5 - Stage 5: Bliss
When Itachi returned to the room he shared with Sakura, he found her staring dejectedly at the ceiling. Her pale skin lacked it's normal glow, instead it seemed thin and transparent. The shine of her hair was dimmed and the spark in her viridian eyes was gone. The passion that he had so closely seen on the battle field and in bed had disappeared from her being. Sakura's words came out at such a pitiful whisper that his ears strained to hear.
"Have I sold my soul to the devil?" A shallow sigh escaped Itachi's lips. Slowly, he made his way towards the bed on which she sat. The bed creaked from his added weight. She flinched as he scooted closer to her and started tracing circles on the small of her back. Though she quickly relaxed and it was his turn to stiffen when she laid her head on his shoulder. Sakura sighed. She looked up at him through what Itachi quickly decided were deliciously long lashes curiously.
"Why do you treat me this way?" In Itachi's mind that translated to, I thought that was a one night stand. His gaze met her own. For a moment, all the world around them disappeared. It was just the two of them.
"The moment I met you, I knew you were mine." Her eyes widened in surprise. A swirl of emotion passed through them with a spark of curiosity as Itachi watched fully enraptured. He leaned down and lightly kissed her nose. His deep voiced rumbled as he continued.
"It was so selfish of me, to want you. I hated myself, you, the world, everything because I knew I could never have you." Itachi quickly caught her mouth in a soft kiss before she could speak. They stayed like that for some time, just reveling in the feeling of each other's simple romance. When they broke apart, Itachi sighed and buried his chin in the crook of her neck.
"I watched you with bated breath as you became a woman of strength. I waited to see what those feelings for my brother-" Itachi was interrupted by a guttural growl from Sakura.
"I want him dead." She said with vehemence. A chuckle rumbled through Itachi's chest. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his lap. She turned around in his hold, effectively straddling his hips. Itachi chuckled again seeing the glare on her face. He quickly kissed her down turned lips.
"That much I could tell when you battled him. My Ouoto stood no chance against those raging fists of yours." Sakura murmured in agreement as she wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled into his shoulder. Silently, she nudged him to continue.
"When Pein gathered us to force you into joining the Akatsuki, I was hypnotized by the way you so viciously destroyed the others one by one. Once we commenced in battle, it took all of my strength not to have my way with you right then and there." A scarlet blush streaked upon Sakura's face at his words. She gasped slightly when she felt Itachi's hot mouth latch upon her throat with a passionate suck. His teeth nipped at her flesh and his tongue glided upon her milky flesh. He detached with quiet pop and stared unabashed at the mark that he created. Sakura was panting slightly, she decided to dare look at his face. His eyes were dark and half lidded, a smirked graced his lips. His voice made her spine shiver.
"Once we returned to the base, one provocation was all I needed to set me off after years of waiting. That kinky chain that you so graciously pointed out was all it took." Itachi grasped the back of her head and passionately kissed Sakura. Their lips were a frenzy of dominance in which Itachi won. They broke apart gasping for breath. The look in Sakura's eyes held such a seriousness that his blood ran cold for a second. She looked him strait in the eye and asked him a question.
"Would you have stopped if I had asked you to?" Itachi felt a pang in his chest, saddened and slightly insulted at her suggestion of such a thing.
"I would never have forced you." He whispered with sincerity. Sakura searched his eyes for the truth and was pleased when she found it. Why she should believe him, she was not sure, but she did. Content, she snuggled into him once again and sighed.
"I can never return your feelings you know."
"I never expected you to, just to accept them."
"I'm only using you to ease the ache of my broken soul."
"If that's what you want, I will give it to you." They stared at each other in silence weighing each other's words. Sakura gazed into Itachi's onyx eyes, becoming lost in their intense gaze. The infinite darkness reflected passion solely directed at her. The thought pleased her, to have an incredibly handsome man all to herself. A loud grumble echoed through the room. The moment lost, Sakura looked down at her stomach indifferently.
