Scene 7:

Place: Noi's apartment

Time: 8:00 PM

Date: Friday, 13th Oct

His eyes were firmly closed, anticipating the moment he would get caught by Noi. However, after a long moment that must have been merely a minute but felt like five, Itachi was met with nothing but silence. He opened his eyes and looked to where Noi's feet were and found some of her clothes disposed around them, and behind her was a mirror that reflected her naked backside and her steady movements of wrapping a towel around herself. Itachi's eyes widened. The glimpse he caught of her creamy skin and firm ass had aroused him. For a moment he had forgotten his predicament entirely, but the numbing irritation he felt in his throat forced him to swallow and brought him back to reality once more.

It appeared she was about to take a shower. This was his chance to escape unnoticed!

He heard her footsteps heading towards the bathroom in her ensuite room, and Rooka ran out in that moment from under the bed.

This was it, soon he could leave as if he was never there and save himself the embarrassment he would have felt had he been caught. However, Noi's footsteps halted, and then he heard her speak…

"The door is unlocked. You can just leave that way instead of the window… or you could stay."

…

He was frozen in place.

Noi never closed the door to her bathroom, and he could hear that she was beneath the shower already.

She had known he was in her apartment this whole time. What? The numbing lump formed in his throat once again, and Itachi questioned if something was the matter with him because he was thrilled and aroused once more.

He rolled out from under her bed and dusted himself off as he stood up, staring at the open door and the silhouette of the woman behind the curtain.

Had she just issued him an invitation?

His mind raced, working to decipher what her words had meant. Was he to wait for her to be done, or should he just leave?

He knew leaving would perhaps be his best bet, but he wouldn't be able to face her again, or at least for a while if he chooses this option. So, should he stay? Yes…

It's best to face this now and get all his questions answered. Starting with where she had been all this time?! For that was the question which pestered him most. His longing to see her again had twisted into a poisonous obsession, and there she was now before him. Just a few steps away from him.

Itachi had lost all reason, for he was no longer in control of his body. His feet were leading him towards that curtain and his arms were reaching out to satisfy his incomprehensible longing.

The curtains had been drawn, and Noi looked at him expectantly. His gaze fixed upon her own with a fervent intensity. Her lips had split apart, and she was about to say something, however, Itachi would never learn what those words would have been because he had silenced them with his devouring lips.

His hands were firmly pulling her head closer to him so he could get a better taste of the lips that teased him mercilessly at the Siren's Call as well as his thoughts for the past few weeks. Noi did not seem to object to Itachi's actions. In fact, she seemed to be encouraging him as her hands were tugging his wettened shirt above his head and tossing it aside before moving to unbutton his pants. Within seconds, Itachi was naked and in the shower with Noi. His thoughts were rushing with excitement with every touch that explored her body. Unlike at the club, there were no rules here. He could explore her body to his heart's content, and she was eagerly approving with her muffled moans. He had forgotten that he had broken into her place, just as all the questions that had been eating at him this whole time had as well. Right now, Itachi was sinking deeply into the ecstasy that Noi's love making was infusing him with.

Scene 8:

Place: Noi's Bedroom

Time: 5:00 AM

Date: Saturday, 14th Oct

His consciousness was returning to him, along with all his senses. Itachi woke up to a sleeping Noi in his arms. The scent of her floral shampoo permeated the air, and he inhaled a deep breath to take in her sweet fragrance. He had spent the night with her, and it felt surreal to be holding her in his arms as he had. Noi was not what he had expected her to be. There was much that he still didn't know, but from what he gathered from his snooping, she was incredibly intelligent. With those thoughts filling his mind, the countless questions he had, have returned as well. What was an intelligent and beautiful woman like her, doing with a bastard like Hidan. It didn't add up. Where was she this whole time? How did she afford the apartment he was currently in? Why could she spare so much money for Izumo's collection jar? Just who was she?

Noi was beginning to stir in her sleep, and soon her eyes gradually opened to meet his burdened gaze that was projecting his heavy thoughts. "Hi…" she greeted him with a sleepy smile, and it eased him greatly. How did she hold this much power over him? He was about to be filled with more questions that would have him wondering what it was he felt for this woman, but that he still had control over. And so, Itachi stopped his thoughts from spiralling in that direction and returned her greeting as well, "Hello."

She reached up and touched the knot between his eyebrows and stated, "I know what we did was great…" taking him aback slightly before she asked, "So why do you look upset?"

Itachi relaxed and released a heavy sigh, then got straight to the point, "Noi, where have you been all this time?"
"Aw, where you worried about me, neighbour?" she teased.

"Yes." He stated firmly. He had been worried, worried to the point of becoming obsessed with her.

"You don't need to be, I'm fine." She reassured him.

However, Itachi wasn't reassured. "Are you still with that man from the club?" he pried.

Noi stared at him gravely without answering him.

Itachi urged her again by stating, "He isn't a good man, Noi. He's dangerous-"

"I can take care of myself" she emphatically cut him off and pulled away from his embrace. Itachi sat up and stressed, "Noi, he's involved with a myriad of illegal activities. You could get into a lot of trouble for being associated with this scumbag. Trust me I know these things."

"Stop! Listen we had a great night, and the sex was satisfying, but that in no way makes you my appointed saviour somehow!" she reprimanded.

Itachi was baffled. Why was she being defensive? It also made him wonder why she wasn't adhering to the caution he was urging. Was Noi actually a part of this criminal organization?

"Noi…" Itachi could barely utter her name, but he mustered the strength he needed to learn the answer to his pressing question that could change how he viewed her, "Are you involved with this bastard more than just romantically?" a lump was forming in his throat again, but this lump had borne the disappointment he could feel if her answer was yes.

"Itachi… I think you should go. This was a mistake, and we should have never gotten involved. Please leave."

What? Why was she deflecting, just answer the question. The lump wasn't going away, and disappointment began to fill him when she called what they had done a mistake. It was not a mistake. It was the most incredible feeling he had experienced. Itachi rapidly approached Noi and held her arms, fretful of letting go, "Noi, if you need me to get you away from him, I'll do it. I'll keep you safe!" he pleaded. She freed herself from his grasped and emphasized again, "I said leave! I don't need saving!" she grabbed his clothes and firmly placed them into his arms. "Get dressed and get out." She vigorously asserted.

He looked into her eyes and found firmness reflected within them, and Itachi knew there would be no reasoning between her if he stayed any longer. He put on his clothes and left to his apartment, with a tight feeling in his chest that he couldn't explain.