Last time I told you guys this'll be the end chap but actually, turned out it isn't. I'm sorry but I haven't wrapped up everything, yet and I was dying to let you read it already :DD I love you guys, you're the best and please enjoy! Your support is my motvation （●＾o＾●）

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X

X

Itachi opened the door all the while cursing his luck for the umpteenth time. Before he had the chance to greet whatever guest arrived a river of shouts found their way into his ear; he had to blink just to make sure he wasn't still in lalalala land.

" – ood for nothing daughter, who's too lazy to help in the household – No! Don't even think argumenting with your 'I'm-too-busy-with-missions' shit!"

"But that's true, especially now that I'm a jouni- "

"Hold your damn tongue in place! I'm talking; you're listening, got that?!"

" Mo – "

Sakura tried. Really tried to get her mother down from her madness high; to no avail however. Their walk to the Uchiha compound gifted every bypassing individual with curse or shout words no one rather hears fondly.

The thing is, whenever Haruno Mebuki was angry there was nothing to stop her rage; not even Sakura's monstrous strength made on her any impression whatsoever.

The pink haired offspring of this short tempered female sighed, hoping her mother's anger would be dismissed in a short period of time. Preferably before any of the branch family members heard the poison coming from her parent's mouth.

"NO! Whatever you want to say, it won't make up for this shitty mess! Breaking the wall - "

"Actually, punching. She punched our wall and also created various holes in our floor." Sakura just realized the door was wide open with Itachi-san leaning amusingly against it. Her head lowered until the only thing she saw were her toes wriggling uncomfortably around; how she wished to just disappear, into thin air and all that.

"Pardon; punching! Oh dear Kami-sama you punched Mikoto's damn living room wall and destroyed their impossibly expensive floor! Do you want my hair to get gray or what! "

The girl looked at this point as if she was ready to stab herself with a stick in her heart; Itachi would surely dream of the same if his gentle mother would be anything like that. Kami-sama, he was so thankful to have Mikoto as his parent. Still, the situation was quite amusing; seeing Sakura fidget under her mother's yelling scrutiny was anything but the usual emotion driven version of her.

"What can I do for you and your daughter, Mebuki-san." His mother was good friends with Sakura's, they've been in the same Academy class together with the unfortunate deceased Uzumaki Kushina.

The woman stopped her rant. "We're here to apologize, Itachi-san." Mebuki knew that young man since he had been set into the world despite that fact she wouldn't, ever, call him without any appropriate suffix. He was one of the best, Hokage caliber.

Itachi nodded. "Would you like to enter?" Sakura blushed at that, the situation was too ironic.

X

X

The morning sun shined gently, refreshing the morning rush. The crisp air woke everyone's senses, like cold water after getting up. Sakura jogged gently to her meeting point. She wore a long, baggy, salmon pink, see-through tank-top paired with navy leggings ending at her tibia. The black material which covered her chest bindings was peeping from underneath her top. Her feet were hidden inside black, feminine Shinobi sandals. Her hair was in a spiky ponytail.

Itachi saw Sakura the moment she turned the corner and despite his iron will blushed. Of course, the blush didn't last longer than a few seconds but his pride suffered greatly. It irked him how a simple fact such as Sakura's change of garments could influence his trained senses.

"Hello Itachi-san, I hope you haven't waited long." She was breathing a little irregular, Itachi was drawn to the rising and falling of her developed chest. Up, down, up and then down..

Not good. What was he doing? He was here to supervise not sight-molest!

"I did not, let us start." Good, she didn't seem to notice his highly inappropriate, not to mention rude, action.

"First stop?" Sakura asked, jogging to Itachi's left side. There was no need for them to roof-jump.

"Usago-san. You will help her with whatever she deems necessary." He replied stoically.

"Fair enough." Sakura wouldn't complain, she saw it fit to tend to the old Lady after that awful fall. She felt guilty.

