Sorry about the late update - power went out during the weekend But here is it! Thank you to Azura Soul Reaver, gaaraofthefunk13, booberry123, Reaper-and-ChuckNorris, and GaarasMyBoyzz for the reveiws.

Chapter 14~

A week later, after returning to the Akatsuki, Itachi arrived back to the Village Hidden in Mist. He spotted Mitsuki leaving the Academy where she helped out when she was free, and followed her to the training grounds. He was perched on top of a tree branch, watching her from under the cover of leaves as she practiced a series of Jutsus. A smile came to his lips when he saw the Ice-Spike Jutsu he taught her when she was seven.

Unable to resist, he reached into his pouch and grabbed a handful of kunais before throwing them at her. Mitsuki did a series of hand signs and chakra whips formed in both her hands. She easily knocked down the kunais coming towards her and lashed a whip to where Itachi was hiding in the trees. He jumped out from his cover as the tree was slashed in half.

"It's just me." Itachi held up his hands when Mitsuki was about to attack him again.

"Itachi!" She whispered harshly, looking around to make sure they were alone then back at him. "Are you crazy?"

"I couldn't help it." He gave her a small smirk, having the decency to appear apologetic. Mitsuki shook her head at him, canceling the Jutsu. "I'm sorry." Itachi tried again when she refused to say anything. He walked over to her, pushing her bangs out of her eyes and cupping the side of her face.

"It's not that." She sighed, her expression weary, "It's just… two of Kirigakure's best Shinobi have disappeared and the Mizukage believes it's on inside job."

Itachi's free hand entwined with hers, "That's why I'm here… Your mission's over."

"What?"

"The two missing Shinobi – the three and six Tailed-Beast, were captured by the Akatsuki."

Mitsuki's eyes furrowed in question, "What?"

"You were assigned here so we could gain access to the two Tailed-Beasts." He said softly.

"What do you what with the Tailed-Beasts?"

"The Leader doesn't think you need to know, but… It's time I explained everything to you." Itachi led her to the side where they sat under the shade with her between his legs and back to his chest. "The Akatsuki's goal is to collect all of the Tailed-Beasts and use them to control the Great Nations-" Mitsuki looked over her shoulder in question, but Itachi held up a hand, indicating for her to let him finish.

She nodded, leaning on her side against him with her head tucked in the crock of his neck. Out of habit, Itachi started to smooth his hand over her hair as he continued to speak.

"The Leader is not the man behind everything. Uchiha Madara is the reason why I joined the Akatsuki. We are not the only Uchihas alive. In the past, before I was even born, there was an Uchiha by the name of Madara who was obsessed with controlling all of the Hidden Villages, and sot ways to gain power to do so. He was stopped by his own clan, and thought dead.

But when I was thirteen, he found me." Itachi sighed, remembering that day like it happened a week ago when in reality it had been nine years. "At the time, he was seeking to start a war in Konoha, and I made a deal with him. In return for not attacking the village, I would be the one to accomplish his revenge against the clan.

But I knew he would try to overtake the Great Nations again. So I joined him as he formed the Akatsuki, hoping that I could stop him before it was too late."

Having been staring at Itachi as he looked to the sky, she glanced down at her clasped hands. "Is that why you killed everyone…?" Mitsuki asked quietly.

"Yes… and no." Itachi's arms came around her waist, holding her close. "Before I learned of Madara's existence, I was assigned as an ANBU to spy on Konoha for the Uchiha Clan - the clan was planning to overthrow the Hokage and control the village for themselves.

I knew it would cause another Ninja War, so I spied on the Uchiha Clan instead, passing on information to the Third Hokage and Elders. In the end, negotiates between the clan was futile, and against the Hokage's wishes, I was ordered annihilate the Uchiha Clan. But, I convinced them to allow you to be spared."

Mitsuki could hear his disgust as he spoke, "It was only because you weren't born into the clan and didn't inherit the Sharingan did the Elders see you weren't a treat. Otherwise…" Itachi released a deep breath as he rested his forehead against hers, his eyes falling close.

Mitsuki cupped the side of his chin, her expression soft. She felt guilty for once despising Itachi for what he had to Sasuke, when the whole time it was Itachi that suffered the most. "I'm sorry…" She whispered, feeling tears prick in the back of her eyes, "I'm so sorry." She felt his lips on her forehead as he placed a light kiss there.

"Why me?" She asked quietly, unable to understand why Itachi saved the adopted sister when he killed his own parents. Why he put his own brother through years of pain while she lived in blessed ignorance.

"You were never supposed to be apart of this." Itachi soothed, his fingers threading through her hair, "You could have been adopted by a different family that wouldn't have suffered through this, but I brought you to us. Neither I nor the Third could have let a completely innocent child be killed for something she wasn't even involved with… And you were my little sister; I took care of you for three years."

