Author's note: So, I don't think I've mentioned how I named this story. Well, the "Akina Chronicles" kinda explains itself, don't it? And as for the Crimson & Clover… u also should know that was a song by Tommy James and the Shondells/it was also sung by Joan Jett. I mainly just like how it sounds. Rolls off the tongue and Crimson (Itachi's Sharingan) Clover (Akina's plant/rose jutsu) Got it? Good.

Oh wait, there's a stupid scene in here, but I find it truthful and funny. What's the most awkward and awful thing that can happen when you kiss? Braces get caught together. Now I've never had braces and that's probably why I find it funny… ^_^ anyway, Akina nor (yes I just used nor) Itachi have braces either, so start thinking of what's gonna happen?

Chapter's song: "True Faith" by Anberlin


Chapter 28
Change me for better or worst

Uchiha Police Force
"You want me to what?" Shisui snarl, hearing his fellow clan members all too well.

"It's been three months since his entrance in ANBU… you're the closest person to Itachi." One of the Uchiha men spat, keening his eyes, just waiting to turn his Sharingan on.

"You want me to spy on him?"

"When was the last time you've seen him?"

"Not in a while… with his missions, but Itachi's—"

"Acting strange… we got to make sure his intentions for the clan are still loyal. You're the most loyal clansmen of us all. If you can do this job for us… we can guarantee a high ranking in the force." Shisui's eyes went wide and then back down as they looked out at nothing in the corners of his eyes, before closing them and agreeing with a soft forced nod.

Mochizuki Stable and Laboratory
Akina and Itachi strolled the paths of the rose arches overhead. Horses out in the field and the lab to their east— the greenhouse filled with herbs. Itachi chuckled when Akina unwrapped her hand locked in his. And then placing her arm through his, laying her head to his shoulder. "Aren't you happy today." He'd mew.

"It's a beautiful day, love… it's your birthday after all, you should be the happy one."

Itachi kissed the crown of her head, lulling in her ear, "I'm blissful, Akina-chan. I have you come to my bedroom window, hearing your beautiful voice ring out from my rooftop. And you sneak me out… you couldn't come to the front door could you?"

Akina chuckled, "That's no fun… besides I thought we were gonna keep this quiet. Your father would be sure to kill you, or me if he found out you're dating a Mochizuki."

Itachi stopped and cupped her beautiful face with both his hands. "He'll do no such thing."

"Oh you're smooth." Akina teased, having Itachi shake his head— she was ruining the mood. "Yes. You. Are… you gonna kiss me?"

"You want me to kiss you?" Itachi teased as he hung his lips next to hers.

"It's your birthday… will it be your wish?" Akina then pressed her lips to his, Itachi keeping the kiss going, caressing her lips in his a gentle take. They became butterflies kisses when Akina began to mutter between them. "Itachi— it pains me— but you— have to— get home— my love."

Itachi stopped his sweet kisses, laying his forehead on hers. "I want to spend my birthday with you."

"I know… but they're gonna start to wonder where you went off to this early."

"We need to start celebrating on the tenth, both our birthdays together."

"Not a bad idea… after this year. My birthday won't be much, just a big fake show. The elder is putting on a big bash for me early that morning."

"I'm not invited 'em I?"

"Haha… afraid not. But you come by afterwards and I'm yours for the rest of the day."

"The whole day?"

"Entire." Akina kissed his tender lips. "Go…" Akina teased when Itachi sneered slightly. "Don't wanna miss your party."

Itachi kissed her lips, muttering close to them, "You're the only gift I need." And after the kiss ended shortly, Itachi then disappeared into the June rose scented breeze. Leaving Akina with a smile and a yearning for another gentle press of his lips.

Meanwhile at the Uchiha Manor
"I'm sorry Shisui… Itachi isn't here at the moment." Mikoto replied, a slight dismay on the mother.

"Where has he gone this early?"

"He left a note saying he'd be back in an hour… though he'll be in trouble when he gets back so he can't train with you or anything, anyway."

"Oh, no-no… just wanted to see him. It's nothing of importance I guess, wish him a happy birthday for me. Good day."

