Thank you all for the lovely reviews, I am really glad that you like it. Never knew the power boost of good reviews so I wrote the new chapter way earlier then expected! Enjoy!
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Itachi was more than glad and pleased coming back home to find it in one piece. He sure was damn worried about everything since he left alone an actual mastermind of ruining homes, parties, sometimes weddings …
Anyways he was worried. Even though he called her twice, the uneasy feeling in his stomach hadn't loosened until now, when he finally was in his own realm. And everything was okay, in fact more than okay.
At first he though there was indeed fire, or party with smoking teenagers all over his place, but as he analyzed the smell he actually realized Sakura's been cooking. It smelled delicious and he hoped she left something for him too since he didn't go to a restaurant today, not when a pink-haired monster resided his house and allied itself with his cat.
He took his shoes and coat off and entered the kitchen. The sight was a bit nostalgic and new to him at the same time. The last time he saw a woman cooking at least three meals at a time, was in his family apartment four years ago.
The sight was new because Sakura had earphones on and was humming and dancing to the music, while stirring something in the pot. Her hair was up which gave a view of her neck, and because the collar of her shirt was big, a bit of the tattoo which had caught Itachi's attention. He couldn't really see much because she was moving to the music and he was far enough not to see it clearly, but one thing was sure, there was something written.
Sakura turned around and the moment she saw him, she threw the spoon which she was stirring with in the air and screamed in shock, obvious that she hadn't heard him entering his home.
''What the fuck?!'' she shouted angry at him, plugging her earphones out with one movement.
There goes the good mannered girl from this morning.
''Guess you didn't hear me.'' He offered as an apology.
''No shit, Sherlock!'' She replied still angry. ''Do you always stare at people while they don't know of your presence?''
''It depends.'' He said shortly.
''Why are you home so early anyways?''
''Didn't go to a restaurant.''
''Let me guess, you thought I evened up your apartment with the ground, right?''
''Something like that.''
Itachi sat on one of the chairs at the raft and observed Sakura as she gave the final touches to today's meal.
''I don't know what you really like, but I made salad with the tomatoes in the refrigerator and mixed them with the white cheese before it spoils.'' She informed as she placed some plates on the table.
''I'd like to help you, but I don't know where all the stuff are, so ..'' he said teasingly.
''It's not like you knew before either.''
''Maybe.'' He tried the rise she made and found it pretty well cooked. He was just about to compliment her when a thought came into his mind.
''You didn't poison the rise, did you? He asked panicked, mouth full with food.
''It that your way to say 'Thank you for the food it's very delicious'''?
''I'm being serious! I'm pretty sure it was you who gave the idea to put laxative in the champagne two years ago on the Christmas party.''
''You still remember that? Wow looks like the overdose was for you.'' Sakura said to herself thinking back on the time when she put laxative in certain cups as instructed from Sasuke.
''Overdose?'' he asked shocked and angry at the same time.
''It was your brother's idea, I just carried out the plan. Just like the one with the stray dogs since I gave the idea, he had to carry the plan out.''
Okay, note to self: Break the neck of that piece of trash the next time you see him.
''Just what kind of twisted friendship do you both share? What the hell went wrong?'' he asked seriously worried for his health, and the mental one of his brother and his so-called bro.
''I think we just live life to the fullest.'' She replied and seated herself across him.
''More like live life to the fool-est'' he said at laughed amused.
''Seriously? Laughing at your own joke?'' Sakura looked at him critically and rolled her eyes. That's what you turn in for working so hard, no sense of humor.
Dinner passed amazingly peaceful and silent but mostly because Itachi was really enjoying the homemade meal and was utterly surprised at the fact that this pierced punk across the table could actually cook that good.
Sakura caught him shifting his shoulders several times already and the look of discomfort was well printed on his face as he did so. The bed in her room was perfect and very comfortable, she couldn't imagine that his was old and hard and bumpy. The whole apartment screamed of luxurious furniture and the way it was designed narrowed her thoughts that probably a very capable designer with good taste was hired to furnish the whole the toilet was of such quality and design that Sakura felt like you must shit diamonds in order to fit in the whole exterior. Not that she wasn't used to luxury, but that was not her kind of luxury. It was too strict, too ordered and it definitely meant Itachi loved it being clean and white, while Sakura would love to put a huge portrait of unicorn shitting rainbows.
''Did you really slept bad, or did you go to bed with wet hair?''
''What?'' Itachi hadn't expected the question and it took him a moment to realize what she meant.
''I did actually.'' He replied recalling last night.
''For someone who is so strict with himself and demanding with the others, not to mention one hell of a perfectionist , that certainly is one odd hairstyle for you. Why do you keep your hair that long when even you brother who is doomed in doing only crap has his hair short, you know like a man should?''
