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“Did you really just say that in front of everyone?”
Sakura’s brain short-circuited, and her heart dropped into her stomach as she realized.
Yes. Yes, she did.
It had all started a few months ago, when Sakura began to realize that her little schoolgirl crush on her best friend’s older brother might be more than just a crush.
Itachi Uchiha.
Just the thought of his name sent a wave of longing through her. She had met Itachi during her freshman year of high school, when she and Sasuke became friends. He was a junior at the time, so when Itachi and his friends would join Sasuke and his own friends, she always felt special hanging out with the upperclassmen, especially Itachi. He was incredibly popular with the girls. With his good looks and kind personality, there wasn’t a girl at school who didn’t swoon over him.
So, she chalked it up to a simple crush, nothing deeper.
Years went by. He remained just as attractive and kind, and while her crush never wavered, their friendship slowly grew. After Itachi graduated, he moved to the city, so she didn’t see or talk to him much after that. According to Sasuke, he had landed some big-time business job and was dating a girl he’d met. Sakura was disappointed, but she got over it.
That was until Itachi moved back home.
She was in her third year of university. She and Sasuke had finally moved out of the dorms and gotten an apartment together, as friends, of course, and Naruto was there almost every single night.
Sasuke told her he got a call from his brother, who was back in town and wanted to have dinner. They decided to invite him over, and Sakura and Sasuke would cook for him.
Well, mostly Sakura. Sasuke wasn’t exactly the best in the kitchen.
So, when the pan he was using to cook meat started to smoke, Itachi stepped in, instructing his brother to go sit in the living room and pick out a movie while he finished cooking.
Sakura tried not to stare as she cut up the vegetables.
“So, what have you been up to?” Itachi’s voice came from behind her.
Her chopping slowed. “Oh, you know, school takes up most of my time. I’ve been interning at the local hospital on my free days too.”
“You’re going to be a neurologist, right?”
Sakura tried not to blush, realizing he remembered.
She cleared her throat. “Yes. I’m working on my bachelor’s degree now. I still have a long way to go, but that’s the end goal.”
“You’ve always been so smart. It’ll be a breeze for you, no doubt,” he replied.
Finishing the vegetables, she moved them into a bowl and turned to face Itachi, who was already looking at her.
“Thank you,” she said, smiling.
He returned her smile with a bright one of his own. “Only speaking the truth.”
They stared at each other for a moment, still smiling, until she huffed out a breath.
“And what about you? I’ve heard you’re kind of a big deal now.”
“That’s subjective,” he chuckled.
Sakura laughed. “How?”
“Because you get all your information from my little brother.”
“I suppose that’s true,” she snorted. “But really, how are things?”
Itachi took a step toward her—maybe a little too close for her now wildly beating heart to handle—and reached for the bowl of vegetables she had just prepared.
“Excuse my reach,” he said, grabbing them and turning back to pour them into the pan with the meat.
He worked in silence, effortlessly finishing up dinner, which now smelled mouthwateringly good. He was quiet for so long, she didn’t think he was going to answer her question.
After plating the food, and making an extra one for Sasuke, he finally spoke.
“Things are complicated. I think I may have had a bit of what you’d call a life crisis?” he shrugged.
Sakura tilted her head. “What do you mean? Are you okay?”
“I quit my job. I broke up with my girlfriend. And I moved back home,” he said, looking her straight in the eyes.
She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her mouth. “What?! Why?”
“Life just felt so…” He paused, looking at her thoughtfully, then sighed. “Dull.”
She tried to think of a response, anything other than the repeated act of opening and closing her mouth like a gaping fish.
But Itachi didn’t let her linger. He gestured for her to follow him into the living room, his and Sasuke’s plates in hand.
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m fine. You’ll just be seeing a lot more of me now,” he grinned.
She grinned back, still unsure what to say, but followed him into the room for movie night anyway.
Itachi blended into her daily life effortlessly.
He didn’t spend as much time at her apartment as Naruto did, but he still came by a few times a week. Sasuke was determined to help his brother find where he fit in this new life.
Itachi started working at the local animal shelter and would drop by the apartment to tell her all about the different animals he’d befriended, and which ones he thought she would love.
She found herself talking to him more than Sasuke. When Naruto came over, he and Sasuke would disappear to do their own thing, leaving her alone with Itachi.
It was… nice. Sakura was content with finding a true friend in him. He was someone she could be herself around, and there were no expectations between them. She stopped thinking about her silly little crush, and things felt normal.
