Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Naruto characters, unless otherwise stated. In this case, I only own Kimi and her village. Oh, and Taro. Been forgetting him. The few lines of prose later one are from "La Bella Dam sans Merci" by John Keats. (couldn't help the insert, sorry)

Author's Note: We have a slight time skip here, though only about a month. Kiri, you've been wondering when we'd get an insight into Kimi's mind? Well, you get a peek in this chapter -- third person limited to her point of view, mostly. Fun fun. There's a new song to be added to the soundtrack, though really it spans the next couple of chapters alongside this one -- "Mona Lisa Overdrive" by Don Davis. Long song -- action-packed -- from the highway scene in The Matrix: Reloaded. Fun fun. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy it!

XXX

"Visitors for you, Kimi," Roku called back into the kitchen. "It's those cloud guys again."

Wiping her hands on her once-white apron, the blonde woman turned away from the stove and smiled. "Oh? Which ones?"

The restaurant owner shrugged his broad shoulders and shook his head. "These guys are new. I haven't seen them in here before." A slight frown touched his lips as he rested a hand on Kimi's shoulder, locking his mud-brown eyes with hers. "Those two look like trouble, Kimi. All those boys do, but I get an odd feeling from these ones." He shuddered.

Kimi's smile faltered slightly, but she shook her head. "Don't worry about it, boss." She winked at him. "I can handle myself, and you know it."

Roku chuckled. "I still don't know how you got that guy to behave himself. I've never been able to get him to listen to me."

"I'm a woman, boss," Kimi said with a grin. "We have those feminine wiles, remember?" She swung her hips as she moved toward the door, laughing when Roku rolled his eyes and shook his head in amusement.

"You really are something else, Kimi."

She grinned, waving a hand regally as she stepped out of the kitchen. Her steps faltered, though, when she turned her attention forward to her 'visitors'. Vibrant green eyes on a field of black locked gazes with her and narrowed slightly. Kimi swallowed as she glanced from the taller man to his companion, the latter of which smirked behind the tall neck of his cloak.

It had been about a month since the young woman had left the semi-permanent company of the Akatsuki. She had managed to acquire a job as a cook in a small restaurant on the border of River and Fire. The two countries were neutral enough toward each other to keep events quiet and peaceful. The location had actually been Deidara's suggestion, and Sasori had silently agreed.

The pair even visited every now and again, much to Kimi's amusement and Sasori's disapproval. Apparently, Deidara was not willing to give up the girl's cooking. Kimi suspected that Itachi knew of her location as well, but he never showed his face. The only Akatsuki team that ever appeared in the small village was the pair of artists.

At least, until now.

"So, uh, what can I get you boys today?" Kimi asked, finally managing to regain her voice.

"We've come to have a word with you," Kakuzu stated darkly.

The blonde woman wet her lips, "I see." After drawing a deep breath, Kimi turned and leaned her head into the kitchen. "Hey, Roku! I'm taking my lunch break!" She untied her apron and hung it on a peg inside the doorway.

Roku glanced over at her, surprise and slight worry passing momentarily across his features. "Alright. Be careful. Don't take too long, alright?"

Kimi nodded and ducked back into the main dining area. "Well, let's go for a walk, shall we?" she inquired with a slight shake in her voice, motioning her hands toward the door.

--

Sucking in a slow breath of misty air, Kimi paused in a small stretch of earth devoid of trees yet still shaded from the sun by those that towered around it. Her eyes had long since adjusted to the dim light, but that did not make the gloomy grove any less foreboding. A soft wind wove through the trees, brushing coolly against her face. There was salt in the air – the sea? She took another deep breath, filling and emptying her lungs slowly. She cherished the moment – relished in the cool feel of fresh air – bitterly wondering how many of such she would be able to draw.

Gathering her wits, Kimi turned to face the two men following her.

Taro had remained uncharacteristically silent throughout the entire trek; Kakuzu regarded her with a strange – almost hesitant – look in his eyes. He seemed to have to force his gaze away from Kimi to scan the surrounding trees. Taro, however, continued to glower at her over the neck of his cloak.

"Are you lost yet?" Kakuzu asked, eyes sliding back to Kimi's face.

The young woman winced and gave a sad smile. "I guess so. Probably." She rubbed the top of her left arm, watching the men through her eyelashes. "Well, you wanted to talk to me. I doubt anyone would wander out here to bother us. So, what is it?"

