AN: Moving these to the bottom
"If you don't believe in ghosts, you've never been to a family reunion." -Ashleigh Brilliant-
Sakura felt the weight of where she was hit her full force. This was where Jiraiya had died, where Akatsuki had truly been birthed. Where Orochimaru had developed and perfected his freakish ambitions and creations before branching off to create sound. Where Sasuke had once and for all dedicated himself to darkness. This place was haunting, scarring and wretched in it's industrial grey. If Konoha held all the good and hopeful ambitions for their world, or at least for her own, and the way of the ninja, then this scary village encompassed the darkness, the progressive as the expense of it's people; the very worst of it all.
Sakura shivvered, her own reflection in the puddle of water accumulating beneath her boots scaring her. In spite of her fears, it was a brilliant idea. Her clone, the exact replica of Pein walked alongside herself, henged as Konan, the only female Akatsuki member. Sakura didn't know the dark eyes that stared back at her. She didn't want to. Shaking off her superstitious thoughts of the walking dead, she focused on not loosing Itachi in the crowds.
The people parted for them, startled by the sheer sight of them. They had not been seen in rain since Pein's defeat so many years ago after his nearly destroying Konoha. Though years had passed it was apparent that they were not forgotten. These people's eyes held the reverence and the fear these two much has invoked in them. It was clear that the people still knew who Konan and Pein were, and the people kept their distance, all but stumbling to get out of their way as they retreated to the safety of their locked doors. Itachi led the way and Sakura's frown deepened.
The mystery he was never ceased to astound her. How was she able to see Itachi when no one else could? He didn't bump into people, but he had to move quickly to avoid it and that much was clear. No one made eye contact with him, and he wasn't looking at them, focused solely on his task. She couldn't tell. Could the people of rain see him? But Sakura knew better than to ask. Itachi would no sooner tell her, in fact he had evaded her questions from the start. But there were other reasons she couldn't open her mouth. From what she knew, Konan said little, and though the henge was a good one, her voice would ruin the effect as she couldn't even begin to fake a voice she'd never heard.
Itachi knew the streets well, turning and twisting through the alleys, but this was not surprising. Rain country had been Pein's headquarters and thus Madara's as well. Itachi had probably roamed these streets since his youth, involved with Akatsuki and scheming since adolescence. Startled, Sakura realized that Itachi had probably been all over the world, in his battles and prowess even in his short years of life before...well...before Sasuke had gone and ruined everything. How much had been lost, broken by that single pendulum swing? By Sasuke once and for all avenging his clan before completely loosing himself to the darkness within. The hatred between brother and brother had never shaken her more.
Rain gave her little comfort, if any at all. It was cold, wet and nothing seemed to keep her dry enough and warm enough. Nothing could make the droplets on these metallic made buildings seem quaint. Sakura had never been so far from home for so long. She had gone on missions, extended missions but there was always the thought of going home, of having something to go home to, to keep the edge off, to keep her wits about her. It was stupid of her, to miss the green forests and warm days of Konoha at now of all times. She had left them. She had walked away.
She had chosen this and yet she couldn't help but feel discouraged. She missed Yamato sensei and his cheerful disposition, even his awkward and scary faces. She missed Sai and his stupid comments, his general lack of social grace. She missed Tsunade, who wouldn't tolerate her excuses and pushed her to expect more from herself. She missed Shizune whom she'd joke with about Tsunade's drinking binges. She missed Ino who would chat her ear off with the latest social gossip, and who was now bigger than she was, glowing with joy, her first child.
Most of all, she missed Kakashi. She missed having a companionable presence, someone to talk to and to cheer her up and on as she went about her mission. She missed his lopsided stroll and his cloth covered mask. She missed his quiet intelligence. He would know what to do, how to deal with Itachi. Homesick, Sakura gazed miserably at the rain about them. It smelt different here, the trees and the rain pouring down washing away the muck from the gutters. The streets were dirty, and the sky was grey and dark, threatening thunderstorms.
This situation was far beyond her comfort. It was spiraling out of control. Sakura had always been something of a control freak. She was meticulously organized. It was one of the reasons why she was so intelligent, why she loved research. She wanted to learn the variables to be in control of the situation and her own bearings. She loved knowing. It was one of the reasons why she wanted to be stronger, because she hated being helpless. She wanted the power to stop being powerless. This situation was beyond any comfort. And it was chaffing, as time went on. Sakura clenched her jaw, tired, sore, and ready to face Madara simply to stop worrying about it.
