A/N: This is a multi-ending story. In the final chapter, she will be forced to make a decision, and there will be separate routes for each male Akatsuki member from that point on, excluding Zetsu because I could not for the life of me figure out how to write him into this shit.
Anyways, thanks for clicking! š
Sumire released a loud, high-pitched scream, much to the shock of her pink haired roommate, and bounced eagerly on her heels. Such a display was rare for the usually shy, soft-spoken, young woman, but the news she received, found in the letter she clutched between her small fingers, was far too exciting for her to act normally. Sakura emerged from her room to investigate the sound. She found her friend standing in the tiny patch of stone by the door.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she neared.
The two young women stared at one another instead of exchanging more words. Sakura's question left unanswered; she tilted her head in some confusion. After another moment of silence, she noticed the paper Sumire was crushing in her hands.
"Is that from the Theater Department?" Sakura asked quickly.
Sumire rushed forward, nearly tripping over the edge of the raised wooden floor, and stumbled up to her taller friend with the letter held out.
"You got it!"
Laughter burst out from her small form and tears trailed down her face, leaving thin shiny lines along her pale skin.
"Oh no, please don't start." Sakura grasped her shoulders gently and swayed her from side to side.
"I'm sorry. I'm just so excited."
"When does your internship start?" her hands dropped.
"The day after tomorrow."
Sumire brushed the back of her pale hand against her tear stained cheeks, breathing deeply to will away the lingering excitement and relief. Her fingers absent-mindedly brushed a few long strands over her ear while her dark eyes studied the paper now shivering in her hands.
"I'm so happy for you! This is huge! We should call everyone for a celebration!"
"I don't want to get drunk before theā¦"
"You don't have to get drunk!"
"But I have to get new supplies-"
Sakura sighed loudly. Sumire stopped speaking and frowned.
"Fine we don't have to go out," she placed her hands on her narrow hips, "As soon as you get a day off then! Promise me!"
Sumire grinned:
"Absolutely."
The Following Afternoon
"Sumire-chan you got in!"
Sumire jumped and turned to the small approaching group. She had just gathered her few, worn items and packed them away in her tattered bookbag when she heard Kiba's voice. Naruto, Hinata, and Shino followed him. Kiba wrapped his arm around Sumire's neck and grinned from ear to ear.
"I knew you would get it."
"Congratulations," Hinata said meekly, with a short bow.
"Congra-" Shino began.
"Congratulations Sumire-chan!" Naruto butted in, pushing Kiba back, and hugging Sumire's head.
"Oi!" Kiba growled.
"Ouch," Sumire patted his arm, wincing from the force of his embrace.
"Ahā¦ Naruto-kun, I thinkā¦" Hinata's soft melodic voice was barely audible through the loud chattering coming from the rest of the classroom. "I think you're hurting Sumire-san."
"Hinata's jealous Naruto." Kiba teased him.
"I-I'm not!" she scrunched up her shoulders and clenched her fists to her chest. "I just think he's hurting her!"
"He is." Sumire groaned.
"My bad." Naruto slipped away from her and turned to his girlfriend.
He gently took her hand and brought it to his lips. Hinata blushed deeply.
"I'm sorry, Hinata. Forgive me." He said smoothly, his lips barely brushing the skin.
Hinata felt the flesh where his lips had grazed tingle, the sensation of the gesture too much for her; she fell into his gentle embrace. Kiba and Shino stood by Sumire and exchanged a couple of looks.
"Naruto's sure gotten smooth since they started dating," Kiba commented.
"They are so lovey it's grotesque," Shino added.
"Says the Entomology Major!" Sumire joked while jabbing him lighting in the ribs.
"Bugs are not gro-"
"We've got to celebrate your internship Sumire-chan!" Naruto said, facing the rest of the group with his arm still firmly around Hinata's waist.
Shino narrowed his eyes behind his circle-shaped sunglasses.
"Sakura already made me promise to go get drinks. I'm sure you're all welcome." Sumire explained.
"That sounds great!" Kiba looked down at her. "I've wanted a drink for a while."
