The human heart is a fascinating contraption, capable of incomprehensible feats both of the biological and emotional kind. This ironically hollow organ is proficient of pumping four litres of blood around the entire human body in one solitary minute; in one measly lifetime a single heart will beat approximately two and a half billion times. The word 'cardiac' means 'related to the heart' but is that word applicable when it comes to sentimental affairs? Can a person experience cardiac issues that are caused by emotional concerns? Would the aorta react to the loss of a loved one the way it would to a heart attack?

The searing pain that renders the once beating muscle to a complete stand still; would the fading force literally bleed love or would the waning sentiments have been long forgotten over the course of time? But what if just before the very moment death claimed the static structure it was somehow revived by some miraculous stroke of fate? Would the once inhabiting emotions return with each new breath and heartbeat or would the person be forced to live again without the knowledge of love as if it had never existed or as if they had never experienced it?

Itachi had once thought that the only type of love he had experienced was the love of his brother; that the only sentiment he ever felt was reservedly for Sasuke and would never be reciprocated in this lifetime. But he had come to terms with that fact at a very young age; ever since his fate had been sealed Itachi knew that that was the only type of love that he was due to cross paths with. Yet life had a peculiar way of throwing a spanner into the works. When life had tied Reina Hitori to his person he never procured the foresight to see how their relationship would impact him so profoundly.

For the briefest of glimpses Itachi felt what it was like to be truly accepted, to not feel judged or constantly scrutinised; for the most fleeting of moments he felt what it was like to be free. Then she had been taken away from him as quickly as she had been flung into his life and he didn't know what to do. For the first time in his measly life he felt lost and the brief moments of loving warmth were extinguished, leaving his heart cracked with the feeling of a love lost.

Any pleasant ideal was soon ripped away from him as the harshness of reality invaded his senses mercilessly and brought him back to the dank veracity he was rendered in. The entire cave-way stank of burnt flesh mixed in the putrid dampness that surrounded him; with what little life force he had left he peered into the darkness, the Amaterasu flames continuing to eat away at what was left of the ōmukade. The moment Reina had fallen into the shadows in pure rage the deadly flames had sprung from his eyes devouring the oncoming creature into nothing but mere morsels of decaying flesh and bone.

Itachi lay against the cool rock of the cave wall, the droplets of falling water momentarily cooling his raging emotions; he was on empty and his body was shutting down slowly, organ by organ. He knew he had overdone it, every ounce of chakra had been used in pure anger against the screeching creature and now he knew he was close to death. His breathes became laboured and raspy as his lungs attempted to regain the sheer amount of oxygen he had lost in the encounter; with each breath his vision became more and more hazy back to what it was like before the indenture.

With what little light that managed to enter the sallow tunnel Itachi saw a shadowed figure walking towards him, the light and his lack of visual perception making it difficult to see if it was friend or foe. The shrouded figure drew nearer and nearer until their robes were pressed up against the blade tip of Itachi's katana; his weary body just about managing to grip the hilt of the sword, it wavering like his strength. The person did not immediately react to the deadly weapon pressed against their chest instead a quiet smile appeared on their lips before they gently took hold of the blade and moved it away slowly.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Itachi muttered squinting his crimson orbs up at the cloaked individual, the katana clattering to the floor noisily whilst he attempted to straighten his slouching form. Gradually the figure knelt before him, it now apparent to Itachi that the person was male, an elderly one at that; the now identified person reached into their kimono robes pulling out a small, polished wooden flask.

"Drink first, talk later." The man spoke, his tone soft and comforting not how he expected him to sound; his body was begging for him to back away from the stranger and strike him down before they could venture any closer. But the other part of him knew their presence; it was familiarly warm and comforting much like that of…

"Reina…I can't. Reina said that~" Itachi began.

"Reina is right. But this is not of these plains. Now drink and I shall explain."

Itachi did not know what it was that made him trust and obey the man but with every mouthful of water he felt his cells replenish and body begin to wander back from the verge of untimely death. Had it not been for this mystery person he would be dead by now, the goal that had kept him alive for so long left unaccomplished, whilst the efforts of the young Hitori heiress would have been wasted too. With his vision now restored to its former glory as it was after the indenture, Itachi stared up at the elderly gentleman who was now smiling down at him, one thing in particular striking him immediately.

"You're a Hitori." Itachi murmured softly, realisation hitting him repeatedly as gold ore orbs twinkled with an acquainted benevolence. The Hitori male's smile widened as he sat down beside Itachi, folding his legs beneath his hakama ; Itachi upon further scrutiny noted how the grey haired male picked up the unsheathed katana and wiped the blade on the decorative fabric of his sleeve.

