I'm still working on this next chapter, so please review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. All rights go to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 10: Why her?~

Sasuke woke up in the middle of the night, next to Sakura, who had tears running down her face. She whispered, "Stop it...Itachi..." Sasuke's eyes widened and he frowned.

~Sakura's dream~

Itachi stood in front of Sakura, as they were in a park. Itachi said, "Hello, Sakura." Sakura narrowed her eyes and said, "Don't speak to me so familiarly. You know I hate you." Itachi said, "Aa. You have more hatred for me than my little brother does. How sad." Sakura said sharply, "How about you shut it, before I kill you." Itachi smirked and said, "On the contrary, Cherry Blossom. It will be I who does the killing." Sakura didn't have time to respond before she was pinned up against a tree. Itachi smirked and used the Mangekyou Sharingan. Heart pounding, nerves stretched to the breaking point, her blood ran cold. Sakura found herself tied to a cross. Fear distorted her features. She asked nervously, "What kind of genjutsu is this?" Itachi said casually, "This is far worse than a genjutsu." He pulled out a sharp blade and rammed it in her gut. Sakura gave a blood-curdling scream in pure agony and terror. Blood came sheeting from her throat and Sakura choked violently.

Itachi proceeded to stab her over and over and over...and he whispered something that almost stopped Sakura's heart....

~End of dream~

Sakura cried out and let out a scream. Sasuke shook her awake and Sakura's eyes shot open. She glanced up and saw Sasuke staring down at her with a concerned expression. Sakura let out a loud sob and buried her face in his shirt, sobbing hard. "He...he..." she stuttered, crying hysterically. Sasuke rubbed her back up and down in a attempt to soothe her. Ino burst in the door wielding a frying pan. "What was that scream? Where is Sakura?" Ino's eyes darted around and saw Sasuke sitting on the bed, Sakura crying continuously. Ino walked over to her and said gently, "Saku, calm down." Suigetsu walked in the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning. "What's the matter?" he said, sleepily, in his boxers. He looked at Ino holding a frying pan and snickered, but his face turned serious when he saw Sakura crying. Sakura cried silently into Sasuke's shoulder. Ino patted her back and she looked at Sasuke. "A nightmare?" Ino said. Sasuke nodded and said, "Hn. About Itachi." She sniffed silently and Suigetsu patted Sakura's head. Her heart rate slowed thankfully as the nightmare began to fade. Tears still flowed from her delicate face and she fell asleep. Ino said, "I can trust that you'll make sure she's okay, right?" Sasuke nodded and lied Sakura on the bed, pulling her close, and wiping her face dry with a handkerchief. Suigetsu grabbed Ino's hand and said, "She'll be fine. Sakura's strong. Let's go back to sleep. But a frying pan, Ino?" Ino smiled at Suigetsu, took one last glance at Sakura and walked back to Suigetsu's bed. (A/N: They didn't do it, I swear.)

The next morning, Sakura woke up and saw Sasuke with his arm around her waist protectively. Sakura tried to get up, to get something to eat, and Sasuke stirred. Sasuke sat up quick and Sakura was a little startled. She kissed him on his cheek and said, "Sasuke, how come you're so tense?" Sasuke blinked a few times and said, "What was the nightmare about?" Sakura murmured, "Nightmare? What do you mean?" Sasuke said, "You were talking in your sleep last night, then you woke up screaming and crying." Sakura thought for a moment and said, "I did?" Her temple pounded and all of last night's events came rushing back. There was something in her gaze. Sadness? Raw terror? She whispered, "Itachi..." as she sunk backwards into the softness of the pillows. Sasuke sat up and pulled her into a tight embrace. Sasuke said gently, "Sakura...just tell me what happened..." Sakura took a shaky breath and said, "He used the Mangekyou Sharingan on me." Sasuke's face turned stunned. He understood how much torture Itachi could do with it.

Sakura started crying and said, "He kept stabbing me and he whispered something in my ear..." Sasuke kissed her on her forehead and rubbed her back more. Sasuke hushed her and said seriously, "You don't have to tell me now." Sakura sniffled and nodded her head, wiping her face with a tissue. Her nose was red and her face looked weary, but she still looked beautiful (Sasuke was thinking this.).

