Illusions of Serenity

Chapter XII

"Refuge"

Itachi walked to the window built into the far wall of his room, shutters open and a slight breeze wafting through. Within his hand he held a freshly brewed cup of tea, prepared upon the furnace that was apparently an included amenity. He looked to the multi-hued sky and tilted his head as the lingering darkness receded. Taking a sip of his beverage, he lowered his gaze to the town below and the deserted streets of the early hour.

He thought of the previous evening with a small smile. Needless to say, it had taken several attempts from both he and Sakura to explain to the citizens the importance of purifying their water and that it was, indeed, safe for consumption upon doing so. He had a suspicion that it was still going to take some time, and several more demonstrations until they actually grasped the essentials of boiling the water for themselves. However, in the time being, at least he and his partner had succeeded in convincing the people to drink the already prepared liquid.

Today's agenda would consist of referencing the fish-beater's guide book and gathering several specimens for testing. It would take time, he knew, until they could even being preparing a potential cure. Being a pathogen, it could stay within a person's system for a considerable amount of time and could not be completely eliminated without a counteracting antibiotic.

He looked to his tea and absently observed the dark liquid as his recollections continued. The ordeal had nearly exhausted him, the constant explanations and patience required to deal with the ignorant onlookers. Sakura however, had continued relentlessly until they vaguely understood, her determination only increasing with every failed attempt. She had a way with the inhabitants of the town, an ability to determine what they were actually trying to say. It was certainly interesting, to say the least.

Taking his time, Itachi leisurely continued to consume his tea as he simply reveled in the quiet moments of the hour. As he and his partner had not discussed a rendezvous plan, he supposed that he would need to knock on her door soon and suggest that they head out to start their harvesting quest.

Turing from the window, the Uchiha finished his last sip of tea before rinsing his cup in the sink and placing it within the bag on the nightstand. He grabbed Bogford's record, slung the bag over his shoulder and paused to survey the room a final moment. After nothing that everything appeared to be in order, Itachi picked up the key and opened the door, observing the empty hall and stepping out before locking the room.

Sakura was in the one beside his and as he turned he was met with a blur of pink and red before his partner collided into him. Itachi instinctively reached out as he looked down to the girl, arms placed securely on her shoulders to steady her.

"…good morning, Sakura-san."

She lifted her gaze to his and grinned, "Good morning, Itachi. I was just on my way to wake you."

Tilting his head, the Uchiha returned her smile. "What a coincidence, as I was also on my way to wake you."

"We must think alike," she replied. "I wonder what that is supposed to mean."

Itachi shrugged, though was immensely amused by her statement as he removed his hands from her shoulders, "We certainly must," he replied, fighting a smile. "Though the meaning is definitely a mystery."

"Glad you agree," the girl nodded before reaching down and grasping his free hand. "Ready to get started?"

"Aa," he replied with a returning nod. "Where do you recommend we begin?"

"We're going to pick plants so we should start with a field," Sakura responded with an off-handed tone. "Lots of plants there."

"Well," The Uchiha mused as he gently guided her down the hall and toward the staircase, "It might be more efficient to review the contents of this book, determine which specimens correlate with ones we are familiar with in our own land and then seek them out. The herbologist has some detailed descriptions of common places to find each plant."

The girl's steps quickened as they descended the stairs, "Alright. In that case, we should find a table and look through the book."

Itachi nodded as they reached the ground level of the establishment and the bartender came into view from behind his counter, drying yet another goblet. He cast his eyes about the room before deciding on a table in the back corner, near the fire that was still burning within the hearth.

"How's that one, Sakura-san?" he indicated the spot, foreseeing that she might accuse him of being insensitive concerning a table choice without first acquiring her approval.

"I suppose it's alright," the girl shrugged.

Itachi tilted his head as he considered her response. "…is there another one you would prefer?"

"No."

Deliberating only another moment, the Uchiha nodded before walking over to the table and setting the book down. He released her hand and sat in one of the chairs, propping his elbow and allowing his chin to rest against his palm. He looked to the girl as she sat across from him before observing the dissatisfied expression that suddenly crossed her face.

His eyes widened slightly as she then proceeded to scoot her chair around the table, the hardwood floor being scraped loudly with the motion. She stopped beside him, seemingly content and he offered a slight smile as he considered commenting on the scene. However, he relented and instead reached his other hand forward to grab the book.

