Author's Notes: I had fun with this chapter. :)
Disclaimer on first chapter.

Chapter 3

"Moo I'm fine," Shisui laughed awkwardly, "There's only a couple blisters left."

Momichi let go of Shisui's hands with a nod, "Good."

He gave his usual happy-go-lucky smile as Momichi got up from her chair. She crossed the room he staying in and turned back only when she had reached the door, "A quick visit to the hot springs before we leave tomorrow should help to clear everything up."

Shisui nodded digging gingerly through one of his bags, "I'll be sure to do that."

"Geez, you're so much easier to take care of than Itachi," Momichi sighed, "Good night Shisui."

She closed the door on his laughter. Momichi smiled to herself. Frankly, she hadn't been lying. Itachi had been injured many times before without even a small hint to it. As many years as she had known him, he was still hard to read. He'd probably be dying before he would actually admit to being hurt.

Luckily, their mission to escort the stalker, Makoto Saku, had ended without anymore problems. Sure, she had to fend off the man's every attempt to get her alone, but it was worth the stay overnight. Shisui had needed close monitoring as she healed him from their close encounter. She had been overly zealous about getting him into the hot springs as soon as possible to help heal.

Her thoughts shifted back to the mission results. Momichi had a feeling the reason they had been attacked wasn't for the sniveling man in his carriage. She felt it had a much more sinister plan behind it. Who would really attack and then run? Well, she knew a few people who probably would do that, but it would be nothing more than a childish prank. Not some all out warfare like they had met.

Momichi stopped by her room to stash a few things and then headed straight for the hot springs herself. She entered the changing room and quickly changed. After that, she ran into the steaming room and jumped—not literally—in.

She sat on one of the underwater ledges and smiled blissfully as the hot water soothed her tired muscles. She loved hot springs. It was the best thing next to seeing Itachi after a hard day's work. Even better yet, Itachi in said hot springs after a hard day's work would be even better.

Momichi giggled at the alluring thought. She wondered if he was in his room right now. Maybe he was on the other side of the bamboo wall that separated the genders to their section. She almost wanted to take a peek and find out.

"Aw, I bet he's in his room," she muttered aloud.

"I'm right here my dear," an unpleasant voice spoke up from the entrance. Momichi turned white as she looked that direction. Makoto Saku was standing in the doorway with only a fuzzy white towel tied around his waist.

"AHHH!" Momichi screamed attempting to cover herself, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE!?"

She kept her back to him. He just had to come in here didn't he? What a pervert.

His footsteps echoed across the tiled floor, "How's the water? I hope it hasn't cooled."

"It's fine," Momichi retorted reaching for the towel next to her. She really wanted to get out of here.

An audible splash sounded behind her and Momichi knew Saku was in the water. She started to get up and wrapped the towel around herself at the same time. This guy was such a freak.

"Where are you going?" Saku asked, annoyance edging his voice.

"I've been in long enough," Momichi replied getting out of the water.

"Well," Saku's voice dropped and made Momichi's skin crawl, "You'll have to get by me to leave."

She clenched a fist at her side as she stood deliberating. She could knock his lights and walk out feeling very satisfied with herself and cost them a good deal of payment on the mission or… What else was there to do? She looked at the bamboo wall next to her. She could hope that there were no other men on the other side and jump the wall. That seemed like the best solution.

The water splashed behind her signaling the man's approach. It was now or never.

"My dear, join me here in the water," the man said slyly.

"No thanks," Momichi responded as a small amount of chakra flowed to her feet, "but I don't bathe with perverts."

A rumble came from Saku and she sensed him reaching for her, "Why you little—"

His hand found nothing to grab as Momichi leapt into the air. She grinned catching the top of the bamboo wall easily and swung her legs over. She sat on the wall momentarily and sent Saku a small wave, "Bye bye."

She let go of the wall happily leaving the fuming man behind.

Riiipppppp.

Momichi landed in a crouch. She met Itachi's quizzical expression with a cherry red face.

"For the love of—!" she cried trying to cover herself yet again. She glared up at the torn towel hanging from a bamboo piece. The damn thing had not only caught on the stupid bamboo, it had ripped and left her with… well, not a towel on.

"I never knew this place had lovely women fly over the walls," Itachi commented from the water, "They should really mention that before letting people in."

"Shut up!" Momichi barked at him entirely embarrassed. She silently thanked God that Itachi was the only man present right now.

His eyes wandered to her lavish chest with a small smirk, "Why are you here?"

"Oh y'know, running away from perverts as usual," she deadpanned.

"I realize that," Itachi stated.

A loud splash on the other side of the wall announced Saku's swift retreat.

"What!? You heard that whole thing and didn't even say anything!?" Momichi gasped as the other man's footsteps faded.

"I did hear it, but I was curious as to what you would do," Itachi replied coolly, "You can handle yourself."

Momichi splashed into the water attempting to regain some dignity by taking away his direct view of her. She sulked as he crossed the steaming water and sat next to her.

"Can this evening get any worse?" she grumbled into the water.

