~Anna's POV~

"Dude just chill and guide me." I spoke in the mic of my earphones and fiddled with my phone in my pockets.

"Take a left and go into the alley..." Itachi started, his voice strict and businesslike.

All the false signals on the radar of the Police Force were able to be hacked and sorted, thanks to Shisui, he was a computer genius of sorts. He hacked into the system and figured out which was the real signal and which to follow. We didn't have the guts to wait out Fridays to go to the one when Jacob would attack so Shisui suggested a Thursday. The agents would storm his bases, some were at my house keeping an eye for Jacob there, one sniper was following me, Itachi was shadowing me from not too far away from one end and Shisui on the other. My role was to follow Jacob and confront him or let him follow me and let the confrontation happen, leading him all the while into an open space where a clear shot would be possible. They gave me a temporary licence to a pistol and a really nicely disguised bullet-proof vest. I had to practice shooting of course first and turns out that as much as I like guns and stuff, I was a lousy shot. I miss three out of five and the two that hit are only capable of crippling for a while, especially if the opponent is trained.

I took a deep breath and calmed myself down a bit and followed Itachi's instructions to the dot. The alley was dark, in broad daylight and that scared me a little. What if he was here and jumped me? The sniper wouldn't be able to do anything and I didn't want to have to use the gun, if I had reflexes fast enough that is. A few more turns and exits and I heard Itachi sigh on the other end.

"Its like he knows what we are up to and is moving out of your way on purpose."

"Like I said, he's smart."

"Go to that clearing then and rest a bit. We'll restart in a moment, wait for me there."

"Ok." I ended his call and stuffed my earphones in my pants and walked cautiously and casually to the big area with nothing there but the sniper's protection.

There was just one bench there and I looked here and there then went to sit on it. I let out a breath I didn't know I had been keeping in and relaxed. Even though I was confident before about luring out Jacob, now I was scared out of my wits but thank goodness I always had a control on my expressions.

I thumbed the pistol in my pockets and wished Itachi would hurry. I felt like I was being watched and not only through the scope of the Police Force's sniper but-

"Oh my precious, whatever are you doing here?"

~Itachi's POV~

Not to gain suspicion, I had to be miles away from Anna who was to lure out the target. I told her to go to the clearing, she would be safe there and it wasn't far so at least she would get there quickly. The agent on the sniper was a skilled Uchiha but a little short of fuse at times, highly ironic. I did not want that specific guy on the task, not wanting to endanger Anna with his impatience.

I had to keep an eye out for others as well on my way so I had to move cautiously. To note and not to be noted. I picked a signal at my receiver and switched it on.

"Karasu." It was the sniper-man. Karasu was my codename. "Somebody's there, at the grounds."

I stopped in my tracks and closed my eyes, "can you see who?"

"Out of range."

"Keep him under surveillance. I am heading there quickly. And keep me informed-"

"Its the Target." I had quickened my pace at the knowledge of this. "They're talking."

"Can you take a shot?" I heard his composure getting lost.

"He's hiding in her shadow. Its like he knows I am here. The only shot I can get to him is through her."

"Don't do anything then. Keep observing and notifying, wait for further instructions." And I was off.

I cursed inwardly for being so far from Anna with Jacob there. Last time he almost killed her and now they were face to face again. I didn't want to think of it. Anna please be ok-

Whizzewwwww-

I heard in my receiver and immediately yelled at the Sniper, "what did you do?!"

~Anna's POV~

I kept moving back so Jake would move forward and into the range of the shot but he was heck smart and not playing.

"I know about that sniper watching you like a hawk." I stiffened. Shit. "And I also know that he might be ordered to not harm you, so I am at liberty here to move around." He stepped out of the shadows and stood in front of me, just some ten feet away. I glared at him. "I told you to stay out, why can't you listen?"

"Oh you say that after you blew up the tower and chained me there." I was surprised at my own self for being so calm. He started laughing.

"Ah yes that! I thought it would kill you but when I found out days after that it didn't, I restarted my campaign but you became someone less prior so I didn't immediately come after you and as much as your boyfriend tried protecting you, he failed."

"I get your grudge with me but why Max?" I was trying to keep him talking so either Itachi would come or Jake would make a stupid enough move to get himself killed.

"His loss you'd grieve the most, that's why."

"You bastard!" I was going to attack him but a sudden whizz passed my ear, leaving it deaf and ringing and aching. I fell to the side by the force of the air and looked where it went. A few seconds later I realised it was a bullet, a sniped bullet to be precise, aimed at Jacob of course but missed because the targeted guy jumped out of the way, as if it was the most normal thing to do, and went into the hiding place nearby where he was rightly confident he wouldn't be spotted.

That darned bastard!

