.×.
"Hey pops, I'm ready for work!"
"Good to see 'ya back, Yukiko…Now hands up! You've got a lot to do!"
A white apron flew outside the Ichiraku Ramen Bar, to be caught by pale hand belonging to Gatsuhashi Yukiko.
She was absent in work for almost a week, due to the last battle with the Iwa shinobis. But Mr. Teuchi understood that a chuunin like her (since he does not know that Yukiko is part of the famous Pride team) has missions to accomplish.
"How's life in here?" Yukiko asked, just as she entered the bar while tying her apron's strings.
"Ah, 'bit fine; though that Naruto kid always came in here when you were gone—asking where his 'Yuki onee-san' was." Teuchi recalled as he went back to his work.
"-Yeah, Yuki-chan…even the younger brother of Uchiha Itachi visited almost every day, Uchiha Sasuke isn't it?" Ayame, Teuchi's daughter joined in, entering the kitchen.
"Oh. Those two must be lonely—Kami, I'm getting soft! First it's Naruto, then Sasuke…Naruto is understandable, but Sasuke has a brother! I swear I'll kick Itachi's ass…"
"Hmm…now that you mention it, Uchiha-san is always distant from his brother—no, everybody. He's so aloof despite him being surrounded by you guys. And his eyes…seem to be so lonely and reserved." Ayame continued, stopping Yukiko's murmurs of threat.
"So you noticed too…I try to break inside that shitty wall of his but every time I do, he keeps shutting the fuck down!" Yukiko exclaimed, balling her hands into fists and flailing them in the air.
"Even you failed too, huh? Though it strikes me how you two seem to get along so well…as they say, opposites attract."
"Ayame-san, you are deluded… let's leave him alone now…wait, where are the customers?!"
Teuchi and Ayame exchanged knowing glances as Yukiko turned away from them and went to work, only to be distracted by Teuchi.
"The Festival of the Bells is approaching and they're too busy to come and eat in here; which means you are not needed here, Yukiko." He boomed, and then added,"Why don't you visit Naruto, or Sasuke? Maybe even ask Itachi to accompany you to the said festival? I know you like him very much."
Yukiko's face brightened, visiting Naruto and Sasuke seems like a good idea, but her merriment was doused by Teuchi's last statement. She does not like the Uchiha, and that's for sure.
"Hey, I don't like—CAN WE STOP TALKING ABOUT HIM ALREADY?!"
"Okay, okay…but that means, you do like him."
"ARGH!! NO, I DON'T!!"
.×.
As the ruckus continued in the ramen bar, two young nins passed by, overhearing some of the shouts of their teammate.
"-STOP TALKING ABOUT HIM ALREADY?!"
"I'm guessing Teuchi-san ticked her off again." Kirahoshi Aica remarked, pausing by the bar before continuing to walk alongside with the silver-haired shinobi.
"Yeah. I think it's 'bout Itachi…again." Hatake Kakashi replied, smiling underneath his mask as he scratched the back of his neck.
"Oh well, she doesn't want to admit it but I think she likes him…well to put it correctly, neither of them wants to admit that is."
"Denial, eh…though I'm sure both know what's going on, right? So they don't need to admit their…uhh…love?" Kakashi was unsure of what words to say, so last part came more of a question than a statement.
'Denial, like us?' Aica though as she looked up the bright sky.
They might be more mature than Itachi and Yukiko's case, but that did not stop them from acting like the latter pair. Surely, both pairs can muster up the courage to say their own emotions?
But no; in the circumstances the Pride members dwell in, uncertainty and doubts swirl in with the truths—and secrecy and denial seem good shields from those. It was a notion induced by the early experience of war and violence; with betrayals flying around, and amidst the ceasefire, who could trust who?
Even as they have started to see glimpse of peace, the past has done irreversible things. And for example, the bliss of secrecy is a very securing scar indeed.
"Hey Aica, are you listening?" Kakashi's drawling voice pulled the kunoichi back into reality.
"Eh?"
"Wolf was asking if you were to take Arrou to the Festival of Bells." The shinobi repeated, using Itachi's ANBU codename.
"Yeah…why is he asking?"
"Another investigation came on yesterday, and he's taking up the leads to discuss with us."
"Ah..." Aica replied, dazed from her own thoughts. Why would Uchiha want with her orange-haired ward? "C'mon, let's go to the Bridge…"
Kakashi glanced at the female beside him and smiled; the Bridge Aica mentioned was the very bridge that pulled them together, the Bridge of the Gods.
.×.
Itachi held his breath; it was only the first day of his investigation and he already has a lead.
He stared at the files laid in front of him, astounded. The deducted information written on his scroll points to certain person in Konoha…who allegedly possesses the Blood of Rarity.
It was unbelievable of course, and if the Blood was indeed authentic, the Hokage will issue an order to annihilate or secure the certain person. This Itachi could not take, the person was known and close to his teammates…
If ya wanna see AICA AND YUKIKO, 'YA BETTER GO TO MY PROFILE AND LOOK :]
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
((This is just a TEASER okay? So I guess it's supposed to be short! Uhmm. Sorry for that. Yeah. Please review! or something... Thank you if you review :) ))
Oh and yeah, if you want, please join my RPG-ish forum! It's titled 'The Astral Moon's Light on the Snow'! :)
Chapter-o4
Denial and Conflict
