A/N: The link for Uchiha family tree for THIS story can be found in my bio.

Note: Remove all the space blanks and input the dots.

Chapter 9: dreams and reality collide

Maybe one day

we'll find the place

where

our dreams and reality

collide.

Unknown

Itachi had a pretty big family.

They had a running gag going on: half the seats at weddings were filled with Uchiha and their relatives. And when Shisui got married, the first brother to do so, the joke turned out to be true.

To be fair, everyone had big families. But not everyone liked it; not everyone chose to stick together even after leaving their family homes behind. Not everyone enjoyed spending time with them, all three generations cooped up in one place but he did.

He was seventeen when Shisui got married.

The venue was a floating dock decorated with white and purple flowers on the edge of a beautiful lake, rolling mountains in the backdrop, the sun setting as the couple took their vows. All the cousins were standing in solidarity at the makeshift altar, refusing to take seats. As the eldest and a unanimous favourite, as well as being the first brother to tie the knot, Shisui appeared both equally embarrassed and pleased by this display of affection.

"Anyone who marries an Uchiha," Granduncle Izuna would joke with Fujii Niko in the days coming up to the ceremony, "marries the whole lot of them."

As the Minister began the ceremony, Itachi instinctively turned towards where Izumi was in the crowd, sitting alongside her parents. She was looking particularly beautiful today in a pale pink dress, dark hair flowing down her back. It was easy enough to imagine how she would look in a white wedding gown and Itachi decided he liked it. He imagined standing across from her one day on a different floating dock, wearing a black tuxedo and exchanging lifetime promises.

Itachi had known Izumi since they were both in middle school but it was only when they entered high school that Itachi's mind took flight of the possibilities. He had started to enter into swimming competitions and Izumi always attended, every single one of them, cheering him on. She was there for every birthday, every family anniversary, every road trip. She was there when Itachi wanted to vent, wanted to cry, wanted to laugh. She was a constant, through and through, and what more could he possibly need?

He smiled at her and winked.

Izumi grinned back, radiant under the streaming sunlight.

The next one to tie the knot had been Naori, roughly a year and half later.

Again, the cousins stood in solidarity behind the bride – bridesmaids, all of them, except for Shisui who was the maid of honour – inside a beautiful church decorated with red roses. Itachi stood between a gangly, acne-ridden fifteen-year old Sasuke and shy little eight-year-old Inabi, the former periodically running a hand down his sparse facial hair. He looked ridiculous with the barely-there moustache but Sasuke had insisted on keeping it for whatever reason.

Not that Itachi could judge, mind you.

At the age of nineteen, he was the only one who had decided to grow out his hair to match Grandfather Madara, not because he wanted to look like him, but mostly because he thought it would make him look older than his age. Sasuke didn't hold back from telling him he looked stupid but Gaara liked it, and so did Naori, so Itachi decided to choose the path of selective hearing.

Besides, Izumi rather enjoyed shampooing the long locks whenever they were in the shower, so there's that.

Speaking of, Izumi hadn't been able to make it for this event due to her college classes. Which was fine, she was doing really well in studies, and Itachi supported it wholeheartedly. Just because he chose not to go for his further studies didn't mean he had any reason to feel bad when she did. They'd be meeting over spring break anyway and Itachi had even found a decent one bedroom for them, at least for the time being. Once they have enough savings, they can buy a bigger house, a proper one, like the one he grew up in; plenty of backyard, spacious rooms, maybe a swing set for the kids–

Slow down, sailor.

Right.

He hadn't even proposed yet. He wonders when the best time would be. Certainly not when she's in college, though. He can't be too selfish.

Itachi tunes back into the ceremony.

Ikeda Kaito had proposed Naori during their two year anniversary dinner date. From what he's heard, he did the classic ring-in-champagne charade before dropping down on one knee. As much as Itachi appreciates a good romance, he can safely admit that it was way too cliché even for his taste. That's not the way he would propose Izumi, that's for sure.

He'd pick the most unexpected moment, something she'd never see coming even in her wildest dreams.

Two months before the accident, Obito banged on his door in the middle of the night.

Itachi opened it, bleary-eyed and sleep deprived, dragging his blanket behind him. Upon squinting at Obito's expression, though, the fog lifted and he straightened up, alarmed.

"What's wrong?"

Obito was soaking wet, hair plastered to his head, clothes glued to his body. Still, it was hard not to notice the tear tracks running down his face. "She – she left me. Rin left me."

Itachi ushered him inside and handed him fresh clothes. For the first time, he felt like a big brother to someone who was three years older than he was. He made a steaming cup of hot chocolate, dropped a few marshmallows that he usually kept for Izumi's visits, and excused himself for a phone call.

