(A/N) God, sorry it's so late. My computer had a super massive meltdown and it took a shitload of software to fix. I have so many problems with my computer; I'm just bad with technology. Anyway, if you're waiting for the next Mikadzuki chapter, I don't know when I'll have it up. I'm almost finished the chapter, and I'm debating what stays in it and what goes. Sorry about the lateness.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything pertaining to Naruto or Evans Blue.

Painted

Neglecting Corpses

She whispers in his ear (Don't hurt me). Don't hurt me, (Don't forget me) don't forget 't hurt me, I'm still not put back together.

Sakura waited with an anxiety she was becoming accustomed to. Naruto had sent her home with a sympathetic hug. "Trust me," he whispered. She was beginning to hate those words. Trying not to remember the light escaping Itachi's eyes as he hit the ground, she thought of everything that occurred around his corpse. His partner turning tail after the ANBU grabbed his flaccid body, Naruto finding her and cursing silently, and everything coming down hard on her. She didn't know where Naruto was as she sat in Itachi's chair, looking out the open window, caught in a staring contest with the moon.

"Psst."

In her delirium, Sakura thought the whisper came from the orb hanging in the sky. Then, she saw a shock of blonde hair peaking above the sill.

"Naruto?" she asked.

"Yeah, yeah." It was the same voice. "Come with me."

Sakura walked over to the window and rested her hands on the edge. Another hand reached up and grabbed it, pulling her through the hole. A pair of arms caught her, and she looked up into a pair of mischievous blue eyes. Naruto set Sakura down, not releasing her hand, and dragged her through the streets of Konoha. They soon ran through the doors of the Hokage's office.

The room had been turned into a makeshift hospital. The decrepit Tsunade stood hunched over a gurney as a green glow came from her hands. Sakura gasped when she saw the body.

"What's going on?" she asked, running over to Itachi. "Why are you healing him?"

Tsunade smiled exhaustedly. "I've known Itachi's been visiting you."

Sakura jerked back slightly. Hesitantly, she placed her head against Itachi's chest. A slight heartbeat met her ears.

"It's a funny story," the Hokage continued in good humor. "I was going through some old paperwork the other day, planning to throw it away-" Naruto snorted. "-when I came across something interesting."

Tsunade nodded toward the blonde and he came to Sakura with a piece of paper. She read it with disbelieving eyes, only comprehending fragments. Uchiha clan…coup de`tat against Konohagakure…Itachi Uchiha…annihilate clan…missing-nin…

She tried to speak, but the words were lost in her throat.

"Itachi will tell you everything when he wakes up," Tsunade said.

"How do you know he'll tell me?" Sakura asked, dropping the paper. "How do you know…he'll wake up?"

The Hokage became annoyed. "Are you doubting me?!"

Sakura winced. "Sorry. No."

The medic smiled reassuringly at her student.

"Trust me."

Such damning words.

-

It took only one day. No one visited. Tsunade and Sakura took turns healing the Akatsuki. There were no questions and no words spoken. There was only silence and wounds. When Itachi woke up, Sakura gave a small gasp, the same as when she first saw him. The green around her hands dissipated and she flung her arms about him. But then, she drew back and ran from the room.

"Never again," she whispered as she left the building.

Naruto and Tsunade looked at each other, and then Itachi. Itachi's eyes were dark, thinking that he'd much rather be dead than witness Sakura's pain.

"What just happened?" Naruto asked.

Itachi stood and looked at the wall. "I'll be leaving."

"That's not possible," Tsunade said. "The Akatsuki believe you're dead, and we don't want to give them any reason to think otherwise. You are going nowhere."

She kept Itachi in a secret room in her office. A dark and dusty place, but better than the conditions he endured with the Akatsuki. He settled into it thankfully, and wondered about Sakura. He made no promises to her, and told her that he wouldn't always be there. But they both deceived themselves into believing he would. They crashed and burned.

And Sakura didn't have the energy to pick up the remains.

