Three days have passed and him staying here has been going pretty well.

He still sleeps on the floor in my room, but I wished he'd sleep on my bed with me. 

My feelings for him were starting to grow stronger and I didn't know what to do anymore, because I knew he would flat out reject me if I confessed to him.

I was in the kitchen at the moment cooking some breakfast and making tea for us. 

Itachi came in the kitchen and he looked kind of sleepy. It was cute.

There were a few times where we would talk about things in the past or memories, so I guess we're getting closer now. 

I handed him a cup of tea and he took a drink of it. I then handed him a plate of eggs and hashbrowns and took a plate for myself. We sat at the table together and I was enjoying this time with him. I wished it could be an everyday thing. 

There was a knock at my door and I panicked. 

Oh no. Oh crap. Oh god. 

I rushed Itachi to my room and put our dishes in the sink. 

My heart was racing and I was starting to have a hard time breathing. I answered the door, panicky and I saw it was Asuma.

I hope he doesn't say anything or question me. How did he find out?!

"Hey Kasumi," He said nonchalantly.

"H-Hey Asuma," I smile nervously. 

He looked concerned.

"You alright?"

"Yup!"

"Oh, well Dad wants to assign you on a mission, so you should go see him."

I nodded and when he left, I shut the door and let out a breath of relief. I'm glad he didn't find out that Itachi is here.

"Itachi?" I call.

He came out of my room, looking at me for an explanation.

"It was just my brother. He told me that Dad wants to assign me on a mission, so I'll be right back and I'll figure something out," I said.

Itachi nodded and I went to my bedroom to get changed in my ninja attire. After that, I took my key and locked my door. 

I walked to the Hokage's Tower and I rushed to his office. I needed to figure out what I'm going to do with Itachi now that I'm going on a mission.

I entered his office and I saw that Kakashi was just leaving. 

"Hey, Kasumi." Kakashi nodded as he left the office.

I waved at him and shut the door after Kakashi left.

"So, Asuma told me that you wanted to assign me on a mission?" I ask.

"Yeah, a villager reported that they saw someone lurking around lately and I might have an idea of who it could be, but I'd like for you to investigate outside the village and inside the village to see if you could find anything," Dad explained.

"Okay, I'll report to you after I'm finished investigating," I said and left his office. 

I went back to my apartment so I could try and figure out what to do with Itachi.

I quickly went inside and locked the door as soon as I got back inside. Itachi was just sitting on my couch, reading a book he found on my bookshelf. He looked up when he saw me walk in and put the book down.

"So what's your mission?"

"I guess a villager reported that they found someone lurking around Dad wants me to investigate," I said. "but I need to figure out what I'll do with you. I can't just leave you alone in my house, knowing someone could walk in any moment and see that you're here,"

"Yeah, that's true," Itachi replied thoughtfully.

"Can you do a transformation jutsu? Maybe you should disguise yourself as a villager or someone and come with me," I suggested.

Itachi looked hesitant. 

"I don't think I want to do that," he said.

"Yeah, but it's easier than you staying here while I'm not here to try and hide you if someone comes over," 

"True," He said and stood up from the couch.

I put his cloak and his hat away so it was out of sight in case someone did come in and I paced around, trying to figure out who he could disguise himself as.

"What if you diguised yourself as..." I trail off, trying to think. "A cat!"

"A cat?" 

"Yes, because if you were a person, people would wonder who you are and that would draw unwanted attention towards us," I said.

"You're right, I'll do that," He said and started weaving the signs for the transformation jutsu.

Suddenly, he poofed into a black cat with green eyes. I thought it was the cutest thing I've ever seen. 

"Ready?" I ask.

"Yes," Itachi replied as the cat. 

Seeing a talking cat was weird. Reminds me of something you'd see off of a manga or something.

I picked Itachi up and carried him out of my apartment. Maybe I should have him transform into a cat if someone does come over. 

I remember I was supposed to walk around the village first, so I decided to investigate this first to get it over with. Itachi climbed on my shoulder and sat there as I walked around the village. I felt paranoid, but I knew to other people, he just looked like a regular cat who was on my shoulder.

Suddenly, I saw Sakura with Ino. Ino pointed in my direction and they both started walking over here. I hope they won't suspect anything.

"Hey Kasumi!" Ino greeted.

Sakura waved and then Ino looked Itachi in a cat form on my shoulder.

"Your cat is adorable. I didn't know you had a cat," She said.

"Um, yeah, I named him uh...Stormy..." I trailed off. That was the best name I could think of right on the spot.

Ino picked him up off my shoulder and I started to mentally freak out. She started petting him and Sakura just gave him one pet. I felt bad for Itachi, but it was kind of funny to see.

"Stormy's a cute name." Sakura said.

