Author's note: Oh baby, it's getting good! This is so heartwarming, and yet so sad in the end.

(No spoilers) :-x Let's just say, I'm a cruel author that's gonna try to get those black roses red. Itachi's gotta help me out though and it takes a lot of motivation to work with him -/_\- so I'll hope you'll enjoy this chapter.

Chapter's song: "All around me" by Flyleaf

Chapter 21
Never say die

The man turned his gaze to the door that had been kicked in— and there stood Uchiha Itachi with his crimson glower. "He's an Uchiha… kill him!"

The five ninja charged, Itachi staying calm to the coming men. Smack-Smack-Smack-Smack-Smack! Akina heard the beatings, trying to lift her peering green gaze. The onyx eyed masked man helped his one comrade up off the floor, ordering to the one who had cut Akina. "We retreat! We've done what we could."

They all then vanished into the dark night, white petals on the wind. Itachi brought his slightly scared Sharingan to Akina, to deactivated his kekkei genkai as he went to her aid. "Ita— HACK…" Akina mewed bravely while Itachi played with the lock to try and release her.

Why did she have to be practically nude? She was pinned high up as he stretched up, fiddling with the lock. Her clothes were draping from her revealing much, but only to reveal drying blood against the exposed pale skin. Once Itachi did the last lock, Akina fall limply forward from the wall, as she fell down into Itachi's hold. "I've got you." Itachi soothed to Akina relaxing in his arms as he held her up bridal style.

Akina was barely conscious, looking up into his onyx eyes that were of no comparison to the evil ones she had faced tonight. Itachi's were gentle and comforting and the ones Akina wished she could keep smiling at, but she slipped into her swoon instead. She tucked her features into his chest, snuggling to get in one final breath. "Hey… I'm a kunoichi, not a damsel."

Itachi smiled, that reminded him how strong she was. She'll be all right.

"Akina!" Benjiro yelled, coming belting through the door to Itachi as he held her small limp body. "Is she all right…? I'll never forgive myself."

The Uchiha looked down at her peaceful face that looked like a precious angel sleeping, tucked to the fabric of his shirt. "She's holding on, but let's get her some medical—"

"We can't bring her to the hospital… they can't know of this. It needs to stay under the table."

Itachi gave a half-nod, understanding what he meant. "Let's bring her back to my place."

"And what will that do for her?" Benjiro snapped untrustingly.

"My mother can help." Itachi simply stated not going into detail as he kept his gaze on Akina.

"No offence, but we can't let the Uchiha get word of this either."

Itachi raised an ugly gaze to the Mochizuki man. "Do you want her to die? I know I don't…" He'd say trying to remain calm, feeling that Akina wasn't breathing— she had slipped into that same "coma" or "death state" that she always woke from, making Itachi wonder. But he could only move onto wonder if she would survive this time or remain permanently in the state she was in.

Benjiro silenced himself to Itachi walking out, the boy talking to no one in particular. "My father's on a mission as of now and I trust in my mother not to need an explanation to save someone's life."

The Mochizuki man agreed, yet remaining standing in the leaky room. "Very well… you go ahead, I'll catch up later."

Uchiha Manor
"Mother!" Itachi called sternly as he entered the kitchen while Mikoto did the dishes, she glanced over her shoulder. "Yes Itachi, what is—" she then dropped the plate, seeing Akina's bloody abused body. Mikoto didn't even fret about the broken china, rushing to Akina in her son's arms. "What happened?" Mikoto asked in a breath.

"Could you patch her up… please mother."

"Bring her up stairs… I'll get what I need."

Itachi did as his mother said. He'd pass Sasuke's room, to the younger brother peeping out his door. "Itachi— whoa! What you do to her?"

Itachi stayed placid to his four-year-old brother. "I didn't do this." Itachi simply respond continuing to his own room to lay Akina down on the floor. Sasuke stood in his older brother's doorway. "Is mom going to fix her up?"

"Going to try." Mikoto addressed as she patted Sasuke on the head before proceeding to Akina's side. Itachi scooted to sit above Akina's head, supporting it down in his lap— green eyes wincing, fluttering foggily open. Mikoto smiled in relief as Akina looked at her uneasy. "Just relax, sweetie… you're in good hands. Can you lend me your arm?"

Akina tried lifting her hand, allowing Mikoto to pick it up the rest of the way. She then started cleaning her wounds, and to Itachi's slight surprise, his mother pulled back her kimono blouse. Leaving Akina just in her bra, still remaining on her shoulders but open in the front as Mikoto cleaned the wound in her chest. Itachi felt slightly cheeky watching, but he couldn't look away. He did look away to Akina's face once she winced when Mikoto began sewing the wound. Akina raised her arm up to grasp Itachi's thigh tightly to the equivalence of the pain— the boy taking her nails away from digging into his left leg, to hold her hand in his. Akina opened her eyes to their normal wideness as she leaned her head back in his lap to look up at his face, for his action. Itachi gave a forced sheepish smile, Akina felt so embarrassed and not because she was just in her bra. That was her least concern. "Itachi…" Akina sadly said as she took her gaze shamefully off him. "I—"

Itachi closed his eyes, smirking sadly. "Shut up…" Mikoto looked to her son, his soft voice and sharp words. Mikoto then went back to her work— slipping the needle into Akina's leg— grinding her teeth, to only feel Itachi's grip in her hand tighten for her. "I— t-thank you, my friend."

The boy was filled with slight surprise. Friend? Itachi asked himself, just to force another soft smile.

But Mikoto informed, "Alright… last stitch." Akina closed her eyes, Itachi doing the same. To re-open them after Mikoto was finished sewing the open skin together. "All done… you should be all right now."

