Under His Skin

Onyx and Ivory

"What are we doing here?" Sasuke asked her.

Hoshiko dropped to the ground, her back against the stone. "This is where I come to think. Come lie down, Sasuke."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

"No, you'll hit me."

"I'm going to hit you if you don't do what I say, Kusogaki."

Sasuke slowly sunk to the ground. He moved his body so that he was lying next to the fourteen year old, their arms brushing gently. "Now what?" He asked her.

"Now you shut up and think."

"About what?"

Hoshiko sighed. "About…anything. Sometimes I just come up here to look at the stars."

Sasuke smirked. "That's kind of ironic, isn't it?"

The pair laughed together.

X

"You know, Sasuke, all those times I was mean to you. The times where I called you names and pushed you around…I never meant any of it." Sasuke stared into Hoshiko's silver eyes. Eyes that for the first time he had seen, pooled with tears. "All these years I've thought of you as my own otouto. I don't ever want to see you get hurt, Sasuke."

"Why do you sound like you're saying goodbye?" Sasuke asked her timidly. Hoshiko just smiled.

Sasuke's brows furrowed as he shook away those memories with a shake of his head. That had been a long time ago. It had been a long time since he had thought about her. He guessed it might have something to do with the fact that he was staring at her name engraved on the memorial stone. The purple tinted stone that housed countless Shinobi names stared back at him. He didn't know why he didn't realize that she would've been engraved on here sooner. He hadn't been to the cemetery since his family had been slaughtered, he didn't admit it to anyone but the place terrified him. And Hoshiko's grave was in there too, so he hadn't even been to pay his respects to her.

It was only when Kakashi-sensei had mentioned the stone when they had first met him that he had thought that just maybe, her name might be on here. He hadn't really had time to come back and see as he had been so busy with training and the Chuunin exams. And, you know, Orochimaru biting him and all. As he thought back on it, the curse mark twanged painfully as he flinched and grasped at his neck.

Sasuke wondered about what Hoshiko would say if she could see him now. She had always been brutal towards him, but that was just her. She had been harsh, sarcastic and mean to him, but there was always a kindness to it—kindness in a weird Hoshiko centric sort of way.

"The hells on your neck Sasuke? What, you wanting to join the club of us ANBU's? Hey you could have asked me to do that, I'd have charged you for my services though." Sasuke cracked a smirk. That sounded like something she would say to him.

"Didn't think I'd see you here."

Sasuke turned to look over his shoulder. In the pitch-black darkness, a figure came strolling towards him. A hand was stuffed into his trouser pocket as the other hung loose down by his side. His spikey silver hair sprung up at odd angles.

"Kakashi." Sasuke greeted with a firm stare.

"It's a lovely night." Kakashi commented. His uncovered black eye glanced up for a brief moment before dropping back down to his student. Kakashi stopped next to Sasuke as he gazed down at the stone. "I wondered how long it would be before you found her name here."

Sasuke's eyebrows twitched downwards once more. "You knew Hoshiko?"

"Aa. We were in ANBU together for a short period of time."

"She was annoying," Sasuke grumbled. Sasuke missed the way Kakashi's eye crinkled as he smiled underneath his mask.

"She was a little."

"Why did he kill her too?" Sasuke asked. "She wasn't part of the clan…she…" Sasuke stopped before he said anything too embarrassing.

"I don't know, Sasuke…" Kakashi admitted quietly.

Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows as he became deep in thought. "Hoshiko was there that night. I remember hearing her voice."

"You do?" Kakashi asked in surprise. He knew that Hoshiko had faced Itachi that night, but he didn't know that she had been at the Uchiha compound.

"She was yelling at him. She chased after him." Sasuke clenched his fists by his side. "How stupid could she be? He was too powerful for her. Hoshiko never stood a chance."

"They were friends. I think she thought it was her duty to stop him."

"Idiot." Sasuke hissed angrily. "I'll avenge her, too. He has to pay for killing her as well." Sasuke spun around on his heel and began to march out of the training area. Kakashi watched him go with a sad eye.

