Hello, again! I'm feeling a bit better today (thank you, Satsujin Akuma!) so I went ahead and typed up the next chapter! :) WARNING: loads of utter cow dukey up ahead. You have been warned!

I'm not proud of this chapter at all. I wanted it to turn ou better than this, but I'm too lazy to rewrite it. Bite me. -_-' Alright, the voting poll is officially CLOSED!! Here are the final scores:

Votes:

Itachi: 53

Deidara: 29

Hidan: 19

Draco: 13

Pein: 6

Fred: 5

Harry: 4

George: 3

Madara: 3

Sasori: 3

Sasuke: 3

Lupin: 2

Kisame: 1

Ron: 1

Suigestu: 1

Sakura X Everybody: 1

I apologize to rebellious-and-ditzy-bookworm and RAWR!! I'm really sorry! I had intended for the poll to go on two or three more chapters, but I really doubt anyone's going to pass Itachi... ^^; Anyways, I hope you all like it! Please read and review!

Where exactly is Itachi? Why, outside of Dumbledore's office, of course. And why is he outside of Dumbledore's office? To find a portkey inside the office. And why is he going to do that? To run awa– take a look at it. And how did he get there at this time of day without anyone noticing? With a very nice little genjutsu.

Itachi stared blankly at the statue in front of him. Students weren't allowed to go in unless they needed to speak with Dumbledore. Itachi let out a quiet 'hn'.

Well, it was as good a place as any. But just as the Uchiha was taking a step, a familiar voice called out to him.

"Itachi!"

He glanced over his shoulder with an eyebrow raised. Sakura raced towards him, hair flinging back in the self-created wind.

"Why did you follow me?" he asked emotionlessly.

"Baka!" she practically screamed. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Itachi was a bit bemused that she had dared to call him a baka.

"We're not allowed in there!" she hissed. "Do you want to get yourself killed?!" By killed, Itachi knew she was referring to Madara once he found out what he was doing.

"I was merely going to take a look," Itachi stated simply.

"Take a look, my foot!!" Sakura growled. "You don't think I'd actually believe that load of crap, did you?!"

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hn."

"Itachi, what is the matter with you?!" she groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Kami, you can be so irritating!!"

"You're annoying."

"And you're still ugly."

They silently glared at each other.

"By the way, do mind explaining how a genjutsu managed to suddenly pop up around you? Hm? Don't tell me– you're going to hightail it back home."

"Hn."

Sakura threw her arms into the air in exasperation.

"You're impossible! Do have any idea how much trouble you'll be in if you do that?! You have got to be one of the stupidest people I have ever met!!"

"Go back to the Great Hall," Itachi ordered. Sakura glared at him.

"No."

Itachi's Sharingan activated and swirled in his eyes, and Sakura scowled dangerously at his forehead.

"Don't you dare use Sharingan on me!!" she hissed, fury rolling off her in waves.

"Go back to the Great Hall, and I will not be forced to use extreme measures."

"Extreme measures?! Who the fuck do you think you are?!"

Itachi was getting slightly irritated by his pink-haired comrade, and that surprised him. Uchiha Itachi rarely felt any kind of emotion.

"Hn."

He turned on his heel and walked towards the statue. Sakura gaped after him for a moment before running to catch up.

"Hey! HEY!!" she screamed after him. "Where do you think you're going?! You are NOT about to bail out on this mission!!"

Itachi said nothing and continued walking. Steam practically flew from Sakura's ears as she skidded to halt in front of the Uchiha, forcing him to stop as well. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"If you run away from this, I'll make sure you become reacquainted with your internal organs!!" she spat.

"I am not running away from anything," Itachi stated coldly. "I feel I cannot continue working with you; it is becoming most troublesome."

Sakura jabbed a finger into his chest as she ground out her next words.

"You listen to me, and you listen good. The mission comes first, and if we hate each other during the entirety of it, then fine. We can rip each other's throats out when this is over, but right now we need to focus on protecting Harry-san and finding Orochimaru and Voldemort. And if you chicken out on us now, you'll wish that you were never born. Got it?"

Itachi glared down at her, and Sakura returned it with all the fiery rage she could muster. But as soon as she met his eyes, it was all over.

Sakura's eyes snapped open wide, then drifted closed painfully slow. Her body fell down limply, but never hit the floor. Itachi flashed to the entrance of the Great Hall and placed her gently beside the doorway. They would find her there, and when she woke up, he'd be gone.

Itachi allowed himself to brush the thin strands of hair from her eyes, murmuring a quiet apology before darting away to Dumbledore's office.

He wasn't running away. No, it was completely different. When Sakura mentioned his brother, she had struck a cord; but when she said his name barely a second after uttering Madara's name, something had darkened in his chest. During the past two days of this mission, Itachi had forgotten entirely about Sasuke and Madara. He wasn't sure why, but Sakura seemed to be distracting him...

