Semi-important note: This story is NOT DEAD or ABANDONED. Chapters 1-7 have gone through multiple edits. The plot has not changed, but some scenes and conversations have been altered. If you do not want to reread the previous chapters, you will not be lost or behind in future chapters. But if you are looking for some new content, feel free to go back and enjoy the newly edited (and in my opinion, polished) chapters!
Thanks for your patience! Enjoy!
Chapter Eight
The soft rustling of paper was the only sound to disturb the tranquility of the garden as Itachi turned a page. With one hand supporting his weight, he reclined back, the other holding his book secure between his fingers, as he swung one foot absentmindedly off the walkway.
With Sasuke gone for the day already, the house was quiet and Itachi took the opportunity to catch up on some reading he'd been itching to delve into recently. For some time he sat alone, undisturbed as he absorbed the book before him.
It was one Shisui had bought him a number of months ago. His cousin had found an aged text on battle tactics dating back to a few hundred years ago before the villages had grouped and organized. Much of the information was no longer relevant but it had always been of great interest to Itachi to see how military strategies had changed over the years and he flew through the chapters, engrossed in the pages.
"Itachi, there you are."
Quickly finishing his sentence, Itachi glanced up and smiled softly at his mother. She was dressed for town in a plump-colored dress that dipped below her collarbone but remained modest, falling to just below her knees. A pair of delicate but sophisticated bracelets accentuated her slim wrists and tinkled quietly as her hands moved.
"Good morning, Okaasan," he greeted. "Did you need me for something?"
"I'm headed into the village and was wondering if you'd care to join me," she said with a faintly apologetic smile. "I know you haven't had much time to relax lately, but Sasuke already left for the day and your father is away on clan business. I wouldn't normally ask but I have a number of things to collect and I'm afraid I can't carry it all on my own…"
Mikoto trailed off suggestively, causing Itachi to fight a small smirk. Both his brother and cousin were gifted in the art of manipulation, but none had mastered it quite as well as his mother. No one could ever say no to her.
"I do not mind accompanying you," Itachi said as he closed his book and pushed himself to his feet. "I just need to collect my things."
She beamed in reply before she led the way back into the house. Back in his room, Itachi laid his book to rest on the stand beside his bed before he changed into a fresh shirt and his newest pair of shinobi pants. He returned downstairs after retying his hair into a low ponytail, ensuring not a hair was out of place.
Normally Itachi was not one to trouble himself with appearances but the market was a place of high visibility and the attendance of the Uchiha Matriarch and Heir would draw attention whether wanted or not. Mikoto was just as aware of this fact and she smiled her approval as he met her at the door.
It had been so long since the last time Itachi had accompanied his mother shopping that he had forgotten just how popular she was amongst the villagers. They paused half a dozen times as civilians and shinobi alike stopped her to ask about her and her family. Itachi was attentive and spoke when spoken to but was otherwise silent as Mikoto gossiped and half-seriously bragged about her children.
Much to his surprise, Itachi found he was enjoying himself. He suspected Mikoto knew it too. Weeks had passed since the last time he'd spent any time with his mother. He'd forgotten how much he liked listening to her talk and how infectious her smiles were. Even as the matriarch of one of the most powerful clans within the village, she put those around her at ease and seemed to take a genuine interest in the affairs of others, no matter how frivolous. At least an hour passed before they actually reached the market and began their shopping.
Itachi helped her pick out vegetables and fruits she'd need for meals that week before they moved on to viewing the different cuts of meat the butcher had in. Mikoto made idle chatter with the civilian man as he wrapped up a whole chicken for her, and unconsciously Itachi's gaze wandered as he watched the everyday life of those around him until a flash of pink caught out of the corner of his eye.
Sakura was standing before a stall lined with various flavors of tea, her form half-bent as she read the labeled boxes. He didn't know if it was because she was the only familiar face in a sea of strangers or because it had been so long since the last time he saw her outside the hospital that drew his eye but he studied her for some minutes from across the wide path that allowed the majority of the foot traffic to pass through the market.
With her back to him, she continued the stop unhurriedly and completely at ease, unaware of his attentions. She had forgone her jounin vest, revealing the feminine curves under her form-fitting shirt, but there was hidden strength underneath. The kunoichi in her showed in the way she moved with unconscious grace: the sweeping away of a stray wisp of pink hair, the shifting of her weight to peer at the items on a higher shelf, the way she rolled back onto the bottoms of her feet to greet the owner of the stall as he addressed her. Sakura was a medic and a healer, but she was a kunoichi first.
