What a Romp in the Hospital Can Lead to

Author’s Note: In case you all didn’t actually read my summary, this story is COMPLETELY AU, which means that the Uchiha massacre never happened and thus Itachi is actually, well, not a murderous psycho. Not sure if I can say he’s nice though. Deliciously wicked, maybe . . .

I’m sorry for posting this chapter so late. Aside from being busy with my new job, my heart’s been torn over the recent Naruto manga events (I’m sure you know what I’m talking about), but I’m compelled to stay positive.

By the way, thank you for the reviews. I hope you guys will continue to share your opinions. Please and thank you.

Oh, and dabiella? Very sharp. You were the first to point out the AU headline.

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Chapter 2: Truth Revealed

Sasuke stared at his brother. “Sakura?” he repeated. “Why would you want to see Sakura? She’s not assigned to your squad.”

Itachi stepped past his younger brother and into the apartment. He took a quick look, noting the blonde snoring on the lavender couch. “It’s personal,” he told Sasuke.

“What kind of personal business would you have with Sakura?” Sasuke demanded, shutting the door. “You barely even know her. She’s my teammate.”

“I know that,” his older brother replied in his usual quiet way. “But I also know Sakura—perhaps even more intimately than you do.”

The younger Uchiha’s brows puckered. “What is that supposed to mean? You’ve never even talked to . . . her,” he finished with a stutter as suddenly everything clicked into place. Sakura had always known who Itachi was, of course. She’d always listened as Sasuke told her stories about Itachi. Itachi, who’d never been much of a talker. Itachi, who never really offered to divulge his secrets. Itachi, who was an infamous ANBU captain. Who could, Sasuke admitted grudgingly, kicked his ass and Naruto’s.

Well, fuck.

“You came back from a mission two nights ago, didn’t you?” Sasuke asked softly.

His brother turned around, dark eyes, so much like his own, solemn as he remained silent.

“You had to go to the hospital.” It was a statement, not a question. “Sakura was the attending doctor. The two of you . . . shit, I think I’m going to be sick.”

Itachi’s tone was tinged with amusement as he spoke. “Would you like me to help you to the toilet?”

Sasuke glared at him.

“I’d like to speak to Sakura,” his brother reiterated. “Incidentally, why did you spend the night here? Oto-sama and Okaa-sama were asking for you.”

“Hell,” Sasuke swore. “Were they angry?”

“Not after I covered for you. You may thank me by letting Sakura know I’m here, little brother.”

Said little brother scowled. “Just so you know, I spent the night here because I had to look after Sakura.”

Itachi frowned slightly. “Did something happen to her?” he asked.

To Sasuke’s surprise, he heard the faint hint of concern in his brother’s voice. Thus, it was with great satisfaction when he answered, “Something happened to her, all right. You. You screwed with her and she drank so much she woke up several times to vomit. You made her sick—literally. And now you expect me to wake her up just because you said so? Piss off—nii-san.”

By the time Sasuke finished his tirade, he was brimming with anger. He’d never spoken to his brother in such a way; he’d always had the deepest respect and admiration for the older shinobi, but this was Sakura and while Sasuke loved his brother (who had always shielded him from the demands of the clan) and would do almost anything he asked, Sakura was one of his precious people. He’d fought side-by-side with her in countless battles, trusted her to watch his back just as he watched hers. He would risk his life for her and he knew she would do the same.

And his brother had hurt her.

Itachi was aware of Sasuke’s fury and because he understood—and perhaps even envy—the bond his younger brother shared with the pink-haired kunoichi, he didn’t take offense to his insolence. Instead Itachi nodded and said, “Then I’ll wait for her to wake up. In the mean time, go ahead and make breakfast, little brother. Perhaps that will cool your head.”

Sasuke stared in disbelief as Itachi languidly made his way to the kitchen, looking to all the world as if he were a regular visitor to the apartment. Unable to control his legs, Sasuke followed suit and when he found his older brother already seated by the table, one black eyebrow arched expectantly at him, Sasuke nearly growled as he all but tore open the refrigerator door.

Fucking brothers.

---

The scent of cooked eggs drifted to Naruto’s nose and the blonde sighed happily as he burrowed deeper into the soft cloud he was lying upon. Ah, yes, this was surely heaven. In another minute, his angel was going to wake up him and bring him breakfast in bed. Ah, such was the life.

Except his angel didn’t come.

Instead, the bastard spawn of Akuma appeared and kicked him in the head.

“Wake up, idiot.”

Yes, that was definitely the voice of a demon.

“Oi, baka, get up.”

He was going to have to destroy the demon.

“Naruto, get the fuck up. The guy who stole Sakura’s virginity is here.”

The blonde instantly sprung into action, kunai in hand. A second later, a groan of pain escaped his throat as he clutched his suddenly pounding head. “Hell,” Naruto hissed, tugging on his hair. “Shit, what did you to me?”

Sasuke scoffed. “I didn’t have to do anything—you did everything yourself, idiot. Or did you forget how you tried to out-drink Sakura?”

