"Little Kisses"
It'd been a month, and things went back to the way they were. Sakura played the adoring girlfriend role as good as ever, and Itachi continued to tutor her. Everything was normal, apart from the kisses they shared on occasion.
However, it wasn't long before Sakura became unsettled. Her heart sunk everytime she looked at the Uchiha. She couldn't live with herself; she was hurting Sasuke, whether he knew it or not.. She wasn't faithful to him.
And he deserved better.
Sakura didn't know what to do. She couldn't help her feelings for Itachi, but should she suppress them, or leave Sasuke so she couldn't hurt him anymore? Sakura of all people knew it was very, very hard to suppress one's feelings.
Did she want to try? She didn't know.
Itachi's kisses, his gaze, his touch, just being with him made her feel so good...
Did she really want to give that up? She really, really wished Sasuke was a royal prick. Then it wouldn't be so hard to make such a decision. So what did Sakura do?
She did what every teenage girl did, of course.
She went to Ino for advice.
xXx
The blonde obviously wasn't a morning person. Her messy hair and the scowl on her face told Sakura that she did not appreciate being woken up.
"I need advice," Sakura said sincerely, a pleading tone in her voice. "Come on, I'll take you out to breakfast."
Ino's blue eyes lit up at the mention of food. "Alright."
xXx
"So.." Sakura began as the two waited on their orders.
"What was it you needed advice about, Forehead?" Ino asked, sipping on her orange juice.
"Well.. what do you do if you're dating someone, and you care about them alot, but.."
"Oh my God, I knew it would happen," Ino leaned forward, grinning. "So who is it?"
Sakura bit her lip. How did she tell someone she was in love with the 22-year-old brother of her boyfriend?
"Well.. I'd rather not say," Sakura muttered, glancing away. "I just need help.. Ino, should I get rid of my feelings for this other guy, or leave Sasuke? I don't want to hurt him, but I'm afraid that what I'm doing would hurt him even more.."
Ino gaped. "Sakura.. Are you sleeping with this guy?"
"No!" Sakura gasped, turning red. "No no no.. We've only.. made out, a few times."
Ino grinned. "Bad little Sakura."
Sakura turned redder. "It's not like that, Ino... I'm.. I'm really in love with this man."
"Well, do you want my serious opinion?" Ino asked.
Sakura rolled her eyes. "No, I want you to pull something out of your butt and hand it to me."
"Don't be a smart-ass, Forehead." Ino looked at her flatly. "I may not be as smart as you, but I'm not stupid."
And Ino was right; Sakura was smart. She only had a tutor because she was the type of person to make sure she had everything right: A perfectionist, as some called it.
"Well, yeah. Go on.." Sakura mumbled.
Ino was interrupted by the waitress bringing them their food.
Sakura sipped on her hot tea and Ino began to chow down on the waffle platter she ordered. "Well, Forehead," Ino said through a mouthful of egg, "I think.."
She waited until her food was down before continuing. "This may not be of much help, and it'll sound way too cheesy, but.. what does your heart say?"
Without thinking, Sakura replied, "All I long for is him."
"There's your answer." Ino stabbed a piece of sausage with her fork. "Honestly, Forehead.. All your life, you've done everything for others. You've put your own happiness last. Don't you think you deserve to be happy for once?"
Sakura stared out the window. Ino was right. Sakura had always put everyone else first, for as long as she could remember. Itachi was all she wanted. She wanted him so badly she couldn't stand it.
And the only thing standing in her way was her reluctance to break Sasuke's heart. She didn't have the heart to break it.. But that was exactly what Ino was talking about.
She could afford to be selfish just once.. couldn't she?
xXx
It was a Saturday afternoon; Sakura didn't have tutoring. As she drove to the Uchiha mansion, she'd thought about what Ino said earlier that day. "Don't you think you deserve to be happy for once?"
After trekking up the pavement driveway, she knocked on the door.
She gulped.
Sasuke answered the door, and Sakura steeled herself. She had to do this.
"Oh, hey, Sakura," he blinked, looking at her curiously. Sakura looked up at him, but couldn't stop a tear from developing in her eye.
