Chapter 6: You Have to Kiss the Princess

"But I want to go to the su... su... sukermarket too," Setsu complained, brows pulling together and lower lip pushing into the cutest pout known to man. Sakura bit her lower lip and looked away in an effort to prevent herself from smiling. Setsu was having none of it.

"Sakura-chan..." the little boy said grumpily, slapping both wet palms to Sakura's cheeks and turning her face so she was looking at him again. "I want to go with you... please," he begged, turning his chocolatey eyes on her. Sakura groaned.

"Setsu, I have to ask your father if you can come with me. Besides, you have to go to your bed after your bath," the pinkette said, placing her hands on her hips even though she was sitting, and blinking green eyes at the currently soapy child. She took up the sponge and began to rub it gently over Setsu's shoulders. He was positive that he could bathe himself, but he wanted her to do it anyway.

"B-But I don't want to sleep," Setsu pouted, his jaw set and his eyes determined. "I want to go with you Sakura-chan."

"Where are you going?" a familiar deep and silky voice sounded from the doorway. Itachi-san had arrived. Sakura jumped slightly, she hadn't heard when he had arrived. A soapy hand found its way to her neck, leaving a trail of the white foaming suds.

"Oh! Itachi-san, you're back...I didn't hear when you arrived," Sakura croaked out, feeling a bit flustered to have Itachi-san catch her unawares... and in very small shorts and a saggy tank top. Why had she even brought this with her again?

Oh, right. Comfort.

"Hn," Itachi replied, stepping into the bathroom to greet Setsu. The little boy immediately perked up.

"Daddy! Welcome home!" Setsu grinned happily, throwing his hands up into the air, sending soap flying across the bathroom. Itachi evaded the flying glob of foam by swiftly moving his head to the side.

"Hn. Thank you, Setsu. You've been good today, hm?" Itachi-san murmured, bending to press a kiss to Setsu's wet forehead. Setsu nodded vigorously in reply.

"Uh huh! Me and Sakura-chan did lots of things!" he said, a large smile on his face as he leaned up to get his kiss. "Sakura-chan now, Daddy. You didn't kiss Sakura-chan," Setsu whispered loudly and furiously to his father, who'd begun to rise. Sakura's face went bright red, and she waved her soapy hand - still grasping the sponge - in the air.

"Aha... that is quite alright," she choked out, backing away.

But Itachi-san's cool, manly lips were already pressed to her forehead. Sakura squeaked a little, face going completely red. Why did he give in so easily? She noticed as he was pulling away that his cologne smelled really good, and the thought did not make her blush any easier to get rid of.

Silence reigned when Itachi-san straightened.

"Can you come in the bath with me Daddy?"

Sakura's eyes instantly widened, what was Setsu saying? She forced a polite smile, trying not to think about Itachi-san in the bath sans clothing with water trailing down his long silky hair and unto his-dammit! Sakura kicked herself mentally. What was she doing?

"Uhm...Setsu-chan that's...I am sure we can't all fit into the bath, besides this is your bath so me and your Daddy aren't allowed in it."

Setsu seemed to contemplate Sakura's words but was interrupted by a Itachi, who had a slight frown marring his forehead and a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.

"Are you insinuating that I am fat?" Itachi asked Sakura, his face completely stoic. Sakura felt like jumping into the bath water and staying underneath it. Itachi-san could be so infuriating! He knew that was not what she had meant but he seemed to like to get a rise out of her.

"You know that is not what I meant Itachi-san," Sakura answered politely, determined not to let Itachi fluster her any further. His eyebrows raised and he stepped closer to her.

"Is that so? Then why can we not all take a bath together? We are all rather slim," Itachi smirked.

"Yeah! What Daddy said!" Setsu chimed in, a little confused by his father and Sakura's conversation.

"I-I..." Sakura's tongue felt heavy and she couldn't think clearly. He could not be serious. Itachi leaned forward, swiped the soap suds off Sakura's neck before straightening, his face still completely serious.

"I was joking," he deadpanned.

"I… I knew that," Sakura sputtered, scowling.

"Hn," was all he responded with, but his expression made it clear that he didn't believe her in the least. Sakura turned back to Setsu, determined to get any unsuitable thoughts of her employer out of her mind.

"Setsu darling it's time to get out of the bath now," the pinkette smiled sweetly when the little boy held out his arms to be picked up.

"Will Sakura-chan read me a story?" Setsu asked, still a little pouty that he wasn't getting to go to the supermarket with his babysitter. Sakura quickly wrapped a fluffy yellow towel with a duck hoodie around Setsu and lifted him onto her hip.

"Of course, which story would you like me to read?" she asked, moving past Itachi, who she was determined to ignore, and stepping out into the hall. She could feel his presence behind her as he followed them. Infuriating man.