"I am indeed, and you are Itachi Uchiha an honorary Hitori thanks to my granddaughter." He spoke, his honey orbs glancing at Itachi from the corner of his eyes; Itachi froze as the true identity of his saviour came to light. The man who had brought him back from the brink of death was no other than Reina's grandfather, the late Hitori Clan Leader: Hidekazu Hitori. How would Hidekazu react if he knew about what had happened between them? Did he know about Reina?

Reina.

"You care for Reina do you not Itachi-san?" Hidekazu asked gently, sheathing the blade prior to laying it upon his lap; Itachi, broken from his thoughts nodded with widened eyes, the crimson having bled away leaving his irises dark once more. Hidekazu smiled both his lips and weathered features reflecting the gesture. "You are bound to one another, both in your current lives and your next; when a pair enters an indenture they unknowingly enter a family contract…" Hidekazu paused lifting his wrist, motioning to a thing red twine that was neatly tied there; the ebbing glow of the string eventually led to Itachi's wrist, the same string leading off into the darkness to another Hitori or Uchiha member. "You are bound to Reina as I am bound to you. You are now my family Itachi-san as Reina is yours. Find her Itachi and end your mission."

Itachi felt his stomach jump and knot as each of Hidekazu's words reached his ears; Reina was out there somewhere and he needed to find her- he had to. Yet it was his last words that unnerved him slightly, did he know? Did he know what his true mission in life was? Nevertheless he had to find Reina and get out of here whilst his newly acquired energy still flowed around his body.

"Arigatou Hidekazu-sama, I will not fail you. If you…" He paused for the briefest of moments, gathering his words before he continued. "If you see my parents…tell them I'm sorry." Itachi faded off, his words filled with the most heartfelt regret Hidekazu had heard; for such a young man Itachi had seen and encountered so much, it saddened him knowing what lay ahead of him. Hidekazu nodded silently and stood, offering a hand to the sea legged male his other hand occupied with the ornate yet battered katana; Itachi took his hand and stood wearily, inhaling to clear both his lungs and thoughts.

"Do not deny yourself life Itachi-san, if you are to take anything from this encounter it is that of the value of personal existence. Live to your full potential rather than skulking in the shadows, you will never be happy there, so walk in the sun before you condemn yourself entirely to the shade." Hidekazu murmured softly, his words were endearing and full of urgency for that of the young Uchiha; he knew of the troubles that lay ahead and the only thing he could offer now was that of elderly wisdom, something he hoped Itachi headed before his time of pronouncement.

Itachi turned sharply in shock yet found himself alone once more in the burning black corridor; those words had hit home for him as it was sentiments he felt for Reina, it was as if Hidekazu had been listening and watching him this entire time. Retrieving the lone katana from the floor Itachi fastened it to his person before peering into the overwhelming magnitude of darkness that lay before him.

Before the sands of his personal timer were due to fall he wanted to do something right for once and that meant restoring Reina Hitori to the land where the sun graced the hills and rooftops fervently.

So into the darkness he went.

•●•

"Is this the human girl?"

"It must be, but where is the other human? The male?"

"Perhaps the ōmukade made a meal of him back up on the pass. The main thing is we have the girl and the book is merely an added find. Bind her wrists, we need to go."

The haggard forms of the Shikome paused in their conversation, their voices reflecting the bitterness and vileness of their exterior. Strands of ebony twine acted as hair, patches of the wiry substance inhabiting their skulls like a mop gone bald in its old age. They were the hags of the underworld, the loyal servants of the goddess Izanami who was left to rule Yomi whence her husband fled the dingy world back into the land of the living.

Without regard for her welfare the Shikome bound Reina's wrists, the course weavings of the rope digging into her soft flesh whilst her unconscious near death form lolled about like a ragdoll. They dragged her doll like form along the muddy path, nearby creatures peering out from their hiding places to see what the commotion was all about. Before long the mud ridden path was replaced with that of a soft stone floor, it resembling more of a tiled floor than that of lower levels of Yomi; the hallway now in which they inhabited was strung up with rows and rows of mirrors, each one differentiating from the next.

"String her up; it won't take long for the Ungaikyo to do its work." The apparent leader of the Shikome ordered, watching from the side-lines as her fellow hag threw the rope that bound Reina over a hook that hung from the ceiling of the corridor. Gradually, with each tug of the rope Reina began to move from the ground, her arms extended above her head as she eventually left the ground, left for dead as she dangled like a pendulum in the air.

