R is for Regrets, Anko x Itachi

He was, without a doubt, the most uncutest kid she'd ever seen. He had stress lines already, like a middle-aged man, and his face seemed to be half composed of huge placid eyes that took everything in. He was even dressed in black, only enhancing the certain something irritating about his bearing that Anko couldn't quite put her finger on.

The kid turned around to head to the door, and all the pieces snapped together. White and red fan. Bingo. Uchiha.

Anko watched him, teeth pulling the ball of dango from its kebab, chomping down viciously as the kid hovered somewhere between the line and the door. He didn't look nervous, just kind of awkward in a regal, pompous sort of way. She snorted out of her mouth, shoving her chair back as she stood up from her table, and strode over to the newcomer with the remnants of her snack.

"Hey, kid!" She barked.

The boy didn't move, but his gaze went over to the older girl.

"Yeah, you with the bad outfit," she said, walking next to him and bending to meet him in the eye, "You're blocking the door, get in line or don't."

"Excuse me," he said politely, moving over to the side. Still not quite in line.

Anko groaned, there was no hope for some people, "Look brat, you've obviously never been here before. To get food, you get in line first."

"Why are you talking to me?"

She glared at him, "Because I'm bored and you're quiet," she paused, pursing her lips, "How old are you even? Should you be out of the house by yourself?" She saw his hitae the moment he walked in.

He didn't answer. Typical. She snorted, rolled her eyes, and gave him what was left of her dango, "Since you seem to have difficultly comprehending the line, you can have the rest of this one," she rolled her shoulders, walking to the door, "See you later runt!"

She was halfway out the door when-

"I'm seven," he said calmly.

She smiled like a shark, even though he couldn't see it with her back turned to him. Quickly, she swerved on her heel.

"Oh yeah? Well I'm twelve, which makes me bigger and more important than you and next time you're buying me dango," she said matter of factly, "So you better be here tomorrow or I'll kick your ass."

His only response was to experimentally chew the next ball on the stick.

Anko laughed, before ruffling his hair and leaving. She was late for her meeting with Orochimaru-sensei, who said he had a very special surprise for her.

Anko wasn't going to make it to the dango shop the next day. Itachi would become a frequent customer.