Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto….
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"Innocent Touches"
Itachi/Sakura
Rated M
Romance/ Drama
Chapter 4
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"Uchiha-san?" She called quietly the following night as she entered his ward, peering into the pitch black room at the bed for the embittered Anbu but couldn't find him there.
The window was opened, the wind softly blowing the curtain while moonlight streamed into the room, casting a gentle glow for Sakura to distinguish the inside of the empty room.
"Uchiha-san?" she called again, cautiously stepping fully into the room and fleeting her eyes around the room in search for the Uchiha, fearful that he might try to attack her again.
Her soft inquiry met silence as she stood there near the door, the light from outside throwing a shadow of herself plastered on the white-washed floor while her eyes strayed towards the window. A flash of suspicion flickered across her emerald eyes as she stared.
She had been on her way home when she recalled the Anbu. The injuries she had inflicted on him had to be checked for any signs of aggravation, though it hadn't been her main reason for her nightly visit. It was more on the niggling suspicion that worm through her mind at the thought that he might be taking a night stroll which would worsen his condition.
Sakura had brought her medic bag in case her suspicion was correct. And she was right; the Uchiha did take a nightly stroll….in the hospital rooftop no less.
She sighed and sauntered towards the open window. Poking her head out through the crevice, she peered up.
Her eyes met the wall; the rooftop just lay four meters from her. She couldn't quite see where the Anbu had gone but she wasn't unfazed. Climbing with her arms and legs, she squeezed through the window. Her medic bag dangled securely in her right elbow while she used her right hand to clamp on the window sill for support.
"Why am I even coming after him?" she grumbled as she summoned chakra into her feet. "He's been insufferable since I met him. He doesn't need my help."
"Actually, Haruno-san. I need your help right now." A voice drawled above her said and Sakura jerked her head up abruptly, the movement nearly causing her to tip over the edge of the window. Her eyes met those of the Anbu sitting at the edge of the roof top, his ruby eyes watching her in silent amusement.
"I'm quite stuck in here."
"Then unstuck yourself!" She snapped back at him, glaring. She flattened herself against her perch as her outburst almost unsettled her.
"I can't,"
"Why?"
"I'm bleeding excessively," came his cool, bland response.
"What?! What did you do now?"
"Haven't you noticed? I am in a rooftop."
"Then it's your fault for climbing in there in the first place!"
"Hn,"
Sakura gazed at him for a moment.
"Idiot," she muttered under her breath as she draws chakra to her feet and tries to walk towards him. The pull of gravity was upon her instantly as she steps into the wall, very aware of the Anbu's eyes on her as she climbs up.
"You should thank me later for helping your sorry ass…."
"Hn,"
Reckless Bastard. She thought as she neared him.
"What am I even trying to----"
She couldn't quite finish what she got to say as she was suddenly seized by the arm and being hailed up into the roof top.
"No talking," he said as he set her beside him. "I lost a lot of blood. So save your breath for later."
She scowled but did as she was told. Her brows furrowed into concern as she crouched low, her face turning professional.
"Take off your shirt," She commanded, looking up at him.
The Anbu gazed at her for a second, surprise at the abrupt command but noticing the seriousness in her face. He shed his black Anbu shirt without hesitation. She was on him instantly, making a disgusted face as she scrutinized the blood that soaked the snowy white bandages that covered his chest.
She looked at him. "You don't waste your time getting yourself in trouble don't you? Is it because you're Anbu that you can't stay in your bed for much longer?"
"Hn,"
"Uchiha's," She muttered as she peeled off the bloody bandages from his skin. "Why am I not even surprise?"
Silently, she works on the bandages while he eyed her with an intensity of a predator.
"Damn," he heard her curse as the last of the bandage fell apart. She was staring at his chest where a gaping wound was bleeding profusely.
"Maybe, I'll asked Tsunade-sama to have you restrain," She glowered at him before turning towards her medic bag and started rummaging through it. "I can't allow you to walk around under your condition. You just got out from the operation room a few days ago!"
