With Time

*

Sky and Ocean are the same. Able to float through each one. Beautiful creatures in each one. Dreams in each one.

*

Troubles

Waking up in a groggy manner, Sakura squinted her eyes as the morning sun flashed about her eyes. Glancing over at the clock, it read 8:26 A.M., usually a lot later than what she allows herself to sleep to. Just upon the process of getting out of bed, Sakura felt her chest constrict painfully.

Carefully unlatching herself from the thin bed sheets, she felt a pang of sudden coldness that engulfed her rigid form. Frowning, she looked down at the sleeping Uchiha. It's only been a few days since she had first encountered him.

She didn't know how or even why, but she could make out the S-rank missing nin. Just the smallest of actions made him that much more real and human in Sakura's mind. The tiniest gestures of kindness led her to believe that he wasn't what he appeared to be.

And she was certain of it. Back when she was still around five, she could remember seeing the older Uchiha throughout Konoha before the massacre. Donned in casual clothes, he had always been smiling slightly with a walking companion, seemingly at peace with the environment.

There was even one instance that Sakura remembered but had kept a secret from him.

It was a summer day as she was sitting on the park swings in the shade when Sakura had spotted the infamous Uchiha walking down the sidewalk. But this time, he was with a beautiful girl. To this day, she still remembered all of her distinct features. Almond brown eyes, long black hair, and a gentle smile that put anyone to ease. And to the little Sakura's surprise, they were holding hands.

But that wasn't what took her breath away. So out of his usual stoic composure and quiet complex, there on that day, a brilliant smile had lit up the Uchiha's face as he watched with a loving glint as his girlfriend laughed at something they had discussed.

Recalling this instance still curled up near Itachi, she suddenly felt guilty. Sakura knew that he had killed his lover for the sake of his clan, but she understood that he had loved her. And possibly still does. She was sure his girlfriend was a gentle and compassionate creature. Lying on the warm bed that now just seemed cold, Sakura edged away from the still sleeping shinobi.

There was a string holding her back from involving herself in this man. She, realizing just now, that there was an ache to get to know him better, to break up his guard around her, was quite impossible. And even though she knew he would never give her that heart wrenching smile she had seen so many years back, her heart still slightly withered.

Bitterly laughing inwardly at her ridiculousness, Sakura slowly slid out of bed as quietly as possible so as not to disturb the Uchiha, (for this was probably the most sleep he's had in at least seven years) she jostled through her back of groceries left on the table from yesterday and pulled out a supply of painkillers. She had come to realize that Itachi always retained headaches in the morning.

Setting the bottle and a note on the drawer where Itachi would see it when he woke up, she quickly slid out the room in order to be free of her growing anxiety.

_

_

s

By the time Sakura had come back from the village markets with bags of food, she was thoroughly surprised to find a lump still resting in bed. Kicking off her shoes in haste, she strained her head to catch a glimpse of the mini grandfather clock that hung on the wall. 10:13 A.M. Growing faintly worried, Sakura set down her bags and peered over the blankets at the curled up Uchiha. Climbing slowly onto the bed, she examined his breathing patterns carefully and resolved in the verdict that he was simply just oversleeping.

Beginning to retreat from her crouched position on the bed, Sakura was suddenly stopped when a strong hand clamped over her wrist in a flash with a slightly painful grip. Actually jumping slightly and trembling the bed, she stared into deep crimson eyes with shock. Shock, but never fear. Calming her erratic heartbeat, Sakura remembered her earlier thoughts just upon waking up and firmly tugged her wrist out of his reach, looking over his shoulder at a fixed point.

"…You shouldn't use the Sharingan at such an early time", Sakura muttered, slipping away to a close distance from the bed, "you'll strain yourself…and give me a heart attack." Sakura had mumbled the last part under her breath, but still certain the Uchiha had heard clearly.

Itachi just watched her with an indifferent gaze as she grabbed the bag of food and painkillers from the bedside table and set it near his lap once he had pushed into a sitting position.

