I awoke in bed, alone. I looked to where he slept. It looked like no one had ever been there, which means he'd been gone for hours. I knew where he was going. I knew why he was going. ...But I couldn't find it in my heart to stop him.

I knew he'd gone to meet his brother in one of the Akatsuki hideouts, to tell him where they'd have their final battle. I also knew Kisame, his partner, would be there to keep his brother's teammates from interfering. There as one more thing I knew: He would lose that battle and husband, Uchiha Itachi.

He didn't want me to see him in his final, bloody state, but I needed to say goodbye. Of course, I'd have to leave my children, Shinsuke and Aishira, for a while. I hoped I was carrying a new child from our "fun" last night. But I wouldn't know that for another week or two.

I crawled out of bed with tears staining my cheeks, and walked to my son's bed. I shook him gently, and he rubbed his eyes. "Shinsuke, let's go." Even though he was only four, he knew he wouldn't see either of his parents for a long time. I told him the other day that he'd be staying with his sister at the residence of my friends. He knew his father was very ill already, but he didn't know that he was going to be killed by his uncle, Sasuke.

Sasuke, of course, didn't know any of us existed. Like most who know the elder Uchiha, he thought Itachi got his fill with whores and killed them shortly thereafter. Even after Itachi would die, I'd never expose our identities. Because it's what Itachi wanted.

As I dressed myself, I thought of my best times with Itachi. My loving husband who I met when I was 15, and he 16. I was a lonely girl, wandering the fields, and he was an Akatsuki on a mission. He saw me, and when our eyes met...

I shook away the happy memories, for it was causing me to tear up, and told Shinsuke to wake up his sister. He complied, shaking her gently until she squeaked, then picking her up and dressing her in one of her nicer dresses.

My beautiful daughter, Aishira... the two-year-old girl with long, light, brown hair and big, black eyes. She's always smiling and doing whatever her brother does. She keeps asking why people stare at us... I tell her it's because they're jealous, but it's really because Shinsuke looks like an Uchiha, and I'm only 20, carrying two children.

It's true, I had Shinsuke when I was 16, and Aishira when I was 18. That's why people look at us oddly... I wish they could see Itachi without screaming in fear. I know he doesn't like me going to Konoha alone with children with Uchiha genes, but that's the closest civilization to us.

I looked up from putting on my shoes and noticed Shinsuke trying to tie Aishira's hair by himself. I quickly stopped him and put her hair up myself. She always wears pigtails tied by two red ribbons when we go out.

I put her back in her brother's arms and herded them out the makeshift door when I saw a note on the bed that I hadn't seen earlier. I grabbed it, and it read:

"I'm sorry I left so early, but Sasuke started moving sooner than intended. Take the children somewhere safe and hide yourself, too. I know you will probably be there, so there's no reason to say goodbye now. After I'm gone, you need to leave quickly without being seen. He can't know about you... no one can. I didn't mean for it to end this way. I thought I'd be alone all those years. We were unplanned, but we made it work. Don't hesitate to tell my son the truth later in his life about the crimes I've committed. -Itachi"

I felt tears coming, but I had to keep them in for my children's sake.

After two hours of wandering through forest and field, we reached a small hill with a small house atop it.

A week ago, while shopping in town, I met an elderly woman and her husband who had no offspring of their own. She was very nice and polite. She told me she lived with her husband on a little hill between Konoha and Sunagakure. After chatting, I told her pieces of my story. That I was a mother of two young kids and a husband who had gotten into some trouble and while he was away, I had no place for my children to stay. She offered her house, which had one unnecessary bed and the materials to make a crib. She said she loved children, but no opportunities to have any of her own. I told her I'd visit them every two to three weeks, but she'd be in charge of their basic upbringing, which did include shinobi training. She was happy to send the children to a ninja academy under false identities when they were of age.

I reached the front door of the house and knocked once. The woman opened it, and I said, "Ohayou gozaimasu, Suzaki san. Remember me? Aizawa--"

"Oh yes!" she bellowed, "And who are these?" She peered down at the children.

"Aizawa Shinsuke and Aishira. I do apologize, but need to get going, I will be back in a week, alright?"

"Oh, yes yes!" She picked Aishira up from Shinsuke's arms, "Come inside, dears! Lunch will be ready shortly..." She shut the door before I could say goodbye or explain to them.

I shrugged and turned, heading in the direction of where Itachi's final battle will take place. As I walked, I began to cry. The tears were absorbed into the soil I stepped on... those wasted tears.

Please R&R!! :)