Summary: Itachi and Sakura were shogi partners. Lab partners, and somewhat close friends...okay not friends but acquaintances. What happens when Sakura dramatically changes and catches the eye of Itachi's best friend? And his brother too?!
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"Um..." Sakura stared at the pieces of...clothing Anko was holding.
"Just try it on! Geez don't be such a wimp!" She pushed the pinkette into the dressing room. "Hurry up!"
"I've only been here for a few seconds!" Sakura shouted from the other side of the red curtain.
Anko thought. "Good point."
Sakura sighed. "Don't kill me but sometimes you're very dimwitted."
Anko twitched. "I'm going to ignore that comment..."
"Good, cause I'm done." Sakura pushed the curtain that blocked the view. "Like it?" Anko sighed and walked around Sakura who fidgeted slightly.
"Holy crap! Sakura is that you?!" An orange blob (sounds familiar right?...WRONG!!...no you're right -smiles-) "You look so cool!"
"Naruto, I'd greatly appreciate you not trying to crush my little cousin with your huge overweight body." Anko sighed closing her eyes.
"What! I'm not fat!" Naruto yelled at Anko as he stood up. Sakura got up and dusted her outfit. Which consisted of a dark blue jean skirt with multiple chains attached, and a blank tank-top with long fishnet gloves. Oh and knee high buckle boots!
"Sure!" Anko said poking Naruto's stomach. "I feel fat!" He swiped her hands away and pouted.
"I'm not fat!"
"But your overweight!"
"By 10 pounds!"
The two entered a glaring contest.
"um...guys...?"
"Shut up Sakura!" They growled.
"Guys?" Sakura said a little more urgently, backing away from the slowing inching...uh...man.
"grr!"
"Guys!" Sakura squeaked.
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Konan was dragging her friends through the mall to a certain store. No seriously, she had like Itachi, Sasori, and Tobi's shirt collars in one hand, their feet dragging on the ground. Itachi and Sasori just sighed while Tobi looked around at the staring people innocently with his black eyes.
On the other hand, Kisame and Deidara were being held by their ankles, okay fine, Kisame by the ankle, Deidara by his collar...Deidara's arms crossed while Kisame tried to grab on to something to stop them.
"Konan! Must we go through this every time?!" Kisame shouted while glaring at the onlookers who turned away in fear.
"Well, it wouldn't have to be like this if you stopped arguing and throwing stuff at me be-"
There was a small squeak. "Was that a mouse?" Tobi asked. "Konan! You stepped on a mouse!" Tobi looked horrified at the small animal indeed under Konan's foot.
"Whoops..." Konan let them go and stepped off the rodent. "It's rat...do rats even squeak?"
Everyone shrugged. Itachi's gaze was fixed on someone inside the store. Sasori was the first to follow his gaze and he chuckled.
Anko and Naruto had jumped the...man and were practically double teaming on him for trying to uh...'get' Sakura, whom was sitting safely on the sidelines picking out clothes as if this was a normal everyday thing...which it was.
Konan then grabbed them by the collars again which made them fall and you could practically see the small dark cloud hanging over most of their heads.
"Don't you ever do that again! YOU GOT THAT?!" The purpled hair female yelled then let go of the man's shirt who had crawled away. She stretched then turned to the new comers. "What do you want?" She asked.
Naruto was on the ground. Somehow, Anko had pushed his head in the floor...
But before Konan could answer. Sakura came back with a few bags in hand. She blinked at the site.
"Hey...um...should even I ask?" Sakura asked Itachi looking at the current state of the five guys. He shrugged. "Wow that was very enlightening." He shrugged again.
"Sakura! You know these guys?" Anko jerked a thumb at Konan and the guys.
"They're in my class." Sakura shrugged. Anko then whispered something. Sakura twitched. "You're so lucky you're my cousin. Let's go. Bye. See you tomorrow."
"Not unless I kill you first." Anko mumbled.
"Bye Naruto!" The blonde boy grumbled, his head still on the ground.
The two girls left.
"That was...interesting..." Sasori commented, boredly.
"Man she hits really hard..." Naruto got up slowly rubbing the back of her neck. "Oh...hey." He said coldly. He then turned around but was stopped by Konan.
"If I may ask, why were you even in this store in the first place? I mean, this is a store for girls, which means, no boys." Naruto turned around, his face red.
"I was helping a friend!" He stomped out.
"What a moron." Kisame said.
"True to that." Konan agreed.
"Can we go now?" Kisame asked, earning a bonk to his head.
