#8 - Secrets

"Itachi, are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

"Yea, don't worry about me and have fun," Itachi assured for the fifth time. Just as Sasuke was closing the door, he quickly stopped him.

"Changed your mind?" Sasuke's voice was hopeful.

"No…" He bit back his grin at his brother's crestfallen face and put on a sombre expression. "Can I borrow some money from you?" Sasuke frowned at the last request he expected to hear from Itachi.

"Sure, how much?"

"5K." No explanations.

"I have a cheque book with me now, hold on a sec." Sasuke was carefully observing his brother's expressions and body language as he passed him the cheque, but as usual, he could not discern anything from that poker face.

"Thank you, Sasuke."

"Alright, then I'm off. Just let me know if you need any help, yea?" Itachi nodded and ruffled Sasuke's hair, grateful that he did not pry further.

Two hours later, he was done with his research report. Just as he was stretching over his head, his phone that was lying on the bed beeped.

Sasuke:

Score's 3-1, of course we're on the winnin' side. Oh yea, Kisame-san asked to help him get two packets of those coffee. Also, get one for me, that thing's real good.

The timing could not be better. It was almost dinnertime anyway, and he was craving for the Japanese curry opposite the mart.

Despite the ridiculously long queue, he was able to get to the front with a breeze, thanks to the affectionate housewives who were all too eager to give up their spots. Since he hit a certain age, he had been facing relatively great fortune at supermarket queues…

"There's no way you would do that, hm."

"Oh yes I will!" A couple was having a squabble by an alley, and he quickly strode past them, not in the least interested.

"Like anyone's gonna let you-"

"Now you've said it! …Hey excuse me!" Hearing the rapid steps catching up behind him, Itachi stopped and turned around. A girl in high blonde ponytail breathed out as she waved at him, and for a split second he thought that was Sakura.

"Would you do me a favour?" Before he could go ahead and reject, she stretched both arms around his neck and landed a kiss on his half-opened lips. She was pushing hard into his body, her humongous boobs grinding against his chest. To make matters worse, they were standing in the middle of the street.

His rational mind was bawling at him to push her off immediately, but his male instinct was telling him otherwise. Barely overriding his overheating sensory system, he grasped her shoulders and attempted to pry her off.

"J-Just a little while more," She whispered coarsely against his now moist lip, "Until he sees this-"

"INO, w-what are you...!"

Smirking against their moist contact, she finally retreated from his embrace (?), and he breathed out in relief. The image of Sakura made him lowered his guard; he needed to make sure something so ludicrous would be the last. Just when he thought he was saved, she suddenly wrapped an arm around his free arm tightly.

"If you can flirt with that bitch, then why can't I pick up a hot guy off the streets? Anyway, it's nice meeting you. Bye now, boyfriend." Sticking out a tongue in her boyfriend's direction, she twisted them around and marched down the street, the guy's protests all but fallen on death ears.

To save the girl's face, he did not protest and allowed himself to be led by the arm through the anonymous sea of after work crowd. Luckily, she quickly brought them into the next alley between the blocks, and finally set him free. Faced with a novel situation like this, he was beyond himself, and sighed once more.

"Would you mind explaining what was that?"

"I'm so, so sorry!" Yamanaka Ino clapped her hands in prayer style, completed with a complete bow to the knees. "My boyfriend was being an idiot and I wanted to teach him a lesson-"

"Regardless of your reason, that was really uncalled for." Not to mention he actually knew who her boyfriend was, but never mind that for now.

"I know, and I don't expect to forgive me so easily… Wait a second, are you-"

"Yes, I'm mad. I think anyone would be mad in this kind of situation-"

"Uchiha Itachi? Oh my gosh, I just kissed the guy who proposed to Sakura? You can't be serious!" Ino slapped her forehead and instantly fell into a state of despair, much to Itachi's utter bafflement. Shouldn't he be the one crying out in despair now? That was his frigging first kiss!

One hour later…

"We're back! …Itachi, what's wrong? You looked like the house just caught fire," Sasuke commented with slight concern as he plopped onto the armchair beside him, and popped a beer Kisame threw in his direction.

"Sasuke… Do you remember anything about your first kiss-"

"Cough cough…" Sasuke nearly choked on his drink. "W-What? What's with the sudden question?" Kisame guffawed as he took a swig.

"Don't make that face, Sasuke-kun. Your first kiss luck probably went elsewhere, like to your business brain."

Kisame was right, but unlike his brother, Itachi's luck went to something not that useful, like getting express tickets at supermarket queues. He knew there was a price to pay, just never thought in a thousand years it would be this-

"Hey Itachi-san, you have a lipstick print on your back sleeve."

I raked my brain for the entire day, and this was the best awkward situation I can throw Itachi into (and get a kick out of).