AN: It's ALIVE! ALIVE I SAY! I'll apologize for the uh... long wait... I'm ready to finish this off to move on to new exciting (cough cough, Sarada) projects! ENJOY! More to come soon... sooner than you'd expect...

EDIT: lovely waifutaku you have your pm's disabled so I'll thank you here for your AWESOME review. It means so so much to me, and honestly gave me a spurt of energy to get off my lazy butt and keep writing. So thank you thank you! Also, thanks to everyone's who has stuck around for this story and for everyone who has reviewed, liked or followed (or the holy trinity of all three!). You guys keep me writing. 3

25

Riversides and Books

Part I

Making Memories of Us - Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Maria's eyes narrowed. "There's something you're not telling me."

Itachi ignored the girl and continued his dedicated trot that would take him far from the stares of the many cautious villagers. Once they had gone farther into the village every single civilian had stopped to stare, completely stupidity, at Itachi. He knew they would, but had found it rather difficult to say no to Maria's proposal for dinner. Although, her preference for a restaurant meal, among civilians, was a little too much.

"Itachi-san," she said, casting a knowing glance around to the villagers, "you shouldn't let them get to you, they'll come around eventually."

"Hn." Itachi picked up his pace, now wanting to be far away from this girl who could understand him in a mere second. It was unnerving.

She followed him silently for a few moments. Soon the leering crowds thinned and they came across a small beaten down path leading into the forest. "Ah!" she suddenly exclaimed, stopping at the opening. "I have an idea."

Itachi looked behind him slightly and saw a sly smile creep onto the girls face. He rose an eyebrow, but said nothing. She turned into the path and beckoned him to follow. Itachi watched her looking around, very intently, at her surroundings. She held a scrutinizing gaze, and would sometimes mutter things to herself.

"No good... need flat ground... close to a river..." she mumbled, holding a hand up to her chin in contemplation.

"I know of a river close to here." Itachi said, slightly interested in what she had in mind.

Maria looked to him, smiled widely, and stepped to the side of the path. "Lead the way."

The river Itachi spoke of was indeed close. In a few short moments, after ducking behind a rather large tree, the pair came out of the tree line onto a pebbled shore. The shore was wide with enough room to move around comfortably. Maria stood with her hands on her hips staring down the calm river before nodding her head in acceptance. "This will do just fine."

Itachi sat down on the shore, folding his legs underneath him. "Whatever you have in mind, we will have to be quick. Night will soon be here."

Maria laughed. "I'm sure you've eaten under the stars before, It's not that scary," she looked down to him with a glint in her eyes, "don't worry, I'll protect you."

Itachi couldn't help his smirk. "You'd be surprised at the places I've eaten."

Maria hummed. "Ninja stories, huh? I'm not too sure I'd want to hear them, or that you'd want to tell them."

Itachi suddenly didn't know how to respond. He watched the girl as she stood and began wandering around the shore line, picking up sticks, examining them, setting them down again.

Instead of badgering him with naive beggings of his purposefully forgotten war stories; stories consisting nothing but pain, blood, loss, the stories previous love pursuers would often ask for... she easily accepted his reluctance.

It took her a few moments to find three satisfactory sticks; one large and flat, another round and long, and the last long and slightly curved like a bow. She tucked the sticks under her armpit and turned, heading into the forest. Itachi kept his eyes on the exact spot she had entered the bush and listened intently for any sounds she was making.

A few moments later she emerged, holding three pieces of vine and some smaller twigs and dry moss. She smiled when she caught Itachi's eye as she walked over to him. She sat down in front of the man, laying out her gathered items.

"What are you planning?" Itachi asked, eyeing the materials she had brought over.

She smirked while picking up the vine. "I'm making a fire." She began braiding the three pieces together.

Without hesitation Itachi picked up a twig she had brought over and with an easy hand sign he blew a small breath of fire, lighting the stick.

She paused her braiding and scowled. "No need to show off." She said.

"There's no purpose for you to go through that trouble," Itachi said as he reached for the pile of tinder to feed the flame, "I can easily make a fire."

