Itachi rubbed his temples in annoyance. He forgot how much of a headache Hidan was. He was just going on and on and on about the same thing for the past five hours.

Hikari hasn't gotten out of her room in weeks and it worried everyone.

She didn't let anyone in and she gave him Mangetsu a day before she went into her isolation.

Itachi was this close to killing Hidan himself and he doubted that he would have a hint of remorse after. He felt that, when Hikari does come out of her room, everyone including Pain would throw her a thank you party.

He wondered how he put up with his yapping for almost two years.

His head snapped up when he heard soft footsteps descending on the stairs. "Any luck?" He asked when Deidara came to view.

Deidara shook his head. "I doubt she even heard me." He plopped down on the chair next to him. "I even told her you made breakfast today. She didn't reply. She didn't open the door in annoyance. She didn't even budge." He plopped his cheeks on his fists.

Itachi frowned. Usually Hikari would beat him up for bothering her the way he did.

"I'm getting a bit worried." Deidara said.

A bit was a lie. He was worried after the first week passed and she hadn't come out. They were used to Hikari staying in her room for a week at most. She never spent more than that though.

And she always came down for at least breakfast.

And Hidan was really getting on all of their nerves.

Itachi got off the chair he was sitting on and headed upstairs.

"Hey where are you going?" Deidara asked.

Itachi didn't reply and continued his way upstairs.

"Stupid Uchiha," Deidara grumbled and rested his head on the table miserably. "Why does everyone ignore me. Hikari why did you have to go?!" He belted dramatically at the end.

"Hikari-san?" Itachi knocked on her door for the umpateenth time but still no answer. His frown deepened. Something was really wrong here.

Itachi reached for the doorknob and twisted it slowly. He didn't know why but he was a bit nervous of what could happen.

What would happen anyway?

His hand stopped and the doorknob didn't turn anymore.

"Figures." He clicked his tongue. It was locked.

He doubted she didn't set a trap for people who'd try to force their way in. His thoughts immediately going back to the pony tailed blond.

He'd do the same if he bothered him as much as he did her.

He'll just have to try later.

"I'm calling she'll come out next month." Deidara said.

"I don't think so, I think she'll come out next week." Kisame interjected.

"Yeah but next week is still going to be in the next month so I'll win either way."

"Cheeky bastard." Kisame muttered.

It was becoming a common occurrence, them betting on when Hikari'll finally step out of her room. So far no one won. So far no one has seen Hikari's face.

Itachi sighed. He hoped she'd appear today.

Just as his thought was finished. He heard the soft brushing of footsteps on the wooden stairs.

All of their eyes snapped up to Hikari as she came down the stairs looking fairly horrible to say the least.

Now Itachi wished he had joined the bets too. He would've made good money.

She walked in disheveled and so unlike her. She wasn't put together, she seemed like she was falling apart.

The bags under her eyes, her usually pale skin looked even paler and not in the good way. Her hair was a mess and she looked overall like a drug addict.

What on earth happened.

"Well well well look who came out of her room to-"

Itachi's eyes widened as he watched blood spray all over her face.

Hikari didn't even blink as she walked away from the now tongueless Hidan.

Even he had to admit that was hilarious. Hidan couldn't regenerate if doesn't die. And right now everyone was saved a major headache.

"Can I get you anything?" Deidara asked her softly, massaging her head as she rested her chin on the table.

"Anything cold please."

"Okay."

Everyone could tell, they shouldn't be messing with her right now.

Itachi saw Hidan approach her from the corner of his eye and almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

His hands went flying next.

"Next time it'll be your legs."

At least she was back again. Maybe not quite the same but he hasn't seen her in so long he was glad either way.

"Here you go." Deidara set a cold glass of water before her.

"Thank you, darling."

"Anything else?"

"Not really, I'll tell you if I need anything." She smiled tiredly at him.

"Okay." He scratched her head softly before leaving.

Hikari huffed and put her cheek on the table enjoying the cool feeling on her flushed skin.

"Where have you been?" Itachi asked her gently.

"Trying to sleep." She glanced up at him. "I haven't slept at all these past six weeks."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Don't you have enough on your plate?"

"But-"

She cupped his cheek and smiled softly. "It's okay. I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Don't worry." She pulled her hand away. She'd be lying if she said she didn't want to keep it on his soft cheek forever. He was growing up to be a fine man.

She knew that they were both broken souls haunted by everything they had done.

She knew he thought himself so undeserving of love it sometimes hurt her.

He'd probably run away from her if she ever told him what was going on in her mind.

That was why she'd just swallow her feelings. He didn't have to have the guilt of another human being on his shoulder.

"To be honest I'm also a bit worried about you."

"Worried about me? Hikari-san what do you have to be worried about."

She sighed and stood up to whisper in his ear.

"Did you think I wouldn't notice? Your chakra levels are diminishing. You wouldn't even be fit to be a chuunin at this point. Also you're getting more sick than usual. What's going on? Please don't lie to me."

"Hikari-san I-"

"Don't lie to me."

