Itachi leaned against his car outside the Tokyo General Hospital, waiting for Sakura. They had been going out for a few weeks now. During that time, Itachi got to know quite a lot about her. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also an intelligent woman. She had just completed her residency and was now working as a full-time doctor at the hospital. Itachi had never felt so strongly for a woman before. She was kind, smart, cheerful, and also fierce when need be.

Although their relationship was progressing rather slowly as compared to his previous ones, he was happy to let it be that way. They usually went out on dinner dates after which they'd go for walks on the beach. When they were together, they would often hold hands. Itachi would sometimes wrap his arm around her and they would share a soft kiss. She listened to his stories during his time in the service with interest, and also shared her own life experiences. When Itachi was with her, he felt calm and content.

At the end of their dates, he would drop her at her apartment and they would kiss each other goodbye. Sakura hadn't invited him to her apartment yet. He hadn't pushed it either. He didn't want Sakura to have any regrets about them taking things so far so soon. He also didn't want her to feel obligated to do anything for him just because he was Itachi Uchiha.

His train of thought was interrupted when the front doors of the hospital opened. Sakura exited the hospital and noticed him immediately. She gave him a huge smile.

"Hey, Itachi-kun!" She waved excitedly as she walked over to him. Itachi chuckled. She could be so cute sometimes. "Were you waiting long?"

"Not at all. You're quite punctual." Itachi smiled.

As soon as she came close, Itachi wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a kiss.

"Hey to you too." He murmured against her lips. Sakura giggled and kissed him back.

After a few moments, they broke apart. Itachi released her and moved towards the driving seat, while Sakura climbed onto the passenger seat.

"So, where are we going?" Sakura asked flirtingly.

"There is a new restaurant in midtown. I was thinking we would go there, enjoy a nice dinner."

"Or," Sakura said slowly, lacing her fingers in his, "we could go to my place and I can make you the best ramen you have ever had."

Itachi raised his eyebrow at the sudden invitation but then chuckled and squeezed her hand. "Ramen, huh? I must say that sounds more appealing."

They were interrupted by Itachi's phone ring. He answered the call. His expressions changed slowly as he listened to whoever was on the other side. Sakura looked at him quizzically. After replying with okay, Itachi hung up.

"We just got invited to dinner at my parents'."

Itachi hadn't yet taken her to meet his parents. Taking her to meet his parents now would mean that they were official and he wanted to wait a little while longer before going public. Well, sooner rather than later, Itachi thought.

With eyes on the road, he didn't see the gravity of the situation slowly dawning on Sakura. She was going to meet the Uchiha family's patriarch. It was all she could do to not throw up.

Naruto had dropped Sasuke off at his apartment. Sasuke was to rest and freshen up at his place before going to his parent's home. They had invited him for dinner tonight. He had already prepared his tour report that he was sure his father would ask about. Other than that, he expected to meet Itachi there as well. It had been over eight months since he had last seen him. Although they talked over the phone occasionally, there was something about meeting his older brother in person after a long time that made him look forward to it.

"Just relax," Itachi said to Sakura, "it will be fine."

They were in Itachi's car, headed towards the Uchiha Manor. They had briefly stopped at Sakura's apartment so she could change. It was Itachi's first time here but due to the urgency, there was no time to take it all in. Sakura showered and changed in record time and they left immediately. She wanted to make a good first impression and being on time was an essential part of that. It was then that Itachi told her to relax.

"Easy for you to say," Sakura shot back. "They're your parents. It is me who needs to prove that she's worthy of their son."

Itachi laughed. "You don't need to prove anything. You're going with me so just let me handle it. I don't intend to let anyone harm or hurt you in any way."

Sakura blushed and softened.

"Thank you. But I really do need to make a good impression tonight. I hope it goes well."

"It will," Itachi reassured her.

The Uchiha Manor stood on the outskirts of Tokyo, hidden in lush greenery and covered by security from every corner. The house itself was a Victorian era style triple story manor that stretched out across the lavish garden. Itachi pulled up in front of the entrance. He and Sakura got out of the car. She looked awestruck as she took it all in

"Wow, your parents' house is amazing!"

"It has been passed down in our family for over a century. My great-great-grandfather built it when the Uchiha Corp was merely a fishing company." Itachi explained.

Sakura raised an eyebrow. "Merely?"

Itachi smirked. "Well, the company is about fifty times bigger than it used to be. The house itself has been renovated many times since it was built."

He extended his hand to her. She took it gracefully and they walked over to the front door.

Before Itachi could ring the bell, the doors opened. A tall figure stood in front of them.

"Sasuke! You're back?"

"Hello to you too, big brother."

Dinner at the Uchiha manor was an awkward affair. No one had spoken much ever since they had seated themselves at the table.