It was disconcerting to say the least. The Uchiha patriarch was crippled, powerless against Sasuke to stop him. They were heading straight to the Demon head himself, to his private lair to consult with him. Itachi was going to force Madara to give up his body. How Sakura couldn't begin to guess, but she supposed with him being crippled that made him far less dangerous. But was that stupid of her to underestimate him so much? She bit her lip. Could he protect her from Madara? Itachi for whatever reason needed her, clearly if only to get back into his body, but then what? What would happen when he was completely substantial? Would the apparition she was with right now be any different in physical form? There were too many variables for her to feel comfortable. She knew from looking at Itachi and the way he treated her, that he meant his words.
"Because I would sooner die, my current form sent to the darkest hell, then allow that to happen" Itachi had told her in regards to her safety.
She knew he meant those words. She just didn't understand what exactly those words meant. Context was everything, and anything from what she had or understood in regards to the raven haired sharingan user. Could she trust those words? Was she being stupid to trust in them? Did going along with him mean she already had?
Itachi stopped at a wall with protruding pipes building up a tower line in this modern marvel of a city. No wonder the people felt like he was a god. He had taken them from a third world economy smack dab into the industrial age. The fumes that smoked from their collossal empire made this haze over the city, like some ill omen, this fog spilling out into the ninja world. What were they producing inside this monster of a building? This was the tallest building in all of rain.
"Is this it?" Sakura asked him, eying the rust caked pipes. This city, this building in the midst of the capitol, was cold and decaying, as Madara himself. She supposed it was fitting.
He nodded as he bit his finger, smearing the blood across the wall as his hand flashed through seals in a fury. Sakura's eyes widened. What he had just done indicated, that in some way he had form and substance. He had blood...but he had told her before that he was flesh and blood. He could access his chakra to be able to do this, so the real question was how did he have form?
The wall changed from his summoning, responding to the blood and the chakra. It spiraled spinning into an Uchiha symbol, the sharingan eyes and the fan staring back at her, and Itachi pulled the door open. Sakura didn't miss the wince, his hand on the handle.
"Did it hurt you?" She asked, drawing near to him, concerned despite herself. Her hand tentatively reached out and his met her own, enfolding her hand in his, surprised by the contact.
…...
"I'm fine." He told her, though her hand in his own made that statement something less than true. His thoughts darkened. The timing couldn't be more wrong. This place, of all places, was a dangerous time to loose focus, even if it was to Sakura. Her protection came first in all things.
"The door demands blood to enter, Sakura. Madara will know we are coming, if he hasn't already presumed with our henge." He told her, eyes on her own as he brought her hand up to her lips and kissed it.
Sakura blushed, feeling the darkening of her cheeks, but this was his way of keeping her off guard. He was trying to keep her from probing. He was wrong. He wouldn't distract her from asking questions.
"How is it possible for you to touch me, and for you to give up your blood when you technically have no form?" She asked him stopping. His hand hung in her own, pulled to a stop by their bond.
Itachi made no answer, tugging her forward.
"Itachi?" Sakura repeated, digging in her heels. He would answer her.
Itachi sighed. "I have form, but it requires a great deal of concentration and chakra to hold it" Itachi replied.
"So you're a spectre?" Sakura asked. "Are you some sort of jutsu to summon?"
"I am not a ghost, or a summons, Sakura. Ghost cannot have substantiality, ever, remember? And who would summon me?" Itachi told her, turning to face her.
"And yet you do...when you want to." Sakura scowled. "And the blood?"
"...I used... an illusion on you, Sakura" Itachi replied refusing to look her in the eye, turning as he made to continue forward into the dank cave.
"How could you use an illusion on me without substance?" Sakura demanded. "Are you a puppet? Is Madara controlling you?" Sakura's eyes widened.
"Stop panicking and use your intelligence. I am not a puppet. I never said I didn't have substance. It just takes a lot of effort to hold it." Itachi replied crossly.
"ARGH!" Sakura cried, throwing her hands in the air. "What kind of illusion? Why would you do something like that? How can I trust you?" Sakura demanded frustrated with him as she ripped her hand from his.
Itachi sighed. "I had some of my blood, and used the sample I had from a test tube to smear it." Itachi replied, hating himself just a little for being unable to lie to her. It would make things so much easier if he could...Damn the kyuubi bearer wherever he rested now.
"Test tube? How do you have some of your own blood? You're dead, oh wait, only you're not because you're standing here in front of me having a perfectly legitimate conversation, and holding my hand and kissing me at random intervals whenever you find convienent!" Sakura demanded, mind reeling at the implications.
