Wanting (Itachi Uchiha x OC) [Completed]

Chapter Fifty-Six: First Kill

"I suppose, yes." So, he did summon a crow. It had a letter attached to it like the one we used the first time. Hopefully this weak, weak plan can hold off an evil that even Itachi himself could never hope to stop for even just a moment.

~~~

Akira and Itachi: age 15

I let out a sigh. My breath turned translucent white in the cold winter air. I slipped my Anbu mask on.

"Are you ready?" Itachi whispered. Myself and a few others nodded. We were off.

Our mission was simple. Intercept a man called Gengi from reaching his leader. He possessed too much information about us. Crucial information.

The goal: kill him before anything he knows gets out.

Our squad was chosen for my speed and Itachi's sharingan. The others were just pawns on our side; nothing more, nothing less.

We located Gengi easy enough. Itachi and I stayed behind and waited for a signal while the others distracted the target.

The concept of Anbu was simple: be heartless and more skilled than whatever you went against.

At least, I thought it was simple. It was, until I killed my first that man. I was praised by my superiors and peers. I had to pretend it didn't eat me alive. A tool like us Anbu could not show that kind of emotion. Or we are as good as dead. Yet still, Icouldn't get over Gengi's face as his breath left him. As I took it from him.

He pleaded with me to spare him. That he'd never tell a soul the secrets he had on the Hidden Leaf Village. That he'd do anything.

I pulled my mask off. I wasn't crying; I couldn't.

"I can't help you now. No one can." With that I watched the life drain from his eyes, knowing that I was responsible for that. Itachi and our squad caught up to me.

"Alright, everyone. Let's move out."

Everyone began to make their way back to Konoha to report to the Hokage about the mission's success.

While everyone bolted I stood there in front of the man I had killed and just thought for a second, what if this man had family, or maybe someone he loved, or a best friend? My mind races as I desperately try to hang onto it. It's not supposed to matter now. He's nothing but a job well done, but I can't help to think these things to only myself. To tell anyone would be suicide.

I slip my mask on. I felt numb. I shouldn't have expected anything different. After all, this was the first life I'd taken and I was warned to put my emotions to the side. Ii cannot feel bad for protecting my village.

"Akira..." My heartbeat slowed and I felt like maybe I would be okay. I swiftly turned to the person I'm the closest to in the world. Itachi. He pulled his mask off and looked at me with worried eyes.

Why was he still here?

"Are you alright?"

I brushed shoulders with him while walking past. "I'm fine." I didn't look behind me.

"I think about it, too you know..."

I stopped walking.

What is he trying to say? There's no way Itachi worries about the lives of the enemy. I've known him for as long as I've been a ninja and I've never seen the slightest bit of emotion in his face on the job, He is the pride of the Anbu.

"I think about their families and lives, too. Who will miss them, or if they truly deserved to die." I slowed down and dropped my mask to my side.

"B-but how? " I clenched my fists. My face twisted against my will into an, expression of anguish.

"I found a way to keep my feelings contained and continue my missions.
If you want, Akira I could help you."

Warm tears streamed down my face. They almost felt good in the numbing cold air.

"Why, Itachi? Why did we have to do this?"

"Akira.. He had information... He could've-"

"BUT DID HE DESERVE TO DIE?!"

I fell to my knees onto the frostbitten ground and wiped away my tears. Itachi said nothing. I'm not sure he knew what to say. I stood up. My breath was ragged.

"I shouldn't have said anything. Let's just go." I tried to compose myself. Once again I passed by Itachi but this time feeling a grip on my wrist. A grip telling me not to go. Not to leave. Not yet.

I lifted my head to meet his gaze but wa instead met with a hug. A respite of warmth and compassion where it should not have been. I tried not to question it. By now, he was taller than me, but not by too much. He stroked my hair and I didn't know if I was okay with it or not but I let it happen. I let it all happen. He almost made my pain drift away for a moment and I forgot all about the burning cold on my skin. For a second, all I knew was the warm spring days we spent as kids at the academy. When things were simple.

"Akira, I.." Itachi trailed off for a moment. "I'll help you. With everything. But you must lean on me when you cannot stand. You just can't be so stubborn all the time." He let out a soft sigh. He was relieved to offer his support to me.

He always made me feel better. I don't know how but he makes me feel some kind of way that I can't explain. The world stands still and waits for me when he asks it to.

We parted ways but he kept his hands on my shoulder.

"Cheer up, okay? You'll always have me." He titled his head and smiled. He had the most beautiful smile.

"Thank you, Itachi." What would I do without him?

"Come on, we should catch up."