Short chapter this month. ._. Sorry about that, but this month has been a bit much. Also, for once chapters have names! You'll notice it's just "Arc 1, Chapter" whatever, that's more just to let you know what arc we're in. There will be 4 in total, but no set number of chapters per arc. Anyway! More in the AN at the bottom.

Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO.

Things were ungodly boring without her cousin's around. Winter break ended a few day's ago, calling back both Karin and Tayuya to classes and leaving Sakura alone. Sakura had been told not to return to school for the time being for her health, and the impending court date. The school had claimed they wanted her to worry about that and her grades, Sakura felt like it was more because they didn't want her back. After all, one of their teachers were arrested because of her.

Fuyuka was a reasonably busy woman, so she wasn't home too horribly often. She had friends she visited, and what would have normally been only one-hour visits quickly would turn into five-hour ones. Sakura didn't mind too much at first.

Several days after moving in with her grandmother and cousin's, Sakura had gotten Acute Bronchitis, keeping her in bed hacking up a lung. Though it could have been worse, she could have ended up hospitalized. Letting out a tried sigh, Sakura stood from her new bed. She had yet to get the frame put together and under her mattress, but for the time being she liked how her bed was set up.

She and Karin shared the closet, she had a small dresser in the corner by the foot of her bed, and a shelf in the bathroom closet for her hair products. Life was going reasonably well. She had yet to really speak to Mebuki, but she guessed it couldn't be helped.

Detox was hitting the blonde hard she had heard, keeping her awake all night and vomiting everything she tried to ingest. Madara was pleased with her progress though, both of theirs. Sakura had kept in close contact with Itachi's uncle since the incident at her house last week. He had informed her the day before yesterday she'd need to go talk to a judge soon, and it sent the pinkette's nerves into a frenzy.

She needed new, nicer close for that meeting, and she was hesitant on letting her grandmother spend anymore money then she had already spent on her. Maybe she could make do with something from Karin? Sakura let out an agitated groan, running hands through her matted greasy hair with a grimace.

Even though she showered just yesterday, with her recovering still she was sweating a lot through the night, leaving her hair nasty in her opinion. Meaning Sakura needed to take a shower, and quickly. The guys had sent her a message around noon stating they'd stop by with homework for her. Making her way towards her shared closet, Sakura gathered up some comfortable clothes before making her way into the bathroom. If she put it off any longer, the guys would show up before she was done getting cleaned.

Closing the bathroom door, Sakura dropped her pile of clothes onto the sink. Once sure she had a towel, Sakura twisted the handles until water sprayed from the tub facet, waiting a moment for the water to heat before pulling the plunger to activate the shower head. Letting out a tired sigh, Sakura undressed, piling her clothes into a ball next to the sink.

Once in the shower, Sakura closed her eyes, willing her sore body to relax. Things were just too stressful, she wasn't getting the best sleep because of it. She'd lay awake most of the night with her eyes closed, trying to envision what the next day would bring. Would her mother end up getting arrested? Would Tetsu walk free? Would Sakura herself get arrested and thrown into the system upon release, if she was even released?

"God I just want this to end…"

Sakura groaned as she spoke, laying her head back into the water stream. Shaking her head, Sakura went about washing herself. Thankfully relaxing as she washed her body and washed her hair. At first her hair had rebelled against all the new products used on it, but it seemed to be doing better now that she had given it a little time. She tried to shower every day even while sick.

Once finished, Sakura turned off the shower and grabbed a fluffy towel, rubbing the soft fabric against her wet hair and body. Once dressed Sakura could hear the front door open, knowing it'd be Tayuya. The young pinkette's school was a bit closer then Sakura's, meaning she didn't have much time before the other's arrived. Making sure everything was picked up, Sakura exited the bathroom, tossing her dirty clothes into the laundry room for later.

"You look better." Sakura turned, Tayuya tossing her bag into her room as she watched her older cousin.