Itachi sighed. "Maybe we shouldn't speak here. You need to rest before you listen to all of this."

"You promise that you'll be a hundred percent honest with me?"

"Yes."

Hikari sighed and plopped back into her chair.

"Deidara?"

"Yes?!"

"Coffee please."

"On it."

"Thank you." Hikari smiled his way as he got up to make her a cup of coffee.

"You're milking this way too much," Itachi said.

Hikari shrugged. "I mean if I can get the most out of it. Besides he makes a mean cup of coffee." She grinned.

"So?"

"Okay, I'll tell you what I know."

"I'm listening." Hikari hugged her pillow closer.

"Extensive use of the Mangekyou sharingan is causing damage in my chakra network and-"

"It's eating away at your chakra levels. What about your health why is it detoriating like that?" Hikari asked her tone anxious.

Itachi looked away from her. "I don't know yet."

"Do- do you want Yukine to check up on you? I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"I don't think it will be necessary, I'm sure if I rest for a few days I'll be fine."

"You mean you haven't been resting?!" Hikari suddenly sat up straight and threw her pillow at him.

He caught it with ease. "I have missions and-"

"Missions and duties my ass, if you're not in perfect health you won't be able to carry your 'missions and duties'-" she quoted thickening her voice to try and imitate him. "-properly you dimwitted genius would you?!"

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Dimwitted genius?" He sputtered. "Hold on I don't sound like that!"

"Do I look like I give a flying fuck on whether you sound like that or not?"

"No?" He said cautiously.

Hikari sighed and banged her head against the headboard.

Itachi made a sound of surprise before he pried her away gently. "What are you doing?!"

"I'm going to die of your stupidity. All of you. I may as well become stupid as well because the more I hang out with you the more brain cells I lose."

"I'm sorry?" He really didn't know what to do at this point.

"Okay, okay I'll contact Yukine-"

"But-"

"I wasn't asking!" She pointed her finger at him before he could protest any further.

"Yes ma'am."

She got up and rummaged through her backpack. She smiled fondly at a small device she was holding in her hand.

She pressed a button on top of the circular surface. It's lid popped up to reveal even more buttons. She pushed one of them and waited.

"Yo this actually works!" Yukine's eyeball suddenly appeared in their view.

"It needs more development though, it's very glitchy and it doesn't have much colour. Could you please get your eyeball out of my sight I'm trying to talk to you not a creepy looking eye." She huffed.

"Oh right! You're saying it needs more development?! No way, dude I think it's pretty cool. How'd you even come up with this? I mean you're using our abilities in such creative ways I-"

"Yukine."

"Oh right so what did you need?"

"Ano sa, Itachi's not feeling well he-" she sent him a sharp glare as he tried to tell Yukine that it wasn't true from behind her. "He's been getting more sick more often and each time is worse that before. His Mangekyou is eating away at his chakra do you think that would have any immediate effect on his health?"

"Hmm it's hard to tell." He put his finger on his chin. Pulling his thinking face on.

"You think if you check up on him you'd be able to tell?"

"Oh definitely! Anytime you guys are free come visit! Mitsuki misses you guys too you should come by more often!" He grinned broadly making Hikari wonder whether it hurt his cheeks or not.

"Okay I'll try to visit more frequently. Thank you Yukine!"

"Anytime!" He waved his grin still coating his face.

Hikari cut the connection off and plopped back on the bed. "Now that that's taken care of, we need you to-"

She was caught off by a sudden thud. She glanced at Itachi to find him barely conscious on the floor. Hikari sprang off the bed almost instantly and carried him over.

"Seriously, why would you even try to argue." Hikari checked his forehead, then hissed from how hot it was. This was as bad as that time in the land of snow.

He's been feeling unwell for a long time and ignoring it. Hikari sighed and got out of the room. She needed to get him something.

"Well Yukine looks like I'll visit sooner than we both thought." She mumbled as she descended the stairs.

"I mean I can't give you anything stronger without seeing him first."

Hikari bit her lips. It was true they wouldn't want to give him something that will make him worse or anything. But it wasn't like he was in any condition to get out of bed let alone the room. And she couldn't exactly let Yukine into the base without any consequences on all of their behalf.

Hikari pulled at her hair in frustration, this got way too messy way too fast.

"Hey hey calm down. You'll figure something out with that big brain of yours. I'm sure." He pulled her hands away from her head gently.

"I don't know what to do he's stubborn! Did you know he wasn't feeling well for quite sometime and he only told me because he almost passed out?!"

"Hikari.."

"I don't even know if he heeded my warning and didn't get out of bed like I told him or not."

"Hikari.."

"What if he carelessly went on a mission and-"

"Hikari!"

"Yes?!"

Yukine sighed. "You'll only make yourself sick if you keep stressing like that. You don't want that do you?"

"No."

"Right, you want to be in top condition to take care of Prince Uchiha don't you?"

"Prince Uchiha?"

"Not the point Hikari."

"Right."

"Anyway, give this to him in the morning-" he tossed her a blue pill bottle. "-no food before it, and wait at least thirty minutes before he eats anything."

