Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters in it.

XIX.

Jakushi slammed the door shut and sighed with exasperation. Her whole day was wasted. What was with Sakura, ruining everything like that? White lies existed with a reason, did they? They were a nice way to go when you see someone's happy. Perhaps misled but happy, nevertheless.

"How was it?" Her father's even voice made her raised her eyes from the ground.

Hajikata stood still, hands folded, apparently had seen her coming from the end of the street to their house.

"Have you ever been a guest in Fugaku's house?" She smirked.

"I haven't"

"Well, you've missed quite a lot." Jakushi leaned back on the door with a tired expression.

"Why do you look like you don't want to go back there anymore, then?"

Jakushi laughed.

"Because..." She narrowed eyes. "Long story. You're not gonna like it."

"Come with me. We have to get something for lunch." He offered, putting on his coat.

"I'm tired."

"You're not tired, it's ten in the morning."

Her father put his shoes on and passed her by, slightly shifting her form so that he's able to open the door.

Jakushi shook her head. There was nothing to do in the house anyway. If she spent more than five minutes in her room, surely a headache was going to overwhelm her, thinking about her current problems. And doing some work always was better than doing nothing at all.

She returned her things back to her room and ran through the door as fast as she could.

The skies remained as dark and the air as chilly but the streets were lively, as it usually happened on a Saturday. Despite the pouring rain overnight, the metallic gray clouds were still hanging over the village and most likely were they about to stay there for a while.

Jakushi took the road down the street where her father already walked with a slow and calm pace.

"Weren't you going to stay until Sunday?"

"Change of plans." Jakushi murmured, eyes nailed to the ground.

"Well, Saizo didn't look good yesterday anyway. He needs a medic."

"I'll see what I can do." She smirked.

After entering the most lively part of the village, her father went on with buying whatever he had planned and Jakushi followed him around, helping with the carriage of the products. She didn't mind helping her father as long as he didn't take all of her free time. There were a few hours of rest until the day ended and she had to go back to work on the next one.

Her father, as well as she, wasn't from the people who talked for hours but between them two was a natural connection of the sort. That was somehow understood and it went without saying. As they walked to the next shop, Hajikata tucked his hand into the pocket of his trousers and pulled out something small.

"I almost forgot. Look what I found today." Jakushi took a small bronze brooch from his palm. "It was your grandfather's."

It resembled... a leaf.

"The symbol of Konoha?" Jakushi turned to her father in surprise.

"Do you know where did he get this from?"

Jakushi shook her head.

"That's a personal gift from Tobirama. He used to tell me the story numerous times. He had saved both his friends while being injured, during a tough mission. It seems, the Hokage was impressed by his bravery."

Jakushi smiled at the thought.

"Can I keep it with me?"

"Take it." Hajikata shrugged. "It only gathered dust in my room."

A minute later, he touched her shoulder absently in order to stop her. He had mentioned he needed to buy bread and Jakushi wasn't surprised when he headed directly to the bakery. They almost missed it over the latest conversation.

"Wait outside, if you want." Her father opened the door without looking at her, certain that she wasn't going to follow.

"As you wish." Jakushi sighed and fixed on the brooch.

Old objects as that always carried so much history within and the same they were just objects and couldn't share it.

She was sure that her grandfather has been grateful for the recognition. From what she had heard, Tobirama's attention definitely didn't fix on insignificant things. Was her grandfather afraid back then? When he's been seriously injured. And his friends? Perhaps he couldn't accept their death and that was the very reason for him to lay inhuman efforts in order to save them, away from the battlefield. Whatever happened then-

"The last time I told her to shut up she broke a few bones in my hand."

Jakushi raised her head, hearing a familiar voice.

"I hadn't expected she'd exert such violence upon you. " Itachi was already looking at her but didn't stop, walking beside his brother.

The irony was that they passed each other, a few steps between them but Sasuke was so into the conversation that he didn't notice her. It wasn't like that with Itachi, though, because he didn't take eyes off her while keeping up the dialogue with the same light tone.

