A/N: Thank you guys for your feedback and your words of encouragement. I really appreciate it.

edited: 6/10/12

"Sakura-chan, you look so beautiful in your dress."

"Ino, where have you been? The wedding is about the start."

"Sasuke, where are you?"

"I just want to end it all."

"Sasuke...why?"

"Sakura!"

"It's over..."

Torn: Redux

Chapter 4.

Someone Like You

Dark, blurry images jumped from the shadows as she finally opened her eyes. If it hadn't been for the stench of smoke invading her nose then she would have thought she had succeeded in ending things completely.

Her entire kitchen lay in complete disarray as she finally stumbled to her feet. The dark silk, Chanel gown lay in ruins as she closed her eyes in tortured memory.

She had done something last night.

Something she shouldn't have done.

She silently wondered if the Gods were having a field day laughing their asses off at the soap opera her life had ironically become.

"I shouldn't have slept with him." She said to herself as she removed the burnt dress from the sink. Even though the stench was beyond all imagination, she could still smell the scent of Itach's cologne in her nose.

God, what was she thinking?

For a moment, she feared closing her eyes. She could still see him so vividly in her mind. The hugging, the kissing, the sex had all been mind-blowing. For a moment, she allowed herself to believe that maybe this hadn't been just a one night stand with someone. But, ultimately she knew she was wrong.

As she made her way up the staircase to her large bedroom, Sakura thought of the many things she could or rather should have done differently. For one, she shouldn't have slept with Itachi. Secondly, she shouldn't have screamed Sasuke's name out in bed.

Inwardly, she cringed as she thought back to that particular moment.

It hadn't been her most shining moment by far and she absolutely regretted it. Even though she loved Sasuke, Itachi didn't deserve that. But, the sex had been so good that…never mind.

'Maybe I should go back to bed.' She thought as she walked into the spacious marble bathroom. It only took one look in the mirror to confirm that she looked like a pink haired demon strung out on speed. It only took that one look to also confirm that her day was going to be shit.

'I think I am going to take a leave of absence for a while.' She thought to herself as she stepped underneath the warm water.

She knew that Tsuande would understand if she decided to take a little time for herself. The day before, Tsunade had tried to persuade her to take a temporary leave. She knew that Sakura was having some difficulty dealing with the fact that her best friend had indeed married her ex fiancé.

When she had received the invitation in the mail, Sakura had wanted to drive off a cliff to her doom. She was fairly sure that it would have hurt less.

She had told Tsunade that she was going to the wedding in order to gain some closure on the whole Ino/Sasuke situation. But, in actuality she attended so she could show Sasuke what he had been missing. A part of her wanted him to admit that this had been some type of joke and that he wanted her back now. Not to say that she would have but still….

"I shouldn't have gone to the wedding." She mumbled once again. As the warm heat enraptured her body, she made the promise of her a lifetime; to herself.

Today she was going to make the resolution to get on with her life. What happened with Itachi had been...fantastic, nerve-wracking, fulfilling.. unfortunate...if she had been at another place in her life and had he not been Sasuke's brother then he would have made an excellent...

No.

She couldn't think about that. No matter how many times she tried, she couldn't get the way she treated him out of her head...

As she rubbed the jasmine strawberry blossom shampoo into her shoulder length pastel strands she could only think of one thing.

"God, I am so fucked up."

If he had lived in another dimension, Itachi imagined himself being someone powerful beyond belief. Someone who did not care about the feelings of others. Someone who did whatever it took to do whatever was necessary to achieve his goals.

Someone of high stature...someone like...well himself...or a ninja...

When he woke up this morning, he secretly wondered just who he pissed off to have ended up in such a compromising position he had been in the night before.

That girl...that woman...Haruno Sakura...had gotten under his skin the way no woman had ever had. He had always prided himself on keeping a calm, cool demeanor when faced with adversity. But, it had taken a single lick to set his mind and his body aflame...It was as if all self control went out the window.

As he sat gazing out at the dark, ominous clouds on the horizon he wondered if he should mention what happened to his brother.

No. he thought.

Sasuke would probably overreact upon finding out that his older brother had fell into the same trap with the same woman.

No.

Even though a part of his body craved hers again, he had to let it go. She did not love him. What happened between them last night had only been a onetime thing.

Yes, this woman,Haruno Sakura, would remain his moment of lost composure.

This would be a secret he would take to his grave.

"Where is it? Where the hell is it?" Sakura muttered to herself as she threw the fluffy sofa cushions to the ground.

She was fairly sure that she had brought her cell phone home with her last night.

Where the hell is that phone?

"The last place I had it was in my purse when Itachi…"She blushed.

Now was not the time to think about that.

"God, I hope I did not leave it in the Uchiha Compound last night" she muttered to herself as she looked under the sofa once more before rising to her feet.

"I really don't want to see that place again." She said quietly before walking over to the large desk to pick up her car keys.

She picked up the keys to the silver, seven series Beemer that sat quietly in the garage. She had just locked the front door to the mini mansion when a thought hit her like a ninja with extreme PMS.