Ten minutes later they stood in front of Usago-san's cozy cottage. Apparently she was living alone, her husband died years ago, no children. The female felt a pang of sympathy; poor woman all alone. What Sakura didn't know was that said pang would diminish after their first meeting.

Sakura knocked. After a few initial minutes of silence a groggy voice demanded them to enter.

The old woman was sitting on a wheel chair, in the middle of her living room, a just-so finished sweater on lap. The moment her eyes set on the two she glared daggers at Sakura.

"You're that imbecile who set up that damned air-horn, huh?" Usago-san accused.

Sakura cringed. "Yes."

"Change my bandages, clean my house, go buy groceries; I will provide you with a list, then, you will deliver this pullover – " The older woman held up the piece of knitted, multiply colored cloth. "to my old friend who lives in Kumogakure."

The pinkette gaped, it would be a six days trip! It'd take three to reach Kumogakure, then three to accommodate back, at Shinobi speed. Sakura looked at Itachi for help. He nodded. Damn it.

Refraining from gritting her teeth in annoyance the pinkette bowed. "Thank you for having me."

She got a harrumph in response.

X

X

"Traitor." Sakura muttered under her breath. Itachi raised a single eyebrow, amused. Sakura rolled her eyes. Oh, he knew exactly what she meant.

"Itachi-senpai, you left me alone with her. I went through hell in there." To emphasize her point she poked her thumb backwards, gesturing towards the slowly diminishing house. They were walking hill-downwards.

"I knew you could handle it."

"You were supposed to supervise me."

"I did."

"In the first ten minutes, yes. Then you left."

"Like I just said – you could handle it, and " Itachi checked her from head to toe. " you did."

"Bullshit!" Sakura didn't register his lingering look.

"Language, Haruno." The pinkette huffed and crossed her arms, she was upset. Again, Itachi's sight was drawn to Sakura. Or more; her now pressed together chest. He shook himself out of it. He tried to concentrate on the road in front of them.

"She made me clean her whole house, nagging whenever she thought I overlooked a damn grain. I had to fix countless things; how the hell am I supposed to know how to repair a bike? Bike! She isn't even in any shape to ride one! I swear she did it just to spite me."

Itachi observed bemused her hand gestures, empathizing on every second word. She was venting on him, it was highly unprofessional. He was her superior; she referred to him as 'senpai' and yet, she vented out on him. It made her charming. He chastised himself for thinking of Sakura in that light. They were colleagues, nothing more nothing less. Period.

Why did that knowledge unleash pangs of uneasiness in his stomach, then?

"Itachi-senpai, are you listening?" She moved to stand in front of him. Her arms still crossed, again he automatically peeked at Sakura's cleavage. Itachi swayed on his feet. He brought a hand to his temples. Hopefully his subordinate didn't catch him stealing a look at her..

Goodness, something was wrong with him. He wasn't himself, there had never been a time something simple as womanly charms made him feel like fainting. Did Sakura do it on purpose perhaps? Was she trying to seduce him? But if so, Itachi would've known sooner. It wouldn't be the first time a female was trying to bed him. Oh Kami-sama, no! Bad thoughts, bad thoughts.

Sakura..in his bed. Na..ke..

"Goodworktodday,goodbye." With that said Itachi shunshined away. A shower, a damn, snow cold shower was needed. Urgently.

X

X

"He didn't" Stated the ravenette calmly.

"He did." Countered the pinkette.

"Didn't."

"Yes, did!"

"Did not."

"Did."

"Did.." Sasuke looked Sakura straight in her hoping eyes. "..not." He smirked, Sakura glared.

"I'm telling you Sasuke; your brother stuttered!" The young woman was currently undergoing a tough argumentation with one of her three boys. The subject? Uchiha Itachi. After vanishing to Kami knows where, Sakura was left behind gaping. Because Uchihas didn't stutter. Nor did they escape.

Sakura walked straight to Ichiraku's for some steamy, well-earned ramen. Sasuke was already there. Their urban conversation soon turned into a full-fledged frenzy.

