Hey there!! I'll keep this short for all of you and get right to it! Thanks to all my reviews!! This story would be nothing if it wasn't for you!
Black eyes watched the kunoichi walk across the street from the hotel room with the curtains pulled back just enough for him to watch outside but not be seen. Smoothly and with no problem, she entered the bar where Kisame was just outside in the alley. She was clearly displeased with the outcome of this plan, however she had subtly followed the orders without too many complaints following. Outside of the small remarks of whores and pigs, she seemed……well there wasn't a word that Itachi would use for such an emotion. Entertaining it was for him as he had kept a smirk from conquering his lips while she had been in the bathroom changing.
Brining his thoughts back to the mission, he glanced outside. After making certainty that it was clear, he made his way down the stairs, across the street and within moments, found himself in front of the bar with his hands in his pockets and deadly gaze at the entrance where he had a decent view of the inside filled with many people. He made a move to take a step towards the fire escape that would lead to the upstairs rooms but stopped when his focus didn't leave the entry way. Why wasn't he going upstairs like the plan?
He just couldn't convince himself to. Instead his entire concentration was directed at the brunette sitting at the bar. With Itachi's eyes in sharp sight, he watched as Sakura took a drink from the bartender and exchanged a few words. Perhaps he should wait before going upstairs…. Going with his gut feeling, he went to the opposite alleyway where a small window gave view of the inside.
It was then that the target entered the building and stopped in the doorway, while swiping his clouded gaze around the room and many people before inevitably landing on Sakura. With a wide grin, the target swaggered over and took a seat next to her. Itachi pulled his eyes away from them and in a very un-Itachi like manner, he sighed. He had finally brought his curiosity to conclusion only to find himself walking towards a fire escape that led to the rooms upstairs. Step by step he took to the top only to pause once a strange dark chakra surged wildly from inside the bar. Pushing down the strange rise in alarm, he returned to the window and witnessed the blonde shinobi kiss Sakura violently into submission before she managed to push him away. Anger only bled to rage as the incident progressed into a hallway where they disappeared from his sight. The rage was ravenous like a territorial wolf and he could feel his inner beast knaw against his restraints to interfere, though Itachi took a deep breath through his nostrils and tried to gain control of his strange indescribable emotions but it showed no purpose. He could feel her chakra start to go into panic and he angrily threw out the original plan, having no interest in keeping the mission subtle. With nostrils flaring, he stormed in and flashed to the man whose hands were straining against Sakura's chest and his hips grinding into her. Every logical thought flew from the window as he viciously pulled him from the kunoichi. All he heard was the small distressed, "Itachi?" before he pulled the man up by his throat. The clouded gaze of the man before him only stared back into the bleeding scarlet sharringan, clearly petrified…. Oh how easy it would be to break his neck, Itachi pondered, but the need for information outweighed is sudden anger as well as the flood of confusion that crashed in his mind. "Mission's over," he growled as he unceremoniously dragged the man out of the silent bar and to the street.
He didn't pay any attention to Sakura or Kisame as they followed behind him to the hotel room. All he could hear was the gags and pleas from the man in his right hand grip. Goro was insistent on the desperate kicks with his heels against the dirt, no doubt leaving a long trail showing his struggles. Itachi didn't care. All he could think about was how he was going to settle the anger that he felt. The possessive streak that he had never felt so strongly for. The one thing he knew for sure was that this man was going to give the answers they needed before he would fall into his own fate and into six feet under ground. To think that Goro thought he had a right to forcefully take what he wanted from the kunoichi, he was clearly mistaken and Itachi would be the man to show him exactly that. Though there was one question that remained to him as he walked upstairs to their hotel room with the thud-thud-thud of the man's legs following behind.
Why was he feeling this? What was it about Sakura that had brought this out of him?
He would blame it on her being on his team. After all if she became afraid of such missions then that would only slow them down, right? Sure. Let's go with that. Though he knew it wasn't even close to the fact. She was an attractive kunoichi, but looks weren't something that made him loose such control of his very own emotions. Maybe he was just grateful? After all she had healed his eyes… Though even that wasn't the entire truth…
Coming to the door, he pushed the last of his thoughts aside and unlocked it; the pleas and gurgles becoming nothing but a hum in the background of noise. The sound of Sakura and Kisame following in and closing the door, left Itachi shoving the target into a chair while pulling both hands behind the wood to tie it off. No need to let him try anything and quicken his death.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kisame pull the couch around to watch-no doubt entertained- and Sakura set up a jutsu to keep it silent to anyone who may be listening in. "What the hell is this?! Do I owe you money?..." Goro caught sight of the forehead protectors and his demeanor changed. "Fuck you leaf nin! I'm not telling you shit!"
