A/n: I know how long you've been waiting for the next chapter and I felt remorse when saw people's reviews and requests to update sooner. Besides, thank you those who added me as their fave author and who favourited this story, IOU and hence, here's my lil prezzie - chapter Nine!
My dear readers, this is the longest chapter of the fic, with much description which I like so much. Take your time, sit comfortably in a chair after bringing a couple of tissues, you'll need them to wipe tears. A way emotional chapter
You'll see the narration gradually goes to the present tense, it's ok, it was originally plotted by the author
After you read please review the chapter, I'd like to know your impressions.
Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine Summary: no more silly talks, no more plain tea-drinking – Sakura takes a decisive step
Leaves turning yellow, wind getting colder, thunderclouds wrapping the sky – fall was at the doorstep. Rare were Sakura's visits to Itachi's place. After the memorable conversation when she lost control and yelled at him, their relationship, surprisingly enough, got no worse, it improved instead. She felt… relaxed. She understood and accepted his philosophy as in an argument one accepts the other's point of view. And it was difficult to call demented a person who didn't look as such after all.
Not by hearsay Sakura has learnt Itachi's weapon and still his explanations strangely subsided, it was right there in his thoughts that the real insanity resided and right there were hiding all his feelings and emotions, and love. Itachi told her about it and the girl was grateful for this trust.
One could find her happy even though she had lost her former elusive lightness and weightlessness, her current happiness becoming more comprehensible and down-to-earth. Her attitude to Sasuke altered as well, the Uchiha didn't notice it though. Trying to awaken love in him she watched the husband as if from aside, studying, evaluating as it proved more of an attempt to understand him together with Itachi, not him alone. How come this average-looking young man turned to be the only one whom the ex-Akatsuki loved? How come he's grown into something more than just a 'limit'?
And what does it have to do with Sasuke's behavior?
***
A usual fall evening was gloomy yet warm, the sun, hidden in clouds, seemed a blurry golden blot gradually setting to the skyline, after a summer-like hot day the air got damp and stuffy – the sign of a coming storm.
That night the lights in the Uchihas' mansion showed that Sasuke was going on a mission. The country of the Grass was in urgent need for help since a team of shinobi-renegades invaded the territory, so Konoha gathered a large detachment that was to set off by midnight lest they should be captured by the enemy. Sasuke, the head of Police Department and a very skilled ninja, had to lead the troop and now the two Uchihas were checking the equipment.
- I think I should be there with you, - Sakura said tightening belts on the first-aid kit. – You'll surely need a good nurse and then I'm not that useless in a battle. Didn't Tsunade-sama offer this idea?
- She did, - Sasuke agreed looking through the selectee rolls for the last time
- And? Isn't it a wonderful idea?
- Out of question, - Sasuke packed the rolls in his bag on the belt. – That's what I told Tsunade
- Is that how you said it? – distrustfully, she glanced at him
- Not quite so. I explained I wouldn't let my wife take part in a dangerous mission like this. Enough running with kunai – you're a married woman with other tasks to do
- Oh, like, I've gotta endure a husband who makes decisions for me
- Sakura, - he gave her a sincere look. – I don't want to lose you and worry about you all the time and run around searching for you in the middle of a fight
'Things like this didn't bother you eight years ago, huh', she thought skeptically.
- So I'm going on my own. Keep your chin up, - he gave her a peck and loaded the bag on the shoulders
- Take care, - with suddenly emerged tenderness replied Sakura
As she watched his concerned face, her heart quavered and poisonous sarcasm melted away.
I love you, Sasuke.
***
After quickly tidying up the rooms the girl went downstairs switching on the light on the way. She saw him off and it made her livelier as she smiled murmuring something under her breath, it felt like it popped into her head – she loves him – and vivifying warmth now was spreading all over her chest. The kunoichi flashed a glance at the clock, there was still plenty of time, and more, she couldn't stay at home, so, hastily, Sakura slipped into her shoes and left the place.
