TA-DA! The next chapter is here! Yes i have not abandoned this fic or my other three as some people have asked. It's just taking longer because i am a busy person. So enjoy and don't forget to leave a review!

He was leaving. Takeshi's heart ached as he stood at the gates of Konoha with his mother and master. He really was leaving this continent to return home. Takeshi didn't know how to feel. For most of his life his master had been a constant presence, someone he could rely on. After he had finished training they would occasionally meet up together and spend a few days relaxing. He knew his mother and master were sweet on each other. Some nights he had hoped they would fall in love and his master could become the father that he craved.

Yes…Takeshi yearned for a father. There were just some things that mothers and sons should not discuss or witness about each other and this is when his want for a father emerged. And for years his master had served that role. Takeshi wasn't sure if his master knew this but the man had never turned him away from any type of male affection; ruffling of the hair, firm pat on the back, long talk by the rivers where they talked about girls and the embarrassing topic of sex. Kenji was everything a father should be to Takeshi and the young man was going to sorely miss him.

"Are you sure you have to leave?" Takeshi asked trying to keep his voice steady. It was blatantly obvious though especially since he kept clearing his throat.

Kenji smirked at the young man and ruffled his hair like a child. "Tell me something young master Takeshi, if your mother resided on another continent and you've been away for years, wouldn't you long to see her? Maybe your younger siblings or cousins? If you were on good terms with your father maybe you'd want to see him as well?"

Takeshi huffed a long breath, "Yes I would."

"Then you know my answer." Kenji pulled him into a hug. "Remember everything we've talked about, especially last night. All that anger you hold inside of you, let it go. Forgive him."

Takeshi tightened his grip. "It's not that easy."

"It can be if you let it." With a final pat Kenji held his former apprentice at arm's length. "You have a good heart and a sharp mind. Don't let the past become your ball and chain when you have the key to open the lock."

Takeshi huffed, "Another life lesson."

"The last one you'll have from me. You're the master now it's time for you to stand on your own and not in the shadows anymore."

Takeshi nodded before releasing his master. Kenji turned to Sakura who had silent tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I thought all the crying happened last night?" Kenji asked with a small smile.

Sakura chuckled, "I'm a professional crier Kenji-kun, there's just no stopping it."

"Ah woman," Kenji pulled her in for one last hug, "You are far too emotional for this harsh lifestyle. Then again you wouldn't be the same ball buster that first fell in love with, feisty spirit and all."

Sakura continued giggling while wiping her tears. "I have something for you…well two things really." Kenji released her as watched as she pulled a large dark green cloak out of her side bag. She slung it across his shoulders and fastened the custom clip that was shaped as Konoha's leaf symbol. "It's not weighted. I couldn't get one done fast enough so you'll have to get someone back at your home to do it."

"It's light yet very sturdy." Kenji rolled his shoulders, "I like it."

"It's made for rough traveling that we shinobi are accustom to. Yet it had to be light so it didn't weigh us down. There's a hood on the back that'll help protect from the rain. I've always known you with the cloak so seeing you without one just seems…wrong somehow." She sniffled and tried covering it with a cough.

"I love it. Thank you."

Taking a moment to wipe more tears she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small scroll. "And then there's this. It's blank but once you open it, it'll send one word only one time."

Kenji smiled getting her meaning. "You want to know her name?"

Sakura nodded. "I want to know the name of the woman who stole my best friend."

Kenji's hearty laugh made her heart swell in affection as her tears dried momentarily. "Oh woman I will miss you. Here's some information for you. If you find that your happiness is no longer here go to the port in the Land of Rivers called Dorsei. Take the international liner and stay on it for about nine months. Once you reach a Port City called Tokyo get off the boat and find me. I will either be in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto. In Tokyo there is a dojo which practices Kamiya Kasshin-ryu. It's my mother's dojo which my former master now runs. If I'm not there they will know where I am. Look for me Sakura-dono. You will always have a special place in my heart and in my home even if I find my soulmate."

"Oh Kenji-kun," Sakura pulled him into a tight hug making him gasp, "I wish I could promise to visit or to come and stay but I can't. Just as you don't belong in this world, I wouldn't belong there. I'd probably stick out more with my crazy hair and unnatural use of chakra."

"S-s-sa-ku-ra-do-no, c-an br-eathe."

"OH!" She immediately released him, "Sorry!"

