"Hey Sakura...hey-"
Itachi's voice was hushed and soft, and slowly waking me. I could feel his hand on my shoulder, nudging me awake gently. "Sakura, we've got to go.."
I sat up, opening my eyes, taking in my surroundings. The side room lamp was turned on, providing a dim, non painful glow of light in the room. Itachi was knelled down beside the bed rather...sweetly. Which was odd. Not like Itachi didn't have manners or anything...but this was different. Like he was going out of his way to be gentler than usual.
I rubbed my eyes, quite aware of his scrutiny, even at my half alive state. I slowly turned to face Itachi, immediately noticing that his eyes weren't glowing fiercely. They were gleaming obsidian, and I couldn't help but stare for a long moment. He had the most beautiful eyes, I hadn't seen them sense I first met him, he was always using Sharingan. Black replaced by angry demanding crimson.
I half haphazardly swung my legs around through the blankets and onto the floor. With another wide mouthed, over exaggerated yawn, I slowly stood up. Itachi's hand moved down to the small of my back for support, slightly alarming me. Not that he was crossing any personal boundaries, but this was not how Itachi normally acted. Why the change?
"You're sure being nice..." I slurred out in a sleepy voice, managing to focus on his eyes.
Itachi gave a small nod with an expressionless face- very difficult to read naturally. "You can't think straight in the mornings I have realized. It would be a shame if you ran into a wall or fell down out of sheer mental ineptness. I am merely here to help." My eyes narrowed into thin slits. Ineptness huh? Ok, so maybe I wasn't the best in the mornings...but inept? Pa-lease. Itachi stood in front of me, and simply to prove him wrong, I took a haughty step forward.
As my foot made contact with the ground, the perhaps, too soon movement caused my leg to give out and crumple beneath me, causing me, yup, sailing straight into the chest of Itachi. Go. Freakin'. Figure. He caught me with ease, and I could feel the satisfaction of being right cloud around him like an over bearing cologne. As if his ego wasn't big enough to begin with.
"Hi Ipachhi.." I mumbled out through the fabric of his shirt, still refusing to move.
"Hi Sakura." he stated, voice clear and clearly amused.
I guided my arms to his shoulders, the upper half of my body still implanted to his. I slowly pushed off from him, using him as the strong balance to guide me safely to an upright position again. Though I know Itachi tried to keep up his expressionless mask on, he couldn't hide the glimmer in his eyes and the pulled corners at his lips. I still had my hands on his shoulders and I glared at the ground, breathing rather deeply.
"Don't...say....anything." I whispered lowly, still getting my bearings from the day. I really hated mornings. I hated them. But what's worse was simply the embarassment behind it all. Being all cocky then face planting? In front of the ninja god known as Itachi? Just about the worst screw up known to the world of both females and males alike. But it wasn't just that, it was more. It was how close he was, how nice he was being suddenly, his coal eyes, my repressed feelings...and that's when I realized it.
I was blushing.
And Itachi was sure to notice.
He noticed everything.
He was Itachi for Christ's sake.
No. No no blushing!! Come on Sakura, calm down. Stop! Stop! Stop!
If Itachi saw, he would just rub it in, and be like 'oh Sakura has feelings for me blah blah blah' and he would be mean and cruel and do something to get me all worked up and...NO! I would not go there. I would stop blushing right now. Besides, I decided it last night. I do NOT like Itachi like that because I can't. Simple as that.
Ha. Take that Itachi.
Though as I told myself this, I took a fearful side glance, a move I instantly regretted. Eye contact with Itachi- BAD. His facial expression was dramatically changed from his usual unreadable mask. He looked visually confused, trying to read me. As if he weren't sure if I really was blushing, and if so, he couldn't seem to understand why. But the second I looked at him, my face flushed all over again (stupid feminine emotions!!) and that's when things got even worse.
He smirked.
Not just any smirk.
The Itachi smirk.