-

Sakura ran, letting the wind catch her worries. Sakura fled right to that training ground to find the littered weapons. She picked one up and breathed heavily. The coldness touched her skin, a welcome feeling to take her mind off of the swirling, mesmerizing distress inside. Even as she gently pressed it against her wrist, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She bowed her head and started to weep, such stupid and ugly tears.

"Damn him," she whispered to the ground.

"Who?"

She knew it was Itachi. It was always him.

"You," she growled. "Why the hell did you even come to me if you were going to leave?"

Itachi didn't need to ponder it. "I was foolish," he said," and in love with you."

She wrapped her arms around herself, as if protecting her body from his words. "If you were, you'd just leave me alone."

"Hence the foolish part," Itachi said, taking a step towards her. "Still, I wouldn't take back a thing."

"Stop," Sakura whispered. She didn't want to hear those words from him. "Just…leave."

"Never again," he said, repeating her venomous words.

He was as close as he could get to her without touching her. She shook minutely, her arms having been lifted to her ears. Itachi knelt before her and removed her hands. She was forced to look into his eyes.

"Do you believe me?" he asked.

She shut her eyes, tears forming despite her hate for them. "I…don't know."

Gently, he brought his lips to hers as a reassurance.

"Tell me when you do."

-

Sakura hated cemeteries. True, this was a memorial stone, but it wasn't the thought of stepping on bones that bothered her. It was the lost memories and secrets, and the overall fact of death that can never be escaped. Even though she wanted to give herself over to the reaper, she still feared it. There was something about death that repelled a lot of people. For her, it was the mystery and the unknown. Death was ambiguous and fearsome. Like Itachi, was her fleeting thought.

There were two names she wanted to find. The first one was her once best friend and rival. The name was relatively new, and she dropped the flowers on the stone, thinking about everything that brought her there. She decided it was about time that she paid her friend a visit. There was such a thing as neglecting corpses.

"Sorry, pig," she said, a wistful tone weaving her words. "I should have come sooner."

A harsh breeze rattled her as she said this, and Sakura figured it was Ino's way of slapping her upside the head for not visiting her. She smiled, and moved on to the next corpse. A swell of bitterness erupted in her chest, and she wondered if she should even feel sorry for neglecting him, when he had neglected her for years. She set the flowers below his name, too, and wondered what he really wanted. A family, Naruto had said.

Sakura hoped he found one in them. Despite the fact that he couldn't care less about training her, he still protected her. He was there for her when she needed him, up until the bitter end. The only one of her team that stayed.

"Thanks, sensei," she said.

No breeze that time. Maybe Kakashi was just a little late. Sakura left, wondering where their souls were, perhaps flying above her head, watching her with worried eyes. Even in death, could she hurt them? If so, they must be in more pain than her.

Am I being selfish?

-

"Akat- I mean, Itachi, can I speak to you?" Naruto asked, tapping lightly on the hidden door.

It opened to reveal the emotionless nin.

"I just want to ask you something."

Itachi moved aside to let the boy in, and shut the door soon after. Naruto sat on the floor, not finding a chair in the small space.

"Do you think Sakura will…" he couldn't finish, but Itachi knew what he needed to say.

Kill herself. The unspoken words hung in the air ominously.

"I don't know," he said, sitting on the mat that served as a bed. "Perhaps."

Naruto shook his head. More than anything, he didn't want to lose her. But he knew there was nothing he can do. He was just one person, as was Itachi, and they couldn't change anyone.

Sakura had to make the decision herself.

-

(A/N) I liked this chapter because I think it shows how messed up Sakura is. Her freaking out because Itachi left her one time. That's how desperate she is for someone to be with her. After everything she lost, she thought she had a constant and then…poof! It disappears.

Mostly when I was writing this chapter I listened to Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult just for the line "Even though she wanted to give herself over to the reaper, she still feared it." Suiting song for this chapter.

So yeah. Sorry for the wait. I hope the next chapter will be up soon.