Oi all! If you just scrolled to the last chapter, go back one or you'll miss a chapter!
Yes, I uploaded two to make up for the day I missed due to 's down time.
Disclaimer- please see last chapter. Or any other chapter. Or any other story.
Chapter 13
Sakura sighed as she turned to Sasuke, halfway to town square. "Today you're Kyouya."
"I'm Kyouya?"
"Yeah, everyone here knows your brother as Sasuke. I can't really tell them who it is, right?"
Sasuke shook his head. "Fine, I'm Uchiha Kyouya." Sakura nodded as she reached the bulletin board.
She looked over the list before tearing it down and sliding it into her bag.
"We have a busy day. I'll need you to keep a close eye on what I'm doing. If I fail, I need you to take over for me." Sasuke stared at her surprised. "What?!"
"The first on the list had a run in with a ninja. Seems she's a little off right now. First thing, I'll need you to down her." Sakura turned, walking away.
"Down her?!" Sakura turned, realizing he wasn't Itachi. He didn't have the familiarity of her job.
"Sorry, I'm used to having Itachi with me. sharingan her, nothing bad, maybe a field of flowers or something nice. While you do that I'm gonna try and fix the problem." Sasuke nodded.
They reached the house a few minutes later. Sakura knocked lightly, knowing the people there had sensitive ears. Sakura smiled as a woman opened the door, her eyes dark and sunken in. "Ohayo. Where is she?"
Sakura walked to the room, opening the door and walked in, smiling. "Ohayo, Ai-chan. How are you today?"
The girl laid back, her eyes wide on Sakura. Sakura walked around the room with a steady smile on her face, surprising Sasuke. "Ai-chan, can you tell me anything about the guy that did this to you?"
Her eyes stared into Sakura, dark and sunken in. She was tied down, her hands and feet were held by rope to the head and foot boards.
"Sakura-sensei-" Her voice was dark, crackling. She was in obvious pain, and Sasuke looked her over, seeing her chakra getting sucked to her head before dissipating from her. "Sakura?"
"Kyouya, please do as I asked of you." Sasuke looked at her and closed his eyes, activating his sharingan. He leaned down beside her and looked her in the eye, watching as she slowly fell into a peaceful silence.
"What in the hell happened to her?" Sasuke asked, bewildered. Sakura leaned down, laying her hand on the girl's chest.
"Isn't it obvious? It was a ninja attack. We get a lot of them out here, which is why I'm the best doctor for this area. It looks like he's sucking out her chakra, but I can't imagine what kind of technique this is." Sakura searched within the girl for the source of the power, but couldn't find anything. "Can you tell where the chakra is going?"
Sasuke looked, the chakra gathering at her forehead, but he didn't really see anything else. "No."
"Go get Sasuke. I'm pretty sure he'll be able to see it. I'll see what I can find out here." Sasuke nodded, turning and running.
They didn't return for an hour. Sakura was worried after ten minutes, but after fifteen she figured Itachi had taken the path following the chakra away.
When they returned Itachi smiled, handing her a necklace. "Here you go. I don't know how to remove whatever jutsu is doing this, but I thought you may need this. It's what's gathering the chakra."
Sakura nodded and laid the necklace on the girl. Her color improved almost instantly. Sakura smiled as the girl seemed to come back to life, save the fact that she was laying back and tied to the bed. "Kyouya, break the jutsu."
Sasuke did as he was told and the girl blinked, looking around at them. "Sakura-sensei?"
Sakura sighed and looked over at her. "How do you feel?"
"I feel gross. He won't stop screaming..." She clenched her eyes and Sasuke looked over at Itachi with a frown. "Uh, we'll be right back." They took off at light speed.
It was about five minutes later that she calmed and about five minutes after that when the boys returned. "Is she better?"
"She is." Sakura smiled and pulled the necklace from her. There was no difference when it was touching her now. "Sasuke, is the link still there?"
"No, Sakura." Itachi looked at the girl, looking for any abnormality. His eyes focused on her for a moment and Sasuke looked, eyes narrowed.
"Sakura, how old is this girl?" Sakura turned to him with evident confusion. "She's fourteen. Why?"
Sasuke looked over at Itachi, who stepped forwards, slicing through the ropes with chakra. He looked at her wrist and frowned. "Sakura, the rope burns aren't all new." Sakura walked over and looked.
"Sweety, do they tie you up often?"
"No, this is a first." She looked at Sasuke, who just stared. "She's just a kid." He frowned and looked over at Itachi.
"She's lying." Itachi looked over at Sakura, who just nodded knowingly. "Why were you tied up?"
