Author's Note: I enjoyed writing this chapter. I'm sorry it's short. 3

Citations: Itachi's Story: [Midnight] pg. 38-41

Chapter's Song: "Everything You Want" by Vertical Horizon


Chapter 36
Back Of Your Mind

"Where's Itachi?" Akina asked down towards Shisui sitting at the table on the floor.

"I told him to come over tonight." Shisui's eyes shrugged.

"Do you think he still thinks I'm mad at him?" Her expression saddened with guilt.

"I don't know."

"I'll go get him then…"


Itachi felt something touch his chest suddenly. Izumi's head rested there, below his own. They sat on the bench in the playground. "I-Izumi…"

"I-I'm sorry, Itachi. But just let me stay like this a little longer."

Unable to do anything else, Itachi simply waited for Izumi to calm down again.

"We're still eleven years old. But, Itachi, you're already… Where are you going, Itachi?"

"I'm not going anywhere… Probably…" He swallowed that last word.

"Ehm-ehm," Akina coughed from behind them.

Itachi scurried away from Izumi, his eyes sad. "Akina…"

"I'm sorry to interrupt… I sensed your chakra here. We're waiting for you."

"What for?"

"Your entrance into Anbu… Shisui said he told you." She shrugged. "I made onigiri and cabbage rolls. Izumi, you're welcome to join us."

"Thank you, Akina-chan." Izumi's eyes settled in becoming solemnly disappointed.

"I'll just… Go now." Akina awkwardly pointed behind her. "Sorry again. Just, hurry up unless you want cold food." She puffed into petals.

"A petal clone…" He said with a smirk.

"You were scared just then…" Izumi's eyebrow rose to confront him.

"Huh?" He looked at Izumi blankly. "Not really. Akina can be scary, but—"

"Not scared of her… Scared of her seeing my head on your chest."

He put his hand on his neck. "I'm sorry how I pushed y—"

"Don't be. You are going somewhere… You and Akina are on that same path. Far ahead of me, where I can't begin to understand." She said walking away, turning back to smile. "We're friends, Itachi-kun."

"Yes."


Akina was cooking, and when her clone disappeared she seen in her mind all that her clone had seen. Shisui noticing the sad alertness that washed over her. "You find him?"

"Yeah," She breathed as she took her ruffled apron off and headed for the door.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, fine. Shisui…" She hesitated. "I want Itachi happy. That's all. Even if it means sacrificing my own happiness. I need some air—" She opened the door to her surprise to see Itachi just about to knock. "Oh, Itachi. Where's Izumi?"

"Izumi?" Shisui questioned, crossing his arms.

"She couldn't make it. Her mom was expecting her."

"Come in, eat." Akina smiled.

"Is she not mad?" Itachi questioned. "No reason to be mad or jealous if she has no feelings for me…"


Akina cleaned up the dishes as the boys talked about missions and such. Shisui then looked at Itachi sternly and gestured his head towards Akina.

Itachi nodded and finished his food, bringing his dish to the sink, standing on Akina's side; she was zoned out scrubbing a plate so she didn't notice.

"Uh," Itachi started for Akina to zone in and look at him. "That was the best meal I've ever had, Akina. Thank you."

"Oh, I'm glad you liked it." She took his plate from him. "You're welcome."

She began washing silently. Itachi looked over at Shisui, questioning eyes as he was at a loss for words. Akina turned off the faucet, dried her hands, and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" Itachi asked.

"Just for a little air." She waved, smiling. "The heat from cooking has me a little lightheaded."

Once she closed the door behind her, Itachi looked to Shisui in question, and he crossed his arms. "What'd you say now?"

"Uh…"

"You were with Izumi?"

"Yeah," Itachi said guiltily. "Izumi and I were in the playground and she suddenly laid her head on my chest…"

Shisui let out a sigh of frustration. "And Akina saw it? That explains it."

"What?"

"Akina was so excited making your favorite foods… I haven't seen her so happy in awhile and then she suddenly got all depressed."

"And you know what instead of getting jealous and petty, she cooked, socialized, even expected her rival female, and then cleaned up… "

"Maybe there's no jealously because she doesn't have feelings for me."

"You really are oblivious…" Shisui tilted his head to the side, arms still crossed. "Right before she opened the door to let you in, she said she just wants you happy. Akina loves you beyond jealousy. She wants you happy at the sacrifice of her own happiness by putting down her feelings."

"She said that?" His eyes went back in his head, his heart pounding.

Shisui nodded. "You need to tell her how you feel… Like now."

"I tried to before…"

"Try again."