Akina was very grateful to this lady, Itachi's mother. "T-thank you… you're too kind."

The Uchiha woman chuckled. "There's no such thing as being too kind… you can stay here for the night. You really should get some rest. We don't need those stitches reopening." Mikoto started out of the room, taking her youngest son with her. Akina taking a tiring breath, letting go of Itachi's hand. This is going to be hard to get out of? Akina asked herself, looking for excuses.

She'd lean up, showing her bare back, her long scar. It's an older one. Where's she'd get that in the past? Itachi asked himself, his onyx eyes roaming up and down her frail back.

Akina caught him staring, glancing over her shoulder. Itachi seen her green eyes and stood immediately; walking to his closet and away from the girl. He rummaged through his clothes, pulling out a red yukata that would be a fresh change for his comrade. Itachi laid the clothing on his bed, glancing over at Akina watching him, the boy going directly to exit his bedroom. "I'll be down stairs… you can change into that for now."

The kunoichi slightly chuckled, blushed even, once the shinobi was gone. Damn…

Itachi walked down the stairs, seeing Benjiro standing at the bottom. "Itachi… I need to talk to you." Said boy didn't answer, just leading the Mochizuki to the porch.

They went and sat on the edge, hanging their feet off the porch side. "I bet you want to know what happen tonight?" Benjiro addressed while sitting down.

"I can't say I'm not curious, Benjiro."

"I know Akina can be distant, but I do want her to tell you herself… but, I need to ask something of you," Benjiro took a pause and a gulp. "can you protect Akina if something ever happens to me?"

Itachi averted his gaze, looking to the stars. "I remember a mission we had… where she said that's she a kunoichi not a damsel, that I couldn't protect her. She just repeated it to me again tonight."

"You protected her tonight and I want to know you'll do it again."

Itachi gave a curt nod. "Of course, you have my word… why wouldn't you be around?"

"Don't tell Akina… at least not until I'm long gone, but I've been banished from the clan for interfering against the head's orders."

"Your own mother banished you?"

"She's done a lot worst to Akina."

"…All those training accidents?"

"Yeah… if you consider slapping your nieces face with her nekote an accident, than yeah." Benjiro then stood, Itachi watching him.

"When do you leave?"

"When Akina falls asleep." Itachi then also stood. "I'm trusting you, Uchiha… try and keep tight tabs on her. She's a handful." Benjiro then leaned against the porch beam. Itachi walking back inside, leaving Benjiro in his thoughts— also now staring at the stars.

Itachi walked down the hall to his room that had the door wide open. Turning the corner to see Sasuke was sat crossed-legged on the floor, in front of the beautiful girl wearing a red yukata. It was Itachi's, so it was a little big for her small body; but she wrapped it tight enough so it could show her developing curves. They both had grown up together, over these past three years and it was the way her long grown black hair fell down the front of the red yukata that complimented each other so beautifully. Itachi seen how gently tempered Akina was being with his chatty little brother. "Sasuke, don't be a bother… let her rest. Shouldn't you be getting ready for bed yourself?"

Sasuke pouted, whining to his older brother. "But I'm not tired—"

"Your big brother's right… I'll teach you that jutsu other time, okay?" Akina convinced, giving a mischievous wink to the wide-eyed boy.

The little Uchiha let the pouty look leave his face slowly as it grew into an accepting grin to jog out of the room. "Alright, night, Akina… night, big brother"

Itachi went over and knelt down in front of Akina, where Sasuke had sat before. "I hope he wasn't bothering you?"

"Not at all, he's sweet… wonder where he picked that up?" Akina teased as she implied it to Itachi. She really wanted to make him blush, but Itachi stayed straight-faced. He's not the same boy I graduated the academy with. Akina smiled, just continuing, "I enjoyed his company— cough!" Akina meekly hacked into her fist, bending her head down to hide it, but Itachi place his hand on her back.

"Hey, go easy… you need to calm down." Akina looked up to the kind man that saved her tonight. Green eyes meeting jeweled onyx ones— Itachi only to stand, going to his closet once again. "…I'll take the floor."

Akina then argued in her smooth tone, watching him rummage for a sleeping bag. "I couldn't… I can take the—"

Itachi argued in a smile. "You need to heal… I'm fine." He then rolled out a thin mattress on the floor. Akina struggle to stand— Itachi noticing this and starting over to her. "Need some—"

"You've helped enough already." She'd joke, standing straight, forcing herself not to fall as she made it safely to the bed. They coulda at least gave me some anesthetics. Itachi seen through her brave act, but broke from his staring to listen to her voice. "Are you sure?" Akina seriously asked as she plopped back to the bed.

Itachi nodded sincerely, lying down on the mattress he rolled out. Akina took down the sheets of the made bed, feeling eyes on her, looking back at Itachi that watched her intensively. She knew he was remembering her scar he had seen, even though he couldn't see it now— the yukata fabric covering her back. But Akina got an idea to jokingly break the ice and his staring. "Can those Sharingan eyes see through clothing?"

The boy snapped out of his trance, eyes being sucked back in embarrassment to her comment at this moment. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"

"It's all right." Itachi never seen Akina be this serene, her getting into his bed. "I got that scar from the nine-tails." Itachi looked amazed to two things— that Akina was telling him this and that she was still alive after being hit by that fox demon. She still wasn't telling him something of how she could survive fatal blows to her? "Night…" came Akina's smooth voice as Itachi then closed his eyes, having Akina turn off the lights with her telekinesis.

"Goodnight, Akina." He'd mew, tiredly.

"And Itachi…"

"Hm?"

"Thank you… thank you so much."

"…It's all right, Akina."