Kakuzu leveled his gaze on her and stated without any preamble. "Leader sent us."

Kimi's heart skipped a beat and then sped up, bringing a twisted smile to Taro's face – though he made no comment. Her legs felt like rubber, yet they remained rooted as firmly to the ground as the strongest tree. She gasped for air, forcing herself to calm down enough to speak.

"Is it Itachi?" she demanded, breathless. "Is something wrong? Has he been hurt? What happened?"

Kakuzu's eyes widened slightly at the conclusion to which the young woman had jumped and the rush of words spewing from her mouth. He coughed back a chuckle. "Nothing happened. Itachi's fine, though this does have something to do with him, I suppose."

Swallowing and breathing deeply, Kimi locked her gaze on Kakuzu's chest; she could not meet his eyes. There was something in those strangely-colored orbs that sent a chill down her spine and made her own chest tighten almost painfully. She waited for him to continue, her heart full of dread.

The half-masked shinobi clasped his hands behind his back. "Do understand that we do not serve often as messengers. Still, when a job requires such, messengers we must be."

Taro shot him an annoyed look. Kakuzu met his gaze briefly, cocked one eyebrow, and then turned back to Kimi. "Leader," he continued smoothly, "wanted us to explain something to you. Distractions are not permitted in the Akatsuki. When they arise, they are dealt with accordingly. Sometimes, if such distractions persist, more extreme actions must be taken to eliminate them."

The pointed tone of his voice caught Kimi's attention. More extreme actions must be taken to eliminate them. Her eyes slid hesitantly to Kakuzu's face. "I don't think I quite follow," she said slowly and carefully.

"You, my dear," Kakuzu stated coldly, "are a distraction."

Now Kimi could not breathe. Fear gripped her lungs in an iron fist. Blood rushed to her head, pulsing in her ears. The world swirled around her, threatening to fall apart.

Kakuzu's voice broke through her panic, calm and steady. Was she imagining the regret in it? "Leader wishes you a fond farewell."

Clinging to those words, Kimi pushed back to the surface. She was surprised to find her cheeks wet, but she did not lift a hand to wipe the tears away. Instead, she allowed them to silently flow, staring at the leaf-strewn ground.

"I don't suppose," she said faintly, "it would do me any good to run." Her voice was amazingly clear considering the hummingbird heart about to burst from her chest.

"No. It wouldn't," Kakuzu replied softly, voice somehow gentle.

A strange calm swept through Kimi. Her heartbeat slowed to a steady rhythm. The tears from her eyes ceased to flow. A soft sound replaced the rush of blood in her ears, faint and distant – the flutter of wings – the ruffle of feathers – the soft keen of a bird of prey.

A sudden thought rose to the front of her mind, a verse of a poem she had read during her travels.

O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,

Alone and palely loitering?

The sedge has withered from the lake,

And no birds sing.

No birds sing. Kimi echoed softly in her mind, realizing for the first time that the forest was devoid of avian chatter. Could it be that the common birds could sense –?

"You really do love him, don't you?" Kakuzu's puzzled question interrupted the young woman's thoughts.

"Yes," Kimi replied in a whisper, the truth of what was to come returning to her – but with less force. "I love him."

It was not much of a revelation, but those two words – admitted aloud to someone other than Itachi – struck her like lightning. She loved him; she really did love him. They were not just words spoken in a moment of passion – they were true.

Kimi's heart swelled and a jolt of adrenalin kicked through her system. It can't end like this. I have to run. I have to try. I can't just stand here and –

She whirled, muscles tensing to sprint. Before she could take two steps, though, Kakuzu lifted a hand. Black threads burst from the ground at Kimi's feet. They formed into a writhing monster with an animal mask forming its "head." The thread creature whipped out one "arm" and snared Kimi's left wrist.

It tugged, pulling the young woman around to face the Akatsuki pair as a second beast burst on her other side, wrapping a firm hold on her other wrist. Kimi futilely tried to wrench herself free, but after a moment, she sagged in defeat.

Taro's double-bladed naginata appeared in his hands, pulled from a scroll tucked away somewhere in his cloak. Kimi's thoughts were foggy, but she managed to look to Kakuzu when he moved a hand to halt his partner's actions.

