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

Characters age:

Akane: 18 (51)

Itachi: 18 (35)

Shisui: 21

Naruto / Sasuke: 13

Kakashi: 26

I woke up with a dull ache between my legs. I opened my eyes and saw the wall, and my clothes at the bottom of it. It took me a few seconds to get out of my sleepiness and remember the night before. The warm hand moving gently on my stomach made me remember everything.

The hand was attached to an arm, with thin black hairs, and as I looked up, I saw the anbu tattoo.

"Morning," I greeted Itachi in a whisper. His eyes were closed but he smiled at me.

"Morning."

Right, right. Itachi and I hooked up, did it what, at least three times, and fell asleep. We cuddled for a bit, I went to the bathroom to pee, he made me take a hot shower and didn't miss the opportunity to slip in it as well, and we went to bed. He pulled me on his chest, did not let me go and I fell asleep like this, only with clean panties on.

I leaned my face against his bicep.

"Flex." He did without a word, and I sighed deeply.

Arms were my weak point in a man, for sure. I kissed it lovingly and he stopped flexing, kissing my head.

"You still have a thing for my arms?"

"You still have a thing for my butt?" I retorted, turning around to face him. He smirked. "It's your arms, and chest, and abs, and butt, and hands and face and…" He kissed me. "You're hot."

"So are you." I blushed a little and ran my finger on his collarbone.

"Is that why you're so touchy-feely now?" He raised a brow. "I don't hate it, it's just…not what I was used to before, but then even in Konoha you…"

"I was trying to be better at it, I told you before." Oh. "Is it too much?" I shook my head.

"No, it was a nice change, that's all."

"…it's easier when Tobi won't use you to get to me." That…would do it.

"What now?" He leaned his chin on my head, his hand rubbing the skin of my lower back.

"Nobody has to know what happens here," he whispered. "Then…we can talk about it when everything is over."

"It…"

"I don't…want to talk for now," he admitted quietly, pressing me against him. I didn't really want to talk either.

I looked up at him. He cupped my cheek, and I kissed him before hugging him tightly, burying my face in his warm chest. It was my doing anyway. Yesterday, I heard him come home and go straight in the shower. My legs took me there before I could understand it. My body was going for what it wanted, so Itachi. I knew he liked it when I was submissive so I just…got on my knees and then the rest happened.

I didn't even regret it. It felt so damn good.

My stomach roared. Itachi chuckled in my hair, hugging my head and I glared at his chest. Damn it…

"Breakfast it is then," he said lightly. "Food of course." I pouted against him. He must have felt it because he gave my butt a squeeze. "Don't worry, I'm not nearly done with you yet." My lower stomach warmed up at that.

He got up and got dressed under my watchful eyes. He glanced at the door and came back on the bed, giving me one last kiss on the lips, then one on the forehead before going to the kitchen.

I took his pillow and buried my burning face in it, enjoying his scent lingering on the fabric. God, that was…

For a whole month, this continued. We would go on about our day and embrace each other passionately at night. Sometimes it would be during the day as well, especially when we were bored hiding here. Itachi did not shy away from touching me in any way he could, sometimes deciding to use his fingers between my legs as I was cutting carrots, sometimes just grazing my hip with his hand as he walked past me.

The apartment was not big, but he always seemed to linger around me. I was fighting against getting used to it though. It was temporary, just a way to feel less alone and to evacuate stress, not…a relationship. Itachi was being so sweet and thoughtful; it was making it hard not to get used to that but…we were not…

I would not get in a relationship with him again. I didn't want to be hurt again, and even if it felt like we were in a safe bubble where it was just us, reality was not like this and he'd go home, and I'd go…wherever I would go. His clan and Konoha were still there. It was not like before, where he'd come see me when he had no mission from the Akatsuki and where nobody cared who he was seeing.

I smiled faintly with nostalgia. It was easier back then, even with the time limit we had.

"Akane?" I raised my head and glanced at Itachi. His face was serious, nothing like the laid-back one I had gotten used to in the past month. "Nekobaa gave me a message."

