I need a (Wo)man
Summary: Being a Cancer and so utterly sentimental, one would have thought that they would have had Sasuke Uchiha all figured out. He was an emotional crybaby with a brother complex and an arguably irritating need to be the best of the best. So why was it so damn hard for him to love a woman? Maybe his brother knew and had an idea on how….
Chapter Two
Sakura stared at the man before her with mixed emotions.
She was uncertain on whether to fear his abrupt appearance or if she should throw a horde of questions at him. He had come here to obviously seek some answers, and since Sasuke wasn't here, it looked like she was going to have to be the one to deliver them. What she knew, anyways.
" Sasuke's not here," Sakura blurted out, clutching the bedsheets around her tightly.
She felt as if Itachi had witnessed her in the nude, which she wasn't completely, but knowing that someone had been watching you sleep left her a little weirded out.
" He's on a mission, he's going to return in two days," She continued, analyzing Itachi's expressionless face.
The empty expression on his face remained. " So it seems."
" I don't mean to pry but, well, what exactly are you doing here?" Sakura addressed the elephant in the room. " Last time I checked...you were dead?"
Itachi nodded. " Yes, I had thought that as well. I have not returned via jutsu, as my entire body has materialized with no alterations. I have not been given any orders, which makes me come to believe that I am in full possession of my body."
" What! That's crazy!" Sakura exclaimed. " So you're telling me that you came back from the dead? Without any crazy guy controlling you like a puppet?"
Itachi nodded. " That seems to be the case."
" Who else knows?" Sakura asked, the idea of Itachi returning to Konoha and somehow assimilating back into the village too great of an image for her to manifest.
" I have informed Lord Hokage of my presence, and while my reappearance has mystified us all, for now, she has issued my return to the Uchiha compound. Sasuke has been reinstated as a Konoha ninja, and until any further notice, I was to live with him once again." Itachi informed her.
Sakura was at a lost for words. " Th-that makes sense, I suppose."
" Are you packing?" Itachi asked her, the conversation shifting from his experience to hers.
" Y-yes, I was packing up but then it seems that I fell asleep in the midst of it," She replied sheepishly. " I'm sure Sasuke will be back soon, he probably received word of your return and is probably coming back early."
Itachi nodded. " Where are you heading off to?"
" I'm moving in with a couple of friends," Sakura supplied, still a little bewildered by the continued flow of the exchange.
" Do you need help packing?" Itachi asked.
Sakura swore that her eyes were probably bugging out from her head. Since when did an Uchiha, any Uchiha, offer anyone else a simple gesture of kindness? Something simple like packing? Becoming a hated martyr seemed to be more their style.
" N-no, that's fine. I've packed mostly everything, I just need to pack a couple of my last belongings. Shouldn't take longer than ten minutes to finish. Sorry for the clutter," She said in a hurry.
" No, I don't mind. Makes the place seem a little more lively." Itachi replied.
Huh? Lively? Since when did Uchihas care about sprucing up the place to not seem menacing?
The longer Itachi looked at her, the more uncomfortable Sakura became. What would Tsunade do? Sakura wondered.
Her teacher would probably dismiss him brusquely and tell him to get out. She still had eye crust on her face for god's sake. But despite becoming stronger than her teacher, Sakura was a bit wary at the thought of ordering the elder Uchiha sibling around. Even with Sasuke, you had to phrase things to make it seem like it was all his idea to get him to agree to do anything. Tch. Damn Uchihas and their pride.
Instead, Sakura had opted for the cowardly route.
" W-well, I should be getting ready." Sakura said hurriedly, removing herself from the bed, her feet landing on the floor clumsily. She grabbed a towel and made a mad dash for the bathroom attached to the room. She bowed before him. " I'll see you around, I guess!"
Itachi raised an eyebrow, both mystified and intrigued by the pinkette's behavior.
" So you're telling me, that Itachi Uchiha was staring at you when you woke up?" Ino asked incredulously.
Sakura, Ino, and Tenten all were gathered around Sakura's spacious new room, several cardboard boxes spread out and about, a few opened and a few yet to be opened. The girls had taken a break from helping Sakura move into her new bedroom to have a quick snack break and gossip session, and boy, did Sakura have news.
Sakura nodded curtly, somewhat still self-conscious. Sasuke had been the only person to see her so completely unguarded. She furrowed her brow, upset that she had become comfortable in the Uchiha residence.
" Oh my god, how embarrassing," Ino squealed. " He probably saw the drool you always leave on the pillow."
Sakura's eyes widened. Shit, she hadn't thought of that. " Ahh!" Sakura shrieked, covering her face with her hands. " That is so goddamn embarrassing! I don't even know how long he was standing there watching me."
" You know, that's kinda creepy," Tenten chimed in. " But not as bad as it could have been. Uchihas are fucking hot."
" That makes it even worse!" Sakura exclaimed. " the fact that he saw me like that!"
" I imagine that the brothers will soon be reunited," Tenten continued, sipping her mango drink. " Damn, two Uchiha men running the women of the village wild."
" As if," Sakura commented sourly. " They seem to not be interested in women. Or at least, Sasuke wasn't."
" Itachi's another story though. Maybe they have the whole, evil savior thing going on, but I bet you a hundred bucks that Itachi isn't as cold-hearted." Ino added. " Besides, he did offer you help to pack up."
" Yeah right!" Tenten chortled. " Don't tell me you haven't heard the rumours of how fast he was, Ino. I heard that he could charm the panties off a woman in less than half a day."
" That would have been so awkward," Sakura groaned. " Imagine if Sasuke hadn't left for his mission and he had walked in on Itachi and me packing my bras and panties together."