"Wait a moment," he said to the other man. When Taro growled a wordless protest, Kakuzu glared at him. "If you don't want me to fucking tear you to bits as well, you'll be patient and let me have my say." He turned his attention to their target. "You really shouldn't you know," he said casually. "Itachi isn't as wonderful as you think he is."

Kimi lifted her head to peer at him through her hair; her ribbon had slipped in the tussle, allowing loose chunks of hair to fall over her face. "What's that supposed to mean?" Her heart was not in the question.

The black-threaded creatures lessened their pull on her arms, though they did not release their hold. Kakuzu tilted his head to one side, his voice taking on a mocking tone.

"You know what happened to his clan." Kimi's jaw tightened and she nodded. Kakuzu continued. "From what I've heard, he told you that Sasuke blames him for it, but won't specify – or doesn't know – why. Well, he does know. There's a reason for Sasuke's hatred."

Fear and panic once more crept up on the edge of Kimi's heart, but she could not pull her gaze away from the green-eyed man.

"You see," Kakuzu said, "Sasuke knows who killed his clan – who massacred them. All of Konohagakure no Sato knows his name." Kimi's heart pounded now as Kakuzu leaned forward. "His name is Itachi Uchiha. Itachi killed them all – every man, woman, and child. His own family – his parents – he slaughtered them all like animals."

Kimi had fallen into hysterics. "No. No! Nonononono! He couldn't! He wouldn't! You're lying! He didn't do that! Not Itachi. Never. You're lying!"

Kakuzu shook his head. "I'm not lying to you, Kimi. Look at me. You know I speak truth." His voice softened, the uncertain twinge of regret returning. "He lied to you – deceived you."

Kimi moaned, tears speckling the dry leaves. "No . . . Itachi." She slumped, unable to hold herself upright of her own power. Pain ripped through her chest. She did not have to look at him. She knew – somehow she knew – he was right.

The keen in her ears became an angry hiss.

Kakuzu closed his eyes and turned away. "This is goodbye, then, Kimi."

Taro laughed sharply, speaking for the first time. "Yeah. Sayonara, bitch." He lunged forward, the blades of his staff flashing as it rose and then fell in a rapid downward slice that would cleave her in two.

--

Screaming. Blood. Kimi! Itachi awoke in a cold sweat, sitting up so rapidly that he startled Kisame from where he stood watch. The shark-like man peered down at his partner from up in the trees.

"Is something wrong?"

Itachi closed his eyes, focusing on breathing steadily. He had dreamed that dream again – that same nightmare that haunted him when he had first met Kimi. This time, though, they had both been older – matching modern times. This time, when she had fallen into his arms, covered in blood, she had spoken not his name, but a different word.

"Why?"

This time, when he looked up to meet the red gaze of the killer, it had not been his father or even Pein. He had looked upon himself, dressed in the garb of the ANBU – bloody sword in his hands – as he had been the night he –

Itachi shook his head. "Hn." No. I'm fine. He pushed himself to his feet. What was this feeling of dread?

"Are you sure?" Kisame pressed. "You look rather paler than usual."

Itachi merely stopped in the middle of brushing off his cloak and presented his partner with a sharp look accompanied by a wave of killing intent. Kisame rapidly and obediently dropped the subject.

"Well," the blue-skinned man coughed uncomfortably, "if you're awake, then let's get going."

Itachi nodded curtly, and the pair moved out. He avoided looking at the sky – painted red with the rising sun. He had never been squeamish at the sight of blood, but now his stomach turned as his mind recalled the vision of Kimi's on his blade – on his hands. A sense of foreboding washed over him.

"Kisame," he said softly, not breaking stride, "do you mind if we take a detour on the way back to base?" The question was only asked out of courtesy. Itachi was going to sidetrack regardless of his partner's answer.

Kisame seemed to sense this – and their destination – and stated hesitantly, "Leader-sama won't like it. He'll be furious."

"He doesn't have to know," Itachi countered faintly, his mind already racing onward. "We're ahead of schedule, anyway. We won't be missed."

Kisame sighed but relented, and as one they altered their course. Itachi's heart beat urgently in his ears as he ran, as if counting down seconds to disaster. He gritted his teeth, focusing on his destination.

Please be okay, he silently willed. Please don't let that dream be an omen.