The Lost One Chapter 11, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: Naruto and its characters are created by Masashi Kishimoto, but the new plots are mine. This fanfiction had been written for entertainment purposes only and without intention of infringing upon any copyright.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. Looks as if most of you prefer this one finished first, so I guess I'll do that. :P

The Lost One by elle6778 – Chapter 11

Time went by swiftly, and before Itachi knew it, two months had passed since the nature of their relationship had shifted. It was odd how fast everything had fallen into place once both of them had accepted the situation. Some might even see it as being fated. They fitted together well, and he could not help but wonder why he had not done something about it sooner.

And now, he was seated on the narrow couch in her house in Yugakure. This was one of the many times he had set foot in the shinobi village, the first being the day he had set eyes on Sakura for the first time. He felt somewhat more tense within the village than he was outside, and he knew that he would always be concerned that someone might recognize him for what he was even though suppressing his chakra was second nature by now.

Sipping his beverage slowly, he watched Sakura interact with her guests. She was leaning against the wall across the living room, conversing with one of the medics which he vaguely recognized. It was her eighteenth birthday today and she had decided to have a small gathering to celebrate the occasion. There were only about ten or so guests, though the small space made it seem like many more.

A young kunoichi sat down beside him, uninvited, and Itachi slid a questioning glance at her. When she smiled coquettishly at him, he averted his gaze. Perhaps this kunoichi did not know of his relationship to Sakura. After all, it was a relatively recent development.

"I'm Kinuko. So, are you new in Yugakure?" she asked.

"Hm," he responded disinterestedly, not wishing to encourage her.

"Are you like Sakura-san? A Leaf nin?"

He raised his cup to his lips, sipping his drink slowly before he turned to her. At his direct attention, the girl blushed slightly, but she did not back away. She was clearly brazen, despite her age. The girl could not be more than sixteen.

"Why do you wish to know?"

"You're new. And new people are… interesting," she told him, her voice turning a little suggestive. "And I'd like to get to know you better."

He ran his eyes slowly over her, with the intention of making her uncomfortable. She squirmed slightly, telling him that he was succeeding. But before he could fully run her off, he sensed Sakura's familiar presence closing in on them. And when she stopped right there in front of him and the brazen kunoichi, he looked up with amusement.

The hostile aura emanating from her was unmistakable, despite the thin smile she wore as she raised a brow at the kunoichi.

"Having a good time, Kinuko?" she asked silkily.

Kinuko laughed, a nervous sound. "Yes. I suppose," she replied as she shifted slightly away from him.

"I see that Itsuki is keeping you entertained," Sakura went on, and then turned to him. "Thank you, Koi."

The unexpected endearment made him smile slightly. Point driven home, Kinuko blushed and quickly stood up.

"Um… Thank you for letting me tag along with Yoshi, Sakura-san. But I think I'd better go. Early shift tomorrow morning."

"Best that you rest then, hm?" Sakura returned.

Kinuko nodded quickly. "Well, happy birthday, Sakura-san."

The kunoichi left rather quickly, leaving Sakura to take her place on the couch. The pink-haired kunoichi grinned at him knowingly, shaking her head slightly.

"That's the Head of the Medical Department's niece. Do I need to guess what she wanted from you?"

"I do not know, Sakura."

She arched a brow. "Oh? I thought you were conversing quite nicely there with her."

She might be acting affronted, but he knew that she was simply jesting. Circling an arm around her, he pulled her closer to whisper in her ear, "You were not pleased that I kept your guest entertained?"

She snorted. "You know exactly why Kinuko was all over you."

"Tell me," he murmured into her ear, reveling in the way she shivered in his arms.

She drew back, her emeralds orbs flashing with a mix of exasperation and humor. "You're being deliberately dense now."

Taken aback slightly, he admitted, "I believe that is the first time I've been described as such."

Before she could answer, her attention was drawn away by another Yugakure shinobi, this time to inform her that he and his partner were leaving. Itachi remained on the couch as the pink-haired kunoichi stood up again to escort her guests to the door. Perhaps it was simply the late hour, but once the first couple had left, the rest soon followed.