"Mm, still feel gross. Where's Karin?"

The young girl shrugged, making Sakura frown. Karin would more then likely be with her boyfriend. Sakura still didn't know how she should feel about Ryu, he seemed well behaved enough with Fuyuka around. But something about him just set her on edge. Probably the fact he was just older, and rather reserved.

Sighing, Sakura walked forward towards the living room, intent on making some tea. "How was school?"

"Boring. Homework's done already."

Tayuya plopped onto a stool as she spoke, watching as Sakura begun boiling a pot of water on the stove. Sakura let out a hum of acknowledgment to what Tayuya had said, reaching into a cupboard to pull out two cups. Setting one if front of the younger pinkette, Sakura handed her a flavored tea packet, the kind she knew the younger girl liked.

"I have a feeling I'm going to have to help Karin with her's again…"

"Why not just let her fail?" Sakura made a face at Tayuya's question, digging through the tea drawer for something she wanted.

"Because you know Karin will make life a living hell if I let her fail."

Tayuya shrugged, supposing that was true. "So are the dweebs coming by still?"

"Yes, my friends are still coming by."

Tayuya pouted at the news, ignoring the disproving look from her cousin at her nickname for the guy's. To the young girl, all of them were deweebs, mostly that Deidara and Hidan.

"Well, I guess I'll go hide away then till baa-chan comes home."

Watching as Tayuya shrugged her shoulders, Sakura frowned in confusion. "You don't have to hide in your room you know…"

"I'd sooner hide away being bored then watch you spend time with your boyfriends."

It took Sakura a moment before Tayuya's words sunk in fully. Body tensing as her face flushed hotly. Sakura had hoped Tayuya meant it the same way girls will refer to their female friends as girlfriends. But judging by the barely visible grin, that is not how the younger girl meant it.

"Wh-what the hell!? T-Tayuya-chan no they are not-"

"Oh come on." Tayuya's eyes rolled as Sakura flustered. "You can try to deny it all you want, but you got a thing for them."

"I do not!"

Sakura's face went dark, stomping her foot for good measure in hopes of getting Tayuya to understand she had the older pinkette's feeling totally wrong. Dark pink brows furrowed, brown eyes thinning as she eyed the panicking girl in front of her. Did she have it wrong?

Karin was blind to this kind of thing, somewhat literally. But Tayuya had a weird knack of knowing when someone liked someone else. Tayuya remained quiet as the older girl fumed, watching as Sakura rambled about how it was wrong to make such assumptions.

"Alright alright! I get it, you don't have a crush on the group…"

"Right!" Sakura nodded as she placed her hands on her hips, huffing annoyedly. How dare Tayuya?

"Then…Perhaps only one of them?"

"Mhm, ri-eh?"

Sakura froze mid nod, eyes snapping open to stare at her younger cousin in shock. A grin slid across Tayuya's face, brown eyes twinkling as she watched the older girl.

"Ahh, so you do then?" Tayuya watched in amusement as Sakura's brain practically fried before her.

Raising her hands as her face grew red, Sakura attempted to stutter out any form of denial. What in the hell suddenly got into her!? There was a knock on the door as the tea kettle behind her whistled loudly, pulling a startled yelp from her as she jumped.

"I think your friends are here, Sakura-nee." Tayuya's voice was sing songy as she spoke, a cold chill crawling up Sakura's spine. The little devil had something planned!

"Go to your room you heathen!"

"Aww, but Sakura-nee, I need to get my drink and a snack first." Standing, Tayuya made her way around the counter, giving her older cousin a soft push towards the living room.

"You should let them in, one of them is a bit frail right?"

Sakura flushed at Tayuya's words, jumping as another knock sounded loudly from the front door. Grumbling at the pat on her back, Sakura stomped her way forward, growling at the small giggle from the kitchen. Tayuya was going to have fun today. Perhaps if she watched the group interact today, she'd be able to get a hint as to who it was Sakura liked.