Nearly an hour later, Shisui barrelled inside with Sasuke, Naori, and Temari in tow.

"The kids?" Obito said disdainfully, pointing at Sasuke and Temari. "Really, Shisui?"

Temari hit him over the head. "Says the guy who got dumped during his proposal."

"That has nothing to do with the fact that you two should be in bed for school tomorrow," Obito countered flatly.

"No wonder she left you," Sasuke commented, throwing himself on the sofa. "You're more worried about the kids than the fact that the love of your life refused to marry you."

"Shut up!" Obito aimed a pillow at Sasuke's head. It hit the mark.

Sasuke flung it back. "I mean it." He suddenly sat up straighter and looked expectantly at Itachi. "Can we tell him yet?"

Itachi glared in warning.

"Tell me what?"

"Nothing."

Obito leaned forward. "No, what is it? Tell me."

"It's nothing–"

"Is it about Rin?" he continued relentlessly. "Do you know something about her? Do you know why she said no?"

"Yes–" Sasuke began.

Itachi cut him off. "No–"

Sasuke stubbornly continued, "Yes, we think–"

"We think nothing–"

"Aniki–"

"Don't, Sasuke–"

Obito raised his voice. "Tell me what?"

Itachi turned to the eldest. Shisui looked like the only thing that was missing was the popcorn bowl and Naori was fiddling on her phone. "Seriously? Seriously?"

Shisui raised his hands in surrender. "Don't look at me. Sasuke messed it up–"

"I didn't mess it up," Sasuke said angrily. "You're all too chicken shit–"

"Pregnant lady here," Naori finally looked up, waving her hand dramatically over her flat stomach. "No cussing in front of the baby."

Sasuke stared incredulously. "You're five weeks pregnant. I highly doubt the precious future heir of Ikeda family has ears."

"You never know," she said, wide-eyed.

Temari rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on."

Obito stood up. "Tell me what?"

"SHUT UP, OBITO!"

"EXCUSE YOU, I WILL NOT–"

"Oh my god," Itachi groaned, covering his face with his hands. Why did he believe he ever liked them? "You're going to wake up my neighbours!"

Obito turned accusingly to him. "That's what you're worried about? I'm heartbroken, the love of my life has left me, and you're worried about the neighbour's sleep?"

"Is she hot?" Shisui asked excitedly.

Confused, Itachi asked, "What? Is who hot?"

"The neighbour, duh."

"He's dating, you stupid prick," Sasuke scolded since Itachi was too busy, what with his muted horror.

"Language! Pregnant lad–"

"It does not have ears!" Temari said in frustration.

"FOR THE LAST TIME, TELL ME WHAT!"

"SHE FREAKED US OUT, OKAY?" Sasuke yelled back.

The whole apartment went quiet. A prickly silence descended between them.

Obito stared in shock, then collapsed on the couch. Itachi realised the rest of them had risen to their feet sometime during their argument. None of them made a move to sit down, though; instead, they exchanged careful looks in a non-verbal, telepathic communication.

It was decided that since Sasuke was the one who broke the news to him, he would take up the mantle of seeing it through. But he looked chastised, finally, all of seventeen years old with experimental haircut and funky shoes.

So Itachi stepped forward, took a deep breath in. "What Sasuke meant was… she seemed – uh. Very sweet."

Obito looked up blankly. "What's wrong with that?"

Itachi swallowed. "Very sweet as in… unbelievably so."

It took a few moments for the implication to dawn on Obito. "Wait. You think – you think she was faking it?"

Itachi turned to Shisui expectantly but the stupid git only shrugged back. Well, that was freaking helpful. At least Sasuke had the decency to look apologetic, unlike Temari, who might as well had been holding up a large neon sign that read, You dug your own grave so sleep in it.

Naori was busy crooning to her stomach.

Uchiha Inabi's birth had been the most scandalous, until Yashamaru and Rai adopted an orphan and gave him Rai's family name.

But Itachi is getting ahead of himself.

Let's go back a little to the time when he was eleven years old.

Itachi still remembers the controlled happiness and horror on everyone's faces in the hospital. Apparently, Uncle Asahi had not bothered to wait until his official divorce from Aunt Kaori, Obito's mother, to consummate his relationship with Aunt Mei – or rather, he had not been careful enough with it.

And so, Inabi was technically born out of wedlock.

It had prompted the longest standing discussion and argument amongst the family regarding infidelity. Since Shisui and Naori were the only cousins who were somewhat closer to adulthood, they would attend these various quarrels and relay them back to the rest of them.

