AN: Sorry this took so long to get up guys, but, as you will see, many things will happen. Plus, I've also been working on another multi-chap story - a team 7 time travel one as some of you may know, and that on top of RL is taking up my time. Thanks to Broken Reveries, pussifoot and Guest for your reviews :)

Flowers of Annihilation

Sakura sits on her bed, tossing the kunai up and down, up and down.

For a moment, the moon emerges from behind the clouds, splattering the room with light. The rays reflect off her kunai, making the walls opposite her dance.

Beside her, Itachi watches the muted TV, honing his lip-reading skills.

Sakura glances at the clock – 1:05. In the morning.

"Can we sleep now?" she asks again.

"No."

Sakura frowns and places her kunai down, grabbing some shuriken instead.

"Now?"

"No."

Sakura sighs, leaning back into the bed. Her eyes are drooping shut already – and her body's screaming at her to sleep. God knows what Itachi's thinking, making an injured person like her stay up all night.

She inspects the shuriken, the metal muted.

"It feels very similar," she says, "What is it? Aluminium? Steel? What were our kunai made up of anyway?"

"It's an alloy," Itachi says, "I got them made especially for you, according to the ones made in Konoha."

"That's nice," she comments.

"It was practical," he says flatly. "You had neither the time nor the energy to adapt to the new metals used in such weapons today."

"Mm?"

"The ones the majority of Akatsuki use today are lighter ones, using a blend discovered around a hundred years ago. The metal makes the weapons lighter, but similarly weighted and the rust-"

Suddenly, both freeze.

"A chakra signature," Sakura says blankly. Itachi simply nods.

"Do you know who it is?"

Itachi pauses. "I have my guesses."

"Aa," Sakura nods. "It's Sasuke isn't it."

"…yes."

Sakura stands up, letting the covers fall off her before she takes a sit down next to Itachi.

"What does he want?" she murmurs softly. "Can you at least tell me that?"

Itachi purses his lips, eyes steeled on the window.

"Give me a warning," Sakura pleads. "What are we expecting? Please. He was my teammate too. I-"

"Love him," Itachi grits. "Yes. I know."

"Loved him," she corrects softly.

Itachi continues to stare firmly at the window before he lets out a soft sigh.

"He'll be angry," he finally says, "But it's not what he thinks. It's not what-"

"I think either," Sakura finishes, a wry smile on her face. "Yeah. I know."

She takes a deep breath and inhales the night air, letting her breath go softly before repeating the process, steadying her heartbeat as Sasuke's chakra signature continues flaring closer.

"He's not suppressing his chakra," Sakura observes, "He knows we're expecting him." Then she pauses, shooting a sidelong glance at Itachi. "Why?"

"He's an Uchiha," Itachi says, eyes never leaving the open window. "He has the same suspicions as I do."

"An Uchiha…" Sakura muses softly. "The Uchiha sure have a lot of secrets."

"…maybe not because of that," Itachi says quietly before his eyes finally leave the window and find hers. "Maybe it's because he knows you."

Sakura's mouth opens, and closes, and opens again.

"I-"

Itachi whirls around.

"He's here," he says, swallowing harshly.

"You're scared," Sakura whispers. I'm scared.

"I have a feeling I know what he's going to say… what this is going to lead to."

Sakura turns to face him, but before she can ask him to elaborate a shadow falls over their room. Sasuke is here.

"Hi," Sakura whispers.

"Sakura," Sasuke addresses harshly,"Aniki."

"Why are you here?" Itachi asks patiently.

"Give me Suigetsu," he hisses, "I know you have him."

Sakura's head snaps up.

"What? No! You have him."

"No," Sasuke repeats, "I don't. You have him. You have to have him." He's beginning to look frenzied and his eyes are wide and trembling. He looks as if his sharingan is going to burst through any minute.

