Chapter 14
Yuna frowned, after Itachi had avoided her gaze for the fifth time. He'd been strange ever since she woke up. Keeping his distance, not letting her hold his hand as they walked, even ignoring her when she tried to start a conversation.
She didn't understand. Had she done something wrong? Her ears drooped as she took hold of Kisame's hand. He gave her an encouraging smile, before sending the Uchiha a frown, nodding to the saddened kyuubi.
Itachi's cheeks were still slightly pink, and every time he looked at Yuna he'd remember his dream and start to get hard again. He didn't even understand why he'd thought of her like that. The Uchiha had only ever thought of her as a sister before now.
The raven shook his head, trying to get his thoughts together. The kyuubi was young enough to be his sister, why she was even younger than Sasuke. He shuddered at the disturbing thoughts that came to mind after that.
He was glad the rain-nin had left early that morning as they parted ways, going to Amegakure, while the akatsuki members headed for their base in the fire country. Kisame sighed, realizing he'd have to get the ball rolling, halted in his steps. Itachi frowned, looking back at the tall man. The shark turned off the path, sitting in the shade of the trees.
“What are you doing?” The Uchiha demanded. “Leader is waiting for us.”
The blue skinned man just smirked, taking off Samehada. “Kisame!” The younger male snapped, losing his temper. The kiri missing-nin ignored him, beckoning Yuna over.
She hesitated, looking at the fuming raven, but after he said nothing, she settled beside the shark. “Come on Itachi, Leader doesn't expect us back till night fall.” Kisame chuckled.
The Uchiha scowled, it would take that long for them to arrive anyway, with this stop, it would be even longer. Making them late, Pain would think something had gone wrong.
“Itachi?” His blush darkened as he avoided the kyuubi's gaze. “Itachi..”
Kisame frowned, looking between the two. Taking hold of samehada, he walked up to the boy./ “Fix this. Now.” He said, before going off into the trees.
The former anbu grimaced, finally bringing his gaze to Yuna. The crimson colored beast was surprisingly calm. Her ears perked with silent hope as she looked up at him through her dark eyelashes. He could feel his heart speed up, images of his dream flooding his mind.
The raven forced them away, sitting beside her. “Look. Yuna, I-..” His eyes went wide as the beast attached herself to his middle, moving as close as she could get, snuggling into his shirt and cloak.
“I'm sorry! Whatever I did, I'm sorry!” She cried, not loosening her grip in the slightest. “Be mad at me, yell at me! Just don't leave me alone again, I need you.”
The raven stared down at her in silent guilt. He'd so selfishly forgotten how she feared being alone. She'd been suffering while he'd only thought of his own discomfort. Though is was painfully awkward, the Uchiha put his arms around the kitsune, burying his nose in her crimson locks.
“I'm sorry Yuna.” He whispered. “I shouldn't have ignored you.”
She fully accepted his embrace, having missed the warmth it brought to her. She wished she'd never have to do without it again. It hurt her too much to be separated from this man who'd found a special place in her heart.
“Why don't you tell her why you were?!” Kisame's voice came from the trees.
Itachi had half a mind to go kill the shark and feed him as sushi to the demon in his arms, remembering how much she loved fish. Yuna was watching him now, able to see the redness of his cheeks.
“Itachi?”
He sighed with annoyance, looking back at the kyuubi. “I came to realize... Yuna is very special to me...” He mumbled, rivaling a cherry in redness as he looked to the side.
The blood red beast smiled, resting her head in the crook of his neck. “Itachi is very special to her too.”
His blush didn't let up, but the raven sighed. “No, I mean really special... I really like you Yuna.”
She giggled. “She really likes Itachi too.”
He grimaced, she still didn't understand. But that's fine. She was still a kid, after all. Yuna looked at him slightly confused, she had expected him to be happy, but the Uchiha looked like he was in pain. She rested her head back against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.
It was like music to her ears. The rhythm like a lullaby that only she could hear. The beast willed her warm to fill him, his skin felt like ice against hers.
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“Shot down by naivety.” Kisame placed a hand on the Uchiha's shoulder. “If it helps any, at least she 'really likes Itachi too'.”
