Chapter Five
"So, you and Itachi?" Temari wiggled her eyebrows, sipping her drink. The two of them sat at bar top table. Temari was leaning in since the bar was full of patrons.
"I don't know what you are insinuating there Temari." Sakura put her drink down and grabbed some trail mix that was on the table.
Temari copied Sakura and spoke. "You haven't seen how he looks at you? He looks like a man in love or longing for a love."
"I am with Sasuke Temari."
"And I am worried that being with him hasn't been what you wanted. Shikamaru is even worried about the two of you." Temari put some of the trail mix she was holding into her mouth.
Sakura played with hers in her hand. What has Shikamaru told her? She asked her inner self.
"Shikamaru told me that you were happier when he was gone. Like you were with someone that you kept hidden from everyone." Temari shared with her.
"I spoke out loud, didn't I?" Sakura asked finally putting some of that trail mix in her mouth.
"You did." Temari leaned further in and asked. "Now tell me how you are really doing with your relationship? I could always set you up with Gaara. He is getting to that age that he needs a wife."
Sakura shook her head and sipped her drink before she spoke. "Thanks for the offer but no. As for my relationship with Sasuke I guess I could label it as simple."
"Why is it 'simple'?"
Sighing Sakura went into detail about how the two of them would meet up for a date once or twice a month following with sex on those date nights. She added how he was never there the next day, leaving a note and flower. Adding more about how he would order for her, won't acknowledge her in public. Like he was embarrassed to be seen with her. The only time he would see her besides the dates was when Naruto would invite them on an outing with just the three of them.
Temari sat there processing what Sakura shared with her. A waitress walked by and Temari waved them over to order another drink. When the waitress walked away, still in thought, she wasn't saying anything. When the waitress come back Temari finally spoke. "He is using you as a call girl."
"No, he is not." Sakura started to defend him. Though she knew that Temari was right.
"Ok then let's put it this way. The guy you were with when Sasuke left what was the relationship like?"
"Are we comparing the two?"
"Yes."
I have a bad feeling about this. Sakura thought before she spoke. "When I with the other guy I felt like I was important, the center of his universe. However, we did keep it a secret from everyone. But with Sasuke, things are simple and…"
"You feel that you are not the center of his universe." Temari finished for her. "How about the sex between the two of them? Use one word to describe."
Taking a deep breath, Sakura closed her eyes. The image on one man came into mind, making her skin tingle. "Sasuke it is simple. With him, magical."
With a satisfied grin, Temari said. "Then you have your answer."
She hated that Temari was right but what she didn't know if she wanted to give her heart that chance again with him knowing that it may break once more.
{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}
Sakura got back to the hotel late. She did send him a message that she was on her way like she promised, but he never replied. She prayed that he wasn't waiting up for her upon entering.
Thanking the gods, she found Itachi sound asleep on the couch. The notebooks opened on the coffee table. Sakura walked over the notebooks and closed them. Then she walked over to the linen closet to grab a blanket. She covered him up before to turned in for the night. Once she was dress in her over size shirt she slipped under the covers. Willing herself to sleep was easier said than done.
The conversation between her and Temari continued to play in her mind. Soon her eyelids closed, and she drifted off to dream land. Only it didn't feel like a dream.
She was back in her apartment, returning from work. The smell of something delicious was being made. Making her way in to see who was there, even though she knew, Sakura spotted a tale male with long black hair cooking. Dropping her bag into one of the bar stools, she walked up to him and put her arms around him. Hugging him from the back. He paused his cooking and placed one of his hands on hers. She closed her eyes, smelling the vanilla bourbon. His scent that was sweet but masculine. She loved that scent of his.
The mysterious man told her to go and change while he finished up. She slowly let go of him and did what she was told. Leaving him only for a little bit felt like it was eternity. At least that was the feeling she felt every time. She wasted no time to change into her favorite shirt, his shirt, and a pair of her biker shorts. Walking back in to the kitchen, she saw him set the table and place the food. When he turned around all she could see was his chest. His face was a blur. Her mind start to play the guessing game on who this man was but deep down she knew who it was, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
She walked up to him and kissed him. She pulled away thanking him for the food when he pulled her back claiming her lips. She moaned when his tongue brushed against her lips asking to enter. Allowing access, she felt his hands lift her up onto the table, the meal that he worked on forgotten. Her hands roamed his chest, slipping under his shirt. He broke the kiss allowing her to take off his shirt. Right when he claimed her lips again there was a knock on her door. Pushing him away saying that someone was at the door, he told her to ignore it and that they would go away. The knocking continued and as much as she tried to ignore it, she couldn't. the knocking seemed to grow louder and louder. As she made her way to the door and opened it, blinding light shined through.
Sakura jolted awake and the knocking that she was hearing in her dream was the knocking on her room door. Swing the covers off her, Sakura made her way to the door to Itachi, shirtless, getting ready to knock once more.
"I am up." She told him with a tight smile. She was pissed. So pissed to be woken up from the steamy dream she was having. A dream that she was enjoying but realized she shouldn't. She blamed Temari for it.
