The trio traveled north along the seaside, keeping the high ground by staying in the trees. Their journey on foot would be short, as once they crossed the border into the Land of Hot Water, they would catch a ship to the Land of Lightning. There weren't many border stations in the direction they were headed, so it was highly unlikely to be spotted by anyone. Tora tugged on the hood of her black cloak to keep it from flying off as she kept pace with the two males in front of her.
"We'll stop here and leave at dawn to cross the border." Itachi spoke as he stopped on one of the tree branches. The sun was almost set as the sky ranged from pink to deep purple and blue. "There's no point in overexertion since we're ahead of schedule."
"Why don't you make a fire, kitty? Put your claws to use." Kisame smirked. "Finding food won't be difficult with the ocean right beside us."
"Then I expect a feast with all that talk." Tora retorted before dropping down to the forest floor to look for any dry bristles. As she gathered twigs, her mind continued to drift towards her impending meeting with her father. Her mother didn't tell her what her father was like, but she would make comments from time to time saying "like father, like daughter", so maybe they had similar personalities. Honestly, she didn't know whether that was a good thing or not.
Itachi appeared behind the female and picked up a stray branch off the ground. "You seem to have a lot on your mind."
The female let out a dry laugh as she turned to him. "What gives you that impression? I think we've gathered enough firewood to last the night, so let's go back."
Once Tora returned back to camp and lit the fire, she waited with Itachi for Kisame to come back with food. The only sound that could be heard was the crackling from the burning wood as the two sat patiently on the sand. Tora stared into the fire in thought before stretching her arms into the sky. Suddenly, she thought of something and reached into her pouch, producing two small bottles and handing them to Itachi.
"Almost forgot I brought you a present. More vitamins like last time and some medicine. You didn't look okay the last time I saw you, but these are pretty general antibiotics so do with them what you can."
"You didn't have to do this."
Itachi watched as the woman took his hand and firmly placed the bottles in his grasp. The touch of her skin felt oddly calming before she let go.
"We're friends, aren't we?" Tora tilted her head. "Don't think too much about it. I'm not expecting any favors for this."
Kisame returned moments later with a small bag of fresh catch. There was enough for everyone to have their fill and dinner was eaten while sharing mindless stories of past memories and tall tales. As the night droned on, the trio called it quits and Kisame took first watch. Tora laid in her sleeping bag and tried to close her eyes and collect whatever slumber she could, but her mind was racing. With a long sigh, she sat up and quietly slipped out of her bed, walking over to the shore so she could see the stars better.
"Missing home, kitty?"
Tora turned around to see Kisame walking towards her. The dark-skinned female scoffed at his comment and crossed her arms as she looked back into the sky. "Contrary to what you think, this isn't the first time I've left home."
The two stood side-by-side for a while and Tora tried to ignore the eerie feeling that she was being watched. It felt like something annoying was crawling on her skin and she glanced over, only to find that the tall male was actually eyeing her with no reservations.
"You got a problem or something?"
"I'm wondering what makes you so special to my partner."
Tora blinked out of sheer confusion. "Did you drink too much salt water when you went fishing earlier?"
"Don't try to change the subject, kitty." Kisame looked down at her, fully facing her now. "You two have a connection, one that he doesn't like to risk. I'm not one to involve myself in others' business, but-"
"I'll stop you right there. I'm not going to interfere in whatever you two have going on." She told him seriously. "I care about Itachi a lot and I'll always wish the best for him. If I can only do the little things to help him, then so be it."
"You'll do that even though he's an internationally wanted criminal and mass murderer?"
"To each is their own."
"You sound like an idiot."
"Once upon a time, I thought I was too." She rolled her eyes. "I'll take your shift since I'm not sleepy. Good night, Kisame."
•─────⋅ ⋅─────•
Halfway through the next day, Kisame, Itachi, and Tora reached the Land of Hot Water. Once they reached the port city, Tora was designated to secure the ship tickets as she was the most inconspicuous out of the three. The streets were bustling with tourists as everyone was concerned with the country's main attraction - the hot springs. Frankly, she was jealous of them as visiting hot springs had always been a favored pastime of hers.
"Sorry, Miss. Boat's gotta have some repairs. Won't be heading out til the morn at the earliest."
Tora prodded at the inside of her cheek with her tongue as she walked away from the captain of the ship with three tickets in her hands. Guess it couldn't be helped as that was the only ship in the docks anyway. A mischievous grin slunk its way across her face as she automatically thought of the hot springs calling her name. Stuffing the tickets in her pocket, she moved faster as she couldn't wait to relax.
As she passed a vacant alleyway, Tora was suddenly pulled to the side. Seeing it as an assaulter, she twisted her body around and shoved her assailant against the side of a building with their arm twisted behind them.
"Make one false move and the arm is gone."
"Glad to know your basic instincts haven't rotted out your brain."
Tora's eyes widened as she recognized that voice clear as day. Instantly stepping back, she let the person go. That moment, however, was brief as she reapproached them and punched their arm once they turned around.
"I could've seriously hurt you, Koji! Why didn't you just come to me like a normal person?"
"You and Hana are exactly the same - violent." Koji rubbed his arm with a small grimace. His hood fell off the top of his head so Tora could see him better. He had cut his hair, so it barely touched the tips of his ears. He didn't have much of a baby face anymore either and there was a small scar along the outside corner of his right eye, no doubt from a scuffle. Overall, he aged pretty well. "And I didn't because I'm trying to clean up your mess."
