Disclaimer: Sadly, i do not own Naruto. MY LIFE DREAM WILL NEVER HAPPEN! ahem, sorry bout that.


"Itachi."

Itachi Uchiha looked up. Pein stared at him.

"Show Takara around. You're in charge of her."

Itachi's black-eyed gaze drifted to the young woman standing partly in the shadows. Even from this distance, he could see how bright her sea-green eyes were. Though she was in the dark, he could tell she was smiling. Her hair was slightly past her shoulders and a lovely shade of dark green. She looked too delicate for the Akatsuki cloak she wore.

Takara, their newest recruit, was beautiful. Deidara had already attempted his first, but certainly not last, pickup line. Tobi had unleashed his chivalrous speech, to no avail. Pein hadn't done anything that Itachi had seen, but he did act a little awkward around her. Itachi could only guess she had already scorned him. The only ones who hadn't made a pass at her was Kisame and Zetsu. Konan had already yelled at Deidara. Apparently, females sided with each other.

Hidan and Kakuzu were dead, although Itachi was sure Kakuzu would have attempted something. Itachi himself was not interested in her. He nodded almost imperceptibly. Pein vanished, leaving the two. Takara didn't move.

"Itachi Uchiha, huh?" she said.

Itachi turned. "Let's go."

Takara frowned. "Yes, my name's Takara Ohiko. Thanks for asking. How're you? Fine, thanks."

She followed him out of the large, dimly lit room through a long hallway. There were doors on either side, rooms she assumed. Names were carved in the wood. On one door they passed, there was a large X across the name "Sasori". "Tobi" was now scratched beneath it. Takara turned her gaze back to the icy, silent man in front of her. She opened her mouth.

"Here's your room," he said suddenly. "Mine's next door. Try not to need me."

Takara frowned. "Gee, thanks."

He turned to meet her eyes. She met his stare defiantly.

"You don't want to look me in the eyes like that," he said.

"Why not?"

"Because I can do this."

He tilted her chin up, and suddenly his red eyes, the Sharingan, swirled. Her eyes widened almost unnoticeably.

Suddenly, visions entered her mind. A woman stalked toward her, a kunai raised.

"Die, monster!" she screamed.

The woman fell dead to the ground, her throat slit. Blood sprayed Takara. She barely flinched, staring straight ahead. A boy's gruesome remains appeared next to the woman's blood-drenched body. Takara's eyes widened as a wave of nausea suddenly overtook her. She bent over, retching.

All around her was darkness. Nothing was solid anymore. A mirror image of herself appeared in front of her. She moved her arm; it copied her. Suddenly, it transformed, the eyes widened and becoming bloodshot. Its hair grew long and wild and became black. It grinned evilly, baring fangs.

Takara stared back at it. It was her. She wanted to close her eyes but couldn't. To her horror, her vision blurred with tears. Drawing her arm back, she cocked her fist and slammed the thing right between its eyes. It was a mirror, she realized as it cracked. Her knuckles bled.

Itachi watched her reaction. He released the jutsu. She still stared at him.

"I'm not afraid of you," she said.

Suddenly, Itachi's fingertips burned where they touched her skin. He removed them, thinking maybe she had unleashed her own jutsu. Even after he wasn't touching her, however, his fingers tingled.

"Can I go into my room now?" Takara put her hand on the doorknob.

Her eyes widened slightly. Itachi's hand was suddenly grasping her wrist.

"What?" she asked, her eyes shadowed.

"Why aren't you scared of me?"

She felt like she should laugh. "I'm Akatsuki now, aren't I? Are the other members scared of you?"

"We all have a respectful fear for one another, yes."

"So the great Itachi Uchiha respectfully fears someone?"

"No."

Takara blinked, not looking at him.

"They are scared of me. Not other way around."

Itachi's hand was on fire now. This contact was killing him. Why?

"So, remind me again why I can't go into my room?"

Itachi slowly let go, wanting to just let his hand linger a few minutes more…

Itachi frowned in irritation. Why was he thinking that? What was wrong with him?

He stalked away, hearing Takara cheerfully say, "Someone's grumpy today."

He hid his hand under his long sleeve, not wanting to accept that he still could feel the sensation of her skin, soft under his touch.