"Minato?" Itachi had told me that his clan had no choice but to let the Hokage use this place in case of emergency.

I had asked him once, as we were cuddling in bed if it was okay for me to be here. He told me 'yes' and that by joining Konoha, his clan had accepted to put their services for the good of the village first and foremost, and it included their weaponry if it was necessary.

"My father." I stood up. "He's coming here in two days to give us some news." I pursed my lips.

"I see. What else?"

"He said Kou and Yasuo were coming." I was taken back.

I cared about them, but I had to admit I had not thought much of these two for the past five years. Going back to Kiri made me go back into my years in Kiri, almost as if Konoha had been a dream. Well, except for Root.

It went to show how Kiri had marked me as a kunoichi, a lot more than five years serving in Konoha.

"They must have grown up a lot." He pinched the bottom of my shirt to pull me closer to him.

"There are…things you don't know." I raised a brow. "Yasuo left the clan a year ago." I widened my eyes at him. "The failed coup and Kou being stabbed did a number on him as Kou told me and ultimately, he no longer wants to be associated with it." That was…Yasuo wanted to make his clan and parents proud though. "He also was, and still is bitter about you leaving because of the clan."

"Huh?" He smirked bitterly.

"He had a massive crush on you Akane, whether you believe it or not." I averted my eyes. "With so many things happening in so little time…he snapped. He doesn't even talk to Izumi anymore." Right, she existed.

Itachi must have sensed my mood shifting because he slipped his arm around my waist smoothly to pull me against him.

"Kou had an idea of what you were doing in the Mist though."

"Really? You're still friends with him, right?"

"I didn't talk to him for a couple of years at first, but yes." I smiled a little.

"That's good." He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his lips ghosting over his own love bites. I shivered in anticipation. "I hope it is good news."

"Hn." I pursed my lips. "Let's hope it is." He pulled back and cupped my face. "You've recovered well, but don't overdo it unless you have no other choice." I rolled my eyes.

"I know. The same goes to you, I remember you going to your Mangekyou a little too easily." He poked my forehead.

"I know what I am doing."

"So am I. You're not the only qualified shinobi around Itachi, you need to stop thinking that."

"I don't think that." I raised a dubious brow. He leaned his forehead against mine. "I don't want you to get hurt, that's all." I averted my eyes. He sighed deeply. "Don't look away when I'm saying things like this, or I am going to think you only want me for my body."

"Really, who's the dramatic one?" I muttered under my breath, pressing my face just under his chin. He chuckled. "I kind of want to get out of Sora-ku. No offence, but it's…a sad place to live." He leaned his chin on my head.

"I agree." He kissed the crown of my head. "But it has its perks, doesn't it?" Like our nocturnal activities.

"Very enjoyable ones."

For the following two nights, Itachi was a lot more tender and gentler. Not that he was not usually, but he had a lot of sexual frustration to evacuate, and so did I. However, for these two nights he made it long and sensual, making sure I was enjoying everything he was doing. I was returning it, of course. I couldn't get enough of running my hands on his skin and feel the muscles built from years of fighting beneath it, or the small scars he had making me want to kiss them until they disappeared.

I felt small when he had me against him on under him, and I loved it a lot. The way he was firm, keeping me in place yet never hurt me never failed to…

"Akane?" I glanced at Itachi in the mirror. He was standing behind me and I could feel the warmth of his body radiating from him. "Are you ready?" I nodded. He took the tip of my ponytail between two fingers and looked at it in thoughts. "I'm glad I kept you from dying it darker." He grazed the back of my neck with his lips and left. "Let's go."

I followed him.

We walked through the empty streets and alleys of Sora-ku, feeling some eyes on us. The few people living here knew we were not from around here and were suspicious. This place was not for the faint of heart.

"Yo, Itachi, Akane," Hina greeted us. Itachi gave her some catnip, much like when we first got here. "Fugaku-san's here already."

