Disclaimer: Nope. I still don't own Naruto. If I did, then I would have my own harem of Naruto men. (Ah, good times). Hehe, we all know Itachi would be one of them! Ok. To the story...

Chapter 9

Resemblance

Sakura wore a gi and hakama as she headed out for sword practice with Kisame. He was finally going to start teaching her actual sword fighting, instead of just the swings and lunges he had been drilling her in.

But that wasn't the only reason why Sakura was slightly nervous.

Itachi was watching.

He, Deidara, and Sasori had all seemed to find enough time to sit and watch her and Kisame's first duel. Sakura already knew who was going to win. She just wished she didn't have to be humiliated in front of all of them.

She bit her lip and breathed in deeply. She could feel Itachi's gaze on her back and it only made it worse. She felt herself go hot any time she thought about the night before.

"We'll continue tomorrow night."

It made her stomach a nervous flutter of butterflies. She wouldn't deny it. She was anticipating her meeting later that night with Itachi. She ignored the blush trying to rise to her cheeks as she watched Kisame.

"Well, let's go kitten." Kisame brought Samehada in front of him from where it had rested on his shoulder. "I don't have all day."

"Actually, you do." Sasori commented casually.

Kisame frowned. "Hey, you never know when Leader will send us on a mission."

Sakura tried to smile confidently. "Stop stalling Kisame. Let's just do this already." And get it over with.

"You can take him kitten, yeah!" Deidara called out encouragingly.

Sakura looked over at him. She wondered if he were trying to make her feel better or if he actually believed she could take on an Akatsuki member.

He was definitely just being nice.

I don't know how much better a boost in my self-confidence is going to do me, Deidara. But thanks for trying anyway. Sakura thought to herself as she breathed in deeply once more.

Then she lunged forward, swinging her own sword.

Kisame parried and they clashed together. The jarring motion racked her arms, almost making them go numb. The striking force of the sword was almost overpowering. Sakura slammed her feet into the ground to keep herself from being pushed over as she locked her arms in placed.

They stayed that way, both pushing on the other's sword.

Then Sakura felt her arms begin to tire. She focused chakra into them and shoved forward, making Kisame jumped backwards to regain his balance and keep from being pushed over.

Sakura took the moment to swing her sword in a large arc. Kisame blocked her attack, slamming Samehada into her own sword. This time she wasn't rooted to the ground and she flew backwards. She managed to flip in the air with the large sword, swinging it around a full three hundred and sixty degrees to stop another attack from Kisame.

How can he do this for so long? Swinging this sword like this is hard. And you can't change the direction very quickly. Once you start going, you can't very well stop. If you're slow, you're dead.

She suddenly gained a little bit of respect for Kisame, if only because of his sword skill. They pushed themselves apart again. Kisame hadn't broken a sweat.

Sakura was trying to pretend like she wasn't having a problem breathing. She felt her arms begin to sag as she locked them in place. She wasn't out yet.

She let out a growl as she rushed forward, sword ready. She gathered chakra into her arms and swung.

There was a loud grating of steel as the swords connected. Then Sakura and Kisame were on opposite sides of the field. Kisame shouldered Samehada and grinned. "I won, kitten."

Sakura frowned at him, getting ready to argue that he couldn't assume such things so early on—when she looked down at her sword.

Or rather, what was left of it.

It had been cut completely in half by Samehada.

Sakura dropped the half she still held with a sigh. She hadn't believed that swinging it so hard would cause Kisame's sword to slice through it. She looked to see Kisame grinning at her.

"Nice try. You're getting better."

"Thanks." Sakura felt a little embarrassed at her failure.

Deidara let out a laugh. "That's the first time I've seen someone keep him on his toes, Sakura. Way to go, yeah!"
Sakura blinked. She hadn't even noticed.

"Che." Kisame grunted. "She wasn't that good."

"Don't deny it. You were worried." Deidara teased.

Sasori gave a small sigh before turning to Sakura. "You have indeed grown in your skills, Haruno-san."

