Chapter 4
Good Intentions
Kisame awoke groggily, feeling numb all over. But he somehow managed to sit up, clutching his head. Damn, I must have had a wild time last night. He peered around the room, and his eyes grew wide.
"What the hell!?"
Lying on the ground was the woman, Naoyo, almost fresh blood still leaking from the humongous gaping hole in her stomach. Lying beside her was Sakura, her hands covered in what Kisame guessed was Naoyo's blood.
She was barely breathing.
"What happened, kitten?" Kisame asked as he slowly stood, feeling his legs threaten to go out from under him.
No response.
Kisame looked down to see the pinpricks of fangs on her arm. He frowned, why does this seem familiar? It looks like she's having trouble breathing or something.
He then looked at his own arm, where two pinpricks also stood out. He remembered feeling a cool chakra go into him and take away the pressure on his lungs. It had seemed like a dream, but he supposed it had something to do with Sakura.
My little kitten must have taken out all the poison. Kisame frowned as he looked down at her barely rising chest. She actually saved my life.
Dammit. I'm not medical shinobi.
He pulled off his headband, tying it tightly around her arm in hopes of using it as a tourniquet. He then took out a kunai and sliced open her arm, letting the infected blood bleed out.
As soon as he guessed that she had bled off enough of the venom without having lost too much blood, he bound her arm once more. Thanks for teaching me how to deal with poison, little kitten.
He then grabbed Sakura, threw her over his shoulder, and reached for Samehada. He stopped, frowning. He had put Samehada against the wall next to the bed. How did it get all the way over here, and jammed into the ground?
Kisame merely pulled it out of the floor easily, placing it upon his back as he leaped through the large gaping hole where a wall had once stood.
I guess that whore was really a kunoichi.
Damn.
If Sakura survives this, she'll never let me live this down.
…
…
…
I hope she nags me about it every day for the rest of my life.
Sasori and Itachi were having a nice cup of tea in the kitchen when the door slammed open and a furious Deidara walked inside.
"Itachi-san, what the hell, yeah?"
Itachi merely took another sip of his tea calmly, as if he hadn't noticed Deidara's explosive entrance at all.
Sasori raised an eyebrow, wondering what was going to happen now. Itachi must have done something to anger Deidara. Of course, that something could be anything that dealt with Sakura Haruno, so it wouldn't take much to get him riled anyway. Don't do something you will regret, Deidara… He felt as if he had silently given this warning to Deidara a million times before.
Deidara was breathing deeply, his face red and his eyes narrowed dangerously. He seemed to be getting ready to blow up right then, just like one of his explosive clay birds.
Itachi continued to watch him stoically.
"Hn."
Deidara inhaled—and then let it all out.
"You smashed it! You broke it into a million pieces! There's nothing left except dust! What did you do, punch it!? I can't fix it! You made Sakura cry! It was her best friend and you BROKE IT, YEAH!"
There was a long period of silence.
…
…
…
Itachi took a sip of his tea.
…
…
…
"Excuse me?"
"ExCUSE you, yeah!?" Deidara glowered. "Don't play dumb, Itachi-san. You broke Sakura-chan's puppy!"
Sasori looked from Deidara to Itachi. He had been wondering where the little dog had gone.
"It was a clay dog." Itachi stated coolly. "Nothing more."
"It meant a LOT more than that to Sakura-chan, yeah." Deidara answered back.
"Hn."
"You know what, yeah?" Deidara sneered at him, still boiling. "I think you're jealous of me Itachi."
Itachi's eyes narrowed to mere slits. He placed his cup on the table with an almost shattering force.
"No, better yet, I think you're jealous of that little puppy."
Itachi's hand clenched.
"Do tell." His voice was slightly icy, though it held its usual monotone. However, there was a threatening undertone to it that Sasori heard.
"Because unlike you, yeah, that little puppy actually meant something to Sakura-chan."
Itachi slowly stood.
