Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
XII.
She narrowed eyes. The solidity of the shield didn't allow her to see the attacker. The following seconds were irritatingly quiet. A thought passed her mind in a split second, to lower her shield so that she could see better but that changed with the appearance of several projectile blows that she recognized as shuriken.
The force and precision they were flying towards her were unimaginable, she thought, never before her shield cracked so easily and quickly. It started falling apart when she closed eyes. Playing defensive was preferred although she had a lot of experience and could maintain hours of it. Playing offensive, on the other side, drained her faster.
Jakushi tripled the stability of her shield but the blows didn't stop. Just the opposite, they increased velocity and hit her twice as harder. The sound of hissing, air-cutting steel was deafened by something else. She stepped back in slight surprise. The projectiles obtained a fire cover. She had to think of something and do it fast. A single idea popped up in her head and she smiled.
In the moment her shield disappeared she ran sideways, controlling her thoughts to create firm shields that appeared only to take the persistent blows in her way. The swiftness and dexterity allowed her to make the linear movement she previously planned on doing but her strength was in the melee engagement. She had to get close.
The zigzag movements should suffice. At least she was to escape the deadly fire discs and had enough chakra to perform a Shadow Gathering, provided that she sees her opponent. That was impossible for now due to her constant running and the shields that showed up whenever she needed, which was every second, were too frail to hold on. All that gave her no time to peek.
The number of the munitions sent her way gave the impression of clones. But that didn't change the fact that the shuriken could hurt.
Jakushi finally got close enough, successfully dodging every shell when a single look ceased her movements, nailing her in place. Dammit, the eyes. She forgot to avoid looking into the eyes. The view relieved her inwardly but that didn't mean she would give up.
Her body didn't move, frozen in the middle of the vast space of her meadow. And her mind, it sped up, starting to force and look for a way to wrest out of the grip. But it was harder than she ever imagined, that was a form of Genjutsu. Paralysis on a mental level. She hadn't clashed with such thing before but she did not lack training of the mind.
Perhaps if she changes the shape of her-
"It won't help." Itachi smiled, his hands folded. He was standing not far from her as if he'd stumbled across her accidentally, while on a walk. Her attempt to regain the control over her own body again was laughable and she knew it.
There was a real chance of doing it, maybe, if she transformed-
"Not a good idea."
"Stop it." She snapped, mentally swearing that the Sharingan was the vilest thing in all existence. "It's not fair."
He shrugged in amusement.
"Alright," Jakushi whispered, closing eyes. "Let me see you now."
She had the strength to outfight the paralysis and that was better than the scene of her, making up techniques in her mind and him, reading them right away. Actually, she came up with another idea. Her chakra concentrated in the creation of a mental shield. It was something curious that she had tried before. The perfect anti-weapon against a Genjutsu of the sort. It was something like mental guarding of her mind so that others couldn't reach it.
Jakushi felt the grip loosening and wasted no time, sending a rain of shadow blades towards him. She followed them in an attempt to use her katana, as planned, but black flames devoured them all, surrounding them both in a wide enough circle. Jakushi stopped, glancing at the flames for a second. Perfectly controlled, they could damage everything. Their user's wish was the only restraint for them to not do it.
When she focused ahead again, Itachi was already walking her way slowly, with his sword unsheathed.
"Didn't I worry you just a tiny bit?" Jakushi asked out loud, horrified.
"You're one of the few that can escape from that Genjutsu," Itachi noted thoughtfully. "Not bad."
"You're insulting me." Jakushi dashed and hit the steel with her own.
That kind of fencing, the sword fight, in which she took great pride, was now an absolutely insane task for her. No longer a child, she believed to have mastered it to perfection until she met Itachi. While her blows were heavy and well-thought, he was almost dancing. His dueling was artful, a pleasure to the eyes. Precise and well sustained.
She realized that on the twelfth parried blow and took a few steps back, breathing heavily. Perhaps his swiftness overpowered her skill. She fought well, she positively did but Itachi was fast. Incredibly fast.
"Surrender?" He asked politely, taking on a starter position again, half-turned to her.
Goodness... she became aware that through all these minutes his chakra maintained the Amaterasu around them. After nearly three fully performed techniques he used on her before that, the Amaterasu and the Genjutsu, he offered a second round of a clear swordfight with the calmest intonation. What did she actually do with restoring his chakra? That was like giving time to a mastermind.
Well, so far so good. She smiled, expanding her thought a hundred times until a massive shadow grew behind her. That was one of the best techniques she knew. It resembled the ones Nara used but she created it out of spiritual energy and it didn't bother her chakra. Which allowed her to use her chakra for other techniques and she did it, to add blades to every offset of the shadow mass under her control. An unpleasant shiver ran down her spine when she opened her eyes and saw a Susanoo in a full size towering above her.
She looked up. Right, that was impressive. It probably wasn't even the finished version. That one had no armor. Jakushi was sure already defeated by size but size had one weakness. It allowed no fast movements.
