Sasuke wasn't so sure how Kokoa was supposed to feel. It was easy for him to hate Itachi. He took everything from him and tormented the child. Using the mangekyo, he forced his little brother to witness the Uchiha massacre. Sasuke had made up his mind. His heart was partially dyed black. He would do whatever it took to gain power, enough to destroy Itachi and avenge his clan. He glanced over at Kokoa who stood in the kitchen making a snack.

'She really liked Itachi. I thought they would get married. She did everything for him,' he thought, his face softening. 'But he killed everyone and disappeared without saying anything to her. If he cared he would have talked to her. If he cared he wouldn't have done it. She couldn't possibly still like him. He threw her away.'

"Smells good," he smiled, trotting over to her.

"I made some extra, for you." She handed him a plate of the dorayaki.

"Arigato." He took one of the filled pancakes.

"Mm," she smiled. He responded with a smile of his own. "I have to go buy some things. You can come if you'd like, or you could stay. It's up to you."

"I have some homework actually. I'll have it done by the time you come back!"

"Sounds good, sounds good." She headed for her room to get dressed. Kokoa made sure to remove anything that would remind Sasuke of his brother. She really only had the photograph of she and Itachi. Now it sat on the table beside her bed. Slipping on a light jacket and her shoes, she was off.

Sasuke watched Kokoa over the next two weeks. At first, after learning the truth, she didn't say much. He expected her to be sad. That was normal. She started smiling more not too long after, and never mentioned the incident. He figured she did it for his sake. That was normal. Then things started to change - or - well they didn't change, and he noticed. She developed a routine. She would pack his lunch for school, cook dinner and snacks, fix up the house, and go to the shops. It became a daily thing, and while the cooking and cleaning made sense, the disappearing in town didn't. She hadn't been on any missions. There were also a few cases where he found her sitting alone in the living room in the dark, staring at nothing. She would sit there stiff and motionless like a statue, like a corpse.

The more he thought about it, the more he wondered why she didn't...react much. He cried hysterically for days. He still did, sometimes in the night into his pillow so she wouldn't hear. Granted, Kokoa wasn't an Uchiha, and she only knew a few of them, but they were killed, and Sasuke was alone, and the boy she liked so much left without a word. It was...strange. She didn't cry or complain. She didn't worry, and that too was strange because Kokoa always worried. She didn't react at all, and he came to realize this with each passing day. She had depersonalized it, she was numb, or so he thought, that is, until Kakashi decided to stop by one day.

The house was quiet with Sasuke at the academy. Kokoa sat in her room fiddling with the chain around her neck. Her eyes snapped to the window as she quickly stuffed it beneath her shirt.

"Kakashi-san?" she said softly, facing him.

"Yo." He waved, crouching on the sill. "Long time no see."

"It has been some time," she agreed.

"How have you been?"

"Busy cleaning and cooking a lot more now that Sasuke is here."

"Ah. How is he?"

"He's how you'd expect him to be." She shrugged.

"And...how are you?" He looked at her. She said nothing. "You've been out of action for a while. It's understandable, but coming back would be good for you. Get out more," he smiled. Sasuke stepped through the front door, home a bit earlier than expected.

"Ko -" He fell silent, hearing someone else in the house. Tiptoeing down the hall, he made out Kakashi and Kokoa through the small opening of the door.

"You're not going to say anything?" Kakashi inquired.

"How can I get back in action when the Hokage hasn't called for me? How can I get out more when people stare at me everywhere I go?" she snapped. He blinked in surprise.

"Hokage-sama is probably just worried about your mental state. That's why he hasn't summoned you. And I thought you didn't care what others thought?"

"He hasn't summoned me or assigned me anything because he and his ANBU dogs think I had something to do with the massacre. To this day, they think I knew of Itachi's plans or that I know where he is, but I don't," she spat. "And yeah, I like to think that I don't care what others think, but when all you get are glares and worried glances from people, when all you hear are smart remarks, accusations, and whispers, it's hard to ignore.

