Kurama
Such a foolish, spiteful child! If she had just freed him like a good girl when she had the chance, Ariala would still be alive!
The NineTails fox sat still in his cage, but let out a low growl.
"Damn you…" he cursed. That was it. He had had enough. He would not tolerate remaining tranquil in this hellish seal for any longer! It was bad enough when Chinatsu was killed, but now Ari? Any remnants of love that his heart had once held were swallowed up. Now, Kurama was just a dark, defiled, mass of hatred.
For a brief moment, Kurama remained still, observing the situation through Naruto's eyes before he made his attempt at escaping. That Uchiha cradled Ari's lifeless body in his arms…those damn Uchiha, why would Ari even associate with them anyway? Did she not remember what happened? But then Itachi looked up at the superstar as she walked out, his sharingan activating. Did he notice something? Kurama eyed the girl suspiciously. He felt more than one chakra within her, one of which was about as ominous as Kurama's, but nowhere near as powerful. But there was something off about the other chakras…and one…one didn't seem to be entirely in Kagami's body, but trapped inside the necklace around the girl's neck.
That necklace was Ari's….
Kurama leapt to his feet. Ari was not dead. That Kagami girl had taken her soul! But why? Thrashing around in his cage, Kurama had to get out. He had to save his last light.
"Naruto…." He growled, "Let me out of here…!"
Ari
I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by darkness. In front of me, stood Kagami, her eyes fixated on what was ahead of her. I looked in the direction that she was looking and saw the outside world. She was walking towards mine and Ita's room.
"You still have a consciousness? That's impressive," Kagami stated, "I was sure that I had killed you when I took your soul, but you really are resilient, aren't you?"
"Just what are you going to accomplish from this, Kagami? Sure, you're pretty, sure you'll have my powers, but how in the hell are you going to get Ita—Shisui to even love you?" I asked, "he's not going to fall for you just because you have my necklace."
"Oh, but I have your soul," she explained, "all it will take is a kiss, and when his soul comes into contact with the remnants of yours, Shisui will forever be under my spell. His love will be mine, and in that same instant, your soul will be sealed away for eternity."
Well that didn't sound good…that bitch…
"Why are you so obsessed with Shisui, anyway?" I asked.
"Because he gives you what I want," she said, "it's as you said, when you find someone who truly loves you, you stop feeling lonely."
"But he won't ever truly love you!" I yelled, "Kagami, even if you do manage to kiss him, even if you put him under your spell, that won't be real love! It'll just be fake! It won't really mean anything!"
"Shut up!" Kagami screamed, "you don't know anything. You don't know what I am capable of!"
With that, Kagami pushed me out of her sub consciousness. I tried to fight back, but felt myself completely restrained by her mind. I had to get out of this mess. I had to save Ita. I couldn't let him be put under some kind of love potion! Not after everything he and I had been through!
"Ita!" I cried out as Kagami stepped into the room. Itachi looked up, surprised to see her. His face was pale and his eyes bloodshot, but he was now wearing a stone-cold expression and his Akatsuki cloak. "Ita! Run away!" I cried again, but he didn't seem to hear me.
I bared my teeth, fighting back the rage as I started thrashing against whatever was binding me. I had to reach through to him, I had to tell him to get away from Kagami…but how?
Itachi
Kagami stepped into his room, a solemn expression on her face. Itachi glanced at her, fighting the rage that threatened to bubble up inside him. She was still wearing that goddamned necklace.
"What do you want?" he asked harshly.
"I came…to apologize. I am so sorry for you loss…Ari was a true friend…" Kagami said. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Itachi, embracing him tightly, "and if you ever need anything, and I mean anything, don't hesitate to ask. I can give you whatever your heart desires."
"That's kind of you to say," Itachi pushed her back, "but I do not seek your help."
"Shisui, why the cold expression? It's okay to open up to someone, you know. Especially after a morning as traumatic as this…" Kagami said, her lips puckering out as she batted her eyelashes at him, "I can at least…help you take your mind off of things…for a little while…"
Kagami pressed herself against his body and stood on her toes as she leaned into Itachi. Her actions only angered the Uchiha even more as he pushed her off of him, "What are you trying to do, Kagami? The love of my life was just killed by a demon, and you're trying to get with me because I'm suddenly single? How low are you willing to go?"
