Moroha Katana (Double-Edged Blade)

Story # 0001

by Kaline Reine

Author's Note: This is the very first Naruto fanfiction story that I ever planned out. It came to me one day when I first started watching the show, and I was really bored. Over time, I have added many ideas to this one. It's really important to me, and I will try very hard not to mess it up. I know some of you don't like Sakura but this story involves her in the plot. It also has Sasuke, Itachi, and other important people. So deal.

WARNINGS: I have no idea what this story may contain. It may include, but is not limited to, sex violence, rape, abuse, angst, and just suffering in general. There is craziness and a really wild plot. So bear with me. Main pairing is ItachiXSakura.

Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto series, or any of the related characters or setting. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I just like to write about them.

Chapter 21:

Itachi felt honored, in a way, to be allowed inside of Sakura's house. He'd always watched her from the outside, but never dreamed of going in. He could not bring himself to intrude upon her like that.

She'd moved here as soon as she was old enough. The pink-haired Kunoichi had wanted to move away from her parents. She had used her Shinobi earnings to pay for a nicer place to live. It made her wonder why some of the other Ninjas of her rank chose to stay with their parents or others instead… She supposed they would rather save their money. But Sakura had always liked her solitude.

The Uchiha knew this, and yet he was invading her sacred space. He felt like an intruder here; an outsider. And that's exactly what he was.

"This is an awfully big place for one person," He commented, tilting his head to the side and watching her pass him.

"Yeah well… I like my space."

Sakura was deliberately being cold to him. She wanted things to go back to normal, but at the same time she was glad she had him here. He was hers, to do with as she pleased. She didn't want to think about what had happened between them before… or the way he'd made her feel. As each memory entered her mind, she would angrily force it out.

Sasuke was supposed to have her virginity, and only Sasuke! Not his brother; not anyone else! Itachi should have to pay dearly for that. The more she thought about it, the more she realized the tactile appeal of leaving him to rot in a jail cell instead. By all rights she should have been far more opposed to the idea than she was. She knew Sasuke had figured out something strange had happened. But she could only hope he didn't know what it was.

She had never meant to turn him down, but he had asked her out so suddenly, and she didn't know what to do. Things were happening too fast, and she needed time to think. Now she regretted having told him no. Sakura had a lot going on in her life now, and she really didn't have time to date anyone. However, she hadn't even tried to explain that to him. Maybe she should-

"Sakura-chan?"

"Don't talk to me," She hissed. "You have no right to say anything. I don't want to hear it!"

Itachi look puzzled, but he sat down on the sofa in her living room. What exactly was it that she didn't want to hear? "I thought it was your mission to extract information from me. That won't work if I am not permitted to speak."

She sighed in exasperation. "Don't you need to put your stuff away?"

"What stuff? I don't own anything but the clothes on my back, remember?"

"Oh…" She looked at him, then. Really looked at him. "I'll… see what I can do. For now you should rest. We have a long day tomorrow."

"Where should I sleep?" From the smirk on his face, it was clear what he was thinking.

Him. And her. In bed. Together.

But it wasn't going to happen that way. "The guest room."

"You have a guest room?"

Sakura smiled sweetly at him. "Hai. It's right through that door." She pointed to a white door on the other side of the room. From the sofa, Itachi had to crane his neck just to see where she was pointing. He made no move to get up from where he was sitting.

She narrowed her eyes. He looked too relaxed.

"Hn."

"I should have known that would be your answer."

"Are you certain… you don't want me to join you in your room?" That infamous Uchiha smirk was as prominent as ever.

"You can sleep by your self."

"Could it be that you're… afraid?"

She froze. Itachi smiled cunningly then. He knew that he had won. The expression on her face told him that he'd hit a sore spot. In the blink of an eye, he was up from the couch and across the room. He'd come up behind her, and she could feel his warm breath on her neck. He was only inches away. No; less than an inch.

"You loved it."

When his raspy voice whispered in her ear, it made her melt… if only for a moment. Clearing her thoughts, she spun around. But Sakura quickly realized that was a mistake. For now she was face-to-face with him, and only a breath away from touching his lips with her own. Emerald eyes stared into his. Sharingan glowed red in the dark stillness of the room.

"You loved when I took you… When I showed you there was so much more to life than your boring loneliness. Your pathetic attempts at finding love in this world have sorely been misplaced; wasted on my brother."

"Stop it!"

"When I was in jail… All I thought about was you… and how you felt, moaning underneath me."