"Thank you Sasori-san." Sakura nodded at him. Deidara may have praised her for her skill, but she could always trust Sasori to tell her plainly what she was doing and how well she was doing it.

Kisame would tell her that her skills were nothing compared to his.

And Itachi would merely tell her she was weak.

Sakura looked down at her severed sword. "I guess I need some more practice."

"Yep." Kisame slung an arm around her shoulders. "But I'm sure that with my wonderful teachings, even you can become a great sword-master, kitten."

Sakura felt a heated gaze upon her and tried to ignore Itachi. She peeled Kisame's arm off her shoulders and smiled at him. "Oi. Are you some sword guru now?" If you touch me again I think Itachi's going to murder you where you stand. And that won't be good.

Once again, his protectiveness—or was it merely possessiveness?—stirred something in her stomach.

She couldn't wait till she finished training with Sasori later that night.

"That's enough training for today, kitten." Kisame grunted. "You've gotten your ass beaten bad enough already. It's a nice ass though."

You shouldn't have done that, Kisame! Sakura called out silently, almost wincing as she heard Itachi's voice.

"Sakura. Come."

You make me seem like a dog. Do you want me to fetch a stick and heel like a good little puppy?

"Alright." Sakura nodded at Sasori, Kisame, and Deidara as she followed Itachi. Deidara's gaze was jealous, Sasori's understanding, and Kisame's confused.

Sasuke landed on the ground in front of Deidara's home in Stone. He hadn't been there in a long time. The last time…he had sworn to kill her.

Now, he hoped he would find a way to do that.

He stretched out his sore legs, wincing as they cramped. He'd been running days on end. He was surprised they hadn't fallen off.

This is it, Sakura. When I find you, I'll…

What? Kill her?

I swore I would do so.

Kill the only one who continued to believe in you? She was the only one who didn't condemn you when you left, that's what Naruto told you. Don't be a damn hypocrite, Sasuke. Condemning her for leaving and betraying you…when you did the same to her.

Shut up. Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he felt a presence behind him.

"Uchiha."

Sasuke turned to see someone he hadn't thought to see for a long while. Neji Hyuga. He'd been sent on a mission, and Sasuke had taken the opportunity to escape Konoha. Apparently Neji had gotten word of Sasuke's departure.

His white Byakugan eyes glittered dangerously as he brought himself into his gentle fist-fighting pose.

"I have waited a long time for this battle, Uchiha. After all, you once challenged me. However, you left for Sound before I could take you up on the offer." Neji watched as Sasuke got into his own fighting stance.

"Out of my way, Hyuga."

"You are wanted back at Konoha. For some reason the Hokage wishes to be generous and let you live. Two betrayals to Konoha within seven years…that's quite a dangerous record, Uchiha. Some people might believe you don't deserve to live."

Sasuke smirked. "Someone like you?"

Neji smiled back at him. "Perhaps."

"So they only sent you? No one else? How pathetic. Apparently the Hokage didn't realize I have grown stronger."

Neji snorted. "And apparently you have not realized that I have grown stronger as well. Of course, I have always been more powerful than you, Uchiha. Your arrogance will get you killed. Sooner than you think."

"N-Neji!" Hinata appeared on the ground behind him. Kiba, Shino, Lee, Tenten, and Choji all landed on the ground a few seconds later.

"Neji!" Lee exclaimed. "How could you leave us behind? Besides, it is I who wishes to fight Sasuke Uchiha. I beat him once, I shall do so again. No one will dishonor Sakura-san while I, Rock Lee, live and breathe."

Tenten sighed, "Nice speech, Lee. Just let Neji handle this."

"Ah. I see that the Hokage didn't have as much faith in your skills as I believed." Sasuke taunted, eyes shining with his Sharingan.

Neji's eyes narrowed in return as he smirked.

"They were merely sent to keep me from killing you where you stand, Uchiha." No one will hurt Sakura while I am alive, Sasuke Uchiha. Especially not a selfish, revenge-obsessed prick like yourself.

