Part Four: Heartless.
I curled my fingers into my palms, relishing at the feeling of the nails cutting those little half-moons into the skin. A little pain might actually help in this situation. Of course, it could be easier if he wasn't standing before me, dressed to kill with that beautiful face that hadn't changed in three years. I sighed, forced myself to relax, and took a deep breath.
Then I decided this all had been a mistake. Telling him to come out. Leaving the house. I reached back to make sure that the leather piece was still tied, my hair was still back. Then I looked at Itachi. His eyes were wide, uncaring. Then I laughed a little to myself. He hadn't changed at all in these years.
"Well?" I asked, still fighting to keep the annoyance in my voice. I didn't want him to know my heartbeat was going faster than the wings on a hummingbird. Or how my throat was so dry due to my nerves. I didn't want him knowing any of these things.
"Katara…" Itachi began, stepping forward, then changing his mind as he began pacing. "Katara. I was sent on a mission to get this little girl on her way out of Kohona. We were told you weren't going to be leaving for a few more days, so I got there late. I've been trailing you, Katara. My leader… He wants you to going the Akatsuki."
I looked at him and laughed. Harp growled at him, obviously unhappy with how he was treating the situation. He looked pained as I looked at him, tears of frustration and sadness seeming like tears of joy, of laughter. He'd never know the difference. He never could tell.
"Katara, I need you to know that I've been given orders to take you out if you don't accept his offer to join. Katara, please. I don't want to do that to you."
I sighed. "Okay, since I don't want to die quite yet, I'll join."
He let out a sigh of relief.
"As long as you're not the one to bring me in."
He seemed to pale a little bit. His eyes went cold, his mouth firmed. I smiled sweetly and stroked Harp's head. The mutt grumbled her appreciation and pressed against my hand. I went to my knees and began to rough house with her. I ended up on the ground rolling around with the dog as Itachi went back to find somebody else to come take me back.
He left. Then returned in a matter of seconds. "Don't go anywhere."
"Where would I go, Itachi? The only one who really cared about me probably isn't even looking for me right now.
She was rewarded with watching him wince slowly.
~Itachi's P.O.V.~
I clenched my teeth together as I went a bit further into the woods where I had just emerged. Hidan, Kisame, and Deidara were all at our camp. They jumped up when they saw me approach. Then they all donned looks of confusion as they saw that I didn't have Katara with me. I ground my teeth together as I threw a pot against a tree.
"Uhh… Itachi?" Kisame asked as I spun around and glared at the rest of them. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes. Everything's fine." A deep breath. "But one of you will have to go get the girl. She's waiting with her dog. She won't allow me to escort her back to the base."
Hidan shrugged his shoulders and walked forward. Kisame hung back, looking at the pot that was bent at all different angles from where it had been thrown against the tree. Deidara was going to go with Hidan, but Hidan stopped him with a look. The blond man shuddered as he saw the look that was in Hidan's eyes.
I grabbed Hidan by the shoulders, shoved him against the trunk of a tree. "You hurt her, and I'll have your head. Do you understand me?"
He nodded, not bothering to justify me with a response. I was already annoyed with myself. I had no idea how my men were going to take it. Deidara put his hand on my shoulder and shrugged. Kisame went off to the fire that was going and put it out. I began to pace.
Get her out of your system, Itachi told himself as he paced, watching the trees for Hidan and Katara. My system went into hyper drive when they didn't arrive back immediately. She's not good for you, boy. You should just get her out of your system now. Then maybe you can be friends.
I felt a hand land softly on my shoulder. With a curse, I closed my fingers over the hand and ripped them over and onto their back in front of me. I felt a soft stab of regret as I saw Deidara's wide eyes look up at me from the ground. Then I steeled myself against emotions as I glared down at him, half tempted to kick his head in.
"Itachi," Deidara said as he raised himself onto his elbows and looked at me. "What's eating you, un?"
I glared at Deidara and stalked off. I could hear her to my left, chattering happily away to Hidan about her mutt. My teeth ground together as I realized that she was pleased, as was Hidan. I sighed, slammed my fists into a few tree trunks. Took a deep breath, released it, counted to ten. None of it worked.
Katara, I'll play by your rules.
~Katara's P.O.V.~
"Harp is actually really great company," I said as I walked with Hidan, who appeared to be hanging onto every word I said. "She talks."
He laughed, the sound deep, throaty, and rich. "She does not."
"No joke!" I said as I scratched the top of Harp's head. "Harp, tell Hidan that you can talk."
Harp looked at Hidan and grumbled and groaned. She barked toward some trees, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end again. I sighed, shook my head, and smiled up at Hidan. He was laughing, his body jerking as he tried not to laugh too loud. Harp and I grinned.