She felt that she was almost out of power but transformed her creation into one single massive arrow-like blade and raised her katana to Itachi. He positively didn't expect the rapid change in her decision and the blade almost pierced the red humanoid form of his. He held it off with quite the struggle. Well, well.
"Don't underestimate me!" Jakushi yelled because the loud rumble of the Susanoo's resistance to her technique deafened everything else.
"I'm not even attacking." Itachi laughed, a sound that almost made her lose her concentration completely.
She changed the shape yet again and her shadow started enveloping the Susanoo tightly and limited its movement drastically. Jakushi burned angry at the fact that just when she had a real chance, her strength failed her and she broke off her technique, leaning on her katana in an attempt to catch her breath. The use of her chakra and her spiritual energy at the same time drained her so much that she often found herself on the verge of blacking out.
"Are you alright?" Itachi neared her slowly.
There was no sight of the Susanoo or the Amaterasu around them. Jakushi raised her eyes to give him a tired look, which transformed into an eye roll quickly after.
"How cute." She snapped and relaxed on the grass. "I plan on laying down a bit if you don't mind."
Itachi barely hid his smile, sitting by her graciously. Jakushi narrowed eyes, observing his calm expression. He, apparently, sunk in thought, forgetting he has a company.
"What are you thinking about?" She asked, still breathing heavily.
"I'm glad we didn't destroy the forest," Itachi answered slowly but she didn't buy it, giving him a meaning look, which surprisingly did its job and persuaded him fast enough.
"Do you know that your shadow technique is actually firmer than the armor of a Susanoo?"
Jakushi furrowed.
"I had no idea. Thanks for sharing. But I've got better ideas of how to use my chakra. I won't protect your Susanoo, if that's what you're waiting for."
"No need." Itachi smiled and laid down next to her.
She pulled out one of her daggers silently and twisted her body, leaning the blade against his throat.
"I haven't said I'm finished."
Itachi met her eyes and her hand immediately released the dagger. She, of course, couldn't move. Matter of fact, her whole body was on his disposal. Again. Her face paled when the thought ran through her mind. After a few horrible seconds in which neither of them moved, he let her go and she took a breath sharply.
"You were gonna lose to me back then. When you had no chakra." After the seconds of shock, Jakushi relaxed her head on her hand, deciding not to attack anymore.
Itachi turned to her without speaking.
"Have you ever been under a Genjutsu?"
"Yes. I know how it feels."
"Can you not do it on me ever again?"
"I'm sorry." He gave an apologetic expression. "Just like you created a shield in a split second when in danger, I too use my eyes the same way."
"Right..." Jakushi sighed and took her time to observe him for a while, as she was a pace away. She kind of wanted to... get closer. And stay there. Was that weird?
"Can I ask you a question?" Jakushi took her kunai dagger back and slid it back in its place.
He nodded.
"When was the last time when you were that close to someone?" She knew he'd know what she referred to, so didn't bother explaining.
"I hugged my brother a few days ago." He smiled, trying to figure out her emotionless mask. "It got really personal in a short time."
"Except Sasuke." She added.
"Do always angry girls that intrude my personal space count?"
"Without them."
Itachi was predisposed to answer ironically but after half a minute of silence, it seems he came to the realization that he's not able to do it.
Jakushi shook her head disapprovingly.
"I heard your parents weren't especially kind to you. And to your brother, to some extent."
Itachi fixed his gaze on her, freezing in place. The subject changed sharply yet again.
"My parents were just fine. They did their job."
"Is that so?" Jakushi was surprised. "Job? I thought being a parent didn't mean treating your children as if part of an army."
"Of what do you exactly accuse them? They did nothing that they shouldn't have done."
"Oh, yes." Jakushi nodded mockingly, nearing his face a bit. "They've raised a brilliant soldier who's afraid to be close to someone."
"I'm not afraid. I'm just not used to it." Itachi pulled back, barely noticeable.
"Because your father was so proud of you, bragging about you as if you were his greatest achievement while your mother... Actually, she didn't really have a say in the matter, right? I know how noble clans w-."
"You wouldn't know." He spoke before she could even end her sentence.
"I wouldn't know but I remember some things. I wasn't that little."
"You're not right. My mother and my father loved me and my brother very much." He maintained an even intonation but she could tell the subject was sore.
"Maybe," Jakushi said slowly and remained silent. Itachi's eyes parted hers, averting them up to the sky.
"I haven't seen them once hug you," Jakushi admitted. "That's strange... children must be hugged."
After Itachi refused to reply, she continued.
"Sasuke is not in a better situation. He, apparently, didn't receive much of the attention he needed... or the support."
"Doesn't matter." Itachi cut her off sharply. "I gave him the needed support."
"And love, of course." Jakushi agreed sarcastically. "The trinity of the perfect parent. Support, love and sacrifice."
Itachi pierced her with his gaze again, looking like he desperately wanted to confute her but didn't, staying silent for a while before returning to his previous point of interest, the sky. Jakushi bit her lip. Putting salt in the wound didn't seem to work with him. He had learned to keep himself from external outbursts of any kind far too well.