"Well, Jakushi..." She heard her father's voice as he exited the bakery. "Hope you didn't freeze while you waited for me."

"You hadn't expected?" Sasuke narrowed eyes.

"Come on, you two were obvious. Well, she was. You were just too little to notice."

"Do we go back home now?"

Jakushi made a few slow steps ahead, her gaze still holding Itachi's, hardly parting with it.

"Of course." She drawled.

"You okay?" Her father asked.

They probably finished the training. Itachi was surprised to see her there. Her father's presence perhaps confused him additionally. Even if they had ceased with the hiding, a public demonstration of closeness wasn't a good idea. Although his eyes were empty of emotions, she felt nettled by them. Less than two hours ago she made a promise. That she's not one to leave.

"I'm okay."

There was a brief pause between them before Jakushi took a breath and exhaled, deciding to renew that conversation.

"Dad?"

"What?"

"How did you manage to trust mom?" Jakushi looked down.

Hajikata didn't answer immediately and she turned to look at him for a moment.

"How did you know for sure that she's not going to betray you?"

"I didn't know." He spoke slowly.

"Didn't you ever think that she might betray you?"

He smiled.

"You don't really think when you're in love."

Jakushi lowered her gaze down again.

"When will I have grandchildren?" Her father asked after the next pause.

"Grandchildren?!" Jakushi jumped.

"Tell me that at least one of the twins is interested in you." Hajikata kept talking calmly as if he hadn't heard her reaction.

Jakushi blushed.

"Takumi tried..." She uttered a beginning of a sentence she didn't finish.

"Tried? You haven't beaten him up black and blue, have you?"

"I haven't. I rejected him. Why are we talking about this?"

"If you keep acting like a general no one will ever like you. Take a look at the other girls around you."

"The other girls are sloppy and annoying. Can we talk about something else? Food, for instance."

"Your mother was already pregnant at your age."

"I don't want children yet."

"I'll speak with Takumi."

"Stop with that! He's like a brother to me. As is Kioshi."

"Make sure someone will take a liking to you because the clock's ticking."

"I'm still seventeen. It's crazy having children at that age." Jakushi snapped angrily.

"You're practically almost eighteen."

"No, thanks. I wanna live my life for now. Besides, there is someone who likes me.

She already felt awkward for opening up the subject. But her father looked pleased with the last sentence.

Jakushi sighed.

She wasn't quite sure the candidate was exactly to his taste, knowing his opinion on a clan in particular.

"Where are my grandchildren, then?" Hajikata asked evenly and she couldn't help but laugh at his stubbornness.

"Patience. You'll have grandchildren. If not from me, from Saizo."

They went back home and had a lunch together. Jakushi went straight to her brother's room afterward. He was asleep but she felt he was feverish and made a successful attempt to apply her healing technique, without waking him up. Surely, he was going to get better with a few hours of sleep.

The afternoon dragged slowly but Jakushi had enough work to do. She decided it's time for her to clean up her room and turn it in a more decent place. It took her about an hour to do that and after finishing, she relaxed on her bed with a sigh. However, a thought crawled in her mind. She stood up and pulled out the brooch from her coat.

She wanted to keep it along with her most valuable object so that she could pass them to her children, should she has such. Jakushi slowly sat on the bed and opened the small shelf on her bedside cabinet.

In one long moment, her eyes scrutinized the two objects laying in there. The dagger of her mother, small and made of black iron. Konoha's symbol was encrusted in the base of the blade. Next to the dagger laid an onyx colored box with a thin crimson ribbon around it. The colors of Uchiha couldn't be mistaken. She placed that box there an hour ago, while cleaning and didn't pay her much attention then.

She had seen Mikoto once or twice when she was a little. She remembered her as a refined, gentle and even quiet woman but not with the aura the Hyuga had. Mikoto made the impression of a woman who knows her place but doesn't impose it on other, taking advantage of it. She was down to earth and friendly, without puffing up on what she had. Although she had lots of things she could puff up on.

