Theme #3: Obsession

Setting: AU


Ino didn't care what Sakura said.

She was not, by any means, obsessed.

What Ino had for Itachi Uchiha was not obsession; what she had for him was simply a healthy interest, one that a person would expect from someone her age. After all, what healthy teenage girl does not check out someone she finds attractive from time to time? And really, having an interest in someone as breathtaking as Itachi should come naturally to just about everyone (in Ino's biased opinion), what with his clean cut features, beautifully shaped eyes which were framed delicately by long lashes, and cupid bow lips. There was just nothing unattractive about him, be it on the inside or the outside.

In short, he was gorgeous.

So really, Sakura's accusation had not basis whatsoever.

Absolutely none.

All of this, while Ino shifted her position somewhat from where she sat perched on a tree branch several feet from Itachi's bedroom window, a pair of binoculars held firmly in hand.

Just because Ino had a habit of watching him every once in awhile.

It wasn't like Forehead had ever seen him topless before; therefore, the girl really didn't know what she was talking about.

So just like Ino had done every Monday and Wednesday at seven in the morning for the past month, she was currently awaiting her next healthy dose of her favourite eye candy. And speak of the devil, here he was now- Through the gap left between the curtains, the long-haired man in question had just come into view, just about ready to change his clothes, a scene that Ino would surely appreciate. By now, the fair-haired girl had well memorized his daily schedule, something that wasn't particularly difficult to do due to their houses being relatively close to one another's, as well have picked up on a few of his habits here and there.

Normally, Itachi would be up and about at around six, sometimes five in the morning – he was quite the early bird – even though he usually headed to college a bit later, at ten o'clock sharp. He would return home by six thirty, and he had a habit of staying up late in order to pour over thick volumes of books (she supposed that he had to maintain his position as the top student of his college, eh?). Other things that she had found out about him was that he liked going for quiet walks in the morning; he had a cat who clung to him nearly as much as his bratty baby brother did; he seemed to only hang out with one friend, a curly-haired man who had the tendency to tease him endlessly; he had a preference for onigiri and didn't seem too fond of steak; and when his mother was not home, he would be the one to take over the duty of cooking for the family. The list of what she knew about him just went on and on.

All of the above, Ino had found out on her own – a product from her endeavours – and without getting caught. Not once.

It made her feel like a private investigator – oh, my goodness, was he already taking his shirt off? Where was her camera when she needed it? – and a damned good one at that, to be able to get away with this from someone as observant as Itachi—

"Keeping watch for weasels again, Ino-san?"

Needless to say, Ino made a noise that was akin to a wounded animal being strangled, eyes wide as she stared at him incredulously; she had not missed the implications in his words.

He knew?!

Itachi only smiled pleasantly – regretfully, he was no longer topless – at her, hands placed on the window sill. A gentle breeze swept past, raven hair that framed his features no doubt tickling his skin slightly. Whether or not he was irritated with her for spying on him on more than one occasion, she couldn't tell. Itachi was never easy to read.

All Ino knew was that she wanted to drop off the branch and have the ground swallow her whole.

"So did you manage to catch sight of any? You've been sitting there for quite some time now."

If possible, the flush on her cheeks darkened a notch.

Not about to stick around for much longer, Ino promptly excused herself - "Oh, look at the time, ehehe! I should be heading back home to fix breakfast for my dad! Sorry, Itachi-san!" - and climbed down the tree in a blink of an eye, making a beeline for her own home while completely and utterly unaware of the silent laughter that now resided in Itachi's eyes.

That was the last time she was going to watch him in a while.

...

Or maybe she just needed to find another branch to perch on.


Dior: Based on one of my RPs with an Ino on Tumblr~ Lots of love to the mun of baby's girlfriend. *heartheart* c;