Loophole

Chapter 11: Parting Company


The smell of smoke and fire was not as strong this time as Sakura opened her eyes slowly to the new bedroom. The dim orange glow still flickered over the stone walls, and the duvet felt warm and heavy on her bruised legs. How long she'd been asleep would be anyone's guess.

Pushing to sit up, she had to brace herself to stop from falling over with dizziness. Something told her that she'd been asleep for longer than she would have liked to be and that the poison had enjoyed having some time to work on her. Trying to draw chakra in vain hope, Sakura winced in pain with the attempt. It was still blocked.

"Damn it," she hissed softly.

Looking around, she could see the fire happily burning through the open doors of the wood stove, throwing the glow around the room. Itachi was nowhere to be seen, but there was a tray on the floor beside the futon with water, fruit, bread and rice.

Sakura couldn't remember how long it had been since she'd eaten. Certainly this would contribute to the dizziness she felt, so making an effort of epic proportions, she slid her feet to the floor and guided her body to sit beside the tray.

As she moved, she noticed the Akatsuki cloak splayed across the foot of the futon, the frayed hem of it telling her it was the one she had always worn. It made her sigh a little. She was reluctant to don it again, but obviously it was still a requirement. Reaching over, she dragged it to herself and sat it between her legs, covering her exposed underwear with the position she sat in. Her left leg was splayed out while the other was up and bent at the knee. The strength was draining away from her with the small effort as she leaned back against the side of the thick futon mattress.

Picking up the jug of water with two hands, sadly needing both, she held it to her lips and drank down as much as she could without getting sick. It was so cold, and so she figured it hadn't been there long. If she wasn't so thirsty she might have smashed it in frustration. A long sigh escaped her.

As much as she tried, she couldn't stay mad. It was taking too much effort.

Sakura picked up the peach next, taking a shallow bite of the sweet flesh. She took a deep breath and slowly chewed, finding an inability to focus as her eyes glazed over and stared at the wall.

I don't want to die.

The words repeated in her head.

Dropping the peach back to the tray, she opted for the rice, scooping her fingers through it and bringing it to her mouth.

Nothing seemed to taste good.

Maybe depression was setting in or maybe it was the poison, but she wanted to cry. She wanted to hit Itachi's face harder. She wanted him to come and hold her.

Picking up the peach again, she took another bite. The door opened then, and Itachi strode in calmly to stop when he noticed her sitting on the floor.

Had he just walked in and sat down, Sakura didn't think she would have been mad. But his eyes seemed to wander up along the exposed plane of her leg. Even in this, he felt no need to hide his intentions as she sat there sick and weak.

"Would you like anything else?" Itachi said as he looked down at the tray of half-eaten food.

"Antidote. Maybe a medical clinic too," she said quietly, the hint of anger still there.

Itachi didn't acknowledge this; instead he moved forward and sat down across from her on the opposite side of the tray. Again, his eyes wandered and Sakura felt her hand itching to slap his eyes upward.

"I brought you pants to wear. You should put them on. The floor is cold," he said off-handedly.

Sakura's eyes widened as she turned and looked at the bed. Indeed, the pants were there. They must have been under the cloak. Well, she thought, he was still looking.

Itachi reached down and took a peach as well. He took a bite, seeming to savor the taste as he chewed slowly while looking over at the fire. With the warmth in the room, he began to unsnap his cloak and then shrugged it off his shoulders to pool behind him on the stone floor.

Sakura sighed, feeling deflated. Without caring if he saw her or not, she struggled to get back up on the low futon, finding her strength ebbing. It was harder than she thought it would be. Down was obviously the easier trip.

As she fell onto the bed with the crawling effort, she breathed heavily and felt her body slacken against the soft sheets. Her legs still hung over the edge from her knees down, but right now, she wasn't going to move another inch.

"You've grown weaker," Itachi remarked.

Sakura opened her eyes to see him standing beside her legs and looking down at her with some manner of concentration. He looked so young again without his cloak. He reminded her of Sasuke, the way he stood there with his hands held at his sides as if he was ready at any moment for action. Must be a family trait, she mused inwardly.

She wanted to respond to him in a smart way. Of course I'm weaker, or what did you expect? But she wasn't feeling up to it. Right now she wanted kindness and caring, not a fight. Instead, she just closed her eyes.

The futon shifted minutely as he moved onto it, and when she opened her eyes, she found him sitting with his back turned to her.

"The poison has slowed my heart, and made my muscles harder to work. By tomorrow, I won't be able to move." The words were like a vice in her throat. It was hard to admit what was coming next, but as a medic, it was no mystery. As a shinobi, she would face it head on.

Itachi stood back up and walked towards the doorway. He had no response, nothing to say and Sakura was tempted to growl to his back, "that is so like you."

But she was too tired to fight.


Another hour or two of sleep, and Sakura was able to pull the pants on. They were bigger on her this time, and she ran her fingers over her protruding hipbones, hating the way her skin seemed to hang on her. But what did it matter now.

