Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
V.
They spent a couple of minutes in silence until Jakushi finally made up her mind and decided to break it with a safe subject. Whatever, just to get Itachi's mind off her.
"You know... Sasuke didn't speak with anyone for weeks after the war. Most people thought it's just because he's like that. But one night... we had organized some kind of a meeting, I won't use the word party for it suggests having fun. Times were still too dark for such a thing." She paused a bit, gathering the courage to look up to Itachi.
The use of a certain name seemed to have an almost magical effect on him, thawing whatever he had guarded himself with.
"After the dinner we found ourselves sitting in a circle, telling stories from the war. Then... I don't quite remember who said "Akatsuki... I think they were one of the biggest problems out there. Itachi was a nightmare." Sasuke then spoke for the first time in months. "Itachi is dead," he said. "You can sleep peacefully." Then left the room.
"Why do you tell me this?"
"Because I find it very odd."
"Meaning?"
"He wanted you dead with all his heart. I have seen him sad, and angry. But that was grieving, what I saw. He must've taken his revenge, I suppose, you say you've died." Jakushi furrowed, trying to find the right words. "People usually celebrate a victory, they don't go mute for months. For all my years in Konoha, I have seen your brother happy two or three times. Rarest sight in the world."
"Yes." Itachi intervened with what sounded like question and confirmation at once.
She got it. Playing with his patience wasn't wise.
"Sasuke wasn't happy about your death."
"Let's meet first, then you can conclude if he's happy about it or not."
"Your clan never ceases to amaze..." Jakushi murmured. "I think you have enough."
She interrupted the exchange of chakra and straightened.
"Need of help?" She offered her hand, keeping a passive emotion but he stood up effortlessly and dusted his clothes off.
"You helped enough." He met her eyes, a bit lower than the level of his.
Jakushi opened her mouth with the idea to apostrophize with sarcasm but was surprised by the rather small space between them, a bit more than a span. If she was to admit, her first thought was that she wasn't used to being shorter than someone because in most of the cases she was the tall one.
That was the reason she felt strange to look almost up now. Then she forgot her sarcastic remark. She could've sworn it was something funny... it escaped her mind. Shame. Matter-of-fact her whole mind had blocked treacherously and the only thing that emerged in there was the need to escape the situation. And it tried. Somehow.
"I-I...yes, you're welcome." She swallowed, taking a breath. "We can go now."
He, seemingly, had no idea of the unusual effect he had on her and observed her with a combination of curiosity and confusion.
"Is there a problem?"
"No. Everything's fine." She announced a bit quicker than she wanted to, adding a smile. "Do you have any idea which way is Konoha?"
"I do." He calmed her and glanced at the frozen scenery outside. "We have a good chance of arrival before the day ends."
"Wonderful." Jakushi passed by him with a fast pace.
It was a fact that she had never had the opportunity to take a look of a Sharingan from so close without being endangered or under the risk of dying. Never had the opportunity of feeling a Sharingan from inches away. Hasting to tuck the thought away in the deepest part of her mind, so she would never ever find it again, she ascertained that something as deadly as that could actually be as equally beautiful.
"How can you be sure Konoha's that way?" Jakushi asked, looking around. For her, the forest was all the same in every direction. At least the tall trees did not allow the strong wind to reach them with its coldness that lashed whenever they were out in the open.
"Actually Konoha is not exactly this way. I strayed a bit from the way so that we won't meet unwanted Akatsuki members."
"You can always lie that I'm your captive." Jakushi shrugged, walking behind Itachi just because walking in front of him would be inappropriate in many ways. "You seem to know this place well."
Jakushi had to admit that everything frightened with its sameness. She had no plan for a situation like that and had no idea that she'd ever part with her team. The forest was nothing like the one around Konoha, the one she knew like the back of her hand.
In was a little past noon and they haven't spoken a word since the morning. Jakushi didn't want to talk anyway. The silence of the forest was pleasant. Besides she had no intentions of being obstructive to Itachi's surely labile concentration... or him being obstructive to hers. It was nice without conversations.
That way she was left on her thoughts' mercy - not completely sure if he's still thinking of killing her. Kidnapping her. Her imagination often led her far. How can one be sure about anything in a man who shares absolutely nothing? Perhaps Sakura was slightly mad after all, to be attracted to such a thing was downright masochistic.
Itachi suddenly stopped and Jakushi furrowed.
"Is there a problem?" She asked, a bit surprised.
"I think they are two." He answered slowly and dragged out two kunai-daggers.
Jakushi followed his example, trusting his instinct and looked around suspiciously. There was nothing around them, at least at first sight.
"Two?" She still couldn't detect anyone. Could she fight off two? Only she was in a condition to fight properly.
They almost leaned on each other's backs when Itachi turned around sharply. In the second he threw the daggers over Jakushi's shoulder before she could see to whom, invisible whirlwind rose up around them and diverted the blades. Jakushi was about to escape the circle when Itachi stopped her.
"Wait."
