The fact was that Itachi knew he has been beaten. But that wasnt the worst part. He had been beaten by a six year-old girl. There stood over the once "ruthless killer" was a tiny girl with her light blonde hair pulled into pig tails. Giggling, she looked down at him and brushed a loose hair from her face. He stared back at her, his face alone read defeat. He was panting worse than a dog in summer. She, however, seemed unphased by the battle that just taken place.
"Okay, Illeana. You won" He said softly as he hung his head in shame. The little girl smiled and danced around in circles.
"I won. I won. You lost. You lost." She chanted as her maryjanes made the green grass below her crunch.
"Ready to go home?" He asked, pushing himself to get up. She nodded, took his hand, and began the long walk home. Shortly after they had started, she asked him the same question she asked any time they walked together: "Daddy, tell me again about mommy" And just as she would always asked him that question. He would always give her the response: "Your mother was a very strong, very powerful, and very beautiful woman. And I see much of her in you" And they would walk the rest of the way in silence. Illeana dreaming of what her mother might look like.
--
It was dark by the time Itachi walked through the front door, carrying Illeana in his arms. She had fallen asleep about halfway. Itachi made his way down the hall and to her room. He laid her down gently, pulled the cover over her, and kissed her on the forehead softly. Heading to the door, he kept the door ajar just a crack to let some light in. He walked down the hall and into his room. Taking off his shirt, he looked at the knicks and bruises from this fight and the many they had had before. He was slightly amazed at the power that she had at the age of six. Though on the other hand, he wasn't to shocked considering who her mother was. He traced his fingers along the cuts and sighed. Walking to the bathroom, he finished undressing and slipped into the shower. The water was warm and inviting. He lowered his head and untied his hair from the ponytail it had been in all day. He was worried about Illeana and the abilities she had. Because control was never her strong point and it was the one thing she really needed now.
Turning the water off, he wrapped a towel around his waist and got out. Drying his hair off with another a towel, he caught himself looking in the mirror. Boy oh boy he had changed after all these years. But that is what having kids does to you. He threw his "hair-drying" towel into the dirty clothes hamper and walked into his bedroom. Sliding on boxers, he then put the towel that was around his waist into the hamper as well. Hampers...he couldnt believe it. He was once a murderer and now he is throwing his towels into hampers...what had his life become. With a sigh, he laid down on his bed and closed his eyes, drifting into a slumber.
--
[Flashback{Yes Adrian-Chan a flashback}]
"Its hard to believe." He said softly, "That there is a baby in there" Placing a hand on her bare stomach, she smiled to him.
"Our baby" She said looking into his eyes. A nod from him gave her a reassuring feeling that he was with her all the way. "What should we name her?" She asked, taking his hand into her own and lacing her fingers with his.
"Hana?" Itachi offered pulling a name off the top of his head.
"Flower? Itachi, seriously? You wanna name our baby Flower..that just makes her look weak. You know as well as I do that she will be powerful. We dont want people calling her Flower." Kishi snapped at him.
"Okay Okay. I get it. We wont name her Hana. Just calm down. What do you want tto name her then?" Itachi said looking at her for her opinion.
"Illeana. Isnt it pretty?"
"Yes. I like it. Illeana it will be." Itachi said resting his head on her belly.
[End Flashback]
--
Itachi could feel something pulling on his hair. With a groan, he rolled trying to escape the nuisance. "Illeana. What is it?" He moaned. But no response. Itachi rolled over to see what was wrong "Illeana?" There before his face, a mere inches, was an orange and black mask. "Tobi! What on God's green Earth are you doing? And why are you in my bed?"
"Itachi-san...Deidara-sempai brought us over." Tobi said, laughing.
"Us?"
"Kisame, Sasori, Pein, and Konan." Tobi said squeakily as he folded his legs. Itachi shot up out of the bed, covers falling to the floor.
"He brought all these people...to my house...with my daughter here!!" Itachi growled.
"Nice boxers, Itachi-san." Tobi said laughing and falling over onto the bed.
"Tobi..."
"Yes, Itachi?"
"Get out of my room and my bed" Tobi looked at him for a second, before realizing that it would be of his and the rest of the worlds' interest to leave Itachi alone for now. So as quickly as he had come in, he was out. Itachi rushed to his dresser, frantically looking for clothes. Putting on just something, he rushed out into the hall, and down the hall. There in the living room was most of the Akatsuki. "What are you doing here?!" He snapped, soon quieting down as he realized Illeana might not be awake yet.
