Hello, Kelso here. Sorry about the way way way way late update. I'll try to be better about it. Anyways, here's chapter 5, please review and give feedback.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does.
Chapter 5- Surprises
The first sign that she was alive was the pounding headache that was smacking her in the head every minute. She guessed pain was better then no sign at all. Though, her headache was pounding; it was worst then a hangover. Sakura didn't dare open her eyes. If her head throbbed this terribly bad then there was no telling how her eyes would react. They would probably explode. Did she dare? Of course;she was stubborn to the bone and tried to open her eyes anyways. Carefully squinting to numb any sun that threatened to leak in; Sakura made sure that the coast was clear. Another sign that she was alive was: she was tucked into her nice comfortable bed with her sea of pillows. Breathing and moving. Sakura quickly sat up then regretted it as her mind was beating her up from the inside out. Hunching over in her bed; Sakura placed her hand on her head. She flinched as her fingertips grazed the growing lump on her forehead; she jumped a little as the pain zapped down her body to her toes. Sakura was slightly confused about just how she got this injury then she suddenly remembered. They fell. Hard on the ground.
For a second; Sakura had an attack of worry. How was Sasuke after his fit? Was he okay? Did he move her to her bed? Just what the hell caused him to scream like that? Why did Itachi's name float to her mind before she crashed onto the floor? So many questions were racking her brain but then a sense of relief came over as her eyes came across a familiar shadow. Her heart stopped having a panic attack. She carefully climbed out of her bed; Sakura didn't want to scramble what brains and ego that she had left. Slowly she walked to Sasuke then stopped right in front of him. Her chest was inches away from hers but right now, he felt like he was further away. Sakura cringed as she met his empty eyes. Just what the hell had happened to him? There was only one way to find out.
"Sasuke?" Sakura muttered softly. She had no idea what she had done to receive empty eyes from him. Instead, she just stared; waiting for any signs of life from him. After waiting a couple of minutes for any acknowledgment; Sakura once again opened her mouth to speak when she was interrupted by a slowly, steady voice or what sounded like it. She was too in shock to understand or comprehend any words flowing from his lips. Her eyes widen as his eyes met hers. The color was no longer his handsome obsidian black but now a shocking blood red. She wanted gasp and put his new eye color as a flaw in her brain. Though from one dead look from him; she knew it wasn't her. Again, she opened her mouth to speak but a pale hand slipped over her lips. "Listen, don't speak, understand."
Sakura was a women who didn't like orders nor did she like being told to shut up, no matter how nice the way was. Though for some odd reason, she nodded her head up and down. Swearing that she would stay silent until he said otherwise. It was a challenge that Sakura did not meet everyday. She inhaled; waiting for Sasuke to speak. Hopefully. Time was ticking and life is precious. Once she did agree; his pale hand slipped away from her. Sakura missed the heaviness of his hand, not the he was so cold. Just having his skin on hers made her shiver; nothing like the heat of yesterday in the elevator. She fought herself to sigh as twenty minutes of her life goes down the drain. It wasn't until she gave him another look with her sea foam eyes that his eyes leaked pure rage. It was nothing like anything Sakura could ever see before. Sakura stood there, right across from him for some time just trying to fight the shivers of rage away. What had she done to make him angry? Her curiosity wanted her to break her vow of silence to him. Then suddenly, Sasuke slumped to the floor.
He watched as her eyes followed him down to the ground; unsure and confused. How hard was it to tell her everything about him? For some reason, it seemed like that hardest thing to do. Though remembering just how he died and what his sick brother did to Sakura and his family, just how could he be the bad guy here? Sasuke knew he had to say something eventually; the room was thick with unsaid words and silence. When finally, he blurted "I know how I died."
His words bounced around the room like happy words. Though they weren't. He watched as her eyes got as huge as dinner plates and she gracefully sat beside him. Waiting was the hardest game. She wanted to deny that the man that she loves was dead or already dead but she couldn't. Sakura had shoved that simple sad fact deep down in her mind with no acknowledgement. If she couldn't hear it or see it; it wasn't there. All the sudden, it was. It was a problem she needed to deal with if she loved him. Though she was fighting with herself, with the simple matter of they can't being together since, he's well, dead. She decided to be his support; shoving her problems deep inside her mind and heart once again. She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear about his death though; it would only make her worries more real. Sakura shook her pink haired locks and decided she was being selfish. He needed her or else he wouldn't have tried to say something. She inhaled then exhaled; swallowing her problems for later then said, "Do you want to tell me about it?" Sakura didn't dare look at his eyes; she didn't want to see what was there.