Sasuke twiddled a kunai between his fingers as he turned his head to the side, watching Neji with one crimson eye. "You want to make a wager upon that, Hyuga? I doubt you can kill me."

"Do not tempt me, Uchiha."

Sasuke threw the kunai and Neji caught it easily. "I saw you fighting with Itachi that first time we met up with them after Haruno-san's capture. You were pitiful then. I doubt you have improved much."

Sasuke let out a small growl. "You couldn't defeat Itachi either."

"But I stood a better chance at it than yourself." Neji let out a small laugh as he followed Sasuke's movements with his eyes. "Perhaps I should have been born into the Uchiha Clan. Then, at least, I could avenge them properly."

Sasuke lunged.

Hinata paled. Oh Neji! You didn't!

Neji blocked a kick, swinging his own leg around to slam it into Sasuke's stomach. The substitution disappeared in a puff of smoke as Neji smirked. He'd known it was fake all along. What did Sasuke believe he was, an amateur? Any Byakugan wielder could tell the difference between a real opponent and a substitution or clone.

He felt the real Sasuke's chakra behind him and his eyes narrowed in satisfaction. He was in range. He saw Sasuke get ready for his signature fireball attack, and he began his heavenly spin.

Sasuke was thrown backwards into a tree. Neji rushed forward, one hand readied in the killing strike he was famous for, which went straight for the heart. He slammed his hand forward and met only with bark.

Neji's eyes narrowed as he turned to look for the Uchiha. But he was nowhere to be found. "Hinata-sama, use your Byakugan and scan the area." Neji ordered, doing the same thing.

"N-nothing." Hinata confirmed his own search.

"That sneaky bastard ran away!" Kiba roared. "What a coward!"

"There was another chakra presence here for a moment, right before Sasuke disappeared." Tenten deducted. "Do you think he had help?"

Neji clenched his hand. "Indeed. Let us continue our search."

As they all disappeared into the air, the tree behind them let out a loud groan as it split in two from Neji's attack.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he surveyed his surroundings. He wasn't that far from Deidara's home in Stone. He crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at the man leaning against the tree in front of him.

"Who the hell are you?" Sasuke spoke first.

The man let out a dark laugh. Sasuke recognized the Akatsuki cloak, but the man was unfamiliar.

"You're being rather rude, don't you think? I just saved your life, boy."

"I had everything under control." Sasuke hissed out.

The man let out another chuckle as he looked at Sasuke from behind black bangs. His silver eyes glittered. "Going up against an entire group of shinobi by yourself? And I thought that the Uchiha Clan was supposed to be intelligent. Perhaps only Itachi gained that asset."

Sasuke growled deep in his throat as he lunged. The man grabbed his arm and slammed him into the tree before he even knew what was happening. He felt the bark dig into his skin as the man held him there.

"Don't be hasty, Sasuke Uchiha. Unless you wish me to kill you now."

"You know my name. It is only polite to tell me yours. You are the one, after all, stressing manners and decorum."

The man's eyes narrowed. "Aren't you an observant little ass? Very well." The man shrugged. "I don't have anything better to do. After all, we might be working together." A dark, expectant smile flashed across his face. It unnerved Sasuke.

Sasuke waited.

"I am Tomokazu Arita."

Sasuke snorted. "You say that as if it should mean something to me."

Tomokazu's eyes narrowed once more, to mere slits. He resisted the urge to kill the boy right then. It was a very tempting offer, but he refused it. He needed him, after all. "I have a proposition to make, Uchiha Sasuke."

"Hn."

Almost as aggravating as your bastard of a brother, aren't you?

"You want Sakura Haruno and your brother Itachi, do you not?"

"Hai." Sasuke answered cautiously.

Tomokazu grinned maliciously at him. "Well. I know where they are."

There was a long moment of silence as Sasuke watched him. This man was Akatsuki. Why would he be helping Sasuke? Unless…unless he didn't like Itachi and wanted him gone as well. Sasuke didn't believe his luck.

"I'm listening."

Sakura looked across the table at Itachi. He was sitting down, sipping his tea.

