Chapter 71


~Anna's POV~

Term exams were closing in and I had shit loads to study. My precious friends helped a lot during my bad time and I was grateful for it. Although I was now somewhat at peace with everything, I still couldn't sleep all that well, even if I was dead tired from studying all day and night.

I turned on the lights in my room and sat up on the bed, going through all the text messages that came when my phone was powered off for the day. I always do that when I am studying.

Since today was a Saturday, I spent all my time with my nose in the books. There were some messages from Konan and some from Itachi, at whose thought, I glanced out of my window to see if the lights in his room were still on. They were. I smiled thinking about him when I read his messages telling me to not overexert myself and to keep the stress out of my mind and to take it slow even if everything from the pile was tumbling. Out of nowhere, I sneezed and soon after my phone started ringing and guess who it was? Itachi.

"Yo." I said in a weak voice.

"Are you alright?"

" Just can't sleep."

"I know. Your lights were still on so I decided to check. I can help though." Itachi offered.

"No way. Stay at home with your parents."

"They're asleep and besides how can I sleep when I know you're not."

"Are you sure?" I didn't want to be a burden at such a time at night but I really wanted to sleep too.

" That's why I offered."

"A-alright."

"You're stuttering."

" Just get over here!"

"Hai, hai." The call ended and I impatiently waited for him.

~Itachi's POV~

I hurriedly slipped on my shoes and went to the neighbourhood. I didn't ring the bell because firstly everybody was sleeping and secondly, the door opened itself and I glanced in, to see nobody. Only darkness.

I stepped in and the door closed itself. An old trick. Of course it was her.

" BOO!" I pretended to be scared when a light mass glomped me.

" Oh, I'm so scared." I said sarcastically.

" Are you making fun of me?"

" Now why would I do that?"

" I don't know, to make fun of me." Anna jumped off my back and turned on the living room lights. I followed her to the room and we sat on the couch. One look at her and I could tell that Anna would collapse if she didn't get any sleep tonight either. She's had many sleepless night. Most she kept a secret just to make herself 'less of a burden', as she put it.

"Bring me a pillow and a sheet?" I asked and immediately the girl was out of sight and came back almost instantly and handed me the pillow. I placed it on my lap and patted it.

"What?"

"Lay down." The colour rising on her face was visible and I laughed a little at her nervousness. I knew the happy-go-lucky girl would be a shy one when it would come to this. Consciously especially. She did most stuff spontaneously but when it wasn't the case, she would get very flustered.

"What are you laughing about?!"

"Nothing. Nothing. Come on." Shyly, she laid down and placed her head on the pillow in my lap.

"You aren't going to rape me in my sleep, are you?"

" It wouldn't be rape if both sides agree-" Before I could finish that sentence, she punched my chin," I deserved that." I admitted.

"Hell you did."

" Sorry, sorry." I poked the crease between her brows because she was frowning and immediately it eased up.

"Dude I feel like this is a waste of your time-" She started.

"It isn't. Look I brought some notes to study." I flashed the small ringed memo.

"Alright...." She was still unsure. I sighed. It was quiet for a moment so I assumed that Anna had slept. I subconsciously stroked her hair and got them out of her face."Itachi?"

"Hmm?"

" I'm glad I decided to talk to you that one day years ago." I knew exactly what day she meant and that made me smile.

"Me too."

After that I didn't hear from her and that was the signal that she was asleep. I waited for her sleep to get more strong and when that happened I lifted her up and laid her down in her room and left with a kiss to her forehead.

As I stepped back in my home, the lights of the living room were on. I gulped sensing trouble and sure enough it showed itself in the form of my parents.

"Itachi. Where were you?" My mother asked while father just stared/glared.

"Uh, with Anna." I answered unsure but my mother somehow found it nice and I could see her joy when she said the next words.

"I knew you two would get together one day."

" How did you know?" As soon as those words got out of my mouth, I realized I just gave away my relationship with Anna. I wasn't keeping it a secret but I didn't tell them since I feared my father would object and somehow find a way to end it.

"So you are! I'm so happy for you-"

" Who is this girl?" Dad cut off Mom.

"Remember the one I told you about who was better than our son at everything she did, honey?" She started speaking again. I mentally rolled my eyes. Anna was always the girl "who was better at everything".

