I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear nervously. I didn't think I was pitying him, but maybe that's what he thought of my desire to help. That must be how he saw it.

My eyes were trained on the floor at this point, but I slowly lifted my head when he let out a slow breath.

"Let's just concentrate on this," he growled out.

Hurt, his words hurt. I hadn't done anything bad to warrant such a tone. I meant no ill will, and yet here he was throwing my offer to the ground.

I decided to deal with it later, when we were far away from this stupid cave.

My head nodded involuntarily, and I thought back to what he told me to do just moments before. I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on my being. I had some magical training, but it wasn't anything particularly outstanding. I had never done anything like this before, that was for sure.

I took deep breaths.

In.

Out.

In.

Out.

I slowly dictated the speed of my breaths, and found that I was able to become more aware of my presence. Or rather, my magical being.

We stood there for a long time with me just feeling out my magic, trying to mold it into a shape. The feeling was gradual, but eventually my stomach began to grow warm.

Every bit of concentration I had went to that spot. It was like a gravitational pull to that one area, and I thought I was out of the woods when I remembered that I had to get it to move through my arm, finger, and then into the crystal.

Moving the ball of energy was slow-going, but it was happening. When it finally hit the gem, I let out a soft exhale of relief and I opened my eyes.

It took all the effort I could muster to not pull my hand away in shock. At the end of my fingertip sat a tiny light of green. It was tugging itself this way and that, but stayed on my finger for a few seconds. And just like that, the gem seemed to suck the ball of light right off of me.

The once white gem was now a steady green, a halo surrounding it gave off an ethereal image. I couldn't take my eyes off of it, it was so beautiful.

Itachi placed his finger near the gem, and a similar light to what mine looked like lay on the tip of it, though his was a brilliant blue.

He dipped it down to touch the gem, and his blue light coated the surface, mixing with my green. The two colors meshed and turned the gem into a cyan color.

I gasped when the writing on the stone glowed that same color as well, and I couldn't help but take a step back. Itachi joined my side of the pedestal, watching the scene unfold before us.

The foreign letters pulsed with light, and I was half expecting the place to start shaking from the intensity of it.

I brought my hand up to shield my eyes as the light had gotten so incredibly bright, but I kept my eyes fixed on my pendant.

And just as fast as the light came, it was gone. All the words were drained of their purple hue, and the gem ceased glowing, returning to its once white color.

"What just happened?" I asked.

Itachi took cautious steps towards the pedestal and brought his face inches away from my pendant. "Pick it up," he ordered.

No way. "You do it." I did not feel like getting zapped or something.

He rolled his eyes and picked it up by the chain, not daring to touch the actual gem. He held it aloft and rotated in my direction. He looked at me expectantly, and it made me feel like I was being a baby.

My hands came together and I kept them palm up to receive it. He lowered it into my hand and immediately it felt different to me. I didn't know exactly how to explain it, but it kind of felt alive.

When I had worn it before Itachi stole it from me, there had always been a hum of power coursing through it. It had been faint, and I'd never paid it much attention. But, right now, I could tell that something had happened. And all I could do was hope that it was something for the better.

"It...worked?" I murmured.

Itachi nodded. "I think so."

I didn't understand. The feeling the pendant gave off before it was taken had been so weak compared to the thrumming sensation it was giving off in my hand. Did that mean that its power had already been weak before? And Itachi's touch was just the last straw?

Did that mean I would've had to do this anyway? Go on this journey to reinvigorate its powers?

Why hadn't I read about a similar situation like this in our palace library?

I closed the pendant in my fist and turned my head to look at Hinata and Naruto. They both wore uneasy expressions, and I could tell that they wanted to get a closer look though they weren't making a move to come near.

Without looking back at Itachi, I began making my way over to them. I could feel his presence following me, but I certainly didn't feel like acknowledging him at all. He made me sad with how he tossed my help away like it was nothing, like it was a bother.

Why couldn't he just admit that he needed help? I most certainly needed help.

I needed all three of them for different reasons. There was no way that I could do this on my own. It was thanks to everyone here that we were able to make it this far. Helping others was not a burdensome thing, it was something to be thankful for, thankful that we have the opportunity to do such a kind act in this world.

And if Itachi didn't want my help, then fine. He can figure it all out on his own.

When I reached them, Nix jumped into my arms. I cradled her to my chest and gave her head a little pat.

"Figured it out?" Hinata asked, tilting her head in the direction of the pedestal. "Seemed there was a lot going on over there."

The look she gave me was a very knowing look. No doubt the two of them heard every word Itachi and I uttered up there. I was probably going to get an interrogation from her later about everything.

Fantastic.