Chapter 6

I jolted awake to Itachi and Kakashi bent over me. Both looked worried.

"I'm okay," I said to quell them. I lay curled up now, wrapped in blankets. I guessed probably Itachi's doing. He helped me sit up.

"How do you feel? Do you still hurt at all?"

I shook my head. "I'm fine, good actually."

Kakashi watched me curiously then asked. "Did you sense anything odd when you passed out, Keitara?"

"The pain stopped just before, but other than that, no. Why?"

He sighed and analyzed me a moment. "The room flashed green. The mark left isn't quite normal either. Your shoulder."

I looked at my still bare shoulder. Dark curving lines resembled the outline of a dragon's head.

"Gildenthanos…" I murmured.

"What?" Kakashi asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing, just a bit tired."

Kakashi nodded. "No one should be surprised. Better eat something first. Besides, we'd all best get comfortable, it looks we'll all be stuck here tonight. It's a blizzard out there," Kakashi said from the window.

"Snow?" I hadn't seen snow in four years and not remembered it before then. I hurried to the window, blanket and all. I couldn't help gaze at the white flakes.

"Could we go out in the morning?" I sounded like a child.

"Of course," Itachi said as he put a robe round my bare shoulders. "But tonight, food and rest." He guided me back to the futon, where Kakashi just set down a bowl of chicken and rice. I won't deny being hungry at the time. Besides, Itachi's cooking skills flaunted experience.

"Well, I think I'll take the back room and get some shut eye. You two have a good night. Don't be too loud." Kakashi bid.

I bid good night and turned back to met smiling onyx orbs.

"What?" I asked, unable to keep from smiling myself.

He chuckled. "You know what he meant don't you?"

Of course I did! I wasn't born yesterday! But was I ready?...likely not.

Pretending to be distracted by something outside I went to the window, abandoning my supper. I watched the white flakes swirl to the ground a moment. Having abandoned my blanket on the bed still, it felt colder than expected, even with the robe.

Warmth came swiftly against my back. Itachi's arms snaked around my waist. His breath tickled the shell of my ear, sending a shudder down my spine. A rosy blush warmed my cheeks. I felt his heart pounding against my back, sending my heart on the same escalating rhythm.

"Itachi - "

"Shh. Don't say anything. Just enjoy it."

I turned only to be captured by his kiss and a sweet kiss it was! I can't put onto paper the feeling of that. Too soon we had to catch our breath. He kept his arms around me,our foreheads rested against one another. "For a first, that was amazing, Keitara."

I nodded. "We really should get some sleep."

He nodded and ran his lips along my jaw line stopping at my ear. "We won't give Kakashi the satisfaction of hearing us, not tonight. You need rest after the sealing," he whispered. Quite unexpectedly, he lifted me and carried me back to the bed. I slept wrapped in his arms that night, something I was quite comfortable with.