Summary: Itachi and Sakura were shogi partners. Lab partners, and somewhat close friends...okay not friends but acquaintances. What happens when Sakura finds out the truth of what made Itachi breakdown? summary changed
I do not own Naruto or
KkKkKk (this marks a start of ending of a flashback)
Three years ago
A thin slightly short girl walked through the streets. She wore a black skirt and a white tank-top with a red long sleeve off-shoulder mesh top. Her bangs came out from her ponytail and some covered the whole right side of her face.
She took a deep breathe and knocked on the door.
Screams were heard. Some things breaking. And a thud (wow, deja vu!).
"Who is it?"
"It's Yumi Kiriko. I'm Itachi's partner for the project." The girl called to the questioner.
The door opened revealing a 12 year old Sasuke. "come in. I'm sorry for the mess. Itachi's friends are very crazy." Yumi smiled sweetly though her gray blue eyes were dull. "He's in the kitchen." Then Sasuke walked away to his room.
Yumi put down her messenger bag down and walked through the door frame.
"Itachi. I think your new friend is here." Deidara said sitting on the counter.
"yes I realize that." Itachi said.
"She's cute." Yumi peered curiously at the shogi game ignoring the comment.
"You play shogi?"
"Yes."
"He just started last week." Itachi added. Sasori glared at him, Itachi merely shrugged.
"I taught him which pieces are what and how they move. We've been playing for a while."
"Really?" Yumi asked. Saori finally moved a piece. Itachi smirked.
"I win." Itachi stated after moving a piece. Sasori scowled. "So you play too?"
Yumi nodded. "It was the only game I knew how to play in my old town. My parents wouldn't get anything else for me."
"How about a game?" Deidara looked at Itachi strangely. He doesn't normally offer games like that.
"We have a project to finish." Yumi pointed out.
"Fine. Maybe some other time then. You have everything?"
She nodded.
LlLlLl (this changes scenes, or is a time skip, or changes the character in the spotlight)
"Done!" Yumi smiled at Itachi. She looked at the painting. She made a face. "But it looks funny." He peered over her shoulder.
"It looks fine."
"How do you know? You just started this course."
Itachi shrugged. "I had to do something with art. It's required."
"I realize that. But you've never done anything really related to it."
"How do you know?"
"The way you sketched, and painted. Plus." She looked at his painting. "Since your right handed you have no excuse," She pointed at a spot. "It smugged from a stroke of a hand. i'm left handed so it's harder for me." She took a brush and put it in his hand. "Righties always go left to right. I'm trying to make myself go right to left, but it's hard."
Itachi nodded.
Once they were done, Yumi put them on the couch so it dried. "As soon as they are done drying I'll leave okay? Hopefully we won't be partners again!" (whoa, sound a bit to cheerful there!)
"You don't want to be partners with me?" Itachi said, mocking pain. Or was he?
"No, not really." Yumi said without hesitation. "I've heard lots of rumors and gossip of you. I don't like that. I like laying low."
"But I knew who you are."
"Because you're an Uchiha." Yumi said sarcastically. Itachi got up from his spot and walked to her.
"And what do you know of Uchihas?"
"That they are all either super emotional, or super unemotional. You fall in the second category. Besides, they're usually smart. Unless you're saying you aren't?" Yumi said unintimidated by Itachi's gaze.
"You're very strange."
"Thank you! I hear that a lot." Yumi smiled. She checked the paintings. "Mine's dry so I'll be going now." She took the painting and rolled it up and walked out of his room and out the house. Itachi walked down stairs.
"You know she left."
"Ah."
"What was that for anyway?" Kisame asked.
"Art project."
Deidara lost his balances from leaning the chair back and fell. He got up. "You? Art? I'd never thought I'd see the day!"
"You do need to take at least one art course to graduate school." (yea, last year intermmidiate!!)
