Chapter 5: Just Human

"Izumi?" Itachi asked again as he began to cover the distance between him and Izumi. The braziers lit at his passing, casting Sakura further into shadow.

Sakura tentatively took a few hops forward to follow.

His head turned at the noise of her nails clicking upon the stone. The corner of his gaze landed on her.

Sakura froze in place like a burglar caught in the spotlight. Yikes. Well, he now knew she wasn't Izumi.

Izumi dipped her head.

The movement captured Itachi's full attention and he continued forward.

Whew. Sakura stretched a paw out and then another before springing her back paws to her front ones, eliminating the noise. While leaving would be safer, she couldn't help but be curious. What was Izumi really like? And, of course, why was Izumi out of bed?

"Itachi, I'm sorry for being out past curfew. However, I realized I forgot my booklet when I started studying and came to fetch it."

Who in the world studied at midnight? Sakura shifted a bit in unease when she realized that question could quickly turn back on her. Who read Dark Arts textbooks until 5 am?

Itachi gave a small smile, "It's alright, Izumi. I forget things too."

Sakura almost fell over. Was he going to let her off the hook? Come on.

"I'm glad I've run into you alone. I wanted to apologize about what happened earlier this week," Itachi said.

Ah. That. Dang. He was giving Izumi a freebie due to his sense of guilt. What a disappointment. Sakura kept her head low to the ground as she inch-hopped forward. Surely he'd still end up teasing Izumi as he did her?

"I didn't mean to upset you," Itachi continued, and Izumi's smile tightened. "I wasn't attempting to accuse you of anything malicious; I just thought you were feeling unwell."

Izumi gave a nod of her head. "I felt under the weather, just the changing seasons." She steadied her gaze. "I'm not a big fan of winter or darkness ." There was a slight hiss to her words at the end, as if Izumi wasn't purely talking about the lack of daylight.

Sakura tentatively came to rest several feet away, watching them stare off at one another, their dark, solemn gazes indiscernible.

"I wasn't trying –"

"You asked if I were making plans for the solstice. Do you think I'm going to become a dark witch?" Izumi crossed her arms over her chest. "Is that what you want from me?"

What did the solstice have to do with dark magic? Sakura wiggled a bit closer.

"No, of course not," Itachi said firmly. "But I know how defiant you can be regarding your father."

Izumi took a step towards Itachi and raised a finger. "And you think I'd go so far as to become a dark witch in such a spectacular fashion? He'd never speak with me again; he'd disown me."

"Half the time, I don't know what you will do. It's not like you have ever consulted me, and I needed to be sure."

"Yeah, I wouldn't want a repeat of your parents."

Itachi's back stiffened as if Izumi had slapped him. "My parents have nothing to do with why I asked."

"I'd never do that to you." Izumi gave Itachi a half smile, "I'd never betray you, not like that. "

"My mother did not betray my father," Itachi said, body tensing.

Izumi raised a brow. "She was just influenced. Madara pretty much had to have his way, didn't he?"

"Watch your tongue."

"Is our dear leader above reproach? Out of everyone, we are allowed to say something."

Sakura's head bounced back and forth. What Uchiha drama was this? She never got the sense anything was wrong from Sasuke.

"There is a difference between admonishment and slander. Do not speak as if you know."

"I heard Fugaku is constantly sick day in and out. That the dark magic is just eating out his soul."

"You know nothing."

"I know you want to be a light wizard like him. And you can be Itachi; I won't walk the dark path. I wont kill you with my magic."

Itachi leaned in, using his height to tower over her. "My father is in good health. And I've no desire to walk either path. I'm fine as I am."

Izumi reached forward and wrapped Itachi in a hug. "It's fine to want to become a light wizard, Itachi. I'm not going to tell your mom or Madara. I'd be proud to stand beside you."

Itachi gently grabbed Izumi's shoulders and pushed her enough away so that their gazes could meet. "I neither want the dark nor the light."

Izumi's eyes narrowed just slightly. "You can for just once confide in me. You're allowed to make a choice."

"I have made it."

Izumi broke the stare first, her gaze dropping until it landed on Sakura. Her hand rose to her lips to cover an 'o'. She bounced on the balls of her feet like a little girl as she pointed down. "Is this Bunny?"

