"Now open your eyes". Kurosaki did so having been led by Itachi for the last five minutes. She did so and looked at a lovely small white house. "I got this for you. I hope you will like it. Not thinking of anything else she went inside to check it out. It came already furnished as well. A small kitchen with a table, a bathroom, a bedroom and a sitting room. "It isn't too big I know. But I do hope you like it". "I love it how did you get it"? "I had been looking for a safe place for you to stay. If that's what you want of course.
You can still visit your family if you don't want to go back and live with them. This was the safest place for you and a nice little starter house. I had enough from my mission pay to get it". "Oh Itachi thank you it's perfect. I love it I really do". "I thought you could live here and then I could come visit you here. And perhaps live here if that's what you wanted. Though I wouldn't be here much". Kurosaki felt her heart flutter. The two of them living together. "I do want you here with me. To live here as well when you can".
"Good I took the liberty to pick out some simple furniture for you. Like the bed, the sofa, chair, and kitchen table. If you want anything else we can get it later". "Alright this is actually pretty good all the essentials". "Speaking of that I got some kitchen supplies as well. So you really do have the essentials". She smiled hugging and kissing him. "Let me make you lunch. Is there anything here"? He smirked "I took the liberty of filling up the fridge as well. But you just got here. No need to make me anything". "You just got here soon. And just so you know I can make you lunch if I choose". "Very well then" he said smirking again.
They chatted as she prepared a meal. "How did the training go"? "It went well. The first three days were really hard. I didn't think I was ever going to get it. Afterwards though it came really easy. I can even heal myself without performing hand sign's". "That is impressive. It probably took you a little while to get use to your kekkei genkai. Once you did you were able to take full advantage of your clan's abilities. That's why you caught it so quickly". She sighed "Yeah that's good I guess. Would have been cool if I was just that remarkable". "I find you very remarkable. Besides you have worked hard and come along way already".
"Thanks". They enjoyed dinner and after freshening up began to make out. Lost in the moment Kurosaki attempted to pull his clothes off. She wasn't sure why he hadn't attempted to take hers off. "Kurosaki no wait we can't". "Why not"? She asked already wondering if she did something wrong. "Kurosaki we aren't married". "But Itachi we weren't before. I just didn't know that meant so much to you". Kurosaki might feel the same way were her time with Itachi not limited. "You deserve so much more than that Kurosaki". She was touched but also hurt. She was happy he had that much love and respect for her.
But they couldn't even enjoy that pleasure with each other? After being with Itachi that way she felt sure no man would take his place. I've been thinking about that for a while and that's why"… Itachi trailed off and got down on one knee. He pulled a ring from his pocket. "This is so selfish of me to ask you this. But Kurosaki I want you to be my wife. I won't forgive myself if I don't ask you. I would ask your father for your hand in marriage if that were a possibility for me. If you say no I will understand". "Itachi yes that's all I have ever wanted. Maybe that sounds pathetic but I just want you and only you".
"It doesn't sound pathetic in fact its music to my ears. That might sound pathetic". He carefully placed the ring on her finger. They then kissed passionately. She wouldn't try to have him anymore until their wedding night. It would be hard but it was something she was willing to do. Being his wife was what she always wanted. Perhaps she should be a stronger woman. Want something more than just being a wife. More power to the other women who decided this. But she wasn't them and would never be them. They didn't know Itachi anyway. They couldn't possibly understand her feelings on him.
They couldn't understand her and they certainly couldn't understand him. Perhaps there were some people who truly weren't meant to be understood. She had never considered herself in that category before. But she was no Itachi's fiancée. As his future wife she would have to take his burdens as her own. As a married couple they would also be a team. Just like in the shinobi world. They were to work together as a team. That was what marriage was supposed to be about.
She knew that much though she hadn't been married before. "Kurosaki we need to discuss how were actually going to go about being married". "I don't know what I'm going to tell my family. They want me to be married of course. They have already been trying to set me up with random men from rich families. "We can't have that". Itachi said darkly. Surprisingly it was the first instance she had seen of him doing that since he revealed the truth to her. It was actually kind of pleasing. "Yes I know. I will think of something". "I would like for you to have an actual wedding but that's impossible. I'm sorry".
"No don't be sorry. You have made me really happy. I don't care about having a big wedding. I care about being with you and being married to you". He smiled and it nearly took her breath away. "Thank you but you do deserve to have the closest thing to a wedding you can get. We're going to have to find a place to do it. And a minister of some sorts to oversee it for us. I really have no idea who will do that". "Will figure it out". She said holding his hand. "Yes I know we will". He kissed her forehead.
It was hard to love someone and not be able to give them the very best. "Kurosaki I want to give you so much". He said his lips against hers once again. "All I can really offer you is myself". "That's enough". She said to him simply. In her heart it was without a doubt the case. "Kurosaki it's so hard not to take you to bed with me right now. I want you in that way and I can't stop thinking about it". "Me either. So why don't you just do it? On our wedding night it can still be amazing". "I want us to consummate our marriage. And I want that to be the best experience for us it can be". "It still can be". "You deserve a husband.
A husband who will take care of you and love you. And who can refrain until your wedding night". "Very well then if that's what you wish". She said grinning at him. "I want it but I also want you. It's a very hard battle. Maybe one of the hardest ones I've ever fought". He put his hand on her cheek seeming to study her for a moment. Maybe his thoughts were far away. "What"? She asked him curiously. "I put hands on you more than once. As shinobi that's something we have to do sometimes. But that's no excuse for all the emotional pain I've caused you. I guess it's true sometimes you hurt the ones you love the most".
"Don't even think about that anymore Itachi. What matters now is we are here. In this moment together. We have each other. We are loved by each other. Were engaged and were going to be husband and wife soon". "Your right. Forgive me for dampening the mood". "You're forgiven". She said smiling at him. "You know perhaps I am the weak one. I had given up on you long ago. Refused to come up with any other solution than that you did what you said you did. What the others said you did. I was wrong for that. I should have placed more faith in you". "How were you suppose to have faith when I used every opportunity to make sure you didn't? Sounds to me I am responsible for this.
If you can tell me I am free of blame from this point forward than I can tell you the same. I don't blame you for a single thing. It doesn't change how I feel about you. The truth is you did nothing wrong. I have done wrong in my life but being with you isn't wrong. It's only wrong that I can't be with you longer". Kurosaki knew this to be true. She wanted to ensure they packed as much married life into his time as they could. Itachi felt the same urgency. He hated to leave her. But he wouldn't take her with him. She deserved to live. To have a long life after him. But she didn't see it that way. How could she live after him?
Marrying her would not be a mistake. That was the joy of marriage others had always loved. That sparkle in their eyes. He didn't see a sparkle in his own onyx eyes. He knew that he had that feeling however. He was sure he had seen it in Kurosaki's eyes. She was a beauty beyond compare outside and most importantly inside. Kurosaki loved looking at the engagement ring. A promise of their impending union. He had only gotten her an engagement ring. Though he planned on getting them both wedding bands. Kurosaki would have the best he could give her. That included a wedding band of her own. He would get one for himself and just wear it under his Akatsuki ring. Though that one was of much more important than the Akatsuki one would ever be.