"Still amazing though." Kisame said. "Remember in kinde-"
"ITACHI!! OPEN THIS DOOR! I have a surprise for you!!" Konan was banging on the door.
"Itachi is always saved by Konan. Though she never really realizes it..." Sasori mumbled.
Itachi open the door, but did not let Konan in. He leaned against the door frame. "And what surprise is this?"
"Remember that girl? My best friend?" She asked innocently. "Well, I just so happen to bump into her and brought her here!"
"You mean dragged." A voice came from behind her. "Hello Itachi. Again." She looked over his shoulder.
"Again? You know each other?"
"Project partners."
"Who's this Itachi?" Kisame asked. "Oh it's that project partner of yours." He said after looking at her.
"Itachi, it's not polite to not let your guests in the house." Yumi said, half heartedly. Itachi stepped aside and she walked in with Konan. Yumi turned to Itachi. "Where's your cousin?"
He blinked. "My...cousin?"
"Yes, Tobi. I believe you are his cousin." Yumi said while looking at the pictures in the hallway. She pointed at the brown haired boy in one of the pictures. Tobi was had an arm around Itachi and Sasuke for the photo. "This one. In case you forgot."
"Itachi!! Was some one at the d- YUMI-CHAN!!" Tobi ran down the flight of stairs.
"Hey Tobi." Yumi smiled sweetly.
Tobi quickly hugged the girl. "Where have you been?! I've missed you so much!!" The girl giggled.
"It was only a week. Besides," Her eyes soften with sadness, "It's their anniversary." Tobi let her go.
"Don't cry Yumi-chan! I'm here to make everything better!"
"Don't worry. I won't." Yumi smiled reassuring him.
"um...if I could interject." Sasori asked, or stated. "How do you know each other?"
"Through Konan." Yumi said quietly. Tobi's arms crossed around Yumi's neck in a loose hug from behind her. He smiled innocently, and yet, knowing something.
"We're going out!"
Silence.
"Seriously?" Deidara managed to sputter out after a few minutes of shock. Konan started to laugh.
"yes. But I wouldn't say boyfriend and girlfriend. It's only been a couple of weeks." Yumi added to Tobi's statement.
"Wow. Tobi has a date now..." Kisame mumbled.
Konan raised an eyebrow. "Jealous?" Kisame flushed as Deidara tried to push down a blush from creeping up, itachi and Sasori did the same as Deidara, but did not make it obvious.
"Of Tobi? Never." Kisame said stubbornly.
Konan sighed. "I didn't mean for Yumi. I meant like, he actually got a first date before you did." She thought. "Unless, you actually are jealous of Tobi cause you like Yumi." Konan asked slyly. She nudged her head at the direction at the two talking by themselves, not really noticing them.
"no!"
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. She's kind, caring, logical, and extremely trustworthy. But the hardest is to gain her trust. She's very innocent, it's cute." Konan paused. "But she's not innocent. In fact she-"
"Konan." Yumi said sternly. "I told you not to tell any of your friends. Even you trust them. I don't." She said coldly. She turned to Tobi and smiled. She grabbed his larger hand in her small one. "Come on Tobi! I found a really good cafe in town!" The two walked away.
KkKkKk (end flashback)
"You mean this cafe?!" Sakura interrupted Sasuke in the middle of explaining.
"Yes. That's why Itachi and the gang come here a lot. It was Yumi's favorite spot."
LlLlLl
Itachi sat on the edge of his bed. "You know Itachi, it's not bad to feel like this." Deidara said.
"I know. But it's still shameful that I can't even recover a little bit." Itachi replied. Deidara sighed an stared at the group picture.
"You have." Deidara finally said. "You just didn't realize it." He got up. Before he walked out the room, he laid the picture next to Itachi. "You'll see." Once he was gone, Itachi relaxed a little bit. After a moment he stared at the picture.
Yumi was so happy. Or she looked so. Everyone in the picture knew better now. Itachi calmed himself. He knew he would have to get over her.
