Another update! Yay!

This is a fairly long chapter. I'm trying to move this along as fast as possible, but there is probably going to be Arcs: Konoha Arc, Water Country Arc, and War Arc. There's just a lot to the story that needs to be explained.

Now that I have a new and improved idea of what's going to happen, I hope to update more often. This story now has a new life that I really want to explore. So, enjoy the ride.

This chapter is not beta'd. If someone would like to beta, message me.

Thank you, PG!

Forever & Always

Chapter 4: The Power of Animal Magnetism

Itachi didn't realize, when Kaede led him out into the main room, that she sought a babysitter. In hindsight, he should have.

Not long after, she left, citing a need for supplies, specifically baby supplies. She told him that Mushin and herself only recently arrived in Konoha. Just a week prior, they were living in Water Country, near the City Hidden in Mist. Their plan had been to arrive a few days before their clansmen, to clean up and make ready for the clan's arrival, but they were waylaid by a storm.

When they made it to Konohagure, it was to news that their clansmen did not arrive and wouldn't be arriving. They were led straight to the Hokage, who explained the situation as best he could with the few details he had from his couriers.

Both Mushin and Kaede were obviously devastated. After their discussions with the Hokage, they planned to call the remaining branches of their family to inform them of the death of the main house, but before they could do so, they were intercepted by a government aide, who told them to return to the Hokage's office as soon as possible.

Better tidings followed. However, there was still the fact that their home was empty of everything except their bags and weapons. There was no food, no water, no electricity, no furniture, nothing. One of them, at least, needed to rectify one of the deficits. Kaede elected to do it, because Mushin 'can barely shop for himself, let alone all of us'.

Politely, she asked, if Itachi would watch the baby while she was away? She wasn't talking about Kagome. From what he could tell though, 'the baby' was more interested in watching him.

Mushin had moved to the middle of the main room, which was now beginning to darken considerably as the afternoon wore into evening, and was lying on his side, drinking lazily from a sake bottle. His robes were hiked up to his knees, showing off the mans hairy legs and sock covered feet. Every once and awhile he would produce a sound, usually a burp, or else glare in Itachi's direction.

"You know," Itachi groused, setting the sleeping form of his Kagome in his lap. She had drifted off an hour or so after he'd cleaned her diaper and let her suck on his pinkie. "We will need some light."

Mushin grumbled from his comfortable spot on the floor, but he eventually pushed himself up and moved to his rucksack. The inebriated man dug clumsily through his things before producing a beat up old lantern. With the flick of a dial, it dimly lit up the room.

"Well, shoot." Said Mushin.

Itachi cocked a brow.

Mushin smiled crookedly. "Don't suppose you have any batteries?"

Itachi rolled his eyes. No, he didn't.

Mushin set the lantern down on the ground, and sat beside it, electing to sit up right this time. "I'll admit," Mushin slurred, "I'm not alright with how comfortable her Ladyship is with you."

The older man's candor took Itachi by surprise.

"It's not right, your closeness." Mushin continued. "You shouldn't have anything to do with her, but for some reason, she's chosen you."

There was something slightly off about the way Mushin said chosen, as though he'd capitalized it. It wasn't 'chosen' as in an adjective, rather more like a noun – a title. It was delivered bitterly or perhaps condescendingly, which Itachi didn't understand at all.

"So it would seem." Itachi said, glaring questioningly at Mushin.

Mushin grunted. "You're not really seeing it kid. You shouldn't be this close to her."

Itachi bristled. Was he implying he… Itachi sneered. In his lap, Kagome stirred, somehow sensing his upset and also reacting. It was odd, but nothing that raised flags in Itachi's mind.

"I can see I've hit a nerve." Mushin mused, leaning forward awkwardly. "Good. You don't get it for a reason. You weren't brought up to understand it. What you're feeling, you should never have experienced it. It's all wrong."

Itachi's eye twitched. He was trying to remain impassive, but this fool was drunk and saying stupid shit, and it was getting harder to maintain his calm the longer Mushin pushed his buttons. Itachi knew what he was doing, of course, prodding him where he knew it would sting, seeking a reaction. Itachi wouldn't give in, of course. He was an Uchiha, and Uchiha's didn't give in to fools.

Mushin tsked. "Stupid boy." At this point, both of their faces were shrouded in shadows, the lantern's artificial light too dim for the large room. As a result, Mushin appeared more like a haggard old man and Itachi gained a more sinister mane. "Let me guess, when you saw her on that mountain side, you couldn't help yourself. It was as though something just clicked. You had to protect her, no, rather you needed to protect her. She was yours. You had to have her because if you didn't than you would be less then what you were before. Am I close?"

