Title: Accidents Do Happen
Author: Nyaaan
Pairing: Itachi/Sakura/LovePolygons
Genres: Romance/Comedy/Family/SliceofLife
Disclaimers: I don't own Naruto but I want Itachi to be mine. Tehee~
Note: It's been a long time eh? No worries, I didn't abandon the story it's just that this semester requires my whole brainpower that I don't have time to update. I'm finally back though. I still have summer class but it's not that hectic so expect that this story will be active again. Just know that it may take time since English is not my first language and I run out of things to write at times. T^T Anyway, here's the Chapter 6, a late Happy Easter my dear readers.
Chapter 6: Bread Knife
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The incident with Itachi was two months ago.
How is she?
She's doing well except for he fact that she's getting rounder. Sakura is all-paranoid after the small encounter she had with the red-haired friend of Itachi. What he knows, she didn't want to hear. It was bothering her so much that she resorts to eating since that's her one way of dealing with relieving stress.
Whatever he knows, she'll make sure it'll stay a secret. She can't risk Itachi knowing!
She twiddles her thumb, a gesture she does whenever she's nervous. If situation calls ...
Well ...
...a dead man can't speak.
Such evil thought are bad for her brain and the life in her. She still can't believe she's really pregnant except that the small bump on her tummy is a screaming proof that it's all real.
Last week, Sasuke was with her to help her change her wardrobe. Imagine her horror when suddenly her pants don't fit her anymore. She's getting rounder it seems, since she's her first trimester is almost at its end.
Sakura is on her way to meet the founder of the Emperor's Firm.
She was summoned by Uchiha Madara himself.
For whatever reason, she has no idea.
She's never been in his office before and as what she heard, only those that are about to receive a promotion and those that are about to get fired are the only ones who can enter his office.
Sakura really hopes it's not the latter.
Her sneakers squeak against the marble floor of Madara Uchiha's office. She must be crazy for wearing disgusting sneakers with skirt.
If she'd known she'll be meeting the great Madara Uchiha, she would've brought one of her sophisticated footwear with her. Imagine her horrors when she received an urgent summon from him and do you know what she realized about today?
She realized how it sucks to have male co-workers...
You can't expect them to lend you fancy stilettos for emergency.
She hates wearing heels while working, the fact that those are designed to make her suffer it's also for the safety of her child. She can't afford to go tackling the floor which she does on some occasions, and Sakura finally found a good use for the fluffy slipper Naruto brought her last year.
No Uchiha Madara on the swivel chair.
'Now where is he?'
She anxiously starts pacing around the room, the annoying squeak from her sneakers echoes in the silence. A golden apple from Uchiha Madara's table caught Sakura's eyes. It's so pretty that she picked it up out of curiosity.
From the corner of her eyes, she noticed a figure.
It startled her that she dropped the golden apple on the marble floor. Blame it to her pregnancy that she's too jumpy!
'So much for first impression...'
She's ready to bow and utter an apology when the Uchiha stops her with his right hand slicing the air. A gesture she decoded as 'It's Okay.'
"Greetings Haruno." A dark chuckle filled the silent room. His dark eyes journeying from her face down to her sneaker-clad feet. "Oh, and lovely footwear."
If she's fired because of this humorless situation, she'd cry.
A lot.
She managed to utter a word of gratitude, even though she's unsure whether it's a compliment or not.
He gave her reassuring smile.
Hey at least she think she looks nice ... but obviously not nice enough after looking at Uchiha Madara's outfit and office. It feels as if the air she breathes is more expensive than everything she own.
He gestured her to sit on the chair in front of his table.
Sakura meekly obeyed.
With her job, she knows it when someone displays power and this man here is just charismatic and overwhelming. It seems all the Uchiha has them, like their genes probably have them.
Madara Uchiha prides himself with being an excellent judge of character. He's currently assessing the woman in front of him. He's way too busy with his mission of changing the corrupted world that he forgot he had a female member in his workforce.
'Interesting.'
He's expecting a snooty plain-looking woman but what's in front of him is far from his expectations. Well for starters, her hair is pink and she's wearing those weird-looking sneakers with some kind of wings on the backside.
He did some readings on her files and background and it seems she's a well-liked person and that she's reliable and a valuable asset in his firm.