Itachi waited until she resumed her shopping to weave through the marketplace to approach her. Now that he was behind her, he was able to clearly see the deep lacerations that had marred her shoulder only two nights ago were gone, leaving behind only smooth skin. The lack of injury left him strangely relieved, and he peered over her shoulder as she picked a up a box of cinnamon-infused tea.
"If you prefer sweeter teas, the wild orange is quite satisfying."
Sakura looked up and regarded him curiously before she shook her head thoughtfully. "Can't say I've ever tried it."
"The natural sweetness and acidity of the orange make for an interesting blend, but it is delicious," he told her. "My favorite, in fact."
"Is that so? Well if it's that good, perhaps I should get two boxes then."
There was a small smile playing in the corner of her mouth and Itachi nearly blinked in surprise at discovering her tone was vaguely teasing. He couldn't recount any time when she had used such a tone with him but the change pleased him and he smirked at her mild joke.
"I didn't think the members of the main household ever came to the market," she said, replacing the box on the shelf before she eyed the space behind him curiously. "Don't you have servants or something that shop for you?"
"We do, but my mother prefers coming herself. She believes it is the only way to get the proper items," he said, faint amusement coloring his tone.
Sakura laughed. "Smart woman."
Itachi made a noise of agreement in the back of his throat as he smirked lightly.
"Well I guess that's convenient for me then. I was actually on my way to the compound after this."
He stilled before his mood slowly sobered. There was only one reason she could have to seek him out directly, and he knew what she had to say long before she spoke. "You received the results of the blood test."
There was no question in his tone and Sakura blinked in surprise before nodding. "Uh, yes, I did."
The playful light in her eyes faded and his senses were quick to hone in on the subtle shift in her mood. Without her saying a word, Itachi was already aware of what the test had told her and he fought the frown threatening to pull the corners of his mouth down, only too aware of their public setting. Anticipation twisted his stomach into knots.
"It is a match."
"I'm afraid it's worse than that," she said regretfully.
Itachi's brows furrowed and he shook his head, not understanding her meaning. She didn't immediately answer as a pair of civilians passed and she eyed them until they were out of earshot before continuing, "The blood types matched as AB. It's the rarest blood type in the world with less than five percent of the population having it."
"Meaning that the likelihood of another with AB type blood was attacked in the same area around the same time is almost zero," Itachi concluded.
"It is still possible…" Sakura said softly.
"But not probable."
The look on her face was answer enough and Itachi inhaled slowly as he fought the grief that stiffened the muscles of his heart. He had foreseen this outcome and even expected it, but hearing it confirmed was something else entirely.
He would have to inform his father, who would in turn would need to notify Izumi's parents. Itachi could only imagine what they were about to go through. Izumi had been an only child and it was likely her parents would never be the same after this. Whatever loss he felt now would pale in comparison to what they were about to endure, and Itachi hated that he was to be the one to bring them the worst news they would ever hear.
"I'll run a DNA match just to confirm," Sakura added.
Itachi nodded stiffly, suddenly feeling alone amongst the crowd as content market-goers continued to slip by like water along rocks, but he was brought back to reality sharply as Sakura unexpectedly rested a hand on his arm.
He simply stared at it.
Her touch was gentle but warm, her fingers appearing so small against his forearm. It briefly amazed him that these same hands could weave skin back together and level trees with a single blow. It wasn't the first time he'd felt her palms against his skin but it was the first time she had done so willingly with no other motive than to comfort.
"I'm so sorry, Itachi."
He raised his gaze to meet hers slowly. Regret and sorrow reflected back at him in the depths of her emerald eyes and he wished he could find the words to make those emotions go away.
"Thank you for all that you have done."
A small, sympathetic smile crossed her face and she opened her mouth but the words never made it past her lips as his mother promptly appeared. Mikoto observed their closeness, lingering longest on the hand Sakura still rested on his arm, but she said nothing as she smiled with well-feigned obliviousness. "Sakura, dear! It's been too long! How are you? I hope you haven't been working too hard."
Sakura withdrew her hand before she stepped back a respectful distance from Itachi. "I'm doing well," she said, her smile warming. "Just busy with the hospital."
"So Sasuke tells me. It's been far too long since you've sat at my table. I was beginning to think you didn't enjoy my cooking anymore," Mikoto pouted half-seriously.