"Will Sasuke be there?" Naruto asked.
Hinata looked up at his now serious expression. Sumire noticed it as well.
"I don't know. Sakura didn't say." She paused for a moment then said, "I'll make sure I let you know before then."
Naruto grinned again, and Hinata seemed to relax just a little. They are probably going to talk about it later, no need to talk about it now, Sumire thought to herself before slinging her book bag over her shoulder.
Kiba let out a huge sigh, "I'm tired of all this serious-talk, let's get some soba!"
"I could go for some ramen!"
"Naruto you always want ramen." The fanged young man groaned as he led the group out the classroom doorway.
Sumire followed Naruto and Hinata. They were still pressed against one another as they walked. Hinata looked somewhat uncomfortable with the public effect now that their intense moment had passed, but only slightly, because she still cuddled against Naruto's arm with a quiet affection in her eyes. Sumire felt a pang of jealousy in her chest, but she quickly shrugged it off. That isn't important right now, my future isā¦
Later
After arguing for a few more minutes, the group split up. Naruto and Hinata went to Ichiraku Ramen while the rest headed to the closest Soba house.
"Sumire, don't you prefer ramen over soba?" Shino asked.
Sumire, having been lost in thought, didn't notice that both young men were staring at her waiting for a response. She looked up and blushed slightly.
"Huh- what?"
"Don't you prefer ramen?" Shino repeated.
"Oh, no it's fine." Sumire responded, "Iā¦ don't want to be a third wheel."
Kiba chuckled and let them inside the small restaurant.
"Yeah, I've been there."
"I as well."
A waitress appeared by their table to take their order's but departed as quickly as she had come.
"So, when does it start?" Kiba asked.
"When does what sta-"
"Your internship! Geeze, Sumire-chan you are spacing out today."
"I'm sorry," Sumire looked down sheepishly, "I'm nervous. It starts tomorrow."
"Rightfully so," Shino commented.
"Don't worry! You're going to do great! Why else would they have picked your application instead of everyone else's?" Kiba encouraged.
She giggled nervously:
"Thanks, Kiba."
"You can always talk to us if you need anything," Shino added.
Sumire breathed out softly and felt her hunched shoulders relax.
"Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it." She said.
"Alright, enough with the serious talk, there's too much of that today, this is our pre-celebration celebration! Shino's treat!" Kiba laughed, patting Shino on the back.
"I never agreed to-"
"Hai! Three orders of Kake soba!" the waitress said as she placed bowls on the wooden table.
The Following Morning
"Do your best! You've got this!" Sakura stood beside her dark-haired friend.
Sumire took a deep breath. Nerves were something she battled often. Tremors always began at the base of her neck and traveled to the tips of her fingers. Most times she would freeze in place as a cold sensation enveloped her shoulders, and a horrifying tightening would convince her that her chest was going to cave in. She'd dig her nails into her palms, but the pain did little for her.
Though her friend was encouraging her, staring at these heaving black stained metal doors to the Akatsuki Concert Hall was far too much for her. It made her situation too real. She passed this enormous building daily on the way to her classes, but she never ventured too close. There was always a menacing aura that shrouded the red brick building. There were few indicators for what this building was, yet everyone knew its purpose. Among the students there were rumors about the stage crew: about their appearances, their talents, and their excellent ability to make performances run smoothly. But few knew more than the rumors. Never during the day, and only sometimes in the evening, did the building appear occupied.
Nonetheless, the music, theater, and intermedia art departments were abuzz with the recent revival of the Akatsuki Internship Program. Sumire would learn all aspects of Stage Crewing. She could put it on her resume and she would be clamored after by different concert hall directors or at the very least prove she was a worthy employee. This would secure her financial future; she would never have to worry about work again. She just had to step inside.
"C'mon! You're going to be late!" Sakura gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze.
The short girl managed a weak nod and approached the ominous door. She took another deep breath and pushed against the large entrance. Behind her, Sakura snickered. Sumire glared at her as she struggled to force it open enough that she could slip through. They waved to each other a final time before she disappeared inside.