Itachi probably took after his father in appearance but his manner was the copy of Mikoto. Just the thought how much that hairpin meant to him, her heart sunk. She didn't deserve something of such value. Even her looks weren't compatible for the pin, she didn't feel worthy of carrying it. Perhaps she'd never wear it but... the gesture touched her deeply.

Jakushi left the brooch of her grandfather next to the dagger and the box, and close the shelf. She wondered what was she going to tell her children, concerning that box. Perhaps it depended on whose children they were. Her face momentarily reddened and she laid back on the bed, covering it with the sheets. Her father was at fault. He started the subject earlier. Under no circumstances was she to let such ideas in her head because that was a dangerous matter.

A few hours later Jakushi went down, to eat dinner with her father. Firstly, she helped him with the cooking, of course. Although their kitchen was far too small in comparison to the one in the Uchiha's house, theirs had something better. Coziness. Positively it was because of the nice memories it held.

Jakushi took up with tidying the table when someone rang on the door.

"Jakushi, will you open?"

"I'm going."

She left the chopsticks and headed to the door, freezing right on her spot in the moment she opened it.

"What are you doing here?" The words dropped from her mouth without her taking any time to consider them.

"Why did you leave?"

"I'm closing the door." She warned and went on with it but Itachi's palm stopped her from doing so.

"Answer me."

"Jakushi, who is it?" Her father asked from the room next door.

She hesitated, looking at Itachi's confused expression. She needed some time to think about what she'd convey.

"A friend."

"Is it Sakura?"

"It's not Sakura, dad."

Itachi stepped back slowly.

"You're scared." His brows slightly wrinkled with the realization.

"You know I'm not. It's just..."

"You are."

"Why don't you invite them in instead of hanging there in the cold? We have plenty of food."

A shiver ran down her spine. Invite him? That was definitely an interesting twist of the events. Perhaps horrific was the better word. She had no idea how her father was going to react.

"I'm leaving," Itachi announced, with a noticeable sad tinge in his voice.

Banishing him now was going to turn her into a veritable monster that stepped on promises and destroyed hopes. She didn't want to be a monster in his eyes. Neither did she want to see that sadness in them whenever they looked at each other.

"Wait."

Jakushi stopped him right before after he was about to turn away. Her hand squeezed the handle of the door for a moment.

"Don't expect much." She muttered, stepping backward.

Itachi looked at her in wonder.

"Are you sure?"

"No. But what of it? Let's give it a try."

Itachi entered and she closed the door behind him, helping him with the coat.

"Come." She lightly touched his hand and walked to the dining room

Itachi trailed after her and they both stopped at the entrance of the room where Hajikata was already sitting and in expectancy of his daughter.

"Dad," Jakushi tried to get his attention but her voice was failing to sound firm.

Hajikata raised his gaze to her, then shifted it to Itachi, then back to her.

"Dad, this is-"

"I know who he is." Her father snapped sharply, cutting off her sentence.

She was certain that such antagonism for people was a rarity for her father and somehow this particular reaction surprised her.

"Should I send him away?" Jakushi asked evenly.

Her father narrowed eyes discontentedly.

"I'll never send away a guest from my house." He slowly stood up and made a pause. "Even if I don't like it."

Jakushi quietly took a breath and exhaled. Well, it could be worse.

"Thank you for the hospitality."

"Hajikata." Her father said, dryly.

"Hajikata-sama." Itachi greeted with a bow but all Hajikata did was to nod.

Jakushi took her usual place on the table and let Itachi choose one on his own.

He cleverly chose the one against Hajikata and left from Jakushi. She barely held a sigh. There wasn't a single movement he didn't think through. Sitting against the master of the house had its serious context, the most apparent of its multiple meanings was making demands of being equal to the master. Truth be told, Jakushi hadn't seen Itachi directly into a battle for dominance but she was sure that it is a fearsome sight. Just that in that very moment, perhaps it was best that he didn't do anything by force.

She handed him the portion, meant for Saizo and he nodded.

"Thank you."

