Ripping open the vibrant red wrapper to her taffy piece, Sakura popped it into her mouth excitedly and chomped down. The cherry flavor swirled around her taste buds and had her grinning silly. The rosette grabbed another piece in preparation to devouring that one too, before her blonde best friend reached out and snagged it in a blur of a tan hand. She glared at him.
"Naruto! Get your own!" she whined.
"Oh please, Sakura-chan. You bought an entire bag!" he said, tearing into his own stolen goods. "I'm doing you a favor."
"How is that?"
"If you eat this all by yourself, you'll get fat. I'm saving you from morbid obesity!"
"What?" she fumed. "My weight has nothing to do with you, assbutt!"
"Yes it does! If you get too heavy, who is going to run with me over the summer for athletics? Especially now that I have my scholarship to think of!"
"Go run with Sasuke." she scowled, throwing a piece of taffy at his whiskered face (Freak birthmark he was born with on either cheek. Only adds to his boyish charm.).
Naruto had been felicitous enough to score an athletic scholarship from the same college the pink haired beauty planned on attending. She was secretly and massively relieved that he was going to be there with her. The blue eyed boy wanted to be governor like his father, something he always dreamed of as a child. She still remembered the day in first grade where he grinned his two front teeth-less smile and bragged about this new discovery on the playground right before the pink haired girl pushed him into the sand box. Now he was making his goal a reality, and that made Sakura all the more proud of him.
"Aw, we always run together!" he carped, but gobbled up the piece of candy anyway.
"Now who should watch their weight?" she huffed.
"Both of you shut up." Shikamaru grumbled from across the hotel room. "I can't focus."
"On what?" the rosette shoved the forgotten taffy bag into the blonde's solid chest and padded over to her other friend.
"None of your business."
"Come on, Shikamaru!"
He sighed. "Troublesome..."
"Don't leave me in the dark."
"Go away."
"What is it?" Sakura tried to peek over his hunched shoulder and caught a glimpse of silver packaging, before he yanked it out of her line of sight and blushed madly.
"Oh, I get it! It's you and Ino's first anniversary present, isn't it?" she laughed, secretly envious. She couldn't wait until her and Sasuke shared theirs."No need to be embarrassed. What did you get her?"
"No. Leave me alone."
"Hey!" Naruto called, strolling to the door when a knock sounded. "They're back!"
"Just give me a peek."
"I said scat!"
Kiba bounded in, arms full of soft drinks and sacks of junk food. On followed the rest of the crew, some carrying extra pillows and movies, and others more food and beverages. The green eyed female's mouth twisted to the side in frustration at not seeing her boyfriend file in with everyone else. They had planned this movie night the same week they had planned the pairs for rooms. The tours earlier that day had been extremely boring, and what carried her through the mind numbing lectures was the thought of Sasuke and she spending a little more time together on the trip. They go back tomorrow.
The rosette hadn't seen the raven haired male since they had parted ways that previous night, and she was getting anxious. He almost never missed her calls, and if he did he would always shoot a quick text as to reassure her that he was fine and would call her back later. Did it have to do with Itachi? She glanced down at the vase of plump roses by the door with fake interest and tried to hide her worriedly darting orbs. The more she thought about it, the more worked up she was getting. The bubbling panicky feel was almost identical to the one she had been exposed to in the hospital when she saw Sasuke turn away.
Shikamaru was busy shoving the small silver box into his jacket as Ino came up to kiss him, Kiba was already tearing into her taffy bag with Naruto, Tenten and Neji were cuddling in the corner, and Sai was busy setting up the DVD player. She bit her bottom lip and pulled out her cell phone to check her messages once more.
No new messages
The tiny words inscribed in her mailbox had her groaning in detestation. Maybe she should just go find and retrieve the cursed man herself. She knew she was being pathetic for being such a worry wart about somebody who could clearly hold his own, but she felt something suspicious going on and she did not find it one bit amusing.
Lost in her own thoughts, she nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt a gentle hand rest softly on her tense shoulder. She whipped around and stared into the lavender eyes of Hinata Hyuga. The quiet girl smiled placidly and retracted her reaching arm. The rosette sighed a breath of relief, seeing as she was so paranoid to think something as ludicrous as turning to a set of steel gray ones. She really needed therapy.
