Chapter 10

Kakashi woke up. He was in a pain from lying on the ground. He sat up and looked around. " What the hell?" He was completely alone. He stood up gingerly, looking for a sign of Sasuke. He was nowhere to be found. A small paper caught his eye. He bent down to pick it up. He sensed no presense. No birds. It was all quiet. A feat that was nearly impossible. This unnerved him. He grabbed the paper and went to cover.

When he was sure it was safe, he read the paper. It was from Sasuke. It contained only a small message, Stay the hell away from my village. but it stunned him and made him realize that things were about to get even more disturbing as the darkness settled over the town.

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Sasuke raced through the town toward his village. He had to be quick, or it would be too late. It was already too late not to alert the villagers as he raced through the town. The Hyuugas were awake and alert. An unfortunate predicament when he had to go through it to get to his own destruction. He immediately shook the though away. No. No way would he ever succumb to his brother again. He hid in the shadows as the village elders searched for the intruders. Patience was key, but he was out of patience. But he could do nothing about it as her waited for the coast to clear.

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"If I do this, we can't ever see each other again." He held her as he gripped the kunai with a trembling hand. She nodded.

" If I can't see you, but you don't erase my memories. I don't want to live anymore. Not with the pain of you ripping my heart out." She steadied his hand on the kunai and brought it to her heart. She gazed at him. Waiting. He turned away from that fact. This was killing him.

" What if I agree? What if I erase your memories. Will you let me let you live?" He was pleading now. He knew it was low, but the thought of plunging the blade into her was shredding his sanity.

" She lifted her eyes to him. There was a sadness to his eyes. He didn't wasnt to let her go, but he would have to leave and she wouldn't see him again.

" Please.." He whispered. " Please don't make me do this." She sighed. Content.

" Itachi.." She raised herself to his ear. He was trembling. " Itachi, I love you." Without giving him time to think she kissed him as she shoved the blade home.

Sakura came awake with a jolt. A scream emanted from her lips. Hands swiftly caught her up. She felt safe then. But why? She looked up only to gaze into the shadowed depths of those red eyes. " Itachi." She said quietly. His breath caught in his throat. He nodded, a shadow of a smile lightening his lips.

She unconsciously rubbed the scar on her chest. "You wouldn't do it." She mused. "Of all the people in this world. You wouldn't release me." She turned into him so she could face him. " Why wouldn't you release me?" A mixture of agony and frustration flitted across his face.

" Because I couldn't let you go. You, the one my brother wanted, who should've taken you away, didn't. I didn't want to be trhe one to destroy you too. You have no idea what you did to me when you stabbed yourself. The agony...." He stopped as a tremor of fear and pain of seeing her bleeding in his arms and not being able to stop the bleeding. " What I went through to keep you alive. The price I paid to keep you in the dark until I couldn't take being away anymore." His gaze bore into hers.

She was held captivated by him. She realized he had been crying. Hiding them so she wouldn't see him as weak. She drew him closer. Comforting him. He froze slightly, not sure what to do. " Let it go, Itachi. It's okay. I'm here now." He couldn't take it anymore. With a rush he held her and laid her on the bed. He held her to him. The tears flowed freely now.

" Don't ever do that again. Don't you ever leave me alone. " She lay with him, happy that she was finally back where she belonged.

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Sasuke had watched the entire thing. he was seething with rage now. It had taken too long to get past the villages to get back here. The flag had been restored as well as her memories. He clenched and unclenced his fists. How dare he take a liking to the one her had left in this world. Itachi had taken everything from him. And now it was time for redemption. He silently stalked into the building next to it and waited for the right opportunity.

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Kakashi raced past the hyuugas, not wanting to be late. He had figured it out. Sasuke was on the move and the silence would be broken come morning. He needed time that wasn't there. He had only one shot at this and If it din't work, they were all screwed. As he ran he called out to the sky.

If you valuve you her life, you will listen to me. You are in extreme danger. Run.

- to be continued-