I'm back! Sorry about the wait! Thank you to Azura Soul Reaver, GaarasMyBoyss, Itachi's-Okami-Nariko, and gaaraofthefunk13 for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

Chapter 21~

The only thought running through the fleeting Kunoichi's mind was to get the hell out of the area. She had accidentally stumbled upon a camp of rogue Ninjas on her way back to the hideout. She blamed her horrible sense of direction.

And the news she had received when she visited a doctor in the village she was just in. Just a moment ago, she had been so delirious with happiness and excitement, that she didn't pay attention to where she was going.

Which led her to her to this predicament.

Currently, Mitsuki had… she couldn't even keep track of the multiple numbers of Shinobi that were chasing after her. 'I'm so dead…'

Adrenaline was pumping through her, coursing throughout her whole body, and thankfully it made her run faster. She could barely hear their rude yells now, something she was insanely grateful for. But it didn't mean they weren't still after her.

Mitsuki tried to strategize a plan, but all she came up with was to continue running till she lost them. She had already determined that it would be a lost fight if she tried to face them in combat – there was just one of her and too many of them; it was common sense.

So, she was going to keep running… Sadly, she didn't have the best stamina. Even with the three years that had passed since she was a Genin, her stamina was still her weakness. She knew, sooner or later, she would run out of energy, but at the moment she tried not to think about it.

'I'm so dead…'

A mile later, Mitsuki almost collapsed in dread when she saw someone heading towards her. At first she thought it was another enemy, and she drew her katana to just defend herself if needed, but continue her path forward.

Mitsuki could have fallen to her knees in relief when the shadow of the stranger passed her entirely to attack the men behind her.

She would have too, but she figured if the person was kind enough to save her, she would have to return the favor. With a quick launch off of a tree trunk, she charged in the opposite direction to help her savior.

The pursuers' expressions were almost comical, for none of them expected the sudden attack. Mitsuki handled all the men that came after her, but she didn't fail to notice that the stranger helped her out. She took out her last man with a well aimed kick to the head – it didn't seem necessary to kill him since he wasn't that much of a treat, similar to a few others. But of course she ended a few lives, not that it delighted her or anything.

With a tired sigh, she sheathed her katana while turning to finally take a look at the Shinobi that saved her life.

Somehow, a small part of her already knew who it was.

"Sasuke," Mitsuki greeted with a warm smile. It was so easy to forget that just less than a month ago Sasuke threatened Itachi… In fact, she did.

"Mitsuki," A tiny smile curled his lips without Sasuke realizing. He walked up to her, noticing how her hands were on her hips and her shoulders were slightly hunched in exhaustion. "You okay?"

"Tired," She dismissed with a small grimace, "Kind of makes me feel unfit."

"You look perfect." Sasuke complemented, and hid his annoyance and jealousy when he saw it had no effect on her. 'Does she truly love Itachi…?'

"Thanks," Mitsuki smiled lightly, unaware of the Uchiha's intentions. She raised a fine brow when he stopped right in front of her, the dark look in his eyes tipping her off. "Sasuke?" She asked curiously. She held her ground when he lifted a hand and tucked strands of her hair behind her ear.

"Mitsuki…" Sasuke whispered softly, emotion dripping off her name.

"Sasuke," Mitsuki sighed solemnly, because the way he said her name was the same as how Itachi said it.

Sasuke knew what she was going to say, and it would have been too much for him. To hear that she no longer loved him, that she could never be with him. His heart ached for her, his unrequited love stinging the deepest part of him. "I'm sorry." He whispered before she could finish what she had to say.

"What-?" Mitsuki's eyes went wide – she read what he was planning to do through his eyes. She took a retreating step backwards, ready to sprint for it, but she never made it that far.

Sasuke caught her before she could run, and he knocked her unconscious with a quick blow to the back of her neck. She fell into his arms, and he stared at the top of her raven haired head for a moment as guilt came over him. His arms tightened around her, and he held her tenderly as he buried his face in her silk locks.

"I love you, Mitsuki." He whispered to no one. "Please understand."

~O~O~

"Mitsuki?" He pushed the door opened, but was greeted with an empty room. Itachi tried not to let his emotions consume him just yet as he turned around and continued to search the hideout for his lover. She hadn't been waiting him at the usual spot, and he was hoping it was because she had lost track of time.

A few minutes later, Itachi was still empty handed, and he was starting to feel as if he his worries were drowning him. When he crossed paths with Deidara, he immediately questioned, "Where's Mitsuki?"