"Painkillers, and breakfast. You should eat before you swallow those."

"…I do not require painkillers…" Itachi's face remained emotionless but she could sense the irritating pain that was concentrated in his temple.

"You get headaches in the morning…am I correct?" Sakura state quietly.

The Uchiha just observed her for some time before slowly taking the water and pills from her hand and easily depositing them into his mouth. As he was draining the last contents of his glass, Sakura reached for the bag, beginning to empty the container of its contents.

"I-ah…I didn't know what you preferred to eat so I just grabbed a bunch of bread and sweeter things and some fruit. But some of the fruit were kinda ripe…" Sakura frowned as she pulled out a bruised apple, wiping it with the sleeve of her shirt before setting it aside gingerly.

"Thank you". Itachi had set aside the glass and selected a pack of dango from the selections, smoothly opening the package and pulling a stick out.

"Ah-that's all you're having?" Sakura looked down at the mountain of food she had gotten. And she had felt embarrassed when others had glanced at the amount she was taking in the markets.

"I am not fond of breakfast."

"But it's the most important meal of the day!"

Itachi observed her with a look that said she had stated the obvious.

"And you're still recovering! Meaning you need food now more than ever…and soldier pills don't count." Sakura quickly added in on a remembrance of when she saw Itachi skip dinner, replacing it with a pill instead.

"I am sure I can survive without morning sustenance." Why couldn't he just say food?

Huffing, she snatched up a packet of sweet buns before noisily tearing open the seal. Taking a bite, the both were fully aware that the silence was beginning to thicken as Sakura randomly flipped through her schedule for the day. It was about five days before she had to return back to Konoha. That, to Sakura's alarm, was a very short amount of time.

Lamely trying to break the silence with a short cough, Sakura rapidly finished the remaining of her bread, all but shoving the rest into her mouth with as much poise she could muster.

"I should do another check up on you; make sure your cells are all clean."

Itachi nodded silently, walking over to his side of the bed and laying down. Approaching his side, she performed her daily scan on him, expected an easy run through. But upon meeting a bundle not usually detected, Sakura furrowed her brows lightly. Delving deeper, she was startled by the strength of the cells in his system. They seemed to be traveling through his lungs…as if liquid was filling up.

Checking once more, the cells had retreated back into protective sheaths that hid them away from immune cells.

All this time, Itachi had been calmly looking up at the ceiling. Haruno Sakura, he thought, was very different. Upon meeting, her reaction hadn't been like most shinobi: terrified, fearing, cowardly. She had given him something he hadn't seen in a long time. Acceptance. There was no judging with her, no having to put on his strongest defenses. But he knew to keep a distance from her. Especially her.

Taking a glance towards her, he found her face to be crumpled in distress.

"Is there something wrong?" His voice seemed to have broken her out of her daze for she started when the silence was broken.

"Huh? Oh, no…nothing." Her voice came out softly.

"You are a terrible liar Haruno-san." Sakura still always felt a slight feeling of embarrassment whenever stated her surname in such a detached way. But even so, Sakura knew he was right.

"Have you…ever had any past illnesses? Or still do?" Sakura knew that if not treated, the liquid will eventually overflow his lungs, drowning himself in his own body.

Itachi seemed to be thinking to himself, as if trying to remember any sicknesses he had.

"Any…medication you took when you were young…restrictions your parents gave?? Sakura slightly froze upon mentioning Itachi's past. His eyes were still closed, and she let out a slow breath of relief.

"We've had restrictions on food as a child. But that was merely for fitness purposes." Itachi clarified after a few moments. Sakura, he found, was no longer situated beside him but pacing the length of the room, biting her nail.

"Are you sure there was nothing you took as a child? Pills, daily foods, powders?" Sakura listed with a hint of desperation.

"My memory does not fail me." He stated in a quiet manner. Inside though, concern was beginning to seep into him though he did not show it.

He observed Sakura as she paced quickly, fixing her stares on a piece of chipped wall. This was a new behavior he had come to witness, but could easily judge the emotion that went along with it.

