Harken's Bell

by Lady Kaliska

A woman bound by fate. A life intertwined with those who come in the name of Shinobi of whom she spurned. Was the price of being true to a birth right too steep? Or was blending with those she could never understand the answer to her plight? AU

11. Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, I just borrow Kishimoto's sandbox from time to time.

Thanks to the Beta: Icecream Skittles Addict.

Chapter 11

Mist covered the forest, making it difficult to see. Sakura stopped on the dirt path, her green gaze bouncing from a tree trunk on her right to the branches that held the heavy vegetation above. Crossing her arms firmly across her middle, she trembled beneath the cold air swirling through the ancient oaks brushed across the bare skin of her arms. The coarse gray gravel crunched beneath the heels of her boots when she began to walk again.

She realized that there was no bird's song, or the sound of crickets. Even the whispers she was so accustomed to in an oncoming breeze was strangely absent. It was almost as if the forest itself was asleep. She wasn't sure why she kept walking, but she felt a grip on her senses that wouldn't let up. Sakura squinted when she noticed trailing aquamarine wisps of light at the end of the barren path.

The small tendrils of color rose from the earth floating and converging, shaping into a large mass of blue-green light. Step after step the young woman walked through the swirling white mist. No matter how much she traversed the path it seemed as if the aquamarine ball of light never came any closer.

She stopped and turned to look at the patches of the dull jade grass swaying in the icy breeze. Sakura stiffened when a shadow loomed over her, engulfing her frame and blocking out the dull light. She turned to see who had approached her.

She was half way around when a voice, ominous and stringent announced to her, "You do not belong here."

A gasp left her throat when she felt something like a vice squeeze her heart. Bleary eyes snapped open, and she sit straight up in her bed. After a few moments the rigid posture in her spine relaxed slightly as the shadows still dancing in the recesses of her mind began to fade.

Hana lifted her black triangular face, amber eyes blinking blearily at Sakura. She yawned, the white prongs of her teeth appearing and then disappearing when her mouth shut. The cat sat up and turned her gaze towards the window to look at the trailing beams of sunlight streaming inside. The feline queried in a sleepy voice, "What's the matter?"

"Dreams." Sakura answered simply. She turned to face the window, while drawing her knees up, "Strange dreams."

"Want to talk about it?"

"There's nothing to much to say. I was in a forest I didn't recognize. The ground was covered in mist. I saw a turquoise light at the end of the road and then I heard a voice telling me that I didn't belong there," she explained slowly, trying to make sense of it herself.

Hana padded forward and sat on her haunches. The feline looked up into Sakura's face, "Are you certain there wasn't anything you recognized?"

"I've never seen that place in my life – but that's not surprising since I've never really left Ix – Konoha before," Sakura auto-corrected herself. She pressed her cheek against her leg, averting her eyes from Hana's penetrating amber. "It makes me uneasy but I couldn't tell you exactly why."

Hana changed the subject, "Your mate has been gone for a week. Do you know when he's supposed to be back?"

Sakura shook her head, sending tangled pink tresses bouncing, "No. He really didn't tell me anything other than he was leaving for awhile. I don't think he's supposed to anyway – to tell you the truth. I mean he is a shinobi after all."

"But you're his mate."

The woman thought back to the night he held her against him. A blush warmed her cheeks and she let her knee slide back down. It was hard to believe that a week since then had already flown by. She didn't want to admit even to herself that she actually missed him. Could they really even be called friends even if they were husband and wife? It was because she was used to his presence now, she told herself sternly.

A warm paw against her leg brought her back to the present. "Well since you so rudely woke me up out of a pleasant sleep – then I suppose I'll settle for breakfast."

Sakura let out a soft sigh as Hana went to the sliding door and nudged it open with her pink nose and slipped out.

She stood and went to her closet. Grabbing a pair of folded shorts and a dark red colored top, Sakura put the clothing on and quit her bedroom. She fed Hana, and set a pot of water on the stove to make tea for herself. By the time the kettle whistle blew, the feline was already done with her breakfast and cleaning her paws.