Kenji chuckled, "You know I'm really gonna miss that. It's not everyday someone likes me gets the life squeezed out of them." Once he straightened out he looked at his former apprentice. "That offer of Tokyo applies to you too Takeshi."

He nodded, "I wouldn't be able to leave my mother you know that. But if she were to make the journey I would probably come with her."

Kenji nodded then looked between the two. "I will sorely miss the both of you; truly miss you both. You've impacted my life and changed it in ways I didn't foresee when I started my journey. For that I am truly grateful. I'm returning home as a new man, a better man, and I have only you to thank for it. You will always be close to my heart."

Sakura's water works started again while Takeshi cleared his throat and bowed his head. Kenji gave Takeshi one last hug then embraced Sakura and kissed her temple his lips lingering as he imprinted the feel of her skin under his lips.

"I love you both. Be strong."

He turned and walked away with sure confident strides. Sakura sighed heavily and leaned on her son's shoulder. Takeshi put his arm around her and held her tightly. Kenji's form slowly shrank until the bend in the road took him out of view. Sakura gasped and turned into her son while the held each other tightly.

"He's gone," she cried softly.

"I know."

"I didn't think it'd hurt so much."

"Me either."

They stood for a few more minutes waiting, hoping that maybe…just maybe Kenji would turn around and come back. But he didn't. So they turned away from the gates and slowly made their way back home.

"Why is it that all the men in my life always leave me? Everyone I've ever cared about and loved they always leave…why?"

Takeshi tightened his grip around her. "I won't leave you mother. Ever."

Itachi had been watching everything. He watched as his former wife embraced another man with the same affection that she used to reserve just for him. Then he watched his son's eyes burn with the loss of someone he consider a father. His heart clenched when Sakura turned into Takeshi to cry on his shoulder. She used to turn to him when she cried. She used to trust him with her deepest secrets.

"Why is it that all the men in my life leave me? Everyone I've ever cared about and loved they always leave…why?"

If he hadn't already been in a depressive mood that statement would've knocked him down to a whole new level of low. He had left her; high and dry minutes after Takeshi entered the world. Failure. Low-life. Fool. He shook his head to rid himself of those thoughts. It'd been years since he allowed himself to mentally berate his actions. Shisui had beaten those thoughts out of him and now they were back with a furious vengeance.

Turning back towards the compound he was determined to search out his sake stash. This pain was excruciating, second only to the time that Tsunade had told him that Sakura and his son were gone. His heart was broken and now the feelings were stomping over the pieces making sure they were the smallest breaks possible.

"Itachi, is that you?" Midori opened the door to his office. Her eyes widened at her husband obvious frazzled state. She was shocked to watch him down an entire bottle of sake. "What happened?"

The loud smack of the empty bottle hitting his oak desk made her jump. Midori had never seen her husband so…expressive.

"I am a failure, a bastard, and-"

"Stop!" She ordered and blocked his path to the rest of his stash. Yes she never begrudged his drinking habit as long as he kept it to his study which he did. "Itachi I don't know what happened but saying those things about yourself will not help matters."

Itachi growled before plopping down in his desk chair. "I don't know what to do?"

"About what?"

"Sakura…Takeshi…"

"Talk to them."

"No."

"Why?" She knelt in front of him. "Why are you so afraid to talk to her and your son?"

"What am I supposed to say?" He growled at her. "That I'm happy they're back, that we can be a family again? That I'm a dead beat father who left her high and dry because I couldn't see past the color of his skin. How does that make me any better than the rest of the bigots in this village? It doesn't. They will want nothing to do with me."

Midori grabbed both of his hands before he could yank on his hair. "You're wrong Itachi. They do want you. They both love you. And contrary to what you think they both need you now more than ever. Yes they could've used you the day you stormed out of the hospital. Yes they could've used you all the days that they were traveling around the world especially against people who intended do them serious harm. Yes, there are things in the past that could've been changed but they weren't. All you have is now."

He sighed heavily, his head bowed, "What am I supposed to do? Tell me what to do."

Smiling sadly Midori released his hands and cupped his face. "Look at me Itachi, please." He did. "These past few days I have seen more of who you are than in the sixteen years that we've been married. Even though we are married and we haven't spent more than maybe five minutes in each other's presence I can see the difference. And believe it or not so can your children. You interact with them now instead of being a passive observer. Hama-chan told me that you've taken a more active interest in her training." She giggled slightly. "These things are all because of Sakura, I know it and you know it somewhere deep inside of you. The only thing left for you to do is to go and talk to her. For that sake of your sanity and hers."