"And I'm telling you, Sakura, he didn't." Sasuke closed his eyes and continued with his dinner.

"You weren't there, were you?" No reply, he simply chewed on food. "See!" His eyes opened, staring stoically at Sakura, still chewing thoroughly. "Yes, it does mean I'm right." Sakura's eighteen years old teammate raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "You're a douchebag." With the monologue off her list Sakura stirred her ramen, thoughts crowded around Itachi's unusual departure.

"Your brother's weird." She said after moments of silence.

"He isn't." Sasuke drank his cup of water gallantly.

Her eyebrows rose, sarcastic look in place. "Yes, and you're the most talkative, cheery person in whole Konoha."

"You're being childish." Sasuke watched people go by over his shoulder.

"And you're not a people person." She threw back..

Sasuke sighed, tired of their bickering. His female teammate could be worse than Naruto at times, probably due to her apprenticeship with the Godaime. That brought him to the subject of her nasty temper, he shivered. Better not wake slumbering dogs.

"What is your problem, Sakura." Sasuke looked her directly in the eyes.

The female scrunched her eyebrows. "Your brother was behaving strange, wait don't say anything." Sasuke closed his mouth. He'd wait. "Itachi-senpai averted his eyes from me when we talked, in the morning I saw him out-spaced. Yes, he was spacing out. And I swear he nearly stumbled on our way back from old Usagi-san."

Sasuke sat still, actually taking this seriously for once. He had a feeling Sakura wasn't making things up, her genuine expression; she couldn't fake it. Chopsticks filtering through the remains of his Ramen he snatched the last noodles out and ate them. It definitely wasn't in his Aniki's nature to do what Sakura's just described. His brother didn't avert his eyes; it made him look frightening. He never spaced out; always concentrated on whatever it was he did. And he most definitely didn't stumble; no Uchiha did.

Sasuke needed to look into it further, without Sakura knowing of course. Uchiha business was the Uchihas business. He drank the last drops of water and paid for his food. Then stood up, "You're imagining things Sakura. You've got to monitor your crush on him.", Sasuke successfully made his teammate forget the matter. Her sudden twitching, fist curling and that seeping chakra told him so.

"He's my superior, I'm not having a crush you idiot!"

Pity he didn't know his older cousin's technique, yet.

"Hello little cousin, little cousin's teammate." Speak of the devil. Shisui walked into the Ramen stand as if he owned it. He sat himself next to Sakura. Despite himself Sasuke sighed, there wouldn't be a need for him to make a hasty exit now. On second thought..

"How're your ant-bites Sasuke?" Shisui asked after giving his order to a blushing Ayame.

Sasuke glared, turned around and walked away.

"Now that was rude." Shisui commented.

Sakura stuffed her anger back the moment Sasuke's cousin entered the narrow space. Why did he choose a seat next to her? There were one, two, four seats available.

"Hello, I'm Haruno Sakura. Sasuke's teammate." She held out her hand in greeting, smiling politely.

The Uchiha chocked on his water. His palm slammed against the counter repeatedly, his black orbs had tears. Getting water into the wrong place resulted in that. Sakura reached out and with one, calculated hit on his back made him breathe again.

Despite his heavy ex and inhaling he initiated a conversation. Because he had to know!

"You are that genius avenger!" Sakura wanted to face palm. How long would that damn issue haunt her? Weren't these five months of punishment enough, did people need to always comment on her little act? Of course they did.

Shisui noticed the temperature drop a little. Not even Ayame stayed too long around the counter, only delivering his order and then she was already gone. Shisui grinned, scratching his neck nervously.

"Ah, well, sorry if I have offended you?" His voice was higher than usual. Damn, that bubblegum haired woman had the same aura like Hokage-sama. Downright scary.

X

X

"Tadaima." Sasuke's voice echoed through his home. His mother called back, welcoming him. She probably was too busy in the kitchen, the raven haired youngster took his shoes off and went there.

