Hey, y'all,
Another nice, long update here—5k.
Enjoy!
K&K
DNON
Finders Keepers
Chapter 29-What's Precious to Me
Love knows no reasons,
love knows no lies.
Love defies all reasons,
love has no eyes.
But love is not blind,
love sees—but doesn't mind.-Anonymous
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Sakura sat nervously at the table, fiddling with the necklace Itachi had removed from her that morning. In another day, if she was cautious, she would have her strength back, but first there was something she needed to do.
Itachi had explained to her nearly two weeks ago that the chain he wore held jutsu in the larger links, but not how it was done.
"I'm doing this for Sasuke," she whispered, hopeful that she was doing the right thing. Itachi would not tell her, but she knew he was not well and she was sure some part of his plan involved sacrificing himself once again for Konoha. If that happened, Sasuke would be lost when he heard the truth—and she would not be the one to keep it from him. She gathered every ounce of chakra that had been restored so far, and performed the jutsu, sealing it inside the chain before Itachi came back into the room.
They had become as close as two people could become without actually becoming lovers. From him, she'd learned the true meaning of self-sacrifice. She'd realized that if Itachi could find the strength at such a young age to push down his personal feelings and save the population not only of Konoha, but the entire shinobi world from another Great Ninja War by killing his own clan, then she had indeed been acting the foolish child over a few make-believe kisses to deceive her enemy. In the end, she'd realized what a small sacrifice she'd been railing against when he certainly could have easily overtaken her from the very start and followed the orders of Akatsuki's leader.
She's learned some hard lessons during her captivity about what it really means to be a shinobi and what it means show loyalty to her village from Itachi. He'd sacrificed everything he loved and became part of the dark underbelly of the enemy. Even now, when she would have become bitter or jaded, he still spoke of his family and Konoha with the highest respect. He'd given his life for their protection, and he'd done it alone, without support or the love of family or friends—instead, he'd taken on the title of murderer and traitor to protect his brother.
Studying the delicate chain, Sakura recalled time she'd spent with Itachi.
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When Sakura stepped from the shower, she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her body. She took another from the shelf and started to dry her hair as she walked across the room to check the results of the test she had rigged. Her two weeks were nearly up, and Itachi decided enough time had gone by that their duplicity would pass for the real thing.
She was so caught up in reading the test result that she jumped when Itachi's hand slid around her waist while his other pushed the damp hair off her neck so his lips could trail along her nape to nip the shell of her ear. Sakura still blushed deeply every time he did it, yet this very act had become their secret sign.
They were being watched by another.
She became submissive to him as part of his plan and it took every ounce of willpower she had to bend and bow to his will. However, now she thought she could even handle a seduction mission, if called for. She had learned to shut down the part of her brain that railed at the thought of accepting any man's touch, except the one she loved. It hurt, but she knew she had to do it to escape with her life and, thankfully, her chastity. Plus, she would do just about anything not to have to see the madman who had tried to ruin her life by demanding she give birth to Uchiha Itachi's child. Just the thought of Madara touching her skin again had her helplessly fantasizing about suicide just to stay out of his malignant presence. She had never known a greater fear than when that man placed his hands on her—his evil paralyzed her.
"Well?" Itachi hummed expectantly in her ear—his deep purr made her shiver and goose bumps broke out along her flesh. Ever vigilant, Itachi rubbed her bare arms to warm her and turned the still-shy, blushing girl around in his embrace to face him. Her chin tilted down before doe-like green eyes peeked up demurely from beneath rose-colored bangs.
"Omedetou, Itachi-sama." The once demoralizing suffix rolled off her tongue with practiced ease as she congratulated him. "You are going to be a father. I'm pregnant."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly at her news as his hand wandered over her belly as if he could already feel the life growing there. This was the most dangerous part of their plan. They had to be absolutely convincing to the dark being spying on them. His smirked softly and gently tilted her chin up until she could no longer hide her eyes from him.
"You are sure, Sakura?" The slight hint of eagerness that came through his normally stoic demeanor surprised even her. He sounded pleased and she responded with cautious enthusiasm.
