SakuIta Chapter 11 The Outing

Hi y'all! I'm glad you've enjoyed my story so far! So, I don't really have anything to say this time except that PLEASE REVIEW! Comments, reviews, requests, ideas, any kind of feedback is welcome. I know reviewing every story and every chapter you read is next to impossible, but please. I need to know I have some support I can look back to for inspiration. Don't make me beg…

Anyways, with that said and over with, here's the story. Enjoy!

*RECAP*

"There you go," Sasuke said. "Now, you better use the transportation jutsu, because there's no way you can make it to Sakura's house on time."

"Thank you for your assistance, Sasuke," Itachi said. Then he did a few quick hand signals and he was gone in a poof of smoke.

Sasuke smiled at the place where Itachi had stood. It was time.

*END RECAP*

Itachi appeared amidst a swirl of smoke, wind and leaves right in front of Sakura's house. He speed walked to the front door and hesitated just as his fist was reaching the door to knock. Was he decent? Was he really over-reacting? Was he over-dressed? He looked down at his clothes. Fancy but still casual enough to not look like he was walking down the red carpet. Check. Was his hair undone? Maybe when he took off his jacket or put on the vest his hair got messed up. Panicked, he patted the back of his head, and sighed in relief. All good.

He took a step back and took a deep breath to calm himself. He was going on a date, for crying out loud. Sure, it was with the prettiest, kindest, most dedicated and gifted medic-nin in the whole existence of the world, but it was still a date. And they had gone on dates before. The only difference with this one was that-

Holy katana, he was late! He had spent too much panicking and fussing about and now he was late! Hurriedly, Itachi reached out with his fist and knocked twice on the door as his heart beat to the rhythm of a runner. He really needed to get a hold of himself if he was freaking out over being three minutes late, he scolded himself as he waited for Sakura to answer the door.

Sure enough, she did. The wooden door opened ajar in an almost slow motion as light from the inside of the red house flooded the darkness outside, Itachi included. "Hello, Itachi," Sakura's sweet, sweet voice greeted him with a smile. Itachi held his breath as Sakura stepped out into his line of sight, and breathed out in admiration. She was exquisite.

Although Itachi knew better than to stare, he did so anyway. He had to take in every detail of her at that moment and burn it into his memory forever. If he didn't he would never forgive himself, particularly when he was out on missions he might or might not come back from.

Sakura was wearing a light purple kimono the color of lavender with a light emerald-green obi, or sash, around her waist, the same color as her eyes. All around the edges of the kimono the purple was darker, and the color lightened as it traveled away from the hems and into the main part of the dress. The kimono was decorated with small life-sized sakura blossoms, some floating in an invisible breeze completely intact while others were missing a petal a two, which were found not far away from the flower, seemingly dancing away blissfully into time. There were a few tiny leaves the same color as the obi following their example, giving the kimono the feeling of being filled with life and emotion even when still.

As Itachi studied the beautiful dress, Sakura moved a fraction of a centimeter as she breathed in and exhaled, and he noticed that there was a soft, almost invisible sheen to the fabric. Itachi sighed again. It was absolutely beautiful.

He raised his eyes to Sakura's face, saving the best part for last. Her unique silky-pink locks where parted to the side instead of the usual middle, so her bangs seemingly fell around one side of her face, caressing it. Noticing that Itachi was looking at that piece of her hair, Sakura blushed softly and tucked the loose hair behind her ear. She looked better like that; Itachi now could see her face perfectly and he liked what he saw. Taking a last look, he saw that the rest of her hair was gathered up in a spiky bun, held in place by two purple chopsticks the same color as her kimono with sakura flowers blossoming on the tips.

"Sakura," he breathed, utterly overwhelmed by her beauty and the emotion he felt for her at that moment. "You look outstandingly, breath-takingly beautiful." He reached out and gently caressed her cheek with the tips of his scared fingers, and she blushed deeply, looking down at their shoes. That was the kind of praise any girl would die for, but once someone says it, it is difficult to look them in the eye.

She looked up, emerald eyes meeting onyx ones, and she smiled from the bottom of her heart. "Thank you, Itachi."

Itachi smiled back and held his arm out for her. "Should we leave now, hime?" he gallantly asked. Sakura giggled at his antics and tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow.

"I'd say we shall, my lord." They smiled at each other and turned to the streets as soon as Sakura closed and locked her door. Tonight was going to be one of the most perfect, memorable and romantic nights of their lives.

Sakura and Itachi were walking down the dark street at eight o' clock that night. After having a nice meal in a four-star restaurant, going to the art gallery to admire the talent of Konoha's artists (and Itachi also took the opportunity to learn about Sakura's tastes), going to a live performance of a new up-and-coming band called the Music Beasts which played all kinds of music from slow songs to party remixes which they danced to with gusto, and lighting some fireworks by the river, the night had been simply magical.

"How did you enjoy our evening, Sakura?" Itachi asked for the tenth time that night as he smiled down at his girlfriend.

"It was wonderful, Itachi, simply wonderful," Sakura chirped lovingly up to him and he nodded, a complacent smile the only clue to his feelings. But Sakura knew.

"What movie would you like to watch?" Itachi asked Sakura. She hadn't failed to remind him that they couldn't linger around for long, that they had to be at his house no later than a quarter past eight. Her reason for that was that she had an early shift at the hospital the next day and she didn't want to waste time among lots of people when what she really wanted was to be alone with him. Itachi was ecstatic at her explanation.

"I don't know, Itachi," Sakura answered truthfully. "You probably have some new movies I haven't seen, so I'll let you know once we get there." Itachi nodded.

They kept walking until they arrived at the Uchiha mansion, where Itachi opened the door and held it open for Sakura as she entered. Sakura walked straight ahead without turning on the lights, which Itachi found a little odd since that was what she usually did but ignored it as he followed her, the light of the moon and stars that entered through the windows his guide.

Sakura turned a corner and disappeared into the main living room, a big room with lots of space ideal for family gatherings. "Itachi, over here! What's this?" Itachi walked into the room, suddenly suspicious.

"Sakura, what did you fi-" he was abruptly cut off as the lights turned on.

"SURPRISE, ITACHI! HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY!" seemingly a hundred voices cheered. Itachi blinked, his eyes getting accustomed to the sudden light. He couldn't believe what he saw. It was next to impossible.