Konoha Streets
Sasuke was having a bad day. Firstly, Naruto beat him in a "friendly" spar. That left training ground three, near obliterated. He still couldn't understand how the dobe had bested him. Secondly. He had an annoying pest of a girl moving into the manor with him and his aniki. It's not that Sasuke hated girls. Well that could be paraphrased a bit, it's not that Sasuke hated all girls.
Some girls were just more annoying than others he figured. But he knew he did not want to deal most of them. They were emotional, unpredictable creatures with bouts of sporadic violence. His only close references being the girls from his graduating class and his okaa-san.
Yet if memory served correctly, his okaa-san was never one for displays of violence. The Uchiha matriarch had ways of getting people to bend to her will without so much as lifting a finger. No, her words and psychological tactics were enough. Coming to find out that his manor would soon be occupied by one of these creatures did not serve to improve his mood.
Lastly, the one thing that kept nagging at him, poking and prodding at the back of his mind refusing to be locked away was that ever since he'd come back to the village a certain pinkette was avoiding him. Not that he minded the solitude, he was a man of few words and fewer acquaintances. But he did not suspect that Sakura Haruno of all people, would be avoiding him.
He thought that she had loved him since they were kids. Loved him enough to try to kill him before when he was still working under Orochimaru. Sasuke snorted in amusement at the thought. Itachi looked back at him with an inquisitive look but soon turned back to his focused gait towards the main hospital. As if she could actually kill him Sasuke thought bemused at his own thought. He remembered the way her countenance shook at the plan she devised in taking him down 2 years ago.
Although he had to admit Sakura was very strong and capable kunoichi, probably the strongest out of all the ones in her class. As the Hokage's apprentice Sakura had grown tremendously. As he had witnessed during the war. No longer was she the girl in the background constantly needing to be protected. In her place stood a woman of 18 dangerously strong in taijutsu and advanced in medical ninjutsu.
He had thought her a nuisance in his genin days. A proverbial nat always buzzing around his face. Yet he had grown to rely on the constant fact that her love would always their, she would always be their. Waiting for him, if or when he ever returned. Sasuke had thought about his future a significant amount after he realized he wouldn't die acting out his impulsive, destructive plan of attacking the leaf village. What would he do when got there? Would his comrades forgive him? Would he be able to rebuild his family?
When family came to mind the only girl who he'd at least ever thought about entertaining the idea with was Sakura. But that was far from his mind seeing as he had an undead brother to care for and enormous amount of work to do in order to regain his status in the village. Sakura's refusal to even acknowledge him made the idea damn near impossible, to even become her friend.
Whenever she did see him with Naruto, she would acknowledge Naruto giving him one of the brightest smiles he had ever seen her give and a hug, her emerald eyes lighting up with life at seeing one of her precious people. Greeting him with sisterly advice and reminding him about his non to healthy ramen eating diet. Yet those same eyes hardened the moment they flitted towards him. Regarding him with indifference, not even bothering to greet him and just as quickly her eyes would go back to those same lit gems exchanging departing words to Naruto, excusing herself from their company, mainly his he suspected, claiming some errand she had to run or another.
He had been taken aback at the whole exchange. When had Sakura become so hard to read. He could always see through her words and actions. Yet he couldn't see anything reflected back at him, in those eyes when she looked at him. Maybe that was an exaggeration he did always seem to pick up on one expression, contempt.
He was soon jolted out of his mental reverie, as children flying past him bumped into him, yelling an excuse us as they continued running. Sasuke tsked in annoyance, brats. He could see the hospital not to far away as he and Itachi neared their destination. He prayed that the girl would at least be nothing like the Yamanaka heir. He shuddered inwardly at the thought. The last thing he needed was a fangirl as bitchy as Ino.
xxOxx
Miyako sighed for the fifth time that day. Letting her eyes lazily roam over the sterile all white room. She had been discharged moments earlier, now she was just waiting for her handler, she so ceremoniously dubbed him, to pick her up from the hospital. Her family had already left earlier in the day at the crack of dawn. She stubbornly refused to see any of them off. Refusing entry into her hospital room, even to Koga.
She had cried in his arms the night before but that didn't deter him from leaving her there to her fate in the leaf village. She knew it was unfair to blame her brother for her father's decision, yet she was angry anyway. She had changed out of her hospital gown putting on the fresh set of clothes her brother had left for her at her door.