Itachi looked over at me for help. Great, now I'd have to actually get a cat and name it Stormy.

"I'm on a mission right now, so I have to go," I said to them and took Itachi away from them. I rushed off, while holding Itachi and once we were alone, he spoke.

"I don't think a cat is a good idea, Kasumi," He said.

"Yeah, well it's the best thing I can think of right now and it's too late to turn into something else because we're in the village," I retort.

A villager looked at me weirdly since it appeared as if I was talking to a cat.

I finished up my investigation in the village and so far, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Whoever was lurking must have left already, so that means I get to leave the village and Itachi can get out of the cat form. 

"Just keep waiting, because I'm going to leave the village. I'm supposed to investigate outside the village as well," I said and started leaving to the gate.

When I got to the gate, I saw Izumo and Kotetsu were there as usual.

"On a mission?" Izumo asks as I walked over to the gate.

"Yup," I said.

"Why do you have a cat with you?" Kotetsu asks, laughing a little.

"Because uh...I'm training him to be my summoning animal!" I replied, a little defensive.

"Oh, well, good luck on your mission." Kotetsu said and I opened the gate to leave.

"You do realize you're going to have to get an actual cat now, right?" Itachi asks as I walked further away from the village.

"Yeah, I know," I sighed.

Once we were far enough, I put Itachi down and he was back to his regular self. 

"Well since you're here, you might as well help me with my mission," I said and he nodded.

So far, we found nothing. Itachi decided to investigate further away since he's helping me and I walked into a meadow, still finding nothing.

"I bet this stupid villager is just seeing things. There's nothing!" I exclaimed.

I walked out of the meadow and it started to get dark. I still didn't find a person who was supposedly lurking in the village. They probably saw an animal or something and mistook it for being a person.

I didn't know where Itachi was, but I decided to start walking back. He'll find me once he's done. 

Suddenly, I started to get that feeling as if I was being watched again.

My heart started racing and I tried to walk faster to get back. I don't know if I was being paranoid or not, but I didn't like this feeling.

I heard a rustle and I stopped. 

"Okay, whoever you are, just come out already!" I shouted.

A chuckle rang through the air and it sent chills down my spine because it sounded eerily familiar and I was scared of who it could be.

I saw a rustle again and I saw a silhouette walking in my direction. My heart only raced faster and I felt my hands shaking a little. I tried not to be scared, but how could I not? This person has been stalking me for the past few days and I don't know what they want from me.

When the moonlight shone down on them, my heart started racing.

It was the man wearing the grey cloak who tried kidnapping me. 

I backed up. "Who the hell are you and what do you want from me?"

He didn't answer and took a kunai out, running towards me. He lunged towards my shoulder and I dodged it by a split second. I grabbed the arm he used to lunge at me and twisted it at an awkward angle.

I heard the crunch of his bones and internally cringed at that noise.

He gasped in pain and clutched his shoulder. 

"You bitch," He spat at me. 

"You're trying to attack me and I'm the bitch? Makes sense," I retorted. "Answer my question, or I'm going to do the same to your other arm,"

I don't think I broke it, but I definitely popped his shoulder out of place.

I walked up to him and went to rip the cloak off him, but he grabbed my hand and shoved me away. Before I could react, he appeared behind me and had a kunai pressed against my neck. 

"You're coming with me, whether you like it or not,"

Those words were too familiar for my liking.

I kicked him in the shin as hard as I could and grabbed the kunai out of his hand. I quickly grabbed the cloak and pointed the kunai towards his neck.

"Tell me what you want with me and maybe I'll spare your life!" I shouted at him.

He snickered darkly. 

"I don't have to tell you a damned thing," He said, smacking the kunai out of my hand.

I had to somehow get that cloak off him so I could identify him.

The weapon fell to the ground and he kicked it away so I couldn't get it. Rude.

I weaved a sign.

"Wind style, gale surge!" 

A burst of wind knocked him off his feet and I used that opportunity to grab the cloak as he hit the ground. The cloak ripped off of him and I made eye contact with his menacing silvery eyes and I started to shake. 

I never wanted to see him again and he suddenly has to come back into my life.

I looked at his features to confirm it was him. 

He had shaggy, dark blue hair. A scar ran down his cheek, making it look as if a tear drop ran straight down his face. He also wore black pants, a dark grey shirt, and a black jacket that was zipped open. 

Oh no. 

"Hello," He half-smiled. "Kasumi,"

"Gin,"

This was the bad ex. 

He was my first love and he turned on me when he found out that someone was after me and was offering money for me. He tried to kill me one night when I snuck him into my room. The loud crashing woke everyone in the house up and that's how he got caught.