By the end of Mushin's tirade, Itachi's eyes could not have grown any larger. At the time, he hadn't recognized his feelings as such, but from a different perspective it was eerily accurate. Itachi didn't want to admit that it was possible, it had to be wrong. "How…?"

Mushin scoffed as he tapped his temples. "I know what it is."

Itachi leaned forward, careful not to drop the bundle in his lap, desperate to understand. "What is it?"

"You know when a baby duck looks at a human right out of the shell and then starts following that person around?" Mushin picked out a new sake bottle from his bag, growing gleeful. On the other side of the room, Itachi frowned in confusion and annoyance, not really following Mushin's inebriated babbling. "Well, you're the baby duck. It's called imprinting." Mushin said, and followed up by taking a large swig from the bottle.

"Imprinting?"

Mushin sighed with pleasure. "This is very good."

Itachi felt another pang of annoyance. "Explain."

Mushin's eyes drifted to Itachi's, they were far more aware then they should have been. "You're the duck, boy."

What utter nonsense, Itachi thought. He couldn't be serious.

"You don't want to believe it, but that's the truth." Mushin said. Bottle in hand, he flopped down on his back and propped up a knee. "Is it hot in here?"

Itachi ignored his question, seeking his own answered instead. "You expect me to believe you?"

Mushin turned his head toward Itachi, tiredness suffusing the lines of his face. "What were we talking about?"

Itachi sneered. "Ridiculous!"

"What's ridiculous?"

Behind Mushin and Itachi, the sliding door opened. Kaede stood in the doorway, carrying two large brown paper sacks, stuffed above the brim with various household products and food.

"Apparently, I am a duck." Itachi replied bitterly.

Kaede stepped into the room, glancing from the young adolescent to the large man-child dozing off on the floor. "How many bottles has he drunk?" She seemed exasperated, but not at all surprised.

Itachi glanced up. "Two, while I've been here," he said.

"That's all?" The incredulity was the worst of it.

Taking ahold of Kagome from his lap, Itachi stood up then set her on his hip. Her head flopped down against his shoulder; Morpheus carrying her swiftly back to sleep. "Isn't that enough?" Itachi groused.

"For him?" Kaede looked back at her companion as she started picking out items from her bags. "It's tame. Here," Kaede gestured at Kagome.

Itachi was hesitant, but the thoughts Mushin planted made him quickly relinquish his charge. He wasn't imprinted to Kagome. It wasn't like that. He cared, that's all. She reminded him of his baby brother. He wouldn't leave his brother to suffer any more than he would leave an orphaned baby. He was being a concerned citizen, who had grown only slightly attached. It was normal, surely.

In the back of his mind, Itachi realized he was lying to himself.

Kaede didn't seem to notice Itachi's behavior, focused as she was on Kagome. The baby was awake and struggling against her, but not crying thankfully. She glanced at Itachi, standing above them and watching Kagome closely. The teardrop under his left eye pulsed with power, drawing the poor child further into the imprint bond. The child had no idea what was happening to him.

Kaede sought something to talk about, to distract herself. "I'm sorry about Mushin," She said, finishing up with Kagome's diaper and reaching for her grocery bags for the baby formula, water bottle, and baby bottle. "He doesn't do well with loss."

Itachi took the chance to change the subject and focus on anything other than his own thoughts. "You imply he's experienced loss before."

"You're very perceptive," a good trait in a Protector, but that was neither here nor there. "Mushin is an orphan."

"I see."

Kaede wasn't so sure that he did. "He's been shuffled around a lot."

That seemed rather odd to Itachi. His clan had procedures in place for family members who lost parents. The orphans would go to their closest relatives. She stated as much to Kaede.

"We are similar," Kaede affirmed. "That would have been done, if Mushin had been a member of the clan."

Itachi frowned. He crossed his arms and crouched down closer to Kagome, but refused to touch her despite an addictive feeling that he needed to. "I had noticed the last name."

Kaede finished with mixing the formula, and had placed the bottle in Kagome's eager hands. The baby guzzled away at the room temperature drink, hungry after going a few hours without. Turning back to the grocery bag, Kaede pulled out a new set of onesies and a swaddling cloth, proceeding to put them on. "How much do you know about the Higure Clan?"

Itachi blinked. Honestly? Only that they were moving to Konohagure and were skilled warriors. They weren't told much more than that. They were meant to be escorts, not ambassadors. There job was to ferry them to their hidden city, nothing more. "Very little, it would seem."

