Thank you for your wonderful reviews!

They really got me going with this fic and this chapter got twice as long because of it. I realized Sakura was a bit too passive for me to be comfortable with her so I added a bunch of stuff. I loved writing this and honestly, the chapter kept getting longer and longer.

I hope you enjoy!


Sakura sat frozen in the same spot long after Itachi left her with a racing heart and a heated face. She couldn't wrap her head around what had just transpired between them.

She couldn't deny that Itachi was now a man. But this was still serious, sweet, no-nonsense, Uchiha Itachi who had just confessed to her. Itachi never did things half-heartedly or unintentionally. To be honest with herself, it terrified her.

The place where Itachi held her still burned from his confident touch.

He was five years her junior and someone she had considered akin to a younger brother for the past decade. Sakura tried to recall a time he'd ever showed interest in someone of the opposite sex and couldn't think of a single instance. It was to be expected, Itachi had always been under a significant amount of pressure to perform his duties and represent the Uchiha clan. He never had the time nor the energy to date in the conventional sense. She had assumed any sort of romantic relationship would be one carefully planned by the clan elders and Itachi's father.

When had this started?

She thought back to the day Itachi had wedged himself between her and Hyuuga Mori at Ichiraku. But Itachi hadn't even been a preteen then, still a genin and still innocently oblivious to the opposite sex. At the time, Sakura had just assumed he believed she and Shisui were dating. Or perhaps it had been an innocent desire to claim possession of her, like a child would for their mother. It was adorable and in either case, she had been charmed. Because Itachi didn't express his emotions openly or with words and the small act had showed he had a soft spot for her.

Sakura recalled being told by a few members of ANBU and the hospital staff that she was lucky to be cared for and beloved by her kohai. Everyone had been surprised when the usually composed Uchiha heir had arrived at the hospital with an unconscious and dying kunoichi in his arms. He had been sweating profusely, his hair nearly free from his ponytail and his clothes in disarray. Everyone who saw him had been gobsmacked before springing into action. It wasn't every day Uchiha Itachi shed his expressionless mask in front of a lobby full of shinobi and medics. Sakura had tried and failed to imagine Itachi looking so unkept.

Itachi was one of those people who showed more of themselves through actions rather than words. Those who had been on the mission for her rescue had understood that to mess with Haruno Sakura was to incur the wrath of Uchiha Itachi. She didn't know specifically what he had done but it certainly left an impression on the others. Not even Shisui would tell her the details, only that everyone believed she was dead. When they finally discovered her location and felt some relief, the medics had said Sakura was near death and was sure to perish unless Itachi made it to Konoha in time. The close call was enough for anyone to go a bit crazy.

The kunoichi remembered feeling bashful after hearing how Itachi had stood like a statue outside her hospital room before taking vigil once the medics did what they could. Although the stories of how much he had cared about her well-being had touched her, Itachi had never indicated he held any deep affection for her in a romantic sense.

He had never appeared fazed by her close proximity during healing sessions and he had always kept a respectful, professional distance between them during missions. As a result, Sakura had assumed Itachi viewed her as an older sister or a close senpai and she had been content with that.

As the minutes ticked by, Sakura began to wonder why she hadn't felt revulsion at his touch. If she truly did think of him as a younger brother, shouldn't all this feel like incest?

But they weren't related by blood and the slight distance Itachi kept from everyone apart from Sasuke was always a reminder of that fact. Even though she might consider Itachi a sibling, Itachi loved no one more than his little brother.

She was so confused and wondered when he had gotten so daring. How could she let him down gently and leave their friendship intact. What if she lost Shisui too. So consumed with her thoughts and growing more and more distressed, Sakura almost didn't notice the figure appear right in front of her.

"What are you doing, you're late for the mission briefing." Had that much time passed already? Her legs wouldn't move. She barely had the strength to look up at the figure in front of her.

"Shisui?" In an instant, he was kneeling in front of her, concern etched into his features as he looked her over for any physical injuries.

"What happened? What's wrong?" The words caught in her throat at his care and concern. "Sakura?" She didn't want to lose him. He was her best friend.

She forced a smile and shook her head. "Nothing's wrong." Anyone could have seen through the lie in an instant.

"Did...did something happen with Itachi?" His tentative question told her he knew about Itachi's feelings for her. Sakura's green eyes looked down at her hands which were still folded in her lap before she turned her attention back to Shisui and answered honestly.

"H-he confessed to me." Shisui's stunned expression would have been funny at any other time. "What should I do?" She had been caught so completely off guard that she was at a loss.

"Sakura." Shisui brought her into his embrace and she was grateful for the chill of his ANBU uniform against her heated cheek. "Whatever you do, I'll support you. You're my friend too." Shisui sighed. "But don't go to him to spare his feelings." He urged quietly. He knew her too well.

Sakura nodded wordlessly against Shisui. Yes, even if she didn't feel the same way, Itachi would understand. Itachi knew she only viewed him as a friend. He would accept whatever decision she made with grace. He was mature and poised and as she had previously suspected, he would find someone the Uchiha clan deemed appropriate.

