Chapter 1

Sakura shivered. It was cold in her cell. She didn’t knew how long ago the shark-looking man had kidnapped her. He must’ve knocked her out.

The girls head pounded from pain. Also, most of her fingers were broken by the look of it. They stood out in a strange angle. Her wrist were bounded to her feet. Every bone in the girls body hurt from laying on the ground for so long. She didn’t wanted to know why they took her. ‘Kakashi-sensei, Naruto… Sasuke-kun…’ Sakura thought.

She looked around a little, although her vision still wasn’t sharp. She had lost a great amount of blood. It seemed a small room made from white stone. There were no windows, only a wooden door. Sakura sighed, then wished she hadn’t. It hurt to much.

She closed her eyes, trying to think she was home again. Of course, she couldn’t. It was just so cold… ‘If I could get me some chakra…’Sakura thought desperately. She tried to focus her chakra to her hands, but she was too weak. It pained her. She passed out.

- - - - - -

Slowly, she came by again. Sakura blinked a couple of times with her eyes to sharpen her sight. Then, she saw someone standing in the door opening.

She gasped, then grunted of pain. Hasty she tried to move away from the door, but it didn’t work. She only pained herself more.
The person was wearing a long, black with red cloak. Sakura couldn’t see his face clearly, but in a way, she also didn’t wanted to. His hair was black though, and half of his face hid behind the collar of his cloak.

He started to walk towards her. Sakura closed her eyes again. She just wished he killed her without any pain, quickly, so she was free. But she didn’t felt death take her. Nothing happened.

Very, very slowly, she opened her eyes again. She looked up a little, trying not to hurt herself. Two deep red eyes were staring to her. She recognised them as Sharingan. Sasuke-kun? Shot through her head. But the eyes were different. They looked upon her emotionless, but hard at the same time. “S-…” Sakura tried to speak. The man kneeled down next to her. She could now see his face more clear. His black hair was long, and tied back in an ponytail. He really reminded her of Sasuke. But this wasn’t him. And there were only three person from whom she knew they had Sharingan. Sasuke, Kakashi and…

“I-.. Ita-…” Sakura tried. “I guess you know my name.” He said, with a dark and low voice. “Uchiha Itachi. And you are Haruno Sakura.” Sakura only nodded slightly. She didn’t wanted to talk anymore. She was afraid, terrified, and in pain.

Itachi raised his hand and touched her cheek. Immediately more pain shot through her cheek from where he touched her. She let out a cry of pain. He pulled his hand back. She could see his nails were painted purple. Sakura wondered why.

“Kisame didn’t really treat you well.” Itachi said. Sakura shivered when hearing his low voice. “You don’t have the chakra and strength to heal yourself.” Sakura didn’t even thought about that yet. ‘Just give me an other room, just give me an other room, just give me an other room…’

Itachi stood up. “I’ll come back tomorrow to check you.” He left with those words.

Sakura didn’t knew what to do. She felt like crying, but that probably would only hurt her more. She couldn’t move, but she couldn’t lay still like this as well. Her head ache became more painful and pounded more. Then, she passed out.

- - - - - -

“Oy, kunoichi. Wake up.” Someone punched Sakura hard in her side. She clapped from pain. The person laughed. Sakura knew it wasn’t Itachi. Then it had to be Kisame, the shark man. And so he was.

Kisame looked down at Sakura, grinning. He was wearing the same cloak as Itachi had. “The little kunoichi is awake? Good. I have your food.” The man pointed at an cup of soup, an glass of water and one single strawberry. “You figure out how to eat it, Itachi didn’t tell me I had to help you eat.” Laughing, he left. Sakura looked at the food. Then she realized she had an enormous hunger. But how was she going to eat it? And, second, what if the food was poisoned? She couldn’t take the risk. Or maybe, she should take it, and she would die, and would finally be out of pain.

Sakura tried to get closer to the food. No success. Only pain, more and more pain.

Then, she heard someone scream. Tired she looked up to the closed door. She knew hundred percent it had been Kisame. Something fell on the floor. Footsteps became louder as they came closer to her cell. Sakura quickly closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. She could hear the door open. Someone was walking towards her. The footsteps stopped. It stayed quiet for a while. ‘What are you doing!?’ Sakura thought, a little frightened, a little angry. ‘Do what you want already!’

“I know you’re awake.” Itachi’s low voice said. Sakura opened her eyes. It had no use pretending if he knew she was awake anyway. She tried to look angry and violent, but Itachi’s gaze remained emotionless.

He kneeled down again like he had done before. Careful, almost lovingly he removed the ropes that held her hands and feet together. Sakura stretched a little, but regretted it. She moaned, and squeezed her eyes shut. ‘Why does it hurt so much…’She thought. ‘Make it stop, please make it stop… I don’t want to be in this pain anymore… Kill me, Itachi… Make it stop… I beg of you…’

When she opened her eyes again, she couldn’t see him anymore. Wondering if he had left, she tried to turn her head a little.
“Don’t move.” Itachi’s voice said from behind. Sakura did as told. She didn’t want him to get angry on her, she was defenceless.
She felt his hands touch her body. It hurt a lot, but she bit her lip not to give in to pain. Itachi felt the bruised parts of her body to check her. His hands slid over her hurt skin. Then, careful he places one arm under her legs and one under her shoulders and lifted her up, bride style. His touch pained Sakura so much, though it felt nice in a way. She tried not to lean against him, but she was so exhausted that her head fell against his chest.

