~Anna's POV~

"We rarely go out anymore guys, let's go somewhere tomorrow?" Amalie suggested when us three girls were all assembled at our usual place near the gym after classes had ended. We were all scattered this year. I didn't have even Itachi with me this time. The sadness oh.

"Ya! Now that Anna's good too, let's go somewhere!" Konan agreed to her. I sighed.

"I don't wannaaaaaa!" I whined flailing my arms.

"Why not?" Konan poked me.

"Its gonna take too much effort choosing decent clothes."

"I don't know why Itachi likes you." Konan sighed. I looked at the mentioned Uchiha who seemed to be deep in thought about the matter. He was with us today, waiting for me so we could go together.

"Why the heck do you have to think so hard?!" He laughed.

"Anna, I will drag you myself if you don't come." I pouted at the threat by my blue haired friend.

"Fine." I huffed and asked, "So where are we going?"

"That we can decide later today." I shrugged and we all went our separate ways.

~

"Having to go out is torture enough, don't make me go shopping with you pleaseeeeee!" I literally begged Konan and Amalie when they showed up at Itachi's house, where I finally had some time with him, and told me that we would be going shopping. For what? For fucking fun. "Why do you need to buy new clothes? You have plenty that you have worn just once. And why do I need to go when I don't even want to buy anything." I pleaded my case. I hated shopping and I hated malls.

"Oi Itachi, do you want to see Anna in a short dress or perhaps a mini skirt?" Konan asked the Uchiha who was just passing by. He stopped and looked me over.

"Of course. Would be quite a sight." I threw a cushion at him and he fled laughing.

"He didn't mean that and I don't have to wear those scrapes of clothing for him or for anyone if I don't want to. Case closed."

"You are still coming with us." Amalie asserted.

"Nu."

"This girl! Oh God!" Konan yanked at her hair. I didn't like it the way they were both so agonised over this matter so I sighed.

"Fine. I will come. Just one day though. Not the whole week."

"Yes!" They rejoiced and all was well.

When they had left and I was complaining to Itachi about having to go to the mall, we were interrupted, by Shisui. Speaking of which, he was almost always with Itachi ever since he came back here to Konoha. They were both a bit too occupied among themselves a lot lately that Itachi and I barely had time for each other and when we did, it was just a few hours. I didn't like this. Surely there was something going on that he wasn't telling me but I didn't all that entitled to ask now since it seemed like a family business on a larger scale. But still, I didn't like the thought of us moving apart.

~

I was tired. My legs were aching. My head was aching. My eyes were watering. I wanted to leave this horrid place, called a Mall.

"I forgot how picky Anna really is." Konan commented sighing, handing me one of her many bags since I had my hands free.

"Yes dear friend. You also forgot how bloody same everything here is."

"Call it a day?" Amalie asked. I looked at the time. It was past nine.

"Yes. Its late, we should be going home."

"See you ladies tomorrow at school~" Konan sang and left first then Amalie and finally me.

I called Itachi to let him know that I was too tired to come to his house that far, like the other end basically so I would be headed to my own house and also it won't be nice to bother him and his parents this late at night. He offered to escort me but I refused. It would be too much trouble. So I went home and just collapsed on my bed after setting multiple alarms for tomorrow. I just wished I would wake up energised and not more tired.

But that wasn't what happened.

I didn't wake up on time and my alarms had all died after beeping for hours. When I did wake up, I wished I hadn't. My head was killing me and my eyes were screwed shut so tight that the pain was also impairing my hearing.

That's it. I'm never going to any malls again. Ever.

"I should have known." I jumped and screamed bloody murder at the completely unexpected voice and presence. I always made sure the windows and doors were locked so nobody could get in but somehow this person did.

~Itachi's POV~

I rang and rang and rang Anna's phone but she wasn't picking up. I was worried about her. Sometimes she is late to school because of general laziness but never this late as to miss the first period.

Maybe she won't come today. Or she slept in.

Sighing I put my phone away and resumed my day without her. With third year, my meetings with Anna were limited to just recess and after school but knowing that I would get to see her at those times was assuring to me and also gave me an opportunity to survey her physical and emotional conditions and help in discretion if need be. She once called me a hen for that.

Konan and Amalie were oddly calm about it and teased me about worrying. What's so wrong about worrying for someone I love?

