It was an absolutely lovely day.

Grinning, I skipped past the steps, positively glowing from the freedom. After all, it wasn't everyday that the esteemed Hokage gave days off to people. I was fully prepared to enjoy it – sleep, combined with copious amounts of food would do the trick, I was sure. In preparation, I shuffled into the kitchen, sniffing the air appreciatively. It smelled like dango, pocky – …

And vegetables?

My mouth took an instant downward turn as I threw my hands in the air. "Not happening. Nope. I don't care. Find someone else. File a D-rank. Bribe people. Blackmail them –,"

There was a soft thud as the potato went flying through the air and made contact with my admittedly huge forehead. I rubbed it gingerly, trying to alleviate the pain and vaguely wondered if I should use chakra on it. I mean, technically, I was off-duty. I could totally afford to be careless with my reserves.

Completely ignoring my mental musings, Mum slammed the basket into my hands, letting go as soon as I stumbled back a few steps to stop it from falling. "Just go, Shiyako. It's the last time. I promise."

"Your promises mean nothing to me!"

"Quit being so dramatic," Mum snarled, turning around to glare. "I don't know why you're so averse to going to the Uchiha district –,"

"I'm averse to being used as a delivery girl, thank you very much."

"After all, they're lovely people. Fugaku-sama even helped us personally when we got robbed –,"

"Because Sakura is on a team with his son!"

"And his wife is a perfectly nice woman –,"

Honestly, I don't know why I even try. There's no arguing with this woman. In fact, arguing back would just make the lecture longer. I took one last look at myself in the mirror before storming out of the house, slamming the door shut behind me. Even then, I could hear Mum yelling a few choice words behind my back, but I tuned them out. It was a well known fact that both daughters in the Haruno household had mastered the art of letting words in with one ear, and then shoving them out with a firm kick. Something that needed to be done when your mother was Mebuki Haruno.

It wasn't that she wasn't nice – she was just rather shrill. Such a pity too.

As I made my sloppy way to the Uchiha district, I found my mind wandering back to what had happened the last time I was there. Although, to be honest, it wasn't the first time I'd thought about it. It had been impossible to get the smooth, silky 'Shiyako-chan' out of my mind. Try as I might, it was haunting me.

Why were all Uchiha blessed with a velveteen voice that stuck in your brain for the longest time imaginable? I mean, what had they done to get that boon? Let's look at it this way: They were smart, they had an awesome blood limit, and they were also blessed with the best looks ever.

And what did I get? Dark pink hair, baby-blues that ensured nobody took me seriously, and pale skin that blossomed red at the slightest impact. Not to mention, that characteristic huge forehead. Sometimes, life really wasn't fair, I thought with a scowl, knocking on the Clan Head's door.

The door swung open merely seconds later, and I almost frowned when I saw the familiar face behind it. Sleek, dark hair, fitted metallic vest, and that strong jaw line.

Clearly, Kami-sama hated me.

I cleared my throat. "Ah, Uchiha-san –,"

"Mother is waiting for you in the kitchen," Itachi interrupted smoothly, dark eyes fixed on my face. Something flickered behind them as I struggled to keep my face as impassive, and I promptly looked away. No need for me to give myself away anymore, really. I had made enough of a fool of myself the last time.

"If you would move, Uchiha-san," I forced out, struggling to keep my voice cordial.

Long, sooty lashes looked at me for a moment longer, and then slowly – almost torturously slow – he moved to the right.

A scant two inches.

My eye twitched as I pointedly looked at the distance between him and the door. "Could you… move a little more?"

You insufferable prick, I added in my head.

His lips curled slightly in a mockery of a smile, the tips of his teeth gleaming. After all, Uchiha didn't smile. Not really. "Are you perhaps… scared of me, Haruno?"

In that moment, I saw red.

I shouldn't, I told myself rather firmly, do anything incriminating. No matter how annoying he was, or how arrogant, or how presumptuous, or how… well, Uchiha – there was no reason to lose my head over this. It was a perfectly normal question, I tried to rationalize. After all, people asked such things anyway.

In fact, it reminded of me of something Sasuke had said once.

"Aniki is… well, he enjoys manipulating people. The more reactions he gets the better."