No, no rabbit to see here. Sakura attempted to skedaddle behind Itachi's legs, but Itachi was faster. He had a foot at the back of her rump, stopping her from such a trick. His eyes stared down at her. In the brazier light, they looked cold and soulless. She was definitely in deep shit.

"Yes, this is my familiar. Nosy thing , isn't she?"

She really, really should have fled when she had the chance.

Izumi dropped to a knee to inspect her more closely. "More like a cutie."

Itachi gave Sakura a tiny push forward with his toe, and that movement was all the urging Izumi needed.

Sakura was promptly tugged by her armpits forward, the grip too tight to be comfortable. Under the scowl of Itachi, Sakura remained perfectly still, although internally, she wanted to squirm and scream under the touch. Perhaps this was payback for manhandling cats when she'd been a three-year-old.

Izumi stretched each ear to the max and lifted her cheeks to reveal teeth. Ugh. Izumi smelled horrible, like she had dunked herself in a bath of shitty perfume.

Sakura then got flipped onto her back. Izumi squeezed each paw and then inspected her tummy.

"Awww, it is a girl bunny."

How humiliating . Itachi had said 'she,' that meant there'd been no reason to look!

After thoroughly assessing her, Izumi gathered Sakura into her arms as if to hug her, but no, it was just a lift attempt, a squeezing one. Izumi grunted, and Sakura choked at the next lift. Who grabs an animal by the neck like this? At least Izumi adjusted after the noise and grabbed her below the armpits, better, but not by much.

"What a big cutie." Izumi pressed her cheek against Sakura's. Why was Izumi wearing so much perfume? So overwhelming. Too much, way too much.

"Very big," Itachi agreed with the assessment.

Gah! That was it; no more being a toy. She was small, small for a Flemish Giant Hare! She squirmed frantically, and Izumi let go. Sakura gasped at the stale castle air as she hopped several feet away to the safety of the darkness. Air, she needed good ol' air.

Izumi laughed softly and took Itachi's hand to return to her feet. "She seems very sweet. I'm delighted you've found a familiar Itachi. Here I thought no animals liked you."

"That's not true; when we were kids-"

"The crow was creepy, and so it didn't count."

"It wasn't creepy –"

Thump.

All three of them lifted their heads to the Astronomy tower door from what sounded like the origin of the sound.

Itachi drew his wand up, and Sakura edged back behind him. What was the noise?

Izumi then broke the silence with a laugh, "Are you scared of the wind?" She then grabbed Itachi's wrist and forced him to lower his wand. "I'll go grab my things, and I'll be right back."

"But-"

"Wind, Itachi, just the wind. Don't worry, I'll tell it not to blow," Izumi ascended the ladder and pushed the latched door open; before she continued her ascent, her foot slipped.

Sakura had never seen Itachi move so fast, not even at Quidditch. He grabbed her slipped foot with one hand pushing up so that Izumi didn't fall further.

"You got it?" he asked.

"Yes, yes, I got it." Up she went, disappearing into the dark opening. Then, after a moment, she poked her head back out and stuck out her tongue, "It's a bit breezy. I will shut the door, so it doesn't blow closed and scare you." And with a creak, it was just Sakura and Itachi in the hallway.

Sakura lifted an ear, listening to the shuffling above them. It sounded a lot like the noise from earlier. Sakura could pick up the tiny notes of Izumi's voice. Did she talk to herself or cast a spell?

Sakura blinked once, then twice, finally noticing Itachi staring down at her.

Oooh. Yeah, it was about time to make herself scarce.

"What did you s–muff?" A definite male voice came from above before getting muffled.

Itachi's reaction was instantaneous, realization hitting him like a brick. His nose flared, and his bloodline activated, the red as if from an internal fire.

Without another moment of hesitation, he followed Izumi up the ladder.

The realization then hit Sakura. Had Izumi been planning a rendezvous? Oh dear, no.

Itachi slammed the hatched door closed behind him.

Sakura stood on her hind legs, stretching to reach the railing. But alas, it was not made for animal traversal. She thumped onto her bottom and stared up. Her ears strained to pick up noise.

"I see your friend forgot half their clothes in the tower. Same time as you left your book, by chance?"

"Dude, these are normal pajamas–" the male said.

Izumi spoke over him,"–Itachi, this isn't what it looks like. "

"What exactly is it then?"

Sakura had never heard Itachi's tone so cold before. She shivered at the anger in it. Silence stretched too long. Izumi had no answer.

