Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Note: I've been asked a few times if I have any healthcare/medical knowledge, or if I'm just winging all of this really well, lol. To answer that question, yes, I do have some. I am a pre-nursing student, waiting on news if I get start to a two year, ADN program come February. Most of the stuff I write about I already know, but since I'm not an RN student (or an RN) just yet, there are a few things I have to research about to make Sakura's character and Itachi's illness more authentic. I've already taken all my prerequisite courses, and my sibling is an RN, so I know a little knowledge having talked with them about their time at work in the ICU over the past eight years. Just wanted to clarify~ c:
2/3/2017
As an update to this note (which was made like two years ago, now, if I'm not mistaken -u- ) I am a nursing student anticipating graduation come June, 2017. Just in a few months! :D this is how I have as much medical knowledge as I do. c: if any of my fellow healthcare readers out there see anything that seems shady about what I write concerning medications and the such, feel free to let me know. :)
Chapter Ten: Arrival
Sakura checked the watch wrapped about her wrist. They were making good timing considering Itachi's afflictions. He showed little signs of strain other than their impaired speed. The chill morning broke into a warmer afternoon and Sakura was glad for it. They had made it to Kahan quickly enough, reaching the city in a little under two hours. Before entering into the city they altered their appearances with henge, not wanting to take any chances. Now they both looked like a pair of hikers following along the Yojin, spending the nice day out and about. They took the opportunity to walk leisurely, though briskly, on the river's banks. Sakura reminded her companion again that pushing himself wouldn't work in their favor and he complied, although begrudgingly she was sure. The day was so nice though, and the scene of the Yojin snaking through the grassy plains pleasant, that as the minutes wore on he seemed to enjoy himself more, the tense line of his back slowly releasing as he relaxed.
Just like during her previous trip they came upon the beginnings of the same forest. Once under the coverage they released their henges to conserve chakra and picked up a quicker pace. This was the monotonous part yet again, and for miles they jogged, ran, walked, and jogged some more. The light of the sun slowly ebbed until it was no more. Itachi had worked up a small sheen of sweat by the time the shrine finally came into view. She bade them to stop to replenish themselves once there. It was time for another dose of medication, as well. After administering it, she handed him food and water before partaking of anything herself. Itachi didn't need cajoling. As he chewed, he looked up and through the foliage to the shrine beyond, and Sakura followed his gaze. Moonlight cast its shine upon the old, but well cared for, site. A few monks were out and about, attending to their nighttime duties before bed. It was a picturesque image and an enjoyable quiet surrounded them as they ate.
They started back up shortly after their reprieve when Sakura checked her watch once more and head south towards Yoen. Flashes of her fight came back to her from those days ago. She had to wonder if the bodies were ever found by Hakumei. Surely by now they would have realized one of their scouting squads were missing. Did they know it was her? Did Hakumei finally get their confirmation that Haruno Sakura was indeed in these lands? She couldn't be sure, but she wouldn't underestimate Hakumei. That would prove to be a fatal mistake.
The lights of Yoen eventually twinkled their way through the trees, revealing its location to the pair. Itachi had wanted to go around the city, but when Sakura mentioned that she was hungry for something other than water and protein bars, he couldn't deny that he too was craving something a little more substantial. He was also more tired than he cared to admit, and he didn't, not wanting to worry Sakura any more than needed. She was already watching him like a hawk. The opportunity would be good to rest his limbs before their last stretch to his temporary home. Again they altered their appearances. It was even more crucial for them to do so in Yoen where Sakura had been recognized and followed.
They wandered the streets, looking for something to satisfy their cravings. Sakura explained to him how during her previous visit there had been a festival of sorts going on. All of the décor was now gone. Itachi told her briefly about his own first trip to the city. There had been no parties, but his experience was enjoyable. Despite the fight that had occurred outside of Yoen, Sakura still found she rather liked the town. It was a clean and quaint, but the threat of enemies loomed in her mind. They couldn't stay for long, disguised or not. Sakura spotted a small booth that sold tempura. Her eyes, now the color of honey instead of bright jade, lit up like a kid in a candy shop and she hastily made her way over. Itachi wore a slightly amused face as he followed in her wake. He had to admit that the smell of fried food items wafting over to him made his stomach groan in longing. Welcomed by a kind woman, the two sat down at the counter atop stools whose seats were well worn by previous customers and ordered their meals. Within a reasonable time they were stuffing their faces. Sakura made a noise of satisfaction as she chewed a mouthful of rice and panko breaded deep-fried fish and veggies.
