AN: Happy new year, people! I'm terribly sorry for not updating for so long... Life has kept me very busy. I'm in the final year of highschool, so I'm busy with my exams. And though it may seem weird, I think school is a bit more important than fanfiction. Nevertheless, I really want to finish this story, since I've gotten some pretty extreme reactions to it (no, I'm not dead, and no, the story hasn't ended yet! XD). So, enjoy~!

11- Love?

Realization hit her. "If I killed the Kyuubi… then, I am the one that ruined all Akatsuki's plans."

Itachi nodded. Sakura's eyes widened. "What will Leader do when he finds out?" she asked, panic in her voice. Itachi shrugged. "He probably won't like it."

Sakura shook her head, bewildered. "He killed Kakashi-sensei, he killed Naruto, and now he'll kill me! I, I…"

Itachi grabbed her wrists and pushed her against the wall rather harshly.

"Shut up. He won't kill you."

"B-but!"

"I won't let him."

Sakura closed her mouth and glanced at the man in front of her. He had offered her love in exchange for loyalty, but would he protect her too?

"You take your role as lover quite seriously," she managed to say.

"Hn," was all she got as reply. She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he wouldn't let her go. One hand held both of her wrists, the other reached up to her face.

"You shouldn't panic so much," he said softly, and lightly tapped her forehead. Sakura stirred at the unusual gesture, but answered: "It's not as easy as it seems, when you're surrounded by criminals and killers."

"Tell me about it," Itachi grimaced, which she found peculiar. "But you learn to live with it eventually."

Sakura sighed. "I suppose so."

Itachi leaned closer to her, and she felt his warm breath on her skin. Back in the days when he was still the person she hated the most, she had had nightmares about him, his hot breath in her neck, a knife pressed against her throat, but this wasn't anything like that. His breath was soft, and as his hand slid down from her face to her shoulders, he didn't try to strangle her, but caressed her instead.

She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer.

"Itachi…" she breathed. He didn't show surprise, even though he felt shocked. When he had kissed her yesterday, she had at first resisted, and then only allowed it while pretending he was Sasuke. Then why did she whisper his name now? Was she trying to trick him by pretending she liked him? Did she want him to fall in love with her? Or did she really…

He pressed his lips against hers. It didn't matter. Even if she did fall in love with him, he had only persuaded her to make her stay. He did not love her, or even cared about her. His orders were to keep her with Akatsuki, and if this was the only way… So be it.

Just as his hands slid lower, following the curves of her body, the door opened. Itachi quickly stepped away from Sakura, and turned around to face the intruders. Sakura gulped, smoothed down her clothes and tried her best not to blush.

Kisame and Deidara had entered, and were both glaring. Kisame coughed dryly and said:

"Sorry for interrupting, Leader wanted to know whether you've made any progress yet."

Deidara said with clenched teeth: "And apparently, you have."

Feeling sorry for the blonde, Sakura stepped forwards, but Itachi held her back.

"We haven't found much yet."

Kisame shrugged. "Whatever. Shouldn't you take a break or something? You've been here all day."

"That would be a good idea," Itachi said, before Sakura could protest. He glanced over his shoulder. "Come."

Sakura obliged.

The four of them walked to the living room, which they found deserted. Sakura quickly slipped into the kitchen, and filled a glass of water. She checked whether anything was visible from her 'encounter' with Itachi, and thought she looked presentable. She entered the living room again, where the three men had seated themselves at the table. Sakura sat down in front of them, and instantly regretted it. Deidara glared at her, Kisame looked slightly amused, and Itachi ignored her presence completely. She drank her water with more care than she had ever given a beverage, but eventually had to face the others again.

The silence was deafening. At long last, Kisame broke it.

"Hey, Itachi," he said. "Can you come with me for a moment? I have to talk to you."

Itachi shrugged and followed his partner out of the room. As soon as the two of them were gone, Deidara said:

"Sakura, I don't understand. You reject my offer, you say you hate him, and yet…"

Sakura bit her lip. She knew what he was going to say.

"And yet it seems like you love him."

She quickly shook her head. "Please don't think that."

Deidara stared at the table. He softly said: "If it was love that you wanted, why didn't you accept my offer? Why do you have to turn to someone who is so cold and cruel?"

Sakura felt her stomach clench. "It's not like that. I didn't go to Itachi because I love him. It… It might be true that I longed for love, for someone to hold and kiss me, but I never wanted Itachi."

"Then why?" Deidara asked. She heard the unspoken 'Why not me?' loud and clear.

"Because… It's not a loving relationship that I want. If I had gone with you, we would have become lovers, we would have build a future, a life together. But I can't do that. My life is already over."

He looked at her puzzled. "But, you're alive!"

"No," she shook her head. "My heart died with Sasuke and Naruto, with Ino, with all the people I loved and lived for. When they were gone, I lived only for the village, and now that I betrayed Konoha, I live only for Akatsuki. I can't start a new life with you, or with anyone. It's over. I'm just too scared to die."

Deidara stretched his arm over the table and placed his hand on Sakura's.

"Don't think like that," he said. "You may think your life is worthless now, but it's not. You may think your only purpose is in Akatsuki now, but that's not true. My offer is still open. Sakura, please come with me… I want to leave this hated place, this cruel organization. Come with me."

Sakura remained silent. She stared at her hands, and thought. Deidara's offer was tempting. Although she didn't love him now, she did care a lot for him, and she might even grow to love him eventually. But would she be able to put her past behind her? To forget all about Sasuke and Naruto, about Konoha, about the things Itachi had told her?

No.

