A/N: Thank you nobodysperfect1233 for the generous review!

Enjoy! :)

For disclaimer, refer chapter 1

CHAPTER 4 – Breaking the Habit

The next two weeks pass in a similar fashion, with Sakura going across the hall for coffee in the mornings whenever she was home for it, and she'd shared another two dinners with them until now. Ino keeps pestering to introduce them to her, or at least that Sakura should definitely ask out Sasuke. After a point, Sakura learns to tune her out whenever she goes in one of those rants.

She learns quite a bit more of her neighbours in that time. Not only does Itachi struggle with defining social relations and boundaries despite being a genius, he also doesn't quite understand how to filter himself when he's talking. Sakura dismissed Sasuke's interjections after a point, finding Itachi's behaviour to be refreshing. Sasuke, on the other hand, is the epitome of a nice guy. He's polite, playful, sarcastic, honest (not in the crude sense Itachi is), and always wants to do the right thing. Something that Itachi doesn't really bother with himself.

Sakura is forced to take a 36-hour break, when her Attendant, Dr. Orochimaru, informs her of it on a Saturday afternoon.

"Come back on Monday morning, 9 AM," he says, morosely. "Chief's orders."

Sakura stares back, horrified. She doesn't remember the last time her break had lasted this long. She even hates to take 24-hour breaks, let alone 36 hours. And she doesn't understand what's happening. Dr. Orochimaru is her mentor in every sense of the word, one of the more renounced cardiothoracic surgeons in the country. He knows, he understands, that Sakura can't afford such a long break from work. She'll miss out on good surgeries.

"Don't give me that look," he frowns. "Chief's orders," he repeats. "I don't get why she'd do that, though. She knows that you're a promising candidate, and she should let me have free reigns over your schedule."

Sakura whole-heartedly agrees. "Can you not speak with her?"

Tsunade is a formidable person, and it shows because Dr. Orochimaru suddenly winces at the thought of protesting the Chief when she's given a clear order.

"Do you want to get kicked out, woman?" he hisses. "Forget that, she might just let me go."

Sakura groans, knowing it to be true.

"Go home, now," he tells her. He really does seem unhappy, just as much as Sakura feels. Dr. Orochimaru and she share an established mutual respect amongst themselves wherein he has promised to work her like a slave and she'd agreed in an instant. "Before the Chief sees that you're still here."

"Alright," Sakura mumbles dejectedly.

She drives home. As soon as she's on her floor, she thinks about going over to the boys' apartment and seeing if they're free, before remembering that it's Saturday afternoon. Itachi is most definitely working, and Sasuke might be, too, because she knows that despite being an employee, Sasuke tries to be at the office as much as possible for Itachi's sake. After all, Sasuke is one of the IT guys and Itachi does run a business over a webpage. Sasuke had told her over one of the dinners that they're building a phone application next due to the positive response that they have received.

So she goes to her own apartment and stares around the place. Itachi was right. The flat has zero personal touches. There's a single three-seater dark orange couch in the living area, a small square coffee table, there's no TV, and a measly rack is tucked against a wall with a flower-less vase on it. It was a housewarming gift from Ino.

Sighing, she goes to her bedroom. It took her three days to unpack, she remembers. It wasn't because she had a lot of stuff, but because she didn't have the time to do it. She drops her purse on the bed and starts to collect her clothes for laundry.

xXx

By the time the clock strikes seven, Sakura feels better. She dusted her flat, swept, mopped it, did her laundry, and arranged her books alphabetically. She knows that the boys have arrived because she heard muffled chatter earlier.

Sakura changes into a pair of blue denim pants, a green T-shirt that Kakashi said brings out her eyes, and a long black coat. The air is nippy this season, and Sakura has always been prone to feeling cold easily. She goes across the hall.

Itachi opens the door, wearing his home clothes.

"Haven't seen you in a while," he comments lightly and holds the door open for her.

She enters but waits on the doormat. "I'm headed to the grocery store," she says. "You guys want me to pick up anything?"

Sasuke is working on his laptop. He spins on his chair to face her. Itachi has moved to the couch.

"A lot of things, actually," Sasuke says. "I have a list."

"Eh…"

"I'll come with you," Itachi offers, already moving to the refrigerator. He takes the grocery list that was held up with one of the magnets.