"I'm glad you like it," the middle aged woman responded with a chuckle and Sakura grinned after swallowing.
"Oh my gosh… this is so good." If Yoen wasn't too far away from Itachi's hideaway, Sakura was seriously considering trips into the city just to come and eat at this woman's booth. Even Itachi seemed to enjoy his own meal. He didn't say anything, but he seemed to savor it by the way he slowly chewed each mouthful. Sakura didn't think he'd oblige to a tempura run now and then in the future.
"I don't recognize you two. Are you new to Yoen?" the woman asked as she did a few random things behind the counter. Though she seemed innocent enough, they couldn't give anything away. To her surprise, Itachi spoke up to answer the woman.
"Yes, we are," he started to say, and Sakura glanced at him as casually as she could. "We're passing through on our way to Tenshu." The woman's eyes lit up in understanding.
"Ooh, are you students?" she inquired further.
"We are," he affirmed. Sakura couldn't be sure if he was simply rolling with her assumption or if this was part of his cover and the woman guessed right. It made sense, though. They looked young with their henges, and most young people traveling from parts like these to get up towards Tenshu were generally going there for school. The woman asked about their studies and Itachi continued the lie, saying that Sakura was going for medicine and he for literature and history. That fit him well, she couldn't help but muse. He was a well-read man and had a head for remembering dates and events she had come to find out during their talks at the clinic. As they exchanged in conversation, Sakura took the opportunity to stuff more tempura into her mouth, confident in Itachi to keep their secrets safe. She almost choked on her food at the woman's latest question.
"So, are you two a couple?" There was a little gleam in those eyes, as if young love was something she really enjoyed witnessing. Clearing her throat, Sakura chuckled and answered this time.
"Haha, nooo... We're actually cousins." The vendor's eagerness faltered, as if disappointed by this knowledge. But, the two in their altered visages did look similar enough to pass as family. Sakura's honey eyes and Itachi's hazel, both with dirty blond hair and lightly sun kissed skin along with similar facial features hinted at a more than probable sharing of bloodlines. This they had agreed on before entering should anyone end up asking them who they were. Sakura found it hard to believe that the woman didn't notice this. They also had showed no signs of being intimate towards one another.
"Ah, oh, well at least you have family to turn to during your time in the big city," she offered with a smile, and the pair indulged the woman by agreeing with her. They finished their meal with a little more small talk and paid for their food. The woman bade them a goodnight and told them to come back and say hello should they pass through Yoen on their way back home once school was done or during holidays. Sakura didn't hesitate to make that promise. She'd come back tomorrow if possible and was tempted to take another order to go but refrained. The pair continued on through Yoen, their bellies full and limbs rested, and the slow pace of their walk was welcome after such a meal. Running with a freshly full stomach wasn't a pleasant idea. By the time they exited the city their stomachs were settled. With their disguises they hadn't drawn attention to themselves. Neither felt anything was off as they made their way back into the cover of the trees. Releasing their transformation jutsus their trip continued onward towards Sanka.
They avoided the next city as if it bore a deadly plague. Sakura's hackles rose just as they did the first time she entered into the city's presence. Rather than veer east as she had done to reach the waterfall they continued south. Itachi explained that it wasn't much farther. Sakura noted his pace had slowed down considerably and she suggested that they take it easy for the remainder of the trip. Even she was tired. She could only imagine that Itachi was utterly spent. He agreed to run for another few miles to get them out of Sanka's perimeters, and then eventually slowed down to a walk. His breathing was a little labored. She had to wonder if he was straining to keep it from sounding worse than it was. Trying not to worry herself too much, she hoped they'd reach their new home quickly for his sake.
As they continued southward the trees around them started to thin out slowly but surely. Eventually open fields, bathed in moonlight, revealed themselves. It was farmland, Sakura recognized - leagues of it. Her nose detected the smells of crops growing. It reminded her of Hougyoku. In the darkness she could see plots of silver amongst the expanse; rice paddies that reflected the shimmering, pale light. Little dots of lantern or electrical light scattered the lands, marking homesteads. It was a pretty sight, even without the brightness of day to reveal every detail. Itachi motioned for her to continue when she had paused to appreciate the view.