"fine! Just this once though." She threatened him. The five guys quickly went out before she could change her mind. They walked silently, except for Tobi who was ranting about something. All oblivious to what was going on.
"Get back here Sasuke!" Except for that. Itachi, hearing his brother's name, looked up in surprise, and became even more surprised at the upcoming Sasuke and the pink haired girl behind him.
"Move Itachi! I don't want to die yet!" Itachi smirked, he didn't move but simply stood in his way. Sasuke skidded to a stop to close to avoid him.
"What's wrong with you?" Deidara asked the boy.
"Sasuke. You are so dead!" Sakura grabbed Sasuke by the collar of the shirt. Since he was taller, it looked rather strange. Sasuke held his hands up in defeat.
"Sakura, must we really go through this? Can't we just talk?"
"We are talking you dumbass."
The five unnoticed guys looked at the two. Eyes going to one to the other.
"um..."
Sakura whipped her head around at the five, giving them a deathly glare. "Stay out of this." She growled threatening. She turned her attention to Sasuke. She smiled sweetly, though Sasuke tensed confusing and/or surprising the other guys. "Remember Sasuke. Never again." She let go.
"Um..." Tobi practically voiced everyone's thoughts, yes including Sasuke's.
"Is that it?" Sasuke asked hesitantly. Sakura's hand twitched, her smile turned more uh...creepy.
"Well, if you want it so bad." Sakura punched Sasuke on the head, knocking him to the ground. She sighed and checked his head after a few moments of silence.
"You hit hard."
"You irritate me to no end." Sakura shot back. Sasuke got up groggily and rubbed his head. Then they were gone.
"That was strange."
"Stop stating the obvious Sasori." Kisame snapped.
"Sakura must be really strong!"
"What was your first clue you dumbass?" Deidara asked Tobi.
"Hey guys!" Konan ran up to them. She noticed their slightly tensed and shocked forms. "What's up?"
"Nothing." Itachi answered, a bit too quickly for his likely as well.
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Sakura huffed as she plopped down in her seat. Sasuke was still rubbing his head. "Must you do that? In front of my brother and his friends no less?"
"It's your fault in the first place?" Sakura retorted. "Besides, there's nothing wrong with your brother, or his friends. They're in my class now." Sasuke immediately started coughing choking a little on his soda. Ah yes, i remember the burning sensation when I choke on soda, not very pleasant.
"They're in your class?" He sputtered. Just to let you know Anko left, claiming she had a date.
"Yes." She shrugged. "Though I can't really say. Itachi's okay, I've played shogi with him for years. And Tobi is sweet. Very innocent. Everyone else I don't really know much about."
Suddenly realization hit Sasuke. "Please don't tell me you helped them with the bell."
"Okay, I won't tell you." She said and took a sip of her iced tea.
"So you did."
She shrugged. Sasuke gave out a frustrated sigh.
"Otouto."
Sasuke looked up. "Aniki."
"ah! Sakura!" Tobi glomped the girl. "Since when were you so strong?" He asked shaking her by the shoulders.
"Tobi, let her go. She looks sick." Tobi immediately let her going into shock from Deidara's words.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Sakura! Please forgive me!" Sakura held up a hand signaling him to stop.
"Don't worry Tobi." Sakura gasped lightly.
"Is this what you see as 'innocent'?" Sasuke asked. Sakura punched him again. "Geez, it's just a question." She huffed and pouted.
"My, you two argue a lot don't you?" Konan asked. "Are you like dating or something?"
They both glared at her. "No." Sasuke growled. He stood up. "I have to go now. Bye Sakura. Aniki." Sakura waved and Itachi nodded.
Deidara took his seat. "He doesn't seem to like us too much."
Sakura shrugged. "Probably something to do with sibling rivalries." She sighed.
"There's nothing to rival." Itachi said, causing Sakura to glare at him.
"He's your brother, don't be so mean to him." She scolded. Itachi shrugged.
"But he has a point you know!" Tobi said smiling happily in his seat next to Sakura. She thought.
"True...but it's still mean. Either way, he isn't worthless." She huffed.
"So defenseless...are you sure you two aren't going out?" Konan asked. Sakura glared at her.
"I've got to go." She stood up and walked away. She grumbled senseless stuff, and was a bit too busy with that to notice that someone was following her.
"Hey! Forehead girl!" Sakura froze and then twitched at the noise. She continued walking however. "Don't ignore me you retarded ass!" The blonde girl forcibly turned Sakura around.