From what they heard, there were three factions:

The first one being of the opinion that Inabi should not be given the Uchiha name since Asahi had not legally married Mei until then. She should be christened as Terumi Inabi and must be left with the mother.

The second one was a more sympathizing group. They insisted that Inabi was as much part of the family as any of them, and who cares if Asahi was legally married or not, he was well on his way to get divorced, it was only a matter of time, and think about Obito, and wouldn't it be nice if he had a sister? Naori took offence in that, naturally, am I not enough, and the whole conversation went on a different tangent.

The third, smallest cluster insisted that it was none of their business. No one paid them any heed, though, and they faded away in the shadows, unheard and ignored.

Itachi sort of agreed with the second group.

Not that Naori wasn't enough, being the only Uchiha sister, but that Inabi was born to an Uchiha, and Uncle Asahi was technically getting divorced, so it truly was only a matter of time. But Obito was fourteen and in the midst of his own angst-filled teenage crisis. He despised both his parents for wanting to be divorced and hated his future stepmother, who also hated him back.

Terumi Mei was, in fact, extremely difficult to please. How Uncle Asahi ever managed to woo her has been a well-documented mystery.

Sometimes, Itachi was grateful his parents were so drama-free.

He didn't think he could handle it if everyone swooped down on his ass for something so moronic as infidelity. Not that Itachi would ever cheat, technical potential divorce or not, but he'd much rather have a fairy-tale romance with a set future, the Disney kind, harmless and sweet.

There was this fight once, a really big one, when Itachi was about to enter his first competition since his accident.

"It can barely even be called that," Itachi said angrily for what must have been the thousandth time. "Kakashi says I should start becoming accustomed to that environment again–"

Izumi cackled manically and continued to throw clothes in her bag haphazardly. "Oh, if Kakashi says so–"

"He's my coach!" Itachi said. He stubbornly plucked out the packed clothes and threw them back in the closet. "Of course, I'm going to listen to him! He's thinking of my best interest–"

She stopped dead in her tracks. He realised his mistake a second too late. There was thunder in her eyes when she pinned him on the spot. "And I'm not?"

He shut his own, curses mentally. "That's not what I meant."

A hollow, empty silence followed.

Then, she broke it, sounding furious. "This is what you always do, Itachi! You – you decide shit on your own and expect me to just go along with it. You decided to get back to swimming without giving a shit about what any of us felt–"

His eyes flew open. "How is that your business–"

She cut him off, raising her voice again. "You say you don't want to be selfish but you are! You're so fucking selfish! You never stop to think what you're putting me through as long as you get to swim! As long as you get your fame back! Your glory back! Flashing news, babe, it's over! You fucked shit up, okay? You messed it up and you need to accept it–"

"Don't say that–"

"Obito was right," she said ruthlessly. "Enrol in a couple of computer classes and get a fucking decent job. How do you expect to pay for a whole wedding, huh? Or is your family going to be paying for that? Because, seriously? We're fucking broke! Do you know where I work? A fucking dive bar, babe–"

"What is your point, Izumi–"

"My point is that you're living in a fantasy world! This is not like one of your goddamn movies, okay? This is real life! Your back is fucked and so is your swimming career. I don't know what the fuck you were thinking when you proposed–"

Itachi lurched forward in shock. "I was thinking that I love you!"

"Love doesn't pay the bills," she said, her rage visibly mounting. "You should have thought about this shit before you proposed! On my graduation day, nonetheless–"

Her words hit something deep in his chest, the tremors echoing throughout his body. "I thought–"

"Are you sure you thought?" she said through gritted teeth. "It was a special day, Itachi. It was my goddamn graduation and you had to be selfish, didn't you? You had to be selfish enough to steal the fucking limelight because how could you ever let someone else have their day? Oh, no, no, no. You had to make it about yourself–"

"Get out."

Izumi froze. Her mouth dropped and her eyes widened. Her brown eyes that Itachi always loved so much, were glassy with shock and anger and hurt. He could see his own reflection in them.

"What?" she croaked.

He steeled himself.

"Get out and never come back."

Sakura looks up at him. "Totally. As the man who successfully got engaged, any tips for me?"

Itachi has this insane urge to say, make sure he likes your proposal. Instead, he settles on, make sure he gets the tattoo right, because to be fair, ruining a classic Captain Jack Sparrow dialogue is blasphemy in itself.

He receives a jab under his ribs for that one. He returns the favour before going a step ahead and drinking from her pint. That will piss her off.

