Chapter 24 – Decisions Collide
p.s please read the author's note at the end, thank you!
She woke up in the same darkness, as usual. Given that she didn't try to pry any further she just sighed in annoyance. What was it this time? She thought she settled the matters with them at least for a little while, but the situation that she unfortunately found herself in told her completely otherwise.
"What is it now? I thought we settled things already." She opened her eyes into the darkness; it felt like a black void was greeting her. The only thing telling her it wasn't just a usual dream, was the feeling of a familiar black fog that ghosted and curled over her feet lightly, like a cat rubbing its cheeks against its owners' legs in a loving manner.
However, what came at her next was something she absolutely did not expect.
"RUN!" It wasn't one voice, no, it felt like a thousand voices that washed over her with a gush of strong wind, nearly knocking out all the air from her lungs. It was a powerful roar, one that had her shivering. All the unexpected anxiety she felt now was starting to manifest itself physically.
A feeling of dread crawled under and over her skin as her eyes widened, a pure bliss of shock washed over her like a bucket of cold water.
What is happening?
"What is happening? Why do you want me to run?" Sakura managed to get some words out, her voice nearly lost in the darkness.
"Abandon the mission, get out of here. Get away as far as you can." The mixed voices told her hurriedly and if she could've described the voices in one word it would've been – panic.
"But why?" She was honestly confused; however, it wasn't the confusion that scared her to the bone, no, it was the answer that she heard next.
"He is here, and he already knows…he is coming for you." She heard one distinct voice as they started separating one by one, almost dissolving into the dark, empty space.
"Who? Just who is coming? How can you not tell me when my life is at risk? Even at a time like this?!" She struggled as words just spilt from her mouth and she nearly choked trying to breathe. Her eyes were laced with pure panic as she slumped down to her knees into what seemed like nothingness, enveloped by pure darkness.
Was everything that she did up till now deemed useless? Was all this pain she went through meaningless? What was even the point if she was going to end up like this anyways…? Useless…useless…useless. She was already blaming herself, just like she always did. An old habit of hers.
"I'm afraid that none of us came close enough to figure out his name or identity." She heard one of the voices finally splitting apart. It was Mito, she couldn't mistake this voice for anyone else. "All of us just share just one memory collectively. It was always the same picture for all of us. Unfortunately, we all shared the same fate till our last breath. And the fate that met us always held the same pair of red eyes, eyes that were tainted with despair in a shape of the darkest stars."
Sakura palmed the side of her face, her fingers trembled as she dropped her gaze down, green eyes fell to her knees as her form slumped even further, embracing the black space around her to the fullest. Her mouth involuntarily opened, the vice grip on her throat tightened, making swallowing become almost impossible. Tears began to prick Sakura's eyes, the stinging sensation causing her to close them tightly, shutting the empty world out of her sight.
"It's too late to run then…none of this matters if he knows about me already." She shook her head lightly, with a tinge of desperation to it. Her voice was a mere whisper as her hand was almost clawing the side of her own face.
"Do you want to live or die, Heiress?" She heard another voice almost interrupting her. It wasn't soft like Mito's, no it was harsh, harsher than any kunai that ever sliced her skin. It was Ume's voice.
"Does it matter now? The outcome will still be the same, whatever that thing is. It knows where to find me." She laughed bitterly; a manic sound left her mouth as she looked up into the blackness. Her eyes still stung as she sighed tiredly.
"I won't run, don't ask me again, there is no point in doing that… It will only drag out the inevitable." She continued, emphasizing her words for someone to listen to. Her heart was thumping in her chest almost painfully. Cold sweat covered her skin from head to toe as she shivered, a dull, aching pain was spreading from the middle of her chest onwards to the rest of her body.
"Heire- "She heard Ume's voice again, but someone interrupted the spirit; it was a voice of a wiser, older spirit that spoke out.
"She has a point." She heard Tsubaki's stern voice interrupting. "She can't stop the inevitable, but maybe she can change the outcome. Maybe she will be the one to end the cycle of despair if she will confront it."
Sakura felt a strange warmness pressing against her cheek, as if someone was comforting her. She didn't move, just stayed still against this foreign touch.
"Tsubaki-sama this is insa-" It was Mito who spoke out this time, her voice was almost desperate as she got interrupted as well.
"Silence." Tsubaki's voice held a tone of finality to it, shutting down any type of protest that might've occurred. There was a moment of silence before she spoke again, more firmly this time. "One last chance Sakura, you know what to do. Do it right this time. No hesitation, and most importantly no regrets."
A lone, crystal clear tear slid down alongside the swell of Sakura's cheek as she blinked slowly, her gaze was blurred.
Was she ready to embrace the unknown? Was she ready to face the destiny that was laid out in front of her? Was she ready to abandon everything for even the slightest chance to protect everyone she held dear? Her fears and demons roared inside her chest like never before, clawing with their fangs from inside out, trying to make their way out. Sweat dripped down her temple as it finally mixed with the salty liquid that lingered on the apple of her cheek.
An inaudible sigh. A rustle of her hand against her clothing.
"Fine." A low, long growl erupted directly from the depths of her tightened throat. A warm hand drew away from her frozen cheek, the only speck of sentiment in this forsaken and haunted place.
She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"I will carry the rest of the burden; I will be your final weapon." A black shadow covered the upper part of her face, exposing only a deep, cold line of her lips. "After all, I always felt like I had no control over any decisions in my life. I was just an empty vessel, ready to be filled to the brim. But this time I am making my own choice. Right here and right now. I'm pledging even at the cost of my own life." She stared blankly into the darkness, but her eyes grew brighter with each second, a green hue was lighting up the dark space around her.
"How long do I have?" She asked almost forcefully, without letting her voice drop. Maybe, just maybe she could plan something in advance. But as one said, expect the unexpected.
"We…. we aren't sure…" All she got was an uncertain response. She closed her eyes, manicured nails dug into the palm of her right hand as she fisted it. She held up her left arm, palming her forehead before running her long fingers over her scalp. A nervous habit.
"Ah, so any minute then…" a throaty chuckle left her lips as she sighed again whilst standing up, a strong force of wind formed around her, pushing the air out of her lungs. Her long hair dangled in the air around her like a halo.
"I'll take your place in the search for the truth. You won't have to bear all of this pain all by yourselves anymore." Each word that left her mouth was more assured as her confidence increased, it echoed into the abyssal darkness.
She felt a pull against her shoulders, a strong pressure that fell onto her like a desperate prayer.
Then there was a soft whisper against the shell of her ear.
"Save us, Heiress."
She nodded.
"I'll fix everything, and then you will be able to leave this place." She smiled brightly, even as she shook from the inside. She was trying to choke down her growing emotions just long enough before she would return to her own reality.
The next second everything around her dissipated with a gush of warm wind and just for a moment she felt a bright ray of hope descending upon her. After all, all she had left was hope that she carried within herself.
Her eyes sprung open.
