Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 23

Naruto, Sasuke: 17

Shisui: 26

Kakashi: 31

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes slowly. The sun was slipping through the blinds of the room and I shot my alarm clock a look. It indicated two in the afternoon. I looked down at myself. I fell asleep against Itachi and he had taken the time to put panties and his shirt on me as I was not the biggest fan of sleeping naked when I could avoid it. I was sleeping on one of his arms, probably slowly cutting off the blood circulation and his other hand was resting on my waist. I smiled and turned around carefully so I would not wake him up.

He was still sound asleep, his face half buried in his pillow. I leaned on my elbow, his hand falling on my hip. He looked so, so peaceful right now. I looked around and grinned to myself.

It was good to finally be home.

I was hungry though, and Itachi would be too once he'd wake up, so I could make...well not breakfast, but brunch and bring him in bed.

I mean, my legs seemed weak and my whole crotch and lower back regions were numb and sore but…

I stood up and fell immediately with a yelp.

"Akane?" Itachi's sleepy voice called me. I raised my hand above the bed with a whine.

Soon his curious face, he was rubbing his eyes, was above mine. He raised a curious brow at me.

"What are you doing?"

"...I wanted to make brunch and bring it here…" I mumbled against the carpet, embarrassed.

There was a minute of silence and then he busted into laughter. Real, loud fit of laughter as a huge grin was on his face.

I did make him laugh like this once, before we dated. Did I do it on purpose? No. Was it embarrassing for me? Yes. Did it send Uchiha Itachi in a ten-minute uncontrollable fit of laughter? Yes.

In a very unfortunate series of events that happened in thirty seconds, I went from telling him how confident I was about my rapidity and agility to falling, almost breaking the table and being covered in my dinner. Itachi had stared at me, asked me if I was fine and when I said I was, still stunned, just started laughing uncontrollably.

"Itachi!" I whined louder, making him put his hands on his stomach, his back now facing me. I managed to sit and pushed him lightly.

"I told you you wouldn't walk or crawl, did you doubt me?" he asked me, calming down. I pouted as he turned around, taking my hand.

He pulled me back in bed and kissed me.

"What do you want to eat?" he inquired, a smile still dancing on his lips. "I'll make it."

"I wanted to bring you food in bed," I muttered under my breath. He kissed my forehead.

"You've cooked last night, and it was very good, it's my turn. So?" I looked up, thinking.

"Waffles. And fruits. And some onigiris if there are still some. And coffee with sugar and milk."

"You're very demanding."

"Always with food," I reminded him sternly. He shook his head with a sigh.

"You are the worst."

"Huh huh, you made me pay for it dearly last night." He grinned, smugly and with a little bit of perversion in it.

"I'm not done yet." He kissed me and got up. "I'll get your order ready." He put on shorts on his boxers and left the room.

I looked around. The bedroom was a mess. I mean, we didn't stay in bed, the floor, wall and desk had their turn in our nightly activities but...It was a mess.

I stretched out, carefully getting up once more. I was leaning on the wall for support to half open the blind, letting a deemed sunlight in. I tried to grab something from the floor to put it away, but couldn't bend over.

I just went back to bed instead.

I took a deep breath when the smell of food was getting closer and closer and grinned at the tray Itachi had with him. He shut the door with a kick and joined me in bed.

"Thank you!"

"Don't eat everything, I'm hungry too," he reminded me, taking a waffle quickly.

"Of course you are."

We spent two, quiet, blissful days without leaving our place, never entirely clothed. Itachi wanted an easy access at all times, and I was all too happy to oblige.

After two days, we found ourselves in front of the opened fridge eating a cake, sitting on the floor in the middle of the night.

"What really happened for your mother to scold you?" Itachi looked at me in surprise, his fork halfway to his mouth.

"Why the sudden question?"

"It's been...haunting me since I crashed your conversation." He pursed his lips and put his fork down.

"When Izumi tried to have a sex with me, I turned her down and it led to her asking where I was going with you. She thought it was a fling and I told her it was not and then...she asked me how long I have been in love with you. She didn't like the answer...and then she asked me if I ever loved her." I slapped him. He cradled his red cheek with a pained expression. "I know."

"God, it's...awful. No wonder she wants out of the clan. I get why Mikoto-san was pissed at you too."

"Do you think I should apologize?" I sighed.

"I think you should stop and let her move on." He looked torn. "I know she's your childhood friend, but you haven't treated her the right way, let her be." He sighed.

"It's the least I can do I guess." I nodded. "My turn now." I raised a brow. "Why didn't you tell me about the Mizukage status and the Shodai?"

"Oh, that. Back when the son of the Daimyo wanted to marry me and Sasuke intervened, him and Shisui were talking, and I told him that. Shisui said that if the Elders knew, they'd probably pair me with you, and it would be even harder to break it off."