Obviously by name, the smirk that only Itachi can pull off, and when he uses this exact smirk, you know something bad is going to happen.
Quickly, taking preventative action, I dropped my arms to my sides and turned my back to him. Why? Because the more this thing prolonged the deeper and deeper my blush was. Which was horrid. I really am not one of those mushy-gushy blush girls that see a guy- any guy, and gets all flushed. I was level headed, calm cool...but not right now. Not around Itachi. He seemed to bring out this awful side in me that I couldn't control...a side that...Itachi...controlled.
Surely that smirk meant he figured it out, but maybe I could play the part. Undo his decision. After all, his face meant he was confused. I can easily sway his decision right back if I played my cards right. As long as I stopped blushing, made myself act cold to him maybe, then I could undo all of this and keep things where they should be. Because there was something Itachi deffinitaly didn't know. Even if I LOVED him, which was far from the case, I wouldn't date him. Even if he got down on one knee (highly unlikely) and begged me to stay with him till the end of time, I would say no. He couldn't just know that I liked him though. Because I would put Konoha first. That's just how it needed to be.
As I thought this, reaffirmed my thoughts, Itachi took a step closer behind me. "Sakura.." he seemed to sing my name almost. His voice was smooth, confident, beckoning...but the worst? Dare I say it...but like he was trying to seduce me.
And not that it worked to the full effect, but it quickly got my mind spinning. And just as I got control over my over reactive emotions, I lost it again.
No, No Sakura! You have GOT to stop blushing!!
Each time I would make a move, Itachi would counter from behind me. Him taking much less effort, though gaining much more than my feeble attempts of a sober mind.
Itachi grabbed my shoulders with the lightest of pressure, and pulled me back against his body. I could feel the contours of his chest and arms in my back, the warmth of his body heat, and soon, his hot breath on my neck.
A quick jagged breath ran through my body as I tried to pull away from Itachi's grip. My last attempt of freedom before my will melted in his hold.
Itachi's grip tightened and pushed me even harder against him, and I knew I would just have to ride it out until he was satisfied.
Must. Stay. Focused. Sakura.
Each word through my mind was forced through deep concentration as I was quickly loosing this battle with Itachi, who really wasn't doing that much.
Itachi simply breathed on my neck slowly, tracing his face through my hair and up my neck, pausing at my ear. He took a light impulse of breath, and repeated my name in that voice, "Sakura..."
I clamped my eyes shut tightly, my face burning such a bright red I was sure I was going to explode. I knew he would do this. He was toying with me, and knew just how to do it. Itachi would just keep on messing with me until I broke and gave him whatever he was after. Itachi could just do that to you. His mere voice was low, dark, and mischievous...inviting. That and the combination of his grip and being pressed against his chest, him breathing on my neck...sent my mind spinning in directions I dare not even repeat.
Itachi breathed more deeply, hot air sending chills like ice down my spine. "You.." he breathed out slowly, and at this point, I was a lost cause, completely given into his control. You? Me? I..I what?
Itachi's mouth was right a the base of my ear, and I could feel his lips move on my skin for every syllable he said. "You.." he repeated, my skin tingling warmly from his caresses
"You're going to make me late.." he finished in his deep voice.
And instanly, his arms were gone, his body turned, walking out the door casually, as if nothing had ever happened.
....
...
That...
Jerk!
My mouth fell open as I stood still, frozen. All of that...just to say...
Oh I'll kill him.
I threw my head back in frustrated agony. Itachi...that manipulative...Oh I'd kill him! My promise of revenge to myself. Giving a dramatic sigh, I drug myself of of the room, closed the door and dragged myself down the familiar path to the hideout, where yet another insanely boring meeting was awaiting me. And who would I have the pleasure of standing by? Mr. Manipulative Jerk in the flesh, of course! Wouldn't that be fun.
Soon...way too soon...I caught up to Itachi, who I refused to make eye contact with. My lips were pursed with frustration, and my eye brows furrowed in the same manner.