She froze as she heard the sharp intake of breath, then, "Yes and no." The answer he gave was his true honest answer. He didn't just know about his death or his family's death but he knew about her. For some reason Sasuke knew about Sakura fully giving herself to Itachi then being thrown aside. For some sick, stupid reason, he knew. It was information he didn't want to know or even find out. When he remember all of his life, flashes of memories filled with her face, her eyes, her lips, her smile, her pure laughter; knew the he was in love with her long before his fall with a shooting star. He was in love with her before he died and his brother knew it. Hell they had even talked about her the night before his death. Sasuke smiled ironically as his brother had him figured out long before; while Sasuke just figured out his feelings for her. It was poetic justice at work.
Of course, the night that the murders had happened; the only reason why Itachi did what he did with Sakura was to taint her. Just in case Sasuke would survive. Looking at her now; Sasuke's heart pounded in his chest. His older brother should have killed her too. There was no way he could look at Sakura as tainted. Not when he saw an angel in front of him.
Sakura didn't know how to reply or how she was suppose to. Yes and no? Just what the hell was that suppose to mean? Yes and no? Sakura took it as a choice. It's either she could chicken out and listen to the nice happy part of his story or she be a tough little woman and listen to it all. Half of her just wanted to listen to the good part and leave the other part only. Then again, she could overreacting and assuming that the 'no' was bad. Maybe it was something nice that he didn't want to share quite yet. Her head and her heart were doing flip flops and battles. Sakura leaned her sore head on the back of the wall; too much thinking was giving her another pounding headache right on top of the other numbing one. She finally did a compromise; purposely shutting her head and her heart up. "Tell me both." God she really hoped that she didn't just regret saying that. But what's done is done and it's too late now. Sakura braced herself for anything. Sasuke's shoulders tensed for a couple seconds then relaxed. Letting the last breath of nervous air out of his body then he spoke; "Like I said Sakura, I know how I died and I," then Sasuke stops and looks at his clenched fist. His knuckles were turning white with the pressure and Sasuke could feel the half shaped moon of his nails dig a new home into his palms. He closes his eyes and mentally prays that she won't regret anything that he's going to tell her. The silence fell around them once again. Sakura watched Sasuke stare away from the story then close his eyes. All she could do at this point was encourage him to share the pain. Not to take the burden alone. "And you," she gently coaxed on. Sakura hated to see him suffer so much. Especially when it's someone she loved.
Another sigh was release as her encouragement was heard. "I knew you before now," easily explained Sasuke. He looked at her; just to see what her reaction was. Confusion flashed across her eyes. Sakura tilted her head sideways, "What are you talking about Sasuke?" asked Sakura. She didn't understand. "What do you mean you knew me before now?"
Then everything came quickly. All at once. The last thing that Sakura knew; she was on the floor listening to Sasuke's explanation. Now, she was on her own two feet. In Sasuke's arms.
What possessed him to grab her from the floor and hold her tight. He didn't know. Sasuke guessed it was some stupid irrational motion of love or protection. Or both. Maybe he was trying to protect her from the truth. The truth that she has asked for. "Sakura, I knew you before I was killed," Sasuke quickly explained. He was just wanting to get the truth out as quickly as possible or so his head told him. His heart still wanted to be careful. There was no more confusing her and sure as hell no more beating around the bush. It was like ripping off a sticky bandage. It was just better to get it over and done with. "The person who killed me and also my parents was my brother and," Sasuke cut himself off. He really really didn't want to say the last part of his sentence. The pain in his chest ached for her and for their own past. He wanted to shield her from the pain he was about to cause. Sasuke tighten his grip on her small body; savoring the pulsing beat of his heart against hers.
Sakura noticed how his arms grew tighter and stronger around her as his story continued. Her heart flickered and fluttered against the boldness of his chest. She wanted to look into his eyes but her lack of height and the angle prevented her from doing so. Sakura felt a shiver course down his body. The shiver of his triggered one of her very own. It started from the back of her neck to the very tips of her toes. She wanted to coax him gently but her own patience were running thin. "And?" Sakura questioned. His arms tighten against her once she spoke. She heard a sigh, then froze as his words came out of his mouth clearer then day.
