Ch 4

She sat up and smiled, he was sleeping in the chair again. She had never seen him in a bed. She stood and took the blanket laying it over him. His eyes sprung open and he looked at her warily then calmed. "It's okay I just wanted you to be warm." He sighed and took his hand away from his Kunai. She raised a brow. He coughed and she frowned. "You're really sick aren't you." He frowned and shook his head.

"I'm fine." She frowned and refused to be denied. She used her medical jutsu and he felt better. She smiled at him and moved away.

He watched her as she left to start breakfast and tried to remind himself why this was a bad idea. He figured he would check on her patient. He walked in and saw that he was sleeping. He opened his eyes slowly. "Hey good morning."

"How are you feeling?" He laughed.

"Fantastic thanks to her." He stood and walked to the dresser pulling out his shirt. He yanked it over his head. "I still can't believe she saved me."

"I know…"

"You know what I think." He looked at Itachi and smiled. "I think she's saving you too." Itachi just rolled his eyes.

"I'm beyond help." He walked away.

Everything was very quiet. After a week of rest. Kisame was feeling much better. Tenchi and Itachi were practicing and he was watching sitting on the stairs. She stopped and looked at him. "How do you feel?"

Itachi just watched her. He was pretty sure he knew what she had in mind. Kisame smiled at her. "I feel great."

"Good come here and try to kill me." Kisame frowned.

"I don't like the sound of that." She grinned.

"Well I fought against him so much I want to see if I can hold my own against someone I'm not so used to." He nodded.

"I can understand that. But, you're really small and my sword really isn't the kind to just well it would be really dangerous. She sighed.

"I'm not afraid of your sword but, if it makes you feel better don't use it." He sighed and leaned the sword against the wall. He stepped to her and looked down she was so tiny. He stood at least a foot and half taller than her. "I won't break you had better attack me or I'll attack you." She pulled up her hands. They had worked on infusing a blade with chakra and she had a Kunai that had been fashioned for that purpose she infused it. "You really should use your sword."

He frowned. He looked at Itachi who threw him a sword. Kisame caught it and smiled. This was better. She grinned and attacked him with a fury. He had to step back and parry her thrusts and, he realized quickly that he was really going to have to fight her or look like a fool.

She leapt through the air and landed behind him he spun and met her. She laughed and they went back and forth finally he had her cornered and she had to yield. "You got me." She laughed.

He looked at Itachi and met his eyes. Itachi smiled. She ran upstairs laughing. "I'll go fix dinner."

"She has no idea how good she is does she?" Itachi grinned.

"I told you she was a quick study." Kisame was breathing hard and sweating.

"Well you were right. Or Samheda has made me lazy. She came very close to hitting me and never touched me. She is deadly accurate but, never even considered actually making contact." Itachi smiled.

"She doesn't have it in her to hurt someone. I'm not sure she'll be able to do it if the time comes but at least she'll know how." They walked up the stairs and sat talking quietly while she cooked.

Kisame left after a while he wanted to go and see some old friends and tell them about Kiramaru. They would be pleased to hear of his demise.

The weather was turning warm and it was time to start working on the garden again. She pulled her cloak around her and walked outside. He sat on the bench and watched her. She had been here almost a year. He smiled. He didn't know what he would do if she weren't here.

She felt him and looked. "These flowers are going to be huge this year." She offered; just making conversation. His eyes were red and smoldering. She blushed and looked away. He had started looking at her like that but, if she kissed him he would just kiss her in return, smile against her lips and pull away. And he was getting sicker. It frightened her. She was afraid for him. But, she could keep him healthy.

She sighed, if she wanted this to move on to something else she would just have to do this herself. She sat there and contemplated the way to seduce the most stubborn man born. Too bad she knew nothing about seduction.

She smiled to herself; there was a book on everything under the sun surely there was one on that.

That night she went to the library. She picked up a likely book The cover had a beautiful woman on it in the arms of a strange looking man of course she was afraid that probably she was biased. She was pretty sure Itachi would always be the most beautiful man in the world in her mind.

She opened it and started reading. The heroine was kidnapped by a pirate. She frowned. As she read she noticed that the pirate was very aggressive and dominant. Well this wasn't the right one at all. How could anyone fall in love with a lawless pirate.