"Hn," was all his response while Sakura muttered something inaudible as she used a cotton swab to clean the area of the wound with a normal saline solution. A gust of cold wind blew against them and Sakura had to close her medic bag before the bandage that she had placed on top could be blown away.
"Why can't you just stay in your room, ha?" She asked him, watching the cotton turn red with his blood as she cleanses the wound area in a circular motion for the fourth time. "So that I won't have to heal your wound again every time you got the urge to do something stupid."
"Hn,"
"Is that all you can say to me?" She glared at him as she donned in her gloves methodically. "Hn?"
"Haruno-san," He said calmly. "If you keep on talking, I might as well bleed myself to death than hear you nag. What haven't you understood when I said no talking?"
Sakura huffed, looking insulted but she summoned chakra into her hands to start the healing process. Putting more pressure into his chest than what was needed, Sakura watched as her hand stopped the bleeding before closing on the wound. If she uses suture over his gaping wound, there was a great chance that the wound would open up again since the man doesn't seems incline to keep still in one place for such short time in the hospital.
She would have to deal with a lot of evisceration incidences when she handles him. And that Sakura wouldn't do. Her medical skills and healing techniques were needed by her other patient and not exclusively for night strollers who all but did was abuse it.
She shot him a withering glare.
"If you don't like me nagging you then I'm sorry to disappoint because I have no plans in stopping what I deem necessary when handling a troublesome patient."
"Do you always act this way to your patients?" the Anbu asked and Sakura could feel his eyes narrowing on her.
"To some," she snapped, shifting her attention back to the wound while she ignored the Anbu's unnerving scrutiny. "When they are as bull-headed and as defiant as you are."
"It was not my intention to get myself in trouble, Haruno-san," came the Anbu's cool, impassive response and Sakura could almost envision the expressionless face staring at her behind the passive mask as he said this. "I came up here to get some fresh air,"
"And you can't do that by opening your window?" Sakura raised a brow, trying her best to sound extremely sarcastic and was very pleased when she saw the Anbu's shoulder stiffen.
"Haruno-san," the Anbu began, his voice reasonably cold. Sakura suppress a shiver as the icy blast of his gaze fell on her. "Have you ever been confined in a room for three days? Been subjected to sexual harassment by your private nurses on her first day and being cuddled by your mother who thinks you're no older than 6 year old in front of your superiors?"
"No, I----"
"Let me finish, Haruno-san." The Anbu interrupted with a voice of steel. "You have your say earlier. At least give me a few minutes to say what's on my mind."
Sakura could only nod her head in stunned silence.
"About the security system in this Hospital," the Anbu's voice didn't betray his emotion as his gaze leveled on her. "Do you have any jutsus that could fend off unwanted visitors?"
A blank look came over Sakura's face while she managed to say a baffled "Ha?"
"Today, one of my fan girls suddenly found out where I was and she------"
Sakura didn't let the Anbu finished as she suddenly burst out laughing. Her gloved hand slipped from his chest where the gaping wound had been but now the skin was unblemished and good as new.
"What's so amusing?" Itachi asked, puzzlement coloring his voice.
Her emerald eyes sparkled with laughter and hilarity at the image of the Anbu fending off gushing fan girls entered her mind. It was hilarious. She thought that being Anbu was made of strong stuff, all manly and dangerous while this Anbu just indirectly admitted that he couldn't even handle an overly zealous female.
"You," Sakura grinned while Itachi's face drew a complete blank at her answer. "I couldn't imagine an Anbu trying to fight off the attention of some girl when you could have used your brute force to throw her away. It must mean you are quite the gentleman…..and extremely handsome to be easily targeted by the some female beneath your mask."
And then Sakura frowned in realization. "How come she already knows you while I remain oblivious to your identity?"
"That's because you're mind is set on passing the Anbu exams that you became uninterested in anything else."
Sakura's face registered shock and suspicion. "Where did you find that out? I haven't told anyone about this yet except my team mates, Hatake Kakashi, Hinata and Tsunade."
"I heard snatched of talk here and there……" the Anbu dismissed it like that and then quite mysteriously. "And I have a reliable source."
