10 - Stage Ten: Uncovering the Black

A ceiling. She was looking at a ceiling. Blinking a couple times, it finally registered in Sakura's mind that she was indoors, in her and Itachi's room, and in her and Itachi's bed. She groaned as the soreness of her battles settled into her. With an effort, she reached up and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Her back creaked in disgruntlement as she lifted herself into a sitting position. She casually scanned the room for any indication that Itachi was with her. She found none. Though her eyes did spot the crisp white paper of a note against the dark nightstand. She stretched across the bed to reach the message. Her fingers barely scrapped the edge of it. Eyebrows furled in concentration, Sakura grunted and stretched as far as she could. She had just enough of a grip on the paper to bring it back in her lap. Silently, Sakura was cursing Itachi for choosing such a freaking huge bed, but she was quickly distracted by the elegant writing on the page. Itachi's script was elegant, and fluid, yet filled with powerful strokes. His handwriting described him perfectly. Sakura blushed, feeling silly for getting so caught up in Itachi's penmanship skills. Eyes focused on what the note actually said and not what it looked like, Sakura began to read. She could almost imagine his voice as she read.

"My queen, I regret to inform you that I will be gone for a few days for I have been assigned a mission. I do not know the approximate time I will be back, but I hope it will not be long. When I wrote this note, you had already been sleeping for a few days, so I do not know when you will get this. I already miss your warmth, I hope to return to it soon.

Itachi"

Sakura's eyes widened at that last piece of information. 'A few days?' She screamed in her mind. Hastily, she ripped the covers from her body. Her skin prickled as the cold air slammed into her. Ignoring comfort, Sakura flung her legs over the edge of the bed and onto the floor. She stood up quickly and began to run to the door. Though she slipped and fell straight onto her face as the object under her foot gave way, flying into the wall with a loud thunk.

"Shit! Ow, ow, ow, ow…" Sakura cursed. With shaky limbs, she slowly lifted herself off the floor. She turned her attention to the object that caused her to fall. She glared darkly at it until she noticed it was a black, unlabeled book. She stared at for a couple of seconds. Her curiosity was too strong. Sakura quickly snatched it up and flopped back onto the bed. She looked at the cover, pondering whether or not she should open it. Almost a few minutes passed by during her internal debate. Slowly, she opened the hardback cover and to the first page. It was blank. Sakura growled and tossed to the corner of the room. It landed with a soft thump, pages open. She glared at it, though her eyes widened when she saw how the candle near it illuminated faint words on the pages. Excitement flitted through her. She sprinted to the book. Giddily, she grabbed the candle and brought it close to the first page. She could she the faint lines of writing, but could not make it out. She growled in frustration. An idea popped into her mind. She smirked like the devil, 'oh that sneaky bastard…' She knew, just knew, that this was Itachi's doing. Her hand made the signs for the beginning of a fire jutsu but then stopped and touched the page with her fire-laced chakra. Flames in the shape of letters enveloped the pages, singeing words into the paper. Sakura grinned triumphantly, she could now read the words. Her eyes ate the words up hungrily as she read the first page.

"June 9th, year ~

I've received this journal for my fifth birthday, kaa-san says it will help me as a ninja though tou-san says it's a weakness. I don't care was tou-san says, I love it because it was from baa-chan. Kaa-san told me that I'm supposed to write my feelings and what happens to me in this journal. I don't see how that will make me a better ninja, but I'll do it anyways because kaa-san told me too. I didn't have a party for my birthday, but I guess that's okay cause no one would come. All the kids are scared of me. Baa-chan and kaa-san made my favorite dango for me and told me happy birthday. Tou-san told me to train. I can't wait for kaa-san to give birth to my baby brother. I'm excited to have a sibling, but I'm scared for kaa-san. I asked her if it was going to hurt. She told me yes, but it will be worth it. I don't understand how it can be worth it to go through pain. After the war, I don't know how anyone can want to go through pain."

Sakura was stunned. She was holding Itachi's journal. She had access to the very core of Itachi. Something that he hadn't even showed her. She hesitated when she turned the page, the sudden notion of morality stopping her. Was this right? To go through Itachi's journal with out his permission? She shook away the thought and turned the page.

"June 16th, year ~

I killed for the first time today. Tou-san told me he was proud of me. So did kaa-san, but I could see her sadness. I feel dirty. I don't want to kill people."

Sakura's throat clenched. She remembered her first kill, if she could call it that. With help of Chiyo-san, they had killed Sasori of the Akatsuki. She hadn't even killed him by herself and yet she still felt unclean for days. No matter how hard she scrubbed, the filth of his death still lingered on her skin. Overtime, it became a dull ache in the back of her mind as she took countless other lives. She was sixteen when she first killed. Sakura could not imagine dealing with the weight of it at the age of five. She shuddered at the thought and quickly turned the page. She quickly scanned over it and deemed it uninteresting. She flipped through the next few pages. Noticing a pattern, her hand stopped turning. Itachi wrote in his journal once a week. She read the date at the top of the page the book was opened too. It read July 21st. Sakura's eye's widened and quickly turned to the next page.