"Good morning Mebuki-san! As lovely as ever I see-"

Madara's voice cut off as a pair of forest green eyes thinned on him, and growl leaving the blonde's throat as her lip twitched. 'Ahh, today is a bad day then!' He gave a nervous chuckle as he rubbed at the back of his head. He had been visiting the woman in the hospital off and on for the past two weeks, going over court details the whole time.

Sakura had warned him to watch out, that she didn't get her temper from just her sweet old baa-chan. 'This family is a bunch of spit fires.' Clearing his throat, Madara sat himself down in an empty chair reserved for him, setting his brief case next down as the blonde kept her gaze trained on him. The worst of her detox had past, but she was still rather ill from what the doctors said, understandably.

"What do you want today…" Mebuki's voice sounded as if she had swallowed a cup full of razor blades. Perhaps she had caught something from another patient?

"Just to talk a little more. We finished everything needed for your plea deal last time I was here, and things seem to be going well with that." A nod from her as Madara spoke. "Sakura's court date is coming up."

A scowl crossed Mebuki's face. Letting out a tired sigh as she leaned back against a pillow with crossed arms, Mebuki's eyes closed as she growled again. It hurt to do so, but she didn't know what else to do.

"What do you want Madara-san."

She sounded annoyed, and she more then likely was considering how she looked. Madara's shoulders raised as he shrugged, leaning forward and lacing fingers together as his arms rested on his knees.

"Your ex-husband will be there. I had wanted to know if you wanted to be there as well, or if you wanted to at least see it."

Mebuki's eyes opened as she frowned deeply. He wanted to know if she wanted to be there? Why? 'Probably so you can hear how awful of a mother she thinks you are.' Teeth bit into her lip harshly at the thought, head turning away so Madara couldn't see.

This is why she was never sober; she couldn't handle it. She had battled thoughts like these, at times worse, since she was young. The doctor she had been told to see, a therapist, had told her it could have to do with how she had been raised. 'What does she know!?' Releasing an aggravated sigh, Mebuki ran a hand through her hair, wincing as her fingers snagged on a few nasty knots.

"She won't want me there. Plus, I'm not allowed to leave." Pulling her hand free with a hiss, Mebuki's hand waved about her room.

Until she was doing better, she wasn't to leave the hospital. And after that, once everything was handled with her own case, she'd be going straight to rehab. Madara didn't speak, only watched the blonde huff as she refused to still look in his direction. While Physiatry was not his main forte, he was well versed in it. He had gone through her doctors notes just so he could keep up to date on everything going on with her.

"I wouldn't be so sure Mebuki-san…" Tilting his head, Madara leaned back as he crossed his legs. "I think the only reason why that would be true, is because she doesn't want to disappoint you."

The corners of her mouth twitched downwards, eyes thinning on a scuff mark on her white wall next to her. Sakura not wanting to disappoint her? Mebuki almost wanted to laugh. Sakura didn't care much of what she thought and thought very little of her. And who'd blame the girl? 'You'd sooner get high then deal with her.' Mebuki clicked her tongue, a silent demand for the voice to fuck off.

She didn't hear voices per say, not how it really came off anyway. It was her own voice, her inner mind eating away at her whenever she happened to feel remotely good about herself. There had only been two points in her life she hadn't heard it. The first, after she had found out she was pregnant and had told Kizashi.

She had been terrified of his reaction and understood the fact that he may not want to keep the child, may even ask her to terminate. The thought had made Mebuki vomit on the spot. She was against abortion, but not in the normal sense. If someone wanted to have one, so be it, that was their choice. But she didn't think, knew, she wouldn't be able to go through with one. She was scared to be a mother yes, but she didn't want to do that to the poor thing.

