Summary: Miku knows things about Itachi that others do not. Like his love for dango, his hair fetish...and his ulterior motive for killing his clan. Itachi/OC
Enjoy!
Dear Karma
My heart pounded in my ears. Thump. Thump, thump. Thump. Darkness is the only thing I can see. I'm no good in the dark. I clutched the kunai closer to my body. Itachi. A noise to my left. I twisted, but could not sense any movement. I need your eyes; I threw a kunai to the darkness behind me. Silence. Itachi!
"Eight o'clock," Itachi's smooth voice whispered to me from somewhere in the darkness. I pivoted and threw three kunai to my back left corner. The kunai hit dead on their target and I'm rewarded with a low grunt.
"Your five." This is how I'm used to fighting, Itachi leading me to the target. Where did he disappear to? We don't usually get separated. The shuriken sped out of my hands and another rewarding noise met my ears.
A back was suddenly pressed to mine. He is taller than me, no doubt. But somehow we mesh perfectly. We spun around slowly, still back to back, as Itachi surveyed the room. I waited patiently for my command.
"Two in front of me, one to your right," Itachi informs me. "Flip over me." Itachi ducked down and I rolled over his back on my side. As I did so, I pulled Itachi's katana off of his back. It flew from my hand and went through the target, killing him instantly.
"How many left?" My voice was breathy, exhausted. I'm running out of available weapons too. I heard the sound of weapon slicing through skin.
"None now." With that, I followed Itachi's footsteps as we ran out of the forsaken building. We didn't stop running for hours. When we were finally a safe distance, we stopped to breath. I bent over, putting my hands on my knees. I need a break. All these missions are taking a toll on my well-being. I looked over to Itachi who was standing as if nothing was wrong with him.
How are you doing Itachi? I wondered. I can tell by the marks under your eyes that you are exhausted too. Yet, you won't admit it to even me. I took a deep breath, pulling my hands off of my knees. Agh, my lungs.
"Itachi," I reached up to him, touching the lines forming under his eyes. He allowed me and closes his eyes at the touch. "We should take a break from missions." And my hand was immediately slapped away.
"I'm fine," he responded, turning from me. I sighed. I know you're just putting up a guise. I stretched my sore fingers. "We should go."
"Hai," I agreed, and we were off again. We arrived at the Hokage's office late that night. The towns asleep.
"Hokage-sama," We greeted. He sat at his large desk, his hat sitting on the table beside him. Itachi bowed and I soon followed.
"I presume there were no problems?" He questioned. I looked over at Itachi. He always takes the lead at this part. Well, at mostly all parts.
"Hai, you presume correctly. They were all dealt with, no survivors," Itachi said monotone. Itachi, you're past the point of fatigued. Concern filled my eyes and I bit my lower lip. If I say or do anything, Itachi will have my head. Not here.
"Good," the Hokage sighed. "Go get some rest, you two. You're both too young to be looking so old and tired." We bowed before leaving. For once we were not running.
"Itachi," I said with a bit of whine added in.
"Hmm?" Itachi responded.
"I'm hungry," I noticed a small dango restaurant. "Let's get some dango!"
"After not eating for two days, dango is the worst choice of food." I stopped walking and looked up at Itachi who looked down at me indifferently, but sternly. Gosh, we're both so stubborn.
"Please?"
Silence.
"I won't eat anything else—not even if you force me." Yes, I was gaining what I wanted by trying to pressure him.
He sighed.
"I'll even buy some for you too."
I've been around Itachi for far too long, I smiled. We know each other so well.
"Hnn." I took that as my cue to lead him to the dango shop. We sat in a booth at the back of the store. Neither of us really liked being around a bunch of people. Not that it made a difference at midnight. A blond waiter walked up to us and winked at me. I blushed, completely flattered. Itachi on the other hand…seemed immediately pissed off.
"What can I get you?" he said, not removing eye contact from me. I broke eye contact quickly, looking at the table. I'm not used to being stared at.
"Two orders of sweetened dango," Itachi said, bitterness filling his voice. The waiter inched back a bit, shocked at how dark Itachi suddenly seemed.
"Is that—"
"That is all," Itachi said and the man exited much faster than he came. I looked over at Itachi, who would not make eye contact with me. I put my hands across my chest.
