I've named the manor the 'Castell' manor because of this totally wicked history I found based on one in Europe. "The young son of Dame Griffiths fell into a bottomless pool of dark water within the precincts and was never seen again. His mother was inconsolable and soon died from her grief. Her ghost restlessly continues to wander about the castle and its surrounding woods." Gnarly, amirite?
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By the time Sakura awoke it was night. She opened her eyes ever so slowly, and then bolted into a sitting position, forgetting where she was for a moment. But then she saw the paint stains on her dress and the scratches on her knee. Against her will, more tears began welling up in her eyes.
"Child.."
The voice behind Sakura made her jump so suddenly- she turned around in shock. Emerald eyes met velvet red, and her breath stopped in her throat. She couldn't yell, she couldn't move.
"Why are you crying?"
The man was crouching beside her, gazing at her, unblinking. He reach out a hand and placed it on the side of her face, brushing a tear away with his thumb. His skin was as cold as glass, and his face like porcelain.
"Child," He began again, his voice smooth like placid water. "Why are you crying?" But it didn't sound like a question, it sounded like a statement, as if he knew the answer, but just wanted to hear her speak.
"I.." She started, her eyes still wide in fear. "My brother.. he…" But she couldn't continue, for she had begun sobbing and shaking so heavily, that she folded her arms around herself, as if in an attempt to hold it in.
But she was not the only one who had wrapped arms around herself. Itachi had slowly drawn himself closer, and even though Sakura, speechless, couldn't say a word, she suddenly understood…
He was comforting her.
Not knowing or caring who he was, all fear seemed to fall away as she buried herself in his arms and cried once more.
-
Mr. Haruno was scratching his unshaven stubble. This was a sign that he was in very deep thought, or troubled, or both. At this particular time, it was both. The newspaper clipping sat beside him. It had befuddled him, and that frustrated him, and that frustration had thrown him into very deep thought.
Thus, he scratched his chin.
Aoyama child falls to death
The date was from July 21st, 1931. Mr. Haruno had never seen such an old clipping, but it appeared to have been stuck in a scrapbook at one point, and the quality just barely allowed it to be read:
Itachi Uchiha, friend, is main suspect.
Yesterday, on July 20th, Momoko Aoyama of the Castell Manor fell from the roof to her undeserved death. Her friend and fellow resident, Itachi Uchiha, was questioned and accused of pushing the child. He stated last night "It had all been an accident- she fell, I didn't do anything!" An investigation was carried out throughout the house, but the residents said that Uchiha would never have done such a thing. "The two were best friends in this bad time, they played together everyday. Itachi kun wouldn't ever do that." Stated one Mr. Meioh , who is also a resident there. Mr. Meioh also stated, along with the majority of the residents, that they could "See no reason for Itachi to push Momoko." Further investigation may take place concerning the residents, but Uchiha is innocent until proven guilty. The woman who accused the child was Momoko Aoyama's mother, Satsuki Aoyama, who refused to answer any questions, but was said to hold Uchiha in great distaste. Uchiha was living in the Manor along with Mr. Meioh, who was acting as a foster parent.
The article appeared to have once had a photo on the bottom, but it had been torn off.
Mr. Haruno sighed. He had made it a point to ask if the house had any history, and was rather pissed that he'd been lied to. But more than this, he was troubled that Sakura had known the name Aoyama in the first place. He guessed that she'd seen the name on a legal document or something when the house was being bought.
But one could never be too sure with children. So he left the room to find her.
-
Sakura remained snuggled into his chest long after she had stopped crying. She had no idea why she felt so peaceful. She didn't even know his name. But she knew there was something odd about him. She'd cried a great deal, yet no part of his black shirt was wet. It didn't even feel like any fabric Sakura had ever felt. It was almost as if the shadows themselves rose from the floor to clothe him. Sakura couldn't even be sure he was wearing a shirt. He simply emanated darkness.
But there was something else that she noticed only after a long moment of listening. He had no heartbeat. He was not inhaling, nor was he exhaling. Yet she'd heard him speak, seen him move…
-
Both of his children were nowhere to be seen, and Mr. Haruno had searched every floor, looking for at least one of the rascals. It wasn't until he reached the fourth floor that it all became obvious. He hadn't seen Kirio because he was hiding from his dad, and he hadn't seen Sakura because Kirio had locked her in the attic, which must be why Kirio was hiding. Troubled by his son's act of cruelty, he set to work moving aside upholstery and boxes from the door.
-
For a short, frightening moment, Sakura wondered if her imagination had simply conjured this man up for comfort, and he was nothing but an illusion. But then the logical part of her brain answered that that was completely impossible. Sakura's eyes found his face, which was very smooth, and slightly pale. She hesitated for a moment.
"What's your name?" She asked ever so quietly.
Being a child, she didn't quite have the sense to ask the more direct question: Who are you? Or even ask 'What are you?' And she definitely wasn't straightforward enough to ask the most direct question, 'What are you doing in my house?' She was instead more concerned about what to call him.
He turned slowly to look at her, and she stared back into those deep red eyes that gave her the sensation of being asked to stop moving.
"Itachi." He said softly.
Not waiting to be asked, Sakura answered with an embarrassed smile. "I'm Sakura." It seemed odd to be introducing herself after she'd bawled into his arms.
"It's nice to meet you, Itachi.", her smile growing.
Itachi returned the smallest of smiles, but it did not reach his eyes, which remained still and unblinking.
But that name had sparked something in Sakura's memory, and she remembered a name written on a faded diary page in childish writing.
"…Ita.."
Itachi blinked.
"...ku-"
A sudden click and the loud creak of a door opening cut her off, and she looked up to see the silhouette of her father standing in the doorway.
"Dad!!" Sakura stood up and ran to him, latching her arms around his legs, and he ruffled her hair playfully. "Oh, Sakura! I was worried about you." Sakura nodded and turned quickly to Itachi.
But he had gone before the door had even fully opened.
Sakura stared, confused at the place where he'd been sitting. Her dad peeked into the dark, dusty attic. "Saku-chan?" She turned back and smiled at him. She didn't know why she didn't say it, but Sakura somehow felt that telling someone about what she'd seen would ruin the peace of mind she'd felt while being comforted by Itachi.
"It's nothing, dad." Sakura smiled reassuringly.
And so, Sakura walked down the hall with her dad, her secret safe. This was her haven, and no one else was going to take it away from her, weather it was real or not.
Some long hours after the door had closed, Itachi stood looking out of the heavily curtained window. The clouds had not let up, and a storm could be seeen forming in the distance. He closed his eyes. A child laughing in the sunshine on a rooftop haunted his thoughts.
He turned, paused, and then faded into the shadows of the attic.
-
note:. I know I'm deviating from normal ItaSaku fics, but I really wanted a different kind of relationship b/w the two, while still retaining some of their original personalities.
Obviously Itachi is much more human, and Sakura seems a little more understandable to me. I have the feeling, however, that I'm making her a little too mature for her age. Thus, she will be turning 9. But I have no experience with kids, other than the fact that I was one once. Maybe I'm wrong.
I don't even know how this'll end. I'm kinda busy with summer school and an upcoming convention, (Canada Expo) but I plan the story in my head whenever I get a free moment…Which is usually during summer school. What can I say, Itachi and Sakura invade my thoughts. Very rude of them..