It was Mebuki's fault along with Kizashi's, not it's. But Kizashi had surprised her when she told him. His arms had flown around her, lifting her by the waist and spinning in circles laughing. He had quickly sat her down when she grew nauseous, then franticly worried if he had squeezed her waist too hard. Neither were ready to be parents, but after finding out and talking about it, they couldn't be more excited.

The excitement had lasted for a few weeks until Mebuki told her parents. They had demanded that she "take care" of the issue immediately. She had almost relented as well, if not for Kizashi squeezing her hand tightly "I'll do whatever you want to do." He had sounded sincere, but the look in his eyes told her that the thought crushed him.

She had stood up to her parents, telling them off. And they abandoned her. Cut funding for her classes and cut her from the rest of her family that she cared deeply for. It had destroyed Mebuki having that happen, and it took months for her to even slightly get over it.

Shaking her head with a sigh, Mebuki finally looked over to Madara. He couldn't have been here for more then ten minutes considering she hadn't been called to lunch yet, but it felt like hours had past. She was getting lost in her own mind again.

"Is this all you wanted out of this?" Madara heaved a sigh as his shoulders dropped, nodding reluctantly as Mebuki huffed. "Then go, it'll be lunch soon…"

She turned her head away again, Madara knowing already that the woman wouldn't say more. Placing his hands against his knees, he stood with a light grunt, retrieving his briefcase from the ground.

"Very well…Have a good day Mebuki-san."

Sure enough, she remained silent, not turning her head to watch as he walked from her room. Closing her door with a soft click, he let a groan leave him, form hunching ever so slightly. The nurses' station wasn't far away, and the few nurses there gave him sympathetic looks. Mebuki wasn't a difficult patient, but she wasn't an easy one by any means.

Sending a wave to those at the station, the Uchiha made his way out of the psych ward, hand entering his pocket as he toyed with his keys. It didn't take him long to exit the building, but the walk back to his Jeep was longer, and chilly. The snow from the blizzard a few weeks back had mostly melted, he was starting to get tired of seeing white already.

Pressing the unlock button on his keys, the lights to his Jeep flashed, a slumped form in his passenger seat jumping as the vehicle unlocked. Opening his door and sliding into his seat, Madara handed his briefcase to the side, pale hands reaching out and taking it.

"You really weren't in there long…"

"I told you I wouldn't. But do you ever listen to what I say? No…" Madara's voice was bland sounding as he closed the door, buckling in as the briefcase was set down in the floor of the passenger side, black eyes watching the older man.

"I do listen, I just choose to ignore what you say, otou-san."

"Shut up Sai…"

They were getting nowhere it seemed. Tetsu was clamming up harder then Fugaku had thought possible. What had started off as drug possession and domestic abuse, had seemed to go far deeper then Fugaku thought possible. They just needed Tetsu to open his mouth so they could find out how deep everything went.

Running a hand over his face, Fugaku watched in silence as one of his men tried to crack the bruised man. Yahiko was an amazing officer, and an even more amazing interrogator. It was like he didn't have to try; a few smooth words and their suspect was spilling secrets going as far back as childhood. It was insane. But it wasn't working with Tetsu.

"We know you have a supplier; you're not the kind of guy that has his hands this deep into the drug scene." Yahiko tried again, talking reassuringly to hopefully calm Tetsu's frayed nerves. "Your lawyer has spoken to you about the plea deal."

Motioning to the woman sitting next to Tetsu, Fugaku let out an annoyed grunt from his place behind the two-way mirror at Yahiko's words. Fugaku hadn't been pleased with the deal, but couldn't say no.

"What's the point of the deal if I wined-up dead? You have no idea who your dealing with…"

His hands shook as he fiddled with the cuffs around his wrists. Yahiko sighed, sitting back in his chair and looking to the lawyer as she shrugged. Everything was going great the other day…

"Listen…We just need names, or you will be put away for a very, very long time."

Fugaku's finger tapped against his bicep, knowing he was getting looks from the other's in the observation room. While he very much wanted Tetsu to pay, he was going to follow the rules and let the deal go through if Tetsu gave them the information they wanted. But he was going to bitch the whole time.