The foyer was ample with polished, grey stone floors and the walls were a deep shade of red. Against each wall were large stone slabs that were the perfect height to serve as seating and lamps were fixed to the wall a few feet apart from each other. Above Sumire's head was an intricate, mosaic painting that filled the dome-shaped ceiling. She gasped in awe, but quickly place a hand over her mouth; a faint, embarrassed blush glossed over her cheeks. There was another set of doors painted to match the red of the wall in front of her.
Since no one was there to greet her, she pushed through those doors with ease. She found herself in an area many times larger than the one she previously occupied. The hall was filled with row after row of black velvet lined seats, all leading up to large stage made of smooth and polished light-brown wood. She gazed at the enormous chandeliers and large red curtains.
As if I didn't feel small beforeā¦
Her gaze followed the seats until she spotted what looked like an open sound booth. Though the lights were dim, she could make out a person standing there with his attention absorbed in the machinery before him.
"Umā¦ excuse me?" she called.
The figure standing in the booth turned his head, but she couldn't see his facial features. She squinted her almond-shaped eyes and rose onto her toes. The man began walking the opposite way of her, and she mustered some courage to call out to him again, but she noticed that he was coming down the stairs to ground level. Sumire sucked in another breath more loudly than she would have liked. He went around the corner of the black and into the brightest part of the dim light. At the sight of him, her breath became lodged in her throat.
In front of her stood a somewhat tall young man, who looked no more than a few years older than her, with long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail. Center-parted bangs framed his onyx eyes and beneath were surprisingly long tear-troughs. He wore a thick-looking, long-sleeved black sweater with a dark brown shirt peeking out of the top of the rounded neckline.
"My name is Koizumi Sumire, it's nice to meet youā¦" she bowed unnecessarily low.
"Are you the new intern?" he asked, his voice was deep.
"Yes!" she straightened and met his gaze only to look away.
His eyes are so piercing; she thought while darting her own back and forth between his face and shoes.
"Uchiha Itachi, it's nice to meet you."
He raised his hand out to her. It took her a moment to realize his hand was outstretched. She grasped it with both hands, awkwardly bowing and shaking it at the same time. When she let go, she took a reflexive step back.
"Careful, un!" an energetic voice snapped.
She leaped to the side, pressing her back to the black wall, and turned to another striking young man. His long blonde hair covered one side of his face leaving only a single, slanted blue eye, lined with eyeliner.
She bowed again and blurted her greeting.
"You're the new intern? Good!" he approached her, "Grab the bottom box."
Sumire jumped at the immediate task but stumbled only slightly as she balanced the box on her knee then shifted it into a comfortable position in her arms.
"Follow me, un!" he called, already walking down the aisle towards the stage.
She hurried after him.
"Who the hell locked the door!" he yelled, leaning against a nearly invisible black door nearby the steps that led up to the stage.
He raised his foot and kicked it.
"Deidara." Itachi's voice reached them quickly from his considerable distance.
Sumire heard the man in front of her grumble something, and the door opened. Deidara took the opportunity to kick it again, at least wide enough that they could walk through, and entered before Itachi could protest. Sumire stumbled into what she assumed was the backstage. The blonde placed the box gently on the faded, white linoleum floor and spun around to face her. He wore a long-sleeves moss green shirt, the sleeves of which he had rolled up to his elbows and the bottom of which he had tucked into the top of his dark blue jeans.
"You can put the box down, un." He said.
"Oh!" she knelt and placed her load beside his.
I guess he has a stutterā¦ or something, she thought. Sumire realized he had moved closer, so she stepped back from him.
"You probably already heard, but my name is Deidara. It's nice to meet you." He said while holding out his hand.
She took it, felt herself shiver, shook it lightly, and pulled away.
"Sorry, my hands are usually clammy, un." He laughed.
"It's okay."
"Deidara." A low, slightly raspy voice came from within the backstage area.
I didn't even notice him, Sumire shifted to look around Deidara. The man in front of her tilted backward and turned to address the man who had called to him.
