Kokoa sat on the couch in silence, staring at the wall. Thoughts clashed against her skull. He knew. Shisui knew. Sure he promised to keep it a secret, but he and Itachi…well they were practically brothers. How could he not tell him?

"What's the big deal Kokoa? Relax….but if he knows…if Itachi finds out…Why do I care so much?" She threw her head back.

"Because when it comes to Itachi…ugh curse this heart of mine. Some ninja I am…worrying over some guy." She brought a pillow to her face.

"Stupid Kokoa, he's not some guy. He's THE guy. That's why." Launching the pillow across the room, she rose to her feet.

"I'm hungry."

After stuffing her face, Kokoa thought some air would help calm her nerves. She strolled through Konoha as always, admiring the shops and people. She froze when Itachi and Shisui came into view.

"Crap," she muttered, trying to decide what to do. Stay…or get the hell out. She turned on her heels, ready to sprint out of there, when,

"Oi! Kokoa!" She turned half way to see Shisui calling and waving to her. She cursed him a few times before turning around with an awkward smile.

"What are you doing?" he inquired, walking over. Ignoring Shisui first, she glanced at Itachi who greeted her with a smile.

"Uh – just walking…I needed some air is all. Y-you?"

"We were just sparring," Itachi replied.

"Yeah, it was more like me kicking his ass twice over," Shisui snickered, throwing an arm around his friend. Itachi sighed in irritation. Shisui peered at her from the corners of his eyes.

"Don't worry Kokoa, I haven't told Itachi your secret," he said casually. She stiffened.

"Secret? What secret?" Itachi removed his friend's arm.

"That I'm treating you to dango later!" she blurted, throwing both hands over her mouth afterwards. The Uchiha gave her a questioning look.

"No, not that."

"Am I missing something…?"

"Itachi I-" she stammered.

"She secretly…" Shisui started. Kokoa looked over in panic.

"Llllooooves…" She narrowed her eyes. He was dead.

"Bubble baths."

"I'll kill you Uchiha – wait…" She fell silent. Itachi scratched his head.

"Normally I pick up on things pretty quick, but I'm still…well lost."

"Kokoa secretly loves bubble baths."

"I…" She was speechless. "You kill me. You just kill me."

"I guess the secrets out, hu?" he grinned.

"Shisui, leave her alone before she hurts you."

"He's screwed either way." She mumbled, turning to leave before he decided to actually tell Itachi she loved him.

"Going to take a bath Kokoa?" He teased. She shook her head and marched off, embarrassed.

"You've been a bit…awkward lately."

"Itachi?" Kokoa turned around in surprise. "Always sneaking up on me like that."

"I'm practicing is all," he grinned. "Looks like you were too."

"Just some basic shuriken throwing. I was bored, but not in the mood to get all dirty." She shrugged. He looked up, smiling slightly as the sun's rays peeked through the forest's trees, warming his face.

"Hm, it is beautiful out, isn't it?" she smiled. He stood there silently, watching her.

"What?" She uncrossed her arms. "Itachi? Stop - stop staring." She blushed. Then it hit her.

'SHISUI TOLD. He must have!'

"Itachi-san, w-why…" She avoided his eyes.

"Shisui was right, you are fun to mess with," he grinned.

"You suck…both of you." She turned her face away.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't resist." He walked over, pressing his lips to her forehead.

"You're lucky I like you."

"I'm flattered," he whispered, stealing a quick kiss from her lips, surprising her. She grabbed his sleeve without meaning to. Taking that as an invitation, he held and kissed her again, only longer, deeper. They both wanted it, putting their hearts into that fleeting moment. His grip on her shoulders tightened when he pulled away, resting his forehead against hers, sighing slightly. Seconds after, Kokoa stiffened, realizing why he had stopped. Peeling open an eye,

"Orokanaru otōto yo…" There Sasuke stood, frozen in his tracks, eyes wide and glued to the sight of his older brother and Kokoa, sharing such and intimate moment. Afraid, Kokoa opened her eyes slowly to see him. His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out. Itachi slowly let go of her, taking a step away, eyes never leaving his younger brother.

