AUTHOR'S NOTE: Well... This is chapter eleven and it's pretty short... I had to since I'm in the midst of my tests and just so you know I'm in no mood in studying since it's almost summer... That's what I'm going through right now. Haha! I'm too lazy to study but never too lazy to continue my story... Anyways, I wanted to say that I won't probably upload any chapter for a couple of days since I'm in the midst of my final exams. I would like to say my humblest gratitude to the following people:
1-complicated-girl:I'm so glad that until now, you're still viewing my story. I hope that you'll continue sending in your reviews. Thank you so much.
QueenThayet12990:I'm glad that I made a little mistakes. I may not assure you that this chapter has the same store in you since I don't double check. I really am grateful that until now you're still viewing my story. I'm so thankful my friend. :) Thank you so much
To the people who still continues to view my story, I thank you so much... I hope you enjoy my story...
Please send some of your reviews. I get all my strength and inspiration to the reviews you send me. Please send me some....
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Naruto...
CHAPTER 11: SEEN AND SPOTTED
Sakura averted her eyes from the sleeping Itachi to her brother who was at the door with his head gesturing for her to come. Before nearing her brother, Sakura looked at Itachi for the last time, afraid that if she leaves him, he would leave this world and journey to the next. She exhaustedly stood up and released her fingers from the confines of Itachi's.
"Sakura," Jin stated softly. His voice cracking up and almost tearing apart.
Sakura could only looked at her brother once she neared him and cried softly again. Her eyes shut to close as she cried violently with body racking through her sobs. "I-I don't want him to go…" she stuttered with a soft hush.
Jin wrapped his arms around Sakura's petite form protectively as his eyes laid unto the weak and fragile form on the bed. It was heart breaking to see Itachi in this kind of situation and mostly different. From all the members of the Akatsuki, Itachi was different. To be honest, Itachi had more potent capabilities and was far more superior than the Akatsuki members. That was why they had great respect for Itachi by calling him sama.
He was more aggressive when it comes to combats and very observant to his surroundings. He could think and make a plan faster than the rest of the members can do. Generally speaking, he was far more than better and Jin wouldn't deny that fact about him. But yet, the person lying in the bed right now was definitely not the Itachi who have fought vigilantly along side with him. Right now, he was the person who needed his sister and her care.
"He won't," Jin assured while rubbing her backs in circle. "We'll get the cure for him."
Sakura broke the hug and looked at Jin, finding new hope in his words. "Y-you will?" she asked like a child.
"Yes silly little sister," he responded while removing the trails of tears from her angelic face. "Are you implying that your big bro can't save that brat over there?"
"No," Sakura shook her head with a smile finally appearing on her soft and gentle face after a long time. "I don't have doubts for my ever so handsome and strong brother who always catches me when I'm about to fall…"
Jin smiled his signature smirk. "Thought you'd say that…" he beamed.
"When… are you going?" Sakura asked carefully and softly.
"Right now," he answered with a sad smile. "The earlier the better."
Sakura nodded her head with reluctance. "Right," she acknowledged sadly. "Please come home safe. I'll be waiting for your arrival." She told him before hugging him again.
"I will and I'll bring the cure," he complied the hug with his eyes close as he savored the moment. "I'll be back, I promise."
"How…" Sakura paused as she struggled to look for the right words to say to her brother. "How will I know that you'll come back to me safely?"
"I'll give Nessie to you." He responded casually as he broke the passionate hug. "She'll be in your care… Can I entrust her to you?"
"Sure thing," Sakura replied before hugging him back. "I'll pray for your safety with the others."
[--
"Konan, Pein," Jin called each one of them. "Take good care of Sakura. We don't know what's lurking out there that wants Sakura."
Pein acknowledged with a nod. "Rests assure you Jin-sama. We'll take good care of your sister."
"That's right. We won't let anything happen to Sakura-chan." Konan added with a smile.
"Very well then," Jin smiled softly and saw Sakura looking over at him through the window of Itachi's room. "Let's go."
Deidara and Kisame looked over to Sakura who waved goodbye at them. "Goodbye Sakura-chan!" Deidara shouted while waving his hands hysterically like a lunatic. Kisame walked away and waved goodbye to them while trailing Jin behind.
"Konan-chan," Deidara pouted. "I'm gonna miss you…" he said, stating the obvious.
