Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!
Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.
Character age:
Akane, Itachi: 22
Naruto, Sasuke: 16/17
Shisui: 25
Kakashi: 30
I put my kunai down and stared at Kakashi, who was still slightly scared. I just wanted to examine his sharingan...from up close.
"It will be better if there's someone to use it," he repeated, still making sure to leaving a safety distance between us. I sighed, locks of auburn-ish brown hair flying. "How long is that mission supposed to be anyway?"
"I don't know. Thinking about it, I'm surprised you weren't sent there."
"Tsunade-sama gave me some days off to wrap my head around the news," he explained casually. "So, Kamui."
"If you're using it and opening a rift, then in theory there shouldn't be any problem if I have a marker. The issue lies with the dimension Kamui created for itself. It makes it harder for the Hiraishin to be stable."
"If you can't enter the Kamui dimension, then can't you find a way to seal him in our dimension?" I blinked at Kakashi. He blinked back.
"The total opposite of the Hiraishin, useless for most people but perfect to face him and his annoying intangibility. That's…" I was muttering things under my breath, staring at Kakashi but my right hand scribbling already. Kakashit shot it a look and shook his head, exasperated. "You take the dimensional part of the formula and reverse it or modify it to anchor it in here and not…"
When I raised my head from my notes later, Kakashi was nowhere to be seen, his coffee mug already washed and drying and the sun was setting. I pinched the bridge of my nose and leaned back on my chair, stretching my legs under the table.
I needed to fix my 'fuinjutsu-freak' issue if I couldn't even see people leaving from the chair right in front of me. I stood up and went out to get some ramen at Ichiraku. I visited Mom quickly on the way back and went home with matcha and green tea cookies.
My evening was pretty calm. Before going to bed, I shot the dining table a look. A part of me wanted to continue, but I had Naru's and Itachi's nagging voices in my mind telling me not to. I listened to them and just went to bed.
When I woke up the next morning, a glare of the sun slipping through my blinds, I looked down at my waist. There was an arm around it, as well as around my chest, and a leg between mine. I smiled faintly and craned my neck, facing a deeply-asleep and obviously exhausted Itachi. He must have felt me moving because he tightened his hold on me with a quiet groan. I would have stayed in bed if it wasn't for Kakashi entering the building.
I untangled myself from my sleeping and cuddly boyfriend and slipped a shirt over my light camisole. I had shorts on so I went to the front door, opening it before Kakashi could knock. I showed him Itachi's shoes and put my finger on my lips.
"Everybody's fine," Kakashi said quietly as I started making breakfast.
When I got back from the Land of Wind, Itachi was even more thoughtful than usual. Honestly, the difference between his regular self and him letting his feelings in the open was so drastic but it was also cute, and I felt special so I was good with that. The thing was, I could at least make breakfast for him.
"Itachi would have woken me up if they weren't," I replied as quietly, watching the eggs cooking.
When Itachi walked in the room, yawning and scratching the back of his head, he stopped in his tracks when he noticed Kakashi and I talking on the couch. Kakashi raised his hand.
"Yo Itachi, slept well?" The Uchiha nodded, confused and I got up.
"Sit, I'll bring you your breakfast, we've eaten already."
"...sure…" When I put his food and tea in front of him, he shot me a questioning look. I just smiled at him and he looked away.
He wasn't planning on Kakashi being here. Kakashi noticed as well and snickered before getting up.
"Once the testing phase starts you know where to find me Akane, I doubt I can help you with the theory more than that." He went to the door. "See you later guys." Once the door was closed, Itachi pulled me on his lap.
"Sorry, I didn't think you'd come back during the night and it was planned for Kakashi to come." I kissed him on the lips, his arms tightening around my waist.
"What are you working on?"
"Counter Kamui." He raised a brow. "I won't go into details, but I knew Kakashi wasn't okay after I told him for Madara, so I went to check on him and then he came when he was ready." I kissed him on the cheek before getting up. "He brought up some interesting ideas."
