It wasn't supposed to be like that. She was supposed to have done her job the first time, and killed him when Gai gave her the chance. Kurenai wasn't supposed to have gone back to the battleground. She wasn't even quite sure why she did. It's not like it was in ancient times, before the countries were founded; one couldn't just go to their losing battle places and hope to absorb the energies of the victor and pray for a win the next time.

Kurenai didn't know what she was expecting when she slipped out the two-story window of Kakashi's apartment during her guard duty, but she did know that whatever was expected, it wasn't that he would be there as well.

She landed in behind him, exerting extra momentum to get the soles of her sandals to skid on the gravel. She wanted him to notice her.

She wanted a fair battle this time.

The crimson-eyed man barely glanced over his shoulder at her, eyes squinting in the respectful distaste that only he had been able to master.

"Kurenai-san." he greeted softly, facing away from her determinedly. "You're out late. Shouldn't you be tending to Kakashi-san?"

The raven-haired woman bared pearly teeth in response, cool facade slipping at even the thought of being condescended. But she kept her tongue.

Itachi turned his head towards her ever-so-slightly. "It's rude to not respond to a civil greeting, Kurenai-san." he stated evenly, eyeing her faintly to gauge a reaction. Was she going to attack, or not?

Instead of responding--she didn't have the temperament to anyway--she charged the man, seals forming quickly. The Uchiha merely sighed, but allowed Kurenai to get close enough. A small poof of smoke and Itachi, feeling he had overdone it slightly, had a struggling jounin underneath him.

"Mangekyou..." he muttered quietly, and Kurenai's movement ceased.

A flash of light erupted behind her pupils, the colors of the world inverted, and their lips were connected. The suddeness of it all startled her, so much so that she didn't think twice when she parted her lips for his entrance, or when she allowed his surprisingly talented tongue dart in and out, exploring every crevice of her mouth.

She quickly gained her bearings back, and forced her own tongue to join in on the festive dance. Back, forth, back, forth, until finally Itachi seemed to get frustrated and bit down on her lower lip. Surprised once again, Kurenai jumped, finally coming to her senses.

She blinked once. Twice. And looked up, where she found a two smirking rubies in a pale mask. Itachi, staring down at her, face emotionless. No tilt to his lips, no flush on his cheeks, no crease in his eyes.

She glowered at him, and finally one side of his lips twitched upward, so quickly she thought it might have only been an illusion. "Frustrated, Kurenai-san?" he whispered as she began to stand.

She blinked again, and his image left her sight.

"Or is it that you wanted the last word in?"

A gasp, and finally, while they still could, Kurenai's lips managed a grin of their own.