Yoichi's cheeks were red, and he looked so cute to her. With his dark hair that covered an eye, his eyes nervously squeezed shut, and his body completely open for attack. She smiled and slid her hands up his chest, and around his neck.

"I love you." she whispered, "I've always loved you." Then, slowly, she pressed her lips against his.

His lips were soft, she realized. She never thought about how soft they'd be. She pressed her chest on to him more and more as she tightened her arms around him. She was so lost in pleasure from the kiss, she accidentally released the paralysis on him. But even so, to Ayame's surprise, Yoichi didn't move. Ayame pressed her lips deeper into his, kissing him over and over again until she even slid her tongue inside. And kissed him deeper. She was in ecstasy as she twirled her fingers around his hair and felt his lips begin to move against her own. He was kissing her back. What a great way to end her craving for physical intimacy. Her last act of lust, before it winked out. She planned to go out in a bang. And she was enjoying it.

Yoichi's hands on her waist began sliding up and down rhythmically. Ayame let out a soft breath of excitement and when he heard her soft breath against his skin, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. He pressed his lips against hers and she kissed him deeper. More deeper than before. This might lead to something, but Ayame was completely ready. As their kissing wouldn't stop, she gently pushed him down until he was laying on his back on the grass. Ayame loosened her arms around his neck, and slid her hands up his shirt. She loved him. She loved the way he smelled, the way he blushed at her, the way he smiled at her, the way he touched her, everything.

She's never felt so good before. He kissed her back, more and more, until she began to find it hard to breathe. She's only dreamed of this. And now that it was happening, she didn't want to stop. She wanted their moment to last longer. She was kissing the boy she's been in love with for so long, and he was kissing her back. Holding her. She was lost in time as they continued to kiss each other over and over again, deeper and deeper each time.

But it was over too soon. Yoichi quickly gripped her wrists, and flipped them over. Now, with both of them breathing heavily, Yoichi was on top, and Ayame was pinned on the bottom.

"Are you satisfied now? Did you finally get that out of your system?" he asked breathlessly.

Ayame smiled, panting, "I've never been so happy. Is it over already? Don't you want to kiss me more?"

"That was over twenty seconds."

Breathless laughter escaped her lips, "You didn't know? I was so turned on by you, that I released the paralysis almost immediately after I kissed you the first time. By accident."

"..."

"It was you who let my kissing last for more than twenty seconds Yoichi. You're the one who didn't stop it. So, did you enjoy it? Did you want me? You wrapped your arms around me, and kissed me back. Can't we continue?"

"Shut up. No I didn't." he said, looking away not wanting Ayame to see his face.

"If you didn't enjoy it, then why didn't you stop it?"

"Because I'm a fool."

"You liked it. You're just like me. You want me, don't you?"

"Shut up."

"Why deny it?" she asked him, shifting her legs to expose her thighs to him, "We can keep going you know. I'd let you do anything you want to me."

"Shut up!" he shouted. Confused, upset, and frustrated, he let go of Ayame's wrist, and stood up, "...I hate you." he muttered blushing intensely, and stomping away, leaving her lying on the grass alone.

She didn't ask him to stay. She didn't beg him to continue. Instead, Ayame laughed and giggled, laying alone on the grass. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, and she couldn't stop her smiling and laughing at herself. She'd done it. She had crossed the line of friendship. Now, their strange new relationship was in their hands. Oh how excited she was.

Suddenly, she heard crows, and she knew he was coming, "Hi!" she called out.

"Let's go." said Itachi, standing over her.

"May I have help?" she asked, stretching her arms out to him as she lay on the grass.

Itachi bent over to reach down and grab her hands to pull her up, only letting go of one hand as they began walking, "Are you satisfied with what you've done?"

More giggles, "Yes. I think my heart might explode out of my chest." she smiled, then she released her butterflies around her, "Hello little butterflies! May I ask for your help? I want to spy on Yoichi right now. I really want to know what his reaction is. Hurry! Go!" she cheered spreading her arms and setting lose her bright butterflies into the air.

With her free hand, she lifted up her hand to her chest, and raised up her two first fingers to concentrate on the connection she had with them. She finally caught a glimpse of him through the crow's eyes. He was leaning up against a tree not far from where they were now, with his legs up, and his arms around his knees.

"She's trying to kill me. I'm going to die because of her. Hell. I can't believe it. I...I kissed back. I wanted...I wanted...damn it. " he said, and with his face a deeper shade of red, he buried his face in his arms and knees.

The butterflies flew away, ending her vision to him. She giggled, "Ahaha! He's so cute! And he's so shy!"

"Ayame."

"Yes?" she asked looking up at him.

"You won't sleep. Tonight we watch over Asakaru, and we'll stay over there until the end of your normal school day tomorrow."

Ayame frowned in confusion and tilted her head, "But what about Yoichi? Even though i told him i don't need him to walk me anymore, he'll still wait for me in the morning. Won't he get worried if i don't show up?"

"We've prepared for that. He'll think that you left before him."

Ayame blinked, "How? Are you going to use mind control on him? May I request to reject that method? I don't like the feeling of manipulating those around me that way."

