"Stupefy", Harry whispered holding his wand to the unconscious man's temple. Grass crunched as Harry knelt down and removed his backpack. He glanced up at Hedwig and shrugged guiltily, "I just don't want him attacking me in the middle of this."
Hedwig hooted and looked down at the man from her perch in the tree.
Blood stained the corner of his mouth and one of his hands, but other than that there were no injuries to indicate what was wrong with the man. Harry frowned at the lack of visible injuries. Ok, now what? Do I give him a potion for the blood loss? Hermione would have…wait, that's it. Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out the pouch containing his two-way mirror. "Hermione, Hermione Granger." He waited. Two seconds, ten seconds, a minute… oh, Mrs Weasley was watching them.
He groaned. Now what? A voice in his head hissed in irritation, Don't you have a brain?
Harry nodded. He could do this. He had a ton of potions. And his wand and that book. He unfurled the large scroll from his back and mentally catalogued everything he had packed into each seal. Harry paused at the third seal array on the scroll- the one where he had dumped the remainder of his potions stash.
With a wary glance to the unconscious body, Harry pricked his finger, held it over the design and paused. Harry bent down and examined the circular designs on the scroll in confusion. They looked, no, they felt different.
Hedwig hooted questioningly at his abrupt pause.
He shushed her absently, "Just a minute, Hedwig." He concentrated on the symbols wondering why he hadn't noticed anything when he had removed his tent from the scroll. Then again, he hadn't really paid much attention to anything other than Akira for the past week.
Summon, Space, Protect, Hide… The characters. He could understand each of the characters in the design. Harry leaned forward eager to understand the other symbols. Blood, Time, Fa… gah, Harry winced and rubbed his ear. "Hedwig?"
The white owl screeched loudly and hovered over the unconscious man with a pointed look at Harry.
Harry massaged his ear sheepishly. "Right." He reopened the small wound on his finger and dragged it across the design. A familiar brown bag from the potions shop emerged alongside a thick book. The Healer's Helpmate.
He opened the new book and sighed in relief at the first page.
Don't know where the injury is?
A simple diagnostic spell will point you in the right direction.
Harry read the page twice. Out of the three different diagnostic spells listed, Harry chose the simplest-looking one. With a nervous huff, he tapped his wand on the man's forehead, "Ostenero."
Nothing happened.
Harry re-checked the book. Ok, just stay calm and try it again. This is the easiest spell on the page. He swished his wand in the required movement to re-cast the spell and waited with closed eyes.
He opened an eye and peeked at his wand, looking for any sign of the spell.
"What could I be doing wr…" Harry squeezed his eyes shut as information flooded his brain via a shadowy black outline of a body dotted with different colours ranging from a shimmering yellow to crimson red and even few poisonous looking purples.
Harry turned to the book, reading the colour key. Yellow- blood clots, blue- fractures and bone injuries, red-organ damage, orange- nerve damage, pink-toxins/poisons, and purple- dead cells. His meagre biology knowledge told him he wasn't qualified to deal with this. "How is he even alive?"
Hedwig hooted and her amber eyes looked at him.
"I don't think I can fix him, Hedwig."
Hedwig interrupted him with another hoot and Harry looked down at the man. Can I afford to back away? Just because I've never done anything remotely like this before? "I just have to try."
Harry flipped the book to the chapter on blood clots. He grimaced at the information- he'd have to stuff potions down the unconscious man's throat and use even more complicated wand sequences. He'd have re-cast the Ostenero spell after every spell to check his progress. At least I don't have to cut him open. Harry consoled himself and prepared the required potions idly wondering why Hogwarts didn't teach healing.
He shot Hedwig a smile. "Think you can keep a lookout while I try this?"
The snowy owl shot up into the air and disappeared from sight.
With a hasty prayer to every higher power he'd heard of, Harry dripped a foul green concoction down the man's throat, twirled his wand and lost himself in the persistent tug of his magic. Countless shots of diagnostic spells, force-feeding potions and struggling to work every required healing spell left Harry trembling in exhaustion. Who knew healing- or trying to heal - was worse than Oliver's Quidditch training? The faint pink spell at the tip of his wand faded.