Sakura's stomach growled and she sheepishly chuckled. "I'm really hungry," she stated, grinning. Sasuke hned and helped her off the bed. They went to the small kitchen to see Ino and Suigetsu at the table eating breakfast. They saw two plates sitting on the table. Ino rushed over to Sakura and started hugging her tightly. "You're okay, right Saku?" Sakura sweatdropped, "I'm fine, Ino. Good morning, Suigetsu." Suigetsu got up and gave her a short hug. "Morning. Glad to see you're doing fine, Sakura-chan," Suigetsu said, as he sat back down. Ino chirped, "I made you two some breakfast, so go on. I made you a tomato omelet, Sasuke, with banana pancakes. I made a sweet dumpling for you, Saku, and some pork sausages. Oh and some sweet apple pie." They all ate their food, talking about random things. Karin opened the door just as everyone were finishing their plates. "Good morning, Sasuke-kun. Guess what?" Karin said, with a huge smile. Sasuke said blankly, "Yeah. What?" Karin took a deep breath and said, "As much as it pains me to say this, Sasuke. I found a new love. I apologize for leading you on." Sasuke rolled his eyes and Ino said, "Congrats. Who's the poor guy?" Karin glared, "Actually, his name is Haijima and he's extremely sweet." Ino said, "Well, tell Haijima-san, if he even exists, that I said good luck."

Karin growled and said, "If you don't shut the--" Sasuke warned, "Karin, don't say another word. Ino, mind your own business." Ino was about to reply when Sakura shook her head frantically. Ino closed her mouth and just hmphed. Sasuke asked, "Is that all, Karin?" Karin nodded and waited for Sasuke to get jealous. Sasuke pulled Sakura into his lap and Sakura looked at him in confusion. Sasuke smirked, "Well, Karin, I really don't care. I have a girlfriend." Karin twitched and muttered, "Well, I thought should tell the only person in this room that I like my good news." Sakura spoke up, "Well, maybe we would like you if you weren't an over-obsessive, short-tempered, grouchy whore." Karin huffed and stormed out. Juugo came in and went straight to the bedroom, going to sleep as he had been out all night.

Ino asked, "So what are we going to do today?" Sasuke stood up and walked towards the door. He said flatly, "Train." Sasuke was about to walk out of the door, when Sakura challenged, "Fight me, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke was about to accept, when he remembered how much Sakura was crying the previous night. "I don't feel like fighting you, Sakura," he simply replied. Sakura asked crossly, "And why not? Scared I might beat you?" Sasuke shook his head, not letting her words get to him. "Suigetsu, come on," he said, walking out of the door. Suigetsu got up, "Yeah, I'm coming," following Sasuke. Sakura was a little angry that Sasuke blew her off. Ino snorted, "And what makes him think we'll actually believe that he doesn't feel like fighting?" Sakura said angrily, "I think he doesn't think I'm a challenge. Every time I ask him to fight me, he walks off." Ino asked, "Well, what can you do?" as she sipped her hot tea. Sakura frowned, "I'll get even. Watch."

Two hours later, Sasuke and Suigetsu came back from training, without that many injuries, so Suigetsu took a shower. Sakura saw Sasuke come in, but she ignored him, as she and Ino made a scheme to make the men angry and/or jealous. Sasuke leaned over and kissed Sakura on her cheek. Sakura didn't even acknowledge his presence. Sasuke shrugged and walked to the other bathroom for a shower. [Sasuke's thoughts: She might be still mad about the training thing. She'll get over it.]

Sakura changed into a red one sleeved shirt (one long sleeve and the other wasn't there), some tight black shorts that stopped at her mid thigh and her long hair was out, straightened. She also had on some red pumps. Ino put on a blue tube top and some tight matching blue Capri s. Her hair was in a side ponytail and she had on some baby heels, which were white. Sasuke came out of the bathroom with a towel tied around his waist and using another one to dry his wet hair. Sakura called out, as they were getting ready to leave, "Oh, Sasuke. We're going out to eat, so we'll see you two later." Sakura did, however, have second thoughts, when she saw his rock-hard abs. Sasuke asked, slightly bothered, "What's wrong, Sakura?" Sasuke didn't like the idea of men staring and hitting on Sakura. He'd kill them. Suigetsu heard what Sakura said and looked at the two women. "Dressed like that? I wouldn't be surprised if you two were raped. Ino, you can't go out dressed like that." Ino raised a brow and said, "Oh, yeah? Watch me." Sakura answered innocently, "Nothing's wrong, Sasuke. Why'd you ask that?" Sasuke muttered, "Forget it," seeing exactly what they were trying to do.

