Chapter VI
Summary: supposed to be mere tea-drinking, it actually turned into something way different.
The house hasn't changed a bit since her last visit. Sakura felt itchy standing in front of the familiar white door tortured by uncertainty. Ring the bell or leave while it's not too late? She pulled herself together and buzzed at last. Silence met her again. Sakura decided she was not expected and no one would answer, however quiet steps were suddenly heard and hushed voice asked soon after,
- Who's there?
- It's Sakura, - she replied relieved. – I've come here once
A click and the door was ajar.
- Good evening, - he enounced politely
- Umm, how do you do? – she mumbled losing courage gradually
His blank look still made her feel uneasy, it seemed much more frightening than his reputation and his past altogether. There followed nothing but inconvenience as he waited for her to name the reason of the call while she lingered at the threshold failing to find a suitable word to say. Sakura had twice scolded herself for a stupid idea when he stepped aside to let her in. Just like that time.
'Fool, what a fool you are', she thought with aloofness pacing forward into the darkness.
The same gloom and curtained windows met her in the kitchen. Itachi slightly motioned towards a chair, she sat down with precise caution. Nothing has changed. Two weeks ago she was sitting there and now in fear, terror Sakura somehow felt awkward, as if lying, cheating. And here it was again, all buried in dead silence.
'Looks like it's getting into habit', sarcastically noted Inner Sakura.
This time Itachi started,
- Tea? – he calmly wondered
She was shocked, to say the least.
- Umm, erm… yes please
The elder Uchiha naturally stood up, came up to the counter and got down to rummaging, thin long fingers sliding over boxes and bottles, easily dealing with fragile items. In utter amazement Sakura watched him pour hot boiling water into a little teapot, no drop wasted, movements neat and careful.
'Real shinobi will always be a shinobi, blind or not', a transient thought rushed in her mind as her eyes followed his hands, they were like Sasuke's, elegant, beautifully shaped with long sensitive fingers.
Jasmine scent floated in the air. Itachi placed the teapot in the centre of the table after moving aside several scrolls. Behind the clad windows the sun was setting, shadows thickening, crawling. Sakura raised her eyes. In the semi-darkness his pale face looked like that of a phantom she had seen in a weird, nearly forgotten dream.
Ghost of Sasuke.
- Itachi? – she called in a very small voice
Half turn of his head, he was listening.
- Can I switch on the light? Too shady here
- As you wish
She got up looking around searching for a switch. Found by the door, it gave a short click as she hit it. Bright electric light filled the kitchen and Sakura narrowed her eyelids getting used to the change in illumination, Itachi stayed tranquil. She then sat down in her chair leaning against the edge of the table. The room appeared way different, only now she happened to notice how clean the whole place seemed, not a speck of dust, not a stain, not a scratch, all polished so hard until it shone, utensils clean, orderly put. She's never had anything remotely close to such perfect neatness.
- Tea's ready, shall I? – she questioned if she could pour him the tea
His agreement seen with a nod, Sakura leaned forward to the teapot. Jasmine aroma brought pleasant warmth, nostrils tickled with mild fragrance. Drinking her hot beverage the girl cast a sidelong look at the company now and then. Under the vivid light Itachi's face seemed completely different, more alive and human. Even though brothers, it was impossible to mix up him and Sasuke, Itachi was taller, more graceful, features not so sharp as his younger's. Besides, Sasuke never had such thick long lashes, it suddenly dawned on her Itachi had once had wonderful girl-like eyes that were now covered with blindness, the beauty stolen.
This man is the assassin of his clan, the mere idea of it caused shiver. A ridiculous thing – Sakura had seen him on the battle field with her own eyes, him, a ruthless murderer, a genius shinobi, at the moment she was examining the killer's face with little trace of fear. It was still within her, somewhere in the deep corner of her conscience yet allowing to scrutinize him with sheer curiosity.
- Itachi?
A half turn.
- The scrolls over there, what are they for? – she pointed out at them with a hand forgetting he couldn't see the gesture
- I read them
- Read? – Sakura pronounced in bewilderment. – But how? You are…
To answer he raised his right palm without saying anything. The sleeve slid down and there sparkled a thin silver bracelet, at that moment Itachi's fingertips blazed up with bluish glowing, the act any shinobi was familiar with.
- Chakra helps
- But… - Sakura was lost for words. – They forbid you to use techniques!
- It's ok with this one, it requires little chakra and no seals so Sasuke succeeded in getting Hokage-sama's permission, other jutsus however presuppose death, well, you know
Spellbound, she involuntarily stretched out to palpate the bracelet, the girl made slight contact with the metal but incidental touch against the cool of his skin caused her to jerk back the hand.
- Is this… - she questioned looking up in confusion
- It is
Chakra level detector, it let a certain amount of chakra release, increased amount would surely arise serious consequences like ANBU squad who would arrive here with far from peaceful intentions.
- I'm… sorry
He shrugged his shoulders,
- Pretty logical manoeuvre, the sole thing I could hope for
- This… I mean it seems costly, – Sakura stammered thinking whether or not continue asking. – How did Tsunade-sama deal with it? The country badly needs money for restoring, rebuilding after the war…
- Sasuke met the expenses, - was Itachi's dry response. He felt like dropping the subject
Sakura blushed staring down at her arms. Here it was again, her ability to be so 'good' at leading discussions. To her own surprise she suddenly discovered a tad of sympathy for the elder Uchiha, after all he's reached, all he's learnt, after freedom and independence he was now imprisoned within the four walls under his brother's guardianship. Yet he behaved naturally, he hasn't been broken down nor was he angry. She didn't feel sorry for him – it would be impossible, almost offensive but the feeling of respect was waking up inside the girl. Respect and admiration.
'Oh no, hold it Sakura, you are going in the wrong direction. This one's a nutcase. Mass killer, maniac, psycho. He is definitely mad and outrageous, and gone crazy a long time ago. Don't you forget, he was supposed to be executed… Supposed. But he was not – Sasuke had requested not do it to him. Wait, he doesn't seem to be against Sasuke. Very odd. How come?'
Her question aloud was not concerning this, however,
- Itachi, my curiosity may sound tactless…
'Too late, silly Sakura, you've already said all possible tactlessnesses', she reproached herself.
- I don't think so, what is it you want to ask me?
- What is it like… to lose eyesight? – she finished not looking at the man. She's gone too far this time, the girl took a careful look at Itachi before relaxing a little, he sat still apparently musing over her query
- It is… different. I'd been relying on my eyes being as they were my main weapon, lately my eyesight's started to weaken though it wasn't a great unexpectedness, I knew it would come to this sooner or later. Sort of payback for the power gained
Sakura shuddered, he spoke so coolly, so easily about it. She felt really scared all of a sudden. The manner of narrating was so much like Sasuke's, that Sasuke who was ready for everything only to gain strength.
- Funny
The kunoichi jumped hearing his voice, eyes on him as he got up to take away the cups.
- Sasuke never asked me about it, - he put the two vessels into the sink and turned around. – You are brave
His next movement was unexpected. He smiled. Sakura caught her breath totally in shock, stupor, childishly enraptured by a sudden miracle. The smile, although far from genuine, just a shade of it, slightest curve of the lips when the before-motionless features of a chiseled piece of marble cold and beautiful face yet-visibly softened. She's never seen him smile nor did she even suspect he could do it. Sakura studied that face – calm, composed, passionless, long fringe casting dark shadow almost fully hiding the blind eyes. Unnaturally pale skin deprived of sunlight looked smooth and lifeless like porcelain. Instantaneous smile died out, it wasn't needed.
And she smiled back.