Chapter 56
Minutes turned into hours and hours turned into days. Days turned into a week. No one had seen the newest member roam the halls or join in for meals. Every day Itachi would rejoin her in her room and yet she had not moved a muscle. Itachi had begun wondering if he should rouse her from her meditation but he remembered the determination that layered her gaze right before she had begun. A week turned into two as two turned into three. Itachi continued to visit her to see if there was any change. her size hadn't even budged. No weight had been lost, no physical sign of dehydration. Nothing it was as if she had only just gone under a minute ago rather than how long she had actually been.
"No change?" The usually aloof leader of the Akatsuki stood in Kira's doorway looking past Itachi to the female on the bed. "None." Itachi answers him though he was confused as to the leader's interest in her. He was usually the one to remain in his room if only to be seen when Konan cooks. It was then the scorching heat suddenly vanishes drawing Itachi's gaze away from Pein only for his eyes to widen at what was beside him.
No longer the child they had been beginning to know there sat a girl near the same age as Itachi. Whose bikini top was now far too small for her size and the shorts were far too short. Her long black hair if down would fall well beyond her rear. She was beautiful. "Impossible, she was telling the truth." Pein mutters just under his breath. Itachi absentmindedly nods as he stares at the woman next to him. Neither of them could believe what they were seeing. As if their eyes were playing tricks on them.
Kira had made it into the room finally after countless trials and errors. She had continued to fail so many times she even began to wonder if it were actually possible. However, the door opened after she had finally coated it with her own energy. Much like she does when she uses her shield. It was her last idea and she was tired. So very tired. She had no idea how long she had been within herself this time but the constant use of her energy attempting to open the door was wearing her down. When she tightened her energy around the door as tightly as she could everything had begun to hum and sound like electricity was statically charging the empty space around her.
It was only when she managed to tighten her energy so finely it threatened to give her a headache that the door seemed to suddenly unlock and slowly open again. She was so drained that after she stepped into the familiar room she had nearly collapsed to her knees. The once forest green wallpaper striped with a lighter green was shimmering as if they themselves were alive. The shaggy green carpet beneath her feet felt more like a pillow than an actual carpet. The room itself was surreal showing that even though it had been locked away from her, that as she was growing stronger the room itself was changing. The plaques lining the walls now had more images showing upon them compared to how many remained empty. Images of herself. As if etched from the different events that had occurred and helped her grow. One such plaque looked like an artist had chiseled a scene with large trees. A disheveled Orochimaru standing before an etching of her with Sasuke and Sakura kneeling on a tree behind her.
She looks away from the plaques and back towards the old book resting upon its pedestal. Curious as to if it had changed as well she moves forward to open it. To skim through the pages, she had already read many times before. Itachi continued to sit at the edge of her bed only now more facing her than he had been before. Practically matching her own look as he continues to try and figure the woman out. Why had she been there that night to help save his parents? Why has she watched over Sasuke since then? Why did she join the Akatsuki so easily? What does she know that he himself doesn't? What is she to his little brother?
Several days passed since she had broken her curse and she was still under. Itachi had begun to wonder again if he should attempt bringing her out of it since she had accomplished what she had wanted to do. Yet, there he sat, curiously watching her. As if there was something about her pulling him to stay by her side. Kisame had come and gone under the guise of informing him that they will be the ones to begin training her. He even half-heartedly complained about it as he usually would not knowing what they could teach her. Itachi could tell that his partner had actually entered her room to check on her himself but had not wished to openly show his own growing attachment for this woman.
*
Opening my eyes with a sigh my head was still reeling with the new information I had discovered. I found myself once again wondering if any of it was possible and curious as to if I had understood it correctly. My body was dead weight. I couldn't feel my extremities as I try to will myself to move. It was almost like when I had meditated in the Death Note world and had to have Light help me stand. Only it was much worse. I couldn't get my legs to move or even maneuver my body out of position. My door slowly opens drawing my gaze to it causing the man who had been entering to pause. His dark onyx eyes only momentarily showing his relief before he could mask his emotions again. "You're back." He utters as if I had gone somewhere, though I could understand what he had really meant.
I was closed off from the world. I had left my physical form behind in order to delve into myself. So, in a sense, I had gone somewhere and judging by the signs of fatigue on the Uchiha's already stress-ridden expression. He has not been sleeping well. Opening my mouth to speak I find no sound follows causing me to clamp my mouth shut again and furrow my brows. "You were meditating for almost a month." He mentions as he sets next to me on the edge of my bed. The same place he had been the last time I had seen him. Almost a month straight? Nothing to drink in such an amount of time would explain why my mouth feels so dry and my voice is not currently working. It also explains why I cannot move.
Even with all of this and my complete frailty at the moment in front of a known murderer. I find I'm not afraid. I know this man more than he could ever think was possible. I know, he would not hurt me. He is a kind and loving soul that was forced to make an impossible decision and has been left in torment since. As I just continue watching him I notice his eyes glancing in my direction several times before he stands and leaves the room. I couldn't help but inwardly argue with his actions but was at a loss because I can't do anything about it. I'm literally stuck.
The silence began to gnaw at me as the time felt like it was slowly ticking past. It felt like days if not hours before my door opens once again. Showing it was Itachi again with something folded in his arms and a glass of water in his hand. I would have tilted my head at his actions until he neatly sets the clothing in front of me before he situates himself on my bed. So, he was able to lean forward with the glass held out to me. Bringing it to my lips. Water makes me puke. I thought before I forcefully open my mouth and allow only a small sip to pass by my lips.
The tasteless liquid lingers on my tongue a moment before I could even get myself to swallow it. That small amount of water did little to no good compared to the dryness of my mouth and I could already feel my stomach turning in protest but I managed to take a normal-sized drink of the offered substance. I close my eyes if only to try and force my stomach to not lurch from the liquid and the glass leaves my lips. "You should drink more." Itachi's voice flows around me gently. Worry lacing his words. "Water doesn't agree with my chemical makeup." I force myself to say as my voice cracks painfully. Though I was thankful what I had forced myself to drink had been enough to allow myself to say that much. "What do you mean?" He questions and I look at him.
"My pouch at my hip. The red scroll inside. p.p." I tried to finish but my voice failed me. The momentary relief the water had given me left as if I had not drank anything at all. Only my stomach would argue with that thought. He moves to set the glass down on my desk before I could feel him leaning over me. Close enough his scent filled my senses. The scent of musk and pine almost had me closing my eyes. Whatever body wash he uses, I was thankful for, as I could feel him rifling through my ninja pouch. Hopefully retrieving what I had asked him to.
As he sets back in front of me he opens the scroll. His brow furrows more as he realizes what it was. His hands moved momentarily over one set of markings just before a puff of smoke appeared. I have no idea how he will react to this but, I have no other choice. I watch him openly frown as the smoke dissipates leaving him turning the blood pack around in his fingers. Thoughts rushing past his gaze I could only guess to be wonderment. Why a blood pack? Was all but screaming off of him. He then holds it up to me much as he had done with the glass. I found myself closing my eyes so I did not have to see his reaction as I open my mouth giving him a full view of my fangs. Biting into the thick tasteless plastic almost had sounds of euphoria escaping from me as the chilled preservative flows down my throat. Easing the pain and causing my body to hum with each swallow.
I nearly pout when the blood flow ceases and leaves me trying to drink nothing but air. Opening my mouth, I remove my fangs from the plastic and lick my lips clean. "Thank you." My voice flows strong and unhindered. As if I had not just been rendered unable to speak. Opening my eyes, I see him staring at me. His eyes widening as his gaze meets mine. His expression confuses me however, in the onyx depths there was no sign of disgust or hatred, just confusion and... curiosity? I wanted to look away from his gaze but I couldn't seem to break eye contact. There were so many emotions whirling in his eyes for once unhindered by his usual stoic mask. The pain buried within had me wanting to hug him or try to help him. "I can't move." I finally manage to say causing him to look away. Relief the contact had been broken was quickly replaced with confusion from my own thoughts and emotions.
I felt him grip ahold of my arm and pull me up off the bed. When pressure meets my feet to show they were on the floor Itachi releases my arm and holds me in place in front of him with his hands on my hips. Just being in this position caused my body to begin to wake up as at first, it felt weird. As if the blood flow was finally being restored just before the pins and needles began to prick against my flesh. First, I try to move my fingers causing my arms to feel as if something was brushing against them while each and every movement demanded my full attention, otherwise, they stopped obeying.
Raising my arms slowly I found my fingers grasping onto the front of his cloak as I look down towards my feet. First forcing my right foot up off the ground and stepping back onto it. Only moving onto my next foot when I was certain my right leg wasn't going to give out under my weight. Itachi's chuckle vibrates through his chest as he watches me. Finding this whole scenario funny I guess as I continue to try and wake my body back up. "It's not funny." I puff out my cheeks as I attempt taking a step back from him. Only to have his arms around me when my body attempts to buckle from my movement. Catching me before I could hit the ground. "It is." He mutters before grabbing the clothes he had brought me and helping me to my bathroom.
"I brought you some old clothes. They will most likely be too big but they are better than what you are wearing." He informs me causing me to look down as we slowly walk. It was only then I could tell my shorts were cutting into both my legs and my hips, even riding unpleasantly where they should not be riding. My top had me blushing as the small fabric was barely covering what was necessary, and I could swear that if I make one wrong move it would not be covering even that much. My steps pause causing him to stop too as he looks down at me.
My eyes widening with the realization prevented the question he began to utter just before I squealed and tried to move around if only to get a better look at myself. My. My. My body. My wonderful body! Settling for bouncing from one foot to the other when Itachi nearly lost his hold on me I couldn't help the grin etching my features. "Hey, Hey now. Stop that, if you don't want me to drop you." Itachi calls out causing me to laugh and look up at him. "Sorry!" I still my movements yet I couldn't help but giggle happily. I did it! I did it! Itachi begins to laugh along with me. Something I'm pretty certain he hasn't done in a long time. "I did it!" I call out before trying to run the last few steps to the bathroom forcing him to release me.
Catching onto the bathroom door sill I lean forward against it and look back at Itachi. My eyes widening as I see his own smile. His eyes upon me had my cheeks heating up and me fighting not to turn away from him. Holding my hand out I giggle again when he seemed confused for a brief moment as to what I want. "Oh right." He mutters as he hands me the clothes. If I wasn't mistaken I saw red tinting against his own cheeks before he turns around and walks back to my bed. Slipping into the bathroom I manage to shut the door as I hold onto the vanity just inside for support.
I couldn't help but look into the mirror at my own self. The excitement of not seeing a child looking back at me had me laughing again as I touch my face. Almost as if I was trying to make sure I wasn't just seeing things. Setting the clothes on the vanity I begin making my way to the shower at the end of the bathroom. My mind buzzing with the joy of breaking the curse even though I knew that about a month or so over four years I would have looked this way anyway. Being back to the way I used to be now rather than later was enough to make me feel like I was actually getting stronger for the first time since the chunin exams.
My body having completely woken up sometime during my shower I set down on my bed feeling refreshed. Even though Itachi's pants and shirt really were too big. I had to even tie the side of his pants into a knot just so they weren't trying to fall off me. As for his shirt, I tied just beneath my breasts if only to feel less confined. "Thank you, Itachi. I mean it. You were a huge help today. If it weren't for you... I'd still be stuck on my bed unable to even call out for help." I give him a smile as he looks at me. Clearly unused to someone thanking him instead of trying to forget that it had ever happened. "You're welcome." He responds causing me to laugh again. "Sorry sorry, I just recalled we've never been formally introduced have we? I'm Kira Lake."
"I know the Konoha Jonin said your name a few times." He points out causing my cheeks to heat up. He's right, I completely forgot about that. "True." I answer him as I puff out my cheeks trying to regain control of the heat within them. Itachi chuckles watching me even as I look away from him. "Sorry, you sat here with me this entire time to inquire about Sasuke and I selfishly made you wait." I point out if only to keep my mind from coming up with crazy explanations.
I must have been spot on with that comment. His chuckles were silenced as we both seemed to sober from our previous moods. "I promised your parents after I got them out that I would watch over him. But he withdrew and became angrier. More focused on revenge. He wasn't talking much to anyone and it had become apparent to me that I could not get close to him. So, I became someone for him to beat. I pushed myself every day to get better just so it would seem like I was progressing faster than him. This decision, however, made it so that Sasuke drew even further away from me. It wasn't until our first mission outside of the village that I found out that instead of him wanting to be better than me. I drew his curiosity, he had begun to believe even that from my looks and skill I very well could be an Uchiha as well. You could say that on that fateful mission, we finally became friends."
I look to Itachi to see his eyes slowly close as he listens to me. "He continually fights with Naruto with their rivalry. Naruto always compares himself to Sasuke and wants to be accepted by him. Sasuke with the Uchiha arrogance sees Naruto as below him. This causes even D-rank missions to take forever because Naruto tries to do everything bigger and better than him. When Naruto's growing strength is seriously getting under Sasuke's skin. He's trying to keep those emotions at bay by continually calling Naruto names and trying to upset him. But I can tell. Anyway. Sasuke began training with my cousin and I shortly after our escort mission. He is coming along nicely though I can tell his constant criticism of himself is holding him back. In the second round of the chunin exams though Orochimaru scared him. He was willing to turn against his teammates just to try and get Orochimaru to leave us alone."
I continued telling Itachi about his little brother's life up until the last time I had seen him as I lean back on the bed. Propping myself up on my elbows. I couldn't help but giggle at some of my remarks, telling him how Sasuke hates sweets and how Sakura continually asks him out and he shoots her down. I replayed all of our conversations in my head and openly told Itachi about them. Even when I call him Emo boy and he calls me Ice Queen. I couldn't help but inform him that Sasuke only opened up to me because of how similar we were. From our reactions to even our chakra natures. It felt like I had droned on for hours about the raven hair child and smile to myself about how sometimes he is quickly observant and other times it was almost as if he was pretending to be so naive.
"Were you two dating?" Itachi suddenly asks as I finish my storytelling causing me to set up and look at him confused. His voice was a bit tense but more curious than anything, I guess, but his expression for a change was unreadable. "No, he's more like... a brother I never had." I mention as I bite my bottom lip trying to explain the relationship between Sasuke and I. It was true. I've never had a brother and there were times while training with him I would wonder if that is what having one felt like. But then there were times like in the forest of death that his reactions confused me completely. I couldn't understand what was going through his mind for a change.
"You see, I was always set apart from everyone in the academy except for my cousin. All I could see was children rather than peers. With me actually being older than I looked it caused issues with me accepting anyone. Childish actions, childish feelings, children surrounded me on a daily basis. Even in squad 7. The only one I truly felt comfortable with was Kakashi. Sasuke was like a brother. Naruto was pure of heart but hyperactive and very childish. Sakura was hot-headed, possessive, and immature. Slowly my team became more than just children to me. They each had their own traits. Two of them more than others but still."
"I see how your actual age would prove to be a problem for you." Itachi comments causing me to slightly smile and give him a nod. "Now don't get me wrong. Even with Sasuke being like a little brother to me I didn't always understand the guy. Like there were times his actions confused the crap out of me. I still can't understand what was going through his head when he told me not to die for him and whatnot." I sigh and lean back again onto my elbows. "He was right though." I mutter and close my eyes. "Me protecting him all the time was holding him back."
"hn." Itachi makes a sound in retaliation to my words before I feel him get up from my bed. "You will be training with Kisame and I starting tomorrow. Is there anything you feel we should know before we start?" At his question, I open my eyes to see him not looking at anything in particular. As his back was to me I let myself tilt my head in curiosity as to what was really going on in his head. "Well, I heal quickly, I can form a shield out of my energy, I am a Fire chakra type. I usually use my blades or ninja wire when fighting and I am proficient with traps. To the point, I can fight and have a shadow clone setting them up around the field so I may use them to my advantage. That all seems to be normal stuff I guess..." I bite my bottom lip again as I remember my inner book. "It has been brought to my attention that I could use my energy for more than just my shield or even using it to coat the area around so I may see without actually seeing. I was thinking about trying to make a weapon much like one of the two I usually wield with it but I'm not sure about where to even start with that. I am also currently reading about medical ninjutsu and planning to learn it as well."
"I see. After breakfast tomorrow, we will head out. Make sure you have your bag. It is unclear as to how long we will be away from the tower." Setting up I watch him leave my room. Slowly closing the door with a soft click. We had just been having a conversation and he flips it to business just so he can leave. I frown staring at my door where Itachi had left. This cold shoulder of his... reminds me of myself when my painful memories take root, and all I want to do is be left alone. Did something I say actually, hurt him?
