Author's Note:

Happy New Year everyone,

I'm sorry this chapter took a little bit longer to post, but here it it. It's a bit longer and a bit cracky, so I'm praying it's okay and you all like it lol. I'll be posting the next chapter soon and I've been really excited about posting it... Sora is getting her first mission!

Please leave reviews and things if you enjoy the fic!3

Stay awesome, hoomans.

Best,

-J.E.

As always, I don't own Naruto.

After the little chat with Kisame, I moved my new effects from the bed to their respective locations in the plain room and plopped down on the bed. That teddy bear of a shark-man had my mind spinning, cycling through all the times I'd gotten close to people. And how each time, I'd led to everything crashing and burning-no matter how hard I tried to prevent it. Kisame's words left my soul feeling like it was being torn in half.

For as much as I wanted to simply turn a blind eye to the good in people, that I couldn't. And the stoic Uchiha and his uncanny kindness was exhibit A. Remember, Sora-chan, the best medicine is always bitter. Remembering the words of my Oji, I groaned, realizing with dread that letting my walls down was the only way to try and mend the cracks in my broken soul.

A sudden knock at the door ripped me from my thoughts and had my jumping upwards from my seat on the bed. The chakra signature of the individual behind the door made my heart rate spike.

Speak of the Devil.

"Come in." I monotoned, looking around in a panic for something to try and busy myself with. I was too late as Itachi strolled in casually, carrying some gauze and a bottle of antiseptic.

"The clothes fit well, I see?" He asked dryly while setting the items down on the nightstand, then took a seat in the chair next to the bed.

Heat spread over my cheeks as I rubbed my neck nervously. "They do. Good job guessing my size." I praised with a half smile, ambling to sit back on the edge of the mattress and giving him access to my wound.

"Hm," Itachi mumbled with a deep breath before tactfully unwrapping the bandages encasing my skull. "How is your head feeling?"

"Not bad. So long as I don't use any chakra." I replied, staring down at my twisting hands in my lap.

"How did you sleep?" He muttered, removing the rest of the bloodied white bandages in one fell swoop.

My eyes went wide in horror. I swallowed hard as the images of the night before flickered in my mind's eye. The nightmare and soul-crushing fear. The grounding comfort of muscular arms squeezing me. The glow of brilliant crimson.

Clearing my throat, I attempted to speak normally. "As much as I hate to admit it, it was probably one of the best nights of sleep I've had in years. So, thank you," I started. "But, regardless, you didn't need to come in and help me—"

He cut me off with a chuckle, "Oh, but I did. With how loudly you were crying out and screaming, you almost woke up the entire compound," he quipped, reaching for the antiseptic on the table. "Head trauma and concussions are known to trigger nightmares, but they will pass in time."

"He says to the medic." I smirked, breathing an internal sigh of relief as he chuckled. "Look, I appreciate you being nice and all... but I'm going to be honest," My hands balled into tight fists as I gathered all my courage. "I don't get it, Itachi. I don't get why you're wasting your time helping me as much as you have. Pain said you needed to watch me and make sure I heal, which doesn't require being nice. I don't like connections with others, nor do I particularly need or want them. Getting close to people only leads to everyone getting hurt…" The last part came out barely above a whisper before my voice died and trailed off.

Lies. You love the connections you've made. Especially with this fools little brother.

For as much as I wanted to be let my walls come crashing down, I couldn't fathom why the S-rank criminal tending to my wound was being so... nice. People being who'd acted that way in the past always wanted something. And not being able to figure out Itachi's motivation was driving me insane. Itachi's snickering low forced me to whip my head around to glower at him. "You're a terrible liar." He declared, smirking while soaking a piece of gauze with antiseptic.

Fuck. Can this fool read minds now, too?

"Excuse me?" I snapped back, lifting my brows in probing disbelief. With a breathy laugh and a light shake of his head, his large hands turned my face back to face front to access my injury. I was grateful due to the bright red flushing over my cheeks.

"It's easy to see that you do want connections. Bonds are innately human," he proclaimed, gently moving my hair over my shoulders, his fingertips faintly grazing my skin forced my breath to hitch. "But, it's the fear of losing the people you care for that prevents you from allowing yourself to become attached to others." His words had me floored, staring wide-eyed and dazed at the wall in front of me.

