Okay, here's part two~! With a little GaaSaku coming for you~!

After this is done, I have another story that I'm starting.

It's KakaSaku with SasuNaru as a plot motivator. And there's a little NaruHina, I suppose.

The first chapter for that is written but I thought I'd get this out of the way first.

So let's go!

Disclaimer: Hahaha…it's funny that you people still believe that I own Naruto.

-o0-

Compromising Situations

Chapter 2

-o0-

She slapped him. Hard.

And before the confusion her hand had smacked into him wore off, she had escaped the confines of the booth and escaped from the building, leaving the Uchiha heir in the middle of a restaurant filled with surprised and staring citizens.

At first, Itachi was angry that she'd rejected him so publically (his parents would undoubtedly hear about the breakfast incident in a matter of hours through Konoha's quick-moving rumor mill) but then he paused and let out a laugh. It was all rather fun and he wasn't exactly sure why.

Either way, he supposed, Sakura wouldn't be running from him for long.

They had a mission. Today. Together.

-o0-

Sakura approached the Godaime's office in a huff, desperately intent on getting the mission repealed in some way though whatever means.

How dare he kiss her like that in public?

Granted, Inner Sakura smirked slyly, who kissed him yesterday in front of his own little brother?

"That is irrelevant!" she snarled aloud, despite the strange look her Shishou was now leveling at her.

"All I said, Sakura, was that you and Itachi have a mission today," the Godaime chuckled. "Is she getting to you again?"

Sakura froze and stared at her teacher in horror, "I…uh…um…"

"And no, you will not have your mission amended in any way."

Sakura's face reddened and she slammed a hand down upon the Hokage's desk, "But, Shishou―!"

"No, Sakura!" Tsunade yelled back sternly, partially standing from her chair, "You will go on this mission and you will not argue about it! Uchiha," she turned to address the closed door in a commanding tone, "enter."

The door opened and the Uchiha heir passed through the door with a quiet smirk and a satisfied attitude, leaving Sakura to glare at him in anger as he slowly approached her with a cool, interested air.

"Sakura," he greeted, "I missed you at breakfast."

She colored furiously and opened her mouth to retort, only to be silenced by her mentor's booming voice, "Sakura!"

Sakura's face instantly paled and she kept her voice even, "Whatever."

Tsunade looked from either ninja with inner disapproval― had the Uchiha parents been wrong in their intelligence? Itachi and Sakura certainly didn't appear to be a pair that was attracted to the other and physically, Tsunade had to acknowledge that they were extremely separate in abilities and specialties. But, she inwardly shrugged, why not give it a chance?

"Would you two stop your squabbling?" the Godaime ordered through grit teeth as she rubbed furiously at her temple, "I'm not in the mood to listen to the both of you right now!"

"The scroll then, Hokage-sama?" Itachi inquired, holding his hand out to receive the object in question.

"Demanding brat," she muttered ruefully. "Listen here, you can open this scroll when you get to Suna, but the Kazekage has a second scroll with the details. Get it?"

"Hai, Tsunade-shishou," Sakura affirmed with a subtle trace of reluctance.

"Of course, Hokage-sama," Itachi smirked. "We shall depart immediately."

-o0-

Itachi seemed unhurried as they left the village but the second the two were a decent distance from the gates, Itachi increased his pace ten-fold and Sakura was left to chase him through the green canopies of the thick forest surrounding Konoha. He seemed to be enjoying himself thoroughly, to her displeasure, and he radiated smug bastard-ness.

She grit her teeth angrily and channeled chakra to her aching legs, only managing to get within an eight foot radius of the Uchiha heir. "Itachi!" she huffed, "stop being such an ass!"

The elder man chuckled in barely concealed glee as he suddenly decreased his speed, turned around, and allowed her to run straight into him. "I must pay you back, Sakura, for this morning."

She stood dumbstruck and missed her window for escape as his arms encased her in an unwanted embrace. "Wha―?"