Light. Her sensitive eyes were met with the harsh light that seeped into the room despite the thick curtains that hung around the window.
Sakura was startled; body jerking and eyes widening while scanning the room for a clock.
She sat up in her bed, cold sweat lingered on her skin as she raked her hand through the length of her hair. Small puffs of hot air left her mouth as her eyes became misty. It was hard to breathe. She threw off the blanket that was wrapped around her body.
Her feet touched the cold ground as she weakly stood up.
So, which one will it be? Shisui or Itachi?
She felt like the most despicable human in the world.
The air surrounding Sakura was seemingly getting thicker by the second, sucking all the oxygen out of the room. Too many emotions were flooding her system, and she wasn't sure which one was causing the paralysis in her limbs, or the strangled noises that left her throat.
Everything will be okay, she tried to remind herself. She was ready. It was okay.
She choked again.
No, no it wasn't. Nothing in her life has been okay for the longest time. She had to make choices that she didn't want to. And she had to make them now.
She didn't want to hurt anyone, but that didn't mean she wouldn't.
Was it too selfish to ask this of Shisui? Of course, it was. He was always her first choice after all, however he hasn't made his decision, yet. Unfair. She couldn't force him. It wouldn't work. Too complicated. All she asked for was to be by his side, nothing else. It didn't matter what happened between the two of them last night. It meant nothing unless he made a clear and constructed decision.
She hoped he would make his decision, but even if he would agree to her proposal, that didn't mean he would be willing to claim her. His acceptance didn't have a premise of physical contact. Shisui held feelings for someone else and she was already asking for far too much. She wanted him, but did he want her just as much? She didn't know if she would be able to deal with the aftermath of things. Maybe she was too broken already, numbed to the point of accepting things just the way they are, unfiltered.
She already knew that she felt something for him, something far more than just a simple attraction. He brought out the hidden desire and lust, but that wasn't it. He brought something far brighter into her life. With the late spring breeze that carried the pale pink petals along the way, he brought her something far more undeniable. And that feeling was wrapped and snuggled into one simple word - love.
Unfortunately, that left only one person in her list. Uchiha Itachi. Once again, it was a selfish, greedy decision. But didn't he ask her what she wanted? Maybe he wanted the exact same thing? She felt that there was something more behind that dark gaze of his, something dark and predatory that flickered in the depth of his abyssal eyes.
Balled fists were brought to her eyes, as Sakura squeezed them tightly, silently willing the tears not to form. She choked back the sob threatening to spill over, the stinging behind her eyes fading as she was counting her breaths in measured puffs. Crying won't solve anything, won't change what's happening right now.
She wasn't sure what she felt towards this man. Her emotions were shackled, mixed with uncertainty. Wallowing in self-loathing sounded appealing to Sakura at this very moment, but she knew it was a slippery spiral.
She wasn't sure what Uchiha Itachi was to her. Her teacher? Her Anbu teammate? Was he something more? Was there something deeper? One thing she knew was that she cared about him, even despite the fact that she barely knew anything about him. He was an outstanding shinobi, a prodigy, the best among best. And most importantly he had a kind heart.
He didn't deserve to be involved into all of this mess.
But then again, wasn't he involved too deep already? His involvement, although, perhaps involuntary was still there, nonetheless. It was a fact, and a proven one at that. Could she ask more? She didn't know. Sakura could only guess what was going on in his head, but she couldn't predict.
Her mind was moving a mile a minute as she raced through all the potential options and endings for this unfortunate scenario.
Sakura pulled a deep breath into her lungs.
She had to try.
She threw a loose shirt over her head followed by a pair of black spandex shorts that clung to her thighs like a second skin.
She hastily moved to the door, fingers curling around the cold metal as she pressed down, pulling the door towards herself.
A soft knock came from the other side of the door.
He stood by the lone wooden door at the end of the hallway. His expression was stoic, a part of his usual mask that he carried with him everywhere.
He sighed heavily, raking a hand through his dark locks, closing his eyes tightly. Remember why you are doing this, he reminded himself, steadying his breathing. Remember who this benefits, he reassured himself.
He heard a soft rustling behind the door. Good, at least that meant she was awake, he wouldn't have to stir her additionally. What he was about to do will be more than enough damage.
He knocked softly, his other hand already reaching for the handle, about to grasp it before the door swung open in front of him.
A small, petite form stood behind the now open door. She looked dishevelled, adorned with a loose shirt that clung to her skin despite being oversized, falling just over her thighs. She rocked a strong bed hair, but the messy image was still somehow attractive in his dark eyes.
Sakura pulled away quickly, the door opening as her eyes met the younger Uchiha's charcoal ones before she even had a chance to breathe.
"Itachi." She breathed; her eyes searched for something within that stoic expression of his.
Itachi didn't move, didn't say anything despite her confrontation and clear usage of his name, and for a minute Sakura was worried that he didn't hear her.
"Sakura." He rasped, slowly, letting the moment flow by.
"Help me." It was a desperate plea that fell out of her lips, one that was carried out with the softness of her voice and accompanied by a soft sob.
His heart stopped.
His gaze fell on Sakura, soft yet cool, without any emotion, dark eyes unmoving. She brought her hand to her chest, her expression full of distress.
"What is it?"
Something in his chest flipped as she bit her lip, teeth sinking into the rosy flesh.
"Would you like to come in first?" Her gaze fell to the ground as she frowned, fine brows arched slightly as she moved her head to the side, almost avoiding him completely.
He walked in without waiting, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. She moved aside, sitting on the edge of her bed, running a hand through the length of her hair in hopes of taming it at least a little bit. She chewed her bottom lip nervously, hands fiddling in her lap as she still held the same troubled expression.
He leaned against the door; lean, muscled arms laced against his chest as he looked at her through the darkness of his bangs.
He didn't ask her the same question again; he knew she was working on the answer already. Itachi was waiting, waiting patiently for an answer and that in itself made him feel somewhat uneasy. He rarely was in situations like this.
She faced him, a small, barely there smile played on her lips. She looked…exhausted, but he couldn't put his finger on it to pinpoint why exactly.
Slowly, she lifted up her arm, long fingers softly brushing away soft pink bangs that framed her face, revealing her forehead. His gaze fell on the small rhombus, to an untrained eye it could've looked like it simply was an unusual birth mark, but he knew better than that. He knew what it was for a long time already. He almost felt guilty.
Was his curiosity really worth it?
"You always knew, right?" Her hand dropped into her lap; disheveled strands of hair fell over her eyes again as she faced the white ceiling.
He swallowed a few times, then nodded firmly before answering.
"Yes." It was a simple answer, only one word, but it was filled with raw honesty.
"I had a feeling." She sighed, closing her eyes for a brief moment." Shisui wouldn't have let you get close to me if that wasn't the case." Her eyelashes fluttered as she faced the bright white ceiling once again.
He remained silent, unsure if he should speak out or let her collect her thoughts before continuing.
