The next few days are spent comforting Itachi and waiting until he feels better.

Shisui has become a little distant from them both, but Sakura tries to give him his space.

Itachi on the other hand, is quite upset. He clings and tries to engage the other alpha with increasing anxiousness.

"He's mad at me," Asks Itachi as they enter into the Social Center, "Isn't he?"

"He's just hurt," Says Sakura. "He's a big boy and he'll get over it."

"It doesn't help that he and Izumi are on the outs, either, un." Chimes Deidara. "Double whammy."

Kin's arm comes around the blonde omega's neck as she jumps on him. "Dei-kun!"

His eyes go comically wide before narrowing in anger and they bicker while he tries to throw her off.

Sai bumps his shoulder against Itachi's. "Hey."

"Hey," Itachi replies.

Ino finally makes an appearance, offering Itachi a single white poppy. The softness with which he takes it makes Sakura think there's a message behind it.

After all, no flowers are offered to the noisy blonde omega.

"Thank you," He tells Ino softly.

She smiles, turning to the other omega and clapping her hands. "Alright. Go away. I'm tired of seeing your faces for today."

Kin pouts, letting go of the blonde. "Alpha is mean." She takes the hands of Itachi and Sai, leading them away, "Come on, Dei-kun~"

Reluctantly, Deidara follows. Sakura can hear all sorts of nasty remarks under his breath, but he still cooperates.

"How's everyone handling it?" Asks Ino.

"Shisui's pretty put out." Says Sakura. "I wish he'd be a little more supportive. This was harder for Itachi than for us."

"How are you feeling about it?" Asks Ino.

Sakura shrugs. "Sad. But he's been through enough and I'd rather this than make him go through it again."

"Well," Says Ino. "Shisui's being an ass, but his rut smells suuuuper close."

"Is it?" Asks Sakura. That would explain the on-edge behavior and obsession with babies he'd seemed to suddenly have developed.

"I forget you're on hormone blockers," Says Ino. "But yeah. Maybe you should take him out to the cabin and let him rough it. It might help."

"Do you think he'd want to go?" She asks. "Maybe he has a routine for it..."

"I think his routine is 'pretend like it's not happening and bite everyone's head off.'"

They pause to watch the aforementioned man capture Kin. She squeals as he tickles her. Deidara jumps on his back and he lets the female omega go in favor of the blonde.

A few unfamiliar omegas have taken to following him around and trying to get him to chase them too.

He's polite but focuses on the four he's entertaining. Occasionally lunges for one of the others so they'll shriek in excitement and run away.

Itachi's ability to squeeze through tight spaces, better knowledge of the layout, and speed keep Shisui from even coming close to capturing him.

It's still a good thrill for the pair.

The other alpha look at him like he's a creep but if Shisui notices, he doesn't give any indication.

Shisui manages to manhandle the blonde to the ground and, like clockwork, another random omega lies beside Deidara. A slender throat is bared and Shisui's gaze flickers to the show of submission.

Deidara pushes them away. "This is my alpha, damnit, un."

Sakura can't quite hide her surprise. Her brows raise into her hairline when the blonde climbs into the alpha Uchiha's lap and glares at the stunned omega. "Go back to yours!"

This is when Shisui looks to her to see if she'd witnessed it, too. His amusement is tangible as he stands in one, smooth movement. Deidara's shifted under his arm akin to the way one would hold a football. And while this visibly annoys the smaller man, all he says is. "Mine, un."

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"This is why he should go to the cabin. He's ruffling other alpha feathers by being so close to rut that omegas are leaving their partners for him." Says Ino.

"I think it doesn't help that he's playing with omega they identify as his," Agrees Sakura. "It makes him look like good mate material as opposed to the alpha who just sit at the tables and let them roam."

"He only looks like good mate material?" Asks Ino.

"That's not what I mean," Says Sakura. "Every omega wants an engaged alpha."

They watch him get body slammed by Sai and he drops Deidara, who disappears into the fake bamboo forest in the left corner of the building.

Itachi darts past and Shisui's fingers catch on his ankle enough that it throws him off balance. He knocks into Sai and they both tumble for a foot for two.

"The Uchiha Clan is getting restless," Says Ino. "My dad thinks they're up to something."

"I think they're just frustrated that progress isn't coming as quickly as they'd like."

"The Yamanaka sent the Clan Head white poppies and he sent back begonias."

"I don't know what any of that means, Ino."

"The poppy I gave to Itachi is condolences and hopes for peace. The ones sent, I imagine, are a request for peace and avoidance of war."

"He must really think something's going on," Says Sakura. "Shisui said it wasn't going to happen."

"Begonias mean gratitude and respect," Ino tells her. "But they also are a warning of misfortunes yet to come."

"Maybe he didn't mean the double entendre."

"Honestly, Sakura," Says the blonde alpha. "I'm telling you so that you can protect yourself. They aren't going to care if it comes down on you."

"I may not trust them," Sakura admits. "But I trust Shisui. And he would tell me if something was going to happen."

