"I could do nothing to be fake, even if I wanted to. My facial expressions don't allow that shit." -Uzumaki Kushina, 13.
Itachi stared dully at the note he quickly scribbled in the limousine, sighing as he pulled on some dark sunglasses. Would he ever be able to erase her from his very heart? It can't be that hard.
"Mother," he started once his luggage had been stowed away in the Uchihas' private jet.
"Yes dear?" Mikoto asked nervously, her eldest son's intent yet distant gaze fixed on her.
"Is it possible to forget someone important to one's self?"
She blinked, this wasn't something she expected. "Well, um, you have to understand some people can be in your heart, but not by your side."
A melodious laughter soon left the woman's lips, hugging her much taller baby boy tightly. "You're so grown up! I forget my motherly position sometimes when it comes to you."
It was true. Itachi, unlike Sasuke, wasn't in need of a mother for judgement early in his life, as he had matured long before his required age.
But that didn't mean he was immune to heartbreak.
He promised he'd leave. He promised he'd let his brother have her. But was saying it much easier then implementing it?
Itachi just couldn't get on the jet. He couldn't take a step in fear of putting more distance between them.
But he already put thousands of miles between them; she was most probably snoring shamelessly in an awkward position on her bed, and he was already minutes late to board a plane back to England and never let her cross his mind again.
"I fly solo."
He couldn't help but scribble quotes every now and then, just to keep himself sane.
"Don't worry dear, first loves are the deepest, the most unforgettable, but you'll find someone just for you and move on all the same."
Itachi wished his mother was right. For Sasuke's sake, she must be right.
"Food is the only thing I demand in this sick world, that, and my personal bubble."
"Uchiha-sama, is there anything you'd like to eat? It's been quite some time.." the stewardess chimed solemnly, tapping on the cart in an impatient-like manner.
"Yes, dangoes-" Itachi stared incredulously at the ebony-haired girl with eyes that reminded him grudgingly of his love's hair but, how it balanced with her slightly pale skin made it look...
Dare he say it,
Hot.
And he's never associated that word with anyone but, you-know-who.
"Uchiha-sama?"
"What is your name?"
"Oh excuse me, I'm Ai, I'm new here and um, hi!" She did a small, awkward wave, contrasting greatly with her goth appearance.
"Hello?"
She was nothing like her.
Why did he fall again?
"You can never expect something. If we could, then I'd have your hair burning and keeping me warm, all through out winter."
Oddly, he only understood now her words weren't just random thoughts. It was her way of advice-giving.
"After neglecting your friends and your duties, can you really bother me about my social life or lack of therefore?"
Yet he kept getting closer to Ai, while scribbling on paper every now and then.
"One day, my not-so-dear little weasel, my hair shall be longer than yours."
She asked him of the weird little notes he kept writing once they were past a platonic relationship.
He didn't need to answer, for it was written all over the look he gave her.
"I may not be able to compare to someone who made you obsessive and stalker-ish," a short giggle escaped her lips. "But I'll try to help you through it because I...I love you."
Itachi couldn't say it back.
Still hung up on her.
"You should get a girlfriend yaknow, stop hanging around pathetic kids like me."
It was pathetic what he was going through.
Was it wrong to force things when he clearly wasn't ready?
"Guess what, I'm going back to Konaha. Whoopty-doo right?"
He had to learn; and no matter how long it took he would try to cleanse himself of her and put Ai in her place.
Itachi owed her that much..
"I shall be off with Minato to Konaha for a while. Finish up your duties here, and you can be allowed a vacation there." his father said in his stern voice.
Go back...
"Yes father."
He was over her by now, and had made a very impulsive decision a few days ago. Maybe seeing her and Sasuke again would be nice, and take them and Naruto to that bar...
They would be graduating soon; he had quite crazy things in store, and he would need them all onboard.
And so he got on the jet after exactly two weeks and hid all the notes and the only picture he had of her that he couldn't quite burn like the rest; of her smiling genuinely and her bangs pinned away from her face, bringing out her twinkling blue orbs, in his wallet for safe keeping.
They were still friends.
He had moved on, and left her to sit comfortably in his heart all the while. It didn't hurt to keep her precious and have Ai humming next to him, excited to see Konaha.
He got home and was bombarded with a lot of questions, mostly regarding Ai, and found the house missing a very notorious kid.
"Mother, where's Sasuke?" he said nonchalantly, ponderous on whether he was with the infamous redhead or not.
"Oh, they went to the school's late spring festival."
And now he was dressed in a black, white and red yukata on his way to the school's festival.
It was a no-brainer she'd look pretty. Though a cross between a traditional, plain kimono and modern add-ons that was a white bow on the obi, and her hair in a very intricate style that he couldn't imagine how long it took left him breathless and in so much doubt.
His brother waltzed with her, a really relaxed look on his normally emotionless face. It brought him back to reality in an instant and soon he found himself not as infatuated with her as he was a few months ago.
He smiled victoriously at the couple.
After his logical senses were back on his side, he stepped out and muttered his personal favourite call, Sasuke immediately had a look of horror mixed with possessiveness, and Kushina didn't look all to surprised; the mere question laced with my name was enough.
Her blue eyes promised the private chat he'd soon have with her will be nothing short of malicious.
"What are you-"
"Before we get into all the questioning," he started with a devilish smirk, "I am here on vacation with my fiancé."
"Say what now?" She asked confused and with underlying surprise.
"Hey, I'm Ai." A girl with ebony hair and dark vermilion eyes in a deep brown kimono said with a pearly smile.
"So...anyone want pancakes for dinner?" Itachi said, breaking the couple's silent studying of his soon-to-be wife.
"Weasel pancakes." Kushina snorted with a roll of her eyes.
"Always quick to gather your wits UK, unlike Sasuke here."
Said teen snapped his attention to his elder brother, a scoff playing on his flawless face.
"You should teach him," he continued nonetheless, "because I need my best man ready for everything."