"And I will too…" Konan answered with a smile.
Deidara pouted even more. "Can't I at least get a hug? I mean, I did have 3 hugs from Sakura-chan, yeah."
Konan laughed. "Come here you." She said before hugging the blonde abruptly. "I'm going to miss you Deidara."
"I will too." He said before eyeing Pein who was looking at him dangerously. "Well… I-I must go too." He said nervously before running after Jin and Kisame.
"Wait up!" a dull voice shouted from behind. "I'm coming…"
All eyes averted to the source of the voice and saw Sasori. "Where do you think you're going?" questioned Pein.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Sasori spat out in a hurry. "I'm going with them. They might get any herbs they see fit."
Konan and Pein gave a soft chuckle before waving goodbye to the people they might lose in search for Itachi's cure.
[--
~In Konoha~
"Hm…" A certain knuckle rummage around his bag, checking if he has everything he needs in his mission. "I got everything I need… Alright!" he said enthused while pumping his fist in the air.
"Naruto!" a voice said impatiently. "We don't have all day!"
Naruto looked over his window and saw Kiba with Akamaru. Akamaru was so big that he was already in the waist of Kiba. Kiba didn't had that furry coat and was instead replaced by a dark t-shirt with the same for the undergarments. "I'm coming!" he shouted back before running down the stairs.
"Took you a while for you to come here Naruto," Kiba commented with a smile.
Naruto gave his infamous goofy smile while scratching his head. "Sorry," he apologized. "But I just want to make sure that I had everything. After all, I don't want to go without this." He said before showing him a small locket.
"That's—" Kiba trailed off while looking at the locket of Sakura. The only clue that was left for them to know if she was alive or was dead. After all this years, Naruto has been keeping it. It must have been hard to see that locket which held all the pictures of the rookie 12 with Sasuke and Sakura on it. "You've been keeping this after all this years?" he asked uncertainly.
"Yeah," Naruto informed him sadly. "I just can't let her go that fast. I certainly don't believe that she really left us. Somehow, she's out there, searching for her past. She's still alive."
Kiba gave a chuckle. "And I guess you're right. It's a good thing some people had spotted her in this big house not really far from here. If we get there without stopping, we'll be there about 1 day and a half."
"I can't wait to see Sakura-chan again." He said impatiently. "I wonder what she looks right now."
"She must be really beautiful." Kiba truthfully answered. "And probably, lots of males are out there, trying to make her theirs."
Naruto grimaced at that thought. "Well I don't think I like that." He wryly answered. "Those boys won't match for one person who I know is capable of catching Sakura-chan's attention."
"And that would be?" Kiba asked with a delicate brow raised.
Before Naruto could answer, someone had shouted his name.
"NARUTO-KUN!" a feminine and timid voice shouted.
Naruto and Kiba averted their gazes from each other to see Hinata running towards them. Her cheeks flush from the running she had been doing a while ago. She stopped quietly beside them and panted softly before looking at them with a smile.
"Sorry if I was late." She apologize with a small bow of respect.
Naruto looked over at Hinata, unaware of the smile that began to pluck from the corner of his lips. "That's okay," he told her sincerely which made her blush a brighter shade of red. "We were just talking about Sakura-chan."
Hinata nodded in acknowledgement. "Right,"
"Well," Kiba prompted before looking at the gates of Konoha which was not far from where they were. "I guess we should get going then!"
"Okay!" Naruto said excitedly as he made the lead of the team.
[--
"I don't want to eat." A soft voice pointed out sadly. "I lost my appetite."
"But Sakura-hime," Pein called out in detests. "If you won't eat, you're going to lose your strength. Please eat, even a little."
Sakura looked over the weary faces of Konan and Pein. They all looked so worried and concern about her health. She averted her gaze from them to Nessie who was sleeping silently beside Itachi. "But," she said in a very hush voice.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan," Konan assured her. "We'll make sure that he's okay. He won't get anywhere."
Sakura looked at Konan then to Itachi. She sighed in defeat before standing and walking over to the small table set across Itachi's bed. She made herself comfortable before looking at the couple who was looking at Itachi.
"Pein-kun, Konan-chan," She called out. They didn't look at her but she knew they were listening. "How long is the poison going to consume him? How long must he suffer?"
