Dearest Reader,

I am so glad that this story has gotten so many people talking and asking questions. Your reviews are an extremely big help. I have answered some commonly asked questions at the end of this chapter. I hope that they will clear a few things up. Also I apologize for any typos that you might find. Spelling is not my strong point and my computer does not always catch my mistakes.

Love Always and Remember To Review

Jordan

"I have wanted to kill myself a hundred times, but somehow I am still in love with life. This ridiculous weakness is perhaps one of our more stupid melancholy propensities, for is there anything more stupid than to be eager to go on carrying a burden which one would gladly throw away, to loathe one's very being and yet to hold it fast, to fondle the snake that devours us until it has eaten our hearts away?"

"You are reading allowed again. I am glad that the story is to your liking. It is one of my favorites."

I pulled myself from the pages of my book, my eyes landing on my husband who was poured over the paperwork that had begun to pile up at his desk. It wasn't often that I entered his study but tonight the vast amounts of literature had called my name, as if they were begging to be seen by a fresh pair of eyes. At first I had questioned my choice to join him. Itachi liked his privacy and I had wondered if my presence might be seen as a distraction. However, he had accepted my company and had allowed me full access to his sequestered library.

He looked tired, his ebony hair hanging in front of his face as if he were trying to hide the exhaustion in his eyes. His nights had become restless recently; a fact that I had simply attributed to his busy routine and schedule. Dark circles had already begun to form under his eyes. I was worried that he would make himself ill if this pattern were to continue.

"I enjoy reading. It provides me with an escape from my everyday life. Men are able to travel the world in search of adventure and mystery. Women like I do not always have that luxury."

He stared at me from across the room, a curious look on his face. It felt awkward to be talking about my role in society with him. Women were expected to be silent and I had tried my best over the last few weeks to live up to this standard. Still, Ino had challenged me to expand my horizons. If true love was my goal I would have to show Itachi what I was truly capable of. The idea was a frightening one. She was asking me to go against everything that I had been taught growing up. However, there must have been some validity to her teachings. My own mother had not known her husband before her wedding day and now the two were almost inseparable. The same could be said for Ino and Kiba; although they had been given many years to grow fond of each other before saying their vows.

"I agree with you. Intelligent women such as yourself are hard to come by. It is a great quality indeed."

"You think so…?"

He was soon on top of me, pinning my wrist to the antique bookcase that I had been leaning myself upon. His grip was firm but now painful. It was obvious that he was allowing me a path of escape should I decide to take it. I meet his gaze, unable to breathe or speak. I had never seen this side of him. His decision to approach me had been so spontaneous. Had I said something to upset or offend him?

"How do you think of me Sakura? What am I in your eyes?"

I didn't understand the context of his question right away. What did he mean by it? I recalled that I had once seen him as a hero from my childhood. His intellect and personality had been magnetic in those days. I had been drawn to his side, wanting nothing more than to spend time with and learn from him. That had all changed five years ago when my parents had revealed that I was to marry him. He disappeared soon after that, traveling to Suna and visiting only on occasion. At first I had been disappointed but soon realized that I was glad to have the opportunity to grow up without his presence reminding me of my fate on a constant basis.

"You are my husband Itachi. You always will be."

His lips crashed into mine; his kiss hot with a passion that was still very new to me. Ino had taught me not to fight against him but instead to trust his touch and let my body follow his will. What I supposedly lacked, according to her, was the confidence in myself that I was able to please him. If I were to accept this fact my marriage bed may not seem as frightful as it had before.

Despite this I now found myself yearning for his contact. I closed my eyes; relishing in a strange moment of bliss as he twisted his fingers through my hair before gliding his hands across my body. I was soon lifted into the air, wrapping my legs around his waist as if I were a child afraid to fall. He had only kissed me a few times before but this was different. He seemed hungry and I began to wonder if I would be able to satisfy his lust.

He carried me to his desk, setting me on its polished mahogany surface. The sun was setting now and I could feel the last few rays of light shining across my face as they passed through the window. My mind raced, searching for some sort of explanation for his behavior. How could he have so much vigor when he had seemed like a ghost of himself only moments before?

He said nothing as he lifted my skirt up, his mouth never leaving mine. I felt as if I have been sucked into a rainbow of colors and patterns. My arms were now wrapped around his neck, pulling him as close to me as possible. Our kiss was broken for a moment as he motioned for me to lie down; holding onto the swell of my back so I wouldn't fall. I heard the rustle of fabric and soon felt the familiar sensation of him entering my body. I bit into my lip but did not cry out in pain as I had done on our wedding night. My body had grown accustomed to his ways and was now capable of withstanding all he had to offer.

"Look at me Sakura."

I did as I was told, opening my eyes so that I engulfed by his dark gaze. His pace had become even now which, for some reason, made the act easier for me to deal with. I could feel the lower part of my body tightening around him, my stomach turning flips as if I were a child doing cartwheels in a field. Ino had insisted that this was perfectly normal and was caused by a release of energy, one which some women could spare more than once.

I grabbed shoulders for a moment before relaxing, my breath short and uneven. He pushed into me for a moment more and I waited patiently as he spilt himself into me. To my surprise he didn't pull away but instead stroked my cheek with his thumb.

"Perhaps…one day…you could learn to love me Sakura Uchiha."

Things You Need To Know

1: The society in this story is of a Christian nature. The characters believe in one god and use the same bible that we use today. I was raised as a Methodist and although I have studied other religions they are very hard for me to write and describe properly.

2: I have based this world on that of a more western patriarchal system such as what would have existed in England.

3: There are no shinobi in this world as of the moment. This may be subject to change.

4: Ino married Kiba when she was sixteen. Their son was born around the same time that Sakura married Itachi.

5: The story that Sakura is reading at the beginning of the chapter is from Voltaire's Candide, a French satire that was written in the mid 1700's.

6: In her heart Sakura knows that Hinata and Naruto are meant to be together. However, she warns Naruto not to peruse Hinata due to her engagement to Neji. Although Naruto would be able to walk away from the situation the consequences for Hinata would be extremely harsh.