A/N : It's so long since I've got time to write and finally, I managed to take a break from everything to write a new chapter. I'm sure some of you thoughts you'll never see the end of this fanfic. You were wroooong! Hehe

Ps: I actually wrote on this for months! You heard me right, months. A bit now, a bit later and so on. Thank God is finally done.

Thank you so much to those who reviewed/followed/favorite this story. Love you guys!

Disclaimer : I do NOT own Naruto, or the picture chosen for this story.

Enjoy!

In love with a criminal

Last time:

"What do you want me to do? Apologize?" he scoffed. "She's probably terrified to even look at me."

"Yes, she is," Tented admitted, "but she cares. I can see that. And for the first time in a while, I can see that you do to," she smirked.

"That's not true," he turned his face again, afraid that Tenten would see into his eyes what even he didn't want to admit to himself.

"Of course," she mocked him. Then, with a serious voice, she continued, "She has a message for you." At her words, Sasuke's attention was all on her. Message? For me? Is it from Itachi? Does he really trust Sakura to pass a message to him? "I didn't want to tell you in front of everyone because Sakura told me it's meant only for you. But just so you know, I'm still thinking if I can let you near her alone."

She pushed herself up while Sasuke remained speechless on the grass. She still wants to talk to me? Alone too?

As Tenten started to walk away, her last words kept Sasuke up all night. "Don't fuck this up Sasuke. You finally have a chance to find the truth about Itachi and have a bit of light in your life."

Chapter 11

He was burning inside out

but she tamed all of his flames

with a single touch.

The silence was deafening and it made Sakura even more anxious. Tenten had woken her up in the morning, kindly asked her how she feels and gave her another pain-killer before showing her the way to the bathroom. She had taken her time in the shower, trying to relax even a bit, to clear her thoughts. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how much she left the hot water pour down on her, her mind was still messy. Sakura knew it was time to talk to Sasuke in private. She won't lie to herself, she was scared, terrified even. She wasn't ready for another fight; even so, Sakura knew it was better sooner than later.

Tenten had asked her at least four times if she was sure about talking to Sasuke alone and as much as her mind repeated the word 'no' in her head over and over again, she nodded her head and forced out an affirmative answer. The brunette wasn't convinced but she gave up after another try. It couldn't be postponed. The only friendly face was gone and she was left waiting in her room, the fear and her own thoughts eating her alive.

She couldn't do it. Her hands pulled into fist to stop their trembling, only to make Sakura realize how sweaty they were. She couldn't do it. The knot in her throat refused to go no matter how many times she swallowed. He can't be trusted, not after how she touched her, how his words cut into her skin like daggers. Sasuke was dangerous, she admitted to herself glancing at the door one more time. It didn't move since Tenten left to find Sasuke and she didn't know if she can stand the silence any longer.

Her hands unclenched and Sakura put them steady on each side of her, ready to push herself up and leave. Where, she didn't know. She just needed to leave, the wait was over-

The doors cracked open agonizing slow, the motion taking her attention and stopping the air in her lungs. Dark orbs caught her emerald ones and she was freezing on spot, arms fisting the mattress until they were trembling. The air finally left her body shakily when he closed the door behind him. There was hesitation in everything he did; his eyes searched for a spot as far as possible from Sakura, his steps were slow and lips sealed. Sakura hated it, like she hated the angry version of him.

He leaned into the wall opposite from her, a few steps away from the door and closed his eyes for a few moments. Sakura mentally cursed for letting herself pay attention to his whole being. His body was rigid, chest rising so slow that it felt like he's stopping the time with his own breathing. He is handsome, with perfect features -just like his brother. And that reminded her of why she is seeing him again, why he has opened his eyes and looked at her the way he did. This is not the man of her dreams. All those moments at that bar, their night together, the kisses, touching, the way his lips moved on her-

"Sakura."

Her shoulders jumped up and she blinked away her thoughts. His voice didn't let any emotion out, neither did his eyes. They were just burning into her skull making Sakura shiver under his strong gaze.

"I'm sorry." The words were said so hushed he almost missed them.

Sasuke was surprised and his face let Sakura know it before he composed himself, unreadable mask back on.