"Sasuke, dinner?" Mikoto was rummaging through pans, forks and drawers. She was clad in her Jounin uniform, sleeves rolled up. Probably just back from a mission.

"No thanks. I've already eaten at Ichiraku's," Sasuke glanced at his brother who was currently breading cutlets. " –with Sakura." He added and watched Itachi loose his hold on the piece of meat, it fell and the breading liquid spilled their table. Sasuke narrowed his eyes, something was in the bush after all.

"Itachi! You're doing it wrong, let me show you again." Mikoto waltzed over, took a cutlet and layered it expertly in the stirred yolk and crumbs. Their mother was stressed. "I can't believe I'm the only one capable of cooking in this house." Mikoto muttered and Sasuke caught an idea.

"I could ask Sakura to help you." Mikoto's head yanked to her younger son. She looked ecstatic to see her favorite pinkette again but she didn't want to bother her..

"That's no problem for her, Oka-san. She mentioned having free time this evening." Of course Sakura said no such things, he just needed to get to the bottom of Itachi's issue with his teammate. Plus, it'd help his mother.

"I'm still not sure, maybe we shouldn't – "

"I'll be right back." Sasuke was gone before Mikoto could try and stop him. She sighed then brightened up. A smile graced her face, she hadn't seen Sakura in a whole week. Her mission started before that whole accident with Sasuke and Naruto therefore she wasn't even here for the repair work of her home. She still couldn't believe what Fugaku's told her hours ago. But then again, she knew her youngest and Naruto got the weirdest ideas and it was usually Sakura who shook them back to reality.

Everything was already repaired and she really wasn't holding any bad feelings. More so, she was proud to know such a strong and young kunoichi. It brightened up the female world.

Ten minutes later Sasuke returned with a disoriented Sakura in tow. He didn't explain what was happening. One moment she was reading her novel the next Sasuke demands her to come over. She had little time to look anywhere near acceptable, therefore her hands now tried to slay her locks.

"Good evening Mikoto-san, " A quick look-around showed her there was a fourth person, she swallowed her gasp. "Itachi-senpai." Sakura greeted quietly.

"..Sakura." Was it only her or did his voice waver? Sasuke narrowed his eyes at his brother.

X

X

Four hours. Sakura was four hours late. In Itachi's books that's a unacceptable trait to have. Tardiness could as well be a Shinobi's downfall. Maybe Sakura inherited from Kakashi his easy-going attitude when it came to punctuality. Itachi sighed, his eyes looked relaxingly up. It was time to move out, traveling to Kumogakure was a piece of work. The sun had awakened a hour ago, they were already off the appointed schedule.

Just as he prepared himself to leap high into the air pink caught his eyes. Sakura was racing beyond speed limit towards the gates.

"I'm very sorry! Shishou's put me through a tough time for the last two weeks and my body just crashed." Sakura was panting, a sorry look plastered all over her.

"Do not let it happen again. Punctuality is important, Haruno." Itachi interrupted her rant. "Let's head out." His body did a ninety degrees turn and the Uchiha jumped into the forest. Sakura followed quietly in suit.

They pulled to a stop, roughly after a day of pauseless Shinobi speed. Sakura all but crashed by the feet of the first tree-trunk on sight.

"I am sorry for the rush, we needed to fill the four hours gap." To his credit, Itachi did look sorry. What was it with this woman that made him softer?

"Nah, my body's only a little grumpy because it didn't have time to recover from Shishou." Sakura said after each swallow of her bentou. Man, was she hungry.

"..Recover?" Sakura laughed.

"Yes. You see, Tsunade-sama has a strict nature when it comes to training." She took a sip from her water bottle. Refreshed, she carried on. "Or torture, however you choose to name it." She waved her hand dismissingly.

That woke his curiosity. "How do you two train?" He asked. Oh, he shouldn't have Sakura thought amusingly.