"Sasuk-"

"Ni-san…You – she – finally!" he shouted, waving his arms around. Itachi blinked in surprise. Kokoa bit her lip to keep from laughing.

"You were kissing. That means…does that mean you guys are together? Please say yes," he pleaded.

"Sasuke calm down."

"How can I Ni-san? I've been telling you for weeks to do something! How? When? Where?" he pressed. Itachi glanced over at Kokoa with a sigh.

"There's no point in trying to hide it," she admitted. He shook his head.

"Come here Sasuke. We'll tell you everything, but promise me you'll calm down? I've never seen you so…I don't even have words for it. I'm a bit worried actually."

"Just tell me, tell me." He rushed over. Grabbing their hands, he lowered them to sit on the ground with him. Kokoa remained silent. Itachi would tell Sasuke all that he wanted him to know.

"Yes Sasuke…we are together," he sighed.

"Yes!" he cheered.

"You can't tell anyone. I mean no one. Not Mother or Father, your friends, our family. No one Sasuke. Do you understand?"

"Mhm, mhm." He nodded aggressively. "But why Ni-san? Aren't you happy?"

"That's exactly it Sasuke. I am happy, and if this reached Father…you know how he's always watching me, saying I have no time for distractions. If he found out, it's possible he'd make me stop seeing Kokoa. I can't let that happen," he explained.

"You're right. You did mention that before. I understand. No one else knows? And when did it happen?"

"We've been together for a while now. Quite some time actually."

"So when I would tease you about her?"

"We were together."

"When she was in the hospital? When she came over for dinner? All those times I would see you guys together…you were a couple?"

"Way before any of that."

"Why – why didn't you tell me…" The smile on the child's face faded. Kokoa looked down sadly.

"It's not that we didn't want you to know Sasuke," she started. "It's just that you're young, and we didn't want you to let it slip in front of the wrong person."

"No one was supposed to know, but Mother figured it out on her own, and Shisui squeezed it out of me. Don't be angry with us. We just wanted to keep it hidden for a while," Itachi added.

"But now you know Sasuke, and we're trusting you. You're a part of this relationship in some strange way," he chuckled.

"Because I like you both, I'll keep it a secret," he grinned.

"To be honest, I'm relieved he knows. Now I won't have to come up with ridiculous excuses," Kokoa stated.

"Sasuke knowing does make things easier," he agreed. "No more secrets."
"No more secrets Ni-san."

"I want you to be there for Kokoa, Sasuke. If something were to happen to me, I want you to be there…for each other."

Kokoa furrowed her brow, shocked why Itachi suddenly mentioned something like that.

"What are you talking about Ni-san?" Sasuke inquired, the smile fading from his lips.

"What are you…" Kokoa trailed off.

"I'm just saying…being a shinobi is dangerous. Things happen. If I die, I want Sasuke to promise to be there for you." He faced his brother.

"I…I do – I will," the child promised. Kokoa stared at her hands, biting the inside of her cheek.

"Good Sasuke. Knowing you'd have each other…I just want you to look out for her if I'm not here anymore. Whether that relationship turns into something more when you're older, well that's up to you," he half laughed, hoping to lighten the mood. Sasuke's head shot down, eyes wide, cheeks a light pink. Kokoa kept her gaze down, lips sealed. If one listened close enough, the sound of her heart breaking could be heard.

"You know I brought over some dango so we could eat and spend time together."

"I'm not in the mood," she shrugged.

"To eat or talk?"

"Both."

"Kokoa…you're folding clothes. Besides, you never turn down my surprise dango visits," Itachi commented. No response. Closing his eyes, he let out a sigh.

"What's bothering you?"

"Nothing Itachi. I'm fine," she said softly.