He knew that he would have to move on.
He knew that he would most likely not succeed with either of those.
He knew that no matter what he did. Yumi would not come back.
Itachi rummaged through his desk drawer and pulled out another picture. The more well put together one.
He, Kisame, Konan and Deidara were in the back. Tobi, Sasori and Yumi in the front. Tobi had an arm around Yumi.
Itachi knew what happened to Yumi to make her do that. It was his fault. All of it.
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"Go on Sasuke. Sorry for interrupting."
Sasuke nodded and continued with his story.
KkKkKk
Tobi and Yumi were sitting in the corner of a cafe in town. They were talking to each other. Filling each other on what happened in the past week.
Kisame suddenly had gotten the idea of spying on them. Some how everyone agreed. Except Konan, who knew better. She tried to explain to them.
Yumi started to giggle at a joke that Tobi told her.
"You know how much I missed you right?" Tobi said softly. "Please don't leave without saying anything." He looked down shamefully.
Yumi sighed and put a hand on his face. "I did remember?"
He sniffled. "But you didn't call."
She smiled reassuringly. "I will next time. Okay?"
"okay." Tobi said after a long pause of thinking. Yumi giggled. She laid her head down, her chin tucked in her arms, which crossed on the table. She smiled after a while, her eyes half lidded. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing Tobi. I'm just tired from the trip." Yumi stopped for a little. "And I was just looking at you." She smiled again making Tobi blush.
"uh, well. Why don't I bring you home now since your tired?" Tobi finally asked, still blushing furiously. She stood up slowly and leaned a little on Tobi.
"I'm sorry. I'm really tired right now."
"You must be." Tobi chuckled. "Come on. Why don't you rest at my house for tonight. My house is closer so it's better for you. Besides you can go back in the morning." He led her out the cafe and walked her to his house (AKA the Uchiha house).
"But I'm fine. Just take me home." Yumi said quietly.
"Don't whine. Itachi and Sasuke won't mind." Tobi reassured her. She just sighed and gave up.
Kisame stared strangely at Tobi's back. Suddenly Tobi turned his head around and smirked. Kisame's eyes widened along with the rest of the group. "Oh shit." Tobi turned his head away and led the girl away from them.
"Is it just me or is Tobi actually...threatening now?" Deidara shivered slightly.
"No. He's always been like that. Even to his parents." Itachi's eyes narrowed at the retreating forms.
"Huh?"
"Care to explain Itachi?" Sasori asked raising an eyebrow.
"You'll see." Itachi answered. "Let's go." He walked away leaving them confused.
LlLlLl
Next Morning
"Tobi welcomes you home!" Tobi yelled. The other Uchiha nodded. Itachi was walking away when he was stopped. "Where were you last night Itachi?"
"I stayed at Deidara's. With the others."
"Ah, so you were afraid of coming home?" Tobi asked. "I feel so flattered that you, Itachi Uchiha, fears me." He smirked.
"Does Yumi know this side of you?"
"Why? Concerned?" Tobi played with a pen, balancing it on the tip of his pinky finger. "But to answer your question, yes. In fact, since I'm over protective of her, it makes me like this more often. She's trying to stop that from happening." Tobi threw the pen up and caught it. He pointed the tip at Itachi. "She's concerned about what would happen if I went overboard."
Itachi's eyes narrowed. "But she does not fear you?"
"No reason to." Tobi flipped the pen around his fingers. "That's what she said. And you haven't answered my questions."
"And those are?"
"Your concerned for her right? And I know you were spying on me. I know you didn't suggest that, but you would normally just walk away. It's not you to go snooping around other people's business. You're scared that she'll get hurt. Especially around me."
"I've only known her for not even a month. How could I be concerned for her?" Itachi said. Though he knew he made the wrong choice as soon as those words left his lips.
