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“Who's this lady?" Naruto’s attempted to pluck the picture from Sasuke's fingers which jerked backwards abruptly. The two men stood in the foyer, solidifying their plans.

“What's the big deal? If you want me to run your errand, I’m going to need to hold it!" He reasoned, his palm faced towards the ceiling expectantly.

Sasuke stammered, embarrassed by his reflex. "Sorry, this picture is just really damaged and I'm just worried about making it worse." With reluctance, Sasuke slowly extended the photo for his manager to take hold of.

Naruto glanced at his friend, confused and nearly concerned for the man’s wellbeing. Sasuke always exuded confidence, erring more towards arrogant, and it was jarring to watch the idol move with a caution so gentle as if he were protecting something of value. A wave of nostalgia flooded the blonde’s senses, taking him back to a time when they were children and Sasuke acted with similar care with his brother’s necklace. His blonde brows twitched with a fleeting sadness he refused to pay mind.

"I know. Just promise to be careful for me, and once you're finished with the errands bring it back as is; It's important."

"I'm an organized person, Sasuke. How do you think I became your manager!”

“Nepotism, Naruto."

"Hey, at least I'm good at what I do."

"Is that what you tell yourself in your dreams when you fall asleep at your desk?”

Naruto gasped and went on to explain how his mattress had a weird lump in it and how Hinata had offered an afternoon pick-me-up (iced coffee) which perpetuated this cycle of sleeping late, getting up early, napping, 4pm coffee, repeat.

"But hey, why is this so special?” His fingers traced over the cracks of the paper.

Sasuke looked down at the floor and scratched his neck which wasn’t itchy in the first place, digging for an excuse that he hasn't used on Naruto yet.
"Look, just do what I told you, okay? But no matter what- Hey, look at me when I say this!" Sasuke poked Naruto’s chest until his blue eyes landed on his face. "Whatever you do, absolutely do not tell Sak-“

The front door flew open with a loud bang echoing throughout the lobby.

"Well speak of the devil." Naruto whispered as he quickly folded the picture and hid it in his back pocket. Sasuke watched quietly as Sakura crossed the doorway.

Sakura half thought she would have a moment to herself, but there Naruto was. No, wait, scratch that. Naruto and Sasuke. The flash of surprise in her eyes dulled, reducing into a gaze unfamiliar to Sasuke, something between disappointment and irritation but not as aggressive as contempt.
Naruto shot a small smile at the woman, the type that wants to acknowledge you from a distance, a ‘hey, I’m here even while you need your space.’ The blonde then turned to Sasuke with slotted eyes and walked the opposite direction.

On the other hand, Sasuke’s feet planted firmly in indecision, his brain willed him to rush out of the room while his gut wished him toward woman. To do what, he wasn’t sure. His pride was hurt and he knew Sakura was hurt, yet he was stubborn. A knot formed in his throat, a string of apologies and other words he could not get out.

Sakura stood there motionless, the tension in the room riding to a new height. For a moment, she wished he would berate her, order her, or something. Something to replace the silence. When Sasuke spoke it was somewhat tolerable, but the absence of it was unbearable. She searched his face for remorse, maybe not even remorse, a shred of literally anything that could show her that Sasuke wasn’t as bad as she thought him to be. A meager thread to pick at.

There was something there, may it be the slight downturn of his lips or softness around his eyes, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy her. Not when her values were on the line. She hummed in agitation. Figures.

It figured, everything Sakura had endured growing up, looking for a fresh start and now packing this on. The physical exhaustion and disappointment was beginning to wear on her. Her fire was still there, but today it dwindled.

She broke her stare and set out to her room. Her steps were clear, nearly deafening. The click of the heel followed by the flat tap of her sole, the cadence strong and consistent like a metronome. A melody of her own droning in the idol’s ears, her song dedicated to him telling him to fuck off.

If this were meant to provoke him, it worked. Each step registered louder than the one before and suddenly Sasuke became fidgety. The idol grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt and rubbed it at a slow pace, speeding up gradually as it became harder and harder for him to think.

Finally, he snapped.

“Sakura,” He called without turning towards Sakura.

The maid came to a halt.

"I-"

"Don't."

Sasuke felt his mouth dry with guilt, the only time he allowed an employee to give him an order. Except, Sakura wasn’t just an employee. She was a person. And he understood the pain of loss, of grief. Of living.

He thought for a moment, knowing he can't offer much in this moment but the comfort of solitude. So, he walked away.
______

Despite the horrendous start to her day, Sakura was eager to have the rest of it off by rejuvenating herself with what she needed most: sleep. Her stomach remained unfed for the day, to which she didn’t mind as her mood curbed her appetite.

