Part 2

Had he been anyone but the Uchiha prodigy, Itachi would be wringing his hands and probably stuttering. Luckily he was the Uchiha prodigy and that saved him from some indignity. He'd just spilled the beans to the object of his so very ardent affections and she'd been staring at him for the past 3 minutes and 28 seconds. And yes, he was counting again.

Sakura had been silent while he'd talked, her eyes wide and for once unreadable. She who always proudly displayed her emotions for the world to see, had unreadable eyes. That threw him off. And sent him into a fit of panic that he just barely managed to conceal.

Had he shocked her? Well, that was a given. He could deal with that, he'd been expecting it. Had he scared her off? Oh, goodness he hoped not. What in the world was he supposed to do if she was suddenly scared of him? Sakura, she who was never scared of anything, afraid of him? He wouldn't be able to handle it.

"Sakura-san," he broke finally unable to take the silence and her heavy stare anymore. "Please say something."

He was not above begging, at least in this instance, he wasn't. He needed an answer, something, anything.

And finally she broke that unnerving stare, big green eyes falling to her hands and her fingers were knotting, and her cheeks flooded with heat, and oh dear Gods she looked so very alluring at the moment it took all his self restraint not to reach for her and wrap her up in his arms, kiss those lips she was currently biting. How in the world was it possible for a single girl to have that kind of effect on him?

He had half a mind to resent her for it for the feelings she was causing to boil over inside of him with a single look of hers. But he couldn't, her pull was way too strong. Simply put she owned him, body and soul and he couldn't, wouldn't even want to break free. Everything he had, everything he was, was telling him that he'd gladly be her willing slave as long as she'd have him.

So the ball was in her court. She could make him or break him. And frankly said that terrified him.

He shouldn't have forced this confrontation, he suddenly realized. Not now. He wasn't ready. He didn't even know the full specter of his own emotions. Only now that he was standing before her, offering to her himself was he beginning to realize that he was consciously aware of only a fraction of the things he felt for her.

The rest, the depth of it, only now making itself known to him was something he had never even imagined himself capable of feeling.

But why wouldn't he? He as an Uchiha. Uchiha felt more love than anyone else.

And there it was. He loved her. Gods help him, he loved her. Now truly his entire existence rested in those tiny, deceptively delicate, but all so powerful hands.

Suddenly, Sakura was talking. "Ita-" she started, but broke off, her voice hoarse. After clearing her throat she started again. "Itachi-san," her voice was soft, barely audible. "I… I don't know what to say."

He should have expected that. Sakura didn't have men coming to her door to declare themselves hers. His own foolish little brother and Naruto saw to it that all but the most persistent were sacred off. And Kakashi suitably terrified the rest.

What a mess this was. Well, he as here now, no going back possible. He wanted her, he loved her, but she didn't need to know that. Not yet. There would be a time when she was ready to her it, but that time was not now. Definitely not.

"I know that this must have come as a shock to you. And I'm sorry for springing on you so suddenly. But I felt that waiting would be inappropriate. So please, Sakura-san, just tell me this. Would you even consider me as a romantic partner or is it out of question?"

That got a reaction out of her and she jumped to her feet, shaking her head almost wildly.

"No, no, Itachi-san! Please don't think that! I'm… I'm honored. And I'm… Well, I'm a little stunned,to be honest. I never expected that you would feel that way about someone like me…"

Wait, what?

"Someone like you? What do you mean, someone like you, Sakura-san?"

She blushed and looked away and something foreign, something ugly stirred in the pit of his stomach. This beautiful, brilliant, strong, amazing woman, found it hard to believe that he wanted her? What in the world was going on here? She was usually so self-confident and so very sure of herself that this side of her was not a welcome surprise.

Kakshi's face flashed in his mind for a second. The look in that lone, dark eye when he'd advised Itachi to be blunt and direct, or Sakura wouldn't get it. Flirtation didn't work with her. It didn't work because it never amounted to anything when someone flirted with her. He was going to kill Naruto and Sasuke. Slowly and painfully. What they perceived as protecting her had completely distorted Sakura's self-image. Where he and everyone else saw a beautiful, capable, strong, desirable woman, Sakura saw someone men didn't want. Oh those, stupid, idiotic boys.

They were going to spar tomorrow he decided. He and Shisui against Sasuke and Naruto and they'd teach them a lesson. A lesson neither would forget very soon. When Itachi was through with them they'll be begging him to kill them.

He forced the red-hot rage down, now was not the time to give in to it. He had Sakura to look after. Tomorrow though there'll be hell to pay.

"Sakura," he started quietly, stepping closer and taking her hands. "You're the one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. You're intelligent, strong, passionate. I am the one who would be honored if you choose me. And if you do, I promise, that I will spend the rest of my life proving that I am worthy of you."

Those big, enchanting eyes, looked deep into his and when tears gathered around her lashes he fought the urge to draw her closer.

"I… I would like to know you better, Itachi-sa – Itachi. I like you, very much, but we don't know each it her very well. So, yes, I would want to be with you, but can we take it slow?" she asked tentatively and Itachi's heart lifted. She wasn't saying no. She was saying yes. It was no declaration of love, but he could work with this. If she wanted to take it slow, than that's exactly what he would do. She was giving him a chance and he'd do anything he possibly could to make her understand just how much he felt for her.

"Of course," he murmured, slowly drawing her closer, till they were standing chest to chest. She looked up at him through her lashes and he couldn't keep the small smile off his face. "As slow as you want, Sakura. Anything you want."

And he was lost, lost in her eyes, drowning in an emerald sea and he never wanted to surface again. He was tired of the shore, wanted to be lost in her depths forever. Unconsciously, he leaned closer only superficially noticing that Sakura wasn't protesting, was in fact closing the distance further.

Seconds later their lips met. Hesitantly he pressed his against hers, hearing her breath hitch in her chest, her hands almost clamping down on his and a strangled sound escaped her throat as she pressed herself further into his chest.

He didn't protest, far from it. Releasing her hands, he slowly wrapped his arms around her small frame, enclosing her in warmth and comfort. One hand pressed into the small of her back, the other rose to tangle in her soft, still damp pink strands.

He tilted his head to the side, anchoring her with his hand in her hair and deepened the kiss. After a couple of seconds she relaxed in his hold, almost melting into him as her lips tentatively moved with his.

The feeling of her in his arms, so warm, so soft, made to be right there, overtook all his senses and clear thought escaped him completely. Oh, she was so very dangerous. And so very perfect. And his. Now that he was finally holding her in his arms, he was never, but ever letting her go again.

AN: Much shorter than part one, but I didn't want to go beyond their first kiss for this part.

Next chapter Itachi will find his work cut out for him on their first date, so stay tuned.

Thank you for the wonderful response, I hope you all enjoyed this part as well.