"On the contrary, I had to cut myself off. I was beginning to gain too much weight eating your meals every night."
"Dear, a little thing like you, I hardly think that's possible."
Sakura laughed at Mikoto's light teasing and Itachi too found his dull mood lift minutely as he watched the two women banter. He wasn't aware Sakura was a common guest at his household, but then again his nights were usually spent with Shisui when he wasn't out of the village.
"Well I do hope you'll come by again soon," Mikoto continued. "Our door is always open to you. You are coming to the party next week, aren't you?"
Sakura's brow furrowed and Itachi too eyed his mother curiously. "What party?"
"Sasuke's birthday. A celebration is in order and I always do enjoy a chance to get everyone together. It's a surprise, of course."
"Because he would not come otherwise," Itachi murmured.
His mother shot him a quiet smile that confirmed his suspicions, causing him to snort faintly. He could still clearly recall the last birthday party forced upon him and the chaos that had unfolded as his two teammates engaged in a drinking contest that even Anko had walked away from. How Shisui and Genma hadn't become hospitalized from alcohol poisoning, he still hadn't the faintest idea.
"Yeah, I'll be there," Sakura said, her voice rich with humor. "What do you need me to bring?"
"Just yourself," Mikoto told her. "I don't want you getting caught up in hospital business if you can help it. I know you're busy, but I also know I'll only get Sasuke to stay if his teammates are there with him."
"I'll have Shizune cover for me. She can handle the hospital for a night."
"Good," Mikoto smiled. Then it slowly faded as she looked over Sakura with a critical eye. "And how are things at the hospital? Are you doing okay? I heard about the incident the other afternoon."
Had Itachi not been watching the subtle change in Sakura's demeanor would have gone unnoticed, but his keen eyes picked up on the way her smile tightened in the corners of her mouth like it took effort to hold. "It was nothing. I'm alright," she said as her shoulders rolled in a casual shrug.
"You were nearly strangled to death in your own hospital, Sakura," Mikoto said, her voice unyielding but soft in a tone that only a mother knew. "You are not alright."
Itachi glanced at his mother sharply before his eyes flickered back to Sakura in search of answers. He hadn't yet had the chance to read the report on the assault and had taken her word that the Hokage had overreacted by ordering an alert on the village. Judging by Sakura's expression of stark surprise, it appeared the attack had been far more serious than she had led on.
"The details of that report are sealed. How do you know?" Mikoto didn't answer and when she continued to stare at Sakura pointedly, her gaze fell to the ground. "I'm...a little on edge," Sakura admitted. "But I am alright."
The older woman smiled comfortingly, but her attention was stolen as the butcher called for her then. She excused herself quietly, leaving the pair alone again.
Itachi studied Sakura closely but she refused to meet his eye. Again, he was faced with the cold reality that she still did not trust him. And again, he found himself discontent with that fact.
"You told me you were not injured."
"I wasn't when you asked." He fixed her with a purposeful stare and she quickly added, "I just didn't want you to think that-."
That I couldn't handle myself.
She was unable to voice the last half. She hated that the fight had been as close as it had been. Tsunade had trained her hard and pushed her to what Sakura had thought was her breaking point and then even further still. She was a strong kunoichi, but her confidence had been bruised and the last thing she wanted was for someone like Uchiha Itachi to pity her.
"I'm fine now," Sakura finally said.
He frowned but said nothing more, and a slight awkwardness began to rise between them. When it was apparent Itachi wasn't going to be the first to speak, Sakura cleared her throat lightly. "Anyway, I should be getting back to the hospital. I won't have the labs for Izumi for a few days, but I'll let you know the moment I do."
Itachi didn't reply but he nodded before Sakura quietly excused herself. His eyes followed her until she vanished in the crowd.
##
It was almost ironic how familiar Itachi was becoming with the hospital. Nearly his entire shinobi career he had done his best to avoid the tall, white building located in the heart of the village, only too aware of how many comrades had entered the doors and never exited again. And now here he was, once again navigating the seemingly endless, tiled halls.
Stepping into the elevator, Itachi adjusted his hold on the lunch bag in his hand to press the floor number. As soon as the doors closed, the warm scent of tempera filled the small space and would have made his stomach rumble in suspense had he not already eaten.
His mother had made an early dinner and packed a to-go bag only too concerned, as she normally was, that Sakura wasn't eating properly with all that was happening. With Sasuke still out of the house, she had requested Itachi deliver it to her himself.
