Hello! Kelso here. Here's another chapter of Fall For Me. It's not the last chapter. I keep saying that 'this is it' apparently my brain and thought process lies. The last chapter 'should be' the next chapter. But heck if I know...I'm just playing it as it goes. Anyways, please read/review/suggest any criticism or what not. Thanks for reading.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Masashi Kishimoto does.

Chapter 7- Goodbye

His throat was sorer than hell from screaming after her and breathing. It was luck that he stumbled across her bright pink hair in the shitty weather that they were having. Her bright hair still stood out in the rain surprisingly enough. Sasuke had slowed down when he had spotted her; his feet making slap-clap sound as he walked to her. Finally catching his breath. Relief had crossed his shoulders and blessed him. Sasuke opened his mouth; just about to greet her when she had taken off running instead. Without a second glance.

Sasuke just stopped in place with a mixture of shock and anger crossed his face. The thought of 'What the fuck?' floated forward in his mind. Then Sasuke began cursing. A lot. He cursed anything and everything that he could think of. The blasted rain. The thunder. Itachi. Even Sakura's poor hearing. Maybe not the last one. He was having difficulties on hearing anything because of the stupid shitty rain. Sasuke swallowed a lung full of air and tried to call Sakura several more times. His only answer; was an increase of speed of Sakura's running. He mentally cursed again. Not daring to open his mouth due to the risk of drowning. It was just that wet.

His lungs started to burn as pushed his body to the limit. Both screaming and breathing. Again. The pain rated to as high as his 'small' drowning issues. Almost. Sasuke knew that the soreness in his muscles met that he wasn't one hundred percent better from that whole ordeal. His sheer stubbornness told him otherwise. It's always mind over matter. Rain fell into his eyes and his black dark hair was plastered onto his face. Sasuke would outwardly growl as his long bangs tried to blind him. The one thing he hated most after Itachi was having his own hair turning against him. Well, that wasn't very high on his list day-to-day; only when it got annoying. It was very annoying.

Claustrophobic would be the word he would use to describe just how he felt at this moment. Frustration due to the women he loved, light-headed due to the shots of rain blasting on his skull by the gallons, and pure deep angry and hatred to the one person he had called brother. Sasuke was feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Not that he would admit it. Everyone has their breaking points eventually. Sasuke felt like his was cracking. The thing about his claustrophobia; he never use to have it. It wasn't until he watched his own dead body inside a coffin being lowered into the ground that does something. To shake that haunting thought from his mind; Sasuke yelled Sakura name several more times. Only to be muted by the clashing thunder overhead.

Once his throat grew sore and his lungs refused to do anything else but to breath. Sasuke gave up on yelling for her. Instead, he focused on following her or would it be chasing? At this point Sasuke didn't know. What he knew though; once all this shit with Itachi was dealt with. Sasuke was going to start running again. Heaven had made him lazy. To the point; if he even tried pushing his legs to the limit, he higly doubted that he would ever catch up to her. He would have to wait until she was tired herself, then grab her attention by calling her name. Not the way he wanted to catch her attention though; he would love nothing more than to slam his lips on hers if there weren't any consequences.

Gratitude melted at his heart when her own running had led them into town. The rain had lighten up due to the surrounding buildings playing rainmaker. His sickness had begun to ease and the choking feeling of being in his own skin disappeared. Sasuke froze a second after he had just passed an alley way. His eyes watched Sakura's pink head bob away due to her quick running. Or his decrease of speed. Or even the halt of halt of speed. His mind tried its damnest to make sense of the second glance that he had seen out of the corner of his eye. He could have sworn he had seen something down the alley way he had passed. A small nagging voice in the back of his head mentioned something about the rain water played too many tricks on him. Sasuke shook his head up and down. That had to be it; he was drinking too much rain water. He never knew what was in that shit anyways. It could be drugs for all he knew.

Sasuke foot steps echoed as he stepped backwards to peer into the deep alley way. The figment of his imagination was gone. Though it wasn't forgotten. Hardly at all forgotten. The imaged of his brother standing there; smirking at him wasn't an easy sight for Sasuke to forget. Sasuke blinked twice. Instead of seeing Itachi, it was Sakura's ex-boyfriend Neji. Mentally growling; Sasuke knew that he didn't have the time for this but there was just something about him that Sasuke's gut couldn't shake. Maybe it was the pale eyed man's smirk. For some odd reason, that smirk striked his soul cold. Sasuke didn't like it.

