Black Hearts Turned Pink

Part 8

Okay, first of all, I'm very sorry to all my story followers and rabid fanpeople but i had exams, alot of homework and 2 very important swim meets so I had no time. I'm really sorry for the wait and I really hope you guys don't hate me. Again really sorry but I still love you all!

NOW THIS IS IT, THE CHAPTER YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!

I do not own Naruto or any Naruto products. Just the story. :D

Sakura went straight to her room, leaving either Deidara or Tobi to report to Pein. She pulled off her cloak and threw it on her chair then went into her closet and sat down in the darkness. She sighed and closed her eyes, putting her body into a relaxed state.

"You what?" Sasori asked Deidara, for the 6th time. He smirked as he watched the jealousy and disbelief on the others faces. After reporting to Pein, he went downstairs into the TV room to tell the guys what happened.

"I kissed her and she kissed me back, un," he replied, "But then that baka Tobi pulled her away before I could do anything else." Everyone looked at Tobi who was in a corner reading a comic Sakura bought him.

"For once, Tobi was useful," Kakuzu said, getting up.

"Where the fuck are you going?" Hidan asked. He looked back.

"None of your business."

Sakura sensed someone come into her room and she held her breath, so she could quiet her breathing. The footsteps came closer and the closet door opened. Sakura looked up into the handsome, stitched face of Kakuzu. His red-green eyes looked down at her curiously.

"You know, you look good without the mask," she pointed out, "You're just like Kakashi. Hide handsome faces behind stupid masks." He smirked down at her.

"It's to keep the ladies guessing, now what the hell are you doing down there?" She shrugged and allowed him to help her up.

"I tend to feel more relaxed when it's dark," she replied. He furrowed his eyebrows at her.

"You feeling homesick?" he asked, worry and concern showing only in his eyes. She shook her head.

"I could never feel homesick for Konoha," she said, sounding very bitter, "Not after what happened. I feel more at home here."

"Why? What did-" She placed a finger on his lips as a pained look crossed her face for barely a second, though he saw it.

"I don't want to talk about it, "she said. He took her hand and gently kissed it.

"Whatever the reason, I'm sorry about it," he said. He caressed her cheek, skimming his thumb across her lips before pecking her lips and leaving. She sighed and turned off the light. A few minutes later, she heard the other members of the Akatsuki downstairs groaning, growling and cursing. 'Guys are so weird,' was her last thought before falling asleep.

Downstairs, Kakuzu told them what happened in Sakura's room. The sounds that Sakura heard were the guys when they heard that Kakuzu kissed her.

"So she's not feeling homesick or guilty at all?"Sasori asked. Kakuzu shook his head.

"When she 'silenced' me, a pained look just barely crossed her face which most likely means that whatever Konoha did to her, hurt her really badly."

"You think she will tell us anytime soon?"Itachi asked quietly. Kakuzu shrugged.

"She said she feels more at home here, so probably."

"Guess we'll just have to wait, un."

An entire week and a half passed and neither Suna nor Konoha heard anything from Sakura or about her. They sent out many search parties which all came back empty-handed. Tsunade felt herself getting tenser and more stressed each day Sakura was missing. 'Where the hell is Sakura?'

During the week and a half, Sakura sparred, teased, bantered, argued, fought and flirted with every male Akatsuki member, even Pein. She and Konan also formed a close bond with each other, though to their distress, they couldn't hang out as much as they wanted. But as they got closer to October, she began to get sadder and less playful and it worried them.

During the first week of October, Sakura was a totally different person. She became anti-social, quiet and got annoyed or irritated more easily. She also ate less and avoided all the members like the plague and they honestly didn't know what to do. They were extremely worried about her, but all they could do was wait.

One day, while they were watching TV, Sakura came into the room and leaned on the door-jam, waiting until she got their attention. They looked at her in surprise before noting what she had on. Her hair was in a messy bun and she had on one of Kisame's light blue t-shirts which fit her like a dress with small, white shorts underneath.

"You okay now?"Sasori asked. She shrugged but her eyes were on Itachi. She said nothing, but the look on her face told him everything he needed to know. She wanted to talk to him, very badly. He got up and put his hand on the small of her back, leading her upstairs into his bedroom, closing the door. Curious and a little jealous, the other members followed them and pressed their ears to his door so they could listen.

