Story: The Keeper.

Series: Naruto.

Summary:

Due to a malfunctioned summoning scroll, Sakura finds herself sent into back in a time where Sasuke is still innocent. As she tries to undue her mistake, her reason for returning grows less every day she spends in a life where everything was simple.

Chapter name: A Itachi ending

Word count: 800

{A/N; What is this? The last chapter after so long? D: -S.S Bold indicates inner Sakura's rants.

Waking up to a cold bed was heartbreaking for her. She had wanted so much to wake up next to his warm body and know that just for a moment everything was normal. That they were just a normal couple in love. It was then she heard the shower running. Fear dripped at her heart, carefully she pulled a kunai from the bedside table and slinked toward the bathroom, weapon in hand. Quiet as death she opened the bathroom door, and sneaked towards the misty figure enjoying the shower, only to stop short at a familiar husky voice, "Really, Sakura if you wanted to join me, all you had to do was ask?"

Sakura sputtered indigently, as a blush rose to her face and she looked away sheepishly, "I was trying to sneak a peek, I just thought you would have left already…"

There was a gentle click as he turned the shower off, and pulled back the curtain gracing her with all his naked glory, blushing even more deeply she glanced away quickly, "It's a bit late for that, I'm afraid. You've gone and seen it all, so nothing's new. As for leaving, I was going to wait till you woke up. I believe a talk in order."

Sakura nodded mutely and handed him a nearby towel. After showering alone for a good ten minutes she got dressed and went to talk. Sakura internalized for a good moment or two while Itachi found the words. Or rather inner Sakura did most of the talking. "Shannero, were we that bad? He's probably breaking up with us, because he doesn't want children with generic pink hair. You know if you had more frequent flyer miles on your engine down there, I'm sure he would stay. I say we tie him up and keep him prisoner, for safe keeping of course. I wonder how he's look with handcuffs? I bet that we could-" Before inner Sakura could speak any more profanities, Sakura broke the ice first, "I understand that this is not going to be perfect…"

Itachi voice held a sarcastic lilt as he replied, "I think that an S-class criminal and the Hokage's apprentice being together is perfectly normal, in fact we should ask the Kyuubi if he wants to join our happy little couple." "Gross, we're not having blonde haired red eyed babies. Think of the diseases!"

Sakura puffed up at his words, but before she could make any saucy retort, he continued to speak in a calm collected way that the Uchiha men were famous for, among other things, "I think that the best course of action is discrepancy." "No shit Sherlock! We should ask the Akatsuki leader if could join Shishou for tea when he's not out to destroy the world."

He continued to speak unknowing of the loudmouth raging within Sakura's head, "This war between the Akatsuki and Konoha, no all the villages, is something bigger than the both of us. Thus it could continue on with or without us. It's a simple matter of choosing a side. I swear fealty to no man, but I'm willing to leave everything behind to start anew with you. It won't be easy, but I will make this work."

Sakura was silent for a few moments as her brain registered what he has said. Slowly, she formed her own words, "You want me to leave Konoha? All my friends?"

"Of course not, just disappear for a while. Once the war is over, you can return to your precious village and I shall return with you."

Sakura's eyes widened at his words as they rung slightly crazy to her, "They will imprison you for sure, you can't come back!"

"Some things you don't know about me, will come to light. They will not hurt me I assure you, I have done only what they asked."

Sakura wanted to ask more, but figured she would know in time, her voice shaky, as she gently entwined her slim fingers into his, "I want to try. I want to know what this love can be, so let's run away or whatever the hell it takes for this to work. Let's just see what can happen with time."

It was these words that Sakura remembered many years later, when she chased yet another pink haired Uchiha baby around the yard merrily, one of six to be factual( Who knew Uchiha men were like baby factories?). Everything had a way or working if you let it sort out with time. Her and Itachi were not something you could find in a novel, they were something unique. Something that went against the very grain of society and Sakura couldn't have been more happy to be waking up in the arms of someone she loved every single day.