||| [T] h e [C] a f e |||^Itachi Uchiha^|||-Chapter Twenty One-

Chapter Twenty One: Surrender

"Everyone smiles in the same language."
~Anonymous

~*~

Mariko through on a pair of jeans and a knitted sweater. She practically skipped down the stairs and found the Uchiha in her kitchen. He passed her a mug of green tea and wished her a merry Christmas. She snorted and pointed at her sad excuse of a Christmas trees. An artifical green disgrace, it had been at least nine years since she had a real one due to Misuki's urge to tear down all the real ones. Somewhat believing that a real bird was perched at the top.

"Have you eaten yet?" She cracked two eggs and started to make herself a cheese omlet.

"No, I thought you know I couldn't cook?" She flipped the omlet and smirked at him.

"You can make tea…"

"Not really."

She muffled a laugh and said, "Would you like me to make an omlet for you?"

He nodded, "That would be nice."

~*~

Everything had turned out just as she wanted, The two would meet up every weekend, unless he had a mission. He would tell her before time and she would wait. Her waitressing job at the cafe had become easier and she hadn't spilt, dropped, or broken anything in a long time. She worked as hard as she could and she never took any days off, unless it was for holidays or it was the weekend. Sometimes hewould appear at her cafe, and surprise her with taking her out for lunch during her break. Mariko was so happy with everything around her, knowing that she finally had someone who had cared and loved her and wouldn't leave like others, like him.

But there was one thing that came before the Uchiha, she promised the furball that Misuki was always going to be her favourite…

Mariko was scribbling something down in her diary as the orange furred feline slept on the corner of her bed.

~*~

Mariko wasn't the only one who had been currupted by the word called 'love' but the great Itachi Uchiha himself, had fallen to it's might and accepted it without hesitation. Hidan looked at him strange every time they had passed by each other in the hallway. Kisame snickered away at how soft his partner had gotten over a girl, and Deidara. Well he was the only one who was happy for him.

Deidara had a whole new respect for the Uchiha.
The blonde have never known that the Uchiha was capable of such a word,
-But Itachi was just full of surprises.

"Sooooo, Itachi san. Have you two done the dirty yet?" If Kisame had eyebrows they would be wagging at him.

"Why do you always asume these perverted thoughts between Mariko and I?"

"So you have." Kisame nodded and smacked his partner on the back, "That's great and all. I should congradulate you, but Hidan isn't the only one who is suspicious about you anymore. His partner, Konan, Zetsu, Leader sama, God even Tobi is. The only one I can think of right now who would really give a flying fox is Deidara. And he is usually the one who quirks to curiousity."

"That's because Deidara knows already."

"Whaaa~?"

~*~

Itachi explained everything with his partner and Kisame frowned.

"Do you actually trust him?"

"No." Itachi said without an ounce of hesitation.

Kisame nodded and crossed his arms behind his head, "So when are you planning on telling Leader sama, unless you break away from her before he finds out."

"I have everything already thought out. You don't need to worry about me, Kisame."

"Um hm." Kisame mumbled.

~*~

Mariko found herself finishing her last shift. She had all together thirty nine tables served today. Compared to when she first began to work in the cafe it had been a lot busier. The peppermint cafe started off as a little walk in pick up goods store but after at least three months it had become one of the top ten cafes in the shinobi world. Kasumi was so proud that her tiny business had reached so high. Kyou on the other hand seemed a tad bit gloomy. He had tried to talk to Mariko a few times, even congratulate her on her raise but somehow she never had any time to even say a quick hello like they use to.

Kasumi tapped her fingers on two bags of gold coins and smiled proudly at the green eyed girl. She handed them over to her, "Mariko I can't thank you enough. I know at first I wasn't to sure about you but now...you have brought so much success to this little cafe."

Kasumi stopped paused. Her eyes began to tear up, "Thank you so much." She embraced the younger girl in a tight huge. Mariko smiled at patted her back.

"Don't give me all the credit; you were the one who bought this place." Kasumi let go off her and Mariko sighed deeply.

"I'll see you bright and early on Monday okay." Kasumi beamed as Mariko chuckled and walked out into the fresh January air. She took a huge breath and scrabbled through her pocket to find a white pack of cigarettes.

Itachi had a lot of her already but unfortunately there was just one habit he couldn't break.

~*~

Kyou swept around the banister in his sister's house. He noticed his sister writing some words on a piece of paper. He smiled and walked over to her.

"What do you want Kyou?" She looked up at him.

"I wanted to ask you something." He drummed his fingers on her desk, "It's actually pretty important."

"Hmmmm." She gave him a cat like grin, "Is it a girl?"

"Just that actually." She stood up and clapped her palms together.

"That's great! Okay I will tell you everything you need to know to im-." He sighed.

"Sisss." He groaned, "Please don't get all excite or anything."

"Why shouldn't I be excited? This is big no huge news. You are so lucky I am here."


'Am I Really?-.'

"So who is it?"

~*~

Mariko sat on her bed counting the money she earned that week. She sighed deeply and threw her head against her pillow. Misuki had cuddled up to her side.

Her ears perked up to the knocking on her door. She sat up and flung out of her bedroom to the door.

'Please let it be him, please oh please.' Wait didn't she give him a key to open the door with? Why would he be knocking on her door when he could get in? It might have been a surprise. She fussed with the lock on the door and looked up at a male shaped figure.

"W-w-wha..." She stuttered.

~*~

Itachi folded his hands behind his head as he eyed his partner from the corner of his eye.

"Where is Deidara? Usually it's really loud when he's around here." Kisame spoke out loud.

"He's probably on a mission."

"But he has none this week,"

Itachi rolled his head to face Kisame, "Really?"

"Yeah, maybe he is checking out that girl of your- What's wrong?" Itachi had stood up and was out of the room in less then a half a second.

"Itachi san?" Kisame twitched his upper lip and sighed.

& I end it there Bwa hahahaha

Reviews are Love,

Oh and here's a clue,

Deidara is not the one knocking on her door!

Thanks For Reading !!