He was no stranger to nightmares. He doubted any shinobi was. His only got more intense after joining ANBU. And for a while right after the massacre, they became nearly unbearable. All of a sudden the faceless men who fell under his katana morphed into the faces of his mother and father and cousins and relatives whom he was taught to protect at all costs. Throughout the years the themes of his nightmares didn't change and he had grown immune to them, feeling nothing but a slight tinge of guilt for all the lives he had taken. People in Konoha had called him a monster. And in a way they were right.

That night his dream took an unexpected turn. Pain showed up. He told Itachi what he already knew, that he committed a very dangerous blunder by growing attached to his ward.

"You have fallen short of my expectations, Itachi. Surely a genius like you should have known better. Or perhaps, you have forgotten. In that case let me remind you."

"Itachi," she called out to him quietly.

He spun around and saw a wide-eyed Shiori looking back at him, trembling with terror from head to foot. Behind her, towering over her stood a man who looked so much like him, with spiky dark hair and dark eyes which held nothing but loathing for him.

"It's me you want Sasuke," he said to him. His voice was steady despite the thunderstorm in his chest. "Killing her won't gain you anything."

"Hn," the younger Uchiha scoffed. He couldn't lie to him. Sasuke knew he was scared.

"Maybe not. But you would lose everything, wouldn't you? That's good enough for me."

Without missing a beat, Shiori lurched forward as Sasuke's chidori punched a hole through her chest.

Itachi woke up in a literal blind panic. Echoes of the dream still flashed before his eyes amidst the shadowy blur of neutrals and greens. Despite logic telling him that it wasn't real, the irrational part of him had to see it for himself, to see with his own eyes that bad karma had not turned his nightmare into reality with Shiori dead and mutilated. It was also that very moment that his eyes decided not to cooperate.

"Calm down," Sora's voice came from behind him. He turned around and saw a shadow make its way towards him. On instinct, his Sharingan activated, restoring his vision to normal.

Sora gasped, pausing in her tracks as the Uchiha's eyes flashed red. Though she had seen it a number of times, she still couldn't shake off the unnerving fear that came over her when facing the Sharingan.

"That bad huh," she said, kneeling down in front of him.

"I could barely see anything," he replied, clearly agitated.

"May I?" Sora asked before placing her hands on his temples. A green light emanated from her hands as she tried to assess the damage on his optic nerves.

"She's fine by the way."

"Who?"

"Your ward. You called out to her right before you woke up. She's next door fast asleep. Kami knows she needs to."

"Sora-san..." Itachi paused, unsure of how to proceed. "Pain-sama cannot find out. Or Sasuke."

"Or anybody. And I agree with you. Why do you think I stayed with you until you came around? To make sure you don't say stupid things in front of the wrong people."

Itachi knew there was no denying it to Sora. He remembered bits and pieces of what happened last night. Amidst the insanity-inducing pain he remembered words being exchanged, words that cannot be unheard. They say dead men tell no lies. He got a bit carried away and played the honesty card too early. He made a mental note to be more thorough when facing his otouto.

Sora finished her assessment and allowed her hands to drop to her sides. The look on her face was like an omen.

"I'm assuming it's bad," Itachi said. When she didn't reply he chuckled mirthlessly. "No pun intended but I saw this coming. A fair price for all the power that the Mangekyo has bestowed upon me."

Sora met his gaze. This time his eyes were black once again. "That's not the worst of your problems."

From the pouch hanging on her belt, Sora took out three bottles of pills. "I asked the owner's son to order these from the chemist while you slept. You're at the maximum dose now. Itachi," she took his hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "You know what that means, don't you?"

Itachi took one of the bottles and rolled it against his palm. "Once my heart stops responding to these, it's over."

"Right. And at the rate that you're using that cursed dojutsu, you're speeding up the process of killing your poor heart. We're talking months. That's all you're left with. Make them count."

Despite being around S-rank shinobi for years, it was only over a month ago that Shiori threw her first kunai. She talked herself into doing it, telling herself that if people were going to keep leaving her behind then she would have to learn how to look after herself. However, just like with chakra control she had a lot to learn. It didn't take a shinobi to tell that her aim was poor. Eight times out of ten the kunai she threw ended up slapping horizontally against the target rather than hitting it at its pointy end. With Itachi and Kisame preoccupied with extracting tailed beasts and bounty missions, Shiori had no choice but to figure out the gist of kunai-throwing on her own.

That evening she did just that. For the thirtieth time she heard the dull clank of metal against wood and watched as the weapon clattered to the ground. With a defeated sigh, she went after her lone apparatus.

"Itachi!" she exclaimed, suprised to see her handler standing in front of her as soon as she turned around to get back to her spot.

The Uchiha nodded at her in greeting, allowing a small smile to grace his lips.