Hoshiko, he thought sadly. I wish you'd come back for Sasuke. He needs you. Wherever you are…I hope you're safe.

They travelled through the rest of Stone Country and into Waterfall country in silence. There was no talk of the previous days happenings with Hoshiko's clan village. They stuck to a routine of running or walking dead into the night, making camp for a few hours of rest and then started up again. It remained like that until they neared the borders of the Land of Lightning.

The country was already in their colder months of the year, so Hoshiko had fished out her cloak and wrapped it around herself tightly to keep some of the chill out as they walked. Itachi had always led them, and since staying in her previous home and spotting the necklace that she had gifted to him for his birthday four years ago, he had made a point to not remove his cloak for any reason. She wanted to confront him about it, but she didn't know where to start. And was it really the same one? It had been a long time since she had seen it, for all she knew it could be something different.

The scenery began to change as they crossed into the Land of Lightning's borders. While Waterfall county had been abundant in rolling green hills and large bodies of water. Lightning country had dense trees and winding streams. Rocky hills were al lot more common here as well, not nearly as dramatic as Stone's hills but still had some. Hoshiko had been to Kumogakure once before on her travels so she knew the general direction that they had to go.

They crossed a small stream. Hoshiko stepped across some stones as the freezing cold water rushed over her toes as she squealed in shock. She hadn't expected it to be so cold already in Lightning. "And I thought Frost country was cold…" Hoshiko mumbled to herself. Frost country had been the land they had stayed in a few days previous. It bordered Lightning country. Hoshiko made it to the other side of the stream and felt the sensation of eyes on her. Her gaze lifted and she sought out Itachi who had paused a few steps ahead of her. His head was angled towards her, his red eyes meeting hers for a brief moment, and then he turned away and started walking again.

Hoshiko blew out a gust of frustrated air out of her mouth as she followed after. She glared at his back for a few seconds before she opened her mouth. "I'm guessing with that stone cold heart of yours that you don't even feel the cold anymore." She tried to get a read on his chakra but he seemed to still be very good at maintaining a constant level. Hoshiko's brows furrowed in irritation, "That's even if you ever had a heart." She mumbled loud enough for him to hear.

She was surprised, but didn't show it on her face, when he halted in his steps. "I feel nothing anymore." He said. "Do not make the mistake of assuming anything otherwise."

Hoshiko's eyes narrowed into slits, her fists clenched at her side. "Was that before or after you killed everyone who ever cared about you?"

Itachi refused to reply to her. Instead he carried on walking. Hoshiko felt her anger bubble and rise to the surface as she caught up to him. "What was it like, I-ta-chi," she said his name mockingly, "killing your parents?"

He seemed to ignore her jabs and face straight ahead with an emotionless expression as he walked, but Hoshiko was far from finished.

"Did you enjoy the feeling of ending their lives with your very hands? Seeing their blood spill onto the ground? Tell me, what was it like? Severing them in half, watching the light leave their eyes. Did they beg for mercy, did they scream?"

He stopped. Hoshiko smirked, had she struck a nerve?

"Do their screams haunt you, their cries? What about Shisui? Did you enjoy killing him too? Was it fun, killing your best friend? Did you watch the light leave his eyes, knowing that the last thought he ever had of you was that you're a fucking monster—"

Hoshiko was cut off as she was suddenly grabbed around the throat. Itachi had been quick, too quick for her to even realize that he had moved. She gasped for air and clawed at his hand as she was slammed into a tree. Bark splintered under her back as some of the shards cut into her shirt and skin. Her head smacked back against the tree as her vision rolled for a moment before righting itself.

Itachi squeezed her neck painfully as Hoshiko bared her teeth at him. She dared him to kill her with her eyes, as she was unable to speak from the pressure he was exerting onto her neck. His crimson eyes swirled dangerously and she expected him to place her under his Tsukuyomi. Hoshiko was sick of being manhandled in the Akatsuki. She was going to show him that he couldn't push her around.