She stood up, regarding herself in the bathroom mirror once more. Her wavy moon lit locks were held back in a messy bun on top of her head, some tendrils falling in the back and side of her head. She donned a black two-piece body suit. The shorts stopping a little above her knee and the long-sleeved, hi-collar, zip up crop top stopping a few inches above her belly button, fit her well. She looked down to her feet seeing the sleek black combat boots with cut outs, looking over where the giant insect had bit her on the leg.
The skin their no longer protruding from an infection but smooth, fresh with new skin. She would have to remember to apply some cream, so it wouldn't scar. Miyako surmised her outfit was perfect for today. Black it was perfect word for how she was feeling today. Black ironically poetic she figured was the color of her soul. She slid on her black circle shades blocking the view of her amethyst colored eyes. Yes, black was the perfect color for today.
A knock at the door paused her morose thoughts.
"Coming." She called back. She slid the letter from Daisuke into her mini black backpack, still unopened. She opened the door for the two figures she seen looming by her door through her room mirror.
She regarded the two Uchiha brothers standing otherwise unenthused, appraising them behind her sunglasses.
"Well aren't we all a sunny bunch today." Her sarcasm evident in her tone.
Sasuke didn't even so much as blank just hned in response. The older Uchiha ever the manner able one nodded towards her.
"Yamaguchi-san."
Normally she would be upset that her handlers were not big talkers seeing as she loved to poke people's brains, every now and then to see how they operate, but she did not mind today. If anything, she wanted to keep the silence going between them as they made their way to the once lively Uchiha district.
She noticed the towns people regarding them with looks of distaste or fear giving them a wide berth of room to walk past. Hmm she didn't quite know the history of the Uchiha in the village, but she did know both brothers were in the bingo book as rogue-nin at one point. That did tend to not align well with popularity, yet this wasn't simple wariness of suspicious ninja. This was different.
Ugh whatever, she didn't care. It's not like she had anything to do with anyway. The people looking on her with interest. She could hear the few whispers of curiosity regarding her presence among the Uchihas. Was she a long lost relative? No definitely not with that light shock of hair and dark skin, one citizen answered. Another rogue-nin some guessed. Not likely with no head band. A girlfriend perhaps? That earned a low chortle from Miyako herself. As if she would ever date these guys.
The Uchiha brothers were handsome theirs no denying that, but they weren't really her type. The little one was sort of a dick. His hands hanging coolly in his pockets looking upon the towns people like they were plague. His demeanor obviously belying the little respect he had for them, as if they said one wrong thing he might threaten to rip their heart out. He was just a little to tightly wound for her taste.
The elder Uchiha moved with a sense of importance yet he seemed almost apathetic to things going on around him. He did not acknowledge anything the citizens said or much less react to it. She wanted a guy, no needed a guy that demanded respect, confidently with his chest out proudly, full of life, a spark. That was unfortunately something the Uchiha head did not possess. Also, there was something uncanny about his eyes. Dark pools of obsidian seemingly seeing through everything, analyzing, not of this world but decidedly so. Miyako did not like it.
"So…" Miyako stated to break the silence. The number of people on the streets gradually dwindling down to a few here or there as they neared the compound.
"What are we eating today?" The question was asked in all seriousness. She hadn't eaten at all yesterday or this morning, hospital food was just not her thing. She enjoyed the jello snack they offered as dessert though. Sasuke looked over his shoulders as if she'd grown two heads.
"What?" She asked honestly confused as to what was wrong with her question.
"Don't you cook for yourself." He stated more than asked.
"Well not particularly. I never really had a reason to seeing as Ms. Yuuh was there." Itachi raised an eyebrow in response, waiting for her to explain further.
"Oh. 's our chef she's a sweet old lady, she makes the best taiyaki." Itachi hnned in response.
"You guys don't have a chef?" She asked as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"No Yamaguchi-san we do not have a chef or the many attendees you seem to be accustomed to." Itachi answered her, his voice a steady monotone.
Miyako stopped in her tracks, trying to consider what this meant for her. Sasuke turned back annoyed that she had stopped when they were a few meters in front of the gate.
"Well how am I supposed to eat than, you can't expect me to starve." She declared her irritation with this whole predicament starting to rise. Having no maids or anything okay fine she understood. Most people preferred to clean their homes their own way, but no chef come on, that's crazy.