Sakura gave a small sigh. "Well? What did you call me in here for?"

"Hn."

Sakura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Is he jealous of Kisame? Ha. I doubt it. He's just being difficult. She took a sip of her own tea. She looked around the room with a small smile. "I see that you and Deidara fixed the kitchen rather well."

"Hn."

"It's your own fault." Sakura couldn't resist the urge to tease him slightly. To her, if was much easier to make light of a serious situation. It was the only way she could still deal with the fact that Itachi and Deidara had almost killed her.

Get over it, Sakura. Deidara is still your friend and Itachi is…well, Itachi. That hasn't changed. You have to accept the fact. You did so with Sasuke and Naruto. They were your teammates.

And look what happened. Sasuke wants to kill me. I've hurt Naruto so badly…he probably hates me and I don't blame him.

Stop being so self-centered.

Sakura gave another small sigh as she took another sip of her tea. The air around them was becoming uncomfortable. Especially as Sakura thought of the night before. It made her fingers itch…she wondered if his hair was as soft as she had always thought it was.

She blinked. Oi, Sakura, you're daydreaming about an s-class criminal.

A hot one.

Whoa girl.

Next time he kisses me, I'll show him he's not the only one who knows how to use their tongue!

Sakura! That voice was her mother's reprimanding her for her rather dirty thoughts. Sakura snickered at the thought of her mother walking in seeing her daughter making out with an s-class criminal.

That wouldn't go over very well.

Her mother had always said Sakura should nab herself the Uchiha. That way, she would be the matron of the Uchiha Clan and be married into one of the most famous and honorable clans in Konoha.

Of course, her mother was probably referring to Sasuke.

Not Itachi.

Sakura's gaze suddenly darkened as she instinctively placed her hand on her stomach. It wasn't as if she could have a child anyway. She bit her lip. She wondered why she hadn't noticed it before, or remembered Tsunade's words.

"Sakura-chan, never use the Genesis of Rebirth technique unless there is nothing else you can do."

"Why, Tsunade-sama?"

Tsunade sighed as she looked at Sakura. "Sakura, there are certain life-energies that must flow and remain for certain things to happen. You know this."

"Hai…"

"Well…" Tsunade raked a hand through her hair. "You want children, right Sakura?"

Sakura blushed. "When I'm older, Tsunade-sama! Not right NOW!" I'm only sixteen!

Tsunade smiled ruefully at her. "Well, to have a child…certain life energies inside of your body must be balanced and working properly."

"Hai." Sakura nodded, her brows knotted in confusion. "I've read about that."

"Sakura…" Tsunade sighed deeply. "When using the Genesis of Rebirth Technique well…it…disrupts the life energy flow patterns. The large surge of chakra used with Genesis of Rebirth…severs that life energy."

"Nani?" Sakura whispered. "You mean, it stops it?"

"Well, not all of it. That would kill you, after all. But it…significantly reduces it. And as I said before, chakra and life energy must be balanced for conception. After all, the baby will latch onto your chakra signature and use it and your life energy to survive in the womb."

Sakura nodded slowly.

"Without the balance, conception cannot take place. Without the balance of the life energy, the chakra will merely kill the child instead of helping it. Even if the conception were to occur, the child would die soon afterwards. There would not be enough life energy for both you and the child. Your own health would take precedence and even without your knowledge your own chakra would kill the babe to keep it from sucking out too much of your life energy."

Sakura paled as she looked down at her stomach. She bit her lip. "So what you are saying is…I'd be murdering my own child?"

"Sakura." Tsunade forced her to look up into her eyes, which were serious yet understanding. "I learned this because I used the jutsu myself. I can no longer have children." Her lip quivered.

She smiled cheerfully though. "It doesn't matter, I suppose. I never really…wanted children I guess. After all, I am Hokage now. I can't afford to have children at the moment."

Sakura watched her sympathetically. "Hai, Tsunade-sama. Thank you for…the warning. I guess it makes sense…" Sakura trailed off slowly. "To regenerate life for oneself, they must give up the ability to give life to another."