And then Naruto had snorted and said: "Stop sugarcoating it, teme. Your brother is demon-spawn and we all know it!"

Well, if it really was a reaction he wanted.

I took a deep breath and took a step forward, and then two, and then we were close – too close. Close enough that I could feel the body heat that escaped from the vest, close enough that I could smell him. He smelled like cinnamon, like a heady combination of fresh laundry scent and powdered coffee. It was entirely natural, and something in me snapped to know that he wouldn't even use scents like a normal person. He didn't need to.

How perfect could one man truly be?

My shoulder accidentally grazed smooth muscle – muscle that shifted minutely beneath it – and I glanced up, noting that his smile looked a lot more pronounced now.

Red went rushing to my cheeks at the look in his eyes, because it was nothing I'd ever seen before.

If I had to put a finger on it, I'd even call it penetrating.

I didn't know why he was being like this – perhaps it was punishment for insulting him yesterday, but truly, why were all Uchiha so weird? There were a hundred and one different ways to show his displeasure. Increasing my embarrassment was just low, even for him.

In that split second, I realized I was through. My eyes lingered on Itachi's face though, and I don't even know why. Perhaps something in it stopped me, be it the sharpness of his gaze, or the contrast between his pale skin and dark hair. He was graceful; almost enough that it hurt, I thought belatedly when I realized that he had already closed the door behind him.

For a second, neither of us moved. The weight of his eyes was heavy upon me, but I kept my own face lowered.

Inwardly, I was seething.

"I would suggest you do not dally any longer," He said after a moment.

The phrase was said in a tone that said it was more of an order, and that if I didn't comply very soon, there'd be dead bits of Shiyako floating in the atmosphere.

And it was what cinched it. I was tired of playing his game.

Well, if he wanted a reaction so bad, I had one just ready for him.

With that in mind, I forced another sugary smile to my face, and turned towards the kitchen. Before I left though, I turned back like before to meet his impassive gaze. Instantly, his eyes shifted, dark amusement seeping through the long lashes. His lips twitched softly, almost as if he was biting back a smile at my belligerence.

Why you little…

"You should get your wound checked in the hospital, Uchiha-san," I said brightly with false cheerfulness, discreetly crossing my fingers behind my back. "It would be… unwise to let it fester."

There was a pause – an anticipatory one – and then…

Score.

"Itachi! Stop trying to sneak out of the house right now!" Mikoto came running out, wiping her hands on her apron before glaring at him. "You're injured and you want to go back? That's ridiculous!"

Before Itachi could do more than frown at me, she grabbed his arm and hauled him inside. I followed meekly, snickering on the inside. In theory, I knew I shouldn't have stuck my nose in where it didn't belong, but the aftermath felt so… vindicating. I really, really shouldn't have, I realized a moment later, when the feeling of being watched never lifted.

"When were you planning on telling me?"

Itachi carefully pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not injured."

"That's a lie -" I interrupted, and thereby began digging my own grave. "You probably have a broken rib – maybe even two."

If looks could kill, I thought a little wildly.

"Is she telling the truth, Itachi?" Mikoto demanded, ignoring the way her son was trying to drill a hole into me with his eyes. "What have I told you about over-exerting yourself? Come here," she snapped, stepping forward to carefully place one hand on the same area I had touched. He winced in response, and that was all the confirmation his mother seemed to need.

"Take off your shirt."

"Okaa-san, there's no –."

"I said take it off!"

He took off his shirt as I quietly averted my gaze, keeping it fixed on the rim of the basket. My hands fumbled with the edges of the tablecloth as I tried to not look at the pale skin that I could see from the corner of my eyes. I could hear Mikoto alternating between yelling at him and trying to find out if he had any more injuries. I, on my part, was too busy looking at the rice steaming on the stove. The ingredients kept next to it suggested that Mikoto-sama wanted to make onigiri, but I couldn't be too sure. Dipping one finger into the stewing pot, I brought to my mouth and frowned.

"Shiyako? Shiyako-chan?"

I turned around instantly, reddening at the repetition. I had a feeling she had said my name more than twice. "Ah, yes, Mikoto-sama?"

"You are a medic-nin, are you not?"

