Itachi had been searching all day and night and still hadn't found her, he had barely caught sight of her, she blend in well with the mud which covered her, if it wasn't for her pink hair he would of missed her. Landing before her, Itachi removed his cloak wrapping it tightly round her. Lifting her up into his arms, it had been over a day since he knew she was missing, Pein had insisted she be found. The entire Akatsuki had been looking; none of the members had been pleased to be dealing with finding Itachi's pet in this horrible weather. The weather had slowed their progress but finally Itachi had found her. Lifting her up into his arms, he knew they had get undercover quickly it wasn't safe for either of them in this rain now that lightning had started above. Communicating through his ring, Itachi advised he had found her and that due to the how far out he was going to take cover until the weather blew over. Knowing these woods well, there was a small cabin left over from an old decreased couple, the small cabin reminded him much like the ones his family and him would visit during the summer periods. Where he had found her was not even hours away from the border to Leaf. She had travelled further than he had expected, he expected that she would have identified the woods around them. Spotting the cabin, he found a chakra signature inside, it was one he recognised. He moved towards the cabin, finding the chakra had disappeared into thin air, entering Itachi found it empty apart from the table in the middle. Double checking for anyone, Itachi figured they had left. Not like this feeling of being watched, Itachi's sense fell on the chakra signature outside the cabin, it moved quickly circling the cabin. Growling Itachi lay Sakura on the dinning table, he preferred not to deal with Leader at this moment but had no other choice. Stepping back into the storm, Itachi could sense Leader standing metres before him, but couldn't see anything.

"Leader?"

Itachi spun as a figure ran behind him, glancing round he couldn't find where exactly Leader was.

"Come out now"

Feeling his feet sliding through the mud, Itachi considered if he was taking off more than he could handle with Sakura. Here he was in the forest, at the mercy of the weather. Rain soaked him to the bone, mud covered his feet and legs, trailing up his body to where he had been holding Sakura. Itachi barely saw the kunai coming, shifting on the slippy surface he ended up barely managing to remain on his feet.

"Itachi, it seems you are struggling"

Itachi finally saw Leader approaching him from the darkness, bowing lowly Itachi wondered why he had come all the way out here.

"Itachi, I don't need her causing issues for the other Akatsuki members. Getting involved is more than you bargained for"

"It won't happen again"

"Kisame, said you have been weak towards the girl"

"My partner, is wrong"

"Then where is your cloak?"

Narrowing his eyes, Itachi could what Leader was hinting at.

"Around Sakura"

"Kisame, made claims of your love life"

"I wouldn't believe everything Kisame tells you"

Itachi had screwed up, Pein's eyes scanned his features as he remained expressionless. Opening his mouth, Itachi couldn't allow his emotions to take over, every action from now on had to be calculating and for a purpose.

"Ensure she can't escape again"

"I will"

Returning to the shadows, Itachi was alone again. Entering the cabin, he had to ensure she couldn't run again. He thought with her chakra controlled, she would of been more docile. It turned out she still had enough strength to run, he couldn't allow her to put him in this position again. She was out cold, she wouldn't feel most of the pain if he just broke her ankle now. It would mean a heavy reliance on him to assist her with everything, but that didn't matter it might actually make this easier on the both of them. If he was leaving the base, she would be headed down to the cells, she shouldn't of been able to get past the lock on his door. Based on the fact that her chakra hadn't broken the sharingan illusion, he guessed someone else was involved in this escape. His footsteps were silent, as he moved up beside her feet, watching everyone of her small movements to breath. Expert hands wrapping around her ankle, he hated having to do this but Leader needed to know he hadn't gone soft. Feeling the bone give way in her foot, biting her lip Sakura screamed as she became aware of the pain from her ankle, seeing Itachi stood at her side, Sakura scream in frustration. He felt sorry for the kunoichi, he could see the pain in her eyes as she lay on the table fighting the tears that threatened to fall.

"You knew not to run"

Sakura's green eyes landed on him as she felt her breaths shaking and the pain in her ankle making her extremely overwhelmed. She couldn't keep herself from letting out a sob. Itachi just stared at her, she wouldn't be able to heal herself due to the bracelet she wore.

