Chapter Three

In the Good Old Summertime

"I only just saw her again today, and you invite her without my saying!"

"Can it, friend," Kisame replied as he plopped down on the sofa with his smartphone in hand. "She said yes, didn't she?"

"That's not the damned point!" Itachi said angrily, despite agreeing. "You know I'm still -"

The other man held up his hand, "talk to the hand" as part of the game now. "Oh, yeah, I know. That's why you could use someone else if not us. Just give the girl a second chance. You've known her almost all your life; I've seen how comfortable you are with each other."

I don't see how it could go anywhere at my father's beach house. It might pull the trigger I'm trying so hard to avoid. I can't afford a second shattering of my heart...and I don't want her hurt, either.

Kisame informed him the takeout was on the way here since tonight called for some pigging out between guy friends. Itachi had to laugh; how could he refuse that?

~o~

"Going to spend two weeks with Itachi Uchiha and his friends at his father's property in the south beach," Kazue stated halfway during their dinner that evening. She was still in the soft gray tweed jacket and skirt, ruffled white blouse and subtle but sparkling gold jewelry - infinity earrings alternating between smooth metal and sparkling, an opened heart pendant with the glittering symbol of an EKG monitor, and stackable rings on her right middle finger, which was devoid of lines and wrinkles but gaunt all the same - after changing from her nurse's uniform before the sun started setting. Even though she was approaching seventy, Kazue Kobayashi refused to retire from being a nurse, since she was still healthy as a horse. One of the best nurses Konoha General has.

Her late mother's aunt was an Uchiha by blood, a distant relative on Madara's mother's side, thus making Izumi and Hazuki distant enough that the daughter would be free to fall in love with Itachi without consequences.

Just look at their home living: rattan coffee table, end tables on either side of the black leather sofa and reclining loveseat, and the floor lamp next to the door. Aside from the black metal and natural elements, the fabrics behind were shaded just like the ocean and lit up only when night fell. Atop each table on both ends was a lamp with the shade and base composed of dripping glass crystals so that in-your-face bedazzle harmonized with nature. Right behind the sofa and on the wall was a three-part canvas masterfully painted with a chandelier that looked so real, was faceted with golden jewels, bearing a switch on one side to turn it on during the night, off during the daytime.

"Yeah, Auntie, but I don't think anything inappropriate will happen. I've known those boys for a long time," Izumi assured her, bringing the miso over to the low, traditional table in the middle of the warm and inviting kitchen - ceramic canisters of colorful butterflies and gardens, embossed burgundy cabinets and linens of grapes and fruits - to join it with the rice, grilled fish from the supermarket, and of course the vegetable-filled dumplings.

"And this happens to be while that boy is getting over a certain heartbreak of his own. Oh, old Madara has told me everything." Here the woman was fingering the wedding ring she still wore after her husband's death years ago - and I note this twice in a single week - which was a clustered statement with a gold-finished division between round and heart-shaped diamonds on both sides. "What people call true love is full of happiness, the sweetest dreams and gentlest mementos that overshadow the worst of times"...that's what you told me a long time ago.

"But -" The elder woman's eyes narrowed a notch. "- I hope you know what you're getting into. It's not gonna be as simple as you think it might be."

"I know that. I don't intend to outright say or do anything."

"Good, because I see it blowing up in everyone's faces. But on the other hand, I see my girl working it with him, because that's what she does. Just like her mom and I taught her. Madara agrees with me." And words could not describe how that meant the world to Izumi.

Means two weeks to look forward to with him and the boys. Be like old times, yet different.

~o~

He'd been thinking about this ever since seeing Izumi again that day, and it was hard to believe a week had gone by. Here he was with Kisame and them packing up before taking everything to their car in the lot.

It seemed that all he could ever think about besides the trip was her, and everything about her - to the point he sometimes forgot to do something or made a slight mistake here and there. This caused Kisame to snigger and tease him about it when they left the bar together, Konan closing up after them and threatening to castrate Itachi if he didn't "take your head out of the clouds". But those kinds of clouds were ones he knew all too well, therefore bringing up the major question he once thought he had the answer to.

"Kisame - you truly believe the second chance could result in the 'perfect mate'?"

