A/N: To our most recent reviewer: Tsume Yuki. Thanks so much for the feedback and please continue to offer your insight! I also appreciate all of our followers; I hope you continue to enjoy the story :) Be sure to read both Lehrain and Slytherstein's updates as well!
Illusions of Serenity
Chapter XI
"Resurfacing"
…
The harbor village came into view and Itachi cast his eyes across the familiar site. The dock stood worn and weather ridden beside the shimmering shore that was every bit as spectacular as when he had first seen it. As he approached the steps and began to ascend the bridge he again searched the area for any sign of the fish-beater.
He did not hear the familiar smacking sound and as his footsteps creaked across the aged wood he caught no further sign of the man's presence. He was relieved, though felt his mind assume a state of wariness as he reasoned that the strange individual had most likely contracted the same illness as most of the other inhabitants.
To his left he saw a humble shack beside the water, smoke billowing from the small chimney. He tilted his head as a curious scent was emitted before disregarding the abode altogether and returning his attention to the entrance, where the lone guard was no longer present.
Stepping into the town's center, he allowed his scrutiny to observe the scene before him. The old well at the center looked as if it had been abandoned as a lone bucket hung sideways at the end of a worn rope, a bit of water still residing within. There were only a few civilians strolling about, most either clutching at their sides or roughly scratching at their reddened skin.
A few sat along the walls of the buildings that surrounded the square, agony visible on their faces. No one stood at any of the stalls within the marketplace, leaving their wares unattended and at the mercy of any passerby's. Looking to the inn, the Uchiha wondered if he should try and ask someone within if they could direct he and Sakura to the town marshal.
He recalled how hostile the individuals had behaved during his last visit but reasoned it might be the only place worth seeking any answers. Perhaps there were a few travelers staying there whom had not yet been induced to the sickness.
Glancing to his young partner, he indicated the establishment. "I suggest we try there first, Sakura-san and see if anyone can direct us to the city marshal."
"Alright," the girl replied as she turned to face him with a nod. "Do you know anyone here or did you only go to that last town?"
Itachi shook his head, "no, I don't really know anyone here. However, this was the first place I came to upon arrival." He walked past her and toward the inn, "I figured there might be someone at the tavern who we might be able to acquire some information from."
Ascending the two steps leading to the door, the Uchiha opened it to the same sight he had been presented with upon his last visit. However, the sound of instruments did not greet his ears as the presence of the bards was absent entirely. A fire still resided within the hearth and the recognizable scent of wine and hickory filled the air.
Shifting his gaze toward the bar, he saw that the man who had been tending to it during his last visit was still there, dutifully cleaning his goblets. Itachi glanced to Sakura briefly before deciding to approach the individual. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the man was slightly hunched, indicating a possible stomach pain of sorts and that his skin possessed a similar redness to the inhabitants he had seen outside.
"Sir," Itachi began, causing the man to shift his attention toward him. "I need you to answer some questions for me."
Shaking his head, the bartender looked to the goblet. "You return and find the end, you return to the end."
The Uchiha softly sighed at the familiar cryptic response. Nothing these people said possessed even a semblance of reason. How did they even go about living their lives in such a manner?
"It's not the end," Itachi glanced over to see Sakura offering the man a smile as well as a pat on the shoulder. His eyes widened in alarm as he listened to her continue in a consoling tone. "You shouldn't lose hope."
"Sakura-san," Itachi warned as he reached out to remove her wrist from the man, "it is not wise to touch him. We still don't know how this illness is spread."
The girl appeared to realize her mistake before her eyes suddenly narrowed and she reached forward to punch him in the arm. "Why didn't you remind me sooner?"
Itachi released her wrist, "I did not see until after you had already done it." He offered a slight smile as he continued to stare down at her, "Your movements remain as unpredictable as always."
Sakura crossed her arms, "really?" She smirked, "because you called me predictable during our training this morning."
Itachi shrugged, "Aa, I did. Correction, you are often unpredictable."
"Correct yourself as much as you want," she responded. "Do you want me to warn you before I do something from now on?"
Itachi tilted his head, amused. "I hardly think that's necessary, Sakura-san. I only suggest that you pay special attention to actions that might potentially place you in a compromising situation."
"But I didn't even really think about it," she sighed in response. "It's more like an impulse."
"Well then," the Uchiha responded as another smile formed. "Perhaps you should work on your impulsiveness."
A confused expression took her features at his statement. "How am I supposed to do that?"
Itachi shook his head, "you will have to figure that out on your own, I'm afraid."
He then returned his attention to the bartender and saw that the man had resumed his typical action of cleaning his goblets. Itachi leaned slightly toward him and attempted being as direct as possible with the crazed man. "I need to speak with this town's marshal. Will you direct me to him?"
The bartended glanced to him before again shaking his head. "Nothing can be done. No one will come. The end is at hand and no one is here."
Itachi fought the urge to again sigh in response to the man. How was he supposed to obtain anything of value from these people? He was also beginning to doubt the effectiveness of the marshal when, or if, they found his location.
"You're not alone," he heard Sakura begin from beside him. "We came to help. Both of us are going to find out what's wrong and fix it. That's why we need to find the town marshal."
