Chapter Sixteen
"Hurry up Sasuke."
"Slow down weasel."
"I swear if you call me that one more time I will…" Itachi threatened banishing a fist in Sasuke's direction.
"You'll do what weasel?" Sasuke teased thinking his brother wouldn't do anything. "Uff…" was the sound Sasuke made when Itachi's fist connected with his chin.
"That's what dobe!"
"Dobe is Naruto's nickname!" Sasuke said indignantly rubbing his chin.
"Prefer it if I called you baka or teme?"
Sasuke fell silent as he got back on his feet starting to run to try and catch up with his brother. They were heading back to Konoha. They had found a piece of parchment that had a map drawn on it. Different places were marked all over the map, place where to Itachi's and Sasuke's knowledge weren't inhabited with towns or cities. So they assumed they were hideouts of Orochimaru. Sasuke had wanted to immediately go and check them out, but Itachi had insisted that they go and get someone who actually knew the entire layout of what the map showed, so they didn't accidentally barge in on somewhere where they weren't welcome. Though Sasuke pointed out that if it were an Orochimaru hideout they wouldn't be welcome at any point in time. Itachi ignored this remark and started to head back to Konoha. Itachi also heard the comment of "He just wants to go back so he can be with Sakura" from Sasuke but choose to just ignore that too.
"Slow down Itachi!"
"Itachi? What happened to weasel?"
"Would you like me to go back to calling you that?"
"No Itachi's fine Sasuke-teme."
"Come on I stopped calling you weasel you could at least stop calling me teme."
"Fine Sasuke."
Itachi slowed his pace slightly so Sasuke could catch up. Itachi smiled slightly as he thought of the fact that Sasuke had been training more than Itachi in the last four months and yet Itachi was still faster and stronger than his little brother.
"Neh, Itachi?"
"Hn…?"
"Do you think we will ever really get rid of Orochimaru?"
Itachi and Sasuke stopped and sat down on the branches of the tree they had just landed in. Both men had the same thought patterns as they got out some food for lunch.
"I don't know." Itachi said.
"Don't know what?"
"If we will ever really be rid of Orochimaru. I hope so."
"… Because you promised Sakura you would get rid of him?" Sasuke half stated a fact half asked a question.
Itachi nodded, looking away from Sasuke's face.
"I'm sorry."
Itachi almost fell out of the tree. Sasuke's apology was unexpected and Itachi didn't know what it was for. Plus Sasuke never apologized.
"… For what?" Itachi asked after a long pause.
"For what I did four months ago. With Sakura."
Itachi suddenly understood that Sasuke was apologizing about the day he had tried to take Sakura away from Itachi. The day after they had gotten engaged.
"Bit late to expect forgiveness isn't it?" Itachi stated raising one eyebrow, looking uncertain at Sasuke. Why the sudden change in attitude.
"I know it's too late, but you made it very difficult to try and say sorry to you or to Sakura. You kept giving me glares that seemed to say 'back off or I'll kill you'."
"I wanted to kill you." Itachi stated.
Sasuke sighed before he continued with his explanation. "You know we've always been very competitive. You had something in your life to live for. You had love. And I felt alone like always. You killed our clan, though for reasons which I now know, and I guess I wanted you to feel the same hurt I had that day…"
"Is that meant to be some kind of excuse!?" Itachi interrupted. He could feel his anger building up if Sasuke didn't stop now.
"I said I'm sorry Itachi. I didn't know why you had killed our clan till about a month ago. When I tried to take Sakura from you I still didn't know that. How was I supposed to know? You never told me. I was angry that Konoha had let you come back." Sasuke said looking at the ground.
"You may have been young when I killed our clan Sasuke but still you should have been able to see that our father only cared about keeping us on a tight leash. He was training us to become warriors. Back then I did what was necessary to protect you…"
"I understand that now Itachi! Give me half a chance to speak please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I tried to hurt you. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. I'm sorry I tried for ten years to find away to try and kill you or inflict the same pain on you that you had put me though. I'm sorry about everything that needs apologizing for! How many times do I need to say it! I'm sorry!" Sasuke wasn't shouting but hell, he wanted to shout. He would tell the world that he was sorry if Itachi would just stop acting so hostile towards him. "God Itachi. I don't say sorry to just anyone. And I don't say sorry unless I really have to. And I had to. And now that I have, I don't expect forgiveness, but at least, please, stop pushing me away. I'm still your brother, no matter how much you may want that to be otherwise."
