Chapter Two
Sweat ran down his back as he lifted himself once more on the chin up bar. It was only eight in the morning, and he needed something do to push the nightmares away. The smell of burning flesh, the iron in blood, and the screams. Past four years he was able to suppress the nightmares but coming back to Konoha seemed to just bring it all back.
Itachi lowered himself down and grabbed a towel. Wiping the sweat off he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye. Kismae Hoshigaki, his partner when the assignments call for one.
"You are up rather early. Avoiding the parents? Or is it the nightmares again?" Kismae asked in a taunting tone. The one thing that Itachi disliked about Kismae, but since the two of the work well together he never said anything about his taunting.
"What can I do for you Kismae?" Itachi walked over to his bag and put his glasses on. He wanted to sigh in relief when the glasses were on, but he didn't want to sound weird in front of Kismae.
"The boss wants to see you for another assignment."
"Which boss?" he asked zipping up his bag and swinging it around to his shoulder.
"The main one, Yahiko. He is requesting you to be there now and not later."
So, Itachi opened his bag and grabbed his sweatshirt. He waved goodbye to Kismae and made his way to Yahiko's office while putting on his sweatshirt. He didn't question why Yahiko needed him. If he was to go on an assignment, Itachi never asked just accepted it. He learned for the last time when was told about the last one and promising a certain person he would be back in a month. That month lasted four years. He knew she wasn't going to wait. Hell, when he came back three weeks ago, he has yet to seek her out.
Reaching the office, he knocked once and then entered. Good thing he knocked first, Konan was in Yahiko's office. Itachi wasn't assuming that they were being intimate, but he learned the first time to always knock.
"Itachi glad you were able to be here as soon as you could though you could have showered before coming." Yahiko sat at the front of his desk and was handed a folder from Konan.
"Well, I was told it was an urgent matter." Itachi replied with a stoic face.
Tossing the folder towards Itachi, Yahiko points to it. "The Hokage needs you to protect a certain pink hair female. This year is rotation year and since Lady Tsunade is not able to make rounds to the other nations, she is sending her second right hand woman." Itachi opened the folder, and her photo was right there. Something in his heart yearned for her, but he fucked that up four years ago. "You leave tomorrow, and Tsunade wants to see you in her office later today."
"Are you sure it's only a month-long assignment?" Itachi asked scanning the document in the folder. "Last time you said a month it ended up four years." He closed the folder and held it against his side.
"I promise this is only a month long." Yahiko stood up and walked to his window behind his desk. "Your last assignment wasn't meant to last that long. They requested for you to stay long since you that good." He turned back to face Itachi. "They did send a request for you again when that assignment came to me. Be thankful that I told them no."
"Thank you, Yahiko." Was all Itachi said. He was thankful. That last assignment killed whatever he change he had with the certain pink hair woman. All because the daughter of that family he worked for didn't know the word sharing.
"Since you are so grateful you can leave and please shower before you meet with the Hokage. You are the face of this company." Yahiko stated.
"No, you, Konan, and Nagato are the face of the company, I just work for you." Itachi grabbed his gym bag, placing the folder inside.
"Not when you are my number one employee. You are requested more than the others. Hell, I am surprise Haiden is requested with his sick mind."
Itachi gave him a small smile. "I will see you when I come back." And with that, Itachi walked out to head home. The place he dreaded the most.
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Itachi made it home, being silent as a ninja. His mother was home, and he loved her, but not her nagging about settling down and having kids. He really needed to find a place of his own. He had enough money saved that he could do it. However, he never made a step towards it all because of his little brother.
He showered, changed, was packing his bag when his mother walked in.
"I didn't know you were home." She said in a way of greeting.
"I am only here for a little bit. I have a client to meet up with." Was all he said to her.
She walked in and sat on his bed. "Another assignment?" she asked.
"A month long. I was given reassurance that it would only be a month long." He didn't need to look at her to see the worry. He knew she worried every time he was gone on a long assignment or when her youngest was risking his life in the Police Force.
