Itachi's POV

"No, it's nothing." I just can't bring myself to ask Akane why she was crying this morning. On my way to my room, I see the servant girl, Momo, walking towards me. When she notices me, she stops in front of me, causing me to stop as well.

"Itachi, sir, is there anything you need?"

I stare at her for a few long moments,thinking. "Bring a bottle of sake to my room, and ask Kisame to come as well."

"Yes, sir. Right away." Then she takes off running in the direction of the kitchen.

Free from her, I step into my room. All I can think of is Kankishi, and I'm still not sure why I can't get her out of my mind. I must confide in someone, and sadly the only person I could ever confide in is Kisame. Less than two minutes later, Kisame arrives at my door with a bottle of sake and two cups.

Kisame's POV

Not bothering to knock, for I know Itachi to be aware of my presence, I open the door and walk inside, carrying the requested sake. I greet Itachi with a half-smile, and he just looks at me like always. I briefly look around the room and see a small table in the center with two chairs, one to either side. Itachi is in one chair, and I assume the other is meant for me. I go to sit in the other chair and start pouring the sake. I know better than to say anything. By what I can gather from Itachi's mood, he will speak when he is ready. Luckily, I don't have to wait long. After pouring the sake, and drinking a bit of mine, Itachi speaks.

"Have you noticed anything strange, about that Akane?"

Huh, not at all what I expected him to say. I wonder where this is headed. "What do you mean?"

A little hesitant, "Well, first off, we don't know that much about her. All we know is that she is a capable fighter and a successful assassin, yet we know almost nothing of her past. It disturbs me how someone who never got training from a village could learn so much about the ways of the ninja. Of course, there is her mentor, Shingetsu, but who is this man? I've never heard of him before we started investigating Akane." It is rare that he says so much at one time, but still I feel that he is leaving the main thing out.

"I don't know what to say to that, but what purpose could they have in deceiving us? It isn't like they are a real danger to us. I detect no deception in anything that Akane has said. Now tell me, what is this really all about?"

After a long deep sigh, Itachi reluctantly tells me about that morning, about how he saw Akane crying in her sleep and how he wanted to help her. He also tells me about these random feelings of compassion he's been having and had to repeatedly talk himself out of them. The entire time he was telling his story, he hasn't once looked up from his empty cup. As he finally looks up at me, his eyes widen a bit at my shocked expression. Well, who could blame me? It's not every day that Itachi expresses or even admits he has any emotion. "Now, tell me," pleads Itachi. Pleads! "What should I do about this?"

Taking a few seconds to regain my composure, I ask him. "Are you absolutely sure about these feelings?"

".. Yes. They've been, distracting. But I'm still not sure exactly what they mean."

Well, it seems pretty obvious to me, is what I'm tempted to say. Instead, using my better judgment, I tell him, "Maybe, it couldn't hurt for you to find out what these feelings are about."

"But how am I to do that?"

Man, I'm definitely not good at this kind of thing. Awkwardly, I say, "Well, you could start by listening to your emotions, instead of shutting them away? Maybe that will lead you somewhere.."

He stares at me for a few long moments before he refills his cup and mine with the sake. "Thank you for listening," he says. "Never speak of this again." And with that he downs the sake. I drink a couple more cups with him in silence, then I get up and leave, calling goodnight over my shoulder. Weirdest day ever.

Itachi's POV

After Kisame leaves, I just stare at the door, still barely believing that I confided in him. I wonder if he thinks me weak, now. I wonder what she would think..

Slightly buzzed from the sake, I have enough sense to stop drinking before things get out of hand. I drink some water, and I go to sleep soon after.