Chapter Twenty-One: Party Time

'It's for the good of the mission... It's for the good of the mission...'

That's what Itachi repeatedly thought to himself as he looked around at the on-going party and all of the fun everyone was already having in this early stage. Now he knew why he had never been to one of these before: he wasn't a party type of person, being totally impartial to everything the events contained. He loathed idle chit-chat, he never liked to meet new people, and simply standing around was so boring! Unfortunately, that was what he expected to do for most of the night for that was basically all that he could do since he didn't care to dance either. So, to pass the time as he waited for Kayo to come to the party, he tried once again to converse with Saturo, "Saturo-sama... Pardon my asking, but why don't you have a girl to accompany you?"

"Are you kidding?" Saturo smirked, then threw one arm around each of his twin friends, "Who needs a date when I have these two to entertain me?"

Aki quickly ducked out of the hold, obviously against the contact, but Haruo lingered only for a moment. "Gee... Thanks. 'Cause we only live to entertain you, Saturo-kun," he said as he wore a sarcastic smile, then he slowly pushed Saturo's arm away and straightened. "He's just being modest. Saturo-kun usually meets girls at parties, so why bring one?"

"That would makes sense..." Itachi tried to agree, though like much else about the party, it really didn't catch his interest.

"Hello, ladies!" Saturo greeted, looking behind Itachi.

The Uchiha looked over his shoulder, then turned to the oncoming trio of Kayo, Katsuo, and Mizuki, the two girls each being led on an arm of Katsuo. The men all gave a small bow to the approaching ladies in greeting. "You both look lovely," Saturo smiled at his sisters, "It sort of worries me... Why couldn't you guys just stay little and innocent for the rest of your lives?"

In Itachi's opinion, there was nothing wrong with how they looked, even though he believed their attire to be simple for a party at court. The design of their kimonos was like any common one, but what made these robes special enough for noblewomen was what they were made of. The material seemed of the best quality of silk. Kayo's, like most other girls', consisted of bright colors. More specifically, she wore fiery yellow, orange, and red. Her sister wore colors that one might think of when walking through freshly fallen snow with silvers and blues delicately embroidered into the white silk of her dress.

The attire of the men was just as simple. However, their colors were of much more reserved shades. For example, Aki wore a sunset red based attire, Haruo wore a sleek and beautiful black, Saturo wore leafy greans, Katsuo wore white and black, and Itachi wore dark blues with silvers.

"Saturo-kun, stop it," Kayo urged, "You're beginning to sound like Uncle Kaze!"

"Can you blame me?"

Kayo only smiled at her brother, then turned to Itachi, her smile lessening somewhat as she looked him up and down, "Uchiha-san... You look rather handsome tonight."

Oh, great. She had complimented him. Now he would have to return it... "And you look lovelier than usual, Kayo-dono," Itachi replied, trying to stomach the statement. Yes, she did look very nice tonight, but he still hated complimenting people unless he wanted to, which was not often. In this case, he felt more obliged to. The Hizuko... He couldn't afford to be even somewhat impartial to them if he was going to succeed in his mission.

Then in the background the music switched up, signaling a new step to begin along with it. "Uchiha-san..." Kayo said as she transfered from Katsuo's arm to his, "Dance with me!"

"What? Wait!" he tried saying, but it barely came out before the couple was in place.

At first, Itachi was truly, totally, and completely lost for about five seconds, but then he realized that the dance was much simpler than it looked. If he just glanced around and watched other people he could easily catch up on it.

It hardly took any time at all for him to learn the steps but he still couldn't seem to find much enjoyment in it. Now that he had acquired the hang of pretending to know the dance, it became second nature to go along with it. That's when his senses wandered off elsewhere, causing him to notice something... a sweet smell that stimulated his senses and for an instant reminded him of his childhood and the times that he had spent with Mizuki. Why? What was that smell?... and why was it making him think of such things?

Eventually though, he realized that the aroma was coming from Kayo. It was her perfume that was so sweet smelling! It was her perfume that reminded him of all of those years ago when he was... happy. Yes, that was it! The smell was somehow triggering happiness and therefore reminding him of Mizuki. But how? How was a simple scent able to give such dramatic effects? And why was it making him think of Mizuki?

Itachi only dismissed the thought and tried to forbear the dance further, finding no regret or disappointment when the music stopped. Nor was he too much hurt when another man tapped him on the shoulder and said, "If it is alright with the young miss, might I have the next dance with her?"

Itachi had no trouble of complying by simply saying, "Of course. If she wishes it then I will hand her over. Kayo-dono?"

The young princess smiled shyly and nodded. "I'd like that."

With that Itachi passed the princess on, then went to take his place with the dubious trio of Saturo, Aki, and Haruo. "Having fun yet?" Saturo smiled.

"Well-" Itachi was about to answer, but he felt another and a much more unexpected tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Katsuo and Mizuki standing there, Katsuo seeming a little put-out while Mizuki gave a small smile.

