Disclaimer: The characters are Masashi Kishimoto's property, I own the OCs.

Characters age:

Akane: 18 (51)

Itachi: 18 (35)

Shisui: 22

Naruto / Sasuke: 13

Kakashi: 27

I was disturbed to say the least. The Hyuugas wanted me to get my old job back, which I was grateful for but…Hiashi-san had told me that he wanted his clan to have specifically made fuinjutsu kits. I was confused and asked him what he meant by this. He was surprised I wasn't aware that jounins now had those, like the ANBU. He showed me his, that was similar to Itachi's.

I was not exactly happy.

I was working on this when Itachi entered my apartment, groceries in his arms. He raised a brow at my focus and the papers and pencils on the table. It was not a big one, but it was still entirely used.

"You look upset."

"I am." He put the groceries away before leaning on the back of my chair to glance at what I was doing.

"I can get you in the clan library tomorrow."

"Hum…"

"What is it?"

"Are fuinjutsu kits really widespread now?" I asked him, raising my head to look at him. He stepped back.

"For a year and a half I'd say, but it's mainly for high-skilled shinobi." I shook my head.

"I can't believe they seriously stole my idea." I turned toward him. "The lock is a lot less impressive, but it's here."

"It looks elaborated to me." I rolled my eyes.

"Please, a five-year-old could do them." He smirked. "Chakra-related seals are my specialty."

"Which is why I know mine is way better."

"Flattery might get you somewhere if you also feel like cooking."

"It's very subtle." I grinned at him, and he shook his head. "You're spoiled."

"It's your fault." I stood up and stretched my back before I put my stuff away. "Did you have a nice day yesterday at your parents'?" He shrugged. "Sasuke told me it was frosty between your dad and you." He put the knife down and raised his eyes to the wall in front of him.

"When did he tell you that?"

"This morning. He asked me to train him. I'm not doing much much right now but he looked like he needed it." Itachi glanced at me curiously. "I don't know, I'm no longer a kunoichi here so with the stunt he pulled, maybe he feels more comfortable being around me than your clan or other Konoha shinobi."

"Hn."

"You didn't answer me."

"My parents know about us." I widened my eyes and was next to him in an instant.

"Wait, really?" He nodded. "And…and?"

"My mother is happy for us." I sighed in relief, a hand on my chest. "My father told me to put an end to it and I told him off."

"Itachi, it's no…"

"Don't worry about it." His eyes found my insecure ones. "Really. My clan is alive, but it doesn't mean I still don't have my issues with them and their ways. I refuse to let them dictate my life any longer." He kissed my forehead. "If my father cannot be happy for me as his son and stop trying to marry me off, it is his own problem, not mine."

"Wow, what do you mean marriage?" He raised a brow.

"They're trying to marry me off to another Uchiha since they discovered I was sick. I guess they started to worry about the clan head's bloodline and decided to take matters in their own hands." I just…stared. "I'm not marrying anyone Akane."

"Huh…it's just…a very serious thing they want you to do." Was his clan…I knew they were traditionalists, and that much like the Hokage, there were Elders whose voices were almost as strong as Fugaku-san's but…

"I'm not marrying anyone but you, I made sure he knew that so don't worry." I widened my eyes. He sighed a little. "What is it now?"

"You told your dad you wanted to marry me?" He seemed confused.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"Well it's just…marriage?"

"We are serious, aren't we?" I licked my dry lips.

"I mean yes but…I don't know, marriage doesn't mean much." He frowned. "My parents were married, and you know how well my dad…"

"Your father is not the norm." He stabbed the cutting board, the knife now stuck in it. "I want to marry you at some point."

"It's…sudden."

"It's really not."

"Huh?" He sighed.

"I wanted to propose to you before as well." I gaped a little. "I never did because I doubted being my widow would be a good thing for you, but I wanted to. I even knew where we could have…"

"The twins were the result of a one-night stand to Konoha, it would have been problematic," I muttered, not knowing what else to say. He frowned deeply.

"A one-night stand?" I shrugged. "Hn." I gulped. "Why are you so against the idea?"

"It's just…I don't want to be part of your clan I guess? At least how it is right now, it's really not…" He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Don't overthink it Akane. You'd marry me, not my clan."

