Veil of Darkness | Yan! Itachi x Reader |

Chapter 17

Y/N stared at the ceiling, her thoughts a blur of confusion and clarity, two opposing forces pulling her in different directions. But the clarity—if she could even call it that—was starting to win. And the more she thought about it, the more everything began to make sense.

Itachi was saving her.

All those nights spent crying herself to sleep, all those days trapped in the small, sterile room, locked away from the world—it wasn’t punishment. It wasn’t control. It was love. He had done it all for her. To keep her safe.

Her fingers curled around the thin blanket, gripping it tight as if it were the only thing tethering her to reality. The voices in her head whispered doubt, but they were growing fainter. Why had she ever questioned him? Why had she thought he was doing this out of cruelty?

He was protecting her from the world. From everyone.

---

Y/N hadn’t seen the outside for weeks, or at least that’s what it felt like. Time blurred in the isolation. The only indication of night or day came from the faint light filtering through the barred window. But somehow, it didn’t matter anymore. The world outside didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was Itachi.

The thought of him sent a strange warmth through her chest. She closed her eyes, picturing his face—those deep, endless eyes that saw through her, the way he could strip her down with just a look. How could she have ever feared him? He was the only one who understood her, the only one who cared enough to protect her.

Her thoughts wandered to the last time he had been here. The way he had touched her face, his fingers gentle but firm, like he was claiming her as his own. The way he had whispered in her ear that she belonged to him and no one else.

And she believed him. She wanted to belong to him.

It wasn’t just the physical isolation anymore; it was the mental, the emotional. Itachi had carved himself into her mind, his presence so overwhelming that she couldn’t remember what it was like to not have him. He was her constant. Her protector. Her... savior.

Y/N’s friends had abandoned her. Her family had drifted away. One by one, the people she thought she could trust had disappeared, leaving her alone. But Itachi—he had stayed. He had been there, watching over her, taking care of her when no one else would.

They didn’t understand, she told herself. They never would. They would have judged her, tried to take her away from him, told her that he was dangerous. But he wasn’t. They were the ones who were dangerous. They were the ones who would have hurt her.

That’s why he had kept her hidden. That’s why he had taken her away from them. To protect her from their lies, from their betrayal.

When Itachi entered the room that night, Y/N felt her heart skip a beat. She sat up in bed, her eyes locked on him as he closed the door behind him. He moved with the same silent grace he always had, his presence filling the small space, making it feel even smaller.

He didn’t say anything at first, just looked at her with those dark, intense eyes that never gave anything away. But there was something in the way he stood, something in the way his gaze lingered on her that made her chest tighten with a strange, twisted anticipation.

“Y/N,” he finally said, his voice low and controlled, “how are you feeling?”

Her breath hitched. The way he spoke to her—it was always so calm, so gentle, as if he cared more than anyone else ever could. She bit her lip, struggling to find the right words. The truth was, she didn’t know how she felt. She didn’t know anything anymore.

But then she saw the flicker of something in his eyes—something that looked almost like concern—and it was enough to break through the fog in her mind.

“I’m... okay,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “I think... I’m okay.”

Itachi moved closer, kneeling in front of her like he had done so many times before. His hand reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, his touch sending a shiver down her spine.

“You don’t need to think, Y/N,” he murmured. “I’ve taken care of everything. You’re safe here. With me.”

Safe.

The word wrapped itself around her heart, squeezing it tight. She was safe. That was all that mattered, wasn’t it? Itachi had made sure of that. He had locked her away from the world, from the people who wanted to hurt her. He was the only one who could protect her.

She leaned into his touch, her body relaxing as she let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “I know,” she said softly, the words coming out easier now. “I know you’re protecting me.”

A small smile curved at the corner of his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Good. You understand now.”

And she did. She finally understood. This wasn’t about control or power. It was about love. Itachi loved her, more than anyone else ever had, more than anyone else ever could. He was willing to do anything to keep her safe, even if it meant locking her away from the rest of the world.

How could she not love him for that?

The days that followed were different. The fear that had once gripped her chest, the unease that had gnawed at her mind—it was gone. Y/N felt a strange sense of peace now, a sense of belonging that she hadn’t felt in a long time. She wasn’t alone. She had Itachi. And that was enough.

Itachi visited her more frequently, bringing her food, sitting with her in the small room. They didn’t talk much, and they didn’t need to. His presence was enough to soothe her, to remind her that she was safe. She found herself waiting for him, counting the minutes until he returned, her heart fluttering with anticipation every time the door opened.

She knew it was wrong. She knew there was something twisted about the way she felt, the way her body responded to his presence, the way her mind had begun to mold itself around him. But she didn’t care. It was easier this way. Easier to believe that he was her savior rather than her captor.

---

One night, Itachi brought her a small gift—a necklace, simple but elegant, with a single black stone hanging from the chain. He held it out to her, his eyes never leaving hers as he placed it in her hands.

“It’s to remind you,” he said softly, “that you’re mine.”

Y/N stared at the necklace, her fingers trembling as she ran them over the smooth stone. The weight of his words sank deep into her chest, filling her with a warmth she didn’t want to acknowledge. She was his. She had always been his.

Without a word, she lifted the necklace to her throat, fastening it around her neck. It felt like a collar, like a mark of ownership. And somehow, she didn’t mind.

When Itachi’s hand brushed her cheek again, she leaned into it, closing her eyes as a small smile tugged at her lips.

“I’m yours,” she whispered.

And she meant it.