Sasori hurriedly stood, seeing the anger flaring between the two of them. He was ready to stop the fight he knew was coming when the door burst open once again. Sasori resisted the urge to roll his eyes. What happened now? What else could possibly happen? Was Kisame going to suddenly have feelings for Sakura and come try and beat up Itachi too?
It was indeed Kisame, but he didn't look furious as much as he did downright frightened. In his arms he held a limp figure, whose bright pink hair hid her face from view. Her blue kimono was drenched in dried blood.
"Sakura-chan!" Deidara exclaimed, rushing forward, but Kisame snorted, giving him a warning glance. "Back off Deidara, she's been poisoned."
"Poisoned, yeah?" Deidara mused aloud. His voice had changed back to its almost normal tone. It was no longer that angry, strangely threatening one that Sasori had heard before.
"Yeah." Kisame nodded, laying Sakura out on the small coffee table. "I drained it out as best as I could, but I don't have enough medical skills to know which medicine to give her to help ward anything else off."
"What was she poisoned with?" Sasori asked, coming around the side with Deidara. Itachi and Kisame stood on her other side. Deidara continued shooting death glares at Itachi, who didn't seem to notice or care.
"She was bit by er…something." Kisame grunted. "A spider I think."
"There aren't any poisonous spiders native to this area." Sasori commented. "Which means that it was certainly brought here for such a purpose."
"The leaf ANBU yeah! They're here to kill Sakura-chan because she's a missing-nin now."
"Uh, yeah. That was my first thought too." Kisame nodded.
"Where were you when she was poisoned?" Itachi finally spoke.
Kisame almost cringed at the tone. Why did he have a feeling Itachi was blaming him for this? "Busy."
"With what?"
"Some enemy shinobi." This lie just keeps getting better and better doesn't it? Keep it simple, Kisame. It'll make it easier to remember it all.
"Were they Konoha shinobi?"
"Uh. No." Kisame shook his head. "But they weren't the ones that attacked the kitten, either."
Sasori and Itachi both shot him a glance that told him they didn't believe a word he'd just said, but he pretended not to notice. Sasori grabbed a bag from within a cupboard. He pulled out some salves and pill bottles.
He grabbed Sakura's arm, smearing a mint green-colored paste over the large wound Kisame had helped to create. He then wrapped it with gauze tightly to keep the balm in place. Afterwards, he took out two pills from a bottle and forced them down her mouth, making her swallow before drinking some tea to help wash it down.
"She has a fever. She'll have one until the medicine finally defeats the poison inside of her. It shouldn't take longer than three days."
"Three days, yeah?" Deidara asked worriedly.
Sasori merely watched him coolly. "Indeed. I am judging this by other arachnid poisons I have seen. Perhaps it will be a shorter time period, or perhaps it will be a longer one, I do not know."
"We could get her to a medical shinobi—" Deidara began.
"No."
Deidara glared at Itachi. "Maybe YOU don't care what happens to Sakura-chan but I do."
"Deidara, stop it." Sasori stopped him from getting Itachi any angrier with him as he gave a loud sigh. "Kisame, put Haruno-san in her room. I will continue giving her the medicine there."
"Right." Kisame lifted her easily, walking out of the room. Sasori stopped at the doorway, "Deidara, come with me. I may need your help." And I really need to keep you and Itachi out of each other's way.
"Yeah." Deidara nodded, shooting an evil glance at Itachi before following Sasori out of the room.
Three days later Sakura's fever broke.
She slowly opened her eyes, feeling groggy, almost as if she were drugged. She slowly sat up, taking the cool cloth off of her forehead as she did so. It was soaked in sweat. She looked down at her arm, seeing blood-soaked dressing.
At least I survived. Sakura thought numbly. Then her gaze darkened as she wrapped her arms around her legs, bringing them up to her chest.
That little baby didn't.
…it was going to be a little girl.
…I wonder what she was going to name it?
…who was the father?
…would she have had her mother's eyes, or her father's?
…what color would her hair have been?
Sakura felt the hot tears roll down her cheeks as she sniffled.
I'll never know.