"The princess and prince one! Daddy can be the prince and Sakura-chan can be the princess!"

"Hn. That is a very good observation Setsu, you are quite smart," Itachi smirked from behind Sakura. The pink haired babysitter groaned mentally, so much for getting Itachi out of her head.

"Yes Setsu you are very smart," Sakura said, he tone a little too cheerful. Setsu grinned happily at all the praise and wrapped his little arms around Sakura's neck.

"So you will read the prince and princess story for me then Sakura-chan?" he asked, his large brown eyes wide with anticipation.

Sakura hesitated slightly. She didn't want to refuse Setsu for no apparent reason but at the same time she didn't really want to be in such close proximity to Itachi. Setsu's eyes widened and Sakura felt her heart crumble a little. Her resolve was non-existent where Setsu was concerned.

Useless.

It abandoned her completely.

"Yes Setsu-chan, I will read it for you," she replied and couldn't help but smile when Setsu threw his hands into the air and gave her a large rather wet kiss on the cheek.

"T'ank you Sakura-chan!" Setsu exclaimed happily and turned to look at Itachi when Sakura rested him on his bed to help him dress. "Otousan, you will be the prince, right?" He bounced a little on the bed and gave Itachi a guilty smile.

Sakura ruffled the duck-head over Setsu's hair, and the four year old squinted impatiently.

Itachi leaned against the doorway and gave Setsu a chaste smile.

"I will be the prince, but only if Sakura will be the princess. What do you say Sakura-san? surely you wouldn't deny my son such a thing?"

Sakura's back stiffened when she heard Itachi's smug question.

'Damn that sexy Uchiha. Wait what? Since when did I start calling Itachi sexy? Crap, focus Sakura!' the pinkette pulled herself from her mental tug-o-war and helped Setsu put on his underwear then marched over the chest of drawers to chose a warm set of pyjamas. She was interrupted by Setsu, who jumped off the the bed and ran to the drawer before she could get there. He jumped to open the third drawer and held on to the edge of it so he could reach inside.

"I want to wear the duck ones!" he exclaimed then pulled out a plushie yellow onesie with a duck hoodie. Sakura watched as he scurried over to his closet and yanked some webbed bed slippers from his shoe rack. He turned back to face her with a delighted expression on his face.

Sakura pressed her hand to her lips to try and hold back laughter but her efforts were in vain and it bubbled up from her throat.

"Setsu-chan you're so adorable! Of course you can wear the duck ones! They look so cute on you!"

"T'ankyou Sakura-chan, can you help?" Setsu asked politely, one of his feet stuck in the cute yellow onesie. Sakura giggled at Setsu's attempts to dress himself and placed him back on the bed.

"Here sweetie, your feet go through here and your hands through here," Sakura instructed gently, while Setsu eagerly scurried to follow her instructions. Itachi watched on from the side, once again feeling strangely out of place and not knowing what to do about it. He never really… played with Setsu… not like this.

Was he supposed to? Did that make him a bad father?

It wasn't as if he didn't want to join in. It was that he didn't really know how. He would make an effort, though.

"What sound does a duck make, Setsu?" he asked, allowing a smile to tilt his lips. Setsu grinned up at him before flapping his arms cutely.

"Quack quack, Daddy! A duck goes quack quack! Because I saw them at the park!" he said, pausing when the duck head hoodie flopped down over his eyes. He pushed it out of the way.

Itachi felt a strange crushing feeling in his chest.

His little boy was happy. He'd never been this… radiant before. His gaze slid to the pink-haired woman who'd brought the joy back to Setsu's eyes.

Sakura.

He couldn't deny that she was a blessing in his life. She'd brought back life to Setsu that he hadn't seen since...since Akane had been alive. But at the same time he was jealous that it was so easy for the pinkette to be as carefree as she was with his son, as he'd seen quite a bit of in the month and a half that she'd been under his employment. He didn't want to lose Setsu to Sakura but he didn't want to lose Sakura to his selfish desires, she was good for his son and maybe him too.

Itachi crossed the room and enveloped Setsu in his arms, causing Sakura to jump back with a surprised squeak at his sudden closeness.

"Daddy?" Setsu asked unsurely after Itachi said nothing for a couple minutes. The older Uchiha cleared his throat and stepped back, ruffling the duck hoodie on his son's head.

"I'm sorry Setsu, I was just very proud at how smart you are," Itachi covered, the corner of his lips turning upwards in a rare smile.

"T'ankyou! I want to be smart like Otousan! Otousan is the smartest in the whole world!" Setsu exclaimed happily before throwing his arms around Itachi in an attempt to give his father the biggest hug he could. Itachi smiled and pulled his son close. He raised a brow.