She had lost her cell phone...which meant she could use her home phone to call it...duh...

'Why hadn't I thought of that sooner?' she thought ironically.

In the words of her old high school classmate,Shikamaru. This day was really turning out to be troublesome

Itachi watched as his younger brother marched up to the tall, downtown building with a peep in his step and a smile on his normally sulking face.

He knew Sasuke had yet to go on his honeymoon with his wife because he felt he had to help close a deal on a project he had been working on.

Itachi found it ironic that Sasuke wanted to help even though his presence was not really needed... or wanted.

Sadly, Itachi knew Sasuke would have insisted on being there anyway. Unlike Itachi, Sasuke was the baby of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke did not grow up with the mounting pressure to be the best that Itachi had to deal with.

Sasuke was coddled and somewhat spoiled.

Even though he loved his baby brother, Itachi knew Sasuke was soft. He did not have the ingrained viciousness that his father insisted that every Uchiha male should have.

Which was why Itachi longed to be as free as his brother...someday...

"So, he's still a pain in the ass huh." a voice remarked sarcastically.

There standing in the doorway was none other than Itachi's former partner, Kisame Hoshigaki.

Itachi stood motionless as the man moved forward. Kisame was one of his closest friends and unfortunately could read him like a book.

"So, the brat finally got married? I thought he was still hooked up with that Karin chick that used to follow him around." Kisame remarked as he slid into the plush chair in front of the large desk.

Itachi blinked owlishly before taking a step forward to talk to his friend. Maybe Kisame could...

"Kisame, I.."

"You need to talk right?"The tall man injected quickly.

Itachi could only nod as Kisame moved quickly toward the door.

"We can talk about this over some breakfast. I'm hungry."

With a smirk in place, Itachi followed the man out of the office.

"You are always hungry."

Kisame smirked as they took the elevator down to where he parked his car on the lower level.

"Sometimes I wish I was married like the brat but then when I think about having sex with only one person forever, it scares the hell out of me."

As the image of a certain pink haired woman filled his thoughts, Itachi groaned internally in response.

Inside Itachi couldn't disagree more.

"Ah, I agree."

One hour later..

"So, let me make sure I have this right?" Kisame asked as they sat inside his favorite restaurant, Samehada. "You slept with your brother's ex fiancee? And not only do you screw her brains out but she calls out Sasuke's name in the middle of sex?"

"Ah." Itachi said before opening his menu.

Kisame leaned back in his chair as the weight of Itachi's situation hit him. He knew Itachi well enough to know that he did not participate in one night stands. Itachi only slept with someone he felt something for. He knew it had to be some type of Uchiha pride thing. So, for his longtime friend to say that he slept with someone was slightly huge,given who Itachi was.

"Itachi, I didn't know you had it in you." Kisame smirked as he looked at this friend once again. He could see the wheels turning in his friend's head as his words caught up with him.

He sat there in silence for a moment before a large smile erupted across his shark-like face.

He had to know.

"Don't be shy, Itachi. Tell me, was it good?"

As he sat in his car after his breakfast with Kisame, Itachi was eternally grateful for the fact that he only came to town only for business. He valued his time with his best friend but he knew that if he had stayed there a minute longer then he would have to kill the man.

Kisame had teased him relentlessly about sleeping with Sakura.

Itachi knew that Kisame was joking but this matter was rather sensitive to him.

He didn't know what to feel towards her. Kisame had joked that maybe he had been too perfect in bed which could be the reason why she screamed Sasuke's name in the first place.

Itachi didn't know what to think of that but he knew he had to...

A loud buzzing noise sounded through the air as the sound of music began to fill his ears.

'Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too'

There it was again.

Music.

No, it was definitely music coming from somewhere inside his car.

Now all he had to do was pinpoint where...

'Ah' he thought idly as he pulled out a small, sleek phone from underneath the passenger seat.

"I doubt Sasuke likes Hello Kitty" muttered with amusement as he examined the screen-saver on the phone. There had only been one other person that had been in his car recently. Someone who stirred up mixed feelings...someone who...

The small phone buzzed once again in his hand breaking him out of his thoughts. The damning ring-tone sprang to life and Itachi was once again stunned into silence as he listened.

Never mind, I'll find someone like you

I wish nothing but the best for you too

Don't forget me, I beg

I remember you said,

"Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,

Sometimes it lasts in love but sometimes it hurts instead,"

Yeah.

Itachi eyes widened in amusement as the listened to the song she had chosen to be a ringtone.

Adele. Ironic indeed.

Before he could take a moment to consider the consequences of his actions, he pushed the blinking green button. It only took a second to realize that his suspicion on who was on the other line was confirmed.

"Who are you and why do you have my phone?" one annoyed voice said over the line once it connected.

"Ah, Haruno Sakura. Why don't you take a guess as to who you are speaking with? Here is a hint: it is not Sasuke."

Over the line, Sakura cringed.

