Sakura didn't eat much. She couldn't. Not with Itachi's black eyes watching her, boring into her, following her every movement. He sat next to her now, no longer taking the head of the table. Sakura didn't understand why he continued to keep her considering her adversity to her 'duties' the night before. What perverse reason made him interested in her? Sakura wanted him to get over it. And quickly. She had no more interest in this mission. She wanted to leave. She would gladly take any repercussions the Hokage dished out if only to free herself from this lush prison.

Sakura put her fork down and met Itachi's gaze for the first time since she started eating. "That was delicious."

"I wouldn't be able to tell," he replied. "You barely ate."

"I never eat much," she lied. Truthfully, Sakura usually ate greedy amounts of food. But she was feeling nauseated at the moment, so her stomach couldn't hold much.

Itachi stood from his chair and extended his hand to her. Sakura glanced at it and then up at him. She rose out of her chair on her own. Amusement danced in Itachi's eyes. He ran his fingers down the side of her face and cupped her chin. "You are different. You don't come to me like the others. You don't seem to want me to bed you like the others. Why are you here? Why did you come if you have no intentions of amusing me?"

Sakura had a smart reply on the tip of her tongue, but decided not to say it. She was well aware of the way his mood shifted when she was witty with him. "There are other ways of amusing someone than with sex, Itachi."

"And you address me so informally without so much as an ounce of hesitation. Where do you get your courage?" His hand slid down her neck and arm, cupping her elbow now.

She shrugged, trying to ignore the displeasure of his touch burning inside her. "My father…sire."

He lifted an eyebrow. "Feel free to call me by my name. It…entertains me." He moved behind her, keeping close. "Tell me about your father, Ebony."

Sakura's eyebrows came together at the emphasis on her name. She brushed it aside. "He was a strong man, courageous and loving." This was going to be hard. At the thought of her father, an image of his face appeared in her head. "He was provided for my mother and I and protected us with is life. We were the most precious things to him, he would always say. Likewise, he was very precious to me." Sakura was painfully aware of is closeness as his breath scathed her shoulders. For the first time she felt nervous, fearful of him. Itachi's demeanor had changed and she felt it. She continued, trying to push it to the back of her head. "We were very close up until the day he died."

A deep chuckled rippled through the air. "Died? Amusing…"

Sakura growled at his words. A flash of anger shot through her and she spun on her heels to face him. "Amusing? What the hell is so amusing about my father's death?" she demanded, staring darkly into his eyes. She had every right to kill him then and there. The bastard certainly deserved it.

Itachi was still grinning. "Because he didn't die at all, did he Sakura?"

Her eyes widened, shocked. Itachi knew who she was, he figured it out.

"No, I killed him; murdered him with my own two hands while you fled." He watched as her face took on an array of emotions. "It wasn't until this morning that I realized just who you were. After last night, I thought I'd do a little research on Ebony from Itawou. To my surprise, there was no information. So I had some of my personal ninja do some research. When they told me your true name, Sakura, I remembered you instantly."

Sakura backed away, fear flooding through her. He followed her as she backed herself against the wall. She looked up at him, daring to meet his gaze. They were still amused, yet angry at the same time. She swallowed hard, but still couldn't manage any words.

"Tell me," he started, clamping his hand gently around her neck, threatening her. "Tell me why you are really here. To get revenge for your dead parents?" He didn't wait for her reply. "How…amusing." He used the word again, mocking her. "I must say though, you are doing a poor job of it." His grip tightened to prove his point.

Sakura winced, but through the pain, she was curious. "When you found out, why didn't you kill me right away? Why do you still keep me alive now?"

His hand released her throat and traveled over her breasts, before moving back to her face. "You are filled with revenge. You must have trained hard these last three years with retribution being your only thought. I want to see that strength that I invoked in you, Sakura. Show me."

