As I lay on my back in the soft, luxurious bed in my room, I stared at the ceiling, thinking to myself. That night felt so romantic…it made me want to vomit! I felt so stupid. Pinning him down like that tonight. Itachi must have thought I was flirting with him…or…or…or… I drifted asleep.

After that particular night, Itachi has been with his brother more often than before. One day I saw him carrying Sasuke on his back. How sweet, I thought. Itachi had really taken my advice to heart. I heard Sasuke tell Itachi something I'll never forget: "Big Brother, I want to grow up just like you and become strong."

For a whole month Itachi had been somewhat nice to me and Sasuke. I've grown attached to Itachi. I saw Itachi carrying Sasuke on his back again today. I laughed at them because I thought the spectacle was cute.

They stopped to turn around and look at me funnily. My laughs died off with a sigh as I walked away, smiling. Now each time I look at Itachi, my heart begins to pound and I can't breathe. It's like I'm in love…but I've never been in love before. It felt so good…but so painful.

One evening I decided to show him a cool place I'd found. "Hey, Itachi, if you're not too busy…um, can you come with me to the Big Oak tree in the forest?" I asked him shyly.

"I suppose," he replied mechanically.

He followed me to the spot that night. It was pretty dark and the silver moon was a sliver of a crescent. "What did you want to show me?" he sighed, stopping and folding his arms.

"Watch…" I said mysteriously. I stomped my foot on the ground once and the tree lit up. "This place is called Candlelight. Fireflies come in the tree by day. At night, if they hear vibrations, they glow. I discovered it two days ago."

He looked momentarily dazzled by the beauty of the display as he gazed upon the glowing tree. "Beautiful, huh?" I asked softly, shuffling beside him.

"Indeed," he whispered. At this moment, I want it to stay like this forever. I was in love with Itachi and I wanted to tell him how I felt. So I gathered up my courage. "Itachi…" I began.

"Yes?" He turned and his onyx eyes twinkled for a second from the fireflies. My heart shot up into my throat. My stomach threatened to fall out my butt. I couldn't do it. I nearly choked. "This past….argh! Forget it," I sighed.

I ran up to him and kissed Itachi on the cheek before running off, crying in frustration. Why couldn't I say it? I was a strong person, but matters of love are stronger. The words just stuck in my throat and I clammed up.

As soon as I got into town, I paused under a tree to calm down. I must have been crazy! Thinking of falling in love with the Head household's oldest son. My face was burning up as I wiped my eyes.

I looked up and Itachi was in front of me. He stared at me fiercely. "Itachi, I'm sorry I-" He stopped me by resting his palms on top of my shoulders and reversing my footsteps backwards. "Why are you pushing me back?" I asked.

"Be still," he commanded. My back was against the tree, hard. Itachi said to me, "No one in my life has ever done something so foolish, not ever. I don't know what you were thinking but I now know what you mean. And I have to ask- why?"

I was cornered by him and couldn't run. So I said words that I'll never regret. "Why…Why…Because when I first looked at you, you seemed like the scary type. I didn't exactly like you, but after the last month and a half, you began to lighten up. And I'll tell you what I told you before- something I know in my heart. Deep down inside of you, you're a caring and compassionate person," I replied.

"I'm neither caring nor compassionate to anyone," Itachi denied, "but…I know that's how you feel about me…which tells me this…"

"What?" I whispered.

"How I feel about…" He began, having trouble spitting the words out.

"Yes?" I encouraged softly.

"You," he finished. Me?

"Why?" I whispered.

"Because you seem to see as a normal person, but to everyone else, I seem different," he responded quietly.

I was lost in his onyx eyes. "Itachi, you are normal to me. That is why I…" I slid away from his grasp out of fear. "love you so dearly."

He stared at me in a good way. I felt so calm in front of him...at first. I held my hands behind my back because I knew I was trembling. I shut my eyes to prevent looking scared. And suddenly I heard a heart beating close to my ear. I opened my eyes.

He was holding me close. He was warm and I was comfortable. I looked up at Itachi. He seemed so relaxed. I wanted to break the silence. And so I came closer to him on my tiptoes and gently kissed him on the lips.

I knew he would open his eyes in shock, I could tell, even with my eyes closed. It felt so…so…perfect.

After, as we were watching the moon and stars, I fell asleep on his shoulder. He carried me back to the manor and that was about it. So far from then on, he has helped me train and, in exchange, I showed him sightseeing places I found. We talked a few times and he finally stayed at dinner.

So you're expecting a happy ending, right?

Wrong.

After about two weeks, Itachi has been acting strangely again. He ignores me and Sasuke again. It was like he snapped or something. I couldn't tell. The next day it all began.