"We won't use mind control. He'll overhear people say that you left early. They're shadow clones, and they're all disguises."

"Oh! I get it! Okay! Yoichi is taken care of! Do we have any objective other than watching Asakaru?"

"The quicker we get him on our side the better. And this time, you will be the one doing most of the work. I will observe."

"You got it!" she cheered, excited for the long day up ahead.

With Ayame spying on Asakaru from the trees, she noticed that sometime in the early morning, with the sun coming in a few hours, Asakaru left his home, and went to go train by himself. He was really good, and gifted just like she was. Ayame curiously wondered if he was popular with girls in school, though she had a feeling he was. Talented people usually get a lot of attention. The only thing that bothered her is that she couldn't see him up close. Her brother, and she couldn't approach him. All she could see from spying so far away was his hair color. A bright red color. That was it. She also noticed that he had an aloof attitude to go along with how graceful he was.

Ayame sighed with her chin in the palm of her hands, "He's like a bored prince." she told her butterflies, "He's good in his training. Way better than me."

She watched him for three more hours as he trained, then, he picked up the bag he brought with him, and started walking off.

Ayame.

She looked around, startled at first, but then she remembered that being a part of the Akatsuki, communicating telepathically was a normal thing.

Yes Itachi?

Take a break. But just like yesterday, do not speak to anyone, and run away if someone insists on having a conversation.

Ayame smiled, Yes sir!

Once Asakaru a safe distance away, she jumped away, from roof top to roof top until she returned to the heart of the village. Asakaru was probably heading off to school, so before she returns to watching him, she'll buy a snack. And she wanted ice cream.

"One strawberry ice cream please!" she cheered over ice cream truck counter.

"Coming right up!" shouted the man as he turned around to make it, "Here you are miss."

"Thank you! It looks so pretty!" she giggled.

"Ha! Thank you! Enjoy!"

"I will!" she cheered as she walked her way over to the park she was at before.

She swung in the park all by herself and enjoyed her ice cream. As she ate it happily, a crow landed on her head, then more and more crows surrounded her.

"What is it?" she asked them as her sunlight butterflies floated around her.

They cawed at her, and Ayame blinked in confusion, "Huh? Don't tell me you guys want some too..."

More cawing, and she giggled, "Okay! Sure! I guess crows like sweets too." she smiled as she quickly ate the rest of her ice cream, and broke a piece off her cone to throw it at the crows.

They all gathered to where she threw the cone piece, and she was filled with joy. Although she wasn't with Yoichi right now, she was having fun. Finally being on an important mission felt so good. So liberating. She felt amazing knowing she didn't need Yoichi to feel good. He was all she had before, and now she has this. It filled her with happiness that at least the Akatsuki took her abilities seriously, and even had her use them. Back at home, she was never really able to use her powers due to the seal. She was finally being useful. She was finally doing something with her talents. She was going to meet her brother. Yes, right now she was happy. Very happy.

"Hey." someone called out from behind her.

Ayame turned around curiously to find a girl with dark hair and dark eyes, "I saw you here by yourself yesterday. Why don't you play with me and my friends instead of being by yourself? You'll have more fun that way." said the girl, offering her a happy smile.

She returned her smile, "No thanks!"

"Huh? But...you look sad all by yourself. Don't you want someone to play with?"

Ayame turned away from her and looked back at the crows, "My Daddy says not to talk to strangers." she said.

"But-"

"Thank you though!" she replied standing up to face the girl, "Bye-bye now!" she cheered crunching up her cone in her hands, and throwing up the crumbs up into the air.

The crows exploded in a frenzy and came by the dozens surrounding Ayame in order to get to the crumbs she threw up. She took the opportunity to vanish and reappear on a roof top a few feet away. A few seconds after she disappeared from the park, the crows dissipated, leaving no trace of Ayame behind. Right before she was going to turn around, satisfied with her disappearance, she noticed Asakaru, stopped on the sidewalk, looking into the direction of the park. Just where she had been a few seconds ago. Her heart dropped. He was watching her. Again. And again, she didn't sense him.

Itachi told her that Asakaru had watched her the other day singing to herself too. So what did this mean? What did he want? Suddenly, Ayame was able to realize that she could see him well in the morning light. He was cute. A soft looking face, teal eyes, just like hers, but she could see his eyes were cold, like Itachi's. She was surprised by how beautiful and glittery his eyes were. Sparkly. Just like hers.

She shook her head, trying to fight the excitement down. What were behind those cold eyes? Did they hold dangerous secrets? Like Itachi's did? Did they hold pain? Like Sasuke's did? What did he want? What is it that Asakaru desires? Ayame couldn't stop asking herself questions about him. She needed to know more about him in order to convince him to join them. But how will she convince him? How can she approach her brother?

She suddenly noticed that a different girl approached Asakaru, "U-Um, Asakaru?" the girl stuttered.

Asakaru had a cold glare in his eyes as he looked down at the girl blushing at him, "What do you want of me?"

"Um...I..."