So after school, I called my mum to let her know that I would not be arriving at my usual time, and headed to Anna's. Eric and Max were out with Sasuke and the doors were of course bolted.

I walked to the side of the house and raised my eyes to Anna's window. It was closed and of course would be locked as well. She was smart when it came to these things. But I was trained.

I built up some momentum and put my foot on the wall and pushed myself up to the second floor, getting a firm grip on the window ledge and hoisted myself upwards. Opening the window was easy with a small slim blade.

I jumped in and closed the window and curtained it as it was before my arrival. The room was quiet save for the light breathing sounds from under the sheets. I put my bad aside and glanced around for a chair when my eyes went to the nightstand with three alarm clocks there. I sweat dropped.

With three alarms, she still slept in... That's Anna for you.

I dragged the chair from the dresser to her bedside and sat with my face in my hands, just looking at the sleeping girl with a smile. She seemed so peaceful and harmless and defenceless. It wasn't long before she shuffled and threw the sheets aside and sat up, eyes still closed and her hands went immediately to her head, clutching it tight. I sighed. She had a fever from the fatigue yesterday.

"I should have known." I commented from my seat. She jumped and screamed, clearly not expecting me.

"Itachi? How the heck did you get in? And were you just watching me sleep? Creeeeeepppppp!" She would have been louder and a bit more violent but her condition didn't allow it. It looked like whining to me.

"I got in from the window." I answered truthfully, pointing to the window and getting up in the process to check how high of a fever she had.

"What're you, a ninja?" Anna asked, pulling the quilt around her in a protective manner and scooting a little away from my hand.

"Let me take your temperature."

"No you stay away you creep you." She joked and raised her head enough so I could easily touch it from the distance.

"I was worried and the house was locked. What else was I supposed to do?"

"Ring my phone maybe?" Saying this she took her phone and glanced at the screen, and went, "oh."

"Its just a fatigue fever but you still need to rest it out." I retracted my hand and retook my seat. Anna seemed to be troubled about something and I could easily guess what it was. "Don't worry about them. I will tell Konan and Amalie that I have forbidden you from any such....adventures."

"Unsolicited bound-to-fail endeavour." She corrected. Suddenly, she stood up and opened the window, sighing contently when the room was filled with air. I just watched her. She met my gaze and smiled then a look of pure horror overtook it, followed by blood rushing to her face, further reddening it. I had trouble realising what she was so embarrassed about, then when she quickly hid herself completely under her quilt, and told me to "forget what you saw!", it struck me.

She was embarrassed about her clothes. When the sight had vanished from my eyes I noticed that she was wearing boxers and a really loose tanktop that showed some skin. Anna was self conscious about herself and for me to have seen so much skin....

My own face was a little pink and I thought it best to immediately quit the premises so I stood up and before going out of the door, I told Anna that I would be downstairs if she wanted to call for something. There was mum's recipe for a soup for instant energy and I decided to prepare that but had to confirm a few things first so I called my mother for it.

After Anna had eaten something, I told her to go to sleep and that I would be here until her brothers arrive and spent my time doing my homework. I took her phone from her so she wouldn't occupy herself with it. While her phone was with me, Konan called for their today's trip to a bound-to-fail endeavour, for Anna. I told her what had happened and forbade them both to ever tire Anna out so much again. Hours later when I went to check on Anna to see if she was asleep I found out she wasn't.

"Darn it all. Its the worst when you're tired and can't sleep." She complained and sat up. I felt for her fever and it was still there. She either needed to sleep it out or sweat it out. I sighed and unbuttoned my uniform shirt, taking it off. I had a thin fishnet under it of course.

"Scoot."

"Eh?" Once again Anna was a radiant red. "Wha-what-what are you doing?!" I chuckled at her stutter and slid in bed beside her, pulling her close and spreading the quilt over us.

"You would be skipping tomorrow as well at this rate. So I am helping you." She was quiet. "Don't mind the stench."

"Its a good stench."

With Anna this close and her breathing so rhythmically soothing, and me being unable to even close my eyes, my mind rethought over the happenings since Shisui arrived. I didn't like what was happening because it was taking me away from Anna. Everybody at those times said it was a part of growing up but if it meant not being able to stay this close with her, I didn't want to grow up.

~

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