At that, Kagami shot him a glare, "Shisui…I don't think you understand—"
"No! You don't understand!" Itachi barked, his temper flaring, "you waltz around acting like you own everything, like everyone will just drop at your feet and show you their absolute affection towards you because that's what you want! If you want to be loved, you have to work for it. And by the way, my name is not Shisui. In fact, I'm not even accredited with a village. I'm a rogue! My name is Itachi Uchiha, and if you come anywhere near me, I will kill you."
After that, Itachi turned away and began to pack his things. To his surprise, Kagami didn't leave.
"So that's why she always calls you 'Ita'…" Kagami said in a low voice. She then snickered, "my, your love with that woman is much more stained than I thought. A murderer and a demon…what a perfect pair you two are."
At that, Itachi froze, "how do you know about Ari?"
"I have my resources," Kagami explained, brushing the question off. She took another step towards Itachi and slung her arms around him, "but really, Itachi, I think you should relax. Take a load off…you can trust me you know…"
Itachi tried to throw her off of him, but he caught sight of the necklace hanging on her collar, it hypnotized him almost. Kagami pushed him backwards until he was sitting on the bed. Itachi tried to get up, but his muscles started to relax, disobeying his mind's commands. She pushed him on his back and Kagami knelt on the bed, straddling Itachi.
"I guess you didn't love her that much if you're willing to take me now," Kagami sneered. Itachi felt as if he were trapped inside his own body. He wanted nothing more than to throw her off of him, but that necklace…there was something about it. He looked into Kagami's eyes, they were like chocolate, warm and sweet. Comforting… Kagami leaned towards Itachi in an attempt to kiss him. He closed his eyes, and began to lean in to kiss her back.
Naruto
He couldn't stop crying. Ari was gone and he knew he had to accept that fact. People leave all the time, right? But this was different…she was the first person who had ever accepted him. Jiraiya spent the rest of the day trying to get Naruto's mind off of things. They were out on the beach skipping rocks, and the boy started to lighten up, but he was starting to feel sick to his stomach. He felt queasy, but he also had this sharp pain forming in his lower abdomen.
And that's when he heard it.
"Naruto…" an ominous voice in his head whispered. Naruto jumped and looked around.
"Something wrong?" the Pervy-Sage asked. Confused, Naruto shook his head.
But the voice spoke again, and this time, he recognized it…he had heard it once before during the Chunnin exams. "Naruto…! Let me out!"
"The NineTails…" Naruto whispered aloud.
"Let me out, dammit!" the NineTails roared, at that, Naruto doubled over in pain as he screamed. He felt as if his insides were being pulled apart.
"Gaaagh!" Naruto screamed, falling to his knees. Jiraiya ran to Naruto's side as the boy rolled on the ground, "The NineTails…!"
He heard shouts but they were muffled as Naruto's vision blurred. The next thing he saw was the NineTailed Fox thrashing around in his cage, glaring menacingly at Naruto.
"Let me out, Naruto!" He ordered.
Trembling, Naruto glared back at the fox, "Not a chance, you monster!"
"Do you want your precious elder sister to die?" he roared back, thrashing harder, causing the pain in Naruto's stomach to worsen, "or do you just want me to tear you to shreds so I can save her myself?"
"Save her? What do you care about Ari?" Naruto shouted at the Fox, "She's already dead! And besides, you're a demon! What does Ari have to do with you?"
"You haven't even the slightest clue, do you…?" the fox mumbled, narrowing his large red eyes at the boy, "Listen, Ari is not dead. Her soul was sealed away inside the spider demon you faced off! Now let me out! I am the only one who can free her!"
"The spider demon? But we killed that thing!" Naruto shrieked, "And how am I supposed to trust you, anyway? I'll go save Ari myself! I don't need your help!"
With that, Naruto forced himself back to consciousness as the image of the Kyuubi faded away, "You will regret this, Naruto…"
Naruto's eyes shot open to see his teacher standing over him.
"Naruto! What happened?" he asked, helping the boy to his feet. Naruto's stomach still ached, but he pushed the pain away and broke out into a sprint back up to their rooms. He didn't know why, but Naruto had a feeling that he needed to tell Itachi that Ari was still alive.
Itachi
At the last minute, Itachi turned his head away, evading Kagami's lips. He pushed against her shoulders, holding her away from him.
"Why have you been so adamant about me?" he asked suddenly. Kagami sat up, displeased as she glared at him. "I'm a taken man, why can't you just find somebody else."