Kaede figured as much. "There are many branches of our clan. What you should know is that our full clan name is Higurashi Kejoro. The main house is Higure, followed by Arashi, Kejo, and Joro."

It was a strange concept to think of a clan as having separate names. The Uchiha did not consider a person a member of the clan unless they bore the family name. So, if a woman of their line married out, she was no longer considered a member.

Kaede continued. "Mushin has not always been an Arashi or even a member of Higurashi Kejoro. His mother was a servant to the secondary branch family, Arashi, along with himself and his elder brother. When he was five, his mother died, and they were sent to an orphanage. Always remembering the kindness they received from the Arashi, Mushin's elder brother Chosun went back to work for them when he was 16 and Mushin was 10. The Arashi welcomed them, and instead of having Chosun work as a servant, they sent him to school and trained him in the family arts. Usually our family doesn't do this, but the Arashi Head saw potential in the brother's."

Itachi was listening raptly, not because he cared for Mushin's former plight, but because it was connected to Kagome. He would need to know more about the Higure and their branches if he was to stay by her.

Itachi froze and stopped listening. Kaede continued on describing the eventual loss of Chosun and Mushin's subsequent adoption by the Arashi. Itachi couldn't hear it though, too engrossed by his own thoughts.

He was the heir of Uchiha. One day, he would be the Head. There was no way he could stay with Kagome, he told himself. He had a duty to his own family. Where the idea had come from, that he would stay with her, he didn't know. He couldn't stay with her, it was impossible.

"Forgive me, Kaede," He interrupted, voice strained. "I think it's time I leave."

Kaede blinked. "Of course," she excused, even though she was slightly suspicious of the adolescent's abruptness. "It is getting late."

He nodded, but didn't move. His mind warred with his body, straining against the bonds forming around him, bonds he could not see or understand.

Kaede noticed this and her eyes softened. "Your legs must be stiff." She said. She stood up and went to him, blocking his view of Kagome, and helping him up from his crouch.

He looked at her gratefully for a moment, before it left to be replaced by confusion and then stubbornness. "I was fine."

Kaede didn't let her thoughts show on her face, rather she led him gentle but firmly to the front entrance. He kept looking back, his body wanting to stop, to stay, and she had to push him to get him to keep moving.

The bond was already very strong, she mused. Too strong. This was not how it was supposed to be.

"Thank you for coming by, Itachi." She said. His back was to her, tense. He was fighting himself. "You are welcome to come back, but will you please use the door next time?"

Her simple suggestion that he could come back assuaged something in his mind. He turned enough to view her from one eye and gave her a congenial nod, before literally disappearing into the night.

"You shouldn't encourage him," Mushin grumbled from his spot.

Kaede didn't need to look at her companion to see that he was displeased. "The imprint is already made, whether we like it or not. The boy will need reprieves until the council decides on what to do."

She heard Mushin stand up, but still did not look back. The lights of Konoha were coming on. It reminded her of the fireflies in Mist Country.

"He will not be chosen. Their bond was made because of the circumstances, but Her Ladyship's Protector is too important to be left to providence. She will need the strength of the Council's chosen Prospect." He stated matter-of-factly.

Kaede huffed. "You only say that because Miyatsu chose this one." She turned to him, her arms crossed in defiance. "You think every shit Miyatsu takes is made of gold."

"Crass, as always."

Kaede shut the door, and made her way to Kagome who was sleeping, but probably not for long. She wanted to be there when the child woke. "Something awoke in him that day, something that recognized Her Ladyship and latched on for dear life. We will need to wait and see, Mushin, just like Miyatsu said. Perhaps this young shinobi is the right choice, but we cannot know for sure until he is evaluated by the council."

"The strength of the Protector will need to be great so that she is great. That's why she needs him, not this boy."

"He is indeed powerful," She affirmed, petting the tufts of dark hair on Her Ladyship's head. "Itachi may also be powerful. As it stands, we don't know anything about him."

Mushin huffed. "I do not support this."

"You don't have to, you old coot." She didn't gain a response, but then she didn't expect one. Silence descended. Kaede laid on her side, watching Kagome and thinking on the future. "Do you think we will win this time?" She asked abruptly.

She could hear Mushin moving around the room, setting up their futons, and rummaging through the snacks she had bought. "I don't know." He said.

"I think we will." She was hopeful, but not expectant. She had seen it go wrong before, but it couldn't go wrong this time. Kaede didn't think she could care for someone and then lose them, not again.

Seconds later, Kagome awoke. Her aware eyes shifted about the room, searching for something, or rather someone, who wasn't there. Sensing that Itachi was gone, Kagome let loose a most terrifying wail that upset even the neighborhood dogs.