Looking to the girl, Itachi shook his head and was about to advise that her attempt was most likely worthless when he heard the bartender's response. Looking to the man, he saw him eagerly award his partner with a wide grin.
"You! You are here to help?!" the man exclaimed, before laughing wholeheartedly. "Sweet miss, you have come to save us? Anything I can do for you," he enthusiastically nodded, "just let me know." He brought a hand to his chin, "you asked about the marshal. You will find him at the top of the hill, the one overlooking the well. It has a large red door. Knock four times and he will let you enter." He leaned towards her, "but oh! As long as you are here I offer you a free stay at my inn!"
Itachi allowed his brows to furrow in reaction to the peculiar scene. He glanced between the man and Sakura, tilting his head as allowed his eyes to rest on the girl. What had Gregor said? That these people only accepted their own? He felt the corner of his mouth lift as he mused that perhaps the little Shinobi was actually crazy. 'You're not the only one here with special abilities. I have one in my head.' His curiosity only grew as he once again considered her strange statement. What did that actually imply, now that he was being presented with such an occurrence?
"Free, you say?" Sakura smiled before looking up at him hopefully. "I think that's a great deal, Itachi."
The Uchiha shook his head, "remember, Gregor advised that we not stay within the city. At least, not until after we determine the cause of the illness. Perhaps, once deemed safe, we can stay here."
He watched an enthusiastic grin cross her face before she looked to the bartender. "You hear that? Isn't my partner the best?"
Itachi caught the man's sudden stare and expected him to suggest that he 'needed to leave', before his appraising scrutiny left him and returned to Sakura.
"If you say so," the man responded to the girl with a nod.
"I did say so," the girl replied immediately. Itachi glanced sideways and caught her staring up at him with a smile, "look, Itachi. He agrees."
The Uchiha looked to the man and relented for a sigh, "Aa, I suppose he does." He then bowed his head slightly to the individual. "I thank you for your offer to stay. We will do what we can about this sickness." He returned his attention to Sakura, "let's go and speak with the marshal."
Sakura nodded before looking to the man before them, "thank you very much for your help." She then returned her gaze to Itachi and grasped his arm. "Let's go, Snail."
The Uchiha nodded before allowing the girl to guide him to the door, letting her push it open before stepping outside and glancing about to the see the area unchanged. He lifted his eyes to the right and saw the hill the bartender had referred to as well as a stone building atop it, accentuated by a bright red door.
"Do you know where the well is?"
Itachi glanced to Sakura with a slightly narrowed gaze as he considered her inquiry. He then shifted his focus and indicated the object at the town's center, "it's there."
The girl nodded, before casting her eyes across their surroundings. "Got it. Now to find the hill."
Itachi shook his head, amused by her typical lack of observance. "I'm having a bit of trouble locating it myself."
Perhaps he needed to focus on training her in that area before continuing any further. It was a fault that would most likely result in some problems later on.
He watched as an impish-looking smile appeared on her face. "You can't? Maybe we should turn this into a competition. First one to find it wins."
Itachi tilted his head before nodding as he fought a smile. "What an excellent idea. Now then," he cast his eyes about the area for good measure before looking to the very obvious hill at his right. "Oh look, there it is."
He watched as her eyes widened in response to his discovery. She looked to the hill then and declared in obvious awe, "impressive, Itachi. You have excellent observation abilities."
"Aa," he nodded, somewhat amazed that she had not caught on to his ruse. "I make it a habit to notice as much as possible."
"Sounds like it's very useful," the girl stated. "Did you train yourself to do that too then?"
"Hmm," Itachi tilted his head as he continued to fight a smile. "Let's just say it's more of an inherit trait."
Despite the usual aid of his Sharingan, Itachi did not typically rely on that ability to execute basic surveillance. 'Such as noticing a hill' he thought in surmounting amusement. Sakura appeared so extremely enthralled with his hasty sighting of the particular landmark.
"Oh, I see," she nodded before turning to the right and pulling on his arm, "come on, then."
Itachi again followed her lead as they ascended the slope as well as the stone steps that led to the bright crimson door. He paused a moment before lifting a hand and delivering four firm knocks on the painted surface.
A full minute passed and the Uchiha considered trying again before the door abruptly swung open, revealing a lean man dressed only slightly better than the rest of the town's population.
"You summoned me?" the man asked, entirely attentive though with visible indications of possessing the same strange illness.
Itachi noticed that there were several small cuts across the areas of revealed skin and a pair of scissors held in the man's left hand. In his right there resided a half-eaten carrot-like item, appearing raw and without any form of prior cleansing, dirt particles visible along the surface.
However, the Uchiha found himself nodding in response to the inquiry. "Aa, we want to speak with the marshal about the illness that plagues this town."
"We want to help," Sakura added.
The man appeared to observe them both before taking a bite of his carrot and nodding as he began to motion them inside. "Come in, I will speak with you."
Itachi glanced to Sakura before returning the man's nod and following him inside. He heard the door close behind him before observing the surprisingly small room. The only forms of decoration to be found were several bundles of seashells, of every shape and color. A small sofa stood in the center of the room and the other pieces of furniture were all organized in a curious, circular pattern around it.