"What mess?"
"Tora, you're in violation of the sanction of your vacation. Basically, you're outside the area indicated on your scroll. If someone finds out, they could classify you as a missing-nin."
"So you're here to take me back?"
"It's taking every fiber of my being not to." Koji frowned as he stared at his former teammate. He knew exactly how she was and what she was capable of and he didn't feel like dealing with any of it. "Hana told me why you're out here when I came home so I came to find you. I know how long you've been waiting to do this, so I'm not going to drag you kicking and screaming."
With a grin, Tora enveloped Koji in a tight hug and rested her cheek against his shoulder. Although they didn't see eye to eye a lot and bickered like rowdy siblings, she was grateful to have someone like him close to her. Ever since he joined the ANBU, she saw him less and less, so that only made her miss him more. Koji returned the hug, then spoke once they let go of each other.
"Are you traveling by yourself? I'll come with you."
"You can't." Tora shook her head. "Just buy a ticket for the next ship and I'll meet you later."
Koji raised an eyebrow, taking in her words and processing them. In realization, he narrowed his eyes and reached for her arm. "Who are you with? I swear Tora, if you-"
"Trust me, alright?" She interjected as she pulled back. "I have to go, but I promise I'll see you later."
•─────⋅ ⋅─────•
"What were you and Hoshigaki-san talking about last night?" Itachi asked as he sat at the dining table of the small inn room they had gotten. The Uchiha had chosen a place to stay that was towards the outskirts of the port city. Tora didn't mind it since there was an attached hot spring nearby, one that Kisame decided to test out now as he had disappeared.
Tora had just come back from a short soak and towel dried her hair as she sat across from him. "Just this and that." She tried to seem nonchalant and look around the room so he would change the subject. Peeking out of the corner of her eye, she studied his features. Maybe the vitamins or medicine did something because he didn't look as pale as before, but he was still pretty thin.
"Itachi… If you don't mind me asking, are you ever going to tell him your story?" Tora asked, referring to Sasuke. For a moment, she was reminded of his brother, whom she'd left at the hospital. Hopefully, when she returns home, he will have recovered. "I just know from personal experience that withholding information from the ones who need it the most only complicates the situation further. It causes pain and misunderstanding."
"Thank you for looking after him. Our parents would be grateful to you as well." He didn't hesitate with his answer and he didn't answer her question either. It wasn't too surprising for her, however she couldn't lie and say she wasn't disappointed with the outcome.
"Do you miss them?"
"Do you always ask such intrusive questions, Tora?"
Itachi watched as the woman's mouth formed a cute little 'o' shape and she stopped fiddling with her hair. He'd meant it teasingly as he didn't like how melancholic the mood was getting, however it probably didn't come out that way judging by her reaction. He was, however, put to ease when she finally responded.
"You caught me. I'm not a 'beat around the bush' type of person." Tora let out an amused laugh. "You've always had a lot on your plate, even when we were kids, but you're so quiet and observant and seem like you have everything together. It makes people forget the simple things that make us humane, like just asking if you're okay."
Itachi stayed silent as the female continued to talk. Although he couldn't completely let his guard down, he felt a sense of relief in having her talk to him like this. Everyday he'd been pushing his thoughts aside to keep his eye on his goal, and it was exhausting. Of course, he couldn't completely ignore his thoughts as his repentance and resolution was going to be his reward in the end.
"I never realized it before because I've always had a person, well two, to check me - Hana and Koji." Tora smiled. "You had Izumi and Shisui-san, but just because they're gone now doesn't mean you don't have anyone. I'm not sure what kind of relationship you have with Kisame, but if you want, I can be your person."
There was no telling how much stress or pressure that he was under. On top of that and constantly being on the run… Tora didn't want to pity him, but what else could she do? There was nothing she could do to fix his problems.
"Every day."
"Hm?" Tora snapped out of her thoughts as she was taken aback by his sudden words.
"I was answering your question from earlier."
Getting up from the table, Itachi decided it was time for him to retire for the night. His partner was taking an awfully long time in the hot springs, however he sensed no spike in the male's chakra, nor did he feel anything out of the ordinary, so he put his thoughts to rest.
"Wait, Itachi."
The male turned around, only for two arms to wrap around his thin frame. Tora could feel the slight tension in his muscles as she held him in her embrace. She wanted to be the one that he could rely on, even if it would most likely just be emotionally. She was going to run with the slight opening he gave her earlier.
"I may not be Izumi, but the two of us felt the same way about you. I'll always wish and pray for your peace and resolve. I won't push you to let me in, but just know you can always trust in me."
Itachi listened to Tora speak softly as her head rested against his. There was no hint of sadness or joy in her voice; her words sounded more like an affirmation - a spoken testament of her will. It had been a while since he'd let anyone this close to him and for so long. Her words somewhat resonated in his mind. Could he really trust her to be his 'person'? Could he really let her take a peek inside his world?
As he felt the female prepare to move away from him, his hand instinctively laid on her head as his opposite arm wrapped around her waist. Her fragrance was silent, but calm, and he wanted that moment of zen to last as long as it could. He could never let her in mentally and physically, this was his limit, but perhaps she could take a piece of his emotions. Closing his eyes, he focused on her touch and relinquished his solitude.