I know it has been ages since the last update, and I am so sorry for that. August was really crappy. I was out of town about three different times, I had family visiting, and the semester started, so it was just terrible. It took me a minute to get used to my classes and schedule too. Now that it's all calmed down, I can get back to updating for you.

I'll be transferring some of my other work to this account over the next few weeks too, but that's up to you if you're interested.

Also, my Tumblr is Melkor_16 if any of you lovely folks are curious. And the Facebook page is where I post updates, questions, all that stuff to stay in contact; Facebook Shadowbender16

Thanks for stopping by ^^

Crouched down on all fours, he slowly rose, dark robes bellowing in the violent night wind as he stood atop the wall, gazing out at Konoha with eyes as crimson as the clouds on his uniform. He was home again – Uchiha Itachi. He remained in place, still watching the sleeping village. Where was she? Where was Kokoa? He tried listening, focusing in an attempt to pick up her chakra or Sasuke's, but nothing. While he was skilled, he wasn't a specifically trained sensory type. He would have to get closer in order to find her, and he would have to be careful not to get caught by anyone, especially Sasuke. While Kokoa would be more than willing to hear him out, Sasuke would cause a scene, and Itachi wouldn't let it happen. He inched forward, ready to move.

"Kokoa."

Kokoa shot up in bed with a gasp, clawing at her chest to calm down. Catching her breath, she threw the covers off of her, pissed to have woken up after finally falling asleep for the first time in the last two days – or was it three? She sat hunched over, listening to the haunting silence that echoed through the house. Sasuke laid sound asleep in his room. Sometimes she would hear him move around. Other times the walls creaked and moaned, or the faucet in the hall bathroom dripped for a while, but tonight there was only silence – an eerie silence that made the hairs on her neck stiffen, a silence that signaled something was coming; the same feeling she had a while ago, back when Itachi and his partner came after Naruto. Crawling over to her window, she cracked it open just a bit for some air, half lidded eyes gazing out at the moon in the distance. Was it the same sign? Was Itachi coming again for Naruto?

"Is he coming for me?"

He stepped off the wall, casually falling, ready to touch ground and dash off to find her, but then it struck him, her words, the warning he should have considered before ever leaving the base. Ripping a kunai from his pouch, he jammed it into the wall to stop his falling. He managed to attach his feet and hung there, concealed by the darkness, hiding his face in the raised collar of his cloak.

"Ever since you left, I've been as guilty as you in the eyes of the Konoha elders, villagers, and even other shinobi. When you killed everyone and escaped, they blamed me. They suspected me. The hokage and his ANBU dogs harassed me, tortured me, showed up at random times for no reason to "question" me. I'll always be known as the girl who was associated with you. I'll always be a suspect in their eyes, treated like a monster, a pariah."

They watched her. They were always watching, meaning sneaking around the village wouldn't be easy. Itachi could probably handle ANBU and Root, but what if they outnumbered him? He couldn't risk a fight, and he wasn't one for unnecessary conflict especially with his fading eyes. They were watching Kokoa, always. There was no way he'd be able to talk to her or even find her.

Swinging a bit to gain momentum, he flipped, returning to the top of the wall; fists tight, jaw clenched, eyes narrowed. He was defeated. Itachi had lost. What was he to do now? There was no way to get to her. He lowered himself to sit, legs dangling over the edge, eyes damp, sighing a painful sigh.

Kokoa blew a strand of hair from her eyes. She thought she had gotten over her sickness, and she did for a day or two, but it came back stronger than before, leaving her with body aches, chills, and a throbbing head; migraines that pounded in her ears, and pounded, and pounded so hard and so loud she couldn't even fall asleep. Shivering, she shut the window and crawled back to her spot in bed, reaching into the small drawer of her nightstand. She sat, knees to chest, and brought an open palm close to her face, the Uchiha pendant lying there, cold.

"Part of me wants to forget you…so I can move on and do something with my life, but…I really don't want to forget you, to forget us." She glanced over to the window.

"I still love you with all my heart, Itachi-san."

