Chapter 30

As though to agree with his fiery old teammate, Sasuke threw three shuriken at the disfigured man. Unfortunately, and to Yuna's shock, Itachi deflected the weapons with his own.

"Why!? He's the same as Orochimaru!" Sasuke yelled, sending his brother a sideways glare of astonishment. "So he's our enemy, that makes him your enemy too!"

Kabuto smirked slightly, already knowing the resurrected Uchiha's reason for protecting him.

"....Fine. I'll talk to you later." Itachi sighed, looking at the younger raven. "In exchange for that, let's defeat him first. Without killing him."

When his brother still showed confusion, he was forced to continue. "If you kill the one who performed the edo tensei, the jutsu will continue forever."

The raven hesitated to explain his plan on how they would defeat the snake, his gaze falling on his wife. He didn't want her anywhere near here when they started fighting. She'd probably been out of action the last nine months.

She be more of a risk than an asset in this battle. Kabuto would show no mercy in using her to his advantage. Itachi grimaced at the thought. He definitely needed to get her out of here.

As though sensing his intentions, the kyuubi looked up at her kits father. Her eyes narrowed slightly, yet he could still see the love and pain hidden behind her anger.

The last time he'd left her, she'd been sleeping. Probably thinking she'd wake up to him saying 'good morning Mrs. Uchiha.' He knew he would have liked to call her that. But he hadn't expected to find Sasuke waiting for him outside the inn.

He'd only stepped out to get them a descent breakfast, to serve Yuna in bed, but found his brother. He honestly hadn't imagined the younger Uchiha coming to confront him till later in the day. But then the early bird does get the worm.

Itachi sighed, letting the demoness cuddle into his arms. It would be the last she'd feel them around her. He couldn't help thinking of the first time he'd held her, when she was only a small, two tailed demon.

He'd carried her all the way to the third hokage's office that night, after he'd protected her from a drunk. Even when his muscles screamed for rest. He never faltered in his steps, determined to play the strong hero.

Itachi thought of all the times that followed, when he'd be holding her in his arms. The next time was when he freed her from her isolation cell, under the streets of Konoha. She hadn't enough strength in her legs as he undid all those chains they'd secured her with.

Then again, after Sasuke had run her through, the first time. His brother had been stupid for thinking that would kill the kitsune. Itachi smiled, mentally, as he thought of how he held her more often then not when she joined Akatsuki.

"I never meant to fall in love with you, Yuna. I never imagined we would be more than friends, or even acquaintances for that matter." He began, meeting her crimson gaze. "I thought I would die without ever getting married or having children."

He could see the tears forming in her eyes, also in his, as he went on. "I'm sorry I won't be there to watch them grow up, but I think it's better this way."

She shook her head violently, her cheeks dampening with her tears. "No it's not! It's n-not!" Her voice broke as she clung onto his shoulders.

"Trust me Yuna. It will be."

Itachi glanced over at Sasuke. The teen and snake were being surprisingly quiet, though they probably understood this would be the last conversation the couple would ever have.

"I'm sure Sasuke will help you." The older brother smirked at the beyond shocked look that crossed the younger raven's face.

"Kyuubi doesn't want him anywhere near our kits." The demon hissed, sending the boy a dark glare through her tears. "She wants her mate, mah."

Itachi sighed, placing his hands on her shoulders, pushing her away slightly. "I'm sorry Yuna. But I can't stay."

She winced at his words, very much wanting to be back in his arms. She preferred the last words he said to her before he originally died. Then again, he probably hadn't been planning to die the next morning while he was pleasuring the two of them on their wedding night.

The demon almost whimpered at the memory, it clearly hadn't been the night their kits were conceived, being he'd only died seven months ago. But it was the last night he would ever hold her so passionately.

They both had known he would die soon. Though neither would have expected it sooner than the next evening, not the morning after. It had been a cruel trick of fate.

"I won't see you again..." She didn't say it as a question. She already knew she wouldn't, no miracle would let them meet again.

"Not in this life." He replied, bending down to kiss her forehead. A dastardly move on his part. "But I promise to come for you in the next. No power on Earth will be able to stop me from finding you."

She pulled him down to her level, despite his obvious protests, making his lips meet hers in a savage kiss. No one could deny all the feeling poured into it, as it would most certainly be their last. It was filled with need and desperation, nowhere near as gentle as the first kiss they'd ever shared.

Yuna's fingers tangled in his hair, keeping them connected as long as humanly possible. Itachi had on hand on the back of her head, the other rubbing the base of her tails. Something he knew she loved when he'd done it in the past. Neither one appeared ready to part, but Itachi knew he had dragged it out long enough.

"It's time for you to go." He said quietly, before releasing her. The nine tailed beast stared up at him in shocked horror. Even more so as he pushed her away. "Go on."

The kyuubi wasn't the only one shocked by Itachi's words. Sasuke was looking at his brother as though he'd just told the demon he never loved her. That, or it could be the site of the older Uchiha and his old teammate making out severely disturbed him.

When Yuna hesitated to leave, the older Uchiha glared down at her, with his sharingan swirling in a threatening way. "Go!"

With crimson tears falling, the kitsune stumbled back, doing as her fallen lover had ordered. Even if it shattered her broken heart.

Kabuto frowned at the events, watching as the kyuubi ran past Sasuke and out the cave entrance. "A tragic love story through and through. Even after death, she still couldn't have you."

Itachi glared at the disfigured snake. "I'll find her in the next life."

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Kinaru: I'm sure you hate me. Too cruel? But really, I couldn't see Yuna leaving unless he actually made her go.

So... Vote/follow/review?

Also, terribly sorry for the long wait, I honestly expected to upload the very next day. But yeah, hope you at least partially enjoyed.

I don't own Naruto or Shippuden, only Yuna and the kits!

So I guess I'll talk to you later?

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SAD NINJA OUT!!!!!!