It had been a good thing that she had seen what he was wearing under his cloak, because it meant she knew where his exposed skin was. She drew on the power of her Mizukiri; something that had once been difficult for her was now as easy as breathing. Her eyes lit up eerily. With her hand she wrenched up the sleeve of Itachi's cloak and was intent on bringing her other hand down to clasp around his wrist. She'd suck him dry of his chakra within a few seconds flat.

That was until Itachi released her like she had burned him. Hoshiko dropped to her knees, her hand seeking out her neck as she held it tenderly and coughed, sucking in much needed air. The glow of her eyes faded as she lifted her head, seeing Itachi a few meters away from her, staring her down.

Hoshiko smirked as she braced herself on her knee and then pushed herself up into a standing position. Itachi continued to watch her, his face expressionless. "You're wrong." Hoshiko spoke, her voice hoarse from her injured throat. "You do still feel."

Itachi had realized his mistake as soon as she had spoken the words. He refused to let any shock or emotion cross his features as he turned away from his childhood friend and marched into the woods. Once he knew he was safe from her prying eyes he allowed himself a moment of release. He shut his eyes in trepidation. He had slipped up, all because of some stupid words that she had spoken, and she had done it on purpose.

For Four years his perfect façade had been his only blessing. It was a way to shut out all the pain his past had caused him. He trained himself not to feel anymore, to numb all feelings because of what he had done. He didn't deserve to feel. And after a couple of weeks, fucking Ginyoru Hoshiko was chipping it away like dry paint.

She had said those things to test him, but why? What did she want to know, that he was capable of feeling? She had to have some ulterior motive to it, she always did. He thought back to when she had spotted the necklace. At first, when her eyes had focused on it, he was confused as to what she was looking at. Then it had registered. He had been wearing it this whole time, since he had defected. He had kept it when she had given it to him that time in her bedroom, just before the massacre. With news that she was dead, he found no reason to not wear it. For him, it was a way to keep the memories of his two best friends close at heart.

And here was the other question. Had he pulled away from her because he feared she would kill him, or because she could take his memories and figure out about everything from that night?

X

They entered the town of Mozuku. It was about half a day's run to Kumogakure and it was also the town that housed one of the Akatsuki's benefactors. They couldn't risk being seen in Kumo, it would alert the Raikage and also the Stone dignitary that he was being tailed. They had to complete this mission discreetly. Which was why they were meeting up with Jinrui. He owned a few businesses in Kumo but lived in Mozuku so that he could conduct his secret smuggling without the attention of the Kumo Shinobi. To them, he was a very well respected man.

It was sunset when Itachi and Hoshiko entered the town. They hadn't spoken a word since their altercation earlier in the day and they both made a point to avoid eye contact at all costs as well. Mozuku was a very upper class town. The houses were lavish, and the prices of food and other necessities large. It was obviously a place where a lot of wealthy people came to live.

Itachi had met Jinrui a few times over the years. He had ordered a few missions for them in exchange for large sums of payment to fund the Akatsuki's motives. He was indeed an ally and would most likely be accepting of the mission they had to silence the Stone dignitary. He found Jinrui's mansion easy enough, it was one of the biggest buildings in the town. He knocked against the door with his fist and felt Hoshiko come to a stop a few feet behind him. Her chakra levels had been fluctuating slightly all afternoon, no doubt from their encounter earlier. He only noticed because of the years he had spent around her during their youth. Anyone else wouldn't be able to notice the changes. He pushed his thoughts away with a firm shove as the door opened and Jinrui greeted him with a wide smile.

"Ah! Uchiha-san! What a pleasant sight you are, please do come in." Jinrui was a tall man. His skin was naturally darker then most peoples and he had black hair that was slicked back and touched the collar of his fine red silk shirt. He was a lot younger then most people would assume, considering his businesses and wealth, but Jinrui was only a handful of years older then Itachi. He was an arrogant man, very self centered and was indeed a charmer.

"And who might this be?" Jinrui asked, motioning to Hoshiko as she entered after Itachi. The expression she had on her face was murderous towards both men in the room. For anyone else, they would run in the other direction, but Jinrui seemed to be enamored by her presence.

"A new initiate." Itachi answered before Hoshiko could say something rude. She sent him a glare for answering for her.

