Your Lies | Itachi Uchiha x Reader

Chapter 22

POV – Hangetsu:

"Han! Han! Please! I need you to wake up!" someone shouted, shaking me hard.

I blinked my eyes open slowly. Auburn hair was dripping onto my face, blocking my view—long and silky smooth. "Lady Y/n?" I murmured, brushing it aside and rubbing my eyes.

"No, Han. It's me, Mei. Y/n's nowhere to be found!" she said, her voice panicked and tight. Her face glistened with sweat, her expression on the edge of collapse.

She buried her face in her hands, trembling. She tried to speak, but her voice broke. "No... This can't be happening. She's alone out there..."

When she looked back at me, her eyes were red and watery. "I thought she'd be here."

What was she talking about? Lady Y/n was here. The last thing I remembered was her carrying me. She must've put me down when we got to safety. She wouldn't leave me.

Right?

I sat up straight, laughing nervously. "What do you mean? Lady Y/n was just here. She was carrying me a few minutes ago." My eyes scanned the area.

But she wasn't.

She wasn't here.

No. No, no—she had to be.

"She's just messing around," I said, louder this time, cupping my hands. "It's not funny, Lady Y/n! Come out! We know you're here!"

Nothing.

"She's playing," I said again, more to myself now.

"Han..." Mei rested a hand on my shoulder.

"No! She's here somewhere—I know it!" My voice cracked. "She has to be. The Akatsuki didn't— They couldn't have—" I choked on the words. A sob escaped. The tears came quickly. And I couldn't stop them.

I knew the truth.

She wasn't here.

"Please, Lady Mei, just tell me she's here," I begged, voice breaking.

She shook her head. Her hand tightened on my shoulder, then let go. "You were the only one here..."

I pulled at my hair, curling into myself. Lady Y/n was gone. Taken. Maybe dead. My chest tightened until I thought I might black out. I couldn't think. Couldn't breathe. I was spiraling.

Mei tried to comfort me, but she was just as broken. Her hands were trembling. Her composure—shattered.

I forced myself to say it. The one truth I prayed wasn't real but knew in my gut could only be true.

"The Akatsuki... they've taken her."

"What?!" Mei gasped. Her guards looked stunned.

POV – Y/n:

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Itachi's face—calm, distant. I realized I was nestled in his arms. Warm. Secure. My arms were looped around his neck without thinking.

I was wearing his cloak. His Akatsuki cloak.

I had no idea when he'd put it on me. It was... strangely considerate. I never would've expected kindness from someone like him.

Then again, maybe it was just one decent act. But something about him—something in the way he held me, with careful restraint, never touching me inappropriately—felt different.

He wasn't the monster people painted him to be. That cold, emotionless criminal? I wasn't convinced anymore.

"Hm. You can stop gawking," he said, not even glancing at me.