Chapter 33

A Dangerous Game

"The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too."

— Ernest Hemingway

It had been a few weeks since Soraya had delivered Tatewaki to Hanzo and the defeated Mifune. For the first time, Amekagure had clearly won against the Samurai. Hanzo, did everything in his power to minimize Soraya's contribution, but the intrigue surrounding her continued. Everyone heard about her possible feat. Because of that, Hanzo had no choice, because of political pressure to give more privileges to Konan and Soraya, who was now considered a war hero.

Soraya glanced at herself in the mirror. She traced the enlarged scar on her face, that replaced the smaller one that she had.

"A battle beauty mark", she glanced in the mirror to see her mother walk inside her room.

"Definitely a deterrent for any other marriage offers", Soraya countered.

Konan grabbed her face. "Nonsense, it adds character to your beauty", Konan replied affectionately. Then, Konan rubbed a salve over the scar. It was still red and fresh. However, it was starting to blend in with the rest of her skin tone on her face.

Soraya made a face of discontent. She bent down to Konan's belly. "Do you hear that sweet little sister, 'adds character to your beauty", she said mockingly to the baby inside Konan. "The sweet lies our mother tells", she said in baby talk.

"They're not lies", Konan strongly corrected. She then felt one of her babies kick and smiled. She grabbed Soraya's hand and let her feel the movement in her womb. Soraya was amazed as she hadn't had an opportunity to experience it yet. Konan appreciated the moment and patted Soraya's head. "Funny you only talk to the girl and Masaru only refers to the boy"

Soraya shrugged her shoulders and put her cheek on Konan's abdomen. "I guess me and her have more in common", she said dazingly.

"Well let me help you get into your sleep attire". Soraya opened her eyes and shoot-up in alarm. Konan blinked in surprise.

"I'm good, Suzume usually helps me, and plus this clothing is heavy and in your condition-

"Suzume has meetings tomorrow so I sent her away early, and I heard you don't allow anyone else to help you, this outfit is impossible to take off without help", Konan said in slight concern. "No need to be shy"

If anything, Soraya wasn't shy per sey about her body, however, she wasn't ready to reveal the scars on her legs to her adopted mother just yet. How she went this long under Konan's watchful gaze, was a mystery. But, she wanted Konan's ignorance of the situation to continue.

"Itachi's coming tonight", Soraya admitted. Konan's interest peaked.

"Tonight?", Konan questioned, her voice deepening in concern. Konan stared intently at her and then looked around the room. There she spotted a low table with two intricate glasses and a pitcher. Soraya followed her mother's gaze and started to follow right behind her as she walked to the table in observation.

"Drinks?" Konan gave her look telling Soraya that there was no need to lie.

Soraya turned away from embarrassment waiting for the line of questioning. "Good", she said after some time. Soraya turned around in surprise. "I think both of you need to talk", Konan bent down and was about to grab one of the teacups but Soraya grabbed her hand in stopped her.

"Mom", Soraya said with a calm, but Konan could tel her anxiety had risen. "I worked so hard setting it up"

"I smell liquor", said Konan dryly. "I'm offended you didn't let me taste it", Konan teased.

Soraya was dumbfounded at the joke. "Ummmmm", was all Soraya could mutter.

"You made this yourself?", stated Konan pointing to the pitcher with the alcohol.

"Yes", Soraya answered tentatively "But-",

Konan raised her hand interjecting whatever Soraya was going to say. "You told me not to interfere, and I won't", Konan said in an astute manner. "But, know I'm here if you need to talk or advice"

"You aren't going to lecture me?" Soraya questioned.

"I don't think I have the time to, as Itachi will be here soon", stated Konan. "But I highly recommend you wait to have sex a month before your wedding so there aren't questions."

"BYE MOM", Soraya laughed at Soraya's embarrassed reactions and turned around to leave laughing all the way to the hallway.

"We will talk about this tomorrow", said Konan

Soraya decided to change into something slightly different. She wore a teal bottom skirt with a pink blouse. It was her comfort color scheme, and she knew it was a favorite of Itachi's. She knew he was coming, she could feel it in her bones. His love for her couldn't keep him away. Even now, she could feel his longing. It unnerved her.

She glanced at the table at the other side of the room. It had a teapot and a sake bottle. Two cups were set. One for her and one for him. Her heart raced looking at it, but she exhaled and wiped the sweat from her brow. She fixed her hair again to make sure her hair was not out of place.

Soraya could feel Itachi closing in, and she rushed outside of her room and went to the hall. Soraya used her power to put the servants and her spies in a very deep sleep.