"Fuck"

Rolling to the side, she could barely get her mind to focus on treating her ankle. Sakura couldn't recall having her ankle being hurt, she recalled herself falling into a sleep alone in the mud. Her knees and palms split open, she would see the blood over her palm. Wiping her nose with the back of her hand she could feel it running. She was cold, she was soaked to her very core. Mud covered her from head to toe, the cloak that lay beneath her was just as covered in mud as everything she wore.

"Sakura…"

"Leave me alone"

"Sakura, you knew I would punish you for running"

"Fuck you"

Sakura struck out at Itachi, reaching forwards to try punching him, Itachi easily put enough space between them. Staying at her closely, she was glancing at her from the side of the table.

"Did you do this?"

Her blood stained fingers pointed to her ankle, Itachi didn't bother to answer as it didn't affect the outcome of her stay or the injury she would be living with for the next few weeks. The expression that covered his face allowed her to know that he had in fact been involved in the injury. Her heart constricted painfully as she stared at him, too aware of the pain radiating up her leg. Tears falling as she pushed herself to stand on the one foot to avoid anymore pain, holding on to the chair for support she hopped towards the door. He could see which way she was headed, sighing he couldn't let this happen.

"Sakura, stop"

Itachi approached the kunoichi, slowly but surely making her way across to the door. Reaching out to touch her, Sakura slapped his hand away from her. The world stopped turning for a second, the Uchiha moved quickly ending up with Sakura laying beneath him on the floor.

"Don't test me, Sakura"

"I could care less about testing you"

"Sakura…"

"Fuck you!"

Itachi could feel the hostility that came off her in waves, she had made the determination that he was the bad guy and that was how this had to go. The more she fought the more it made his heartache for home, the will of the Leaf Village, the strength that shone through it's ninjas. Itachi wanted to go home, releasing her, he stepped back against the door watching a spot across the room.

"I hate you"

The venom in her words as tears fell, she was on her back staring up at the ceiling above her. She would do anything in her power to stop him from returning her to that Akatsuki base, Sakura just wanted to go home. Itachi never knew how she could be so difficult to coexist within the Akatsuki with, his nerves at her knowing of his loyalties always at the front of his mind especially at times like this. Watching her struggle to stand she was standing before him glaring, keeping her broken ankle up. Itachi noticed how she managed to keep the weight off her ankle, as she decided on her next move.

"I'm not going back with you, Asshole"

"This asshole, wasn't giving you a choice"

"I'm not"

"How do you intend to stop me, Sakura?"

Sakura growled, she wouldn't deal with him again. He had brought her to the Akatsuki with his own intentions, she was done making this easy for him.

"Fuck you"

Rolling his eyes, he raised his eyebrow as he looked at her.

"Kunoichi, the hostility isn't required"

Itachi knew that disapproval from the back of her throat was coming, he had been expecting as much. Letting a small smirk fill his face, Itachi dodged the chair that went crashing into the door where he had been standing. Easily slamming her face down into the floor, Itachi could already tell she wanted to be dramatic, she was upset. Wiping the mud cover hair out of her eyes, Itachi held tightly to her arms twisted behind her back, two could play at this game. She would obey him, even if she didn't wish to.

"I will tell Kisame and the others"

"They would kill you"

"They already had a chance"

Itachi had seen that expression in her eyes, it was a fear something had happened as he had guessed.

"Your eyes tell me, there is something more to this escape"

Sakura fought to get out of his hold, Itachi remained above her, on top as she stared down trying to figure out the best option. Swiftly knocking her out, he wanted to know what had happened but now wasn't the time, they needed to get back to the base before Leader got suspicious. Soaked to the bone, covered in mud, Itachi entered the Akatsuki base with her in his arms. Leader had been expecting their arrival, heading straight for the shower block, Itachi found he was there much too fast for his liking. Leader sat on the bench in the centre while Itachi and Sakura occupied one of the larger stalls circling the outer edge of the room. Setting Sakura down against the wall beneath the shower head, they were both covered in way too much mud. They were just out of sight of the Akatsuki leader. Switching on the water, Itachi blocked her from the majority of the flow as he waited for it to heat up. Finally at a nice temperature, Itachi moved out the way letting the water fall on her. Knowing Leader was waiting to speak to him, itachi stepped up too the entrance of the stall.