"And, he was your lover."
Ice ran through her blood as Sasuke's voice seemed so far away. Like talking into a tin can that distorts and echoes. Sakura didn't want to believe what he just said, but there was no way that she could deny it. Her hearing took in every single word; the other question was if her brain wanted to make sense of it. She had tried to hide it deep within her mind. Maybe if she didn't speak of it, then maybe it never really happened.
Though she couldn't deny that it did happen. All of her memories that she had carefully tucked away came back in full force. Every kiss, every touch and every moment of laughter shared with Itachi flew back to her. Even memories of the three of them; spending the afternoons together. In her flashes of memories; she noticed Sasuke's quick, longing gazes at her. The looks at her were short enough to be unsuspected glances to hide anything or feelings. But the looks were valuable enough to make the Sasuke from her memories smile a rare smile. One that she hadn't seen since those innocent days.
Then the flashes of her nightmares came. They came into her mind and her heart. All the flashes of the police questioning, therapy and her tears. Lots and lots of tears. After her memories were finished revoking choking memories; the feelings of regret and disgust drowned her. Sakura remembered the night between her and Itachi. She remembered the feelings of turmoil when Itachi dumped her afterwards just because she wanted to say goodbye to his family for the night.
She wanted nothing to do with those memories anymore. Sakura wanted nothing to do with the feelings of torment when the police found her blood at the crime scene and had asked for an explanation. Or when Itachi blew her a kiss through the one way the sprung a new course of goosebumps down her body again. Sakura didn't want to remember the way her heart had ached when the police had informed her of Sasuke's death. She didn't want to remember the long, cold dark wooden boxes sinking into the depth of the ground. Or the way her eyes blurred her surrounding as she stood before his grave. Her chest ached from the last memory of laying a single tomato on Sasuke's grave because he hated flowers.
In that moment, Sakura realized that she had loved that Sasuke too. Too? There was no denying that the Sasuke from her memories and the Sasuke that was holding her was the same person. Somewhere in her head; the small nagging voice had questioned what if Sasuke had never died? Would he be the same man she fell in love with now? Or a completely different person that she didn't know entirely? That haunting thought made her close her eyes and weep. Sakura tried not to breath. She didn't want to breath in the scent of skin; it made her heart ache more. The nagging thought cackled evilly in her head then it shut itself away into the darkest pit of her mind. She doubted him. Therefore she doubted her feelings and their love for each other. Just thinking that he was a completely different person from the way he was broke a little something inside of her. Trust. Without trust or trusting each other; there was no love.
Sasuke felt her body shiver and quake. He was worried that she hadn't said anything but he wanted her to take the news in quietly. His heart ached as the only thing that he could do for the woman in his arms was just to let her quiver her pain away. Until he felt the wet warmth on his shirt; leaking onto his skin. "Sakura?" Sasuke had only made her name the question because he didn't want to ask the obvious 'What's wrong.' Then he heard a high pitch watery muffle come from the direction of his chest. Sasuke didn't catch any of her foreign language, "What was that?"
The high pitch muffle came back. Sasuke had only caught the last two words of the weepy language; the "I" and the "You." He smiled and replied "I love you too." His words only made her cry harder. Sasuke was freaking out once he heard full blown sobs coming from the small woman. As a typical guy; he had no idea how to console her. Deep down in his heart Sasuke may have been regretting telling her the whole truth. Though, he told her the truth like she wanted. Sasuke thought everything was soothed over once she had told him that she loved him. But now? Sakura was crying heap of nothing but tears in his arms.
"Sakura, What's wrong?" He moved a hand from the small of her back to grab her chin lightly. Sasuke just wanted her to look at him and depend on him to chase away the monsters. He wanted her to share her torment; just like she made him share his. Talking to him would help her cope with whatever pain she had. Her green eyes clamped shut as her chin and face were in his direction. "Come on Sakura, talk to me or just look at me," pleaded Sasuke. He had never begged anyone ever. Not even in his old life or his new one. He was too proud. Until now. He would do anything to calm the tear drowning Sakura. Even face the devil himself.
She shook her head violently; knowing that she would undone if she gave into his request. Instead she focused on ignoring his pleading voice and the heat of his eyes on her face. Her heart was breaking in two. Just like the titanic; her heart was sinking into the cold depths of the abyss. She couldn't stand to be in his arms any longer and said the words that she knew that she would regret for the rest of her life. Sakura stood up straight and gave Sasuke a full dose of her bloodshot green eyes and said,
"I don't know you."
