Author's Note:
Hello lovely readers!
First off, I am SO sorry it has taken me so long to post. Between working in a lab and going to school, my writing time has been drastically reduced... Writers block also literally gripped my soul and I wrangled with this chapter for a while. My bad y'all.
Anywho, here it is. I don't feel like it's my best writing and it's essentially unedited, but I hope you all like it anyways. If I didn't post it, I would just keep fussing with it.
Side note, if you want to, please leave reviews are super appreciated and help to keep my motivation up to keep writing! XD
P.S. It's a bit long-and fluffy. Fair warning. Please don't hate me.
SMUT IS COMING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
It was incredibly unusual for me to be the first person awake the next morning.
The chill morning air nipped my exposed cheek as Kisame's faint snoring rumbled nearby, muffled by the sound of a steady heartbeat beneath the warmth supporting my head.
I unwittingly snuggled into the soft fabric of a navy blue shirt, inhaling the familiar scent of charred sandalwood.
My groggy eyes shot fully open. I was equal parts mortified and strangely giddy realizing that I'd just spent the entire night laying on Itachi's chest.
It rose and fell with his breath, slow and easy like the ebb and flood of the tide.
My eyes flickered down to see my leg resting across his waist, a navy nailed hand holding my thigh.
Stirring ever so slightly, another arm wrapped around my waist pulled me a bit closer, locking me in place.
It was so very intimate. And as much as I hated to admit it, I loved it.
Glancing up at him sleeping, I couldn't help but to smile at seeing him look so sweet. So at peace.
With as little movement as possible, I peeled myself off of him.
Noticing that the fire was burning low, I mindlessly threw on a couple logs, then yawned and stretched my arms over my head.
After making some green tea, I set out three cups and headed towards the river. It was time to catch some fish.
Unfortunately, our little run in with Orochimaru and Kabuto the night left me a bit shaken. I really didn't want to go alone.
But I wasn't about to wake up my teammates. Especially not Itachi.
The Uchiha had me feeling some type of way and after spending the night using him as a body pillow, I needed some time to, uh, process that fact.
Then I remembered—I had another companion. Nipping my thumb and weaving a few signs, I made use of my long neglected summoning jutsu.
From a cloud of white smoke emerged a large, yawning Tora. The black of her stripes blanketing her body were stark against the brilliant white of her fur.
Giant claws scratched and scarred the earth, glinting in the morning light.
Miyako… my sweet baby.
Cracking a smile, I put a finger to my lips and gestured with my eyes to my sleeping teammates. I'd forgotten how much I'd missed her rumbling purr while I scratched her head and behind her ears, walking to catch our breakfast.
I was still a small child when I found her. She was injured and traumatized, hiding in the stable of our farm one day when I had gone out to give our two horses their grain. I bonded with her and healed her. Her tremendous size and ability made it obvious that she was a tora—a ninja tiger. After losing my family, she became my best friend and my closest companion.
Above all, Miyako was fiercely loyal and had saved my life on multiple occasions. She brought me food when we were both on the brink of starvation and protected me when I was at my weakest. I loved her.
We approached a spot I'd found yesterday while out looking for Itachi. I plopped down on the grassy embankment adjacent to the stream, motioning for Miyako to come and sit beside me. I threw my arms around her plush, striped fur and grinned happily. Her rumbling per vibrated my cheek as I smushed my head into her warm body. It had been so long since I'd seen her, due to my reduced ability to use my chakra reserves and jutsu for the past year and a half.
"I missed you, Miyako," I released her and kissed her wiry whiskers. Her thick, scratchy tongue left licked a wet trail up my cheek, giggling at her kind gesture. I reached into my cloak and summoned the fishing pole I'd packed from my scroll. Miyako was already doing her due diligence, astutely scanning the rushing water for fish with her icy blue eyes. A nagging feeling, like someone was watching me, made my stomach churn uneasily as I searched the surrounding area. A malicious feeling chakra seemingly darted away out of the corner of my eye—the feeling vanished. I exhaled, trying to brush it off after another couple of minutes passed and I couldn't sense or see a soul.