"My name is Fu Blood," the man declared from behind him. Itachi turned to see a hand extended his way before lifting his eyes as he spotted the carrot now held in the individual's mouth.
The Uchiha merely nodded, still considering it unwise to touch any of the people within the town.
Fu blood did not seem appear to mind as he instead removed the carrot from his mouth, "I am the marshal." However, upon saying, he immediately looked to his left, "hush, Manister! They aren't here to see you!" He returned his gaze to both Sakura and Itachi with a shake of his head, "apologies for my friend, Manister. He can be quite rude at times."
Itachi simply stared at the blank space where this man's 'friend' should have stood. He found himself considering the inexplicable scene before looking over at Sakura wordlessly. What would she make of it?
He watched as the girl tilted her head, eyes darting over the same invisible direction of Fu Blood's commentary. However, her scrutiny then locked on something as she smiled in recognition. Itachi followed the direction of her focus but saw nothing except one of the prevalent bundles of shells.
"Oh. Is Manister your friend, Fu Blood?" Sakura asked then. "Do you name all of your seashells?"
The Uchiha lifted his eyes to see a sudden change in the marshal's expression.
"What?" The man asked, "What sort of question is that? Manister is no shell! He is a flesh and blood human being. I suggest you apologize as you've undoubtedly offended him."
Fu Blood was simply delusional, there was no other explanation. He had an imaginary friend and obviously believed that he was as real as the carrot he continued to consume. Itachi returned his gaze to Sakura as he hoped she would arrive at the same conclusion.
He heard her sigh before watching as she bowed in apology to the space of air beside Fu Blood. "I'm truly sorry for offending you, Manister. I meant no harm."
Fu Blood nodded in approval, "that shut him up alright. You're a sweet girl and I would hate to have my friend in disapproval of your presence."
The girl smiled, though it was obviously forced. "You must really value your…friend's opinion."
"Yes, indeed," the marshal nodded. "Only the worst of us disregard the opinion of a friend."
Itachi watched as Sakura's smile turned genuine in reaction to the man's response, the statement apparently affecting her on a personal level. "Friends," she began fondly. "Are a very important part of our lives."
"Yes!" Fu Blood exclaimed in exaggerated agreement. "Yes! Quite true," he nodded. "Quite true, indeed. Nothing worth more than that."
Smiling, the Uchiha regarded Sakura as she appeared almost uncomfortable with the man's enthusiasm. She blinked several times and Itachi found it strange to see the same expression on her face that he had worn countless times in reaction to her antics.
He then saw the girl manage a nod in Fu Blood's reaction before turning towards him and tugging on his sleeve.
Itachi tilted his head, attention already focused on her. "Yes, Sakura-san?"
"I think you should ask Fu Blood about the disease," she explained, exhibiting an underlying desperation that Itachi did not miss as her imploring gaze found his. "The sooner the better."
The Uchiha nodded reassuringly before reluctantly shifting his gaze to the deranged man. "What can you tell us of this illness? Do you have any idea what may have caused it? Known symptoms would be helpful as well."
At the very least, despite the man's psychotic behavior, he was able to understand what was being said and provide coherent answers, a feature the Uchiha had yet to find in very many of Yokusei's inhabitants. He supposed that this trait was what ultimately provided Fu Blood with an overseeing position, as he was the only one even slightly aware enough to fulfill such a role.
"Hmm," Fu Blood responded, before shaking his head. "Don't know how it started. No one does." He took another bite of his carrot before continuing with his mouth full. "Symptoms…symptoms…let's see," he held up a hand and began to count them off. "Fever, abdominal pain, and…a skin rash."
Itachi nodded in response, "and about the cure…someone mentioned there is a man who specializes in identifying local plants. Where can we find him?"
"Yes!" Fu Blood replied with a snap of his fingers. "Great idea! Yes, Bogford Wong. He lives in the shack outside the city's walls. Refuses to live within. Strange man." He shook his head, "a very strange man indeed."
So it's the fish-beater after all, Itachi mused in silence as he withheld a sigh.
"Is there anything else or," the Uchiha looked to Sakura, "do you have anything you would like to ask him?"
He watched her nod before detecting a brief hesitance as she looked to the strange individual. "How many sick people are in this village?"
"All but Bogford," the marshal replied. "He's paranoid. He doesn't like this city."
Itachi tilted his head, considering that perhaps staying outside of the city had been a wise suggestion after all as the fish-beater had opted to do just that. However, he also reasoned that there was quite possibly another factor to induce this result. He would, however, leave that up to the girl beside him to ultimately determine.
"How many people live here?" Sakura continued.
"About…" the man tapped his finger against his chin a moment. "…eighty-three."
There was a silence, during which nothing could be heard but the crunching of the marshal's carrot as he continued to chew on the vegetable contentedly.
"Do you socialize with the village much, Fu Blood?" the girl asked then.
"As the marshal," the man nodded. "Of course."
"And how do you typically go about doing that?" she continued.
A chuckle escaped Fu Blood then, "town meetings. Festivals. Banquets. All fun things."