She felt horrible. She felt guilty. She felt…unclean. She had murdered a small child. A baby. A little girl.
Somebody else's little Sakura-chan.
She thought of her parents, and wondered what would have happened if she had been killed like that, along with her mother. Her father would have been devastated, surely.
What would have happened to everyone else around her, if she hadn't been there?
Maybe a stronger person would have been put on Sasuke's team and would have been able to stop him from leaving in the first place.
Maybe Naruto would never have made any friends and would have grown up like Gaara.
But that didn't really matter. After all, she was there.
How many lives would that little girl have influenced? How many people might she have changed in her lifetime?
Would she have been a kunoichi, like her mother?
But she would have been a good kunoichi. A great and powerful ally of Konoha.
Maybe she would have been an actress.
I always wanted to be an actress. Sakura thought to herself, they are always so perfect and beautiful. They get all their lines and everyone loves them…and they get to pretend and play dress-up for a living. I always wanted to do that when I was a little girl.
Maybe she would have been a singer.
I never would have been able to do that, even if I had wanted to. I can't carry a tune.
Sakura's mind was so filled up with 'maybes' and 'what ifs' that it just made her cry even harder. She sobbed into her blanket, which she wrapped tightly around herself.
Maybe…she would have been best friends with Atsuko.
Wouldn't that have been nice?Sakura would have continued berating herself, if the door hadn't opened.
Itachi walked inside as usual, a little bit surprised to see Sakura actually awake. She was sobbing heavily, and she had tensed when the door opened, but she didn't look up at him.
"You're awake."
"How observant of you, Itachi-san." Sakura's voice was muffled and clogged, as if she were having difficulty speaking.
Itachi realized she was upset over something, but he didn't believe it was still that little clay puppy. Even Sakura wasn't weak enough to dwell on that for so long.
"How is your chakra supply?"
Sakura closed her eyes with a small sigh, sniffling. She gave a sad laugh. Your eyes, right? How did I know? I mean, it's not as if you would come in here to make sure I was doing ok and ask me why I was sad or anything.
"I don't have enough chakra to heal your eyes." She whispered.
"Hn."
Sakura felt a small weight shift as Itachi sat on the corner of the bed. She finally asked another question that had been bothering her. "Did you read the scroll?"
"Hn."
Sakura sighed deeply, seeing that no response was going to come from him. Oh god Itachi, please don't be like this right now. I need…I need something. I need you to show me one more time that you actually have a heart.
…I want you to kiss me.
…please…
Sakura let go of her knees, shifting on the bed so she was seated next to him like she normally would sit. She placed her hands in her lap. "I said I don't have enough chakra to heal them, but I can try anyway."
Maybe then…maybe then something will happen. Oh please…
Itachi watched her for a moment, before nodding.
"Very well."
Sakura lifted her fingertips to his eyes and he closed them, just like she had told him to do every other time she had healed his eyes. She sent a small, miniscule amount of healing chakra into him, just enough to give him a feel of it, to make it look like perhaps she was doing something.
She studied his face.
He looked so much like Sasuke it hurt.
No, different, older. But still…the resemblance was terrifying.
If I couldn't heal Itachi's eyes, he would kill me, wouldn't he? It is strange, how important my life is to both Uchiha brothers, until both of them get what they want.
Then, it won't matter anymore.
I'll be forgotten.
…like I had never existed.
Sakura traveled his strong jaw with her hand, cupping his cheek with a sad smile. I wonder, I wonder what it's like to be loved by him like a man loves a woman. That one time…that will never count. I want to know…I want to know what it feels like. I think Itachi is the only person who can ever show me that. Sakura didn't even know she was doing it until she felt Itachi's eyes on her.
"Sakura?"
Sakura blinked, looking into his eyes. She didn't blush, and she didn't pull away. She merely watched him, her own eyes full of tears, though she was quickly blinking them away. Her gaze traveled to his lips.
His kisses were always so…invigorating. They seemed to give her life. They made her toes tingle.
Itachi more felt than saw her gaze, burning into him and centered on his lips. He could feel her slightly heightened, quicker breaths.