Itachi was nothing but relieved when the house emptied of all occupants aside from him and Sakura. He did not like being in the midst of so many people. It was often too noisy and made him feel rather oppressed.

"Well, that wasn't too bad, was it?" she teased as she sat down next to him again.

Knowing exactly what she was referring to, he responded, "I merely do not like crowds."

She snorted. "That was hardly a crowd. If I had this back in Konoha…" she trailed off suddenly, her eyes suddenly taking on a wistful look.

"You will celebrate your future birthdays there." Perhaps, he added silently, not wishing to upset her.

A chuckle escaped her lips as she buried her face in the junction between his neck and shoulder. Her affectionate gesture drew a smile to his lips, and Itachi absently began to run his palm up and down her back. It was soothing for him, as well as for her. In fact, any form of touching involving Sakura was pleasant.

After a while, she mumbled, her words vibrating softly against his skin. "Keep doing that and I'll fall asleep."

"Is that such a bad thing?" he asked, the languidness of the atmosphere making him sleepy as well.

"Depends…"

Her tone sounded darker, sultrier, and any ideas of sleeping immediately flew out of Itachi's mind when he realized what she could mean by her words. It was something that they had never discussed, not for the lack of desire on his part. But he had always been conscious of her age and inexperience in such matters, and had been hesitant to progress that particular aspect of their relationship. Perhaps he had been waiting for her to initiate it in the first place.

"On what?" he asked, his voice carefully even.

The pressure on his shoulder eased as she straightened, staring at him with hooded, sleepy eyes tinged with something darker. A smile slowly made its way across her features, and it was that sort of smile. The sort that made him think of heated skin, and hushed moans, and pleasured cries.

"Sakura…" he cautioned softly.

Her emerald orbs grew darker as her smile widened. Linking her hands behind his neck, she pulled him closer to whisper against his lips, "Don't you want to?"

Itachi swallowed hard as desire surged unbidden through his body. His answer to her question was obvious, surely. But should he give in to temptation to take their relationship to the next physical level? To indulge in what he had wanted ever since he had realized that he was attracted to Sakura?

"Itsuki…" Her tone was uncertain now.

She pulled back far enough for him to discern the expression on her face. Her emotion was transparent to him. He knew that she thought that he was about to reject her, and this was enough to bring forth her inner shyness and insecurities, traits that he had not known she possessed until he had spent the last two months so close to her. It made him wonder if she had been rejected in the past, for it would explain her current response to him.

Whatever it was, there was no reason for her to feel insecure this time round.

With that thought, Itachi urged her back towards him, capturing her lips in his. He moved against her, deepening the kiss until she was breathless and he was strung taut with passion barely held in check. Her hands, so small but strong, slid up his neck to his bare scalp and then back down, drawing a shiver from him. Lips leaving hers, he trailed down the arched column of her neck, nibbling his way down until he reached the low neckline of the emerald-green dress she wore for today.

There, he paused, glancing up at her in question. Her hands had stilled as she stared down at him. For a long while, they only kept their eyes locked, neither of them moving or saying anything. The tension was thick, and Itachi felt himself growing more and more frustrated by the moment.

Eventually, too impatient to wait, he broke the silence. "I will remove this, and the rest of your clothing. If you have any objection, tell me now."

She blinked once, and then twice.

And then, to Itachi's relief, she grinned widely. "Only if I get to remove yours," she told him.

Chuckling softly, he quickly gathered her in his arms and strode to her bedroom.

000

Sakura woke up slowly, surrounded by the sensation of being well sated. There was a warm body beside her. For a brief moment, she stiffened in surprise, and then immediately relaxed when she realized that it was Itsuki. Her eyes fluttered shut again as she wriggled back into his body, seeking more contact.

It was the first time they had spent the night together in her room, but then again, last night was also the first for other things. Her lips curved as her body shivered slightly in recollection. It had been amazing, not that she had anything to compare it with. She definitely would not mind a repeat performance. Or two.

Cradled in the crook of his arm, with her forehead resting against the junction between his neck and shoulder, Sakura sighed contentedly. If only she could wake up every morning like this, she would die a very happy kunoichi.

When she realized her direction of her thoughts, she quickly gave herself a mental swat. She did not want to think about what the future might bring. Things were good right now, and it was all because she had made the decision without trying to over-think the situation. There was no point in ruining it now by doing that.

