She was Uchiha. Not a Main Branch member, but Branch. She was a distant cousin of his, just barely related enough his father approved of him courting her. Had he been anything other than Uchiha, he might have laughed at the word. He was thirteen years old when he began seeing her. Not date; he didn't like that word. It made the whole relationship seem immature if he used the word "date," even if the relationship was immature.

He remembered the first time he saw her. He was walking the compound with his cousin and best friend, Shisui, heading toward the training fields. At Training Field Two, she was sparring with her older sister. Her long black hair was tied back in a bun, several errant strands framing her round face. She had the Uchiha skin and dark dark eyes, which were currently bled red with her Sharingan. Her technique was not necessarily Uchiha, something her sister was chastising her for. She seemed to favor seldom using her fire style jutsu, preferring to rely on the strength of her kicks and punches instead.

While she and her sister took a break, she looked over at Itachi as he and Shisui took the field next to hers. She recognized him, obviously, and bowed her head respectfully. He offered her a small smile and a bow of his head before turning his attention to Shisui.

The next time they met was during one of the Uchiha Summer celebration. She was wearing a black kimono with a white obi, the Uchiha symbol emblazoned on the back proudly. She was seated on the porch, munching on dango, watching the older members show off their fire techniques. Sasuke was standing nearby, watching one of their cousins perform Phoenix Flower Jutsu.

"May I join you?" She looked up at him, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Sure!" She smiled gently, straightening up as he perched himself beside her.

Sasuke attempted Fireball Jutsu, only able to cough out a little spark. Their cousins laughed raucously at his attempt, to which his cheeks puffed out with indignation and embarrassment. Itachi chuckled and shook his head. "Silly little brother."

She laughed as well. "He'll get the hang of it. He's your brother after all."

He looked at her and she held her half eaten dango out at him. "Want a bite?"

He shook his head and she added in a sing-song voice, "It's really good!"

When he opened his mouth to politely decline, she stuffed some into his mouth, laughing at his bewildered expression. He shut his mouth and chewed the treat, finding that it really was good, and swallowed. He gave her a stern look.

"That was not very nice." Her laugh grew louder and he noticed she had a gap between her front teeth, finding it oddly suited her.

"It was good, though, wasn't it?" She asked rhetorically, smiling knowingly at him.

A couple more interactions and Itachi decided he wanted to be with her and told her as such. She blushed until her face was crimson, agreeing dazedly.

She and Itachi were not entirely certain what being together meant, though the had a vague concept of it. They held hands or interlocked their pinkies when holding hands seemed ill-advised, such as during clan meetings. They spent most of their free time together when he was not on ANBU missions and she often went to his house to eat dinner with him and his family. He kissed her once and was then too embarrassed to do it again, not that she had objected to it.

It seemed like only a short while later he was standing over her while she slept, his tanto unsheathed. He was trembling; he had only her and his parents left. And Sasuke.

As he lifted the sword up, she stirred. He froze as she woke up, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Hn...? Itachi? What are you doing...?" As she grew more alert, her eyes filled with fear as she took him in. His bloodied sword and uniform, his activated Sharingan glaring at her, his sword poised to strike.

Tears filled her eyes. "I-Itachi..."

His eyes flashed with pain and he struck, feeling his sword pierce through her chest. She gasped, her white nightgown quickly beginning to turn bright red. She coughed up blood as he wrenched his sword out of her body. She fell back against her pillows, staining them, and stared up at him with betrayal written all over her face.

"W-why?" She gasped out before she wheezed. With a small shudder, she went limp, her teary eyes staring at him blankly.

Itachi felt his own eyes water up and bit his lip to keep from crying. "I'm sorry."

He fled from her home, heading to where his parents were located, unable to get her face out of his mind. He he hated the elders, his father for planning the coup. For making him do this.

Most of all, he hated himself for killing her, knowing she died without even knowing why. Just like the other children, dead in their beds.