To Duel With Fate

The bowls were mostly empty, the steam from them had long dissipated, and Sakura was still alive. No death by embarrassment. No invasive interrogation. No obvious judgment from their parents. Negative judgment, anyway. While they enjoyed dinner, she ended up trapped in the limelight. Mikoto and Fugaku asked her to recount her night at the hospital when Itachi's corpse rolled in. They wanted all the details from her side of the story. Their father listened attentively, and she could tell he didn't miss anything she explained, or implied, or left to be discovered in between the lines. His interest came from a practical place. It was easy to piece together his intention of figuring out just what she had done differently than the others to bring him back. The honest truth, which she insisted in fairness, was that she possessed no unique or advanced skills that the other medics lacked. She simply...for all she could tell...blasted him with an abnormal amount of chakra, and his strong will to live did the rest of the work. Not even she knew where it came from, or how she managed that much of a drain without at least passing out. That kind of energy was a level bordering on Tsunade's, which some of the staff had begun whispering about in the halls, after that night. It made her uncomfortable. She didn't like standing out like a sore thumb. But at the same time, she was secretly proud of herself...just too modest to ever admit that.

Mikoto was just as hungry for the facts, but she seemed bothered by the story. The signs of pain and fear came and went on her sweet face and quiet face, as she tried to keep her emotions at bay. No mother, no matter how strong or proud, wanted to hear that their son was gone. Not for a second, let alone forever. Itachi could easily move out of their house by now, if he wanted to, and was a force to be reckoned with even by the lofty standards of the Uchiha clan...but he was her baby, and that was never going to change. They were a strict family, poised, and with high expectations, but they cared immensely, despite their consistent composure. That's what Sakura took away from their interaction, anyway.

She was so wrapped up in answering their questions, and choosing her words carefully, that she missed other things. Small, but important things. Like the change in Sasuke's manners. The glares, both short and long, had ceased. Acid and lasers replaced with utter disinterest, at first glance. He spent more time looking at his food, down at his lap, and glancing to Itachi, than anything else. In fact, he started going out of his way to avoid looking at her, like she wasn't in the room at all. But all of it was over her head. Shisui, on the other hand, noticed everything. It made him relax more, as he got the impression that his poisonous temper was fizzling away into something benign. Hopefully he would be nicer to his teammate from now on.

When all was said and done, there was no significant ammo for him against her. He was acting like nothing but an immature, arrogant brat who was just as bad at letting go of his protective nature over his brother, as Sakura was at dealing with stressful situations involving boys. Or maybe it wasn't his protective nature. Maybe he was pissed Sakura wasn't giving him attention instead, and he was too stubborn to admit it. Whatever. Shisui had some guesses, but he didn't feel like caring about it any more than he had to. He was prepared to keep tabs on them, if he sensed a disturbance, but his goal was to gradually melt back into a wallflower at the first opportunity. He wanted to say he regret ever showing up at their house earlier to help Sasuke play detective, but that wasn't all true. Given how volatile things felt now, it was probably good that he was in the know, and could step in if he had to. But that didn't mean he couldn't be annoyed by everything.

Let's not forget the disturbing fact that a couple hours ago, the mischievous twit had played the role of a voyeur for the first time. The dynamics had changed. The game revealed new facets now. Sitting next to his older brother was making him redirect his thoughts to something Shisui said earlier. Did he really know he was watching them? He never would have thought that was possible, until Shisui mentioned it. Would Itachi let that happen? Why? A part of him was on the verge of panicking, deep down. A slippery little eel thrashing inside, while the rest of him either burned in anger, seethed in jealousy for one reason or another, and struggled to overcome the cold shock of what he witnessed.

Itachi was quiet, and gave no indication that he recognized a shift in the wind. His primary interest lied in the conversation Sakura was having with his parents, and he watched her closely. Her speech, which he was used to being hesitant and a bit submissive with him, was transforming into something more natural, and care-free. She warmed up to them easily, and after a time, she began to sound genuinely happy. Every now and then, he would catch Sasuke watching him from the corner of his eye, but he paid him no mind. That wasn't to prove his ignorance, however. In their short time spent together at the table—he, Shisui, and Sasuke—he picked up on a change between them. It was subtle, but he could taste it. A sense of unease, a little bit of tension, and Shisui seemed to gain some of the weight that had been lifted off Sakura's shoulders. None of this slipped by him, but he was biding his time.

Everything was swept under the rug when the conversation redirected into something more personal. Fugaku became the focal point, once he asked her what kinds of missions she had been on, and what she felt that she personally excelled at, aside from medical ninjutsu.

The finished bowls were collected one by one around him, disappearing from the table as his mother cleaned up. Everyone remained seated but her, positions more relaxed as Sasuke set his elbows on the table, and Shisui leaned back in his chair. Sakura was the only one sitting straight as a board, hands clasped neatly in her lap, and smiling as if she were in the process of a job interview. It would have been cute, but Itachi was overlooking her now. His unreadable gaze digging into his father across from him.

“I've been on all kinds, actually. It's hard to keep track of them all...” She rattled off the ones that stood out to her the most, some B and A rank missions that had challenged her at the time. Unable to see why any of this would matter to someone like him, unless he was just carrying polite conversation. She didn't see him being the type of person to talk more than he wanted to, however, or delve into a subject that didn't interest him for a good reason.

“I spend most of the days training under Tsunade right now, so I haven't been going on very many.” Fugaku nodded slowly, taking his eyes off her to lose focus on the table in front of him. He was also thinking harder than someone who was just engaging in polite conversation. It peeked her curiosity, but she didn't know him well enough to see where this could be going.

Itachi had an idea, and it was one he didn't like. His mouth was shut, but not necessarily out of respect. He was waiting for more evidence to unfold, and searching for anything he might have missed that would prove his suspicions wrong. He wanted to be wrong, but that didn't happen very often. It didn't help that the little secret Shisui slipped Sakura, about 'ANBU stuff', had yet to come to his attention. That's what happens when you spend the last couple weeks recovering from serving as Death's target practice. He spent more time mashed under blankets and pillows snoring, than functioning like a normal human being. That piece of info wasn't fundamental in knowing what his father was up to, though. He did raise him, after all. And though Fugaku was not a part of ANBU himself, he did have multiple connections, and influence. A spiderweb of puppet strings that extended all over Konoha.