"I suppose you'll have to cook for yourself hmmm." Sasuke all but spit out the words. Who did she think she was this wasn't some resort, she wasn't on vacation. She was basically abandoned here by her father and was ordered to become a ninja, under his nii-sans tutelage. She was in for a very rude awakening. Sasuke smirked at the thought.
"We will discuss those type of things as soon as we make it inside." Itachi spoke up.
Miyako sighed for the sixth time that day, following after the brothers into the large compound. She did not like where this was heading. No chef, No regular shopping, she had to be put on an allowance, but will be cut off and in be in need of a job at a later date. This wasn't Konoha the serene leafy village, with nice hot springs, and cherry blossom trees littering the place. This-This was hell.
xxOxx
As they settled in around the seating in the fire place in the living room. Itachi left for a short period coming in with a scroll. Sasuke soon left to go up to the bathroom. Itachi came back in with cups of tea. He handed one to Miyako before sitting down across from her. She replied with a soft arigato. Rolling out the scroll he explained his contract discussing her stay.
"Your father made it very clear that his earlier statements he made in the Hokage's office will stand." She rolled her eyes at the thought.
"Yamaguchi Miyako will start receiving an allowance the fist day she moves in of 600,000 yen every month." Miyako spit out some of her tea. Itachi sighed inwardly, he was going to have to clean that later, so it didn't stain the bamboo wood floor.
"That's only enough to buy 1 Yohji Yamamoto bag." Itachi not knowing or caring to know of the many designer of high-end products feigned slight interest. He continued his list.
"Shortly after 6 months the allowance will continue to decrease by 60,000 a month until Yamaguchi-san is left with no allowance. By that time, she must be able to provide for herself with a job." Itachi paused waiting for anymore outburst so he could prevent anymore stains. He looked up to see the syndicate heir gaping in disbelief like a fish. He held back his amusement, a slight upturn in the corner of his mouth noticeable, before returning to normal.
"Yamaguchi-san will begin her formal ninja training shortly after an adjustment period of one week." Itachi mused he had a few more days to finish the two books he was reading. They were rather interesting.
"Following the adjustment period, we will begin just as any academy student with the basics of history, chakra, and jutsu hand movements. Soon after a month period enrolled into the actual academy. And so on and so forth until Yamaguchi-san reaches a honorable point of employment i.e. jonin status, special jonin status, or anbu ops." Itachi blinked reading the last part. He wanted his daughter to join Anbu.
Itachi was not one to judge others solely based on their appearance or demeanor he learned that much by being partnered with Kisame. Hoshigaki Kisame was annoyingly chipper each morning, cracking stupid jokes in the hopes to get Itachi to crack his mask. Immature enough to start a fight with the sharigan user in order to see who got the bigger piece of meat when dinner time rolled around, witch Itachi won most of the time, and adamant in his attempt to goof off with booze and women during missions much to Pein's chargin.
Yet Hoshigaki Kisame was a named to be feared. He was the strongest of the deadly swordsmen. Had chakra reserves that could rival Naruto's. Much to Itachi's dismay, because he never missed a chance to rub it in his face. Itachi was only mildly irritated yet irritated non the less. He was a blood thirsty man, but he always tried to find the silver lining when assigned on missions, it was something Itachi did not expect.
Looking at this spoiled shallow girl in front of him, he couldn't fathom her being in Anbu. Anbu required discipline, sometimes they slept on the ground with no tent at all if they were required to travel light. She didn't seem like the type to even sleep outdoors and that was basic for any ninja no matter the status.
Itachi glanced the girl's way. Her mouth was now closed yet she had seemed to be frozen to the spot, maybe she slipped into catatonic shock he thought. Her eyes were open. He didn't think he seen her blink even once yet. He continued reading the scroll.
"Once she has reached this status. She will be under review from her father in discussing her next steps. P. S. This seems to be a personal note from your father. If Yamaguchi-san tries to create havoc within the village or among her peers in order to try to get back home, reported by Tsunade-san, her move will be indefinite."
Wait. Itachi read that again indefinite. Their was no way he would allow this girl to stay with them indefinitely. Until her training was done that would be fine, but anything after that was not happening.
Itachi did not like drama, he preferred his life to be the peaceful, wearisome existence he had accepted to be his life once he was brought back from the dead. Yamaguchi-san seemed to be a beacon for it.