"I see, thank you." Itachi glanced at me. I buried my hands in my pockets and walked past him.

Time to go back to reality.

His father's stern gaze was the first thing he saw when they entered the room. They were not in Nekobaa's office but another room, bigger. Yasuo and Kou had been talking to each other until he entered the room, but their gaze went above his shoulder to their ex-teammate. Yasuo widened his eyes a little, which irked him. He didn't like what he was seeing in his fellow Uchiha's gaze.

"Hi," Akane said awkwardly. Kou unhooked his back pouch from his belt and threw it at her. It landed in her forehead as he had moved aside, not wanting to get caught in the crossfire. He knew how these two could get.

Akane rubbed her forehead, the pouch in her hand.

"What the…"

"She's real," Kou stated flatly, pointing his finger at her. She glared at him, opened the pouch and poured what it contained on the floor. "Bitch."

"Bitch yourself, bitch." They stepped toward each other glaring daggers at the other.

Their faces split into smiles, and they hugged each other, Kou hitting Akane's back maybe a little bit too strongly.

"Good to see you haven't changed," the Hyuuga stated when they broke their embrace. Then he put his hand to his forehead. "Well, you're shorter now."

"Rude." He shrugged. "But it's good to see you haven't changed either." She leaned on the side a little. "Hey Yas…" He grabbed her wrist and dragged her outside without a word.

"I'll go keep an eye on them sensei," Kou told his father, who nodded.

"What is the news?" His father's harsh stare would not leave him.

"Kakashi was supposed to replace you."

"Kakashi-san was sent to tell me he could if I wanted to. My presence was more needed here."

"Was it really?" Itachi narrowed his eyes at his father.

It seemed to reach him because eventually, Fugaku sighed.

"There's no point in fighting now." Itachi agreed, but having his father and clan scrutinize his movements was making him lose patience. "Jiraya-sama found some Mist shinobi hiding in the Land of Frost, in the Land of Hot Water, the Land of Tea and the Land of Wave. They have started to regroup on a small island in the Land of Water."

"I thought the borders were closed."

"They are. There is a scroll for Akane, apparently, she will understand." He nodded. "We don't have anything about the casualties, but I know not all of the rebels left the country or even Kiri."

"Some were taken prisoners then."

"What about that genjutsu? Was it familiar?"

"No, in a way it was very similar to Shisui's. The Mizukage's consciousness and the Sanbi's were forced to sleep while they continued living normally on the outside. It took me a few hours to break it safely."

"Hum, I can't think of one genjutsu that could do that." Neither could he. "Have you had any attack recently?"

"I'm fine."

"You're not answering. You've missed your medical appointment, Itachi." True, he had thought about it once he had had his attack.

"I have had one but I'm fine Father." His father frowned.

"You've also missed another meeting." It took him a few seconds to understand.

"You're not putting me into an arranged marriage."

When the Elders of the clan heard about his condition, they had decided he should marry and secure an heir as soon as possible. A boy, of course.

He knew Akane and him would have the cutest daughter though.

Anyway, he was not going to do that. Akane already had his heart, and he would not marry anyone else. Their relationship had taken a very good turn, and he would not give that up. He could not picture himself touching another woman, just thinking about it made his skin crawl.

"Would you stop thinking that's what I want for five seconds?" his father asked him, clearly irritated. Ever since the Uchiha debacle years ago, his relationship with his father had never been the same.

Itachi knew it was coming from him. He just…kept his life away from his clan's eyes, and it included his father. His mother had told him already, like Sasuke, that his father was suffering from the distance between his son and him, but since Izumi had told him the Uchihas had used her to push Akane away, he just couldn't. He wanted to protect his privacy, even from his father and he was sorry if his father felt bad about it, but it would not change anytime soon.

"Was there anything else relevant to our situation with Kiri?"

"Regroup, that's all. Akane should be back to normal, right?" He nodded.

