Chapter One
It was a cold crisp night in Iron country when he found her body lying wet along the cold lush grass. Clothing ripped to shreds, half heartedly thrown over the poor pink haired woman's body. Her eyes staring lifelessly off into the distance, searching but unseeing. He stepped cautiously toward her, he did not want to scare her, or put her into panic. Kneeling down before her he reached a hand out. Warm fingers touched ice cold skin, slowly he picked up the almost dead woman into his arms. It was clear from the shredded clothes and white fluid coming from between her legs what had happened to her. Quickly and quietly he raced her back to his hideout deep into the mountain side. Jumping from tree to tree he drew closer to his sanctuary with the woman in his arms. Ravens flew along them like a black wave, shielding them from any eyes daring to catch a glimpse. The wind blowing in his face was crisp, cold and smelled of the winter to come. He would need to get more wood to ensure survival of the hard winter to come.
Jumping down from the tree tops he landed outside the door of a small run down cabin. The door creeped as it opened, the old hinges feeling the strain of such movement. strong sturdy steps brought the two to his bed were he laid the young woman down. Rising back he went to the fire place next to the bed, after a couple hand seals it was lit with a warm orange glow lighting the one room cabin. Turning back to the woman on his bed he decided it would be best to clean her before tucking her in to rest.
Walking to the washroom on the far end of the cabin he drew a warm bath. Returning shortly to the bed, strong arms lifted the lifeless woman effortlessly. He carefully walked her to the tub and set her in gently. He then proceeded to remove the last of her clothing and began the tidies job of washing her. All the while a black raven stayed perched to the mans shoulder, it's blood red eyes watching everything before it.
The man started washing her first her arms then her legs, slowly getting to her more intimate areas. The woman just stared at him like a lifeless doll, no sign to show she was even aware of what was happening to her. Next he washed her chopped pink hair, he massaged her scalp with skilled fingers with the shampoo before leaning her head back to rinse out the bubbly goo. Once she was clean he pulled her body from the warm water to dry with a fluffily black that she was clean and dry he brought her back to his bed. Grabbing a spare shirt and pants from a trunk at the end of the bed he dressed her. Pulling the woman back into his strong hold he used one arm to all down the comforter and tuck her into bed. He would have to go to town in the morning for another quilt and pillow. If he was lucky, maybe he would find a sleeping bag there.
Content that she was now warm in bed he turned to make himself a cup of tea with a little honey, it was one of his guilty pleasures in his depressing life. The stove was very old and operated with wood, grabbing a couple logs he threw them into the bottom of the oven using a few hands signs and it was lit. Next he walked to the sink that actually had been updated. Turning the old faucet he waited for the sputtering to turn into a stream before placing the kettle under the stream to fill. Once it had filled he set it atop the wood stove to heat. Knowing this would take several minute he walked to the fire place, grabbing a book as he went. Sitting down quietly to not wake the woman beside him he began to read.
He placed the book in his left hand so he could use his other to skim across the pages of the book. The Raven atop his shoulder focused it's bright eyes to the pages, following along with the fingers before it.
Soon the kettle whistled, closing the book the man turned his head along with the raven, almost in complete unison. He rose from his place on the rug and walked over to the kettle. Taking it off the burner and pouring himself a cup a tea and another for the woman in his bed. He was sure she would need some fluids in her so she would not dehydrate. Down was nearing as the sky lit up slowly outside the windows.
He set her cup down beside her bed on the small log that was used as a side table. She would wake soon and he was bound determined to ensure she drank and ate something. Taking a sip from his own tea cup he turned to go back to his book.
The raven turned its head at the rustling noise beside him. The woman had awoken early, she was staring at the man with wide eyes. Shock was clear along her beautiful features. Se went to speak but drew a shaking hand to her throat. The Raven looked to her then to the cup of tea then back to her. Hinting for her to drink her, or at least notice the nourishment. The young woman got the hint, reaching with her shaking hand she grabbed the cup and drank the warm sweet tea. It ran down her sore abused throat, soothing the aching and burning.
She new the man before her, what she did not know was how and when she got taken to this place. Sitting up she looked around the small cabin before looking to the clothes that now covered her bruised body. the memories of the night before came crashing back in waves. She shook as silent sobs escaped her throat. Looking to the man whom sat on the rug beside the bed, she whispered.
"Itachi."
! $%&*%$#
Slowly the man turned to face the young beautiful pink haired woman.
"Sakura."
Sakura could not believe her eyes. Itachi Uchiha was sitting before her with a raven upon his shoulder. But something was wrong, he was wearing a white bandage around his eyes. Completely forgetting about her nightmare of a night she gad to ask him.
