Shades of Grey

Chapter 54

"Did you feel that?" Kisame paused trying to sense more of the chakra he had just felt.

"Yes." Itachi stood from where he had knelt investigating the battleground they had found. Judging by the scorch marks and the tree that had been taken down this is where Sakura had made her stand. She had chosen the location wisely; Diedara would have been unable to maneuver his bird in forest this tight. Even so it had been a hell of a fight.

"You were right the kid survived." The large man grinned.

"Not without injury." The Uchiha quietly informed him as he looked at the blood on his fingers. He wiped it away as though it was the vilest substance he had ever felt. In a way it was; he had never wanted to see her shed blood again.

"That pulse came from the west." Kisame's voice snapped Itachi back to reality. "I guess all we can do is head that direction and hope she does it again."

By the time Deidara returned to the abandoned house he had taken the kunoichi to he was amazed to see that the demon had already healed her burns. He crossed to the chair and started using the cream to treat his own wounds. She watched and he did not miss her smirk when he flinched as he reached the worst of them.

"You aren't going to find this so funny when I am done." He growled at her.

"Bring it on." She taunted hoping he would just get angry enough to kill her.

"It isn't going to work." Deidara told her as he put the cap back on the cream. "You think that you can make me rush this, but you are wrong. We are in the middle of nowhere and no one is going to find you. I am going to make damn sure that every second of your life is just as miserable as mine, yeah."

Sakura was not sure if the gleam from his kunai or in his eyes was eviler. Before she knew it, he was making "art" on her body which he declared to be his living canvas. The mad bomber took great delight in creating wounds and watching the blood seep until they naturally healed. His anger was rising though; no matter what he did the bitch did not cry. Finally, out of frustration he buried his kunai up to its hilt in her shoulder. All he managed to get was grit teeth and a rebellious stare.

"I wonder how long you would stay quiet if you were watching me carve up your damn Itachi?" He growled and just like that he saw what he had been looking for. Fear blatantly flashed in her eyes before she could hide it. "Maybe I should keep you alive long enough to watch Pein rip him limb from limb."

He closely watched as her resolve started to crumble. So that was the trick. She did not give a shit what he did to her as long as Itachi had a chance at survival. This he could use.

"I could help him, yeah. But what would be the fun in that?" Bingo she now looked at him with hope in her eyes. "What, do you want me to save your dear Uchiha?"

She refused to meet his eyes instead lowering them in shame as she nodded her head.

"I could tell him exactly where Pein is, help him and Kisame defeat the bastard, and blow the entire Akatsuki base to hell and back yeah. I've wanted to do that last bit for a while now anyways." He roughly grabbed her chin forcing her to meet his eyes. "But what would be in that for me Sakura?"

"Anything." She whispered her reply.

"No!" The Kyuubi roared. "He is lying to you."

"Perhaps, or he could at least give them a warning." Sakura sadly replied to the nine tails.

"Louder Sakura, I couldn't hear you." Deidara demanded.

"I will give you anything that you want." Her gaze did not waiver. "But I want something in return."

"Let's negotiate." The artist smirked.

"First of all, I know you won't help him." She smirked right back at him. "But you have to at least give him and Kisame a warning when you leave here."

"You said first." He prompted. "What else?"

"When you kill me make it fast and be sure there is nothing left for Itachi to find." She fiercely held his gaze.

"I like your style." The blonde laughed. "So, tell you what, I will give them that warning. Hell, you are so interesting that I just might let you live, yeah."

"Don't play with me." She allowed herself a bitter laugh.

"Alright." He smiled. "Now, here is what I want, I am going to untie you, but I am leaving on the cuffs. You are going to be a willing participant, and you had better make damn sure that you are convincing. If you aren't all deals are off."

Sakura took only a moment to steel her resolve before nodding her head. She had willingly given herself for love of her village on more than one occasion. Now her final mission would be to do so for the man that she loved; the one she chose to protect no matter the cost.

"Forgive me Itachi." She whispered as he cut the rope that tied her arms to the bed.

"None of that." Deidara hissed. "He isn't here. You are mine now and by the time we are done he will never look at you again.