"Even so, you probably would've figured it out. After all you are known to be an observant man, Itachi." Her voice was almost chilling, but still held the softness of a lullaby as she spoke.
He didn't answer as he masked his rapidly beating heart under the mask of indifference. He looked at her, his charcoal gaze skimmed past her now solemn features as she turned her head over to his side with a slight tilt.
Their gazes met, eternal emerald clashing with the abyss of raging darkness. Her eyes reminded him of a spring nymph, so bright and intense it almost hurt looking at her in this direct light. It was an unusual pair of eyes, so sharp he thought that they were able to cut through the threads of fate itself.
Haruno Sakura was no usual woman; it was a fact that he was accustomed to from the very beginning.
Looking into those eyes of forest green he almost thought that maybe, just maybe he could love her.
But she didn't deserve just a maybe, she deserved a more definite answer.
But what did she want? What was the cost of her plea? He could only wonder silently.
"Use your Sharingan on me." That was all she said as her voice dissipated into the room, swallowed by the heavy sounds of storm outside. Raindrops fell and smashed against the clear glass window as her lips formed a tight line.
His eyes slightly narrowed, trying to pry out an answer directly from her eyes alone. It was only this one time that he couldn't read her. Her expression gave nothing away even if her eyes brimmed with emotions he couldn't quite understand.
His gaze dropped as he walked across the room, fast and steady strokes until he was directly in front of her. Her tight expression broke Itachi's demeanor, and he immediately stopped only to kneel in front of Sakura. He leaned in closely and she caught a distinct smell of rain and sandalwood mixed together pleasantly. It was a comforting smell, one that she thought she would like to feel once more.
She swallowed as their eyes met again, his eyes slowly changed their color from pitch black to the crimson red.
"Is that what you want?" He was still captivated by her presence alone, even as he asked her for her full consent.
"Yes." She murmured; hot breath fell over his face like a morning mist. Cool and wet.
"Very well then."
Sakura's gaze was unmoving as she stared into the feral red eyes. She was refusing to blink, enchanted by the bright color of his Sharingan.
He drew his hand to her face slowly, cupping her cheek with care, his thumb brushed over the swell of her cheek with precision. His touch lingered on her skin for far longer than it was appropriate, her skin soft against his rough hand.
Red started mixing with black, spinning and circling in his eyes like the deepest wild waters, full of unknown mystery. Her vision started swimming as her lids grew heavy until they fell over her eyes completely.
He stood surrounded by pitch darkness. The redness of his eyes was still present as he tried observing his surroundings without any luck.
Suddenly, someone delicately grabbed his hand. The touch was warm, so, so warm it almost felt like a ray of sunshine in between his fingers, yet he still couldn't see anything. It was a black void without any light.
"You won't see anything; you can only hear." A smooth voice spoke out. He knew this voice, a voice that was like a whisper against his ears, so gentle and tender. "Let's go Itachi, I'm afraid I don't have much time in this case." Sakura tugged him by his arm, and he followed without raising any questions.
He didn't know where they were going, it felt like it was quite a long walk and the darkness around them remained still. The silence between them was thick like a heavy blanket, the only sound between them being the resonate of their shared footsteps that echoed endlessly.
She stopped abruptly and so did he. Once again, he didn't question her verbally, but the way his fine brow arched upwards was more than enough of an indication that there was something lingering on his mind. Of course, she couldn't see it, but it wasn't a matter of seeing, no, it was simply a matter of feeling.
"Just listen." Was all she said as her presence slowly disappeared, the warmth he felt in between his fingertips crumbled away.
What happened next left him speechless.
He heard a loud roar.
The fragments of various voices reverberated through his chest. He could hear a call from where he was standing.
Time stood still.
Sakura's eyes snapped open as she inhaled sharply. She pressed her palm against her rapidly beating heart, her eyes were dancing wildly as she faced him again, just in time to see his own eyes fluttering open.
"Will you help me?" She asked again, almost breathlessly, her voice seemed quiet against the sound of heavy drops of rain outside. There was a relentless storm in her heart, way bigger than the one raging just outside her window.
"I might have an idea." His fingers never left her face, still caressing her skin affectionally, brushing just below her bottom lashes. "Are you ready for your last lesson, Sakura?" He breathed.
Her eyes widened, heavy thoughts flickered behind the brightness of her gaze as she gaped at him, surprised by his choice of words. She couldn't understand the meaning behind his words. What was he planning?
"You don't think I'm selfish, do you, Itachi?" She averted her gaze in shame, biting her bottom lip once again, teeth sinking into abused skin as the shadow of her lashes fell against her face. She shouldn't have asked.
"I avoided your question last time and now I am basically asking for the very same thing that was implied as one of the options. Ironic isn't it?" She gripped her shirt in hopes to prevent her hand from trembling.
"Why did you come here anyways?" Her voice had an edge to it.
Just what she was thinking? Was she refusing him or was she accepting his help? She was conflicted and her words were contradicting.
Itachi chuckled lightly, easing the tense air around them, pulling her focus back to him, a soft smile graced his usually stoic face.
"Well, to be honest I actually came here to teach you a lesson. So, will you trust me, just this last time, Sakura?"
She didn't have any more words to spare as she nodded lightly, a silent agreement. She didn't dare to question him, only trusting his judgment.
Itachi rose from his kneeling position, moving to join Sakura on the bed with a soft plop. His arm slowly fell away from her face, fingers brushing one last time over her skin as he took her hand instead.
Honestly, this was not something Itachi was expecting. The question that hung between them seemed to merge into one unclear answer that connected both of his options together.
He was supposed to teach her, so at what point did his professionalism decided to dissipate all together? He couldn't tell. He always found himself being captivated by the long haired kunoichi; she was a mystery on its own. Like a pandora box waiting to be opened. She gave him a rush of excitement, always so full of surprises, full of life and emotion.
He was supposed to be her teacher in the art of seduction, but when did he cross the line? When did his curiosity turned into something more? When was the first time he thought of fucking her? That was also something he didn't know.
His calm demeanour was lost when it came to her, she was such an enigma turned into a rich honey, so sweet and calling. And who said Itachi didn't have a selfish side to him as well? Of course, he was loyal to his village, duty always came first and that went without a question. However, just this once Itachi wanted to indulge in something he couldn't have.
The same thought flickered again. Maybe, just maybe he could love her? But could he? There were too many obstacles in their path already and he was aware of her feelings for his cousin. It couldn't work even if he wanted to and he wasn't dumb enough to ignore the longing looks Shisui gave her behind her back. He knew better than that.
It was only just this once that Itachi actually came in without any hidden intentions, his mission goal was clear and steady. He was supposed to teach her a jutsu, one that would allow her to put the highly classified targets into a sinful genjutsu, one that would simulate the act of sex precisely.
She was more than capable of learning something like that rather quickly, her chakra control was a good proof of that, a talent even amongst the crowd of highly skilled shinobi.
