Update again! The song used in this chapter is called "Have you ever seen the rain" by John Fogerty. It's a nice song, so listen to it if you happen not to know it. . Other than that, thank you all for the kind reviews and I hope you're up for a tiny bit of mushiness. ^^

I sighed as I leaned against the wall in the training grounds. It was already late in the evening now and I had spent the day training with Hidan. He taught me some simple sparring moves and I thought I was doing rather well; at least considering it was my first time learning martial arts. At the same time, I could take my mind off of some not so pleasant topics, like Shikyo's disappearance or my upcoming mission with Itachi. Oh… Itachi… How was I gonna face him now?! I was still kind of angry at him and I was worried about my friend and the mission I would have to do. So many things buzzed inside my head that I suddenly felt myself diminishing and bending down beneath that pile of worries.

"Oh, shit, shit, shit," I cursed silently. "What am I gonna do now?"

I sat down and brought my knees to my chest, leaning my head back against the wall. I stayed like this for some time, feeling like I was on an emotional roller coaster – I got mad or sad or felt pitiful over and over again, as if unable to decide on my current mood.

During one of my half angry and half sad moments I heard footsteps and as I looked up, I realized Itachi was standing in front of me. I glared at him and wanted to snap at the Uchiha ninja, but then I noticed he was holding something in his hands. My eyes widened at recognition and my mind now was filled with countless questions.

"Is that… Is that a-" I held my breath and looked up at Itachi's face.

He was as expressionless as ever as if he didn't really care much and I couldn't read his eyes. But then he extended his arms towards me and I touched the stringed instrument he held with my fingers.

"Is that… for me?" I asked unsure.

He nodded and noted coldly, "Instead of that thing of yours I broke."

I took the instrument in my hands and ran my fingers across its strings. It was the same guitar-like instrument I had played back in the village. I smiled and my mood rose up quite a notch.

I glanced up at Itachi and raised my brow, my voice a bit mocking, "You're saying that you were feeling guilty for breaking my phone, so you ran around hopelessly looking for a guitar?"

Itachi glared at me sharply and hissed, "I do not feel guilty! And I did not run around – I just bought it from a street musician!"

"Oooohhh…" I grinned. "You bought it?"

"I-I did not!" Itachi suddenly shouted out. "I took it by force and killed the insolent human!"

"U-huh," I rolled my eyes. It was funny seeing Itachi so flustered and losing his cool though I wondered what caused him to be like this. But then again, who cares? He was clearly trying to apologize the only way he could think of and somehow I realized I found it rather cute.

"Why don't you just play it?" Meanwhile, Itachi grumbled and I smiled.

"Do you want me to?"

He kept silent and then hissed, "Do what you wish."

"Fine, fine, don't be so grumpy," I grinned, realizing my good mood was truly slowly coming back to me. It was rather weird, but right now I found myself quite comfortable around Itachi. Perhaps, it was due to the gift I just received or the fact that I was slowly getting to know him better.

"What do you wanna hear?" I asked him, but Itachi merely shrugged as he sat down beside me.

"Whatever suits you," he murmured and I chuckled, my fingers running along the strings, the sounds slowly forming into a melody.

Someone told me long ago, there's a calm before the storm

I know, it's been comin' for some time.

When it's over, so they say, it will rain a sunny day

I know, shinin' down like water.

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Comin' down, a sunny day.

Yesterday and days before, sun is cold and rain is hard

I know, been that way for whole my time

Till forever on it goes through the circle fast and slow

I know, it can't stop, I wonder.

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Coming down on a sunny day.

When I finished singing I glanced at Itachi beside me and he gave me a tiny smile. It was so small I would have missed it if I wasn't that close.

"You look good when you smile," I said and immediately his face returned to the cold mask.

"I don't smile," he said coldly.

"So I noticed," I giggled. "You should, though. I'd totally fall for you, then."

Itachi gazed at me, mildly surprised and then said, "I murdered my whole clan for power and you say you'd fall for me?"

I gulped and turned away. Whoops, seems like I just stepped on a land-mine.

"I just… I said what I was thinking," I finally muttered. "And it's not like you really wanted to kill them all. You had no choice, right? It was either them or everyone else."

I wasn't looking at Itachi, so I didn't see his shocked expression, but I did feel his hand gripping my shoulders painfully when he forcefully turned me to him.

"What did you just say?" He asked sharply, his eyes boring into mine as if trying to read my mind.