Once we had collected an adequate number of fish, I skewered them on a long stick and headed back to camp. Kisame was still sleeping soundly, I could hear the faint snoring as the camp came into view. Itachi glanced over at me passively, leaning his back up against a tree and sipped some of the tea I had made earlier. "Where have you been?" Itachi mumbled stonily.
Miyako growled aggressively at his firm tone, forcing me to point a finger at her, "Miyako—be nice," I chided, "I was doing us a favor," I didn't spare him a glance and placed the skewered fish over the fire. "Besides, you can't be mad—I didn't go alone," I said before tossing Miyako one of the fish from the skewer. She sat back on her hind legs and caught it between her long, sharp canines. I heard the small fish bones crunch as she bit down and laid to gnaw on it.
"Thank you for the tea—and the breakfast. I'm sorry if I came across as inconsiderate or ungrateful, I was just worried," he said more gently.
Hey, he's actually using words to communicate feelings. That's a good sign.
He pushed himself off the tree fully upright and began coming my way. Miyako scrutinized Itachi and snarled another thunderous growl, her icy, blue eyes locked onto his dangerously, "Sora, hand me a fish please. It will help her to learn that I am friendly," he whispered calmly, not taking his eyes off Miyako.
I raised both of my brows curiously and pulled a fish off the skewer, "But are you though?" I mocked through a smirk, then handed him a slippery, silver fish. He breathed a laugh, unable to completely hide the small smirk that rose over his striking, emotionless visage.
He took the fish almost happily and made faint kissing noises. Miyako cocked her hefty, black and white striped head to one side, then army crawled hesitantly over to him. She cautiously stuck her giant, black nose up to sniff the fish in his hand. He smiled as she carefully used her enormous teeth to drag the food from his hand and onto the ground, chewing on it happily. He brought his slender, navy-painted fingers to scratch under her chin and behind her ears, prompting her to purr with a deep rumble.
He's clearly been around cats before.
"She's beautiful," Itachi said softly, continuing to pet stroke her fluffy black and white fir as she finished her meal. Miyako swallowed her last bite and rolled onto her side, plopping her enormous head on his lap. A sweet smile pulled at the corners of my mouth at the adorable scene, the regal Uchiha snuggled up with my ham of a summons. The sweet chuckle that fell from his lips made my stomach flutter, ruffling the fir on the top of her head, down her half-lidded, crystal blue eyes peering upwards and booped her shiny black nose.
"You two look awfully comfortable, are you trying to steal my summons, Itachi?" I jeered, then removed the now cooked fish from the flames of the campfire. He simply snickered warmly and worked his slender fingers skillfully to scratch her cheeks, Miyako stuck her chin upright, rubbing her whiskered cheeks into his hands.
Wow. What a fucking ham.
"It's been a year and a half since I've seen you and, suddenly, I'm chopped liver..." I jeered sardonically, puffing my cheeks out and lowering my head at Miyako. She abruptly leapt to her feet and bounded over to me, knocking me to the ground with a thud and my back smacked against the compact earth.
Her coarse, sandpaper tongue licked my face and my hair, forcing me to wriggle beneath her, giggling uncontrollably. I could make out an attractive, deep chuckle through my fit of childish laughter as I brought my hands up to shield my face from the barrage of kisses. causing her to cease with a lick her shiny, black nose. "That's what I thought," I muttered in adoration, ruffling her cheeks between my hands and groaned with effort as I pushed her off me to sit upright.
Miyako sniffed the air while ambling over to Kisame, curling her nose as she inspected him. She commenced licking his cheek, the pink of her thick tongue contrasted starkly against his blue skin. Itachi and I both snickered mirthfully observing her actions. Kisame began to groan and waved a giant blue hand, trying to shoo her away before squirming and crinkling his nose and brows in annoyance.
With one last boisterous, annoyed groan, his eyes shot open and went wide in horror. I called Miyako back over to me and prevent Kisame from trying to shred her with Samehada. I snickered smugly, gently scratched under her chin and held out another fish to her.
