Itachi never slept that night. He stayed up, hidden in the shadows, watching Kokoa drift off. The sun slowly lit the sky while he still stood leaning against the tree.

"Do you have everything, Ryuuji?"

"Yeah. I'm all packed. You?"

"We are."

"How about you, Kokoa?"

"Yes."

"All right everyone, let's head out." The team gathered their belongings and started off. Itachi made sure of the direction they were going, sad eyes fixed on Kokoa until she was out of sight.

"Well, well, about time you showed. Decided to stay and have a snack with your Konoha buddies?" Kisame smirked.

"I waited to see where they're heading."

"Oh? And where would that be."

"I don't know the particular location, but it's in the opposite direction. We're fine. Besides, as I said earlier, if Konoha was after us, they wouldn't even be on the list of teams they'd send."

"Good. Let's head back then, before the man in charge has a fit," he sighed, leading the way. Itachi sighed deeply. She was so close. He never thought he'd see Kokoa again, yet there she was, only yards away. Worst of all, she hadn't forgotten him. She hadn't forgotten the boy who was forced to forget her.

Kokoa found herself in the mood for some sun. Stepping out the front door, she spotted something on the ground. A letter of some sort. Her breath hitched.

'Itachi.' Shaking violently, she struggled to peel it open.

"Kuroki Kokoa." She jumped when the ANBU member spoke. Turning, she found him inside.

"What?"

"So excited over a letter?"

"What of it?"

"Expecting something? From someone specific?" he casually inquired. She narrowed her eyes.

"No."

"You seemed so eager to open it though. Don't let me stop you. Go on."

"Hn." Her gaze fell to the paper. She had no idea if it really was from Itachi, but she couldn't risk it. She simply stared at it.

"What? Am I right? Is your precious Uchiha prodigy trying to reach you after all this time?"

"Go to hell."

"Open it, Kokoa."

"Why are you even here?" she spat. "Are you watching me? Are you and the rest of your dogs tracking me?"

"Dogs? When last I looked, you also were a "dog," a tool of the village."

"Leave."

"Don't get so angry, Kokoa. And don't let me be the one to interrupt. Go ahead, check your mail," he said calmly. She curled her lip in anger, wanting more than anything to punch right through that mask of his.

'What if it's not from Itachi? They'll suspect me even more if I refuse to open it in front of him. Why would Itachi try to reach me anyway, especially after all this time? He turned his back a long time ago. I'm the one who can't let go.'

"Fine. Here," she snapped, ripping it open.

"No need to go any further." He stopped her.

"Eh?"

"It isn't from Uchiha. I was just testing you. A polite boy about your age dropped it off earlier."

"What? So – why are you even here?"

"Just because some time has passed doesn't mean you still aren't under suspicion. I was ordered to check in with you is all. Where is Uchiha Sasuke?"

"The Academy, where else?" she barked.

"No need to be so rude, Kokoa. I'm simply doing my job. Sayonara." He was gone.

"You have got to be joking," she spat, slamming the door shut. Pacing the living room, she remembered the letter in her hand.

"Polite boy? Who in the hell –" Her eyes paused on the name. "Ryuuji." She tossed the paper aside, marching to the kitchen for a drink.

"I'm home, Kokoa-chan," Sasuke smiled, stepping in.

"Hi."

"Hey…" He noticed her expression. "Did something happen?"

"Just more harassment from those ANBU jerks."

"Still? What for?"

"I don't know. They still "suspect" me," she mumbled.

"Oh…hey, what's this?" He picked up the letter.

"Don't know, don't care."

"It's from Ryuuji. He wants you to meet him by the trail. You going?"

"No."

"Why not?" He gave her a confused look.

"I have other things to do than go hiking."

"Like what?"

"Be harassed by ANBU."

"Kokoa…"

"Sasuke…"

"You should go."

"Why?" she sighed.

"Go out. It's good for you."

"Anytime someone wants me to do something, they say it'll be good for me. I think I know what is and isn't good for me," she growled, crossing her arms.

"But it is good."

"He's been coming around here all smiley all the time, talking like we've been best friends for years. He drags me along with his team for a stupid mission, and now he wants to meet me? What gives?"

"Well…"

"Well what, Sasuke? Is there some blatant message? I'm not seeing it." She took a sip of juice.

"I think he likes you, Kokoa-chan," he chuckled. She fell silent, eyeing the floor. "You should go. What if he really does like you?"

"Sasuke –"

"That'd be so awesome!"

"Sasuke –"

"You two could –"

"Will you stop?" she snapped. He paused, giving her a strange look. "I'll go. Just stop. Please."

"Kokoa, you came."

"Hey…"

"Glad you made it. Remember I told you about fishing? I thought today was a good day to show you. It's pretty fun and relaxing. The stream is right over that hill. Come on." He smiled, leading her off with all his gear.

"Why this stream?"

"It's smaller, closer to where I live, and I guess I'm used to it. I wouldn't head to a river unless I had more people with me. It could get dangerous, you know." He explained.

"Ah." She stood to the side.

"I've been to Naka no Kawa, the Naka River, once. Great spot down there."

"Naka no Kawa…Shisui…"

"Hm?" He glanced over his shoulder.