"I noticed last night when I got home." I blinked when he said that.
"Oh shit." Itachi didn't even turn his head that I was hugging him from behind, my cheek on his temple.
"Akane?"
"Welcome home 'tachi." A smile graced his feature and he put his fork in my mouth.
"I'm home." I sat down in front of him and leaned my cheek in my hand.
"So, how was your mission?" He sighed.
"A success, even if Naruto…" I frowned. "If it wasn't for the girl in prison he would have died. He's angry Sasuke's in ANBU no…"
"Did you just say 'died'?" I repeated slowly. He stopped chewing.
"But he's fine now." My left eye twitched.
I died too and was fine now...no, I would just tell Naru I was glad he was back, not scream at him...he was a shinobi, it was a risk.
"Akane?" Itachi called me with a raised brow. I took a deep breath.
"I will not scream at him, I will not," I muttered under my breath. Itachi shook his head and went back to eating. I looked at the time and blinked. "I'm supposed to meet with Mikoto-san today, I should get ready."
"Why?"
"Planning Sasuke's birthday. Getting involved in that will look good to the Elders apparently, and Shisui wanted us to talk with Manami, remember? I think I'll do that today." Itachi visibly soured. "Still not better huh."
"You're going to the Compound then?" I nodded. "I'll come with you." I looked at him seriously. He just drank his tea. "I won't change my mind."
"It's daytime Itachi." He glared weakly at me. I sighed. "Fine Mom." I stood up and went to the bathroom to get ready.
Itachi didn't forget my crutches when we were about to leave. I took them with a roll of my eyes, which he didn't like and he frowned.
"If you want me to carry you throughout the village then…"
"Itachi, it's a sprained ankle, not a terminal disease!" He glared at me and I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Look, I get it that you're being overprotective right now because I tend to get myself in...bad situations but…" I sighed.
"So I should let you walk around without caring about your wound and make it worst?" he shot back bitterly.
"I'm not a defenseless woman!" I yelled at him. He widened his eyes and I bit my bottom lip. "I...I appreciate you being protective of me Itachi, I do but...you're overdoing it and I...I feel like you're seeing me as too weak to defend myself just because I was clumsy." Whatever anger there was in his eyes disappeared when he saw my upset gaze.
"I've never wanted to make you feel like I saw you as...weak Akane," he told me quietly.
"It's because it's your clan and I'm a target, that's all right?" He nodded. I gulped and nodded as well. "Okay, I can...handle that until this whole thing is over, just...when I need to breathe just let me do it." He gulped silently and nodded. "I'm not made of sugar Itachi."
"You're not using the phrase correctly." I stared sternly at him.
"Seriously?" He gave me a tentative smile. I shook my head and tiptoed to kiss him on the lips. His hands remained in his pockets but he returned my kiss a little shyly. "Hey, first fight, isn't that wonderful?" He looked away.
"I don't like fighting with you."
"I hope so, I'm just so lovable after all."
"Depends if we're on your good side or not."
"Yeah, well, the same goes to you, your bad side is very bad." He smirked a little and poked me in the forehead.
"Let's not make my mother wait." I followed him. He shot a curious look at my crutches and I shrugged.
"It's not a short walk, might take it easy." His smile was warm now.
Mikoto-san had tea ready when we got there. She embraced her son tightly, telling us Sasuke was still deep asleep in his room.
"So you mentioned two parties?" I asked her, Itachi away elsewhere in the house. She nodded.
"There is one you need to attend as his fiancee, it's...an official one in a way, with the Elders." I sighed.
"They're spying on us that much?" She looked down at the table, her cheek in her hand.
"They're really adamant on what a marriage between Sasuke and you would bring to the clan." Not the village, just the clan I guess. "We only have a year now to break off the engagement." I pursed my lips and looked down in thoughts, which she noticed. "Akane?" She dropped the '-chan', to my biggest pleasure. I shot the door a look and got up to close it.
