Hey Guys! Sorry for taking so long to get this next chapter out, I've been a little busy with a house project. :( It's really dull. Anyway, ENJOY! And please read and REVIEW!! Thanks!

Sasuke looked out at the opened road. This time, he thought, I won't loose you.

--

Kakashi had summoned his ninja dogs and they had been fallowing Sakura's trail for at least an hour when Kakashi suddenly came to a halt, looking at the ground. Sasuke, Naruto, and Sai all stopped behind him.

"What?" Naruto asked, looking at Kakashi. The other two had followed his gaze. Sasuke was frozen in place his mind reeling. No, no. Please no, he thought desperately. There was a pool of red liquid on the ground. It was dried and crusted but still obviously there. The dog sniffed it and nodded solemnly to Kakashi.

"Is she…?" Sai tried to say. He couldn't get the words out and stop, mid-question. Kakashi shook his head.

"Looks like she was injured and the put her down to rest here," he explained. Then he looked at the three stock still boys. "We need to keep moving."

He said and all three leapt into action. Kakashi rolled his eyes, and then jumped after them.

--

After Sakura finished her small meal- after checking it wasn't poisoned- she stood and looked around the room. It was small, but not overly so. The bed was in the back corner of the room with a table beside it. On the right wall was a book shelf next to a closet. Curious and with nothing better to do she pushed open the closet door. The inside had enough room to step into but no more then that. The walls were hung with clothes: two Akatsuki robes, many plan black mesh shirts, black pants of every kind, shoes, and some draws at the back with Sakura could guess what was in. She reached up onto a shelf and came back with a handful of hair-ties and two bottles of tail polish. She almost giggled before remembering her situation. She quickly turned around to exit and almost ran into Itachi.

She froze, looking at him. Then she noticed what he was wearing: an Akatsuki robe, a plain black mess shirt and black pants. His nails were painted purple and his hair was tied back. Her eye's widened. She was in Itachi's closet; she had been sleeping in Itachi's bed. She fought to keep down a hysterical laugh but could help a slight smile from curling her red lips up: what would Ino think on her now? Her childhood friends and she had admitted that Itachi was gorgeous from his pictures, now she was sleeping in his bed. If he hadn't been a maniac murderer Ino would have been so jealous. Itachi just stared at her in all his angry glory. Sakura didn't speak for fear she was laugh. The whole situation was ridiculous to her in her delirious state of mind.

"What are you doing?" he finally asked and his voice was so menacing that Sakura's happy, crazy bubble burst. She turned her eyes down and then looked up at him threw her long lashes.

"Nothing…just curious," she said ashamedly. Itachi turned his head slightly to one side, studying her. Her clothes were dirty and ripped in a few places.

"Stay here, don't move," Itachi said and then he was gone. Sakura didn't move a muscle. What was going on? Where did he go? It felt like a long time before Itachi was back in front of her holding a long sleeve mesh shirt, a simple dark blue camisole, and black pants. "Wear these."

Itachi said putting them on the dress, then left, closing the door. It was Sakura's turn her head and study the closed door. What was that about? Since she could come up with no answers she took the clothes and hastily put them on. They fit her nicely, hugging her slim frame. Sakura wished she had a mirror though as she smoothed the tight fabric self-consciously. She opened the door thinking that if she was stuck in Itachi's room she might as well read some of his books but she stopped. Itachi was still standing there, apparently waiting for her to come out. What is up with this guy Sakura could help but think. She couldn't understand anything he did. Maybe it's because I'm not a psycho killer.

"Come with me," he said, ending Sakura's thoughts. He didn't really seem like a crazy person. She didn't really have any other option but to follow though she wished she had a little more information. Didn't these bad-guys monologue about what was going to happen like all the others?

"Umm…Where are we going?" Sakura asked, simple out of habit of getting answers. Itachi was definitely not a wordy guy. Surprisingly he actually answered this question.

"To meet the others," he said simply. Sakura contemplated that for a minute. She was going to 'meet' the other Akatsuki. Interesting. Still it brought up the loud, huge, blaring question: WHAT THE FUCK WAS GOING ON?! She took a deep breath and then looked at Itachi with raised eyebrows.

"Why?" she asked, quickly becoming exasperated. Of course when she asked this question Itachi suddenly became very silent. Sakura nearly growled in frustration as they walked down a plain hallway. No windows, but a few doors. Then suddenly a question popped into her mind: Why wasn't she terrified anymore?

It was an interesting conundrum that she hadn't thought about. Maybe it was because if they were going to kill her they would have done it already. Or maybe it was because she was seriously unhinged. Sakura was betting on the latter.

Suddenly Itachi turned and opened a door to Sakura's left. She fallowed him after taking a deep breath. There they all were: Kisame, Deidara, Zetsu, Pein, Konan, and Tobi. Some of them she only knew by description and process of elimination. Itachi sat down in a wooden chair next to Kisame. They were all inspecting her and with them all sitting and staring she felt like she should make a speech. Then, thankfully, Itachi spoke.

"Any question or comments. She's pretty much the last, and best, option," he said and everyone turned to him. What?! What options?! Last and best of what?! Sakura thought frantically. Then they began to speak.

"She'll do," Zetsu said. Tobi nodded in enthusiastic agreement.

"She's pretty," Kisame grunted, still looking at her. Sakura almost grimaced, couldn't he have thought of something else to say?

"It will be nice to have some female companionship," Konan said in a floaty voice. It was quiet pretty and feminine. Sakura smiled at her a little. Maybe this wouldn't be the worst experience of her life. Then she sighed.

"Would someone please tell me what's going on," she said quietly, but everyone stopped talking. Then they looked at Pein and Itachi. Finally Pein spoke up.

"You're going to be our medical ninja."

"What?" Sakura said in surprise. She couldn't really picture herself helping the Akatsuki. How could she do that? It would be like working directly against Konoha! "I…I can't." She blurted out. Itachi leaned forward, he dark eyes hypnotically beautiful and staring into hers. Sakura's heart picked up the pace.

"It's not like you really have a chose."