“Argh!” Naruto moaned. “I didn’t embarrass myself, did I?”

“You do that every damn time you leave the house,” Sasuke mocked. “You were wasted yesterday. Everyone was really entertained when you started your own personal strip show,” he said sarcastically. “The black eye is from the waitress you tried to grope, by the way. But the bump on your head is from the bartender—he wasn’t entertained when you tried to get frisky with him. I always knew you were into men. Kakashi and I have to be careful during missions from now on.”

“Fuck you.” Naruto closed his eyes in pain. Kyuubi had also decided to get drunk last night and hence, the healing process had become slow. Naruto could feel the demon slowly stirring awake, grumbling about the bright light and loud sounds.

He glanced up at his friend through bleary eyes. “I thought you said the asshole who messed around with Sakura was here. Were you serious or were you lying?”

“I didn’t lie. He’s in the kitchen.” The black-haired eighteen-year-old grimaced. “Listen, Naruto, it’s—”

He didn’t manage to finish his sentence, as Naruto jumped off the couch and dashed into the kitchen, weapon still unsheathed. “Damn it,” Sasuke swore and followed his friend, hoping to prevent bloodshed.

Naruto skidded to a stop in the kitchen as he noted the familiar figure sitting at the kitchen table. “Itachi? What are you doing here?” he asked absentmindedly, wild blue eyes scanning the room. He turned to glare at Sasuke as his friend came in. “I thought you said he was in the kitchen—there’s no one here but your brother. Where’s the little fuck-face? Is he hiding? Fucking coward.”

“I’m not hiding, Naruto,” Itachi pointed out quietly, watching the blonde with observant dark eyes.

“I just said that, didn’t I? I’m not looking for you; I’m looking for the asshole who took advantage of Sakura.”

Sasuke refrained from sighing; his friend was as quite touched in the head as he was rumored to be, apparently. He opened his mouth to clarify the situation, but his brother raised a hand, effectively shutting him up.

Itachi was looking at Naruto, slightly amused by the younger man’s lack of understanding. “I didn’t take advantage of Sakura,” he declared.

Naruto, who’d been studying the kitchen cabinets and wondering if they were large enough for a man to hide in, turned his attention to the older shinobi. “Huh?” he asked dumbly, unsure if he heard correctly.

“What I mean to say is, Naruto,” Itachi began, handsome features apathetic, “that I am, as you’ve so eloquently put it, the ‘fuck-face.’ But as you can see, there’s nothing little about me and like I said, I’m neither hiding nor did I take advantage of Sakura.” There was a faint hint of a smile as he continued, “It was pleasantly mutual.”

While the he heard the words, they didn’t actually sunk into Naruto’s head immediately. For a moment, he could only stare idiotically at the elder Uchiha. “No way,” he mumbled, but a glance at both brothers told him otherwise.

Itachi. Sakura. Together.

Uchiha Itachi. ANBU captain extraordinaire. The one person who made Sasuke seem like a warm summer day in comparison.

With Sakura, renowned medic-nin and one of his best friends.

No. Fucking. Way.

Sasuke watched his friend’s face closely, reading the emotions correctly. After the years they had spent as teammates, Sasuke was quite used to the range of expressions on his friend’s whiskered face. And judging from the looks of it, Sasuke thought, he wouldn’t have to wait long before the blonde exploded.

He was right.

“You!” Naruto roared, blood quickly rushing to his face as he pointed an accusing finger at Itachi. “I knew it had to be an Uchiha! Only an Uchiha could be such a bastard!”

“Don’t insult my clan,” Sasuke ordered in reflex.

“Teme!” Naruto shouted, turning to his friend. “You-you—did you know?”

“Don’t be stupid, Naruto. I found out about this the same time you did.”

The kunai flew out of Naruto’s hand but just as quickly as the blonde threw it, Itachi deftly caught it. He calmly placed the weapon on the table and looked up the raging blonde with impassive black eyes. “I understand your anger, Naruto, but it would be wise not to try that again,” he said.

Naruto hissed a cursed word in return even as the tiny hairs on the back of Sasuke’s neck arose; he recognized the tone of his brother’s words. It wasn’t a warning—but a deadly promise.

“You fucking asshole.” Naruto glared at Itachi, blue eyes blazing. “How dare you mess around with Sakura?”

Itachi’s eyes flashed. “What happened is our business, no one else’s.”

“The hell it is! Naruto snarled. “You hurt her!”

“Then I will be apologizing to her, not to you,” Itachi stared, not at all fazed by the anger directed to him. “What is really bothering you, Naruto? The fact that she slept with me? Or because she even slept with a man at all?”

Naruto gritted his teeth. “It bothers me that she was used by some dick who clearly wanted nothing more than sex. It wouldn’t have mattered who it turned out to be,” he spat.

The famed ANBU captain tilted his head to the side, a thoughtful expression on his handsome face. “I don’t think that’s your problem, Naruto. Your problem is the fact that Sakura is no longer untouched,” he pointed out. “Your entire team has been coddling her and protecting her all this while, but now you’re all forced to see her as who she really is—a grown woman.”

