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To let you all know, I'm now up to chapter 21 and I'm not done yet! I'm gonna keep up with the 2 chapters a day for a little at least!

Hope you enjoy!

Anywho, on with the show!

Disclaimer- Watashi wa onryuu! As everyone knows, legendary creatures don't get the legal works.

Chapter 9

Sakura didn't sleep as well that night as she normally did. She woke about two in the morning and walked out to the living room, finding no one awake. She smiled as she looked around and went to the kitchen, finding the tea. She made herself a cup before starting the bath.

She laid down in the water, softly humming as she felt the tension from the day start to break up, disperse in the water. She thought she'd be so much happier to see Naruto, that things would seem more like home with him here, but it didn't. It seemed instead like he was intruding, and she wasn't used to the thought.

Not like this.

She sipped the tea, feeling the heat seep more into her.

It was about three hours later when Sakura stretched slightly, feeling her muscles pull, realizing she'd fallen asleep. She opened her eyes, seeing Itachi above her, laying her down on her bed. "Sakura! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine, I just had some trouble sleeping so I went to take a bath..." She went to sit up and her head spun, causing her to fall. She would have fallen off the bed if Itachi hadn't been there. "You need to rest. You didn't fall asleep, you passed out, Sakura." She turned to him with wide eyes.

"You're sweating like mad, your chakra doesn't seem to be flowing right. Your blood pressure is down, your blood sugar is down, your pulse rate is high for a sleeping state. As I said, you're resting today."

"I'll be fine! I just need a little bit."

"Why couldn't you sleep last night?" Itachi looked more worried about this than anything else. "I'm just surprised at myself, that's all." Itachi frowned, looking towards the door. "It's not because of Diedera and I, is it?"

"No." She smiled over at him, finally laying down quietly. "I guess I thought things here would seem more normal to me with Naruto here, but it's the opposite. I feel bad that he seems out of place." Itachi reached over, holding his hand on her head. "You're still a little warm. I'll find you something to wear, you just stay here."

Sakura looked over, realizing, if she was just in the bath...

She reached down, feeling her hands against her skin, but realized she was covered. Itachi had covered her with a sheet before she'd woken.

By eight she'd gotten a little sleep and Itachi carried her to breakfast.

Naruto had woken just before hand and was surprised to see this. "Sakura?" He ran up and looked as Itachi sat her down. "She was in the bath too long. She's fine, she just needs rest." Itachi sat her down and took the chair beside her, pulling it right beside her, laying his arm behind her. He held her close and looked over at Diedera, who was carrying out the plates.

"Take care." Diedera warned Itachi, who nodded. "Of course."

"I wish you had told me why I had to bring the plates out. Sakura, you're not dizzy still, are you?" Sakura shook her head, smiling. "Just a little weak."

Diedera handed out the plates, Sakura's first, as normal. Next was the guests. Itachi took his first bite as Diedera sat his plate before himself.

"This is different. You didn't make this?" He looked over at Diedera.

"I'm better at meats, cheeses, vegetables. Itachi's better with fruits and grains. He almost always makes breakfast." Diedera took a bite, but barely ever throughout the meal took his eyes from Sakura.

Diedera ate quickly and went, fixing the couch up. "Sakura, since you have guests over, I thought you might like to stay here. I've gotten the couch set up for you to rest on, there's two chairs so they should be comfortable. I'll go to town hall and tell them what's happening."

He sighed and stood from adjusting a pillow. "There's a potion, that woman with all the kids, you know..."

"Tsaire?" Sakura rolled her eyes and Diedera nodded. "Did you get that one done the other day?"

"It's in the top drawer. Oh, and the medicine for the confectioner's wife is in there too. Can you?"

"Yeah, it's on my way." Diedera spoke and Itachi turned to him. "You think you can find him?"

"Yeah, he's staying under the bridge behind the barn at Miyabi's daughter's house. I've been looking, he's at most a C with good luck. He shouldn't be a problem." Diedera grinned before turning. "Itachi..." Diedera's grin disappeared, the look afterwards was threatening.