He opened it to the first page and withheld a sigh as he considered the lengthy study ahead of them. He scanned the description of the plant and observed the picture as he mentally reviewed the catalog of florae he knew of in his own land, attempting to formulate possible comparisons and connections between the two.

His eyes shifted to the next page and he repeated the process, a brief nostalgia inflicted as he recalled the many years of dedicated study he had endured while at the ninja academy in Konoha. He was primarily relying on Sakura's observation as she was the one familiar with medicinal plants, though was willing to aid her as much as his capacity and limited knowledge in the subject would allow.

"Hmm," Itachi mused then, glancing to his partner. "Perhaps we should take notes or mark the pages of potential specimens. Do you have a pen and some paper, by chance?"

"Excellent suggestion, Snail," the girl proclaimed before lifting her bag onto the table. "Give me a second to check."

Sakura proceeded to sift through her assortment of items before suddenly stopping as something seemed to occur to her. She then unzipped the outside compartment and searched her belongings a moment before procuring a small blue notebook and pen.

"Here you are, Itachi," the girl stated with a smile before setting the items down on the table in front of him.

Itachi opened the notebook and glanced to her briefly before narrowing his eyes slightly as he reread what was written at the bottom of the first page. 'Mrs. Uchiha Sakura' surrounded with a heart and an illustration of the Uchiha clan symbol.

"What?" he heard the girl ask then.

He wondered what the best course of action would be for the situation. He could question her on the entry or he could feign ignorance and pretend he had not seen it at all. It would undoubtedly result in a level of immense discomfort on her end, creating a scene he wasn't sure he felt like witnessing as well as a delay in their work. The best option, it would seem, was the latter.

He looked to Sakura and shrugged, "nothing of consequence."

In any case, her entry had enlightened him to where her views of his younger brother stood. The girl had possessed feelings for him, most likely originating somewhere in their childhood and continuing through the years. It offered him more clarity where some of the responses and explanations she had offered him were concerned and he also suddenly acknowledged how greatly Sasuke's defection from Konoha must have affected her.

It was the first time Itachi had considered his actions and purposeful installation of a need for vengeance within his sibling as impacting those beyond the clan. It also explained why she had seemed to despise him so intently upon their first meeting. He had hurt someone she cared for, and that had given her more than enough reason to be angry with him.

He watched then as Sakura's eyes narrowed. "That's not what it looked like. Tell me the truth, Itachi."

The Uchiha sighed, before shaking his head. "It's not anything to concern yourself with, Sakura-san."

She then slammed her fist down on the table in a blatant display of impatience as she directed a glare at him. "Damnit, Itachi, tell me what the hell it is you saw!"

Eyes widening slightly, Itachi regarded her in silence before again shaking his head. "I'll show it to you later. We need to focus on our task."

"No, I demand you show it to me now! I'm the one that gave it to you so I can see it whenever I want," the girl snapped in reply. "If you don't let me see it, Itachi, this friendship thing might take a bad turn."

"Sakura-san…" he began before pausing. He could clearly see that her temper was overtaking her reason and that nothing he could say would satiate her surmounting irritation. It appeared she would cause a scene with either choice, the outcome apparently inevitable. He allowed for a frustrated sigh before handing her the book, purposefully avoiding her gaze. It would not do to continue from sheer stubbornness or a refusal to bend to her demands. There were far more pressing matters to concern himself with.

"Thank you!" she irately exclaimed as she abruptly grabbed the book from him, a heavy exhale following her final outburst.

There was a stifling silence and Itachi braced himself for whatever her reaction might be.

After a moment, he heard her laugh awkwardly and he allowed a glance in her direction as she patted the book in a motion of indifference, a prominent blush on her face. "That's just something…" she began uncomfortably. "I, uh, wrote once."

There were many things he could say in response but he relented for a small nod as he returned his attention to the fish-beater's record. "It's no matter."

"Right…" she replied before he heard the distinct sound of tearing paper. He watched then as Sakura tossed the offending page into the fire, its words eradicated by the flames within before she returned the notebook to him with a sigh. "Sorry I snapped at you."

Itachi met her gaze and was silent before offering a small smile, "apology accepted, Sakura-san."

She nodded and offered an answering smile before appearing to contemplate something. However, she quickly recovered, "alright, back to business."