"Weell.." The pinkette sought the sky. "Tsunade-sama runs me through forests at speeds full-force thrown kunai couldn't sustain. I stumble over fallen trees, rocks and roots until I'm too exhausted to even vomit." Sakura took another sip, flipping through memories.

"Passing out doesn't excuse me from my tasks, either. She'd simply keep dousing icy water on my face until I'm conscious again. I practice throwing special weapons until my knuckles crack and bled. Her response?" Sakura laughed, all in good memory.

"To uncaringly toss me some balm and tell me to heal it quickly as to not ruin my grip. Shishou's version of weight-lifting? Hefting stone boulders repeatedly, gradually increasing their size and density. Stamina increase? That would be climbing up mountains and caves with large rocks strapped to my back." Itachi's eyes widened; he had no idea how Tsunade-sama trained. That certainly enlightened him.

"After one week, I usually throw off all of her weights telling her I would rather do D ranked missions for the next ten years than carry on. Shishou just smiles at me with her hand glowing blue and tells me to prove it. Seeing she's serious, and intoxicated, I reapply her idea of weights and trudge weakly onwards." Sakura shuddered then shock her head.

"The most grueling part is up close with her. She stretches my limbs until tears pour down my face, chiding me for my lack of flexibility. Then, during our hand-to-hand combat, she'd knock me into a state of unconsciousness that all the icy water in the world couldn't revive. I get up to the gentle summing of her chakra, just to repeat the drill all over again."

Sakura looked at Itachi with a 'did that answer your question?' look and upon seeing him divert his eyes, laughed.

Throughout the next two days Itachi got out of his way and ensued five fifteen-minute breaks. He assumed that tightening he'd felt in his chest was pity.

He couldn't have been more wrong.

X

X

They arrived on the outline of Kumogakure's capital minutes before the sun clocked in. The guards, after proceeding with their identities and giving each a staying-for-x-days card, let them enter. Finding an inn wasn't a big issue either; it was the capital after all. What proved difficult was to find Usago-san's A-kun. She gave them only a name and his current location.

"I really want to just leave it somewhere and return." Sakura said, after hours of planning how to find their target. "But I just can't, damn my soft heart." Sakura sighed, resigned. Itachi fore hold his comment, it wouldn't make him any more charming to Sakura if he'd jump out with rules, dos and dont's.

Hold on. Since when did he want Sakura to think he was …charming? He shook his head, discreetly. Those weird thoughts had to be the effect of their long planning.

Sakura brought him back from his, again, inappropriate thoughts.

"Hey, let me see it." She leaned forward. The bed on which they sat dipped, her top's collar revealed dangerously much cleavage. Itachi's throat tightened, eyes lit up.

"See what.." His voice had the usual edge, it was a small retribution; to say at least. Why couldn't he avert his eyes again? Sakura's palm filled his field of vision. Without thoughts he reached out, clasping his own around hers. He felt his teammate jerk automatically.

"Itachi-senpai?" Surprised, Sakura was surprised.

He was in his own world; cotton, clouds and pink. A light push then he held Sakura in his arms, greedily. Again, she jerked.

Surprise wasn't even a emotion she felt. Stunned, yes. Speechless, of course. Confused, jackpot and the winner is!

"…Senpai." Cotton, clouds and pink. "Senpai." Sharper but not quite. "Senpai!" Itachi snapped out of it, that woman could yell alright. Still, her desperate attempts to free herself failed. The squirming was rather enjoyable if you'd ask Itachi but unfortunately certain parts of his anatomy would eventually respond. Having an ass wriggle uncontrollably around your sensitive place had that effect. He pushed Sakura off his lap and instead had her pinned down on the bed. His left hand trailed tenderly, thoroughly her side.

Sakura was attempting to free herself, really. But, seriously. Who wouldn't get all warm inside when a handsome man tended to a body in such a manner. She wasn't fine with it, aside from the unprofessionalism they were on a mission. And goddammit! Was that his hand trailing the line of her breast? Was Itachi actually groping her boob? Argh!

