Title: Rin

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar. Language.

Chapter 34

I blinked my eyes and closed it. Slowly raising my good arm, I pinched my nose bridge and released a low groan. I knew that I was sleeping after another little escaping adventure and I believed that I was sleeping outside, at the memorial stone. But, how come I saw a ceiling when I opened my eyes? Sighing, I slowly opened my eyes and stared at the pale yellow coloured ceiling. I frowned. My ceiling was in white colour not pale yellow.

A sound came from door as if it was sliding opened; I quickly turned my head to the source of it. My apartment didn't have any door like that. Hastily I sat up and met with Mikoto. It had been almost two years since I met her and she didn't changed much. Mikoto smiled warmly at me and sat down beside the futon where I was. She placed down a tray containing food and making herself comfortable before pulling me into a light hug. She was carefully avoided any stress on my bandaged arm.

"Mikoto-san, I'm sorry…" I murmured on her shoulder. "I'm sorry for not fulfilling our promise."

"Don't be, I understand your profession, Rin. I also was a ninja once."

"But I'm so cruel, forgetting almost everything just from a mere…I'm using the missions, training as my reason to avoid…"

"Rin…I think you should come here more. You don't have too many girl friends to share something like this, aren't you?"

Nodding, I hummed a yes. She was true, most of my friends were boys and Haru was busy and the other chuunin, more like a coworker rather than someone who I could talk with. Mikoto released her arms and I slowly sat down on the futon. "Yeah, I don't know how to deal with the feelings and I don't want to be a hindrance for Itachi to have a better relationship." I laughed softly. "Maybe I'm just aware about our age difference. Thus I came to a conclusion by avoiding him so that he could interact more with the girl."

"Oh, so you saw them sitting together?"

I laughed softly. "Yeah and I ran away…What a coward I'm, thinking that as a mature act. Stupid me. Wow it has been two years already and I still feel…uh…"

"Hurt about it?"

I nodded slowly and looked at Mikoto. "I thought it would be better with time but no. Running away isn't a solution and I still doing it." I sighed. "This is so embarrassing and after a long time, here I talk about it with you, his mother…Aw…" I covered my face with my hands. "To think that I'm much older than him and acting like this…What a child I'm." I moaned.

Mikoto laughed and patted my shoulder. "You're keeping your feeling to yourself for a long time, awkward is not something new. Don't think me as his mother now, thinks me as your friend."

"Yeah and thank you." I shrugged and looked around. "Mikoto-san, how did I'm here?"

"You should thanks to your savior later," Mikoto said and pointed to the windows. I shrugged, since I saw the heavy rain pouring outside. It was grey too; I guessed it was from the clouds.

After done eating, I put the empty dishes on the tray and looked at the window. It was still pouring outside but not as heavy as before. Slowly standing up and stretching my back, I walked to the glass panel and stared at the water fell from the dark sky. Mikoto had warned me from thinking about going back in this kind of weather and insisted for me to stay the night. I didn't even manage any answers out from my mouth since she gave me a stern look and I simply agreed with the arrangement. After all I was still feeling a little bit tired and it was a pretty long walk from here to my place and the weather wasn't in my favor. Shrugging, I slowly placed a hand on the window and shivered at the cool feeling.

"You should be resting, Rin."

I stiffened and felt a dread feeling came from my stomach. When he did enter this room? I didn't even hear the door! Panicking, I stared at the floor while chanting internally so that the awkwardness went away.

"I'm taking this out, good night, Rin."

"…"

Thak. The door closed and I released a deep breath before sat on the floor. That was intense.

Blinking and staring at the ceiling, I released a deep sigh. I couldn't sleep. Pushing the thick blanket away, I sat up and looked at the door. From the calmness in the house, I bet everyone was fast asleep. I placed a hand on my throat and gulped my saliva. My throat felt dry. I stood up.

"I'm thirsty, need water," I said softly and walked to the door. Casually let it opened, I strolled out and walked around the house before reaching the kitchen. My eyes immediately caught a jug of plain water with empty cups on the counter. Quickly pouring the water into the cup and raising it to my mouth, I enjoyed the cool sensation in my throat. Once satisfied, I washed the used cup and put it on drying rack. Exiting the kitchen, my eyes caught the main door and the living room.