"I...have a last resort solution to break it off," I admitted under my breath sitting back down in front of her. "I'd rather not use it though." Mikoto-san blinked and I sighed. "Recently, I've received a letter from Mei-sensei, the current Mizukage."
"Did something happen in Kiri?" I blinked.
"Oh no, it's going smoothly over there apparently, it's just...do you know the part I played when we threw our coup?"
"Fugaku told me about it, he said you reminded him of Minato." I blushed at the comment and rubbed the back of my head with a sheepish grin.
"I guess having your husband say this is a huge compliment, right?" She chuckled and nodded. "Anyway, the Council has been suggesting my name to take the lead once sensei would retire." She frowned.
"Didn't your sensei become the Mizukage only two years ago?"
"Yes but...she was pregnant." She widened her eyes. "It's not really known, so do not tell anyone but I replaced her during the end of her pregnancy. Since she became a mother, the Council thinks she won't stay the Mizukage for long to care for Fubuki...because it's well-known women can't be mothers and work at the same time after all," I muttered more quietly under my breath. Mikoto-san had an understanding look in her eyes. "Anyway, in her letter she told me they were planning on making it official and...officially choose me as the Rokudaime. They know that the engagement would be canceled immediately and then I'd be acting for peace between Konoha and Kiri as the Mizukage and member of the Uzumaki clan."
"There is a 'but', isn't it?" I nodded.
"I don't want the hat. I would have loved to be Mangetsu's advisor, but I just don't think a kunoichi who ran away from her village and hated it for so long would be a good pick to lead it yet...it would fix our engagement issue." I crossed my arms on the table and put my head between them. "I'm really not Kage material, but how am I supposed to refuse!?"
"Refusing such a job is not well-seen after all…" I banged my head against the table. "Now, I'm sure we'll figure something out before…" I raised my eyes to her, my forehead red. "My sons won't miss the target." I groaned.
"It's not funny!"
"I know, I know but look at the bright side Akane." I blinked at her. "Having you as the Mizukage when the Yuki clan was the first one to be decimated would put the past behind once and for all."
"Sasuke told you?"
"They both did. Kiri left quite the impression on both of them." I straightened up. "So, back to Sasuke's parties. One official and one with a smaller attendance with close family and his team only I think, minus Naruto who's away for training."
"He tasked me with giving Sasuke his gift. Where do you want to have them then?"
"I asked your mother, she's okay with having the intimate one at her place. We'll have the official one here, I'll open the fusumas. Now, I'll need for…" As we kept planning, Sasuke entered the kitchen, ruffling his hair and yawning. He blinked at me. "Morning honey."
"Morning Mother, nee-san." I just raised my hand. He groaned when he realized what we were doing. "Do I have to celebrate it this year?"
"Sasuke." His mother's warning tone just made him sigh but he didn't push it.
"Just find your happy place in your mind and nod," I told the teen. His back was to me, but I knew he rolled his eyes.
"Nii-san left for the clan's library."
"He spends a lot of time there," Mikoto-san commented.
Once Mikoto-san told me I could go, I got up. Sasuke called me once I had my shoes on my feet but told me it was nothing and left. I raised a brow. It was weird.
Anyway, I was barely out of the house that Shisui appeared in front of me. I blinked.
"Hey, I wanted to see you." He grinned, but...it was off.
"Yeah, why?"
"You...Manami?"
"Right! Heh, don't bother with that for now, you should rest your ankle." I looked down.
"It's almost completely fine though…"
"Almost is not fine Akane, you should go home." He was grinning, but his eyes were a whole other story. I pursed my lips.
"Alright, if you want to talk later then it's fine." I shot him a pointed look and he gulped before I left in an hiraishin.
I fell in my couch and crossed my hands behind my head. Shisui…
Did he finally notice something was wrong with his precious girlfriend?
