Hello again! It's been too long. Thank you for being patient with this next update. As some of you already know, I've been on hiatus to focus on my studies. Well, that didn't work out, so I'm rearranging a new schedule in which I can balance both my school and work responsibilities with my writing. I do love these stories and writing them, and it hurts me to see that they're not finished.

So, in my efforts to finish them, I'm going to write shorter chapters so that they're easier to revise and publish. Please let me know if you have any feedback that would help me improve. I'd highly appreciate it.

It was comforting for Sakura to listen to Itachi share his tales about Kakashi and himself. Not only was it a delightful way to get to know the ex-Uchiha, but it was also a refreshing perspective on her step-father. The pinkette could not have guessed that Kakashi had been as violent and ruthless as Itachi had narrated. She only saw her late guardian as a superhero, and superheroes defeated contract killers, not employed themselves as one. But Kakashi did spare Itachi's life when he was assigned to take it many years ago. He also went out of his way to protect and raise his friends' daughter. No matter what the past a person had lived through, he or she was capable of change. Sakura could see that. Not just on Kakashi, but…

"Would you like to sleep on the bed?"

Itachi, as well.

"It is the most comfortable place to sleep here," Sakura approached the mattress and sat on it. "Don't you want to sleep on it too?"

"I do, but," Itachi turned to the fireplace, "I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

Sakura widened her eyes and blushed. "Oh," she mouthed. That didn't occur to her, both of them sharing the bed if they were to sleep there at the same time. She shuffled on her seat and stared at her lap. But they had slept in each other's arms before. In a cave to share body warmth. And they were more comfortable with each other's presence now than before. Why was this situation different?

"I'll sleep next to the fireplace," Itachi proposed. "I wouldn't be as cold if the flames are directly next to me."

"But," Sakura stared at the wood in front of the fireplace, "wouldn't the floor be hard?"

Itachi chuckled. "I've slept in worse conditions."

Sakura shuffled again as Itachi returned to the fireplace and laid down next to it. She almost protested again and insisted that he slept next to her anyway. She was studying his form, imagining how sore the man would be in the morning. But then her thoughts shifted to something else. The light of the fire cast shadows on his muscles and his jawlines. And the way he moved from one place to another was so graceful, she couldn't imagine him doing anything else with less precision. The area between her legs begin to ache, and she knew why.

Sakura laid on the bed, pulled the blanket she had patted down over her body, and made sure to hide her blushing face behind her back. She couldn't be having such intimate thoughts with Itachi. The two of them had just met, and their relationship had been incredibly turbulent. Not to mention their history and background—they are far from compatible. She shouldn't be thinking about him that way. It was...wrong.

But then she remembered how warmly and softly Itachi held her, despite the hard muscles underneath his shirt. How soothing it was to have his lips pressed against her temple, and his fingers wipe away her tears. He was also incredibly handsome, something she knew from the moment that she met him. And, when it came down to it, kind.

After what felt like an hour has passed, Sakura turned back to where Itachi was. He was sleeping on the hardwood floor, looking surprisingly content next to the fire. He was on his back with his knees bent and spread out in her direction. Between them, Sakura could see a bulge protruding from his lower section.

Without thinking, Sakura raised her pencil skirt to her hips and pressed her fingers against her panties. The further she examined Itachi, the lower her hand traveled. She was vaguely aware of what she was doing but couldn't stop herself. She imagined Itachi rising from the floorboards and removing his shirt and pants. He would find her touching herself and approach her to get a closer look. He would stand there watching her pleasure herself to him, and the bulge in his pants would get bigger as the doctor reached her…

Sakura sighed as a wave of ecstasy flooded her system. Her back arched, and her toes curled in excitement. She chased her breath as quietly as she could. She turned back to Itachi to make sure he didn't see what she had done. And there he still was, clothed and on the floor.

Dreamy contentment soon followed the wave, and Sakura found herself drifting slowly into sleep. She didn't regret her thoughts as much as she had expected, but Itachi still couldn't find out what she had been thinking.

She wouldn't know what to do if he did.

~.~

The morning started with the smell of roasting meat. When Sakura opened her eyes, her nose led her to the fireplace, where Itachi was roasting an animal she couldn't name. The spicy, hearty aroma beckoned her to come closer, but she couldn't. She could only stare as Itachi acknowledged her awakening body.

"Good morning, Sakura," he greeted.

"Good morning."

"I found a few cooking pots in the cupboards," Itachi reached around to show her a steaming pot. "I know of your dietary restrictions, so I've found a few eggs for you to eat."

That pulled Sakura from the mattress. The doctor was lightheaded from hunger, and boiled eggs sounded delicious to eat. She eagerly neared Itachi and took hold of the pot's handle. She struggled not to blush as her fingers brushed with his.

"I appreciate it. Thank you."

Itachi nodded and pulled back what looked to be a roasted calf. Sakura couldn't help but stare as he took a bite of it.

"What animal is that?" Sakura asked.

"A rabbit," Itachi answered before taking another bite.

"Is it delicious?" Sakura asked.

"It's very tender, yes," Itachi replied. Then, after a quick study of her, he added, "Would you like some?"

"N-No," Sakura shook her head. "I'm a vegetarian, remember?"

"Is it because of an intolerance?" Itachi asked. "Does your body reject meat?"

"No," Sakura shook her head. "It's just...animals are so cute! I can't imagine killing and eating them."

Itachi gave her an amused smirk before biting into his meal. "I see," he said. "If only I had your gentleness. Nevertheless, I am as uncaring as the fox who had been running after this rabbit."

Sakura cupped her mouth to stifle a giggle. As morbid as the image of an animal tearing apart another animal was to her, she couldn't help but find the idea of Itachi competing against a fox for a rabbit to be a little amusing.

They ate in silence after that. Sakura couldn't eat the boiled eggs quickly enough. She hadn't had a proper meal for a long time. Unfortunately, the eggs weren't enough to fill her. She was still hungry after that.

"Let us find a town a bit farther from Konoha," Itachi proposed. He was taking away Sakura's cooking pot when he noticed her dissatisfaction. "We can eat more there as well as get a change of clothing."

Sakura nodded eagerly. "Alright." Then, after a worried glance outward, added, "Are your clansmen still after us?"

"They're not my clansmen anymore, remember?" Itachi reminded. He bit back the strain in his voice by being blunt. "And yes, they are. They're bound to find us here if we stay too long. We need to keep moving to keep them off their trail."

"Okay," Sakura complied. She was about to prolong the conversation, but Itachi was already out the door. She took a breath to steel herself before following him outside.