Chapter 2 ???
As I made my way home, I pondered the information I had managed to extract from Sasuke. Memories of the afternoon floated back to me. I felt strangely drawn to the ninja I had now come to know as the murderous older brother of Sasuke Uchiha. Any normal person would have been repulsed and distanced by fear for their own lives. But the more I thought about things, the more I felt the need to find this person and… What would I do if I found him anyways? He'd probably kill me, so maybe trying to find him wasn't oh so smart, but as the saying goes, 'Curiosity killed the cat.' The part that nobody remembers though, is 'But it died satisfied." I had never associated myself with a cat, but the saying was oddly appropriate.
I went home and dressed for bed. I laid there, hopeful for sleep until I realized it was an impossible goal. I sighed and pulled myself out of bed. Too much was left unanswered today. It couldn't come to a close just yet.
I dressed and went back to the clearing. I wasn't sure why at first, but it was the only place I could think of to go. I felt stupid standing in the middle of the forest in the wee hours of the morning, not even sure of why I was there.
I was almost asleep on my feet and sure at first that I was hallucinating. The silhouette was identifiable by the shape of the cloak. The only things that told me it wasn't just a shadow, were the red clouds illuminated by the dim shafts of moonlight. I stood still as I could, not wanting my sleep deprived hallucination to end. The shadow, my reeling mind had conjured as the older Uchiha, continued to approach steadily. It paused a few feet away from me and came no closer. My heart jumped into my throat, and I tried desperately to swallow it. Cautiously, I walked toward him. I still wasn't positive of my sanity and raised my left hand to touch his shoulder. Actually touching his shoulder was a whole different matter though. I stood facing him with my hand hovering over his shoulder that seemed to be untouchable. Even in a situation where my life could be hanging in the balance, I still found ways to embarrass myself.
In an attempt to distract him from my frightened idiocy, I asked him probably the stupidest question ever asked. The fact that I had already asked Sasuke the same thing only made me stupider. "Who… Who are you?"
Without batting an eye he answered quietly in the same low, smooth voice as when he had threaten Sasuke, "Uchiha Itachi.."
The answer was not exactly what I had expected. It had never occurred to me that he might have a name other than Sasuke's brother.
"Oh.." I exhaled the sound quietly. In my discomfort, I tried to create small talk. "Your name…. It means weasel?"
He nodded slightly, but gave no more expression. This was too scary, I couldn't handle it. I started backing away. He grabbed my wrists and pulled me closer. My common sense was telling me to break away and run, but I did not resist. I was preparing for something bad. I had no idea what, but this obliviously couldn't be a turn for the better.
Instead, his right hand slid over mine and he handed me a folded and stiff piece of paper. I gripped it tightly and then he released me without warning. I looked down at my hand in astonishment. What could possibly be the meaning of this? I looked back up just in time to see him blend himself into the shadows. I realized my heart was thumping and the day's fatigue finally caught up me. I was sick with tiredness. I barely arrived back through the hotel window and in my rented bed. I was too tired to undress, let alone analyze the paper. I fell asleep across the bed, clutching it in my palm.
The next couple of days blurred together. I hardly rested or slept. My days were spent spying on Sasuke in the hope that maybe, he would have another treacherous run in with Itachi. Nights were occupied by nagging thoughts. I had gone into the forest that night for answers. I got one answer, and it gave me no solace. Instead, the cat's unfed curiosity was slowly killing me, in the most painful way possible.
On my second night of insomnia, I finally remembered the paper. I found it fallen under my bed. I stared at wondering whether opening it would trigger some kind of trap. Sasuke was so reluctant in explaining, and Itachi had so readily offered his one answer… Itachi was the bad guy right? How come he was so much more helpful? I was doubtful about unfolding it, but again, my cat-like curiosity got the better of me.
I sat watching the picture in my hands for clues moments later. The picture was old and worn, but the images in it were still clear. There were two boys in it. One was standing, slightly bent over to tap on the younger boy's shoulder. He was pointing at the camera, warning the younger one, who sat on the ground, of the photographer. A barley noticeable smile played on the lips of the older one, as he stared defiantly, directly at the camera. The little one sitting on the ground, was originally facing with his back to the camera. He looked surprised and the beginnings of anger showed on his face. The picture was obliviously not recent, but it was not hard to identify the boys. Without a doubt in my mind, I knew it was Itachi and Sasuke.