"Hi Sakura." the kind girl greeted warmly.
"Hinata. Hey. How's it going?"
"Fine. I was wondering the s-same for you. You looked a bit bothered by something."
"Oh I'm ok. Just a little jumpy lately I suppose." she nodded.
"Why is t-that?"
"I just...I don't know. Have you seen Sasuke lately?"
"Is that what this is about?" her inviting tone reminded the pink haired girl of her own mother. She decided then that Hinata was going to make a good mom one day.
"Yeah. Heh." she admitted. "It's just so unlike him to not call. We had planned this and he's not here, which is also abnormal for him."
"I'm sure he is just b-busy."
"You may be right..."
Sakura threw a glance over her shoulder, watching as the first movie started reeling. Everybody had already stationed their own section for the movie marathon and Hinata would soon have to go curl up to her boyfriend's side. The rosette smiled at the shy girl one last time, before pulling her into an embrace.
"I'm going to go get him. He's probably in his room." she whispered as to not disturb the opening credits. "I'll be right back, ok? Might as well let somebody know I'm gone. We don't know whether Dan Stan the Rapist Man is lurking just around the corner, huh?" she jested, poking at a cautious looking girl.
"Be c-careful, Sakura. Call us if you need anything."
The green eyed girl marched down the corridor and stepped to the elevator, hitting the up button in order to stalk to her absent boyfriend's room. Said girl made her way down the passing numbers until the desired digits ran through on a specific door.
Upon rapping on his egress annoyingly, she retained no answer from the other side. Worried and slightly miffed, her hurried rapping became an impatient pounding. Hearing a tired yell from the inside, the door swung open to reveal a very weary, very pissed looking Sasuke. She nearly shrank back in her stance when she beheld his intensely blurry glare, but suspicious as to how he was still in bed at this hour. Or, more importantly, why.
She then trailed her eyes from his now confused onyx orbs, to his slightly parted lips, his messy spikes, exposed and toned chest and abdomen, and loose fitting sweatpants, in which hung on his hips in a provocative manner, exposing the outlining of his pelvic deliciously. Heat jolted through her body so fast it frightened her, the feeling slightly foreign but welcomed. She then shook her head with tight throat muscles, before switching back into interrogator mode and focused on the questions in his half-awake optics.
"Sakura." he rumbled huskily, more of a statement.
"Where have you been? Everybody is missing you at movie night." she retorted.
Not everybody, just mostly me. She thought.
He rubbed the back of his knuckles over his eyes. "That tonight?"
"Well it was." she sighed. "But we kind of missed the first ten minutes or so of the movie. And you don't look like you're up for films tonight. What's got you so sleepy?"
"Long story." he stretched, and Sakura barely restrained the blush that was creeping up her delicate neck upon seeing his muscles ripple. This man really needed to stop that before she jumped him. "I take it everybody is already there?"
"Yeah, everything is set up. I see you're exhausted and need the rest." she pursed her lips, glancing down while nodding to herself. "I'm going to just go waddle back to the room and wrestle my taffy away from Naruto, or what's left of it anyways." she leaned up and pecked him on the lips gingerly, ignoring the spark that nearly seared her at the contact, a reminder of what they hadn't finished the previous night. "Sweet dreams."
She pivoted on the balls of her feet, ready to bound back to the rowdy room when a calloused hand shot out and gripped her wrist, pulling her to a solid chest.
"Why not stay, Sakura?" he chuckled in her ear when she squeaked at the contact and flipped around, her heart racing in her chest.
"Don't do that!" she breathed, dramatically holding a hand to her breast, willing her beating organ to slow. "I could have tripped!"
"But you didn't." he smirked, leaning against the door frame. "Besides," he shrugged, "I would have caught you."
"Oh ha. Quit being a show off."
"Hn." he grunted, eyes drooping lower as she witnessed the playfulness leave his handsome features and fatigue substitute.
"You should get to bed." she smiled, pushing his solid arm toward the inside of the room. "You're obviously still tired."
"Come lay with me." he called darkly, casting a smoldering read her direction.
"In your dreams, Uchiha." she regarded, grinning. "But now that we have time: What's got you so tired?"
The raven haired male plopped on the bed, before leaning back onto his hands and gesturing for her to sit at the desk. Hesitantly, she figured it couldn't hurt and complied. "I met up with Itachi after our date last night."