"Do you live here?" she asked him.
"No. These farmlands sound a town - Kurumu. Beyond that there's an old complex that Akastuki built, hiding in the outskirts at the base of the hills there." He pointed to a range of small mountains in the distance, just noticeable against the dimness of night. If she had to guess it was another few miles away. That put a bit more pep in her step; they were almost there. Still, she had to wonder about said complex.
"This far north?" Sakura couldn't help but ask.
"This this proved a useful location to lay low at times. Remember, the boarders of the Land of Earth aren't too far away from these lands. Perhaps a week's run. But most Iwa shinobi didn't bother coming this far north considering the rest of the shinobi world was to the south of them, not north, so Akatsuki took advantage of that. I'd never been to this location before but I remembered hearing about it. It wasn't too hard for me to find. Some genjutsu traps were set up to deter civilians and shinobi alike, but I could see through them." Sakura didn't find that hard to believe. "It needed some renovating, but it has running water and electricity, and I acquired a few generators. We'll just have to get fuel to keep them running. The town sells a lot of commodities, so we'll be fine."
By his words it sounded well enough. She'd have to just wait and see if it was too good to be true. Continuing through the farmlands they kept to the shadows. Being stealthy would have to continue until they reached the complex. Weaving their way closer to the town took a little less than an hour. Kurumu was asleep for the night. When Sakura checked her watch it was almost two in the morning. In another few hours the early birds would rouse to greet the new day. Sakura was excited to return to the town to see what they offered, but for now they made their way as quickly and quietly as they could through the buildings and she only caught sight of a few storefronts. For being surrounded by farmland they were more merchant oriented than Hougyoku. It would be nice not to have to travel far to shop.
Leaving Kurumu behind them they made for the foothills. A few trees began to dot the grassy field they walked through and continued to grow in number and they were surrounded by forest again. It didn't look like many people came this way, which Sakura was grateful for, and the only signs of life were those of wildlife. Itachi's pace quickened now that the end of their journey was near. He walked with purposeful strides and Sakura followed behind him, eyes peeled for their destination. After a few minutes it occurred to her that Itachi had probably set up his own genjutsu traps. While she was a skilled seeing through genjutsu she didn't think she'd see through ones created by the Uchiha genius himself.
Just when she was starting to think this was taking longer than she originally anticipated Itachi came to a stop. There was a clearing within the trees that created a decent sized meadow. The moon shone down, illuminating the tall grass, but there was nothing else to be seen. Why had they stopped? Itachi then brought up his hands and made a seal. As he did, she felt the tingle of chakra on the air and it made her hair stand on end. The scene of the peaceful glade started to falter, and suddenly a veil lifted and they were standing before a structure. A tall wall wrought from grey brick encompassed most of her view thus far. Ivy and moss climbed up its rough surface in many places. She saw no entrance on this wall to pass through. Itachi beckoned her to follow him, and he bounded up with a burst of chakra to the top of the protective wall. Perhaps there simply was no gate? She guessed the wall to be about twenty-five feet high or so, but in her fatigued state it felt like it were triple that. With a little grunt she launched herself up there and landed beside Itachi.
Before jumping down she looked from her perch to see what was below. It was indeed a small complex. Unlike the brick wall it was built from light colored stone and wood, the roof shingled with dark, blue gray tiles (if the moonlight didn't lie), which gave it a more atheistic appeal. She spotted a good number of little chimneys popping up out from the angled roof. There was indeed a gate, a large iron thing, but it was on the opposing wall and looked like it had not moved in a while since ivy was beginning to crawl its way onto it. It was also barred shut in such a way it looked like a pain to open. Jumping up over the wall now seemed much easier and quicker. The complex was built so it was tucked close to one of the walls, and there was an open area of grass and dirt because of this. She saw wooden posts driven upright into the ground, and if she wasn't mistaken, moonlight glinted off some shuriken and kunai still lodged into the wood. Three of them stood in a row and she was reminded of the bell test Kakashi gave Team 7 and how Naruto was tied to a similar sized post himself all those years ago. She couldn't help her lips be tugged into a small smile at that memory.
