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"Addressing the coven of fellow Uchihas," Itachi begins.
The striking man stands casually at the front of the room, one hand in his jean pocket, the other at his side. Contrast to this, his strong voice starts the unsettled listeners, and they stare at him expectantly. His detached eyes pass beyond those of the alert crowd. "I assume that a formidable handful of you have noted my absence for the past two years."
Heads in the wide room nod to themselves, but few dare murmur with their neighbor. Eagerly attentive, most sit straight, facing the carved face of their leader. Those of the other coven watch as well, curious, a few even flustered.
The countable exceptions to this include Neji, who warily studies the three strangers beside Itachi, Sakari, and Sasuke, who broods. Sasuke does not watch his brother eagerly but narrows his eyes in a grudging glare. No, he isn't actually angry at his brother. He's just angry.
Seething to himself, Sasuke ignores Ino's concerned glance and swift pokes. Usually, he was a devoutly stolid mask, a faceless manikin. But there was something about his reunion with his older brother that sparked--angst?
"What the hell is up your ass?" Ino mouths to him.
Continuing to glower towards the head figure of the room, Sasuke shrugs.
When everyone had actually settled somewhere in the room--most people on one of the tattered couches or the newly washed floor--Sasuke, Ino, and Neji had taken an empty sofa close to the front. A close-mouthed maid and Hinata had "escorted" Naruto to a room out of human earshot, while the excluded group of five in the back had relocated. Apparently against the will of the other four, Sakari had taken a seat in the general back of the large room. Kabuto replaced her almost on cue. Sasuke had noted this all in his discrete fashion; he'd searched Sakari's faraway gaze for just a slip of an answer. Her lids were low and she had such a pale pallor that he could recognize only trouble.
"...I cannot lie to those that are bound to me as family and fellow," Itachi continues sternly. The room practically tenses in response to his sudden earnest.
"There is a coming trouble, as I am sure many of you have come to notice."
"The wanderers that many have casually come to know as 'vegetarians', our kind that turns from their natural surviving requirement, turn blind eyes from the firm truce that the Old had once formed. They charge at the moral borders once established with behind a leader, a surviving member of the Kaguya clan--" Sasuke notices his brother's gaze fluttering in a sudden direction, but he's unable to trace the location of the quick notion. "--Kaguya Kimimaro. They have an obvious purpose, and that is to spread their clouded beliefs of so-called 'eating habits'," Itachi says the latter harshly. Perhaps he just didn't
like the connotation. "But truly they have other reasons for a sudden need to fight. There are other leaders believed to be working behind this Kaguya Kimimaro, and their purposes, still, could be different from the ones unknown to us. They gather in this town, where we cans sense the presence of no one. And so, we," he refers to the three beside him, "have gathered those of our coven as well. There is more to say of the matter, but I couldn't impress upon you what remain to be my suspicions." Itachi pauses, as if considering whether to continue. The shortest figure beside him nods to him.
The crowd of faces shifts glumly, coming alive again. Many sit shocked. Others shake slightly in their seats. Those that stand against the wall straighten in unease, though a select few nod as if they'd expected the sudden news.
"I am known as Sasori, as those of my coven already know," a bland voice cuts in. Sasuke sees that the speaker is the short figure, a subdued-looking redhead with hands folded in his hoodie pockets. He doesn't look like a leader. Itachi steps to the side, his gaze finally moving across the room. When it nears Sasuke, it lightens with short amusement, and it's only the ache in his stiff jaw that reminds Sasuke of his still-brooding glower. Giving his brother one last grudging stare, Sasuke eases his countenance, now slightly embaressed.
Itachi's face regains its indecipherable quality, though it does darken grimly. The darkness tends to outline his handsome features. Those that aren't already alarmed, become thin-lipped and anxious. What could so deeply concern their untouchable leader?
"It can be said that we--that is, Uchiha and I--have come to a mutual understanding, and temporarily, our covens will be working along each other--as long as our intentions are," Sasori considers, "similiar."
"So that explains it," Ino murmurs to Neji. He nods and regards his soft-spoken cousin. Hinata, and the rest of her coven, seem just as surprised as the others. Her colorless eyes quiver apprehensively.
Truces between covens were uncommon, to say the least. Sasuke can hear his comrades' focused silence dissipate as they begin to whisper amongst themselves. And who can blame them, Sasuke thinks. A truce was an uncharacteristic move on his brother's part, not unwise, but uncharacteristic.
He looks to Neji, whose brows have become furrowed and strained. "Itachi's right," the ivory-eyed boy broods, "the 'enemy's' intentions don't seem right."
He turns to Sasuke coldly. "You should ask him what he meant by 'suspicions'."
"You think he'd listen to me?" Sasuke says wryly. "That's a great reflection on how much you know me."