She shut the book but the thought sunk in and she laughed. Well maybe she could understand that part. She sighed and picked up another likely one. She turned it over and read the back.

A noble woman wants a husband. She finds the one she wants and has to trick him into loving her. That sounds better. She opened it and started reading.

She smiled as she closed the book a few hours later. Some of that was unnerving but it was helpful. She stood and turned and Itachi stood in the doorway. She flushed. "Oh."

He frowned why did she look guilty. He raised a brow. She ran to him and smiled. "Sorry I forgot all about dinner." She slipped past him and ran up the stairs.

He frowned and walked past her to the books piled on the table she picked one up and his eyebrow rose again. Romance novels. This could be a problem. He opened it up to a random page and paled. Good lord what was she reading? That was scandalous. He looked at the stairs why would she look so guilty reading that? He frowned and walked up the stairs.

He walked in and she was cooking frantically. He walked up behind her and the image in the book downstairs still fresh in his mind. He pictured her face bliss filled and he mentally groaned. He had enough to torture himself without that mental image. He looked at his hands that were reaching towards her and cursed them turning away. He walked out and she looked behind her to his receding form. What in the world was that? She had just had a vision of…She blushed just thinking of it. Hadn't she read that.

Perhaps this hadn't been a good idea now she kept thinking of him in the place of the hero. His hands his lips. Oh…she shook her head, this was bad.

He watched her from across the table. All the moments where he'd accidentally thought of her. Of what it would be like to hold her and make love to her. All them were revolving in his head. It was like he was in some kind of genjutsu. That was what it felt like. He couldn't get past it.

She couldn't even meet his eyes. If she did she would blush and look away. By the time they finished washing the dishes both of them were losing it. They hurriedly left the room each going to their own area of the house.

She decided to go and change the sheets in the master bedroom. They hadn't been changed since Kisame had left. She ripped the sheets off and grabbed some fresh ones. She tucked the sheets in and made the bed. She smiled it really was beautiful.

Itachi watched her; she really did love this place. She had cleaned and polished all of the furniture and the sheets were bright white. He looked at the bed and imagined her in it. He turned and left quickly. This was going to kill him. He went and sat down in his chair and tried to forget her soft eyes and midnight hair.

She stepped to the door and saw him sitting there his eyes closed. He looked so…She cursed herself for reading those stupid books. Damn it. She went to her room to lay down.

She tossed and turned all night. All she could think of was him. He watched her frown and roll. How easy it would be to slip into that bed and pull her tight against him. He could just kiss her and tempt her and he knew that she would be his. He turned and left.

Why did he do this to himself? He stood in front of the fire and wondered what he was going to do? They had been tiptoeing around each other for a week. She was trying her hardest to pretend he wasn't a few feet away.

He could feel the warmth of her. He was having a harder and harder time finding reasons to not do what he wanted.

She sat there and wondered if you could die from wanting. She glanced at him and his eyes were on the fire. She watched him and her heart clenched. His eyes met hers. They looked at each other for a long moment.

She shivered under his scrutiny. He just watched her debating. Then he turned to leave. She knew she had to do something. She reached for his hand before he could get away. He froze. "Tenchi."

She looked up at him as he slowly turned. "Itachi, I know you want me. I can see it; I can feel it." His eyes closed and he sighed.

"That isn't the point. We both know what my life is about and I don't want to do that to you." She smiled.

"I know that's how you feel but, I just keep thinking that I only have a short time with you and I don't want to waste it." She touched his face. "I love you." She knew she wasn't going to win this time. He looked too determined. She let him go and sighed.

He pulled her close and held her. "I just don't know what the right thing is."

"I know." She shivered in his arms. He pulled away.

She turned. "I'm going to bed." She walked down the hall and looked at her door. She frowned for some reason she had a feeling she needed to sleep in the Master bed. She didn't know why she just did. She shrugged. She went into the big room and climbed up onto the big bed. It was really soft. She sighed as she was swallowed in the soft feather mattress. "This is really nice."

She closed her eyes and felt so relaxed she hadn't felt this ready for sleep in over a week. She sighed and drifted.

He walked down the hall to check on her as he did every night. She wasn't there. He frowned. He opened his mind and stepped back a few paces he pushed the door to the Master bedroom open and saw her. Why had she decided to sleep in here? He crept to her side and looked down at her. She was so pretty. Her face was peaceful. She smiled and whispered his name. Was she dreaming of him?