Itachi sighed. "I still have chakra, Sakura, so I can still use it. I just have no chakra signature." Itachi replied.
"and no heart beat and apparently no blood. You didn't answer my question, Itachi. Stop avoiding my questions!" Sakura demanded.
"I used the genjutsu because I didn't want you asking these questions in the first place, Sakura" Itachi's tone darkened, obviously irritated but too well bred to show it "I wanted to protect you. Maybe I wanted to protect myself. I'm not used to telling people my plans, or actions." He told her.
The sheepish tone in his voice forced her anger down. It was a tone she had never expected from him and a tone that she was more than susceptible to. It was the same tone her boys on team seven had when she'd chided them for similar stupidity, angry as hell. They just didn't seem to realize she needed to know the information to be able to save their lives with it. Much good it had done her in the end...She swallowed, trying not to choke on the painful memory.
"In answer to your previous question; There were other ninja that were able to get a hold of my blood from my previous fight with Sasuke." Itachi replied.
Sakura's eyes widened. "H-how?" Who would want his blood? And why?
"Someone was able to put Amaterasu out. If it was not Madara, then it was Sasuke himself. Those are the only two with the ability that I know of." Itachi's eyes hardened. "Thus Madara was able to retrieve my body and my blood must have been left behind. Someone got a sample of it." Itachi replied
"For what purpose? What could they do with your blood?" Sakura asked, horrified.
"These particular ninja were trying to clone it, to create Uchiha eyes for reproduction and business on the black market." Itachi replied. "Needless to say they are no longer living."
Sakura's head spun with the implications. "Was this what you were doing before you met me? Taking out anything and anyone that was doing such things?" Sakura demanded.
"Yes." Itachi looked in her eye, and then looked away, apparently ashamed. Sakura was flabbergasted.
"Why?" She asked swallowing hard. She didn't understand this, couldn't understand this. Couldn't understand him. What was he thinking? Was he tricking her, trying to fool her into thinking something was there when it wasn't? Why would he lie to her and then come clean about it?
Maybe he really means it...
"Why are you going to such lengths to keep me out?" Sakura asked him, confused.
"Drop the henge, Sakura." Itachi interrupted. The cave was damp and cold, unsurprising with rain's weather. Torches attached to the wall ignited, lit the path before them. Clearly someone knew they were here.
"Why?" Sakura demanded, scowling.
"Because I do not want to look at Konan." He replied.
"That was not what I meant and you know it!" Sakura scowled dropping the henge as she glared at him. There was no point in keeping up their act, if he knew they were here. Itachi's eyes heated, burning as they looked at her and he came closer.
"Because I can not lie to you, Sakura." He told her, placing a stray pink tendril behind her ear
"though you have no unfathomable idea of how much I'd like to" He told her, eyes never leaving hers. "and I'm uncomfortable with how close you are, though I know practically nothing about you." He told her truthfully, drawing closer to her.
Sakura gasped as he drew even closer, retreating only to feel the icy chill of the door of the Uchiha at her back. The cave stretched on before them.
"It doesn't seem like it." Sakura said, swallowing. "I feel like you're always one step ahead of me, even about myself." She said glaring at him. His eyes heated more, if that was possible.
"I'm uncomfortable with it too" Sakura admitted, swallowing at his proximity, looking away. "But it isn't my fault, Itachi. If you don't want this, then let's stop this before-" She gasped as she felt his mouth upon hers, burying his fingers in her hair, fingertips massaging her scalp as he tingled her senses with his sheer proximity.
Itachi had a presence, like black velvet and there was something so sensual about him, about the way he treated her, the way he looked at her. And there was a deep dark part of her that was just awakening, that he had awakened. That part of her reveled in it, in him and this dark desire that twisted around them, pulling them through. She shouldn't be wanting this, or him. But it felt so good to be wanted, to be viewed in those sharingan eyes as sexy, beautiful and alluring. The deep pull of desire that he had over her was strong, stronger than she was with admitting it and for once Sakura wanted to be impulsive, to plunge in headfirst without thinking. To relinquish control just for a minute...
Gasping, tongue meeting his, he dipped into her mouth, plundering as he took her without resistance. She hated him in that moment, hating that he tasted so damn good, felt so good against her. It shouldn''t have felt right, him touching her like this, kissing her so. She hadn't been touched like this, kissed like this since...since...Sakura flinched in his grip, twisting as she choked on the thought. But she didn't want to think of that, of him, because Itachi wasn't him and being with Itachi made her feel something entirely different. She wanted to be distracted, suffocating beneath her grief for so long.