"Outcome"

"I broke her ankle"

Leader eyes Itachi closely, the actions of the Uchiha had never been a concern of his but now he was interested in Kisame's concerns.

"She will be remaining in the cells, when I am unable to watch her"

"Itachi, there is rumours wondering that she 'distracts' you"

"The kunoichi…I believe someone released her"

"Nevermind that, I can see the rumours aren't rumours"

"I have…"

"There is concerns about the safety of the Akatsuki"

"I have the Akatsuki's safety in mind"

Leader wasn't bothered what this members did in their down time, but this kunoichi had distracted one of his best ninja. Pein didn't need the safety to be at the whim of Itachi, even with the improved measure in place he would be watching them closely.

"She can not be a liability to the Akatsuki"

"A child is a liability, Leader"

"The child's liability can be concealed, a woman can not"

"Leader, she is only a womb to me"

Both ninjas heard a groan from Sakura, Itachi need to end this conversation to ensure she didn't find out the plans for her yet. Without another word Leader left, leaving the two to clean themselves up. Turning his attentions to the kunoichi, Itachi could see the injuries she had gained, the cuts on her knees. As she sat on the floor her eyes closed as she rested under the water. Crouching down Itachi pulled a small knife from his pack, cutting the clothes from her body, Itachi took his time making sure to not nick her with the blade. Discarding the ruined material in the corner of the shower, Itachi raised up. Removing his weapon pack from his hip and leg, Itachi dropped them both outside the stall. Removing his own clothes, Itachi took the small jug from the wall, filling it with water he let it run over her hair, trying to clear the mud from her pink locks. Sakura turned her head as she felt the water run over her head, opening her eyes she came face to face with Itachi's groin. Looking up at Itachi, Sakura had to admit in this moment he looked good. Her cheeks flush as she pushed the thought from her head, everyone new Uchiha were hot it was a badly kept secret, this Uchiha was also a murder and member of the Akatsuki. Itachi tipped another jug of water over her, ignoring the strange look that had crossed through her eyes.

"Where are we?"

Listening to the footsteps that approached the stall, Itachi wondered if they were walking past but they stopped outside.

"Akatsuki Base"

Leader's form standing at the entrance of the shower stall, Itachi remained in front of her to shield her from Pein's view. Itachi couldn't care that was naked in from of Pein, he didn't have anything to hide from the older man especially if he wanted to interrupt him in the shower. Sakura's eyes went wide, images flashed through her mind as she recalled how she had ultimately escaped. Flashes of Pein pinning her down in the room, grinding down into her as she had struggled to free herself from him. He had left her on the floor of Itachi's room beaten and bruised barely conscious, the door lying wide open. Shaking the memory away he had freed her from Itachi's custody. He was the reason she had been successful in getting out, but why would he do that?

"Why did you let me escape?"

Itachi glanced down at Sakura, it didn't surprise him that she had been assisted in escaping but the fact it was Leader who had assisted her confused Itachi.

"Leader?"

"Itachi"

"You…"

Itachi stayed quiet listening to Sakura try and form the right words, Itachi's gaze watching the emotions on her face as clear as day.

"Leader, she is under my protection"

Turning his back to Sakura, Itachi now needed to get rid of Leader.

"Pein, now is not the time for this discussion"

"Now is fine"

"You broke our agreement"

"No, our agreement covered the woman only at the point of fertility and motherhood"

Sakura froze, did she hear that right? Feeling her stomach twist painful, she curled her legs up beneath her becoming painfully aware of the pain in her ankle as she moved that leg. Her mind went through a million thoughts as she looked up at Itachi's back. Hitting her head back against the wall, she repeated the action again this time harder. Itachi was instant to react, sliding his hand between her head and the wall. He was crouched before her dark eyes staring into emerald.

"Stop, just rest, Sakura"

Closing her eyes, Sakura let the sleep come over her.