"Aa," the Uchiha responded before sliding the book to her and lifting the pen over the paper. "Just tell me what to write."

He honestly did not feel he would get very far examining the contents of the book and so relinquished that responsibility to her. He would help in the ways he could and flexed his hand as he prepared to write out her instructions.

"Very good, pupil," she again smiled before lowering her gaze to the book.

Itachi took the opportunity to examine her features as he saw that her blush was starting to diminish. At the very least, the worst of the ordeal has passed. However, the fact remained that she was still obviously attached to his brother in a romantic sort of way and this revelation left some thoughts to be considered.

Most importantly of which was the question: had Sasuke returned those feelings?

He then felt a tap on his shoulder and he reverted his gaze to the notebook as Sakura instructed firmly, "Okay, write this down. Page 1: plant is an herb used for making strong tonics."

Itachi nodded as he scrawled the phrase onto the paper, the habit of writing at first foreign before his hand reclaimed its years of experience and he felt more comfortable with the letter formations. He ended the sentence before again flexing his hand and looking to her.

The girl leaned in front of him and he sat back slightly as she did so. She offered him a nod, "good, good." Tilting her head then, she looked up at him questioningly and he leaned back slightly further. "Is there anything you would like to add?"

Itachi lowered his eyes to the paper before shaking his head, "nothing comes to mind."

"Alright then," she replied before moving away and reclaiming her former position beside him. She scanned the parallel page before clicking her tongue and turning to the next one.

Several moments passed in which Itachi continued to write the sentences Sakura ordered, silence filling the room as only the sound of turning pages and the scribbling of the pen could be heard. However, the monotony was broken as they were approached by the bartender.

The man looked pointedly to Sakura, "some food or perhaps a drink?"

Itachi cast Sakura a subtle, warning glance at the man's offer. He still could not find it within himself to consume the food these people prepared, his trust in them indefinitely fragile. He watched the recognition enter her gaze in response to receiving his silent message before she looked to the bartender with a smile.

"Thank you for the offer," she stated, "but I'm fine. I don't really want anything to eat right now."

"Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?" he looked between the two, "surely you are a bit hungry. Are you sure? I prepared some infamous cake earlier."

"No tha-" Itachi started to decline before he paused to seriously consider. Was there really a risk in accepting? Despite how severely he felt guarded around the individuals he reasoned that if they were out to harm either he or his partner that they would have done so the previous night in their sleep.

Besides, they needed to conserve their rations and, if something were to result from either of them consuming the food he suspected that Sakura might be able to do something about it. Also, he continued to have the strange feeling that the Leader did not intend for them to run into any trouble where the necessities were concerned.

In any case, even just a small piece would not result in any life threatening harm.

He finally relented with a nod, "Aa, that would be great."

The man grinned before abruptly turning and rushing away, leaving Itachi to stare after him in hopes that he would not regret his decision. As he heard Sakura laugh however, he shifted his gaze to her.

"I guess since it was cake it's alright," the girl stated as she met his stare before winking. "Right, Itachi?"

The Uchiha allowed for a small smile as he returned his scrutiny to the direction the bartender had gone. There was not really an appropriate response he could offer her, as he was not even entirely confident in his decision.

After several minutes the man returned, carry a slice of what appeared to be a white cake of sorts. He set it between them with a grin, "if there's anything else, don't hesitate. No hesitation is needed here. Ever."

Itachi nodded before intently observing the dessert for any abnormalities. He could determine nothing physically wrong with it, though knew that did not necessarily prove it was safe for consumption. Referencing his earlier conclusions however, he withheld a sigh before lifting a fork and slowly cutting a piece off and lifting it to his mouth. He hesitated a final time before finally taking the bite and finding that the flavor was both pleasant and ordinary.

He lowered the utensil before looking up and meeting Sakura's amused gaze. However, her grin suddenly widened and he tilted his head in silent inquiry as his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Sakura-san?" he asked simply.

His eyes widened however, as she reached forward and tapped a finger against his mouth. "You know, Itachi, you look cute with icing on your face."

The Uchiha lifted his own hand and wiped at his lip, pulling it away to see that there was indeed a bit of white frosting there. "Ah," he stated only before wiping his hand on a napkin. He then returned his gaze to her with a small smile.

