as she took everything in.

"And I thought I had it made," Honey said with a low whistle, "living in a hotel is one thing, but you really can't compete with nobility."

Eri glared harder and Sakura's grin grew to ridiculous proportions. Eri had given up on kicking Sakura out because Honey threatened to leave with her. And so, she had spent the last 5 minutes in her default setting, i.e. silently glaring.

Sakura contemplated rebooting her.

"You'll have to talk eventually," Sakura teased, "I am not going anywhere, and you obviously want something so bad that you invited Honey over."

"If you had any decency you would leave," Eri told Sakura.

"Nah, ran out of decency last night, I'm now 50% nosy, 45% curious and 5% ice-cream. I'll stock up on ice-cream on my way home… proceed…"

Eri gave her a murderous glare before shifting her attention to Honey.

"I need you to teach me specific seduction techniques."

Honey's long lashes fluttered in her direction, "huh?"

"Specific seduction techniques," Eri repeated.

"What…?"

"What do you not understand?"

"All of it."

"Your education failed you," Eri concluded/insulted.

"Education is for flat-chested women."

"Excuse me!" Sakura piped in, insulted, "what's wrong with flat-chested women?"

"Don't get me started…"

"Enough!" Eri interrupted, obviously too annoyed to activate her stoic-ness. "I need you to teach me how to seduce a specific man. I realized that general seduction techniques won't work on him and…" she paused, looking unsure for a second before she composed herself, "and I am not sure I can implement most of the seduction techniques I read about. So, I need you to teach me techniques that are specifically designed to entrap him."

"Right," Honey said, "what?"

Eri froze, obviously restraining her anger. Meanwhile Sakura's grin returned in full force.

"What makes you think she'd be able to design techniques that'll work on him?" Sakura questioned.

"Because she knows him, he spent last night in her room" Eri explained, "she's his…" she trailed off, "I am not sure. Possibly a lover," she shifted her attention to the obviously confused Honey, "you are one of his lovers, are you not?"

Honey's big blue eyes showed no comprehension, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Do you know Shisui?" Sakura questioned.

"Ah… Shi-kun… sure. He's the best," Honey replied.

"Are you sleeping with him?" Sakura asked again.

"Yeah… he's the best," Honey said, dropping her voice suggestively, and out of the corner of her eye, Sakura saw Eri stiffen.

"Alright, so Eri here…" Sakura trailed off, noticing that Honey was already confused.

"Who's Eri…?" Honey questioned.

"The porcelain doll," Sakura explained, "this one," she flung an arm across Eri's shoulders and enjoyed the way the girl bristled.

"Yeah, got ya."

"Well, Eri wants you to help her seduce Shisui."

"Ahhh," the woman said in realization, "is that what she's paying me for?"

"Yes," Sakura confirmed.

"I can do that," Honey said, nodding.

Eri turned towards Sakura, "how did you do that?"

"Do what?" Sakura asked.

"Get her to understand you."

"It's called communication skills."

"I read a book on that once," Eri said thoughtfully and Sakura resisted the urge to pat the poor girl's head.

"Ano…" Honey started, "not to get in my own way, but are you sure you need someone to teach you that?"

"I am sure."

"Women just know how to seduce, it's in our blood."

"My blood only contains hemoglobin," Eri said informatively and did not understand why Sakura laughed.

Honey gave her a pointed look, "I'd get it if you came to me about any other guy, but Shi-kun, I am sure he'd sleep with you if you just ask."

"He wouldn't."

"But he sleeps with everyone."

"Everyone but me. He is not even attracted to me. I want to attract him, show him that I am more than the child he first met. Can you do that?"

"You don't look like a child."

"I know that."

"Why do you think you're a child?" Honey asked.

"I don't think I am child. He still views me as…"

"Some men are into that, you know? Grown women acting like children… maybe you could try that. We need some ribbons for your hair and a miniskirt."

Eri turned to Sakura with a strained expression in her normally inexpressive eyes, "it's like we're speaking two different languages.

Sakura grinned, "I'll translate," she volunteered.

Eri nodded.

.

Sakura's night was way too long.

She sat through one miscommunication after another between the two women who really did seem like they were speaking two different languages.

And she helped broker the most bizarre agreement whereby Eri would spend a few days hanging out with Honey and her stripper/exotic dancer friends to help her figure out how to act: "more like a woman and less like a robot with boobs," Honey commented as Sakura walked her home.

Sakura had no idea how she got roped into walking her home, but, well, who cares, she lost all hope in getting any semblances of control over her life.

She did not even know what she would be doing tomorrow for the qualifiers, she had no plans.

"I mean, I get it, no man would wanna, ya know… with a robot… that'd be painful. Shi-kun is not picky, he likes all babes, but even he'd be scared of doing a robot."