Naruto flinched. “That’s not it.”

“Did you think you were going to keep her a virgin forever while the three of you enjoyed yourselves?” Itachi asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Shut up,” Naruto hissed.

Itachi smirked, knowing he was right. “You all care for her. That’s good. But her choices are her own, not yours.”

“Good morning, everyone.”

All three occupants of the kitchen turned to look at the newcomer. Kakashi entered the kitchen in his usual languid gait, hand in pocket while the other held up his favored reading material. Despite the former ANBU’s relaxed pose, Itachi straightened slightly in his chair. If anyone here was a real threat, it was this man. Sasuke would be too hesitant to fight his own brother while Naruto would be too emotional. But the silver-haired Jounin, with his one-eyed Sharingan and unruffled disposition would be a formidable opponent. Itachi didn’t doubt his own abilities; he would win, but he knew he would have to push harder than usual to defeat the older man.

Almost immediately, Kakashi’s exposed eye fell on the odd one out in the kitchen. “Itachi. I didn’t expect to find you here. Have you come for Sasuke?”

Naruto snorted. “I wish.”

“Naruto,” Sasuke said warningly.

“What?” the blonde snapped. He turned to their former instructor and now team leader. “You know Sakura’s mystery guy? Well, guess what? You’re fucking looking at him.”

Kakashi felt the jolt of surprise run through him. Throughout his years as a shinobi (especially since he was signed on as Team Seven’s leader), Kakashi was rarely surprised by anything. But this? This was something he hadn’t expected.

He looked at the ANBU nin in question. While the resemblance to Sasuke was strikingly apparent, there was something about Itachi that neither Sasuke nor any other Uchiha Kakashi had come across with had. With his long black hair, sharp cool features and the deep lines that ran in semi-curves beneath his eyes, Itachi often gave Kakashi the impression of being in the company of a viper constantly poised to attack. As fast as Sasuke was, as skilled as he was and as deadly as he was with a weapon, Itachi was even more so. Even when he was younger, all the other ANBU soldiers had spoken of him in hushed tones, whispering on the training field and in the locker room about his remarkable talents. Young shinobi grew up dreaming of becoming like him even while they feared such power.

How had Sakura ended up with such a dangerous man?

It didn’t matter. In a voice so soft, it was almost eerie, Kakashi spoke to Itachi. “Let’s step outside, Itachi.”

The younger shinobi returned his stare and slowly nodded. He pushed back his chair and climbed to his feet.

Sasuke stepped forward. “O-oi, wait a minute!”

Naruto whirled on him, a scowl on his whiskered face. “What? Are you siding up with your brother? I knew it!”

Sasuke narrowed his dangerously. “Don’t ever question my loyalty for Sakura, dobe,” he said quietly.

“Then why the fuck are you stopping them?” Naruto shouted. “If Kakashi wants to kick your brother’s ass, I say let them!”

“Because Sakura might not want that!” Sasuke roared.

“She doesn’t know what she wants! She screwed with your brother!!”

“Uggh. Can’t you guys be noisy somewhere else?” Sakura demanded, throwing her bedroom door open.

All four men grew still as they listened to the shuffle of her footsteps. A second later she appeared in the kitchen, dressed in a sleeping robe, her long pink hair matted at the side. She trudged into the kitchen slowly, her hand grasping at the wall, her eyes closed. “Please tell me there’s coffee,” she mumbled, her other hand reaching out blindly for the magical brew.

Her team members, quite used to her morning coffee ritual, had anticipated her request and Sasuke added a dash of cream and a lot of sugar as he passed the steaming cup to her. She grabbed it with a grateful sigh, her hands greedily wrapping themselves around the mug. She didn’t wait for it to cool down as she tipped back the cup and eagerly welcomed the bittersweet liquid into her mouth.

Itachi watched all this with a rather detached interest. He could see how close the team was; the male members had momentarily forgotten their anger so they could focus on their female counterpart. They had known what she’d needed even before she verbalized it and had instantly produced the cup of coffee, which she seemed unable to do without first thing in the morning. Itachi made a mental note of that and tucked it away for future reference, his gaze firmly upon the pink-haired kunoichi who, despite her current unkempt appearance, was rather appealing to him.

Sakura licked her lips after she drank the last sip, feeling the caffeine kicking into her system. She held out her empty mug and said her thanks as it was taken away to be refilled. Slowly, she opened her eyes and started to smile at her friends. “Well, I’m never going to go drinking with you three aga . . . in,” she finished distractedly, her attention suddenly focused on the man standing by her kitchen table.

Bleary green eyes widened. “Itachi . . . san.”

There was a hint of a smile as he met her gaze. “Itachi,” he corrected and a shiver ran through her at the sound of his deep voice. He had used that exact same tone to tell her the exact same thing as he trailed kisses down her throat, his long fingers deftly unbuttoning her shirt.

Sakura turned to her teammates who were all staring back at her. “Oh my God,” she moaned, paling. “You guys already know.”