"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked, frowning.
She smiled softly. "Can I.. come in?"
"Of course," he said, looking at her with concern. He stepped aside so she could enter. She did so, and she froze when she saw Itachi lying on the livingroom couch, asleep.
She composed herself quickly and entered the large living room, Sasuke closing the door behind her. "Hold on a moment," she heard Sasuke say, and she turned to see him running up the staircase.
Sakura turned back to stae at the older Uchiha. He looked peaceful, sleeping.
She moved over to the couch and sat on the arm of it, looking down at him. He didn't stir. A small hand went down to begin petting it hair, brushing it out of his face. Kami, he was beautiful. It was ever harder for her not to cry.
"I love you, Itachi," she whispered softly, biting down on her trembling lower lip.
She immediately stood up when she heard Sasuke's footsteps. She folded her hands behind her back and forced a smile onto her face.
"So, what's up?" Sasuke asked, hogging to her. He stood before her, panting softly.
"Sasuke, I.." Sakura's eyes watered, to her dismay.
Sasuke frowned. "Sakura, what is it.."
"I.. I..." sakura's eyes welled up in tears. "S-Sasuke, you're precious to me, and I care deeply for you, but.."
Sasuke's frown deepend. "You.. don't want me anymore."
Sakura burst into tears. She threw her arms about his waist and buried her face in his shirt. "O-Oh Sasuke.. I-I don't want to hurt you anymore.. I-I don't want to hurt myself.. I-I love you, Sasuke, I really do, but I.."
Sasuke slowly pried her from him, nodding slowly. "Sakrua.. I understand."
Sakura's eyes widened. "S.. Sasuke.."
Sasuke smiled slightly.
She loved how he smiled.
"Sakura.. my heart hurts." he said, almost as if confused about it.
"I-I'm so sorry, Sasuke.." she whispered, tears leaking down her face.
"It's okay, Sakura."
"Sasuke.." Sakura wound her arms around him tightly and hugged herself to him.
"May I ask something?" He spoke quietly.
"O-Of course," she whispered.
"Who is it?"
Sakura froze.
"Sakura.. I just want to know." he murmured.
"W.. Will you get mad at me...?"
"Of course not." Sasuke replied.
Sakura thought of Itachi. If she told Sasuke, she could ruin the relationship between the two brothers. Should she lie, or tell Sasuke the truth?
"It's.." Sakura bit her lip. "Itachi."
She felt Sasuke's body stiffen.
"I.. I see."
Sakura squeezed him tighter. "Please don't be angry with me, Sasuke.."
He slowly pulled her from him. "I'm.. I'm going to go get your things.. The things you left here."
The younger Uchiha turned and slowly trudged back up the staircase. Sakura stared after him, tears in her eyes.
"That took courage."
His voice made her whirl around to face him. Itachi was still laying down on the couch, but his head was turned, his coal hues gazing at her.
Sakura gasped slightly. "Y-You were awake the whole time..?"
"Mhmm." Itachi continued staring at her.
Sakura bit her lip.
"Come here." He raised a hand to beckon her.
She slowly approached him, and her hear0rate sped up. "Itachi," she whispered, sniffling. "I could very well have just ruined your relationship with Sasuke.."
She leaned over the arm of the couch and stared down at him, trembling.
"Quiet," he said softly, his hands reaching up to wipe the tears from her face. "He'll get over it, in time."
Her heart raced as his thumbs wiped the salty tears from her cheeks. Her voice passed softly through trembling lips: "What.. what will we do until then?"
Itachi smiled slightly up at her. "What have we been doing?"
Sakura glanced at the empty staircase before looking back down at him, face pink.
"Just go with the flow, Sakura.. Things will pan out, I promise." Itachi murmured, before he gently grabbed her face.
Sakura knew what he was going to do, and she eagerly initiated the action by leaning down. Her eyelids fluttered before closing, and her lips softly met his. She melted completely, knees wobbling, and responded to his soft, sweet kiss with utter passion.
She loved Itachi; she trusted him.
And a feeling in her gut told her that he was right; things would pan out, in time.