"Good, I am making breakfast. We have a tour for the gardens in an hour." He told her mirroring her with a tight smile.
"I guess I will get dressed." She closed her door in his face, not caring about what expression he was wearing.
What am kidding, he doesn't show expressions. Taking a deep breath, she walked over to the closet and grabbed her outfit for the day and changed. She straightened her hair and applied simply make up for the grey slacks, and blazer with a teal dress t-shirt. Walking out of her room, Itachi was dressed in the same color as her only his shirt was black.
He was sitting at the table eating his breakfast. She made her way to a plate with food for her was waiting. Sitting down she grabbed her coffee and took a sip. She did her best to not look at him. The image of him shirtless kept playing on repeating. And the dream.
She felt herself blushing but willed it to stop by pushing the thought away, Sakura sat her coffee down and picked up her fork. "Thank you for making breakfast and I am sorry for snapping at you this morning." She took a bite of food.
"Thank you and you had the right to snap at me since I woke you up." He took the last bite of his food and then stood up taking his plate to the sink. He came back for his coffee mug to fill it back up. "I didn't hear you come in last night." He stated trying to make small talk.
She swallowed the bite she just took before she answered. "You were already asleep." Taking one more bite, she copied his actions, by standing up and taking her plate to the sink.
"You feel, ok?" he asked looking at her plate. She only ate half of her breakfast.
"Itachi I am feeling a 100%. Just in a rush to get to the gardens." She turned to give him a smile of reassurance. Even though her stomach was in knots about the dream and then his appearance this morning. She however would not admit that to him.
Finishing he coffee, he took her plate and pushed her aside to wash them before they left. She went off to gather her things. Sakura glanced back at him seeing his back and long black hair. It hint her on who was in the dream and who she knew all along.
Closing her eyes, she breathed in and out. If she was going to think of him that way, then she was in for a rude awakening. There wasn't in any way that she would fall for him again. He would never do that to hurt his brother. She would just have to find a way to distract herself from him so she wouldn't think or be around him.
"You ready?" Sakura opened her eyes, meeting with onyx ones. I am so going to hell for this.
"Yes I am." Clearing her throat. Itachi just stood there and looked at her. His expression, the ones she accused him of not having any, read that he wasn't convince. "Itachi, I am fine. I had to many drinks last night that's all. I am not going to missing going to the gardens today." She stood straight up doing her best to look at him in the eye.
He just nodded and moved to the door. Taking another deep breath, she prayed to whatever god was listening that she would survive the day with him.
{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}
His eyes were on her. She just knew he is watching her every move. Every time she would look back at him, he was looking away, but she knew. Oh, she definitely knew.
"Our Lord Kazekage personally helps when he has the time. In fact, over here is a garden that he took care of since the first day he came here for a tour." Her tour guide through the gardens drew her attention back to him. She smiled and looked around. Gaara currently out did himself with a hobby like this.
They continued to walk the path when they came up to a figure walking towards them. That figure was Lord Kazekage, Gaara.
"Lord Kazekage." The tour guide stammered out and bowed.
Sakura bowed her head and Itachi did the same. However, Gaara's sea glass eyes were on her. She could not help but stare back when she looked up to meet his gaze.
Gaara put a hand up, "I see you are giving Miss. Sakura here a tour." He stated when everyone stood up.
"Yes, Lord Kazekage. I was just sharing with Miss. Sakura about how you helped replenish the gardens and how yourself have you own." The guide stared, still stammering.
"You have a lot in common with Naruto Lord Gaara. He has started to take up on gardening, though I think its through Hinata's influence." Sakura spoke, taking a step towards Gaara.
Raising an eyebrow with curiosity he shared, "That is something that he forgot to mention to me when we last spoke on the phone." He glance over to her tour guide, "I will take Miss. Sakura on the rest of her tour through the gardens. I'm sure there are other waiting for their turn." Gaara lifted his right arm, offering it to Sakura.
She stepped up and lopped her arm with his. The guide bowed and left leaving Sakura and Itachi with Gaara.
"Shall we continue to explore?" he asked her.
"I would like that."
Leading the way, Gaara shared with her what his favorite flower, cacti, and how he can find peace while gardening. Sakura told him that is how she is when she is at the hospital.
"You find peace in a place where death and despair are present?" he asked when they turned a corner.
"I find peace when I am helping others. Sure, the death and despair is not ideal, but helping and figuring out how to cure them is what I am passionate about." He was the second person that she talked about the peace and passion she found in her work. The thought of him, she pushed aside. I can not be thinking about him right now. He is not important in my life anymore. She told her inner self.
"I guess doing that would bring you peace, knowing you are helping." He agreed stopping at a patch of cacti. "I am sure Sasuke is proud of you for what you do."
Something twisted in her heart when she heard him. "I am sure he is. He doesn't really show his emotions when I am around him."
"Is everything ok between the two of you? I don't mean to pry. Naruto mention something to me the other day when we were on the phone."