Still sick, Kokoa was more miserable than usual, moping around the house with a blanket dragging behind her, curled up on the couch in dim lighting, locked away in her room doing God only knows what, and Sasuke noticed this of course. He was used to her somber mood by now, but he picked up whenever she felt worse than usual, and it affected him. It made him hate Itachi more. It enforced his desire for revenge. And Kokoa noticed that Sasuke had been slipping further as well. To put it bluntly, Kokoa felt shittier than normal, Sasuke noticed and lost his mind more than he already had, and Kokoa saw that he was slipping so she felt even worse; an endless cycle of hatred, pain, and vengeance, and neither were willing to talk about it anymore than they already had. Kokoa knew he was planning something, but it became more obvious with each passing week, and it worried her.

She stood in the kitchen blowing to cool a cup of tea.

"Have some patience," Sasuke commented, walking by.

"You're one to talk," she mumbled, rubbing her head with a free hand.

"Still feel like death?"

"You have no idea."

"You went to the doctor's, didn't you?"

"Ah, but no word on the results yet. I could be dying."

"Most likely not. Sorry to burst your bubble," he sighed, slipping into his shoes. He paused for a moment, staring at nothing in particular as he rubbed the pulsing curse mark on his neck. Kokoa glanced over and set the cup down.

"Is it bothering you?"

"Hm?" He shook his head, snapping back to reality. "Not really –"

"Sasuke."

"It's just…sore. I don't know. It's nothing."

"If it's acting up, tell Kakashi. I know Jiraiya-sama now, and so does Kakashi. Maybe he can help –"

"I'm fine, Kokoa. Stop worrying."

"But if it hurts –"

"I said stop worrying. You're already sick. Besides, I can handle it." He put on the second shoe. "I'm going to train. I'll be back later."

"Ok," she whispered, watching him leave. She sighed, turning back to her tea.

"Yo."

"Shit–" The cup wobbled in her hands, but Kakshi caught it in time.

"Sorry," he chuckled nervously, setting it on the counter. She faced him.

"Kakashi-san, why are you here? And next time don't sneak up on me."

"Shouldn't you have noticed me?" he raised an eyebrow.

"I still feel like crap. You're lucky I can even see straight," she coughed.

"Well I'll help you see while we walk. You need to come to the Hokage's office."

"What? Why?" she spat, wiping the spilt tea with an old, white rag.

"It's important. I'll explain on the way –"

"I'm so sick of these random call ins and – and interrogations! I'm so sick of them expecting me to drop everything just so I can be harassed and humiliated! I know I don't have much going on, but it's like I live at that damned building." She threw the rag in the sink, using her sleeve to wipe the sweat from her brow.

"Kokoa–"

"I'll go, Kakashi-san. Just – I need a minute, ok."

"Let me –"

"Please!" She begged through gritted teeth. He sighed with a wave of his hand.

"Hai, hai." He was gone. She leaned over, gripping the edges of the counter while panting, panting from yelling and from being ill.

"Tch…I can't do this…" She stood in place, eyes glued to the door, vision fuzzy, lips parted. With a loud, painful cry, she launched the cup, smashing it against the door, pieces flying everywhere.

Kokoa dragged herself into the office, holding her head as she stood before Tsunade. She really hadn't interacted much with her since her inauguration as Hokage, not that Kokoa had any hope things would get better.

"So," Tsunade started, shifting a few papers around. Kakashi stood in the back. "Kuroki Kokoa was it? What brings you here?" She looked up. That struck a nerve. Kokoa's hands balled into fists, tight fists.

"What brings me here? I was summoned."
"Summoned? By who?"

"Wait– I wasn't?"

"I didn't call for you."

"So why the hell am I here?"

"Hmm," Tsunade narrowed her eyes at her attitude.

"Hehe, let me," Kakashi stepped in. "I tried explaining to you at your house Kokoa, but you weren't listening."

"What is it?" She faced him.

"I was trying to help you."

"How?"

"Kakashi?" Tsunade inquired.

"By know you must know about Kokoa," he told her. The medic thought for a moment.

"Kuroki…oh, you're the one – the Uchiha massacre." She remembered. Kokoa sighed.

