Chapter Three

"I will meet you at the train station at eight. The train leaves at nine." Itachi told her before they left the coffee shop. The stop that held so many memories. For her and him. Those memories kept her up all night to where she was fully pack, apartment cleaned, dressed in casual business outfit. Black leggings, cream cami, and a cream yellow blazer. Her shoulder length hair was put into waves. Make up was simple and her other accessories were simple too.

She was dressed and ready at four in the morning. Sakura was going to change and redo everything. No, she was going to deal with it. However, from four to seven-thirty she was bored. Reading didn't help the time and the apartment was cleaned to where it was sparkling. She made a thank you note and placed some candy next to the note. The note and candy were for Ino, who told she would watch over her place until she came back.

After she wrote the note, she panicked realizing she needed to hide some of her things so Ino wouldn't find. Because Ino was the type of person that would snoop around to find dirty laundry and spread it around. Once she found a box with a certain person's name on it and the box with Sasuke's short notes, Sakura went to the hospital to hide them. By the time she was done with all that, it was time for her to leave.

Butterflies moved around her stomach. Why am acting like this? It is just Itachi that's all. Nothing new. I should not be acting this way. Her inner self thought. She battled with her inner self as she walked to the train station and when she arrived, any argument with her inner self stopped. He was here looking good as always. He was in jeans that seemed to fit him just right. A fitted t-shirt, gray, and a blazer jacket like hers, but black and less feminine. His hair was tied back like always. She watched hm glance at his watch with those strong muscles.

Are you an idiot?! Screamed her inner self. That pulled her back into reality as she made her way towards him.

"Looks like you bet me this time." She greeted him.

He looked up and gave her a smirk. "I figured I would arrive before you, so you didn't feel like you were late or early." He grabbed his bag and then hers. "You sure you have everything?" he asked glancing at her one bag.

"I only packed enough for a weeks' worth. In the file it said there would be laundry services for us to use." She explained to him.

He nodded in agreement and made his way to the car they were to settle in while they traveled to Sunagakure. He handed the tickets to stewardess and stepped in with Sakura not far behind. She followed him until he found their cabin. She watched him place their bags in the overhead compartment. Once that was done, he sat down. Sakura soon followed trying to calm her heart rate and emotions. She cursed those damn old feelings she developed for him and stat across him.

She put her purse on the other side of her and then pulled out reading material. A romance book and a medical book. Sakura could feel his eyes on her. She did her best to ignore him, but it only lasted a short while when she looked up at him, raising her eyebrows in question.

"Just seeing your reading material and thought how your taste in books have not changed in the all the years that I have known you." He stated looking away towards the window.

"We have a five-to-seven-hour train ride. I grabbed these from my office this morning." She mattered, embarrassed that he knew her so well.

"And why were you at the hospital this morning?" he asked.

"Ino is house sitting for me and this morning I woke up realizing that she likes to snoop around. So, I had a few things that I did not want her to see. That's how I ended up at the hospital this morning." She shared with him, trying her best to cover a yawn.

He leaned forward. "How long have you been up Sakura?"

Her eye landed on his lips, remembered how the felt on hers. "Um…since three this morning." She admitted and looked away. Sakura knew he was watching her. He was always watching her.

He stood up and opened one of the cabinet doors and pulled out a pillow and blanket. "Best to sleep now, or risk messing up when you meet with the Kazekage." He ordered her.

"Itachi I am fine if I get tired, I will sleep but I am not right now. So please just sit down." She was annoyed. He was always like this. Worrying about her at times that he didn't need to. She almost told him that he didn't need to take care her since he lost that right five years ago.

She heard him sigh and watched him take out a crossword. With nothing else to say, they settled into silence as the train started to move.

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"Sakura." She felt a warm gentle hand touch her shoulder. "Sakura." The owner to that gentle warm hand shock her. "Sakura." She opened her eyes locking with onyx ones. She smiled and then realized how close those eyes where. Sitting straight up, Sakura could feel a blush forming.

"How long have I been out?" she asked standing up. She took in the blanket that covered her. When did I fall asleep? She asked herself.

"You passed out right as we left the station. I don't think you got your book opened and you were sound asleep." She could feel his eyes on her as Sakura walked over to a mirror that was within the cabin. She looked at herself seeing that nothing was out of place just a few strands of hair. "May I ask why you didn't get sleep last night?" he questioned.

"I rather not say. For I want to keep the reason for myself." She cleaned out the eye crust and then looked at him.

His onyx eyes locked with hers daring her to keep staring and then drown within the depts of the darkness. "So, we are keeping secrets from one another." He stated not looking away.