"Yes," I said slowly, vaguely aware of just where this was going.

Mikoto smiled disarmingly. "Then do you mind healing my son? I know he won't make his way to the hospital anytime soon, so if you would help –,"

The hopeful look on her face had me jumping forward to help. "Of course!" I assured. Inwardly, I gulped. Itachi was looking at me as if he'd like nothing better than to murder me and then roast the remains over a fire. His pale, unmarked chest suddenly swam into view, and I almost stopped in my steps. He was very, very fit. I'd dare any other hot-blooded woman to have another reaction. Kami's name, he had abs. Defined abs.

My mouth suddenly felt very, very dry.

Faced with my receding steps and very red face, he smirked, briefly, before glaring at me once more.

I mentally collected myself and ran a quick hand over his chest to frown lightly before pushing some chakra in. I was correct – it was a wound he'd left for a long time. I'd estimated at least a day. He was lucky I had managed to catch it, and to think that I wouldn't have if he had just moved a little bit more from the door made me bite my lower lip worriedly.

Men and their pride. Or rather, Uchiha and their pride. I knew for a fact that Sakura often faced the same troubles with Sasuke.

Instantly, I was faced with strict resistance. "Uchiha-san," I grunted, "You are not making my work easier here."

Mikoto promptly poked her son in the shoulder, fixing him with a death look. Itachi took one glance at her and the invading chakra receded. I almost sighed in relief. He was of fire affinity, and the feel of his chakra was oppressive. It had swirled around mine, as if trying to gain dominance. I almost snorted at the thought, but at the last moment, wisely kept my mouth shut as I forced some more chakra in, making the bones knit themselves and join together once more. It was rather demanding work, which is why I almost swayed on my feet after it was done.

The second my balance deteriorated, I felt a warm hand connect with my arm. Drowsy with the sudden weakness, I blinked blearily, almost wincing when I realized that despite his gentle grip, Itachi's face didn't look gentle at all. His eyes were fixed upon my face with a startling intensity, and the line of his jaw was set. Long, black hair tumbled over his shoulder to rest at some point near his chest. I followed its length slowly - anything to keep me away from his burning gaze.

Almost seconds later, he let go, and Mikoto helped me to a seat, fixing me with some water and leftover food. In the time it took for me to sit down and for Mikoto to turn her back, Itachi had already gone.

It was only much later that I realized something.

I had successfully managed to heal Itachi Uchiha. Without sustaining any lifelong injuries.

I blanched at the thought.

Oh God, he was going to kill me.

{X}

"Itachi Uchiha is going to kill me," I told Mum later, stubbornly dogging her through the house until she acknowledged my statement. "I want you to know, in case my dead body turns up tomorrow, that I didn't die because Hana finally got bored of me, okay? Itachi killed me."

"Yes, dear," Mum muttered distractedly, busy hanging the laundry out to dry. "Hana threatened to kill you again. Very nice."

"Mom!" I shrieked immediately, throwing my hands in the air. "Haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying?"

Really, how could she be so distracted? Her eldest daughter just might die at any moment, and she was far too busy worrying about clothes. It was beyond ridiculous! After all, Itachi just might slip next time during secretive ANBU work and drop poison into my tea, and no one would be the wiser.

She finally gave me a tidbit of her attention, face frowning. "Stop yelling in the house, Shiyako. I've told you hundreds of times –,"

"Itachi Uchiha is going to kill me! I have better things to –,"

"And quit being so dramatic. Nobody's going to kill you. Least of all the prized son of the Police Chief."

I grinned triumphantly. I'd been waiting for that particular sentence, after all. "No, you see, that's exactly why he'll kill me! Because he can get away with it! Nobody would suspect Itachi Uchiha. Nobody."

"So that's why he'll do it? Because he can 'get away with it'?" Mum asked skeptically, bending to pick up yet another garment from the bucket and started wringing water from it.

"No! Mom! Honestly!" I huffed, maneuvering around to grab her by the shoulders. "I told you before! He'll kill me because I healed him!"

"That doesn't sound like a valid reason to kill anyone –,"

"Not if you know Uchiha as well as I do –,"

It took barely a moment for me to comprehend that that was the wrong thing to say.