"Ah. But you forgot. Shisui tended to tell me lots of things that concerned him. Most of them, were of you." Itachi's eyes hardened. "He was worried. Itachi liking a girl? I never found out the girl's name." Itachi watched his cousin cautiously. "But now, I have a hunch. I heard you talk with her in your room. After you painted. Never heard you talk so much."
"But you may not be correct."
"But I still may be correct." Tobi stepped closer to Itachi. "Don't you dare even touch Yumi-chan. If you do, I swear I'll make sure you will die slowly and painfully by my hands."
"I do not believe that you have the right to call her that." Tobi hissed at Itachi, "Nor do I believe that she would like that."
"True. But," Tobi growled, "I do not want you to take her away from me. I don't want it to happen again. Especially to someone I truly got to know and love."
"Tobi?" Yumi asked somewhere upstairs.
"Don't forget that." Tobi warned him.
"Tobi?" Yumi was standing at the top of the stairs wearing a robe. Her hair wet, indicating that she had just finished showering. "What's going on?" She asked tilting her head.
"Nothing Yumi-chan." Tobi walked up to her and started a conversation with her. Itachi walked straight to his room.
"You heard all that right?" He asked. His cell phone open up to his ear.
"Yeah. Wow, Tobi can be really threatening."
"He is."
"Are you really scared of him?"
"Trust me. If everyone in the world knew what he could do, even the scariest people in the world would avoid him."
"But how come Yumi isn't afraid."
"I don't have an answer for that."
"I have a hunch."
"What's that?" Itachi listened to Sasori and Deidara conversing.
"Love."
"Love?" Itachi asked. He was baffled. Who could love him?
"yeah."
"Don't forget about the party. We also need to discuss something."
"Yeah yeah." Deidara hung up. Itachi sighed. He went to his closet and pulled out a black suit. He laid in on the bed then grabbed a towel so he could shower.
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Itachi adjusted his dark blue tie and checked his suit once more.
"Aniki. Guests are starting to arrive."
"Thanks Sasuke." Itachi took a deep breathe. This will be the first time in years that he will see his relatives. He walked out of his room. "You have a date Sasuke?" The younger Uchiha blushed slightly.
"No. But why would you care? You don't have one either." Itachi shrugged at his comment.
"What of your friend Sakura?" Sasuke rolled his eyes and chose to ignore him.
They walked down the stairs and greeted their relatives. Tobi and Yumi were letting people in. Tobi wore a dark blue suit, much like Sasuke's but darker.
Yumi had her hair in a high bun with a light purple butterfly ornament in it some strings of beads came out of it. Bangs came down still covering the right side of her face. She wore a long sleeve off shoulder red dress which reached mid-thigh. She smiled and greeted the Uchihas. Tobi introducing her to them.
Itachi noted how she always made a move to shift the bangs that fell on the left side of her face, but the ride side was always covered.
Yumi then said something to Tobi and he nodded. She walked away towards the kitchen. Itachi walked around aimlessly, then went into the kitchen.
"oh!" Yumi almost bumped into Itachi. "I'm sorry Itachi. I have to go back to Tobi."
"Don't worry. It's my fault." Yumi sighed and said good bye and left.
Itachi's eyebrows furrowed together.
"Hey Itachi. What's up?" Itachi's other cousin waved.
"Shisui."
"Did you see Tobi's new girlfriend? She's cute right?"
"Sure."
"Geez Itachi you're as bland as ever. What's worrying you?"
"Nothing."
"Oh please Itachi. I've practically known you since you were born. I think I know when something is wrong with you."
"You think you know." Itachi pointed out. "Besides, I need to talk to my friends."
"Which reminds me." Shisui rubbed the back of his neck. "How's Konan?"
"Why don't you as her yourself?"
"Cause she'll just ignore me again."
"Well, wouldn't anyone if you just went up to them and asked them out the first time you met them?" Shisui scowled.
"You're so mean to me." He looked around. "The pink haired girl isn't here?"