Itachi jumped down and Sakura followed after taking in the scene with a sweep of her eyes. There was a door on the side of the building that Itachi approached. Right outside it sat a good sized generator. It was currently off. Before going inside he inspected the thing. It had run out of fuel, the gauge reading empty. A can with an ample amount of liquid energy inside sat beside the thing, so he filled up the tank. Itachi went to grab the cord to start it, but Sakura stopped him.
"Let me," she objected. Dark eyes swept up to meet hers, making her hesitate but she didn't shrink away from him. Sakura thought he was going to protest but he stepped aside, and she let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. Shoving aside the odd sensation the moment gave her, she grabbed the metal handle tied to the end of the cord. The cold of the thing seeped into her palm. With two swift pulls the generator came to life. The sound both startled and yet comforted her. She wanted nothing more than to take a long, hot shower. Without a generator to fuel the heater, her shower would have been cold and not at all pleasant. Thoughts of such a tragedy made her shiver. With their power source running, Itachi turned to the door, and rather than use a key, he opened it with chakra.
"We'll add yours to it tomorrow, otherwise you won't be able to open the door without me," he mentioned as he let the door swing open. Sakura couldn't help but think that she'd be able to open it, alright, chakra key or not, but the door would be a permanent, gaping hole in the side of his home. The vision made her grin.
Entering into the home they were cast in darkness at first. By the way her boot heels clacked against the floor she deduced that they were currently standing on concrete, which slightly puzzled her. The smell of stagnant air was accompanied by an aroma of what she decided was masculine, something heady and pleasant as it wafted into her nostrils. It made her want to inhale more deeply. She also detected the unmistakable scent of steel cleaner. That was a smell she'd never forget. It lingered on the air just faintly, but it was so unique she put a finger on it instantaneously. It was already a lot warmer inside than out even with the concrete flooring below. The building must have been insulated well, and she was thankful for that. It wouldn't take much to keep the complex warm once autumn and winter came around should they still be here after the seasons changed. After a small click sounded out that was a surely a switch Itachi hit, light began to spring to life to reveal the interior.
"Well, this is home," Itachi announced, and Sakura's eyes roamed what she could see so far. They were standing in the back entrance to the complex. It looked more like a mud room what with the drain in the middle and a hose off to the side, currently coiled up. It explained the odd presence of concrete beneath them. Across from them was a hallway that ran perpendicular to the room, so she still didn't see much save for another wall through the open passage from the mud room. After removing their shoes, Sakura noticing another pair of sandals already there, they stepped up a small ledge and onto hardwood floors. Itachi proceeded to show her around. She could tell he was exhausted, but she didn't want to nag him so much about not doing things and make him annoyed at her, so she held her tongue and indulged him. He kept the tour short, though. He showed her the kitchen, the bathroom, and the bedrooms. The rest he figured could wait until later. The whole complex wasn't completely outfitted, but it was good enough for her. She knew she wasn't signing up to live in luxury. As long as they had a roof over their head and a bed to sleep in, some hot water and most of all, security, she'd be happy. They had all that. At the bedrooms, he pointed out the room he was using, and then went to another room that was across the hall from his.
"These are the most furnished rooms in the complex, so while we're here, this will be your room, Sakura-san. It's not much, but... it'll have to do." He opened the door and reached for the switch inside. An overhead light was turned on and it revealed a rather well fitted room. There was a large bed, a little desk and chair, a shelf for books (with some already occupying it), a nightstand, a dresser with a mirror and also a plush, charcoal grey rug with a swirling pattern of blues and white, laid out on the floor. Hell, there was even a small fireplace! It was much more than she anticipated after seeing the rest of the complex and she wondered if it was already like this when Itachi arrived, or if he had put this together himself. She was too tired to ask him, and she had a feeling he might not want to answer the question if it were the later. The idea of him putting this together possibly with her in mind was too at odds with her image of him. Still, if that was the case, she had to give him kudos.
"Wow. It's really nice," she admitted. "Akatsuki knew how to lay low, didn't they?" Itachi wore a tired grin at that comment as Sakura chuckled at herself.