Her delicate arms protested as she shoved his body away from hers. She broke away from the comfort and protection of his arms that she was in just moments ago. Sakura's skin protested with the tingling sensation that she wanted to ignore. Sasuke's arms fell to his side as his heart fell from his chest. He couldn't help but watch her eyes and face tear willingly from their connection. His heart only sank deeper as she refused to look at him.
What was left of her broken, depth sunken heart just died more as she witnessed his own version of a broken heart. The pain in her chest only grew more as she dealt with guilt. Because she was the one who put that look at his handsome face. Sakura looked down at her carpet; looking anywhere and everyone but at the man in front of her. "What are you talking about Sakura?" asked Sasuke. His words cut Sakura deeper then she could believe. She had a feeling that the knife would stay in her heart forever.
Sasuke was trying to stay calm even though he wanted to scream at her and her words. She owned him explanation for her hurtful sentence and he'll be damned if she denied him that. Her words were like a knife to the chest and a blade to the heart. He never thought a simple woman word's could hurt him so badly. "What do you mean, 'You don't know me?'" demanded Sasuke. He was clearly losing his battle with himself to keep calm and level headed. His eyes burned with battle and heat. He wouldn't let her go without a fight. Not after all the shit that he's been through.
Sakura whirled herself around; not trusting herself to be able to resist him. Her body was still aching to be held and her heart wanted him to chase all of her evil thoughts away but she knew. She knew that he couldn't do it. Those evil thoughts were hers and they were a part of her. Whether she liked it or not. There was no way those thoughts would go away. In her strongest voice that she could muster at the moment she said,
"Exactly as it sounds Sasuke. I don't know you right now. I knew 'you' then and I know 'you' now but how could you be the same Sasuke I had feelings for then? You can't because you died. You are different now. You're a dead person given a second chance. Just think about how different you are now compared to back then. I don't know if you are the same person I fell in love with the first time," sighed Sakura. She took in a deep breath and let it go slowly; trying to gather herself. It didn't work but she continued, "I'm not even sure if I loved the 'you' now or I was just trying to the Sasuke from way back when through you."
She was glad that all her evil thoughts were out on the table. Sakura jumped at the loud booming sound coming from behind her. Her eyes grew large as she spotted the culprit of the loud noise. Some of her despair disappeared as anger possessed her when her eyes landed on the hole in her drywall accompanied by his fist. Sakura was already upset but that; that made her angry. The small little voice in her head made itself known by reminding Sakura that her landlord wasn't going to be too happy about the fist print in the wall. Sakura crossed her arms in confusion, despair and anger. She watched silently as Sasuke composed his broken pieces back together and removed his fist from the drywall. She flinched as Sasuke shouted, "What do you mean I'm not same person as I was before I died?"
He wanted to punch the wall again and again but instead he clenched his fist as tight as he could and grunted, "Name one thing that I can't do now that I could have done then." Then he smirked. Sasuke knew he had her there. He was a hundred percent sure that she wouldn't be able to think of anything because he couldn't. Sasuke had thought everything over. Then he heard a sad sigh and waited for her to continue.
Sakura sighed and said,
"You could have kissed me then."
More tears fell from her eyes and down her cheeks as she saw Sasuke flinch from her words. Silently she grabbed a grey sweatshirt and left. Quietly shutting the door behind her. As she walked away; she could swear that she heard howls of despair coming from the direction of her apartment. She could swear. Her tears were hidden by fresh rain that decided to fall. Sakura could feel the cold stinging her cheeks and her own tears mingled with the drops. Her hands flipped the grey hood upwards to block out the rain. The cold rain that matched her mood. Sakura decided that the rain was falling for her. She wanted no part of it.
Sakura went to the only place she knew tha one would find her. Her second home and the place full of girl talk and tears. Ino's apartment.
Karin looked at herself in the mirror; wondering why anyone would wear an ugly shade of blond hair. The woman cringed as she ran her fingers through silk strings of platinum. The temptation to cut it ran though her new body. Karin liked her new body; it wasn't like didn't like it. Only the hair color and the length was her only issue. The body that she had taken over was a better body compared to hers originally. Not that she would ever say it out loud. Karin twirled the pair of scissors through her fingers; getting ready to snip one strand when she heard a tapping at the door. Frustrated, Karin slammed the scissors down onto the dresser violently. She was done with interruptions.