Kakashi and Naruto nodded, but she couldn’t bring herself to look at Sasuke’s face. “Oh my God,” she repeated, her voice cracking. “Did you tell them?” she asked Itachi.

The elder Uchiha seemed insulted by the question. “No,” he answered curtly. “They guessed on their own and I made no attempt to hide it. I am not ashamed of anything.”

Implying that he thought she did. She brought her hand to her face, which was suddenly clammy. Taking a deep breath, she let it out shakily, mentally going through her options; currently, the most prominent one was to perform a special jutsu and disappear but with three ANBUs, one of them a fearsome captain, and a former-ANBU-slash-former-instructor-who-knew-your-own-skills-all-too-well, she knew she wouldn’t get far.

In spite of what Itachi believed, she wasn’t ashamed of their . . . encounter. Sure, she was embarrassed for acting so wantonly in the hospital—they (she) hadn’t exactly been quiet (she swore he made her scream on purpose)—and yes, judging from the flashes currently running through her mind, she’d also embarrassed herself last night at the bar (she’d shouted at Genma that he was mindless pig, which he was, but she didn’t need to tell him that. And had Kakashi really been forced to hold down her shirt because she kept insisting on joining Naruto for his striptease? Good God), but she wasn’t ashamed of Itachi and what they did. She was a grown woman.

If only her teammates accepted that.

Thus was the crux of the problem. Sakura wasn’t stupid; she knew since she hit puberty that her boys had taken their protectiveness to a level where they’d began harassing her dates. Her long-time single status was a result of not only her time-consuming occupation, but also because of interferences from Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi (all three became rather insane when it came to defending her from, in Naruto’s words, stupid fucking pricks who were just looking for a good lay). Never mind that she was able to knock a man through walls with a single punch. Nevertheless, they were careful to make sure they didn’t go overboard in their attacks (because despite their stupidity, they were afraid of her) and because she knew they meant well (and loved them dearly for it), she didn’t get angry—not much anyway (a few broken bones never really hurt anyone).

But telling them she’d lost her virginity was one thing; telling them she’d lost it to Uchiha Itachi was an entirely different matter. It wasn’t merely because he was Sasuke’s older brother (she hoped that neither of her boys thought she’d slept with the elder Uchiha because she still had feelings for the younger one—that would be just gross), but also because he was Uchiha Itachi, one of the deadliest shinobi in history. He wasn’t exactly perfect boyfriend material. That is, Sakura thought with a frown, if he even wants to be my boyfriend, which sounds bizarre, doesn’t it? What am I supposed to say to people? ‘Hi, this is my boyfriend, Itachi, ANBU Captain and Konoha’s lethal weapon.’ That doesn’t sound right at all.

She was drawn from her inner monologue when she realized that Itachi was speaking, not to her, but her teammates.

“Leave,” he ordered in a firm, no-nonsense tone. “This is a matter between Sakura and myself.”

Kakashi’s shoulders straightened, Sasuke’s eyes narrowed and Naruto, of course, verbally reacted.

“Shit no!” the blonde spat. “I’m not going to leave you alone with her.”

Itachi didn’t move but somehow he seemed even taller, more frightening, as in a steely voice, he said, “Do you think I will hurt her?”

“You already did, didn’t you?” Naruto shot back.

“Naruto,” Sakura called out softly.

“What?” he snapped angrily. “You’re gonna tell me otherwise?”

“Lower your tone when you speak to her,” Itachi ordered, ignoring the surprised glance Sasuke gave him.

Naruto turned to him, incredulity written over his good-looking face. “Fuck off, buddy. She’s my friend and I can tell her off when she does something stupid.”

Before anyone could blink, Itachi was standing behind Naruto, the sharp point of the kunai the latter had thrown earlier pressed against the tender skin of his neck. Kakashi and Sasuke both moved forward but a slight shake of the head from the elder Uchiha told them to not interfere.

Naruto could feel the sweat trickling down his back, the cold tip of metal touching his flesh. “What are you gonna do, Uchiha?” he said, relying on false bravado. “Even you aren’t crazy enough to attack a fellow shinobi in front of witnesses.”

“Do not presume to know me,” Itachi told him quietly. He shifted the weapon forward until it broke the skin. “I should do the village a favor and rid it of a foul-mouthed child like you.”

When Sakura saw the spot of blood appear on her friend’s neck, she lunged forward, hand outstretched. “Stop it!” she hissed. “All of you just please stop it!”

Itachi turned his head to look at her and she held her breath as his black eyes bore into hers. Finally he nodded and lowered the kunai, returning to his position by the kitchen table, seemingly relaxed though everyone present knew that he could attack at any moment he desired.

Naruto wiped the trickle of blood away, the tiny wound already closed due to his self-healing ability. He glared at the ANBU captain and muttered a curse under his breath, but other than that, he remained silent.

Sakura sighed, relieved that the crisis was averted—at least for a moment. Chewing on her bottom lip, she looked at her friends. “You guys . . .” she began, “Itachi’s right. Can you three give us some privacy?”