My life has become chaotic, and I have been trying to keep it under control all while fighting with everything in me to stay strong for Sasuke. I'm his foundation right now. If I break, he'll fall through the cracks, and I cannot let that happen."

"You shouldn't bear it all on your own."

"What other choice is there, Kakashi? Everyone thinks I plotted with him! You're the only one who believes me. I don't have anyone. I never did! Itachi was supposed to be my support. He was the one I would go to, but I can't! Never again!" She cracked and he noticed.

"Kokoa -"

"I am suffocating. You have no idea. Suffocating, drowning, I'm cornered! Do you know what it's like to be watched by everyone like you're in some bubble or jar? To have everyone constantly whispering and forming opinions about you? Well I do. People talk like they know me or Itachi, but they don't," she hissed. He narrowed his eyes, curious. She still spoke of Itachi as if he were innocent; like she still wanted proof it was him even though he had confessed to Sasuke.

"You're still in denial," he commented. She paused, giving him a sideways glance.

"Nani?"

"Kokoa, you're still in denial."

"What am I denying?"

"That Itachi murdered everyone." That struck a nerve. She swallowed hard.

"I am not."

"You speak of him as if he was taken away from you, like he's a victim. Kokoa, he massacred his clan and fled the village. He's a wanted shinobi, dead or alive, yet you act like you still need some form of proof even though Sasuke was there and told you everything."

"You don't get it."

"What's to get?"

"You don't understand, Kakashi, you don't -"

"Then help me to -"

"Why! Why take a sudden interest in me? Has the Hokage instructed you to spy on me? I wouldn't be surprised, using his top jonin to see if he can milk any answers out of me!" she shouted.

"All I'm trying to do is get you to talk. You've been so distant and isolated that it's scary, and it isn't good for you or Sasuke. Tell me what you're feeling Kokoa, that's all I'm trying to do -"

"I'm angry because they think I had something to do it! No matter what I say or how many times I say it, they won't believe me! I'm tired of people's eyes following me wherever I go! I'm tired of the rumors! I'm terrified because it seems that for the rest of my life I'm going to be known as the girlfriend who might have been involved with Uchiha Itachi's killing of the Uchiha clan! And I'm so conflicted because I should hate him for what he did. I should hate him for leaving without any hints. I should hate him for Sasuke's sake, but deep down in my heart, there's a part of me telling me it's not what it seems, and that there might be more to his story, and oh how it gnaws at me Kakashi, in the middle of the night when I can't sleep and end up on the couch in the dark. How it sits in the back of mind, gnawing at my soul, tormenting me, forcing this heavy guilt on my shoulders!

Everyone is so quick to accept he did it, but I so badly want to believe in his innocence!" With a wave of her arm, she knocked the picture frame to the floor. The sound of shattered glass brought her out of her episode. She faced Kakashi with wide eyes. Without saying anything, he climbed out of the window, leaving her in what he still considered denial. She dropped to her knees, pulling the photograph from the shards. Holding it close to her face, she broke out in gasps, sobs, tears, and eventually quiet, painful moans. Deciding to give her and her guilt and misery privacy, Sasuke quietly made his way to the other part of the house, stunned to have seen her cry for the very first time.

Now a part of Akatsuki, Itachi figured he'd deal with other shinobi and nations coming for his head, but he didn't intend on dealing with problems from within the organization. He had almost forgotten how Orochimaru desired power, a certain power; the sharingan. He would have to keep his guard up, an eye out.

"Ne, so this is where you end up after taking out your clan," the sannin commented, approaching the boy who sat off to the side and out of the way. Itachi said nothing.

"For accomplishing your goal and getting away so easily, you don't seem too pleased."

"Is there something you need, Orochimaru-san?" he replied, voice like ice.

"Well, yes, but I don't suppose you'll give it up so easily," he hissed.

