Notes : This is an Itachi/Usagi one-shot, the next will be Sasuke. (To Angel-chan : It's like he was almost fourteen, he was a couple months shy.)
Uchiha Mikoto was a good ninja and an even better mother, so when he tender eight year old son strolled in with a perplexed gaze she immediately rushed to him. Though any mother worth their salt knew exactly what her son had come to inquire about, she knew that she could not possibly send him to Fugaku, his father. Do not mistake her, her husband was an excellent ninja, but he had zero people skills, besides she wanted to know who caught her baby's eye.
"Yes Itachi?" She had to be serious when she questioned him; he wasn't quite like other eight year olds.
"Kaa-san-sama." Itachi returned, and Mikoto had to flinch, he hardly ever addresses her like a real mother, the respect he showed made him distant. "I had a strange feeling in my chest today." He informed her, and Mikoto forced her squeal down. "Captain couldn't help, neither could father, though they did suggest a medical check up." He stated and Mikoto rolled her eyes during Itachi's inattention, of course they would suggest such a stupid thing. "I just returned from the medic Nin who informed me that I was in perfect health, but should come explain what is happening to you." Itachi stated and Mikoto kneeled down before him, please that her son was showing some semblance of humanity.
"Continue." She urged and watched as a dash of red sprinkle on the pale face. Mikoto doubted her son even noticed that he blushed or even why.
"It seems like there are several blunted shuriken dancing about in my stomach." He said and this time Mikoto did squeal while hugging her son. Itachi was a bit confused at the reaction, and designated to question. "I take it this is a good thing?" Itachi asked.
"Yes, it's all part of growing up." She answered. "Tell me, does it happen at a specific time?" Mikoto prodded, who was the lucky and wonderful person who has caught her son's attention?
"Yes." Itachi answered, confusion growing near his brow.
"Around a specific person?" She pushed, and Itachi nodded, a bit relieved that his mother seemed to know what he was talking about. "A young lady I presume?" Mikoto picked and watched the amazement grow on Itachi's face.
"Yes, how did you know?" Itachi responded.
"You, my son, have your first crush." Mikoto answered with a wide smile.
"Crush?" Itachi parroted his eight year old eyes wide.
"It means you like somebody, that you are attracted to them." She explained. Itachi stumbled in place, the red returning on his cheeks and he gazed at his mother in shock. However, that disappeared very quickly as he analyzed the situation, Mikoto mourned the passed moment.
"Then what should I do?" Itachi asked, aware that the feelings could compromise a mission.
"Simple, you court her." Mikoto answered, that was the first and only time Itachi ever fainted.
Afterwards, Itachi did just as his mother suggested, following the advice of books on the subject, yet it seemed his distance was a bit unconquerable. However, like everything else he ever set to do, he aimed to be perfect at, so he approached the Umino's adopted daughter. She was currently tickling her adopted older brother Iruka who was red in the face from lack of breath. Iruka, who was further along in his ninja training than his sister glanced at his approach first. With a blink, there was a soft smile on the boy's face before he vanished to a further part of the park though still keeping a watchful eye on the girl.
Silently he offered the girl the flowers he had just recently purchased from the Yamanaka Flower Shop. She smiled her brilliant smile, and gently grasped the flowers in paler hands then his own hands. Uchiha skin is a close second to the moonlight, but the girl's was the moon's own. So far this was going remarkably better then his last three attempts with the girl. Honestly, who ever heard of a stuttering Uchiha after all? The golden bun haired child smiled wider at him and leaned forward to peck his cheek in thanks. Itachi felt the return of the blunted shuriken, along with a soft warmth in his blood. It was a pleasant and disturbing feeling at the same time.
"Thanks Uchiha-san." She said with gentle blue eyes. Itachi had to frown at the addressing of his name, the clan wasn't courting her. "Did I do something to offend you?" She asked softly, ducking her head in repose. Itachi did not like the new feeling that flooded him, he liked even less the expression on the girl.
"No, and call me Itachi." He informed her, the girl had only been following etiquette. Itachi quite liked the thrum of energy he got when she smiled at him then, and he realized he would try to catch the feeling for the rest of his life, especially on the battle field.
"Okay, Itachi-kun." She chirped, and just like that formalities were thrown out the window.
"Imouto, time to go, you don't want to be late for your lessons." Iruka spoke up surprising Itachi.
"No, I swear to make mom and dad proud." She declared raising a fist to the sky in salute to her dead adopted parents.
"Yes, I'm sure you will." Iruka murmured as the blond ran off toward the academy. "Treat her well Uchiha, she's a special girl." Iruka growled in warning at him, and Itachi nodded.