"He's not wrong," he agreed quietly.

"And as for the Mizukage title...I didn't want it, still don't actually." He raised a curious brow and I started to play with the cake. "Shortly before the attack in Kiri, I told Mangetsu he'd be a great Rokudaime and I'd be his advisor. I know he's dead but...it still feels strange to be given this title instead of him. And anyway, I hated Kiri for so long, it doesn't seem right that the hat would go on my head instead of someone who...cared from the beginning."

"I see." I sighed.

"And you want to be the Hokage, I didn't want that to make you reconsider."

"It's doing quite the opposite." I blinked at him, and he frowned. "You're not winning." I chuckled.

"I was scared of what your reaction would be too as I...wouldn't be around much." He sighed.

"It's silly." I furrowed my brows and he leaned toward me to poke me on the forehead. "You've struggled very hard with your birth village, I wouldn't deprive you from anything regarding it. The same goes with your last name. If we ever get married, I wouldn't ask you to change it."

"...you don't want me to have your last name?" He chuckled.

"I don't care, and if I asked you you'd yell at me." True. "You've come a long way to accept everything regarding your past and your family, the least I can do is support you in your choices." I smiled at him, moved.

"You really break it off with tradition."

"All because of your influence. I probably would have gone with my clan wishes if I had not met you." I took a bite of cake.

"You know, sometimes I wonder if we would have been friends when we were kids." He tilted his head. "Like, if I had been sent earlier. I've never been to an actual school, that would have been interesting."

"It was annoying," he corrected me.

"You're saying this because you were popular with girls?" He glared at me.

"Not just that, it was boring."

"You graduated in a year, of course you'd find it boring and not going at your pace."

"Maybe it would have been different if you had been at the Academy too." I shrugged.

"Who knows? In the little memories I have of our childhood, I remember you looking at me weirdly but not talking. Ha, and you blushed when I said I thought you were a girl, I thought I had hurt your feelings."

"You're never going to let that go, will you?" I shook my head and he sighed. "I was trying to understand you before actually talking but...I had a crush on you, it wasn't easy."

"We saw each other twice."

"Three." I blinked. "The first time we met you were with Kushina-san and I was with my Mother, Sasuke was not born yet." I frowned. "You were staring at nothing, probably thinking about your dad and brother." I pursed my lips.

"I used to do that a lot," I admitted. "You didn't leave me that big of an impression back then."

"...really?" I shrugged.

"It took me some time to remember you as Shisui's friend before, even with the reputation. I wouldn't have remembered your name if it wasn't for the Bingo Book." He just deadpanned at me. "But it's different now!"

"It better be." I smiled nervously at his sharp eyes staring straight into mine.

"I lov…"

"It won't work." I went back to the sweet vanilla cake. "What does your new mark do?" I blinked.

"I was wondering when you'd ask about it."

"I also want to know about your new nickname." I hugged my knees to my chest.

"The Shinigami seal, the Claw...it's based on Natural Energy. Which makes sense, what's more natural than life and death? If it's Natural Energy, then there is potential for Senjutsu. I spent two weeks on Mount Myoubokou with Naru when I came back to get a hold of Sage Mode." He widened his eyes. "It's making summoning the trapped souls easier, it's...balanced."

"You can use Sage Mode now?" I nodded.

"I gained and lost things in the process." He pursed his lips.

"I was there." I blinked. "I was, and you and another woman." I frowned and took my chin between my fingers.

"The Shinigami I summoned and am connected to is the Goddess Izanami, hence why I asked books from the Uchiha library." He widened his eyes even more. "In a way, I'm very similar to Hidan. We both had powers from deities, as Jashin is a real one. When he tried to kill me after licking my blood, it didn't work."

"I didn't know that," he said in an accusing tone. I shrugged.

"Sasuke was the one passed out for a few days after this, not me. Maybe that I wasn't alone to go to Izanami though, maybe Itachi was there as well and whatever happened down there…" I pointed at his head. "Can I see it?"

"I'm not using the Sharingan on you." I sighed and crawled next to him. "I'm serious Akane."

"I trust you Itachi, and I...I don't remember anything. I'm a living being with a connection with the Goddess of Death, but I'm still a living being so maybe that's why I can't remember anything. However, you do, more than you know right now because he was very dead." I put two fingers on his forehead, a serious expression on my face. "It's somewhere in there." He wouldn't meet my gaze so I leaned my forehead against his shoulder. "I know how disturbing it is, so don't keep it all inside. It quickly gets suffocating."

"Hn." He moved my head back and put a piece of cake against my lips. I accepted it, licking his fingers clean too. "I feel guilty."

"Huh? About what?"

"I want you to take care of me because I know you know how to do it but...I know I never returned it before."