"What? That late?"
"Aa. We had a long conversation, and lost track of the time. When I got around to glancing at a clock the first tour had already started, so I just stayed here."
"Oh. What did you guys talk about?"
The onyx eyed male peered off in the other direction, a sign that whatever they spoke about he didn't want to share. Curious and anxious to know, the rosette still bite her loquacious tongue back in order to not agitate the young man. When he wanted her to know, he would tell her himself. She decided to change the topic.
"So did you guys catch up?"
"I suppose. Not a very touching moment, if that's what you're asking."
"Hm. Anything particular?"
"When we get back, I'll be starting my training." he sighed, running a hot hand through his disheveled raven locks.
"You'll do fine." she smiled encouragingly, until his dark optics spoke of other stories.
"It's not that, Sakura." she still shivered when he spoke her name. "After the first month, I have to take leave for two weeks."
"What? Why? Where?"
"I have to go finalize my training as leading officer in the head of the corps in Oto. It's only for two weeks." he assured. "And I'll be back for absolute good. Permanently."
Memories of Sasori and Arata flooded back, having her eyes water. What was she to do without him for two weeks?
"I guess..."
"We still have a month before then."
"Yeah. We'll be fine. Just... call me at least once a day or two?"
"Absolutely."
The rosette looked passively down at her painted toes, still blinking back burning droplets in the corner of her irises. She did not expect that. Sasori is now living so close, and nobody else besides Ino and her two other friends know about that night, if Ino had even told them yet. He was basically leaving her stranded with the potpourri emotions she had developed since the painting last month. She wouldn't be alone physically, for she had her friends, but she would undoubtedly miss him terribly.
She fixed her gaze on her pinky toe as she heard hushed footsteps coming forward, the only sound in the room besides her and the raven haired male's breathing. The green eyed beauty snapped her optics up when she heard the click of the lamp and the room go completely brunet. She sat upright, curving her spine into a line and made no attempt to hide the confused furrow of her pink brows. She felt her heart thudding increase drastically as he advanced at her, putting one toned arm on either arm rest, trapping her. His minty breath fanned across her flushing cheeks and she let out a sigh of anticipation when she recalled how he looked with the lights on.
She reached upward, trying her best to find his lips but instead making contact with the crevasse where his shoulder and neck met. It still had the desired effect, for she could almost feel his ebullient smirk in the dark. He pulled down closer, hovering his larger frame over her smaller one, and lightly, tauntingly brushed his hot mouth against hers.
"Sakura." he huskily called, voice as smooth as whiskey.
"Hm?" she hummed, trying to thread her petite fingers through his spikes to yank him closer.
"I'm going to go to bed." he said, lifting himself upright and strolling to the king sized mattress.
"Wha-?"
The rosette sat there in the abyss of shadows, annoyed and lacking the overwhelming body heat Sasuke offers. Twitching an emerald orb, she leaped off the swivel chair and into the bed, grabbing the nearest pillow and belting him in the strong back with it.
"You know what you did!" she screeched, rewarded with a fit of chuckles.
"Aa."
"You always do that to me!"
"Do what?" he caught her arms to prevent further beatings as the simple phrase rolled off his tongue with ease.
He pivoted her on his abdomen, her hips connecting with his in a way that made her face turn an even darker shade than her tresses. She lowered the pillow and leaned forward, levitating a few inches from his deadly attractive visage.
"You know what you do to me." she breathed.
"Hn." he started, as her eyes adjusted she could see his onyx optics hood lower, and not from sleep. "My, my, Sa-ku-ra. What a provocative position." he murmured as he rubbed tiny circles on the small of her back. "Care to change it?"
"Not really." she upturned her lips.
"Then I'll just have to get you off myself."
"I'd like to see you try, Pretty Boy."
"Is that a challenge?"
"I believe so."
With a deep thrust, the raven haired male bucked her upwards. The electric feel it sent down south was not enough to block out the loud crack of the sound of her skull connecting with the headboard of the lavish bed frame. Sasuke had gotten the hot motion in the right place, but added a bit too much of his amazing strength. The splitting pain she got the instant her forehead and the wood made contact had her rolling off his torso with a moan (But of pain.) and burrowing her injured head under the same pillow she had beat her boyfriend with. She rubbed a palm over the forming bump, and pushed the onyx eyed male's tentative gestures away.
