A/N: Yes, I have come back. It's probably a good idea to read chapter three over again because I added a little more onto that. Sorry about completely abandoning this story; but I just had no idea of where to go with it next. I have some ideas now, hopefully they'll develop into something more.

Touch Of Black: The Withering Rose

Chapter Four: I'll Never See Him Again

Kakashi grimaced as he looked at 'Hitomi' with his Sharingan eye. Whilst they were walking towards the shinobi training grounds to meet his team he had recognized something within her smile; but he'd shrugged it off and told himself it was only coincidence. It wasn't anymore. His suspicions from their walk had been confirmed.

When they had finally reached his students – he had told them to warm up for a quick sparring match with him, before he stepped back and let them train amongst themselves. It was during this small sparring match that he finally got a look at 'Hitomi' with his Sharingan.

'Maiko Emiri,'

Yes, it was definitely her. He could see the real person behind her strong transformation jutsu; it had been over ten years. She, who had once been an energetic young girl had matured into a bruised and haunted being. Her hair was much longer now, her skin paler and her eyes – they were the most changed – colder. All happiness had been drained from her very being. But Kakashi knew what to do.

Nodding a farewell to his students, (who all seemed irritated that he had ditched them to hang around with some girl) the Jounin motioned to Hitomi to follow him. She looked slightly confused, but faked a smile and did as he wished anyway. They walked for fifteen minutes in silence before Kakashi stopped.

"I suppose you remember this place?"

Maiko did remember it. But she did her best to pretend that she didn't.

"No Kakashi-san, should I?" She giggled nervously.

"Hitomi, all of this land once belonged to the Emiri clan,"

She looked at him vaguely.

"It still does," He crossed his arms. "It's heir, plans to rebuild..."

"How interesting!" Hitomi seemed interested, inside Maiko was screaming.

What the hell was Kakashi doing!? Why was he showing her this!

He nodded. "It is,"

Taking a few steps closer, he placed a hand on her shoulder and leaned forwards to whisper in her ear. "But of course you know that, Maiko,"

She was so shocked that she released the jutsu immediately, reverting back to her old self and then cursing when she realized what had happened. Maiko couldn't look her old friend in the eye for several minutes, grabbing a strand of her dark hair and twisting it furiously out of habit.

"How did you know it was me?" She still didn't look at him. "You never could see through my transformation jutsu's,"

"I used the Sharingan to look at you when sparring with my team,"

"Ah," Maiko hadn't even considered that. She was an idiot.

"Ai was cured,"

The woman's world stood still for a second as she tried to comprehend what Kakashi had just said.

"Tsunade," The silver-haired jounin explained before she had time to attack him with a hundred questions at once. He watched as she took several breaths in and out, before tears started to stream down her face. She pulled him towards her; just needing to hold something as her emotions spun dangerously throughout her body. She was back. She was home.

"Where is he now?" Maiko murmured, head rested on Kakashi's shoulder as she pulled herself together.

"He's lived with me all this time,"

The two beings didn't let go of each other for several minutes; Maiko was quietly, through sobs, explaining to Kakashi what had happened to her for all that time. Mostly, she lied. She whispered to him that she and Ai were kidnapped by the Akatsuki, along with many others to become slaves. She didn't say that she had consented to becoming one of them; even if it had been to protect Ai...she didn't want Kakashi to know that she had betrayed Konoha. Maiko told him they had allowed Ai to be returned to Konoha, and that eventually, she herself had escaped and gone into hiding for ten years. She didn't say anything about Itachi, or that in reality, he had brought her to Konoha's gates when she was too wounded to go on with them, promising to one day return for her.

After weaving her story Maiko let go of Kakashi. She asked him to leave, explaining that she needed to be alone for a few minutes before reporting to the Hokage. Her original intention had been only to visit Konoha, but Ai being alive made an enormous difference on her decision. Perhaps she would stay after all; she had nothing left anywhere else. Konoha was the only home that she had. She'd manage to fit right back in - even if that meant lying to everyone - and dedicate herself solely to protecting the village and those who lived in it.

When Kakashi was out of sight, Maiko folded her arms across her chest; watching as the skirt of her black and white kimono fluttered gently in the breeze. She was going to see her little brother again, it was that one thought that stopped her from wanting to runaway. But staying in Konoha would mean one thing; she could never be with Itachi again.

When she had lived on the island it hadn't mattered; Itachi could have come back for her any day and she wouldn't have had to fear the consequences. Now, if she stayed in Konoha and if he did come back, she'd have to turn him away. She couldn't be seen to go away with him willingly; she would be classed as a Missing Nin if she did. Then she would have nowhere to go if she was injured and the Akatsuki would be forced to abandon her...again.

Either way, her heart was going to break. She didn't want to live without Itachi, but she didn't want to leave Ai alone again either, and after painful deliberation, out of loyalty to her own blood, Maiko conclusively decided that she was going to stay in Konoha for good.

She promised herself that much.