She resisted the urge to touch his lips and feel the softness of him. She wondered how much longer he would merely sit there. He watched her stoically, but she felt a small confusion come from him, as if he didn't understand her motive behind all of this.
Is there a motive?
Yes. I do think there is.
I want your love, Itachi. I want to know what it feels like to be held in your arms. That's my motive. Sakura slowly reached out to him once more, placing her hands on his chest.
Itachi almost jerked at the contact, feeling her cool hands on his hot skin even through his shirt, trailing along his chest.
"Itachi…" Sakura whispered desperately, her hands gripping his shirt as she buried her face in his chest, not able to hold back her sobs any longer. "Please…"
Itachi stared down at her, unsure, for once, of what to do. He continued to watch her. He felt her breath hot against his neck.
"Please, take away the pain."
Itachi saw the vulnerability in her eyes, the fragility in her body as she shook with her sobs, the sleeping yukata slipping off of her shoulders.
She's so vulnerable.
"I need this Itachi…" She whispered, closing her eyes as the tears drifted from beneath her closed eyelids.
"Make love to me and make me forget everything else."
…
…
…
I would be taking advantage of her.
…
…
…
"No."
Sakura looked up at him, but he had already stood.
"What do you mean?" Sakura whispered hoarsely. She stared at him incredulously.
"I said no, Sakura. I won't sleep with you."
Sakura blinked, wondering at his words. The lonely tears in her eyes now turned to tears of anger and disappointment as she cried out. "Why are you being so selfish?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed.
Sakura continued between sobs as she stared at him. It all just seemed to rush out of her, angry, hurt words. "Why can't you make me happy for once?" She barely even knew what she was saying as she gripped her arms, digging her fingernails into her pale skin. "You know I left behind my entire life for you! I know that sounds stupid right now—I know I probably sound weak to you—but that's how I feel!"
She stopped herself as she gave a small, forlorn sob as she choked out the last part. "Obviously you don't feel the same so you can just…so you can just leave."
He watched her, and for once Sakura saw that his emotions were warring with one another. He didn't spare her another glance as he hurriedly left the room and shut the door behind him with a definite click. I thought you wanted me to be a gentleman, Sakura.
That's the last time I listen to that weak little voice inside of my head.
Sakura stared after him, not quite comprehending. He had left. Just like that. Like she had wanted him to. But in reality, she hadn't. She continued watching the shut door, hearing his footsteps fade away.
"He…left." Sakura whispered.
Then she gave way to sobs once more.
She finally wiped them away, slipping out of bed. "If you won't help me forget, Itachi…I know something that can." She hurried down the hall to the kitchen.
That was where all the sake was.
Deidara was walking down the hallway when he heard a loud thump from the kitchen. He frowned as he walked inside, and froze at what he saw.
Kisame, as usual, was sprawled out halfway on the table, sake and beer bottles littering the ground and counters around him. He was snoring loudly.
But seated opposite him at the table, staring into space, was Sakura.
"You're awake yeah." Deidara looked over at her with a smile. She didn't seem to notice him. He slowly walked over, sitting down beside her. "Are you feeling better, kitten?"
Sakura blinked. Kitten? She turned her head slightly to the side and saw Deidara, his face etched in worry. She couldn't help but smile through her tears.
Deidara…a true friend.
He'd help me.
I love him, I know he'd help me.
Sakura reached out a hand to touch his face. "You're the only one who cares…" She whispered gruffly. "Did you know that?"
"Sakura-chan?"
Her shoulders shook as she stared up at him through her tears. "No one else does. I'm so alone, Deidara. Please, don't let me be alone anymore."
Sakura…Deidara almost started at their nearness, as he felt Sakura press herself up against him.
"You're my best friend, Deidara. The only person who I care about here." She whispered fervently, her tears soaking his shirt.
"It's alright, yeah. Don't worry, I'm here for you." Deidara faltered as his arms hesitantly went around her, wondering if he was doing the right thing. After a few moments he managed to rock her back and forth, though his arms trembled slightly.