"What happened to your eyes? Who could have possible attacked you?"
The ravens eyes lowered slightly as if analyzing her. A moment later she got her reply, but what she heard was the last thing she had ever expected.
"Sasuke has my eyes. We fought to the death, clearly he did not check to see if I was truly dead, but I must have been close enough for him to take m eyes and leave me there."
Sakura was in shock, his eyes were not damaged but gone. Itachi Uchiha was completely blind, what was worse was Sasuke was the monster behind the action, no that Itachi did not deserve it.
Itachi rose from his place on the rug and walked the few short steps to the bed. Sitting beside Sakura, surprised from her lack of fear he looked into her eyes. Well at least it is what he would be doing if his eyes were there. Placing a shy hand on her cheek, she flinched.
"You are not scared? Is it because I no longer have my eyes", he lowered his hand to her throat giving it a light squeeze.
"Because I could still kill you effortlessly without them."
" No I am not scared because I no longer wish to live." Her reply was cold, lifeless.
"Now, now do not say such things." His hand ran back up to her cheek cupping it lightly. "You are a very powerful and beautiful Konoichi. You should be strong, even after what has happened to you. Life is not something to be thrown away so easily."
Sakura smacked his hand away from her face, anger clearly worn across her features.
"You of all people have no right to say that life is precious and should not be thrown away. you took countless numbers of innocent lives."
With out a sign of emotion on his face he turned to the fire, along with his raven.
"Then do you not think I am the perfect person to know how precious it can be?"
"Itachi that makes no sense and you know it. Who would want to live after being beaten, then raped. The love of my life turned out to be nothing more then like the monster before me."
That line struck a nerve in the older Uchiha, a killer yes, a rapist, never. This girl needed to know that.
"I may be a ruthless killer Sakura but i would never force myself on an unwilling female. Sex is more then just fuck, it is something that should be cherished amongst lovers. You have no right to say anything about me, you yourself are a killer, all because you had orders to do it does not make it right. So do not go putting your hypocritical assumptions on me. You are nothing but a confused child who has yet to understand the reality of what being a Shinobi truly is."
With that said he rose from the bed and proceeded to walk to the kitchen, opening a small fridge he pulled out fish, eggs, and what looked to be left over miso. He left Sakura to sit on the bed in her own thoughts. Grabbing a pan he set it onto the wood stove and cracked four eggs into it, on the other burner he set another pan in and placed the fish into it. Taking some salt pepper and butter he seasoned the eggs and fish. After he walked the kettle and miso over to the fire and placed them over the heat on a cooking tray he had bought from a mall town no more then a few days pryer. He then waled back to the stove to take the eggs and fish off the burner, he dished them onto two plates before setting them onto the table. Itachi then grabbed both his and her tea cup along with the kettle and miso. He set the table in silence before ushering her to it to eat. Luckily he had to chairs so the both of them could eat at the table. What came from Sakura's mouth next shocked him.
"I am sorry for lashing out at you. I had no right to assume anything from you. Also thank you for saving my life."
"You are welcome, and I apologize for my rudeness as well, but Sakura do not let what has happened ruin you. Because I have seen your strength, and your beauty has no comparison."
Sakura couldn't help but blush at his statement, but then the memory of what happened came back and crushed her small bit of happiness.
"Sasuke is a fool Sakura, he is reckless and uncontrolled, the words he caused will heal in due time."
"Thank you, Itachi."
With that the conversation ended, both of them finish their meals before Itachi left her alone o go to town. He told her she could either stay or go as she pleased. Only that if she left to be carful for rogue ninja as they seem to be the majority of the people in Iron.
When Itachi returned with his sleeping bag and pillow he was surprised to see her reading the book he had left by the fire place.
"Itachi, if you are blind, how is it you are able to read this?"
The raven perched on Itachi's shoulder flew to her, he landed on her shoulder and looked to the book with its red eyes. Soon after Itachi started to speak the words on the page she was reading, she looked from him to the bird. Noticing the birds head moving slightly as if reading the book itself, she realized.
"You can see the his eyes?!"
Itachi just nodded his head before setting his things done by the bedside. He was tired from being out all night and wanted nothing more then to go to bed. He walked to the front door and opened it just a bit to allow several other ravens fly in. He did not trust Sakura yet and needed to have enough eyes watching her while he slept. At least with this many ravens he would awake before anything could happen. He hated not having his eyes, it made him so vulnerable.
Itachi then tucked himself into his sleeping bag by the fire. He heard Sakura's footprints go by him, then some rustling of a quilt before it was all quiet, she too was going back to sleep.
"Goodnight Itachi."
"Goodnight Sakura."