The man guffawed behind the wheel as he got them going down the roads of Konoha, the journey ahead of them being at least the entire afternoon. "Seriously, back to that, are we?"

The Uchiha exhaled and leaned back in his seat in annoyance. "Really, how do you know? Sometimes, it's at first sight, which you know did NOT work out for me. But then again, if there's this thing called invisible electricity that sparks when you first meet them or just takes a while to grow -" Like I know I felt when I saw Izumi again. "- then would you be that sure? You know they're the one, or do you only think?"

"Just like you did right there," the shark-like man pointed out. "With the pink-haired slut."

Itachi grimaced at the curse but continued. "So, is everything by chance or meant to be?"

"Look, I'm glad to be your friend and there when you need it, Itachi, but you shouldn't think like that. I say you let your heart naturally go and see where it takes you since I've seen it happen before. Takes the first bad experience, more than one for others, but that's how life works. Broken hearts help you learn and not repeat old mistakes, even makes you stronger. You're a hell of a survivor, Itachi Uchiha. You can do this, and if my bets are right, a second one is the one."

He was telling him that even though he himself never had a solid woman for the rest of his life, he had enough experience to know these things. Good old Kisame. This made Itachi smile and look ahead as the forest and outskirts came into view. He felt the weight lift and decided he would give the next two weeks his all.

His gut told him that he knew Izumi better than he knew Sakura, even if it'd been a long time since they were together in any way.

In no time did they arrive at Fugaku Uchiha's oceanic property.

Here was the majestic temple-like structure: white trimmed with sandy brown, glass windows dominating one side from the first level up to the second, and the house elevated by dark honeyed panels, the staircase spiraled and going from the ground to the entrance, and back again. Surrounded by trees and on a cliff overlooking the sea. It was a getaway from the outside world, sometimes being a cold place because of their father being caring yet aloof, but he and Sasuke had great times here. Now he and his friends were gonna enjoy themselves as grown men and women.

And waiting for them were none other than Sasori and Deidara. Konan couldn't make it because someone had to look after the bar while her "fools" were off making bigger fools of themselves, and made them swear to it with a malevolent smile of her own to tell her everything they did - and NOT leave out a single detail.

However, the boys wondered if she'd be okay even when a certain someone would pop by and try to threaten her and the establishment again. But it wasn't like the blue-haired woman couldn't look out for herself and had her guns at hand.

He's known to bother small new businesses still in their infancy, daring them to come to an end before they take off. I wonder if Izumi and Rika...

Deidara and Sasori were ecstatic to be back here again, even going on about the grand fountain and adjoined swimming pool in the back of the estate, which they could not wait to get into. Thinking about that made him once again dwell on a certain someone named after it.

And speaking of which...

"Ladies, welcome to paradise before your eyes - the location of eternal youth," Sasori told them both with a glint in his gray-brown eyes. "So much we did back in the day that I don't even know where we should start. What do you say, lord of the house?" He turned his attention on Itachi, who was too distracted by the majestic sweetness before his eyes:

Covered all over in butterflies of royal purple and pink, from soft shoulders down to tender ankles. Chocolate hair free to fly everywhere it wants.

"Ahem? Earth to Itachi?"

A hand waved before his eyes, making him blink and look up again. Izumi had done the deed, her friend smirking and snickering right behind her. Stupid him! "Oh, I'm sorry," he said with a laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "What did you say?"

The glint in Izumi's eyes told him he may or may not like it - "I said we are going skiing on the water."

~o~

Fugaku Uchiha used to do the deed himself, and so did his uncle Madara in his prime, along with the late Izuna - brother of the latter and father of the former. Kazue made herself one of the "guys" even though she had different private parts, which used to make young Izumi laugh so hard she'd cry. At the time, it embarrassed her to no end.

Here she was in the position.

She and Rika both came as they were - in their bathing suits beneath the light beachwear - but Itachi would have to be surprised himself after the bold choice of her own to take the ski boat onto the bay. Her friend wasted no time taking off her beaded coral gauze kimono-like covering and the crocheted white skirt with similar sparkles, revealing the twist-front bikini top and bottom which matched the shawl in color.