She reached out quickly and grabbed his hand. An unnerving feeling shot through Itachi's stomach as her hand tightened around his. "Believe it or not, I actually like doing stuff like this." she said, then released his hand far too quickly, a sudden awkward realization dawning on her face. Itachi wondered if she was thinking about the last time she had grabbed his hand, when the sky was lit with fireworks and they stood atop of the world.

She smiled and began braiding the vines again, "you could make some torches so we're not in total darkness though..."

Itachi rose without a sound and left to gather wood and other materials for the torches. It didn't take him too long, and soon there were two long torches made. He brought them back to their 'camp' and placed them on each side of their sitting area. With a hand sign he blew fire and lit them, cutting through the darkness and basking them with a warm glow.

Maria's eyes never left the device she was building. It was the most concentration Itachi had ever seen in the normally lax girl. As her hands flew with accuracy and delicacy, securing the twine and widdling a small hole in the large piece of wood, he realized it was not her first time making the device. The warm orange slight glow barely drifted over her features, which were held tight in concentration.

Itachi kept himself still and silent as he watched her work. After a few minutes she leaned back and inhaled deeply. She leaned forward onto her knees, and placed some tinder on the large piece of wood that laid horizontal on the ground. She took the thin curved wood that held the twine in the form of a bow and arrow, then placed the other long stick inside and twisted the 'bow' so that the twine wrapped around the long stick. She placed the long stick vertical on the big piece of wood, picked up a rock and placed it on top of the long stick, holding it firmly in place.

"This is called a bow drill," she met Itachi's gaze. "It's used to start friction fires."

Itachi nodded, watching the tool carefully. The village taught something similar in the academy for nin's without fire jutsu's. Itachi never had to learn.

Without further explanation, Maria moved her hand and held the sideways stick, then begin to pump it back and forth, allowing the vertical stick to grind into the bottom piece of wood. "My father taught me all sorts of survival tactics, he said that since I spent so much time in the forest it was best to know some things." As time moved on, Maria moved the stick faster, but still no flames erupt.

Then, a single pillar of smoke arose. Faint as a whisper, but floated into the dark sky steadily.

Maria put down her sticks carefully, then picked up the ember filled ball of tinder with her fingertips. Her lips puckered and she blew gently, sparks erupting from the other side.

Itachi shifted.

She placed the ball of embers carefully into the middle of a previously made fire pit. Her eyes darted over the embers, making sure there was just enough. She began layering small twigs over it, blowing in between her graceful movements.

A fire was born. The flames grew small, but licked the sky in the only way a beautifully tended fire could. The girl sat back slowly, her hands red with irritation from the heat. The warm orange glow surrounded her face, dulling her vibrant eyes to a sombre dark green. Itachi caught sight of flecks of gold that dotted around her iris. Suddenly her face dropped, then those very same eyes flashed to him aggravated.

"You always do that." She scoffed.

"Do what?"

"Sometimes you act like I'm not even in the same room as you... But occasionally it's like I'm the only person you can see. You look at me so... intensely."

Itachi became very still. Words escaped his mind.

"Well?" She pressed.

"Sometimes you become entrancing." Itachi said carefully.

Maria blinked a few times, the aggravation melting from her face. "What?" she muttered.

"At times you're eyes take on a different light. They become solid and unmoving, strong and formidable." He paused, realizing that wasn't exactly right. "Or, they directly reflect your soul. When you're angry or sad, pleased or excited, they shine with a light previously not there. But now they shine differently. There is more hardness there. Yet it's not a hardness born from blood and war."

The fire sputtered sending embers flying into the air, and that was all he had to see her by. At her back was the dark night with the clear stars glittering high in the heavens. No emotions crossed her face.

Itachi shifted, leaning back on one hand, propping his knee up and casually draped his arm across his raised leg. Itachi inhaled slowly and took in his surroundings. What they were doing reminded him of days spent riverside with Kisame. These days he had better company. "Tomorrow I will give you a test." He said.

Maria's eyes widened.

"I need to know that it is worth my time training you, as this training will be extremely strenuous. I need to determine your will power."

Maria almost looked hesitant. "I won't lie, that makes me nervous, but I'm down."

