Building a Bridge
Chapter Two: Ground Breaking
Dinner seemed to drag on and on before Hikari was finally dismissed to her room. It was with a sigh of relief that she dropped backwards onto her futon, thankful to finally be off her throbbing leg. The hanging calendar on her wall caught her eye and she groaned at the red circled date that reminded her of her weekly therapy session at the hospital. If there was anything she hated more then being a ninja reject, it would have to be her weekly therapy. Everyone at the hospital treated her kindly to her face but behind her back was an entirely different story.
While Itachi had never been particularly social, any warmness that had made its way to his heart during his time on team four had been abruptly snuffed out following the disaster that was their last chuunin exam. It was something that everyone in the village noticed and since Itachi had blamed Hikari for Yotaro's death his vast fan club members (young and old) decided to take up tormenting her as their personal crusade. It was her childhood all over again, except it wasn't harmful to her body as much as her spirit.
It was just her luck that the nurse in charge of Hikari's sessions was a rabid Itachi fan. Hardly two minutes could go by without her mentioning the 'young dark-haired heart-throb'. It was enough to make Hikari sick. Not to mention jealous. It hurt for her to know that the best way she could learn about what her former teammate was up to was through the grapevine. Especially since most of that grapevine news was told to her for the specific purpose of upsetting her. Fangirls really were vicious.
The burning in Hikari's thigh lessened as she grew more comfortable in her position and she mentally debated the repercussions of blowing off her appointment completely. She'd already stretched and strained the limb enough on the P.F.T field earlier and, if Iruka's 'threat' was to be taken seriously, she would have to face off with Hyuuga Ko in the practice ring the next day.
As long as she stretched properly before hand nothing serious would happen and with the exercise she'd gotten in that day she knew her nurse, Mariko, would just lay down more rules before sending her home. Though not before she handed out the latest Itachi related gossip. That girl was one of the most vindictive of Itachi's Fangirls Hikari had ever had the displeasure of meeting.
Still, her father would have a cow if he learned she didn't go. He had been so upset at her injury that he'd almost made her quite completely as a shinobi. As it was she managed to talk him out of it but he'd insisted she return to the academy to retrain. She'd tried to have the Hokage talk him out of it but Sandaime-sama had agreed with him. That being that she'd had to retire her hatai-ate until she managed to graduate with another team. With as much as he'd done already, there was no telling how her father would react if she started skipping her therapy.
With that thought foremost on her mind, Hikari heaved a sigh and slowly sat up. She only had about twenty minutes before her six-thirty appointment and she needed to change out of her academy clothes and probably ice down her leg before she went since it had swollen up a little. No need to give Mariko any more reasons to gloat over her uselessness as a ninja.
"Hikari?" Her father's voice floated through the door. "Don't you have an appointment today?"
"I'm getting ready now dad. I'll be out in a few minutes."
"Hurry up then. You don't want to have to run there, it could make your leg worse."
"I'll keep that in mind daddy."
With another sigh, Hikari was on her feet and searching out a set of civilian clothes.
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Mariko tutted as she looked over Hikari's swollen leg.
"Honestly Haruno-san, it's a wonder you were ever a ninja at all with how slowly you heal. And you've honestly had more relapses then any other patient I've worked with." Mariko looked up at her in suspicion. "You do want to get better, don't you?"
Hikari half wondered if the woman was crazy. "What are you talking about? Of course I do!"
"I have to wonder," Mariko said. "Maybe you're just trying to get sympathy out of Itachi-kun, though why he'd pity you is a mystery to me."
"I don't want him to pity me!" Hikari said scowling at the young nurse. "He doesn't have to pity me!"
"Well you'd better keep it that way. With the exams coming up, the last thing Itachi-kun needs is to be distracted by an ex-burden."
"Has anyone ever told you that you have a rather winning personality?"
Mariko scowled. "Has anyone ever told you that you're an annoying little brat?"
"All the time actually, I'd think someone as 'smart' as you would be able to come up with something more original."
"Just shut up and stop moving. The sooner I fix your damage the sooner you can leave."
Hikari bit back a retort as she crossed her arms with a huff. As much as it pained her to admit it, Mariko was rather skilled as a nurse despite her young age. At fourteen she was the youngest member of the hospital staff and a rather accomplished kunoichi. She had graduated the academy at ten and completed the chuunin exam at thirteen before settling down in her chosen career as a med-nin. Currently she was an intern nurse and one of the youngest in history.