Who was it now? Karin questioned. She hoped it wasn't that same guy that she woke up naked with. Karin was shocked that she had entered the body of this slut at a time like that. Luckily her threat to kill him by tearing his balls off with her teeth scared the shit out of him. She was glad that he wasn't some kind of freak that was into that sort of thing. Once she had threatened him; the guy shot up like a rocket and booked his way out of her apartment. He ran so fast that he forgot his wallet. Karin discovered his name was Kiba and he was twenty one. She jumped again when the door was knocked on more profusely. Karin sure as hell hoped that her threat had worked and the slime ball wasn't back for his wallet. Her new fingers fumbled with the lock that she placed on the door to avoid naked man again. If it was naked man Kiba; Karin was prepared to give him the best death threat of her new life that would make him shit his pants. She swung open the door just about to give him a piece of her mind when no words came out. Instead of Kiba, Karin opening the door revealed a very soaked and shivering pink-haired woman standing before her. Karin was shocked and dumbfounded; had her body screwed women too?
"Ino, can I come in?" pleaded the ? Karin blinked in confusion; who the hell was Ino? Then an idea hit her. Her body must have been named Ino. Karin was afraid about her body moment. It was obvious that she was losing her brain cells just being in this new body. She knew that she couldn't have that; Karin needed all the brain cells that she could get.
But sadly none of the memories from 'Ino' had been transferred to her. Karin had no idea who this woman was and what the hell she wanted. Karin really hoped that she wasn't here to get lucky with her. She wasn't in the mood to entertain nor would she would ever do anything with a woman. Karin didn't swing that way. If this woman was here to get lucky; Karin was going to give her a wake up call. "Who are you," snapped Karin. Maybe this girl would think twice before knocking on her door.
Sakura blinked in confusion. There was no way Ino would forget her; no matter how much she drank. They have been best friends since Sakura could remember. Way by into diaper days. "Ino," carefully said Sakura. She didn't want to piss off the blond woman by implying she was a drunkard. No matter if that was the truth. "It's Sakura, you know, your best friend since diaper days."
Then she waited until Ino's angry, hostile face disappeared into giant happy arched an eyebrow in question when Ino released a smile that could compare with the sun's bright rays. At that point, Sakura decided that Ino definitely had too much to drink last night. "Oh Sakura, sorry, I had a rough morning," smiled Karin as she held the door open for Sakura. Sakura smiled to return the blond's smile as she stepped into her apartment and in the back of her mind; she had to laugh and agree. The blond girl definitely had a rough morning if she was like this. Sakura was glad that she had something to smile about at that moment.
"Ino, it's been awhile since you had gotten black out drunk. Are you sure you are feeling okay?" asked Sakura after Ino closed the door behind her. As Sakura asked her question; she gently laid the back of her hand against Ino's forehead to check her temperature. Sakura's body shivered as the coldness of Ino's forehead traveled down hers. The blond woman was completely freezing. Just the opposite of what she should be from drinking all night. Ino should have been running a fever.
Karin couldn't help but to smile at the pink haired woman's concern over her well being and said, "I've never felt better. I feel like a completely different person." She couldn't help but to think just how ironic the scene was. Sakura should be more concerned over her own well being instead of Karin's. After all, it wasn't everyday that the one person that she needed to complete the mission dropped onto her doorstep. There was one problem with completing mission with only just her and that was the reason why she had talked Itachi into helping her. The final stage of opening the gateway to hell required someone who was from hell to plant a kiss on Sakura's lips. Karin wasn't quite comfortable with that last part. Hell she wasn't even comfortable with men ever since her death; why should women be any different?
It was too bad that Karin had no idea just where Itachi had landed when he fell down to Earth. Their meeting would make shit a lot easier in Karin's book. Actually Karin would bet her new body that Itachi would love to give Sakura a smooch for old times sake. Though, she wouldn't. She didn't want to lose her new body that quickly.
"Hey Ino," mumbled Sakura. The silence between them was killing her. Sakura just wanted to go somewhere to talk. Talk or drink some drinks or eat some chocolate; Sakura couldn't decide at the moment. She just wanted to drown the empty feeling in heart with anything. "Let's go somewhere."
Karin jumped at the sound of Sakura's voice; clearly startled by the other woman. Her shoulders relaxed and said the only answer that would make any sense, "Lead the way."