"Your clan is a part of you."

"But it's not me." He slipped an arm around my waist and kissed me chastely on the lips. "You said you wanted us to take our time anyway, so don't worry about this, or my father." He kissed my cheek. "I know I don't want to let them ruin our happiness." I pursed my lips and nodded.

"Would you let me borrow your kit?" I inquired, changing the subject.

"Of course, but why?"

"Make fuinjutsu kits like these my official property." He went back to cooking.

"Shouldn't you talk with Kushina-san first?"

"She didn't say a word about them to me, so why should I bother?" He shot me a quick glance.

"It is going to end badly, that's all." I crossed my arms and he sighed. "Never mind."

"So tomorrow, this and library, great."

"Actually, I was thinking of one more thing?" I raised a brow and smirked. I knew it was perverted but I didn't care as I ran my hand up his back and kissed his shoulder.

"We sleep in?" I asked him in his ear. I saw the corner of his lips rising as the shivers on his skin didn't escape my eyes.

"Very, very tempting my love, but no." I moved back with a pout. "I wanted to have a real date."

"Oh. Well, food is always up there as well." I took a deep breath when he put the vegetables in the frying pan. "What are you thinking?"

"A picnic at our spot?" I blinked. My silence made him glance at me instead of the pan.

"Sorry, it's just I have not set a foot there in years but yes, I'd love to." I shook my head. "Do you want me to do something?"

"No it's fine, I've got it covered."

"You don't have to spoil me this much, you know that, right?" He lowered the burner and turned toward me.

He quickly took my thigh to lift it to his hip and kissed the life out of me. After a few minutes he pulled back. Yours truly was still in a haze and speechless, which he saw from the smug look in his eyes.

"I don't have to kiss you like this, but you like it." I pouted. He laughed a little. "Let me spoil you."

"And then I'll forget how to do anything on my own."

"I'm not against the idea of you needing me." I rolled my eyes and put my foot back down.

I leaned on his shoulders to tiptoe, so I was at eye-level with him. His eyes really were beautiful, the onyx shade was deep, but you could see the pupil from the black shade when you looked closely enough. His sharingans were intoxicating, the red showing danger and yet seduction, attracting you despite yourself. They were hypnotizing when he was not even doing anything. I preferred his eyes their natural color though, they were warm and safe.

"You can't stare at me with the number of times you told me not to stare at you," he whispered against my lips tauntingly.

"I was just realizing something that makes me happy." He raised a curious brow. "I could always see a spark of warmth in your eyes before, but now you've stopped hiding it and it made me realize how little I was seeing before."

"My eyes were not warm back then." I smiled faintly.

"You can't fool someone from the Bloody Mist, putting masks on to hide is normal. I saw through the cracks." He pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Itachi?"

"You can't say deep things like this out of the blue Akane," he whispered in his deep, soothing voice.

"Huh?"

"I am cooking and want to take you to bed now." I giggled.

"Too bad!"

I did go on my bed and adopted a sensual position just to taunt him. He gazed at me, shook his head and turned around.

"Dude!" I stopped the chopsticks with my pillow.

I sweatdropped at the way they were actually stuck in it and how Itachi pretended he had not just thrown them.

Seriously, he was impossible sometimes.

"Akane," he called her, knocking on the door of the bathroom.

"You said we were leaving at noon, I still have fifteen minutes to get ready."

"Are you almost done?"

"Yes, now shush!" Itachi shook his head and checked his bag. The food was ready, drinks, blanket, everything was in there.

The only thing missing was Akane. They would go to the Uchiha library in the afternoon as earlier, she was quick to make her way to the Hokage Tower to officially make the idea of fuinjutsu kits hers. He was not there, but when he asked her how Minato had received the news, she just scoffed and stated he couldn't deny the truth.

"Here, happy now?" He looked at Akane up and down.

It was April, she was wearing a long, flowy dress. It was emerald green with long, loose sleeves. There was a small cleavage, his eyes catching her necklace immediately. Then she had a light warm brown on her lids with some mascara and a pink nude lipstick.

"From the way you're looking at me, you're happy I put some care in my appearance." She smirked and took black sandals with thick heels.

