Chapter 16

Sakura slowly opened her eyes and noticed she was lying in her bed, back in the inn. She just felt so tired. She turned around and wanted to sleep on when she saw Itachi wasn’t next to her. She slowly got up and saw it was dark outside.

“Where is he?” Sakura whispered softly. She stepped out of the bed. Someone had taken of her clothes. She was only wearing her underwear.

Quickly she put on her Akatsuki cloak and left the room. She crossed the dark hallway and stopped at the other door. The light that crawled out of the room from underneath the door told her someone was inside. She opened the door.

The red haired man, Sasori, sat on one of the beds. He looked up when she came in. Sakura blushed.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know, I was just-” She stuttered. “Itachi didn’t tell that you were having something going on.” Sasori said. He sounded really uninterested and not caring at all. Sakura blushed even more. “And he didn’t tell me either that you used to love his brother.” Sasori continued. “Th- …That are none of your business!” She said, trying to sound angry. She noticed he wasn’t wearing a headband. “Aren’t you a shinobi?” “Why is that, girl?” “I don’t see a headband.”

Sasori didn’t answer.

“Where is Itachi? I-… I need to talk to him!” She said hasty. “You’ll find him there.” Sasori said, waving towards the bathroom. Sakura quickly turned around and walked to the half open door. She stuck her head around the door.

Itachi was sitting on the edge of the tub. His cloak was on the ground, next to his shoes. He was painting his nails in a deep purple, and also the nails from his toes.

He looked up. Sakura stared at him.

“Is something wrong?” He asked. It took her a couple of moment to realise he had asked her something. “I- … No.” She answered. “I was just wondering where you was.” “I’m right over here.” Itachi replied. ‘Yeah, doh, we can see that.’ Inner Sakura sighed. Itachi finished his last toenail and placed his feet on the ground again.

“You want me to do yours?” He asked.

“What, paint my nails?” Sakura said confused. Itachi nodded. “Are you serious?” She asked. Again, he nodded. Sakura slowly raised her shoulders. “I… I guess…”

She sat down next to Itachi. “Put your cloak off.” He told her. She glanced to the still half open door. “I’m only wearing underwear.” She said softly, hoping that Sasori wouldn’t hear it. Itachi looked at her for some seconds. Then, he slowly removed his long black shirt, careful not to damage his just painted nails. He handed it over to her. “Th- Thanks.” She threw her cloak on the floor and put on his shirt. It was from a real soft material and it was still warm from his body temperature.

Itachi took her hand and started painting her nails. Sakura watched interested. He actually was a pro in painting nails. How sick is that?

After her right hand, Itachi took her other and painted those nails. Then he made her put her feet on the edge as well and started doing her toenails. They both didn’t spoke, and Sakura thought about the day before.

Sasuke had come to safe her. Alone. Was it indeed because of her? Or did he just come because it was a good opportunity to kill Itachi?

“I came to take Sakura back…”

“Sakura… Are you ok?”

“I wont give up on Sakura…”

“I’m taking Sakura home…”

Had he actually said that? Was that really what he wanted?

“Sasuke is bothering you, isn’t he?” Itachi asked her. Sakura nodded. She had stopped wondering why he always knew what she thought. She would never know anyway.

“I never planned on killing him.” Itachi said. “I only will if it’s really necessary.” ‘No that a real relief.’ Inner Sakura said sarcastically. Sakura tried to ignore her. “Itachi… Can I ask you something?” “Something else from what you just asked…” “Why… Why did you kill your family?”

Itachi’s hand twitched a little, but still he continued painting her nails. Sakura looked at him and waited for an answer. But he remained silence.

‘I’m starting to get real annoyed to those Uchiha’s…’ Inner Sakura said angry. ‘They just never answer!!’ ‘I know what you mean, Inner Me…’

“Because I wanted to know what I was capable of.” Itachi said when he finished her last nail. He closed the nail polish bottle and placed it on the floor.

They waited for their nails to dry.