"Diedera, who are you talking to?" Itachi's eyes set upon the blond and Diedera nodded, turning. "Still, be careful."

"You too."

The day was awkward to put it lightly. Itachi informed Naruto that Diedera was going to get the bounty on a guy that was attacking many farmers in the country. He'd steal cows, money and occasionally lives. Due to the fact that he'd raped a young woman in the neighboring country and got her pregnant, he was wanted alive. The family had an offer, marry her and learn to become a farmer with them or die. It seems they'd known he was there and offered him a room, he'd been there a week before attacking them.

Naruto couldn't figure out why they'd want to marry him into the family, but he also knew it wasn't his place to say.

They chatted a bit, Itachi kept by Sakura, asking her every once in a while if she needed anything. Naruto was happy she was being so well cared for.

It was later that day that they had a knock at the door.

"We could only think to bring him here!" one man yelled as they brought Diedera in. Sakura looked at him and ran over, grabbing his cloak and tearing it off. "What happened?!"

He gasped in air, unable to breathe and Sakura knew he'd punctured a lung, it was filling with blood if it hadn't collapsed.

Sakura used her chakra to tear the shirt from him, starting on the gashes across his chest and lower abdomen right there.

Naruto ran over and frowned, looking around. "What should I do?"

"Towels, Alcohol, boiling water. I'll kill the pain."

Sakura pushed her chakra into him, running her hands across his chest and noticed his heart pound his breathing seemed to worsen. "Hold on, I'm working on it, please calm down!"

Her head spun and she looked at him, frowning. "I don't have the chakra for this... Naruto!" She turned, the young man before her staring surprised. "Let me borrow some of yours!"

"What?!"

"Put your hand on my back! I'll not take too much, but I need to save him! I need him!" Diedera reached up, grabbing Sakura's hand, smiling.

She started to work before Naruto put his hand on her, but he was there moments later, allowing her all the chakra she needed.

It was three hours till the wounds were sealed, his lung repaired and the bleeding had stopped.

Diedera laid there, his eyes fuzzy. "Diedera, can you talk?" Sakura asked and Diedera reached up, grasping her hand. "I think, yeah."

"What happened?" She was scared to death, even then.

"He had a few jutsus that I didn't know about." Sakura gasped, laying her head on his shoulder. "Don't go off on your own like that again! You scared me to death!" He looked at her and smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Sakura, I'm sorry I worried you. You were sick and all, I feel horrible enough, yeah."

Itachi frowned, looking at the scene and turned, headed out the door. "I'll be back in an hour."

Sure enough, about an hour later, after Sai and Naruto had moved Diedera to the couch Itachi walked in. "He apologized for you." Itachi's voice was cold and Sakura winced at the tone. "Itachi?"

"He's in police custody. He's agreed to marry that girl and never steal another thing. If he does, they've agreed to call me to him."

Sakura stood slowly, her eyes wide, tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "Itachi?"

"It's been so great here, he almost ruined it. I can not allow that." Itachi walked in and sat at the kitchen table, laying his hands on his eyes.

"You over used it, didn't you?" Sakura walked over and pulled his hands down, smiling sadly at him. "Itachi..."

He looked down, his eyes suddenly scared. "Sakura, if he'd killed him, if Diedera had died, it would have ruined this. I couldn't handle that. Not anymore." Sakura smiled and leaned down, wrapping her arms around him. "Itachi, thank you."

Itachi looked up at her as she laid her hands over his eyes.

It was a moment later that she pulled her hands back, leaning instantly on her left arm. "How's that?"

"It's perfect, as always." He reached up and caught her, the weakness from all of the chakra usage without the chakra behind it finally catching up with her.

"I'll take you to bed. You need to rest, alright?"

"First, take me to Diedera again, one last pain killer before I sleep." Itachi frowned and shook his head. "You're in no condition to do so much. I'll give him a shot of sake and a few of those pills."