Sakura breathed in deeply, swearing she'd never use the jutsu unless she absolutely had to.

After all, how could she help Sasuke rebuild his Clan if she couldn't have children? What kind of a man doesn't want his wife to give birth to their child?

Sakura's hands shook slightly, but she stilled the movement as she noticed Itachi's gaze on her. She smiled shyly at him, pretending like nothing was wrong. She took another sip of her tea.

So you see, Sasuke…I never would have been able to help you rebuild your Clan. That's all you wanted me for, and it can never happen.

I'm useless to you.

Sakura looked up at Itachi once more, from behind the rim of her cup.

But he still needs me. I'm not useless to him.

"I'll be sure to tell Kisame not to flirt with me so much." Sakura put in lightly, hoping to disrupt the uncomfortable mood. "Of course, it'll be hard to do. I know how hard I am to resist." She grinned at the last part, waiting for Itachi's reaction.

"Hn."

Once again, Sakura resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You're not being any fun."

Suddenly Itachi was behind her, his breath on her neck. Sakura froze in place, her breathing momentarily halted.

"Fun?"

"H-hai…" Sakura tried not to sound breathless as she felt his fingers on the back of her neck. I'm starting to sound like Hinata. Sakura almost frowned. He better not think she was going to let him toy with her the entire time.

She needed to play too.

"Well…" Sakura began, putting a finger to her lip as she leaned back slightly, feeling herself come in contact with his chest. She tipped her head back, giving him a good view of her neck, as she looked him in the eye.

"There are lots of things we could do to make this fun." Watch it Sakura. You're sounding rather promiscuous. Like a whore.

But he likes his whores, doesn't he?

That's beside the point!

Itachi smirked as he watched her. It felt good to know he could make her breathless.

But it also felt good to know she wasn't merely going to fall down on her knees in front of him.

She would be a challenge.

His mind warned him not to play with fire. But after all, the Uchiha Clan was famous for its ability to tame and wield fire. He wasn't afraid.

He wasn't giving into her. He was merely playing with his possession.

Or so he kept telling himself.

How long had it been since he'd thought he could tame his little cherry blossom? It was taking longer than expected. Now, however, he hoped that he would be rewarded for his patience.

There was suddenly a large distance between them as the door opened and Sasori walked inside. He eyed Sakura, then Itachi.

"Haruno-san, I wished to know if you wanted to continue our training now?"

Sakura almost cursed Sasori's timing, but she supposed it had to happen sometime. At least it wasn't Kisame this time.

Itachi walked to the doorway, and Sakura frowned. She watched him as he turned to look back at her.

"Be sure to warn Kisame."

Sakura smiled rather wickedly at that as he left and Sasori raised an eyebrow at the retort, but did not ask what Itachi had meant.

Itachi had made a joke. She wondered what would happen if Kisame did what he usually did when they trained alone together, like pinch her ass to 'keep her alert'.

If Itachi saw that, then Sakura wouldn't be the only one who couldn't have babies.

Sakura let out a loud laugh as she took another drink of her tea. Maybe this was the reason she had stayed with them.

For the goose bumps she got whenever Itachi touched her. For the heated sensation she felt when his fingers grazed her skin.

For him.

And that scared her slightly. She was falling for Itachi Uchiha, murderer of the Uchiha clan, missing-nin from Konoha, member of the Akatsuki, and s-class criminal.

She didn't realize that she'd already fallen.

She merely stood, heading to her room. She needed time to cool down before their meeting later that night. If things continued at this rate, she'd show him that she wasn't just a little, weakling girl.

She could be quite dominating if she wanted to be.

Of course, the thought of her dominating Itachi Uchiha was a bit absurd.

Sakura merely smiled coyly to herself as she patted the scroll in her obi. She would begin her research on the effects of the Sharingan.

"We'll just see what happens, won't we Itachi?" Her voice rivaled Ino's at her most conniving.