She was a girl with no standing in Konoha apart from the hospital and ANBU. Sakura wasn't even from a clan. It would be fine. There was no way the Uchiha would allow their accomplished clan heir have a relationship with someone like her.

Eventually, Itachi would look back at this as a passing fancy.

But even as she forced herself to think this way, a voice of doubt grew. She knew Itachi. He was incapable acting on just a temporary or passing emotion. He would never indulge in frivolities and he never acted on anything unless he was absolutely sure.

The thought of disappointing him caused a sharp pain to throb in her chest.

Itachi deserved better than her and much more than she could give.


Sakura had been distracted for the entirety of the mission briefing. Mercifully, the mission was to start tomorrow evening so Sakura had enough time to pull herself together. She couldn't afford to be distracted during an ANBU mission. The other three team members apart from Shisui were blissfully unaware of the inner turmoil Sakura harbored.

She was gone for two weeks and while the days were spent focusing on the mission at hand, her nights had been fraught with thoughts of Itachi.

Damn brat probably planned this and probably wanted her to think of him. He was going to get her killed.

When the team returned to Konoha one evening with a flawlessly executed mission under their belt, Sakura would have been content with boarding herself up in her apartment and passing out for a few days.

After the mission debriefing with the Hokage, Sakura stopped by ANBU to grab her house keys from her locker. She desperately needed to get home, she was getting dizzy spells and her eyes were growing increasingly heavy. She barely had the energy to change and seriously considered just passing out on her bed in full uniform.

"Yo." She had been dead on her feet and on her way outside when Kakashi appeared. He looked to have been on his way into the building, most likely to see Yamato.

"Kakashi-senpai." Sudden guilt ate at her and shocked her awake. Recalling her musings for the past two weeks, Sakura hadn't entertained thoughts of anyone other than Itachi.

"Just getting back?" He inquired, politely.

"Yes, I was just getting my keys." His lone eye creased in his signature smile and her stomach flipped. Her earlier fatigue waning in his company.

"I'll walk you home." He offered as stepped beside her.

"Ah, you don't have to do that senpai." Sakura declined politely, not wanting to bother him.

"Wouldn't want you to pass out in the middle of the street." Kakashi teased, "It would reflect poorly on ANBU. A soft smile graced her lips as she accepted his offer. He was always late, ridiculous, and read Jiraya's smutty literature in public. But whenever she was with him, she felt lighter.

Wasn't this what love felt like?

Her heart clenched and the guilt returned for entirely different reasons.

The pair walked in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this tired." He remarked as he gave her a sideways once over with his uncovered eye.

Sakura looked up at him and smiled reassuringly before she explained. "I couldn't sleep well during the mission. I'm basically running on fumes."

"Did something happen?" If Sakura hadn't been so tired, she would have been able to pick up on the fact that Kakashi wasn't just asking about the mission.

"Nope. It was a resounding success."

"Hm."

"How are your students?" Sakura asked then jokingly continued with mock horror, "Please tell me you don't read your books when you're with them."

Kakashi chuckled. "They didn't pass the bell test so I failed them."

Sakura nodded. She could have been more sympathetic towards the students but she understood the essential nature of teamwork and Kakashi's reasons for prioritizing it over most other skills. She trusted Kakashi's judgment and assessment just as the Hokage did.

"Maa. I was hoping the Hokage would let me back on the roster. Maybe I should fail a few more and he'll see that I'm not sensei material."

Sakura wanted to laugh but instead yawned delicately behind her hand before speaking tiredly. "You wouldn't do that senpai. There's going to be a group that eventually passes your bell test." If she recalled correctly, Sasuke should be graduating from the Academy soon. Thinking of Sasuke made her think of Itachi and her mental exhaustion returned.

A few short minutes later in comfortable silence and Sakura was in front of her door. "Thank you for walking me home. Good night, senpai."

"Good night, Sakura." She closed the door behind her and dragged her feet to her room, eyes already closed and not bothering to turn on the lights.

Snapping off parts of her uniform, Sakura toppled face first into her sheets and sighed in relief. Had her bed always felt this comfortable?


When she woke the next day feeling more refreshed, Sakura decided she had to see Itachi, let him know she was home safely and tell him she couldn't return his feelings. As she arrived at the Uchiha compound to find him, she saw Sasuke and Shisui training in the courtyard.

The pair turned to her when she walked closer and Sakura answered Shisui's silently inquiring gaze with a small nod and small smile.

"Morning."

"It's 3 in the afternoon." Sakura scratched the back of her head in embarrassment at Shisui's sass. Not counting the hour she took to get ready and eat breakfast, she'd slept twelve hours. That explained why she felt so well rested.

"If you're looking for nii-san, he's on a mission."

Oh.

She tried to keep the disappointment from showing. "Do you know how long his mission will take?"

"He should be back in a few days, maybe a week." Sakura nodded and wondered how she was going to survive the week with the situation unresolved. Even now, she was still second guessing herself. There was a pause as she considered if she should check in with the hospital and see if they needed her or if she should join them for some sparring.

"Are you an idiot or do you just not care about my brother's feelings at all?" Her jade eyes hardened at the audacity of this twerp and she had been about to rip him a new one when he continued.

