Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap. Her feet barely touched the ground as she ran. Some stared. Others whispered. She kept running. She kept running, and running, and running, through the village, down the packed streets, to the hospital. She burst through the front doors, panting heavily. A few people in the waiting area looked away. Two chatting nurses slowly left. She leapt to the front desk.

"Where is he?" Kokoa gasped. The receptionist looked up in surprise.

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Where? Where is he?"

"Who –"

"Sasuke, Uchiha Sasuke. Where is he?"

"Down the hall, first room on the left. Are you related in any way –" Kokoa was half way there before the receptionist finished. The two nurses shrugged, wondering what was wrong with her.

"Sasuke!" She flung open the door. Empty. "What? Where – shit," she spat, turning on her heels and dashing out. It was drizzling earlier, but now the sky had opened wide, and the storm unleashed. Kokoa ran through the pouring rain. She ran back through the packed streets until the Uchiha compound came into view; the front gates lined in yellow tape. Her mouth turned dry. It was hard to swallow. She crawled inside. No one in sight. There was only one place. Stepping inside the home, she followed the trail of water droplets on the wooden floors. On his hands and knees, Sasuke sobbed over the chalk outlines of his parents's bodies. Gently walking over, Kokoa dropped to the floor, pulling him into an embrace. Burying his face in her shoulder, he cried hysterically, gasping, trembling. Kokoa, on the other hand, sat there silently, her eyes dry, with no idea what to feel.

Sasuke sat on the couch, staring at nothing in particular. Tears trickled down his face. Kokoa glanced over before turning back to the fridge. He hadn't said much. She didn't expect him to.

"Are you hungry, Sasuke?" she inquired. No reply. Sighing, she walked a plate over, setting it on the table before him.

"Some onigiri. It isn't much, but it should do until I get some things," she explained, watching him for some reaction. Nothing. His gaze didn't even shift. She whipped around, facing the ANBU member.

"Kuroki Kokoa."

"What?"

"For you." He handed her a scroll. Taking it, she read the label.

"What is it –" She looked up to find he was gone. Peeling it open, she read the message.

"Sasuke, we have to go to Hokage-sama's office," she sighed. "I'll try to make it quick, whatever it is they want. I know you're tired. We don't really have a choice." She shrugged. Without argument, he slipped on his shoes and followed.

Without considering Sasuke's emotional and mental state, they questioned him, milked him dry of any answers he had. Kokoa was furious and irritated, so much that she couldn't be in the same room. Now she and Sasuke stood before the Third Hokage.

"I am sorry for your loss, Sasuke," he expressed, sadly eyeing the boy. He moved closer to Kokoa, resting his head against her side.

"I will let you go, but there's one last thing. I need to speak with you, Kokoa."

"You do?"

"It's very important. I would also prefer if you were alone," he explained. She glanced down at Sasuke.

"I'll take care of him," Kakashi offered, walking in.

"Kakashi-san?"

"Would it be alright?"

"I guess, but aren't you busy?" she asked.

"I turned in a mission report not too long ago, meaning I have some time off. I'll take Sasuke out for a snack. How does that sound? Some ice cream?"

"You can go with Kakashi-san, Sasuke. I won't be long."

"I'll bring him back to your place later on."

"Arigato, Kakashi." She smiled weakly. He led the boy out, leaving her alone with the hokage and two ANBU.

"A little cruel to interrogate him so soon, don't you think, Hokage-sama?" she said.

"It was a terrible event. We needed all the information we could get. He was the only witness," he replied. She fell silent.

"Kokoa, I need to ask you something."

"Yes?"

"You associated with Uchiha Itachi. You were close."

"Hai."

"What happened was dreadful, something that will go down in Konoha's history." He went on.

"Did he say anything to you?"

"Hu?" She looked up.

"Did Itachi mention anything about…about it?"

"No," she replied.

"He didn't hint? Was he acting strange?"

"Nothing. He was upset because of Uchiha Shisui's death, but that was normal behavior."

"Funny you mention Shisui's death…" He trailed off. She narrowed her eyes. "It's just that you two were close."

"What are you implying, Hokage-sama?"

"A great number of people knew about your relationship with him. It was quite obvious."

"So? Two young kids. We went on dango dates and – and long walks." She shrugged. "What are you getting at?"

