I don't own Naruto - VZ
It was sufficed to say that things were not going according to plan. She ground her teeth in frustration, hating herself for not thinking about the possibility that he would be there. Behind the door no less! If only she had thought of a plan b, then she wouldn't be here. Stuck inside the room of a run down inn, with nothing but a small bed and a tiny bathroom for company.
"Meow."
Some of her anger faded away after hearing the sound of her kitten, the one that Deidara had given her.
Well, at least she had Kumiko, crawling out of her bag with feline grace.
The pinkette kneeled down and petted the tiny cat, feeling slick surface instead of soft fur. But she liked it that way; it reminded her of the blonde. That he created Kumiko and made her specifically for her. Who knew the artistic bomber of all people had a heart. Actually, never thought he would be such a gentleman or be such a softie. Was he always like this? Will he always be like this? She certainly hoped so; it would be a waste for his behavior to change any time soon. His warm smile would go to waste as well. Although sometimes that grin would be cocky and arrogant, or devilish. Maybe even roguish that made him look like a bad boy and he knew it, reveled in it. It made him look sinfully handsome, especially when he gazed at her like that.
Sakura bit her lip in mild frustration, she shouldn't be thinking about Deidara or his smile or anything else connected to him. As attached she had become to being in his and the rest of Akatsuki's presence, it had to stop. It was illegal to merely interact with them, but to like hanging out with them? She might as well walk into her village's prison, or worse, drop her kunoichi status and turn into a civilian for the rest of her life. The medic-nin almost shuddered at that; the last thing she wanted to be was useless.
Kumiko purred and nuzzled the hand that was rubbing her neck with affection, effectively raising her spirits up a little bit. At least she would have something to remember Deidara by, but she would have to hide her. Not many people can transform ordinary clay into something amazing as Kumiko here.
It was Itachi who was her problem right now, the cold man who was standing not fifteen feet from her behind a flimsy wooden door. But then again cold wouldn't be the best way to describe him, not when he sends heated looks her way or gazing at her with such smoldering eyes. And what made it worse was those eyes were never in Sharingan mode when she was around. Sakura assumed it was because the Uchiha was aware of how much she loathed the dreaded bloodline technique. Yes it was powerful, but that's why it scared her so much. And so, ever since that fateful day when they both ate dango on her bed, he never looked at her with those vivid red eyes again. Wait…. never…
An idea struck her just then, much like lightening. The pinkette almost laughed for not thinking about it sooner, Kumiko looked up at her master curiously. She knew it was absolutely brilliant. Slightly devious and very dangerous, there was no guarantee that it would work. Nevertheless, it was worth a try. Sakura smirked at the plan she had in mind for a certain dark haired man. Hopefully he wouldn't notice until it was too late.
Itachi Uchiha was many things; pervert was never one of them. Although, the mere thought of catching Sakura in a towel or something even less, was very appealing. He could hear the shower running and his traitorous mind started imaging the pinkette standing there. With water streaming down her creamy skin, skin that he so desperately wanted to touch. Sometimes he wondered where did this attraction stem from. Her strength? Beauty? Yes, but wasn't just that. When he spent time with her (still in her ten year old form) he found himself relaxing, enjoying her presence. He was perplexed on how she had wormed her way into his life and made him feel. Really feel for her. The Uchiha recalled his promise to his partner yesterday, and he intended to keep it.
Much to his surprise, the door behind him unlocked with a 'click'.
His red eyes slightly (very slightly) widened at this. Why was she letting him in? was it an invitation or just a fluke? Maybe she wanted to leave already, but they weren't due to complete their mission for another hour.
"Itachi?" Sakura called out to him, her voice sweet but timid, almost demure.
He pushed the door open; ready to respond to her until he saw the sight before him.
If he were a lesser man, his jaw would be on the floor. But he was not any other man, he was an Uchiha.
So he settled for breathing deeper, trying to keep calm and not show any sign (even the slightest) of shock. He immediately shut the door behind him, not wanting anyone to see his blossom in such a state.
