Song: Framing Hanley - Weight of the World
It was late and the sun was setting behind the horizon. Astrid was sleeping, murmring something, probably dreaming.
Itachi layed her on the grass, under the tree, and went swimming. He had to clear his head; it was too much for one day.
Water was cool so it washed away most of his problems. He had to cope with the fact that he is criminal now. If only Astrid is awake, she would know how to comfort him.
„Itachi?" – he heard a voice, coming from the shore.
„I thought you were sleeping."
„I was sleeping, but now i'm awake."
„Do you want to go back to the base?"
„You are sad. Come here."
She felt his sadness. His helplessness.
So she decided to help him.
„You don't have to carry the weight of the world, I can help you with that." – she took his head in lap and started to sing a calm, relaxing song.
„Give me names and what they said.
Oh how could they hurt you?
And when you crumble away under pressure...
You need to borrow my strength and I'll let ya.
It's getting heavier hold, hold it steadier..."
Itachi was sad and broken. He couldn't cry anymore, but he felt that sadness deep inside of him. Astrid was here and it was enough but will his wounds ever heal? Probably not...
„Let's go back. We'll be late on meeting." – Astrid said quietly.
„We probably should.."
Itachi got up, looking for clothes. It was where he left it, couple of hours ago.
„Oh, look! It's all wet and dirty!" – Astrid said in monotone voice, looking sadly at her shirt which was covered in water and mud.
„You can have mine." – Itachi was taking his shirt off, handling it to her.
„And what about you?"
„I don't need it."
Shirt was a bit oversized, but it looked good on her.
„You still look amazing, even with my clothes." – Astrid smiled, running in his hug. She enjoyed in his smell and warmth, almost drowning herself in him.
„Come on.. We have to go. Here, jump." – he offered his back to her, giving her piggyback ride once again. They were walking couple of minutes when something catched his attention.
„Look, Astrid!" – Itachi pointed at the sky. One cloud was slightly different from others.
„It looks like a dragon!" – She was smiling, obviously very happy.
„I knew you'd like it."
Akatsuki base was not far away so he lowered her down. It was night already and they were tired and hungry.
„I'll shower first." – Astrid dragged him, almost running – „Come on, hurry up!" – her impatience made Itachi smile.
„Okay, okay. Let's go." – he grabbed her by the waist, disappearing in the cloud of smoke. In second they were in their room, panting and sighing.
„Bed looks good. Ah.." – Itachi waved Astrid to come and join him.
„No. First I have to take a shower and then maybe I'll join you..." – she disappeared behind the door, making him wonder is she real.
*Knock knock*
Someone knocked on the front door, startling Itachi from his thoughts.
„Who is it?"
„It's me, Konan."
„What do you need, woman?"
With one movement, she was in room, holding kunai to his throat.
„You should respect your elders, boy."
Itachi smirked. He easily vanished, now standing behind her.
„Look, I don't want troubles..." – he whispered, just few inches from her face – „Especially not when my wife is in shower, singing happily... Now if you came here just to interrupt us, then you can leave. Or else." – his breath was short, making older woman twitch. Konan was pissed off, but she decided to better stay calm.
„You have to attend tomorrow's meeting. Woman should stay here. Someone will come with dinner and Akatsuki cloaks, so please don't go anywhere today.." „Is that all?"
„You and your woman will probably be assigned to mission tommorow."
„Is there any chance for the two of us to go to mission together?"
„No. I should leave now, it's getting late." – Konan left, leaving the man standing.
„It's your turn to shower now." – Astrid came out of the bathroom, dressed in baby blue pyjamas with white and yellow ducklings – „I'm so sleepy..." – she yawned, throwing herself on the bed.
Itachi thought that she'll be awake once when he finish, but instead of it she was sleeping.
He wanted to talk with her, to grieve and cry, but he couldn't. Nights were exhausting, it was the time when spirits of the people he killed started to taunt him. Astrid was innocent, her face expressions were childlike and her hands were clean. She didn't have a clue about life, but still.. She could understand him better than anyone.
„What time is it?" – Astrid turned around, looking at Itachi.
„3:00 o'clock. It's still early. You should be sleeping."
„Why are you awake?"
„I can't sleep."
„Idiot!" – she hit him with a pillow – „You should've woken me up!" – she was obviously pissed; he was worried and she was peacefully sleeping. Unforgivable.
„It doesn't matter. I don't want to trouble you. I'll be fine."
„You are scaring me, seriously. What is it?"
„It's nothing." – he tried to get up, but she yanked him by his hand, dragging him back to the bed.
„It's not something that you should..." – he almost said it when she slapped him hard across the cheek.
„God damn it, Itachi... We are together in this, aren't we?
I'll cut this hands; just ask me to do it.
I will cut this throat" – she grabbed the kunai – „Just ask for it."
Itachi was speechless. How could he be so self-centered?
„So please..." – she was sobbing now – „Don't do this. Please, trust me. I'll never betray you. Not in a million years... Maybe my hands are clean, but it doesn't matter. When you're in pain, I feel it. That's how it works, I guess.."
After long pause, Itachi spoke.
„When I close my eyes, I see them."
„Who?"
„Mom and dad, neighbours, innocent women with their kids... They haunt me everytime I close my eyes."
„If you want, we can make a little monument, maybe burn some candles... And pray for their souls. I will pray every night so they could find peace. Is that allright? Now give me a hug.. I'll hold you close like every night.. So relax. I'm here, it's allright.." – she singed same song as before, gently caressing his head, nurturing him in the same time.
„I love that song."
„I know."
„You know everything about me."
„Much more than that." – Astrid whispered, tracing fingers down his face to his chest, admiring warmth of his body.
„I have to tell you something... Konan was here. Do you remember her?"
„Oh, that blue-haired kunoichi from before?"
„Mhm."
„Yes, I remember her. What happened?"
„Apparently, we'll be assigned to mission tommorow. But we can't go together. So I wanted for you to know that."
„That's a little tricky, but okay, I think I understand why. We wouldn't be able to separate work from personal life.. I guess."
„Probably."
Astrid yawned, trying not to sleep.
„Go to sleep, fool. You don't have to be awake because of me."
„It's okay, I'm not sleepy..." – with another, long yawn she fell asleep still holding Itachi close.
'That's right, sleep...' – Itachi thought, falling in deep, well desired dream.