Shock and hurt crossed Naruto’s face and he opened his mouth to protest, but Sasuke stepped away from the kitchen counter and interrupted to him. “Let it go, Naruto,” he told his best friend. “Let’s do what Sakura wants.”

“But—”

“Sasuke’s right,” Kakashi surprisingly agreed. He glanced from Itachi to Sakura. “We should respect Sakura’s request. She has a right to her privacy.”

Naruto didn’t look convinced. “But we can’t—”

“We’re leaving, Naruto,” Sasuke said firmly in a voice that left everyone little doubt that he was of Itachi’s blood.

The blonde’s face scrunched into a scowl, obviously displeased with being vetoed. “Fine,” he grumbled. He shot Itachi one last warning look—to which the elder Uchiha ignored—and stomped out of the kitchen.

Sasuke sighed wearily. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t try to listen at the door,” he declared as he followed his friend. He didn’t glance at Sakura as he walked past her and she bit her lip worriedly.

Kakashi patted her shoulder as he went out of the kitchen and she gave him a wan smile. She waited until the front door closed—heard some scuffling, which undoubtedly involved Naruto—and when she was sure they’d left, she turned back to her remaining guests.

He was still watching her with those obsidian eyes, calm and calculating. She remembered the way those eyes had looked at her, astonishingly full of heat and passion as he moved above her, his hips pounding into her in a way that had made her beg for release. She remembered how those black eyes had glittered as she explored his lean, muscled body with her hands, his long, dark hair loose around his shoulders, a gasp torn from his throat as she slipped her hand below his waist. Despite the curved marks under his eyes and the occasional scars decorating his body, she’d thought he was the most beautiful man she’d ever seen.

Just thinking about all those things brought heat to her cheeks and she could feel her pulse racing when Itachi smirked, obviously guessing her thoughts. Damn know-it-all, she silently groused.

When he finally spoke, she was glad it wasn’t to point out her short trip down memory lane.

“You care for your teammates,” he mused with a tilt of his head, as if the idea was foreign to him.

“Very much so,” she replied with a nod. “Don’t you?”

He shrugged nonchalantly. “I usually carry out solo missions.”

The most dangerous kinds,, Sakura thought. Her brows puckered. “But what about your squad? Don’t you care about them?” Every ANBU and elite shinobi knew of Itachi’s ANBU squad. The team members were the best of the best and in a village filled with highly-trained fighters, that was saying a lot.

Once again, Itachi gave an indifferent shrug. “They serve their purpose but no more beyond that.”

Sakura frowned, wondering how he could remain so detached while she was constantly thinking of her teammates’ welfare. “Itachi-san—”

There was a black blur and a startled Sakura would have jumped backwards had it not been for the hand that cupped her head while another held her waist. She stared, wide-eyed, at Itachi, as he stood in front of her, not at all out of breath from his fast movement. Granted, her kitchen wasn’t large, but goodness, such speed!

Sakura’s heart thumped as she realized how close Itachi was, his sharp-featured face so near hers she could feel the warmth of his breath on her skin. Her gaze was caught in his and she felt as if she were engulfed by the twin pools of onyx. There was nothing detached about him now; the pure male interest in his eyes was so clear she could feel herself blushing again, heat curling in the low of her stomach.

She licked her dry lips, blushing even further when she saw him watching the slip of her tongue. “Itachi-san—”

She never did finish the sentence nor could she later remember what she wanted to say because all thoughts ceased as Itachi lowered his head and pressed his mouth against hers.

---

She was as delicious as he remembered. A surprised moan escaped her throat and he took advantage, sliding his tongue in to rub against hers. His grip tightened, drawing her closer as he slanted his head and suckled on her tongue, tasting her natural sweetness and hints of coffee. His kiss was long and slow, drawing her out from her timidity. Triumph shot through him when he heard her sigh and felt her fingers on the nape of his neck, disturbing his ponytail.

When he finally broke the kiss, there was a daze look in her large green eyes and he couldn’t resist a smirk. “Itachi,” he murmured, his voice deeper than it normally was. He, too, was not unaffected by the kiss.

She blinked owlishly. “Huh?”

There it was again, the light of amusement in his black eyes. “Itachi,” he repeated. “Not Itachi-san. After everything, I believe formality is no longer needed.”

As expected, Sakura blushed deeply; her cheeks reddened even further when she realized that she was still clinging to him, her feet almost off the ground. She let go instantly and pulled away, relief flooding through her when he allowed her loose from his embrace.

“Itachi-sa . . . Itachi,” she corrected herself quickly. “What are you doing here?”

He quirked his brow and she immediately stammered, “Not that you’re unwelcome or anything. I didn’t mean to sound rude. It’s just that . . . well, you’re not exactly a regular visitor . . . I see you at the hospital and once in a while when I’m with Sasuke and . . . well, it’s kinda weird . . .”

Itachi resisted the urge to chuckle; she looked utterly fetching, with her flushed face and blurted words. Did she know that she was all but ripping the ties of her robe, her fingers wriggling nervously?