His chest heaved again but instead of his customary frown he allowed a small smile to grace his lips. "How do you always know what to say?"

She smiled in return. "Because I know you."

Not five minutes after Takeshi and Sakura walked into their apartment there was a knock on the door. Takeshi stood up from his previous slouched position to answer it. Tai Lee was on the other side of the door bouncing on her toes in anticipation.

"Hi Takeshi-san I'm sorry that I'm five minutes early but my mother always said it's better to be early than to be late, especially when you're meeting with Hokage-sama but even though I know you're not Hokage-sama I think it's still polite to heed her advice because being late just makes everyone angry and I don't really like it when people are angry with me because it totally detracts from the positive outlook that I'm trying to adhere to in life considering our profession and all that is rather dark, and as my father always says it's best to make sure that your youth shines brightly for all to see that way-"

"Tai Lee!" Takeshi held up a hand to stop the young woman's rather impressive narration. He was honestly surprised that he caught most of everything that came out of her motor mouth. He heard his mother suppressing giggles from the couch. "I apologize for cutting you off but why are you here?"

Her face fell for a moment. "We had a training appointment for ten o'clock. You told me to meet you here and it's," she checked the clock on the wall in his apartment, "Ten o'clock right now."

That's right, he had promised to start training her in kenjutsu. He had forgotten since he was busy seeing his master off this morning. "I had forgotten. Forgive me I'll just be a moment, please come in."

"Thanks a bunch Takeshi-san!" Tai Lee smiled taking the young man off guard for just a moment.

She skipped easily into the apartment and landed gracefully on the couch. Takeshi just watched her for a beat before turning around and walking into his bedroom.

"Soooooooooo," Sakura cracked an eye opened and smiled at the girl, "Tai Lee are you excited to learn a new trade?"

"Oh yes! I can hardly contain my excitement as it is. I'm just so happy that someone is finally agreeing to teach me especially with the Chunin Exams are in a week. My team is competing in the exam so I want to be as ready as I can."

Sakura nodded. "Where are they being held this year?"

"In Suna. My Kaa-chan says that I'll probably be gone for a month if I pass everything."

"She's right. You'll have a written test, the team test, and then one month preparation for the final test. The final one is individual assessment which is why you get the prep period. The test is grueling so work on your stamina as well as other skills."

Tai Lee nodded seriously. "Thank you for the advice. I will definitely take your advice seriously so I can pass the test and become a Chunin!"

"You do that." Sakura smirked as Takeshi walked back out.

"Are you ready Tai Lee-san?"

"HAI! I'm so excited to start learning!"

Takeshi huffed in amusement then turned towards the door. "We need to visit an armory with a large array of weapons."

"I know just the place!" Tai Lee announced as she opened the door and danced out. "See you later Sakura-san!"

Takeshi paused before continuing after her. "Are you going to be ok by yourself?"

"I'm not a child Take-kun I'll be fine. I was actually thinking about either visiting Naruto or raiding my sake and chocolate supply and having a chick flick marathon."

He grimaced. "I'll probably be out most of the day. I overheard her saying she has the Chunin exams coming up so I want her sufficiently prepared. I think maybe having you spar with her too would be good. Someone new she doesn't know."

Sakura sighed. "I would love to but you know it's hard to me to spar with anyone…after everything…"

"I know." He cleared his throat and turned to where Tai Lee was calling him. "Just think about it. We're here right? We can't stay hidden forever and maybe…everything will be ok. Gotta keep moving forward right…even here we have to keep moving forward."

"Go with Tai Lee son and focus on her right now. I'll be fine." She smiled at him and watched as he closed the door.

Her previous melancholy mood hit her again once the door clicked shut. That chick flick marathon was starting to sound better and better. The comfy clothes, chocolate, unrealistic relationships and sappy lines, more chocolate, wallowing in her own unhappy ending with more chocolate, and to top it all off getting blind drunk on her large stash of high proof sake. Done. Chick flick marathon it was. Then after she wallowed like a normal woman then she would take her son's advice and get out into a new routine. Just like Kenji told her…she needed to let go of the past to heal. She was finally home where she wanted to be since she left sixteen years ago and somewhere inside she was determined to be miserable. Maybe because it was now a habit? Sixteen years of conditioning and misery on the road had changed something in her and letting that go was harder than she anticipated. But she needed to for her sanity and for her son's sanity, the past was the past and it needed to stay there.