Shizune was in the hall when Itachi arrived on his intended floor, obviously waiting for the elevator. She was fingering through a stack of documents but she looked up expectantly as the doors opened and a smile with genuine warmth softened her features as she recognized him. "Itachi-san, I haven't seen you in some time. How are you?"
"I am well. Thank you," he greeted. "And yourself?"
"I can't complain," she said as she stuck her arm out to hold the elevator. Then she smirked. "Well maybe I can complain a little. Genma has been restless the last two days. He's itching to get back out in the field with you guys."
Itachi nodded in understanding. He felt the same, having fallen victim to the same poison as his teammate. With the threat lurking so close, they all wanted answers - and a target, someone they could hold accountable for the attacks on their shinobi. "I plan to speak to the Hokage today to see what I can arrange."
Shizune smiled her thanks before her attention fell to the packed bag in his hand. "That smells good."
"My mother wanted to ensure Haruno-san was doing well," he said, answering her unspoken question.
"Lucky Sakura," she murmured, the jealousy all too evident in her voice. She stepped into the lift as her hand prevented the doors from closing again before she gestured down the hall. "She should be in the office."
Itachi nodded his thanks before Shizune dropped her arm and allowed the lift doors to finally close. Just as she had said, Sakura was in the women's shared office, stretched out on the couch against the wall and wholly asleep. One arm was draped carelessly over her head while the other rested across her stomach.
Her position was vaguely similar to how Shisui napped after a hard sparring match and Itachi smirked in faint amusement before he turned away to leave her meal on the desk. He then made for the door, intent on leaving just as quietly as he had come when he heard it. A muted whimper that would have fallen unnoticed to anyone but a well-seasoned ninja.
Stopping in the doorway, Itachi glanced back at Sakura to study her again. She hadn't moved and was utterly motionless, still unconscious to the world around her. Then her fingers twitched and another quiet whine sounded in the back of her throat as her brow creased with tension.
For a moment, Itachi simply watched her, debating whether he would be doing more harm than good by waking her. But his choice was made from him when she made another low noise of distress, and he crossed the room to where she was resting. "Sakura, wake up."
She shifted, this time more distinctly, but didn't wake.
"Sakura," he tried again with a hand to her shoulder.
In an instant, she snapped her eyes open and bolted upright. Still groggy, she attempted to jerk back but in the confined space of the couch she was trapped and reflexively she pushed away from him. Itachi caught her wrists only too aware of the power her fists held as her chakra crackled through the air and left a nearly jarring effect in its wake, like a lightning bolt that had struck too close.
Without releasing her, he knelt down before he called her name again, his tone insistent, and after blinking hard Sakura met his gaze. Her dream still danced behind her wide eyes but it was slowly fading and the tension in her taut form lessened as she became more aware of her surroundings. "Itachi…"
She breathed a heavy sigh of relief as she let her head hang between them. He didn't release her wrists but his grip loosened as the charge of her chakra faded. A moment later, Sakura collected herself and he finally let her go as she picked her head up once more to run her hands down her face, a soft cruse falling from her lips.
"It was only a nightmare," he told her comfortingly.
"Yeah..." she murmured. Then she lowered her hands to study him with a concerned, critical eye. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lash out. Did I hurt you?"
Itachi shook his head once. "No, I am fine."
"Good."
Relief washed over her, causing him to frown minutely. He didn't like that she seemed more worried over his well being when it was herself she should be concerned with. As a medic, it was likely second nature to put her patients before herself, and it suddenly occurred to him for the first time that perhaps that was why she had chosen not to tell him about what had happened in her OR.
As her dream finally fell away forgotten, Sakura eyed him curiously. "What are you doing here?" she asked, not unkindly.
"My mother wanted to ensure you were eating well."
Confused, she followed his gesture to the desk. A moment later, a soft smile broke out across her face as she realized what it was that was making her office smell so delicious and her stomach twinged in anticipation. "Your mom is too kind. Will you thank her for making me dinner? And thank you for bringing it to me."
Itachi nodded but his gaze never left her face. "She's concerned about you."
"She doesn't need to."
"Doesn't she?"
At his question, her brows furrowed and she shook her head, not understanding his meaning.
"Why did you not tell me?" Itachi asked. "That I had attacked you."
Sakura visibly stilled. Her eyes widened slightly and for a moment, she simply stared. "How-how do you know?"