He just stared at her as she took her purse, a sweater, put her shoes on and glanced at him expectantly, twirling her keys in her hands. She had two black hairpins keep the left side of her hair from falling in her face, her long bangs framing her face on the other side.

"You're beautiful," he complimented her in a whisper. She smiled at him.

"Thank you, you're not bad yourself." He looked down at himself, smoothing his long-sleeved shirt. Akane had told him he looked good in these with the sleeves rolled-up if they were tight, but not too tight.

She had clearly stated she wanted to be able to look at his 'defined arms' through his shirts. He didn't have much to say to her choices when they went shopping either. He had his preferences but kept his view of clothes as something necessary and nothing more.

He couldn't deny he wasn't unhappy about not having a high collar in front of his mouth. The appreciative look in Akane's eyes was welcomed as well.

"Really, with your built, these kinds of shirts are hot 'tachi." He raised a brow.

"My built?"

"Muscular but lean. With jeans and your jacket, and your necklace, you actually look like you're nineteen soon." He furrowed his brows. "And that you have a personality."

"Wow," he muttered, closing his bag. "I'm not sharing dessert with you now."

"You know what I mean!" He ignored her as he left her apartment.

Akane locked the door behind her and ran up to him, slowly because of her heels. Itachi was looking around, hoping she would want to move to a bigger place soon. She had what she needed in her studio apartment, but he really wanted to live tog…

No, one thing at a time. They had just gotten back together; he couldn't get too greedy.

When they reached their spot, he put the blanket on the grass and they sat down, Akane removing her shoes immediately.

"It was a terrible idea," she mumbled.

"Why did you wear them then?" She sighed.

"It looked good, and I thought I'd wear heels because it's a date."

"You look good with them, but you look better when you can walk without pain." She smiled sheepishly.

"I'll keep that in mind."

They ate, Akane happy with what he had made. He smiled and wiped the rice from her cheek when she told him she could eat an onigiri in one go.

"It was great," she said, laying down on the blanket, patting her stomach. "You've overdone yourself."

"Of course." A comfortable silence settled as she was enjoying the soft wind while he was staring at the scenery of Konoha in front of them, some cherry blossoms still pink in the village.

"You've never asked about them." He looked down. "I mean, it's a little bit awkward but…you've never brought the twins up again."

"What do you want me to say?" he asked her sternly.

"…I don't know." He sighed.

"I want to ask about them, you can be sure of that. I want to know about them but…it's like asking about your life after I died." She looked at him. "It will just remind me I wasn't there once more." She straightened up to move closer to him. She hugged his arm and put her head on his shoulder.

"I guess I've never seen things from that angle." She took a deep breath. "Can I talk about them a little?"

"Of course, if you want to." He glanced at her from the corner of her eyes. "Do you miss them?"

"Everyday. They're always there, at the back of my mind. My only comfort is knowing there's no way your brother, Naruto and Kakashi would have left them to fend for themselves." He pursed his lips.

"Did they get along with Sasuke?"

"Akiko perfectly well, she loved him. Shisui tended to have a preference for Naruto because he inherited a lot from the Uzumaki bloodline, and because it pissed Sasuke off." He smirked. Akiko and Shisui, she had named them after her mother and this moron of a best friend he had. "They had your eyes." He looked at the sky. "There were times it was so disturbing to look at them because I'd see you." He gulped at that.

"Once I can use my chakra and my sharingans again…would you be okay if I saw them? In your memories?" She raised her head to him as he bent his toward her.

"Of course," she whispered with a small smile. He smiled faintly and kissed her forehead.

The silence was appeasing. Akane yawned after a few minutes.

"I'm going to fall asleep at this rhythm."

"You can, I'll wake you up." She shook her head.

"Your brother is coming." He raised a brow.

"Why?"

"I'm a sensor, not a mind-reader." He pursed his lips.

"We could go."

"It would be mean." She turned around. "Hey Sasuke!" Itachi raised his eyes to the sky when Akane moved away. Sasuke sat down between them.

"What are you doing?"

"We had lunch," Akane told his brother, ruffling his hair. Sasuke put his hair back in place and glanced at the remaining food. "Want something?" Sasuke nodded. Akane turned her back to them to get something.