"We don't," Sakura repeats pleadingly. "We really don't. But where is he then? We have to find him-"

"No," Sasuke spits harshly, "You have to have him. You have to have him. Don't lie to me Sakura, not now, not like this. Sakura-"

"We don't have him," Itachi cuts in. Sasuke begins to tremble, fists clenching around the edges of the window.

"Sasuke," Sakura breathes. She leans forward and pulls him forward. Sasuke stares up at her beseechingly, for a second with the vulnerability of the bumbling genin she knew all those years ago. But it disappears just as quickly and he stumbles forward onto a chair, head bowed in his hands.

"No," he echoes brokenly. "Where is he then? I have to find him. No no no no no. He has to be alright. He has to be. I can't – it's my fault he's-"

And the guilt hits Sakura so hard that she stumbles back onto the bed. Tears are beginning to drip through Sasuke's fingers, and the sight is so heartbreaking that Sakura too begins to cry.

"These years have broken us," Itachi echoes emptily.

"He's in pain," Sasuke breathes shakily, "And so is Karin. And it's all my fault. My fault-"

"Yes," Itachi bites, uncharacteristically sharp. Sasuke recoils, as if he's been struck. No longer does he look like an Avenger. Instead, Sakura sees the little boy of six craving the approval of his brother.

"It is your fault," Itachi repeats, but Sakura can see tears glistening in his eyes too. "But not Suigetsu. No. I think he's in a happier place."

Sasuke's head shoots up, eyes wide. In a flash he stands up, striding forward to his brother before peering into his eyes.

"You mean – you think as well that he-"

"I do," Itachi says, and his voice shakes with an emotion that Sakura can't pinpoint. "I do."

And then Sasuke whirls onto Sakura and asks in the most vulnerable voice she's heard-

"Did you save him?"

Sakura opens her mouth to answer – I don't know what you're talking about! – but then suddenly her vision swarms, and it feels like she's having a vision all over again-

Except this time it's not a vision. It's a memory.

"I am no one," the doctor says, "I am everyone. But who I am does not matter. What do you want, child?"

"To escape," Sakura replies automatically, "To die. To be free."

And then he smiles.

"You never did belong here. It was never meant to be you."

Then, he leans over and clasps her hands in his.

"Your hands have the power," he says quietly. "Use them. They who brought you here will bring you out."

Sakura's eyes snap open. The two Uchiha brothers stare at her steadily, all knowing and sad.

"I think I know what you mean," Sakura says hollowly. Then she takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, reaching inside her mind, her own soul.

She thinks of the medical officer who was no one and everyone. She thinks of Ino's body lying in the coffin, a flower chain in her hair. She thinks of growing up in Tokyo, and learning English. She thinks of Team 7, and the mission to Wave. She thinks of getting her first iPhone. She thinks of getting her hitai-ite. She thinks of the ninja world, of Water, Earth, Lightning, Fire and Wind. She thinks of earth, and Asia, Australia, America, Europe, Africa. She thinks of Inner, and she thinks of her own time as Inner.

And when she opens her eyes again, she knows.

Trembling, Itachi reaches forward and brushes her hair back.

The Strength of a Hundred Seal shines brightly back.

"You're the key," Sasuke laughs bitterly, "The key to the new world. If by your hand we die… we die."

"Properly," Itachi agrees vacantly, mesmerised with her seal.

"How much chakra is in there?" Sasuke asks, desperate, pleading.

"Not enough," Sakura breathes, "Not fucking enough. I'll need much more to release us-"

"Can't you just kill us?" Sasuke cuts in. "It worked for Suigetsu."

"Yes," Sakura says, "But it'll hurt. It'll feel like the jutsu was originally supposed to feel like – tearing you apart before sticking you back together. And you'll be able to feel it!If I use the seal it'll be painless, quick, and don't you want to go together?"

But then Sasuke is in front of her. His eyes catch hers and he stares, pleadingly and brokenly. Slowly, he reaches up and cups her cheek.

"I can't wait," he whispers. "Please. This has been torture enough."