"...the situation was way different, and so were you. Every ugly side of your personality took over before, there was one purpose, and I was not planned. There were times where I wished you'd be more compassionate and expressive, and just hugged me and kissed me more but...it's delicate to balance the cracks in your mask without shattering it. I'm lucky I got to see glimpses of you befo...wait, did you say 'I'?" He nodded.

"It was me. A different version but still me. Now I have these flashbacks it...is making it more real that there was a whole other path expecting me." I bit my bottom lip. "Don't abuse it like this sweetheart," he murmured, running his thumb on my lip.

"...if you have memories of the massacre, or Shisui, or when you'd see Sasuke, tell me." He looked down. "Hey, we're home and I'm here. It's okay." He hugged me quietly. "Do you want anything?"

"Knowing I have a safe place to go back to is enough," he mumbled in my ear. "You're home." I blushed with a smile as I hugged him back.

"Keep saying things like that and I'll never let you out of the apartment ever again." He chuckled.

"It is very tempting." I looked at the cake.

"Should we finish it?"

"Not tonight, I want to keep some for later." I let him go and put everything away.

He carried me back to bed. Of course, life couldn't always be like this. The next day, Itachi had to go back to work and deal with how to organize the village after the war and getting ready for the Kage Summit. He didn't want to go, didn't even want to go out of bed and asked me to ask him to stay, but I didn't, getting up myself instead.

He did tell me I was a cold-hearted traitor when he was putting his shoes on. I replied it was literally in my blood to be cold.

I had barely gotten the mail from the mailbox, not even looking at it that Kakashi appeared behind me. His serious face made me look down.

"He was found," I whispered, the dread in my stomach telling me everything.

"You're from Kiri, we need you to confirm his identity." I nodded, put the mail on the living-room table and left.

I did my best not to think of it. I really did, and with the other things happening, it made it easier. Now it calmed down...I couldn't avoid the topic anymore.

Kakashi led me to the hospital, then to the morgue. The chill air of the room didn't faze me as I walked to the metal table, my eyes staring at the body on it. I clenched my jaw at the paleness of the face, the burned hair on the side of the head.

"May I see the stomach area please." The shinobi pulled the sheet down, stopping at the hips.

I gulped when I saw the scorched black lines on the white skin.

"It's him," I heard myself stating coldly. "It's Utakata-senpai." I shot the shinobi a look. "Do I need to sign something?" He gave me a sheet of paper and I signed it mechanically.

I watched him put the sheet back but I stopped him just before the face was covered.

"Can I...have a few minutes please?" He opened his mouth.

"Sure," Kakashi replied for him. They both left and my eyes found Utakata's face.

We had talked about this, he knew he was over his first death date but...I didn't know why he was sent out of the village. Point was, he was dead and Saiken gone. With him his whole squad was gone, including my clingy fangirl.

Kimou wouldn't jump on me when I'd go back to Kiri.

Now, my generation, shinobi of my year, were basically Dai and I. Ruka was younger, Kiri a year older...Not many of us made it out alive from the Bloody Mist, then from the attack years ago…

It was...a sad assessment of the situation. Most people I knew from Kiri, once more...were gone. Dai and sensei were still there, but who knew if Naoto would…

Especially now Kagura was born. He had tied the knot with his wife very quickly in a small ceremony right before we were sent on the battlefield. Not many people were there, but I was.

I took a deep, shaky breath and stepped back before bowing.

"Thank you for everything...Utakata-senpai. I'll never forget it."

I remained like this for a couple of minutes. Then, I stood up and put the sheet back on his face.

"You'll soon be home senpai...say 'hi' to Onii-chan for me please."

On this note, I left quietly. Kakashi was still there, and I walked up to him with a blank face

"I need one white water lily." He didn't ask why; he just draped his arm around my shoulders and led me outside.

We went to all flower shops in town to get one. I asked him to get Mom, Naru and Sasuke if possible, to join me at the Third Training Ground.

I waited for them to appear, the flower in my still hands as I was staring at the smooth water.

"Nee-chan?" Naru called me. "Huh...Kakashi-sensei told u…"

"We burn our dead in Kiri after wars. It's a tradition that comes from before the First Mizukage. It's a hero funeral and a spiritual ritual. We lay the bodies in coffins filled with white flowers and cover them with a white sheet in the Shinpisei River. Once they're on their way to the waterfall, before they enter the mist, we cremate them, freeing them from their corporeal envelop so that their souls can easily go where they now belong. That's what we did after the attack. It was our final goodbyes and thanks for them and their sacrifices. Of course, I can't do it right now, so I…" I looked at the flower, licking my dry lips.

"You want me to use Amaterasu?" Sasuke asked me quietly, giving me a few seconds to calm down. I nodded.

"I don't want the fire to die in the water."