"Sakura," Itachi pinned her with his intense gaze, "remember, you initiated this."

"In a moment of fury!" she glared, "That doesn't mean I want to like, marry you or something! Let go!"

His eyes narrowed and Sakura halted her attempts for escape, "So, you deny any attraction between us."

She resumed struggling and he let her go quickly, turning around and continuing their course, leaving a confused Sakura in his wake. She stared after him with a mixture of irritation and something akin to shock― Uchiha Itachi was sulking.

"Itachi!" she called, running after him as his speed reached maximum potential, "Wait, Uchiha! What's your damn problem!"

He glared at the use of his surname and merely kept his head angled away from the pursuing female, obnoxiously infuriating the volatile Sakura. "I have nothing further to discuss with you and I believe that I gave you permission to address me by my name."

With one burst of chakra to her legs and a well-timed teleportation jutsu, Sakura appeared in front of the pissy Uchiha and held her palm flat to his chest, effectively halting him in place.

"Seriously?" she rolled her eyes, "Aren't Uchiha supposed to be proud assholes?"

Itachi's head snapped to her direction and he glared at her angrily, "Don't insult my family."

"You know what," her voice lowered dangerously, "I refuse to call you by name until I think you've stopped being a bitch! The only times I've ever seen an Uchiha pout was when we ditched Shisui and the one time I stole Sasuke's precious tomatoes! Do you really want to be on the same level as those two?"

Itachi eyed her with annoyance, "I am nothing like those idiots and am most certainly not a bitch."

"Then prove it!" Sakura stuck her chin out and her eyes conveyed her challenge. "Prove that you're better than Shisui and Sasuke!"

She didn't have any reaction time as he lowered himself to kiss her and even less time to pull away as he dragged her into his embrace in a needy kiss. "Sakura…"

"Get off!" she slurred against his lips haughtily as she attempted to pull away, "That wasn't what I meant!"

Itachi stubbornly refused to release her and instead held her tightly against himself, "Sakura, why do you resist me?"

"We're on a mission!" she hissed.

"Is that it?"

"And it's way too soon for you to be this damn…" she searched for the word, "clingy!"

"You were the one to kiss me first," he insisted smoothly.

Sakura rolled her eyes dramatically and yelled at him again, "To provoke your dumbass brother!"

Itachi seemed irritated by the statement and he released her in frustration as he mumbled, "Why is everything about him?"

Sakura rubbed her thumb across the prominent crease on her forehead, trying to soothe away the furious headache threatening to develop. "Look, Uchiha, I don't know what's gotten into you since yesterday, but―."

"It doesn't matter," he interrupted quickly, "We should just proceed with the mission."

Sakura shook her head as he began to run again and kept her comments to herself as she followed his breakneck pace obediently. The best thing for the both of them would be to finish the mission quickly and dissociate upon arrival in Konoha. But, Sakura amended, she would undoubtedly miss his company.

Just stop lying to yourself, Inner smirked. He's paying so much attention to you and playing hard to get will only work so long before he gives up.

"Shut your mouth and leave me alone," she grumbled unhappily. "It's none of your fucking business."

Whatever, Inner shrugged, it's not my problem anyway if you don't get Itachi the smex-god for yourself. No biggie.

"This is going to be one hell of a mission," she sighed to herself irritably.

-o0-

"Temari!" Sakura called happily, "It's been forever since I've seen you!"

The blonde Jonin looked over her shoulder and she changed directions to walk to her medic friend with a sly smile, "Oi, what're you doing here? Did you decide to take that offer Gaara made you?"

Itachi watched with mild curiosity as Sakura's face blushed into a maddening red and she stuttered her response, "N-No! U-Uchiha-san and I are here for a mission! I already told Gaara that it'd be too difficult to move from Konoha, especially considering my position, and that I simply cannot consent to―!"

"Calm down, Sakura!" Temari chastised, "No one's blaming you, except maybe Gaara…"

Sakura went rather pale and Itachi was burned with the excruciating desire to know exactly what the Kazekage's proposition had been and why it had required Sakura to relocate to Suna. "Oh, really?"

