A/n: ah, thank god I'm thru with this chapter and past the most disgusting part of it *shudders* You'd better not know what mental torture I've been thru every time reading and translating it *sigh of relief*
Thank you to everyone who's still following the story and especially who comments on it, and, knowing that many of you have questions, I hurry to post ch. 20 which answers them
Also, 'Behind the Scenes' chapters 2 and 3 replaced today
Chapter XX
Chapter Twenty Summary: the Uchihas seem to find the way out, and the compromise satisfies both of the three in the end
Sakura was running down the street, tears staining her cheeks. Passersby, taken aback, hurried off from the girl, but she barely noticed them, the same was with her feet directing towards the Ichiraku lane with the familiar door, where the trembling fingers pressed the knob of the bell. When at last she heard the steps, and the lock clicked, Sakura all but flew into his arms. Itachi froze in shock.
- Itachi... - she squeezed out through sobs, shaking, and clinging onto his shirt.
The elder Uchiha, when recovered, touched her shoulders, closed the door and led the crying kunoichi into the room.
Softly, he seated her on the sofa and sat beside, whilst Sakura stuck her nose in his chest, bursting out crying again. Itachi said nothing, letting her relieve the feelings, slightly caressing the somewhat disheveled hair.
It was not until some minutes later that she calmed down,
- I hate him, - said she in a whisper, cheek pressed to the tear-soaked fabric.
- What's happened? - he asked after a pause.
Her reddened eyes, she closed them, head on his chest as though in obedience, and in a plain voice she retold him the talk.
- I see, - he shook his head faintly. - Still, my brother is an utter fool
She smirked through tears,
- Yet, you love him... don't you? - she looked him in the face, but Itachi kept silent.
She went on gazing, thoughtfully: he was the same Itachi she has known, no matter what. However, there was a lot more between them, more than sympathy or passion. Chained together, they did it twice: one time with each other, the other - through the third person, who belonged to the clannish circle, enclosed by the name of Uchiha.
Sasuke...
... was that third.
A painful spasm escaped her throat as she felt abandoned and betrayed. A sudden deja-vu was there, and she smiled forcibly at the funny idea - a few weeks ago they were in a situation like this, following the same scenario - crying on Itachi's shoulder, Sasuke's name tearing her ears with a pulsing noise.
Deja-vu.
Coincidence or...
... or how it's meant to be.
Sakura's outstretched hand brushed against his cheek, removing several strands of black hair from his face, looking at him with tenderness, heart clenching in an acute anguish... and something else,
- I... - she exhaled. - I... You know... I...
In the parlor, the lock opened, and the front door slammed, having the girl frozen in confusion. So absorbed in herself, she was slow to figure out what was going on and how to react.
Hasty nervous steps rolled along the passage and into the living room.
- Itachi, you won't believe what Sakura-
Words hung in the air unsaid. In the doorframe stood Sasuke, his mouth agape, terror-stricken expression splattered across his face, like he refused to trust his eyes. Panic was the first thing Sakura felt - however strong as a ninja, the girl feared an enraged Sasuke. But then came anger. She was so damn fed up of people breaking into her life just the moment she was about to settle it! Her gaze met her husband's - he slapped her mentally - it crashed barriers ready to devour everything around, and her, too.
- Nii-san, the guy came closer, stammered and reached out to his brother, awkwardly. - Nii-san, why?
Not crying, no, his cheeks were dry, but his trembling lips parted, and features twitched, and eyes grew mad in desperation, the eyes of one who, dying of thirst, has just spilled the last flask with water, and this seemed far more frightening than mere woman's blubber. Suddenly she felt like a cheater.
With a careful yet firm gesture Itachi pulled her aside, got up and approaced Sasuke, who grasped his arm like a drowning man did a saving straw.
- Nii-san... Itachi... - he moved closer to the elder, as if in an attempt to join him, become an inseparable part, if possible. - Don't leave me... Please... - even his eyes were begging and, tongue-tied, he shouted. - Stay with me! Make me yours! I'm yours! Only yours. Love me, love me, me! - now on his toes, he touched Itachi's lips, wildly, savagely, in a crazy way.