"WHAT THE FUCK, SORA-CHAN!?" Kisame yelled and stood up hastily from his sleeping mattress. I snorted a laugh and clutched my stomach, trying to quell my laughter, but Itachi's continued melodious chuckle and deeply amused expression obliterated any chance of that happening.
"Come on, Kisame, Miyako was just helping you wake up!" I choked out and continued snickering. "Peace offering?" I said as I handed Kisame a fish from the skewer. He narrowed his round eyes and spoke low, "… Fine," He smirked and snatched the food. We ate, cleaned up our campsite and continued on our trek.
I let Miyako rest while we continued our journey—she needed to be 100 percent in case anything happened. If we kept pace, we would reach the Coliseum in 2 days—we had made decent time so far. However, our little run in with Orochimaru had caused an anxious to gnaw at my consciousness and I couldn't shake the feeling that he was plotting something.
There was a terrible undertone when he showed up, and it created an unease within my gut that was slowly killing me. Itachi must have sensed something was amiss because he was suddenly walking beside me. I was so caught off guard by his candor, especially after kissing me the night before.
He said it didn't mean anything anyways, of course he's going to act normally around you.
I could feel his eyes studying me as Itachi peered down at me over the high collar of his black cloak. My heart pounded in my chest from the intensity of his gaze, "Why did you help Sasuke?" He probed thoughtfully.
A smile rose up on my lips at the memories of training with the other raven-haired Uchiha, "Because he was the grumpy, brooding little Uchiha. But I knew it was just a mask for how alone and scared he was feeling-my heart hurt for him. I couldn't just sit idly by and leave him completely at the Orochimaru's mercy. So, I made it my goal to keep an eye on him," I glanced up at the rays of sunshine peeking through the pointed treetops. "Sasuke is the closest thing to a younger brother that I've had in my life,"
His dark gray eyes flashed genuine ardor and tenderness, a small smile pulled at the edges of his thin lips, but disappeared as quickly as it came. He continued coolly, "What else do you know about the massacre?"
I paused for a moment. I had a rough idea of what had happened that night from Sasuke, but it was only from Sasuke's viewpoint. I had a lot of pieces that needed to be filled in to have a complete picture. The bloodthirsty, savage Itachi that Sasuke had portrayed his brother out to be, was not the same Itachi who was walking beside me.
I opened my mouth to speak, but the words died in my throat as a jolt of unfamiliar, malicious chakra hit me like a punch in the gut, forcing me to stop dead in my tracks. Something like a black cloud shifted in my peripheral, the same as it had earlier that day when I was out fishing. I concentrated on it intently, watching the chakra slunk away, like a shadow fading into the blackness of the dense forest surrounding us.
Someone, or something, is watching me… And I don't like the way that chakra feels.
The strangest dull throbbing sensation began to pulse in my temples, while Kisame called out from a little way up the road, "What is it? Did you see something?"
"... Nothing—it's fine," I said plainly, massaging my temples gently. I peeked over my shoulder up at Itachi beside me, the tomoe of his Sharingan whirled madly within his crimson irises.
I gawked at him and let out a small gasp while he gently pinched my chin, tilting my head upwards to study me. Itachi lowered his head, his dark bangs shadowed his lidded, bright vermillion orbs. I froze and goggled at him in utter confusion, "Um—what are you doing?" I stammered.
"Your eyes are different. They're… lighter than usual," he muttered quietly, scouring the depths of my eyes in search of something.
I snorted a laugh, "Damn, how much time have you spent staring at my eyes?" I teased. The trace of pink that erupted over his pale skin told me he'd been spending more time staring them than he probably should have. Heat sprinkled my cheeks as I spun around and walked off.
"Wait—look at me again," He demanded, bringing a rough hand to catch my wrist, tugging me back around to meet his consuming and fervid crimson irises once more. The dusty blush over my cheeks began to sear the pale flesh as my lower abdomen clenched tightly.
Woah… Do you actually enjoy being man-handled now?