Itachi allowed his eyes to momentarily wander to the window where he saw a figure rush past, their purpose neither reasonable nor begging for an explanation. He blinked and returned his gaze to Sakura as he patiently waited for her to conclude her inquiries.
"Hmm," the young Shinobi appeared to contemplate the marshal's response. "Did you have one of these events last night?"
The man shook his head in response, "it was our bi-weekly distribution of household necessities."
Itachi found himself wondering what exactly the marshal meant by that, though withheld any questions on the matter. He instead looked to Sakura and saw the confusion displayed on her face in reaction to the peculiar statement.
"And what does that entail?" she asked.
Again, Fu Blood held up a hand to count off the list. "Soap, water, shares of meat, various ointments and pastes, and…" he snapped his fingers. "Firewood."
Of course, Itachi mused to himself. Household necessities.
"I see," the girl responded with a nod. "Thank you very much." Itachi then watched as Sakura turned to look up at him. "I think I have enough information. What about you?"
"Aa," he replied with an assuring nod. "I'll follow your lead on this one, Sakura-san."
She smiled and then reached down to take his hand, holding it firmly within hers. "You've been following my lead all day, Itachi."
"Have I really?" he asked with an answering smile. He certainly recalled her having followed his lead during their training session that morning. He supposed it didn't really matter though.
"Yes," she replied. "You have. Anyway, I think we've overstayed our visit on this man's…hospitality."
"Nonsense," Fu Blood replied with a wave of his hand. "Anytime. Anytime is good. Anytime is fun."
"Regardless," Itachi replied, gently pulling on Sakura's hand as he stepped to the door, "we appreciate your help, but we really should be going."
"Of course, of course," the marshal nodded before lifting his scissors. "Sure you don't want a haircut before you go? I've been told by many that I am the best barber in the land."
"That's quite alright," Itachi nodded after blinking in reaction to the spontaneous offer.
Fu Blood shrugged, "just let me know if you change your mind. I am always here. Always."
The Uchiha removed his gaze from the strange individual as he instead allowed it to rest on Sakura, "ready?"
"Hell yeah," she answered with an enthusiastic grin, "I've been ready. Shall we go?"
Itachi allowed for a soft laugh before guiding her towards the door and, without looking back at the unnerving marshal, stepped outside. He observed that the scene before him once again stood unchanged as the same collection of individuals continued to pace within the town square.
He heard the girl beside him sigh and he looked to her with a small smile. "Interesting people, aren't they?"
"Sure," she replied. "Interesting. I think I like them before I actually talk to them."
As Sakura shook her head, Itachi began to descend the steps leading down the hill. "Well," he continued. "Some are more tolerable than others."
"And some are completely psychotic," she answered before seeming to mull over something. "I suppose it's not such a laughing matter now. Sorry."
Itachi glanced to her, and recalled the first time he had heard the girl release an outburst of laughter in reaction to hearing that he had been wandering the realm of madness. Though, why she felt the need to apologize for the action was beyond his willingness to contemplate.
"I've always felt that one should try and face difficult situations positively," Itachi stated. "Therefore," he offered her a slight wink. "This matter may very well be one to laugh at."
Sakura giggled and returned the wink. "So long as I have your approval."
"No need," he shrugged. "Do as you like."
"I usually do that anyway," she replied. "But alright."
"I am very aware of that," Itachi looked to her with another smile.
He heard Sakura laugh before she proceeded to playfully shove him, "You know me so well."
"Aa," he nodded, refraining from returning the shove. "I suppose that I do."
They entered the town's square and Itachi's gaze briefly rested on the well before it drifted to the city gate and the billowing smoke above; the strangely scented smoke that was being emitted from the fish-beaters hut.
However, as he heard Sakura allow for another amused laugh, his eyes returned to hers and he tilted his head slightly in wordless inquiry.
"Yes?" she asked, though her voice implied a forced attempt at innocence.
Itachi shrugged, "I was merely wondering what you found amusing just then."
The girl smiled before reaching a hand behind his neck to run her fingers through the strands of hair he kept fastened there. He stiffened slightly at her sudden action before she replied in the same overly-sweet tone of voice. "Nothing."
Every time he thought he had gotten used to her gestures she would go and do something else entirely unexpected. He relented for a sigh, "I don't believe you're being entirely honest with me, Sakura-san."
"It seems you were able to see right through me," she responded with evident sarcasm. "I was just thinking about what Fu Blood said before we left."
"Oh?" he asked. "What in particular?"
"When he offered to cut you hair," she answered as she continued to run her fingers through it.
"Ah," Itachi nodded at the clarification. "You found that amusing?"
"That's not what it was," Sakura shook her head. "I found his suggestion absurd. It's hard to imagine what you would look like with shorter hair. How you are now, is the way I'll always picture you."
Itachi smiled, amused by her explanation. "As well you should." He then tilted his head thoughtfully, "I only ever had shorter hair when I was younger, having opted to keep it long most of my life. Couldn't really tell you why, it's just an inclination I've always had."
"I like your long hair," the girl declared. "And it seems to suit you."
