56 Friendship Rules

She rushed out of her room with her phone in her short pocket and made her way downstairs to the dinning.

The table was filled to the brim with different dishes, virtually everyone's favorite as Itsumi said.

Everyone was already seated there and that included the maids, driver and gardener, they were all ready to eat and waiting for her.

"Finally she's down," Itsumi said with a small smile and made her way to assist her mum in serving the dishes.

Sakiko rolled her eyes at her sister's remark, leave it to Itsumi to always ruin the mood. Ignoring her sister, she made her way to her father and planted a peck on his cheeks.

"Good evening dad."

"Welcome my little hunny bun."

He greeted back, moved his head to his side, holding her head and then gently placed a kiss on her forehead.

She walked over to her seat opposite of Itsumi and sat down gently. "Thanks for the food everyone, but what's the occasion?"

"Well, just celebrating life and everyone," Mrs Ishida answered.

"Now, let's not wait any more that everyone is present. I want to use this medium to thank everyone for their help and hard work. This night, everyone is to eat their full!" Mr Ishida said, his hands clutching tight to his wine glass as his gaze scanned everyone present.

"A toast, to a great life ahead," he said with his hand and glass in the air.

Soon several hands were raised up into the air as they awaited his next words.

"To family, to life."

"To family," everyone chorused after him.

"Let the merry begin, eat up everyone."

"Thanks for the food."

And with that, everyone dug in, tasting the variety of dishes on d table.

-----

About two hours later, Sakiko and Itachi were in her room, having a heart to heart talk.

"I see, well he apologized. At least he had the decency to know what he did was wrong, but you should also acknowledge the fact that you were wrong as well."

He stood by the wall, with his back pressed against it as he addressed the situation.

Sakiko on the other hand sat cross legged on the bed, with a pillow between her legs. Her eyes fixated on her brother as he spoke. Her face sad and fallen at the blame thrown at her.

"Huh! Why?" She managed to blurt out.

"Sakiko, your continuous pestering him caused him to yell at you. You had a big role to play in that. He wanted to be left alone and not talk about it, but you still pushed through with it."

"That's because he was acting up, ever since the new student came, his mood changed. He was and he is hiding something from me. I bet they know each other."

She looked defensive right now, as she spoke her hands and body moved, releasing some pent up anger she held on the inside.

Itachi moved closer to her bed and sat down by the edge, his eyes full of care and warmth. He reached up and gently patted her head.

"But I tried to be there for him, you know."

"I know. Three things you should learn or know when it comes to your friends."

"What are they?" Her eyes held a questioning look as she gaze confusingly at him. He chuckled, she looked cute when she was confused.

"How eager, okay I would let you in on them. The first is, learn to know what your friend wants. Secondly, learn to understand what your friend wants and thirdly, learn to give what your friend needs."

His hands crapped down the length of her hair unto her back as his gaze darted to the adjourning room.

Unconsciously, she repeated what he said in her head repeatedly as she awaited his explanation.

"Knowing and implementing these three things can help out with any friendship, if only people would give in and understand better each other's needs."

"Okay, I would."

His eyes darted back to her charming ones. "It's not just by saying it Sakiko. Take for instance this incident. If you had better understood he didn't want you bringing up the issue and needed rest and peace of mind, then perhaps all these wouldn't have occurred."

"I understand," her expression dropping at the reminder.

She felt bad now, knowing she pushed him to do that and now he feels so hurt by it.

"Don't feel bad, Sakiko. Give him time, Sasuke would open up to you. Perhaps he is still trying to come to terms with her arrival first, okay?"

"Okay."