Making sure she was secure the Shikome fled back into the darkness from where they had once come from leaving Reina to sway to and fro slightly whilst her belongings sat out of her reach on the ground. Everything had seemed to go so quickly in her mind, on a constant replay that wouldn't stop haunting her; she wasn't sure if she was dead or alive. Ever since her hand left Itachi's and she plunged into the blackness she had not felt nor seen anything but her own memories, after the fall everything was a blur.

But everything felt like she was on fire, every part of her body ached and burned relentlessly; Reina attempted to open her eyes but her lids were like lead and resisted. Groggily she managed to open her eyes both surprised and confused to see her reflection; her skin had lost any rosiness and now resembled chalk, her pallor like that of a corpse with bags beneath her eyes and her body battered and broken.

Managing to lift her head Reina glanced about wearily, a feeling of dread filling her stomach as she noted her bindings and the mirror that gazed back at her. She had heard tales of this mirror and her heart sank as she attempted to wriggle free of her bindings- but it was no use she had neither the energy nor ability to free herself she was literally a sitting duck. But the most unnerving thing was yet to come, the reflective layer of the mirror face rippled like a raindrop on the face of a lake, her reflection wobbling and ebbing.

"Oh no." Reina whispered, her voice cracking in panic as she struggled once more to loosen her fastenings. The mirror now resembling a flowing tide began the move from its confinements, the quivering mirror face becoming liquid in its appearance as it began to move towards Reina. With wide eyes Reina tried to lean away from the oncoming silver liquid, it morphing into that of a face- a very familiar face.

"This isn't real. It's not possible." Reina muttered to herself, constantly repeating her words as the liquid transformed itself into the face of her mother. A combination of fear and uncertainty now filled her senses; her mother had been long gone from her life, taken untimely by a political bombing along with her father. She knew at some point there was going to be the possibility of coming face to face with her mother, but this was far from what she had expected- it was like being a child all over again.

"Reina, even now I can't bear to look at you. Look at how much of a failure you are." The voice of the phantom mother remarked, its face now fully resembling Natsuko, her earthly features looking at Reina with the utmost disappointment plastered on its watery face. Reina grit her teeth together and squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she resisted the tears that were threatening to fall. She knew her mother had suffered since her birth, a sickness of the mind they had called it, but when she had come of age she had found this 'sickness' was not uncommon in new mothers: and Natsuko had been no exception.

"No! You're not real!" Reina shouted with what little voice she had left, the Ungaikyo's face merely smirked sinisterly before two arms extended from the mirror and reached for Reina the liquidised hands grasping around her slender throat whilst the ominous look remained on its face. Now the tables had taken a serious turn and Reina had a feeling that this face was the last she would see; the air that had once inhabited her lungs diminished within moments along with what little life force she had left.

The final darkness was beginning to creep in as spots of black clouded her vision as the Ungaikyo squeezed her throat even harder; but in the final moments before death final claimed her the unthinkable happened: the rope snapped. Reina hit the ground, her head making impact with the cold flooring sending her into a frenzy of confusion bordering unconsciousness; vaguely she could hear the Ungaikyo shriek in rage as her saviours drew closer to the scene.

But once again everything went black.

The campfire crackled and hissed violently as the fire engulfed the twigs and branches, golden hues dancing in the darkness of the cave; the waltzing flames bouncing off Reina's pale skin giving the illusion of health on her frail form. The Ungaikyo had taken its toll on her already weak body, the bruising from both the bindings and attempted asphyxiation resembling spilled ink on her skin when the blood vessels had burst under the pressure.

Reina could feel herself rouse from the depths of unconsciousness, as each second passed her senses became more aware of her surroundings; with lead lids once more she managed to open her eyes, the adjusting to the dark settings.

"You're finally awake. Here, drink this, it will help." A dark haired female spoke softly, her tone was austere but in the way that a mother would scold their ill child. Reina stared at the woman for what seemed like an eternity, she knew this woman from somewhere and their name was on the tip of her tongue.

"Mikoto is she-…"

Then it hit her.

"Mikoto-sama…F-Fugaku-sama." Reina stuttered, her golden orbs now wide in shock as she attempted to sit up and bow to former clan leaders, but her actions were cut short as a wince passed her lips; immediately Mikoto was at her side cradling her carefully and easing her to a sitting position. Reina stared up at the pair unable to believe her own eyes; there before her were the murdered parents of the man whom she had come to care for.