Sakura not willing to back down. "I have the right to have one or two secrets of my own. That means that I am not sharing with you." She meant it. In the past she would share everything with him, but since he…

A knock broke the staring contest. Itachi stood up and opened the door, brushing past her in the small, short hallway within the cabin.

"Good evening, I just wanted to inform you that we will be arriving in Sunagakure in fifteen minutes. I would start gathering your belongings and be ready when we arrive." The stewardess shared with Itachi and the made her way down the row of cabin letting the other passengers about the arrival.

Sakura was on her side, folding the blanket that she knew he placed it on her while she slept. Those damn feelings started to emerge once more. She shoved them down when she placed the blanket nicely on the bench and packed her bag once more. She felt him walked back over to his side to do the same. Sakura was self-aware how close they were. Her skin tinged at the thought. She needed to step out and breath.

Standing up she told him she was going to the restroom and then be back. She was out the door before Itachi could offer to walk her there. Sakura stood out in the hallway, a distance away from their cabin. There she closed her eyes and breathed, reminding herself that what happened between them was in the past and that she was with Sasuke. His brother. But that didn't stop her heart.

"This will be a long non vacation with him." She muttered to herself.

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As the train slowed down upon arriving, Sakura made it back to the cabin without saying a word to him. When the train came to a stop, Sakura was out the door with him not to far behind. Once they were off the train, they were greeted by a few Council men. Sakura took and deep breath and walked right over to them, giving them a smile that could make anyone fall to their knees, well maybe just one.

"Welcome Sakura of Konoha, we are so happy that you are here to visit us this week." One council man said to her, extending a hand. She took it when the other one spoke. "We are here to greet you and take you to your lodgings. For tonight you have a reservation at one of the top restaurants here in Sunagakure and then you can relax for the evening. Tomorrow is when you will meet with the Kazekage at a welcome bruncheon."

She shook the other council man's hand and spoke. "Thank you. I look forward to experience everything that I can here in Sunagakure."

"Excellent. Now when you arrive at your lodgings there will be an itinerary for you to follow during the week." They shared with her as they loaded everything in a car and opened the door for her and Itachi.

"Thank you again." She thanked them once more before sliding into the car with Itachi not far behind.

The Council men jumped into the front and drove off. During the short drive, they shared with her about Friday evening how there will be a ball in honor of Sunagakure and Konoha being allies. Sakura shared how delighted she was, but she didn't truly care. She didn't like crowds and being in the center of attention. When she is in surgery the gallery is closed for any onlookers.

As the conversion drowned on and on, she felt something warm by her hand. Before she could remove her hand, Itachi's big hand wrap around hers and held it. A small smile appeared. I guess I will allow this just this once. She told herself.

When they arrived to where they would be staying for the week, the council men offered to walk them to the room, and Itachi polity declined saying that both were able to find it. Adding that they were exhausted from the day travel. With that the council men walked away saying to have a great evening.

Itachi walked up to the front desk where he checked them in and handed them the keys. The front desk directed them where the room was at. He thanked them and walked over to Sakura. He took her hand once more, and she didn't removed it as he led the way to their room. She started to remember how well her hand fit in his and then scolded herself for comparing him to Sasuke.

"If they gave us a one bed, I would sleep on the floor." He told her.

"No if they did, we can share the bed. I don't want you to be sore this whole trip because of their mistake." She told him.

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable."

"I am not taking no for an answer."

They stopped when they arrived at their door. Before Itachi put the key in, he looked at her. She was serious and when she was like this he didn't argue back.

When he turned the key, he let her step in first and then he followed. Sakura took in the room and was in awe. The room had a lot of spaces and at the center was a vase of desert flowers and the itinerary for the week. As she continued to look, she walked over to some doors. There she discovered that there was two bedrooms and one bathroom. Some part of her was disappointed about that, but she willed herself to not show in front of him.

"Looks like you will have a room to yourself." She told him walking back over to him to take her bag.

"I guess that is a good thing." He handed her bag and then disappeared to the room across the main floor.

Leaving her there alone, Sakura when into the other room and chose to get ready for that evening. The butterflies returned as she started to get ready. Pulling out a cami velvet navy blue dress. A simple thigh length dress. Suitable for a simple dinner. At least that is what she hoped.

She stepped out of her travel cloths and slipped the dress on. Then walking over to the mirror, the put her hair in a lose low bun, and reapplied her make up. Grabbing her black pumps and purse, Sakura made her way back to the main room.

Itachi was there waiting on the arm of the couch typing away on his phone. He traded his t-shirt with a grey dress shirt, and his jeans for navy blue slacks. He still wore his black blazer from early. He looked hot for lack of words that would not form within her mind. He put his phone away in his inside pocket of his blazer and then looked up at her.