"She's been gone the whole day on a mission, yeah." The blonde answered quickly, shying away from the intense look in the Uchiha's eyes.

Without responding back, Itachi turned shiftily and headed in the direction of the Leader's office with plans to search for her.

'Please be okay, Mitsuki…'

~O~O~

"Will she be in pain?" Sasuke asked as unemotionally as he could, but it was obvious he cared for the unconscious Kunoichi laying on top of the steel table.

"She won't remember any of it when she wakes up." Orochimaru dismissed. He performed a series of hand signs, and a dark green chakra surrounded his right hand. He placed the hand on the girl's forehead and watched as the chakra drifted down his hand and seeped into her skin.

Sasuke stood beside the table, his hand entwined with one of hers. His eyes narrowed when he saw the small signs of discomfort and pain cross her face while the chakra continued to pour into her. "What are you doing?" The Uchiha questioned suddenly, seeing Orochimaru bend down over Mitsuki with his hand still placed on her forehead.

The snake smirked, but didn't give a response. Before Sasuke could interfere, Orochimaru opened his mouth wide, and sunk his fangs into the girl's soft neck.

Mitsuki awoke with a scream.

OoOoO

Two days.

That was how long Sasuke had been sitting by her bed and watching as her body twisted and convulsed in pain as the curse seal settled in.

When he saw Orochimaru sink his fangs in his Mitsuki's neck, Sasuke's vision was immediately clouded in red. Never had he had as strong of a desire to end the man's life then at that moment. But what he hated, and what would probably haunt him, was that he had to watch and listen to her screams, unable to stop the S-Nin because he didn't want Mitsuki to get hurt.

He remembered, as soon as Orochimaru had pulled away from her quivering body, he had him by the neck. Through clenched teeth, Sasuke threatened the snake, but the creature only smirked and whispered, "You said you'd do anything."

Sasuke ran his hands over his face, burying the memory to the furthest part of his mind. He glanced down at the unconscious Kunoichi, before standing to re-soak the towel on her forehead. He took a seat beside her on the bed when he was done, his eyes glued to her pale face.

"Mitsuki," Sasuke whispered, hoping that maybe, just maybe, she could hear him. "Please, wake up."

OoOoO

The three days following Mitsuki's disappearance, Itachi refused to accept any missions. Which no one was surprised about – what surprised them was that the Leader actually allowed this. Who would have thought?

Amongst the members of the Akatsuki, Mitsuki was seen as the baby of the group, since she was the newest and youngest member. Therefore, the others were somewhat protective of her, even though they didn't show it. Whenever they were free, or while on a mission, they were searching for any signs of her or Orochimaru.

The one thing that pissed Itachi off was that Sasuke had planned it out perfectly; because through it all, Itachi was suffering.

Mitsuki was his light. She was the one, and only thing that brought him emotions other than hate, and pain caused by the cruel life as a Shinobi. Life looked dull and bleak to him now, almost not worth living.

Happiness, laughter, love… It was all because of Mitsuki

He had been given a taste of heaven in the form of an angel and he didn't want it to end. He didn't want her to leave him – ever. Most of all, he didn't – couldn't lose her.

Itachi had never felt so alone without Mitsuki by his side. It was hard for him to fall asleep knowing she wasn't with him, and to dream of her only to wake up in despair when he realized she wasn't there. It was for that reason why he hadn't received enough sleep in the past few days; instead he focused all his energy and time in looking for her.

Itachi wasn't going to give up, no matter how long it was going to take him. There was just no way he as going to lose his one love.

~O~O~

Sasuke was out of his chair, and kneeling beside her as soon as he saw her body move. "Mitsuki," He whispered, his hand cupping the side of her face and bringing her eyes to meet his. He smiled - a relieved, loving smile.

But the girl showed no signs of recognition, not by the sight of him, or even by her own name. "Who are you?" She asked, her throat hoarse.

Sasuke tried not the let his disappoint or hurt show, but if it had been the true Mitsuki, she would have still seen it in his eyes. "My name's Uchiha Sasuke."

"Sasuke…" She repeated, testing the name on her tongue. Her eyes narrowed at him, and Sasuke wondered if she remembered. Then she asked in a softer, more curious voice, "Do I… know you?"

"Yeah, you do." Staring deep into her dark brown orbs, Sasuke said, "We're lovers."

Please review! I want to hear you thoughts! ~OtakuSoul