Vespertine

Chapter Fourteen: The Parting

And so we have a problem you see, my dear

'Cause I can't move on, and I can't stay here

The Hokage tower was abuzz with activity. Itachi had released the genjutsu upon leaving the building and now ANBU were everywhere, rounding up the last defiant Root agents and arresting them. Word had spread quickly through the roused village that Danzou was dead and Tsunade was recovered and reinstated, though only a select few knew how or why—and most importantly, by whom. Those who had known of the Godaime's false arrest probably thought she'd killed Danzou herself and put the huge hole in the wall, which were not unreasonable assumptions, given the provocation and her legendary temper.

Tsunade was still seated at her desk, calmly sipping the tea someone had made her, though she'd gone to her quarters and dressed at some point. When the jumbled group of ninja entered the partially demolished office, her eyes narrowed as she caught sight of Sasuke but she didn't speak immediately. Sakura went to her and began another cursory checkup to make absolutely sure she was okay, and Tsunade didn't protest; she seemed to take some amount of pleasure in the obvious discomfort of the members of Taka as they waited for her to address them.

The tense silence grew as they all stood around, staring at each other, trying not to shiver from the chilly air breaching the hole in the wall. Naruto watched Sasuke, who watched Itachi, who in turn watched some nonexistent space between the Hokage's desktop and the floor. The silent presence of ANBU could be felt just outside the office, waiting for the slightest provocation to enter. When Sakura finally finished and stood again with her teammates, Tsunade folded her hands before her on the desk and fixed them all with her piercing amber stare.

Her words were equally sharp. "This is a complicated situation, but I'm in no mood tonight to handle it delicately. First, I think there's something you all should know." She picked up an open scroll from the desk's cluttered surface: it was the one Danzou had been reading when they burst into the room. "This is an official proclamation calling for Danzou to step down and for the leadership of Hidden Leaf to return to me, or in the event of my continued incapacitation, Hatake Kakashi. It bears the seals of the four other Kages, as well as the new joint seal of the alliance."

"So Danzou knew it was over," Naruto deduced. "That must be why he didn't put up much of a fight."

"He probably had an escape plan," said Sai, who was no longer sealed from talking about his former commander, "but the dual confrontation left him with no way out."

"Whatever the case," the Hokage continued, "you have my gratitude for disposing of him. And for coming to my aid."

The thanks were directed at Team Kakashi and Itachi, as Taka had a much less noble purpose for infiltrating Konoha. Though Tsunade could make a logical guess, she wanted to hear it from the source, and turned her hard stare on Sasuke. "Why did you come to this village tonight?"

"To kill Danzou, and the elders Homura and Koharu," he answered frankly, too tired and apathetic to his fate to tread softly.

"For what reason?"

"For their involvement in the Uchiha massacre."

"And from whom did you receive your information? Madara?" He didn't reply, but it wasn't needed. Her eyes narrowed further. "You believed the words of such a person to be credible? You didn't consider that he might be manipulating you?"

"I was certain of it, actually, but there was enough truth in what he told me to form my own conclusion."

"How do you know?"

"Because of my own memories," he said more quietly, his eyes finding Itachi's. "Memories I believe I…repressed, until confronted by the truth."

"How convenient," she remarked tersely. "But this is only one example of your ignorant recklessness. You have a clear pattern of drawing your own conclusions based on incomplete evidence and unreliable testimony, and taking action on your own without regard for the larger consequences to this village, the people around you, and even the world. You abandoned Konoha to join Orochimaru. Then you joined with Madara and were the cause of two international incidents: capturing the hachibi on behalf of Akatsuki, and attacking the five Kages themselves at the summit in Iron. You killed several of Iron's soldiers, and have thus become an enemy of yet another powerful nation."

She paused a moment to let the harsh reality sink in, and then spoke directly. "I cannot ignore the ways your choices have negatively affected this village. Even if I could, the other villages will not tolerate it, now that your foolishness has involved them as well. There is an unprecedented alliance between the greater shinobi nations, and nothing can be allowed to endanger that. In short, Uchiha Sasuke…you have dug yourself a hole so deep that nothing may be able to pull you out. Even your most ardent defenders now agree that you cannot escape the consequences of your actions."