“I heard you can snap trees like toothpicks.” Mikoto called her out from the kitchen, sink trickling with water as she soaked the dishes. Sakura blushed faintly. She didn't expect them to know the specifics of her abilities. Until recently, that was the case. Saving their son put her on their radar, and since that night in the hospital, Mikoto most certainly picked Sasuke's brain about his pretty and capable teammate that he almost never talked about with them.

“Ah, yeah, heh...I've done that.” She admitted coyly, an accusing glance flitting Sasuke's way. He was already looking at her this time, but still lacking the underlying aggression.

“It sounds like we have a little Tsunade in our midst!” She called again, the playfulness evident in her tone. Sakura smiled, though remained humble. “I have a long way to go before I can compete with Tsunade.”

“Then it's your goal to surpass her?” Mikoto pressed slyly. Sakura back-peddled a little. “I'm afraid that's biting off way more than I can chew right now.” She laughed lightly. “But I'm always looking for ways to improve.” There, short and sweet. She sounded sincere and hard working, without being full of herself. Funny to think she cared so much about their opinion of her. They were just a family...like any other family in Konoha...and yet she couldn't shake instinct to impress them. It could very likely stem all the way back to her early years with Sasuke. Going out of her way to be close to him as much as possible, always looking for ways to steal his attention, if only for a moment. Craving his approval on everything. If that was the case, she needed to take a good hard look at herself, and make some changes. Her worth wasn't determined by anyone but herself, and she forgot that sometimes.

“What about your weaknesses?” Itachi asked suddenly. A question that seemed rude, blunt, and without remorse. Though his voice was low and free of malice, everyone paused to watch him. He was looking calmly at Sakura, and she felt a cold stab at her ego.

“...My...uhm... Well,” She began, brushing off the unusual question, and trying to answer it politely and friendly. “I'd say my greatest weaknesses are speed, and being stealthy. Recon missions and anything that requires me to lay low and go unnoticed are more challenging. I guess I'm better at direct combat. Stamina, too...I could work some more on that.”

When she was done, she cast a demure look at the table, wondering why she felt like she'd been chopped down a peg. All he did was ask a simple question. There was nothing harsh about the way he said it, or the look on his face. Somehow he made her want to retract a little into her shell, nonetheless. Itachi returned to studying his father, and the room went quiet. Fugaku was staring back at him, hands clasped close to his sealed lips, with his elbows on the table. Posture very similar to Sasuke's. Their gazes were equally placid, yet anything but transparent, as they delved into a quick and silent exchange with just their murky eyes. There was a reason he asked that question, and he drove home his veiled point with unyielding eye contact. Sasuke watched his brother curiously. This wasn't the first time something like this happened.

After a few seconds, something warm touched her. She glanced at her lap, and found Shisui's hand slipping over hers without so much as a rustle. “I'm sure your strengths far outweigh your weaknesses.” He added light-hearted, yet making a point not to meet her eye, for some reason. Itachi was still watching his father when he slowly rose from the table, and sighed quietly. “I'm sure they do, as well.” Fugaku stated with confidence, removing himself from the unspoken challenge his eldest son presented him with.

“Thank you, Sakura, for everything you've done for my son. I realize this is long overdue, but we will never be able to repay you for your service. You've offered him a second chance at life, and there is no greater gift.” Sakura snapped her head quickly to look up at him, eyes wide and full of wonder. “I'm proud to know you are a part of Sasuke's team. You are welcome in this house any time.” To her amazement, he stepped away from his chair and bowed formally before her.



“Thank you, sir...I really appreciate that.” She replied softly, tiny fireworks erupting in her chest. The good kind. A stark contrast to the sinking weight Itachi inadvertently left her with a moment prior. He walked into the kitchen, granting the four of them freedom so he could talk with his wife.

The comforting hand slipped away as Shisui shifted in his chair, and cleared his throat. That's when it finally hit her. The 'interview' was over, and now it was the four of them alone, for the first time in...her life, actually. Sakura looked around, already beginning to feel a little hot and cramped, even though they had more room than ever before. It was the lack of distraction that fanned the fire for her. The only thing left to face was each other. Her attention snapped to Sasuke abruptly, once she recalled something.“Hey, you gave me the wrong time! You told me to show up at four, and no one was here!” A harmless criticism, as she wasn't actually upset about it by now. The time she spent with Itachi wasn't something she could complain about, but he didn't need to know that.

“Sorry. Got the times mixed up.” His explanation was bland, and sounded disinterested, as if he really wasn't sorry, and didn't care either way. A heavy-lidded and annoyed stare lingered on him, but she wasn't that surprised. The only thing that made her wonder was the fact that he was looking away from her, and resonating an unhappy vibe. A mix between frustration and disappointment, but she left it alone. Prying him for answers rarely proved fruitful. Dropping the issue, she returned to wondering about how she was going to interact with all of them without spilling some juicy detail on accident, or just feeling generally awkward. One was already spilled, when she ran to the bathroom after he let her inside. Knowing his house so well was a red flag, but it slipped her mind, and she would never think about it unless someone pointed it out to her.

Should she just go? Was it okay to leave? Did his parents want her to leave? She doubted they stayed up very late, and she wouldn't want to be rude by outstaying her welcome.

“Sakura, would you like some tea?” Mikoto asked suddenly, dishes clinking in the sink, and she jumped at the chance to respond to something other than the ever-tightening coil of silence. “Oh...are you sure? It's getting kinda late, I don't want to keep you.”

“We have time, dear, but if you need to wake up early tomorrow, I understand.”

“I do have to be at the hospital tomorrow. I should probably go. Thank you for offering, though.” The chair slid backward as she meant to stand up, enter the kitchen to say goodnight to them, and thank them for dinner.

“Are you sure? She has a lot of good teas.” Itachi stopped her with little effort, and she looked at him skeptically for a moment. Something told her he wasn't politely prodding her to stay, just to be nice, but discreetly insisting that she did. Judging by the way her captured her gaze for a few prolonged seconds. She could almost feel the unspoken command slithering over her skin. Stay.

“...You know, I guess I could stay a little longer.” She smiled, but instead of sitting back down, moved into the kitchen. “At least let me help you clean up!”

“No.” Mikoto and Fugaku rejected her in unison, and Sakura screeched to a halt after setting one foot into the room, just like last time. Well, so much for that! They took the treatment of their guests pretty seriously, from what she gathered. She nodded respectfully, and backed out into the dining room again. Damn. So much for avoiding being cornered by three Uchiha boys. Wait...was that really a bad thing? Oh no, it was...yes, it definitely was.

