Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or Sakura, or Itachi…

A/N: I will use italics to represent flashbacks so that hopefully it won't be too confusing.

The Truth Behind the Lie

By MT Pocketts

Her fingers intertwined with his, black fingernails mixing with pink. Haruno Sakura let out a relaxed sigh as she lay back in the comfort of her bed. The warm mass pressed against her back shifted slightly as the arm around her waist tightened. So tired from the day that had come and gone, yet too eager to soak up every moment of this –of him—to allow herself to sleep.

"Where have you been?" she whispered, letting the question slip into the void while foreign muscles tensed behind her.

"Away," was all the answer she received and felt a pain in her heart even as he nuzzled her neck.

"I thought you'd forgotten…" Sakura trailed off and leaned slightly into the warm body next to hers. She could not remember ever feeling so happy—so free—because he was finally here with her. It was like a wonderful dream come true. The feeling of his body against hers made everything between seem worthwhile.

"I never forgot, Sakura," he spoke into her ear, his hot breath teasing her skin. The girl allowed herself a tainted smile, even if she knew the truth behind the lie.

"How am I supposed to believe you?" her inner voice arose, questioning and suspicious as always. And for good reason; because she knew what he was like. He did not reply to the question and she cursed herself for even asking. Sakura knew the answer that would come; in his casual yet brutally honest tone.

"I'm sorry," he finally said, sounding separate from his words. She felt his slowed breathing on her neck and found that she didn't care whether or not she could believe him. Somehow, she knew they were in love even if it did not always feel like it.

As she thought about their relationship, Sakura kept drifting back to that time when they had first met…

A few potential entries into the ninja academy were waiting around while her parents were there with her the same day that the Uchihas were signing up their youngest. Sakura had been allowed to wander off into the area near the swing where some of the other youngsters were playing. Some were on the swing, others were playing tag, and some of the girls were staring at her and whispering. Blushing, Sakura reached up and tried to cover her "large" forehead. Her blushing worsened when she heard the girls start to giggle and confirm her suspicions.

Looking around the yard they were in, she saw a pair that looked like brothers sitting alone; a pair that would affect her life in many ways. Feeling curious, adventuresome, and lonely she went over to them. She greeted the pair with a warm "Hi! I'm Sakura!" only to be met with silence. Two pairs of dark eyes looked her over with mild interest.

The Uchiha brothers frequently found themselves separate from groups, and rarely saw gutsy ones like this pink-haired girl come up to them. The older one—Itachi—found her amusing and so watched her with curiosity. She seemed very friendly and open, and she wore a grin on her face brighter than any he had ever seen. He slowly registered that his younger brother seemed to be trying to decide whether to watch her like Itachi or to say something to this girl.

Sakura was beginning to feel embarrassed, like she had done something wrong, when Itachi finally nudged his brother and mumbled "a peer has introduced herself to you, don't be rude." The younger boy muttered an apology and then turned to Sakura.

"I'm Sasuke," said her future crush.

It was this innocent moment that she later found herself dreaming about, and was likely the beginning of that "puppy love". Her image of Sasuke was molded from that first impression; a young boy who absorbed things somewhat before reacting and could use guidance. Little did she know that it was his brother who would steal her heart.

And now here she was, finding herself drifting to sleep with the warmth of Itachi's arm lying across her hip. It was like a dream, and yet it was so very real to her. She couldn't quite figure it out; it was like she could not figure anything out when it came to him. Uchiha Itachi, a name that could melt and freeze her simultaneously.

That time they had met again many years later she had almost mistaken him for Sasuke…

Except for his eyes and the deep lines in his cheeks. She found his eyes were so much more captivating and striking than those of her old teammate. Sakura had been surprised to see him—and even more surprised when her emotions over came her. The man who stood before her was the reason Sasuke had left Konoha—left her—and at the time all she wanted to so was to make this man pay.

It wasn't long before she found herself separated from Kakashi and Naruto, and eye to eye with Itachi. She was amazed to find that she could not lift a hand against him. Was it an illusion?

Sakura snapped her eyes shut when his hand touched her chin gently. His touch was soft, almost tender, and yet she felt so violated. Two and a half years of training with the fifth Hokage had come down to this moment; this moment where she could not do a single thing to defend herself. Once again, she had to hope for someone to save her.

"Sakura-san," He said and her eyelids fluttered as she realized he had recognized her. "My, it's been awhile. You've grown since that day outside the academy." She managed to keep her eyes closed and now that he had broken the tension she found it easier to try and move. He was so close to her, confusing her even more.

She gasped in pain as he threw her against a nearby tree in retaliation for her preparing a jutsu that could be used to disconnect the nerve endings in his arms. She could not say that the action surprised her, but rather that the suddenness of it had. After all, only a few seconds ago had he touched his fingers traced her jaw line so delicately. He held her so tightly against that tree, so tight that he was her only support.

In the present she felt his arm shift upwards and hug her waist instead of her hip. Sakura let out her second sigh as the need for sleep continued to increase. If only she could just keep dreaming…

It had been in the heat of that moment that she had realized the connection that was more than what appeared on the surface between them. That moment when he did the last thing she had ever expected him to do—he let her go and turned away.

"What?" she blurted out as she dropped down the tree trunk. He paused only once as he was walking away and she still could not be sure of what he had said.

"Hate me if you wish," Sakura though she heard him say, "But don't do it because of him. Hate me for yourself, and find your own truth behind the lie."

"Why did you let me go?" she had to know as he continued to walk away.

"Because you reached out that day when we were alone," Itachi had stated so clearly and simply before he faded away.

And from then on it had been a game of teasing her. He left such an imprint upon her that she began to wonder if he had used some kind of genjutsu that had never fully worn of—or that she had never really left. It was this way so much that when he came she could never be sure if it was really him. Sakura had dreamed of him continually after that chance meeting, and the dreams became more real and less dramatic as time wore on and more of these "meetings" that she could not explain occurred. She had dreamed of him, been haunted by him and all but stalked by him. Yet she knew it was not really a game, she somehow knew that someday it would all make sense…

Sakura's eyes opened groggily and she found herself warm and in her own bed. Rolling over, she found nothing. A frown crossed her face when careful analysis told her that this time might have only been a dream. A tear pricked at her eye at this thought; it had been so real this time. Was it ever real? Was everything she had ever dreamed about him just a dream?

With a dark cloud above her head, Sakura rolled out of bed and went to her mirror to brush her hair. She stared at her reflection and wondered if this love she felt was real, or imagined. It would never be whole, this she knew, but Sakura could not decide if she really wanted to know the truth behind the lie.

A/N: Yes! Finally by first ItaSaku story! I'm sorry if this turned out kind of weird, but it's my first time with this pairing and I wanted it to be something where she doesn't end up kidnapped or tricked into helping him… Anyhow, please tell me how I did. If I can think of a wayto continue I might depending on the feedback I get.

Criticism welcome as long as they're not flames…