A/N:

Hello everyone! There's a triple update today... reaching up to chapter 15.

chapter 13 is slightly different as Nami will be reliving small snippets of her past.

This story has been rated M for a reason - you have been warned.

Happy Reading! ^^

Chapter 13. Through the Memories

She was swirling in the vortex of her childhood memories. These were the treasures she locked away so long ago, to safeguard her aching heart after his crime.

A memory of when they were three. They were playing in the Namikaze garden while their parents were inside the house discussing current events and what-not.

"Itachi-kun! Bet you can't find me!"

"I got you Nami-chan! I got you!"

"Not fair! You used a trick!"

"I didn't."

"You did!"

"Iie, I saw your shadow."

"Oh."

A memory of when they were six. Itachi found her sitting alone, crying at the cemetery.

"Nami-chan. Why are you sad?"

"I miss my mama and papa. They won't let me see my brother."

"Why?"

"They say he's a monster, but I don't believe that."

"It will be ok Nami-chan. I'm sure you'll see your brother soon enough."

Then he gently wrapped his arm around her, giving her a warm hug.

A memory of when they were almost eight. Nami visited Itachi's home after completing their first D-ranked mission with their team.

"Niisan!"

"Ah Sasuke, this is my teammate Nami …"

"Niisan! You promised we'd play…."

"I'm sorry Sasuke, we have a team meeting…maybe next time"

A memory of when she was eight. She was sitting in the Uchiha kitchen after another grueling training session while Mikoto looked over her injured forearm.

"My little Nami-chan. Is that better?"

"Hai, arigatou Mikoto-okaasan."

"It's no problem sweetheart. I'm always happy to help. Now, go get my boys, the dinner will be done soon."

"Hai."

A memory of when they were nine. They were in their favorite spot, up on a hill just outside of Konohagakure enjoying a serving of dango. Nami turned to look at Itachi and asked.

"What are you thinking about now?"

"Absolutely nothing. You?"

"I'm thinking of how we almost failed our first team exercise. Remember the hornets?"

"How could I ever forget?"

"Yamanaka-sensei kept an eye on us the entire week we had to spend in the hospital."

"I think he felt guilty. He didn't expect that Ichirou would disturb a hornet's nest."

"I didn't expect that."

"I still have a stingy reminder of that time."

"Me too."

"Ha ha! We have matching battle wounds."

A memory of when they were ten. Ichirou last mission as a shinobi before he decided to leave permanently. Itachi was the team leader for this mission — they were successful as far as she remembered.

"Itachi! Are you alright? Is Ichirou alright?"

"Hai."

"You take the ones on the right and I take that big guy on the left."

"As you wish."

"We have no choice but to fight. We're not going to abandon Ichirou here."

"Hai."

A memory of when they were eleven and little Sasuke was five. They spent so much time by the Naka river, practicing their skills and catching up with one another.

"Hi Sasuke, Itachi. What are you two up to?"

"Shuriken training!"

"I brought snacks. Cherry tomatoes for Sasuke and dango for Itachi."

"Arigatou Nami-chan."

"Arigatou oneesan."

"You're welcome. Wahh, Sasuke you hit all the shuriken. Well done."

"He's going to surpass me one day."

"Of course he is."

"Niisan! Neesan!"

Nami smiled as she watched the two brothers snack on the favourite food.

Life was good.

A memory of when they were fourteen. Itachi was wearing his ANBU uniform enjoying a much needed escape in their favourite spot, accompanied by their favourite snack.

"I heard about your betrothal to Izumi. Is congratulations appropriate?"

"No, not really. I didn't have a choice in the matter."

"I thought you liked Izumi-chan."

"She likes me."

"But?"

"I… I like someone else."

"Nani? Who? Do I know her?"

"I can't tell you."

"Tell me or I'll eat all the dango."

"Iie, I can't."

"Fine. So what are you going to do about the betrothal then?"

"I'm fourteen. There isn't much I can do. Besides, the wedding wouldn't happen until we are both adults. The Uchiha clan likes to wait till the age twenty."