"Don't worry though, he's gotten over it," Temari reassured her with a laugh, "I think."

"Where is Kazekage-sama?" Itachi interjected with impatience written across his curiosity ridden expression.

Temari finally looked over her medic friend's companion with disinterest, "Uchiha."

Sakura seemed to shift under the weight of the barely visible tension that seemed to develop between Temari and the raven-haired Itachi. "E-eh, that's right! We're supposed to get a scroll from Gaara, so…"

"Are you anything like your asshole brother?" the blonde asked bluntly.

Itachi seemed taken aback by the question and looked to Sakura for an explanation before returning his gaze to the eldest of the Sand siblings, "No."

Temari sighed in relief and slapped Itachi across the back with a laugh, "Good! Jeez, if I had to deal with a stuck-up prick like Sasuke again, I might've broken the treaty with Konoha!"

Sakura noticed Itachi show slight alarm at Temari's statement, but the pink-haired girl laughed too in order to calm his misunderstandings, "Temari, that isn't nice to say!"

"Sorry, Sakura, it's true!" the blonde began to move from the gate, leading the Konoha ninja from the Suna gate, "I mean, Naruto is annoying and all, but he means well by it…Sasuke just grates on my nerves."

"Yes, well," Sakura began regretfully, "Naruto and I have tried to break him of his less than desirable people skills, but he's pretty resistant to everything we've done."

Itachi spoke up quietly from his place at Sakura's side, "I may have quite possibly dropped him when he was an infant."

Both women looked to Itachi with amusement before breaking into rioting laughter and Sakura gasped out, "And that's probably why he still hates you!"

Itachi nodded, a subtle smile developing upon his face, "It is exactly why Sasuke harbors ill-intent towards me."

The trio still walked the streets of Suna towards the largest building in the direct center of the village until they reached the entrance where Temari cast them a hopeful glance and bid them good luck with a smile as Sakura led Itachi into the brown stone building.

The two continued down the hall quietly, as distinguished ninja should, and finally, Sakura stopped before a large door. She spared a look to her companion and upon finding him staring intently at her nervous countenance, she took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," a cool voice commanded as Sakura pushed the door open and Itachi followed her into the room, both nodding toward the man sitting behind a desk.

"Kazekage-sama," Itachi greeted.

Sakura seemed a great deal uncomfortable and Itachi found himself all the more curious as Gaara's stare was directed toward the pink-haired medic. She faltered for a moment, but she greeted him in an awkward tone, "Gaara-sama."

"Sakura," the Kazekage frowned, "I instructed you the last time we met to address me by my name only."

"Gaara."

Itachi narrowed his eyes as Gaara's face seemed to contort with satisfaction at Sakura's address and the Uchiha sought to take control of the situation, "Kazekage-sama, I believe we are to receive a mission scroll from you."

"Tsunade informed me," Gaara tore his gaze reluctantly from Sakura and settled it upon the older male. "However, I believe that it is now dusk, so I entreat you to remain with my siblings and I for the night."

Sakura remained silent and Itachi found himself answering in his ANBU Captian tone, "Unfortunately, we've lost a great deal of time already and we must proceed with the mission in a timely manner. We must decline, Kazekage-sama."

Gaara seemed displeased by the suggestion and the redhead cocked his head to the side slowly, evaluating the older male who seemed too close to the medic, before repeating himself, "I entreat you to stay."

"Gaara," Sakura tried, "we really must go."

The Kazekage's head snapped towards her and he adopted a scowl, "I believe I'm the one with your mission scroll, am I not?"

The female-medic was taken-aback with surprise, "Would you really hold our mission hostage?"

"Of course," his scowl deepened, "your answer was not favorable last time."

Sakura seemed irritated and one of her hands flew to tangle in the pink tresses of her hair, "So what, you're going to hold the scroll until I change my mind?"