"I can't imagine that a pig like you would ever understand!" Kagami snapped. She pushed Itachi's shoulders back down as he attempted to sit up. Her grip was strong…inhumanly so. She continued to speak, "I've spent my whole life alone in this world, the only reason people ever paid attention to me was because I was beautiful. But Ari…she's not even worth a man's time! And yet you love her…well, I want that love too! I want to have what I deserve!" Kagami was screaming by this point, her movements became jerky and suddenly her voice twisted suddenly, raising an octave as she said, "And goddammit, Ita, get away from this bitch!"
Itachi froze, staring up at Kagami who gasped and closed her mouth. Kagami's brown eyes widened as her body trembled. Suddenly, her eyes turned icey blue. Ari…?
Kagami let out a shriek in Ari's voice as she fell backwards, holding her head. "Goddammit! Ita, get away from me! I mean her!"
Itachi sat up, confused, "Ari? I-Is that you?"
"Silence!" Kagami hissed, but she jerked around, her eyes changing color repeatedly and then she spat out, "Yes! It's me! Kagami is that spider witch we fought! She took my soul and put it in my necklace! DON'T KISS HER!"
"I wasn't going to!" Ita said back, as he leapt to his feet.
"You were too! I saw it happen!"
"That wasn't me!"
"GAGH! That doesn't matter right now, just get away from me!"
But then Kagami's voice twisted back into her own as she shot Itachi an evil glare, "You bastard…you're going to regret this…"
Itachi in turn drew a kunai and activated his Sharingan, "Somehow, I doubt that…"
Suddenly, Naruto burst into the room screaming, "Itachi! Kagami's the one who took Ari! But Ari's not dead!"
Kagami turned back around and shot Naruto a glare, but then her expression contorted into a horrific smile, "Oh? I get the Fox's daughter and the Fox himself? My, my, this is my lucky day…"
"Fox's daughter…?" Naruto muttered, his eyes wide.
"Naruto, get out of here!" Itachi called out, lunging at Kagami as she made a move to attack the boy. Itachi rolled on the ground as Kagami struggled in his grasp, trying to strangle him, but then her movements got jerky again, and she let out aggravated screams.
"LET ME OUT!" Ari screamed from within. Naruto jumped, watching the scene. Ari turned to face Naruto and ordered, "Naruto! Get out of here! I don't know how long I can hold Kagami down!"
"Ari?" Naruto screamed, "Why are you inside Kagami?"
"She took my soul!" Ari explained. At this point, Itachi had her pinned down in case Kagami tried to surface again, "Where is my body?"
"Master Hoshiyo had the police officers take it to the morgue!"
"WHAT?" Ari shrieked, "How long ago did they leave?"
"Not too long ago…we could still catch them if we ran!"
Ari nodded and Itachi's grip loosened on her as she attempted to get up, but Kagami struggled against Ari. "Don't…you…dare…you are mine, you half-breed!" Kagami hissed. The woman clutched her head and cried out.
Panicking, and without really thinking, Itachi smacked the woman hard across the face, knocking her to the ground so hard, she should've been knocked unconscious. Both voices groaned from inside the body as it staggered back to its feet. Then Ari's eyes returned and she screamed at Ita, "What the hell was that for?"
"You're welcome," Itachi said, crossing his arms, "Is Kagami out?"
Ari paused, her eyes gazing upward, "Nice…but how did you know to do that?"
Itachi looked around, shifting uncomfortably, "I…didn't…"
Ari glared at him, "so you slapped me for the hell of it…okay, never mind, I don't know how long I have until this brat wakes up, let's go!"
The three ran in the direction the ambulance had driven off in. Itachi and Naruto wasted no time trying to catch up to it, but Ari seemed to be lagging behind…it was like she wasn't even running.
"HEY! Wait!" she called out, "I can't run that fast with these legs! And I'm in a dress!"
"You are so high-maintenance, sometimes!" Itachi groaned, scooping Ari into his arms as he took off as fast as he could run.
"Like you can talk," Ari snapped back, "and should you really be running?"
"Well this is an emergency," Itachi spat back, ignoring the fatigue that was already setting in. They caught sight of the ambulance and Naruto took off first, bouncing off some buildings before he landed on top of the ambulance. He stuck his head in the passenger window and must've startled the driver because the ambulance veered off to the side and braked suddenly. Itachi ran up to the back of the ambulance and set Ari down, forcing the doors open.
"I know this is weird," Ari said, "but I need my body back, thank you."
The paramedics gave her a weird look as she stepped in, but, trapped in the body of a superstar, they didn't protest. Ari slung her body over her shoulder and stepped out.
