This is also an unbetaed version. Sorry, I'll contact my beta as soon as possible. Or I'll get another beta. Anyone want to volunteer? Give me ur e-mail.

Standard Disclaimer Apply

XXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 3: Precious Time

Itachi yawned slightly while he woke up in his room.

Wait, in his room? Didn't he sleep in the nearby cave? Or was it just a dream?

No, it definitely wasn't a dream. So what happened, then?

The answer came straight when he heard someone knocking his door.

"It's me." Sakura's voice.

"Enter," he replied with a slight lazy yawn in his voice.

Sakura did as told and asked, "Itachi-san, do you want to have a breakfast?"

Itachi noted her difference in calling his name. And, damn, for the first time, she asked him with a smile—undoubtedly her most breathe taking, sweetest, most innocent smile—on.

When he didn't answer, she asked once more. "Itachi-san?"

Itachi snapped out of his daze—the thing that rarely happened, and nodded. "Wait a minute."

He went to his bathroom, washing his face quickly, and ready for the breakfast. Sakura was on her chair, waiting for him. Breakfast was the thing they always did together. When he was with Kisame, they just ate wild fruits or rabbit as their meal.

This is the advantage having a girl as a company…

Their foods were quite good; Sakura was a good cook after all. However, except for the smile, their morning this time was no difference, Itachi noted. Her face was still nonchalant and unconcerned as usual. It must be his imagination, but her face didn't so stoic and blank as it used to be when she was around him alone.

Or at least, hatred wasn't etched in the spring orbs.

After she put down her chopsticks and wiped her mouth, she spoke, "I was the one who brought you here." She stared into his eyes.

"You looked so content; I didn't dare wake you up. After the rain stopped, I brought you here."

Man, she was right. Somehow, this morning, he didn't dare to open his eyes, as if afraid to be woken up to reality, as if afraid being woken up from a very beautiful dream…

But it was too vivid to be a dream, so what were those? The peaceful feelings, the safe ambiance, the pleasurable sensation that had shot up his mind… It was better than climbing to heaven… Better than bliss.

It was too real to be a dream… and yet too perfect to be a reality. But dream and imagination was always the realest reality…

But somehow, he knew it wasn't just a dream…

He was so deep in his ocean of thoughts that he didn't aware that she brought up all the dishes to their small kitchen. His thought distracted by the sound of the water flowed down the tub.

She glanced to the calendar beside her while cleaning their dishes. Still four days to the next meeting.

If she was in her sanity, maybe she wouldn't do this. But, she found her mouth said:

"Care for training, Itachi-san?"

--------------------------------------------------

He was amazed.

Even with his sharingan, she still managed to make incredible genjutsu to trick him. He flicked what seemed like hundreds of kunai. They instantly accelerated towards her with terrifying speed and accuracy. And yet, she managed to dodge most of them.

If people saw them, no one would think that they were just training. With several trees crushed, kunai and shuriken were everywhere, sharingan on, and earth shattered, ones would think they were a meant rival.

This was more than his hardest mission.

By afternoon, they had rid their cloaks off for better movements. They were bleeding pretty much now, yet nothing serious.

Right, backwards, left… right again… She knew he was a prodigy. But she didn't know that he was this strong. Kunai those were swishing around her left her no choice but to take a little wound. And yet…

It didn't hurt… she thought, genjutsu?

"KAI!" When she looked upwards, she saw Itachi was ready to attack her.

Too late? No… Nothing is impossible for a Sakura…

She daringly jumped and met his movement, making him losing his tempo. But she wasn't fast enough to strike him back… They collided in the air and losing their balance.

With a loud 'bang', they both fell to the ground hard. Itachi on top Sakura.

"Uff…" Sakura whimpered. Thank God I didn't break my spine.

Her face went red as the realization that they were in the compromising position struck her. She was sandwiched between the ground and his body. His hands, surprisingly warm, had protected her in the last millisecond after that collision. One was holding her head and the other circled around her waist to prevent broken bones.

"Itachi-san…" she mumbled, "…you're heavy…" It was the first thing she could think at this moment. Knowing that Sasuke also had said that when she was over him.

It was a stupid, inane, idiot excuse though, knowing the fact that she had brought him to their lair.

Itachi quickly got up and straightened himself. His face looked nonchalant as usual. Sakura wondered how he could be so calm when she was afraid that he could hear her heart pounding wildly inside her chest.

"I think we should stop by now…" Sakura muttered quietly. "We made such a disaster here…"

"Hn." Itachi answered in a tone that reminded her so much of Sasuke. It must be traits, she decided in small annoyance. Can't the Uchihas think about the more creative answer? They missed their language lesson, it must be that way. They are too obsessed by power and trained too much until they don't know that there's a part of language that so called sentences.

"Ummph…" She grunted, then sinking herself into the ground even more. Lying on the land beneath her, feeling the cool ground on her back. Her hands came up to support her head and her eyes closed, she was resting for a while. Completely oblivious to the gaze Itachi gave her.