Sakura waits as he goes to his room and returns wearing a jacket, but doesn't change his clothes. Mentally shrugging, Sakura waves goodbye to Sasuke, and she and Itachi head out.

"About time," Itachi comments when they're in the elevator. Upon Sakura's confused expression, he elaborates. "I was wondering when you'd realise that you need things to sustain yourself."

Sakura rolls her eyes.

He continues. "You really are a rather tardy doctor."

"Don't forget materialistic," she reminds him sarcastically.

"That, too," he agrees.

"I even did the laundry today," she admits. "I'm told not to return to work until Monday morning."

Itachi chuckles as they exit the elevator and walk across the main lobby towards the door. "Actually, Sasuke has kind of forbidden me from working tomorrow, as well."

"Can he do that?" Sakura asks, impressed that Sasuke can command his brother around.

"Technically, no," Itachi shrugs. "But he played the brother card."

"Okay," Sakura drags out, not really knowing what the hell that means but she doesn't ask to elaborate and Itachi doesn't offer more, either.

"Your check engine light is on," he says as soon as they sit in her car.

"Shit. Okay wait, I can take it to the garage tomorrow. Making lemonades from lemons and all that."

"Are garages open on Sundays?" Itachi asks, interested.

There is a brief moment of silence. "I have no idea."

"Oh, okay."

"Maybe we could ask Sasuke," she says bracingly. "He knows what happens on Sundays in the outside world."

"True," Itachi agrees.

They make light conversation on their way to the nearest grocery store that Sakura knows – or Google knows.

"Shouldn't you be knowing all of this?" Sakura grumbles. "Locations of your competitors."

Itachi tsks. "I have people knowing all of this," he retorts.

He gets three phone calls on the way, all from a person called Yahiko. Sakura vaguely remembers Itachi telling her that he's the Head of Operations and streamlines the business for Itachi. Yahiko is the link between Itachi and the rest of the company.

"It's not a big team," he'd told her. "But we do have separate departments."

Sakura had asked why he doesn't take on a secretary. The question had confused Itachi. "Why would I let someone else have the pleasure of handling things?" he'd asked.

When they reach the store, Itachi pockets his phone and takes out the list that Sasuke has made.

The crowd is thin at this time of the hour in the evening. It's well beyond seven and Sakura can't believe she still has to cook dinner when she gets home.

They grab two carts at the entrance. Not really knowing where to start, Itachi consults the list once more and Sakura follows behind him, deciding that Sasuke probably knows what to buy more than both of them combined.

"You're a doctor!" Itachi says in an irritated voice when they are trying to decide which brand of chicken to buy. "Don't you know this stuff? Healthy foods and all that."

"I'm a cardiothoracic surgeon," Sakura snarls back, "not a dietitian. I can tell you not to eat fried foods and how it will affect your arteries in great detail, but I have no idea about which chicken to buy! Besides, don't you cook?"

"I don't," Itachi frowns. "Sasuke does."

"What?" she stares back, shocked. "What the hell did you do during college and when you stayed with Shikamaru? Don't tell me, Shikamaru cooked for you. And your mother has a bakery, for goodness' sake. Didn't you ever help her in the kitchen?"

Itachi heaves a long-suffering sigh. "My mother is a baker, and she taught me how to bake. Besides, Temari is a chef," he reminds her. "She made us her guinea pigs. And we had take-outs."

Sakura grunts in annoyance.

Itachi levels a look at her. "What did you do before this? Did you rely on your neighbours in your previous apartment, or even through college?"

"Hospitals have a cafeteria," she reminds him. "And take-outs. Whenever I did cook, I didn't bother with which chicken I was buying."

"How can you not?" Itachi appears to be disgusted. "What if the brand is at a subpar level and the chicken gives you some sort of a disease? Oh god, I can't believe I'm saying this to a goddamn doctor!"

"Shut up," Sakura snaps. "What about your high-end ass, you genius? You have a delivery service! Don't you have to do market research for brands?"

"Not for groceries," he retorts. "Since when have I delivered groceries?"

He doesn't, Sakura knows that. His company delivers fashion products, home décor items, medicines, and personal hygiene products.

"Excuse me," a store clerk intervenes them. It's a petite woman in her early twenties with red hair, wearing the store clerk uniform. The nametag reads Karui. "May I help you?"

Itachi and Sakura exchange glances. Sakura notices then that their constant bickering has attracted the attention of the nearby shoppers. Someone must have called the clerk.