"You're awake."

She smiled, still surprised at the way he always knew that she was awake even though her eyes were still closed. At least she would never complain that he was not attentive to her.

"Good morning, Itsuki."

"Will you be going soon?"

Her eyes shot open at his question, and she straightened onto an elbow to glare mockingly at a sleepy-looking Itsuki. "What, you're chasing me out my own place now?" she asked teasingly.

"Only if it means that you'll move in to the village."

She blinked in surprise, and then flopped back down onto her back before turning in his arms to watch him, reveling in the way his warm skin slid against hers. "You want me to move in with you?" she asked quietly, a little disbelievingly.

His eyes were unreadable when he said, "It would be more convenient."

The idea was tempting, but she knew that it would not work. At least without a great amount of effort considering her job. Giving him an apologetic look, she said, "I need to have access to a lab for my work."

"Would it be possible to set one up in the village?" he asked, running his fingers idly up and down her bare arm. "If I could find you a space?"

"I guess." She frowned thoughtfully. "It'll be more convenient for me to collect samples as well, because I'd save a whole day's worth of journeying time."

"You will move then?" he asked mildly, but the keen light in his eyes betrayed his eagerness.

She laughed gently, reaching around him to pull him close in a tight hug. His scent enveloped her, and she nuzzled her nose against his smooth chest. This man, he was sure something else. She thought that men were generally quite reluctant to commit. Well, at least that was what Ino used to tell her. But Itsuki was obviously different. Only two months of dating and he was seriously asking her to move in with him. Where else could she find someone like this?

"Sakura?"

It only took her a second to decide. She pulled back to explain, giving him an earnest look. "I like the idea, but I can't just up and move, Itsuki. It'll take time."

"Then you will put it in motion?"

She shrugged, and then grinned as she sat up, gathering the sheets to her naked chest. "Why not? It's not like Konoha bothers much with me as long as I deliver the Shinjutama. Still, I need to ask them, and Kobayashi. Actually, come to think of it, I don't really need Kobayashi's permission, seeing that Yugakure is supposedly under Konoha's command now. But it's better to let her know, I guess."

He nodded. There was an odd light in his eyes which she suspected was irritation when he said, "You've only reported to Konoha last week."

Understanding that he did not want to wait, she rubbed up and down his arm soothingly, "Yeah, I won't need to report for another three weeks."

"You will ask then."

She raised a brow at him. "Impatient, are we?" she teased.

His eyes narrowed, drawing a chuckle from her. Deciding that she had teased him enough for now, she swung her legs off the bed. She attempted to pull the sheet with her only to find that Itsuki had no intention of relinquishing his hold on it.

"Let go!" she shrieked, half in embarrassment, half in outrage. "I don't have any clothes on."

He smirked. "I know."

She tugged at the sheet again, but he held fast. Of course, if she really wanted, she could force him to release it. She was a kunoichi after all. But what was the fun in that? Eventually, with a mischievous smile, she let go of her end of the sheet, allowing it to slide away from her body.

And watched with satisfaction as his smirk disappeared to be replaced with a heated look across his face. Laughing lightly, she snagged some clean clothes from the cupboard and dashed into the adjoining bathroom, leaving Itsuki in bed.

Humming softly, she began to shower. She was glad that she had taken a chance at Itsuki. Their relationship had so far, exceeded her expectations. And she was definitely happy that they finally progressed the physical side of their relationship one step further. She still felt rather tingly all over from last night, and the thoughts of what they had done made her smile. It was certainly not something she would regret anytime soon. And based on their conversation earlier, it looked as if it would continue for a while.

Shutting the shower off, she stepped out of the glass enclosure and mulled over her schedule for that day. It was Sunday and she had to go to the lab in a few hours, but for now, she would enjoy it with Itsuki.

As she reached for her towel, she caught sight of the tiny patterns at one end of the fabric. The silver threaded embroidery depicted various weapons, and Sakura grinned slightly when she recalled how fitting it was, considering that it was Tenten who had given her the towel set some years ago for her birthday.

