Disclaimer - I don't own Naruto.

Unedited.

In Good Hands

"Hai hai. Please leave the file for Orochimaru to collect." A pen taps against the desk habitually. "It's a shame that he's still on mission, I was hoping to get in contact." The pink haired medic says into the phone receiver before bidding the snake sennin's assistant a good evening.

Kabuto is working diligently once again, and Sakura finds that she is surprised that he hasn't gone with Orochimaru. It is very rare that the two are seen apart. Of course, there are missions that Kabuto is not trained for, but those are few and far between. He is, after all, a very capable special jonin. His medical and research expertise also mean that he is one of the highest trained shinobi in the entire district; especially taking innovative discoveries into account. Nevertheless, the silver haired man doesn't get as much credit as he deserves. It makes sense, and Sakura can probably relate with it, having a second set of memories where she was constantly watching the backs of her comrades, despite having skills. It was a predicament, because even though she had grown and become strong, they still saw her as weak little Sakura. Thankfully, that stigma is not within this world. Though, she is still compared with her mentor, Tsunade and probably will be until her death bed. Sakura doesn't so much mind, because without her shishou she would be nothing.

Yes, both her and Kabuto are much better off here, where they can be all that they want to be. Knowing his work ethic, his nose is likely too far into his notes to even notice. All scientists are like that, Sakura included.

Sighing to herself, the woman looks down at the paper work in front of her. She will need to get to it in a couple of days time. It is starting to become grating – all of this office work. Sakura really wants to get her hands dirty, to go on an ANBU mission. However, Masahi Rei has been placed under her care, and although he doesn't require attention all of the time, his otou-san is paying Konoha a very pretty dime. Until Rei is cured, there will be no missions for Sakura. Admittedly, it does help to imagine Sai having the time of his life away from Naruto and Sasuke; taking all of her juicy solo missions. It just isn't fair.

Silently berating herself, Sakura pushes her glasses up the bridge of her nose and squares her shoulders. She really shouldn't be thinking of her petty grievances, there isn't time. Glancing down at her watch, the woman realises that if she doesn't get a move on then she won't make it for dinner, and she can't miss this. Masahi Ryoko (from what she has heard), is girl with astounding looks. Mikoto-okaa says that she may even be more beautiful than Sasuke thinks that he is. It is a joke of course, but it still really hits home for Sakura.

Months ago, knowing that Sasuke will be marrying another very attractive woman may have bothered her; and she won't lie to herself, it stings just a little. It doesn't mean that she isn't perfectly happy with Itachi, or that Sasuke isn't her best friend. It's unexplainable really, and is impossible to tell whether these are residual feelings of another life, or residual feelings from her previous relationship with this Sasuke. Whatever the case, it doesn't matter. It is just a fact, and it's how she feels. What worries her the most is whether this girl will look after Sasuke in the best way. It isn't Sakura's job any more, and the thought is still a little foreign to her. She has accepted it completely, but there is difference between knowing that Sasuke will be happy with someone else, and seeing it in practice.

However, if Sakura lost Itachi...

She doesn't even want to think about it.

Turning off the light to her office, the door shuts with a click and Sakura is on her way. Tonight she will pass a hurdle. She is going to give away one of her boys...

Boots click against the linoleum floor as the pinkette hurries the best she can. She has two hours to get ready.

Xxx

"I'm home." Sakura calls, when she tumbles through the front door. She is a little clammy from travelling by roof top at top speed, but it is nothing a bath can't change.

She pulls off her shoes and walks into the main house, ready to see a flurry. What she finds though, is a completely decked out house and no house help anywhere. It takes a second for Mikoto-okaa to appear in the kitchen archway, clad in her best apron and looking more flustered than anything.

"Why are you cooking?" Sakura questions. It is common for her mother to make family meals, and other small occasions. However, the Uchiha have people in their staff for things like this.

Mikoto frowns, looking so much like Sasuke that it almost makes her smile.

"Because Sakura-chan, if you want something done right you have to do it yourself." She speaks quickly, and sounds rather irate.

"You sent them home, didn't you?" Sakura replies, smiling wryly. Only an Uchiha would do something so drastic with so little time to spare.

Onyx eyes narrow and the homely looking woman marches forward. Grabbing Sakura's shoulders, she swivels her towards the stairs.

"Bath. Now." The woman orders, pushing her towards her destination.

Sakura barks out a laugh but does as she is told.

Stopping by her room, the pinkette drops her bag in its place and runs her fingers through her hair. The kimono upon the bed is very stylish despite being an older family garment. She has never worn this before, but has been eyeing it off since she began lessons on the Uchiha.

Of course okaa-san knew about it...