But now that it had reared its ugly head again, Itachi had an instinctual feeling in his gut; and it wasn't good. Something told him – and he wasn't quite sure what that 'something' was – that his brother was about to show up very soon. And since Madara had revealed himself as Master of the Akatsuki – not to the whole world; just to the Akatsuki – he knew it could only be bad. If Madara got a hold of his brother, Itachi would never be able to forgive himself.

So, he had to go back. He had to make sure that Sasuke and Madara never met, and he had to keep his brother away from Akatsuki.

o o o O O O o o o

Kisame and Deidara watched with raised eyebrows as Itachi left the Great Hall. A few other students had noticed as well, and many of them were staring. They glanced over at Sakura to see her glaring after the Uchiha. She appeared to mutter something under her breath before rising from her table as well. Kisame and Deidara exchanged confused looks as the medic stalked out of the Great Hall.

"What was that about, yeah?" Deidara asked his companion quietly. A few Gryffindor's turned to stare at them, having no clue what he'd just said.

"Beats me," Kisame muttered. "Kitten didn't look too happy, though."

"You think they got into a fight, yeah?" Deidara suggested.

"Maybe."

They were quiet as they continued to eat their 'stew'. Then, both stiffened a moment later when they felt Sakura's chakra spiking erratically. The two looked at each other warily, slightly relieved that no unplanned 'earthquakes' shook the school. Her chakra continued to spike, causing them both to flinch. Then, suddenly, both her and Itachi's chakras flared before dying back down.

"What the–"

But Deidara didn't get to finished his sentence as both of their chakras suddenly appeared right outside of the Great Hall. And then Itachi's took off in the opposite direction. Sakura's chakra signature just sat right outside the door, but she didn't come in.

"Something's wrong, yeah," Deidara stated, frowning.

Both he and Kisame stood.

"Deidara?" They forced themselves not to flinch at Hermione's pronunciation. "Kisame? Where are you going?"

Neither Akatsuki member answered as they made their way to the doorway, slipping outside. Dumbledore watched with a curious expression. Deidara and Kisame froze when they saw Sakura laying unconscious on the floor.

"Sakura-chan, yeah!" Deidara called as he crouched down beside her, though not loud enough for anyone in the Great Hall to hear. "Sakura-chan, wake up, yeah!"

Sakura's eyes flickered open slowly, confusion washing over her face.

"Wha–" Her eyes widened, then narrowed a moment later. "That bastard!" she growled.

"What happened?" Kisame asked, eyebrow raised.

Sakura scowled at the wall as she felt Itachi's chakra signature disappear completely. The other two looked at each other in surprise, obviously feeling the same thing.

"Where'd he go, yeah?"

"He went back home," Sakura muttered.

"What, yeah?!"

"Huh?!"

"The bastard knocked me out so I couldn't stop him. He must've found a portkey in Dumbledore-sama's office."

o o o O O O o o o

Itachi braced himself as he landed just outside of the Akatsuki's Amegakure base. A small overhang of roof protected him from the rain, and Itachi considered himself lucky. If he'd landed in the rain, Pein would know he was there.

Itachi felt with his chakra, attempting to located his brother. His eyes narrowed slightly. Sasuke was inside the Akatsuki base.

Madara will regret luring Sasuke. he vowed silently. He would make sure of it.

o o o O O O O o o

Sakura groaned, her eyes fluttering open. Bright sunlight poured in from the window to her left, washing over her face and bleaching her hair a very pale whitish-pink. She scowled at the window, wishing it would close up into a wall.

Amy glanced over at her friend as she tugged on a sock.

"You up, Sakura?" she asked.

Sakura grunted, rolling over and sitting up. She rubbed her left eye with the back of her hand.

Itachi had left the day before, and Sakura had gotten little more than a hour of sleep. He was stuck in her head all night. Sakura glared absently at the floor.

She was going to kill him. Not only had he run off without permission, he had used the Sharingan on her. Forget killing. She was going to slaughter him.

"You feeling okay?" Amy said, drawing her out of her thoughts. Sakura looked up at the brunette.

"...yeah. I'm fine."

Sympathy flickered in her forest-green eyes.

"If you're not feeling well, perhaps you should see Madam Pomfrey."

Sakura waved it off, shaking her head.

Only she, Deidara, Kisame, and the professors knew that Itachi had left. Some of the students were surprised when he didn't return to the Great Hall the previous day, but that was to be expected.

"Hey, Amy...?"

The pretty brunette glanced at Sakura immediately as she pulled her hair into a ponytail.

"Yes?"

"...could you wait for me?"

Amy smiled.

"Of course!"