Itachi elbowed his brother in the ribs. Sasuke punched him in the thigh. They glared at each other.

"Here, there are some onigiris lef…guys?" Akane was confused at the display, and they stopped, Itachi clearing his throat.

"Thanks Nee-san."

"Is everything okay?" She asked as Sasuke ate his onigiri.

"Fine, but we have to go somewhere." Akane raised a brow.

"True but…"

"We couldn't train this morning, we can't this afternoon either?" Akane flicked his brother's forehead.

"I'm not dressed for the occasion anyway. Just take a break today Sasuke." Sasuke pointed his thumb at Itachi.

"You know that just because you are dating doesn't mean he's the most important."

"I'm right here," Itachi reminded Sasuke sternly.

"If you're worried about me spending all my time with him don't worry. I know you know I know." What? Sasuke nodded, so clearly, he knew what she was talking about.

"And I'm still your favorite Uchiha."

"Well duh." Itachi's stern eyes went from the back of Sasuke's head to Akane, who averted her eyes a second after meeting his gaze. "Tomorrow?"

"I'll come at your place at nine."

"Don't impose yourself on others," Itachi scolded him, his eyes slightly narrowed at his brother.

"Am I?"

"No, it's fine." Was Akane against him on purpose? "What, don't you start reeducation soon?"

"Next week."

"Oh. Well, I have to go to the Hyuugas anyway too, so…"

"Fuinjutsu?" She nodded. "Can I come?"

"Huh, not sure it's clan confidential but I'll ask." Itachi stood up and started putting everything away. "We have to go Sasuke, sorry."

"Where are you going?"

"Your clan library for some research."

"About what?"

"About none of your business Sasuke," Itachi said, getting annoyed by his brother pestering them. "Why don't you go check on Sakura and how her training is doing?"

"Tsunade-sama doesn't want anyone interrupting."

"Then learn the basis of medical ninjutsu." Sasuke glanced at Akane.

"You don't know what you're getting into." Akane smiled sheepishly and gave him a brief hug.

"No, I think I know." She put her shoes back on.

"You're very pretty Nee-san." Itachi raised a brow at his brother.

"Oh, thank you Sasuke, that's sweet."

"Someone has to say it."

"I've got it covered little brother." Sasuke shrugged under his brother's sharp gaze.

"See you tomorrow."

Itachi was quiet until the Compound was in sight. What was Sasuke playing at exactly? Crashing their date like this, and Akane was just letting him…it was annoying.

The second Sasuke was there, it was as if he was invisible.

Damn it, he was jealous of his thirteen-year-old brother.

"Oh huh…" Itachi glanced at her above his shoulder and the doubt in her eyes. Nervosity was pouring from her whole body.

Right, Uchiha Compound.

"No, you know what, I can't avoid it forever if I'm with you," she stated firmly, nodding her head. In response, he took her hand in his. "Wait Itachi, are you sure?"

"I'm not hiding you." She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

"Okay, alright, I can…let's do it." He gave her hand a squeeze and they entered the Compound.

He was proud of her. As they walked to the library, she kept her head high despite the curious, skeptical and sometime hostile glances she would receive. He had to keep himself from glaring when they were getting too much, so he settled for squeezing her hand instead, which she returned.

She exhaled deeply once in the building.

"We better be efficient because I'm not doing that every day."

"You did great."

"If we go home without me punching one of your kinsmen, I'll accept the compliment." He led her to a section at the back of the building.

"You take care of this section; it relates History of the world before the establishment of the village system. I'm going to the private section to dig in my clan's history."

"And I can't?"

"We're not married, are we?" He smirked when she rolled her eyes.

"Get to work Uchiha," she muttered, starting to rummage through the shelves.

He knew the section a little, so it didn't take long for him to get old scrolls and books. When he left the room, maybe twenty minutes later, he was surprised by hearing Akane's hushed voice.

"You have nothing to do here," another female voice said louder. Itachi almost sighed when he recognized Izumi's voice.

"And I have told you, Itachi took me here. You take it to him if you're not happy, but for now scram."

"Izumi, hello," Itachi said before it could escalate. He knew Akane would not have patience with Izumi.