"I suppose they did... You can add a chakra lock to your bedroom if you want. I won't go in there without your permission, obviously, but if it gives you a little more peace of mind, then go ahead." Sakura had a strong feeling that he either had his own room chakra locked, or planned to do it soon. Thanking him for the offer, she'd probably take him up on it. Again she admired the room once more. When she finally glanced back to him, she saw that his eyes were closed and he was leaning heavily against the doorframe. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
"Come on," she voice out, and his eyes flashed open, realizing he was caught. "You need to sleep. I know you're exhausted. I'm surprised you did so well to be honest. You've come a long way in such a short time." Itachi inclined his head and pushed off from the wall, making for his own room. He was in need of a good bathing, but that could wait til tomorrow. All the energy he had left seemed to be spent when he finally sat down on his bed. His room was similar to hers in how it was outfitted, but his looked more lived in. Her room contained no possessions like knick-knacks and the like, but in there she saw more items around the room that belonged to Itachi. She retrieved another dose of medication for him and administered it after making sure his IV was still patent. After, she had him lay down and then delved into his lungs and intestine, checking to see if anything was off due to the trip. Nothing seemed amiss thankfully, nor did the rest of his body as she gave it a quick checkup.
"Well, in another couple of weeks you should be completely healed, Itachi-san," Sakura commented as she leaned back and stopped her chakra flow. He reopened his eyes that he had shut during the exam and he seemed to mentally sigh at that, relieved. With strength she didn't think he had left, he sat himself up. Catching her eyes again, his own bore into hers.
"Thank you for coming here with me, Sakura-san. I couldn't do this without you." By 'this', she knew he meant more than simply healing him. That alone was a huge feat; he didn't think he'd be rid of his illness for many more years to come, but then fate brought him to Sakura. He had faith in her skills and persistence and they paid off in the end. Now that he was almost as healthy as he wanted to be they could focus on Hakumei and finding more resisting shinobi to join forces with. Again, something he'd need Sakura for.
"There's no need to thank me, Itachi-san," she return with a smile. "I'm glad I can help you feel like yourself again. It's the least I can do for all you've done in your life. For all you did for Konoha." He watched her in such a manner after those words that Sakura thought he looked taken aback. She supposed not many people ever said something like that to him before concerning the way in which he offered his duties to his village in the shadows as a criminal. Perhaps the only people who had had been the Third and Jiraiya. Now that she knew the truth of the massacre the more Sakura found herself sympathizing for Itachi, something she never imagined herself doing. But the truth remained that Itachi had probably done more for Konoha than she had, or most shinobi of the village had, even if everyone had thought he wanted its destruction rather than its safety.
"Get some sleep," she gently ordered him, unable to have those dark eyes on her like that anymore. "I'm going to take a shower and get to bed myself, but let me know if you need anything, even if you've gotta wake me up." He acknowledged her offer with an 'alright', and Sakura left the room, shutting the door behind her. Longing for her aforementioned bathing, she went right to the bathroom and quickly stripped down. As the shower head sprung to life, the water that poured out grew hot after some patience and she sighed in relief then stepped in. Before leaving Hougyoku she had packed herself a few toiletries, including a bar of soap, as well as shampoo and conditioner. Thankful that she did, she lathered herself up, washing away sweat and dust from the trip, along with the stress and fears the journey had given her. She didn't want to waste water or fuel for the generator, so she kept her shower short even though she felt like she could stand there for hours.
Feeling better, but still extremely tired, she threw on some clothes and towel dried her hair. Her feet padded against the hardwood as she shuffled out of the bathroom and went down the hall to the room that was now hers. The thin line of light that had remained about the edges of the door to Itachi's room when she left was now gone and she didn't hear any movement coming from inside. She was pleased that he didn't try and keep himself up. He needed, and deserved, lots of sleep. Entering into her room, she quietly shut the door and dropped her bag onto the rug, too tired to care when a few things fell out. Sakura threw her damp towel over the back of the chair to dry, switched off the light and then fell into her bed.
It was more blissfully plush than anticipated, with just the right amount of firmness, and she couldn't help the moan of satisfaction that rumbled in the back of her throat. Even her bed back home wasn't as comfortable as this one! Briefly she wondered which former Akatsuki member might've slept in that very bed, or if Itachi recently purchased it. Too fatigued to work herself into a huff over such possibilities, she shoved those troubling thoughts aside. Running her hands over the soft comforter the color of pale winter skies, she pulled back the duvet to reveal clean white sheets and crawled beneath them. Making herself comfortable, her thoughts ran over the day's travels as she laid there, letting the reality of the situation sink in.
