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

Reconciliation

Maeme wanders through the forest, her face hidden by the hood of her coat as she debates her next move. She'd recently completed a job for a man in Yukigakure but didn't want to stay in the snowy village longer than she had to. Her whole stay was miserable, her thoughts plagued by memories of Sasori. She'd stayed in the empty Akatsuki base to stay hidden, but found herself reliving the arguments they had there. She stops in a clearing to take a break and make her directional decision. Maeme sighs as she realizes she's very near the Akatsuki base. She'd escaped the base a year ago, shortly after Sasori's death when Pein told her to sign her life to him or die. After thinking for a while, she chose a third option. She wanted to say goodbye to everyone but knew that she would be forced to stay if she did, so she left a note for Itachi. She regretted the way she left them, but most of her life had been chosen for her and she wanted to live for herself. She couldn't do that with the Akatsuki. Maeme shakes her head and wipes at the stray tear on her cheek as she gets to her feet, her destination set on Kirigakure.

"Maeme?"

Maeme tenses, eyes wide at the sound of his voice. She opens her mouth to speak, but nothing comes out so she does the first thing that comes to mind; she disappears. She lands on a tree branch several feet away and tears through the leaves as she hurries away from the base she'd called home for so long. She had heard of the Akatsuki's movements over the year but had managed to avoid seeing anyone. She wasn't sure what would happen if she came across anyone. There was no doubt Pein wanted her dead and she was sure Itachi, Kisame, and Deidara hated her for bailing out on them. Maeme stops running after what feels like an hour, her chest and eyes burning from unshed tears. She leans back against the trunk of a tree and takes a deep breath, willing his voice to leave her mind. Itachi appears in front of her, pinning her body between himself and the tree. She sucks in a breath and avoids his burning gaze by dropping hers to the ground below them. He reaches up and pulls the hood down, revealing her face and long golden hair.

"It is you." He breathes. "Look at me."

Maeme finds herself unable to react. His hand gently runs across her cheek before cupping her chin, tilting it upward to meet his gaze. Tears spring to her eyes as she stares into his onyx hues. The dark color is hazier than she remembered, his eyesight worsening from the Sharingan use.

"Itachi..."

"Do you have any idea what I want to do to you?" Itachi growls lowly.

Itachi paces the floor of the room at the inn as Maeme sits on the edge of the bed fidgeting with the hem of her jacket. Neither had spoken since Itachi took her from the tree into a village nearby. She chose to sit down once he began to pace the room and occasionally stop to speak but couldn't seem to make words come out.

"Why?" She jumps at the sound of his voice.

"I-"

"Why did you leave? How could you leave? You didn't even- you were just gone! I searched for you for months. I thought you were dead, Maeme! I-"

"Itachi, breathe." She cuts in as she gets to her feet. "I didn't want to leave you, but I had to."

"You-"

"You are going to let me talk Itachi. I didn't want to leave you, I really didn't, but I needed to live life on my terms. Chiyo decided my future for me when I was young. I lived my whole life following Sasori around and if I would've stayed I would've been forced to do whatever the Leader wanted me to do. I'd never have lived for myself. I left the letter because I knew you all would've forced me to stay. I never wanted to say goodbye to you... Leaving you was the hardest thing I ever had to do..."

"Why did you run from me?" He asks after a long silence.

"I got scared. I knew you'd hate me for leaving and I figured Pein would want me dead. I panicked because I didn't want to see the look you're giving me now."

Maeme moves closer to Itachi, her heart breaking at the hurt etched on his face.

"I never stopped loving you Itachi. I never stopped thinking about you. I hated myself every day for leaving you but I just- I had to do this. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Maeme reaches a hand out to touch Itachi's face but he backs away.

"Don't." His voice was dangerously restrained.

"Why not?" They were so close together that she could see the individual flecks of light in his eyes.

His brows were arched and she traced one of them lightly with her fingertip. He abruptly grabbed her hand. Her eyes flew to his and her skin seemed to burn at his touch.

"I will not be held responsible for my actions if you don't stop touching me." His eyes were deadly serious.

She swallowed. She'd missed and craved him for so long that even the idea of being so close made her knees feel weak. But he was hers and she had been his for a very long time. She held his gaze as she stood on her tiptoes and pressed her lips against his.

Itachi's hands swiftly remove her jacket before tearing her shirt from her body, her fingers fumbling with the clasp of his cloak. Maeme's eyes widen as he picks her up and pins her against the wall. His teeth sink into the soft flesh of her throat, leaving deep red marks against her porcelain skin. His calloused hands send jolts through her body as they roughly wander her curves. Maeme loses herself in his touch as their bodies work through the words they'd left unsaid.

Maeme rolls over, a smile crossing her face as she pulls herself closer to the man softly sleeping beside her. She rests her head on his chest and listens to his heart beating. They hadn't fallen asleep until after the sun started to peek over the horizon, their time spent talking and rediscovering each other. Itachi opens his eyes and plants a soft kiss on the top of her head.

"Good morning Maeme." He hums softly.

"Good morning Itachi."

A shiver runs down her spine as his fingers gently brush against her skin. She sits up further to kiss him, smiling as he tries to deepen the kiss. Maeme pulls away and lightly scolds him as she gets to her feet in search of her clothing.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking at what is left of my shirt." She pouts, holding up two strips of white fabric. "Did you have to destroy it?"

"It was in my way."

Itachi pulls on his pants before coming to stand behind her and wraps his arms around her stomach.

"Come back with me." He whispers, trailing soft kisses down her neck.

"Itachi, you know I can't. I'd be killed as soon as I walked in."

"I don't want to lose you again Maeme."

"I don't want to lose you either, but there's nothing we can do."

Maeme turns to face him and buries her face in his chest.

"I love you so much Maeme."

"I love you too Itachi. Hm, what if we meet here a year from now if we don't cross paths before then? I'll hate being away from you for so long, but we will always have that night to look forward to."

"As long as I know you're safe, I'll be okay." he answers, then pulls her into a deep kiss.

"If I don't show up, just know that I will always love you."

"Don't talk like that." Itachi snaps. "We will see each other again."

"Yes Sir." she smirks. "Just so you know, I'm stealing your shirt."