She almost retorted but kept her mouth shut. His opinion was always useful. The wind turned into a fire in an instant and the circle started shrinking progressively. A combination of wind and fire, Jakushi didn't like it at all.
"I can't help you without my chakra." Itachi met her eyes for a second, then peered through the rings of fire, threatening to burn them alive. It was more a look of confusion than else. "I can see only one but I know they're two."
Jakushi used the seconds she had to materialize the idea in her head. Yin Release. The Shadow Technique was one of the things she used with pleasure. Truth was, a few were able to practice this technique - first because it required all the attention and too much chakra. And second, because it was too complicated to execute. But Jakushi adored it. Her sensei once told her that she was gifted. She was born for this.
The Yin Release required not only an ordinary chakra but a special kind of energy too - spiritual. Together they stimulated the imagination to create a form of whatever the caster wished. Most commonly the technique was used for an offensive purpose. But considering the imagination could create anything, Jakushi created something different - a shield.
Unbreakable, semi-transparent sphere enveloped her and Itachi before the flames could reach them. Jakushi raised her eyes triumphantly. The techniques with which they were attacked couldn't breach through her creation. The only problem left was how to defeat two alone. She looked at Itachi, whose gaze was strictly fixed ahead.
"Clone?" He narrowed eyes. "I haven't seen such a thing."
Jakushi joined him, trying to discern figures through the shield. He was right, they were two. Everything was too blurred and unclear. The one had a flame in his palm and the other had a dozen daggers around it, holding on to invisible strings.
"Manipulated Daggers Technique..." Jakushi pondered. Two absolutely identical figures. A flame. Who could use that technique in such a way?
She started laughing all of a sudden.
"That's not a clone." Jakushi shook her head, unable to comprehend her own stupidity. "How did it not occur to me earlier..."
"Are you sure?" Itachi was really far from the calmness she seemed to have acquired. "They tried to kill us. And they will do it again."
"They won't. This is my team." Jakushi sighed.
Her sphere slowly started to fade and just before it was completely gone she heard Itachi who saw the movement of his opponent in the moment he decided to execute it.
"Hiraishin."
Oh, no. Flying God Technique.
"Takumi!" Jakushi yelled, making him freeze. She had no idea when she got in front of Itachi, holding her katana up. Takumi and his blades were inches away as if frozen in time.
The pair of blue eyes in front of her was filled with surprise.
"Back." She said mechanically and repeated soon after. "Go back."
Takumi retreated slowly and waited. Kioshi neared him and Jakushi didn't fail to notice their expressions turning into murderous glares once they shifted to a point behind her.
"Genjutsu?" Kioshi offered.
"Probably." Takumi narrowed eyes.
"I'm not in a Genjutsu, idiots. It's me." Jakushi snapped angrily. "And stop giving ideas. Having no chakra won't stop him."
Kioshi furrowed.
"I will kill him." Takumi dashed forward but Kioshi grabbed and pulled him sharply as if he thought of something.
"Goodness, Takumi, calm down. Please don't move for a second, will you?" He stepped to Jakushi as he spoke.
"If it's really you, you'll let me neutralize him. If not, Uchiha will pay for taking you."
"I will destroy him." Takumi's low voice was like an echo to Kioshi's words. He was on the verge of his patience.
"I need him alive, Kioshi. Don't overdo it." Jakushi warned and shifted.
"As you wish." Kioshi smiled and caught Itachi's wrists harshly.
Black linings appeared on Itachi's hands and he fell on his knees.
"Kioshi. " Jakushi wasn't exactly sure how angry Takahiro was to her but right now, she'd never seen them as intimidating.
"Just a little more," Kioshi promised enthusiastically. While Takumi was fierce, Kioshi seemed to have fun. He placed his palm on Itachi's forehead and after a second stepped back. "Done."
"What did you do?" Jakushi wasn't aware of that technique.
"Nothing special." Kioshi's eyes didn't move away from Itachi. "I locked his chakra so that he won't use it against us. He can't use his hands either, for any kind of signs."
"Great. Just great." Takumi's blade technique was dismissed, his hands folded. "Why the hell did you protect him?"
Jakushi looked at him tiredly.
"This is a stupid question, I did not do such a thing."
"Just the contrary. You let neither me or Kioshi get to him."
"Kioshi tried to burn us alive! And you don't spend much time thinking about your actions." Jakushi couldn't believe what was he blaming her for. Kioshi was silent. Apparently, he was on his brother's side. That's a first. She continued with a bit calmer intonation. "You do realize that if he wanted to kill us, he would've done it by now, right?"
"Is that right?" Takumi fixed on Itachi, who got back on his feet.
"Are you insane?" Jakushi moved in front of him. "Sharingan, Takumi. I know you were going to use the Chakra Absorption, you always do."
"She's right." Kioshi scanned Itachi from head to toe. "Good that Jakushi stopped you. If he had copied your technique, which is only logical in his condition, we would've been in quite the problem."
"I was aware of my opponent, I've fought with Sasuke. I know what a Sharingan can do. I was prepared. " Takumi glared at Itachi again. " I was going to kill him myself."
