Chapter eight: Promise
"A promise?" Temari asked puzzled.
"Yes. Don't you remember? We were still children then." Itachi told her with that smirk still on his face. "You came to the Chuunin Exams with your father, the Kazekage..."
Slowly, the Uchiha started to describe the event to the blond kunoichi. Her eyes drooped a little as she started to 'remember'.
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The rest of the day Itachi showed her around. He told her that she belonged here with the Akatsuki so she wouldn't question him on it, her job being the maid.
"You belong with us Temari." he told her while they were walking down the hall. "Your safe here. From your brother or anyone that wants to hurt you."
She looked up at him with her soft emerald eyes with a small smile on her face. "Thank you Itachi-kun."
He turned his head a bit as he placed a hand on her hand.
He was now in the living room watching tv while Temari was in the kitchen. She had volunteered to make lunch so he didn't stop her. He flipped through channels as Deidara wondered in with Tobe.
"Hey Itachi, how did it go?..hmm" Deidara asked.
"Very easy. It didn't take me long to catch on." Itachi replied not looking up from the tv.
Tobe looked at Deidara, then Itachi and back again. He had no idea what they were talking about. He did just get back today after all.
The door to the kitchen opened as Temari walked in with a tray. Deidara's eyes widened as Temari walked past him. It wasn't everyday Itachi took a woman hostage and she didn't seem to be suffering at all. And she was still wearing that maids dress as if there it wasn't a problem.
But he wasn't complaining.
"Hello Deidara-san." she greeted after putting the tray on the dining table. "Who's your friend?"
"Who this?" he asked pointing to Tobe. "This is my partner Tobe...hmm" he told her dully.
As their conversation continued, Itachi stared at the soup Temari had made for lunch. Picking up a spoon he tried it.
'Not bad.' he thought. As he ate more he started to hear words. They got louder as they repeated.
I promise. I promise. I promise.
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Rain petaled down hard as a young girl ran down the streets. Water splashed as she ran through puddles. Her foot slid in some mud as she fell.
A group of ninja surrounded her. "Don't worry little girl," one started with a smirk. "We're only going to have a little fun..."
She hid her face in her hands. As the group reached for her, they were all greeted by kunai.
"Leave her alone!"
They all turned to see a boy standing not too far away. "You want to take us on kid?" The girl looked up. "Fine then. We'll crush you!"
They all rushed forward to attack but the kid disappeared. Swiftly he reappeared and delivered a fatal blow to each one. Soon the whole group was out.
"Are you okay?"
The girl looked up to see the boy with his hand out. She grabbed it and he helped pull her up.
"Yeah. I'm okay. Thank you." she replied. She stared into his eyes as she realized he was the same boy she saw fighting earlier that day with her father. "Your that boy from the exams!"
"And you were that girl watching." he gave her a smile. "Come on. I'll take you back to your hotel." The two walked off, still hand in hand. Once at there, the two faced each other.
"Will I ever see you again?" the girl asked, a little upset.
"Of course you will." he assured her as he kissed her hand tenderly. "I'll be there whenever you need me. I promise."
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Itachi woke with a jolt. He was breathing rapidly and was sweating all over. He took a glance at his clock. Three o'clock. He let out a sigh as he placed a hand on his forehead.
'What the hell is going on?!' he thought to himself. 'My head is spinning!'
He thought about his dream. It was just a dream, right? The why did it feel so real? Like it really happened? Like...a past memory.
'No.' He shook his head. 'That never happened. That never happened.'
But he could see them. The two of them. Hand in hand.
"I promise." he said. "I promise."