Sakura breathed in deeply as she made the hand signs, activating the scroll's jutsu. She gave a small sigh as she bit into both thumbs, smearing the blood across her eyes. As she opened them, the Sharingan activated itself quicker than before. Her eyes were becoming used to the strain already.

She was sitting in her room after Sasori's training. They'd trained earlier than usual, ending with enough time for Sakura to come back to her room and study the scroll before Itachi came and she…healed his eyes.

Sakura looked around the room with the Sharingan, all the while recording the information in her empty scrolls. She felt the nagging strain at the back of her eyes, agitating the nerves. No wonder Itachi had been going blind.

If he kept his Sharingan on all the time then the strain on the eyes would be unbearable. As well as the pain.

Perhaps it isn't as painful for an actual member of the Uchiha Clan. Sakura thought as she looked back down at the true scroll. She had reread it at least three times after using the jutsu for the first time.

Sakura tried to focus on the scroll. But it was hard to do when she realized that in a few minutes, Itachi would be sitting on the bed next to her and she would be touching him.

In a professional manner of course. As she healed his eyes.

She wasn't going to be the one to kiss him.

The door slid open and Sakura looked up, immediately letting go of the Sharingan. She still didn't know if Itachi was comfortable with the fact that she knew the Sharingan too.

Of course, he was the only one with the Mangekou. To get it…Sakura would need to kill her best friend.

Even if she joked about it sometimes, she would never actually hurt Ino. Of course, she wouldn't tell Itachi this. He would merely tell her that it was another sign of her weakness.

"Sakura." He nodded his head in greeting as he slid the door closed.

Sakura smiled at him, trying to hide her nervousness as she breathed in deeply. "Hello Itachi. I think I can finish healing your eyes tonight." She watched him give a small, triumphant smirk.

It frightened her for a moment. After all…she would lose her usefulness afterwards, wouldn't she?

Sakura ignored the thought as she patted the spot on the bed beside her. "Well, I suppose we should get started."

"The scroll's jutsu has drained you of a lot of your chakra."

"How observant of you, Itachi." Sakura gave a small laugh. Itachi merely raised one eyebrow. Sakura supposed she should be happy he didn't try and kill her for the small joke.

"I still have enough to do the final touches. Using the Sharingan on myself I've…learned easier and less strenuous ways to heal your eyes. It shouldn't take as much chakra as I thought it would before." She placed her fingertips on his forehead. "Close your eyes."

Itachi didn't do so.

Sakura gave a small sigh. "Could you please close your eyes?"

Itachi did so.

I see. The famous Itachi Uchiha can't be ordered to do something. Geeze. Sakura shifted a bit of her chakra to her fingertips. "I see why you keep the Sharingan on all the time. You can see everything with those eyes."

"Hn."

"Itachi…you aren't mad at me, are you?"

"Hn."

"For…for having the Sharingan, I mean." Sakura whispered, unsure if she should even be explaining herself to him. He seemed to be a bit more understanding than he used to be, but that wasn't saying much.

Itachi opened one eye, looking at her in slight annoyance. "Your Sharingan is too weak to be even a minimal threat to myself."

Sakura supposed that meant, 'no, I don't mind your Sharingan, Sakura. It's fine. You can keep it'. Sakura realized that with Itachi, she would just have to try and read between the lines.

Sakura closed her eyes to focus, and placed a little more chakra into the inner workings of the eye. She had healed the iris and pupil already. The nerves were the last things on her to-do list.

"Well, that's good then. I suppose Sasuke won't be too happy with me, though."

"Hn."

Was it Sakura's imagination, or was his usual retort forced this time? It sounded a bit…angry? As if he were jealous that she was thinking about Sasuke at a time like this.

Sakura, stop trying to read him like normal people. He's Itachi. I don't even think he's human

Sakura opened her eyes and saw him staring at her. It made her stomach flutter, but she ignored it as she breathed in deeply. She was going to be a professional. "Itachi, I need you to deactivate your Sharingan for me."

"Hn."

He did as he was told, for once.