Mom quietly took her place next to me and slipped her arm around my waist.

"Why a white-water lily?" Naru asked me in a cautious tone.

"I trained under Harusame-san too for fuinjutsu, Utakata-senpai was always there. We trained at the same lake near the village. There was no sun, but white-water lilies would grow nonetheless," I replied, looking down at it.

I knelt and put the flower in the water. It left the shore and slowly made its way to the center.

I shot Sasuke a quick look and nodded at him. He nodded back.

In an instant, the flower was consumed by black flames. I stared at it, leaning against my mother for support. It was over in a matter of seconds, but it felt like so much longer.

I never had to grieve any of them before. Now I couldn't escape it.

"Honey," Mom said as we were walking away. "Do you want to have dinner at home tonight? Itachi is invited as well of course." I nodded.

"I'll ask him."

When Itachi got home, I was sitting between the couch and coffee table, my knees against my chest. He put his belongings away and sat down next to me in silence.

"You know?"

"I was with the Hokage when the doctor gave the identity paper for the Mizukage," he replied as quietly as me.

"Mom invited us to dinner."

"Do you want to go?" I shrugged. He turned his head to look at me but didn't say anything.

He wiped the silent tears running down my cheeks instead.

"I think we should," he whispered. I nodded.

"Okay."

I didn't really talk or even eat. If anything, it was Itachi's hand on my thigh that made me break out of my thoughts and start eating.

I turned my back to Itachi when we went to bed. I was too much in my head for anything else. He knew it, kissed my temple with a quiet 'good night' and lay down next to me, facing my back.

"A baby Minato, can you believe it 'ttebane!?" I looked up from my seal, ink on my fingers.

Oji-chan said I should learn how to use a brush, but it was easier with my fingers. I ran to the bathroom, using my stool to wash my hands. They'd scold me if they saw ink on my fingers again.

I ran down the stairs, jumping over the last three ones. Oji-chan and Aunty Kushina were hugging.

"Akane-chan!" I was in Aunty's arms immediately, my feet not touching the floor. "You're gonna be a big sister dattebane!"

"What?" Oji-chan made her put me down.

"What Aunty Kushina is trying to say is that we are going to welcome a baby in a few months, and you'll be like their big sister." Aunty put her hand on her tummy.

"Oh. Okay." I pouted.

"Are you not happy?" Aunty asked me with worry.

"It's just...you'll still love me?"

"Wh...of course baby!" Aunty hugged me again. "This baby will have Minato's love and my love, but it won't be the one we have for you! It will always be just for you. Our hearts will just grow more so that the baby has a love just for them, and you'll keep the one we have for you and your sweet face." She poked my nose with a grin. I rubbed my nose.

"Okay." I poked her tummy. "How long?"

"Eight months."

I opened my eyes, the room still dark. It was strange to dream of a new life when they told me they were expecting Naru when I had seen a dead friend just today.

I sighed and turned around, patting the spot next to me. I frowned when I realized it was empty and barely luck warm. I got up and went to the living-room. It was dark inside and outside; I just saw the red tip of his cigarette. I quietly joined him on the balcony, making him raise his eyes to me.

"Did I wake you?" I shook my head.

"I dreamed of when Aunty and oji-chan told me they were expecting Naru. It was weird." He puffed on his cigarette nonchalantly.

Huh, he was making smoking hot.

"Why are you up?"

"I couldn't sleep." I shot a look inside. There was nothing on the table. "I was in my old room working."

"I see. Is everything okay?" He shrugged.

"Everyone and everything need money." I looked down.

"Was my wedding dress sold? I told my mom that…"

"I know, my parents got it back but it...was kept."

"Why?"

"You said you liked it, so I kept it for later," he admitted in the silent night. I blinked, surprised.

"But it's an expensive one, so…"

"Don't worry, the amount used to make your wedding dress is given to the hospital, it just comes from my pocket." I widened my eyes in shock.

"Itachi, you can't do th…" He took one of my hands, his eyes not leaving the hospital three streets away from us.

"It's my money, I've been in ANBU for seven years, and I'm from old money, I can…" he trailed off as he noticed my face. "I know we don't have the same relationship with money sweetheart, but I assure you it is fine, and I want you to have this dress. You're gorgeous in it." I nodded grudgingly.

"Is there anything else like this I should know?"

"What's the fun in letting you know now?" I furrowed my brows, and he stood up, throwing his cigarette butt in a glass bottle. "I want to spoil you, let me have this." We went back inside, Itachi leaving the bottle on the balcony.

Once back in bed, the covers over us, Itachi remained thoughtful.

"Itachi?"

"The Kage Summit is in two weeks in the Land of Iron," he suddenly informed me. "We were told today."

"...I see."

"Hokage-sama asked me to be her bodyguard alongside Gai-san."

