Meeting Shisui
Summary: They were complete opposites, but they were best friends. Itachi himself wondered sometimes how Shisui became so close to him. Then again, Sakura was slowly doing the same thing.
"He is running late, are you sure he hasn't forgotten?" A worried pink-haired kunoichi asked.
"Believe me, he hasn't." A raven haired Uchiha answered calmly. "He is always late."
"Really? That reminds me of my sensei," she said, giggling a bit. "He was always late too. Say, what's your cousin like?"
Itachi pondered over it before answering. "He is… my complete opposite," he said. "He likes to talk, laugh and break rules. He is an eternal optimist and is quite immature."
"Now that's more like my teammate Naruto. Your friend sounds very interesting."
He raised an eyebrow, wondering why she would think such a thing. She noticed and laughed.
"Sorry if I sound weird to you", she said. "People who stand out always seem interesting to me. Like you, too."
"You think I am interesting?" He said, frowning imperceptibly, not quite understanding why.
"Well, yes. You're like a big mystery for those who don't know you, and as for me, I like your quiet, intelligent side. There's a very peculiar aura around you, that draws me to you like a moth to a light."
He watched her with wonder. Her mind really had an odd way of working. But it wasn't unpleasant. Besides, she had just complimented him.
Just as she was about to say something else, the wind suddenly picked up, raising dust and earth all around them. It was like a mini-tornado. When it finally calmed down, a young man was standing before them, grinning widely. He had untamed raven hair and deep charcoal eyes, which made identification quite easy.
"Sorry mate, I'm late!" He said casually, waving at Itachi. "I was…"
"No need to make up an excuse," Itachi interrupted quite coldly. "I know exactly why you are late. But you can't expect to make a good first impression if you always behave so rudely."
Shisui pouted childishly. "Oh come on! You sound like my dad!" He then turned towards Sakura, his grin reappearing. "Is that the young lady you wanted me to meet?"
Itachi resisted the urge to rub his temples. His cousin never failed to give him a headache by just being here. "Yes," he answered blankly. "This is Sakura Haruno. Sakura-san, meet my cousin Shisui."
"Nice to meet you!" The pink-haired woman smiled, extending a hand towards Shisui.
The raven head shook it enthusiastically, and a little too long to Itachi's liking.
"The rumors about you weren't lying!" He exclaimed. "You are a lovely lady!"
She blushed a little and Itachi frowned. He knew his cousin had a soft spot for women, but to actually flirt at the beginning of a meeting was a bit too much.
"Let's make ourselves comfortable," Shisui proposed, pointing at a bench nearby.
They sat, each Uchiha on each side of Sakura, and the conversation went on. Shisui began asking all kind of things about Sakura, who answered most of them. Some she refused with a blush, and Itachi wanted to punch his reckless cousin for his boldness. Then, inevitably, the subject went to Itachi.
"So, how did someone so outgoing like you managed to befriend my discreet cousin?" He asked, with unmasked curiosity.
Sakura smiled mischievously. "I could ask the same of you," she said. "But what first drew me to him was his ability to have a decent and intelligent conversation."
"Aw, that sounds bad for me then. Will you shun me because I say many immature things?"
She laughed at his pouting face and Itachi rolled his eyes at his cousin's behavior. "Of course not!" Sakura said, her eyes twinkling. "I have a friend whose personality is just like yours! Don't worry, I don't mind idiots."
"That hurts. Am I to understand that I am an idiot?"
"I don't know you enough to say it yet," she answered, grinning.
"That's a relief then. But, back to the subject, aside from Itachi's intelligence, what else interested you?"
She took her time to think about it, eyes directed skyward, her index finger on her chin. "Well, I'd say that I like his company. I feel comfortable around him, and he actually listens to me without judging me or interrupting me. I can't really explain, it's just… well, it's like that."
Itachi felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach at her reply. On the other hand, it seemed to amuse Shisui, who grinned. "You're a strange one Sakura-san," he said, "but I can't blame you. I'm just like you. There aren't many people who truly enjoy being with Itachi, and there's just no explanation to our preferences. What do your infamous teammates think about your relationship with Itachi?"
She looked quite embarrassed. "Err, well, I haven't really told them," she said sheepishly.
"Really? Why is that?" Itachi didn't say anything, but he wondered too.