"How long have I been here since the confrontation?" She asked monotonously. Another gurgle sounded. Itachi lightly kissed her jaw, sighing to himself. Instead of answering her question, his eager lips captured her mouth in a searing kiss. His tongue slid across her lips, asking for a dance with her own. Her mouth parted, allowing him entrance. Sakura groaned when the hot muscle tasted her mouth, flavoring all of her. Itachi knew he had become even more addicted to her, she tasted like milk and honey. They broke apart, gasping for breath. Another grumble of hunger escaped her stomach. Sakura giggled as Itachi sighed and nuzzled his nose into her hair.
"Sex after lunch, breakfast, whatever the hell time it is?" She asked, mirth shining in her eyes. Itachi growled but released his hold on her. She rolled her eyes at his impatience. The jingle of the chain reminded her that she was still tethered to the bed. Itachi observed her eyeing the object of her imprisonment with disdain.
"How the hell does this thing come off any way?" Sakura growled. Itachi simply stroked her hair and smirked.
"I kind of like the idea of you tied to the bed." A deep rumble came through Itachi's chest as he chuckled at the look that Sakura gave him. Childishly, Sakura stuck out her bottom lip and pouted. She was quickly caught in a searing kiss that left her breathless. His velvet smooth voice made her spine shiver.
"Keep acting like that and lunch will be the last thing on your mind." He growled. Sakura squeaked when he pinned her to the bed faster than her eyes could see. His eyes were dark and he gave an air of a predator. A devilish smirk spread across his lips.
"Though I would be the first person to tell you that life is short, eat dessert first." Sakura's eyes widened. His rumbling voice made her mind go blank.
"And I have decided that you are dessert."
The team had left Konoha sixteen hours ago. They had been traveling nonstop save for a twenty minute break half way through. Sasuke's team was exhausted to say the least. His own legs were screaming at him in strain, but he chose to ignore it. Naruto, even at his break neck pace, seemed tired. When Naruto announced they should stop for the time being, every one groaned in appreciation. Sasuke observed how his own team flopped to the ground below them. The leaf nin also seemed to throw themselves to the nearest tree or grassy patch. Tsunade grumbled as she massaged her sore calf muscles.
"Should've never let that brat join ANBU. His crazy stamina only increased because of it." Sasuke sighed and leaned up against the nearest tree trunk as he listened to everyone's grumbling. He closed his and let his mind wander. The color of his life was black. He wanted to let himself get swallowed up by feelings of anger and revenge but a bright light stopped him. Sasuke stared at the light, it was pink. Sakura. His thoughts abruptly turned to his ex-teammate. When he had last seen her before he left the village she was just a small, annoying girl that he held no real care for. His brief encounter with her at one of sound bases only confirmed that she was still nothing. The next time he came in contact with her was when she completely and utterly kicked his ass, much to his displeasure. His mind quickly traveled to the time that he saw her in the door way of his child hood home. A small, thin towel was the only thing that covered her newly curvaceous body. His eyes couldn't help but follow the water droplets that glided down each dip and contour of her pale skin. Then that dream, oh how he remembered that dream. Never before had he wanted so much to go straight into her room ravish her so completely.
"Uchiha!" Sasuke's head snapped up at the calling of his name. His eyes settled on former Hokage and narrowed slightly seeing the glare she was giving him.
"Are you ready stop day dreaming and start talking tactics?" He slowly nodded. Tsunade huffed and motioned for him to join her across the clearing. Naruto, Kakashi, and Shikamaru all moved from their previous positions and joined them. Sasuke's voice came out clipped.
"We need to determine positioning for our infiltration of the Akatsuki base." Kakashi spoke next.
"Agreed. It's best we determine by individual strengths so that each team is balanced appropriately for their task." The group nodded in understanding. Shikamaru quickly analyzed and gave a basic description.
"The main diversion team should have the majority of our heavy hitters as well as our support team members. The infiltrator teams should be pairs of shinobi that compliment each other and are quick working. Though I am uncomfortable with it, the recovery team should be one man with exceptional tracking skills." Naruto nodded.