Itachi walked to the still open door and walked into a hallway. Sakura wanted to look around, but didn’t had the strength to lift her head. The young man walked into an other room. It was warm inside. The room wasn’t small, but not large either. A small about of furniture filled the room.

Slowly, Itachi laid the girl down on a soft, two person bed. Then, he left the room. Sakura felt at more comfort, but still had pain. ‘Why?’The girl wondered. ‘Why would he suddenly be kind? … Strange…’More time to think about it she didn’t have, because Itachi returned, holding the plate with her food. He sat down next to her on the bed. “Eat.” He said.

Sakura looked at him. Eat? ‘You see? It IS poisoned!’Inner Sakura screamed. Sakura didn’t move. Itachi just looked at her. His cold hearted, murdering Sharingan eyes stared into hers. She really felt uncomfortable.
“You have to eat.” Itachi said. “You will need your strength.” Still, Sakura refused to move. Even if she had wanted to, she couldn’t because of the pain.

As if he was reading her mind, Itachi softly started to help her up. It took her a lot of her last strength, and her head pounded again, but she was sitting. Itachi took a pillow and placed it slowly behind her back. Then, he picked up the plate with the food and placed on her lap.

Sakura slowly lifted her hand to reach out for the spoon. It seemed to take hours. Finally, she tried to pick it up. But she couldn’t do it. With no strength, broken fingers and her whole body shaking, she just couldn’t hold it.

Itachi helped again. He picked up the spoon and dipped in into the soup. Them, he brought it to her mouth. He waited for her to eat.

But she didn’t. ‘It’s poisoned.’Her inner self said. ‘A fool could tell!’

“It is not poisoned.” Said Itachi suddenly, again like he could read what she thought. “There is no reason to kill you. I would have done it already if that was my purpose.”

Sakura knew she couldn’t trust him, but what he said did make sense. She opened her mouth a little and he placed the spoon in it. As she felt the warm soup slide down her soar throat, she wanted more. Itachi kept feeding her. It seemed ridicules for her, but she didn’t care. She had to eat.

After a while, the spoon scratched over the bottom from the cup. Itachi laid down the spoon and took the glass of water. Gently, he placed it between her dry lips. Sakura drank quickly. She still was so thirsty that she became hasty and almost choked. Coughing, she felt the pain come back.

Itachi placed the glass back on the plate. The plate he laid down on the ground. He waited for her to stop coughing.

“You’re fingers are broken.” He said, as if she didn’t knew yet. “I’ll take care of them, but you have to hold them still.”

Carefully, Itachi picked up her small hands.

Sakura twitched a little, but didn’t move. Itachi got some bandages and little pieces wood. He laid those on her fingers and wrapped them in. After that, he did her other hand. Sakura didn’t know what to think. ‘He kidnapped us!!’ Inner Sakura screamed. ‘But he’s treating my wounds…’ Sakura thought. ‘He’s doing it so careful…’ ‘Hey, Uchiha Itachi is – a – killer! He slaughtered his WHOLE family!’ Inner Sakura replied. ‘You think he’s sweet? Kind? Caring? Hell no!’ ‘But-’

“I’m finished.” Itachi said. Sakura ripped herself from her thoughts and looked to the man. He looked far older than he was. He was six years older than Sasuke right? ‘Than he must be around… twenty one, now.’ Sakura thought.

“Speak.” Itachi suddenly said. Sakura looked up, confused. Speak?
”You can speak right? Than speak what’s on your mind.” He continued. Sakura opened her mouth. What should she say??

“…Eh… Why-… Did you… Take me… To here?…” She mumbled. Talking was still hard, but it didn’t hurt so much anymore.

“You’re a top healer.” Itachi answered. Sakura waited for the rest, but that didn’t come.

So it was quiet for a while.

Sakura looked at him, but tried to not look in his red Sharingan eyes. Itachi stared at the jade green eyes that avoided his look.

“Uhm…” Sakura said against Itachi’s shoulder. “Well thanks- … But… So?…”

Itachi seemed to think. Sakura guessed he tried to plan a way to tell without mentioning things that were secret.

“Akatsuki needs a good healer.” Itachi finally said. “In a while we have to fight. We need a healer for when things go ill.”
Sakura stared at him. “And-… You think… I’ll just d-.. do that?…” She said with difficulty.

Itachi stared at her, with his deadly gaze. She avoided it again. ‘Guess that’s a yes.’ She thought.

“You’re a member for now.” Itachi continued. “If you like it or not. That means…” He stood up and walked to a closet. He opened it and took out an cloak, just like he and Kisame wore.

“You’ll wear this.” Itachi said. He laid it on the end of the bed. She stared at it with disgust.

“No.” She said. “That’s- … Awful.” Itachi stared at her again. Sakura sighed a little. She guess she had to.

“I see you understand.” Itachi said. He sat down next to her again and took the strawberry. He held it close to her mouth. Sakura opened her mouth. Itachi putted it in her mouth. He touched her lips accidentally when he pulled his hand back. ‘He’s warm…’ She thought.

Itachi kept watching her while she ate the fruit. When she swallowed it, he stood up. “Try to sleep a little.” He said. “I’ll come back later to check on you.” Itachi left.

Sakura watched him leave. He was so Sasuke-like, but on the other hand, he totally wasn’t. She sighed and slowly crawled under the sheds. It felt so more comfortable than the hard stone floor, she immediately fell asleep.