Chapter 2

They had been traveling aimlessly for the last few days, as the one leading the group wasn't sure of their next course of action himself. He couldn't fathom explaining to the organization how he came about returning with an extra person in his small group. And he would not return until he had a plan in mind.

He had to keep her being a Higurashi a secret, as he wasn't too keen on placing such a bright spotlight on the small girl he had already incorporated into his plans. When the time came, she would prove herself an asset to his brother, and individuals such as Orochimaru would go berserk if he discovered that there was a survivor of the infamous Higurashi clan.

He grit his teeth, just now remembering another individual he would have to steer clear of, his 'mentor', Madara. It'd prove beyond difficult to carry out his plans if Madara were to become interested in the girl himself. The old man had a habit of collecting anything he found valuable.

Kagome sighed as the small group continued walking as they had for three days now.

Yes, Kagome had agreed to follow Itachi to the ends of the world, but were they really headed there?! How much longer would they continue on? Itachi seemed so deep in thought, and she absolutely refused to speak to that other guy, if you could call the fish a person, so she was left with no choice but to continue on in silence.

She hated being bored, hated not having something to focus her mind on.

Just as she was about to mutter a small complain, quietly to herself of course, Itachi suddenly stopped.

"Kagome?"

"Yes Itachi-San?"

She was quick to answer, her heart racing at having his attention on her. She would do anything he asked, if only those dark eyes would gaze at her for a moment longer.

"Would you like to complete an errand for me?"

'Anything, utter the words and I shall comply'

It would take an idiot not to feel his brothers chakra signature in the small village they were approaching. The weight of his brother's chakra was enormous, and he hadn't an inkling of an idea as to how his brother was able to amass such strength in the short time since he had last encountered him.

But it wasn't enough. It still fell short of where he wanted Sasuke to be.

" Hn, matters not. Kagome will help me achieve what he has left, and her strength will be the foundation for the new clan."

"I am unable to enter the village, but we are in need of supplies for our long journey."

Kagome already guessed where he was going and obediently accepted the money he held out for her.

She would do the best damn job at her task, that she'd show Itachi how valuable she was!

The marketplace was beyond crowded, civilians bustling around, all in a hurry. She found herself at times prepared to steal or pickpocket having done that the majority of her life, completely forgetting that she had money on her this time. This village was nothing like the one she had stayed at, here the people were alive, and endless chatter followed her.

Kagome thanked the kind lady, accepting the small bag of medical supplies.

"Do you not sense that little girl?"

She ignored the voice, continuing on in her errand. She had only been away from Itachi no more than half an hour, and already the dreaded voice had resumed.

"I am not here to torment this time. Do you not sense the one similar to our beloved?"

She stopped, scoping out the area.

'One like Itachi?'

Did she mean a clone?

"Stupidity is unbecoming of you."

The voice ceased after that, and Kagome had to scowl a little. Maybe if the voice would for once just say outright what it meant, she'd know.

It was then she felt it, the chakra signature of someone that resembled Itachi's but wasn't. She headed towards it, intent on finding out who that was. Kagome cut through a dark alley, the feeling getting stronger. She was so focused on finding it, she didn't notice the three large men who blocked her path. It was almost humorous how they tried to intimidate her.

"Leave everything of value here kid, and maybe we'll let you live."

The biggest one smirked down at her, his greedy eyes taking in the small pouch he assumed was filled with gold.

Kagome glared at them, annoyed that she'd have to waste time killing these flies. At one point in her life, she had enjoyed the act, but now, she would much rather prefer a challenge than to bathe in the blood of the weak.

"I suggest you step out of my way."

Her eyes had hardened, and her voice went cold. The voice inside of her snickered in glee and anticipation. It always enjoyed when she killed, stained the earth red, whether it be friend or foe. It enjoyed it even more when it was done by hand, and as Kagome hadn't brought her sword, a wicked thrill that was not her own ran down Kagome's spine.

Enjoyment that was not her own filled her heart, and with a heartless smirk on her face, she did what she did best, cleanse the earth of its waste.