Sakura shakes her head. "What are you saying? What are you asking?"

She's nearly in hysterics, but Sasuke's still in front of her, comforting yet broken. Behind him, Itachi turns away resolutely, a few tears splattering onto the floor.

"Kill me," Sasuke says.

And then Sakura bursts into tears, and then Sasuke's tearing up too, and behind them Itachi suffers silently, chokingly.

"I can't. I can't I can't."

"Please," Sasuke repeats, "I can't deal with this anymore."

Sakura breaks away from his hold, shaking her head as she repeats – "No. No no no no no. I can't. I can't."

"Sakura," Sasuke says softly, and then his lips curve up into a shaky smile. "You're annoying."

And then Sakura chokes up further and the pain fills her up, those wasted years where he was off with Orochimaru and she was off with Konoha and who knows what could have happened?

And then Itachi suddenly says – "Do it."

Sakura whirls around. But Itachi stands away from them, back to the wall.

"Aniki…" Sasuke whispers.

"Do it," Itachi repeats. "End his suffering."

Then he turns around and he's smiling and crying at the same fucking time-

Sasuke steps forward and in a second the brothers are embracing, choked with empty sobs.

"I love you," Itachi whispers, "I love you I love you I love you."

And Sasuke breaks down even harder and the tears are streaming down his face. "Thank you," he says, choking on his words, "Thank you. I love you too aniki. I love you too. Thank you so much. I- I've missed you."

And then Itachi pulls back and taps him on the forehead with two fingers and walks out the door.

Sasuke falls to his knees as his brother walks away, unable to watch his execution.

Sakura collapses next to him and the two sob – sob for an ending. A real ending.

"Do it," Sasuke finally manages to say.

"Alright," Sakura agrees wobbly, giving him a half-hearted smile filled with pain and regret and old love. "A-any last words?"

Sasuke stands up and pushes his shoulders back. "Kill me the shinobi way. I want to die honourably. And- and find Juugo after me. He deserves his own ending."

"Alright," Sakura whispers, "Alright."

And then she stands up too and looks once more at the boy she loved and lost-

"Goodbye Sasuke," she whispers.

Then she draws her fist back and punches.

Sasuke recoils back, blood spurting out of his mouth and all over her arm.

But then he smiles, his lips stained with blood.

"Sakura…" he croaks, "Thank you."

And then he dies.

"Your hands have the power. Use them. They who brought you here will bring you out."

Sakura pulls out a kunai and presses it against her neck. A few drops of blood begin to fall.

She could end it now.

She could end all of this now.

But then her grip falters. She can't do this. Not without freeing everyone else first. The pain she would put them through just to take the quick, easy way out herself.

Disgusted, she throws the kunai onto the ground and leaps out the window, leaving behind a disappearing body of Uchiha Sasuke and a room full of blood and fingerprints.

Sakura pulls her hoodie over her pink hair and walks back to her apartment in the rain.

She doesn't know where Itachi is – he's suppressing his chakra – and that can only mean he doesn't want to be found.

It's no wonder though, Sakura thinks grimly, she's just killed his little brother.

But at least Sasuke has peace now, right?

Sakura sighs. She doesn't know anything.

Sakura steels herself and straightens her back. The rain begins to pound down harder. It's probably only two something in the morning now anyway. She should go back to her apartment.

No.

She should find Juugo first. He has no one, now that Sasuke's gone. He deserves his own ending.

Sakura stops in her tracks.

But where could he be?

Sasuke's house? Does he live by himself? There's no way she can feel his chakra – he probably has it completely suppressed with the way Akatsuki are chasing him.

But if not Sasuke's house then where? What does Juugo even enjoy doing?

She curses Sasuke in her head half-heartedly. Couldn't he have at least left her some clue? How would she even get to Juugo?

And then she realises.

Of course! Akatsuki had had the exact same problem! And how did they overcome it?

Deidara blew up the Opera House.