I gulped and looked back at him nervously, puzzled at what was so fascinating about my eyes and how I could possibly be turned on. I tried to break the growing tension by blinking lazily at him and sighed, "You're thinking way too hard about this, Itachi—,"
My sentence was cut short by Itachi hollering over to Kisame, "Kisame, come here," the undertone of unease in his voice combined with the way he was unwaveringly scrutinizing my irises had panic beginning to take hold.
Kisame sauntered over, cocking a bewildered brow, "Why is your Sharingan active? What's going on?"
"Do Sora's eyes look different to you?" his asked objectively. He stepped aside to allow Kisame to take a closer look without breaking his unyielding and intense eye contact.
Kisame squinted his circular, white eyes in concentration, darting back and forth to study both of my eyes, nervously following them with my own. After what felt like an eternity due to my worry, he finally said spoke, "I guess they look a little bit more blue instead of green..." I studied Itachi's reaction, his eyes widening subtly and jaw clenching.
Why would my eyes be more blue? And why is that a problem?
His glowing scarlet eyes faded back to their friendly, slate-gray as he deactivated his Sharingan, "Never mind—it's nothing," he said curtly. I knit my brows together in concern at him, begging him to speak the truth, but he strode off to follow Kisame without sparing me another glance.
Okay, what was that all about?
We came upon a quaint inn and Kisame shot Itachi a cunning glance, "Hey, let's stay here tonight—it looks like an onsen and I'm in dire need of a good soak,"
Itachi pinched the bridge of his nose, "Fine. We can rest here for the night—yes," he agreed begrudgingly.
"Wow—only you would get grumpy about staying at an onsen," I chortled. My snickering ceased as something brightly colored caught my eye from the opposite side of the road. It was an old monk in yellow and orange robes, adorning a long string of wooden beads around his neck and holding out a little wooden begging bowl.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out five ryo from the small sum that Sasori gave me for agreeing to collect herbs. I sauntered over to the monk, the metal coins clanked while I placed them into the bowl, "Nam myoho renge kyo," I said sweetly, placing my palms together and bowed towards the old man.
I grinned at the old man, who beamed up at me and endearingly squeezed my hand before I turned, striding back towards the entrance to the inn. "Sorry about that…" I said sheepishly and started climbing the few stairs leading to the doorway.
"So, you're a Buddhist, huh?" Kisame said softly.
I stopped halfway up the stairs and peeked one eye over my shoulder to acknowledge him. I spoke emotionlessly to choke back the hurt that came with his simple question, "My family was—I haven't really continued since they died, but I give what I can to monks if I see them," Kisame raised his brows and nodded once understandingly. I made my way to the entryway and held the lightly stained, wooden door for my companions then followed them inside.
The innkeeper was an older woman with light gray hair and large glasses dressed in an oversized blue sweater, "Good evening. How can I help you?"
"Just one room for the night will do, thank you," Itachi sounded formal as he spoke in a mannerly fashion, handing her some ryo.
The older woman smiled and placed little metal key into Itachi's hand, "It will be the room at the end of the hall and to the left. I will bring you your dinner in about 30 minutes."
"Thank you." Itachi replied, giving a nod of his head before setting off down the hallway with Kisame.
I smiled and pressed my palm together, bowing my head in a silent "thank you" towards the aged woman standing behind the counter. I padded down the shoji-lined hallway towards our room, watching Kisame fumbling with the key to unlock the door with Itachi's tall figure just behind him, eyes fixated on me as I walked. His ambiguous, captivated expression made my heart to pound against my chest—my stomach felt like it was air.
I smiled bashfully as I same up to the doorway and snorted a laugh at Kisame ducking his head down to clear the threshold into our room. He stuck his tongue out at me and leaned Samehada against the light brown wall next to the entrance. I shrugged off my cloak and removed my shoes, placing them next to Kisame's much larger ones as the shoji slid closed. I took a moment to observe the traditional, dimly lit room.