"But, Sasuke…"

"I couldn't kill him either. You and Sasuke were the most important things to me – and you still are. I had to make it seem like I sparred him so he would suffer, it was the only way he could live." Itachi's voice was soft, but she could hear the under layer of regret and sorrow. Mitsuki wrapped her arms around him the best she could and placed her ear over where his heart was. Itachi buried his face in her hair with his arms still tightly around her as he took comfort in her presence.

"I'm sorry…" He whispered by her ear, sounding broken.

Mitsuki pulled back gently so she could kneel in front him and cup his face with both her hands. "It's not your fault." She said softly, her eyes staring at him with love, "None of this is yours to blame."

The hands on her hips clenched as Itachi shut his eyes, his head shaking side-to-side lightly. "Itachi…" She whispered, "I forgive you, as will everyone else when they find out the truth."

His eyes opened, dark brown eyes staring up at her in wonder. She gave him a loving smile in return. 'I love you…' Itachi swore he saw it through her eyes and it made his heart feel light.

"Thank you," He said gratefully, one of his hands coming up to brush away the stray hairs covering her eyes.

"Thank you for telling me everything." Mitsuki said, kissing him gently on the lips.

"I love you, Mitsuki." Itachi whispered against her lips as she drew back. Her cheeks turned a light red, and she glanced to side. Her lips parted, but softly he said, "I know."

Mitsuki looked back to him in surprise, noticing the smile that he was giving her. "I can see it in your eyes." Was his response at the questioning look she gave him.

"You read me too well." She said with a smile. Itachi chuckled, knowing how true her words were.

OoOoO

Itachi left for another week before he returned once again, just in time for their assigned mission the next morning.

"What's the mission?" Itachi asked from where he laid on their bed.

"We're to infiltrate Orochimaru's last known hideout and search for any information we can find on him and the missing Kirigakure Tailed-Beasts with allies from Konoha." Mitsuki explained, going back and forth through the room as she gathered the needed equipment for the trip ahead.

"They suspect Orochimaru's involved?" Itachi rested his head on the palm of his hand, watching her pack her weapons pouch.

"The elders are hoping that the sudden appearance of the Sanin might be tied to the missing Yagura and Utakata."

"They're wasting their time." He sighed, annoyed that they had to go on a worthless mission.

"I know that, and you know that, but they don't." She waved her hand dismissively, "I wasn't about to tell them about the new organization named the Akatsuki that plan to collect all the Tailed-Beasts so they can overtake the Ninja World."

Itachi gave an amused chuckle. "Come to bed."

"In a sec." Mitsuki walked around the room, checking to make sure they had what they needed for the mission. "Are you sure the Leader will let you go on this mission?" She stopped in the middle of room; finally realizing that they would be gone for a week and Itachi was expected to return to the Akatsuki in a few days.

"I'll inform him tomorrow. Knowing the Leader, he'll want us to search for any information as to what Orochimaru has been doing for all these years."

"Are you sure…?" Mitsuki frowned slightly, disliking the idea of having a different partner for the mission.

"Positive. Now, don't make me drag you to bed." Itachi teased with a light smirk.

"Hai, hai…" Mitsuki smiled lazily and crawled under the covers. She snuggled up to Itachi with one arm draped over his side and their legs entwining together, almost as if he were her personal pillow. Not that Itachi minded. He buried his nose into her silk hair, inhaling the scent of rain while his fingers threaded through her short locks.

Mitsuki released a tired sigh, her breath sweeping over the sensitive skin of his neck and causing his skin to tingle. "Go to sleep." He whispered in encouragement, feeling her body already relaxing in exhaustion. Her head bobbed up and down as she nodded groggily. Her mind starting to go hazy, she placed a kiss on his chest where her lips were lingering over. "… Night, Itachi…" Mitsuki muttered.

"Good night, Mitsuki." Itachi kissed the top of her head. A minute later, Mitsuki was asleep. He sighed under his breath, easily figuring out that she hasn't been getting enough rest. He leaned back to stare down at the sleeping Kunoichi, his expression soft. Itachi could only watch her for a few days at a time before he had to return to the Akatsuki, and the weeks he would be gone he had no idea as to what Mitsuki was doing.

Itachi wished she could return to the Akatsuki with him, but for now she was just a spy to them. It was only pure luck that the Leader still wanted him to 'check up' on her, otherwise Itachi would have to sneak out to see her or not see her. The last idea wasn't at all pleasant to him.

He sighed again, running his fingertips down the side of her face. "What am I going to do with you?" He voiced out loud. His response was the silence of the night accompanied by Mitsuki's soft breathing. As he closed his eyes, ready to join her in sleep, he wondered what is was that kept her up during the night…

Please review! ~Darksoul4