"Are you worried about the car?" Fugaku only nodded as one of his men spoke next to him, eyes never leaving the three.

"There's a reason Tetsu is terrified, and I want to know what it is. What he's forced Sakura into."

"I'm amazed you haven't forced your way in there yourself to deal with him, ototou."

Turning finally, Fugaku glared at his older brother, Madara muttering a quick hello to the other's in the room. Fugaku didn't know currently what time it was, but he knew for a fact it was later then what his brother said it would be when he stopped by. What in the world had Madara been doing?

"Your late."

"Aa, got some food on the way over." Lifting a bag of Chinese, Fugaku narrowed his eyes at what his brother held.

Sure enough it was Chinese, it smelled absolutely amazing, Fugaku had skipped breakfast this morning. Sighing after a moment, Fugaku stalked forward, brushing past and into the hallway.

"If you got shrimp again-"

"It's chicken. I don't always get the two of you confused you know."

Madara gave a pout after his brother, following as he shifted his grip on the paper bag. Fugaku didn't answer as he led his brother to his office, opening the door and seeing his nephew Sai sitting in a chair in front of his desk already eating. Lifting his hand in greeting as Sai did, Fugaku fell back into his chair with a heavy sigh.

"You say that, yet you've constantly confused our names…"

"Are you talking about oji-san?" Sai spoke around a mouth full of broccoli, swallowing it down as his uncle gave a nod. "I haven't heard from him recently…"

"None of us have."

Madara sighed as he sat down next to his son, taking his and Fugaku's food from the bag. Once taking the styrofoam box from Madara and peeking inside, Fugaku frowned deeply. Even Madara hasn't seen him?

"The last time I saw him was after Itachi was diagnosed and had an attack…Has he been gone for that long?" Looking to his brother, Madara gave him a sad look.

That day had been absolute hell for everyone. Fugaku had wanted to apologize countless times but had no idea how to do it. It didn't help every time Fugaku had gone to talk with his brother something would come up last second.

"I talked to him maybe four years ago…He was getting bad again." That isn't good. If their little brother was having difficulty separating reality from imagination, he could be a danger to himself and other's.

"Madara…"

"Please don't Fuga." Madara shook his head as he opened his food, sighing deeply. "I know what it means, better then you think. If I knew where Obito was, I'd do something myself."

Fugaku stayed quiet, watching his brother and nephew eat their food in silence. Letting out a sigh, Fugaku dug into his food, knowing his older brother wanted to end the conversation. The youngest of them, Obito, was a touchy subject for their whole family.

Obito had always been a handful as a kid, making even Madara seem like a good well-behaved child. Yet he had also been the one to show an insane amount of promise. Madara and Fugaku both always had good grades as kids, but Obito's were higher. They figured his acting out was good for him, so would often take the fall for the boy. "If he spends all day studying and keeping his head down, he's going to explode." It was just Obito's temperament, smart but wild.

"Perhaps I can try to find him, try to apologize…"

Madara gave a nod as Fugaku sighed, chewing his food as he watched his little brother poke at his own. His baby brothers were so close when they were young, it was a shame the two grew apart once Obito had been diagnosed. Madara hoped things could be fixed between the two. Not just for the sake of being able to finally sleep without worrying if he'd get a call one night telling him that Obito ended up killed, but because Itachi had been close to the man before the family cut ties with him.

"Why do I feel like your cousin trying her hardest to make you mad?" Sasori's voice was soft as he spoke, wanting to avoid the younger pinkette's attention as much as possible.

It had been hard to miss honestly. She usually avoided the group when they came over, letting everyone hang out without bugging them too much. Just a small complaint here or there if they happened to get a bit loud. But today? She wouldn't leave the living room, and if she did, she strayed no further then the kitchen, brown eyes eyeing the group.