When her eyes landed on the tiny embroidery of a katana, Sasuke's image suddenly to mind, making her frown thoughtfully. Drying herself off, she could not help but wonder if she would run into him again. Or more like whether he would look for her again. He had not made an appearance since that first time a couple of months ago, and to be honest, she was a little relieved. Maybe, as much as she wanted him to join them in the fight, she did not want to risk hearing him say no to her request. Because she could never tell with Sasuke, whether he was on their side or not, even though her mind and heart told her that he had to be.

She pulled her clothes on as her mind wandered to Konoha. The lack of progress on the search for Tsunade was really bothering her. She wished she could do something more about the situation, but logically, she knew that was impossible. Kakashi was working on something, and he would tell her when there was progress.

Where was Tsunade? What could have happened to her? She missed her shishou, not to mention with each passing week, she grew more and more concerned that something could be terribly wrong with Tsunade.

Sighing out loud, Sakura walked out of the bathroom to find a half-clothed Itsuki standing next to the window, staring out through the gap between the curtains in only his pants. At her approach, he turned to face her, immediately noting her expression.

"Something is bothering you," he remarked.

She gave him a small smile. "Shinobi stuff," she explained.

He quirked a brow. "You do not wish to speak of it?" he asked mildly.

She usually spoke about her worries, without mentioning specific names, but he seemed to understand. Or maybe he was just a good listener. But this topic about Konoha was a sensitive one, and she did not know if she should divulge anything.

Perhaps a little would be okay, she finally decided.

"It's about my village. Since that war I told you about, things have gone horribly wrong." She took a deep breath. "And I wonder whether or not things will ever change."

He regarded her silently for a long while, seemingly considering her words. And then, when she thought that he had nothing to say, he murmured, "Have faith, Sakura. Things always change."

"Now that's just neither here nor there," she pointed out flatly.

"I only meant that nothing remains static. Everything is affected by its surroundings, and therefore, has a potential to shift."

"I doubt the leadership of Konoha would shift soon," she muttered darkly.

"Do you wish it to?"

"As traitorous as it sounds, I just want Konoha back like it was before." She sighed. "But it has been years, and nothing suggests that we're even close to getting there."

"Perhaps you should accept that the Konoha you had once known belongs in the past."

She scowled at him, irritated now. "You're suggesting that I ignore what's happening to it now? The increasing number of conflicts Konoha is involved in ever since the change of leadership?"

"No." He gave her an even look. "I'm merely stating that it is pointless to cling to the past. You have to learn from it, and then create a better future with what you've learnt."

She groaned out loud, slumping. "Easy for you to say." A hand cupped her face, tilted her head back up so that she could see the half-smirk he wore. "What now?"

"Is anyone doing something to change the situation in Konoha?" he asked.

She averted her eyes, not sure how much she should say. They might be in a relationship of sorts, and she felt more at ease with him that she had ever felt with anyone else. So much that she just wanted to confide fully in him, to see what he made of the situation. Besides, at this point, it was difficult to think that Itsuki might betray her.

Trust him, or not?

That was what it boiled down to in the end, wasn't it? She took a moment to think over the implications of what she was about to do, and then she finally took the plunge.

"You remember what I told you about the missing-nins?"

Itsuki nodded once, his eyes not leaving hers.

"Well, I assume that they're doing something."

Yes, assume. Because she could not implicate herself no matter what. Who knew if Danzou would be sick enough to grab Itsuki for interrogation? The thought of that sent a cold shiver up her spine, and she had to rub her hands up and down her arms to ward off the chill. She did not want Itsuki to go through any of that. Hell, she did not want him to get involved in any of this shinobi business.

"Sakura?" he prompted gently.

Shaking the morbid thoughts away, she continued, "Most of them left because they don't agree with the current leadership. So I'm assuming they're doing something about it in their own way to return things to how it was before."

"Such as?"

She exhaled loudly. "Find the missing ex-leader of Konoha?"

"He is missing?"

"She is missing, yes. Shortly after the new leader took the reins."

"Aa."

She tilted her head to the side, watching him thoughtfully as an idea took hold. "Say, let's imagine you're one of us."

"Us?"

"Shinobi."

He arched a brow, clearly amused now by the way his eyes were gleaming. "Why should I imagine such a thing, Sakura?"