Shisui then walked away when Mikoto closed the door. He made it to the middle of the street when he wondered, Maybe he has been strange… he broke up with Keiko and didn't tell me— he just didn't get the chance, with all his ANBU missions and all. Shisui then had an epiphany. ANBU! Akina! No… still, I wonder if she knows anything? I'll wait till the day after tomorrow. Her birthday, I'll swing by and wish her a happy birthday.

June 11th (Mochizuki entrance hall)
Akina sat beside the elders waiting for this stupid charade to be over with. And to make matters worse she always had to dress for these boring so-called parties. Come on, come on, come on… hurry up and wait already. I'm eleven, big whoop. After this I'm gonna strip down to my shorts and rose tied obi and run off with my hot Uchiha boyfriend. Hah… the elder would probably drop dead right here and now if I said that out loud. Akina was never this much of a complainer, but when she was under pounds of kimono's that were tied too tight to her already too small of body— she felt as if she was going to faint. And the white geisha makeup was just weird feeling on her already pale skin, and red lips that looked as red as blood, it didn't taste very good either. What would Itachi say? The only thing Akina liked about her wardrobe was her headband, that they made her wear around her forehead, instead of pinning it to her obi. It was all so annoying; the lifestyle of the rich wasn't for Akina.

But it all soon ended as she quickly left the entrance hall— Akina pulling her hair down out of the hours of styling. The flowers and pins falling out the rest of the way as she jogged to the Mochizuki gate; where Itachi would be waiting for her.

Mochizuki gate
Akina ran to then see Itachi come in view— hopping in his arms. "Hey!" Itachi addressed happily. "Happy Birthday."

"Now it is." She'd snap mocking.

Itachi then put her down. "What's all this?" He'd ask, gazing over her attire.

"Just the stupid tradition of Mochizuki… you like it don't you?"

Itachi shook his head. "Not really, doesn't matter… you're pretty no matter what you do." Akina then leaned into her smooth boyfriend, as their foreheads met so they could closely stare into each other's eyes. But then— "Well, well?" Came Shisui's voice.

To have Akina jerk her head to Shisui, but still holding her forehead against Itachi's, when— she was stuck. "What the…?" Their headbands were caught onto each other's by a thread or something of the sort. Shisui laughed hysterical to the situation, then watching Akina untie her headband, and then Itachi undo his. He'd jiggle the headbands apart once he got them off. "Shisui?" Said Akina's voice as she approached him.

"Look at you… lovvve the look."

"Huh? You're being sarcastic." Akina frowned.

Shisui chortling, "This is good, seeing a tomboy like you dressed like this."

Akina just scowl, to then have it fade when Itachi came to her side and gently handed her headband over. Shisui watched, saddening to this and then handing Akina an envelope and card, saying, "Don't let me interrupt." Shisui then looked over to Itachi, somewhat in anger and yet again, just full disappointment. The slightly older Uchiha then turned to walk away— Itachi just watching him now, saddening his harsh stare.

"Itachi?" Akina whisper, when— "Thanks for telling me," Itachi's frown re-appeared to Shisui stopping and turning back to his side as he scoffed, "after all the times I tried getting you two together?" Akina stayed quiet, this was something between the two Uchiha.

"I'm sorry my friend, things have been—"

"I know you have missions… the both of ya. But—" Shisui then stopped himself.

"Shisui?" Akina decided to sadly scold when he stopped.

"This isn't about you, Akina." Shisui snapped.

Itachi now had to speak out, becoming protective over his girlfriend. "And what is it about, my brother?"

"I'm sorry… the Hokage has called upon all of us." Shisui said swallowing his pride as he licked his— biting down his tongue.

Outside Hokage's house
Shisui and Yutaka waited outside the Hokage's place for Akina and Itachi who had to go and suite up in Anbu uniform. When Shisui heard the steps of cleats on the gravel ground— he looked up to only say, "Now I see," Akina and Itachi stood in their Anbu uniforms, unmasked to have Shisui continue, "no wonder you started dating her Itachi… that Anbu uniform suites you better than the kimono for sure." Akina posed sheepishly sexy, placing her hand behind her head, bending her knee ever so slightly and giving off a sarcastic snobbism pose.