"We know I-Itachi-sama--" Ino blushes slightly "--doesn't confide much in others. But--"
"Certain 'others'," Neji muses, his gaze straying.
Sasuke gives him a glare so packed and meaningful that Neji physically backs an inch. "I already meant to talk to him..."
"And that," Sasori continues finally, in a tone so bland that few hear him at first. But those of his coven, used to his physical smallness, swiftly silence the others with narrow glances. They turn back to their leader reverently. "That is why we gather in this muffled town. To those who don't know, the two to my right are Hoshigaki Kisame," he nods further, "and Arev Zetsu."
He ends there abruptly, and his people seem used to it. It isn't as if it's a speech.
People rise uneasily, finally speaking to each other in normal tones. Conversation arises, giving the illusion that Sasuke and Hinata hadn't yet left the gossiping hallway of his high school.
Sasuke sees his brother start to leave and decides that that's as best a cue as any. He stalks forward.
"Hey! Wait up!" Ino splutters after him, but Neji stops her.
"He's going to his brother," he says with a frown. "Probably about his human friend."
"Oh," she smooths her blonde hair with a bored sigh. "But he forgot to unlock the brat!"
"Itachi!"
Sasuke grunts as he all but dashes down the mansion's musty corridor. Had it always been his brother's obligation to rush out of the room as soon as an oration ended? No, but this night he was following after someone.
Sasuke'd seen Sakari leave first and then his brother, dark-eyed, ensue. The younger Uchiha doesn't know why Sakari had retreated so quickly but comprehends only that his brother was the first to notice and the first to act.
Thus, Sasuke practically chases to catch up. He sucks in his breath before yelling again, "Nii-san!"
He sees the black-dressed figure in front of him pause, but Sasuke approaches cautiously now. Itachi doesn't move, and Sasuke can't see his face.
"What do you want?" comes the soft, naturally-enticing voice.
Sasuke flinches by reflex and inaudibly clears his throat. "Uzumaki Naruto, the human." He glares when he doesn't get a reply. "Or did you forget about him?" he says caustically.
"I haven't," Itachi says, still without turning. "Kill him."
"What?" Sasuke glares, starting.
"He has a human heart," continues Itachi with unabashed bluntness. "He'll tell someone. Do you want an unnecessary dilemma?"
"You don't know that!" he seethes.
"No," he says. He twists to face him. Though their rugged features are similar, Itachi stands at least three inches taller, his face one etched of inhabited marble. "But do we have time to consider?"
Sasuke stares back at the brother he hasn't seen for years. He knows he's caught him at an urgent time, for he senses the anger that has been void in both their lives since childhood. And still, it's barely there and more like a cold washover. "If we have time to dawdle, then we'll have time later," he replies harshly.
"So you'd lock up a human until then?"
"Talk to him," Sasuke says, "if you're so wise."
"Far from it, so I won't."
"Since when were you so wary towards humans?" Sasuke hisses, stepping closer. "Since Sakari?"
It's as if his brother just begins to look at him, and Sasuke feels a sudden chill until Itachi looks past him. Ignoring the urge to stagger backward, Sasuke forces his mouth to open to continue.
But the smooth line of Itachi's lip curves at a slight, and his cold air lightens to reveal less-than-cynical amusement. "I'll talk to him," he says in his breath-like, velvet-stripped voice.
And in three elegant strides, the older Uchiha disappears from view, leaving in the same direction from which he was stopped.
"I would never!" Ino exclaims, lifting her arms as she doubles over laughing. Around her, stand Neji, Hinata and Temari--from the other coven--and a short boy called Hideki Tobi.
Even after the shocking words of the oration, the coven members find themselves lost in conversation and jokes. It's the same community it had always been, with the wary exceptions of strangers. And though most "groups" fail to assimilate, a couple succeed, "breaking the ice"--so to speak.
It's been more than two years since most of the Uchiha's coven have seen each other. Following the previous war that had costed so many souls and possibly the lives of their two leaders, Itachi had called a need to split the coven. If they scattered--temporarily--it would be impossible for outside forces to take the weakened coven. It was the smartest choice, and a breather. The time is acknowledged acutely by everyone, for what's a couple of decades compared to eternity?
But now they meet again, everyone.
Hinata laughs quietly beside Temari, who donnes a subtle if not charming smirk. Tobi grins, radiating a discordant giggle. Even Neji, across from Ino in their disheveled circle, allows the slip of a smile.
"So here's to our newcomers!" Ino raises a fake glass, motioning to Kisame and the rest.
"Actually, Ino," Temari, a smart-eyed blonde, says pointedly, "you're the newcomer. I've been here since their high school started."
"And they didn't question your age?" Ino remarks. "Or is this where you let yourself grow to be 'seventeen'?"
On account of their longevity, those of Ino's kind are able to manipulate their bodies' growth rates. It's the reason most of them appear the same young age. When they're infants, they grow naturally, for most aren't quite aware of their ability.