“I wanted to apologize for the way I left you. I had a meeting with the clan elders and I didn’t want to wake you up.” He wondered if she realize how odd this was for him; he’d never offered any excuses to his bed partners in the past, nor had he deemed it necessary.

Apparently, she did, for her eyes grew wider with every word. “I . . . it’s okay. You don’t have to . . . it was a one-night thing . . .”

“It wasn’t.”

Her head sprung up so fast she swore she could hear a crick. “What?”

“It wasn’t,” he reaffirmed coolly. He himself had believed it was, but for some inexplicable reason, he couldn’t get the image of her passion-filled eyes out of his mind. He could still hear her throaty moans and breathless gasps, could still feel the way she had moved so beautifully beneath him. He’d never had a more a responsive woman. She’d been a virgin, but she had participated in their coupling so freely that he’d found himself for the first time experiencing more than a momentary release.

He wondered again if she knew how much she’d affected him. He had never seen her in such a light; to him, she had always been Sasuke’s female teammate, a rather talentless little girl who’d grown up to be the Godaime’s well-regarded apprentice. He’d heard talk about her in the men’s locker room; typical, crude male conversation that had instantly shushed the moment either of her teammates entered the room. But other than that, he’d never given her more than a passing thought.

However that night at the hospital, he’d watched her as she healed his wounds, her hands moving almost effortlessly as she chattered inanely without expecting any response from him. He’d observed the way her eyes filled with affection when she spoke of his brother, or how she would tilt her head as she recalled the latest broken furniture in the Hokage’s office and why Naruto lost half of his monthly salary. All the while, her chakra seeped into his body, warming his system that hadn’t yet recovered from adrenaline rush. So when she’d leaned closer to him and he’d seen the spark of interest in her eyes, the enticing mix of passion and sexual curiosity, he hadn’t pulled away when her lips brushed his. Nor had she when he began to unbutton her uniform.

Recalling the way she’d felt beneath his hands made him hard, causing him to utilize the control he was so famous for. She was still staring at him with wide eyes, seemingly dumbstruck by his words.

“Sakura,” he said, his deep voice sending shivers tingling down her spine. “I would like to court you.”

She blinked once, then once more. She must be hearing things. He couldn’t have said what she’d thought he did. The alcohol from last night must have fried her brain. “You . . . what?” she gasped.

“I would like to court you,” he repeated in a tone that one could have used while talking about the weather.

“You . . . you . . . you . . .” she sputtered, shoulders shaking. “You—you bastard!”

To his astonishment, she spun on her heel and started to stalk out of the kitchen. He reached out and held fast, turning her around to face him. “Did you hear what I said?” he demanded with a small frown.

“Oh I heard all right!” she spat angrily. “I didn’t have sex with you because I wanted you to court me. I am not a desperate virgin. Do you hear me?”

He thought the entire village heard her; she shouted it loud enough. “My wanting to court you has nothing do with you being a virgin.”

“Liar!”

He frowned harder. “You’re no longer a virgin,” he reminded her ruthlessly. “So that no longer applies in the matter.”

He was speaking so clinically, she wanted to stomp her foot like a spoiled child. She lifted a finger, her green eyes furious. “Of course it applies. You’re an Uchiha; honor comes above everything. Despite being Mr. Oh-I’m-so-cool, you feel guilty because you slept with me and now you’re forced to take responsibility. Well guess what, buster, I’m on to you! And I dissolve you of your responsibility! I thank you for wanting to be a gentleman, but I’m a grown woman and I can handle myself!”

He wrapped his hand around hers, irritated by the way she kept jabbing him. “Woman, I do not feel guilty,” he declared in a voice that would have his subordinates quivering in their boots.

She merely snorted. “Puh-lease! You couldn’t even look at me when I saw you in the Hokage’s tower the next morning.”

“You were trying to hide behind the potted plants; how would you have known?” Itachi said wryly. “And I didn’t want to air out personal matters in front of others.”

“Too bloody late for that, isn’t it?” she shouted, overlooking the fact that she was screaming at a man who’d been made ANBU captain at thirteen. “Naruto already knows. By tonight, even Suna will find out.”

He narrowed his eyes contemplatively. “Is this because of Sasuke? Do you still harbor feelings for my brother?”

Her face reddened considerably. “This is so not about your pigheaded brother! I was twelve,” she fumed. “Will everyone just get over it? I have!”

“Then are you involved in a relationship?” he wanted to know.

“Of course not!” she answered immediately. She couldn’t believe he would ask such a question. “I wouldn’t have slept with you if I were! I don’t care what you’ve heard about me. I am not a loose woman. I’m a good girl!”

“Damn it, will you stop poking me?” he snapped, wrapping his fingers tightly around hers.

So surprised were she to hear such words coming from his mouth, she momentarily forgot her anger. Itachi was never if not polite; well, except when he’d turned her on her stomach, whispering commands in her ear—but that was another matter altogether.

