Chapter eight

Sakura hadn't got any sleep that night, mostly because a med-nin had come in to check up on her every hour. She was lying on her bed the moment Itachi came back. She jumped when the door slammed open and Itachi's voice boomed out her name. She sat up quickly and said "Itachi?"

Her bedroom door opened and there he was, Itachi, his face alight when he saw her. He quickly crossed the room and sat next to her on the bed gathering her into his arms. He buried his face into her hair as she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck her arms wound around his waist. He gripped her tight as she started to cry neither of them noticing Kakashi and Naruto standing in their lounge room knowing that it would be unwise to interrupt them. Itachi drew back from Sakura a little bit, but their faces were still fairly close, their noses touching. Sakura's cheeks were wet from her crying and Itachi wiped them dry with his sleeve. Itachi kissed Sakura passionately before pulling her into a warm embrace again. There was no need for words between them, they were just glad to be together again. Eventually they pulled apart and made their way into the lounge room to greet Kakashi and Naruto, who were now joined by Sasuke. Sakura never left Itachi's side, his arm around her shoulders and her arm around his waist while her other hand clutched at his vest.

Naruto decided to ask the blunt question. "So what happened?"

"I didn't find him but some of my old team mates from the Akatsuki met up with me."

Sakura suddenly looked into Itachi's face, he looked back a stared into her eyes. She knew they had offered for him to come back, but kept silent.

"And?" Sasuke now spoke.

"And they said that I could come back, and they'd help me kill Orochimaru. I said no." Sakura knew he was lying but she also knew he hadn't said yes. "That's all. In a week's time I'll go again and try to find Orochimaru, though this time I want Sasuke with me."

Naruto looked at Sasuke and Sasuke nodded in assent. "I'll go, as long as you can convince me this isn't just because you want to get me away from Sakura."

Itachi scowled at him, his hand tightened on Sakura's shoulder. Sakura looked from brother to brother hoping nothing bad would happen. "If by what Kakashi told me is true, my request has nothing to do with getting you away from Sakura."

"And what did Kakashi tell you?"

"Sasuke don't make this difficult please." Kakashi and Naruto said simultaneously.

Sasuke shut up and nodded again to say that he would go with Itachi.

"Now if you don't mind I would like some time alone with Sakura." Itachi said almost dangerously.

The three other men nodded and walked out closing the door behind them.

Itachi and Sakura spun around at the same time hugging again as if nothing could pull them apart. "What did the Akatsuki really say to Itachi?"

Itachi sighed but still didn't let go of her. "The said I could come back and you could join." Sakura pulled back a little to look into his eyes, she knew he wasn't lying this time. They moved to sit on the couch Sakura astride Itachi's lap, her arms around his neck, his around her waist. "They also gave me two Akatsuki cloaks, one for me and one for you. They said that we would be a great gain for them. Bring in enough power to finally defeat Orochimaru. Also they would protect you."

"Wait you want to go back? And bring me into it as well?" Sakura asked.

"No, I don't want to go back. Especially if it means leaving you. And I don't want to drag you into it because I don't want to take you away from all your family. But we have a week to talk about it. Then I have to go and meet them again and tell of our decision."

Sakura just looked at him for a moment. "Alright we'll talk about this. Talk about the pros and the cons. But we'll talk tomorrow. Today and tonight all I want is you." A seductive smile playing on her lips.

Itachi picked her up in bride style and carried her off to their bedroom, only coming back out to lock their front door, then heading back closing the bedroom door behind him.