"I don't suppose I will either," he replied, rotating the ring around his finger.

"Hn, so arrogant. Don't let your power blind you, Uchiha Itachi. This isn't Konoha, a place for games. Know your place before you have to learn it the difficult way." With that, Orochimaru slithered off.

"Tsk..." He sighed deeply, still playing with the ring. He paused when the side with text came to view. Heiwa. Peace. Kokoa. Sasuke. Blinking a few times, he glanced around, finding himself alone. Alone. Loneliness was something he would have to get used to.

"So she thinks there's more to it? That Itachi had some other reason for cutting down his own flesh and blood? Other than his own selfish one?" Danzo raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, sir," a Root shinobi replied.

"How foolish of her, trying to hang on to any shred of hope, trying to convince herself that what happened didn't really happen...anything else?"

"No, sir. She has stuck to a routine up until recently. She would go to town and spend the rest of the day at home, but she hasn't even left the house as of late."

"Well that's not very healthy, is it," he commented. "What does she do?"

"Aside from prepare food and care for Uchiha Sasuke, she sleeps or sits alone. She has sat down to write a few times, but as I mentioned, she's barely done anything lately."

"I see."

"Do you still have reason to suspect her, Sir?"

"Of course. If her believing in his innocence isn't suspicious enough, there's still the fact that Itachi is missing. With no body or details on his activity, he could be up to anything right now. If she knows...honestly, Sasuke told her everything and she's still trying to find some way to alleviate the blame from Itachi."

"You make valid points, Danzo-sama, but perhaps it's still the denial."

"There's only so much she can deny when Sasuke, the boy living with her, told her everything he witnessed."

"There's also the fact she was emotionally involved with Uchiha Itachi."

"What do you mean?"

"She loved him, Danzo-sama. It's obvious. Emotions...are not my field, but if she treasured him, perhaps those feelings are what keep giving her these ideas or false hope, if I'm making sense."

"She's a shinobi. She shouldn't have emotions in the first place. She'll soon learn what a burden they are. Over time she will harden, and she will come to realize how foolish she was, that is, unless we have her in custody for involvement. That's all for today's report. Good work. Don't let up. You are dismissed."

"Hai." He was gone. Danzo curled his lip.

"Kuroki Kokoa…why can't you let Itachi go? He ended the clan. That's all you need to know. I don't need you sticking your nose where it doesn't belong…You're proving to be a burden just like your father was."

Tired of Orochimaru's hungry gaze, Itachi headed for the exit, in need of some alone time.

"Just where do you think you're going, hm?" Kisame planted Samehada, blocking his path.

"A walk. I need some air," he replied.

"At this hour. Isn't it too late?" He raised an eyebrow. Itachi said nothing.

"Well then," He withdrew his weapon. "I'd be careful out there. Who know what could be waiting for you in the dark," he cooed before walking off with a smirk. Marching outside, a cold wind violently whipped his hair. Without a specific destination in mind, he wandered near the base. Itachi came to a stop, resting a hand against the tree. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, focusing on the texture of the bark. He gazed up at the moon with half-lidded eyes. This was it. This was how it had to be, and he would continue to tell himself those very words until he believed them, until they were infused in his mind, until they became reality.

"K - Kokoa! Kokoa! What are you doing!?"

"I'm sorry Sasuke, but I have to do this!" she cried, dragging him down the hall.

"What? What do you have to do!?"

"Go. I have to go." She shoved him into the closet, standing in the doorway. He stumbled in, hitting the hard floor.

"Where! What are you doing? Kokoa-chan, please, I'm scared!" he pleaded.

"I can't take it Sasuke! I can't take it! I can't live like this! I'm going to find Itachi."

"Itachi? You can't - Kokoa! -" She shut the door, locking it from the outside.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. I'm so sorry, but I have to. I have to. You're strong. You'll get yourself out of there, but for now, I need you to stay put. Burn the house down if you have to, but I need to go now. I need to find Itachi."