Fiat justitia, ruatcaelum

{{A/N; Keeping up with Kaa-san could result in a chapter by itself! Seeing the future, Yes, Hinata gets happier. No, the sannin are trying to stay out of the 'Konoha situation' and can only provoke self defense so far. The rest should reveal itself in due time. Big Warning! Burial ceremony, Naru/Gaa in brief (w/ HJ, Oral), WAFF, character bashing, identity theft and mind games. Some graphic nudity, necromancy, and very serious threats.}}

Among The Ruins

And the silence drug on as the snowfall abated.
“Lord Hokage.” The Moerku girl had her hand raised, “Please, my team wishes to be excused from the proceedings.”
“If you lack the courage to continue, so be it.” Orochimaru shooed them with one hand.
“We, also have lost the stomach for battle, Hokage.” One of the ash nin stepped forward, following Sango and her teammates out.
The sand nin girl hopped up on the rail, “We’re out too. Gomen, Kazekage.” She gave a short bow, holding it perched on the rail.
“I understand. Collect your things, I will be along shortly.” The Kazekage dipped his head to his genin. “Please excuse my absence, Hokage. I would stay for the.. Festivities, but I must return my nin home. Next year, perhaps?”
“Certainly, “The snake sannin smiled hollowly, “Next year.” The Kazekage ignored the outrage burning in the Hokage’s eyes.
“Where the hell do you two think you’re going?” Nara glared and pointed at his teammates.
“Individual participation, asshole.” Kiba turned his back, “Besides, how do you follow up a battle like that. Make us look like amateurs.”
Shika burned red in the face, “You ARE an amateur!”
Shino never looked back, as silent as the other six leaf nin that walked without a word, just a passing nod to Sergeant Eboshi.
“It would seem the newest generation of ninja is simply not equipped for the arts of war, Lord Hokage.” The Mizukage leaned on the rail, the Mist Captain beside her, a wide smirk on his face.
Orochimaru’s jaw clenched tightly as he silently dared them to laugh.
*So much as one chuckle… Just. ONE!*
“Lady Mizukage.” The same girl who had led in the rite of death stood at the front of the group of mist nin. “We wish to decline the invitation of combat.”
The woman gripped the rail, “I beg your pardon.”
The girl bowed, “It would be disrespectful to the memory of Commander Momoshi Zabuza to conduct mock combat upon the pool where he fell.”
White knuckles clenched the rail, “And you all feel this way?”
“Yes, Lady Mizukage.”
Orochimaru felt the chakra build in the woman. “Cowards!” She spat the word and spoke in a tone thick with disgust, “Expect a cold welcome when you finally return. It is just reward for your gutlessness!!”
The Mizukage flashed two signs, teleporting out wildly, a dark scorch mark on the floor.
The Mist captain glared down at them. “Commander Momoshi…, eh? Perhaps the walk back will humble you.” And he vanished as well.
“Hehehe, you think they’re upset with us?” A random voice asked.
“Up the bitch’s ass!” Another jabbed the air, hands clasped and first two fingers of each hand extended, “We do as we please; steal, shout, play around, they call us vagabonds and urchins! But one sign of respect makes us yellow? Management needs to make up their damn minds!”
“It doesn’t make any sense!” And the murmur of agreement rippled through them all.\
“Right, gang!” the spokeswoman called out, “Let’s get our shit and bust out. We’ll make up a plan along the way!”
The group cheered and they headed for the exit, roughly filing out.
“I suppose that’s the end of it then…” Orochimaru turned around. At some point, Lee had slipped out, leaving the Hokage alone.
“Lord Hokage!” The last genin, the boy in armored tights stood in the center of the floor. “Is there nothing left for the last man standing?”
Orochimaru gestured to the nearly empty room, “What would you have me do? Your classmates have declined. And I do recall your challenge being met, and dealt with, in a rather rapid and offhand fashion.”
“How many genin can be expected to deal with the Exile? At least I stood against him.” Nara Shikamaru held the sannin’s gaze. “At least give me an opponent I can hope to entertain.”
“Messenger!” The quick flash of chakra appeared at his side.
“Yes, Lor- whhaaaaaa!” The chunin hit the pool of water on his shoulder.
“Begin!” Shika was moving before the chunin was up, a kunai in each hand ripping the air as he stabbed.
The chunin teleported away, reappearing twenty yards off.
“What is the meaning of this, Lord Hokage?” The messenger ducked as Shika’s kunai sailed past his ear.
“You are fighting.” The snake sannin nearly laughed, “The winner shall receive a prize of their choosing. Any one thing within my considerable realm of influence.”
“I hope you’re ready!” Shika came at the messenger, running low, the fingers of one hand stirring the water as he ran.
The chunin held his ground, pulling a sickle from his back and running the chain through his fingers.
Shika coiled and leapt, an open attack straight up the center.
*What a fool.* Orochimaru clicked his tongue as the chunin grabbed the leading foot. And he practically telegraphed the high fist. *Too bad Eboshi caught him…*
Orochimaru blinked the stars from his vision as a blast of light came from the genin’s hand. The chunin stumbled back, one hand over his eyes. The other whipping the chained sickle about as Shika hit he water on his back.
The chunin froze, his limbs flailing awkwardly as Shika let one of the doppelgangers pull him to his feet.
Across the surface of the water, a shadow stretched unnaturally between them.
Hands grasping tightly, Shika mimed what the other boy mirrored. Grasping the chain, holding it taunt.
The chain made a loop around the chunin’s neck, his eyes wide with fear.
“That’s enough!” Eboshi called, dropping to the water and standing between Shika and the messenger.
The shadow broke and the messenger fell to his knees, choking and gagging, clawing at the chain around his throat.
The snake sannin couldn’t help but smile as he teleported down to the fighters.
“Your skill is advanced, even for a chunin.” Orochimaru smiled down at the boy, “Messenger, fetch him a flak vest, would you?”
“Yes, Lord Hokage…” The messenger croaked and teleported away.