"That one?"

" Hmm. She's pretty too! They're in the same class and she's also our neighbour! Can you believe that? Itachi finally got a girlfriend!" Those words my mother spoke caused my face to light up red.

There was silence for sometime but when my father spoke, his words made my blood retreat from my face and a look of horror and panic took its place.

" I wish to meet her, tomorrow, Itachi." He said and went back to his room.

Uh oh.

My mother winked at me and then she also went to the bedroom. All sorts of things were going through my mind and I was worried.

Anna wasn't the type to cast her gaze down when someone asked serious things, she would instead look them in the eye and prove her point. Most people didn't like people younger than them to answer them back.

I was worried my father would criticize her but more worried that she might give the same response. After all, she always get people offended. I wasn't holding her responsible for it completely. People weren't openminded enough to appreciate her honesty.

Sighing, I closed the door to my room and unwillingly got to bed. Sleep didn't linger close as I thought what tomorrow would be like but eventually, my eyes closed in a deep sleep.

~Anna's POV~

I got up later than usual on Sunday morning and went to shower to relax my muscles which had been tensed since many weeks.

As I was shampooing my hair, I heard the door to my room, open and shortly after, Max's voice.

"Sis! Itachi-nii wants to talk!"

"What about?" I asked, maybe he knew.

"His dad wants to meet you!" The soap I picked in my hand, slipped instantly and crashed at the bathroom door.

"WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"What should I tell him?"

"I don't know! J-just tell him to wait. I'll be out soon."

" K!"

I hurriedly bathed and after putting on my clothes, I stepped out of the bathroom and into my room which was currently filled with crisp air. I shuddered at the contact.

"Morning." I jumped in surprise at the voice then relaxed when my eyes set upon the person.

"One day, I am going to accidentally call you a creep and not regret it." I said and dumped my other clothes in the laundry basket and sat beside Itachi, on the bed.

"I assume, you heard the news." His face carried that seriousness and some sort of fear.

" Why did you have to tell me that so early in the morning? Now I don't feel like eating anything." I whined but he didn't respond, I turned serious too. "Oh well, I guess it was bound to happen. The sooner the better."

"What if he didn't like you-"

" Are you kidding me? Who doesn't like me?" I added playfully.

"Will you promise me something?"

"Depends."

" Don't offend him." He warned.

" I can keep that promise unless I'm offended."

" I knew you wouldn't be able to."

" Hey! Have a little faith!"

"I have loads of faith in you. Its just-"

" I know. Even I would be nervous my father had wanted to meet you. Just relax. I don't disappoint." I told him calmly and it sure played its charm. " Come on. I don't like people waiting on me."

"You sound like Sasori." I just laughed lightly and stood up, exiting the room. Itachi followed me.

"When is your father expecting me?" I asked as I casually sat in the living room. "Nothing too formal right?"

"No. Mum told me he just wanted to ask you some things. So I guess not formal." I sighed and leaned further in the couch, trying to relax a little before I have to confront Itachi's dad. " You okay?" Itachi asked a little concerned.

"I woke up in middle of the night and slept after three or four hours. I don't think I got enough sleep." I replied with my eyes closed.

"Explains your late 'morning'." I opened my eyes to roll them but now that I looked at him, my eyes were fixed on his face.

"You didn't sleep all that well either I see."

"I was thinking." I knew about what.

"I have no idea why and how your father has such a strong influence on you." I commented getting up from the couch lazily and going to the kitchen.

"Sometimes I wonder that too."

"Juice?" I offered when I poured for myself.

"No thank you. I don't think I can intake anything." I shrugged and gulped down the whole glass in one swig.

"Oh Itachi. How are you?" Tim asked, appearing out of nowhere.

"I am good."

"You sure about that?" I looked at Itachi when Tim pointed it out. "You look a heck lot of pale and tired."

I noticed it too. He's been like that for a few weeks now. Not to mention there were some gaps where he would just disappear. I wouldn't know where he was and he wouldn't tell, just saying it was some minor business. But I knew better. He looked sick. Not your normal sick but like chronic sick. I stopped pushing him to tell me when he almost yelled at me to stop asking him about it. I never stopped thinking about it though.

