~Anna's POV~

"I'm sure you can do better than that!" I killed Sasuke yet again while Max finished off Shisui in the Counter Strike multi-player.

"You cheated!" Sasuke complained.

" I did not!"

" Yes you did!"

" Max, did I cheat?"

" No. Sasuke-nii didn't see it coming." Max replied innocently.

" Hahahah! You see! You're not too observant of your surroundings Sasu-gay!"

" Don't call me that!"

" Keep quiet you two!" Itachi yelled from the couch. Us four were sitting on the floor in front of the big screens playing videogames. It was just before midnight. Nobody could sleep so we all decided to play some games. Eric was feeling sleepy so he was in bed right now. It was Friday. Itachi was with me today and Shisui had something to talk to him about, AGAIN! But I refused to spare Itachi for him and so he waited and waited till Sasuke arrived with Eric and we all started playing games.

" Alright fine!" Sasuke finally admitted.

" I'm unbeatable!" I started laughing evilly.

" Let's see you beat nii-san."

" Challenge accepted. What game?" I smirked.

" The same."

" Bring it on!" Itachi descended from the couch and sat by me. Sasuke handed him his controls.

" Just don't cry when you lose." Itachi said with a smirk.

" I won't. Unlike some people I admit my defeat." I said glancing at Sasuke who made a face.

" Alright then." I chose a shotgun and Itachi, a simple pistol. There were bots but the one to kill the other first, would win. Simple. But it was hard as Itachi was a pro. I was shocked how a pistol could kill so many men in a jiffy.

" Just so you know, nii-san has the highest score in CS all over Konoha." Sasuke informed.

" What?! You're telling me this, now?!" Accidentally, the remote fell from my hand and the shoot button pressed taking a lethal shot at the other online player, which happened to be Itachi. " Haha! Suck your defeat, pro!" I laughed evilly, again.

" I can't believe it........." Sasuke's jaw hung open.

" A victory is a victory." Itachi said clearing his throat.

" Now I'm the pro!" I bragged my new status.

" And now you're sleepy. Get to bed, everyone!" Itachi ordered and unplugged the game.

" Itachi, you're such a party pooper!" Shisui whined getting up.

" He's right! Itachi! For once, ugly is right!" I agreed.

" Its midnight already." I huffed.

" Fine." I took Max's hand and went to his room and after tucking him, I went to my own room. As much as I wanted Itachi with me, the bed was too small.

~

I was heading home from school, exhausted. Today again, when I wanted to go with Itachi, something came up and we had to change plans. I was pissed.

Ugh. Stupid ugly! Ugly ugly ugly!

Stopping mid-thought, I picked up my phone when it started ringing. " Yo."

" Recognize me?" I furrowed my brows.

" No." By pitch of the voice, it was definitely a male. But I didn't recognise it.

" Awwh? Really?"

" Uh.... Right now, most of my concentration is on walking straight so I'm unable to think properly."

" Maybe I matured too much, Ann-tan." For a whole second the shock was too much that I didn't see where I was going until I walked into a pole.

" Oi! Don't say such things when I told you I was walking! Are you mad or something, Seiji?!" He knew about my problems and also that sometimes, mere tasks as walking required too much energy.

" You do remember me! I'm so delighted!"

" Of course I remember you, pervert!"

" I'm not a pervert! I just-"

" Don't say it! I'm ending the call! You're distracting me too much!"

" Alright! I will see you at home then! Bye-bye! Be safe, Ann-tan!" I put my phone in my pockets and after a few minutes something clicked.

He'd be at home?! NOOOOOO!!

Seiji was a cousin. Max and I were uncle's favourite. Mom was an only child so dad's one brother was really fond of us all. Max being the youngest, and me being the only daughter caught his attention. Its been a while since we all saw him. Its a nice thing he visited but his son.......!! Ugh!

I hate him so much!

Arriving home, I took my time walking to the door and then with slow and lazy steps, walked in the house. Stepping one foot in, I dodged an upcoming attack with a bored look on my face.

" Ann-tan is so mean! I just wanted to give her a hug!"

" Act your own age, Seiji." I looked around then went to the living room. " Uncle!" I exclaimed happily and went to hug him.

" Its been a while alright! Look how much you have grown!" I grinned widely.

I didn't like Seiji much but uncle was always always nice to have around. Eric and Max had already ordered something so after eating and bathing and whatnot, we all just sat in the living room, talking and filling the gaps in each other's memories.

" So, what brings you to Konoha?" I asked looking around for Seiji.

" He needs to get married soon." Uncle replied. I gulped. " Relax dear. I'm not letting him near you." I sighed.

" She's already booked uncle." Max said smirking.

" WHAT?!" Out of nowhere, Seiji appeared with a shocked face.

" Not in that sense. He just haven't put a ring on her, yet." Max emphasised 'yet'. I was slightly red but not much.

" I'm not that eager either, Max." I told him.

" Then I will propose to you before he does!" Sieji shouted and went to who knows where. I sweat dropped.

" I'm not marrying anyone, just so you know!" I shouted for the man to hear. " You're too old for me anyways!" He was six years older than me.

" Yes. She likes guys who are only an year older! And have long hair!"

" Stop providing him confidential info Max!"

" Hehe!"

" So, does Seiji has a particular type? I would help if I can."

" Even as his father, I have no idea. He kept barking in the plane that he liked you too much to marry someone else."

" Barking. Just the word I was looking for his obnoxious behaviour."

