FULL SUMMARY: After the death of her beloved cousin, Kito Jiruki must go to the Leaf Village to continue her training. What happens there is even worse than she had imagined: Itachi Uchiha is after her. As she grows fond of him, a forgotten love fights for her freedom. She is even ganged up upon by her past and her future as she is caught between the right choices and the pleasurable choices. Who will she choose? Will another death bring her back? Or will she be lost forever, left to roam the farthest reaches of her heart and mind for eternity?

Everyone, in this part, but Itachi(totally love him!) and Kisame are mine...

Prologue

"No. I'm not going. There is absolutely no way I'm going to go crawling to the Leaf Village and begging to join," I said bluntly.

"But sweetheart, you must," my mother insisted.

I shook my head and left the house. Why did Mother think that living in the Leaf Village would help me any. I was already an established shinobi. What more could she want? I slowly made my way to my cousin's house. Miko always knew what to do at times like these. He was my best friend. I never really socialized outside of the clan. Don't get me wrong, I knew many people outside my clan, but I was most comfortable with Miko. He was only two missions away from complete acceptance into ANBU in the Leaf Village.

"Miko Jiruki!" I hollered when I reached his house.

"Kushikito Jiruki!" he said, showing up at the screen door. He opened the screen and stepped aside. "What's annoying you now, Kito?"

"Mother. She wants me to go to the Leaf Village, but I don't want to."

"Kito, you're mother wants what is best for you. She wants you to go to the Leaf Village because our village does not have an established system for training new shinobi. Kito, all I have taught you is not enough. Kito, come with me to the Leaf Village. It is strong and will be able to teach you better than me. You will have an established sensei."

"Miko, the Leaf Village may be for you, but I'd rather protect the clan," I explained calmly.

"You will be able to protect the clan best if you have a better understanding of the shinobi way," he was beginning to raise his voice.

"I can do it fine," I said sharply.

"No, you can't," he whispered, looking away.

I felt my hands clench into fists. I was breathing hard, trying in vain to calm down. Why did Miko have to do this to me? He knew best how my anger worked and what it turned me into. He's the one who suggested becoming a shinobi when he saw what the consequences of my anger were. I sucked in air and held it until I was at the point of passing out. Then did I unclench my fists and look calmly into my cousin's dark eyes.

"I'm not going, Miko Jiruki," I sighed.

He shook his head and placed his large hands on my shoulders, looking me directly in the eye. "Kito, this is very important to not only the clan and you, but it's very important to me, personally. Kito, I'd hate to see you die by the hand of another shinobi more experienced than you. With my help, you're already on the fast track, but you still are not ready for serious protection."

I could only nod. With Miko's expressed feelings I felt it my duty to go to the Leaf Village and train to be an exceptional shinobi. I could not let Miko down. He was family and my best friend.

"Miko?"

"Yes, Kito?"

"Will you take me with you?"

Miko's smile and nod of approval lightened my heart. I had already created a new dream. I would become an amazing ninja and eventually join Miko in ANBU and we could go on missions together. My mind fluttered with thoughts of the future, but a scream instantly tore my dreams of me and Miko away. On high alert, we ran into the streets towards the scream. My house. I was instantly angered and Miko looked at me.

"Kito, hide," he said seriously.

I nodded and found my favorite spot, a bush large enough to conceal me from sight, but still allow me to see everything. I watched in fear as Miko entered the house while brandishing a kunai.

It wasn't long before I heard him growl, "You!" Fear chilled my heart. Miko was in trouble. My hand instinctively pulled a kunai out of my holster, a gift from Miko. I heard a gasp of pain and an unfamiliar voice.

"Where is she?"

"I…don't…know," Miko gasped, pain filling his sweet voice.

"Yes, you do, now tell me before I kill you!" came the unfamiliar voice again.

"No…kill…me…now…and…get it…over with…" Miko replied, trying to stay strong.

"Your wish," came a new, rough voice.

"Kisame, wait. He knows where she is and I will have him tell me and then you can have your fun," said the first man.

"Itachi, c'mon! He's begging for it!" said the man called Kisame.

"Fine. Kill him and we will continue our search."

I heard Kisame snicker and I cried out for Miko. Big mistake. A man with black hair and a black cloak with red clouds stepped out of my house. Luckily, I had held back from jumping to Miko's rescue. This man froze my blood.

"Kisame. Come, we will find her another day," Itachi said.

"But I didn't get to kill him!"

"Now!"

With that they disappeared and I left my bush. I ran into my house to find Miko on the floor, holding his sides. Blood stained nearly every inch of his body.

"Miko?" I whispered, letting my tears free.

"Kito…" Miko gasped.

I hugged him tightly, staining my own clothes with his blood.

"Kito…run. Run to the Leaf Village. Tell them you are from my clan. Tell the Hokage that the Akatsuki are after you. Tell her that they know nothing about your whereabouts. Tell her I'm sorry I failed in my mission. Tell her…"

"What? What do I tell her?"

In reply, Miko untied his Leaf Village headband and gave it to me. He then handed me his kunai.

"Go now. Run Kito. Don't let them get you…"

"Miko? Miko, please. Please don't leave me, Miko!" I cried. "Miko!"