"Aa, I suppose it does," Itachi nodded before allowing his eyes to observe Sakura's own unique, rose-hued strands.
She likes my eyes…now she likes my hair…He hardly knew what to make of it.
"Have you always kept your hair short?" he asked her then as he paused beside the well, entirely willing to prolong their visit to the fish-beater.
Sakura lifted a hand to her own strands, a thoughtful expression in place. "No. I kept it short until I was eight then grew it out but," she paused a moment before continuing. "I was forced to cut it when I was thirteen…during the Chuunin Exams in the Forest of Death."
Itachi considered her response, wondering why exactly someone would be forcibly induced to adjust the length of their hair. He supposed it might have been merely a manner of convenience, or perhaps a demand from a superior. In any case, he relented against questioning the matter and instead tried to imagine the girl beside him with longer strands. However, he subtly shook his head at the thought and offered her a reassuring smile.
"Well shorter hair," he stated. "Seems to suit you."
She softly blushed before offering a grin, "Thank you. Then it was probably a good idea for me to keep it short afterwards."
"Aa," Itachi nodded. "So long as you are happy with it."
'Nii-san,' Sasuke had asked him once. 'Why can't I have hair like yours?'
'Because,' he had responded to the boy. 'Everyone has their own unique features, and a person's hair is designed to complement those features.'
"I am," Sakura smiled from beside him. "My reason for letting it grow out was pointless anyway."
Itachi shook his head, "don't say that, Sakura-san. I'm sure it wasn't pointless."
"Well," she replied. "If I didn't have long hair in that forest then I don't know how I would've managed to escape. Seems there was a good reason for it after all."
Itachi still did not quite understand what she was referring to but nonetheless offered the girl a nod. "You see? There was a point."
"You're right," she answered with a nod. "Thank you, Itachi. And, yes, it is necessary for me to say it."
He merely smiled in response, never feeling entirely comfortable while on the receiving end of a person's explicit gratitude. There was a moment's pause before someone bumped into them, one of the sick inhabitants who, after looking up to them both in curiosity, continued past at a leisurely pace.
Itachi sighed, "Well, I suppose we had better go speak with the herbologist now."
"Actually," The Uchiha looked over to see Sakura's eyes absently scanning the individuals around them. "Would you mind if I stayed behind?"
Hesitating, Itachi observed the passerby's as well, before deciding that they were most likely too ill to attempt anything harmful on the girl beside him. She was also a Shinobi, and he had to trust that she would be able to defend herself if the situation called for it. "Not at all," he responded. "May I ask, though, what you are planning to do?"
"A symptom of their disease is a fever," Sakura explained as she motioned a hand to indicate the inhabitants. "And even thought it aids in the healing process, it's only adding to the pain they feel from the other symptoms." She pointed to the well. "Water can help reduce that. I want to help as much as I can, even before we find the cure."
Itachi looked to the well, "so, you would like to stay and offer them some water?"
He certainly saw the sense in her proclamation, as water would undoubtedly provide the necessary hydration and internal cleansing the body needed to fight off toxins. However, he also had to wonder if she realized the people were most likely consuming the beverage in their own homes, despite their lack of sense.
"Yes," Sakura nodded resolutely. "They all probably drink it regularly but a little more could make a difference."
"Aa," Itachi replied before stepping away from her, "I will leave you to it then." He glanced about at the people who had stopped to stare at them before returning his focus to Sakura. "I will be back in just a moment."
"I'll see you soon then," the girl stated with a smile. "Good luck."
"Same to you," Itachi returned her smile. "And be careful."
"Don't worry," she nodded. "Besides, it could give me a chance to test my new training on someone."
"Aa, I suppose that's true," Itachi nodded before turning and making his way to the gate, lifting his eyes once more to the smoke above. He wondered what the best approach would be regarding a discussion with the disturbing man.
The dock creaked once more beneath his feet as he made his way across before he descended the steps onto the pebbled shore. Glancing back at the town behind him, he continued to wish his companion well. The people of the land were unpredictable and he did not want her placed in harm's way during his absence. However, his earlier resolution superseded any lingering anxiety and he reverted his eyes to the small shack. He had to trust in the girl's abilities, as being an apprentice of Tsunade's had undoubtedly granted her some skill, despite the inability to use chakra.
Approaching the house at a leisurely pace, Itachi braced himself and focused solely on obtaining the information he needed. After inhaling and deliberating only a moment, he reached out and lightly tapped on the door.
The Uchiha stepped back as it was immediately thrust open, the face of the fish-beater revealed behind it. He held a steaming mug of…something in one hand and a notebook of sorts in the other. "Bogford-san," he nodded to the individual, forcing himself to be as agreeable as possible.
A sudden look of recognition crossed the fish-beater's face then and he glanced about cautiously before returning his beady eyes to Itachi. "Are you alone?"
"…Aa," The Uchiha responded in slight uncertainty.
"Good," Bogford replied with a nod, before motioning him inside. "You may enter. Enter because you are familiar, not because you are welcome."