Sakura bared her teeth to him in a snarl. She didn't have to play games anymore. He knew, and she would fight him with everything she had. She grabbed his wrist and released her most favorable attack. Shooting her chakra into his arm, though, didn't even make him flinch. There was no reply whatsoever. Then she knew why. He repelled the blow, shooting her energy right back into her through the conduit of their connection.

She pulled away quickly, jumping up and over his head. She charged at him as soon as her feet touched the wood floors. Just as she reached him, her fist flying at the back of his head, Itachi moved. He snagged her hand and spun her in a circle, releasing her. Sakura flipped in the air and pushed of the wall she was thrown at, once again going straight for him. He was gone from her sight in the blink of an eye.

Before she knew it, Sakura felt his hand snag the back of her head and then proceed to drive the side of her face into the wall, using her momentum. His body was against her back instantly, his mouth at her ear. "Is that all you got, Sakura?" he taunted, releasing his hold.

Sakura growled and turned towards him, ignoring the searing pain in the side of her head. She was so clouded with rage and anger that she wasn't thinking clearly at all. Even when her kimono rose to high and flared apart, Sakura didn't stopped her wild punches and kicks. The only thing on her mind was killing Itachi.

But he was clam, collected, calculating. He grabbed her foot when she went for a gut-kick. Sakura reacted, trying for a roundhouse kick with her other foot. She twisted her body with the effort. Itachi blocked with his forearm, his body remaining rooted in place. Still holding onto her leg, he pulled it up. Sakura hit the floor, face down. The air was knocked out of her and she coughed in breaths to get it back.

Itachi burrowed his knee into her back and pulled her head up roughly by her hair. She felt it; the coolness of the blade at her throat. "This is it? This is all the rage you have?"

"Fuck you, Itachi," she hissed. "This is nothing compared to my full strength. If you hadn't assaulted me last night-"

Itachi barked out a laugh. "If you were truly strong, you would have fought through the pain." He flipped her over in on swift movement. He straddled her hips and kept the dagger to her throat. "But it appears that you are still the same weak girl that ran away three years ago."

Sakura's anger pushed her past the pain. She snapped her legs around his neck and pulled him back. She grabbed the hand that held the dagger and slammed it on the ground. His grip loosened and she tore it away from his fingers. She sat up quickly and moved her legs away, placing the dagger at his neck. She smirked at his surprised expression. "What was that, Itachi? Oh. That's right. You were underestimating me."

He grinned up at her. "Then do it, Sakura. Kill me." She put pressure on his neck. A drop of blood slid down his throat. Itachi didn't even flinch. "That's right, kill me, and the rest of the ninja villages will face my wrath even when I'm burrowed six feet underground."

Sakura's pressured lightened. She scowled down at him. "What are you planning, Itachi?"

"Utter domination," he replied coolly. His hand reached for her, his fingers snaked through her hair. "Go ahead, Sakura. Kill me and watch them die. Just like you watched your parents die."

Sakura growled and press harder for only a second, before pulling away. She dropped her head, knowing he had won. No matter how badly she ached to kill him, no matter how angry she was, no matter how distraught she was over her parents death, Sakura could not kill him and be responsible for the lives of others. Not when they had families of their own.

"Good girl." He reclaimed his dagger from her limp hand. "Now, what am I to do with you," he said, standing and pulling her with him. He clasped her hands behind her back, holding both of her wrists with one of his hands. "I can't let you go, of course. You would run back to those Konoha fools and have them infiltrate my estate." He raised the dagger to her chin. "I could kill you." Sakura drew in a breath. "But that would be a waste." He contemplated something for a moment. "I have a proposition for you, Sakura."

She met his gaze questioningly. "And what would that be?" She had a bad feeling wrenching in her gut.

"You want to live, right? And spare the villages?" Sakura nodded. "Then, if you want that to happen, you will stay here, with me, and do whatever I say. You will bow to my every command and you will do it with a smile."

"You must be delusional, Itachi!"

"Then they will all die and, if my assumption is correct, so will the man – the only man – you slept with. Other than me of course."