Jerk.
"Sakura, you seem angry..." Itachi mused innocently, and I could feel his stare.
I glared up at him, not even caring he had Sharingan activated already, "You are a jerk Itachi. And just for the record, I don't even want you like that! Though be sure to twist that into some good story you can tell the guys, make this thing more realistic and eventful." I spat out, half way from embarrassment and...well, mostly just embarrassment. I wouldn't admit it, but Itachi got me good. And I knew it. And that's why it sucked so much, because he did too.
Itachi smirked and quickly grabbed my hand, which didn't alarm me like it used to. I was quite used to this random hand grabbing, ass grabbing, waist grabbing stunt. One of the fellow members were here.
"Morning Itachi, Sakura." It was Kisame's voice. He wasn't that far off at all. Taking the last few seconds of freedom before we had to act like lovers again, I glared up at Itachi with the worst, coldest look I could muster up in two seconds, and in response, he merely smirked wider.
"Hello Kisame." Charming Itachi. As usual. (Jerk!!)
Kisame soon neared us, and I was thankful to him, lightening the atmosphere a bit for me. Itachi couldn't hold it over my head as much when the guys were around, making it much easier for the looser, me.
"So did you two manage to keep yourselves busy for the past four days?" Kisame asked Itachi darkly.
I rolled my eyes with a sigh, mentally checking out of their conversation. Itachi never gave grotesque details, but the things he came up with? I swear. After time, they were just too crazy for me to take. They continued talking, and I occupied my mind deciding how I would somehow undo this so Itachi couldn't torture me with it for the next month.
"Wow Sakura...I didn't know you were into that..."
Great. Now what did I miss? And the question didn't seem to be a very easy one to answer. Yet another lie Itachi told his friends, just to make me look like an idiot. I almost dared to ask, but decided I was better off pretending I was all embarrassed by our non existing sex life, and adverted eye contact from Kisame, who gladly took my lie with a pleased laugh.
Funny. Seems I was just doing that two seconds ago.
As we all huddled into the black as death cave, the leader gave a warm welcome, "Glad you are all here, at the correct time even, " he nodded gratefully to Itachi and continued, still not completley forgiving our previous misbehavior. The leader proceeded on with the meeting, talking about plans that I couldn't even share with Konoha.
God, I can't believe I had to wake up for this... and what a crappy way to wake up too. Even just standing next to Itachi was awkward.
"Itachi, I have been thinking about Sakura and your excursion."
I tensed slightly. No. Don't think about it...just let us go!
"I think a month after you leave her in Konoha, you should go back and regather information from Sakura and personal observations. She can be a great tool of communication for us, and I'd like to take that to our advantage."
I forced myself to not respond with more than an agreeing nod. Though my mind was screaming.
No! After this month, I have no obligations with Itachi and I am free from this place! And if Itachi thinks I am going to comply then he is dead wrong too! I didn't need to meet up with Itachi after we split our ways. A month wasn't long enough, not from this manipulative cretin.
And the meeting proceeded as normal, which means boring, hours long, and if you ask me, completely pointless.
Though today was different. Because I didn't want the meeting to end. I didn't want to face Itachi, who I knew would pick up right back where he left of in his gloating and I would feel like an over reactive, needy girl. And all too soon, "Alright members...Sakura, you are free for the day. See you in the morning." And I couldn't help but wonder if he really meant in the morning or not...?
Itachi grabbed my waist and lead me out, my stomach twisting nervously for the fate sure to befall me. Man what a hole I had dug for myself now. Just outside of the hideout, Itachi stopped and faced me.
"So, how is this going to work, a month after, me coming back?"
I shrugged my shoulders. Oh, so now he needed my help? Hm. Fancy that.
"Well I say, you step foot in my village and I'll have you arrested."
Itachi cocked his head, almost...enjoying my challenge. "Would you really, Sakura?"