"Sensei, Yasuo doesn't want to let Akane go and says he's bringing her back with us," Kou droned at them, only his head visible in the doorway. Fugaku sighed. "He's saying there's space in his basement, it's getting weird."

"I knew something like this would happen," his father sighed as Itachi left the room. He turned around the corner and saw Akane patting Yasuo's back awkwardly.

"And it's not doable you know, your neighbors might know who I am and then you have anbus coming for me," she said lightly.

Yasuo was hugging her, but also slouching on her, his face in her hair. Akane was not comfortable, he could see that. Yasuo's embrace was not a friendly one and apparently, he couldn't get a hint.

"Akane." She looked at him, mouthing at him to help her. Yasuo raised his head enough to look at him.

It was enough for Itachi to catch the red of the Sharingan briefly. Did he think he had a shot with Akane? As if he would let that happen.

"So, anything interesting?" she asked him, Yasuo reluctantly letting go of her. Were they tears in his eyes?

Was it more than a crush?

"Itachi?" He glanced at her. She was next to him now, a curious expression on her face.

"We're going to leave soon; I'll tell you more later." When they would be alone.

He had spent almost two months alone with Akane and now that there were people they both knew with them, he wanted to grab her, go back to their place and keep her in bed with him.

"Okay." He nodded at Yasuo, who was staring at their exchange with clear jealousy.

He used to hide it better than that before. Too bad for him, he was the one lucky enough to see Akane in the most intimate settings.

Akane punched his shoulder weakly, bringing him back to reality.

"Akane." She glanced at his father. "Come here for a second." His love glanced at him, panic in her eyes. He smiled a little, even if he had no idea what his father wanted with her. She closed the door behind her.

"Itachi." He looked at Kou, who was a lot more serious now. "Can you brief us quickly about the situation there?"

"We left when the revolutionaries attacked Kiri during Akane's execution." Yasuo was next to his friend in a second.

"Execution?"

"She has been a prisoner of Kiri for two months, then this. There are civil wars in the country but when we left, the Mizukage was no longer in the village so who knows who is in charge."

"If Kiri was corrupted, then the most logical would be the most corrupted people in the village should be in charge to keep it as it is," Kou suggested.

Itachi glanced at the door when it opened. Akane left it with a closed-off look on her face. His father left after her.

"We're going back to Konoha," Fugaku stated firmly.

Yasuo and Kou told her a few words and started leaving.

"Yasuo." He looked at her above your shoulder. Akane sighed and turned around to face him. "I wanted to leave for my own, selfish reasons. It had nothing to do with you, nor your clan. It just gave me an excuse to leave." Yasuo nodded slowly.

"I get it now," he told her. After a few seconds, he joined the rest of his team and Akane sighed. When he was sure they were out of sight, he quickly walked up to her.

"Hey, what did he want?" Itachi asked her softly, his fingers playing with hers.

"Minato had a message for me." He furrowed his brows. It seemed to have impacted her quite a bit.

She looked down at their fingers. Itachi noticed a flicker of doubt in her eyes, and he took her hand in his.

He didn't want their relationship to regress to what it was before. No, they were back to making love and the next step was to prove himself to be reliable and safe for her, so she'd consider, then accept, to be his girlfriend again. Akane seeing him as reliable and safe was not his goal here, she needed help and he wanted to help her and keep her safe because he loved her.

He couldn't deny he wanted her to see and acknowledge that, no matter what his past actions had led her to believe.

When they were back in their apartment, he put her on the table and hugged her tightly against him, breathing in her scent and enjoying her warmth. She hugged him back just as tightly after a second, almost with despair.

"I'm selfish," she whispered to him.

"How?"

"The situation is bad for my country, for my village yet…I don't really want to leave what we have here. It's not much but…" He exhaled slowly against her neck.

"I am selfish too then," he confessed in her ear. "Maybe more than you even." She chuckled briefly.

"You're not selfish 'tachi." Akane had no idea how selfish he could be when it came to her.

I clenched my hands on the letter.