Sasuke was getting tired of droning out Karin's non stop chatter. Images of him running his sword through her jugular flashed through his mind, and he briefly contemplated it. He stopped in his tracks, when he felt the bloodlust intent that surrounded the area. Even some civilians, who were too weak to pick up on anything, kept glancing over their shoulders in worry.

"Woah, Sasuke do you feel that?"

He wanted to roll his eyes at Jugo's remark, of course he felt it, he'd have to be pathetic not to.

"Stay here."

He didn't give them a chance to respond, not really caring for their opinions on the matter. He disappeared in a flash, his speed easily allowing him to appear at the scene without the use of chakra.

It was a darkened alleyway, a complete contrast from the sunny and lively village. It's walls were painted red with blood, the substance slowly dripping onto the ground, which was also covered in said liquid.

His eyes slowly trailed over to the few dead bodies carelessly strewn on the floor like trash. Their eyes were still open in horror, and he briefly wondered what was their last sight before death.

His eyes finally landed on the small girl opposite him, her eyes already scrutinizing him. She seemed confused taking in his person, and internally he was too.

Did she kill of these men? And was it her giving off that evil intent moments ago?

The girl was small, maybe 12, he couldn't tell. She had on a ridiculous pink kimono top, with an even more ridiculous pink ribbon on top of her ebony hair. To him, she looked harmless, weak.

He made to dismiss her, annoyed at having wasted his time. Obviously the person who had committed this had left the scene.

"Your aura is similar to Itachi's but you're not him."

She had muttered it softly to herself, but his ears were quick to zone in on his brothers name.

His eyes narrowed almost instantly at her, his attention enraptured by what she said.

"Where is Itachi?"

His hand was already resting on his sword, ready to attack if she refused to speak. He wasn't sure why his brother would even associate with a pathetic little girl such as herself, but he had long since given up trying to decipher the way Itachi's brain worked.

"Are the two of you related? I mean you do sort of look alike. But Itachi is more attractive."

She had barely finished what she was saying before he lunged. Maybe she was dumb, but Sasuke didn't show the weak or the stupid any mercy.

His sword sliced down on her, or at least the area where she once was, the spot now nothing more than empty space. He quickly turned prepared for an attack, his eyes quickly darting around. If she could evade his attack at the speed he was moving, then she wasn't as pathetic as he had previously assumed.

He quickly activated his Sharingan, unable to pinpoint where the small slip of a girl was. His eyes scanned the tight alleyway, before finally resting on her figure a few meters away.

Kagome gazed at the man across from her, amazed that one could appear so similar to the one she cherished. They were obviously related so she would not hurt him.

"What do you want from Itachi?"

Regardless whether they were related or not, she could sense the ill intent on his person, his obvious hatred for her savior clear on his face.

"You will tell me where he is, or I will kill you."

The words were sneered at her, hatred she did not think possible painted across his face. Kagome had never hated anyone in her short lifetime, yes she killed, but the only emotion ever behind it was bloodlust.

The people she slaughtered mattered not to her, there was never any emotion behind what she did or how she lived.

Her young but skilled eyes glanced over at the Itachi look alike, his eyes almost hysteric.

He looked crazy to her young eyes.

"No, I will not tell you."

She spoke the words, already prepared for his attack. His speed was atrocious, but she was faster.

He barely allowed her time to breathe before he was on her again, pushing her back, forcing her on the defensive. Regardless, Kagome was smiling, a sick gleeful look on her face at the opponent in front of her

'He's strong this one'

'That may be so, but we are stronger'

She played around with the young man a moment longer, never allowing him to land a blow, but not pushing back.

"You're slowing down onii-chan"

She giggled at the look on his face, just before delivering a blow to his chest that sent him crashing. She appeared almost high on ecstasy. It had been so long since anyone challenged her.

She jumped back to put some space between her and her opponent, her fingers already going through the motions for her first attack. The one that would truly allow her to have fun with him.

Sasuke stood, his haori filthy from the blow. He grunted in annoyance, his keen eyes zoning in on the small girl.

His eyes widened, recognizing the familiar hand motions, outwardly surprised at what she was attempting to do

'It can't be, where would she have learned that technique?!'