His silence must've made her curious that she tilts her head while staring at him.
'Ah. If only I'm thirty years younger.' Inner Madara snickers.
Sakura inwardly sighed. Well, most of the Uchiha got that pokerface -look on their faces and this one is not an exception. The way he's examining her with a blank face is creepy, she can't figure out what he's thinking.
"I won't be beating around the bushes Haruno. You are summoned here because I have a favor to ask."
'Eh? A favor?'
She looks strangely confused – which is a cute look.
"I uh - I have no idea what favor you'd like to ask me Uchiha-sama - "
"Madara-sama." He interrupts.
"Yes, Madara-sama. I work here so feel free to give your orders. I'd do the job with all my might and I guarantee you success." She adjusts her glasses.
It's really weird to ask an employee a favor when he's the boss but what he'll be asking her is out of her job description.
Uchiha Madara leans in and folds his hands on the table then stares at her with a serious face.
"I'm worried about something, and I think only you can assist me on this one. I want your word of honor that you'll cooperate." His lips form a grim line. The powerful Uchiha looks like he aged a few years after he frowns.
Sakura is reluctant but she nod.
What can she do? He's the boss! And if it's about her ability as a lawyer she's sure she can fight her own fight. She didn't reach her position out of luck, nor from her connection with the Uchiha's but from her raw effort. If it means promotion then bring it on!
Madara can see the fire from her eyes.
'Good. I like that look.'
"I want you to take Hoshigake Kisame's position for a while. He was involved in an accident a few days ago, while investigating a yakuza group."
Sakura's eyes widen.
Their job can be really dangerous at times because some actions don't just happen in the courtroom and some clients or the the rival of their clients can be troublesome. "Is he okay now?"
"Nah. He'll be fine... just a few broken ribs and bone here and there. He'll be as good as new soon."
The way he relayed that make it seems like the poor man got only scratches.
If it's taking over Hoshigake Kisame's job, the guys from her group are much more reliable and Akatsuki's composed of males so they might find it hard to have a female in the team. And Itachi -
"Are you sure I'm an excellent choice Madara-sama?"
"Not really." Madara answered while poking the golden apple on his table.
(Gunshot)
'Ouch. At least hesitate a bit.'
"Then it's best if I decli – "
"Taking over Kisame's job doesn't end there though. I need something only you, a woman ... can provide."
'Now this is getting weird.'
"Eh?" is her intelligent reply.
"You see, I'm worried." Uchiha Madara got up his seat and pick the golden apple from the ground.
"Under Akatsuki are geniuses, talented and valiant lawyers so if I am to describe their brains are in the right place but – "he said while poking his head, his left hand the shifts to tap his chest. "They got too much in their heads that their hearts seems to be out of place."
"They need a doctor for that Madara-sama." is Sakura's straight-forward response.
"Don't take it literally! I would've cut those idiots chest wide-open if it's that easy."
'Nice, one of those idiots are your nephew though.'
"I am ordering you to take Kisame's job while you also figure out how you'll bring the Akatsuki member's heart in its right place."
"I see your point Madara-sama but it has nothing to do with me. I can't help them with that." It's too troublesome to deal with that and she doesn't want anything to do with it.
"Child, there's nothing worse than a blind and an apathetic justice. I've been observing them. They lack compassion, trust, and empathy. I want you to teach them that. That's why women are on Earth, to stop the men from turning into monsters."
"I'm sorry Madara-sama, I —"
"Either do that or lose your job."
A roll of tumbleweed passed by...
Silence.
More silence.
"What?!" Sakura screams.
She knows she's being really discourteous but this Madara-man deserves it at the moment.
His eyes flicker over her. "You heard me."
'Oh boy.'
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Another normal day in the Akatsuki head office the whole team is there except Kisame. There's an unusual silence since the most sociable one is not around.
"Sasori."
"Yes, Itachi?" is the red-head's reply barely looking at the slightly annoyed Uchiha.
"I told you not to wear that during office hours." Itachi's face is passive mirroring Sasori's unperturbed one. He'll be damned if he gets annoyed first. They've been friends for a long time now but the way Sasori is constructed during birth is probably a mystery, he's just weird.