"Unless you have a valid reason for your rejection," Gaara's eyes filled with a challenge, "then yes."

-o0-

Sakura flew from the office, storming away as she dug her heels into the stone floor with Itachi close behind. Her fists clenched at her side and her mouth was set with a fierce scowl as she quickly took a set of stairs three at a time.

Soon, they were on the roof and Sakura screamed loudly, "Fuck!"

Itachi watched with conflict. Sakura had not appreciated his attentions previously, but he longed to ask what Gaara was demanding and to comfort her if it was within his ability. "Sakura."

She was pacing back and forth muttering profanities and cursing the Kazekage with vehemence and it was clear his utterance of her name had not registered in her turmoil enthralled mind. "That damn, red-headed asshole bastard who needs a fucking reality check and…"

"Sakura," he said more authoritatively, "I would like you to explain why the Kazekage is willing to obstruct our mission."

The medic froze and stared at him with shock and reluctance etched into the rise of her eyebrows and the downward curve of her small mouth. She regressed into herself, clearly not willing to trust him. "I can't…no one knows. Not even Naruto and Sasuke."

It certainly had to be a big deal, Itachi reasoned, if her beloved Team 7 had no knowledge of whatever Gaara had propositioned Sakura for. "I will now pull rank, Haruno," he commanded again, "Why is our mission being hindered?"

She sighed in resignation and sat down on the warm stone of the rooftop and motioned for him to join her. "Are you aware that I had a three month mission to Suna?"

Itachi tilted his head in response, "Sasuke was particularly whiny while you were gone."

Sakura's lips quirked and she continued, "I was teaching the Sunagakure medics updated techniques to improve their efficiency in the field and I stayed with Temari, Kankuro…and Gaara.

"The first month was fine and Temari and I became pretty decent friends. Kankuro was nice to me from the beginning of course, because I saved his life a few years back. But, Gaara…he went out of his way to avoid me and often spent nights in his office simply because I was in their house, but I found out why later.

"The second month brought changes…Temari and I could barely be separated and I'd already beaten Kankuro a few times for being too friendly…and even Gaara had started being a little more personable, though the expression of alarm on Temari's face should have tipped me off. He proposed to marry me by the end of the month.

"Yeah, yeah, Uchiha, don't look at me like that!" Sakura frowned, "I told Shishou immediately and she told me to decline absolutely, but Gaara's reasons were sort of understandable. He said he couldn't tolerate anyone else and he'd never marry anyone but me and also knowing the Elders' persistence in advocating he marry, it seemed like a satisfactory political match."

"You would have left everyone behind," Itachi stated dryly, "for politics."

Sakura shot him a glare, "Obviously I didn't. I couldn't even handle the three months without Team 7, I couldn't bare to imagine a life without them!"

"And now? When he's holding our mission hostage, what do you plan to do?"

"He wants a reason even though I told him that Suna was just too far from my family and friends…" Sakura thought out loud, "so I can't imagine what could possibly convince him that I still don't want to become the 'Lady Kazekage.' "

Itachi cast her a glance, "I have a theory, but we should go to dinner. It's already sundown."

"And we'll be staying with Gaara tonight…" Sakura shivered.

-o0-

The small restaurant was relatively empty and the Konoha pair was allowed to choose seats in the very corner of the building, where the subject of their conversation was less likely to be heard by any of the Sunagakure populace. Sakura was hunched forward, facing her companion with an unhappy expression.

"So, what's your theory?"

Itachi sipped his drink and waited for a lone employee to pass the table, "Kazekage-sama doesn't wish for internal excuses, such as loneliness or homesickness, but rather an external excuse."

"Speak Japanese, damn you," Sakura glared. "What kind of external excuse?"

"Namely, he wishes to know if you are already pursuing a relationship and that is why you declined his offer of marriage."

Sakura rolled her eyes, "There are definitely better ways to figure that shit out without putting our careers on the line."