He had no idea how long he stood there. He couldn't seem to leave. He watched her eyes open slowly. She looked at him, her eyes soft. She never spoke she just watched him.

He touched her face and she turned into his hand kissing his palm. He felt a tremble and was surprised at himself. His brow furrowed and he watched her, could he stop himself anymore? He didn't think so. He wanted her and she wanted him. He had fought against this but he couldn't fight anymore. She searched his eyes. He closed them and felt the bed shift by his legs when his eyes opened, she was sitting in front of him. Her knees touching his thighs. He looked down at her and she blushed and looked away. He smiled. Now she's shy. He pulled her chin up and kissed her gently. She whimpered and he deepened the kiss. If he was going to do this he was going to do it right.

He pulled her to her feet and, kissed her again as his hands slid over her she trembled; he smiled, never in his life had something like this meant so much. He hadn't been a monk but, he hadn't allowed himself to feel for anyone. He slipped the gown she wore, off her silky shoulders listening to the whisper as it fell to the ground she stood before him. She would have been nervous but, when he looked at her she only felt privileged and wanted; like she was the luckiest woman that could have ever lived.

He watched her with awe. She was the most precious thing he could have ever known. She watched him with love and understanding and a need that was as strong as his. Her small hands moved up his chest then down, around his waist. He helped her pull the shirt over his head. Then she smiled and kissed his chest over his heart. "I love you." She whispered.

He closed his eyes. This wasn't right he didn't deserve it but, he wanted it and his heart wouldn't let him stop. Not anymore. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply never had he really let himself kiss her but, now he did with passion and wanting. They slid to the bed he let his pants join the pile and following her. He looked down at her, his hands on either side of her face. "You are so beautiful." He kissed her forehead. "I have wanted you for so long."

"I was always yours." She smiled and touched his cheek.

He leaned down and kissed her letting her feel his weight and she shivered. A small whimper as she felt the length of him against her. He slid knowing hands down her body and she gasped. He touched lightly. She was nervous; innocent he slid his fingers over her and she cried out at the feeling so sharp and wonderful it was terrifying. She shook with need and, whispered his name as he kissed her. He watched her eyes. His spun. She looked in his now red eyes. "Please." She arched against him. He kissed her with slow deliberation as his hands memorized her and brought her to the brink. Then he backed off and smiled at her unhappy whimper. He looked in her eyes.

He watched her and slid into her slowly shaking with the effort, what he wanted was to bury himself in her until he couldn't think anymore. But, he wouldn't hurt her. He slid his fingers over her sensitive flesh again teasing her and she moaned He continued to touch her until she arched and cried out then he thrust into her as she shook with the spasms of her release. He froze and let her get used to the feeling. She opened her eyes and watched him. She whispered his name but, her face was still filled with need, she moved against him. He moved slowly and she moaned. He felt so wonderful she never knew this was what it would be like. Her visions didn't have anything on this and those books seemed like a pale shadow. She met him and pushed when he did, feeling more than she thought she was capable of. She felt herself winding up again and this time he growled when she screamed as wave after wave rolled over her. He hovered over her for a short time and then slid beside her and pulled her close. He kissed her damp hair and shuddered with the emotions that were threatening to overflow.

She sighed happily and kissed his hand. He just held her and they fell into a deep sleep.

She made breakfast and smiled at the arms that wrapped slowly around her. She leaned back. "Good morning." The lips at her ear whispered. She shivered.

He pulled away and sat down. They ate breakfast. Then she went to her garden and he went to the training area.

She walked into the house and smiled. She had found some wild orchids and had transplanted them she was fairly sure that they would live. She saw him standing touching one his family crests they were on the wall at intervals. His hand slid over it and his eyes were closed his face filled with pain. She sighed covering his hand with hers; he opened his eyes and looked at her hand. His eyes met hers. He watched her as his hand moved to her waist he slid her over until she was in front of him. She looked up at him and felt her stomach clench his eyes were red and almost frightening, emotionless. He picked her up and kissed her roughly. She had never seen him like this. She moaned as his fingers slid the dress out of the way. Then he was filling her, taking her. He poured all his pain and frustration into that moment. She clung to him and shared it with him. She felt herself climbing, she stiffened and cried out just as he froze and braced one hand on the wall. She cupped his face and kissed his forehead. He sighed and stepped back she slid slowly to the ground. She curled her arms around him and laid her head on his chest listening to his heart slow. She could feel hers pounding in her ears. He pulled away. "I'm sorry for that."

