My Pain is Yours

Chapter 13: Apology

Holding her head as she strolled through the unlit halls, Aiko heaved out a sigh. What was she going to do about Shinsei? Soon they would be separated, going their separate ways. Leaning her back against the wall, coming to a stop, Aiko couldn't seem to shake the lonely feeling that was eating away at her.

A tear glided down her cheek and her breath hitched; why was she so sad?


Finishing his amusing story regarding the redheaded seer, the shark nin was rather pleased with himself, but was disappointed when Itachi still had nothing to say. Kisame's beady eyes widened as Itachi's chair scraped across the floor, the raven-haired man getting to his feet.

"Hey, where are you going?" Kisame asked, leering after Itachi as the Uchiha calmly stood from the table, ebony eyes misted up in thought. "Don't tell me you're going to go talk to Gaki-chan now? She's probably still in tears, you know." He paused, waiting for Itachi to answer. An eternity swept by in what was a moment.

Itachi cast Kisame a solemn glare. "I need to speak with her, regardless."

"You're wasting your time," Kisame warned, blue lips adorned with a smirk. Itachi's eyes flashed dangerously and a shudder coursed through Kisame.

"I know her better than you," Itachi murmured, voice sounding colder than usual.

Kisame blinked, affronted by his partner's threatening death glare. Was Itachi actually angry with him?

For a moment, the partnership that seemed to get along best in the entire Akatsuki organization was at a standstill, neither one speaking to the other. Itachi held his stony gaze, not dropping it for the briefest of moments. Kisame's hand curled into a fist beneath the table, wits crumbling underneath the wrathful glare of the Uchiha prodigy.

He regretted having said anything.

"Where the heck did she go Kakuzu?!"

"How the hell should I know? And why, for the love of God, do you even care?"

Turning around to the door opposite the one Itachi would be exiting, Kisame heard the pair of Hidan and Kakuzu breaking out into another ridiculous argument. In an attempt to rekindle his bond with Itachi, Kisame mused, "Well, at least we're not like them, huh?" He frowned upon pivoting back to his original spot to find that Itachi had already vanished, white eyes narrowing. "Itachi?"


Each step creaked beneath the weight of the heavy burden he carried as Itachi ascended up the stairs. There was something he needed to discuss with Shinsei, something urgent. How could she have known the truth about the massacre and not told him? He reached the top of the stairs, looking down into the blackness ensnaring the corridor.

As he began striding down the hall, Itachi came to an abrupt halt, sensing another presence.

His gaze hardened. "What are you doing down here, Aiko-san?"

Lifting up her head, Aiko released a tiny gasp and flinched. "Itachi-san?" She ran her arm across her eyes, and when her arm was removed, her emerald orbs possessed a hateful glare. "You! You're the reason why Shinsei is so upset!" Aiko sounded harsh, but it was the truth.

"I know," Itachi answered slowly, eyes drifting along the floor. "And I'm sorry."

Struck by Itachi's apology, Aiko said nothing and folded her arms across her chest. The silence filling the space between them echoed throughout the hallway, and as Itachi went to pass Aiko, she whispered, "Just make sure she's okay. If she isn't, I'll know and I won't hesitate to destroy you. She means more to me than you'll ever know."

Itachi stopped. "What are you to her?"

Tilting her head to the side to get a backwards glimpse of the inexplicable man, Aiko contemplated yelling at him for causing her best friend so much pain, but decided against it after regarding how Shinsei would feel if she did so. Itachi's question still rang in her mind: What are you to her?

A little laugh escaped Aiko's lips. "I'm her best friend," Aiko cast Itachi a confident smirk. "And nothing is ever going to come between us; not even you." Itachi frowned at this comment but tried to pay it no attention. The brunette looked down at the floor, still smiling, and started walking away. Although, if I had it my way, Shinsei, I would take away all of your pain rather than just leave it in his hands.

But unfortunately, I don't really have a choice, do I?

Itachi expected her to say something more, but she was already plodding down the stairs.