"Do you…"

"I am aware of what the pictures contained, yes," Fugaku-sensei confirmed sternly.

Apparently, Naoto had gotten his hands on those damn pictures, and many more because it seemed like I had been stalked in Kiri. He managed to send them to Minato, who straight up burned the ones showing Itachi and I in explicit situations. He proceeded to write me a letter and apologized because he had to tell Fugaku about those pictures due to Itachi being on them.

It…was embarrassing on a level I had never experienced before. I'd rather bow down to Yagura and swear my eternal loyalty over and over again than to have someone take pictures of Itachi and I in such intimate…situations.

Fugaku-sensei was quiet but was not even looking at me. He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and finger, apparently not knowing what to even say.

"I think you can agree that this cannot be known within Konoha." I pursed my lips.

"Of course, it's…" He raised his hand to stop me.

"I do not want to know Akane, I really don't. There can't be any of that in Konoha, or Kiri for that matter or anywhere." I knew that already.

I just nodded without a word.

"And this is regarding your comrades in Kiri and their whereabouts," he added, giving me a scroll. I took it automatically, almost like a puppet.

"I'm not…" He looked at me. I didn't even know what I wanted to say. "I know my place. I know it's not…I'm not who he's going to end up with." I gulped and finally looked at him in the eyes. "I've always known that it…it wouldn't work."

"I know Akane." I furrowed my brows. He sighed. "I know you enough to not be worried about you in this situation."

"…he's loyal." His firm and stern gaze was deep in mine.

"I agree on that point. He's loyal to a fault." I tilted my head a little, not liking what he was implying. "We're done here, we'll probably see each other soon but for now, we need to go back to Konoha." I nodded and left the room, Fugaku-sensei behind me.

Once they were gone, Itachi didn't waste a second to walk to me and ask me what was going. I glanced at his fingers fiddling with mine. It was…it didn't feel wrong, quite the opposite and yet…

Itachi took my hand in his and squeezed it softly before taking me back to our apartment. The second the door was closed, he picked me up and put me on the table before hugging me tightly. It took me a second to return it, afraid I would give him even more ideas but ultimately, I did. We talked a little and I enjoyed Itachi's warmth while I could, my cheek on his shoulder.

I knew my place and I knew his; it was not the same place anymore and it would not change. I wouldn't deprive him of a good reputation because I couldn't push him away. Hell no, I wouldn't be the reason he wouldn't get his family's and village's support. I had no idea where I would go after Kiri was dealt with, but I doubted I could just waltz back in Konoha, and there was the whole 'losing my sanity' thing that I wouldn't put him through.

Of course, there was my own opinion about our relationship, but the way Itachi had been acting recently, and even after the Isle of the Lost, and the gentle and caring spark in his eyes, or the playful teasing…

There was a part of me thinking I had the whole narrative wrong. Shisui had told me a long time ago my time in Kiri and what I was told there might still influence the way I was seeing myself. It probably was if I felt vulnerable and emotional and Itachi knew how to make me feel like that.

"The moment we step out of this apartment when we leave…we need to stop what's going on." He hugged me impossibly tighter.

"It's nice, isn't it?" he whispered in my ear. "It's nice when we're together like this, it has always been."

"Yes but…" His lips grazed my neck.

"You can see me as reliable Akane," he said a little bit louder. "I promise you can."

"How would that even work?" I mumbled in his shoulder. He decided to take me to bed instead of answering. "Itachi."

"I'll figure a way out," he finally said. I sighed a little, my eyes on the gray ceiling above us. "There's always a way Akane." I pursed my lips. "I can fix us sweetheart." I had not imagined the nickname then, he really just…decided to use one. "I know I can."

"I'm not sure there's anything to fix anymore," I replied softly. "Sometimes you need to admit defeat."

"Not about this." I gently pushed him away. He didn't resist and let me do it. I sat on the edge of the bed, my back facing him. "I refuse to accept we can't salvage our relationship Akane."