The maid thought back to her interaction with Sasuke in the foyer, amused with how she handled him and pleasantly surprised by his subservient reaction.

“Don’t.“

Just one word, a representation of her emotional liberation.

Walking past the hole in the wall, Sakura never questioned it. When she walked into her room and noticed her closet door wide open, she never thought twice. As she walked by the cracked drawers of her desk, she simply kicked them closed.

Absentmindedly, she climbed onto the mattress, resting her pink head of hair on her favorite pillow. Sakura's limbs were spread out, like when she used to make snow angels with Ino as she stared blankly at the ceiling. A huge sigh released from between Sakura's perfectly shaped lips.

"Oh mom," She said out loud to her photo. Sakura's head turned slowly towards the stack of CD’s- the makeshift shrine. "What am I going to-"

Her body bolted upright shifting towards the spot where she last placed the photo. In a frenzy, Sakura fell off her bed and onto the floor. Quickly, she crawled up to the desk and popped up on her knees, her hands pushing, grabbing, turning items over on her desk in desperation. Her fingers danced frantically over the table top, under objects, inside of drawers, and soon the whole room was overturned, but still, no sign.

No, no, no. Where is she? Where is she! Her mind drew blank while her vision blurred. Silent tears rolled down her face for the second time today. Her hands combed through her hair, pushing it backwards away from her face, doing it again and again. She sunk to the floor, guttural cries raking through her body uncensored. She knew the walls were thick enough to conceal her pitiful outpour.

Regardless of the resolution she made to herself in the field, she needed to calm herself down. She needed comfort, immediately. And right now, there was only one accessible way to do this. She can start tomorrow, she needed him now.

With a quickened breath, Sakura reached for her iPod in pursuit of any help she could afford. She fumbled with the headphones, tangling them in the process until she ultimately pulled the cord, opting for the speaker.

A rich harmony flowed from the speakers nearly drowned out by Sakura’s cries, and invitation to release. The woman relinquished control of her body, allowing herself to wail into a pillow as her body shook violently. As she cried, the lyrics came into focus, louder, more pronounced than the beat itself. It was clear yet slightly muffled as she sunk her head deeper into the pillow.

The day wore at her like the ocean to sea cliffs, and she stayed this way until she tired shortly after.

As her breathing slowed, the workings of an impending headache rose. Sakura’s tears dried gradually, too, same with her running nose. The woman curled up on the floor and wiped her damp face with a blanket that fell to the floor with her earlier. Her eyes became swollen and heavy, shutting for what was intended as a brief moment.

_________

"Serenading to your lover, Sasuke?" Shikamaru smirked noticing the idol who was propped against Sakura's door.

"N-No!" Sasuke lashed out then cupped his hand over mouth, realizing Sakura was still inside.

“Shikamaru, you are gravely mistaken,” He whispered, careful to tip-toe away from the door and towards the smug man. “Just because I don’t like her doesn’t mean I can’t pity her.”

Shikamaru side eyed Sasuke from where he rested his back against the wall, arms crossed over his chest and leg propped. ”Uh-huh,“ He said flatly. ”So all of a sudden now you feel pity for the pretty girl.”

“So what?” Sasuke was still whispering.

"Ah, Sasuke. Denial is but the first phase, but don't worry, you'll feel it for yourself soon enough.”

The statement was cryptic, confusing to the idol. What the hell was he talking about?

"Don't push my buttons!" Sasuke raised his voice again, and Shikamaru shushed him with a calm demeanor, a reminder of their presence. The idol shrugged and looked away for a moment in consideration, a thought materializing in his mind before leaning towards Shikamaru again, "Look, don't go running your mouth about what you just saw." A demand softened by the embarrassment of being caught.

The butler pushed off the wall with his foot and a slight grin, clearly entertained by the idea of Sasuke pleading to keep a secret.

"Did you hear me?" The intensity of panic lacing the idol’s whisper.

Shikamaru turned away, waving his hand in the air as he walked off. “Secrets are such a drag to keep.”

A puff of air escaped through Sasuke’s lips in relief. He knew Shikamaru long enough to know it was his way of saying ‘sure thing.’ Reassured, Sasuke glanced at Sakura’s doorframe once more before taking his leave to find Naruto.
__________

Shikamaru moseyed through the mansion with his hands shoved in his pockets. It was a part of his job as the head butler to check in on the rest of the staff and ensure their chores were completed in a timely manner. Naruto insisted he carry a clipboard during these surveys but Shikamaru found it tedious when his memory served him well enough, so he didn’t. Lazily, the man progressed through each room in the house from top to bottom, nodding to each staff member in approval when on track and redirecting others when not.