For Hikari, though, Mariko's many accomplishments didn't make her any more likeable. It especially annoyed her that the older nin felt like she needed to keep her updated on Itachi's current situations. It's not like she wasn't able to find out what he was doing on her own. All she had to do was ask Arai during class sometime or—.
Wait. What exam?
"What did you mean by an exam?" Hikari asked suddenly. "Why would Itachi need to take a test?"
Mariko scoffed and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Don't tell me you haven't heard?"
Hikari wisely chose to stay silent lest she said something she really shouldn't.
Mariko laughed. "Honestly, and you want to be a ninja?"
Rather then pointing out that she already was a ninja, Hikari decided to prod Mariko for the answer to her question.
"Well? What exam?"
"The chuunin exams of course," Mariko said. "They're being held in Konoha this time around and Itachi-kun entered with a temporary team."
Hikari's jaw dropped in shock. "He what!"
"What are you doing!" Mariko said as Hikari scrambled off the examination table and grabbed her sandals from the floor. "You're exam isn't done yet!"
"Sorry but I'll have to reschedule!" Hikari said. "See you next week!"
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Itachi hid a sigh as he finally exited the Hokage tower. He didn't remember there being quite so much paperwork the last time he'd taken the exam, but he imagined that was probably because Kyo did most of it for them. As it was, he'd been stuck in one of the conference rooms with seven other teams for almost four hours before he finally signed his last line. All he wanted to do now was go home and collapse on his futon. Maybe he could read to Sasuke tonight if the boy was still up.
"Itachi!"
His heart leapt at the sound of Hikari's voice and he had to force his face to remain impassive as he paused in his step. He didn't want her to know he was happy to see her but he'd rather not be cruel if he could avoid it. He'd always hated seeing Hikari cry. It just wasn't natural.
"Thank goodness I found you," Hikari said, rather out of breath. "I didn't think I'd see you before tomorrow."
"What do you want Haruno?" Itachi said, not turning to face her. "I have preparations to make."
"So you really are competing then?" Hikari sounded pained and it took all of his will power not to turn and make sure she was alright.
"I am."
"Why?" Hikari said, and Itachi finally allowed himself to face her. "After everything that happened last time, why do it again so soon? You should wait until you're stronger…until we're stronger! Then I can help you—."
"Like you helped last time?" Itachi cut in. "Sorry Haruno, but I've had enough of your 'help' to last me a dozen lifetimes."
Hikari gritted her teeth in anger as she stared strait into Itachi's expressionless black eyes. He held her gaze with an air of contempt though on the inside he was practically cringing at the intensity. She could be rather intimidating when she wasn't flitting around like an airhead.
"You're such a moron!" Hikari said abruptly, startling Itachi just a bit. "How can you just waltz into another exam, unprepared, with some shot-gun team that you don't know? You think they can watch your back better then me? Let me tell you something you jerk, no one knows what your back looks like better then I do! No one!"
Itachi scoffed. "And that's supposed to make me feel better? To know that I have a cowardly ex-teammate that spends enough time hiding behind me that she memorized what my back looks like? I'd rather have someone who can stand beside me and help me face the enemies ahead, but you already killed him didn't you?"
"I didn't kill him you jerk!" Hikari said, her breathing ragged and shallow. "It wasn't my fault so stop telling me that! If it's anyone's fault then it's yours! You're the one that was to slow to help him!"
"Only because you were holding me back! If it wasn't for you I never would have been held up in the first place!"
"Like hell you wouldn't!" Hikari said. "Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't that me saving your butt against Hana?"
"And then you distracted me and almost got us both blown up! Who was saving who then?"
"Then you should have let me die!" Hikari was crying now. "Why'd you have to save me if I'm so useless to you? You should have just left me behind!"
Itachi was shocked. "Hikari, I—."
"I wish you did!" Hikari said. "If I was dead there wouldn't be any pain! You know what? I'll bet you kept me alive on purpose as some twisted form of torture."
"I didn't—."
"I don't care anymore. Go ahead and get yourself killed. I never should have bothered with you in the first place! I hate you!"
