AN: I would like to start this chapter by saying thank you everyone for all the reviews!! I have reached a hundred!! I feel so proud of myself. ^^ Anyway, here is the next chapter of Purgatory!

Sakura slowly opened her eyes. (After)life had become something of a routine, which she liked. Every night, Sakura fell asleep in Itachi's bed, then woke the next morning to see him watching her calmly. It had been weeks since the last time she had been tortured by nightmares, and she rarely even thought of Sasuke. Everything was peaceful, now that Karin had decided that Uchiha were overrated, and that she would much rather be with Deidara. There was no longer any grief between the two kunoichi, who grew close after Karin moved on from Itachi.

Sakura would always expect to open her eyes and look up into Itachi's beautiful, black eyes, but it was different today. She did not mind that it was not good to experience something new, in fact, she enjoyed it. When Sakura tilted her head up, she saw that Itachi's eyes were still shut, his breathing slow and steady. He was deep asleep.

Her heart clenched with pure joy at seeing him so tranquil, so open with her. It could mean only one thing, Itachi trusted her enough to sleep in her presence. She almost wanted to cry with how happy she felt, and was sorely tempted to reach up and kiss his shut eyes, to touch his long eyelashes as they softly caressed his cheeks. For someone like Itachi, who had been constantly on edge and guarding his very life from a young age, it was a big deal for him to show this to her.

Sakura sighed in satisfaction, resisting the need to feel his silky hair between her fingers, not wanting to wake him. She did not want to ruin the special moment she had been given, not knowing when the next time he did this could be. Careful to not wake him, and bring him from his calm state, Sakura cinched closer to him, resting her head against his bare chest in an attempt to draw that complete security from him.

Unfortunately, this comfort was short-lived, because Itachi stirred not long after Sakura woke, as if sensing that she was no longer asleep. His eyes lazily opened, and Sakura lifted herself up onto her elbows to smile down at him. Itachi was utterly shocked to see that he had allowed her to wake up while he still slept, always having intended to make sure there was someone to whisper 'good morning' first thing every day.

"Good morning, Itachi." Sakura breathed, reaching to kiss him. It seemed that, for once, their roles were reversed. He did not mind this, and instead recieved her kiss happily. He felt unusually relaxed, which said much, since he was generally a mellow man to begin with. It had to be Sakura's being there that caused this anomaly, because that was the only change he had made in his existence as of late.

"Koishii." Itachi replied, squeezing the hand he had on her hip gently, as both a form of reassurance and a showing of the depth of his care. Dainty, feminine hands brushed away his long bangs, curling them behind his ears and out of his eyes and forehead. Sakura loved these moments they shared more than anything else, and she hoped that if nothing, this much would last. It was undeniable now; Sakura had fallen hard.

His hair out of his face, Sakura leaned to press her lips to his forehead, sweetly kissing him there, then moving slowly down past his sharp nose and thin lips, reaching the smooth skin of his chin. Itachi was slightly surprised by what she did next, but did not object in the least, too pleased with her actions to think too much of it. Sakura trailed along his jawline, then went to kiss his pulse. It jumped slightly in excitement when her lips parted, and her tongue lapped at the spot.

Sakura was experiencing, for the first time, the wonderful rush of control, and she found herself wanting more of it. It was always her that sat, watching as Itachi doted on her, giving her pleasure with his sinful lips. It was hardly fair that she always was allowed this, yet he never knew how it felt. Now, however, it was her that was dominating what happened, and he could experience what it felt to submit to someone else, to let them make him feel things he never imagined before.

At first hesitantly, her velvety lips filed along his neck, until meeting the firm musculature of his chest, where she did not waver at all. Her mouth instantly went to his taut nipple, closing around it teasingly. After playing with it between her teeth, her hot, moist mouth started moving again, this time with even more determination. Itachi lay in awe, watching her with amazement, all the while clenching his teeth together to hold back his groans.

It was when her mouth had gone past his navel, humming into the fine hairs of his 'happy trail' that he knew she was going too far with her command. Sakura's intentions quickly became obvious when her warm, slick tongue glided along the edge of his sweatpants, and Itachi knew he had to put a stop to it.

When he opened his mouth tell her she needed to quit before she did something too serious, his control was lost, and an unexpected moan let loose from deep in his chest. "Koishii," he purred, trying to scold her, but failing. Astonished by this sound, her vibrant eyes went straight up to his face, and was surprised to see the hot color playing out across his cheeks. With a smirk she wondered what else she could make him do.

Only slightly nervous, her fingers reached up to the hem of his sweatpants, tugging on it lightly.

