Alright…super close to Christmas and I am off schedule…oh well. Here is your next present, Chapter 2 of Smoke!

Akira loved it when she woke up next to her favorite rag doll; she named it Kakuzu because it looked like a member of one of her favorite pirate ships she would look at from a book she once received from a traveler. Kakuzu kept her warm when her arms wrapped around its neck and its long black hair tickled her nose. This morning was no different. Familiar hair tickled her nose and she took a deep breath to smell the dolls dusty scent. Today it smelt different though, but Akira paid no heed.

A moan vibrated off her stomach and made the arms wrapped around the dolls' neck loosen. For some reason its neck was farther down than she wanted, to tired to move it back up to her neck she opened her eyes, she knew her mommy wouldn't like it if she slept for to long anyway.

A mountain of black came into her vision and moved with the head it connected to, that nuzzled into the fabric of the shirt Akira had draped over her body. For a moment her ten-year-old mind thought her beloved toy was brought to life. But the growing feeling of arms way to thick under the bend of her knees and a fist gripping the fabric of the shirt told her other wise. A blink or more later and Akira's brown eyes registered that it was not her doll embracing her, but the boy she met whose name was Itachi.

'Mommy said a boy should touch a girl like this if they aren't married…' Akira thought in her head. Tears stung her eyes as all her memories returned. Blinking several times Akira came to her senses…she didn't like it that she was getting cooties from a boy obviously older than she was. Carefully she moved her sore legs from his grip, the shirt she wore slipped up but she didn't care. Next she lifted her body slowly away from the mat. Glad to be away from the handsome boy Akira looked around the room for an escape. Running over to one of the large windows she remembered from last night she looked outside. A garden with a bare cherry blossom that sat in the far corner entered her vision. It was clean and had a sandy middle that was most likely use for some sort of training. Pushing the window out a happy squeal escaped her lips at finding the window opened easily. Taking this chance she started to climb onto the windowsill, but without warning she slipped. As a result she now lay half in and half out, her feet dangled inside the room and she let out an indignant huff.

"Stupid thingy…" Akira wined.

"What are you doing?" Another boys' voice asked from in front of her. The voice sounds almost like Itachi's; Akira looked up to see if somehow he was outside. A boy about her age was leaning against the wall outside in a traditional yukata and had a bamboo sword lying on his shoulder. He looked at her as if she were an idiot…she felt like it too.

"H-Hello…?" She tilted her head to the side. Akira watched the boy close his black eyes and sigh, shaking his head while a pale hand combed through his messy black chicken hair. Without meaning to she let out a soft giggle. Chicken head glared at her.

"What?" He growled.

"…Chicken head…pffft…" Watching his eyebrow twitch she shivered in fear when he smirked.

"Wait…what are you-" Walking up to the window were Akira lay the boy chucked the bamboo sword at the only person still asleep. Itachi didn't even twitch until five seconds later when he sits up and rubs his head…

"Ow…"

" Hey Itachi, the kids trying run away." Akira screeched as the arms of the weasel pulled her out of the window. To resist she started to kick her legs and lash out her arms. Uninterested the boy outside left.

"Let me go, Get off!" The ten-year-old cried and twisted her body left and right. The one holding on to her waist didn't want to admit it, but she was a struggle to keep hold of.

"Would you listen to me-" A loud growl interrupted Itachi and Akira blushed. Her arms went to her already covered belly.

"…"

"…"

"Are you hungry?" He asked. Defeated, Akira slumped her shoulders and lowered her head.

"…Y-yes…" She whispered meekly. Thus, keeping the girl in his arms Itachi walked out of his bedroom and into the hall. To keep from slipping Akira wrapped her feeble arms around the boy and lay her chin on top of his head. Brown hair tickled the Uchiha's face; he closed his eyes and let her ashy scent surround him again. He could get use to this. When the two entered Makoto greeted them.

"Good morning dear," When she spotted Akira perched in her sons arms she smiled. "And good morning to you honey." Shyly she hid her face in her arms. Makoto looked at her son in concern as Itachi starred at her blankly. Slowly he lifted the girl from his shoulders and steadies her feet on the wooden floor. Then he walked to his seat. Akira starred at him until another growl from her stomach made her peer longingly at the hot food the black haired woman set on the table in fives. The peculiar boy beckoned her over with his hand. She watched his movement with untrusting eyes as she stood next to his sitting form.