Itachi was slightly startled by all of what Sasuke had said. His mouth was slightly agape but he quickly shut it again as soon as he noticed that it was open.
"I don't know what to say to all that Sasuke." Sasuke's head snapped up and looked straight into Itachi's eyes. "I want to forgive you Sasuke, but you also have to apologize to Sakura. Or if you want I'll talk to her. Though I think it would be best if you talked to her." Itachi said happy as Sasuke nodded his said as if to say that he would talk to Sakura. "Though I will be there when you talk to her. Because for all your apologies it's going to still take awhile before I trust you again around her."
"I understand."
Itachi and Sasuke were silent for the rest of the way back to Konoha. They were polite to eachother when they informed Naruto about the map. Naruto said that he would send other ninja out to scout the areas and then send he would go with Itachi and Sasuke when they found out where Orochimaru was hiding.
Itachi made his way quickly back to his apartment. Sakura had the door already open having heard that Itachi was back from an assistant med-nin.
"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ITACHI!"
Itachi was surprised as all of his and Sakura's friends came out of different hiding spots in the apartment celebrating his birthday. Smiling as well as he could as he hated surprises he walked over to Sakura bend down as if to kiss her on the cheek, but whispered in her ear "You little hellion."
Pulling back Sakura smiled wickedly up at him. "This party has two meanings for us, so please just… enjoy it."
Itachi saw that she really needed this party not only to celebrate his birthday but for a secret goodbye for her. So he indulged his wife. Accepting well wishes as gracefully as he could and pretending to enjoy all the presents he was given, though he did really enjoy the new set of kunai and kanata from Sakura, he was less joyful about the first season of 'Come, Come, Paradise' novels from Kakashi. He knew Sakura would throw them out the next day.
After everyone had gone home, Itachi and Sakura sat down on the couch, Itachi's arms wrapped around Sakura's belly.
"Thank you Sakura."
"… What did you say?" Sakura said turning her head around to look at his face.
"Thank you. I may not like parties, but we needed this one. As a secret goodbye more than anything."
Sakura snaked her arms around Itachi's neck and smiled as she kissed him. "Thank you Itachi. For acting like a person tonight."
Sakura squeaked as Itachi dug his fingers into her side. "Do you mean to say that I don't usually act like a person?"
"During parties you don't."
They both smiled against each others lips. Itachi's tongue darted out and touched Sakura's bottom lip, requesting entry into her mouth. Sakura opened her mouth bringing Itachi's face closer so the gap between their lips was abolished. Itachi's tongue stroked Sakura's richly and with such passion and love that when he finally pulled away Sakura almost cried out in denial.
"It's time to go Sakura."
Sakura knew Itachi was right. It was time to go. There was still enough time before the baby was born to get rid of Orochimaru. But still, "Why now Itachi?"
"Sasuke and I found a map that had possible hideout spots of Orochimaru. I just think that this would be the best time to go and join the Akatsuki."
Sakura sighed and got up from Itachi's lap. He looked up at her confused thinking maybe she was having second thoughts about their decision. She walked into the bedroom and Itachi stood up about to follow when Sakura came back out carrying their two Akatsuki cloaks. She handed Itachi's cloak to him. "Ready?"
"Actually… no." Itachi said truthfully
"Me neither."
They both pulled their cloaks on and Sakura noticed how much the cloak suited Itachi. Itachi noticed how cute Sakura looked in hers.
Sakura put two envelopes on the coffee table one addressed to Naruto the other to Kakashi. Itachi understood why she had written both. One with a fake excuse to Naruto as to why they were gone, and to Kakashi as an emotional support letter. Placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder Itachi said "Come on Sakura. We'll be back in about four months."
"True. Let's go."
Itachi jumped out the window and then waited to Sakura to follow. He knew she was talking with her inner self, and saw that it was best not to interrupt her.
Come on Sakura. It's time
I know but it's just…
I know Sakura. It's scary
Yea…
Get going and soon you'll forget that it's scary and you'll know that it's not as big as we're making it to be
… Thank you inner
Sakura jumped out the window landing lightly next to Itachi. "You're going to have to move slowly. I'm not as fast as I used to be."
Itachi smiled and kissed Sakura on her forehead just above her headband. "I'll carry you if you get to tired. I just want to get a fair way away from here before midnight, just in case anyone comes back here and then decides to follow us."
Sakura nodded and then following Itachi along the roof tops, they had to rest when they reached the start of the road leading out of Konoha.