"Enough." Itachi's breathe was ragged against her ear. "It's clear enough that isn't an option for either of us." He told her.
"We need to continue-" Itachi lost track of his thoughts as Sakura's teeth dragged across his lobe, mouth dipping on his neck as she nipped, lapping with her tongue as he took a sharp breathe, all coherant thought went out the window at the pinkette's clever administrations. Control he hissed to himself, mustering the strength though his body told him to send it all the abyss and give what she was wanting.
"Stop." He ordered through clenched teeth, hands on her shoulders. "We can't." He forced out. "Madara." He told her.
Sakura blinked, getting a hold of herself ,the healthy dose of reality sobering her up. Itachi was focused and disciplined on their task at hand and just what the hell was she doing?
He wasn't so disciplined a few seconds before...
It didn't matter. Flushing at her actions, he turned, walking down the lit torches. Sakura followed, fixing her clothing, feeling embarrassed and ashamed by her actions. She had never been so desperate. What had started out as harmless, was now deeper than she had ever wanted to go. Gods what was she thinking doing something like that with him of all people? This would only encourage him. She wasn't uncertain it would stop her.
"I'm sorry." Itachi told her as they walked, his footsteps barely making sound across the hard floor of the cave.
Sakura frowned. "For what?"
"For not being able to control myself. For making things...difficult between us." Itachi told her. "I did not mean to make you uncomfortable."
Sakura took a breathe. He wasn't afraid to talk about it at about it helped. "I-I didn't help it any either. I don't know if I can trust you yet, Itachi. I'm frightened by how quickly this is all happening." Sakura admitted.
"I want you, Sakura and more damnably, I need you, but not forced." Itachi told her eyes composed though framed with desire.
Sakura blushed again and Itachi pressed further on into the cave to allow her to compose herself. They were close. Itachi's eyes narrowed, his fist clenched.
"Well, well, the grave isn't cold enough to keep you for long is it, Ita-kun?" The voice ushered. The voice was dark, bitter and cynical and cracked as if he was sick. Madara's long spikey tresses hung down, greasy and unwashed. His clothes were rumpled, black ninja gear on, but apparently unused in quite some time. His weapon hung uselessly by the chair.
"Madara." Itachi replied evenly, tone just as dark and cynical. There was no love lost on these two as he had said.
"I suppose you stopping in for a chat should be more surprising, but then again I knew you better than that. Like a cockroach, you just keep coming back" Madara snapped.
"Isn't it disappointing when one's work remains unfinished?" Itachi told him. "A pity."
Madara's eyes narrowed, the insult more poignant than either had anticipated.
"I knew killing you would never be so simple, which is why I used your brother to do it." Madara replied with indifferent smirk.
"You can see him?" Sakura interjected, surprised.
"You always underestimated me." Itachi retorted, cutting off Sakura's protest.
"Like you are doing right now, then, is it? You think that I'm going to roll over, and simply give you your body back. We'll you're wrong." Madara told him red eyes narrowed.
"You can not stop me." Itachi told him haughtily.
"Ah, but we are being rude to our guest. You brought the Godaime's captain in on this coupe un-doubtably to restore the present you to your body. To answer your question little one, yes I can see him. The Sharingan sees through all." Madara retorted with a cackle which turned into a hacking cough but those glittering eyes fixated on Sakura and she took a step back.
"You are hardly in a position to threaten me." Itachi's curt reply was deadly in it's intent as he stepped in front of Sakura pulling out a kunai as his mangekyou spun.
"Careful boy. I put up with your insolence for memories sake." Madara snapped, eyes hard and deadly as they glittered in rage.
"Your plans are no more. The kyuubi is gone, and your shot at gathering the jinchuuriki to reform the jubi to use against the ninja world is over. Whilst you sit here on your wet abandoned throne in rain, my brother terrorizes the country and grows stronger every day. You set him loose upon the ninja world, and you have a responsibility to put an end to it. If only for revenge" Itachi replied.
Madara laughed a deep and awful laugh, the kind of laugh that was borderline into shrieking, the kind of laugh that was too close to the sound of a board breaking, snapping in two. The kind of laughter that haunted as it resounded off the walls of his cold empty throne.
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
"You think to come to my country, my home and demand me to do something about the little brother who's life you messed up and twisted with this little game you played, that you're still playing. You had a part to play in his darkness, Itachi and you know it well. You are looking for someone to blame."