"I don't understand why he would love you of all people."

"Sasuke!" Shisui's yell did nothing to stop the ground from falling out from under her.

"What?" she asked, still in disbelief.

"He's been in love with you for years. Do you know how hard it is to watch my brother's heart break all because you never give him the time of day?" Sasuke was seething and a chill went through her as her blood pressure dropped.

"Sasuke, shut up. Itachi wouldn't want you to say any of this." Shisui hissed, pulling at his arm to keep the hot headed idiot from exploding at her or from saying any more.

"He would be next to you in an instant if you so much as broke a nail or if you whistled but he's-" Shisui grabbed the front of Sasuke's shirt and hefted him into the air by the collar until the boy's feet no longer touched the ground. Sakura didn't have to look to know both of their sharingans were blazing.

"I said that's enough." The explicit warning in Shisui's voice would have sent a lesser man running.

Sasuke moved his head to the side and sent her a hard glare from around his cousin's frame. "But you don't think he's good enough for you," he continued his previous sentence. "Instead all you want is that sharingan-stealing disgrace, Hatake Kakashi." The contempt in his voice caused her to shiver. The kunoichi had never heard such hatred coming from Sasuke before.

Sakura couldn't think of any words to say in her defense and if she defended Kakashi, it would only cause a bigger problem.

Shisui shook the younger boy until he took his eyes off of Sakura. "Hey! I don't know who or what's been filling you up with all this anger, but you don't talk to Sakura that way." Shisui punctuated his words with a shake. "Understand? She could crush your stupid head with a finger and right now, the only thing stopping me from letting her do just that is the fact that you're my blood." Sakura had never heard Shisui so enraged and she was grateful for his words.

"And don't talk about Kakashi that way. You don't know the man and he didn't steal anything."

Sasuke knocked Shisui's arms away and stalked away as soon as he was released. Shisui watched him go angrily while Sakura stared blankly at Sasuke's retreating back.

There was an ugly, tense silence as the gravity of Sasuke's words hit her and she began to process it.

"I'm sorry, Sakura, I don't know what got into him." Shisui said, shoulders hunched and not looking at her.

She did. Sasuke had watched his beloved brother get hurt time and time again and it had festered into a disdain for her. Because she'd been too blind. Meanwhile, everyone else close to Itachi had known.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Tears gathered in her eyes as she felt like the worst person in the world. She'd been hurting Itachi every day and hadn't even noticed or suspected anything was wrong. How could she even think of herself as a friend to him. That day in the field, Sakura knew Itachi harbored feelings for her but…love?

"Itachi knew you only thought of him as a brother and that you had feelings for someone else. An age difference of five years isn't much." Shisui turned to face her, his sharingan deactivated and expression bleak.

"But he wanted to wait. He wanted to show you the man he would become."

He wanted to be better than Kakashi.

He ran a hand through his short wavy hair. He said the words to provide comfort and alleviate her guilt but it did the opposite.

"He wanted to be worthy of you," Shisui finished.

Then why did she feel so small and inferior.

Sakura never thought of the depth of Itachi's feelings. A stray tear fell down her cheek and her heart ached. She loved him, but it wasn't in the way he wanted her to.

She'd been thinking of him as still being a brother. She had rationalized and dismissed his feelings as just a boyhood crush for an older woman. Sakura had likened his feelings with that of children who would proclaim they would marry their mother or aunt. Because the alternative meant confronting the possibility that her relationship with her closest friends would never be the same again.

Not wanting things to change, Sakura tried to take the easy way out. Another tear fell and she felt Shisui's arms wrap around her trembling frame keeping her standing.

Sakura felt as delicate as her namesake.

"Hey, it's not your fault." His soft spoken words didn't do anything to assuage her guilt. She was terrible. She felt terrible. "He didn't want you to know until he was ready."

"I've been hurting him so much." She gripped the back of Shisui's shirt, crumpling it between her fingers. If Itachi had been home, Sakura would have hurt him again by coming here with her thoughtless words.

She felt Shisui sigh then murmur. "He loves you, Sakura and sometimes love is painful."

But it shouldn't be.

"What I told you before still applies. Don't let his feelings for you dictate what you feel towards him. Don't choose him out of pity or some misplaced feeling of obligation. Because that would only hurt him more." He was right of course.

No matter what she did, she would end up hurting the ones closest to her.


In the days following Sasuke's outburst, Sakura had wanted to talk to him. But she didn't know what to say.

So Sakura did what she did best which was throw herself into her work. She took every ANBU duty except mission work. Anything to stay near the village but keep herself occupied. She spent her days at the hospital and her nights keeping watch or by the Hokage's side.

She was running herself ragged again but she still didn't know what else to do.

Sakura had been in her office at the hospital when she heard a soft knock.

"Come in." Sakura called, looking away from her paperwork to see Itachi walk in and close the door behind him with a soft click.

Her face heated immediately.

She could tell by his appearance he had returned at least an hour ago, had washed then changed into casual attire.

"Itachi." She cleared her throat. "Welcome back. Did you overuse the sharingan?" Sakura didn't know if she could handle being close enough to heal his eyes.