That was, until they weren’t.
It was Halloween.
Sasuke had informed her, rather last minute, that they were going to meet up with everyone for a spooky bar crawl that night, and that costumes were mandatory.
Sakura, of course, had planned to just put on a scary movie, eat pizza in her pajamas, and pass out on the couch. So she didn’t buy a costume.
Remembering that she had a box of Halloween stuff stuffed away on the top shelf of the closet, she pulled out a small step ladder, which maybe wasn’t the sturdiest thing, and climbed up. She stood on the top step, still unable to properly reach the box.
Why would anyone even make shelving this high up?!
She rose onto the tips of her toes, stretching as far as she could, when the ladder tipped, and Sakura slipped.
She fell backwards off the ladder.
Bracing herself to hit the hard floor, she flung her arms out to the side to try and grab onto anything, but instead, something grabbed onto her.
Something warm, and sturdy, and it smelled nice.
“Woah, are you alright?” the deep, startled voice of Itachi reached her ears.
Itachis voice.
Itachi was there.
Itachi was holding her in his arms.
Everything in her suddenly went into over drive, her heart, her mind, and now her body as she squealed and tried to escape his hold, but instead she threw him off balance, sending both of them straight to the ground.
Now instead of being in his arms, Sakura was directly on top of Itachi, straddling his waist, his hands around her back.
“Oh my god, I am so sorry!” she said, placing her arms on his chest and attempted to push herself off of him.
Itachis hands tightened on her and she noticed a slight flush across his face, but when he went to speak, the front door of the apartment flew open.
“Sakura! Have you heard from…. uh what the hell happened here?”
Sakura looked up to see Sasuke standing at the end of the hall, his wide eyes darting between her and Itachi, still on the floor.
Itachi released his hold on her and she quickly stood up, then offered him a hand up afterward which he took.
“It’s not…I fell off the ladder trying to find a costume! Itachi was trying to catch me!” she said panicked.
He gave her a strange look, then cleared his throat, “Why were you looking for a costume? I told you Naruto got us matching ones.”
“What? No you didn’t.” she grabbed her phone from her back pocket, seeing the message he had sent while she was attempting to get the box in the closet.
“Ugh! I wish you had said that a little sooner!” she groaned.
Itachi chuckled softly, the sound making her insides feel funny.
Oh no.
Not again.
Suddenly, a taped-up bag was thrown into her arms, presumably the costume Naruto had picked out for her.
“What is it?” she asked.
Sasuke shrugged. “I haven’t looked yet. I’m going to go change,” he said, walking down the hall past her and Itachi and into his room.
Sakura held the bag up to eye level and gave it a suspicious look.
“This can’t be good.”
“What do you think it’ll be?” Itachi asked, startling Sakura, she had completely forgotten he was still standing there.
“One way to find out, I suppose.” She gave him a sheepish smile and turned on her heel, heading into the bathroom.
The moment she opened the bathroom door, Itachi was in hysterics.
He was laughing so hard he was doubling over, tears beginning to pool in his eyes.
“This is so not funny,” she groaned.
“No, no—” Itachi tried to catch his breath, but laughter continued to spill out, “You look great.”
Sakura scowled and turned back to the bathroom mirror. The sight that greeted her… well, she could see why Itachi was laughing.
She looked absolutely ridiculous.
Dressed in obnoxiously blue overalls and an equally bright green long-sleeve undershirt, that alone was enough to make her giggle. But what really got her was the matching green cap on her head, with a big letter L in the middle.
She turned to glance back at Itachi, who had mostly gotten himself under control, and held up the final piece of her costume: a mustache.
Clearly trying to hold back another round of laughter, he put a hand over his mouth just as Sasuke walked out of his room, dressed in red, a scowl on his face, and wearing a matching mustache.
Just like that, Itachi lost it again.
This time, Sakura joined him.
“Yeah. Hilarious,” Sasuke grumbled.
“If you two are Mario and Luigi, who’s Naruto?” Itachi asked.
Good question.
Princess Peach.
Naruto was dressed as Princess Peach.
It was definitely a sight, pulling up to the bar and seeing Naruto running around in heels and a pink, frilly dress, but honestly, it wasn’t too off-brand for him.
Sasuke and Sakura had taken a cab to the bar, with Itachi promising to meet them there after going home to change. Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened earlier, his arms wrapped protectively around her, his intoxicating scent flooding her senses. It was too much. It wasn’t enough.