"It will be the hardest physical work you've ever done." Itachi warned, watching her facial expressions closely.

Her face remained the same. "Nothing will change if I don't try."

Itachi raised his eye brow. "Oh?"

She nodded. "If I stay on the path I am now I'll only end up hating myself. I have to change."

"And getting stronger will accomplish that?"

Maria chuckled. "I don't know how strong I'll get... but every bit of progress will help me." She looked up to the sky with a far away gaze, but Itachi saw her eyes focus in on something. A suprised look formed on her face. "That's a pretty big bird." she said.

Part II

Human or Not - Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Itachi looked up. It took only a seconds glimpse of the gigantic white mass to know who it was. He stood and grabbed Maria, pulling her into the wood cover and pressed her against a trunk with his body. "Don't move." he whispered, activating his sharingan, his eyes aimed through a break in the foliage.

Maria was frozen against the tree. "What is it? What's wrong?"

The bird drifted over head, as silent as the night itself. He hadn't expected them to make a move so quickly. Were they going to attack the village, or did the send Deidara out to make a preliminary scout? Was the masked man here? What about Leader? Itachi clenched his hand into a fist. He was unprepared.

"Itachi-san," Maria harshly whispered. Her hand laid on top his chest. His heart thudded. "Please... tell me what's going on."

Itachi rose his own hand and grasped hers. He moved it off of himself. "We may be in danger." He said.

Maria's eyes widened. "Danger? Because of that bird?"

Before Itachi could respond, a presence behind them suddenly appeared. He spun around, tomoe's in his eyes spinning. In front of them stood three Anbu. Itachi stayed tense.

"Uchiha and girl, we will hold back the enemies. You are required to go to the Hokage's tower immediately." One spoke, facial expression hidden behind an owl mask.

Itachi didn't move or speak.

"Itachi Uchiha, these are your orders. If you refuse to follow them we will take that as terrorism," The Anbu laid a hand on his weapon pouch. "...and act accordingly."

"Of course." Itachi said, reaching behind himself and gently grabbing Maria's forearm. She let him lead her out and around him. Her green gaze focused intently on the Anbu, then flicked back towards Itachi. He held her gaze for a few moments. "I'm going to pick you up." He said, hooking his arms underneath her knees and placing an arm around her shoulders.

She didn't move or speak as he lifted her effortlessly. He returned his stare to the Anbu in front of them. "We'll be on our way." he said, pushing chakra to his feet and leaping off the ground.

He landed on a tree branch above, but didn't pause. He moved them quickly through the forest, keeping his Sharingan activated, even though it was beginning to irritate his eyes. Maria watched him closly. "Will they be okay?" she asked.

Itachi looked down to her, but didn't respond. "If they are strong enough."

She broke eye contact and looked to her hands that laid in her lap. "Right."

Itachi looked back up. The forest was reaching it's end now. A red roof stood just beyond a branch, close enough that Itachi would be able to reach it. He stepped to the branch then leaped to the roof.

A presence.

He skidded to a stop, eyeing the other side of the roof where a black figure stood. A black cloak hung loosly, and a straw hat hid the strangers face. An Akatsuki member.

Maria strained to see through the darkness. "Who...who is it?" she whispered.

"I'm not sure." Itachi responded, cautiously lowering Maria down and pulling her behind him. He crouching into a tensed and battle-ready stance.

The figure reached up and removed the hat.

A familiar face greeted them. Maria gasped while Itachi's eyes narrowed.

"It's... you?" Maria whispered, looking up to Itachi then to the man who had the exact same face, only younger features.

"You believe this is wise?" Itachi asked his younger version, ignoring Maria. "Neither of us has any idea what will happen if we interact with each other,"

"True, however I cannot allow you to destroy all that I..." he took a step forward. "...all that we have done."

"Abandoning Sasuke?" Maria asked quietly. "Keeping the truth from him?"

The younger Itachi flicked his eyes towards Maria. "Do not speak of things you have no place in."

She sucked in a breath. "Sasuke forgave you, you know?"

"Do not make me repeat myself."

The whole situation was confusing and nauseating. I could barely handle one Itachi, let alone two. And the younger one was... different. He was colder, much like Itachi when I first met him. But they were still the same person.