"Because I want to pick your brains!" she exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air.

"You only need me for information, then?" he asked blandly.

She scowled. "You know that's not it."

"Physical gratification?" he ventured with a teasing smirk.

A heated flush crawled up her cheeks. "No!"

He leaned closer, so close that she found it difficult to breath without inhaling his scent. As always, her mind seemed to cloud over when he did this; approach her with his full predatory attention.

But this time, she managed to dart an arm out to hold him at arm's length. "Stop distracting me!" she ground out, still feeling flustered. "I just want your opinion on something."

The tension dissipated as he leaned away from her, crossing his legs as he regarded her with a somber expression. "Explain."

It was at times like this that she swore she could see him in some higher up position, like the Daimyou's advisor or something. He had this presence about him, although most of the time, it was not evident.

At his questioning look, she finally spoke. "When Konoha was invaded a couple of years ago, the Fifth Hokage was injured badly. So the village council selected someone to be the Sixth Hokage." She frowned at the memory. "The jounin did not agree with their choice, and they proposed Ka… someone else instead. The council was adamant, and somehow, in the mess, the jounin's decision got pushed aside. And then…" She took a deep breath. "The Fifth Hokage disappeared."

"I assume that is the missing leader your missing nins are currently seeking."

She nodded. "Some of us think that she has been taken away by Da… the current Hokage."

Itsuki's eyes narrowed slightly. "Unlikely."

"Why?" That was the supposition Shikamaru had made at some point as well. So it was curious that Itsuki would think the same thing.

"If the current leadership wishes to discourage support to the previous one, the logical step is to eliminate the latter publicly. The loss of a figurehead in such a manner usually curbs resistance," he explained.

She blinked at him. Shikamaru had only had time to tell Kakashi that the clues did not fit, but now that Itsuki had put his thoughts in words, she had to admit that it made sense. Having Tsunade gone in this manner did not make sense at all.

Unless…

"Maybe the current Hokage just wants to use this to lure the missing nins out?" she ventured.

"That is only feasible if Konoha leaves clues for the missing nins to follow."

She recalled that one time they had followed a false trail, and then the ANBU Root's complete ignorance about Tsunade's whereabouts. The entire situation was just so weird. But that was the only time it had happened. According to Kakashi, before that, the trails simply went cold, something which should not happen at all if Danzou had been planting fake trails to catch the missing nins.

Could Tsunade be safe, after all? Or could someone else have gotten to her? But who would do such a thing?

"So, where could she be?" she wondered out loud.

"Perhaps she is in hiding," Itsuki suggested.

"Maybe," she murmured thoughtfully. "But she was in a coma ever since the attack on Konoha."

"She has supporters, hasn't she?"

Sakura nodded, thinking of Shizune, who had gone missing at the same time.

"Her supporter could have assisted her. It is likely that your village have a secure protocol in the occurrence of such unexpected attacks. One which only the highest level of administration has access to. Your Hokage is most likely hidden somewhere safe."

She shot him a bewildered look. "How do you come up with such theories?" she asked, eyes wide. This was not the first time he had come up with completely plausible theories without knowing the whole situation.

He smirked slightly. "It is merely common sense, Sakura."

Oh, he looked so self-satisfied, she grouched inwardly. "One day, I'm sure I'll come up with something to stump even you."

He simply regarded her with a single brow arched slightly.

For some reason, laughter bubbled up her throat, and for a while she completely forgot what she was so worried about. It seemed like with Itsuki around, her troubles did not seem so insurmountable.

And that almost frightened her.

Almost.

000

Almost three weeks had passed since he had suggested that she moved in, and it was nearing the time for her to make her report to Konoha. She would ask the question then, and if allowed, she would move to the village with him. The notion brought forth a mix of pleasant anticipation and a slightly more unpleasant sensation of anxiety.

Perhaps it was too soon, he conceded. He had asked her without thinking through the consequences after all. Instead of contemplating the issue in all directions, for once, he had simply indulged in what he wanted.

Still, he was happy with the pace of their relationship as it were. Sakura still made her midweek trips to the cave, albeit slightly extended now, where he would then spend the two days and one night with her, sleeping under the stars if the weather permitted. And on the weekends, he would find himself in her small house in Yugakure.