"Don't tell me you're not afraid because you're shaking." Jakushi's voice became a tinge softer. She neared him inches away. "What kind of a reaction is that?"
Itachi trembled as she took his hand in hers.
"Do you know what I think?" She scrutinized the lines on his palm with great interest. "There's someone to look after your brother now. You're afraid that he doesn't need you anymore."
Jakushi raised her eyes for a second.
"You're afraid that you'll disappoint him. You're afraid that you have no place here. You're afraid to trust anyone...
Her voice trailed off with the unexpected kiss. Itachi had raised her chin to meet her lips and most likely with the only intention of silencing her. Although he had heaved slightly up, even her light pressure put him back down, uniting them into a few moments of thick silence, filled only with the birds' voices in the distance.
"And then I'm the one who intrudes your personal space." Jakushi pulled away indignantly after that indefinite fragment of time in which she could hear the beats of her own heart against her chest.
It was like an unreal occurrence, a phenomenon. For the second time, they went so close that her mind blurred and everything around took on some kind of meaninglessness. As exciting it was as an effect, the feeling was of a fathomless calmness, like an atmosphere in which flowed no time. And it took her breath away.
"When someone knows about you more than you do, it's good you keep him as an ally." Itachi shared his strategy.
"You can't conclude a peace treaty forcibly." She narrowed eyes. "I haven't agreed with you to kiss me."
"Then my party offers its deepest apologies. Its intentions not always coincide with its impulses." Itachi looked at her with the expression of a martyr whose only joy has been taken away.
"A great excuse," Jakushi stated matter-of-factly. "But still. Some impulse is better than none."
He smiled, apparently finding her icy replies amusing.
"I think we'll have to go now." Jakushi sighed and got up slowly.
"Did someone from your team find any new information?" Itachi mirrored and both cleaned off their clothes.
"I thought of visiting the Library after my training but you slowed me down." Jakushi walked down the forest path leading back to Konoha.
"I could come with you."
Jakushi turned back, glancing at him but he looked down. She didn't really know what to think anymore. Apparently, her presence was of importance to him. It was that rather boyish way of indirectly saying you like the person. Although he was not forceful by nature, he strongly hinted his preferences. Rather with her than without her. And she, although a quick-to-decide person, now was at a loss. She had no idea what she feels.
She was partly scared, partly curious, partly fascinated. Well, perhaps his past stopped her. He was unpredictable and it bothered her. On the other side, she had always been thinking about having someone... ordinary? She was about to take the path of the ordinary life with someone as ordinary as her, most likely a citizen of no blue blood.
Itachi was on such a high level and she felt a bit insignificant, a bit out of his league. A genius and a looker, of a noble clan. She never imagined such a dream. Even his manner of speech was reserved and somewhat elegant.
"I've got no objections. I'm not very well acquainted with Tailed Beasts and I think Naruto left the village again, without me being able to interrogate him. I think they're after something suspicious with Sasuke and Sakura."
"It's what I heard too. They should be home before the festival."
"Festival?" Jakushi furrowed. "The Rinne Festival?"
"Yes."
"I've completely lost my sense of time." Jakushi shook her head, disappointed in herself. "I must think of presents and I haven't got the time."
"It's in a bit more than a week, actually." Itachi smiled at her.
Jakushi bit her lower lip. She had forgotten about that one.
"Sakura..." Itachi started but made a pause in which she turned to him expectantly. " She hinted that it would be great if we celebrate together. And by that, I'm sure, she means all of her friends."
"Sounds like her." Jakushi chuckled, already seeing the stormy disagreement Sasuke was about to drop down on Sakura concerning that idea in particular.
Both of them followed the path that led straight to the Gates. The skies looked gloomy and cloudy. The steely gray nuance awakened a wish within Jakushi. To have Konoha covered in snow for she always became fairy-tale like under a white blanket.
"Yeah. And since our house seems most fitting..."
"Is your brother okay with all this?" Jakushi raised a brow.
"My brother is okay with everything I allow." Itachi paused as if thinking over his own words for a moment. Then added, "He shouldn't make a problem out of it."
"Yes. I just imagined him walking in to some uninvited people in his room." Jakushi barely held her laughter.
"You are invited."
She glanced at him again. What was with that passively insistent tone he exercised lately? It only made her question herself more.
"Thank you." Their eyes met. "I assumed I'd be."
Of course, she was. Sakura was going to need help with the decorations, the sweets and Sasuke's foul mood. He despised holidays of any kind. What he liked about them was probably buried along with his clan.
"Sakura keeps saying Sasuke doesn't know how to have fun. I think he doesn't want to have fun." Jakushi gave Itachi a half-smile and he narrowed eyes.
"Then we'll have to make him."
A/N: Thank you for reading!
Thank you FailingErin for the heartwarming review! I really hope I won't disappoint. ^^ And thank you StarshineRose18 too, for finding them cute. I had my doubts with the OC but I think I'll get her right.
Until next time!