Asakaru frowned, "I must say that your silence is not what I'd expected." he said distracted, still searching the park for Ayame.

"Um..."

"I don't have time to be wasted on you. If you refuse to speak, I will take my leave."

"W-Wait!" she said grabbing his sleeve.

With a swift and graceful movement, he coldly released his arm from her grasp, "I'd suggest keeping yourself from reaching for me. I've no desire to dirty myself with filth like you."

"I'm sorry...but I've called you here to...to..." she swallowed, "To ask you, please accept my feelings for you Asakaru! You're so handsome, strong and talented and I've liked you for so long!"

There was a long silence as his cold sparkling eyes stayed concentrated on her face, "Is that why you've called me here?"

"Y-Yes. Because I love you. Please go out with me!"

"I see."

W-Will you please accept my feelings Asakaru?"

His eyes remained searching for Ayame, "Forgive me, but I do not love you in return. So I ask of you to no longer pursue me." he said, and turned around to walk away.

"Please! Wait!"

Asakaru didn't stop and the girl yelled again with teary eyes, "Why?! Tell me why! You reject every girl who confesses to you! I want to know why you can't return my feelings! Or even give me a chance! You don't give anyone a chance!"

Asakaru stopped, and turned around to look at her, "The cheap love you and your people have to offer me, is something I have no interested in. I don't need it, nor do I have a use for it. If you hand it to me, I will simply throw it away. Your love is useless to me, and I just simply don't want it. Not from you."

The poor girl began to cry, but she refused to give up, "What about a friend? Maybe we can be friends and start out that way."

He finally returned his gaze to her, locking his eyes with hers, "Dig me a hole, and then bury me alive within it. I would rather die than to associate myself with you."

Ayame.

Yes?

I told you to take a break. Why are you still watching him?

Oh, I'm sorry. He ended up at the same place I was at. I think he was watching me again.

I see.

Itachi, what do you want me to do?

Do what you want. We were only ordered to observe him. We weren't given specifics. Resume your break for a little while longer.

Okay.

Ayame discretely jumped from her roof top, and on to another one further and further away until she was in the heart of the town again. What should she do for the remainder of her break? Oh! She could play around with her abilities. Yes. That would be a good idea.

She made her way to an opening that had nothing but sand. Ayame smiled to herself. This would be perfect. She lifted up one hand, and emitted high heat, and transformed sand, into sparkling glass. Because of her father and training, she has mastered many jutsus. Her favorites to play with were physical ones. Fire, water, Earth, and wind style jutsu. She loved the super strength her mother had taught her, and the chidori and rasengan both from observing Sasuke, and getting trained by her father.

Giggling by herself, Ayame built a big sand castle, then used fire style to turn it from a sand castle, into a small little glass one. She giggled more with happiness at how cute it turned out, with it's little towers and windows, that she decided to make more little glass figures. Hearts, stars, moons, rabbits, apples, strawberries, teddy bears. She couldn't stop her laughter as she discovered another thing she could do. She was having so much fun. She loved making new discoveries about herself, and continued making small glass figures, preparing to take them home and give them to her favorite people as gifts. She was so excited to see everyone's faces when she gave them their present.

"Look! Isn't it cute?" she asked her butterflies as they floated around her.

As she was deciding on what to make Itachi, she heard a voice behind her, "You."

Startled, she jumped, causing her to drop a glass figure on top of another one, shattering two little figures, "Oh no..." she said sadly.

She had made a small heart with a lot of edges on it to make it sparkly for her mother. And she had made a tiny little Hidden Leaf insignia for her father, making it with a lot of edges too to make it sparkly. And now they were shattered. Of course, she could make more, but those were her favorite ones. But right as she was about to cry, she refused to give up. Maybe she could fix them.

She reached over to grab them, but a big hand wrapped itself around hers, "Stop!"

Ayame looked behind her, to see who had grabbed her, and was surprised to see it was Asakaru. Up close, he had more of a babyish face than she'd thought, and his skin looked so soft. His teal eyes bore into her, as if concerned, and confused. But she looked back at the presents she could no longer give her mother and father.

"Are you trying to slice yourself open? You'll cut yourself with the glass." he told her, gently letting go of her hand.

Even seeing him didn't distract her from her broken gifts, "But i can fix them."

A little surprised by her reaction, Asakaru frowned, "No you can't. They're shattered."

Ayame could feel tears threaten to spill over, "But...I wanted to give them to my parents."

"Your parents?"

She could no longer hold back, and began crying, "I wanted to give them to Mama and Daddy. And my friends."

Sudden guilt washed over Asakaru. I should've approached her more carefully. "It was me who made you drop them, wasn't it?" he asked her, frowning deeper, "Forgive me." he sighed taking off his long dark blue jacket and laying it down on the ground.

Ayame's crying calmed down a little as Asakaru carefully gathered the broken glass pieces on his jacket, and stood up, "I've got the pieces. Let's go." he demanded, grabbing her hand and dragging her with him.

"Wh-Where are we going?" she asked, her eyes still teary.

Asakaru paused, and looked at her, watching her carefully for her reaction, "To see my father."