Not that Itachi wants to be punched for his efforts but he feels safe in the knowledge that Sakura cares about his swimming career and would not jeopardize it for the sake of revenge. Or that's just wishful thinking on his part.

When they're stripping down to get in the pool, Itachi makes the mistake of glancing at her.

He doesn't mean to. He's just sweeping his eyes across the pool and accidentally lands on her.

He already knows that she's begun her sessions with Naruto, posing nude as his latest model. Until this exact moment, though, he had never thought too much about it. Naruto had asked countless others of the same favour and it was just routine by now, part of Friday Family Trivia really.

And he doesn't stare. He just happens to look, just a fleeting glance, and his pulse thrums with adrenaline. It's not the same as looking at Konan in her bathing suit every day and not feel a damn thing because Konan was his friend. So is Sakura but nothing ever feels the same with her for some godforsaken reason, and it apparently includes bare skin, so much of it, shit –

Itachi dives and the world disappears.

He's buoyed gently, feeling at home, feeling as though all his mistakes are being washed off, absorbed into the water and leaving him squeaky clean. He feels cleansed and centred.

He doesn't know how long he stays but when his lungs begin to burn, he opens his eyes. Sakura is a few feet away, underwater, watching him curiously. Itachi isn't as distracted this time by her near nakedness.

She swims closer to him. He's strongly reminded of a jellyfish poking at questionable fauna to discern what the hell they're looking at. The image makes him want to laugh, which he can't, so he makes a vague gesture of wanting to breathe.

Once he resurfaces, he takes in big, deep gulps of air. At the same time, he's abruptly hit with hooting and hollering from Naruto and Ino in the distance, the answering laughter of Sasuke and Konan, and then he's diving back inside.

Sakura is two seconds behind him. She resurfaces long enough to inhale before joining him underwater.

This time, he has no idea what to do. Why is she with him, anyway? Doesn't she want to spend time with the rest of them, joking around and relentlessly teasing each other? She has no reason to stick with him when he's not even doing anything interesting in particular.

She hasn't tied her hair. Itachi unravels the bandage entirely from his hand and offers it. Sakura cocks her head to one side in question.

He motions at her to turn around. She does, so he bunches up her hair and wraps the white cloth around it securely. Suddenly, he's once again acutely aware of her being only in her bra and panties.

Thank fuck for that, at least.

Wait.

That's not–

What the fuck? He must have drank more than he realised. He shouldn't be in the water, if that's the case. Sakura swims a little away from him, which is a blessing, and so he makes a show of swimming in cartwheels as mindless entertainment. She starts to clap dramatically.

Which again makes him want to laugh, which he can't, and in that moment, that second, a thought crosses his mind, startlingly clear and ringing true down to his bones, this woman is going to be the death of him.

Haruno Sakura is a woman of her words, if nothing else.

Post her life-changing realisation while she swam naked around an equally naked Itachi, she goes on that date two days later. She's on time, dressed well, eager to be there.

There, meaning the local arcade.

Her date, Hayase, has wild dark hair and a boyish charm that somehow works for him. Initially, Sakura is on the fence about the whole thing, she hasn't been to the arcade – on a date, nonetheless – since she was… what? Fourteen?

She keeps her mouth shut, though. Gives him the benefit of the doubt.

Hayase doesn't disappoint. He's openly competitive, but not too much, and he doesn't treat Sakura as if she's made of glass. He's honest, straightforward, loves dogs, and works as a mechanic in a family-owned garage.

They spend over two hours at the arcade, goading each other on, betting on the outcome of each league, and somehow it ends up with loser pays for dinner. He loses.

Sakura gets to pick the place, though. She chooses a small diner on the edge of the highway.

All in all, it's a decent first date so when he kisses her at the end of it, asks if she'd like to meet again, Sakura's heart pounds in her chest, and she's quiet for a moment too long.

He doesn't ask twice.

The next date that she goes on is at the ice-skating rink.

This time, her date is a physicist, studying for her Ph.D. and downright cute. Sakura suggested the ice-skating because Hayase is a genius. An all-consuming activity before a meal? Perfect icebreaker. Yes, pun intended.

Jin has never ice-skated before. She holds onto Sakura's elbow the entire time, squealing and terrified, but doesn't complain, not even once. They slog through an hour of stumbling and by the end of their time, Jin has learned how to balance for seven whole seconds.

They decide to celebrate by visiting the bar across the street.

It's during this, that Sakura's phone beeps. She politely ignores it in favour of paying attention to Jin's topic of research – it's fascinating, to be fair – when her phone starts to ring.

"Sorry," she winces. "Is it okay if I quickly check?"