Itachi stared at her vulnerable position. She trusts me, he thought inwardly. She believed I wouldn't hurt her even though she hates me.

After one or two minutes of quick resting, she stood up. Without words, she took his hands and half dragged him to the lair.

With her hand gesture, he quickly seated himself in the nearby sofa, then letting her to do her wound examination ritual.

"Why aren't you heal yourself instead?" he said flatly when she healed him.

"I want my body to get used up to pain," she answered, "and improving my own medical skill. For that reason also, I really want to examine your sharingan."

He huffed and smirked. "You've asked me that thousands already. Why do you so eager to learn the sharingan?"

"I have said it." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"I know, but there must be another reason. I don't have sharingan for nothing. You're not lying, but you're not entirely truthful either."

"Okay," she sighed in defeat, "I've always loved sharingan since the first time I saw them. I think its colour is the most beautiful colour in the world."

"I always loved the sharingan."

If he had been an ordinary man, he would have danced a happy-joy-joy dance, since the sharingan is his, and it has been said from a certain pink-haired Akatsuki.

"I always loved the sharingan since the first time I saw them."

The sharingan has always been associated with him. Almost always, actually.

"Since the first time I saw them."

Did she… did she had loved… since…

O my… The thought was always taboo for an Uchiha Itachi. The UCHIHA ITACHI won't EVER fall in love with someone so…

…

So… what?

…

So strong?

So tempting?

So beautiful?

So sexy?

But it was all to him, right? Just a beautiful face.

And yet, he found himself err… for lack of better words, attracted to her since the first time they met.

"So?" The feminine sweet voice he knew too well this month snapped him out of his thought.

He thought for a moment. And then the realization what she was talking about dawned to him.

"Well, since you loved sharingan so much so…"

The innocent green shade of her eyes lit up with hope.

"…I still won't allow you."

She visibly dropped.

"Uff… I know that…" she pouted cutely.

It was amazing to look at the girl who always so cold and so brave in the battlefield to act like a four year old children who didn't get the toy they wanted.

And Itachi, the GREAT UCHIHA ITACHI thought it was almost CUTE.

Damn, damn hormones.

"With your first words when you came here, and with your fiery personality, I hardly doubt that you wouldn't try to kill me, or destroy my sharingan…" He surprised himself to have this kind of nice conversation with her. But since this morning, everything was changed. Her attitude towards him, her smiles, her…

Well, everything about her was nice. (Of course! You're falling in love with her, baka!)

"Oh, came on, why would I do that? I have accompanied you nicely this month. I even almost look at you as my brother."

The Uchiha's expression changed ever-so-slightly. Sakura noticed this, and misunderstood it.

"Sorry. It's just… I never have a brother. I wonder how it feels to have one."

A… brother?

Right now, he had to be satisfied with her opinion, and silently praying for more. He ignored the sinking feeling inside his stomach, and watched her walked away to the kitchen.

Minutes later, she came back with two plates on her hands. They settled themselves on the chairs, and then began to eat silently and somehow, contently.

When she raised up to clean the dishes, she said, "I forgot to tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"That you're the best spar I've ever met."

"You too." He replied, acknowledging her.

"Well, actually it's because I've never have a spar partner before except Tsunade-shishou." She grinned. "My team mates always treat me like I'm a frail glass doll." She huffed dispassionately.

And you're really like one. Understandable.

Without any other words, he went to the toilet for some minutes. When he came back to the living room, Sakura already slept there. Her body sprawled and exposed to his sight. Slight snoozes were heard from her slightly parted lips.

But you will be mended. Again. And again. Strengthen in the process. In the mending. Until nothing can break you anymore.

He smirked inwardly. She must be tired. He was so tired himself because of their 'dead or alive' training. Let alone a girl like her, so fragile and delicate. He cupped the sleeping kunoichi to his arms. She was so light, as if made from feathers. He almost brought her to her own room. That was until he heard her words echoing in his memory.

"Uchiha-san, please don't come to my room unless I allow you to."

With a sigh, he brought her to his room and settled her on his bed and put his blanket over her soft feature.

Unable to resist the temptation, he bent over her, and kissed her. A soft kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. It lasted for about ten second, then he pulled away, satisfied with the taste of her lips.

Yeah, he was a man after all.

Before he fell to a deep slumber, an unbidden thought occurred to him.

If only this precious moment lasting forever…

But deep inside his heart, he knew that it wouldn't.

XXXXXXXXXX

Ok, how was it? I know this chapter was a bit pointless, I just want to add some fluff here... Well, actually, this chapter will take the twist in the twist of this story.

I won't be updating for a month, because touching the computer is forbidden during this May. I'm taking my IGCSE final test.

Pray for me. I repeat, pray for me! If I'm not passing, I probably could never update the stories! So pray for my success in especially PHYSICS! I CAN'T stand physics. If someone hit by a car, what we must do is helping the person. NOT COUNTING THE MOMENTUM! Right?

Ok, then. Just review and encourage me in my test, kay?

Thanks,
£exy The Thief