Smiling, she nodded and he bent to kiss her deeply. Then he scooped her up into his arms and carried her from the bath to their bed, removing her towel before joining her in it. She placed her hand lovingly on his head when Itachi gently kissed her abdomen before he pulled the blanket up and over them, rising up to lay over her on the bed. They proceeded to act the same as they had over the last week and a half, like a man and woman in lust, to fool the man now standing in the bathroom, examining the pregnancy test that she'd meddled with. If she was right, it would be enough evidence for the spy. There was only one more man they needed to deceive before she could go home.
Madara.
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"Naruto!"
Gamabunta's tongue lashed out to snatch the boy from certain death as Kisame's clone came from behind with a massive stroke of his sword. The orange-clad ninja was whipped back behind the enormous toad even as Jiraiya's hand slipped through the seals of the Katon jutsu.
"Katon! Gamayu Endan!"
The giant toad shot a stream of oil across the battlefield and Jiraiya's jutsu ignited it.
Naruto howled at being thrown out of the fight once again before the jet of oil and fire consumed his noisy complaints with its intensity and the grounds around them erupted in plumes of smoke, steam and fire.
When the smoke cleared, the forms of three exhausted ninja appeared. Kisame's clones, crackled and charred, burst apart and fell into the water created by the Tailless Beast's numerous jutsu that he'd spewed at them over the course of their fight.
Kisame chuckled and made two more clones.
"I'm just getting warmed up, boy."
"You can't defeat me. Ne, Ero-Sennin?"
Kisame smirked. "Pervy Sage? You are a legend, Ero-Sennin. No wonder Old Nell was snuggling up to you in the bar—she don't shake her tits for hardly no one but you've made her whorehouse famous." He pointed his huge sword at the white-haired sage. "You know, I've read a few of your books—maybe if I don't kill you I'll have to get your autograph."
"You won't be killing anyone, you creep, because I'm the best ninja ever!" Naruto shouted enthusiastically.
"Best ninja ever, eh? Why, if it wasn't for your sensei here, you'd already be a lab experiment, Kyuubi." Kisame loved to goad the excitable boy. Enjoying his time away from the base immensely, he continued on. "Probably lined up on the metal table right next to Itachi's little sex kitten. Now, there's a story you want to write, Sensei. That hot, little kitten knows how to scratch."
"You asshole!"
Kisame grinned sharply. "You got some spirit though, boy. I like that. I haven't had such a good fight in months." The shark nin was genuinely pleased. The boy was a little raw, but made up for it with his determination. And his sensei was no slouch either. Kisame and Samehada lived to find opponents like this. He brought Samehada around to face the boy. "Bring it on, kyuubi-brat."
Naruto made a clone and created another giant Rasengan while the Mist nin laughed jovially and Jiraiya groaned.
These idiots had been at it all night and most of the day, the pervy nin despaired. He wondered if the ninken had made contact with Kakashi and Sasuke yet. At this rate, there was no way they were going to catch up to them, even if the battle ended right now. Here he was pacing himself because he was nearly done in and these clowns were just winding up for the umpteenth round.
"Must be nice to have such endless energy," he grumbled. Gamabunta grunted in agreement beneath him.
"Kids."
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Akino found his master the next day after leaving the little town where they'd encountered the shark-like nin. His tail wagged as he noticed the younger man catch sight of him first and signal to Kakashi, who knelt and welcomed him back with a friendly pat. He'd already sent his other summons back to their home that morning for a rest.
"Good boy, Akino. Do you have news for us?"
"Hai, Kakashi. Jiraiya and Naruto ran into an Akatsuki called Hoshigaki in the town of Aoi Gurasu. They are engaged in combat as we speak. Before the battle began, Hoshigaki summoned two sets of land sharks." Akino's foot unconsciously rose to scratch his ear, but Kakashi took over for him, rubbing the itchy spot so the dog could continue talking. "One pair headed east and the other northeast. Jiraiya sent a toad summons after each of them with the instruction only to follow, not to engage and to report back to him when they found Sakura-chan. He told me to lead you to the sharks' trail."