Jin waves the beer mug in the air. "Sure. No problem."

There are two texts from Naruto and one missed call from Konan. She opens the text messages.

Heyy! I think your group is on mute?

We're planning to go for dinner. Wanna join?

She quickly replies, On a date. Later.

"Sorry," she apologizes again to Jin, who has been patiently sipping at her drink. "My friends are going out for dinner. They wanted to know if I was free."

Jin purses her lips, her gaze flicking away. "Oh. In that case, shall we clear the bill?"

Sakura stares at her profile. She's got a cute button nose and pouty lips. She's smart as hell, too, which Sakura can always get on board with.

"Let me rephrase that," Sakura grins, clinking their glasses together. "I'm not going."

Jin blushes, pleased.

After her date, Sakura finally checks her phone once she's home, lying in her bed.

The group chat has exploded in her absence. Apparently, they ended up visiting Temari's bar again but Sai was there this time around. Karin has uploaded the photos of their evening so Sakura goes through them just for the kicks.

She comes across one of Itachi grinning widely, standing next to Ino. She has a drink in her hand but he's holding a glass of water with a tiny umbrella in it for decoration. It makes her insides turn to slush and she barely restrains from flinging her phone across the room, hating herself so much and liking him so much that both equally hurt.

Instead, she presses the lock button viciously and turns off the bedside lamp, burrowing herself in the cushions, willing her brain to sleep.

Because the thing is, is that her mind has taken fanciful flight.

Every free moment, and otherwise, Sakura finds herself imagining how it would be like to be with Itachi; to hold his hand, to hug him, to look at him openly, to be affectionate, to whisper sweet words in the silence of the night, tell him how handsome he is, how pure hearted and passionate he is, how much she wishes he could love her back –

She would show him the stars; drive them out on a clear night, the astronomy chart stuffed in the glove compartment, fruity drink in the cooler, the way he likes, and they'd point out all the constellations in the sky.

She would tell him about her parents, too. Her childhood. Not that her life had been all that exciting, nothing worth noting, really, but she thinks she'd like to tell him the mundane shit. My Dad loved anything and everything that was blue; my Mom crashed our car once to avoid running over the neighbour's cat; I had a stupid crush on the Bad Boy of our neighbourhood; I once dreamt of meeting Dalai Lama and ask him if he'd ever fly to Mars.

The fantasy world that she so treasured now feels like a prison of her own creation. The more she imagines herself with Itachi, the worse she feels. Loathes herself for even having such stupid ideas. If she keeps going at it, where does it stop? Until she receives the wedding invitation in mail? Or until Itachi makes his vows and they exchange rings? Until the next time she sees him kissing her?

How will it stop?

She doesn't know. Going on dates is good, healthy, but when Jin texts her two days later, Sakura stares at her screen, unable to respond.

A week into February, Sasuke announces he's quitting his job.

Sakura is just entering Naruto's studio for their planned session and finds them both kissing passionately. She pauses, hovers uncertainly, then clears her throat as loudly as possible. They jump apart and spin around, faces splitting into grins.

"What am I missing?"

"They want me to sign a contract!" Sasuke says excitedly. "Samui sent my portfolio to a few brands she knew might be interested and one of them contacted back!"

"Holy shit," Sakura rushes forward to hug him. "So this is it? You're officially a model?"

"I think so," he says.

"I'm so proud of you, babe," Naruto can't stop smiling. Sakura has never seen him so happy.

"Thank you," Sasuke says, pleased and delightedly flushed. He picks up his bag from the corner. "Anyway, I'll leave you guys to it. See you at home."

"Love you!"

Sasuke turns around at the door and smiles. "Love you, too."

Naruto hums as he begins to set up his easel with Sakura's canvas. Sakura takes that as her cue to get changed. She comes back out a couple of minutes later, wrapped in the robe. Naruto had told her that he's working on her hair now so there's no particular need to be completely naked. The only reason she's even changed her clothes is because prior experience has taught her never to listen to Naruto in these cases. He might suddenly want to get the curves of her hips right if it tickles his fancy.

Sakura settles in the chair.

Twenty or so minutes later, there's a loud knock on the door. She raises her eyebrows at Naruto who shrugs back.

"Come in!" he hollers over his shoulder without stopping.

The heavy door creaks open. Itachi's head appears through the crack as he peeks inside hesitantly, sees Sakura and Naruto, and steps inside properly. Sakura freezes in her seat before hastily looking down to make sure the robe is covering her properly.

Naruto seems unfazed. "What are you doing here?"

Itachi sheepishly approaches them. "Sasuke said he'd be here?"

