AN: Okay there are a few important announcements I have to make. Before those, I'm going to apologize in advance for any mistakes/confusion with this chapter. It is late and I'm tired. I tried to proofread…I really did….

Okay, onto the announcements.

I've completely changed the way this story is going to go. Surprise! But…I think you'll like it because it means there will be a sequel to this story. I really hadn't intended for there to be but there's no way I can accomplish what I want to in one story.

I've decided the next multi-chaptered fic I'll be writing. It's going to be a DeidaraXSarura! Thanks for everyone who pitched in. I've already got the premise figured out, but I won't start writing until after this and Blue Jays are done. Then I will focus on the DeiXSaku story as well as completing The First Time. Sometime after those are well on their way, I'll start a GaaraXSakura fic at some point…and then the sequel to this will find its way up as I've already pretty much figured out the premise for that as well.

I've decided on two short stories I'm going to drabble with when I find my multi-chaptered fics difficult. The first is a ShisuiXSakura story. I never even considered the pairing until y'all suggested it. I tried reading some ShisuiXSakura fanfics and realized that there really weren't any. I'll change that! And I kinda like the pairing anyway… It won't be long 3-5 chapters max, but I think you'll like it. My idea for it is a little weird and out there but I think you'll like it. The second one I'll be dipping into is a NejiXSakura prequel to this story. I think it'd be fun to elaborate on their story before Sakura falls for Itachi.

Okay that's all for now. Hopefully I'll have an update for Blue Jays and The First Time at some point in the near future. For now, though, goodnight!

Please review!

Nothing but the Truth

Chapter 12: The Poison of Life

"Remorse is the poison of life."

-Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

Tsunade-sama,

Reached Lightning Country,

Attacked by Uchiha Itachi and his partner, Kisame.

No fatalities – just enough injuries to slow us for a few days as they separated us all. The only ones not separated were I and Ino Yamanaka. Several false trails laid with Sakura's chakra signature on it. Determining which one is the real one and then we will proceed. All signs point to diversion, not violence.

Neji.

His furious pen scribbled the note and he tied it to the messenger hawk. His face was devoid of emotions, but internally he was raging. I will find you, Sakura.

X

Sakura wouldn't have overthought it. No, she wouldn't have spent the last week thinking about what had happened. However, the next morning, Itachi and Kisame were gone – apparently on a mission – leaving Sakura with Deidara and the recently returned Tobi. Now the kunoichi had nothing but time and all she could do was think about it.

What was it? The Uchiha had shown some open affection towards her. That was the only way she could describe it – it wasn't the teasing contact he had made after their little mission to bend her to his will. It was real contact. The closeness of their bodies, the way his hand went to her hip, the chaste kiss on her forehead – they were all open displays of affection. But why? Hell, if she remembered correctly, she had hated the Uchiha a few weeks ago. Where did that go? oh yeah, out the door with everything else she knew when she discovered the truth about the Uchiha clan massacre. Sakura shook her head lightly as she sat in her room, three books lay unapologetically abandon on her nightstand. Itachi had essentially told her not to overthink it.

So if this were anyone else in the entire world, what would the signs point to on the most basic human levels? Sakura couldn't help but think of her first real date with Neji – she didn't count the mission they had just returned from. It had taken Neji two weeks after that mission was completed for him to ask her out for real. It had been a relatively normal date for two people who were essentially complete opposites. After dinner and a quiet stroll through the park, Neji led her home. Sakura had braced herself for a kiss – what she wanted since it had been a pleasurable evening – but Neji had placed an innocent kiss on her forehead instead and departed for the Hyuuga compound. At first, the lack of kiss had offended her, but then she was just glad for the entire evening and that Neji hadn't wanted to rush anything.

It wasn't long before Neji had kissed her for real. By no means was it her first kiss, but Sakura still thought of it as her favorite. They had been training. After what seemed like hours of her avoiding his gentle fist technique and him running from trees that were being hurled at him, they collapsed on the ground in complete exhaustion. Neji was only a foot away from her and they just stared at each other for a few moments. Then, his hand rose towards her cheek and he brushed his thumb along her cheekbone lightly. An affectionate smile took his lips and his eyes flashed with amusement.