Kaede sighed. It was going to be a long night.

.

.

.

Itachi didn't get far.

He could hear Kagome crying from down the street, her screams making his chest hurt. He gripped his vest, breathing heavily.

It shouldn't be this hard.

Eyes glinting red, he glanced back at the house. Was Mushin right?

He couldn't be, surely. He'd just grown attached, that's all.

He tried to take a step and then another. A headache started to form at his temple.

It was like he was falling apart.

He collapsed down to a crouch, both his heart and head were pounding. He gripped both, and grit his teeth, trying to block her out.

It didn't work. Something was definitely wrong.

It couldn't be what Mushin described though. He wasn't some servant to pander to a master. He wouldn't bow on bended knee to anyone, no matter who they were.

He would fight this. Except, he didn't know exactly what he was fighting against.

A bond?

Perhaps it was more of an illusion?

He could fight an illusion. An illusion was about mind over matter. He'd just need to find and kill the puppeteer to be free.

Except, he didn't need to find the puppeteer, he knew who the supposed illusion was connected to. And he couldn't kill the her, he wouldn't kill her, it was revolting to even think it.

There had to be another way. He couldn't be so connected, he had responsibilities. If he couldn't even move because she was crying for him, how was he going to protect his village or family, let alone her.

It all came back to her, didn't it?

Perhaps he had to view this differently. He had to leave, that was a fact. It was a necessity. He had to fulfill his other duties. Ingrain it, believe it, practice it, just like a new skill. He believed he need to leave, therefore he had to, now he just needed to do it. It would get easier the more he did it.

His body failed him, where his mind kept trying.

He was tethered. There was no moving.

It hadn't been like this before. He'd been able to leave the office with his mother, and though he had been pulled back, it wasn't such an insistent need. Why now had it changed?

He didn't understand.

Mushin was full of shit. He couldn't be right! Even if he was, how did you fight something like this?

Itachi didn't know.

For the first time, he didn't know. The answer wasn't readily apparently.

His resolve collapsed. There was nothing for it, he had to go back until he figured something out.

Suddenly his limbs were free of their subconscious restraints, he could feel the moment they uncoiled from their rigidity. He was able to stand. He let himself relax, and think as he tested his abilities. He moved forward. Although it hurt, it was bearable.

Itachi realized, his semi freedom was due to his mind. It was like an illusion, but he had gone about it wrong. Instead of removing the obstacle, he needed to embrace it.

He would go back to her.

He turned abruptly, and strode back. The closer he got, the easier he could breath. His headache subsided as well, and he felt no pain. She was his balm, his antidote. Returning to her gave him back his freedom.

He stopped before he could step up the stairs of the main house. He wasn't going to go in.

His realizations made him want to experiment.

He ran and jumped onto the roof of the building beside the main house, then expertly jumped to another house, and then another. In the back of his mind he kept the thought of his eventual return center stage. 'I will be back.' He told himself repeatedly. 'I will be back.'

It worked. He was able to leave the new part of town and get close to the heart of the village.

His chest ached but it wasn't debilitating, just a reminder to keep his promise and return.

He looked in the direction he knew Kagome to be and changed tactics. He forced himself to think he would not go back, to utterly resolve not to see her again. Even the briefest thought sent him to his hands and knees, the pain so overwhelming, he couldn't bare it.

Before Itachi's mind could even catch up, he was up and moving over fences and bystanders, practically flying toward the source that would relieve his suffering. By the time he was consciously aware of his actions again, and not the blasting pain in his head and chest, he was in front the Higure compound's gates.

His feet carried him to the wooden gate, resting his head against it. He forced himself to calm down, to regain control. It was harder this time.

Fear gripped him, because deep down Itachi knew that Mushin was right. He was the duck.

Then, what did that make his Kagome?

There were so many questions, so much he didn't understand and things he didn't want to understand. He wanted to go back to before, to just not know.

He especially didn't want to come to resent Kagome if the truth was something he wouldn't accept.

With a sigh, Itachi hopped the gates of the compound and made his way to the main house. He climbed up to the roof, listening intently to the sounds of life inside. Kagome was still crying, but it was dying down to a dissatisfied whine.

This too was puzzling.

Perhaps, the imprint was two-way? Perhaps, Kagome felt as discombobulated as him when they weren't together.

He laid down, staring up at the stars. He'd stay for only an hour, then he would return home.

But he'd be back.

He'd always be back.

.

.

.

Early the next morning, Fugaku made his way to the main police station. His office was on the second floor across form the bullpen, the multiple cubicles of his subordinates, which were partially in use by the night shift officers.