Not. One. Bit.

Not daring to tear away from the glaring contest that Sasuke had so eagerly started; he tried to figure out why this creep gave him the death chills. He knew that he disliked him from the first time Sakura had met Neji while Sasuke was still in heaven. The dislike turned into hate when he had discovered Sakura's injuries. He hated the man and Sasuke had the rooster attitude for standing up for Sakura but there was something. Something in his gut, screaming, to run like hell. Go as far away you can. Sasuke crushed his gut feeling and buried it under ten feet of dirt in his heart. This asshole that he had never met was scaring the everlasting shit out of him. It was extremely debatable on who he should stand up for. His love and her mistreatment or his own pride.

He decided that he wouldn't answer that question. Ashamed of what the true answer might be. Sasuke was selfish and he knew it. While the staring contest continued with the light sprinkling of rain misting around them. The trash smell was awful and his throat wanted to gag when he had to try breath through his mouth. Just because the stench through his nose; was burning the back of his eyes. That was another annoyance that Sasuke absolutely hated. Smelly garbage.

Another one; was this bastard still staring at Sasuke without a blink. There were so many words that flowed through his mind of what to call this jerk. Bastard would be one. Jerk would be another. Hell, even the word Asshole had floated and bounced around for a couple of seconds. Instead, he walked closer to Neji and stopped when their chest were barely touching each other. Sasuke was some what shorter but not short enough to ask about upcoming weather.

His fist shook in anger from what this scumbag did to Sakura. Her face was healing but she didn't deserve it. Even though he was fuming in anger; his knees quaked against each other as the taller man smirked deeper. If possible. The shadow of the sky from the rain made Neji's face distorted, ugly, terrifying. A familiar taste crossed over his tongue. Something metallic. Sasuke had bitten his lip as he tried to fight his overwhelming fear that grasped a dark hold on his body. Instead of fear, Sasuke channeled all if it into rage. Fear's cousin.

Everything shook with it. His fingers. His toes. His whole body. Rage was the warmth he needed to chase away the numbing feelings of fear in his fingertips. Rage ran through his vein like new blood. He was just engulfed in hostility and was pissed beyond words. Sasuke looked up to the taller man and stood prouder while he threatened,

"Don't ever fuck with Sakura again."

Then in a blinded rage, Sasuke flew his fist and landed a large fist square on Neji's jaw. Neji's head flew back with the force of the blow. Sasuke hit again for himself. The shivers in his gut returned when he could have sworn he saw Neji's eyes flash red. Sasuke was pissed that his brother could mess his mind while not being around. With no control over his fist; he landed another blow to the man's face. Knocking him down to the ground. Sasuke just stood there, flexing his sore hand open and close. His breath came in heavy panting; shocked at himself. Losing control of his emotions was one thing that never happened to Sasuke. Until now. There was just something about him that Sasuke couldn't figure out. Something that didn't settle well in his gut. Like a sharp throbbing pain.

It wasn't until Sasuke's ears picked up the sound more terrifying then the lost of his temper. Laughter. Fits of laughter echoed and bounced around the alley way. That laughter sent his blood to run freezing cold. His mind was in a state of blurred mixture of shock and confusion. Itachi's laughter; Sasuke would remember until the day he dies. Again. Many thoughts flowed into his mind; thinking, that possibly he was losing it and it wasn't Itachi's laugh. Instead, it was Neji's cry from his fist of rage. He knew in his throbbing gut that he had heard it right but the laughter was coming from the wrong mouth.

Dark orbs watched as Neji's body shook with fits of laughter on the ground. Suddenly the laughter died down and a brief silence with sounds of the rain splashing about. Then Neji spoke,

"Foolish little brother."

In that moment, Sasuke's fight or flight response kicked on in full speed. His body didn't cooperate with him; his legs refused to go. His voice wouldn't scream. His mind mentally shut down in a state of shock that he went back into the memories in his head. To relive the memories of that night.