“I was ready years ago, but the age restriction…” The messenger reappeared, handing off the new vest.
“Nara, isn’t it?” Orochimaru felt his grin grow wider, “You were at the head of your class, weren’t you?”
“Yes, Lord Hokage. They do call me a genius.” The answer carried no small amount of pride.
Orochimaru laughed aloud, “Do they? And what does this fine, and possibly only, example of Konoha youth desire?”
“Two requests.”
Eyes widened. “Well. We are the clever one. Very well, but you may not ask for any more. Name the things your heart calls for.”
Shika grinned, “I seek first to become your student To serve you as Hitake once did.”
“The other?” *This is quite interesting…* Orochimaru stroked his chin, *What else would this boy want so boldly?*
“I want to see the whole of the present and to glimpse the future!”
“Kya kaka kaka! Don’t we all! And how do you suggest I bestow this gift upon you?”
The simple evil in the boy’s eyes, they way his lip curled at one corner. He had simply waited for the Hokage to ask the right question. He knew what he wanted and how to get it.
The thought of being used in the plans of another tickled the sannin in places he had thought were dead.
“You are quite possibly a genius, young Nara.” Orochimaru couldn’t put away his widening smile, “And so long as you keep in mind who’s genius you are, you shall succeed me as Hokage. Tell me of this mad plan you have to see the present and future.”

Her head hurt beyond reason. Not any specific one, but all reason. It would never matter what the reason thought it might have been, her head had absolutely no business hurting that badly.
After a few moments of the relentless, constant pain, she came to realize that her whole body ached.
It wasn’t enough that she had the worst hangover the world had ever thought about having, but coupled with what felt like a beating so violent it would take a dozen med nin a week to put her smashed pieces back together…
*I would put a knife through my heart just to be free of this headache…*
The humidity was too damned high… and why was it so damn hot…? She opened her eyes slowly, grateful for the darkness. The yellow that filled her vision rippled and quivered.
*SHIT!* She burst up, out of the water. “I could drown…” Her voice was thick and hoarse. She sucked on her dry tongue, unable to work up any saliva.
The acidic sting of the yellow water in the tub burned her nose. “Wha…?” She sniffed it again. It smelled like the corpses kept for training med nin.
“No way…” She grimaced as she climbed out of the tub, “Am I gonna smell like a cadaver.” She forced her voice to speak.
“Good morning, Sergeant.” A sickly sweet voice called across the hollow concrete room, “Did we sleep well?”
She spun around… what was the dream… No dream.
*Oh…no… no, no, no…* The memories played, each piece taking her back… her mind knowing what was, even as events played out in reverse. Panic filled her. The same panic she had felt as her heart had stopped.
And Anko fell, realizing she didn’t feel the desire to draw breath.
And that her heart didn’t beat.
“If you’re going to scream like that,” Orochimaru stepped forward, “Remember to suck in first. It’s much more effective that way.”
“No!” Anko shouted she shot up, sucking in the deepest breath she could hold, “Get away!” She grabbed a surgical knife the shape specialized for a purpose she had no time to wonder about.
“Give me the knife, Mitarashi. Obey the command.”
A quiet voice stirred in her mind. A buzz.
“You can have the when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers!” And she plunged the blade into her chest.
A large snake shot up from the floor, looping it’s body around her waist and elbows, pulling her arms back.\
Orochimaru pushed her against a counter and pushed her down, one hand slowly pulling the scalpel from her heart. “You do realize the subtle irony we display her, don’t you?”
Pressure pinned down her feet, a second serpent of great size twining around her ankles.
Anko could see the wound. Her skin was pale, tinged blue. And nothing escaped the hole in her chest, save the smell of preservatives.
“The futility of trying to take a life you have already lost, tch tch, tch.” He set the knife aside and pulled a needle and thick black thread from his work apron. “The sooner we work past these issues, the sooner you can get back to work.”
“ I am dead…”
“No,” Orochimaru countered, “You are undead. And you live again by my hand and it is my command you will follow to the letter, or that life will be revoked.”
“You cannot simply raise someone from the grave and expect them to be grateful…” Anko struggled against the binding serpents, “It will be far easier for you to send me back to hell than get me to do a damn thing in your name!”
The sannin clipped the thread off, the coarse stitches finished. “Mitarashi. The sooner you accept that you will do as I command, the sooner we will both be much happier. Now get up and dress yourself.”
“Stuff a kunai up your ass!” Anko shouted, going still. But the buzz in the back of her mind grew louder.
Orochimaru pulled the apron off, laying on the counter behind him. “Despite your status, I have all the time I need. Your will Will break, and when it does, you will do anything I command you to do.”
Anko forced a laugh, “I’d like to see you try! I’m already dead! What more can you take from me?”
The scowl that hit her stilled the laughter and took the fire out of her defiance. “You think you have nothing now?” He made a simple gesture and the snakes vanished, slithering away, “See what I can indeed strip from you, woman.”

A pair of faceless angels knelt over each of the fallen ninja, wings cowled wide and arms laden with chain of sand that slowly circled as Zabuza and Haku slipped slowly into their graves, the earthen jars bearing the smiling faces of those they held.
The Uchiha were both sullen and silent, looking for all the world like the brothers they were. Dark faces and red eyes almost perfect reflections.
Naruto had his eyes closed, his great outburst in the flooded arena the last words he had spoken.
Ino sniffled, hanging on Sasuke’s arm, the sleeve of his shirt soaked in tears. His arm was around her shoulders, hand holding gently.
Hinata stood stoically, tears leaking down her face while Hanabi gazed on stone faced.
Gaara gently poured the angels into the grave shafts, forcing the earth to settle. “Does anyone have anything to say?”
Itachi turned away, looking back toward the scorched orchard. A short distance away, Jiriaya and Tsunade held their own council.
“We keep the secrets of the dead…” Hanabi spoke softly, her voice echoing strangely in the twilight, “…and we honor their council.” Her voice held an incorporeal edge, like the sound of wind as the branches rattled. “Farewell, friends. May you find peace in the embrace of the most beautiful nightmare.”