When Sakura settled at the table with a steaming cup of tea in her hands, Hana jumped up on the wooden surface and sat on her haunches. "Will you be going out today?"

"I suppose I should. I think I've been holed up in here a bit too long."

The feline dipped her chin, "I was going to suggest that you should take a walk to at least get outside but – I decided to let you be. You seemed to have a lot on your mind."

"You know me all too well." A soft laugh left her lips. She brought the porcelain up to her mouth and gingerly she took a sip of the steaming brown liquid.

"Want to talk about it?"

"No." Sakura set the cup down on the table. "It's better not to. To speak about it, would just be dwelling on it. It's time that I move on."

Hana's tail twitched and her whiskers quirked at Sakura's vague explanation. She ducked her head before leaping off the table, "I believe the fresh air would do you some good then."

Sakura watched the cat walk away, tail waving in the air almost saucily. She knew Hana meant well but there were even some things that she didn't want to discuss with the feline.

Rising to her feet, she gulped down the rest of the now lukewarm beverage and carried her cup to the sink. She rinsed it out and set it aside. She went to her room to gather fresh clothing before heading out to the bath. Normally she would bathe herself quickly but this morning, she let the hot water soothe her nerves. She thought back to the strange dream she had. It was bizarre that she could still remember each detail and sensation so vividly.

It had felt so cold. It had been so very quiet, no voices or whispers. It was as if, the entire forest was in a deep slumber.

Sakura sighed, and finally when her skin was starting to look wrinkly from being submersed for so long, she soaped up and rinsed off. She dried her body quickly and dressed in another pair of shorts, and a zip up green top. It was still fairly early in the morning but she could tell that it was going to be a hot day. Brushing out the damp strands of her hair, she stepped outside. She sat on the small stone steps to put on her socks and boots. Running her fingertips through her hair, she put it up into a loose ponytail, so that the tresses wouldn't be in her face.

Stretching her arms wide to get out the rest of the kinks in her now relaxed body, Sakura decided that getting outside would probably make her feel a bit better. Her stomach rumbled, and though it was a bit unorthodox of her to want ramen for breakfast, she decided that she would eat at Ichiraku's. It wasn't so much for the food as it was to visit old man Teuchi and his daughter Ayame.

When she opened the flap to the restaurant, Teuchi was the first to greet her, "Good morning Sakura. It's a bit unusual to see you out this early."

Grasping the cushion of one of the stools with one hand, she straddled the seat and propped her elbow on the counter. "Good morning Teuchi. Ayame."

"Did you come for some ramen?" Ayame leaned on the counter, her earnest brown eyes settling on Sakura's face.

"Is it ready yet? I know that it's probably a little unusual for a customer to come so early..."

"Well –" Ayame chuckled softly, "It's not as unusual as you think." She lifted a hand and gestured towards the front of the restaurant.

"Oh hey Sakura," Naruto's cheerful voice caused her eyes to widen and pivot on the stool.

A smirk twisted her lips. "You really are an endless ramen pit!"

The blond patted his stomach with both hands, "You bet," and then he scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin forming, "So what brings you here so early?"

"Just out for a morning stroll."

Sakura was slightly startled when Ayame set a bowl down in front of her. She turned to look at the other woman, a pink brow raised.

"Might as well while you're here."

She smiled. "Thanks."

Teuchi picked up the ladle and filled another wooden bowl. This, Ayame handed to Naruto who also thanked her.

The pair ate in silence, the sounds of slurping the broth filled the small shop.

Sakura set down her chopsticks and grinned at Teuchi, "This was great." She reached into her purse and grabbed the appropriate coin amount and set it on the counter top.

She watched idly as Naruto polished off two more bowls with his usual vigor. Sakura shook her head, wondering where the male stored all that food inside his thin body. He was muscular but in that wiry way that all nin seemed to be.

"You want to go to the training grounds with me? I'm supposed to meet my team down there after I ate."

Sakura thought it over, and after a moment's hesitation she responded, "Sure." It wasn't like she had anything better to do, she thought to herself.

