Note: Sorry, I guess I won't be updating as much. September and October are especially busy months for me. :/
Itachi brought Sakura to the hotel's garden where they sat on a wooden bench.
For a while they remained quiet; Itachi having found solace and Sakura gazing in awe at the starry heavens. Noticing her minute shivering, he draped his Akatsuki robe on her, glad that it could mean something other than loyalty and intimidation. Sakura muttered a polite thank you.
She did not know how long they had been sitting there but the silence was stretching to awkwardness and she felt inclined to initiate conversation. She was about to speak when the raven haired Akatsuki spoke, beating her to the punch.
"Why work at the Akatsuki?"
She looked at him curiously, not having expected the question (though it sounded more like an inquiry). "What do you mean?"
"You don't seem to be enjoying your job."
"Well, it is a job. Rarely anyone actually enjoys their work."
"If that's the case, then I'll ask you again, why work at the Akatsuki? Suna is a prospering city, surely they offer similar jobs there."
"I don't see how that's any of -
"Not when you were dancing at the club and not when the leader paraded you to people who were captivated by your beauty - you didn't seem to enjoy any of it."
"That's becau-
"At least in Suna, you will be with your family."
Sakura paused to observe Itachi's perfect profile. There was a tenderness in his voice when he said the word family that her thoughts immediately hit home. She thought about all the people she had left - Tsunade-sama, Naruto, Ino, Shizune, Hinata, Neji, Tenten, Sai, Shikamaru, Choji, and all the others - her family. She had missed them dearly and was still trying to figure out how to visit or send a message without Kisame finding out. She also thought of Sasuke who was not home but nonetheless a part of her family. But thinking of Sasuke only reverted her attention back to Itachi who was in turn looking at her. His black orbs only grew darker under the night.
She threw his musings back at him. "Do you enjoy working for Akatsuki? Don't you have family?"
Mission be damned, Sakura could care less at the moment. When she saw the fleeting wistfulness in his eyes, she was certain that they both knew what the underlying meaning was in the question she posed. It was true that she had temporarily forgotten the desperation she felt about bringing Sasuke back. Oh, Gaara too. She had been too busy acquainting herself with her new life that she had not had time to just think. But now, the only one who could satiate her plea for answers was sitting right beside her.
Judging from his momentary silence, he was probably deliberating his response so as not to give away private information while retaining the truth.
"I work for Akatsuki in order to protect my family," Itachi finally responded.
He knew that she understood the true implication of his words - that his only family left was Sasuke and that was because he loved him too much to kill him. It was up to her to believe him...or judge him like many others had.
Even in the darkness he could see Sakura's emerald eyes glazing with unshed tears. In an almost inaudible whisper he heard her say, "He's hurting because of you."
He was almost surprised to see her unveil all the emotions she had been hiding. The sadness, anger, love, pleading, submission... weakness. At the mere mention of Sasuke, she had wordlessly admitted her affiliation with the Leaf, leaving herself openly vulnerable.
He was glad that his little brother had people like her who regarded him with such allegiance. But it was a pity that it might have to cost her life as he could see it already cost her happiness.
"He's working to become stronger. You should do the same if you truly care about him."
"At least I'm not a traitor," she spat out defensively, feeling heated from his implied criticism. "At least I care enough to actually be there for him."
The sound of Itachi's laugh startled Sakura. And quite befitting of a criminal, his laugh was cold and condescending.
"You speak as if you understand," he challenged.
"You killed innocent people, your family! What's left to understand?"
"I did spare the only innocent Uchiha, if that's what you mean."
Sakura opened her mouth to retort but stopped as she replayed what he had said. The only innocent Uchiha? With a puzzled look she asked, "What are you talking about?"
"View it whichever way you want but I meant what I said. Sasuke was the only innocent Uchiha."
"I don't understa-
"I'm going inside," Itachi interjected as he stood abruptly. "You should follow after you watch the meteor shower."
He turned his back and started walking away before Sakura could protest. She heaved out a sigh and raised her head towards the heavens. It seemed like she had been presented with more mysteries than answers during her stay at Akatsuki. Coupled with the fact that Itachi was not even fooled by her cover. It was a clear indication that she was incompetent in executing this mission properly.
Sakura gasped as she came to a sudden realization. What if the puppet had been from Itachi?
So far he was the only Akatsuki she could think of who knew who she truly was. However, her hypothesis had defects. The puppet had been dressed exactly how she had at the auditions but she did not recall seeing Itachi among the judges. There was a slight chance it was merely coincidental, but her gut feeling told her otherwise. Also, Itachi did not seem like the type to send unsigned warnings. Then again she did not know him.
Sakura's emerald orbs flickered towards the black velvet sky that was now being slashed by knives of white flames.
Wow, an actual meteor shower.
Itachi cast one last look at the cherry head before he entered the door.
Her feminine silhouette stared at night sky above - her head uplifted in wonder and delight - as it became illuminated by the showers of light.
In his onyx eyes, it was a picture far more mystical and sublime than the celebrated Mona Lisa.
