Author's note: this is my personal head canon of everything that happened to Itachi. Mostly these are all the oneshots I've published separately, but for the sake of organization I've decided to compile them here :) Please note, for continuity purposes I'm making Shisui female (re: references to a female lover in subsequent oneshots, plus the story "Braid," which I wanted to include here).

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Part I

She stands at the river's edge, waiting in the murky hours just before daybreak. In the distance, she can make out Itachi's figure, waving and backrimmed by watery light.

Itachi lifts his eyes in silent greeting as Shisui taps him on the arm.

"You wanted to speak with me?" Shisui asks. Itachi bows his head.

"Shisui," Itachi says. "You shouldn't have come."

The gulls cry above them, and Shisui frowns.

"It's been a long time," Shisui says. Itachi takes a breath; it's long and drawn and strands of hair moves loosely in the breeze. "Itachi, what's wrong?"

Itachi doesn't answer. Shisui searches his eyes. "Itachi-"

"Shisui-san." Itachi's voice cracks. "I don't know what to do."

There is a horrible, awful moment when neither one of them speaks. Shisui watches as her cousin shrinks up into himself, the strain of whatever it is he's going through cracking on his face.

"They want me to stop it, Shisui," Itachi says. His voice is soft; Shisui has to strain to hear. "They gave me orders - no one can survive."

"What?" Shisui's hands tighten into fists. "You can't mean-"

"Yes," Itachi says. His eyes flick upward. "They want me to slaughter our clan."

A breeze stirs. The grasses around them bend.

"We can't let this happen," Shisui says. "We have to tell the council - we have to move forward!"

"We can't." Itachi's eyes dim. He takes a ragged breath. "Shisui, I-"

"Oi." Shisui steps closer. "Itachi, it's okay. We won't let that happen, we won't-"

A knife plunges into her gut. Shisui's eyes widen.

"Forgive me," Itachi says.

He shoves the knife deeper. She stumbles onto Itachi's shoulder.

"It's called the Mangekyou Sharingan," Itachi says. "It's what will help me deal with our clan."

Another twist. Shisui wheezes, leaning on Itachi's shoulder.

"They say you can attain it by killing someone precious to you," Itachi says. "Someone you love."

Itachi yanks out the knife. She pitches forward, but Itachi catches her. Slowly, he lowers Shisui to the ground.

The blast of healing chakra to her stomach surprises her. The knife wound knits, but it's superficial; her skin is clammy and she's hemorrhaging on the inside.

"So they won't know," Itachi says. And then, softly, "I'm sorry, Shisui."

Shisui tries to speak, but her breath is caught in her throat. Her mouth moves soundlessly, a fish guppy-breathing the air.

Itachi smooths her forehead, then brushes back the damp strands of hair from her eyes. He is crying. Shisui raises a hand toward Itachi's face. Her fingers are limp. Blood smears on Itachi's cheek.

Then she's underwater. Her body is a weight; she sinks, pockets of air bubbling around her, and above the surface she can just make out Itachi's figure standing at its edge.

She doesn't understand.

Her vision dims. She sinks into the cold water, dead dark eyes staring up at the sky.

She doesn't understand.