The living room was always last for inspection and today was no different. Passing by the entryway he looked out into the living room where he spotted Karin vacuuming the carpets.

Perfect. Just as planned.

Quietly, he jogged up stairs and looked over his shoulder with caution, particularly to ensure Karin didn’t trail. At the top of the stairs, he started for Sasuke’s old bedroom.

Closing the door behind him, he was welcomed by a few chosen members of his staff- At least the ones Temari demanded be there. She held a particular power over Shikamaru, only a small part of it ruled by intimidation.

Ten-Ten, Rock Lee and Hinata awaited eagerly while Temari appeared expectant. Neji and Sai sat off to the side. Neji’s patience often confused with disinterest while Sai probably geared towards indifference.

It was deafeningly quiet awaiting Shikamaru’s verdict. Moments later, he gave a single nod which prompted the girls to contain their squeals, looking thrilled to pieces.

"Right, right, I was right! He really was singing to Sakura!" Ten-Ten sang as she bobbed her body from side to side happily.

“Knowing those two personalities, we will be dead before anything happens between them. They’re too stubborn.” Temari stated.

“Well,” Rock Lee began, “Why don’t we help speed up the process?” A mischievous smile spread contagiously from him, then to Temari, then to Ten-Ten.

A plan brewed in Temari’s mind. "I have something that will drive those two crazy. You all make sure you eat a lot of fiber okay-"

"Did you guys start the meeting without me?" Karin called from the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest and her cheeks puffed with irritation.

The group looked to Temari who was the last to speak.

"Yeah, we all had nothing new to say, so I was educating them on the importance of fiber and-“

"Okay, I don't care. If you guys aren't talking shit, I’m leaving.” Karin snapped and rolled her eyes. With a turn of her heel, she left downstairs.

Temari only laughed to herself, "I was getting to that."
__________

The Next Day

Sakura awoke to the chiming of her alarm, her usually bright eyes parted slightly with the haziness of slumber still lingering. She shifted from her position and felt a deep twinge in her back, most likely due to falling asleep on the carpeted floor. While it was was better than sleeping directly on hardwood, it wasn’t a bed. It seemed the night exhausted her of the energy she wished to store.

Sakura's will to move was weak; It would have been easy for her to fall back asleep if it weren't for the incessant ringing of her alarm. Her hand searched for her phone between the folds of the blanket and tapped the screen until the noise subsided.

She whined faintly, the soreness of her back easing with movement as she propped herself up into a sitting position and stretched upward. Upright now, she managed to reach her wardrobe and pull her uniform while rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Mind half awake, she tried to remember yesterday. What happened yesterday?

Sakura stopped in the middle of zipping her dress when it hit: She lost the only photo of her mother she had. A tight bind squeezed her chest like a boa constrictor does its prey; The snake: cruel fate. The prey: Sakura.

She reassured herself with faltering confidence, thinking she would find it soon. It was simply misplaced, and misplaced things always find their way back somehow. Fresh tears welled in her eyes but she refused to allow them to fall. She couldn’t allow Sasuke to sense her vulnerability.

So, there she was, hand on the doorknob, hair brushed, concealer disguised dark circles and a wavering smile.
_________

"Driver, please drive me to the nearest photocopy shop." Naruto requested as he buckled himself in the backseat. The broad shouldered man nodded his head, the blond watching as he tapped the screen on the car's navigation system. A few clicks later, the man asked in a deep voice, "The nearest one's are in the middle of the city, but there’s a huge traffic jam. Do you mind me taking you across town where it's less busy?"

“Sure, as long as we get there." Naruto reached into the large yellow envelope to ensure he had all he needed.

Twenty minutes later they arrived at their destination. Naruto thanked the driver and told him he would be out in a moment. Without hesitation, the man opened the door and stepped into a shop buzzing with active copy machines, printers, and photocopiers. The owner of the store greeted him a good morning and a smile, then disappeared behind a curtain.

Choosing a random station, Naruto opened the top of the scanner and rummaged through the folder which contained a mix of documents and a picture.

Damn, I need to be more organized. He thought as he finally took purchase on the photo.

Wasting no time, he flipped the woman face down and shut the top. A green laser traversed the photo steadily from left to right under the hood of the machine. Naruto nodded with approval when the replica of the picture slowly printed from the opposite side. He stood there looking down at the paper inching out, each time with a new line of print. With the first half of the photo copied, Naruto's smile wilted noticing how the rips and tears translated.

What a shame that this can't be fixed though.