"I need your help choosing a yukata." She stated, her hands wringing nervously. A light blush painted her cheeks as Itachi roved her body with his dark gaze. He was aware of her fear and apprehension with the Sharingan, so he chose to turn it off for a while. Something he didn't do very often, but for her he'd make an exception. For now anyways, once she was his, he'd teach her that there is nothing to fear from him.
"Since when do you need help dressing?" he questioned, still suspicious to why she had asked such a thing from him. Not that he was complaining, there's no argument that he'd gladly help. But of course, he'd like to know why she chose him. Why not the mist-nin in the other room? Itachi wanted to hear her say those words, say that she valued his presence more.
"Well, Kisame is most probably asleep. That's what happens when you drink too much alcohol and stumble into your room so late at night." Sakura crossed her arms, pushing up her chest slightly and giving him a fantastic view. One that he hadn't been able to see since that night when she turned back into a woman. A woman he had every desire to ravish.
"Why didn't you sleep early? Aren't you tired from our travel?" he asked, stepping closer to her, slowly.
Sakura contemplated her words; she could very well tell him that she was up late last night planning an escape plan.
She just shrugged her shoulders, the towel around her loosening due to her actions.
Itachi's eyes followed her every movement, including the only barrier between him and her creamy skin.
His suspicions were forgotten for now, he was occupied at the moment.
"I like red, it suits you Sakura Haruno." He purred, much like Kumiko earlier. Only his voice was husky, deep and velvety. Smooth and collected, just like his personality.
Itachi motioned to the blood red yukata with black swirls decorating the hem and sleeves. Of course, she thought wryly.
"Thank you Itachi, you know….I've always worn red. Ever since I was a child, I'd wear red shirts or even dresses. But sometimes I wish my hair wasn't so bright and pink. It's hard to find clothes that not only suit my figure but my hair as well." As she ranted on, she got ready the yukata.
Once again, the medic-nin astonished him. For she walked a few paces away and actually dropped the towel secured around her body. This time, his jaw went slack. Good thing she faced the other direction or his reputation for being cold and emotionless would ruined. Because right now, he felt hot and very much aware of feelings. The strongest of them was desire, followed by awe. Her body was just as creamy and smooth as he'd imagined. She was womanly in all the right spots; places that he so desperately wanted to caress and touch. Itachi's hand actually twitched when his eyes followed the line of her spine. So gracefully arched as she stretched languidly. He pictured her chest to be pushed out enticingly since her back was curved, too bad he wasn't in front at the moment. The dark haired man noticed that her rear was curved nicely and he took time to appreciate it. The Uchiha took every detail in, absorbing each part of her body. Lean and toned in all the right places. Although, the only thing marring her flawless skin was a scar at her lower back. He stepped forward and touched it with the tis of his fingers. Barely brushing her flesh, he almost groaned. Sakura really was as soft as she looked. Once he reached her scar, she tensed.
"Who did this?" He bit out, anger coiling in the pit of his stomach.
The pinkette hesitated for a while, and then she spoke.
"It's none of your business."
Oh he liked it whenever she turned that sharp tongue on him.
"Were you involved?" Itachi placed his hands on either side of her hips, warming the skin there.
She gasped at the contact, a sound that he found very alluring.
"Obviously." She wanted to sound strong and unaffected, but her reply came out breathy.
"Then it's clearly my business." He rasped, tracing her hipbones then making patterns there. Soon his hands ran up and down her sides, very slowly.
"I…I need to get dressed Itachi. Leave now, I asked for your advice and you gave it. Which I'm thankful-" her words were cut off by a hand that brushed against the undersides of her breasts.
"Do you honestly want me to leave?"
"Y-yes."
"It's not polite to lie Sakura." He chuckled darkly, his hot breath fanning across her exposed skin. Goosebumps rose at his action.
"...Just leave, I'll see you later." The pinkette swallowed nervously.
"Hn…" Itachi gave a grunt and used the length of his nose to caress where her neck met her shoulder.