She looked at him and then away. For some reason she could feel Itachi's eyes. She was more aware of them when Gaara asked that question. "Yeah, we are fine. He is just away a lot for work." She looked back him giving him a smile. Even though deep down she knew they were not her true feelings.
"I see." He then turned to her with a serious looked in his eyes. "About Naruto's wedding, do you have a date?" he asked.
That caught her off guard. She didn't dare turn around to see Itachi's expression, though there wouldn't be. "I will if Sasuke isn't busy with work."
"And if he is busy, will you be my date?"
That took her by surprise. "That would be up to Sasuke if he is able to. However, if he doesn't, I will let you know. Though I wouldn't put your hopes up if I don't answer." Pulling her surprise to his question back, she gave him an honest answer. Though in truth she did not know if Sasuke was able to make it and if she a lone would have a date.
"Well i will hope for a yes then." They continued their walk, still linked at the arms. "What are your plans for lunch today?"
"I am meeting with the Lords and Ladies about opening up a few clinics within their villages."
"I guess we can have lunch or dinner another time this week."
"Dinner, tomorrow night." She suggested.
"Sounds good and maybe we can discuss how we can help Konoha with building the clinics. That is if the Lords and Ladies agree to what you propose to them."
"Sounds like a plan, Lord Kazekage."
{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}
She was exhausted when they arrived back to there room. Itachi said nothing to her and walked back out in workout gear. She didn't bother to ask him what was wrong. That wasn't her job anymore. So, she grabbed the plans and notes from that day's meeting and medical charts. Shizune was messaging her throughout the meeting about another patient of hers.
That evening Sakura worked and worked. Losing herself within and not pay attention to the time. When the sun had set, she was curled up on the couch with papers everywhere, but the time Itachi came back. She looked up at him and the back at what she was working on.
He disappeared into his room and then reappeared a few minutes later. He showered and that vanilla bourbon scent of his filled the small living room.
Damn him. She thought. Now how was she supposed to concentrate. She kept her eyes on the papers, but that didn't stop her from glancing from the conner of her eye. Watching him, he was in the kitchen grabbing pots and pans. He opened the fridge and grabbed food. Sakura turned to see what he was making, but quickly looked away when he turned to face her.
"Do you want to help?" he asked her.
"Sure." She placed the papers she had on her lap on the coffee table. She stood up and stretch from sitting for a long period of time. "What do you want me to do?" she aske him when she entered.
"You could get the vegetables that I have out and start cutting them. "I am making a chicken stir fry." He told her pointing to the vegetables and then turned around to grab a cutting board and knife.
Handing it to her, Sakura took it. "Thanks." She set up the way she wanted things and then began after washing her hands.
They worked in silence, with the only noise was her chopping away on the vegetables and the sizzling of the chicken that he was working on. The silence wasn't awkward, no it was comfortable. Dong this with him reminded her of a time with someone that she once upon a time wanted to do this forever.
It will never happen. She told herself.
However, that memory seemed to have a mind of its own and when the knife went down, it didn't cut the vegetable but the tip of her finger.
Taking a deep breath, she put the knife a side and went to the sink to wash off the blood that was pooling. Taking her finger out of the water she sighed with relief that it wasn't deep. Turning the water off she turned around to find Itachi leaning against the island holding a band aid. Without a word he held out his hand and she placed her in his.
"So, the last time this happened you were lost in thought. May I ask what you are thinking about this time?" He asked.
"I rather not say." She said not looking at him.
"Then can I ask you about what you and the Kazekage were taking about?" the band aid was on, and he was still holding her hand.
"I am sure you already know what we were talking about." She countered pulling her hand away. His hand was still in mid air and then returned to his side.
He leaned in, pinning her against the sink, blocking her way from escape. "What answer are you going to give him?" he asked in a low whisper.
"About what?" she whispered back.
"Are you going to take him as your date to the wedding?"
"That all depends on Sasuke. If he doesn't go then I am going by myself."
She watched him get closer, his lips to be exact. The warmth of those lips were tempting to touch and feel again. She found herself moving toward him but then stopped. She place her hands up, shielding him away from her lips. A smirk played on his lips, and he leaned forward to kiss the finger she injured.
"Be careful next time, Sakura." Was all he said before turning way to add the vegetables to the chicken.
She stood there and cursed him. Cursed him because it was his fault for luring her towards him. His fault for wanting his touch and lips. Mad at herself for even waiting that, she excused herself to her room. He told her that he would let her know when dinner was done.
Closing the door behind her she realized that she was going to fall deep into a hole. A hole that she would find no exit.
{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}
Author's note:
Happy Monday everyone! This chapter was long, wasn't it? Have you figured out what happened between Itachi and Sakura yet? If not don't worry their story will come out in future chapters. I can not tell you which one because I have yet to figure that out lol. Any who hope you enjoy and see you next week. Thank you again for showing your support by following and favoriting the story. It means the world to me.
Choi Jiah