"Now what?" Itachi asked her. Ari's face contorted as she grimaced.
"I was just about to ask you that…"
"You mean you don't even know how to get back in your body?" Itachi smacked his hand to his face, "Ari!"
"Well, I'm sorry! I'm not a voodoo master!" Ari retorted sarcastically. She then placed a finger to her chin and thought, "well…I am kind of trapped in my necklace…maybe if I took it off and put it on my body I could.." Ari started to reach for the clasp of her necklace, but her arm froze, shaking. Ari groaned as she fell to her knees, beads of sweat breaking out on her forehead. "Ita…I…I can't…"
Itachi knelt down next to her, "Is it Kagami…?"
"No…I…I'm fading…." Ari said, her eyes darkening back to Kagami's brown. Itachi began to panic. No…he wasn't going to lose her…!
"Ari! Stay awake!" Itachi pleaded.
"I'm trying!" Ari snapped back, grimacing, "I don't know…what this is…"
But then, Ari's voice twisted back into Kagami's as Kagami said, "…you're falling…soon I will absorb you completely, you half-breed!"
Naruto
He watched horrified as Ari turned back into Kagami. Dammit, they were so close!
"Naruto…you can't save her alone…" The NineTails growled from within, "You need my chakra…"
"Oh, don't start this again, Kyuubi!" Naruto barked back from within, "you can't fool me!"
"This isn't about fooling you, Naruto, this is about saving Ari!" it fought back, "I already told you, you can't save her with your power alone. You need me!"
Ignoring the Kyuubi, Naruto turned his attention to Kagami and Itachi. Kagami now stood and had lunged at Itachi.
"By sunset, Ari will be gone forever, and I will have it all! Including you, Itachi!" Kagami roared. That woman was fast…almost as fast as Ari was.
"Naruto!" Itachi ordered, averting his attention for a moment, "Go find Jaraiya and Kisame! NOW!"
"Got it!" Naruto said, taking off back towards the hotel. Behind him, he heard Ari push back through Kagami's consciousness as she screamed out.
"Gagh! Ita! Grab my body and follow Naruto!" she asked. Naruto looked back and saw Itachi scoop Ari's body up in one arm and the shared body of Kagami and Ari in the other. "I didn't mean me!"
"Can you guarantee that Kagami won't push back through before we get to the others?"
"Well…no…"
"Then I carry you!"
Luckily, Ari maintained consciousness until they got back to the beach. They ran into Kisame first, who had been looking for them.
"Where the hell have you been? And Itachi…what are you doing?" Kisame asked.
Ari glared at him, "Calm down, Jaws, we need your help!"
Kisame jumped, "Ari? Why are you…?"
"Kisame," Itachi said, lying Ari's body down on its back, "Kagami is a demon who stole Ari's soul. We need to find a way to free Ari before Kagami absorbs her soul completely at sunset."
"Sunset? That's only a few minutes away…." Kisame said out loud.
Behind them, Master Hoshiyo and Jiraiya came running up to them, Master Hoshiyo cried out, "Who are you calling my dear daughter a demon? Kagami! Where have you been?"
"Master Hoshiyo," Ari tried to explain, "Kagami's not—Gagh!" Ari clasped hold of her sides and fell to her knees, screaming as Kagami pushed through, this time with a voice similar to the hissing of the spider witch.
"Yoou…little…wench!" Kagami hissed, "Jussst die already!"
"Naruto," the NineTails growled.
"Just shut up already!" Naruto snapped back, now standing in front of the Kyuubi's cage.
"You brat, look, if you aren't going to let me out, at least listen to my instructions. I think I know how you can save her…" the Kyuubi explained.
At that, Kagami's body looked up with Ari's eyes and eyed Naruto curiously. Ari groaned out, "Dad…?" in a confused tone before her struggles against Kagami continued.
"Okay…" Naruto asked the Kyuubi, "how do I do that?"
"First, take the necklace from that woman and place it around Ari's neck. Act quickly, we need to get this done before sunset," he said.
"Guys!" Naruto called out to the others as he returned to the world around him, "take the necklace! Hurry!"
Immediately, Itachi dashed towards Kagami, reaching out towards the woman's neck. But Kagami pushed through Ari and dodged him hissing, "No you don't!"
Naruto turned back to the sky, the sun was lowering in the sky quickly…come on, Itachi…hurry up…
Ari forced her way through long enough to stop as she grunted and gasped, straining to maintain consciousness. Itachi pulled the necklace off of Kagami's neck and the woman fell to her knees. Itachi held the necklace in his hand as the gold started to glow softly…Ari's soul…
"Put it around Ari's neck!" Naruto said. Kagami awakened and began writing on the ground, her eyes flashed from blue to brown.