"You are right. I was responsible for him becoming what he is today. I should have ended it, him when I had the chance. I was weak. And I paid the price for it with my life." Itachi told him.
"You are not the only one who paid that price." He commented idly looking to Sakura.
"And that is why I am going to set things right, by doing what I should have in the first place" Itachi said eyes straying to Sakura.
Madara looked intrigued.
"I am going to put an end to it, and you are going to help me." Itachi replied with conviction.
Madara grinned, a twisted horrible grin. "You want satisfaction."
"I want justice. I want my body back." Itachi retorted.
"And I want mine. I will not relinquish your body unless your little helper heals me." Madara struck the bargain, eyes wide with greed.
Sakura gasped and Itachi stepped in front of her. "No."
"No? NO?" Madara shrieked as he shakily rose to his feet, his legs skinny and wretched the bones having healed completely wrong and in all the wrong places. It was a miracle he could stand on them. "You are in no place to- Guggh!" Madara clutched at the hands wrapped around his throat his legs near useless as his hands clawed at him.
"You are in no position to question me, now of all times." Itachi said with deadly intent. "I have bled for you, sweat for you, killed for you. I sacrificed my soul, became a monster and gave up anything I had left of a childhood; you took that from me." Itachi's voice held the anger, the sheer hatred.
"I could finish you off here and now and merely take what I wanted, but I still have some form of remorse and pity... but you would do well not to try me." Itachi told him, voice colder than Sakura had ever heard it.
"R-remorse?" Madara wheezed and Itachi relaxed his hold just a bit.
"You saved my brother, even if he did turn into a monster, though I suspect you had a hand in it. That doesn't matter any longer. There is no trace of my brother left in that shell of a monster he is now. You will give me what I want because it, too, is what you want." Itachi told him, practically throwing him one handed back into his throne chair. Madara gasped eyes wide his back aching as he stared at Itachi.
"W-what I want?" He stammered gasping.
"You want Sasuke to pay. You want him to be brought low, like you were, when he crippled you and shattered you. I am the only way that will happen and you know it, clear as day" Itachi replied.
"What do you plan to do?" Madara demanded wretching as he choked. Sakura was paralyzed in place by their actions hardly believing what was going on in front of her eyes.
"I plan to take my eyes back." Itachi replied simply.
Madara's eyes went to Sakura and back to Itachi. He looked less than pleased, but the Uchiha patriarch didn't seem to have much of a choice.
"Will you kill him?" Madara asked.
"That is none of your business" Itachi replied. "Whether he lives or dies will not be decided by you. One way or another though, I will take back my eyes, and that should be enough for you." Itachi told him.
Madara's eyes took on a sick twisted gleam as he seemed to make a connection. Sakura's eyes burned. What did he know? What had he figured out.
"You're going to use her as bait. Be careful of this one, little Sakura. He will take you where you wont want to go, and then leave you to die, wriggling on a hook." Madara told her. "Its the way with him, with all Uchiha. They cannot love anything more than their ambition" Her told her cackling.
"You are a bitter cynical twisted old man who has been utterly defeated by everyone and everything and you have no idea what you are talking about." Itachi snapped.
"Indeed. I have only outlived you by centuries, boy. Heed my words little Sakura chan." Madara replied, wheezing as he caught his breathe.
" Enough of these games. I tire of them and you. Where is my body?" Itachi demanded.
"You know where your body is. After Nagato died, there was no use for that building and no one ever disturbed it, so it lay in ruins. I'm surprised you didn't break in yourself. Then again you always were one for family reunions" Madara replied.
"Good bye Madara. You should truly die in this life time, or I will help you along to the next world when I am done." Itachi told him.
"Goodbye Itachi. I hope you manage to kill you brother this time." Madara cackled, as Itachi left, eyes hard.
Sakura, shaken, followed after Itachi feeling the doubt. Itachi using her as bait? For who? And then Sakura felt numb, cold. There was only one person she could be bait for.
Sasuke...
AN: Sorry I've been gone so long this chapter just happened to give me a harder time than usual. Its been edited and rewritten and snipped and tucked. I've taken the best of my drabble and thrown it together for this chapter. Been super busy on the island and will continue to do so, so updates will be few and far between. This was a lovely little chapter with Madara though you must admit. I really enjoy writing Madara and Itachi interactions. I know everyone was expecting an epic show down but Madara simply doesn't have it in him. This fic will get far more busy as time goes by. Also I vow the next chapter will not end in an italic named character!