Sasuke stood up without warning, and walked out of the dining room and down the hall toward their bedrooms. The three of them watched him go, unsure how to take his coarse aloofness. On any other day, this behavior wouldn't strike her as odd, but something was different. Sakura wouldn't outright admit it, but she felt somewhat offended, as he left without a word, or even an acknowledging glance. Shisui closed his eyes, locking himself in the dark while he processed everything.

“What's his problem?” She muttered dejectedly.

“Hm.” Itachi let it slide passively, with the impression that it didn't concern him, and that he wouldn't waste any time dwelling on the matter. The facts were different, but he didn't view it as a problem that needed to be addressed in front of the rest of them. He would deal with it later. His body, still sore and tired from everything it had been through, drifted into the kitchen to start the kettle a second time. A job that was unofficially reserved as his, and no one else's. If he didn't move now, his mother was bound to instruct him within the next few seconds anyway.

 

“Shisui. Tea?” He asked tersely, reeling his friend back into reality against his will.

“I'll pass tonight.” He stood, and Sakura suddenly found herself alone in the dining room as he entered the kitchen. The words were lost to her, but she could hear them speaking quietly. Saying goodbye, she hoped...though it was never that cut and dry. No one needs to talk in such a hushed manner unless it's to say something secretive. It became an itch in her mind that she couldn't scratch, but she held fast and waited patiently. She trusted him now... He did her more than one favor today—even more favors than she was aware of—so she wasn't about to doubt his intentions. That was the least she could do.

His voice rose as he said goodnight to Mikoto and Fugaku. Mrs. Uchiha stopped drying the bowls long enough to give him a hug, and ruffle his hair again. Though the dinner had focused almost solely on Sakura, Shisui hadn't escaped their praise. It only seemed like he did, because he was a part of their family, and spent so much time with them already, that she missed it. He practically had two mothers now, which could be a good and a bad thing.

“You can't leave without me.” Sakura whispered when he came back into the room, unable to hide the desperation in her voice. He stopped and shot her a funny look.

“What are you talking about? You don't need me.” The insecure look in her eye begged to differ. “Don't look at me like that. There's nothing to worry about.” He muttered, leaning into her and lowering his head so he was about an inch away from her face. “Besides... Itachi never entertains girls in his house, least of all in front of his parents. Feel special. Soak it up.” A hand planted on top of her head, giving her a small pat, and he swerved around her to head for the front door.

No, that didn't count. His parents invited her to dinner, not him! “Oh, no pressure there... What if they start asking me hard questions?” She snapped in another whisper after him.

“They like you.” Shisui waved her off, trying to stretch his patience.

“Don't leave me here!”

“Stopit. I'm tired. I'm going home.” He turned to the side and pointed a finger at her.

“What if Sasuke comes back out?” Her hands rose to her hips as she pressed on, their stubbornness locking horns with no sign of giving way.

“Sakura, how old are you?”

“Sixteen.....?”

“Oh.”

“.....Whyy?”

“Just making sure. I thought you were ten, for a second.”

A soft thump sounded as she smacked his arm in retaliation. He flinched, and successfully dodged a second smack. They weren't hard hits, fortunately. More like the swipes of a feisty cat, than anything. Ten? Come on! Now he was just being an ass. Would it really kill him to hang out for a little bit longer? It made her feel better if he was there. He should take that as a compliment, damnit.

They both froze mid-motion and ceased their whispers when a head poked curiously into the doorway from the kitchen. Itachi stared at them, eyes tracing up and down them both suspiciously. Shisui took advantage of the surprise, and made his stealthy escape from the fiery, yet slightly needy, kunoichi. “I gotta go. I'll see you later.” By the time she turned around, he was already down the hall, and she inwardly cursed. He won this round...

Itachi's head disappeared, and a second later his whole body returned with a steaming teapot and empty cups. Sakura clasped her hands behind her back and tried not to appear too guilty, though she certainly felt embarrassed for being caught harassing his best friend. That couldn't have looked very good, from his perspective.

“Itachi, I'm sure she'd love to see the garden. You should take her outside and light the lanterns.” His mother suggested, unaware that she was already acquainted and completely in love with their garden, from her previous visits. Sakura wanted to laugh, but instead she only smiled amiably, and looked up at him. He paused with his hands full, about to set everything on the table, and gave the faintest sigh. Turning, he lead the way out of the dining room and through the house.

 

Complaining was the last thing on her mind. If she had a garden like that, she would spend every day in it drinking tea. Even if it was snowing. Being outside would be nice, anyway. More space, harder to feel confined or trapped. She really did like his parents, but it was difficult let her guard down completely with them there. Still so swept up in maintaining a good impression. It demanded a lot of mental energy.

“What is it this time?” She asked as she sat down on the edge of the porch, letting her legs hang over freely. The tea set was arranged between them, just like earlier. “Oolong tea.” He poured some for both of them, and sat down in the same manner as she did. The sky was a rich blue, and creeping deeper by the minute. Most of the garden was hiding in shadows, with only the brightest flowers and colors able to stand out in the remaining light. A steady breeze kept everything at the perfect temperature.

Itachi lifted a hand in front of his chest, and made a sign without speaking a word. A quick blur of movement that she barely caught, and the shrouded garden erupted with flickering lights. All the stone lanterns, hidden and obvious ones, revealed themselves with their own flames. It wasn't enough to brighten significantly, but it looked beautiful. Now she was really jealous.

“Where did you learn that?” She picked up her tea and blew on it lightly. He leaned back with his palms propped on the boards behind him, letting the atmosphere melt him into a lazy contentment.

“Our clan has a lot of fire tricks.” To him, it was nothing...but occasionally it was fun to try and create new ones. Time was not something he usually had an abundance of, with his busy schedule. So he was limited to playing with the techniques the others invented when they were bored...or retired.

“Show me another one?”

“I will, if you tell me why you were smacking him.” He offered, targeting her from the corner of his eye. Expertly masking any feelings he may have. She couldn't tell if he amused, or annoyed, or something else...so she just laughed nervously.

“Oh... I didn't want him to leave. And he called me a ten year old.” She could have sworn he smirked for half a second, but it happened too fast to be sure. Both eyebrows raised at her, nudging her to explain her reasoning. “I don't know... He helped me a lot today. It was just...nice knowing he was around. Made me feel better.” She sipped at her tea, noticing that he hadn't touched his yet. If she recalled correctly, he did that every time they drank tea. Filled his cup, and then left it like a decoration. Drinking maybe half a cup, if that.

“You're afraid of Sasuke?” A question, yet it sounded more like a known fact when it came out of his mouth. His eyes left her to focus on a single candle flame, several feet in front of him amidst the rose bushes.