"Ow." she whined, sitting up in the bed after her tantrum.
"You ok?" he asked.
"No. But I will be." she winced as she patted the bruise with a finger. "Watch the power, He-Man. I think I have a concussion."
His mouth went into a line. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. The move itself was pretty sexy." she laughed as he chuckled darkly.
Sasuke leaned over and kissed her head, cringing when she cried out that he had touched her injury. The rosette moved in closer to him anyway, resting her throbbing head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms around his lean waist. He returned the gesture by scooting them down in order to lay properly, with her still in his arms. The raven haired male pulled the comforter over their bodies and inhaled the wildflower scent of her as she nuzzled closer.
"Sasuke?"
"Hn."
She laid her chin on his chest and looked up with big emerald orbs. "I don't think this whole 'sexy' thing is working for us."
"Why is that?" he mused.
"Well, every time we try somebody interrupts. Or some freak incident occurs, like right now. Maybe we're just never going to get there."
Sakura could see the whites of his eyes in the dark as he rolled his ebony colors. "Stop being dramatic."
"I'm just saying...stuff happens." she pouted, but placed her head drowsily against his nude pectoral.
They laid holding one another gingerly, listening to the others breathing grow slower, more relaxed. Sakura focused on the steady thrum of his heart, how it beat against her ear drum and made her smile softly. He ran his calloused fingers through her hair, letting it fall back in place as strands of silk. The throbbing of her injury even deflated slightly, letting her fray down her nerves and fall limp against his side.
"Think Naruto and the others miss us?" she whispered, closing her suddenly very tired eyes.
He snorted. "Hardly."
"Good. 'Cause I just want to sleep." she opened one eye at him, grinning. "Your damn drowsiness is contagious."
"Glad I was the one who gave it to you..." he mumbled into her hair before nodding off into slumber.
Sakura followed soon after.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sliding out of her designated quarters, the pink haired woman ducked into the shadows, trying her best not to be visible. She calculated her time perfectly, weaving through the complicated corridors of the Uchiha Manor. A single maid almost cost her the night, but thanks to a convenient closet, she had escaped with no other interruptions. Once she reached her destination, the green eyed beauty slipped into the chambers of her onyx eyed lover.
Before she could take two steps more into the reticent room, she felt two large hands rest on either side of her hip bone, pulling her to an all familiar torso. She knew those hands anywhere.
"Kanazawa." she breathed, reaching behind her and pulling his face closer to hers by his raven locks.
"Hn." he smirked, nuzzling his face in the crook of her creamy neck.
"So the rumors were true." she smiled as she caressed the back of his neck. "You have returned to me."
"So it seems."
"I missed you."
"Aa." he replied.
The young male brushed her hair to one side with a swoop of his knuckles, taking the newly exposed flesh between his parted lips and nipped. An emerald necklace glinted in the moonlight, sending sparkles of verdant hues splaying across the room. Kaori let out a tiny sough of approval, before pushing him away and striding to the bed.
"Come show me what new 'techniques' you learned in Tokugawa." she laughed seductively.
He grinned wickedly as he bounded to her standing form. "Playing with fire, Kaori, is a dangerous thing."
She pulled him by the collar of his Yakuta and to her lips, teasing him. "I am not afraid to get burned."
The raven haired male placed his lips upon hers, the passion of it sweet and lonely, letting her taste the pent up need of her company he held inside for the past month. As they began to tune back in to each other's bodies, the kisses became more hungry, greedy, needy. He ghosted his hands across her breasts, reveling in the feel of her arching her smooth back. They were going to do what they longed to do most.
To be able to be one in heart, mind, soul, and body.
As the young warrior slid the opening to her robes down her sleek shoulder while planting feathery kisses, his eyed widened at the purplish markings on her arms. The pink haired girl immediately gasped and pushed her love away, pulling her robes back over her painted body. His cobalt optics narrowed dangerously, watching her barren expression. Tears welted in the strands of her lush lashes. He gently gathered her back to him and cupped her chin, persuading her to look at him.
When she did, he slipped the silk material back to the floor, flaunting the bruises across her naked torso for the world to witness. One of the pink haired woman's slender hands flew to her mouth, hushing her quivering lip. The raven haired male's brows furrowed in anger, his onyx orbs now dangerous daggers.