"Who?" Sakura asked, her eyes not leaving the Anbu as he regarded her through the slits on his mask. She could feel his stare fixed on her face which betrays her curiosity.
"Me,"
"You?" Sakura furrowed her brows. If she was curious before of his identity, now she was actually itching to snatch that infuriating mask of his to identify him.
As if he could read her mind, his sharingan suddenly flash and whirl, reminding her of the arrogant clan which he hailed from.
"Are you related to Sasuke?" mentally, Sakura slap her forehead for even asking the stupid question. "I mean. Are you close to him? As in like---" Sakura pressed her index fingers together to make him understand. "--this close?"
"If you're implying that I'm having intimate relationship with Sasuke, Haruno-san then--"
Sakura look horrified at the thought that she didn't noticed the tinge of amusement that came along with the suggestion.
"NO!" She protested, shaking her head while a becoming blush flooded her face. "I mean….I mean that… Are you really acquainted with him?" she asked still blushing.
"Yes,"
If Itachi wasn't actually wearing a mask at the moment, Sakura could have seen the smile he directed at her.
"I could even say that we're like brothers." Itachi hadn't felt entertained and disconcerted at the same time when he had been like in one of his mission where he has to disguise himself before eliminating the target without rousing suspicion.
But Haruno Sakura was not a target. His quarry maybe. But never a target. If she was, Haruno Sakura would have been laid to rest by now with the swift slice of his Anbu katana.
The thought immediately dampened his disposition.
"But we aren't." Itachi digress before Sakura could get any ideas about his true identity. He didn't want her to know the truth yet when he hadn't even set his plans into motion. He needed her puzzling and figuring out his identity while he bid his time in trying to lure her into his trap.
He needed time and patience. Without these, all of his plans would be compromise.
"I know it would be breaking the rules. But may I know your name, Uchiha-san?" he heard her say and Itachi's lips curled into a feral smile at the almost desperate look on her face. He knew he was placing her at a vulnerable state between frustration and mounting desire to snatch the mask from his face.
Itachi did neither to alleviate her condition. He rather enjoyed watching her squirm, and that frustrated look on her face just didn't fail to fan his already kindling desire.
"I'll tell you my name under one condition," his voice came out in a deep and soft whisper, sparking a reaction from the crouched girl in front of him whose face turned wary while he could see her shoulders tense at his sudden change of tone.
He tried to rectify it by talking to her monotonously.
"Become an Anbu,"
Itachi could see that the girl was astonished at his statement and he moved to clarify it.
"If you become an Anbu, I want you to be on my team. And by then, you will have the chance to... really know me."
"Why?" Sakura asked the question that really disturbed her. She wasn't sure if the Anbu meant something else by that. It was the first time that someone from the elite had taken an interest on her. And she desperately wanted to be certain that the Anbu needed her fighting skills more than her medical knowledge and techniques.
"Why do you want me to be on your team?"
"Don't you think saving my life wasn't worth a reward?" She could hear the note of amusement in his voice but she didn't find it quite amusing to make light of her question.
She needed an immediate answer from him! Why did he want her for his team? Was she that strong? Did he find a potential in her to become an Anbu? Has her kunoichi skills of fighting became the talk in the elite ranks? Did they noticed her increasing progress and would want for her to be on their ranks immediately?
Or was he trying to keep her by his side because she had saved his life and would need her help again once he gets critically injured?
Sakura's heart which had been thumping excitedly at the many possibilities lurked as comprehension dawn over her. She bit down a sigh of disappointment while she started fussing over the medical equipment she had used and placing them back on her bag, trying to disguise her hurt emotions with her hurried movements.
Was she that daft? Of course, the Anbu merely wanted her healing techniques while they let themselves do the fighting instead, like Naruto and Sasuke had been doing to her when she was team up with them on a mission. Even though they were doing it to protect her but Sakura knew that it was too much. She couldn't just let herself continue to be defended. How would she even move forward when Naruto and Sasuke kept on protecting her and ordering her to stay back?
