After taking Itachi on her rounds again the next morning, Ino felt assured that he could be depended upon to visit patients, while following all the hospital protocols. She wished him a good afternoon, and sped away to oversee another project.

Itachi wasted no time in heading directly to Sakura's room. He had thought about her almost constantly since his abrupt encounter with her yesterday. But eager as he was to see her again, he slowed down as he neared her doorway. Doubts and insecurities rose up, making him feel foolish for wanting to be near her. "There's no way she remembers me from yesterday," he thought gloomily. He glanced through her window and saw that she was awake, propped up on some pillows. Although the doubts continued to plague him, the sight of her blew life back into the embers of his hope. He had to know for sure if the connection he felt was real or imagined. With that, he opened the door with a light smile.

"Hello, Dr. Haruno," he said as he made his way to the sink and properly washed his arms and hands according to Ino's strict standards. After drying off, he stepped closer to her bedside.

"I'm Itachi, newest member of the hospital's volunteer corps."

Sakura's mouth hung open slightly with surprise. The literal man of her dreams had just walked into her room and was now talking to her. She had heard of lucid dreams before, but this was next level. He was tall and strikingly handsome, even though his lanky frame was mostly hidden by a baggy t-shirt. Those gorgeous almond eyes with their sparkly onyx centers and the loose strands of silky black hair that framed his face were making her melt. "The drugs are really working today!" she thought happily. In the spirit of making the most of a dream come true, Sakura decided to play along. She took a slow breath and said,

"Um, hello! Itachi, right? I'm Sakura."

She gave him a smile that shined through her eyes. The effect his presence was having on her made her feel a little tipsy, adding to her perception that she was in a dream. She motioned for him to come sit on her bed, which he did, all the while wondering how things could be going so right for him. Sakura winked at him and smiling said,

"Oh I know who you are."

"Really?" Itachi asked, surprised at her flirty demeanor, but enjoying it immensely.

"Of course I do! You took me flying last night and held me so close. I remember your face. It's good to see you again," she finished a little shyly.

Itachi was a bit thrown by her fanciful version of their previous encounter, but decided to go with it. "It's good to see you again too, Sakura."

She melted a little more as he said her name, the low sound of his voice caressing her ear with every syllable.

"Are you feeling better today?" he continued.

"I am now, but my chest still hurts," she whined a little. She wanted to be cradled back in his arms again, to feel the safety of his embrace around her.

"Hn," Itachi grumbled thoughtfully. "Well we can't have that." He looked around the room for some way to relieve her pain. He noticed a hairbrush on the table beside her bed and asked her coaxingly, "If I brush your hair, would it make you feel better?"

Ooh, Sakura liked this idea. "Yes please," she answered cheerfully.

Itachi stood up and angled himself behind her. She tried to sit up, but it clearly hurt her chest to do so. He gently pulled her shoulders back down into the pillows and said, "Just close your eyes and relax."

Itachi laid a tentative hand on her temple and slowly dragged his long fingers through her soft, petal-pink locks. He shuddered internally with pleasure at the light, velvety sensation. Her hair was softer than he had imagined and glinted under the sunbeams.

Sakura was busy imagining herself pooling into the floor with agonizing delight. His touch sent shivers of magic up and down her spine. She never wanted this dream to end.

He carefully pulled the brush through her hair, and unthinkingly began to stroke her ears and neck. Sakura inadvertently moaned quietly as his fingers brushed a particularly delicious spot on her neck, and he very nearly lost his mind. Now that he was more aware of the effect he was having on her, Itachi allowed his mind to wander on what he could do next to please her. Unfortunately for both of them, the door swung open as Tsunade and other members of Sakura's medical team swept into the room.

Itachi froze for a moment, with the hairbrush deep in Sakura's tresses, staring at the newcomers. Sakura eyes snapped open with the sudden realization that this was NOT a dream. With wide eyes, she turned to look up at Itachi and her face blushed cherry-red. Tsunade, as ever, quickly assessed the situation before her, and gracefully introduced Itachi to the team as if nothing was out of order. Itachi bowed and said, "It's very nice to meet you all." Turning toward Sakura he said, "I'll see you tomorrow," and he left the room as professionally as possible.

Sakura did her best to cover the roller-coaster of thoughts and emotions she was experiencing throughout the exam. She was at the same time enchanted by the intimate encounter and humiliated by her forward behavior. "What in the world was I thinking?" she wondered. As the rest of the staff filed out, Tsunade hung behind to tease Sakura a bit.

"So, how do you like our new recruit? You know I picked him out especially for you!"

Sakura's face burned with embarrassment, and she hid her face in the sheets, until Tsunade's giggling faded down the hall.