Itachi rolled off the small petite brunette for the fifth time. He patted his new pale hand on her bare bottom and smirked. His pent up energy was all released. Inside the young woman. It was awhile since he had gotten any ass. The last time on Earth was; well, with Sakura. He didn't want that memory of her pale virgin flesh under his fingertips anymore. It was about time he had something new. Itachi rolled off the bed and slipped his pant back on. Not wasting time with underwear anymore. He didn't wear them when he was alive the first time; why start? The smirked on his face only deepened some more when he heard the bed sheets rustled followed by the sound of crying. Maybe taking the young woman roughly was a bad idea but he had done it anyways. Hell he felt great; better than he's ever felt before. Though he couldn't decide which was better; pure fruit of a woman or one the was slightly broke in. He smirked and yanked the rest of his clothes onto his body and left. Closing the door of the crying girl behind him.
Sakura and Ino walked down the street; going to their usual place with Sakura leading the way. It seemed Ino's memory was affected by her last night's drinking. She had asked Ino just how much she had to drink last night; the blond responded she had lost count. Sakura sighed, just trying to relax herself from the loneliness in her heart that ached for Sasuke. Her aching heart was also fighting with a nagging feeling that was settling itself between her shoulder blades.
Karin was walking by Sakura in silence. Not knowing just what to say. Her travels with Sakura would be easier if Karin had gotten some memories from this Ino chick but possession doesn't work like that. Her eyes flickered between watching the whereabouts of Sakura and the clothing in the windows. Karin had found many articles of clothing that she wanted to try on; she wondered just where this body had put her money. Money, Karin remembered. Suddenly Karin mentally smacked herself for her distractions and couldn't believe just what she was seeing. Her eyes widened and she fought to look at herself, her real self, closer in the mirror. Karin quickly glanced at Sakura o make sure the other woman wasn't window shopping too. There was nothing to worry about.
To Karin, it seemed that Sakura was in her own little world. Then Karin watched as Sakura's face morphed from a one of indifference to one of disgust. Karin's heart jumped up in panic; maybe Sakura had seen her true form. She reeled her head for the best excuse to give to Sakura about just what she had seen. Instead though; Karin had jumped when Sakura's arm laced through hers. Her ears picked up, "Just don't say anything to him," from Sakura's mouth. Karin was confused until she followed Sakura's hostile gaze to a man. There was a long haired handsome male coming towards them. Karin connected the dots of Sakura not liking this male very much and she nodded her head to reassure Sakura. Karin lowered her gaze as they got ready to pass the man. As they passed, Karin couldn't resist to see what this guy was all about. Something about him rubbed Sakura the wrong way and Karin liked it. Her eyes checked out his reflection in the shop windows. Then she froze; with Sakura stopping confused right next to her. Karin couldn't believe what she was seeing.
Itachi smiled as his luck grew. More lucky at least. He spotted the familiar shade of pink hair that he would never forget. Well, he never did, even after his death. He watched as her head bobbled up and down; making her glow in the dark hair bounce. He smirked, she was so easy to spot out of the crowd. Itachi's smirked died just a little when he noticed that Sakura had company. Her body was amazing and curvy just in all the right places. He wouldn't mind getting his hands on her. Itachi was cranking out ideas to get Sakura alone. Maybe he could seduce the blond. Then the smirk came back onto his face; he liked that plan a lot. Hell, it was his number one plan.
The small nagging voice in his head mentioned that maybe his mission wasn't going to be as easy as he thought. Itachi ignored it. Nothing could rain on his lucky parade. His smirk grew as they walked towards each other and her green eyes were a flamed with extreme dislike. Itachi's heart jumped with worry; that he quickly crushed, as he confidently determined that there was no way she could know it was him. Not in his new body at least. Instead of tormenting like he wanted badly to down; he played coy. His own thoughts wondered off to just how glad he was to have a handsome body and mentally counting just how many women he could have. Itachi tsked himself and decided that he could have all the women in the world if he put his mind to it. Though he was a little pale for his own personal preference. Maybe he would get a tan or go on vacation. He started racking all the places he could go and the different women he could have; once again. Once that idea grew old; his eyes flickered to the shops.