" Maybe that would have made the emotionless bastard jealous," Ino snickered. " You know, seeing his brother making a move on his lady like that."
" I'm not his lady!" Sakura shouted hotly.
Tenten and Ino both laughed at her expense, making Sakura feel increasingly small.
" Ugh you two are so annoying!" She shouted frustratedly, tossing her pillows at the both of them.
Her two friends squealed with laughter, but they all paused at the sound of the doorbell.
" Who could that be?" Tenten wondered aloud.
" Did you order anything?" Sakura looked at her two new roommates, searching for a response.
Ino shook her head. " I don't think so."
" Maybe it's some bratty kids playing ding dong ditch," Sakura suggested. " Unless any of you guys are expecting guests."
Ino and Tenten simultaneously shook their heads.
" Go answer it Sak,"Ino shoved Sakura off the bed.
" Why do I have to?" Sakura whined. " I only just became a part of this household today!"
" Even more reason for you to answer the door," Tenten countered.
Sakura shot her roommates a scornful look and then sighed when she heard the clear ring of the doorbell, reminding them all that they had a visitor.
" I'm coming, I'm coming," Sakura said as she made her way down the hall.
She opened the door, not knowing what to expect.
Maybe a delivery? Maybe a nosy neighbor who had heard the commotion of her moving in and decided to drop by and give her a housewarming present? People still do that nowadays, right?
Whatever she had thought, it turned out to be the last person she expected at the door.
" Itachi?"
The elder Uchiha stared down at her with his piercing obsidian eyes. His lips were formed in a straight line, and Sakura thought he looked displeased. Or at least uncomfortable. What other expression could Itachi Uchiha have made standing at her front door?
" You left a few items at the compound. I believe they are yours." He lifted up a plastic bag.
" Oh!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise.
What a smooth exit. Honestly, she was a mess. Itachi probably thought she was the most careless and inept person in the world. No wonder his brother didn't want to define anything with her. How could she call herself a respectable kunoichi if she couldn't even organize her belongings.
" What was it?" She asked curiously.
Itachi remained silent and the moment soon became awkward.
Sakura peered inside the bag and she blushed furiously once she realized what the contents were. She recognized her cherry red bra and panty set tucked away amongst other things, like towels and a toothbrush.
She had been certain that she had packed away her intimate belongings first.
Ahh.
Realization soon dawned on her and she recalled that she had worn that set under her clothing yesterday, and she must have taken her bra and panties off last night before she fell into her slumber. Wearing tight underwear and a constricting bra made her uncomfortable, and she always made sure to take them off before she slept. Sometimes she did it when she was half-asleep, and that must have been exactly what she did for them to end up in the bag she was holding now.
No wonder Itachi looked mildly uncomfortable when she asked what it was.
" I'm sorry!" She bowed immediately.
" It was no trouble," He replied coolly. " I am a grown man Sakura."
That thought hadn't occurred to her. Of course. Itachi was freaking 27 years old. Maybe it was because everyone she knew had been so consumed with the thought of finding Sasuke all those years and training for the inevitable war. Now that there was a calm finally, her friends had began exploring each other, and nearly all of them had crossed the line. Even Hinata and Naruto. Except her and Sasuke. They had been the two most separated from the idea of physical connection and pleasure. Sakura knew Itachi, however, had no such qualms about women. Unlike Sasuke, he was notoriously known amongst the women of the village, and who knows how many other women he had met when he was a part of the Akatsuki. Of course he had to indulge.
" R-right!"
God. She felt like a little girl. She was 22 for god's sake. A 22 year old virgin.
" Is there anything else I can help you with, Itachi?" Sakura asked, noticing that he was still standing before her despite her already retrieving her items.
She stared at Itachi, searching for the answer. Itachi looked like he knew what he wanted to say, but it seemed that it was difficult for the words to come out.
" What are you doing tomorrow?"
" E-excuse me?" Sakura stuttered, not believing her ears.
Surely, the elder Uchiha wasn't asking her out right now, was he? Wow. That infinitely faster than Sasuke. Maybe the rumours of Itachi being aware about women were right.
" It seems that Sasuke is still tangled up with his mission. He will be returning home tomorrow. It's been four years since I've seen him. I was wondering if you could enlighten me on how he has been doing?"
Oh.
Of course.
Why else would he seek her out?
" Are you sure you want to ask me?" Sakura retorted. " I think Naruto would have a wealth of information about Sasuke."
" Yes he would," Itachi agreed. " When it comes to his skills and his quest for redemption. But when it comes to how he is on his day to day life, I think that you would hold more information than Naruto would. You did live with him for six months, after all."
That she did.
" Ok sure. I have a shift at the hospital tomorrow. But I finish at 7." Sakura agreed. " You can meet me there, if you want."
There was nothing wrong with meeting Itachi.
" Sounds good. I'll pick you up from there." He looked at her for confirmation.
" Sure," She nodded. " I'll see you then."
" See you tomorrow. Have a good night, Sakura." Itachi bid his farewell, and in an instant he was gone.
Sakura blinked.
What an odd predicament fate had put her in.
Sakura closed the door, only to be met with Ino and Tenten's shit-eating grins.
" Oh my fucking god bitch, you have a date with Itachi Uchiha!"
A/N: To clarify, this story does happen in the shinobi world, post-war. It does however, give a deeper look in the nature of Sasuke and Sakura's relationship, since their get together seemed a bit..lackluster. We never see what Sasuke thinks in terms of romance, and with this story I want to highlight that.