There Deidara and Sasori went with going right for the pool in the back - where there be "eternal paradise" as the pair hooted together for a second time, wasting no time in yanking off their clothes to be in their swimming trunks. They dove right on in, without care for sunscreen until Rika screeched at them to get their asses back out to protect themselves.

Oh, she noticed the way Kisame leered at her pal, for she swatted his hard, muscled shoulder. "I hope you're not gonna disregard -"

He guffawed, interrupting her on the spot. "No sweat, princess. I won't risk my balls becoming bluer than they already are, and by you, no less." And by blue balls, he didn't refer to a withheld peak. And given she didn't have a strong punch of her own, she would find something to hold in hand.

But first, before they could do anything and head out there, she and the boys decided to do the job of bringing everyone's bags to their rooms, since Rika and the other two were too busy with the oasis of marbled gray stone layered with pale gold wood for the staircase to walk up and down and back again; the fountain itself was to everyone's east - east for Izumi and the guys not participating - the water falling like a natural source. Colorful hibiscus was planted to dominate that entire wall.

And behold, modern chic and Japanese tradition in one before the three sets of eyes. The Escher-like stairs were rich mahogany wood, like the floorboards and wall panels, even the beams supporting the roof and levels where the bedrooms were. Smoothed out natural stone-dominated portions, Persian carpets interrupting the woodwork beneath their feet. Beyond the stairs and into the area beneath the second-floor balcony, you could see not only the glass view of the pool and its activity, but the living area there was composed of soft red walls, bamboo-like sections beneath them, and some plants of the name in lacquered vases. The furniture was mostly sandy suede; before them was a flat screen with a large painted fan as the wall decoration. This is so lavish - but warm and welcoming. I feel safe here.

After one hell of a trip up those zig-zagged stairs, with everyone's luggage aside from their own, it was the first stop to what would be Sasori and Deidara's room, which had the double-door painted on the inside of the room with pine trees, like Noh theatre backdrops, and the closet had the same design. The standing lamps were made of shoji paper, rattan, and dark metal put together. The window curtains were solidly red, the clean white, ruby-pillowed bed on elevated brown wood which paneled much of the beach-hued room, and left the portrait of gold with swallows and pink blossoms at the head of the bed itself; beneath were a few empty shelves. What was interesting was the bathtub being in the same area, and don't get Izumi started on those images she'd rather not have in her head.

Cut right to where Kisame would stay, and boy, was this enough to make an onsen inn envious! The sectioned windows which dominated top to bottom were covered by semi-sheer curtains, the walls themselves taupe and ivory, other parts painted with bamboo like the ones by the windows. Pillars between them and the bed were composed of limestone in different hues. It was just like being in a real ryokan! At the head of the bed was a dark torii shape. A small part of Izumi thought, for Rika internally, that she should have this room with the shark-like man, but on second thought, she refused to have this be temporary on her part. Rika deserves better than that, but she's also tough and can handle anything.

Which brought them both to the room they would have shared had the man of the house himself hadn't decided to take this instead because of how small it was - compared to the master bedroom which had once been his grandparents' place, then eventually his parents. She'd never been in this room before, because it wasn't polite to be in the elders' room with or without permission, granted how stiff things were especially with Fugaku Uchiha in that direction. However...that was changing. She looked upon this masterful space like a schoolgirl all over again. First at the opened balcony which had the glass doors opened on either side until night fell, showing the view of the cliff and the ocean as well as the greenery in the all-around stoned planting, and then the floor split between granite stone and polished dark red floorboards, ending with the flatscreen against the wall beside the balcony...and ultimately that four-poster bed with white gossamer tied in place, covered by sweet sky blue delicately embroidered with leaves and waves like water. Izumi wasted no time jumping onto the bed despite herself, which caused Itachi himself to chuckle as he liked what he was seeing. His reaction was enough to make her do the same.

And to her pleasant surprise, he decided to join her, flopping down beside her. It was just like the old days, but different, if it wasn't said enough.

"Lovebirds already, eh?"

Shit, it seemed they both forgot Kisame was still there. "Not what it looks like," Itachi said through his teeth, "and you know it."

The other man sniggered. "You two should have just told me to leave before you hopped on that bed. I'll see you both down at the dock."