''For someone who can actually behave well, cook well and be feminine, why do you decide to act like a tomboy and swear like wagoner?''
''Ouch! Looks like you don't want to talk about it.''
Itachi clasped his hands like a retard in an answer and Sakura rolled her eyes.
''And for the record'' she began before putting the dishes away ''I don't act like a tomboy, I act like myself, I say what I think and do the things I want.''
''That doesn't explain the swearing''
''I was raised by my father and his orangutan-like bodyguards. What do you expect? To spit gold as I speak?''
''You can always give it a try.''
''Yeah tell that to somebody else.''
He smiled at the thought of her actually acting all shy and sweet in front of people without all these tattoos and hipster clothing, just like a girl who is his ideal type. Wait, did she said raised by orangutan-like bodyguards? What the hell?!
His evening wasn't really the best he had. Even though they seemed to be on good terms now, Itachi asked himself how long was she going to stay here. Certainly a lot of problems and conflicts will pop up in the near future and he wasn't sure if he was going to handle them without totally flipping out because the girl knew well which nerves to push.
He looked at her, sitting beside him on the couch and silently watching the news. Well at least he was watching the news. She was playing on her cell phone. Itachi shifted his shoulders once again and winced a little as he felt something snap. Sakura looked at him questionably with one eyebrow raised.
''That is what you get for sleeping with wet hair.'' She told him judgingly.
''Well, I guess you'd know best.'' He replied while trying to relax his shoulders with some strange moves that to Sakura looked like he was trying to dislocate all of his bones.
''Let me massage you.'' She said quickly and stood up, going behind him so that she can place both of her hands on his shoulders and give him a relaxing and qualitative massage. Itachi arched forward before her hands touched him, turning his head to face her which only led to another stab of pain.
''I'm not going to rape you, don't worry!'' she assured with a smirk on her face.
''Thank goodness, because that's what worried me!'' he replied with faked relief and then rolled his eyes.
''I'm serious I won't touch anywhere else beside your shoulders!'' she promised while holding back a giggle.
''Look, I'm not trusting strangers who already have ruined a lot things in their live.''
''Itachi-san, it may look like it, but I am hell good at giving massages. I swear you will dislocate your shoulders on your own if you don't let me do it.''
Itachi was amazed to hear his name from her mouth for the first time, with a suffix which is used to show respect toward a certain person. He indeed liked being called like that, since nobody addressed him that way. She was raised very well, but he still wondered why she didn't act like it or looked like it. Maybe she wouldn't try and rape him as she claimed, but he still wasn't sure if he should let her touch him.
''I massage my father every day and he is damn happy about it and very glad.'' She tried to convince him.
''Well, I guess.''
Itachi loved being massaged, he even loved when someone played with his hair. The feeling of someone touching him was so relaxing and comforting that he often felt asleep. And as he was now, tired from work and already sleepy, the chances were very high that he would fall asleep on the couch.
''So, are you going to let me massage you or should I play with the cat?''
''Okay, I guess I can give you a chance.'' He said and turned his back on her ready for the massage.
At first he felt a brush of fingers in his hair, so light and gentle that it was enough to send shivers through his whole body. His neck was probably the most sensitive part of his body, or at least the second most sensitive. He loved being touched there and that simple movement was enough to relax him and close his eyes.
As Sakura moved his hair to the side so that she can expose his neck, she felt him shiver and thought he hated being touch there, but the moment she felt his body calming she let a smile slip her lips. So the older Uchiha liked being touched there. She decided to start with the neck since it seemed pretty stiff.
She put her hands around it and let the thumbs massage the back of his neck with slow and precise upward-downward movements. She started putting more pressure as time passed by and moved her thumbs in circular direction, taking all the tension away. She didn't know tough that Itachi was melting under her fingers by now and trying not to let a sound of delight as she continued down his neck to his shoulders. This was heaven; he felt as if he was riding a huge, soft cloud, he was too relaxed to even notice that she untied his tie and while she bend over his shoulder, her hair tickled his neck and he felt the sweet aroma of her shampoo and herself filling his nostrils with the sweet scent.
He did open his eyes when he realized she was trying to get him rid of his shirt.
''What are you doing?''
''I can't massage you through the material, take it off.''
''Are you sure you don't want to rape me?''
''Stop acting like a virgin, I just need your shoulders exposed.''
He did as she told him and took his shirt off, his body a little asleep from all the relaxation and comfort.
Sakura continued massaging him and he felt more and more relaxed on the verge of falling asleep. Her tiny, soft hands certainly knew where and how to touch, her long and skinny fingers pressing every tensed spot, releasing the muscles from it.