"Koishii," he warned, not liking where this was heading. She took no heed though, testing her boundaries with another small pull.

"Sakura."

At this, she paused. It was the first time she had heard him call her by her first name for a very long time, and it sounded foreign coming from him. The fact that he called her by that instead of Koishii showed how serious he was, and she could not disobey him blatantly, as much as she would have loved to continue. A frown on her face, she wondered why he was so insistent on her ceasing. It was clear by the hardening bulge she felt through their offending clothes that his body wanted nothing more but for her to proceed, but his mind did not agree.

"Why?" She murmured, her voice trying to allure him, for him to sway so she could enjoy the full extent of being in control. He, however, had no intention in letting that happen.

"Koishii, when we do this, you are not allowed to have any power whatsoever, do you hear me?" He muttered, flipping them over. Her eyes widened in shock, and a moment later, he tore her yukata open to reveal two rounded breasts. Sakura was forced to assume that he planned on finally moving forward with her, because he dipped those sinful lips down to suck harshly on her perked nipple, his tongue swirling around it. The other being left abandoned, her reached up to pinch the sister bud, twisting it until it was just as hardened as the other.

Sakura gasped in a pleasured incredulity, watching him as he worked her dutifully, and finally understanding why he was so determined to be in charge over her. While it had been fulfilling to decide what happened, Sakura knew that what she could do did not compare to what Itachi was capable of, and it was much more pleasing for him to hold the power. Secretly, she wondered if this was really his first time with a woman, because it certainly felt as if he had more experience than she did.

He seemed to be using her as sustenance, the way he slurped her in like a newborn child, his teeth occasionally grazing her over sensitized flesh. She let him though, giving Itachi what he needed of her without resistance, instead reveling in the feel of his hot breath and slick tongue as Itachi tasted her. Nothing compared to the feel of his skilled mouth, and she would not trade it for anything in the world, even her own life.

Still unsure of what her boundaries were, Sakura slid a foot gracefully up his leg to latch onto him, effectively bringing them closer. When he did not object to this, Sakura repeated her actions with the other foot, until she could feel his hard cock through the thin material of her underwear and his sweatpants. It was arousing to feel him so close to her, only separated by a few layers. Idly, she wondered how long it would take to get those layers off, and as if to speed up that process, Sakura twisted her hips, grinding their two, clothed sexes together.

This still did not overstep her limits, and so, feeling more daring than usual, Sakura slipped a confident hand down to grab his thick length. However, this idea was prevented, as Itachi caught her hand just as it started to sneak under his sweatpants. He shook his head, lifting his lips up from her breasts to scold her.

"Do I need to draw the lines clearer, Koishii? I am in control now, and so you will let me give you as much pleasure as humanly possible. If you can still keep your hands from shaking when I am through, then by all means, do as you wish. Right now, however, you are going to enjoy every last second of this." Itachi whispered heatedly, diving back down to divulge in her.

She whimpered when he sucked on her with a new persistence, and realized something important. He was getting as much pleasure out of this as she was; Sakura did not need to do anything specific to satisfy his needs. With this new knowledge, she ran her fingers along the curves of his shoulders, then lacing into his black hair to hold his head in place.

This did not last too long, because a moment later, his mouth began traveling south, leaving a trail of moist, bruise-like marks as he went.

It was at this inopportune point that there was a knock, and they heard a shrilly voice say, "Sakura, get up already! It is your morning to make breakfast!"

Sakura very nearly jumped up and fell off the bed in surprise, but with Itachi hovering over her, it was not so easily done. They both knew that Karin was going to be waiting outside the door for her to come out, and if she took too long, then Karin would happily intrude. Itachi grunted in aggravation, but parted his lips and pulled his head up from her smooth body. Sakura whimpered, then glared at the closed door.

"I have to go, Itachi." She whispered, pushing lightly on his chest for him to move. Sighing, he let her sit up, unpleased by the fact that he was throughly aroused, but did not have the time to release himself into her. The only person he could blame at the moment was Karin, the bearer of bad news. He did not want to ask Sakura what to do with his erection, but she was a medic, and so the only one who truly knew the best way to solve his problem. Thankfully, he never had to ask aloud.

"Go take a cold shower, Itachi. It should help. If not, then I am certain you can figure out a way to relieve yourself." Sakura winked, pulling her yukata around her small frame tightly, and then crawling out bed then out the door. Itachi stared after her, wondering if she had really just implied he reduce himself to masturbation.

...

Sasuke wished he could take certain things back, but he knew that was not possible. He could never bring his sweet, loving Sakura back to life, if but to appease Konoha. After the everyone's favorite little medic had been killed, even Naruto had turned from him. Naruto, the boy who had once considered himself to be his brother. Sasuke already had a brother, he did not need another.

