A/N: Aha! I update sooner! All because of one little review…See where reviewing can get you? Well, truth be told, the review was what got me up off of my lazy butt to write this chapter. The fact that I have inspiration came from the fact that I only used half of Shoujo Queen (hah! I spelt it right this time!)'s ideas last chapter. But, as many authors have pointed out, reviewing helps me write. See, if I know that there are people out there who like my stories, then I'll be quicker about posting chapters simply because I want to please them. Even if it's a simple "Read it. Liked it. Post more." I'm happy. Okay, enough brainwashing. On with the story!
Disclaimer: I own Kakashi –shifty eyes- and that's it.
Chapter 4: ReunionsItachi sat, staring moodily into the flames. Foe the normally impassive shinobi, this was quite a stretch. So also, he reminded himself, was Kakashi's butt being saved from obliteration by him yet again. Stupid annoying scary lady who make surprisingly good soup. "The soup is good, Ayumi-san," he murmured, deciding not to use a higher term of respect because she had cost him his victory.
The woman nodded her head, and quietly told him that it was not the product of her culinary skills, but that annoying blonde excuse for a shinobi had created it. Annoying little boy. All he was good for was making Itachi look bad. He had to admit, though, the Shadow Shuriken jutsu was an effective technique, especially in the variation the two boys had concocted. If not for the woman, he might be actually injured! And Kakashi dead…if only she had come in a moment later, in time to save him but not the perverted ex-ANBU.
He held up his mug. "Perhaps, some more, Ayumi-san?" She quickly filled his mug with hot soup from the pot on the table. Eyeing him critically, she took the mug, and went to the kitchen. He was tempted to yell at her for taking his soup, but thought better of it at the last minute. Best not to let them know he hadn't eaten for days. They might decide to attack him while he was weakened.
Ayumi came back, and handed him a huge bowl filled with steaming delicious soup, and a mug containing warm milk. She had obviously seen the famished light that came into his eyes when she had brought the soup pot out from the kitchen. He murmured his thanks, then fell on the soup as if it was the last meal he'd ever have. Knowing the blonde boy, it probably would be.
Kakashi and Sasuke stared as Itachi made it halfway through the bowl of soup in less than five minutes. They were each sipping slowly from mugs, but Itachi was gulping his down like a maniac. Kakashi shook his head. The poor boy obviously hadn't eaten for a while. Even famished, though, he was a formidable foe. He watched as Itachi inquisitively tasted the milk, then saw the boy's eyes light up. He quickly gulped down the milk, licking his lips afterward. The telltale scent of the excellent bone-warming liquor produced by the Higurashi plantation wafted through the air.
Kakashi's nose twitched spasmodically, and he sighed at the delicious smell coming from Itachi's now-empty mug. Sasuke wrinkled his smelling apparatus, and whispered to his sensei, "What is that foul smell?" Kakashi blinked. Sasuke obviously didn't appreciate the deliciousness of this special substance. "Sasuke, what you smell is the special liquor that has been distilled by my family for generations." Sasuke blushed slightly. "I'm so sorry, Ayumi-sama. Forgive me."
She smiled at him. "Don't worry about it. I thought it disgusting as well when I was your age." He nodded, and gestured with his mug toward the pot. "Help yourself," she responded, and he carefully ladled out the soup into his mug.
Itachi looked up from his bowl, wiped his lips, and rose. He stalked over to the pot, where he ladled out another generous portion of soup, and returned to his seat, where he fell on the steaming substance once again. Kakashi's jaw nearly dropped off. Thank goodness for the mask – it hid his shock effectively. He stared down at his mug. He didn't want to accede the Uchiha's victory in anything, but it seemed as though he would never be able to out eat the teen. Oh well. Naruto probably could, and, what was more, would most likely decide to prove it. The door banged open.
Speak of the devil…
"We're back!" crowed a loud and obnoxious voice. There was a collective sigh from the males in the room, while Ayumi looked a cheery as ever, and went to get their sopping wet coats. Naruto walked into the room, and boldly announced, "I found her! I…" his eyes lit up and his voice trailed off as he spotted the steaming pot of soup. "SOUP!" He cried, and ran to the kitchen. He returned a moment later with a bowl the same size as Itachi's and a gigantic spoon. He proceeded to fill his bowl to the brim, and then carefully sat down on the floor in front of the fireplace to eat his prize.
Ayumi and Sakura walked into the room, talking under their breaths. Ayumi must have said something amusing, for Sakura let out a peal of laughter. Itachi looked up, and his head swivelled to the doorway where the kunoichi's stood. Sasuke and Kakashi also looked to the women. Ayumi looked no different, but Sakura…she was as clean as usual, except for a long cut on her leg and a smudge of dirt on her cheeks. She also looked way more tired than Kakashi had ever seen her. Ayumi sat her down on a padded chair and gave her some soup.