"What a journey." Although, it was balanced. Taijutsu, Genjutsu, Ninjutsu and medical ninjutsu, the team was more balanced than you'd think on first sight from the members.

"Hn."

"You should be home just in time for Sasuke's birth…" I sat up in the blink of an eye. "Shit!"

"What?"

"I never gave you your birthday present!" He returned my gaze.

"Me neither," he suddenly remembered.

After a few minutes, we were on our bed, the lights on. I looked at his present, one box, and then mine in front of him. Sasuke tried to give me one, there were four.

"Huh…'tachi, do you know how to count?" He looked at me, amused.

"Of course. I couldn't celebrate your birthday last year, then there was Christmas, then your birthday this year and…" He showed me a deep red bag. "Our anniversary a week ago."

"Our annive...wait, it's been a year?" He nodded happily. "Happy birthday and happy anniversary then...I'm lacking a gift."

"I don't care." I shook my head furiously.

"I do." I handed him my gift. "Here."

He unwrapped the present delicately, trying not to rip the paper. He just stared at the two books in his hands as I grinned, proud of myself.

"Just kidding, I did remember our anniversary. It is the right guy, right?" He nodded slowly, turning the books over.

"Where did you get them?"

"The man spent the end of his life insane in the mountains of the Land of Earth, his last works were sold where Sasuke and I were posted. It was cheap compared to what you'd pay for his books here. The other one I found in Uzushio. I just put a seal on to conserve it." He raised stunned eyes to me.

"I can't accept if it comes from Uzu…"

"Itachi, nobody will ask for it, and Mom told me it was okay. It was in the old Academy, my grandfather was the principal of the place."

They were from a philosopher Itachi really liked, the same one he exchanged with Sakura last year. He started traveling and his whole work collection never made it to Konoha.

"Thank you," he thanked me sincerely, his eyes sparkling in appreciation.

"You're welcome. You're hard to shop for you know." He smiled sheepishly. "Do I choose myself which one to open first?" He shrugged, already flipping through the pages.

I took the deep red bag, already knowing what was inside. It was for our anniversary so...Yeah.

As I was thinking, it was lingerie, the same color as the bag. The panties were lace, see-through expect for the crotch area and the bra was the same.

I looked up at Itachi, who wasn't hiding the perverted glint in his eyes.

"I'm sorry I didn't get you a matching set."

"I'll get over it."

I opened my birthday present, blinking at the spa day for two.

"I figured you'd need it, and I thought it'd be nice for Akiko-san and you."

"You thought of my mom?" He shrugged with a soft smile.

"I know you missed her a lot." I nodded.

The Christmas present was a camera, the kind where the picture would come out right away. I grinned at it, opening the box immediately as Itachi chuckled at seeing me this excited.

"It was hard to find," he commented.

"You bet; I haven't seen one of these in a long time. Technology doesn't progress a lot until peace." I turned it on and adjusted it quickly.

"You know what you're doing."

"Of course, I was working on a laptop and had a cellphone before," I replied.

"What's a cellphone?"

"A phone you keep on yourself." He blinked rapidly and I took this opportunity to take his picture. He shut his eyes at the flash. "Sorry for the flash." I took the picture and waited for it to go from white to him.

I showed him proudly once the image was there.

"You're cute when you're surprised." He took the picture with a faint blush.

"Really?"

"If I say so."

"You also said I looked like a girl and I don't see it."

"Not anymore." He glared weakly at me and gestured me to come closer.

He took my camera and slipped his arm around my waist.

"I center it and press the button, nothing more?" I nodded, my cheek on his shoulder.

I smiled at the picture of us smiling, even if Itachi was looking at me and not the camera.

"I'm so going to surprise everyone," I said with a grin.

"Don't go around giving people heart attacks." I shrugged and accepted the last gift he gave me. Matching earrings to my necklace. I touched my earlobes. "They were still pierced when I bought them."

"I'll get them pierced once we have some real peace. Damn, thanks Itachi, you're really spoiling me." He leaned toward me and kissed me.

I took a picture. He heard it and took it the second it was out.

"It's interesting." I looked at it.

"I make that face?" I asked him, disappointed. "I'm not sure I want to know what kind of faces I have during sex."

"Very arousing ones," he answered without thinking twice about it.

"You're biased."

We went back to bed. At least it took my mind off my deceased friends.

Three days later, I was nervously looking at my closet. Itachi opened the door for the third time.

"Akane, we're having lunch with my parents, they're expecting us at noon. Just pick a dress already," he hissed at me with a frown. The first time he was kind, the second time a little bit frustrated, now he was slowly losing his patience. He didn't like being late.

"I know but...what if it's too formal? Or too casual? Or shows too much skin? Or not enough?"

"They'll be happy if you wear clothes. Why are you so nervous?"