I nodded firmly. "Hey Itachi, you are the one that said to forget about each other. And if I hadn't met you and knew you were in Konoha, I'd arrest you. Simple as that."
He smirked, nodding back, then loomed towards me, "But let's say...you didn't forget? Let's say you remembered me?"
Itachi stalked forward, and I backed up, hoping to avoid going through all of this again. And then I hit it. The back of the cave wall. And in that moment? His arms on seperate sides by my head. Traditional girl against the wall block really, but yet just as effective.
Itachi, so close to me, stared at me, eyes coal again. Damn he was good.
He leaned in again, whispering in my ear, "Let's say you wanted to remember me."
No. No this wasn't fair! Though Itachi being like this, just as before, set my mind in a haze. I struggled for my voice.
"You don't want me though Itachi..." my words slurred together, representing my not so clear thinking as well.
Itachi rubbed the side of my neck with his nose, bringing his lips back to my ear again
"But you want me...don't you." Not a question. A fact.
"No. Because...I don't want.." it was hard for me to concentrate, "I don't want to be the only one...I don't want to risk Konoha for...for you...for me. And you don't like me and so even if I did- which I don't...then I wouldn't because that would be-"
Itachi put a finger over my mouth, backed up to where his face was only inches from my own. Itachi shook his head slowly, eyes closed in light concentration.
"Sakura...who ever told you, that I didn't want you?"
And before I could even respond, his lips were crushing against mine. And immediately, before I even gave myself mental consent, I was responding back to him. My lips moving in sync with his perfectly. Lips twisting and moving, dueling against each other. Itachi pushed me back against the wall harder, pressing his body against mine. His hands moved to my shoulders, pushing me even closer to him if it was possible. I moved my hands, twisting through his hair, forgetting about all my vows to do what was best for Konoha. Itachi laced his tongue into my mouth, holding me even tighter.
"Damn you two...get a room!" It was Deidara's voice, and immediatly, Itachi pulled away from me, which I did NOT appreciate. I...liked...kissing Itachi.
Itachi pulled me by my waist up against him smirking from the irony of the entire situation. "My apologies, I could not resist her." he stated, staring down at me, except now, he wasn't acting. He was being real. I was being real. And it wasn't wrong. We weren't wrong. Konoha...was wrong. And that was the best part of all.
"I thought if I waited just a moment longer I'd see clothes coming off" Kisame smirked approvingly to his partner, appreaing from the mob that had seen the event. In reaction, I blushed for the hundredth time for that day.
"Sakura, shall we head off?" Itachi asked, grabbing my hand with a light peck on the lips.
I hadn't quite found my voice so I only could squeak an "Mm-hm.." which Itachi could only smirk at.
The best part though?
When we were out of sight from the Akatsuki's view...
Itachi didn't let my hand go.
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A/N: SWOON!! Well, at least I am anyhow. Ok guys, you really need to comment. I'm just going to be blunt because somewhere past the monitor, there is a real person so you can handle it. I write everything by hand- personal choice. Long story in and of itself really. But in case you don't follow, that means that I write it, then take the time to type it up and post it. Very long process, which technically benefits me nothing, when I already have a non-virtual copy. So please comment. Really. This isn't for me, it's for you guys, and when I spend literal HOURS typing this, the least you can do it take five seconds and write a puny sentence of feedback.
But I don't mean to be rude to you guys, because each chapter I get new subscriptions and people favorite the story, which is really nice. So to most of you, this doesn't really apply. But that's ok, I wanted to say it anyway because last chapter didn't get a single comment. (Made me very sad because I loved that chapter..) And in reality I need to thank you guys because I know I am so bad at updating, but I am trying hard to keep myself on deadlines. My next deadline will be this coming Tuesday ok? Maybe sooner, in fact probably by Sunday, but I don't want to promise anything. Alright...well that's all. Hope you loved this chapter, I sure did!
Midnight.