Itachi had made her part of the secret of the Uchiha clan. She was tied to that cursed clan through both Sasuke and his brother, and she couldn't just cut herself loose and start all over. It was part of her destiny, if one could call it that. She had to stay with the Uchiha's, to see the end of it.

She looked up at Deidara with tears in her eyes. "I can't. I'm sorry."

The blonde sighed. "If you insist. Just know that, whenever you change your mind…"

"I won't forget you," she assured him, and tried to smile. He tried too, but neither of them succeeded.

"I'm going to my room now," Sakura said. "Goodbye." Deidara didn't reply.

When she walked through the corridor, she heard Itachi's voice from Kisame's room.

"…Not what you think. Sakura is…"

She stirred at the mention of her name, and carefully moved closer to listen through the keyhole.

"But is she in love with you? Do you love her, Itachi?"

It was silent. She imagined Itachi shaking his head, because Kisame said: "I thought so. It would be highly unlikely."

"Perhaps she is falling in love with me," Itachi said, "but up until now, it is only the memory of Sasuke she loves. And I don't see why she would love me."

"You look like him," Kisame said. "She might project her longing on you."

"She does that. But her attitude is changing a bit."

"Oh?"

"I'm not sure yet… but it's probably nothing. Love and Akatsuki don't go well together."

Kisame made a skeptical sound, and it was silent for a long time. Sakura remembered Konan's remark about Itachi, and her eyes widened. He and Kisame…?

But then the voices in the room began to speak again.

"It's getting late," Itachi said. "I'm going to my room."

"Would Sakura-san be killed by Deidara already? I'll go check on them."

"I don't think so. Our bomber has become weak because of her. But if you see Sakura, send her to my room please."

Perhaps Kisame raised an eyebrow, because Itachi quickly added: "You know I don't love her. I just have to talk with her, that's all."

Sakura heard the two men coming closer to the door, and quickly stepped away. She pretended she just emerged from the living room, and when the door opened, she looked surprised.

"Oh, Kisame-san, Itachi-san. I'm going to sleep, alright?"

Itachi said: "Wait. Could you come with me for a minute?" She nodded. "Okay," and followed him to his room. Kisame watched them go, still with a skeptical look.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, being so rude as to sit down on a chair. Itachi let himself fall on the bed, stretching his legs in an uncommon gesture of comfort.

"You were eavesdropping," he said, in an accusing tone that a mother might use for a child that has been bad. Sakura gulped. "I'm sorry. I happened to hear my name, and I wondered what you were talking about."

"Still, it is very impolite."

She lowered her head and repeated: "I'm sorry."

Itachi leaned his elbows on his knees and observed her. Her hair hadn't seen a hairdresser in ages, it was too long for the model it had and it was getting thin at the ends. She was too skinny to count as a beautiful woman, but for kunoichi were other standards, of course. They just had more muscles than curves. Besides, as Konan had said, Itachi didn't like women at all. It didn't necessarily mean that he was homosexual, he just wasn't interested in love affairs.

But Sakura was pretty, in a way. She was strong, skilful. The determination that sometimes showed in her gestures, her voice that trembled with panic when she was afraid, the burning hate he had seen in her eyes… And yet her image was so innocent, she appeared to be such a cute girl. He knew he shouldn't underestimate a kunoichi. They were trained in appearing harmless, and yet murdering as soon as you turned your back at them.

Sakura had a strong personality. The disasters that had struck her had done damage, they had killed her will to live. Her only purpose was now with Akatsuki. But she still was an intriguing person, and a beautiful young woman. Itachi found himself wondering what it would be like if she really did love him. What would it be to love a woman like her?

As if she had read his thoughts, Sakura looked up and said:

"Deidara is in love with me."

Itachi shrugged. "Oh. Do you love him?"

She hesitated. "No."

"Then I don't see a problem. Too bad for him."

She seemed surprised. "Too bad? You think him unlucky?"

"Well, yes," he said. "Isn't he?"

She turned her head to the side, color flushing her cheeks. "Never mind. I thought for a moment…"

"What?"

"Just… That you implied it would be lucky for someone if I loved him. But I know you don't mean that." She blushed even more fiercely. Itachi said up straight.

"Why not?" he asked. "You're a pretty woman."

Sakura's eyes widened. "I-if you say so."

He shrugged. "I can see why Deidara loves you. But he's unlucky, if you really still love Sasuke."

She looked at him. "Itachi…"

He reached forwards and grabbed her wrist, and pulled her beside him on the bed.

"Do you still love my little brother?" he asked. Sakura bit her lip. "I'm… not sure…"

She sighed. "His memory is so far away. I want to avenge him, that's sure. But it's impossible to be with him again. Deidara said I had to move on, get along with my life. But that's impossible."

"Why?"

"My life is worth nothing anymore. I'm tied to the Uchiha clan. Not only by Sasuke, but by you, too. You told me your story, and I can't live, nor die, without seeing the end. There is no other life possible for me."

Itachi was silent for a while, pondering about her thoughts.

"If you want to have a happy life, you should go with Deidara. But apparently, you don't want that. Well, I can't stop you."

She only stared at the ground. "But," he said, "You shouldn't be so depressed. Deidara and Sasuke-kun aren't the only options."

She turned and looked at him. "What do you mean?"

He put an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Embracing her, he whispered: "You said my name in the library, when I kissed you. Was that intentional?"

"I don't remember," Sakura answered. "But it could've happened. Itachi, what are your plans with me?"

He answered with another question: "What are your plans, Sakura-chan?"

She smiled against the skin of his neck. "I'm not sure yet."

He slowly moved his hands over her back, under her shirt. "I guess I'll find out eventually," he said, and kissed her.