Was she mad about something? Deidara instantly worried his and Itachi's brothers did something to upset her and seeing as they were there and not their brother's, she was eyeing the group and thinking of ways to enact revenge upon them.

"If she starts bothering you feel free to kill her would ya?"

The group blinked, looking to Sakura as she glared down at her notes. Was she serious?

"I feel like we missed something…" Deidara nodded at Kisame's words, Hidan scratching the back of his head as a soft "Rude" left Tayuya in the kitchen.

"I'm just teasing Sakura-nee."

"You can go away now!"

Tayuya grinned as her cousin hunched forward over her notebook, grumbling to herself as she scribbled away. Ok so maybe Tayuya was being a bit mean, but Sakura was making it a tad too easy. All the younger girl had to say was at least she wasn't doing this around Karin.

"So mean Sakura-nee." Tayuya stuck out her bottom lip in a mock pout, grinning as green eyes turned to her in slight concern. Even while being teased, the older girl didn't want to hurt Tayuya's feelings. "I'm going to my room now."

Sticking her tongue out at Sakura, the older girl gave a huff. Sakura watched the younger girl leave, eyes thinning as she watched from behind a curtain of light pink hair. She was half expecting a comment from the girl but was thankful when none came.

While Tayuya and Karin were sister's, they were thankfully different in the aspect Tayuya knew when to stop her teasing's. Letting out a tiered sigh, Sakura looked back to her history notes. She was done, but she wanted to read them over to make sure she had everything written properly.

"I take it things have been a bit stressful recently?" Sakura hummed at Kisame's question, setting her notebook to the side finally.

"I'm not sure if stressful is the right word, but god does it feel like it is…Karin's way nosier then I remember her being. Tayuya-chan isn't usually so bad but…God I don't know."

Her shoulders dropped as she groaned, the other's chuckling lightly at the look on her face.

"Living with chicks is rough huh?" Kisame grinned as Sakura's head bobbed up and down, a whine leaving her as she slouched. He knew what she was feeling, he lived with his mom, aunt and female cousins after all. "It'll get better once you get used to each other."

"God fish face, you make it seem like their dogs…" Kisame's eyes rolled at Hidan's words. Course he'd think of it that way.

"Well to be fair, a female dog is a bitch. And I don't know if your aware Hidan, most women are bitches."

Itachi choked, sputtering as he banged on his chest to clear his airway of tea, Sakura's comment catching him off guard.

"I take it you could use some time away from your cousins then?" Sasori chuckled as he spoke, Hidan attempting to hold in his hysterical laughter as Deidara shook with his own.

A pout covered the pinkette's face as she gave an almost shy nod. She didn't want to straight out ask, but she was going nuts. She had been sick so it would have to wait a tad longer, but she was feeling better, so she was incredibly hopeful she could have a day to hang out with her friends.

"I would say my place is open, but we just got a mutt. He's a bit much to handle right now, and I think kaa-san would kill me if I had anyone over right now un." The guys grimaced at Deidara's mention of a new dog, that hadn't ended well the last time they had a pet with teeth.

"I'm just gonna say we're going to my place, that way my dad can give you some pointers for your hell hound…"

Hidan gave Deidara a flat look as he spoke, Sasori sniggering behind his book. More like have Hidan's dad stare at the blonde in horror and adopt the dog for the next week to train it. They knew it was going to happen, why avoid the inevitable?

"Are you sure, I've been sick…" Sakura frowned, Hidan's shoulders raising and falling in a shrug.

"As long as you're not contagious my mom should be fine. It'll have to wait for the weekend anyway, so you'll be better by then."

Sakura tried not to wilt at the fact she had to wait a couple more days to be free of her cousins but was excited that it was at least a couple more days. It could be a whole month after all.

"Baa-chan do I really have to go…"

"Yes Sakura-chan! You can't expect me to know what size you are, plus I might buy something you don't like."

