Sakura stayed by Itachi's side for the next week. Although they could speed up the process of healing, Itachi's leg had been broken clean in a few different places and would take a while to heal.

"One step at a time, Itachi," Sakura coaxed. "I know it hurts. Put your arm around my shoulders."

Itachi nodded and swung his arm onto her shoulders. "Do I get a crutch today as well?"

Sakura snorted. "I am your crutch."

"I'd rather have the other one," he joked, a smirk hiding behind his bangs.

Sakura chuckled. "Spoiled."

Itachi took one shaky step forward and inhaled sharply through his teeth. Sakura patted his side. "Good," she encouraged. "Two more." Itachi nodded once. He took a lingering step on his good leg and hesitantly put weight on the broken one. There was a significant amount of pain, nothing he hadn't felt before, but it was usually resolved in a much shorter amount of time.

If Sasuke hadn't injected Sakura with that toxin… Itachi tried not to think of that. It was just too depressing. He let the pain distract him.

He peered at Sakura out of the corner of his eye. He knew she was just doing this out of guilt, but he had to admit it was nice having her here. His mother had come twice and his father had come once, rather unconcerned but having Sakura's presence had been comforting.

When he had first woken up, his leg screamed in pain. Apparently, one of the new doctors had given him a much lower dosage than he needed. He grunted in discomfort as he pressed the call button. Repeatedly.

Sakura had come in a flash, and she recognized his pain immediately. She stroked his hair as she upped his morphine. He knew it was guilt. He knew. But Itachi was but a human, and his emotions betrayed him.

A silly crush, that was all it was. Even though he was originally using the pain as a distraction, he was now inhaling her sweet scent as a distraction from the pain. His mind raced to three years back, back to his unfortunate decision. He blushed, hoping that Sakura would assume it was an adverse reaction to the pain.

They both heard the screech of a hawk above them and Sakura extended an arm for it to land on. She cringed as its talons gripped her wrist, and she quickly unraveled the message from its leg. It flew away hastily.

"Hmm?" Itachi tried peeking into it.

Sakura sighed, starting off in a monotone voice. "Genma and Shisui have returned. Come to room 341 at once."

Genma was out cold. Shisui was in significantly better condition than the other, just from first glance. Itachi shifted on his crutches and slid the door open with the leg of the crutch. He looked over his shoulder. "Are you coming in?"

Sakura gnawed on her lip anxiously. "This is my fault. I don't think they'd want me here."

"We all make mistakes, Sakura. I made one, too. Come in with me."

Sakura took a beat, then nodded. "Okay."

Genma understood, but Shisui…well, he was less understanding to say the least.

"Sentiment! You let sentiment get the better of you." He threw his arm up in the air and cackled sarcastically. "The two of you-" he spat, pointing accusing fingers at Itachi and Sakura. "You're perfect for each other. Stupid and emotional!" he slurred.

Genma sighed. "Don't listen to him. He's just cranky and high." He closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's probably a good thing the task force is getting disbanded. I don't think we can bring him back." He paused. "Even if we did, what of the consequences that laid in wait for him?"

Itachi had never truly considered that. Certainly it had been in the back of his mind, but the likelihood of him being welcomed back with open arms was slim if not impossible. He had let his judgment be clouded by his strong will to bring back his brother.

Perhaps it was time he started to learn to let go.

Shizune burst into the door, panting wildly. "Sakura!" she gasped. "H-he's awake!"

Sakura's eyes shined. "Daru?"

He was eating. It had been so long since she had seen him awake; she had started to lose faith. But here he was, alive and healthy. "No damage?" she asked excitedly.

He shook his head and smiled. "None at all. Tsunade-sama says I was lucky." Sakura couldn't help but grin from ear to ear. "Catch me up on what's been going on the past couple of months."

Sakura puffed up her cheeks and blew. "Well. I…joined ANBU."

Daru's eyebrows shot up. "Really? That's amazing!"

Sakura smiled sadly. "No, it was a mistake." She sniffed. "On my very first mission, I messed up. I almost cost Shisui and Genma their lives. All because I wanted to go after Mora. All because I trusted Sasuke." A lone tear rolled down her face as her lip quivered.

Daru's eyes widened. "Sakura. I don't want you to hurt him."

Sakura was sobbing now. "But he hurt you!"

"He was protecting Sasuke."

Sakura froze. "He was what? That's impossible. It's-"

Daru shook his head and took Sakura's hand in his. "Listen. I got distracted by my feelings as well. I…" He looked down to the floor. "Much of my family is dead now. Except one. They're a missing-nin." He looked out of the window. "I couldn't bear it if anything happened to him. It got in the way of the mission, and that's why I got hurt."

"No," Sakura wailed. "I can't accept that. I can't."

Daru stroked her hair. "Listen to me, Sakura." She lifted her head, and he wiped her watery eyes. "I know you're still in love with Sasuke, and more importantly, I know you're angry at him."

Something about that statement made Sakura ache, but she pushed it back down. "No, that's not true," she denied. "I love you."

Daru smiled. "I know. I love you too. But you love him more. And I think what you were trying to do…it was a way to show him you still care, to show him how much he hurt you." He released her hand. "I think I'm the plug to your heart. Without me, your emotions will overflow, and I think you need to come to terms with your feelings, even if I'm not the one they're for."

Sakura whimpered. "Is this it for us? Will we never see each other again?"

Daru brought her into his arms. "I will always be your friend, Sakura."

"What's got you in such a bad mood?" Mora questioned.

"I'm not in a bad mood!" Sasuke bit out, sharpening his sword roughly.

"You'll damage the blade if you-"

"Shut the fuck up!" Sasukek continued grinding his blade against the stone. Why the fuck was Mora bothering him so much? Why couldn't he just learn to leave him the fuck alone? "This is your fault, you know."

"What is?" Mora said blandly, playing with his hat.

"Genma and Shisui escaped. All because you let Juugo in there with them. I hurt Sakura for nothing!"

Mora rolled his eyes. "For the level of idiocy I've learned to expect from you, I'd say this one slip up is no big deal. Chill."

Sasuke stood up abruptly. "Don't tell me to calm down!" His sharingan activated. "This happens because you blab all your secrets to anyone who will listen!" He swung his fist at the back of Mora's head. Mora peeked out over his shoulder. He caught Sasuke's wrist and twisted it behind his back, slamming him against the wall.

"Trust me, you have no idea what I am and what I can do," he whispered into Sasuke's ear, a sneer contorting his lips. Sasuke shivered involuntarily, a mixture of fear and something else. Mora gently released him and sat down at the table again, continuing to read a book.

Sasuke now knew that Mora had a secret, and he was going to find his leverage.

Words: 1351

Will update soon, almost done writing the actual story.