Naruto grinned and paid for his breakfast. She lifted a hand and waved at the stand owners before exiting through the flaps with the blond.

She fell into step beside the male, her green eyes noting his usually cheerful expression was more somber than usual. Sakura asked curiously, "You look serious Naruto. Is something wrong?"

He looked at her startled. When he realized that she was candid in her query he replied coolly, "No. I just have things on my mind."

"I understand." She nodded before averting her gaze.

Silence reigned between them for a short while. Once they turned to take the path to the training grounds, Naruto suddenly voiced, "I've been meaning to ask you something Sakura – you know – ever since you sparred with us."

She arched a pink brow at him. "Oh? About what?"

"Well –" He hesitated and then plunged on, "You remember the first time we met?"

Sakura threw back her head and laughed, "How can I forget? Of course I do."

He sent her an amused grin and chuckled softly. "I guess it's something none of us will forget." He shook his head and then sobered before continuing, "Anyway – I remember when you attacked us, it was like you had super strength or something. I mean you punched the city doors down like they were nothing more than toothpicks. I recall you saying something about learning that from your mother..."

Immediately she halted. Naruto stopped, and turned to look at her.

Her lip quirked. She struggled with the idea of telling him more about all that had transpired. She knew he could see the hesitation in her face, and she was relieved that he didn't press her for more.

There was an astute, inquisitive quality to those azure orbs of his that she'd never quite noticed before. It reminded her vaguely of Itachi's penetrating stare. The difference was that Naruto didn't quite have the sharp, cutting edge to it that her husband's had. She almost smirked. Hana was wrong about this one. She'll have to inform that cat that it was time for her to quit with the 'you should have picked the blond jokes.'

Finally she decided to be upfront with him. It wasn't really information that could hurt her later anyway. She folded her arms against her chest and looked up into the sky. "Well – I know you remember the day that Itachi and I were engaged." She looked at him then and at his nod, a small smile formed on her face. "Right after we left the Hokage's office, we went to his parents so that I could meet them."

"That sucks."

Startled at the interruption, she was amused when she realized that Naruto actually meant what he just said. Sakura started to walk in the direction of the training grounds. She continued to explain, "During the course of that meeting, I got angry and walked out to go home. Itachi came to take me back into the house. He wasn't happy that I was trying to leave before the discussion – ended. I refused and so he decided to make me obedient."

Sakura paused to let that seep in.

Immediately Naruto's head shot up, his eyes wide, "Don't tell me he used the sharingan on you..."

"You could say that." Sakura decided to keep the details to a minimum. She tilted her head to the side as the breeze picked up. "But when all that occurred my chakra pathways matured in a way that is similar to how a shinobi's blood-limit matures." She still wasn't quite sure what that all meant, she just repeated what her aunt had said.

"So what does that have to do with your ability to use chakra for super strength?"

"Well, you see –" She put a finger to her lips while she thought about the best way to explain it to him. "I don't have the same capacity for chakra as shinobi do. It takes quite a bit of my reserves to use my shaman abilities. I can still do some of what I did when we first met – to an extent. It's just that it's a waste of chakra for me to use frontal attacks like that. My mother taught me how to line my hands and feet with chakra to protect myself when I was little in case I ever got into trouble when she wasn't around.."

"What about that weapon you went after Itachi with?"

"That also had to do with my immature chakra pathways. Both my father and mother taught me how to protect myself in their own way. My father instructed me how to partially summon the Guardian's armor, and how not to cut my own head off with the scythe." She chuckled softly at the memory and then shook her head, "It's no wonder none of you took me too seriously at first."

"You can't use the," he paused and scrunched up his nose, "Guardian's armor anymore?"

"No."

"Why not?" Naruto was confused by the conjecture.

"What you witnessed was merely a poor imitation of what my father could do anyway," She sent a weak smile in his direction, "It truly was only a shadow of the greatness of a shrine warrior. Something that I believed myself to be – but I wasn't."

"I see."

"Does that sate your curiosity?" She asked softly.

"Yes." And then, "Do you miss him?"