"Whoa. Sorry Ino, not interested in you like that." Sakura paused. "Or in anyway as a matter of fact." Ino flushed with rage and embarrassment (haha it has the word ass in it!).
"Shut up!" Tenten came up and pushed Sakura who stumbled.
"What were you doing with Sasuke? And Itachi?"
"And his friends!" Tenten added.
"Stop making my life miserable. I'm barely able to suffer through everything with those guys in my life already." Sakura rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Besides, it's none of your damn business."
"Sakura!" Said pinkette was practically tackled to the ground. "Me and everyone else, well just me and Konan, were wondering if you wanted to hang out! You seem cool enough!" Tobi obviously not noticing the two shocked girls, or their rather...awkward position. However, Sakura did.
When Tobi tackled her, Sakura fell on her back and Tobi had his legs on the outside of hers, and hands on either side of her head. Yes very awkward.
"Sure Tobi, I guess, but could you do me a favor?"
"Yes?" Tobi asked innocently.
"Get off me!" Sakura pushed him off making him fall.
"I'm so sorry Sakura!"
Ino gaped with Tenten. "Why are you saying sorry to her? She should be saying sorry to you for knocking you over!" Ino yelled at Tobi who cowered a little at her aggressive voice.
"Don't yell at him." Konan said crossing her arms against her chest.
"And what are you going to do about that?" Tenten asked.
"Konan, leave them alone, they're obviously not worth our time." Itachi said. Tobi was rubbing his eyes and sniffled in a cute fashion. "Come on Tobi. Enough acting." Tobi's head immediately shot up, his face showing his smiling face.
The three left. Ino and Tenten were gaping again. Sakura just left.
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YAY SATURDAY!!
Tobi was looking at the simple painting that Sasori had made. "What's it supposed to be?"
"An stupid impersonation of non-real art." Deidara answered from the couch. "Ow!"
"Don't say that."
The phone rang. Itachi sighed as he got the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Itachi. It's Sakura. Is Sasuke there?"
"No."
"Well...up for a game? I could go over there."
"Well, my friends are here right now. But you could if you don't mind."
"Um...sure, if they don't mind."
Click.
"Who was that?"
"Sakura."
"What for?"
"Shogi game."
"Would you stop being so bland?"
"No."
Konan huffed.
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Sakura crossed her arms waiting for someone to answer the door. She sweatdropped at the screaming, shouting, and...is that stuff breaking?!...that came from the other side of the door. There was a loud thud against the door, which made Sakura take a step back.
"Shut up will you!"
"No!"
"TOBI IS A GOOD BOY!!" Sakura assumed Tobi was thrown at the door since it sounded really close...and hurt. Sakura knocked on the wooden door again.
"Tobi get off." The door opened. Sasuke had an eyebrow raised while leaning against the door frame. "I thought you'd call before you come."
"I did, your brother answered, so I just asked him if you were there, he said no, and we arranged for a shogi game." Sakura replied.
"...oh." Sasuke took a step aside to let Sakura in. She stepped over what looked like an unconscious...OMG IS THAT TOBI?! Wait...no nevermind, it's just Kisame.
"What came here and messed this place up?"
"My brother's friends." Sasuke sighed.
"Hey! Sakura!" Tobi waved.
"Hey Tobi. What's up? And what happened to Kisame?"
Tobi froze and thought for a minute. "Tobi remembers! We were playing truth or dare, and Kisame had to drink five bottles of sake (rice wine)!!"
Silence.
"And who dared him to do that?"
"...it was either Konan, or Deidara-senpai." Tobi thought out loud. "Oh wait," Tobi brought his fisted hand on his other hand's palm in realization. "it was Sasuke!" Sakura turned around, but Sasuke was already gone.
"Tobi!! You are so DEAD!!" Konan yelled from upstairs. She came stomping down and Tobi hid behind Sakura.
"Tobi is a good boy!!" He sobbed dramatically. Konan sighed.
"He's so emotional...I sometimes wonder if he's gay..." Konan thought out loud. "Oh! Hey Sakura. Itachi's in the kitchen. Sasori is currently playing him in shogi."
"Thanks Konan." Sakura walked into the kitchen, and immediately tripped on something...or someone. It groaned.
"Ow..." Sakura mumbled rubbing her knees she turned around and saw... "Deidara! Oh my god! I'm sorry." Said blonde rolled over so he was on his back rather than his stomach. He groaned at the pain.
"Hey Sakura." He held up a hand in greeting.