"How is Sakura doing?" Hajikata asked his daughter, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

"Wonderful. She's happy." Jakushi smiled for a second, meeting her father's eyes, then lowered them back at her food.

"Good. How is it in the hospital lately? I heard there is a rise of patients."

"That's what I heard too. We were off the last three days but we're getting back to work tomorrow. I'm sure it's nothing our hospital can't handle."

"How was the festival?" Hajikata continued with the questions, this time looking at Itachi.

Jakushi felt the tinge of hostility. Was it intentional, to put salt in the wound like that? Her father knew perfectly well that festival was about mourning the dead, too.

"Thanks to Sakura and Jakushi, unforgettable," Itachi answered, looking up to him.

"Can't we go without the Sharingan?" Hajikata fumed.

"Dad, calm down," Jakushi tried to redirect his attention to her, using a soft tone. "He's not able to see without it."

"Don't tell me to calm down. I can't be calm when I have a person with activated Sharingan in my house."

"I am doing this out of necessity, Hajikata-sama. I have nothing against you."

After Itachi's words, the silence was once again restored. Jakushi shared a look with Itachi for a moment. That whole atmosphere was ridiculous. She would've never imagined that Itachi will be dining with her father on the same table. Perhaps it was going to happen eventually, just not that early.

"A friend, Jakushi?" Her father spoke, distinctly.

Jakushi slowly put her chopsticks down.

"What kind of a friend?"

"A close one." She replied.

Hajikata transfixed Itachi with a cold gaze.

"How did you two met? Was it because of Sakura? She's being around that boy for too long lately. I'm sure he had twisted her mind already."

"He saved my life." Jakushi stopped him, masterfully. She gave a meaning look to her father, hoping that a single look would carry a message, strong enough to silence him from any further remarks. "Next to my last mission. It wasn't Sakura, she has nothing to do with it."

Itachi observed the scene silently and after seeing how Hajikata visibly softened after her words, looked back down to the plate.

"How close?"

"Very," Jakushi answered but it somehow seemed to her rather comical and she couldn't help but smile, as much as she didn't want to.

"I understand."

"But?" Jakushi asked, certain that this tone suggested a continuation.

"I disapprove."

"May I ask why, father?"

"Because people scare their children with Uchiha Itachi at night. And because that clan is cursed to not find peace. Always ends with destruction."

"Dad-" Jakushi was taken aback with his striking honesty.

"I don't want you anywhere close to that person. I don't want you to have anything in common with him or his brother."

Jakushi's lips parted opened in astonishment. Her eyes shifted on Itachi.

"Aren't you going to say something?"

"I have nothing to say," Itachi explained calmly. "He is absolutely right."

"What?" Jakushi exhaled sharply. "He's not right. You are not like the rest of your clan. You've always wanted peace."

"Apparently, you've forgotten, Jakushi," Hajikata intervened. "what his desire for peace brought. Or you've turned a blind eye and you don't see that he is like them."

"What's wrong with you?" Jakushi raised her voice. "What wrong with both of you?"

"Even if he helped you at some point... that doesn't change his nature."

"Why is everyone against me today?" Jakushi almost smiled.

"Jakushi, what I'm telling you is the truth." Hajikata went on, evenly.

"How can you know that when you don't know him at all?"

"I know enough about his deeds. If he had killed once, he'll kill again."

Jakushi felt her eyes blurring and turned to Itachi, at a loss.

"Why are you not saying anything?"

Itachi was, in fact, looking at her father, completely calm. As if he knew in advance that the event would turn out that way. Jakushi swallowed down the rising lump in her throat. She had to get over that. To defeat it. She swore to withstand whatever comes in her way. She accepted Itachi and now she had to fight with teeth and claws. But the opposition started to break her down sooner than she expected. She thought herself brave enough but wasn't sure of it anymore.

"Dad, why don't you try to understand? I..." She made a pause, searching for the right words. "I care about him. Why don't you try to accept him the way he is, for me?"

"Uchiha are demons in human skin," Hajikata said through clenched teeth.

"All I'm asking is that you overcome your hatred." Jakushi pleaded quietly.