"No shit," Hidan said as he righted himself with a deep breath. "You really weren't kidding."
I grinned at him and stepped over a log. As my opposite leg went to cross over the large piece of wood, it caught and I began to fall. I almost laughed at myself. Once again, my body braced itself for the contact with the mossy earth when a strong pair of arms surrounded my waist. Hidan yanked me back to my feet. I swayed, crashed into him, his front to my back. His breath was at my ear, tickling. I closed my eyes and took a long, shuddering breath.
Then I felt his tongue slide across my earlobe. I groaned. His arms tightened across me, cutting off most of my air. My eyes snapped open and I tugged out of his grip. I was breathing off kilter, but I managed to square my shoulders. Harp growled and put herself between me and Hidan, groaning and grumbling her displeasure at the man.
"Uh, I'm sorry about that," I mumbled as I turned around and kept walking.
I nearly groaned as I saw my wound had started bleeding. I glared at Harp, who was grumbling and groaning in an I-told-you-so tone. The dog barked at me, not appreciating the look. I shook my head and sighed as I lifted the shirt I was wearing and tied it in a knot above my wound so it wouldn't get more blood on it. I liked this shirt.
I didn't look up as I examined my wounds. I knew woods well enough to walk over dismembered trees. I was poking at my stomach when Harp barked at me. Even the bark held a questioning tone. Crap, I thought, what did I do this time?
'Turn around, child. And you will find out.'
"Shut up, Akira," I snapped as I turned around and found four guys staring at me. I sighed.
'My child, you are the one talking to yourself.'
"I said shut up!"
~Deidara's P.O.V.~
"Uh…" I mumbled as I stared at the girl. She was beautiful, but kinda scary dressed in all black. "Itachi?"
"…"
"Because that's so the reply I was looking for."
He turned to glare at me. Good enough.
"Is she usually so… Uh…?"
"No."
I shrugged. Good enough answer for me. As long as she wasn't insane and didn't attempt to kill us, I figured she wasn't too bad to look at. With those long legs and cropped black and blonde hair. Her skin was almost pale, but looked as if it had gotten some sun and it was agreeing with her. I mentally checked for drool. Then I noticed the struck look in Itachi's eyes.
This is going to be oh so much fun, I thought as I watched the girl. By the time we get her to the base, we'll be at each other's throats and beating our heads in with clubs.
~Katara's P.O.V.~
I laughed at myself. I had to look increadibly stupid talking to what seemed like myself. Of course, Akira had known they were all there. She just loved to make me look like a fool. Damn demon. I sighed as I looked down at my tummy, which had a wound that was slowly trickling blood down the skin.
"Uh… Hi?" I mumbled, somewhat nervous.
Damn you, Akira.
'But child, you are so much more amusing when you look insane.'
Fuck you, Akira. Fuck. You.
'Don't talk to me in such a manner!'
Fuck. You. Fuck. You. Fuck. You.
'My child… I'll remember that. You'll pay for it.'
Yeah? Fuck you.
The demon sighed. I laughed mentally. Didn't want to seem like I was more insane to these people who I'd never met. Speaking of those people… I turned to stare at them. Hidan I already knew, Itachi I already knew… The blonde was kinda cute with his blue eyes and long blonde hair. I'd have to talk to him. Then the red head… He seemed kinda off, but he was a cutie. Shaggy hair, with what I was guessing was an okay build. I'd have to see…
"Uh… Katara?" Hidan asked as he waved a hand in front of my face. "Anybody home?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry!" I mumbled as I snapped to attention. "I was off thinking, apparently. Hah. My bad."
"Oh, don't worry about it," Hidan said with a smile. "We're just leaving. C'mon, you can walk with me."
I smiled and opened my mouth to speak when I was cut off by the blonde.
"Or me!" he said with an award-winning smirk.
The redhead smiled shyly. "Or you could walk with me… I'd be the perfect gentleman…"
I smiled sweetly at the three of them. I didn't know how I was going to choose. Hidan was nice company and could make me laugh with such small words. The blonde was just too adorable with how his hair fell across his face and his blue eyes were so trusting. And the redhead seemed so shy! I was about to answer when I was yanked to somebody's side. I gritted my teeth and glared at Itachi.
"We'll finish it this way," he said in an annoyed fashion. "She'll walk with me. And you three can stop competing for her attention. Got it?"
I sighed and shook my head. Then movement in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I whipped around, my hand going for the kunai that was at my ankle. Then I stopped and stared. The movement had been a guy. With blue skin. And… Gills? I swayed slightly and cursed as my vision started to blue.
"'tachi…" I mumbled as I swayed again. "I'm gonna faint. Catch me?"
The ground came up to catch me. And my vision went blank.