The other Uchiha remained indifferent.
- Nii-san, - the lips were freed, and Sasuke looked at him, hoping to find a trace of the feeling he was longing for - but found only a peaceful expression.
The corners of his mouth distorted in a mute moan - a tense string stopped vibrating before ripping off. It was just then that the elder gave a smile and put his hand on Sasuke's head and tilted his, and kissed him, on his own.
A quiet sigh followed, Sasuke's eyes wide open, and a stifled groan broke out while he responded, with lust, and ecstasy, and delirium. Clinging ever-so tightly, he wrapped his arm around his neck, beckoning.
Sakura, in astonishment, sat still, unable to look away, watching Itachi's lips cover Sasuke's, gently, lovingly, and her soul roared, and throat got dry.
Deja-vu. Already happened.
Two brothers in the middle of the room, Sasuke's eyelids shut, fingers untying the lace as he murmured Itachi's name, then pressed their lips together... Only now the elder was kissing him back.
As for herself, without changing position, she contemplated the scene as onlooker, odd and unwanted.
Run. Run away from here! Anywhere from this! Not to see her dear husband burning in his love for his whole brother, who touched his skin with long sensitive fingers and lips, which taste lingered on her memory.
Unexpectedly, the raven-haired man broke the pleasure - and the torment, for Sakura. Sasuke gasped for air, wanting that mouth back, staring at Itachi with dim and delighted eyes. The other Uchiha, with his arm never leaving Sasuke, turned to the girl, and Sasuke blinked in surprise, and then paid attention to the wife, thus reminded about her existence. Sakura studied him for only an instant before Itachi spoke,
- Sakura, - it was a soft yet incredibly powerful voice, which penetrated deep underneath one's skin and enveloped it. The voice, which belonged to not a defeated blind man but a most dangerous as well as mighty shinobi in the world - the one he has been and will always be. - Come up here.
No wonder, she did so, slowly, eyes fixed on him. Distrustful, Sasuke looked askance, then turned to her with the same dim covered-by-the-ardent-mist gaze, which bore no spite nor cold - a benevolent favor and a certain interest instead. He accepted her, at long last.
Once there, she took his hand, and upon this, Itachi moved her so that she could stand facing Sasuke, while his warm breathing ruffled her hair if only just slightly, and he embraced her, his arms on her shoulders. As if for the first time, Sasuke stared at her, some curiosity in his eyes causing rush on her spine. So close, they were so close to each other. The elder searched his brother's eyes, then Sakura's, then smiled a little absent-mindedly and planted a kiss - almost shyly, humbly, just like when trying something new - on his lips. The girl, suddenly needing more oxygen, felt it on a new level, and right then Itachi's lips were on her ear, then moved lower along her neck, tracing a wet path, causing her and Sasuke's moans. After, a palm lay on her breast - Itachi freed her neck and wound his arm around her waist - she sighed, head resting on his shoulder, before her knees buckled, and the pulse rattled in her ears. One hand landed on Sasuke's neck, with the other she slipped back and up along Itachi's thigh, all the while watching the brothers kiss, so close to her, but she barely realized what feelings should be there in her soul - incapable of thinking rationally, heat taking over, head spinning, colorful dots dancing before her eyes. Yet, she was enjoying it, whereas fingers unbuttoned her blouse, lips glided over her breast, and were these her own hands ripping the clothes off their bodies?
She had nothing but a vague idea who was kissing whom, or whose name escaped her coarse throat when she felt like the whole world was going apiece, she only knew she had never felt such a delightful, inexpressible bliss. The walls which have been clasping her for so long, were now ruined - Sakura managed to crash them.
Fatigued, drowsy, she lay on the couch, leaning against Itachi's shoulder; Sasuke was asleep, curled up in a ball beside her with his head on the elder's knees. Sakura closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh of relief, for, somehow, she was sure all was going to be fine from then on. They will make it no matter what.
The three of them.