OOC: Just to clarify, NaruSasu will be very soft and a side pairing. Probably not even distinguishable from their pre Naruto Shippuden interactions. Also, thank you for all the reviews and follows. They mean a lot to me. (:
Also, mild ItaKaori lime alert.
Black locks mixed with silver, weaving between intertwined bodies like graceful paint strokes. Shadows danced on the floor of the darkened room, a reminder of the luminosity of the midnight moon. Kaori exhaled softly, twisting so that she could press herself against Itachi's chest—indulging herself in the coolness of his skin. It was very quiet, the only cacophony being the occasional rustle of leaves that chimed in response to a lazy, nighttime breeze.
"What's the matter?" He murmured against her ear, one hand pressed to the small of her back.
She laced her fingers in his hair, listening to the calm vibrations that emanated from his chest as he spoke. "I was just wondering how you knew…" Kaori ran her lips slowly along the length of his neck before pausing to look up at the older Uchiha through her lashes.
"Knew what?" He kissed the right side of her exposed shoulder affectionately, just above the black inked swirl— saturating himself in her scent.
She moaned quietly against him, hands gripping the thin nightshirt that clung to his torso. "About Sakura-chan and nii-chan-"
He interrupted her with a hungry kiss, having already understood her question. She gave him entrance immediately, sweetly bringing her tongue to meet his before leaning in.
"I didn't." Itachi replied as they pulled apart for breath, suppressing a smile at her confusion. "I only thought they were compatible from observation."
Kaori growled, reminding the Uchiha of a haughty feline. "In what way?" She murmured against him, lightly sucking at his neck.
"Haruno-kun is strong-willed but easy flustered. Kakashi-senpai, on the other hand, is calm and grounded." His ran a hand along the side of her thigh, indulging in the softness of her skin. "Nonetheless, senpai's reserved nature makes him very hard to approach, much less understand. It would only make sense for Haruno-kun, someone who has fought by his side and seen him at both his best and worst, to be the one able to understand his silence and read it much like you have, Kaori."
The silver-haired woman sighed. As much as she had wanted to be at her brother's side, she was prevented from doing so by her then duties as one of the three acting commanders of Konoha's ANBU forces. While the rest were away on the front lines, her division had fought tooth and nail to ensure the utmost safety of the village and the wounded shinobi who had been rushed back from the battlefront. Nonetheless, while Kaori understood perfectly that she and her older brother were rarely sent on the same types of missions for the institutional reason that they were different types of shinobi, she still couldn't help but get the feeling that from now forth, Sakura would be slowly taking her place at her brother's side.
Onyx eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Kaori…"
He titled her chin up so that she could meet his gaze. "You want Kakashi-senpai to be happy too, don't you?"
She nodded, but refused to speak.
Itachi smiled, tenderly pressing another kiss to her lips. "Silly girl, senpai would never accept Haruno-kun into his life if it meant he could no longer be your nii-chan."
"I-I was not jealous!" Kaori shouted under her breath, turning red from embarrassment. It was an utter lie, and she was sure that her boyfriend saw right through it.
They both listened as the sound of rustling covers emanated from the living room before a quiet knock sounded at their door with silence. Itachi noticed a flicker of raw emotion in Kaori's eyes, and smiled to himself knowingly. What sophisticated control she had over herself was all but non-applicable when it came to her nii-chan. They were closer than Siamese twins, and the younger Hatake reciprocated her brother's undivided attention with a kind of affection so full of love that it was sometimes very difficult to understand.
"Kori?" Kakashi's voice hovered in the still air, laced with a small hint of fatigue. "Are you alright?"
"Nii-chan." Kaori sniffed, a small pout at the corners of her mouth as she threw open the door and clung to him in a tight hug.
Kakashi's only visible eye moved from the top of her head to Itachi, silently asking for an explanation. The older Uchiha's eyes seemed to tell him everything that his sister would have never said. While she was undeniably happy that two of the people closest to her life had discovered potential happiness with each other, a small part of her was afraid that in this process, they would no longer be as close and that her nii-chan would have less and less use for her. Kaori wasn't exactly willing to stop being his imoutou-chan, now or in the future.
You've spoiled her too much, Kakashi-senpai.
The silver-haired jonin smiled. "Silly girl." He breathed, echoing Itachi's words, and tenderly kissed the top of her head. "Make sure to rest well tonight, Kori. We have to report to Hokage-sama early tomorrow morning."
No matter what happens, I will always love you.
Sakura awoke with a light yawn. As she slowly registered her surroundings, a soft blush languidly unfolded over the pink-kuniochi's cheeks. Her memory jump-started, flauntingly reminding the young medic nin of fact that she had just stayed the night at the house of the man that she had, undeniably and without a doubt, fallen for.
Looking down at her makeshift nightshirt, Sakura's blush only deepened. It was one of Hatake Kakashi's navy blue shirts that she had seen him wear so often underneath his vest. Standing, she carefully folded the covers, making sure that she had smoothed out all the wrinkles and overall, taking more time that was really necessary. As she moved, Sakura's hands quivered with excitement and a bit of nervousness. Although they didn't sleep together, him having the gentlemanly decency to move to the living room where Naruto and Sasuke were already camped with futons, just the thought of having spent an entire night in his bed was enough to make her giddy. How such a gorgeous man could be twelve years her senior was something that she would never understand.
Emerging into the hallway, Sakura was surprised to see Naruto and Sasuke still soundly asleep. Uchiha Itachi was already awake, his onyx following her movements as he drank from a cup of warm team.
"Ohayo." She greeted him politely, all of a sudden very self-conscious of her mismatched combination of clothes that consisted of Kakashi's shirt and Kaori's pajama pants.
"Ohayo." He returned her greeting, gracefully ignoring the obvious but implicit message behind the pink-haired kuniochi's outfit. "Tea?"
"Y-yes please." She took a seat at the kitchen counter, watching with some curiosity as the older Uchiha moved. He seemed to know exactly which drawers to open and where to find to what he needed. He must be here a lot…Sakura thought.
"Brown rice or green?"
"E-eh?" It took her some time to register that he was waiting for a response. "U-uh, green tea please, thank you."
"You're welcome." He replied, as if making morning tea for his girlfriend's older brother's potential significant other was the most natural thing in the world.
Sakura looked around, careful to not make too much noise that would disturb the two sleeping males. "U-um, Itachi-san," her eyes sparkled inquisitively, "where's Kaori-chan and Kakashi-sensei?"
"They're at a meeting with the Hokage." He replied coolly, making his way back over to the kitchen counter.
"A-ah…" She nodded, gripping the cup with both of her hands in thanks.
A small tapping sound came from the closed kitchen window. Both shinobi looked over at the three sparrows that paused only for a moment before departing with a destination in mind.
"Itachi-san, is that..?"
The older Uchiha nodded. "I need to leave immediately." His onyx eyes rested on the two sleeping bundles in the living room before his gaze met with the medic nin's. "Please wake Naruto and Sasuke up soon. If things work out as expected, the three of you will also be summoned to the Hokage's office very soon."