Itachi has long accepted his abnormality but ... looking at Sasori each day makes him want to deny the friendship.
"The substitute for Kisame will arrive today – "
"Uh-huh. You told me that yesterday." Sasori is poking his belly while making this funny movement which he considers as a 'penguin-walk'.
"Then quit wearing that penguin costume! First impression matters, I don't want my team to look gruesome."
With an annoyed glare Sasori walks away vaguely stomping his foot.
'Sasori is good. One more.'
His eyebrow twitched.
Deidara is on his phone ... more like phones since he also have three on the table.
"Yes? Oh? Elizabeth! Yes, I've been busy. Yeah, I missed you so much. I'll see you in the weekend. Bye sweetie."
Beep.
"Ah! Mayuri-chan! This weekend? Sorry little kitten, I'll be meeting a client this Saturday. I'll make it up to you. On Monday then. Ciao~!" Deidara is about to reach out his other phone when he accidentally knocks the penguin figurine made of glass off the table.
CRASH!
At that same moment, Sasori came out of the dressing room looking somehow normal.
Silence.
Itachi squeeze the bridge of his nose, he can sense the incoming headache.
"I-It was an accident!" Deidara pull the cushion beside him for protection.
Sasori picked up the vase Itachi bought as a souvenir from Paris and without any hesitation, hurl it to the blonde's direction.
He missed and the shattered vase is all over the floor now.
"T-That's physical injury and assault Sasori!" The blonde screamed.
"Ah. I apologize, it was an accident. So if I ever break that idiotic face of yours it'll be but mere accidents so don't take it so seriously." Sasori uttered in a robotic yet low voice that sent chills in Deidara's spine.
Deidara shudders.
Sasori is inching closer, his face passive like always. The only indication he's pissed off is the plastic bread knife he's clutching so tightly.
"You'll trade our fiendship for that penguin! You'll kill me with a knife just because of that stupid penguin?!"
"Don't exaggerate Deidara, that bread knife won't kill you." Itachi retorts.
"I appreciate your protection Itachi." He spat bitterly. Kisame is usually the subject of Sasori's wrath but today is just ... well today sucks. Deidara's eyes scans the room, looking for a way of getting out of this mess.
'An exit. A way out. Ah! Halleluiah!'
Summoning all his strength he sprints his way to the door!
He might beat Usain Bolt with his speed. He finally got a hold of the doorknob when the door slammed on his face.
The impact is enough to knock the daylights out of him.
Both Itachi and Deidara stared at their fallen comrade then to the mystery person who suddenly appeared.
A pink-haired woman pulls out a bulging folder from her bag. "Sorry I'm late! Haruno Sakura at your service!"
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"Who the hell are you?" Deidara is clutching an ice-pack on his swollen forehead. Itachi is just sitting quietly on his chair while Sasori got this satisfied look on his face.
Sakura on the other hand is really guilty.
'Great. Smacking the door on your senior's face isn't exactly the ideal way of earning their trust.'
"It was an acci – "
"Don't you dare finish that sentence woman – oww ... that freakin' hurts."
"Drop the issue already Deidara. She's the proxy of Kisame. Introduce yourself Haruno." Itachi said.
Sensing the thick negativity in the air, Sakura introduced herself as brief as possible, not showing any possible weakness they might use against her.
"Can't they send someone sexier?" Deidara slumps on his seat not caring whether he's slowly digging his grave.
"I am capable of doing any job you'll throw at me Deidara-san – "
"Its Deidara-SAMA."
'What an arrogant bastard.'
A hefty silence.
Itachi is just eyeing them. Sakura seems annoyed, Deidara seems okay now, and Sasori ?
... well it seems he found his way back to his penguin outfit.
Deidara spoke again. "There are three things I hate the most: chibiness, flatness, and chubbyness. So tell me, why do we have the whole package here?" Deidara is about to spout more when a strong uppercut brought him back to the darkness.
'This day sucks.'
End of Chapter 6
A/N: Sorry about the super-duper-late update my dear readers. School life was choking the life out of me, I thought I won't make it this semester. Thank you for the reviews, I appreciate it so much. I'm working on the Chapter 7 now so yeah, will post it later. It'll be longer, I promise.