Sakura felt more than saw the changes in his eyesight already. The stress of maintaining the Sharingan was what was blocking the nerve endings in his eyes. If he would use it less, he'd be fine.

Otherwise, Sakura would be healing his eyes every so often.

That meant, of course, that she would not lose her usefulness.

Sakura watched his face and bit her lip. With those eyes, he looked so much like Sasuke…what would Sasuke think when he saw her Sharingan? Would he hate her for it? Would it just be one more thing to remind him of his brother?

Oh Sasuke-kun…

Suddenly Itachi's eyes turned back to their crimson Sharingan.

"I am not my brother, Sakura."

Sakura blinked, only then realizing—with dawning horror—that she had whispered Sasuke's name out loud.

"I…" Sakura began, looking away. "Sorry. I didn't mean it."

Itachi watched her fumbling with her words. It annoyed him that she thought of his brother, even as he sat in front of her.

Is it because of my eyes? Does she see my brother in them when they are their normal color?

…perhaps that is the only reason why she allows you to kiss her, Itachi. Because of your resemblance to your brother.

Hn. She has the nerve to whisper his name in that voice…

Jealous?

Hardly. I doubt my brother has ever kissed her like I have.

You're jealous!

Dammit, I doubt he's even kissed her at all before!

Itachi grabbed Sakura's shoulders and pulled her roughly to him as he caught her mouth with his. She let out a small exclamation of surprise as she clutched at his shirt deftly, as if she didn't know where else to put her hands. His tongue slipped inside her mouth.

Who do you think of him now, Sakura? He thought smugly.

Suddenly Sakura's tongue darted back into his own mouth, to explore there. Itachi tried not to show how surprised he was at her action. Her hands went to his hair, and he felt her stroke it as she continued to kiss him.

Itachi's hand drifted underneath her shirt.

Sakura pulled away to breathe, but also to whisper, "…not yet." Her breathing was rapid and heavy. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she looked up at him.

Not yet? Who does she think she's talking to?

Sakura watched him warily, unsure of his reaction. It wasn't as if…as if she didn't want to continue.

But for a moment, she regained her senses and realized something: if she slept with him, if she let herself go so quickly…she would feel dirty. Not because of him, but because of the fact that she had always sworn she would never have sex with a man she wasn't in love with…who didn't love her back.

She felt strange feelings for him, things she couldn't explain. But she didn't know if it was love. She doubted it could be. How could she fall in love with a murderer?

And she definitely knew he didn't love her. She was a plaything to him. A little tool that he would soon lose usefulness for.

Sakura continued to stroke his hair as her thoughts warred with one another. "You know…your hair is as soft as I thought it would be…"

Itachi looked down at her in mild surprise. All she could think about was his hair? He suddenly realized he had been pushing her too quickly. Too fast.

Then another thought came to him: why did he care?

But for some strange reason he did care.

And it bothered him.

"Itachi…I should finish healing your eyes." Sakura whispered as her fingers drifted from his hair to his eyes.

Itachi nodded.

They stayed the rest of the night in silence.

(A/N: Hm. Did you like it? Sasuke is being an idiot! Teaming up with Tomokazu is not going to make Sakura happy! Or Itachi…definitely not Itachi.

The sexual tension between Sakura and Itachi just keeps on building! I'm not letting them go too fast, because I want to keep them all in character. (Of course, I don't doubt that Itachi would try and make out with her as many times as possible if he could). Heh. After all, he is a guy.

I hope the little explanation about The Genesis of Rebirth technique and Sakura's barrenness wasn't too confusing. Poor Sakura, she wanted to be a mommy so bad:(

Well, Sakura is definitely in love with Itachi. I don't think any of us will deny it—except Sakura. And…I think Itachi's starting to fall in love with her too. He doesn't even notice it, but she's changing him, just like she's changed everybody else!

The one she's left the least affected would have to be Sasori. Hm. I might have to change that. Hehehe.

Well, until next time…

Buh-bye, Lady Hanaka

Question: Crime doesn't pay... does that mean my job is a crime?)