She was over with standing aside and watching her team mates and friends fight in the front lines. She was over healing patients in the hospital and carry on the rounds during the night and endorse the latest updates to the next shift.
She needed some action in her life. She needed an adventure before she goes mad with jealousy and disappointment as each of her friends rise to higher ranks while she was left behind with all of these familiarities and the normalcy inside the hospital and doing C-rank missions.
In short, she was becoming increasingly agitated and restless with each passing day. The only difference was the proposition Uchiha Fugaku had thrown on Team 7. She had instantly taken the challenge not because she wanted to keep Sasuke on their team but because she had been given the only means of escape from the usual frivolity of her life.
At first, keeping Sasuke on their team had been the driving force for her to succeed. But now, she realized that it wasn't so.
She had other, unconscious hidden agenda since she nearly leaped at the thought of an Anbu wanting her in his team. But she thought better than to accept his invitation. She already knew why he had even given such a tempting invitation.
Like so many other before him. He only wanted her medical skills and not her abilities in the battle field.
She was not some weak team member just like when she was in her genin day! But she was the Hokages's apprentice! Though sometimes being Tsunade's apprentice have there disadvantages. Like someone trying to kidnap you with the intention of healing an S-rank criminal or being kidnapped because they simply wanted the secrets of her healing techniques.
That's why for the past few months Sasuke and Naruto were overly protective of her when they were out on the mission. She wasn't really surprise because some blonde cloud-nin nearly took her from right under their noses!
She had enough!
"You want me to be your medic, isn't it? That's why you are reminding me of how I saved your life back in the operating table." She said in a voice that she identify as unaffected.
Her disguised didn't quite deceive Itachi.
"Yes," He answered, searching her face for the sign of disappointment which he heard in her voice. But her head was averted and Itachi couldn't see her face.
"I'm sorry. But I can't." She still didn't look at him and Itachi silently observed as she closed her medic bag.
He was nonplussed at her response. He had expected that answer but he hadn't actually expected the note of reluctance lacing in her tone.
"Why?"
She suddenly stood up. Itachi didn't let his eyes leave her.
"Why can't you be on my team?"
The reaction he had anticipated wasn't what he had foreseen.
Like a tigress but with her eyes glittering with angry tears and her pink lips curled into a snarl, she released her pent-up anger which had been eating at her since she started her Anbu training.
"Because I don't want to be another decorative flower pot in your team where you could order me around, doing nothing but to stay back and watch while you fight. Heal your team mates if they get hurt and cook for them when they are hungry!"
Itachi snatched his shirt lying negligently beside him and pulled it over his head. Not deigning interest to the soft fabric that slides over his cool mask and then down his lithe form while the girl in front of him continue to attacked him with her verbal accusations.
"If you want someone to do all this then I'm sorry to be blunt----"
"You're already doing an excellent job, Haruno-san" Itachi remarked wryly but she was too busy talking that his words passed right through her.
"---But you are clearly in desperate need for a wife! If you keep your team mates doing the men's work of fighting and showing their brawn and the superiority of the male species then you have to look for someone who is willing to clean after the mess you arrogant men make. I couldn't do that!...... I would never do that!"
"Did I ever give you an impression, Haruno-san that you are going to do otherwise?" Itachi asked calmly, looking up at the moon, propping his elbow on his bent knee, typically male posture with his legs slightly spread.
"Have I ever given you the reason that you are going to become a decorative flower pot as you had colorfully described yourself?"
Sakura clamped her mouth shut while an embarrassed flush creep over her face. And just like that, her anger drained.
"Yes, I admit that I have wanted you from beginning…. desperately wanted you to make you---,"
Mine
"--My medic."
This time Sakura didn't fail to notice the undercurrents behind each of the Anbu's word as his ruby gaze were suddenly transfixed on her. The instinct to run like a frighten rabbit became tempting as she could feel the man's gaze made a thorough inspection on her figure.