"I heard what happened with my otouto." He took a few steps into the room and stood in front of her desk.

Damn it Shisui.

"I came to apologize for his actions." At her blank stare, he called to her and took a step forward. "Senpai?"

Her blush deepened. Unable to hold his gaze, she looked down at her fidgeting hands. "No." Sakura flinched. That hadn't been what she wanted to say. "I mean, there's no need for you to apologize. Sasuke spoke what he felt I should hear."

"Regardless, he overstepped his bounds." Sakura bit her tongue from asking if Sasuke had been right.

The irony of not being able to meet his gaze after he all but begged her to look at him didn't go over her head. Her emotions were a jumbled mess.

"I'm sorry, senpai." Sakura's head snapped up and she stood abruptly, causing her chair to roll back and preventing Itachi from leaving.

She walked around her desk and met him in the middle of her office. Even with her two inch heels on, he was taller than her but she needed to do this now before she lost her nerve.

"I should be the one to apologize." Sakura pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I've been inconsiderate of your feelings and didn't know I was hurting you. For that, I'm sorry." Sakura steeled herself.

"But I can't return your feelings. Not just because of Kakashi-senpai." She looked to him imploringly, "I only view you as a brother."

Sakura held a breath, waiting for his response. After four long seconds, there was a quick blur of movement before she found herself leaning back against her tidy desk. She placed both hands behind her to keep herself from sprawling over the surface as her feet barely touched the ground and adrenaline coursed through her.

Itachi's lean body caged her in and his broad chest blocked the rest of her office from her view. He was so close, she could smell the scent of his shampoo and feel the heat radiating from him through their clothes.

One of his hands came up to cup her cheek and her pulse jumped. He was a furnace against her.

"Should I tell you how I know you're lying?" He murmured, voice lowered. Sakura didn't have the time to answer before he spoke again.

"You're blushing." He brushed her cheek with his thumb. She felt his calluses more acutely on her smooth skin and the flush deepened.

"Your pulse is racing." His intense dark eyes moved her to neck and his attention to the spot forced her to become aware of the rapid beating of her heart. She could perceive the thumping under the skin of her neck.

"You're sensitive." His other hand trailed down her arm, causing goosebumps and a small shiver to go up her spine. "Everywhere." When he reached her wrist, he moved his hand behind her and pressed a single finger against the small of her back. Sakura arched up, with a small gasp, eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment.

"Did you know, Sakura-senpai, that I've watched you turn down seven men." Of course he would keep count of something embarrassing like that. She didn't even know who he was referring to. Sakura would never do such a thing in front of an audience and Itachi had never mentioned it before.

"You would give them a polite smile but let them down firmly." Her breaths came out in short pants. "Even if you knew them, even if they were your friends, you were precise and unwavering."

She spoke his name breathlessly and watched as his eyes turned red with so little effort that Sakura wondered if he had done so unconsciously. The intensity of his gaze only made her warmer and the knowledge he was memorizing this moment perfectly gave her an odd thrill.

"Your resolute denial of their advances each time was the only thing keeping me from breaking their hand." Itachi hated violence if it could be avoided. The fact that he'd considered harming a fellow shinobi spoke volumes and her eyes widened in surprise.

He searched her eyes with his sharingan. "Your pupils have dilated." His gaze then dipped down and he stared at her lips, as though daring her to contradict his words or willing her to kiss him.

Sakura wetted her lips and Itachi's still red eyes narrowed slightly at the movement. She should push him away and punch him through her door. But when she turned her head up towards him instead, Itachi took it as an invitation and leaned down until their lips met.

She was a woman gone.

It was just a light pressure, Itachi was tender and sweet despite his heated words. He gave her more than enough time to protest or push him away but her body betrayed her.

When he touched her back again, covering the expanse with his palm, she let out a whimpered moan and began kissing him back. Her tongue darted out to lick his lip and she heard what she could only describe as a rumbling growl.

Again. She wanted to hear it again.

He explored her mouth teasingly, inviting her to do the same with his. Trusting him to support her, Sakura tentatively brought her hands up. One arm wrapped around his back to hold herself upright. As her other fingers threaded into his hair next to the elastic keeping it in place.

Itachi pulled her flush against him as the kiss grew more heated. Why didn't this feel wrong? She was so hyper aware of the person in front of her, she couldn't think of anything else.

When he moved away from her lips, she followed him, seeking more of the delicious pressure. But Itachi held her firmly and trailed a series of kisses down her neck then back up again. Sakura was now breathing heavily against his ear, desperate even against the warning bells going off in her head. There was no coming back from this.

When she felt his teeth against her skin, she moaned his name as thoughts of resistance drifted away.

Itachi nipped at the flesh of her ear, eliciting another moan and causing heat to bloom in her belly. The clink of his teeth against her earring was oddly satisfying. "Are you okay with your brother doing this?" He inquired, distracting her by licking the side of her neck and drawing small, wet symbols. She was trembling.

"Would you cling to your brother this sweetly, senpai?" Even now, her hands were holding him closer and her legs had parted to accommodate him and decrease the space between them.