Jinrui clapped his hands together. "My, my. Is she really as dangerous as you, Uchiha-san?"

"Why don't you come over here and find out?" Hoshiko barked bitterly, leering at Jinrui. Hoshiko narrowed her eyes at the finely groomed man as he titled his head back and laughed boisterously.

"Oh I like her, Uchiha-san!" Jinrui commented, patting Itachi on the arm gently. Itachi moved out of his reach and turned to face him.

"We are not here for a social visit, Jinrui. We have matters that we need to attend to quickly. Are we permitted to stay here for the remainder of our mission?"

Jinrui waved his hand dismissively. "Yes, yes, of course, anything for the Akatsuki. Do you need my men for anything?"

Jinrui and Itachi moved from the parlor and into a seated area. Jinrui made himself comfortable on a plush purple pillow and started to drink from a small cup that was filled with Sake. Itachi chose to stand by the table as he heard Hoshiko follow along quietly and stand near the door.

"We are here to silence a Stone dignitary that has come to Kumo to inform the Raikage of Iwagakure's dealings with Akatsuki. Should this information reach the Raikage, it will be difficult for the Akatsuki to move around the countries."

"Yes, I understand." Jinrui said, taking a drink again. "What's the name of this person?"

"Kawaguchi Doro."

Jinrui nodded in understanding and then poured another cup and downed it in one gulp. "I shall have my men scout for you in the morning. For now, you may rest here. My door is always open for the Akatsuki. Especially ones as attractive as you," Jinrui raised his empty cup in the direction of Hoshiko. In return, the girl rolled her eyes and turned away from the seedy man. Jinrui chuckled and stood back up. "Your rooms are upstairs, and if you wish to bathe I have an Onsen downstairs just waiting to be used. I must go brief my men for tomorrow—if you'll excuse me, Uchiha-san." Jinrui bowed his head and Itachi did the same out of respect.

Jinrui passed Hoshiko, and as he did he sent her a flirtatious wink. Hoshiko turned away once more with a deadpan look on her face and crossed her arms over her chest.

"One day…one day…tell Hoshiko the truth about us. She deserves to know…and…protect her, Itachi. If Danzo was strong enough to do this to me who knows what he will do to her. I'm sorry for the burden that you must bare…but I cannot die peacefully until I know that she will be safe."

"…I will. You have my word, Shisui."

Itachi's eyes opened slowly, and for once he decided not to activate his Sharingan. His onyx eyes scanned his room quickly in the darkness; the only form of light was from the moon shining in from the window. The room Jinrui had allowed him to stay in was comfortable and lavish. He had been sleeping on an actual bed and not just a futon. Silk curtains hung by the window that he hadn't bothered to draw closed before he had fallen asleep. A glass chandelier hung in the middle of the room and fine paintings were hung up on the walls.

Itachi sat up in the large bed and swung his legs over the side, his feet touching the wooden floorboards. His eyes stared at the floor beneath his feet as he remembered his dream, and the words that Shisui had said to him before he had plunged off the cliff.

What would Shisui say to him if he were here right now? He'd be so disappointed in him…he hadn't kept his promise. It had been a long time since he had dreamed of his best friend, or dreaming in general. Normally he never allowed himself enough sleep for it to happen, but being around Hoshiko was causing not just his emotions to slip out but memories from his past.

Itachi glanced out the window, from the position that the moon was in it was probably around one or two in the morning. He could sense Hoshiko's chakra in the room next door to him, and from the feel of it she was still asleep. Jinrui had returned just before Itachi had fallen asleep and he could sense the man in his own room. Other chakra signatures of his security were dotted around the mansion. Knowing that he could have some time to himself Itachi rose up from his bed and walked to the door.

He chose to forgo his cloak; he didn't need it right now, and exited his room. Jinrui had said that he had an Onsen downstairs and so that was his destination.

X

He descended the stairs with his bare feet and took note of the room had an emerged into. The temperature had increased quite a bit from being down in the room. It was dimly lit with a few hanging lights on the ceiling. The floor was dark stone and the walls wooden. Itachi walked around the screen to see a medium sized pool with steam curling and rising above the water.