I cussed at the sniper, holding my head on the right side where the bullet passed by. It ached too much that it was disorienting me. I somehow stood up and looked around for Jacob but seeing him nowhere, sat down on the ground and tried soothing the headache, in vain.

"Show Time." I heard a small voice and it felt like it was in my ear but maybe that was an illusion. Or was it?

"Come out now! I have who you want right here!" I turned around sharply to look at the speaker and just as sharply my anger rose.

These bastards!!

"Sis!"

"What's he doing here?!" I yelled at the agent who was supposed to be keeping an eye at home but was instead here with Max and doing what? Offering him! It was the same guy I hit in the head with a brick at the meeting.

"You stay right there or I shoot you." He pointed his gun at me and I stopped my walk towards Max, glaring at the man.

"Just as planned~" I heard Jacob sing and show his face from the side of a building. "And now~" He pointed his finger at the agent holding Max and 'bang'ed him and the guy fell dead in an instant. Headshot.

I knew who his next shot would be. Max who had sprung away from the dead body in fright was an easy target. I ran to him and flung myself over him in time to block the bullet aimed for him. It was blocked by my vest thankfully but the force of it hurt my flank.

I took Max in my arms, not uttering a word and quickly went to the blindspot of this place, Itachi told me, for any sniper from any angle. There was a small wall there and I sat behind it, taking my jacket off and putting it on Max.

"Put this on, quickly and keep your head low." I told him, keeping a lookout.

"S-sis-"

"Stay quiet-" Max tugged at the hem of my shirt and I took notice of his shaking hand, pointing to his abdomen. My heart stopped. With a loud thump it restarted and I panicked. He was shot. My Max was hurt. Bleeding. What should I do?

What to do?

Stay calm.

Calm.

I took off the bandanna I was wearing to hide the earphones and pushed it on Max's wound.

"Owu-"

"Keep pressing on it." I said, my voice shaking and eyes starting to water but I needed to remain calm to remember what I knew of first aid. I tore off a big piece of my shirt and tied it around Max's torso. He was shaking and getting paler by the second. He was small and the amount of blood he was losing was scaring me. "Put the jacket on and stay crouched."

I peeked over the wall and slid back almost immediately, eyes widened and took out my gun, my hands shaking now. There were men there. Quite a few in number.

I.... I have to do.... I have to do something....

I took out my phone and dialled Itachi's number, keeping my eyes on Max and clutching the gun in my other hand. They were still far away but I knew they'd close in on us in no time.

Pick up dammit!

"Anna-" The moment he picked up the call, I had to abandon my phone because the wall was shot upon. I took a deep breath and stared at the gun.

Safety off. Point and Shoot. Easy.... Easy...

I peeked over the wall again and shot three times out of which one hit a guy in the chest, and the two in stomachs. That stopped the three of them but from the other direction, more were coming. By the time I turned to the other side, the guy had already taken aim at Max, who was too shaken to grasp what was happening anymore.

It was like in slow motion that I shifted my feet enough to let my fall facilitate my brother with the shield of my flesh. I felt three stings. That's what they were, mere stings. At the moment anyways.

My left arm ached so I assumed I tool the hits there but I wasn't considering my situation in my rage and aimed at the guy who was going to fire another round. I missed. But it was enough to buy me a few seconds to retake my aim. However, before I could pull the trigger, another bullet hit him and he fell down. Who took the shot, I didn't care.

I threw my gun away and raised Max's upper body to minimise the blood flow to his wound, pressing on it as much as I could without having him cry in pain. My hands were drenched in my brother's blood.

"You'll be ok. You'll be fine. You're fine." I kept telling him. "You-" I stopped when I felt movement behind me and quickly took my gun, turned around and took aim.

"Anna." Itachi took the gun from me and scooted near Max, giving him immediate proper first aid then picked him up and told me to follow him and we ran to the nearest car which he hotwired and speeded to the hospital. I didn't say anything the whole way. I couldn't say anything. I was afraid, for Max.

When the car stopped I opened the door and Itachi took Max from me and took him in, I followed closely with a limp arm. The nurses hurriedly put him on a stretcher and wheeled him to the emergency room.

I breathed a sigh a relief then tensed again thinking of a worst case scenario.

" -miss! Miss!" A nurse yelled.

" What?!" I yelled back breaking my thoughts.

" Your shoulder."

" Its nothing big really." I told her but I could feel myself losing consciousness now that I knew Max was being tended to. But I didn't want to close my eyes, not until I knew for sure that Max was ok.

" Its already limp! We must restore the blood supply-"

" First let me know about my brother's condition then-"

" It would take time-"

" I don't care!"

She nodded but not to me and soon enough both my arms were tied against my back and a sharp pain issued in my neck followed by a blurring vision, but before I collapsed completely I saw the traitor's face.

Darn you....Itachi.

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Enjoy Reading~

Thank You~

Itachi_Warrior desu~ ^/_\^

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