"It doesn't matter. Love isn't the only thing needed for a relationship, unless if you live in a utopia. There are many components to take into cons…"

"Like your willingness." He was bitter, and his tone…was it accusing? He had the right after all.

"Exactly. I'm grateful for your help, and I can't deny I'm still very attracted to you and I let the…situation and closeness get the best of me but it's in both our interest we stop here."

"Is it you talking or my father?" I didn't say anything. A couple minutes went by painfully before he spoke again. The lump in my throat was…painful. "If you are sure this is what you want Akane, then I'll do as you say." I scoffed. "What?"

"Nothing, the only thing I want for sure is the well-being of my village. It's my priority and never should have stopped being my priority." I heard him take a deep breath.

"I understand," he whispered hoarsely.

"I know you do." I sniffed, wiped my nose, tried to get rid of the tears gathering in my eyes…Itachi still found himself crouching in front of me, wiping the one tear that had slipped away. I couldn't read his gaze, or his face really. I had no idea what he was thinking right now.

"Shall we plan our next move then?" I nodded slowly. "Alright." He left the room.

The strange thing was, watching him leave the room didn't feel right at all.

"I'd rather not." Akane pursed her lips.

"Of course, sorry." She had tried to take his hand.

Akane had wanted to go to the festival in the village nearby. He avoided going outside with her as much as possible in case someone recognized him or if Madara or Zetsu were spying from somewhere. However, Akane was insistent, she really wanted to go with him. He had told her she could go on her own and that she would be fine, but she had just looked sad. Of course, the anniversary of the death of his clan played on his mood so he accepted two days later as it lasted a week.

He couldn't get his mind away from this cursed night, Shisui's suicide, his parents' letting him kill them, killing Izumi after making her live decades with him as his husband…Sasuke and how he made his life hell. He couldn't sleep at night, begging for their forgiveness in his mind.

The festival was busy, but not overly busy. They were not walking into people; everybody still had their personal space. He made sure there was enough distance between him and Akane to avoid people thinking they were in a relationship.

If he could, he would walk with enough distance between them to avoid people thinking they were even together, but he knew Akane would take it personally. It was not, he was just…concerned about her safety above everything else.

The sun was setting in the distance and Itachi was getting tired. He had had an attack a few days before, an attack he was still recovering from. He really didn't want to be there; he would rather be at home reading in the couch or sleeping.

"Oh!" He glanced at her. She had stopped and was looking at a shooting stand.

They were using what looked to be wooden kunais like he would use when he was a toddler. There were several prizes.

"Hey, don't you think the little blue fox is cute?" The fox seemed to be the size of her forearm and had a forehead protector around its neck with a made-up symbol on it.

"I guess." She opened her mouth but refrained herself from saying anything. She glanced at the fox once more and smiled at him.

"We can go home if you want to." He raised a brow at her. She wanted to come; they had not stayed for a long time. The sun was not setting yet.

"You said you wanted to see the fireworks." She waved him off.

"I can see fireworks another time, it's fine. I saw you eating cotton candy, really, it's all that matters." He looked down at the almost finished treat he was holding. It was very sweet, but very good.

They went back home, Akane was the one doing most of the conversation as always. When they were back home, he couldn't deny he was relieved. He felt better in the comfort of the house, where only Akane and him were. It had been fourteen months since they had started their relationship. He wanted to soak in as much of the time they had together as possible.

Around eight, she got up from the couch to put her shoes on. Itachi watched her getting ready to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm getting that damn fox, I can't think of anything else," she grumbled with a frown. "I'll be back soon." She left, closing the door a little too loudly and he watched her run by the living-room window with a wave in his direction.

It was a fifteen-minute walk from the house to the village, but five minutes at a moderate shinobi speed. Akane wouldn't be long, even if shurikenjutsu was not her forte she could get a simple plushy. He felt off for some reason though. He thought they would spend the evening together peacefully playing some game she had. She had mentioned she wanted to learn shogi and he would be happy to teach her. Then they would make love and she would fall asleep before him, then he would hug her for few minutes before falling asleep himself. It was usually what their night routine was. He enjoyed having a domestic routine back.