"How are you feeling?" she asked, placing her hands on his arms, kunai forgotten on the ground.

"I've been better," he admitted, taking in her appearance. It was obvious that the past few months had not been kind to the both of them. Both appeared paler and more gaunt than they looked when they left Shimogakure.

An awkward silence fell between the two. Shiori dropped her hands to her side and stepped back, feeling embarrased. It wasn't that long ago when she bared her soul to him out of panic. His lack of reaction, even until now, made her wonder if it had been a wise thing to do.

"Anyway," she started. "It's good to finally see you. It would've been better if it were under different circumstances though."

'Like if you had come to me because you wanted to rather than to protect valuable Akatsuki-related information.'

"I agree with you," he replied. "However all things considered, we have a lot to talk about."

"Oh yeah?" Her hearbeat jumpstarted in her chest. This was it. Finally they were going to talk about-

"You haven't given me your mission reports yet."

"What?!" she spat out in disbelief. "What mission reports?"

"Before he was neutralized, Hidan-san mentioned a number of errands you were doing for him and Kakuzu-san. Surprisingly, I wasn't made aware of his beforehand."

"Because they weren't official missions, just stuff I did to get out of that dusty cellar they locked us in. The only official one I went in was the one with Konan-san."

Itachi raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "You haven't made a report about that either."

"Well it's not like I remembered you dropping by to say hi," she bit back. She had to admit, Itachi had a knack for making her fly off the handle using as few words as possible.

Seemingly unfazed by her emerging temper, he motioned at a lone bench on one corner of the large yard.

"You have a lot of talking to do. Shall we start?"

Without waiting for her, Itachi made his way towards it. Shiori picked up her dull kunai and trailed after him.

"Whoever thought poison would slow you down surely had it all wrong."

Itachi only listened half-heartedly as Shiori tried to recount as much of her so-called missions as she could. Barter missions. Intel-gathering missions. Surveying missions. He didn't really care. Truth be told he just wanted to talk to her. He had a plan on how to approach her once he caught her blurred figure lamely aiming at a nearby tree. However that quickly went out of the window once she faced him and he felt the proverbial butterflies start a riot in his stomach. He talked less for fear of sounding like a fool. He was still a proud Uchiha after all and Uchihas did not stutter. He figured that the surefire way to get a hold of his nerves was to venture into the familiar territory of death, destruction, and mandatory reports.

He let Shiori do all the talking while he decided on the best way to approach the subject they had been dancing around for so long. Then he started having doubts on whether he would approach it in the first place. He remembered his dream and the danger he would put her in once people would find out.

'She's already associated to you as your ward. She had been in constant danger since the first day you met her,' a voice in his head pointed out.

"-The pervert only knew him by the name of Shu, much like everyone else did. He runs his own butcher shop in Kawagishi village. Best meat in town from what Rui gathered. But for you guys, the more interesting part is the business deals he does in the shop's basement. It's where the bounty station is located."

"Impressive. All that information from just one kiss?" he asked curiously.

Shiori cringed. "No. I held on to his arm like an extra appendage for a couple of minutes. I mean, the guy thinks he's a hot shot so he didn't suspect a thing...I thought he didn't anyway...Not like that matters now." She twiddled her thumbs before continuing. "Anything else you want to talk about?"

They stared at each other for along time, both painfully aware of what she meant. Shiori quietly begged for him to breach the subject. Holding everthing back was suffocating her.

"Itachi-"

"Thank you. That would be all. We should head back inside. It's getting late. You're leaving with Konan-san at dawn, are you not?"

She nodded, refusing to break eye contact. She couldn't do this anymore, pretend that those feelings didn't exist when it was all she could think about.

'Talk to me please.'

"I'll walk you to your room."

He stood up and turned his back on her, facing the pale yellow lights of the quiet minshuku up ahead. Shiori also stood up and bored holes on his back.

"I really was over him, you know."

Itachi had taken one step before freezing like a statue, his eyes wide with surprise.

She took a deep breath and continued, "Sure, going back to Shimo brought back a lot of memories but that doesn't mean I want to relive them. So much has changed-no-everything changed after Iwagakure. It made me realize why you matter so much to me. I love you, Itachi."

It felt like someone squeezed all the air out of her. She had lost the ability to breathe in the long silence that followed her confession. That was it. There was no going back. The hardest part was she had no idea how Itachi was going to react to it. He didn't turn to look at her and instead, continued to stare straight ahead.

"Don't forget your kunai."

He made his way towards the minshuku and Shiori followed right behind him. She felt an odd combination of relief and humiliation which was dulled by the shock from the coldness of his reply.