"I can't accept him. Not this one. Find someone else."

"Someone else?" Jakushi gave a mirthless laugh. "How would've made you feel if someone told you to replace my mother with someone else?"

Hajikata's face slightly paled.

"Don't involve your mother in this. She was a respectable woman, of a good family."

"I have no intentions of changing my mind." Jakushi retorted firmly.

"Do as you please." Her father's voice became emotionless. "I'm just asking you to be reasonable. I'm sure you're aware that if he has to choose between you and Konoha, it wouldn't be you."

Jakushi looked at him as if struck by a lightning and for a second they didn't take their eyes off one another. Then she suddenly stood up and left, heading to the front door.

Air. She needed air, it was too hard for her to breathe.

"Jakushi."

"Stop it," Jakushi whispered, placing her hands on her ears.

She pressed her eyes shut, not wanting to hear or see him. She wished everything was a big dream from which she could wake up, finding Takumi and Kioshi, spending her days as quietly and calmly as they were, before. If there was such thing as god or a higher power that controlled all life, it definitely sought revenge for something she had done because the problems kept flooding and she couldn't hold on. Instead of standing up against them with new strength, she found herself more and more suppressed under their crushing weight.

"Jakushi, please." He tried to catch up with her but she kept striding ahead, ignoring him.

"I want to be alone for a moment." Her voice cracked at the very beginning and lowered to whisper.

"Stop." Itachi gripped her hand and she was forced to face him but made a few steps away, nevertheless.

"Why are you so upset? He just doesn't like me. Which I thought you'd expect." He paused for a moment, hesitating whether to continue. "No one likes me here."

"He's right, Itachi." She looked at him. "He's right. You said it first."

Itachi narrowed eyes.

"Is that what you're thinking of me?"

"You are an Uchiha. Even if you're not what he describes, I have no place in Uchiha. I am an ordinary shinobi, without much talent or blue blood. What did I think it was gonna happen?"

"That doesn't matter." He stepped closer. "Uchiha don't exist anymore. Nothing matters."

Jakushi didn't move, continuous silence extending between them before she decided to speak again, this time with an even intonation.

"And Konoha?"

"What about Konoha?"

"If you have to choose between me and Konoha... what would you choose?"

Jakushi waited for an answer but every silent second that passed upset her more and more, and he didn't move, neither did he look like someone that had the intention of answering that question.

"What would you choose, Itachi?" Her words trembled as she slightly tilted her head.

She felt the tears falling down her cheeks but the fact that she showed weakness for something like that didn't bother her. These tears were of pain. Truth was, she didn't have to ask that question, or rather she had no right to ask it. The answer was clear and not in her favor but that wasn't by his or her fault. There was no one at fault here.

She thanked Itachi silently, for not saying it out loud. He knew what would the spoken truth cause her. It was better left unsaid.

A light smile appeared on her lips, still marveled at his steady gaze, appearing unaffected in any way. There wasn't coldness in there, it was just the trained tic, the walls he built whenever the issue required something of his human side. The soft side that took all the blows. He kept it carefully guarded and with right. She wished she could do that trick with herself as well for it hurt too much sometimes.

"I'm sorry. I have to go back home."

She surrounded him slowly and walked back to the house.

"You said you'll fight, Jakushi. You said we have to act like soldiers." Itachi said, loud enough for her to hear.

"Because I thought I'll fight for you, not against you," Jakushi replied thoughtfully and kept walking. "I cannot fight against you."

A/N: Thanks for reading.

Well, I have a detailed plan for around thirty chapters, so no, I haven't forgotten about this fanfic. Not in the least. Just that I started my wartime RL AU SasuSaku before finishing this (as I previously mentioned I'd do) because I'm bad at patience sometimes and I'm writing these two simultaneously now.

Eh, as the angst is only deepening in this chapter, I don't suspect you'll particularly love it ahead 'cause it gets sadder lol. No worries, though. It's gonna be fine.

Sending much love to whoever you are, wherever you are, have a great day (or night)! Till next time.