I posted chapters 34 and 35 at the same time, so make sure you didn't miss one of them! Thanks so much :)

Kokoa inched her way down the street, juggling a stack of books so high she couldn't see overtop of them.

"Come on, come on," she mumbled with her tongue sticking out. She stiffened, sensing someone approaching hard and fast. Deciding to let him have his fun, she let Sasuke tackle her, knocking the books to the stone street along with her.

"Hah! I got you!" he cheered.

"You jerk! I was holding stuff."

"So? I beat you."

"Sasuke…" Itachi sighed, walking up to the two.

"No, no, Itachi-san. He's right. Sasuke beat me."

"I know I didn't. You're a jonin, and I'm still in the academy. I just like pretending I'm strong enough," Sasuke explained.

"You will be someday. You'll be taller than me, and heck, you're an Uchiha. You'll definitely beat me, and maybe even Mr. Perfect here too," Kokoa chuckled, nudging Itachi's ribs. He shook his head with a smile.

"While that may be true, Kokoa, don't give him too much confidence. He has to work for that power."

"I do, Ni-san!"

"I know you do, Sasuke," he smiled, placing a hand on his head.

"What were you two lovely brothers up to? You look all messy." She crossed her arms.

"There was a mission –"

"This wild boar that Ni-san was supposed to take care of, and I tagged along because I wanted to use my bow and arrow! I thought I had it, but I ended up missing," Sasuke shrugged. "But he says he'll help me practice!"

"That's where we're going, if you'd like to join us, Kokoa," Itachi offered. She smiled, glancing down at her shoes. She always loved the way her name slipped between his lips.

"Of course. I just have to take these back." She started gathering the books.

"Where to?"

"Some are mine; those ones over there. And these four go to the library, and those two big ones are for Hokage-sama."

"Here." Itachi dropped to his knees beside her. "You take these to the Hokage's. I'll swing by the library, and Sasuke, could you take these to Kokoa's house? If we hurry, we'll have time to practice a lot today."

"Mhm!" The child ran over, picking up the thin books. "I'll be quick as lightening! Watch!" He scurried off.

"Did you really want us to finish quick, or was that a clever way to ditch your precious little brother?" Kokoa inquired, picking up the last book.

"Is it wrong if I say both?" he smirked. "You know I love him."

"More than anything. I know," she smiled.

"You can't blame me for wanting some time alone with you though, can you?" he said softly, brushing ebony hair behind her ear.

"I – eh –" she stammered, looking anywhere but at him.

"I think I'm the only one who gets you to stop talking," he chuckled, kissing her forehead. "You always have this anxiety whenever I'm around. Do you not like me, Kokoa?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Eh? Of – of course I like you!"
"Then why are you always so jittery around me, like you're afraid?" He kissed her nose. She nearly squeaked.

"Jittery? I'm just shy – I can't help it! You always push me, and you know that," she pouted.

"But you're so much fun when you're flustered." He captured her lips in a sweet kiss. "You're fun to kiss too," he laughed shyly. She couldn't help but smile widely, meeting his eyes with her own; bright and happy. For once he was at peace. No missions, no stress. Today Itachi was Itachi; a young man who gave his everything to his family, to his brother, and to the girl he held so dearly.

"We should get going. At this rate Sasuke will beat us for sure," he stated.

"True. He'll probably make me buy him something. Sneaky child he is."

"It can't be helped."

"I guess I'll just get you some dango too then, Itachi-san. How does that sound."

"I'd like that very much, Kokoa."

Kokoa sat on the large, white boulder, watching the two brother train while she stuffed half of Itachi's dango down her throat. At first she was against it, eating his food and all, but soon realized she was the one who paid for it and if he was upset he couldn't do anything about it.

A smile tugged at her lips. Watching the two warmed her heart. Itachi would surely make a great father. She could tell, the way he encouraged Sasuke but also corrected him when wrong; the smile that occasionally crawled across his face; the gentleness of his touch; his delicate voice. She found herself sighing deeply, wondering if it was possible to love the boy more than she already did.

"Mmm, Itachi-san, these are delicious," she teased. He straightened up, giving her a look.

"Stop distracting him, Kokoa-chan," Sasuke commented.

"I'm not distracting. I'm simply informing him how good these are."

"Yeah, yeah…but…I am kind of hungry…" Sasuke thought for a moment. "Ni-san, can we be done for today?"

"Done? Already? The one time I actually help you train, and you want to finish early?"

"Well it's been over and hour, and as much as I love it when you help me, I like spending time with you and Kokoa-chan more," he smiled. Itachi's expression softened.

"All right," he gave in. "But you're going to work twice as hard next time." He poked the child.

"Hai, haaaaiiii," he groaned, rushing to Kokoa. "You think we can eat all his dango before he walks over here, Kokoa-chan?"

