Itachi sat on a chair across from Ayame, waiting. He watched the rise of her chest every so often to make sure she was still breathing. Dusk settled in the sky when Ayame finally woke. "About time," Itachi walked towards her holding a bottle in his right hand. "It's nearly eight. Here," He held a spoon at her mouth.

"What is it?" Ayame leaned on her right arm, trying to sit up. Itachi put the spoon on the table and helped her to lie up against the pillows.

"It will help with the side effects of the poison." He lifted the spoon towards her again.

Ayame examined the contents in the spoon and looked from the spoon to Itachi. His eyes were their normal shade of black. He didn't seem to have a murderous intend, but still she was a Jinchuuriki and he was part of Akatsuki. "How can I be sure that your not trying to kill me."

"If I wanted to kill you I would have brought you to Akatsuki not here. Now drink it." He lifted the spoon closer to her mouth so that the tip was touching her lips. She parted her lips so that the spoon's contends could be poured down her throat. It had a nasty after taste and she took the water that Itachi offered her, gulping it down.

"Why didn't you tell me that you carried Gobi inside of you?" Itachi asked while putting the tray on her lap.

"I…I was scared." Ayame hung her head low.

"Why."

"After everyone shunned the kid who held the nine-tails I didn't want people to react the same way. Besides the third and Kakashi forbid me to tell anyone."

"I see,"

"What are you going to do now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well your part of Akatsuki and I'm a Jinchuuriki, doesn't your organization want all the tailed beasts?"

"Yeah…but." Itachi fell silent, for he was asking himself the same question ever since he saw her transform. He didn't want to hurt her and it was oblivious that he wouldn't let anyone kill her. "Is there anyway for us to get Gobi without killing you?"

Ayame blinked her eyes at Itachi's expression. His eyes seem to be pleading to her. It was the first time in a while that he probably showed any emotion, and it was directed towards her. "No,"

"But they revived Gaara, couldn't that happen to you."

"No, I'm different than other Jinchuuriki. Gobi is me and I am Gobi. If you take Gobi away from me, you're also taking my soul away from my body."

"How is that possible?"

"About... two years before the nine-tails attacked Konoha. Gobi attacked close to Konoha, where I was with dad. I don't know why but Gobi took a liking to me and kidnapped me. When dad found me he saw that Gobi wouldn't let me go so he made a pack that Gobi could see me everyday for a while, if he didn't attack the village and actually help to protect Konoha. Gobi agreed and dad would take me everyday to a special place where Gobi and I would play. I was with Gobi when Kyuubi attacked Konoha. Kyuubi would have killed me if Gobi didn't transfer all his chakra and essential his life force into me. When our charkas mixed it formed a shield, which held until dad came to me."

"Oh…Ayame."

"Yes,"

"Why did you come back?" Itachi now sat on the edge of the bed even closer to her.

"For Sasuke," She stared at him while speaking.

He didn't speak for a while but neither of their eyes moved from each other's gaze. "He won't go back until he's killed me."

"Maybe, but all I know is that my brother is his best friend and I will do anything to save that friendship. I don't want him to suffer like I did." She finally brought her head down. She didn't want to see his reaction, but it was true that she suffered after he left Konoha. She thought about him everyday for years until he somehow he seemed like a dream. That is until Kabuto came back and all those memories and feelings awoke. Now she was laying in his bed and he was sitting next to her. There were many things that she wanted to ask him and tell him, but she didn't want to rush it. After all her only wish was that things would be back to when they were kids going on missions and taking the Chunin exam together.

"Brother?" Itachi broke the silence.

"Yeah, Naruto. I only found out just recently that he lived. Jiraiya told me and Kakashi confirmed it."

"I see… did you really suffer?"

"Yes,"

"But you had Kabuto." Itachi spite out Kabuto's name and Ayame chuckled at Itachi's obvious jealousy. "What?"

"Nothing, but I left after you fought him. I haven't returned to Konoha until recently. Besides Kabuto wasn't… he wasnt't... you." Ayame bit her lower lip and turned her head away from him. After all these years she finally told him, well not straight out but hinted it. Her true feelings that she fought so hard to keep hidden, so it wouldn't destroy their friendship. Now she was bringing it up when he was a S-class missing ninja and their friendship was obviously deteriorated.

He placed a finger on her chin turning her head back towards him. "What do you mean not me? I thought you liked him."

"I was lonely, after you were part of ANBU you became so... preoccupied. I mean I like him but more as a good friend." She bit her lower lip again, to suppress her nervousness.

"Do you know how crazy you drove me by being with him!"

"What!"

"Here I was in ANBU and there you were hanging all over a guy who was four years older and still a Genin. It was a smack in the face." Itachi started to get riled up of the thought of them together.

"So you were jealous," Ayame pried, relishing the thought of Itachi jealous over her.

"Well… yeah." He settled down realizing that he was showing emotions that he worked so hard to bury. It was hard to conceal them anymore, especially with her so close to him again. She could always bring out emotions in him and after all these years it was still the same. She was his weakness, he knew it but for once he didn't care about weakness. She was here revealing her feelings and he wasn't going to let another Kabuto take her away. Even though he knew that a relationship would be impossible as long as he was part of Akatsuki, he wasn't going to let her go without knowing.

