The Date

Sakura had no reason to say no to Itachi's offer, so she allowed him to treat her. Besides, not only could she not find a valid reason to deny his good intentions, but she was also slightly light-headed after he had entwined his fingers with hers as if they were a couple – and planted a kiss on her cheek too, to boot.

On Itachi's part, he was delighted. How he had missed his cherry blossom! A girl with a bright future, a knowledgeable brain, a kind soul, a golden heart, incomparable strength, and a great friend with more beautiful qualities than he could count in a day. Not to mention that adorable forehead of hers, perfect for him to kiss and caress it with his fingers. He shivered ever so slightly. He must not get carried away, he reminded himself. He had had slight romantic affection for the girl four years ago, a very diminutive amount, mind you but it was there. He remembered that she had not been aware of his affections then, so he did not doubt that she wasn't aware of them now, although after their long separation his feelings for the pink-haired kunoichi were stronger than they were before.

They walked in comfortable silence, Itachi basking in the presence of Sakura and Sakura trying to figure out just what had happened and why she felt so different with Itachi than she had felt before he left for Suna.

They reached Naruto's favorite food stand, the Ichiraku Ramen, and Itachi asked Sakura if she wanted to dine there. Sakura contemplated the option for a minute before shaking her head no. When she noticed Itachi raise his eyebrow slightly at her, she explained.

"I love this place, as you know," he nodded, "but every time I eat with Naruto, we eat here. I'd just like something different, since I'll probably eat here another three times this week."

"Ah," Itachi smiled, understanding. He had forgotten the young Kyuibi host had a strange fascination with ramen. "Not a problem, then." He led her away from the ramen by the hand, as if they were at a formal dance in which he had just asked her to dance, she had accepted and now he was whisking her away to dance the night away. Woah, thought Sakura, blinking. I've got to lay off the romance novels. Admit it, sister, it does feel like he is taking you to dance, said Inner. Once again, Sakura skillfully ignored her.

Itachi led them to a larger restaurant, more fancy than what Sakura could afford any other day.

"Itachi," she tugged at his sleeve, making him smile inwardly.

"Yes?"

"We're not eating here, are we?" she asked as a waiter in a black tux stepped before them.

"Of course we are, Sakura," Itachi said, slightly surprised. "If we were not going to, I would not have brought us here," he continued as the waiter led them through a few elegantly furnished tables. When the waiter presented them with one of the most finely decorated tables, Itachi shaked his head slightly. Sakura noticed that his hair was longer, too. It probably reached nearly halfway to his shoulder blades. And it looked so soft and shiny…

Sakura has a flash of Itachi with his hair loose, the black threads caressing her face as Itachi leaned down to kiss her. She blushed furiously while Inner had a major nosebleed. Sakura thanked, not for the first time that day, that Inner was in her head and not in the outside world.

While she was fighting back the red coloring of her cheeks before Itachi could see it, which was a futile attempt because he already had and believed it lovely, Sakura hadn't noticed that the waiter had led them up a flight of stairs and out into a balcony that held only one small table, beautifully but simply furnished, with a small white and pale red candle shinning brightly in the centre of the pearl-white table with pink cheery blossoms still on the trees painted on them. The seats were covered in the same pearl-white cloth, with a ribbon on the back. The cloth shinned in an almost magical way, bringing the colors alive.

Sakura gasped softly when she saw the table. The cherry blossoms on the table cloth seemed to be carried away by the breeze, dancing across the table cloth, alive with the little candle's fire. She also noticed that the cloth was silk, which is why it shone so and had such gentle folds. Itachi chuckled at her response, immensely pleased that she had liked it so much.

He rested her hand on the crook of his arm and guided her to the table with purposeful air. He pulled out the chair for her and pushed it in like a proper gentleman before tucking back a few strands of hair behind her ear so he could see her face better. He studies her face for a few moments, memorizing the arch of her eyebrows, her dark eyelashes, the shape of her nose, and the fullness of her lips before sitting back down across from her.

The table they sat on was big enough to hold their meals but small enough that Itachi could see every detail in Sakura's angelical face and, if the opportunity arrived, he could hold her hands with ease and comfort.

"-tachi. Itachi?" Itachi blinked a few times. He was so lost in his emotions and her face to notice Sakura had asked him a question.

"Yes, Sakura?"

"I really don't feel comfortable here," she said.

Itachi's happy mood fell. "Why?" he inquired. If he could do something to make her feel comfortable, he would do it.

"Because I just came from work. I'm sweaty, I'm dirty, my hair's a mess, and don't even get me started with my outfit and lack of make-up." She blushed as she spoke and looked over the balcony, stealing only a few short glances at him to see his reaction. "This is such a fancy place and I'm not properly presented. I don't want to embarrass you." Or myself, she added silently.

Itachi was amazed. This girl was thinking of him? She was uncomfortable because she didn't want to embarrass him? If he wasn't an Uchiha, he would have jumped out of his chair laughing, pulled her out of the chair and hugged her tightly against him before making himself less presentable to resemble her and thus ease her discomfort. So he simply chose the latter.

Itachi pulled at his hair tie, setting loose her black mane. It framed his face beautifully, not hiding it, not changing its shape, but it just hung to his shoulder blades, held back by his ears. A few loose hairs fell on his forehead, making him look…sexy. He proceed to unbutton the first three buttons of his shirt and roll up his sleeves to his elbows.

"Itachi?" Sakura asked, both surprised and shocked.

"Feeling uncomfortable now?" he asked with a grin, his arms extended wide by his sides as if to show her. The waiter appeared then with their food, skillfully setting down a bread basket followed by their plates with metal covers over them, which he set in front of each individual.

"W-what? We haven't ordered yet!" Sakura exclaimed, confused.

"Actually, we have," Itachi said, leaning over the table with the back of his hands supporting his chin. When Sakura gave him a confused look, he elaborated. "The owner of the restaurant is a good friend of mine. He knew I wanted to take you out to dinner tonight, so he closed off the restaurant to everyone except us. I ordered your meal ahead of you, if you don't mind." He extended a hand to raise the cover of her plate and set it aside.

On the plate, there was one of her favorite foods. Chicken Alfredo, with mashed potatoes, gravy, Caesar salad, and a small bouquet of cherry blossoms in the centre for a visual touch. Her eyes widened as she covered her mouth in delight. Itachi smiled.

"It seems not," he mused. He lifted his own plate cover to reveal the same thing. "Bon appetite, chèrie."

They both ate with gusto, conversing about what they had been up to on the past four years, before dessert, a chocolate cake with pink and white icing and caramel filling, which they shared, feeding each other, Sakura over her shyness and Itachi with pleasure.

Finally, he walked her home, his arm around her shoulders, her head resting on his broad shoulder while her hand rested on his on hers. Once they were at her door, Sakura hesitated. It was too beautiful a night to let it go.

"It's alright, Sakura," Itachi murmured. His face was just inches away from hers.

"I am living here now. We'll have more days like this."

Sakura nodded and was about to turn around to go into her home when she stopped, whipped around and kissed Itachi lightly on the lips. It was sweet, gentle and the softest lips Itachi could imagine. He kissed her back lightly before they both pulled back, lost in the moment, not wanting to take things too far on the first date.

"`Night, Itachi," Sakura whispered as she hugged him.

"Good night, my cherry blossom," Itachi whispered back as he hugged her back. "Sleep with the angels. It's where you belong." He petted her head once before stepping away from her reluctantly, giving her the chance to go to sleep.

The last though Sakura Haruno had before she slept that night was of how perfect that night had been. As she touched her lips with pure delight, she wanted nothing but to do it again.