They threw him in prison out of the village where the worst kinds of criminals go. I don't know how he escaped, but he was supposed to be in there for years since he had other crimes he's committed that I didn't even know about when I was with him. 

Asuma and my parents hated him before he tried killing me. They never approved of him. Asuma usually doesn't have hostility towards anyone, but he never trusted him the first time I brought him home. 

"What the hell do you want from me?" I ask rudely.

"Wow, you're still snarky. The way you were before,"

"Wow. I bet you feel so smart pointing the obvious out," I rolled my eyes. "what do you want from me?"

"Simple," he smiled. "I've come back for you,"

Another chill ran down my spine when he said that.

"You're insane if you think I would ever trust you. What, is there another bounty for me?"

He got back up and put his hand on my chin, getting close to me. "No, I just realized I made a mistake those years ago,"

"Yeah right, you sure have a funny way of trying to win me back," I rolled my eyes, swatting his hand away. "Leave me the hell alone,"

He leaned in closer and I started to feel panic rush over me. I backed away and he got closer again, leaning in to whisper in my ear.

"I know about Itachi Uchiha staying in your apartment and about your feelings for him. If you don't want me to expose you, then I suggest you listen to me," Gin whispered.

I shoved him away from me.

"And that's not going to happen, because I'm going to kill you!" I shouted.

Gin rose an eyebrow.

"As if you could lay a hand on me, I'm a lot stronger than I was before," 

"Says the one with a dislocated shoulder," I fired back at him.

Where was Itachi when I needed him? I just made a bold statement about killing him because I let my temper get in the way and I know he's stronger than I am. He could kill me right now if he wanted because he's an ex-assassin. 

I don't know who he's affiliated with now, but I needed to stop him. 

I weaved some hand signs for a wind release.

"Wind style, wind explosion!"  

A ball of wind formed together with my chakra and I aimed it towards him. He dodged and an explosion happened, causing dust to go everywhere. I knew he would be strong enough to dodge that, but I needed him to go away. 

"I have a feeling you're not being serious, Kasumi," Gin said as the dust cleared.

He was standing on a tree and I glared at him. Oh, he wants to see serious? Then I'll give him serious!

I weaved some more signs, "Wind style, gale surge!"

I distilled the air around me using my chakra, and then released a large burst of air at him. That actually knocked him down from the tree and I quickly ran up to him. I weaved another sign for an earth release this time and decided to use my mud spears technique.

Mud rose from the ground and formed into spikes. I threw them towards him and some of them managed to pierce his skin. He grunted in pain. 

I quickly weaved another sign for my ground shaking technique. I sent my chakra to the ground and caused everything to shake around us, knocking him off his feet as soon as he got back up. He tried to weave a sign for a water release, but I threw a handful of shurikens towards him to keep him occupied.

He poofed away and a log came into place.

Damnit. He used a substitution.

He was suddenly behind me. He pushed me down to the ground and when I sat up, he gripped on my hair and held a kunai above my head. 

"If you move again, I won't hesitate to hurt you," He threatened.

"Damn you," I hissed.

"You're going to come with me and that's final," 

Just my luck.

Suddenly, Gin gasped slightly.

"Itachi Uchiha?" He asks.

I didn't see where Itachi was, but I was glad he was here to protect me again.

Gin let go of the grip he had on my hair and when I looked, I saw he was just standing there.

Itachi put him under his genjutsu, but where is he?

I started looking around.

"Kasumi, don't look for me right now. I don't want you getting trapped in my genjutsu."

"I told you not to use your eyes!" 

Itachi just ignored me and Gin dropped to the ground without a word and I looked down at my feet. I heard Itachi jump down. 

"It's safe to look now," Itachi said.

I looked up at him, seeing his eyes were back to normal.

Gin was on the ground gasping. 

I ignored him and walked over to Itachi.

"I can't thank you enough for saving me," I smile.

"I made a promise to Shisui and I intend to keep my promise," He said. "And you should tie him up now while he's weak so you can go turn him in,"

I nodded and pulled some string out of my pouch and tied his ankles together and his feet together. 

I turned back around, seeing Itachi had his back turned to me and I don't know what came over me, but I hugged him. 

He just froze up.

"He's been stalking me for years now and you saved me. You put a stop to it, I can't express how grateful I am to you, Itachi," I said, my cheeks turning red.

He turned around and looked down at me. I could feel my cheeks flushing even more and I couldn't form any words.

"W...w-" 

Itachi had an unreadable expression on his face. Is he going to say something?

His hand rose up to my face. His index and middle finger both touched my forehead and for once in my life, he gave me a small smile. 

My emotions were going crazy and I was just baffled at what happened. Did he just poke my forehead? Did he just show me a genuine smile?

"Let's head back now," he said. 

I still couldn't form any words.