My Favorite Mistake
Chapter Four: Knowing One's Place
Sakura sat in the quite room looking much better then she had in weeks. She was wearing a fresh pair of clothes. A long sleeved red shit along with black pants and proper shoes on her feet. For once in a long time she was warm. She felt warm. The overwhelming feeling of hopelessness was gone. She was slowly starting to feel like a different person. Not so much like the same person that she had been when she had first left Konoha but still different from the person who had stayed with the Akatsuki, and nowhere near the person she was when she had stayed in Sound. She was different.
Sakura played with the hem of her shirt, saying she was nervous would be an understatement. She'd been sitting in this room for well over three hours and it was starting to make her feel more and more uneasy. Itachi had gone to speak with Tsunade. It amazed her when Itachi had used the rings to contact the rest of the Akatsuki who were now on their way here as well. She looked down at the ring that sat on her pinky finger. She was a member of the Akatsuki.
She reached up and moved her hair behind her ear. How had she let it get so long?
"I like your hair like this,"
She blushed remembering very well that day. This journey that she had adventured on. She never thought that this would be where it was ending. If anything it wasn't even close to ending. She slowly brought her hand down and rested it on her stomach where a baby was slowly growing. Her baby… She smiled almost wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. She looked around the room to find Sasuke and Karin sitting not far away. Sasuke was leaning against the wall, asleep. Karin was leaning against his shoulder her eyes down casted at her hands. Her red eyes looked up and landed on Sakura's.
"Are you okay?" Karin asked. It was funny how the two girls had grown so much from their first meeting. Sakura smiled whipping a tear from her eye.
"Yeah, I'm fine… just nervous,"
"Is it weird being back here?" Was it weird? Sakura wasn't sure that that was the best word to describe how she was feeling. She could remember a time when all she had wanted was to wake up and find that Kakashi would be walking her home from a long day at work… and now she didn't even want to look at the man or hear his name.
"No," she said before looking up at the light.
"Is it different?" Sakura smiled. There was just something about that word that made her think of different days.
"No, it's not that different."
Kakashi stood not far outside of the hospital. In fact he stood at his normal spot where he used to wait for Sakura. Every day at this time she would get off work and he would walk her home. Every day he would hope that she would return his feelings. That she would give him some hint that she felt the same way. He closed his eyes before turning away from the hospital and walking down the same path he would take to take her home.
Countless times on this walk he would slow reach out to grasp her hand and each time he would pull back. To scared to make a move. To scared to ruin what relationship they had already built. But here he was walking to her old apartment that he would probably never be able to enter again. Here he was with an already ruined relationship. Would it have been different if he had told her of his feelings? He stopped when he reached her front door. Would she even enter this home again?
"Kakashi," Kakashi looked up before turning around to meet the steady eyes of Nara Shikamaru. "Tsuande has called for us," Kakashi nodded before following Shikamaru. When the two reached the Hokage Tower it took all the older man had not to fight Uchiha Itachi. Kakashi clenched and unclenched his fist.
Tsuande stood up staring at the three men. "Itachi and I have talked. He does not need to answer anything to you," Tsunade said her honey eyes staring at Kakashi as if daring him to question her. "I need you three to wait at the gates for the rest of the Akatsuki, bring everyone here as soon as they arrive,"
Shikamaru and Kakashi nodded before leaving the room along with Itachi. It wasn't long until before the three stood at the gate and waited. "So… Itachi…" Shikamaru said trying to break some of the tension in area. Itachi turned to look at the younger boy. His eye's their normal red stared back at Shikamaru. "Ummm… I'm Nara Shikamaru,"
Itachi stared at the awkward boy for a moment before nodding. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard of you,"
"You've heard of me?" he questioned unsure of what exactly that meant.
"Yes, it is best for me to learn of each hidden villages special members. Especially for me to learn of those who come from my home."
"This place is not your home," Kakashi said through clenched teeth. "This is our home. We protect it—"
"Kakashi," Shikamaru said trying to stop any fight from breaking out.
"I get the feeling that this argument isn't over just Konoha," Itachi said almost as if to push Kakashi's button's. Kakashi glared at the younger boy.
"What are you trying to imply?" Kakashi asked glaring at the boy. Itachi smirked slightly. Who would have thought it would be so easy to anger Kakashi. Someone who was supposed to always be calm cool and collected.
"That maybe you are showing some resistance towards me and my cause for reasons other than your need to protect your village," Shikamaru instantly formed his shadow around Kakashi's trapping the older man where he was. Kakashi glared at him. Shikamaru jumped slightly when nine figures landed at the gate. He sighed in relief when he saw the familiar black with red cloud cloaks and traveling hats. He released his jutsu on Kakashi and the man relaxed slightly.
"Itachi," Pein said.
"Hi. I'm Shikamaru. I'll be taking you to meet with Tsunade-sama," Shikamaru said getting the man's attention. He nodded before the group slowly made their way in between the two men who were still having a stare down. Itachi stared at Kakashi.
"You need to remember where your place is in her life is and where it was before me and where it will remain now," Itachi said before turning around and start to walk away.
"She loved me first," Kakashi said, Itachi stopped for a moment before letting out a slight chuckle. He turned slightly to stare at the silver haired man.
"I think we both know that's a lie. You heard her that day," Itachi said.
"I have fallen in love many times…" she whispered. "Always," she moved up on her tip toes so that way her breath danced across his lips. "With you."
The memory sticking out in both of their minds. "It would do you well to remember who is the father of her child as well," and with that he turned knowing that he really hit Kakashi where it hurt.
A/N
Hello everyone! I am so so so sorry that it took so long for me to update this. For those of you who knew before I was married. I am in the middle of having a divorce that's why I haven't been able to update plus I haven't really had the inspiration. I really hope you all continue to read and review. I hope I haven't lost all of you. I'm hoping to update again next week and continue on until I have this finished. Thank you so much for baring with me!
