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The next morning, Sakura awoke to a room filled with all her colleagues and friends who wanted to wish her well as she recovered from home. Today, she would be officially released from Konoha Hospital. While she was deeply touched by all the love her co-workers showed her, she kept scanning the room for Itachi. When it became clear to her that he was not in the crowd, her smile faltered for a brief second. Tsunade, picking up on Sakura's disappointment, sat down and whispered in her ear, "Don't give up yet, honey. All good things to those who wait." And with a flash of a smile, Tsunade swept out of the room. The rest of Sakura's well-wishers filed out soon after, except for Ino, who had volunteered to get her ready for her departure.
"Ok Sakura," she ordered, "Let's get you on your feet and into the bathroom." Even though Sakura could get around on her own now, Ino pulled her up and guided her carefully around the room. After a thorough cleaning in the shower, Ino helped Sakura dress in a pair of soft leggings, short black pleated skirt, and ivory knit sweater. Ino even persuaded her apply a little make-up to enhance her pale complexion.
"Why are you fussing so much?" she asked, as Ino slipped a pair of heeled boots on to Sakura's dainty feet.
"Would it kill you to look hot for a change?" Ino sniped back. "Now, you're finally presentable. You ready to go?"
Sakura looked around the hospital room, and she knew that she was ready, Itachi or not, to get on with the rest of her life.
"Yep," she replied and sat down for the mandatory wheelchair ride out. Ino efficiently pushed her patient through the corridors, down the elevator and past the lobby and onto the sidewalk.
Sakura was not prepared for the sight that awaited her.
There Itachi stood, in a dark suit that hung perfectly from his muscular frame, next to a classic black limo. He held a sign, which read "Dr. Sakura Haruno" surrounded with pink hearts.
He and Ino helped Sakura into the backseat, and Ino whispered, "Have fun!" as she hugged her good-bye.
"What is all this?" Sakura asked sunnily as Itachi slid across the leather seat next to her. The limo was filled with baskets of Sakura's favorite fruits and sweets.
"Just a few welcome home treats for you," Itachi replied.
"Now, let me get a look at you." Itachi pulled her up onto his lap and gave her a long once-over. "You look amazing," he murmured as he nuzzled against her ear. His hands wrapped around her waist and shoulders as he pulled her in for a heated kiss. The feel of his passionate lips on hers spilled heat throughout her body. She clasped her hands around his neck and pulled him even closer, raking her fingers through his silky hair. Itachi, lost in the moment, was working his long fingers slowly up past her knees and under her skirt when the limo stopped abruptly, nearly throwing the pair into the floor. The driver opened the back door to find Sakura and Itachi struggling to untangle themselves from each other as she giggled and he looked ruefully to the side. Itachi soon regained his composure and eased Sakura out onto the sidewalk.
Looking up at her building, Sakura felt a little of her mirth subside. Her apartment, while practical and located close to the hospital, had never been especially comforting to her. In fact, she tried to spend as little time in it as possible: just a place to eat and sleep. It served as a reminder that she was alone in the world. Now, even with Itachi by her side, Sakura wasn't sure she could handle the flood of sad memories that were sure to be waiting for her inside.
Just then, Itachi reached for her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. She looked up into his warm onyx eyes and smiled back, hoping that his presence would be enough to protect her. Sakura hit the elevator code, and they rode hand in hand in expectant silence.
Nothing outside of the door gave away the massive changes that Sakura's apartment had undergone in the last 6 days. So when Sakura turned the knob and stepped inside, she fell back into Itachi, stunned and breathless.
All the carpets had been removed and replaced with light yellow hardwoods that gleamed under the light from the airy picture windows that had just been installed. All new hypoallergenic furnishings had been moved in, and Sakura reveled in the beauty of the clean modern space. Once she had recovered enough to stand on her own, Itachi led her to a private elevator and pressed the down button. The doors opened onto deck surrounding an aqua blue pool, and behind that stood a special sauna and steam room specifically engineered to lower blood pressure in transplant patients. Additionally, Itachi had installed a hyperbaric chamber for Sakura to receive oxygen therapy at home.
"I want to keep you well," Itachi explained simply.
Sakura eyes shone with tears as she took in all the thoughtfulness and care that Itachi had put into the renovation.
"It's so wonderful! I can't believe you did all this!" she mused aloud.
"Oh, the tour's not over yet," Itachi grinned and pulled her back toward the elevator.
"What?" Sakura asked confusedly. How could there be more? she wondered.
The elevator rose and opened onto the most beautiful room Sakura had ever seen. Two walls were entirely made of glass, and one view looked out onto a tree-covered ridge while the other showed the outline of the city. In the center of the room stood an elegant, shell-white bed covered in grey and periwinkle blue comforters and pillows.
Itachi leaned forward to catch every moment of her reaction. He was delighted when she threw herself onto the bed and allowed herself to sink down into the center. He was next to her in an instant, pulling her into his embrace for a kiss that left them both burning for more.
Itachi's hands gracefully lifted Sakura's sweater over her shoulders, and he kissed every inch of them as he had longed to do ever since he first saw their delicate slope exposed at the hospital. He slid around her, nipping and lapping her neck while his hands found her round heavy breasts, lightly kneading them.
Stars were exploding in Sakura's body at the intensity of his touch. He elicited sensations from her that she never knew existed before. As he laid her down, he traced her lightening scar gently with his lips, imperceptibly saying a prayer of thanks to God for the miracle of her life. He lifted his head to kiss her deeply and hold her against him closely. In this moment, he knew that his life held deep meaning and purpose, just as Sasuke's had. It all added up to this.
Itachi looked deep into Sakura's emerald eyes as he pulled down her skirt and leggings. In her eyes, he saw his future and a love he had never known. Sakura, gazing at Itachi, saw a bright burning fire that ignited her soul, and she knew she would always be home when they were together.
Soon, his hard member was stroking against her slick entrance as his fingers skimmed over her body and circled around her rosebud. Sakura impatiently bucked her hips under him, allowing his tip a fraction of entry into her warmth. At the sensation, Itachi moaned into her breast while Sakura quivered around him. She spread her legs further to grant him greater access and he slowly thrust himself inside her, deeply until he could move no further. He held her this way, buried in her completely, trying to memorize the moment of his ultimate pleasure with the woman he loved. Sakura relished the fullness of his heat inside her; she had never been so sweetly stretched. With a jagged breath, he began to move in her, grinding slightly as he made love to her with all of his being. Sakura poured herself into him and they became a union of white-hot fire, the friction combusting into flame. Suddenly, he was erupting inside her, calling her name as she was clinging to him, limp from the ecstasy of her own climax.
Together they floated down from the stars into the soft folds of their bed. Holding each other, they drifted to sleep, both dreaming of the future they would share for the rest of their lives.
-The End-