He could only do one thing and he made that decision clear already. He made that decision straight away whilst he was faced with the situation in Sakura's head. All that happened in front of him made him listen closely to everything that has been said and shared, even if it was bizarre. He knew better than to question, they could fail their mission any time, in a way it was a heavy decision to make.
His choice was a little bit selfish, especially, coming from someone like Itachi, but even so, he couldn't help himself. If it was the only piece of her, he was allowed to have, then he couldn't help but want it. His selflessness be damned, not this time.
He didn't know if this would work, but it was worth a shot. If this wouldn't work, then it's all on Shisui. Based on their earlier interactions, especially after yesterday, Itachi was doubtful that his cousin would refuse the offer.
"Sakura?" He asked.
"Yes?" She turned to Itachi.
"Remember this is a lesson. Okay?" He emphasized the word lesson, wanting to make sure she understood what was about to happen.
"Okay." Her answer was cut short, but somehow it made him feel more at ease.
"In theory this is supposed to help with our mission… and it might deal with your own problem as well. In other words, two for one." He was avoiding talking about sex directly, he could see that she was stressed more than enough already. He didn't want to add to her distress even more by pushing her and reminding her why she was doing all of this.
Sakura knew she had no choice, the success of this mission laid on her bare shoulders like a heavy weight and more importantly - her life was at stake as well. Even so, she still couldn't control her messy and disrupted thoughts. What if this won't work? What if she will fuck up somehow? Can she ask more than this? Can she ask Itachi to do more than he was willing to give already? They both knew what she needed; they both knew the price.
She felt like a horrible person for having doubts. She didn't know what to expect, how could she concentrate on doing something so delicate when all she could think about was how to succeed with both of her missions?
Sakura shook her head and took a deep breath, an air of seriousness settling around her.
His hand left hers.
"Here's what I have in mind. What if you were to invite one of the members that took interest in you into the back room and question him during foreplay? This should work since I don't see them as the type to share, especially the shark man. He seemed to be the most interested in you."
He saw a pink flush instantly rise in her cheeks at the word but pressed on anyway.
"Once you will have the information you need, you could perform a sleeping jutsu and knock him out while his guard is down, giving you the time to implant false memories of having sex with him into his head via genjutsu. If you supply enough detail, more than likely he may not even know the difference if you will provide him with a good enough performance beforehand."
At first Sakura seemed shocked by the idea, but as the initial surprise wore off, her expression turned thoughtful.
"Do you really think it would work?" She asked skeptically, still looking a little unnerved at the idea. It was a double-sided question, touching both sides of the subject. She knew she had to think about the mission first and foremost, but her own personal problems mattered just as much if not even more in this case. She was running out of time quickly.
"I don't see why not," he replied. "As long as you make the memories vivid and include sensory details. Even if they're highly skilled shinobi, I doubt they'd bother to question it as long as they feel satisfied. You are more than capable of doing something like this, Sakura."
Sakura swallowed hard. Itachi made it sound so easy, but could she really do it? Yes, she had a bit of experience, but that definitely was not enough. Not enough to be able to falsify vivid memories. The whole idea of making such a jutsu believable might be just a little problematic for her.
She needed to try it out on someone who could give her some pointers on how to make it better, and that left only one person – Itachi.
"Itachi I-"
"Look closely." He interrupted her swiftly, his voice was stern and calm as he spoke, leaving no place to argue further. This had to be done.
When he finally saw her eyes fall to his hands, he started making hand signs, one after another, quick and precise, like he has done it a hundred of times already. She didn't expect anything less from this man, she was not surprised in the slightest.
"Repeat these signs." He simply commanded her, and she nodded.
Fortunately enough this was a short one compared to some of the incredibly lengthy ones she had seen for some genjutsu. She almost sighed in relief when she managed to master the signs upon her first try.
"Trap me in a sleep jutsu first and then perform the one I just showed you. Summon your chakra to your fingertips and place them at my temples and from there, implant the memories via chakra transfer. Include every detail you can because that will make it more realistic. Understood?" Even right now his voice still remained calm, laced with upmost professionalism and control, just like it always was.
"What? Like right now?" Sakura said, trying to keep the shyness out of her voice as she questioned him.
"Yes, right now Sakura." Itachi sighed closing his eyes for a brief second.
Those were facts that Sakura couldn't argue with, but it did nothing to soothe her rapidly rising panic. Clearly, she had not been thinking this through when she thought about her inexperience and Itachi just happened to voice her thoughts out for her. Now she had gone and backed herself into a corner leaving her no choice but to comply with his command.
"L-lay down then." She murmured, shifting around the bed uncomfortably as she moved aside.
"Of course." He said as he took a deep breath to calm himself and settled back, getting comfortable as Sakura crawled onto the bed and kneeled at his side.
A part of him was excited knowing this was the closest to having sex with the woman before him as he would get. But another, more rational part of him was quite aware that the memories she would implant would no doubt exacerbate his fixation with her exponentially.
Sakura noticed that her partner wasn't entirely comfortable with this situation either, but that was just too bad because it had to be done. With that being said she had a sneaking suspicion that projecting images of them having passionate sex wasn't going to help the awkward situation between them.
"Begin." Itachi said, settling back against the pillows, waiting patiently for her to make a move. The faster they are done the less damage there would be.
The pink haired medic made the hand signs for the sleep jutsu she knew so well. She used it often to help her patients at the hospital get to sleep when they were in too much pain to do so otherwise. Her fingers immediately glowed a soft green and she touched them softly to Itachi's temples, moving the silky, raven black strands away from his face momentarily.
Soon enough drowsiness overtook him, the last thing he saw were the very same green eyes that saved his life once before. The smell of peaches entered his system as his breathing instantly evened out and his muscles went slack, signaling that he was indeed soundly asleep.
Well, the easy part was over. Now came the real challenge. Just what was it with the challenges and Uchiha men? How did she get herself into these kind of situations?
She leaned to hover over him but discovered the position was slightly awkward since she was on one side of him. Straddling him would make things a whole lot easier.
She looked at his peaceful form for a moment, debating whether or not she should do it. Oh, what the hell, it's not like he was going to know about it anyway; he was out for good.
She slung a thigh over his hips so that a knee rested on either side of his slender body. Immediately she could feel his body heat through her own clothing and the steady rise and fall of his chest beneath her. He was hard and toned; all firm muscle and dormant strength and the feel of her pelvis resting against his made her heart palpitate like a butterfly trapped in her very own chest.
She leaned in further, her breath ghosting over his face as she looked at him. He looked serene and peaceful under her spell and she wondered if there was ever a chance that this man was not the epitome of tranquil even while awake. A small part of her hoped so, because right now she couldn't help but think that the man laid out in front of her was absolutely gorgeous.
Slowly, she lowered her face to his until they were nose to nose. She could feel his warm breath puffing evenly against her cheek. Just this once she felt in control while being with him, she felt like she could do anything. She ran her tongue over her own parted lips in anticipation before sinking the final few inches to brush her lips against his, feeling the silky texture slide across her skin. Even though Itachi was unresponsive, a spark sizzled up and down her spine at the contact.
