At Death's Door
10. Undetermined
He confesses that the gardens had been planted by his mother when she still lived in this realm. He inherited his position here through her and her family - his older brother inherited through their father.
Sakura takes in the lilies and roses and climbing vines and trees, and thinks it is perfect.
He smiles when she tells him as much - at least he smiles as much as he ever does.
"I like gardens," she sits on a bench in the sunshine. "Something about them is rejuvenating." She looks around, hesitating to ask the question. "Your Mother. Is she?"
"She is a Guardian of another realm, with my Father."
"And your brother is one as well, correct?"
"Yes."
"Do you ever visit?"
"Occasionally," he shrugs.
"I wonder if I ever visit," she chuckles. When he looks at her strangely, she grins cheekily. "What? I don't know where I go when I leave here; for all I know I am visiting all of your relatives."
"You're not," he mutters.
"I might be," she nudges him.
"You would be most welcome, if you were to visit," Itachi appears in front of them, "but sadly, my brother is right. We have not had the pleasure of an introduction."
Sakura's initial surprise melts into delight.
"Itachi, I take it?"
"And you must be Sakura."
"Pleased to meet you," she glances behind him. "Who are your friends?"
Itachi's expression doesn't change, but Sasuke wonders what these escorts mean.
"My cousin Shisui, and my Chief Hunter, Hana," he indicates the other two.
They both bow politely to her.
"Sorry to arrive unannounced," Itachi's faint smile is weary but kind, "but I wanted to speak with you both."
"How did you know I was here?" Sakura blinks. "I didn't think anyone could track where I was."
There might have been a scoffing sound from one of Itachi's party, or she might have imagined it - she isn't sure.
"Why don't we discuss it inside," Itachi nods back toward his brother's home.
"Sakura," Sasuke turns toward her. "Would you take Captain Inuzuka and my cousin inside? I'm sure they'd like to take a moment to wash up from their journey."
"Of course," she smiles, and leads the way.
Itachi hangs back, amused.
"I take it you haven't explained that the 'journey' here took mere seconds."
"Why are you here," his brother turns, the small crease reappearing between his eyebrows. "And what do you mean by bringing those two?"
"You mean my most trusted friends, aside from my brother?" Itachi arches an eyebrow. "Are you offended, Sasuke?"
"You left your realm without your two most trusted people," Sasuke counters. "Why?"
"Shisui thinks he picked up on a trail, and Hana says she can follow it. They have to be here when she disappears, or it won't work."
Sasuke meets his eyes steadily.
"And why are you helping her?"
"It is our job, Little Brother," Itachi shrugs. "She is a displaced soul."
Shisui flickers in front of them, his eyes spinning in red and black.
"Come now," is all he needs to say.
In less than a second, the three of them are at Sakura's side, and she is shivering in a blanket, while being held on the couch by Hana. The Captain is surprisingly gentle with the girl as she rubs wide circles on her back.
She looks up, dazed.
"Sasuke?" she holds her hands out to him, and he is startled to realize they are beginning to fade.
Without a word, he takes them and kneels in front of her, to better meet her eyes.
"What is happening?"
"I don't know," she chatters. "It is different than last time. Usually I just... go. But something is wrong - this is different."
She slumps forward, all color draining from her skin.
Effortlessly, he scoops her up, and cradles her in his arms.
"You can wait it out in your room," he strides down the hall.
She looks up at him confused.
"I have a room? Since when?"
He gives a half shrug, but does not answer.
"Huh," she rests her head against his shoulder. "I don't remember doing that."
He doesn't comment.
Because then he'd have to admit that he doesn't know when it happened,
but she didn't create her room.
He did.
And that isn't something he knows how to process any more than he knows how to face how she is melding into his life.