"Dammit…we might be too late," the Kyuubi spat, "part of Ari's soul is still inside that body…"
"She'll make it," Naruto said quickly, "she'll fight through it…Ari's strong!"
"But is she strong enough?" the Kyuubi asked, more to himself than to Naruto.
Ignoring the last comment, Naruto watched intently as Itachi clasped the necklace around Ari's collar, but her body remained lifeless and still. The sun danced behind the ocean and disappeared. Kagami stopped wriggling and managed to stand as she let out an evil laugh, "you're too late! Ari's soul is mine! And so is Itachi! He will obey my every wish!"
Itachi narrowed his eyes, "I don't feel any different…" he then glanced down at Ari and fell to his knees. "Dammit…we couldn't save her?"
"Maybe it isn't too late…" the Kyuubi said suddenly, "Maybe she just needs a chakra boost…Naruto! Place your hand on Ari's shoulder!"
"Why?"
"Just do it!"
Naruto did as he was told and felt an electric shock run through his arm. Naruto yelped and fell backwards as a massive amount of the Kyuubi's chakra was transferred over to Ari's body. Her back arched upward and her eyes shot open as Ari gasped for air. Kagami's eyes widened as she shrieked in pain, falling back to the ground.
"Ari!" Naruto called out. Ari rolled onto her stomach, clutching her sides as she screamed in pain. A flood of red chakra surrounded her, emitting from her body. It condensed around her and her eyes began to turn a blood red color.
"Dammit…Naruto, what did you do?" she asked.
"The Kyuubi told me to give you some chakra! Why, what's wrong?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto…everyone get away from me! Part of me is still inside Kagami and I can't control…! Gagh!" Ari sat up on her knees and screamed again, trying to maintain her sanity. Lose control? What did that mean? "You guys have to kill her or else I'll…! I'll…!"
"You bastards…what have you done?" Kagami hissed. Her skin turned paper white and her face disappeared except for her scarecrow mouth. She leaned backward and a massive spider's body exploded out from her legs, "I'll kill you all!"
"Kisame, stay close to me," Itachi said quickly.
"Right," Kisame replied. The two leapt in the air and began to attack the spider witch. Ari continued to writhe on the ground.
"Please hurry…!" Ari pleaded, tears pushing out of her eyes. Naruto knelt down beside Ari and placed his hand on her shoulder, worry consuming the boy's mind. What was happening to her? Why would she lose control…? And what would happen to her if she did?
"Naruto," Jiraiya said, "It might be best if you get away from Ari for now."
"But why?" Naruto asked, "how could she be so dangerous?"
"AGH!" Ari screamed, sitting up on all fours, she looked over at Naruto with scared eyes. They were a blood red color…almost like the Kyuubi's. "Naruto," she moaned, "I'm not human!"
"What?" Naruto asked, "What do you mean?"
"I'm the Kyuubi's—AGH!" Ari screamed again as the chakra around her condensed into what looked to be a red cloak in the shape of the kyuubi around her. Four tails sprouted out from behind her and Ari's heaves slowly turned into low growls. "Itachi…!" Ari called out in an inhuman voice, "Hurry up!"
Itachi turned back with panicked eyes as the spider witch took a swipe at him and threw him to the ground. "You're too late!" she squealed.
Ari's hair stood on end as she let out another growl. Naruto watched in horror as her teeth and fingernails seemed to grow longer and sharper. Her ears started to shift to a more pointed shape and dark lines formed around her eyes. Her nose flattened and started to look more like a cat's. Ari bared her teeth and lifted her head up to the sky as she let out an ear-splitting roar.
"Hmph…I should have known," the Kyuubi groaned, "she is only half-demon after all…she isn't able to handle the massive amount of chakra that I gave her…strong as she is, her human side is too easily swayed from the hatred…"
"Half-demon? Human side? What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto blurted out, horribly confused.
The NineTails sneered, "you mean you still can't tell? Why, she's my child after all…"
"What? I don't believe that!" Naruto barked back in disbelief. Ari? The NineTails' daughter? There was no way that could be true.
"Deny it all you want, Naruto, but that is the truth."
