After one or two chapters of Bellflower I shall be heading off to go work on my Kagome-centric stories. :)

Disclaimer: I suppose since these are required, I must say, "I do not own anything of this fic but the idea!"

b e l l f l o w e r — IV

"Will you not go back already?" said Kikyou with an edge in her tone.

The storm hailed down upon the earth and Itachi, eager to drench the latter and his standard-Uchiha attire in its pure essence.

Occupying his nostrils was the scent of the wet earth, a divine aroma.

His ears had long since extended an inviting hand to the pitter and patter of rainfall (as well as to the boom of the occasional thunder).

He could practically taste the weather in all its glory, the flavor sweet and inexplicable otherwise.

A priestess garbed in white and red stood before his eyes, remaining dry under a traditional black-paper umbrella.

Her lips were curved downward in an expression of displeasure.

Nevertheless—

"No," Itachi responded calmly, his palms over the kneecaps of his crossed legs. "I will not."

Kikyou's frown became more pronounced.

He gazed up into her eyes, strands of his sodden hair clinging to his porcelain skin.

"You obstinate man," she intoned as her grasp on her umbrella tightened.

Then, she held her arm out over him, offering him her shield from the rain.

It was her turn to be doused—just like him.

Narrowed brown eyes and calculating onyx orbs maintained their lock on each other.