By the time Itachi had returned we were back on the original tree branch looking off towards the village. I had set back against the main tree only to look up at Itachi and give him a soft smile. Sasuke didn't even look at his brother as he took the fish his brother had caught for him. The rest of the night went like that. Silence lingered between the three of us. At some point Itachi and Sasuke had moved to separate branches to sleep, leaving me on watch. Trying to force myself to focus on my blanket rather than the Uchiha just off into the shadows less than five feet from me. By the first light of morning, Itachi was the first one to rejoin me on the tree branch. His gaze set on the village before us. I don't doubt that he knows why I sent him to get fish the night before and not Sasuke. But with the look in his eyes, he has fully set his mind on the mission. Separating himself further from his emotions as usual. At this point, I myself don't see a way I can alleviate his pain. If I did try to say anything it would only make things worse.

"I will make certain Sasuke comes back to you." He speaks up into the silence drawing my eyes away from the scenery towards him. Tilting my head as he doesn't even move to make eye contact with me. "Make sure you both do." I speak quietly looking away from him again. "I may have chosen Sasuke, Itachi. But you both are important to me."

"Why?" He questions and I only close my eyes. His tone was his usual empty monotone but even I can tell he was just masking pain. "Why my little brother?" He elaborates quietly and I very nearly sigh. "He was the first bond I formed in this world." I speak barely a whisper drawing his gaze to me. "When I felt alone even with Aphrodite at my side he was there. Our bond grew before I had realized it. Our banters back and forth, our shared glares. Even as we smirked at each other when training. We grew close and I couldn't see how close. When he had kissed me after I killed Orochimaru, I tried to deny what I was feeling. I couldn't love him because I love you is what I told myself. But the more I tried to push from him the more I realized. In the Akatsuki, I wasn't lonely because I was no longer in the village. The thought of my team not coming to find me isn't what hurt. It was the thought of him not caring, not knowing, not being with me. That's what hurt. I even had the thought, if I had somehow stopped the massacre. If I had gotten rid of Danzo the year I was in the village. Maybe you and I would have gotten closer at that point. You, the boy I couldn't stop staring at during the entrance ceremony as you watched your brother from the crowd in place of your father. I know that if things would have happened differently that maybe my choice would have been affected as well. As I've told you. I love you but I also love both of you. But then reality sets in. It's Sasuke. It's always been Sasuke. He makes me feel in ways that have eluded me for years. Even before I had realized what was going on, he made me feel. I protected him, not because I promised your parents but because my heart told me to."

Finally opening my eyes I look towards Itachi to see that same pain lingering in his gaze as he stares off at the village. "I'm not telling you this to rub salt on the wound, Itachi. You of all people both know and understand how I think, for you, yourself have the same thought process as I do. You know that when I say I love you both, I mean it. You know that the decision wasn't easy for me to make because of our time together and my feelings for you. You know I hold those memories close to my heart. Just as you know I hold the bonds I have with you both tightly to my very being. You know, I need you and cannot lose you. Me being with Sasuke could never change that." Pushing back the pain from my memories with Itachi bring up I stand and look towards the village. I hate this, everything used to be simple before I came to this world. There was no worrying about who I hurt or which one I love more. Everything always flowed seamlessly. Is this.. the difference between living only for someone and not having such a deep attachment? I remember a love that took over my entire being, a love that I couldn't live without. As if his every breath was me breathing, every single heartbeat was my own. We were two sides of the same coin. The love I have for both of these men. Are as if we are all sides of the same triangle. I trust them to do as they will. I didn't even question their distance and chase after them. I didn't find myself staring at their tent wishing to be there. No, we are all our own parts that move independently from one another like three clocks that say the same time but each uniquely different and can function on their own. Maybe the love I have for them is more healthy than the dependant love I shared with Light. We depended on each other, we needed each other. To be apart was more painful than death itself.

Itachi only glanced over in my direction one other time. Yet, he didn't utter a single word. Making me wonder if I had my Ice Queen gaze back to my eyes from hiding my own pain so no one can see. I wish I can go with them into the village so I can help them. To protect them. But I also know they can do it without me. They both will come back to me. It went from earlier hours of the morning into the full morning by the time Sasuke leaped onto the same branch as us. The sun threatens to sting my tired eyes. "Let's go." Itachi speaks up just before he and Sasuke leave the tree. I could feel them moving through my blanket towards the village. Then a quick pop from both of them as they change their appearances before they leap down from the trees and begin walking calmly so as not to draw any suspicion. I found myself focusing more on them than anything else until they disappear in the morning movement of the villagers.

Raising my right hand to the fabric over my chest I close my eyes focusing on my job. "Light, knowing you. You would be just as torn as I am. You wouldn't want me to be alone again but you also wouldn't be able to stand the thought of me being with someone else." I speak quietly to myself feeling a tear threatening to break free from my left eye. -It's not wrong, it just means you love me as much as you love him.- Sasuke's voice rings in my ears causing my chest to tighten. If he only knew. To me, even Sasuke can't compare to my love for Light. He can think he does. It's probably for the best. It would only eat away at him if he knew and I would inadvertently be hurting him. I love Sasuke. I love him dearly. Just not like I love Light.