Sasuke's eyes reflexively went to Naruto, who stared back with a pained but resolute expression. Naruto had been his best friend…his only friend, really. His support and respect had always been dependable facts, mostly ignored but secretly needed. The realization that he had lost them was more devastating than he could have ever imagined. If even Naruto had stopped believing in him….

"I am not trying to escape them," he replied, quiet and weary. Everything he thought he knew had been turned upside down again and again. He had made so many poor choices that he'd truly believed were necessary, and in the end he failed in everything he set out to accomplish. The life he gave up, the people he abandoned…it had all been for nothing. He no longer cared what happened to him. He'd known his chosen path would lead to ruin, but believing the damage done and seeing no way out, he continued anyway. Now he was beginning to understand that what had started out as a justified course of action had evolved into something irrational and deeply selfish.

"Sasuke—" Naruto started.

Tsunade raised a hand for him to be silent, and for once, he listened. But inside, he raged with torn emotions. None of this was happening the way it was supposed to, and it wasn't even the fact that Naruto hadn't been the driving force of Sasuke's surrender. It was that now that they were here, he didn't know what to do. He had no profound, inspiring speeches to make his wayward best friend see the truth. He didn't even know if he could still call him his best friend…he had just gone too far. Sasuke's mission was noble at its foundation, and he had a right to seek retribution. Even if it wasn't Itachi in the end, someone had to be held accountable. But Sasuke had strayed from his path and committed crimes that had nothing to do with his revenge. He had hurt innocents, and killed people who weren't involved. The Sasuke he knew wouldn't have done that. Naruto didn't know him anymore.

"I honestly don't know what to do with you," Tsunade continued, sighing irritably. "If you didn't have something this village needs very badly I would have no problem throwing you to the wolves. The fact that you possess the Sharingan is really the only card I can play in your favor, if I decide to do so. I have a lot to consider before deciding what measures to take."

Sasuke silently accepted this, ignoring the incredulous stares of his comrades. He had cast aside hope long ago and didn't dare to reclaim it now by hoping he would be pardoned; to have a chance to make amends to those he had wronged, and to truly know his brother again.

"Yamato, round up an interrogation squad. I need statements from everyone first." The ANBU captain nodded and disappeared through the floor. Tsunade knew that if she were to offer Sasuke any sort of deal, he probably wouldn't take it until he knew what would happen to his brother. And so she turned to the older Uchiha.

"Itachi…no one can ask for more than you've already given, but I would like you to stay in Konoha. I would also greatly appreciate your return to service, but I won't demand it." She studied him closely. "You have something worth staying for now, yes?"

Sakura blushed, wondering when exactly her master had figured it out, or if she'd known all along. She couldn't help a tiny smile.

Itachi's reaction to the implication was far less noticeable, though it took him a moment to reply. "I would like that," he said. "But first I must finish things with Madara." He paused, and then added, "I believe you asked for his head on a pole."

Tsunade smirked. "I certainly did." She thought over the idea for a moment. "Indeed, I think providing proof of his death will be the perfect way to suppress the commotion over your return."

"One more thing, Hokage-sama," he continued carefully. "I request that Sasuke be allowed to come with me. He has as much right to see this through as I do."

Everyone was surprised, but none more than Sasuke. It was asking a lot, to allow the missing-nin every nation wanted a piece of to roam free for an indeterminate period of time. But it had been proven time and again that if anyone could control Uchiha Sasuke, it was Itachi.

"Can you guarantee his return?"

With only a fleeting glance at his younger brother, Itachi replied, "Yes."

"Then I will consider it, and give you an answer once I decide what to do with him. For now, I want you to go to Morino Ibiki and give a full report on everything you've been up to for the past ten years. I'm going to need all the favorable evidence you can provide in order to convince the council to sanction your pardon. Kakashi and Sai will escort you. Make sure you're not seen by the general public."

They turned to leave, and Sakura's eyes followed them on the way out. She was thrilled that he would receive a pardon, as she had hoped for so long. But inside she was sad that he would be leaving for some time, and worried because it would be incredibly dangerous.

