Chapter XI
A/n: thank you, my dear readers and reviewers, I value your desire to read the fic. I'm really honored.
Summary: remorse chases Sakura as she keeps on analyzing her actions, silly behavior doesn't go unnoticed by her mates, and – oh no – here's Ino who'll surely try to squeeze out information from her.
Cool water made the girl regain control so after taking a shower, she felt somewhat composed. Back in Itachi's clothes again, her eyes caught a sight of her own ones, she then took them off the heater and, holding in her arms in confusion, the items seemed dry yet terribly crimpled, she decided to think about it later on and for now she stuffed them under her arm pit before going downstairs.
- Well, - Itachi faced her pointing at the dinner table. – How about a breakfast then?
- Huh? Sure, thank you. – she sat down in her already-native chair, a toast in her hand. – And you?
- Already, - he answered but sat at the table none the less.
Muteness reigned between the two, all the while Sakura was focused on chewing, not watching the other and not thinking at the same time, the situation oddly familiar, all looked like during their habitual meetings.
Wait.
The girl, struck by a sudden suspicion, shuddered.
- Itachi, what time is it? – an alert.
- It's eleven.
- God gracious! – she leapt from the seat, hands on her head. – I'm late for work! Damn, gotta hurry up!
She looked around in awe, still dressed in Itachi's clothes, her own things on the sofa, all unironed as though chewn for a long long time. She can't go outside like this!
- Iron's in the closet, - te Uchiha's reply interrupted the fuss. – The socket is in the wall, to the right of the door.
- Th… thanks, - she mumbled, preoccupied, heading in the said direction, flashing a glance at him every now and then.
Panic gone, his voice incredibly assured, reliable, the voice anyone felt like obeying, all the more so because its owner proved so different from others. Being out of some kind of masses, rules and regulations, he ignored and trampled on them easily, like a professional player, but what she found the weirdest was that he seemed to have the right to do it.
Concentrating on the task, she tried to get all odd thoughts out of her head. The kunoichi was in a hurry. A nurse plus a Tsunade's apprentice, she can't be late for work, and besides… the girl didn't want anyone to know anything about her adventure.
It was rather a difficult task to iron the fabric as folds popped up everyplace, everywhere, while she wondered how Itachi coped with it. For a sightless one, shinobi or not, such a business would become near impossible. Yet Itachi did love order and neatness. So the question was asked without hesitation.
- You are right, - followed the answer. – That's why it's Sasuke who does the job as a rule.
With the iron in her hand, the girl froze, initial shocktransforming into the image of her husband in an apron and herchief, ironing things, washing the floors, cooking dinners. A sort of househusband, Sakura giggled. Then unexpectedly stopped, fear replacing joy when unasked stills, against her will, all over again, started to invade her mind. Sasuke, on his toes, kissing his elder. Frightened, she understood it was really Sasuke who did housework, willingly, readily since it got him closer to Nii-san, and he'd do anything to be there by his side.
No, no tears. No more crying in front of this man. Enough sobbing. That's it.
Iron aside, items back iin the closet, she quickly chanched feeling relaxed doing it in his presence this time, her dress revealed blurred stains yet it seemed more or less suitable for going outdoors at least.
- Thank you, Itachi, - the pink-haired one approached the guy evading eye contact, - thank you for letting me stay the night. And for breakfast. I have to leave now. Honestly. I'm sorry I can't thank you in the way you truly deserve.
With his head lowered, Itachi grinned with just a corner of his mouth,
- Good bye, Sakura.
She blushed seeing his – well, who wouldn't blush at such a view? – ironic smile and there followed a muted response before she was out in the street.
A clap of hands – and a small cloud of smoke – and the site was clear.
***
Once in her personal room, Sakura sat in a chair, twisting a pen in her fingers. Her late arrival surprised the colleagues, who knew the girl as serious and responsible, so they came up with a couple of odd suggestions as to why she hadn't appeared in due time, yet in the end she managed to convince them she'd overslept. Wasn't that obvious - she had to see off her husband and as a result she got all nervous and such. The morning, or rather, afternoon went smooth. Having no problems with it, she got down to paperwork. Now that Sakura was alone in the study, plenty of different thoughts started to penetrate her mind. First, there lingered the image, the hideous scene she happened to witness, these memories then slid into another episode depicting the previous night which currently, after she had thoroughly chewed it over, brought in even greater fear. She dared to kiss the killer, the murderer of his own clan, a callous sociopath, strange, unpredictable, endlessly distant and barely familiar, yet who seemed so... dear to her all at once. The girl whined before hanging her head, fingers buried in hair. She. Dared. To kiss. The Uchiha. Temples pounding with the words, blood flooding up to her cheeks while chest grew tighter, heat burning within. Gods, what was it all about? The picture won't leave her mind as she recalled the man: thick black hair, sleek, silky, unusually pale tender skin, dark lifeless eyes, that little smirk seen through his smile, sensitive fingers gliding downwards along her face in scrutiny. Overwhelmed by a fit, Sakura got up from the table, took off the protector, hesitantly played with it and put it on again, only this time as a blindfold on her eyes.