"Never mind, I don't have time for you!" Naruto barked as he stared at Ari with fear. The cloud of chakra around her condensed until it was against her skin and hid her body, making it appear red and black with the NineTails' ears and lower body. Behind her, eight tails whipped around furiously. Naruto sat back and leaned away from the monster before him…there was no way that that could be Ari…
Ari growled and took a swipe at Naruto, but Naruto jumped back. Ari let out a low growl, but her attention averted to the two Akatsuki as Itachi called out, "Ari! Snap out of it!"
Ari leapt into the air and made to attack Itachi, but Kisame swiped her away with his Shark-Skin. Ari landed on her feet and leapt up to attack again. This time, the spider witch got in her way. "Ultimate power is mine!" she screeched. Ari opened her mouth as the spider witch came down on her. Building up a ball of chakra in her mouth, Ari then released the ball in a beam that exploded with it made contact with the spider witch. Screaming, the spider with fell to the ground, burning away until all that was left was Kagami's lifeless body.
Well…that was quick…
Ari
I huddled up into a ball, my body frozen. Darkness surrounded me.
"Ita…?" I called out.
No answer.
"Mom? Dad? Minato? Kushina? Anybody?" I whimpered.
A strange voice that sounded almost like mine answered, "do you honestly believe that they will save you? Do you honestly believe that someone will come for you?"
"Wh-what?" I asked the voice, "of course someone will! They…they care about me, don't they?"
"HA! Why would anyone care about you? You're a monster! A freak! No one in the world would ever accept you. That's why they're all dead!"
"Ita isn't!" I protested.
"Oh, but he will be…everyone has left you in this world. And the only one left can't even look you in the eye and speak the truth. And you know why? Because deep down, he really hates you! Just like everyone else!"
I tried to scream, but I ended up drowning in the darkness.
Itachi
With Kagami out of the way, the four shinobi surrounded Ari. The monster that consumed Ari growled, looking around at its opponents.
"Ari," Jiraiya said slowly, "we don't meant to harm you…we're your friends…"
Ari snapped back with a growl. She lunged forwards and struck Jiraiya in the shoulder, slashing at him with her claws. Jiraiya fell back, holding his shoulder. Itachi watched in horror as Ari turned back around to attack Naruto.
"Ari stop!" Itachi called out, stepping in front of Naruto, blocking Ari's attack with a kunai. He managed to push her back. Ari lowered her stance and let out a low growl. Itachi gulped hard. He hoped he wouldn't have to kill her…
But for some reason, Ari didn't attack. A confused look formed on her face and Itachi could've sworn that he heard Ari's voice crying for help. Itachi stared at the creature before him and his heart broke as he realized just how scared Ari probably was deep inside the monster that controlled her. Itachi slowly set down his kunai and held his hands up.
"Naruto, back away," Itachi said. Naruto nodded and did as he was told. Itachi then looked back at Ari and said gently, "It's okay, Ari, I'm not going to hurt you. You're safe now."
Ari's low growl escalated into a sharp snap. Itachi had to cover his ears, the roar was so loud. He then took a step towards her. In response, Ari took a step back and roared again. She really was scared.
"Shh…it's okay, Ari," Itachi cooed, "everything will be alright."
Ari crouched low to the ground and prepared for an attack. Itachi held his ground. He had to save her.
"Itachi! Look out!" Kisame called out as Ari lunged toward him, but Itachi didn't care. Instead, he ran towards Ari and threw his arms around her as she slashed his sides. Itachi winced in pain, his right side nearly going numb, but he held on tightly to Ari as she thrashed around in his arms, clawing at his shoulders and giving him even more cuts.
"Shh, I'm here," Itachi whispered stroking Ari's hair, "please…stop. You're alright. Ari!"
As if she could hear him, Ari's body stiffened and stopped moving. She growled again, unsure what to do.
"Ari," Itachi whimpered, fighting back tears, "I love you…please…just come back…just come back to me."
"Ita…?" an inhuman voice responded. That was definitely Ari. The chakra cloak surrounding her body bubbled off of her, leaving a badly bruised and beaten Ari behind. Ari relaxed in Itachi's arms and just about collapsed as all her weight leaned into Itachi.
"Oh thank goodness…" Itachi breathed as he turned Ari over onto her back, cradling her. Ari looked up at him in a daze, but tears leaked out of her eyes as she whimpered, but her cries didn't exceed more than that.
"I'm sorry…" she said, leaning her head against his chest.
"You're okay now," Itachi said, pressing her head against his cheek, "I'm so glad you're okay!"