"Who did this to you?"
Kaori nearly burst into tears with shame, but instead spoke. "I have a fiancee."
"What?"
"I-It happened a few weeks ago. I am now betrothed to Arata Kimonori."
He paused. He knew of the man, encountered him a few times even. They had never gotten along in the first place and if he was responsible, he couldn't wait to get his vengeful hands around his neck. "Did he do this?"
"He isn't the kindest of spirits." she smiled sadly, before peering at him seriously. "I think he knows about us. He knows I won't love him-I can't love him, because...I love you."
"So he hits you in order for you to submit?" he growled, his jaw clenching tightly.
"He tries, but we both know I am not one to be dominated."
The young man stood silently, watching her closely, as if debating what to do or say next. He then released her, dashing quickly to his weapons case and unlatching the front, revealing his katana. Emerald eyes grew wide as she sprinted to him quietly, grabbing his reaching wrist and tugging on it with worry.
"Please, not now." she whispered, yanking on an unmoving wrist. "He'll expose us."
"I don't care." he hissed. "I'll kill him before he uttered it to anybody."
"They'll take you away!" she cried, screwing her optics tight.
"I don't care." he repeated, fury blinding reason as he made his way to the door. "Nobody touches you in any harmful way as long as I have breath in my body."
The green eyed girl heaved a sob, falling to her knees. Upon hearing the thud of her tumbling to the floor, Kanazawa whipped around to face her. A waterfall of pink hair fell in front of her face, the tips brushing the polished hardwood floor. Her still half-nude body shivered slightly and the faint pit-patter of her breathing reached his skillful ear drums.
"I don't want to lose you again." she choked.
A pang of emotion settled in the pits of his stomach abnormally as he set down his weapon cautiously and strode over to her collapsed form and scooped her up in his arms. He sighed against her messy, rosy locks and splayed her across his bed. The onyx eyed man rubbed a hand on the back of his neck, glaring at the floor.
"I know." he spoke, and threw a glance at her curled form from over his broad shoulders. "What am I to do?"
"What occurred is done now."
"What if he tries to do it again?"
She turned to him, staring deeply into his eyes. "I don't know."
"I'll take care of him." he ground out, running a hand through his raven locks.
Kaori unfolded herself and pushed off the mattress, crawling over to her lover and encasing him into her petite arms. She sighed sweetly against his back. Pushing her hand down his chest, she ventured her fingertips to the sash of his robe and toyed with it.
"Please, remind me of softer touches." she breathed, tugging at the restraint. "I need you now more than ever."
Sakura bolted upright, staring at the wall ahead of her with wild emerald orbs. The emotions had been so real, so there that she grasped her chest with vigor, finding the jewelry that resided there and locked it in an iron grip.. The lingering ache in her heart from the vision had her tearing up, cursing herself for dreaming of such things whilst next to Sasuke.
Said boy grunted, blinking at her sitting stance and ruffling his hair. He copied her form and stared at her through the stream of moonlight that shone through the partially open curtains. The eerie light soaked their bodies, emitting a surreal glow that glinted off their irises and portrayed iridescent colors. He gripped her side.
"What's wrong?"
The pink haired woman slowly shook her head. "It's nothing. Really."
"Bad dream?"
"Uh...sorta. More sorrowful than anything." she gulped, letting her head fall on his solid shoulder but kept her hand by her beating organ.
"Your dreams haven't been the best lately." he soothed, rubbing her back.
"I know. I don't know what it is that has got me so spooked."
Yes I do.
He peered at her. "You're a terrible liar."
She tossed a laugh out of her clenching throat. "Why does everybody say that?"
"Hn."
"It'll pass." she waved, cuddling closer. "Just stay here a while."
He reached over with his adjacent arm and laid them back down gently. He smoothed away her stray hairs and smirked at her growing placid expression. The raven haired male ran a finger across her face, chuckling at the way her nose wrinkled when he ran the traveling limb over it. He continued to journey down, and froze as he brushed her necklace. His ebony pupils dilated for a few beats before he furrowed his eyebrows and stared at her confused visage.
"That necklace." he rumbled, feeling it once more. "Where did you get it?"