Now I was in dilemma. There wasn't any pouring sound heard outside, so I guessed that the rain either already stopped or it just became a light rain. I took a step to the main door and shrugged slightly before stopping my feet. Was this a wise action, I wondered and stared at the floor. The house was dark, there were only few wall lamps were switched on and the light was dim. Releasing a breath and smiled, I turned around and stiffened instantly as I met with Itachi. I scanned the now eleven years old boy. He did grow up a lot from his child body and his face look calm with a hint of focus and indifferent expression. His hair was much longer and he tied it in low ponytail, dangling on his back.

"…"

"…"

"Um…Hey…Um…Thanks for not letting me sleep under the rain." I smiled slightly while internally I was groaning and pulling my hair. This was so awkward! "I wonder how you found me there…" I trailed softly.

"I'll always found you even you're in hiding, Rin" Itachi spoke calmly while I was punching on the internal wall in my mind. Damn! Even his voice sounded different! Stop beating harshly dear heart! I shouted in my head and paused. Hah! That was only a metaphor. Internally I frowned. Itachi was acting…like a man? Was he flirting without he knew about it?

"Ah…um…so…how are you now?"

Itachi took a step forward while I remained still.

"Fine and busy. I'm a chuunin now." He answered.

My eyes widened and casually I grabbed his hands into mine. Waving our linked hands, I grinned. "Wow, congratulations, Itachi. Now we're both chuunin!"

He smiled warmly and I smiled back. I blinked and stopped our hands, slowly I released the hold but Itachi grasped my hands and didn't let it go.

"No, not anymore," The raven haired young teenage boy said softly. "Two years was a long time I gave to you to think about your feelings."

"What?"

"Izumi and I are just only friends. Nothing more than that and I never thought that you would react like that…"

"Wait a moment…you knew I was there?" I raised my eye brows.

Itachi nodded slowly. "Yes and I tried to follow you, Rin but you're so fast and it was hard searching you around. That's the moment I realized how different we are."

"You're strong, you have sharingan…you could find me easily."

"I know but strong physically and considered genius in ninja thing was different with human interaction and feeling. I know that I've always pushing you around and always had us in awkward moment. So I've decided to give you some space for you to think about your feelings."

"Uh…" I frowned. What were we now, both morons in human relationship? I thought of giving him space for another chance of better human bonding and he did the same for me to figure out everything?

"I've always looked you from afar these two years. Not always but when I had a chance, I stopped around your place but you were rarely at home." Itachi paused and looked at me, straight to my eyes. "I had waited and keep waiting but it seemed that you weren't doing anything about it but become very busy with everything. As if you're forgetting about it…mine and yours feeling…" He trailed and stopped. "I spend my time of waiting your respond with training, missions and practicing and without I realized it, I was a chuunin already. Starting from that point, I was busy with my shinobi work and rarely saw you."

I looked at our hands. "Oh…So practically we are both…ah…so stupid."

"Yes, we are dumb in this field. While I care about my clan, my family and the village, everyone but there is something different with you, Rin. It was weird but I know it's special." The raven haired boy said honestly.

I stared at the floor and shrugged. Now I knew that Itachi was sincere at the beginning. It wasn't a childish crush but what I was doing these whole times? I tried to denied his feeling and yet felt jealous when he was with someone else. I was stupid! "M-My bad? Sorry for not realizing it at all…that you're…I'm sorry, Itachi."

"It's my fault too," Itachi said and paused. "I should confront you sooner so that we don't have this conversation. It's weird."

I laughed softly. "Yeah, it's weird…" It was more than weird since I was being confronted about this topic from someone was younger than me. Hey I was um twenty…uh…I lost count of my real age already but hey, I was still a senior in this. Internally I face palmed and sighed. Senior my ass, what kind of senior when I acted like a real child?

"So back then, you're jealous of Izumi." Itachi smiled.

I looked away and felt my cheeks heated. "Uh…maybe?"

"You're jealous." He stated the fact once again.