"You can think whatever you w—"

"Why did you heal my cut then?" He interrupted smoothly.

"It was a cut. I healed it. Isn't that what medics do?" I retorted defensively before sucking in a gasp of air while the antiseptic burned in my open gash.

The man has his fingers on your gaping wound. Don't tempt fate by being a dumbass.

"Again, you are a terrible liar." Itachi snickered and began to tactfully wrap my injury with fresh bandages.

Okay, it's not a joke that people with dojutsu read emotion better than regularly people. I literally can't lie.

I gulped, feeling my heart pick up speed again and pound against my chest. As I stared ahead at a discolored spot on the marble wall, my stomach twisted into an anxious knot while I fought desperately to formulate some kind of response. Much to my dismay, he gently pivoted my head around to stare into his bottomless coal irises. Grinning, his eyes went half-lidded, "That's what I thought." The red that already covered my cheeks spiked drastically as I scoffed.

Fighting against my thundering heartbeat, I realized he hadn't answered my question. And I needed to get to tho bottom of what he wanted from me. "W-what did you mean yesterday when you said you could help me? And why did you offer such a thing?"

Leaning back in his chair, the apathy melted into a horribly self-satisfied look smirk. "Really? I thought you said you would rather die than accept my help."

Smart-ass.

I rolled my eyes at his sarcastic remark, "I very well might die anyways—so, what's the harm?"

"Well, I can assure you that you won't be dying on my watch." The soft smile pulling at the edges of Itachi's mouth triggered me to do the same.

Folding his arms over his muscular chest, the smile faded. "You implied that the Uchiha stone tablet contains information on your family, correct?" Cocking a questioning brow at me, I slowly nodded my head. "It is impossible to read that tablet without a Mangekyo Sharingan to decipher it." I closed my eyes with a defeated sigh.

Well, fuck. No wonder I couldn't figure it out.

I shot Itachi a confused gaze, "And? Are you saying you would like… read it for me? Why the hell would you do that?" My words trailed off, riddled with apprehensive bewilderment.

A soft sympathy glistened in his deep obsidian eyes, "Yes, I would read it. And I'm offering my help because in massacring my clan, I unwittingly made it impossible for you to understand your own. You deserve to know where you come from. Especially when it clearly pertains directly to your abilities." My gut churned as I lifted a dubious brow.

Itachi continued, "You don't use hand signs. You have enough chakra to be considered a jinchuriki. Power like that comes from somewhere. It's quite intriguing, I'll admit—

"What are you getting at, Itachi?" I interrupted, narrowing my gaze. He needed to get to the point.

Widening his eyes, he breathed a laugh. "Please, I have no reason to exploit your power. I only want to remedy the trouble I've caused you in discovering the origins of your bloodline. I also have been tasked with keeping you safe. You have a major chakra pathway blocked. You are unable to use ninjutsu, leaving you vulnerable. Don't pretend you won't need help for the time being."

Damn him and his impeccably logical thought process.

Heaving a sigh, my eyes fell closed in defeat. "Ugh… Fine. But that doesn't mean I'm agreeing with you about all the stuff you said about bonds and whatever," With a sly smile, Itachi nodded.

"Whatever you say." He chimed before rising and striding over to the doorway.

"Hey," My voice prompting him to peak back at me over a shoulder. "If you pull anything fucking stupid, or betray the shred of trust I have for you, I will kill you. Without a second thought. Got it?"

A small chuckle left the wry smirk pulling at Itachi's thin lips. "I would expect nothing less from you, Sora." And with that, he disappeared through the doorway.

Okay... What the fuck was that?

Over the next two weeks or so, I began to familiarize myself with the environment I'd found myself in.

Itachi was oddly true to his word. The helicopter parent aspect was something I definitely hadn't expected. He checked in on me regularly. He ensured that I ate. He tended to my wound and monitored my blocked pathway. He made me laugh with wonderfully dry humor and sarcasm on days I couldn't find the energy to crawl out of bed. After critiquing his cooking techniques one too many times, he let me into the kitchen to help cook. And, oh, did the man love to tease me. I swear, it became a personal point of pride for him to poke fun at my clumsiness and/or awkwardness just about every chance he could. I secretly adored it. All of it. But he certainly couldn't know that.