Sighing happily, Sakura shuts the shoji and takes the few steps to the next room over. She lists everything that will need to be done, in order to pull such an ornate look off. It is doubtful that she will be able to dress by herself.

Placing her towel down, the woman undresses quickly and steps towards the shower. Usually, she takes her time scrubbing off before sliding into the tub, but there isn't time today; especially not with that kimono.

"Hello." A silky voice says, and a splash sounds to her left. Sakura almost drops the shower head when a slick masculine body presses against her back.

"Itachi!" She scolds, smacking his arm. The wet sound reverberates through the room and Sakura blushes. How embarrassing. What if someone catches them?

"So you're not here to join me?" He asks, wrapping his arms around her waist. The feeling of his body is too distracting, and there really is no time for this.

"No." She huffs in reply. "I have to wash up and get this damned kimono on. You know how long they take." Her forehead touches the tiled wall in exasperation, and she ignores the childish whine to her tone.

"I'll help." He suggests, making her scoff. It is followed by a gasp as his mouth latches onto the side of her neck.

"Itachi." Sakura warns, turning to face him.

It's a bad idea, she realises. His skin is gleaming with moisture, highlighting each defined muscle. It draws her gaze, lower and lower.

He chuckles, and Sakura's emerald freeze on his perfect abdomen. It brings back images of a more fruitful time and her hand slinks out to press flat against the taut skin.

"Sakura." Itachi teases, using the same warning tone. His voice is husky though and it makes her shiver.

He hums again, in amusement, before pulling her forward. Their eyes meet just as their skin does and it feels heavenly. It is clear to Sakura, from the way his erection presses against her form, that Itachi feels the same way.

"We don't have time." She says softly, resolve already breaking.

Her lover smiles, rubbing his thumb across her lower lip affectionately. His ebony hair hangs free and he looks absolutely divine.

"I never said we had to." Itachi replies. He sounds more neutral this time, less teasing. Nevertheless, his body is doing enough already.

"Itachi..." She trails off, not really knowing what she is asking for. Go away, or come closer? Though there is really only one way to be closer, with their current proximity.

"Hm?" He intones, leaning down. Their lips brush and the shower cord falls, hanging with the help of gravity. Water sprays against their shins, but it goes unnoticed as lips mesh happily.

Itachi pulls away, after a moment or two of exploration.

"You're stressed." He states. It isn't a question, because he knows.

"How do you know that?" Sakura asks, clasping her hands behind his neck and leaning back against the wall.

He leans down again, lips just touching, "Because I know you."

In the next moment, they are a flurry of kisses and tugs. Sakura is pressed harder, pushed upward, until her legs wrap around his hips. She is taller than him like this, but it doesn't make kissing him any harder.

Itachi pulls away, moving quickly to her neck. His movements are different to before, they are swift and purposeful.

"We'll relax you." He says, laving her neck lovingly. His hands move along her sides slickly, and Sakura watches as he moves lower, nibbling with each new patch of skin.

He takes one breast into his possession and she is forced to look forward, to the door. A door that has never had a lock.

She should feel worried, but it only makes her more aroused. In the next movement, Itachi pushes into her, rubbing her clit with his free hand. It forces her grasp the hair at his nape, pulling him up for a kiss.

They kiss, the whole time. It isn't something they have done before, but with the erotic situation and this position, Sakura knows that she can't stay quiet.

It doesn't take long at all, for the speed to grow in intensity. Large hands grip her hips, guiding Sakura downward with every upward thrust.

When he is close, Itachi rips away moving quickly to her neck. His lips suckle almost violently on a spot just behind her ear. His fingers find her pleasure centre and Sakura is so close. His lips part, and Itachi bites down.

It is painful, but it brings her to climax anyway.

One, two, three more thrusts and he comes harshly, groaning deeply beside her ear.

Awareness comes quickly, before they have both gained their breath. There are no noises outside, and Sakura thinks that they have gotten away with it.

Itachi lowers her gently, reaching down to pass her the shower head. There is a rather uncomfortable feeling within her now, that will need to be washed. But she is no longer stressed.

"Itachi, I have something to tell you." Sakura says, wanting to shed her guilt as well.

He inclines his head, "I already know." He says, and she looks confused.

"You are worried about my otouto, and tonight." Itachi explains, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Don't fret."

"Why not?" She asks, still wondering how he does that. "It's wrong to feel like this."

Her lips are kissed this time, chastely. "It's perfectly reasonable. Do you love me?" He questions, but like always it doesn't sound like he is asking anything.

The thought makes her frown, "Of course I do." She replies quickly, hoping to impress it upon him some more.

"Then don't worry." Itachi orders. Taking the shower head from her, he rinses off methodically. Keeping eye contact.