Peering at the shadowy passage with a sigh, Itachi began his trek to Shinsei's room.


Shinsei continued to sleep, emotionally and physically drained. She lay on her back, arms outstretched, taking in slow, unhurried breaths. Her short hair was scattered on the pillows, spanning out in all directions, while the blankets covered her body, chest rising and falling in an even pattern.

Upon feeling another presence, however, she awoke with a jolt.

"Who's there?!" Shinsei gasped, wide-eyed as she sat bolt upright. "What's going on?! Aiko?! Aiko is that you?!"

"Shh, it's okay," a reassuring voice whispered, trying to pull Shinsei out of her alarmed state.

Someone settled on the bed beside her and she heard the mattress springs make a censorious hiss. Shinsei rubbed her eyes quickly, blinking them wildly to get them to adjust faster, still in a panic. Though, after allowing the timbre of the voice to process through her mind, she recognized the person immediately.

"I-Itachi?" Shinsei whispered incredulously. "W-what are you doing here?"

"I heard that you found out about my clan," Itachi murmured lifelessly. Shinsei recoiled.

"Huh?" Shinsei felt tears prod at her eyes. How did he know?! "Who told you?!"

"Kisame."

When Shinsei did not answer and bowed her head, Itachi suspected that he had only made the situation worse. He reached over and stroked her cheek, extracting a gasp from her lips. He leaned closer to her, close enough so that their lips were almost touching. Shinsei felt her heart pound, mind throbbing as a tepid heat rose to her cheeks.

"You never told me," Itachi breathed, his breath heavy on her lips.

"I-I couldn't!" Shinsei stammered back, a tear sliding down her cheek. "You were gone!"

Before Shinsei could go into hysterics, Itachi was holding her in his arms.

Her heart skipped a beat and, for a moment, struggled against his grasp.

"I'm sorry," Itachi murmured into her ruffled hair. "I'm so sorry."

Shinsei's eyes lit up and she conceded to the embrace, allowing herself to slip into Itachi's arms. Tears began escaping her eyes once she was safely in his hold, her arms linking around his neck, heart and mind beating rapidly; enrapt by Itachi. He had always known how she felt about him, hadn't he? That longing gaze, even when they were children, seemed to follow him, always at his back. This was the only person she desired as she cried into his rigid chest.

"Itachi…Itachi…I'm sorry!" Shinsei cried out. "I've been looking for you for so long now! I-I don't want to leave you ever again!" She sobbed into Itachi, his warm body comforting. Itachi tightened his grip on her, keeping her close. It was as if he was promising that they would never be separated again without the use of words or speech.

With an inaudible whisper, Itachi replied, "I will be here for as long as you need me to be."

A trembling gasp swept through the redhead and she squeezed him harder.

Thank you.

Shinsei was overwhelmed by Itachi, his sweet scent erasing all of her thoughts as he pulled her against his body. They were together at last, just like they used to be; a smile embellishing Shinsei's lips as she held tighter to Itachi. When she looked back up at him, she could distinguish the shape of his face but could not perceive whether or not he too was smiling.

Her hands reached up to touch his cheeks, and when she did, she felt a wetness that was not there before. Confused, Shinsei thumbed it away, stroking his cheek as her smile faded to a concerned frown. A flicker of moonlight grazed across the lucid window and Shinsei caught a glimpse of Itachi's face, her breath catching.

A trail of tears was trickling down his pallid cheeks.

"Itachi?" Shinsei felt herself beginning to tear up again.

He closed his eyes, small rivulets running from them, and whispered, "I'm sorry."

The moonlight disappeared, vanishing as a cloud swept over it.


Wandering downstairs, Aiko approached the kitchen cautiously, trying to locate everyone else. She found Kisame bustling around the stove, preparing tea as he heated up the water. The kettle screeched to declare that it was ready and Kisame began muttering to himself, lumbering back towards the stove with a mug. Aiko slipped into a chair at the table, trying to arrive unnoticed. That plan failed.

