Destined

Kakashi pulled Sakura close and held her tightly. He buried his head in her neck and inhaled her scent. His eye closed and the knot that embedded itself in his stomach when he realized she was headed to the Uchiha District slowly unfurled. It was okay. She was here with him, in his arms where she belonged.

She pulled away from him and looked up at his face. Her hand raised of its own accord and traced his face with her fingertips. "What happened to you? Where did you go?"

Kakashi shook his head. He didn't know any more than she did about their apparent separation, but something about it brought back the anxiety that he had just let go of. "I'm not sure what happened or how we got separated."

"I have two sets of memories. I don't know what is real anymore. Are we…were we real?" Sakura placed a hand on Kakashi's chest and he covered her hand with his own. He wanted to bring her fingers to his lips and kiss her soft skin, but found himself unable to make such a bold move.

"I don't know. I do know, though, that you being here with me now feels right."

Sakura wasn't sure she felt the same. There was just too much going on within her.

"I was headed home, but I don't really know where that is anymore…"

He was seconds away from telling her to come and stay with him, when she turned her head.

Sakura sensed a presence that caused her heart to freeze. Slowly she turned her head and looked behind her. She almost didn't recognize the man that was walking in their direction. His hair was a shocking white like snow yet his stride was sure and certain. She glanced at Kakashi only to see that his jaw locked and his body tense. That alone could have told her who had joined them.

She took a step closer to their visitor, but Kakashi grabbed her hand and squeezed tightly.

"Don't…" Was all Kakashi uttered, and Sakura turned and looked back at him. It was in those seconds that she realized she was torn and she had no idea what to do about that. She had Kakashi at her side and Itachi walking towards her and the only thing she could think was thank goodness they were both alive and that they both survived. And yet, just looking at Itachi she knew that survival had come with a price. She itched to let her chakra flare in order to check and make sure he was healthy and whole, but sensed he wouldn't allow it—not with Kakashi there, not with so much hanging in the balance between them.

When he was close enough Itachi's eyes roamed over her body, making sure that there were no injuries upon her person. She found herself doing the same thing. She couldn't help but wonder what happened to his hair. Why was it white? What did that mean? It was something that scared her more than she could verbally admit.

"You are not injured."

Sakura slowly shook her head and he came closer, ignoring Kakashi at her back. Kakashi didn't move any further away from her, nor did he release her hand. She didn't try to pull away again. She wasn't sure she even wanted to. "Have you seen my brother?" Sakura blanched realizing she hadn't. A part of her felt like that couldn't be a good thing and she knew she needed to find him immediately.

"I haven't. I don't know when I saw him last. I should—"

"You should go somewhere safe. It is still possible that Danzo is looking to harm you." Sakura glanced at Kakashi and then turned and looked at Itachi whose visage mirrored Kakashi's.

"No. You're not going to just push me out of the situation like I'm the 'little woman' who can't do anything. We all will find Sasuke. We all will make sure he's alright."

Kakashi's eye creased. "I could always tie you up and hide you somewhere no one will find you."

Sakura's eyes narrowed. "And I could always find painful ways to make you pay for that." Kakashi turned and looked at Itachi and said, "She comes with us."

Itachi frowned, but made no effort to dispute Kakashi's words since she'd be safer where he could keep an eye on her. They all turned to leave, but had barely moved a few steps before Sakura set eyes on the younger Uchiha son.

The sun was blocking her vision of him, but his stance was something she couldn't forget. Only Sasuke could hold himself with such pride and arrogance at the same time. Sakura raised a hand to shield her eyes and saw that he had extended a single hand…towards her. Sakura's breath caught in her chest. He was telling her to come to him. Now. It wasn't a request. It was a demand that something in her couldn't allow herself to refuse. A low moan sounded in her throat causing both men to turn and look at her sharply.

"I have to go." Sakura whispered.

"Sakura, what's going on?"

Sakura looked at Kakashi and then at Itachi before turning to look back at Sasuke Uchiha, the man who had inadvertently thrown her life into chaos. But it was always like that, wasn't it?

"Sasuke needs me."

She didn't know why, but that was all she said before she darted towards the hand that reached for her. She didn't hear Kakashi's shout, but if she had she wouldn't have stopped. When she was right before Sasuke the hand was still extended waiting for her to take it. It was somewhat odd seeing Sasuke reach for her. It wasn't something she was sure had ever happened before and because of that it made her somewhat afraid to take his hand.

"Sakura."

It was the way he said her name. It was a pure mixture of the two Sasuke that resided within her mind. The coldness, the aloofness, the command was still there within it. She recognized it and was oddly comforted by it. And yet there was also something within him that told her he regarded her as not just a tool to be used, but as a human being as well. His voice held respect within it. Respect that a part of her had been longing for an unknown amount of time.

Sakura took the hand offered to her.

They had work to do.