She had anticipated two things to happen. Either he was going to reciprocate that love or reject her right then and there. She knew he was capable of doing both. The unexpected reply was like a bucket of water that tipped over head and it left her jaw hanging. A dull throbbing began at the pit of her stomach. She wanted to throw up. She only snapped out of her thoughts when she realized that they had reached the door leading to her room. She could feel him looking at her, perhaps feeling sorry for the foolish girl who misread everything. The thought made her burn with shame even more. She had to get away.

She quickly stepped into the room and slid the door close behind her when an arm stuck out between the panels. She looked up to meet his gaze, defeat written all over her face. He had an unreadable expression as his dark eyes searched hers.

"I know," he blurted out.

"...What?"

"I know. I overheard your conversation with Miyako-san. Later that day, when I told you about my plan to send you to Kawagakure, you assumed that I was acting out of resentment. I let you because it was easier that way...less chaotic than if I told you the truth."

"What's the truth?" she whispered, her mind struggling to come to terms with what he was saying. 'He knew all this time and he still sent me away?'

"That I wanted to forget about you."

His voice faltered, just a tiny hitch at the last word but she noticed. Itachi looked away.

"You...have consumed me. I couldn't stop thinking about you and those thoughts were taking over everything-my plans, my goals...Shimogakure proved that you've made me lose my self-control too. It was only a matter of time before people would start noticing. I knew I had to get rid of you before that happened. I thought that in doing so I could forget about you."

Shiori sighed in disbelief. "Well...did it work?"

When he met her gaze she saw a pair of Sharingan staring back at her. Itachi shook his head.

"Not even close."

His lips crashed onto hers before either of them realized what was happening. Unlike the few kisses they had shared before this was needy, angry, and urgent. Nothing about it felt enough. As their tongues fought for domination, all they could think of was 'more'.

Itachi stepped inside her room and deftly closed the door behind him. Without breaking the kiss, he maneuvered the two of them towards the center of the room. The back of Shiori's heel hit the futon, knocking her off-balance. With a surprised squeal she dragged the both of them down with Itachi landing on top of her. His elbows stopped his entire weight from crushing her.

"Are you okay?" she whispered worriedly, noticing him wince. She had seen Sora close the wound on his side but she did mention that he was going to be sore for the next few days.

"You need to stop worrying about me," he replied.

"I'll always worry about you and you know why."

He looked down at her, Sharingan on to try and take in every detail of her. Though much of his upper weight was supported with his elbows, his lower body was pressed flush against her hips making blood from his center crawl up to his head. His neck flushed red. His breaths came out in warm puffs.

"I couldn't tell you then...I can't tell you now..."

"Then show me."

Shiori's gaze landed on his link necklace, a gift he received from Juzo on his fourteenth birthday, the first birthday he spent with the Akatsuki. She hooked her index finger on the necklace's chain and tugged him downwards until his lips softly met hers. This time she didn't hold back.

She came face-to-face with herself from three years ago. She had been smiling widely at Miyako. The smile faltered when her old self turned to look at her, or rather, Itachi. He had cocked his head to the left while beside him, Kisame nudged him teasingly with his elbow.

She blinked once and then her head snapped sharply to the side. Along with it came a sharp sting on her cheek. Again it was her younger self throwing punches towards her (or Itachi). She noticed his gloved hands stopping her attacks before he knocked her off balance.

"I hate what I've become because you!"

She didn't know it then but despite not showing signs of emotions, guilt gnawed at him from within.

'Too bad. I like you just the way you are.'

The thought rang so clearly inside his head that it startled her as much as it surprised him. Shiori would never know if this was the first time he had these kinds of thoughts about her but it was the frist time he experienced that lack of self-control which he had been hell-bent on avoiding. As he neared his lips towards hers, he had the most unusual urge to kiss her. He fought against it just in time.

"Brilliant people oftentimes turn into fools when emotions come into play."

Sora's somber look appeared in front of her. It was during the aftermath of the mission she did with Deidara and Sasori.

"Her safety depends on how well you keep your emotions in check. Make sure Pain-sama never finds out."

At one point he had been confident enough to think that Sora was overreacting. He knew himself more than anybody. He was trained to lie and keep his emotions under lock and key even in his sleep.

Overlapping with the memories of Sora's warning were those of Mikoto's dressing him up when he was still very young.

"-because first and foremost you are an Uchiha. We feel emotions a bit more than other people do. That's why we end up loving too much. Personally I don't find anything wrong with that. This world needs all the love it can get."

His small chubby arms wrapped themselves around Mikoto's waist and he buried his face on her shirt. By the time he pulled away, he was in a small room in the outskirts of Earth country. Standing in front of him was her own reflection from over a year ago. She looked more jaded but also more determined to get her point across.

"Uchiha Itachi, you can't expect me to just stand and watch because you matter to me too!"