"Is that the new shipment of fabric?"
The man at a distance was facing away from them with his arms raised. He was stitching pieces of cloth together against an expressionless model of a human. The short man's hair was red and fell about his scalp in untamed curls.
"Ah, yeah. This is it." Deidara crouched and pulled open the box with a single-harsh snap.
He handed a plastic-wrapped piece of cloth to Sumire and said:
"Will you give that to him? I'm gonna get more of the boxes, un."
He didn't wait for a reply. Instead, he walked out the door and left Sumire alone with the still unnamed man. She cautiously moved over to the redhead who focused on his task.
"Umā¦" her high-pitched voice came out faintly.
How am I supposed to talk to him? He isn't even acknowledging me, she thought. He glanced at her briefly then spoke:
"Open it."
Demanding muchā¦
She flipped the package over in her hands, searching for the crease, and pulled apart the wrapping. While she waited for him to take the contents in her hands, she studied the space. There were a few lights attached to the ceiling where the piping was visible. To the left of the man in front of her was a door that was as grey as the walls. Towards the end of the backstage was a stack of crates and cabinets with yet another entry.
"Here," she said when he didn't move to take the cloth from her right away.
He paused from his work finally and let his reddish-brown eyes fixate upon her face. She felt a flush come over her cheeks at the sight of such a handsome, astoundingly young face. His features were soft and his eyes were half-closed as though his mind were elsewhere. On his person was a dark blue jacket over what looked like a white dress shirt.
"Your name?"
She broke away from his gaze and answered with a careful bow. He took the fabric from her extended hands and returned his attention to the model in front of him. She opened her mouth to ask him his name, but he responded before she could speak:
"Sasori."
She repeated her polite greeting with another bow and remained standing there for she was unsure of what to do next. This is so awkward. This is so awkward.
"Go up the recording booth and tell Kisame to help Deidara with the shipment."
She was slightly taken aback by his comfort giving orders, but she decided it was best not to talk back.
"Hai."
She disposed of the plastic wrapping in a wastebasket by the backstage door and returned to the hall. Sumire headed up the stairs near the sound booth where she had last seen Itachi. He was again at his post and seated in front of a large lighting board.
"Excuse me."
He looked up.
"Yes?"
"Is the recording booth through that door up there?" she asked, pointing to the door at the very top of the stairs.
He nodded.
"Thank you." She bowed and dashed up taking the two steps at a time.
The moment she reached the top she stretched her fist out to knock when it swiftly sprung open and launched her backward. She lost her footing. This is going to hurt, she thought in the split second she was suspended in air. The back of her head hit the carpet with a loud thud and her consciousness faded. Sumire's body slowly slid partway down the stairs but was stopped when her foot became caught beneath one of the seats. A waterfall of straight black hair trickled down the steps. Her eyes were closed and her expression was peaceful. One would think she was only asleep.
"Oh! Whoops!" A masked man said as he emerged from the now open door.
A much larger creature with blue skin and sharp features appeared behind him and looked over his head to the small woman sprawled out over the carpeted steps. Oh, so that's what that was. He found no interest in the display at the moment.
Itachi had heard the sound and turned. He could only see Tobi and Kisame standing in the doorway to the recording booth and looking downwards. He followed their line of sight and between the rows, he could make out a body lying on the steps. He rose quickly and walked briskly to the girl's side.
Deidara had just returned with a loud-mouthed counterpart. They noticed the crowd lingering in the upper seating area.
"Where's the party?" the grey-haired man asked.
Deidara ignored him as they approached the backstage door.
"Looks like someone died."
Deidara finally studied the group and noticed a small figure strewn across the stairs. Is that the intern? Did she get hurt? He dropped the box behind the door, then within moments was past Hidan and dashing across the hall towards the scene.
"Koizumi-san."
Itachi knelt beside her while speaking her name very softly.
"What happened?" Deidara asked.
Tobi laughed:
"Who knows?"
"Tobi opened the door and knocked her down," Kisame explained with some amusement present in his unusual voice.