"Me too…" Ari mumbled, still dazed, "I love you…"
"I love you too, Ari," Itachi chuckled. They held each other for a long moment before Ari had recovered enough to stand. As she did, Itachi held back a blush. Her clothes had been torn up in the who fiasco…really torn up. "It's chilly out," Itachi said smoothly, taking his Akatsuki cloak off and draping it on her shoulders, "can't have my fiancé catch a cold out here."
Ari gladly accepted the cloak and buttoned it up. She beamed and said, "thank you…that was pretty smooth."
Itachi shrugged, "I try."
The two turned back to see the others running up to them. Naruto cried out as he threw himself on Ari screaming, "I thought you died!"
Ari laughed as she caught Naruto in her arms, spinning him around, "Oh come on, Naruto! I'm not that weak!"
Itachi smiled, allowing the two a moment. Kisame gave Itachi a strange look and said, "that was certainly something you pulled off back there…how did you know to do that?"
Itachi shook his head, "I just had a feeling…"
"A feeling…" Kisame chuckled, "no offense, Itachi, but I never pegged you as the type to have feelings…especially after you managed to slaughter your clan…" then Kisame whispered, "and on orders too."
Itachi jumped, alarmed, and shot Kisame a glare, "What?"
Jiraiya laughed and patted Itachi on the shoulder, "don't worry, Itachi. Kisame's been on to you for a long time. We had a talk about it yesterday. You can relax, he's on your side."
"Yeah, Itachi," Kisame grinned, "what, do you think I'm one to betray my friends?"
"Friends…?" Itachi raised an eyebrow, confused. He hadn't been able to call someone his friend since he had fled the village, but as he looked at Kisame and Jiraiya both, Itachi couldn't help but smile. He really did have friends in those two. And good ones at that. Itachi joked, "but you betrayed your village…"
"Hey!" Kisame spat back, "I didn't have any friends there, you moron! And the Akatsuki was working with the Mist at the time so really, I never betrayed them!"
Itachi chuckled, "Relax, I was only kidding! Friends do that, you know."
Kisame groaned and rolled his eyes. Jiraiya laughed but then returned to a more serious mood, looking back at Kagami and said, "Well, I guess there is really only one thing left to do."
Itachi walked over to where Kagami was laying. She gazed up at him, but she didn't look hurt or angry, she looked at peace.
"Itachi…you freed me from the spider demon…" she whispered weakly.
Itachi shook his head and knelt down, "I didn't save you, Ari did."
"Ari…" Kagami mumbled. In response, Ari turned her attention and walked up behind Itachi, a solemn look on her face. "Ari, please forgive me…I was selfish…I only wanted…to stop feeling so lonely…"
Ari smiled warmly and said, "There is no need to apologize. You were possessed by a demon. And I understand how you feel. If I had never met Ita, I might have done the same thing you did."
Kagami's attention then turned back to Itachi, her eyes wide, "that's what it was…I finally understand now…Itachi…you don't love Ari for her looks at all, do you."
Itachi smiled and chuckled, "Hardly at all. Her beauty is only the icing on the cake which tops off what a great woman I have fallen in love for. Kagami, you don't need outer appearances or power to impress a man, you only need to stay true to yourself. Nothing more."
Kagami smiled, "I see…and in the end I was so conceited I only ended up more alone than when I began all of this…"
"No you didn't!" Ari protested, "Kagami, don't you see? This is the first time you've ever really been yourself. And the real you is a really cool person. You've already gained two friends out of it."
"Friends…?" Kagami's eyes widened. She smiled as she began to cry, "you guys really think that?"
Itachi glanced back at Ari, the two exchanging smiles, "of course we do. Kagami, it may not have worked out between us, but you would've made a lucky man really happy someday. But I can assure you that you aren't alone anymore, because you are our friend."
Kagami's eyes slowly closed as she lost consciousness, "for the first time…I'm not alone anymore…thank you…"
With that, Kagami Hoshiyo passed away.
Ari
We spent the next few days doing mostly clean-up work. Kisame stumbled across the scroll they had been looking for in Kagami's room. He handed it to Itachi who proceeded to ignite the scroll with his Amaterasu.
"I thought you were taking it back to your Leader," I said, raising an eyebrow.
"That was only a cover because I didn't trust you," Kisame said, "in truth, Pein knows how to use the summoning that's in this scroll, but our spy, who I am guessing was Kagami, got intel on this jutsu and wrote it down on here before she ran away. Based on her behavior, I think it's safe to assume that the spider demon which possessed her wanted to seal the tailed beasts away for her own benefit."