"Why?" He doesn't have to say more, his hard tone is enough for Sakura to understand. Why is she in this situation? Why does she know Itachi? Why is she there? Why did they have to see each other again in such circumstances? Just why is fate so sick and hard on them?

"I- I'm sorry." Emerald eyes shine with tears and as much as she tried to push them back, she loses the fight. "I didn't want this to happen and I didn't want to do this. I knew it was a bad idea but he said-"

"Who?" Sasuke's fingers twitched but he didn't even want to think why. The urge to just break something came back even before Sakura opened her mouth again because he knew the answer; he knew who is responsible everytime his life gets more fucked up.

"You-your brother," she shuttered.

Sakura can only hear her own heart beating. Last time she used those words, Sasuke lost it. Fingers fidget with the hem of her white shirt Tenten gave her, eyes watching carefully her companion.

A long sigh escaped thin lips and a hand came down his face. Sakura guessed that he's doing his best to stay put, keep his anger in leash.

With hesitation, she continued. "He helped me. I don't know why. Then he made up this plan to meet you again. It went wrong, I shouldn't have accepted it. Those guys.. if you and Tenten didn't show up then..then-" she stopped a few seconds to control her sobs. To her surprise, Sasuke didn't make a move. It made her sad to see how unaffected by her tears he is, but pity isn't something she needed then. "I don't want to die Sasuke," Sakura started again after composing herself, "and I was scared. Itachi told me you guys are my only chance. I had to try. I'm so sorry if I am a burden but I'll do my best, I promise I'll do anything you ask me to. I just- I just want to help. I want to see them pay."

He's silent for a very long moment and Sakura inwardly asked herself if she should add more words, but choses against it. It's his time to talk and if he wants to know more from her, he needs to say at least something. Those dark endless orbs have watched her for too long without a word being said. She needed him to say something; call her a liar, a needy bitch, anything.

"What is the message, Sakura?" his voice is strong, just like the muscles contracting on his bones, as he moved his feet to her. She watched him with wide eyes, fear already rising in her throat and making it hard for her to breath. Sakura felt the need to run away like a scared cat but her feet were frozen in place, the air wasn't enough anymore and before she knew it, Sasuke is crunched in front of her. "Sakura." For the first time since she got there, she can see something else in his eyes and she had seen that look before. When he touched her bruised cheek the night they met. Only this time, he's the one responsible for it and she can almost see the regret into his eyes.

When his mouth open, it made Sakura think of all the times he kissed her skin with them that night, but no apology comes out. She doesn't know why she expected one.

"What's his message?" he repeated the question with narrowed eyes.

Sakura gulps her fear down before answering. "He wants you to know that one day you'll understand. And that he's happy you found friends and strength to move forward. He-he said he's… proud."

His jaw clenched hard, eyes shut and he's close. Close for her mind to replay events from not long ago, from when his jaw was clenched from pleasure and she shook her head the slightest. It was not the moment to think of that.

When his eyes open, it's the same look from last night and she found her lips trembling. Her heart felt like it stopped beating in her chest. "Sasu-"

"Did he say anything else?" his words were full of hatred and it makes her wince.

"N-no."

He's shading over her in a beat, his back already turning to her, feet making their way to the door.

"Sasuke.." he stops but doesn't face her. "I.. the note you left, what-"

He interrupted her before she could finish her question. "I'm not your hero, and nobody here is. You're not going to get special treatment; I'll make sure of that. And Sakura," he turned his head enough to look at her over his shoulder with cold eyes, "it won't happen again so stay away from me." With those words said, he was gone.

Sakura was still watching the place where he was a moment ago. Stay away from him.. He doesn't want me near him.. She didn't expect him to jump and kiss her, ask her to forgive him; but neither did she expect him to tell her to stay away. For some reason, it hurt, so when Tenten came back, she's a sobbing, trembling mess.

After sobbing her heart out in Tenten's arms and reassuring the brunette that Sasuke hasn't done anything to her, she tried to pull herself together. She looked at herself in the mirror, her reflection making Sakura's stomach clench. She was sick of seeing swollen eyes, trembling lips and hands and dammit, her whole body was trembling again. There were a lot of feelings flowing together but she only felt one the most –disgust. How could she have fallen so low in life? She's not even able to hold herself together, let aside go and do something, anything. The woman in the mirror was mocking her, showing her how weak she was, pushing to the surface all her flaws and mistakes and they all look like her.

