A.N/ Sorry for the long update --. I was sort of out of it this week.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
And thank you everyone that reviewed! Midnight-Miko66, mfpeach, tlml633, sakura5584, aznmelon, person, salenar, Flame Unicorn, The warmth of the Afterglow, xUchihaSakurax, Cherry-chan, dragonfly454, The Assassin of the Night, KiriKiri Mai, Earwen Telrunya, Arissa, Wolfs, hatefully, onigiri-kun. I love you all!
Not everyone voted but the results so far are
Itachi/Sakura 11
Sasuke/Sakura 3 (I'm surprised)
So this fic is goingto be Itachi/Sakura but I'll probably put in some Sasuk/Sakura moments, I'm not sure. I made this chapter longer than the other ones. So enjoy!
Phantom Thief
Chapter 4
"Okaa-san? Otou-san?" A 5-year-old Sakura peered into the dark room. Everything was silent. The pink haired girl gripped the edge of the door with anxiety. Stepping into the shadowed room, the girl took a tensive step forward.
"Okaa…san…?" Another step. The faint light entering the dark room cast off an eerie shadow and distorted the shapes in the room. The little girl took another step and looked at her parents.
Her innocent green eyes widened.
Two bodies lay on the bloody floor. Crimson blood was pooled on the ground and blood splattered the staring walls of the room.
Dead. They were dead.
A scream pierced through the room.
Blood…blood…so much blood…
Viridian eyes snapped open and Sakura bolted up from the soft sheets that surrounded her. Cold sweat broke out on her brow. She put a hand to her racing her heart and concentrated to slow her quickened pulse. Her mind was still plagued with the bloody images of her parents' death.
Murdered. Her parents were murdered. If only I were stronger back then…
Sakura clutched the cream colored sheets that covered her.
Wait…sheets…?
Feeling the silky texture of the bed sheets, Sakura took in her environment with amazement.
Wow…
To say she was impressed would have been an understatement. The luxurious king-sized bed was only part of it. The dark cheery word furnishing and cream-colored bed set in the huge room definitely gave of the impression of a royal castle.
So this is what it feels like to be royal.
Images of last night flashed in her mind. She remembered now. Trying to get the heirloom. Itachi's body pressed against hers. His husky voice. Blacking out.
Those Sharingan eyes.
Sakura assumed it was the sharingan that made her unconscious and triggered her childhood memories. Quietly, she stretched her sore muscles and lifted the silky bed sheets away from her body.
Now for an escape plan.
Instinctively her hands went to her kunai pouch, but her fingers only met air. Looking down at her attire, she realized she was only wearing a skimpy white nightgown, which in her opinion, revealed way too much skin.
Her face paled, no, no NO…he wouldn't have…
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Itachi sighed and checked the clock that hung on the opposite wall of his office. 2:40. His meeting didn't begin until 3:15. Nonchalantly pushing his paperwork aside, his thoughts went back to a certain thief. He had been plagued with thoughts of the pink-haired woman lately, much to his disdain.
He smirked as he wondered about her reaction to her change of clothes. Standing up, Itachi made his way out of the office door.
Time to visit the Cherry Blossom.
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Sakura went from shocked to angry. Very angry.
That BASTARD! He thinks he can just knock us out and then change us? That idiotic closet pervert! When he comes here, I'd like to give him a piece of my mind! Shannaro! Inner Sakura ranted on, giving random punches as if to imagine beating up a certain Uchiha.
Outside Sakura was also fuming. How dare he! She was just about to throw a lamp at the door when, coincidently, the door opened to reveal Itachi.
Perfect.
Using all her strength, Sakura picked up the lamp and aimed it at the smirking raven head. Itachi dodged the lamp as if it were a pebble.
"You do realize you're going to pay for that, right?" His silky voice hinted mock amusement.
"You bastard!" Sakura marched up to Itachi and got into a slapping position, but he caught her hand.
"Are you sure you should be doing that…with this?" Itachi's fingers traced up her arm until it touched her bandaged wound. He gingerly rubbed it, causing Sakura to wince at the stinging pain.
That kunai wound…
The odd sensation she felt came as Itachi's warm hand rubbed sensual circles on the wound. Realization hit her as she snatched her arm back as if she'd been stung. Automatically, her reflexes brought her leg to kick him at the side. He easily caught it and smirked.
"Not feeling so well to fight?" He was mocking her again, that bastard…
"You're lucky I don't have a kunai on me or your handsome face would be bloody with cuts." Sakura growled.
