DISCLAIMER- I don't own these characters or Naruto. I'm sadly not that cool.

"Let me be your partner."

The words hung the air between them, out before Sakura could comprehend enough to stop herself. What are you doing? Inner Sakura wailed, subdued enough after the years to only speak up when sensing Outer Sakura in true danger- or stupidity.

"My partner?" His voice was like velvet, and Sakura could feel the heat gather in her cheeks. His onyx eyes, devoid of Sharingan for the time being, pierced hers. The soft lines beneath them combined with his sharp jaw and cheekbones made him look suddenly not only startlingly intimidating...but beautiful as well. Sakura tried not to stare into his eyes more than necessary, tried not to notice how long his eyelashes were, while at the same time trying to hold a dignified and fearless eye contact.

It was failing. Miserably.

After all, this was Uchiha Itachi she was talking to, looking at and trying to impress.

"Yes. Traveling alone is-" she hesitated to say 'dangerous' despite the experiences the last few months had yielded. "Not good for my sanity."

One eyebrow arched, his dark eyes grew skeptical. "You're a former Konoha ninja, are you not?"

"I am." She squared her shoulders, determined not to reveal the desperation she felt. "I was also good friends with Naruto-" her heart pained at saying his name. "I know your story, Uchiha."

His eyes narrowed slightly, sending a thrill through Sakura. "My story..." he repeated, tilting his head at her. "I see."

She thought at first he would remind her too much of Sasuke, but as she studied him she found the differences between he and Sasuke far outnumbered the similarities. Their eyes were similar, but Itachi's were more beautiful and piercing. His hair was a softer black, long and pulled back off of his face and he was taller and though narrow-framed, he was more muscular than Sasuke.

He's just better than Sasuke. Inner Sakura said contemptuously. And probably a lot less of an asshole.

Although Sakura didn't know Itachi, she knew at least that much had to be true. After all, Itachi had massacred his clan but had done so on orders from Konoha. He'd done as he'd believed to be right. Naruto had told Sakura of the deep sorrow Itachi had been caused in his life by the situation he'd been thrown into. Itachi hadn't had much of a choice in his situation, and Naruto had believed him to be good.

Sakura's hands clenched into fists at her sides. Sasuke was a different story. On his quest to kill his brother he'd all but gone mad, had even allowed Orochimaru's evil influence into his body. She knew that somehow, Itachi had taken Sasuke's eyes when he'd fought him for the last time. His intentions there, she wasn't exactly clear about but if Naruto had trusted Itachi, she had little persuasion to feel otherwise.

"I see", said in a dark voice with eyes narrowed, hadn't been the exact reaction she'd been hoping for. And he did take Sasuke's eyes. Inner Sakura chimed. Fear began to prickle her skin in the form of probably appallingly obvious goosebumps. What was her backup plan? She didn't have one. She'd seen Itachi in the corner of a restaurant she'd happened into and just sort of found her way to him without thinking about what the hell she was doing. She hadn't had a plan A, let alone a plan B. She'd just been so thrilled to see a familiar face that she hadn't given second thought to whose face it was.

You got yourself here, might as well figure something out. Sakura took a deep breath and leveled her gaze with Itachi's once more. "If I'm your partner, we can take on random jobs from whichever nation we choose. We can travel together and watch out for each other. I can heal you when you're injured in battle. With things as they are now, it's not safe to travel alone for any ninja, especially ninja like us who have no home village to be affiliated with." Her voice shook a little, saying that last sentence. She hated talking about something she'd tried so hard to make herself forget. But the Leaf Village was no more, at least not the one she used to know. She knew Itachi knew it too. He'd have to have been living under a rock not to.

"Sakura-san." he said her name softly and it took her by surprise. Of course he knows your name. Inner Sakura scolded her. Even though you were too lame to tell it to him before giving him your proposal.

All the same, it surprised her to hear it. "Yes?" she nearly whispered, hating herself for sounding so timid.

"I will take your offer."

Sakura was glad she'd been presumptuous enough to take a seat across from him, otherwise she might have collapsed at hearing his words. It seemed like she'd been traveling through endless wilderness, so alone, for so long. When was the last time she'd spoken to anyone aside from saying a simple hello, thank you or excuse me? So many nights she'd slept alone, crying herself to sleep thinking about her former friends and home. And finally she had someone to be with, even if it was someone as stoic as Itachi Uchiha. She wouldn't be alone anymore. Just the thought made her want to throw herself across the table and hug him until she had no more strength.

Instead, she allowed herself a weak smile in his direction, finding it suddenly impossible to look into his eyes. "Okay." her voice sounded tiny. "Well then, lead the way, Itachi-san."