"Ohhh…." To my absolute terror, Mum's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So you know him well, huh? Is that another way to say you've been spending time with him, Shiyako?"

"N-No –,"

"Because let me make one thing absolutely clear," she continued, completely ignorant of my reddening face. This would end badly; I just knew it. Mum was known to be… protective at times.

I could just imagine her trying to kill Itachi herself for getting close to her baby girl.

"I completely approve," she finished with a sunny smile.

I froze. "W-what?"

"After all, he is rather strong, a part of a good clan, and is rather easy on the eyes too, eh?" At the last word, she nudged my shoulder conspiratorially. "And his butt is rather nice –,"

..

No.

She didn't.

She didn't just admit she had checked out a guy more than a decade younger than her.

"I thought you're in love with Dad!" I cried out, covering my ears lest I hear more. The image was too disturbing. Did she not realize she was driving me to potential suicide? And consequently making things easier for a certain Uchiha?

Mum gave a disturbingly high-pitched giggle, before winking at me. "Doesn't mean I can look at the goods, right?"

I now officially needed to go see a Yamanaka for some mental therapy.

{X}

"You're all conspiring against me," I snapped furiously, ignoring the sharp tang of Hana's laughter. "This is not funny –,"

"I beg to differ," Hana said between laughs, thumping the table in her glee. "So, let me get this straight – he annoyed you so you ratted on him, and then you were the one to save him anyway? Priceless. Absolutely priceless –,"

"Stop laughing," I hissed irritably, clenching my fingers into fists. Sure, in theory, Hana had left at least three pressure points I could reach in less than three seconds, and then the annoying, grating laughter would stop – but then, Hana herself could potentially reach thirteen of my weak spots in the time it took me to lift my hand, and then there'd be a slumped me on top of a tea-table in one of the most populated, shinobi infested areas of Konoha.

I suddenly felt very, very tired. "Fine," I bit out suddenly, "Be that way. Don't believe me. When I turn up dead though –,"

"Hey, Shiyako," Hana straightened up quickly, and placed a hand on top of mine gingerly. "Look, I do believe you! It's perfectly plausible that you'd be idiotic enough to –,"

At my glare, she hastily amended: "I mean, only you would provoke Itachi like that. But… well – it's just… The picture; it is too precious!" And off she went, laughing again.

I crossed my arms, resigning myself to waiting.

After what seemed like an age, Hana coughed and patted the table lightly. Her eyes flickered to meet mine, amusement shining through. "Okay, I'll bite. How do you plan to save yourself from him anyway?"

"Is this relevant? We all know I can't. I'm doomed to die."

All too true, I thought a tad resentfully. Itachi wasn't just a good shinobi; he was a brilliant one. He was ANBU Captain other ANBU were afraid of. I stood no chance.

"Well, I still think you should do something," Hana said with a small frown, "I mean, I know Uchiha, and he's amazing and things, but… Really, something should be able to stop him."

"I just want people to know that he did –,"

"I have an idea, actually!" Hana blurted out, completely bypassing my words. At my raised brow, she grinned sharply. "Well, someone can stop him. More importantly, the Hokage can!"

I frowned. "Tsunade-sama? Why would she…?"

"Well, not personally, obviously," she waved away, leaning forward to meet my eyes, "I mean, you could put out a guard request. If you can manage to gather enough money, you can even get an S-ranked Jounin to guard you!"

"Isn't that a little too much?"

"Not if he's out to kill you."

She had a point. I absently propped my face against my knuckles. "What if he just… uses his fancy Sharingan on me and leaves? I mean, I heard the Tsukuyomi is enough punishment as it is."

Hana promptly snorted. "Itachi never does things half-assed, you moron. If he's really out to get you…"

"Then he'll get me," I finished miserably, trying to remind myself of just why I had to pick a fight with him. In my mind's eye, I could recall in a flash his subtle arrogance, the smooth tilt of his jaw, the way his eyes had darkened imperceptibly when I had called out on his injury…

I could even recall just how smooth his skin was.

Thud.

"H-hey! Giving yourself a concussion by banging your head isn't going to help things, y'know!"