"You'd know, then, that I can turn your technique against you." Itachi suddenly intervened with his usual calm tone. "Your Hiraishin is not fast enough to deceive a Sharingan."
"If it wasn't for Jakushi to guard you, you wouldn't be alive to lecture me." Takumi snapped.
"You were going to paralyze." Itachi continued, winning a shocked expression from Jakushi. Where did that come from? The only one she hoped to not break up from a fight joined. "Or..."
"I don't fight with cowards."
"Takumi, leave him alone," Kioshi added. "He couldn't have possibly won, it's one versus three. Besides, I wouldn't have let you fight on your own."
"To fall unconscious in a split second." Itachi's voice resembled a hypnosis.
"Stop it!" Jakushi shouted loudly, cutting them off, in utter confusion. A meaningless quarrel was more than she could bear. "It's not the time for comparing who's faster and who's stronger. We should head to Konoha. Now."
After a brief and static thought over her words, Kioshi pushed silently Itachi, forcing him to walk in front of him. They passed by Takumi and Jakushi.
"You should calm down. Do it for me." Jakushi gave Takumi a begging expression. "It's alright now. We got this, right?"
"I'll be right back, calm down." Takumi quoted with a cold tone. "This is not a game. How are you even still alive?"
"I'm sorry, Takumi... I ask myself the same." She paused. "I must be honest this time. I missed you, guys."
He took a breath and exhaled.
"We missed you too. It was a nightmare, looking around for you without knowing if you're alive or not. After the storm last night our hopes almost died. What are you doing with Itachi Uchiha in this forsaken place?"
"I..." Jakushi shrugged, the confusion written all over her face. " I don't know what's happening. He helped me, Takumi. He didn't try to kill me."
"Why would he help you?" Takumi frowned and a second after, his eyes widened. "Wait... isn't he supposed to be dead?"
"Yes." She looked past his shoulder. "I'll explain to you what I know."
The trees may have been some kind of a cover from the merciless wind for them but as much as they neared the forest's end the more they felt the chilling breath. The sky was dark and heavy with stormy clouds and the sun was almost gone. Even with her warmest clothes, Jakushi shivered.
It was clearly seen that the rest of the group was freezing too but admitting it would equal admitting defeat. No way in a thousand years would she hear it from Takumi, he was still mad at her. As much as he forgave her everything when she shared how her last night went, he renewed his anger, sinking in a furious... silence. Moreover, he couldn't stand the presence of a certain person. That kept going on for hours.
Kioshi, as always, didn't speak, walking next to Itachi without losing him from sight. He was obviously absent, somewhere deep in his thoughts and only trembled from time to time when the winter waft turned against him.
Itachi was in the worst situation because his clothes weren't fit for winter. Jakushi wasn't sure he'll be able to carry on for a lot more miles but he kept walking without saying a word.
For all of this to continue the same way was absolutely ridiculous and Jakushi knew that it was up to her to stop the madness.
"Takumi?" She called loudly in an attempt to outcry the hissing wind.
Jakushi neared him, narrowing eyes.
"What are we doing?" She asked. "Aren't we gonna stop?"
"It's not a good idea." Takumi didn't even look at her.
"But..."
"Jakushi, the blizzard will kill us," Kioshi said from the back, seemingly hearing all of her words. "We can't afford to stop."
Jakushi glanced at Itachi for a moment who was already looking at her and observed carefully as if estimating something. She didn't quite like that look. Whatever he thought of, he had no chance.
"Konoha is still far away. We won't stop." Takumi said.
"Too far away," Itachi added up immediately and Takumi turned sharply.
"You," Takumi narrowed eyes. "Have no say in the matter."
"To walk in this weather through the night is a suicide and you know it."
Takumi didn't reply, fists clenched. Jakushi bounced from the one to the other, thanking whatever divinities existed Itachi had no chakra.
"We shouldn't stop." Kioshi's voice was strangled as if he didn't even trust himself.
"I'm freezing. Let us stop for a while. We all need rest." Jakushi was looking at Takumi inquiringly.
"At the end of the forest lies a small valley where we can hide from the wind. It's hidden well."
A brief silence spread between them while Takumi took his time to decide. He exchanged glances with Kioshi.
"There's at least half a day to Konoha. We had to stop anyway."
Takumi turned around and kept walking.
"I'll do a compromise for Jakushi. Not for Uchiha."
Jakushi sighed and met Itachi's eyes. He nodded in gratitude barely noticeable. She averted her eyes and hastened to catch up with Takumi's fast pace.
"Thank you, Takumi." She touched his hand, making him tremble with her unexpected presence.
"You should've told me earlier." His expression softened at the sight of her half-smile.
"I'm fine. Just a bit tired."
"And we haven't eaten a thing since the morning." Takumi noticed.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading, favoriting, following and reviewing.
StarshineRose18 I love you. Also have a lovely day, guys! (Or night. Whatever it is to you.)
P.S. Please, do tell me if you find mistakes or something! I feel like I make a lot and I don't see them. My apologies of which, I've always wanted this beautiful language to be my native but it isn't.