But before anything could go any further, a gruff voice interrupted them.
"Hey Angel, have you seen Itachi? We have to leave soon….Ugh..I have another headache, not that I was drinking or anything...So can you help me with that later? " Kisame sounded pained and very tired. If Sakura weren't afraid that her voice would sound breathy and unstable, she would reply to the mist-nin.
"Anyways, I'll meet you downstairs. Maybe the Uchiha is somewhere there." He muttered the last part, sounding pissed.
After Kisame's footsteps faded away, she gave a sigh of relief.
Itachi also let out a sigh, not one of relief but of pure aggravation.
"We'll continue this soon Sakura."
"Kisame is waiting Itachi, and I have to get dressed."
"Tch….you're right." Itachi didn't want to leave, but leader wouldn't like that. He wasn't as impatient as Sasori but he wasn't a saint.
The dark haired man longed to open the door and show his partner that he had fulfilled his promise. That his precious angel was now his blossom, but he couldn't let Kisame see her in such a state of undress. She wouldn't like that and neither would he. Her lovely body was for his eyes only.
A few fleeting touches later, he left.
Green eyes were slightly hazy but focused.
"I'm ready, you'd better be." She said out loud and followed Itachi out the door and down the stairs. Leaving her bag of clothes and everything else she brought to the inn in the room.
"Oh…my…Kami." Sakura fanned herself. The scene of her clone and Itachi was hot and heavy, just thinking about it brought a blush to her cheeks. She was under a concealment jutsu, inside the bathroom with the door slightly ajar. Yes, it was wrong to use his lust against him but she couldn't feel bad for him now. It was just lust after all right? It didn't matter if he could sate his sexual appetite with some other faceless woman. The thought made gave her a nasty emotion that she couldn't name grew in the pit of her stomach but she push it aside. Thinking on more important things such as her plan.
Even though his Sharingan was off, she took extra care to hide herself.
She stepped out after half an hour, to cool down and so that the Akatsuki members along with her clone would be quite far away by now. Her plan was risky but worth it. He didn't even notice the difference! Well, she did put extra detail into her creation. Even going as far as to generate an exact replica of her chakra pathways. Just like the one she made to distract Hidan, only she worked the entire night. It was ample time to focus her chakra for her clone.
"Come here Kumiko, we have to leave now." The pinkette called out for her clay kitten, which climbed out from under the bed.
She packed everything, including all the yukatas displayed on the bed. She was wearing the one Itachi picked out for her and so was her clone. Once all her things were ready, she left. But not before attaching a kunai to her thigh holster underneath the folds of her dress.
"Now I'm ready."
And with that, she disappeared, with a feeling of loss that made her heart simply ache.
"Meow?" Kumiko whined, poking her owner's cheek with a clay paw.
"I'm fine Kumiko, don't worry about me." She reassured her pet, although she knew she was lying through her teeth.
The kitten leaned forward from her perch on Sakura's shoulder to lick her cheek, it was a sweet gesture. So she gave her pet a smile of thanks and patted her clay head gently. At the moment, she was on her way to the village. But she was moving slowly, very slowly. Not only was her chest constricting every now and then because she missed them, her body was stinging with pain. Her muscles were throbbing and her head weak, even her bones felt heavy.
No, she had to move on. Stopping now was not an option. With every once of strength that she had, which wasn't much, she jumped on a tree branch. Then another, another…..yet her determination wasn't enough to keep her going. Despite her best efforts, she knelt and panted.
No, I'm so close to…home.
Her chakra was drained from maintaining her clone from such a far distance and enhancing her speed so that the distance would grow even greater.
Sakura tried to think of her village and the people she loved, hopefully it would encourage her. The odd thing was, once she closed her eyes. An image of a base, underground and void of real light, appeared in mind's eye. Her last coherent thought before she slipped and fell from the trees was Akatsuki, each and every one of them. If only she had said good-bye.
"Oi…wake up kid." A white haired man poked the cheek of the girl lying on the forest floor.
