Mirror, mirror.

Water is a strange and capricious object; it can give life to entire planets sustaining it for millennia upon millennia or end a life in mere seconds without mercy or hesitation. Water is everywhere, appearing in different forms from great oceans to a miniscule raindrop that fell from the heavens. It even appears in our dreams. Sometimes we dream of placid water, it reflecting our calmest and most serene thoughts but water is temperamental and prone to change. In the blink of an eye even the most equable mass of liquid can turn stormy and perilous, so perilous in fact that Susanoo himself would overlook the storm with pride, perhaps even bask in its sadistic beauty.

The thought of drowning in such a seemingly harmless substance seems ironic, the fact that the majority of the human body consists of water so to allow it to end a life seems bitter sweet, a literal juxtaposition. But water can be ruthless and unrelenting in its ways, it chokes the life from someone with ease, the oxygen depleting from their body, their eyes glossing over as their body screams out in pure blind panic. The sensation is bizarre. The body strives to maintain any surviving oxygen that flows through it, the brain sending out search warrants for its whereabouts. On average it takes between twenty to sixty seconds for the drowning process to be complete; the brain shutting down as the level of oxygen depletes and eventually disperses indefinitely as the person enters a world of constant and perpetual darkness.

And everyone knows the blackness is full of indescribable terror.

Everywhere was dark and she couldn't breathe. It was water, she was submerged in water with no end. Even with open eyes she couldn't see anything, just continuous nothingness; Reina tried not to panic, with every passing second she could feel her chest tighten as the pressure on her lungs continued to escalate. Small bubbles of precious, precious air passed her lips, they cascading up towards a possible surface; Reina began to swim in towards the supposed surface, her hair bobbing about wildly as she outstretched her arms in wide, long strokes. Instinctively her body wished to survive, but her warm hearted nature yearned to know that the oldest Uchiha was safe, despite their current relationship.

Reina could sense him, his chakra was near yet she couldn't see him.

Itachi-san where are you?!

Her thoughts were as frantic as her strokes; by now she felt like she had been swimming for an eternity, her arms ached and she could feel her strength leave her slowly. But it appeared Lady Luck was gracious today as the surface seemed imminent, a glimmer of light rippled in the distance. With a small newfound hope she swam quicker, her legs screaming out to stop and allow them to rest but she soldiered on her lungs practically begging for a sweet taste of air. Her head was buzzing with an uncontrollable static as the glimmer grew larger, it almost in reach; with a final push and kick of her legs she broke the surface, gasping wildly to rekindle the lost air.

Reina splashed about attempting to clear her hair from her vision, it hindered by the water that inhabited her eyes; ragged coughs and desperate breathes passed her lips as she tread water trying to stay afloat.

"I-Itachi-san?!" She called out, her voice breaking as she coughed uncontrollably, choking slightly on a backwash of water.

But he was nowhere to be seen.

The world above the water was as equally dark. A daunting forest surrounded the small lake, weepy trees lapping at the rippling water with woeful looking branches. But what she saw next sent a shiver down her entire spine. Floating absentmindedly was Itachi's cloak, the dark obsidian fabric bobbly idly in the shadowy water; Reina swam over to the cloak, clutching it as she searched for the ebony haired male.

"Itachi-san!?" She called out once more, her voice filling with dread when she received no answer.

Oh Kami no.

Yet there it was, that miniscule flicker of chakra she could feel his presence, he was here. Reina swam to the shore, unclipping her cloak and throwing it aside swiftly, it landing with a loud slosh. Quickly she placed her satchel and katana beside her cloak and took a deep breath, her lungs expanding to their maximum capacity before she delved back into the murky water; despite the lack of natural light she could make out their chakra amongst the depths, it calling out for her to be reunited. Reina swam hastily towards the chakra signature, the light becoming brighter and the feeling that enveloped her body growing stronger.

Then her eyes widened, there amongst the murky depths was Itachi.

Rapidly she dove further, the familiar feeling of pressure building once again but she pressed on regardless. Itachi was barely moving, his arms bobbing impassively with the underwater current; Reina reached him, checking his neck for a pulse which she found after a few seemingly long moments.

Thank Kami.

The next few moments seemed to happen so fast, Reina acted without thinking, her brain not even registering her actions; the only thing that inhabited her mind was ensuring he stayed alive it didn't matter to her that he was her supposed captor, he didn't deserve such a fate. Reina cupped his pallid face, stray hairs floating sporadically and mixing with her own locks almost in a wild dance; Reina pressed her lips to his, both their lips icy from the inexorable cold as she blew as much air into his mouth as she could, whatever oxygen she could spare flowing past his lips.