"Would you like to lie to me again?"

Through will power alone, Sakura regained control of herself and pushed him away with her hands against his chest. Itachi acquiesced to her silent request but only released her once she stood on her own, albeit still leaning heavily against her desk.

"I don't want to go back to how things were." He declared, deactivating his sharingan. If he felt any sort of regret for kissing her, he didn't show it. There was a quiet vulnerability in the way he observed her and it made Sakura all the more overwhelmed.

She gave him a strained smile, not trusting herself to speak. The silence stretched on and some of the muddled mess in her head cleared enough for her to string together a coherent thought.

"Why did you allow me to kiss you, Sakura-senpai?" Unwittingly, her fingers clenched into his shirt, no longer pushing him away but keeping him at an arm's length as she composed herself. She could almost believe this hadn't been the first time he kissed a girl. But there was a lingering doubt and uncertainty in his eyes. He was nervous and anxiously awaiting her answer.

"I don't know." Sakura admitted. Her own lips felt foreign to her, too warm and still tingling. All it would take was a small tug and she could taste his lips again. The desire to do so left her arms taut with tension, unsure if she wanted to push or pull.

What was wrong with her. Were her feelings for Kakashi that flimsy? No, she'd had a crush on him for well over a year and she had turned down dates from other men within that time. She knew what she felt for Kakashi. Itachi on the other hand...

Perhaps it was her love for him as a friend even if it wasn't as a younger brother that was confusing her. But the thought of kissing Shisui or Genma didn't invoke any excitement let alone this roaring need. Itachi lit a match and now she was steadily melting from the heat.

A part of her wanted to burn; to be burned by him.

Her nerves still firing, Sakura bit her lower lip to have some semblance of control. Just a small tug...Itachi would indulge in her again. She knew he wanted to, could feel it in the galloping rhythm of his heart against her palms. He was tense, a breath away from taking her lips as if sensing her inner conflict and indecision.

There was a haze over her and Sakura briefly wondered if she'd been drugged. Gods, what was this. Her attention shifted to his lips.

She swore.

Sakura pulled him in but stopped just before contact. Their lips hovered centimeters from touching and she trembled in anticipation but neither of them moved.

"Do you want to kiss me, senpai?" His question sounded anything but innocent. Especially when she felt the air from his words on her lips, making them throb. She should be angry with him for his continued taunting but a part of her enjoyed it as the air charged with tension. It was exciting, addicting, and the dark edge in his question made her aware that he enjoyed this as much as she had.

"Yes," she confessed, watching him as his eyes searched hers for a lie or the 'but.' Sakura could practically see the gears turning in his brilliant mind. He expected her to deny it. Itachi expected to be rejected.

It took all of her will power to let go of his shirt and Itachi leaned back, choosing to give her space. They were both irrevocably changed from this and there was no way to turn back time and pretend this never happened.

He took one of her hands in his, silently asking for her thoughts. His confidence from earlier had chipped a bit and Sakura could tell her answer had thrown him off considerably. There was a hesitance in his touch that hadn't been there before.

"I don't know what I'm feeling right now." She said, honestly. "I don't know if I'll be able to return your feelings in the way that you want." Sakura feared started something that would ultimately hurt the proud shinobi more in the long run. She didn't want to lead him on but something wouldn't allow her to walk away from him.

"I know you still have feelings for Kakashi-senpai." Sakura flinched a little at that. Itachi had said it in a matter of fact tone, there was no pain or anger at her but it made her feel ashamed nevertheless. Whether that was towards Itachi or Kakashi, she couldn't tell.

"I'll make you forget him." His declaration was confident, belying the obvious apprehension he'd felt just moments before. Sakura could tell her answer had given him hope.

Impertinent brat. When did he get so arrogant and sure of himself.

But Sakura admitted she wanted to see more of this side of him and all the others. Because he wasn't just the impassive clan heir or the dispassionate ANBU captain everyone believed him to be.

"Could…" she blushed, not knowing where the idea came from but knowing it was what she wanted. "Could we take this slow? I-I mean."

"Are you suggesting we date?" Sakura nodded hesitantly. If they couldn't go back, then the only way left was forward. Sakura wanted to explore this feeling and give Itachi a proper answer to his confession.

"Yes." She spoke with more conviction this time.

Itachi leaned forward and kissed her yin seal gently. "Anything you want, Sakura-senpai." Her eyes briefly closed at the affectionate action.

"Without the hormones or endorphins from intimate contact." Sakura added as she shooed him away with a good natured smile.

Itachi sighed as he nearly pouted then playfully remarked, "you're so strict."

"There was a time you respected me." Sakura scolded wistfully, remembering when Itachi was an adorable kohai and wasn't this brazen towards her.

"I respect you, Sakura-senpai." Itachi had pierced her with his serious gaze and although those were the words Sakura heard, the meaning behind those words sounded like a confession of his love. The intensity behind those simple words caused a shiver to go down her spine.

Had he always looked at her like this?


A few days after they agreed to date, Sasuke showed up at her door with a proper apology. Sakura easily forgave him, messed up his hair and poked him in the forehead with some chakra. He had grumbled and narrowed his eyes at her in disdain at that but otherwise kept their interactions civil.

