Everywhere she went, all eyes were on her, no matter her choice in clothing, or whether she wore the headband or not. She guessed it was just her chakra's power, her aura – that people sensed it didn't bother her much. Of course, nothing bothered her anymore, not after what she had witnessed in the past month.

Ever since meeting Uchiha Itachi, Kyoko had gradually begun to change. One month – thirty days – early, she had been ready and willing to do anything for the Akatsuki. Her task to join? Surprise: she had to massacre her family. Sound familiar? Well, it should. And she completed her mission without even blinking. But, to her dismay, they the Akatsuki had rejected her from entering. She had no reason to live after that, nor the will to. Then he appeared. She remembered him from their childhood; they were cousins. And when she was jolted from her sleep by an unfamiliar presence, she knew it was Itachi.

The only thing that remotely worried her was Itachi. Why did he deliberately disobey an order issued by the leader of the Akatsuki? Why did he act like he cared when everyone knew he didn't?

"The Hidden Leaf Village is just as nice as ever…" She whispered, smiling. She hadn't felt as relaxed as she did at that moment in a very long time. But she couldn't relax for long – her mind was dominated by Itachi and wherever he had gone. Though, that could wait. At the moment, she was hungry.

"Hey! Mr. Chef!" Naruto called, shaking his bowl at the chef. Sakura and Sasuke just sighed, heads hanging.

"Naruto, you're annoying." Sakura muttered. Sasuke nodded.

"I agree."

"HEY! I'm hungry!" Naruto retorted, glaring as he shoved his finger in Sasuke's face. He quickly slapped the blonds hand away and stood.

"I'm done here." Sasuke said, dropping his money onto the table.

"Aw, c'mon Sasuke. Don't go!" Sakura and Naruto said in unison.

"Nah, I'm tired. I'll see you guys tomorrow." He turned back towards the door, just to bump into a woman.

"Excuse me." She said, stepping to the side. He didn't move.

That aura. Black. Evil. No. She can't be connected with him. It's not possible…

"Sorry." He muttered and ran out. The other two nodded, paid, and ran after their friend.

She shrugged. "One bowl of ramen please."

"Sasuke! HEY SASUKE! Wait up!" Sakura called as she ran behind her retreating friend. Naruto, not far behind, echoed her calls. But Sasuke didn't stop until he was well into the forest.

When Sakura and Naruto finally caught up with him, he was sitting under a tree, breathing heavily, eyes closed.

"What the HELL was that all about?!" Sakura yelled. He didn't answer. He had no intention of ever telling them what had just happened – actions speak louder than words. It would make itself clear, he was sure of it – seeing as he himself wasn't too sure what was actually going on. "Come ON Sasuke. Tell us!"

"Sakura, be quiet. Sasuke doesn't need our anger." Naruto said, placing a hand on Sakura's shoulder, drawing her away from the other boy.

"Huh? Oh… oh right…" She nodded, turning around.

"It'll reveal itself. He'll tell us. After all, we are his only friends. He has no one else to talk to." Naruto added, walking away. "See you tomorrow Sasuke."

They were gone.

Itachi. Where are you? I know you're there.

"Your brother isn't here." A voice called. Definitely female. The woman from the ramen house.

On his feet, ready to fight, Sasuke kept his eyes open and focused.

"I don't want to fight you. I hate fighting." Slowly, the figure of a woman was lowered from a low branch. She stood, arms crossed, staring at Sasuke, who didn't move. "In fact, that is most likely why they didn't agree to letting me join the Akatsuki. I. Won't. Fight. But, on another note, if you charge, I will kill you. So don't go looking to fight me. I wouldn't give you enough time to beg for mercy… Cousin."

"What?" Sasuke began to inwardly stress. The woman before him muttered a few words under her breath, and held a flame in her hand.

"Come closer." He moved closer without meaning to. She had done something to him, she was controlling his physical body – though mentally, he was still in control. "Don't I look familiar, Sasuke?"

Her eyes… The Sharingan!

"Yes, the Sharingan. Permanently so. Like the eye that Kakashi stole, yes?" A giggle. The flame grew larger, and the light engulfed her body, casting shadows in odd places. "My name is Kyoko. Uchiha Kyoko."

"I… I know you. You were there… when my brother killed our family. He killed the whole clan. Where the hell did you come from?!" She just nodded. No answer to his question. Anger boiled in Sasuke's body. She doesn't even hide the fact that she knows what happened. What's her deal?!

"Oh, little Sasuke." She sighed, shaking her head. She was closer now; he could feel her breath on his face. It smelled like vanilla and coal. "It'll drive you insane, won't it? It'll drive you so far into insanity, knowing that you are no better than myself or Itachi." Her hands rested on his shoulders. She kissed him. Suddenly, Sasuke's body felt limp, like it was going numb. A pain in his neck jolted him from passing out.

"The… the kiss of death?"

"Yes, Sasuke. And soon, your little friend Naruto will receive it also." She smiled. He sunk to the ground, clutching his neck. Beneath his fingers appeared an X within a circle – the mark signifying the Kiss of Death. "Goodbye, Uchiha Sasuke."

Gone. She was gone, but her kiss was still there. He could still feel her lips. It made him sick. But he had to stop thinking about himself – Naruto was in danger. He had never really cared much for the annoying blond boy, but something about this situation pissed him off. He pushed himself up, and ran – still clutching his stinging neck – to Naruto.

"Huh? Why's someone knocking at my door this late?" Naruto grumbled, fumbling for the light switch while rubbing his eyes. He opened the door, just to find a hunched over Sasuke. "Uhh…."

"Yeah, strange, I know." Sasuke said, out of breath. "But, you're in danger."

"And when have you cared? Plus, who would mess with the greatest ninja ever?" Naruto yawned, stretching. He turned around and walked sluggishly back to the bed in the middle of the room.

"Uh… well…" Sasuke hesitated. Kyoko hadn't appeared yet, which meant Sasuke had ran for nothing. "Never, really… But that doesn't matter… Oh, forget it! You're better off dead anyways, you loser."

"Uh huh, whatever Sasuke." Naruto flopped back into bed, and turned to the side. Sasuke walked out, hands buried deep in his pockets. "Whatever… Fruit… Bunny." And Naruto was out cold.