"What happened to you?"
"A spar."
"with..."
"Uchiha."
"Which one?"
Deidara glared at her. "Which Uchiha do you think is capable of putting me in this state?"
"I never seen either of them fight. Or rather spar."
"Itachi you idiot." Sakura pouted. Deidara looked at her, though he would probably see her upside-down. "Nice clothes." Sakura looked down at her black capri cargos and black tank-top with a white mesh shirt over it.
"Thanks...?"
Deidara closed his eyes.
"Could you help me get up? My arms are sore." Sakura sighed and helped Deidara.
"Deidara your such a wimp." Sasori said moving one shogi piece.
"Hey! that's not nice." Deidara said. "But then again...you don't really care." Sakura sweat dropped.
"I win." Itachi said and leaned back in his chair. Sasori sighed and got up.
"Your turn Sakura-san."
One very long shogi game later
Silence.
"You lost." Deidara said. "You never lose Itachi! What are you?!" He pointed a finger at Sakura.
"...don't make it so dramatic." Sasori snapped.
"Well you don't have to be so mean about it."
Itachi closed his eyes and twitched slightly at Sasori and Deidara arguing. He heard someone giggle. He snapped an eye open and saw Sakura with a hand over her mouth laughing quietly into it.
He then stood up. "Good game Sakura." Said girl nodded awknowledging him though still laughing. He gave a sigh and walked through the halls. Kisame somehow woke up, with a hangover, but fell asleep right infront of the stairway. Now how do you wake up a fish man?
Simple. Kick him. Which Itachi did. Just a light tap on the foot...like...on his neck.
"Ow..." Itachi kicked him again. "Okay okay! I'm up." Kisame got up groggily. "Oh...hey Itachi." Said Uchiha nodded then proceeded upstairs to his room.
He sat down on the bed and fingered his necklace that he always wore. Looking at the small table next to his black and red bed to his eyes softened. He took the framed picture in his hand looking at the picture of him smirking in the picture, and the rest of his friends were surrounding him, smiling, making bunny ears on people, crossing their arms and smirking or doing something stupid (that would be Tobi, when the picture was taken, he was running around them so he was in mid step (looking about to fall) almost in front of the group but still not totally infront of them). But he didn't pay attention to that, he traced the small figure next to him giving a peace sign.
His eyes hardened suddenly. He slammed the picture face down on the table making it shake slightly. He put his head in his hand and scolded himself. His other hand was clenched in frustration nails were digging into his skin, hard enough to draw blood.
"Itachi?" He then noticed the complete silence of the house, he suddenly realized how hard he slammed the picture frame. He had to act fast.
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Slam! (okay it wasn'y loud like that, it was more of a dull thud)
"What was that?" Sakura asked suddenly stopping in her fits of laughter. Deidara and Sasori looked at each other.
"Guys! Come on." Konan said suddenly to the three and ran upstairs.
They reached a plain door. Konan knocked on the door. "Itachi?" No reply. "Itachi, are you okay?"
Sakura was confused, why wouldn't he be okay? Deidara must have noticed her confusion. "We'll explain later...or not, it depends on how much we can trust you." He whispered to her. She nodded.
"Itachi. We're coming in if you don't open the door." Konan said, though it did not seem as threatening as she could've made it.
Still no reply. Konan sighed. Kisame went to the door. "We're coming in Itachi!" He rammed his shoulder into the door. It was empty. "damn!" Kisame immediately went to the bathroom door. He tried to open it using the door knob but it was locked.
"Itachi! We know your in there!" Sakura heard Konan yelled through the door but paid no attention. She looked at the ruffled sheets. Then too the floor. She noticed a small dark blotch of liquid on the wooden floor. Blood? She crouched down and touched it.
"It's blood." Sasori and Deidara heard her though it was soft and whispered. Konan's eyes widened.
"Itachi! Open the door!" Konan yelled again. She turned to Sasoi and Deidara. "Take her somewhere else. I don't think he would want her to see him like that."
"Bu-"
"Just go!" Konan yelled. Sasori and Deidara quickly picked Sakura by her up and brought her downstairs to the living room, and placed her on the couch.
"What's going on?" The other two looked at each other. Confusion and hesitation written clearly on their faces.
"Well, I very sure that we don't want to die just yet." Sasori said.
Deidara nodded. "Itachi would kill us."
"I'm pretty sure that's the message that I gave her." Deidara glared at Sasori. The two entered another argument.
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"Itachi." Konan sighed again for the 100th time.
