-✘-

"If you let me finish maybe you won't mistake me for a murderer." Konan says with a vein popping out her temple and a fake disapproving smile. "I'm a mole. I work with corporate companies to enter their rival's business and steal information, strategies, and sabotage for a good price. But definitely not a murderer." She coughs fakely.

"Wh-why didn't you just say that-" Sasori exasperated, palming his face. "And what does it have to do with-"

"Just listen. We'll get to them in a bit." Konan grits her teeth at his impatience. "Anyway.. they have this rising business rival they want taken care of. What Mr. Fugaku wanted was for me to just steal information. On the other hand, Ms. Kurena, his ex wife who worked with him as one of the board directors, wanted the package..information leak, sabotage... I did it for her behind Mr. Fugaku's back. She pays good money. Unfortunately, it only worked for a couple of years, their rival company eventually increased their security and it was already beyond my capability that time. Ms. Kurena was determined to wipe out their rival and had asked me to plot a twisted criminal act. That woman's obssessed and crazy. Also mistaking me for someone like what you said. I obviously refused and ended my contract with her."

Sasori shrugs apologetically at this. She honestly does seem like the assassin type though. She got the looks and the.. right words for it.

"The following week, I got news that their rival company's CEO, several board directors, and some employees had a terrible accident on their way to a company outing. I find out later that Kizashi Haruno was part of that accident. Mr. Fugaku thought I had something to do with it so I had no choice but to tell on his ex wife. Clearly he also mistook me as an assassin or whatever. Ms. Kurena was fired from the company not too long after that. I have no evidence that she had done it, I mean she had the motive, but the thing was officially tagged as an accident despite all the rumors that the Uchihas had plotted it. There was also no signs of foul play."

"Coincidence?" Sasori doubts.
"I doubt, but we know how the system works. Anyway, years later, I was hired by Ms. Kurena again. I didn't want to be involved anymore with her, but she uh- had offered me an amount I couldn't refuse."

"I'm not judging." Sasori says.

"My only job from her was to look into the Harunos. This is when I uncovered that Mr. Kizashi was a survivor of that company accident who had amnesia. After reporting that, she just laughed and was no longer interested. She ended our contract. Then I was referred to a pretty decent job by Mr. Fugaku when he knew Mr. Sasuke was looking for a new secretary. That's pretty much it."

Sasori swallows. Man, he just wanted to know why Sasuke broke up with Sakura and he was suddenly loaded with confidential and traumatic baggage.

"It doesn't make any sense." He pours more wine in his glass, contemplating.
"Like I told you, working for them is just trouble, except maybe with Mr. Sasuke. He didn't need me much except block all Sakura's attempts to reach him. Wasn't an easy feat. I almost gave in, seeing how miserable she was. So I had to be a little harsh to keep her away." Konan offers her glass for another round.

It took a few moments and a few more rounds of wine for Sasori to actually process all these. Konan let him, given it was too much to take in. She had a complicated job ever since she worked with the Uchihas and never meant it to be that way.

"You don't suppose Mr. Kizashi remembers the Uchihas and the rumors?" Sasori concludes. So Mr. Haruno was part of their business company rival before and suppose he believes the rumors that the Uchihas were behind their tragic accident, it would make sense why he didn't want their family involved in the likes of them.

"There's only one way to find out."

■ ■ ■ ■

"Hello? Earth to Sakura?" Tenten waves her hand. "Oh uhm.. sorry, I spaced out."
"Clearly. What has gotten into you? It's your birthday party in a few minutes."

Sakura bites the inside of her bottom lip and involuntarily gets a flashback from the other day. For some reason, she couldn't bring herself to be instensely mad again at the raven, not after his faint smile and his thank you.

His thank you.

Just two words, but it shook her world again and she hated it. Still, maybe her petty revenge plan is working. It's just unbelievable how often the opportunity presents itself, somehow it felt a little meant to be.

Anyway, she would like to get him out of her mind even if it's just for tonight.

Sasori had indeed threw her a wonderful birthday party. It was a two-part gathering. The first one was a formal birthday party gathering with Sakura's parents, her closest friends, some family friends, and her co-workers. Sasuke couldn't make it, of course. The pinkette told herself she wasn't disappointed. Why would she be? So overall, it was a lovely and peaceful dinner party at home. Although, it was pretty much just the beginning of the night.