Making an attempt to stand, she teetered. Her knees buckled under her, and tears began to fill her eyes. Trying again, she managed to get some balance and stumble towards the doorway. She managed to open the door, using the frame to steady her when her wrist felt that familiar warmth as she passed the threshold.

Like an alarm went off, Itachi suddenly appeared through a doorway down the hall. Sakura knew he'd sensed she'd passed the doorway. Seeing him was a sudden relief. Right now, she didn't want to be alone.

He strode towards her, his open cloak billowing with his movement, and she realized he must have returned for it while she slept.

Without anything said, Itachi came up to her and grasped her around the waist to hold her before she fell. Sakura's weak fingers gripped the dark fabric. She pressed her face into his shoulder.

"I can't lie still and die," she said softly. "I need to try."

He didn't say anything, not that she expected him to, but when she looked up, his sharingan were lit blood red and beautiful. A small gasp left her mouth, wondering what he was going to do now.

"Are you in pain?" he asked very clinically.

"N…no," she whispered, unable to take her eyes off his. His hand slid into her hair as his lips moved so close to hers that she was sure they brushed.

"How much longer do you have?" he whispered onto her mouth.

"M…maybe…two days," she said, her tears continuing to fall. "Wh…what are you doing?" she asked, surprise in her tone.

"Saying goodbye."

His mouth finally met hers and her knees buckled at the same time. But he held her. His arm kept her against him. She responded; God help her, she wanted to kiss him so badly. She could feel it everywhere and for a few moments she was drunk on it. For a few precious seconds she had his complete attention, his desire and that small bit of emotion she craved to see from him.

His hand fisted in her short hair. And as his arm tightened around her, she felt her feet lifted off the ground before he carried her towards the bed. Gently, he lay her down, shrugged off his cloak, and fell above her. He continued to kiss her, moving down her throat and then back up.

The whole time, she cried.

Her shaking hands held his face as his lips met hers again. One hand slid over him to loosen the tie for his hair. She felt his weight fall a little heavier on her before he rolled beside her.

Don't let it end, she thought sadly.

Pulling her over to him, they lay intertwined as he continued to kiss her. The warmth of his tongue swept among hers, making her whimper. This continued on and Sakura prayed that she could stay awake long enough to enjoy him, even if it was for the last time.

But to her dismay, he pulled away.

His eyes were still red while he looked at her.

"Sharingan…why?" she asked while she watched them change again to the mangekyou. "You're going to use a doujutsu on me again?"

Itachi just stared at her.

"Should I say goodbye?" she questioned sadly.

"No," he replied, and she couldn't quite read the tone.

Sakura continued to look at his eyes, waiting for the dream world to suck her in. One last time, he moved forward and kissed her deeply; one of those kisses, just like she had remembered for hours before awakening to the nightmare she was now in.

As they broke apart, there was a flash of his eyes and Sakura felt that pull of being torn away from consciousness. Her eyes closed slowly to the room, and to Itachi, and to reality.

The Uchiha watched her drift away for a few moments. He could see that she had stopped shaking and her body was at rest.

He listened to her steady breathing, running his finger over her slightly parted lips. His fingers ran along the smooth skin of her arm and down to the silver bracelet filled with his chakra and adorned with etched seals. It had been a stroke of genius putting that on her, he thought to himself. Knowing where she was every second was useful.

She had turned out to be extremely useful, he thought.

She had turned out to be very necessary.

It would not suit him if she died.


When Sakura finally came too, she felt that familiar euphoria of uncontrolled movement. It was night. Again his warm body was under hers, her head lying heavily on his shoulder. Her legs dangled alongside his, while his strong hands held her thighs against his hips.

They were both wearing Akatsuki cloaks.

"Itachi," she mumbled to his back. The sound seemed lost among the rustle of the leaves in the forest around them, but he heard her and slowed his progress through the darkness of the trees.

His head turned slightly, and then he jumped down to the mossy ground. Sakura was amazed at how softly his feet landed. The man was truly a genius.

Lowering himself until her feet actually touched the ground, Itachi's hands slid from her legs.

"Where are we?" Sakura asked as she teetered before being hugged into his body.

"You don't recognize your own country?" Itachi said coolly.

"Forest is forest," she mumbled.

"How are you feeling?" he asked calmly.

"My head hurts and my body is weak. I can't stand anymore."

"It's as I thought," Itachi whispered as he began to undo the buttons of her cloak, still holding her around her waist.

"You brought me back?" she asked.

"It would not suit me if you died. I may need you again." Itachi began to slide the cloak from her shoulders. She shivered in the cool night air, only the silky black shirt and dark pants to keep her warm.

"Is that all I am to you?" she whispered as her fingers ran up to his face. His skin felt so hot under her fingertips.

For a long moment, Itachi's black eyes stared into hers. Was there an answer behind that coldness? He would never tell. But it almost seemed like there was something there, something that might come out had they had more time.