He could only imagine the face that Kakashi and Naruto must have made at seeing dearest Sakura-chan cold and pale on the forest floor, her blood already drained from her body. They would both know instantly who had murdered her, and neither of them would ever forgive him for what he had done to her.

It was sick and twisted; Sasuke knew that his mind had to be skewed somehow, because he had loved her, had wanted to see her filled with his child, to grow old with her, the Uchiha already well on its way to being the most powerful clan in the shinobi world. Yet, despite all this, he had killed her, sacrificed his future with her for vengeance.

Since that fateful day, he had been on the run. They had been desperate to bring him back before, but then all of konoha got involved with his capture. He could not avoid the inevitable. He had wondered, on the night after killing Sakura, if this was how Itachi had felt for all those years, being chased down by a village full of bitter people, and never being allowed to forget.

He had shaken his head though, knowing that his misery could never compare to what Itachi had endured. They had both killed someone they loved, but there was an important difference between him and his brother. Itachi had been innocent, while Sasuke knew he had no excuse for what he had done. Sakura had never done anything but love him, and over time, his own feeling had evolved, but he had killed her anyway.

Wherever she was, Sasuke knew that she would never forgive him for his cruelty, and he knew that he deserved that much. He could not have just murdered her, but he had to kiss her as well. The taste of her cool, bloody lips still lingered in his mouth. Sasuke wondered if it would ever fade away. Though he would never say it aloud, he was ashamed of what he did, but Sasuke was smart enough to know that being sorry was not enough to fix things. There was no excuses he could make on his own behalf.

One night, tired from running all day, Sasuke had wondered what his brother what have told him if he knew that he had killed the one person who had always believed in him, who never stopped loving him. It would not have been pleasant, and he knew Itachi would have let the mistake go idly. Itachi, who had been deprived of everything in life, would never understand why he would ever refuse something he had been offered. Sakura should not have died that morning by his hands, but there was nothing to do about it.

It was her fault, he had told himself, she was the one that had chased after him, deciding that she needed to be the one to end his life, instead of the countless number of nameless shinobi who were much more capable. She had been trying to kill him, he had only been protecting himself. He could have simply knocked her out like the night he left though, he chided.

He could have easily left her unconscious for Kakashi and Naruto to find later, but he had not. Sasuke could have even easier taken her with him; Sakura would have gladly gone. He had felt angry and betrayed by her decision to hunt him down, and that was what caused it.

Sasuke had wanted at one point in his life, to make Sakura his wife, but when she came to assassinate him, he had been enraged. How could she kill him, her only reason being because she loved him? Sasuke had acted on impulse, torturing her with his hands so that she would remember him throughout the afterlife. Sasuke had wanted her to suffer.

When the remainders of team seven had finally caught up to him, their poor, dead Sakura already brought home, there had been nothing for anyone to say. Sasuke did not ask for their forgiveness, he did not even want it. Naruto had been uncharacteristically silent, the menacing chakra from the kyuubi seeping through him dangerously. Kakashi had not even told Naruto to calm himself, because he had been just as angry.

An unforgettable battle had commenced, and Sasuke was still unsure who the victor had been. When it ended, Sasuke had managed to escape capture, but he was left broken and hollow by the encounter. The sad thing was, in the back of his mind, a small voice told him that if Sakura had been there, then she would have found a way to stop the fight before it happened.

Naruto had not given up after one meeting, though. Him and Kakashi had continued hot on his trail, never giving up. During their second crossing, there had been nothing but words. Sasuke could never forget what was said that day, he would always be tortured by them

"She had loved you, Teme! Sakura had lived her life, doing nothing but work towards you, thinking of things that could help you. And what the hell did you do to thank her? You fucking killed her, leaving her cold and abandoned on the ground! She deserved better than that!"

"Haruno Sakura was not the weak kunoichi you may have thought, Sasuke. While she may not have the physical strength that you do, she had the brightest mind to come out of Konoha since Itachi. She was not conceited though, she was the most loving kunoichi in that village."

Sasuke had physically flinched when Kakashi mentioned Itachi, had implied that Sakura was anywhere near the same level as his older brother. No one could ever be as selfless and caring as his brother had been, and he would not allow anyone to think otherwise.

The truth of the Uchiha Massacre had leaked out somehow, and Sasuke was certain it had something to do with Madara, but Sasuke was not appeased by what was being done for his brother. Itachi had loved Konoha, had done everything for Konoha, but they would not even allow him to be buried there. He should have been allowed that much.