Kisame had become one of my closest friends and confidants, despite teasing both Itachi and I for whatever he thought was going on between the two of us. He also checked in and joked with me, always making sure to bring me snacks and keeping me informed on gossip amongst the Akatsuki. He was incredibly emotionally aware and great at giving advice. He kept his promise of playing shogi. In fact, we ended up playing most nights. When he began getting beaten more times than he'd like to admit, he somehow convinced Deidara to play. Itachi thoroughly enjoyed observing, mocking Deidara and Kisame every now and again for how much they lost and telling them what would have been a better strategic move than the one they'd played.

I became more familiar with the layout of the base and its inhabitants. Deidara began to feel more and more like a funny little brother with each passing day. It was almost impossible for us to have a normal conversation devoid of sarcasm and dark humored jokes. Screwing with him was becoming a favorite pass time, like the time I hid all of his explosive clay. That was a funny day, the look horrified and enraged look on his face was worth its weight in gold.

Deidara's partner, Sasori, came across nearly as cold as Pain. Until, one day, I saw him grinding up some poisonous herbs that sparked a conversation about our mutual love of poisons. I even promised him that I would collect some medicinal herbs when I began to go out on missions. To which he promised me some ryo in exchange for when the time came.

One evening Itachi and I were in the kitchen chopping vegetables when two chakra signatures I didn't recognize entered the compound. The unfamiliar forms were heading towards the kitchen when a husky voice rang out from behind me. "Oh, damn! Why didn't you mention the new chick was fucking gorgeous, Kakazu!?"

Rolling my eyes at the man's comment, I ignored him and continuing to cut the green onions-albeit a tad more aggressively than before. The strange chakra signature closing in put me on high alert and had me sending chakra into a hand.

"And what's your name, beautiful?" The man purred, inching a bit closer. That was it. Whirling around with a huff, I used the chakra gathered in my hand to seize the veins and arteries running down his neck. He sputtered a bloody cough. I'd probably broken some blood vessel, but really couldn't have cared less at the time.

The tall man wore a black Akatsuki cloak pulled down to reveal his muscular chest. A necklace with a small triangle nested inside of a circular pendant hung low from around his neck. His hair was a stark silver that contrasted his violet eyes. In one hand, he carried a giant red scythe which one could only assume was his primary weapon. A scratched out Steam village shinobi headband adorned his neck.

"Tits, ass andpower…? Will you marry me?" He smirked, miraculously still able to choke out the words. He looked far too pleased with himself.

Itachi's chakra flared while he spun around to regard the silver haired man. "Hidan, watch your tongue." He hissed, shooting him a dangerous glare. Glancing over to Itachi, a confused but small smile pulled at my lips. It was oddly pleasing that he didn't want others speaking to me in such a vulgar manner. Ever the gentleman.

Clearing my throat, I sauntered over to the man named Hidan. He choked and coughed as I used my other free hand to manipulate the chakra pathway and blood flow in his core. I stopped, taking notice of how his blood seemed contaminated—malevolent.

What is this...? Something is very wrong with this guy's blood.

Glowering into the man's violet eyes, my gaze narrowed into threatening slits. "You will never speak to me like that again, are we clear?" His lips had just begun to turn a shade of pale blue, when I released him. A shiver rippled through me as the almost suffocating darkness left as I severed my hold on Hidan. Never had a person's blood unsettled me so deeply.

Itachi's low chuckle from the stove removed the last of the internal discomfort just as another man spoke gruffly from the entryway into the kitchen, "Hidan is immortal. Don't be afraid to inflict injury. Mercy is futile with him." My gaze moved to the hulking form of who I knew to be Kakazu—Hidan's partner. Deep set, glowing green eyes surrounded by red scanned me top and down, unimpressed. He wore a matching cloak with a black mask over his mouth and adorned a grey head covering that went down to cover his shoulders. His Akatsuki attire was complete with a scratched-out shinobi headband from the Village Hidden in the Waterfall.

So, this is Kakazu and Hidan? The religious fanatic dude and the one who tried to kill Hashirama, right?