It was disconcerting…..and yet, a thrilling experience to be subjected by powerful man's scrutiny. Sakura suddenly wanted to see the Anbu's face rather badly and without realizing it, she had moved closer to him. She was oblivious to the flare of desire that instantly flashed in Itachi's eyes as soon her hand touch his mask. Looking down at him, Sakura stared into his ruby gaze. Her anger was already gone as if she hadn't been shouting at him a moment ago while she puzzled over the man behind the mask.
Even if it was only the mask she touches, Itachi could feel the burgeoning desire to have her sizzle and burn his insides. But he took reigned over his lust and focus on his plans.
He didn't want some woman to destroy his rigid control. He had a reputation to uphold and a mission that needed to be done before he could satisfy his desire for her.
"Who are you really?" She whispered to him, her hands working there towards the straps that secure his mask in place.
"Someone you obviously don't know," He answered, capturing her hands before she could discover his identity or to his bitter amusement, destroy his mental faculties as his pants unsurprisingly felt restricted.
"Tell me who you are!" The girl had the nerve to order him and Itachi couldn't suppress the smile that lifted the corners of his mouth at her pertinence.
"You would know if you join my team once you passed the Anbu exams," There it is again, the bait for his plans to work.
If only, the girl would just take it.
"No," came her cold answer while she wrenched her hand from his grasp. "I don't want to belong in your team because I already have one of my own."
"Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto?" He asked stoically, his face fell into his usual expressionless mask.
"Yes," Sakura nodded her head. "We will be in the same team once we passed the Anbu exams."
"What if you don't pass the exams while they do?" Itachi asked blandly, his eyes calculating while he gauged her reaction.
Emerald eyes glittered with determination.
"I won't fail." Sakura said with gravity. Not really noticing the way Itachi's eyes had turn intent behind his Anbu mask.
"Because you believe in your words? Or is it because you have absolute confidence of your ability?"
"Both." Sakura said without rancor, only understanding of one's abilities. "I wouldn't be saying this without fully comprehending the scope of what I am capable of."
"But what if you miscalculated? What if you fail?" Itachi insisted, closely regarding her.
Sakura turn to him and met his eyes.
"I don't miscalculate. I will pass the Anbu exams." She said firmly and Itachi believe in her.
"Yes," He inclined his head. "You will pass the Anbu exams."
But you won't be joining your team. He thought while he watched her walked towards the edge of the rooftop. She glanced at him.
"Wouldn't you want to come back to your room? It's already getting cold out here." as if to prove her words, a gust of cold wind blew against her and Itachi watched as she tried desperately to keep her skirt from lifting. But Itachi already got an eyeful from where he was sitting.
And it was to Itachi's morbid amusement as he caught another glimpsed of the girl's virginal white panties as the wind relentlylessly made a swipe at the girl's skirt. The girl pressed her hand on the skirt, keeping them there while her medic bag dangled on her other hand. She was looking at him pointedly while he watched all of this in complete silence.
"I'm not leaving this rooftop if you don't come with me." She said, her eyes narrowing at him.
Slowly, Itachi stood up and made his way towards her but not before a wind wiped against the side of her skirt, and giving him a full view of one shapely thigh and leg.
He halted in front of her, his hand unashamedly smooth against the skirt while he firmly kept his hand on her thigh. Very aware of the enticing warmth she was emitting through the thin fabric of her uniform. His action didn't quite intimidate or scare her away in the least as she lifted her chin and met his gaze without flinching. The only thing that betrayed her embarrassment and discomfiture was the blush fanning across her high cheekbones. While her eyes were challenging him to say something that would embarrass her further.
Itachi didn't say anything while he let his hand fall to his side.
She was the first one to break the silence with words the brought an answering smile from him.
"Your time of saying thanks to me has long passed. But I wouldn't mind giving you another chance. If you stay in your room tomorrow, then I'll take as it as a belated thank you for healing your wound tonight."
"And what if I'm not in my room?"
"Then I'll have to asked Tsunade-sama to have you restrain," She fired back, glaring at him.
"Hn,"
"Now, that this conversation is starting to become pointless when you're obviously determine to go out of your way. I'll ask Tsunade-sama to have that restrains prepared first thing in the morning."