"What about my brother? Had he deserved to be shunned by Konoha, after what he suffered for them? He had been the strongest shinobi ever to live in that village, but they used him like a tool, and now they will not even let him rest there! Did he deserve that?"

No one could have prepared him for what was said next.

"Sasuke, Itachi is in Konoha. Madara gave him up after seeing the state of his eyes. He has been emitted. The question is, will you be?"

"You were the one who killed him, Teme. Are you saying he deserved that?"

Naruto's quiet voice had blown him away, and there was nothing he could say to him. Why had Madara not told him about sending Itachi to Konoha? Sasuke had, if anyone did, the right to know where his brother was resting. Had he been given a proper funeral? Did anyone bother to visit him?

"You have a knack for killing everyone who cares for you, Teme."

There was no question over who had won or lost that time around. Sasuke had lost, and Naruto had not even given him a chance to reply to the accusation, because a second later, he had turned on his feet and continued running in another direction. He had been astonished by this, because Naruto was not supposed to be so cold and indifferent, that was his role.

Naruto was, in a strange way, like his brother; so for him to hate him, it hurt. Sasuke now understood how Itachi must have felt for an entire decade, to have a brother absolutely abhor him. A small part of him had resented Itachi even after hearing the truth from Madara. His brother could have told him the truth, could have taken him and run instead of killing everyone. Itachi could have tried to stop the clan from revolting.

He had not though. Itachi had sucked it up and acted like the good, obedient shinobi, killing his family because he had been told to. Had his aniki secretly believed that what he was doing was just? There were so many things he wanted to ask his brother, but would never be able to. Now, all he had left was Naruto, and he hated him for killing Sakura. Itachi must have felt so lost, so alone after the massacre, because that was exactly how he felt. Resentment for his older brother washed away, replaced by guilt and sympathy.

In the third meeting after Sakura's uncalled for death, it had not been just Naruto and Kakashi to meet him. All of rookie nine had been there, as well as Team Gai. Facing them had been awkward for Sasuke, but he managed to maintain a straight face in front of them. They were all there to see him falter, but he would not show them how weak he felt.

Ino had given him the darkest look he had ever seen, and she had to be held back by the emotionally disturbed boy that had replaced him in team seven. He had recalled that, once upon a time, the same kunoichi had been infatuated with him. It seemed that had changed, after he killed her best friend, Sakura. Everyone was looking at him with undisguised loathing, which was different form the obvious concern and worry the had once looked at him with.

He could not apologize, it was not enough to simply say something, because it would not change a damn thing. They would still hate him, would still miss Sakura. Unexplainable dread filled him, because he knew that he was not getting away this time. They were going to capture him, then drag him back to Konoha by the ears. What happened next, he was unsure. A lot of people had loved Sakura, and so high chances were that he would be sent to the gallows. He did not deserve anything better than that.

Both Juugo and Suigetsu did not seem to realize their statistics on survival, because Suigetsu cackled at the offending group boastfully, while Juugo stood by confidently. Sasuke did not warn them; it was their choice should the decide to participate in the impending battle. He would not force them to.

At the same moment in time, Sasuke and Naruto streaked forward, attacking one another with no hesitation. No one fought along side Sasuke nor Naruto, knowing that the match was more important to them than anything else. Naruto would rather defeat Sasuke than become hokage. Even Kakashi did not dare go between them.

Sasuke saw from the corner of his eyes as Suigetsu, then Juugo fell to their Konoha opponents. They were not dead, instead unconscious, bound with chakra reenforced ropes, and then left to deal with later. Sasuke knew that his own battle was drawing close to an end, but he refused to give in, to surrender. Defeat was inevitable, even if he bested Naruto somehow, there were several other ninja waiting to take him down, should they need to.

They were deemed unnecessary however, because a second later, Naruto's punch broke through to him, the chakra from the kyuubi giving it more power. He was thrown back, and before he had the opportunity to prevent it, Sasuke had hit his head against the trunk of a particularly hard tree, and was rendered unconscious.

In his immobile state, Sasuke could only think of one thing: Sakura. Silently, he wondered if he did end up dying, would he be able to see her on the other side? It was a hard pill to swallow, but he had to put into consideration the idea that Sakura may not forgive him for his mistake, even if he did manage to find her. He would be able to understand if she was bitter, he had epically ruined everything. He feverishly hoped that she would be willing to put his mistakes behind them, and allow him to move them forward in the afterlife. He had a hard time admitting this to even himself, but Sasuke loved her more than anything.

AN: Some people were wondering what was happening to Sasuke, and so here you go! I hope it is satisfying! Anyway, please review my story! ^^