"Without you…I think I would have died."
Deidara almost stopped holding onto her as he looked down in surprise. "Nani?"
"Deidara…" Sakura looked up at him, her face sincere.
"…I love you."
Then she closed her eyes and pressed her lips against his.
Deidara let out a small gasp as he hurriedly kissed her back, holding her closer to him. Sakura? Is this really you? Are you…are you serious, yeah?
She tastes even sweeter than before.
Oh god.
Deidara's hands played with her hair as Sakura's arms went around his neck. She breathed in his ear, whispering. "Deidara…do you love me?"
"Of course I do, kitten." Deidara managed as he held her even tighter, one arm going around her waist. He couldn't believe this was real, that it was really happening. It felt so strange. So…dreamlike.
If this was a dream he never wanted to wake up.
Sakura's breath was hot on his neck as she played with his hair. Then she looked up at him again, and this time it was Deidara who kissed her.
He picked her up in his arms, reveling in how light she was as he carried her to his bedroom.
Neither of them came up for breath until they were on Deidara's bed, Sakura lying on her back and Deidara beside her, leaning on his elbow as he watched her in amazement.
Sakura's hands roved over his chest, beneath his shirt. His own hands played with her sleeping yukata, untying the sash expertly. She felt a small draft as it slid open, and Deidara began weaving kisses down her neck.
She let out a small gasp.
"Deidara."
Deidara closed his eyes as he heard her whisper his name, before he began undoing her bra. Her hands were tugging at his pants, pulling them down past his hips.
Deidara looked down at her, for a moment lost in the worship of her body.
I'll never forget this night Sakura.
He loomed over her, kissing her heatedly as she pulled him down on top of her.
And I'll never forget how beautiful you are.
Sakura blinked, her eyes opening sleepily. She peered past her eyelashes, to the open doorway. She frowned slightly as she saw the picture of red clouds. Who was at her door? She looked up from the cloak and stopped.
Itachi was standing there, but she had never seen him like that before. The small, contented smile on her face seemed to fade as she looked up into his eyes. No Sharingan. But they blazed with something else. Something Sakura had never thought to see in his eyes.
Behind the cool façade, behind the strength, was a pain and hurt that was almost blinding. Sakura's brows furrowed, but Itachi's eyes merely narrowed as he shut the door with a definite click. He might as well have slammed it.
What's wrong with him? And why do I have such a headache? Sakura thought with a groan as she shifted underneath the blankets. Her eyes widened. If Itachi was not there…then whose arm was holding her around her waist, pulling her against a warm, strong chest?
The pillow and blankets didn't smell like her own. It smelled strangely like Deidara…
Oh my god!
Sakura jumped out of the bed, throwing the covers back and dashing across the room, her breathing heavy.
Deidara opened his eyes sleepily. "Good morning kitten, yeah."
"What is going on!?!?!" Sakura yelled out in a panic, looking down at her bare body. She needed her clothes. This had to be a dream…this had to be… She grabbed her underwear and bra, slipping them on hurriedly.
"What do you mean?" Deidara sat up on the bed, the blanket pooling around his waist, giving her a good view of his chest. But Sakura wasn't paying him any attention.
"What happened?" Sakura whispered fervently, throwing on her sleeping yukata. "My god what happened!?"
Deidara's brows furrowed in confusion, but he gave her a small, teasing smile. "You mean you don't remember, yeah?"
Sakura shook her head furiously, sliding down to the ground, clutching her still aching head. "No. I don't."
Deidara frowned. "What do you mean you don't remember, yeah?"
"I don't remember, ok!?" Sakura clenched her eyes shut, racking her brain for any memories. Anything to tell her what had just happened. The images were blurry, faint. She remembered talking with Deidara, that much she could still see. Then everything went black as their lips met.
Oh. My. God.
And Itachi…he saw me in bed with Deidara…oh no…oh nononononono…
"Deidara…" Sakura whispered, looking up at him, tears in her eyes.