Itachi did not hold dramatic women in high esteem. His okaa-san did pretend to be hurt or more sensitive to things in order to get her way from his father or to get him and Sasuke to do something for her. Itachi used to believe it too, fearing he had hurt his mother's feelings for not wanting to eat the brussel sprouts she had put in front him one day. That was until he came upon her and her friends discussing it. Her mirth evident on her face because of the whole situation. Needless to say Itachi did not eat a single sprout after that.
No, he preferred the quiet confidence his mother held not needing to speak or say too much, just a nudge hear or a crafty worded sentence their. Izumi was not the dramatic type either. Itachi thought back on the peaceful evenings they used to have reading in a flower field together. She was shy but not to the point of exasperation. She did not talk much and neither did he, so that worked out perfectly.
"Uchicha-san is that all." Itachi woke from his musings to see the girl had stood up her displeasure or despair, he would say evident in her stance.
"You just need to sign the agreement and it will be sent back to the Hokage for her to review." He stated.
"Of course." Her faint reply found his ears. She came around the table kneeling near him to sign the document. Itachi noted the way her hand steeled above the line she was supposed to write her signature. The pen hovering in place centimeters above the paper. Her shoulders drooping in defeat sighing as she signed her name. She stood quickly leaving a scent of primrose and lavender lilies in her wake. Itachi found that he did not hate the smell.
"Is their anything else you need to discuss with me Uchiha-san." Her voice coming out in a flat monotone. Itachi ahhed in response.
"Yes, there is the matter of house rules. We cook for ourselves seeing as we have varying schedules and clean up behind ourselves also." Itachi started.
"When we do cook a bigger meal, you are welcome to join. We haven't lived with a woman in some time so if you are taking a shower or bath please remember to lock the door."
Of course, it's not as if she wanted any of these obviously sex deprived robots walking in on her. She faintly wondered if they were both virgins. A giggle threatened to bubble up from her throat. It sure would explain the little one's inability to relax.
"Also, if you wish to have company over please let me know. I'd rather you not let people into our space, but it would be unfair to ask this of you." Well that seemed unlikely since her only friend lived in Suna.
Itachi showed her around various parts of the house. Showing her where the utensils and dishware was. He showed her where the bathrooms were and finally, he showed her where their individual rooms were on the second floor. Miyako wondered why she couldn't go into the room down the hall. I mean he specifically expressed that room and the basement were off limits and she could only enter the study with him or Sasuke.
Was he like serial killer or something? Did he have a secret play room where he tortured people or something? I mean he was a ninja that wouldn't be too off base. Finally, Itachi arrived in front of a door she guessed to be her room.
"This is your room. Your father took the liberty of decorating it to your liking." She opened the door to see the room she had planned on decorating when she moved into her condo in the city of Kumo. God it was beautiful. Ugh, her father knew her too well. She hated it.
"If their isn't anything else I'd like to retire to my room." Itachi turned to walk away.
"Nee, Uchiha-san there is something else." She raised her finger giving a slight smile.
xxOxx
Itachi found himself walking down the streets of Konoha, Yamaguchi-san a few feet onside him. The sun had long since retired blanketing the roof tops in a dark hue. Their only light being the moon and the street lamps lighting their way.
He had given the girl her allowance soon before they left. He wondered if she's be able to actually keep her money with out spending if frivolously on material things. He followed behind her as she walked into one of the market stores rolling a shopping cart around the various aisles. He scanned the store lazily behind the high-collar of his traditional Uchiha shirt.
The girl didn't seem to notice the odd stares they were getting as she debated which melon to get in the produce section.
"Uchiha-san." He turned his attention to her. Melons shoved in front of his face.
"What do you think? This one is bigger but this one has better color." Itachi pointed to the watermelon with better color.
"Yeah your right. Size isn't everything." The girl laughed heartily as walked off. Itachi pretended not to hear the lewd joke she made.
"Ouu lets gets some ice cream Uchiha-san. mint chocolate or Cookie dough?" She asked before unceremoniously dumping both cartons in.
"Nee. We should just get both." They continued their trek through the store, her tossing various things in cookies, poky, cereal, before they stopped in front of the ready to eat meals.
"I've always wanted to try these. My other classmates in school used to rave about them." She showed Itachi bento boxes and little packs of ready to go rice balls. Had she really not eaten convenience store food before. Itachi picked up the one out of her right hand and put it back in its place.
"Hey why'd you do that?" He picked a different one handing it to her.
"This one is better." She awed looking at the one he chose. Giving him a wide smile before picking up two more. When had someone last smiled at him like that since he'd been back in the village.