Sakura dipped her head, heart heavy.

"I'm sorry, Itachi," Izumi said.

"I'm not. I'm glad to wipe my hands of you."

Sakura's head whipped back up, eyes widened. Never in a million years would she have imagined Itachi saying such.

"Woah, dude, take a chill pill–"

"No, please, just give me minute –"

"I will not have you bound to my honor a moment longer. Not when you treat it with such disgrace."

"Please don't do this," Izumi said, "Just hear me out. I can explain what's going on."

Itachi didn't wait for her explanation and cut her off. "Five points from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff for being out of bed. Return to your dorms immediately. Or at least after you make yourselves decent."

"Decent, this is decent. I get the whole wizarding thing, but I'm not going to wear a dress, not even to bed–"

"–Wait, please, Itachi!" A loud thump resounded from inside the room. Had something been thrown?

The hatch reopened, and Sakura barely had time to move before Itachi jumped from the opening and onto the floor. Then, without acknowledging her, he straightened and strode away, his boots clicking harshly against the stone tiles.

Taking a moment to observe his frigid form going around the corner of the hallway, she glanced up at the astronomy tower opening.

"Are you ok?" the male asked. "That looked like it hurt."

"Why did you have to open your big mouth?" Izumi snapped back.

"It's just a few house points. Relax. I'd be more worried that you just tripped over your feet in front of a prefect." The guy laughed, "If you're ok, that was pretty funny."

With a scowl, Sakura sped away to catch up with Itachi.

Itachi stood waiting at an empty stairwell which allowed her to catch up. She paused at his right ankle, not daring to interrupt his brooding. But she garnered his attention anyway.

"Get out of my sight, pest, before I tell someone what you really are."

Sakura sneezed. What a meanie. Pest? She needed to go this way. This was the way down. What did he think, that she could pop out some wings at a moment's notice and take flight? That would be cool and a lot more convenient.

"What did I just say?" he hissed.

Here, she just thought Sasuke was an asshole when mad; it was starting to look like a family trait. If he wanted to be a jerk, so be it. She thumped her back foot in irritation, not moving from the spot.

He continued his glare.

Sure his betrothed just got caught cheating on him, but what an adult move to take it out on someone who'd just wanted to check up on you. And if he were also mad about her not being Bunny Izumi, well, she'd outright told him the truth. So what more did he want from her? Hi, I'm a fourth-year Sakura Haruno. Please take good care of me and give me lots of ear scratches. Will accept belly rubs too. Thank you.

The staircase came, and Sakura made her escape, bolting down the stairs, for it was much easier going down than up.

"Good riddance," Itachi hissed at her when she passed by.

And for that, Sakura paused when she reached the landing, and the next staircase was available. She gave him an ass wiggle and several kicks with her back paws to show her displeasure and continued. Then, when it moved away before he could get on it, she turned around and gave him the stink eye as she rotated by.

Itachi got caught again on the staircases and then he was out of sight. Now he would never know what house she was in. She was at the home stretch, the corridor that ended with an enchanted door knocker. An enchanted door knocker that wouldn't ask riddles to a rabbit to gain entry. Soon she'd be back in bed to hide under the covers and wish the day had never happened. No more Dark Arts, snuggles, or ear pets, but it was probably for the best. Jerk face; she didn't need pets anyways.

"There you are, Bunny." Ouka's voice rang down the empty hallway.

Sakura froze but knew it was already too late. Itachi's counterpart, the female Ravenclaw prefect, had caught her.

Her ears drooped. She'd have to find a way to slip away from Ouka before Itachi made it back. Sakura turned to watch Ouka approach.

Ouka gave Sakura a warm smile, red lipstick not smeared or faded after a long day of wear. She kneeled and made herself smaller. Her hands reached out, soft blue-painted nails slightly glowing with magic polish. Her hand waited there for Sakura to come closer.

It was much better than being dragged around or forced. Sakura gave a hop and closed the distance between them, letting her whiskers touch the palm of Ouka's hand. Ouka smelled good, with no strong perfume or stink of sweat, more like a batch of clean, fresh laundry.

Ouka's hand dropped down and began scratching the top of her head.

Sakura let out a long sigh. Well, at least she could rely on one person to give her good pets.

"Why such a sad —" Ouka then froze in her words, and her hand slid off Sakura's head not to return. "Oh, Itachi found out about Izumi."