"What was that for?"
"I did not like the way he was looking at you."
"There's nothing wrong with complimenting someone," I said, pushing myself back against my seat.
"There are better ways of showing affection," he said monotone as he studied the menu that was still in front of him.
"Like what?" I said and sighed, knowing I wasn't going to get an answer out of him. "He's not my type anyway." We sat in silence until our dango arrived. I was suddenly aware of just how hungry I really was. I grabbed the steaming dango and placed them quickly in my mouth, only pulling away when bits of them burned my mouth.
When I was finished, I looked over at Itachi and was instantly reminded just how handsome he really was. His black hair was pulled back into its regular low pony-tail. His dark eyes were closed as he cherished the taste of the dango. One thing we actually have in common: we love dango.
His sharp planed jaw moved up and down as he chewed silently. I brought a hand up to my own hair. It was cut a bit above my shoulders, my bangs going past my eye brows. It was brown and fell down straight. I had dark brown eyes that matched it. They were big and usually easy to read, at least that's what Itachi told me.
We're so different, I think as I rest my chin on my hands. Like hot and cold. I express most of my emotions, keeping in only the ones I felt necessary. Itachi, however, showed the minimum; only opening up to Sasuke and me.
Oh Sasuke, I cooed in my head. I miss you so much! It's been ages since I've spent time with you. I looked over at Itachi, suddenly aware of him staring at me. I stared into his dark eyes, searching for some form of emotion.
"What are you thinking about?" I asked him, still staring into his endless orbs of darkness.
"Hnn," he grunted. "Your hair's gotten longer." I unconsciously brought a hand to it, pulling at some strands.
"I haven't had time to hack it short again," I told him as I thought about it. I didn't cut it too short; a little past my ears so it didn't get in my way as much. We sat in a peaceful silence for a few minutes longer before Itachi stood up.
"Would you like me to walk you home?" I was about to refuse his offer but thought better of it. I really did want to spend time with him. Even if it meant troubling him, which I hated doing. I hated burdening anyone even the slightest bit. I was a very stubborn and determined person, and refused to be a nuisance to anyone.
He walked me to my home, again in silence. But silence with Itachi was always peaceful. Well, except that time when I had accidentally sabotaged one of Itachi's main arteries. Then it was a super creepy silence.
"Itachi," I spoke.
"Miku," he responded.
"Tell Sasuke I said hi," I said before entering my house. I shut the door quietly, and made my way up stairs without waking either my uncle or my aunt. Which is good, because honestly if I couldn't be good enough to not wake up, then why would I be good at missions?
I quickly showered, feeling days of grime run down and off of my skin. I scrubbed feverishly, the feeling of being dirty still lingering. I washed my hair and brushed my teeth. Then I pulled on a baggy shirt and pair of pants and wormed my way under my large covers.
I cuddled into the pillows, the blankets pulled up to my nose. I love my bed. Beds are the most under rated things in the world. You really don't know what you're missing until you don't sleep in one for weeks on end.
My window was open, letting in cool air. I wiggled my toes under the blankets and giggled. Ah, it's so good to be home. I finally closed my eyes and breathed in the scent. Strawberries—I smiled. I loved strawberries too. The scent was forever in my pillow from all the times of washing my hair and going straight to bed.
I lay still, thinking about many things. Of Itachi…of our missions…of my aunt and uncle…of Sasuke…of Konoha…and of many happy memories. I faded off into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of random things that I would certainly not remember when I awoke. I lay there dreaming…content…fulfilled…and completely happy.
I made my way to the training grounds, having slept in far past noon the next day. I tugged some strands behind my ear. Maybe I should give up the short cut and go for a ponytail? Perhaps that would keep these darned locks out of my vision.
Itachi lay under a tree, his eyes closed and arms behind his head. I smiled at the site of him. We were close, having been by each other's side for years. One thing I cherished above all others was Itachi when he was peaceful.
I approached him and lay down beside him, looking up to the blue sky. "Kami, it's pretty," I breathed out, not afraid of waking him up because I knew he already sensed me.
"Hnn," he replied cracking one eye open. "Nothing I haven't seen before."