Itachi arrived at Soraya's wing of the palace. He hated that she was here away from her family and from him. Itachi wanted to come and rescue her as soon as he got here, and he hoped that Soraya would understand that he couldn't.

He stealthily graced his presence in her suite, noticing that most of the servants were already incapacitated. He smiled as he saw her frame deep in thought at the table. She finally saw him and a small smile graced her lips. She stood up and bowed. He could tell that Konan ingrained in her royal etiquette in the palace. He held his hands together and bowed with respect. She was indeed a royal beauty in her new garments, and he would respect her as such.

"Your royal highness", he bowed deeply giving her a grandiose curteosy.

"Don't be so respectful, all the servants are asleep", she smiled. She glanced at him as he was standing full height behind his back. "Is there something funny about me", she looked down at herself and straightened the tiara on her head.

"No, not at all, you just look very beautiful, royalty suits you", Soraya looked away from him and sat down on the cushions. She patted the seat next to her.

"Come sit, I made some tea or if you prefer something more...stronger I have that too, I made it myself", Itachi noticed that her voice was slightly higher, meaning she was nervous.

"You can make spirits?" Itachi asked in surprise.

"I'm from the country, of course, I know how to make my own, but to be honest my dad found this one when he was stationed overseas", she said. "It's called Sima, it's like a lemonade"

"Is it strong?"

"Not really, anyway let's play a game"

"A game?" he asked.

"A game", she answered.

"I'm guessing a drinking game, then why do you have tea", he asked. "That's not how drinking games go"

"I'm aware, but we are both underage and I wanted us to be careful", Soraya explained.

"There is no age restriction in Amekagure or most shinobi villages", Itachi clarified. "But I have played a game before", his voice gave a hint of mystery to her. The smile he gave her did peak her interest.

"Oh really, what", Soraya asked.

"Never have I ever", Soraya gave him the notion to go on. Itachi explained the general rules of the game and Soraya nodded.

"How about this, because I didn't make a lot of sima, what about we start with tea, but if someone has to take a sip twice in a row, the third sip is this", Soraya said sweetly wiggling the canister of homemade mead.

"I look forward to knowing you better", said Itachi

"As do I", her voice rasped. "You start", she poured the tea in his glass and then hers. Itachi noticed how graceful her hands were doing the action. It was clear that she had many lessons in royal etiquette. Her hands were slightly smoother and softer from the last he remembered.

"You are admiring me, that's not part of the game", she said.

Itachi regained his sense. "I seem to be doing that a lot". Soraya gave him the indication she was ready to start as her smile turned into a competitive smirk. He cleared his throat. "Never have I ever pranked someone". Soraya drank her tea. "Really?"

"Yes, I put a lizard on my brother's pillow when he was five, his reaction was priceless", Itachi and her started to chuckle and then burst into full laughter. "Okay, okay Never have I ever started a fire"

"Please clarify", Itachi asked. As his chakra element was indeed fire and used fire attacks often.

"Accidently", she said. Itachi seemed to think about his answer. "Go ahead and drink, if you have to think about it you've probably done it". Soraya commanded. Itachi rolled his eyes and did what he was told. "What did you set on fire?"

"I was practicing a new fire jutsu, and I burned the porch and almost the kitchen", he smiled and laughed. "My mother almost killed me", he laughed, and then a sad smile came across his face.

"No more vague questions", he pointed to her and demanded after he took a sip. "Never have I ever skipped school"

Soraya smiled. "Drink", she said pouring the lemon mead in his cup. "I wasn't the smartest student, but I was the most dutiful pupil", Itachi took a sip and Soraya could tell that he quite enjoyed the fermented lemonade she made. "I made sure to add more honey for your sweet tooth"

"It's good, your turn", Itachi beamed starting to have fun in this game.

"Never have I ever kissed someone in public.", challenged Soraya. They did kiss at the festival, but it was still in private, however she was curious about Kakashi and his former girlfriend Izumi, whom she learned he also murdered.

"Do I drink the tea or the wine", Itachi asked. Soraya gave a brief laugh and smile, but what Itachi didn't notice was the slight change in her eyes.

"The tea", she smiled in triumph.

"Never have I ever spied on someone having sex", Soraya drank a sip of her tea. Her cheeks started to become hot in embarrassment and arousal. She avoided his eyes as she thought about the night she caught him and Kakashi together. "Is there anything that interested you that night?", he asked. Soraya noticed the red on his cheeks as he looked away shyly.

"There were two beautiful men, making love", she said vaguely. "But if you need a clarification, when your", she paused as she felt embarrassed and still getting comfortable with sexual vocabulary. "When you were giving oral to Kakashi", she chugged her tea and poured some more.