The sun was in full ascent now, bringing a cool winter morning to Konoha. Tsunade was content to ignore them all in favor of sipping her tea and watching the light as it crept across the frost-rimed rooftops, causing steam to rise. The awkward tension rose once again as Naruto and Sakura stared uncertainly at Sasuke and his companions. The minutes ticked by. No one knew what to say to anyone. Sasuke continued to stare at the floor and seemed to have forgotten anyone was there. Thankfully it wasn't long before the ANBU interrogators arrived to take statements from Sasuke and the three foreigners, and Naruto and Sakura were promptly kicked out of the room.

They went into the unlit antechamber, where Shizune's empty desk stood in a shadowy corner, cluttered with stacks of paperwork as if she would return any minute to pick up the Hokage's slack as she always had. But the gathering dust served as a reminder that she never would. With a swell of renewed sorrow, Sakura crossed the room and began clearing the desk to spare her master the pain of seeing it. She would do the paperwork herself.

Naruto didn't bother trying to listen at the door; he knew from experience that the Hokage's office was soundproof. He was uncommonly somber, and grew even more so when he saw what she was doing. He took a seat on the sofa by the window, and expressed what he'd only just held back these past few hours.

"This really isn't how I imagined things would go," he sighed.

"No," she agreed, "but for my part I'm glad you didn't end up half killing each other." Though she had a feeling it was coming. Those two could never sort out anything with words, and they had a lot to say.

He made a noncommittal sound, all but confirming her theory. "What do you think will happen? Baa-chan doesn't seem to be in a very lenient mood right now."

"Would you be, if you went through what she just did?" She set the last of the files in a box to take home and began wiping the dusty surface with her glove, but didn't think she could handle going through the drawers right now. "I don't know," she sighed. "But he's not going to get off clean, Naruto. And you know he shouldn't."

Naruto's only reply was brooding silence. He studied her cautiously for a long moment, then softly asked, "Do you hate him?"

"No," she said, "but I don't feel the same bond with him as you. We were teammates and he treated me like dirt. Not because he didn't return my feelings, but because he thought I was worthless. You know how that affected me for a long time. I care about him, but I can't be his friend until he learns to respect me."

"I think he'll start to now, after you knocked him on his ass."

Sakura smiled. Naruto managed a half-grin, but soon returned to brooding. Realizing he must feel pretty disappointed and useless at the moment, she stopped what she was doing, put her dirty gloves in her pocket and went to sit next to him.

"I know you wanted to convince him on your own," she said gently. "But this really isn't about personal victory. You're going to be a leader soon, Naruto, and you have to learn to look at the bigger picture. Sasuke is back and it looks like he's not going to resist. For now, at least."

"I know," he muttered. "It's just hard to imagine something so often for years and then have it turn out completely different. If Itachi wasn't here…"

"Then you may have gotten through to him yourself. Or maybe not. Or maybe Sasuke would have been killed by Madara, or Danzou, or any other number of things could have happened. If Itachi wasn't alive, I wouldn't have been with him and Kakashi couldn't have teleported to my location and you would all be dead. And so would I because I would have gone down protecting Tsunade-sama. There's no point in obsessing over what-ifs."

His expression softened from gloomy to thoughtful. "Think she'll agree to let Sasuke go after Madara?"

"I hope so." Catching his surprised look, she explained. "I think it will be good for both of them. Maybe Sasuke's not ready to be back in Konoha just like that. He probably feels pretty lost and confused right now, and a lot of that has to do with Itachi so I think he's the right one to help him get through it. And I think it will help Itachi, too."

He absorbed her words, studying her. "Aren't you upset?" he wanted to know. "He's gonna be leaving you."

Sakura's expression fell slightly. "Of course I'm a little sad. But it's not forever."

Naruto didn't seem to have anything else to say, and so they sat in silence. Sakura leaned her head against his shoulder, and enough time passed that she was on the edge of sleep when the door opened.

It wasn't what they expected. Two ANBU investigators had come, and wanted to corroborate their statements about last night with the report Kakashi had given. So they tediously repeated everything that happened, and one of the agents also gave Sakura a blank report log to fill out regarding her classified mission to rehabilitate Itachi. Then they left as abruptly as they came.

Not long after that, they were called back into the Hokage's office. Kakashi and Sai arrived a moment later. Only Itachi was still absent.