Sakura gasped. "What assumption would that be?" She had to know if he knew.

"Tell me how it was, Sakura," he said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Was my brother good to you? Rough, maybe? Did he arouse you, Sakura?"

"How did you-" She shook her head. "It's none of your business, Itachi."

"But you care about him." It wasn't a question. "You may even love him. So, if you want him to live, you will do as I say. Do we have an agreement or not?"

Sakura frowned. She was backed into a corner. Sasuke meant everything to her. If he was ever hurt, in any way, because of her, she would never be able to live with herself. She would do anything for him. "Yeah, Itachi, we have an agreement," she whispered. With those words, Sakura sealed her fate with him.

Itachi's devilish grin spread across his face. Without a word, he swiped his finger over the blood at his neck and placed it right under her collar bone. Still keeping her head back, Itachi drew a cross and then created hand signs over it. When he finished, he kept his index finger in the center of it as symbols and runes formed around it.

Suddenly, Sakura felt weak. Her legs felt like jelly and her eyes drooped. "What are you doing?" she demanded with as much force as she could muster. It wasn't much.

"I can't have you escaping now, can I? I know you could too. As much as I loath to admit this, you are strong, Sakura." He leaned his head closer to hers as the spell was set in place. "This jutsu will keep you under control."

Sakura quivered and her legs gave out. She fell into Itachi, her body limp and weak. Damn it! I've never heard of a jutsu like this before! She growled up at him.

Itachi was only amused by her anger. He ran a hand through her hair and cupped her face. He brought his lips to hers in a harsh, firm kiss. Sakura was repulsed. She tried to struggle, but the jutsu kept her venerable. She winced when Itachi bit her bottom lip as he pulled away. The taste of iron seeped over her tongue.

"That was payback for you biting my tongue," Itachi explained. He didn't wait for her to reply before he snapped his fingers. A masked ninja appeared through the door in seconds. "As much as I would like to play with you a little longer, I have a meeting this morning, but don't worry. I'll see you later on." He turned to the ninja. "Take her to her quarters and position a ninja outside her door." He smirked down at Sakura. "This spell will keep you weak, but not nearly like this unfortunately. It would be so much fun to toss you around like a rag doll."

The ninja approached and scooped Sakura into his arms. He bowed slightly to Itachi and waited for him to leave the room, before leaving himself. He carried her like she was as light as a feather, but Sakura felt like dead weight because of Itachi's jutsu. She shouldn't be surprised though. Itachi's men would have to be strong to work for him.

Strangely though, he held her gently, and a little too close to his body. Sakura decided that Itachi gave specific orders to be careful with 'his toy'. She seethed at the thought. She looked up when she felt the ninja's chest rumble with a chuckle. "What do you find so funny?" she demanded. Sakura was in a sour mood and this ninja was only making it worse.

He shook his head. "I've never seen Itachi so rattled before." It was the ninja again. The voice gave him away once more. Maybe he was her personal guard, appointed by Itachi. "He may have appeared fine, but you shook his cages."

Sakura raised an eyebrow, trying to hold back a grin. She was pleased to hear this, but her situation wasn't any better. She was still trapped under his control. "How do you know that?"

The ninja started up the stairs. "I've known Itachi for a long time." Was that resentment in his voice? "To learn that you were so strong and could have killed him was a major blow to his ego." Now his voice rung with amusement. "And you should have seen him this morning when he found out you were someone other than the person you claimed to be."

Sakura looked up at him, crossing her arms. "I don't understand. Aren't you supposed to be some mindless ninja who follows Itachi around like a lap dog? Why do you sound so defiant?"

The ninja looked down at her for a moment. There was movement in his mask. A smile? "I don't like small dogs." Now on the second floor, the ninja walked to her room, closing it behind him when they entered.

"Then why are you here in the first place?" Sakura questioned, intrigued.

He placed her down on the bed and then sat on the edge, his back to her. "There are…personal reasons for my being here."