They left the store after buying her purchases. She had been in shock when she realized she had spent nearly one third of her allowance. They walked down the now busy less streets Itachi's hands full with most of her grocery bags. He really did hate that his kaa-san ingrained him the importance of being a gentleman.
Itachi briefly paused in front of the Dango shop he used to frequent as a child. It had been rebuilt after Pein's attack and was now expanded into a café like theme. Miyako noticed his hesitance when walking away. A few moments had passed before he realized he didn't hear her footsteps behind him. He heard the chipper of a Ja ne before he heard he footsteps running towards him.
"Here." she produced a dango stick in front of him. He looked down at her. Her hand holding the snack in front of his face.
"I noticed you wanted some so I bought some for you. You didn't have to come with me or hold my bags so, thanks." She replied to the question in his eyes. She waved the stick in front of his face.
"So are you gonna take it or am I going to have to eat all this dango by myself." Her causual threat was not funny Itachi mused. The dango stick was out of her hand before she could even blink.
"Wow you must really like dango." Itachi hnned in response.
"The guy that worked their showed me they had a new limited edition mochi flavor. Wanna try?" She held her dango stick in front of his face.
"No thanks." He stilled as she continued to try to entice him bringing the stick closer and father from his mouth, like that would work.
"Come on try it, try it. It's good I promise. Try it." Itachi thought that Sasuke was correct about women they had their good points, but they were ultimately annoying.
A low cough made him draw his attention from the annoying girl onside him up to the path in front of him. There was his old anbu captain Kakashi Hatake, his favorite book in hand, with an overly amused look on his masked face. Itachi could just tell the way his eyes crinkled up that this was not going to be a pleasant chat, for him that is.
"Itachi-san konnichiwa. What do we have here an evening stroll?" Kakashi hmmed in fascination at the silverish, lavender haired girl trying to force Itachi to eat dango.
"Konnichiwa Kakashi-san." Itachi knew from the look on Kakashi face that the hermit ninja would be the one to seek him out tomorrow if only to annoy him about being fed dango by a woman.
"Hi I'm Yamaguchi Miyako. You're a friend of Uchiha-san's?"
"Hai, Hatake Kakashi."
"Pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise, I did not know Itachi-san was one for p.d.a. I guess you learn something new every day." Kakashi could tell the way Itachi was looking at the girl before being interrupted that that was not the case, but he couldn't miss a chance to tease the younger prodigy.
Kakashi always believed the younger ninja took himself too seriously even when he was younger under his command. He knew the boy did not have much a social life being the heir to the Uchiha clan save for his friend Shisui and the occasional festival he would bring Sasuke to, he did not experience a regular childhood.
Kakashi did not have much room to talk experiencing quite the same but he did not have clan matters to restrict him further. He did have Obito and Rin and shortly after their deaths Gai and Jiriaya-sama and his master pieces to help him unwind and socialize with fellow ninja. Itachi was not as lucky.
"Oh no I wasn't. We weren't- Were not a couple." The frantic reply bolted out of her mouth. Waving her hands around in protest.
"Ahh I see sorry for the confusion." Kakashi gave a fake mock apology. Itachi looked at him with unamused eyes. That damned copy ninja he would get what was coming to him.
"Well Itachi-san I'll be on my way. We should have drinks soon. Goodbye Yamaguchi-san" The hermit ninja made his way past them.
"Hai. Bye Hatake-san." She waved toward him. They continued on their journey to the compound.
"You know Uchiha-san your friends are really interesting." She laughed a little.
"I can't believe he thought we were a real couple." Itachi hmmed a reply. She laughed again.
"No offense or anything, your cute and all but not really my type." Itachi answered none taken. He was not offended she was attractive, but she wasn't his type per se either. Yet he was a little put off that he was rejected and she laughed at the thought of his companionship, without him even having asked for her companionship to begin with. He decided he would not dwell on it she did buy him a bag of dango after all.
Author's Note: I will go through the first three chapters and redo them to make them more readable. Hoped you guys liked the chapter. Was the pace okay? Would guys like to see Itachi's interactions with Kakashi more and some of the older ninjas? I won't push their romance at a fast pace because I don't think that would be believable for a person like Itachi. Sakura's and Sasuke's relationship dynamic will be discussed more in the next chapter. I will also touch on some of the ninjas other relationships but not in depth as these and Naruto and Hinata's.