Author's note: And the moment we've all been waiting for…
Citations: Completely Original.
Chapter's song: "Black Roses Red" by Alana Grace
Chapter 37
Black Roses Turned Red
Akina leaned on the rail of the gazebo, enjoying the soft wind whistling all so silently in the night air— Carrying the leaves of the park's trees onto the large pond. But then to her surprise, she felt another almost silent husky sound that she knew all too well. "…I thought you'd be here."
Emerald eyes turned to face him, holding onto her wavy hair and pulling it forward when the wind blew it around freely. "Itachi…" She addressed. Akina felt her heart speed up, but swallowed to smile. "What's up? You didn't need to follow me." She shrugged her shoulders, acting as if nothing was wrong.
"Why'd you leave?" He asked sternly, not buying her fake smile.
"Oh, I said I just needed some air. All that cooking in a hot kitchen."
"So… It wasn't about Izumi?" He cautiously approached.
"Why would it be because of Izumi? I'm happy for you both. Finally."
His eyes shifted downward. "…Izumi and I aren't together."
"But at the park…"
"I don't know how to say it…" He came to her side, looking out over the water. "How long have we been coming here, Akina?"
"He changed the subject…" She thought and then answered, "As far back as I remember… My mom would bring us here for picnics if your mom got a mission or anything."
"Yeah," His eyes brightened and he looked at her sincerely happy. "You're really starting to look more and more like her."
"Oh no," Akina embarrassingly petted her hair. "She was beautiful."
Itachi's eyes softly saddened and got serious. He slowly, but suddenly and gently took both her hands. A hot blush remained on his cheeks this entire time.
"So are you…" Itachi leaned in. Akina uncertain. "Can I kiss you?"
Her eyes barely nodded for Itachi to crash his lips to hers deeply. Akina's eyes opened wide in utter shock, her cheeks flushing red, but then closed her eyes surrendering to his warm and gentle lips clasped with hers.
He parted the kiss with a smile, hands still held, his face remaining close to hers as they both opened their eyes. Akina seen his soft smirk, her own expression breathtakingly confused. "W-what was that about?"
"I thought you were cute," He blushed with a grin. "Being modest about how pretty you are."
"W-what about Izumi?"
"I told you already that we're not together. I like you."
"Y-you like me?" Akina averted her eyes, in the way of simply closing them. "Me… Why me?"
"Because..." He mewed as he dug in his pant pocket. "With you by my side… I could change the world."
Akina watched him as he pulled a chain with three rings on it out of his pocket. Itachi placed and hooked it around his neck, and then holding his hand out to the girl with a matching necklace in hand.
She scanned his gentle hand— The creases in his palm were a perfect design, a strong yet gentle hand Akina could remember the feel of. "His gentle eyes and gentle touch… He can easily take down my guard."
She'd look up from his palm, out of her trance to be set in a new one as she gazed into his onyx eyes. "You… Got me a necklace?" Akina's soft ragged breath asked.
Itachi kept holding it, closing his sexy onyx stare to state, "If you want it… Want me?"
"I-Itachi…" Akina smile glowed at that moment. Shaking her head in disbelief, in a chuckle, in Itachi's agony for her answer. Akina then sobered her expression, eyes lowering, averting to then to have sexy green eyes go back to the Uchiha's. She was dead serious, that was sexy to Itachi, but then she smirked ever so silently, "About time. I like you, too."
Itachi's breath was taken away, until she glowed, smiling again. Itachi smiled, lowering the clasps and chain. Akina held her hair forward, the thick ebony flow of waves, turning around. Itachi stepping in close to her, as he knew what she wanted, bringing his hands out far in front of her neck, placing the necklace to lay on her collarbone.
Racing pit-pats of her heart sped up as his warm fingers against the nape of her cold neck, fiddling with the clasps until they were safely secure.
Akina turned slow and gracefully around to face him, Itachi still standing very close to her. "You have to change the world! I'm not going to be a distraction!"