"That sounds like a good plan." The others all nodded in agreement.
"My team will take the infiltration units. Suigetsu and Karin would balance each other out and Juugo and I work well together." Sasuke stated monotonously.
"As much as I want to be the one to recover Sakura, my fists and medical technique would best suit the diversion team. Really, Kakashi should be the one to be the recovery unit. His tracker dogs would provide the best possible chance at finding Sakura." Tsunade commented.
"I accept that position."
"Then the rest of us will go on the diversion team. Any one have a problem with that?" Shikamaru drawled. He looked at everyone's faces as each stayed silent. He sighed and lifted himself up from the group.
"Then it's settled. Uchiha, do you have an estimated time of arrival?" All eyes turned to Sasuke.
"The last source of information I had received on the whereabouts of my brother gave an approximation of anywhere between a half a week to a whole month. The only clue of direction I have is that they are more than likely located along the shore of lightning, somewhat close to kirikagure." A unison sigh of disparage came through the group.
"I guess that's the best we can do for now. Who's going to take first watch?" Naruto asked. Both Sasuke and Kakashi spoke at the same time.
"I will." They turned towards each other with an eyebrow raised. Tsunade watched them with a small smile on her face.
"Why don't you two share the first watch? I'm sure you guys have some catching up to do." Kakashi's one visible eye crinkled and wrapped his arm around Sasuke's neck, pulling him into a head lock.
"Haha, we sure do! It's been, what, a good six years since I've spent some quality time with Sasuke. You guys go ahead and pitch your tents and get some sleep, we'll wake someone up when it's time to change shifts." Kakashi waved them off chuckling to himself. The young man whose airway he was currently blocking by his iron head lock paled slightly. The rest of the group smirked but quickly left for the desperate need of sleep. Kakashi turned his crinkled eye towards a nearly passed out Sasuke.
"So, Sasuke, tell me how your life has been since you joined that vile snake?" A heavy sigh came between Sasuke's gasps of breath, 'this is going to be a long night.'
Sakura lay panting in the after glow of their fierce love making. Itachi was beside her, ghosting his fingers along the curve of her side. His sinful lips lightly kissed her neck and shoulder, leaving her skin burning in pleasure in their wake. She could almost hear him humming in contentment. Turning towards him, a small smile graced her lips.
"You're insatiable." His deep chuckle tingled her spine. He laid a small kiss on her lips. His eyes were filled with mirth and his lips turned in sexy smirk. Sakura swore that her heart stopped for a second.
"Only for you, my queen." Sakura turned scarlet at his words. His humming made her feel lighter than air. The roaring growl of her stomach was the only thing that brought her down to earth. A look of amusement graced Itachi's face.
"Hm, what was that about lunch?" Sakura chuckled herself.
"I believe it was that you would much rather have dessert before it and then proceeded to ravish me like never before."
"Yes, that sounds about right." The continuous rumbling of her stomach only added to the anxiousness that Sakura felt to get some food.
"Itachi, can you please unchain me so we can get some food? It feels like I haven't eaten in forever." Sakura whined. He quickly kissed her forehead and then reached behind her neck. Using two chakra laden fingers, Itachi sliced through the thick chain like paper. Sakura breathed happily, feeling like a large weight was lifted off her shoulders. Though she noticed that the circlet was still wrapped around the column of her throat. Her fingers flitted up to the cold metal, touching it nervously.
"Can't this come off too?" Itachi sighed.
"Pein wants to keep it on until he is sure of your loyalty." She snorted.
"Please, it would be suicide for me to try to escape." Itachi slowly stood up, and gathered some clothing from his closet. Disappointedly, Sakura watched his pale skin disappear behind the cloth. His deep voice echoed through out the room.
"Come, let us find you some clothing to cover you." Sakura glared playfully at him.
"It's your fault for ripping them to shreds."
"They were in the way of what I wanted." She rolled her eyes.
"Insatiable man."
"Only for you, my queen."
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