"Okay."

"Come back in three days with him in tow, it should give him the energy he needs."

Hikari nodded inspecting the bottle.

"He'll be fine don't worry." He pulled her in for a hug.

"I hope so."

"How are you feeling? Honestly."

"I feel like... Absolute shit."

Hikari looked at him in surprise. "Well that's a first. You said a bad word." Hikari cooed while passing him the pill bottle.

"I'm a grown adult." He grumbled.

"Yeah no, you're not even seventeen yet." Hikari patted his head.

"Hikari-san!"

"Oh my god look at you acting so cute!" She pinched both of his cheeks then gasped in shock. "Your cheeks are so soft and and... Chubby!"

"Hikari-san!"

She laughed and hugged him close. She loved this side of him.

"Wha-what do you mean?"

Yukine looked solemnly at both of them. "The erosion of your chakra network is having a direct affect on your heart. I'm sorry but I can't do anything."

"There's no medicine? Anything?"

Yukine shook his head. "It would only prolong the inevitable, but there are a few. I'm sorry again Itachi-kun."

Itachi shook his head with a small smile on his face. "It's fine don't worry about it."

Somehow, Hikari knew he wasn't saying this just to comfort Yukine. He said it like it really was fine. That he wasn't worried. Everyone knew that the hardest thing for a doctor was to not be able to cure his patients. It didn't help that Yukine was actually rather fond of Itachi.

Yukine sighed as he examined the test results again. "You should come for a monthly check up. Don't be tardy on that, it's very important."

Itachi nodded.

"Also try to lessen your use of the Mangekyou." He raised one finger. "One use per day. Even if you spent weeks not using it."

Itachi nodded again.

"Stay on schedule for your medicine. Don't miss a single dose. And for heavens sake rest."

"Thank you Yukine-san."

"Anytime."

With that they both walked back to the base.

Hikari's sight stayed on the ground as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

She felt a slight pressure on her head. She looked up to see Itachi smiling at her warmly, his hand stroking her hair in comfort.

She wasn't sure why he was comforting her. It should be the other way around.

Hikari bit her lip as she felt it wobbling slightly. She shouldn't cry. She had no right to cry. But she did anyway.

She tried wiping away the tears before Itachi noticed, but was there anything he didn't notice?

He pulled her closer his hand still on her head.

Hikari clutched his shirt tightly. It wasn't fair, why of all people, why did he have to suffer as much as he did?

Why couldn't it be her? She'd done worse things. Where was her karma?

She cried for him. She knew that she wasn't crying for herself. It was all for him. Someone had to cry for him.

They both knew he wouldn't.

"Hikari?"

"Yes?"

"I have news." Mangetsu's voice was so somber it made her worry.

"What's wrong what happened?!"

"Zabuza-san is dead."

Hikari laughed. "Good one."

"No Hikari I'm serious!"

Hikari suddenly went quiet. This is all too much. It was happening too fast.

"Do-do you know where he is?" Hikari tried to swallow the lump in her throat but it never went away.

Mangetsu nodded.

"I'll tell you where to go."

Hikari only nodded.

"Well who would've thought. He actually became fond of someone other than me." Hikari smiled at the two bodies infront of her.

"He sure seems happy looking at her."

"Her? Mangetsu that's a boy."

"Wait what?!"

"Yeah well duh!"

"Nu-uh he's not."

"You said he this time."

"Not the point Hikari! That is not a dude!"

"Yes he is! Wanna prove it?"

"Well I'll take your word if you're that serious about it." Mangetsu grumbled a small blush creeping on his cheeks. "So do you have any idea where you want to bury them?"

"I just might."

"Are you sure this will work?" Mangetsu asked as Hikari finished her prayers on both Zabuza and Haku. As usual, per tradition she had stuck Kubikiribocho in front of Zabuza's grave until someone worthy was to take it away from its former master's resting spot.

"I might as well try." Hikari shrugged and touched the Kubikiribocho with her index and middle finger allowing them to bleed slightly.

The images didn't stop. She wanted to see the last fight it had.

Kakashi, an Uchiha who looked so much like Itachi, a pink haired girl and an orange blob who had an uncanny resemblance to the fourth Hokage.

"Well that's quite the handful you have there Kakashi." Hikari laughed.

"You should probably wipe that off." Mangetsu pointed at her nose.

"Huh?" It was bleeding. "Holy crap!"

"I guess we proved your mother's theory then."

Hikari nodded. "He who forges, forges with his soul, mama had said. She meant it quite literally I guess."

"Do you think that's why you can go into my realm? Because part of your soul is here?"

"That actually makes sense! Oh yay! More things to do! You know it actually explains how sometimes my weapons act on their own! Remember when Aku stabbed me? Maybe the first forger of Samehada poured too much soul into it and that's why it's almost alive! Also that's why it's attracted to it's forger. Maybe that's why everyone who tried reforging it died or almost did in my case my predecessor's."

"Oh there you go again. When you have something new to do, you always go crazy."

"Well isn't it fun?!" Hikari skipped around the leafy path. She was ready to apply her theories.