"Thank you, Akino." Kakashi handed him a dog biscuit packed with the nutrients equivalent to a soldier pill. "Do you think you could hurry?"
"Hai, Kakashi." The dog glanced only once at the younger man before he turned tail and split. He hoped the boy had stamina because he was one fast pup. He grinned as the two ninja caught up to him and then he put on another burst of speed to keep them on their toes. Now, they couldn't quite keep up, but they stayed close and kept an eye on the horizon for the shark summons.
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'Finished at last,' she thought thankfully. Sakura was exhausted at the amount of strength it took to seal the healing jutsu inside the link. She'd barely had enough chakra to succeed—she hoped. She didn't even know if it would work until it was too late. Hopefully, Itachi would not need it.
Moments later, he returned to the room, freshly showered, his hair hanging straight to dry before he would gather it in a low ponytail at his neck. He loomed imposingly over her.
"What were you doing, Sakura?"
She composed herself in order to lie to him. "I was attempting to use a summons, Itachi-sama, but my chakra is still too low." She looked him in the eye so he would be more inclined to believe her. "I wanted to inform Shishou that I was safe and would be returning soon."
His eyebrow raised in consideration. "You weren't attempting to escape?"
"No, Itachi-sama." She shuddered visibly at the thought of Madara collecting her and wrapped one arm across her chest in an unconsciously defensive gesture. "I know what would happen. Besides, it would be foolish to do so when Kisame is coming back tomorrow to take me home."
Itachi nodded, watching her absently finger the chain he'd taken off her only a short while ago. He felt that she trusted him now and would not do something foolish, but he had to be careful. The mission was drawing to an end for him and he couldn't afford to make mistakes, no matter how much he liked the girl.
"Your necklace." She lifted it toward him. "You should put it back on." He took it from her slowly. "Your mother gave it to you, right? It's precious to you."
He acquiesced, taking the chain and placing it on his own neck, the chakra binding he'd removed this morning was no longer an issue. When she left for Konoha, he wanted her to be able to protect herself, so he took the chain off to give her chakra time to replenish.
"Come stand next to me, Sakura," he ordered. "There is one more matter to which we must attend.
Trusting him fully, she stepped up to Itachi. A few weeks ago, she would never have believed she could safely stand next to the man who had haunted the one she loved for nearly a decade, but time and circumstance had proven her wrong.
"Gather what chakra you can in your womb."
'Damn,' she thought, struggling to do as he ordered. It took her quite some time, seeing as she had only just drained herself. Gradually, she was able to create enough of a base so that he could do as he did next.
Pushing the fabric of her furisode aside, Itachi placed his hand on her bare abdomen and slid it down nearly to her underwear line. Her stomach felt full of butterflies as his chakra pulsed into her, combining with her own to create something new. As the tiny chakra signature solidified from their two, it thrummed almost as if it carried a heartbeat. By the time Itachi tied off his chakra inside her, she was sweating with the effort to maintain her own.
"That's enough," he told her and she released her chakra. The new combination remained, softly fluttering, deep inside her womb.
"As long as I breathe, this false signature we've created will remain inside of you, no matter how far apart we are. It will not grow as a real child would, but it should give you the time to do what you must."
"Are you sure it is the only way, Itachi-sama?" She closed her loose robe and rubbed her tummy directly above the new 'life' as she glanced up at him.
He took her small hand and squeezed it. "My little brother is a lucky man, Sakura. To find a woman so caring, who loves him as much as you do," he told her warmly, brushing an errant lock of hair behind her ear. "If things had been different and I stayed in the village, he might have had to fight me for you."
Her mouth dropped open and red crept up her entire face to the roots of her hair, making him smirk.
"Sasuke will be a good husband though, and I will be proud to call you sister." He bent and kissed her pink cheek. Tears stung her eyes and Sakura wished more than anything she could find a way to repair this man's broken bond with Sasuke. Maybe when this was all over there'd be some chance, she hoped—once Madara was dead. She grasped his hand and grinned back at him.
"Arigato…onii-chan."