Okay, Sakura chides herself, not something that big. But something that will get widespread exposure. But then I'll need to prove I'm trustworthy. How can I do that? Troublesome…

Her phone beeps.

Sakura quickly fumbles around in her pockets, trying to find the device.

Beep beep. Beep beep.

Finally she finds it in the deep recesses of her jacket. She quickly pulls it out and checks it – Ino.

Sakura quickly ducks under the shelter of a bus stop and answers.

"Hey Ino," she says quietly.

"Sakura! Hey, look. I'm at the Hotel Inn Express and I was checking security footage. You're in it."

Sakura immediately stiffens, on guard.

"Yes?" she asks cautiously.

"Except," Ino says carefully, "You and Itachi told me you were together. In his house. Two hours away."

Sakura opens her mouth to answer, then closes it again, having no idea what to say.

Finally, she settles with – "What are you suggesting?"

Ino pauses. Sakura can hear her breathing heavily through the sound of rain.

"A boy went missing there Sakura. Hozuki Suigetsu. Twenty five. Silver hair. Sound familiar?"

"No," Sakura says, uncharacteristically sharp.

"You're also not seen leaving," Ino says quietly. "But yet you were clearly gone. How did you get out?"

Sakura stays silent, no idea how to answer her.

"Sakura," Ino pleads, "Tell me what's going on. What have you gotten yourself into? Is it Deidara? If it is you have to tell me. I can help. And Itachi? Where is he? I've called him but he's not answering. Are you even safe? Is that rain I here outside? Sakura are you-"

Ino silences and Sakura can hear the muffled voice of someone talking to your friend.

"…really." Ino says icily.

More muffled talking on the other side.

"Ha." She spits. "Sakura," she says. "I've got to go. There's another case. You better tell me what's going on."

And then she hangs up.

Another case… Sakura thinks. And then – Sasuke! Sasuke's disappearance!

There won't be any body for them to find in the room – oh my god. Ino will probably go to her room to check up on her. And that's where she'll find lots of blood – even if Sasuke's body is disappeared – and her fingerprints are all over the scene.

Sakura crushes her phone in her hand. Ino will probably be able to track it. Shit. Now she's got a full police squad on her tail. They'll find out sooner or later. What she needs to do now is go back to her apartment, and grab some cash.

She'll need it to survive, to go and find Juugo and gather the rest of Akatsuki.

Pursing her lips grimly, she runs out of the bus shelter. The rain is pounding down now, up to the point it completely obscures her vision.

Good, Sakura thinks, that means that no one else can see her either.

Then she pushes chakra to her feet and runs.

It's around five in the morning now, and Sakura has been trekking the long way back to her apartment for two hours.

The sun's beginning to come up but the street is still empty, water pooling in the crevices from the heavy rain the night before.

Suddenly, the payphone in front of her rings.

Sakura pauses before she instinctively reaches out with her chakra, searching for other people around her. But then she remembers that no one else has chakra.

Sighing, she settles for looking around, but she sees nothing.

But she pulls up the head of her hoodie anyway, obscuring her face momentarily before she performs a quick henge. When the hoodie drops back down, she has brown hair and blue eyes.

The payphone is still ringing so Sakura takes a gamble and answers it.

"Hello?"

"Sakura."

Sakura groans. "Seriously? Kakuzu? You gave me a fucking heart attack! I thought you were the enemy!"

Silence on the other line.

"I called you for a reason," Kakuzu finally says. "The SWAT team are onto you. Headed by Danzou. I'm sure you remember him from your old life? He's the same. And they're around five minutes away."

And suddenly, Sakura can hear the sirens and is that a helicopter?

"Kakuzu! What do I do? What do they even want me for? I- I have to find Juugo and-"

"Stop talking to me. Run."

AN: So... Sasuke died. Yep. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, leave me a review and tell me what you think. I've just updated two stories and I have all these MIXED FEELINGS it's killing me aaahhh. Love you guys :)