Pulling on some loose silk pants and a tank top Sakura threw her hair up into an easy messy bun and she was ready to lounge. Two bottles of sake were placed on the coffee table and her gallon tub of chocolate ice cream complete with spoon, set directly in front of the booze. She rifled through the movie collection Ino had so kindly provided them with. Maybe some Princess Gale in honor of the real Princess from Team Seven's Frost mission. Yeah that was a good idea; Princess Koyuki hated the role and right now Sakura hated her life; that seemed almost poetic.

Just as she was about to put the movie in a knock interrupted her. She growled to herself at her rotten luck at being disturbed when all she wanted to do was lose herself in chocolate. Whoever was on the other side of that door was going to hear about it.

She yanked open the door ready to give the person a talking too when her heart stopped and jaw dropped open. This honestly wasn't happening to her today…

"Itachi?" She gasped.

Tai Lee hadn't stopped bouncing since he caught up with her outside of his apartment. It grate on his nerves but in an anyway that he would want to skip out on his current company. He found that odd considering he had encountered similar people who he immediately wanted to gut.

"Are you always this…energetic?" Takeshi asked as he adjusted his heavy cloak.

Tai Lee blushed and scratched the back of her head, loosening the bun in her hair. "Oh, ha-ha, my mom says I take after my dad and his endless bounds of energy. It's harder to contain when I'm really excited. Does it bother you?"

"Usually such displays do but…I find it odd that with you it's tolerable." He cleared his throat at the end.

She giggled in response her blush darkening. "Ok but my mom says that I have to give people permission to shut me up in case my motor mouth runs ahead of my brain."

He smirked and looked down at her. "I'll keep that in mind."

"But I just want to say thank you again. I know you're probably tired of hearing me say it but I really mean it. I know you accepted under duress and I want to give you leave to bow out of training if you find that I'm not a very good student or I can't grasp the concepts."

Takeshi immediately stopped and turned to face her. "Are you questioning my honor?"

"NO! I promise I-"

"Will you apply the same focus and discipline into learning kenjutsu as you did with all of your other weapons?"

She turned serious but answered without missing a beat. "Hai!"

"Then I will not bow out of my promise to train you as long as you keep that promise. Kenjutsu is a way of life and not just the study of how to wield a blade. Are you willing to learn all that I teach you?"

"Hai! Please teach me everything you know!"

He smirked at her losing some of his seriousness. "I can't do that but I will teach you enough."

She followed after him as they resumed walking. "What will you teach me?"

"Kamiya Kasshin-ryu and Hyoho Niten Ichi-ryu: with a focus in both itoryu and nitoryu."

"No battojutsu or the other one?"

"No."

Her face fell. "Why not?"

"That style of kenjutsu is reserved for my apprentice. You are my student but not my apprentice. Do you understand?"

"I do…just a little disappointed."

His smirked grew rueful. "Do not be. The weight of this cloak and the title that comes with it is heavy physically, mentally, and emotionally."

Tai Lee glanced up at him her chocolate orbs wide with innocence. She could see it now the heaviness, the weight that rested on his shoulders now. His dark green eyes hardened with so much pent up anger and darkness that it made her shake a bit in her sandals. Only sixteen and she could tell that he had seen so much, killed so much. Here she was getting ready for the Chunin Exams completing easy D-rank and some C-rank missions that maybe got her in a scuffle with some civilian thugs or low level shinobi. Then there was this man, two years older, and based on that genjutsu at the training grounds, he had seen the absolute worst the world has to offer. Sorrow threatened to take over her senses if she had not spied her grandparent's weaponry shop up ahead. So she banished her dark thoughts and smiled brightly.

"We're here Takeshi-sensei!"

"Just Takeshi-san please Tai Lee."

"But you're going to be my teacher so it's suitable."

"I'm sixteen and you're fourteen. Our age makes the latter acceptable."

"Takeshi-san then!" She smiled before pushing open the door and striding in. "KAA-SAN we're here!"

Tenten walked from a back hallway with a scowl on her face. "Tai Lee! How many times do I have to tell you not to yell in the store? There could be customers in here and with the echo your voice reverberates to an alarming degree. I swear your voice alone can pierce through cinderblocks filled with cement!"