Whether it was a habitual movement or not, Sakura didn't care. When the ninja put his hand on her leg, a flare of warmth sprung into her belly. His hand lingered for a second before pulling away. The skin he touched suddenly felt cold. She felt something in that instant. "Who are you?" she asked in a whisper.

He hesitated.

"Please." Something was tugging her towards him. "Tell me."

The ninja looked at her. Slowly, he brought his hands to his mask. Sakura couldn't breathe then. Something stuck in her throat, cutting off her airway. She looked at his gloriously pale skin, his dark spiky hair, and his deep obsidian eyes. For a second, she thought she was dreaming. She had to be.

Sasuke couldn't really be there. Sakura used all of her strength the pull herself to him on her knees. She lifted a hand to his face, expecting her hand to go right through him. But it didn't. Her fingers brushed against his soft skin. She swallowed heavily and cleared her throat. "H-how?" It came out strangled.

Sasuke caught her hand under his, keeping it pressed to his face. His eyes closed with the contact. "Itachi doesn't know," he finally said. "I killed a guard and took his position." He looked at her now, his eyes drenched in sorrow. "I couldn't just let you leave. Leave me. I came to protect you, but…" His words trailed off. "I'm sorry."

Sakura threw herself at him, wrapping her arms securely around his neck. "No, Sasuke. Don't be sorry. There's nothing to apologize for," she murmured into his neck. "The fact that you're here makes me so happy. Unrightfully so. I don't deserve it. Not after what I said to you."

He pushed her back a bit and looked deep into her eyes. "Don't say that. What you said was the truth. I should have just told you from the beginning. I shouldn't have hid anything, no matter what the oath was. Now, you're here, in pain, and it's because I couldn't stop you." He turned away.

She was silent, smiling though. She lifted her hand to his arm and made him turn to her. "Sasuke, maybe we should leave the past in the past. We both were wrong. I don't want to think about it anymore. What I want is to start over." She kissed his cheek.

Sasuke took her face in his hands and put his lips to hers. He was gentle at first, treating her as if she was as breakable as glass. His hand ran through her hair, his kiss becoming stronger, more forceful. Sakura accepted him willingly, parting her mouth to let his tongue slide in. A familiar warmth settled in her belly, making her desire for him sky rocket. She gripped his shoulders and leaned into him. Sasuke responded by wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her that much closer.

Sakura wrapped her legs around him, throwing away any inhibitions. She sighed against his mouth, pleasure enveloping her. Then Sasuke tensed and pulled away. He racked a hand through his hair. Sakura looked at him questioningly. "…Sasuke?"

"I imagined getting you back and holding you in my arms…making love to you again. But not this way. Not here."

"Then get me out of here. Take me back to Konoha, or anywhere for that matter."

"And the mission?" Sasuke shook his head. "I want to steal you from here more than you can imagine. Last night, when Itachi was…" he didn't finish the thought. "I was so close to busting in there and tearing his head off. But he has plans to destroy thousands innocent lives."

Sakura lowered her head. "I know." She looked up at him and smiled. "I will complete my mission and find out what he is up to. I vow to earn his trust and end this as soon as possible so that we can be together again."

Sasuke kissed her lovingly. "And I will be here, doing the best I can to make sure you stay safe. It will kill me to see him put his hands on you, but," he said, going to her ear, "I will be sure to clean his scent off you afterwards."

The comment was so primal that it made Sakura blush to her roots. Her heart fluttered in her chest and her stomach clenched into a knot. When he nibbled on her lobe, it took all of her will power to keep her lust under control.

Sasuke laid her back on the bed and curled up next to her. His finger played along the jutsu on her chest. "You need to rest. This jutsu is powerful and has probably drained you of every ounce of power you have."

Sakura rested her head in the crook of his neck, grasping onto his shirt. "You'll stay, right?"

Sasuke nodded and kissed her cheek. "Rest now."

Though Sakura wanted to savor every minute with him, she just couldn't keep her heavy lids open. Before she knew it, she slipped into sleep.