It was a moderately sized ryokan with khaki tatami mats lining the floors with matching colored bamboo shojis making up the walls and a lightly stained, bamboo table in the center of the room surrounded by four matching chairs. Off to my left was a small inlet of a quaint sitting room with two opposite facing bamboo chairs.
My gaze shot over to Kisame, who slid open the shoji on the other side of the room to reveal a row of dark stone slabs leading to the inviting hot spring. It was partially hidden behind leafy, tall bamboo reeds—the steam rising over the top made me shiver thinking about steeping in the comforting hot water that created it.
Wow, I'm so glad we stopped here.
Lured by the tantalizing spring, I immediately sauntered outside into the fragrant, lukewarm evening air, sucking in a sharp breath at the shock of the warm soles of my feet meeting the smooth, cold surface of the stone slabs. I ambled over to stand at the edge of the large, crescent shaped spring, noting it was totally feasible to be out there and not be stared at.
I let my lids fall closed, feeling a smile erupt as I stood, letting the heat of the rising steam caress my cheeks. I relished in it. Being near death and being deprived of basic necessities as a captive meant that I tried to enjoy the little things any chance I got.
Fuck it. Who cares if they see you, get in there.
I moved around to the other side of the bamboo to disrobe and wasted no time removing my clothing. I did so quickly, then hugging myself with my arms as a chilly breeze whipped around me before I stepped in slowly. The hot water instantly sent goosebumps spreading over my marred skin, I took a relaxing breath of crisp evening air while it enveloped and seeped into my sore muscles.
The steam rose and cast a slight mist over the top of the warm water and the dark rocks lining the spring. I stared up at the bright full moon and let my mind go blank.
Itachi's dark, silken tone suddenly graced my ears, "You forgot to grab a yukata." there was the slightest hint of amusement in his voice.
"Ahh!" I squeaked in surprise and sank lower in the water, making sure he couldn't see any part of me. I exhaled and closed my eyes exhaustedly, "Why do you have to scare me like that?" I chided.
He chuckled amusedly, "Because it's wildly entertaining." I observed him saunter to the edge of the hot spring.
"Thanks for the yukata, but let me remind you, I'm not here for your entertainment," I replied sassily, hearing him mutter something inaudibly under his breath as he dropped a black robe over my pile of clothes. My sight drifted to his perfectly sculpted and very visible chest through the opening of his own black robe.
Sora… You dingus—you should have thought about the fact he would be around you naked.
"May I join you?" his dusky, smooth voice suddenly ripped me from ogling. I blinked hard while nodding once, trying to avert my eyes. I failed—miserably. He removed the garment, a little too slowly, leaving him completely exposed all except for a small towel around his hips.
Oh… Woah. That's just fucking unfair. He totally did that on purpose.
"Where's Kisame?" I asked smoothly. Frankly, I was surprised that Itachi had beat him into the hotsrping.
He breathed a laugh, "He's currently trying to bride the innkeeper to make us dango."
I snickered, "That doesn't surprise me in the slightest."
"Hm," Itachi hummed. My gaze inadvertently studied his defined pectorals and abdominal muscles running all the way down to the sides of his slender hips—my mouth went dry. The deep contours of his hip bones made a sharp V-shape that sloped inwards and down gently. A thin trail of dark hair situated under his navel enticed my gaze to fall lower. I unwittingly bit my bottom lip.
"Staring is considered impolite, you know." Itachi smirked. I jerked my head the other direction, hoping that he didn't notice my obvious embarrassment.
Good. Fucking. Job. Please, just look away.
I figured he removed the towel because I heard the sloshing of water from someone entering the spring. I grabbed my chest with my hands, praying nothing was visible.
I watched him through my peripheral vision drop into the steaming water and rest opposite of me. His kids fell shut as he brought his toned arms upwards and used his hands to recline against the dark rock bordering the spring then. His pale skin was traced with scars. They contrasted beautifully against his long, raven-colored hair and the bright silver of his tomoe necklace.
That's a bit close.
"Sora, relax. I can't see anything. Even if I wanted to." The hint of amusement in his words did nothing to reassure me. I reluctantly released the tight grip. The bright red swirl of an ANBU tattoo on his left deltoid caught my attention.