"Come on Ani-ki!" She called stressing on the brother pronoun. "Bye Itachi-kun." She added, flapping off to the academy. On most, the childish drawl on the term older brother would have been annoying, to Itachi it was…cute?
"Bye Usagi." He whispered to the empty air. His cheek warmed in remembrance at the soft pressure of the girl's lips, he walked to his genin meeting in a daze. At least there was a break in rather difficult missions, which he only had to catch some terrible cat today. Itachi seriously needed to talk to his mother when he got home.
Following his mother advice once again, he waited for the girl outside the academy, she was graduating today. Itachi shivered when he felt the warning of his fan club waiting for just the right moment, but he didn't want anything to do with those girls. He held a simple white bunny in his grasp, as her brother had imparted that was her favorite creature, and waited for the sunshine girl.
"Itachi-kun!" Usagi cheerful voice called, as he noticed her headband displayed proudly on her forehead like a true female ninja. He felt the envy grow from his hidden fan club that he quickly tossed them a deadly glare before Usagi reached him.
"Congratulations Usagi-san." He said lowly.
"Usagi-chan." She corrected, a pout etched cutely on her face. Itachi offered the bunny as a peace offering, and felt his lips twitch at familiar pull to her joyous smile. "Itachi-kun, thank you, you're the greatest!" She chirped happily. Itachi had heard that many times in his life, but it was different when she said it. He then got to experience a new situation and feeling as Usagi leapt forward and wrapped him in what was known as a hug. The simple fluctuation in joy he got from her smile paled in comparison to her arms around him, which increased when he finally folded her into a waiting embrace. Itachi knew it was innocent, much like the girl that gave it, but as innocent as it was it planted a seed. As it has much been noticed, Itachi was not like others of his age group, and such he thought differently from others. He knew the girl in his arms was different as well, and perhaps she was meant to cross paths with him.
Itachi was beginning to learn about emotions around the blond hair girl, especially when they were forced to take the chunin exams at the same time. Their jounin senseis were having some sort of strange rivalry so they entered their teams. Itachi had been training, and training with Usagi, and she was deadly with her weapon accuracy, though her Ninjutsu casting was a bit slow. However, he came to learn worry for a fellow human, as they trapezes through the forest of death; he worried about Usagi's health.
His worrying was for naught as their teams managed to cross the threshold at the exact time. She gave him a smile of hello as they summoned those who would tell the answer to the riddle. Itachi felt his lips betray his control and smirk back in hello, not even she made him fully smile yet. "Congratulations." He muttered to her when they were ushered to their rooms.
"Thanks, same to you." She perkily returned, and gave a peck very close to the edge of lips, then she bounded into her room. Itachi was frozen; unsure exactly was going on with his body and the strange yearning to chase after the girl for something else. However, he did not know what that was, or why he wanted something else. He desperately needed to speak with his mother once more.
Itachi then came to know jealously, for in the drawing of lots he was forced to fight her first male teammate. Like any Uchiha worth their salt, he decimated his opponent just like how he been taught. However, what happen next had his blood boiling and not in a good way. Usagi leaped from the tall balcony, using chakra to steady her landing and proceeded to glare at him in disappointment as she coddled the loser! Itachi felt the need to rend that boy limb from limb, and strangely the word mine flashed in his head. Turning his head away, the Uchiha pride gave him little comfort, as it whispered that they were both ninjas and should know the results. His pride had nothing on the growing bile in his blood, and it was with relief when they called that the rest of the matches would continue at a later date.
His emotional standing plummeted completely when he realized who he had drawn for his last fight. It was Usagi's other male teammate, and judging from her latest reaction, he was screwed. Though he felt hurt when she brushed passed him with no word or smile, hurrying instead to the hospital. Jealously surged up as well, but the hurt was more constant, it was time to talk to mother.
"Mother?" Itachi's voice rang through the kitchen and Mikoto turned to him. She had watched his progress in the chunin exam finals just like every other Uchiha; she had seen the little scene with Itachi and his blond. He was in turmoil even if he did not know it, and for once Mikoto was sorry that her ten year old boy was experiencing the ups and downs of love.
"Yes Itachi?" Her voice taking on a caring and wise tone.
"Mother, I wanted to hurt that boy afterwards, when she cradled him." Itachi stated cold as ice. "I wanted to spill his blood across the arena floor." He added the Sharingan flashing in his eyes. "However, before that, Usagi pecked me right here," Itachi said while pointing to the corner of his lips, "and I wanted to chase her down for something else, for more I think." He stated, his Sharingan was beginning to spin, obviously his blood was provoked. "Yet, after the battle, when she blatantly dismissed me, it felt like I had been stabbed by the clan's head rusty kunai." Itachi finished, looking ashamed. Mikoto was definitely going to talk with her husband about things you should and should not do to children. She then sighed kneeling before the boy who was becoming a man.