"Do you think about it often", he inquired.

"That's not the rules of the game", she awkwardly laughed. Soraya saw Itachi wiggling his finger as if trying to get some blood circulation. "Feeling okay?"

"Yeah, just my hand fell asleep", he said as he clasped and reclasped his hand to try to get some type of blood circulation.

She smiled. "Cool, never have I ever done something I regret.", Itachi eyed her cautiously as he took a huge sip of his tea and scratched his throat.

"Pleasures of being young?", Itachi contended.

"Young?", Soraya question. "You are only 1.3 years older than me"

"1.2", he corrected as he coughed and rubbed his leg. He started to get a tingling uncomfortable feeling in his leg.

"Excuse me?", she questioned.

"My birthday is in June and yours in April, the correct calculation is 1.16 but rounded up it's 1.2", she gave him a look that indicated she did not care for his correction.

"Anyway, what is your biggest regret, math genius", he chuckled at her irritation.

"Leaving my brother behind", she poured some of the wine in a different glass and urged him to drink. "I wish I would have taken him with me, especially meeting you and Masaru"

"Interesting", Itachi noticed the brief coldness in her voice, it was out of character. Especially, when he was emotionally vulnerable to her, she was usually warm and sympathetic.

"I don't think I can ever leave him behind again", Soraya admitted. "And once I get back to Naruto, I will never leave him behind again either", she stated firmly. Soraya looked at the clock , readjusted herself and her smile seemed to dwindle into a concentrated look. Itachi dropped his cup.

"Naruto is safer in Konoha", Itachi said. Soraya observed him going for his cup with an intense glare. But returning to a smile when he glanced back at her. "Just like Sasuke", he affirmed. Itachi noticed that the smile she had was quite bodeful. He was unable to read it, and it didn't help that she hid her true feelings very well. He poured some more tea and drank some and matched her smile.

"I suppose you are right, for now", Soraya sighed as she remembered she was kidnapped by one of the most powerful shinobi and held prisoner in his palace. " Never have I ever...", she saw that Itachi placed the tea down and started to massage his leg. "noticed I've been lied to, but acted as if I didn't.", she said calmly finished.

Itachi finally recognized what was transpiring. Soraya continued to drink her tea but her cheery fake demeanor was replaced with eyes of disdain and contempt.

" She just poisoned me ", the thought kept ringing through his head. She kept drinking the tea so he deduced that it wasn't that. She then poured the mead into her cup and drank a sip as well.

"You should drink, it's part of the game, and it's partially keeping you alive", by his look of disbelief she already knew that Itachi knew what she had done. Yes, she indeed poisoned him. She guided his hand so the teacup would touch his lips and he drunk a bigger sip. "You seem like you are at a loss of words should we skip your turn", she said coyly.

"..." Itachi was speechless.

" Never have I ever told someone that I loved them without actually meaning it."

"I'm not drinking to that because it isn't true", he said strongly. He watched as pure fury crossed her face, she clutched the teacup and tapped it before putting it down. She muttered something to herself before composing herself. Nevertheless, she still looked unhinged. Angry tears started to prick her eyes, and he wanted to do nothing but wipe them away, even if she did poison him. But, his arms stopped listening to him. "What is this about?", he asked. "Where is the rest of the antidote", he asked calmly. He deduced that the tea had something to keep some of the symptoms at bay and not a full cure. Memories of her explaining how her biological mother was a chemist and biologist rang through his head. It seemed that her mother taught her well.

It was Soraya's turn to remain silent. She glanced in a direction and then back at Itachi. They sat still for what seemed like hours, the other trying to anticipate the other's move. "Is it on you?" he pried. She just stared deadlocked in his intense gaze. "The drawer then." She avoided his eyes and then met them again. He rushed towards it to find it wasn't there. He then felt his knees buckle and he collapsed. He turned over so that he was on his back so it was easier to breathe.

"Itachi, I learned from the best, you", she sauntered towards him with her tea cup and the rest of the tea. She straddled him, poured the tea in her cup and made him sip it. "Do you honestly think I would make it so easy for you to find."

"Well, it seems my own teaching bested me", he retorted. "What is it that you wish to accomplish?"

"Now Itachi, I didn't pit you as a sore loser, we are still playing the game" she smiled , pouring herself some tea. "Now, Never have I ever sexually assaulted someone", Itachi was thoroughly confused by this question. "Oh right you wouldn't remember, that's not a fair one is it, but you did me and Kakashi, the same day", she forced the tea down his mouth tears started to rush down her face. A large slap was heard throughout the room. A red handprint marked Itachi's face. "Never have I ever killed my girlfriend", her voice becoming louder.