"You have dirt on your cheek," he said in a hushed, subdued voice. Then, he had pulled himself closer and cupped her cheek in his hand. She was laying on her back, still exhausted from the training, as he positioned himself next to her, looming over her a little, and leaned his head in – taking his lips in hers.

Sakura shot up in bed, trying to ignore the absolute agony her stomach was in at the memory. Perhaps thinking about Neji at a time like this was inappropriate.

So, back to analyzing the Uchiha, she decided. What did his actions mean at the most basic form of observation? He wanted to be close to her, and perhaps he even cared about her in non-platonic fashion. The thought made Sakura gasp out loud, but then shake her head at the ridiculous notion. From what she knew of the Uchiha, he didn't want to be close to anyone. Then again, what did she really know about him? Everything she had learned since coming to live with the Akatsuki told her that Itachi was much more complicated emotionally than what anyone else knew. He truly cared for his family, yet he was forced to kill them. All of his actions also pointed to the fact that he cared for Sasuke as well – he hadn't allowed her to kill his younger brother, for example.

Figuring out his motives and intentions was getting frustrating, Sakura decided. What was even worse was figuring out her own feelings, dammit. Itachi was stoic yet caring, devilishly handsome, an amazing shinobi, deceptively sensitive and compassionate. When he stares at her with such intensity, her entire body goes rigid except for her stomach, which does backflips at his attention. He's perfect, but he's still the enemy, technically. He is working for an organization that for all intents and purposes is trying to kill her best friend. That could put a damper on any repressed feelings.

A low grumble in the pit of her stomach halted her train of thoughts. Food: the perfect thing to get her mind off of Itachi. Pulling herself out of bed in one swift motion, she ran her hands through her hair and pat her clothes down, deeming herself presentable. As she exited and walked through the short corridor to the kitchen, she felt four familiar presences in the kitchen. Ah, they were home. Her entire body began to shake involuntarily as she honed in on one particular chakra point – Itachi. What would she say? How would she act? Sighing, she decided she would act normal – that's what he would be doing anyway.

She slid the shoji screen open to enter a room with palpable tension. Itachi was glaring – glaring – at Kisame, who looked quite ruffled himself, under the Uchiha's unwanted intense gaze. Deidara held his head in his hands lightly. Sakura wasn't sure what Tobi was thinking or feeling, but he did seem a little more rigid and stiff than usual.

"Hey, guys, how was the mission?" Sakura asked quietly, trying to feel out what was going on.

Itachi stood swiftly but didn't look at her. "Fine, you tell her," he practically hissed, and then he swept passed her without even sparing her a glance. Sakura felt her face flush and her entire body went firm at his cool demeanor. She had turned around to follow him out of the room when Kisame's voice stopped her.

"Wait," he ordered a little more sternly than he had meant to. "Sit down, Sakura. There's something we need to discuss with you."

"But Ita-," she began to protest.

Deidara finally lifted his head out of his hands to look at her with wary eyes. "He gets a little…temperamental this time of year," he explained. "Just leave him alone, yeah. It'll pass."

"Why?" Sakura asked reflexively. Kisame merely motioned for her to sit down at the kitchen table, which she did this time without objection.

"Ten years," he muttered. "Ten years ago tomorrow."

"Oh," Sakura replied, the comprehension visible on his face. "Tomorrow's the anniversary of the Uchiha clan massacre." In all of this mess, she had almost forgotten. Her body grew heavy with sadness and grief for Itachi. He was probably suffering so much.

"Hm," Kisame replied, inclining his head lightly. He knew this particular conversation was going to be a difficult one to get through. The kunoichi was volatile when provoked, and she has seemed to be in such an emotionally fragile state as of late. Additionally, it was only a week ago that she was attacked, beaten, and almost raped. Surely, she was not going to take this news lightly. What her reaction would be – he did not know. Itachi should be the one discussing this with her. He seemed to have an innate way of keeping her…less violent…when he explained things to her.

