Before It Ends (Itachi x Akatsuki x Reader)

Sinking Into The Past

Content Warning:

This story contains dark themes and features age-gap relationships. (But let's be real—if you're diving into an Akatsuki x Reader, you probably already saw that coming lol)

Trigger warning for all my girlies with daddy issues—this one's for you. You're not alone.

As always, feel free to drop a comment. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Enjoy!

Small Note:

Y/n - Your name

L/n - Last name

*** - flashback sequence

———

The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale, silvery glow that bled through the open balcony doors and spilled across the room. The curtains whispered against the wind, and the chill of the night seeped in, brushing against your skin. But you didn't notice.

How could you?

All you could feel was the heaviness in your chest—that unbearable ache that came from knowing the moment you'd been dreading was finally here. The one you'd tried to push away.

"Itachi, don't—please, don't go!"

Your voice cracked, raw and trembling, shattering the silence like glass. You had known this moment would come—you'd rehearsed it in your mind a thousand times—but no amount of preparation could dull the pain of actually facing it. Tears burned in your eyes, blurring his figure, his calm, steady face. "There has to be another way...please, don't leave me."

He stood motionless for a long moment, the moonlight drawing a halo around his dark hair. Then, gently—always gently—he raised a hand and cupped your cheek. His fingers were warm, grounding, so achingly human that you wanted to lean into them and pretend none of this was real.

"You're going to be alright," he said softly. His tone was like a quiet promise, or maybe a prayer. But the words only made your heart twist tighter.

"No!" You shook your head, tears spilling freely now. "I can't! I won't!"

He exhaled, the sound low and tired—a sigh heavy with sorrow and years of regret. His eyes, normally cold and distant, softened. The illusion cracked for a moment, and behind the calm facade you saw something else: guilt. Regret. Longing.

"Listen to me," he said, voice almost pleading in its gentleness. "You're going to live. You'll move forward—away from this. Away from me. You don't have to carry these chains any longer. Leave the Akatsuki. Build a life of your own. Find peace. Find someone who can give you happiness."

Your heart shattered at his words. You tried to steady your breathing, to stop the flood of tears, but the idea of a future without him felt impossible.

A life without him wasn't life at all—it was just existing.

He was everything. The calm in your chaos. The only person who had ever truly seen you.

"I don't want peace if it means losing you!" you choked out, the desperation spilling from every syllable. "Don't you understand? I don't want another life. I want you."

For the first time, his composure faltered. His expression softened, his eyes searching yours as if memorizing every detail—the way your voice shook, the way your tears caught in the light.

And for a fleeting, fragile second, you saw something shift behind his eyes.

It was the faintest spark of what could have been.

You saw him imagining it—the life he'd never allow himself to have. A home untouched by blood. Laughter without the shadow of guilt. You could almost see it reflected in his eyes: the faintest vision of love, of joy, of normalcy.