Sakura ate hungrily, yawning all the while. The boys didn't notice that Itachi was moving until he knelt at Sakura's feet. He pushed up his sleeves and grasped her leg. The male members of Team 7 were on their feet in an instant. How DARE he touch Sakura that way? Ayumi glared at them, and they quickly sat down again. "Look closely, boys, before you attack," she said calmly. They followed her advice, and saw Sakura's cut being bathed with water that flowed from Itachi's hand over the wound and into his other hand, which was cupped to catch the liquid.
He then put his left hand over the wound, and began making seal with the right. The skin beneath his palm glowed for a brief moment, and Sakura flinched. Itachi removed his hands and sat back on his heels. "Better?" he queried, almost smiling. Sakura blinked. "Ummm…yes. Thank you." He brushed away her thanks with a flick of his wrist and stood. He walked past his seat and put another two logs on the fire.
Sasuke stared. Kakashi stared. Sakura stared. Ayumi stared. Naruto looked at his bowl and cursed under his breath.
Itachi, oblivious to the many pairs of eyes fastened on him, went back to sit at Sakura's feet. He propped his knees up to his chin and wrapped his arms around them, staring into the mirror that reflected Sakura's face. Sasuke looked at Kakashi. "Is my brother crushing on Sakura?" he whispered. Kakashi shook his head in bewilderment. "It doesn't seem possible…"
Ayumi glowered at them. "I think that it's time we were all in bed. You have all exerted yourselves quite a bit today – you need rest, and plenty of it. Now," she continued as she rose, "I'll show you where you can spend the night."
She led them up the stairs, and opened the second door she came to. "Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun, there are two beds in this room. You two will share it. Goodnight!" She kissed them both on the top of their heads, ignoring Naruto's protest and Sasuke's glare, and pushed them into the bedroom.
Walking along the corridor, she stopped at another door. "Kakashi-san, please take this room. I believe you know where everything is?" He nodded. "Yes, I've stayed here before. Good of you to remember which room I was in." She smiled and pushed him into the room. "Get some sleep, this time!" she added as he closed the door.
The fifth door opened into yet another room, this one for Sakura. Ayumi hugged her, and smiled, "Goodnight, Sakura-chan. Sleep well!" The young kunoichi nodded and yawned, stepping into the room. Ayumi gestured to the door across the hall. "I'll be here, if you need anything." Sakura nodded again, and closed her door.
"Now, Itachi-kun, your room is here," she continued, walking to a door a little further down the corridor. He bowed. "Many thanks, Ayumi-sama, for your hospitality." She cut him off. "No need for thanks, Itachi-kun. I simply do as my family has always done. Now, to bed and to sleep!" With that, she pushed him into the room, closed the door, and walked back down the hall to her own quarters.
Later that night, Naruto woke from a deep sleep desperately needing to go to the bathroom. He swung out of bed and quietly padded to the door. Opening it, he turned back to see is Sasuke was awake. He didn't even notice said genin quickly close his eyes, and stepped out into the hall. "Now," he muttered to himself, "which way's the bathroom…" He tiptoed past Kakashi's room, past Sakura's room…and stopped. Spinning around, he looked closely at the figure sitting on the floor near Sakura's door. Two red eyes shone through the darkness. Itachi was sitting by Sakura's door. Itachi was awake near Sakura's door. Itachi was watching to make sure Sakura was safe. No, couldn't be!
Naruto raced back to his room, forgetting his urgent need, and jumped on Sasuke, shaking him. "Sasuke, Sasuke! Wake up!" The raven-haired boy grunted, and pushed his teammate off of him. "I'm awake, dobe. What is it now?"
"Itachi is sitting by Sakura's door! What should we do?" The Uchiha boy shrugged. "Well, he can't hurt her – it's forbidden here. If anything, he doesn't trust Ayumi-sama to protect her and is doing it himself. Whoa!" he exclaimed, realizing the meaning of his last statement. "Itachi? Protecting someone?"
"Exactly!" Naruto exclaimed. "What are we going to do about it?"
Sasuke rolled over. "We'll talk to Kakashi-sensei in the morning. Get some sleep, Naruto."
The blonde huffed, but he swung himself back into bed, and was soon snoring away. Sasuke, however, remained awake for nearly an hour, puzzling over his brother's strange behaviour.
On the other side of the wall, Kakashi had heard the whole exchange, and was deeply puzzled. Not as puzzled as by his hostess, however. He knew he had seen her before, for he recognized her somewhat, and her chakra was definitely familiar. He brought to his mind the feeling of the chakra of every person he had ever been close enough too to recognize their unique chakra.
It brought back something disturbing.
"But she was dead!" he whispered to himself. "I was told she was dead!"
A/N: So, instant recap: Itachi seems to have a crush on Sakura, Kakashi once knew Ayumi, Naruto's probably going to wet his bed, and Sasuke is confused. W00t! –coughs- Anyways, tell me what you think of this chapter, it's probably not entirely character accurate because 1) I haven't seen Naruto in almost a week, 2) I have actually only seen Itachi in fan fictions, and 3) Most of these events will probably never happen so it's not exactly believable. Oh well. Let me know what you think! It really helps me write!