"Oh, so you actually admit me as being handsome?" Itachi's velvet voice sounded next to her ear. He was now leaning toward Sakura, making her bump into the back wall.
Why am I bumping into so many walls lately?
Itachi's hot breath on her exposed skin made Sakura lightly flush. With his palms pressed to the wall at the sides of her head and body pressed forward, he had Sakura pinned to the wall. His raven-colored hair brushed across her cheek, like strands of black silk.
Oh so you actually admit me as being handsome?
Her hands quickly went to Itachi's chest to push him away. His hard chest muscles felt warm under her hands.
"Itachi, please…"
"You haven't answered my question yet," came the murmured answer.
Sakura went red.
"T-that is…uh…I d-didn't mean to say that!"
Itachi chuckled and leaned closer. His head rested at the crook of her neck, his silk strands tickling her ivory skin. For a second, Sakura almost thought he was going to kiss her.
"Come in…Sasuke."
Confused, Sakura looked up at the door to see a scowling Sasuke.
"They're here." Annoyance showed through his words.
"Aa."
Letting go of Sakura, Itachi made his way to the door. Sakura blinked and then frowned.
"Just where do you think you're going, you perv –
"If you're wondering who changed you, my maid did."
God, she hated that smirk!
"Take a shower and dress…there are clothes in the drawer behind you."
Sakura looked at the huge bathroom behind her and tuned back at Itachi, but he was already gone.
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"Nii-san…you didn't forget about the meeting did you?" Sasuke glanced at his older brother suspiciously.
"No, I was merely…distracted," the elder Uchiha replied coolly.
Distracted? Who was that girl back there anyway?
" And I believe that it is none of you business." Itachi's cold tone almost made Sasuke flinch.
They walked into a huge meeting room. Several other important business leaders and the city elder were seated among the long desk. As soon as the two Uchihas walked in, everyone's eyes turned toward the two.
Finally, the head elder spoke, "Ah, Itachi-san, Sasuke-san, we have been expecting you."
Itachi gave a curt nod and his crimson eyes traveled around the room, sizing everyone up. Moving toward the end of the table, he took an empty seat.
" I apologize for being tardy," Itachi's soft monotone voice rang out. He sat down on the empty chair. Sasuke grunted in agreement as he took his own seat.
After a few moments of silence, the elder coughed, as if to lighten up the heavy atmosphere. "Since you are now here, Itachi-san, we'll begin."
"I'm sure you are aware of your father's wishes regarding the Uchiha Corporation and inheriting the mansion." Receiving no answer, the old man continued.
" To inherit both the business and the mansion, your father's will leaves specific details required for this inheritance. And if I heard correctly, none of the young woman at the ball held two days ago interested you…"
"Why not get straight to the point, and stop repeating the facts?" Itachi's cold voice held a dangerous tone.
Silence.
A few men exchanged glances. The old man began again, "We have decided on 3 months, Itachi-san. As you fathers will clearly states, he wants his eldest son to marry a decent young women and inherit the corporation when he turns 20. And you are 20 right now, am I correct?" the soft voice of the elder echoed through the quiet room. He looked at Itachi.
"3 months? If I am not mistaken, it takes about that much time to set up a decent wedding." Itachi's sharingan eyes narrowed, the three black commas slowly spinning.
Another man spoke, "Please don't be upset, Uchiha-san. We will handle the wedding arrangements as well as everything else. If you do no wish to be the next heir, Sasuke-san will inherit it when he comes of age."
"We will give you 3 months to choose a wife. In due time, we will come back to check on the progress. Meeting adjourned."
The men rose from their seats and filed out the door. Itachi and Sasuke remained in their seats. Once the room was empty of the visitors, Itachi wordlessly got up and walked toward the door. Sasuke followed suit. Arriving outside the meeting room, Itachi's cold voice ringed out, " I will be in my room. Do not disturb me." And without a further glance back, he retreated to his room. Sasuke watched his brother's retreating back for a while before stuffing his hands in his pockets and striding the other way.
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Sakura rubbed the white towel thoroughly through her pink pastels, drying the wet locks of hair. The shower had refreshed her and loosened some of her sore muscles. Tossing the used towel aside, she took the comb that laid on the bathroom countertop and absent-mindedly brushed her pink hair, loosening knots and smoothing her tresses.
She found the clothes easily enough. The silk cream-colored blouse and black business skirt definitely gave her a more ladylike appearance than her usually thief attire. What she found strange was that the two Uchihas would even own women apparel when there were obviously no other women dwelling in the huge mansion except the maid, which were strictly restricted to wearing the maid uniform only.