"So you know what we are here for. Good. That will make this a whole lot faster," grinned Kisame as he plopped a seat onto the couch.
"I'm not talking!"
"That's what I'm counting on," Itachi said darkly, already feeling his sharringan spin dangerously.
The man made the mistake of making eye contact and he visibly gulped. "Just kill me now 'cause you'll just be wasting your time!"
"There's worst things then death," Sakura informed as she turned her hair back to its lush pink. "I can name off a lot of ways that you would be speechless of knowing."
"You? I doubt it! I should've known you were a little snitch-you're body is too hot to be true-"
Itachi leaned into his face with a hand gripping the man's shoulder bruising. "Don't look at her," he warned in a low voice where Sakura and Kisame couldn't hear. "Now for the first question: what do you know of the shinobi camps?"
The man blinked, but didn't say anything. Itachi's scarlet eyes narrowed and he sat up while taking a few steps back. "Sakura."
Strange that he would want her to be the first to "convince" the man, she said nothing and stepped closer. Her emerald eyes looked down upon him in disgust, knowing that he would've raped her if it wasn't for Itachi. There wasn't much compassion to face him with-not to mention that he worked with the same people who killed Shikamaru. "What are you going to do?" he asked daringly as if she wouldn't be able to do anything that could injure him.
"There are many different things to do to you… I prefer bones though. The ribs are the easiest to start with, of course. They take so little pressure," she explained darkly to try and scare him into submission while Itachi watched from the side with the same dark expression. "A foot on the ribcage and the lungs are crushed, a moment of weak pain, the breathing… stinted." Sakura reached the man and glanced momentarily to Itachi who nodded for her to continue. Looking back she started to walk behind the now blank faced man. "More pressure, and the oxygen levels decrease, the eyes dim, the lungs burn… and the heaviness on the chest becomes so… unbearable," she whispered the last word in his ear.
"That won't scare me, sweetheart." The pet name only managed the sharringan to darken menacingly.
"I wasn't finished yet… You see, bones grate against panting organs and then as weakness overcomes the body there comes the irresistible snap," she snapped two of his fingers that was followed by a cry of pain, but she continued, "muffled under layers of tissue. Searing pain as muscle parts from melded bone, the quiet muscular rip, and then…the weight is lifted."
She came around the front of him, to see him pondering it over with color draining slowly from his face. "What do you know of the camps?"
"…All I know is that it's a mixture of Mist and Sound ninja."
"That tells us nothing," Kisame said as he stood to join the others with his Samehada over his shoulder. "Better start explaining in better detail."
"Or else what-"
Samehada came down onto his lap and shredded into his flesh, emitting a scream from the man as the chakra pulled from his vessels. The blade retracted and the man gritted his teeth, leaving his face pale as death. "O-ok. There is a man… His name is Ryuu and he is going to get other villages to help him and Orochimaru."
"What else?"
"There are nine camps along the borders of Fire and Wind Country. Just enough to hinder teams and travelers with a not-so-safe passage way."
"Don't stop now," Sakura warned.
But the man had already lost his motivation. "Screw you, whore."
This time Sakura beat Kisame to him and sent a punch to the man's jaw, sending his chair to fall over. "You're in no position to threaten."
"Bitch," he grumbled. This led another punch to his head before she sat him back upright.. "R-Ryuu plans to have a meeting at the end of this week with a few other villages, but it's unknown when it'll happen!"
"What villages are going to be there?" Itachi asked.
"Cloud and Stone will be there."
"What else?"
"…"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "How did you know we were going to be after you?"
"I only figured you would be wanting answers after those idiots at the camp were stupid enough to be found out by two Konoha shinobi," he sneered. "They fucked this whole thing up."
Sakura's heart missed a beat and she leaned down in front of the blonde's face and stared into Amber eyes. "And what do you know about them?"
"Them?"
"The two Konoha shinobi!" she snapped. Her anger was starting to grow which was very rare for her. She could only assume it was because of the nerves she had for the entire mission taking effect on her body.
"Wouldn't you like to know," he snickered in her face and her eyes narrowed.
Snap-
The snickering was muffled into a short cry as she broke three more of his fingers. "I'm not here to play games-Now what aren't you telling me?!"
Regaining from the initial shock he glared at her. "Forget it."