"Say 'ah'." He ordered Akira did as ordered and opened her mouth. A large portion of rice was shoved into her mouth. She chewed and then swallowed as the boy used the same chopsticks to feed himself.

"Awww, now isn't that the cutest thing you've ever seen," Makoto cued to herself. "Like feeding a wild animal ~"

"Sit." Akira took a seat next to Itachi obediently. The mother pushed a bowl of rice towards the girl. She mumbled a 'thank you' and started to eat until another person marched in.

"Makoto, what's for…what is that." Akira shrunk back in fear when a powerful voice was aimed at her in hate. Brown eyes trembled at the giant man who just radiated strength. He was tan with shoulder length black hair and muscular. Ebony eyes glared at her diminutive figure. It was the complete opposite feeling she use to get when her father would stare at her. No love, no pride, just disgust that she was even alive.

" This is a girl from the village you destroyed a few weeks ago." Itachi deadpanned. The older man continued to glare at the child who grew steadily paler.

"I am finished…" She whispered. Quickly the lass exited the kitchen to the outside hall. When she thought for sure that she was far from the kitchen she broke out into a sprint.

Back inside the quiet room son and father scowled at each other.

"How could you bring that filth into our prestigious home." Fugaku said.

" The same reason you killed her home." Crimson seemed to burn a hole into his father. The only woman in the room sighed at the ill thoughts surrounding the two men.

'As usual…these two just cannot see eye to eye. If only Fugaku would show more kindness.' The mother thought.

" I'm ready for breakfast mom." The last son in the Uchiha household walked in with sweat covering his face.

"Sasuke sweetie, how was sword practice?" She asked trying to disperse the negative feelings filling up the room.

"Hn…it was too easy, I flipped over Kakashi-sensei." Sasuke informed while taking a seat. Once the youngest son started to stuff his face the mother turned her attention to her eldest.

"Here Itachi," A pale hand placed an unfinished bowl of rice in front of her son. " I'm sure Akira is still very hungry." Nodding Itachi was about to leave when Fugaku stopped him.

"You will do no such think Itachi! Let the filth starve."

"Screw off." The weasel seethed.

Another gust of wind caused Akira's arms to wrap around her. She had no clue where she was going, but she hoped far away from the scary giant. More wind penetrated the T-shirt she wore and shivers racked her body.

'S-So cold.' She thought as her hair covered her eyes. Finally when she turns a corner the wall that surrounded the home came to an end. An iron-gate stood several yards in front of her

"Yay! If that's the exit then-" By some unseen force Akira's leg gives in and she falls to the cold floor.

"Owwwww…*sniffle" Akira let tears blur her vision.

"It serves you right for trying to run away with almost no clothes on." Turning her head to see Itachi starring down at her with a smirk on his lips. The bandages on her legs had come undone and trailed behind her where the teenager held in his hand; because it was still wrapped to her leg when he pulled on it she would fall.

"Y-you…you…" A thin black eyebrow arched up as he watched the kid struggle for what he thought would be an insult.

"You weasel!" She accused. His left eyebrow twitched. Akira thinks to herself that excessive eyebrow twitching must run in the family.

"Stand up." Akira obeyed and got to her knees. Then swiftly the pale hand of the weasel tugged on the bandage and sent Akira face first to the floor.

"Wah!…W-What was that for?" She asked looking up at him with teary eyes.

"That was for the terrible insult." He said bluntly. Getting back to her feet she watched Itachi stalk towards her. His legs were dressed in the same pants he slept in but that didn't keep them from looking long and in Akira's mind the were pretty, she liked the way he walked. It reminded if her pet cat Iggie when she was stalking a wild rabbit near the forest. All thoughts of pretty legs and cats were halted when she was again lifted into her care takers arms.

"Here," Itachi handed the tan girl her unfinished rice. "You never finished."

Blushing Akira took the food and started to eat while he walked them back to what she assumed was his room.

"…Thank you." She whispered.

Letting the meek voice spin around in his head the black haired teen said a simple "Hn." He didn't know why but he couldn't stop the echo her voice caused in his head. It was small and barely audible, but so soothing to listen to.

The two children had a pleasant conversation while sitting inside the teenagers' room. Neither caring about the earlier fear of mean fathers.