Kisame turned around. "Well, well look at who's back; long time no see Hime-chan."

Aiko frowned. Hime? That means 'princess'. Her hazel eyes flashed. Is he mocking me?

The shark nin chuckled to himself, which irritated Aiko. She folded her arms on the table and rested her head in between them. She was too tired to start arguing, too fatigued. Her eyelids fluttered and she could feel a wave of sleep washing over her as she inhaled and exhaled lightly, breathing becoming shallow.

At least I can have a little time to rest up…

Just as her vision was beginning to darken, however, her stomach liberated a pained growl. Kisame spun around at the interruptive noise and Aiko went cherry red, hand rushing to her stomach. She winced as it groaned again, causing her entire body to cringe. Kisame howled with laughter.

"When was the last time you were fed?" Kisame found this incredibly amusing.

"Will you shut up?!" Hidan shouted from the other room. "Your cackling is freaking me out!"

Kisame stopped with a grimace and Aiko laughed weakly, still clutching her stomach. Kakuzu stomped into the kitchen, briefcase in hand as he slammed it down on the table, causing the legs to wobble. He shot a glare at Aiko, whose smile disintegrated into a frown. Kakuzu rolled his eyes and dropped into a chair beside her.

Aiko's stomach growled again.

Kakuzu arched an eyebrow. "And what's your problem?"

Flushing, Aiko indignantly replied, "Nothing!" Her stomach twisted around itself again, making strange gurgling noises; Aiko blushed. Kisame snickered, struggling to conceal his spiteful laughter, while Kakuzu rolled his jade orbs and lazily reached behind himself to grab a loaf of bread.

"Here," the missing Waterfalls nin muttered, tossing the item to Aiko. "Eat."

Catching the bread in her hands, Aiko nodded, whispering a quiet 'thank you' as she unwrapped the bread from its plastic confinement and began to slowly eat. The hole that had been gnawing away at her for days seemed to fill with one or two bites, and Aiko still had the wound in her side to consider re-dressing later.

Ugh…I haven't eaten in so long that I feel like I can't eat anymore… Aiko placed the bread down on the table, little nibbles at the end of it. Well, I can always come back to it later I suppose; there's no point in making myself sick, that would just defeat the purpose of eating altogether.

Getting up from the table, Aiko sleepily exited the kitchen and climbed up the stairs. Kakuzu and Kisame seemed to have ignored her as she left and she had no idea where Hidan was.

"Ow!" Aiko winced as a sharp pain bit into her side, collapsing against the wall; she had to keep that cursed injury in mind.

Although, it could have been much worse, couldn't it? If Hidan hadn't intervened and saved me from that demon I would probably be an intensive care unit right now; or maybe even dead. How could I have been so careless to let myself be put in that situation?

Clenching her fist and releasing a sigh, Aiko reached the top of the stairs, staggering slightly, and turned to find a room to stay in. She assumed that Shinsei probably wanted to be alone and had faith that there was somewhere else with a bed that she could stay in for just a little while.

As she passed Shinsei's room, however, Aiko couldn't help but peek in to see how her friend was doing. Her hazel orbs widened upon seeing her best friend wrapped in the Uchiha's arms. A little smile started to form on her lips.

So that's what happened, huh? Aiko smiled softly. I'm happy for her.

Before departing, Aiko stole one last peek at them; she felt reassured that she could count on Shinsei being safe when it was time for them to part.


Author's Note: Hurray for Shinsei and Itachi! Woot! Woot! I apologize for the long wait, but I just completed all of my not-so-lovely finals and now have time to write again! This gives me eight weeks of summer vacation to type my heart out!

I promise that Aiko and Hidan will be in the next chapter. *_*

And of course, thank you to Cheeky half-demon, mistress akasha, vampirewithaheart, Shikamaru214483, yoyshaia-chan, and Akatsuki-means-Daybreak for all of their reviews! I love you guys for reviewing, I really do!

^/_\^ The Itachi smiley face is proud!

-Aiko of the Akatsuki