" He's not that obnoxious, and you know it too."

" Hmm." I agreed. He wasn't like that when I first met him.

He was a nice and somewhat shy kid. He had blonde hair back then but blondes don't remain blonde forever. So now, brown hair with matching eyes, and his 'behaviour', he ain't gonna get a girl.

" He's not getting anyone. Isn't that what you're thinking too?" My uncle asked. I nodded which had him sigh.

" Why don't you go and rest? I will prepare a room for you." I said getting up and going to one of the guest rooms to fix it.

~

" I'm telling you for the last time, I won't accept that." I spoke through gritted teeth, refusing the proposal.

" But-"

" No buts! Geez! You're acting like a ten-year old! No offense Max."

" None taken." Max replied.

" Please-"

" Get over it already boy! Do you really think you can keep me against my will?"

" Against your will?"

" Yes!" He went quiet for a while. Uncle was enjoying the show. It was some time after school, Eric had some project to do so her away with some class fellows. So it was just Max and Uncle. Today I told Itachi off, and yelled when he had to again with Shisui.

" I won't keep you against your will." I sighed in relief. " I will make you fall for me." My jaw dropped.

" Just how childish can you get?! Instead of wasting your time on someone like me, go and look for other girls!"

" But I like you-"

" Hold that thought." I showed him my finger and picked up the incoming call. " Took you long enough to call." By the sounds in the back it seemed like Itachi was somewhere on the side of a road.

" I was giving you some time to cool off."

" I wasn't mad at you." I lied.

" Didn't seem like it."

" Whatever-"

" ANN-TAN I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!" Seiji shouted and I slapped my forehead.

" Who was that?" Itachi asked in a suspicious tone.

" Uh-" He didn't give me time to respond and ended the call. " Now look what you did! It would be your fault if he gets mad!" I huffed.

My uncle stood up and went to the kitchen but Max remained seated. Who'd want to leave a good show, right?

" But Ann-tan-"

" Just shut up and leave me alone!" Just when I yelled that, the bell rang. "Must be Itachi."

" I will get him!" Max informed and ran to the door. I continued to watch Seiji for any suspicious tricks he might pull. Just when I started hearing Itachi's footsteps and my mind got distracted, I was brought closer by someone.

" What are you-" I wasn't allowed to complete my sentence as Seiji's lips pressed on mine. My eyes widened and somehow I was at loss of energy but panic starting setting in as to what Itachi would take this as.

But before that thought could be complete either, I was roughly pushed back and the next thing I knew, there was a bruised and beaten Seiji on the couch.

" Are you hurt?" Itachi asked with that gentle voice of his but the flaming aura surrounding him had me a little scared. I just nodded my head, unable to form words. I had to raise my head to look at him. " Good." Then I was hugged which I gladly returned.

" Wow. Any harder and Seiji-onii would have been in the hospital." Max said in wonder, poking Seiji who grunted in response.

" Your cousin?" Itachi asked. I nodded. Seemed like he got tired of my quietness so he kissed me which had me talking again.

" Ya." I replied to his earlier question.

" Needs to back away from you a little."

" Even if you beat him up, I doubt he'll do that."

" Is he alone?"

" No. Uncle came with him.......I wonder where he went." I said looking around then spotted him in the backyard. " In the backyard."

" Ne, Itachi-nii?" Max started.

" Hmm?"

" If you don't act soon, sis is gonna slip from your fingers." Max said and went to his room, grinning. Itachi faced me now properly since it was just the two of us there. Seiji was unconscious and Max and uncle were elsewhere.

" What did he mean by that?"

" Uh... Nothing. He just sometimes talks nonsense so don't pay any attention to him." He shrugged.

" Didn't seem like 'nonsense' to me." He advanced and I backed away, gulping.

" He...uh.....um...well....the case is....."

" Stop stalling." I flinched from his tone as well as when the wall hit me as I ran out of space. Itachi placed his hands on either sides of my head, blocking my escape. I looked at the ground.

" You won't like it."

" I won't like anything that concerns that." He glanced at Seiji.

" Don't use such vocabulary for him. Uncle and him are the only family I've left, apart from my brothers of course."

" Sorry." He kissed my forehead and let me go, but turning around his eyes caught on something shiny and he bent to pick it up. Uh-oh.

It isn't that bad. Not like I want to marry him. Ya.

" So that's what Max meant."

" I-it isn't what it s-seems like-"

" You are not spending another second in this creep's presence."

" Uncle won't allow as long as he's here. He's...strict."

" What?"

" I was gonna tell you that, for the rest of uncle's stay I would have to stay here as well."

" You've got to be kidding me." His shoulders slumped and I felt sort of guilt that I shouldn't have.

" We would see each other at school so don't worry about that." I smiled.

" But-"

"Oh come on. You are always occupied with Shisui anyways." I snapped, remembering why I was pissed earlier yesterday. "And you don't even tell me why."

He looked away and scratches his head then opened his mouth to answer but closed it and looked at me then sighed.

"I am sorry but I can't tell you now." He finally said, defeated.

"Alright..." I was sad again. I felt myself so worthless and unimportant whenever anybody said that to me and since it was coming from Itachi, it hurt. I looked at the ground again and bit my lip to control myself and so I wouldn't end up crying but it was in vain. I hid them perfectly though that when Itachi's phone rang and he had to leave, he didn't know that a few tears had already spilled.

~

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Itachi_Warrior desu~ ^/_\^