Sakura’s grip tightened around the grave markers. As the chills Hanabi had sent through her fled into memory, she strode forward, planting each marker with a firm thrust.
“Welcome to the Uchiha Complex…” She took two steps back, glaring inwardly upon herselves. She turned her back and marched out of the cemetery. She passed the sannin without looking up from the brickwork path, though she didn’t see it.
Someone had taken it upon themselves to rebuild the entire complex during the summer. The fresh paint on every building, the green grass yearning up to embrace you, the lanterns that lit dimly as the sun began to fall behind the horizon… It was surreal. The sounds that should be there; children, parents, couples, dogs… All was missing. Not even ghosts were left.
Sakura looked up as sudden shade caught her.
The orchard. Some of the trees in the far corners had survived Itachi’s fire, and the grass was growing well.
But like the empty homes, the trees would take decades to properly heal.
It was darkening and the physical distance of the lanterns at the orchard entrance did little to lift her spirits.
Nor did the jutsu shield Jiriaya and Gaara had erected. It was translucent enough to let through daylight, but it was always overcast and dusk turned quickly to night within the wall.
Sakura sighed as a sweet scent tickled her nose, mild and soft. On instinct more than anything else, she followed the scent and found herself standing in a far corner of the orchard. Looking down at two trees that huddled in the narrow space. The one to the outside was wide in the trunk, two saplings had grown up so close together they had intertwined into a larger single tree. The other was young and slight, the fruit it still bore bowed the thin branches.
After the abuse and neglect, the resilient soldiers of wood still stood strong and found the strength to bear fruit. The blossoms still hung in places, bright white tipped with a stunning red edge. Brighter than she had remembered them being before.
And the scent they set adrift on the wind was overwhelming, intoxicating. And soothing.
She stepped between the trees and reached up, her hand grazing the short, soft fuzz of one fruit and it fell into her hand, as if it wanted to be eaten.
Sakura found herself obliging the silent request, the tender skin giving way under her teeth and the soft, squishy flesh parted easily.
The bite was sweet, rich and moist. Juicy without the fresh hole in the side of the fruit weeping all over her hand.
*They may be the vainest clan that ever walked… But this is one hell of a fruit…*
*All but perfect.* She could sense the half part of the agreement.
Sakura took another bite, realizing how hungry she had become in the last twelve hours, *And how, oh Inner one, could it be better?*
*Segments. Like an orange. That would make it easier to share.* Inner Sakura responded smugly.
With dark setting in strongly, enjoying a quiet meal of fruit alone, Sakura could feel the tension pour out of her as she put her back to the single tree and slid to the ground.
*We’ll pick up the training tomorrow…* Sakura nibbled another bite off the fruit, *See if we can’t get back into sync. How about it?*
*Still convinced I’m a me and You’re a you?*
*But in the end, we are a pair. We are one… Like two sides to a coin…*
The mirth flowed in an inner chuckle, *And you just made that up too.*
Sakura smiled as her thoughts muddled. *Yeah… Pretty deep…* Her eyes grew heavy and the weariness oozed out of her bones. *…Sleep is good…*
*Hang on… You hear that?*
The whisper of the branches seemed to be more than just wind and charred leaves. A voice. A voice that grew louder as she picked out the tones, the rhythm of the words.
“… so surprised every time the find me in here, Sakura-kun. Like everyone forgot I’m a ninja and these windows don’t lock.” The sound of a quiet chuckle faded into the rattle of branches.
She strained to separate the sound of his voice from the rush of blood in her ears.
“Hey, Sakura-kun… I know you can hear me… And I’m gonna sing you a song… It doesn’t really fit, but I can’t remember the words to anything else right now. So if you don’t like it, you’ll have to slap me to make me stop. And if you do like it, you gotta wake up and tell me, ‘kay?”
*That’s so sweet…*
*And so sad…*
She couldn’t have guessed who spoke first…
“Nobody knows what it’s like… to be the bad man… to be the sad man… behind blue eyes…”
Sakura lost herself in the slow rhythm of his soft voice. The sweet tones she knew from long ago… Another dream… another life… The man with long, golden hair.
“An nobody knows what it’s like… to be hated… to see so jaded… the way I do…”
Tears crept warm on her cheeks as the emotion of the song ran through to her heart. Like he pulled each syllable from a wound in his heart. A heart she longed to heal…
One hot line of a tear ran down her temple…
“…You can hear me… Sakura-kun…” A slow breath warmed her neck. The scent of spices and embers filled her with warmth. “I swear I’ll love you forever… Just please…”
The voice blurred, became two as the man she dreamt of pleaded with her, “Wake up, Sakura…”
A gentle touch brushed her lips and a hard, calloused and gentle held her neck, the heel resting at the corner of her jaw.
Sakura wrapped her arms around the man before her, holding him close as they shared one heated breath.
The kiss came away, the scent of spices on embers coating her sense as she felt the chakra before her.
“Itachi…”
“…Yes?”
She opened her eyes, gazing into the slowly swirling orbs of the Uchiha still trapped within her embrace.
The usual deep crimson seemed blue. The black pattern replaced with white swirls, the depthless pupils in the center absorbing it all as his eyes flowed in and down.
The energy of his body glowed in the dark, a pale amber color that seemed to coat every hair… the long straight hair and the stubble just starting to grow anew on his jaw.
Sakura reached up, mussing the hair, smiling as it stuck up in places. “Why would you kiss me?”
Itachi shrugged, “Seemed like a good idea at the time.” Sakura felt one hand on her hip. And he smiled. The simple, pleasure filled grin showing his teeth. For the first time, Sakura saw his teeth.
They weren’t perfect, a chip in one and one of the front ones in the bottom was kicked out slightly. But it made him beautiful.
“I see you differently, Itachi…”
“I would hope so.” His smile shrank back down, hiding his teeth. “Are you feeling well?”
“Never better…” She gazed at the worry deep in his whirlpool eyes, “What do you see?”