"I'm scared of your dad!" He pinched the bridge of his nose.

He pushed me away from the closet.

"I'm picking, you're wearing it, end of discussion."

"Bu…" The sharp, annoyed glanced he shot me above his shoulder made me shut up. "Okay." He spent one minute looking over my clothes and pulled a mustard summer dress from the closet.

"I've never seen you wearing it. You bought it and just put it away."

"That's one of the many mysteries that surround women," I replied, accepting the dress. "I didn't like how flat my chest looked with it." He sighed.

"You're perfectly fine as you are Akane. Come on, get ready now." He left the room briskly.

The dress reached my knees, my shoulders were bare as the sleeves were around my arms. It had a V-cleavage, but because it pressed quite a lot on my chest, there was not much to see.

I missed the corset now…

I put a clip on the back of my hair to hold half of it higher, put some light makeup on and grabbed brown flat sandals in the closet before closing it.

Itachi was about to knock again but I opened the door before. He looked at me up and down.

"I hope you're not making any change." I rolled my eyes and walked past him.

"Shouldn't you be glad I'm trying to look good for your family?"

"If you knew it took this long, why didn't you start earlier?"

"Because you kept me in bed each time I tried to leave it to have my attention." A small smirk appeared on his face.

"True."

I put my camera in my bag, and we left. It was only when the gate of the Compound was in sight that I slowed down and stopped completely. The red and white fan...it was making me plain anxious now. I had not stepped foot in here since the wedding.

Itachi's fingers slipped between mine, squeezing my hand tightly. I shot him a quick look and he smiled, encouraging me silently. I gulped and nodded, squeezing his hand back as we started walking again.

People would stare, of course, I was engaged to Sasuke less than a month ago and now was holding hand with his big brother. I shot Itachi a quick look from the corner of my eyes. His face was unreadable, but his thumb rubbed circles on my hand.

I let out a breath of relief once we were in the alley going to his childhood home.

"Are you okay?" he asked me quietly.

"Hum...are you?"

"Hn."

He opened the door without knocking, saying we were here. I was just done with removing my shoes that Mikoto-san came in view, a big smile on her face.

"Hello you two!" She embraced me tightly. "It has been a while!"

"Just a few weeks Mother," Itachi said behind us as I patted Mikoto-san's back clumsily.

"And you have gotten back together since, a lot seems to have happened!"

"You look well," I told her as she moved back, her hands on my shoulders.

"So do you." I smiled a little. "How have the reactions been regarding your promotion?"

"You were the least surprised one, alongside Sasuke and Kakashi."

"Well, I've known for a while." That caught her son's ear.

"What do you mean?"

"I've known for a year," she told her son, who slowly looked at me.

"It smells really good Mikoto-san!" I stated loudly, going inside. I was met by Sasuke slouching over the table. "What happened to you?"

"Mother made me help her for hours," he replied in a muffled voice. He raised his head slowly, dark bags under his eyes and looked at me. "Hey."

"Hey." I grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of him. "And one."

"Where did you get that?"

"It's a late Christmas present from your brother."

"He might as well throw his money at you," he muttered, standing up. I smiled awkwardly.

"Yeah, he didn't look at the price too much." He pursed his lips. "But I guess as long it's for special occasions there's nothing wrong with it, as long as he doesn't make a habit out of it."

"Are you talking about me?" I looked on my right, Sasuke turned around. They shared a handshake, basically clasping their hands together instead of a regular shake.

"Is that new?" Sasuke shrugged.

"Do you sleep?" The youngest glared at Itachi.

"Say that to Mother, I helped her all morning to set everything up."

"It's just us," his brother stated. Sasuke shrugged.

"Father had to reason with her otherwise she would have gone all out. He basically fled when he saw me."

"It's just lunch," Itachi emphasized. Sasuke shrugged and we followed him.

Mikoto-san may have been reasoned with, but it was still very well decorated and the table was very pretty. Itachi just sighed at seeing this.

Their parents appeared a few minutes later, whispering to each other on the way.

"Hello Father," Itachi greeted him, still...tensed, and cold.

He did tell me it was better between them but...oh, maybe it was because of the last time the three of us were in a room together and he called me a whore.

"Hello Itachi, Akane." I blinked and bowed a little.

"Hello Fugaku-san." He crossed his arms and averted his eyes from me to look at his son. Itachi just returned his gaze firmly.

"What is this?" Mikoto-san asked me, pointing at my bag.

"It's my new camera, I thought I'd get some pictures of Sasuke for blackmail purposes."

"Sorry what?" Sasuke said, turning wide eyes at me. I gave the picture I had to Mikoto-san, who giggled at it. "Mother!"

"It's going to the album." Sasuke glared at me.

"You're going down nee-san." I smiled innocently at him.