"Nothing. I just remembered something is all."

"Alrighty. Just let me set up and then I can start showing you the ropes," he chuckled.

'Shisui.' She grabbed at her shirt, at her heart. 'Itachi.'

"She refused to open it?"

"At first. I inquired if a letter from Uchiha Itachi was possible. She was hesitant at first, but gave in in the end."

"Is that so?" Danzo commented.

"Yes sir. She's still upset that we suspect her."

"Do you think we still should?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Uchiha Itachi was the main person she associated with. It is said they were seeing each other, they were lovers. They confided in each other. There's also the fact she believed in his innocence. Add her behavior about the letter, and well…it's as if she was expecting something from him, or she so badly wants him to get in contact. She's…I wouldn't pull away yet, sir. She isn't right."

"Well then don't let up. You've been assigned to her, and so far you've been excellent. I am pleased with you. Keep in mind, you are to take note of anything she says, does, or even thinks that may have something to do with Uchiha Itachi."

"Hai."

"Sasuke says he thinks he likes me."

"Oh? Did you go?"

"Yeah…only to get Sasuke to stop talking."

"Was fishing that bad?"

"The fishing was fine, Kakashi-san. Nothing happened. I just…"

"Maybe this is good."

"What is?"

"Change. Maybe this is what you need to move on."

"I don't want to move on."

"Kokoa, you can't dwell in the past."

"It's the only thing I have."

"You have me. I count, don't I? And what about Sasuke? He's going through the same exact thing," Kakashi stated. "Look, I don't know him too well, but Iruka has spoken highly of this Ryuuji. He's a good kid, who is actually being kind. You did say everyone was being cold and judgmental to you, right?"

"Yeah."

"So don't push away the first person other than myself who wants to be your friend or more, Kokoa."

"But…" She bit her lip, not wanting to say anything more.

He stood out in the pouring rain, gazing up at the grey sky.

"In the rain again?" Orochimaru hissed. Itachi glanced over at the dry Akatsuki member. "So cold and miserable. Then again, it suits you, Itachi." He made his way over. Itachi watched his every move.

"You always were the quite one. Still, you should acknowledge those who speak to you. Especially if they're your superiors."

"I meant no disrespect, Orochimaru-san."

"I couldn't help but notice that you've been sulking around lately. A bit more than usual. Homesick are we?"

"How about you? It seems Konoha is always on your mind, Orochimaru-san." He turned, coughing into his arm.

"Hn, not for the reasons you think, boy."

"I left Konoha." He faced the snake. "What's done is done. I'm not looking back." He started walking.

"I hear from a reliable source that spotting a group of Konoha shinobi stirred something in you, Itachi. Are you lonesome?"

"That I was ever a part of a pathetic village like that, bewilders me. I wasted my time playing ninja, blind to the world and the opportunities it held for the longest time. But no more. I've tested myself, obtained a power, measured my capacity. I turned my back on Konohagakure and its pathetic shinobi long ago."

"Hey."

"Hi, Sasuke."

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" Kokoa questioned.

"That we've been fighting a lot lately."

"Oh."

"I don't want to fight."

"Neither do I, Sasuke." She shrugged. He walked over, taking a seat beside her.

"It's just that…I know what you're going through, Kokoa."

"I know I've been acting like the only victim. You're the one who lost his family. I've been selfish," she admitted.

"But they were your family too. My mother loved you, and my father…he was strict, but I think one day you could have won him over. He was a good man."

"He was. Very strong, all of the Uchiha."

"So I know you're sad. I'm sad too, Kokoa. I'm scared, and angry, and I know you are too, but sometimes I don't understand why you act the way or say the things you do. I get angry. I don't know…sometimes it's like you still have feelings for him and you shouldn't."

"I know. I don't."

"You don't?"

"I'm…I'm getting over him," she lied. "He ruined everything and then left. Why should I still like him? You're right, Sasuke."

"Mhm." He nodded.

"All I ended up with was that silly necklace." She pulled him against her for an embrace, resting her head atop his. Sasuke was Itachi's precious little brother. She promised to be there for him if Itachi couldn't. She wouldn't, she couldn't break her promise, not to him. She had to protect him, help him move forward. She had to be strong for him. She had to lie for any of that to happen. She would neglect her own happiness in order to please Sasuke. He was only a child after all. An intelligent young boy, but still only a child.

"Ryuuji wants to hang out again," she whispered.

"Oh yeah?" he mumbled, face against her chest.

"I think you're right, Sasuke. I think he does like me." It infuriated her.

"Told you so," he teased. "Are you going to ask him out?"

"Me ask him?" How could she? How could she ever look at anyone else? "I don't think I can."

"Why not?"

"I don't know for sure if he does like me, silly." Sasuke didn't know what love was, and even if he did, he wasn't aware of how strong Kokoa's was for Itachi. He couldn't even begin to understand the position, the value, the impact his older brother had in her life. To him, Itachi and Kokoa were a couple. They liked each other and went on dates. Nothing more. It should be easy for her to move on especially after all he did. He had no clue.

"You still should ask him."

"Well not now at least." Not ever. Everyone told her what to do, saying that whatever it was would be good for her. People expected her to just bounce back up after everything without ever trying to understand the pain in her heart.