She didn't know why, or how she got herself to do it, but her cheek stung like fire on open wound. Her lips twitched into a snarl and angry eyes glared back at her. She slapped herself; hard. Her other hand was clenched at her side, and she raised the one she used a moment before in front of her eyes. She'd rather die than act all weak and useless again. Sakura knew that she needed to get a hold on herself, and stop whining about her life. What happened, happened. It was time to do something about it. That fucker Sasori will pay; that one thing she needed to be sure of. The other hand clenched too. She will learn to fight and protect herself.

Tenten had given her direction to where they would be waiting for her. She closed the bathroom's door, the cool metal feeling good on her aching palm, and started to walk. Her spine was straight, her gaze strong and her steps steady and confident. Maybe she wasn't with Sasori or with those other criminals, but she still wasn't one hundred percent safe. Those people that were waiting for her right then, they were all dangerous too. If she walks in looking like a damsel in distress, they will give her the same disgusted look she gave herself a moment ago. She couldn't let that happen.

She took two deep breaths when she found the door she was looking for. Most probably all had seen her all beaten up when Tenten and Sasuke brought her there. Now, she was ready to look like she was the one about to deliver punches. She pushed her chest up and tried to ignore the way her heart pulsated against her ribcage. The door opened and she urged her steps forward.

In a second, all eyes were on her, and she could feel the confidence she tried so hard to gather slip between her fingers. She ignored the stares, focusing on an invisible point on the opposite wall and sank her nails into her palm. It hurt. Good; that's what she needed to remind herself what she needed to do. Her eyes glanced over everyone in the room quickly, trying to tell herself Sasuke's eyes weren't on her red cheek.

"Hi," she said, blurting out the word like it hurt on its way out.

Tenten stayed silent near Neji, her face worried. The Hyuga looked at her cheek then at her fisted hands and spoke his mind without a second thought. "You hit yourself?"

Sakura gulped down the saliva in her mouth, looked at Tenten, then at Sasuke, then back at the man who spoke. "It doesn't matter," she said, feeling suddenly more powerful. "I am sorry for intruding, and for my weakness. I don't know how much Tenten had told you, or if you believed a word but… I'd like if you could listen to what I have to say.

She felt a fire inside her like never before. It burnt the veins in her body and it made her angry, furious. Nobody said anything or even moved, so she took it as a sign that she can continue.

"I've made grave mistakes, I've put myself in this situation and I don't expect anyone to come and rescue me; but you did. I am really forever in debt to you." She sent a small smile towards Tenten. "My enemy is your enemy. I don't expect you to trust me but I can help. I lived with Sasori and met a few of his acquaintances. Maybe it's not much but I'm willing to do everything in my power to help you take them down." She stopped, scared that her voice will crack soon as memories of her parents flew in front of her eyes. Inhaling then letting out a deep breath, she tried to compose herself at enough to continue her speech. "That fucker killed my parents," she blurted out, her voice venomous but the pain still obvious, "And I know for sure he wants my head too, now. I want nothing more than to make him pay for everything he did. You can either believe me, or throw me out. But I won't accept being killed by any of you," she continued calm, looking each and every one in the room, her eyes lingering more than a second on Sasuke. He wore his unexpressive mask too well; she couldn't read a single emotion on his face. "If I have to die, so be it, but I will take that monster with me."

Everyone exchange glances besides Ino. She's first to get up from beside Shikamaru, the man watching her carefully as she walks towards the pinkette. Her long manicured fingers graze over her pink locks, as she circles around her like a feline. Sakura's throat tightened. She watched Ino's eyes from growing wide to narrowed and back to wide, those blue eyes creeping her out. The blonde looked insane and she mentally asked herself if she wasn't safer in Sasuke's hands.

"I say she can be helpful but she looks quite weak and clearly inexperienced with weapons or even bare hands fighting, " she talked finally, her voice amused and cocky, stopping in front of a frozen Sakura. Then the blonde stopped, looked Sakura dead in her eyes and punched her; in the same cheek she slapped herself earlier.

