Author's note: Thanks for all the support guys! I appreciate it. I still feel like I lack creativity lately. But oh well, Rina-chan shall revive herself from the boredom of life and finish the stories she started! _
Chapter 5
Uchiha Sasuke stared out the window of their mansion with a grim expression as he listened to his lowly subordinate telling him the reports from last night. "All-in-all, we lost about 40 men and 27 injured. We managed to follow them into the underground passage of the Museum but two crazy men blocked the way." The man named Shugiro cleared his throat nervously as the silence in the room thickened. "That's all we got, Sasuke-sama."
"That's all you've got?" Sasuke silently asked without looking at the man. It made Shugiro gulp nervously before saying. "I'm sorry, Sasuke-sama. But, those two men with them... They really are insane. We have a video footage from one of the cameras down in the tunnel. If you'd like to view it, I have it on my phone."
Sasuke nodded and Shugiro played the footage showing Sakura and Itachi running towards two men wearing cloaks adorned with red clouds, standing on the exit of the tunnel. They stopped to converse with the two strange men and Itachi kissed Sakura's hand intimately as one of the men took out a scythe. Shugiro observed his boss with fear for Sasuke never changed his calm demeanour throughout the time that he watched his men get killed by the two enemies. The video stopped and Shugiro quickly withdrew his phone back into his suit.
"Akatsuki... I should've known Itachi will never go somewhere without a plan." Sasuke muttered with a hint of anger before he glared at his subordinate. "Get Suigetsu, Juugo and Karin in here. NOW!" The commanding aura he emitted mixed with a darker and more hostile aura made sure that his subordinate ran out of the room fearing for his life. Sasuke closed his eyes and pondered for a while.
Right now, Sakura is like a prize between the two of us. Whoever gets the girl gets to inherit the title of Yakuza Leader. It's a game of tug and war. This war is not on my favour since Itachi has Sakura's heart. It's so fucking obvious. The way she stared and looked at him for instructions like a sad puppy. I need to change my strategy if I'm going to get the prize. I need something that will make Itachi look bad in the eyes of that girl. I can't afford to lose to him even after all these years. The elders are already talking among themselves and the Yakuza is already leaning towards Itachi as their leader. If I don't do anything, it'll-
Sasuke's thoughts suddenly became disarrayed when something clung to his arm like a koala. "Sasuke-kuuuun~ you called for me, my love? I knew you'd miss me! You didn't have to ask those two to come. I can make you aaaall happy by myself." Sasuke's lips twitched with annoyance. "Fucking bitch! Don't you know Sasuke just use you for sex? You're just nothing to him. So stop your annoying clinginess and get some semblance of respect, woman!" Suigetsu yelled as he went into the room. Sasuke sighed for his lost thoughts and pulled away from Karin's grip with a glare.
"Sasuke doesn't use me for sex! He loves me!" Karin yelled back at Suigetsu with a snarl. With half of her face bruised and bandaged, she looked like a monster out of a video game. Suigetsu laughed and dodged Karin's punches as she tried to hit him. "You look like a monster! No wonder, Itachi and Sasuke is fighting for that pink-haired Goddess!"
"Focus." Sasuke said calmly. Juugo grabbed the two by their collar and set them apart. The two somehow calmed down if not for a few glares. "I have a plan to finally get Sakura to see me as the better man than my brother but I'll need your expertise for this plan to work." He started but Karin interrupted him as usual. "Why? Why her? Why do you even need her? You got me!" Karin started to whine but Sasuke silenced her with a slap on her cheek. She gasped at the impact and held her face with a look of disbelief.
He grabbed her by the hair and made her face him. "I don't love you and I never will. Now, you will do as I say or you will die just like all the others before you." The Uchiha's eyes seemed to glow red before her very eyes, making her tremble in fear. Suigetsu took a step back and felt the fear like it's a solid thing. Sasuke straightened up and stared at the three of them with his glowing red eyes. "Since the usual tactics doesn't work on the Heiress, we're going to do something different." He went over his plans as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. Suigetsu raised his brow but didn't question him on the plans. Everyone knew that Sasuke's position is on rocky waters and nobody will dare contradict him when he is apparently furious as hell.
Meanwhile, Sakura kept punching Itachi's arm in annoyance. "What the fuck do you mean by we're engaged?! I just told that for the sake of appearances!" She yelled as she pulled back her fist to punch him again but Itachi caught her clenched fist while driving. His calm demeanour infuriated the pinkette more as she tried to pull back her hands. "Let go! Damn you Itachi! I swear-!"
"We're here." Itachi said before giving her a sidelong look. Sakura kept glaring at him which earned a hefty sigh from the Uchiha. "Look." He grabbed her chin and made her look at the sight that took her breath away.
They were parked in front of a cliff with an open tent set up near the edge. Inside the tent is a romantic table for two complete with candles and roses. The cliff is overlooking the city during the midnight hours and the big full moon just added to the dream-like quality of the setting.
Sakura's door opened and Itachi said flatly, "Are you just going to sit there all night long or are we going to have dinner?" The statement made Sakura blush as she took Itachi's waiting hand. Together, they walked towards the table hand in hand. He is the picture of the perfect gentleman as he assisted her as she sat.
"Wow... I never knew that they have this kind of view in this city. It's just... wow." Sakura commented as she looked out the city view. Itachi sat back and admired her dazed expression with a hint of a smirk. "If you're impressed by the view, then I can't wait for you to taste the food."
Sakura turned to look at him with a raised brow. "There's food?" She asked and his smirk widened as he snapped his fingers and people wearing butler outfits suddenly appeared and served their food. Her eyes widened as they set down steaming dishes of her favourite food. "Wow... I-...Thank you." Sakura stuttered and blushed as Itachi motioned for her to dig in. Her stomach rumbled and she quickly said prayer before biting into the food set before her.
Hours passed of them just eating and talking. Well, Sakura mostly talked and gobbled down the food while Itachi gave her a smirk once in a while as he ate slowly. After they both finished, Itachi grabbed Sakura's chin and wiped away a bit of rice stuck on her cheek. "Hey! I still haven't forgiven you about the whole engaged thing!" Sakura glared at him and crossed her arms across her chest.
Itachi leaned his head to the side before standing up before her. "Then why don't we make it real then?" Sakura gaped at him as he suddenly made her stand and look at the view. "Haruno Sakura, you will make a very beautiful wife. You are strong-willed and wise. Our relationship might not be as romantic and I might not be as sweet but bear with me a little more and I won't make you regret your decision." Suddenly, the night sky is lit up by fireworks and it spelt the words 'Be my other half' making half the girls in the city out with their boyfriends go crazy saying yes.
Sakura felt weak on the knees and leaned back into Itachi's embrace. Her eyes watered as she turned around to look at him in the eyes. "I..." She bit her lips and looked down. "I can't I'm sorry but I have to find my parents' murderers. I can't have this distraction right now." She glanced at him and saw Itachi's mask is back on. Whatever compassion he showed her during their time together seemed to get swallowed by his hard mask.
He sighed. "I understand." Itachi simply said as he turned around and walked away towards his car, leaving Sakura shivering alone in the midnight breeze. She watched his retreating figure and felt her heart break a little. "I'm sorry..." She muttered as she sat down on the dirt. "I'm sorry..." Once she saw that Itachi left her alone, she buried her face on her hands and let out the tears.
"I'm sorry... But I love you too much and I'm afraid I might forget my parents if I say yes." Sakura muttered to herself as she sobbed hard on her hands. The air seemed to grow colder and for the first time since Itachi rescued her, she felt that she really is alone in the world.