When I finally woke up, I looked around and figured I was in the hospital. I leaned up, positioning myself on the pillow and the bedpost. My limbs were stiff and I felt light headed.

"What the heck happened…ugh my head hurts. Hiro!"

I jumped out of bed and had to sit back down on it for a second. Once I got the blood to settle down, I ran out of the doorway and ran into Itachi on his way over to visit me.

"Oh hey Itachi. I'm looking for Hiro, do you know where his room is?"

"Yes but I don't think it's a good idea to go see him right now"

"Why…Is there something you're not telling me?"

"You really shouldn't visit him Mariah. How about I walk you home, the Chuunin exams are over and your parents were really concerned"

"I guess, but what happened during the Chuunin exams?"

"After all of that, we just fought one round and the spectators are going to decide, now let's walk you home"

He grabbed my hand and started to walk outside. He had to go and see his father, so he was going to see me tomorrow. I walked into the house and straight to my room. I fluffed the pillow and lay me head on it, staring at the ceiling. I started thinking about what had happened.

"What did I do back there, why did I lose control all of a sudden! Against a teammate none the less…this is all so confusing"

I got my pillow and threw it at the wall. I heard a knock at the door and my mother walked in.

"Hey Mariah, would you mind if we talked? I saw what happened at the Chuunin exams and I want to tell you it wasn't your fault. All you three have become Chuunin because of it"

I sat there in awe for a second at what she had said.

"I…I'm really a Chuunin? Mom thank you for telling me, I'm just so…ecstatic!"

I ran over to the Uchiha complex to find Itachi. I told him the good news and he had good news for me too, Hiro was out of the hospital and wanted to see me. I went over to his house and knocked at his door. He opened the door and we started to talk.

"Oh about the fight, I wanted to tell you how cool that was when you called the bijuu. All of that raw power could really get some things done. I wish I had one too"

"No you don't, it's just a big hassle for all the power. It doesn't balance out, and we passed the Chuunin exams!"

He heard me, but it didn't look like he was listening. I could just tell that he had something planned by the way that he talked about the bijuu like that, but what? The thought of it creeped me out, but I just shook it off and went back outside. I took off back towards the house, passing the Uchiha Complex. Itachi saw me and came over to me.

"Hey what did Hiro say?"

"Well I told him about the Chuunin exams, but he just kept going on and on about the bijuu and how powerful they are…"

I looked down and put a hand on the seal. I looked up at Itachi again and he looked a bit concerned.

"What's wrong?"

"That's all he wanted to talk about with me too"

We will have to watch him closely.

After a year or so, we were meeting as usual for a mission briefing. Today we didn't start with a sparring mission like usual, Kakashi wanted to talk.

"Guys I have really big news, you're all promoted to Jounin"

"Seriously? It's only been like a year since the exams"

"You have proven yourself to be able to handle it, congratulations"

We had just gotten back from an S ranked escort mission and I was headed back to my house. Itachi was walking me back as usual. I suppose because it's on the way to his house, but it is a bit off the beaten path. He said bye at the gate and I walked in. I decided to save myself a trip and grab the mail right there.

"Dad, dad, dad, mom, dad, what…I actually got some mail?"

I walked over to the door, wondering what someone would mail me for. I placed the mail for my parents over on the table and I headed up the stairs over to my room. I cleared off the bed from excess clothing, scrolls, and such. I sat down, fluffed my azure pillow and leaned on the frame of my bed, ready to read my unexpected letter. I untied the blue string unfurled the paper and started reading.

Dear Mariah,

You are probably wondering who this letter is from and why I would send it so unexpectedly. I finally got the courage to deliver this letter that I have been keeping in my desk. I love the way your sapphire eyes glisten in the sunlight. The way it seems like I'm being enchanted as I look at the wind blowing through your beautiful golden hair. Your intelligence stands out from all others and I know how hard you work trying to live up to expectations. I admire your care and kindness towards others, in spite of how they've treated you. You are determined to gain respect and in my eyes, you have that and so much more. What I am trying to say is, would you consider going on a date with me? Whatever your answer, please send a reply before our next mission. I think you know who is writing this by now. If you don't, just look down a bit more. I do hope if you refuse my offer, that we will continue to be friends.