Clouds getting thicker, shadows becoming darker, it started to rain. Passersby were few, they hurried to find shelter under the roof, Sakura's movements were light as she ran on soft warm dust. 'I'd better sit at Itachi's while it's raining', was her thought.
She turned into the native side street at that coming up to his house, when about ringing the bell she was stopped by a thump and the sound of voices afterwards. Hand frozen in the air, she figured voices were coming from inside the house, yet not from behind the door. Pricking her ears once again, Sakura looked around and, after what seemed like she caught the source of the sound, approached the side wall, in hesitation stepping into the grass of an unkempt front garden. She walked about the quarters finding herself on a small overgrown ground that separated Itachi's house from the one nearby. The girl startled.
An open window with pouring from the inside light reflecting on the opposite blank wall, blinds swaying in the wind – what was going on? Itachi's windows were always closed – and that voice, now she recognized it although failed to make out what it was saying.
Sasuke.
Billion of questions flooded her head. Was it he who opened the window? What was he doing there? Wasn't he on a mission? They were supposed to be traveling at the moment… did he deliberately leave earlier? Sasuke was at Itachi's? Why? To say goodbye?
There might be nothing out of the ordinary – Sasuke has been a regular visitor so why shouldn't he call at his brother's before a dangerous mission? Yet something made Sakura hold her breath, nervously, as if sensing peril.
He is there, very close, just over the wall. He is alone with his brother. He doesn't know she is there. And that is…
Temptation, a fever-like yearning to at last unmask, reveal the mystery, engulfed her in a powerful bitter-sweet wave.
It was pouring. Not minding this at all she reached the window dropping no sound. For some time she was listening to indiscernible tones. Sasuke's voice strangely unsteady, suppressed and… imploring?
- Nii-san, this mission, I… can't take it anymore… nii-san
Silence. Rustle.
- Why are you, - he falters. – I'm… I beg you!
All is muted down and, open-eared, Sakura stands gripping her skirt's hem with wet fingers. This muteness is scary, weird heaviness presses on her and she can't bear it, cautiously coming up to the open shutters the girl tentatively peers inside and now her heart falls down.
In the middle of the room they froze lit by the bright yellow light, Sasuke is clinging onto his brother's neck, on tiptoes, he is embracing Itachi's body – and he is kissing him. Eyes closed, head flung back, the expression of unbearable torture on his face, while Itachi rests motionless as the black orbs stare into nothingness above the younger's head.
The world around seems to be shattering into thousand shards, she feels like shouting – words get stuck in her throat though, she feels like running away – legs won't move, she struggles forward, to them, to toss one from the other, hit and yell and shriek and scream – she can't force a move as she's left to contemplate in horror. Her husband kissing his own elder sibling.
Eventually Sasuke releases his lips only to look him in the eye,
- Nii-san, - he whispers in a voice hoarse with passion, eyes sparkling with despair, longing and hot undisguised desire
The other says nothing although his features soften while the corner of his mouth twitches as if in a miserable, sad smirk and Sasuke winces in a painful-like manner and a convulsive moan breaks through his throat, their lips meet anew. Fingers unwind the lace in Itachi's hair altogether raking through wholesome dark locks so much like his own, he goes on kissing, over and over again, filling in-breaths with whisper of his name. The elder, becalmed, expresses no reaction before finally slowly touching Sasuke's head with his hand, ever-so light, almost indulging.
At that moment Sakura's body gives up, she falls down on her knees, clenching at the wet grass, she feels brash as she keeps sobbing, inaudibly with the lip bit up, letting no whine escape the shivering-in-pain chest, she's all trembling while the treacherous ears catch every echo sliding out through the window, she hears him reiterate Itachi's name, already turning into a half-groan half-cry, each exclamation whipping her lower to the ground until she stops feeling anything.
She had no recollection of what their further talk, if any, was about. The front door slammed, that was what she snatched, but she didn't pay much attention to it. All she did was sit with her back against the cold brick wall, head low, hands bracing knees. Icy streams pattered against her shoulders, soggy hair turned into ugly strands, raindrops flowed down along the face mixing with tears – she couldn't care less.
