Hello readers! Sorry for the long, long update. I got hit by a writer's block and all my ideas for this story disappeared. Gladly, it's over now and I'm back again. Yay! I want to thank you all for your wonderful reviews and for still supporting this story. I love you guys. hug readers so here's chapter eleven of Mysterious Lover. Enjoy!

Disclaimer:I do not own Naruto. It only belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

"Itachi?"

"Are you awake?"

"Just barely. What is it?"

Sakura lay on her side in bed, Sam sprawled out beside her. She had been in bed for almost an hour, since eleven and was unable to sleep.

"Nothing, really. I was just thinking of you, wondering if you were all right."

"Are you?"

She felt his concern. So he had been thinking of her. Three days had gone by since she had seen him. And three nights. Sakura had discovered how quickly a person can become used to new experiences. She missed Itachi in bed with her, holding her, loving her. She missed his presence.

"I miss you." she responded.

"I've got the same problem" he admitted.

"I had no idea being together could be so wonderful."

He did not say anything for a moment then he said, "I was afraid we might have overdone it a little. We were quite active for it to be your first exposure."

"Let's just say that I haven't been in the mood to go to the club and work out since we got home." After a few moments of silence, she said, "Do you know yet when you'll be back?"

"No."

She tried for whimsical humor. "You can't stay gone forever, you know. Sooner or later you have to come home."

"I know."

"But you are not looking forward to it." She offered gently.

"It isn't that. I just feel so – confused, somehow. I can't seem to get my life into any understandable order. All these years I have been in control of my life. Now…now I don't know what to think, what to do, how to evaluate what is happening."

"That's because feelings and emotions are not that definable. We cannot push them into little compartments and expect them to stay there. That's part of being human."

"If all this confusion is part of being human, I think I'll pass."

"Go back to being an emotionless and cold person?"

"Is that what I am?"

"I think that's what you have tried to be. Thank God, it did not work."

They were quiet for several moments. At least he was communicating with her again, Sakura was pleased to note. She was afraid their marriage had caused him to push that part of their relationship out of his life.

"Pinky?"

She smiled at the familiar nickname. "Yes?"

"What are you wearing?"

She glanced down and grinned. "My flannel pajamas with the feet in them."

"Well, nobody's ever seen me in them but Sam."

"Have you ever thought about an electric blanket?"

"I have one. In fact, I generally keep it set close to broil."

"You did not get cold when we were in Vegas."

"How could I, with almost hundred thirty pounds of brawn draped around me."

"Hundred twenty five."

"Oh. Well, what are a few pounds here and there?"

"Pinky?"

"Yes?"

"I know I was not fair to you last weekend."

"In what way?"

"I did not give you a choice."

"Sure you did. Remember, you stopped me in the hallway and asked if–"

"You know what I mean. I never really asked if you wanted to marry me."

"I have never wanted to marry anyone else."

"But I know what you think of I. Uchiha."

"If I'd had any idea all these years that my boss could read my mind," she teased. "Would I have been embarrassed? I called you some pretty rotten names."

"After giving them some thought, most of the time I agreed with you."

"What about the times you did not agree with me?"

"I waited to see if you were going to simmer down. No one would believe the temper you've got, just to see you and work around you. You keep it very well hidden."

"You've got the same abilities as well."

"I'm afraid not. My temper seems to be legendary."

"I don't mean that. You have the ability to hide your softer side, the Itachi side that I love so much from the outside world."

"There isn't much call for him in the business world."

"Perhaps not. But you do not have to think about business all the time. There are times for tenderness and love, for caring and comforting."

"Not in my life."

"Of course in your life. You have done it for years with me."

"Oh, that."

"Yes, that."

"But you are different."

"No. You are different when you are with me but you don't seem to want to show it except in these conversations – and last weekend."

"You mean I was not Itachi Uchiha last weekend?"

"You were all that you could be, Itachi. All your marvelous attributes and your loving disposition revealed themselves. If you gave yourself a chance, you could be that way more often."

"If we spent all of our time like we did last weekend, the office would fall apart."

"I don't mean in bed. I mean relaxed and friendly. We could joke and talk in the office the same way we did over dinner or in the shower."

"Now that might prove very interesting. I wonder what the staff would think?"

"You know what I mean. Do not be afraid to let your emotions show, Itachi. There is nothing to be afraid of."

He was quiet for several minutes then he said, "I am not sure I could ever do that, Pinky."

"It does not matter to me, Itachi, because I already know they are there but it might make a difference for you."

After a while, he said, "Good night, Pinky."

"Good night, Itachi."

She felt his love wrap around her and she smiled as she drifted off to sleep.

By 10 o'clock Friday morning the office was in an uproar. Phones were ringing, people were having trouble with office equipment and Sakura was ready to storm out screaming.

Part of her problem was that she had not heard any more from Itachi. She hesitated to be the one who always contacted him so she waited but there had been nothing. That had never bothered her in the past but things were different now or at least she hoped so.

Was he getting used to the idea that he now had a wife to return to?