After letting the loose cloak fall over his arm, he used his other hand to place her hand on his shoulder. Gently, his fingers moved down her bare arm until they reached the silver band dangling there. He rubbed it between his fingers for a moment, the blue glow lighting their faces.

He was going to remove it.

She wondered how far away he could sense the chakra bracelet.

He bent and kissed her then, his fingers still playing with the silver band. His lips felt soft on hers, and the kiss was unhurried. It was a kiss goodbye, and it made her feel sad where she thought she would be glad to be rid of the whole ordeal.

Itachi reverted back to his cool self as he broke the kiss. "ANBU squads come by here every hour."

"Thank you, Itachi. For Sasuke, and for me," she whispered.

He stared at her for a second and seemed to be contemplating something as his fingers slipped between the bracelet and her cool skin.

Finally he bent next to her ear and whispered, "When he comes for me, I'll kill him. Don't forget who I am, Sakura."

Sakura flinched a little in his grasp, but he held her still.

"When I find the kyuubi, I will take it," he added, and Sakura just listened, wide eyed.

"When I stumble upon you again, Sakura, I promise you this. I won't let you leave so easily next time," he finished.

Sakura's fingers twisted into Itachi's cloak as he pulled away from her ear, but she used every ounce of strength left to hold him close. She moved her mouth to his and spoke onto his lips.

"I will protect Sasuke, and I'll kill you if you hurt Naruto. And if you stumble upon me again, Uchiha Itachi…I'll hold you to that promise."

She pressed her mouth to his, instigating a kiss for the first time between them, and he responded heatedly. Such passion she believed she would never find again. This kiss, his kiss would be the one against which all others would be compared.

Itachi moved them slowly against a tree so that Sakura could lean against it before he released her. With a small smile, he watched her as his eyes bled to red.

Voices were suddenly heard in the forest, and Sakura knew Itachi had timed it perfectly for when the ANBU came by. She could see in his face that he knew they were coming. He seemed to tense, becoming that cold calculating soldier that she had forgotten he was.

He leapt into a nearby tree to stand on the branch, and then took one long last look down at her before he was gone.

Sakura watched the branch for a long time after he left as the voices got closer and closer. Her body slid down the rough bark with her inability to stand. She hoped they would stumble across her because there was no way she could yell to them.

The cold breezed right through her light shirt, and she shivered painfully. The slow blinks of her eyes told her that, no matter how much rest she got, it wasn't enough.

For a moment, a small pang of panic ran through her while the voices seemed to be moving away. She didn't realize at the time that it was her mind slipping back into the darkness it had become so accustomed to lately.

She didn't even hear the feet land around her.


"…cheekbone broken twice, partially healed multiple contusions on her epidermis primarily on lower legs and face, chakra reduction toxin was introduced into her system as was a poison that would take several days to kill her, broken and poorly healed ribs," Tsunade's voice seemed to drift into her mind as her eyes began to open.

"…these marks indicate restraints were used. They're similar to the ones on Sasuke's wri…oh, Sakura, you're awake!" Tsunade exclaimed with a shocked expression.

"Sh…Shishou?" Sakura whispered, her throat felt dry. Her body was sore, but not too bad considering everything it had been through. The humming fluorescents above her made her close her eyes again as she took a deep breath.

"Sakura! I've been worried sick about you. Kakashi is here. He's been looking everywhere for you," her voice sounded on the verge of the emotion she tried hard not to show, and Sakura smiled weakly hearing it.

"You were poisoned. If we hadn't found you when we did, you would have been beyond help. Tell me where you have been!" Tsunade's motherly voice, very unhokage-like continued to drown her in questions. Sakura tried to acclimatize to the light while ignoring the tirade. Slowly, her gaze drifted over to Kakashi who stood by the windows, arms crossed tightly over his chest. His silence worried her more than the Hokage's rant.

For a moment, he looked suspicious and angry, but he seemed to melt into relief as they continued to look at each other.

Tsunade finally stopped, seeming to run out of questions and comments. She turned to Kakashi as if expecting him to pick up where she left off.

"Well, when you are better, we'll talk," he said as he raised his hand casually and walked out of the room. So like Kakashi, Sakura thought to herself. She would be in for an interrogation when he got to her; she knew that for sure.

Her attention turned back to the near sobbing Tsunade and she smiled as she listened to the renewed string of panic. Nothing seemed to sink in until Tsunade said "And that bracelet, we can't seem to take it off you…"

Sakura's eyes opened wide for a moment as she lifted her arm and looked at it. It was there, no blue glow or warmth emanating from it, but it was still there.


A/N: Thanks roark28 for betaing. Thanks to all the reviewers. At least one more to go. This story might continue as I have a storyline scratching at my overtired brain so I'm considering it. It would jump forward about 3 years. Up to now, I'll say at least one more. (how many times have I said that? Lol. too many. I suppose you don't believe me anymore.)