"Nah, plenty of weirdos blow into this town," Temari replies a matter-of-factedly. "It's the least abnormal if some girl comes in looking a year too old or something."
"Or too young," Neji nods to Hinata. The thin girl, appearing a little over fourteen, flushes profusely and looks away.
"Where is Itachi-sama?" Tobi says suddenly, peering about. "And Sasuke-kun?"
"Oh yeah, those two." Temari licks her dry lip, her cheeks coloring. "Hunks."
"Itachi-sama left as soon as the redhead stopped talking," says Ino, giving Temari a meaningful look. "And Sasuke went to go plead to him."
"Scandelous," Neji says sardonically.
Tobi laughs loudly, initiating a quick glare from Ino. "Actually," she starts on a high note, "Sasuke has a human friend, who's got a little more info than he should. And now Sasuke's pleading for his life."
"You think that's gonna help?" Temari raises her brow. "If this Itachi's as damn good as he seems, he'd never let a human get away with that. Especially at a time like this."
"Well, then it sounds like Uchiha Itachi's starting to go down!"
The five--and a couple of other indignant heads--turn sharply to face the speaker. They grit their teeth to see Naruto flouncing towards the group. Sasuke, beside him, mumbles something uncomfortably.
"You might not want to say that so loudly," Sasuke elbows Naruto in the ribs, a little too strongly. He eyes the distrustful room of vampires--all loyal to his brother, making sure to caution around his friend.
And Naruto still doesn't know how we maintain living, Sasuke reminds himself sharply, consciously stepping closer to the blonde. If there were some hungry maniac in the room, Naruto would be meat by now.
I leave the telling to you, brother, he thinks as he approaches the group.
Tobi bounces up to him.
"No way!" Ino fails to hide her shock. "There's no way Itachi would let that chatterbox live!"
"Itachi-sama," Temari smirks.
"Why not?" Neji says to Ino huskily. "It wouldn't be the first time."
Ino's face colors heatedly and for the first time she raises her voice to the white-eyed boy. "Well, that's love! It's not like he loves Naru--"
"Love?" Temari's face lights with interest. She dips her head closer as if to hear better. "Tell me about this love of his."
"It's none of your business," Ino shoots.
"Neither is it your's," Sasuke grumbles.
"What's this about your brother?" Naruto squints, stepping nearer as well. "Man, I never even saw him!"
Ino mutters, "Unfortunately for you."
Sasuke sees Neji fall out abruptly to sit on a nearby couch. Apparently, Hinata sees too, for she opens her mouth to protest, but Sasuke taps her firmly on the shoulder. Bending down slightly, he whispers by her ear, "Watch Naruto for me, okay?"
Clearly understanding, the girl nods twice before turning back to the conversation.
Backing out, Sasuke approaches his once best friend. "Too cool for talking?" he asks Neji, nodding backwards.
"I should say the same about you," replies Neji unenthusiastically.
Gaze weaving through, Sasuke motions to the conversing crowd. "How long do you think this'll last?"
"I can't say," Neji murmurs. "That's another thing my eyes can't see."
Seeing the subject turn, Sasuke asks briefly, "So your eyes can't sense our aura's either?"
"I hate this town," the subdued boy seethes. "All my life, I've been so accustomed to living with the Hyuga's ability to see aura. Being here is like being blind."
Sasuke says nothing; he doesn't know what to say. So the two fall into a gauche silence, until--
"Do you think there will be war?" Neji asks hesitantly.
Sasuke pauses. He remembers acutely the last war and the untimely loss of Neji's father. "It all depends on what the 'enemy' wants, doesn't it?" he answers quietly.
Considering, Neji nods. "It all depends."
Beneath nature's night blanket, a crack of light tied to the ajar shape of a hidden doorframe widens as the corresponding door creaks open. Emerging from the fluttering shadows of the forest, a figure dances inside, silencing all behind it. The light dies as the door slams shut.
The lithe figure slithers inside under a moonlit window, the dead hair from their scalp blanching. It sways anxiously in the dingy cellar, peering at every angle and wall and corner. Its translucent fingers brush over dusty barrels wrapped in the center of the room.
Reeling melodramatically, it hobbles onto the pile, staring keenly at the ceiling as if it can see through. It hisses in excitement, its fists tightening and clamping dust from the barrels.
The phantom arches, and the meat of their hands grazes the rough panels of the ceiling. One panel gives, lifting. The figure gives a low cackle, shoving it noiselessly to the side.
It hobbles upward but pauses as a wiry spider hobbles close to its hand.
Its temples crinkling, the phantom's hand snatches at the creature's long legs. The figure's fist closes over the bug and contract open to reveal black innards and just a splotch of red.
Shivering, the figure slides their tongue over the damp mess before launching itself through the ceiling.
