Kurosaki turned in surprise at the voice but recognized who it belonged too. Shisui the teleporter. "Come on Shisui were playing around". "No I think your just jealous Itachi has a pretty girl coming to bring him sweets and you don't". He winked at Kurosaki. "Of course I know there are tons of girls who want to bring me sweets too. Who wouldn't want to be with an Uchiha"? He chuckled good naturedly at his on joke. "Yeah but all the girls' just want to be with him". One of the guys mumbled as they walked off.

"Thanks" Kurosaki said turning to smile gratefully at Shisui. "No problem don't let them get to you. There just bored they don't have anything to do right now". "What did someone do"? The turned to see Itachi looking curiously at them. "Some of the guys were giving her trouble but I took care of it. Anyway she brought you something". Kurosaki blushed as she turned to him. "I know I already thanked you once. But I knew how much you liked these so I picked them up as one last thank you". "Thank you" Itachi said smiling.

"I will definitely appreciate this". "You got something for me in there? I did save you too sort of." Shisui joked. "If Itachi will share then yes you do". Kurosaki didn't stay too long afterwards. "She's cute and I think you got a little crush on her". "That's ridiculous". Itachi said looking away. "Is it"? Shisui said looking at him. "A girl brought me sweets and I would have a crush on her". "She was doing it to be nice nothing more". "Yeah sure tons of girls do bring you stuff sometimes. Well the ones who even approach you at all. Not many of them take the time to find out what foods you like though do they".

Shisui grinned and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. Itachi didn't offer his friend a response. He was right though. Kurosaki was a beautiful girl. If he were normal maybe he'd ask her out. But he had a lot to think about. Lots of things to do. He didn't have many friends or people who understood him. She would be no different. Least she made an effort. However, he knew his father would rather he marry from within the clan. Most married from their own clans anyway. It was just expected in some clans.

And the way things were in others. He had read once about the Senju and Uzumaki clans intermarrying. They were distantly related anyway. Not that Itachi would be getting married. Marriage was just not for him. Still it was nice to think it was a possibility for him. "You don't make a move someone else will". Shisui said gauging him for a reaction. "Like you"? "Maybe" he said winking. "But I think she likes you".

End flashback

Two weeks later Itachi was satisfied with Kurosaki's training. She could at least defend herself against higher ranked ninja. Kurosaki however wasn't satisfied. She knew nothing of her true abilities with her clan. But there was one thing she was thinking about. Itachi had promised to tell her what he been talking about. She hoped he wouldn't back out now. There was something else also in her heart. She couldn't wait to see her friends and family again. But she wasn't ready to see Itachi go.

She had to face facts though. She couldn't save him. That only happened in stories and fairy tails. You couldn't save someone who didn't want to be saved. Itachi Uchiha never did anything he didn't want to do. Everything was because he wanted too. He had never needed saving in his whole life. If anyone was going to save him it would be himself. She couldn't be a hero and certainly not his hero. Maybe criminals didn't have heroes. But one thing is for sure. He had been her hero for the longest time. Funny how things worked out.

Itachi was preparing for the inevitable. He had promised her he would tell her everything. He was truly a man of his word. He wished he could take that back now. He didn't want to tell her the truth. It almost made him even more a villain. She didn't talk about the village but Itachi assumed she still loved it dearly. Not everything about the village was all good. He didn't want to ruin that image for her. Not to mention, he had yet to die by Sasuke's hand. Telling her about his impending death wouldn't help anything.

At the very least he would get it off his chest. She was one of the people he wanted to tell everything to. She did deserve to know. He wasn't sure if he had truly prepared to tell her. Shisui would have known what to do. Itachi thanked Kami Kurosaki wasn't an Uchiha. Like Sasuke he wouldn't have been able to kill her. He still couldn't kill her. She may just be one of his weaknesses. "Shisui I truly do wish you were here".

Flashback

"Itachi you protect her" Shisui said looking at him. "I know you like her. You love her even. I can tell you too. No matter what happens I hope you find your way back to her". "Shisui I would rather leave you to protect her. I know you would take care of her. With all that I am dealing with she can't be a part of that. I can never what she needs. What she deserves. Not like I want too". "She loves you too. I know she does. These too are things I want to protect. You do too. You deserve to be happy with her".

End flashback

"Itachi"? He turned to see her. "I don't know if you're ready for this". "Ready or not tell me". "I don't know that I'm ready to tell you". "Go ahead I can handle it. I have no choice". "Okay well you need to keep an open mind about everything because what I tell you is going to be the truth. Itachi told her everything….

Flashbacks

Kurosaki looked in fascination as she watched Itachi and Shisui train. It was interrupted by rain ninja attacking. Where in the world did they come from? Why were they here? One of the ninja launched an attack towards Kurosaki. Shisui quickly grabbed her and teleported her away from danger. "Shisui I'l handle this. Get Kurosaki to safety". Kurosaki hadn't wanted to leave Itachi but Shisui teleported them away. Itachi had defeated them and she was happy the both of them were safe.

XXX

"Shisui I'm worried about Itachi. He seems like somethings wrong". "Kurosaki don't worry. He's going to be fine. But I need you to promise me something". "Of course Shisui anything". "You love Itachi I can tell. I need you to promise me whatever happens you will love him and be there for him. He is going to need you. No one can do things on their own". "Shisui that's why I need you. Only you can help him". "You're wrong Kurosaki. You are way stronger and courageous than you think. I know you can be. Promise me you will look after him"? "I promise Shisui". "Thank you" he said smiling. She nodded at him.

XXX

Tears streamed down her face. Shisui had become one of her precious friends. Even in only the short time she's known him. She wanted to find Itachi to comfort him. "Itachi"! She called seeing the back of him. He turned to her tears running down his face. "Oh Itachi" she said throwing her arms around him. He hugged her tightly his arms trembling. She didn't know why he would want to take his life. It didn't make sense. Shisui who was so kind, funny and brave. Who loved his clan and his village. She tried to remember what he'd told her about loving Itachi. Had he known then he was going to do it?

XXX

"They think I had something to do with his death" Itachi said to her. "That's ridiculous! Why on earth would they think something like that"? "They have lost themselves. They are so lost in caring about the clan. They believe there so much better than they are. They don't understand anything. They don't get the depths of my own power. Yet rely on their own due to the regulations of the clan. Shisui was right. There's no hope for that pathetic clan. He was right to leave". "Itachi you don't mean that". Kurosaki said weakly.

What was wrong with him? The Itachi she knew never talked like this. No doubt Shisui's death was infecting him heavily. But what had happened to him all of a sudden? To say such things? For Shisui to take his life? It was a tragedy without a doubt. But nothing about it made sense. Something went wrong somewhere.