Hello everyone! After a long wait of seven months I'm finally back with a new chapter. It's short and the length is truly annoying me but something is better than nothing, I guess. You guys might be angry with me for such a long wait and such a short chapter. But what can I say other than the fact that I deserve it. This was simply a hard year for me. But no matter now that I'm here with a new chapter.
I deeply apologize for my inability to provide all my readers a decent chapter. Please forgive me.
And a big thanks for all the reviews, faves and follows.
Anyways, here's the next chapter of 'When you came'. And I hope that you enjoy it!
Disclaimer: Nothing related to Naruto universe is owned by me.
Chapter 8
Distance
It's been around seven and a half months since Itachi had left Japan with the news that he was betrothed. When he left, Izumi thought that maybe he'd forget about her but she was simply stunned when the next day of Itachi's departure she received a call from an anonymous international number voicing Itachi. When she asked about how he got her number, he replied something along the lines of about having pesky little brothers and that little brother having pesky little friends.
Since then, it became a daily routine to both of them. Everyday, she'd eagerly wait for his call and everyday he'd be punctual. They'd talk about normal stuff and sometimes argue about the world issues. Their talks were never much long but at the end of the day it would make them both smile and think of each other.
Maya and Izayoi both noticed that Izumi had become much more chirpier than usual, much more smiling and the most important of all, they noticed that the part of her hidden sadness vanishing. She was in her high spirits, now a days. Even some of the regular customers had been intrigued by increase in Izumi's liveliness. And of course, Maya would never miss a single opportunity to tease Izumi about her dear prince charming.
Izumi now understood that why people say that distance makes the heart grow fonder. Because it happened to her. Because, now, she understood Itachi better than before. They have grown so close to each other that now she could even figure out how his day was spent simply by the tone of his voice and the choice of his vocabulary. The days when he'd be frustrated and annoyed their whole conversations consisted of one sided yes' and no's. When he'd be excited and happy about something he'd talk more of his day. Most the times he'd be neutral which Izumi didn't mind.
It was quite funny that despite the fact that they met each other only for few times like mainly on their date and Sasuke's birthday party and later at the airport, but strangely enough she can perfectly remember his strong jawline, his angular nose, his ebony locks and most of all...his dark eyes and soft smiles.
There was a time when Izumi didn't give much importance to romance but now with Itachi, she felt like a piece had been missing from her life. She found it strange that how she'd wait eagerly for the day to end to receive his calls...to hear his voice.
It was hard to believe but...
she realised that she has been falling for him.
...
Shisui Uchiha was having the time of his life. After all, it's not everyday that you get a chance to see the great and perfect Itachi Uchiha flustered like a school girl at the mere mention of name of any girl. He had discovered Itachi talking on his phone in the privacy of his office and had been highly surprised when he realised that the talk had been completely unprofessional.
Itachi Uchiha was talking to a woman and was having a casual conversation! He was stunned, but he decided to ignore it believing that he might have been mistaken. But to his horror, he heard Itachi talking again on phone at the same time the next day and through the talks he could easily figure out that it was the same person from yesterday. He had angrily accused Itachi of hiding about the girl he's been talking to. Itachi at first had been hesitant but finally after some pestering revealed the truth.
Shisui had almost tumbled down the stairs and might have cracked open his skull had not been for Itachi's quick reflexes. It had taken him a complete week to digest the fact that Itachi...his little Itachi... the person he almost considers his younger brother...his best friend...was engaged? The man who'd really never blinked at hot sexy babes was engaged to a woman he had never even properly met before? And not only that but actually head over heels in love with her?
What in the world was going on?
Although, Itachi had firmly denied about falling in love with her, saying that he only liked her, a part of him was relieved that a bit of old Itachi was still left in him. After the initial shock had worn off, the only thing he'd done is tease Itachi at every given chance. It was bad, he knew, but tormenting Itachi was his most favourite thing to do.
Slowly, he figured out that the way Itachi talked so fondly of her, he had begun to care for her more than any other woman except for females belonging to his family. And then he realised, that maybe Itachi had begun considering her – Izumi Minamoto as a part of his family, as his soon to be wife.