Fortunately, Tsunade was too tired to continue toying with their anxiety. "Here's what I've decided," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Sasuke, I will allow you to go with Itachi. As far as anyone is concerned, you were never here last night. You will go, and return with proof of Uchiha Madara's death. Killing him will help to ease the animosity you've brought upon yourself, and it can be made to seem as if you were working for that end all along, perhaps even on Konoha's orders. You will be under Itachi's authority at all times. He will be reporting to me regularly, so if you decide to do something irrational it will be very quickly known." Her eyes narrowed. "And there will be no leniency."

There was more to it than that, but she wasn't going to tell him something that might affect his willingness to return. Sasuke said nothing in reply, though he seemed to vacillate between surprise at his chance for redemption, and aversion to being under such strict authority.

Tsunade noticed, and exhaled irritably. "If that's not good enough for you there's a maximum security cell that's just recently been vacated, and I can tell you with some authority that it's not a very comfortable one."

"I will return with Itachi once Madara is dead," he agreed. "And then?"

"That depends on what happens between now and then." She could see he didn't like her vague answer, but she wasn't about to placate someone who'd caused so much trouble and pain to people she loved. "It's the only option that doesn't end with a swift execution, so I suggest you take it."

A long, weighted silence passed before he finally said, "When do we leave?"

"That's for you and Itachi to determine. The sooner the better."

She turned her attention to the anxious members of Taka. "As for you three… your individual circumstances are complicated to say the least, but I can't ignore the fact that you were subordinates of Orochimaru. I can't just let you freely leave or wander about this village. However, you strays have nowhere to go, no one who needs you, and no future. You each possess assets that I believe would benefit Konoha, and though you may not like the idea of probation, if you agree to the terms you will have a home." She looked to the girl. "You in particular, Karin."

"What's so special about her?" Naruto asked bluntly.

Karin paled, looking like she wanted to disappear through the floor. Everyone focused on her with intense curiosity, including Sasuke.

"You have some untrained skill with healing chakra, do you not?" Tsunade prompted.

Visible relief washed over her face. "Yes," she answered quickly.

"Konoha needs more medics," the Hokage said simply.

"Well, it's a nice offer," Suigetsu said dryly, "but we go where Sasuke goes."

"No," Sasuke said with quiet firmness. "Not this time. This is something I must do—" he curbed the automatic response of 'alone,' and was a little bewildered to finish with "—with my brother."

While the other two were still standing there shocked, Karin quickly pulled herself together and made her own decision. "I'll stay."

Tsunade nodded an acknowledgement to her, and some kind of silent understanding passed between them, piquing Sakura's immediate interest. She would have to find out what that was about as soon as possible.

"I will stay as well," said Juugo, speaking for the first time so far.

Put on the spot, Suigetsu gave an affected shrug and muttered, "Guess I'll stick around for a while too…see what it's like around here."

The Hokage nodded, satisfied. "It's settled then. Tomorrow morning you will begin the integration process. For now, go and rest. Secure lodgings have been arranged, and ANBU will escort you at all times." She looked to Sasuke again. "Be there in one hour." She sighed heavily, and barely stifled a yawn. "Now get out, all of you."

At first the excessive time limit confused Sakura, but one glance at Naruto's smirking face made if perfectly clear that without being asked, the Hokage had granted him a very important favor.

For security reasons the four members of Taka were to be quartered in separate locations, and a pair of ANBU came to take each of them to their rooms. They were all a little overwhelmed by what was happening, and cast uncertain glances at their team leader as they were ushered out. But Sasuke was too preoccupied with his own internal turmoil to give them the assurances they sought.

Rather than wait for them all to go, Tsunade simply decided to leave herself, heading straight for her quarters and some well deserved rest. Team Seven was finally alone together—with the exception of the ANBU squad who waited just outside the room.

Sasuke took a few steps in Sakura's general direction and it seemed like he intended to pass her, but then he stopped, and she could tell there was something he wanted to say. After a long, awkward moment in which she wondered if he might give up and keep walking, he finally, hesitantly asked, "Are you and Itachi…together?"

"Yes," she answered easily. She watched the thoughts cascade over his expression as he processed the information, and was surprised to see a brief flicker of suspicion. He questioned her motives for being with Itachi. Naruto's first impression had been that she was settling for the other brother. Did Sasuke think that too? If so, it needed to be clarified immediately. "I hope you didn't think I would wait for you, or that I would still be pining for you after all this time," she said bluntly.