Startled Sakura's brows winged together. It only took her a moment to realize who he was referring to. A blush tinged her cheeks. She snapped at the male with an obvious bite to her voice, "Why are you asking me something like that?"

"You do know that – it's going to be like this a lot."

She turned her face away, as if to look at the scenery of the trees that lined the dirt path. "Yes. I am aware that shinobi travel to complete missions."

"And you're all right with just sitting at home?" Naruto asked her, sending a furtive gaze her way to gauge her reaction.

Sakura stiffened at the out of the blue question. She returned his question with a query of her own, "Where are you going with all of this Naruto?"

"Well – I think that your abilities are really something err – unique." He answered honestly and then quickly added, "I mean that in a good way."

"Okay so – what's your point?" Sakura frowned at him.

"My point is, maybe you could volunteer yourself to help out around here more. I mean this is your hometown," Naruto gave a small shrug.

Sakura sighed at that. She shook her head, "No. It's not that I want to sit around and do nothing. It is simply because I operate differently than shinobi. I don't think that my abilities would be as helpful to the village as you think they would be."

Naruto mumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

"What?"

"I said, oil and water." Suddenly he lengthened his strides and turned to stop in front of her. He looked down into her startled upturned face. "I'm not suggesting you go out and wreak havoc on Konoha's enemies. What I'm trying to say – is maybe you should find something that you can do. It would be better than sitting around at home and waiting for him to come home."

"I do not just sit around." Her eyes narrowed on Naruto's face. "There are things that I must do, just as you go to the training fields to practice – I also train my abilities."

"What for?"

Sakura was sorely tempted to knock the blond upside the head with her fist. She refrained from giving in to the urge. She remained silent after that query and Naruto fell into an uneasy silence. It was as if he could sense her ire and wasn't quite sure how she was going to respond.

When they arrived at the training field Sasuke and Sai were already waiting for Naruto. She could tell Sasuke was perturbed at Naruto – probably for taking so long. When he turned his eyes on her, his face formed into a stony mask. She could see the irritation in his dark brown orbs.

She knew that Itachi's family had to be angry at her for the way she conducted herself at the Uchiha council meeting. She could only imagine what Itachi's parents thought of her. She was rather glad she hadn't run into either of them today. Hopefully if things went well, it would be a month before she seen them again at the very least. Sakura really didn't want to spar with them again, but perhaps they'd let her watch for awhile.

Sai was the first to approach. "You're late dickless."

Naruto smirked at the other nin while patting his own upper bicep, "Whatever Sai. You must be in a hurry to get your ass kicked."

The pale shinobi spared a glance at Sakura, "I see you tagged along again Ugly. Did you come to spar?"

"No, I just came to observe." Sakura blatantly ignored his rude pet name for her.

"Hurry up dobe! You're already late as it is." Sasuke scoffed at Naruto.

"Yare yare teme, I'm coming already."

Sakura followed them to their designated practice area for that day, and settled down to watch. She bent her knees on the plush grass and relaxed. She supposed that the knowledge she gained from being a spectator could come in handy someday.

She wasn't surprised however when Sasuke didn't even bother to acknowledge her. She contemplated giving him a little static shock as her way of saying hello but decided that it wasn't worth it.

The three shinobi faced off. Sakura wasn't surprised when they all flickered out of sight at nearly the same time. It was a ninja thing, she surmised. She propped her chin on her palm and watched the three young men battle it out. It didn't take her long to realize that Naruto was just loud. She always thought shinobi were supposed to be sneaky and unseen. Naruto definitely debunked that notion quickly. Sasuke was more concise and extraordinarily quick with his attacks than his blond teammate. Sakura's eyes widened when she noticed the ink animals jump from a scroll held in Sai's hands, roaring to life before charging forward to attack their targets.

After awhile, Sakura shut her eyes and her attention went elsewhere. She had discovered in her first spar with the shinobi that their abilities were closely tied to the elements. Even from her position she could hear the voices of wind, shadow, and fire as they intermingled and formed attacks. Opening her eyes, she noticed the way the shinobi would make signs with their hands and how the elements would respond to the gesture.

