Chapter eleven: On the run

The rain continued on to the next day, extending Temari and Itachi's stay in the inn. Temari didn't have much of a problem with it, she having a good time lounging around doing noting, but her companion was a lot less enthusiastic. He was actually kind of jumpy or anxious.

He lied on the bed, his mind deep in thought as Temari was surfing the channels on the tv. He knew he only had one shot at this plan, and returning back to the hideout empty-handed wasn't an option. It was just a simple lure, catch, and take plan and he blew it. But is was for a good reason.

They were just going to kill Temari when they were finished using her anyway, or keep her for their own personal gain. Either way in the end she was still going to end up dead. Itachi didn't want that. He knew that if he returned with no Gaara, there was going to be a price to pay, and chances were they were going to take Temari away.

He couldn't let that happen.

He knew the only option to this situation was to go on the run and into hiding. To keep Temari safe from the other members and Gaara. With what he did to her in the past he wasn't sure if returning her to that monster was such a bright idea.

He found it strange that he was beginning to think this way. He remembered that it all started after he implanted his own memories in Temari's head, but at that moment a thought struck him. What if those weren't actually lies, but really memories? Like that promise he made. That was real, Itachi was sure of it. What if that book Deidara found was just messing with his head? If that was true then they best leave whenever possible. Sooner or later other members would be sent to hunt them down.

But leaving in this weather was out of the question. He or Temari could get sick, bringing down their defenses. And since Temari hasn't remembered her fighting skills yet, if he got sick she would be defenseless. Having that happen was also not an option. Thus he concluded it would just be best to wait the storm out.

"Itachi-kun?" Temari had walked over to the bed, the Uchiha not noticing since he was so drowned in his own mind. "Itachi-kun, what's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh nothing." he lied as he looked her in the eyes.

Temari made a pouty face. "Itachi-kun, I know you're lying to me. You've spent all morning in bed. That's not like you."

Itachi sighed. If he didn't tell her something chances were she was gonna find out sooner or later. So he told her what was going on with the exception of a few parts.

"But why do they want to harm us?" Temari asked. "We didn't do anything wrong, did we?"

"It's too complicated to explain. We just can't stay in the same place for too long, alright?"

The blond gave a soft smile. "Alright, Itachi-kun." She was about to walk away when she grabbed Itachi's arm. "Come watch some tv with me. It's better than lying in bed all day."

Itachi kept his same emotionless expression as he got out of bed and followed Temari to the couch. He sat down and Temari placed herself on his lap. Out of nowhere she gave him a small kiss on the lips, leaving the man stunned.

"Don't worry, 'tachi-kun." she told him. "Everything's gonna be okay."

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Kankuro peeked at his brother from the hallway. He was still standing there in the same spot as yesterday. It was like he hadn't moved an inch. He sighed as he recalled the message that they just received.

Because of all the rain, Tsunade had asked Gaara to stay inside since his sand was a lot slower. The red-head wanted to object to the request until he remembered that the same people that had Temari might be after him. If he got captured then he might not be able to get them both out.

Kankuro, on the other hand, was free to leave with the search party but he didn't want to leave his little brother alone. Who knew what he might do.

Naruto had left with a few groups of ANBU not too long ago. He had given Gaara one of the sternest looks Kankuro had ever seen. The words he told his red-haired brother was repaying over and over.

"Don't worry, Gaara. We'll find her no matter what it takes. I promise."

That blond was always making promises whenever something unexpected happened, but he did always keep his word. The puppet master could tell it gave Gaara a hope boost as it did for him.

He knew that once the rain stopped, the both of them would be out there looking for her. For Temari.

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The television watched as the two people in front of it had fallen asleep on the couch. Itachi had his head tilted back, an arm resting across the top of the couch while the other was wrapped around the sleeping beauty in his lap who was snoozing on his chest.

Everything seemed so peaceful until the sound of broken glass could be heard, waking the Uchiha.

He sat up straight, stretching his arms. He glanced around noticing something had flown through the window causing it to brake. He slid the resting female off his lap while surprised that she was awoken as well.

Walking over to the shattered glass he found nothing at the scene. Then what was used to brake the window?

His eyes suddenly trailed to the wall, eying a kunai with what looked like a note attached. He slowly reached for the paper. It didn't seem to be a bomb. If it was it would have exploded by now.

He pulled the note from the kunai and opened it, reading it's contents.

You failed, Itachi.

"Itachi!!"

His head shooting right up, the Uchiha saw a figure holding Temari in a locked choke hold.

"I...ta..chi.." Temari muzzled out, her hands trying to pull the stranger off her neck. The stranger pulled out a kunai, holding it to her neck.

"Too bad, Itachi."

With that said, the blond was stabbed, decorating the carpet with red liquid.