"You sound like a psychopath," She snapped, turning away quickly. "Go to bed, or you'll live to regret it. You don't want to stay with Sasuke, do you?"

He chuckled, before going to his room, "Fine, I'll be a 'good boy'. …For now…"

Sakura yanked the door tightly closed, slamming it. She locked it as soon as he went in. He'd left her breathless yet again, and nothing had really happened. She couldn't be so weak; she could not let him get to her like this!

"Locking me in won't make it go away," He chuckled darkly.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The next morning, Sakura woke up wondering why she felt like a prisoner in her own home. Itachi had no chakra, so he should not be a threat. He couldn't do anything to her. And yet, he felt menacing to her somehow…

She didn't have much time to think it over. Her alarm had gone off, waking her just in time for her shift at the hospital. She remembered her obligation of finding out more about the scrolls from Itachi. But that could wait until after she got off work tonight. She brushed her long hair, and got into her nurses' uniform. She cooked a quick breakfast for them before she even went to get Itachi. She found him still snoring, and sprawled out across the small plain-looking bed.

"Hello nurse," He smirked, leering at her.

Sakura fought not to blush. She turned away quickly. "Itachi-san! Put some clothes on!"

He had been lying there, fully nude. With no blanket. Apparently he'd slept on top of the covers last night.

"It was warm in here."

"I… see that. Well," She cleared her throat awkwardly, stumbling back out into the living room, and walking through to the adjoining kitchen. "Breakfast…" She mumbled.

"Hn."

He joined her a few minutes later, once he'd gotten dressed. He silently enjoyed her cooking, smiling at her whenever possible. His smile was unpracticed, and so it was a bit creepy at first. Sakura was determined to win this!

"I'm going to work my shift at the hospital today," She announced, trying anything to get rid of the awkward silence. "And you're coming with me. I'll see if I can get you a job there." Her glare dared him to argue.

Itachi just sat there. After a minute of trying to read whether or not she was joking, he decided that she wasn't. "Fine."

Sakura blinked. She'd never expected him to be so agreeable.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Wait!" She had to practically jog just to catch up to him. Which was not an easy feat, in high heels. "How do you know where we're going?"

"You said we were going to the hospital."

"Yes, but…"

Itachi kept walking at the brisk pace, leaving her to trail behind him slightly. "I know the way. I've seen you walk to work many times." He flinched, realizing his slip-up a moment too late.

"You've what?" Sakura walked beside him then, tilting her head to gaze curiously at his face.

"Nothing. Forget it."

"You… You were stalking me?! So it was…" She paused.

"Hn. What?"

"It was you… that I felt… I could always sense that someone was with me; following me. But sometimes I thought it was just my imagination, or that I was paranoid. You really were there… watching me all that time!"

He tried to ignore all the heads that had turned to stare in their general direction. Itachi didn't have an answer for her. He just ignored it, and kept walking. He wanted to get to the hospital, so she could do her stupid job, and he could get through the day. It was sure to be incredibly boring… But he needed to prove that he could handle this. Or else, he would never be forgiven for his crimes.

"We'll talk about this later," Sakura grumbled, when she noticed they had already made it to Konoha's hospital.

She couldn't afford to be late. There was a lot of competition for positions here. But not everyone that worked at the hospital was a Shinobi. Most of them were trained medics. But she was a valuable asset to them, because of her skill with medical Ninjutsu. She knew more about Ninjas, being one herself, and therefore could find better ways to treat them. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be chewed out if she was late.

Sakura got time off whenever there was a mission. But Tsunade always cleared it with the hospital beforehand, just like with any other Shinobi and their various secondary careers.

"Good morning," One of the other nurses greeted her. She nodded back. "Who do you have with you?"

She seemed flustered by the unexpected question. "This is Itachi-san. He's supposed to stay with me… I-"

"Oh I'm so sorry!" The brunette girl remarked, hastily. "Hokage-sama told us about this. You go ahead and do what you need to do. Please forgive me."

Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. So this would be a little easier on her. Good. The last thing she needed were more complications.

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A/N: You can bet I'm going to have as much fun as possible with this! XD Poor Sakura, I feel so bad for her, and yet I envy her at the same time. Lol. I hope you like this. I had no idea what to do with them once Itachi got out of prison, but this idea came to me and it was cute so it worked. Thanks again for all the wonderful reviews you've been leaving me. I hope you will take the time to let me know how I'm doing. Sorry for the shot chapter, but I'll try to make it up next time!

-Kaline Reine