Itachi watched her, but then turned to Yutaka as he instructed, "Come on you three." Yutaka turning to walk away into the mansion.

As he did so, Akina leaned into Itachi to whisper in his ear, "Do you think Master knows what's going on?"

Itachi whispered back to Akina, "I don't know… he does seem like he's not telling us something though."

Shisui looked over at the two whispering amongst themselves— before lonely turning to follow Yutaka. Things have changed… it's strange.

Thirds office
Squad five stood in front of the Third's desk, to only have the Hokage stay silent. Everyone else of course stayed hushed as well, the members of squad five shifting their glances to each other as they each had thoughts about one other. Akina looked to Itachi to her right. What's going on, love… you and Shisui are being so cold to each other? Akina then glanced to Shisui. Is it my fault… I'm sorry if he's replacing me with you. I didn't mean— Akina stopped herself to have Shisui eyes shift on her.

She's just as much in the dark about Itachi as I am… well, maybe not. She just doesn't know the Uchiha affairs. Shisui scoff in his head.

Itachi sat his gazes on Akina first, with a slight smile and then to Shisui, with a skeptical glower. I'm sure the clan has gotten to him… the question being, who is he more loyal to? I could take my guesses. Itachi's onyx glance went back to Akina. You're the only one I'll trust till the end.

Then all three squad members broke from their thoughts to have the Hokage break the silence. "You're probably all wondering why I called all three of you here." Akina and the Uchiha boys fixed their focus to the Third when he paused for effect to collect his thoughts. He re-opened his old eyes and placed his hands on the desk. "You three have been called upon to serve one of our Daimyo… permanently as guards."

The three came with slight shock, their eyes rising wide. Shisui of course asked the questions. "So this means we'd be leaving the village?"

The Third gave a stern nod, to only explain, "Yes… and all your other missions would come to a halt. You would wholly devote yourselves to your Daimyo."

Itachi closed his eyes— that did it for him. And Shisui noticed this and Akina was sunk in her own thoughts. This is such a huge opportunity for Itachi… and Shisui. I couldn't just back out, this is just like the chunin exams. Ugh, what about the clan… what about Itachi? I'll go where he—"

Akina's thoughts were then cut off when Itachi came back with, "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage… I can't except." The Third held back his smile to Itachi's answer.

While Akina finished her thoughts, …goes? Thank you, my love. Akina eyes then went back to the Hokage.

"You do realize, that if one of you backs out… none of you go?"

Shisui sought his eyes to the corners of them, out to Itachi. "Understood, Lord Hokage… Itachi, may I ask your reasoning, my brother?"

Akina looked at Itachi, waiting his answer, as he only shifted his soft onyx gaze to her. "What do you want to do?" He finally came whispering from his lips.

"I don't want to, if you don't." Akina reassured, having Itachi smile.

Yutaka then stepped in from behind. "But you two?" Yutaka scolded. "This is a huge opportunity for you guys—"

"I think they've achieved all the opportunities they've needed, Master." Shisui smirked to Itachi's surprise.

Itachi then had to ask, "Isn't there a way Shisui can still go, Lord—"

Shisui then butt in once again. "Nah… thanks, but I'm still fulfilling my opportunities too." Itachi keened his stare to then have Shisui add, "You know what you have here, my brother… that's why you're staying."

Akina then cut in as well. "I'm sorry you two… I have to stay, it's the clan who needs me to stay and I need you guys—"

Shisui chuckled, "Like I said Akina… this isn't about you." Akina silenced herself, Itachi just listening to his old friend this time. "We all decline, Lord Hokage. That's my final say." Still after all these years, Shisui still took the lead— even when Akina and Itachi had progressed past his own ranking.

The Hokage gave almost a sympathy nod. "I understand… Lord Kai will be disappointed. That will be all then, thank you three." They then all turned to head for the door, and leave.

Outside the Hokage's place
Shisui took the lead, with Yutaka following. But then— "Shisui?"

Said boy turned back to the sound of Itachi's voice calling out— it sounded sorrowful, but when Akina took over the conversation, "Master Yutaka, Shisui… why don't you two tag along with us to the dumpling shop?"

The Uchiha shook his head with a smile. "No… you two go ahead."