"Now, shall we read?" he asked, looking down into Setsu's eyes. Setsu pouted.

"We have to be patient, because Sakura-chan has to go to the su… sukermarket…" he muttered, folding his arms across his chest. The duck head hoodie slid over his eyes again.

Setsu wriggled impatiently from his place in between Sakura and Itachi, grinning excitedly. He loved when Sakura read stories, because she always used different voices and expressions. Sometimes he watched her rather than followed along in the book.

"Do you have your cookies, Setsu-chan?" Sakura asked as she tugged Setsu's large blue blanket over their legs. Setsu nodded exuberantly and pointed to the bowl he'd stuck between his thighs.

"See? I have four, like my age," he said, showing Sakura the miniature cookies she'd made just for him. She'd even called them Setsu Cookies, because they were special just like him. She'd even put raisin eyes and an icing smile on them so each cookie looked like a smiley face.

"Excellent," Sakura said, grinning back at him. Setsu grabbed on to Sakura's arm and burrowed beneath it so he was snuggled against her side. He liked that she was soft and smelled nice all the time.

"Daddy, do you have your cookies?" Setsu asked looking around Sakura's arm and peering up at his father's face.

"Yes I do," Itachi said, showing Setsu his bowl of cookies. Setsu had demanded that they have cookies when Sakura read the story, 'because that's when cookies taste the best'. Itachi had to admit that all the cookies he'd nicked from the jar late at night had been amazing. There was no doubt that Sakura was very skilled in the kitchen.

"Okay," Setsu said, satisfied. Sakura cuddled him closer and opened the book.

"Once upon a time," Sakura read.

"Wait," Setsu interrupted. "Daddy you need to put your arm…" He wriggled away from Sakura and lifted Itachi's arm up, trying to get it over Sakura's shoulders. "...It has to be on Sakura's shoulders Daddy… like the family with the mommy, okay?" he insisted, looking up at Itachi with large brown eyes. Itachi obliged, lightly resting his arm over Sakura's shoulders. The pink haired woman blushed and quickly averted her eyes to avoid Itachi's.

Setsu squirmed back under Sakura's arm and snuggled closer to her.

"Can I read now?" Sakura asked, raising one pink brow. At Setsu's vehement nodding, she smiled and continued reading.

'Once upon a time, there lived a princess. She was the most beautiful lady in all the land. She had lovely green eyes-'

"Like Sakura-chan's," Setsu whispered at his father in explanation. Sakura bit her lip to hide her smile.

'- and long bl-'

Setsu interrupted again.

"Daddy," he whispered. "Don't you think Sakura-chan's eyes are lovely like the princess?"

"Certainly," Itachi whispered back. Sakura cleared her throat.

'- and long blonde hair that-'

"Sakura-chan," Setsu whispered again. "Can we make her hair pink like yours? Please?" Sakura paused and chuckled a little.

'She had lovely green eyes and long pink hair that was the envy of all the country. But the princess was sad, because she was lonely. She had no brothers or sisters, and her mother had died of an illness.'

"Just like me and Sakura, Daddy," Setsu explained to Itachi in a whisper.

'So the king decided that he should have a big party so that the princess could make new friends so she wouldn't be sad or lonely anymore. The king called up all his counsellors and advisors and told them there was to be a big party for the princess.

But the princess didn't want a party. The princess only wanted a mother and one good friend to talk to.'

"Like me, Daddy," Setsu whispered again. Sakura felt a small burn in her chest whenever she thought about Setsu feeling sad and lonely because his mother was gone. She gave him a gentle cuddle, and he immediately snuggled closer to her.

'But the king was sure that a party would help, so there was a large party, and all the people of the land were invited. Now, there were people in the king's castle that didn't like the king, and who thought it would be a good idea to kidnap the princess for ransom. The evil people sent messages to their friends in the country and planned to kidnap the princess.

They came to the party, looking for a good opportunity to take the princess away. Now, the prince set his strongest guards to guard the princess, so that she was safe. But the evil people outsmarted the guards and took away the princess and carried her off into the night.

Now the king was very angry, and very worried, because his beloved daughter was gone, so he sent a message to the White Prince from the neighbouring country, and asked him to save the princess. The White Prince was the strongest, smartest and most handsome prince in all the world.'

"Just like you, Daddy!" Setsu whispered excitedly.

'"Of course, I will save the princess",' Itachi read, looking as stoic as the image of the prince on the storybook's pages. '"I shall call up my best knights and we will ride out into the forest and find her. We will bring her back safely to you, and punish the miscreants that kidnapped her," the prince said,' Itachi continued.

'The prince did as he said he would and called up his best knights, and they rode out into the forest in search of the princess. Now the princess was very smart too, and she wanted to leave a trail in case anyone came looking for her. As the evil people took her deeper into the forest, she cut off locks of her pink hair and scattered them in the path.