"Ah, but that's what makes it so nice. It's peaceful…familiar." I placed my right hand behind my head and rested my left one over my stomach. Itachi's hand went to my hair, combing it with his fingers. Image if his fan-girls found out about his love for hair! I giggled.
"What's funny?" he asked, pausing in his make-shift brushing. I looked over at him.
"Just imagining me telling your fan-girls about how much you love hair…" I said before sticking my tongue out at him. He scoffed, moments later finding a knot in my hair. I yelped at the sudden yank.
"Ow!"
"My apologies."
"You did that on purpose," I said as I pulled my hair away from his grasp. It wasn't like he didn't play with my hair on a regular basis. As I said, he has this thing for hair. But anyways, I don't remember when we got so close and sometimes touchy. We weren't…intimate if that's what you're wondering. We were just super close friends. Simple as that.
"Miku," Itachi seethed. I gulped and brought my attention back to him.
"Ah, hai?" I thought he was going to rag on my about moving my hair…or something else—who knows. I was shocked when he spoke next.
" Grow your hair out," he said simply before looking back up at the clouds. M-my hair? I brought a hand to it. I had just been debating it. Growing out my bangs would help too. I snuck a look over at him. And he is a guy…he must know what the male population likes. Far better than I do, at least. Not that I really cared—I wasn't trying to impress anyone. My missions and life as a konoichi were much more important. Petty things like flings and relationships were meaningless.
I hid my face under a hand as I felt it turn red.
I wouldn't mind impressing him.
No, no, no. He can't know. We have something far too precious to ever ruin it over a silly crush I've had on him for a while now. That's all it is, a crush. I repeated that to myself even Itachi's hands found their way to my hair again. Kami, you have such a hair fetish!
Not that I minded.
Ugh.
I made sure my hand covered my whole face. I can only imagine how he would react if he saw me resembling a tomato at the moment. He'd think I'm one of those rabid fan-girls. They were EVERYWHERE. It must seriously be a form of rabies. I think I caught it.
Oh, Kami.
"There's a bird circling above us…we have a new mission." I peaked through my hands to see the signature bird with a scross tied to its foot. I nearly leapt from where I lay, rushing to leave and have my blush go unnoticed.
"We should go," I said and Itachi roase.
"Hnn, it seems we must."
"Itachi, Miku," the Hokage motioned to him then to me, "I have news on your mission assignments." This gained a raised eye brow from both of us. Except mine was less like a raised eye brow and more like scrunched eye brows.
"This will be your last mission assignment together—"
I gasped. L-last? Like ever? Perminently?
The Hokage gave me a sympathizing glance.
"After this you will continue with missions, only solo." My eyes darted over to Itachi. He did not move or falter in his watching of the Hokage. Did he know about this? "However, I must ask you to do this final mission together."
Must?
"You two have been handpicked for a specific mission…to act as a married couple."
The fuck?
Okay, so I thanked kami a million times that I looked much less troubled on the outside than I felt on the inside. Being around Itachi for years had its advantages. I had a decent mask, decent enough that if something mattered enough…that…that Itachi wouldn't know. Like that stupid crush.
"Many people marry at a young age in the fire country. You are both nearly thirteen and mature for your age. You also have a certain bond that makes you closer than most cells—making you the prime choice." Me? Acting married…to him?
He's still stoic. I want to know what he's thinking…just once.
"When do we leave?" Itachi spoke fluently. Kami, how did he still have his tongue?
"You are to leave to the cloud country in two days. It will not be a particularly long mission. You will be going with a princess of the cloud, disguised as a couple but protecting her," he informed. "No one—I mean no one, not even her—can know about your true identities. I suggest you practice a cover story."
"So…" I said, finally finding my voice. "When we get there?"
"Ah, then you will stay there for a night then leave the next day, exiting the village and turning back on your way here. Once you have left the village you can drop the entire guise."
Aw fuck, I thought looking over at Itachi. It couldn't be an assassination or something? Something where we didn't have to pretend to you know…be…married? Kami, I can only imagine how badly this is going to turn out.
"You're dismissed," the Hokage told us. Itachi met my gaze and help it silently for a few moments.
"We better go work on a story."
Dear Karma, I'm sorry for having wronged you in the past.
Forgive me?
A/N: Tell me what you think! Review and all that fun stuff (=