"I'm home." Akane was slicing some carrots in the kitchen.
Itachi highly doubted he would ever get tired of having...a domestic life with her. He walked quietly behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, making her raise her head.
"I said I was home," he repeated in her ear.
"Sorry, I was...elsewhere. Welcome home." And hearing her say those words would always make his heart flutter, he just knew it.
He shot a look at the vegetables on the counter.
"What did they do to you?" he asked her, seeing how tiny the pieces were. He opted for leaning against the counter next to her, his arms crossed over his chest.
She sighed deeply, sticking the kitchen knife in the cutting board. The concerned look in her eyes was far too familiar by now, just like his need to make it disappear.
"I saw Shisui when I left your parents' house and he almost forced me to go home." She looked at him. "Maybe he's noticed something was wrong."
"Hn." She sighed.
He knew she was worried about his relationship with his cousin, but he didn't want her to get involved and feel guilty. The first thing that went through his mind when he discovered the truth was how his cousin and best friend was in love with the mother of his children, at least before.
Every Uchiha was possessive and he punched him before leaving furiously.
Of course since they became an unofficial official couple, he was more at ease. At the end of the day, Akane had chosen him and was in love with him and he'd be damned if he let her go. That was why when they got in a fight earlier he was wary of how upset she was. They got in fights before, but now every secrets were out in the open he didn't want to be on not speaking-term with her again. He loved and craved the intimacy too much.
For so long he had told himself he didn't need it but now he had it he got addicted way too quickly. Be it making love to her, which he'd make sure to do later in the evening, taking baths with her or just relaxing in silence with her, he was addicted like never before. Even when he was on his mission he couldn't wait to go home and slip in bed with her, her warm and soft body in his arms.
She just...seemed to belong there.
She shook her head, locks of auburn hair slipping from her low bun as she grabbed a few potatoes to slice them as well.
"I guess you still don't want to talk to him?" He almost sighed.
Shisui was still a sore subject for so many reasons.
"I don't see it going anywhere," he said, making her look down, "but I can try if you think there's something."
"Really?" He nodded and kissed her temple.
"I trust your instincts Akane." She blushed a little at the compliment. "But I doubt I can rely on him much for this."
"As long as we try...he knows the tension between all of us, especially you both but when it's over and he realizes everything...he won't be okay."
He certainly wouldn't be. While Itachi understood Shisui and his need to move on from a broken heart and just build a home of his own, he just...resented him for almost forgetting about all of them. He knew he wasn't really okay and tried already only to be met with his 'you're worrying too much Itachi', so he stopped.
He missed his best friend a lot. He just figured that waiting for Shisui to realize on his own and be there when it happens would be better than trying in vain. He had other things to take care of, like his brother's and Akane's engagement or the Akatsuki or the whole Uchiha issue.
In spite of everything, if she cared so much about knowing what was going on with Shisui, he'd give it a try.
"Itachi? You're staring." She had a smirk at the corner of her lips. He shook his head slowly.
"Sorry."
"Better now than in…" She blushed hard, stopping herself and he smirked.
"Well, like you told me before, be ugly and maybe I'll stop." They stared at each other until she went back to cooking, telling him to leave her sight.
Later, when they were eating, she stopped her chopsticks a few centimeters from her mouth.
"Itachi?" He raised his eyes from his rice.
"Hum? It's not burned like you thought."
"Oh, yeah I noticed, I was worrying for nothing, but thanks. No, earlier before I left your parents', Sasuke called me but said it was nothing. He seemed concerned by something though." Itachi looked at his fish in thoughts. "Did he tell you anything? He was so gloomy after the festival too."
"Maybe turning seventeen makes the whole situation between you two more and more real." She pursed her lips.
"I'll make him spill the beans at his birthday party." He shook his head faintly and frowned at a piece of fish before showing it to her.
"Actually, it's burned." She rolled her eyes.
"You've eaten worst during missions, deal with it."