At first, Kisame had chalked it up to the fact that they were spending so much time together during their healing sessions. Then he'd caught the Uchiha looking at her in a certain way. It took him a little while to realize what it was but then he figured it out – his little teammate was smitten. There was no mistake or doubt about it – the soft, tender affection in Itachi's obsidian eyes was blatant to Kisame as they had been partners for so long. Itachi would never admit it, but his desire for the kunoichi was much more than just physical. No, he could not blame this all on normal male hormones like he usually did when Kisame caught him looking at women. Kisame almost laughed at the insinuation, but this was no time for jokes. Itachi really should be the one to explain this to Sakura as she is his captive…sort of.

"Itachi-san will get sad and stay in his room all day tomorrow," Tobi piped. "He usually doesn't come out for the entire day. Even to eat." Sakura merely nodded.

"So what does he want you to tell me?" she asked, turning the attention back to what she had heard when she first entered the room.

"He doesn't want us to tell you anything, yeah," Deidara snapped, clearly still annoyed with his previous interactions with the Uchiha. "That's what we were arguing about. 'It's none of her concern,' he said, 'Nothing will change her mind,' he said. He's so stupid."

Sakura was taken aback by Deidara's sudden vehemence. "Just tell me," she prodded lightly.

"When we captured you, we were given two options as to what to do with you. The first, I'm sure you know, is that we interrogate you, use you as bait for the kyuubi, and then kill you. That had been our original plan," Kisame explained. "But we kept you unaware of the other option for particular reasons…"

"What option?" Sakura asked, taken completely off guard by this conversation.

"Well," Kisame laughed a little, but it was hallowed and bitter. "You made your own damn option by offering to heal Itachi's eyes, but the Leader wanted us to recruit you to the Akatsuki."

Sakura's mind went blank as the news sunk in – the reaction: visceral and sudden. Sakura gasped, audibly gasped, and slammed her hands on the table before she could even think about her response. Now, however, she had not been forced to wear the chakra restraints (since they didn't really work on her anyway), and the table shattered into millions of shards under her fists. Sakura gasped again as she dropped to her knees in order to collect the shards. Everyone at the table just stared at her, stunned. "Sorry…" she muttered. "You just took me off guard…"

"It's okay, yeah," Deidara replied wispily, his eyes still wide with the display of force. "There are other tables around…"

"Sakura, sit down," Kisame ordered. Once again, it was sterner than he had intended. Sakura got up and took her place in her chair, not looking at any of them. She twiddled her thumbs nervously in her lap and her jade eyes peered at them as if her hands held all the earth's secrets. The news was slowly creeping its way through her brain and then it sunk down to her throat, causing an unwanted lump to form there. Then it fell to her heart that was pounding so loudly she thought she may be having an attack, her stomach dropped, and the news landed in her knees that were shaking lightly.

"That was unexpected…" she whispered, still not looking up.

"Clearly, yeah," Deidara replied with a smirk as his hands waved in front of him, gesturing towards the devastated table.

"Let me finish," Kisame hissed at Deidara, but he noticed it was Sakura that jumped. Clearly she was very on edge with this most recent development. "Like I said, you kind of changed everything around here, kid. You messed with the great Uchiha Itachi's plans -"

Sakura crinkled her nose. "What plans?" she retorted. Really, what had she changed in Itachi's life that dramatically?

"That's neither here nor there, now, though. You can ask him about that later. The point is that on our way home, we were summoned by our leader. So we went and talked with him, and he's an idiot, and brought up some very touchy subjects with Itachi while it's that time of the year," Kisame stopped to snicker a bit. He almost made Itachi sound like a menstruating female. The joke was lost on everyone else and he shook it off. "Anyway, Leader is getting impatient. He believes he has given you ample time to heal Itachi's eyes and heart, and he believes you to have ulterior motives. Therefore, he has given us a few options as of what to do with you-"

"I'm a human being, you know," Sakura snapped, her eyes turning indignant and her arms crossing her chest in defiance. "Despite what your Leader says, I have my own options."

"You're not human to him, yeah. You are a tool," Deidara snapped back, genuine anger flashing through his cerulean eyes. "Now listen so we can save your life, woman!"

Sakura winced. It was the first time Deidara had been really mean to her. Not his usual, teasing self, but really mad and snippy with her. Keeping her arms crossed, she looked down at her knees. "Sorry…" she mumbled.