"No…" he said slowly, again staring at her as if trying to figure her out. "You're…." Sakura simply raised a brow, waiting for an explanation. His hand unconsciously rose to rub his aching jaw. "Different."

A small smile curved her lips. From him, she took that as a compliment.

"I'm glad," he added, but it took a moment for him to keep going. When it came to expressing feelings, he was as predictably awkward as his brother. Maybe more so.

Sakura suspected what he was getting at, but she was going to make him say it. "Glad?"

He frowned, and his next words came out as a quiet mutter. "That you…that he has someone to…make him happy."

Her smile widened, and it felt as if some of the weight between them had lifted. "Are you with that girl?" she asked in return.

Sasuke was taken aback, like he didn't know what she was talking about. Then it occurred to him and his expression turned pensive. "Not really," he said, then frowned slightly and amended himself. "Maybe. I don't know." He seemed to come to terms with something, and gave a nearly imperceptible sigh. "We've been through a lot together," he said quietly. "Karin…she understands me."

"Good," she said softly, and meant it. In all their time as teammates, no matter how deep her feelings had been, no matter how hard she tried, she had never truly been able to understand him. It was why they had never really been able to connect, even as friends. She was genuinely glad he'd found someone who could.

Naruto had grown tired of standing around waiting for what he'd already waited so long to do. He came over and stopped in front of Sasuke. There was appraisal and challenge in both of their eyes.

"Are you ready?" Naruto asked boldly.

That old familiar, cocky smirk appeared on Sasuke's face. "Are you?"

Both of them were nearly giddy with testosterone and aggressive anticipation as they turned to leave. Sakura rolled her eyes affectionately and followed after them, pausing beside Kakashi.

"Don't you want to watch?" she asked him expectantly.

He had seen this coming as well, no doubt. She didn't know exactly how he felt about Sasuke's return, but he seemed pleased that it was over, at least. "I suppose someone needs to make sure they don't kill each other," he sighed.

"Who better than Sensei?" she returned playfully. With a mild eye-crinkle, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and fell into step beside her. She looked back over her shoulder at their other teammate. "Come on, Sai."

The artist had been keeping to himself, not wanting to intrude on their reunion. But now he smiled, happy to be included, and caught up with them as they reached the door.

The long-in-coming battle at Team Seven's old training grounds was every bit as outrageously extreme as Sakura had expected it would be. Naruto and Sasuke both seemed intent on displaying the entire repertoire of jutsu, speed, and skills they had acquired while apart, and they nearly destroyed the grounds. But it was clear that they weren't trying to kill each other, and refrained from using techniques that were unavoidably lethal—which, to their probable frustration, were the ones that were most impressive. Each man had been an enormous pain in the other's ass for the last five years, and more than the need to show off how strong they'd become, they simply wanted to beat the hell out of each other.

Aside from wanting to see the fight of a lifetime between her two estranged teammates, Sakura had intended to be present once they finally got it out of their systems and needed a healer—and intended to hit them both for insisting on such a stupid way to settle their differences. However, when that moment came and the fight trickled to a halt—in a draw—the exhausted, battered brothers in all but blood simply fell beside each other, slumped side by side on the broken, smoking ground. Then they started to talk.

Sakura couldn't hear their hesitant, muted words, but she didn't try. This was between them. Their bond was something she could never touch, and she was finally okay with that. She smiled at them, then at Kakashi and Sai—the former wearing the same look of satisfaction and understanding as she, the latter just looking confused by the relationship complexities he was witnessing.

Kakashi pulled out his book and told her he would stay behind with the ANBU and make sure Sasuke arrived at his quarters on time, and that he would send for her if they truly needed medical attention. Sakura and Sai left, walking together until their paths deviated. Sakura then went back to the Hokage tower, picked up the box of backlogged paperwork on Shizune's desk, and went to her rooms.

Since her parents' house had been destroyed in the attack and what remained of her belongings were in a storage unit, she had been given one of the rarely used ambassador's lodgings in the tower until the blueprints could be accessed from the city planner's office and her home rebuilt. The suite was far more opulent than anything she was used to, especially after living in a rural stone cabin for the past several months. The elegance was wasted on her; at the moment she only cared about the bathtub and the bed.