"She's been watched ever since the incident, Tsunade-sama, and even I have to admit it's too much. I've known Kokoa for years. I've worked alongside her, watched her grow, and Uchiha Sasuke is my student. I know her. She's innocent, but can't seem to shake the suspicion. I know it isn't my authority to give orders and clear her record, but the ANBU watching her every move…she hasn't left the village in ages. Is it really that necessary?"

"Are you vouching for her, Kakashi?"

"…Yes."

"Kakashi-san, you don't have to do this," Kokoa warned. "You'll just get sucked into it."

"You don't deserve to be treated like some experiment, Kokoa. If they won't arrest you then they shouldn't keep following you like you're up to no good. You never leave the house. Jiraiya-sama seems fond of her. He would agree with me."

"But he isn't here, Kakashi, and even if he was I can't just change things. I know I'm Hokage, but there are rules, and I haven't been in office too long," Tsunade explained. Kokoa rubbed her face with both hands, clenching her jaw as she fought to suppress a groan or some sound of pain.

"However, I see how it can be too much, having several shinobi following you. I can call off my two ANBU."

"Two?" Kokoa managed through the pain. "There's usually four or five, one who is always there. That – that Zaji or whatever."

"Sarutobi only had two ANBU assigned to you."

"Then who – what…"

"The other shinobi watching you are Root members it seems," Tsunade said, a bit of resentment in her tone.

"Root?"

"An underground organization. They're a branch of ANBU, similar but with differing views and a stricter way of operating. They do as they please without anyone's approval, only that of their founder, Shimura Danzo."

"Shimura…Danzo?"

A figure caught her attention. Her eyes gazed upon an older man, bandages covered his forehead and right eye, and a walking stick sat in his hand. Itachi noticed, and turned his attention to the scene. The man stood speaking to two older shinobi.

"Ne, Itachi-san, I know him. I've seen him only once though. His name is on the tip of my tongue." She whispered, tapping her chin as she thought it over.

"Shimura…Danzo…"

"Aha, that's it. He's one of the elders. I hear he's also involved in some type of underground work. I don't really know him."

"You should keep it that way."

"So he's been the one ruining everything?" She turned away, pulling at her hair.

"Root members answer only to him. It's not my place to call them off, even if I am Hokage," Tsunade sighed. Kokoa shook her head. The pain became unbearable. The room spun, her ears rung. Without realizing, she lost her balance, heading to the floor. Kakashi stepped over, catching her.

"Are you all right?" he whispered. She stepped away.

"I need to go home."

"Are you -?

"I can't – it hurts too much," she said through fits of coughing. Tsunade rose to her feet.

"Kakashi, what's going on?"

"I don't know," he said, trying to get Kokoa to respond normally. She pushed off of him, stumbling to the door. Finally opening it, she ran off.

"What's wrong with Kokoa-chan?" Naruto questioned, walking in. "Is she still sick?"

"She was sick?" Tsunade said.

"For a while. Sasuke said it was because she fell asleep in the cold one day, but she looked terrible."

"That wasn't normal, and I doubt it was a reaction to hearing I can't call off the Root. Kakashi, just who is this girl?"

"She went to the doctor the other day. I saw her leaving. Ne, Tsunade no bachan, you think you could check her tests?" Naruto suggested. She glanced between the sensei and student. They both seemed to care for the girl despite the trouble she had gotten into.

"As soon as I get the chance," she said, curious herself as to what happened to Kokoa.

"You wanted to talk, Kakashi."

"Thanks for coming, Jiraiya-sama. It's about Kokoa."

"Oh, Kokoa. How is she? I haven't been around to see her."

"I would say she's as you'd expect someone in her situation to be, but believe it or not, she worse."

"Worse?"

"Well for one she found out Tsunade-sama can't pull the ANBU from watching her. Most are Root members working only for Danzo," he said, his voice low.

"Root? Jeez," the Sannin shook his head.

"And she's physically not well."

"Do tell," he crossed his arms as they walked side by side.

"She fell ill a little while ago from being outside in the cold for too long. At first it was a cold or the flu. Sasuke took care of her. She was better for a few days, but now she's worse than before. She ran out of the Hokage's office in some sort of haze."

"Mhm."