"I hope someone will find me," she thought to herself. "I just want to go back to my father and I will be happy. Well maybe a new mother would be nice too."

The evil people locked the princess away in a little hut and left her there with barely anything to eat or drink.

The prince and his men searched everywhere for clues, and then as they searched the forest, the prince found the princess' hair in the path.'

Sakura paused so that Itachi could read.

'"Look men," the prince said. "I have found this strange, beautiful pink hair. I think that if we find more of this hair, we will find the princess."'

Setsu nibbled eagerly on his cookie, fully engrossed in the story.

'So the prince and his men dismounted their horses, and began searching for the princess' hair. They followed the trail which led them to the little hut where the princess was kept.'

Sakura paused again so that Itachi could read.

'"I shall save this princess, and return her to her father," the prince said. "And I shall make sure that whoever is responsible for her kidnapping is banished from the land forever."' Itachi read, his voice firm and determined.

A few minutes later, Sakura was reading Setsu's favorite part - the part where the prince made the rescue.

'The princess looked up when the door to her prison was opened and wiped the tears from her eyes,' Sakura read.

'"I'm the White Prince and I've come to rescue you," the White Prince said to the princess. "Do not fear." The prince had never seen anybody as beautiful as the princess before. Even though her … pink hair was now short, she was still the most beautiful person in the whole world.' Itachi read, his voice softening.

"Just like Sakura-chan!" Setsu squealed in delight.

'"Thank you for coming to my rescue, White Prince," the princess said. "Please let me know how I can ever repay you for saving me from the evil people who kidnapped me!" she cried out happily.' Sakura read. Setsu wriggled eagerly beside her.

'"I would have a kiss, princess," the White Prince said, before giving the princess a charming bow.' Itachi read.

'The princess blushed prettily-'

"Just like Sakura-chan, Daddy, look!" Setsu whispered gleefully. Sakura's face flushed.

"Indeed," Itachi whispered back.

'The princess blushed prettily but before she could do anything, the evil people returned.' Sakura read.

"Quick, Daddy, beat them up," Setsu whispered hurriedly.

"Be patient, Setsu," Itachi said before reading. 'The prince and his knights quickly overpowered and captured the evil people and carried them and the princess back to the king's palace. The king was very impressed by the White Prince-'

"Obviously, Daddy, because you are the best," Setsu said proudly. A smile pushed to Itachi's lips and Sakura had to hide a giggle behind her hand.

'- and he decided to give the ransom money to the White Prince and his knights.

"I have not yet received my reward from the princess," the White Prince said. The prince took the princess by the hand. She smiled beautifully at him."

"And then she kissed him before all the land!" Setsu cheered, bouncing a little on the bed, remembering the line word for word. "Daddy, you have to kiss Sakura-chan! Because you saved her life and now she must re… re… reward you!"

"Setsu… I don't think-"

"But Daddy," Setsu interrupted, looking worried. "You have to… Sakura is even prettier than the princess… please Daddy? Please Sakura… like in the story?" he turned big brown eyes in Sakura's direction.

Sakura wasn't sure how to deny him, but he couldn't just go around turning big brown eyes at her and expecting her to do what he wanted.

"Setsu, darling, I'm not really the princess…" she started, trying to find a way to bring her point across.

"B-But Sakura-chan, you have to… please? It's not going to hurt, is it? It doesn't hurt when you kiss me… Don't you love my Daddy like the princess? Don't you want to kiss my Daddy?" he asked, his eyes wide and worried.

Wow.

Talk about a loaded question.

"Hn," Itachi grunted. He lifted his hand from where it lay by Sakura's shoulder and cupped the back of her head. With a smooth motion, he pulled her closer to him.

There was a moment in which all Sakura could do was gasp, then his lips were pressed to hers… and she was kissing him… over Setsu's head. Setsu looked up and giggled in sheer delight.

"Yay! Go, Daddy!" he cheered, clapping his hands.

Somewhere along the line, Itachi forgot that Setsu was even there… because kissing Akane had never felt even a tenth of how good it felt kissing Sakura. Because her lips were moving just like his were, and because she was soft and warm and he'd missed this.

He'd not had contact with another human in this way in …. so long.

And she tasted good too.

"Urm… You can stop now…" Setsu whispered loudly some moments after. "The story isn't finished yet!"

HAHAHAHA! OMG SETSU! Ohohohoho Setsu is a little matchmaker~ we have finally updated, and we hope you enjoy the chapter as much as we did *giggles*. Things are finally heating up between Itachi and Sakura, ehehehehe stay tuned for more. *0*

Read and Review pleasu (even though we didn't update for ages *puppy eyes*)