A smile curved her lips. To them, it was probably just another ability, one of many. A path they could take to get stronger. She could see that even in their own way, the shinobi also depended heavily on their bond with the elements. Ironically it was one they didn't even realize that they had.

The wind picked up and she lifted her chin. Greeting whispers brushed against her cheeks, and it helped her to feel a bit more balanced emotionally and mentally. Standing up, she brushed her bangs behind her ear with soft fingertips. She decided she had watched them long enough.

She let out a small gasp when Naruto suddenly jumped down in front of her. Smears of dirt streaked his face and Sakura was hard pressed not to chuckle. Sasuke and Sai appeared behind the blond, stopping several feet away.

Naruto asked her in a soft tone, "Is everything okay Sakura?"

She was a bit amazed that even though they had all been battling it out, they had still noticed her change in position quickly.

"I was just getting ready to leave. I'm sorry if I disturbed your spar."

Naruto's brows snapped together. "You were going to leave without saying anything?"

"Yes well – I was trying not to interrupt anything important." She lifted her left shoulder in a slight shrug.

"You sure you don't want to spar with us Ugly?" Sai surprised her by asking.

"I'm sure thanks." A small smile tugged at her lips despite his persistence of insulting her.

Sasuke turned his back on them and started to make his way back towards the center of the practice field.

A mischievous grin found its way to her lips. She called after the brooding nin with a mock wave, "I'll see you later brother-in-law."

His shoulders stiffened noticeably and her grin turned into a full blown smirk.

Naruto covered his mouth with the back of a hand to smother the laugh that wanted to surface. It was refreshing for him to see someone actually getting under the stoic male's skin for once.

Sai's face was expressionless but his voice was tinted with exasperation when he finally spoke, "Now he's going to be in a bad mood."

"I got your back – we'll let him burn off some steam." Naruto smirked at the other nin with a knowing sparkle in his blue eyes.

"Oh," Sakura's smirk thinned into a small frown. "I"m sorry. I didn't mean to ruin your practice."

Naruto waved away her concern with a quick wave. "Nah – we could tell something has been eating at him lately. It's good to see that he isn't all ice on the inside. I think he's been needing someone to snap him out of his shitty mood."

"I'm glad to hear that I could be of service," Sakura replied wryly with a roll of the eyes.

"Well, we'll see ya later I guess." Naruto lifted a hand in farewell.

Sai nodded his head in a show of politeness before following Naruto in the direction of the slightly charred training field. Shaking her head, sent one last look in Sasuke's direction. Pivoting around she turned in the direction of town. Her steps were slow and ambling as she made her way back towards the village. She leisurely enjoyed the feel of the rising heat of the day.

Sakura gazed around thoughtfully, her eyes roaming the lines of the buildings and into the busy streets with the populace milling through the colorful merchant stands and stores. was definitely still pretty busy in Konoha even though much of the construction was pretty much done.

Her eyes widened slightly when she noticed a telltale green vest and the all too familiar bushy ponytail that sat on the crown of a dark haired head, bobbing up and down as the male ambled down the street, hands deep in the pockets of his pants. She remembered her abrupt departure from the ramen bar earlier that week. She thought about the past, and the time that had just gone by since then.

After a moment's hesitation she surged forward and strode towards her target decisively, the heels of her brown boots clicking loudly against the pavement. He looked up when he realized that someone was purposely blocking his path. Shikamaru frowned when he took note of the woman's pink hair and malachite gaze.

"Troublesome." He muttered to himself out loud.

Sakura caught the sound of his monotone and smiled a little sadly. She inquired softly, "If you're aren't busy. I'd like to have a word with you."

"I am busy but – I have the feeling that whatever it is that you've got in your head of yours, you won't let it drop and would probably follow me until I listen – so you might as well come with me." He lifted a hand, palm side up and crooked a finger at her.

"You know me all too well," she chuckled, surprised that he would recall her unrelenting nature.

