~Anna's POV~

My eyes were closed and I was enjoying the peace when I heard someone say.

"You know, you're talking to yourself again. Its very unhealthy."

I jumped from the shock and were about to scream but stopped when the person turned out to be Itachi.

"Damn you grizzly! Don't scare me like that! I could've thrown something at you out of reflex!"

"Like what? Flowers?" He asked smirking taking a seat beside me.

"Heavy flowers!"

"Yeah right."

"By the way, what are you doing here? More importantly how did you know about this place? No way! Were you stalking me?!?!"

"Not even in your dreams. Same question goes for you. How do you know about this place?"

"I asked first." He sighed.

"Fine. Well one day, I was very sad. Walking around Konoha aimlessly, I came upon here."

"Your girlfriend dumped you?" I asked snickering.

"No."

"Then?"

"I already answered your question."

"Stop being stubborn and tell me."

" My sister died." I fell silent.

Tch. Shouldn't have asked that. Shoot.

"Sorry."

"You didn't know."

"So, how old was she?"

"Four. Her name was Ame."

"How did she die?" Was it alright to keeping asking him?

"Some random guy shot her."

"Sorry again."

"Doesn't matter now. So, what's your story?" He shrugged.

"Well before we left for America, mum brought me here and we used to come here every day. This is also the place where both my parents fell in love. Its been long years since I saw this beauty." I smiled at the very thought of my mother being with me.

"Hn." There was a long pause until I broke it.

"So, are you over her death?"

"What kind of a question is that?" Itachi asked a question of his own with slight anger and irritation. I looked away.

"It um..I can't let go of the past in which all my loved ones died. I can't just accept that bitter truth, not just yet. It still haunts me. So I'm asking, are you-"

"She's dead. Maybe she was supposed to die. Maybe her life was written to be this short. Maybe it was for the best." I was slightly shocked at his reply.

"How can you be so casual about it? I mean, I totally changed myself after what happened."

"From what I can see, you haven't changed one bit."

"Didn't you notice I rarely get sad around my brothers?"

"I rarely see you with your brothers."

"Yeah, that's right too. Well I stopped showing all negative emotions ever since mum died. Last time I cried, it nearly gave my brothers a stoke from guilt and sadness."

"Oh." Before I could say another word I heard Max yelling from afar and closing in.

"SIS! I FOUND IT!" He came running and handed me a flower. Itachi eyed us two cautiously.

"Water lilly! That's so cool Max! We love the same ones!"

"It IS cool!"

"Yaps!" He kept grinning.

"Hence proved that you are siblings." Itachi spoke and Max noticed his presence for the first time.

"Itachi-nii? How come you know about this place?"

"Long story." Then Max starting smirking and laughing slyly.

"Tehehehehehe,, what were you and sis doing here alone?" I turned deep red and tackled him to the ground.

"DIRTY MINDED KID!"

"You will strangle your own brother." Itachi warned.

"Don't worry. I won't kill him. I love him too much." I spoke letting Max go.

"Well if you love me sis, then what feelings do you have for Itachi-nii?" Max asked all innocent.

" Yes Anna. Please elaborate." Itachi pressed smirking.

"Um-uh,,, I-I, uh..... I DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER THAT!!"

Both Itachi and Max high-fived. They had it planned. Damn them! But when?!

"Nobody tell their lovers the true feelings they hold when their brothers are around." Max grinned. Itachi smirked.

"Boys.." I rolled my eyes.

"Correction: One and a half men." Itachi said.

"I only see immature humans." I stuck my tongue out at them.

"At least we are human."

"So am I!" I flailed my arms around.

"It doesn't look like that."

"Oh ya?! Then what do you think I am?!"

" Easy. You're umm....."

"Yes?"

" My rival and friend." I looked in Itachi's direction and he was smiling for somereason.

"Do you know what happened to her previous rival and friend?" Max nudged Itachi while grinning.

"What?"

"He loved-" I cut him off by putting a hand on his mouth.

"He loved....?" Itachi asked impatient.

"He loved soccer and one day told me that he didn't wanna be my rival. End of story." I lied quickly.

"So what was his name?"

"MARCUS!" Max yelled before I could quiet him. I bit my lip and looked the other way.

"Marcus? Didn't he-"

"Ya. He died. I warned him about the risks of being with me yet he denied them and died!" I cut Itachi off and snapped.

"What risks?"

"All in good time grizzly." I said calming down a bit. Max looked guilty so I decided to lighten the moods. I whispered something in his ear and he nodded slyly.

"Itachi-nii. Why do you have girls like hair?"

"That's an odd question. I know its something you would put in his mind Anna." Itachi said to me.

"I am curious is all." I defended myself.

"I'm not telling you." He faced the opposite direction.

"Awwh, come on!" I pouted. Max started whining as well and then he grabbed Itachi's sleeve and started pulling on it.

"Itachi-nii, tell me."

"No."

"Pleaseeeeeeeeee."

"No."

"Oh come on grizzly! What's so special about it anyways!" I asked now over the edge of patience.

"I'm a good child who carries upon his parents' wishes." He stated and I got the idea.

"Your mom wanted you to have long hair?!" I couldn't contain my laughter.

"It isn't funny." Itachi said.

"Hells it is! You could've denied but noooo, maybe you got an excuse to grow them long!"

"Whatever." I stopped laughing.

"Don't take us seriously. We are just high on sugar sometimes."

"I can see that." At that moment I got a text from Tim to return soon. I sighed.

"Tim would be getting worried if it got any late." I informed Itachi and stood up with Max, ready to go.

"It was nice talking to you, Itachi." He nodded and we took our leave. I felt much at peace.

~