He chuckled and ruffled her hair fondly.
A loud crash came from the other end of the base, and Itachi drew her close to protect her as the walls shook. When it stopped, he stepped away and warned her to stay put while he went to investigate.
The large summoning that had mutilated half the base warned him that his time was short.
Sasuke was coming.
As he stepped back into the room, Sakura was already at his side, ready to fight.
"What's happening?"
"Nothing you need to worry about. You will stay here and be safe. I will come back to get you soon."
"No, Itachi! I want to help," she insisted, clinging to his arm. He pulled her close for one last embrace.
"Be happy, Sakura. Goodbye."
"What—"
He pinched the nerve at the back of her neck and knocked her out. Itachi laid her gently on the bed and placed a farewell kiss on her cheek. He left the room and locked it, using a chakra barrier so she would not be able to escape or interfere with what he had to do.
Then, he went to meet his destiny.
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By the time the shark popped out of ground, it was nearly too late.
The dog jumped with a yip and tried to keep away from its jaws but there was just no room. Instead, Kakashi instantly sent his summons back to keep it from harm's way.
Kakashi's heart leapt into his throat at the thought of losing one of his beloved nin-kin. He'd reversed his summons just as the shark's jaws snapped down over the dog. Sasuke had been right behind him with a jutsu to squash the shark but the wily creature had moved back under ground and escaped.
As Sasuke scanned the grounds for the other half of the pair of sharks, he realized that something else was different.
He could feel Sakura through the seal again.
His heat beat faster with the knowledge, and he nearly missed the second shark sneaking up behind him. He turned just as the shark's fin sank beneath the surface and then he jumped closer to Kakashi.
"I've found her."
"Where?"
"Close—maybe five miles from here due east."
"You're not going anywhere, boy." Kisame's two shark summons merged into one and became a clone of the Mist nin before them, blocking their way.
"Sasuke, I'll take care of this." Kakashi pushed up his hitai-ate to reveal his Sharingan eye. "You get to Sakura and get her out of there. If you see Itachi—"
"I'll get Sakura home first," he promised.
"Good man. Gambatte, Sasuke. And be careful—there may be traps. I'll catch up with you as soon as I can." Kakashi left his side to attack the Mist and distract him while Sasuke ran on toward where Sakura's seal called to him.
Still about three miles from the source, he stopped again when another man blocked his path.
"Itachi," Sasuke sneered.
"Sasuke-kun. To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"You know why I'm here."
"Missing your favorite toy, otouto? I can see why. She is so very fun to play with—quite beautiful, too. Especially when she screams."
"Give her back," Sasuke snarled.
Itachi shook his head just once. "I'm afraid I've become quite attached to Sakura-chan. If you want her back, you'll have to go through me." Itachi's eyes shifted into the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Not today, aniki." Suddenly, Sasuke was past him and moving away toward Sakura, but in the next blink, Itachi blocked his path once more.
"If you don't fight me, the last thing she will see is you coming through the door after I slit her throat.
Suddenly, the emotion Sasuke felt through the seal was very startling. Whatever was happening to her, Sakura was terrified—so much so that it even made Sasuke's heart beat faster. Something was wrong. He studied the grounds around him from the corners of his eyes as they shifted red while he wrestled with the plan gone awry. He had to break his promise to Kakashi. If he left this man alive, there was no doubt as to how he'd find Sakura.
Dead.
Itachi also felt Sakura's growing fears through the seal—and he knew why—Madara had come to make sure of her pregnancy. Itachi hoped that she could hold out just a little longer. Madara would not be foolish enough to push her too far, now that things were going as he planned. Besides, Sakura's fears were playing right into his hand against Sasuke. For all his brother knew, Itachi had a clone holding a knife at Sakura's throat.
Sasuke pulled out his katana, Kusanagi, from its sling.
"Very well, aniki. Let's get this over with. I've got more important matters to attend to."
Itachi smirked softly at his little brother.
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When Sakura opened her eyes in the dim light from the bathroom, she felt that something was wrong—terribly wrong.
"Itachi-sama?" she called softly.
