I don't own Naruto - VZ

Sakura was on her way to the kitchen, contemplating on how to escape the underground base she was trapped in. A part of her felt stupid for not breaking free while Itachi was busy recovering. It would have been fairly easy, leaving in the dead of night. But she had several reasons to explain why she didn't. For one, it was raining quite heavily, so her escape was hindered by the torrents of water. Another was how weak she was after healing the Uchiha. Simply staying awake was a difficult task at the time. Lastly, how could she possibly run off when two Akatsuki members were on either side of her the entire trip back to their base?

All in all, Sakura had very many legitimate reasons why she hadn't left Akatsuki yet. However, she wondered why she felt an ache in her tummy. Like lead had been dropped into it. The pinkette knew this feeling she knew it all too well. Especially since Naruto, who constantly laid out his life fro her, was her best friend. The churning and unpleasant emotion within in her was called guilt. Confusion filled her right then. What did she have to feel guilty for? Suddenly, Inner said the answer right into her ear.

You like being here in Akatsuki's base. She stated smugly, a triumphant grin on her face.

What?! Of course not. Sakura countered.

Oh yeah you're right….. Inner trailed off.

The medic-nin was glowing with victory as she entered the kitchen, fully intent on finding a drink.

…..You like the members of Akatsuki. Her other consciousness continued, but before Sakura could reply, she went on.

...Especially when they kiss you like that, I know I sure as hell did. She finished with a breathy sigh.

Sakura literally face palmed after Inner's rather bold statement, something she would never admit out loud.

Whatever….. she replied without her usual enthusiasm.

You know I'm right-wait…..you're not going to deny it? Inner sounded disbelieving, Sakura merely shrugged.

I'm too thirsty to care. Just please shut up for once. She was close to begging, anything to forget about her recent encounters with two S-ranked criminals.

Suuuure… but thankfully, Inner had disappeared into the recesses of her mind. Giving her the space she so desperately wanted and needed.

The pinkette opened the fridge to find a variety of food but not one drink. She huffed in frustration, her throat was dry and her mouth felt like the desert on a particularly hot day.

"Care for a drink?" A familiar, smooth voice asked her from out of the blue.

She turned in surprise, finding the Uchiha standing right behind her, a bottle of iced tea in his hand.

"I-uh…I'm good, thanks though." She answered while snapping the fridge door shut with one hand. Nervousness and anxiety was filling her fast, making her form rigid and stiff immediately.

"Are you certain? You look….thirsty." Itachi regarded her, uncapping the bottle and taking a sip.

Green eyes followed the movement of the amber liquid, from the plastic and into the man's throat.

Oh, how much she wanted to swallow the entire drink in one gulp, but she couldn't. As much as her wanted his ice-cold beverage, she shouldn't indulge. It was his after all.

He offered some, you idiot. Inner commented dryly.

Sakura merely ignored her and tried not to think about his close proximity. Itachi was not wearing his Akatsuki cloak, instead he was garbed in a mesh shirt with snug black pants hanging low on his hips. She could see his muscles rippling with each movement he made thanks to his choice of attire.

"I'm fine..." The medic-nin uttered, looking anywhere but his well defined torso.

"Hn...here, this will help you forget the heat." Once again, he held out his drink, waiting for her to accept it.

Not likely. she thought sadly.

Sakura decided to accept his kind offer and drank from his bottle, enjoying the cool liquid sliding down her throat and into her stomach. She was so focused on her beverage, she failed to notice a certain Uchiha looking very...intense at the moment.

Instantaneously, two strong hands pulled her wrists, pinning them above her head and against the metal surface of the fridge door. To say she was shocked was quite the understatement. Of course, due to her surprised state and the scrambling of limbs, the plastic bottle had fallen to the ground. Staining the pinkette's pristine white yukata and leaving a large pool of fluid on the floor. Even her hands were slightly sticky thanks to the iced tea which was now melting on the floor. However, Itachi hardly seemed bothered by this. His attention was now focused on a particular medic-nin struggling for freedom.