"I don't know. Believe it or not, that weirdo over there is an ANBU captain, meaning he's super fast –"

"I'll take those. Thank you for holding them for me, Ko-ko-a," Itachi smirked, snatching the box from her.

"See?" She shook her head at Sasuke who giggled in response.

"You're just too good, Ni-san," he yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"Sasuke, why don't you head home. You're tired," Itachi suggested.

"Am not –" He let out another yawn.

"Go. Now."

"You want time with your girlfriend, just say so," he pouted, jumping to his feet.

"I'm just going to finish my snack and say goodnight. I'll follow you, Sasuke."

"Hai, hai. Well, night, Kokoa-chan!"

"Goodnight, Sasuke. Sleep well! Good luck with school,"

"Mhm!" He smiled one last time before rushing off.

"You were right, the dango is amazing," Itachi turned to her.

"You'd eat dango off the ground, Itachi. All dango is good to you."

"But – you're probably right," he sighed. "Shall I walk you home?"

"Oh you don't have to. It's about to get dark, and I live in the opposite direction. Besides, Sasuke returned home on his own. We don't need your father suspecting anything, you know?" she explained.

"True. If you're sure."

"No worries, really. Today was nice," she smiled.

"Hopefully I'll get more opportunities to help Sasuke and be with you. I really do enjoy the times we spend together, even the three of us."

"Like we have our own gang!" she cheered.

"Almost like a little family." She blinked, surprised by his words. The fact Itachi viewed the three of them the way Kokoa had many times…the warm smile as he spoke, the look in his eyes. She couldn't help but smile widely, so much that he noticed.

"Someone's happy," he chuckled.

"With you, always."

"Hmm," he hummed, touched by her comment. "We should head off. I don't need my father on my case anymore than he already is, and I don't like you to walk around at night."

"Oh come on, Tachi. I'm a shinobi after all."

"Is that so?"

"A kick ass one at that!"

"That you are." He kissed the top of her head.

"Oyasuminasai, Itachi-san."

"Goodnight, Kokoa."

Kokoa...

"Kokoa. Kokoa. Oi, Kokoa, wake up," Sasuke repeated, gently shaking her. She peeled open her eyes, and for a split moment she saw Sasuke as he was years ago; an innocent child with bright eyes and a smile to match. A child who often tugged at her sleeve as he called for her. It faded.

"Kokoa, hey, wake up."

"Sasuke…?"

"What are you doing out here?"

"Out here?" She glanced around, terrified.

"It's dark and cold out. Why are you by the river?" He crouched down to her level. She leaned forward, holding herself.

"River?"

"Ah. Naka River –" He fell quiet. Saying it out loud made him realize its significance. Shisui.

"I think I came here earlier. I must've fallen asleep."

"Fallen asleep? You don't look so well."

"What are you saying?"

"You sure you didn't pass out?" he inquired. She shifted her gaze. "Kokoa, have you eaten anything?"

"When?"

"Why, have you been skipping again? Today, yesterday?" he pressed. She shook her head.

"Why not? That's why you're so pale and passed out. You've been gone for a while. I got – I was freaking out," he said quietly in the end. She faced him with a confused expression. Weren't they fighting?

'No, Kokoa. We're not fighting. I just feel so guilty for lying, and he won't accept my feeling for Itachi. It's just awkward is all. Still…'

"Do you hate me, Sasuke?" she whispered.

"Hate you?" he tilted his head in surprise. "You should really start listening. I told you once before. I don't hate you, Kokoa. I couldn't."

"I see…"

"Come on." He helped the girl to her feet, saddened by how she continued to use the tree for support.

"You never answered me. Did you eat anything?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I don't know. I just didn't want to," she shrugged, shaking slightly.

"Here." He stepped closer, slipping his jacket of his own shoulders and helping her into it. "I don't need you catching a cold or the flu."

"Arigato."

"Come on." Taking her by the arm, he led her off back towards town. She was slow and unsteady, her head bobbing with each step as she fought to keep awake. His hold on her tightened in an assuring way.

Dancing dirty needles broke the tip off in her skin,

The promises and false hopes are injected in her veins.
It's almost Armageddon as she falls to the floor,
Guilt straight affliction, now comatose.
Emptiness, (In her head)
She feels the room spin, (She forgets)
Somebody call a doctor, (Her reason)
We need an ambulance. (For living)

"Sasuke?"

"You gonna stand there like a lamppost?" he inquired as they stood before the small shop.

"Why are we here?" She stepped inside, taking a seat at the small bar.

"Well it's a restaurant. Why do people usually come here?" He said causally. Resting her hands on the counter, she fiddled with her thumbs, hunched over slightly on the stool. He pulled out his wallet, taking a quick look. The flames of the lanterns danced alluringly in the night.

"Order anything you want."

"Hm?" She faced him.

