::Only A Second:: -Uchiha Itachi- [[One-Shot]]

The light wind pushed your soft pink bangs back, the sleeves of your shirt rippling with the winter air. You stood in a deserted forest, your legs trapped in a Doton ninjutsu with seals surrounding the whole clearing. The Akatsuiki hideout hidden in the distance.

Is this real?

Is that really him?

Standing in the flesh?

I didn't expect it to be him.

"...Itachi-kun.."

He stood there in silence. His crimson eyes unwavering. His expression, unreadable.

"Akai..."


Flashbacks...

::~::~::~::~::~::

"You'll all meet your Jounin commanders after lunch. Dismissed!"

"I can't believe you're on Itachi-kun's team! Lucky!" a girl exclaimed enviously. The females in your class surrounded your desk, nodding in agreement.

You snorted, crossing your seven year-old arms while leaning back in your seat. "Lucky? Hah. He hates me, so what's so lucky about that?"

After lunch, you met up with your Jounin sensei. You had been exchanging introductions before...

"Finally, the girl," your sensei nodded, motioning towards you. You timidly fiddled with your wristbands. "My name's Haruno Akai. I like...well... a lot of things. I don't really hate anything.." You sighed as your two teammates appeared to not be listening and seemed uninterested.

"What about a dream? Anything?" your sensei insisted.

You smiled tiredly, "I don't know yet. I'll find something, though."

::~::~::~::~::


'Shit...I'm dead now...'

Your vibrant green eyes lowered to the ground, your entire body constricted by the sickle and chain. The two rain-nins smirked, gripping the ends of the chain. The rest of them awaited your death.

'...Mission failed. I...I wasn't strong enough for this assignment...But I was so close to catching up to them. Catching up to my teammates.'

You winced as the sharp ends cut through your shirt, your arms, and your legs. You shut your eyes tight. 'I'm not going to die. Not today! Think, Akai! Think!'

Your thoughts were interrupted by the thudding of bodies, the loosening of the chains. You snapped your emerald eyes open, surprised to see the Uchiha clan symbol reflecting in your eyes. 'Shisui?...No, that isn't him...Why?'

"...Itachi," you whispered. He turned around slowly, his eyes a sudden crimson.

"You called me by my first name..." He stared at you, his face expressionless.

You just gawked at him. His eyes. The Sharingan. Just like Shisui's. Itachi bent down and lightly lifted the chains off of you. "Hokage-sama said you were on a B-ranked mission on your own. I thought I'd check on you..You can't handle this kind of mission yet," Itachi turned his back to you again, staring up at the sky. You remained on the bloodied ground, your fingers scraping against the dirt as you clenched your fists.

'He...came all this way to rescue me. He HAD to rescue me...I won't let this happen again. I will not show him how weak I was. I'll show him I can change.'

::~::~::~::~::


Your eyes traced over to Itachi's figure, seated in the highest seats of the arena.

"Haruno Akai. Please step forward for the final match."

You nodded, facing your opponent with defiance. No, you weren't going to accept losing without a fight. This was the final match of the Chuunin Exams. You weren't going to be left behind again. Itachi and Shisui had both passed as Chuunins last year. This was your time to shine in their eyes. His eyes.

'Please watch me now...'

"Begin!"

You drew out your kunais, charging forward with your head held high.

'It's my turn...to show you what I can do.'

::~::~::~::~::


Your tears flowed through the slits of your ANBU mask, your hands trembling as you bent down near the Nakano River. The Jounins, Chuunins, and ANBUs remained silent as you reached your hand out to your comrade.

You grasped Shisui's limp hand, his skin icy to the touch. Your grip tightened as your sobs echoed around the whole clearing, the wind carrying your broken voice along with it.

'Why is everything falling apart?!'

You ran all the way to the Uchiha Compound. You spotted a familiar back retreating into their home.

"ITACHI!" you wailed as you reached him, clambering up the wooden steps. Itachi froze, feeling two slender arms wrap around his stomach and a head burying itself against his back.

The tears streamed down your face as you tightened your hold on your last teammate, "Itachi!" Was the only thing you could say before the tears spilled once again. Itachi lowered his head, holding you as you cried.

::~::~::~::~::


"Sakura!" you called outside the Konoha Acadamy's doors. You scanned the crowd for the same shade of bright pink hair. And there was your little sister, admiring a black haired boy with his hands shoved into his shorts pockets. The same onyx eyes, the dark blue shirt, and scowl but with the touch of innocence.

"Oneesan!" Sakura squeaked, racing up to you and jumping onto your back.