"My mother. It's an heirloom." she murmured.
"Aa."
"Why?"
"Nothing." he replied, glancing over at the alarm clock on the lavish nightstand. "Naruto should be back in a little. How many movies were they planning on watching?"
"Don't change the subject." she grinned. "Why did you ask about my necklace?"
He nearly blushed. "I saw it once."
"Really? Where at? I've looked everywhere and couldn't find it."
And she had. She truly did not want to believe it belonged to Kaori, that she had something that was special to her and normal but her dream she just had was proof enough of Ino's accidental assumption.
"I just...saw it once is all." he ended the conversation.
"Sasuke?"
"Hm."
She propped her head up on his pectoral. "Am I really going to meet your parents?"
He said nothing, though she saw the slightest gleam of mischief in his onyx orbs. "Do you want to?"
She swallowed. "Yes."
"How about you meet Itachi first? Tomorrow, before we leave?"
"That would be nice." she nodded against his hot flesh. "He seemed nice when I briefly met him."
Sasuke smirked. "Sure he is."
The rosette rolled her emerald eyes. "As if you're any better yourself. My head still hurts!"
"Whatever."
"Don't 'whatever' me! I think I may have a concussion."
"Then don't go to bed."
"But I caught your drowsiness, how can I not?"
"I can help with that." he chuckled, leaning in and nipping her throat.
The green eyed girl giggled. "Stop that."
"Stop what?" he asked, but nipped her on her shoulder.
"Quite being a douche!"
"I can never be your mother."
"Did you just call my mother a douche?"
"Oh." he laughed. "She actually catches on!"
"Sasuke!" she shrieked playfully. "Jokes on you though, 'cause you're dating me."
"Touche."
Her phone sung out from her pocket, ringing her favorite tune. She leaned forward and crashed her mouth against his, lingering there long enough to lick his bottom lip before she rolled out of bed. When she flipped the device open, she heard hollering in the back ground and an exasperated sigh.
"Please tell Naruto you're fine. He thinks you've been abducted or something. What an idiot." Tenten complained in the phone, and the rosette could almost see her pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Hello to you too."
"See, Naruto?" she heard the brunette call. "She's fine. Where are you?"
"With Sasuke. I'm heading back to my room now." she answered, trying to ignore a very clingy Sasuke, who strode up behind her and wrapped his biceps around her torso in order to persuade her in staying longer. "Tell them not to worry."
When she clamped her phone shut she waned into him, letting him hold her for a few moments longer. She sighed at his wandering hands before pulling away, kissing him one last time. He always knew how to make her feel better after one of her vision episodes.
"I have to get going." she mumbled against his eager mouth.
"You don't have to, but you are."
She reached for the door, turning around to grin at him one last time. "Before you leave for your training, I get to paint your nails."
"No."
"Oh come on! Every time you see your toes, you'll be reminded of me!"
"That's why I have the key chain you bought me."
The pink haired beauty pouted. "No fun."
He watched her receding form as she walked to the elevator. Once she disappeared into the sliding metal slabs, he stepped back into the now quiet room. The onyx eyed male soughed and fell onto his bed with exhaust. He closed his optics and threw a toned arm over his face. He knew he saw that piece of emerald somewhere, and it just so happened to be the same emerald he had conjured in his thoughts the other day, doodling it into one of his physics notebooks. And the feel of hatred for Sasori wasn't just there because of his brother's previous gang affliction, but he had hated the man as soon as his eyes rested upon him. That was not something the raven haired male did often.
Thinking about Sasori had his train of thought leading to his conversation with Itachi. He groaned and shifted in the bed, feeling his sweatpants tug lower, though he left them. He was still tired from staying up all night, catching up with his brother.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sasuke threw his knuckle against the grand oak door of the penthouse suite, ignoring the calls of 'Go away' and 'Do you have any idea what time it is?' that sounded from the inside. He was persistent with his rapping until the door swung open and out came a very furious Itachi.
"What?" he almost yelled, looking around for someone to scold. When his identical onyx optics met the raven haired male's, his face relaxed before settling for annoyed. "Couldn't you wait until tomorrow?"
"You said you wanted to see me." he scowled. "And it was 'important'."
"I said it could wait until tomorrow."
"I'm here now." he said as he brushed past the eldest Uchiha and into the suite.