She looked up at him and smiled wickedly an eyebrow raised. "I'm not the least bit sorry." She leaned up and kissed him soundly. Then she took a deep breath and walked away humming to herself. He just watched her unable to hold onto his bad mood. She made his melancholy impossible to keep.

That evening she sat on the couch and watched him surreptitiously as she mended a sheet that had at one time had a beautiful lace edging. His eyes were on the book in front of him red with the sharingan. The only way he could hope to read anymore.

She stood and walked over to him. He looked up and watched her. His brow rose. "You look wicked again."

She smiled. "I just wanted to see what you were reading."

"Not romance novels." He smiled.

She looked out the window and smiled. "That was research." she laughed. "I never got to implement it though."

"Oh." She met his eyes.

"No I had a plan you see." He took her hand and pulled her gently to him. She slid into his lap and nodded at him. "Yes a plan."

"And what was this plan?"

She smiled. "Well you see there was this woman in one of the stories. She wanted a husband. She found a man that was just exactly what she wanted." She looked at him and smiled. "He was very dark and broody." She slid her fingers over his eyebrows and kissed his eyes. "He was a very mysterious man with a dark past."

"Hmm. He doesn't sound like someone you would like to marry." He met her eyes and smiled ruefully.

"Oh I don't really know about that. There is something very appealing about…" She straddled his lap and sat down looking at him and smiling. "A dark and brooding man." She smiled wickedly at him.

He watched her and his hands slid up her thighs pushing the soft cloth of her gown up over her hips.

"And what is that?" He watched her face as his fingers slid over her. Her lids dropped and her eyes darkened.

"They are passionate." She offered in a breathless voice. His hands slid up her spine and pulled her tight against him. He never took his eyes off of hers. She shuddered. "And intense."

"Hmm." His eyes were suddenly a darker red. And they seemed to ripple. She slid her hands down his chest and he took a breath. She had never considered touching a man the way he had touched her but she wanted to now. She was hesitant and unsure as her hand found his waist. She had enjoyed his caresses would he like the same thing. He closed his eyes as she tentatively touched him he groaned and his head fell back. She smiled maybe he did like it. She wasn't sure what exactly to do. After only a few moments he hissed and pulled her hand up to his shoulder. "That is wonderful but I don't think I can take any more." She looked at him and shivered he looked at her so intensely she wasn't sure what to feel she had never wanted a man to look at her that way but, now it felt so good. He pulled her up tight against him and she could feel him right there and she wanted it. She almost ached with it. He watched her eyes and sank into her. She arched back and moaned.

Then she opened her eyes and watched him. They watched each other as they climbed higher and higher. She leaned down and kissed him. His fingers slid into her hair anchoring her to him as he tasted her and they both pushed for that instant and found it together. Both gasping and shuddering.

He picked her up and cradled her carrying her to bed. He never slept in the chair anymore. He slept with her tucked into his chest.

"I love you." She whispered. He kissed her. She knew he loved her but, she knew he would never say it. That would be a betrayal to him. She didn't need to hear it.

They were training one day and he was moving at her and he just looked so incredible to her. He grabbed her and she dropped the kunai and kissed him, he fell over. She landed on top of him never breaking the kiss. They ended up sprawled on the mats a tangle of limbs.

After two months she knew and she was so happy she couldn't stand it but, she wasn't sure how he would feel. He walked into the kitchen and for the first time in a long time she looked agitated. "You aren't angry with me are you do I need to be ready to dodge a spoon or fend away a knife?" She laughed nervously. He frowned.

He turned her around and realized she was crying. "What in the world is the matter?"

"I'm pregnant." She smiled. "I'm so happy but, I'm afraid you won't be." He stood there in shock.

"You're what?" He pulled back and sat down not letting her go. She stood in front of him as he tried to digest her words.

"I'm going to have a baby." She searched his face. He met her eyes and his were filled with agony.