"You can take a picture it last longer." He sarcastically told her.

She scrunch up her nose at him. "Well, you could do that same." She looked away from him as she balanced herself putting on her heels.

She heard him stand up and the felt him next to her. As if it was a normal thing for both, Sakura placed her hand on his chest as she put on the last heel. She felt his breathing stop. So, it seems like he is having the same effect as I am with him. Her inner self shared. She removed her hand and step away from him.

"Shall we go?" he asked, using his hand to lead the way. Saying nothing, Sakura walked towards the door with him right behind. Taking the elevator down, Itachi took his blazer and placed it on her shoulders.

"I really don't need this." She started to argue with him.

"It get colder here at night then it does back home." He argued back. So, she left it cursing herself for enjoying the warm of it and his scent, a vanilla bourbon. Sweet but with a demanding male scent to it.

They stayed silent as they descended to the main floor and the ride in the car service to the restaurant. The driver made a comment about how well the two of them looked and how they could pass for being a couple. Itachi just told the driver that he was just her body guard, and she was his client. That didn't stop the driver for wishful thinking.

When they arrived at the restaurant, they were seated in a private room. Something about that irritated Sakura. However, she kept her thoughts to herself as she was seated. The menus were handed out and they were left alone in the silence that seemed to fall on them like a cozy blanket.

By the time a waitress came by, she asked if they knew what they would like to drink. Itachi gestured to Sakura to order first. Ordering a red wine, she didn't care what kind since she liked most reds. Itachi said he would have the same. That right there still took her heart and breath away. When the waitress came back with the wine, she took their orders. Again, Itachi allowed her to go first and then he ordered.

Once they were alone Sakura broke the silence. "You still amaze me when you let me take charge and order what I want." She grabbed her glass and sipped her wine.

"I take it Sasuke still ordered things for you?" he asked.

"And always asks for privacy. I like being around others. People watching is fun to do." She explained to him. He already knew this, but refreshing his mind seemed to be something she wanted to do.

Taking a sip of his wine his eyes looked around the room. "If I remember correctly you like to people watch and come up with stories about them. Something that helps pass the time."

"It's still my favorite thing to do even daily. Sasuke doesn't understand that and thinks it is odd." She was looking down, taking a finger to trace the bottom of the wine glass.

"Then we will have to fit that in the already busy schedule." That earned him a smile.

Silence took over once again. When the food arrived, they ate in silence and when they finished, the silence continued all they way back to their room. She gave him his blazer back and wished him a good night before disappearing into her room. He repeated the action.

Sakura changed into an oversize shirt and shorts after she clean her make up off and hung her dress up. She took the time to take things out and make the room hers for the week. When she finished that, she grabbed some files of some cases that she was working on, taking them to small table within her room. She wasn't ready to sleep yet, so she use that time she was awake to browse through them.

Time went by and when she felt he eyes grow heavy, she stood up and made her way to the bed when she heard noise outside her room. Seeming wide awake, Sakura made her way to her door and opened it.

Itachi was leaning against her door and fell back when the door was opened.

"Another nightmare?" She asked, squatting down to his level.

"You guessed it." He muttered.

"Notebook?"

"Filled out. Haven't had the time to get another one." He admitted.

Standing up with a sigh leaving her lips. "Then for tonight you can stay in here with me, but before the brunch we stop at a store where you get another notebook." She reached a hand towards him. He took it and with the strength she had, helped him up on his feet.

She let go of his hand and went straight to the bed. He waited until she was in and settled before he made his way to do the same. Something about this felt familiar for both. Sakura reach back with her hand and on que he took it.

When Itachi had nightmares about war the notebook helped. When the nightmares were to the point the notebook didn't work. Only human touch calmed him down enough to sleep.

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Authors note:

This chapter was long to write but I was surprised how quickly it came together. Believe or not, I had a dream about Itachi sleeping next to Sakura because of his nightmares. I'm sure some of you probably figured it out about their past. As much as I want to share it right way, I don't want to rush it. I know that I said I would post once a week but since I posted yesterday, I thought way not considering with the upcoming holiday season. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. It may seem like it was dragging in some areas, but this is how it all played out. As always, a huge shout out to those who have followed and added this story as a favorite, and the comments. I as a write love see what my readers say about my stories. Even if it is just to let me know about my writing style and what I need to change about it. I have grown over the years to improve my writing style, but I know that I have room for improvement. Any who hope you all, those who may or may not celebrate. If you do have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Choi Jiah