"You're starving, so get something to eat. Preferably something hot because you're still shaking, and whatever you decide to get, you're going to eat all of it…even if I have to force the rest of it down your throat."

"But I'm not –"

"Kokoa, you're not getting sick, and you're not going to starve yourself so long as I'm here, so stop arguing and just order something you like, please."

"Hai." She pulled the jacket around here, reveling the warmth for a bit. "What about you?" she whispered.

"What about me?"

"You eat too."

"I already ate."

"I won't eat unless you do."

"Really, Kokoa? How old are we?" he sighed.

"Doesn't matter how old we are."

"Fine, fine. I'll get soup or something." He scanned the small menu, hoping something would catch his attention. Every once in a while he'd sneak a peek at Kokoa. She really was a mess, physically and emotionally. Guilt hung over his head. Part of why she was so upset was because Kokoa felt awful for keeping her feelings from Sasuke. He blamed her, felt betrayed, refused to understand where she was coming from.

Sasuke hated Itachi. He hated him for killing the Uchiha, but he also hated him for what he had done to Kokoa. She wasn't an Uchiha. She wasn't involved, so why drag her down with him? Why did he have to ruin her life too? Sasuke hated the pain Itachi caused her, and he started hating himself for doing the same thing. Blaming and judging her for the way she felt about Itachi wasn't fair. Sasuke couldn't understand it, but he didn't want to be like his brother. He didn't want to hurt the girl he cared so much for.

"Even if you don't want to, can we still talk?" Sasuke inquired, tossing the apartment keys over on the table. Kokoa stood in the small living room staring off at the tiny candy wrapper that laid on the floor.

"Talk? What about?"

"What's going on with you."

"Not much really."

"Kokoa."

"What do you want me to say, Sasuke? Everything's out of control. I just don't know what to do anymore."

"With what?"

"Myself. I don't know how much more I can take – how much longer I'll last before I fall apart."

"Kokoa…" He walked over with concern in his voice and eyes.

"Listen, Sasuke. You're always going to be a victim. You're the boy whose brother abandoned him right after slaughtering the clan. It was all taken away from you. You're the last Uchiha, one who has experienced so much death and pain at such a young age. But me…"

"What about you?"

"I'm guilty. The people of this village will always see me as the girl involved with Itachi, involved with the massacre. You don't understand what it's like to walk down the street and have people whisper and point. You don't have ANBU and Root members tracking every movement. I can't even use the bathroom in peace! You don't know what it's like to not be assigned missions weeks at a time, to not have friends, to know that you'll never be free. I've been in this hell since the day Itachi left, and meeting up with him a few weeks ago only made it worse."

He closed his eyes. She was right. He didn't understand. He didn't know.

"And you don't know how hard it is for me to look you in the eye, Sasuke! I am so sorry for letting you believe I was ok. So sorry for lying. I did it to protect you as a child. I didn't want to rub it in your face. And I was afraid that you'd hate me when you were older for feeling this way, for still loving him." She held herself with one arm. The other sat against her cheek, pushing damp hair and hot tears from her eyes.

"It's just that everything I do is wrong! And I feel so guilty for everything I say, for everything I think, and do, and feel, like I'm the enemy, a monster. I don't mean to hurt you. I don't mean to make things hard. I don't mean to be this mess of a person, but I just can't help it anymore. I can't keep it together. I want to be happy, Sasuke, here with you, and Kakashi, and Naruto, but I just can't, I just can't! I try, I try to be happy, but my heart hurts and it's just not in me – like my head won't let me be happy – like I'm sick or something. I've just been stuck for so long, and every time something happens my life just gets worse. I should be thankful for being alive, thankful for having you and this house, but I find it so hard to wake up in the morning. Besides you and Itachi, it's so hard to care about anything in this world. I can't even take care of myself…"

Without giving it thought, he stepped forward and placed a hand at the base of her neck, pulling her down towards him so that her face sat nuzzled in the crook of his neck as he gently folded his arms around her waist. His action surprised her, and touched her in a way that made her cry harder. Kokoa had wanted this for so long; to be comforted by someone who cared, someone who knew her.

She wrapped her arms around his torso, pressing herself closer as she sobbed in his embrace. For the first time in a while, Kokoa broke down completely in front of Sasuke. She confessed, broke open, let it out, only this time he was able to be there for her. This time Uchiha Sasuke put aside his misunderstandings and his feelings about Itachi, and he loved her the way she loved his brother. He held her close, comforted Kokoa the way she comforted him all those years, as she stood there, bleeding.

Sick, as she smiles,
One last goodbye, this girl she cried so hard.
Broken bones, but I can't help her,
She's too far gone, apocolips, she soon will die.
This love,
This love.
This love and I can't let her go for my body and soul
This love,
This love.
This love and I can't let her go for my body and soul.