He didn't know when she had finished, but by the time he opened his eyes, she was once again next to him on the couch, with the cat lying on her lap and purring softly. He felt something around his shoulders and when he finally got to his senses he realized it was a warm and soft pullover tied over his neck, keeping it and his shoulders warm. Her pullover from yesterday, which carried her scent with itself.
''Did I fall asleep?'' he asked worried and uncoordinated.
''Something like that, but don't worry it's been twenty minutes.'' She replied with eyes on her phone.
''I see.'' He said tiredly.
''Make sure you take a hot shower and dry your hair if you are going to wash it again.'' She advised him, not diverting her eyes form the phone.
''Thanks.'' He said shortly.
''You're welcome.''
Toma-chan seemed not to like the ignorance he was getting from Sakura and decided to get her attention by trying to climb on her shoulder. She let her phone fall on the couch and hugged the cat that seemed unsatisfied with just both of his paws on her shoulder and tried to climb more. Sakura giggled and tried to stop but, the he was faster and more skilled than she was and soon all four paws balanced on her shoulder.
''What is it Toma-chan?'' she asked while laughing. Itachi just stole a glance at the manipulative duo before turning his gaze back on the TV.
''Ouch!'' Sakura screamed suddenly in pain and he saw the cat literally being thrown off of her, landing on all fours. He was about to scream at her for throwing his cat like some piece of trash until he saw her pained expression taking every inch of her face and forming in every muscle. She was holding her shoulder and her eyes were shut, teeth clenched holding another scream from escaping her mouth.
Looks like his hairy roommate scratched her pretty badly. He hadn't seen such pained expression in a while, not from a cat scratch that is.
''Is everything okay?'' he asked and stretched a hand towards her. Sakura jumped from the couch before he could touch her.
''Fine'' she said through gritted teeth, obviously not fine. He looked at her shoulder where she was holding a hand over it and saw a bloodstain forming on her white shirt she was wearing. Just how bad did that devil scratch her?
''You're bleeding! Let me see.'' He stood up and once again stretched a hand towards her.
''Don't touch me!'' she shouted suddenly panicked and Itachi could have sworn he saw fear in her eyes.
''I'm sorry.'' He apologized and let his hand slip to his side. ''I just want to help. It seems pretty bad.''
Sakura didn't say anything, but the fact that the bloodstain grew bigger panicked him. He got worried and thoughtlessly put a hand on her shoulder.
''I told you not to touch me!'' she screamed again and tried to spun off, but he caught her by the arm pulling her to him.
''Sakura it looks bad! You need to disinfect it.'' He tried to hold her tight while she was giving her best to tear herself apart from him.
''No!'' she screamed again. ''Let me go!''
''I won't hurt you! Why are you making such a fuss about it anyway.''
''Just let me go, please!'' she pleaded sounding very vulnerable and small. Itachi felt bad and let go of her arm. He really didn't understand her behavior, but the way she pleaded, made him feel as if he was molesting her.
''I'm sorry. I just wanted to help''
''I don't need your fucking help!'' she screamed angrily at him, suddenly the sharpness of her voice back.
''Just what the hell is your problem? I was just trying to help! You are bleeding way too much!''
''I hate being touched, okay? I hate it!'' she shouted angrily eyes glassy from tears who never got the chance to fall, but he could clearly see the rage in there too.
''Okay, I apologize! I didn't know! But just look at your shirt, it's like you took a bullet!''
''It's because of my tattoo.'' She explained. ''It's new and the skin is very sensitive there.''
Itachi was no doctor or whatever, but he knew enough that there is no possible way for her skin to bleed like that after one scratch from a cat. This must be one hell of a tattoo if her skin was so easy to tear apart. He decided not to go deeper into things or else she would flip again.
''Just, let me help you wash the blood off.''
''I said I hate being touched! Are you deaf?''
''If you hate being touched so much, why bother having all these tattoos in the first place?''
''It's my business.'' She answered sharply and retreated in her room, slamming the door shut.
Itachi didn't know what to think or how to the react. There was indeed something fishy about her. Of course there was, if not why did she have to stay with him in the first place? And just what exactly had her father done, that she needed 'protection' as his uncle instructed. Or the way she just reacted at being touched? There was something very out of place here and if she was going to stay under his roof, he was going to find out what her deal was. He didn't want to be involved in some mafia business or anything that would only lead to bloodshed and God knows what else. But then again isn't he already involved? The moment he realized she was best friends with his brother and knew his uncle, he knew he was already in the game. Whatever it was, he was now a player in it. But he was going to make up his own rules and not let himself being left out and controlled, unknowing of the circumstances and the situation. It was about time he researched his surroundings and took action.