"The curse." She frowned, knowing now that they knew she was lying. Sakura stood and stepped back, looking over at Itachi. "Sasuke?"
The girl looked up at him afraid for a moment, stilled and looked over at Sakura.
Itachi looked over at Sakura who stilled for a second before nodding.
"Sweety, do you have anywhere else, other relatives you can live with?" She shook her head and Sakura smiled and stood back.
"Itachi, What do you think?"
"I think if nothing else we should take her in till we find her a new home." Itachi frowned, looking over at Sasuke.
"I don't even know-" He stilled as images past in his mind. Her father was abusive, he beat her and had sold the chakra. The only reason they'd gotten Sakura was the neighbors had started asking about her health. She had been attacked by a ninja, but her father had gotten paid for the girl's cooperation in a few things.
Sakura looked over at Sasuke as his eyes focused. "Don't ever do that again."
"What do you think?" Itachi asked and Sasuke nodded. "We can't let this go on." The look in his eyes was foreign to Sakura who just nodded. They turned to the girl and smiled, holding out her hand. "If you don't have anywhere else to go then do you wanna go home with us?" The girl shook her head, fearful.
"If I leave, Daddy will get mad..." Sakura smiled and laid her hand down on the girl's shoulder. "Sweety, do you wanna know a secret?"
The girl stared at Sakura with fearful eyes. "His name isn't really Sasuke, it's Itachi. He was considered an S class criminal till lately. This is Sasuke, he's about at the same level as his brother. Naruto, his real name is Diedera, also an S class criminal. Your dad can get as mad as he wants, but us four will protect you." Sakura smiled and held out her hand. "You'll be safe." The girl sat up but shook her head.
"Why should I go? I have no real reason to go."
"That's not true, Ai-chan." Itachi whispered to her. "You're pregnant." Her eyes went from scared to terrified.
"What?!"
"About three weeks." Sasuke whispered. "If your father beats you like last time it could kill you, or the baby. You can't just be worried about yourself anymore." Ai looked over and shook her head. "How do you two know?"
"It's your chakra. It's circled the baby, it's small, but it can be seen with those who see chakra." Itachi kept his smile.
Sakura held out her hand and the girl looked between the three of them with a frown. "I, uh," She looked over at Sasuke and Sakura kicked him lightly. He frowned at her but reached out to her as well. "We'll do everything in our power to help you." He smiled, causing Sakura to giggle. Even Sasuke felt fake.
She reached out and grabbed his hand, and Sakura grinned. "Sasuke, Itachi, help her pack as quickly as possible. She'll stay in Naruto's old room, I want you three gone in less minutes, alright?"
The boys nodded while Ai stood, eyes wide.
"Sasuke, stay with her and Diedera, keep an eye. Itachi, meet me at town square in eight, alright?" Itachi nodded and they went on a spree, grabbing things and tossing them onto the bed. Sakura knew that Itachi would use the sheet as a bag and carry it all.
She turned, headed down the stairs.
She'd made up an excuse to keep them busy for a few minutes, talking about general health care while they made their escape.
"I have to head out for a moment, Sasuke and Kyouya will keep an eye out."
They smiled and nodded as she took off. She waved, thinking to herself that it was really sad that they were such good actors. The father abusive, the mother uncaring, it was a miracle that Ai was still alive.
Sure enough Itachi had already woken the town's elder when Sakura had gotten there. "Sir, I need emergency custody of Ai-chan." Sakura blustered, looking over towards the house she'd left. The man's eyes winced as he yawned, this whole thing being too late for him. "Why should you claim someone else's child?"
"Sasuke?" Sakura stepped back, Itachi flooding the man's mind with the images taken from the girl. "She's already at my house, but I need official custody for the parent's sake. If they try and get her back we'll have to take measure to protect her, which is easier if we have some claim to her. We're offering to take her in until she's found a more suitable home." Sakura stared.
"Wha, her parents..." The man looked at her confused.
"Sir, she's three weeks pregnant. We really can't send her back. It's not an option." The old man's eyes widened.
"Pregnant?!"
"Her father sold her." Sakura stared, now letting the man really sink into what he'd seen.
"I'll do whatever is needed." He nodded and Sakura felt most of the tension melt away.
It was an hour later that they returned, Sasuke sat on the couch as Diedera had forced him from the chair. Ai sat in the other chair and turned to the door with a near scream as it opened.
Sakura slid in and Itachi followed right behind. "How did it go?" Sasuke stood and Sakura smiled. "It's well. Considering the situation, I'm half tempted to send her to Konoha. Naruto would love being a body guard." Sakura smiled and the girl's eyes opened. "I won't stay here?"
