' Get out of my head, ' Sakura snarled at Itachi.
' That is quite an inaccurate description of genjutsu coming from a valedictorian like you.'
' Don't call me smart just to please me. It makes me feel stupid.'
He smiled at her as if she pleased him despite her brusqueness and she went silent, momentarily mesmerized by him.
This wasn't fair.
He was older, had power Sakura couldn't even imagine what he could use for, was objectively prettier than Sakura - or anyone she has ever met for that matter - and Sakura felt overpowered.
She hated it.
She wanted to press her palm to the facade of his perfection and push, shatter it to pieces, just to be able to steal a glimpse at his real self. Was he nothing but power and perfection which carried him through life, above their head?
She has never been one who was fond of the little things, but now she wanted to know every meaningless detail about him; how he looks when he gets out of the shower, does he ever do anything with his hair besides putting it into a low ponytail; how does he drink his coffee; does he claim to himself those early morning hours like some people do, before he allows other people in his space?
" I have an offer for you."
Wait, what? She wasn't expecting this.
" I am listening."
" You're a skilled medical ninja."
" Is that a question or a statement?"
" I tried to ask about you from Tsunade but she was unexpectedly tight-lipped when your name came up."
" I have no idea why could that be,' Sakura said dismissively.
" Oh, but I know, so just listen. I asked a friend to look up your name... be patient, I am invading your privacy for a specific reason," he tsked when Sakura made an angry noise.
" Is that supposed to make me feel better?"
" It should. I have enough personal interest in you to do it just for the funs of it."
Sakura's skin broke out in shivers. It sounded like a menacing thing to hold Itachi's personal interest.
" He found out that the reason I couldn't find anything about you is that you were filed in a completely different category, in something like the pg, inverted version of the bingo book."
Sakura raised a brow.
" Wasn't aware."
" I didn't have enough time to study the book in detail but it seems to me that the common denominator of the names listed is that they all possess ... uncharted abilities."
Sakura held her silence, although she was confused. Why did Tsunade felt the need to put her in a book?
" That is something I can make use of. In case I interpret uncharted as 'limitless possibilities'. And I tend to do that."
" I ask again, what do you need me for?" Sakura asked impatiently.
" I need you to help me," he said softly, the vast depth of his eyes not carrying a single emotion.
" I already did," Sakura frowned.
With a sigh he walked to her, his tall frame blocking out the light, bringing down a shadow on her. Sakura tilted her head back as his darkness settled on her.
" Feel me," he buttoned down his top, revealing the smooth skin of his chest.
" I don't have my license yet, you know," Sakura said reluctantly, but couldn't resist touching him. It felt like a gift being offered and she never refused gifts.
When she laid her palm flat on his chest, his chakra, just like in the Uchiha garden before, invaded her own. It had an aggressive nature that she never experienced before. It certainly didn't feel normal.
" I wonder how does your body uphold. It is like your chakra flow is confused. The pressure that the clashing streams in your veins must create is probably unbearably painful," Sakura murmured, her analytical skill making a map out of Itachi's body.
" Is this an inborn condition of yours?"
He nodded, and Sakura's nails dug into his skin as her hand clenched. He shouldn't even be alive right now.
" I am sorry," she jerked her hand back, watching the thin trails of blood trickling down his chest.
" Don't be. It's nothing."
They stood in an awkward, yet intimate silence, measuring each other up.
" You want me to heal you."
" I want you to heal me."
" I am not sure if you're aware of the logistics of this. I would have to put on hold my whole life for you."
" I am dying," Itachi shrugged. " I will take responsibility for the time you miss out on. I promise to compensate you properly."
" How?"
" I have my methods."
The silence ticked away on broken hands.
" What do I get for my job?"
" Besides the moral satisfaction of saving a life? Anything you want."
Sakura felt like she fell into a fairy tale, unprepared. She didn't have anything she wanted. Maybe she could take this as an opportunity to find herself something she wants.
" I will try to heal you."
Itachi slightly bent his head to signal his gratitude.
" Your life is mine, from this day, until I can give it back to you intact."
" Is this an official medical oath?" he raised one straight brow.
" The Sakura Haruno version."
" Ah, I see," the corner of his lip pulled up and Sakura's throat tightened with longing. There was something in Itachi showing joy that destroyed all her defenses.
" We should get back to Sasuke and Naruto," she said, turning away from him and the next second her senses were tipped off balance, and she blinked up at her teammate's concerned faces.