His gaze immediately snapped to a figure in the corner of the room. Hoshiko was facing away from him, her long hair was tied up into a bun, exposing the skin of her neck and back as she pulled up the white bathrobe and wrapped it around herself. He cursed the girl. She had always been brilliant at masking her chakra signature. Even now he could barely sense anything from her and that was only because she was standing right in front of him. He had assumed that with the chakra he had felt in her room that she had indeed been in there, asleep. Apparently he had been fooled. Itachi's eyes had seen something in that quick moment though; something he knew hadn't been there before. Before Hoshiko had pulled up the robe, he had seen a scar in the center of her back. It was about the length of his thumb, with white, raised skin that had apparently never fully healed.

Hoshiko turned to him, her fingers tying up the robe at her waist. "You never could tell the difference between me and a clone." She said with the hint of a triumphant smirk. Itachi thought on it, and then realized that there was indeed a clone still upstairs in her room, pretending to be asleep. Her silver eyes lifted to meet his and her expression changed. The smirk dropped off her face and for a moment, it looked like she was about to stop breathing. Itachi knew why, his Sharingan wasn't activated. It was the first time in four years that she was seeing his dark eyes again. Her floored expression suddenly changed as she steeled herself and collected her clothes from the small cupboard available.

She said nothing to him as she passed him on her way out. She avoided eye contact and Itachi allowed her to leave. His eyes followed her body as she ascended the stairs quickly and returned to her own room. He couldn't distinguish her chakra signature once she was in the vicinity of her clone but one disappeared after a short while.

Hoshiko hadn't slept for the rest of the night. She had woken up around midnight from a nightmare after only a couple hours of sleep and had decided to venture out into the mansion to find the Onsen that Jinrui had mentioned. For the rest of the night Hoshiko had stuck to sharpening her weapons or meditating. She refused to let herself think about what she had seen downstairs in the Onsen.

His eyes had been normal. Instead of red eyes, stained with the blood of two hundred Uchiha's, Hoshiko saw the eyes of a man she had once called friend. It had been a shock to her; she hadn't prepared herself because she assumed that she would never look upon them again. She had always detested the Sharingan, even more so after what had happened to the clan and Shisui. So whenever she looked upon his crimson eyes she was always reminded of the atrocities that Itachi had committed.

But his onyx eyes were much different. It hurt her heart to see them again. She had told herself for years that she would hate Itachi until the day she died, but she couldn't forget all the good times that they had together. Even if it had been nothing but an act on his part, to her it wasn't.

Her throat ached from their argument from yesterday. She rubbed it tenderly as she thought back on it. She had caused him to lash out, to show emotion once more. He had said that he felt nothing; well she had proved him wrong. Apparently even after years of knowing him, and years of putting up with her attitude, she could still get under his skin. That was how she would defeat him; she would play on his weaknesses just like he did to her all those years ago.

Ribbit!

Hoshiko's heard jerked to the window in fright. There, sitting on the windowsill was a familiar small orange frog. It's leg slapped against the window as she hurried over and pulled the window up and let it flop down onto the floor. Hoshiko smiled as the frog hopped up onto the bed and turned around so that she could take out the scroll that had been placed in the bag.

Hoshiko sat herself down on the bed next to the frog and she allowed it to hop onto her lap, albeit reluctantly.

Hoshiko,

Just where the hell have you been, young lady? I've had my frogs searching for you for weeks! They haven't been able to pick up a single trace from you! That was until this morning when they all started going crazy on me, I was worried that Danzo had found you.

Honestly, you sure know how to make an old perverts heart race (and not in the good kind). Please just tell me that Danzo hasn't found you. Reply to my letter so that I know you're safe.

Anyway, I hope you've been doing all right. You'll never guess what happened to me, the advisors asked if I would become the Godaime Hokage! BAH! I could never…I'd never be able to finish my research if I took that job…

In the end I went and found my old teammate Tsunade who is now the Hokage. She only accepted it because of that kid Naruto, who is now my student—if I didn't already tell you that well now you know. I know the village will be in good hands with her, but I digress. I didn't write to you to talk about Hokage's and whatnot. I wanted to warn you.

