Dongo of the Heart

"Today we will be going on a C-Rank mission," said Shikaku as he met up with his team at the training grounds.

"About time!" said Natsu with a grin. "It's been a good few months!"

"Stop it, Natsu," said Hana as she smacked him on the head. "We needed lots of training."

"Where to?" asked Haruka as she ignored her teammates.

"We will be going to Suna," said Shikaku as he also ignored the other two who were fighting. "We will be escorting a diplomat."

"Really!" said Natsu, popping out of nowhere.

'Wasn't he just fighting with Hana?' thought Haruka and Shikaku as they looked at him.

"That sounds like fun!" said Hana with a smile as she appeared behind Haruka.

'What the hell?' thought Haruka as she glanced behind her.

"We will be leaving tomorrow morning. Make sure to pack enough for a month trip. Meet in front of the gates at 8 A.M.," said Shikaku as he then disappeared, leaving his students to look at each other.

"Well, you heard the man. Lets go get everything ready," said Haruka as she turned to walk away.

"Yeah! I need to buy some extra weapons!" said Natsu as he ran in front of Haruka. "See you two tomorrow!"

"Well then," laughed Hana as she walked next to her friend, her dogs walking with them.

"We should get ready too," laughed Haruka.

"Right," laughed Hana as she turned down a different rout. "Later!"

"Later!" said Haruka as she walked home. She walked slowly, trying to gather her thoughts.

'This is the year that the Uchiha massacre is supposed to happen. What do I do? I've tried spending more time with Itachi, but he only put me off. I know that he was only able to get Sasuke spared. Sasuke has Michiru, which he didn't in the manga or anime. But then again, I've seen a lot of things that were never shown or talked about,' thought Haruka as she continued to walk.

"I should really go get everything ready," sighed Haruka as she walked toward the Uchiha compound.

"Get ready for what?" asked a voice from right behind her, shocking her. She turned around and saw it was Itachi.

"Damn it, Itachi! You scared me!" said Haruka with a light blush. 'I'm a shitty ninja.'

"Sorry," said Itachi with a light smile.

"Anyway," said Haruka with an eye roll and a smile, "I have a C-Rank mission tomorrow. I need to make sure I have everything I need."

"How long will you be gone?" asked Itachi as he walked past her, causing her to follow.

"Not sure. Sensei said to pack for at least a month. So maybe sometime around that. Of course, it could always take longer or be shorter."

"That's true. You should always be prepared."

"So, what have you been up to," asked Haruka as they walked into the village.

"Let's get dango," said Itachi instead of answering her question.

"Um, okay, but you're paying!" she said as she smiled at him and started to walk in front of him, trying to hurry to her snack.

"Yeah," said Itachi as he followed her. 'How long will this last?'

The two walked to the dango shop together in silence. There was no need for them to speak as they were simply happy in each other's presence.

Once the two got to the dango shop, they ordered and Itachi payed.

"Thanks Itachi!" said Haruka as the two sat down to wait for their sweets.

"No problem," said Itachi with a smile.

"So, what have you been up to? You never answered earlier," said Haruka as she stared down her friend. 'I need to know what is going on.'

"I've been busy with missions," said Itachi as he then looked at her in the eye, making her nervous. "Have you gone to the meetings that are being held?"

'Meetings? Is he talking about the ones at the shrine?' thought Haruka with a confused look.

"I haven't been able to. Every time they have one I'm gone on a mission, which is fine by me because they seem so boring," said Haruka as she looked at Itachi who seemed to relax.

'She doesn't know then. Maybe that will save her?' thought Itachi as he moved his eyes toward the table and seemed to let out a sigh.

'Wait. Is he talking about those meetings they are supposed to be having about the coup? Wow. I really missed a lot of that! Go team,' thought Haruka as a waitress came with their food.

"Here you two go! Have fun on your date!" she said with a smile as she placed the food down, causing the two teens to blush.

"Wh-what?' said Haruka as she looked at Itachi who simply took a dango and put it in his mouth. Though he did turn his head to the side to avoid her eyes.

"These are good," mumbled Itachi as he continued to eat, snapping Haruka out of it.

"Do-don't eat them all! Why do you have such a big sweet tooth!" cried Haruka as she snatched the food, fearing Itachi eating them all. He chuckled in response.

"What do you need to get for your mission?" asked Itachi as he continued to eat.

"Well, I really just need to pack everything. Then I should be done," said Haruka as she ate.

"I have something for you," said Itachi as he brought out a sealing scroll.

"What is it?' asked Haruka as she grabbed it.

"Open it."

Haruka put some chakra into the seal making smoke appear and the object pop out. She was surprised when she saw a sword. It was in a special carrier that would allow her to carry on her back, like Itachi.

"What?' she asked in shock.