"Leave." The Uchiha said sternly to Konan.
"No." Konan paused. "This is getting out of hand."
"I'm leaving it out of your hands so it's in mine." Itachi replied simply.
"It's effecting everyone here plus it's not good for you."
"I'm fine. Just leave."
"Fine. But if this happens again. I swear I will bring your stubborn ass to him and settle this thing." Konan stepped away from the door not waiting for an answer. She paused at the small bedside table. She picked up the frame.
"It's not polite to look at other people's personal things." Konan heard a voice from the door frame. She turned around still holding the now cracked picture frame in her hand. Itachi was leaning against the door frame, arms crossed.
"True." She walked to him avoiding the puddle of blood. "It's worse not telling your friends about what is distressing you."
"What makes you say that?" Itachi questioned. Konan glared at him.
"Damn it Uchiha!" She shoved the frame into his arms with lots of force. "You aren't the only one that's depressing about what happened!" She slammed her foot on the ground. "We all went through this! But you!" She paused. "you were the one that is making it harder for us." She said quietly.
"It was my fault in the first place." Itachi replied, more calmly then his short-tempered friend. "None of this would've happened if I just listened to her!" He slammed a hand on the wall beside him, the frame fell down and broke. The blood started to drip from his wound. "I just sh-"
"Itachi." Konan interrupted, sympathizing. "It wasn't your fault. If anything, it was all of our fault. She told me. I thought she was joking." She put a hand on his shoulder. "But, I was wrong." She pulled her hand back. She picked up the frame, somehow, the crack split everyone from the unknown figure next to Itachi. "She would want you to move on." She took the picture out of the frame and put it in Itachi's hand. "It's all for the best." She turned. "Don't think this conversation will stop the next more important conversation that will happen." She smirked. Then left.
Itachi slid to the ground.
(Sorry that whole thing was OOC)
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"I'm sorry Sakura-san, but I think it's best that you leave." Konan said while coming down the steps.
"I understand. I was about to leave anyway." Sakura said while standing up. Once Konan heard the door open then shut she took out her phone.
"You're calling him already?" Tobi asked. His tone a bit more serious than he normally was. I now reveal, the more serious and logical Tobi! Looks and even actions can be deceiving. Within limits.
"This is serious." Konan said. "Itachi is starting to this it's his fault now."
"He always has." Kisame stated. Then hesitated. "And always will. I don't blame him." He took a sip of his soda.
"Now shut up."
"hello."
"Pein. It's Konan."
"Ah, yes. What do you need?"
"It happened again. With Itachi. But this time, he was really blaming himself."
"...hm...well, tell him that he should take a few days rest from everything. Let him think things over."
"Shouldn't we watch him?"
"Yes. Have them over. Your house."
"All of them?"
"Yes."
Konan stopped a sigh from coming out her mouth. "Okay then. Bye." She hung up knowing that he would not reply.
"Well?" Deidara asked.
"He said for him to take a rest. Also that all you should stay over." Deidara groaned. Konan sighed. "I hope I do not have to repeat that for you Itachi."
"I heard you." The Uchiha said plainly from the top of the steps.
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Sakura hummed to herself as she walked along the sidewalk to the cafe when she was stopped by Sasuke.
"Sakura!" She turned around and smiled at Sasuke.
"Hey!" She waved. When Sasuke caught up to her they walked together. "So how's it going lately?"
Instead of answering that, Sasuke turned the conversation to a whole new direction. "were you there when Itachi uh...'broke down' i guess?"
"I wasn't physically there to see him, but I was at your house at the time."
"Hm..." Sasuke thought. "You know, despite the fact that I dislike him a lot at times, I feel bad for him."
"Why is that?"
"Seeing Itachi in that state, is rare. And it only can happen on two things. One which he got over. The other, he blames himself every night."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Sasuke sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Listen. I just got a call from Naruto. He's busy so he can't meet us. But, I still need to talk to you. So it was just a coincidence, but Itachi called. He said he wanted you to know."
"Why?" The two sat down in the cafe in the corner.
"He said that if you were there, to tell you. You deserve to. It's not right to not tell you. So I'm going to explain."
"What can I get you two today?" A man came up to them.
"Just a coke." Sasuke said. The waiter wrote it down.
"And for the lady?"
"I'd like some hot chocolate please." Sakura smiled sweetly. The waiter nodded and walked off.
"Okay. This is really long story. It's complicated. So let's start at the very beginning..."
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Wow, that was extremely OCC...oh well!
Please Review!!