He had only seen it properly executed once, by that vile snake sannin Orochimaru himself. The jutsu itself was forbidden, as it robbed the victim of all senses shrouding them in complete darkness, left to the mercy of their attacker.

Before she could execute the final hand symbol, a cold grip wrapped around her arms.

Kagome stared into the cold haunting eyes of Itachi himself, more than a little surprised he was able to appear so close to her without her knowledge.

"Enough Kagome."

Her hands fell limp to her sides at his command, confused but never questioning.

Itachi turned from the small girl, his attention now on his little brother.

"Hello little brother."

Sasuke appeared shocked, whether it was at his brothers appearance or the fact that a little girl possessed capabilities that surpassed even his.

His fist clenched at his sides, red hot anger coursing through his veins. It never seemed to matter how hard he tried or how much effort he put into getting stronger, those who naturally possessed abilities, the ones deemed as prodigies would always surpass him, even if they were a small pathetic looking girl.

Itachi gave Sasuke a one over, thanking every god he knew that he was able to make it in time. It didn't take a genius to know that Kagome would have killed Sasuke if given the opportunity. He hadn't realized how powerful she was when he calculated this encounter.

"Itachi."

The voice was cold and smeared with obvious hatred. The eyes that had once looked up at him with love and adoration now despised his very being.

"I see you've met Kagome."

His hand rested on top of the small girls mane of hair, as though she were his prized pet, and Kagome seemed to preen under his touch.

"What is she"

Though his voice was hard, his eyes never strayed from the small gesture of affection, what appeared almost as longing flashing across his face for but a moment.

Kagome looked on at the foreign interaction, not quite sure how two brothers could be so cold towards each other. Being an only child, she wasn't sure how a relationship between kin should be, but even she knew it wasn't supposed to be like this.

"She is someone very important to me."

Though his tone held no warmth, Kagome's small chest fluttered at the words. If only he knew how important he was to her.

'We shall show him little one'

'Hai'

Show him she would.

Even as a highly skilled ninja, Sasuke could not mask his jealousy. He was always such a possessive little boy. And he was hoping on that trait to carry out the remainder of his plan once he was gone.

"I had always known you were sick in the head after what you've done, but I didn't know you were also a pedophile Itachi."

The words were meant to sting, and they almost did, recounts of the pairs first night together flashing through the missing nin's mind. But he pushed those thoughts aside, more focused on peaking Sasuke's interest in Kagome.

"She is mine"

Sasuke looked over the small girl again, his eyes not landing on anything special, nothing that would peak Itachi's interest so. Yes she was strong from what he had seen, but his brother did not lust after power the way he did. The small girl was cute and would definitely grow to be attractive, maybe Itachi wished to groom her.

"You are still weak Sasuke, have you given up on avenging our clan"

The words snapped Sasuke out his thoughts and quickly his hands wrapped around his sword.

"Never"

"We will meet again when you have gotten stronger. Maybe then you will not disappoint me little brother."

With those final words, the pair disappeared in a flock of ravens, the spot where they had once occupied now nothing more than some feathers.

"Yes Kagome?"

The small girl hadn't stopped her staring since the pair left his brother. Though he never enjoyed verbal exchanges, especially between him and the unstable girl, he would much rather her just ask whatever it was that was on her mind instead of staring at him.

"Ano, that was your younger brother Itachi?"

"Hai"

His eyes were squinted as the pair walked along to meet their third member, his straw hat doing nothing to lessen the sun's harsh rays.

"Do you not love him?"

He had never been one for disclaimers of affection, heck even the only recipient of his love didn't know the prodigy cared for him.

"Is he not my younger brother? Though our relationship is strange I do care for him. If you ever encounter Sasuke again, do not harm him."

He hoped his answer would suffice, already tired of their light conversation.

Kagome pondered his words. Her mind quick to decipher and decode what she believed to be a hidden message.

Itachi was precious to her, and Sasuke was precious to him.

So Sasuke was important to her too.

There came an odd warm feeling when she now counted off two important people in her life. It was almost like creating a small family again, and God knows how she yearned so desperately for those who she could call friends.

The pair met up with Kiasme, and without even a small break, continued on their path.