"I trained you, so just come and try see what's gonna happen."

"Now now, it will wait after lunch," Mikoto-san interrupted us, taking us to the table. It brought Itachi and his father back to us as they quickly joined us.

I smiled to myself when I realized Mikoto-san had made fish with vegetables and rice.

"It's very good Mikoto-san," I complimented her between two bites.

"Thank you, Sasuke came back with a taste for fish after Kiri so it pushed me out of my comfort zone." I shot him a quick look.

"Well, that's the best option on an island."

"Do the accent." I froze.

"What accent?" his mother asked him. Sasuke smirked and showed me with a movement of the head.

"Nee-san has an accent." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"She doesn't," Itachi said, confused. Sasuke sniffed, crossing his arms.

"Because she's used to living in Konoha, but when she spends more than three months in Kiri, especially if she goes in the countryside, the accent appears." I put my elbow on the table, my forehead in my hand. They all looked at me.

"Akane?" Itachi called me, almost demanding answers.

"I do...have an accent when I'm there for too long…" I admitted quietly. "Sometimes it may be...incomprehensible…"

"What does it sound like?" Mikoto-san inquired curiously. I pointed my finger at Sasuke.

"Ask your son, he started getting it after seven months!" Sasuke widened his eyes, now all eyes on him.

"Bitch move," he just said, in shock.

"Language," Fugaku-san scolded him. Sasuke shut his mouth.

He did manage to kick me in the knee though. However, our little bickering seemed to have break the ice there was because conversations started to flow naturally. Itachi's hand found its way on my thigh, giving me a comforting warmth when I'd meet his dad's eyes.

When the meal was over, Sasuke asked Itachi to follow him because he wanted to show him something. I asked Mikoto-san if she needed help cleaning and she denied, shooting her husband a pointed look.

I knew it was a set-up the moment Fugaku-san cleared his throat in my back.

"Please follow me," he said as I turned around. His wife kindly pushed me out of the room.

I was quickly sitting in front of him, on my knees, my hands clenching my dress on my thighs. Fugaku-san noticed my nervousness and sighed.

"I think I owe you an apology for...some words I have used regarding you in the past." I furrowed my brows in confusion. "They were uncalled for."

"You were in a...very delicate position Fugaku-san, and I've heard worst for a long time." He frowned and I shrugged. "People accused me of having caused the whole Bloody Mist regime, you get used to insults." He was taken back.

"Oh," he replied awkwardly. "In any case, I apologize for insulting you."

"Apology accepted."

"Why didn't you tell me you were chosen as the Mizukage?" he asked me seriously. "The engagement would have been broken off sooner." I looked down.

"I had issues with receiving the title, and with what was going on, I thought it'd be better not to add fuel to the fire."

"Hn. It would have caused troubles, it's true." He crossed his arms. "You must think I am a terrible person for what my clan had planned for you behind the wedding."

"Oh, well that's...huh...was quite a shock, for many reasons."

"At first, the engagement wouldn't have been official until Sasuke was eighteen, so it would have given us time to find a solution." I parted me lips.

Sasuke and I kind of ruined it then and forced the issue.

"It was not my intention to let my clan assassinate you, I need to emphasize it." I waved my hands in front of me.

"I never thought that Fugaku-san, and if you had done so Aunty Kushina would have find a way to come back and make you pay dattebane." He made a face, especially at the last word.

"Yes, I wouldn't put it above her, even in death," he whispered with nostalgia. "Both my sons care greatly about you and rely on you a lot, maybe more than you realize." I blinked. "They both became great shinobi, and great men." I nodded in agreement. "You and your family have always welcomed them with kindness and no judgment, and I will forever be grateful for that." I smiled faintly.

"...you're welcome I guess." He nodded and gazed at me in the eyes. "But it wasn't much really. They just decided to keep coming." He smiled faintly at that.

"You love...Itachi, don't you?" I blinked and nodded firmly. "He's my son, yet I have never been able to entirely understand him. I may have caused this myself, but still, I have never seen him actively seeking others until you came around. Somehow, you caught his eyes."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"Please try not to hurt my boy." I was taken back.

It was the request, the use of 'boy' instead of 'son'. In spite of everything Itachi and Sasuke may think, their father did love them very much, and it just proved it because it meant he never ceased to see them as children. Like all parents.

"Of course, it's the last thing I want to do." He took a deep breath. "How much did Mikoto-san pester you for you to do this?" He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I don't want to talk about it." I chuckled.

"Are you...okay with me dating Itachi then?" I asked him more shyly.

"Nobody but him can know what to look for in his partner. The Uchiha heir no longer have obligation regarding who to be with, as he was more than adamant on breaking these old traditions, so I have nothing to say regarding who he decides to be with. But…" He shot me a quick look. "I approve of who he chose."