Fuck what she was thinking? Even worse. What was she even doing?
She waited atop him, sitting bolt upright and stiff, waiting for him to open his eyes and ask what the hell she was doing on top of him, but he continued to breathe deeply and evenly without any other indications that he was about to wake up.
It didn't help that she had all of those previous encounters with him and just for a second she found herself wishing he was awake and aware of what she was doing. Would he like it? Would he be willing to let her do something more? She couldn't even really say why she had done it other than on pure impulse.
She waited a moment more, making sure that Itachi would remain asleep before letting out a breath she hadn't even known she had been holding in. As much as she wanted to keep staring at his handsome face, she figured it was time to get down to the actual business. There was no time to waste.
And there she was just a moment later, making the five signs he had shown her and summoning the chakra to her fingertips. Gingerly, she touched the pads of her fingers to his temples and let her chakra slip beneath the surface of his skin and into the nerves and synapses that made up his brain. There, she began to insert imagery of all kinds; sights, smells, touch, sounds, all the sensations she could conjure up in her fictional scenario of what would happen if the clothes separating them melted away along with their inhibitions.
She found the task a little more difficult than she had planned. Beneath her, she could feel his heart began to beat faster in his chest, no doubt in response to the graphic stimulus she was sending him. Her own breath was coming in short pants as she tried to imagine the sensation of her fingers dragging over his well sculpted body and transmitted the fictional information into Itachi's brain.
At this very moment Sakura felt incredibly grateful for all of those lessons Itachi gave her beforehand. The experiences she had shared with him helped her tremendously and she had no problem imagining what she wanted to do with him. However, it also reminded her of those long, heavy nights and denied orgasms that weren't helping the cause at all as her breath hitched in response.
But with Itachi it wasn't just denied orgasms and tension, no, she couldn't forget that one time with him even if she wanted to. That one time when he was generous enough to leave her with a reward, a reward that left her breathless and unable to fall asleep for many nights to come after that.
She would use that against him, putting that newfound knowledge to good use. She will use the art of seduction against him, just like she did that time. If he will fall under her spell, then she can do this. She will have hope.
The feel of skin on skin, her hand around his length, her back arching in pleasure, the tight, liquid feeling of him inside her, all of these things she projected into his memory as best she could, using her imagination to fill in the gaps that he himself and her own inexperience left. Even though she was trying very hard to concentrate solely on the task at hand, she felt her own body reacting to her thoughts and the fact she was straddling him didn't help. The space between her thighs was beginning to grow hot and every time she shifted, she would rub against his body unknowingly. The aching sensation inside her was enough to make her wonder what other parts of his body she could explore while he was asleep, but she would never go that far.
She had done a lot of unthinkable and inexcusable things already. She only hoped that he wouldn't know she had burned every detail of him into her memory. The kiss too, would be her secret alone.
With the last memory implanted, the glowing chakra at her fingertips faded away and she reluctantly moved off of him, her body instantly missing his warmth and the dull throb between her legs yearning for more contact. Now all she had to do was wake him up.
She sat beside him cross legged, facing the headboard and his sleeping face. Grudgingly, she placed a hand on his shoulder and shook him gently, not really wanting to disturb him from his slumber when he looked so peaceful, especially with what he was in for next. He was unnaturally slow in waking, his shinobi reflexes dulled by her sleeping jutsu, and it took a moment for his eyes to flutter open.
"Sakura?" He mumbled sleepily, wondering why she hadn't implanted the memories into him, when suddenly the delayed response hit him and everything, she had transferred into his brain came to the surface all at once.
Sakura watched his dark eyes widen as the effects of what she had done finally caught up with him and she knew that right about now, he was living out the fantasy she had created.
The fantasy started the moment she had put him out, making it seem like instead of falling asleep, other events took place. His eyes instantly went crimson red as he palmed his face, fingers clutching his sleek bangs as his mouth dropped open with surprise.
She leaned in shyly, plump lips parted slightly as she pressed them to his, deepening the kiss almost immediately as her hands moved to tug at the hem of his black mesh shirt impatiently. In moments, the clothing between them was peeled away, revealing her beautiful body to him and even the false memory of her naked form was enough to make his heart beat faster and his blood rush to an area below his waist.
Then she was on top of him, kissing him hungrily as her hand came to encircle a very stiff part of his anatomy, squeezing it teasingly before pumping up and down his length. She alternated long smooth strokes with rubbing her fingers over the head of his cock, lubricating him with the beads of moisture leaking from the tip.
Itachi's eyes hastily turned to the real Sakura sitting right before him, watching him expectantly, green eyes filled with nervousness. His cock twitched in his pants as he wondered just what had inspired her to do such a thing and what other sexual acts, she had logged away in that sinful brain of hers.
The memory was a little vague on how it had felt, only that it had been quite good, but when she finally abandoned him with her hand and instead moved to straddle him, she had been quite explicit with the imagery of her own body, making every curve vivid in his mind. Not that she was overdoing it, no, in all honesty she really did look like that, if his explicit encounters in the form of lessons from before were anything to go by. It didn't help that he had seen her nearly naked quite a several number of times, and on quite a few occasions he was also the reason as to why she was shedding the clothes off her body in the first place.
More images flashed past by as Sakura steadied herself with her palms on his chest and lowered herself onto him, his cock was at full attention in his pants, uncomfortably stiff in the confined space under the waistband of his boxers.
However, when she began to move atop him, things grew a little fuzzy. Soft sounds of pleasure escaped her lips, but he couldn't see her lips form them, in fact, her face blurred in and out of focus the whole time. This was fine considering most of the men she would be with didn't give a damn about her face, but Itachi had always found the sight of a woman's face contorted in pleasure could be almost as satisfying as his own release. Their little encounter a while ago was a good proof of that, even if it left him with a lot of sleep-deprived nights along the way.
The faded and blurry spots in the illusion could simply be blamed on alcohol or even the haze of lust so in all honesty Itachi wasn't too worried about it. She continued riding him to completion, her firm muscles working as she bounced up and down, breath coming in erratic pants and moans until she finally threw her head back and cried out a moment before he exploded within her and filled her with his seed, a low, animalistic groan coming from him.
The jutsu had worked well as far as he could see. If he was a man just looking for a quick fuck, he probably wouldn't question any slight discrepancies as long as he felt satisfied afterwards. The only problem was that he didn't. He didn't feel like he had just had sex and that was a definite problem in his eyes. Or maybe that was just his own problem, because he didn't get the exact image that he wanted. After all Sakura had no way of knowing what kind of fantasies, he had carried towards her. It was clear that whoever it will be, the members of Akatsuki were more than likely just searching for a quick fuck, they didn't carry overflowing fantasies towards the pink haired woman.
