Time That Passes By

Chapter 34 - The feeling of being loved again

So, warning for this chapter.

Itachi will be OOC. Out of character.

Huhuhu, okay thats it.

Enjoy!! ^^

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Third Person's POV

Mai sigh.

"Ha.... finally everything is over. Kakashi, thanks for everything" Mai said.

Kakashi nod.

"Yeah, no problem" Kakashi smiled.

"Mai-san..."

Both adults turn to the voice. Itachi.

"What's wrong dear?" Mai sat down by the bed.

Kakashi went closer, his hands in his pocket.

"Why do you help me so much?" Itachi ask.

"I have done many things I shouldn't... It's true I was ordered to do all this. But it doesn't change the fact that I did all this. I--"

"Itachi" Mai cut him off.

"The reason I helped you... was because you have gone through too much. For someone as young as you, you have gone through too many things person your age shouldn't go through. When I heard from the Third that the Uchiha clan was massacre, I was devastated. Uchiha clan holds dear memories to me after all" Mai said.

"So then, I met you. And I saw what happened during the massacre. No matter what you think, you are still a boy, you're just a human. Going through all this, it's a torture... I'm sure deep down inside, you're lonely, the guilt is killing you slowly, trust me, I know how that felt" Mai said, smiling sadly.

"I... don't think I should be alive and living peacefully after what I did..." Itachi said, looking down on his lap sadly.

"Itachi... if you feel guilty. Then live for them. Live for those who has been sacrificed. I promise I will bring your brother back by your side. Thats why for now, I want you to stop doing everything by your own" Mai said, pulling him into a hug.

Itachi's eyes widen.

"Don't shoulder everything yourself anymore. You can lean on me. Tell me everything... dont hide your feelings anymore. I don't want you to suffer anymore. I want you to live for yourself. Be happy... because you remind me of myself back then... thats why, I want to save you" Mai said, smiling gently.

Itachi leaned his head on Mai's shoulder, covering his face.

But both Mai and Kakashi could tell, the message that Mai wanted to convey, reached him.

Mai hugged him tighter, smiling gently. She could feel the wet tears on her shoulder as Itachi cried silently.

"Itachi... from now on, dont worry about anything anymore... this time, you dont have to protect anyone anymore... because I will be protecting you from now onwards" Mai said.

"Arigato... Mai-san..." Itachi said.

Mai kept her smile.

"Yeah..."

She look up at Kakashi and he gave his usual closed eye smile.

Mai too smile gently at him.

Mai's POV

I smile contently as I look up the sky.

It's strange... how saving a person's life, helps you feel so happy like this.