If you're wondering who changed you, my maid did.
Ever since Itachi had said that, she felt somewhat guilty for throwing the lamp and then attacking him. But not enough guilt to wound her pride and actually apologize.
He still deserved it, that pervert. Remembering the way he had pinned her to the wall, Sakura felt faintly disturbed by their closeness.
She sighed, I should get going.
The only reason why she hadn't exactly broke out the window to escape was her fatigue over the fight and the mention of a hot shower was more than indulging. Now that she had a fresh change of clothes (not that the black skirt was exactly practical) she was at least feeling better to get going.
Putting down the comb and exiting the bathroom, Sakura walked to her pack of weapons and her changed clothes. Slinging the pack over her shoulders, she slipped on her sandals and walked to the paned window. Just as she grabbed the edge of the sill to jump out, muscular arms wrapped around her waist.
"Leaving so soon?" Itachi's hot breath tickled her sensitive skin. Her instincts kicked up instantly, as she gripped the sill tighter and whipped out her leg to kick him in the abdomen. The arms left her waist instantly but a hand seized her ankle before she could jump. Pushing off the windowsill, Sakura used her temporary momentum to bring her free foot to kick at Itachi's side. Itachi expertly blocked her incoming kick and used his weight to bring them both to the floor. And Sakura, caught of balance by the sudden weight shift, incidentally ended up underneath the Uchiha. Left breathless, Sakura found herself gazing into the sharingan. Taking notice of their awkward position, Sakura blushed.
" C-could you get off?" Itachi's weight pressed Sakura small frame flat on the floor.
He smirked and got up, offering a hand, which Sakura accepted. Not letting go of the hand, Itachi led her to the coffee table in the bedroom.
"I'll let you go, but first I have something to say. And promise not to attack again?" His amused voice made Sakura roll her eyes. After two unsuccessful attempt, next time she would make sure he wasn't anywhere near her when she made her next move.
"Fine."
Itachi sat in an armchair, gesturing for her to sit in the opposite chair across the coffee table. As Sakura made herself comfortable, a maid brought in two glasses of red wine, both set on an elaborate silver tray. Itachi lifted his glass, while Sakura clumsily copies his actions. She had never had anything fancier than takeout most of the time, much less red wine in a mansion. Taking a sip of the bitter beverage, Sakura felt Itachi's intense stare on her. Before she could say something rude to the poker-faced man, Itachi's soft tone reached her ears.
"You currently have no place to stay."
It sounded more like a statement, though it meant to be a question. Sakura visibly flinched, the sudden remark affecting her more than she thought. For her whole life after her parents were murdered, Sakura lived in a small apartment, mostly paid by her thievery money. But half of the value stolen usually went to her greedy boss.
"What of it?" Sakura replied in an equally cool voice, eying the Uchiha suspiciously.
" I am merely suggesting that you are welcomed to stay here…if you would like to." Itachi sipped his wine casually, as if allowing her to stay was nothing at all.
His suggestion surprised her. Now that she thinks about it, her boss wouldn't mind her quitting; after all, thieves were mostly mercenaries and came and went as often as the seasons changed. But she was a thief! One that tried to steal their priceless heirloom!
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "What's the catch?" As much as she tried, she couldn't keep the suspicion from her voice.
Itachi close his eyes for a moment and then lifted his gaze and stared right into Sakura's emerald orbs.
"That you would pretend to be my wife."
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A cliffhanger! Aren't I evil? jk Anyway forgive me if this chapter sucked. -- I'm kinda making this along as I go. nervous laughter
First up, some reviewers asked if Sasuke knew about Sakura. Sasuke didn't know that Sakura was a thief nor was he aware of the fight. >> He was only aware of her when he saw her with Itachi in the bedroom but didn't recognize her. Sorry if I confused you!
And also when I was writing Sakura's "memory" I realized it was alot like when Sasuke's parents were murdered. -- Sorry if you didn't like that and forgive me for any cliches I might have done.
When Sakura said that the sharingan must have triggered her memories, it did not mean that Itachi used Tsukiyomi to "torture" her. He used mangekyo sharingan to make her unconscious. I'm not really well informed in Itachi'smangekyo sharingan soI'm sorry if this dosen't make sense >.
Note: If this story is on your alert or favorite list, please please review. I really like to know that people are interestedenough to drop a review. SoI want tothank all my reviewers again and especially those who reviewed every chapter!
Please read and review! Remember the more reviews the sooner the updates!
-Natsu Yukili