"Love makes us kind when even life leaves us behind" -Anonymous
"Itachi!"
Pink. That was the only colour he could see before he felt his breath leave his lungs. Arms snaked around his back as he tried to regain his footing and failing as he felt his back hit the soft earth bellow. Holding her tight, he rested his head on top of hers while she snuggled against his chest. For a while he could only hear the calm thudding of her heart.
Pulling away to see her face, the bright viridian orbs seem to light up the moment she saw him. 'It has been far too long…' he mused to himself. How he loved those eyes. They looked at him without any fear, guilelessly, innocently, and sweetly, like he was a man and not some horrid monster. To him they were the eyes of an angel, his personal treasure that he guarded over zealously.
"I've missed you so much…" she exclaimed in a breathy way. She had a smile on her face, giddy that he returned to her.
A small chuckle slipped from his lips at her excitement, he moved his arms from the small of her back to her head. Marvelling over and over at the softness of her long, luscious hair as he gently stroked her. The sunlight that streamed through the canopy of the forest only helped enhance her allure. This was what he returned to, every single time he went through hell, it was always her who greeted him back.
Like a flower under the light, he flourished under her gentle attention. The way her eyes searched his entire frame, trying to find any signs of injury that he may have hidden. Her soft hands, as they touched his face or her eyes when she looked at him with all her kindness and love. This was what healed his old, broken soul. Her smiles were like a salve; fixing his heart each time he looked them.
Now, in this clearing somewhere in the forests of the country that he used to call his home he felt whole again.
"I told you I would always return back to you, Sakura." The smooth baritone pierced through the calm serenity of the forest.
Pushing himself up to a somewhat upright position, he saw her smile again. She blushed prettily as he allowed the smallest of smiles to escape. His smile was always so gentle and tender and she knew that it was only for her. He never looked this way with anyone else. She loved it whenever she could see his dark brown eyes, the way they made her feel like he trusted her. Not the infamous red Sharingan, the image so many sees as their final view of the world.
His brown eyes fit him so much better anyways.
"You wouldn't have to return if you just let me come along with you." She mumbled as she rests her head again on his chest. Her hands gripped his shoulders lightly,
"And you know that it's –"
"Too dangerous, I can't get you involved… blah blah blah" her head shot up as soon as she interrupted his sentence only to give an annoyed glare before she sighed.
"I know that you're worried for me, but don't you think I worry about you too? You silly man." She poked his chest, right at his heart. Slowly her irritated expression melts away to one of sadness.
"I just don't want to be left behind all the time, I want to be by your side, not just praying for your safe return." Her eyes dulled, slowly losing the fire that he held loved so dearly.
"Hn." It wasn't that he wanted her to feel like she was just a burden to him. She was just too precious, too gentle and pure. He wanted to protect that innocence in her for as long as he can, so that she would not lose it as quickly as he had.
He loved her. That much was clear. He loved her for being both strong and gentle, for the way she soothes not injure. Her profession as a medic nin was a testament to her kind nature. The way she would try to save everyone, regardless of who they are or what they had done. It appealed to him in a way that no battle could ever do. Beneath that kind heart he knew that she was far from being a pushover. She was strong enough to hold her ground, to fight for her ideals.
And that just made her all the more fascinating to him.
Like a moth drawn towards a flame, he was drawn towards her. She was everything he wanted, something that captivated his inner pacifist. She was the order in his chaos and for that very reason; he would see to it that she would never see the frontlines. That meant that he would never allow her to accompany him for any of his missions. Even if it hurts her, he hopes that she would understand. It would kill him if he ever knew that she lost her gentle nature because of him.
Her eyes were downcast, upset that she was being treated like a child again. Her hands clutched harder on his cloak. A black cloak littered by ominous red clouds. She felt useless whenever she had to wait for him to return. All that she could ever do every time he left was to see him off, giving him a small token and a smile. No matter how much it hurts, she would always force herself to smile, no matter what she wanted him to remember her fondly with only her smile. Not her tears. She figured that he had enough to worry about as he fought than her unhappiness.
His lips touched her forehead. A chaste brush but it was enough for her to brighten up again. He never was one for words, preferring to let his actions bring the message and she never minded that, it was a part of him that she loved dearly. She never wanted him to change.
… Okay, maybe it wouldn't hurt if he stopped being so overprotective all the time but the point is she loved him enough to understand that he must have a reason for doing this to her.
'Well if I can't fight with him, then the least I can do is to welcome him back with a smile!' she cheered herself on before giving him her brightest of smiles.
Seeing his smirk, she finally remembered that they were in a very, very compromising position. Her legs were entwined with his; one of her hands lay flat against his chest while the other now held his face. One of his hands propped them up while the other rested on her lower back. Their faces were impossibly close, letting her see into his warm brown eyes as he stared at her curious green ones. This realisation made her blush in embarrassment, as her blush spread towards her body, it made her look like a human tomato. Immediately she pushed herself off him and quickly looked the other way. Completely mortified that in her excitement of his return she caused all that.
Hearing the sounds of rustling fabric along with the sounds of the forest, she slowly turned around when she felt a hand gently patting her head. Looking up to see him, she gave a bashful smile. The wind came as a gentle breeze, like a kiss of cold air on her skin as she slowly calmed down from her previous blunder. When she saw the gentle expression on his face, she forgot all of her exasperated thoughts and gave him a sweet smile.
"Welcome home Itachi."
In that moment, with the way the breeze made her long hair dance, and the way the light caressed her face, Itachi felt like he was a blessed man. Seeing her smile and her other cute expressions that she made as she sat quietly made him feel a contentment like no other. Her innocent green eyes shined with joy and that had only made him fall deeper in love with his sweet angel. Truly, she is his most precious person.
"I'm back, Sakura."
AN: Hey guys! Thank you for reading this. This is the first time I wrote a story so thank you so much for reading this. *happy tears* I would love to hear your thought and ideas about this, and yes constructive criticism is greatly appreciated. I'll be great if you guys could drop me a review, again thanks :D