"Who's your friend?" you smiled, nodding over to the black haired boy who resembled someone you knew a lot.

"Oh, him..." Sakura's face tinted red, "He's Sasuke. The most popular boy in class! He likes girls with long hair!" Sakura pulled hopefully at her short, pink locks.

You laughed, "Now, who told you something like that?"

Sakura pouted, "It's true! I can't wait to tell Ino!"

Itachi watched you from the sidelines beside his little brother, who showed no interest whatsoever.

"Niisan!" Sasuke complained, tugging at his older brother's shirt, "What're you staring at? You promised to help me with my training, remember?"

Itachi snapped out of his daze, looking down at his brother's hopeful yet hesitant face. He prodded Sasuke in the forehead before walking off, "Maybe next time, Sasuke..."

Sasuke frowned before chasing after his brother's retreating back.

::~::~::~::~::


"Are you leaving for a mission now?" Itachi's voice drifted from behind you. You spun around, your ANBU uniform already in place with your katana secured onto your back.

"Yeah. Just got the mission," you informed, holding up a folder stamped 'S-rank' by the Hokage. "What're you doing out this late? It's practically midnight. And what're you doing here? In my house?" You waited for Itachi's answer, but received none as he stared down at you with his dark eyes.

"Wel-" you were cut off as Itachi took hold of your wrists, pulling you forward. Your eyes widened as he leaned forward, planting his lips onto yours softly.

You stood frozen. 'What's happening..? Am I dreaming because I think Itachi-kun is...'

Your mind cleared of all thought as your eyes slowly closed, submitting to his kiss. Just as you returned the affection, he disappeared with your lips tingling.

You stood there, still shocked. You raised your fingers to your lips before placing your mask on, jumping from your bedroom window, and out the gates of Konoha with only one thing on your mind.

'Itachi-kun...'

::~::~::~::~::


You quickly changed into a clean outfit before heading to the Uchiha Compound. You so eagerly wanted to see Itachi again. So much that you had finished your mission three days earlier than was expected.

You hummed cheerfully, a box of red and green dango wrapped up in your hands. Even though it was already dark out, this wouldn't stop you. 'Itachi. I can't stop thinking about him, now can I? After that kiss...I just want to-'

The box of dango fell to the ground as you halted in front of the entrance to the Uchiha Compound. Your eyes grew wide as it ran over the locks and chains enclosing the metal gates. You peered through the bars, eyeing the broken structures, bloody stains, abandoned weapons, and eerie silence. White chalk was drawn on the ground in the shapes of human bodies. The whole place was deserted as droplets of rain began to fall.

'What the hell happened here?!'

::~::~::~::~::

You closed your bedroom door quietly, your eyes stinging yet dull.

You sank onto your bed before stuffing your face into your pillow, the sadness overtaking your vacant eyes. 'Itachi...He left...He's gone. And he isn't coming back.'

And just knowing that he wasn't coming back for you, made something inside of you shatter. What is this pain?

End Flashbacks

::~::~::~::~::



Itachi's red and black cloak flowed with the wind, proof of his allegiance to the Akatsuki.

"Akai..." his voice...as deep as it has always been. Just like you had remembered.

Your eyes brimmed with unshed tears, your left hand clenching onto a white piece of paper as your right grasped onto the hilt of your katana.

Was this my assignment?

I didn't expect this...

Was this who I am supposed to kill?

What should I do?

You narrowed your eyes before charging at him, straight-on. Your speed, amazing. Your strength, unbelievable. Your ability, now incomparable in Konoha Village.

Itachi was always stronger then you, though. But did that matter?...No.

'I will fight him.'

You immediately flashed before Itachi's Sharingan eyes, his eyes barely able to follow your fluid movements.

'Shunshin no Jutsu...Shusui's main technique. His legacy.'

Was all you could focus on as you continued your attack. You sent a kick to his body, only to flip backwards as the clone exploded. You ran the length of the clearing as exploding tags ignited at the heels of your boots.

'Bunshin Daibakuha.'

"Doton: Doryu Dango," you performed your hand seals before sinking your hands into the earth. With utmost concentration, you lifted the immense, mausoleum-sized earth into the air before chucking it at Itachi.

No, you weren't finished yet.


"Fire Release," you began your hand seals rapidly, drawing in all your breath. "Fire Dragon Missle!" The enourmous, dragon-sized fireball followed right behind the massive clump of earth.

You remained unsurprised as the same technique burst through the slight dusty atmosphere, striking and canceling out your ninjutsus.

