It was surprising that Itachi decided to travel at your side but even more so when he suggested that you stayed at what it used to be an Akatsuki Hideout. The place was an underground place, hidden away from civilization and probably even harder to find. The place reminded you of the old house hidden at the mountain where Itachi, Goro and you used to share for a bit until you had been contacted by the Sand Village. 

This house was bigger, with a couple of rooms, a large kitchen and three bathrooms. It was filled with spire web, dust and maybe some rodents living inside it as well. But eventually with plenty of cleaning, the place was ready to be used as your new home. 

The initial plan was to travel with you and use that time to convince you of returning to the Leaf Village where his younger brother would be waiting. At some point, the thought of just having you close was enough for him, even if it meant that you would be with Sasuke. However, he should have predicted the outcome but he never expected to lose the little self-control he had. He should have known that he would yearn for your presence, your smiles, and your voice.

 That was what happened, months passed and it at first it went as planned but when most of your days were spent together, how could he control his feelings? How was he supposed to ignore those smiles, laughs that you gave him? But most of all, how could he ignore your change, even if you were unable to distinguish it? Those smiles that you would always share with him did not hold what he always yearned, but then that changed. Every single day was met with a warm smile, one that gave up your true feelings. He could have assumed that that was just an illusion, something that he wanted to see, but he knew better.

That was proven when at moments when he wasn’t watching, you would glance at him and just stare at him. That gaze was one that he wanted to see for so long, he caught you many times, only for a small tint on pink to cover your cheeks. There were sometimes where his own body would move on its own and take a few steps forward, only to snap out of it and leave.

He could not betray his brother, he promised himself that he would not bring any more suffering to his younger brother than he already did. After seven months, he knew he had to do something because if he stayed any longer, if he stay another minute with you, he’ll end up just breaking that promise. So, on an early morning he had already planned to leave so he waited for you to show up before he decided to leave. It would be the least he could do, and even if his chest ached at that thought, it needed to be done.

As per usual, there was that radiant smile that always rested on your face as you greeted him before you began your daily chores. However, your eyes caught his monotone expression on his face, which made you halt your actions. A frown replaced your smile before your lips formed a thin line, he could not mistake that pain in your eyes. “So, you’re going back.” He simply watched as you struggled to say something else. Leaving. You knew that he would do so from the day he decided to join you, and although he never voiced his intentions, you found out why. His intentions were to convince you to return to the Leaf Village, that was what you concluded with the times that he would ask you, try to convince you to return, only for you to decline.

The time that you spent with the male was enough to change things, change how you felt. You’ve always loved the male as nothing else but a friend, but his actions were sweet. If there was someone, a brother, willing to travel for months only to bring you back so that his brother could happy, it was something admirable. He loved his brother dearly, that was clear, and if possible he would be willing to give up his life to save him.

You knew what he did, as to why he killed his own clan, willing to drown sacrifice his happiness, and even his own sanity for peace. Although he was intended to kill Sasuke, he just could not bring himself to do it, he loved his brother more than he loved himself. Perhaps others could consider him a monster, but they do not know why he did what he did. There’s no excuse, no, but you’re certain that every single day he is reminded of what he did and that eats its way to his heart, hurting him.

As your eyes glance at Itachi, you decided to offer a smile. Love. It’s strange that you never intended to feel such a thing, specially that kind of love. But, the time you both spent together was enough to make you love him, something that you did not plan. Of course, you have spent time with him before, but this time was different. The male traveled long distances so that he could find you, that was touching. He could you not love such a man?

He was willing to suffer just to be here with you, even if it was for months, it was enough. You’ve never held a grudge against your parents, but since the day Itachi joined you, a thought accompanied your mind. How could he, someone who was simply a friend, be willing to go in a search for you while your parents abandoned you. When you were faced with trouble, something that you never asked for, they decided to leave you because they blamed you for their misery.

With that thought, you begin to walk forward and once close to him, you embrace the male burying your face on his neck. You have been alone before and loneliness had been part of it, but as you clung to him, as you felt his arms around you, your heart clenched in your chest. A stabbing ache penetrated that organ traveling up your throat and eyes. A knot on your throat made the task of talking, of swallowing saliva so difficult, and sending an unsatisfying feeling to your eyes. That feeling connecting to your tear ducts, tears gathering to the corners of your eyes.  Your eyes tightened around Itachi as tears began to stream down your cheeks, and small sobs start to leave your lips as the knot is stuck in your throat.

The male can feel your trembling form, and if that is not enough, small sobs escaped your lips. Where you were burying your face, it was getting damp from your tears. His own heart clenched in pain, having to see, no, being the cause of your tears. His own arms tightened around your form, unwilling to let go.

However, as much as it pained him, you pulled away and watched you as you cleaned your tears with the sleeve of your (shirt, dress, etc.) “Thank you for everything.” Struggling a bit, you once more, gave him a smile.

A couple of tears trailed down your cheeks, having him watching you made you a little embarrassed so your hands instantly flew to your cheeks to clean them up. Itachi’s hands rose, just as did yours, and his palms of his hands rested on your cheek while he cleaned the tears with his thumbs. Perhaps it was the proximity, but something happened as his eyes trailed to your lips.

How much he had retrained from kissing you, but, your lips looked so inviting. That moment was broken as his eyes trailed to your eyes only to have you gazing up at him. His eyes widened, he was just pulling away when your pair of lips crashed on his own. The shock passed as soon as your lips moved against his own, his lips responding to the action. During the heated kiss, his hands ended up resting on your hips while yours ended around his neck.

Gasping for air, you both pulled away but as soon as oxygen filled your and Itachi’s lungs, your lips connected with his own once more. However, that moment when you both pulled away, that was enough for him to see that glint in your gaze and it sent shivers of pleasure down his spine.

Who knew that kiss would be the initiative of something much more intimate, strengthening the bond that the two of you had. That day, after what the two of you did, it was enough for Itachi to realize that perhaps this time, just this time he would be selfish and keep you for himself.