"How do I say that? I'm kind of scared of their reaction. There are like overprotecting brothers, and it's quite annoying sometimes. They think they know better than me who I can befriend or not. And let's not talk about my love life. They scare away as many suitors as they can, and when I begin a relationship with a man, they try to discourage me from committing myself and behave rudely towards said man. In Itachi's case, it would be even more special. I can just imagine Naruto: but Sakura-chan, it's Sasuke-teme's brother! He is a cold fish and he is an Uchiha!" she said, imitating Naruto's voice. "As for Sasuke, he wouldn't say much since he doesn't want to cross his favorite big brother, but he wouldn't think any less."
"You seem to know them very well!" Shisui laughed. "They would assume that just because you became friend with a man, you're bound to become his girlfriend?"
"Something like that. They're quite stupid sometimes – well, Naruto always is, but Sasuke is more intelligent than that."
"You heard that Itachi?" Shisui said teasingly. "You are trespassing your lil' brother's territory! Be careful!"
"It's not like that!" Sakura protested. "I told you, Sasuke and Naruto see me as a sister, and I see them as brothers! I know some people like to pretend otherwise, but that's how it is!"
"You know, it may be worse this way. If Sasuke and your other teammate judge Itachi unworthy of you, they'll do anything to get rid of him. Not that they would succeed though. It's silly, that would be like a fly trying to make cow budge. They're not match for Itachi. Right mate?"
Itachi's answer was a smirk, and Sakura rolled her eyes. "You men are all the same!" She sighed. "It's not always about strength, really. Though I do want a strong man. But that's not the point. I don't want my teammates to fight Itachi, nor do I want Itachi to fight my teammates."
"It may come to this one day, you know," Shisui predicted. "You can't hide your secret relationship forever."
"It's not like we're going out or anything!" Sakura protested with a slight blush. "We're not doing anything wrong!"
"You never know what fate has in store for you," Shisui said philosophically. "Be careful Sakura-san. Though if you need me, I'll be glad to help you." He added with a teasing grin.
Itachi tightened his lips, but Sakura didn't seem to notice the insinuations in Shisui's words. The serious raven head glared warningly at his cousin.
"I'll remember that," the pink-haired woman said. "But if it comes to that, I'll take care of it myself. I may not look like it, but I can definitely kick my teammates' asses."
"Ah yes, you are the Godaime's apprentice after all. By the way, I was wondering, is it true that you have surpassed her?"
She blushed in embarrassment. "Of course not! Well, I don't think so. I don't really know."
"Ah, what a pity. If you had, you would be the strongest kunoichi of Konoha. Quite a feat I must say. But number two is good too."
"Gee, thanks!" She said, rolling her eyes. "Do you mind if I ask who is the strongest between you and Itachi?"
"Why, me of course!" Shisui said arrogantly.
Itachi snorted with contempt and his cousin pouted, while Sakura laughed. "Alright, I lied," he said, sulking. "Itachi's stronger. But since he probably is the strongest of the village, it's no big deal."
"Indeed, you're right!" Sakura giggled. Then she glanced at her watch and widened. "Oh my god! I'm going to be late!"
Both Uchiha looked at her with surprise. "I have the night shift today," she explained. "Well, I begin a six tonight and I finish at four in the morning. I hadn't realized we would have so little time."
She got up, and the men imitated her. "It was nice seeing you two," she said with a smile. "Let's do that again another time."
She then stood on her tiptoes and kissed Itachi's cheek, directed a smile at Shisui, and ran off. The Uchiha stared at her retreating back blankly, not quite understanding what had happened, until Shisui elbowed him in the ribs with a teasing smile.
"Aw, 'Tachi got a kiss! You're so cute!"
Itachi glared at him, and Shisui's grin widened. "That a nice little woman you've got there!" He said. "You're lucky you got there first, or I would have taken her myself."
Itachi stiffened. "It's not like that."
Shisui laughed. "You don't lie to others, but you've become excellent at lying to yourself! Don't worry, I know better than to trespass on your territory. I'll be an exemplary friend to her! But you know how I am, sometimes I just can't restrain myself. Ah, well, good luck with that one dear cousin."
He patted Itachi's shoulder and was gone in a gush of wind, leaving his quiet cousin to his distressed thoughts.
And that was the meeting between Sakura and Shisui. I had some difficulties with that one. Writing about a character we don't know much about is definitly not easy. Hope you liked it.
Feedback is a great way to encourage writers, so please, review!
