Shades of Grey

Chapter 39

The sun had yet to begin its accent into the sky when Sakura got out of bed and began getting ready for their journey. She carefully fixed her hair into a bun and fastened it with two of her pins. From this point out they would be the only weapons that she would have. She put on the violet kimono, and though it covered more skin than her everyday clothes, she still felt naked. She hated the rare occasions when she could not carry all of her weapons. True she had her pins and the lovely fan, but she missed the weight of her kunai holster strapped to her thigh. She was thankful for these quiet moments alone because truth be told she had to get herself together.

Even though she knew she had two of the most powerful shinobi in the world as back up a girl could not help but to be nervous. She knew that she could not allow Itachi to see her case of nerves. She was certain that if she did, he would probably use his sharingan on her and go to complete the mission on his own. Frankly that thought was even scarier to her then anything else that was likely to happen.

She had promised to help him heal and she thought she was making good progress. The problem was that she was becoming just as protective of him as he was of her. That made her fear what would happen soon after this mission. She would be finished healing his eyes in the next few weeks and then she was supposed to leave the Akatsuki partners. The problem was, she did not want to.

"It is not so big an issue." Kurama assured her. "He is you ally."

"The Leaf would likely argue with you about that." Sakura sighed.

"You are no longer a shinobi of the Leaf." The fox reminded her. "Not to mention you know that Itachi is not their enemy, but one of their strongest allies."

"They don't know that though." She gave a bitter little laugh. "Even if they did, I don't think that it would matter to some of them."

"You won't know until all is revealed, will you?" He pointed out.

"Itachi would hate me if I told them." She argued. "Things would be too dangerous for him if too many knew of his role as a spy."

"You underestimate the Uchiha's feelings for you." The Kyuubi chuckled. "So far as danger goes as long as he has the Mist nin and you by his side, I am most certain that his safety can be assured."

Before Sakura could respond there was a knock on the door; it was time. She grabbed her pack and the three companions at last made their way to their ship.

Sakura spent a couple of hours that morning working on Itachi's eyes while Kisame napped, lulled to sleep by the rocking of the ship. When she was done, she and Itachi made their way to the dining hall where they enjoyed a quiet companionable brunch.

"Are you well versed in the use of the fan?" Itachi asked on the way back to their cabin.

"I know some basics thanks to Gaara's sister." Sakura told him. "It should be enough."

"I shall teach you." He declared as they walked back into the room and he lifted it from the nightstand where she had left it.

"Pardon." Sakura could not help but to giggle.

"I said I shall teach you." Itachi repeated. "Do you find that funny?"

"Yes, quite frankly I do." She replied. "I am sorry, but who would have ever thought that the mighty Itachi Uchiha would know the art of fighting with a fan?"

"It is wise to be well trained in the use of any weapon that you could come up against." He told her.

"I see." She giggled again and was rewarded by a slight look of mirth in his deep onyx eyes.

Several hours later Kisame awoke to find his partner standing so close to the kunoichi that he was almost pressed against her back while gently holding her wrist. Before either of them could notice that he was awake he spoke up.

"Looks like you two could use some time alone." The large man smirked. "I am going to find the bar."

"He is teaching me to use the fan." Sakura defended, her cheeks lighting up with a blush. "Get your mind out of the gutter."

"Says the girl who carries porn in her pack." Kisame quipped.

"She speaks the truth." Itachi interjected on her behalf.

"Well you two just keep telling yourselves that." The large man chuckled. "I am going to get really nice and drunk."

After another hour of training more grueling than Sakura would have thought possible in the cabin of a ship they were done. Itachi declared that she was more than adequate with her new weapon. They took turns cleaning up before heading down for dinner.