The part in cursive is a memory but you guys would know that of course :)
I am feeling a bit stuck on this but I will do as promised and make it a longer chapter no less than a thousand words, I swear!
She seems a little conflicted, she hates him but she still cares for him, or she simply can't make up her mind.
I do promise it will get better, they will get better :)

I didn't waste anymore time and started gathering information on all of the known members of the Akatsuki, which wasn't that many.
My focus of course on Itachi and Kisame, there wasn't really much on Itachi that I didn't know already but there was a lot about Kisame.
I learned how he had gained his sword and the ability of the said sword, he was not really he kind of guy you would take home to meet your mother.

Learning about his skilled swordsmanship I figured I would have to practice a bit more with mine, obviously I was quite capable but it was nowhere near Kisame's capabilities though they never would be either, but more pratice couldn't hurt.
Unfortunately nowhere was stated where the hideout was located, that would have been to easy I guess to there were a few places mentioned where it might be so I copied it down.

Lack of information wasn't my only issue, I had left my village behind but also my job, I had no source of income and getting a job while constant being on the move would be hard.
Of course there was always some criminal somewhere with a bounty on their head, although I doubted that was he best approach it was all I had for now.
A bounty hunter didn't necessarily have to kill its target which I was glad about since I did not want to take anymore lives then I already had.

When I had acquired all information available I left the town behind me and set out once more.
I was glad I was able to leave it behind me after all that had happened and made sure to put quite some distance in between the village and me before I stopped to rest.
I decided to keep eyes and ears open in case there was someone who heard something.

I dropped my bag on the bed with a little to much force and all it contents fell to the floor creating a fair amount of noise as it did so.
Leaning down to gather it all back together my eye fell on something shin, I pulled it from the tangled mess and stared at it as it dangled in front of me.
My throat clenched as I stared at the item and clenched my eyes shut as a sudden pain shut through me.

"Hotaru-chan" Shisui's voice sounded from behind me, before I could turn around to greet him his hands grasped my shoulders.
"Close your eyes we have a surprise for you" he told me and with a sigh I did as he told me though a bit hesitant, he liked to prank and tease me whenever he could after all.

Someone appeared in front of me, I could only assume it was Itachi because Shisui had said we.
Shisui's hands left my shoulders and I felt my hair being lifted up, something cold wrapped around my neck followed by a small weight as Itachi let go of the object.
"Happy birthday" Itachi had whispered in my ear causing a soft pink blush to dust my cheeks.

"Take a look" Shisui spoke with enthusiasm.

I opened my eyes and glanced down, a necklace had been carefully placed around my neck, a pendant hanging from it.
Gently I grasped it with gentle fingers to look at it, it was shaped like an angel holding a heart made out of a red ruby, I was touched by the gesture.

"Guys it must have cost you a lot" I gasped out and watched as the two boys merely shrugged and smiled.

I charged forward and pulled them both into a hug, giving Itachi an additional kiss on the cheek.
"I love it, thank you so much" I said humbly.

The memory flashed before my eyes before I had any time to stop it from doing so.
My heart ached as I lowered the necklace onto the bed running my fingers softly over the pendant.
Had it only been a gift from Itachi I would have gotten rid of it instantly but it wasn't, they had both given to me.
I wondered how Shisui would feel about his best friend now, would he try to stop and change Itachi?
Most likely he would, but how could you change someone who didn't want to be changed.

A desperate sigh escaped me as I gathered the rest of my stuff and placed it back into the bag and ran a hand through my raven hair.
It needed a cut desperately, it usually hung just below my shoulders, now it reached my waist but recently I found myself unable to find the will to cut it off.
I could also use some time in the sun, my natural cream colored skin seemed awfully pale, once this was all over I would find myself a nice place to stay where there was lots of sun.
Smiling at the idea of that I walked to the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water, the lack of sleep from the previous night prevented me from traveling any further.

My eyes fluttered close as I lay in the warm water and I started drifting away slowly.
No matter how painful the memory had been I held it close to me, he may not be like that anymore, maybe he never had been but I refused to let the Itachi I had known to die.
I didn't want to remember the way he was now, I would get rid of him and hold the Itachi I had been in love with close to me, I would let go of the Itachi he was now.

After having soaked in the tub for longer than I had planned I went to bed and for the first time in days I slept peacefully even though my dreams were memories of him, memories of us.