He smiled again. Wider. His teeth showing, “Just you, Sakura… Both of you.”
“You see both of us?” Two voices came out of the same mouth, speaking in unison for just one sentence.
“Your eyes are like gems… Glittering the same color as your hair…” Itachi stroke her hair.
Sakura purred at his touch, holding to his hand as it came back to her neck. “Why are you so nervous, Itachi-kun?”
“It shows?” Itachi didn’t pull away, didn’t look away.
“Not some new power…” Sakura gave his hand a squeeze, “Intuition.”
Itachi sighed. Lowered his eyes. The hand on his hip pulled away. “Gods… I wish I could just let go… Let you take me where you would…” His head came up, eyes locking with hers, “I’m sorry I let it carry this far, Sakura…”
She let go his other hand, pining for his touch as soon as it left.
“…But you and Naruto… seem happy. I don’t want to spoil that. Not for either of you.”
It seemed the infamous Uchiha sharingan did miss some things.
Sakura folded her hands in her lap, looking down at them, waiting for the thump of her pulse and the heat in her palms to fade. “I’m sorry, Itachi… I don’t know what came over me…” Her cheeks burned. The normally acute sensation as intense as standing before a blazing fire.
The aura around Itachi faded slightly as he stood. He put one hand to the fire scarred trunk of the twin tree, “It’s strange how these trees bloom more beautifully in darkness than they do in the light.” He kept his gaze from her, even looking away as she stood, “Neglect and abuse them, and they thrive and become stronger. The trees and seeds can lie dormant for years, decades even, waiting for the time to bounce back.”
His eyes closed, “Stronger than ever. So much like the spirit of a warrior.”
Sakura looked down and away, eyes falling upon the pit. She hadn’t managed to more than nibble at the last bits before she had fallen asleep.
The whisper of wind, of grass and cloth, and the warmth of Itachi’s chakra faded away.
By the time she had looked back up, he had slipped into the shadows of night.
Sakura extended her senses, hunting for the scent of his chakra.
*He’s masking it… Let’s leave him be.*
*I think we hurt him…* Sakura sighed, falling against the tree, *If this was to keep everyone happy, why does our heart ache so badly? Why does his?*
*You know we don’t know.* Inner Sakura lent her a shoulder to lean on, helped her choke back the tears.
*We got company.* Two low chakras approached slowly. Both rumbled deeply with latent power.
Sakura suppressed her chakra, squashing it into her bones and masked it, drawing on the chakra of the trees and soil to fill her flesh.
The subtle buzz in her flesh mumbled like the surroundings. Cloaking her more deeply than shadows alone.
“…you sure, Naruto-kun?”
“Seriously, who would come back this far?”
Both voices were low, but casual. The second was obviously Naruto.
*What are they doing back here? They aren’t looking for me…*
“Itachi might on whim alone.” Toga wearing Gaara spoke. The dark purple smoke that enveloped him sloughed off, trailing along the ground, leading his way, probing about. “He’s weird like that. And just plain sneaky.”
“And everyone’s asleep ‘cause it’s like two in the morning.” Naruto argued.
“Alright. That is true.” Gaara conceded.
Sakura crept closer, using the trees for cover. She spotted Naruto quickly, the sunrise orange red aura that sheathed him was nearly luminous as he tossed a fruit back and forth.
This close, Sakura could see the blanket Gaara had spread out on the ground. He lay back upon it, lounging in the muted moonlight.
“Hey, Naruto-kun?”
The fruit stopped in one hand. “Hey, Gaara lover.”
*They aren’t serious… Are they?*
Sakura realized her Inner had asked and not her.
“So what about the Hanuro thing?” Gaara asked, stretching out.
Naruto shrugged, “Kyuubi fancies her a hot little vixen… But the pink hair…” He shivered. “Hair should not be pink.”
“My hair’s red.”
“Red is a natural color. You saw her.” Naruto flashed a henge one his hair, “Cherry blossom pink! Like she hates her hair color so badly she has to dye it constantly. And then, not something normal, like blonde or brown or black, but pink.” The henge flashed colors as he spoke before returning to blonde.
*If this were my body…* Inner Sakura seethed.
*Oh, he’s getting REAL close…*
“It just isn’t cool to me.” Naruto took a hug bite out of the fruit, “She’s a nice girl and all, and yes, Kyuubi, she would bear strong, healthy kits, But as long as she fights who she really is like that, she’ll just never be more than a friend.”
Sakura gasped as the knife pierced her heart.
*But he doesn’t know…* Sakura argued, *He’s never asked… Not even in passing…*
*Let it go! This isn’t our world!* Her Inner mentally slapped her face with a cold hand, *Back home, we might dream that Naruto is waiting by the bedside, singing and brushing out hair and painting out nails, but here… Hey, You saw Itachi! Blonde aura, blue eyes! Maybe it was him you were dreaming of!*
Sakura smiled at the sentiment. *Not everyday you fight your own depression…*
“Gaara!”
Naruto’s voice called out. Sakura turned to see the blonde staring down at the lace thing in his hands. “Did I miss something?”
“Naw,” Gaara replied, one hand hidden beneath his toga, “Just thought I’d see what the deal was. They don’t tend to chafe as bad, but there isn’t as much freedom to swing.”
*Intuition calling Sakura; Get the hell out of here!*
Naruto flopped down beside Gaara. Leaning close to give him a kiss. “So which are we today?”
Gaara shrugged, “I’m not sure. Why don’t you pick?”
Naruto grinned, “I got something I wanna try.” The blonde flashed a series of signs and his body shifted as the jutsu took hold. His chest swelled as his shoulders narrowed, his hips growing less square, the gentle sound of his zipper ticking down as the change in shape and size stressed his clothes.
*To borrow Hinata’s line;* Sakura’s Inner burned, *That terminally pisses me off! That was supposed to be your experiment!*
“Show me what you got, Sandman…” Naruto purred huskily.
Gaara reached down, slipping his hand under the vest Naruto wore, fondling the breast he found.
