Authors note: Just thought I'd add in a small chapter. Don't know how long it will be till the next one. I never thought I'd get as far as 12 chapters. Glad people liked it:)

Chapter 12

Akari stood on a lonely hill. Around her flowers bloomed in every color imaginable. She bent down to pick a light blue one near her feet. As she did the scenery changed. The sky turned dark, the flowers wilted and the wind picked up. Then she was surrounded. Giant tarantulas circled around her. Their pincers getting closer and closer. She closed her eyes but she could still here them snapping. It grew louder and louder and…

"STOP! Please stop!" She cried out.

"How am I to teach you genjutsu if you can't even break free of it?"

Slowly she opened her eyes. She was back on the cliff. Itachi stood a few feet away. His sharingan glowed brightly in the dark. The village was silent behind him. Four hours. Four hours they had been doing this. She fell to her knees and wiped the sweat from her brow. Her body was exhausted.

"I'm sorry. It just…feels so real." She whispered.

"That's the point. It's meant to trick people into believing in something that isn't real." Itachi said.

"Well you sir, are very good at it. It's going to be a while before I'm up to your level."

"Alright, that's enough for today. You need to rest. Meet me here 3 nights from now." He helped her up.

"3? Why so long?" She asked.

"I have business elsewhere. I won't be able to get away for a while."

"What does an international criminal do in his spare time?"

"He knits."

"Did you…did you just make a joke?" Akari was shocked.

"You should get going."

With that he disappeared, leaving Akari alone on the cliff. She stared at the spot he just stood in. Itachi Uchiha. He wasn't what people believed. A part of her wanted to clear his name with the village. With Sasuke. She couldn't though. Itachi had his reasons for staying away. Silently she made her way down the path to the village.

The next morning she woke up alone. Her siblings had already left with Hayama Sensei, her parents were running errands in the village. They left her a note beside a plate of food. When she was finished she left to meet Hayate. She arrived at the training ground but he wasn't there. Funny, he was always on time. She found a shady spot and sat to wait. Before long she was asleep.

"Akari. Hey Akari."

Somebody was nudging her. She didn't want to wake.

"Akari!"

The person grew impatient. They nudged harder. Finally she grew annoyed and opened her eyes. In front of her stood a ninja with brown hair covering his eye and another with a bandage on is nose. Izumo and Kotestu. She pulled herself up and rubbed her eyes.

"Man, took forever to wake you up." Kotestu stated.

"Sorry. Didn't get much sleep last night. So, what's up?" She yawned.

"We've been looking everywhere for you kid! The Hokage needs to see you." Izumo said.

"Really? What for."

"I'm sure he'll explain. Now come on." Kotestu answered.

Akari nodded and let Izumo help her to her feet. She glanced around. It looked about midday. She had been asleep for a couple of hours and Hayate was still not here. The guys had already gotten a few feet ahead of her. She jogged to catch up.

"Have you guys seen Hayate? He never showed up for my training." She told them.

"No, can't say we have." Izumo muttered.

"Hey kid, how about after you're done I treat you to some sweets? We could go to Amaguriama!" Kotestu asked.

"You don't have time for that! We have to watch the entrance to the village!" Izumo reprimanded him.

"Oh come on! We could use a break. Besides nothing interesting ever happens." Kotestu pouted.

"How about I go buy some and bring it to you later. I'll even get some for Izumo." Akari grinned at him.

"You are a very good kid! I'll be looking forward to those sweets!" He smiled at her.

They arrived at the Academy and made their way to the administrative division. The guys dropped her off at the Hokage's door and excused themselves. She knocked and was told to enter almost immediately. The Hokage stood in the center of the room but he wasn't alone. Yugao Uzuki was on the ground at his feet. Her face was in her hands and she was sobbing violently.

"What's…what's going on? Should I come back?" She asked uneasily.

"No. I need to speak with you." He said.

Yogao let out another gut wrenching sob. She picked herself up and went to the window. She pulled it open and launched herself out. Akari watched her leap from the rooftops before she disappeared.

"Akari, after Yogao, you're probably the closest to Hayate. He was training you am I correct?" He asked her.

She nodded. So far she didn't like where this was going. Seeing Yogoa cry like that made Akari to believe something awful had happened. She was afraid to speak.

"I'm sorry. Hayate's body was found this morning by a group of A.N.B.U, including Yogoa. The poor girl is devastated." He whispered in grief.

Akari stared at him. Hayate's body? But, she had just seen him yesterday! He couldn't be…it just wasn't possible. She shook her head not wanting to believe it.

"I'm really sorry."

"Yeah, you said that already." She bit her lip.

Quickly she ran out the door. Once outside, she kept running. People were out on the streets and in her way. She pushed past them until she grew frustrated. She took to the roofs and headed towards the entrance. Izumo and Kotestu noticed her. They rose from their desk. She still didn't stop. She rushed right by them out of the village.

"Akari! We know your upset but don't stay away to long!" Kotetsu yelled after her.

So they knew before she did. Of course they did. Ahead of her was the path. She followed it until she was where she wanted to be. Finally she stopped and stood near the edge of the cliff. Below her was the village. She could see people going about their daily lives. She stared for a few moments. Then she broke.

Akari fell to her knees and hands. Her hair fell across her face and she cried. Tears streamed violently down her face. She clutched the grass at her fingertips roughly. Her body shuddered in grief. She didn't know how long she was there. After a while she ran out of tears. She stared at the ground. Her fingernails were covered in blood and dirt. Akari pushed herself up. She looked to the village again.

Hayate was gone. When she walked back down there, he won't be among all those people. Yesterday was the last time she would see him breathing. She had nothing left of him. Only the memory of training alongside him. She didn't know Hayate long, just a few months. When Hayama sensei noticed her interest in Katanas he sent her to Hayate. They spent quite some time together. She even went out to eat with him and Yogoa a few times. She knew she would have to get over it. Ninjas die. It's not uncommon. She just never knew anyone who did until now.

Akari wiped her face and took her time getting back. When she reached the entrance the guys didn't say anything. They watched her pass by in silence. Before long she was home. Her siblings were still out but her parents were waiting. They each hugged her in turn and apologized. Why is it that people apologize for the death of someone else? As if it was their fault or they could've done something. She excused herself and went to her room.

She laid on her bed and wrapped herself up on her blanket. She wanted to sleep and forget but sleep wouldn't come. She was like this for a while until she heard the front door open. She could hear her siblings in the living area. Then someone closed the door a little too roughly. It caused something to fall in her closet. Akari rose from the bed to investigate. She opened the door and on the floor next to her ninja supplies was a katana. The one he had given her just yesterday.

Akari had thought she was out of tears but she was wrong. She picked up the weapon held it. It was what she had left of her friend. No, she also had what he taught her. If she was going to carry this Katana she was going to be at her best. She wouldn't let him down.

When her siblings rushed in they found her fully dressed. They were surprised not to find her grieving. Instead she was strapping her new katana on her back.

"Are you okay?" Mizuko asked.

"I'll be fine. There is still some light out so I'll be at the training grounds if you need me." She told her.

"Do you want us to…?"

"No."

Akari brushed past them and left the house. Moments later she was training. He had said that her Dance of the Crescent Moon was getting better. It wasn't enough though. Not anymore. She wasn't going to stop until it was perfect. It would be three nights before she trained with Itachi again. Until then, she would teach herself everything Hayate wanted her to know. That's how she would remember him.