'It would have been better if he had said he had taken medication. That would've meant this disease was only spreading after a great amount of years since childhood. But since he's not…that means his lungs could be drowned by the end of two weeks!' Sakura's mind ranted frantically. She had to do something. There has got to be a cure, and even if there isn't, she'll make one.

"Haruno-san." His voice was what pulled her back from her panicking thoughts. Calm, soft, rational while hers wasn't. It eased her mind a little to know that he was still so calm. Unfearing.

Turning towards him, Itachi was now sitting against the head board, arms crossed in a relaxed position.

"Explain your current state of mind."

For an instant, she had thought of making up a small lie to not trouble him, but this was Uchiha Itachi. Nothing got past him, especially with her lying skills.

With a sigh, she sat at his feet and explained to him what was in his system. Throughout this time, his expression remained stoic and controlled. While as Sakura constantly looked anywhere but at him.

"-But I'll find a cure! I'll figure this out, don't worry." She found that funny, seeing aas she was the one that was worrying.

"Haru-"

"I just need to start. Soon. Actually, now would be a good time. There's not a lot of time left. Let me just get my notebook and scrolls. I'm sure I can find something in those scrolls." Sakura pushed off the bed, searching through her bag until she located said-items.

"Haruno-san, there is no need to increase your pace in studies." Returning to her previous spot on the bed, she looked up to find Itachi looking intently at her. Biting her lip, she flipped through pages of notes.

"…I have to. I'm due back to my village in five days…" She whispered, fear glazing over her eyes.

For the first time, Itachi registered her village life into his mind. The thought of her on a mission before encountering him had completely slipped his mind.

Jotting his eyes over to her shoulder, he located the familiar ANBU tattoo engraved into her left shoulder, reminding himself of his that was still present.

If she was in ANBU, then why was she being sent here to pick up herbs for her teacher? She had told him about this small infiltration mission of hers which she had already finished. But that would require a team, wouldn't it? Unless it was either a small, insignificant infiltration, or that this kunoichi in front of him was really that strong.

He wanted to believe in the first reason.

But he had, then again, never fought her in battle or seen her in combat mode for that matter. She couldn't be that strong, though. To his knowledge, he was sure that the Haruno surname was bound to no special abilities. He had met less than a handful of shinobi who were as powerful as a kekkei genkai wielder. But maybe, just maybe, this medic would be adding to his handful.

"So where's your partner Uchiha-san?" Sakura's voice brought him out of his thoughts abruptly though he hid the surprise well. He knew she was well aware of his traveling companion which he had been paired with when he had first entered the Akatsuki.

"That is not something for you to concern yourself with."

Sakura clearly got the message of his refusal to cooperate with her path of questions. But Itachi was not aware that Sakura was known to be persistent and stubborn.

"Well since I'm concerned with you then I would naturally inquire about your partner. I mean, I just want to make sure he's not hiding out there somewhere ready to kill me." Sakura had paused in her furious scribbling to look up at him only to quickly advert to glaring stubbornly at the old patterned wall beside the bed.

"He is in Amegakure for a visit." Itachi decided that it wouldn't hurt to let her know. And it would stop her childish pouting.

"A visit?" He had caught her attention as she shuffled her body to face his reclined figure.

"His wife and son." Itachi could barely remember what they looked like, having only met his wife once on a stop-by mission through Amegakure. But she was nice and soft spoken. The complete opposite of his partner. And the last time he had seen little Yoshi was when he was only about six months old. It has been four years since that time.

"Kisame Hoshigaki?" Sakura couldn't believe that the ruthless killer had a family.

"What are they like?"

Itachi could remember nothing of his stay at their house for one night except a small detail. He had been on his way down the hall from bathing when he had passed by Yoshi's crib in his room. Kisame and his wife had been peering over the crib watching their son sleep as his wife hugged him tightly, knowing that there was a slim chance she would be able to her husband again until another two years at least.