"He left a bit ago," Naruto replies.

"Oh." He turns around halfway then spins back awkwardly. "Hey, Sakura."

Sakura unglues her tongue from the roof of her mouth. "Hey."

"Sorry," he says, eyes fluttering everywhere. He can't look at her directly. That's – wow, why does that hurt? "I didn't mean to intrude."

She swallows. Stiffly, she says, "That's fine."

Itachi still can't seem to pick a direction. He walks away from Naruto a few feet as if not wanting to disturb him – that, or he doesn't want to see the painting – and then shifts from foot to foot, studying the other portraits as if he's never been here.

Finally, he turns to Sakura again. "So, how are the dates going?"

Her elbow slips from her knee and the robe shifts. Quickly, she adjusts it even as Naruto makes a protesting noise. "They're – fine."

A slow smile crawls on his lips, devious and amused. "Just fine?"

"I – yeah."

"Need more tips?"

In spite of her reservations, she can't help but snigger. "Sure. Hit me."

Itachi walks a few steps closer. "For starters, play hard to get. Exhaust them so much that by the time they have you, they don't have any energy left to treat you badly."

She stares, nonplussed.

"Always, always," he continues, "let them pay. If it ends up being a terrible date, at least you'd have saved money."

He steps closer. "Show them around the hospital, especially the morgue. Once they realise you work around dead bodies, they'd think twice before going Norman Bates on you."

"Make them jealous," he cracks a grin. "That one's a classic. Make them so jealous that they'd stop leaving their house altogether. What does it mean for you?"

"More time with them," Sakura agrees, laughing helplessly. "That's some great advice, Itachi."

He bows dramatically. "You're welcome. Don't forget to thank me on your wedding day."

"You mean the secret wedding because I don't want my partner to make social contact with anyone outside of me?"

"Exactly. Except for me. I'm harmless."

"Right," she says. "So you, me, and my partner."

"And the Minister."

"And the Minister," she nods. "Imagine the expense. Feeding four people can be a nightmare."

"Now you're getting me."

"Now I'm getting you. I mean, of course, your wedding will probably be held in a mansion with doves flying in with the rings – but sure, I'm totally getting you."

"Don't be silly, Sakura," Itachi grins wider. "It'll be flamingos."

Then they're both laughing at themselves, eyes locked, and Sakura forgets she's actually naked under the robe and that Naruto is still drawing her. She only startles slightly when Naruto interrupts their stupid giggling.

"Are you planning to stay?" he directs the question at Itachi, like he's asking what meal Itachi wants to eat for dinner.

Itachi looks uncertainly between Sakura and him. "No. No, I have to get to work, anyway. You guys carry on."

"You're taking night shifts again?" Sakura asks in surprise. Wouldn't the competition money be enough to tide him over a little, compensate for the days that he's missed work? Or maybe Sakura has no idea how much they actually get paid for these positions.

"Yeah," Itachi nods, already making his way towards the door. "I figured saving up can't hurt. Can you imagine how expensive hiring flamingos might be?"

With that, he's gone.

In the sudden silence that follows, Sakura heaves a deep sigh, turning to gaze out at the stars through the high ceiling. She sort of wishes he were still here to talk to, instead.

Valentine's Day rolls around with cherry blossoms littering the streets.

It's too early in the season but not unwelcomed. The sunlight is powdered gold on the fallen petals, wind carrying the scent of earth and soil even to the deepest parts of the city. It's a beautiful setting, every inch romantic, and Naruto is over the moon when the high windows allow Sakura's pink hair to be lit in a halo.

Naruto has requested her not to wear the robe this time around. The sun is warm, though, which helps, and Sakura has obediently mussed up her hair as much as possible, the long locks uncombed and falling around her shoulders in a chaotic manner.

On their lunch break, Naruto suggests stepping out instead of ordering in. He says there's a small café ten minutes down the street where he always visits with Sasuke whenever the latter is around. Sakura agrees.

The place is packed. It's decorated with red and pink hearts, white balloons, and a special Valentine's placard greets them at the table. As soon as they sit down, their gazes are drawn towards the single rose that stands in a clear, thin glass in the middle of the table. Sakura's eyes meet his and they burst in peals of laughter.

"What would you like to eat, darling?" Naruto asks with saccharine sweetness, and somehow even though Sakura has heard him speak with Sasuke in that tone many times, with her, it sounds ridiculous and hilarious.

She bats her eyelashes in return, pretending to inspect the menu. "I'd love a Cupid's Arrow To My Heart. It sounds lovely."

"Excellent choice, dear," he says, sniffing the air arrogantly. "How about we share it now that we are to be sharing our whole lives together?"