I sat on my small disaster area of a bed, examining the picture intently. It was odd to think of what kind of children they must have been before Itachi had massacred the Uchiha clan. What purpose did giving me this picture serve? As I let my mind wander, I found my hatred of Sasuke dissolving when I imagined the kind of child that he might have been. What on Earth was his idea in giving me this? I got no sleep that night.
I thought briefly about going to someone else and sharing my puzzling thoughts with them. The only person that I could think to interrogate was Sasuke. It was definitely not the smart thing to do, considering all the possible repercussions. In the end, I decided to keep the picture and my little night outing a secret.
My spying continued in the vain hope of seeing Itachi. I followed him and watched his training and who he talked to. My fatigue made me careless in my observation. I had a hard time staying awake to watch him. I kept nodding off.
One day, things started off as normal. I 'awoke' early, not that I had ever slept… Then I showed up in hiding just in time to see him leave. Thankfully he took the short route to team seven's meeting place. Again he was early and I sat in the trees, waiting, I guess you could say, with him.
The other two arrived about the same time. The pink haired girl, whose name I now knew was Sakura, usually got there only minutes before Naruto. That was probably a good thing, especially since she seemed to be inching ever closer to him and always flirting. Naruto, whose name was impossible not to know because he seemed to always be trying to catch the spotlight, came to beg for Sakura's attention and squabble with Sasuke. It was really all kind of entertaining. I got a kick out Sasuke's annoyance and the frustration of the other two. Their sensei, Kakashi, was inevitably late. I had heard of him in the Mist Village. I was sure I didn't want to introduce myself to him under the current circumstances. He might just ask why I was spying. It would be rather uncomfortable to explain that one. My actions would be taken as hostile, and surely Itachi was a wanted criminal after what he had done. They'd probably think I knew something about his whereabouts. I wished I did, though.
As I sat comatose in the tree, team seven's meeting ended, and Sasuke didn't waste any time ditching his comrades and going off to train. This was his routine, I had become accustomed to it very quickly. It was convenient for someone like me. I followed him as he ambled toward a particularly secluded spot in the training grounds. Abruptly his pace quickened. I was annoyed with his sudden, apparent zeal in training, it meant I had to be more vigilant. But then he went from a trot to a fast jog. He was moving fast, which made tracking him silently challenging. Then, as if to bewilder me more, he turned off the trail. Was this the dirty dealings I had been watching him for earlier? He began sprinting, I was falling behind. I struggled to keep up, but eventually I lost him. Desperately, I crashed through the forest canopy. The noise was loud, I was too tired to realized that if I caught up, I would be discovered. Suddenly he came into my field of vision. He was standing in the fork of an overgrown path. I wondered if maybe he had stupidly gone astray on a random jog and gotten lost.
I squatted in the trees glaring at him. If he was lost, there was no way I was getting out of here. I had no knowledge about this forest's layout. How had I gotten myself into another situation where I was dependent on this particular idiot?
A man walked out of the shadows in the overgrowth. I instantly recognized the tattered shroud and metallic arm claw. It was the same rogue ninja who had nearly killed me.
"I need to speak to you, Oboro…" Sasuke growled at the man.
"Shut up!" Oboro hissed. "Didn't you hear the sound in the trees?!"
Sasuke scowled at him disapprovingly, "What are talking about?"
"Someone was following you, idiot!" Oboro whispered angrily. He swiveled his head, which seemed to move separately from his body.
I was caught in another brilliant show of stupidity. Surely I would be killed this time. My mind raced. Sasuke and this rogue must have been in cahoots! What did that say about my near death experience? Was the whole thing planned?
"Nobody could have followed me. I would have known and not come here." Sasuke said in voice that was meant to ward off any kind of disagreement.
"You're sure?" Oboro asked, unsure just how far to trust the boy before him.
"Yes!" Sasuke insisted, his anger building quickly.
"Why are you here?" Oboro asked in a business-like manner.
Sasuke's anger visibly flared, "I was almost killed…" he hissed.
"What?" Oboro cried, obliviously this was new information to him. I wondered if that knowledge should comfort me.
"I ran into Itachi, not too long ago. I was almost killed," Sasuke paused to let his apparent partner digest the information. I noted how he put emphasis how close he was to being killed.
"You're still alive though," Oboro said coldly," So, you've killed him I take it, and no longer require my services?"