The sounds of someone's heartbreaking sobbing startled him awake. Sasuke quickly jolted to sit up and his eyes caught a flash of pink before it disappeared. His heart throbbed; seeing the familiar shade of pink that only belonged to one person. Sakura. His finger tips ached to wipe her tears and his arms to hold her. Not that he would ever tell her that or his brother but he loved her. With every fiber of his being. There wasn't a day were he didn't want to see her or look at her. Even the smallest things she did fascinated him. Just one smile from her; melted his inside to jelly. In his head, he promised to himself, that he would never tell her.

She was happy with his brother and he wanted her happy. So, he would take the small smiles and hide them in his mind. Just for his own pleasure; to replay them inside his head as many times as he wanted. Even though, he was mush in the inside; he was stone cold on the outside. He didn't want to freak out Itachi anymore than he already did when he mentioned that Sakura had looked beautiful earlier that day. When they were alone; Itachi threatened him. Sasuke took the threat as a joke due to Itachi trying a different medication. He loved his brother and he knew him better than anyone.

Sasuke threw his black bed covers off of him. The cold night air bit at his skin as small shivers roamed around his body. He climbed out of bed and took a small moment to enjoy the soft feeling of carpet as his landed on it. Sasuke padded over to the door then walked into the hallway. He took a few steps out then stopped when he stepped in something cool and mildly sticky. The wetness oozed through his toes like he stepped into gooey. Shutters crawled up and down his spine as that oozy feeling creeped him out entirely.

When his eyes adjusted to the darkness of the hallway. The coolness of the mysterious liquid made him curious. He bent over and raked is fingertips over the small cooled puddle. Confusion was the only thought in his head with his fingertips came back black in the moonlight from the window across the hallway. A small but noticeable tremor ran up and down his spine. Sasuke couldn't place the feeling but could only compare it to the feeling of deathly silence. As the saying goes, 'It's quiet; too quiet.'

Of course, Sasuke was reliving his old memory quickly pinpointed the feelings that he had at that moment. It was the feeling of becoming prey. Of being hunted by something dangerous and would more than likely kill him in a heartbeat. His terrible memory continued to play. The goosebumps on his arm had frozen solid as he foolishly followed the dark puddles down the hall. Leading to their parent's bedroom. The window at the end of the hall gave a weak glow where Sasuke stood. As he walked closer his eyes realized what the mysterious liquid was by moonlight. His dark black eyes grew huge once he stopped in front of his parents door.

Blood.

Was.

Everywhere.

Sasuke whirled his around and his eyes picked up the smaller details that he had easily missed. Careful, even sized puddles decorated the floor. Lines of red streaked the walls horizontally; smaller oozing lines crept slowly down. He could pick out his own footsteps; a bloody smaller trail. Shivers of terror climbed up and down his body as the main question in his mind was, "Who's blood is this?" Not meaning to, the question slipped from his lips in a whisper. Sasuke was so engrossed in his own terror that he completely missed the figure stepping from the shadows behind him like a ninja.

He jumped ten feet high when a simple hand landed hard on his shoulder; startling the crap out of him. Paranoid, Sasuke grabbed the stranger's wrist and twisted. Using the their own weight against them. He slammed the person face first into the bloodied wall using their own momentum. Sasuke, knowing in this position he could easily break the intruder's arm. He shoved his shoulder into the stranger's shoulder blades to protect himself. His heart thumping against his chest. This could be the person responsable for all this blood.

Moonlight blinded him for a second. Just one. It wasn't until the sharp immediate pain in his stomach that he realized a lot of somethings. One, the stranger wasn't in his grasp anymore and was facing towards a few feet away. The stranger was a stranger but a pair of familiar shade of black hair and eyes stared back at him. His own brother. Itachi.

His jaw dropped as the shock registered what had just happened. Itachi just stood there. With blood and a smirk on his face. Sasuke took a deep breath; pain shot through every nerve of his body. The burning in his abdomen almost had him doubled over in agony. Until something silver flickered in the moonlight; catching his eye. The blade in Itachi's hands was dripping red blood. Sasuke had a sarcasm moment inside his head; why would blood be any other color but red? The moment was easily squashed by the slow fresh drips fell off the blade. It was fresh blood. It was his blood.

Sasuke removed his hands from his stomach; where they automatically went to before even knowing about the injury. The pain became unbelievably unbearable as the open air seeped into his wound. His own blood leaked from between his fingers as he attempted to apply pressure. It was a double-edged sword. The pressure on the wound made lights in his eyes but it kept the blood. Sasuke chosen the lesser one; he would take the swirls and lights over dying. Sasuke didn't want to die.