Itachi had had enough at this point and pulled Sakura away who sent a confused stare into his back, but he ignored it as he knelt to Goro's level. Amber eyes stared cautiously and all he heard was a deep chuckle from the blue nin before he was pulled into a strange world of red skies….
A/N I'm sure you guys really don't care about what I have to say, but I write things because there is a reason for it. The reason for these stories is because we are going through things like this today. War happens and this is getting darker. I just wanted to warn you before we go ahead with my twisted mind…
Temari stood solemnly in a burned and scattered village with bodies of the villagers pilled only two hundred yards away in the dense tree line; most likely from the shinobi not wanting to smell the corpses… They could have buried them… That was the least they could've done. But if they were the kind to kill a village for no reason except enjoyment then there wasn't any reason for them to have enough honor to bury the dead, right? Who kills for fun like that anyway? These people weren't even shinobi and they were still killed. Sadly she looked long and hard at the ground where long marks in the sand showed the trail to the pile of corpses that were dragged out of the camp area. The stench reached her nose and she could only take in small breaths from the repulsive sour odor and the buzz of flies feeding upon the flesh. The branches above were scattered with many crows and ravens waiting for their stomachs to become empty once more before they feasted. "The slimy pigs," she growled and forced the tears down. What kind of monsters would do this? To these families? The sick fucks…
"Temari," Tenten said sadly as she came up from behind the sand kunoichi. "I… I think this was Shikamaru's."
The blonde turned to face the brunette who held out her hand. A small black stud earring laid lonely in her palm with blood crusted on a small part of it. Temari raised her eyes to Tenten, who avoided her gaze, then back to the earring before taking it. "Where was this?" she asked quietly.
"Kakuzu found it…"
"Was there anything else? Any trail or clue?"
"No," came a deeper voice from behind Tenten. Neji walked to the two girls and sighed. "The enemy camp cleaned up everything. There's nothing we can do."
Temari glanced to the two faces. She didn't want to give up yet… But there was nothing she could do… "Alright. Let's go get Kakuzu and head home…" A sympathetic look flashed over Tenten's face; knowing how difficult it was for Temari.
Neji turned first and led the way to the bounty hunter just beyond the tree line, where they found him returning to them with a scroll clutched tightly in his left hand. "What is that?" Tenten asked from her spot next to Neji.
Kakuzu looked to the scroll then to the three. "Not sure," he said shortly and opened it. Dark eyes scanned the contents while the three stood in silence and waited. Finally he looked up and placed the scroll into his pouch.
"What did it say? Where did you find it?"
Kakuzu started walking away. "Near the bodies. Someone must have dropped it when they were dragging the corpses to the pile," he explained. He had no intention of telling them what was in it, knowing that they would want to go all the way to Grass. Konoha ninja were too compassionate and that's what got them into trouble. If he could help it, they weren't going to find out anything about this.
"So that's it then?" Temari asked as she walked beside Tenten. "We found nothing on Shikamaru?"
Tenten sighed sadly. "I'm sorry, Temari… Really I am."
Her head dropped lower. "I know you are…"
The stench became worse as they arrived at the pile of empty shell like bodies; where blood stained the dirt in scarlet. "Who will do the honors?" Kakuzu asked.
Neji stepped forward and pulled his hands into a seal before going through the motion and pattern. "Fire burial," he murmured just as fire sprouted from his palm and ignited the pile of flesh, sending the many black birds into the sky, cawing their complaints. Satin black feathers fell around them as the forest came to life with flames in the bodies and smoke reached dark hands to the blue sky. "That was the least we could do for them," he said slowly to Tenten who watched wretchedly.
"I know… Let's just go home…"
"They told m-me that they to-took two shinobi prisoner… They said…it was at the camp two miles into Fire Country from Waterfall!"
The man was singing a beautiful melody once he returned from Itachi's sharringan.
"I don't know one's name but I remember them say Nara… That's all I know I swear!"
Sakura looked hopeful and she stepped towards him with wide emerald eyes. "Are they alive? Are they ok?"
"They're alive…. For now. I don't know how much longer they have before the camp gets tired of taking them around before they kill them…" There was no color to his complexion and his eyes were clouded over not to mention that his blonde hair hung glued to his forehead from sweat. "You aren't going to let me go are you?"
Sakura said nothing but looked away. That was a clear enough sign to him.
"Please, let me go. I won't breathe a word of this!"
"You talked all too easily for us," Kisame grunted.
"What else do you know?" Itachi asked one last time.
"…That's it. I swear to you-that's it."