Sakura shrugged and they both left.

While the girls were gone, Sasuke got dressed, putting on some baggy jeans and a black t-shirt. (and those ugly shinobi sandals). Sasuke was sharpening his blade, while Suigetsu was watching TV., consuming continuous cups of water. [Sasuke's thoughts: I'll wait a month until I start searching for Itachi again. Until then, I need to train.] He nearly winced thinking about Sakura getting kidnapped, twice. [I won't allow that to happen again.]

An hour later, the women came back laughing. Ino asked, with a wide smile, "He gave you a rose?" Sakura smiled back, "Yep. Did you see his dimples?" Ino gushed, "Yes, he was too cute." Suigetsu frowned deeply and Sasuke rolled his eyes. Ino announced, "I have like 10 roses. You wanna go tomorrow night?" Sakura said, "I have 12. And yeah, I'll think about it." Ino and Sakura both went in the girl's room. Suigetsu asked, a little peeved, "What the hell did I do?" Sasuke didn't reply, but just walked in the girl's room. He saw Sakura take off her shoes and stand up. Ino walked in the bathroom and shut the door. Sasuke grabbed Sakura's arm and pulled her to the boy's bedroom. Sakura was shocked, "Sasuke, wha--" Sasuke interrupted her and growled, "What's wrong with you?" Sakura closed her mouth and asked with faux innocence, "What do you mean?" Sasuke glared, "You know exactly what I'm talking about." Sakura said, with a bit of malice in her voice, "Oh. Do you feel betrayed? Or perhaps angry? That's how you made me feel when I asked to train with you and you didn't even acknowledge that. I'm your girlfriend, but do you even care? No. You treat me like I'm a nobody."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "I didn't want to hurt you." Sakura's face softened and she said sadly, "You hurt me more by taking Suigetsu rather than me." Sasuke pulled her into a comforting embrace. "I'm sorry, Sakura," he said gruffly, causing her heart to flutter. She could smell his body wash from earlier. She kissed him on his lips for a few seconds and pulled back. "I forgive you," she said finally.

Ino got dressed and Suigetsu came in. Ino jumped into his arms and Suigetsu stumbled, but kept his balance. Ino kissed him on his lips and Suigetsu was stunned. After she pulled back, he asked, "Hey, Ino, how come you got mad at me and went out flirting? Or whatever you girls were doing." Ino said, "Well, before you left with Sasuke, you didn't give me a kiss or even a 'see you later'. So I was sorta mad." Suigetsu frowned, his perfect eyebrows in a neat wrinkle. "That's why?" he said, with a confused expression. Ino nodded and kissed him on his nose. "Yep," she chimed, smiling. Suigetsu's face broke into a sheepish grin. "Well, I won't forget next time, I promise," he said, kissing her on her forehead. Ino said, burying her face into his neck, "Good."

Sasuke asked, "Are you ready to tell me? What Itachi said." Sakura took a deep breath and nodded. He sat down, holding her protectively in his lap. Sakura said, "He whispered what the leader of Akatsuki is planning to do with you. He said that--" She stopped and clutched her head in pain and screamed. Sasuke was shocked and held her closer. "Sakura?" he called sternly, very concerned. Sakura stopped screaming and fainted. Sasuke shook her, and Sakura moaned, but didn't stir. Ino ran in and almost ripped the door of its hinges. "I heard a scream again. What's the matter?" Ino asked, in a defensive stance. Sasuke stared down at Sakura, "I don't know. She was telling me something important and she just screamed and seemed like she was in pain. That's when she passed out." Ino put her fists down and frowned, "It sounds like someone is toying with Sakura's mind. Try to wake her up."

Sasuke shook her again and Sakura's eyes opened quickly. She sat up abruptly and Sasuke just barely dodged getting hit in his face. Sakura looked at Sasuke and murmured, "Sasuke? My head's throbbing." Sasuke pulled her to his chest and Ino said, "Sakura..." Sakura started crying and whispered, "Madara..." Sasuke heard her and repeated confusedly, "Madara?" Sakura looked at him with a tear-streaked face and said, "Madara Uchiha...did this to me...."

This all may be confusing, but I promise it'll make sense soon. So review please.