"Everyone knew Uchiha Itachi was the only person you associated with. If you weren't at home alone, you were with him, watching him, training with him. He was everything to you, meaning you two shared secrets and information. You trusted each other. He confided in you. What do you know about the massacre of the Uchiha clan?" one of the ANBU barked, shocking her. Sarutobi raised a hand, telling him to stand down. She clenched her fists.

"You think I had something to do with this? You think I was involved? That – that I knew? Do you honestly think I would take Sasuke's parents away from him? Do you think I could cut down innocent people! Do you think I would turn against the village!?"

"For Itachi, yes," he stated.

"I didn't know. I don't know anything. Yes, we were seeing each other, but there was never anything that made me believe he would do this. He loved his family, he loved Konoha. He wouldn't cut down his own flesh and blood. For what reason!? What would he gain!?" she shouted. Sarutobi glanced away.

"I don't know what's going on. I don't know. All I know is that the Uchiha are gone, Sasuke is all alone, and Itachi is missing."

"Funny he's missing. You wouldn't happen to know where he is?" the ANBU commented.

"Go ahead, pick on me. I'm used to it. I already lost everything once. I should be used to it by now." She spat, turning to leave.

"Bitter because he's left you behind?"

"Go to hell."

"Enough. Both of you," Sarutobi interjected.

"Sasuke…?" she whispered.

"Hm?"

"What of Sasuke?"

"He's the only survivor."

"He has no one, nowhere to go. I'd like to take him in." She faced them.

"That's a big responsibility."

"He and I are already close. I doubt he'd want to be with anyone else. Besides, he and I promised Itachi if anything ever happened to him, that we'd be there for each other. Sasuke will stay with me." With a bow, she left, shutting the door behind her.

"I don't know how much she knows. I don't know what Itachi might have told her. Because of that, I want you to keep an eye on her." Shimura Danzo appeared from the shadows, gaining the attention of both ANBU and the Hokage.

"For now, monitor her behavior, where she goes, who she associates with. If she does in fact know anything, we can't have her spreading information like that around. If she was involved with Itachi, we'll have to put an end to that."

"Understood."

"Hai."

"…Ah…" Sarutobi turned away.

"Thank you for taking him out," Kokoa expressed.

"It was nothing. He's a good kid." Kakashi smiled. Sasuke headed for the bathroom.

"They suspect me," she whispered. "They think I had something to do with it."

"Did you?"

"Of course not. Do you think I'm capable of doing that?"

"It's not like you."

"Exactly. I haven't done anything ever to make them think I'd be involved." She rubbed her face.

"It's not what you have or haven't done, Kokoa. It's your relationship with Itachi. He wiped out the clan and then disappeared."

"Is there proof that it was him?" She crossed her arms. He blinked in surprise.

"Kokoa –"

"No, I'm serious. Is there proof?" she repeated. He sighed, figuring she hadn't talked to Sasuke about it yet.

"What do you mean my relationship? That's all everyone is saying," she spat.

"You were committed to him. It was obvious. After all, you did recently tell me that you'd stay by his side…follow him to whatever end," he stated. Her eyes widened.

"I wouldn't kill his family, and neither would he."

"You should really talk to Sasuke."

"Don't tell me what to do. Everyone is telling me what to do and say, like I'm the bad guy!"
"The bad guy is Itachi."

"I love him!" she gasped. Kakashi gave her a look. "I love him more than anything, but I never got the chance to tell him. Don't you think if I knew where he was that I'd try reaching him? That I'd do something instead of standing here letting everyone push me around! I want to understand what happened. I need to know, but I don't. I don't know. All I know is that the man I love is gone, and he's accused of killing his family."

"…You need to talk to Sasuke." With that, Kakashi left.

She sat alone in the dim light, fingering the pendant around her neck. She looked over when Sasuke quietly stepped into the room, rubbing his eyes.

"Hey," she smiled. "I made myself some tea. Do you want any?" she inquired. He nodded no.

"You know, you're going to have to eat eventually."

"I did with Kakashi-san."

"Ice-cream doesn't count. I guess I wasn't helping the issue, considering I barely have any food. I'll get stuff tomorrow. We can go shopping, get some air," she explained. He hopped up beside her.

"I can't sleep, Kokoa," he sighed. "Nightmares. Images. I'm afraid."

"It's alright to be afraid."

"When I close my eyes…I see it. I see them, I see him. They won't go away." He held his head.

