Chapter Twenty-Eight

Itachi's Return/Sakura's Choice

I closed the door behind me as I walked into Naruto's apartment. I pulled off my shoes and left them at the door. I had just pulled a double. It was one thing to pull a double and it not be that busy it was quite another for the patients to be never ending. I glanced into the living room to see Sasuke and Naruto watching television. The both looked up as I entered and greeted me. I grunted in response and continued to my room.

I pulled off my clothes and lay in my bed in my bra and panties too tired to move so when my door opened I didn't too much care that I was in a particular state of undress.

"What do you want?" I muttered.

I watched as Sasuke approached my bed and sat down on it. He picked up my feet and put them in his lap then began his tender ministrations on my feet. A moan escaped from my lips. He slowly worked his way up my legs releasing all the tension in my body.

"Turn over." He ordered and I did so without complaint. I protested when I felt his weight leave the bed. He came back with a bottle of lotion. He poured a bit into his hand. "I'm going to unhook your bra." He warned. I briefly wondered how far he intended to go with this but I dismissed the thought because I knew he wouldn't take it any farther than what I wanted. He leaned down and unhooked my bra. He climbed back onto the bed and straddled my back. He heard him rub his hands together and begin to work the kinks out of my back.

It was official. I had died and gone to heaven.

When he was finished my body was a pile of mush. Sasuke lay down at my side and I turned my head to face him. "Thank you." I said.

He didn't reply but just looked into my eyes. He lifted his hand and brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen in my face. "Sakura."

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"I'm going to kiss you."

"Hmm." I replied.

He scooted a little forward and placed his lips against mine softly and first then a little harder eliciting a response. His hand crept around my waist and pulled me closer. My bra shifted a little uncomfortably and I contemplated removing it but while I was contemplating Sasuke pulled back and solved the problem pulling it off my arms quickly and returning his lips to mine. His hands skimmed the sides of my breasts and I shivered from the contact. I slid my hands under the back of his shirt feeling the fine definition in it.

He pulled his shirt off and tossed it to the side. I shivered at the skin to skin contact and found myself trying to get closer to him. It was that particular action that let me know what my intentions were quickly becoming. I pulled away and Sasuke's body followed. I moaned as he began to lightly bite my neck.

"Sasuke." I whispered. His head dipped lower taking my breast into his mouth. My back arched in response. My pulse started to race wildly. I knew if I didn't push him away soon there would be no pushing away and I wasn't ready for this yet. Not with him.

"Sasuke wait." His eyes raised to mine but his mouth never stopped it's teasing. I was going to die. "I can't do this."

He slowly pulled away from me passion still burning in his eyes. He didn't utter a word of complaint. He just lay at my side panting along with me.

"I'm sorry Sasuke. I just can't--"

"I'm not angry Sakura. It's okay."

I stood up and grabbed a large T-shirt and put it on then returned to lay back in the bed. I expected him to get up and leave but he didn't. After a while he slipped in the covers himself and pulled me close and I fell asleep in his arms.


"I'll catch up with you guys. I'm going to go take a bath." Sasuke raised a brow inquiringly an invitation shining in his eyes. I blushed and turned away.

"Aw Sakura! You take forever!"

I glanced at my azure eyed companion. Bath time had become a problem for me and my roommate. Yes, I was a sucker for a long, hot bath. It was so totally relaxing. He just didn't understand the importance of the time I spent in there. "I'll be quick." I promised. He looked at me disbelieving and he was right to, since I had just lied through my teeth.

He walked away pouting. Sasuke threw a look at me and followed behind him.

I took advantage of the fact that Naruto was gone and stripped off my clothes as soon as I entered the house. I had developed a fondness for being in the nude. You didn't get that opportunity much when you had a roommate. I turned on the water and watched as the hot water flowed into the bathtub. I grabbed some strawberry scented bubble bath and added it to the water.

I was considering getting my own place but whenever I broached the idea to Naruto he balked at the idea. He claimed there was no reason for me to leave. There was plenty of room for the both of us except when it came to the bathroom anyway.

Sasuke was at my side whenever possible. He never pressured me for more than just friendship except for that one time, and even then it truly wasn't pressure, although I often saw the question in his eyes. I was glad he was giving me time to squelch all doubt in my mind.

Turning off the water I allowed myself to ease into the bathtub sighing as the warm water flowed over my body. I closed my eyes and allowed my mind to wander to this and that. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear someone enter the bathroom nor did I sense the presence of another.

A light finger trailed down my arm causing me to snap open my eyes.

"Itachi!"

He didn't reply but rather reached down into the water and grabbed the soap and my towel and proceed to lather the towel. He leaned down and proceeded to wash my body. This was nothing unusual for us. He had done it often before, it was just that it was generally the prelude to other things. He rinsed the soap off my body and then leaned down and lifted me out into his arms. Instinctively I wrapped my arms around his neck and allowed him to carry me out.