"Apparently not. Unless she's late. And try not to go around asking out random people for a date." Itachi sighed.
"Itachi!" Deidara came up to him. Sasori and Kisame behind him. They all wore black suits. Kisame had a light blue tie, Sasori a blood red tie, and Deidara a beige one (it the color of clay). "Shisui." He nodded.
"You said we need to talk Itachi." Sasori reminded the Uchiha.
"yes. Shisui, could you excuse us?" That Uchiha nodded and left. "Where's Konan?"
"Talking with Yumi." Kisame jerked his head towards the girl in a dark purple spaghetti strap dress.
"Good. Listen. I think that Yumi might be half blind."
"Huh?"
"Early, during my conversation with Tobi, when she interrupted the bangs did not cover the right side of her face. That eye is completely gray, lifeless."
"How do you know that? I mean, it could just be discoloration at birth." Sasori mentioned.
"And she just be self-conscious and want to hide it."
"You're probably right."
"What has you so caught up in this girl anyway?" Itachi ignored Kisame's question and walked away.
KkKkKk
"I remember that party! I can a little late."
"Yeah..." Sasuke twitched slightly.
"Is Shisui the one that asked me on a date?"
Sasuke nodded slowly.
"Oh! Sorry Sasuke, continue."
KkKkKk
Itachi sighed and asked himself the same question Kisame had earlier. Why did he care so much? It's just another girl.
Right?
"Itachi?" His head snapped up at the familiar voice. Yumi was standing at the door.
"Didn't you leave yet?"
"Tobi is scared for me living alone." She answered. "So he wants me to stay here."
" You live alone?"
"That's none of your business is it?"
"Well what do you want then."
"I just wanted to let you know that Tobi did not mean to threaten you so much up to that point."
"Are you sure? Or are you just saying that?"
"I'm serious. Tobi will say it tomorrow." Yumi bowed slightly. "I'm sorry about what happened." She turned, but was stopped half way out the door.
"Why do you do this for him?"
She turned around and gave him a half glare. "That is also none of your business."
"But you know what he can do right? You heard us."
"I know." She walked out again. "But I trust him. And that's good enough."
No. She wasn't just another girl. Itachi smirked.
She's was definitely something else.
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Itachi walked down the stairs to the kitchen. He found Yumi leaning on the counter, thin black wired glasses on while reading a book. Though her hair still covered the right part of her face.
"You wear glasses?"
"No. Apparently I just love to wear glasses so my eyes become worse." She said sarcastically while turning a page.
"hm." Itachi smirked. He took out an apple from the fridge and sat down. "How do you know when you can trust someone?"
"It's something they earn."
"But it must be hard to become a friend of yours."
"Depends." Yumi turned another page. "Honesty helps, even if it means they did something bad." She looked up over the edge of the book into Itachi's eyes. "Spying perhaps?"
Itachi froze a little right before he was about to take a bite of apple. He sighed. "alright. I admit it."
"It seems out of your nature to do so."
"You don't know me well."
"True." She turned another page. "But your egotistical." She closed her book. "And it seems like spying and having a big ego runs in the family." Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Good morning Sasuke." She spoke a bit louder after opening her book again.
The young Uchiha came into the kitchen. "Good morning."
"Well, I've got to go. Tobi's forcing me to move in here." She sighed and walked away.
"What were guys talking about?"
"Like you don't know."
"Fine I heard." Sasuke gave up trying to act innocent.
"Hey guys!" Tobi came running in. "Where's Yumi-chan?"
"She went to pack cause she's moving in she said." Itachi answered.
"Thanks!" Tobi walked away. But came back peeking his head in. "And Itachi? Sorry about yesterday. Got a little carried away. She's getting fond of you, that's all."
"I was thinking she was hating me."
"She likes your honesty." Tobi smiled sadly. "But seriously, I'm apologize." He said more seriously then bowed slightly. But smirked again. "I should not have treated the rightful heir that way." He snickered then walked away.