“Nice mustache, Forehead,” Ino’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Sakura looked up to see her standing in front of her, a drink in one hand and a broom in the other. She was dressed as a witch. A very scantily clad witch, at that.
Sakura inwardly groaned at her own costume. Way to absolutely embarrass yourself in front of Itachi, Sakura. Nice going.
At some point, Ino had shoved a drink into her hand and dragged her over to the rest of the group. Shikamaru and Temari were in matching costumes, Temari was a hunter, and Shikamaru, a deer. Kakashi, dressed as a ninja, was lounging on a couch beside Obito, who was wrapped up as a mummy.
Sakura smiled and waved at everyone, enjoying the energy of the room, when she heard a familiar, booming voice announce its arrival.
Shisui.
He must’ve pregamed, because his voice was already several octaves louder than usual.
“Sakura!” he bellowed.
She turned around.
“What are you wearing?” she asked, her eyebrows raised.
Shisui was dressed as… a piece of bread?
He frowned. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Just then, Itachi walked up beside him, wearing a pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt that read ‘This is my costume.’ His hair was down— down —which did absolutely nothing to help the flush spreading across Sakura’s face.
She wanted to run her fingers through it.
“Maybe not so much,” she said with a shrug.
Shisui groaned and gestured dramatically toward Itachi. “Well, it would make a lot more sense if he had worn the other half I bought for him!”
“But I already bought this shirt. I didn’t want it to go to waste, Cousin, ” Itachi replied, a grin tugging at his lips.
Tilting her head in confusion, Sakura asked, “What was it supposed to be?”
“Peanut butter and jelly sandwich!” Shisui exclaimed, pointing to the brown coloring all over the front of his costume. “ I’m peanut butter, and he was supposed to be jelly!”
“It’s fine. Now you’re just peanut butter toast,” Itachi said calmly.
Shisui looked like he was about to argue, but he spotted Kakashi and Obito and got distracted, drunkenly skipping off to bother them instead.
That left Sakura standing alone with Itachi, mustache and all.
She laughed awkwardly. “Nice costume.”
“It was either this or the jelly sandwich. I think I made the right call,” he said with a smirk, his eyes dragging over her, taking in the full effect of her costume. “Your costume, on the other hand…”
Sakura put her hands on her hips and gave him a glare. “What about it?”
Itachi’s smile grew. “I didn’t think it could get any better. I’m really enjoying your new facial hair, Sakura.”
“You’re not intimidated?” she teased, lifting her cup to her mouth.
“I’m honestly a little turned on,” he said, entirely too casually.
She choked on her drink.
Itachi leaned over, grabbed a napkin from the bar, and handed it to her. “I meant that as a compliment.”
“I’m literally wearing overalls and a fake mustache.”
“Yeah,” he said, eyes drifting over her once more. “It’s really working for you.”
Sakura snorted, but before she could reply, Naruto came running up to them, Sasuke in tow, two shots in his hands.
“FREE SHOTS FOR MY LUIGI AND…” he paused to look Itachi up and down, clearly struggling to identify a costume, then grinned brightly. “ITACHI!” he squealed in a high-pitched voice, and shoved a neon-blue drink into each of their hands.
Sakura cringed and gave Itachi a pleading look. “Please don’t let me die tonight,” she said, then downed the shot. “Tastes like antifreeze,” she coughed.
He didn’t even flinch as he took his. “This is nothing. After living with Shisui, I’ve developed resistance. One time he made me drink something called ‘The Uchiha Fireball.’”
She shivered in disgust. “You are strong for that.”
They smiled at each other for a moment as the music grew louder and the dance floor more crowded. A fog machine hissed somewhere across the room, casting everything in a spooky haze under the black lights. Someone dressed as a giant pickle began doing the worm in the middle of the floor.
And suddenly, her mustache didn’t feel like the weirdest part of the night.
It had been almost a month since the Halloween debacle. After the very obvious flirting between her and Itachi that night, she figured something might’ve changed between them.
It hadn’t.
The quiet hum of Konoha at night was peaceful. It was pretty late, so there wasn’t much activity outside, but the leaves rustling in the wind and the occasional sound of an owl hooting in the distance made Sakura feel… calm.
She sat on the steps outside her apartment building, arms wrapped loosely around her knees as she sighed.