He ignored them, mostly, by shutting his door but not his window. If they really needed something, he was available.

Fugaku powered on his bulky computer monitor and tower. He passed the time waiting for it to boot up by scanning through reports that were placed on his desk.

From the reports, he noticed an increase in disorderly conduct in the southeast borough of Konoha, a semi-residential area where many disabled and retired shinobi without clans lived.

He made a note to send several officers to implement classes on alcoholism and stress management.

The computer pinged when it was ready and he turned his focus to it.

Clicking through various applications, he made his way to konoha visitor logs and immigration records. His goal was to find information on the child his wife and son were interested in.

He returned home the night before expecting to find his son and wife ready to report, but he only found his wife, his eldest having left sometime in the afternoon.

Mikoto was tight lipped about the subject when he asked. She was being overly protective, a usual occurrence.

If she wouldn't speak and his son wouldn't deign him with his presence, then he'd figure it out himself. This girl child was important enough to warrant the Hokage's silence, meaning she was important enough to interest Fugaku.

The records he searched through did not have a lot of information available.

He could see that several young children were brought into Konoha in the last few days. Of those children, six were girls between two and twelve months. None of the files gave the children's names, only the guardians names were present.

Fugaku leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand across his face thoughtfully. Each file had a section detailing each person's reasons for coming to Konoha. None of the files were peculiar, since most said either: visiting, business, or immigrating. And of the families immigrating, none detailed a tragedy or raised red flags.

So, more likely than not, this child – Kagome – was not listed. If she was as important as he thought she was, her file was confidential and only observable to a select few. Even though he was the Chief of the police force in Konoha, he was going to need permission to view it, and that was not likely to be granted. It didn't matter that he was a concerned citizen or potential adopter.

He needed to change tactics.

A knock sounded on Fugaku's office window, followed by the muffled voice of his young assistant. "Sir?"

Fugaku motioned for the young man to enter.

"You're here early, Sir." His assistant chattered. It wasn't unusual for the Chief to be early, but Fugaku was a very routine oriented ex-nobi. He came into the office right at 7:00 every day. When he was early, there was usually something pressing that needed to be done. "Your newspapers and coffee, Sir." He set down the items on his Chief's desk, then took out a notepad and began reading off Fugaku's agenda and key points of interest. "You've got an appointment at 9:00 with the City Attorney and then at noon you'll be going to lunch with the central borough Fire Battalion Chief. There's a political outreach group that has requested your presence at 2:00 to discuss financial issues facing the city and a Red Ribbon event at the Furutani building in the West borough at 4:00. You received calls from the Finance department concerning an audit and calls from KCNC, Konoha Daily, and KN10 concerning a clan massacre." The assistant finished.

"Excuse me?" Fugaku looked up from his computer screen, disbelief plainly written on his face. "What clan massacre?" And why wasn't he informed about this earlier?

Without missing a beat, his capable assistant was prepared with an answer. "It's in the newspaper, sir. There was massacre two weeks ago in Mist Country, which was released by the Hokage's office this morning. The news stations are asking for a statement from you on how you might prevent such an event from occurring in Konoha and what steps you are currently taking to negate anything of the sort from happening."

Fugaku forced himself to be emotionless, but on the inside, he was seething. He was in the Hokage's office last night, a little forewarning would have been appreciated. "Of course, I will have a statement drawn up before my meeting with Mr. Akiyama at 9:00. Please inform the news stations an email will be sent by then."

"Right away, sir? Is there anything else I can do for you?" His assistant said.

Fugaku waved him out. "No, thank you."

His assistant saluted and left, closing the door behind him.

Fugaku picked up his bundle of newspapers, taking out Konoha Tribune first to search for the article on the massacre. It was in the back, next to the obituaries.

A few minutes after eight o'clock, three Chunin and their Jounin leader discovered the massacred remains of the Higure family. The team of shinobi were to escort the prestigious family from Mist Country to Konoha.

The team returned yesterday at eleven o'clock. They informed the Hokage of the event, who said this in a statement early this morning: "It is with deep sadness that I must announce the deaths of 103 members of the Higure Clan. The massacre occurred on the 28th of last month in the early morning. Their loss is a tragedy to all countries in the Kingdom of Tsukigen*."

Not long ago, the Hokage announced their immigration to Konoha. The Higure would bring with them a trade contract with Mist Country and an opening of relations with Water Country along with several great minds.

Among their ranks were notable names like: Higure Sadako, Family Head and diplomat; Higure Hachiro, diplomat; Higure Michimasaru, President of CT Bank; Higure Yuka; Founder of the Wounded Warrior Charity; Higure Yuataki, famed inventor of the hydrogen locomotive; Higure Tsume, triage Doctor who developed the Self-Healing Seal; and Higure Tatsu, diplomat.