When Sasuke would catch them spending an increased amount of time together, he glowered at her just a fraction.

Damn brother complex. The childish side of her wanted to stick her tongue out at him.

The first few dates had been almost painfully awkward for her. It didn't help that Shisui kept offering to "chaperone."

Idiot.

Sakura tried her best to figure out her emotions and Itachi took things slowly as promised.

At first it had been a few meals together, hardly constituting a "date," but it was an opportunity to spend time in each other's presence and Sakura grew increasingly comfortable around Itachi once again. "Training" always ended in lingering touches and although he hadn't touched her inappropriately, Sakura would be warmer than usual by the end.

The occasional shogi match at his house over tea would have her inwardly seething. They were equally matched for the most part but Itachi always managed to have a better match score than her and she could never catch up.

He was patient and understanding, never asking for more or rushing her in her decision. They didn't even see each other every day although Sakura would sometimes find herself wondering what he was doing.

Itachi still referred to her as senpai even though technically he had seniority.

She still saw Kakashi around Konoha but over time, thoughts of him became more infrequent. Sakura was still happy near him, enjoying their conversations and his company, but it was different.

She no longer felt lighter, there was no fluttering in her stomach, just an easy flow. It was like when she was with Shisui. Comfort, friendship, but nothing more.

One sunday afternoon when she was at the store to pick up a new bottle of shampoo, Sakura ran into Kakashi getting groceries. She had purchased it despite Kakashi's joke that Pakkun was using the same shampoo. It was on sale and a best-seller so Sakura had purchased it. They stood in line together and left together, conversing easily.

While walking to their respective homes, she had spotted Itachi walking leisurely away from them headed in the direction of the Uchiha compound. Stating she wanted a second opinion, Sakura waved at her senpai and caught up to Itachi because she didn't want to get a scent he didn't like.

Missions together went smoothly and other people probably wouldn't have noticed a difference in the way they interacted. But Sakura would catch herself standing a bit too close. Her eyes would linger on his retreating back or drop down to glance at his lips. Damn Uchiha always caught her doing those things too and he would send her a small smirk.

There were times she would catch Itachi purposely fighting near her or in a way that would keep her in his eye sight. When they were alone, his fingers would twitch ever so slightly or his eyes would darken and grow serious and she knew he was thinking of touching her cheek or kissing her.

There were rare occasions when Itachi would anonymously send her flowers at the hospital and it never failed to brighten up her day. They were little reminders that he still felt the same and that they weren't just hanging out as friends. The nurses would squeal and gush over gossip on who her admirer could be.

On one occasion he'd sent her red and white camellias. They were absolutely beautiful and Sakura had no idea when he had snuck them into her office. The meanings behind the flowers weren't lost to her either; love and waiting. Sakura glanced at them constantly that day and bit her pen, utterly distracted by the innocent arrangement of flowers on her desk.

After he had been dispatched on a four day mission without her, Sakura received a single lotus flower floating on a short, clear bowl of water two days into his mission.

Far from the one he loves.

Her cheeks were the same shade as her hair that morning and the nurses had begged her to disclose if she was secretly seeing anyone.

The rumors spread like a virus after that.

And by the time Sakura came to terms with her emotions, the conclusion seemed inevitable.


After four months, ten "official" dates, and days spent in each other's company, Sakura finally said the words Itachi waited 3 years to hear.

Never let it be said that Haruno Sakura was easy.

He had walked her to her door after her shift at the hospital and dinner together as he did every chance he could. Her third floor walk-up apartment was fairly close to the hospital and far from the Uchiha compound but Itachi delighted in simply spending time with her.

She had been about to fish her keys from her pocket when Sakura paused. Her face a mask, Sakura summoned all the courage she had to turn and place a chaste kiss on his cheek.

It had been the first time she initiated any intimate contact since the day in her office. She was blushing profusely by the time she stepped back.

"I love you, Itachi." Her declaration was confident but meant just for him.

He would have waited a hundred years more if it meant he could hear her say that again.

Itachi's reaction had been immediate. He'd dreamt about it a million times and worked it through his mind a million more. His body had simply moved.

Pressing her against her door, Itachi captured her lips in a heated kiss against her gasp of surprise and following mewl as she didn't know whether to resist or succumb to his kiss. A dam had broken and Itachi's self control snapped. The background noise of those below faded away.

There was no escape for her now.

After a blissful few minutes of Itachi exploring her lips, Sakura pushed at his wide chest with her hands. He hesitantly took a step backwards, allowing the now disheveled woman to steady herself against her front door.

"Someone might see!" She was panting and looked around for any sign of her neighbors. Sakura didn't need an entire village gossiping about their relationship. She didn't doubt the ability of people to exaggerate a story. Next thing they knew, there would be a rumor that she and Itachi were fornicating on the roof or something equally ridiculous.

