Weeks pass as Itachi adjusts to living in the Akatsuki. Every night I watched over him, making sure nothing happened.

We are being sent out on our first mission. Itachis partner is Orochimaru of the Sannin. The entire time we are on the mission I am glaring holes into the snakes head. I practice my taijutsu on him, enjoying the way shivers wracked his form.

"Is something wrong Orochimaru?" Itachi asks. His lips are quirked upward ever so slightly, though he looked confused as to what he found amusing. I grin, happy that I made Itachi smile his secret smile, the one only I knew he had.

"No Itachi-san." Orochimaru hissed and I throw another punch straight through his chest, laughing at how another Shudder ripped through his body.

The mission was otherwise uneventful. I hovered over Itachi every night, watching the snakes hungry eyes trail along Itachis body. I snarl lowly every time. "Stay away from him pedo-bitch!"

I was so relieved when we returned to base, able to get away from Orochimaru.

Itachi POV

The entire mission was off. Every other one was easy, ridiculously so. But this one put me ill at ease. I am tense, never relaxing. I only sleep when I feel strangely familiar chakra wash over me protectively. I had no partner for this one. Years had passed since I joined Akatsuki.

'I knew it!' I thought as I dodge a Kunai easily. The moment I stepped the boundary, Shinobi had sprung from the shadows. There were a lot. I didn't even bother keeping count as I sliced through them, taking them out quickly and efficiently. I turned, stabbing one in the throat and jerking the blade upwards, decapitating him. I ignore the fat splattery drops of blood that rain down on me.

I begin to notice another unseen force fighting off the enemy alongside me. It felt familiar, and my heart ached dully. 'Shisui.' Thats what it felt like. Distracted, I fall for a rookie feint, and suddenly there is a Kunai coated in chakra approaching to fast to dodge.

"ITACHI!" There is a scream, and suddenly, there is a familiar back in front of me, arms outstretched as the Kunai drills through their chest. They turn to me and yank out the Kunai, the wound instantly healing. They give me a smile, so soft and loving, and oh kami I'm crying because it's him. He dashes forward, not even forming a handsign as there are suddenly after images of him everywhere. Suddenly there are no more enemies. They all lie dead on the ground. I stare blankly as he approaches me, kneeling.

"Itachi," his voice is the same. "You scared me! Don't allow yourself to be distracted like that!" He is scolding me. Just like when we trained and I pulled a dumb stunt. I'm sobbing as I clutch his shirt, the same he wore that day.

"Shisui..." I sob, and then his lips are on mine and I gasp. It's far to short as he pulls away smiling sadly.

"I'm Sorry 'Tachi. You've had to suffer so much because I wasn't strong enough. I never left you though. Remember? I will Always be with you."

I remember.

"Shisui, are you with me?" I ask

"Always." He says.

Shisui starts to fade and I clutch him tighter. "Don't go!" I cry because I just got him back!

"Don't worry. I'm still here even if you can't see me. Remember..." his voice fades but I manage to read his lips. I smile as I say them back, a blush on my face.