"You don't have to talk about it, Sasuke."

"But it's so scary, and I'm so tired. I can't take it…" he whimpered, confused as to why she didn't want to discuss the matter.

"I'm here. You're safe. I won't let anything happen, ok? So try to get some sleep."

"Will you stay?"

"I won't leave the couch…unless I need the bathroom." She cracked a small smile. He nodded, getting comfortable. Reaching over, she snatched the folded blanket and laid it over him before taking her previous position; sitting in the dim light fingering the Uchiha crest around her neck.

Surprisingly, Sasuke wanted to return to class at the academy the next day. Unsure if he was ready, Kokoa gave in, thinking it would distract him. With Sasuke in school that meant she had to go grocery shopping alone, and oh what an adventure it turned out to be. There were some people who always looked down on her for no apparent reason. Others, who weren't too fond of the Uchiha, didn't like the fact she was so close with them. And the majority watched her with suspicious eyes, wondering what role the girlfriend of Uchiha Itachi played in all of this. Every now and then she'd turn around, feeling she was being watched. The sad truth was that she in fact was being watched, by ANBU, other shinobi, and ordinary citizens.

"Why is everyone looking at me like I'm the bad guy? What did I do?" she whined to herself, pulling at her hair. She was trapped, suffocating.

"…You need to talk to Sasuke."

Kakashi's words echoed.

"Am I missing something?" Deciding it'd be best to confront Sasuke and hear his side, she started putting away the groceries, waiting until he came home.

"Did you like it?" she questioned. "I forgot to ask you what you wanted for dinner, so I guessed. Next time I'll make your favorite."

"It was good, Kokoa. Arigato." Sasuke nodded.

"How was school? Did they…you know say anything? Treat you differently?"

"Some looks…others talked to each other. Nothing direct. There isn't much to say other than sorry." He shrugged.

"I've been getting looks…" she sighed.

"It makes sense."

"Huh?"

"Even I'm confused, Kokoa."

"What do you mean? People are treating me like I did it or something."

"You're defending him."

"But…they just assume he did it. He didn't –"

"Kokoa…" He flashed a confused look. "Don't you know?"

"Know what? I don't know. Am I missing something? People keep asking the same things, and I'm just so overwhelmed. I don't get I," she explained.

"You've been avoiding me. We haven't talked."

"I didn't want you to feel like you had to…maybe I wasn't ready either."

"What do you think happened anyways?" he asked.

"I know your clan was murdered and you're the only one. I know Itachi is missing. I know they think it was him, and I know people think I'm involved because we were seeing each other. Is there any evidence? Any motive? I mean people are just talking –"

"Kokoa…I walked in and found him standing over the dead bodies of my mother and father."

"Wha…" She went blank.

"Right before he launched a shuriken at me. Right before he used the mangekyo sharingan and forced me to watch him strike down everyone! When I asked him why, he said to measure his capacity! To test his abilities, that it was necessary! He cornered me in the street telling me I wasn't worth killing! He admitted to killing Shisui in order to activate the mangekyo! He said he pretended to be the brother I wanted to test me! That he would let me live so I would face him when I was stronger, for his sake! That if I want to kill him, to despise him, hate him and live in an unsightly way! To run and cling to my miserable life and face him when I have the same eyes!

He took everything from me! He killed everyone! They're all gone! I'll never get them back! He killed everyone to test his abilities! What does that even mean!? Itachi murdered my family! He ruined everything! Left me all alone! I hate him! I hate him, I hate him. I. Hate. Him." He turned his face, sobbing into his hands. Quietly, she rose to her feet and headed down the hall to her room, shutting the door.

Standing erect, arms at his sides, head held high marking his power and status, the rinnegan gazed out at the sight before them.

"Our new member has now arrived," Pein announced. The others look on. Step, by step, Itachi appeared in the entranceway, head down. Reluctant at first, he bit his lip before slowly lifting his gaze, greeting his fellow S-rank rogue shinobi with the sharingan's wrath.

"Uchiha Itachi," Orochimaru marveled, eyeing the boy. Itachi studied each of the members before him, not saying a word. Sasori, Kisame, Orochimaru, and Pein himself. They would be his partners. This would be his home. It took everything in him to drag himself here, and he would soon find out that forgetting his precious little brother and the girl he swore to always protect would be the hardest thing he'd ever have to do.