Itachi thrusts the sheet of paper in her hand. "We need these items, please."

She's utterly bemused. "Sir, this is a self-serving store."

What this is, is a disaster. Sakura sighs in frustration. Itachi is looking severely displeased and seems to be regretting his decision of accompanying Sakura.

Karui assesses them critically, and then sighs. "Fine. Give me the list."

Karui takes them around the store, explains the products to them, helps them with the brands, and insists on sharing her life story as a cherry on the unmitigated chaos this evening has been.

She tells how she's only working as a part-timer to help manage the funds for her college expense. She came to the city from a place high up north, and how she hates the burn and the heat of this place. She assumes that Itachi and Sakura are a couple, it's so hard when you begin newly dating, isn't it? and before Sakura or Itachi can deny it, she's already launching into how she wants to become an engineer. The only reason why she knows about the various kinds of food items is because she didn't have a mother growing up and her father is an utter slob, I tell you.

By the time they reach the counter to ring up their items, Sakura has started to feel bad for the young girl. And by the time they're wheeling their carts to Sakura's car, she's assured the girl that things will turn around for the better any day now.

"Remind me," Itachi says as he buckles his seat belt, "never to come shopping with you again."

Sakura rolls her eyes. "Why did you if you don't even know shit?"

"I assumed you'd know."

When Itachi opens the door to 10A with his set of keys, Sasuke is still working on his laptop. He looks up at the two of them.

"What happened?" he asks wearily. "No, wait. I don't wanna know."

Two sets of eyes glare at him. Sasuke slowly spins back to his laptop.

"I'm going to head back," Sakura says and turns to leave.

"Wait," Itachi grumbles in a defeated tone. "I'll help with the bags."

He holds them while Sakura digs around her purse for the keys. She opens the door and Itachi goes to place the bags on the breakfast table.

"Did you clean?" he asks, eyebrows raised, as he looks around.

"Yeah."

Itachi walks to the door of her apartment. Instead of leaving as she'd assumed, he calls out loudly, "Sasuke!"

Sasuke hurries over. "What? What's wrong?"

Itachi tsks. "Nothing's wrong. Listen, do you know if car service is open on Sundays?"

Sasuke watches the two of them with confusion. "Yeah," he says slowly. "Kiba's place is open."

"Right," Itachi snaps his fingers. "Kiba is Naruto's friend. He owns a garage. I completely forgot about him."

"Who needs a car service?"

"I do," Sakura answers, pulling out her groceries. She consulted Sasuke's list for most of it, and added more whenever she saw something that she liked. "My check engine light is on."

"I'll give you his address," Sasuke says. "Tell me your number."

Sakura counts out the digits for him. Sasuke sends a quick text and her phone vibrates in her pocket. "Thanks!"

"Nice profile picture," he compliments and smiles.

"Thank you." Ino had clicked it during one of their lunch breaks. Sakura is in her blue surgical uniform, hair tied in a bun, and she's looking to her right and laughing. She remembers that day. Shino, an orthopaedic resident, was sitting on one of the nearby tables and he'd explained in the most serious voice how Dr. Orochimaru might be a woman.

"Also, Sakura doesn't know shit about cooking," Itachi says.

"Hey!" Sakura protests. "I do. You don't."

"You didn't even know what to buy," he points out, unimpressed.

"I did. I would have picked whatever like I always do," she frowns at him. "You were the one who insisted on buying the best brand. Now I don't know the best brand but that doesn't mean I don't know how to cook."

"Prove it," Itachi challenges smugly.

"Nuh uh," Sakura points a finger at him. "You're trying to manipulate me into cooking for you. Not happening."

"If you says so," he says casually in a way that shows that he's unconvinced of her alleged cooking skills.

"So," Sasuke says brightly, "shopping went well, I assume?"

"Fantastic," Sakura mutters at the same time Itachi says "Wonderful".

"You guys are hopeless," Sasuke tells them. "I mean, I was surprised that Itachi offered to come for grocery shopping because he never does that, but then I thought that you might be the knowledgeable one since you stay alone."

"Exactly," Itachi puts in.

"We'll take you next time, don't worry," Sakura promises sweetly.

Sasuke levels a flat stare at her as Itachi changes sides once again, and adds "Great idea!"