You breathed in deeply as you flipped backwards, pushing off a random tree as streaks of fire passed by, singeing your arms lightly. You drew your kunais, blocking the multiple shurikens that cut through the air.

'At the Academy, I believed you always hated me because I wasn't as strong as you were.'

You dodged all of Itachi's attacks, heading straight for him with your fists raised.

'Later on...we learned to deal with each other.'

You aimed a kick to his head, but he blocked it. You twisted around, hands planted on the ground before immediately kicking him in the gut with your other leg. He took a step back, showing no signs of pain as you brought your fist back and punched him right in the face. His head snapped to the side as you directed another hit to his face.

'And the more time I spent with you...I began to like you..'

Itachi caught your wrist, twisting it behind your back and pushing you down onto the ground. You grit your teeth as he pulled your arms back painfully.

'But when we became thirteen, you began to change. You were different. When you left, I realized...'

With all the strength you could muster, you sat up on your knees and brought your arms free with a crack and your eyes burning with agony, throwing Itachi off of you. You panted, trying to steady your stance.

'You taught me...to change. And I realized...That was my dream. To become stronger for you.'

A slow smirk curved Itachi's lips. He lifted his straw hat off of his head, throwing it aside. "Are you going to kill me, Akai-chan?" His smirk dropped as his eyes met your own. You gasped, his eyes swilring into a pin-wheel shape.

It was too late to fix your stupid mistake. It was unevitable. You knew that already.

'Mangekyou Sharingan!'

"Itachi! STOP IT!" you screamed, drawing out your katana. Your eyes clouded over as all you could see was the darkness. Your breath caught in your throat as your katana seemed to fade from your grasp and a blade was held against your throat.

"You were just some girl..." his voice crept into your mind, freezing you in place by some invisible force. You clenched your fists, trying so desperately to move.

"Now...You've changed."

His scarlet eyes appeared before you. You could feel his breath on your face and his familiar sweet scent. He removed your mask,your soft features revealed.

"I regret nothing."

You sucked in a breath as you felt his lips on yours. That same feeling you longed for. That connection you missed. This bliss.

It seemed to last forever. But it was only a second in the real world.

Only a second.

In the real world.

This wasn't really happening...

"What do you feel for me?" Itachi whispered in your ear.

"I..." you began. You missed him so much, but what he's done these passed five years were unforgivable. Was it really? Or were you just feeling guilty for having a crush on him throughtout your whole childhood. It was true. You had secretly liked him everyday you trained with him...ever since you became a team with him and Shisui.

But were your feelings for him strong enough to let him go?

"Tell me when you've figured it out...next time," Itachi's voice interrupted your train of thought.

Itachi stared down at your unconscious form. His lips, they tingled with your warmth.

"Itachi..." Kisame called out, appearing out of the brush. "What's going on? The meeting's over." The shark man's beady eyes centered on the teenaged girl lying on her side in front of his partner.

"Leaf ANBU?!" Kisame shouted, noticing the girl's uniform and headband, "What do we do?!"

Itachi turned around to look at the fishy Akatsuki member, "We move headquarters again..." Kisame opened his mouth to protest, but shut it at the look on Itachi's face. Kisame scowled before stomping off to tell the others to leave immediately.

Itachi bent down to your sprawled figure, chuckling in what seemed a long time. He ran his finger down your ANBU tatoo to the red ribbons that were attached to the end of your katana.

'So...You became an ANBU Squad Captain, eh?'

Itachi kneeled down beside you and pulled your mask off like he had done before. He traced his fingertips over your soft skin, tipping your chin towards him so he could look at you more closely. His eyes trailed over your body, his face blank but his eyes showed otherwise.

'You've changed...a lot.'

He looked down at the dark red ring on his right ring finger. Shu, meaing scarlet. Red, meaning Akai. Your name, Haruno Akai.

His Akatsuki ring would always remind him of you.

"Mataauhimade," Itachi said quietly, giving you one last longing kiss before straightening up.

"Till we meet again, Akai."

With a swish of his black cloak, he vanished without a trace.




Please Rate If You Want me To Write More Stories!! =]




Did you notice the similarities between Akai and Sakura? Itachi and Sasuke? Heh, thought I'd include them in the story.

I hope you liked my style of writing. Sorry if it sucked. Don't worry if you found it confusing and rushed. When I start writing a series, it'll make more sense and it won't be all crammed into one chapter. In advance, I'll tell you that my series will involve more action. One-shots are more of romance so I decided to do this for fun. And I love that song! RJ Helton "Missing Me." It's awesome!

Ta-ta! Please Rate! Arigatou! :D