Itachi began to stir as he crept back from the world of unconsciousness, his brain registering the dose of oxygen that was being administered to him. But darkness still clouded his mind as he tried to swim towards the light, yet his body would not obey his command despite his attempts. Itachi could feel something pressed against his lips, they tingling with the faintest of pins and needles. Satisfied that he would survive Reina pulled away from his lips, concentrating on the remaining oxygen that circulated around her body as her kekkai genkai began to replicate it, oxygen molecules forming and rapidly multiplying to replace the air she had lost.

Reina pushed herself downwards inspecting just what was keeping him suspended in the water yet what she found made her eyes widen in utter shock. There grasping onto Itachi's ankles were a pair of pale, slim hands, their grip tightening as she edged closer; Reina attempted to peel away the grasping hands only to be met with the vengeful yet hideously beautiful face of a ningyo. It snarled ferociously, her sharpened claws digging into Itachi's pale skin possessively piercing it a little as it tried to pull him further into the depths.

Oh no…

Reina quickly pulled a concealed blade from her boot slashing the ningo's neck, it missing the jugular by mere millimetres before wrapping her arm around Itachi, using her free arm to pull them to safety. The water began to stain crimson, it resembling ink bleeding on blotted rice paper as it continued to exude from the ningyo's wound; Reina swan tiresomely, her one arm slowly but surely moving the pair of them through the water. She glanced down at Itachi, small bubble passing his lips as his unconscious form bobbed and jerked with her struggled movements.

The ningyo hissed inhumanly as she clasped her hand over the oozing wound, her digits grazing an ornate necklace made up of precious stones before she flicked her tail, catching up to the struggling pair, her once beautiful face became slightly clearer to Reina, her scaly and disfigured face snarling in an animalistic manner as she clawed at the frantic pair. Her talons slashed through the water like a hot knife through butter, Reina gasped and screamed soundlessly, her remaining air rupturing past her lips as the ningyo's talons dug into her abdomen, it tearing through her skin and muscle effortlessly. The ningyo's lips twisted into a satisfied smirk as more blood infused into water, the now hideous creature licked its lips tasting and savouring the incarnadine syrup that imbued into the water.

Water flooded Reina's mouth, it slipping down her throat and into her lungs; she began to panic as she struggled to clear her airways, the water choking her as she swam towards the surface. She swam with all her might, pulling Itachi as she went; the ningyo sped towards the pair once more, the determination twinkling in its cold, bloodthirsty eyes. The glimmering surface was mere strokes away, Reina kicked frantically as her vision started to become spotted with black, hazy patches; after they finally broke the surface of the water Reina gasped riotously as she paddled clumsily, struggling to drag the doll like Uchiha to the shore. She slipped on the muddy shore, it splattering everywhere as Itachi fell upon her, his unconscious body landing on her ungraciously; Reina cried out in pain when he landed on her wound, he unknowingly agitating the deep laceration.

The Ningyo surfaced as well, her rotted teeth gleaming viciously as she stalked towards the injured pair but she did not reach them. From the depths of the death stained waters came the souls of sea-drowned dead, the funayūrei, they clumsily grabbing at the now shrieking female, dragging her down into depths from whence they perished taking the cause of their demise with them. Reina watched stunned as demonic like mermaid was dragged away before laying in the mud attempting to clear her airways in between quiet whimpers of pain.

Her breaths were laboured as she coughed up any water she could from her airways, they stinging as the cool air hit the back of her throat; Reina winced and grumbled lowly in pain as her wound continued to seep with blood, her ragged top devouring the scarlet liquid. She turned her attention to Itachi, rolling him onto his back quickly before placing her laced hands on his chest muttering raggedly.

"Don't you dare die on me Itachi, I haven't stayed alive just for you to die on me!" Reina growled pumping her hands on his chest steadily in attempt to massage his heart.

1…2…3…4…5

Reina counted as she continued to press down on his chest; she tipped his head back carefully, kneeling over him as she pinched his nose before pressing her lips to his once more, blowing air into his mouth, the air inflating his water ridden lungs. His chest rose as the air rushed to the said organs before halting once more; Reina cursed under her breath before she repeated the compressions on his chest, calculating out the counts aloud this time as her panic and frustration grew.