"Sen..pai!" His hand was under her top, he fingered her red flesh in the middle, starting shyly and then handling her crimson bud rough; he jerked it in all cardinal directions with different levels of strength and speed. Fireworks erupted in her body. Her cries went by unnoticed, her breath was heavy. Holy crap he was intense!

"Stop it!" Sakura willed her chakra forwards making Itachi crash into the wall. It cracked. Sakura sat up, her right hand covered her exposed flesh, still wet from his licks. Yes, he did lick it. Dammit! She was panting harshly, face shaded dark plum. Her limbs were stretched. "What the hell did you think you were doing!"

Itachi stood up, taking his sweet time. He refused to let Sakura see the shock of refusal.

"I am – "

"You're a jerk! That's what you are!" Sakura flattened her tee down, drowned her feet in shoes and off she went. She crumbled their door into pieces in her fury. Itachi shivered, not from fear. He did not fear Sakura, he wanted her. He concluded that the moment he had her in his arms. She fit so perfect in them, her heartbeat was so calming, skin smooth, smell intoxicating.

He wanted her. Unconsciously since a few weeks back, he guessed.

X

X

Kumogakure had very high buildings whose colors usually did not vary. A little stone blue here, few pints of gray there and then there were the anomalies. Like a pink dot sitting on top of one. Fairy refined legs dangled from one dangerously high structure. Sakura bit grumpily into her ice pop. The wind and cold taste were a welcome refreshment after what has occurred.

Her supervisor has molested her. A Uchiha actually has molested her. Prodigy Uchiha Itachi has molested her. On their mission! Her teeth stomped down on the icy trait. . Mind-freeze, mind freeze alert! Sakura waited it down.

On the bright sight it did feel.. nice, knowing the male population found her, well, nice. Then again it was Itachi-senpai not a Mr. Nobody of Nowhere. Should it score her double points or should she worry instead? Whispers followed him; he is believed to be asexual. Now that was certainly settled. Not that Sakura wanted people to know, quite the opposite. She'd rather dive down the Hokage mountain.

In the end it was better to just deny anything has ever happened. Yes, mature indeed.

" – was going to let A-sama know, easy-peasy." The two voices had Sakura's attention the moment she heard A. Her emerald eyes scrutinized the two below. They were a two-man patrol squad.

"There's no easy-peasy, idiot! There's only now and later, from which the later will demolish our asses when he's done with us!" The second one, apparently with blonde hair, said gesturing wildly with his arms for emphasis.

"Don't get your panties all in a bunch, I'm already going." The brown one replied, doing exactly what he just said.

"I don't wear panties!" Blondie screamed, aggravated.

Brownhair probably rolled his eyes, Sakura didn't know she sat on top of a two-hundred feet tall building so her perspective was all birdie. "As if that's the problem." She heard him mutter.

Without further ado Sakura dropped her ice stick and jumped, closing the distance between herself and Brownhair.

She appeared in front of the man around two minutes later. It took her some time to convince him that, no, she isn't an assassin nor spy and she most definitely won't skin him alive if he won't cooperate. "I'm just a fellow Shinobi searching for fellow people acquaintances." Sakura said. Finally, they went in motion and ta-dah she was in front of 'A-kun's' workplace. Perhaps he was close with the Raikage because they had a door-to-door office. Sakura switched to diplomatic.

Brownie opened the door, they stepped in and were instantly greeted with light bolts send their way, missing their heads by millimeters. Sakura was in stunned silence. If mice won't move then mice won't get grilled alive.

"You!" The bad-tempered Raikage raised an accusing finger Sakura's way. She could only blink.

"..yes?" Lamely.

"That damned woman! Did Tsunade finally decide to fulfil her word?"

Danger, danger. Leave immediately. Her mind screamed, all red alarm bells were singing to run, and fast. Shishou's word always equals in trouble. Always.

