((A.N. EXAMS ARE OOOOOOOOOOVER!! FINALLY!! Which means more updates!! lol so I'll just recap what happened at the end of the last chappy then carry on. Again UBER sorry about not updating sooner... oh and can I get over five reveiws before I putup the next chappy lol))
Hiroshi was walking back towards Konoha, "I'll tell Tsunade-sama
Hiroshi was walking back towards Konoha, "I'll tell Tsunade-sama." He said, "She'll know what to do. She'll send an ANBU team after her then they'll take Sakura back and everything will be better."
"Haruno Hiroshi." Greeted a sly voice from behind him. Hiroshi turned to see Orochimaru standing behind him and an injured Sasuke Uchiha leaning against a tree trunk. He gained a fighting stance. "Now, now Hiroshi-kun." Said Orochimaru. "We aren't here to attack you, we just want to help you."
"No way, you aren't putting any curse seals on me!" shouted Hiroshi taking a step back. Orochimaru sighed, "No I only put curse seals on the little boys I want to… um people I need to gain power from." He said. Sasuke rolled his eyes, "pervert." He muttered.
Hiroshi narrowed his eyes, "Help me how?" he asked.
"You want Sakura out of Akatsuki right? Well so do we."
"Why?"
"Sakura is more dangerous in Akatsuki then she is in Konoha, she's killed off a number of our ninja and we want her out of the way."
"I won't help you kill my sister!" shouted Hiroshi. "No Hiroshi-kun, not kill, we want her back in Konoha that's all; so will you help us?" Hiroshi regarded him strangely, "Why should I?"
"Tsunade wont send anyone after Sakura they've all forgotten about your sister now, they gave up on her years ago and no one wants her in Konoha. If you bring her back and show everyone what a nice person she is they'll accept her again." Hiroshi nodded slowly, "Ok but no killing her."
"Of course not Hiroshi-kun."
Sakura sneezed, it brought her out of her meditation session, she wiped her nose and pulled off her blindfold, "Someone must be talking about me." She said suspiciously.
She noticed it was already nightfall and yawned, "I wonder what time it is." She said getting to her feet and walking towards the Akatsuki base. She walked into the kitchen; her eyes fell on the clock, "What the Hell?" she shouted before she could stop herself; "It's already midnight? How long was I meditating for?" she rubbed her eyes and leaned against the kitchen counter, she poured herself a drink and downed it.
She stepped into the living room to see Sasori and Konan sitting down looking at the fire and mumbling something.
"Hi." She greeted with a yawn, "Konan-sama, how are you?" Konan smiled, "I'm ok Sakura-chan, you took your time meditating."
"Sorry, I needed to sort some personal problems out with my subconscious." She replied. "Is everything ok now?" Sakura nodded, "I'm fine now."
Sasori nodded slowly, "Well we're on a team for your next assassination mission so listen up," said Konan completely cutting Sasori off, "You're after a man call Ichigo Mizuri. We'll lead you to where he is and then you kill him, then we come back."
"Um, why are we on a team for an assassination mission, I can handle him myself."
"Leader-sama's orders."
"He doesn't want me to be captured by sound does he?" Konan looked down, "Don't look so sad Sakura, it's not because you're weak, because you're not, it's just that, well, you know Leader-sama, he's always so over cautious."
"He thinks I can't look after myself."
"That's not it…" started Konan.
"Sakura." Said a voice from behind her. Sakura turned to see Itachi standing behind her; he was topless ((XD)) with a pair of black long pyjama bottoms on. Sakura turned away from him after a quick smile, "Just give me the mission details, I'm tired." She said. Konan looked to Itachi with an expression, which read, 'she's upset so talk to her about it or I'll maim you'. Itachi nodded his understanding.
"Well," started Sasori, ignoring the nodding and glaring between Itachi and Konan, "He's a retired ANBU general who turned on the mist and started killing a lot of people. He is living in a small town off the border of the mist village. He is well known in the area and tends to keep to himself, his only known companions are his two body guards, also ex ANBU ninja."
"Ok, we'll head out in the morning after I wake up." Said Sakura, "I'm going to my room."
"What room?" Queried Konan. Sakura sighed again, "Oh yeah." She remembered seeing the hole in the wall when she went on her way to the cherry blossom patch.
"You can stay in my room if you want." Offered Itachi. Konan narrowed her eyes at Itachi and Sakura went red. Sasori sighed deeply, he stood up; "In any case I need to rest up, Sakura sleep well."