She put her hand on his, stopping him from packing. "I worry for you. Not when you are on the job, but for your mental state. I know coming back from the war was hard –"
"I'm sorry mother but I rather not talk about that right now." He said interrupting her before she finished. That was only one person that he could talk to about this stuff. When he thought he did four years ago.
"Alright, but please talk with someone. It doesn't have to be a licensed doctor, but a friend could work."
Only if she knew. He thought. "I will take that to mind. I, however, need to go and meet with my client."
His mother stood up and squeezed his hand, "You know I love you right?"
He nodded, not saying a word. She gave him a small smile and walked out of his room.
Itachi finished packing and place his bag on the floor, ready to go. He grabbed the folder and glanced over it once more. In the file it had a dress code so had all his business casual and two formal suits. The was also a list of where he and his client would be staying. Mostly apartments with access for laundry that was a plus. What was ever more a plus is that the apartments were two bedrooms. He knew that she would be more inclined to request another room if the apartments were only one bedroom.
With a sigh leaving his lips, his mind wonder to what she looked like before he left. Pink hair that had at least one or two hidden curls. Those jade eyes that were warm but could pierce anyone that irritated her. He only seen he do that to a blond friend of hers on multiple occasions. When his mind started to wonder to her body, he stopped himself.
You shouldn't be thinking about her that way. She is with your brother now. His mind whispered to him. Glancing over at the clock by his bed, it was close enough for him to head to the Red House. He knew that he would be seeing her face to face for the first time.
He took his time walking through the village, mainly preparing his emotions and mind when he would see her. A smile formed on his lips knowing he would be a victim to her piercing green eyes. Better that then her fist that he to witness towards her blond friend.
"Brother?" Itachi spotted to see who called after him. He knew it was Sasuke before turned around.
"Sasuke are you on the way to the station?" he asked in greeting.
"No, I am heading out on another assignment. Father has me working day and night."
"At least your able to keep busy. How long is this assignment this time?"
"A month. I'm to head out to another village, a small one on the border of the Land of Fire. I would share more but since it's an ongoing investigation…" Sasuke trailed off.
"You can't say anything. I get it, I have done assignments like that when I was serving in the Army."
Sasuke gave him a small smile. "Are you heading out on another assignment as well?" Sasuke asked.
Itachi nodded. "I am. In fact, I am heading to meet with my client."
"Well, I will let you go then." Before Itachi could say farewell, his little brother was off and already a distance away.
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Itachi looked at his watch and sighed. He was a little early, so he chose to take the stairs instead of the elevator. While he was taking his time, he let his mind wonder to the pink hair and piercing jade eyes. He was hoping she would give him those eyes; the thought excited him. When he arrived at the Hokage's door he stopped the hear if anyone was in there.
"You are my second next to Shizune. You have a way that makes others talk about anything. Shizune well she can be awkward when she talks with others." He heard Tsunade explained to whom he assumed was the certain pink hair woman. Taking a deep breath, readying himself for whatever those jade eyes would throw at him, he knocked on the door. "Good timing. Come in."
Itachi turned the door knob and walked in. he closed the door behind him before locking his onyx eyes with jade. A smirk tugged on his lips seeing the expression. Always an open book. He thought seeing shock, anger, sadness, and another feeling that he thought he would never see on her face after –.
"So, glade you could make it. I assume that Yahiko gave you all the information about what you need to do." Tsunade asked him, taking him away from his thoughts and looking at Sakura.
"He did and I read though the information. I am already packed and ready to go." He shared with her.
A smile played on Tsunade's lips. Sakura remained silent. "I requested you for this job since you know Sakura and that you are that good when protecting a client. Yahiko highly praised you when I called."
Itachi did his best not to roll his eyes. Yahiko loved to just butter up any cliental for the company. Especially when his name was brought up. He should ask Yahiko for extra pay if he was going to use his name.
"Alright let's sit down and discuss how the rotation of nations will go." Tsunade gestured to the round table and chairs in her office.
Itachi and Sakura followed Tsunade taking a seat across from one another. He could feel her eyes roaming over him seeing if it was really him. When he moved to look at her, she looked away.