I nodded reluctantly. "Um…Y-Yeah…"

"Don't be," Itachi said softly and I felt a brief contact of his lips on mine. "Go to sleep, Rin. Good night." With that, Itachi slowly released my hands and left the hallway.

I blinked and walked mindlessly back to the room I came out earlier. Staring at the same ceiling after laying on the futon, I placed a finger on my lips.

"He kissed me…and that's my first kiss!" I pulled the blanket over my face and moaned softly in it. "Even I was back then at my real place, I've never kissed someone! Argh! This is embarrassing!"

Fugaku already left his house, when I was done showering and entering into the kitchen. Mikoto was serving a breakfast to a very happy Sasuke and I simply smiled at both mother and son.

"Good morning, Mikoto-san, Sasuke."

"Good morning to you too, Rin-chan," Mikoto said and gestured me to took a seat beside her youngest son. I followed her direction and looked at Sasuke who was staring at my face. Somehow, I felt uncomfortable as he was continued with his staring while having his food.

"Sasuke, stop staring at Rin-chan," Mikoto scolded her son and placed a plate of omelet in front of me. "Help yourself Rin."

I nodded and after muttering thanks, I took a spoonful of the food.

"So, Nii-san kissed you last night?"

I chocked on my omelet and cough repeatedly. Mikoto quickly gave me a glass of plain water and patted on my back while babbling to Sasuke.

"T-Thanks, Mikoto-san, I'm fine," I said and shrugged. I took another gulp of water when Sasuke asked another question.

"You're going to marry each other?"

Burst of water followed with harsh cough. I nearly sent a death glare to the boy but Mikoto was faster. I didn't know what Mikoto had done to her son as Sasuke silently finished his breakfast and quickly went to the academy.

I didn't see Itachi around the house and his mother stated that he was already out earlier. I nodded at the new information and wondered what had made him so busy in the morning.

After thanking Mikoto for the food and pleasant hospitality, I left the house with a deep blush. She had made me promised her once again to replace the old one. Instead of coming to their house, she said that she was going to visit my place anytime soon. The mother of two boys was glad that I was in medical leave. I smiled and nodded at her plan and blushed once she said about kissing techniques that she was insisting on sharing with me later. After a few blocks from the clan head's house, I noted the changes with my surrounding. I scanned around the Uchiha's compound and noticed that some of the people weren't friendlier like before. There were still few of them smiling at me and I smiled back but there was a hidden look in their eyes. The air was a little bit hostile but it was gone when they interacted among clansmen and clanswomen. I shrugged away the weird air from my confused mind and resumed my walk to my place.

I kept the extra bowls and plates inside the cupboard and closed it before checking at my kitchen and sink for the last time. Mikoto and Sasuke already went back to their home and Iruka was cleaning my living room. Itachi didn't join us since he had a job to do. What job, I didn't know. Even though our bond was tighter than previously, but it didn't gave the clearance on sharing information about mission and anything related. Anything considered as confidential should be kept away like that. After cleared out our feelings and being honest with each other, Itachi and I enjoyed our newest relationship status. We didn't tell about it to others and we kept our action in discreet. It was so fun and adventurous at the same time. We decided it like that since we learned it hard way from Gai few years ago. Only Iruka knew about my relationship with Itachi and he supported it very much.

The brunet had spoken out his observation on my behavior these two years and he was worried about it. He did give a lot of hints but I was a real oblivious type or simply an idiot. Iruka who was also a chuunin now had labeled me as a snail in realizing my own feelings and reaction time to it. I couldn't say much, since it was true so I accepted his verdict with opened heart.

"How's your injury, Rin?" Iruka asked casually as he entered the kitchen and went to the sink, washing the rug.

I checked on my injured arm and poked on now thinner layer of bandage unlike previously. It had been almost two weeks since I had received the deep cut and now the soreness and hurt feeling when I touched it almost gone.

"Better from day to day."

"Good to hear that," Iruka said as he closed the tap. He then looked at my arm and stared at it. "You should meet Shiro-sensei for finalizing the treatment. He's been nagging to me about your overdue appointment you know."

I gasped and checked on my calendar at my living room. "Shit, I forgot about the last week appointment with him!"