"You don't have to fight alone." I said louder, searching for any emotion in his red eyes. "You've been pardoned by the village, so why not come home? You can be a good older brother to Sasuke. You can be with him!"

If my rant effected him, he didn't show it.

"Maria, stay close to me, but keep yourself out of the crossfire." Itachi said.

"Please be careful..." I whispered.

I vaguely caught sight of his disappearance, before I could blink the two had clashed in mid air, kunais clanging together. I crouched low and began to think. Was there anything I could even do? I would probably just get in the way if I tried. The best thing I could do was to stay calm.

They blurred in and out of sight, each time in a different spot. I gulped, looking around at my surroundings. The Hokage Tower was only a few buildings away, but there was no way I would be able to get to it. The building I was on was high off the ground, no doubt at least a few bones would be broken if I tried jumping down.

I blinked. What about the Anbu that were supposedly watching us? What the hell happened to them? Were they dead?

"Maria, duck!"

I threw myself to the roof, barely missing a kunai to the throat. "Shit, shit, shit..." I whispered, clutching the tiles.

Someone would come. They had to.

But who?

I gulped. It might not be a good person. What if it was the masked man? There was no way I could get away from him if he appeared now.

"Stupid Anbu!" I growled, raising onto my knees.

They were testing him. Sixteen high ranking Anbu had them surrounded, each hidden nearly to perfection.

Itachi blocked an elbow to his head. Since they were both Genjutsu users and could dispel any easily, this fight was focusing on Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu. Neither Itachi wanted to bring attention to their fight, so while deadly, it was silent.

The sprang away from each other, landing a few feet away.

The older Itachi had an advantage. He knew exactly the fighting style his younger self would use, how powerful his attacks would be, and could predict what attacks he would use.

"This is pointless." Older Itachi spoke.

Younger Itachi did not falter.

"The girl is right. You can be absolved from your sins. The village will take you back. Sasuke... while he hasn't quite forgiven us, he is on the path."

The younger Itachi hesitated, and that's all it took. 7 Anbu appeared out of thin air, each with a finger on vital points of the younger Itachi.

He looked at older Itachi once more, then disappeared into thin air.

"A Genjutsu." Itachi said quietly. He hadn't caught it, it must have been caste back when his guard was down.

The Anbu turned to each other and made a few orders. Five left the group to scatter and check the area. The remaining two nodded to each other and approached Itachi and Maria. "We will accompany you." one said.

Itachi nodded and turned to Maria. She stood tensely, panting slightly. "Let's just get out of here." she whispered, looking to the ground. Itachi approached her and picked her up again. He turned back to the two Anbu.

"Let's go." he said, and they all jumped from the roof.

They wasted no time getting to the Hokage's tower. Maria spent the ride clutching at Itachi's chest, silent, but with a focused expression.

The night had completely descended. Street lamps lit the sparsely filled streets, but the nin stayed far away from any source of light. They traveled under complete darkness, aided by a Genjutsu cast by Itachi. Leaves fell slowly from trees, Autumn breezes gusted past them. They bounded across roofs, leaping across gaps that would make a civilians head spin.

They arrived at the entrance to the tower. "Straight to the Hokage's office." One of the Anbu said, moving aside so Maria and Itachi could get past.

Itachi nodded, and set Maria down. Her hand left his chest and he almost followed it, strangely missing its warmth and comfort.

"Let's go." Maria said, not waiting for Itachi as she set off into a dedicated stride.

Kakashi sighed. Tsunade tightened her scowl.

"How many have infiltrated?" she asked, eyeing Kakashi.

Kakashi ignored her drunken blush and scratched the back of his head. "The reports so far have said two, but there could be more." he said. "The ones we know of are Deidara, and uh... other Itachi."

Tsunade nodded. "From Itachi's information we know they work in teams. Itachi and Deidara never worked together, so we can assume both of their actual teammates are here as well." Tsunade turned in her chair to face the window. "Where is Itachi and Maria? Are they secure?"

"It seems they're here." Kakashi responded, having turned to see the two in the doorway.