Sincerely Itachi

I fell back on my pillow and placed the letter next to me. I lay there on my back staring up at the ceiling of my dimly lit room, thinking about the letter. I had never thought of Itachi as someone who would write me that kind of letter. I never even gave the fact that he probably liked me a chance to slip through my thoughts. I always thought of Itachi as my friend, maybe now as my boyfriend. I smiled a bit. Now that I thought of it, I did always want him to ask me out. I just never wanted it to jeopardize a mission…or our friendship. As I was still alone with my thoughts in my room, someone knocked on the door. My dad popped his head inside.

"Hey, I heard you got a letter"

I frantically worked to hide the scroll under the covers so he wouldn't want to see it.

"A letter? What are you talking about?"

"Your mom saw you come in and run upstairs with something in your hands, a scroll"

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"I know he wrote you a letter"

"But how…"

"He asked me some advice on how to write a good letter for his 'friend'. I only figured it was for you"

"Ya…"

I started to feel my face flush a subtle pink, I did really like him and my dad could tell.

"What are you going to tell him?

"I can't say it to you!"

"Hey whatever, but if you want to talk more I'm here"

He started for the door, glanced back at me, and walked out turning the light off on his way out. Could he really read me that well? He was my dad after all. I ran over to get a blank scroll from my shelves. I set it, some ink, and a pen on my desk. I started thinking of how I could respond to him.

Dear Itachi,

To sum up what your letter did to me, it made me realize my true feelings about you. I love how your gorgeous crimson tinted eyes gaze upon me, how your hair is like the shadow of the heavens themselves, I could go on or I could just say it in one phrase, you have the looks and personality that sweep me off my feet. You're so kind and sweet, always ready to take on anything. I hadn't thought of you as anything more than a friend before this, but now I have changed my mind. You really are someone that I like and would love to go on a date with.

Forever and always, Mariah

I sat there reading what I had written in my room, lit only by the beams from the moon. I placed my ink and pen back into their spots and tied the letter with a red string. I lay back down onto my comfortable bed and drifted to sleep. I woke up early the next morning and decided to deliver the letter myself. I slowly made my way down the stairs and silently out the door. I ran across the yard and slowly opened the gate, just enough so that I could squeeze by. It was early enough so that there was nobody on the streets except Gai doing his morning laps. I quickly sprinted over to the Uchiha's place. The gate was closed, how was I supposed to get in now. I took a few steps back and hopped the wall. I vaguely had an idea of where Itachi's house was, I usually never went over to his house unless it was an emergency mission or something. I finally found the correct house and quickly slipped the letter into their mailbox. No one was around anyway so I shimmered back to the front gate of my house. I snuck back into my room via the window on the second floor. My pulse was a little higher, yet I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mission accomplished"

"What mission, and why did you sneak into your room?"

I turned around to see my mother and she had a very confused look on her face.

"Oh it was nothing, just…uh…early morning exercise"

She gave me a very skeptical look, but just kept walking on past my door. I leaned with my back to the wall and slowly slid down.

"Wow what kind of ninja am I, I can't even deliver a letter. At least our next mission isn't for a few days"

(Itachi's POV)

I had just gotten up and was about to head out for some morning training. My dad was sifting through the mail. I paused for a second in front of the door to see if he wanted to talk.

"Oh hey Itachi, you got a letter"

"Already? Wow that was fast"

"Where you expecting it?"

"No, it's nothing!"

I grabbed the scroll he had in his hand and ran back out of the room. I sat down on the walkway and opened it. I read through it and by the end, I had a smile on my face. She accepted.

"Oh score, you got a date with Mariah"

I was a bit startled but turned my head around to see Hiro behind me.

"Why are you over my shoulder reading my mail…why are you even here!"

"I just came over to see if you wanted to train with me, but I see you have more important things to be doing. I can't believe you pulled off getting a date with the Hokage's daughter, dude that's awesome! I'm so jealous"

"Would you get out of here!"

"Fine fine I'm leaving"

I walked back over to my room and placed the letter in a drawer under my desk. I quickly wrote up a small note and tied it onto one of my kunai. I got past my parents and started to walk over to Mariah's house. By now the gate was open for anyone to pass on through. I knew exactly which one was Mariah's room, I'm not a stalker or anything, she is just the only one that leaves her window open. I got into the big maple tree in front of her window. I made sure I would hit anything, threw the kunai, slid down the tree, and walked off.