“It's not just that. Your parents make me nervous.” She admitted begrudgingly, feeling silly about it, but she wasn't going to lie to him.

Sakura managed to finish her cup before another word was spoken. Enough time for her to get lost in the sounds of cicadas and crickets, as she filled a second cup. Eventually, her curiosity got the better of her, and she looked up at him. He was watching her with a small smile on his face.

“What?” She blinked innocently, pulling some of her hair behind her ear.

“You were different tonight.”

It was her turn to lose her voice, and she rested her hands in her lap while the tea cooled steadily next to her. Racking her memory and trying to recount all the things she did and said, since she showed up to their front door with Shisui in tow. She didn't understand what he meant. She thought she had behaved like she normally did.

“Oh... I'm sorry?”

Itachi shook his head slowly in disagreement. “I like it.”

“What did I do that was so...different?”

“The way you interacted with them was natural. I think you did fine.”

As if he had just showered her with the greatest praise in the world, Sakura's lips jumped into a smile, and she looked down at her gently swinging feet. There was so much he had left out. Like the way she acted more confident than he had ever seen her—she would never believe him if he said that. Or the way she regarded them all with mature, polite composure—Shisui's battery didn't count. She was braver than she thought she was. If she would just relax and take a few minutes for some self-reflection, she might see things differently...but she wasted her time with irrational concerns. Always thinking of the worst that could happen, and letting it distract her.

“Sakura.” He reclaimed those large eyes that almost glittered in the dark. “There is no one in my family that you need to impress. Don't be afraid to be yourself. It's an insult to who you are.” Her feet stopped swinging, and her curious expression fell blank. “And there is no one that requires an apology from you...not eve Sasuke.”

That was creepy. He found a way to burrow through her scattered and rambling insecurities that ran the length of a novel, and snuff them out in four short sentences. How did he do that? He had a magical tongue...in more ways than one...and it amazed her. Yet, instead of letting the relief wash over her, she posed a question. “You don't think I'm weak, do you?”

“Why would I think you're weak?” The cup finally found its way to his lips, and he sipped it leisurely.

“At the table earlier, you asked me about my weaknesses....” Her voice grew softer, and she looked away. Gaze exploring the small peppering of lights with a touch of sadness.

A lungful of cool air sucked in through his nose slowly, and drifted back out. He saw this coming, as he didn't expect her to understand his motives on her own. The relationship he had with his father was complex, and she didn't know the things that they knew.

“Everyone has their weaknesses. It's important to know what they are so we can improve them, and choose our battles wisely.”

There was nothing false about that, but it wasn't the answer she was looking for. He evaded the point, and she wasn't going to accept it without a fight. “You know what I mean...”

“I don't look down on you, if that's what you're asking.”

“But why did you ask me what they were?”

“Forgive me Sakura, but if you don't already know the answer, I'd prefer to keep it that way.” He shut her down gently, yet it only peaked her curiosity. So there was a real reason. There was something fishy going on. Well, that just wasn't fair. If it involved her, she ought to know.

Her lips thinned in silent protest, but she found it difficult to find the right words now. If he didn't want to talk to her about it, there was no way to make him.

“Can you promise me something?” He asked suddenly, and she regarded him with a new wonder.

“I...I guess. It kinda depends on what it is, but...”

“If my father speaks to you again after tonight, for any reason, will you let me know?”

Sakura stared mutely.

“Please.”

“.....Yeah. I'll let you know.” A murmur of a voice answered him, knowing full well that if she asked why, he would refuse to tell her. Should she be worried? Because that was a very effective way to worry her.

“Stand there.” His pointing hand snagged her attention before she could spend much time thinking about what he said, and she looked out into the garden.

“Why?”

“I want to show you something.”

Inquisitive eyes narrowed as she considered him, but then she hopped off the porch and traveled the stone path a little ways into the forest of carefully manicured plants and twinkling flames. Stopping and looking around after a few feet, she tried to spot what it was he was pointing at. Some kind of flower, or trickling fountain, or tree, but he lost her.

“What is it?” She asked, turning to face him. Pale face hovering in the flicker of dull orange light and looming shadows, it was hard for her to read him. He was still leaning back slightly, one palm holding him up with the other had fallen on his leg. Then she watched it rise to his lips, and he created a circle with his fingers. A spark of light exploded into a wall of fire in an instant. Sakura had enough time suck in a terrified gasp, and close her eyes in a flinch when the flames engulfed her. Rushing past her skin in a brief blanket of tickling heat and puff of wind. It was over almost as quickly as it began, but she stiffened. One knee bent with her leg off the ground, hands balled into fists and hovering close to her wincing face, and torso twisted. It took her a second to realize the fire never touched her. It had expanded into a hollowed out ring, wide enough to fit her in its center, before dissipating into the leaves and air behind her.

“What was that?!” She yelled, a fresh pump of adrenaline already snaking through her veins as she fumed at him.

A devilish grin answered, and he reclined back on both palms again. “You wanted another trick.”

“You could have warned me!”

“Then it wouldn't have been fun.”

“Oh yeah? You want some fun? I can show you one of my tricks.” The feet that stomped along the stones moved with a purpose toward him. Fists still clenched, albeit loosely. She wasn't angry, but she also wasn't prepared to let him get away with something like that so easily. Calm eyes watched her approach without a care in the world. Hiding just how much he enjoyed observing the docile and well-mannered girl become hot-headed and spunky. She could change so quickly sometimes, yet it was something he liked about her. It kept him on his toes, and tempted him to provoke her further.

“I hope you're not going to pummel me into the ground like you did to Shisui.” His concern reeked of sarcasm, and his lazy gaze looked her up and down quite unimpressed. Sakura narrowed her eyes. He was asking for it, and she was going to give it to him. A fist came to life with a pale glow as she reached him, but when she lunged, he was gone. Literally. One blink, and there was an empty space where he had been seated in front of her. He couldn't move that fast...could he? Really? She didn't even see a blur. He just disappeared.

A tickle of steam graced the back of her neck, and she swung around, legs bent and spread enough to give the impression she was actually prepared to fight him. Now that was funny.

The ground disappeared as she was swept up into the air by a limb...or two...she couldn't see what he did. All the knew was the wooden boards knocking into her back and her hair fanning out in a sloppy pastel halo around her. The garden drifted miles away in second, and she found herself laying close to the wall with her legs propped up, and a shadow looming over her.