Harry shot out another diagnostic spell and grimaced- the man's insides still looked awful. He'd managed to get rid of a few clots, fix some muscle damage and part of his lungs. But everything else was untouched. He needed to read the book when he was free- there were too many basic things he didn't know. Things that would have helped him heal the man faster.
Harry re-holstered his wand and slammed his book shut as the man's breathing changed. He couldn't stupefy the man again- it would counteract all the potions he had stuffed into the man.
Hedwig floated down curiously and they both watched the man struggle into consciousness. A part of Harry idly wondered why he wasn't being more cautious of the man. "Oh good, you're awake. I thought the injuries were bad enough to put you in some kind of coma. It took me forever to figure out what to do. Your injuries are horrible, what the hell have you been doing to yourself…" Harry stopped himself in shock. I never talk like that.
Harry groaned and rubbed his forehead wearily. "A little healing and all of a sudden I've become…a …a mother hen."
The cloaked man shifted and Harry ducked to the side as a blade glinted beside his face. I'm glad he's still sluggish from the potions. Otherwise that would have been bad for me. Even so, he moved really fast.
Harry restrained the lecture bubbling in his throat, ignored the blade beside his face and shoved a vial under the man's nose. "I couldn't fix you up properly, but this will help."
Black eyes narrowed suspiciously.
"Don't give me that look," Harry said in exasperation. "Honestly why would I poison you after I spent…" he glanced down at his watch and exclaimed, "Two hours?"
Hedwig hooted in irritation.
"Oh, um, yes… two hours trying to fix you." Harry finished lamely.
The man frowned, pulled his weapon back and sniffed the vial.
Harry rolled his eyes at the tinge of disgust on the man's face. "It's not supposed to be nice, it's supposed to make sure you don't cough up a lung."
Thin lips pursed in annoyance and black eyes glanced at Harry again.
Harry sighed. He actually sympathized with Madame Pomprey. No wonder she was always cranky. Anyone would be, if you spent ages fixing someone only for the person to refuse proper treatment and make all the hard work worthless.
He wasn't a healer. He hadn't fixed most of the man's internal damage. But he had tried his best-sacrificing his time, energy and his potion stash. Harry wasn't going to let this man just walk away without taking the damn potion.
What would Madame Pomprey do?
"If you don't drink it, you're lungs will start to shrink" Harry said. Is that even possible? No, don't get distracted. Lie! Lie like you've never lied before. You're trying to save a life. "Eventually your heart will be in constant strain and then…" Harry continued in a grave tone, "Your brain will shut down."
The man eyed the vial.
Maybe I pushed it too far and lost credibility? Stupid unreliable lying skills. Harry paused as the man tugged the vial out of Harry's fingers, tipped his head back and gulped down the nasty greenish brown concoction with a stoic face. Harry was impressed that the man only closed his eyes for a few seconds- otherwise completely hiding all signs of discomfort.
"Here." Harry held out a square of chocolate and a canteen of water. "It'll get rid of the taste." He studiously ignored the voice in his head that berated him for sharing his chocolate with a stranger who had attacked him.
He was quite willing to snatch the chocolate away when he was given another overly suspicious look. Honestly? I healed him, saved his life and this is what I get. I would have been halfway to fire country by now if I hadn't stopped to help.
Harry stood up slowly as the man sniffed the canteen. Black strands ruffled briefly as he took a swig from the canteen, gurgled and spit it out. Harry's nose crinkled in disgust but he eyed the man in concern. The man's face tightened briefly as he bit down on the chocolate.
Harry smirked at the surprise that washed over the man's face as he swallowed the rest of the chocolate. "Do you feel any better?"
Black eyes glanced up at him in a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
Harry wondered if he'd always be subjected to odd looks wherever he went.
"Why?" the man croaked out.
Harry shrugged at the man. "Because you shouldn't ignore what's in front of you." Even if you do end up in trouble because of it.
The man eyed him with an unsure expression.
"I suppose I should get going. You can keep the canteen." Harry turned and walked away from the man. Hedwig flapped her wings and landed on his shoulder. Harry took a few steps forward and paused warily. He glanced in every direction and turned to Hedwig. "Do you remember where we came in from?"
Hedwig tilted her head to the side and ducked her head, looking almost ashamed. Harry sighed and turned back to the man. "Not to be a bother, but, could you tell me which way I have to go to reach Fire country?"
The man tensed slightly. Or at least Harry thought he did.