(My POV)

I started looking through some of my scrolls I had set on the bookshelf. A few hours later, a kunai with a note came flying through my open window. I yanked it out of the wall and looked at it.

Mariah, thanks for responding so quickly. How about I pick you up at your house at 3? I know you don't have anything today so I don't need an answer. I can't wait for tonight.

I put up the kunai and the note in the same place I had placed the first scroll. I looked at the clock and it was 12. I didn't quite know what to do…I had never been on a date before. What was I supposed to wear? How was I supposed to do my hair? So many questions popped into my head. I just took a deep breath, this was Itachi remember, I needed to lighten up. I took a shower and used my special conditioner. I got out, dried it, and brushed it like I usually do. I grabbed a hair tie and wrapped it loosely around my hair. I put on my headband again and fixed my bangs. Then I walked back over to my room, opened my closet, and examined what I had hanging in my closet.

"Well, I shouldn't wear what I usually do…all I really have is mission clothes. This is really the only I have without being way too formal"

It was a blue sort of low cut drawstring shirt with sleeves that go down to the middle of my arm. Then I just wore some navy capris. I looked at the mirror above my drawers.

"This is the best I can do for now"

I glanced over at the clock again, it was 1. I still had two hours left, what should I do? I decided to keep on reading the scrolls that I had started earlier. It was finally 2:55 and I was getting nervous. I finally heard the doorbell ring and walked downstairs. I slowly opened the door to a very different looking Itachi. He had on a bit more formal outfit, but not too much.

*Wow…he looks so different*

*Woah…she looks gorgeous. I better say something* "So I was thinking maybe we could go eat first"

"Sounds great"

So we walked over to the restaurant pretty much in silence. It was a bit awkward going on a date with my best friend. We got to the restaurant and sat down in one of the booths. The waiter took our order and we sat on opposite sides of the table.

*I need an ice breaker, something we both remember* "So how did you think the mission went?"

"It was a success, I mean we did get that weird old guy back to his home country"

"That guy did have a few screws loose. So have you ever been here before?"

"Um once with my parents, but that was a long time ago"

All the time we were talking, he was slowly making his way over to my side of the table.

"What are you doing?"

"Making this more of a date"

"If that's all, then you could've just asked"

I slid over closer to him and we met in the middle. We started talking more and his hand slid right over mine, slowly grasping it. He turned toward me to see if that was ok, I just smiled at him.

"So…did you like my letter?"

"I thought it was very sweet, I loved it"

"Good"

He moved his hand from mine, up the backboard of the chair in between us, and over my opposite shoulder. He slightly pushed on it, making me lean my head on his chest. He started carefully running his fingers throughout my hair.

"Your hair is so soft"

"Thanks, yours isn't so bad either"

I playfully flipped one of the pieces he had on the side of his face.

"Sorry to interrupt, but your food is ready"

The waiter was standing there with our food. We broke apart slightly and started eating. After a delicious meal of something other than ramen, he paid, and we walked out, hand in hand, over to the park. The whole time we were walking together, I could swear my heart beat a little faster. We walked down one of the lush paths with lots of foliage around it. After walking for a good ten minutes, the path ended at a beautiful lake. I decided on a nice little patch of grass, sat down, and leaned my back on the tree behind us. He immediately followed on my right side.

"I figured this would be a nice place to take you for our first date"

"It's beautiful Itachi, so lovely"

"That's why I picked it, it reminded me of you"

I could feel myself starting to turn a slight pink. He turned around and smiled at me. I immediately looked down, not to meet his eyes. He lightly pulled my chin up, so he could see my eyes. Then after a few moments, he gently kissed me. After a second or two, I decided to kiss him back. When we broke apart, I started turning a bright red.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about"

"I know, it's just…a few days ago you were my best friend, now you're that and my boyfriend"

"You really think of me as your boyfriend? I'm really glad to hear that. I was really nervous this morning after I read your letter, but now I feel really calm and relaxed. Do you think your mom and dad…"

"I'm sure they're fine with it. Besides even if they weren't, we would find a way to make this work"

I was getting a little tired, so I lay my head down on Itachi's shoulder and he started stroking my hair. We stayed like that for a while, watching the sunset.

Yay a really long chapter! I finally sat down at the computer and made myself write it. I've also been playing this cool game, Mabinogi. It's this crazy mmorpg and it's so fun ^-^. I hope to update very soon!!