"Than-thank you Sasori." Replied Sakura. She was still red. Sasori looked upwards irritably, "I'm sure Itachi didn't mean for his offer to sound like it did Sakura-chan so don't look so embarrassed." He left the room in utter silence.
She turned to go andfind somewhere to sleep, forgetting Itachi was behind her and stepped right into his chest, she sighed angrily. Itachi looked down at her, "Sakura-chan." He said, "As good a ninja you are, you still can't phase through people." Sakura's blush became a deeper shade of red.
Itachi sighed deeply and looked down; "Sakura, I didn't mean it like…" he looked to Konan, feeling her glare boring into him, "I know Itachi-kun." Replied Sakura quietly. Konan sighed and stood up, "If you need me, I'll be in the room below you." she said to Sakura, and giving Itachi a look that could kill, she left the room.
Itachi breathed a laugh, "Sakura, you can step away any time now." He said with a smirk. Sakura replied by wrapping her arms around his waist, "Itachi-kun?" Itachi looked down at her a little surprised at how cutchy she'd become. "Um, Sakura-chan?" Sakura let go of him, "Sorry." She replied, "I'm just a little emotional, that's all."
"After what happened to you I don't blame you."
Sakura sighed and sat down on the couch in front of the fire. "So," started Itachi before dropping himself on the couch next to her, "Do you want to talk about it?"
"About what? The fact that I had a full out family reunion today? Or the fact that two days ago I nearly got raped by Sasuke?"
Itachi sighed deeply "Talk about it, Sakura, I want to listen to you." Sakura sighed, "I honestly did forget about Hiroshi, the second he left." Itachi fixed her with a strange look, "How did you-?" he started,
"My mind's messed up Itachi, you must have noticed, the second he left I thought 'I wish I could forget about him,' then when he disappeared… so did his memory… I-I can't understand how it happened but my mind just threw the memories out. Naruto tried so hard to make me remember him, I realise that now; at the time I just thought he was being an idiot. I actually forgot about him."
Flashback
"Hiro!" Called Sakura, "Nii-san!" she ran to catch him up, Hiroshi stopped and waited for her, he held the five-year-old's hand as they walked through Konoha.
End flashback.
Sakura didn't turn to look at Itachi; she only closed her eyes.
Flashback
"Nee-san!" She called, "I learnt to throw a kunai today!"
"Will you shut up Sakura, you're so annoying." Replied Hiroshi, "God, I can't wait to get away from you!" Sakura looked down as tears began to well up in her eyes.
Hiroshi sighed and kneeled down in front of her, "Stop crying now, everyone will think your weak and they'll pick on you more." Sakura smiled, "Sorry Hiro, I wont cry anymore." She beamed. He sighed, "You can switch those tears off whenever you want to, it's a talent Sakura."
End flashback.
Sakura smiled softly, the fire's dancing flames leaving shadows flickering across her face, "He was like any other brother… until he became Chunnin."
Flashback
"Hiro-san!" called Sakura, now twelve, "Hiro! Look I'm a ninja now!" she waved her forehead protector around with pride. Hiroshi just walked passed her, "Get in Sakura." He said dismissively, "I have a mission." Sakura paused, still holding her forehead protector. She dropped her arms and looked down, "Oh…ok, be careful Hiro." "Whatever." Sakura looked to her feet and walked into her house, alone, "Mum and dad will be home tomorrow at least." She mumbled.
End flashbackItachi listened closely as he saw her expressions change with her memories, "But, he got much worse just before mum and dad died, they started arguing a lot, Mum and Dad were taking time off work to spend time with me and Hiro, I was so happy that they wanted to spend time with us, but they were too much for Hiro, he was used to doing whatever he wanted. So much so he even took it out on me."
Flashback
Sakura was kneeling on the ground holding her cheek; the slap had caught her off guard. "Hiro…" she muttered in shock. Hiroshi looked to his hand, he sighed angrily, "Why are you the favourite?" he asked, "It makes me so damn angry." Sakura looked down then got to her feet, "Sorry Hiro." She said. Hiroshi let her walk passed him. "If you hate us all that much why don't you just leave?" asked Sakura without turning. Hiroshi looked down, "You need me." He replied simply. Sakura breathed a laugh, "Yeah, Hiroshi, there's nothing I need more than a slap across the face from a brother who doesn't love me." She moved her hand to the door handle and blinked a tear away, "It's not as if I can't take care of myself, I become a Jounin next week." She left the room and Hiroshi's fist clenched in anger.