"Never mind. I'll find it eventually." Harry walked forward, adjusting his backpack and scroll into a more comfortable position. Best not to bother him too much. I don't want another meeting with the man's sharp weapons.
"Through Wave," a soft and even voice said.
Harry paused and turned back to the man.
The man hesitated. "Get a boat to Wave country."
Wave country? Akira hadn't mentioned that. Harry frowned, pulled out the old map and groaned at the lack of any markings for a 'Wave country'.
"I'm heading to the coast."
Harry blinked.
The man gracefully rose from the ground, turned to one direction of the clearing and walked. He paused and turned to Harry.
"Thanks!" Harry stumbled forward and followed the man. "So, uh, what's your name?" There it is. The tension and something else… Fear? Confusion? Shock? Does he expect me to know his name? Harry could feel it even though there weren't any visible signs of it.
"I'm Harii," Harry said, pronouncing his name like Akira had- a pre-emptive strike to prevent any name-related questions or conversations. "And this is Hedwig." Harry added when Hedwig bit his ear.
"Itachi." The man replied curtly.
Harry bit back a cough as his language translator provided him with the literal translation of "Itachi" as weasel. It seemed like the mysterious language converter was more defective than he had initially speculated. Stupid defective sentient rock portal. He idly wondered how Ron would react to the fact that the first living person he'd met was named Weasel. Eager to keep his mind occupied with something other than connecting Itachi and the Weasleys, Harry said, "Are you still in pain?"
"No."
Harry didn't push any further and frowned at the silence that followed. Harry was no stranger to silence- he's spent most of his life holed away from people. But after Akira filling every moment of the past week with talk, it felt odd to be next to a living person who was so silent. Maybe he should try and make small talk. "Hey, um, Itachi-san?"
Black eyes turned to him.
"Why are you all by yourself anyway?"
Itachi blinked, raised an eyebrow and turned away. Harry translated that to mean something like- You don't need to know.
Another bout of silence.
"Itachi-san?" Harry prodded after a few minutes eager to chase away the silence yet again. "What's Fire country like?"
Harry bit his lip as Itachi remained silent.
"It's beautiful." Itachi conceded.
Harry eyed the other man curiously.
"Large trees that reach up into a blue sky and the smell of grass everywhere," Itachi said wistfully.
Harry's eyes widened at tinge of home-sickness he noticed in the long sentence. "Sounds nice. It'll definitely be a step up from this misty place," Harry muttered as he watched the mist around them.
Itachi hmmed in agreement and they fell into another bout of silence.
Four hours of walking later, Harry huffed tiredly. He was still drained form the healing. And he was hungry. When were they going to stop?
Itachi paused and turned back to Harry.
Harry cringed and rubbed his forehead wearily. "Sorry, I guess healing tired me out more than I thought."
Itachi frowned, looked around and then walked off in a different direction beckoning Harry to follow to a small but fairly open clearing. "It'll be dark soon. We'll stay here for the night."
Harry dropped to the ground and ruffled through his backpack pulling out some sandwiches. He hungrily bit down into the sandwich as Itachi made a fire at the centre and sat down, a little away to Harry's right, with closed eyes.
"Aren't you eating?" Harry asked after a large swallow.
Itachi opened one eye but said nothing.
Harry frowned. "You need to eat. Otherwise all the stuff I made you drink won't work properly." He dug through his bag and threw another pack of paper-wrapped sandwiches at the man.
Itachi caught the pack with one hand, opened his eyes and stared at the sandwiches with confused eyes. He glanced at Harry for a while before finally taking a sandwich and eating it.
Hedwig hopped off his shoulder and settled down in front of both of them. Harry fed her some water from his canteen cap and pulled out a bag of owl treats. Harry was thankful that even with her odd confrontation with Fawkes, Hedwig still loved owl treats. Maybe they don't have snowy owls here! It's perfect. "You want to feed her?"
Itachi paused mid-bite in surprise.
Harry ignored the almost scandalised look he pictured Itachi hiding behind that stoic face of his and threw the bag of owl treats to the other man. Harry didn't know what prompted the thought or the action but he found himself curious of Itachi's reaction. Would he throw the bag back and leave? What if he's deadly afraid of owls and screamed when Hedwig got close?