"Hello, Sakura-chan," Madara spoke from the shadows at the end of the bed. You're looking lovely as ever."
Sakura scrambled off the bed and backed as far away from the elder Uchiha as far as the room would allow. She reached the locked door and pulled as hard as she could to no avail—her chakra not yet revived from the Creation Rebirth she planted in Itachi's necklace as well as the fake embryo she had formed by combining the last of her chakra with his.
As the evil man stalked toward her, she put the table between the two of them, desperately looking for some kind of weapon for defense. Her eyes widened in horror when he simply walked right through it. In her haste to move further away from him, she tripped over a chair and fell, injuring her ankle. Terrified that he would catch her, Sakura quickly crawled to the bathroom and shut the door behind her before attempting to stand on her shaking legs and catch her breath.
Madara came through the wall and passed through the solid vanity as if it was made of air.
"Stay away from me," she cried hysterically.
"Oh, I can't do that, Sakura-chan." He sniggered deviously. "You are just too tempting."
"Itachi gave you what you wanted," she insisted frantically, praying that he would not touch her. "He—he s-said I could go home soon."
Madara cornered her.
"Yes." His hand came between them to rest on her stomach, making her flesh crawl, while his Sharingan spun wildly. "I can see that, Sakura-chan. I only wish I'd had the pleasure of putting it there myself." He pulled the tie of her dress off, sending it fluttering to the floor. "Such a pretty girl." His other hand came up to cradle her face. She shuddered at the evil she could feel through his gloved hand and tried to jerk away from him.
"D-d-don't touch me. Itachi will be angry."
He chuckled.
"Itachi will be dead soon."
"You're lying," Sakura panted in fear.
"Maybe. Maybe not. It depends if Sasuke can defeat him."
"They can't fight," she panicked, thinking of all Sasuke didn't know. It would crush him. "You have to stop them," she insisted. "They'll kill each other."
'No Sasuke…no Itachi…and then I'll be left alone with you,' she thought selfishly, suddenly seeing her worst fear coming to fruition. Her frightening thoughts of suicide began to take shape as she searched for a way to escape the black maw of fear opening in her chest.
'Please. It can't be,' she thought. 'Even if Sasuke's come to help me, he can't help but go after Itachi—if they die now, everything will be lost.'
'—I'll be lost.'
"Wouldn't you like to come back with me, Sakura-chan? Those boys have forgotten all about you for the moment. You don't have to go back to Konoha." His hand slipped under her collar and slid the silk from her shoulder, revealing her porcelain skin to his hungry eyes. "I could take care of you until the child is born."
Terrified, her tongue frozen, she could only shake her head. Hot tears came unbidden, falling from her rose-colored lashes. Madara's finger traced a tear's path as it ran down her cheek with a dark chuckle.
"We could be so good together, Sakura-chan. Just think—you could rule the world at my side. I'd give you anything you want."
She remained frozen. All she wanted was Sasuke—or even Itachi—to come rescue her from this creature—a creature that sucked the souls of innocents like a vampire leeched blood from his victims, ruthlessly leaving a hollow shell of nothing behind. Madara removed his mask and hooked it on his belt. Sakura could not even focus on his face—all she could see were his eyes—insane, malicious and power-hungry—filled with the most potent dojutsu in the world. She closed her own eyes, willing herself somewhere, God, please, anywhere but here. She couldn't be here.
'Sasuke,' she pleaded in her mind, once more feeling her sanity slipping through her fingers like sand. 'Help me, please.'
She felt the tug as Madara pulled her trembling body closer and wrenched her head back with a handful of her hair, her eyes opened wide with pain, but she managed not to scream. She twitched violently when his lips touched the corner of her own and he bit them, sending a thin trail of blood running down her chin and neck.
Sickening chills crawled over her flesh as his breath touched her skin before his cold, vile lips contacted her neck—smearing her blood while traveling down over the sensitive flesh of her collar bone before going lower.