"July 28th, year ~

My Ouoto was born this week on the 23rd. His name is Sasuke. He has a head of black hair and cries a lot. He likes to pull on my hair, it annoys me. I love to hold him, but not when he is crying. I love him so much. I will always protect my Ouoto."

Tears sprung into Sakura's eyes. She blinked harshly, willing them away. Her emotions bubbled as she pictured a young Itachi holding a new born Sasuke. Her heart ached in longing for her own children. She stilled, her muscles stiff. A wary feeling filled her at the development of these new feelings. In her mind she pictured a beautiful new born baby in her arms. His chubby, little fingers barely fit around one of her own. Her eyes drifted to his face, where a full head of dark black hair stuck out in all directions. Bright onyx eyes stared into her own. Sakura audibly gasped. She had just imagined her and Itachi's child! She thought of having kids with Itachi! She thought of having kids! Mind reeling, she flipped through the journal looking for a distraction. Her breath hitched when she noticed a particular entry that broke the pattern.

"I've… I've killed them. I killed them all. I killed kaa-san, tou-san, baa-chan, everyone. I couldn't kill Sasuke. I couldn't kill my precious Ouoto. I so sorry kaa-san, tou-san, baa-chan, my family. I'm so sorry Sasuke. Are you happy Danzou? Are you happy that I wiped out the Uchiha clan like you ordered me to? Kami-sama, if you even exist in this retched world, protect Sasuke. Please let Hokage-sama be good on his word. I'm so sorry Sasuke."

The rest of the page was a mix of dried ink splotches and tears. Sakura could barely make out the words because they were so blurry, like they were written in a hurry. What she had read shook her to the core. Itachi had been ordered to kill his family by Konoha. Itachi wasn't a psychopathic murder who had murdered his own family to test his power. He a loyal shinobi who had carried out his gruesome mission. Yet he failed because he loved Sasuke too much. Itachi was innocent. Sakura's throat was dry as her mind put the pieces together. Itachi wanted Sasuke to kill him because he felt guilty for what he put Sasuke through. He did all he did out of love for his little brother. Tears fell down Sakura's face. Her body shook as sobs racked through it. All this time she had judged him and hated him without even knowing him. She used his body to satisfy her own. It had surprised her when Itachi was soft and caring towards her but now it made sense. Itachi was soft and caring, nothing less. Itachi was the most beautiful human being to grace the nations. A knew feeling filled her heart. That man, that wonderful man, love her. Itachi loved her with all his being and she had only used him for own comfort. Guilt squeezed her chest. He loved her. A warm feeling spread through her as she opened her eyes to the man that was standing before her the whole time. She saw Itachi in a new light. Her heart burst with joy and love as she thought of him. A small gasp escaped her lips as a new feeling settled into her heart.

"I…I love him." She whispered. With renewed focus, she flipped to the next page of the book, eager to read more. Sakura's eyes widened when she noticed the date, it was many years later.

"May 14th, year ~

It has been a while since I have written in this journal, for it has many unpleasant memories for me. I have not thought about my family for a long time, but today, something happened that made me think about them. I saw a girl today. She was with the kyuubi container and his team as I confronted them on their journey after the Kazekage. She was beautiful. She had pink hair and green eyes in the most magnificent color imaginable. I believe her name is Sakura Haruno. I was slightly taken aback by the feelings that overwhelmed me when I saw her. An emotion I haven't felt in a while clenched my heart, and I cannot get it out of my head. I love her. I love her and I don't even know her. It came to my mind, then, the story that kaa-san told me when I was young. The story of The Mother. She told me that if I was ever to meet a girl with pink hair and instantly fall in love with her, then she was my rightful sole mate and we would create a powerful bijuu together. I always that story was just some old legend that the women of the clan would fantasize about, seeing as women tend to be obsessed with true love. I believe her now, though. I found her, my soul mate. I love her, and I can't do anything about it."

Sakura looked through most of the pages after their first meeting. They were all about her. Every little tidbit that he had heard in his travels were written down. She noticed the only time he wrote in his journal, was when he discovered something about her. She continued to search through the book. When the pages became blank, she turned back to the most recent passage, the day after she was taken by the Akatsuki.

"June 2nd, year ~

The Akatsuki have successfully acquired new member Sakura Haruno. She was a glorious inferno on the battlefield. I was entranced by her lithe grace as she meticulously destroyed the other members of the Akatsuki. Her strength is unmatched. She was so beautiful as we made love. The sound of my name on her lips as I pleasure her creates the most primal satisfaction in me, it's exhilarating. I know now that I will sacrifice everything I am for her. Even if she only uses me for her own gain I will gladly give her my all without regret. It's all I can do because I love her."