"So be it." He walked to the man and pulled a kunai gracefully from his pouch.
"Wait," Sakura interrupted as she walked to Itachi and set her hand upon his that held the blade. "I'll do it."
Itachi blinked but Kisame asked the question before he could. "Why, kitten?"
"Because I… want to." She didn't have to give them a reason, much less the truth. Itachi studied her for a moment, but she held his gaze stubbornly, before he lowered his hand. The kunoichi said a quiet thanks and walked behind the man whose pleading almond eyes watched her every move. "This will be painless," she whispered. Before he could utter another beg, she sent her chakra into his spinal cord at the base of his neck, killing him instantly. She hated to do it, but it was a sad truth that she had begun to get very used to it… even worse was that she was good. With patients in the hospital that weren't going to make it and not wanting to be in pain anymore, she relieved them only to add more grief on her own shoulders. It was a selfless act and yet she hadn't seen the bright side to it yet.
But there was one thing that stayed there on her mind as she stared sadly at the man hunched in the chair…. Shikamaru may still be alive…
It was only a few hours later that they were nearing the half way point to Konoha and the air around the four had lifted greatly. Temari was starting to smile, even if it was forced, while she talked to Tenten about her brothers. Tenten took it in good stride and laughed softly while adding a few small gossips about what had been happening and growing in Konoha since the last time Temari had been there. The brunette had worked carefully around the subjects of Ino and Shikamaru, not sure if it was too early for that kind of talk. She didn't want the sand kunoichi to go back to her quite unusual silent self. It was just plain weird for her to be speechless.
Neji and Kakuzu walked calmly in the front of the two kunoichi, both as silent as ever. Neji walked with hands swaying at his side and his face blank of any emotion. The same could have been said for the tall man next to him if it wasn't for his mask covering his face from view, leaving piercing eyes to let your imagination figure out.
A sudden surge of chakra met the two men who stopped on impact, nearly making the two women behind them collide. "What's going on you two? Why'd you stop?" Tenten asked, slightly flustered.
Neji visibly bristled at realization of what was in store for them and he narrowed his eyes. "Uchiha."
"…What?"
But her answer came in landing before her, accompanied by two others. The three stood to their feet and examined the four Konoha shinobi before them. Neji naturally stepped forward and activated his hazel Byakuya to stare daringly at crimson Sharringan.
Uchiha Sasuke glared back spitefully but swiped his gaze over the others before landing on Temari only to linger on Kakuzu. "And what do we have here?" Kabuto asked as he pushed past Sasuke.
"You have no reason to be here unless you are completely suicidal," Neji sneered.
Sasuke only smirked at the tone, but his eyes were narrowed threateningly. "Watch it, Hyuga. I would've thought that you would have learned by now how to pick your fights."
Karin snickered behind him, earning a glare from the two women. "Your red hair will be colored in your own blood, bitch," Temari informed.
This turned Sasuke's attention back to the others that stood around Neji. There was the sand kunoichi that he remembered from the Chunnins and a new man who he didn't recognize. He was considerably taller then the other. Hell he was taller then Kakashi and like his once sensei, he too wore a mask that covered half of his face. There was no jounin vest or Anbu armory, but there was, however, a forehead protector that wasn't in the slightest a Konoha symbol. "Who are you?"
Kakuzu stared, already making up his mind that these three weren't going to leave alive. He had no real reason to kill them except for the fact that they had associated him with Konohagakure… Then again he was part of them now, but shit that wasn't the point. They were clearly saying they were better then him; their stance told him that. Only Hidan was one to get away with it with his life… Just because the prick was immortal. Well, he highly doubted that these three worshipped Jashin.
"I asked you a question-" Sasuke snarled once he received no answer.
"That is Kakuzu from Akatsuki," Kabuto informed, but immediately regretted it. If Sasuke found out-which now he did- that Akatsuki were in Konoha then that would mean that Itachi was there. It was yet brought to the youngest Uchiha's attention on why he needn't worry about Itachi now which would lead to him running off to take his revenge. Orochimaru wouldn't be pleased…
"…What?"
"Oh, yeah," Neji started smugly. He wouldn't pass up this opportunity to rub it into the traitor's face. "You're still looking for Itachi aren't you?"
Sasuke's hands clenched and his Sharringan burned brighter. Karin walked up behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder but he shrugged it off without taking he eyes from Neji. The Hyuga didn't wait before he continued.
