*Reminder this story is rated M due to language and other natures that are considered for Mature audience. *

Chapter Eight

His eyes opened with shock and sweat travels down his back. Another fucking nightmare. This time it was Sakura laying on the grown with blood caked to her face and all in the beautiful pink hair of hers. The person who was responsible was her. Takao Akira. She was sweet and innocent to those that first meet her, but something hidden beneath all that is a monster. Sighing, Itachi slowly got out of bed doing his best to not disturb Sakura who was sleeping peacefully beside him.

Today was the third day of being in Iwagakure. Things to his surprise have gone smoothly. Akira had yet to step into his radar since Sunday. Sakura knew he was stressed and did her best to smooth it out. Writing in his journal didn't seem to help.

With another heavy sigh, Itachi made his way to the kitchen. starting to make a pot of coffee. Today was the day of discussion with all the Lord and Ladies from the surrounding villages. He knew what they had to offer. From the phone call last night with Tsunade, sound like she was happy with the plan to offer clinics and the student exchange program within the medical felid. Sakura was relieved and was thankful to not think about what else they could offer.

Getting the coffee going his phone buzzed. Taking a step, to the other side he grabs his phone seeing Yahiko's name flash. Clearing his throat, he swipes to answer.

"Good morning so glade you could be up at this hour -"

"Stop with the sunshine words. What do you need Yahiko?" Itachi was not in the mood to deal with sweet greetings.

"Sounds like the famous Itachi woke up on the wrong side." Said another voice.

This was a conference call. "Deidara good morning didn't know I would be speaking with you." Itachi did his best to not sound annoyed.

"We just wanted to brighten your day. Plus, Sasori my man is here too."

"Deidara enough of trying to piss him off. Let's just reveal what we found." Itachi heard Sasori speak and then Deidara grumbling in the back.

Itachi leaned against the counter running a hand through his hair. "What did you find?"

"Nothing."

"What do you mean you found nothing?" Itachi stood up straight catching movement from the bedroom door.

"We had a lead and it led to nothing." Deidara shared.

"We went back to the guy we got the information from, and he told us that it was just a hoax and nothing more." Sasori explained.

Itachi closed his eyes trying to process what was shared. Someone was trying to put a target on Sakura, but why? Was it because of him or Sasuke? He knew that I his little brother had enemies but not compared to the list that Itachi had.

"Itachi are you still there?" Yahiko asked the sense of worry in his voice.

"Yeah, I am. Can you check to see if this has anything to do with Sasuke or me?" he asked. "This does not add up and something seems off."

"We can see what we can do, but don't hold your breath." Yahiko said and then ended the call.

Putting his phone on the counter, Itachi rubbed his face. His brain hurt with the thought of who and why Sakura was being targeted. Even if that was the case, he didn't know what to truly think. Sighing, Itachi removed his hands from his face and opened his eyes. Which he closed again when he felt the burning. Taking a frustrating breath, Itachi made his way to his bag that was in the living room to look for his eye drops.

Easier said then done. The burning usually made him blind to were he had to feel around to find the damn bottle. With all his focus on looking, he didn't sense her next to him, but he knew she was there with that fall like scent of hers and her gentle hand on his.

"I will look for them, you sit while you wait." She helped him to the couch and then disappeared to look for his eye drops. There was a time when something similar happened.

The memory seemed to just file its way forward.

The memory of her soft hands on his face like now.

"Itachi, I need you to open your eyes so I can put the drops in." he did so forcing himself to not close them again. "It's still two for each eye, right?" he nodded. He watched her through blurry eyes as she moved herself to his lap, straddling him. "Take a deep breath." Obeying her, she took the eye drops and her left hand to keep his right eye lid open. His hands positioned themselves on her hips, holding her in place.

Timed moved slowly, as she worked. He truly loved this side of her. Focused and being the doctor, he once and still loved. When she was done and his eyes were closed, he felt her move and the straight back. Dabbing his eyes as the artificial tears ran down his face.

He opened his eyes to see her face. She froze in place and without warning, he leaned in and kissed her.

{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}

Six years ago

Itachi didn't have a choice but to be in this room. his monthly and yearly checkup with the doctor. All because of an IED exploding and damaging his eyes. There was nothing they could do beside eye drops to stop the burning and the wear glasses when his eye sight would blur.

He disliked going to the doctors, hated it even more with the waiting. There was always waiting until he grew irritated. Stepping down from the examination bed, Itachi made his way to the door to ask when the doctor was coming, when the door opened, and a shade of pink appeared.

Backing away to give her room, he whispered her name. "Sakura."

He watched her turn around and her eyes went from being wide to growing soft when she spoke his name. "Itachi, so you are my patient today."