The office intercom buzzed and when Sakura answered the receptionist asked, "Is there by any chance a full moon?"

Sakura laughed. "I'm not sure. Why?"

"Oh, everything's so crazy around here. Some of the questions I have been getting. I think some people think this office is run like Mike Hammer's."

Sakura grinned. "We should be so lucky."

"Well, actually, My. Uchiha is not bad, if he would just unbend a little." There was a buzz in the background. "Got another call. See ya."

Sakura shook her head, smiling. She wondered if Itachi would like being compared with Mike Hammer. If only people knew how tedious investigative work was. Except for a few unusual incidents like the time when Itachi got abandoned in a hunting cabin in southern Utah, it could rather be boring. She was smiling when she answered the phone.

"Mr. Uchiha's office. May I help you?"

"Ms. Haruno?" she recognized his voice immediately. So. No matter what he might communicate to her privately, he was still going to be formal around the office.

Maybe it was a full moon because she replied, "No, I'm sorry. Ms. Haruno is no longer employed by this firm." She paused a beat and said in her most honeyed tones, "This is Mrs. Uchiha, Mrs. Uchiha Itachi. May I help you?"

The long distance wires hummed while she waited for a reply. "Sakura?" he finally asked.

"Yes?" she kept her voice pleasant and very businesslike.

"Are you going by that name now?"

"I have a piece of paper, duly recorded, stating that to be my correct and legal name."

"I know. I just did not realize you would be using it around the office."

"I was forced to do so, sir, in order to stop all those nasty, vicious rumors going around about you."

"What rumors?"

"Those slurs in your manhood, sir. There had been talk about the possibility you were not interested in women."

"What?" he yelped.

"Do not worry, sir," she said in a soothing voice. "I have certainly put paid to any such nonsensical remarks. I explained, in great and explicit detail, that after two and a half days of being locked up in a bedroom with you, there was no doubt in my mind as to your manhood." She paused for a couple of seconds and added, "Now, then, sir. How may I help you this morning?"

Sakura was fascinated to discover that sometimes her boss had trouble getting words out. He stumbled once or twice, cleared his throat and managed to say something that sounded like, "You are kidding, of course."

"You mean you do not want me to defend your reputation, sir?"

"You did not really tell everyone about last weekend, did you?"

"It's nothing to be ashamed of, sir. You should be very proud of yourself. How many twenty six year old men could –"

"Sakura!"

"Yes, sir?"

"Would you please stop calling me 'sir.'"

"Yes – what do you want me to call you?"

"What have you called me in the past?"

"Mr. Uchiha. However, I refuse to call the man I sleep with by his last name. It smacks of class discrimination during the Edwardian Era." She glanced over at his stack of calls. "Was there some particular reason you called? I can read your messages or summarize the mail, whatever you wish."

Sakura had the distinct impression that Itachi was silently counting to himself. Yes, that was exactly what she picked on him. So far, he had passed twenty and was still climbing. Perhaps, that was how he kept that ironclad control of his. He must be a mathematical wizard by now.

"Yes. I would like to know what mail I have and any urgent messages."

For the next several minutes, their conversation was filled with business. He gave her instructions for the other investigators, including the information that he would not be home for another week.

"I thought you said you would be home in a few days."

"I had planned to. However, I ran into some problems that have caused me to change my plans."

"I see." As a secretary, it made very little difference to her whether he was there or not. She could take in instructions in person or by phone. As a wife, it made a considerable amount of difference. Particularly, since she was a new wife, a brand new wife, with no husband in evidence.

Sakura could not help but wonder if his delay had more to do with their new marital relationship than business problems but she refused to ask. As she had pointed out to him before, he had to come home sometime.

Suddenly, her boss or rather her husband said something so astounding, she almost dropped the phone. He asked her a personal question. "What are your plans for the weekend?"

In all the years she had worked for him, he had never asked such a question. She had finally decided that as far as her employer was concerned she went up in a puff of smoke every Friday afternoon at five, only to reappear bright and early each Monday morning.

Maybe there was hope for them yet.

She did not want to tell him that she had kept the weekend free just in case he was in town. Thinking quickly, she said, "Oh, I'll probably spend the weekend with my mother. She is always trying to get me to come visit her."

"How's your mother?"

She stared at the phone as thought he had slipped into a foreign language. "My mom is fine. I had dinner with her Monday night."

"Hn."

She waited for him to say something else. She sure did not know how to conduct this particular conversation.

"Did you tell her about us?"

"Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She wondered if she was going to have an invisible son-in-law and if her grandchildren would also carry the curse of invisibility."

"I am looking forward to meeting her."

"She is also looking forward to meeting you, too."

There was another pause. "I need to get to work. I'll talk with you next week."

"Fine. Is there anything else?"

She waited. Finally, in a low voice, he said, "I miss you, pinky."

Sakura had difficulty concentrating on her work for the rest of the day.

"Definitely a good sign," her mother commented that evening. Sakura and Sam had traveled out to Oceanside. Sakura and her mother sat in front of a small fireplace, watching the flames while Sam checked out the place. A cat can't be too careful about the places he inhabits. Periodically, he would leap up in Sakura's lap and touch his nose to hers. Satisfied that she was behaving, he would jump down and continue his reconnaissance.