Opening my eyes I look towards the village as I feel a form moving through the trees at a fast pace. A pace no villager could match. It was moving directly for the village. Looking towards the horizon just past the village another one comes into my blanket fast enough I could barely feel them. I wish I could tell them they are converging on their location. I think to myself as I feel around for another one. At this point, we don't know how many kin Damen brought with him into this world. We also don't know if he has recruited any ninja to aid him with his plans. What I do know is there are at least three kin. Damen, Lucas, and Krista. However, there were only two now crossing into the village. That could mean one was already there, or it could mean one is away doing something else. I am about 85% certain that there was already one in the village. Damen's energy has not shifted in location. He was probably the one left in the village while sending Krista and Lucas off to do who knows what.

I find myself holding my breath trying to discern the movement in the village between villagers and my two teammates. If they run across any of them they wouldn't make themselves stand out. They would shadow them and try and get our answers. Unless they were spotted and forced to either fight or retreat. Please... just don't get caught by Damen. The twins have already proven they don't want to fight so they won't unless they are provoked. I would say they didn't fight us last time because they didn't have any orders from Damen but both of them looked like they agreed with how it would be too much work. As if exerting themselves would be the death of them. So what are they doing with Damen? Why are they with Damen and not still at home? I still don't know them enough to figure out these questions. What I do know contradicts them even being here.

My eyes widen feeling movement dashing from the village towards me. Automatically I reach into myself and extend my shield. Pulling it tightly against my body so that I can protect myself. With their speed I can feel them fade from my blanket for moments just before I hear the thud of hands gripping onto the tree limb I am on. Turning towards the one who had come for me I watch as she pulls herself up onto the branch. Obviously not used to chakra flow as I have learned. Meaning her speed is all her own. A speed natural for those who aren't human. Her brown hair slips off of under her hood with that same eerie green tinge as the sunlight grazes off of the tendrils.

"Krista." I speak, my voice flowing from me empty and cold showing me I had managed to keep my emotions in check. I watch as she stands on the tree branch, her wires for her headphones swinging lightly with her movements ever before her soft brown eyes meet mine. Looking just as bored as she had when I first seen them. "I know who you are now." I speak again this time giving a tilt of my head. She just seems to look at me as she pockets her hands into the front of her hoodie. Once again she was making no move to fight me. Further proving her words that night. "I see." She says with that same overly bored tone. "Why are you with Damen, and why are you here?" I decide to ask her as I move my hands to my sides ready to fight if I need to. She just looks away from me towards the village with a heavy over-exaggerated sigh. As if none of this concerns her in the least. "Simple." She finally speaks before looking back at me. "I'm going to make you come home." This had my brows furrowing until she suddenly disappears from in front of me.

My shield taking an abrupt impact that threatened to make my ribs scream in protest. Shoving me off of the tree and into another. Taking in a steadying breath I flip myself in the air and land on the side of the tree. Crouching on the bark as I watch her eyes widen. Probably from the fact I'm not perched on a branch but the main tree itself. -She definitely knows nothing about chakra.- I tell myself silently as I watch her shrug and push off of the tree branch. Propelling herself in my direction. Standing I sidestep her impact. Watching as she tries to grab onto the bark. Openly sighing this time I reach out and grab her wrist as she begins to fall. Holding her in place as I watch her reactions. Her usual bored expression was now lit by both surprise and shock. "I don't get it." I mutter down to her. "Damen is the one that locked Aphrodite and me in this dimension he sent us to. Lucas even said you had the key for it." With my free hand, I hook my thumb on my front pants pocket as I continue to evaluate her expressions.

"No, you locked the dimension so no one could come to get you like Aphrodite tried." She protests before sighing and looking away from me. Her bored features coming back into place. "You don't care about us." She mutters and I find myself biting my lip as she suddenly kicks off the tree. Pulling us both down towards the ground. Shaking my head I move my energy into my free hand and feet catching my descent. Keeping ahold of Krista so she wouldn't land wrong. Adjusting my position I stand again with my feet attached to the bark and make my way down closer to the ground. "I didn't even know about you." I mutter tempted to look away. "Aphrodite didn't tell me until I gave her no choice. But I speak the truth. I returned home of my own volition. Damen was there and Aphrodite protected me from him. He sent us here and locked the dimension so we couldn't return." I openly shrug as she looks back up at me. "I haven't been able to come home since, even though I have tried." With those words, I set her down on the ground before releasing her and pocketing my hands as I continue to stare down at her. "But.." She begins and I look away from her showing her she doesn't threaten me.

"Do what you want. I can't hurt my little sister." I mutter again and go to walk back up the tree. Pausing briefly when I feel movement in my blanket. Looking over my shoulder I nearly smirk seeing she was gone. Probably to locate Lucas. "If Damen told them I am here because I want to be. That means them being here to bring me back home is just a ruse. Damen is using them. If that's the case. I can get to them myself and find out what Damen is planning just by what they've seen and done for him." This time I do smile as I leap from the tree and move back up to my post. She's definitely fast. And her attack would have broken bones if not for my shield. Which shows she isn't as strong as I thought she was. Either way, I wasn't going to let on that the other reason why I wouldn't fight her is because then I would have had to drop my shield. She's too fast for me to be unprotected. But there may be a time when I have no other choice but to fight her. So maybe I should work on a strategy.