"Five. They're not very potent, so make sure he has enough." Itachi nodded and held her close as he carried her back to her room.

Naruto went ahead and headed to sleep shortly after.

The next morning Itachi made breakfast and woke Sakura. She came out and looked over Diedera, seeing him wake quickly. "Sakura-chan, how do you feel?" His voice was weak and cracked, causing Sakura to smile sadly at him. "I'm supposed to ask you that. I'm fine today, how is your chest?"

"It stopped bleeding, they got me to you so I know I'll be fine." He smiled and Sakura held his hand. "Does it hurt?"

"Sakura, don't. I can't handle it right now." He smiled at her and she frowned, looking up at Itachi, who looked at her before headed to the kitchen to get the plates. "Do you need any more of the pills?"

"That sounds like a great idea. Thanks, sweety." He smiled at her and laid his head back, a slight cough catching Sakura's attention. "Is that the first time you've coughed?"

"It's just a little cough." Diedera looked over at her, still holding on to her hands.

"Did you have it before you were injured?"

Diedera frowned, thinking. I don't think so, yeah."

"I'm going to have to use my normal pain killers here. Just... I don't know. Stay calm, alright?"

"I'll try." Diedera frowned, releasing her hands and grasping the couch.

Sakura pushed her chakra into his chest, taking note of the breathing and heart beats, sighing. "Some day you'll all have to tell me what's happening with that."

It was an hour later that she stood, wiping her brow. "How does your breathing feel?"

"I hadn't realized it was tight. It's easier now." He breathed, paying close attention to each breath.

"You had a clot in the lung that was punctured. I kind of figured." She smiled, laying her hand on his chest, feeling the next breath. "You feel clear, I looked and didn't see anything else. It should be better now." She sat gracefully on the other end of the couch, lifting his leg and leaning against the other. She laid his leg on her lap and leaned back.

"Sakura, I kept a plate for you two. Here." Itachi handed her a plate and she looked at it, looking over at Diedera. "Can you sit up?"

Diedera laid his hands on the couch and tried to push himself up. He slightly succeeded, but he was only halfway up, leaning against the arm of the couch. Sakura handed him the plate and retrieved the other plate from the table.

Naruto watched, realizing Itachi had left the plate there on purpose. Sakura always ate at the table. He'd handed the plate to her specifically for Diedera.

Naruto stood and stretched, looking between the two of them. "Sai, I need you to stay here for a bit. At least two days, alright?" Sai looked at him with his usual blank expression. "Where are you going?"

"Konoha. I can't, This isn't for me anymore. Sakura's better in their hands than in mine." Sakura turned, looking at the blond, who looked like the words he just spoke were his own undoing. "Naruto?"

"It's fine. I guess I kind of knew that you'd do someone else so much good." He smiled weakly at her before turning to the hall.

Sakura heard a knock at the door and stood, walking over. She looked back, seeing Naruto in the hall watching as she opened the door.

"Sakura?"

"Sasuke?" She stared as the man she'd loved for so long stood before her.

"I needed to know, the picture, you never saw Itachi. How did you do it?" His expression showed anger, fear, so many emotions she wasn't sure he'd ever truly felt. She smiled and stepped back, allowing him in.

"Ah, Sasuke." Diedera murmured over the bite of rice in his mouth. Sasuke froze, his eyes wandering over to the young man. Sasuke's eyes turned dark as he really looked.

Sasuke jumped at the couch, surprised when Sakura reached out, grabbing his leg and slammed him back against the door. He hit hard and slid down, looking up at her. "Don't you lay a finger on him." Sasuke looked at her incredulously. "Sakura, he's Diedera! He's dangerous!"

"He's been here helping me, taking care of me." Sakura's glare was enough to send shivers down Sasuke's spine.

"Sakura, did I hear we have another guest? Should I make more for lunch?" Sakura grinned at Sasuke who's hair bristled, visibly standing on end. "That would be wonderful!"

