"When you were after the Kazekage, you had me in your Tsukuyomi, Itachi."
"How is that related?"
"I jumped in front of you then to intercept the attack from my teammate. I did it on my own. My choice. To protect you," Kokoa said.
"Oh?" Itachi tilted his head. Where was she going?
"And when you broke the jutsu...:"
"Get to the point, Kokoa."
"You had me in the grass on my knees. You had a hand in my hair. Tight. You told them you controlled me from the start. That it was gen-jutsu all along! That you made me do and say all of those things!"
"You…" Itachi stepped back, careful not to break character.
"I heard you, Itachi. I was awake," she said, staring into deep sharingan. "You lied that day, for my sake."
Itachi said nothing. He stayed in place, looking at her with those cold eyes, but a storm rolled in his stomach. His heart beat fast, fast, so fast, and fear settled in his bones.
"Admit it," Kokoa said. "Admit you lied."
"What does it matter if I do or don't?" he said.
"You lied for me. You lied so Chiyo and the others wouldn't think I betrayed them and sided with you."
"I told you before, Kokoa," he said, holding tight fists at his sides, "that I'd be the one to kill you. Had I let them suspect you, surely Chiyo or Kakashi would have ended your life."
"You sound ridiculous, Itachi." Kokoa pushed the chains away from her, irritated. "I'm sitting here in front of you willing to hear your story. All these years, I've been chasing after you for that reason alone. I have swallowed your lies and carried the wounds of your sharp words. All to get to this day." Kokoa's voice never wavered. Her gaze never faltered. Itachi clenched his jaw.
"I can't read your heart. You've hidden it from me. And I don't know how my new powers work just yet. But I know you're lying. I see it in your face, Itachi. I feel it in you. Tell me your secrets before I dig them out of you."
"That's why you're alive," he said. "That developed kekkei genkai of yours. I let you go and let you live. And now your power is ours."
"Don't try that with me. I'm here because I chose to be. I'm here for you and maybe because I want to join Akatsuki. Danzo murdered my parents. Konoha labeled you and Sasuke criminals. I was shunned and imprisoned. This is all I've got left. This is my choice. Our lives may be linked, but everything I have done has been my choice and mine alone."
"If you say so, Kokoa." Itachi stepped towards her. "You've always been the type to read too far into things. It must drive you mad, not knowing the answer to anything."
"That's why I've been after you. I just want to know."
"You can hold onto your false hope, Kokoa. Keep thinking I have a truth and that once I tell you what you want to hear, we'll be like we were back then, but you'll get nothing. Only emptiness. You're our prisoner now." Itachi lowered to rest on his knees. Kokoa blinked hard, her head beginning to spin. The room seemed to change, to warp and fade right before her eyes. She fell forward, grabbing at Itachi's legs to try to ground herself. "What is it that you want, Kokoa?"
Kokoa held her breath, giving into his gen-jutsu. She found herself surrounded by black, but not too far ahead, she saw the streets of Konoha, as though she were watching a film on screen. She saw a little girl with a stack of books in her arms walking beside a boy her age. Both smiled and laughed and enjoyed the other's company.
"Let me help you, Kokoa," the young Itachi said and took a few books off the top.
"Arigato, Itachi-san. Once we return these books, dango, my treat."
"You know my weakness."
Kokoa, older and out of the academy, wandered the Uchiha compound, eventually arriving at Itachi's house.
"Kokoa-chan!" Sasuke raced over to embrace her.
"Long time so no see, Sasuke," she said, crouching down to hug him tight. "Where's your brother?"
"Don't you ever come here to visit me?" The child stomped a foot.
"Why would she do that, Sasuke? She obviously likes me more." Itachi made his way to them. He poked Sasuke in the forehead like always, sticking his tongue out at him this time.
"Don't listen to him, Sasuke. I like you more," Kokoa said. "Let's all do something today, yeah? We've neglected Sasuke enough. He can roll with the big kids."
"Yeah!"
"Hai, hai. Come on." Itachi put a hand in his brother's hair and led him off.
Kokoa saw a woman step out of a small house. She wore a cozy dress and held an infant in her arms, wrapped tight and warm. Kokoa didn't recognize the woman at first, but she soon saw Akihiko in her face and a fire in her eyes and the Uchiha pendant around her neck. Kokoa gasped and stepped back into the darkness from where she watched. She saw her older self, the woman she would have become if things were different.
A young boy around five-years-old raced out of the house with a smile on face. "Otosan!" he called to the man approaching them. He clung to his father's leg, riding it back over to his mother.
"Your father is tired, Shisui. Try not to break him," Kokoa said, shooing her son back into the house. She turned to her husband, brushing long bangs from his face. "Welcome home, Itachi-kun."