"Katsuo-sama has given me permission to accept your proposal to dance."

"But I..." Itachi began, only to then willingly leave the answer unfinished when he saw that Mizuki's smiling eyes portrayed to him that she wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. There was no winning with these girls. So, giving a sigh he looked over at Mizuki, offering his hand. "May I have this dance?"

"You may," she answered as she placed his hand in his, allowing him to lead her to the dance floor where they instantly set into motion.

'This is so strange... Why did she ask me, of all people, to dance?' Itachi wondered to himself as he gingerly handled Mizuki, 'She's... toying with me. First she acts so friendly my first few days. After what we went through I can hardly expect a Hizuko, especially Mizuki, to forgive so easily. It almost reminds me of... She couldn't be...?'

Yes! That was it! This was just like before! She was acting kind to him when she should be hating him! She was lowering his guard, just as she had two years ago. Well, if she thought that he would fall for that trick twice she had another thing coming! A slight smirk came onto his face as he mentally lifted the guise that Mizuki was wearing so that he could see her true intentions. "What are you smiling about?" Mizuki asked as they moved about the floor.

It was time to turn the tables. "Oh, nothing," he answered as they weaved, stepped, and turned. The only thing that he had to do was let her know that he was on to her... and then he would have to make sure that he earned her real trust back and soon.

"No... not 'nothing'," Mizuki insisted playfully, "Tell me."

"It's just that I noticed that you aren't wearing your comb with the carving of the Lunar Rose on it," he lied, "I think that it would have gone much better with your kimono."

Mizuki's eyes went wide at hearing mention of the comb. But just as she was about to respond, Saturo came and interrupted, "Hey, Uchiha-san. There's someone here who wants to meet you."

"Can't it wait?" Itachi growled.

"Yeah," Saturo shrugged, "But why keep him waiting? After all, I think you'll be interested in him. He was in your same position about a year ago. You know, earning his way into the clan... Come on. You should really come meet him."

Then he looked over to Mizuki who was ushering him with her eyes to go, so he had to assume that he had to go, otherwise she wouldn't be telling him to. So, Itachi obliged and left with Saturo, going to where the twins stood talking to the stranger with his back turned towards him. "Here he is!" Saturo announced, causing the group to look to the two approaching men.

It was in that moment when the stranger turned around that he ceased to be strange to Itachi. He recognized that face, though he couldn't quite recall why. The boy was maybe sixteen or seventeen, but it was obvious to even to Itachi's eye that he was not a natural Hizuko. Itachi had already noticed that natural clan members usually shared one similar quality: dark hair. This youth's hair was quite the opposite. His blond hair was almost stark white as it stuck up in spiked quills, his skin tanned, and his height and bulk betraying the fact that he, like Itachi, belonged on the battlefield rather than in the court. Also, unlike the majority of the clan, his eyes were a most friendly sky blue. "Uchiha-san... this is Kenji-kun."

"Uchiha-sama," this new acquaintance bowed, "I've been looking forward to meeting you. Considering my past status and your current one, I thought that I could be of some service to you and insisted on meeting you."

"Really?" Itachi questioned.

"Outside," the younger man suggested as he excused Itachi and himself and led the way out doors that went out to an empty deck.

"Care to explain?" Itachi questioned as he folded his arms in front of him.

"Do I have a choice?" Kenji sighed, "I'm with you."

"What?"

"Two years ago, after you'd returned from the Tsubasa Mission, you also returned with information about the Hizuko princess. You might remember that this greatly interested our leader."

Itachi did indeed remember. After giving a report and revealing his past with Mizuki, Pein had told him that he had 'big plans' in store for Itachi. "Go on..."

"It wasn't long after that I was sent to find this place," Kenji explained, "I was recruited as an Akatsuki spy and was charged to be a scout for you. I would come here, settle down, and wait for you so that I might be of service to you during your stay."

"In what way could you possibly help me?"

"Think of it this way, Uchiha-sama..." Kenji smiled, "Any information that you need, I have already gathered. I know everything about everything from the people that reside here to the tunnels of the mountain to the forest that surrounds it."

"Is that so?" Itachi questioned, his interest aroused.

"It is, sir. I can tell you anything that you want to know," Kenji assured with a crooked smile, "Is there anything that you wish to know?"

"Yes..." Itachi began, "How was it that you were able to come across such information to the point that you became so confident in your knowledge?"

For a moment Kenji paused, considering his answer. "When one lives here for long enough, you eventually become as knowledgeable as the natives themselves," he finally replied, "I'm sure that you have already learned plenty and will learn plenty more. I am simply here to make sure that the process is rushed."

Suddenly the sound of a cry, a clatter, and a thud coming from inside alerted the two men, causing them to rush to the door to investigate. By the short time it took them arrive at the door the attention of most the entire room was already focused to the source. Heads turned only to see Katsuo on the floor, holding his hurt cheek as he looked up at Saturo, who now limply shook his hand as if doing so would rid his knuckles of the pain that he had caused them by hitting the other man to the ground.