“But… I don’t really… Believe that… I mean… You never loved them? Your aunts or uncles or… Or your father or you mother?” Sakura carefully asked, while looking at her purple toenails. Itachi studied his own nails as well.

“… It’s… A secret.” Itachi suddenly said slowly. Sakura looked up and watched his face. He looked up too. “…I think you have the right to know.”

- - - - - -

Kakashi saw the small dog coming closer. He got up. “What did you hear, Pakkun?” He asked. “Well… You both better come with me.” The dog said, while looking from Kakashi to Asuma. “Why? Is something wrong?” Asuma asked. “Just come.” The dog turned and sprinted back. The two Joujin followed quickly.

They found Sasuke, unconscious, lying on the ground in a small pool of his own blood. Kakashi quickly checked if the wounds on his arm were serious.

“What happened?” He asked Pakkun. The dog told them the whole story while Kakashi bandaged Sasuke’s arm. Asuma played a little with the cigarette between his fingers.

“So… They want Sakura to become Akatsuki member as well?” He asked. Pakkun nodded. “She looked like she was ok with the whole thing.” He added. Kakashi stood up, while he carried Sasuke in his arms. “Maybe they offered her something valuable for her. Like in a deal.” He said. Asuma raised his shoulders and looked at the Uchiha.

“You’ll have to report to the Hokage.” Pakkun said wise. Asuma walked to some shrubs and picked a bag out of it. “Is this Sasuke’s?” He asked Kakashi. “Yes.” He answered, when he recognised it. Asuma nodded. “I’ll carry this then.”

“Ok. We should go.” The three left.

- - - - - -

“Here, read it by yourself.” Itachi said, while handing over a dark red book to Sakura.

They were sitting on their bed. Sakura looked at the leather made book in her hands. “You want me to read your diary?” She asked. He nodded. “Just a part.” He said. “But you cant tell anyone what you’ve red, even if you’ll hate me then. What you’re going to find out can never be said, understood?”

His Sharingan drilled into her eyes and Sakura nodded. Itachi found the right page for her and she started reading.

Dear Diary.

I’m travelling now. I’ve left Konoha for good. But I’m not alone.

The fourth Hokage, Yondaime, is here. He murdered my whole clan today. Except for Sasuke, who came back home later than usual.

I told – and showed, by using the Mangekyou Sharingan – Sasuke that I murdered them. Because he needs to get stronger. Sasuke wont be strong if he’ll be distracted. So he now thinks I did it.

He will hate me, curse me, detest me every day and in every way, but that’s the punishment I have to carry. I care about my little brother, but this is the way I’m showing him. He has to be strong.

Only Yondaime and me know about what really happened this evening. And the dead Uchiha’s, but they can’t tell anyone anymore.

Of course it was a pain to witness the death of my parents. I remember the horror on my mothers face when Yondaime was ready to kill them both. She had wanted it to be a dream, an awful nightmare, but nothing was further from the truth.

I feel even lonelier than when I thought my parents didn’t care.

I hope Sasuke will once forgive me.

Sakura read it through one last time and stared at Itachi. “The… The fourth?” She whispered. “I can’t believe it…! I thought he was- that he was-” “Dead?” Itachi finished her sentence, asking. Sakura slowly nodded. “No. He started Akatsuki. He is our leader.”

It was quiet. Itachi seemed to be thinking.

“Itachi… You did care, didn’t you?” She asked slowly. He slightly nodded. “Of course… She was my mother…” He said softly.

Sakura wrapped her arms around him and slowly pulled him closer. He leaned in and she placed his head on his chest.

Itachi felt like a child, being hold like that, but the last one who had ever held him was his mother. He had really loved her, and Sakura had something of his mother’s cheerfulness. He felt pain. It just wasn’t fair. He had wanted a normal life. But fate was fate.

The pain seemed to burn in his eyes. He closed them, wanting the pain to go away, but it didn’t help. He felt her wraps her arms tighter around his shoulders. He remembered so much how his mother had held him like that.