Naruto moaned quietly, “Not much of a change… But I like it…”
Grinning, the sand nin took Naruto’s hand, sliding it under the toga, “How about some help.”
The subtle movement of the hidden hand slipped the toga up, inch by inch until Gaara’s shaft appeared, wrapped in the delicate fist of the henge.
“Let’s pretend she’s watching.” Gaara pointed to a place in the trees, not far from where Sakura stood. A doppelganger appeared, a poor imitation of her, eyes fixed mutely on the boys.
“Gods that’s really got me going.” Naruto shifted his position, his tongue flicking out across Gaara’s head. “Make her look angry.” Naruto took the member into his girly mouth for one hard suck, pulling a shudder from the sand jinchuuriki, “She’d be pissed if she even found out about us.”
Sakura looked at the clone as the features twisted into a grimace of ugly rage.
*That’s not me… He doesn’t even care…*
*Sakura… Hey, Sakura!*
She blinked as the tars flooded her eyes, only getting worse. The sound of Gaara moaning into the night they both thought was empty stabbing her.
She backed away under the cover of the darkness, the noise of Naruto’s sloppy blowjob covering her clumsy escape.
The shield capped wall suddenly barred her path as the rising chakra of the demon lovers pressed upon her.
Sakura broke, running blindly, one hand trailing along the wall as her tears poured from her heart.
The voice of her Inner tried to break through, possibly even crying for help as it drowned in the grief, but Sakura couldn’t think past Naruto’s responses.
*Shallow. As shallow as Ino at her worst. Like a painting!* She wailed to only herself passing buildings and houses within the complex, *He only sees the surface and doesn’t see me half as well as the bastard fox in his belly does!*
Blinded by the heartache running down her cheeks, Sakura ran into the wall before she saw it, falling on her back. She just lay there, crying.
The blossoming pain of a headache steadied her mind.
*For the love of the damned gods!!* Inner Sakura shouted, an echo rattling around her ears for effect, *It only took a wall to get through to you! Are we bleeding?*
Sakura sniffled, wiping a hand across her brow. Sweat and tears. The rough stucco had left some dust, but nothing more. She climbed to her feet, moving toward the sound of a small fountain.
*He said he would wait… That he loved me…* She wiped her eyes and sat next to the fountain, gently passing handfuls of water over her face and arms.
*Not this Naruto.* Her Inner had tried to soften the blow, *Not this world. Those were your dreams…*
Sakura sighed, moving to the dark stoop of one of the houses, tucking herself deep into the shadows.
*But why Gaara?* Sakura hugged her knees, *Of all the people, why Gaara? He’s overly dramatic, seems to like swapping gender at will…*
*Besides the whole mutual demon vessel thing and the fact that they’ve been more or less in constant company for the last decade… yeah.*
*Can’t you sympathize just a little?* Sakura sighed.
*When you don’t want sympathy anyway? Why bother that boat?* her Inner was raising one brow again.
Sakura looked across the street, seeing the shadows of buildings set against the shield backdrop. The glow of the moon was diffused enough to keep everything in shadow.
*Then tell me; why are we such a fool?*
*Nature of the beast, I suppose.*
*We sure wish I could see the stars…* The odd tone of both speaking at once was somehow comforting.
Sakura watched a pair of blue pinpoints edge across the roof, hidden within the shadow except for their glow.
“Leave me alone.” Sakura turned away, wedging her shoulder into the doorjamb. From the corner of her eye, she could see the lights had stopped, stone still. And focused on her.
“Go away!” She raised her voice as she stood.
The eyes held for a moment. Then they dropped tot eh ground, dragging a shard of the shadows with them in the form of a man.
Sakura turned to the door, grabbing the knob and twisting.
“Locked! Of course it had to be Locked!!” She pulled back her fist, aiming for the place where the latch and bolt would be, chakra running to her fist, pooling in her knuckles.
And at the peak of her wind up, a hard hand wrapped around her wrist, dragging her around to face its master.
The deep blue eyes held her own against her will, the vortexes swallowing her, “Please…” His voice rang with the wound she knew he still bore upon his heart, “Tell me what’s wrong… Don’t just fight it and run…”
The pink fire that had consumed her fist flared out, hr hands shaking and lip trembling. The eyes still watched her, the aura of gold that clung to him growing stronger.
And Sakura collapsed into him as the wall of anger that supported her fell away. The sobs wracked her body as she wept and she only cried harder as secure arms encircled her, held her close to the warmth and the steady, strong beat of his heart.
He gently rocked for side to side, “Ssh, ssh, ssh…” His hands held her close, “It’ll be alright…” Itachi whispered. He sunk down as Sakura’s weight leaned against him, his hand coming up to slowly stroke her hair, still rocking her back and forth, “I’m here for you… I’m not going anywhere…ssh, ssh, ssh…”
Sakura fought for any shred of self control as the man she sat next to shushed her like an infant, embarrassed that it was calming her nerves, too upset to really care.
She realized she had taken hold of every last inch of his shirt she could ball up in her fists and turned loose, only to find herself closer as she folded her arms closed against her chest. She wanted him closer and wrapped her arms around his chest. Her face buried in his chest, the scent of him was thick.
“N..Na..Naruto a..and…” Her breathing still escaped her as the sobs died down.
“Here…” Itachi shifted, sitting so he could reach her face, wiping away the last of her tears.
Sakura closed her eyes, focusing on the warm body beside her, “I s..saw…” She opened her eyes as the image of Naruto with his mouth full of Gaara’s manhood pushed itself into her mind, the fountain she had washed up in doing little to dispel the vision that shook her to the core again, breaking the sentence on her tongue.
She fumbled with her breath, the shuddering, useless pulses trying to pattern her erratic heart.
The other arm came around her again, “Ssh, ssh, Never mind, Sakura… never mind…”
Resting there with his aura drawn about her like a blanket, she wasn’t sure it really mattered anyway.
His arms changed position, one slipping through hers and around her shoulders, the other sliding under her knees and Itachi stood, scooping her up as she clung around his neck.