"It's been along time Sakura." He leaned down to press a light kiss to my lips and I allowed it but I didn't put as much effort into it as I usual would. Normally, by now, I'd have him half undressed. He pulled back and looked at me strangely. He sat me on the couch and went to get a towel to dry me off. When he came back his eyes didn't hold a hint of the passion that they did just moments before but rather they looked dull and lifeless.

"Itachi?"

He wrapped the towel around me and then lifted me into his lap. "So, you saved him."

"What? You knew?" He didn't reply. Of course he knew. Itachi knew everything about his brother. "Yes, I did." I answered.

"I should've taken you with me." He said his voice cold and hard.

"Itachi?" I looked at him confused.

"Come with me. Leave this place."

"This is my home, Itachi. My place is here."

"Your place is with me."

"Itachi, you're a member of the Akatsuki. I can't live that life."

"I can get out. I've found a way."

I looked at the seriousness on his face and my heart began to pound. "I'd be declared a missing-nin."

"I'll take care of you. No one will ever harm you when you're with me." I didn't doubt him. I had healed his eyes long ago and in the meantime he had become twice as fearsome as before.

His arms tightened around me as if he didn't want to let me go. I thought quietly about his proposal. He was serious about this. It was the second time that he had asked me to leave with him. This time he wasn't going to leave without an answer.

"Itachi, you know I care for you. No, I love you. It's just that-"

"You love Sasuke more and you want to be with him." He finished for me. It wasn't exactly what I was going to say.

"I'm not with Sasuke, Itachi. We're friends."

Itachi stared at me as if he was looking into the deepest part of my heart. There was a part of me that believed he could actually do it. He trailed his finger down my cheek.

"Sakura, say you want me to leave your life and I'll do it. Tell me you want Sasuke and I won't interfere. Just tell me something."

I turned my head away from those piercing eyes and he forced me to turn my head back. "Sakura."

He was forcing me to make a decision. I was wrong for not doing so earlier. I owed him more than that. I took a deep breath.

"I love him Itachi. I want him. I can't loose him again." His whole body froze beneath mine. He was silent and he didn't loosen his grip on me. I lay my head on his shoulder even though I was a little scared then. It seemed like we stayed that way forever but it couldn't have been more than a few minutes. He eased me off his lap and then stood presenting me with his back.

"I'm not a man who admits defeat with grace. I'm not even a man to let what I want to be taken from me but I will grant you this…boon. Only you. I will leave you to pursue whatever it is that you wish of my brother. Just know this, I will never return to this village and cause you any problems. However, if we should cross paths somewhere else then I will take you and you will be mine, forever. I will die before I let you go then."

My eyes widened in surprise. I couldn't say anything not that he would have allowed me to anyway. He left immediately after his last words. I didn't know if I should have been a little afraid or a bit thrilled at the prospect of an Itachi kidnapping. I had to shrug it off because my decision was made and my heart felt a little lighter.

Sasuke. I thought. I pulled on some clothes and went in search of my two friends. I stopped at training grounds first and noticed that they weren't there. That left the ramen shop. I walked inside. Sasuke looked up as soon as I entered. He inclined his head briefly acknowledging me. I returned the gesture and walked over to them.

"Move over Naruto. I want to sit between you guys."

Naruto moved over without a word, probably fearing my wrath. I ordered myself a bowl of ramen and glanced at Naruto who was working or probably his fifth or sixth bowl.

"Naruto? Sasuke?" Both glanced at me. "I want you guys to know that there is no one more important to me than you two and Kakashi. I will always pick you guys first. I want to thank you for being there for me when I wasn't at my best, Naruto. You got to see a pretty ugly side of me but you never turned away from me because of it. Sasuke, you came home and I thank God everyday because of it. You've been more than patient with me and I want you to know that it is appreciated." I reached out and grabbed both their hands and squeezed them tight. "I love you guys."

"We love you too Sakura!" Naruto said throwing an arm over my shoulder. "Just don't ever go crazy again. You're scary."

I punched his arm and he just grinned back at me. I turned my head and looked at Sasuke noting the serious look on his face. He had said nothing to my confession. I truly didn't expect him to but it was okay. I knew in the end we'd be okay.


A/N: I believe there's going to be one more chapter then the epilogue. Then I'll do the alternate ending.

Shkh4ever: I read your review. Lol. And you know I give Kakashi plenty of love. Itachi on the other hand, has never gotten any Juniper love. So, I must appease the side of myself that says that Itachi should have a happy ending too. Besides, I can't think of a way to make Kakashi's ending a happy one. :)