Satisfied by her temporary silence, he drew her closer to him. “Listen to me, Sakura,” he said. “I do not feel any guilt. I do not care about the rumors. And my honor as an Uchiha has nothing to do with this. I wish to court you—and I will.”

Sakura took a deep calming breath and slowly released it. “Itachi,” she began quietly. “I know why you’re doing this.”

“Oh?” he said, curious despite himself.

“You’re doing this because you’re Sasuke’s brother and I’m his good friend. You love your brother and you don’t want him hurt.” She smiled at her conclusion and nodded understandingly. “I’m really touched.”

“Apparently in the head,” Itachi said sarcastically. “I will court you.”

“You will not!”

“Cease your screaming, little cat,” he ordered, inwardly amused by rapidly-changing moods. “And I’d rethink of kicking me if I were you.”

Sakura lowered her leg and glared at him balefully. “Who’s a little cat?” she hissed. “You stone-faced pig!”

To her surprise, he merely chuckled at her insult. “You’re such a contradiction,” he said softly. “You’re as delicate as a kitten, but your claws are truly sharp.”

“Will you stop comparing me to an animal?” she exclaimed. “And stop doing that thing with your fingers, damn it. It’s highly distracting!”

He smiled a bit. “What, this?” he murmured, caressing her palm with his thumb. His fingers moved higher, encircling her wrist.

Sakura stifled a gasp. The feel of his callused fingers on her skin sent heat traveling throughout her, making her body tingle and her pulse leap. Must stay strong, she swore silently. Damn, talented Uchiha hands . . . ooh, a bit higher, Itachi-kun . . .

The corners of Itachi’s lips lifted a bit. He knew he’d won when he saw her eyes darken. His hands moved higher, deftly untying her robe and revealing the flimsy tank top she wore underneath above a pair of panties. His groin tightened at the sight of her long, shapely legs and the dusky-pink nipples visible through the thin material of her top. Her panties barely covered her well-rounded bottom and he could see the shadow of her cleft. Hunger seized him; his hard hands closed on her shoulders and he tugged.

Sakura moaned as he claimed her mouth; unlike his earlier kiss, this one wasn’t slow and gentle. He licked and nipped at her bottom lip and when she opened her mouth, he thrust his tongue deep, possessing her thoroughly. He practically devoured her, turning his head from side to side, dominating her to a completely breathless state. She barely noticed the slice of pain as her back hit the wall and could only cling to him as he ravaged her lips, pushing himself closer and closer.

“Itachi . . .” she groaned into his mouth as he lifted her. She automatically wrapped her legs around his trim waist, her ankles locked at the small of his back. She could feel the contours of chest muscles through their clothes, the heat he emanated. He rubbed their lowers bodies together and the friction from his pants, as well as his obvious arousal, elicited another gasp from her. The rush of moisture between her legs would have embarrassed her if she weren’t feeling so good.

He slid a hand underneath her tank top and she writhed as he cupped one heavy breast, swollen with desire. He grazed her nipple with his thumb and she nearly shrieked when he pinched the throbbing tip, thrills shooting up and down her spine.

“Itachi,” she whimpered as he continued to play with her breasts, his hand just bordering on rough.

“Say yes, Sakura,” he murmured, planting wet, open-mouthed kisses along her throat.

She hummed in delight, even as she shook her head. “You . . . don’t really . . . want to date me,” she blabbed, her brain quickly turning into mush. “I’m a mean . . . person. I . . . ooh! . . . kick the elderly.”

He almost smiled against her skin, tasting her salty-sweetness. “Kakashi doesn’t count,” he said.

A hiss of pleasure escaped through her teeth as he squeezed her breast. “Ahh . . . when I was fifteen I . . . oh, Itachi . . . I painted eyebrows on Gaara-kun’s face while he was meditating . . .”

Itachi chuckled deep in his throat. “I’m sure you had a good reason.”

“Naruto dared me,” she confided, eyes fluttering shut as he suckled on the flesh rising above the neckline of her top. “I . . . thought he was going . . . to kill me.”

“Raise your arms,” he ordered, grabbing the hem of her shirt.

“No,” she replied stubbornly. He smirked when she obediently lifted her hands from his shoulders. In one swift move, he had both her robe and her top off, leaving her naked save for the tiny pair of panties she still wore. Her pink-tipped breasts, round and high, rose and fell with every breath, holding his attention. His long, slim fingers molded around one creamy globe, lifting it as his mouth lowered.

“Oh!” she gasped, throwing her head back as he enveloped her breast into his mouth and sucked hard. He made a sound low in his throat and suckled her deeper, putting his tongue and teeth to good use. His hand fondled her other breast, making her dizzy with the double stimulation. Her fingers tangled in his dark hair, her hips jerking with every strong suck. “Oh, Kami . . .”

He pushed her higher against the wall, and she felt the brush of his stiff erection against her bare stomach. Her clit throb with desire, aching for relief. Her heart beat faster and faster and she knew she was on the verge of exploding—just from him sucking her breast.

“Itachi, please . . .” she whimpered, wriggling in his hold.