"Soraya." She silenced him with another drink of tea, but he coughed it up.

"Never have I ever killed my mother and father in front of my seven. Year. old. Brother", her voice started to break. Itachi exhaled as he finally understood why she was angry. He felt his chest tightening in nervousness, however, at the same time, it was like a heavyweight was lifted off his shoulders. "Never have I ever, killed my entire clan"

"I'm sorry." another slap greeted him in response. "I should have told you sooner", Itachi admitted She threw the tea cup at him and got off him. She went to the window and breathed in some fresh air, before she went back to him in full fury.

"Why", she asked "Tell me why, I go through all of your battles, I searched through all of your missions, even this one, you never attack first, you only attack in defense, if you kill someone it is quick, I can't wrap my head around it"

"Wouldn't you do the same thing for someone you loved", he answered. Soraya blinked in surprise.

"Itachi, you killed everyone and traumatized your brother", she accused.

"He's still alive," he answered. Soraya started to put what he was saying together.

"Stop giving me vague answers, tell me directly, tell me everything", Soraya demanded. Itachi kept his mouth closed, but Soraya could tell it was not in defiance. It was deeper than just his clan.

She sat next to him. "Itachi, is my family safe because I will burn the entire world down to the ground to make sure they are", she said fiercely. "And I will become cunning and stronger than any other shinobi to do so, I don't care if I'm an omega.", she wiped the tear away from her eyes.

Itachi chuckled and shook his head. "The difference between you and me is I will do anything for peace, you didn't see the fighting, you didn't see the unnecessary bloodshed, you didn't know what my family was willing to do, the danger they would have put everyone in", his voice started to rise.

"So then it's best to kill you then and take me with you, so my family can survive?", she queried. "Is that what you are telling me",

"Are you asking for protection of you or your family, I wouldn't knowingly harm you", he answered truthfully.

"I'm saying that if you want to marry me, I want my family protected by you at all cost, I don't wish to see them slaughtered by your hands", Itachi shook his head in disbelief. "You think I would just randomly kill your family, I must not have made that good of an impression."

Soraya got up in frustration and kicked Itachi. Then she grabbed his collar. "Yeah continually lying to me leaves such a great impression, especially for a future wife, TELL ME WHY YOU DID IT, and why did you leave Sasuke alive.", she demanded answers and Itachi could tell that Soraya was beyond serious.

"This posion it's not fatal, so you don't want to kill me", Soraya loosened her grip from his collar.

"Why does it matter?", she asked.

"Just answer the question.", panted Itachi. Soraya remained silent, however, all of her emotions illuminated her face.

"I hate you", she cried.

"You don't", he answered. "That's why you didn't kill me. You very much love me", he said coaxing her to calm down. His hands began to move. "It's why you gave more of the tea than necessary to survive. His hand shakily came to try to caress her face, but it was still a struggle to move. She smacked his hands out of the way.

"I can't love you, because that mean's I'm a monster", she cried breaking her stoic gaze.

"You didn't kill my family, I did, you're just in love with one", she started to shake her head. "You think I don't know what I did, I had a choice, I did it for peace, and I will do anything to make sure a war, like The Great Shinobi War, will never happen again", he said through clenched teeth. Anger, resentment, and frustration plagued his face as he bit back the tears that were surfacing.

"There is the difference, I will do anything to protect my family and my friends, Peace got your family killed, that's a sacrifice I will never make", she took a pin that was placed neatly in her hair and stabbed Itachi with it, then she pressed down on the disguised syringe. Itachi felt instantly better but decided to continue their conversation.

Attacking her would not get her to understand. Additionally, now that he knew that he had sexually assaulted her, even without his knowledge, he recognized that she was just trying to make him feel as vulnerable as she felt.

And it was working.

He could still feel the effects of the toxins within his body. His movements were slower than usual and she slowly eyed him for any movement. Her eyes were liquid danger void of the tenderness that she usually held. Her bo staff that she summoned was in her right hand ready for attack.

"Even if your family had plans to kill your friends?", he questioned. "Make the whole village submit to them by any means necessary? How many lives would you be willing to take, huh, you have no idea the pain, tyranny and chaos, my family was willing to do."

"Sounds like you are justifying your decision", she said in a hostile tone.

"Would you choose Civil War or your brother", he asked as he sat up waiting for an answer.

Soraya remained silent to think through what he was "Start from the beginning", she stated. "You are still leaving out information, and I don't want to inquire about this again, so tell me the truth all of it, or I will kill both of us,"

"I frankly never liked hostile negotiations",

Soraya tightened her grip on her bo staff. "Neither do I, now talk", she demanded.