As it turned out, Itachi did nothing of that sort. He calmly set aside his own food and opened the brown bag.
Harry watched in unabashed interest as Itachi carefully held out an owl treat for Hedwig. Hedwig eyed Itachi for a few seconds before she waddled closer to him and snatched the owl treat from his fingers. Her amber eyes watched Itachi closely as he held out another owl treat.
Harry bit into his food as he watched his two travel companions, a bit surprised at their easy acceptance of each other. Hedwig looks comfortable with him. I guess he's pretty trustworthy. Harry stifled a yawn but froze when he felt a familiar buzzing vibrated on his chest. "Harry Potter", a girl's voice called out.
Harry sat still wondering how to explain this to his travel companion. Harry glanced at Itachi who was still feeding Hedwig as though he hadn't heard anything unusual.
"Harry" the voice rang out again.
Still no outward reaction from Itachi. He placed a hand over his chest and frowned. The mirror vibrated under his fingers and he could hear bits of static every now and then.
What should I do? Should I leave the clearing to talk to Hermione? But Itachi will get suspicious since I already took a bathroom break. Before he could decide, an audible sigh rose from the mirror and he heard, "Message Harry Potter" before the vibrations disappeared.
*X*X*X*
Harry woke up to a stinging ear and Hedwig flapping her wings noisily near his face in the bright sunlight. "I'm up. I'm up." He yawned, rubbed his eyes and frowned when he felt his glasses on his face. I slept with my glasses on?
He winced as his neck creaked when he moved. His fingers ran over rough bark behind him. I fell asleep sitting?
When exactly did I fall asleep?
His eyes landed on Itachi standing on the other side of the clearing. "You didn't sleep." Harry realised guiltily.
Itachi shrugged, eyed Harry's backpack and scroll and walked out of the clearing.
Harry cleaned up and packed away his items as fast as he could, even using his wand when he was sure Itachi wouldn't see him. Itachi waited at the edge of the clearing with Hedwig on his shoulder. Harry blinked at the odd picture the two of them made. Since when is Hedwig so chummy with him?
"You should have woken me up," Harry said, "you need sleep too. I'll take tonight's watch."
Itachi didn't say a word as he led Harry though the woods.
Ah, joy, more silence. Harry rolled his eyes finding it hard to start a conversation with Itachi.
Sunlight pooled in through the trees and there was a generous lack of mist which made the long hours of silent walking tolerable for Harry. They didn't pause for a break and ate as they walked. If anything, I'll be in wonderful shape after all of this, he consoled himself at the gruelling pace that Itachi had set.
Harry's hand clenched as a cold tingle ran down his neck. He knew that feeling. It always occurred when someone or something was close enough to attack him. Like bludgers, or large snakes or death eaters.
Harry's neck tingled fiercely and he ducked as a sharp something sailed over his head and landed on a tree trunk with a solid thunk. Harry barely had time to move before a foot rushed to his face. With a burst of adrenaline, Harry slid to the side and raised his right arm just in time to block a gloved fist.
Harry gaped as he came face to face with a young girl with deep purple hair and wild orange eyes. She didn't wear any head gear like Itachi. Harry tilted his head to the side as the girl's other fist sailed past his ear but he coughed as a foot collided with his stomach.
So much for my seeker reflexes, he thought grimly as he shoved the girl away in a bid to get his wand out.
He heard metallic clangs and multiple crashes ahead of him and knew that Itachi was just as occupied as he was. Harry didn't even know how many other attackers there were.
"Son of a…" Harry winced as a needle-like object emerged from the girl's hand landed on his ear lobe. He lifted his arms and another punch landed on the outside of his wand holster.
Dammit, if I could just get my wand out. Harry didn't want to physically hit the younger girl. I'd much rather just hex her. He frowned at the girl as both their arms were locked in a fierce stalemate. She wasn't pulling her arms back and Harry knew better than to keep her arms unoccupied.
But it looked like she was getting ready to launch another kick.
If only I could cast a Stupefy, he thought desperately.
A red beam of light shot out from under his right palm and slammed into the girl in front of him. Harry watched in horrified fascination as the light lifted the girl off her feet and smashed her into a tree trunk with a violent snap. She crumpled to the ground unmoving.