Sakura offered a weak fake smile in return as she slipped on her robes and tie. She hadn't been able to see her much yesterday, and she wanted to make up for that.

"Let's go."

The two walked side by side out of the Slytherin common rooms, every now and then making a comment about something completely random.

"Did you see Draco yesterday in Care of Magical Creatures?" Amy laughed as they entered the Great Hall.

"How could I not?" Sakura snickered. "Seriously, what was that? 'I'm dying! I'm dying, look at me! It's killed me!'"

They both laughed at her horrible impersonation as they sat on opposite sides of the Slytherin table.

"Poor Buckbeak," Sakura murmured, sighing. "He was only lashing out because he felt threatened."

Amy nodded in agreement. A few Slytherin's glared at them.

"But I can't believe he let you ride him!" she gushed.

Sakura grinned – an actual grin. How could she forget?

.

.

.

"Right," Hagrid said, back turned as he fiddled with the dead weasels on his jacket. "Who wants ter go first?"

The entire class except Harry – who didn't seem to notice what happened – and the three shinobi scooted back as far as they could. When Hagrid turned around, he smiled at the four. Harry turned and nearly gaped when he saw that everyone else had abandoned him.

"I'll do it," Sakura offered, hand raising a bit.

Hagrid smiled. "O'course young lady!" he said. "Let's see how yeh get on with Buckbeak."

A few surprised murmurs rippled through the students, and Deidara scowled at her.

"I wanted to, yeah!" he complained.

"Eat it," Sakura retorted, smirking.

A couple gasps were heard at her words. Deidara glared and looked away, while Kisame snorted.

"Well, I'm the one who's flown before, yeah!" he grumbled. A few people – Hagrid included – seemed surprised.

"Suck it up," Sakura mocked. "But if it's lady first, then be my guest."

Snickers sounded and Deidara glared even harder, red adorning his face.

"I hope it throws you off, yeah," he muttered, scowling at the ground.

Sakura rolled her eyes as she stepped forward.

"Easy, now," Hagrid said quietly. "Yeh've got eye contact, now try not ter blink...Hippogriffs don' trust yeh if yeh blink too much..."

Not blinking was easy for Sakura as she approached him. Buckbeak stared at her with fierce orange eyes.

"That's it," Hagrid mumbled. "That's it...now, bow..."

Sakura gave a short shinobi-like bow, her eyes never leaving Buckbeak's. It bowed back almost instantly, head lowering nearly to the ground.

Hagrid was shocked nearly speechless.

"...Buckbeak's never bowed that quickly before," he said quietly. "He must like yeh..."

But Sakura knew otherwise.

He knows I'm not like the other wizards.Sakura thought with an inward smirk.

"Well done!" Hagrid complemented, clapping. "Right – yeh can touch him! Pat his beak, go on!"

Sakura strolled up to Buckbeak, eyes still not leaving his. She smiled slightly as she stroked her hand across his beak. He nuzzled into her heads, earning a pleasantly surprised smile from Hagrid. Sakura slid her hands across his neck and back, grinning to herself when Buckbeak made a sound of approval in his throat.

The whole class broke into applause, except Draco and the two shinobi. They both smirked at Sakura.

"Righ' then," Hagrid congratulated. "I reckon he might' let yeh ride him!"

Sakura smirked.

.

.

.

Oh, yes. She had definitely liked Buckbeak. She had even snickered and murmured to him in a baby voice about how much she loved him after he attacked Draco.

Speaking of which...

"Where is he?" Sakura asked.

Amy looked at her in confusion.

"What do you mean?" she inquired.

"Draco," the rosette clarified. "I haven't seen him today."

Amy frowned slightly, a thoughtful look crossing her face.

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Itachi, either," the brunette added. "Have you seen him anywhere?"

Sakura went rigid, staring down at her plate.

"He, uh...left to get something he forgot in...Japan..."

"Oh..."

Itachi was a sensitive subject for Sakura, and she had no idea why. Why did she care if he left – besides the anger at him for not completing the mission –? Even Kisame and Deidara seemed a bit quiet after the incident. A sudden thought struck her, and her heart clenched.

What are Pein and Madara going to do when they find out? She shook that thought away. No. They won't find out. I'll make sure of it.

When she sent a scroll to them to explain the details of everything that had happened since their arrival, she would say nothing about Itachi. It they found out he left, they'd most likely see it as treason against Akatsuki. And then they'd kill him.

Sakura felt like she was going to be sick.

There was no way she'd tell them about Itachi.

Sakura heaved a quiet sigh, picking absently at her food.

"Something wrong?" Amy guessed.

Sakura's head snapped up.

"Er, no..."

Amy offered her a small smile.

"Just remember, you can tell me anything. I don't mind helping you."

Sakura nodded, looking back down at her plate.

"Thanks, Amy."