"God damn it Itachi breathe!" Reina pleaded, pinching his nose and pressing her lips to his once more and blowing precious air into his mouth once again. Itachi roused from his near death stupor, water spluttering up his oesophagus and out his mouth; Reina breathed in relief with a look of reprieve washing over her features.

"Thank the gods…Thank you, thank you…" She sighed exasperatedly as she cradled Itachi almost protectively. Itachi rolled onto his side in a foetal position as his body continued to wretch any form of liquid from his body, his breaths ragged and raspy. Itachi groaned exasperatedly as his breaths became more regulated, the oxygen that had been lost recuperating itself steadily. He rolled onto his back, his head residing in Reina's lap, going through things in his head like a film reel on replay; Reina supported his head somewhat endearingly as wave after wave of relief washed over her water and blood ridden body.

She ignored the cry of her wound, focusing on the now breathing Uchiha in her lap; she didn't know why she reacted so protectively towards him or that even now she was acting so…tenderly towards him. Then reality hit her almost as brutally as the ningyo's claws.

She had practically kissed Itachi Uchiha more than she had ever kissed anyone in her life in the span of a few moments.

Unwillingly her ashen, mud covered skin flooded a faint shade of pink as she too replayed the past events mentally; she couldn't quite wrap her head around that fact, things were playing out bizarrely. Over the past few days, she had been seen in a bathtub, shared forbidden fruit, shared a small, almost tender moment, had her clothes torn down and slept beside the infamous Itachi Uchiha .

And now? Now she could add kiss to that list as well.

Life was never simple.

Reina found herself becoming comfortable in his presence, he knew her secrets and she knew his, she had found herself doubting his hateful and cold-blooded ways in hope that he would have an epiphany and reform his ways. Reina wanted to get to know the mystery that was Itachi and she didn't know why.

"R-Reina-chan?" Itachi croaked, his normally smooth voice, cracked and somewhat delicate, Reina smiled weakly, nodding as she brushed his mud ridden hair from his face, chuckling meagrely at the lost look that was splashed across his face. Itachi gazed up at the mud covered kunoichi, her skin paler than usual yet her eyes remained as lively as ever; then he realised where he was, he sat up from her lap, staring at her battered and tattered form incredulously.

"What happened?" He asked, glancing around the tree ladened wood, the rounded lake surrounded by weepy looking foliage and contortionist like trees. Reina's lips twitched into a half-hearted smile feeling her head begin to spin and become weightless as she began to explain the ordeal.

"I couldn't find you…I panicked…I…" She murmured weakly, her lips beginning to tinge a light shade of violet before she fell forward, the blood continuing to seep from the viciously deep wound. Itachi's eyes widened as she seemed to fall in slow motion, it would seem the roles were reversed as he now cradled her in his lap, her limp ragdoll like form lolled against his chest. Itachi glanced at her ragged body, his lips parting at the gash on her abdomen; carefully he cradled her closely, holding her to his chest whilst placing a hand on the wound, his hand glowing a pale jade.

"You were kidnapped by a Ningyo…" Reina whispered, her tone almost…amused? Itachi stared down at her to find her staring back through half-lidded eyes.

"And what is that?" He asked nonchalantly, watching as the deep laceration began to slowly reknit itself back together. Reina leaned her head against his chest, ignoring the fact the pair of them were soaked and mud covered.

"A really ugly mermaid…Kisame-san may have found her attractive though. I think it was something to with her scales." She chuckled sluggishly, the blood loss making her slightly delirious. Itachi quirked a brow, unsure if he heard her correctly; mermaids were known for their musical talents and their curiosity of the human world, never had he heard of them kidnapping humans or maiming them. "S-she had you at the bottom of the lake…you weren't breathing so I…" Reina wavered off, a small, somewhat embarrassed look creeping onto her pasty face; Itachi stared down at her incredulously the severity of everything washing down upon him heavily.

She saved me.

Itachi thought, it touching him in places solely reserved for Sasuke. Reina Hitori was bleeding out in his lap after acquiring a wound from saving him from the grasps of a mythical siren and reviving him from death's door; she had put herself in danger almost drowning herself to save him and his damned soul.

"You are a fool." He muttered almost silently, knowing her efforts were wasted upon a person such as him; she had given her generosity and kindness freely to him and asked nothing in return.

"No…I am no fool Itachi-san. It is you who is the fool. N-not I…" Reina whispered with closed eyes, a peaceful expression on her mud splattered features. Itachi frowned, his eyes narrowing at her words as his hand remained on her stomach, blood coating his own pale skin, his other swathed around her cold body.

