2.

Title: Maybe Next Time Round…
Rating: K
Word Count: 1025
Warning/s: Spoilers from my current Naruto fanfic! I just love writing scene from my fic…
Summary: Upon Heaven's will and Fate's hands, they will stay together this time round.
Dedication: Me! And actually, Itachi.

A/N: I really love written about my characters with my fave. Characters. That's bad because I given spoilers! If you understand it…
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto but Sakano and Hijiri.

-.-.-.-

Is it raining? His brows furrowed as cool, wet droplets touched his face, rolling down his cheeks. No, he remembered it was not raining, not when she was here. It never rains when she was around. Slowly, he felt his senses came back to life. Itachi peered up and blinked when a tear drop fell on his shock-written face.

"Konnichi wa, Itachi-dono…"

His deactivated Sharingan stared at the beautiful face which was looking down at him. That familiar face from long ago… He opened his mouth and tried to speak, to say her name, but his voice refused to come out. It was ashamed of itself; he was ashamed of himself to even think of speaking her name and condemn it. And he made her cry. She never cries but he let those tears fell. In the end, he closed his mouth and looked away shamefully when he realized his head was on her lap.

She smiled; he could feel her smiling to him. "Please don't move too much. You are hurt pretty badly."

She knew he felt shameful yet, she could not help to lift his burden. Like what she used to do long ago. The only thing she wished to do now was to spend her remaining time with him, if she had any left.

They looked around them, at the place where they had fought just moments ago. How did this happen? Why did it happen? What happen to them? They refused to look for the answer, no, they refused to know the answer even though they thought they knew. Maybe, the answer they think was not the correct one. But none of these matters now. Fate had played cruelly on them. Too cruel to be true.

Her grip tightened slightly over Itachi's body. She had gone too far away for him, and she did not want to lose him again. At least, she hoped to herself, at least let me hear…

"Itachi-dono, isn't it a bit rude not to greet me?"

Itachi felt a stab in his chest. She was trying to cheer him up and yet, he blocked her out. How selfish of him. He did not deserve her. When she saw there was no chance to hear her name, she sighed softly in resignation,

"Do you find it funny? I felt that we are meant to be… but we just keep missing each other… so many times in this lifetime…" She turned her head away to hide her tears. "If… Heaven allows, please… let me meet you again… someday…"

Upon hearing this, Itachi quickly grabbed her wrist and whispered loudly, his dark eyes filled with fear,

"Sakano…!"

Sakano gazed down at him; her dark blue eyes were brimming with new tears, blurring her sight. Itachi stared at those glistening dark pools, he felt himself drowning. Still, he could not believe how much he had changed because of this woman. This very woman by the name, Sakano, who had wormed and planted her presence in the murderer's heart. No matter how much he wanted to hate it, he could not. Every cell in his body screams for her. He was getting out of control but he would not do anything about it. As long as Sakano was here, he was willing to sacrifice everything, even his life…

What lies.

He abandoned her. When she needed him the most, he was not there. He left her fending for herself. Though she said she was always alone, even before he stepped into her life, she was always fighting alone; carrying her country's burdens on her shoulders.

He could tell she was lying.

During their battle, he could tell how uncertain she was. Sakano was still very powerful. After all, she was the twenty-eighth master of the Shifuen, the rare gem of her clan in a century. However, even with those facts, she had grown weak. He had made her weak. Every attack she delivered was unequal. Weak and then strong, then weak again.

Sakano needed him.

Itachi gazed up to her pretty face, his hand still gripping her wrist. He reached up his free hand and caressed her wet cheek, brushing a tear drop with his thumb. He knew he did not deserve it but…

"Forgive me, Sakano…"

It would make him feel better.

Sakano closed her eyes as she savoured the warmth and feel the callousness by the cuts and wounds of his hand. Her delicate brows were brought together as if in pain.

"You are never hated… Itachi."

She opened her eyes; they looked so gentle and sorrowful. "I am grateful to meet you. Very… grateful. Let's pray to Heaven, that we are able to see each other again… next lifetime."

Itachi's grip tightened on her wrist. "Don't go…"

Sakano shook her head sadly. Fate had played cruelly on them. "I… have gone too far to look for you… It should be me to ask for your forgiveness. I… don't belong here anymore."

This time, Itachi pushed himself forward and embraced her, pulling her down. Sakano gasped in surprise as they fell, she laid securely on Itachi, her head rested on his chest.

"Even it is against Heaven's will; I will not let you go." He inhaled deeply. "If you leave, I'll die with you."

Sakano's eyes widened. Itachi… Itachi continued,

"You do not belong here… You belong to me."

Sakano burst into a silent sobbing. Yes, how could she forget? She belongs to him, to Itachi. She buried her face in his chest and nodded slightly. "Hai…"

Itachi stared into the grey sky. The clouds broke, letting a few rays of sunlight to shine on the earth. "Let's live… together."

"Hai…"

-.-.-.-

The Konoha ninjas came out from the underground base. The sky had brightened slightly and a gently breeze was blowing. Sasuke wrapped an arm around Hijiri's back as she leaned on him to walk. Her eyes scanned the area. Where…? Then they landed on an object on the ground. Limping forward with Sasuke, she slowly halted to a stop a few feet from it. A thin ray of sunlight shone on the crossed Konoha forehead protector.

"Nee-sama…"

End