"And I need to breathe, Itachi." Her stomach flipped when she noticed his eyes were red. A tremor went through her. It made her self conscious so she moved a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"If we go inside, no one will see and I'm sure I can place my lips elsewhere to allow you to breathe, senpai." His hands came down to rest on her hips and Sakura mentally combusted at his bold suggestion. There was no way she was going to address his comment or let him into her apartment after that.

He was dangerous for her sanity. She was wrong, Shisui had rubbed off on him.

"You don't have to call me senpai anymore." She cleared her throat, her slender neck was already flushed along with her ears. It made Itachi want to lick and nip at those areas to hear the sounds she would make. She looked so incredibly tempting and he barely refrained from running his fingers through her short hair and pulling her back into his arms. Even in the dimly lit corridor, Itachi could see the blush adorning her ivory cheeks. He would never tire of making her flustered, her attention attuned to only him.

"And I won't refer to you as my adorable kohai." Sakura smirked.

"How about 'anata'?" Her fumbling was so adorable that he couldn't keep himself from capturing her lips again. Itachi wanted to see her in clothes adorned with the Uchiha fan and in his home.

Gods, how he yearned to hear her call him 'anata' and to wake up next to her. He would make her a thousand shirts and dresses in red if it meant she would walk around with the Uchiha fan stamped all over them. The secrecy of their relationship had chipped away at his patience. Even now, there were men in Konoha who would leer or ogle her in his company. It had taken all of his will power to refrain from possessively placing his hand on her hip or shoulder or from threatening the men with his sharingan.

"Prepare yourself, Haruno Sakura." When he released her lips again, her glazed eyes were half hooded and she melted in his arms.

"For what?" She asked, her lips were wet and swelling from his kiss. When she licked them, his eyes darkened, imagining her tasting him on her tongue. Sakura was either the biggest temptress in Konoha, or she truly did not understand how seductive she was being.

"I'll be pursuing you relentlessly." He said, with intent.

Sakura gave a wry laugh, and gained her bearings. "Wasn't that what the past four months were?"

"I don't think you understand the meaning of the word 'relentlessly.'"

"I do!" Her indignant cry caused his chest to rumble in a chuckle. He couldn't get enough of her.

She was going to be the death of him.

His voice and gaze softened. "The last few months have been your chance to get away from me." He watched her closely with his next words. "There's no getting away from me now, Sakura."

His sharingan caught the small gulp she made as well as the rapid beating of her pulse. The way he said her name without an honorific had her hyper aware of him and the male pride that ran through him couldn't be stopped. She'd chosen him and he would ensure she never regretted this moment.

He brought her left hand up and turned it in his larger one so that their palms were facing. Itachi dipped his head down and kissed her ring finger, staking claim to it and making his intentions perfectly clear to the still blushing kunoichi.

He leaned in to nip at the side of her neck, causing her to yelp and straighten in shock. "Good night, Sakura."

"G-good night, Itachi."

He turned and took a single step when he felt a tug at the bottom of his shirt. Itachi's now black eyes looked to Sakura questioningly.

Her eyes were wide in shock and she hastily let go of him. "I-I'm sorry!"

Sakura scrambled for her keys and turned to her door. It took her three tries to get the right key into the deadbolt and the door knob.

"Don't laugh at me," she growled but her frazzled actions were adorable and calmed some of his own insecurities.

Before she could turn the door knob, he embraced her from behind, trapping her arms. "I'm not laughing at you." He said seriously. She fitted so securely within his arms that he didn't want to release her. Itachi was holding himself back for her sake and because he didn't want to appear too eager for a physical relationship but there was only so much he could endure.

"You just make me happy." She shivered in his arms, embarrassingly aware that they were pressed together intimately once again. "I won't stay. No matter how cutely you ask." He nipped at her ear and she barely refrained from moaning. The area was highly sensitive from all the blood that had rushed there and the feel of his teeth on her soft flesh was oddly sensuous.

"That wasn't what I was doing." Believing he was just teasing her again, Sakura shoved his arms away and opened her door angrily in denial.

Itachi smirked when he realized what she wanted. She really was too easy to read and too easy to appease. "I love you too, Sakura."

She stilled, one foot past the threshold of her doorway and turned to him with a brilliant smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, Itachi." He placed a soft kiss on her yin seal and was rewarded by Sakura rising up on her toes to give him a sweet peck on the cheek.

"Hn." The pinkette closed the door behind her and Itachi listened to the muffled sounds of Sakura taking her heels off before he left.


Omake/Extra

Shisui and Sakura were on a two-man mission when she had gotten herself stabbed through the gut. It hadn't been pretty and wouldn't have happened if she was in her ANBU attire. Unfortunately, the mission had called for more secrecy and no one could know Konoha nin were in the area, let alone two ANBU members.

Shisui quickly killed the other hostiles before rushing to support her which wasn't strictly necessary as she could have continued to fight.

In fact, Sakura could have healed her wound in her sleep and had done so without a problem. She even had an abundance of chakra and her yin seal was hidden behind a small layer of genjutsu. There had been no poison or other injuries to heal. Within minutes Sakura was standing with no evidence of her wound other than her torn shirt and the surrounding blood stains.

But Shisui's overly concerned expression and staring began to make her anxious. His face was off-putting.