Itachi recounted everything to her very calmly as he was still refraining from his natural reaction to attack her after she poisoned him. For some reason, he had a feeling that she had a counterplan if he did that. Itachi knew he was bested. Additionally, her immunity to genjutsu was another problem as he could not entrap her in an illusion to getaway.

Itachi explained how after the Nine-Tailed-Fox attacked the village, there was a growing mistrust of The Uchiha. Then, he explained how his father was overlooked as Hokage and that they were ostracized to the less desirable area of the village. He even explained how his family was hated because they were the police and maintained order.

"My left eye is not even mine", he said in a sorrowful tone. "Shishui and I had a plan after we told the Hokage about my family's goals, he would use Kotoamatsukami to deter my father, but he ended up dying, Danzo and Tobi, he went by Madara when I first met him, gave me a choice, to fight or save my brother, so yes, I decided to kill my clan because I knew it was a lost cause that no one in the village would win from."

"Tell me about Izumi", she demanded. "Why would you kill someone you love?"

"I TRIED SAVING HER", he yelled losing control. He exhaled as recounting that day was getting tougher by each passing minute. "But she refused", he said more calmly. "She knew it would put me in danger, she asked me to make her feel good, so I gave her a full life while we made love for the final time", he exhaled as he started to cry at the memory. He realized that he hadn't even told Kakashi what fully happened that night. "The genjutsu I placed on her we married, we had children, we grew old together, but it's so powerful, that one second is a death sentence. She lasted five minutes", he started breaking down and took everything that Soraya had not to embrace him, but she knew if she did he would stop. "I killed her mother next, I loved her as a second mom and didn't want her to endure the knowledge of a loss of a child. Then I blacked out, the next thing I knew I was in the Hokage's office covered in blood."

"You killed women and children", she felt her soul mourn. "What if we had children would you kill them, would you kill me"

"The only child in the Uchiha clan was Sasuke", Itachi stated. "My father summarized that they purposely gave the women drugs that sterilized them or something in the water as The Uchiha had a higher mortality rate", he saw the look of relief come across her face.

"You didn't answer my question. Would you kill me", her eyes were red and puffy from the crying and she noticed that he was too.

"I refuse to kill you", he admitted. desperately. "And I promise not to harm any blood relatives of yours"

"And Naruto", she added. "I consider him family"

"As do I", confessed Itachi. Soraya felt relief as she felt that he was being genuinely honest.

"Please leave, I need to be alone", she demanded.

"Soraya-"

"Just leave", she said standing up and turning away from him. Itachi regretfully did what she asked.

After he left, Soraya grabbed a handkerchief and broke the teacup that Itachi held as it was the source of the toxic chemical.

Konan stirred slightly awake when she heard movement in her room. She felt a warm body cuddle behind her and she knew it was Soraya.

"I take it didn't go well", stated Konan. Konan wanted to turn to Soraya but it would be a beneficial position, as she was pregnant. So she remained on her left side. Soraya curled closer to her mother at her question.

"He knows I'm angry", stated Soraya. "I want to hate him, but I can't", admitted Soraya.

"Hmm", Konan pondered some thoughts to herself before responding to her daughter. "You have the right to be angry", said Konan softly. She whised that she could turn to her right side to face Soraya, but with her growing belly she opted to sit up and look at her. "But You don't hate him", Konan said.

"How do you know", asked Soraya

Konan exhaled. "Everyone thinks the opposite of love is hate, but it's apathy."

"Explain", said Soraya

"The reason I put our family and country in this mess is because I never opposed Hanzo. I was star struck. He was a hero, so everything he did to me, all the abuse, the torture, and everything else was because I never truly loved him, and he never loved me. People who love each other challenge each other, in their own ways, do you understand?", Konan asked. Soraya looked up at her mother and saw the intensive look she gave.

"Yes ma'am"

" A small hole not mended in time will become a big hole much more difficult to mend.", warned Konan. Soraya nodded at the old proverb. "Good now lay on this side so you can be a pillow for my belly"

"Nice to know I'm just a pillow", teased Soraya.

"A very comfortable supportive pillow", Konan teased back

Notes:

I absolutely loved writing this chapter. One thing that I hate is the troupe of ride or die relationships with no consequences. And the female lead is just supposed to accept anytt past and current behavior. That's not true love and it steals the individuality of character. What Itachi did was unforgivable no matter the facts of the reason why. It wouldn't be a normal reaction for someone like Soraya or who he would potentially like to be just okay with that decision.