He placed his finger back onto her chin, lifting her face towards his as he leaned in. Ayame stomach did flips, she felt so light headed as she realized what he was doing. Then he very lightly brushed his lips against hers, feeling her warmth. Ayame parted her mouth along with his, letting him deepen the kiss. He let go slowly while swiping hisindex finger across her cheek as their foreheads touched.

"I love you," Ayame spoke softly while staring into his eyes.

"I love you, too." Itachi replied while brushing his fingers on her lips. Then he dropped his hands onto her back pulling her body towards his while he kissed her. Ayame's hands went into his hair, playing with it as they made out. He laid her down onto the bed while he climbed on top of her, rubbing their bodies together. Itachi kissed up and down her neck and along her shoulder, delicately. They gazed into each other's eyes, seeing the longing that they both had for another. Ayame brought her head off the pillows, kissing him while she pulled his shirt up revealing his chest. He parted from her for a moment only to let her take the shirt off completely, and then he unwrapped her bandages. Her wounds where healed completely and he saw her breasts. He grabbed her left breast with his right hand while his left hand was pulling down her shorts. Ayame pulled him closer once her shorts where off. Both of them knew how far they were going to go if they continued and neither one of them dare to stop. They have been waiting for so long to be with each other that their emotions just exploded.

It was morning when Pakkun reached a small cabin in the dense woods. Those traps gave him a harder time than expected, but he finally reached Ayame. He could smell her, clearly and strongly. He hid in a tree nearby when Itachi came out wrapped in a robe.

Ayame woke to find Itachi not next to her. She was afraid that last night was just a dream but found out that she was still naked. She wrapped the sheets around her body and went outside to look for him, but she found him on the porch drinking some tea. She walked quietly behind him but the swoosh that the sheets made, alerted him. He turned around and Ayame smiled sheepishly as she went into his arms. He wrapped his arms around her kissing her. Itachi too, thought that he just imagined it too but her kiss reassured him. They faced the sunrise together while Itachi held her as if he let go she would disappear. Ayame quickly turned her head towards the trees next to the house.

"What is -" Itachi let go of her as she walked towards the tree, however Ayame covered her mouth pointing to the tree. Itachi disappeared and Ayame walked towards the tree, Pakkun knew that he was discovered and had to get out fast. But Itachi was one step ahead of him and captured him as he tried to leave the tree. He brought Pakkun back to Ayame.

"Pakkun!" Ayame hugged the dog. "What are you doing here?"

"Can't breath." Pakkun grasped for breath while Ayame set him down but Itachi stood behind Pakkun watching his every move. "Kakashi set me to find you."

"Oh, well tell Kakashi to meet me at the waterfall, over there. Now go." Ayame said.

"Wait, how do you know that he won't tell where I live." Itachi asked.

"Trust me, he won't. Will you." Ayame starred Pakkun down and he whimpered backwards towards Itachi's feet.

"No, I won't. She has a bad temper and I never want it directed at me." Pakkun replied but facing Itachi and Itachi nodded, letting Pakkun go.

"Thanks," Ayame kissed Itachi's cheek but Itachi coldly left her on the porch as he entered inside.

"What's your problem, Itachi?" Ayame followed him, confused about his response.

"You're eager to leave," Itachi replied.

"I see... trust me Itachi I would like nothing more than to stay with you. But I have duties to Konoha to finish before I can have what I want. Please believe me." Ayame hung onto his arm. Her eyes started to water and Itachi always hated to see her sad, this time was no different.

"I know… it's just that after last night I thought you would like to stay a while." Itachi held her closely.

"I would to but as soon as I get this mission done the sooner we can be together. Unless you want to help me."

"Help you?" Itachi looked skeptical at her.

"Well if you helped us to lure Sasuke, then we could spend more time together. Maybe I could even see you at nights after that."

"I don't know. Sasuke is doing good enough on his own. He's stronger than he would have been if he stayed in Konoha. Besides if he ever wants to full master the Sharingan then he's going to have to…"Itachi trailed off, he didn't want to say kill his best friends in front of Ayame. Since Sasuke has proven that Naruto is his best friend or was. Maybe that is why he won't return to Konoha. Maybe he is trying to break his friendships off so that he won't have to kill Naruto. If he helped her then he would just be making the inevitable happen. On the other hand he didn't want to disappoint Ayame. This is why he tried so hard to get rid of emotions they are too complicated. However, one look from Ayame seems to make all those complications clear. He knew what he wanted to do and the consequences in his actions. "I'll help, only if after this no one from Konoha tries to kill me. Not like they would succeed but that would become troublesome."

Pakkun returned late into the night, to find that everyone was asleep except for Kakashi. He looked terrible, bags formed under his eyes. Pakkun guessed that he didn't sleep at all since Ayame's disappearance.

"Pakkun did you find her?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes, there's good and bad news."

"Well spit it out." Kakashi urged Pakkun.

"She is alright and said to meet you at a waterfall it's about a day from here. However she is with Itachi and I'm not sure you want to know the rest." Pakkun crept away from Kakashi.

"What!" Kakashi yelled at Pakkun, awaking everyone in the camp from there sleep.

"She seems to be involved with him." Pakkun replied.

"Who's involved with who?" Naruto rubbed his eyes as he walked towards Kakashi.

"Never mind Naruto, go back to sleep and tell everyone we leave a dawn." Kakashi grumpily ordered. "Pakkun get some rest your going to have to show us where to go tomorrow."