Affection Between Us ||SasuIchi Oneshot Booklet||

Don't

A/N: I adjusted the timeline so the Uchiha Massacre happens when Sasuke is five instead of seven. Sasuke is also two years older than Ichiki Kuran.

The brothers clashed, neither of them holding back as their powers collided in a fierce battle of fire versus fire. Itachi and Sasuke had picked up some jutsu through the years, but now was not the time to withdraw the aces from their sleeves. Quite the opposite, it was still the painful reunion phase of the duel where they merely analysed one another and looked for weaknesses.

However, things would get deadly soon.

As they fought, Ichiki ran at her top speed towards the feuding Uchihas. She owed it to the brothers, each having saved her in one way or another, to prevent the act that would leave them all scarred for the rest of eternity. Ichiki hadn't enjoyed the process, but she'd managed to gain vital info and she needed to share.

When she came upon the brothers, Itachi was weakly advancing towards Sasuke and Sasuke had his sword ready to pierce the frail elder brother one last time.

"No, Sasuke! Don't! Don't do it!"

She ripped the sword from his startled grasp, throwing it as far as she could. Itachi slumped against her, too weak to stand at this point.

"What are you doing, Kuran?" Itachi demanded in a whisper.

"I'm not allowing either of you to fall into darkness!" Ichiki whirled around to catch Itachi as he collapsed.

Horrorified, Sasuke watched as his once lover cradled the man whom he hated most.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!"

"Sasuke-San, you've been lied to your entire life. If you kill this man, you'll kill the only fragment of light inside your heart!" Ichiki clutched Itachi's wheezing body to her breasts.

Under the orders of Lady Tsunade, Ichiki Kuran had gone under cover as a rogue and joined Team Taka. She seduced Sasuke Uchiha and quite nearly brought him back to the Hidden Leaf, but the gig was up when her conscience kicked in and she had to leave. This plunged Sasuke farther into the darkness, believing that the woman that broke his walls could never truly love him.

"Don't patronise me. He's a murderer!"

"And you'll be one too if you end his life! Danzo is to blame for this, Sasuke-San!"

His mind was clouded, she could tell. Part of him knew that she was speaking the truth, but his angry heart only desired vengeance against both of them. He who had taken away his family and she who had taken his virginity on the anniversary of their demise.

"Don't compare me to him!"

"Danzo told Itachi-San to kill off the Uchiha, but he couldn't kill you. Don't you see, Sasuke-San? Itachi-San loved you too much and he still does! He's done everything just for you!"

Her eyes fluttered down to the barely breathing male.

"You're lying again," Sasuke was seething.

"Don't you dare say such things, Sasuke-San. Kurans do not lie. If you don't believe my words, then seek out Danzo yourself. As for me, I'm taking Itachi-San and getting him medical treatment. And before you try to kill me, know that the next line of the mighty Uchiha grows within me."

With that, Ichiki gave Sasuke a sad smile and teleported far away from the disgruntled avenger. Itachi was saved, though he almost died twice, and he didn't know whether or not to thank Ichiki. His nurse, a blonde with pigtails, smiled at him and he returned the gesture.

"You're lucky to have come here when you did, Uchiha-San. Your injuries were pretty bad and you seemed to have an illness that could've been terminal if left untreated. Luckily, medical advances have created a cure and you'll be good as new by the end of the week!" Naruko giggled.

His mouth quirked slightly, the only visible sign of his surprise. Itachi turned to face his saviour, only to find her slumbering with her hands on her tummy.

"Don't wake her," he told the nurse.

"Wouldn't dream of it. Pregnant women are scary," she cringed.

Naruko left, running to grab more bandages in case Itachi's wounds reopened from him moving. Once the two ravens were alone, Itachi weakly sat up and cupped his pounding head. He sighed, awkwardly scratching at his temple as he was not entirely sure as to how to proceed from this point. In all of his careful calculations, he had forgotten to include the honour bound Kuran and hadn't been prepared for her to put her life on the line to save his or his brother's. She was a force to be reckoned with, that much was sure.

"Rest now, don't think too much."

He looked over to the carrier of the next Uchiha.

"I don't know if I should be mad or grateful," he replied.

"Both. Your suicide plot was thwarted and Danzo was outed. Either way, I don't much care."

"You're being talkative."

"Sasuke-San told me to communicate more."

"I suppose it helps with missions."

"That reminds me, you're do for a mission once you recover completely. Tsunade's orders."

Itachi was confused.

"Danzo was outed and you were cleared. Don't be so surprised," Ichiki rolled her eyes.

"How? Why?"

"I'm used to you looking stoic and having all of the answers. I thought it might be refreshing or amusing to see you bewildered for once. It's not something that I prefer, though. The how was simple, I thought Danzo was sketchy and I investigated. He pretty much gave himself over to the police. As for the why, that's also simple. I owe it to the both of you to restore your happiness."

Itachi was about to speak, but Ichiki leaned over and pressed a finger to his lips.

"Don't ask anymore questions. Rest. Aren't you sleepy?"

Her eyes were activated and he'd made the mistake of looking at them, their power drawing him in as his body felt lighter and lighter. His back slumped against the bed, his mouth posed in a graceful grin as he gently snored. Ichiki kissed his forehead and left, closing the door behind her.

"How long were you listening?" she asked.

"Tch."

"It's okay to visit him," she tilted her head to the side, flashing a confused smile.

"Hn."

"Don't be like that, Sasuke-San. You know that you've loved him all of these years. He hurt you and you were mad, but you will always be family and family loves one another."

"Since you have been so sappy?"

"Karin-chan and Yumeko-chan are very influential women," Ichiki giggled.

Sasuke stepped closer, his eyes losing their harshness. He caught himself, though, before he could take her in his arms.

"Why did you save us?"

"Don't be so surprised, Sasuke-San. You of the Uchiha Clan seem to have a knack for underestimating me. I owed you two and I simply repaid my debt... and I didn't want another family to fall apart when I could do something to fix it."

"Do you.. love him?"

Ichiki bit her lip to keep from laughing, but ended up hugging her knees to her chest as the sound exploded from her.

Sasuke's eye twitched, prompting Ichiki to stand and apologise.

"My heart does not belong to Itachi-San."

His eyes narrowed.

"Tch, I don't believe it."

Before he could launch into a diatribe, Ichiki gently placed her lips over his as her arms twined around Sasuke's broad shoulders. Their bodies were flush against one another and he could feel the subtle bump on her torso that indicated that there was life brewing.

"It shall forever be only yours," she whispered against his mouth.