“Where are you taking us?” Sakura gasped as the night air whipped past them. Itachi was airborne bounding along the rooftops, each step sounding off no louder than a tap.
“It’s getting chilly out here.” He whispered to her, “You’ll catch cold dressed like that.”
Sakura felt the color rise in her cheeks again and leaned in close to him, taking in the scent of ashes and spices.
Her eyes closed, he might have been standing still with a strong breeze washing over them for all the jostle.
She tightened her embrace as the hold of her weight lessened for a moment as they dropped down and then the ride was over.
Opening her eyes slowly, they stood on the balcony of the manor.
Reaching out with one foot, Sakura stepped out of his cradle hesitantly, one hand trailing down his arm and grasping his hand.
The mangenque swirled restlessly as he followed her to the door. The latch jiggled, though the door remained securely closed.
“Here…” Itachi reached into his pocket, drawing out a slim cloth case, “I’ve got the key.”
Sakura let him have his hand back as he knelt before the door, the case opening to reveal several tarnished Uchiha fans, the handle portions of the fans distended into needles and hooks of various sizes.
He quickly selected two of the more battered picks and slipped them into the lock.
The tumblers muttered as they turned one at a time and with an expert twist, the latch turned and the door opened under his hand.
There was a soft tension in his shoulders as he rose, sliding the lock picks back into his pocket, a hesitation in his hips as he turned. One minor flaw in his perfect grace.
“Wait…” Sakura took hold of his wrist with both hands, “…stay here…” She chewed her lip, begging him to stay as the vortex in his eyes came upon her. She leaned back gently, feeling him yield as she drew him into the room.
The feather touch of his hand shut the door, letting it swing with no more force than was required. The latch clicked twice hesitantly.
Inside, the room was filled with highlights and shadows. There was just enough light to see by, though the brightest source by far was Itachi. His eyes blazed in the darkness as they watched her, the subtle glow of his hair seemed brighter with no other light to overshadow it. His hand passed though the locks as he followed her lead across the room.
Sakura slipped a charge of chakra into her hair and eyes, seeing the pink glow as it radiated outward, “This is what I see…” She ran a hand through his hair, “And your eyes glow like stars…”
Itachi returned the gesture, sending a wave down her spine as his fingertips grazed her ear, “And you’re in full bloom…”
“Heh, man that was cheesy.” Itachi smiled, one hand tucking behind his head.
The giggle that escaped Sakura filled the room for a moment, leaving behind a pleasant echo.
Her knees coming against the back of the bed at last, Sakura unknotted the cord that held the Ryo’s heavy leather vest closed. She unbuckled the sword belt and rolled her shoulders, letting both items drop tot eh floor.
The intensity of his eyes jumped as they flicked down, then back up.
Sakura laid a delicate finger over his lips, stilling his tongue, “Please… Just stay here tonight… That’s all I ask….”
Itachi bowed his head, eyes closed and nodded. He didn’t open his eyes as Sakura slipped out of the tight leather pants or as she slipped under the cool cover of the blanket.
And with his eyes still closed, he rolled his shoulders out of his jacket, letting it fall to the floor.
Sakura watched silently as he knelt down, unlacing his boots and slipping them off. The long wraps he wore in place of socks unfurling with a simple tug.
He rose, hands catching the hem of his shirt and pulling it up and off. Faint tan lines ringed his arms and neck where the shirt rested, the build of his body lean and drawn in taunt muscles like steel cord.
Unlike the heavily chiseled men, Itachi’s body was far less severe, appearing almost average, his ribs even sticking out slightly.
Deeper than the cleft and tone of muscles was the scar that came over his shoulder, crossing the center of his chest.
Still wearing the heavy canvas trousers, Itachi circled the bed, climbing in on the far side.
The puff of cold air hit Sakura, raising gooseflesh along her arms and legs. She waited for him to settle, listening as he shifted about.
“Hnnn… g’night, Sakura…”
She held her breath and her lip between her teeth as she scooted closer. He didn’t pull away as she pillowed her head on his shoulder, one hand laying across his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart as it grew slower in rest.
“…Thank you, Itachi-kun…”
The arm she lay over circled back up, resting its warm hand on her waist feather light.
If anything else were going on, the girl of pale rose colored hair didn’t care. The steady beat of his heart was a lullaby to her, the rise and fall of his chest rocking her to sleep…
*…he smells like fresh ramen…*

{{A/N; The long awaited Saku/Ita. Please don’t kill me. It was impossible to find an RL beta. The anime fans wouldn’t read it ‘cause there was smut, the smut fans wouldn’t touch it due to its manga roots. So I submit this in its original format to the fans of both anime and smut. Though I maintain that they were making love. Be gentle on me… CD}}

Mending Broken Hearts

A soft moan escaped Sakura, reaching out for the warmth as it was stolen away. The wave of cold air that hit her was enough to shock her awake.
She could make out the shadow of a body, the shiff of cloth against flesh and the folding whump as the pants hit the floor.
The bed sagged as the missing body returned, hesitating as Sakura lifted onto one elbow.
“Hn?”
“Just me…” Sakura whispered.
“Sorry.” Itachi muttered as he lay back down, “I didn’t mean to wake you…”
Sakura lay back against him, feeling the chilled sweat on his skin. “It’s alright…”
“It was just too hot.”
Awake for a time, Sakura began to draw idle circles on Itachi’s chest, feeling him tense at first, slowly relaxing.
“Mmm…” She purred as his hand drew similar circles on her waist, the light touch enough to stir her chakra.
Changing the rotation of her circle, Sakura smiled as Itachi jolted, his fingers coming away from her waist.
She ran her fingernail over his perking nipple again, giggling as he stilled her hand within his own.
“What’s that for?”
“Hmm…” Sakura lay back down, listening to the beat of his heart. A beat that was slightly faster than it had been before. “I dunno…” She shifted her hand, lacing her fingers into his, “maybe I’m just trying to get a rise out of you.”
