Sakura watched wide eyes as Sasuke laid a good measured punch on his surprised brother, who fell backwards on the floor and landed on his behind.
She stood frozen for 3 seconds there, staring off into the two brothers, trying to grasp what had just happened. Soon enough, Nao's voice recovered her from her little space bubble.
''Sasuke! I demand you to tell me what is the meaning of this!'' she screetched in a high pitched voice that made Sakura nauseated.
Wasting no more time, Sakura ran by Itachi's side, and got on her knees while placing a caring hand on his shoulder in the same time.
''Itachi-sama, are you okay?'' she asked in a broken from shock voice, leaning slightly in.
Itachi forced himself to put on a smile and pretended he was fine even if he still hurt from the mighty punch.
''I am okay, Sakura-san, no need to worry about me.'' He smiled to her, shooting for a tiny bit an angry glance towards his little brother who looked back at him stern. Itachi knew…Sasuke didnt like what he was seeing right now.
''Here, let me help you stand.'' Sakura said, hurrying to help Itachi back up but Itachi stopped her in time and stood up in his own accord.
''Don't worry so much for me, Sakura. It was a weak punch, nothing more.'' He said to spite Sasuke who send death glares their way.
Once Itachi was back standing, Sakura turned to Sasuke and glared at him with an accusing tone.
But before she had any chance to say anything, Nao beat her to it, again.
''Sasuke, what was this? I expected you to not like what that filthy cheap wench did with your brother, but not to go to that extend about it!'' Nao said disturbed, secretly fearing that her plan had backfired to her. She had serious doubts that Sasuke was feeling more jealous of Sakura than angry and disappointed in her.
Itachi turned his mocking glance on Nao, secretly enjoying her loss in that game. That only enraged Nao more who glared at Sasuke with more force.
''It wasnt about this. It was a thing between me and Itachi. But I am not going to sit and share the family details publicly.'' Sasuke lied, with a serious tone, his breathing seemed to have got calmer.
Sure, let's you see lying your way to get away, lil bro.
Sakura felt angry that Sasuke didnt support her when Nao called her things, but in the same time she wondered what had happened between the brothers, completely oblivious to Sasuke's lie.
But it seemed that Itachi got him to it.
''Nao, if you insult Sakura-san again, I will forget that you are my brother's fiance and treat you as you just. Don't you think it's immature of you causing such a scene, every time? This marriage doesn't concern only Sasuke and you but both our families. You should expect anything but for it to fail.'' Itachi said fixing his shirt.
Sakura felt a hinch of pain in her heart at his last sentence but kept her calm facade on, even if Itachi could see the hurt in her eyes.
But at the moment Sasuke shot another glance of supressed jealousy to him, when he stood up for Sakura, Itachi knew he had to prevent the pinkette from getting involved with his brother again. At all costs.
This marriage would guarantee both their future and of the generations'to follow. An old love couldnt have it in it to destroy something so important. He wouldnt let things take the wrong way.
Sasuke turned around and left the room,a cold indifferent aura emanating from him.
Nao followed after him, getting the hint that he wasnt in the mood for drama. So she stayed silent but still shot Sakura a death glare before turning around for good.
Sakura rolled her eyes on her but felt embarassed as soon as Itachi caught her on act. She pinned her green orbs on the ground, feeling akward. And as if she should apologize, only that it wasnt clear what about.
Itachi smiled softly to her.
''I am sorry for all this trouble, Miss Sakura. My brother's fiance has a hard time acting mature.'' He said in a low tone.
Sakura decided she liked the guy.
''Thats a thing in common she's having with her husband, then.'' She said, not being able to supress her anger anymore.
''That's true.'' Itachi laughed.
''And you know what? I dont care what that woman will say to Sasuke, nor what he will think of me. My life is mine.'' She said, but it felt more as if she was speaking to herself trying to feel better and less as if she was giving a confident speech to Itachi.
But he found it cute nontheless.
''In that case, would you be as kind as to let me have the next dance with you?'' Itachi said and pointed at the gardens, from which there came soft romantic music.