Konan looked over to Sakura who just stared at her food instead of eating it. The emerald eyes that once held happiness and life were replaced by dullness and sadness that couldn't be comprehend. Her depression over Itachi was unbearable that it filled the room with a great stench. It was hard to ignore her feelings. It was hard not to notice that she was falling apart every time she lays her eyes unto the dying man in the bed.
Konan walked over to Sakura and placed a comforting hand over her slouched shoulder. "It won't be long… He'll be alright Sakura-chan, I'm sure of it."
"I don't think that's highly possible." Sakura stated in a whisper. "His spirit and his heart," she paused and inhaled deeply. "It's slipping softly. He's slipping softly away from me. I tried to call and hold unto him but even I can't be certain how long I must let him suffer for my greedy wants."
Sakura bowed her head in shame. "I feel so hopeless. All I could do is watch him from behind and do nothing. I don't want him to be in pain." She shook her head vigorously as tears started pouring out her eyes. "He was there to protect me all the time when I was in need. He never hesitated to stay in front of me and serve his self as a shield between me and the danger ahead of us. But in times when he needs me the most, all I could do is watch and see him die and degrade slowly."
"Sakura-chan," Konan said soothingly while holding her shoulders tightly, emanating warmth and comfort as much as possible from the grasp. "Don't take the blame on yourself. He wouldn't want that you know?"
Sakura tilted her head up and looked at the sad and solemn smiling face of Konan. She sighed slowly and closed her eyes. "I wish to be alone for a moment…" she requested. "Please?"
Konan looked over to Pein who stared at her solemnly. He had been listening to the whole conversation and somehow, he knew what she was feeling. He nodded his head silently and made his way towards the door and saw Konan still looking at Sakura. She was reluctant to leave Sakura alone in this room. She knew how it was killing her when she saw Itachi in a poignant position.
"Come Konan," Pein called from the door.
Konan looked at Pein and nodded her head before walking away from Sakura. As soon as she stopped at the door, she took a short glimpse of Sakura who didn't move before exiting the room.
"I'm sorry…" Sakura muttered under her breath as she heard the door closed.
Nessie looked over to Sakura. Sensing her depression and remorse, she went over to Sakura and stood in front of her in the table. Sakura looked at Nessie for a moment before smiling sadly. "It's a good thing you're the last remnant my brother gave to me… Can you do me a favor Nessie?"she asked nicely through her sad voice.
Nessie looked at her intently. "Go to my brother and watch over him. Although I know he did send you to guard me but I can handle myself. He needs you more than I need you."
With that, Nessie ran from Sakura to the window and jump outside.
[--
"Is it still far?" Naruto asked while moving from tree to tree. He was getting impatient every second which turned into minutes.
Kiba growled a low. "Patience Naruto, we know that you're excited to see her but you're not the only one. We are just as excited as you are to see her."
Hinata looked over the two boys and sighed softly. "Tsunade-sama send Kakashi-sensei to watch over us. He'll be over that river bank, waiting for us."
As soon as the river bank came into view, they stop at their tracks. Their eyes rummaging around the forest in search for their lazy and perverted sensei who was nowhere in sight. "Where is Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked angrily.
"I'm right here," he shouted from the tree. "Yoh!
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto called out happily but not before turning to the bush where he heard a soft rustle.
Kakashi emanate a soft chuckle which caught the attention of Naruto and his other comrades. He simply looked at them with a soft smile. "Stand down," he assured them. "Other people just didn't want to leave you three on this mission alone. After all, they, too wanted to see their long forgotten friend."
Naruto looked at the bushes only to see the other members of the Rooke 12. Lee, Tenten, Ino, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, were there. Smiles plastered in their faces as it showed that they too, were truly excited to see Sakura except for Neji who just turned to looked away. Although he never admits it, Sakura had affected his life.
"We're not leaving you alone with this mission you know," Tenten said with a raised brow. "Thought you could ditch us? Wrong again, Na-Ru-To." She said, emphasizing Naruto's name with a smirk.
Naruto's smiled reached his ears. "You guys," he stated happily.
[--
"Hm," Sakura sighed exhaustively. She felt so tired from watching Itachi last night and she didn't eat anything. In fact, she refused to. She didn't want to eat. She didn't felt like eating while the person you cherished was in front of you with his skin so pale and dead like he had died for a couple of days now.