"Must be the stress of the exams." He lied, professionally. How did I know it was a lie? That flat smile would always be there after every lie.

"Could be. But take care yeah?"

"Yes of course." Tim smiled and left. My gaze was still the same. I snapped out of it when Itachi clicked his fingers in front of my eyes.

"What?"

"Nothing really. I will be going now. Don't forget to be there by six alright?" I nodded and still somewhat in a daze, went to see him off.

I was at his house by six. I picked a decent shirt and jeans. I wasn't a skirt person and I won't be changing that for anyone. It would be a false portrayal of myself. Yes. I also took some tea biscuits and dango that I made because I was too distracted to study. I thought I would be panicking but strangely, I wasn't.

I rang the bell and the door was opened by Sasuke. He looked relieved to see me.

"Sup~?" I asked ruffling his hair.

"How are you so calm?" He asked closing the door behind me.

"I am always calm Sasugay."

"Riiiggghhhhtttttt." I laughed and it soothed away the kid's worries.

" Anna! Oh its so good to see you again! I missed you so much!" I was suddenly embraced by a motherly warmth when I stepped into the living room.

"I'm glad to see you too, Mikoto-san." She let go of the hug and smiled widely which brought out a grin of my own. I handed her the snacks.

"Oh you shouldn't have!"

"I felt obligated and I do have to impress you, don't I?" She laughed as well.

"Come on. Fugaku doesn't like waiting too much and its getting awkward with just Itachi and him there." Mikoto-san winked at me and led me to the tea room. I sighed a followed her.

Thank goodness I knew the proper Japanese manners. I bowed and stuff when I entered the tea room and sat beside Itachi after greeting them all. Sasuke was told to stay when he was about to leave. I had to stop laughing because his attempt to flee failed.

"Remember. Don't offend him." Itachi's look told me when I made eye contact.

"As long as the other party refrains from doing the same." I conveyed through my eyes. He shook his head and poured tea while Mikoto-san plated the biscuits and stuff.

The tea went quite uneventful as compared to what I had expected. The parents talked amongst themselves and I scolded Itachi for letting the pressure of this event get to Sasuke. Mikoto-san praised me for such excellent dango. The whole party then shifted to the living room where again, the silence was uncomfortable.

I took some magazines Mikoto-san handed me and flipped through them. Was this a test?

They were mostly clothes and I skipped through it with a 'bleugh' face. I didn't like looking at clothes. What was the point of it?

Sasuke showed me a magazine and it had guns. Now that interested me. "Which one?" He asked.

"A sniper of course. And lets see, a shotgun." Itachi looked at me weirdly. "Whaaaaat? I like guns." He slapped his forehead.

"Oh little Ann, if I hadn't known you better, I would say you have gotten thinner." Mikoto-san pointed out.

"Quite a frail appearance I would say." Mr. Uchiha spoke at last. First comment. My eyes narrowed at the word frail but Itachi nudged my ribs to keep me restrained.

" She's been sick." Itachi replied for me.

"Oh. What happened?" His father asked with some hint of worry. I decided to answer for myself.

"I just have a weak heart and sometimes... I forget that." I looked down. Being reminded of my weaknesses never was the best thing for me.

"You didn't have it when we first met you right?" Mikoto-san asked.

"Nope. It just developed."

"Oh you must take care." I smiled at her. I was asked about my family and then my studies and then my aims for the future, which I had trouble answering.

"Let me ask you one final thing."

"Of course."

"What.......would you do if you found out that Itachi had some sickness?" As soon as the question ended, I felt Itachi stiffen beside me and I noticed he was glaring at his father. I was confused for a while but answered the question when my mind got cleared.

" I would just have to make sure he feels okay at all times."

" You won't walk away?"

" Why would I? It has become sort of my job now to look after him. Besides, I owe him enough that I can't pay him back even in a lifetime." I replied smiling.

After that final question, Mr. Uchiha, stood up and went to take his leave but stopped just before exiting the room, his back to all.

" I'm proud that Itachi found someone like you." He said and left almost immediately. Mikoto-san hugged me, letting me know that all went well. Itachi too was now relaxed.

" Yay! Didn't I tell you not to panic or stuff? I had it all under control." I bragged and Itachi shook his head.