Deidara's eyes suddenly turned sympathetic. "No, it's okay, yeah," he replied, not wanting to upset her. Kisame watched with interest. Had Deidara taken an interest in her as well that was beyond 'normal male attraction' as Itachi would call it? A smirk gleamed onto his features. What would Itachi think of that?

"Well it wouldn't kill you to be a little more sensitive!" Sakura retorted hastily.

"Shut up, woman! You're more stubborn that a mule, yeah!" Deidara spat back.

Sakura rolled her eyes, big and ostentatious. "No wonder you can't get a girlfriend," she hissed. "You're such an ass."

Deidara had pulled himself up, his eyes glistening with excitement at the challenge. Sakura had done the same, her hands landing firmly on her hips, pride luminous in her emerald eyes. Kisame rolled his eyes to himself. Perhaps Itachi didn't have anything to worry about. "Both of you sit down and shut up!" Kisame roared. They were getting on his last nerve.

Sakura squeaked and obliged instantly. Deidara did the same, but a more temperate and huffed pace. "Sakura we are well aware that you are human," Kisame continued where their conversation had been put off. When had he become the calm, mature one? Usually he'd be egging a fight between Sakura and Deidara on, ready to wager on the winner. "However, Leader does not view you as such. There were really only two options he gave us. One, we can kill you the second you're done healing Itachi. Two, we get you to join up by using…any means necessary."

Sakura winced. Kisame's words had come out a little more rushed and heated than she'd thought and it was clear that this was affecting him. "What means?" she squeaked.

"That's where Itachi-san would have to help," Tobi interjected. He had seemed content to watch the scene unfold without his speaking, but Sakura couldn't tell. Something made her uneasy around this particular Akatsuki, and she wasn't sure why.

However, Sakura was muddling through what he could mean. That's where Itachi would have to help…"Genjutsu," she whispered; fear taking over her already strained emotions.

"One of the options he presented," Kisame replied gruffly, "Which seemed to unsettle Itachi completely…" Kisame lied. Okay the other option was the one that had really infuriated Itachi, but Sakura didn't need to know about that option, at least not yet.

"What were the others?" she asked, not really wanting to know.

"Don't worry about it, kid," Kisame replied. Sakura blanched. "Well as best as you can. Just focus on healing Itachi as quickly and thoroughly as you can. Oh, I have to tell you something else. We ran into the team of Leaf-nin searching for you-"

"WHAT?" Sakura exclaimed as she jumped up, chakra channeling into her fists in an instinctual physical reaction.

"Calm down, we didn't kill them!" Kisame retorted. Sakura's body softened a little and the chakra left her hands, but her stance was still rigid and her eyes leaked with fury. "We merely incapacitated them and separated them. Don't worry, they were safe. We made sure to leave the kunoichi with male just in case," Kisame explained.

Sakura visibly stiffened. Kunoichi? That would be Ino. "You better have," she bit out. "That kunoichi is my best friend and I will kill you, all of you, if anything happened to her."

"Don't worry; she was already coming around by the time we left. We also spread a whole bunch of fake trails to dissuade them. However, we will be leaving the day after tomorrow for another base. I think that's all the time we'll have," Kisame clarified. Sakura fell back into her chair and she allowed her head to fall into her palms with a thunk.

Sakura nodded. "Go get some rest," Deidara ordered, "You look like you're about to faint, yeah."

And nearly faint she did as she jumped onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow. Her earlier hunger had been completely forgotten as she digested everything she had been told that day. She should be more worried, she should be fretful. But all she could do now was close her eyes and allow her body to sleep-

X

Sakura woke up the next morning a little more chipper. Pushing all memories and information about the previous night to the back of her head (mental blocks could do wonders for compartmentalization), she pulled herself from her bed and showered quickly. Changing into her black vest, black ninja shorts, and red skirt, she grabbed a basket that was in the living room.

There were some plants that grew in Lightning Country that were very rare herbs. Some of them would come in handy with Itachi's eyes, heart, and lungs. Others she would bring back to Konoha for further study or medical use. It cost a lot of money to send sentries and medics so far north for such rare herbs, and having them shipped wasn't much cheaper. Also, from what she could tell from her window, it was one of those rare non-raining days in Lightning Country. She would use it to its fullest.

