The Heart's Battlefield

Chapter 3

"Why are you crying?" Deidara asked.

Sakura stared at him with her tear-stained face for a while. She could see the pity in his eyes, and it irritated her.

"It's nothing Deidara-san," she said, trying to keep her emotions under wraps. "Don't worry about me and my weakness."

Deidara could only look at her in surprise before he himself became angry, not at her though. He was angry at whoever made her like this.

"What do you mean weak, hmm?" he asked. "You're not weak and I am worried!"

Sakura again thought back to Sai. He was the only one that worried about her or cared. Before she knew it, tears started to leak down her face again. Her eyes were wide, and she couldn't hold back the dam she had been keeping from spilling over.

Her hands were shaking as she reached up to wipe the tears from her face, only to be replaced by more tears.

"It's a lie," she said to herself, "right?"

Deidara thought he was a tough person until that moment, able to handle anything without batting an eye. Seeing that girl so broken though, something woke up in him. It was a gentler side he didn't know he had, and he knew exactly what to do.

Deidara smiled softly and put a hand on her shoulder, gently guiding her to her bed. He made her sit and sat beside her, pulling her into a hug. Sakura didn't even care. She was too caught up in her memories to care about weakness anymore. What more could the people of Akatsuki do to her? Kill her? She thought it would be a blessing.

Deidara waited until Sakura finally stopped crying and moved her bangs from her face. She reminded him of someone he used to know. "Better now?" he asked her.

Sakura nodded as she wiped her face, a look of sadness finally settling on her face. He gave her a sad smile and patted her head as he gave her the cloak. He wasn't certain she was okay, but she was okay enough for him to feel good leaving.

"Everyone has problems, Sakura," he said before he left. "Just don't let them win over your mind."

Sakura untied her poor cloak from around her waist and set it aside to be mended another day. She took the new one and put it on as she contemplated Deidara's words. She thought it was still a weakness. She sighed and walked to her door but before she could close it she had a visitor.

"Itachi-san?" she asked.

Itachi gave her a small smile, it turning to a frown seeing her tear-streaked face.

"You were crying," he stated.

Sakura nodded. "I'm close to fine now," she said as she allowed him entrance to her room.

He only nodded, not wanting to pry. He sat on the side of her bed and patted beside him. She rolled her eyes. She knew Itachi wasn't as he seemed. His actual side could finally be shown since the Akatsuki knew his true face now. It would be interesting once the village sees him alive instead of dead.

"What is it?" the young woman asked as she sat beside him.

"Why did you join?" he asked.

The question made Sakura think for a long moment. "I didn't have a purpose."

Itachi tilted his head to the side, a confused look taking over his features. Sakura couldn't help but liken him to his little brother. Sasuke did the same thing when surprised or confused.

"How?" Itachi asked.

Sakura got up and started to pace the room, trying to find the right words to say. She just couldn't figure it out. How do you tell someone that loves the village you hate that you hate them?