The grey-haired man approached.
"Who's the bitch?"
"Hidan, go get her some water. She will need it when she awakens." Itachi spoke firmly, believing that the troublesome man's presence should be diverted.
Hidan groaned but strolled away with his hands shoved into his pockets. Itachi's hands hesitated to touch her, due to an internal feeling that he had yet to recognize, but he noticed her foot stuck beneath a seat and assumed the strange feeling was caused by this and nothing else. He removed her foot with a gentle tug and caught her waist before she could slip down. His arms scooped beneath her and he stood.
"This is what happens when you slam doors open like that Tobi!" Deidara snarled and punctuated his exclamation with a deep grunt.
"Senpai," the masked man simpered, "I hardly think you are one to talk, weren't you kicking doors open earlier?"
"Shut up, un!" he yelled.
Itachi laid the limp, unconscious Sumire onto the smooth surface of the stage and dropped to his knees beside her. Tobi and Deidara joined him in creating a semi-circle around the young woman's head. Kisame stood a few feet away with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His curiosity encouraged him to remain despite no action taking place. Sasori had emerged from backstage to uncover what the loud thump had been and had casually leaned against a wall onstage to observe from a comfortable distance. Tobi picked up one of the folders he had been carrying and flapped it vigorously over the unconscious woman's head, causing the dark strands of her hair to float momentarily.
"Damn it, Tobi, she didn't faint, she hit her head, un! Stop fanning her!" Deidara snapped and swatted away Tobi's hand.
"But senpai, she's hurt, we have to do something, don't we?"
"Wait for her to regain consciousness. If she has a concussion and we keep moving her around, we may put her life in danger." Itachi explained calmly, "For now we should support her head."
Deidara moved as though he were going to stand, but Tobi interjected:
"Itachi-senpai! Your sweater!"
Deidara glared at the masked man when Itachi proceeded to remove the thin black sweater he was wearing. He folded it up neatly, gingerly lifted her head, placed the garment beneath, and lowered her down slowly. He doesn't even react, he just does it, Deidara though in annoyance. Sasori watched them fuss over the young woman with a bored expression. This clumsy girl is the new intern?
Sumire's eyes fluttered open. She recognized something soft pressing into the tender and aching part of her scalp. She shut her eyes tightly, causing wrinkles to form in her skin, and made a pained expression as they adjusted to the light. She groaned in pain, a thick, grunt-like noise, as another ache filled her skull.
"Koizumi-san, can you hear me?" Itachi's deep voice made her open her eyes again.
She raised an arm to find a bump on the back of her head somewhere beneath the thick crop of black hair. She rose into a sitting position.
"Koizumi-san?"
"You can call me Sumire." She spoke each word slowly.
She turned to Itachi and smiled weakly, her teeth just peeking out from between her thin, pink lips. The hand she had propped herself upon slipped back until it was touching a soft object. A black blanket or something, she thought. When her gaze returned to Itachi, her face became red. She instantly moved into a kneeling position, snatched up the garment, and bowed deeply while holding out the article of clothing to its owner.
"Thank you, Uchiha-sama. I'm sorry for being a nuisanceā¦" she said as quickly as she could.
He calmly took his sweater back. As Sumire rose her head, she saw his lips curl up slightly.
"Call me Itachi."
His smile is, her thought was interrupted by another dull ache in her head. Beside her, an irritated aura had been forming, but the building atmosphere broke when a loud voice came from across the room:
"I brought the fucking water bottle you wanted."
Sumire looked over to the source. Itachi stood and faced the man walking towards the stage, who was waving a water bottle over his head. Deidara offered a green-sleeved arm to Sumire who shyly accepted it and rose to her feet. She turned when she felt a hand placed against her back to help steady her. This dude is wearing a maskā¦ a maskā¦ what the hell? He had an orange mask covering his face except for his right eye. It was held in place by a broad black band that wrapped around his head. Spiky black hair popped out of the top of the mask. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt and a pair of loose brown slacks; his person exuded an air of mystery and served to make the small woman nervous. She didn't realize she was staring at him until he giddily waved his hand back and forth as though he was saying hello.