There is no official word on who committed this terrible act or why. Investigations are underway by Mist officials to find the culprit and bring them to justice. Konoha officials are cooperating with all investigations and have sent a team of three ANBU and six Jounin to assist.

Fugaku set down the paper contemplatively.

The Higure were considered aristocracy in Tsukigen, a very prestigious and old family. Their loss would be felt throughout the kingdom, not just Mist and Fire Country. It might even cause a conflict. Fugaku would need to be more cognizant of national news, just in case.

What truly upset Fugaku about the family's demise, was the loss of a connection to his own house. Fugaku had hoped to open negotiations with them, since a connection to them would have propelled the Uchiha well beyond Konoha and given them greater standing. Now, that was not possible. It was truly a tragedy.

Fugaku turned to his computer and opened a word document. His statement to the press would need to be adequately emotionally sincere, acknowledging Mist's folly without stepping on toes and declarative. What would he do to make sure that something like the Higure Massacre never happened in Konoha?

He was about to begin writing, when a previous comment from his wife came back to him.

She had said there was a 'terrible event' which forced the child to go to the hospital. A clan massacre was certainly a 'terrible event'.

He grabbed up the newspaper, and reread the article looking for any mention of a possible survivor.

He didn't find any. He decided to read through the other articles, but most of them were just reprints of the Tribune's.

He sat back in his chair.

Was it possible? Could Kagome be a Higure?

He pressed the com link on his desk, calling for his assistant, who hastily came into his office. "Yes, sir?"

"Get me Investigator Enomoto on the line."

His assistant saluted. "Yes, Sir, of course, Sir!" He was out of the office in a flash, eager to accomplish his appointed task.

Only time would tell if Fugaku's hunch was right, but Fugaku didn't doubt he was. The Hokage was a clever man, but not clever enough.

His phone rang.

With a smirk, Fugaku answered. "I have a task for you, Enomoto."

.

.

.

Itachi sat underneath a tree tiredly, waiting for his teammates and teacher to arrive. They had practice and would also be briefed on their next mission.

Itachi wasn't looking forward to either.

He didn't have a good night. He was barely able to sleep a wink, and not at all able to leave. So, he'd stayed up on the roof for the majority of the night, uncomfortable.

He woke up to Kaede calling to him to come in and get some breakfast, muttering about stubborn children.

He forewent the breakfast. He didn't need a reason to skip practice. If he went in, Itachi would find that he was unable to pull himself away.

He arrived an hour before was supposed to and took the time to relax against a tree. There was a nice breeze that morning that helped to him to relax.

His teammates arrived in time to see him slipping into a disturbed sleep.

"Have you ever seen something like that before?" He heard Utae tease. "I didn't even think it was possible!"

Itachi's cousin reacted as expect. "It amazes me that you think at all, Utae."

"Now look here, you brat." She reprimanded with a smack to the back of the head. "I was just teasing, Eichi. No need to be rude."

His cousin scoffed and walked closer to Itachi. "Itachi-sama," he called gently, aware that Itachi might lash out if woken too quickly. Lucky for him, Itachi wasn't that far gone and thus, aware of his surroundings.

"Yes, Eichi?" He said.

He could hear the frown in his cousin's question. "Did you not sleep last night?"

"I am fine." Itachi groused, rising from his sitting position.

His cousin didn't question him.

As soon as Itachi was upright, their team's leader arrived. "I hope you are all rested and ready for practice?" Their leader asked.

No one answered. They knew from experience it was rhetorical.

"Good! We have a B-rank mission coming up tomorrow. We will be briefed at seven in the morning. Be early. To be ready, we will practice on your weaknesses. Utae you will be practicing on your Barrier techniques. You need to be faster on the uptake. Eichi, you and Itachi will work on your illusions. Eichi, let's make your casting smoother. Get started. I will be available to answer questions if necessary."

All three nodded, and got to work.

Itachi activated his sharingan immediately, catching his cousin in an illusion that made him into Itachi's willing puppet. Itachi immediately let him go after making him kneel. He wasn't the type to debase his opponents if possible. Some in his clan, were not so considerate.

"Hey, I wasn't ready!" Eichi yelped.

Itachi raised an incredulous brow.

"At least give me a chance to prepare before we practice."

Itachi rolled his eyes. "There will be no preparation or prior warning in the mission. You must always be prepared."

Eichi lowered his eyes, embarrassed. He knew Itachi was right. They quickly got started after that, casting illusions onto one another and working to rebuff them.