Maria held an intense expression, and stood in front of Itachi. "What's going on? Is the village safe?" she asked, walking up to Tsunade's desk.

Tsunade nodded. "I have no reports of injuries. It seems they are doing a preliminary scout, based on who they've sent."

Itachi nodded. "I came to face the other 'me' earlier, but the battle was short and 'I' didn't seem to put much effort in."

Tsunade sighed. "That makes me feel a little better. You two will stay here the night, just in case. Stay in the Jonin bunk area, Itachi I'm sure you remember where that is."

Itachi nodded then turned to leave.

"Kakashi, you stay with them tonight. Keep watch. I'll call you if I need you."

Kakashi nodded and joined the two in leaving. Just as the door was shutting he swore he heard the sound of a bottle being opened, and Tsunade's murmmers of a "damned unlucky" village, and how it was "too much work".

Part III

Tending to Others - Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

Maria walked slightly behind Itachi and Kakashi. Kakashi looked over his shoulder to her, surprised to see a blank expression. "Something wrong, Maria?" he asked, watching her shoulders tense.

"Sorry, it's nothing. I'm just a bit worried." she brushed him off, smiling slightly.

Itachi cast a quick glance back to her, but looked forward almost instantly and picked up the pace. Kakashi blinked. There was something going on between the two. An odd tension had formed between them. It almost reminded him of...

Kakashi smirked.

They continued walking and reached the barracks, entering a medium sized room with two bunk-beds.

"I'll take this one," Kakashi said, sitting down while reaching behind his head, beginning to take off his headband.

Itachi climbed the small ladder to the bunk on top Kakashi's. Maria looked at them cautiously and sat on the lower bed across from them.

"Goodnight everyone." Kakashi said, taking off his vest then pulling the covers over his body.

Itachi blinked, impressed by the casualness Kakashi displayed. For someone who's village was possibly being invaded, he was incredibly calm. He glanced to Maria, who was carefully getting under the covers, watching Kakashi. Kakashi was putting on a calm face to keep her feeling safe.

Itachi followed both of them, also getting under his covers and beginning to try and search for sleep. It eluded him.

An hour had passed when Maria let out a light snore. She had fallen into a deep sleep. For some reason that calmed Itachi.

The calmness vanished when a hand appeared on the side of his bed, clutching his mattress. Kakashi's head rose into view. He pointed to Maria then brought a finger to his mouth to say "shush". Itachi nodded, confused and slightly worried.

Kakashi's other hand rose holding an orange book. He placed the book on Itachi's mattress, sliding it towards him as if it were a top secret document. Itachi looked back from the book to Kakashi.

With the faintest whisper he began to speak. "It's of utmost importance you read this. It will help with your problems with..." He pointed to Maria again.

Itachi rose an eyebrow, but before he could respond Kakashi had vanished back into his lower bed. Itachi eyed the book.

Come Come Paradise. An odd title.

What problems did he and Maria have? He wasn't sure. But Kakashi was wise, and could probably see something Itachi couldn't. It wouldn't hurt to read a little of it, it might even help put him to sleep.

It did not help him sleep.

Itachi finished the first chapter, feeling oddly dirty. He coughed and put down the book as if it was too bright to look at anymore. What the hell kind of issues did Kakashi see? Did Maria want Itachi to do the things to her that the females in the book had?

"He lifts the dress and his hands are in my panties describing the curve from my waist down to back of my thighs. When he gets between my legs I'm electrified. I'm lost as he turns me and I bend over with my arms out over the old washing machine..."

Itachi coughed once more. No. He mustn't think like that. He wouldn't do those kind of things to Maria.

He looked down to her. She had twisted the covers off, her shirt rode up showing her bellybutton. Her shirt slipped down over her shoulder, taking her bra strap with it. Itachi immediately looked away. He wouldn't do those things to Maria.

Well, unless she wanted them.

Itachi shook his head, closing the book and tossing it down under his bunk, where it landed on Kakashi's stomach. What a dirty old man. Itachi would read no more.

He laid down and shut his eyes. He waited 5, 10, then 15 minutes until he opened them again, leaned over the side of the bed and picked up the book.