Making her way down the hallway, she noticed Itachi's door closed and the light off. Usually it was only like this when he was sleeping. Surely, he wasn't asleep at this hour, but she could sense him behind the door. Wincing, she remembered that today was the anniversary of the Uchiha massacre. At first she wanted to knock on the door to see how he was doing, but she decided against it. This was perhaps one of those things he just needed to get through alone. Tomorrow, when they left for another base, she would ask him how he was doing. Mind made up, she continued on her way to the kitchen.

"You're lively this morning, yeah," Deidara noted. A new, slightly smaller table had been placed in the center of the room. The remnants of the old one could be found in the waste receptacle by the stove.

"I'm going out," Sakura chirped back, grabbing a roll from the table and shoving it ungracefully in her mouth. Who was she trying to impress, anyway? Kisame and Deidara both gave her a skeptical look. "I'm not going to run, promise."

Deidara's mouth thinned into a stubborn line. "That's not what we're worried about, yeah," he replied coldly. Sakura tilted her head. Deidara scoffed at her ignorance. "What happens if those rogue ninja find you again?"

Sakura blushed, fully blushed, at their concern. She ran to him and squeezed him from the side as it was the only place she could access him – he'd been sitting by the table. Placing a kiss gently on his cheek, she quipped, "Thanks for your concern Deidara-kun. You can come with if you want. I'm just gathering herbs."

"Can't," he replied shortly, biting an apple as he rose, and trying to hide the pink that flushed the bridge of his nose and high on his cheekbones. Then he yanked his Akatsuki robe from the back of his chair. "Mission."

"Oh, when will you be back?" she asked curiously.

"I'm just scouting, making sure your friends don't get too close, so I'll be back tonight, yeah," he replied coolly. Sakura's face instantly went blank. "I won't kill them."

Sakura folded her arms over her chest. "I'm convinced," she replied sarcastically. Deidara wasn't the 'silently wait and watch' type. She was sure he'd blow something up by the end of the day.

"Shut up, woman. Spar with me tomorrow, yeah? Before we leave," he asked. Sakura nodded curtly, still not liking the fact that he was going out to stalk her friends. "Good. I'm out, yeah."

He glided effortlessly to the door and walked out without a second look. Sakura turned to Kisame, who had just watched the exchange with an amused look on his face. "You want to come?" she asked innocently.

"Nah, I trust you," he waved her off. Sakura smiled and bit another chunk out of the roll. "Kid," she turned back. Kisame looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. "Just stay close. And-uh-be careful."

Sakura grinned widely as she left the house. She hated to admit it – okay, she really didn't mind it that much, but if anyone ever asked, she hated it – but the men of the Akatsuki were really beginning to grow on her. Apparently, they'd grown somewhat fond of her as well. For some strange reason that pleased her, but she decided the reason wasn't really so strange. Due to all of those years of Sasuke's rejections, Sakura tried to best to please everyone she met. Shikamaru had told her that once, before she had ever noticed she was doing it, and told her it was troublesome because she was not selfish at all. It was a kinda-sorta complement Konoha's number one lazy, pain in the ass ninja gave to the people he cared about. This comment had just made Sakura smile and hug him.

Finding the clearing she was looking for, she bent down to the unfamiliar looking plants. She slung her backpack off her shoulders and pulled out a small medical book that she had found. Leafing through the pages, she found the plant that she was currently looking at and decided it was the right one. She pulled from the root and it came up easily. Yes, these would help Konoha greatly.

She spent an hour there, pulling plants, resting in the sunlight, and then pulling plants again. Keeping her thoughts simple and uncomplicated (unlike every other facet of her life at the moment) she allowed herself to mull over the angle she would take in healing Itachi's heart. Then, she felt a prickle on the back of her neck. Shooting her head up, she saw him sitting on a small hill that overlooked the clearing she was in.

He was sitting with his knees folded slightly to his chest, arms around them, and leaning his chin on the top of his upper arm. Itachi was just watching her quietly, masking his chakra, and observing her work. It was oddly calming to watch her work like she had been – so determined yet relaxed as she took short breaks and watched the animals frolic in the unexpected sunlight. There was something oddly domestic and peaceful about it for him. As he was trying to ignore the aching pain that filled his entire body, he found that watching Sakura was semi-therapeutic. Sure, the grief was very much present, but it was curbed.

