Designed For War...But Not Meant For It (Itachi Uchiha Story) Info.

Chapter 29.

Kiken's room was barely a few seconds down the corridor, but to Itachi it felt like a lifetime.

His steps seemed to slow as he walked, wondering how he would start the conversation—how he would put himself across that wouldn’t make him look like a fool. Explaining what was in his head was hard enough to do to himself, let alone the one person he truly wanted to tell. But he had to say it; there was no choice in the matter for Itachi now. It was do or die and he wasn’t about to turn around and forget about it. He couldn’t. Not now. He forced himself onwards, thinking of what Pein had said. She was free now. No one was getting in the way, and he had the time to speak to her. He knew Kiken. He’d be fine.

And then he reached her room.

Immediately halting, Itachi stared down at her door handle, almost hoping it would turn by itself, allowing him in—or at least Kiken herself would come to the door and welcome him inside. That way it would be a little easier on him. But even that he couldn’t do. Kiken had gone to her room because she thought things were too late, and obviously she wasn’t going to suddenly appear after having changed her mind. It was down to him, and him alone, and gritting his teeth, closing his eyes for a moment, he took a deep breath to gather his courage. Of all the things he’d done in his life, and this was affecting him the most.

But it wasn’t like a battle. A battle he could analyse the advantages and disadvantages of everything. He could take into account the landscape around him and anything in the surroundings that could help or hinder him. Opponents could be observed for a few minutes, gathering what were their strengths and weaknesses, what jutsus they liked to use and what their chakra nature was. Someone’s feelings were a whole different matter, however. They weren’t as predictable as battle situations, or many things in life. Sometimes it was hard to tell if they felt a certain way—especially when your own feelings were taken into account. And that wasn’t exactly something Itachi dealt with normally.

There was only one way to find out, though.

Forcing himself to continue, Itachi knocked softly on the door, waiting a moment before he finally heard a word of consent for him to enter. Kiken had given up on the idea of getting to talk to Itachi, so she was more surprised than she thought she would have been as she turned round as he came in. Freezing for a moment, she managed to raise herself off her bed slowly without revealing what she felt inside, nodding and greeting him quietly as she did so, waiting for Itachi to make the next move. Kiken wasn’t exactly in the mindset to begin a conversation—let alone one she was hoping that would arise.

Itachi wasn’t sure whether he was either, but he couldn’t hold back now he’d got this far, and glancing down for a moment, he looked back up only to find himself pausing another time at the look in her eyes. They caught him in the same way they had done the very first time he had looked into them, and abruptly he felt calmer; more ready to do what he knew what he had to do. That overwhelming beauty he saw in Kiken's eyes; her face, and he no longer felt nervous. No longer felt worried about what might happen. Any plan for what he might say fell from his mind, and he knew he would just say what he felt.

“We never got to finish our conversation in the prison, Kiken…” He finally began softly, and feeling themselves relaxed, it allowed him to continue placidly,

“And I feel I should. I need to finish it.”

Suddenly hope flared up inside of Kiken, and her heartbeat increased to a level she was sure she hadn’t experienced since the day the war ended; it was almost unnatural. This time, however, it was a good thing. A feeling of happiness was sweeping over her—a feeling that Kiken had never known. Back then she hadn’t known, but now she could understand. People had always said she didn’t know what she was missing, but having never truly had it, it hadn’t bothered her. Now, however, and she realised just how amazing it was, and all she could focus on was Itachi's eyes. They were as intense and deep as always, but there was something different about them this time.

Kiken could see a feeling of care surfacing within them.

Neither Kiken nor Itachi had someone to care for—at least, not in that way. Now things were changing, and Kiken couldn’t stop a soft, sweet smile flickering onto her face. She had never known who she really was; had never had a chance to discover her true self. But standing in front of Itachi at this moment, she was starting to realise that with his help, she was beginning to find it. Itachi felt himself relaxing more than he even had done for as long as he could remember as her smile appeared, especially as she responded quietly,

“I know. I—I wanted to finish it too. It was just with everything going on, I never got the chance. They were all taking me away for so many different reasons…I didn’t know if I was going to get the chance to talk to you anymore. I should have come to find you.

“No; I felt the same at first, but when Leader-sama said no one needed you anymore for anything Akatsuki related…I knew I had to take the chance.” Itachi instantly replied, glancing away and back again before deciding to just say it, and went on, his voice becoming serene as he did so,

“What I wanted to say back there, Kiken—what I was trying to say…was that I love you.”   

After having lived her life with people treating her like an object; a weapon, and nothing else, the rest staying away from her out of fear, it was such a shock to hear it. In the end Kiken had given up with trying to get close to people; always afraid and wary of what might happen if she did get close. But Itachi had disproved all of her earlier opinions; he had broken down the barriers she put around herself to protect her…and yet she didn’t care. He’d proved that not everyone was like Kiken had been expecting. That some out there were alright.

That someone could love her.

Overwhelmed with emotion, a single tear rolled down her face, though her smile remained, causing Itachi to now walk over to her. Looking up into his face, he reached forward and gently wiped it away from her face, a tender smile coming across his own mouth as he did so, chuckling quietly as he breathed,

“I’d tell you not to cry, but I get the feeling it’s not through sadness.”

Unable to say a word in return, Kiken merely shook her head in agreement, placing her hands up against his chest; upon feeling his body heat, though, as well as the feeling of his strong, muscled chest beneath her hands, she leant her head against his chest, sighing in happiness. But Itachi wasn’t quite finished yet, as although his right hand slid across Kiken’s back for a moment, slowly stroking her, he abruptly removed it to tip her face upwards until she were looking at him, and without pausing, pressed his lips gently against hers.

Kiken was uncertain what to do at first, but it felt so right her instincts took over, and she slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and his went around her waist. Softly and sensually drawing circles over her hips, Kiken buried one hand in his hair and found herself running her hand underneath his cloak and shirt to rub his bare skin and abs, smirking slightly as she heard him grunt in pleasure. A moment later Itachi's tongue flicked across her lips, and almost automatically she opened her mouth, her eyes closed in bliss as he delicately explored within. Managing to hold back the feeling that was beginning to grow in the pit of her stomach, Kiken did nothing as he abruptly moved his lips to her neck, leaving gentle kisses across her skin until he reached her soft spot. But the feeling of pleasure within her rose, and she couldn’t help but let out a small moan, and pulling away, blushing, Itachi simply smiled in return, and Kiken's embarrassment slowly faded, especially as he added on afterwards with another small kiss,

“It’s okay, Kiken. You never have to go through anyone treating you like that again.”

And it was with those words—as Itachi's lips returned to hers and he slowly slipped off his cloak—that Kiken knew the truth.

This was where she belonged.