"Itachi-kun, she can't be here!"

"Keep your voice down please," he asked her quietly. She bit on her bottom lip. "There is something the clan can potentially have information about, I took Akane here, that's all."

"But she's not one of us."

"Neither was your dad," Akane muttered nonchalantly. Izumi widened her eyes and looked at her in animosity.

"What did you just say?"

"I said that your xenophobia is weird knowing your dad was not an Uchiha." Izumi clenched her fists by your side.

"Don't talk about him!" Izumi was starting to shake in anger. Akane was completely unfazed, and he recognized the way her posture changed to become stiffer, how her eyes hardened.

She was going to Bloody Mist kunoichi.

"What, it's true isn't it?" Itachi grabbed Izumi's wrist when she readied herself to punch Akane.

"Akane, enough," he scolded her coldly. She scoffed.

"Let her and let her see the consequences of an Uchiha hitting someone from Kiri and create a diplomatic incident." He frowned, not in the mood for her provocative behavior right now. She rolled her eyes. "Fine Itachi-sama." She put the book she had found in his arms. "I'm done, you can keep looking on your own." She left in an Hiraishin.

It had turned ugly real quick, with the last person Akane wanted to see.

"What are you thinking? Do you know the kind of rumors circulating about you and her since she got back?"

"I am."

"Actually, it has been a year, since you've left for this long mission last year. Were you involved in what happened in Kiri?"

"I was." Izumi seemed taken back and something clicked in her brown eyes.

"Are you…are you and Akane…"

"Dating? Yes." She took a step back, almost as if she had been physically hit.

"With the way she just treated you?" She was upset about it?

"I think I know her better than you do Izumi. I'm happy." He felt bad when he saw her eyes getting wet, but he could not help it. He was not in love with her and was happy.

"Where do you think it is going to lead you?" she asked him in a whisper. "She's not worth the risks."

"She's worth more." She left in a hurry.

He was done in an hour. He was surprised when he didn't see Akane at her place. He put the books on the table and put what they had used for their picnic away. Akane came back half an hour later, sweaty and tired.

"You trained?" She nodded and accepted the glass of water. She drank it in one go.

"I'm not apologizing," she said immediately.

"I'm not asking you to." She raised uncertain eyes to him. "Izumi cannot tell you whether or not you can be in some places in Konoha, even if it is the Compound." She pursed her lips and nodded.

"Okay. I need to take a shower." She went to the bathroom, leaving the door open slightly. He debated continuing their conversation or waiting until she was out of the shower but ultimately, he went to the bathroom as well when he heard the shower running.

"She's not a threat my love," he assured her, watching her blurry silhouette through the glass of the shower door.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to like seeing her around you. I mean you…" She groaned to herself. "Gimme five minutes." Five minutes later, she stretched out her hand for the towel. Itachi gave her and she left the shower with her towel wrapped around her. "You gave her a…strange last moment, and you're soft on her, and she's in love with you. I thought for years we were done for, and that Izumi was your endgame. I can get mean and snappy but…it's a complicated mindset to get out of."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Stop seeing her?" He was taken back. It seemed…harsh. "Sorry, I'm still upset by her almost jumping at me for being there."

"Do you really want me to stop seeing her altogether?" She raised her eyes at him. "Is it jealousy or insecurities?" She chuckled bitterly.

"I'd get jealous if some girl you don't care about managed to get your attention for too long maybe. Izumi is important for you, no matter how much I hate it because I used to…it's insecurities, it will pass."

"I don't know if it can make you feel better, but I barely see her. I don't hang out with her anymore." Akane did seem relieved to hear it. "I had not seen her in months until today."

"Oh. Well, I am happy to hear it." He pulled her in his embrace. "You're my boyfriend. It's all mine." He smiled faintly in her hair, wondering how he would react if the roles were reversed.

It would be the same, except he would have taken her with him before leaving. He remembered the jealousy when she would talk to Darui back then, or Shisui, or just earlier with Sasuke.

"I'm going to get dressed and then let's start diving into those books." She kissed the corner of his lips and started to get dressed in her Pjs.

"Why am I here Kakashi?" He looked…awkward.