She fell into step beside him and after several seconds of awkward silence she finally said what was on her mind, "I know that I was a bit abrupt at Ichiraku's. I was just really surprised to see you again after so many years. I admit that I was shocked to realize that you were a nin. When I thought about the past, I was more than a little astonished by the obvious signs that I should have at least questioned back then..." She pointed towards the hitai-ate tied around his upper right arm.

He arched a brow at her, his usually dull brown eyes perking up slightly at the tone of her voice. There were so many different emotions interspersed throughout the delicate timbre that it piqued his curiosity. She turned her head to look at him. He stopped and tilted his head to study her shuttered expression. He wasn't quite sure what she wanted from him. Just looking in her eyes was enough to make his memories rewind to a part of his life long past. He remembered the sullen girl who hadn't wanted anything to do with anyone.

Even as a little girl, she had made him work so hard at his part of the mission that he had almost come to hate the sight of her. She hadn't been anything like other children. She wasn't distracted by pretty words or dolls. Sakura hadn't wanted anything to do with other people at all. And then one afternoon when he had just been about to give up on her, he had found her in an open green field. In the same place that they were building the new school for shinobi children – if his memory served him correctly.

He had been looking for her all morning that day. His father wanted him to keep her distracted, while they conducted the investigation of her home. He'd try protesting but one glare from his father had sent him after her. After searching for the girl for hours Shikamaru had been about to give up, when finally – he had discovered her stretched out over a tuft of grass. Her small hands cradled the back of her head with sad eyes gazing into the distant heavens.

At first he thought she was looking up into the sky, believing that her parents were watching over her. It was the usual thing adults tended to tell children who lost someone important to help ease the pain. However as he approached her, she started to speak in soft hushed tones. She told him something to him that he'd never quite forgotten. It was one of those things that had came back to him years later after he too, experienced loss. It was inevitable for a shinobi, and somewhere in the back of his mind he had known that he would have to face such an occurrence himself some day. Ironically in the end, the words of a civilian child haunted him during that time in his life. She had told him in the voice of a child, words that sounded much like something an adult might say.

It's so strange. Everything around me seems like it exists only in shades of gray. The sky is the only place that I can look at, and see color. The clouds continue to move across the blue sky. The sun still shines. It reminds me that the world continues to move on, even though my heart feels frozen in place. I don't necessarily want to feel like this, but I don't want to stop feeling like this either. I don't want to forget.

As she spoke, tears had streamed down the sides of her face. She didn't sob. She didn't wail. She didn't try to hide the fact that she was crying. It was almost as if a dam had lifted and the sorrow just spilled out. It was only then, that she had allowed him inside the barrier she kept so vigilantly around herself. It was some time after that, that he had started his habit of watching the clouds.

It was Sakura who had taught him that people weren't just another mission with a rank title. They were human – just like him.

Her voice pulled him to the present, "Anyways I'm sorry for acting the way that I did. It's just – at that time, you were the only person I could talk to."

His eyes refocused on the girl turned to woman in front of him. Even now, he could see the sorrow etched in her vibrant, emerald orbs. An old pain, awakened by his arrival in Konoha.

"You weren't just a mission. I really did think of you as a friend," his fingers folded into fists, causing his pockets to bulge, "You taught me something important Sakura. I'm sorry that at that time I couldn't be honest with you about why I was there."

Sakura shook her head. Hearing him say that to her in that nasally, matter of fact tone of his made her eyes shimmer with moisture. Rising on her toes, she delivered a soft quick, kiss to his cheek. She whispered hoarsely, "Thank you."

Settling back down on the balls of her heels, she ignored the shocked wide-eyed look he was giving her. Turning sharply on her heel, she walked away leaving him still standing there. The weight inside her chest seemed to lift and suddenly she felt lighter. It was almost as if, she'd finished the chapter of apart of her life that was a long time in coming.

Behind her, Shikamaru's sharp and intelligent brown eyes were glued to the center of her back, tracing the white circle crest. After a moment of contemplation he shook his head and let out a small snort, the shadow of a smile tugging at the left corner of his lip. "Troublesome." Then, he turned to make his way to his destination but not until after gazing skyward for a moment at a large, puffy white cloud passing by overhead.