Sumire released Deidara's arm and balanced more firmly upon her own feet. The man suddenly threw the bottle across the stage and she moved back in a pathetic attempt to dodge it, but the incredibly tall man that had been standing in front of her snapped out his arm and caught the bottle mid-air.
"Oi, what the hell are you doing throwing things at someone who's injured, un?" Deidara shouted.
The man who had caught the bottle turned and held it out to Sumire.
"Thank you," she said softly.
The first thing she took in was his incredible height. He was over six feet, had spiky dark blue hair, sharp facial features, and small eyes. He didn't respond. Instead, he returned his attention to the man that was still approaching.
The man stopped a few feet away. He had grey hair that was slicked back smoothly behind his head and incredibly unique purple eyes. On his torso was a plain white t-shirt tucked into his beige pants secured to his waist with a brown belt. He looked somewhat uncomfortable, with his hands on his hips and his t-shirt tight against his torso where faint lines appeared when he moved. His lips moved as though he were mumbling to himself.
"Hidan, go get the last of the shipment," Sasori commanded from his position against the wall.
"Huh? I was just over there? Why the fuck didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Just go," Sasori said, his tone darkening.
The man named Hidan sighed loudly and began walking away.
"Are you okay now?" the bright and friendly voice of the masked man asked.
"Yes, thank you." She responded, turning back to him.
"Call me Tobi!"
He took her hand and energetically shook it.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm Koizumi Sumire." I don't know if I can keep up with this oneā¦
"Can I call you Sumire-chan!" he was practically yelling now.
A blush sprouted on her face at his familiarity, but she nodded timidly. Deidara narrowed his eyes at Tobi. Who the hell does he think he is getting so familiar with her? Sasori straightened from his spot against the wall and walked towards the backstage door. As he passed he sneered:
"This is a waste of time."
He seems like a difficult person, just don't let him get to you, you need this job, she thought as she shifted her attention to the tall man she had not learned the name of yet. She bowed respectfully and introduced herself.
"Hoshigaki Kisame." He responded, nodding his head.
Sumire remembered:
"Oh, Sasori-sama sent me to find you."
"What did he want?"
"He wanted me to ask you to help bring in the shipment."
"Oh, Hidan can handle that." Kisame walked away from her and headed back up the stairs to the recording booth.
Sasori closed the backstage door behind him. "Sasori-sama." He took his sewing needle in hand and stitched the soft fabrics together with quickness and precision that would daunt aspiring sewers everywhere. "Sasori-sama." He reached the end of the fabric and brought the thread to his mouth; he tore it with a quick yank of his teeth. "Sasori-sama." He paused in his work. A flicker of a smile appeared on his lips. Why do I like how that sounds?
Sumire rubbed the back of her head.
"Does it still hurt, un?" Deidara asked.
"Yeah, a little."
"You should go to the hospital; you may have a concussion," Itachi stated.
"I'm sure I'll be alright." She said with a laugh. I can't go home early on my first day.
"Are you certain?"
"Yes, thank you for your concern."
Sumire's large dark eyes met his. Those eyes are too much. She did not notice that her flush had intensified and she broke their locked stares.
"Have you been shown around yet?" Itachi pursued.
"Oh no, not yet."
"Please follow me."
"Hai."
"I'll go too!" Tobi said and rushed to her side.
He hooked his arm around hers.
"Oi, Tobi." Deidara pushed him by the shoulder. "Leave her be already. It's your fault she got hurt, un."
Wait, I fell because of him? It was just an accident, wasn't it?
"Ahaha, sorry Sumire-chan. You forgive me, don't you?"
She looked down to hide the rose color that had appeared on her face. Deidara watched her closely as her head dropped. Tobi released her arm finally and bent to look at her face. Itachi stopped walking rather abruptly and joined the other two men in studying her.
"Right, you forgive me, Sumire-chan?"
"Ah, hai. It's fine Tobi-san." She responded.