With one more kiss, he steps away and over the lip of the shower area. He wraps a towel around his hips and smirks enticingly.

"Okaa-san will help with your kimono in ten minutes." He throws back, before the door closes.

Sakura feels thoroughly ravished and completely ready for whatever is to come.

xxx

"Sakura-chan, you look lovely." Mikoto praises, as the last tie is fixed in place. The ornately crafted kimono is not the most comfortable thing that she has ever worn, but the life of a kunoichi and training of an Uchiha saw that Sakura's posture is perfect; which is essential when wearing traditional garments.

The woman shuffles to the mirror to see for herself. The dress looks better than she ever imagined. The red and greens stand out against her pale skin perfectly. The long sleeves slope down passed her knees and hold the Uchiha crest. It is more elaborate than the engagement kimono, and certainly more Uchiha.

"I wore this before I was married." Mikoto says. It isn't the first time that Sakura has heard it, or the story that comes with it. Mikoto's own kimono is darker in colour with short sleeves, but she looks ravishing all the same.

Steadily, the girl is pushed down to perch on the dresser chair. The older woman reaches for a comb and passes her a pallet of make up.

They get to work, pulling Sakura's longer pink locks into a stylish up do, while she herself applies just the right amount of paint.

"Sakura-chan." Mikoto says after a time. It sounds scolding, and she isn't quite sure what she has done wrong. Her surrogate mother sighs lightly, shaking her head. She continues to work, adding a hair piece in a different place.

She combs the hair on the right lower, adding tiny flower pieces made of curled gold.

"That son of mine." Mikoto finally says in exasperation, picking up the hand held mirror from the dresser.

"What did he do?" Sakura asks, wondering if she is talking about Sasuke or Itachi. Probably the latter.

Catching the older woman's gaze in the mirror, Sakura resists the urge to gulp at the smirk that she finds.

"This." Okaa-san says, lifting a piece of strategically curled hair to reveal a very purple love bite.

Emerald eyes, rimmed with pale green widen in embarrassment. Her cheeks flame but it is impossible to see beneath all the make up.

"I fixed it." Mikoto smiles, adding a second pin to hold it in place. All in all, her hair looks lovely. The right mix between up and down. "Just please Sakura-chan, be more careful."

Sakura mumbles her agreement as she gazes down at her hands. She feels like a child all over again.

"I know how exciting it can be. So don't fret." She hears, and her shoulder is squeezed. "I'll see you downstairs in twenty minutes."

Sakura thanks Mikoto with a smile, all the while wishing to punch Itachi into next year.

xxx

The dinner goes well, despite being a little loud and vibrant. There is nothing wrong with that though.

The introductions are brief and formal, with Sasuke being the first. Sakura watches on as a girl with long dark hair steps before him. Her face is pointed, eyes bright and she doesn't look happy. Neither does Sasuke.

But they both look just as beautiful as each other.

The two glare fiercely, catching the others gaze. It is almost violent. Then, in unison, they both look to the side, arms crossed over their chest.

Sakura's heart pangs just a little at the sight. She is okay though. Itachi is beside her, hand resting upon her lower back. It is not acceptable, but he is doing it anyway. Thankfully, Fugaku is focussed on other things.

"I have to marry him?" Ryoko asks her father, sneering in disdain.

Sasuke scowls, and Sakura thinks that his sharingan flicker for just a moment.

"Yes." Sasuke says, replying instead.

Ryoko scoffs, and so does he. They take a step closer, looking the other over.

"Well, you're not unattractive." She surmises, and it makes the nin scowl even more. "I've seen better though."

There is a noise of scolding, but neither listen. It is clear that they are both head strong people.

"Hn." Sasuke replies, smirking after a moment. He doesn't so much look irritated as in his element.

Then, he says something that tugs at her heart in the most familiar way. It makes her eyes water, and she has to blink back tears. Itachi must sense it, even though he can not know. Nevertheless, his hand slips from her back to reach for her own.

Sakura squeezes back tightly.

"You really are, annoying." He insults.

Ryoko smirks, "I can say the same for you."

It's strange, but Sakura knows then that Sasuke is in good hands...

Itachi's fingers lace through hers, and the surprising nostalgia begins to fade. She glances up at her betrothed with a watery smile, and he looks back penetratingly.

Sakura knows that she is in good hands also.

xxx

a/n

I am updating all of my multi chapters once before National Novel Writing Month, for all fandoms. Then from Nov 1 to Nov 30 I will be writing my novel for the competition. From Dec I have leave and will be getting into everything again :) RL is too consuming sometimes.

There will be about six more chapter before this story comes to a close :)