AN: Sidestory to Kidnapped 101

Standard disclaimers apply.

Yakusoko

Kurai sighed. It's such a beautiful day . . . wasted but still beautiful she thought as the breeze swept part of her long raven hair. About to fall asleep, she gasped as Takako, the fox kit Itachi had given her, humped into her arms.

"Wanna play?" she asked as the kit began to whine and playfully bite her fingers.

"Yes . . . I think she does.' A voice whispered in her ear.

Jumping back and whirling around in case it was an enemy, she was surprised to see a Konoha Anbu with a raven mask standing behind her. "Dare?"

"What are you doing here?" The masked Anbu asked, completely ignoring her question as he watched the young kit chase around a yellow butterfly.

"I doubt that's any of your business." Kurai snapped, her eyes narrowing at the towering man before her. Itachi no baka, this is all your fault . . .

"Oh?' Almost carelessly. He threw a kunai towards her. Startled into action, she very nearly wasn't able to dodge it.

"What was that for, bakayarou!"

Taking off the mask, he smirked. "You're getting slow, Rai-chan. Not training much?"

A pause. Blinking almost stupidly, she asked, "Itachi?"

"Hn."

"What are you doing here! . . . And that isn't your mask!"

Shrugging, he replied. "Nothing much . . . just watching you. This is my new mask. You broke mine on our last mission."

"Oh yeah . . . Your family doesn't want to kidnap me again, right?"

"No. Naruto and Iruka?"

"With your brother and his pervert sensei . . ."

"Kakashi is also your brother's teacher, " he reminded, his eyes staring intently into hers.

"I'm sure your clan had something to do with that . . . along with me being transferred to your squad from Seth's."

"Maybe . . . but he is in fact still Naruto's sensei."

"It depends. He doesn't seem to be much of a sensei considering that he's always playing favorites. Most of what Naruto knows is from our family . . ."

"He knows how to use your techniques?"

Raising one eyebrow, she answered back. "Just because he often uses Kage Bushin doesn't mean it's the only one he knows."

"Indeed."

"I don't quite believe you're here for small talk."

" . . . "

"Why are you really here?"

" . . . a promise . . . "

" . . . "

Sighing, Itachi closed the distance between them to briefly caress her face. "I promised that today is for you, didn't I?"

Blink. Blink. "But . . . I thought . . . "

"You thought wrong."

"But what about your missions?"

"I'm free for the whole of today."

Blink. Blink. "Family?"

He shrugged, "They understand."

" . . . Fangirls?"

Sweatdropping, he replied, "Obito's helping . . ."

" . . ."

"I don't break my promises," Thus saying, he smiled, this smile widening upon seeing the renewed twinkle in her eyes.

"Thank you," she murmured, her hand reaching out to grasp his.

"No . . . " Pulling her hand up to his face, he briefly touched his lips to the back of her hand before staring into her eyes with his. " . . . thank you. "

Owari