The stability and routine could almost be described as idyllic.

However, Itachi was beginning to grow concerned that something in his past might affect it; a sort of foreboding. There had been a number of flashes of his past over the last few months, each disturbing in its own way, and he almost feared what his memory might bring next because it could be detrimental to what he had found with Sakura.

There was one particular memory which brought forth this worry. And till now, he had been unable to erase the image of a younger Sakura, standing beside a blond ninja and a taller, silver-haired one. In that memory, they were standing opposite him, their stances clearly adversarial. And in that memory, he was clearly the enemy.

But if Sakura had faced him in battle before, why had she not recognized him? Was it the only time they had confronted each other, and thus, she did not have a clear mental picture of him and was unable to recognize him now that his hair was completely shaven off? It was the only feasible explanation he could think of.

It frustrated him that he could not remember, and yet, part of him was reluctant to do so. For what if his findings destroyed the relationship between him and Sakura? What if his true identity meant that they could no longer be together, and instead, on opposing sides?

"Hey, Itsuki?"

His troubled thoughts were broken immediately by Sakura's voice, and Itachi stood up to walk to the kitchen, where she had prepared their breakfast. Scanning the table, he noted that she had made the fried cabbage which reminded him very much of his mother, for the third time since their acquaintance. He wondered idly if she would prepare the dish more frequently if he told her that it was one of his favorites.

"Eh, is something wrong?"

He glanced up to find her staring at him questioningly, two bowls of rice held in her hands. She looked so domestic, with her hair all but escaping the short ponytail at the back of her neck, wearing an apron adorned with the image of a large red apple.

"Nothing's wrong," he told her as he took the bowls from her, setting them on the table before sitting in front of one of them. "Sit down and eat."

She rolled her eyes at him and sat down. "Yes, Taichou."

He froze at the word, a little unnerved by its familiarity. His mind began to process the information, wondering how it could be familiar. A captain? Was he some sort of shinobi team captain years ago? Such a thing would not surprise him, for subconsciously, he knew that he was not unskilled. However, if he was occupying such a prominent position, then it stood to reason that Sakura should have heard of him.

His head began to throb.

"Hey, you're worrying me."

Itachi glanced up from his untouched bowl to find Sakura studying him with undisguised concern. "Just thinking," he hedged.

"About?" she asked as she reached out with her chopsticks for the cabbage.

"About cabbage."

She blinked at him, her chopsticks with strips of cabbage dangling from it paused just an inch from her mouth. "Cabbage?" she echoed disbelievingly as her eyes flicked down to the cabbage in front of her. "That's… surprising. Why?"

"It's one of my favorites."

Her eyes widened. "Oh!" And then, as he had expected, she beamed and announced, "I'll make sure to cook it more often then."

The conversation turned sparse as they continued to eat. Fortunately, Sakura did not suspect anything untoward even though Itachi knew that he was less vocal than usual. She must be preoccupied with her own things, he surmised as he studied the thoughtful furrow between her brows. Something to do with Shinjutama, he supposed, since that was what her work seemed to be focused on.

Before he knew it, breakfast was over, and he was standing at the threshold of her home, giving her a brief kiss.

"So, I'll see you in a few days?"

"Aa."

She smiled, a smile so brilliant that it tugged at something in his heart. Unable to resist, he slid a hand around the back of her neck to secure her. Their lips met and that rush of pleasure and belonging coursed through Itachi as he tightened their embrace, taking a deeper kiss from her this time.

It occurred to him then that he would find it extremely difficult to let her go, if he ever had to. He only hoped that things would never come to that.

000

Days passed and the next thing Sakura knew, she was waking up in the Shinjutama cave next to Itsuki. She was the one awake first, and she immediately stumbled to the rear of the cave where the hot spring was situated, still half-asleep until she splashed some hot water on her face. A sigh left her as slowly, her mind began to focus on her schedule.

She frowned then, when she recalled what she was supposed to do tomorrow. Previously, travelling to Suna was not a problem at all. But now, the journey seemed tedious, even though she knew that at the end of the day, she would see the Sand siblings, the closest people to her these couple of years. Aside from Itsuki, of course.