The cicadas and crickets returned full force. She laid there, looking up at him with swaths of black hair curtaining her face. Positioned above her on his hands and knees, the backs of her thighs rested against his in a straddle. The breeze that felt so nice before awakened a panic when it wafted effortlessly up the dress she was wearing, with its hem already scrunched high up her legs.

“What are you doing?” She swallowed, hoping he was just teasing her. Pushing her buttons to try and get a reaction. A countdown ticked in her mind. Accumulating suspense until it would inevitably cause her to spring up and throw him off. Not yet, but if he didn't do something soon... There was no way she was going to be caught in a compromising position if someone in his family wandered out onto the porch next to them. The door was right there. It was closed, but just how many paces separated them? How many walls? One or two? That was far too close for comfort.

“Waiting for you to show me a trick.” His lips murmured against hers, tickling with their movement. He couldn't help it. She captivated him in ways she would never understand. Ways even he didn't understand, sometimes. It impressed her how easygoing and self-assured he was all the time, but that was because he knew how to keep his struggles to himself. Keeping his hands off her was one of them. Being in the same room with her was a constant test of discipline, yet she never realized that, did she?

“Your parents...” She whispered, a hand inching down to her legs and try and pull her dress lower. She felt way too exposed, but she didn't ask him to move. Alerting him to her predicament might very well backfire, so she was trying to be sneaky.

“I'll know if they're coming.” His assurance wasn't convincing enough, but his close proximity was a huge distraction. When she found the end of her dress, his hand covered hers before it could move, and pulled it slowly away. Gah, he already knew. There was no point.

“What about Sas-haa!” She sucked in her breath, thighs twitching sharply when she felt his hand creep between them and disappear under the cloak of green. He silenced her with a kiss, slow and smooth, with a hot lap of his tongue. A sigh flooded into his mouth, wanting to deny him, and yet finding herself incapable of lifting a finger to stop him.

The pads of his fingers explored her naked heat. Touching softly enough that she shifted her hips to try and press into him. Body shamelessly demanding more. They glided in a tantalizing sweep between her lips, rousing a shudder, and then anchored firmly over her clit. Twirling in a slow circular motion in just the right spot. The effect was instantaneous. He felt a growl threatening to claw from his throat when she tensed and dug her fingers into his shoulders. A tremor shook through her, with a flash of heat not far behind. Opening her pores and catching him with the scent of fresh desire.



“We can't do this.” She insisted suddenly, forcing herself to act responsibly while she was still capable of putting up a fight. It might not be a very strong or enduring fight in the end, but she had to try. Her mouth pulled out of reach with a swing of her head, which resulted in her getting lost in his curtain of hair.

“Mm...” A weak noise of recognition. Not the one she needed to hear, as it was far from agreeable, and promised nothing in the way of compliance. His fingers changed their pattern, but continued to rub and knead into her. Becoming rougher as she grew increasingly wet.

“This is...the worst position....we could be in if...someone walks out.” The battle to keep her voice steady and quiet was evident in her abrupt pauses. Moans and squeaks clamoring to be released denied over and over again.

“I can think of worse positions than this.” He countered, meeting the challenge she never meant to give him. The brush of his lips followed the curve of her jaw. Teasing her with a light touch as he traced to a sensitive spot just below her ear. His breath billowed in slow, controlled puffs, mindful to keep half his attention on her body language, and half on the house around them. One hand fanned down her waist, deceptively soft like his lips. After a hard stroke, he pulled from the hot crevice and flipped her onto her stomach. Chest pressed flat against the cool surface, her hips were twisted at a comfortable but affective angle, and pulled flush against his. One leg was bent back around his waist with her calf crossing his lower back, and the other fell to the floor next to him. The heat burned him through his pants, but he held still. Bending forward to suck pale welts along the back of her neck and under her jaw.

“Itachi!” She hissed louder, ready to transform into a combative octopus if he didn't knock it off within the next few second. It's like he was trying to get caught at this point. He might like to live life on the edge, but if this kept up much longer she was going to die an early death by heart attack.

“Hm?” He hummed into her flesh, sounding so oblivious and content with his actions that she almost reached back and smacked him. Her hands braced into the porch, ready to push herself up, when his hips shifted away from her. Now a bit sticky and damp from the close contact. She glanced back in relief, waiting for him to climb off her, but he had only given her a false sense of hope. Far too rebellious to surrender so quickly. Two fingers slid without resistance inside her wet passage, and she gasped. An easy twist of his wrist primed them for his target, and he struck with a merciless push. Digging gently into her pulsing wall, and shocking her into a high-pitched squeal.

“Shh... They'll hear you.” A mocking whisper should have provoked her fury, but she was rendered motionless by the explosion of pleasure he quite literally forced through her. His prior ministrations were stimulating enough, but that small hook deep insider her shoved her near the brink much faster than she ever thought was possible. She was used to a steady build of desire over time...she had no idea he could skip straight to a level that made her hips shudder and her one leg clench around him in a death grip.

The searing velvet fluttered around him, writhing in a desperate agony while his fingertips caressed a sluggish, stiff pressure into a vulnerable spot that made her see stars and squirm about recklessly.



“Stop...stop...stopstopsssttt-ahh!” Her arm curled around her face, nails digging through her own hair as she bit down harshly on her bottom lip. The floorboards immersed in a hot dew as she panted frantically into the cave she created. Trying to shield her senses and collect herself before she lost control. She was so close. She couldn't handle it. In the back of her mind, behind all the brain cells that were in the process of spontaneously combusting, it scared her. To know he could touch her in such a way that would turn her limbs to jelly and make her scream and beg him for more, when a minute ago she was ready to act tough and meet him head-on... It wasn't right. It's like she had an intricate map detailing every treasure and landmark written all over her that only he could read. He revealed secrets about herself that she wasn't aware of. Was it ANBU training, or did everyone learn this magic sooner or later? It was evil.

Seconds before she came, he stilled within her. Leaving just enough pressure in place to send her convulsing weakly around him, and squeaking nonsensical things into the crook of her elbow.

“Okay...” He gave in. The moment she no longer wanted him to. He finally chose to listen at the singular point in time she would lose her mind and throttle him into his grave if he stopped. A kiss touched her flushed and steaming cheek. A gesture so gentle and affectionate, and she wanted to murder him. Her hips twitched violently when his hand moved again, slipping out of her, and being sure to drag that light pressure all the way to her exit.