Sakura felt herself shift awkwardly, her entire body heating as it instinctually remembered everything that had happened and how she felt about him. Then she remembered that today was his 'dark day' and her heart filled with sadness and sympathy.

"Itachi!" she waved at him, trying to stay bright and optimistic for his benefit only. He merely nodded in response. Sakura quickly pushed the herbs and plants she had accumulated into her backpack and basket. Carrying the medical book (there was no longer room in her pack) she walked up to him and sat down awkwardly next to him.

She didn't fail to notice the deep circles under his reddened eyes, his slightly disheveled hair, and the stress lines on his face were deeper. It made her frown – she didn't really like seeing the Uchiha so unkempt. Her legs pulled to her chest, she mimicked his position unconsciously, and her bare arms brushed the soft material of his black shirt. The contact made her shiver a little.

"Cold?" he asked calmly.

"It's just chilly," she replied. That was maybe an understatement. She had forgotten her Akatsuki cloak at the house, yet it was mid-fall and the air in this country was already nippy with the prospects of snow. Itachi pulled his cloak from where it had been resting on his other side and placed it gently over her shoulders. He was wearing a long-sleeved shirt so he didn't necessarily need it.

"Kisame informed you of the most recent development." It was a statement, not a question. Sakura nodded anyway.

"I'm not so worried about it," she admitted – lied a little, yes – but mostly she wasn't horribly concerned. If she ever feared for her life, then she would transport herself away.

"No?" he seemed genuinely curious.

"Not really," she replied with a bitter laugh. Scratching the back of her head, she leaned back a bit. "I guess, besides falling in love with your brother, it's the stupidest thing I've ever done, but I trust you guys."

There were so many things in that statement that surprised Itachi, but he said, before analyzing the latter half of that statement, "You were in love with my brother?"

Sakura snorted, but her tone was still bitten and wry, "When I was twelve."

"Not anymore?" he confirmed. Sakura shook her head, pink tendrils falling into her face. Itachi unconsciously reached his hand out. Gently, he tucked a wisp of her hair back behind her ear. The sudden contact seemed to startle the kunoichi, but her eyes simply turned soft as she stared into the distance. This gave Itachi a moment to analyze her statement further. She trusted them? She trusted him. His heart – as if it hadn't gone through enough abuse today – wretched. She trusted him and Leader had given him two options to convince Sakura to join the Akatsuki – either by genjutsu…or by…

'Make her fall in love with you. You obviously have an attachment to the girl, Itachi. She also seems to return those…feelings' Yes, those had been his words. Konan, who had been standing next to Pain, even looked a little startled. Although the fury of the statement – reducing his growing affections for the kunoichi to a mission – overcame him, he managed to stay outwardly calm. He simply stated he wouldn't do either. If Sakura had grown to have…feelings…for him, then he would not corrupt them by sullying their relationship with a mission. She didn't deserve that.

Also, this encounter pointed to something else that made Itachi uneasy. The only way Pain would know of his feelings for Sakura would be if someone told him. Leader was not around enough to sense this. Itachi was sure it wasn't Kisame. His partner of nine years was more loyal to Itachi than he was the Akatsuki, just as Itachi was to him. That left Tobi and Deidara. Itachi doubted the latter – he would not want Sakura hurt. Not that Itachi held any immature emotions such as jealousy, but Deidara had seemed to grow fairly fond of Sakura and she openly returned this sentiment. Not that he was jealous – no such an idea would be ludicrous. That left Tobi.

Itachi didn't even want to begin to analyze him. Itachi had always been wary of the secretive Akatsuki because something struck Itachi as oddly familiar with him. In the beginning, he'd tried to ignore it. Clearly, he no longer could ignore him if Tobi was going to Pain and reporting on him. Especially if it put Sakura in danger…

Said kunoichi had just placed her head lightly on Itachi's shoulder and scooted closer toward him. "Are you alright?" she whispered quietly, tentatively. "They said you probably wouldn't come out of your room all day."

"I wasn't intending to," Itachi replied stonily, trying not to let his cool façade break.

"I hope…"Sakura trailed off. For a moment her face took a contemplative look.