Harry turned his hand upwards and examined his wand holster- his wand was still in the holster, with just a bit of the tip poking over the holster material, as usual. He glanced back at the girl in confusion.
Is that even possible? Can you cast spells from a wand without actually holding it?
Harry rubbed his wand holster absently trying to figure out what had just happened. A loud yell pierced his confused thoughts. His arms floundered wildly as the ground beneath him shifted and pulled his legs down.
Harry gaped and looked around. The purple-haired girl was still by the tree, but the ground around him - leading up to where Itachi had disappeared to – had turned into sticky swamp land.
For a moment Harry cringed thinking that he's accidentally set off a portable swamp from the twin's stash of goodies.
A loud hoot made Harry turn his head to find Itachi walking towards him, no sight or sound of his attackers anywhere. Hedwig settled on Harry's shoulder and nuzzled his cheek.
"I …" Wait a minute. Why isn't Itachi sinking into the mud? In fact his sandals look like they're repelling the mud. That's not fair.
Itachi stopped directly in front of Harry. His narrowed eyes glanced between the downed girl and Harry in curiosity.
Harry twitched in irritation at the questioning look on Itachi's face.
"I can fight you know." Harry griped at Itachi's stare. Duelling counts as a form of fighting, Harry assured himself.
Itachi quirked an eyebrow like he was saying, who are you trying to fool?
"Dodge, okay, I can dodge because of good reflexes." Harry muttered as his resolve wavered.
Itachi sent a pointed look at Harry's feet still trapped in the mud. Stupid cloak wearing person with your awesome mud-repelling skills.
Harry sighed. "Are you just going to watch me sink into the mud?"
With a brief glance to the girl, Itachi grabbed Harry's shoulder. Before Harry could protest, the air around him blurred and his feet jostled as they landed on firm ground once again.
"Woah!" Harry exclaimed as he realised that he was standing near the girl, well away from the swamp. He tilted his head up to thank Itachi but exclaimed in horror, "what's wrong with your eyes?"
Red irises filled with three swirling black marks stared at Harry in confusion.
Harry watched as Itachi blinked in understanding, closed his eyes and reopened them to show normal black eyes. Were his eyes red when he came into the clearing? Harry frowned. He couldn't remember. "Wait, what was that? Why were they…"
Itachi waved a hand. Never mind, it does not matter.
"Maybe that's the reason why you're so…" Harry paused as Itachi checked the girl and walked away from him. Wait, they were just going to leave the girl there? What if she came after them when she regained consciousness? Hedwig hooted in concern as she shifted on Harry's shoulder.
"Hey!" Harry stumbled after Itachi, forgetting the girl and ignoring the mud caked on his legs. "That red eye thing must be the reason you're sick."
Itachi remained silent.
"Look, if it's some disease I could," Harry said.
Itachi scoffed. "You can't do anything for a curse."
Harry narrowed his eyes. "A curse?" I can do something for curses. I'd have to ask Hermione for help, but…
Itachi titled his head, looked over his shoulder at Harry and said with a desolate tone. "A family curse." It doesn't concern you.
Harry frowned. He wanted some answers. He hadn't wanted to admit it- but the red eyes had frightened him because it reminded him of Voldemort. The only thing that had kept him from attacking Itachi in panic was the black spots that had dotted the red iris.
Harry replayed the entire attack trying to figure out when Itachi's eyes had turned red. His neck had tingled, a weapon flew over his head and the girl attacked. Somewhere during that the other people-two? Three of them? he couldn't remember- had attacked Itachi. But Itachi had disappeared. That led to other questions. Harry frowned. No, Itachi didn't disappear, he moved fast just like Harry's attacker. Like a ninja.
Akira had said that ninjas were dangerous. But Harry's definition of dangerous had always been in terms of the wizarding world. Death eaters never moved like that.
"Itachi-san?" Harry asked, "When did you become a ninja?"
Harry bit his lip as his companion's shoulder stiffened under the cloak. Harry didn't even know how he knew that Itachi was uncomfortable. Because they travelled together? No, Itachi just reminded him of a lot of people. Most times, he was like a really silent and broody version of Hermione, always thinking about things. Other times he reminded Harry of himself- like he had the world on his shoulders.
Harry frowned wondering if he should say something else or just let the silence continue.
"I was seven."
Itachi's dead tone worried Harry more than the information. Harry said, "I'm sorry."
