I loved you once...

His piercing red eyes bore into her chocolate brown ones. Despite the sharp weapon a millimeter from her neck, she didn't feel fear. He had it. She could sense it reaching out for her. The rain poured all around the pair. Neither one moving. Kagome lay on the ground, propped onto her elbows, he stood above her, so close, his weapon aimed at her throat. If she moved, he'd surely kill her.

After what seemed like forever, he slowly moved away from her. Kagome stood onto her feet, ignoring the fact that she was covered in mud. He turned to leave. "You have something of mine." she said. He stopped and reached into the inside pocket of his cloak. In his hand was a small pink jewel.

"How did you know I had this?" he asked, his gaze narrowing slightly at her.

"I am its guardian." she told him. "It's my duty to protect it even if it costs my life." He processed this for a moment before tossing it to her. Truth be told, he didn't like the way that thing made him feel. He was more than happy to return it to the woman. Hell, he was happy it was no longer in his possession.

That was Kagome's first encounter with Itachi Uchiha.

The second time she met him was a few weeks later while she had been running from a bunch of bandits. She came to the edge of a cliff and quickly turned around only to see the group blocking her exit. Kagome gripped the jewel tightly in her hand as she took a step back. The men before he slowly advanced towards her, taking their sweet time.

She looked down at the river below her. If she jumped, surely she would die. It was in that moment when she felt a somewhat familiar presence nearby. She didn't have time to investigate further for a small chunk of the cliff gave in and she plummeted towards the raging water below. She gasp as she felt arms wrap around her and safely land on the other side.

When she looked up, she was mildly surprised to see the same man who had nearly killed her a few weeks prior. He set her on her feet. "Thank you." she breathed. Her heart pounded in her chest. He nodded and walked forward into the forest. He stopped and looked at her over his shoulder.

"Are you coming?"

She smiled and nodded and ran to catch up with him.

He felt at peace when he was around her. As they walked, she spilled her story. She had gotten lost, so to speak, and lost the jewel he had picked up. Her 'boyfriend' had tried to kill her for it so she ran from him and ended up here.

In return, he told her his own story. Of how he murdered his clan to save the village and his brother. She even shed a few tears and tried to reassure him that he wasn't a horrible person for doing those things.

They ended up travelling together for a very long time.

They both decided it would be best if she not get involved with the Akatsuki. Instead she followed him around on his missions. Somehow she managed to befriend Kisame. As time went on, Kagome found herself falling in love with Itachi Uchiha. He was kind and considerate when it was just the three of them. She could sense that he was suffering, his disease had steadily been growing worse.

"Itachi…" She looked up at him one day. "Let me heal you."

He knew what she was referring to and shook his head. "No. If I wished my disease to be treated, I would have done so long ago."

She had tried time and time again, but his answer was the same as each time. She cried for him. She didn't want him to leave. She wanted to stay by his side until they grew old.

When she discovered his plan on having his brother kill him, she begged him not to go, but he wouldn't listen to her. She silently walked with him, head down, as the two of them headed for the Uchiha hideout. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.

He stopped and turned towards her. "Kagome." he lifted her chin up so he could look into her teary chocolate brown eyes.

"Don't go…" She whispered.

"I have to." he said. "Please understand."

A few hours later, Kagome was standing off to the side, watching Sasuke and Itachi fight each other to the death. She knew how this would end. Itachi was fighting him blind after all and Sasuke was quite powerful himself. He had briefly glanced at Kagome before turning his attention back to his elder brother and then their fight began.

When they moved to the top of the building Kagome quickly found herself scrambling to get up there as well. She gasped when she saw Sasuke heading straight for Itachi with his sword drawn. Her legs moved on her own. She felt the sword pierce through her chest. Her hand rested on the blade as Sasuke looked down at the woman with shock. She smiled at him. He released the sword and stumbled away from her.

Kagome dropped to the ground. Itachi's face came into her line of sight.

"Why would you do something so reckless!?" he scolded her.

Kagome reached up and laid her hand on his cheek. His hand lay over her own. "Because… I love you." she whispered. Blood poured from her wound and a small trail of blood seeped from her mouth.

"Sasuke." She turned her gaze to the shell shocked boy. "I need a favor." she pulled the jewel out from her pocket. "When I die burn this with my body. Please. If you do this, I'll forgive you." The boy swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. He didn't know why he agreed to do as she said. She was with his brother! She was the enemy. Yet she had done nothing to him. She was innocent and shouldn't have been here in the first place.

After Kagome took her last breath, Itachi set her body off to the side and their fight continued. Sasuke came out of the fight victorious.

Itachi smiled at his little brother as he lifted his index and middle finger and planted it on his forehead, just like he had done so many years ago. "Sorry Sasuke, there won't be a next time." and he fell to the ground, joining his beloved in death.