“You’ve gotten a rise, trust me.” The wide toothy grin on his face shone through his words.
Sakura sat up, “Is that a fact?”
“Yes.” Itachi gave her hand a squeeze, “And you have my attention as well.”
“You don’t like it?” Sakura tried to pout.
*Hard to pout when you’re grinning like that Sakura…* The lecherous tone of Inner Sakura chided.
“Hang on, I didn’t say that!”
Then the inner demon whispered a devious idea in Sakura’s ear.
“Why are you gig-uhh…!” The Uchiha arced his back as Sakura’s tongue flicked over his nipple. “What was that?”
Sakura lay against him bodily, using her free hand to push back her hair and grin at Itachi, more than aware that she was chest to bare chest with him. “What was what?” She didn’t try to suppress the next giggle.
He just lay there, gazing at her. The smirk he wore as amused, confused. The tempo of his heart had picked up again, reflecting heavily throughout his body, and most heavily against her leg through his boxers.
It suddenly occurred to her how much taller than her he really was. By nearly a foot.
Sakura scooted up, dragging her body over his.
“Hey…” Itachi’s other hand came to her shoulder, “If you don’t knock that off, I’ll have to retaliate…”
She kissed the side of his neck, “Is that a threat?” She shifted, moving to the other side of his neck.
The world spun over, the great blue mangenque gazing at her as their foreheads touched. He held himself above her, their hands still tangled on one side, the other supporting him, one leg between hers. “It’s a promise.” His grin was wider than she’d ever seen it before.
Her legs wrapped around his one and her free hand found his other thigh, stroking the whipcord muscle. “Are you having fun up there?”
“Hehehe…Yeah.” He pecked a kiss at her neck, “It is fun seeing some nearly random kunoichi laying beneath me all steamed up and trying to take advantage of me.”
Sakura squeezed his hand, “Random, am I?”
“One of a kind anyway…” He shivered as her hand ran up the side of his thigh.
His grin faded as he looked into her eyes. “Are you certain?”
*We’re more than half naked underneath him and he still hesitates!?*
*Don’t forget the nearly raping him part.*
Sakura whispered as she spoke, looking him in the eye, “We can do this the easy way…” Her hand took a firm grip on the equally firm ass in the silk boxers, “Or we can do this the fun way. Which do you want?”
Itachi sat up laughing and releasing her hand, a devilish grin on his face. He fell then, his hands catching his fall over her shoulders and sliding out.
“Have it your way.” Itachi grinned, “You wanted retaliation….”
And he slid down, his hands catching on her shoulders as her eyes followed him down. From there, light fingertips brushed past her skin, trailing slowly the phantom tickle of feathers. Across her shoulders, down the sides of her torso and looping slowly across the underside of her breasts.
Her fists clenched and splayed out, hot winds crossing her navel rhythmically as the hands moved slowly, coming back up her sternum and over the nape of her neck.
Sakura’s breath caught as the backside of a fingernail traced a line up her neck, across the outside of her ear and looped back to the corner of her jaw.
And her breath came again, panting as the lone finger fell down her throat, slipping between her breasts again, tickling the whole way down.
The trail of his path pulsed across her skin as she relived each inch with every rapid beat of her heart.
And the exploring digit came to her navel, making a small circle around, two loops…
She could feel her chakra stirring as the circle widened into a spiral.
The spiral grew wider, cresting finally as it passed her hips, the forgotten hand reappearing across from it’s mate as they trailed from her ribs to her hips.
She lifted her hips as he played with the hem of her tight briefs, pushing at the edge, probing beneath, but never moving them.
And the hands moved one, sliding over the intervening undergarment, hand fingers splaying out as he passed them over her bottom, the gentle tickle driving her mad as the fingertips and nothing more passed down her legs.
The left jumped as Itachi tickled the backside of her knee and he continued down her calves and pressed harder as the nails of his thumbs ran up the arches of her feet. “Ohh! Gods!”
Her chakra had jumped at the simple touch. And already excited within her, the act opened the lid on the boiling pot.
*Sweaty, panting and ready to scream…*
*And he’s only getting started…* Inner Sakura was squirming with glee and anticipation, “The things they don’t teach…*
Sakura’s reply was driven from her mind as a set of cool fingernails began the return trip, her legs opening of their own accord as the inside of her ankles was passed.
The torment down her legs had been a current that towed her away… the more sensitive inside was the undertow she didn’t want to fight.
The sounds she made as he passed her knees and began to wander along the inner of her thighs were mewls and whimpers.
Her heart beat faster and her lungs worked like billows as he came closer to the moist center of her loins.
And again he stopped at the hem, playing along the edges, running his fingertips up and down, inside to outside.
And she gasped and thrust herself upward when his touch grazed the fabric over her lips.
*If he only did that once more!!* But she couldn’t find the force of will to even beg as his hands migrated back up around her abs, stirring against the flow, calming her chakra, if only building the desires that caused it to rage within her.
And Sakura lifted her hips as his hands came back to her hips.
“Y..yes… Pl..ple..ease…It..at..chi..kun…!”
And she lifted a little higher.
His fingers slid fully under the sides and Sakura moaned as the elastic grip on her thighs echoed what the man’s hands had done moments before, and lessened as the sopping panties finally came away, her legs lifting into the air. “Gods…” She moaned out. The cool air assaulting her hottest parts and the echo of her own voice panting back at her fueling her desire.
Long locks of hair tickled the hollows of her thighs and a hot wash of breath, “The flower of the cherry blossom…” Arms circled under her thighs, holding tight to her.
Sakura lifted her head to look down at him and only fell back moaning as the Uchiha truly touched her at last.
The wet probe of his tongue running up her lips blanking her mind and the world could have ended.
Gentle fingers pried her maiden flower open and soft lips pinched down on her button, the pressure of his sucking mouth pulling the orgasm from her core, a strangled squeak the only sound her own mouth would utter.
The kunoichi limbs seized solid and the raging chakra in her body was released, flooding her body and bathing her in pink fire.