"Itachi, you're in love." Mikoto stated and watched as the information dawned on the boy. She sighed and combed one hand through his straight black hair. "Now you want to claim her as your own, possessive of the one who holds your emotional heart." She explained.
"Oh." He breathed. "Now what?" Itachi asked.
"I'm afraid that is completely up to you and her." Mikoto answered and turned away as she saw the stiffing of his shoulders. She prayed for anyone that got in the way of her son, he was terribly dangerous when provoked.
Yet, whatever the new ten year old had planned would just have to wait. As it seemed Usagi was trying her best to avoid the Uchiha prodigy and was doing a damn good job of it. Actually the girl had left out of the village with a new trainer to give her advantage in the finals, but he didn't know that. Itachi was of a mind to threaten her older brother in revealing her location, but the man had been exceeding helpful so it wouldn't be good to turn an ally into an enemy.
Yet, when Itachi learned that the girl had gone outside for training instead of coming to him, he saw red. Angry red, and for his next couple of training sessions, there was absolutely nothing left of the training area. His clan was pleased by his success anyway, after all the power to demolish an Uchiha training ground was well sought after. Finally he calmed down enough that his younger brother no longer feared approaching him that he understood her reasoning.
One, he had injured her teammate, and a team was suppose to be like a family. So technically he had injured one of her family members and that lessened his jealously toward the boy, but not much. Two, they could possibly be opponents and they needed a curve on each other. He however had the Sharingan, which gave him a decided advantage that she was going to be hard-pressed to circumvent such an advantage. Three, his opponent was her other teammate, and as much as she tries she would be unable to keep from spilling from what he would want from her. So, with that he focused on training and waiting for her return at the end of the exams.
The time moved slowly, but once again they were participants in their ranking exams. She was the first participant, but she was covered in a silver hooded cloak so he could not get a single glance at her. Though he knew her chakra, and it positively radiated from her, gracefully she defeated her opponent, showing no skills what so ever then a simple Taijutsu dance. She was so quick, and elegant that her hood and cloak did not ruffle at all.
Usagi was declared then winner and then she vanished into the darken confines of the balcony. Itachi wanted to confront her, but his name was called and therefore had to face his opponent. His many desires clashed within him as he saw the smirking boy across from him. He wanted to advance like any other genin. His clan expected him to do well and advance to chunin. He wanted to show his power to Usagi, to show her that he was quite capable, and able to protect her. However, he also did not want her to look at him in disappointment again. Unfortunately the reds of many Sharingan burned into the back of his neck; his actions became a shinobi's puppet.
Easily he zeroed in on the weak points of the boy, systematically picking them apart. He heard the crowd roar in appreciation and several girls chanting his name, but Itachi did not hear her voice. Even as he brutally destroyed his opponent, he heard not a word from her. Destroying him, he stepped back and watched as the cloak of her figure fluttered down.
Usagi spared not him a glance and instead placed glowing hands above her teammate. His wounds quickly healed under her ministrations, and he grew a bit jealous again. She merely stood, brushed passed him and touched the one spot her teammate managed to glance. The pain disappeared under her cool touch, even if she did not become a chunin, she was now an established medical ninja. As the waiting staff of the hospital didn't even bother to shift when they saw her descend, instead they had proud smiles directed toward her. However, Itachi realized one thing as the matches continued and he was forced to fight again as was she; they were going to have to meet in battle. This was one he did not wish to fight, but his clan gave him little choice. Yet, it gave him a chance to see if she was truly his equal.
The hand was dropped in signal to began, but they merely kept their gazes locked. Empty red staring into icicle blue, there was a tense energy before they sprung, their eyes still locked. A dance started, an easy grace and rhythm was seen in both of them. The Sharingan's advantage began to surface, but she flipped back and tapped her legs. Smoke billowed from weights that dropped, and then she became a shadowed blur. Now Itachi was force to the brink, but they both managed only glancing blows, they both feel the crowd holding their breath. Itachi threw the first jutsu, the patent flames of the Uchiha's escaping from his lips. For a moment, he saw her smirk, and her hands flash, then the mist rolled in negating a lot of the Sharingan's abilities.
Yet, Itachi knew they were nearing the end, as they had trained far too long together to not know when they were tiring. He had also trained longer in sensing people by chakra, and finding them by ear. So, even as she landed behind him, he flipped over her dispelling the mist and wrapping a hand around her throat. He would have placed a kunai, but the girl had managed to finch them all while they were trading blows. Their match was revealed, he had a killing blow prepared, his breath brushing her ear, but she also had a kunai cocked toward his side. She could seriously injure him, but he placed his loose hand on her wrist, and squeezed.