There were...a lot of people. I pretended not to see Izumi hanging around Itachi, even if deep down it was pissing me off. I was stuck by Sasuke's side after all. As it was a pretty official party and the Uchiha clan was still traditional, I was wearing a beautiful black tomesode, the black fading to burgundy once it was bellow the waist in sparks. I had my hair tied in a bun and the kanzashi I received at the engagement ceremony was in it. Somehow, being surrounded by Uchihas made the fan on my back heavier than it usually was.
When I dragged Sasuke with me to talk to Shisui and Manami, I immediately noticed the awkwardness in the atmosphere and how Shisui...was nervous. I didn't make the conversation go any longer, especially with how Manami was cold and distant in spite of the fake smile marring her face.
Instead I followed Sasuke to the backyard when he decided to leave the attendance. The sun was setting beautifully, casting orange shades everywhere.
"What's on your mind?" He didn't even look at me, he just stared at the koi pond.
"Nothing."
"Yeah right." I joined him and crouched next to the pond. "I'm always scared of overfeeding fish like those."
"I'm not surprised." I glared weakly at him but blinked at his concerned frown. He sighed under my insistent stare and rubbed the back of his head. "It's stupid."
"Your feelings aren't stupid Sasuke." I stood up and turned toward him. I folded my arms over my chest.
"It's...nii-san and you...you're…" I blinked and blushed a little. I bit my bottom lip and checked if anyone was around.
When I couldn't feel anyone, I nodded. He looked down.
"Is it because of this?" I asked him, surprised. "I thought you…"
"It's not that in itself, it's just…" He turned his face toward me with a serious look. "You...you won't start seeing me only as his little brother, right?" I blinked once, then twice and hit him with the side of my hand on the head. "Aouch."
"If I fail at reminding it to you recently then I'm sorry, but the bond between us has nothing to do with Itachi. You're one of my best friends and I think of you as my little brother Sasuke, if anything I'm scared of losing this relationship if it doesn't work out with him." He seemed taken back before looking away after a few seconds.
"Oh." I shook my head and crossed the distance between us to wrap my arms around his chest.
"It was easier when you were smaller than me." He hugged me back. "You know I love you to pieces Sasuke, just like Naruto, never doubt that."
"Okay. Sorry nee-san." I grinned.
"No need to apologize, I'll remind it to you as much as necessary as long as I'm here."
"Uzumakis are so annoying…" I pinched his ribs and broke the hug.
"You're such a little fucker."
"Are you better?" We looked toward the house. Itachi was walking toward us quietly. Sasuke nodded.
"I was overthinking things, that's all." Itachi smiled softly at him and poked him in the forehead. Instinctively, I moved away from my boyfriend, who didn't miss it and raised a daring brow at me. "Sorry for worrying you both."
"It's nothing Sasuke," Itachi assured him. "But they want to know where the birthday boy and his fiancee went inside, who knows what they're imagining right now?"
"Like consuming the marriage bef...I'm going to puke," Sasuke stated, pale. I frowned, mildly offended even if I was disgusted as well. "I'm going back inside." He left swiftly, leaving Itachi and I together. He looked at my chest when we looked at each other, or more like the necklace he gifted me for Christmas. He smiled at that.
"You're wearing it." He seemed genuinely happy. I rocked on my feet back and forth.
"It's a good occasion, isn't it? Sasuke turning seventeen."
"It happens only once." I nodded and widened my eyes when his flashed red for a second.
He went back inside with a smirk, leaving me a blushing mess. He used his sharingan to send me in a genjutsu, kiss the life out of me and thank me that…
The other party went smoothly, Itachi trapping me against the door of the bathroom when I went there to have some attention.
The end of July was smooth overall, yet I couldn't help but having a deep feeling in my guts telling me it would come to an end soon.
Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Masaya Daiji and Shin Amon for the reviews! Fu is still very much alive for now, I'm still debating what I'll do with her.
Bye!