She had no notion for how long she has been there, noting nothing, it could be a couple of minutes or an hour just as well. There came a sound of footsteps, unexpected, it stirred the wet green and stopped nearby. Overcoming stupor, Sakura languidly raised her head, the first thing she saw were ordinary shoes of a shinobi, the kunoichi looked upwards, at their owner.
Close to her stood Itachi whose loose hair lay scattered on his shoulders, his black eyes staring through her. Rain didn't fall on him, drops crashing against the umbrella in his hand.
She should have felt at least something, anger, disgust, fear, nonetheless, all seemed empty and numb inside her as grey shroud of the rain had washed it away.
The man sat down and stretched out his arm, then found her shoulder and made the girl get up, all the while shielding them with the umbrella. Her resistance however was slack, his hold proved too strong, his body radiated delightful warmth so she surrendered soon, submissive. He led her into the house pushing from behind.
Obediently, head low, she went in the front, shivering, his warm palm directing mildly yet assuredly, right through the corridor, passing over the not-so-familiar turn to the kitchen, up the stairs to the second floor. He opened the bathroom door and with his free hand fumbled for the switch and illuminated the space.
White tile near blinded her but she paid little attention. With the same mild push he let her under the shower before turning on the water. Hot jets hit her arms, streams of dirty water poured down off the stained clothes. Itachi was about to move aside but Sakura's icy fingers refused to let go off his hand so he had to stay. To a frozen Sakura the temperature felt burning until she gradually got accustomed to its reviving heat which penetrated her skin, flowing over the body while paralyzing ice began to melt the senses and she started to realise what was going on. Reminiscences attacked as if a huge avalanche covered her, heart falling down. Limbs weak again, but for Itachi she would have collapsed, the girl lowered herself onto the shower's cabin floor and tucked her legs beneath her awkwardly. The current of hot liquid hurried downwards along her frame before disappearing in the drain, green eyes, open wide, unblinkingly watched little whirls at her knees.
Without haste she looked up at Itachi. To save her from falling he sat down, Sakura was unconsciously clinging to his arm whereas the other, silent, at rest, stayed there by her side, low edge of the cabin separating the two. The girl scrutinized the pale face, reserved and dispassionate as ever as something kept swirling upon recalling how Sasuke had been studying it. The way he wound his fingers into those raven hair, the way he kissed those lips… Sakura's features distorted and next moment depicted her pressing her lips to his, in heat, desperately as if in search for something. And she did find the desired.
The taste of Sasuke. The smell of his. Lust, tenderness, love, everything she's been deprived of while it belonged to his brother. She was kissing Itachi hardly understanding whose lips these were, Sasuke's taste mixing with his own was deceiving, driving her mad, making drunk, intoxicating.
Sasuke. Itachi.
Both were so far.
Suddenly she was pierced by morbid feeling of loneliness, like a well-sharpened blade of the sword cut into a pattern of silk. Loneliness, weakness and… jealousy. Sakura ended the kiss closing her eyes at that, catching yet-perceivable breathing on her skin. Once looking at him again she found that face both serene and expressionless, chiseled from ebony, seeming refined and so beautiful in its perfection. Tears made her lax as Sakura nearly fell into his arms. There in the bathroom filled with ruthless yellow light reflecting against the snow-white tile, she sat on the water-soaked floor wailing into Itachi's chest gripping on his moist shirt. Little by little sobs got fewer and when she soothed he carefully moved her away, afterwards getting up on his feet. The kunoichi was still sniffing yet she freed him and regarded the floor, all done in embarrassment being as she had no idea what to say or how to set eyecontact with him.
- When you finish, take the last towel on your left, - the guy mentioned heading towards the door. – Put wet clothes on the heater, I'll go find something for you to change in.
- Alright, - a quiet reply.
Itachi gave a short nod and left the room shutting the wooden barrier behind him.