And somehow the shinobi held her at that peak, his tongue dancing inside her and across the pearl until she fell away completely.
Itachi broke away, gasping and wearing a grin Naruto could never top. “That was in interesting sound… Wanna make it again?” His fingers tickled at her petals, bringing her chakra to the rise again.
“Hhuuuhh…” Sakura climbed onto her elbows, “Wait.. Ita..chi..kun…”
His smirk widened. “Yes, Sakura-kun?”
Sakura twisted at the torso, forcing her hips around and the man wrapped up in them underneath of her and rocking back to her knees. “It’s your turn.”
Itachi grinned widely, “Be gentle… hehehe.”
She slipped back as he crawled up on his shoulders, stopping as she straddled his hips.
The strong beat of his heart throbbed against her trough the stiff member in is boxers.
“After what you just did to me…” She took hold of his hands as they lay on her thighs and licked one palm before she leaned down to his face, “Not likely.” She came down upon his lips, opening up and letting his tongue into her mouth before she attacked his with her own.
The sticky taste of her own nectar caught her off guard and Itachi won the battle, the hard tip of his tongue rolling up the inside of her mouth and flicking off the back of the teeth.
Sakura pushed against the hands she still held, smirking down into his eyes, “Well… that was different.”
Itachi smiled back, trying to push her hands behind her back. “I know.”
“Arrogant bastard.” Sakura smiled, forcing her hands beck before her and pinning them to the bed. She craned down, nuzzling the nape of his neck, raking her nails across his arms and over his shoulders.
She slipped down another inch, spreading her thighs and letting her body weight press upon Itachi.
“Hn…” His eyes shut and the hard pulse that pressed back excited her further.
Reigning in her lust, Sakura ran her hands onto his chest, her thumbs rubbing his stiffening nipples.
His free hands slipped along her sides, coming to hold her breasts, mimicking her motions upon him.
“But you’re My arrogant bastard now.”
She waited for him to speak.
“If you sa..ay so…” She ground against him again, wondering how much he could take. How much he would take.
The giggle bubbled from within her and Sakura moved down him, claws trailing along his skin.
She grabbed the legs of the love stained boxers and pulled them away, simply tossing them aside.
Itachi’s staff stood between them, quivering in the cool air.
Her long hair fell over him, another chuckle rising from her as he jumped every time a stray hair tickled his shaft.
*I heard that thought…* Inner Sakura railed, *Let’s just move on.*
She blew down on Itachi, listening to him groan only once before she moved up, letting his hot member slide between her breasts and down her belly.
“Give me your hands…” She stood on her knees, reaching down for him. Pulling him up, Sakura realigned holding tight around his neck, “I’ll take the rest…’ She whispered into his ear and inched down as his hands held tight around her. She inched down, sighing with a husky edge as the head slipped through her folds, filling her with heat and the pulse of his heart.
“Hnnn…” His hands moved, one stroking her shoulder while the other cupped her ass.
She laid her head on his shoulder, feeling his chakra rise as they sat. Each could feel the pulse of the other, feel the way their breath moved them. Each tiny movement building on their passion.
Sakura fell back to arms length, her head falling back, the larger motion making waves within her.
And she lifted slowly, rocking forward and sliding back.
Her breath escaped in a rush as Itachi moaned, his hands tightening.
He rose higher as she moved slowly but held back. Waited…
Sakura picked up the tempo, feeling his urgency, desire.
She clenched tight around him inside her, hearing his groan stutter and stopped, thighs clamped mid stroke.
The silence was broken each time Itachi panted, deep breaths rushing out of him.
She felt her own passion rising quickly, the chakra growing stronger. Building into a light between them.
Sakura embraced Itachi with all her desire, the sweat slicking their chests as they rubbed together, her nails biting deeply into his flesh.
“More… Please…!” She gasped out, trying to quicken her pace holding tight to him with everything else, “Just…a… little…more…”
“Hn…” Itachi growled, “I’m… all… yours…” And the chakra within his body exploded, washing over her, smothering her in his essence for the flash of a moment.
“Haaa… Gods!” Sakura’s chakra flooded her again, spilling out of her body.
And they collapsed back, the riotous chakra rippling over their bodies as if slowly vented. They only real sounds was their panting in time and the morning songbirds outside.
Laying so close together side by side, still holding their embrace, Sakura could feel his slowing heart in his chest, in his hands, in the rod that still held firm within her.
Itachi sighed heavily, “I hope you’ve learned your lesson.” He took a few pants, “about playing with my nipples.”
The giggle was out of her before she could answer, “What if I wasn’t paying close attention… Would you run that by me again?”
Itachi laughed and summoned a clone to draw the blanket over them, “It’ll have to wait a while… I’m a little blasted…”
They lay together eyes drooping closed.
“Hey…” Itachi murmured, “What were you really after?”
Sakura kept her eyes closed, hoped he wasn’t looking. “What would you have of me?”
“Hn… We could do that once a week and not hurt my feelings.”
Itachi laughed as Sakura slapped him. He rolled away, pulling out and sighing as Sakura settled against him again.
“I just want to be loved again…” Itachi sighed, his arm around her holding her, “To see me as more than a tool of war. To see the man before the eyes, to see I have a heart…”
“I see you, Itachi-kun.” Sakura snuggled against him, “I want to love you for as long as you’ll love me. And a day longer.”
His arm pulled her closer, “I swear,” His words brushed her ear, “I’ll love you forever, Sakura-kun.”
She smiled and whispered dreamily, “I swear I’ll love you forever too, Itachi-kun.” she blew the tension out in a long sigh, “And a day longer.”
*We heard it. Plain as the rising sun.* Inner Sakura seemed sated as well.
*yeah…*
*We’re gonna tell him again in the morning, right?*
*yeah…* Sakura answered herself. *My Itachi-kun loves me… And we know he means it…*

{{A/N; There. I did it… I’ll even accept negative reviews on this one. The mail box is;

whiteashraven@yahoo.com

Thanks for reading. CD}}