"I'm sorry.. . I'm here on a delivery only. I'm not aware of anything that Hokage-sama might have said." Safe reply, keep it up! Sakura cheered inwardly.

Raikage-sama bolted forwards, Sakura could see veins pop out. That man was unhealthy close at getting an aneurysm. "You want me to say you don't know about our bet!?" He yelled, she could literally see his spit fly out.

"..no?" Sakura answered squeakily. Raikage-sama narrowed his eyes, looked her up and down then sighed, waving dismissingly. "What delivery, Haruno." He said flatly. Sakura brightened up, he knew her name? Wow. That was, just, wow.

"A pullover, Raikage-sama." A tingle of disbelief crossed his face. The Hokage's apprentice doing Genin work? Ri-waitforit-diculous!

"For whom."

"Someone named 'A-kun', Raikage-sama." Sakura replied with a charming smile. She didn't notice the change in atmosphere. The Raikage's assistant snored, Browhair bit his tongue, cheeks red from withheld laughter.

"..Are you aware of my name, Haruno?" The tough man asked flatly.

Sakura was about to give him a cheery 'Yes, of course!' but she'd be lying. Dang it! What was Raikage-sama's name? Think, Sakura. Think.

"..No." Sakura bowed deeply. "I am sorry!" It was the least she cou –

"It's A."

She was still bowing, motionless.

No freagin' way.

X

X

They were on the road again, or more precisely trees. One hop followed the other. Sakura didn't initiate any conversation; Itachi either. Yet, there were other things that made Sakura's mind spin. Like, for example how a eighty years old woman knew the Raikage and actually had the guts to knit him a pullover! The toughest man alive. A mountain of a man. A killing machine. A pullover.

Oh, the world rotated weird ways alright.

"People travel" he said when she inquired delicately about the matter of an old woman knowing another villages' leader. What surprised her more however was the fact that 'A-kun' accepted the gift with open arms, figuratively of course, and actually dismissed the whole Tsunade issue altogether! When she has told Itachi he didn't believe it in the beginning. It was so very not usual. It bordered on crazy. She had to know more about Usago-san, Sakura had a feeling that woman had a lot to tell. She did.

"About last evening.." Evacuate, deny her mind yelled. She didn't realize Itachi-senpai cut his speed to match hers. Now they were at buddy-reach, fabulous.

She smiled pleasantly, looking him in the eyes. "Yes?" Moments of silence followed interrupted only by the colliding wind.

"I wish to apologize." How could something simple sound so clinical when Uchiha Itachi put it in his mouth?

"About?" Sakura was enjoying herself, it was a little revenge of hers. Not that her mind was constructing a horrid version too, she was still shoulder deep in retribution.

Itachi's eyes skimmed around before settling back at her. "I acted inappropriate, was driven by instinct."

Apologizing was definitely in his top ten of things he just did not do, clearly. Sakura was caught between laughing, ignoring or pummeling to death. She choose neither. He was her superior, and even if it did sound unfair, could basically do anything without fearing punishments. Pig.

"Hm." Sakura acknowledged speeding a notch up. Baffled, Itachi felt baffled. He expected a physical assault or a promise of horrible death. Casual acceptance? Not so much. He took a mental note to be always on his toes in case Sakura decided to exercise a revenge of sorts.

Inwardly, Sakura smirked. She would do absolutely nothing except take a bath in sun kissed victory. He had his think cap on meaning; he took precautions. Exactly there was the hook. Itachi would think she planned something but in fact she did not. The moment insecurity hit the point was hers; game, match and set. All hers.

She was holding him just where she wants him to be; at arm's length but within arm's reach, just at the right proximity.

X

X

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By the way: if you'd like to see what Sakura looked like (that time when she jogged to the meeting point, remember?), I've made a design of it because I simply love baggy tanks. The link's in my profile if you guys are interested (✿◠‿◠)