Sorry it took me a bit longer than expected to get this posted. I am a rancher and things are busy this time of year. As usual I warn you that none of this has been edited properly, forgive me.

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It had been nearly two years, spring had only just begun to dawn over their mountains, it was a busy time for the Uchiha, but Itachi was impatient, and unwilling to wait longer. He was going to get the little Siren.

The ship he had procured to take him across the water was a necessary discomfort. He had no way of knowing how far across the water she had traveled, he could not risk becoming exhausted and falling from the sky mid flight. It would also greatly speed their return journey.

He ordered them to drop anchor just within sight of what the human sailors referred to as the cursed isle's. An unnatural fog that persisted in the warm spring weather was the only indication that there was anything there. Itachi knew it to be a mere illusion to protect the Siren nest that was hidden amidst the chain of small islands that were said to be within.

It was a moot point to instruct the captain to remain there, no convincing in the world would have gotten the man or his ship closer to the danger of those islands, he had lost more than a few good sailors when they jumped overboard, transfixed by the sirens song. He knew what happened when you traveled too close to a nest. No, the danger would be in him pulling out before Itachi was able to retrieve his prize. It was a small matter, Itachi didn't foresee this taking long and he could overtake the ship even while carrying the small Siren he intended to bring back with him. He was not about to be convinced into leaving without her, he had warned her he would come, he had confidence she would be ready.

Two years was a small blip in time to him, but he had no inkling as to the length of Sakura's life or the longevity of her species. Would she have expected him sooner? Somehow, he doubted it, she must know enough of magic to understand the time it took to gather componence and knowledge to release the spell she was held under. As it was, he was still some ways from completion, but he could do no more without the curse under his hands to examine and mold. All magic was a process, some longer than others.

He circled the islands carefully first, looking through the illusion with red eyes that were his birthright, giving the sirens there sufficient warning that he intended to land. He had warded himself against the allure they would attempt to use against him, but it was best not to startle a potential enemy, especially in their own territory.

He landed on a stone that jutted out from the water, some ways away from the sandy beach of one of the more central islands. It took but moments for several heads to bob up out of the water around him, watching with warry eyes and distrustful looks. Some had tails that lurked in the water mermaids, and mermen suspicious of a fire demon's presence in their oasis.

"I am looking for Sakura" his tone was carefully neutral, mild and without inflection, his politicians voice. "She should be expecting me". One or two of the heads disappeared slipping out of sight among the reefs, presumably to inform Sakura of his presence.

She was here, he could feel his magic on her, and no doubt he could have found her himself much faster, but with more difficulty. His mother had taught him manners, and he was capable of using them to get what he wanted when he so chose.

It was not long till she appeared on the sandy bank, and he straightened from his crouch to observe her, even as she paused to do the same to him. A relief filled him, one he couldn't explain, he had known she was here and alive, his magic had told him as much. So he couldn't understand the part of him that relaxed when she met his gaze and flashed him a lazy carefree smile that suited her so well.

She swam to meet him, pink hair following her like floating streamers in the water. He hauled her up onto the rock with one hand.

"You are ready to come with me?" he asked, because as always, he would not force her into something she did not want. She waved to the Sirens and merfolk that had gathered around them in the water, flashing them smiles, before turning and nodding to him.

Another flash of relief at her acceptance, he pulled her in tight to his chest and propelled them into the air with powerful stokes of sleek wings. She wrapped her arms around his bare middle, legs tangling with his to stabilize herself. An anxiety he hadn't known he held was released from a tight place in his chest. He wondered at it, before pushing it aside to contemplate later.

The wind created by his wings was the only sound as they landed on the deck of the Lady fair an apt name for the ship, given her newest passenger. The crew gapped, completely surprised and flabbergasted by the demon's new acquisition.

Sakura was suddenly shy, remaining tucked under the shadow of Itachi's half furled wing. She was hardly dressed immodestly, even by human standards, but the seaweed woven cloth was wet and adhered rather nicely to a figure, he knew she would never flaunt despite its aesthetic appeal.

