Chapter Five: Outbursts

When Tora woke up the only person in the room with her was Tatsu. Tatsu had a wide grin plastered on his face; one that Tora was tempted to wipe out.

"Hey, sleepyhead!" Tatsu greeted her, his grin still intact.

Tora sighed, composing herself. Pushing the coat off of herself, she made herself more agreeable and left the room, not glancing at her brother.

"Fine! Be that way!" Tatsu muttered. Now I know one more thing Itachi and Tora have in common.

Really? What is that? Rikiya asked, amusement filling his mental voice.

That! They totally annoy me!

Rikiya's gravelly laughter echoed down to Tatsu's ears from the dragon keep above.

Tora was freezing on this balcony. Tora mentally chastised herself for leaving Tatsu's coat behind. Tora blew on her hands, warming them an infinitesimal bit. The cold in Alagaësia was cruel and persistent; something Tora had hated all her life, and still did.

"What do you think you are doing?" A low, deep, all-too-familiar voice sounded behind her, causing her to start violently.

How does he do that? Tora wondered as she glared at the Uchiha before her. "None of your business!"

"My brother is in there, too, so it is," Itachi countered, his voice as composed as ever. His gray eyes bore into her, making her feel slightly uncomfortable. At last, he sighed. "You should stop trying to control her life, Tora."

Tora was pissed. It wasn't what he said, but it was the tone he used. Calm and gentle, the tone a teacher used when explaining something to an immature student.

"I was not spying on Sakura!" Tora hissed back, barely containing her temper.

"Then what were you doing?" Itachi questioned, his eyes on her every move.

"Well…" Tora faltered. "I – I was just coming over to see if she was awake!"

"At two in the morning?" Itachi pushed on, well aware of Tora's burning temper.

Tora was now beyond pissed. She had only got two hours or so of sleep. Her sister's life was slowly drawing away from her fingertips and now Itachi was telling her what to do! Tora's anger exploded.

"Tora –"

"STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO!" Tora yelled at him, her emerald eyes dancing with ire.

That shut Itachi's mouth and he stared at her. Tora could detect a sliver of shock at her outburst in his eyes, but nothing else.

The catch of the balcony doors was unlocked in a hurry and two figures stepped out. Tora whirled around, catching the shocked looks on Sasuke's and Sakura's faces.

Great! Tora's thoughts were in turmoil. Somewhere inside her she knew this would be the part where she should blush and hurry to her room, but she wasn't about to give Itachi the satisfaction of seeing her do so.

Instead, Tora thrust her chin forward and, giving the two newcomers a farewell glance, flash-stepped to her balcony. Ever-aware of the eyes watching her back, she entered her room and latched he balcony doors closed.

"Um, Itachi? What was that about?" Sakura's eyes darted between Itachi and Tora's closed balcony doors.

"Nothing much. Go back to sleep," Itachi muttered, his eyes fixed on Tora's balcony.

Sakura went back in, her face uncertain and worried. In all the years she had known Tora, she hadn't heard her elder sister yell like that before.

Sasuke hesitated. Itachi finally tore his gaze off the adjacent balcony doors and met Sasuke's gaze. Seconds later, Sasuke nodded and followed Sakura's lead, latching the doors behind him.

Itachi returned to his own room and let his thoughts take full reign only once he settled under the covers of his bed.

I told you, Saphira spoke to him with her silent voice. Tora has changed.

Hn.

Tora got into bed, her mind still filled with her anger at Itachi.

Stupid Itachi.