Sasori had also booked a bar in the city located at a high building. Apparently he had invited more people to this party. There were a lot of dancing and booze. Sakura reminded herself to thank Sasori afterwards because booze is all she needs right now.

"You must be relieved he didn't propose." Tenten shouts with a drink in her hand. Sakura could almost barely hear her at the bar with the music so loud.
"He wouldn't do such a thing," Sakura chuckles while looking at Sasori at the other corner of the bar, talking with his co-workers he had invited.

Tamaki was beside her laughing. "You are so dense." She said, earning a laugh from Tenten on her other side.
"I'm so happy you made it Tamaki!" Sakura hugged her for the third time today. She had arrived just yesterday and was happy she made it to Sakura's birthday. Thankfully, she arrived yesterday morning so she had enough rest before getting wasted tonight.
"I'm happy too! We have a lot of catching up to do" her brows suggesting something, "but let's dance first!"
"No thank you." Despite all the parties she had been to, she was still not comfortable with dancing, so she makes it up by drinking more booze than everyone... well, normally.

Although she is incredibly thirsty for some booze, tonight, she has a reason not to drink... just yet. She'd like to be wasted at home alone tonight. She's a little afraid of making a scene around her co-workers, but most especially with Sasori. When drunk, she was told by Tamaki that she always had the habit of dumping her heartbreak to Sasori or talking things about him. Knowing well what Sasori felt about her, it seemed unfair to do that to him after all he had done for her. She didn't want that tonight, so she saved a bottle for herself later. After all, so much had already happened for the past few days and weeks with him and she didn't want to accidentally tell Sasori that they kissed.

Tenten and Tamaki had left her alone to go on the dance floor. Hinata and Naruto was also invited by Sasori and they were at the other side of the bar, alone together, she noticed. They had greeted her earlier at dinner and caught up with her for a few minutes. Naruto obviously took the opportunity to be alone with Hinata now, and Tenten insisted to leave Hinata with him for a while because 'he couldn't catch a break' with her. Sai and Ino also came together and Sai was obviously mesmerized with how Ino was dancing on the dance floor. Have they started dating yet? She and Sai haven't had the chance to talk yet, he has been busy with his job and he had told her earlier that he was offered a project overseas for next week. She can't wait to know more about them next time.

As she craved for fresh air, not wanting to see any more couples, she headed out to the bar's balcony. It was a little less noisier, and no one else was present. She took the time to appreciate the city lights underneath, and the stars above. The moon was full today. It was her birthday, she should be happy, but somehow something felt missing.

"You seem to be in deep thought, Ms. Sakura" a voice says out of nowhere, cutting Sakura's thoughts.
"Kira," she smiles, "I'm glad you made it tonight"
"Yeah, Emi and I came together. Happy Birthday"
"Thank you! Drink as much as you can. You know how work is" Sakura chuckles.
"I couldn't possibly, I'm driving Emi home" He smiles and had gotten a little red on the face.

"Anyway, I forgot to drop this off at your house earlier" he says as he pulls out a small white box with a pink ribbon on top out of his coat.
"Aww, thank you Kira"
"It's not from me-" he says, but immediately cuts himself off by fake coughing. "I mean a co-worker who couldn't make it just wanted to give you this."
"Oh. Who?" Sakura probes. Kira turns around quickly "I should get going." he smiles awkwardly and was visibly sweaty. Lying isn't his thing, Sakura concludes.

When Kira was finally out of sight, Sakura looked at the small box with the pink lacy ribbon on top, no cards or anything. It was just a small box that fits her palm. It was cute. Sakura shook it lightly, trying to guess what possible gifts could fit in such a small box. She gently opens the lid and peeks.

At the sight of it, she could almost swore her heart skipped a beat.

It was a keychain.

She swallows, her throat suddenly feeling dry, and took it out of the box.

It was a gold keychain with three small gold charms in it. A train, a motorcycle, and a ferris wheel. She immediately knew who it was from. That jerk had the audacity to give her charms of their last happy moment together. The day she was the happiest with him. When they rode the train, a big bike, and shared a kiss so memorable on top of the ferris wheel that took her years to forget.

Her heart was beating so fast. Perhaps anger, she says. How could he whisper her that day that he loved her, that he doesn't want to lose her but still leave not long after, without a single word, not even a goodbye. Nothing.