A cold and fierce glare peeked over her arm, losing itself in the cool night air. He pushed himself backward onto his butt, and rested his elbows on top of his bent knees. Sakura's head turned slowly to looked at him over her shoulder. Silent. Fuming. Plotting. He made it a hundred times worse by watching her with the most beautiful, peaceful look on his face. Like none of this affected him. Like he was the perfect, unassuming angel. He cocked his head, looking at the glossy fingers that dangled off his leg. They drifted to his mouth, where he licked them slowly, like savoring the dripping remains of melted ice cream.

Her foot jousted him right in the chest, striking him with the power, yet not quite the speed, of a lightning bolt. He flew backwards, crashing down onto the stones and moss of the garden below, with his calves bent over the edge of the porch and feet sitting lifeless in front of her. She was amazed she landed the hit, fully expecting him to catch her foot and either trap her down again, or send her tumbling with her. Did he let her get away with it...? Had she really been too fast for him? She wasn't about to ask. Instead, she gave a satisfied hmph and crawled onto her knees, arms folding over her chest to glare triumphantly down at his sprawled form.

His feet slid off with a thump, and he crouched in front of her without bothering to step back onto the porch. That kinda hurt, actually. There were still some sore ribs in there. Okay, a lot of sore ribs. But he would keep that to himself.

“You know...sometimes you're not a very nice guy.” An understatement. He had done a lot of things to stress her out, and agitate her, and make her worry, but the only apology she got from him was a weak smile. The kind that accepted her judgment fully, if not basked in it.

“I never said I was, Sakura.” He corrected her quietly, expression serious even as he enjoyed the harsh look she studied him with. She was angry...and frustrated...very frustrated. She wanted to deny him, and say that she didn't need or want him. Not for a second. That she could walk away now and never look back. But Kami, she wanted him more than anything in the world...more than she ever wanted Sasuke...and she kind of hated him for that. She didn't want to admit it, but she felt she was going to have to, in the near future. She couldn't spend another handful of years pining for a man that tormented her, and held such an intense influence over her emotions and actions. It would kill her if he turned out to be like his brother. The pain would be infinitely worse, after baiting her like this. She refused to go through it a second time.

As if the weight was suddenly too much to bare, the anger fizzled out into nothing. Gleaming eyes lost their hardness, and the stiff line of her mouth drooped. Her shoulders inched downward, freed from their tension as she looked down at her lap, and picked one of her nails. She looked almost sad in an instant.

“Itachi...what are we doing?”

The hunched figured in front of her leaned into the wooden planks with his elbows, and plopped his chin in his palm. Giving no sign that he was affected by the internal war she waged. “You're going to have to be more specific.”

“This... What is it?” Her hands waved into the air and dropped back in her lap, lifeless. No longer would she meet his eyes, choosing to cast hers down while his lashes blinked slowly. Roaming over her coolly, and thinking perhaps far more deeply than she thought he was. But he preferred it that way.

“That is not specific.”

A surge of anger flitted through her heart and surfaced on her face for a split second, but she stuffed it back down. He had to know what she was talking about. Why couldn't he just say it? When she went quiet for a moment, he spoke again.

“If there is something you want to ask me, or tell me, you need to be precise.” That was the only nudge he would give her. If she didn't react accordingly, he would let the issue melt away. Despite what she might think, he did not play games when it came to serious matters, but he also did not go out of his way to fill in the blanks for anyone else. They would learn to communicate wisely and directly, or they would gain nothing from him. She ought to know that by now.

“What do you think of me?” She blurted quickly, before she could lose her resolve and change the subject.

“Hm...” He made a small noise, and continued his painless dissection of her mannerisms. Reading her carefully. “I think you're innocent, and a little naïve. I think you have a big heart, but it's full with as much fear as it is love. I think you have a lot of room to grow as a person, and a shinobi...and I think you will. When you do, I think you will find yourself at a height you didn't know you could reach, and even then, you won't recognize how powerful you are.”

She looked up at him then, large eyes pleasantly shocked, and a little touched.

“I also think you're intelligent, and beautiful, and I think my brother is going to regret letting you slip through his fingers one day.”

She wanted to kiss him. Just lean in and grab his face with both her hands, and kiss the daylights out of him. Yet why did it hurt? He said things she craved to hear, but the emotions they roused were surprisingly at odds with each other. It could be the fear holding her back, making her reluctant to read into what he was saying too much.

“So....what are we doing, then?”

“Precise.” He reminded her once more.

“How do you feel about me? Am I a part of your life now? What do you want from me?” She rushed again, feeling her heart thunder in her chest. A look of distraught anticipation painting her features, and pushing a thin glitter of saltwater to corners of her eyes. This was nerve-racking, but she needed to get it over with, no matter what the outcome was. She could take the blows, if she had to. Just as long as she knew...

He didn't answer. She was too mixed up to tell whether seconds or minutes passed by. All she knew was that the longer he waited, the more she wanted to turn that kiss of hers into pounding fists, and make him pay for driving her so crazy.

A crunch of rock, and he was crawling onto the porch toward her. She froze, eyes darting all over his moving limbs in apprehension. His face hid in the shade of his hair. The cool tip of his nose bumped her cheek, and his lips guided hers to kiss him. Deliberately slow and sweet. “That depends on what you want. Tell me...” His whisper was almost too soft to reach her. What she wants...? This caught her off guard, as if she expected to be outright rejected.

“I...I don't know... I don't know you very well, when I think about it. I mean I do, but...there's so much more to you...” Yes she did, but she was afraid to dive in and admit everything. That she would be happy spending all of her spare time with him, even if they were doing nothing but sitting and skipping rocks into a lake. Or, hell, helping his mother with house chores—not that she would ever let them, but that wasn't the point. She just wanted to be near him. She wanted to feel that it was okay to love him, and she wanted him to know that, but she didn't want to have to say it. That was asking too much. It was too scary.

“Then get to know me.” He offered, making it sound so damn simple.

“Do you want me to?” She breathed shakily, pulling away from his lips enough that she could look into his dark eyes, still so dim in the shadows.



“I want you to do what makes you happy.” He held her curious gaze. The swell of hope and giddy excitement rising within her was almost tangible. The beginning of a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Then he shot away, returning to a crouch in front of her, just as the door slid open next to them.

Mikoto took one step outside and scanned the porch, missing them at first. “Sasuke, do you—“ She looked down at them, never finishing her sentence. “Is he not drinking tea with you two?” Her eyes darkened instantly, one hand rising to her hip. “I know I did not raise such a rude young man.” If she felt there was anything strange or telling by how closely they were sitting across from each other, with their cooled cups of tea left behind on the edge of the walkway, she said nothing. “I'll go get him.”