"Itachi are you okay?" Sakura asked nervously, her hand still lingered over his shoulder. "Did it work? Did I do something wrong? I feel like I might've overdone it." She bit her lip eying him. "Fuck, I've definitely overdone it." She groaned in frustration without waiting for his answer.
Itachi tried to pull himself together as best as he could, ignoring the massive erection in his pants even though it throbbed painfully, and his fingers itched to touch her and see if she was as smooth and soft as her memories made her out to be.
"For the most part, yes. The memories you created with the help of this jutsu were good enough." He licked the dryness off his lips with a slick motion.
"However, you could work on the clarity of things, some of the scenes... seemed a bit fuzzy." He did his best giving the most constructive feedback, mentally adding, 'But that might've had something to do with the fact that I have my own close-to-unholy fantasies regarding you,' to the end of it.
Itachi slowly sat up, folding his hands in his lap as he casually tried to hide the large bulge there. Fortunately, he didn't think she had noticed it as she was more interested in his feedback rather than his wide-awake cock.
"Think you could make things a little bit more precise and clear? Your facial expressions that is." he asked, a slight blush crept up over the tips of his ears even as his expression remained stone cold.
"Oh." She mumbled quietly. "Oh." She mumbled out another time, more clearly this time, face full of burning embarrassment.
"Should I try again then?" Sakura was thoughtful a moment, continuing her nervous chewing on her already heavily abused bottom lip.
"No." He shook his head firmly as if emphasizing the point even further. "I will show you how it's done, besides at this very moment we seem to have other important things that have to be dealt with." His lips were pursed into a tight line, fine brows furrowed slightly.
Sakura sighed heavily, raking a hand through her hair before bringing it back to her lap.
"That's only fair I guess..." her voice trailed off, eyes clouding with vivid memories that she shared with Itachi just moments ago.
Itachi's mouth relaxed at her words, however the small concern was still evident, but not as prominent in his features.
He already knew none of this would work out. He knew it from the very start. The seal that was embedded onto her forehead gave no indication of loosening up under his skillful touch. All he could do was leave her with one last fantasy, a greedy reward that he aimed to claim for himself.
It was wrong, fuck, it felt so wrong letting her feel all of this even if he knew it was bound to fail, but he couldn't help himself. He wanted to leave some sort of evidence on her, even if it was engraved in the depth of her mind, rather than her body. That was more than enough of a reward to keep his sanity intact.
Itachi knew that if the roles were reversed, he'd be more than just a bit bitter. Fuck, he already felt bitter even at the expense of what he was about to do. Sakura was getting nothing from this deal, at this very moment her only hope was bound to be Shisui, because as much as Itachi would hate to admit it – his older cousin was the one her heart longed for.
He couldn't help her even if he wanted to. It wouldn't work, not now, not ever. He also knew that his cousin would've agreed to her deal at this very moment, there was barely anything he could hide from Itachi. He knew him too well.
She stared at him, the greenness of her eyes almost making him forget what he is about to do.
"Sakura stop staring. There's nothing to say."
"What do you mean? There is SO much to say! For starters, I'm sorry, you don't have to do this, please don't hate me - "
"None of that is necessary. I already know all that. And I don't hate you."
Sakura was about to open her mouth again before the dark-haired man shoot her a pointed glare.
"Seriously, Sakura. I mean it. There is nothing to apologize for. I told you this was a lesson, didn't I?"
"I know, but it just feels wrong. I-" She tried to argue.
"I got you. You're okay, you're with me," His voice dripped like honey down her skin, warmth following each word even if his words were wrapped up in lies. He always knew exactly what she was thinking, exactly what she needed. Even so, he couldn't do much to help her and maybe that was on him.
He pulled her close with one swift movement. Sakura gasped as he placed his warm hand at the nape of her neck, finally cutting the short distance between their lips. His kiss was rough, all gnashing of teeth and bruising lips, but his touch on her skin was tender and light, tracing the contours of Sakura's body like a road map that he was keen on exploring further.
Itachi pulled away to leave a mark down her neck, a dark pink mark in the shape of his lips becoming mirror image to the now healed, invisible constellation of bruises that Shisui had left yesterday. The thought of Shisui made Sakura's heart ache, and she squeezed her eyes tightly to push the image of him out of her mind, charcoal eyes fading into complete blackness.
A bite at Sakura's collar bone made her gasp again, "Is this fake?" She asked, dropping the back of her hand directly over her eyes as she tried her best to feel less guilty about the whole situation. However, it was impossible, she couldn't just drop the last bit of morality she possessed.
Why did she kept hurting this man? Why did she kept hurting everyone she loved? Neither of them deserved this, and she didn't deserve either of them. This was all too much, and Sakura started chastising herself for being weak.
"No." he said in between the kisses. Itachi gripped her wrist and pulled it away from her face just so he could look at her. "Look at me." Came a command from his lips.
Emerald eyes flashed to meet his own molten red and imploring gaze.
His hot crimson stare melted Sakura into the mattress, her breath was helplessly ragged. He never took his eyes off her, not even as the three spiraling curves formed around his pupils. Her eyes were locked on his, she felt like a wave, captured into the open sea of red and her limbs went numb. The only thing that revealed the emotions brimming behind her betrayed gaze was the slight widening of her eyes.
"Why…?" she asked softly, her voice becoming slurred as her lids slowly grew heavy, tears prickled at the corner of her eyes, her vision increasingly became blurry.
She felt him shudder against her as he kissed her roughly once more, expert fingers pulling at her hair, to pull her close to him one last time.
"I'm sorry." His voice felt like a distant whisper in her ears, so quiet she almost missed it. With that her eyes finally fell shut. A lone single tear rolled down the swell of her cheek and her breathing evened out to a steady rhythm, indicating she was indeed asleep and far away in the fantasy world of his Tsukuyomi.
Itachi Uchiha, a man of one look. He was well known amongst shinobi of the five nations, the prodigy of genjutsu, a man who was known to use his Mangekyō Sharingan in the most offensive of ways. With both eyes, he could use Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu that trapped opponents' minds in an illusory world, altering their perception of time.
This time however, he wasn't using it to hurt or torture someone, no, this time he was using it for his own selfish needs. He was using this genjutsu to live out the deepest of his fantasies through the pink haired woman that was laying unconscious on the mattress of her bed, just inches away from him.
A drop of blood, equivalent to Sakura's own tears rolled down his face and he quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand, as if avoiding another moment of weakness.
A small smile graced his lips as he took a clear look at her calm and serene face, for once it was free of pain and worry. That was enough for him.
"I've known that this would happen for quite some time. The night after you failed to give me an answer only solidified that. You probably thought that we both wanted you to make a choice at some point, and maybe deep down, we did. But, in my heart, I always knew what your choice would be. I had prepared myself for that." his smile turned watery then, his expression bittersweet as he continued to stare at Sakura.