The captain strode forward.

"Sir I had no knowledge- "

"Make way captain." Itachi ordered, cutting off any objections. Sea men were abhorrently superstitious, bringing aboard not only a woman but a Siren would no doubt bring about mixed feelings among them, warring between their self preservation and their libido. Itachi had no desire to see which one won out, their ogling had immediately irked him past a reasonable level of patience. The captain seemed to sense this, the anger of a demon was something that no one in their right mind would like to insight. So after a pause and a glance in the direction of Itachi's red eyes he nodded, before turning on his heel shouting orders to his lollygagging crew.

Sakura followed Itachi like a shadow as he led her to the cabin that he had been given. He left her there, he did not bother telling her to stay. She would do what she willed, but it was a safe place, out of the eyes of insolent sea men. He could safely admit in the quiet of his heart that perhaps he was being a tad possessive of something that was not truly his. Distantly, he wondered if that was a sign he should do something about that.

…

The return trip to shore was only a week in length, but to Itachi it seemed longer. Not nearly so long as the initial journey, but still, time seemed to drag more than it ought. Though it was for different reasons.

Sakura was still withdrawn and wary of the sailors overt staring. Coming out mostly at night to dive off the railing and swim alongside the ship, beckoning all manor of colorful sea life to come and play with her. Her sense of fun and enjoying the moment had not changed in the two years that had passed. He enjoyed watching her, though never let his look become too intense, his sharingan eye would hold weight on any creature who bore his gaze, and he did not wish to be the source of her discomfort.

He found himself unwilling to share this perusal with any crew members who came to strain their eyes in the moonlight to view her innocent fun. He was mostly amused at their attempts then, it was when she chose to entertain herself by shimmying up and down the rigging that he employed a glare to discourage a crowd from gathering. His red eyed look had caused the destruction of sanity to many creatures much stronger than a human, it was right for them to fear his displeasure.

There were some traits in himself that he was continuing to recognize that had him somewhat vexed. Like the reasons, he enjoyed watching her, she really was poetry in motion, possessing a grace that made her heritage that much more obvious. But it was not just that, the curves of her body called to him, to come closer, touch, feel…..taste. Desires he had had before but not when he had anything to gain but a momentary physical gratification, it was the fleeting nature of it that had left him disgusted and disillusioned with the idea of a female to warm his bed. Did he stand to gain more from Sakura? Did he want to tarnish this innocence with such thoughts of her? It was certainly something to contemplate.

It went without saying that until he had reached an answer to these questions he would not move forward with such notions. Sakura need not know any of these thoughts had even occurred to him.

When shore was within sight Itachi and Sakura departed from the ship. The captain of the Lady Fair was glad to see them go, having received his full payment. The demon had paid well for their services and he could not complain, but beings such as those two, attracted trouble of the variety that he and his crew had no hope of defending against.

Itachi had forgone the idea of procuring horses to travel by, it would be faster for them to fly. Certainly, an exhausting endeavor for him to undertake, given the distance they had yet to travel, but he preferred not to be confined to the ground. Even if they took a leisurely pace, interspersed with plenty of rest stops it would speed their travel by many weeks.

He found after the first day, that Sakura was prone to motion sickness after spending too long in the air. She would never complain, but he could see her discomfort on her expressive face.

"Imagine Shisui's reaction, should he find out you possess such a sensitive stomach" He commented one evening soon after they had landed to rest for the night. She had curled herself into a miserable little ball on the ground, willing her stomach to stop spinning. She just furrowed her eyebrows and stuck her tongue out at him, indignant that he should tease her when she felt so gross.

'He will never know' She mouthed, her scowling face making up for the threatening tone she could not use.

"Won't he?" Itachi asked mildly, still teasing.

Her look darkened to a glare, and he smirked at her sore pride. She flashed her fangs and he resisted the urge to laugh. She couldn't possibly be threatening, no matter how hard she tried she would always look like a recalcitrant child that was pouting. She was cute.

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