Soon after, his mum decided that now I was entitled to look at Itachi's baby pictures and the said boy was sent off while we enjoyed the photos.

"I'm so glad you both got together. Itachi really needs someone like you to take care of him."

Even though she just said that out of joy, I couldn't shake the bad feeling that Itachi needed to be looked after for 'something'. This something kept coming up in one form or another.

We looked through the albums for an hour and were drunk in the beauty and cuteness of lil 'Tachi.

I didn't hear her last comments when she closed the album, as my mind constantly replayed one picture over and over again. Itachi was 7 years old in that one and he had some odd medicines laying beside him. He looked kind of skinny in that one too.

Somewhere in the pit of my stomach I had a feeling that something was wrong about him and he was keeping it from me. I didn't like things being kept from me. I didn't like secrets.

"Dear, are you alright?" Mikoto-san's alarmed voice brought me out of my daze and I looked at her through tired eyes.

"Yes. Why'd you ask?"

" You suddenly looked pale. Are you sure everything is fine?"

"Ya-"

"What are the two of doing down here? Its been an hour and a half." I looked at the source of the voice and almost sighed in relief when Itachi came into view. But that vanished instantly too when that picture came in mind again.

"I'm done showing her pictures. You can take her now." Mikoto-san said and when Itachi's mind processed the words, he turned deep red and sort of pouted.

"Don't worry, Grizzly. I think you were a really pretty baby." I said forcing myself to smile a little but that faltered and Itachi immediately took its notice.

"Come on. I need to talk to you." He took my wrist in his comparably huge hand and led me to his room. I could see Mikoto-san shaking her head from the corner of my eye and yelling to 'keep the door open'.

I sighed when I was in his room and he closed the door. I sat on the chair by his study table and slumped a little. It was the first time I had seen his room. It was neat and organised.

"So what did you wanna talk about?" I asked casually as Itachi sat on the bed.

"Nothing. You looked like you wanted to get out of there." I tried clearing my head of that image.

"Yeah...thanks." When I continued to stare in the distance, he asked again.

"Is something....bothering you? You're spacing out."

"Huh? Oh. Ya. Well...its..nothing. Nothing important anyways." I looked away from his very much intimidating gaze. It was like whenever I looked at him, I was reminded of the sickly pale and feeble Itachi from that picture.

"Something's definitely wrong." He stood up and came to stand in front of me.

"Speaking of problems-"

"Did you sleep alright?" He cut me off. I could tell he didn't want this topic to open, again. Before I had the time to answer, there was a knock on the door. It was Sasuke.

"What did he want?" I asked in a small voice once he left. They were both talking too quietly.

"Mother says I shouldn't be keeping you in here. Its getting late." I got up from my seat and stood by the door, my back facing the wall.

"She's right. I don't want to intrude any longer than I already have." To be honest, I wanted to take some time to get that horrid image out of my head.

"You are not intruding. Stop thinking like that." I wasn't looking him in the eye. My eyes were oddly fixed on his lips as he spoke. The pulpy pinky lips. So desirable. I haven't touched them once.

"Itachi" I called him.

He looked at me and raised an eyebrow. I waved my hand for him to bend his neck, like I wanted to tell him something secret. When he did, I grabbed his collar and slammed my lips on his. He kissed back with just the same hardness. Maybe more. His hand went from the side of my face to my hair as he pushed me in the wall and tilted his neck to get a better angle.

It was the first kiss. Our first. And oh was it something. But unfortunately, I was bad at holding my breath for long intervals so we had to part after some ten seconds.

Both our faces were red. I had done this so suddenly and now that I thought about it, blood kept rushing to my face. I was dazed by the intensity of it.

"I...I think I should be leaving." I said, still enthralled in the blissful feeling of his lips on mine.

"Y-yes." I had to look at Itachi's face when he stuttered and fled laughing. It was hilarious to see him so flushed.

Later when I had reached home and was preparing to go to bed, he texted me something that was both thrilling, seducing and scary. He said,

'Let's see who's laughing the next time.'

~

YAY! EARLY CHAPTER! Because, its NARUTO's BIRTHDAY!! <3 <3 <3 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY NARUTO LOVE <3 

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