The brunet laughed and followed into the living room. "Well, I know both of you are catching up the lost time but please be careful with other commitment. Sensei is very worried about you, Rin." Iruka finished his short speech with a stern look. Somehow I could see an image of Ren-sensei in him.

Blushing with Iruka's speech, I looked away and nodded. Iruka's words were true; I should know how to arrange my time more. When I was going back into active duty, there would be more important matter I should placed it first.

Shiro had giving his speech on tardiness and appointment time arrangement when I had the last session with him. The medic nin later smiled fondly and gave his advice about being careful during the mission and everything related. He said my probation time would be cleared after another week and that was a confusing matter since I already healed from my injuries.

"Why another week, I'm fine now. I should be in active duty…"

"No, you should understand that your body had just finished recover but it isn't ready for a combat anytime soon," Shiro said as he flipped my file.

"Ah, so the final week is for me to do the practice again, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Okay Suzuhara Rin, after a week you're going to be in active duty once again." Shiro closed my file and smiled.

I smiled back to him and after saying thanks, I left his room.

I stretched my arms and grinned happily. Wow, it felt so good once you were cleared with any injury and could do the practice and training once again. I could wear my hitai ate again; I looked at the sky and sighed in content. Now that my arm was cleared, I had an idea in my mind. I would like to try making the flying fried rice with a wok as I had seen at one Chinese food restaurant. Mei Mei had brought me to that restaurant and proudly introduced her favorite menu while I was simply amused at the performance of cooks there. Rubbing my hands, I remembered the ingredients inside my refrigerator.

"Oh, there's lot of things I need to buy," I said and ran to the shopping district.

It had happened too fast, I had landed on the ground after bumped with someone when I nearly reached the district. A small hand had quickly grabbing my wrist before dragging me into dark alley. After a few moment of running, the hand released my wrist and I heard a small gasp. My eyes met with bluest eyes that I've met few weeks ago at the academy ground.

"You're the same Nee-chan on that tree!" Naruto shouted.

"Hey, you're the one who blow my cover," I said calmly and crouched in front of him so that we were looking at each other in the same eye level. He was so bright, with spiky blond hair, orange shirt and shorts. He also had worn a pair of blue standard sandals for kids. I smiled at him. "Well, I should say thanks to you about it."

"Ah, I know that's something weird with you and that Sasuke's brother." He frowned and crossed his small arms over his chest.

I shrugged and laughed lightly. "Well, it doesn't matter right now, so what's your name?" I couldn't call his name leisurely like I had known him while he knew nothing about me. I didn't want to scare him so a proper approach would be fine.

"Uh…" Naruto averted his gaze to the ground.

"Well?" I raised my eyebrows. This was weird. First he shouted at me and then became this quiet? That was the fastest mood changes I had ever seen after Iruka.

"…"

I frowned and let my mind did the work. What was wrong with giving out your name? Okay, when you were facing with enemy nin, we didn't share out our name easily. But this was only within Konoha and he was a kid too! I didn't think they had learned this at the academy. I snorted lightly and smiled at the small boy.

"Well, my name is Suzuhara Rin, what's yours?"

"U-Uzumaki Naruto…"

"Oh, can I call you Naruto-kun? You can call me Rin-neechan."

Naruto instantly looked up at my face; our eyes stared at each other. I could see a clear gleaming on his eyes, he was nearly crying?

"Aren't you scared of me?" He asked carefully.

I blinked. "Scared of you? Why would I?"

Naruto stared on the ground once again and didn't talk anymore. I looked at the boy and waited, hoping that I could understand him and helped him from his problem.

Thanks for reading, following, favorite and review this story. Um…there isn't always sunshine and rainbows in one relationship so that is how I interprets Rin's and Itachi's interactions (for future reference too). But thanks for the support of this pairing mercurae. Honestly I was pretty surprised when read your reviews but I do agree with some of points in it. Two years was quite long time and here we can see Rin's characteristic. Anyway, thanks again mercurae.

Well, if anyone noticed this, I have updated the chapter almost daily till this one. Actually, I got too many things to do on the next few days and it is quite important and I need to focus on it. So this will be the last update for the moment and see you guys at the end of September I guess. Please enjoy the story while I'm not around. (^v^)