Tai Lee just smiled. "Sorry Kaa-chan but we're here to start my training!"

Tenten finally looked up to acknowledge Takeshi. "Ah Takeshi-san good to see you again."

He nodded. "You as well Tenten-san."

"What can I get for you two?"

"Tai Lee needs a wooden bokken." Takeshi answered.

Tenten nodded. "Along the wall in the corner by the front we keep all types of swords. The bokkens will be in that area as well."

The pair walked to the area and immediately zeroed in on the wooden swords.

"Bokkens are good starting points for kenjutsu." Takeshi started to lecture. "It gets our body and arms used to the feel of katana, and begin to build up the muscles required for use. Basic technique is taught with these or a shinai, but I think with your obvious skill already that a shinai would be counterproductive. You said you have a Chunin Exam coming up?"

"Hai. They start in a week," she answered easily her eyes light with anticipation.

He nodded in acknowledgement. "Even though it is not a blade, if used effectively a bokken can be just as deadly. The school that this art form hails from is called the Kamiya Kasshin-ryu school of kenjutsu. It is not a school that promotes violence, rather is promotes the sanctity of life. One does not need to kill or be killed in order to learn a lesson or admit defeat. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes I do."

He turned his attention to the wooden blades. "Pick them up. See how they feel in your hand. Swing them. Find one that calls to you."

Tai Lee's expression turned serious as she picked up an oak bokken stained in a dark brown. Takeshi watched her go through four different wooden swords before settling on a beautiful bokken made of beech with black wrappings around the handle.

"This one. It feels the best in my grip."

Once she purchased her bokken Tai Lee held it firmly to her chest with a giant smile while they walked to the training field; the same field where they met.

Takeshi drew his bokken from within his cloak. "We will start with the general basics I want to see where you are at so we know where to go from there. If you are focused enough throughout my trainings then you should have a firm grasp on the Kamiya school before the Chunin Exams begin."

"HAI! Let's get started!" Tai Lee exclaimed mimicking Takeshi's stance.

He started with grips and lunges then moved to parries and thrusts. Tai Lee was the perfect mirror of his stances her brown eyes focused like he had never seen before. She grasped the basic concepts quickly which he expected since she had a rudimentary understanding of kenjutsu. He easily flowed into the first katas and drilled her relentlessly making sure footwork and hand placements were perfect. She was a model student. He deeply admired her single minded focus in learning this craft. By the end of the day Tai Lee had been drilled in the first three katas of the school and they both ended up skipping lunch.

"Excellent work. Tomorrow we will review and spar with what you remember," he stated.

"H-Hai." Tai Lee breathed. She hadn't been worked that hard in a long, long time. "I will be ready. Should we meet here or at your apartment again?"

"Meet here we'll start at eight in the morning."

"Hai!" She smiled up at him.

"If you cannot continue with this rigorous training regime I can lighten the load." Takeshi cleared his throat a little uncomfortable. He felt bad for the state she was in. "We were so focused that we skipped lunch and I apologize."

"NO! No please, I'm fine. It's just…I think the last time I was this tired was when my dad was drilling me in taijutsu." She laughed standing up straight. "If I can survive his ridiculous idea of training I can survive this."

"If you insist. The day before you leave for Suna we will spar and test all your knowledge of my teachings. You need a full days rest to recuperate if we continue like this."

They started walking back to the village together. Tai Lee slung her bokken over her shoulder.

"Find a comfortable place to stow your bokken. Get used to it in that area so when you change to a katana your body will easily accommodate." He told her.

"Well…I mostly summon my weapons to me, like you did that time with your katana when we first met."

"Then do what makes you most comfortable." He gave her a sideway glance. "Just know that it gets tiring holding it on your shoulder."

Tai Lee giggled, "Speaking from personal experience Takeshi-san?"

"Hai. We trained just like I'm training you. After a while it was all I could do to not drag my bokken on the ground." He closed his eyes smiling at the memory.

"Tell me more! Please will you tell me about training with your master?!"

He hummed recalling the grueling days of his younger years. "I collapsed at the end of each day. It was a lot of tough love. My mother would go off for days at a time to complete missions for us so we could pay for the hotels we were staying at. My master…he was the father I never had. At least that's how I looked at him. I started training with him ten years ago. We met by accident in a village. Kaa-san was collecting a payment for a mission and some idiots thought she was prime for the picking. Kunoichi's can look very deceiving that way. Out in the field before our personas were created my mother kept a constant genjutsu around herself, she would look unassuming and ordinary all the time."