The Godaime's apprentice can't help her laughter when she spots the curly haired alpha being dragged across the carpet by three lithe omega. Itachi sits cross-legged on top of him, happy as a lark at their victory.

"Hey," Says a woman as she approaches them. "Can you get your friend? He's being inappropriate."

"He's not doing anything wrong," Says Sakura.

"Everyone knows you shouldn't be around this many omegas during rut." Says the woman. "His indiscretion is rousing mine."

Sakura shrugs. "He hasn't started rut yet and it's not our problem that your omega is so thirsty for attention that his glance makes them excited. Maybe you should be the one chasing them around instead of him."

The woman's mouth clicks shut.

"He has as much right to be here as you," Says Sakura. "And we'll be leaving once he wears out my omega."

She receives a dirty look but the woman retreats.

He's actually sweating when he comes back to them. "I need a break," He says. "They have the advantage in this place."

"They really do," Says Sakura.

"I'll do it~" Chimes a familiar voice.

Sakura turns to see Izumi. Her skin-tight tank top and form fitting leggings emphasize her lean, almost muscular build.

She can't deny that the female Uchiha has a big butt -- has never agreed with Shisui before this.

"Damn it, Izumi," Says Shisui. "I think you just stole Sakura from me."

While Sakura splutters, Izumi replies. "I love stealing your bed partners. It's an enjoyable challenge."

"So you're saying you like my sloppy seconds?"

The brunette scrunches her nose in disgust. "You say the nastiest shit."

"It's a talent. I am a prodigy, after all."

Izumi rolls her eyes.

"Speaking of bed partners," He says. "Your boyfriends are looking for you."

"Oh?" Says the female Uchiha. "Which ones?"

"All of them. I told them you've been super busy with Clan business."

"Well, shit." Says Izumi. "That can't be good. Can you tell them I'm dead?"

"Because they'll totally believe that when they see your dumbass around the village. Also, I don't think I'll be able to look happy enough to convince them."

"You are such a dickhead."

"Wait," Says Sakura. "Aren't you married?"

"It's complicated," Shisui and Izumi reply in unison.

Something about it doesn't quite sit right with Sakura but she brushes it aside.

Shisui holds out his hand and Izumi's connects. At the same time, they say. "Tapped in."

The brunette chases the four omega in his place. The other alpha are staring again but it's for a completely different reason.

"Is that Izumi Uchiha?" Someone to Sakura's left asks.

"You can't tell by her ass?"

"Do you think it's real? I've never seen an Uchiha that gifted."

"Should I say something?" Sakura asks Shisui.

He shakes his head. "They're just pointing out the obvious. Many of us are famous for our prowess -- Izumi's famous for the junk in her trunk."

Ino and Sakura share an unamused look.

Annoyed but deciding to fight him about it later, she says. "It looks like you two are getting along again."

"Mostly," He says. "We can keep fun and arguments separate."

"So..." Says Sakura. "You're still fighting?"

"Something like that," He replies.

xXx

"Cabin?" Asks Shisui. The rays of the setting sun ring him like an aura as they sit together on her back porch. "The one your family owns out in Frost?"

"Yeah," Says Sakura. "We should go while you're in rut."

His expression is skeptical as he takes a long drag from his cigarette. The smoke billows out of his mouth as if he were some sort of mythical creature when he says, "Why?"

"I just think it would be good for you to do alpha things -- get it out of your system."

"I'm not in rut," He says.

"Not yet," Says Sakura.

"You're on hormone blockers," He quips. "How would you know?"

"Ino? The woman who yelled at me today because you went in public and put your scent on everything."

"Oh," He says, expression sheepish.

The crickets sing to each other and the sun begins to dip below the horizon. He puts out his cigarette only to light a new one. "Sakura?"

"Yeah?" She says, resisting the urge to lecture him about his health.

"What do I lack so profoundly that Itachi didn't want to bear my young?" He takes a drag from his cigarette. "Am I not enough?"

"Nothing," Says Sakura. "Nothing is wrong with you except that you're taking this personal."

He looks at her with a furrowed brow.

"It's your rut, Shisui," Sakura tells him. "It's also his trauma."

"But he's safe. Omega are specifically for bearing young and warming beds."

"You better not say that to him," She says. "How would you like it if he said alpha were only good for providing seed and keeping a roof over his head?"

The dark haired man sighs, flicking the ashes into the tray he'd brought because Sakura didn't have one. "That is literally the purpose of an alpha," He says. "We defend, care for, and impregnate omegas."

"Okay," Says Sakura, "But what if all anyone said was just a reminder? It'd get old, right?"

"It could," He admits.

"And there's more to you than that, right?"

"Like what?" He says.

"Well," Says the pink haired alpha as she kisses him. He tastes like smoke, mint, and blood. "You're an Uchiha. You tell stupid jokes and have many talents."

"You flatter me so," He replies. "Ambiguity and physical affection are my weaknesses."