Itachi set his drink down, "Given his history, I don't believe the Kazekage is unaware of your being attached or not being attached…he's testing you and believes there is no way for you decline."

"So he's backing me into a corner like an animal."

"Hypothetically, yes."

Sakura groaned, "So how do we fix this?"

Itachi smirked, "What do you mean 'we'?"

"You bastard!" she accused, pointing a finger toward the Uchiha heir, "You're a part of this mission too!"

"While you may be right, Sakura," Itachi smirked, "it is your personal mess that is obstructing our mission and I am not liable for any setbacks to the mission."

The medic cast a suspicious eye towards him, "You're seeing this as an opportunity."

"For what?"

"I'm not sure," she announced, "but I'm positive that I need your help to convince Gaara that I can't marry him and you're banking on the fact that I'll cave to your demands under pressure."

"Maybe."

"Absolutely! That is absolutely what you're thinking!"

"And if it were?" he looked at her through his lashes expectantly, "What would you give me for my help?"

"You know," she said ruefully, "I liked you better when you ignored me and spoke in monosyllables."

"Do not avoid my question."

"I don't know!"

"Can I help you? Have you ordered yet?" an unknown voice cut in awkwardly.

"We'll have the special," Itachi answered shortly, sending the civilian employee scurrying away.

"You didn't need to scare her away! It's not her fault you're being an unreasonable jerk," she huffed. "I don't know what it is you want, so just lay out your deal and I'll negotiate the terms with you."

The Uchiha looked rather self-satisfied as he smirked almost happily, "Of course, Sakura, we'll strike a deal."

-o0-

If she weren't so uncomfortable with Itachi's arm slung about her shoulders, Sakura might've conceded that Suna was beautiful at night. When she had been stationed in the desert city as a medic, she'd often enjoyed the silent and cool nights by herself and sometimes with Temari. Even Gaara had been enjoyable company on her walks, but Itachi's smirk was enough to poison the night for the unenthusiastic medic and it was clear she was thinking of other ways to go about their pseudo-mission.

"Sakura," Itachi said calmly, "you've struck the deal with me already. There's no other way."

"Talk about fucking deals with the fucking devil," she murmured angrily, her face scrunching into a grimace of non-physical pain.

Itachi cast her an irritated glance, "If you keep making that face, it'll be impossible to deceive the Kazekage."

"Your terms were ridiculous!" she huffed, "Sharing a room? Like, seriously? What the fuck?"

"You wish to fool the Kazekage, yes? A couple is expected to share a room," he explained in that irritatingly content voice.

"We are not a couple."

Itachi simply led her down the empty sand covered street to the Kazekage's Mansion and at the entrance, warned her to maintain the act, and pushed open the door…to find chaos.

"Kankuro!" Temari screamed in a shrill voice, "I swear to God! If you say one thing, I mean it, one thing, I'll fucking kill you!"

"What's your goddamn problem, Temari?" the middle Sand sibling yelled back, "Gaara's being an asshole about this whole damn―!"

The Konoha pair could hear choking noises follow a wail from the older blonde female and Sakura shot Itachi a concerned glance, "Should we…?"

"Temari," a cold, easily recognizable voice interjected, "let him go."

"But he's being impossible!"

Gaara paused for a moment and cleared his throat, "Sakura, Uchiha, please don't hesitate on account of a family quarrel."

It was clear in the tone of his voice as he addressed Itachi that his particular feelings towards anyone with Uchiha blood were not of the kindest mold. Itachi was dirt to Gaara and even Sakura felt ruffled by his clear disregard for Itachi's achievements and talents. Even if Itachi got on her nerves, he was still a Konoha shinobi and all ninja of Konoha were comrades, including the annoying ones.

Itachi led her forward and Sakura was forced into her role of the devoted girlfriend and her arm slid around his waist in casual intimacy and tightened in what appeared to be a loving embrace. They felt the weight of the Sand siblings' combined stare and Sakura subtly looked to Gaara's slightly irritated expression.