I bit my bottom lip and lowered my head.

"Thank you," I whispered in a shaky voice.

It was something I had wondered once the twins were born. Would their grandparents have loved them in spite of being born out of wedlock? Would they have approved of me being with their son, of Sasuke letting me handle Uchiha business before he married Sakura when he was away?

I didn't think I'd need to hear that so much, but it was like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

The door was opened behind me, and Itachi was there, panting a little.

"It is rude to interrupt people's conversation Itachi," Fugaku-san lectured him sternly. He shot him a quick look before looking down at me.

I smiled at him, giving him a thumbs-up. It seemed to calm him down because he clearly was not comfortable with the idea of me being alone with his dad.

"Thank you for the talk Fugaku-san, was that all?" He nodded. I stood up. "Well then, I think I'm gonna bug Sasuke again." Itachi made a step back when I was next to him.

"Itachi, stay for a minute." I left them alone.

I sat on the engawa, enjoying the warmth of the sun. I blinked and looked down at the weight on my lap.

"Do you know what consent is?" I asked Sasuke, his head on my lap.

"I do that often."

"Yes, I know that, but let's see how your brother reacts when he sees you like that." He smirked.

"Tell me when he's here." I shook my head at him but let him be. I didn't really mind having him like that.

I enjoyed the sun until I recognized Itachi's footsteps nearby. I gently shook Sasuke's shoulder, who raised his head. As Itachi turned the corner and had us in view, Sasuke just hugged my thighs like a pillow. Itachi saw it, narrowed his eyes, and fastened his pace, stopping only next to us.

Without a word, he put his foot in his sibling's hair and moved it. Sasuke groaned and grabbed his ankle.

"It's disgusting."

"Go get your own girlfriend," Itachi retorted, letting Sasuke push his foot away.

"I'm perfectly fine where I am." Itachi kicked him in the head. "Nee-san…"

"Don't," Itachi told me firmly, sharp eyes on me. "And stop babying him too."

"I don't baby him," I mumbled to myself.

"I've been doing this for years; I'm not going to stop now. I even saw her in her underwear before you if anything we're the real deal."

Itachi didn't get angrier. No, he narrowed his eyes, closed them, and sighed.

"Alright, I guess I'll ask Sakura to be my nurse again then." Sasuke opened his eyes wide. "And…"

"Don't you dare nii-san," Sasuke hissed at him in a threatening tone.

"Then get off her lap little brother." Sasuke huffed and did, now sitting next to me, glaring at his brother. "Good." He glared, and glared at Itachi who was ignoring him, his arm now around my waist until a glint appeared in his dark eyes. The bad idea one.

"Nee-san, you know Itachi had a crush on you when you were five?" I nodded and Itachi slowly turned his head to him. "Did you know he used to stalk you too? And did it too when you came back ten years ago?"

"What?" I asked him in shock.

"Goddammit Shisui," Itachi cursed under his breath.

"Yeah. He talks," Sasuke added before getting up and leaving.

"Itachi." He groaned. "Is it true?"

"I did say I would observe you."

"But not in that way!" He averted his eyes and I pulled on his cheek. "Hey, stalker, how long did you do it for?"

"...how long did you stay in Konoha?" I blinked.

"Maybe like ten months?"

"Well then nine months I'd say. I was there when you left with Akiko-san too, you just didn't see me." I let go of his cheek and slapped him behind the head.

"I don't know if I should be horrified or just in awe of how bad you were at human interactions. I wasn't that intimidating, I dragged around a purple plushy for some time and...from the smile you know what his name was."

"Maybe?" I grunted. "I'm sorry Akane, I know it's...not right, but there's nothing I can do about it now. It was eighteen years ago."

"You're so, so weird 'tachi, a borderline nutcase sometimes." He narrowed his eyes, staring at the Uchiha crest in front of us. "Don't do it again."

"I don't need to anymore." I frowned. "I'm kidding. I won't do it again. I don't want to be controlling and make you run away."

"Good." He looked down at me.

"Can I kiss you?" I raised a brow. "We haven't kissed in hours."

"Someone's got an addiction." He nodded, staring at my lips. "Go ahead my love." He closed his eyes, his forehead met mine and his lips were against my lips.

There was a flash. We broke the kiss and turned our heads. Sasuke was pinching the bridge of his nose as Mikoto-san had my camera between her hands. Fugaku-san left them, shaking his head.

"There was no flash before," she told her youngest son.

"You must have activated by mistake Mother."

"Oh I see."

"Were you spying on us?" Itachi asked them, standing up.

"I wanted a picture of you two, that's all," Mikoto-san replied.

"You could have asked instead of sneaking on us."

"Would you pose for me then?"

"You've wasted your shot."

It was...a nice day.

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter!

Bye!