"I don't know what you've done, but Kushina-san demanded I bring you here and to use force if I needed to." I shook my head.

"I see. Let's get this over with." I entered the place. Kushina was at the kitchen table, sitting in Minato's spot, who was sitting in Naru's spot quietly. "Great, a family reunion!"

"Akane, don't make this worst please," Minato asked me quietly. His elbows were resting on the table, and he was holding his head, almost in despair.

"How come my seals were rejected today?" Kushina asked me directly.

"I'd say it's because fuinjutsu kits like those spread around your ranks were my idea, so I made sure it was officially my idea now."

"Oh come on, all of this for that!?"

"You stole my idea!"

"I was inspired by it!"

"Please, I've seen the seals, the locking one. It's not 'inspired', it's copied! You know the drill! Fifty percent or more in common is copying if the person who invented it is still alive!"

"It's an Uzumaki seal, it's as much yours as it is mine!"

"It's not just that!" She raised a brow, the frustration still visible on her face. "The inner working of the locking seal, you couldn't understand it properly, could you?" She was taken back.

"Well, not all of it exactly but…"

"Yeah, because it's not Uzumaki, it's from the Land of Water!" She widened her eyes. "You're a great Fuinjutsu user Aunty, but you're lacking in foreign Fuinjutsu. The lock? It's directly inspired from the jinchuriki seals from the Hidden Mist and a few other stuff. My first official teacher was Harusame-san when it came to 'functional' seals let's say." I crossed my arms. "I made Itachi a fuinjutsu kit as a gift, it was not made to be reproduced, especially behind my back. You dig even deeper, you'd see some influence from Kumo and Suna as well, which is…not something any of you would know, only me."

"Why didn't you just tell me this instead of having it labeled as yours?"

"Because it is mine and I should have done so years ago. I'm your niece, sure, I get it, but you don't do that to another Seal Master's work, especially if they're neck-deep in another village trying to stop a fucking tyranny."

"Look, she is sorry so can we please…" Minato tried to say, but Kushina sat him back down quickly.

"Don't speak for me! I was wrong, maybe, but so was she for going behind my back and attack my reputation as a Seal Master!" I scoffed.

"You did that on your own with that lapse of judgement of yours!"

"DON'T PUSH IT DATTEBANE!"

"OR WHAT!?" She threw the table in the wall, her hair floating around her head. I froze for a second, glanced at Kakashi, took his hand and ran away.

"UZUMAKI AKANE GET BACK HERE YOU BRAT!"

"I know you're angry, rightfully so, but maybe it was not the right choice of words!" Kakashi told me as we were running.

"Shut up and run, you're the one who brought me here!"

The next day, when Itachi came back from his first day of reeducation, he was exhausted and pissed. At me.

"What did I do?"

"Kushina-san is angry at you and is making me pay for it." I grinned sheepishly.

"Wow, that's low." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Hey, she had it coming!"

"She was wrong and you were petty." I averted my eyes. "Just apologize."

"But…"

"You do know directly going to get your seal labelled as yours put her in a delicate situation, right?" I pursed my lips. "Akane."

"It's years of work ripped off from me!" I defended myself.

"Is it worth ruining your relationship with your family?" he retorted, going to the bathroom.

Damn it, I hated when he was right and throwing it right in my face.

I entered the bathroom a few minutes later, Itachi leaning on the sink looking at himself. I ran a finger up his spine and kissed his shoulder. I hugged his waist and put my chin on his shoulder, meeting his eyes in the mirror.

"I hate you sometimes."

"I know." He clasped one of his hands over mine. "Talk to her."

"I know. Was it that bad?" His deadpan told me everything. "She won't do anything you can't handle."

"Of course not. It doesn't mean she's going easy on me."

"You can handle it, can't you? If you can handle me, surely you…"

"You're not putting up much of a fight."

"Itachi, I meant sparring. Actual sparring." He raised a dubious brow.

"My bad, we haven't done that in a long time." I shook my head.

Before I left, I slapped his butt. I was already out of the room when he called my name, shocked.

Ha, he wasn't the only who could do that.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have liked it, please do let me know in reviews! Thanks to the Guest(s) for the reviews!

Bye!