Crimson Genii
14. – Uncomfortable Situations
-X-
"Men suck."
Sakura only could nod in agreement with Tenten's grumpy statement as they nursed their drinks. True, she supposed she should be happy, because Ino-pig finally saw beyond the superficial man-toys she usually preferred and was now with a real man who was ready to cherish her the way she deserved to be.
Really, she should be proud of Ino. Her announcement had rocked Konoha's underground world of parties and one night stands, to be sure. Sakura was positive that more than a few males were crying rivers over blonde kunoichi's decision to finally settle down...
...with none other than Akimichi Chouji.
Sakura couldn't be happier for her friend. Ino was the first in their group (besides Hinata, but after Naruto's incredibly romantic-but-stupid-as-best stunt it was clear that those two were going to be permanently glued to each other, whether Hyuuga Hiashi approved of it or not) that was going to walk down the aisle to join her life with a man that loved her dearly, regardless of her seemingly annoying and shallow manners.
What Chouji saw in Ino was a complete and utter mystery.
But as they watched the blonde bombshell smiling endearingly at her brawny and sturdy fiancé, it was obvious that she had seen the same thing - whatever it was - in him as well.
"Love sucks," she stated, and Tenten nodded her acquiesce.
It had been almost a month since she ran away from him. The first few days, she had hoped for him to come around, forcing her to sit down and clear everything up between them.
But one morning she woke up, her heart heavy with loss, and realized he wasn't going to come back to her.
Of course, the Uchiha Itachi, ANBU prodigy and Vice-Commander of the White Ops wasn't going to participate in that cheesy soap opera that was running rampant in her delirious mind. Only then did she truly feel how hard the breakup had hit her.
She had begun neglecting her duties, something so unlike her that most of her subordinates at the hospital were concerned for her. Her own apprentice, Hanabi, had taken it upon herself to rebuke any and all attempts their colleagues made to harass Sakura. Hanabi even went so far as to stand up to the Hokage's other assistant in order to allow her Sakura-shishou some peace.
However, when Sakura started to space out, even in their training sessions, something had to be done. Hanabi had to go to the Hokage to relay her concern for Sakura. The ensuing explosion from the busty, elder kunoichi was something the youngest Hyuuga prodigy had never seen. And when she called for Ibiki, Hanabi feared the worst for her pink-haired shishou.
Tsunade then asked for her to fetch Sakura. Hanabi still hadn't figured out what was going on until she remembered a lesson in chakra control that she had learned from her dear master.
What Hanabi heard while eavesdropping (hanging from the Hokage's office's window with only one foot as she struggled to keep the genjutsu from being noticed by the passersby, of course) nearly sent her hurtling towards the ground.
Tsunade had been unusually soft and understanding with her young apprentice, Sakura grudgingly admitted to herself. Her instincts told her that her blonde shishou knew of her undisclosed relationship, yet Tsunade hadn't indicated any awareness of Sakura's secret. She only had asked how things were going before returning to her usual gruff self and she ordered Sakura to take it easy and not overdo it.
Inevitably, two weeks later Tsunade barged in Sakura's office and ordered her to take a few days off, which the roseate kunoichi did, only to have Ino stampeding through her front door the very next day with the happy news.
Sakura knew she was driving her friends insane with worry over her inexplicable withdrawal into herself, but she just couldn't help it. She was hurting, and the worst part was that she couldn't tell anyone about her heartache.
She learned of his mission a week after their... breakup... she remembered, wincing internally as she drained the contents of her glass, her fifth or sixth that night.
She was happy for Ino, sure, but she suddenly had the urge to experience that which was known as "drowning one's sorrows in alcohol." Sakura was getting there, and as long as no one bothered her she could happily lose herself in a sea of fuzziness and ethylic happiness.
But then Naruto, Sasuke and Sai joined her at her table, their eyes fixed intently on hers.
"What is wrong with you," Sasuke asked tonelessly. "You have been awfully quiet."
"Yes, Hag, I thought you were going to be the first cheering that the Banshee was getting uglier than you," supplied Sai with that fake smile of his, grunting when Naruto elbowed him none-too-gently.
"Sakura-chan," her blonde surrogate brother sat at her side. As he looked at her mildly flushed features, his eyes were filled with worry. "Why are you trying to get yourself drunk?"
"No special reason," she said, her voice still clear but with a hint of exasperation. "I am so happy Ino is marrying someone worthy (albeit she surely doesn't deserve poor Chouji) that I felt the need to sample all kinds of beverages they have here."
Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other and frowned. Sasuke sat at her other side, pulling the empty glass from her hold.
"I think you've had enough, Sakura," he said firmly. "We're taking you home."
"Sasuke, always the one sucking up to the rules," she sneered, waving a hand carelessly. "Why don't you go and get yourself a girl? Maybe she could dislodge that stick you have up your ass, unless you're into guys, of course. That would be extremely funny – not to mention understandable – when your mob of fangirls catches wind of your frigid homo tendencies."