"I didn't kill him, that girl. The one who you almost killed in the Mist Village, she came out of nowhere and he ran away.." Sasuke replied slowly, thinking about what he said carefully.
" What did she do to him?" Oboro inquired, trying to get an idea for a plan of attack.
"You honestly don't believe I didn't ask her that already?" Sasuke exasperated. Oboro stared wide eyed as Sasuke lashed out him again. "She ignored me and started asking about Itachi.."
"Is she a member of Akatsuki or employed by Itachi?" Oboro inquired, calculating possibilities about me.
Sasuke gasped, "I can't believe I overlooked it…"
"Look, it doesn't matter.. If she asked about him, she might be an ally." He said trying to calm Sasuke. That seemed to help Sasuke gain his cool again.
But meanwhile, my stomach lurched. They thought we could possibly have a common goal. There was no way I'd help them. I didn't know Itachi, but I felt a strong urge to do anything I could to aid him. If they tracked me down, they would let me in on their little plan and ask for my help. If I refused, I was obliviously helping Itachi. That wasn't a lie, but I didn't want them to know that.
I only half-listened as they hatched their plot. I was becoming more agitated by the moment. It was becoming too much to bear. Finally, in my blind fear, I ran like wildfire through the canopy. I ran at a dizzying pace, faster than ever before. I became more disoriented and confused. Part of me said to run away and leave the Leaf Village, but another part told me I had to find Itachi and tell him what I now knew. Without direction or certainty, I continued on. I swayed, slipped, and wobbled. Then, unceremoniously, I ran headlong into a tree. My speed and the sturdiness of the tree combined, I was knocked out with no hope of consciousness anytime soon.
It was dark when I came to. The trees whispered in the wind, I should have been cold. But for some reason I was still warm. I opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, but I could still make out the figure above me. I vaguely recognized Itachi. I rolled my head to the side and a wave of pain went from my head all the way down to my spine. I realized I was warm because of the Akatsuki jacket over my body.
"I hit my head.." I tried to say, but the words were gargled and slurred. My voice sounded like the moan of the dying, in other words, not pleasant. Even so, he didn't seem unnerved or frightened by my weak, sloppy speech. I should have guessed he wouldn't be. My head throbbed again as I remembered smacking the tree full force, and I moaned in agony.
I guessed he was getting something out of a pocket I couldn't discern with my horrendous vision. He pulled out what seemed to be a small black cylinder. Carefully he unscrewed the lid and dabbed a small amount of something green under my nose. I tried to resist, but all my coordination was lost, my arms flapped uselessly at my sides, hardly leaving the ground. Whatever the stuff was, it smelled pungently of mint. I couldn't stand the smell, but it awaked all my senses and restored my ability to move properly. I bolted upright flinging off the jacket and vigorously rubbing my nose. He caught the jacket midair and pulled it on quickly, watching me in confusion.
As he stood and brushed himself off, I wondered what he looked like without that cloak. A devilish voice in my head said he probably looked really hot. I turned bright red and stared at my hands, embarrassed at my inappropriate thoughts. I looked up to thank him as he walked away. Then the rest of my memory returned.
"Wait," I cried, "I have to tell you something!" He turned his head slightly, but continued walking into the forest. His silhouette was disappearing quickly, I had no time to waste. "Sasuke,.. and that rain ninja! They're after you, please! Be careful!" He gave no response. I had no idea if he even heard me. Even so, not being one to give up, I began to chase him. I only ran a couple of steps before my legs started to give out on me. I could only hope he had gotten my warning.
I began walking home. I wasn't even sure I could make it there. Again my darker side interrupted my normal thoughts with the image of being carried home by Itachi. I became red faced even with no one around. Even if Itachi had gotten my warning, I doubted that he needed it. He was a child prodigy, missing nin since age thirteen, S-rank criminal, Akatsuki member. What good was I to him, really? My mind was finally becoming clearer! When I got home, I believe the clock read about three in the morning. I fell asleep in my bed easily, with Itachi drifting through my dreams and nightmares. It was probably the most sleep I had gotten since I met Itachi that day in the woods. Well, I guess if you call that meeting someone, anyways.
Yeah.. I know that whole chapter was really wierd. Itachi is pretty much mute.. She's really twisted. I just read the last part since like the month or so ago I typed it.. Freako! I don't care.. Give me reviews!!