"How does it feel to know that you left Konoha and all your friends to get stronger and find Itachi when he ended up returning back to the Village? Not to mention that he was welcomed back with open arms, which is more then I can say for you-" A kunai was sent at his head but he leaned to the left while it missed him and lodged into a tree. The smirk stayed in place but he didn't say anything else.
"Did you know about this?" Sasuke asked through clenched teeth to Kabuto who pushed his glasses up out of habit.
"There is a lot to explain, and I believe Ryuu will answer anything you want him to."
"Where's Itachi now?" he tossed back to the group of four.
"On a mission, so don't try searching Konoha looking for him," Tenten warned.
"Where did he go?"
"Don't know," Temari shrugged dispassionately. "Only him, Kisame and Sakura got the mission detail-"
"Sakura?" he asked in wider eyes, but still narrowed from normality. "What does he want with her?" the last part was said in sarcasm. Surely Sakura was just the weak tearful girl as always. Itachi wouldn't waste his time with that!
"Uh… Did you get dumber? She is on his team," Tenten sweat dropped.
"Don't talk like that to my Sasuke!" Karin fumed as she stomped her foot with her hands clenched at her side.
Tenten and Temari exchanged glances, while trying to muster their grins into a frown but they both couldn't hold it in as they burst with laughter.
Karin's face flushed and she started to pull her kantana, but Sasuke held up his arm to stop her. Though he was eager for a fight- especially with the Hyuga- he knew he had too much on his mind to focus on it at the moment. The news that the brother who you had sworn to kill for revenge of your clan was now in the very village you left to search for him-not to mention that he had one of his own team mates- only added fuel to the fire. After all he had done, the damn bastard was back where he had started. The possibilities of what it would have been like if he stayed in Konoha had haunted his mind, but he always pushed it away, not wanting to think about the past. It was over-no more. But again the possibilities crashed upon him harder then before, while dragging him under. If he had just stayed and learned from all that he could, then Itachi would've came to him! He would've walked right to his front step and he was sure that the eldest would've been defenseless! Now he was furthest from his goal then ever before… Now he couldn't return to Itachi who was safe within Konoha's walls! "Let's go," he growled. He had to get his thoughts in order. He had to find out more from this puzzle. There was too much that he was missing for this whole ordeal and Ryuu had the answers.
He started to turn but stopped and looked to Neji and the others. "Before I go, tell me why Sakura is with him."
"They needed someone strong to be on the team. Sakura fit just fine," Neji said shortly. He wasn't going to pass up the last chance to make the Uchiha's mind spin before he left and he succeeded by the deep scowl etched in his features before flickering into the trees with Kabuto and Karin following.
"That was really weird," Tenten mused. Temari nodded while Neji glared at the spot that was previously occupied by the three unwelcomed guests. What were they doing all this way? They weren't on a mission-or so it looked. There wasn't any scrolls, any packs like many took on assassinations, or anything to suggest differently. It was as if they were just scouting like the many teams were assigned in Konoha. But if that was the case then why were they two and a half miles in Fire Country? Perhaps it had something to do with the base camps? That was the only thing he could think of… "Damn you Shikamaru," he cursed under his breath as he started back to Konoha. "You left me here alone to do all the thinking!"
"What is going on?" Sasuke asked angrily as the three jumped through the branches. "Why are Akatsuki in Konoha?"
Kabuto sighed. He was really in no mood to listen and explain to this. "Akatsuki made an alliance with Konoha because of the War. They needed allies and so they found them."
Karin scoffed. "They'll be sorry for picking the wrong side of the war to fight on when they either die or become slaves."
Kabuto chuckled. "I agree, but I don't expect them to feel the same way."
"Why is Sakura with them?" Sasuke continued. This was perhaps the most mind blowing news. She was weak! What did she have to contribute to the team? How the hell was she still a ninja?! He would've bet money that she would've quite when he left. He always imagined her being a civilian and him returning just for her to throw herself at him.
"She lives in Konoha, Sasuke. What do you expect?" Kabuto asked exasperatedly.
Sasuke tossed a glare over his shoulder. "Don't fight you two," Karin pleaded. She hated when they fought together but it was inevitable most days.
"So he was welcomed back? They just let him return?"
"I think we already covered that. Any other questions as to why and what and who Itachi was and did will be answered in explicit detail once we arrive in Oto. That is only three hours from now. Do you think you can handle that?" Kabuto asked mockingly, but he only received a shoulder.
It wasn't a surprise. Everything that Sasuke believed was falling apart around him. It was only going to get worse when Ryuu explained the massacre to the clan.