Itachi rolled his ebony orbs before shutting the door behind them.
"Now I want to know just what the hell you're doing in Kyoto and not Paris." Sasuke shot straight to the point, observing the dish of fruit that settled on the main room coffee table.
"Still blunt as ever I see." he chuckled, padding over to the kitchen. "Coffee? Tea? Water?"
"Coffee." he nodded.
Itachi brewed the hot drink in silence, gathering two mugs and pouring a heap of the caffeinated brown liquid into each. He strolled back over to his seated brother and sat his glass in front of him.
"Still prefer black, I assume?" he asked as he took a sip of his own.
"Yes." Sasuke confirmed and reached for his own mug of steam. He took a gulp of the scolding coffee before licking his lips and preceding. "What are you doing in Kyoto?"
"Hm. Long story short: I needed to see you."
"About?" he took another drink.
Itachi's face turned to stone. "Well, for starters your finalizing for your training is coming up soon."
"I know that."
"Dad's not looking too good." he admitted, staring at his reflection in the full cup. "I may have to be taking over soon."
"What do you mean by not looking too good?"
"He's illness. It's getting worse. The cough isn't going away."
"Aa. He'll pull through. He always manages somehow."
"I suppose."
Sasuke sighed. "Stop wasting time, Itachi. There is obviously something you wanted to discuss with me that doesn't have to do with my training or Dad."
"Saw through that, huh? You're going to make a damn good cop." Itachi smirked, before turning serious. "You're being stationed in Konoha, correct?"
"Yes. So?"
"I heard gang activity had started up in the region."
"More business for us." Sasuke snorted.
"I even caught word that a boy from your high school got mugged."
"Kiba."
"The Akatsuki is back, Sasuke." he stated. "And they aren't taking things lightly."
"What do they want?"
"I'm not sure just yet, but Pain is no longer in charge. Sasori is."
The sheer realization of the situation hit the raven haired male full on, almost threatening to make him sputter on his next sip. He put on a passive facade, but on the inside the truth of that being said had his stomach drop uncomfortably. If he was right about what-or who-Satori wanted, he'd have to be extra cautious and aware. He'd die before he let that bastard get what he wanted.
"Is that so. Who would put him in a leader position?" he coolly said.
"I don't know." he shrugged. "But I want you to be careful. They aren't people to be messed with Sasuke."
"Tch. I don't care."
"You will if it's your head they're after."
"What makes you think they want my head? And why?"
Itachi blinked. "Kiba is your friend, right? And your spark plugs got taken."
"How did you know about that one?" he narrowed his eyes.
"I have my sources."
"Creeper."
"Hn."
"Why would they be after me?"
"To get back at me." he stated, blowing on his coffee. "I know a lot of things about that damned organization. They don't like that."
"I guess it's plausible."
"It is. I want you to be careful." Itachi paused, pondering for a moment. "That pink haired girl, Sakura, was it? Is she your girlfriend?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "How did you...?"
"I just know." he smiled an all knowing smile, earning a suspicious glare from his younger brother. "The way she spoke seemed like it to me. She looked like your type."
"I don't recall having a type."
"Well obviously you do now. All your other previous girlfriend's were duds."
"I only had two other relationships."
"Exactly." he said. "You should introduce us."
"Will do. Just don't scare her away."
Itachi chuckled. "If you hadn't done that already, I'm fine. But seriously, watch out for them, ok? Something is definitely going down, and I'm the only one who is expecting anything."
"That why you stayed back in Kyoto?"
"Absolutely."
The rest of the hours were spent joking and talking about little things, like what was going on in one another lives and the present world. The entire time Sasuke grinned, only to falter slightly at thinking his peacefully sleeping girlfriend getting into the hands of the crimson haired gangster.
He'd die before he'd let that happen.
A/N: Hey guys! Thank you all for the reviews! :D Keep them coming, they reeeeeally help with the writer's block, I swear!
Summer is coming up, my pretties. That means MORE CHAPTERS! Though the only sucky thing is that my finals are next week.
Damn.
On a completely different note, I just got a new adorable pup in the house and he is just a gem! Gushing is over.
The song is 'Gravity' by Sara Bareilles . I think it is a perfect song for this story, I swear.
Review, read, enjoy, and live life!
Read on,
~Dayonight7.