"Kazekage-sama, we would like to be shown to our room," Itachi said with all the dignity garnered by his noble clan. "After our travels these last few days, we are both rather exhausted."

" 'Our?' " Gaara grit out. "I hardly believe it necessary for you to share a room."

"Yeah!" Temari chimed, "Sakura should stay with me! We're both girls, so it's the easiest solution!"

The redheaded leader of Sunagakure shot his sister a glare. "Fine," he conceded with irritation, "I will show you to your room."

Itachi kept his arm tucked around Sakura in a firm grip with the barest trace of a satisfied smirk hinting at the slightly upturned ends of his mouth, effectively irritating the bothered Gaara further. "Sakura," he murmured quietly, watching his opponent from the corner of his dark eyes, "you know what I plan to do to you, right?"

"I-I…" she blushed at his heated tone, one that was completely authentic, as she stuttered, "Of course…Itachi."

The older male was not expecting the rush of that still novel uttering of his name through her lips. The last time she'd spoken his name had been the day she'd slapped him and they'd argued…it was unbelievably enthralling to hear call him by name and to see the dirty scowl Gaara shot the pair. He leaned closer to her ear and quickly shot out the tip of his tongue to caress the pale shell before he whispered, his hot breath sending an unwanted shiver down her melting spine, "You know exactly what I want with you, don't you, Sakura?"

"Your room is here!" Gaara spat out, indicating he'd heard Itachi's shockingly dirty speech, as he threw open a door. "You'll be staying here for the night. Leave in the morning."

They watched as the Kazekage stormed through the hall in his usual calmly aggravated gait and the second he rounded the corner, Itachi turned his attention to the retreating female.

"Sakura?" he pursued her into the room and shut the door behind him with a light bang. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she snapped as she threw down her bag and shot him a glare, "He doesn't believe us at all, does he?"

Itachi nodded solemnly in response, "We will have to work diligently on our act."

Sakura threw herself down on the bed in frustration before sitting up with an awkward frown, "Itachi…"

There it was again, the rush of affection at the sound of his name. How could his parents disapprove of her? Why would they even want to deny him of her? A surge of defiance swelled within him and Itachi, for once in his life, made the decision to deliberately defy his father on something that he'd always taken a negative stance on. How many years had he dodged the marriage issue? It was insane that because of one girl he'd be willing to throw away the little freedom he had struggled to maintain, and yet Itachi had already made his decision.

"Itachi! Are you paying attention?" she called irritably, "I asked you a question!"

"Hn?"

She sighed and pushed herself from the bed to stand before him with her arms crossed and a suspicious glare leveled at him, "What the hell was with that thing in the hallway?"

"Be more specific," he chuckled.

"That whispering and the licking and…" she glowered darkly, averting her eyes in embarrassment to the floor.

"Did you not wish to give the Kazekage the impression that we are lovers?"

Sakura's face reddened and she quickly moved past him to the bathroom and, leaving the door open, stood before the bathroom counter and the mirror. She bent forward slowly to rest her forehead on the cool, sand-colored marble top, her hands trapped between her body and the surface on which she rested.

"Of course I did, but―," she began, "What the hell are you doing?"

A weight was firmly settled behind her and Sakura found herself trapped between Itachi's body and the counter. His hands were sliding from her waistline to the tops of her thighs and Sakura unconsciously shivered when they stopped. She could feel his breath tickle at her neck as he began to speak:

"I still wish to court you, Sakura," he whispered into her ear, "then we wouldn't have to lie to the Kazekage."

Sakura struggled with her words as he shifted lightly, causing her cheeks to burn. She finally regained the ability to speak just as Itachi had decided silence her.

She had turned her head to the side, her mouth had opened and instantaneously Itachi covered it with his own desperately, effectively cutting off the words of rejection he had no doubt was threatening to spill from the seductively cute lips he was now kissing.

To his surprise, Sakura didn't resist. Her green eyes drooped half-shut and he took advantage completely, letting himself enjoy the one thing he wanted for himself. For once in his life, it wasn't about the clan or his duty to the village but instead, it was all for him. And her, he supposed.