"Wow. Well, I'm sorry. Are you sure you and Izumi…?"

"Nami!"

"What? I'm curious!"

"Itachi! Stop ignoring me… hey that's my dango! Itachi!"

They were fourteen and enjoying a meal at Ichiraku Ramen.

"Think I have what it takes to be a jounin?"

"Of course I do."

"LIAR!"

"I have never lied to you."

"That's true."

This was the memory of her last encounter with her former teammate before the infamous massacre.

"You'll do better next time."

"Yeah right. More likely I'll fail again."

"I'm sure you'll make jounin eventually."

"Yeah, maybe when I'm thirty. Say, how come you are home anyway? Kakashi has been gone for over two weeks and you are a part of his team."

"Hatake-senpai left with a smaller team. I wasn't needed at this time."

"Is that why you wanted to hang out with me? I'm touched Uchiha."

"You're my friend Nami. I like spending time with you."

"Don't let Sasuke hear you say that."

"Besides, I don't think I'll have too much opportunity to hang out with you going forward."

"Nani? Is it because of your betrothal to Izumi-chan? Mind you, you and I are friends and I love Izumi like a sister so I'm all for it."

"Itachi, why would you kiss me?"

"I don't want to have any regrets. I know I'm betrothed to Izumi, but I always liked you Nami-chan. You're a good friend. I'm going to head back. Take care."

"Itachi!"

She felt his kiss linger on her lips once more. The innocent first kiss. Was he her first love? Is that why his betrayal hurt so much? She remembered Kakashi's words to her after the massacre. First love…. it stays with you… Yes, she loved Itachi in the past even if she never let herself admit it. For Izumi's sake. And now, here they were, both twenty-one, almost twenty-two. One a shinobi of Konohagakure and the other an infamous S-ranked criminal and a missing-nin. Kakashi came to her mind. The man who always stood by her and protected her. She knew she loved Kakashi more than anything. They were good together and they were happy. She was in love. But as Kakashi said, your first love … it stays with you. So here she was, coming to terms with her true feelings for the infamous shinobi. She came to as she was released from the genjutsu. Her head pounded with a headache as she began to look around her surroundings. She was in a dark room, laying on a small bed. There was a fluorescent light hanging from the ceiling, illuminating the cozy room. By the other end of the bed was a wooden chair, currently occupied by the older Uchiha.

"You're in an old Uchiha hideout."

"Why am I here?" Nami asked as she sat up.

"Because I need your help," Itachi repeated.

"I will not help you kill my brother! You brought me here as bait!" Nami said angrily.

"No, I did not," he replied.

Nami fixated her eyes on the raven-haired man. He's had many chances to kill me and yet he didn't. Does he still have a heart? Perhaps, she still meant something to him. She needed answers and she was damn gonna get them.

"You … You killed Izumi! You killed your parents! How could you? How could you do that? and Sasuke… how could you set him on this path of self-destruction?! Why?! For power? Infamy? WHY?" Nami demanded as tears slid down her cheeks.

"Because I had to," he replied simply.

"That's not good enough of an answer! I thought I knew you! You were kind! I thought you cared about me, your family, even Izumi. I know you loved Sasuke, you've said it many times. Am I to believe that it was all a lie?!" Nami questioned.

"I never lied to you."

Nami wiped her tears away. She was exhausted from reliving their memories and her body began to betray her. She needed to rest and replenish her chakra. She ignored her needs and focused on the matter at hand. If she ever was going to get any answers, this would be it.

"Why am I here Itachi?" she asked again.

"I would never harm you," he replied.

"No, but you'd use me as a bait to lure my brother and kill him," she stated.

"That's not why I brought you here."

"I don't believe you!"

Her stomach betrayed her as it released a whale mating call.

"I thought we already established that I never lied to you and I don't plan on starting now. Rest for now. I'll go see to bring you something to eat," Itachi replied and made his way through the door.

"Itachi…. ITACHI! GODDAMN UCHIHA!"