Itachi gave him a slight nod. Hedwig flew off Harry's shoulder and landed on Itachi's causing the older man to pause in surprise.
"She's in her mother hen modes." Harry offered with a tiny smile.
Itachi didn't say anything but glanced at Hedwig with an odd look before moving forward.
Harry spent the rest of the day's walk puzzling over his companion's curse with his limited knowledge while wondering if leaving the girl untied was such a good idea.
*X*X*X*
Harry's prediction of being attacked by the girl and her companions didn't come to pass. It seemed that his worry was just a rare and ignored Moody-moment of Constant Vigilance. I guess Itachi knows what he's doing.
As they settled down in a less wooded area, Itachi created a fire once more while Hedwig flew off eager to hunt after giving Harry a soft nudge.
"Itachi-san?" Harry prodded and crouched in front of the other man. Black eyes glanced at him. "Are you okay? You were spacing out."
Itachi nodded slightly.
"Are you sure? Your eyes seem…" like they cannot see. Harry dug through his backpack and pulled out a potion vial he had set aside earlier. He hadn't wanted to give it to Itachi earlier because it had seemed like a stupid idea at the time. But that unfocused gaze had been disturbing him for a while now especially after seeing the red eyes.
Harry remembered the results from the diagnostic spell- nerve damage near the eyes and parts of the brain. There were no spells for that- no spells that someone, without medical training, like him could do.
Harry gazed at the purple liquid thoughtfully. The potion was used on people who had been under the Cruciatus curse for a few seconds to reverse minor nerve damage. More than few seconds' exposure and the potion would be useless -too much nerve damage like the Longbottoms' case. He remembered having to take it after the graveyard incident.
Harry didn't know if the potion could be used for nerve damage caused by something other than the Cruciatus. Itachi did say the eyes were a curse. He crouched in front of Itachi. "Drink this."
Harry smothered a smile at the long suffering look on the man's face as he eyed the purple liquid filled vial.
"Come on." Harry prodded.
Itachi raised his eyebrow in question. Why should I? I feel completely fine.
Harry stifled a groan of annoyance. "It's a medicine for the nerve damage." Medicine? I guess there's no word for potions here.
A small crease appeared on Itachi's forehead. I want a better explanation.
Harry wondered if he was actually translating Itachi's silent conversation or just making up excuses to keep talking. "I found a lot of nerve damage behind your eyes and parts of your brain. I left it alone because I didn't think it would matter much. But after seeing those red eyes…" Harry rubbed his forehead absently remembering all the times Itachi seemed to squint when looking at him. "You can't see very well, can you?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed and he turned to the vial.
"I don't know if this will actually help." Harry answered the unasked question. "This is meant for something else. But there's no harm in trying."
Itachi didn't look convinced.
Harry bit his lip. Why exactly am I pushing Itachi to take a potion that probably won't work in the first place? Curiosity? To see if I'm right? No…that's not it. It's the blank look that's worrying. Harry frowned at his jumbled thoughts. He stood up cautiously and frowned at the vial. "Never mind."
Itachi held out his hand.
"You don't have to humour me," Harry said.
Itachi blinked and kept his palm wide open.
Harry sighed and placed the vial in his hand. "Like I said, I don't know if it'll do much of anything…"
Itachi uncorked the vial, sniffed the concoction and eyed Harry despairingly.
"It probably tastes as bad as the other one" Harry agreed.
Itachi sighed softly and asked, "So you're a medic?"
"No, I haven't had any training. I just did it because it was necessary at the time." Harry replied, surprised that Itachi had stared a conversation.
Itachi tilted his head to the side, "Even a little healing is a lot."
Harry huffed in amusement. "I've always been the one getting healed. Never thought I'd end up trying to heal someone else. It's too complicated for someone like me, I'm amazed I didn't make it worse."
Black eyes stared at the purple vial.
Harry interrupted, "You don't have to take it. At any rate, it'll be better if you eat and catch up on your sleep." Harry ignored the voice that told him he was slipping into mother hen mode and tossed Itachi some more food. You'd think he'd be more prepared when he's travelling by himself. I haven't seen him with any of his own rations.
Harry paused when he heard an odd sound. He looked up and gaped.
Itachi was gulping down water with an empty vial on the ground in front of him.