The young Uchiha gaped at her malicious speech, not believing that such colorful and wicked words had come from his usually polite albeit moody teammate.
Naruto snorted when she started to speak, but ended gaping like a freshly-caught tuna when she broached the ever touchy subject of Sasuke's private life.
Sai had stopped smiling, fixing his eyes on the pink-haired medic currently snickering like an evil character he had seen in a movie once.
"Why are you looking at me like that? I told you, I'm not interested in participating in one of those orgies you like to organize from time to time. Sai, I know you've been upset because Naruto settled down with Hinata. Have you already come out of the closet? Good for you, boy. A little late though."
"Why are you being so mean?" Naruto asked, furrowing his brows. "This is so not like you, Sakura-chan..."
"Let's say that this is the backlash, Naruto," she said airily as she crooked her finger at the waiter, who replaced her glass with a newly filled one. "I'll have you know that even if you guys don't want me to date, I did. It didn't go well though, but this might serve all of us right for being such cock-blocks."
Silence fell like an anvil over the table, until a subtle move of Sasuke's head prompted the ex-ROOT operative to stand and steer an inebriated Tenten towards Gai and Lee's table.
"You... dated someone?" Naruto repeated, scowling openly.
"And you didn't tell us?" Sasuke completed, lifting his brow questioningly.
Sakura snorted, sipping half of her wine before responding. "Aw, don't feel bad, Sasuke-kun, I assure you you're now the only Uchiha in my life. I'll be as withered and alone as Tsunade-shishou when her jutsu wears off, only devoted to my team full of stupid morons."
"Sakura-chan, I think alcohol is making you meaner than usual," observed Naruto, trying to grab the glass from her. She tipped the delicate goblet harshly to the other side, spraying Sasuke's shirt.
"Aw, fuck. Now I'll have to refill it. Good thing you always wear midnight blue, Sasuke."
"Yeah, I have the gift of foresight," he shot back sarcastically as he dabbed at his shirt with a napkin. "So the guy dumped you and you're taking out your frustrations by insulting us?"
"Why, Sasuke, I didn't think it would matter if I say a thing or two, you never listen to me anyway," she sneered venomously as she raised her arm and called for another glass. "Besides, it's not as if I'm implying you have a weird fixation with your brother, who, I might add, is even more of an asshole than you."
"It is good to know that you miss me, Sakura," a deep voice murmured behind her, making Sakura jump in her seat.
Standing up as quickly as her intoxicated state could allow her, Sakura reached for her purse with every intention to get away from them, but especially from him.
"Aniki, what are you doing here?" she heard Sasuke ask, but the warm hands that closed over her upper arms didn't belong to the younger Uchiha brother.
"I am merely here to pick Sakura up," the elder Uchiha said lightly, and then he murmured to her. "We need to talk."
"No, we don't," she hissed, reveling in the alcoholic fuzziness that left her devoid of any manners and inhibitions. "I'm not... I'm out of here."
The hands that held her tightened.
"I am not about to allow my significant other to walk alone in the streets," he whispered, making her freeze in her tracks.
Behind them, a sharp joint gasp told the pink-haired medic that both her teammates had concluded the crux of the situation.
"If this is some kind of a genjutsu, Itachi, I swear I'm gonna--"
The hands slipped down and around her waist inconspicuously. It was a good thing they were seated at a table somewhat far from the celebrated couple, allowing them some sort of privacy in the middle of the engagement party.
"Make the Kai jutsu then," he offered as he turned her body to finally make their eyes clash.
Sakura looked beautiful in that little black dress of hers, of course. Black always looked good on her, seeing the contrast of her milky skin, pale roseate hair and deep emerald eyes. However, the Uchiha Heir could appreciate how her green orbs were dark with the withholding of emotions. Anger, shame, hurt.
He looked as good as a young God, she mused absently as she took in his crisp, dark attire. His style was informal, yet the black of his slacks and shirt made his appearance appropriate for such occasion. He was freshly showered, his hair immaculately gathered in a ponytail at his nape as usual...and eyes sunken with stress lines that betrayed how straining his last mission had been.
Sakura's heartstrings tugged in worry and sympathy, and in her drunken state she saw fit to lift a hand to his face, tracing his lines like she always did when she was treating him.
And to her teammate's – including Sai, who was returning to the table at that very moment – surprise, the older Uchiha allowed her to do as she wanted, bearing the caress with unmoving eyes, body taut with alertness and ready for everything, his arms still holding her waist.
"Are you injured?" she asked softly, voicing the first question she always asked him when he came back to her. Itachi just shook his head once, eliciting a deep sigh from the medic. "What I'm going to do with you..."
With that question hanging from her lips, she pressed her forehead to his shoulder and proceeded to pass out.
Itachi caught her of course, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her effortlessly, carefully adjusting Sakura's position so that she rested more comfortably in his arms.
The males of Team Seven stood swiftly.