They were twenty. Twenty-year-old people usually enjoyed going out at night. Akane had told him it was not her thing, that she loved the safety and comfort of her own home too much to be bothered by strangers. Could she have said that to make him feel good? After all, he had no idea what she was doing when he was not around, maybe she enjoyed going out on her own.

They had eaten already, so Itachi made himself some herbal tea, it helped with the soreness his throat still had, and opened the book he was currently reading. He couldn't help himself but peek at the clock every now and then, seeing the hands moving without any sign of Akane coming back. When he saw, the sun was starting to set without Akane coming back, he put his book on the coffee table and decided to go back to the festival and look for her. Who knew, maybe something had happened to her.

He went to the shooting stand immediately. There were more people now, but he noticed Akane immediately, even with his eyesight failing him more and more. She had his back to him, and he almost sighed in relief at seeing she was fine.

"Now, I don't want to brag but I was told I could have been a shinobi you know." Itachi's eyes found the man's back next to her. He could see the smugness pouring out of him. "Of course, getting you a prize is nothing I can't do!"

"Really? You don't have to do that."

"It's my pleasure! You looked to be struggling." Akane rubbed the back of her head with a nervous and embarrassed chuckle.

"Yeah, I was, I know." Itachi's eyes went from her to the guy next to her, then back to her.

What was he witnessing exactly? Was this man flirting with her? It looked like it. She didn't seem to be aware of it. For someone who did not want to brag, the man sure knew how to brag too.

It was irritating. His stomach was twisting in uncomfortable knots at seeing them, at seeing someone look at Akane like he looked at her. He knew he was not the perfect boyfriend, far from it, but he truly cared and loved her. Sure, he had never told her, and his lips remained closed, like glued together at the mere thought of saying it but…

He had no right to find love after his crime, he had no right to even utter the words, and no one deserved to hear them from someone like him. Akane had not said she loved him either, but she was showing him in every way possible, mainly through small, everyday gestures. It meant the world to him to have someone care for him and a place to go back to and call home again.

The nature of their relationship was unspoken, except for the kisses and caress they'd exchange in bed but…

He gulped.

He was jealous, and he was getting possessive the more he was watching their exchange. The man tried to get a prize for her, and he quietly walked up to her, staying next to her. She was too focused on the other man to notice he was here. What had happened to him summing up her social life and being her only friend before he became her boyfriend?

"Do you want to try as well young man?" Itachi nodded, Akane and the idio…man, realizing he was here. Akane's face was purely confused, and the man was challenging.

He narrowed his eyes slightly at him, so slightly he doubted he would notice. The man had lost, not even able to get the smallest, easiest prize to get. How pathetic could he be?

Without taking his eyes off him, Itachi threw the wooden kunai, knocking down one tin can just the right way that it knocked the others down. It was quiet for a few seconds as the man was clearly shocked and fuming. The stand keeper was stunned as well and Akane was even more confused.

"I'd like the blue fox please," he told the stand keeper.

"That's it? I have more expensive prizes." He glanced at Akane.

"Do you want something else?" She seemed to be brought back to reality and shook her head.

She thanked him quietly once she had her plushy in her arms.

"Do you know each other?" the man asked them. Akane turned around to face him, Itachi right behind her.

"He's huh…my friend." He twitched one of his fingers in his pocket.

Friend. It didn't sit right with him. Not at all.

"Right…" He narrowed his eyes at the man, who paled. "I'll…I have to go bye!"

"Bye…" Akane muttered as she turned back to him. "Why are you here?"

"You have been gone for an hour and a half."

"Sure but…why did you go that hard?" He shrugged again.

"Was he keeping you from leaving?"

"Oh no, I just went to other stands before this one, I spent the tips I received."

"Hn."

"Huh…I wanted to see the fireworks as well, so I'm not coming home until nighttime Itac…" She closed her mouth quickly. "Sorry, it almost slipped out." He blinked at her, taken back.