"So your summoning has to do with my family?" I asked, alarm bells sounding off in my head.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," Kisame said quickly, "Although the Bijuu have something to do with Pein's plan…I doubt it's actually going to work."
"But if it does…" I began, "Kisame, you're a good friend, but if you go after Naruto—"
"Hey, we don't know if that will even happen," Itachi chided gently, taking my hand, "Take it one day at a time. Seeing my uneasy expression, he kissed my forehead and thought, *I won't let them take Naruto. You have my word.*
I nodded in acknowledgement and smiled. With that, I knew Naruto would be okay.
We checked out of the hotel to return home, the five of us going our separate ways, but not before we attended Kagami's funerals.
"Thank you all for what you did," Master Hoshiyo said softly, "I had no idea Kagami was suffering like that…as much as it pains me to lose her, you all saved her spirit. Thank you again…"
Naruto and Jiraiya broke from our group first, Naruto giving me a big hug as he said goodbye, "Next time you see me," he said, "I'm going to be even stronger than you!"
I laughed, "I'm holding you to that! Oh! But wait, I think I still have my camera!" I fumbled around my bag, searching for it. When I discovered that I had it the day before we checked out of the hotel, I went crazy taking pictures on our last day of vacations. I had some pretty sexy ones of Ita too…
Naruto groaned, "Ari…!"
"Just one more!" I begged, "Of the five of us, come on…please?"
Naruto rolled his eyes, "alright, fine!"
I held the camera an arm's length away from me and everyone gathered around as I snapped a quick picture. I leapt in the air, "YES!"
With that, Naruto and Jiraiya left, and I wouldn't see him again for another two and a half years. I then turned back at Kisame and Itachi, who I would end up seeing just about every day from then on.
"Well, are you guys going your separate ways too?" I asked.
Itachi sighed heavily, "Well…"
Kisame laughed, "You go do your other job, I'll go fill Pein in on what happened."
Itachi let out a heavy sigh of relief and said, "thanks…I'll meet up with you later at the Uchiha hideout."
"Cool. You should show Ari that place too. See ya!" and with that, Kisame took off.
I gave Ita a funny look, "Uchiha hideout? And what's this other job you have to do?"
Ita chuckled, "Ari, I think you might've suffered some memory loss…do you not remember that you were supposed to rendezvous with a Root member?"
At that, my eyes widened and my jaw dropped. I panicked as I looked around quickly. Dammit! I completely forgot about that guy!
Itachi laughed at my reaction and reached into his travel pack, pulling out an ANBU mask, "Relax, Ari! To be honest, I had forgotten about that too until you brought the topic up."
My jaw dropped to the floor, "You mean that was you? Why is Danzo even…?"
"I'm not too sure either," Itachi shrugged, "but ever since I came back to the village, Danzo's been keeping in contact with me…even asking me to take on a few Leaf missions if I was nearby enemy territory. And I admit, it's been kind of nice working for the Leaf again. I guess for this mission, he just wanted to see the Ultimate Tag Team in action again."
I smiled and shook my head, "well, I hope this means we'll be seeing a lot more of each other then."
Itachi chuckled and nodded, "oh, I'm sure we will." He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close as a mischievous smile spread across his lips. We exchanged a long kiss, and I broke away gently much sooner than I had wanted to, careful not to aggravate his heart.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, smiling, "so tell me about this Uchiha hideout you were telling me about…"
Itachi shrugged, "well, it's a large house outside the village. It's pretty secluded and has a barrier around it that you can't see through unless you know the house is there. Kisame and I have been staying there, especially now since Danzo has been calling me in. It's a nice place…you know…if you wanted to live there with me, you could."
"Oh?" I asked, "well, I like the sound of that idea. Do you think the Leaf will mind if I started living with an S-ranked criminal?"
Itachi chuckled, "well, you're already engaged to him…I can't see why they would try to protest any further…"
We both laughed and exchanged another kiss before we headed back to the Leaf. Shortly after that, I moved in with Itachi and Kisame, but kept some belongings in my apartment back in the village. The house was three floors. The basement became Kisame's living quarters, the main floor where the kitchen and entryway was became the common ground where all three of us would visit, and the upstairs became like a nice little apartment where Ita and I could settle down and start our lives together.
Because of Ita's condition, we couldn't start a family the way we had planned, but by some little miracle, our little flower still found us, lost and alone in the Village Hidden in the Rain, three years after that mission, just as the hunt for the Bijuu began.