"Couldn't you wait till I was actually paying attention?" Harry griped as he found some chocolate and stuffed it in Itachi's hand.
He grabbed the empty vial, shoved it into his pocket and waited for Itachi to settle down. "Well?" he asked once Itachi stopped moving.
Itachi stared Harry for a long moment. "Your eyes are really bright."
Harry pulled the vial back out of his pocket, worried at the out of character tone. "Hallucinations?"
"No," Itachi frowned, "Everything's blurry. But I can see the colours again."
Harry frowned. "You couldn't see colours?"
"Not with these eyes." Itachi clarified.
"So you can see colour?" Itachi nodded. "But your eyesight is as horrible as ever?" Itachi nodded again. "Right, well, you should eat and go to sleep," Harry said as he went back to his bag with thoughts buzzing through his head.
Itachi seemed compliant enough with Harry's request. He ate quietly and fell asleep against one of the trees.
Harry wanted to smash his head against something. Of all the possible people he could have met, why did he find such a complicated one? It could have been worse; Itachi could have been a psycho. And Hedwig wouldn't like someone who was a danger.
Harry threw a branch into the crackling fire. It was going to be a long night.
*X*X*X*
The next day, Itachi seemed keen on avoiding Harry as much as possible. He kept a solid distance between them when they walked; he didn't reply to any questions- no backwards glances, no hmms and definitely no talking.
Harry was confused but didn't push the man. "I'm sorry." Harry blurted as they stopped near a stream for the day.
Itachi turned to him questioningly, fingers rubbing Hedwig's head.
"I've probably been annoying you a lot." Harry muttered, "I just realized that I've been equating you to my godfather who died. I was so desperate to cling to a reminder of him, that I forgot you're not… I'm sorry." Harry closed his eyes unwilling to see the other man's disgust.
"I know." The man whispered back.
Harry frowned at the odd tone. "That's not to say I don't enjoy talking to you or anything. Sure you're a bit odd, but then again most of my friends are…" Harry winced in mortification. Did I just imply that I think he's a friend? After spending less than a week in his presence?
"You're weird." Itachi stated.
Harry twitched and muttered, "This from the man wearing nail polish and jewellery"
"You," Itachi murmured absently, "you remind me of my older cousin."
"Oh?" Harry wondered.
Itachi closed his eyes. "Shisui was annoying". Harry cringed. "Always worried about me. Always nagging me to sleep and eat properly."
Harry twitched in irritation. "Are you implying I'm nagging you?"
Itachi's lips quirked slightly. "Shisui's voice was rather girly."
"My voice isn't girly!" Harry sputtered.
Itachi turned to him and Harry's eyes widened at the amusement hidden in those usually lifeless black eyes. "I was talking about Shisui."
Harry gaped. "You… You're so confusing. First you attack me and then you help me, then you ignore…"
Itachi turned to Hedwig serenely and petted her head gently.
Harry's eyes widened in realization and he didn't know whether to feel a sense of accomplishment or irritation as he saw a flicker of a smile on Itachi's face. "Whatever. I'm going to sleep." Harry muttered mutinously. "Don't even think of waking me up unless you're dying."
Harry twitched when Itachi replied softly, "Goodnight."
*X*X*X*
Harry woke up to the smell of something cooking. His stomach rumbled pleasantly and he sat up looking around the small clearing.
Hedwig greeted him with a small hoot. He patted her absently and watched the sight in front of him in disbelief. Itachi sat beside a crackling fire, cooking. "You can cook?"
Itachi narrowed his eyes.
"You've never shown any interest in food until I make you eat. It's just odd. That's all." Harry explained with an indifferent shrug as he moved to the stream to clean up. Harry came back to find Itachi cutting the meat into smaller pieces. Had Itachi gone hunting? He grabbed a piece, sat down beside his things and bit down into the meat with relish. "This is pretty good."
Itachi turned to him. I do know how to survive in the wild.
Harry waved a hand in front of Itachi, "I don't doubt your skills or anything. I just haven't had anything like this before."
Itachi watched Harry for a few minutes before turning back to the meat in front of him. He fed Hedwig a few bits and Harry smothered a snicker. For being a ninja since he was seven, Itachi was rather soft when it came to animals. Granted, he hadn't seen Itachi around other animals and Hedwig wasn't just any animal.