"For a while, you will. But remember, as I said earlier, we have two technical S class criminals here. We may get attacked at any time. I'd prefer to have you stay with someone who isn't as much a giant blinking beacon for attack."
"Because the Jinchuriki is the shining pillar of safety? All the little shit eats is ramen. She'll be eaten by the demon hunters after being malnourished." Sasuke murmured and Sakura giggled. "Maybe you're right. Do you think Shikamaru could use a sister?" Sakura looked over at Sasuke who turned to her with wide eyes.
"And get him responsible for two children? He's still taking care of Azura." Sasuke frowned and Sakura nodded. Azura was such a cute child, looked just like her father, with the shining red eyes of her mother. Kurenai was a great mother. It's too bad about her father...
"How old is she now?" Sakura asked and Sasuke looked over, seeing the sad, missing look in her eye. "She's three now. She'll be four in two months." Sakura nodded. She sighed as she looked over. "Lee." Sasuke sputtered, spitting the tea he had been trying to drink over the table.
"That's just... Seriously, Sakura?! You're going to put this poor girl through Lee?!"
"He's kind and caring, he's strong, he's got Gai. He has funny eyes and eyebrows, but beyond that, he's a wonderful guy." Sasuke sighed. He looked at the girl, as if trying to figure out if he should really be considering this. "He owes me." Sakura looked over and Sasuke nodded.
"Fine, when I go I'll take her with me. She can stay with me till Lee's ready. Ino's gonna kill me, if she's not already gone." Sasuke sighed and Sakura looked over, surprised.
"Seriously?"
"She thinks I came here to try and sneak you back, taking you to replace her." Sasuke finally got another sip of his tea.
"Was that your intention?" Itachi asked, his eyes shining on his little brother.
Sasuke stood, anger played across him, yet Sakura got the feeling that he was playing more than anything else. "Like you can say anything!" Itachi covered his mouth to hide a chuckle. "What about it?"
"What happened to your last girlfriend?" Sasuke said, Itachi froze.
"That's not..." Itachi stood, bowing his head. "Sasuke, that's not fair. You know more than anyone that it wasn't fair."
Sasuke looked his brother in the eye. "I'll be gone in the morning. Ai-chan, please pack up as quickly as possible, we can't take everything with us. You'll be the guest, at least for the time being of the Uchiha heir. We can get you more things."
"Itachi," His gaze shifted. "Next time I come out here, things better be different. You know what I mean. If you don't win her heart by then, I will." Sasuke stood and walked to the hall, Ai following shortly after.
Sakura watched, amazed. "Itachi, did he just tell you to win my heart?"
"Sakura, I'm sorry. That shouldn't have happened. I was too easily pushed." Itachi sat back down, his eyes narrowed. "He's trying to get us together, though. I can't blame him." Itachi sighed, looking over to the hallway.
"Can I ask?" Sakura asked and Diedera stood, walking to the hall as well. Sakura watched and started getting nervous. If this was the reaction to asking if she could ask, maybe she shouldn't.
"You can ask, but I already know. My last girlfriend's name was Tatyana. She was beautiful and smart." Sakura nodded, looking at the look on his face. Talking about an old girlfriend, She figured he'd be more upset if something bad happened. "I think I'm better with you though, anyway."
"What happened to her?" Sakura asked, now curious. Itachi looked up at her and smiled.
"There was one small problem with her, one factor that made things impossible." Sakura's eyes widened as he sighed, his false smile falling from him. "She was an Uchiha." Sakura stared.
"Oh my god, Itachi..."
"It's fine." Itachi stood and walked around, pacing the living room. "I'd had this image in my head, my own family when I got older, my children, two boys and a girl. We'd play shogi and go to the park to fly kites. I was most destroyed by that on that day. It wasn't that everyone had to die, if I hadn't than many more lives would have been taken, but I knew that everything I wanted in life was gone. It would never be what I wanted it to be." The look on his face was so depressed, he looked totally devastated as he sat on the chair.
Sakura was there in a second, holding his hand.
He looked down, the intimacy of such a small thing suddenly surprising him. He looked her in the eye and she shook her head. "Itachi, I know, I may not... I'm not a..." She stuttered, stumbling over her words and Itachi reached up, covering her mouth softly with his hand.
"Thank you. Now is not the best time, I don't want you saying things to try and cheer me that you'll regret later." She whispered more than anything else and Sakura sighed.
It hurt her to see him like this. It wasn't that she was just wanting to say them to cheer him, she knew she would only regret it later if he turned her down.
Maybe it was too much for him right now, though. She leaned down, pressing her head to his hand and he watched, surprised by her again.