The three men kept their gazes on her as she raised her head. Silence encompassed the large hall. Her heart began pounding in her chest. Why are they staring at me?
Deidara grasped Tobi by the sleeve of his shirt; the tugged him harshly.
"Let's go. We have work to do. See you around, Sumire."
He pulled Tobi to the backstage door.
"Wait senpai I want to get to kn-"
The door shut behind him, cutting off his voice. Sumire felt herself becoming dizzy as the combination of nervousness and embarrassment intensified within her. He called me by my first name. Why is everyone being so familiar? It's so embarrassing. Her body tilted towards the right, but she regained her balance quickly. Oh no, I hope he didn'tā¦
"You must go home," Itachi said firmly.
"Butā¦"
"Your wellness comes first."
For fear of meeting his piercing eyes again, she submitted:
"I will go to the doctor."
"Do you have an emergency contact?" Itachi continued.
"Yes," Sumire pulled out her older-modeled cellphone and clicked to her texting thread with Sakura.
She pressed call and held the device to her ear. After only a few rings her roommate's voice came over the receiver:
"Hello?"
"Sakura!"
Itachi seemed to flinch. What was that? Sumire thought.
"What happened? You walked in an hour ago. Did you get fired?" Sakura questioned her quickly.
"I don't think so, I just hit my head and was knocked out. I was told I need to go to the hospital to make sure I don't have a concussion." Sumire explained.
"What! How? Did someone hurt you?"
"No, I just trippedā¦"
"I'm coming back! I'll be there in ten minutes."
"Oka-"
Sakura hung up. Sumire chuckled weakly:
"My emergency contact is on her way. I should wait outside."
Itachi seemed to be thinking deeply and fished something from his pocket. He handed her his cell phone with a blank contact screen.
"One of us needs your contact information," he explained. "I will fill out the brief amount of paperworkā¦"
The realization that there was a potential lawsuit on the horizon appeared on his features. She noticed this while handing him back his phone:
"Is there anything I need to fill out to say everything's okay?"
"No, I will write the report."
"Okay."
They stepped out of the pair of red doors that led into the foyer.
"Wellā¦" she spoke weakly.
"I'll wait outside until your emergency contact gets here."
"You don't have toā¦"
"If you pass out with no one here it could be dangerous, this is concrete."
They had walked through the large black double-doors that led into the crisp morning air.
"Okay,"
She fidgeted beside him uncomfortably. Elongated silences caused her excessive stress. Her fingers dug into her palms, her feet shifted, her knees locked and unlocked. Itachi remained stiff with his hands curled into loose fists by his sides. He could hear her clothing brushing and her soles scraping against the cement.
"Umā¦"
"Yes?"
"May I ask how you got startedā¦ with this job I mean?"
He turned slightly to address her but a scream came from down the road:
"Sumire!"
"Another time."
Sakura was sprinting to them, but upon spotting the man beside her, she slowed to a walk. The pink haired woman stopped in front of them and bowed to him.
"It's been awhile." He acknowledged her.
Sumire looked back and forth between them rapidly.
"Do youā¦"
"It has." Sakura's normally chipper tone was serious.
"How is Sasuke?"
"He's fine."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Sumire's mouth hung open slightly. Uchiha, Uchiha, I'm so stupid.
"Sumire, let's go."
"Oh, okay-"
"Take care, Sumire-san."
He disappeared back into the concert hall before she could respond.
"Sumire," Sakura took her wrist. "Let's go back to the apartment. I can check on you there."
"Thanks."
Sumire was towed along behind her, her mind swimming with questions. They moved with an urgency that seemed unnecessary.
I know they know each other butā¦ why was that so tense? Why did I not notice that he was an Uchiha right away? I need to pay more attention to what's happening around me, damn it.
A/N: This is a slow build romantic-comedy. Stick around... ALL CHAPTERS IN REVISION AND WILL BE REPOSTED AS THEY ARE REVISED! :) There will be new scenes and cleaned up plot holes! :D Thanks for reading!