"I hate it..." He trailed off, his tone was filled with fury and his hands gripping her own tightened.

"I don't understand...hate what?" Sakura questioned him, stalling the man before her while she pondered how to escape yet another intimate and compromising position.

"How such a low life can claim something that does not belong to him." He then pressed his body against hers, effectively pushing her into the hard concrete of the wall.

"What are you talking about?" She squirmed under his strong hold.

"Don't play dumb, it's unbecoming Sakura." He muttered darkly. "Sasori of the red sand. I heard him declare you his in the midst of your battle. And I despise him for it." Suddenly, he used one of his hands to cup the side of her face. Then it trailed down the curve of her cheek and his fingers rested at the base of her chin. He used his forefinger and thumb to grasp her chin and tilt her face up, bringing it closer to his.

"So? it doesn't matter because I'll never be his." She said resolutely.

Her words seemed to please him, for a smile appeared on his lips.

"Good." Itachi whispered against her lips, his eyes never leaving hers.

Dread filled her, just as the butterflies in her belly fluttered.

"Stop." she whispered, her eyes pleading with his own. Unfortunately, he was just like his brother, completely ruthless.

"Why?" He asked, lowering his face so that she was now leveled with the top of his head and he was leveled with her neck. Fear spiked in her, effectively killing all the cute little butterflies that were flying around in her tummy. Sakura prayed to Kami that Itachi wouldn't notice the love bites that Kisame had left on her neck the day before. Yes, she should have healed them but it had totally slipped her mind. Only when the Uchiha had chosen to pay more attention to her nape had she remembered the mist-nin's mark on her body.

"Get off me-"

"What are these?..." His tone was deathly quiet, if she hadn't been close to him like this then she might not have heard it.

She could hear the pure anger in his voice. She could feel his body shaking since it was pressed against hers so tightly.

"...Uh, birthmarks?" The look Itachi gave her said 'Do I look like an idiot?'

She sighed, long and deep.

"Look Itachi, it's not a big deal. Just forget about it, same thing with yesterday. Forget about Sasori and his...nevermind. Just don't think about it, I certainly won't." Sakura tried to appease him, even though the words coming out of her mouth seemed like a lie. Naturally, she wasn't going to tell him that his partner did this to her, it would just start complicating things. If Itachi was mad now, imagine his fury once he realized that his team mate had done this to her. Not that she thought he needed to know, it's not like everything she did was his business.

The Uchiha didn't look convinced, so he gave her the most sinful and heated gaze instead. Her heart caught up in her once dry throat and sped up, beating erratically as Itachi pressed his forehead to hers. His dark eyes locked onto her green ones and held her gaze. Watching her reaction as he slid carefully up her body, licking the droplets of his iced tea on her fingers and the inside of her wrists. She inwardly shuddered when his tongue lapped up the juice on her palms, it felt so erotic and naughty that she dared not think what other things he could do with that skillful mouth of his.

"You're right, it's not even worth recalling." He murmured above her, his hot breath fanning across her hands. Making her blush red to the roots of her pink hair. Nevertheless, Sakura tried to focus on his words instead of his actions. When it finally registered in her mind that the matter was over and done with, she was elated. Happy that she didn't have to deal with even more drama. That is, until Itachi decided to open his mouth and ruin her little victory moment.

"You know why? Seeing that you aren't his but mine, it's alright to forget the past." The Uchiha faced her once more, determination and promise flaring in those black orbs.

And as suddenly as he had arrived, he disappeared. Leaving quickly but not before giving her another heated glance over his shoulder.

Sakura grit her teeth in complete and utter frustration at not only his proud and very bold declaration, but the mess he left for her to clean up.

Hope you liked it! Another update is on the way :) Lots of love and thanks to all my reviewers!

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Till next time! ;) - VZ