"Really? You're really brushing me off like that? Come on now."

"I'm just a little – a little confused is all…shocked even."

"About what?" He lowered his voice, looking at her with questioning eyes.

"What the hell you told Sasuke. That he had to be there for me if you died. Where did that come from?" She aggressively folded a shirt. He studied the floor for a second, deep in thought.

"I said it before, being a ninja is dangerous-"

"I know that. In case you forgot, I'm one too," she interrupted.

"Then you understand where I'm coming from."

"Not really Itachi. Not really."

"Why are you so upset?"

"Well for one, you implied that if you die it's alright for me to hook up with your younger brother in the future," she said bluntly.

"I didn't mean it to sound like that Kokoa."

"And two…where is all this talk about you dying coming from?" she mumbled. By now she wasn't really folding clothes anymore. It was more like curling everything into random lumps and tossing them aside.

"Look at me," he said. She didn't answer.

"Kokoa look at me when I'm talking to you. Please."

"What?"
"Tell me."

"You tell me, Itachi-san. Tell me why. Are you planning on dying? Is there some mission? Are you sick? Is someone after you? I just don't get how we go from celebrating with Sasuke, to promising to look after me if you die. Completely unexpected, shocking, heartbreaking…" She met his eyes.

"It's just…I'm always thinking about it. If something did happen to me…I don't want to leave you alone again."

"But suddenly forcing little Sasuke to promise you…Besides, you're strong."

"Kokoa I-"

"I don't mean to be one of those people always praising and drooling over you because you're an Uchiha, but I do know you're strong Itachi, ridiculously strong. Why are you fixated on your death all of a sudden? It's hard to hear you speak like this."

"Kokoa you know this lifestyle all too well. Our lifestyle. We are shinobi. Tools. Weapons, constantly laying our lives on the line for our village. You know the violence we face. You know the blood, the death, the loss, the pain. You know Kokoa-"

"Of course I do Itachi! Of course I do."

"Then why are you being so naïve? You always walk around pretending like nothing's wrong. Didn't I tell you no more acting? Stop being so childish."

She fell silent. He had never raised his voice at her before.

"I lost my parents when I was very young. I barely remember them. And I don't go a day without thinking of Mamoru, the boy on my team who died. I know what loss feels like. What grief, pain, despair, what all of it feels like. I know it's real, but I can't keep thinking about it. I'll go insane. That's why with you I always try to smile and laugh, because I'm with you. I'm in a good and safe place. Why should I feel sad or afraid in your arms? It's when we're apart that I'm scared because I can't be there for you. I can't be there to look after you, to make you happy. I'm not naïve, I'm not acting…I'm just trying to be happy…with you. I don't want to think about the bad stuff, but I'm aware that it exists." He glanced down with sad eyes.

"I understand thinking about this stuff. How could you not? It's your life. What I don't get is why you suddenly brought it up, especially in front of Sasuke like that."

"Because Kokoa…like I said before, I wanted to make sure that he'd look after you. If I die, I want him to be there for you. Perhaps he'll do a better job than me. I'm still alive and I'm barely able to be there for you."

"Itachi-san, you're fine. You're right here, always."

"We both know that's a lie," he commented. She sat there, fingering the tassel on one of her jackets.

"I've seen a lot in my short life, enough to make me hate war, violence, power. Part of me becoming a ninja is of course my name, Uchiha, but the other is because…well I don't want to fight. I don't want to kill, or destroy, or hurt. Heiwa. My favorite word. Peace. All I want is to protect. To protect my village, my clan, my mother, father, and Sasuke, to protect you."

"Itachi…"

"And I know that things happen, and if I can't be here to protect you, I have to plan ahead to make sure you're safe and happy because you deserve to be. I know you love and trust Sasuke, and he loves you. When he's older, he will be able to protect you if it comes to it. I just…I'll do anything to keep you from getting hurt. I'll do whatever is takes to keep you safe Kokoa."