End flashback.
"I understand now… he didn't hate me, he was just jealous, I became a Jounin before him and Mum and Dad spent more time with me because I was home more after training… he was jealous of me." She looked to her hands, "That was a week before they went on the mission to find Sasuke… I had to go and see Tsunade on my own because he refused, then when Naruto told him the news and said I was in Tsunade's office he did nothing. I wanted him to come and see me to comfort me; he didn't though.
It was Naruto who helped me home and it was Naruto, Neji, Ino, Hinata, Choji, Lee, Kiba, Shino, Shikimaru, Tenten, even Temari, Kankuro and Gaara-sama visited from the sand to go to the funeral, but Hiroshi didn't go. Then the next day he left, and I forgot about him."
Itachi nodded slowly, "So, you still love him then?" Sakura sighed and nodded slowly, "Yeah, a little, it's hard for a sister not to love her brother though. I hate him, but I love him at the same time." She shook her head violently and pressed her fists against her forehead, "Dammit, why can't my head just make its mind up?"
Itachi took her wrist gently and caused her to turn and look into his eyes, "You don't have to love or hate him Sakura-chan." He said softly, "Emotions aren't that simple to control." Sakura sighed angrily, "I suppose."
"So, do you know why you're parents…"
"Showed up and started burning to death? Not a clue, I know I was dreaming about them, but I always dream about them."
"Do you think it could have been my brother," her expression darkened, "I wouldn't put it passed him." She muttered. "Th-they were right there, they were real weren't they?"
"Yes Sakura-chan, they were real."
Sakura looked down tears started to drop from he eyes, "I never wanted to have to see that again." She squeaked. Itachi pulled her towards him and hugged her tightly; he let her cry, "Let it out." He whispered as he stroked her hair.
Sakura continued crying as he hugged her tighter. She calmed down a little but she was still sobbing, "I love you Itachi-kun." She uttered. She fell asleep in his arms as he cradled her, "I love you too." He whispered kissing her head.
They stayed like that all night.
Sasori and Konan were the first up, Sasori stepped into the room; he sighed and walked out. Konan walked in after him. She kneeled in front of the two, an evil idea came to her and she rushed silently out of the room. Ran passed Sasori, who was eating a pancake, and picked up a vase she gently pulled out the flowers and placed them on the windowsill, she filled the vase with freezing cold water and walked back into the room. Sasori sighed after swallowing his pancake, "Konan-sama." He called, "Don't do that." When she didn't listen he shrugged and took another bite of his pancake, "Ah well, I tried." He said.
Konan sneaked up to the peaceful couple. She quickly emptied the vase onto the two.
Sasori chewed and made no facial expression as the noises of an angry Sakura and a laughing Konan ran through the house.
"Konan-sama!" shouted Sakura. She grasped the vase and went to hit Konan with it. Konan stopped her, tears in her eyes, "That was the funniest thing ever." She said. Itachi was sitting, he was drenched his hair was dripping, he sighed. Konan ran from the room and Sakura chased her.
Sasori took another bite of his pancake as Sakura and Konan made smashing and crashing noises through the base. Itachi walked into the room behind him and poured himself a glass of milk, he sat next to Sasori as the shouts and smashes rang through the house.
"So, you're going on a mission with them today?" asked Itachi as though it were an everyday conversation. The sound of Kisame screaming rang through the house, "Dammit Sakura-chan watch where you throw that!" he shouted. There was another smash, and then Sakura screamed.
"Yeah, I'm on a mission with them." Replied Sasori. Itachi patted his back sympathetically, "Have fun." He said. Sasori sighed and picked up his plate. "Duck." He said. Itachi ducked quickly as the vase went flying into the kitchen. Sasori caught it and put the flowers back in it, "I see Sakura really missed Konan-sama." Said Sasori as he washed his dish.
Konan went skidding into the kitchen on her back and Sakura walked in after her with a smile on her face. Konan put up her hands, "You win." She said. "I miss living here." She said as she got to her feet.
Sakura smiled, she passed Itachi something, "Sorry, Konan-sama broke into your room and…" Itachi raised an eyebrow at the feather in his hand, "She broke your pillow." She explained. Itachi looked down in mourning for his pillow.
((A.N. Well... incase I didn't show it too well... Sakura was explaining the flashbacks to Itachi as they happened lol... soooo PLEASE reveiw lol and I'll update as soon as possible .
Toodles
xxXKimmYXxx