“No!” Sakura blurted before she could stop herself, and Mikoto paused in the middle of closing the door to look down at her in surprise.

“Actually, I really do need to go now. I have a long way to walk.” Crap. Not Sasuke. Anyone but Sasuke. What the hell would the three of them talk about right now? One day he would discover something was going on...but not now. She needed some more time before approaching that monster of a subject with him.

“Okay, if you insist.” Mikoto sighed, smiling at her. The door was left open as her footsteps disappeared through the house.

Sakura exhaled a deep breath she had been holding, letting her back slouch in relief. Itachi stood up, never taking his eyes off her. He offered a hand to help her up, and she took it. Not because she needed to, but because she wanted to touch him.

“You know...you're not a very bad guys sometimes, either.” His lips answered her with a feathery kiss on her forehead, but they didn't stop there. They took their time traveling the curve of her brow, down her cheek, over her nose and to the other side, and then down to her chin. She held still, letting her eyes close blissfully. When she reopened them, he was looking at her without something new. So subtle and difficult to see in the absence of light, but there was a change in his eyes. They weren't as cryptic as they usually were, as if a veil had been lifted, and they regarded her in a way that made her feel strangely...safe, for once.

“What are you thinking?” She murmured up at him. He leaned in to kiss her one last time on the lips, and then took a step back.

“I'm thinking it's time for you to go.” Oh, but she didn't want to go. She should...and she said she needed to...but she really didn't want to. Regardless, she gave a sad nod and looked away. Her steps to the doorway were reluctant, each one full of doubt.

“So...are we...dating?” She asked hesitantly, looking at him over her shoulder. One hand rested on the door while she stood halfway in the bright light of the house, and halfway on the dark porch. Nibbling her lip and smoothing a hand nervously down the side of her borrowed dress.

Itachi smirked faintly. “You need to get to know me first.”

She gave a quiet laugh as he threw her own concern back into her face. He was right though. Maybe it was too soon to decide that...even if her heart was screaming no, it wasn't. It was obvious her feelings weren't going to change. She felt she already knew him at his core, even if she couldn't explain how.

“Yeah... I guess. Are you coming?”

“Not yet. I'm staying out here for a little longer.”

She nodded, and then paused. This was the part where she turned and walked away, but it was hard. She still didn't want to go.

“Alright. I'll see you...later.” The door shut behind her, leaving him alone in the sea of nocturnal insects and dancing specks of flame. On the apex of the roof above them, a lone crow ruffled its feathers, stretched its wings, and disappeared soundlessly into the night.

Making her quick goodbyes to Mikoto and Fugaku, she thanked them for their hospitality, and made her escape. When she slipped on her shoes and opened the front door, she found Sasuke standing in front of the steps. His back was turned, hands in his pockets, and facing the empty street.

“Oh, now you show up.” She rolled her eyes, acting as if she was annoyed at him for leaving them earlier. Crazy to think there used to be a time when it really would bother her. A lot. Things were different now. She was grateful he had wandered off on his own, even if it did still offend her on a level. His actions were impolite, no matter how you looked at it.

“Sorry.” He grunted under his breath without turning to face her. She knew he didn't mean it. How often did he apologize for real? But she was used to it. Sakura sighed, holding her tongue before it could waste its energy lecturing him. Chances are he wouldn't even respond.

“I gotta go.” She stared at his back, waiting for him to step out of the way, except he never did.

“...Sasuke?”

“Hn.”

“...Do I have to physically move you?” Question a little bit annoyed, yet somehow amused as well.

Eventually, he side-stepped and leaned against the beam, arms crossing his chest. He had his side to her now, and he looked at her through his long bangs.

“We haven't sparred in a while.” He murmured out of the blue, stopping her right as she was passing him. Her feet held her at the top of the short stairs, and she glanced at her teammate a measly few inches away. “No, we haven't...” She trailed off, leaving an unspoken question to hang in the air between them. Since when did he care about training with her? They hadn't done that in ages, it seemed. Why bring it up now?

“We should.”

Sakura blinked, mouth parting a sliver. “Really? You want to?”

He stared at her.

“My schedule is packed right now. I'm not sure—“

“Scared?”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, reacting to his taunt perfectly. “Pfft... Why would I be scared of you? Just give me a day. I'll see if I can fit something.” Hah! Oh kami she was scared... But screw him! He didn't need to know! It was mostly for a different reason anyway. If he wanted to throw punches that badly, then fine. It would be a nice chance to blow off some steam. Man, was he confusing. One minute he's avoiding her, the next he's asking for her time. First lunch, now this. Both were odd requests from him, but his otherwise standoffish nature was on par, so she didn't question it.

He smiled, and the only reason she didn't recognize its treacherous nature was because his eyes were so relaxed and confident.

“This Wednesday. I'm free after five.”

“Works for me. Where are we meeting?”

“In the field behind the village.” He nodded in the direction, the one close to the Uchiha compound, surrounded by a ring of dense trees.

“Deal. I'll meet you by six.”

He gave a single nod, and left it at that. Below the top step of the porch at her feet, a tiny insect drifted into a freshly woven web. It's blind struggle was short-lived, as a black spider rushed out from the shade to subdue it in its eight-legged embrace.

“...You're okay, right?” She asked suddenly, while she had his attention. Since it was so difficult to get, let alone keep, she might as well take advantage while she can.

“I'm fine...” He muttered.

“You sure? Because you were really quiet at dinner.”

“There was no reason to talk. My parents were more interested in you.” Ah, that was true. He was never known for being outgoing, either. Yet still, she didn't quite believe that something wasn't wrong. Call it female intuition. She may worry a lot, but it wasn't always for no reason. She gave him a skeptical once-over, quirking her lips to the side.

“If I said I didn't feel well, would you drop it?” Not quite a lie, but the way he felt had nothing to do with a physical illness. He just wanted her to go away now.

No. No, she wouldn't drop it. She was a medic. She would have to investigate. Apparently he forgot about that part, as she witnessed a flash of surprise hit his face when her hand reached for him. It was a slow movement. Nothing threatening about it. But his fingers snapped over her wrist so quickly she jumped, and stared right back at him with the same weight of shock. It was a rough grip. Squeezing tighter than he needed to in order to block such an innocent gesture.

“Your forehead.... I was just.... Uhm...” She stumbled, tiny hairs rising under the fire that burst in his eyes, and then vanished into nothingness again. He kept her wrist just long enough to be suspicious, and then slowly loosened his grip and let it fall. There was a familiar scent mixing in the air between them. He didn't catch it until she swayed closer, but when he did, it made him dizzy. Hastily, he shoved it aside to retort.

