and the scarry skies above
when in ruins
People are flocking together to clear away the debris and when Itachi looks up from his work to stretch his aching back there they are, seated next to each other and sharing her water bottle between them with such a casual air his lips twist into an ugly sneer. Seconds later, he checks himself. He really should know better.
Dropping what he's doing and ignoring the surprised look someone shoots him, he walks over.
"… and when I came to, it was all so dark and stuffy so I boxed my way out and I realised I was in a tree. A tree, Sakura-chan! Full hermit mode! And my clothes were gone and the Kyubi, too, and it was all so confusing and I had no idea where I was… Turns out it was on a giant turtle! Can you believe it? I decided to come home, because where else would I go. And boy, am I glad I did! Even if Kurama got away. Man, it'll be a pain to bring him back, but we kind of have to, don't we?"
"Sensei," Itachi says, not caring that he's interrupting their conversation. They both look up at him, and despite the fact that her face is battered and scratched up and streaked with dirt his teacher's eyes are so full of genuine happiness that Itachi immediately feels ashamed of himself.
"Sensei?" the man asks with a lopsided grin. "Picked up a bunch of your own?" He eyes Itachi up and down.
Adds, "Looks an awful lot like the teme." Both their smiles dim, but Sakura nods. "Cousin, I think. Itachi?"
He jerks his head over his shoulder.
"You're needed."
She visibly hesitates. The man draws her in for a quick hug. "I'll still be here when you come back," he murmurs into her hair. She sniffles and clutches the back of his shirt like a lifeline.
"You'd better be."
She stands, dusts down her pants, pulls her hair into a ponytail. "See you later, Naruto."
Follows Itachi into the rubble.
A/N: Happy update Friday! Thank you guys soooo much for all the feedback on the last chapter! That was the highest number of reviews this chapter has ever gotten! And audience interaction always means you're doing something right.
outrageoussmile, yes! I like the shortest chapters best as well! Because I can break them down to the essential things which really matter, and make shifts in mood really jarring and surprising. I don't necessarily think the effect of that would be as great if I wrote more in those instances.
I loved all of your feedback! It always makes me so happy!
On another note, there won't be an update next week because I'll be stuck at the theatre all day, and the story between here and the next of my pre-written chapters needs to be a bit more fleshed out. And I'll have to write that first, sooo... But I already have so many ideas, so I hope it'll be worth the wait!
Tons of love you to lovely people out there!
planless