Even when he respectfully pulled his mouth away after a time, Sakura trailed after him and re-initiated the kiss. Itachi could finally understand why Shisui had taken to the pink-haired medic as ridiculous as it had seemed only a few short days before.

Eventually, the two broke apart and faced each other while Sakura busied herself staring down at her feet. It was obvious to Itachi why she was so concerned with the few moments of intimacy they had just shared. She was frightened of how quickly things had progressed and he could understand and even share the sentiment.

In less than a week they had progressed from being acquaintances to sharing kisses on a counter in a bathroom in the Kazekage mansion. It truly was frightening how things had gotten out of control and Itachi could feel the spiral pull at him continuously.

"Itachi," she whispered, "what are we even doing?"

"Hm?"

She jumped up to sit on the counter, her thumb rubbing at her creased brow. "This is just too fast to be real. There's no way this can go anywhere if we aren't even friends."

Itachi moved forward and placed his hands on either side of her on the counter before resting his forehead against her shoulder, "Then let's be friends."

She seemed to grimace slightly as she let out a small laugh, "I never knew you were so optimistic, Itachi. How do you even know that we can be friends?"

"I don't."

"I take back what I said about you being optimistic."

-o0-

The night was only slightly awkward at first, but sharing a bed with Itachi wasn't nearly as exasperating as she'd thought it would be. He stayed to his own side and Sakura was able to sleep surprisingly well. Until she woke up, that is.

Apparently, she and Itachi had some sort of inner synergy that probably had a lot more to do with Inner Sakura's interference than anything because when she was suddenly roused to consciousness in the middle of the night, she was securely wrapped in Itachi's embrace.

The shock of feeling her body so close to his stunned her into inaction and she could only let herself be held tightly, every curve of hers pressed against Itachi's well-toned frame. The male was sleeping soundly and Sakura instantly found herself jealous that he could remain so calm with his larger body so completely wrapped around her smaller form.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" she huffed, barely audible.

You don't move quickly enough, Sakura-baka, her Inner laughed within her head. So I may have taken steps on my own.

"You clearly don't understand what being friends means," Sakura sighed quietly, "Moving slow is the point, that way it's not just some cheap semblance of a relationship, but the real thing."

Well, excuse me! her Inner humphed arrogantly, I decide to help you with all the kindness of our heart and all you can do is be unappreciative? Fine! Call me when you decide that your "let's-just-be-friends-that-way-we're-happy-forever" plan fails epicly!

"Fuck you too, Inner."

Sighing irritably, Sakura made only a few slight struggles against the tight grip of Itachi before just giving up (her groggy mind affecting her judgement) and letting herself retreat back into the sanctity of sleep where she didn't have to deal with any Uchiha or her meddling inner conscious.

She closed her eyes at let the tendrils of sleep pull her into a semi-dazed awareness. Suddenly, she was tugged awake as the door to the room quietly opened with only a slight creak. Itachi seemed to sense the disturbance as well and was waking quickly, but Sakura wrapped her arms about him to curb his initial reaction to attack the potential threat.

"Who's there?" she called out tentatively.

"It's Temari."

The blonde Suna nin made herself known, sitting down on a chair next to the bed and gazing at the intertwined bodies of her friend and the Uchiha heir. She blinked twice and shrugged, letting her head fall back against the chair.

"Temari?"

Snapping her head to smirk at the medic, Temari shrugged, "Wanted to see what you two were up to. Guess it's serious business, huh?"

Sakura's face colored, "We're still getting to know one another."

Subaku no Temari raised an eyebrow and silently chucked, "Yeah, sure. Right."

"No really."

"Gaara was really hoping you'd changed your mind," the blonde sighed, "but it can't be helped now I suppose. Damn…I was hoping I'd get a sister and I already liked you!"