Itachi then scoffed, "You got something better to do?"

"Yeah, just do me a favor, Itachi… take care of her. And Akina… you take care of him."

"You know I will." Was Akina's simply sarcastic reply. But Shisui still waited Itachi's as he stayed quiet— a staring battle going down between the two Uchiha. "I will… now do me a favor?"

Shisui raised his gaze, when to his surprise— "Take care of yourself, Shisui… my brother. Thank you, old friend."

"No, thank you." Shisui then proceeded walking away— it felt cold in the summer air, until Shisui stopped dead in his tracks. "Uchiha Itachi… my friend, nothing old about it." Shisui then proceeding walking away, Yutaka turning to follow his star pupil— he never understood his squad. Squad five was one of a kind.

Itachi watched with a smile to Shisui's words, this would be the last time they wound see each other— squad five had seen it's better days. Itachi knew this as he pinned his onyx gaze to the crest that was bound to the cloth warn on Shisui's back. Itachi then knew that he belonged to that same clan— that crest was on his back, but it didn't mean one damn thing to him. Whether it did to Shisui or not, Itachi might never know. Itachi forgot all his choking thoughts when— he felt a silk touch wrap into his bare arm. Akina was still beside his side, as she wrapped her arm around his strong one. "Is everything all right?"

The boy smiled, he looked over and down to his dear girlfriend. "I'm the one who's suppose to ask that… you know everything is." Itachi paused in a sigh. "…Just an Uchiha thing." Akina accepted Itachi's short sincere answer in the silence of the fading day.

"Well… your birthday isn't over yet. Let's make the best of it." Akina smirked— she knew where she wanted to go, to unwind all the cold atmosphere from her mind.

Konoha beach
Akina and Itachi road out on Mochizuki horses— all the way out to Konoha beach. As the bright orange sun, was setting over the horizon of the dark blue water. Akina hopped off her black horse, with a long tail and an auburn bow tied in a loopy unique style at the base. Itachi's horse was the one that use to belong to Akina's father, and she trusted Itachi to ride him— she wished for Itachi to ride her father's white horse with a mid-length mane that was shorter than Akina's horse's— which was long and flowing with a few braids twined in it. When Akina got down she walked over to the rising tide, crashing on the beach. She put her arms out straight out with the landscape of the beach, as Itachi watched to what she was doing while the wind blew in her face. "Have you ever thought of just flying away?"

"What?" Itachi chuckled, teasing his free-spirited girl.

"Your own summoning jutsu is crows… don't you think of what it'd be like to be like them? To have no permanent home, no ties, just freedom, flying into the sunset. That's what I do, if it weren't for my clan."

"You think about that kind of life?"

"Yeah… dream. Do you think I could be a bird in another life?"

Itachi chuckled again and approached Akina as she sat down— sitting down with her as the tide brushed their toes. "Depends, could you and me come back as two birds of a feather?"

"Only if you'll flock with me?" Akina teased sarcastically snobby with a jester of turning and tilting her head to him. Itachi then cupped her cheek, and pressed his satin lips to hers— Akina always surrendering her lips to his gentleness. Pushing him down onto the warm beach sand, as they never parted the sweet tasting kiss. That yet again, didn't last long when the tide came in much further— SPLASH! The sound made, blanketing Akina and Itachi's bodies in the cold, shocking salt water. "Ahhh, haha." Went Akina's girly shriek, and then giggling when she lied back in the wet beach sand, letting the setting sun dry her. "I could come here every day."

Itachi rolled close to her, leaning over her slightly as she did before. "Why don't we… I'll come with you." Said his gentle seductive breath.

"Every day?" Akina breathed seriously.

"Everyday… but let's find a different spot to sit next time."

Akina leaned up, whipping some water off her collarbone and flicking it off at Itachi. "What, don't like water?" Itachi winced slightly as she splashed him with the dew into his face. "Hey! Heh-heh." Itachi then captured her lips, but the kiss was broken as Akina giggled once again at her smooth boyfriends gentle kisses. She knew one thing— she wanted to feel his lips everyday. That went the same for Itachi, but he knew he would have to take those days with gratitude while they lasted.