"So naturally they mistake her for an easy target." Tai Lee concluded.

He nodded. "She lured them to the forest near where I was hiding under my own genjutsu. Apparently my master saw them stalking her and waited to assist. He didn't expect her to put a hurt on them like she did," he smiled wickedly. "I tried attacking him thinking he was another bad guy but that obviously didn't work. They became fast friends and I became his apprentice. The safest I ever felt was the years I spent training with him. When I was with him nobody ever bothered us. His sheer presence kept everyone at bay. I won't say it was the exact opposite with my mother but…"

"I understand." She looked up at him. "A woman and child traveling together versus having that behemoth that is your master with you. I would steer clear too."

His laughter was rich and deep making Tai Lee blush three shades of red. He had a beautiful laugh, so light and carefree in stark contrast to his typical demeanor.

"I can't believe I never knew what was under that cloak."

"It was definitely deceiving. I think everyone watching had their eyes popping out of their heads when he tossed it off."

He grunted in agreement. Their silence was peaceful then and Tai Lee kept stealing glances at him. His demeanor seemed increasingly lighter than it was earlier in the day. Maybe it was practicing and teaching that did it, but a small but slightly growing part of her hoped it was her doing. She had made him laugh just by being herself. A lot of people didn't like her; she was both too loud and boisterous or would put her foot in her mouth on many occasions. People were usually embarrassed to be seen with her. Her team tolerated her since they were a team but that was about it. She hoped that after the Chunin Exams that they would grow closer. Not that she wanted a life or death experience to solidify their bond but, she's always felt like an outsider.

"Tomorrow I'll make sure we break for lunch but for now where would you like to eat dinner?" Takeshi asked breaking her reverie.

"Wh-What? Dinner?"

His bemused look made her blush again. "If I return home without feeding you my mother will have my head. So pick a place to eat so I can save my own skin."

Her bottom lip plumped into a pout. "You don't want to eat with me for me?"

She had shocked him if his eyes were any indication. Tai Lee loved how expressive they were.

"I didn't mean anything…"

"I know," she smiled her teeth gleaming in the fading sunlight. "I just wanted to tease you. But dinner! Hmmm I think I'm feeling ramen how about you?"

"Ramen? Really?"

She nodded. "After today's work out I need the carbs for tomorrow."

Their standoff was growing more and more awkward by the second; neither knew what to say or even who should speak first. But someone had to break first and since Sakura had gasped his name when she opened the door the break had to go to him. He felt nostalgic for a moment.

"May I come in?" He whispered eyes never leaving hers.

Sakura gulped but moved aside opening the door wider. Itachi took the silent invitation and entered their apartment. He noticed that the furnishings were a standard issue so they obviously weren't planning on staying long in the village or maybe they didn't have the funds. Although the most likely scenario was Naruto funding their living arrangements. No personal items were hung or placed anywhere. It was obvious that they could pick up and leave at the drop of a hat and no one would be the wiser.

"This is a nice place," he stated looking at the broken pieces of sake bottles in the fireplace.

"What the fuck do you want?"

His body stiffened and eyes closed at her harsh words. Still he shouldn't have expected anything less than that kind of welcome.

"I'm here to talk to you."

"Then talk. And when you're done you can leave and never come back. In fact I don't want to see your face again."

When he finally turned around he was unsurprised to see her arms folded across her chest in a clearly defensive stance. Her emerald eyes still as beautiful as he remembered but were now hardened with a steely glint that he had never seen before. His heart ached at the sight.

"I will do my best to abide by your wishes but I cannot guarantee that."

"You can and you will."

He sighed through his nose. "Will you allow me to talk to my son at all?"

"NO!" She stopped to take a deep breath to regain her composure. "You lost the right to speak to him when you left me in the delivery room; when you didn't trust me after everything that we had been through."

"I was foolish-"

"You were more than foolish as you put it. You betrayed me. You left me to fend for myself. I ran away from the village two days after giving birth. I was still weak and bleeding from labor! You know how hard it was to run from pursuers while trying to cover up a blood trail and while suppressing my chakra and Takeshi's?!"