The world wobbled as his own two feet gave out from underneath him. He landed on the bloodied floor with a thud. Lights in his eyes gave out to light headedness. The only thought that was running through his mind was about the pink sobbing flash that went by his window. Sakura. If that was her. He wanted to know. He needed to know. Just whose blood this was. His heart throbbed from his chest. He wished that Sakura was safe. He would do anything for that wish to come true.

Looking up to Itachi; Sasuke's eyes glowed. His own brother. His own flesh and blood injured him. Itachi stabbed him with a goddamn smirk on his face. Though, Sasuke had a smirk of his own when Itachi had seen his eyes. Sasuke, didn't break eye contact as he rose to stand. No pain. No flinching. Only one purpose and the owner had damn beautiful sea-foam green eyes. Sasuke had an inner moment of victory when Itachi's smirk faltered when he stood up straight. The younger man felt empowered. His mind decided if it was Sakura's blood; Sasuke would kill Itachi for killing her. For killing the love of his life. If he died in the process, so be it.

"Itachi!" demanded Sasuke. He mentally patted himself on the back when there was no trace of pain or stutter in his voice, "Who's fucking blood is this?!"

A small tremor ran down his body as Itachi's eyes glowed red; flickered angrily at him. "Our mother's and father's," Sasuke felt like a heavy stone dropped in his stomach. The Itachi can forward at him with lightning flash speed with the blade in his hand, "and soon to be your's. Foolish little brother." After that, his world faded to black with haunting laughter falling upon his deaf ears. It wasn't until his memories came back on Earth that he knew she was safe. Sasuke shook his head; waking up from his horrible memory daze.

The rain had lighten to nonexistence. Instead of the rain cleared sky greeting him when he opened his eyes; Neji was there. Or Itachi. Somewhere deep inside himself felt pity for Neji; just because his brother was a sick bastard. Sasuke felt himself step backwards several paces, in mostly shock and surprise. Then he turned on his heels and ran. Sasuke wasn't a coward but in that moment, after reliving his death yet again, he wanted space from his murderer. There wouldn't be enough space in the world to make Sasuke feel safe again.

He ran down the street; passing everything until he suddenly stopped due to a large bang on his right. His eyes flickered to the building; it was a shopping center. The noise playfully echoed around him along with a horrible beeping pierced into his eardrums. He was surprised that he could hear the noise from the street. Sasuke briskly walked towards the building out of curiosity. It was only when light pink bobbled around the sea of the store; then quickly vanished as the color quickly faded deeper with the store.

Sasuke followed swiftly. He was determined to warn Sakura about Itachi. His heart paniked as Itach's laughter still played with his head. As he approached, the slight echo of the alarm grew into ear-splitting pain. The brain in his head was complaining that there was no way for him to think. When Sasuke walked through the door way; he decided to take a look to see what the hell was going on. Or else his own head would explode and he prefered it that didn't happen. Sasuke tilted his head in confusion when he discovered just where the noise was coming from. The door that he entered through, was jammed up against the black box hanging on the wall. Therefore, the obnoxious noise wouldn't stop.

As he inspected it; Sasuke mentally organized a plan to either fix it or put it out of its misery. Until his eyes caught sight of approaching Neji with Itachi's smirk on his face. The plan was quickly forgotten and he whirled around to where Sakura ran earlier. He mentally cursed when a metal gate blocked the front entrance and Sakura was no where in sight. His ears just hummed as his head relaxed; the ear-piercing alarm was gone. Then his fear made him jump like he was shot. The door alarm was gone. Which meant someone else did. His panic to find her increased ten fold. He didn't want his deepest fear to come true. Sasuke didn't want Sakura to die this time around. As being Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke knew that he wouldn't make the same mistakes twice.

The sick feeling in his stomach dropped to the floor as he heard upcoming squeaking of shoes towards his direction. He cursed aloud; knowing the sounds don't belong to him. There could be a chance that they belonged to Sakura. Though he would hope that she would at least say something on approach. A simple greeting would do, considering that the last time that they had spoken wasn't very pleasant. At all. Or it could be Itachi; since his older brother had followed him here. As the foot steps grew closer; Sasuke took shelter in one of the many clothing racks. It was better safe than sorry.