Sakura nodded absently, the cool air, the brisk walk and Honey's incessant monologue, were giving her mind space to wander to thoughts about how screwed she was and how impossible it was to catch an Anbu.

"… that's what I'm gonna do, I'll soften her up, you know, make her a woman. Hanging out with the girls will do her good. She'll see how we talk to men and how much they like us. All men like us, you know, all of'em. I have never met a man who didn't want me," she laughed loudly before giving Sakura an annoyed look for not laughing along.

Sakura nodded, "yeah, all men like you, no man can resist, everyone…" she trailed off eyes focusing, "wait, men… men come to your club, Shisui spent the night with you, Shisui's a member of Anbu. Other members must come too, right… to your club?"

The woman shrugged, "I don't ask'em what they do, love," Honey said, "you know I don't even hang out with'em outside of the club. Shi-kun's an exception. I just play with them and leave'em begging for more, that's why they come along the next day… you're not even listening to me are you?"

Sakura wasn't, for her mind was reeling. For the first time since she was given this task, she actually had what could potentially become an inkling of a plan.

.

.

.

Sakura woke up with a silent mind which struck her as peculiar.

She was never calm when she woke up, for Inner Sakura always started chattering. She'd immediately fling thoughts at her, thoughts of the day ahead or the day she'd had, thoughts of things that she's done wrong or even thoughts of that time in the academy when she accidentally ate a piece of chalk.

It was a dare.

She thought it was candy.

She wasn't the brightest kid.

Let's move on.

Anyway, Inner always flung thoughts at her, whatever these thoughts may be. But today there was no Inner and there were no thoughts.

Sakura surveyed her mind.

*Inner?* she called.

Nothing.

*Inner?* she called louder.

Still nothing.

*Inner?!*

Her voice reverberated off the walls of her mind. Sakura had walls in her mind, how else would she compartmentalize the thoughts?

*Strange,* she thought, but she quickly remembered their argument and that Inner had quit being her Inner.

*Can she do that?* Sakura frowned in concentration. It seemed like she had done that, for Inner was nowhere to be found.

It took her a moment to digest the thought.

Once she did, Sakura gave a squeal of joy before jumping out of bed and doing a clumsy happy dance, "yes!" she screamed, "finally!"

"You have taken being a morning person to new levels," Itachi's voice sounded.

Sakura jumped, now realizing that he had been sitting in a chair next to the bed, with a cup in hand.

"What… what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? What are you doing?" The Uchiha intoned and Sakura remarked that he had his Anbu gear on.

"I mean what are you doing here?"

"I live here."

She gave him an unimpressed look.

"Why are you sitting by the bed, drinking coffee?"

"How do you know that this is coffee?"

"Itachi," she groaned. "Why are you sitting by the bed?"

"I was watching you."

"Watching me…?"

"Sleep," he declared.

"Sure," she paused, "why is that?"

"I am not sure," he said, and she could tell that it was an honest answer.

She blinked, "That's very creepy."

"I did not enjoy it, if it makes you feel any better," Itachi said.

"You didn't?"

"Sleeping people are boring to watch."

She frowned, "Itachi, are you trying to confuse me to death?"

"No," he said, "watching a dead person might be the only thing less entertaining."

She fought the desire to strangle him, "shouldn't you be hiding?"

He gave her a look.

"The Anbu qualifiers. People are going to come after you."

"It's 3 in the morning, Sakura, the qualifiers start at dawn."

Sakura blinked, "I thought it was morning already," she looked at the clock.

"The darkness should have been a clue."

"I always wake up when it's still dark out," she defended herself, "damn it, I am wasting precious sleep time just talking to you."

"I am very flattered."

"Well you said I'm boring when I sleep."

"You are."

"I'll try to be more engaging next time," she said getting back in bed and drawing the covers up.

"Please do."

She rolled her eyes, "are you gonna keep sitting there?"

"Yes."

"Just watching me sleep?"

"Yes."

"And drinking…"

"…herbal tea."

"That's a very sad drink. Maybe that's what's boring you."

"I am certain it's your sleeping," he said.

"Whatever," she said, nestling against the pillow, "you're very creepy just sitting there."

"Do you want me to join you in bed?"

"Nope, stay where you are, I need to sleep, I really need to sleep, I have a big day ahead."

"I agree, you need sleep."

She gave him a look, "oddly understanding of you."

"I am a reasonable man."

"Sure," she placated, "good night, Itachi."

"Good night."

And with that Sakura closed her eyes and Itachi continued to watch, not entertained.

Look who finally made good on her promise to post soon!

Alright, I'm done congratulating myself (no I'm not).

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I added the Itachi scene in the end after having realized that last chapter there was no Sakura and this one almost no Itachi. Those two kids have been running around all over the place.

Many thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter!

This one's for you 3

Please Review.