“Are you alright?” Itachi asked as he sat beside her. She had originally walked him out to say goodbye for the night, but the sky was so beautiful that she’d decided to linger for a while. He had stayed too.
“Yeah, it’s just…” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I thought that by now, everything would make sense. That life would finally start falling into place. That things would start happening the way they’re supposed to.”
He was quiet for a moment. His expression was thoughtful, maybe a little confused, and she couldn’t blame him. She hadn’t given him any context. Not that she was about to tell him the truth—that it was her feelings for him that had her so disoriented.
“Does anything ever really make sense?” he asked finally. “Or do we just pretend it does so we can keep going?”
Sakura let out a soft laugh. “Now I’m not sure I even understand this conversation anymore.”
Itachi just smiled in return but didn’t say anything.
For a while, they just sat there in silence, enjoying the night sky, side by side.
“Do you ever regret it?” she suddenly asked, breaking the quiet.
Itachi turned to look at her, his brows creasing slightly in confusion. “Regret what?”
“Coming back,” she said. “Quitting your job, leaving your relationship. Going from the big city to—” she gestured around them, “to all this. I mean, it couldn’t have been easy.”
He inclined his head toward her. “It wasn’t.”
She nodded. “Still, I think you did the right thing. If it brought you any peace or happiness, even just a little then it was worth it, right?”
His knee brushed against hers, sending a warm buzzing sensation through her body.
“Do you think so?” he asked softly.
She paused, gazing up at the star-filled night sky. “Well,” she took a deep breath, “I hope so. All of this has to mean something, right?”
Itachi chuckled. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” He turned to look at her, his eyes glinting in the moonlight, as if the stars themselves had found their way into them.
She fought the blush rising to her cheeks under his intense gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
He laughed. “Like what?”
“Like I’m something special.”
He opened his mouth to respond when the door swung open. “Sakura! I’ve been looking for you! Hey, Itachi, what are you guys doing out here?” Naruto’s voice boomed, interrupting the moment.
Itachi glanced at Naruto and then back at her. “We…”
“Nothing, just looking at the stars. What’s up? Why were you looking for me?” She stood up and walked toward Naruto, eager to put distance between herself and the man who made her palms sweat and her heart race.
“Sasuke needs help with the mashed potatoes. I think he’s adding way too much salt.”
“Shit, sorry, Itachi. I’ll see you later.” She gave him a sympathetic look, and he responded with a soft smile.
“See you tomorrow,” he said, standing up, nodding to her and Naruto before walking away.
Friendsgiving was in full swing at her and Sasuke's apartment, though not everyone was present. Yet. Instead of sitting at a big table, they had set up a buffet and allowed everyone to grab a plate and mingle throughout the apartment, living room, balcony, kitchen, and everywhere in between.
Shikamaru and Gaara were on the floor in the living room, engrossed in a card game, while Ino and Temari sat nearby, likely catching up on the latest gossip. Chouji and Naruto were deep into a bowl of dip, their chip bags scattered around them. Obito and Rin were making bets with Guy and Yamato on when Kakashi, who was hiding in the corner with his book, would mysteriously disappear. There were other friends scattered about, but Itachi had yet to arrive. Not that she cared, that much. She vaguely remembered him mentioning he would pick up Shisui from work since his car was in the shop, so she assumed he would show up eventually.
Right now, she was in the kitchen with Sasuke, putting the pumpkin and apple pies in the oven. The more she thought about her conversation with Itachi the previous night, the more her heart pounded, and Sasuke was starting to notice.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
She grabbed a wet cloth from the counter and wiped her sticky hands from the dessert. “Uh, nothing. Why do you ask?”
Sasuke picked up his drink, took a sip, and gave her a knowing look as he scoffed, “Sakura.”
Her stomach churned, she hated keeping things from him.
“I think I’m in love with your brother!” she blurted out, her voice louder than she intended.
Sasuke stared at her, his eyes widening slightly as he slowly set his drink down on the kitchen island.
Her heart raced as she panicked. “Shit, I don’t know why I said that. I didn’t mean… I meant—”
Sasuke’s chuckle interrupted her. “Honestly I kind of already knew that. But did you really just say that in front of everyone?”
He gestured toward the living room, still full of people who knew the brother she just confessed her love for, all of whom were now staring at the scene she was causing in the kitchen.
Sakura’s brain short-circuited and her heart dropped into her stomach as she realized.
Yes. Yes, she did.