“It’s alright to cry, Itachi…” Sakura whispered. “There’s nothing wrong with crying…”

“…Crying… Is for the weak…” Itachi answered as quiet, but Sakura noticed how his voice shook. She shook her head. “To cry is sometimes better… It makes you feel better… If you never cry, you’re as good as dead…”

Itachi could hear the pain in her voice. He knew she thought about his brother. Ohh, how much he was going to hurt that brat for hurting Sakura. He would rip out his filthy little heart.

Sakura had been in pain. Itachi had been in pain. He felt something soft touch his cheek, and noticed it was a tear. From her.

Itachi couldn’t help it. He cried as well, silently, not moving, but the tears streaming down his face.

They both cried. Out of pain. But also relief. Since they now had each other.

- - - - - -

“Deidara, you idiot!” Kisame screamed. Deidara chuckled. “You told me to get food, right, yeah? Well I got food and now it’s not ok anymore, yeah.” “I didn’t say to get some FISH!”

They were on their way back and Kisame had made a little fire. Deidara stood beside it, grinning, with two dead fish in his hand. He waved with them in Kisame’s direction. “You never told me you were a vegetarian, yeah.” “You know what I mean, you bastard. Forget the friggin meal, were going!” “Alright alright, geez, yeah.” Deidara sighed. “Such a waste, yeah.” “Shuddup.”

Deidara threw the fish in the flames and Kisame stood up. They sprinted towards the inn.

“You think they are ok, yeah?” Deidara asked. Kisame sighed. “Of course they are.” “Hn, yeah.”

They arrived at the inn and quickly went upstairs. “Man, I’m starving!” Kisame complained. “I know, just dump our stuff, yeah, that can’t-”

Deidara had opened the door and stared in disbelief to the man on the bed.

“Long time no seen, Deidara-san.” Sasori said.

- - - - - -

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes.

‘What…? Where am I…? Oh shit, my head hurts… What the hell happened?…’

“Sasuke… Are you awake…?”

‘Who’s that? What… Sakura!’

Sasuke shot up, but Kakashi pushed him back in the hospital bed. “Don’t get hasty now, Sasuke.” Sasuke gave him one of his most evil glares, but it didn’t affect his sensei at all.

“Why did you leave?” Kakashi asked. “You used Sakura to kill Itachi?” “NO!” Sasuke screamed. “I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!!!” “Some years ago you didn’t think like that.” “WELL SOME YEARS AGO I DIDN’T LIKE SAKURA!!!” “Ohh, so you like Sakura?”

Sasuke mentally killed himself. ‘Fuck!!!’

“No, wait, I didn’t mean it like that, I meant, I just-” He could see Kakashi smile behind his mask. “I wont tell anyone Sasuke, its safe with me.” He said teasingly. “I’M NOT IN LOVE WITH SAKURA!!” Sasuke yelled angry. “Still in denial?” Kakashi asked. Sasuke opened his mouth and closed it again. He turned around in bed, with his back to his sensei, and closed his eyes.

“I’m going to sleep.” He mumbled. He heard Kakashi laugh softly. “Don’t laugh at me.” “I’m not.” “Of course not. Now just leave already.”

Kakashi stood up and walked to the door. Before he opened it, he turned to face Sasuke’s back.

“I’ll come back to talk with you.” He said. “Remember that.”

He left.

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes and stared at the wall. He could still hear her voice.

Stop it!!!

‘Sakura…’

He sighed. If they wanted her to be an Akatsuki member, that meant she wouldn’t be back soon. But why the hell did they want it? She wouldn’t just cooperate right?

He turned around to lie on his back and stared at the sealing. She couldn’t possibly… want to be with the Akatsuki?

Quickly, he pushed those thoughts away. Of course not. She didn’t have a reason.

He tried to think of something else, but Sakura’s face kept coming back in his mind. Also, it was absolutely boring in the hospital.

He remember being in the hospital. Never it had been so boring as it was now. But Sakura had always been beside his bed. Sasuke never expected to miss her this much.

‘Sakura…’