As they grew closer and closer; Itachi fingers tingled from wanting to grab Sakura and plant one on her lips. Instead, he passed them quickly and quietly and stuck to planning his next move of attack in his head when he met a familiar set of eyes in the shop window. Then he smirked. His luck couldn't get any better. "Karin," greeted Itachi with a nodded in the women's direction then stopped a few feet from Karin. "Itachi," Karin greeted back with a smirk of her own. They had finally met once again. Now the mission can be completely a lot easier.
Sakura froze as Neji had greeted Ino with 'Karin.' Just what was he playing at? Sakura clenched her fist; getting ready to lay Neji down just for no good reason. Well, Sakura needed something to hit and Neji was a scum bag from hell; what better reason was that? Her flying fist froze as her best friend greeted back with his name. The name that she had never uttered or mentioned to a living soul. Sakura's nagging feeling grew more as she wanted to give Ino the benefit of the doubt. There was no way she had heard her best friend correctly. Sakura put it on the hangover that Ino was suffering from. She nodded to the little voice in her head in agreement; Ino was simply still hungover and was clearly still suffering from it. There was no way she heard the blond woman correctly. There was no way in hell. Instead of listening to the sane voice in her head that made sense of the situation; the insane part of her took over and asked, "What did you say Ino?" Sakura mentally cringed. Why didn't she listen to herself for once?
All Ino did was point at the window with a smirk on her face. Sakura's eyes followed from the tip of Ino's finger to shop mirrors. Her eyes widened from what her eyes were seeing. There was something wrong with Ino's reflection. Instead of Ino's usual blond reflection; there was a red-haired woman standing in her place. Sakura ripped her arm from the weird situation. It wasn't possible. It was impossible. Sakura's eyes flickered between normal Ino and her new reflection. It wasn't possible. Then the small voice in her head said maybe it was someone in the shop. Sakura quickly shot that idea dead. She knew everyone in this small little town and she didn't recognize this woman. Also there was no way to explain the same exact outfit and the way of stature that Ino was in. Her mind automatically jumped to Neji. Somehow this was all his doing from being pissed at her. Sakura crossed her fingers.
Her eyes flickered to Neji and the scum bag smirk on his face. Instead of her eyes just staying on Neji's face; they flew passed him. Onto his own reflection. There was no way. Her mind couldn't think of any logical explanation to this. The shiver that she had tried to hide broke out onto her body like a disease. Sakura wanted to shake her head to clear her head but she was afraid to make any movement. She knew if she moved; the lion would spring. There was no way that vile man was back. Her fear of him only grew more as their eyes connected in the window. Sakura willed her legs to go but her fear froze her to the spot.
Itachi had to smirk. He just had too. She was too cute of trying to make sense of Karin's new look. He watched as the wheels in her head turn. His smirk only grew more when she switched to him in rage. At first. Then his smirk grew deeper as she realized the truth of just who he his. He loved the fear the possessed her eyes. He loved the way she reacted to him now. The sick puppy love grew dull beforehand but this was a completely new Sakura to him. He wanted to break her.
Sakura's heart skipped a beat in fear when she saw the growing smirk on his face. She was a deer in headlights; just waiting for the car to hit her. The fact that Itachi might try to touch made her frozen heart jump in the fight or flight response. There was no way she could take on Itachi; even in Neji body. Sakura had a hard enough time taking on Neji before; there was no way she could defend herself now. Her own possessed feet whirled her around and took off. She ran. She ran as fast as she could and didn't look back.
Karin crossed her arms as she watched Sakura grow smaller in the distance. She was pissed that Itachi hadn't made his move and plant one on her. Instead he had let her go. Karin also felt stupid for not doing what needed to be done when she had the woman alone in her apartment. "Itachi! Why the fuck did you let her go for?" demanded Karin hotly. She hoped to hell he had a good excuse for his stupid rookie mistake. Her body shivered in fear from the way his eyes looked. The paleness of his new body's eyes were pale but now. Now they were a blood red. His natural color. She shivered again as she knew that shouldn't be possible. Her fear of him only deepen with his answer.
"She'll lead us to my brother. We are long overdue for a hello. Don't you think?" smirked Itachi as Karin's reaction to him made his heart aflutter. His fluttering only grew stronger as the woman refused to answer and only nodded her head in agreement. He held his arms out, acting like his was lead her and said, "Shall we?"
And once again, only just a nod out of the woman. Itachi smirked and walked right beside the woman in silence in the direction that Sakura had fled down earlier. His mind was playing with the thought of why did he let Sakura go. The only explanation that came up with was; his mother didn't teach him not to play with his food.