Right… I forgot he was an ANBU member.
"So, what did you say to the monk earlier?" Itachi implored with a subtle lift of his brow.
"Oh, that?" I said through a weak smile. "I said a Buddhist saying to the monk, 'Nam myoho renge kyo'. Like I said earlier, my Oba and Oji were Nichiren Buddhists. I grew up with the practice," my gaze drifted to his half-lidded, slate-grey irises. His sultry glance forced my core to twist. I swallowed a dry gulp and tore my gaze to the steam rising from the spring, busying myself by gathering my hair up into a bun.
Itachi's gaze was uncomfortably unwavering as he spoke, "I understand most of it. Myoho means mystic order or law, renge is the lotus flower and kyo means sutra." My gaze unwittingly scanned down his sculpted, exposed chest. The corner of his mouth curling into that trademark smirk meant he defintitly was aware of my wandering eyes. "I assume the lotus flower is a metaphor?" He continued, unperturbed and composed as ever.
Perceptive as usual.
"You're correct, lotus flowers bloom the most beautifully in dirty, muddy water. The Lotus Sutra says that the same is true of people. The more pain and struggle someone overcomes, the more beautiful their soul becomes." I explained while nervously rubbing the back of my neck.
"Hm," Itachi hummed before a genuine smile I'd never seen crossed his face—my heart swelled "I like that." I breathed a laugh and beamed back at him. I closed my eyes, letting my head rest against the cold, damp rock. That same feeling of prying eyes scanning me prompted me to glance back over at him. I almost laughed out loud at the irony of the lust in his obsidian irises as they dropped to my prominent chest.
Look who's staring now.
"Staring is considered impolite, you know." I wittily cooed, smirking deviously.
"Using my own words against me. How clever," He shot me a knowing look. "Do me a favor and hand me the towel that's just behind you."
"What, so you can get a free show? I don't think so." I deadpanned and rolled my eyes.
"I guess you leave me no choice, but to get it myself." He sighed and rose to his feet. The water droplets snaked their way down his chiseled chest and followed the lines of abdominal muscles back into the water. I gulped, noticing how the water came low enough on his tall figure to expose the sharp contours of his hip deep that urged my eyes to drift lower. I hated myself for not being able to look away. I sat silently, unblinking and undoubtedly blushing harder than I thought possible. The pulsing between my legs was becoming almost unbearable.
Mirth bloomed over in his sultry eyes and stood to slowly advance in my direction. My arm shot up to cover my chest as my other hand jutted out to halt him. "H—Hold on, I got it—sit back down, Itachi." He raised both brows at me, taking a seat much closer than before. The trademark smirk beamed back at me. He propped himself up on an elbow, resting his head in his hand. I scowled at him and stood up in the spring.
The water sat low on my hips while steam radiated from my hot skin. I leaned forward to grab the small towel, noticing how low the water came on my nearly naked backside. I stifled a chuckle feeling a stark disruption in his normally even chakra signature.
Ha. Gotcha.
I grabbed the towel and tossed it on top of his head to cover the intense half-lidded, onyx orbs. "That's a good look on you—now, stay like that while I get out." I snickered before turning to exit the spring. I felt the now sopping wet towel slap into my mid-back accompanied by a sly chuckle.
Itachi's deep, sultry tone made me shudder, "I don't appreciate being told what to do."
I scoffed and spun around, "How unfortunate for you then," I twisted my hand and flicked my wrist sending a stream of water crashing into his face and b-lined for the rocky steps of the hot spring, giggling with mirth. I threw my yukata over my still soaking, steaming skin and snatched my clothes.
"You'll regret that." Itachi murmured.
"Make me," I shot back smartly. The stone slabs cooled my balmy soles as I sprinted inside the room. I shut the shoji and exhaled a sigh of relief, still snickering to myself. I glanced back out at the spring, then turned to find Kisame. I took a step and instantly bumped into something solid and warm. It was Itachi.
Oh, no... What have you done?