This feeling, it was nothing like Sasuke, he was protective and made her feel safe—or even Itachi, he was warm and considerate. Madara made her feel like…like she needed to tear the skin he touched away with her bare hands before the disease of his touch spread to her entire body. His insanity contaminated her irrevocably.
"No, please don't," she whimpered and, with what little strength that remained, she tried unsuccessfully to push him away.
"Ah, Sakura-chan," Madara's hand gripped her breast roughly, uncaring that she cried out incoherently. "Your body is exquisite." Her quivering form pleased him greatly. "If only I had more time to take you as I please. Alas, I must go soon to capture the kyuubi—he's come looking for you," he chuckled darkly. "Taking you has been a great advantage to me, in more ways than one."
'Naruto?' That name jolted through her. She jerked her head up and, for a moment, hope pushed her fear away a little. Her chakra was extremely low, 'But still,' she thought, 'I just need a little.'
Sakura directed all her remaining chakra into her hand, making a single chakra scalpel and shoving it into Madara's chest where his shriveled up, black heart should have been. The blade punctured his body and then she fell forward when it became insubstantial once more, her weapon sliding completely through Madara before it flickered and failed.
"Nice try, Sakura-chan," Madara stood over her, clutching the bloody wound on his chest. "But not good enough." He ripped her robe as he tried to tear it from her body. "Now, I'm going to f—"
"Master," A deep, urgent-sounding voice from the other room interrupted him.
"What?!" he barked, angry at being disturbed. Sakura cringed away from him, trying to cover herself.
"Sasuke-kun has succeeded in killing Itachi-san. He is on his way here."
"Itachi," Sakura whispered as fresh tears began to fall. "No."
"It pleases me that you've become so attached." Madara dragged her closer. "At least you are going to carry his child into the world, ne, Sakura-chan? A living tribute to Konoha's unsung hero." He laughed mockingly. "At least until I sacrifice the babe. A new life that won't be diseased and useless, like his father." Madara looked back at Zetsu. "Retrieve the body and call off Hoshigaki."
'Oh God!' she thought in a panic, not hearing Madara's orders. 'Madara knows about Itachi's illness!'
Madara's voice mentioning Itachi again pulled her back to awareness. "—I believe he was even considering ways to save you and the child for himself and hide you away from me."
"You bastard!"
"You'll carry his child Sakura," his dark voice warned. "I'll be around to check on your progress. You will not abort this child and you cannot hide from me. If I do not see your belly growing with life with my own eyes, I will come and take you with me and implant my own seed. Then you will spend your life inside a permanent genjutsu until the child is born so you cannot hurt yourself."
A new finger of fear drew its cold, dead nail along her spine with the realization.
'Itachi's dead? He said the spark of chakra would only remain so long as he drew breath. That means…'
Already she could feel the slightest lessening of it. Her jutsu, Creation Rebirth, which she'd placed in the chain's link, had not worked! She had failed horribly and Itachi was dead! That meant the first time Madara came to check, he would find no form of child inside her. She was doomed no matter what. Perhaps Madara could already sense that they were deceiving him. If she didn't escape soon, Itachi had doomed her to life with Uchiha Madara. She was so focused on this new awareness that she jerked in alarm when he spoke to her again.
"Come here, Sakura. A kiss goodbye, my dear, sweet, girl."
'I can't let him touch me!' she thought frantically. 'He might find out!'
"Stay away from me." She stepped back, trying to keep the tremor from her voice to no avail. Her heartbeat was so loud now, she could hear the blood rushing in her ears.
A repulsive shiver swept up her spine when he appeared behind her, wrapping his arms around her.
"I won't do that, Sakura."
He knocked her out, but she clearly heard his last words whispered against her ear before the blackness gave her some peace from her waking nightmare.
"I'll be back to see you, my blossom."
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Things you probably already know:
Katon: Gamayu Endan—Fire Release: Toad Oil Flame Bullet
Ah, I hope you appreciate all I went through to get this update up here tonight. My internet crashed and I had to transfer stuff around to another computer to update instead of waiting days for my husband to fix it.
Yeah, that's gonna be a while till he gets around to it.
Story Reviews=Love=Author's Inspiration