Sakura let another exasperated sigh before turning her head to see Konan entering the room with sadness. By the looks of it, she too, was not in good shape. Probably her acts were also affecting Konan and Pein in a way. "Are you alright?" Sakura asked, concern lacing her voice like ribbon.
"Just a little tired I guess," Konan answered before setting down beside Sakura. "You don't look so good either." She reprimanded with a smile.
Sakura let a soft smile appeared in her face. "I guess so," she replied earnestly. "I haven't slept last night."
"You didn't because you were watching him," Konan stated in a sentence instead of a question. "I don't think it's necessary that you wouldn't eat because Itachi-sama is sick."
"I know Konan-chan," she answered dryly. "I know… It's just that, I'm afraid if I take my eyes off him, he would leave us."
Konan shook her head in disbelief. "He wouldn't leave us." She assured before looking at the bed and Itachi's pale form. "I don't think he'll leave us any sooner… In fact, I can see that he's having a hard time doing so."
"You're right," Sakura stated with a smile in her lips. "I guess, I shouldn't have doubt Itachi-kun so much."
"Right," Konan agreed with a nod before sensing the distress of Pein in the living room. "I'll go be right back Sakura-chan. While I'm gone, you better start eating your food. It is better warm than cold you know?"
Sakura looked at Konan with a smile. As soon as she saw Konan left, she averted her eyes towards Itachi. "When exactly are you going to wake up?" she asked softly.
[--
"What's wrong with you?" Konan asked, looking over to Pein.
Pein looked at her with weary eyes. "I was wondering how Sakura-hime was doing. She hasn't eaten anything yet ever since her brother left."
"She'll be okay in a matter of seconds." Konan assured with a smile. "Don't worry."
Both smiled at each other, happiness radiating in their aura. It was so peaceful yet at the same time in somber since everyone had to be away to get the cure of Itachi's poison. They didn't know how Itachi will last but they were hoping that he'll fight the poison off. Konan averted her eyes towards the mansion door when someone knocked.
"I better go check it out." Konan told her fiancé lovingly.
Pein nodded his head and sat in a comfortable manner. He watched as Konan opened the door of the mansion. Something was not right, he thought gravely as he saw the body of Konan tensed in fear. What was the reason why she had tensed? He thought angrily but was only to be replaced by fear when he saw the visitor and the horrid face of Konan.
[--
"Itachi-kun," Sakura called him worriedly as she saw his eyes fluttered to open. "Please, go back to sleep."
Itachi looked over to Sakura through his weak vision. Despite his weak state, he could see that Sakura was in a big mess. Her pink and glossy hair was unruly and messy that it made her looked a bit dirty. The black markings beneath her eyes told him of her restless night sitting and watching. On her cheeks were trails of her tears and it glistened softly as the rays of sun reflected her skin. How long had she been like this? How long had he been in coma? He didn't know and he didn't want to be again.
Itachi inhaled deeply, his smelling dulled that he couldn't smell the stringent of Sakura's scent. He coughed vigorously with his hand over his mouth. Seeing Itachi in need, Sakura immediately went to Itachi and placed her hand over his back, rubbing it in circles. Itachi looked over to the side to see the concern and fear rising in Sakura's expression.
"Are you okay?" she asked quietly as soon as Itachi stopped coughing and went to lay his head on bed. His eyes shut for a moment and soon his breathing went back.
"Barely," he whispered in a hush voice that Sakura almost didn't hear him say. He's breathing was so soft and sometimes stops that made Sakura worried. She didn't know what she was going to do when she saw another person died.
In her memory, she saw lots of people dying to protect her. They were bad memories and she didn't want to lose another person. She didn't want the people she love share the same fate and most especially to Itachi. Apparently, even if she did have an eerie feeling that they were already acquainted and met a long time ago, she can't help but wonder if they had known already for a long time. She knew that she shouldn't drop down to conclusions right away but… when you see something so eerie and interesting, it was hard to avoid and drop the subject.
"Something's not right," Itachi whispered so softly and closed his eyes tiredly. He felt himself sway within his bed but was guided by Sakura.
"Don't worry," Sakura assured with a smile. "I'm sure everything is alright."
[--
"Excuse me Ma'am," Naruto asked softly with a serious look plastered on his face to hide his excitement. "We're actually looking for this girl in the picture. She's the grandniece of the Hokage." He lifted the picture to the blue haired girl who looked very stunned and worried.
How the hell were they going to protect Sakura this time?