Itachi grew bored within minutes of starting practice.

He was advanced for his age, and simple routines such as this one, were not challenging.

Recognizing this, their leader, Hyuuga Fumihiro, stepped up and bid Itachi to avoid his attacks and Eichi's illusions, but if he caught Eichi then the match was his.

This was more to Itachi's abilities. Their leader attacked first, jabbing at the weak points Itachi presented.

Itachi dodged effortlessly.

Eichi waited for the prime moment to cast his illusion and capture Itachi. He caught him for a second before being mentally rebuffed.

Itachi dodged a roundhouse kick from Fumihiro and a kunai to the gut from Eichi.

His leader and Eichi worked in tandem, pushing Itachi back. Itachi used the extra ground to cast a ninjutsu and sink into the earth.

He waited for Eichi to lose focus while searching of him, then pulled him down, burying him up to the neck. Fumihiro was aware of each of Itachi's actions and quickly caught him around the collar.

Itachi jabbed his hand into Fumihiro's elbow and spun, loosening his leader's grip, enough to try to push him away.

Fumihiro dodged the push and tossing Itachi backward.

Itachi dissolved into a flock of ravens, materializing above Fumihiro who knew he was there and countered with a water jutsu just as Itachi performed his family's fire release technique. He then disappeared into a nearby tree.

On the other side of the field, Eichi dug himself out of his entrapment and rejoined the fray, jumping into Itachi's tree to exchanged punches.

Fumihiro followed, sending kunai along their path, nearly nicking Itachi on the cheek and Eichi in the leg.

Itachi jumped out of the tree and burst into a cloud of three clones that ran at Eichi and Fumihiro, two clones to each opponent. Punches and kicks were exchanged, until, Fumihiro dispelled his two clones and came to Eichi's rescue.

Itachi backed out and activated an illusion, catching his cousin in his thrall. Eichi rigidly turned on Fumihiro.

Electricity burst from Eichi's hands toward Fumihiro while Itachi came around from behind. He got in two hits before Fumihiro pushed him back with a punch in between Itachi's eyes.

Itachi fell, rolled, and recovered, wiping a stray stream of blood from his nose.

Fumihiro called the match. "Well done, Itachi. You can release your cousin now."

Itachi did so, to Eichi's cries of: "Every single time. You rebuff me every single time. I don't know why I bother."

"Perfect practice makes perfect," their leader sing-songed.

For moment Itachi felt better. During the fight, he hadn't felt the dull ache in his chest that had been present all morning. In fact, he felt alive. The minute the fight began he felt his energy levels return as though something was feeding strength back into his body.

Now though, the pain was returning along with a weak headache. "I think," he said, "I will retire."

Fumihiro frowned. "We've just begun."

Itachi glanced up, sharply, but refrained from making a comment. The ache was getting worse, the headache too was pulsing incessantly. It would appear, that his being away for too long was also not acceptable to the imprint.

He turned and began walking away.

.

.

.

Two men, one pudgy and short, the other tall and skinny walked down the streets of Konoha's new residential district toward a specific home.

The pudgy one was Hachiemon and his companion was the young Akitoki. They were searching for a nameless compound, that they had been informed held a very precious treasure.

They weren't far away because they could feel said treasure a mile away. They reached the open gates of their destination excitedly, hurriedly entering and heading for the main house at the end of the long main street.

In his excitement, Hachiemon called out. "Oi! Anyone home? We came as soon as we heard!"

Akitoki sighed. "Must you wake the whole neighborhood. I'm sure they know we are here."

Hachiemon turned to his young friend and whacked harshly him over the head. "Am I not your elder? So, am I not superior to you, and can do what I wish."

Akitoki hesitated, "Yes, but you are a valet. As his Lordships first footman, I technically have authority over you."

"Pish-posh! I will not hear it. You are so rude!"

Akitoki blinked as the older man waddled forward toward the front door of the house and knocked twice. Akitoki sighed.

The door opened minutes later.

Kaede stood behind the door suspiciously, wary of the guests that she did not know where coming. When she saw them she smiled gently and opened the door wider.

"Well, if it isn't the two silliest servants of his Lordship's. Hachi, Aki how are you? What are you doing here?" She said, opening the door wider.

Hachi moved to speak, but was stopped by the butt of a staff knocking him out cold.

"Well, if it isn't the rat." Mushin groused. He stood beside Kaede in the doorway, clutching his staff angrily. Mushin did not like Hachiemon for various reasons, the most prominent of which was the little man's penchant for swindling people, specifically Mushin.