The boys leave after another quarrel breaks out between the three of them, and Sakura has to throw them out because she still needs to cook her dinner.

xXx

On Sunday morning, Sakura doesn't go across the hall. She has milk, coffee, and even cream if she so wishes to enjoy it. So she has her coffee in her own apartment, makes scrambled eggs, and gets ready to drive down to the garage.

It's half an hour drive. The shop is not that huge. There are two people working inside when she pulls up in an empty space.

A man in overalls looks up from where he's working on a car with the bump propped open. He is average in height, greasy, with brown cropped hair, and tattooed face. To her surprise, though, Naruto chooses that moment to walk out from one of the back doors with a large white dog.

"Sakura!" Naruto waves excitedly and the dog barks.

"Naruto?"

"Sasuke told me you were coming here today," Naruto explains. "I thought I'd make introductions, and I hadn't seen Kiba in a long time, anyway. This is Kiba's dog, Akamaru." The dog wags its tail upon hearing its name.

"Speaking of," the greasy man cuts in smoothly. "Hi. Kiba."

Sakura doesn't extend her hand to shake and neither does he. "Sakura. I need my car checked. Just a routine service. I think."

Kiba nods. "When do you need it?"

Sakura squirms. "Today, if possible."

Kiba bites his lip in thought and then shrugs. "Doable," he says. "But you gotta give me two hours."

"We can hang out!" Naruto exclaims. "And we can take Akamaru for a walk." The dog barks delightedly upon hearing its name again.

"Alright."

Sakura fills the necessary forms, hands over the keys, and walks out of the shop. She doesn't know who is more excited right now – Naruto or Akamaru. Naruto tells her there's a park nearby that they can visit.

He fills the time with mundane chatter the whole way.

"… and then Konan comes right up to my face," he's regaling when they enter the park, "and tells me that either I do her way or get the fuck out of there! Turns out, she was right," he shrugs as if someone telling him off during work doesn't bother him in the least. "My idea was half-baked and I hadn't thought of the consequent steps properly."

"I do enjoy marketing," he is talking as they're making their second lap, "you know? I mean, I don't wanna stop there, though. I'd really like to expand to PR when I can, and maybe start something of my own later in life. But I still don't have a great idea. Look at Itachi. Even though there are various delivery services in the market today, one better than the other, he's still managed to make a name. Operation is the key," he nods seriously and continues telling Sakura how Itachi's work ethics are really crazy and awesome.

"Sasuke was a little shit," he tells her when they're sitting on a park bench, licking popsicles and playing fetch with Akamaru. "Itachi loves to spoil him like mad. I mean, Sasuke might be more mature today but last birthday, Itachi bought him a beautiful copy of the Infinity Gauntlet –"

"The what?"

"The Infinity Gauntlet?" he repeats, giving her an odd look. "Thanos uses it to destroy half the world?"

"Huh?" Sakura frowns before remembering Sasuke's odd variety of T-shirts. "Oh, does this have anything to do with the Incredible Hulk?"

"Sakura," he says slowly and forgets all about Akamaru who is nudging his knees with the wooden stick, "you do know about Avengers, right?"

"Not really," she shrugs.

Naruto then launches into a passionate speech – much like Sasuke had – about the Marvel Cinematic Universe –

"Oh, MCU! I get it now," she interrupts him cheerily.

He ignores it and spends the rest of their time determined to explain all about Iron Man, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Captain America, and Thor as the six original Avengers in the latest movies.

He's talking about someone called Doctor Strange when they return to the garage. She spots her car immediately: it's shining spotless and Kiba is stepping out of the driver's seat. He gives her a thumbs-up when he sees them.

"There was nothing wrong with it," he tells her, patting an excited Akamaru. "It was a routine check light. I've reset it."

"Thank you," Sakura smiles. She really is grateful that he did the job on such short notice and so quickly.

She signs the receipts, pays him for the service, and bids them goodbye. Akamaru wags his tails and drools over her front tyre.

"We're watching an MCU movie next time we meet," Naruto promises firmly. "I'll tell Sasuke."

Sakura doesn't refuse. A movie night might actually do her some good. She did enjoy her time with them, anyway. Besides, Naruto's storytelling has managed to pique her interest regarding the super-heroes.

xXx

Sakura spends the remaining of her Sunday in her apartment, and realises for the hundredth time in her life that her Chief might be right. She really needed some time off to reboot and laze around, without the adrenalin rush of being in the hospital.

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