Chapter 35: Aura

Shikara looked like she was having difficulty keeping herself from giggling. Seeing her this way, laughing, smiling, it caused the ice to melt in Itachi's heart. Even though her laughter was at his expense... she choked back her giggles and eyed him nervously as he leaned forward, pinning her between him and the sink.

She closed her pretty lilac eyes and continued to hold a hand over her large grin. Itachi slowly moved her hand away and she peeked at him with one eye. Her blush was sweet, it reminded him of how things had been before. Despite her recent killings and being slowly taken over by whatever that darkness is, she still sometimes radiated innocence and looking into her gorgeous features caused him to fall for her all over again. Suddenly, without a thought, his lips met hers.

...

I was taken completely by surprise as Itachi kissed me. It was soft, gentle and made my legs weak. I had to support myself as the kiss deepened and I closed my eyes, returning it. Suddenly flashes of memories with Shisui clouded my mind and a tear trickled down my cheek.

Itachi pulled away to look at me and wiped the tear away with a finger. "Sorry..."

I gasped, "oh, no... It's not you Itachi-sama." I had a hand on his chest and leaned my head against it. What's wrong with me...?

"You were thinking of Shisui..." My eyes widened and I looked up at Itachi. He sighed, "I know you chose him...however I still don't understand it."

I blushed gazing off to the side. Itachi had his arms around me and was peering into my soul. "I...It was hard for me. It broke my heart to have to choose..."

"No one ever asked you to." Itachi replied softly.

I looked into his eyes curiously. "What do you mean by that?"

Itachi closed his eyes and another soft blush appeared. "We were happy to...share."

I put my hand over my mouth again. Tears developed in my eyes as the weight of his words hit me. "That would have been selfish of me...Itachi-sama." My head was back on his chest, trying to not cry too much in front of him. "Izumi loved you and she was my friend...she hated me for sharing feelings for two..."

Itachi cupped my chin and brought my face up to look me in the eyes. "I guess we were all a little selfish..." he calmly searched for the right words, "Izumi was an amazing girl...someone I thought that I could have had a future with...eventually...however..."a small smile appeared over his lips. "She wasn't you."

The breath I had caught in my throat. It took me a moment to steady myself. "I'm so sorry Itachi-sama. I shouldn't have tried to play match maker..." his smile deepened before kissing my forehead. He then picked me up and brought me back to the couch where he sat me in his lap. His head rested on top of my own. My blush deepened as I felt him breathing and I could hear his steady heartbeat. I shifted so that I could look up at him. He was watching me with a light smile, he seemed completely content.

I flashed the best smile that I could, still blushing a bright red. "Itachi-sama?"

"Yes, Angel...?" His response nearly caused my heart to explode.

"I...I never stopped loving you...even after everything." My voice was soft but I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. That's when he took claim to my lips again. I closed my eyes to enjoy their gentle touch. His reaction wasn't what I was expecting, however I welcomed it. I craved for this closeness with him for so long.

...

Itachi had already known and felt that everything he held back before would become unbearable the moment he saw his angel in Tanzaku Town. All the anger he felt when he witnessed her dancing in skimpy attire before a crowd who had no business to see her beautiful body; the regret he felt to make her fear him in the alleyway; the revenge after using her in his schemes, it all vanished and he was now holding her, kissing her and letting her break down the rest of the walls to reveal nothing more than the gentle, protective side of him, the part of him that loved her with everything he had. She would see and feel this side of him from now on...as long as they were in a private setting. She was the only one who could know his true self.

Her lips were perfect and full. He found himself wanting more and lightly bit her bottom lip. The noise she made was strangely satisfying and he laid her down and hovered over her, kissing her deeper. He peered at her through nearly closed eyes and saw that his kisses had brought her more pleasure than expected. He could feel her heart racing, see her darkening blush...and a dark aura around her turning lighter by the second. He pulled back, observing the strange aura and Shikara's eyes opened. She seemed confused, noticing the aura as well.

"What is that?" Itachi asked.

"I'm not sure...it happens usually when my life is in danger and normally looks like a black mist...it's turning white though..." I pulled myself out from underneath Itachi and tried to run to the bathroom. He grabbed my wrist and I looked to him, embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid that something bad might happen."

His smirk embarrassed me further. "Is someone excited?"

"Itachi!" I gasped, turning pink and trying to cover my face with a hand. He pulled me back and the aura grew more widespread and practically illuminated the room. "Please...I don't know what's happening!"

His smirk became a grin. "I think I know."

"This is too much!" My voice was more like a whimper. What kind of horrible thing must be inside me to give out a black aura before destroying everything in it's path, then does something this humiliating in front of Itachi. Does the damn thing like him, too!?

He pulled me back to him and I was in his lap again, trying to keep my heart rate from going off the charts. I heard his sexy deep voice whisper in my ear. "I wonder if I can make you glow?"

My eyes fluttered open and I saw Itachi hovering over me, on the floor. His voice was soothing. "Shikara? Are you okay?" He truly looked worried. I must have passed out from high blood pressure or something.

A slight blush returned to my cheeks. "What happened?!"

He was blushing now, too. "I...think..." he trailed off and I stared at him after sitting up and making sure we weren't touching at all.

"You think what, Itachi?" The look on his face was causing me to think that maybe I didn't want to know what he thought. I put a hand up. "Nope. Nevermind." I stood from the floor, keeping an eye on Itachi, who set me off...or rather whatever possesses me and retreated to my room. I returned several minutes later wearing black sweat pants and a white tank top and went back to making dinner.

I glanced at Itachi, who was still sitting on the floor and he was staring at me with his head slightly tilted like he was trying to solve a puzzle. My blush returned and I faced him, pointing a wooden spoon at him. "I'm going to throw this at you if you continue to look at me like a science experiment."

...

Shikara was making threats. It was cute. She really didn't fear him at all, apparently. A slight smirk came over Itachi's lips. She had purposely changed into less attractive clothes and was keeping her distance. Now her threat concluded Itachi's hypothesis. She was trying to avoid him and keep him at a distance. She didn't know that after he had teased her that last time that her entire body expelled an energy that sent pure pleasure through his own. He was trying to figure it out and intended to continue his research. If that energy exploded negatively, people usually died. If it responded positively, it brought pleasure and he was certain it also had healing properties because he was completely energized. The more she grew and matured, the stronger this energy became.

Interesting. He thought, then was considering trying something else when she was less on the defensive. She raised an eyebrow at him before turning back to the noodles she was making. She really is a lot of fun... this is the most fun Itachi has had in a while.

...

After eating the deluxe ramen with Itachi, I went to wash the dishes. He was by my side again, drying them as I finished. I smiled to myself, not bothering to object. After they were all finished and put away, Itachi returned to the loveseat and eyed me curiously.

I went over with a blanket and held it out to him. "It's pretty late, you should stay." I smiled sweetly, eyes closed.

I felt him pull me to him and I blushed as he peered into my eyes. "Stay with me."

I wrinkled my nose at him. "This couch is too small for two."

He smirked, stood from the couch and picked me up bridal-style before making his way to my room. My heart was pounding as he laid me on the bed and joined me, pulling my body closer to his. We were on our sides and my back was to him. This made me a little nervous.

"Ita-..." before I could say anything more he had moved my hair and kissed the back of my neck. I gasped and arched my back as an involuntary reaction, my butt pressed against his hips. I could feel his grin against me. Does he find this funny!? I felt a singe of frustration and flipped around in his arms and glared at him. He had this smug expression that irritated me further and without thought, I did something that I'm sure I would regret later...I acted like I was going to steal a sweet kiss...but instead bit his bottom lip...hard.