After a long, steamy soak in a tub that could have accommodated three she collapsed onto the bed that could have fit five, intending to nap. But her mind kept flashing over the night's events, and was particularly fixated on what might be happening now with Itachi. Eventually giving up on sleep, she rose and tried to drown her anxiety in her mission report and the box of paperwork she'd brought. It worked for most of the day, until her stomach reminded her that she hadn't eaten anything in well over twenty-four hours. She took a walk to pick up some takeout and let the cool evening air clear her head and wake her up. When she returned she slipped into the light robe the suite provided and went back to filling out documents with one hand while eating with the other. Not long after, there was a quiet knock at the door.

"Yes?" she acknowledged absentmindedly. There were only a few documents left and she wanted to finish.

The door opened, and Itachi came in.

Paperwork immediately forgotten, she set down her pen and smiled. "Hi," she greeted warmly. "Did it go well?"

Itachi nodded, and pulled a chair up next to hers at the small table. "I was with ANBU until midday, and then I met with the Hokage for a final briefing on the mission. Since then I've been with Sasuke."

Sakura watched him closely. He'd cleaned up and changed clothes, and he looked tired, but at ease. "How did that go?"

"It was…a start," he said quietly.

She nodded understandingly. Unlike with Naruto, the many problems between them couldn't be resolved with a brawl. They'd already been down that road and it only left things more complicated. It was going to take a lot of time.

"Are you hungry?" she asked him.

He nodded faintly and reached for a carton. Making a barely discernable face at what he found in the first one, he selected another and began to eat. "What are you working on?" he asked after a while, glancing at the neat stack of files.

"The report for my mission and some unfinished paperwork Shizune was working on. I didn't want Tsunade-sama to have to deal with it. It's hard enough for her already," she muttered. She ran her hands through her hair and gave a tired smile. "I'm glad to be home, but part of me wishes it was still just the two of us in that cabin."

Itachi gazed at her solemnly and reached out to softly brush a strand of hair from her face. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes. Even his smallest gesture was comforting. She would miss him so much. "When are you leaving?" she half-whispered.

"Dawn," he answered almost as quietly.

That startled her. Less than twelve hours…she'd thought it would be a day or two at least before they were ready to set out. Sakura couldn't reply, just slipped from her seat and onto his lap, burying her face in his neck as his arms came around her. They held each other silently for long moments.

"Are you upset with me?" he murmured into her hair.

Surprised, she pulled back to see his face. "What? Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"I didn't tell you what I intended to do."

"It's not like you planned for this to happen. I wouldn't have tried to stop you anyway," she assured. "I know you both need this. And maybe while you're gone…you and he can try to salvage something of your former relationship, like it was before all the bad things happened. You can start over."

How many second chances did a man get in his life, and how many found such an amazing and beautiful woman as he had, who understood him perfectly? It was foolish to walk away from her, even temporarily, and risk letting her slip away. But he would never be able to give her what she deserved if he didn't do this. He smoothed one hand up her back and threaded his fingers in her hair. "Sakura…I may be gone for a long time. I won't ask you to wait for me."

"But I will," she answered softly. Her hands rose to his face. "As long as it takes. Just promise me you'll come back."

"Only death will keep me from returning to you," he vowed. He drew her closer and a warmth spread through his chest, a feeling he was just coming to understand. He wanted to tell her what was in his heart; that she had shown him how to hope again, that she had given him a reason to live. He owed her everything. He wanted to tell her, but he couldn't find the words.

Sakura fought hard not to cry, but when his lips found hers with the same near desperate intensity as their first kiss, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye. She clung to him and returned his kisses passionately, conveying the depth of her feelings without words. They had so little time left. She didn't want to waste a moment.

Rising slowly from his lap, she tugged the front of his shirt, coaxing him up with her. He gathered her to him again, stooping slightly from their height differences to press his face into her neck, and for a long moment he was content to stay there, breathing her in. Then his mouth began moving over her skin, and Sakura's desire rose as a shiver ran down her spine. She tilted her head, encouraging him to continue, and took her time removing his shirt, smoothing her hands over the firm planes of his torso, across his shoulders. His hands found the belt of her robe and slowly untied the knot, then slipped inside and caressed the bare curves of her waist and hips. The garment slipped from her shoulders as she reached for his belt, and he assisted in its removal as she unfastened the buttons of his pants.