To her credit, she didn't wince or offer any sound, in fact he saw not a twitch at all. The match was called to end, he the winner of the chunin exams, but Usagi had brought him to the brink of his capabilities, and he liked that. Finally she released the kunai from her grip, and she vanished from his hold. He smirked then, even after the majority of the crowd dispersed, she had been holding out on him and the protractors had missed it.
Simple to say the both made chunin at the age of ten, but then the clan interfered. His accomplishments made him the target of the clan's future, and his father concentrated on furthering his status in Konoha. As such he saw Usagi very little in between missions, his clan's politics, and his police shifts, she had her own missions as well. Then she was drafted into the medic nin program, where they saw each other even less. After that he was recruited as an ANBU ninja at the age of thirteen. He became captain shortly after that and the stress began to get to him.
The clan was pushing him to find a wife, particularly with a Hyuuga or an Uchiha. He didn't want either, and the one he wanted he couldn't even see, as when she ranked into jounin the Hokage volunteered her for a fledging program. Usagi was turned into one of Konoha's ambassadors to the foreign countries; it was either that or teach in the academy. Though that would have been a waste of her talents he wished she would have taken it or become a jounin sensei.
When he stumbled to Usagi's apartment, as Iruka was a grown man now, and Usagi needed her own space, he was surprised to actually find her there. She was resting from her missions when he vaulted into her window. Usagi said not a word about his new Sharingan or the blood on his clothes; instead she healed him with a gentle touch. At that touch, his blood roared within him, they were both adults in the ninja world even though they were just fourteen.
Without word or warning he grasped the blond by her waist as she went to leave him in peace, surprising her he turned her smaller frame to his. Ignoring her questioning eyes, Itachi followed his blood calls and took her lips without permission. Since his Sharingan had accidentally copied a kissing couple he had seen while training he knew exactly what to do. Her shock, surprise, and hesitant returned informed him that he had just taken her first kiss. This was something he was completely pleased with; he was her first kiss, the one she would remember for the rest of her life. Yes, she was his first too, but that mattered little to him, eventually he wanted more, but she wanted to breathe. He released her, watching with darken eyes as she panted, he brushed away a lingering bang catching her attention.
"Itachi-kun?" She ventured softly, a bit skittish, and he nuzzled her with his nose feeling her tense.
"Yes Usagi-chan?" He finally gave her the endearment, showing his possession, his feeling he was unable to voice. She gave a gentle smile falling into his embrace, hugging him tightly.
"Nothing, Tachi-kun." She murmured into his bare shoulder, he practically purred before releasing her. "You need to rest, doctor's orders." She scolded, and went to leave when he tugged her into his side. She caught his trouble look, as he did just kill his best friend for the clan, to gain the Mangekyo, but he didn't want to dwell on it. He would have fallen into a troubled sleep if she had not been by his side. A thought flickered across his mind, if she was his equal and the clan wouldn't allow their courtship, but they wanted his power then the clan needed to be straightened out.
So, weeks turned into months, and his standing in the clan plummeted as he tried to make the clan see that he was human too and not a tool. Then they finally pushed him too far, when they announced that he would marry a Uchiha or Hyuuga or their choosing or suffer their wrath. The clan head then forbid him from ever seeing Usagi again, or even of speaking of his humanity ever again. Madness, that normally comes with the Mangekyo, had been amazingly vacant until that declaration, they had pushed him over the edge. Easily he decimated his clan, leaving his younger brother alive, perhaps to better the fallen clan and then he left the house he had known for fourteen years.
His home was where his heart was, and that resided with a blond angel. Gently he knocked, and she allowed him entrance, he would have to be quick as he only had two hours at best. Itachi explained what he had done and why, fully knowing what his love would do, but he had to leave with a clear conscious. Usagi was quiet, for moments horrified, but she understood in some twisted way. "Come with me." He offered, giving her a open hand still covered with his clan's blood. Usagi knew then, no matter what he did, he would always have her heart. So, she reached forward and grasped his hand surprising him once more.
She left a letter for her older brother to not worry, she had gone with her love. Iruka would be sad, but he would also understand, as she had always followed her heart. Usagi also left her resignation and her headband on the table by the note as well. Then she turned Itachi with a small smile, and he pulled her to him. He kissed her even as he took her toward the organization he had join in secret. Usagi, sweet, pure, Usagi followed her heart into the depth of darkness. Love is a very fatal and twisting thing, morality is thrown out the window.