-o-

Before she knew it, more days passed by without any sign of Itachi. He hadn't told her how long he was projected to be away. Sakura knew that some missions could take up to a month, especially since he was apart of ANBU. That's what he had called it anyway when he had given her a brief explanation of what they were and then afterwords told her she couldn't talk to anyone about it.

She had told him not too worry, she wasn't too keen on the idea of bragging about the fact that her husband liked to jump around in the trees in bedsheets.

A smirk twisted her lips when she remembered the glare he'd given her in response. Sakura leaned against the tiles of her roof, cradling the back of her head against her hands while gazing at the nearly full moon. The silver disk hung low in distance and the speckles of stars dappled the dark sky.

A few days ago when Naruto had asked if she missed Itachi, she hadn't wanted to face the fact that she might actually miss the man who was still a near stranger. It was bizarre. Sakura hardly knew the man she bound herself to. Yet in his absence, she found herself growing more aware of the void that he left behind when he was gone.

She wondered if this feeling of emptiness was due to the fact that the one person who had suddenly become such a huge part of her life was gone. After her parents' death, she had lived alone for so long. She knew that part of that was her own fault. In hindsight she realized that she herself hadn't wanted the numb feeling of pain to go away. To allow it to fade, was to forget.

Yet in the end – time had healed the pain, but the emptiness had remained. The warmth and the strength that she had experienced in Itachi's arms had allowed her to feel like she had someone there for her. If at least only for a little while.

She thought of the words she had told him shortly after the Uchiha meeting. "If you should decide to tread in shadowed in darkness, then I will do my best to cast light on that darkness."

In the end, she felt like her own light was dim at best. She almost felt like a hypocrite in hindsight. Thinking back on it now, Sakura realized that the words had left her lips because she had recognized that look in his eyes. It was a feeling that she understood all too well. She knew what it felt like to exist in isolation. Even if no one could even call her and Itachi friends exactly, she had still wanted him to know that he wasn't alone.

It was ironic that she, an orphan of all people, had desired so strongly to tell a man who had came from such a large family that if he found himself in darkness – that she'd be there to help him. She still wasn't sure why she'd said such an unguarded, emotional thing to him. Yet if given a second chance, she knew that without a doubt that she'd do it all over again without moment's hesitation.

She supposed that to not consider her husband even a friend would be a bit strange. Her fingertips went to her lips in remembrance of their shared kiss.

And yet – she knew, that neither truly trusted the other and both were too prideful to take the first step.

It was not in either of their natures to trust. That thought alone made her heart ache a little. She knew that he would never be able to discuss where he was going or what he was ordered to do with her.

His world was not her world and she knew that in turn, he would never understand hers. The foundation beneath them was shaky at best. Sakura was hard pressed to see a future where it was any different. She would never have believed that she would even care and yet here she was – caring about the outcome.

Turning her head to the side, she felt the cool night air brush against her face. Shutting her eyes, she let her thoughts run round and round in the recesses of her mind. Eventually the lull of the whispers and the thrum of crickets lulled her to sleep.

-o-

Itachi slipped the key into the lock to let himself inside the shrine but he was bit taken aback when he realized the door hadn't been locked. He was a bit surprised to see that several of the house lights were still on with no Sakura in sight. His fingertips grasped the porcelain mask that covered his face and walked into his bedroom. Shedding most of his ANBU uniform, he put his things away wanting more than nothing else than to lay down in his comfortable bed and go to sleep. He had run his team hard all day so they could all rest in their own beds that night. None openly protested the idea, but that was probably because they all had felt the same way after another grueling mission.

He stepped back out into the living room, to see if all the lights were still on. Ebony orbs met amber. He stepped out and peered down at the feline who was watching him with a somber expression. If Hana was out and about that meant that Sakura was out somewhere, and with the front door unlocked it meant she was nearby.

Itachi asked the cat, even knowing full well he couldn't understand her should she reply to him, "Where's Sakura?"