His heart pounded heavily. Sasuke would swear that someone else would be able to hear his heart or even see it, thumping against his chest. Sasuke ducked down and held his breath as the squeaking of the shoes stopped suddenly. Nervous fear gathered in the top of his throat as he slowly lifted his head to see this person was. Would it be Itachi like he assumed? Or would it be someone completely different. Some normal person to take shelter as well.

Recognizable black hair came into view as Sasuke was mentally abusing himself for even thinking on the bright side. Itachi had followed him here. He had led Itachi to Sakura. Sasuke felt like a wild animal, trapped with no escape. Sasuke's eyes flickered wildly as he looked for any exit. To his left; three clothing racks over, Sasuke eyes saw Sakura's familiar shade of pink hair. Just the sight of her hair made his heart skip a beat. It meant that she was safe. His black eyes just stared at her. Trying to will her into looking his direction. Instead, her pink head quickly vanished just like that. Sasuke fought the urge of cursing at her within his head. He had cursed way too much as of lately. His teeth began to grind together instead. Just where the hell was she going?

Sasuke watched silently as her whole body collapsed on the floor army from Itachi and himself. Though, his one question still plagued his mind. Where is she going off to? Her feet, the was the last part that he could see of her; disappeared around a hidden corner. Sasuke let out a silent but shaky breath as his mind thought, 'right in time.' His eyes nervously followed Itachi as he began to walk around the clothing racks using Neji's body. Undoubtedly trying to find something. Or someone.

It wasn't until Itachi walked away from his hiding spot that he slowly let out a trembling breath. Sasuke peeked over his clothing rack one last time to make sure the coast was clear. His eyes flickered back and forth for the longest time. Until he deemed it safe to leave; then he sent off in Sakura's direction. There was no doubt in Sasuke's mind that Sakura wanted to avoid Neji at all cost. Even more so now than ever. Considering the circumstances.

When he rounded the corner; his landed on a small but shiny sign that had 'dressing rooms' written on it. Sasuke had to congratulate Sakura in her tuck away hiding spot. It was eerie quiet as he walked in. His shoes were carefully muffled against the dark blue carpet. The place was too quiet; not at all the place that could hide away Sakura. He quietly began to check doors; to see if the doors swung open or remained closed. Or if he heard a gasp. Or at least something. He quietly pushed the first door open with his fingertips; it opened with a protesting creak. The noise echoed loudly in the dressing room area where the pitch quiet only amplified the noise greater. Sasuke could only cross his fingers in hope that Itachi had left the building.

He proceeded to check the other dressing rooms in the same fashion. When several other dressing rooms ended up empty; Sasuke wanted to give up. There were too many dressing rooms to check while trying to be quiet. Checking them all would be risky; with not actually confirming Itachi's whereabouts. He walked over to the closest one which was the most hidden away from view then pushed. Nothing happened. Sasuke tried again, harder this time. The dang door still wouldn't budge. Some feeling of happiness lept in his chest. Maybe, just maybe he found her.

"Sakura?" whispered Sasuke, making her name a question. "It's me." Then he shook his head in stupidity. Of course, she knew who 'me' was. Even though he felt more than slightly stupid; he just wanted her to know it was him. He didn't want her to died from fright or anything unfortunate if she thought that he was 'Neji.' Of course, why would she? Sasuke thought they sounded nothing alike.

Her heart was frozen as she had to listen to shuffling of footsteps and the creaking opening of dressing room doors. Sakura held her breath and clenched her eyes shut. Hoping; praying that something would at least work out in her favor. The fear in her chest only grew when she heard her own door being wrestled with. She felt that her heart was pounding in her throat. She mentally chanted, 'Go away.' to the owner of the hushed footsteps. Sakura's fear didn't die down until she heard her name from a familiar voice. Her fear snapped away instantly.

Sakura soared across the small dressing room and unlocked the door. The grotesque squeaking of the door couldn't even destroy the moment of complete happiness that she felt. There were no words between them as her green eyes landed on his dark ones. She let out a small gasp; in shock. In the couple of hours of separation and the horrible fight, he simply took her breath away. The urge to close the distance overwhelmed her body. Every muscle was arguing to leap into his arms but she wouldn't move. Sakura was frozen to the spot and could only watch as Sasuke stepped into the dressing room with her.