She stood still in the middle of the room adjusting to new sensations of ultimate murk, one step - she stretched out her arm, fingers coming in slight contact with the surface of the desk, however, it felt way different now as she lost the ability of seeing, tiny bumps and unevennesses, the texture itself, paper, glass, everything turned unknown, strange in the twinkling of an eye. A flash of pain triggered an 'ouch' when hands hit the papier-mâché in the corner. She's completely forgotten about it. The pink-haired girl moved aside, hand stretched out, and towards the wall, ever-so slowly. How many steps was the study's width? 3, 4, 5... the touch of the cool of the rough wall, here she went, along the obstruction, heading for the door. The room's been hers for nearly a year, yet she was exploring it afresh, so much has slipped out of her sight when she could use vision, so awfully vulnerable did she seem walking like this, eyes covered, unaware of what she might kick next moment. Somewhere in the corner, there must be a palm-tree - bang. Oh, that's it. The toe ached after collision with the clay pot, Sakura's got used to pain, though. Now this way, rightwards... the door is near...
Knock-knock. Creak. Too fast, she won't have time to react.
- Hey, Sakura, I'm finally - oh, what is it you're doing? - the intonation of a surprised female voice was familiar.
- Umm, nothing, Ino, - Sakura removed the protector feeling like she was caught on a crime spot and narrowed her eyes to get accustomed to bright illumination before looking at the mate.
Ino considered her face along with the Konoha-marked object suspiciously, a headshake followed.
Fine, I'm not going to ask. Better tell me where you spent the night. I called everyone. I was scared, wanted to drop in but there was no one there. You're jibing at my nerves!
'No blushing, no getting pale. It's ok, it's alright. What do I do?'
- It's... don't worry, Ino, I was just... sleeping out.
- That I can see, - the colleague uttered thoroughly surveying the other from head to foot, such examination made Sakura extremely uneasy. - You look disgusting, to put it straight.
Her expression softened afterwards,
- Worrying about Sasuke?
- Well, yes, - she agreed, that wasn't untrue, after all. - Mm, that's why I don't envy you. But why leave home? And where?
She attempted to avert her gaze whereas Ino's look got even sterner,
- Haha, buddy, guess what? Either you tell me what's the matter or I'll check it in my own way, via entering your mind, for example. You don't want it, do you.
The second one threw a shocked glance in her direction,
- Are... are you serious? Use it on me?
'No way, she won't dare, too dangerous. Or will she... it's Ino, she can do anything.'
- Sakura! Sakura! - Ino watched the tensed friend. - Just kidding! Not going to pull this one on you. Just... look, I care about you. You get out of the house in the middle of the night and do not return by morning. Then I hear you're late for work. You have an affair?
The addressed girl shuddered,
- Affair? What? Of course not! I'd never do it... never ever! I love Sasuke!
"Though Sasuke himself doesn't mind having an affair, does he," poisoned Inner Sakura. "S'pose you've never been kissed like that."
'Stop it!'
"Mind yourself."
'Shut up!'
"Wouldn't you like to repeat? Just another try?"
'Enough!'
- Sakura, hey! - the girl waved her hand before her nose forcing her to come round and catch her breath. - Something wrong?
The blonde threw up her hands. - Are you drunk?
- Ino, - she looked at her with gentle eyes. - Once it is over, I'll tell you, I promise. So far... all's too messed us so I can't figure it out, just give me some time and don't worry, I can take care about myself. Besides, I never give up, you must know me better than others by now, so... will you?
The blonde studied Sakura for a moment before exhaling and saying in a calm tone,
- As you wish. Hope you realise what you're into. Gotta go, - her feet were heading out of the room when she paused and turned around, a blue sparkle in her eyes. - Be sure, if someone dares to hurt my Sakura, I'll come and tear off his head. See you, broad forehead!
With a good bye wink the girl disappeared behind the door. Sakura breathed out. When seated, she dropped the protector, all the time squeezed in her palm, onto the table. Tear off his head? Hmm, Ino, if only I knew whose head it's gonna be...