Itachi Uchiha was a man of few words. Kisame, not so few. They were assigned a mission and the location made Itachi frown. The Leaf Village. His old home, the place where he killed. The place where he left. The place where he fell in love.

And, Itachi was still in love.

Not a day went by when he didn't think of her. Her brown hair, her green eyes and…that smile.

Itachi was worried whether it gave away on the outside, but thankfully for him, people considered him emotionless.

If only they knew.

Itachi and Kisame infiltrated the village easily, and Itachi grumbled internally. The village's defense was weak. He only chose to come on this mission was not to capture the Jinchuriki.

He could care less about the Akatsuki's main desires.

He came here to warn Danzo that he was still alive.

And even if Itachi didn't want to admit it, he wanted/hoped to see Kai as well.

He wondered if she hated him. Whether she kept her promise to him? He killed his entire clan in one night, and he expected her not to hate him?

He left his brother there, for the dead, and he expected her to not hate him?

Hell, he hated himself.

It wouldn't matter if she still loved him, or would it?

Itachi and Kisame sat in a small hotel, and Itachi noticed Kakashi there, and he knew right then that they were identified. Kakashi didn't scare him in the least, he didn't want Kai there.

He saw two other ninja.

A woman and a man.

"Hey you two! You guys look good together. Are you two on a date?" Kakashi asked them.

"Idiot, Anko asked me to pick up a few dumplings for her." The woman said, her face flushed.

"What about you? What are you doing here? Are you picking up some sweets too?" The man asked Kakashi.

"Not really. Sometimes I stop by to buy some stuff, but not now. Right now, I'm meeting up with someone. I'm waiting for Sasuke Uchiha."

Itachi's heart rummaged against his chest, but he didn't show any signs of distress, when he heard the next person's voice.

"Kakashi?" Itachi closed his eyes as tight as he could.

It was Kai.

"My my, Kai Namikaze, what a surprise!" Kakashi bellowed, and the woman giggled.

Oh how Itachi loved her laugh.

"What's gotten into you? Are you waiting for a date?" She asked.

Kakashi shrugged. "I'm waiting for Sasuke. And Kai, I don't have a date. Do you have someone in mind? Lovers reuniting is a wonderful thing." Kakashi said. Kai frowned and said, "Kakashi, I need to go. Nice talking to you." And walked away.

Itachi fought the need to run up to her.

After tailing Naruto, and using Tsukuyomi, Itachi was tired. He met Sasuke after a long while, but he wasn't strong enough yet. The two were in the outskirts of the village now, and Kisame suddenly spoke up.

"I need to get laid. Wanna join in?" Itachi glared.

"Alright, I'll go alone. You'll-?" "I'll be right here. Hurry back." Itachi said.

Kisame's question was infuriating. Itachi would never touch another woman. The only woman he'd ever dream of touching was Kai, and Kisame didn't know that.

Itachi missed her.

He met Sasuke.

He didn't meet her.

Just one glance wouldn't hurt right?

He knew Kisame would come back here only the next day, and one glance at Kai wouldn't take that long. Itachi deactivated his Sharingan and quickly reached Kai's house.

He looked through the window, to find her asleep on her bed. Itachi was thankful she wasn't awake and snuck in.

Her back was facing him and he sighed.

"Kai…" he spoke, and tasted her name in his mouth.

"I…I'm sorry for what I did. I had no other choice, and well, I wouldn't mind if you despised me. I hate myself for being born like this, and I'm so sorry I caused you pain."

Itachi sighed once more.

"I still love you, more than ever."

"And I you." A voice said.

Itachi's eyes widened as he saw Kai looking at him. Her green eyes staring at his black ones.

"K-Kai?" She got out of bed, and barricaded him in a hug.

Itachi's hand held on to the dresser behind him for support.

Kai was crying.

She held on to his shirt and wept.

Now that she knew he was here, he might as well-

-hug her.

And that was what he did. He smelt her hair, and breathed on her neck.

She was intoxicating.

She was everything he needed.

"Itachi, its okay if you don't tell me. I know you didn't do it for personal obligations, don't you dare lie to me like that!"

Itachi felt his heart shatter.

"And I told you already, I'll never hate you even if you kill me." He closed his eyes as tight as he could.

Kai pulled back a little and Itachi noticed how her features had changed.

She looked more mature now.

Grown up.

She was beautiful. She was his.

"I love you." She said, and kissed him. He kissed back immediately and murmured "I love you" again and again, in between kisses.

His hands enveloped around her, and Kai took off his cloak.

The two lovers fell on her bed, and Itachi stared into her eyes.

"Itachi…" Kai said, closing her eyes, letting tears fall.

He kissed those tears away before he told her what happened. He needed to tell someone and, she was the only person who didn't judge him. She never acknowledged him because he was an Uchiha, she loved him for being Itachi and that was what he needed.

Kai didn't cry when she listened to him.

She held on to him, and kissed his cheek, "Why can't you just tell Sasuke?" Itachi shook his head.

"For what I've done, he's got the right to kill me. I'm a murderer." Kai shook her bead this time.

"You're nothing close to it."

And for a second he believed her.

They lay there, and Kai finally accepted the path he had chosen. And she sighed.

She held on to his hand tighter, and made a decision.

She too chose a path of life.

She stared at his face, which was staring up at the ceiling and she looked away, face red.

Itachi caught her looking and smiled.

For the first time in years, the man smiled.

The effects this woman had on him, were unnatural.

"What is it Kai?"

Itachi kissed her cheek, before she turned to him.

"I want you to do me a favor." She asked, her tone dead serious.

Itachi was confused, and nodded.

"Sleep with me."

His eyes widened as he observed the girl's face. She was serious.

His heart rummaged in his chest and he said, "K-Kai? N-No, I mean-"

"Remember you liked the name Hideaki?" Itachi literally heard his heart shatter.

He couldn't do this to her. This was cruel.

What she was asking of him, was to impregnate her.

"Kai, I can't do that to you-""That'll be the only thing I'll have of you Itachi!" She said.

She was dead serious about this.

He gulped and pushed her toward the bed and kissed her neck. "I'm so sorry Kai." He said, as he took his shirt off, and kissed the woman with the love and lust he's held on for years.

After their session, Itachi placed his hand on her stomach, and concentrated his chakra to find that, there was another chakra network inside.

Kai was pregnant with Itachi's child.

And Itachi left her, feeling somewhat whole, for once in his life knowing that in his miserable life, he's done something close to happy.

He now had something to look forward to.

Something to protect other than Sasuke after he passes on.

His new little family, and Itachi already loved them more than his life itself.