Hana eyed him thoughtfully for a few seconds and then finally she looked up tellingly, her whiskers twitching slightly.

The shinobi caught on quick. "The roof?"

The black feline nodded once.

He nodded his gratitude before returning outside. In a few graceful leaps in well places niches on the shrine, he was on the top of the house. He smirked at the sight of his wife asleep on the brown tiles. Her body was curled up as if to protect itself against the cool night air.

He stared at the woman for several long moments. Itachi's smirk faded into a genuine smile. He had seen his wife asleep before, but she'd been literally passed out from exhaustion. This time, the lines around her eyes were smoothed away and her body was completely relaxed.

The male strode over and after hesitating a moment he bent down to pick her up. He glanced down when her fists curled up into his shirt, petite fingers folding into the material. She buried her face against him and he wasn't quite sure what to do. The last thing he wanted was for her to wake up and get angry with him for his breech in her personal space.

Soon he realized by the sound of her breathing that she was still asleep. Jumping down off the roof, holding her tightly so as not to jar her, he returned to the house. He nudged the front door shut with his foot, and he angled himself to he could flip the lock. Immediately he strode towards her room to place her in her own bed.

Hana guessing his intentions, went to Sakura's bedroom and nudged the door open with her nose. He went to lay Sakura on the top of her bed and was confounded when he couldn't untangle her fingers from his shirt.

Itachi reached down to remove his wife's hands from his tunic, and when his skin grazed hers he heard her mumble, "No. Don't go."

The shinobi frowned down at the woman. Who would have thought she was obstinate even in her sleep? He knew that she was probably dreaming and had no idea who she was speaking to and what she was really asking.

He let out a soft sigh when her face disappeared against his chest for a moment, her cheek rubbing against him like a cat. She asked him again her green eyes looking up at him blearily, "Please?"

Itachi tried to set her down again after telling the half awake woman in a stern voice, "You don't know what you're asking Sakura." But every time he'd get one of her hands free, the other one would reach up and grab hold of the material of his shirt.

Resigned and too tired to keep up this 'argument' with his wife, he unbent his knees and stood up straight. He looked down at Hana who looked rather amused by Sakura's behavior. He shook his head and returned to his own room, not wanting to bother with the situation any longer.

When he went to lay her down against the mattress of his bed, she immediately unlatched her fingers and settled into the covers. His brows snapped together in consternation when she latched onto his pillow and cuddled with it like a child would a teddy bear. He bet a mission's worth of pay that he wouldn't be able to remove the pillow from her iron grasp.

He left the room to shut off the rest of the lights in the house. When he returned he pulled back the covers and tugged off her boots.

Itachi almost wanted to smile when he noticed that she was rubbing her nose against his pillow and murmuring something unintelligible to herself. Sitting on the bed, causing the mattress to dip, he reached over to shut off the bedroom light. They were ensconced in darkness and Itachi settled with only removing his shirt for the night. He pulled the covers up over them both and rolled on his side, his body completely relaxing from the familiar comfort that could only be found from one's own bed.

His eyes shot open when Sakura's arm suddenly draped over his side and her torso pressed against his back intimately. Apparently she'd decided that he was better than the pillow, he thought to himself silently. He pointedly ignored the fact that he could feel her softness against him. His nostrils flared when he realized he could actually smell her sweet scent and he almost groaned out loud when he realized that even when she returned to her own bed, that her fragrance would remain.

It was then that he noticed that he had actually been happy to see his wife. He had missed her. He had even gone so far as to retrieve her off the top of the roof. The thought didn't even bother him as much as he thought it would. Perhaps he was just too tired to really even care either way, he decided.

Just as his eyes were about to shut again, he felt the bed suddenly dip slightly and he glanced over blearily to see a pair of amber eyes gleaming back at him from the end of his bed. Somewhere in his tired thoughts, it clicked that it was just the cat joining them.

He turned over slightly and grabbed his pillow to place it back under his head. Finally, he was able to let sleep claim his exhausted mind and pull him under into its comforting folds.