He watched her walk to the counter, which house a sink and other doctor materials. She washed her hands and then turned around to face him while drying her hands.

"I take it my doctor isn't available to see me today?" he asked, sitting back down.

Throwing away the paper towel, Sakura walked over to him and took out her stethoscope. "Take a deep breath." She ordered him, not answering his question. While she was checking his breathing and heart, he got a whiff of her scent. Had a fall like scent to it like wild flowers and plums. It was intoxicating.

She stepped back and went to the file that was on the counter. "Are the drops working the same or are they no longer working?" she glanced up at him asking.

"They work just fine. I don't use them often." He shared. He watched her walk back over taking a flashlight out. Her hands touched his face and his heart just stopped.

"I am going to check your eyes try not to blink. I will make this quick." He didn't move and as he was told did not blink as she shined that light into his eyes. If he was being honest, he didn't really noticed the light since he was a little blind in both eyes. He didn't move until her hand left his face. That's when he blinked.

"Sakura you can read my file and know that nothing has changed." He stated watching her walk back to make a note in his file.

"I know that, but I am doing what I have been taught to do. However, I think the drops dosage needs to be upped. Not by a lot, but some. Glasses, do you still wear those?"

"Not really only when I am reading or working on the computer."

"And how are you mentally?" that threw him off. When she turned to face him once more though jade eyes of hers were searching.

He glanced away from her. "I don't know what you are asking or searching for, but I am fine. I just needed to do my yearly checkup." He stood up and before he could walk towards the door, a flash of pink was in front of him.

"Itachi, I know you don't want to talk about it but what I asked was a simple yes or no. I am not forcing you to spill everything." She explained. He looked down at her and noticed that her small gentle hand was on his chest. "Now could you please sit back down. Just answer a few more questions and then we will be done." With that said she walked away from him and leaned against the counter; arms crossed.

He stood there for a few minutes contemplating whether to leave or to stay. He reluctantly walked back and sat down. There was something there that kept pulling him towards her. He didn't know what and he wasn't willing to find out, remembering she was his younger brother's.

"If I answer your questions then you need to answer mine." He bargained with her.

"I can do that, but you need to answer mine first." She moved to grab the stool on wheels and sat down, arms still crossed.

"I am mentally fine I have not gone insane, and I am mentally stable." It sounded like he was forcing himself to say that.

"So, no nightmares or sleepless nights?"

"Before I answer it's my turn." He watched her sit up straight. "How are things with my brother?" he told himself he wasn't going to ask, but his curiosity won. He told himself that if there was nothing happening then – he stopped that thought. He knew nothing would ever happen between them. Sakura was and will always be Sasuke's.

"I don't how he is, but he ended things a year and half ago. Saying he wanted to explore and find himself." The was a distance in her jaded eyes. She was hurt but refused to let it show. "Now answer."

"I have some nightmares and I do get some sleep." He shared with a sigh, lying about the number of nightmares and sleepless nights.

Sakura stood up and walked back over to the file. He watched her scribble out on a notepad. Taring off the paper she handed it to him and wrote another one and repeated the same action.

"This is to allow you to have refills for the next year on the eye drops, the second one is something that I usually prescribed to patients with nightmares."

"A notebook?"

"Yes, and before you tell me that it won't work, you must give it a try. Most of my patients that I have gave it a try and now have barely any nightmares. I want you to give it a try for a month." She reached into her breast pocket of her doctor's coat. "After a month lets visit and share how it worked for you."

He reached out and took the card. The card read her name, number, and email. "And if this doesn't work?" he asked.

Turning her back towards him as she gathered his file. "Then we will find other ways." She turned around facing him. "I truly believe it will work. You have my contact information, if you have questions, you can reach out." She walked towards the door, with her hand hovering the door handle. "It was good to see you, Itachi." With that she walked out, leaving him high off her scent.

{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}

She didn't push him away as he kissed her. Slow and gentle. He knew that if she wanted to push things further, he would not hesitate to stop her. He released her lips and moved down trailing kisses from her jawline down her neck. He felt her move exposing more of her neck for him. Just before he could gain access, she placed both of her hands on his chest.

"I need to get ready for the meeting, Itachi." He let go and helped her off his lap. "You can take your shower; I took mine when you got up." She whispered and then disappeared from his sight.

He leaned his head back and cursed himself as that damn scent of hers lingered around him. Sighing he went to shower, a cold shower.

Once he was showered, dressed, and satisfied from taking care of himself in the shower, he walked back into the living room with the smell over breakfast. He leaned against the wall watching her. She was wear tight black pants with a cream cami. He needed another cold shower with the way those tight pants made her look from behind. Sensing him from behind her she turned around.