Itachi's eyes hardened. "You were followed?"

"The whole damn village hated me at the drop of a hat. You and Tsunade couldn't even stick around long enough for a simple paternity test! If you had taken a moment to just look at him you would've seen he was your exact image. But NO! You let the rumors of my supposed infidelity spread like wildfire. I discharged myself A.M.A. because the nurses didn't even bother to come to my room. Everyone wanted to kill me! And you did NOTHING!"

The pain was back again. It hurt…deeper than anything before.

"Nothing," she whispered. Itachi could hear her wobbling voice that no doubt would be followed by tears. "For the first time in my life I was truly alone. No you, no Ino, no Tsunade or Shizune, and no team. I was on my own with my baby. You want to know something funny, if I hadn't had Takeshi I would've killed myself."

"No…no you wouldn't do that."

"Why not? I've considered it before and almost went through with it." Sakura's statement forced him to look up.

"When?" he asked shocked.

"After my parent's died."

He shook his head in disbelief. "You never told me."

She waved her hand dismissing him easily. "It was a long time ago and I was depressed. My parents, my family meant everything to me. Naruto and Sasuke pulled me out of my funk before I went through with it. I didn't think to mention it considering I had you and your family so I was safe from relapses. Or so I thought…"

"Sakura I-" he paused trying to find his words.

"What can't summon the words for a bullshit apology?" She snorted giving him an ugly look. "Save it. I've heard more of those than I care to hear ever again. Buuuuuut…I guess if it'll make you feel better then go ahead lay a bullshit apology on me."

Itachi honestly didn't know where to go with this conversation. She was a complete wall of stone. He was honestly at a loss at how to handle her. Gone was the sweet tempered woman he had loved and in her place…a hardened kunoichi who would kill first and ask questions later. A far cry from the medic that slapped him in the hospital.

"Why did you leave?" He finally asked.

"Everyone hated me."

"I didn't hate you."

"Bullshit."

"I still loved you. I just didn't understand what was going on."

"If you still loved me you would've stayed in the hospital or at the very least come back the next day!"

"I was an idiot. I know that."

Sakura snorted, "That's putting it nicely."

"I came to look for you."

"Oh really? When, oh wait…NEVER!"

Now he was starting to get angry with her snarky attitude. "I did. I went to Tsunade's office to find out where you were and she told me you left."

"Yeah and what happened after that? Nothing. You were too much of a coward."

"You're right." That statement shocked Sakura and it was written all over her face. "I was a coward. Always have been and I probably always will be. I've been controlled by my clan and my position as a shinobi all my life."

"Stop it!" She demanded assuming her hard visage again. "I've heard that damn argument too many times in my life. We're not going to rehash everything all over again."

"Why? Are you afraid that I might actually be right?"

"HA! You'd love that wouldn't you? Being right all the damn time. Just makes your little Uchiha pride all aglow in happiness at always being right."

He growled and immediately advanced on her. "Can we not have a civil conversation without any sarcastic retorts on your part?"

Sakura's eyes widened and he was mildly surprised to see fear echoed in those green depths. "Don't you touch me! Itachi I will break your arm if you lay one finger on me!"

He pushed her all the way up against the wall and boxed her in with his arms. But true to her threat not a single part of him touched her.

Sakura fought the deep intake of air that she was so tempted to take. She wanted to breathe him in and inhale that intoxicating scent that was her ex-husband. But she would resist, even if it meant holding her breath for however long before he left her very personal space.

"I love you." He declared willing her to look at him. "I love you with everything in me. I haven't stopped loving you since they day I realized that I had fallen head over heels for you. You taught me how to live, how to feel, how to be human. You gave me freedom from my conditioning. My life was perfect with you in it."

"And yet at the first sign of trouble you up and marry another woman."

Sakura tried not to flinch when his hand smack the wall by her head. "Do you honestly think that getting remarried was my choice?! I was forced! After everything that happened my father thrust one more thing on my shoulders under the burden of being the clan heir. I had no choice in the matter!"

"You had a choice Itachi! You could've left. You could've come to find me! Why didn't you come? If you still loved me then why didn't you come for me?"

His heart clenched as her voice got steadily quieter. That was the million dollar question, why.