The image faded. The black retreated. And Kokoa was back in the cell, still cold and chained. But the fire in her eyes Itachi hoped to extinguish raged wilder than he'd ever seen.
"Is that what you want, Kokoa? Is that what you hope to gain? Your ridiculous dream?" He grabbed her by the hair. He got in her face, his eyes narrowed, his lips near her own.
"A son," Kokoa said, holding his gaze. "A son. The firstborn is a boy who looks just like you, like Sasuke and your father. A traditional Uchiha male you will raise to be kind and brave. The perfect older brother to his baby sister: a princess with a scarlet bow in her hair and rosy cheeks and my eyes. The vision you showed me, Itachi-san, isn't what I want to create. It isn't my dream. It's yours."
He stormed in. Door slammed shut. One hand in his hair. The other against his lips.
"Woah, what happened?" Kisame sat up to greet a shaken Itachi. Itachi paced the room. "Oh, have you finally cracked? Do tell."
"I haven't cracked," Itachi said.
"Then you're about to, Itachi-san. What happened? What did that woman do?"
"She can see."
"See what?"
"She - she can't use her abilities on me. I've countered everything, but she can still see."
"Doesn't make sense."
"I try to break her. I try to kill her hope. But she gets back up every time and reads me like a book."
"That has nothing to do with her kekkei genkai, Itachi-san," Kisame said. He smirked at his partner for a moment, watching Itachi squirm. "She reads you so easily because she knows you. Because she loves you."
"Tch, again with that."
"When will you just give in? You're starting to piss me off, and I like to think I'm a pretty patient person, Itachi."
"I can't give in. Not now."
"Give me one good reason." Kisame rose to his feet. Itachi fell quiet. "The woman you have loved since childhood has given up everything just to be with you. I told you once, Itachi-san, even people like us know how to love. Don't be foolish." Kisame moved to the door. "You might want to prepare yourself. Our wonderful leader has some news for you. I'll see you around."
"You wanted to see me?" Itachi approached Pein, shutting the door behind him.
"That girl is quite perceptive. She didn't believe me, did she?" Konan asked. "I thought playing you and I off as a couple would break her, but she's resilient and committed to you."
"Which is why I've made my decision," Pein said.
"And what is that?" Itachi asked. "Kuroki Kokoa is a valuable asset. With intel on Konoha and Suna, and her growing abilities, she'll come in handy when we make our next move. That's why, Itachi, she's a member of Akatsuki."
"What does that mean?"
"It means Kuroki Kokoa will be freed from her cell and assigned to you. She is your partner. Your responsibility. She obeys your order. If she steps out of line, depending on her actions, she'll answer to you or I'll kill her."
"I refuse."
"You're in no position to do so," Pein said.
"I'm not dragging her around with me. She's not Akatsuki. You can't do this."
"Then I'll kill her," Pein said. "Right here. Right now. In front of you." His rinnegan glimmered in what little light was in the room. "You take her in. Or I take her out. You decide, Itachi."
"Cruel, even for you," Itachi said.
"This woman lives for you. She's thrown her life away for you. I'm giving you the chance to not only keep an eye on her, but to finally love her again, and I'm cruel? You're the one shattering her world with that sharingan of yours every time you two meet."
"Is that all you wanted?" Itachi turned his face.
"Konan will release her soon and inform her of my decision. We've made arrangements. Kisame is still your partner, but he'll be on his own for a while. You two are taking a break. He's certainly capable of handling things on his own. You worry about Kokoa. Remind her where she is. Keep her in line. When the time comes, I'll put her to the test. You're dismissed."
Itachi was in bed, on his back with heavy eyes. The door opened. Konan stepped in.
"You remember your orders, Uchiha Itachi. Do not disappoint Pein." She slipped out, and in walked Kokoa. She held a bundle of clothes to her chest and glanced behind her when Konan shut the door. Itachi turned his back. He faced the wall, old sheets tight in his hand. Kokoa took the bed across from his. She dragged the lit candle closer to her, wondering if he'd face her. She wondered if he'd speak to her. She had seen his dream. The dream they shared as kids. What point was there in hiding still? Did he think she'd believe anymore of his lies?
"You can tell me about it," she said softly. "Your dream." Kokoa huffed when Itachi didn't speak. The Uchiha gripped the sheets tighter, tempted to face her. But he knew it was dangerous. Having her there, the two of them alone with their feelings in the dancing candlelight, he feared he would fall apart. And this time, he wouldn't be able to pull himself back together. Kokoa blew out the candle. "When you're ready, I'm here, Itachi-san."