Sasuke stood slowly, tilting slightly as he headed down the hall, stopping and staring in, Sakura's hand on his shoulder the whole way. "Aniki?"

Itachi turned slowly, his eyes wide as he took in the look of his little brother, staring at him wide eyed. Itachi stared for a bit before looking over at Sakura, who smiled and patted Sasuke's shoulder, walking back to the living room.

Sakura noticed Naruto was now in the living room, staring. "Are you still headed back?"

Naruto looked over at her and seemed to snap back to reality. "Oh, yeah, dattebayo. I better. I told Tsunade I'd be back in less than five days, that expired today. I'm already going to be late." Sakura smiled sadly at him. "Naruto, no matter what you know I care about you, right?"

Naruto smiled at her, stepping forwards and wrapping his arms around her. "Sakura, I know. You care about me, and all the same, you know that I'll always love you." Sakura gripped his sides, keeping him there for a moment.

"I'm actually sad I never felt the same. You've always been so sweet to me." Naruto smiled at her, running his hand over her hair. "Sakura, you know I'll keep fighting till you're back home with us, right?"

"I'm not sure I want to go back anymore. The people here need me, Itachi and Diedera need me."

"I can get another doctor assigned here, one with more home based experience so the people here have more of what they're expecting. I can get Itachi and Diedera pardons, they can come too. Sakura, I'll do anything I need to get you back." Sakura smiled at him and nodded. "If you can get them both pardons and convince them to move to Konoha I'll consider it." She laughed as she stepped back, being caught off guard when Naruto stepped forwards, kissing her cheek.

He whispered in her ear, "If you ever need to escape, my apartment's never locked and you're only really banished through paper now. If anyone sees you, it's not to be mentioned, okay?"

Sakura nodded, smiling. "I'll remember that."

He turned and ran down the stairs.

Sakura smiled as she wandered over to the chair, looking over at Diedera, who's eyes were trained on the stairs. "Stop giving him death glares. He's just given me up." Sakura said, the words hurt more than she thought they would. "I never expected it. When we were younger I would have loved it, but now..." She smiled sadly, lost in thought for a moment before Diedera was on his knees before her, his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Sakura, he's not the only one who loves you, remember that, alright?" Sakura stared at him for a moment, realization sinking in. "Diedera?"

"You should have known that I've loved you, since I moved here my whole life has revolved around you! Don't think for a second that he was alone in that!" He was so determined, the look in his eyes was almost scared. Sakura stared, feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

"I already know that we're the same, me and him. I already know you don't feel the same, but don't let him hurt you! Please..." He leaned up, wrapping his arms around her as well, and Sakura leaned her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes.

There was something so amazing about him. His confession, it wasn't one of someone who didn't have their heart in it. She knew then that it was all true, he really did love her.

He also said he knew that him and Naruto were the same. She smiled, knowing it was true. He didn't push her, though. He didn't make her want to pull back. It was so different, so much the same, it confused her.

"You just seem to have a thing for the Uchiha boys, and I can accept that." Sakura pulled back, suddenly wanting to smack him. "What?!"

"I see the way you look at him. The way you light up when he talks to you, how you're suddenly tired when he leaves the room. I guess your new circle of friends is too much like your old ones, yeah." Diedera smiled at her weakly, suddenly sad and sighed. "Just remember, if ever you need me, I'll always be here." Sakura nodded, her smile coming back.

She didn't love Itachi. He was great. He was powerful and kind and though he reminded her so much of Sasuke he was so different. He was emotional and sincere. He always made her smile.

She smiled at the though of him. She stopped, suddenly knowing her heart was beating faster, her breathing deepened. What...

It was true. She loved him.

Sakura stared at Diedera, her hands trembling. "You've realized it too, yeah." Diedera smiled at her and patted her shoulder, trying to stand.

He collapsed to the floor, Sakura watched in horror as blood started nearly instantly dripping. "Diedera!"