"Do not overthink things, Sakura," he echoed as he turned his face a little. He was now practically nuzzling the top of her head.

"I hope that everything gets easier for you. You deserve to be happy," she stated shyly, but Itachi could hear the determination and truth behind her words. Itachi gulped down a response. The girl was infallibly selfless if she thought he deserved to be happy. He slaughtered his entire family and she was telling him he deserved happiness.

If anyone deserved happiness, it was her. Determinedly, Itachi decided, he would make sure she was able to leave the Akatsuki. She deserved to be happy, and she would only find that peace in Konoha, even if it was without him. "You're selfless," he replied calmly.

Sakura seemed surprised by the observation, but she pulled herself away from him to square herself with him fully. "Itachi," she stated commandingly. It was a cue for him to look up at her, and look up at her he did. Jade orbs were filled with tears, brimming with emotion. Itachi had the urge to reach out to her and wipe away one stray tear that fell. "You're the selfless one." The statement hit him like a silent blow to the chest. She continued, "You've devoted your entire life to a village that abandon you and a brother that hates you. You're selfless. If you see yourself as anything less…then…" she bit her lip, "then I'll pummel you into the ground until I beat it into your thick skull."

Itachi chuckled a bit, the pain in his chest and stomach ebbing. "I have no doubt," he replied. The amusement and contentment that had swept through him, before being replaced with the usual ache of his heart, had been genuine. Itachi couldn't remember the last time he'd even cracked a smirk on the anniversary of his family's demise. Slowly, he pulled himself up and reached his hand out to a kneeling Sakura. With a smile full of gratitude, she took it and pulled herself up. Itachi grabbed her pack and her basket – she protested, insisting she was strong enough to carry her own stuff – but he ignored her.

They made their walk back in a companionable silence. Sakura would occasionally make small sounds of contentment when the sun would hit them through the trees, and Itachi would feel the grief within him curb each time – all he wanted was more. More of her; however, he knew her company would now be temporary for sure. He would find a way to get her back to her home.

Entering the house, they only received a raised eyebrow from Kisame, who was studying a few maps and travel reports at the kitchen table. Sakura had Itachi set the basket down at the front door. "Don't touch those herbs. One of them is poisonous if not mixed with the right ingredients," she commanded. The shark-nin merely nodded his head. "I'm going to shower. I've got some of that plant on my skin and it can leave welts if not removed," she announced.

Itachi followed behind her cautiously until they reached her door. She turned to him, raising a curious eyebrow. Itachi halted, her words echoing in his head. 'You're the selfless one'. So this once, just this once, could he be a little selfish? His little addiction to the kunoichi was most troublesome indeed, but he could restrain himself. If only she didn't part her lips that way, or fidget under his gaze…or blush that way. His finger went to the bottom of her chin, tilting it towards his as he descended his head towards hers.

The kiss was light and chaste. It only lasted a moment, not long enough for Sakura. Itachi pulled back, looking somewhat dazed. Sakura felt a blush creep on her face as her mind whirled at the possibilities.

"Do not overthink it, Sakura," he commanded lightly. Then, just like before, he was gone behind his door as it shut with an almost silent click.

'Do not overthink it Sakura.'

She could practically still feel his lips on hers, and without overthinking it – without really thinking at all – she decided she wanted more. Walking to his door quickly – before she could lose her nerve – she rapped on the wood lightly. Itachi appeared, the slightest hint of surprise on his face was evident, before he put his stoic mask back into place.

Sakura wrapped her arms around his neck before he could stop her, and she pulled him down so their lips met. His response was instant although she could tell her actions surprised him greatly. Arms wrapping possessively around her – one settling between her shoulders, pulling her closer, the other on the small of her back – he deepened the kiss. His lips were amazingly silky and soft against hers although he was now dominating the kiss as his lips massaged hers with tender authority. He allowed his tongue to escape his mouth and run along her bottom lip.

However, Sakura wasn't so easy, and playing hard to get was fun…sometimes. Pulling back from him completely, she smiled at him shyly. "Don't overthink it, Itachi," she said with a little more sarcasm than she meant. Then, though, she was gone.

AN: Okay, I hope you liked it. We've got the first real kiss! Please review?!