"Seems to be in a good mood." Itachi mumbled to himself.
Sasuke who was drinking orange juice through a straw, looked at him, his cheek laying on his fisted hand. "Yumi is good at calming him down. Making him regretful."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "You know this..."
"Yumi likes me." Sasuke shrugged. "She said I was smart. She's more happy when she starts trusting you."
"Is that so."
"Hm." Itachi snapped his head at his smirking little brother who mocked him with his own trade mark grunt (haha).
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Yumi sighed and looked around her small apartment. Checking every single room. And then went downstairs to the manager, but bumped into Tobi.
"Hey Yumi-chan." He grinned at her. "Done packing?"
"Yeah, I just have to tell the manager that I'm leaving, and I have to pay the rent for the month." She sighed.
"hmm...well, I'll go get your bags and meet you downstairs alright?" Yumi nodded. She walked down four flights of stairs then knocked on a door.
"Come in."
"Hey Kurenai (YAY). Just wanted to tell you I'm leaving."
"Moving?"
"kinda..."
"Kinda?"
"I'm going to live at the Uchiha's house."
"Well...okay. But you know that your parents wanted me to take care of you. I'll visit once a month then. Make sure you're okay."
"I trust you that Yumi-chan will be fine." Tobi came in putting a hand on Yumi's shoulder. "But you may visit as much as you want. If anything concerns you just tell us." He smiled.
Kurenai thought for a moment. "Alright. I'll come in a week to check on you"
"Okay Kurenai." Yumi smiled and bowed. She put the money on the table. "Rent money." She explained to her.
"No! I told you, I'm your guardian so I can't take this money."
"I'm just doing what I should like any other person. Besides, you already provided much more than I needed. And you can move back in there." Yumi bowed again and left Tobi right behind her. She put on or messenger bag while Tobi took her suitcase. "Did you apologize to him?"
"Yes. We should be back on good terms." Tobi smiled, his eyes closed. "Well, you can take the room across Sasuke's since you like that one a lot. And Sasuke as well." Yumi giggled.
"He's cute. I'm surprised he doesn't have a girlfriend yet."
"He has one close enough to that."
"Is that so. I hope I meet her."
"Heh, it's unlikely I never met her." Tobi opened the house door and stepped aside to let her in.
Yumi was soon confronted by a loud crash that tackled her. She opened her eyes slowly, met by a pair of blue eyes.
"Yumi! i'm sorry!" Deidara got off her quickly. "You are so dead fish man!!" He ran away chasing after the said blue haired albino (haha!!).
"Yumi-chan! Are you alright?" Tobi asked, putting on his innocent facade on.
"Yes." Yumi got up slowly. "I'm going upstairs okay?"
"Okay!" Yumi grabbed her bags and went to her new room. She set up her room. She suddenly noticed the shortage of clothing she had. While packing she threw away a number of clothings that were too small or did not fit her tastes anymore.
Once she was done she sighed. Then sat on the window sill looking out to the rain. She closed her eyes and smiled. Remembering a happy moment.
Tobi stood leaning on the door frame watching her face. He walked in and closed the door, which brought Yumi out of her trance.
"Tobi!" She said surprised when she was suddenly hugged from behind.
"Tobi sees you're done packing." He said playfully. Yumi sighed and tilted her head to the side as Tobi kissed her lightly on the neck.
"You always point out the obvious."
Tobi chuckled. "Are you cold?" He whispered.
"Not anymore."
"hm." Yumi sighed. She laid her head on his. Then fell asleep.
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Okay, well that's not even half way through explaining, so it'll be a while until it's an actual chapter...sorry!!
And YAY I actually updated quickly!!
And yes, Tobi is like a Madara Uchiha, faking, an Uchiha, mhmm...well he's still Tobi. It may be confusing but it'll all clear up! And no, before you ask, Itachi and Yumi do not end up together.
Now, no more clues!!
Please Review!!