"Who made you this way? Who did this to you?"
Her voice was barely above a soft whisper, her emerald eyes staring back into his striking black and cobalt blue hues. The fingers of her soft hand were running up and down his cheek, a sad smile playing on her lips as she did so.
"You have given so much, and yet here you are with bloody hands, losing your eye sight, and a death wish."
His jaw ticked, but he waited as she spoke, his heart was racing and he wasn't sure why. Her eyes weren't filled with pity or condescending spirits, nor anger nor hate.
They were filled with compassion, sorrow, sadness, understanding, and most of all...
Forgiveness.
Yet here he was, an S-class criminal with his kunai to her throat after she had just healed him even though he had inadvertently destroyed much of her life, then intentionally sought her out to bait his brother.
A man with a tainted soul, bloody hands, and a cold heart..
A heart that was suddenly beating as he slowly got lost in her eyes and listened to the words she spoke.
"I'm sorry." She smiled another sad smile.
"For what?" His eyes narrowed, his voice croaking for some unknown reason.
"For all that you have endured. For the weight on your shoulders, for the guilt that haunts your soul and your heart.. for the pain.." she bit her lip and he realized he had pushed too hard on the kunai and leaned back a bit, letting it fall from his hand but keeping a grip on her shoulder. "The list is too long, but I am sorry for all of it."
"I did what was asked of me by my village.." was his weak defense, pathetic now, even in his own ears for some reason. Any other day he would deem that enough, but at this moment, for some reason, it wasn't.
What was happening to him? How could this slip of a kunoichi that he had only known for a few weeks now make him question so many things? Make him feel things. He hated it, it made him angry and confused and suddenly he didn't know what was up and which was down.
Eyes became crimson once more, "Why? Why are you sorry?" He growled, "You did none of those things." His voice was monotone, and it was getting harder and harder for it to stay that way.
"No, but I followed blindly. I hated you because I was told you. I feared you because I was taught to..." she hummed softly, "And then I learned the truth and.." she closed her eyes and a single tear escaped her eyes, and once they opened once more, Uchiha Itachi was at a loss for words. There was so much pain and compassion, it hurt his heart and made it seize in his chest. "I wish you would let me help you find peace... without you dieing.. you deserve happiness and love, whatever that may mean.. because while you paint yourself a monster who doesn't deserve any of that.." her fingers went back to tracing his face, "You are just a man who loved his people so much, he became the villain the people needed to hide away the ugliness of their village."
"And, pray do tell," his voice was strained now - clawed at by unfamiliar feelings, "How would this work out? Where would I go? My brother is out for blood. Everyone knows who I am. What I've done. What could possibly happen?"
"There are options. We could tell shishou everything, have her pardon you as I know she would and tell Sasuke the truth. We could run away.." she smiled softly, "Or you could have Sasuke kill you and allow me to bring you back."
He wasn't sure if she was serious or delusional from the lack of sleep she had as of late. "You would do any of those things for me? I thought you were in love with my Otōto?"
Sakura smiled, "I love him, but not in love with him."
"Why are you willing so much to help me?" His voice was barely a whisper now, his forehead leaning against hers. Why? Why had she become so close? When had she gotten that look in her eyes? When had he wanted to follow her into the light but continuously fought it?
"Because, I mean everything I have said. You deserve and happiness and to be loved."
His eyes met hers once more, as his hand slackened a bit. His eyes darted between her eyes and her lips and he, for once, tossed caution to the side and kissed her deeply.
Whatever happened next, he didn't care. He would face the world if it meant standing beside her.