When he locked the door; there was only pure blessed silence. Relief washed over them both as they just continued to stare. So many words needed to be said considering all that had happened. She needed to tell Sasuke how she really felt and apologize for the ugly words that were said the last time they were face to face. Her mouth opened to talk. Then the words died in her throat. Instead, of speaking, she watched with huge eyes as Sasuke's eyes grew deeper. A darker black with that grew darker with something by looking at her. The first thought that ran through her mind was passion. Which, her own response was to mentally laugh until she was suddenly pulled into his arms by her wrist.

A small squeak escaped her throat as she was engulfed in the strength of Sasuke's arms. She could feel his breath on her neck as his face was buried deep within her pink hair. Shivers crawled up and down her spine as her head spun from the pleasure. The scent of skin drove her crazy while all kinds of wicked thoughts played through her mind. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck as Sasuke's embrace grew deeper and harder. The arms that held her petite frame squeezed her tighter. Any fear that she had felt moments ago, was long gone. Out the window. She was pretty damn glad that Sasuke didn't go away like she was hoping for.

When she could feel Sasuke's heart pounding against her chest. Against her own heart; Sakura wanted to tell him. No, she needed to tell him that she was sorry. That she was stupid and senseless to hurt him like that. She knew that eventually, she could get use to never kissing him. Never being able to satisfy the urge and curiosity deep within her soul. But for him, to keep him by her side, she would do anything. There were other ways to show love to another person.

She felt Sasuke's arms stiffen around her body. The fingertips that were nestled in her pink locks trembled slightly. The annoying alarm of the front doors went off again. Her body missed Sasuke's when he pushed her away gently. Her eyes followed him as he started to pace back and forth like a tiger trapped in a cage two sizes too small. Sakura snapped out of her own daze when her ears heard two pairs of voices. Whispering in the shadows. The fear that Sasuke chased away from her soul came back in full force. Sakura needed to let Sasuke know about Itachi coming back to Earth and using Neji as a meat suit. There was no telling what would happen if those two would meet. She wasn't going to take a chance find out.

Sakura gingerly placed her hand on Sasuke's shoulder and urgently whispered to him, "Sasuke, I need to tell you something about your brother," Sakura didn't dare use his name as she continued on with her message. She wanted to avoid give him the full atom bomb but with the squeaking of shoes approaching closer by the minutes; Sakura had no choice. It didn't stop her from worrying about sending him into a frenzy panic. When Sasuke had froze dead center in his tracks, Sakura felt guilty as hell. She hated to be the one to tell him this, "Somehow, your brother is on Earth. I don't know exactly how he got here. If it was like happened with you or something. All I know, is that he's using my ex-boyfriend as a freaking meat suit."

Now that her 'bomb' was dropped. Sakura was slightly worried. Maybe slightly was too light of a word; she was downright panicked. Sasuke hadn't said a word since she stopped talking. She closed her few last steps to him slowly. The throbbing in her heart ached for him when she finally sent her eyes on him. His black bangs hid his eyes from her view and whole body was shaking while his fist were clenched white. At a lost of what she could do; Sakura tried to hug him. Only to have him step away from her. She just stood there, trying to keep her heart together. Trying to keep from crying.

"Sasuke?" she whispered, making his name a question. Waves of relief washed over her when he finally glance up at her with his dark watched as Sasuke sighed, his voice shaky as he replied with a simple, "I'm alright Sakura. Just surprised. I already knew about Itachi, but how did you find out?"

Sakura crossed her arms with a know-it-all smirk on her face. "I crossed his path on the street, and I saw his reflection. His true reflection in the glass," She stopped talking for a moment as her heart pained for her best friend. She didn't deserve this. Sakura's voice cracked a little when continued to talk, "it was the same way with my best friend. Some woman is playing dressing up with Ino's body." When Sakura saw an odd expression take over Sasuke's face, Sakura added, "The blonde who hit on you and gave you mouth to mouth." She couldn't stop some vemon from escaping her throat with those words. A dat bit of jealous playing with her. Sakura tried squashing down feeling as best as she could because techinally, the lip lock was only to save his life. Not actual kissing. No matter how many justificationjusification Sakura thought of; she still wasn't too happy about it.