Her head shot to the side, pink hair flowing over her face and her eyes stung instantly with tears. When she raised her head, she's proud. She hasn't stumbled on her feet, so she won't give the bitch the satisfaction to see her cry. Tenten hand was gripping Ino by the front of her shirt in a second. The blonde didn't even acknowledge the brunette, her eyes glued on Sakura.

Sakura placed her hand on Tenten shoulder. "Let her go," she whispered. The woman looked back at her surprised but not convinced at all of her request.

"She's gonna beat the crap out of you, Sakura. Stay behind," she ordered but the pinkette didn't listen.

Emerald eyes clashed back with baby-blue ones and she snarled at the blonde. "Feeling damn proud that you hit me? Sasori hit me, those bastards in the street hit me, I hit me, bitch. So maybe yes, I am weak but I recommend you try something more original, because I'm quite used to punches by now. You probably fought a lot too, all of you but I didn't. I haven't stepped off the easy road until now and I am ashamed of myself for that… but I will do better for once. So hit me as much as you want, I am not afraid of you." She was angry, and aware of the surprised glances she was getting, but tried to ignore them all; the pain, the feeling of being useless and weak all the time, her broken heart, her parents death, Sasori and his gang… everything, besides the burning desire in her soul to be strong for once.

If Ino's sudden laughter had surprised her companions, they didn't show it, but she let her lips part in full confusion. Her mind commanded her to run for her life because nobody laughs like that. It was dark, loud and unsettling. "Definitely keep her. She can be badass too," she crocked a wide grin towards Sakura, "I like it."

Sakura was at loss of words. What was she to even say? The blonde had punched her and then she likes her? Had she jumped from Sasori's grasp right into a cave of psychos?

"That's enough, Ino," Shikamaru sighed, his expression somewhat appearing to be tired of all the fighting, even though Sakura couldn't tell for sure. Ino shrugged her shoulders and turned around to sit down back on her place, but not before sending her another grin. "Sakura," he then said, keen eyes moving to her, "can you tell us why Akatsuki wanted you?"

Realizing what exactly the man asked, she let her eyes fall unto him. He didn't seem as crazy as the blond and neither dangerous as Sasuke. With a deep breath, she caught Tenten's supportive glance, making her more confident to talk. Her eyes fell on Shikamaru again. "At first I didn't quite understand either. It just… seemed too good for me to ask questions at that time. But I thought a lot about it since I met…" she drawls the words, eyes flying to Sasuke, unsure if he would snap again, but finally decided to continue, "Uchiha Itachi." She could feel Sasuke's dark stare on her but she was grateful that at least he didn't jump to her throat. "After he told me his last name I felt like I've heard the name before. It took me a while but then I remembered. My father worked at the police department before he got fired. It's a blurry memory to be honest, but before all that, there was this case he was working on and I've seen the name Uchiha a few times when I used to sneak into my father's office."

All eyes in the room fell on the dark-haired man, as the man composure was hard to read. His eyes were narrowed in Sakura's direction but it was like he was looking through her, hands pulled in tight fists and lips sealed into a straight line.

"He was working one the Uchiha massacre case?" Neji was the first one to move his eyes away from Sasuke, eyeing Sakura with a combination of skepticism and surprise. "But the case had been sealed days after the event."

Sakura nodded her head slightly, dragging her eyes away from Sasuke as well just as he blinked rapidly a few times, seemingly coming back into present. "I.. I don't for sure and this is just an assumption but it could explain everything."

"Go on," Neji urged her, his expression calm but eyes stormy and stern.

"As you said, if the case had been sealed days after, I think my father didn't quit on it. I was young on that time, barely a kid, but I always knew my father was a good man that tried to bring justice to everyone," Sakura started with her explanation when Shikamaru talked.

"You think your father was investigating the case on his own?" The look the genius sent her unreadable but he was clearly taken slightly aback about that information. She swallowed hard, throat dry and hurtful, knowing that doing such a thing was as stupid as it sounded. Even so, Sakura respected her father to no end. He was kind and hard-working. Her parents didn't deserve such death.