And the man was the reason for her reluctance to leave Spring Country, even for a few days it would take to make her report and return. She simply found it harder and harder to stay away from him.

But this trip was necessary, also because she needed to persuade the ANBU that it was more beneficial for her to spend more time at the village instead of Yugakure. She would explain that it would cut down on travelling time, and allowed her to obtain more fragments. Hopefully, they would not have too much of an issue with her request.

Completing her morning ablutions, she straightened up from the hot spring and backtracked to the main area of the cave. Once there, she peeked into the large cavern to find Itsuki still sleeping, his expression calm and untroubled as she traced his features. A smile lit her lips when her eyes landed on his eyelashes, and not for the first time, she lamented the fact that her boyfriend had better eyelashes than she had. Her gaze travelled down his further, pausing at his subtly muscled arm before his naked body disappeared under the thin travel blanket.

Mindful of the time, despite her enjoyment at simply looking at Itsuki, she stepped close to the bedroll and called out softly, "Itsuki?"

Onyx eyes snapped open immediately, and as always, there was a hint of wariness in the dark depths before it gentled into something warmer. She had found it curious at first, but soon became used to this quirk of his.

"Sakura," he greeted as he sat up, his usually smooth voice roughened with sleep.

"I have to get back soon," she said absently, distracted by the contours of his pectorals as the blanket puddled at his hips. "I have a long trip tomorrow."

"To make your report to Konoha."

"Yes." Biting her lips, she considered her words before she spoke. "I'm also going to ask for permission to relocate."

Itsuki's eyes gleamed, and the corner of his lips tilted upwards. But he said nothing.

"Assuming you still want me to move in, of course," she teased. "It has been a few weeks since you asked."

"Don't make it sound as if it's not something you want as well," he returned smoothly.

She huffed indignantly. "It's only because you asked," she told him haughtily, knowing fully well that her affection for him could not be mistaken for anything else. It was only with him that she could feel so secure saying things like this, without the fear of rejected. But this development had taken time, she knew, because at first, it had not been like this.

"Hm…" Itsuki paused, regarding her thoughtfully for a while before he spoke, "Perhaps you'd prefer if I withdrew-"

"Hey!" she interjected, scowling. Although she knew that he was just teasing her, she still felt a twinge of alarm at his words. "I said I'd ask, didn't I?"

He only nodded, and then stood up. She could not help but run her eyes over him again, noting that he looked good with just his dark pants and nothing else. The night had been balmy, so it was more comfortable for him to sleep that way.

"I'll be back in a moment," he told her as he walked towards the rear of the cave, where the hot spring was location, pausing only to retrieve his pack.

Sakura had to forcibly drag her eyes away from his retreating back, refusing to continue staring like a starving woman. One would have thought that his effect on her would die down a little, since they had been together for almost three months now. Instead, she seemed to be getting even more attached to him, which was evidence enough that she was serious about this relationship. Fortunately, the feeling was not one-sided. Itsuki wanted her to move in with him, after all, which was just about as serious as one could get without marriage.

Before thoughts about marriage began to run through her mind, she forcibly pushed the notion to the back of her mind. It was too soon to even think about something like that. Besides, with the uncertainty of her future in regards to Konoha, it would be mad to think about any sort of permanency.

Sighing, she glanced around the cavern, her eyes pausing momentarily at the Shinjutama before she saw the things that needed packing. Her pack was open beside her, with a few things still scattered around, waiting for her to shove them into the correct places. Without delay, she knelt down beside their rumpled bedrolls and began to roll the lightweight material up.

She was still in the middle of packing when she heard the frantic yells and the approach of footsteps from outside. Straightening up from her pack, she left it next to the Shinjutama and went out swiftly. The chakra signature of the approaching man denoted a civilian, curiously. It was not someone she recognized, though. Itsuki was still in the rear cavern, so he would not be much help at the moment.

She exited the cave, and then went in the direction of the disturbance. Her steps halted abruptly when she caught sight of a worried looking man running towards her.

"Where is Itsuki-san?" he asked breathlessly.

She inhaled sharply when she detected the scent of blood on him. "He's inside the cave. What happened?"