A part of her was relieved that she had not left her phone at the Uchiha compound but another part wept at the sound of the flat, unmistakable voice over the line.

God, must really hate me right now.

"Look, I am sorry for using you the way I did. It was petty and childish okay. Now, can I have my phone back please?"

"Ah, be that as it may, you do not sound very sorry right now" Itachi remarked, obviously missing the supposed apologetic tone of voice over the line.

"Itachi, all I want is my phone back. You can curse me to hell all you want but I just need it back. You don't have to ever see my face again after that... just give me my damn phone." she snapped finally.

Itachi was not sure whether he wanted to hate the woman or be extremely compassionate towards the confused young woman over the line. She had used him plain and simple. Could he really summon up compassion for a woman he really didn't know?

'Not likely.'

"I will return your phone but you will have to meet me somewhere else to pick it up. I have a meeting in 10 minutes so I am unable to do so at the moment."

"Fine" Sakura muttered back angrily.

She had planned on locating her phone and returning back to her bed where she had planned on spending the next few days cursing the day Sasuke ever came into her life.

"There is a small ramen restaurant near my house. We can meet there after your meeting. I will be waiting there in the back at 3pm. Is that fine with you?" Sakura replied coolly.

"I know where it is. I will meet you then." he said dryly before hanging up the phone.

And with that the line clicked dead, leaving one open mouthed doctor seething in anger.

Today just wasn't her day.

At exactly 3 pm. one, dark haired, Armani suit wearing, gray eyed businessman sat with the latest edition of the Wall Street Journal lying on the table.

Normally, Itachi despised the smell of ramen but the scent was welcomed in the haze of events that occupied his thoughts.

Things had not gone as planned in the meeting.

He knew Sasuke was not cut out for the cutthroat world of business but he had pushed him out there anyway. It was due to the tiniest mistake made on the behalf his foolish little brother that the investor wanted to back out on the deal.

If it had not been for the iron clad agreement he had insisted upon, then the entire cooperation would have been in danger.

Maybe Sasuke should take a leave of absence. He thought.

He was so focused on his thoughts that he had not noticed the almost homeless looking, pink haired woman who plopped down at his table.

Green eyes bored into gray as the woman looked over at the man who was the carbon copy of the one she had loved.

"Ah, you are late." Itachi commented as he slid the small sleek phone across the table at the wide eyed professional across from him.

Sakura glared at him.

Why did all the Uchiha males have to be so frustrating?

A part of her wished she had never looked at him. Why did he have to be so handsome? With those long eyelashes, those smothering, onyx eyes, those full lips, that gorgeous body, and his very long and gracious d... whoa...wait...?

Now was definitely not the time to think about THAT.

"Sorry, traffic." Sakura muttered shortly, not in the mood for small talk.

A young petite waitress came by and she ordered a small cup of tea to calm her nerves. She took a sip of tea before looking back at the man who seemed fascinated with observing.

"Itachi" she began tentatively before picking at a chipped nail. She didn't want to apologize but something inside her told her that she needed to. She knew nothing about being a male but she knew he probably felt a blow to his ego…or whatever.

"I'm sorry for what happened last night. I was hurting and I made the wrong decision by trying to seduce you. Hopefully after this you will never have to see my face again and we can put this whole fiasco behind us. I know it comes a bit too late but I am sorry." she said softly, before taking another dainty sip of her tea.

A pair of onyx eyes watched her shift uncomfortably as her words sank in. He had not expected for her to apologize for what happened the night before.

He didn't want her to apologize for what had occurred between them, but rather he wanted her to acknowledge what happened between them.

"Apology accepted Haruno Sakura." he said before rising to his feet.

A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she looked up at the man once again. If only he hadn't been Sasuke's older brother then perhaps...

Itachi nodded as he watched the emotions play across her small, delicate face. Even without makeup she was still beautiful...

'If only.'

"Thanks for returning the phone." Sakura said, before dropping a few bills onto the table. She rose to her feet and looked back the older Uchiha who eyed her with amusement.

"You are very welcome...Sakura."

"Hopefully, after this I will never see you again but if I happen to, I promise I will refrain from trying to drag you to my bed once again." Sakura joked weakly. She gave him a small pat on the shoulder, as she stepped around him and out the door to her car.

The small bell dinged as she left the shop.

The smell of lilac and jasmine invaded his nose once again.

A part of him knew that had they met at a different time, under different circumstances then...they would have been good for one another.

Maybe next lifetime. he thought to himself as he walked toward the door.

The cold air invaded his lungs as he stepped onto the sidewalk. A strangled cough racked his body as the cold air stirred up the chaos within.

He pulled out his handkerchief and coughed onto the silky cloth.

There it was.

Bright, red, speckled blotches dotted the tissue as he once again stuffed it into his pocket.

He looked back at the small ramen shop once again, the image of the pink haired beauty clouded his mind for only a split second.

He adjusted the collar of the Armani jacket once again. One single thought clouded his mind...

He knew he was running out of time.

A/N:Love it? Hated it? Thoughts?