"We came to check up on you" Deidara said looking at his friend. "Last time we saw you, you were broken up about..." Deidara paused not knowing if Kishi's death was still a touchy subject for Itachi. "you were broken up about..." He couldnt bring himself to saying it.
"I know. I know that I was kinda...distraught over her...death. But that doesnt explain why you guys are here now." Itachi said looking at them.
"Should we tell him?" Konan asked looking at Pein for any kind of response. A nod gave her the right away. "Itachi. We want you back. The old you." Itachi looked as if he had been punched. "What do you say?"
"You want me to pack up and run off with you guys?" He asked, choking on the words.
"Yeah. Like the good ole days" Sasori chimed in.
"Daddy?" A small voice slid into the conversation. Itachi turned around and looked at his daughter. "Daddy, who are these people?" Before, Itachi had the chance to explain to her, Tobi jumped out infront of her.
"Hellllooo." He said looking at her. Her face twisted in fear. She screamed, ran into her room, and slammed the door. Itachi sighed and walked to the door.
"Tobi, go sit on the couch and stay there" He said as he knocked on the door. "Illeana, its me. Will you let me in?" She didnt answer. If she had, the whispers floating around the room would have overrun it. He put his ear to the door and asked again.
--
[Flashback]
"Itachi. They are coming." Kishi said, slamming and locking the front door. "We have to run"
"There's no time" Itachi said as he was giving Illeana a bath in the sink. "Hide. Take Illeana and go to the backroom."
"Itachi..no." But it was no use. He picked up Illeana, wrapped her in a blanket, and handed her to Kishi. He had to practically push Kishi into the backroom, and before she could object, he locked the door. As he turned to walk away, the front door was kicked in and a group of men walked in.
"Where is she?" They said, demanding to have her.
"I wont let you hurt her" Itachi said as he walked towards them, away from the back room. He was waiting for them to attack him, when something from behind grabbed onto him and held him tight. "No.." He said softly as they went to the backroom and unlocked the door. Walking in, they took him with. There stood Kishi, wide eyed. But there was no Illeana.
"Kill her." One of the men said as another pulled out his katana.
"Noo!" Itachi shouted as they sliced at her repeatedly. Crumbling to the floor, it was obvious that she was gone. They dropped Itachi and disappeared. Itachi fell to the floor and crawled over to Kishi. "Kishi. I am so sorry. I am sorry I couldnt protect you like I promised I would." He pulled her into his arms and tried to choke back the tears. A faint crying came from one of the boxes that were stacked in the backroom. Laying Kishi's body down, he got up and walked over to the box. Opening it, he saw his daughter. Illeana's cheeks were red and covered in tears. He scooped her up and rocked her back and forth. "Hush little baby, dont you cry. Its okay. Daddy's here tonight" He sang to her, easing her cries.
[End Flashback]
--
Illeana still refused to open the door. With a sigh, Itachi decided it would be best to let her just wait it out. So he took his guests outside and sat them down.
"Let me get this straight. You want me to come back and be the killer I once was." He asked looking at the faces that looked at him.
"Exactly." Konan said as she fiddled with the flower on her head.
"I cant. I have a daughter now. And this is my home" He said looking to the ground now. "I am sorry. But I must decline." He stood up and looked at them. "I just cant do it"
"What if we knew you and Illeana were no longer safe? Would you join us then? She could come too." Pein said looking at Itachi.
"What do you mean we are no longer safe? What are you not telling me?" Itachi said as he grew angry.
"I know that there are people coming and if you stay, you and Illeana will be killed." Pein said, standing up to look Itachi eye to eye. "We can make sure you and Illeana are safe as long as you return to your duties with the Akatsuki. Deal?" There was a long wait as Itachi thought of what move would be the best for him and his daughter. He nodded slowly and turned around.
"I will grab our things and we can leave." He said as he made his way to the house. "Illeana." He called grabbing a suitcase out of the hall closet. "Illeana." He said again before walking to her room and knocking. She opened the door a crack and peered out.
"Yes, daddy?" She asked, opening the door more as she saw the strangers were no longer there.

-to be continued-