"I thought so," Sakura agreed. "I don't think Itachi consciously chose such a dramatic split in his personality. Little by little, through various circumstances and experiences, hw worked out a pattern of survival."

"You know what I really find sad?" her mother asked.

"What is that, mom?" Sakura was enjoying some hot apple cider and she took a sip from the cup she held.

"What do you suppose would have happened to the Itachi you know if he had not discovered how to communicate with you as a little girl? You took him out of himself, gave him someone else to think about, worry about, and be concerned over. You have often mentioned how much company he was for you during those years but what about him?"

Sakura gave a light shiver. "I hate to think. The Uchiha Itachi that we all know would have been all that is left."

"Then he owes you as much gratitude as you owe him."

"Mom, gratitude does not come into this. Not when you love each other. Love is so much a sharing, a chance to be who you are and accepted for who you are. I will never be able to understand how we managed to get together because neither of us has ever known anyone else with whom we could mentally communicate. The odds of our ever meeting were astronomical. And look at the age difference. He is five years older than I am. We could never have dated each other while either of us was growing up."

"And by the time you were grown," her mother continued, "and you went to work for him, he would have been too set in his ways to ever open up."

"He may still be, for all I know."

"Yet you are married to him."

"I know and I am not sorry. I am willing to accept him as he is. It is the same as if your loved one was injured and became less than completely whole. He is the same person that you always loved."

"Yes. When your father realized that he was paralyzed, that he would never be able to walk again, he seemed to give up fighting for his life. I tried to make him understand that the important thing to me was that he would still be here with me."

"That's the way I feel about Itachi. If we have to keep our lives together totally separated, the formal boss-employee relationship at work and whatever he's willing to give me away from the office, I'll accept that because I know that he will be giving everything he is capable of giving. I cannot ask for more than that."

By the time Sakura arrived home on Sunday evening, she felt pleasantly tired and truly relaxed. The visit had gone well. Sam had slain a few invisible dragons which left him a very benign mood and she and her mother had grown closer than ever.

Sakura felt blessed even though she recognized that others might view her situation as bizarre, to say the least. She might go through life with a secret lover while married to a cold, arrogant man in public. Sooner or later, Itachi had to realize that their marriage was workable because they wanted it to be. It might not be the usual arrangement that others shared but why should it be? She and Itachi were different. Hadn't she known that for years?

To be married to her invisible friend seemed to be enough of a bonus to Sakura to accept whatever the future might bring.

A new serenity seemed to enfold Sakura. She went to work next week with an easy acceptance of her role in life. She kept the office running smoothly while Itachi was away. Hopefully when he was back, she could find a way to keep his home life running just as smoothly.

The first thing she noticed when she walked in the door Wednesday morning was that the receptionist gave her a strange look, a very strange look.

Sakura glanced down to see if she had accidentally worn mismatched shoes to the office. She had almost done that once. No. Her navy kid plumps gleamed back at her. As she walked toward her office she surreptitiously checked to see if her slip was showing. How could it? With the longer length in skirts, there was a good six-inch gap between her slip and the hem of her suit.

Shrugging, she walked into her office and stopped.

Her mail was stacked neatly on her desk, where it was always left by the receptionist right behind her nameplate. She did a double take.

Her nameplate read, "Sakura Uchiha."

Where had that come from? Glancing up she saw an ornate bouquet of red roses which dwarfed the credenza behind her desk. After absently storing her purse, she slid the card from the small white envelope attached to one of the roses and read, "Thank you for the most wonderful honeymoon a man could ever wish for. All my love, Itachi."

Sakura glanced around and saw that as many of the staff as could crown into the area stood in front of the door to her office, watching her.

She turned around and gave them what she felt must be a very sickly smile. "Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, Sakura," came a chorused reply. They continued to stand there, waiting.

Now what was she supposed to do? Everyone's gaze seemed to move between the nameplate and the roses. No one said a word. She wondered if anyone was breathing, it was so quiet.

Itachi, how could you do this to me!

She felt his love and amusement swirl around her and she knew he was paying her back for what she had said to him on the phone last week.

Where are you? She demanded.

There was no answer.

He could have had all of this done by someone else. In fact, he probably had. Although she felt sure he was wishing he was there to see her face.

"I, uh, you are probably wondering why–" she waved her hand helplessly at her new name and the flowers.

All heads bobbed in unison. What had they been doing for crying out loud? Rehearsing?

"Yes, well, I thought that–what I mean to say is, we had felt perhaps–after all, he has been traveling and–" she gave up. What was there to say, after all?

Folding her hands primly in front of her, Sakura announced, "Mr. Uchiha and I were married in Las Vegas two weeks ago."

A/N: Chapter is done. Hope you are satisfied with this chapter. Sorry if there are a lot of mistakes. I haven't checked it at all and after typing, I immediately posted it. Again, I want to thank you all for your reviews and for still supporting this story. See you on the next chapter!