"What?" She snapped, wondering if he knew something she didn't.

"Itachi's gonna kill me." The poker-faced answer made her want to roll her eyes. If she couldn't feel a difference between where she had healed and the rest of her skin, Itachi couldn't either.

"It's fine." She assured, "Itachi won't even notice." Shisui shot her a dubious look. "It's perfectly healed!" He was being silly.

Shisui didn't say any more and they continued with their mission. She knew her friend was counting down the days until she retired from active ANBU duties and became a jounin. Not only would it be one less thing for Shisui and Itachi to worry about but it would mean the Uchiha could officially announce an engagement.

The Uchiha had been surprisingly receptive to Sakura joining the clan. It was no secret Mikoto adored her but Sakura hadn't expected the elders to agree so wholeheartedly. She didn't know if Itachi had a hand in it or if it was due to her chakra control and tutelage under Tsunade but she had been welcomed by the elders.

If Sakura didn't know better, she would think the elders were more eager for the marriage than Itachi was and it made her nervous. Their expectations were so damn high, she could only imagine what they would expect from a child with a sharingan and perfect chakra control. Those old farts didn't want her, they wanted her genes and uterus. But the kunoichi figured it was better than their disapproval.

Sakura sighed. She might as well say goodbye to her clothes now since Shisui was going to want to get rid of the evidence.

Idiot.

When Sakura returned to Konoha a month later with Shisui, she had to see Itachi the moment she returned and not a second later. The pair agreed it was too late in the evening to bother the Hokage so they made their way to the Uchiha compound under the cover of darkness.

The sound of crickets chirping innocently in the background, Shisui retired to his house and Sakura continued forward.

Sneaking into Itachi's room had been easy enough. Ever vigilant and a light sleeper, Itachi awakened and sat up as soon as she stepped foot inside.

A kunai in his hand and his sharingan blazing in the dark, his frown turned adorably confused at her presence in his room at two in the morning. The moon illuminated enough for her to notice he was shirtless and his hair was untied.

She dropped her pack with a soft rustle next to the now closed window.

"Sakura?" He whispered, placing his kunai on his nightstand and standing to meet her. Sakura all but leaped into his arms, holding him close and breathing in his familiar scent. She'd been gone too long.

"Tadaima." Sakura said, her lips brushing against his firm chest.

Itachi wrapped his arms around her and rested his cheek on the top of her head, surrounding her.

"Okaeri." She sighed in content at his answering greeting.

"I missed you." Sakura mumbled and felt his arms tighten around her securely.

"You shouldn't be here." He chastised halfheartedly. If the elders or his parents found out, the engagement would turn into an immediate wedding and there would be a very lengthy lecture on propriety.

Her green eyes mischievous, Sakura looked up at him but didn't release him. "Then why did you spend a whole afternoon teaching me how to sneak in here without being seen?"

Itachi only grinned and dipped his head to claim her lips. The tension he'd held melted as Sakura reached up to meet him, sliding her fingers through his loose hair.

Their kiss was languid and lazy, becoming reacquainted with one another after so long.

When they finally broke apart, Itachi closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against hers. Sakura's own eyes fluttered closed and she smiled softly.

"Do you want me to leave?" He shook his head, rubbing lightly against her yin seal.

"Stay." It sounded like a request framed as an order, every bit the ANBU captain even on his days off and she couldn't help but be amused.

Sakura grinned then leaned back, gesturing to the window.

"But if the elders find ou-" Her teasing was cut off by Itachi yanking her down onto his bed by the wrist. Sakura barely contained her gasp or desire to laugh.


Holy shit, this fic just ran away from me.

I don't know if you guys have heard about the difference between an architect and a gardener for writers, but basically:

an architect sets everything out and pretty much has the entire story mapped out before putting pen to paper. A gardener will start with and idea and let the story progress organically. Even if they might have a final picture, a gardener doesn't know exactly how the characters get to the finale.

I'm more gardener than architect. It's why scenes don't come to me in order. This one for the most part was pretty linear and the scenes helped me get to the desired end.

But, I had an image of Sakura grabbing Itachi's shirt and even I was like, 'why'd you do that, the scene is over, please let me end this.' Heedless of my pleas, Sakura grabbed Itachi.

I kept writing and basically came at an eureka right when I wrote down that Itachi did realized why she did it. Sakura just told him she loved him and throughout the entire story, people have been telling her he loves her, she knows he loves her, but Itachi himself hasn't said the words to her up until this final point.

Sakura gets the courage to confess to him and he kisses her, all but declares he's going to marry her, but he hasn't said it yet. She just wanted to hear the words from him so she grabs him, as if to say, 'is that it?' and he misconstrues it because he's a guy.

Side note: The first thing that came to mind would have forced this into a series and I stamped that down hard. It was that Sakura and Kakashi were already in a secret relationship and the person to appear in the first scene would have been him instead of Shisui. I'm very satisfied with how this story turned out as a two-shot.

I may add extra scenes as separate chapters if the muse hits so if you like this AU feel free to alert it just in case.

Please review and feel free to give me suggestions on what you would like to see in this AU. I really had a lot of fun writing this.