Sakura paced behind Itachi who stood leaning against the window frame at the people below on the evening street. The bar across the road was busy and lit brightly though the dark where the reflection of the neon lights shone against the glass of the window. He had been quiet the rest of the day while keeping his thoughts to himself; helping him calm and gain more control over his emotions by the ticking minutes that passed. Kisame was asleep on one bed; it was his way of sneaking over and not getting the couch if he accidentally fell asleep. Neither Sakura nor Itachi would-much less could pick him up and take him to the couch-and the blue man knew it. Hence why he got a nice comfy bed for the night. But that wasn't why Sakura was pacing in frustration. It was with the words that was left by the blonde man.
Shikamaru was alive… Now, but how much longer would that last? For all she knew, he could be killed tomorrow- oh and same thing with Zetsu… She couldn't live with that on her conscious… A wry smile curled her lips and she felt tear rise softly but she blink once- twice before they left again and she stopped momentarily in her pacing. Here she was, killing others but she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she didn't do anything to keep others from killing Shikamaru? It was strange that she would feel that way when it wasn't her taking the life. With a depressed shake of her head, she picked up her pacing again, bringing Itachi's attention to her. "What's on your mind?"
It was a simple enough question, but she found it hard to answer, though she did none the less. "I'm sorry, but I can't stop thinking about the camps."
He nodded his head in understanding. "It is unnerving." He said shortly as he turned away from the window and faced her.
"I know it's unnerving! It's complete lunacy! Konoha and Suna are being cut off by trade and missions from other countries! What are we supposed to do if they start adding more teams and armies to keep us contained?!" She stopped and turned her back to him to face the shrouded darkened room that would hide the tears that slowly cascaded down her cheeks. "We won't even be able to help other countries and clients with missions which means that financially, Konoha will weaken and… Our walls will fall." Her arms wrapped around herself and she clenched her eyes shut to will away the tears. "Who else am I going to loose in this war? I can't even stand loosing Shikamaru," her voice cracked.
Itachi knew she was going through a had time and he felt the rise of sympathy push past his barriers. He wanted to comfort her but… how? Sighing he looked to her shaking shoulders.
He didn't know how to make her feel better, but he knew how to be there for a shoulder. Walking behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest, feeling her tense at the action. It wasn't sudden and it wasn't fast, but instead slow and gentle that she felt the strong chest against her shoulder blades and the pressure that expanded his chest when he inhaled her vanilla shampoo. With an unidentifiable expression, she looked over her shoulder at him. "I-Itachi?"
"Hmm?" he said as he pulled her just a few steps to the bed where he took a seat on the edge. Subtly he held her hand and guided her into his lap where she hesitantly sat. It was strangely awkward to be held by the man who she had been taught to hate. But all thoughts of Sasuke and the clan vanished with no trace left in the shadows of her mind once two arms wrapped around her protectively. Sakura instinctively leaned into his chest as the tears continued and he rested his head on her lush pink hair. It was simple but in that moment-through the sound of comforting thump-thump…thump-thump of his heart, she could almost hear his thoughts. Stupid right? That's what she thought, but you take for granted words when with others. With Uchiha Itachi, it was different. He spoke through his actions and right now she could feel his emotions swirling inside the scarlet reflections of his eyes. He was saying he didn't blame her for crying. "You aren't weak," he said quietly, so low it wasn't quite a whisper. She nodded and tears continued at the realization that this was the first time since Naruto had left that she had a shoulder to cry on. Sasuke would only turn his back and walk away while Naruto stood by her. Itachi… he actually came to her only to say the complete opposite of what his younger brother would say... Even now, as he started to rock, ever so slightly, he was saying to her what she new she had to hear. She wouldn't regret. She couldn't regret. It only hindered your ability to move on and if she did not regret then no matter what end lay ahead of them, she would have Itachi by her side. She would face it with him.
She wasn't aware that they were now laying on the bed, with her still curled into his chest and him letting her cry and release all the tears. But this wasn't just tears of the fear of what the near future held. It wasn't just for Shikamaru. These tears were for the years of her training where she turned to the woman she is today- when no one else saw her cry her release, but instead, she carried their troubles for them, so that it would make it a little easier for them to move on. The arms around her tightened and she felt… safe. It was strange and…. She found it addicting. The comfort , the safety, the respect, and the knowledge of not being rejected. It was so refreshing… It was only strengthened when she felt an ever so soft kiss at the top of her head as her eyelids grew heavier.
Sorry. I don't like this chapter but I didn't feel like going over it any more. Please review!