"How…how did you find me?" Reina whispered looking backwards and forwards between the pair before something caught her eye. There running between the three of them was a thin rope of red: the red twine of fate. "The indenture. When I…" She paused midsentence as past events came flooding back instantly. "When I sealed the indenture with your son…I also sealed it with the entire clan and he mine…" Reina noted almost inaudibly as the grandeur of the jutsu crashed upon her. Mikoto smiled softly whilst Fugaku nodded with crossed arms from across the campfire, he was as stern as she remembered him in her early years.

"Now you are up to date, drink this, it will give you the boost you need." Mikoto murmured, balancing Reina against her whilst she reached into the breast of her kimono, retrieving a small wooden flask. Reina eyed the flask suspiciously but before she could question the contents Fugaku explained it for her.

"It's not from this realm so it won't trap you." He replied carefully sitting after adjusting the paints of his own hakama, the Uchiha crest standing out proudly on his sleeve; Reina heeded his words before sipping the liquid, pausing as she felt it glide down her throat soothing the raw tissue. Within moments Reina felt the burning that had once overcome her body diminish leaving her with more vitality and energy despite her physical condition. Mikoto's smile merely widened as she soothingly brushed Reina's dark tresses from her face seeing the water work its magic and rejuvenate the kunoichi's lack of chakra.

"Reina-chan, there is something you need to know…"

•●•

Itachi scanned the narrow hallways his crimson orbs drinking in every detail of the mirrored corridor; he had found a particularly bright chakra thread that had led him here and it continued into the darkness at the other end of the hall. He knew he was close, he just knew it; Reina was alive, with each step he took the bond between them became stronger and the red twine shone brighter.

Deactivating his Sharingan and conserving his chakra Itachi sped off into the darkness once more allowing his gut for once to rule in place of his head. He had to find her it was not a matter of if he found her it was a matter of when. In the distance he spotted a light, it was that of a lowly lit campfire yet that wasn't the only thing he noted.

There were three separate twines.

Silently he crept forward, his katana poised and ready to strike if needed, but what he saw next made the sword fall straight from his hands and hit the floor shattering his cloak of stealth instantly. Fugaku looked up from the flames and stared at his son, his own stomach swirling with untold emotions that were beginning to brim on his stern features. Mikoto on the other hand was already on her feet and embracing her son in her arms as if he were a new-born; she unlike her husband smiled tearfully, immediately fussing over Itachi like he was a young boy again.

"Itachi, my dear, sweet boy." Mikoto murmured into his hair, leaning her tearstained cheek to his head before holding him at arm's length to examine him proudly. Itachi was stunned, every barrier he had built to keep his emotions at bay came crashing down upon him like a great wave as he embraced his mother with salt laced cheeks.

"Okaa-san." Itachi whispered, burying his face into his mother's ebony locks, she even smelt the same after all those years and it was still as comforting as ever. Fugaku stood from his place near the fire and rest a hand on Itachi's shoulder, a rare smile etched onto his lips as he embraced the emotional pair. "Otou-san." Itachi spoke, his words filled with years of regret and desolation before the trio hugged one another in a sensitive reunion.

Reina watched from her place across the fire, tears falling down her own cheeks at the pure emotion that exhumed from the trio; she now understood everything, every niggle of doubt that she had had about his character had been true. Itachi Uchiha was not the monster he was made out to be, he was a young boy who had power and greatness thrust upon him and had been forced to act alone in the utmost secrecy. Reina watched silently as tearful smiles had broken onto their faces, but with Itachi it was the look of reprieve and resolution whilst pride and unconditional love filled his parent's faces.

They had always loved him, despite what he had to do all those years ago.

"Itachi, I think there is someone else waiting to see you." Mikoto said softly, wiping the tears from his face and fixing his tattered appearance like a child on their first day of school before motioning to Reina. Itachi's mouth fell agape slightly as the fate crossed pair stared at one another before both slowly came face to face; Reina stared up at Itachi with a whole new outlook and attentiveness as she carefully brushed her fingers across his cheek. Wordlessly the pair embraced yet this time Itachi buried his fingers in Reina's dark locks, holding her and closely as he could whilst she held onto the fabric of his shirt feeling her eyes leak saline tears once more. Mikoto leaned her head upon her husband's shoulder and smiled as did Fugaku at seeing the pair interact seeing that his son could have a shot of happiness, the happiness he deserved.

