The Secrets We Keep *COMPLETE* (Sasori x OC? / Itachi x OC?)

Unplanned

 Maeme made her way to Konan's room after washing her face, hoping for answers from the woman. Her thoughts swirled like a raging storm in her head as her words echoed on repeat. "I loved him..." she whispers softly.

She shakes the thoughts away and sighs. Liking, let alone loving someone was never something she wanted to deal with. She always found the emotions useless, now it's something her brain seems to be latched onto. Maeme looks up at the wooden door separating her from the possible answers. Hesitantly, she brings her hand up to knock. Once her knuckles hit the door she feels a surge of panic and regret. She turns to leave in hopes of escaping before Konan can answer, but the door swings open to reveal the lavender haired woman staring at her curiously.

"Oh, hello Maeme. Did you need something?"

"I-uh, oh, well, no. No, it's nothing. Never mind." Maeme stutters out, slowly inching away.

"I'm fairly certain you're lying, so come on, get in here."

Konan gently latches onto her forearm and pulls her into her room.

"So, what's wrong?"

Maeme bites her lip but the words suddenly tumble from her lips, explaining the dream, minus her words. She trails off, her eyes studying the floor to avoid Konan's gaze. She takes a deep breath before asking what it means. Konan chuckles lightly and pats the blonde's head affectionately before moving over to her bookshelves. Her hand skims the spines before plucking a small pink book from its place.

"Read this." She tells Maeme, extending it to her. "I think this will help you understand."

Maeme takes the book and looks it over, wondering how Lost In Paradise would help with anything.

"Oh, thank you Konan. Hopefully it will help me. I will return it once I'm done."

Maeme thanks her again before leaving the room.

After debating on where to go, she decides that Itachi's empty room would lead to disaster, so she gathers her courage and heads to her bedroom. Sasori glances up at her as she softly closes the door and pulls on an over-sized sweater before settling down on her bed with a few lit candles on her bedside. After arranging some pillows behind her, she pulls her knees to her chest and opens a book that he hadn't seen before. He quickly looks away as she glances up at him and returns to his poisons.

A few pages into the book, Maeme realizes that it's a romance book and scowls. She continues to read it, her love of books and Konan's suggestion overriding her hatred of romance. As the story progresses, the characters seem to shift in her mind. The tall, fair haired man changes to raven hair and onyx eyes. The feelings the main character holds for the man begin to stir something inside her the further she reads until she can't tell the story from reality. The little things and emotions Maeme could never describe or admit to are laid out in front of her on the words of the little pink book. Unable to stop herself, she continues on until she reaches the final page where the main character rushes to the man's house to confess her feelings.

She takes a deep breath and closes the book before resting her head against the wall behind her. All she can think of is him and the way he held her in his arms when she couldn't sleep, how he kept her close when she wanted to hide away, and how he gave her a sense of peace every time they were in the same room. Her eyes widen as the realization sets in and she quickly gets to her feet before leaving the room. Maeme makes her way through the hall, her steps inaudible despite the silence of the base around her. She didn't know at first if Itachi had returned, but his door is open, soft candlelight glowing like a beacon in the darkness, drawing her closer. Her mind races with all the words she's dying to say, but it all comes to a grinding halt when she sees him.