Because of Akatsuki regulations, it was difficult for Kisame to visit his family knowing what Leader would do if he was enlightened upon this information. But Kisame had trusted Itachi with this information and he was glad for it too. He had seen the loving look in his eyes that Itachi had never seen before. At that moment back in time, he had decided that he would guard Kisame's great secret with his life.

Giving little information, Itachi spoke only a few descriptions of his family's nature but nothing of physical description. In a way, he sensed that Sakura understood when she stopped her pursuit on this subject.

He is loyal.

That was the first thought that registered in Sakura's mind. She knew it was a secret to be kept about Kisame's family and Itachi was protecting that secret. He wasn't what he seemed like at all. He was compassionate. She could tell from her old memories of him. And Sakura was sure that the massacre was not his choice.

I'll sneak into the records room when I get back to Konoha. Even though Sakura's conscience rubbed guilt into her heart, she forced it back down. It was a secret document for a reason. Sakura knew that. And it was Itachi's private business. Sakura knew that.

But she also knew that there was an actual reason to the massacre. One that was justified.

And she intended to find out.

It seemed that Sakura had gone back to reading some scrolls while biting her lip. But after a while, Itachi took notice that her eyes were not skimming.

"Then what'll happen when he comes back from his…current absence?" Her small whisper had Itachi looking up at her from his novel. He had thought that her question had an obvious answer. Well…he would've thought that maybe a week ago. At the moment, though he did not want submit to the thought, he was not sure.

"He will be gone for another week. By that time, your mission will have terminated and you will be back in your village." Itachi stated. But in a fearing undertone, it seemed more of a command given to the kunoichi.

"Yea. You're right, that was a stupid question." Sakura laughed humorlessly, smile not reaching her eyes.

___

The next time Itachi looked up from his book, he saw that the sun was just about setting. The growing darkness was beginning to put a strain onto his eyes as he blinked hard a few times to rid the blurring lines in his vision.

"If you're just reading, you have no reason to keep your Sharingan on. It's only deteriorating your eyesight." Startled by the sudden voice, Itachi looked up to find Sakura staring at him.

Knowing after a minute that the Uchiha had no intention of releasing his Sharingan, Sakura sighed and closed her notebook. Stretching out her arms, she looked back at him.

"Let's go get some dinner."

Itachi just looked at her blankly before quickly glancing at his prominent Akatsuki cloak draped carefully across the armchair.

Sakura rolled her eyes.

"Come on. This village is so small that nobody ever hears about anything. Nobody will know who you are."

Lightly pounding on her legs to get some blood flow back in, Sakura shakily stood up, followed by the Uchiha.

After gathering her bag and swinging the curtains shut, the two of them headed out.

__

Upon setting out into the moderately crowded streets, the two had strolled through various streets, scavenging for an appropriate place to dine.

Finally, they (mainly Sakura) had settled on going to an udon shop.

So now they were situated across from each other in a wooden booth while small chatter around them was followed by the clanking of dishes.

"After this, I have to go to the bookstore actually. My friend asked me to find a book for her; says its only found in this village." Sakura murmured whilst scanning her menu.

Itachi made a slight noise in the back of his throat that, to Sakura, defaulted to a 'yes'.

Ordering their food, the surrounding air began to thick heavily as the two sat in uncomfortable silence. Biting her lip, the pink-haired kunoichi looked around the room casually as if finding the walls extremely interesting at the moment.

"Have you made progress?" Itachi's quiet voice had her head snapping back to him in an instant.

"Huh?-Oh. Ah…yea, I should really step on it though. I mean…what if I can't finish it before I leave?" Sakura found it strange she had said 'leave' instead of 'go back'.

"If you are not able to complete it then there is nothing else further to contemplate." Sakura just looked into his blood red eyes. He seemed so passive and calm, as if accepting the fact that there was a great chance of him dying.

"You should really stop activating your Sharingan…it must be painful. I've had to give Kakashi-sensei so much painkillers already cause he's such an idiot…" Sakura murmured softly, a little laugh bubbling in her throat at random memories.