He nodded.
"We are the same. You've been my only constant." He kissed her forehead and then laid his forehead on hers. "I'll never leave you, Akina."
She could feel his sincerity. She blushed and tears of joy crept out of the corners of her eyes. Itachi lifted his forehead off hers and wiped her tears with his calloused thumb. "I'll never leave you, Itachi."
"It's okay," He hugged her and she cried into his chest.
"What do you think Shisui and the others will think?" She murmured.
"He pressured me to confess my feelings for you."
"My clan's going to hate me even more now… I still don't listen to my own mind." She stated into the wind, as her and Itachi stood up straight gazing over the rail out into the starry sky.
Itachi then got the courage to ask, "You don't want to be the head of the clan, do you?" Akina closed her eyes, wandering her mind. "You just want to travel."
"I want what's best for my clan… Even if it means living in my Father's shadow."
"Well, I say you give the Clan to Benjiro when he comes home and I'll give the Uchiha to Sasuke…"
"Okay?" She raised her eyes to his.
"And you and me will retire from Anbu to travel around to every little town with a traditional tea shop." He proposed, sparking her free spirited heart.
"Wow…" She thought out loud and then became serious. "What about you becoming Hokage?"
"After traveling, we'll come back. Konoha will always be our home."
"Yeah," Akina agreed.
"Miyazaki… Would it be a pretty place to marry and raise children?" Itachi asked blankly.
Akina blushed, flustered, and surprised. "You're really getting ahead of yourself…"
"Okay. Sorry." He breathed.
"But I like that plan." Her eyes settled, hiding how awkward she felt. "The Hokage lives in the Hokage residence, though."
"If I become Hokage…" His words led him to another question that popped out. "So would you be, Mrs. Hokage?"
"Mm-hmm," She nodded. "Ask me again when we're older."
"I will," He smiled. "The second you turn sixteen."
"I-Itachi," she squealed in frustration as her blush rose. Akina lowered her chin slightly to her chest. "How are we gonna make this work? We're ninja, emotion is forbidden. It's written in the shinobi rulebook. Strictly in my clan."
"Now you're being hypocritical."
"How so?" Her eyes glared up from under her long eyelashes.
"A rose is a rose… Whether or not it has different color, right?"
"…Yeah."
"It's the same with people. A human is a human, whether it's of different color, religion, gender, or even being a shinobi. We're still human. And like roses, that all need water and sun to survive… People need love."
Akina sneered, "I don't believe love is an emotion someone automatically feels, it's something that grows, it's something someone has to master."
Itachi took a step close into Akina, tightening his hands in both of her hands. "We could master it together."
Akina was breath taken.
He was gentle, he wanted to be with her more than anything, they wanted to be together, leaning into each other for a gentle kiss. It then began pouring rain for them to part and look at the raindrops hit the lake.
"Let's make a run for it." Akina smirked up at Itachi. Itachi smiled playfully and nodded. Akina let out one deep shrieking chuckle as they raced out into the rain. Itachi grabbing her hand, running together for shelter.
Shisui's House
They ran to the front door soaking wet, giggling. Their clothes and hair dripping wet from the rain. They remained in the foyer, smiling at each other.
"I guess, I'll make the dash home." Itachi breathed.
"Be sure to get a warm bath or you'll get sick." Akina insisted in concern.
"Thanks for caring," He leaned in and Akina quickly locked her lips into his, Itachi surprised and turning red.
Akina pulled away, sensing Shisui's aura as he came towards the foyer. "You two a couple?"
They looked at each other and back at Shisui. Itachi nodded.
"Finally!" Shisui fist bumped Itachi. Akina blushed and eyes wandered to the dining table. "Congrats. You're not a coward, making Anbu and getting a girlfriend."
"Shisui," He scolded, embarrassed.
Akina giggled, as they went inside for dessert and to dry off.