Akitoki observed this all coldly. "Hello, Mushin-sama." He greeted his Lord's former student and most faithful follower.

Mushin's eyes brightened when he saw Akitoki. "Well, if it isn't the squirt who used to hold onto my robes. It's been awhile."

Akitoki blushed. "Indeed, it has been."

"What are you doing here?"

Mushin motioned for Akitoki to come into the house, pointedly ignoring Hachi who was still passed out on the front porch.

"We were running an errand for his Lordship not too far away from here in a town named Kuzo. He called us and explained the situation. We were sent to serve you as best as possible until the others arrived." Akitoki explained, accepting a bottle of water from Kaede.

Mushin looked intrigued and Kaede's shoulders slumped in relief. They really did need the help.

"Thank you for coming so quickly. It has been a minor trial trying to care for her Ladyship and still set up house." Kaede said.

Akitoki agreed, as a First footman he understood the responsibility of setting up and running a household, especially a large one. He wasn't worried about that though, what really interested him was Her Ladyship. "May I see her?" He asked, wonder apparent in his tone.

Mushin and Kaede glanced at one another warily. "We only recently got her to stop crying. I am not so sure…" Kaede attempted to dissuade.

"I will be very quiet," Akitoki said eagerly.

It couldn't really be helped. If they had to put their foot down, they would, but there would be many people coming who would want to peak in and see the baby heiress. It was best if they got Akitoki's curiosity out of the way now.

"Alright," Kaede said, waving her hand toward a room just off the main one. "Follow me. But please be quiet."

Akitoki nodded, and did as bid.

They entered the room all together, Kaede at the front and Mushin at the back. Mushin stayed next to the door, leaning against it with his arms and legs crossed. Kaede moved to the center of the room and kneeled next to a well-used futon on which Kagome was sleeping.

Akitoki approached tentatively, utterly enthralled by the small child. He kneeled carefully next to Kaede, reaching out a hand to caress the black tufts of hair on her little head. "She is beautiful," he whispered reverently. "She is very strong. I had thought the power I felt a figment of my imagination, but it really is her."

Kaede nodded. She was unwilling to speak, fearful that she would disturb the child's sleep.

The group remained for only a moment, then both Kaede and Akitoki tried to move quietly out of the room. There efforts were for naught. "Oi, where is everyone!" Hachi yelled, followed by a loud crash that echoed throughout the house.

The noise immediately woke Kagome who let out with a most atrocious scream.

Kaede sighed and hung her head, Akitoki winced sympathetically, and Mushin let out with a roar and left to beat the snot out of his master's valet.

"You fool!" Mushin yelled, but stopped in surprise at the sight that greeted him in the main room.

Itachi stood on the back of the poor pudgy buffoon, a kunai to the man's throat. His eyes were red, the sharingan swirling in obvious agitation.

"Itachi!" Kaede said in surprise.

Mushin smirked, thoroughly enjoying Hachi's discomfited expression as he lay frozen with fear under the young shinobi. Mushin was delighted. Let the boy disembowel the rat, he didn't care. "I might actually come to like you yet, boy." Mushin said.

Itachi blinked.

Akitoki just sighed.

.

Quick Note:

*Tsukigen, the fictitious kingdom I'm creating, because the writers of Naruto didn't explain the setting very well and Inuyasha canon doesn't work either, so this is an amalgamation of both. Just to explain, so there's no confusion, in this story, the "countries" of Fire (Kasai), Mist (Misuto), Water (Mizu), Earth (Chikyu) etc. are like states. Independently operated but connected thru a National Kingdom. (There are other Kingdoms, but I will only touch on them very briefly.) You can also think of Tsukigen as a Post-Apocolyptic Japan, set way in the future (I will also explain this later), that conquered Korea, China, and other Asian Countries. Konoha in this story, is a City State (Like the Vatican), just like all Hidden Shinobi Villages. The Shinobi-class in my story do not consider themselves part of the outside world, because they wish to maintain their secrets and society standards. The Shinobi are aware of the outside world, and do interact with it, but they are not particularly interested in it. Kagome, as I'm mentioning slowly is part of an "aristocratic" family in The Kingdom of Tsukigen. She formerly lived in Mist Country, for reasons that will be explained. Her family members include "diplomats, inventors, doctors, bankers," etc. But they are also Warriors and Mikos/Monks. So, here's a little foreshadowing, Kagome is a big deal in this world. More will be explained as the story continues. Thanks!

** Please help me to reach my goal of receiving 160 reviews for this story. I realize I have have some amazing and faithful followers and really want to hear from you! Thank you so much for your support these pasted few years! You are the reason I write! Thank you! PG