Looking up at the Uchiha, she was startled to the point of 'gaping mouth' when she witnessed crimson red eyes slowly fuse until they were now onyx black orbs looking back at her. Remembering her composure and quickly clamping her mouth shut, Sakura hesitantly smiled.

"…Good." Itachi nodded at her small appraisal.

_

Upon reaching their room at nearly midnight, Sakura had forgotten all upbringings of composure and the fact that she was self conscious as she swiftly discarded her outside apparel before dumping herself onto the bed that had never felt so comfortable in her life. Back at the udon shop, she probably had one too many bottles of sake with her noodles. But she was, as she had stated, used to all the alcohol. The godaime had brought her up as an apprentice in both shinobi art and sake. But Sakura, Itachi learned that night, had a weak stomach for alcohol contents.

Itachi raised an eyebrow at her languid movements as he gracefully unclasped his cloak and made his way to the bathroom.

Inside, he cleansed himself absent-mindedly, thinking of the medic currently on the other side of the wall. He wished to ask her of how his little brother was. Itachi was well aware that Sasuke and she were not the closest in Team Seven, but it was better than nothing. He wished to know how he was doing: his skill level, friends, personality, habits. After all these years, it was only in human nature to inquire about these things.

__

Sakura cursed Itachi when the sound of the door woke her from her dozing state of mind. Curled up with the sheets haphazardly pushed down, she listened quietly to the comforting sounds of his shuffling feet. It took a while before the curtains closed and there was a dip in the bed beside her. Much to her comfort, Sakura felt warmth as Itachi pulled the covers over her slowly so as to not disturb her in her sleep.

"I was put into the thought that you were tired Haruno-san." Nevermind for that thought.

For a moment, Sakura had really thought of just continuing to feign sleep, but then he already knew she was awake…

"Well…I was almost asleep. But you woke me up." Sakura stated bluntly before turning around to look at Itachi who was staring at the ceiling.

"I apologize. You may go back to sleep." Sakura felt amused that he had 'allowed' her to continue sleeping.

"It's fine", Sakura yawned, "I can't sleep now anyways."

"Hn."

Sakura hugged her pillow. The after effects of the sake were still making her temples throb and the room was spinning just a bit too fast for her likings.

"You know, you're eyes are going blind." Sakura drawled out, speech slightly slurred due to exhaustion and being drunk. Deep inside, the kunoichi was well aware of her mind and words, but she just couldn't seem to control her mouth. Wanting to slap herself, her body just wouldn't cooperate as her breath hitched when Itachi's relentless gaze stared her down.

"You must be using references of Hatake-san to myself." Itachi had now slightly inclined his body to her.

"No I'm not. Whenever I stare at your eyes, they never focus."

'Damn it.' Sakura cursed inside. Now Itachi would think she was this psychopath that just stared at him.

'Just shut up Sakura. Shut. Up.'

Itachi was slimly pleased by the fact that she took notice of his eyes. Looking back at her, all he could make out were her sleepy vermillion eyes shining back at him. The rest of her figure was consumed in darkness since the peaks of moonlight through the curtain offered barely any illumination.

Without giving him a chance to respond, Sakura took any noisy yawn, flinging her arms out and stretching with no control over herself. Then she turned so her back was facing him. Except she had rolled towards him. Feeling the unfamiliar warmth beside him that he hadn't felt in a long time, he decided it was a feeling that he felt content with. It almost had a feeling of nostalgia like whenever Sasuke used to curl up beside him whenever he had a bad dream. If only those days could return.

"Night Itachi…" Sakura was out immediately after his name was spoken. She most likely hadn't realized the use of name and probably would not remember in the morning. Following moments of fierce contemplation, his hand steadily reached out from under the covers and took hold of a few soft tendrils of pink hair, stroking them softly between his long fingers. Pressing the locks of hair entangled through his finger to his nose gently, he inhaled to sweet scent of freesias and mangoes. It made (much to his displeasure) his heart ache softly at the recognition of the Uchiha Compound gardens that he once loved to read in so much.

But those times were over and long, long gone.

___