They had made it to the complex, covered leagues and leagues of terrain, and nothing went amiss. Sakura couldn't help but admit she was a little shocked; she was glad nothing went wrong but she had expected at least one bad thing to happen. It was hard to say if it were a good or bad sign. Either their journey laid down the path to more good luck ahead, or because they got through this first ordeal without fault, a lot of trouble was on its way. She wasn't as naïve to put too much faith in the first hypothesis. Though she didn't want it, hardship was bound to be woven into the trials to come. At least she had Itachi to face them with, and she had the feeling that he felt the same with her. They wouldn't have to shoulder this on their own, but could do so together, and eventually, if luck did shine on them, the weight would be divided further once they tracked down more resistors.
Now that the stress of the move was behind them, and Itachi's health was advancing, Sakura had good things to dwell on and to drift off into blissful slumber with.
Slowly he felt himself be drawn into consciousness. It was a pleasant sensation, to say the least. During his life he had grown accustomed to waking suddenly, and many times in the presence of danger. Itachi couldn't deny the luxury of waking on his own body's terms. His eyes opened to a bar of light flooding in through the window across the room. Dark, navy curtains blocked out the majority of it. There was a gap a few inches wide letting in the brightness. By its color and harshness he deduced it was most likely late in the afternoon. The window faced westward and caught the light of the evening and setting sun because of its bearings. What he couldn't be certain of was what day it was. For all he knew he was out for a week. His body didn't have that telltale feelings of lethargy from having not moved in such a long time, so he guessed only a day or two. He wouldn't be surprised if he slept the whole day away and now it as the next morning entirely, considering how late they had arrived at the complex and how tired the trip had made him.
Gently he got up, not wanting to bring a head-rush upon himself. He carefully threw back the duvet covering his own bed, the color a rich, lavish garnet and the sheets underneath a light wash of pale gray. Bare feet came down to rest in the plush cushioning of a rug, also a dark red with geometric designs in black, and his toes savored the softness. Eyes still filled with lingering sleep swept about his room, and a sense of welcome washed over him. It felt good to be back home. Felt good to wake up from the best slumber he had had in some time. Sleeping the last few weeks in a medical bed wasn't his first choice of comfort.
With less effort than he thought would be needed he got out of bed. His limbs were a little sore from their travels, and his back felt stiff, but he had energy. He glanced to a clock on his nightstand, the thing ran on batteries and was still working, and saw that it was almost four in the afternoon. He had been right. Taking in a deep breath, he filled his lungs with as much air as he could. It felt amazing to breath freely these days and not with the threat of coughing up blood, or drowning on the stuff. Looking down at his arms his eyes laid upon the IV that was now on his opposing forearm. He hadn't even woke up when Sakura changed it, he mused to himself. Had he really been that tired that he slept through his arm being bound in a tourniquet and then stabbed with a needle? He wondered if the other infiltrated somehow or if he somehow dislodged it in his sleep. The saline lock was clamped off and he imagined Sakura coming in to administer the medication. It was a good thing he hadn't chakra locked his door yet. He wouldn't put it past Sakura to break down the door with her mighty strength to get in. For his body's sake he was glad she could come in freely and let him rest. Sakura was a professional individual and he trusted her with his life now, not bothered by the idea of her with him while unconscious seeing how he spent his time in Hougyoku in such a manner. It was an odd realization when he dissected it, but he couldn't deny it.
Exiting into the hallway, he saw that the door to Sakura's room was slightly ajar. He didn't hear or sense her inside. Now out of his room, he detected the smell of something cooking, and then heard movements further into the complex. Making his way down the hall, he headed slowly for the kitchen. As he neared he could feel Sakura's now familiar presence. The smell of food strengthened and his stomach convulsed in longing, triggering the cephalic phase of digestion, gastric juices eager to do their jobs. By the strength of his hunger he felt more certain that he'd been out for longer than expected. When he came to the kitchen's entrance he spotted Sakura standing at the cupboard, scouring the contents. The sound of his feet slapping purposefully upon the floor, and his sudden presence, caught her attention over the noise of a pot boiling on the stove and the distant hum of the generator. He could have entered quietly but didn't want to alarm her. Looking over to him, her expression brightened.