The waitress chooses that moment to pop out of nowhere, cooing and congratulating them on their engagement. She looks expectantly at Sakura's left hand and her face drops, but Sakura quickly gushes enthusiastically how the ring is being fixed because silly him, he got the size wrong!

They get a free meal out of it and everything seems to be going great until someone recognizes Naruto and asks him where his partner is, eyeing Sakura suspiciously. Their earlier waitress helpfully tells him that they're engaged which turns out to be the wrong thing, naturally, because suddenly Naruto is the fashionable neighbourhood artist who's also a two-timing bastard.

Sakura is clutching at her stomach, almost tripping over her own feet, by how hard she's laughing on their way back.

Suddenly on their walk, Naruto grabs her elbow to stop her. "Stand here! Stand here! It's the perfect backdrop."

Sakura finds herself being manoeuvred in front of a large, drooping tree. "What? What's happening?"

He pulls out his phone and holds it up in explanation. Caught off guard and unprepared, she merely grins in the camera, loose and relaxed, laugher still dying from her face. When Naruto shows her the photo, she's taken aback by the pretty background.

Everything around her is pink, the same exact shade of her hair.

She wastes no time in posting the image on her social media profile. The caption reads, When your "fiancé" is an artist.

Soon, though, they return to working on the painting. Sakura keeps her phone back in her purse and doesn't check it until later that evening when Naruto decides to wrap up for the day.

"Any plans?" she asks, waiting behind him as he locks the studio.

Naruto grins at her, looking boyish in his excitement. "Sasuke said he's planned something for me. It's a surprise."

"That's cute."

"What about you?"

Sakura digs out the phone as they begin climbing down the staircase. Distractedly, she says, "Nothing, really. I think I'll be home watching… a… movie… what?"

"What?"

Her phone has exploded with notifications. She reads through them, confused, because people are commenting Congratulations way too many times on the earlier post. Once she clicks it open, though, she realises the reason: like an idiot, she had forgotten to put the air quotes for the word fiancé.

Abruptly, Naruto begins to laugh beside her. They step outside the building in the cooling breeze; the streetlights have flickered on.

"Why are you laughing?"

He shows her his phone. On the screen, their group chat is open and everyone seems to be losing their shit.

"Jesus Christ," she breathes.

Quickly, she pulls up the chat in her phone and ignores the pile up of messages. Not engaged. I repeat: NOT ENGAGED!

On a whim, she adds: feel free to come over if you don't have plans.

It would be better than being alone and watching a movie by herself. She's certain that the whole time, she'd probably imagine Itachi in the lead character's role or something equally pathetic.

She's just coming out of the shower when the doorbell rings.

Konan is standing on the other side, holding up two large bags and a grin. "What would you like? Margherita? Bloody Mary? Sex on the Beach? Itachi is waiting downstairs for the food delivery. Should be here in a couple of minutes."

Sakura's heart hammers. She steps aside to let her in. "Who else is coming?"

"No one. Everyone else has a date," Konan says. She walks over to the small table behind the couch and drops the bags.

"And Itachi doesn't?" Sakura asks dubiously.

Konan shrugs and awkwardly says, "He was supposed to visit Izumi but I think they got into a fight? I don't know. He wouldn't go into details. Anyway, is that Bill?"

Sakura nods and retreats to her bedroom. She combs her hair, puts on a thin layer of eyeliner, and a cherry red lip balm. Then she hates herself and removes the eyeliner. It would be weird when she's wearing a comfortable set of home clothes.

Itachi comes up a few minutes later, dressed similarly in sweatpants and a large T-shirt. He hugs Sakura in greeting and rattles off what he's ordered. "Works for you?"

"Yeah," she smiles tightly. "Want to watch a movie?"

Konan argues over the choices when Itachi declares he's going to mix a few drinks for them. Sakura is ready to bash her head in by the time she comes to an agreement with Konan and they pop the DVD in the player.

She ends up in the middle, squeezed on the couch between Konan and Itachi. All their eyes are glued to the screen as Matthew McConaughe is challenged by his co-workers to make a woman fall in love with him in ten days.

All hell breaks loose when Konan comments, twenty minutes in, "This is such a trash movie."

Sakura exchanges a horrified and more than a little offended look with Itachi. "Excuse me?" They both blurt out incredulously at the same time.

Konan is entirely unaffected. She's coolly sipping at her drink, still watching the screen, and says almost absently. "This is highly unrealistic. You've got to see that."

Sakura has a Christmas flashback. She speaks her next words carefully, "Konan… Have you watched Titanic, by any chance?"