To distract herself from the handsome smirk that blossomed on Sasuke's face; she was focused on a question that plagued her mind. "Sasuke, how did you know about Itachi?"

Her ears picked up a small, "Hn," from the man then, "I communicated up in heaven again."

Sakura's eyes grew huge in surprise and another curious question came forward. "How did you do it without anyone's help? I mean, how did you survive?" The first time that Sasuke 'communicated' he was nearly dead when Ino and herself yanked him out of her kitchen sink. Sakura's fingers tingled in remembrance that under her fingertips Sasuke's pulse was very light and thread. It boggled her mind that he seemed perfect fine now. Not at all the state that he should be in.

Curiosity was sitting on edge waiting for his reply. Sakura wanted to know. If he was going to communicate regularly up in heaven that at least she should get to know about the safer way. Not just the nearly dying way. Sasuke squashed her curious bug with one of his famous, "Hn," and whispered, "I'll explain later, but first, we have to get you out of here."

Blinking at him was the only thing that she could do. Confusion washed over her like a disease. Sakura blinked her green eyes at him, "Why? Isn't Itachi after you?" Silence hung heavy in the air that they were sharing. Sakura could taste on her tongue and feel the pressure on her shoulders. Their heavy breathes hushed quickly when the squeaking of the shoes became closer than ever. Sakura could only watch as Sasuke waved his hand to grab her attention. His own pale finger pointed to himself and his head shook no. Her eyes followed his finger as it turned toward her; while Sasuke nodded his head yes. The broken record of her mind played only one thing, over and over again. Why me? That question, Sakura knew, could only be answered fully by the devil himself. Itachi.

She mouthed the word, 'Why?' Sakura was trying to keep a level head. Her own stubbornness had kept her from screaming this far. So what's a couple more hours?

He held his head down again. Just looking at the multicolored carpet floor that he was on. Sasuke tried to distract himself from the mere truth of what Kakashi had told him earlier. The shock that he had felt was still there, in chest, but not as raw as before. The dread in his gut only made his decision to tell her what he knew all that much harder. He didn't want to tell her. Not at all. Sasuke wouldn't even be able to imagine her reaction. Maybe that same as his; shocked? Tears? Anger? Only telling her that she was the source of all this. Sasuke had questioned earlier, why exactly does Itachi want her? He couldn't fully answer that question without asking Itachi.

In his mind, he had Itachi's reasoning lower down to two aspects. One, Itachi could just want to finish off the job and kill her. Which would lead to Itachi and himself facing off. Ultimately, either Itachi or himself would be dead. The other reason, was darker more terrifying. When Kakashi was explaining what all had happened in heaven; Kakashi had written the particular part down. Sasuke knew that Sakura's kiss could send him back to heaven. The other catch was, if a demon kissed her, she could open a gateway from Earth to hell. Letting anything from hell roam free on Earth.

Sasuke plagued his mind and thought of only two possible solutions. The first solution would be killing Itachi. Therefore killing Neji as well. No matter how fond Sasuke was of that plan; he knew the little worm Neji couldn't handle playing around in hell. Another solution, that Sasuke wasn't also fond of was, kissing Sakura himself. Therefore, quickly closing the gateway and hopefully taking anyone or anything that didn't belong on Earth. Hopefully, they would go back to their usual places. Which included Sasuke; he would be whirlwind back to heaven.

The silence in the dressing room made his inner battle more fierce. The battle of his own selfishness versus saving her life. He could feel a devil and angel on each of his shoulders; trying to coax him into their side. He wanted to stay on Earth with Sakura. To be with her, to love her, to make her his wife if she wanted him again. Sasuke knew that saving her life was important as well. Even more so than his wants. It was only when the logic of his own mind entered in the battle. Sasuke's own desire to stay on Earth would be completely mute if he failed to save her. That if Sakura died, his new life wouldn't be worth living. Determined in his decision; he had to kiss her. Sasuke's own lips trembled to feel hers. What had happened between them in the elevator only made him want her more. Even if it was just once.

Sakura watched as several different emotions played across Sasuke's face. Some emotions were deep complating, some emotions that looked like dread and the last one was pure determination. She stood there in silence waiting for him to answer her question. Why her? It was a good question. A fair question. A question that Sakura deserved the answer to if Sasuke knew. If he knew, then he should. Impatience pricked her as Sasuke's silence grew to deep annoyance. Her patience was running thin; which was talent on Sasuke's part. Sakura usually never lost her patience. To her own surprise, Sakura blurted out loudly, "Sasuke, just say it!"