"N-nothing," I denied quickly, realizing I've just made a mistake. "I was just-"

"Just what?" Itachi narrowed his eyes on me. "How much do you really know?"

I gulped and tried smiling innocently, but his eyes were staring into mine so intently, I knew I wouldn't get out of this so easily.

"I just know some things," I whispered. "There is no reason and no deceit. I just know."

"What do you know?" Itachi asked slowly and I shook my head.

"Promise me you won't kill me first," I said and gazed at his dark black eyes.

He kept silent for a while and then he nodded, "I won't kill you, Liz."

I didn't know why, but I believed him. Somehow I felt that he really wouldn't harm me and so I turned my eyes away from his and replied in a low quiet voice, "I know why you annihilated your clan and why you left your brother alive. I know why you came here to the Akatsuki and I know you want to die."

I paused and then glanced back at him, whispering, "But, most importantly, I know you're not as evil as you make others believe you are."

Itachi was silent and so I stayed quiet as well. Then, suddenly, he released my shoulders and stood up briskly.

"You know some dangerous things," Itachi muttered. "Don't tell this to any other living soul and perhaps you'll live."

I gulped. Well, the future sure seems to be of great promise to me.

Itachi passed by me and halted at the entrance to the corridor. "Let's go, we need to visit Pein-sama for the details of your first mission."

Oh, riiiiight… the mission. Somehow, I totally forgot it. I nodded and rose up, taking the instrument with me. Itachi let me go up to my, um, our room first and leave it there before going to Pein's so called office and so I put the guitar beside the bed. I also went to the bathroom real quickly, just in case, and refreshed myself with a splash of water to my face. I made sure I looked good first and only then I headed out of the room.

Itachi did not say anything to me, so I figured I didn't take that much time. Or, he was very patient. We headed to Pein's room and I took in a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Oh, God, let it be stealing or spying. Stealing. Stealing. Stealing. I chanted to myself all the way to Pein's.

When we finally reached the doors, Itachi opened them and let me through first. Pein was sitting behind his desk, but he rose his head when he heard us enter and his lips stretched into a smirk as soon as his eyes landed upon me.

"Liz," he said quite contently. "I hope you're doing well in our organization."

Taken aback by the question, I nodded. "Yeah, um, thanks'."

"I heard you had an interesting friend come over?" Pein inquired and I cursed in my head.

"I-I'm sorry," I blurted out quickly. "She just… uh, dropped over completely unannounced."

I bit my lip. This is so not good. Not good.

"You don't need to be sorry," Pein said in almost a sweet voice. "If she has any similar talents as you, I'll welcome her gladly."

I kept quiet, unsure as to what to say. Should I admit that she is "talented" too? Or should I say she isn't? Which one?

"Apparently," Itachi intervened suddenly. "Her friend had to go back urgently and she won't be back for a while."

Pein narrowed his eyes on me, "Is that true?"

I quickly gathered myself and flashed a smile, "Yes, I'm afraid so. Urgent clan matters."

"Pity," Pein muttered after a short pause. "Do tell her she is more than welcome to visit us again."

"S-sure," I replied, smiling, though I felt a sting in my chest. Oh, how I hoped I could actually tell her that. But now was not the time to ponder about Shikyo. I myself was in quite a situation.

"You said you had a mission for us," Itachi said and right now I was rather thankful to him for the change of topic.

"Indeed," Pein nodded. "Consider this mission as a test, Liz. Complete it and our previous agreement will be in effect. Fail and you shall pay with your own life."

I merely nodded as if this was completely understandable, but inside I could feel my heart do somersaults.

"What am I to do?" I asked in a very matter-of-fact tone. I could only hope I sounded professional. Right now I needed to be strong.

"I need you to eliminate the head of the White Lily clan," Pein said and pushed an envelope across the table. "Here's all the information you need. Do be careful though, our informants say he has hired some bodyguards from Konoha. I hope they won't give you too much trouble."

I shook my head and grinned like an idiot, replying with an Italian accent, "No problemo."

"Good," Pein smiled. "Take your time and get rid of that man for good. I shall await your return impatiently."

I bowed slightly, took the envelope and walked out with Itachi following me. Yet, soon after I exited the room, I felt weak in the knees and so I leaned against the wall. So much for stealing. Shit. It was plain murder. I had to kill a man. Real or fiction, but I had to commit murder and that took away my breath.

"What's wrong?" I heard Itachi ask and shook my head vigorously. I can't let him know.

"Nothing," I replied in a whisper and continued down the corridor, my heart even heavier than before, only one word in my mind.

Murder.