“Say yes,” he rasped, his own hunger a dark, rapidly-rising need in his body.

“I . . . ah!” she exclaimed when his teeth closed around her nipple and tugged. Her back arched and her stomach clenched as release shot through her, flooding her panties. “Oh, my . . .”

Itachi smirked, his gaze predatory as he watched her succumb to pleasure, flushed all the way down to her navel. He’d never met a more responsive woman. He could smell her, musky and sweet. Her skin glistened underneath the morning light flooding into the kitchen, her body surprisingly curvy despite her kunoichi training.

He could feel the tightness of his muscles; his cock was so hard, it was nearly painful. He had waited for his own release so she could get hers.

He wasn’t waiting any longer.

She jerked when he slipped his fingers beneath her panties and pushed them down. He cupped his hand over the neat triangle of pink curls and the heat from his palm seeped into her damp flesh, making her quiver with renew longing. She was soaking wet and she hid her red face in his shoulder as he parted the swollen folds, revealing the delicate, highly-sensitive nub. She moaned as he slid first one finger in, then another one, stretching her, preparing her. She instinctively flexed around him and it was his turn to groan his pleasure as her inner muscles squeezed him.

He withdrew and her hips involuntarily snapped forward as protesting. She felt his hand moving between them, his knuckles brushing her curls and knew that he was undoing his pants. She felt a moment’s doubt. They were virtually strangers and she wasn’t the type to sleep around. Should they do be doing this again? His finger grazed her clit, making her gasp with delight. Her pulse raced and the ached in her belly increased, desperate for relief. Oh, yes, she thought. She wanted him. So much.

He sprang out the confines of his trousers, hard and heavy with the need. The pulsing tip of his erection touched her clit before it lowered, dipping into the hot opening of her pussy. Her hands fisted his shirt, her body shaking with arousal. He was fully clothed while she was completely naked and she found that highly erotic. Every nerve in her body was poised for him, anxiously waiting for the pleasure he could bring.

“Itachi . . .” she groaned when he entered her a bit, and then she cried out his name as he plunged in with a swift thrust all the way to the hilt.

Itachi grunted and gritted his teeth as she surrounded him, pulling him even deeper. She was so hot he felt scorched, the delight of being in her thrumming throughout his entire body. He withdrew several inches and then thrust in again, hissing when her velvet muscles greedily clenched around him. Cupping her buttocks, he held her tightly as he began to move.

Sakura clung to him as he began to thrust, filling her to bursting. She’d almost forgotten how large he could be, how foreign it felt to be have another person’s body joined so closely with hers. She felt as if every part of her was alive, so responsive she could scream with each sensation; she could feel the hardness of the wall behind her, the scrape of his clothes against her bare skin, the roughness of his callussed palms on her flesh. His breath was hot against her neck, the sounds he made low, almost inaudible. She looked down between them, where pink met black and watched as he moved in and out, his shaft gleaming with her own juices. The sight was so intimate, she had to close her eyes.

His hands shifted from her buttocks to her hips, tracing her inner thighs with his long, elegant fingers. He lifted her off his erection then brought her down powerfully. She threw her head back and gasped loudly. He repeated the action again and again until she grasped the rhythm, bobbing up and down, her nails digging into his shoulders. Sweat trickled between them, making their bodies slick as they moved together in a dance as old as time.

“Itachi, Itachi, Itachi, Itachi . . .” she chanted, feeling as if she were about to burst. He filled her so deeply she could feel him touching the mouth of her womb.

Itachi’s jaw clenched as he continued to thrust, increasing his pace until he was rapidly pounding her against the wall, shaking the framed flower hanging above them. He was so lost in his own pleasure as his hips swerved back and forth, his balls slapping against her buttocks. The kitchen was echoed with the sounds of their lovemaking, his soft grunts, her breathy moans, their flesh joining one another.

“Oh!” Sakura gasped, her fingernails digging into his muscled shoulders as she tried to simultaneously fight and seek the onslought of pleasure.

“Say yes, Sakura,” Itachi rasped, fast approaching his own end. “Say yes.”

“I . . . ah, Itachi!” Sakura cried out as colors exploded behind her eyes. She was only dimly aware of Itachi’s own ragged cry and the subsequent rush of hot liquid within her as she found her climax, shaking uncontrollably in his strong arms.

Itachi pressed deeper into her, keeping their lower bodies close as he spilled into her. He was breathing hard, but his legs remained firm as Sakura slumped forward, her limbs weakly clutching him.

He lifted his head slightly and pressed a kiss to her soft, tousled hair. “Say yes, Sakura,” he repeated, his cock still pulsing from his release. “You won’t regret it.”

“I . . .”

To be continued . . .

Ohohohoho! A cliffhanger! What will Sakura say?

And thanks again to everyone who reviewed this story. I’m not fully satisfied this chapter, particularly because I’m still having trouble on how to write the smut scenes. Itachi is so polite . . . is he a gentle lover or a hard taskmaster? What do you think? I really want to know!