"…I was drunk…"
"What?" Deidara let out a small laugh. "Drunk, yeah?" What kind of joke is my little kitten playing?
"Deidara I'm so sorry…I don't know how it got out of hand. I never meant for this to happen."
"What are you trying to say, yeah?"
"Anything that happened last night, between you and me. I don't know what happened but I know why. It's because I was drunk out of my mind." Kisame level drunk. She thought offhandedly, though the thought didn't stick. She was too panicked.
"This isn't funny anymore, kitten, yeah."
"It never was funny, Deidara!" Sakura yelled out. "I was drunk and you took advantage of that, even if you didn't know it."
"What do you mean?" Deidara's eyes narrowed. "Do you mean to tell me that everything that happened last night…was just because of some drinks?" Please no, Sakura. Don't do this to me, yeah.
"Not the words…they were true." Sakura whispered out, tears clogging her eyes. "I meant those."
"How do I know those weren't just said because you were drunk, yeah!" Deidara shot back. "And here you've been leading me on to believe that I was more to you than a simple friend, yeah."
"When have I EVER told you that you were more to me than a friend!?" Sakura finally stood, watching him through angry, desperate tears. "Don't you dare put this on me!"
"Then why did you let me kiss you, yeah?"
"Because you are the closest person in the world to me!" Sakura wailed out. "Can't you see that? It's true that I was drunk last night, but I still wouldn't have slept with just anyone. If it had been anyone else…I would have said no."
"But because you knew I'd be putty in your hands you chose me, yeah." Deidara snapped out.
Sakura flinched at his words. "Deidara…don't do this. You're not acting like yourself. You know that's not true. You were the only person I could reach out to…"
"..the truth is, Deidara. I'm all alone here. Completely and utterly alone…"
Deidara stared at Sakura's forlorn state, seeing her look up at him with tear filled eyes. His emotions were warring with each other.
I loved her.
Do I still love her?
What can I do now?
Things will never be the same.
…
…
…
"I'm not surprised, yeah."
Sakura felt his words stab through her, and they hurt deeply. She closed her eyes and let them seep in, believing she deserved it. She hurriedly stood, rushing out of the room and out of the temple, sobbing as she went.
Deidara felt a wave of regret hit him, but he ignored it. He couldn't go back on his words now. His fingers trembled in anger as he busied himself with putting his pants back on. As strange as it was, it was the only thing he could think of to do.
He stepped out of his room, with a small frown. He was about to go back inside when Kisame's door flew off the hinges, slamming into the wall opposite it.
"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO MY KITTEN, DEIDARA!?!?!?!?!?!"
Sasori opened his door slowly, seeing Kisame and Deidara throwing harsh words back and forth. I knew this would happen, Deidara. I told you many times to distance yourself from her.
You brought this upon yourself.
And you've hurt Haruno-san in the process.
(A/N: Poor Deidara! He's so heartbroken! And poor Itachi! Oh man, this can't be good. But I think we should be more worried for Sakura! She's the one that can't understand anything that's happening, and now both of them are mad at her for something she didn't really have any control over. Sigh. I hope no one thinks she's a hoe or anything, because she isn't, you know.
I almost felt guilty when I was writing the small Deidara/Sakura lemony-ish scene, because it was so sweet. But, as I have said to a few people, I really love Deidara and Sakura together too. (And for anyone who wants me to write an alternate ending to this story with Sakura and Deidara paired together after I finish with the initial Itachi and Sakura ending, I will either send it to them or just put it in as another little story, starting it off at some random chapter. It depends on how many people want this) So if you want a DeiSaku alternate ending, just let me know.
Well, the next chapter is going to be kind of edgy and raw, since everyone's angry. Except Sasori. He's as calm as ever.
There is some forgiveness in the next chapter, by who I'm not going to tell you. You'll just have to wait.
And don't worry, all of you who were itching for an actual all out fight between Itachi and Deidara. Sometime later in this story, I have no doubt it will happen…no doubt at all.
Until next time, see ya!
Lady HanakaQuote: Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.)