Sakura blushed but furthermore she had a bad feeling about it. But seeing Itachi extending his arm to her in such a gentleman kind way and the music switching to one of her favourite waltz songs, she forgot about everything. Having fun shouldnt be that bad, afterall.
She linked her arm to Itachi's and he led her to the gardens, which werent huge but big enough to hold a lot of people without it becoming uncomfortable or crowded.
There were flowers all around, decorating the place, red, yellow, violet, pink. It was such a sight, indeed. And there were even plants and flowers hanging from the ceiling, while various shaped lights were scattered across the place, giving it a romantic look into the night.
In the center of it all, there was a big circle and some meters away from it, there was a live band of musicians, equipped with violins, acordeons, guitars and a piano. They seemed to be enjoying their perfomance as much as the crowd did.
The circle was vaguely occupated by people dancing here and there, lost in the romantic moment. Sakura felt slightly sad that she wouldnt be sharing this dance with the one she really wanted.
Itachi retook his pace and Sakura had to follow, eventually stepping inside the circle. She flashed Itachi a bright smile, even if she was feeling dead nervous inside.
Itachi looked at her in his charming eyes. He reminded her of Sasuke so much, but Sasuke had something more that made him…Sasuke. She thought.
She put her hands on Itachi's shoulders, and the raven man wrapped his around her waist, softly. They started moving around slowly, taken away by the music.
But all the while Sakura felt as if someone was shooting death glares their way. She didnt care for this, either way, as she leaned her head onto Itachi's shoulder and closed her eyes, relaxing into his hold.
They may have similar physical traits, but Itachi was warmer than Sasuke. And kinder. And not so much of an insensitive ass. And he knew what girls liked. And right now, no matter how much she tried to make it seem as if Itachi was better than him, Sakura still wished with all of her heart that it was Sasuke that was having this dance with her.
Like back then, at school. At the party…The memory got her eyes wet soon enough so she opened her eyes, trying to clear her mind of the past. It was no use, she and Sasuke had long been over and done.
As they moved in circles, she spotted Sasuke with Nao in his lap somewhere in the depth, kissing.
She felt her stomach becoming tight knobs and her heart racing faster, as anger and sorrow filled her veins.
Why did she still care? She hated herself more than Sasuke for having still such feelings.
Soon, the dance was over and Itachi softly pulled away from her, and she did the same, even though she wished this had lasted longer.
They walked out of the circle and headed to a bench, to chat and to drink but before they even reached there, a servant came out of the total blue.
''Miss Haruno, your parents told me to inform you that they are waiting for you in their car.'' The old man said and Sakura gave him a weird glance at first. Then she realised, as much as she hated it, that it was time to leave and she nodded kindly to the man, before he walked away.
''Oh, you're leaving so soon?'' Itachi asked her with a charming smile.
''Believe me, if it was in my hands, I'd stay more.'' Sakura smiled back as she looked shyly in his eyes.
''Well, what started tonight, it doesn't have to end tonight, as well, Miss Haruno.'' Itachi gave her a hint, making her blush at his boldness.
''You think?'' Sakura half smiled, unsure of all the flattery. She didnt know what she was doing, flirting with Sasuke's brother as if it were okay. Yet somehow there was something about Itachi that she couldnt resist. It wasnt as if she were in love, no not at all. But Itachi looked like Sasuke yet he was a much kinder, warmer version of him. A replacement? No. A comfort? Yes.
''I am sure of it.'' Itachi said, eyeing her intensely. Sakura coughed in embarassment. She didnt have much time to make anything of it now, but she acted on pure impulse, getting her hands in her bag where she found a small paper and a pen and wrote her number down on it, all the while Sasuke was secretly watching the scene from somewhere.
''I hope you make good use of it.'' Sakura said smiling, as she extended her hand to Itachi, which he caught in his, kissing the top of her backhand while taking hold of the little paper in the same time.
''It was a pleasure meeting you.'' Itachi said as Sakura withdrew her hand, embarassed.