"I frighten you. And not from rumor, but rather experience," he explained quietly. "You are wary and distrustful of me. You grow tense in my presence and flinch away when I am too close. I know I harmed you that morning in your operating room. What I do not understand is why you did not tell me."
Ashamed, Sakura looked down at her lap. She had done her best to keep the events of that morning to herself, but even she had not anticipated the last-effects of the Sharingan. Itachi was incredibly observant and his unrivaled perception was respected within the Five Nations, even besting Shikamaru who held the sharpest mind of her graduating class. She suddenly felt foolish for believing she could hide the truth from Itachi forever.
"I didn't mean to make you feel isolated," she said into her lap. "When you came to me that day in my office, you were already so guilty. I didn't want to make you feel worse than you already. It seems that my attempt to protect you backfired."
Shisui always said the road to hell was paved with good intentions. Itachi never appreciated the meaning behind those words until now, but his expression betrayed none of his thoughts. Instead, he met her gaze evenly from where he still knelt in front of her as she asked what he had been wanting to know, "Tell me what happened that morning."
Conflict warred across her face and for a moment he believed she wouldn't tell him. But then she sighed and finally began: "Shisui brought me to the hospital that morning. When I got there, you were already in the operating room. You were heavily injured both from the poison and your disease. The poison, as you know, is highly hallucinogenic, and you were disoriented and aggressive. I already told you you injured two of my doctors as they tried to sedate you, but what I didn't tell you was that you had attacked me too."
"None of your staff spoke of any injuries," Itachi said. His expression turned thoughtful but it cleared a moment later as he came to his own conclusion. "I used the Sharingan against you."
There was no question in his voice and Sakura blinked, amazed he had so swiftly put the pieces together, before she nodded grimly. "Yes, the Mangekyou."
It was Itachi's turn to be surprised. His eyes noticeably widened and he searched her face as if trying to find some answer in her expression. There was a quiet intensity in the depths of his obsidian irises and Sakura flushed under his acute scrutiny, but she didn't flinch or shy away from him.
So many times before she had wondered what was passing behind his normally stoic expression but his thoughts were so clear to her now as shame and remorse flickered across his face. This had been the very thing she had been trying to avoid. She didn't blame him for the incident, and she didn't want him to feel at fault either.
"You should have told me sooner."
She shook her head. "It wouldn't change anything and I didn't want you to feel responsible for something that was entirely out of your control."
"I tortured you," Itachi said, his voice suddenly sharp. "I am responsible."
There was no mistaking the anger in his tone but it was self-directed, and he looked at the floor, unable to meet her gaze any longer. The air nearly hummed with the intensity of his disgrace, and her heart both softened and broke at the same time. This was the very thing she had been trying to avoid. Sakura didn't know if she had made the right call by keeping the incident a secret for so long, and she wished she knew what to say now to make him understand that she held no animosity towards him.
When Itachi picked his head up again, his expression was unreadable but his eyes were dark and piercing as if he was looking into her very soul. "What did you see?"
His question caught her off-guard and she didn't immediately reply as she weighed the consequences of telling him or not. It wouldn't lessen his guilt by any means, but the way his eyes bored into hers, she knew that he wouldn't be satisfied until she told him the truth. The whole truth.
The emotions and images that had been forced upon her burned in her mind just as brightly, just as real as if she had witnessed them only yesterday. The kunai still felt heavy in her hand and even now, the scent of blood lingered in her nose, thick and metallic.
It took her a moment to find her voice. "I killed my staff. And my teammates. Every one of them."
This time, Sakura looked away as the intensity of his gaze quickly became too much but Itachi's acute attention never wavered as self-reproach like none he had experienced washed over him and settled like a hard rock in his stomach. It was even worse than the mission Shisui had nearly been killed after taking what would have been a killing blow for Itachi. At least his cousin had made his own choices. This was something that had been forced upon Sakura.
"How can I ever begin to make amends?" Itachi asked quietly.
She shook her head. "It wasn't your fault. You owe me nothing, Itachi. Not even an apology."
He frowned but didn't say the words. "I do not wish for you to fear me."
Slipping off the couch, Sakura knelt on the floor in front of him. Itachi made a move to back away to give her room, but she stopped him with a gentle touch to his knee before she held out her other hand towards him. His eyebrows knitted together, not fully understanding what she was wanting but eventually he placed his hand in hers.
Sakura smiled softly as her fingers tightened around his. "I know you would never intentionally hurt me."