Still despite knowing her feelings for him, he tried to do what he thought was right. He alienated her to keep her safe. He refused to talk to her. He dragged Kisame into more volunteer missions to keep his mind busy. It only helped a little. Much to Shiori's surprise, she could see images of her pop up in the most random places while he did the most mundane of things. Once she saw her frowning face flash across his eyes while he was in bed with another woman. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't flattered. But she was also spooked.

Shiori snapped out of her trance to find Itachi nuzzling her neck. His left thumb drew lazy circles on her shoulder where the sleeve of her yukata had slipped off. She shivered at his warm touch.

"All this time?" she asked shakily.

He pulled away to meet her gaze. He had a furious blush running down the length of his cheeks and his eyes had a glint in them, a look that quickened her pulse.

"I thought I could fight it. I was determined to. There was too much at stake..."

His eyes trailed down to her chest. Her bra was exposed, the only piece of clothing that was between her and his bare hands. Feeling bold all of a sudden, Shiori took his hand and guided it beneath the undergarment to rest directly over the curve of her breast. She lifted her head and kissed him fervently.

It didn't take long for him to realize that he was losing the fight against his impulses. The more he stayed away from her, the more restless he got. Some days it was all he could think about. It was a growing obsession. And he realized with much fear and disbelief that the only way to get rid of this was to give in. Their first kiss in Iwagakure was as much of a game changer for him as it was for her. There was no denying his feelings to himself after that.

"I need you now..." she could hear him whisper from afar. A warm hand caressed the inside of her thigh and she moaned before losing herself in another memory.

It was of him and Kisame watching her, Kakuzu, and Hidan move further away from the both of them. From the heavy cloaks they had on, she was guessing it was right after they left Shimogakure.

"Of course I regret this," Kisame spat back. "She was useful to have around. Not to mention she can haggle."

"She's a burden we cannot afford right now," Itachi replied calmly despite feeling physically sick all of a sudden. He blamed the sudden shift in the climate. Kisame sighed and shrugged.

"Too bad. She makes you likeable."

"Likeable?"

"Well you're the genius. I'm sure you'll figure out why."

She floated back to reality and was greeted with butterfly kisses which were punctuated by a lingering kiss on her lips. She turned to see her left hand pinned beside her head, her fingers intertwined with his. A small smile graced her lips. He never said it out loud. Knowing Itachi, he probably never will. But his memories gave her unprecedented access to his thoughts and it was there, everywhere she looked, especially during the months following Shimogakure. Now after seeing everything, she had all the proof she needed.

"I made a mistake," he murmured, voice huskier than it was earlier.

"I never should have pushed you away like that. You're my ward. I should be the one keeping you safe."

Shiori nodded in agreement. "I love you too."

A cat-like grin spread across his face which disappeared behind a flurry of fabric and limbs. Shiori had pulled his shirt over his head, chuckling when the neckline got stuck under his chin.

As soon as he freed himself from the restricting fabric, his hands deftly undid the obi on her yukata, exposing the smooth olive skin of her belly. Bare legs wrapped themselves around his waist and with one move of her hips he had lost his inhibitions.

The minutes ticked away until there was nothing that stood between the two of them. This time there was nothing to hide. Both were at their most vulnerable and they wouldn't have it any other way. As the evening lights were doused and the small village fell into slumber, the two lovers became one, moving in harmony with each other. Shiori kept herself afloat from the influx of his memories by staring into his eyes. The Sharingan which used to fill her with so much fear now became her anchor in this moment in time that she was so desperate to stay in.

There was no other way to say it. Itachi felt good. With one hand he lifted her hips off the futon. Both groaned as he went deeper inside her. Shiori dug her nails on the slick skin of his back while he buried his face on the crook of her neck.

"Shiori...fuck," He let out a muffled string of expletives against her hair. Something about hearing him becoming unhinged made her more feral for him. She reached behind him and squeezed his ass. In retaliation he bit her lower lip drawing blood.

His hips moved faster, his rhythm becoming more erratic.

"Look at me," she gasped, taking his face with her hands as he pushed harder.

"Remember," he whispered.

Of course she would. How could she not? That night he gave all of himself to her. He wasn't Itachi of Konoha or Itachi of the Akatsuki. He was simply her Itachi. And in the cruel world they lived in, that night was the most that she could hope for.

Author's Notes: (bumps rating to M) Sorry kiddos. Had to be done. As for the last bit, it was bound to happen sooner or later...hopefully I've given that scene justice (both in the way it was written and with the support of scenes which happened prior to that). Didn't want it to be too explicit because heck I do not want to turn my the characters into porntarts...Also, I wanted to use it as a platform for the two characters to express their love for each other openly. Coz as you can tell by now these two aren't exactly saps and don't express affection that readily. Anyways, if I don't make sense right now it's prolly because it's 6:30 in the morning and I haven't slept the whole night. Hahaha!

Reviews would be appreciated. Seriously guys don't keep me in the friggin dark. Talk.