"Itachi-sama?"

Itachi's eyes snapped open. He silently sat up. "What is it, Chiizu?"

The seven year old girl stood in Itachi's bedroom doorway. Her dark brown hair tumbled down from her shoulders, and her eyes were half closed, and nearly blank. Quietly, Chiizu tip-toed to the foot of Itachi's bedside, then crawled underneath the covers until her head nestled on Itachi's warm chest. She was shaking.

Itachi slowly carressed Chiizu's brown locks. "What's wrong?" he whispered.

"I'm scared." the small girl said shakely, her eyes trembling with fear. "I had a bad dream."

Itachi continued to stoke Chiizu's brown hair while she quietly cried into him. Normally he would scold her for her tears, but in the dead of the night, when no one was present, he felt a strong fear--that Chiizu would someday be forced away from him. He quietly hugged her to his chest, muffling her sobs as best he could.

After a few moments, Itachi sat up, holding Chiizu in his lap. "They say that talking about a bad dream can make you feel better." he whispered. "Would you tell me about it?"

Chiizu nodded, and after a few sniffles, uttered five words. "I dreamed that Itachi-sama died." she whimpered, curling into a ball, nestled in Itachi's lap. "I got really scared." she added after another sniffle.

Itachi was silent. It had started to rain, making a pitter-patter sound against the window, as if it were trying to cover up Chiizu's tears with rain, and her sobs with thunder.

After a few moments, Itachi wrapped his arms around Chiizu's shaking body. "Come now," he said gently, "I'm here now, aren't I? There's no reason to be afraid."

Ever so slowly, Chiizu became quiet, her rythmic breathing filling the silence in the room.

Dawn was breaking, Itachi realized. The rain had stopped.

The rain had finally stopped.

Itachi almost smiled. He kissed Chiizu's forehead, the small girl fast asleep.

"Have sweet dreams, sweet child."