“Shut up.”
The shark chuckled, watching the raven walk off to where Yuna was sitting down. The grass was almost too tall for them to see her. Her tail tips being the only thing giving her away.
“Are you playing hide and seek?” Itachi asked, stopping beside her.
She smiled, looking up at him. The only reason she knew of the game was because Sakura had taught it to her while they were on a mission. “No.”
“Then what are you doing?” He asked, trying to look over her shoulder.
She moved, flicking him with one of her tails. “Don't look. It's a surprise.”
He sighed, sitting down, his back against her's. The Uchiha wanted to know what she was doing, but figured he'd find out soon enough.
Yuna was quiet as a mouse, her tails touching his back every now and then. She made small movements from time to time, until finally she stood. He was about to turn and look, but she covered his eyes with her hand. “Close you eyes.”
Itachi scowled, he felt like he was playing with a six year old. “Don't look yet.” She said, placing something on his head.
His frown deepened as she let loose his hair from his pony tail, combing her fingers through it, before retying it. “Yuna, what's on my head?” He asked, fighting to keep calm, it felt like a spider was on his head.
A very large spider, that was frozen in it's stance. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of the man's face. Kami protect the demon if she'd placed a spider on his head.
“You can open your eyes now.”
The Uchiha did as she said all too happy to comply. The first thing he saw was the kyuubi grinning at him. Her ears drooped with a daisy crown balanced on her head. Itachi smiled a little, seeing her. He placed his hand over his face as he realized it wasn't a spider on his head, but more likely a crown like the beast's.
“We match.” She said childishly.
He sighed, but chuckled at her all the same. “If you wore your cloak we'd already match.”
She pouted, laying down on his lap, her head resting on his knees. Her flower crown inches from being crushed. “It's prettier this way.” She mumbled.
Itachi blushed a little at their new position, letting his hand subconsciously scratch behind her ear, avoiding the flower veil. “You are pretty no matter what.” He said quietly.
She smiled, curling up almost completely on his lap. “So are you.” The ex-leaf shinobi laughed shaking his head. Such a child.
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“It's about fucking time!” Hidan yelled the moment Itachi, Yuna, and Kisame entered the base.
He frowned seeing the kyuubi was holding hands with the raven. “What the fuck took you so long?!”
Kisame was the only one to honor the jashin with an answer. “Complications arose.”
The two younger shinobi moved past them. Yuna leaning on Itachi as they went to the kitchen.
“Dang, you two are late, un.” Deidara said, slightly shocked, Itachi usually finished his missions early or on time.
The demon smiled, sitting by the blonde and his red haired partner. “Dei-sempai, Sasori-san.” She dipped her head in greeting. “How was your mission?”
The blonde smirked, crossing his arms. “Perfect, un. Danna made a new puppet. Un!”
Yuna smirked, she could smell the fresh blood on the puppet master. “Perhaps Sasori-san could use some of my enemies as puppets?”
He grunted, but otherwise did not reply to her idea. Deidara chuckled, and gave her a large smile. “Danna would like that, un.”
Itachi cleared his throat, making his presence known. “You need to eat, Yuna.” He said placing a bowl of rice with a side of fish in front of the demon. At the same time sending the bomber a glare as he sat by the crimson kitsune.
The kyuubi churred, leaning against the Uchiha. Deidara frowned slightly, going back to his chat with puppet master, who was clearly ignoring him.
Itachi chuckled lowly, stroking his teammate's hair. “You'll never eat if you just curl into me.”
“Maybe if you feed me?” She offered, almost halfway on his lap. The raven was about to reply, but Kisame interrupted them.
“Oi Itachi, leader-sama wants your mission's report.”
The Uchiha scowled, gently pushing Yuna back into her chair, and leaving the room. The crimson beast scowled as well, picking at her food in annoyance. Why did Itachi have to be called to Leader's office now? She wanted to share the meal with him..
“Not hungry anymore, Yuna-chan?”
The kyuubi gave the shark a pointed glare. He was the reason Itachi had left her presence. “Mah. I'm waiting for Itachi to get back.” She grumbled.