"...I know what he's gonna want to see," Itachi muttered as he sat up first. "You remember that all too well, right?"

Who can forget the time when you had your first go by the time you were old enough - and your father, great-uncle, and brother were behind the speed raise as well as caused you to lose your balance and let go.

~o~

How would he ever forget the first time he water skied when he had just turned fifteen, and just after Hazuki Miyazaki, Izumi's mother, passed away?

He couldn't help himself when the images played out in his mind in the line of events that took place when he, Kisame, and the lady herself wasted no time going out to the dock below the cliff. The winds were soft and salty with the aroma of the sea, the waves gentle at the moment since noon had passed, and they were interrupted by the roaring motorboat with the girl on the skis and holding the rope in both hands.

There had once been a bigger boat before it was destroyed in an accident, resulting in this smaller one for three to four people. Grandfather did that on purpose when he insisted on the speed, just to make himself and his brother laugh.

Who's idea was it to go faster and make her lose control, let go of the rope, and fall into the water while in that fluttery dress? Kisame, of course, ever the carefree joker, and Itachi wanted to laugh just for the hell of it. He was in the opposite seat of last time, and he was having a good one because of the girl he'd known since youth.

Someone who didn't care about stiffness but respected all the same, who jumped onto that bed out of giddy excitement and prompted him to do the same, both forgetting about Kisame for the moment.

"Oh, funny!" she spat when she got back onto the boat. But she was laughing all the same. And then she did the one thing she gave no warning about when the boat began to take a relaxing row across the area.

She tugged off her dress, pulling it over her head and exposing a simple black one-piece that looked like a mini sarong. "You both threw me off my balance, so you owe me especially, Itachi. Kisame, you take the boat back." She winked at him, tossing her hair over her shoulders and then turning her back to them both with her hands on her hips. The sight made Kisame leer and return his attention to the wheel. Itachi, however, was entranced against his will, but it was pleasant to look at. It began as simple curiosity and admiring, but it also caused the warmth to seep to his cheeks and narrowly make way to his stomach, making it clench in the middle.

He always paid more attention to Izumi's face, her personality, and her actions rather than the rest of her - like now. Now he looked at tight but sleek outlines of the hips and chest, and the rear end proudly jutted without shame. No telling if she did this on purpose or if this was simply how it was.

Oh, she wants a race, she's getting it.

He jumped up from his seat then and there, adrenaline pumping in his veins. He yanked off his sandals and his khakis to leave himself in just his white t-shirt and navy trunks, making an expert dive head-on into the water at the same time she did.

Damn, it was exhilarating - the cold water touched with warm heat from the sun beating overhead, but it was exciting because of the female taking the lead before him, paddling and pulling herself forward with her arms taking turns just like him...

...and reaching the shore just before he could. He used to beat a lot of classmates in swimming courses during high school, for God's sake!

He and Kisame had their fun knocking her out of place, now she paid him back. It was a draw, but no hard feelings.

Sand got in between Itachi's toes when he touched dry land, but the burn was mild compared to the exhaustion in his body he never knew was there. He'd done so many things in his life that he sometimes forgot his limits. It was a miracle he was still standing when she was.

"You continue to amaze me," was all he could get out. She smirked at him, eyes twinkling, and she walked off just like that, hips still swinging and making him scoff while smiling.

It's gonna be a long, interesting two weeks.

Great-aunt Kazue is surnamed after Masaki Kobayashi, director of "Kwaidan" (1964 or 1965, for some reason), which is a great masterpiece and one of my favorite Japanese movies of all time. :3

Escher - maybe anyone's heard of the artist M.C. Escher? He was well-known for masterpieces involving staircases and mathematics but sadly was neglected in the world of art - even in his native Netherlands.

The dialogue between Kisame and Itachi about finding true love comes from "Ever After: A Cinderella Story" - one of the greatest incarnations ever and starring Drew Barrymore as the titular character. The scene with the prince (Dougray Scott) and Leonardo Da Vinci by the lake, testing the latter's invention...

The water skiing scene comes from "Donovan's Reef", and was so fun to do. XD

REVIEW! LOTS O DETAIL. :3