Kurosaki sighed as she hit the bag once last time. That was enough for tonight. Her hands couldn't handle much more. She would have loved to keep going. She realized however, she didn't need to push herself too much. Itachi kept trying to tell her that. "Well well so you're training now"? Kurosaki turned to the attention of the voices. "So it's you two"? She said standing up to face them "So good to see you again.

You know even with all the effects of your little training you look lovely". Keno and Kino smirked at her. The two cousins were faces she had seen before. She knew they worked for Gito. "Funny Gito sent us to look for you. It seemed like something was up all of a sudden. That Uchiha should have gotten you back already. And here he is training you"? Keno chuckled. "You know what they say never trust an Uchiha" Kino said. "Well Miss Amino it's time for us to go. The Uchiha failed but we won't". Kurosaki grinded her teeth.

"I'm not as weak as before" Kurosaki said preparing to fight. She got into the stance Itachi had taught her. "Bring it on girl" Keno smirked. "Kurosaki don't bother". The three of them looked shocked as Itachi appeared in front of Kurosaki. "So it's you"? Keno said. "Keno what do you say we take care of the Uchiha punk ourselves? Will take his head when we take the woman". Kino said a large smirk appearing on his face. "Yeah let's do it". Itachi sighed and in a flash both of them were on the ground with Itachi over them.

"You could have just used your sharingan" Kurosaki noted. "Yes but I don't really like them. Hitting them actually felt pretty good. Besides I don't waste my sharingan on filth such as them". "I could have defeated them" she said. "Yes you could have. But my way is more sufficient. Plus you have been training nonstop so your body is very tired. You don't need the added stress and tear on your body". "So what happens now"? She asked gesturing to them. "I'm going to question them and see what they know.

There not worth me wasting the time killing so I'l let them live as long as they don't bother us anymore. Next time I will kill them". "Yeah you're good at that" she mouthed. His lips turned upwards but she didn't see it. "You were already incredibly blunt but you seem to be more comfortable now". "I still try to watch what I say. But you are training me and you keep protecting me so I could be kinder. Though you don't deserve it". "No I probably don't". "You mean you definitely don't". "Get inside now while I take care of this".

She sighed returning to the motel they had been staying at. It must be costing him a fortune to pay for them to stay. If she had thought more of it she would have stayed out there. But as it was she was much too tired to argue. Falling asleep came easy to her. At this point she knew Itachi would take care of everything. He was an evil murderer and yet she felt safe with him like she used too. Yet she also still felt fear and uneasiness in his presence. It was only her mouth refused to stop working. Or at least seemed like it.

Itachi had extracted all the information he needed from the thugs. He should kill them. He just couldn't bring himself to kill them as it was still unnecessary. He truly would kill them if they caused any more trouble. Especially if they threatened Kurosaki anymore. He hadn't expected the real reason Gito wanted Kurosaki. It made a lot of sense however. Truly proving how evil this Gito was. That fact made Itachi feel even less thrilled with leaving her again. It had been painful enough the last time.

Having her around was messing up his head enough. He wished he could allow himself to break down and tell her everything. He wanted too so badly. However here he was again planning to leave and lie to her. There were lots of people who judged him based on their own preconceptions. As well as on the illusion he allowed himself to present. There were only two people he had flat out lied too. One was his little brother and the other was Kurosaki. One of the few people who had attempted to understand him.

Itachi was used to hurting the ones he loved. For the greater good. Though everyone thought it was for his own evil twisted reasons. If that were only the truth. Maybe he wouldn't feel this way. As it turned out he did care. It was his mission to protect his village and his little brother. He had hurt Kurosaki he knew that. Way more than just using genjutsu and hitting her. He was a ninja yes so rules applied a bit differently to them. It didn't change the guilt he felt regardless. What was he to do?

Kurosaki was awoke early the next morning. Itachi was sitting on the sofa when she walked in the room. "Where are they"? She asked. "Gone I wanted them away and they were eager to comply. "What did you find out"? "Nothing of significance" he lied. Of course he was lying to her again. He didn't want her worried about anything. Besides he wanted her to focus on her training. She needed to protect herself from things like this. "So basically it was all for nothing"? "Not all for nothing. I sent them back to Gito with a message to leave you alone".

"Think he will listen"? "I have no idea" Itachi said closing his eyes. "I don't think so" she offered. "Which is why I'm training you". "Why are you doing all that anyway? You keep giving me excuses but I don't think there true". You have no idea he thought sourly. "Could it be that you want to spare yourself any more guilt"? "I feel guilty about nothing". "Is that true"? "I said it didn't I"? "Doesn't mean it's true". "Why would I have said it if it weren't true"? "A lot of people say things that aren't true. I guess they have their reasons". "Would you accept their reasons"? "If they were good reasons" she said shrugging.

"What if they weren't good reasons? Or maybe not exactly good but done for the right reasons"? "Okay maybe some don't. But if it's like you said than I guess I would just accept it and deal with it. There reasons if their good, I would have to accept like I said". "Hn" he said simply. "You don't agree"? "Some things are unforgivable no matter what". "Someone has done something like that to you"? "No" he said simply. "You've done it to"…. She trailed off. "You know the answer to that". "You feel guilty"?

She looked at him hope clear in her voice. "Of course not I needed to test the limits of my ability". She sighed. "You can honestly tell me you don't feel remorse about that at all"? "Yes". Remember Kurosaki just because I said it doesn't make it true. I have my reasons no matter how good or bad they are he thought. "Of course not" she said shaking her head. How could she have such civil conversations with a murderer, missing nin, and her kidnapper rolled all into one. Why were things this complicated?

Flashback

Kurosaki's father had thanked the Uchiha and Itachi for saving his daughter on behalf of their family. But Kurosaki wanted to personally thank him. She had been much to rattled to really properly thank him. He was the one who had rescued after all. He deserved a proper personal thank you from her. That and she wanted to see him again. The man who had now saved her life twice. Yet he wasn't completely a man yet was he? He was thirteen like herself. She nervously made her way to the Uchiha compound.

After passing two elderly members who offered her a tasty treat they gave her directions. She sucked in a breath knocking on the door. "Hello"? A women said politely. She was beautiful and kind looking. Kurosaki assumed she was Itachi's mother and Fugaku's wife. "Hello Mrs. Uchiha I wanted to personally thank Itachi for rescuing me". "Oh of course come in" she said gesturing for the door. Kurosaki thanked her as she stepped inside and respectfully took her shoes off. She smiled kindly at the little boy who stared up at her.

"You must be Sasuke" She said smiling at him. He smiled up at her. "Who are you"? "My names Kurosaki". "Big brother saved you" he said. "Yes that's right he did". "Big brothers the coolest" he said grinning. "Sasuke finish your food" his mother said smiling at him. "Yes mom" he said returning to the table. "What's going on"? Fugaku asked as he came into the room. "Kurosaki came to personally thank Itachi for rescuing her". Mikoto said smiling at him. "I see" he said looking at Kurosaki. "Your father came by to thank me already as well as Itachi. You didn't have to come by". "I know but Itachi rescued me so I should be the one to thank him personally". "Okay very well" he said nodding his head. The door opened and Kurosaki turned to see Itachi. "Kurosaki has come to thank you" Mikoto said smiling. Itachi turned his onyx eyes on to her. "You can talk out there if you like" she offered. "We can" Itachi said gesturing for her to follow him. She didn't know what to expect as she followed him.