"I believe so, yes. No other files from work had been brought back home by him ever, besides those ones. He used to lock them in a drawer, in his office, and tell me how nobody can know about it. Then, one day, he suddenly got fired. I assume now that the police department found out. Soon after, Sasori and his parents came to us. If my suspicion is right, I think they knew about what my dad was doing and feigned a marriage propose, one that looked good enough to help my family. If only I knew then that it was just an act…"

"I still don't understand why would they do that," huffed Ino, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration of not understanding where Sakura was going with her rambling.

"As I expected from a stupid blonde like you," Tenten rolled her eyes, ignoring Ino's death glare and eyeing Sakura with a soft look on her face, but there hardness in her chocolate orbs still present. "The bastard had something to do with the massacre, the whole Akatsuki I mean, like Sasuke assumed. The police in Konoha is corrupted which means that if they found out about your father's investigation behind their back, so did the Akatsuki."

"Then instead of killing him on spot, they decided to take you as a warning for him to stop with the investigation," continued Shikamaru, scratching his chin, "They probably wanted to know exactly what the man found out about them before doing anything and when they did, or didn't, nothing stopped them from killing him."

Sakura's head hanged low, listening with a deep pain in her heart. Hearing her terrible past through their words made her feel all weak again, chest constricting painfully as flashbacks ran in front of her eyes. "Sasori probably kept me alive in case father told me something," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"That doesn't make sense one hundred percent," Shikamaru debated, "Wouldn't it have been safer for them to just kill you, even if you knew something? What did it matter to them to keep you alive?" he spoke his thoughts aloud, a long sigh escaping his lips before he snatched a cigarette out from his pack.

Sakura had thought about it and at first it didn't made sense for her either. But then there were a few things about Sasori's behavior towards her that she strongly tried to forget. "Sasori," she starts, raising her head and taking everyone's attention again, "he is a murderer and a cruel man indeed but… there's so much more of him." Her eyes started to stung and she clenched her fists as hard as she could, trying to keep the tears from falling. She didn't want to look weak ever again.

"Sakura," Tenten's smoothening voice rang gently into her ears and she gave the brunette a small, tired smile, telling her that she will be fine. Or that's what she hopes, anyway.

"He is a creep, a sick man," she said between gritted teeth, eyes focusing on an invisible point on the table, "he called me unique and special. We never shared a bedroom but sometimes I would woke up in the middle of the night, feeling those heartless, insane eyes on me. I never dared to open my eyes, too scared that he would do something if he were to know I wasn't asleep. I-," with voice starting to crack again, she swallowed the lump in her throat and urged herself to continue after taking a deep breath, "He whispered to me in those nights… things like how I am a doll, or how one day he'll make me even more beautiful. I didn't know what to think of those words, I just know they creped me out. Then I realized how sick his mind was when I found some paintings of me… in them, I always had bruises and cuts painted on me, a lot of red and even with me na-naked and chest cut ope-" her whole body started to shake furiously, cheeks a cascade of tears she didn't know when they started to fall. She really tried to ignore those memories, making herself believe it was nothing serious or just some kind of vulgar art she doesn't understand. If she were to let her mind wander further, she would have gone mad a long time ago with such an insane person in her house.

Her head snapped up at the sound of a chair screeching on the floor, wood angrily rubbing against wood. Sasuke's face was dark, eyes hooded in pure madness and lips curled into a dangerous snarl when he stormed past her, steps hard and loud on the floor, slamming the door shut after him.

An unsettling silence fell, Sasuke's dark aura still flowing in the air. Sakura's eyes grew wide at his sudden outburst, not knowing what to think of it and then she couldn't muffle her sobs anymore. When Tenten wrapped her arms around her, she didn't comprehend what the brunette was whispering to her. The pressure of fear, hate and weakness pushed too strong on her chest, Sasori's evil smirk entering her mind and all she could do was fall to her knees in a complete mess.

Sasuke felt many feelings rushing through his body as he punched the bag with sand full force, ignoring the pain in his joints and fingers. He didn't even know what angered him the most. Those bastards killed his whole clan. Itachi left him alone. His own damn brother reached out to some random woman instead of him.