“Oh my god.” She felt her face flush bright red and clumsily threw herself down behind the counter, trying to hide.
Sasuke peered down at her with an unimpressed look. “What are you doing?”
She quickly grabbed his wrist and pulled him down beside her. “Shh!”
“Sakura, you realize everyone saw you, right?” he said in a normal tone.
“Shh! Shut up!” She placed a finger over his mouth, which only turned his unimpressed look into a scowl.
He opened his mouth to speak again, but she cut him off. “I’m thinking!”
She was so caught up in her thoughts and her attempt to avoid a panic attack, she didn’t hear the front door open and close over the loud music, and she didn’t notice the figure that suddenly appeared crouched down next to her on the floor.
“What are you guys doing?” The deep voice startled her, causing her to bump her head on the overhang of the kitchen island.
“Ow,” she muttered, rubbing the top of her head to soothe the bruise she knew would form.
“Are you okay?”
She turned to see the intruder and was met with the eyes that had been haunting her dreams for weeks. “Itachi.”
Concern was evident on his face. “I didn’t mean to scare you. Do you need some ice?”
She opened her mouth to respond, but then heard snickering. Glancing over, she saw Sasuke barely containing his laughter.
“What’s so funny, idiot?!” she snapped.
“You’re so hopeless,” Sasuke said, holding his stomach and laughing heartily.
Itachi glanced between the two of them before standing up and walking away.
A pang of embarrassment struck her; she had definitely made a fool of herself. Itachi probably didn’t even want to be near her.
Just as she was sinking further into her despair, Itachi returned with an ice pack in hand.
“Here, this should help.” He extended his arm and gently placed the ice pack on her head.
Her cheeks flushed again at the contact. “I can—” she began, reaching for it.
“I’ve got it,” he said at the same time.
She noticed a slight blush on Itachi’s cheeks and was sure that her own matched.
“I take it back,” Sasuke’s unwanted voice cut in. “You’re both hopeless.” He laughed again, stood up, and added, “Have fun talking, you guys.”
She watched in horror as Sasuke stood up and walked away, leaving her alone with Itachi.
“What is he talking about?” Itachi asked, his face too close to hers.
“Nothing!” she laughed nervously and then suddenly remembered the dilemma she was in , “Are they still looking at me?”
Itachi stood up for a moment and looked around, then crouched back beside her, “Who?” he whispered.
“Everyone,” she groaned, letting her head fall back on the island behind her.
He tilted his head in confusion, “Why would everyone be looking at you?”
She flushed, “Oh uh, well. You see.”
She heard shuffling behind her so she turned to see Shisui standing there, searching through the cupboards. He looked like a man on a mission.
Itachi sighed, “Cousin, what’re you looking for?”
Shisui looked down at them, clearly surprised to see them there, “Why the fuck are you guys sitting on the floor?”
Sakura glared at him, “Why the fuck are you tearing apart my cabinets?”
He laughed, grinning ear to ear, “Tsk. Language young lady,” he shook his head, “I’m trying to find the good booze, I know you’re hiding it here somewhere.”
He wasn’t wrong, Tsunade, her mentor liked to keep her stocked with the best, for when she came to visit of course. But that was for the days she really needed it, not for greedy Uchiha cousins who are going to end up drunk and passed out somewhere in her apartment regardless.
“Shisui can you go find somewhere else to be, please,” came Itachis response. His commanding tone shocked her, making her suddenly feel shy sitting there in front of the two Uchiha.
Shisui furrowed his brows at them and made a small sound of defiance, “Go boss Sasuke around Itachi, I’m not going anywhere.”
She heard Itachi sigh in her ear and then he stood up, reaching his hand out to her, “Let’s talk somewhere else.”
Shisui snorted, in result he got matching glares from the pair.
Sakura took his hand and he pulled her up, causing her to be flush against his chest. She could feel his pounding heart for only a moment before they jumped apart.
Itachi cleared his throat and gestured her to walk down the hallway, toward her bedroom.
She froze for a moment, weighing her options, one she could reroute them to the living room, toward the hoard of people who no doubt are going to be listening to every word they speak to each other, or she could bring him to her bedroom, where they can quietly and peacefully talk, alone. With nobody around. She knew her face was bright red at the thought.
She made eye contact with Ino from across the room, her friend’s evil smile and wiggling eyebrows had her making the decision to drag Itachi down the hallway, that much easier.
As soon as the door closed behind them she felt that anxious but exciting feeling return.