All along she was convinced he had been playing with her from the start. He took advantage of her vulnerability, her innocence, her lack of experience. After less than a year of it, he finally decided it was over. He wasn't even man enough to face her, or even talk to her and say it's over. Hell, she would've just accepted if he just told her he was tired of her and that she was no longer interesting. He just fcking left like a criminal on the run.

Sakura had the urge to throw the keychain off the building, but something stopped her. She gripped the keychain tightly. Somehow she was amazed with her progress of moving on, despite what he had done. For the past year, she was convinced she had moved on. There were no more tears left in her, but her heart felt more painful. It ached more every time she suppressed a tear. This should not be something she should lose her cool with.....

....but reason just keeps on betraying her. To hell with it.

"Where are you going?" Tamaki asks as she sees Sakura suddenly in a hurry, grabbing her bag and a bottle of alchohol.
"I'm heading home." Sakura says.
"Alright, let me call Saso-"
"No need Tamaki, I haven't had a drink yet so I can still drive. Please tell him I went home later," The pinkette no longer waited for an answer and headed to the parking lot in a hurry.

What her plan is? Give that man a piece of her mind. She almost had the opportunity last time, but he kissed her and called Sasori. Today, there will no be distractions. Just her spatting out hate, if he hadn't interrupted her with a kiss before, she would've already did it. She wanted him to recall their good moments together, her true feelings, and how hurt she felt just so he could feel the guilt for what he had done. To hell with her petty revenge plan. She figured he still somehow liked her if he took the effort to do everything he had been doing. If he still likes her or not, she'll dump him nonetheless.

Angry as she was, she couldn't bring herself to come out her car parked in front of Sasuke's home right away. Here she was again. She was starting to have second thoughts, but her rage is slowly dissapating and she was afraid she might not be able to say everything she has to say.

■ ■ ■ ■

For some odd reason, he had developed a weird yearly habit. Every year at her birthday, he would get completely wasted alone at his home. He would prefer the pain of hangover and the loss of memories rather than the endless self-pity and endless thoughts about all his regrets with her.

Grabbing his opened bottle of alcohol and a pack of cigarettes, he turns off all the lights of his house before he heads out his front door to drink and smoke while admiring the moon as he sat on the steps not far from his door. He liked the darkness and the moonlight. It was the only time he could feel a little peace.

Sometimes, he would think how his life would turn out if only he hadn't met her, but he was always quick to dismiss it. He didn't care if it was selfish, but he is still glad he had met her. His only regret was not having the courage to lie before leaving. Maybe if he had given her closure, she would've moved on faster. She wouldn't have done so much just to look for him. He was too weak to lie about his feelings for her. Perhaps something in him didn't want Sakura to think he didn't love her. Still, after all he had done, she might as well think the same thing. He's the same old cold jerk she had met the first time.

He grabbed a cigarette and placed it between his lips before opening his lighter. The fire flickers and glows in the darkness. It had been years since he stopped smoking, he'd sometimes take one in a stressful evening, and everything had been so out of hand recently and he couldn't do anything about it. Before the tip could even touch the glowing fire, Sasuke looks at the gate, noticing a woman's silhouette.

Sakura.

Despite how she glowed underneath the moonlight with her bright pink hair, her black satin dress reflecting the moonlight and her light-colored skin glowing like silk, her expression was not as immaculate as how she was dressed tonight.

He could recognize that expression anywhere. It was filled with hate and anger, and he was only right to deserve it. It only was a matter of time before he faces the real Sakura. It seemed like his gift had gotten into her, not that it was his intention to do so, he noticed her gripping it on her left hand. When he got a keychain from the school girl the other day, he realized how a single small item could hold so much power and memory. Stupidly, he had chosen gold charms in a famous jewelry store with designs that hold so much memory for him. He didn't think it had the same effect on her given that she's moved on. In fact, it didn't matter if she threw it out the moment she saw it.

Sasuke took his cigarette out of his lips and walked to meet her halfway. Sakura, her expression still filled with resentment, met his eyes and stood close, leaving an uncomfortable distance between them, showing him she was strong and unaffected by his presence. Sakura got even angrier noticing his expressionless face and his half-lidded eyes looking down at her.

She won't hold back.