"So, you two are the immortal ones, huh?" Kakazu remained silently staring, arms folded over his broad chest as Hidan fought to catch his breath while rising from the floor. Rocking my weight onto a hip, I continued, unphased. "My name is Sora. It is nice to meet someone besides Itachi and Sasori who don't make disgusting, lewd remarks," I stated with a bow towards Kakazu. I was surprised when he respectfully reciprocated. Glaring back over at Hidan, I rested my hands on my hips. "See, if you had manners, none of that," I gestured to his neck with a wave of my hand, "would have had to happen." The thick sarcasm dripped from my words.

"I think I'm in love…" Hidan looked down at me like a child seeing a puppy for the first time.

I guffawed loudly, "Honey, I could never love you. Let alone really anyone for that matter. But nice try." Giving him a patronizing pat on the cheek, I strolled back into the kitchen and resumed cutting vegetables. It did wonders for calming my residual rage.

"All in good time, sweetheart." Hidan cooed with a wink as Kakazu rolled his eyes and dragged him away from the kitchen. I shot him a death glare before turning back around. The dreaded, dull ache in my head came back with a vengeance. Setting down my knife, my fingertips massaged small circles on my temples. The ache grew as I sensed another person lurking behind me.

"Yes?" I mumbled. Someone tapped my shoulder, leaving me no choice but to face whoever was nagging me.

Deidara was standing behind me, wearing a mischievous grin and holding a bottle of sake in one hand. The bottle suddenly being waved in my face had me physically recoiling while pushing the bottle away. With a groan, I pinched the bridge of my nose. A habit I seemed to have picked up from the brooding Uchiha. "Deidara..." I began, sounding like a mother scolding her child. "What are you doing?"

Placing a hand on my shoulder, smiled. "We're playing shogi and getting wasted tonight!" He chimed.

"You might be. I'm good." I deadpanned.

"Aww, come on, my man! I'm leaving for a mission soon," Deidara's lips morphed into a horribly exaggerated pout. "Please?"

God, he looks just like a pouting toddler. It's pathetic. But also adorable. Fuck, did Sasuke make me that soft?

Letting out an exasperated exhale, my head lulled back as my eyes closed. "Fine. You get two games and a couple of drink. That's it, okay?"

He sneered deviously while moving the bottle closer to my mouth. Pulling my lips into a tight line, I sighed, watching the liquid swish and bubble in the dark glass bottle. I drank only on rare occasion. But after having been locked away for so long by my last captors coupled with almost dying in a rock collapse, I figured what the hell. Not caring about how much of a lightweight I'd become, I knocked back sizable swig. The liquid scorched its way down my throat. It was good Sake. I relished the pleasantly sweet while warmth settled in my stomach.

"Now, I'll be on my way." Deidara smirked. I subtly shook my head at the mischievous boy as he exited the kitchen.

Itachi clicked his tongue, "How inconsiderate."

"… What? What did I do?" I cocked a brow inquisitively at him at his remark.

"You neglected to offer me any." Itachi poked. I thought he was joking, but the raise of his brows and placid expression said otherwise.

"Are you serious?" I chortled, looking at him in disbelief and leaned against the counter. "Isn't that against the three shinobi prohibitions?" My cheeks were growing hot as I teased him. But, for once, it wasn't from the gorgeous Uchiha. No, it was the alcohol.

Woah. That hit fast.

"Rules are not infallible. The three shinobi prohibitions are no different." He stated, removing the pan from the stove before reclining against the counter. His serious, midnight irises met my bewildered gaze.

"So, does that go for money and women as well?" I ribbed. Mirth pulled my lips into a wide grin as I folded my arms with a tilt of my head.

The narrowing of densely lashed eyes had me sputtering a laugh. "You are seriously too fun to screw with. I now see why Kisame does it as much as he does. One moment, please." Without sparing him a glance, I marched out of the kitchen into the other room. I found Deidara debating some weird art nonsense with Sasori. That was their M.O. Sasori's brown eyes flicked up to meet mine. I pressed a finger into my lips, encouraging him to not alert his partner to the fact that I was standing just beside where he was sitting. He obliged, ignoring me and quickly looking back at Deidara. As swiftly as I could, I snatched the sake bottle out of the blondes grip.

"Hey! Sora, that's mine!" Deidara whined, rotating in his seat to give me another terribly pitiful look-brows knit together over desperate and pleading eyes.