"Good timing, breakfast just got done." Her cheeks matched the color of her hair as he watched her work her way around on plating the food. "I'm going to eat mine while I get my stuff packed up for today's meetings." She stated avoiding his eyes.

When she moved past him, Itachi stepped in front of her. "If you are avoiding me because of the kiss. I won't be apologizing about the kiss."

She looked up at him. "I know you won't apologize. It meant to do so, and no one is at fault with it."

"No one is at fault." Repeated in his head over and over. What did it mean when she didn't blame herself or him for the kiss? Why did it feel like she would be willing to do it again?

"Itachi focus on eating we don't have time to think about what just happened." It was scary on how she could read his mind.

{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}

"Ms. Sakura what can the leaf offer on the table? What can you do that can help build allegiance with both villages?" a member of the Iwagakure council question Sakura.

Itachi was in the back along the wall with the other body guards. He could tell she was stressed but he was the only on that noticed the way her eyebrows pull together or how her jade eyes turn a shade darker.

"What we could offer is clinics and a student exchange program in the medical field. The clinics would be offered near smaller villages that can not travel far out and the student exchange program would help all students who seek to learn about medicine." Sakura explained.

"How would the student program work?" another member asked.

"Students from all villages can apply and then they would given a location to learn from. Students from my village and the ones around it can come here to your village to learn and then take what they have learned back home or to other villages. I spoke with the Kazekage about doing a pilot program with the Sand and the Leaf. If the pilot program works, then we would offer to the other villages." She shared and then added. "However, if you would like to be part of the pilot program then we would be honored to add you. My goal is to have all villages participate in this. Giving the opportunity for others who want to learn."

The council members spoke among themselves giving Sakura time to breath and read the room. From where Itachi was standing it seemed like things where in Sakura's favor, however there was one person who was sitting watching Sakura. Takao Akira.

Akira leaned forward and spoke. "If we do agree to this what would come first the clinic or the program? And would it be money out of our villages pockets or is the Leaf planning to pay for everything?"

He noticed Sakura sitting straighter. "This is just the planning phase. When all the talks and those that plan on joining in that's where we would have the discuss about everything else."

"Ok if we agree would the clinics be in ever village or to most populated ones?"

"I would am for having a clinic as close for those that seek medical help won't need to travel far." Sakura did not miss a beat with answering back to Akira. He was proud of Sakura holding her ground. Though he would not tell her that. The thought alone was his to hold close to his heart where no one would find it.

With no more questions, the meeting broke out for lunch giving everyone break for all the discussions. Itachi made his way over to Sakura and stopped a few feet away when Akira stood in front of her.

"If I agree to put up a clinic in my village how long do you suppose it would take before we are able to use?" Itachi hears Akira ask.

Not missing a beat to answer back Sakura explains. "That can all depend on the crew, the weather, and who is hired for staff. Since I am the head doctor in Konoha I would personally make rounds to see the development of each clinic. I understand if you have concerns about what am willing offer everyone. However, this is up to you since you are the leader of your village."

"Then Ms. Sakura I will give you my answer in a week. I will contact you through Itachi if he still has my number." Akira smirked.

Sakura reached into her bag and pulled out a card. A card that he knew all to well. The same one that he had. "Here now you have mine. Itachi is busy and doesn't answer his phone unless it's the Akatsuki or me."

Akira took the card and Sakura started to walk away when Akira spoke. "Did he tell you all that he did for me?"

Sakura stopped and turned around to face her. "I don't need to know to be honest. What I do know and understand that you are not happy that his is not by your side. I also know that you would like to cause trouble between us. You must understand I have known Itachi more years than I can count. So, whatever tale you want to share about him, don't." a smirk played on his lips. His heart filled with pride. This was another side of Sakura that he loved just as much as her focused one.

"I see. Well, when he does tell you I hope you don't have a weak heart." Akira stated.

"Don't worry, if my heart was weak, I would be the head doctor in my village." With that Sakura finally was able to walk away without being stopped.

{^}{^}{^}{^}{^}

Hello my lovely readers. I do want to apologize for not writing sooner or faster for you all to see what would happen. I thought about putting a hint of Sakura and Itachi's past and how they first met within this chapter. I am planning to have a few chapters solely about their past. I don't know when but from right now I am going to place a few hidden gems in the next few chapters. The reason for not posting as often was because life got busy. Work was more demanding and finding time to write I was lost on what to put. So, I will try my best now that I have the urge to write again and post once a week or every two weeks. I love how this story is turning out and love how much love this story is receiving. Thank you to those who have commented and followed my story. It warms my heart and gives me the strength to write. Don't forget to she what you think about this chapter, and I hope you all enjoy.

Thank you,

Choijiah