Sakura pressed herself against him, delighting in the contact of their bare skin, and felt his breath catch as she placed sensual kisses to the underside of his jaw. He responded in kind, gathering her hair up in a fist and angling her head to nibble the back of her neck, turning her knees to water and bringing a soft moan to her lips. When his mouth found hers again, she all but melted against him. They finished stripping each other with deliberate slowness, savoring every heated touch, every intoxicating kiss. She drew him toward the oversized bed and they sank together onto the downy surface.

Itachi wanted her badly but refused to rush. He ran his hands over every inch of her soft skin, memorizing and mapping every beautiful curve and dip. His mouth followed his hands, his lips and tongue leaving burning trails across her body, giving special attention to her most sensitive areas; her throat, her breasts, the rarely touched skin of her inner thighs. Sakura nearly trembled with lust, and when his mouth finally settled between her legs it was only moments before she fell over the edge, writhing against the sheets as a cry of ecstasy tore from her throat. The ease of her climax surprised him, and as he rose and settled his weight over her a pleased and faintly smug smirk curled his lips.

That sexy expression infuriated her and renewed her desire at the same time. With a light display of unnatural strength Sakura flipped their positions, pushing him onto his back and straddling his hips. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply, grinding against him until a soft groan filled his throat. He grasped her hips tightly, pressing her downward to further the contact. With their bodies perfectly aligned and both so highly aroused, he slid into her effortlessly. Another groan escaped him as his dark eyes flashed red with adrenaline, and a flood of heat shot through her to know the effect she had on this normally stoic man. She moved in a slow rhythm, prolonging every sensation, relishing how amazing it felt to be joined with him like this. Soon she was on the brink again.

Itachi watched her with his bloodline limit, perfectly capturing every erotic movement of her lithe body over his, every flicker of pleasure across her face. Her second orgasm crashed over her like a wave and she cried out, tightening around him so exquisitely that he nearly went with her. Sapped of strength, she collapsed forward against him. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her beneath him again and continued their lovemaking with smooth, deep thrusts.

Heat rose within her again, but not enough to bring her a third time. Instead she focused on his body moving with hers, his firm muscles rippling beneath her hands as the tension built within him. She locked her legs around his hips and urged him to go harder and faster. He complied eagerly, and moments later, with a powerful shudder and a broken groan against her skin, he found his release.

Itachi relaxed against her, laying his head on her chest. Sakura held him, weaving her fingers through his long, slightly tangled hair. As the ecstasy faded, sadness began to well within her again, for in only a few short hours he would be leaving and she didn't know when he would return. But she refused to let it overcome her, and smiled lovingly as he lifted himself to kiss her.

They held each other for a long while and talked a little, until passion flared between them again and they continued to make love late into the night. Sakura tried her hardest to remain awake, cursing herself for not taking that nap. She didn't want to lose any time with him, but the last two days had taken their toll on her and her body refused her demands. She drifted to sleep in his arms.

Itachi did not sleep, though he slipped into a light meditative doze for an hour or two, always keeping Sakura wrapped securely in his embrace. He memorized the way she felt against him, all warmth and softness and trust.

When the first violet light of predawn came through the window, he didn't wake her. He wanted to remember her like this; her beautiful face soft and serene in sleep, not tightened by worry and sadness. With feather lightness he touched her bare skin, memorizing every detail as he'd been doing all night. Her hair, which fascinated him to the point of obsession, was splayed around her shoulders and the pillow, longer than it had been when they first met, and his fingertips lingered in the silken pink strands.

With an inaudible sigh, Itachi carefully eased himself from the entanglement of their limbs and rose from the bed. His only possessions were his clothes and weapons and the book she'd given him; they were already in his pack so he dressed silently and returned to the bed, gazing down at the woman who had changed his life.

He had meant it when he said nothing but death would stop him from returning to the happiness he had found with her. Leaning down, he placed the softest of kisses on her sleeping lips and another on her brow, then retrieved his gear and slipped from the room.

Sakura woke to the sound of the door clicking shut, so faint that her waking was due more to instinct than anything. She knew immediately that Itachi was gone, though the place where he'd lain was still slightly warm. At first she wondered sadly why he hadn't woken her, but she knew him well enough to understand his reasons. It was easier on both of them this way. If she had said goodbye to him face to face, she knew, she wouldn't have been able to keep from crying.