Itachi hesitated only briefly before accepting the strangely worded offer and entering the hut, casting his eyes about the small area. In one corner there was a built-in stove, where a fire burned steadily beneath a pot, the peculiar smell from earlier obviously induced by whatever was contained within. To the right was a single chair beside a small desk, upon which rested several unsorted pieces of parchment. To the left was a worn book shelf, several curious volumes organized in an ill attempted manner upon it. Above, lining the entire ceiling, were several herbs and half-beaten specimens of lifeless fish.
"Soup?" Bogford asked then, motioning to the pot. "The best soup. Made from the best of my collection."
Itachi shook his head, "I appreciate the offer but, I must decline."
The fish-beater shook his head, "such a peculiar stranger, you are. More peculiar than before."
The Uchiha disregarded the comment before deciding to get straight to the point. "The marshal of your city-"
"It is not my city!" the fish-beater suddenly declared with a glare. "I don't like that city. I live outside, I live away. They don't know. They don't know anything."
Itachi blinked before nodding, "my apologies. The marshal of the city informed me that you keep a record of the local plantation. I would like to see that record, Bogford-san."
"Hmm…" the man replied as he looked to the shelf behind him. "You ask for much. What reason? What reason can there ever be for such a thing?"
With a sigh, the Uchiha also looked to the shelf. "There is a sickness within the city and I suspect that it will spread to other regions of this land soon. I need to find a cure and that record will help me do so."
The man proceeded to then yank a thick volume from the bookcase, observing it with an almost possessive expression. "This…is my treasure. Within my treasure resides all my findings. All of my wonderful findings…" he paused before holding it out to Itachi. "Take it, but return it. If you do not, I will hunt you and take it. I will never give up until I have it again."
The Uchiha nodded before receiving the heavy journal, curious as to what exactly was recorded within. "I understand how much it must mean to you. I will return it, you have my word."
"A strange but sincere one," the fish-beater proclaimed. "I trust. No explanation but…I trust."
Itachi forced an answering smile before turning to the door, "I appreciate this, Bogford-san."
The man said nothing, merely proceeded to slam the door closed once the Uchiha had stepped outside of the house. Turning, the latter considered the strange interaction before looking down and prying the book open. There were, surprisingly, very detailed and legible descriptions beside illustrations of the contextual plants. All were in alphabetical order and Itachi reasoned that this gathering of the fish-beater's really was an obsession after all. However, he could hardly fault the man for his diligence as it would undoubtedly aid he and Sakura in their own quest.
Closing the log, Itachi also mulled over the ease in which he had been able to obtain the material. He had not expected the ordeal to go as smoothly as it had and, if it were any place other than Yokusei, he would've had to question the actual motive behind the seemingly effortless apprehension. However, as it were, he felt no suspicions whatsoever in that regard, only a relief that he had not needed to endure another encounter with the man that was in any way akin to their first meeting.
Ascending the steps of the dock, the Uchiha looked to the sky and saw that it was beginning to transition into the brilliancy the land's night always possessed. He paused as only the sound of the gently moving water rushed beneath where he stood. He was greeted with visions of his home, of evenings spent with his family and honest words exchanged without the needed mask of illusion.
For countless years he had been obligated to hide behind a false image, one of corruption and cruelty. He had endured the look of complete desolation upon his younger sibling's face, as well as the dying faces of his parents. He had tortured a well-respected ANBU comrade, and had likewise replayed the visions of his fallen clan to Sasuke, successfully inducing him into a state of unresponsiveness.
Clutching the book he held, Itachi continued to walk across the creaking dock, firmly focusing on his task. In the end, he wished for nothing more than to see happiness returned to Sasuke's eyes. It would all be worthwhile, for that one outcome. He could not change what had happened, nor did he desire to. However, he could look to the future and apprehend the fulfillment of all his trials.
Absently, he noted that this resolution did not provide him with the same satisfaction it always used to. Instead, a subtle and lingering doubt remained, almost as if his subconscious were beginning to question his ultimate objective. He hardly knew the cause, though he reasoned that if he contemplated the occurrence in unguarded clarity he might discover its nature.
However, he disregarded it as being a meaningless focus. It would, as he continued to remind himself, not do to consider things he was unwilling to change. Once again stepping across the threshold of the town, Itachi lowered his eyes from the sky to the scene in the center of the square. He paused and observed the gathering beside the well and the rose-haired girl amidst them.
With her…he pondered, there are no illusions. No tainted facades or acts of betrayal. He did not have to hide his compulsion to smile or refrain from offering words of consolation and commendation. Everything that had always brought him happiness before, things he had not allowed since being around Sasuke, he could once again portray without reserve.
He still had to question if he even deserved happiness but no longer placed as much emphasis on determining the answer to that inquiry. The only thing that presently alarmed him was the fact that, as he continued to observe the girl, his discarded doubt was attempting to resurface. Somehow, he noted then, Sakura was inadvertently giving him cause to question his previously solid resolve.
Itachi decided against pondering the occurrence, though reasoned he would be forced into confronting it at some point in the near future, especially if the situation became more severe. He watched then as Sakura rose and pushed her way through the crowd before disappearing inside the inn, determination evident in the way she purposefully carried herself.