"I tried," he whispered leaning his head as close as possible to hers. His body ached to touch her, feel her. "I tried so hard to leave this village. My heart yearned to be reunited with you. Tsunade forbade me from following you or I would've been classified as a nukenin. Three times I tried. The first was after she ordered me to remain in the village, this was after your team returned from searching for you after the rain. The second was the day my mother and some other clan women were cleaning out our house in preparation of my impending remarriage. And the third was the day…" the hitch in his breath threw Sakura off for a bit. "The third time was the day after I tried to have a child with her. We were married for a year and a half before I ever touched her. Our first kiss was the day we were married and I didn't kiss her again until that same night. I couldn't live with myself, cheating on you like that. Shisui stopped me the third time told me that the consequences of leaving now would be far worse than if I had left before. At first it was my duty keeping me here as a shinobi and the heir. Then the last time, I had dug myself into a deeper hole than ever and even when I finally had the courage to leave…I couldn't. You are right, my sweet, darling Sakura…I am a coward. I did betray you and your love for me. I let you down in the absolute worst way and I'm a failure of as a father and a husband. And I hate myself for it. The one person who I vowed to love and protect was thrust into a world of exile and hatred. My son," he choked a bit, "was exposed to the darkness of this world when he should've grown up in a happy home with a loving mother and father teaching him everything we knew. That why these villages were created in the first place! But instead I was forced to live with the fact that, aside from my living breathing son wandering around with you, I had no name or birth certificate to keep with me as proof that he existed. I didn't know his name until the night Root was destroyed."

Sakura's heart clenched at his words. The pain in his words made her gut clench. His story, his words, in a way they made sense. Itachi had always had a ridiculous sense of honor to the village. That was one thing that always remained the same. Itachi was as loyal as Kakashi when it came to his village.

"Please Sakura, let me have just one small part of your lives. I've been waiting for this…for years. I need you both."

The moment his head start to descend Sakura immediately knew what he was prepared to do. Despite her body begging her to give in as his warm breath ghosted over her hypersensitive skin she resisted. She had to.

"Don't kiss me," she whispered fiercely, "Don't touch me."

His hands clenched into fists and his expression tightened. "Sakura…"

"I will not be a whore. I will not be the other woman. I will not even condone any type of stigma to be attached to me. I suffered through it once and I won't do it again. You're married and you have at least one child with your wife. I'm nothing more than you unfaithful ex."

"Don't say that!" He exclaimed while his fists made dents in the walls. "I don't want to hear you say those words again. You were never unfaithful to me. You are not a whore. You are the love of my life and I can't stay away from you. Especially now that I have you back. Don't leave me again. I can't take it because I will follow you Sakura. You set one foot out of Konoha and I will be right behind you."

Sakura's entire body froze at his words. "Stop it Itachi. Don't make such stupid promises or declarations. If anything you have less freedom now than you did when we were first married. Everything will be easier if we just steer clear of each other."

"Easier for whom? You? Me?"

"For everyone!"

"Bullshit Sakura! I can feel the tension flowing through you because the same flows through me. We need each other and we always will. Just let me in! Give me something or put me out of my misery because so help me Kami-sama I will not be able to stay away from you."

He waited the muscles in his body were beginning to ache from all the tension he subjected them to. He had put himself out there and was now awaiting her judgement. His heart was on his sleeve just begging her take it and hold it and care for it like she used to.

"I…" she cleared her throat, "I need time. Everything that's happened and being in the village…it's all too much at once. I need to adjust."

He nodded happy that he at least got an answer from her. "I'll give you all the time you need."

She chanced a glance up his body boxing her in but there was now a slight barrier separating them. His suffocating presence no longer hovered over her.

"I have no control over Takeshi and his feelings about you," she met his eyes reluctantly. "He holds a very strong bias against you for abandoning us. I obviously never discouraged his feelings on the matter, all things considered."

Itachi nodded in acknowledgement and didn't blame them.

She cleared her throat. "Like most men he communicates best while sparring. So good luck with that."

An olive branch, Itachi thought with a smile, that's exactly what that clue was; a way to get his son to acknowledge him.

"Thank you Sakura."

She nodded and then watched as he let himself out. Times were changing and she prayed they would all change for the good.

YAA-TAA! Their first interaction! I loved writing it and trying to get it perfect and it took a while and i'm still not completely happy with it but alas. I decided to post because you have been waiting long enough. Things are about to kick start here so be ready for some crazy stuff to happen.

Oh and please leave a review. It makes my toddler and puppies happy :)