His panic was evident when the words burst from his lips. "It's Taka and Izo! They are injured. Bleeding all over the place. We need Itsuki to get a Yugakure healer to the village."

Her medic side immediately kicked in. "I'm a medic. I'll come with you."

Just as she was about to follow the man, Itsuki made an appearance. "Kato-san? Is something the matter?" he asked.

The villager was still shaking, probably from the strain of running all the way from the village, but he managed to explain again, "Taka and Izo were ambushed. Bandits, we think. They are bleeding badly."

Itsuki immediately turned to her. "Sakura?"

She nodded, understanding immediately. "Can you grab my pack? I'll go with him first."

"Be careful, Sakura."

Casting him a quick smile, she rushed off with the frantic villager.

000

The moment Sakura disappeared out of sight, Itachi returned to the cave swiftly.

It did not take long for him to locate her pack near the glowing Shinjutama. It was still half-unpacked, so she must have been interrupted while she had been packing. He surveyed the disorder around the pack, and shook his head lightly in amusement. It never ceased to amaze him just how untidy the woman was.

Kneeling down on one knee in front of the pack and her belongings, he began to push things in, only to find that it was impossible to close the pack afterwards. Pausing, regarding the pack with displeasure, he decided there was only one thing he could do.

He began to unpack, intending to re-pack her belongings more efficiently.

It did not bother him that he was riffling through her clothing and her personal belongings, for what they had shared was more personal than mere inanimate objects. Besides, if Sakura wished for him to bring her pack to her, she must have expected him to complete the packing process.

It was then that a black book fell out, flipping open to a page with a picture.

Itachi froze in the middle of pushing the folded blanket to the base of the pack. He stared at the open page, noting the picture of a male with a shinobi hitai-ate, a prominent slash crossing the engraving on the metal. The set-up of the book itself was strangely familiar and it pulled at him.

Something blared at the back of his mind, warning him to close the book and pack it in with the rest of her belongings. It seemed like something confidential, after all. But his curiosity compelled him to pick it up.

Sitting cross-legged in front of the pack, he turned the book to the front and began to turn the pages slowly. Some of the pictures had a cross drawn over it, and these images tugged at something in his subconscious.

He was about halfway through the book when he saw it.

Almost dropping the book in shock, his entire body stiffened and his limbs went cold as he ran his eyes over the familiar image.

It was him.

Uchiha Itachi.

Ex-ANBU S-class Konoha missing nin.

Affliation: Akatsuki.

His mind whirred as he took in the information about himself; his year of Academy graduation, his Chuunin examination year, the number of missions he had completed. And the massacre.

Massacre.

His memory provided him with the bloody images of dark-haired, dark-eyed Uchiha, all slaughtered mercilessly by his own blade. The accusing stares, streaks of viscous red dripping down the symbol of the Uchiha clan, the images were so vivid that it was almost as if they were standing in front of him right then.

As he continued to absorb the information, the pressure in his mind intensified, as if a dam was straining to burst, but was not quite able to do so. He fought to break through, but to no avail. It was as if something was deliberately holding his memories away from him.

Gritting his teeth, he stared almost unseeingly at the rest of the unfamiliar facts about him, disturbed beyond comprehension. There was a long list to one side, outlining his skills and the techniques he used, but the words were beginning to swim in front of his eyes.

However, one single word stood out clearly.

Everything faded from his consciousness except for that one word.

Tsukuyomi.

A hiss escaped him as his eyes began to throb, and he squeezed them shut in the attempt to alleviate the discomfort. His heartbeats seemed to pounding unnaturally loud in his ears, and the word now burnt behind his lids, Tsukuyomi, pounded in rhythm with it. The black inked letters fairly throbbed with power as something in his mind reacted to it.

With a flare of chakra, chakra that he vaguely realized was his own mixed with someone else's, a piercing pain ripped through him.

The dam broke without warning.

Eyes shot wide open, Itachi fell forward, his hands slamming into the floor as he gasped out loud at the assault on his mind. Flashes of memories came back to him in a rush. It all came back even though he began to wish that he remained ignorant of it.

And now, he knew exactly who he was.

000

A/N: Until next time… Please review! Thanks!