Sakura turned to look at Itachi, who was politely pretending to sleep even as one of his hands decided to rub her back surreptitiously. She had to admit that the sensation was rather soothing, even as her conversation with Temari turned less than pleasant.

"I just don't feel that way about Gaara. Of course, he was a wonderful friend while I was here, but Konoha is my home and I wouldn't leave it for anything."

"Even if Suna would treat your skills twenty, no thirty, times better than the Leaf does?" Temari's smile strained. "You have to admit that Konoha doesn't treat you with the reverence you deserve. You have kami-like medical skills and the Leaf treat you like any other Jonin."

"Temari, I am any other Jonin. I serve my village and work to improve it in my own way. I don't mind it at all."

"Even when they compare to your teammates like you're a hindrance?"

That one stung, Sakura conceded as she now clung to Itachi tightly. "Sasuke and Naruto are Sasuke and Naruto. I don't care if I'm seen as weak because I've spent my entire life getting over that word. The boys know how strong I am and they know what kind of hell I can bring to the table, so I'm not concerned."

"I see."

With that, Temari departed quietly, shutting the door behind her with another small creak and leaving behind the two Konoha ninja. Sakura turned her head into Itachi's embrace, letting herself be held without complaint.

"We shall depart in the morning."

Sakura smiled, "My pride isn't hurt."

"It is still rather unpleasant to spend more time here than necessary."

"True," she chuckled, "I just want this mission over with at this point."

Itachi took a deep breath and his eyes closed, "Sleep, Sakura."

-o0-

True to his word, Gaara handed over the scroll with an irritated grimace that wasn't really all that different from his usual expression. After that, the mission was rather easy to complete due to its simplicity and Sakura and Itachi were quickly on their way back to Konoha when they were attacked near the border of Fire country.

They were merely petty thieves and the two handled them efficiently and quickly. However, Sakura accidentally rolled her ankle when she carelessly stepped into a gopher hole. The entire field was filled with them so she shouldn't have been surprised that her chances were high for injury, but just the thought that the Uchiha heir was now wrapping her ankle when she was the official medic was enough to jilt her nerves.

"Itachi, it's fine."

"I believe that was what you said the last time you injured your ankle in my presence, Sakura."

Her face colored as she realized that she had forgotten that she had injured her ankle twice now with Itachi and she was instantly ruffled, "It'll be fine in a little bit!"

He had finished wrapping it in the gauze she'd had in her medical pack and supported her to her feet. He moved quickly and picked her up before she could protest and he began to run.

"Itachi, you do not need to carry me!"

Itachi pointedly ignored her, running through the trees with all the speed of an ANBU captain. "Sakura, please just relax."

"How can I? You're babying me!"

Once again, her protests were ignored and Itachi merely looked down at her skeptically, "For the sake of the mission, it is important that we continue on regardless of your injury."

"Whatever."

After a short silence, Itachi looked down at her once again, "Sakura, would you care to go to lunch when we return to Konoha?"

"This won't be like that breakfast, right?"

"No."

"Then sure."

Despite herself, Sakura couldn't help a small smile. Maybe they could learn to be friends after all?

-o0-

Tsunade scrutinized the two for any changes upon their return and she found plenty. Firstly, Sakura didn't appear to want to put a chakra infused fist through his skull. And secondly, they were standing rather closely in a manner that implied intimacy between them.

At least, Tsunade thought to herself, they were civil and calm. If they weren't already an exclusive item, they were well on their way to the point that the Uchiha Matriarch and she wanted.

Surely, the Godaime figured, it was only a matter of time…

-o0-

-o0-

-o0-

-o0-

Hey, it's something, ne?

Sorry I've been gone for so long…real life sucks.

Between applications, financial aid crap, family drama and two Animes by the names of "Soul Eater" and "Fairy Tail," I've been busy.

In fact, there's a deadline due in THREE DAYS for something that can only be done at school. And I'm home sick.

Mendokusai, ne?

Anyway~

Review.

Your overlord commands you.

AJlovesKakashi