Her own voice and words echoed around. Asking him. Demanding him. Over and over again. Sakura mentally wanted to hit herself; what the heck? She just snapped at him. She quickly opened her mouth to apologize to him when Sasuke suddenly took steps towards her. Unsure of the dark look in his eyes; Sakura stepped backward. Until her back was pressed up against the dressing room mirror. Her heart doing crazy flip flops when his hands landed on either side of her head; just right above her shoulders. The pounding of her heart only increased as her palms landed on the firmness of his chest. Heat radiated off of him; sending invisble shivers down her own body. Her beating heart leapt through her throat when Sasuke brought his face close to her ear. The feelings of her body only ampified when Sasuke whispered in her ear, "I have to kiss you now, Sakura."

The only reply that Sakura had was, "But, I thought," her own voice trailed off. She only hoped that Sasuke would understand what she was trying to say. Sasuke's mouth moved away from her ear while giving her eye contact he said, "Sakura, if Itachi kisses you; it can open a gateway to hell. If I kiss you Sakura," Sasuke sighed in the middle of his sentence. He needed a minute to gather his thoughts. When, he was done and the sad feel in his chest subsided a bit; Sasuke continued, "I go back to heaven and hopefully everybody else goes back to where they came from."

Sasuke hung his head as he continued, "Trust me, I would love nothing more than to stay with you on Earth. I would give anything for that. But Itachi cannot be allowed to roam Earth freely. He already took my life Sakura; his own brother. He killed our parents, his own flesh and blood. If killing his family didn't stir up any guilt; then nothing will."

He brought his face closer to Sakura's, "So, I'm not risking your life. I would rather go back to heaven knowing that you're safe compared to spending the rest of our lives running from the devil. You can't ask me to risk your life. I'm not giving you a choice." Sasuke stopped talked for a minute; hating the words he was about to say. With a sigh, Sasuke said, "I know that I'm only human. I will make a mistake eventually and Itachi would be right there. To take an advantage of it. I can't always protect you, and it kills me."

It was Sasuke's turn to be surprised when Sakura pushed off his chest with her hands. Slowly leading him backwards; into the dressing room door with enough force to cause the door to rattle behind him. His obsidian black eyes grew huge as furious green ones invaded his personal space. She started to poke him in the chest hard as she made her voice heard, "I never asked you to protect me Sasuke." Well mentally, Sakura did but it wasn't the same. She continued to talk as her mind went off on her own personal tangent, "I can handle my own rather well."

Heat and fury came off her tongue while her eyes flickered to his full kissable lips. The only way to get rid of Itachi would have to be kissing Sasuke. Sakura mentally sighed as her brain chimed that they would be having their first and last kiss together. A heavy stone named sadness settled onto the bottom of her stomach. "Is there no other way?" Sakura suddenly asked. Her eys were beginning to gather tears. An imaginary foot stomped the ground in her mind. She absolute refused to cry. Though all the stubbornness in the world couldn't stop her eyes from growing swimmy anyways. Sakura blamed herself; for being a woman. Woman were so easily swayed by emotions; it wasn't fun. It actually sucked.

Off her guard, Sakura was gently pushed backwards into the mirror again. This time, though, Sasuke's hands traveled to her shoulders. Gently massaging them under his grasp. Every now and then, she would feel his fingers squeeze her shoulders gently. The look in his eyes already gave her the answer she asked for. The feeling in her stomach sank lower as Sasuke shook his head 'no' again. His hand gently caressed her face. Which triggered Sakura's eyes flutter shut and her heart pound like crazy against her ribcage. A small tear escaped her eye; starting to trail down her pale cheek. Her heart thumped, pounded, fluttered against her whole body.

She lost all feelings in her body as she was gathered into his arms. One hand was laced into her hair while another was wrapped around her waist. Sakura felt like she was floating when every part of her body was touching his. "Sasuke," mumbled Sakura incoherently as her lips trembled with need. "I," his warm breath on her lips distracted her from any thought. For just a moment and that's all he needed.

That's all she wrote folks. For now. Please review/ leave feedback/ subscribe. Please look forward to the next chapter.