Itachi finally opened his eyes and sat up, rubbing at them as he had when he was young. Something was wrong, he was sure of it. He'd told the Hokage that this was a job for the ANBU and not for jounin, but she'd given him that piercing look of hers and sent him out. The Hokage always managed to make him feel like an academy student caught sneaking out…but he'd been right, hadn't he? Something had gone wrong and in this, the last real rain of the year before the heat came back, no one had noticed. Why else would Neji be late? Neji was never late.
Pacing his room, the Uchiha tried to think of what could be done. He could go out and look for Neji—but then he risked falling to whatever was holding them up. He could call up a search party—and risk losing face, something that his proud father wouldn't appreciate. Or he could sit and wait—yes, that was the only option, as much as he hated it.
At last, after he'd settled down to wait (tense and worried, he'd brought out his weaponry to clean and polish) he finally heard their distinct signal on the outside door. Schooling himself to a walk, not a run, he slid the door open and pushed it all the way when he was sure. Neji looked exhausted, but still Itachi grabbed him roughly and held him close. He felt the Hyuuga heave a sigh and slip his arms around Itachi. "Where were you?"
"Giving my report. Gai-sensei wouldn't let us leave without it this time." Looking up, Neji arched an eyebrow. "Worried?"
Itachi kissed him, not caring who saw them out in the open like this; if they had a problem with it, he would take it up with them personally.
"Don't be late again," he said, deadpan once more, pushing Neji inside and shutting the door.