{X}

I walked into the house dejectedly, not even bothering to check for suspicious chakra signatures nearby. What was the point? If he wanted to maim/injure/kill/throw-me-headfirst-into-the-hospital, then who was I to stop the Great Uchiha?

Wallowing in self pity isn't my strongest outlook, I know.

"Ah, Shiyako," Dad said, walking into the room I had just entered, "You're finally home."

I blinked briefly before shrugging. "Yeah, for now."

"No hospital work?"

"It's my holiday," I reminded him quietly, tracing the table with a lazy hand. There was a pause, and I heard Dad shuffle around before taking a seat next to me.

"Sakura would never agree to a holiday," He said after a pause, and although there wasn't any reproach in his voice, I still stiffened. He didn't need to remind me. Sakura was the shining star in our house – the Hokage's Apprentice, the Jinchuuriki's friend, the Uchiha's teammate. She was a workaholic by nature, something I could never be. Sakura loved being a med-nin, I barely tolerated it.

She was even Copycat Kakashi's student, and I was the nameless, faceless person from the Medic-Corps who everyone could do without.

Perhaps Dad saw the stricken look on my face, because he sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "I didn't mean it like that, Shiyako –,"

"No," I said, forcing out a brief smile. "It's alright."

"Shiyako –,"

"Dad. Don't," I ground out, rising to my feet. "I don't want to hear it."

"But you need to," Dad said, following me out of the room. "Nobody thinks lesser of you, darling. In fact, I'm proud that you're doing what you are."

"What's there to be proud about?" I bit out with a scoff, crushing the voice inside me that wanted me to get away as soon as possible. To run out of the house. To push him away because of his callous remark.

"Everything."

I halted.

"What?"

"I said everything, Shiyako-chan," Dad muttered, ruffling my hair with a fond smile. "You let go of your fears to do something that you knew you would hate, but you did it anyway. You did it because you knew Sakura would want to be a kunoichi, and you wanted to be there to pick up the pieces. Sometimes, Shiyako, that's the bravest thing a person can do. You set her on the path she is on, honey. And you know we love you for it."

I glanced at my fingers, at the bluish veins that criss-crossing my wrist, feeling the blood coursing through. I almost shuddered at the thought of it – so much exposure, and I still couldn't quell the first twinges of panic that coursed through me at the sight of it. I couldn't stand the sight of blood, but I looked at it every day anyway.

What lovely irony.

"It wasn't nearly as altruistic as that –," I tried again, trying to push off the mantle of responsible sister Dad had thrown over me, feeling crushed beneath it.

And despite everything, I knew I liked being a medical-ninja. Saving lives gave me a sense of purpose. I just wished I could do it more easily.

In fact, I can't even imagine doing anything else.

"No," he said with a smile, his next words easily proving just how well he knew me. "No, you wanted to help during the War. What were your exact words? I can't quite remember, but I think you said – I can't take lives, Daddy, but I can protect them."

I still remembered that moment, the vague certainty that had coursed through me at the sight of people stumbling in, injured, and close to dying. The sharp sting of helplessness that had coursed through me. Even the flare of relief – because I wasn't the one out there. Sakura was too young to help, she was barely ten, but I did.

After all, the war was when the name Itachi Uchiha became synonymous with instant death.

"I wanted to help," I said with a shrug, moving back to increase the distance between us. I used the curtain of long hair to hide my face. "After you came back injured, I knew I just couldn't…"

"Kill?"

"Yes."

Silence reneged between us, until Dad finally broke it with a grin. I spied something vaguely disturbing in his eyes, and stiffened slightly, resigning myself to wait for it.

I didn't have to wait long.

"It's quite alright. Now, what was it I heard about you having a secret liaison with Itachi Uchiha behind our backs?"

As I groaned into my hands, cursing my mother's gossipy-mouth (something only Sakura had inherited), Dad threw an arm around me and steered me into the drawing room. "I know he has a nice butt or whatever, but don't you think his eyes are rather the deal breaker –,"

"DAD!"

{X}

A/N: Um, what to say? Hana is Hana Inuzuku, i.e Kiba's elder sister. I'm not too sure why I chose her specifically to be Shiyako's friend, but I couldn't find too many female characters that fit the role of medic. (Even if Hana is a vet.)