"Things don't have to be the way you planned them Itachi. Sasuke would-…" Mikoto began and Itachi instantly froze, his entire being becoming rigid as he turned with a look of shock on his features.

"Don't discuss this now Okaa-san, not here in front of Reina." Itachi replied, his eye darkening with trouble and fear of failing his mission. Reina looked up and between the pair, her honey orbs meeting with those of Mikoto; carefully Reina slid her arms from his back, they resting on his forearms. Itachi look back and forth between the two females before it hit him.

"You told her. Didn't you?" Itachi muttered, a tone of disbelief and almost betrayal lacing his words.

"She had a right to know Itachi! Do you not think after everything you two had been through that she had the right to know you were going to allow your own brother kill you in false indictment?!" Mikoto retorted, her normally sweet demeanour fading away into one of pent up anger after years of watching her two sons suffer and for what, so that the government could stay powerful and go unopposed. Fugaku nodded silently allowing his wife to vent and attempt to explain everything, amidst this the quartet failed to note the fire die and the air become suddenly something flew through the air, it whizzing past Mikoto and grazing her pale cheek, scarlet immediately fleeing the slim wound.

"You need to go now, take Reina and leave. The way out you seek is at the end of the cave-way. Now go!" Fugaku urged, reaching into his sleeves and pulling out several shuriken, his eyes now alight like the once burning fire; Mikoto's orbs too were now lit, a sudden sternness overcoming her persona. Itachi's jaw tightened knowing they must do as they were told if they were to escape this hellish land alive; brashly Itachi grabbed Reina's hand taking one last look at his parents who gave a fleeting smile before rushing off to fight their chasing foe.

"Let's go." Itachi muttered dashing off with Reina trying to keep up behind him; Reina ignored the pain that resonated from her broken ribs and twisted knee as she attempted to match his pace. The little water that had brought the pair back from the brink of death was beginning to wear thin and fatigue was starting to set in once more as the end of the cave became apparent. Standing proudly in the centre of the cave was a giant willow tree, its branches cascading in a number of lengths down to the moss ridden floor; small unopened buds sat along each limber branch, the occasional one that had fallen littering the ground like wisteria in the spring.

But it was not merely flowers and buds that clung to the tree, there amongst natural foliage sat the cause of their suffering: the Yata no Kagami. Reina gasped and paused to catch her breath as she took in the sight before her, she knew how to get them out of here but she wasn't sure if she would make it, she had hardly a drop of chakra in her body and could barely stand.

"They're gaining, we need to go Reina." Itachi spoke, but it was not as harsh as his tone before, this time the essence of parting filled his words with a bittersweet softness. Wearily she looked up at him, gold meeting crimson for what could be the last time as she stepped towards the hanging mirror, tears now falling freely down her freckled cheeks.

"Please don't make me go alone. Come back with me, please I'm begging you." Reina turned, mere paces away from the mirror; Itachi smiled regretfully and cupped her cheek ever so daintily as if she would break beneath his touch. She leaned into his touch, placing her hand over his relishing the small sentiment.

"We both know that can't happen. We have different paths Reina. If I could then I would, but I can't, I have a mission that needs to be fulfilled." Itachi replied stroking her dampened cheek with is thumb; by now fully fledged rivers of tears streamed from her eyes as she flung her arms around him. Quiet sobs passed her bruised lips as she could no longer contain her emotions, she had gone through so much with this man and their journey was at an end.

"Come now Reina, don't cry." Itachi leaned his cheek to her head before holding her at arm's length hearing the riot draw closer. He smiled ever so briefly prior to turning her to face the mirror, their reflection as clear as day despite the darkness of the cave. Trying to calm herself Reina placed her hand upon the glass, wiping her eyes with her free hand before she closed her eyes to concentrate and summon what little chakra she had left.

Slowly the mirror's edge began to ripple like that of the Ungaikyo, except this time no face came from the glass, instead Reina's hand began to seep into the mirror, it engulfing her ever so gradually. Feeling her chakra begin to diminish Itachi too placed a hand on the mirror and he too began to seep into the mirror their mixed chakras working together in harmony. This would be the last time they felt each other's heartbeat in sync or feel the skin of the other's upon their own.

This was the end.

"When evening mist rises from the reed leaves, in the chill dusk, I'll think of you." Itachi whispered tenderly into Reina's ear, bestowing a feather like kiss on her cheek before the mirror engulfed them completely leaving the cave empty with nothing but the echoes of his words fading away.

When evening mist rises from the reed leaves, in the chill dusk, I'll think of you…