Hours later, the storm had worn itself down a bit, but the rain was still coming down in stubborn, sullen sheets. Avari woke up to find herself alone in the house. She started, jumped off the couch, and threw herself into the kitchen, checking the clock frantically, and relaxing when she realized she still had an hour before the ANBU corps was supposed to open. She took the thermos Kakashi had left her, and tucked it into her bag as she left the house. She made her way quickly to the building, trying to keep as dry as possible, and slipped through the doors into the still dark building.
Instead of going to the training gym like she normally would, she turned down another hallway into one of the meeting rooms, and clicked on the overhead projector instead of the halogen lamps. She removed one of the maps from the cupboard, and sat down with it and a marker, taking sips of her coffee and making small markings here and there to mark possible movements of her team. She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not notice that another person had entered the room until the overhead lights clicked on. She gave an involunantry little yelp and almost knocked her coffee onto the floor. She was preparing to give whoever it was a very good reason to avoid turning on lights in her presence, but did not have the chance as Lee spoke up. "Good morning, Avari-san, I'm sorry if I startled you…am I too early?" He stepped further into the room, and took a seat next to Avari, looking over the markings. "Oh, yea, a bit, but that's fine, you can help me out with this." She smiled, and pointed down at the map. "It was brought to my attention that it would be a good idea to split us up into two groups once there to watch their movements from both sides, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to cover the most action." Avari said, gesturing towards the many red and blue dots on the map.
Lee gave the map a decidedly sorrowful glance, and looked back up at Avari. "I am sorry, Miss Avari…but strategy…has never been my strong point," He started, clearly uncomfortable, but Avari waved it away. "Oh, don't worry about it…It's taken me a lot of practice to get to be any good at all. We'll just leave this until the others show up." She said with a reassuring smile. She folded the map and set it too the side. "Coffee?" She offered, leaning the thermos towards him, but he shook his head. "Caffeine makes me jittery." He said with a small grin. Avari shrugged. "Suit yourself…" and poured herself another cup. "Does Gai know you've taken this mission with me?" She asked politely. Lee nodded vehemently. "Oh yes, I told him I was helping you out yesterday as soon as we were dismissed. He's given me the green light," He added in a tone of deep respect. "Well, I'm glad…you'll have to pass along my gratitude and regards next time you see him." She said with a small smile. "Yes, of course!" Lee agreed with a grin.
Not long after this, Sasuke and Kakashi entered the room, apparently deeply immersed in conversation. They stopped when they entered the room, and Sasuke took a seat on Avari's other side, and Kakashi leaned up against the far wall and took out his book. "Morning guys," She said, and then, "Where's Shikamaru?" She asked, looking around. "We passed him on the way here, he's getting coffee." Sasuke explained with a glance in her direction. "Ah, right, well…long as he's on his way." She sighed. For some reason the fact that they had not shown up at the same time caused her mild anxiety, and she pulled her maps back towards herself, agitated. Thankfully Shikamaru showed up a few moments later, and some of her agitation lifted now that she did not have to sit idle.
"Alright, guys, we've got a lot of work to do in a short amount of time…If you'll all come in a bit closer, we can start buckling down these plans." Avari said, a brisk, businesslike air coming over her as things began to fall into place. They worked on strategy like that for hours, as the ANBU compound came alive around them. People came and went, collecting items and information for their individual missions, and flitting back out into the sullen, indifferent gray of the rain. They worked and planned all that day and well into the night, sometimes arguing over who should go where, other times listening to one another point out a flaw or make a suggestion. When they finally emerged, darkness had settled over Konohagakure once more. Exhausted but exhilarated with the progress they had made, Avari dismissed her team, and sent them home to get some rest.
"You know, if we continue on this way, we may be able to leave a bit ahead of schedule, which might actually be a good idea. The less time we have to sit idle, the better." Avari mused aloud, lowering her head into her arms.
"Agreed. I would say we should be ship shape in two days rather than six, yes?" Kakashi responded. "Yea. I'll have to go and put in the change with Lady Tsunade sometime tomorrow." Here, she sighed, and stared dismally out into the rain.
After a moment a thought occurred to her, and she lifted her head to cast a glance at Sasuke, who had been silent for the last two hours of the meeting. The movement did not register to him, because he continued to stare, lost in thought, at a point on the far wall. "Hey…Sasuke." Avari said softly, and her voice seemed to pull him forcibly back to earth, because he jumped and turned towards her. It seemed to be news to him that everyone had left, because he cast a rather confused glance about the room before coming back to meet her gaze. "Meetings over," He grunted. Avari nodded. "Yea, I dismissed everyone. I figure we've been here long enough." She said with the slightest of wry smiles. He did not return the sentiment, but turned jerkily towards the door again. Avari bit her lip, because she thought she knew why. She cast a glance at her father, who took the hint immediately, and, with a concerned glance at Sasuke, left the room, shutting the door behind him with a slight click.
Sasuke turned around and gave her a questioning look, but for a few moments Avari simply stood there, rooted with indecision. "Sasuke…can I talk to you?" She asked carefully, keeping her gaze on his stormy one. He shrugged and sat down again, and waited for her to continue. "Are you alright?" Avari asked, going for the least complicated path. "Sure," He muttered apathetically. "I'm serious, Sasuke. If…something is on your mind, then talk to me." She was trying to tread lightly here. The business of Itachi was unstable ground with Sasuke, but she had to talk to him so she sat with him in silence, waiting to see what would happen. For many long, excruciating moments there was nothing, and then he spoke. "We're going to be within feet of him the whole time." The statement was simple enough, but the darkness and turmoil in his voice made goose bumps erupt onto Avari's skin.
"Yes…and, Sasuke, I will understand if you don't want to go. I don't want to put you in a position where you have to endure this. I'd—I'd rather keep you away from that pain." She pulled the ring off her index finger and began spinning it in her fingers. She would never give him a direct order when it came to his brother, or matters of the heart, so she was giving him the choice. Not because she thought it was better, but because it was true. She would rather keep him from pain than keep him on the team. Perhaps something of this was evident in her tone, because instead of becoming angry and unresponsive, Sasuke sighed. "No. I want to come with you. You'll need me on this." He held up a hand to keep her from arguing. "I'll be just fine." He said this softly, and held her gaze steadily. Avari stared back at him for a few moments before nodding slowly. "Thank you." She responded with a soft smile. The edges of his mouth quirked to return it this time, and she took that as a good sign.
She stood up and cracked her back, before turning back to him. "Shall we venture out into the world? I don't know about you, but if I never see this damn room again it will be too soon." He rolled his eyes in agreement and, holding the door for her like always, the exited out of the room, and then out into the sullen drizzle.