Smiling, the Uchiha then followed her lead at a leisurely pace, past the crowd of inexplicable individuals and up the steps to the familiar establishment. He entered and immediately spotted her sitting at one of the front tables, head bent and studying something beneath a small microscope of sorts.
He approached and patiently waited for her to conclude her scrutiny of whatever she had decided to test.
"I knew it," Sakura stated after a moment as she sat back in her chair. "Now we just need to figure out what to do for a cure."
Itachi tilted his head as his eyes slightly widened in astonishment. "You already found the cause?"
Despite how softly he had spoken, the girl jumped at the sound of his voice and he watched as the chair was thrown off balance, tilting over and causing Sakura to fall onto the ground beside it. An immediate glare took her expression in reaction to the event before her eyes found him and she allowed a smile to take over.
"Itachi!" she exclaimed. "You're back!"
"Aa," the Uchiha responded simply before setting the book down on the table and offering his hand with a gentle sigh.
"It wasn't my fault," the girl claimed as she took his hand. "You surprised me."
Itachi pulled Sakura to her feet before shrugging, "I wasn't blaming you."
"What was the sigh for?" she inquired.
"Just pondering the fact that you always tend to find yourself in the most unfortunate situations," he smiled. He then looked to her equipment on the table, "in any case, what have you found? I had no idea that your venture to offer these people water would lead to such a discovery."
"I didn't expect to, either," she explained. "It was because I did, though, that led to my discovery." She indicated the microscope. "Have a look."
Itachi shook his head, "I don't know the first thing about microscopic specimens, I'll simply take your word for what resides there."
The girl rolled her eyes in response before leading him to the chair. "You know the name of it, at least." She cast him a wink. "In any case, I want you to look anyway. It'll help when I explain it."
"I see," Itachi replied as he recognized that Sakura was actually extremely excited about the entire ordeal and eager for him to understand why that was so. Though he did not share her enthusiasm for scientific endeavors, he nonetheless found himself entirely willing to partake of her enjoyment.
He withdrew his hand before sitting and pulling the device closer, leaning forward and closing one eye as he focused the other on the image presented through the lens. He saw several darkened shapes against a backdrop of white. However, he observed that the one in the center was actually moving and he furrowed his brows slightly as he scrutinized it. Reasoning that this was the primary focus of the display, Itachi nodded and returned his gaze to her. "This is…quite interesting."
"Did you see it?" she asked, eagerness overflowing through her voice.
Itachi allowed for a soft laugh, "Aa, I believe so."
"Good," the girl nodded. "That's a parasite. It's the pathogen I found in the water here and it's the cause of the illness. I came to this conclusion when the villagers refused to drink the water, but I had to confirm it, which," a satisfied smile crossed her face. "I did."
The Uchiha smiled in response before musing that Sakura actually seemed to fully explain herself where medical matters were concerned, a profession she was obviously proud to be a part of. "It's very impressive that you responded so swiftly to your intuition."
Every Shinobi had their own inclinations, in one field or another. The girl before him was actually extremely skilled in her chosen vocation, far surpassing him in that particular area of study.
"Thank you, Itachi," she replied. "It's also impressive that…" she paused, appearing to consider something before her demeanor suddenly shifted. "Itachi, you tricked me!"
The Uchiha blinked in response, tilting his head slightly. "…how so?"
"By letting me continue believing the assumption I made that you were blind! You never told me I was wrong and that your eyesight was perfect."
Blind to perfect? He considered in amusement as he pondered her extreme way of wording things.
"Well," he responded thoughtfully. "My eyesight was severely damaged before arriving here and," he shrugged, "I don't know if it will revert to that state when we get back so, I didn't feel your assumptions were even worth correcting."
Sakura sighed as she shook her head, "Itachi…it might seem that way to you, but we're partners now. That implies that you should tell me things like this. I actually care about what's going on with you."
Itachi couldn't help but allow his eyes to widen slightly at her statement before his features softened and he offered her a smile. It was nice to hear, despite the fact that he was still withholding a great deal from her. "Aa," he nodded. "You're right, Sakura-san. It wasn't my intention to fool you into believing something that wasn't true."
"Well, that's good, at least," she responded with an answering smile. "From now on, I expect…no, I want to know if there's something going on with you."
"Fair enough," he nodded before again looking to the device beside him. "Returning to the subject of the pathogen, how do we remedy the situation? The people still need to be hydrated, correct?"
"Yes, Sensei" Sakura nodded, her focus diverted. "That's correct. We have to do things. One," she lifted a finger, "We have to show these people how to purify the water so it can be safe to drink. Two," she lifted another finger. "I'll have to test different herbs to find out which counters best against the parasite. I'm not sure how long that will take, though, but I am going to give it my full attention."
"As well you should," Itachi nodded in agreement. "I don't believe there's been any fatalities as none were mentioned. However, I would prefer to discover an antidote as soon as possible so as to prevent that from happening in the future." He motioned to the book, "there are very detailed descriptions of local plants that will undoubtedly prove to be helpful in your research."
"I doubt this type of pathogen would be fatal," she declared. "But I'm not willing to take any chances. They need to remain hydrated throughout this entire process. I'm going to need your help teaching them how to purify the water and later with the research. Is that alright?"