He should have called after her. He should have told her it wasn't like that. He should have pulled her back and made her listen. He should have done a lot of things, but he didn't. He couldn't. Those three words echoed inside his mind like a broken record, stealing his every sense to leave him in a blank, black void.
I hate you.
It's what he'd wanted. If she hated him then he wouldn't have to worry about Kenta. If he broke all of his ties to her then his cousin would have no reason to steal her away.
But damn it if it didn't hurt.
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"Nii-chan, nii-chan!" Sasuke said as he bounded into the entryway where Itachi was pulling off his sandals. "You're home!"
"Hey little brother," Itachi said, his voice tired. "What are you still doing up? It's late."
"Mom said I could wait for you cause you have a test tomorrow."
"Is that right?" Itachi said, a small smile on his lips. "And was that the only reason? Or did you have something else in mind too?"
Sasuke looked a bit sheepish as he pulled a yellow book from behind his back. "Well, um…will you read me a chapter tonight nii-chan? You haven't read it in a while."
Itachi's expression softened and he reached over to gently take the book from his brother's hands. The once vibrant color was faded from age and use and the pages were wrinkled from years of turning. Even still, he couldn't help but smile at the memories this book brought up from his childhood. He could still remember how Obito-nii-san's voice sounded when he read it, over acting the action parts in order to get Itachi to laugh.
"Sure, otouto," Itachi said. "I'll read a chapter. Go get dressed and I'll be in after I've changed."
"Okay!" Sasuke said as he hurried down the hall to his room. Itachi chuckled as Sasuke stumbled around the corner and he stood, sliding the hardcover book into his thigh pocket as he did so. Sasuke always had so much energy and life about him. It reminded him a lot of how Hikari had been back when team four was together.
"Itachi." His father's voice was abrupt as usual and when Itachi turned to face Fugaku he noticed that his father's mouth was turned down into his typical frown.
"Yes otou-san?"
"Come to the council room."
"As you wish," Itachi said. "Once I've put Sasuke to bed I'll be right there."
If possible, Fugaku's frown deepened. "Now Itachi."
"Thirty minutes won't change what you need to say." Itachi said; his voice and face proclaiming his stony resolve. "I will come once Sasuke has been put to bed."
For a moment Itachi was sure his father was going to argue, but instead he merely grunted before he turned and disappeared down the long hallway. Itachi glared after his father's back. He hadn't been the same since the Kyuubi attacked five years ago. In fact, he seemed rather dark. As though he were carrying some terrible secret. As much as he hated to admit it, Itachi would be less then surprised if that were the case. The entire clan had been on a razor's edge for years. It was only a matter of time before they were cut in half.
"Nii-chan?" Sasuke said, peaking around the corner. "Aren't you ready yet?"
Itachi forced away his negative feelings and smiled down at his brother. The younger Uchiha was dressed in a set of navy blue footie pajamas with the clan symbol displayed prominently across his small back. He looked adorable.
"That didn't take you very long."
Sasuke blushed. "I wanna read the story."
"Alright then, I'm coming."
Itachi followed his bouncing brother down the hall to Sasuke's room where the boy promptly launched himself onto the futon and burrowed under the covers. Itachi stifled a laugh as he crossed the room and gasped dramatically.
"Oh dear. It seems Sasuke-kun has vanished." He said and Sasuke giggled beneath the blankets. "Oh well, I guess he won't get to hear the story after all."
"No, no, no! I'm right here nii-chan!" Sasuke said, popping out of the covers. "I got you didn't I?"
"You sure did, otouto," Itachi said. "Now move over so I can sit down."
Sasuke promptly slid over and made room for his brother on the edge of the bed. Once he was settled, Itachi pulled the yellow book from his pocket and started flipping through it.
"Now let's see, where did we leave off?"
"Naruto was trapped in a tree and the bad guy was about to get him!"
"That's right," Itachi said, finding the page. "How could I forget?"
"Does he escape nii-chan?" Sasuke said his eyes wide. Itachi laughed and ruffled his hair.
"Hold on a minute and we'll find out won't we?"
Sasuke grinned. "Yeah!"
End Chapter Two
Kaliea: So how was that? Isn't Itachi such a jerk? And yet, he's such a good big brother…(sigh) it's so sad. Anywho, don't forget to review! And until next time, ja ne!