Both of them turned to Harry almost as though they could hear his thoughts. Harry choked on his meat as both of them narrowed their eyes at him. "Sorry," Harry mumbled even though he had no idea why he was apologizing.
"We'll be near the coast before sunset," Itachi said as sealed the remaining meat into a scroll Harry had never seen before.
Harry coughed. "Oh, that's nice. How long will it take me to reach Fire country then?"
"There's a bridge that connects Wave to Fire country. You could be there in two days." Itachi replied. Depending on how fast you travel.
"I'll be slower. You don't stop very often." Harry pondered as he packed up his things. Itachi nodded in agreement and erased all traces of the fire. This time when they walked, Harry didn't feel the need to say anything.
*X*X*X*
"Here's some medicine, in case you need it." Harry volunteered two vials to Itachi as they stood at the edge of the tree-line. "I'll be in Fire country for a while, so if you need help…"
"Harii-san."
Harry paused in surprise. It was the first time Itachi had called him by name.
"I'm glad I met you."
Harry frowned. That sounded rather off and suspicious. "You're going to be doing something stupid, aren't you?"
Itachi stared at him but blinked in resignation. "Goodbye Harii-san and Heduwigu," he said and patted Hedwig gently.
"I'll see you later, Itachi-san." Harry held out his hand.
Itachi tilted his head to the side and lifted his hand to shake Harry's outstretched hand awkwardly. With a final nod, Itachi turned away and jumped up into the trees above.
"Hey, don't forget to take your medicine when you need it." Harry hollered as the long haired man disappeared from sight. "Or I'll send Hedwig after you." Harry threatened feebly.
A soft rustle of leaves and a fading snort was the only reply he got.
Harry shrugged and turned to Hedwig. "He's a really strange person, isn't he?" Hedwig hooted in agreement.
Harry walked out of the tree cover towards the small huts that dotted the shores in the distance. When he was in a relatively open area with no one around, he eagerly pulled out his two way mirror. A foggy screen that greeted him.
"Open message?" He tried and grinned when the white fog swirled around to form a familiar face.
"Harry! Oh, I hope you didn't get into trouble. I heard you calling and…" Harry smiled as Hermione's message played out for the next ten minutes. He sent a message back saying- no he wasn't in trouble, he'd found some help and that they'd have to stick to messaging each other for a while.
After twenty minutes of idly wandering around the huts on the coast, Harry found a man willing to take him to Wave country on his tiny cargo boat. "How long till we reach Wave?"
"We'll be there before it gets too dark. You're lucky you got here on time. I'm the last boat to leave to Wave for the day."
"Lucky? Yeah, I suppose I am. Will this be enough payment?" He held out a couple of bronze knuts. Surely he could use metals as payment since he didn't have any of this world's currency.
The man's eyes widened. Before he could say anything, Harry explained, "I don't have any money, and these belonged to my guardian who was a craftsman." Not entirely false. It was Sirius's money. And making Sirius a craftsman would explain the etchings on the coin.
"This is too much. I just need these." The man took the required amount and weighed it in his hand. "You could always get these converted to money."
Harry nodded and sat down on the boat amongst some crates. "I'll do that at Wave." As the boat left the shore, Harry asked, "Are you going to make a return trip back tonight?"
"No, I'll come back to Red Pool tomorrow. Best not to travel on the water in the dark."
Red Pool? I wonder if it got the name after Whirlpool was destroyed. Harry nodded politely at the man, "Can you tell me about the bridge that connects to Fire country?"
"You mean the Great Naruto Bridge?"
"The Great Naruto Bridge." Harry repeated, struggling to make coherent sense of the information in his brain. "Maelstrom? That's an odd thing to name a bridge standing over water. It's like they're just asking for some sort of back luck."
The ferryman chuckled heartily. "It was named after a hero who saved the country about three years ago."
"Oh?"
"Don't worry! I'm sure Tazuna would love to re-enact the story for you." The man grinned.
"Tazuna?"
"The man who designed and built the bridge. Without anything to do, he's become an avid story teller," The man laughed at Harry's expression. "Don't be like that. Tazuna is like a historical attraction of Wave these days."
Harry nodded and looked out onto the glimmering water. "So how do I get to this Naruto Bridge?"