Sakura groaned as she slouched down into the passenger seat of her grandmother's old car. Madara had finally given her a date for her court hearing, and had asked for her to dress nicely, though comfortably. 'Why can't a new pair of jeans be good enough…?'

"Oh, stop your moaning, I could have brought Karin-chan with us." Fuyuka smiled broadly at the shudder from her eldest granddaughter.

She figured Sakura didn't like that idea, hence why Fuyuka shooed both girls to school. Sakura needed some time away from the house, and this gave her that chance before running off to Hidan's with her friends for the weekend. Though yes, the court date was now hovering over the young pinkette's head, Fuyuka had the perfect plan set in place to distract the girl.

"Please tell me we're not getting anything too expensive."

Sakura laid her head back against the head rest, looking to her grandmother worriedly. With a roll of her brown eyes, Fuyuka turned to go into the main part of town.

"Stop worrying about cost Sakura-chan."

"Madara-san said something comfortable, why can't I wear jeans then?" Sakura pouted as her grandmother sighed.

"It will be comfortable! Do you really think I'd make you wear something uncomfortable?"

Sakura huffed at that, turning to look out the front window as Fuyuka drove. She didn't get why she needed so many clothes. She had four new pairs of pants, six shirts, a few sweaters and several changes of pajama's, why have more? She only had one set of clothes for the longest time until she stole a new set after meeting her friends- Sakura winced, silently praying to anyone above, to not have Fuyuka take her to the place where she stole those clothes.

She doubted anyone really noticed, or accused her of stealing, but Sakura doubted she could keep her cool going back there. Shaking her head free of those thoughts, Sakura relaxed back as much as she could, watching buildings and people pass by as her grandmother drove to where ever they were going.

She had spaced so much Sakura hadn't noticed as Fuyuka shut of the car, eyes faded as she zoned out into her own little world. She didn't even notice the multiple females' voices chuckling at the driver's door opened.

"I take it she's still a tad tired from being so sick?"

"Mmm, she's been good recently. I just think with the whole 'you know what' she's getting a tad worked up…"

"Ohh! I told Madara to go easy on her!"

An annoyed huffed and cold breeze caught Sakura's attention, a frown pulling at her lips as she turned. As her grandmother grabbed her purse with the door open, a curtain of raven hair framing a beautiful pale face leaned down to smile at the pinkette.

"Hello again, Sakura-chan."

"Mikoto-san!"

The lady raven's smile grew as Sakura's face brightened. Laughing as the girl released herself from the seat belt and climb out of the car, Mikoto straightened and stepped back, arms already open to welcome the young girl into a hug. It warmed Mikoto's soul to see such a happy look on the pinkette's face, even with everything that had happened recently.

"It's good to see you sweetie."

"You too! What are you doing here?"

Sakura pulled back with a confused look on her face, eyes widening as another woman stepped up next to Mikoto with a smile.

"Fuyuka-san asked us to meet the two of you here today, 'ttebane!"

"Kushina-san!"

Mikoto couldn't help but chuckle, letting Sakura detach herself completely in order to give the red head next to her a hug. Both Sakura and Kushina became fast friends when Deidara and Naruto brought their parents to Fuyuka's for Christmas.

"Thank you both for coming." Mikoto turned to the older woman, smiling with a small nod of her head as Fuyuka closed her car door.

"Of course, anytime."

"And we mean it, anytime!"

Kushina grinned as she wrapped her arms around Sakura's shoulders, the smaller girl grinning excitedly as she looked to her grandmother. Fuyuka had been slightly worried this would have been a bad idea; she was happy to see she was wrong.

"Come on now, it's cold as sin out here!" Pulling her coat tighter around her body, Fuyuka lead the way to the mall, as small sigh leaving Sakura as she followed.

She had a bad feeling 'just a few things' was going to turn into way too many things. Thankfully, even with how far Fuyuka had parked, it didn't take long to enter the mall. Sakura relaxed, unzipping her coat part way and sighing as warmth seeped into her chilled limbs.