He threw another punch, sweat forming on his temples. His legs had carried him straight to their training room, the urge to punch something overwhelming to the point of making him go mad. Hand raised, he kicked the sack with all his might again, skin almost breaking from the impact.

Sakura… that woman just appeared into his life, getting his friend's trust and pity like the little weak girl that she was. How dare she start crying in front of them like that, like she's the only one who ever suffered? And most importantly, why did his stomach twist into knots when she had told them about Sasori's sick hobbies? It made him so furious. That piece of shit didn't get enough satisfaction from killing people to his liking, but felt the need to be even more sadistic? Sakura was innocent; a simple girl that for sure had a normal life, dreams and hopes. That, before them; before they ripped everything away from her like they did to him.

Sakura's bruised cheek from the night he met her flashed in front of his eyes and he groaned angrily, fist raised and ready for another blow but he froze. A pair of small arms circled around him from behind, making his breath stop in his lungs for a short moment before clenching his fists even tighter.

"Stop, you're hurting yourself." That voice… that stupid soft voice that was supposed to be cheerful and happy, not mixed with terror and regrets.

"Let go of me, Sakura," he ordered, voice sharp as knifes, muscled bulging violently under her petite hands. She didn't move an inch though and the anger inside him flared. "Get the fuck out of here!" he spat with venom, but he didn't dare to touch her. He didn't want to risk hurting her in his state of blurred mind.

What was he even doing there? Couldn't she see that he lost it? Did she want to die by his hands, pour more guilt over him?

"No," she whispered, her hot breath hovering like feather over his back skin. Sakura let go of him but only to step around him, placing herself between him and the punching bag. "Stop."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, heart beating hard against his ribcage but he refused to look at her. He knew very well what he would see; fear. Her breath was ragged and he could sense the trembling of her body. She was scared so why did she go after him? What was going on in her mind?

"You're bleeding," she said and his eyes snapped to where her hands held his gently. He didn't even realize that he had managed to rip his skin open.

"Let go, Sakura," he uttered, his tone aggressive and low. His anger didn't subside and he knew himself too well; he was extremely dangerous at the moment. Too dangerous to have such a stupid, fragile woman hold his hands like that.

"No." The sudden change in her voice's tone made his eyes snap to her face, jade eyes looking up at him with determination and… something he couldn't understand. Her lips were pulled in a serious line, her brows furrowed in.. worry? There was not on drop of fear on her face, even after she had witnessed him losing it for the second time.

She sighed, deep and tiredly, his blood leaking between his fingers and unto her hands but she didn't seem to pay attention to it. Instead she kept her eyes locked with his, blocking him in some kind of trance. "Please don't hurt yourself. We'll get them. We'll make them pay for what they did. Just please, calm down. Please."

Sasuke looked down at her with wide eyes. The confidence in her words, as if she was so sure of what she had said. Her big, puffy emerald eyes sparkling with worry, tears already dried. Her small, warm hands clutching on his bleeding ones like she was trying to keep him down to earth. Then she smiled up at him, a small, exhausted one, but it exorcised all his anger away in the blink of an eyes.

Sakura was an angel, with such a pure and rare heart. She was different in some weird way that Sasuke couldn't understand. He wanted to say something, to open his mouth and tell her he will keep her safe; that Sasori won't ever touch her again. But was she even safe around him? His hatred had made him a monster. How could he promise her that he would keep her safe when he was drowning in his own nightmare?

He blinked surprised when she squeezed his hands the slightest, her smile weak but still present, before letting his arms fall back down beside his body.

"I'll ask Tenten for some bandages," she only said weakly, before disappearing from his vision like a ghost.

Sasuke wasn't capable to comprehend what happened, or he just didn't want to believe it. He raised his hands, staring blankly at the blood on them, Sakura's gentle and warm touch lingering on his skin. His heart was racing wild in his chest but not like he stormed out of the room earlier. It was… different. Something stirred inside him and he didn't like it, at all.

A/N: This is it! Sasukeee, what are those feelings hmm?

Sakura is badass, just sayin'.

Reviews are always loved, appreciated and taken into consideration.

Exams are coming soon. The only thing I'm bragging all day in here, I know. Pray for my mind and soul. I do hope I'll manage to update sooner than later.

Until next time,

Xoxo, Adenna.