"Oh, you're awake." She shot him a smile. "How're you feeling?" As he answered, he made his way to the table that was inside and took a seat at one of the few chairs. She didn't seem to fail to notice how he sat more gingerly than one normally should complete the action.
"Fine. Only a little sore." Sakura clicked her tongue in acknowledgement and then proceeded to continue her search through the pantry.
"Good. I'm sure a hot shower will help. I'll take a look later, too. For now," she explained, drawing out those two words as she bent over to look at a lower shelf, "you need to eat. You slept all yesterday and through the night, so I decided not to wake you. I didn't think you'd sleep this late today, but you obviously needed it." That answered that question. "I'm gonna take a guess and say that you're probably pretty hungry, yeah?" Her head turned briefly to regard him, and for her benefit he nodded. With a grin she returned to her search. "Well, since the generator's been off while you were gone, all the perishables in the fridge went bad. I cleaned it out yesterday." She made a sour face, the smell of rotten foods never a pleasant one. "Luckily it wasn't much. I'll make a trip into town later since you're up now. You haven't much dry goods left, either," she admitted, her thorough search testament to that, and Itachi didn't object. "I just didn't wanna leave and have you wake up to find me missing and think something was wrong, so I waited," she added with a laugh. Finally she emerged having made a choice. On the stove he concluded rice was simmering by the smell. Rice was something he knew he had a lot of at least.
"This'll do," she muttered, looking down at the can she held. Itachi couldn't read it from where he sat but he trusted her to cook something edible. "I was gonna wake you up soon, actually," she laughed out as she went to the counter and fished out a can opener. By the way in which she found it right away he had a feeling that she was already pretty well acquainted with the kitchen. "Since there isn't a lot left I haven't eaten much." It seemed that canned foods were not a particular favorite of hers. He couldn't blame her. With deft movements she opened the thing and strained out liquid into the sink and rinsed the contents right in the can, straining it again. Opening the lid of the rice, he could tell she decided it was done for she got a spoon and fluffed it before dumping the can's contents inside and putting the lid back on to let them heat up.
"I'm not much of a cook," she told him a little sheepishly, "but it's better than nothing." Itachi waved a dismissive hand. He was so hungry he could eat the corner of the table. Retrieving a glass from a cupboard, she filled it with water and brought it to him. "I saw a good amount of places to get takeout going through the town." Itachi gave a confirming nod as he drank from the glass, not realizing how thirsty he was on top of hungry. Sakura took the glass from him and refilled it. "Good. I'm a sucker for it," she admitted with a grin. Itachi only gave a little huff of amusement at the revelation. He thought back to the tempura in Yoen and he wished he had a bowl of that in front of him. Sakura retrieved a glass for herself next, and then two bowls, and dished out her mixture into them. Itachi discovered it was canned edamame beans she had thrown inside. Although a simple meal, it looked delicious. Brining out a bottle of soy sauce stored in the pantry, Sakura joined him at the table.
"Itadakimasu," she quirked with enthusiasm before covering her rice and soybeans with the black, salty liquid and digging in. Itachi followed in suit, and they ate in comfortable silence. Itachi had to admit that Sakura made good company, and he had come to enjoy her presence. Perhaps it was because she was a shinobi, like him, from the same village, so they related to one another better. Perhaps it was because unlike most people these days, he didn't have to worry about her attacking him. Still, she was an interesting, extremely knowledgeable and intelligent, charming, and overall enjoyable person to be around. Unlike him she liked to talk, but she wasn't overwhelming and was sharp enough to catch on when someone didn't want to talk, or even listen to someone talk. During their conversations when he was in the mood for one, she didn't mind doing most of the chatting, knowing he wasn't a very talkative person himself. Her stories about her youth in Konoha were entertaining and he enjoyed them, particularly the ones that involved Sasuke before he fled from Konoha in search of power. She never spoke about the events that lead to the Hidden Leaf's destruction during the war and he never asked. He wasn't that comfortable with her just yet.
Of all the people fate could have brought him, Itachi was glad Sakura was the one chosen, and glad that she too was growing to trust him in turn. The days to come as he finished his recovery would surely be interesting with the pink haired woman sharing his home with him.
Author's notes: Itachi and Sakura made it safely to their new home. What will be in store for the pair now that they are alone and now that Itachi is doing better?
Find out next time~
c: