Author's Note:
Hello and thank you for reading!
I apologize in advance if this chapter is a tad bit fluffy and boring, but characters have to get places lol. Stay tuned for a surprise guest appearance in the next edition. ;)
Thank you to everyone who has followed and/or commented on this fic-you guys rock my socks off lol. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS! THEY MAKE ME SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR AND GET ME THROUGH ROUGHER TIMES. 3
Stay safe out there. :)
-J.E.
The day had come. The reality began settling in as I packed the last of my necessities for the road into a summoning scroll. Once confirming everything was ready, I gathered my things and stepped out of my room to meet Itachi and Kisame for breakfast.
With a yawn and a stretch, I ambled into the kitchen and plopped down at the wooden table where Itachi and Kisame sat dishing out eggs and fruit.
The light was abrassive, flooding my sensitive eyes and leaving painful throbs in its wake.
The clank of a plate being set down had me squinting to notice Itachi pushing a plate already full of food in front of me without a glance. Something felt… off. He felt off.
Is he sick or something?
Stealing glances when possible without being too obvious, I studied his placid expression.
"So, what's on the agenda for today besides walking towards the coastline?" I asked, picking up my chopsticks; someone had to break the tension and it didn't seem like Kisame was going to be the one to rip that Band-Aid off.
"Precisely that. We'll stop for a few things in the next town over. Then, you'll take us the rest of the way." Itachi clarified, keeping his eyes on his plate.
Humming in acknowledgment, my brain drudged up a dreadful reality. What happens when people lost in the arena…
Oh, no. Has anyone mentioned that to these two?
That thought was a one hit KO to my appetite. Kisame peeked over at me with a concerned look. "Why aren't you eating? Are you feeling okay?"
A giant hand rested on my shoulder, making a small smile pull at my lips. It was oddly wonderful how the hulking fish-man had become one of my closest friends.
"Oh, yeah. I'm fine," I fidgetted in my seat, "but, I wanted to ask, do you guys know what happens to people who lose fights at the Coliseum?" The bile burning my esophagus forced me to use more energy than I'd care to admit maintaining a normal pitch.
Kisame's furrowed expression morphed into one of curiosity. "Brutal embarrassment from getting your ass whooped in front of a crowd?"
I breathed a laugh, "I mean, there is that." Clearing my throat, I continued a bit more seriously. Me possibly dying wasn't exaclty a laughing matter.
"The losing fighter becomes the property of the winning fighter's patron." I informed them, keeping my eyes glued on my bowl, intent on examining how many small grains of rice were left. "We need to consider what happens if I lose."
Kisame's voice was soothing, "Hey, you can fuck up pretty much anyone. You won't lose!" He shot me a wide grin.
"Heh—thanks… but we should still make a backup plan. We can't leave anything up to chance." Leaning back in my chair, my anxious fingers twisted together like wriggling snakes.
It would be unwise to leave a single stone can be left unturned. Not when En and Orochimaru have it out for you. And I'd chosen to omit that part of the story…
I couldn't tell them—at least not unless he showed up. They didn't need to be caught up in that shit-show.
But, unfortunately, I was learning that lying to the Uchiha was not a viable option. So, I'd have to just do the next best thing. Tell a select amount of the truth.
When the tense silence was almost palpable, I figured it was half-truth time. "Most of the patrons like to collect Kekkai Genkai users. And, they play dirty. They'll throw whatever they can, whatever cheap shots they need to secure a win." I willed myself to try and eat by bringing a bite of eggs to my lips. My stomach roiled with angst, forcing me to set my chopsticks back down.
"…Play dirty how?" Kisame cocked an anxious brow.
"I've seen them tailor fighters and things like poison, seals and chakra suppressants to weaken the other fighters. But, I'm immune to most poisons. I guess I've got that going for me." I breathed a laugh.
"You have an immunity to poison naturally?" Itachi monotoned, meeting my gaze. Stoney and serious as ever.
"Naturally? I have no clue… But small exposures over a period of time make you immune. And my medical training helped." I replied, glancing down at his plate. The remainder of his food was untouched. He was clearly on edge. But why? I'd have to probe into it later because he was already moving to stand and gathering up his things.
I relished in the brisk morning air against my skin and the pastel shades of pink and orange that stained the sky from the sunrise. I'd remembered that Sasori had given me some ryo in exchange for me collecting botanicals for certain poisons while on the road.
The specific plant he requested happened to grow near the coastline. Being that I was the only person who knew the proper plants, he didn't have many other options.
I wasn't exactly happy to help, but hey, the man was paying me. And, he was paying me. So, I agreed.
After all, I needed to collect some herbs of my own.
Stopping every now and again to collect some wisteria and red yew berries, I had to keep at a brisker pace than I liked to make sure to keep up with Kisame and Itachi. Given Itachi's already sour demeanor, making him more irritated was not on my to-do list.
I'd just caught back up with them and began walking beside Kisame. With a curious glance at the colorful plants in the small pouch around my waist, he cocked a brow. "The hell is all that?"
"Sasori asked if I could gather some plants that he needs for making certain poisons and I needed some for my own personal medical supply." I replied.
"It kinda just looks like a bunch of colorful berries and flowers…" Kisame replied, his confused look intensifiying had me snorting a laugh.
"Medicines and poisons are made from all kinds of petals, seeds, leaves and roots, Kisame. And, more often than not, they are vibrantly colored." Itachi answered. The giggles died in my throat. I'd underestimated his degree of medical knowledge. But why did he know so much? Only weirdos like me sat and read medical scrolls for funnies. There had to be a reason.
Staring a hole into the black and red clouded cloaked Uchiha, he glanced over a shoulder. I still hadn't responded. The man had me far too caught in a storm in my own mind. He looked tired. Paler. My gut told me there was something wrong. I cleared my throat and fought to unfurrow my constricting brows. "You are correct. How did you know that?"
"I've read my fair share of books on medicines and botanicals." Itachi monotoned, refocusing on the dirt path ahead and the town coming into sight through the trees.
We all walked in silence the rest of the way until we made it to the town. It was adorably small, surrounded by the thick green reeds of a bamboo forest. For such a quaint town, it was bustling with shops and venders. It appeared that the entire village was out walking, busy chatting noisily as they ran errands. I hadn't realized how much I missed being a part of normal life.
"Nii-san, that's not fair! Give it back!" A little brunette girl in a bright purple dress screeched while running after an older brown haired boy.
"If you want it, come and get it!" A young boy taunted back. He was too busy looking back to notice he was headed straight towards us. An adorable doll bounced in his small hand with each stride. "Oof!" The boy let out a huff as he slammed straight into Itachi's legs. The raven-haired man stared down at the small boy, watching the boys eyes widen in horror. Kisame and I exchanged anxious glances.
"I-I'm so-sorry, mister!" The little boy quavered, slowly backing away in fear. Kneeling down, Itachi stared the boy square in the face. The boy went rigid as the little girl who had shouted first came running up behind him, panting hard. Itachi calmly took the doll from the boy's small hands and smiled while holding it out to the little girl.
"I think this belongs to you." He almost cooed.
Her dark brown eyes glimmered as she flushed bright red, cautiously grabbing the doll from his much larger, navy-nailed hand. I couldn't help the .
My heart. It's breaking from cuteness.
"T-thank you!" The little girl squeaked, throwing her tiny arms around his neck and squeezing with all her might. Itachi's eyes went as wide as the little boys before falling closed with a small smile. The girl pulled away, shot him a wide grin and ran off, blushing and giggling up a storm.
He directed strict charcoal eyes back at the boy, still standing frozen in place. "Be nice to your sister. You should be grateful for the time you spend with her." The brunette boy peeked up at Itachi. With a ruffle of the boy's hair, the stern expression gave way to a gentle simper.
"Okay!" The boy beamed back at him before taking off after his sister.
Kisame and I stood silently observing, smirking like there was no tomorrow. Like he was an animal in a zoo and we were witnessing the rare sight of a wild Uchiha interacting with children.
Noticing the two of us gawking, he stood upright. The beautiful smile vanished into thin air. "What?" Itachi growled. Despite knowing he was having none of it, I couldn't will my knowing grin to disappear.
You're a total sap, that's what.
"Oh, nothing." I grinned, giving him a patronizing pat on the shoulder.
Kisame's snort of a laugh prompted me peer over my shoulder at him. Realization wiped the amusement off his shark-like features. "Hey, I need to go grab something. I'll meet you both back here in 10 minutes."
"All right. Just don't be late." Itachi grumbled. With a roll of his eyes and a dismissive wave of a blue hand, Kisame strode off.
"Oh, that reminds me. I also have a thing to do—I'll be right back." Spinning around, I headed off. I needed a few necessities that Itachi hadn't thought to get being that he didn't have a uterus and all.
"You aren't going anywhere alone, Sora." Itachi growled, snatching my wrist in a tight hold.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, damn." I sassed. "Relax, I just need to—"
He sharply cut me off, "I'll say it once more—you are not going anywhere by yourself. Understood?"
"Well, maybe if you let me finish—" I tried to tug my wrist free as I was interrupted once again.
"Whatever it is, you cannot be out wandering by yourself." Him pulling out that fucking "dad" tone meant he was irate.
And, boy, I was having none of it. He wasn't my fucking parent.
God, why the hell is he acting like this?
"Yeah? Bet." My eyes narrowed as I yanked harder, finally freeing my entrapped wrist from his near bruising grip.
His coal-black irises flared with rage. Sneering at him, I whipped around. A hand snaking around my throat forced my back up against the dense wooden planks of a building.
Pain rippling down my head and spine forced me to suck in a sharp breath, but the tight grip of the tight fingers pressing against my throat left me choking on the much needed oxygen.
Opening my eyes, I glowered at the menacing, spinning orbs of black and crimson. I lifted a shaky hand to drive my fingers into the soft spot between the taught tendons of his wrist, pessimistically hoping the pain might be enough for him to let me go.
He didn't even flinch.
It was odd. Besides pinching that single pressure point, I wasn't fighting back. And, strangely, I didn't want to.
Be it Stockholm syndrome or the way the man had been true to his name by weaseling his way into my heart, I somehow didn't want to hurt him.
Not too mention, if he was sick, using my blood jutsu would make things marginally worse. And the iciness of his fingers around my neck told me his circulation wasn't right.
I could kill him if I wasn't careful.
Don't use your jutsu. Don't use your jutsu.
The words repeated like a mantra in my head as I dangled... vulnerable. Weak.
A vengeful fury like I'd never seen blared from his Sharingan. Pressing my fingers into his wrist harder, I forced words to pass from my constricted windpipe. "Put. Me. Down."
"First, agree to not wander around without either Kisame or me." I winced as his fingers dug deeper into my soft flesh.
"F-fine." I hissed, letting venom soak my words. Black speckles began to dance in the hazy world around me.
Maybe just break his wrist before you pass out...
The cold fingers coiled around my throat abruptly fell away, leaving me to collapse in a heap on the ground, gagging and gasping for precious air.
The rage and disgust boiled in my chest, pulling my lips into a tight line. I was a fool. A fucking fool. I'd known it was too good to be true. I shouldn't have let my guard down...
I knew better.
This was the real Itachi. And I hated him.
Cavernous hurt left tears welling up in my eyes. I gnawed on my lip to sure up the floodgates before directing my seething glare to the clan-killer.
Running a hand through his dark hair, Itachi let out a weary sigh. "Sora... Please forgive me. I didn't mean to lose my temper like that." He apologized, extending a hand to help me to my feet.
A resounding slap rang out as I swatted his arm away. Hard. "Don't you ever fucking touch me again—" I snarled low. "Honestly, thank you, Itachi. For reminding me that I fucking despise you."
With another cough, I used the rough wood of the building to push myself to stand, trying to erase the sensation of ghostly fingers clamping down on my throat by massaging the searing flesh. It was useless.
Without sparing him another glance, I took off, slamming my shoulder into his as I passed. I heard him mutter a curse under his breath before following a ways behind me.
If he wants to be there so badly when I buy tampons, then so fucking be it.
Stopping outside the small store front, I closed my eyes to clear away any stray tears and inhaled. Today was not the day to be weak. Not with Itachi so close by.
"Hello! What can I help you two with today?" A kind-faced woman with short black hair smiled from behind a light blue counter.
"Hi there!" I sounded so chipper for being so completely enraged at the man who was standing behind me. "Where are your tampons?" I had to wrangle back the smirk bubbling to the surface as Itachi's chakra flickered.
"Right over there, to the left." The young woman answered sweetly. Looking around, my flustered brain couldn't pin-point where she was talking about. She must have seen me struggling and strolled over from behind the counter to spare me. I breathed nan internal sigh of relief. Rage wasn't good for thinking clearly. And apparently not for seeing either.
"Thank you." I chimed to the shopkeeper, shooting her a kind smile.
"Sure thing. Is that all for you?" The woman said as she bent over to pick up my items. "Does your husband need anything?"
I started laughing nervously, "Oh! No, we're n—"
"No, thank you. Just those items will do." Itachi cut me off. My stomach nearly dropped out my ass. He didn't correct her. More importantly, why the hell didn't he let me correct her?
Itachi insisted on paying for my things, holding the door for open as I stepped out. The best plan I'd been able to come up with was ignoring him. The feeling of his eyes studying me while we left to meet Kisame left me working hard to avoid them. Pretending he didn't exist couldn't be that hard, right?
"Did you get everything?" Itachi asked, the harsh edge in his voice sharp enough to cut glass.
"Yep. All good," Kisame replied with a grin. "Sora-chan, close your eyes and stick out your hands."
"Huh?" I shot him a perplexed glance. My attention was being consumed by the residual anger and my immense effort in avoiding the prying eyes of the raven-haired Uchiha.
"Come on, Sora-chan. I won't bite," He winked, holding something behind his back. "You'll be happy."
With a heavy sigh, I reluctantly did as he said. The chill of smooth, cold metal resting in my hands prompted my eyes to open.
My jaw hit the floor. It was a beautiful ninjato; the jet-black cord interlaced with red around the handle, complete with a square black tsuba. It was almost exactly the same as the one I'd inherited from my Oji.
I stood there, dumbfounded. Partly from the fact that Kisame had gotten me the sword to begin with. But also because I'd only mentioned how mine had been taken by my first captors in one conversation... he remembered.
My heart swelled. "Kisame… It's beautiful. Thank you." It was funny how my arms just barely wrapped around his muscular torso to squish him in a hug.
"You're welcome, kiddo." He beamed, crushing me with a single arm around my much smaller form burrowed into him. I grinned up at him and stepped out of his comforting embrace.
Kisame's round eyes fell to my neck. "Sora-chan... are those b—" The words were like a hammer, smashing my excitement into a million pieces.
"It's nothing," I replied a bit too quickly. A hand flew up to cover the finger shaped bruises that were inevitably erupting on my pale skin. "We should be going. It's only a few kilometers more and we'll be a little over halfway there." Situating my new weapon around my waist, I started back down the dirt path out of the village.
Kisame kept his voice low while interrogating Itachi in my wake. Anger boiled my blood like the fiery orange and red of the setting sun overhead. A thick silence ensued while we walked in search of somewhere to camp for the night.
I tried to busy myself with collecting botanicals, making sure to keep a decent amount of room between me and my two companions. The more the thoughts swirled around in a chaotic torrent in my brain, the more ice began to lock away my heart.
And the more I hated myself for not just saying 'fuck it' about whatever was wrong with Itachi in order to use my jutsu. Why did I give two flying fucks about hurting him when he had his hand constricting my throat?
Congrats. You're going fucking soft for the clan killing Uchiha. That's a new low, even for you.
That one simple act of malice had him ripping away my thin walls of trust, leaving my heart raw and exposed. A place a hadn't Back to square one. Maybe, it was a good thing. A reminder that he was nothing but trouble. And I wanted no part of that.
I'd tried to I tried to not pay attention to what Kisame and Itachi's whisper-arguing from behind me, but curiosity be damned. I found myself unwittingly eavesdropping.
From what I was able to hear, I gathered that Kisame was livid and had pieced together what'd gone down. He was scolding Itachi like he had the little boy who had run into him earlier that day.
The strangest part was that Itachi seemed angry still… but not at Kisame or me—with himself. When I accidentally glanced at him, he had the most dejected expression. It seemed like he was genuinely disappointed and discontented.
Well, he shouldn't have been an asshole.
"Let's stop here. It's good and I hear a stream nearby." Kisame said, gently resting a hand on my shoulder to halt me mid-step.
Just as the the sun dipped below the horizon and we'd settled in, I spoke for the first time since leaving the village. "I'm going to get some water. There was a stream nearby." I grumbled, holding out a hand and gesturing to their canteens.
Itachi handed me his and Kisame's canteens. I stole a moment to peek up at him, only to see the crestfallen countenance from earlier had consumed his slate-grey eyes.
A hurt confused ire left my stomach churning with angst as my lips pulled into a tight line. Yanking the containers from his hands, I spun on my heel and headed off in the direction of the flowing water.
A soft summer breeze gently shook the leaves of the ancient oak trees as I walked amongst their long shadows cast by the twilight spilling through the gaps in the forest canopy. Taking slow, methodical steps, I tried to eat up as much time as possible. I needed to be away from Itachi.
Him and his sad eyes were poking that terrible soft spot. And it was threatening to melt the frigid, protective ice around my heart.
As the sound of flowing water increased, the trees dispersed to reveal a sparkling, clear stream rolling over dark stones just up ahead. Moving to the water's edge, I knelt down and began filling the canteens. I let out a groan when an all too familiar chakra signature began approaching.
"Sora... Can we please talk for a moment?" Itachi asked, anguish and anxiety dripping from his voice.
"No, I'm good. Thanks." I gibed, not taking my eyes away from my task.
Just fill his water, then, maybe, he'll leave.
"I-I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for what happened earlier," he stammered with a sigh. "I shouldn't have done that…" A remorse I didn't think the Uchiha was capable of killed whatever other words might have passed his lips.
Hurt left my heart throbbing. Seeing him devouring himself from the inside out wasn't something I enjoyed… even if he did deserve it. Something in his own pain forced the rage to come boiling back to the surface like hot magma.
Glancing back, I glowered with intent to kill before lobbing the canteen at him. "Good for you. Want a gold star?" I retorted, the venom in my voice was toxic.
Ignoring my smart comment, I heard him step closer. "You could have easily manipulated me with your blood jutsu. But, you didn't. Why?"
Because I was too fucking weak. Because you make me fucking weak.
I bit my lip, remaining silent while dipping Kisame's and my canteens into the cold water simultaneously. That same angry ache left in my soul in the wake of Itachi's little outburst was beginning to bubble to the surface. And it took on the worst form of all—hot, rage fueled filled tears.
His footsteps were light against the rushing water of the stream on the grass he come up beside me and bent down on one knee. "You could have—"
"You could have put me in a genjutsu. But you didn't, did you?" I snapped, feeling his gaze burning into my cheek. I shot up to my feet the instant angry tears threatened to spill over. "Like you, I chose not to."
"But... why?" The melancholy in his deep voice forced my gaze to meet his. The polished pieces of coal were clouded with grief as I watched him stand.
This isn't the time to bring up the fact you think he's sick. Save it for another day.
"Because, Itachi, I could have killed you. You're my teammate. And my friend—" The reservoirs of tears were beginning to obscure my vision as I white knuckled the canteens. A wrathful anger saturated my words. "At least, I thought you were. How fucking stupid of me to think you were capable of such a thing." Itachi's eyes fell closed in defeat, clenching his jaw.
"Sora, don't…" Rolling my eyes, I took off towards our camp. A hand grabbing my wrist halted my motion. "Please."
Frozen in place, I cast my gaze down to his hand around my wrist, the icy glare forcing him to let go. "I'll think about it." With one more harsh death glare, I marched back to camp.
To think I was flustered and confused before showed me that I had no idea what those words meant.
"Woah… you okay?" Kisame asked, his hulking, blue arms were full of wood.
"I-I'm fine. I just need to cool off…" I grumbled, setting the canteens on the soft earth. "And I can't do that with Itachi lurking—making some pitiful face. Trying to make me feel like I need to forgive him."
"Come sit and talk to me, kiddo." Kisame patted the ground beside him after dropping the wood by the fire with a small smile.
Plopping down next to him, I leaned my head against an enormous arm.
"Sora-chan… I'm not excusing Itachi's shitty behavior. But—" He sighed and paused. "You gotta understand—he wasn't doing it out of anger towards you."
Sheer confusion peeled my head off of his arm to look him dead in the eye. "Seriously? Then, what the fuck was that, Kisame?"
Kisame's smile faded as a severity took over his demeanor. "Itachi can be a bit… overprotective. He cares about you. Like actually cares. You're the first woman I've seen who's able to fluster him. He never pays attention like that—not until you came along." My brows furrowed further in confusion.
What was he saying? It's not like Itachi was in love with me or something. That would be flat out insane. "Look, he's been on edge since you talked about how shit goes down in the Coliseum. He's afraid. He doesn't want anything bad to happen to you. And when he's scared, he can get a bit prickly."
That certainly is one way to put it.
"So, me wanting to get tampons was the final straw?" I probed, trying to understand what he was getting at.
"Kind of—more so how you insisted on going alone. When we aren't with you, he gets worried something might happen." Kisame said simply.
"You two act like I can't handle—" I started to speak but was abruptly stopped as Kisame interrupted me.
"That isn't the issue." Kisame pulled out the full-on Dad voice. "It's people like Orochimaru we have to worry about. He knows everything about you—how to fuck with you personally. And it doesn't just go for that slimy bastard," he leaned forward, his face oozed sincerity.
"It goes for anyone that's powerful enough to subdue you and take you. Itachi's concerned they'll fuck with you at the Coliseum and force you to botch your match. There are people who want to take you away from the us. Away from him."
Ugh… I hate when he's fucking right.
"I can guarantee he'll never pull that shit again, let me tell you. But, given how you get when people invade your space, I'm surprised you didn't fight back. So is Itachi. Why didn't you use your Jutsu? Or break an arm? Something?"
His words were salt in that fresh wound. My lips pulled into a taught line.
"I didn't want to risk hurting him, okay? I always bring nothing but pain and suffering to the people I care about. I can't do it anymore…." My voice lost its momentum as the wound in my heart pulsated with hurt.
"And, she finally admits that she cares!" Kisame grinned, bumping me with his elbow.
And that's another point for Kisame.
Trying to play it off, I groaned and rolled my eyes. "Not like that, Kisame."
With a knowing smirk, he folded his arms. "You totally do. You're beet red right now." A rough finger poked my increasingly warm cheek.
Shoving away his hand, I burrowed my head into my palms. "Fuck. He still shouldn't have done that. But, now I feel like an asshole for not trying to look further under the surface. Or to even talk with him in the first place." Rubbing my temples with my fingers, I realized what needed to be done. Even if it was the last thing I felt like doing.
Hearing Itachi's thoughts in a clear cut, raw manner was something I wanted to experience myself. And he owed me an explanation, after all. Blowing a raspberry, I pushed up to stand. "I'll go say something to him—but I refuse to apologize for him fucking with my trust."
"Maybe you two can kiss and make-up." Kisame not-so-jokingly mocked, sniggering to himself.
I stuck my tongue out at him and spun on my heel, off to find the brooding Uchiha.