"Hey! Don't touch her Suigetsu! She's all dirty and gross." The red head with them wailed on top of her lungs. Making all of them wince at the sound.
"Oh? Like you're not?" he mocked, hefting his large sword and kneeling down next to the girl.
"She's wounded." A quiet voice spoke up.
The three of them glanced at the child and the several scratches blemishing her flawless skin. There were even a few bruises here and there.
"Tch…so? We better move. I sensed Itachi's chakra signature in a village far from here. Wait…something's weird.."
A dark figure suddenly appeared the air around him was sinister and cold.
All three shinobi turned and saw their leader, who looked as emotionless as ever.
"Explain." He commanded the only girl on their team.
She blushed at the sight of him and giggled.
"Of course! Well, you see…Itachi's chakra was in a village south from here. The distance grew between us since dawn, but the weird thing is…he's coming back. To the village I mean. His chakra was erratic and….angry, there's no other way to explain it." She ranted, inching closer to the man she adored with every fiber of her being.
"Hn…."
"Hey, I think she's waking up." The white haired man called out, grabbing everyone's attention.
"Is she alright?"
"Who the hell cares!"
"Quiet." Their leader ordered and they all complied.
He then walked towards the child who lay motionless on the ground; her long pink hair surrounded her small body. He wasn't an idiot, this kid looked exactly like Sakura when she was ten years old. Although he hasn't seen her for a long time, he could still picture the girl who had once followed him around like any other fangirl. But it was simply impossible; Sakura Haruno was almost twenty if he was correct (he usually was). Did she have children? No, he doubted that. The dark haired man knew it out of the question for her to get married and conceive. Where would she find a man that would put up with her annoying behavior? What if she wedded the dope?
The three of his teammates saw their leader scoff and shake his head.
Suddenly, the girl groaned and her eyelids fluttered open.
The four of them were startled by her brilliant green eyes and the words that left her lips.
"Sasuke? Is that you?"
His dark eyes narrowed and he nodded slowly.
"Hn…"
"Oh good, I always wanted to tell you…that..."
Everyone waited, anxious to hear the girl and what she had to say.
"….You're an asshole."
Her eyelids slid shut and her breathing turned heavy and deep, signaling that she was once again asleep.
Suigetsu laughed hard at that, Karin fumed and Juugo watched.
The youngest Uchiha turned on his heel and started walking south.
"Juugo, carry her. She's leaving with us."
"But Sasuke-kun!-"
He cut her off with a glare, leaving no room for arguments. The red head huffed and flipped her hair.
Suigetsu snickered.
"What?" She demanded.
"Aw, you're jealous."
"What?! That's so stupid! Why would I get jealous of some kid?"
The man next to her shrugged, a smirk on his features.
"I have a feeling there's more to her than meets the eye. And she's definitely interesting...I like her already. No one just insults Sasuke like that and gets away with it unharmed….or alive at all." He watched Juugo lift up the child gently, taking care with her hurt body.
"Whatever idiot." She snarled at him, ready to jump high into the trees and leave for the closest village.
"Whatever idiot." He repeated in a high and squeaky voice.
"I do not sound like that!"
"Who said I was trying to sound like you?"
"Who else would you make fun of?!"
"...you have a point there." He said thoughtfully.
"UGH!"
As the two continue their bickering, Juugo observed the girl lying in his arms.
"You'll be alright….just don't insult Sasuke like that anymore."
She heard the large man's words and replied sleepily, not bothering to open her eyes.
"Can't do…that….too much…fun."
Juugo allowed himself to smile at the girl's pure tenacity.
"I don't know why or how...but i have a feeling you'll live." he spoke softly, afraid he would wake her.
And so they were off, moving and taking Sakura Haruno with them.
Hope you like it! sorry it's soloing since i last updated, i was working on the third chapter of ' e' and it would mean a lot to me if you read and review on it :) anyways, lots of love and thanks to everyone who previously reviewed. I absolutely love hearing your thoughts ;) till' next time! - VZ