"Where do you think you're taking her?!" Naruto shouted, managing to get the attention of the majority of the surrounding tables. Sasuke elbowed him harshly.
"Lower your voice, dobe!" he hissed, turning his narrowed eyes to his brother. "What is she to you, Aniki? What is going on between the two of you?"
"You heard me, otouto," Itachi replied curtly. "I am sure by now you are aware that it is not becoming of a person to repeat themselves."
"But that doesn't answer any of their questions," Sai intervened, smiling slightly. "Where are you taking the Hag?"
"Home."
Walking away from them, Itachi swept his charge inconspicuously through the back door and disappeared into the night.
That was just the beginning, though, when Naruto's slow brain finally put two and two together and proceeded to bitch and rant to everyone at the party about what the hell the greatest cold fish of the Uchiha clan doing with his dear sister Sakura-chan. Ears perked, jaws dropped and eyes widened before people began asking for confirmation from Sai and Sasuke.
Unfortunately for the gossipers, Sasuke stormed away angrily and Sai hid his frown behind his sketchbook, effectively leaving them unavailable for comment.
It was safe to say that by breakfast the following day, the whole village knew about the relationship between the highly-esteemed – and lusted after – Uchiha Heir and Konoha's Sweetheart with Fists of Steel.
-X-
Sakura knew something was very wrong when she stepped within the Hospital walls only to discover the entire nursing staff glaring at her hung-over form.
She had woken up encased in Itachi's arms. His side was a bit stiff, so she had to heal his minor injury before sending him home, under the promise of a really serious talk after she finished her shift. Itachi had accepted her request, not even bringing up her emotional outburst. Still, he pointed out that their liaison was now out in the open and that she might have second thoughts.
She had thought he was kidding; but now she wasn't so sure.
Uchiha Itachi never joked. Teased, perhaps, but he simply did not engage in playful banter if it didn't present a challenge of wits.
Naturally, when the sixth nurse ignored her instructions, Sakura had to conclude that they were acting hostile for a reason.
Being hung-over was the best thing in the world when someone needed to throw a temper tantrum, Tsunade thought sagely as she monitored the outcome of Sakura's reinforcement of the hospital protocol.
I didn't know the Haruno girl was so vicious," Ibiki observed as he and Tsunade watched the pink-haired Head Medic rip the entire medical staff a new one. "Maybe I should create an ANBU Medic squad just for her."
"Your Vice-Commander wouldn't find that funny enough, Morino," the Hokage answered with a satisfied smirk. "You're watching one of the next Uchiha Heads."
Under the promise of pain, retaliation and a not-too-subtle letter of discharge from their superior, the medical staff only had to glance at the Hokage, standing off to the side with her arms crossed to know that they were sure to be fired en masse if they didn't change their behavior in favor of mindless gossip and shallow taunting.
For a happily-doing-her-rounds-with-four-nurses-following-her-meekly Sakura, of course, the tantrum had been quite cathartic, but that was beside the point. This only meant that the whole village knew about her relationship with Itachi... including teammates and close friends.
Shit, the guys... and Ino.
She could handle her blonde friend any other day, but today was not the day to face Ino. Sakura had been driven to her wit's end and was about to burst a blood vessel due to stress and the frustration of having to restrain herself so as not to punch those idiotic nurses through four hospital walls.
"Sakura-shishou," Hanabi called, her tone even but a smug, proud smirk sitting in her usually blank Hyuuga features. "The triage wing had been secured and treated."
"Great," she said, matching Hanabi's smirk with one of her own. "Now would you take these two cases?"
"I can handle all four, shishou. There's an Uchiha shinobi asking for you in the ER though; Shisui-san returned from his mission in bad shape."
"What's his state on the gravity scale?"
"I would say a six, but I just read his chart. Here," the young medic offered her said record folder. "He is currently being patched up but you know how he is."
Sakura's eyes glittered wickedly. Glancing at the nurses behind her, she shrugged inwardly.
Truly, they needed another reminder of the last lesson.
"Yeah, of course I know how he is, after all he's almost my cousin," she said flippantly, taking the chart and walking away. "These ladies are all yours, Hanabi. Make sure they get a full view of the treatments."
"Hai, Sakura-shishou," the stoic Hyuuga daughter turned her head and glared at the white-uniformed females and narrowed her eyes.
It was about time, Hanabi thought, to put these gossipmongers in their place.
And it didn't hurt that it had been Sakura herself to do so. Maybe the Uchiha's influence wasn't so bad after all...
Or was it?
-
- Tenna' ento lye omenta -
-XxX-
AN: I told you it was crack! XD Besides, we all know Sakura has a diamond-hard backbone; it was only time for her to snap at those chicks.
How I love Itachi for having more foresight than the moron of a brother he has, but that's just my humble opinion. I know I left out the talk, but I think it was much funnier to stick to Sakura's day. I'll see if I manage to fit the talk for the last theme. 8D
As always, much love to RapturesRevenge for betaing this collection, and thank you guys so much for reading.