"Hn." He muttered, continuing to heal her wound silently despite curiosity eating away at his thoughts, it nibbling slowly. Reina scoffed, a faint smile creeping onto her pale lips.

"You resent yourself. I can feel your guilt gnawing away at your insides, it as voracious as the illness that ravishes your body and now mine. Whatever it is that is the cause of your guilt is your own, and I respect that, but to allow the world to brand you as something you are not makes you the fool Itachi-san." Itachi's eyes widened in surprise, his brows raising at her words; Reina's eyes fluttered open, gold clashing with obsidian almost as dark as the world they resided in.

"You know nothing of the world Reina-chan." Itachi murmured, his tone soft and mournful as he gazed into her eyes, they full of life and fire despite her present circumstance. Reina held his gaze, remembering how it once shook her with fear down to her very core; but now it was different, he was not the man she thought he was, nor was he the man the world thought he was. Her gut was telling her that, no murderer acts with kindness and empathy, they do not willingly heal their captive or hold their welfare in regard. They act without mercy, yet he was nothing like that, he was feared and a renowned killer perhaps, but he was nothing like the murderous monster people thought he was.

Reina could see it in his eyes. The pain, the grief stricken years of masking pain.

Weakly she reached for his face, his coal orbs watching her silently as she cupped his cool cheek; Reina brushed her thumb over his muddy skin grazing the distinctive lines that were sketched onto his face. A look of pain crept on to her face as she leant up, he instinctively supporting her as she moved; Itachi continued staring at her but it wasn't the calculative stare that usually inhabited his eyes. This time it was a look of calmness and trust. Reina wrapped her free arm around his shoulders, holding him close in a makeshift embrace, Itachi barely breathed, holding his breath involuntarily as she leaned in close.

Reina closed her eyes as she leaned her freckled cheek against his own pale one, her hand cupping the nape of his neck gently as she embraced the killer of the Uchiha clan. Itachi froze, every inch of his body going on hyper-alert impulsively; he started to speak only to be held closer by the young woman who resided in his lap, it her signal to let her speak.

"You allow the world to label you as an evil villain…that's why you are the fool. I am bound to you Itachi-san in more than one way. I am merely the ghost of a friend you may have considered me to be in the past, you may simply think of me as somebody that you used to know. But I am bound to you indefinitely. I feel everything you feel, the grief. The pain. The guilt of past tribulations...and not once have I felt a glimmer of evil. You've fallen so far into a web of intangible misfortune that you yourself are deluded by it. But I'm not…I know that you are not evil Itachi-san." Reina spoke softly, her words truthful and directly from the heart; she meant what she said, she had felt that way for a while ever since the bond between them strengthened and became even more fortified.

Itachi's eyes were wide in surprise, his normally stony and blank façade cracking with her words; her heart was as golden as her eyes, was it possible that the gods sent her to him for a reason, to have a confidant and friend in his final days? He did not know, his mind told him not to care but his heart was grateful for her words of endearment and gentleness. Reina simply stayed where she was, allowing herself a quiet moment of solidarity; Itachi could feel his stunned body regain its momentum as his heart silently permitted it to act on its own. His movements were oddly uncertain as if his life was dependent on the next few movements like the equilibrium of the world could be thrown off.

Itachi wrapped his arms around her waist, letting out a soft sigh as he closed his eyes peacefully, resting his cheek against hers gently; Reina smiled delicately relishing the small, secretive moment knowing it would not last long and that reality would creep up and snatch it away from them as quickly as it came. Itachi couldn't bear to admit it to himself that he had come to savour the company of the young Hitori heiress, it would only be cruel to both of them to accept such an attachment when the end was nigh at any given moment.

They belonged to completely different worlds, she would walk freely in the sunlight and it would kiss her skin lovingly as it ought to be. And he, he would tread in the shadows amongst the damned and forsaken where he belonged praying that life would treat her right, that his sins would be repented and Sasuke would find peace after walking through clouded hell for so many years. But for now the pair would indulge in a guilty, forbidden pleasure relishing the small, comforting contact that would never be spoken about, it would slip into the depths of their minds, solely for their personal entertainment.

To the world they were the damned; the traitorous forbidden fruit that tarnished it. But to each other they were sinful solace, a means of escape from the world around them.

They were falling farther from grace, but were willingly leaning into the fall.