"I stopped by to check on her earlier, after the incident. Jiraiya-sama, she's been clawing at her face and head out of excruciating pain. I don't think it's any normal flu or cold. She's literally ripping the hair from her head. She said she's been locking herself in her room in the dark because light bothers her and she can't seem to tolerate anything or anyone. She doesn't want to lash out at Sasuke. I would say she's facing something, like some internal conflict and it's making her sick, but this is severe and unheard of. I'm worried."

"I might have something that will explain all this," he said casually.

"You do?" Kakashi gasped, stunned by how calmly Jiraiya responded.

"I know something Kakashi. I've been around for a while. I will tell you what I know, but first there's some form of print record that will help clarify things. I'll have to dig around for it."

"So she isn't sick?"

"Now, she could be, so don't ignore the test results, but I think I know what it is. Unfortunately Danzo is still watching her. He knows she associates with us, so we'll have to be careful about passing around information like this. Let's avoid each other for a few days. I'll come to you when I have what you need. If I'm right, Danzo could have other reasons to watch her besides her relationship with Itachi.

"Understood."

"Well I'll go for now. I have some research to attend to," he smirked.

"Sayonara."

"Kokoa?" Sasuke tapped gently at her door. "I know you aren't feeling well. You seemed to be in a lot of pain. Can I do anything?"

"I'm all right."

"Are you really?"

"…No, but nothing's helping the pain. I just need to sit in the dark. Maybe I'll fall asleep. It's been a rough day."

"Let me know if you need anything."

"Arigato."

"You have my test results?"

"You had me worried, Kokoa. I thought I'd help out."

"I'm sorry, Kakashi, for lashing out at you in the office. I appreciate you vouching for me, honest."

"It's all right."

"So," she paced the kitchen. "What is it? Lay it on me. Brain tumor? Am I dying? Tuberculosis?"

"Your results are normal, everything. No abnormal blood cell count, no clots, nothing out of the ordinary."

"Hn."

"Tsunade-sama looked over your tests as well."

"Why?"

"She was just as surprised as I was when you ran out of there. Besides, she is the best of the best. Kokoa, she couldn't find anything. Nothing. Not one trace of any physical problem –"

"Oh God," she gasped, falling on one of the dining table chairs. She bent over, elbows on her knees, face in her hands.

"What is it?" he inquired, walking over. "Kokoa?"

"No physical problem. No sign of any physical defect, sickness, no tumor, nothing."

"What are you getting at –"

"I'm out of my mind…"

"What?"

"Ill, mentally ill."

"Now you don't know that –"

"What else could it be!? Episodes of depression, one day I'm fine and the other I'm sobbing in my room. The anxiety, the irritation –"

"You've been through a lot. Those are normal reactions to your situation."

"I'm sick…" She sat silently, staring at her hands, numb. Kakashi looked away sadly. What if she was right?

"You should get those types of tests done before jumping to conclusions, Kokoa," he stated. She said nothing.

"I'll be around. Take it easy for now. You'll figure this out."

"Itachi, yo."

"Shisui?" He looked up from the report.

"Look at you hard at work."

"Hn, joke all you want."

"Listen, Kokoa's name, it's Kuroki right?"

"It is. Why?"

"I was in the library, the restricted section researching something and I came across this." Checking to ensure no one was looking, he slipped a folded piece of parchment from his sleeve.

"What is that?" Itachi sat up, putting the report aside.

"Some old document about the Kuroki. It has some information, something about their history, like our tablet."

"And it was in the library?"

"Yeah. It looks real too. Look," he smiled, gently setting it before his friend.

"Kuroki…her family."

"Does she know anything about her clan? It's a small one, scattered, but what really surprised me was this, Itachi."

"What?"

"One second," he chuckled, carefully folding and unfolding parts of the document.

"Mmmm, here. Look. Do you think she knows?"

"Hang on –" Itachi's lips parted at the words on the page. "Shisui – is this – that –"

"Crazy? Yeah, I know. Who'd a thunk!"

"I don't think she knows. Surely she would have mentioned it. She tells me everything."

"I mean this was buried away in the restricted section. I don't think anyone was meant to know it even existed. And she never knew her parents or any other Kuroki."

"Kokoa…you…"