I'm not sure if you're aware of the fact but there is an organization out there called the Akatsuki. They're a bunch of rogue Shinobi who for most of the time have been quiet for years—but now they're freely moving about. Two recently came to Konoha in search of something. We haven't got much information on one of them, only that his name is Hoshigaki Kisame. The other was Uchiha Itachi. I know you want revenge on him for what he did but I need you to be careful. If he's running with the Akatsuki now, who knows how powerful that kid has become.

Oh, as for what they're after—it's the Jinchuuriki. I don't know what they want with the Tailed Beasts but it can't be good. Be on the lookout Hoshiko.

-Jiraiya

Hoshiko dropped the letter to her lap, bonking the frog on the head as it gave her an angry ribbit and jumped off her lap and onto the floor. Her brows furrowed in anger as she threw the letter to the side and stormed out of her room. She turned immediately, facing Itachi's bedroom door and without bothering to knock threw it open without hesitation. The Uchiha looked like he had been anticipating her approach as he lounged casually on his bed. One leg was bent at the knee as his arm rested against it, the other was crossed. His cloak was done up to his neck as his red eyes regarded her coolly.

"What the hell does Akatsuki want with the Tailed Beasts?" Hoshiko barked out unceremoniously. Itachi remained impassive. He refused to answer her it seemed. "You were also seen in Konoha recently. What possible reason could you have to go back there?"

Itachi blinked slowly. "And how have you come by his information?" He asked her.

"That doesn't concern you. Just answer my questions."

Itachi rose from the bed gracefully and approached her. Hoshiko stood her ground and refused to back down from his intimidating stare. "Konoha holds a Jinchuuriki. Kisame and I were tasked with retrieving information on him but were forced to retreat. One of the Legendary Sannin protects him as he is his master."

Hoshiko refused to let the shock register on her face. Jiraiya, she thought worriedly. Wait, that kid that beat the Hyuuga in the Chuunin exams is a Jinchuuriki?

"We have a mission to complete." Itachi remarked stoically as he brushed passed her.

"Did you see him?" Hoshiko called out, forgetting herself for a moment and acting on instinct. She spun around on her heel as Itachi had walked passed. Even though she hadn't said a name, she knew that he would know whom she was speaking about.

"He's a lot like you," she continued. Itachi paused in the doorway. "He's smart…but stupid."

"That," Itachi spoke monotonously, "is something we can both agree on."

Jiraiya,

You sound like my mother when I had been gone for missions for weeks at a time. The personality doesn't suit you, but I appreciate your concern about my safety, truly. Danzo hasn't caught up to me. I've been in hiding for a while, lockdown if you would. It's why they couldn't find me, but I assure you I am safe…I think.

At least Konoha will still be standing with this new Hokage…with you at the helm it would've turned into the biggest brothel know to the Five Nations. Jiraiya…I wish we could meet face to face again, it would be nice to see someone who I know won't try to stab me in the back. I don't know how reachable I'll be for the next couple of weeks but just know that I'll try my best to stay safe, and stay vigilant. That goes for you as well…I know your student is a Jinchuuriki so the Akatsuki will be targeting him, and you as well. Stay safe, Jiraiya.

-Hoshiko.

Greetings lovelies! I hope you enjoyed this chapter cause it was super fun to write! Coming up next we have some mission goodiness and then they'll be heading back to the hideout where we get to meet some more Akatsuki members. I'm excited for that part! They'll also be a meeting with Tobi! Le gasp...didn't Itachi tell him that he killed Hoshiko? How ever will Tobi take that news? ;)

Let me know what you guys thought! I'd love to know what you think of the story!

REPLIES

Janeth16- thank you! And you only had to wait another week for this chapter, i am on a roll xD Glad you're enjoying!

DuangKitty- same fam xD

Myfirstreview- Firstly thank you so much for leaving a review even though English isn't your first language! I appreciate it so much thank you thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying and I hope you liked this Itachi pov in this chapter. He is quite easy but hard to write at the same time but i love a challenge!