"You will start with the Land of Wind. There you will meet with discuss with leaders from smaller villages and ask them what we could offer in support of the Kazekage. I am sure the land of Wind will want something in return. I am sure you Sakura will know what we can offer."
"Would that be medical supplies and some of our herbs for them to use?" Sakura asked to clarify.
"Yes. You will be staying there for a week and move on to the Land of Earth and pretty much the same deal what can you offer us, and we offer for you. So, Land of Wind, Land of Earth, then Land of Lighting, and the last one Land of Water."
"And we spend a week at each nation?" Sakura asked.
Tsunade stood up. "Yes, I suggest that you go home and pack Sakura, you leave tomorrow morning. The Kazekage will be expecting you in the evening."
"Lady Tsunade I am not done with my shift at the hospital. My shift ends at nine." Sakura explained, in a panic about her job. Itachi stood in by the door, arms crossed. He didn't like seeing the panic on her face.
"Shizune is covering for you so don't worry. Now that we are done you are dismissed." Tsunade waved them off.
Itachi stepped towards Sakura and brushed her hand. She jumped and glanced up at him. "Let's go." He whispered. Her shoulders dropped in defeat. He frowned at the sight. He hated seeing her like this.
What does it matter now, she is with my brother. It has and always be my brother. He thought to himself as he held the door for Sakura and followed her through the winding staircase.
When they reached the bottoms of the stair case, Sakura made a bee line for the entrance realizing who was walking with her. Itachi smirking catching up to her.
"If you are trying to run away you have to try harder than that." He teased her stepping in front of her.
"Sorry if it seemed like I was running away. I realized that I need to talk to Shizune about some patients before I head home." Smooth lie. He thought when she spoke.
"Well, I walked with you and once you are done, maybe we could stop and grab some coffee. Just to discuss our travels for the next month." He suggested and offered.
A sigh left her lips and her jade eyes disappeared when she closed them in deep thought. "It might take awhile if you wait, but if you are willing to then I won't stop you." She told him as she turned around and made her way to the hospital.
Feeling like a win, he followed her keeping his distance.
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At the hospital, Itachi leaned against the wall adjacent to her office where he watched her talk with Shizune. He liked watching her be animated as she spoke. When she was done, she walked Shizune to the door right when a young boy ran up to Sakura.
"Pink hair doctor will you marry me? Please say yes, because if you do you get to stay by my side."
Sakura knelt to his level and gave him a soft smile that Itachi's heart clinched. He remembered receiving those smiles once upon a time ago. "Naoki, I am sorry. I will be gone for a bit, but I will be back." She brushed his hair back to see his eyes.
Tears started to fall from Naoki's face. "But what if you don't come back and marry someone else. That will break Naoki's heart." He blubbered.
"Naoki, I promise that I will be back. Ms. Shizune will take great care of you until I return." She stood up and went back to her office grabbed something that Itachi could not make out. When she returned it was a stuff bunny. "How about you hang on to fluffy for me until I get back." She handed Naoki the bunny, and that young boy grabbed it from her.
"I will. Naoki promises." He declared wiping his eyes.
"Now head back to your room. When I get back, I will come straight here." With that she patted the boy on the head and Shizune took his hand, taking him back to his room.
Sakura watched as the boy was talking animatedly with Shizune. Itachi continued to watch seeing the soft smile of hers turn into a frown.
"The boy has two months to live. He has cancer and all the tests that have done along with everything else, there is nothing that I can do for him."
Itachi moved from the wall and stood in front of her. "I know you can do it. Don't give up." He spoke softly to her. "Should we get going then?" he asked her, trying to give her a distraction.
Sakura nodded and walked back into her office to gather her things.
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Author's note:
Alright here is chapter two. What do think happened to Itachi and Sakura in the past? Any hints? Also, I want to know if you guys would be ok with me sharing the music I listen to while I write. Some songs work with what I write, and some are what plays with no meaning. Let me know in the comments. I want to give everyone a shoutout for either following, liking the story so far, and commenting. It means so much to me. So, a huge thank you. Hope you have a good day or night. Hope you enjoy!
Choi Jiah