Sakura sat down on Itachi's bed and he sat beside her. They stayed like that in silence as he studied her face. She looked very tired and her eyes and cheeks were red and slightly swollen, suggesting that the beautiful pinkette was crying. It was then that he noticed the dried up tears under her eyes. 'Must be really serious to make her cry,' he thought, looking into her big, green, emotionless eyes. He reached over and gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear.

"What's wrong Sakura?" he asked. His smooth baritone flooded her ears in a slightly seductive way, making her shiver a little. She looked up at him and opened her mouth then closed it. She sat Indian-style in the middle of his bed and turned so she was fully facing him.

"Your-" she stopped when she realized her voice sounded scratchy from the crying and not using it. She cleared her throat.

"Your brother left the village a few years ago," she started, "Tore up my entire team and we spent a long time looking for him. Naruto and I even trained with Jiraya and Tsunade to get stronger. Then, a few months ago, we caught sighting of him. We, of course, went after him. We got into a fight with him and the Sound Four. That's when Konoha first betrayed me."

Flashback- Sakura's P.O.V.

We stopped and stared. There he was, on top of a tall tree. The Sound Four was there, Kidomaru, Jirobo, Tayuya and Sakon and Ukon. But, my eyes were on Sasuke. I was over my creepy crush on him, I've been for a while now, but I was still shocked to see him. He'd grown so much. He also got colder. He ran those cold black eyes over all of us, but stopped on me. I shuddered under his gaze and I saw the other members of Team Kakashi, Team Gai and Team Asuma glance between me and Sasuke. He narrowed his eyes same time I narrowed mine.

"Haruno," he said, his voice as cold as his expression. I half-growled. I hated it when people called me that.

"Uchiha," I growled. He jumped down, followed by the Sound Four. I could smell the fight brewing.

Half-way through the fight that started, I saw a flash on my left. I whirled around and saw nothing but by time I turned back, I was sprayed with a poison. I coughed and fell to the floor, then began coughing again, this time bringing up blood. I felt three arms encircle me and pull me up from the ground, then felt a kunai press against my neck.

"Such a shame really," I heard Kidomaru purr in my ear, "You really are hot for someone with pink hair." I saw the other Sound ninja jump back and move beside Kidomaru. Everyone whirled around, eyes wide when they saw me, weak in Kidomaru's arms. Then at that moment, that bastard Sasuke decides to take off. They looked between me and Sasuke as if they were deciding who was more important. Then Neji looks at me, a slightly sad look on his face.

"I'm sorry Haruno," he says, then takes off after Sasuke. Tenten and Rock Lee look at me with sad eyes and follow him. Then, I watched in total horror as everyone said their apologies and left me. Only my team stayed, staring at me with only worry and concern.

"Go," I said weakly, "Just leave me here." When I said that, Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"You must be crazy if you think I'm going to just leave you like that." A weak smile came on my face. It was nice to still have people loyal to me. Then Kidomaru starts laughing.

"Well too bad for you, her game is over." But before he could slit my throat, Sasuke appears.

"Release her," he ordered. I felt Kidomaru's grip loosen and felt him falter.

"But Sasuke-"

"I said release her." I pushed away from him with the little strength I had and fell to the ground. Kakashi and Naruto were at my side instantly. We watched them walk away before the other teams joined us. They were quiet the whole way back and I made no move to talk to any of them.

Itachi saw the tears running down her face as she told him her story. He reached over and gently wiped them away. She looked up at him with such a pitiful look, he actually felt a tightening in his chest.

"There's more," he said, "Tell me." She sighed.

"Konoha killed my brother on my- our birthday," she answered, "They blamed it on Orochimaru and I believed them until Naruto told me the truth. Then Kakashi told me they killed my entire clan because they were unpredictable." She stared up at him.

"How do I know for sure that they won't kill me either?" Itachi sighed and pulled the pinkette into his lap. She was surprised at first but then she relaxed against him as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Maybe because you know more than all the leaders of the villages put together," he said softly, "Maybe because you're too precious. Or maybe it's because everyone you meet falls in love with you one way or another." She looked up at him.

"You're just saying that," she muttered, feeling her heartbeat race a little. He raised an eyebrow.

"Am I really Cherry?"he asked, feeling her heartbeat speed up. She sighed and just rested her head on his shoulder, falling asleep. Itachi looked down at her then lay back so she was right on top of him. He then rolled over gently so she was tucked very close into his side, but her head was on his chest and her arm and leg across his body. He ran his eyes over her as he watched her sleep. 'I'm very much in the lead.'