"I thought you might like it. It was Shisui's. I know how you were learning how to use it from him and that you've been practicing. I know he would have wanted you to have. I was waiting till I thought you were ready." Said Itachi with a smile.

"You've been watching me," said Haruka with a blush. 'Shisui's sword. Why? Especially if the massacre will happen soon. Is it to give me a chance?'

"Yes. I knew you wouldn't have wanted me to help you with that training. So, I just watched to make sure you were okay and didn't hurt yourself to bad," said Itachi with a smile as he watched her look at the sword. 'I needed to make sure you were safe.'

"Thank you," said Haruka as she started to tear up. 'I'm so sorry, Shisui.'

"You deserve it," said Itachi as he took the last piece.

"You better put the last piece down or I use it to stab you in the dick," said Haruka with a sweat smile. Itachi's eyes widened and he put the piece down.

'Was that really a good decision,' thought Itachi in fear as Haruka happily ate the last dango with a smile.

"Yum," said Haruka as she finished the last piece.

"We should go so you can get packed," said Itachi as he stood up.

"Yeah," said Haruka as she stood up as well. She placed the sword on her back with a smile. "Let's go!"

"So, you like it?" asked Itachi as the two walked out of the shop.

"I love it. I feel like Shisui-nii is with me now. Thank you so much," said Haruka as she looked up at Itachi with happiness. He smiled back it her, though small, with a blush.

"I'm happy to here that," he replied to her.

The two walked in silence to the compound, both thinking of different things, both worried for each other.

"Haruka," said Itachi as he stopped a little before the compound. Haruka looked at him confused, but nodded to him, waiting to hear what he has to say. "Please, come with me. I have to tell you something important."

"O-okay," said Haruka. Itachi then jumped on a roof and started to run, Haruka right behind him. 'What is it that he wants to tell me? The coup? The planned massacre?'

Haruka stayed a little behind Itachi as she fallowed him. She watched him as she tried to figure out what he could want to tell her and how she would be able to fight back if needed.

'But, he gave me a weapon. He wouldn't have given it to me if he was going to kill me.'

"Itachi," she called out to him. He just turned his head to look at her.

"We're almost there," he said to her as he face forward again. The two continued for a few minutes until they reached the clearing they used for training.

"What did you want to tell me?" asked Haruka as she walked closer to him, his back facing her. He continued to stand there, scaring her. "Itachi?"

"What do you think of me?" he asked, suddenly.

"What?" she replied, startled.

"What do you think of me?" he said, again, as he turned to face her.

"I know you're a great older brother who is loving to his younger brother. I know that you are a great son who loves to help out his mom when he can. A great friend who is always there for me when I need you. You are sweet and caring. You are selfless and do what you can to help people simply because it's the right thing to do," replied Haruka as Itachi walked closer to her, maintaining eye contact the entire time. He stopped right in front her, only a few inches from her.

"Is that what you think?" he asked as he took a small step closer.

"No," she said to him as she continued to look him in the eye, "it's what I know."

"I see. Do you know what I think, no, what I know about you?" he asked her with a sweet smile.

"No," she said, a blush forming on her face. 'My heart is beating so fast. I'm so nervous. I swear if he kills me now, I'm gonna haunt his ass.'

"I know you are a beautiful soul. You love and care for others, no matter what. You love to help children and guide them. You love your friends and family like no other. I know you are a strong daughter, a reliable friend, and a helpful person. Whenever I need you, you are there for me. Even when I can't tell you what's bugging me, you still sit there and simply tell me how your day went. You never force me to be someone I'm not. You don't care that I might be doing something bad, you know I wouldn't hurt you," he said as he got even closer to her, barely two inches away from her face.

"Itachi?" she whispered with a blush; her eyes half lidded.

"That's why I love you," he said. He then quickly leaned in to kiss her.

As their lips met, he closed his eyes. Haruka looked at him in shock, eyes wide and clear. She then slowly closer her eyes and leaned into the kiss. After a while, the two separated from their sweet kiss. They both opened their eye and looked at each other.

"Well, I wasn't expecting that," said Haruka with a blush. Itachi smirked at her.

"Is that a good thing?" he asked her as he moved a piece of hair behind her ear, causing her to blush more.

"Yeah," she said with a sweat smile. She then looked at the ground. "I love you too."

"I'm happy to hear that," he said to her as he leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

'This so didn't go the way I thought it would. I'm so happy about that,' thought Haruka to herself with a smile as she leaned her head against Itachi's chest.

"I think we should get you home so that you can pack," said Itachi as he grabbed her left hand in his right and turned to start walking. 'I will protect you, no matter the cost. I won't let you die.'

'What does this future hold now?' wondered Haruka as they continued forward. 'Will this only be a moment of happiness? Or will it last?'