...
As Izumi Minamoto was seated in her room holding a book, her entire attention was focused on her mobile phone sitting nearby, her eyes darting between her phone, the clock and the book in every few seconds. After getting frustrated, she placed the book on the table and glared at the clock. Itachi would call her any minute now.
Suddenly, the memories of that day flashed across her mind. She giggled.
*flashback*
It had been 3 in the morning when her cell phone rang. She groaned angrily, wondering about who was annoying her at this time of the night. But as soon as she saw Itachi's number flashing across the screen, she was alarmed.
"Itachi? Hello?"
"Izuuummiii!"
For some moments she was completely stunned by the shock the phone had provided. The voice was no doubt Itachi's, but normally, it wasn't so slurred and squeaking. She was worried and confused.
She asked again.
"Itachi? Is that you?"
"Yesss...who else would be?" He asked as if trying to intimidate her.
"Are you...drunk?"
"Drunk? Me? No! Not at all!"
"Itachi!"
"O-okay. A little bit." He murmured, sounding like a child who just was caught stealing candy. She sniggered. He was really cute at times, but she had more pressing matters at hand so she asked.
"What's the matter? Did you call me for something important?"
"Yes. It's very important. I want you to come here!"
"Eh...What? Itachi you are drunk! I can't simply come there like this! You're in another country!"
"I don't care! You have to come!"
Izumi muttered to herself that she didn't even know what's happening. But she knew someone else who could help him at this moment.
"Alright! Itachi...where is Shisui?"
"Shisui! Don't mention traitors in front of me!"
"Traitor?... Shisui? When did that happen?"
"Since he's been ignoring me for Hana! And not just him but everyone else too."
Izumi was aware of the fact that Hana was Shisui's girlfriend. But she was more surprised that Itachi was behaving like a spoiled little kid who doesn't want to share his older brother with anyone. Izumi laughed because behaving like that was more of Sasuke's Forte.
"Are you jealous?" She asked.
"Hmm...Well no. Why would I be jealous? It's just that it was supposed be a small friendly get together not a couple's reunion event. And... the most annoying thing is that you're not here..."
They had talked for long hours before Itachi had supposedly passed out. He had been so terribly embarrassed and sorry for his actions later, which caused him to apologize again and again to her that it had been irritable. But she didn't care because she learned that a drunk Itachi is like an open book compared to his normal reserved self. A reserved self which rarely allowed anyone to see through the walls he'd created. That day she learned that he cares for her and misses her as much as she does and for some reason... she loved him even more since that day.
She was brought out of her thoughts as soon as the phone rang. A big smile coming up on her face that could have actually light up an entire room.
...
Itachi had a soft smile on his face as he stood in the middle of the room listening to Izumi's chatter. Listening her joy filled voice and twinkling laugh brightens up his mood like the sun brightens up the morning.
No doubt he was annoyed by the consistent teasing from Shisui. The man would never let go of a single opportunity to create trouble for him by mentioning Izumi every now and then or would fake a cough whenever some other woman would try to get her hands on him.
But...at the end of the day... hearing her voice made his heart feel lighter and funnily enough sometimes her chattering would astonishingly provide solutions to his problems.
Suddenly, he noticed something strange but recent in his behavior. How he would compare every woman who would try to come closer to him with Izumi. Their looks, their personalities, their eyes and their smiles. And he would never find someone with innocence of the smiles that could compare to Izumi's. He would never find someone with eyes personifying kindness like Izumi's. He would never find someone who could make him smile like Izumi does.
At that moment...a sudden realisation almost knocked him off his feet.
Maybe... Shisui was right...
Maybe...
Maybe...
He was... falling in love with her?
Well, this chapter did not have much of a story development but I simply wanted a chapter giving us a glimpse of their budding relationship. Despite the distance between them, they are in touch with each other and that is what is helping them grow even further.
And yeah, how was the drunk Itachi in your opinion? Terrifically OOC, right? But I think that drunk people generally loosen up about their emotions and feelings.
Well, I'll try my best to update chapters better in future.
So please review.
See you again.
Aditjn238.