It was the most open Itachi could ever recall her being with him and under the weight of all his guilt, something else stirred in his chest. Now unguarded, he could clearly see the dark emerald slivers in her green eyes and the quiet intelligence reflecting in their depths. It shined so brightly now he wondered how he had never noticed before.
Unconsciously his fingers tightened around hers. Her hand was warm and smooth but there was strength in her fingers, and he yet again marveled how this kunoichi was such a paradox, seemingly gentle but wielding power that even he did not possess. She was short-tempered and hot-headed but kind and generous with both her time and energy. Why his brother ever used to complain about her, he hadn't the faintest idea.
Itachi was sure he would have continued to stare but noise outside the office drew his notice. Sakura heard the sound too a moment later, but Itachi was the first to move. He stood, pulling Sakura to her feet as well, before a nurse in scrubs wheeled a small child in a wheelchair into the office.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Haruno-san, but he insisted."
"Ryota, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked. A mix of concern and surprise crossed her face and she quickly crossed the room before she dropped to be at his eye level. "You know better than to be out of bed. Are you alright?"
Itachi stayed where he was but his curiosity stirred and he watched the pair interact silently. The boy couldn't be any older than five but he was small for his age, barely taking up half the seat of the rolling chair. An air of sickness hovered around him, his cheekbones standing out sharply and his skin pale, but there was a childish smile on his lips and his eyes danced with life as Sakura fussed over him.
"I wanted to see you!" he told her.
"Ryota…" she warned quietly.
She shot the nurse a look but the woman merely frowned apologetically. "I tried but I was afraid he would try and walk to your office otherwise. Should I take him back to his room?" she asked, her eyes briefly flickering to Itachi.
"No, it's fine, Oyone," Sakura said. "I've got him."
Oyone nodded before she quietly stepped out of the office to resume her duties.
Sakura's attention returned to Ryota as she straightened his hospital robe before brushing his hair out of his eyes. It was getting long again and threatening to obscure his vision. She'd have to talk to one of the nurses about getting it cut soon. "You shouldn't be out of bed," Sakura murmured.
"I wanted to see you," he repeated. "And I was bored. I hate my room."
"I know you do. But you need to save your energy. You're going to need all the energy you can get when you go to the academy."
Sakura fought to keep the sadness out of her voice as she spoke, only too aware that the likelihood of that day coming to pass was growing smaller with each passing day. It seemed cruel to lie so blatantly but Ryota's dream was the only thing keeping him going and if it gave him something to look forward to in his numbered days, then she would lie until his last breath.
"Who is that?"
Confused, Sakura followed his gaze only for her eyes to widen as she found Itachi still standing on the other side of her office. He had been so silent the entire time she had assumed he had flickered out of the room. Instead he was studying her, observing their exchange with quietly watchful eyes.
"This is my-" friend, acquaintance, teammate's brother. She didn't know quite what to call him. "This is Itachi."
Ryota eyed him curiously. "Are you Sakura's friend?"
Had Itachi not been standing right there, she would have deadpanned but she said nothing as Itachi approached, his footsteps silent against the hardwood floor. "I am," he said as he too knelt down beside Sakura to be at Ryota's level.
She glanced at him sharply upon his answer but he was looking at Ryota, and she wondered if he actually meant what he said or was just appeasing the young boy.
"Me too," Ryota said excitedly. "That means we're friends too!"
Sakura opened her mouth to interject but Itachi beat her to it before she could utter a single word. "So it does," he murmured, a faint smile softening the usually hard edges of his face. "It is nice to meet you, Ryota."
Ryota was absolutely beaming as Itachi half-bowed from where he knelt on the floor. Sakura didn't realize she had been staring until Itachi met her gaze, the small smile on his face still apparent. Upon that single look, the tension that had been unconsciously building within her faded and she matched his smile with one of her own.
Yes, they were friends.
to be continued...
Chapter Eight is finally done. To those of you who skipped the note above (because I do it too ha), chapters 1-7 have gone through multiple edits. The plot has not changed, but some scenes and conversations have been altered.
If you do not want to reread the previous chapters, you will not be lost or behind in future chapters. But if you are looking for some new content, feel free to go back and enjoy the newly edited (and in my opinion, polished) chapters!
As some of you may have noticed, I have turned off my PMs on this site. I have no plans to turn it back on in the future, so if you are looking to message me privately, you are more than welcome to do so on tumblr. I have the same username.
Thanks for sticking with me! I plan to finish this story through to the end!