“Sakura…,” Itachi paused, seemingly thinking over his words, “Is everything okay?”
“Wha…what do you mean?” she stuttered.
“Well,” his eyebrows scrunched together, “you’re being very jumpy today, and Sasuke was acting weird. Has something happened?”
Sakura felt her eye begin to twitch. “Sasuke’s always weird.”
Itachi gave her an unimpressed look, clearly catching on to her attempt to dodge the question.
After a long moment of silence, during which he refused to respond, she sighed. “I’m not sure how to talk to you about this.” Her face was heating up, and the telltale signs of anxiety hives were beginning to crawl up her chest.
Her hand shot up to cover the red splotches she could now feel rising on her neck, but she was hot, and her heart was pounding. Hiding her body’s reaction from him was a lost cause.
Itachi frowned, his eyes flicking from her blotchy skin back to her face. Real concern was starting to flicker in his gaze.
Sakura bit her lip, desperately searching her mind for something, anything to say. She was going to die from the awkwardness.
Before she could speak, Itachi’s hand suddenly reached out. He placed it gently over the one she had pressed to her neck, his thumb caressing her knuckles in a soothing gesture. “You can tell me anything.” His voice was so sincere she could have cried.
She knew she could tell him anything. Even if Itachi didn’t return her feelings, he wasn’t the type of man to make her feel bad or let a confession change their relationship. So why was she so scared?
Then, Itachi gently pulled her hand away from her neck, holding it tightly in his as he led her toward the bed. She sat down beside him nervously, perching on the edge of the bed so close that their thighs touched.
He must’ve felt her fidgeting, because he suddenly pulled back from her, the frown on his face shifting into something that looked almost… guilty?
“I think I need to apologize to you.”
Confusion hit her like a blow. “About what?”
Sinking further into himself, Itachi responded hesitantly, “Well, everything. How I’ve been acting toward you recently, last night especially. It seems I may have overstepped.”
“Overstepped? Why would you think that?” Her mind reeled, combing through everything that had happened between them lately, trying to figure out what he meant.
Itachi’s eyes flicked back to her reddened skin, then met hers again. He sighed. “I’ve clearly made you uncomfortable. That was never my intention. I think I may have misread your feelings for me.”
“Misread my feelings? What are you talking about? You don’t make me uncomfortable.”
“Sakura, you look like you’re going to pass out every time I touch you. The mere thought of talking to me about this has you in a panic. Why else would you be reacting this way?” Itachi said almost defensively, as if trying to mask the emotion in his voice.
Oh no.
She was such an idiot.
“I think we might be having a huge misunderstanding,” Sakura said. Then, realizing the implication of his earlier words, she added, “Wait… you said you misinterpreted my feelings…” She looked at him, and he nodded. “If the way you acted was a reaction to that…” she trailed off, watching his expression closely. “Then how is it that you want me to feel about you?”
Itachi stiffened, then cleared his throat. He opened his mouth to respond, only to close it again, his brow furrowing in thought. After a few moments, he finally said, “The same way I feel about you.”
Her breath hitched. “And how do you feel about me?”
Itachi looked at her like she was a puzzle to solve, like he wanted to take the pieces and put them together but was too terrified to touch them. His voice was quiet when he answered, “Like I’ve been trying very hard not to fall for you. And failing.”
Sakura’s world seemed to freeze. Her heart was beating so hard she was sure he could hear it.
“I wasn’t panicking because you made me uncomfortable. I panicked because I didn’t think you felt the same about me, and every time you touched me, my body would shut down and I would forget how to act like a normal human being,” she confessed.
His eyes widened. “So I haven’t been imagining it?”
She moved closer to him on the bed. “No, not even a little.”
The tension hung in the air between them as they studied each other, both waiting to see who would speak next.
Then Itachi, ever the calm and collected one, looked rather amused. “I fear we might both be terrible at this.”
Sakura laughed, feeling a little breathless. “We are absolutely hopeless.”
“So what now?” he asked. His tone was unsure and nervous, Sakura thought it was cute.
“Well,” she said, reaching out and taking his hand, “we can start over, but this time with less miscommunication and more kissing.”
He blinked. “Oh? Is that medically advisable?”
“I’m going to be a doctor. I’ll allow it,” she grinned.
When Itachi leaned in and pressed his soft lips against hers, she didn’t feel like she was going to pass out.
Just fall.
And she trusted he’d catch her.