Sakura's hands shook as she read. Slowly, she closed the book and dispelled the jutsu so that the words would fade away. Her eyes stung and tears flowed freely. Her face was set in a grimace as she wept. Her heart clenched in love and sadness for Itachi. All of her pent up emotion spilled out in a torrent while she cried. When she was finished, her body weighed on her heavily with emotional exhaustion. She set the book down where she had tripped over it. Her eyelids began to droop. Turning back to the bed, Sakura snuggled underneath the warm blankets and fell asleep as she waited in anticipation for Itachi to return.

Itachi watched Sakura's eyelids fluttered lightly as she slowly began to wake from he slumber. His hand stroked her hair softly. He heard her sigh softly and nuzzle into his hand. He knew then, she was awake. He smirked when she turned over and blinked a few times at him, taking in that he was back. His heart stopped when the most beautiful smile graced her lips. Concern filled him when she started crying.

"Itachi." She hiccupped. She moved in a flurry of blankets and pink. Before he could comprehend, Sakura was on top of him kissing him with passion he had never felt from her before. She kissed him with such ferocity that it made Itachi become beyond worried. When they broke apart for air, she hiccupped once again and started to weep. Itachi could only stare at her incredulously, completely oblivious to what could make her break apart. He held her until she could cry no more. He barely caught her whisper, but what she said made him still.

"You are such a beautiful person." She sat up and looked him in the eye. Her face was one of pain and love. Her throat was hoarse but louder this time.

"You, who world thinks is monster, are the most amazing, thoughtful, and caring person to grace this planet." His throat clenched.

"You found out the truth." She nodded her head.

"How?" Itachi eyed her as she chuckled.

"This morning, when I woke up, I found your note. Once I was informed that I had been out for a few days, I immediately got out of bed in a hurry. Your journal was sticking out from underneath the lip of the bed and I tripped over it. When I first opened it, the pages were blank. Frustrated, I threw it across the room. It landed next to a lit candle and I saw the faint lines of words. Knowing you Uchiha and your obsession with fire jutsu, I preformed the beginnings of a fire jutsu on the book. Low and behold, I could read your journal, and read I did." She looked at him, observing his countenance. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"So you found my journal I've had since I was five. Great." He started to get up, but Sakura pinned him down. Her words immediately caught his attention.

"I don't believe I told you what I thought of it."

"Go on." He replied. She released his shoulders.

"After I read it, I cried. I cried and cried and cried until I could produce no more tears. I have never felt so much sadness before in my life. I just wanted to hold you and hug you. What you went through when you were five, I can't even imagine. After I read that the truth about the massacre, I…I was shocked. I felt so guilty. I judged you, hated you, and used you, but you are so incredibly innocent. I'm so sorry for everything I've done to hurt you. Then I read the first time you met me. Itachi I…" She took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.

"I love you, so much. You cared for me even though I gave you no reason too. You are so loving. After I read that, I just couldn't deny the feelings that filled my heart. I love you Itachi." His voice was like crushed velvet and his eyes were full of warmth.

"I love you too, my queen." She leaned down and kissed him. Their kissed was long and sweet. Itachi confused when she broke away. Her breath came in pants, her face flushed. She brought her lips to his ear and whispered the most wonderful thing Itachi had ever heard.

"Itachi, make love to me." His lips enveloped her own in a heated, passionate kiss. His tongue lightly slid across her lips in request. She opened her mouth in invitation. His tongue explored her mouth in deliberate slowness. He desired to savor the taste of her as long as he possibly could. Their tongues danced in exotic gracefulness, each melding with the other. They broke apart, gasping for breath. Their eyes gazed into each other. Itachi wrapped his arms around Sakura's soft body and flipped them over so that he was on top. His hot mouth descended onto her creamy neck in a flash. She moan as he went straight to her jugular and began to suck fervently. She gasped when his teeth nipped at her skin, leaving a mark. His tongue traced along the edges of the now very red hickey. It glided down her neck to her collar bone and then to the tip of the valley between her breasts. In a flurry of arms, both took off the other's shirt. Itachi's primal look made Sakura shiver when he noticed that she wasn't wearing a bra.

"Ah! Itachi!" She gasped when Itachi's mouth latched onto her breast. His tongue tweaked her hardened bud. She cried out when he did it again. He released her nipple with a soft pop. She moaned when he switched to the other breast. His fingers ghosted down her sides skimming along the edge her pajama shorts. Her back arched at his touch. Her own hands glided towards the button on his pants. Her fingers quickly undid the button and the zipper. He chuckled at her eagerness.

"Please Itachi…"She begged. Sakura gasped when she felt the cold air as Itachi swiftly removed her shorts and panties. He growled as the smell of her arousal permeated the air. His hot breath was on her ear as he whispered to her.

"You're so wet for me Sakura." Her chest heaved up and down as she panted. He kicked his pants off along with his boxers. He positioned himself at her entrance He gaze one last time into her eyes before he slowly entered her.