After Sasuke opened the door, their mother soon followed. Mikoto Uchiha greeted Sakura and welcomed her inside the house. Sakura plastered a smile on her face and greeted Mikoto. Inside the house, they all met Fugaku Uchiha who then led them to the dining hall.

They all sat there awkwardly while the dinner was served by the staff. Itachi noticed Sasuke's cold demeanor but that was nothing new. He asked Sasuke about his trip but he only gave a short, curt reply. Fugaku was a quiet man and didn't care for conversation anyway. After they had all finished their plates, the servers removed them to make room for the desert.

Mikoto cleared her throat, determined to break the ice, and smiled at his son's new girlfriend.

"So, Sakura, tell us a little about yourself."

Sakura smiled back. "I grew up in Tokyo. My family owns a small clothing business on the east side but I wanted to be a doctor so after high school I joined TMU. Now I practice at the Tokyo General Hospital."

"Doctor, huh?" Sasuke spoke for the first time. "You're not the first doctor Itachi has brought home. Looks like he has a type."

"Sasuke! Don't be rude" Mikoto chastised him.

"That's quite alright Uchiha-sama," Sakura said but his snide remark irked her.

Even though Itachi had mentioned his younger brother a few times before, this was the first time she was meeting him. She wanted to make a good impression on Itachi's family and that included Sasuke as well. So far, it seemed, things were not going as well as she had hoped.

What she said next didn't help either.

"This is not my first time dating an heir to a big corporation either, so it looks like I have a type too."

Itachi choked on his drink but recovered quickly. Sasuke scowled. Mikoto put her hand on her lips to keep herself from laughing.

"So you admit you're with him because of his status?" Sasuke demanded.

"If the shoe fits." Sakura shrugged. Screw good impressions.

"Although," she added, turning to Mikoto and smiling, "it also helps that Itachi-kun is incredibly handsome, gentle, and kind. I am lucky I met him."

Sasuke scoffed and muttered something, certainly nothing flattering, under his breath.

"I'm sure you realize that Sakura is only joking," Itachi clarified. "She is very successful in her own field and she only said that because your words offended her, Sasuke."

"Whatever," Sasuke said and stood up. "She's annoying."

Sakura felt a pang in her chest. She was hurt. And angry. But she stopped herself from saying anything more. Itachi frowned. Fugako sat there quietly watching the drama unfold.

"Sasuke! That is enough!" Mikoto chastised him. "You must apologize to Sakura."

"Hn." That was all Sasuke said before turning away and leaving.

"You must forgive Sasuke," Mikoto said apologetically. "He is usually not like that."

Itachi raised an eyebrow at her mother.

"Okay, okay." Mikoto sighed in defeat. "He is always like that. But you must not take it personally. I will talk to him. He just needs a little bit of time before he warms up to you."

"You don't have to be apologetic on his behalf Uchiha-sama." Sakura said kindly, "I am equally to be blamed for it. I apologize."

Mikoto smiled gratefully.

"I think we should leave," Itachi said, standing up as well. "Maybe we can do this again some other time."

Mikoto and Fugaku didn't try to stop them. What was there left to say? After saying goodbye to his parents, they left.

"Mother is right about what she said. Just don't take it personally," Itachi explained to Sakura as he drove back. "My brother can be cold to people he doesn't know."

After a moment he added, "I'm also sorry the dinner didn't go as you wanted."

Sakura sighed. "I'm sorry too. Maybe if I hadn't pushed his buttons-"

"You don't have to apologize," Itachi said firmly. "He was the one who started it. Anyway, I hope you don't think less about the rest of us. We're good people I promise."

Sakura chuckled. "You don't have to worry about it, Itachi-kun. I already know."

Itachi stopped the car when he arrived at Sakura's apartment. She looked at him. Earlier she had invited him to her place. But right now, Itachi felt that it wasn't a good idea.

"Next time?" Itachi asked.

Sakura nodded. "Next time."

Itachi left after kissing her goodbye. The night might not have gone as planned, but Itachi was determined not to let this affect his relationship with Sakura. He just hoped Sasuke hadn't scared her away, despite Sakura's reassurances. He really needed to give his little brother a piece of his mind.

Earlier, Sasuke had watched them leave from the house's second-floor window. He was annoyed. Really annoyed. He was looking forward to meeting his big brother after such a long time. He hadn't expected Itachi to show up with a girl he had only been going out with for a few weeks. He hadn't expected to not get a one-on-one conversation with Itachi, asking him how he'd been, telling him what he'd been up to.

Most of all, he was annoyed by the fluttering of his stomach when he first saw his brother's girlfriend, Sakura Haruno. He didn't get flutters in his stomach. It was so stupid. How dare she make him feel stupid? He had directed all his annoyance back at her, making things even worse. His brother was definitely disappointed and would come back to talk to him. Probably his mother too.

"Great," Sasuke muttered and turned away. Just what he needed.