He had said that calling him by his name in public was risky, but seeing her apologizing for it was…strange. He didn't like it. Akane shouldn't feel bad for using his name.

His strict rules regarding the few times they were going out together were maybe too harsh and crazy. He refused to put her in danger because of him but…

"Don't apologize for that," he whispered to her. She nodded. "Is there anything else you want to do?" Akane was surprised.

"Huh…well, yes, and look for a quiet spot for the fireworks but you don't have to stay, you can go home." He shook his head. "Are you sure?"

"Hn." She pursed her lips.

"Okay then…let's go."

He was quiet, but accepted the treat Akane bought for them, and accepted to partake in some games. If it could make up for the fact she was religiously applying the rules he had made as they were walking together, he would.

A friend.

It was what he had wanted after all, he didn't want people to think they were together. The distance between them and how Akane had her hands in his pockets like him…she was doing what he had told her to. It shouldn't make him upset. Yet it was.

His attention was caught by laughter. At the stand behind them, he noticed a young couple laughing and teasing each other. The man bumped his shoulder with his girlfriend's, telling her she was no better at the game that he was. She mumbled something he could not hear and leaned her head on his shoulder, which prompted the man to wrap an arm around her and kiss the crown of her head. His eyes went back to Akane, focused on fishing, her tongue sticking out from the side of her mouth.

Did she want something like this? He teased her but not much, and he was not making the first move in term of physical affection. When they were just friends, Akane had called him 'emotionally constipated'. Since they had started their relationship, she had not said a word about it and smiled at him the rare times he would initiate something.

"You know what, fish belong in water, it's cruel to fish them for games," she finally stated, standing back up. "You okay there?" He nodded without a word. "Okay, let's go get a spot then."

They found one, on a hill away from the village. Akane plopped down on the ground, and he imitated her. The fireworks started shortly after.

He glanced at her hand on the ground. Compared to that couple, holding hands was nothing. There was no one around them either, he could…hold her hand in his, slip his fingers through her long, slender ones. He could do it.

She raised her knees against her chest and hugged her fox with both arms, leaning her chin on it. Itachi's eyes remained on the now empty spot where her hand was seconds ago. He had missed his window.

He looked at her face and pursed his lips. The colorful lights were reflected in Akane's brown eyes and highlighted her defined features in the light, despite the night around her…She looked happy and was smiling faintly as well…

'I love you'.

They were three, small words. The moment was perfect as well, it was romantic. He could tell her he loved her and then kissed her. He could…do that.

Yet, he was frozen.

"Itachi? You look weird," she told him, glancing at him with furrowed brows. He shook his head. "Are you sure you're okay?" He nodded. "…well if you're not, tell me." He nodded again.

He watched the fireworks sadly, cursing himself for being so emotionally stunted. They went home quietly and Akane kissed him on the lips before going to bed.

Really, he could do better. He knew it was pointless but…

"Itachi, we're here." He opened his eyes. Akane's face was above his. He ran a tired hand on his face and sat, the waves hitting the boat softly. "You were frowning in your sleep, nightmare?"

"Memory," he said quietly. She nodded and stood up, talking about the island they were going to, the smallest of the Land of Water.

Akane had put an end to what they had in Sora-ku. She was obviously torn about it, and Itachi doubted it was her decision alone. However, because she was torn, he accepted her decision. When he had left her in the room, he had leaned on the table heavily though, bitter about the whole thing. He had…he thought Akane would at least reconsider his feelings for her. She was right in saying love was not enough for a relationship, but he truly wanted to salvage their relationship and fix it.

But Kiri was her priority right now. Not him, not them.

It would be hypocritical of him to protest when he had done the exact same thing years before. For now, he would help her and her village as much as possible. He would think about their relationship later and find out what his father had told her. Akane's reasons for not wanting him anymore were…deeper, than what she had told him at the inn in last April.

Kiri first for now.

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

Bye!