"Then wouldn't you mind telling Hokage-sama that I'm well enough to leave tomorrow or even tonight? After all, you are the one who healed me."
Suddenly, Sakura's eyes narrowed at his words. Something registered in her mind at his insinuation.
"What do you mean by that, Uchiha-san?"
Behind the mask, Itachi's smile widen.
"Nothing. I only meant that I could leave tonight since I've made a full recovery with your help of course."
"Of course," Sakura echoed while she glowered at him. "Then this only means that you were actually expecting me to heal your wound with my chakra instead of just placing sutures on it?"
"Yes,"
"And you were hoping that you could leave the Hospital tonight because you have made a full recovery with my help?"
"Hn,"
"Are you trying to tell me, Uchiha-san…" She said carefully while restrained fury laced and tangled with each of her words. "….that you actually allowed your wound to open up just for me to completely heal them?"
"Yes,"
Sakura tried to reign down her fury as her hands shook in her desperate need to smash something, especially the Anbu's face who had duped her.
"It was all an act?"
The Anbu nodded.
"How long have you been waiting for me in this rooftop?"
"A few minutes before you entered my room."
"You already know I was coming for you?"
Again, the Anbu nodded.
Sakura closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing. If she wasn't quite rational at moment, Sakura was sure to have smashed her fist into the Anbu's mask, chakra and all, which would put him back to where he belongs, right back into the hospital bed.
But as much she wanted to do that, Sakura knew that it wasn't the best alternative. So the only alternative was to just let him go, if it means peace and relief for her when the troublesome Anbu leaves the hospital premises tonight or first thing in the morning.
The Anbu was too have be under extensive care as ordered by Tsunade-sama. Sakura was supposed to heal him slowly each day since she was used her chakra for her other patients. And she wouldn't quite accomplised it if she drained it all on the Anbu. But tonight, Sakura had gone against Tsunade's orders.
The Anbu was to have been under close observation since the forensics team couldn't figure out what had caused the nearly fatal wound the Anbu had suffered. They were doing it to gather information of the enemy who had tried to eliminate the Anbu but they wouldn't be given an answer since their subject was going to make a run for it tonight.
Her fault, of course.
Carefully, Sakura open her eyes and regarded the Anbu with distaste.
"If you wanted to leave the hospital so badly then I'm not stopping you. It is better when your no longer here than to continue to be such a pain on my side."
Honestly, Sakura really wanted to drag him back to the bed and put restraints on him. But since his wound was healed and he look irritatingly healthy than he was in the operating room. Sakura would have to let him go but she will have plenty of explaining to do with her shishou for releasing the patient ahead of time.
"You can go now," She said dismissively, half turning with the intention of leaving his infuriating presence.
"I wanted a full recovery not because I want to get out from this hospital. But because I have a duty to someone." The Anbu said and Sakura paused to look at him from down her nose. Even though the Anbu was a head taller than her, she managaed to accomplished it.
"What? Did your superiors call you for another mission?" She mocked. "I thought they threw you in here to keep you from going back to your job after your…err….misfortune?"
Itachi didn't respond to her provocation. Sakura's gaze turn withering at his lack of response but later decided to drop her antagonism towards him.
She sighed and presented her back to him. There was no point in arguing. If he wants to leave, then he is free to leave.
As far as Sakura concern. She'll just wash her hands off him once he steps out from the vicinity of the hospital. She doesn't want to get involve with such troublesome man.
"I'm going home now." She said behind her but didn't turn to wait for his answer.
She clambered down from the rooftop and towards the open window. Within minutes, she was making towards the door when she heard him enter behind her.
"You thought you could easily shake me off like that. But you're wrong." Sakura whirled, her eyes meeting that of the Anbu who stared grimly at her.
"You will see more of me in the future."
And with those final words, he disappeared from her sight, leaving her staring at the space where he had been standing; still hidden in the shadows with the mask covering his face ….He was so mysterious…..elusive and…...so vaguely familiar.
To be continued…
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Review please!!!!
VERY SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE!!!