"Nah," Konan says dismissively. "What about it?"

"Please, never do," Sakura tells her seriously, which makes Itachi snort on her other side.

Throughout the movie, though, they keep discussing random shit, like how Ino and Sai are out on a non-date, how Karin's latest dude is thankfully not secretly married, and Itachi casually informs them that Temari is on a date, as well, with one of Ino's friend.

Sakura waits to feel bad and feels nothing. She hates that, too.

Near the end, Itachi's phone begins to ring. It's stuffed between him and Sakura so she gets a clear view of the name on the screen. Itachi stares at it for a few moments before excusing himself. Sakura wordlessly points him towards her bedroom. He nods in thanks and leaves.

She sighs once he's gone. Miserably, she says, "Why are we alone?"

"I know why I'm alone," Konan says. "Why are you?"

"Why are you?"

She has this embarrassed look on her face and she avoids meeting Sakura's eyes. "I was hoping to be asked out by this man who frequents the pool. But he didn't and I became too tongue-tied to do it myself. Your turn."

Sakura decides to be honest. "I forgot how to date."

Konan laughs, half in sympathy, half in amusement. "Happens to the best of us."

Sakura takes in a dramatic inhale and says in her best imitation of posh British accent. "Tell me about this Pool-Out Man."

Konan falls into a fit of sniggers and laughter. "I beg you, never say that again."

"What? Pool-Out Man?"

"His name is Yahiko."

Sakura nods wisely. "Ah, Pool-Out Yahiko."

"I hate you," Konan declares, smothering Sakura with one of the pillows. "He's just a regular at the pool. Not a competitive swimmer like Itachi, though. And he's extremely handsome and has one of the best smiles I've encountered until now."

Itachi's raised voice reaches them, the words muffled by the shut door.

"That doesn't sound good," Sakura winces.

"Yeah, it doesn't," Konan sighs. "What was up with the fiancé caption, anyway?"

"I forgot the air quotes," Sakura defends herself with a huff.

Konan continues to tease her over it even as Sakura regales her afternoon adventures with Naruto, and halfway through, Itachi rejoins them. No one makes a comment on the obvious strain on his face. The movie credits roll on the screen so Sakura asks if they want to watch another.

They pop in I Love You, Man.

This time around, they're all sitting in a more relaxed manner. Konan is draped on the armrest on her side, knees pulled up sideways. Which means Sakura had to shuffle a little to give her space, which, in turn, meant that she's pressed up on Itachi's side. He's inched down the seat, arm thrown on the backrest behind Sakura, knees wide apart. Meanwhile, she's wrapped both of her arms around her knees, trying to take as little space as humanly possible.

After a while, though, her muscles start to protest the cramped position. She shakes her legs loose and accidentally shoves Itachi's aside. He believes it to be intentional, so he shoves her back playfully. Jesus Christ, if they don't make space for her, she's going to throw them out.

She jabs him with her elbow, glaring.

Itachi narrows his eyes and suddenly tackles her properly, making her fall into Konan and disrupting her fetal cocoon. It pisses Konan off, so Sakura becomes fodder for both parties.

Somehow, the whole thing turns into a goddamn pillow fight and Sakura is practically running around her house, trying to get away from the enemies. When Konan lets out a war cry and comes running in her direction, pillow raised above her head, Sakura curses incomprehensibly and rushes into her bedroom. She's not fast enough to lock the door behind her because a foot suddenly jams itself in the crack.

Itachi smiles deviously through the crack.

"Don't you dare, Uchiha," she threatens.

He smirks wider. "I think I will, Haruno."

With that, he gives a massive push and Sakura stumbles a few steps behind. She backs away slowly as Itachi approaches, they're both sweaty and panting, until the back of her knees hit her bed.

Shit, shit, shit.

This is bad. Very bad. She can't fucking tussle with him on her bed.

But then Itachi glances at the empty bed and seems to pause. His eyes crawl back towards her. A moment passes, two, and then he drops the pillow, hands raised in defeat.

Sakura's shoulders slump in relief.

The relief is short lived because Konan comes barrelling through the open door with another loud cry. She slams against Itachi's back. Shocked, he's unable to stop his own momentum and comes crashing down on Sakura.

All three of them end up in a heap on her bed.

Dead silence.

Then Konan cracks, laughing so hard she jostles Sakura and Itachi, too, and they slowly detangle from the mess, turning to lie on their backs, looking up at the ceiling.

"I don't know about you guys," Sakura pants and heaves, "but I think we need dates on Valentine's after this."

Chaotic schedule, if it isn't obvious (:)