''Likewise. Goodnight, Itachi-san.'' Sakura bowed softly.
With that she walked away under Itachi's gaze. But she was feeling more confused than ever about herself. What was she doing? Why did she give her number to a man who kissed her out of the blue to test his crazy theories and then asked her to dance as if nothing had happened? And moreover why had she been acting as if all this was normal? Because it wasnt. For more reasons than one…Because let's not forget the most important detail, he was his brother.
The hall was empty and slightly dark, but she still made it so that she found her jacket and put it on, relieved that she'd be finally out of here. She didnt like the way things had gone, but it could have been worse. And she knew it.
Before she had the chance to open the door, she felt a hand grabbing her arm and turning her around.
It was Sasuke.
''What the…'' but she was soon silenced by the raven placing a finger on her lips. He leaned close, so that they were eye level, while she backed away at the wall, since he was too close for comfort.
All her courage to protest and fight her way to freedom vanished, and all because Sasuke was emanating a threatening cold aura from him. His onyx orbs were staring right into her soul, in a very serious motion. Her breathing slowed down as she looked back into his eyes in a wondering gaze.
When he spoke, his cool breath hit her face and made her fantasize things against her will.
He practically whispered the words one by one at her.
''Stay away from Itachi.''
''You have no right to tell me what to do!'' Sakura found her fighting spirit back once she felt her pride being stepped over like that. That guy, he sure had a nerve. She pushed his hand away and tried to turn around to the door but Sasuke was faster and slammed his hand against the wall, right beside her, thus blocking her way.
''Sakura,…don't make me repeat myself.'' Sakura couldnt help but stay still while staring into his serious eyes, secretly feeling terified. But she had a bad habit to speak before thinking, which she repeated in this certain occasion.
''Why do you care?'' she asked, putting a hand on his shoulder to push him away, since she didnt like that he was invading her personal space bubble. But she was feeling too shocked to even try, so her hand fell back down in the next glare Sasuke send her.
''Because he is my brother and I don't want you meddling with him. Or my family, in general.'' Sasuke said. He didnt want to be this mean to her but he had to make sure she'd stay away and not cause any problems, he had taken a decision and he had to stick to it and Sakura being around was a great barrier for him that he couldnt overcome. So he just had to remove it completely. And besides that, what was her business with his brother? She had no right to try anything!
''I see you're still the same insensitive jerk you have always been. So much unlike your brother.'' Sakura said trying to spite him, as she was having a hard time controlling her anger.
''Sakura.'' Sasuke repeated in a warning tone, as he leaned even closer, trying to intimidate her
''Was it all you said a lie? I remembered, what you said to me at the island. So, was it all a lie, god damne you?'' Sakura asked, looking in his eyes enraged.
Sasuke felt his heart aching but he had to mantain a cold facade if he wanted to protect his kid, so he replied a flat
''Yes.''
All of her anger dissipated in an instance as soon as the word came out of his lips. She leaned her head downwards, glance lost somewhere on the floor, as she tried to prevent her sudden tears from coming out.
Curse you, Sasuke.
Sasuke caught her chin in his hand and forced her to look back at him. Sakura cursed all gods and demons, she might not be crying visible tears but she did seem on the verge of them.
''Promise me.'' He said softly, even his glare had become softer.
Her anger all returned in a wave once her brain procedded what he was saying.
She slapped his hand away and sput a fiery glare right into his onyx orbs.
''There's no way I'll do what you tell me to! I am my own person! Deal with it.'' Sakura almost yelled and manages to escape Sasuke's lock, moving fast to the left and heading to the door.
She heard Sasuke from behind.
''Do not play with me.'' He muttered, warning tone back in his voice.
''No, Sasuke. Unlike you, that you like to play with people's feelings and spit nothing but lies to them, I dont play around. This is real.'' She said with all the seriousness she could master and with that she turned around too fast for him to react and walked out of the door, slamming it with nerve behind her.
Sasuke stayed there, staring off into the spot she used to be, trying to calm down.
Damn her.