Long hair fanned around her face and over the pillow like a soft halo, framing her serene features in a picturesque manner. Finally, she seemed at ease, face relaxed, even if just for a moment, even if it was only within the world of Tsukuyomi. His fingers slowly moved away a stray piece of pink hair away from her face, before tucking it away behind her ear. His fingertips lingered on her cheek.
Itachi sat in silence, watching Sakura lay on the bed and breathe slowly, almost like he was counting with each inhale and exhale.
He could've joined her in the world he himself created, but he decided against it. She would be the one to live out the fantasy for them both and just the thought of it left him somewhat content. He was already selfish as it was, his own need for her unexplainable, just like everything else about her. In this case curiosity got the best out of Itachi, that much he realized, much to his disappointment.
Itachi only hoped Sakura could understand his reasoning behind this decision.
The nerves punching through his system were too much to handle, the need to do something itching beneath the surface of his skin. His fingers ached to act, but he couldn't, he wouldn't go any further.
He felt a presence outside the door, confirming the fact that Shisui was here already. He sighed slowly, fingertips brushing over her pristine skin one last time before he leaned in, pressing a soft, chaste kiss on her forehead.
"Thank you for allowing me to have this moment, Sakura." His last words to her dissipated within the sound of a heavy rain outside.
The next moment his hand was already reaching for the handle, opening the door in front of him. He inhaled the sharp, cool air that lingered in the hallway, closing the door quietly behind him.
Itachi's mouth was back on her neck, working the tender spot that made her legs weak and her mind dizzy with desire.
In between the kisses he took his precious time, stopping just to look at Sakura's face. She was blushing and breathless on the navy-blue sheets, but that was only before he leaned down to tower over her, body shadowing hers.
Itachi's lips found hers again, tongue immediately seeking its mate, while his fingers made quick work of any barrier between the two of them. Her top came off first, leaving her half-naked, skin flushed under the dim daylight. Calloused fingers began to pull at her nipples, rolling and rubbing them hard, causing Sakura to moan into his mouth.
He groaned as he pulled away from her, open mouthed kisses trailing down the pinkettes body until his mouth found her other nipple, sucking it gently. Mewls spilled from her lips as he continued his work, pausing briefly to switch nipples before he continued his journey down her sinful body.
He stopped abruptly, a question brimming inside his head.
"Sakura?" he breathed, lifting his dark eyes to meet hers.
"Mmm?" She half-moaned, pulling her attention back to him, rather than his touches.
His fingers laced with hers, bringing them up to his lips so he could brush them against her knuckles before continuing. "Can I be a bit selfish to you? I want to leave on you evidence… that I existed. I want to hold you tight and love you all night so that you can remember me forever. Can I ask that of you?"
Sakura's breath hitched in her throat; tears started to swim in her vision. God, she didn't know what kind of feeling it was, but she felt a hurricane within her ribcage, one that made her heart physically ache.
The pink haired woman nodded her head in response, not trusting her words in that moment. His lips quickly reclaimed hers, his tongue pushing into her mouth, searching. Sakura's hands weaved into his silky, long raven locks, pulling him closer to her. She needed him closer to her, surrounding her, inside of her.
This time, it was Sakura who pulled away to catch her breath, her senses numbed by the man who was on top of her.
"Sakura," He breathed, voice breaking the silence. She grasped a midnight black lock that hung around his face, swirling it in between her fingers before pulling gently at the silky strand, humming in response.
"Let me show you how much you mean to me. Let me claim you."
"You know; I was the one trying to seduce you here. And then you have to go and tell all of these things to me." She smiled weakly at his words, for some reason her heart ached even more. "But… please show me. I want it all."
His mouth crashed against hers once more, this time with more fire and passion, his mouth hungry and needing satiation. His flames combined with hers, intertwining, making the heat in the room unbearable, the need for him swelling in her gut.
Itachi's lips slowly moved away from Sakura's, moving past her jaw, touching her neck, adorning her with endless constellations of red and blue along the way. His lips fell over her chest, sliding over the valley of her now exposed breasts, showering her skin with endless bumps and shivers as one of his hands cupped one of her mounds, squeezing it gently.
His journey of exploring her body continued as Itachi slowly made his way down to her shorts, fingertips grazing her skin like hot, liquid fire, setting every inch of it ablaze. His fingers hooked under the tight material of her shorts, pulling them down with one swift motion over the expanse of her long sin-worthy legs.
He wasted no time getting rid of the last bit of underwear that adorned her glorious goddess-like body, the images of her spinning around the pole still swimming at the back of his head. He pulled her panties down, roughly, nearly ripping the delicate material apart.
Sakura was writhing underneath his touch, but something crossed her mind and she couldn't help but feel that something wasn't right. Her thoughts felt hazy, like she forgot why she was doing all of this in the first place, it almost felt like a dream… But even if it was a dream, she didn't want to wake up, it felt too good.
"Hey. Look at me, stay with me." Itachi's calm voice soothed the buzzing in her ears, interrupting her unorganized thoughts. His hand gently grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Stop overthinking this," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. "Or am I going to have to punish you?" He whispered, pressing his lips to hers once more before meeting her jade eyes.
"No." She whispered quietly.
"Hmm, I disagree," Itachi smirked down at her, waiting for her reaction.
Before Sakura could protest, she felt his hand slide down, his fingers suddenly running through her wet folds, feeling how excited for his punishment she really was.
Two of Itachi's long, strong fingers suddenly slammed into her, causing the pink haired woman to gasp loudly and arch her back, the overwhelming sensation making her dizzy. He expertly curled and curved his fingers inside her, knowing every button he had to press, every stroke that would cause her to crumble at his mercy.
He picked up his pace, his thumb finding the bundle of nerves at the top of her sex, hitting them in time with his ministrations. Sakura moaned loudly, not caring how desperate and hungry she sounded, hoping it unraveled him as much as it was unravelling her.
The pink haired kunoichi felt her orgasm building up quickly, leaving Itachi surprised at how little it took to get her so worked up.
Just as quick as they had entered her, his fingers left, and Sakura felt a cold rush at the lack of sensation. A low whine left the pink haired woman's lips before she could stop it, causing Itachi to smirk wickedly.
"Look at me." His voice was commanding, and her body was responding to him without a second thought. The eternal emerald eyes met his, the everlasting depth of his dark eyes leaving her breathless. A blush was creeping up her body as she watched him bring his fingers to his lips, sucking them gently into his mouth.
"You taste like heaven," he sighed, pulling them out with a lewd pop, as he continued to stare at her naked form, still shuddering slightly beneath him.
Itachi's lustful tone caused Sakura to arch into him, begging him with her body to continue.
He groaned as he pulled away slightly, a low rumble falling out of his mouth, his eyes wild, filling with brim darkness behind them and catching every movement of hers like a little performance, just for him.
Once again, his lips were back on her body, trailing and sucking, leaving wet patches alongside with the bruises against the pristine white skin. His lips moved lower than ever before, but not somewhere he haven't had the chance to explore yet.