"How can it," Itachi grinned, "when I'm here?"

Momichi took one look at him and then laughed. It wasn't the oh-that-was-funny laugh, but the simpering laugh at yourself kind of sound. She kept giggling even when Itachi swept an arm around her and pulled her close to him.

"I really am stupid y'know," she mused.

"Not really," he answered with a smirk, "More like carelessly risky and very frisky within the—"

That night, many swore they heard an echoing slap throughout the huge estate of Makoto Saku.

Home.

Momichi threw herself on her bed and gave a loud sigh. Burying her face into the soft sheets she recalled the last two days.

She hadn't spoken to Itachi the whole way home. When she thought about it, her silence had never really been reasonable. The squad was on edge the whole journey home so it didn't matter much. They hadn't taken any chances with running into more hostile company. As soon as they had stepped through the gates, Itachi had taken the mission report straight to Tsunade and left the team to disperse on its own.

Tears escaped from her eyes unbidden. She was so stupid. Momichi sat up and cradled a pillow in her lap. She couldn't figure out why she had lashed out at her lover or why she had vehemently kept silent in anger when she knew he hadn't done anything wrong. Itachi was just being Itachi. How could she justify her overreaction?

Warm arms wrapped around her from behind. Momichi let out another sigh falling into the embrace without a fight. A humid breeze drifted into the room as the curtains fluttered around the now open window.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What for?" Itachi replied matching her low tone.

Momichi attempted to make hand gestures in front of her. How could she start to explain what she had done?

Itachi caught her hands in his and planted a quick kiss on her neck, "Don't worry about it. Things happen."

Momichi frowned, "If you think I'm PMS'ing you got another thing coming mister."

He chuckled and let her go. Momichi watched him get up and wander casually around the room.

Itachi's eyes roamed the uninteresting dresser top as he said, "My mother wishes for our team to come for supper."

"What's the occasion?" Momichi smiled faintly. Uchiha Mikoto was not a lady to be turned down for a meal offer. She was one of the best cooks in Fire Country.

"Does she need one?" Itachi replied quietly.

Momichi smiled a little more, "Nope."

"Let's go then," Itachi stated. Momichi got up grinning from ear to ear. This would certainly be a life scarring experience.

"That ohagi was amazing!"

'Thank you Hana," Mikoto replied as she picked up the dishes.

Momichi looked down at her own half-eaten food. How in the world had they enjoyed the meal when she could hardly stand the smell? What was even worse, Mikoto's ohagi was famous throughout Konoha yet she had found it as nasty as eating mustard plain.

"Not hungry tonight hun?" Mikoto asked reaching over Momichi's shoulder for her plate.

"Not really," the medic-nin replied sheepishly, "I guess I haven't been feeling too great lately." She made brief eye contact with Itachi as his father picked up some scrolls and started going through them.

Hana broke the silence before it lulled, "Well, that sucks. Hope you feel better by tomorrow." She pushed her chair away from the table getting up, "Which reminds me, I should be getting back to the clinic."

Momichi rejoiced inside as Hana said her goodbyes. First, Shisui hadn't shown up because of a meeting with Tsunade. Now Hana was cutting out early to get back to her work. She would get the Uchiha family alone for a little while. Her excitement was quickly squashed.

"Momichi will you help me with the dishes?" Mikoto inquired as she headed for the kitchen.

"Of course!" Momichi responded hopping out of her seat. She stood still for a moment waiting for a sudden dizzy spell to pass. She saw Itachi watching and smiled reassuringly, "Sorry, head rush."

She went into the kitchen where her and Mikoto went into cleaning mode. They had a quick, efficient process. Mikoto would wash and she would dry. They were done within five minutes.

"So how was the last mission?" Mikoto asked handing over the last washed plate.

"Ooohhh," Momichi drawled wiping the dish dry, "the typical protect-a-creeper show."

Mikoto chuckled as she went around the kitchen collecting various items, "Sounds fun." She disappeared into the pantry to put stuff away.

"Yea," Momichi huffed putting the dishes away.

The door swished open softly. Momichi smiled as warm arms embraced her from behind, "Well, hi there."

Itachi's lips found her cheek and gave her a small peck, "Talking about Saku I presume?"

"Yep."

"Aw my little Ita-chan," Mikoto cooed coming out of the pantry.

Itachi made a small face at the nickname. Momichi laughed. She loved seeing his nose scrunch and his mouth curve into a displeased little frown. She practically died right then and there when Mikoto opened her mouth again and bluntly demanded, "So when will I have grandchildren?"

Itachi's wide eyed expression was too funny. His mouth hung open for a few seconds before he recovered himself. Momichi buried her face in his shirt trying to contain her fit of giggles. Itachi smiled at his mother in defeat. She had won this round.

"Well then," Mikoto commented returning a smile that resembled her son's, "You better talk to your father soon." She walked out of the room leaving them alone.

Momichi met Itachi's dark eyes, "When will you talk to him?"

"Soon," he replied quietly.

Momichi felt a smile spread on her face again.

Soon.