Title: Moments in Time: A Close Up

Author: AppleL0V3R

Beta-reader: Terror-Of-The-Crimson-Night

Fandom: Naruto

Pairing: Uchiha, Itachi and Haruno, Sakura

Chapter: Forty-Four – #74 Tall: Advantage

Rating: T

Type: One-shot – Complete

Summary: Prompts from Moments in Time that I was requested to expand on. 44. 74 – Tall: Advantage. For the first time, Sakura found she hated how short she was.

Word Count: 1,680

Disclaimer: If you've heard of it before, then it's obviously not mine.

Note: As the summary states these were skits I was asked to turn into actually works. I will always put which one it was and the skit just before the chapter. They won't be in numerical order because I'm doing them as I'm requested. They won't be any more than one-shots though they may become two to five –shots (I will forewarn when that happens) but they won't become stories unless I choose to.

Sorry, it's a day late, my apologies. But I made sure that it was funny and cute to make up for that. I hope it makes up for the slight lateness.

Request by: N/A

..:Xx0o0xX:..

74. Tall (Sakura)

Sakura's height was average for her age, a nice build and a pretty face though she had an odd hair color coupled with attractive eyes. She was well aware of her physical appearance and had long ago accepted every part of it, using each to its proper advantage.

Normally, her biggest problem was making sure she wasn't spotted or remembered by the wrong person because of her hair. But now, as she tried to glare menacingly at the insufferable man before her, she realized the fact that she was no taller than his shoulder was making that pretty hard to do. And so, for the first time her height was a problem.

She would get back at him, as soon as she figured out how.

..:Xx0o0xX:..

Sakura wasn't the kind of person that could be forgotten easily, not unless she wanted to be. But that was a completely different story. This story wasn't about how forgettable she was, in fact it had nothing to do with being memorable to other people intentionally or otherwise. No, this was about low center gravity, or in other words, her shortness.

Sakura's height was average for her age, a nice build and a pretty face though she had an odd hair color coupled with attractive eyes. She was well aware of her physical appearance and had long ago accepted every part of it, using each to its proper advantage.

Normally, her biggest problem was making sure she wasn't spotted or remembered by the wrong person because of her hair. But now, as she tried to glare menacingly at the insufferable man before her, she realized the fact that she was no taller than his shoulder was making that pretty hard to do. And so, for the first time her height was a problem.

She would get back at him, as soon as she figured out how.

And all the while, he had the gall to be amused about the whole entire thing. "Having troubles, Sakura."

"That's Haruno to you, Uchiha and no, for your information, I am not having troubles." She ground out, feeling her eyes flash.

Some of his amusement seemed to drain slightly as the beginnings of a frown pulled on his lips. She would have jumped for joy, but stayed still so that he would give himself away. "I'm aware of what your name is."

She had to hold herself back from blinking. Admittedly she'd said that first part more out of irritation than anything, but that's what bothered him? Telling him to use her last name. She took a moment to marvel at the simple concept, and another to push aside the odd feeling that it caused. "I'm not saying you aren't, I'm telling you to use it."

The frown grew a fraction, but then he took a quick step forward almost invading her personal space. Did he have to rub in the fact that he was taller than her? It was really starting to get irritating. "Why would I do that?"

That threw her for a moment, but her racing mind had a response out of her lips before she could double check it and make certain it was something valid. One did not say things on a whim to Uchiha, Itachi that could be both potentially dangerous as well as humiliating should he choose to turn it back on the speaker. "Because, we don't know each other that well." And while that seemed valid enough, she wanted to clap her hand over her mouth. Instead she waited for his response as if she hadn't just unintentionally put her foot in her mouth.

"No?" Was it her or did his eyes just become hypnotic? No, they'd always been like that, she usually tried not to notice. But with him so close to her how could she not? "I'm sure we do, but if you feel that way, then I suppose it wouldn't be that hard to rectify it. Do you think?"

Every word was so quiet and full of emotion, but at the same time it wasn't. It seemed like the whole world had quieted just for him to be heard and she couldn't help but listen. Couldn't help but agree. In fact, she was about to nod that yes he made a whole bunch of sense and –

Her eyes widened and indignation mixed with anger reared its head, "Oi. Not cool."

His expression didn't change, not really, but his mouth did quirk up slightly in one of those trademark smirks that seemed imbedded in the Uchiha blood. It made her all the more irritated. "What isn't?"

"That." She started immediately, stopping short only when she realized she honestly didn't know how to explain what he was doing with out sounding like a complete and utter idiot. Yet another point in his favor. "You know what? I'm not having this…conversation because unlike some people I have work to do." She promptly spun on her heel and was about to reach in the medicine cabinet only to be reminded of why they were having abovementioned conversation in the first place.

She couldn't reach the necessary tablet.

Right then she wanted to curl in on herself and just die, because not only had she managed to look like a midget, but she'd put her foot in her mouth twice and now she was just further cementing his point. Was there no winning against Uchiha?

A tanner hand reached up, past hers and grabbed what she'd been reaching for and easily brought it back down. Feeling her fury still like a hot fire coiled inside of her, she refused to turn back to him. She would not give him the satisfaction of knowing he'd won. Again. Trying not to huff, she closed the mostly Plexiglas doors. "Give my the medicine, Uchiha." She even held out her hand expectantly.

But after waiting for a few moments, she still didn't feel the familiar weight in her hands and she was about turn to tell him off again when he placed his free hand in hers, lacing their fingers and pulling the hand downward. It had been so unexpected that the swiftness with which he moved and the abrupt downward motion caused her to stubble in his direction. She wasn't able to regain her balance in time and her shoulder collided with his nicely built torso and before the heat could even fully rush to her face, used her hand still holding onto his to turn her to face him once more and pull her completely against him.

Clearly on a roll, he didn't pause as he maneuvered his arm around so that he kept a firm grip on her hand and still got his arm to settle a little too snuggly at her waist. Still trying to adjust she opened her mouth and promptly clicked it shut when he squeezed that arm still around her in a warning kind of way. Scowling, she was about to try again, but was cut off again. This time it was by him kissing her completely on the lips. It wasn't long or drawn out, just a simple 'shut up' chaste kiss.

All the pushing and tugging and assaulting left her poor brain unable to keep up with whatever the hell he planned to do with her and so when he pulled back with a self-satisfied smirk she kept her mouth shut and didn't even try to struggle.

"See, Sakura? It wasn't that hard to get close once more and if you still have objections then I have no qualms about getting intimate as well."

She blinked, the gears were turning, she knew that, but what the hell was he saying?

"Now, if you'll ask kindly then I will also gladly give you back your medicine tablet and let you return to your work."

She blinked again and again and even a fourth time. When it still hadn't sunk in she decided for a different approach. Like focusing on the last part because that she could definitely understand. Narrowing her eyes, "Let me? Itachi, I think you're mistaken here, I'm not asking for permission–" This time it wasn't him who cut her off, but she stopped all on her own.

Why was he looking at her like that?

Then, to her complete and utter surprise, he started laughing with warm-hot eyes. And she was blinking again, had she missed something? Sakura was certain she hadn't said anything funny so why was he laughing? Quickly reviewing the words in her head she still found no fault and decided to go back to what he said. Her green eyes started to go wide and went wider still when she thought of her response again.

She really hated sticking her foot in her mouth. More than she hated how short she was. And most of all, she hated how this one Uchiha always always got his way.