Hi guys, how are you doing? It has been a stressful stressful month for me, looking for a new apartment. in midst of this homelessness, thought i would update. enjoy!
Chapter 4
There were few things that Itachi Uchiha doesn't understand. Very few things. He could handle his clan paperwork and direct meetings without breaking a sweat, his obvious power and rationality overpowering everyone else, especially those obnoxious elders. Well, they are one foot close to the grave anyways. Any further corruption and stupidity, he will personally ensure the proximity to their final resting place. His missions, while never a breeze, were accomplished to the tee. The job never guarantees safety, but it is obvious that regardless of death facing them in the face, the fierce captain will always turn the tide.
Therefore, there were little things Itachi didn't understand. He didn't want to understand Shisui's outgoing personality or Sasuke's strange obsession with tomatoes. He didn't understand why his moods have been fluctuating lately, perhaps more meditation is in order. And he definitely didn't understand the singular person occupying his thoughts. Sakura. Sakura with her sparkling eyes and brilliant smile, with her smart mouth and adorable temper, with her rosy cheeks and her unconscious action of tugging her hair behind her ears. I could do that. He shook his head. Itachi definitely didn't understand. A closer study is required, he thought as he perched on a nearby tree, to carefully observe the pink target.
Said target was happily skipping through the village, obviously in a good mood. If asked, the sweetheart girl would reply that it was just a good sunny day. It definitely had nothing with the new, soft, fluffy, white carpet she just received, in lieu of her bloody one. She snickered thinking of Itachi choosing out feminine carpets.
X
Shisui chuckled when he spotted Itachi. For a minute, he watched as Itachi watches Sakura. He looked up toward the sky. Did the sun rise from the west today? Why else did he find his usually unbothered, stiff, priggish younger cousin seemingly stalking someone? Sakura, nonetheless. His curious gaze didn't go unnoticed, and he immediately locked eyes with the devil.
"Ita-chan~ what are you doing up and about on this fine day?" Shisui started. "Shisui." He greeted back monotonously. Shisui playfully craned his neck. "Ooh, is that Sakura-chan I see? Oh my my, she's lovelier than usual today. Are you by any chance stalking our pretty blossom, Ita-chan?" A glare. "Hmm hmm hmmm, seems like she dressed up today. Could it be that Sakura-chan is going on a date?" Just as he finished his sentence, the long-haired heartthrob Uchiha disappeared in a flash. Shisui gave a knowing grin, before following. "Ho ho ho, interesting~" How he loves messing with Itachi.
Shisui didn't bother trying to relocate Itachi. Oh no, all he had to do was to hit up little Sakura-chan, and the weasel will come out by himself. "Oh, Saku-chan~ looking pretty today." Sakura turned to the voice's owner and answered with a laugh. "Shisui-chan, it's good to see you. Don't have any missions today?" "Nope." He popped out the P. "Oh oh, then you should come to my place for dinner tonight with the boys. We're having hotpot." With her relationship to Sasuke, it was inevitable that she also got close to the friendliest Uchiha ever. A couple of solo missions together turned the pair into close friends.
Shisui felt a pair of menacing eyes on him. "Sounds good, Saku-chan. Count me in." Luckily, he had all day today to tease Itachi. "May I accompany the pretty girl on her shopping?" He wiggled his eyebrows teasingly as he lended out his elbow. Sakura giggled before locking her arm with his. Shisui shivered, feeling a killing chill down his back.
Three. Two. One. Shisui counted.
"Shisui," said a silky, baritone voice. Bingo! "Oh Ita-chan, didn't see you there." Shisui gave a wide teasing grin. "Hn." "Want to come to a party tonight?" He thrusted the surprised pinkette up to the tall, handsome man to make his point. "Saku-chan is making hotpot at her place." There, he has offered the tribute; he has come in peace.
Itachi reached out to stabilize the shoved girl with one hand curled protectively behind her back and the other holding her arm. Her cheeks bumped into his hard chest. "!" His head lowered to look at her. She was entirely in his embrace. He could smell that lovely scent again, that damn cherry vanilla. Not for the first time, his mind wondered if she actually tasted as good as she smelt.
"Hn. I'll be there." Itachi answered. Shisui let out a snicker. He sure is quick to answer.
Sakura could feel her cheeks heating up. She tilted her head up, and accidentally grazed her nose against his Adam's apple. Eeeppp, She internally gushed. Wahhh. Obviously, his near proximity has rendered her incapable of human speech. Her head blanked, only full of him, and even Inner Sakura was undependable in this crisis. He smells… so manly. She was completely arms around her made her lightheaded and woozy.
Shisui watched in anusement. Here they are hugging in broad daylight. Tsk tsk, shameless. He should have brought his camera. He wondered how long it'll take for them to let go of one another.
Itachi didn't want to let go. And when her nose had bumped into his neck, his throat constricted. He swallowed and gripped her closer. The movement jolted the frozen girl.
"So-rry…" "Hn, let's go." He unhanded her and both immediately felt a sense of loss. Instead, Itachi gripped her wrist, tugging her gently along. Shisui started to whistle a tune as he followed. He was not gonna miss this.
Everybody's head turned when they saw Itachi and Sakura. Together. Holding hands (wrists!). Has the world ended? Is this some fever dream? Perhaps Sakura had really done it this time, angering Itachi's head off and being dragged to be murdered. The imaginations went far and beyond. But… isn't Itachi holding her too gently for a murder?
X
They stopped at a fresh produce stall where an old lady greeted them. It was a shop Sakura frequents. "Morning Sakura-chan, who do you have with you here today?" Sakura gave a friendly smile, "Ibuki-san, hello, Itachi-san and Shisui are just accompanying me today."
Ibuki-san leaned closer and whispered back in all seriousness, "Sakura-chan, are you planning to poison him again?"
Itachi gave her a look. He remembered that. Sakura had made a new concoction in her lab for "it's the newest, most potent vitamin C ever made. A spoonful is enough to scare all throat ailments away!" Yet the liquid was a gooey brown, and Itachi swore it was bubbling. It was disgusting.
Sakura awkwardly laughed it off. She added beet roots for Itachi's portion. It was hardly poison. Although, she might have been a little forceful feeding it to him at the hospital… Sakura conveniently forgot the ruckus they made.
"No, I'm afraid not today Ibuki-san. Just hotpot vegetables please." She cheekily replied. She could feel Itachi's stare drilling into the back of her head, as he stood behind her. Her cheeks traitorously heat up. She blushed further when her hand covered his as she took the grocery bags. He was much faster than her.
Shisui silently oooh-ed. He cheerfully cooed, "Ever the gentleman, Ita-chan." Then, the bags were tossed at him, and Shisui's quick reflexes juggle the bags with both hands. "Wait, what the-"
And so, the shopping trip officially began, with Itachi accompanying Sakura. Keyword is accompanying. While Itachi refused to let Sakura touch anything, he also wasn't carrying any. The older Uchiha behind them miserably tagged along with the heavy bags. The things he does for his beloved cousin.