But that didn't mean she was content to let go just like that. She quickly jumped out of bed, threw on a sweatshirt and some pants, and went out the door. He had a few minutes' head start, so she took to the rooftops and headed straight for the main gates. Sakura didn't want to intercept him, she just wanted…to see him off. Even if he didn't know she was there.

Upon reaching the block of rooftops closest to the gates but far enough to avoid being seen, it surprised her greatly to find she wasn't the only one who had the same idea. A tall girl somewhere around her age with fiery red hair stood there—Sasuke's comrade, and apparently, his 'maybe' girlfriend. They were close enough at least that she had come out into the freezing cold before dawn to see him off, just as Sakura had for Itachi. Though Sakura had to wonder how she'd managed to convince her ANBU guards—who lurked nearby—to let her out. Then again, she wasn't exactly a prisoner.

Their eyes met and the foreign girl was immediately wary, but Sakura gave a fleeting smile to show she wasn't there to mess with her. "Karin, right?" she said, breath puffing before her face. "I'm Sakura."

"I know," Karin said a little gruffly. "I've heard about you."

"From Sasuke?"

"And other people. You're kind of famous," she said dryly.

That answer surprised her, but it was pretty clear the other girl didn't want to talk so she didn't press for an explanation. Karin's eyes returned to the courtyard just inside the gates, and Sakura followed her gaze just in time to see the small dark figures of Itachi and Sasuke appear and begin talking mutedly.

Sakura and Karin silently watched the men they were letting go, two relative strangers united by the same feelings. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Sakura saw Karin sigh sadly and press one hand slowly against her abdomen.

Her head snapped in the other girl's direction, eyes widening. Sakura didn't care if it was rude; she reached out and touched her shoulder, sending a lightning fast pulse of chakra through her. Her mouth fell open at the confirmation.

Karin was well aware of what she'd done and jerked away from her with a fierce glare, barely managing to keep her voice down. "Hey! What the hell!"

"Gods…" Sakura murmured. Now she understood why the Hokage was so keen about Karin staying in Konoha, and why she agreed so readily. "Does he know?"

Karin paled and hugged herself, turning her ruby eyes back to the distant figures in the courtyard. "…No," she replied faintly.

Sakura couldn't believe what she was hearing, and was filled with quiet outrage. "Karin…how could you keep this from him?" Sasuke had been planning to have children for as long as she'd known him, but that didn't include being an unaware, absentee father. "He's going to be furious," she warned.

"You think I didn't want to tell him?" she shot back defensively. "I've tried. But he's…well, you know him. He's got tunnel vision when it comes to the whole avenger thing. And if I told him now…he wouldn't go. And…" her voice wavered, her lips trembling, "he needs this if he's ever going to be whole again, you know? This baby is going to need a good father, someone who will be there in mind, body, and spirit. If we have any chance at a future…then he needs to get closure with the past."

She shot Sakura a knowing look. "Isn't that why you're here right now, too? It's the same for your man, isn't it?" A single tear slipped down her face, and she lifted her glasses to irritably wipe it away. "Stupid hormones," she muttered.

Sakura didn't know what to say. Karin was probably right, and she agreed that both brothers definitely needed this, though she couldn't help but worry about what the consequences may be in the future. Still, she felt bad for Karin, who had to make such a difficult decision. The selfish thing would have been to keep Sasuke by her side out of obligation. Sakura respected her courage, and thought she would like to get to know her better.

"You're right," she said finally, and gave her a small smile. "If you need help with anything, let me know okay?"

Karin sniffed, though from cold or crying it was hard to tell, and nodded. "Thanks."

They went back to watching Itachi and Sasuke in silence, and it was clear the brothers were about to leave. They turned and walked through the gates, growing smaller and more difficult to see in the early morning mist.

Sakura wouldn't cry. She would miss Itachi terribly and a large piece of her heart was going with him, but it wasn't forever. She would see him again. He would come back to her.

The figures vanished into the fog. Sakura smiled softly to herself, and with the promises they had made to each other locked in her heart, she turned and made her way home.

Next Chapter: The Future