As he waited for the rest of the picture to finish printing, the owner of the store returned with a bowl of what smelled like instant ramen. The aroma seeped into Naruto's nose welcoming him like an old friend. Naruto closed his eyes savoring the smell of freshly cut green onions sinking into miso broth.

"Would you like a bowl?" The middle aged man in a blue sweater offered, holding out his chopsticks in offering.

Naruto was caught off guard with his kindness, "Oh, no thank you. I don't really have the time to stay. I appreciate your offer though." He smiled through the wrenching in his stomach.

The man simply nodded his head, "Then I hope you have a nice day. Bundle up, because the weather is changing today!" He advised and once again, disappeared behind the curtain.

Naruto raised a brow, trying to recall what the weather forecast had been for that morning. In thought, he heard exactly three beeps from the copier. He looked down at the finished copy with a happy smile, and stored it away in his folder.

It was early in the morning, and the sun's rays began to warm the chilly air as it peeked out from a mound of dark clouds. With nothing else on his mind except the next errand, weather, and a steaming bowl ramen, Naruto left the store.
______

“Naruto?” Sasuke asked almost shyly as he peered into the office, observing the blond taking off his jacket and hanging it on a nearby coat rack.

“Hm? Oh,” Naruto craned his neck towards the source, noticing Sasuke standing at the door to his office awkwardly. It was a rare sight to see his best friend act sheepishly like a little boy tugging on his mother’s sleeve.

The manila folder settled on the man’s desk with a soft slap, ”It's right in here."

Sasuke's eyes brightened at the sight of the folder and took care to shut the office door behind him for privacy.

"Thank you, Naruto. What about the frame?" His eyes searched the cluttered desk.

Naruto sat in his chair and opened the middle drawer of his desk, producing a picture frame and setting it on the table for Sasuke to see. The frame border was white wood, tiny pink blossoms bloomed in each corners save for the bottom right which instead sported an engraving of golden letters reading: In memory of Tsunade Senju-Haruno: Princess of Dance

Sasuke squinted at the engraving, “Princess of Dance? Where did that come from?" He asked curiously. If she was famous, Sasuke had never heard of her before.

Naruto turned to his computer and typed the name into the search bar, his fingers working quickly. ”When you asked me to look into her, I found a lot of information. Apparently, she was a very successful dancer and earned that nickname early on in her career." Naruto explained, turning the monitor towards Sasuke who leaned over with interest.

“It says here, at the rise of her career she passed away in a car accident, her husband was driving.” The blond drew a shallow breath, scrolling down the article. “Sakura was in the car, too.” The article revealed an old candid photo, Sakura, who couldn’t have been more than three years old, in a pink tutu laughing in her mother’s arms.

Sasuke's face dropped as he pried his eyes from the screen in shame. He turned from the desk and ran a hand through his black locks, something he always did when he was in turmoil. He couldn’t help but wonder why he felt so ashamed of himself, why this was so painful. For years he never worried about what others thought of him. For years he had gone on acting in his own best interest and never batted a lash. Why was this different?

His eyes shut tightly, yet the image of a younger, happier Sakura remained ingrained in the darkness of his mind.

Sasuke flipped around and reached for the manila folder and pulled the copied photograph. He aligned the photo to the edge of the frame and secured it in place.

“Does it look okay?” He asked earnestly, holding up the completed product for his friend to see.

Naruto smiled and nodded in agreement. "It's nice to see you act like a decent human. I wonder what changed you." The manager raised a knowing eyebrow.

The idol scoffed, his faced tinting pink in the process. “Literally nothing. Now excuse me, I need to go take this to that stupid maid’s room before she sees.”

“Maybe you should wait until she’s there so you can sing to her, too.”

Sasuke froze. Shikamaru.

As he walked to the opposite side of the house, the brooding man thought of the different ways he could murder Shikamaru and make it look like an accident. He watched enough True Crime on the tour bus to know how to dispose of a body.

Reaching the front of Sakura's door, Sasuke rested his ear against the wood to listen for movement. After seconds passed, Sasuke twisted the knob gently and scanned the room. Clothing, sheets, pillows, and other objects littered the room in what he guessed was was a result of her frantic search for the photo. His hand gripped the frame, a part of him feeling he made things worse despite his wish to do something good for the woman. He couldn’t help but try reasoning, an attempt to convince himself that he was doing something right.

Sasuke pulled the stand from the back of the frame and positioned it in front of the classical music CDs just as it was before. He stepped back to admire the woman once more and apologize to her in the privacy of his mind. A warm sensation tingled in the man’s chest, absentmindedly tracing the pink flowers of the frame with his finger until he heard her.

"What are you doing?"