"Oh, you poor thing!" I sarcastically gushed, placing a hand over my heart. Irritation flooded his boyish features while I took a good, long swig. "Sharing is caring, Deidara. And, maybe galavanting around and parading a bottle of Sake was not the best choice." With a smirk, I playfully tugged his long ponytail. The disgusted noise he let out left me stifling a laugh as I made my way back to the kitchen.

Oh no… Your filter is beginning to die. Are you already feeling a couple big sips of Sake?

Striding over to Itachi, I stuck the bottle out to him, beaming like a child who'd gotten straight A's in a report card. "Ladies first." He murmured, lifting the bottle to my bottom lip before tactfully tipping it up, allowing me to gulp down another big drink. I watched his charcoal eyes darken as I swallowed.

I've never seenthat look before.

Gulping down another sip, I pushed the bottle into Itachi's hand. The brief touch of our fingers made the dusky pink blush from the alcohol flare furiously.

The liquor had begun to take full effect as I found myself unwittingly studying the Uchiha. I admired the subtle pink growing over his pale cheeks. That cut jawline. He was nothing short of beautiful. And those eye—oh, oh. Oh, god. Those eyes were watching my every move.

Wow. Did you seriously just do that?

He lifted the bottle to his smirking lips and cocked a brow before taking a mindful drink.

That sly grin was going to be the death of me. My hammering heart and clammy palms had me contemplating whether I was coming down with something. And, I was sick, all right. Fucking lovesick. I cleared my throat and tried to look half normal as moved away to grab some chopsticks and bowls.

"What's bothering you?" Itachi probed. It must have been the alcohol making his voice sound even more like velveteen than usual.

"Nothing." I retorted a little too quickly.

The trademark smirk I'd come to love erupted as he set the food on the table. "Why do you continue to lie when you're so obviously poor at it?" He asked, moving to close the distance between us.

With a nervous laugh, I ambled over to the other side of the kitchen. "I really don't know what you're talking about, Itachi. Besides, this is not the time nor the place." Swerving around him, I reached for the bottle to take another drink.

"Oh? The time and place for what, Sora?" He hinted.

"Don't choose this moment to play dumb. It isn't a good look on you." I scowled at him, fighting the urge to let my gaze wander to the floor at the way he was staring back.

"And defensive isn't the most suitable for you, either." Itachi retorted with a smile.

"I'm not defensive." I scoffed, knowing I very much so was. The thundering of my heart against my ribcage was probably loud enough for him to hear.

He's right, why lie when you are obviously SO bad at it?

"Hm," He hummed. Rough fingers gently pinched my chin and tilted my head back, leaving me no other option than to stare up at him. My mouth went dry. "Does it have anything to do with the sharp spikes in your chakra when you're around me?"

I tried keeping my tone as dispassionate as possible as I choked out my words, "I-I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe you're hallucinating."

His slate-gray eyes became darker, but somehow, they weren't full of malice. No, I knew that look. It was lust. The fire it ignited between my legs and the knot coiling in my abdomen were undeniable evidence.

He's totally looking at me like he wants to fuck me. No way.

He brought his lips down to graze my ear. "Are you sure about that?" Itachi whispered, sultry as I'd ever heard him. My already quick pulse exploded. I fought to find words. To force even just a sound to leave my He pulled his head away from mine, his brow cocked quizzically with a deeply amused smirk tugging at the edges of his enticing lips.

His raven-colored bangs hung down slightly as he gazed down at me and traced my bottom lip with his thumb delicately, causing the tightening to become unbearable. Somehow, I snapped back into reality, blinking hard as I tried to gather my conscious enough to function. Taking a hasty step backwards, my clammy fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

Eating. Right. You were supposed to be getting people to come take their food. And then shogi.

I hollered to the rest of the men in the other room, "Food is ready! Deidara, let's eat and play some fucking shogi."

Grabbing a bowl of food, I rushed towards the exit. "Sora," I froze, hating the way I loved hearing him say my name. "We'll finish this conversation later." Taking a hasty step out of the kitchen, I could make out Itachi snickering to himself. The rest of the men shuffled past me and filed in to take their food.

I was glad to have a moment alone on the couch. My brain was struggling to comprehend what the hell interaction that was with Itachi. In short, I needed a minute to fucking recuperate. I was more flustered than ever. Glancing down at my food and sucking in a cleansing breath, I tried to eat my food and forget my heart still hammering in my chest.