Itachi again smiled as he stood to face her before lifting two fingers and tapping her forehead, "of course I'll be helping." He winked, "as I said, I will be following your lead on this one…Sakura-sensei."
"I like your thinking," the girl replied, replicating his motion by lifting two fingers to his forehead. "Good work, my fine pupil."
Itachi nodded and lowered his hand, "I wonder what sort of teacher you'll be."
Sakura proceeded to push his bangs aside with a small shrug, "I wouldn't know, actually. You shall be my first student. I expect great things from you."
"Aa, I'll try my best to meet those expectations," he nodded. "And I'm sure that…you'll be the best kind of teacher."
The girl smiled before ruffling his hair, another unexpected motion that caused him to stiffen slightly. However, he found that he was starting to more easily recover from her antics. "I'll let you be the judge of that," she stated. "Snail."
He sighed softly at the nickname she had chosen for him. It was certainly…unique and unprecedented. However, he allowed the matter to pass, "I suppose that I will have to wait and see." He then glanced to the door, "now, how do we go about purifying their water?"
She suddenly snapped her fingers in his face and he returned his gaze to see her smirking up at him. "First lesson:" she said matter-of-factly. "Look at your sensei when she is speaking."
"You weren't…" he shook his head, before relenting against arguing. "Aa."
"Feel free to speak your mind, pupil. However, I've already guessed what you were going to say and I know I wasn't speaking yet," Sakura proclaimed, obviously intent not to allow him his resignation. "I was letting you know that you should do it from now on."
"Sakura-san," Itachi stated then, smiling slightly. "You're off topic again."
It actually happened quite frequently and the Uchiha reasoned that he was probably going to have to start making an effort to point the occurrences out to her in hopes that she would eventually begin to recognize and remedy her own digressions.
"Very well," Sakura responded as she then proceeded to return her equipment to her bag and placing it on her shoulder. Looking to him, she grasped his hand and led him towards the door. "I'll show you outside."
Itachi quickly reached over to grab the book before following and finding amusement in the fact that the girl often seemed to prefer demonstrations to simple explanations. It was trait he had never personally possessed, finding it much more convenient to keep the visualizations at a minimum.
"Are you staying?!" The bartender asked, thrusting the door open, an intense expression in place. "Has your partner decided yet?!"
"Not sure," Sakura replied. "I'll ask him." She looked up at him with a wink, "Itachi, are we going to be staying in this…inn?"
The Uchiha sighed as he gazed out at the scene beyond the threshold of the establishment. He had previously considered it wise to avoid staying within the town, not only because of the sickness, but because his distrust of the inhabitants, sleeping amongst them not being a strong desire.
However, he also had to acknowledge that there was most likely no harm by staying at the inn itself, now that it was confirmed that he and Sakura could simply avoid the sickness by not drinking the water. He nodded, "Aa, if you would like."
Besides, slumbering beyond the walls where the fish-beater dwelled was not exactly a favorable outcome either.
"I would," the girl looked to him pointedly. "But what do you want to do?"
Itachi shrugged, "I don't really care either way."
It was, for lack of a better term, a lose-lose situation.
"Then it's decided!" Sakura proclaimed enthusiastically before looking to the bartender. "We will gladly accept your offer, if it still stands."
The man reached forward to shake her free hand, "It always stands, sweet miss!"
"Thank you, sir," the girl grinned in response before holding up two fingers. "That would be two rooms then."
"Of course!" the bartender replied before moving past her to a cabinet, where he procured two keys. "Here you are!"
Itachi glanced to Sakura before motioning that she choose first, desiring to avoid a similar event as the last time they had stayed somewhere. He found himself smiling, however, at the recollection of the ridiculous situation.
He heard the girl laugh before she moved to again tap his forehead with her fingers. "I'll let you decide this time, Snail."
The Uchiha tilted his head as he regarded her before nodding and accepting one of the keys. However, he handed it to her before taking the other for himself. "There you are, Sakura-san."
"Thank you," the girl replied as a warm smile crossed her face. "Once again, you're a true gentlemen."
Itachi returned her smile, "and you are learning to more appropriately respond to courtesies."
"That's because you wanted me to," she stated.
"Oh?" he asked, "I thought it had more to do with your desire to avoid the repercussions of not doing so."
"I suppose, in the end," the girl dramatically sighed. "You thought wrong."
"Well then," Itachi replied, "in regards to your former statement, I would prefer that you decide for yourself."
"Very well," Sakura replied. "I'll keep that in mind."
Itachi nodded before pocketing his key and reclaiming Sakura's hand, "shall we go?"
The girl tightened her hold on his hand before returning the nod. "Absolutely, Snail."
Looking to the bartender, the Uchiha muttered his appreciation before gently guiding Sakura to the door and out into the town, where the darkened splendor of the atmosphere was becoming more prominent. He had to wonder exactly how they were going to educate these people on purifying their water, though completely recognized the absolute need to do so.
It was certainly going to be an interesting situation, and he also contemplated over how Sakura might handle the demonstration. She was almost as unpredictable as the people within the village, though far exceeding in wit.
Still crazy though, he smiled down at her. Like them.