Sakura gasped when his tongue found her wet heat, lapping her arousal into his mouth as he moved down her slit. His fingers joined his efforts, rubbing the bundle of nerves at her apex, causing Sakura to see stars.
His tongue continued to explore her flushed core, Sakura's moans came faster, connecting to one another as her pleasure built. She needed for him to fill her senses, lust and desire making each movement he was making against her flesh feel like a prayer.
Sakura's long fingers found his hair, tangling into the inky strands, pulling him into her forcefully.
"Itachi, I need you inside of me, please-" She groaned desperately, knowing she was quickly coming undone and wanting him to feel every inch of her desire for him in the best way she knew how.
He lifted his face from Sakura's center, tongue swiping his lips to pull the last traces of her wetness into his mouth. He crawled on top of her until he was lined up at her entrance, hands on either side of her head to hover above her.
"Give me all of yourself, Sakura." His voice fell over her like crushed velvet and with one last lingering look into her eyes, he brought his lips down to kiss her once more, tongues swirling as he thrust forcefully inside of Sakura, making her vision dance with stars before she closed her eyes in pure bliss that was mixed with a hint of undoubtedly raw pain.
They stayed like that for a moment, before she slowly started squirming beneath him. He complied to her silent wishes, starting to move gently. Every time his hips met hers, his voice was in her ear, whispering sweet and soft praises, words of adoration mingling with her moans and gasps. He moved perfectly inside of her, going deeper than she imagined possible, filling every single one of her senses with his strong body, his scent, his desire, his name.
With each thrust he carved his existence into the depths of her mind, rooting the proof of what they shared, even if it wasn't exactly real. He was sculpting a form of evidence that he was about to leave her with. She was the one living out his fantasy to the fullest, enjoying it for the both of them.
All of this was only a form of leaving hazy, unclear traces of memories at the back of his mind. The fuzzy images will serve as a proof of his existence and will allow him to indulge and re-live those cloudy memories for many nights to come.
Before long Sakura was coming undone, his thrusts hitting every spot inside her that made her forget reality, heat coiling and exploding in her gut.
"I-Itachi!" His name was bursting from the depth of her throat, mixed with moans along with her orgasm, his hard body working her through every second, until she was left gasping underneath him. She closed her eyes shut, enjoying the last moments of pure white bliss that ascended upon her.
His mouth was back at her ear, pulling the lobe softly between his teeth before sucking. "Thank you for every-"
His words were cut off when he reached the edge, spilling inside of her as he came, an unintelligible groan causing Sakura to shiver under his touch as her eyes opened involuntarily.
Only this time they opened for real, facing the empty room with no Itachi in sight.
A stray tear rolled down her face unconsciously as she sat up in panic, eyes wide open, chest rapidly rising up and down.
A man in black stood around, leaning against the heavy cement wall, his eyes blazing red, piercing through Itachi.
"Shisui."
"Itachi."
He looked over at Shisui, eyes dark and brimming with emotion.
He knew she deserved to be happy, to be able to live her life with the person she chose without the guilt looming over her, without frenzied thoughts of him clouding her mind. He knew her, and he knew he wouldn't be able to bear the looks of pity she'd give him, the way she'd treat him as if he was made of glass and would break with any wrong shift in movement. He would hate her treating him differently, not knowing how to act with all that they've shared between them, unsure of what's proper or what he'd need so that he could move on.
He smiled then; the newly made memory was all but a bittersweet wound in his heart. A small, selfish part of him took pleasure in knowing that when she would look at him, she would get flashes of memories of him above her, inside her, his lips on her skin. That she would always remember the way it sounded when he told her of his selfish desires. He hoped that he was as tattooed on her heart as much as she was on his; that even though they wouldn't be lovers, that she'd cherish the moments they spent together, and save a small part of her soul to dedicated solely to him.
It wouldn't be so bad to be her little secret - to be together only as a ghost in her head.
Itachi leaned over, steadily approaching his older cousin's frame.
"I've made my peace with all of this. As much as I wanted…" His voice trailed off, his eyes clouding with vivid memories that Shisui wasn't privy to.
"As much as I want her, I knew how this would play out. Everything is for the best," he tried to smile at the older man, the curves of his mouth not quite reaching his eyes. "She deserves to be happy, and as bad as it sounds, she seems to be the happiest around you, even despite your shitty behaviour." The emotion in Itachi's voice was raw, but completely honest.
Shisui remained silent, letting his cousin continue. He couldn't argue with his words. For whatever reason, she wanted to be with him – she chose him. It defied all logic and sensibility, but he was greedy – just this once his heart had found the one that it belonged with, and he wouldn't let it go so easily. He made his decision and he was coming here to solidify it.
"So, just this once. Shisui, you get the girl." He finally spoke.
"But if you fuck up even once," his voice became lower, dropping down a few octaves as it became increasingly threatening.
"I will take her away from you. Without a hesitation, without a second thought." He growled walking past his cousin. Each step he took walking away had a part of his body dissipating into a flock of crows, he moved slowly until there was nothing left.
Once Itachi was sure he was out of the inn, his head started to swim, the picture swirling a bit on the edges as his eyes felt like there were loaded weights inside of them. He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision.
He knew she must've woken up as hazy images slowly started filling his head, one by one, letting him grasp a part of her he couldn't have for himself physically.
The last thing he remembered was her face, and he could've sworn he heard Sakura's voice calling to him out of the darkness, the world muffled until he strained his senses to focus on it, to latch onto the last piece of her before it would dissipate into an unclear mess inside of his head.
He heard her call his name.
Author's note
As always, I would like to say big thank you to my beta-reader Ellen (4miez), who is doing her best to proof-read my work as I'm blind enough to not spot my own mistakes and bad writing…lol. It took a bit longer to proof-read this chapter, since it is well over 12k words, so please excuse us haha.
Thank you guys for 300 follows, this is insane! I'm so grateful for all of your support!
Anyways, this chapter was long...and mainly ItaSaku. I'm sorry if I broke your heart, but oh, uh well it had to be done. I broke my own heart writing this, so you should break yours as well. Itachi needs a hug. Can you guess what will happen next? The story will have no chill up from this point, so buckle up kids, this will be a rocky ride! All I can say is next chapter is going to be big...Nothing will be the same, I mean nothing will be the same after this one as well but ya know.
This time I broke my record again, 12k word chapter...really? I need jesus and I'm going to the horny jail (but I did all I could for all of you that were rooting for Itachi, take this as a fanservice loool :).
As always do let me know what you think of the chapter in the comment section! I'd love to see your reactions!
Moving on. For those who are interested in my update schedule, please make sure to check out my tumblr Dijayeah. I post sneak peeks of the chapters, ideas for new WIP's and information regarding the new chapters of SOAN and you can also ask me any kind of questions (especially if it concerns the story!).
As always, thank you for reading guys, you are all amazing, I'm so thankful for all of you!
See you all very soon!