“I already have one mother, Sakura....” He snorted, taking a deep breath that made her stop and consider him longer than he wanted her to. Except that deep breath only aggravated him, as a new rush of feminine aroma filled his lungs.

“Geeze. Alright, fine. Sorry I asked.” She moved a foot, hitting the first step and causing the spider below to scurry out of sight, leaving the captured bug to wiggle about in vain.

“Are you mad at me?”

“What? No. Why would I be mad?” He snapped too quickly, his annoyed glare contradicting his words.

That was it. She was done messing with this moody brat. “Nevermind, Sasuke. You seriously make me want to rip out my hair sometimes.” She huffed, and stomped down into the street. Oblivious to the eyes that followed her as long as she remained visible on the road. She was different, he noted. A little more curt with him, a little less forgiving. He remembered the days she made it so easy to walk all over her, but it wasn't like that anymore. He didn't dislike it..he just found it interesting. And yet somehow, it made the flames spreading through his chest burn a little hotter.

Itachi was sitting on the edge of the porch again. The kettle was still hot, but the two cups next to him had been cold for a while. He was drinking in sounds of the nightlife, enjoying a peaceful moment to himself while he let his thoughts wonder, when a dark shadow dropped out of the sky and landed close to him. Shisui turned and sat on the other side of the cups, the same spot Sakura had been in not long ago.

A heavy thunk between them introduced a tall bottle of sake. No words needed to be exchanged, as that had been done before he left that evening. One by the one, the cups were flicked into the air, emptying the cold tea so it could be replaced with rice wine. Itachi looked down at the bottle, and watched him pour the contents for two. He would wait as long as he needed to. There was no rush.

Finally, his friend spoke. “I need to talk to you about something...but I need you to drink first.”

A soft laugh filled the garden, eyes crinkling and shoulders shaking lightly. “Shisui...I don't need sake.”

“Humor me.” He insisted, and took his cup, downing the burning liquid in one gulp. Itachi focused on him more closely, taking in the rigid discomfort that kept in him invisible bonds.

Though the drink didn't appeal to him at the moment, he complied, and brought the cup to his lips. Like his tea, he sipped it slowly. The flavor was nice, that was never a problem. He just didn't consume alcohol very often.

When nothing more came from his friend's mouth, he leaned back slightly and looked up into the sky. Trading the small balls of orange for the flickering stars above. “It's okay. I already know.” He said quietly, keeping the cup close to his mouth so he could continue sipping it occasionally. The other cup was filled for a second, then third time. The liquid disappearing with one throw, just like before. Then he took a break to let it settle in his stomach.

“I thought you might...” He matched his volume.

“Thank you for being there.”

“I... What? Oh...yeah.”

Itachi set his empty cup down, prepared to leave it on the porch untouched, but Shisui filled it up again for him.

“I just....” He started, stopped, filled his cup a fourth time, and then let it sit. “Why? I didn't see it coming. You tell me everything, so it was kind of... I mean I didn't want to, but he asked...and...I didn't know what was going to happen.”

Itachi knit his brows gently, trying to follow his lead, but having trouble. It was too vague, and it didn't make sense. Shisui knew exactly what he wanted to say, but making the words come out the right way was difficult. Having the events replay in his mind made it harder to focus. No, he didn't see with his own every everything that Sasuke saw, but he didn't have to. He had ears, and a good imagination.

Because it made his friend feel better, he brought the cup to his lips to take another drink.

“I'm not going to judge you...”

Itachi stared from the corner of his eye, quickly wondering if he was misunderstanding the direction of this conversation.

“But why did you let him watch you have sex with—“

A soft noise of disrupted fluid transitioned into violent coughing and hacking. Shisui froze with one hand gesturing in the air as if it helped guide his speech, and looked over. Itachi was clutching his nose, eyes squeezed shut in a pained cringe as the sake burned through his nasal cavity like acid. A single drop fell from his bottom lip. The cup was discarded roughly onto the floor behind him, tipping on its side.

Bewildered at first...but then his eyes slowly widened. “...We're....not on the same page.....are we?”

Tears seeped from under his lashes as he grimaced, battling the flames licking through his face. Eventually, he managed to peek one eye open and land a rather incredulous stare on his best friend.

Shisui's arm slowly lowered to plant next to him, and he looked out into the garden. Dazed, and a little mortified, if he had to be honest.

Itachi coughed a few more times, and then sniffed. After a few minutes ticked by, he reached for the bottle of sake between them, and pulled it to his mouth.

He wasn't going to say 'I told you so'. No, that would be a bad idea. Instead, a foot bounced lightly below him. His only outlet for nervous energy. “So.......you didn't know he was there. I really...I really thought you did. You always know when someone's watching you.” He cleared his throat, but it did no good. He cleared it again. Still murky.

He downed his fourth cup.

“I was a little busy at the time.” The words fell one by one, deliberately and slowly from Itachi's wet mouth. The realization still sinking its sharp claws into him from every angle. It was going to take a while for this to process.

“Shisui....”

He forced himself to make eye contact.

“When you say he watched...”

His mouth opened. Some air sucked in. Then it blew out with a puff of his cheeks, and he cocked his head.

Itachi closed his eyes and drank. He understood.

“....Are you going to talk to him?”

“No.” He answered quickly, confident in his decision.

“Why?”

“If there's something that needs to be said, he will come to me.”

Shisui nodded, though he didn't quite agree.

“Were you in the house?” He asked, keeping his eyes closed while he waited for the answer.

“Yes....”

He took another drink.

“Shisui....”

“I wasn't watching.” He added in a rush. The alcohol was swirling through his system now. Giving him a pleasantly warm sensation through every limb, and making his head feel heavier than usual. “Itachi... I think you need to talk to him.”

He stole one last gulp from the bottle, and let it rest at his side. With his eyes still closed, he leaned back and laid across the boards, tucking his arms behind his head. No answer.

“I don't think he's taking it very well.” His friend insisted gently with the best intention.

“Everything will be fine.” Itachi mumbled with a bizarre sense of calm, but who he was trying to convince was anyone's guess.

Letting it go for now, they spent the remainder of the evening in a shared silence. Taking turns with the bottle of sake until it was gone, and then sitting some more. Sooner or later, Shisui would probe him with questions about Sakura, like how they met, and what the status of their relationship was...but first he needed to stew.