Dawn broke as the trio walked leisurely into a fairly large village. They agreed that they would have a decent breakfast and restock their food supply before going to replace Sakura's katana. The three ordered their meal and took a seat in the back of a café that offered a clear view of the door. Their server seemed nervous; even a civilian could easily feel the power that radiated off of the partners.
"Your friends were in here about three days ago," he told them trying to relieve his stress and perhaps cut through some of the tension that was heavy in the air.
"Explain," the pink haired women focused all of her attention on him. It was a shame she would be a beautiful woman if she didn't appear so hardened.
"Well uh they had the same cloaks as you do so I assumed that they must be your friends," the nervous young man sputtered.
"Description," the kunoichi demanded.
"Well one of them wore a mask and had strange green eyes," he hoped that he had not offended them with his description.
"Kakuzu," Itachi supplied.
"The other," Sakura prompted the server to continue.
"He had silver hair and cursed a lot," he told her.
"Hidan," Itachi confirmed.
"That will be all," Sakura dismissed the young man who was more than happy to leave them.
"We have got to take you out more," Kisame smirked at the kunoichi, "your people skills are getting as bad as Itachi's."
"So they were here three days ago," Sakura ignored the large blue man. "Do you believe that they would have remained in the area for this long."
"Not in this village itself," Itachi replied, "but they will definitely remain in the area. Most of the hidden villages offer outlandish rewards for former test subjects of Orochimaru in hopes of learning his secrets and helping to strengthen their own shinobi forces. Kakuzu and Hidan spend a majority of their time collecting their bounties and thus ensuring that Akatsuki never runs low on funds."
"So they are Akatsuki's pocket books," Sakura nodded, "and Zetsu must have been recognizance."
"Very observant kid," Kisame smiled.
"His skills were perfect for spying," Sakura shrugged, "unfortunately for him his strength left much to be desired."
"Indeed," Itachi agreed as the three finished their meals and rose to leave.
They then wandered through the market making purchases to replenish their food store which had dwindled significantly once Sakura had abandoned her pack. It didn't take long for Sakura and Kisame to realize that they had somehow been separated from the Uchiha. No matter they both knew that he could take care of himself and would rejoin them soon.
"How much for this katana?" Itachi questioned holding out a lovely sword with a plain black hilt.
Aesthetically it did not hold much appeal, but there was something beautiful in its simplicity. More importantly the blade was as razor sharp as it was strong, and the weapon was perfectly balanced.
"That one is the most expensive swords in the shop," the old man behind the counter told him, "it is a fine blade."
"Indeed," Itachi agreed, "your craftsmanship is flawless. Inlay this symbol on either side of the hilt and this one on its base. Finish within the hour and I shall pay you double.
"Double," the old man's eyes widened, "I will have it ready in thirty minutes."
Itachi paid the man and left to join his comrades. When he found them they were making their final purchases and Sakura's eyes met his through the crowd. How he longed for the time when her nod would instead have been a breathtaking smile; no matter Itachi was a patient man.
"I located the shinobi supply shop," he told them.
"Good," Kisame grinned. "We are all finished up here and I could use a few things for Samehada."
They entered the shop and Itachi inclined his head to the old man who was working on his order. The team headed down the long isles looking for any items they may require. Itachi followed Sakura down an isle that was lined with kunai, shurken, and senbon.
"How effective is poison against Kakuzu and Hidan?" She enquired.
"I am afraid that I do not know," Itachi admitted.
"No matter," Sakura shrugged as she picked up several of the finest of all three weapons that the store had to offer.
Itachi followed her to the back where the entire wall was heavily laden with items for medical kits. He saw her pause and pick up a few different bottles of solider pills before reading their ingredients and making her selection.
"Will they be as effective as the ones which you made?" The Uchiha asked her.
"No, but if you increase the dose they will do fine," She told him as she headed to the front of the store where the katanas were on display.
"I just finished your order sir," the old man smiled at them when they reached the counter.
Itachi took the blade before passing it to the kunoichi.
"You had this made for me?" Sakura questioned lifting a brow. It was a finely made weapon and she didn't miss the Uchiha clan symbols on both sides of the hilt. Then she caught sight of the design on the base of the katana; Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan. This blade was more personal than the one that Sasuke had given to her. It was not just an Uchiha design, it was an Itachi Uchiha design. Sakura knew well and good what it meant when an Uchiha made such a gift to a female. "It is an exquisite katana."
"Hn," Itachi remarked as he watched her fasten the blade to her back. She knew what it meant and she accepted. Sakura Haruno belonged to Itachi Uchiha now and forever until death chose to part them. He would happily protect her with every fiber of his being for eternity if so allowed.
"You know what that means to Itachi right kid?" Kisame asked as they made their way out of the village.
"Of course," Sakura walked through the crowds who willingly parted before them.
"Congratulations are in order then," Kisame grinned as he clapped both of them on their backs. "When we finish with these two we are going to stop in the first bar that we come across and I am buying."
"Hn," Itachi replied. Of all of the ways to celebrate watching his two partners get drunk was very close to the bottom of his list. However Sakura had not argued and if it was something that she might actually enjoy he would happily go along.
That night after their search had proven fruitless the team settled in for the night. Sakura surprised Itachi by laying her bedroll out next to his. Without a word she turned on her side and curled next to him. For Itachi it was pure bliss when she placed her head gently on his shoulder. He knew that this is as good as it could ever get for the two of them. There would never be a fancy ceremony, he doubted that they would ever find an official willing to marry them, but that didn't matter. Their devotion to each other was complete and no official document could ever change that.
The Uchiha risked softly running his hand through her hair and was rewarded by Sakura nuzzling into it. A thought struck Itachi then. While a weapon was the traditional gift for an Uchiha's intended jewelry was always the final gift moving the couple from courtship and marking the beginning of their new lives together. The problem was he was not head of a rich clan; as had once been his destiny. No, he was nothing more than a missing nin in the middle of the forest. But he had an idea. He started to sit up causing Sakura to rise with him and give him a questioning look. From the corner of his eye he was able to see Kisame pack up his bed roll and move deeper within the forest. He reached behind his neck and removed the necklace that he had worn since before he left Konoha.
"May I?" He asked and upon receiving her nod he placed it gently around her long delicate neck. "I am afraid that it is not much, but when this is all over I shall get you something more fitting."
Sakura didn't respond with words and Itachi was nervous for a moment as he watched the moon shine in her eyes. After a few seconds she shocked him by leaning in and pressing her lips against his. The kiss started out so gently, but didn't stay that way for long. It evolved into something so much more than just a kiss. It was filled with all of the passion that the two felt for each other.
Itachi looked deep into Sakura's eyes searching for an answer to an unasked question. He received a slow nod before carefully guiding her down to lay on their bedrolls. That night underneath the stars they expressed through an ancient language exactly the depths of their feelings. Itachi worshiped her and cherished her as though she was the most important being in the world, and to him she truly was. Sakura was his whole world; without her in it all would be lost. Together in the dark forest two flawed souls mended together to become one. No words were passed and none were needed to understand that this was a love that would last for all time. Itachi didn't know how to tell her that not even death would separate them; he would simply find her in the next life. For the entire night two broken beings took solace in each other's arms, and for them this was as good as life could ever hope to be.