"Alright! Where off to first Fuyuka-san?" Kushina removed her coat with a shiver, hanging it over the crook of her arm as the older woman tapped her chin in thought.

"Oh…I'm not too sure. You two know more of what's in style, don't want to embarrass Sakura-chan too much by what I pick out." Fuyuka chuckled, following as Kushina and Mikoto both lead the way into the heart of the mall.

"You've been listening to Karin again baa-chan, just ignore her. Everything embarrasses her."

"Aa, quite right my dear!"

Sakura smiled as her grandmother laughed. Moving her arm to the side, Sakura's arm looped with Fuyuka's. The older woman still got around great for her age, but Sakura still worried. There was water on the floor from melted snow after all. One can't be too careful.

"What are your preferences on what to wear?" Mikoto turned to the pinkette as she spoke, following next to Kushina as she looked at the shops around them humming.

Letting out a small sigh, Sakura looked about the mall, glancing to each shop as her eyebrows furrowed. She honestly didn't know, and she wasn't sure how the other's felt about going to certain shops. She secretly hoped they could just stick to one store, grab one outfit, and leave.

"I don't know…I've never really been into dresses much." Shrugging, Sakura turned to see Fuyuka roll her eyes.

"You wore them all the time!"

"Baa-chan I was five…"

Mikoto and Kushina both giggled, looking to each other and nodding. Mikoto was a bit more girly then the red head, this was all Kushina.

"I don't know how dressy you need to be, but I do know of a place that has some nice pants that I get for special occasions."

Waving the two behind her to follow, Kushina could see the lady raven perk up slightly. Kushina had meant to take Mikoto to the said shop sooner, but they hadn't had a chance recently, so two birds with one stone!

"Is this where you bought that really nice pair of black pants?"

"Yep! One and the same."

Sakura smiled as Mikoto smiled, excitement evident in her onyx eyes. There was no way she was getting out of here with just one outfit.

AN:

Holy mother balls. This month has been crazy, and can life just take a chill pill now? Between visiting family, losing those in Doku's family, and my pain kicking in, I had a really hard time writing this chapter. This chapter would have been out last night, but I was lazy. And I didn't post this morning cuz I was in therapy, so...Sorry lol, here it is though!

It's a bit filler, but I needed it to kind of get things moving. There will be more Kizashi coming, you get a bit more into Mebuki, which will be continuing a bit as well. There wasn't any ItaSaku happening, sorry. ._. But I had been focusing on them a bit recently lol. (I needed a break, or they'd end up dating here soon. o_o And that is not supposed to happen just yet.) I also need the bit with Tetsu in there to set stuff up for later, and it felt wrong skipping it or adding it in elsewhere.

Also, I added Obito. o3o I've had him be Fugaku's brother waaaay before I thought about adding Madara into the story. Obito will be elaborated on later, I just wanted to introduce him now (Mostly because I had no idea what else to write). And I changed Sai from being Madara's (Originally Obito's) adoptive son, to just being Madara's son.

Next month (If things keeping going well) in the next chapter we will be introduced to Hidan's family. I would like to throw in more with the court thing, but it mostly depends if I'm able to write it in and it fits.

Doku is leaving this Friday to go to Arizona, and I'm freaking out. Q_Q I'm gonna be alone all weekend! Though I suppose I can try and get a ton of writing done…Who am I kidding, I'll clean and veg on the couch lol. Please though Fave, Follow and Review! It builds my soul and helps me write! If you have questions, feel free to put it in a review, a PM here on FF, or as a message on tumblr where I have links to this story. A link to my tumblr will be on my profile on a HIH fanart I did (The cover pic to the story). If you have a suggestion, or even anything like that, it's the same thing of review, PM or tumblr. I hope you have a good night/morning/evening! Ja ne!

Kuroi (Soon to be LadySilverRaven)