Sakura laughed again before grabbing the same napkin and lifting it to his mouth, wiping off the remaining bit of icing. Itachi stiffened in reaction before relaxing as he smiled fondly at a memory of his mother having done the same thing on more than one occasion. It seemed, almost every time he endeavored to eat a slice of cake that a bit frosting would somehow linger on his face.

The girl before him smiled then and he was returned to the present moment as she allowed the napkin to fall to the table. However, she then proceeded to ruffle his hair, "there you go, Itachi. All better."

"Aa," he replied softly.

Sakura ran her fingers once more through his hair before shaking her head and lowering her arm. She offered him a sweet smile, "so, how is the cake?"

He glanced down at the dessert before nodding, "it's good."

"That's great," the replied as she returned the nod. "Now hurry up and finish so we can get started."

Itachi smiled, "of course, Sakura-sensei."

He then proceeded to follow her instructions as several moments passed before resuming his occupation of note-taking while she examined the plant records. The study claimed a large portion of the afternoon and as the early hours of evening approached, the girl beside him determined that they had more than enough information to start with for the time being.

The Uchiha nodded before closing the notebook and pocketing the pen. He looked to the door a moment before returning his attention to her, "I suppose we can gather a few samples before nightfall."

The girl beside him closed the book with a satisfied expression before nodding, "sounds good to me. Which plants are the closest to here?"

"There are a few that grow near the water's edge," he replied. "We could start with those."

"May I have the notebook, please?" the girl asked then, holding out her hand.

Itachi handed it over without a moment's hesitation, tilting his head slightly in amusement as he watched a grateful smile cross her face. She then proceeded to flip through the pages, eyes scanning the contents briefly before releasing sigh of relief and resigning to simply mark a few entries.

The Uchiha reasoned that she might have been searching for any more embarrassing illustrations and resisted the urge to shake his head.

"That makes eight different species," Sakura stated before returning the notebook to him and offering a wink. "And good job with those notes, pupil."

Itachi merely smiled in response to her compliment before standing and flexing his aching hand, the process of constant writing having taken a slight toll. However, after a moment he reached down and grabbed both his bag and the fish-beaters journal before looking to the girl, "ready?"

"Hell yeah," she answered with a grin before grabbing his free hand and walking determinedly toward the door. "Come, Snail."

"Good luck," the bartender looked to them then with a wide grin. "Best of luck out there."

The Uchiha glanced to the man and merely relented for an acknowledging nod before he saw Sakura wave and return the man's smile.

"Thank you, sir," she exclaimed. "My friend enjoyed the cake."

Earlier the girl had mentioned friendship, despite being in the context of negativity, and now she was once again declaring that he had become such a person to her. Itachi glanced to the young Shinobi and tilted his head as he considered her statement further. Within his life, he had considered only very few people as actual friends, people he had ultimately either lost or betrayed.

A smile found its way to his face as he pondered that perhaps she had claimed such a title within his disposition as well, though the implications of such an occurrence were complicated.

"The cake," the bartender nodded to Sakura. "Of course the cake. The cake was my specialty. My specialty, the cake."

"Thank you for sharing it with us," the girl continued. "And also for letting us stay here."

The man bowed his head, grin widening. "Of course, of course, sweet miss."

Itachi withheld a sigh before gently pulling on Sakura's hand and opening the door, looking to the dimming light of the sky. He reasoned that they still had at least another hour in which to gather samples for testing, a fairly considerable allotment of time for their purpose. Stepping into the town, he looked to the gate before glancing to the girl who walked silently beside him.

His thoughts attempted to return to the earlier occurrence with the notebook but he withheld them, determined not consider the event until, at the very least, the day's quest was concluded. Reverting his eyes to the path ahead and the dock, he instead concentrated his focus on the plants they would need to find, the illustrated depictions already presenting themselves as a mental reference.


Again recalling the memory of he and Sasuke picking flowers for their mother, Itachi smiled to himself as he plucked yet another plant from the edge of the water, examining it briefly before setting it with the other previously collected samples. It sometimes felt as if it were just yesterday that he was enjoying such moments with his younger sibling and other times it felt akin to an entire lifetime. It all depended on his current state of mind, really.

He continued the monotonous work as the evening progressed, every now and again looking to the atmosphere above as its pleasant state of iridescent darkness was reclaimed. Sakura primarily remained silent, and he recognized that it was most likely due to her dedication to their current task. Where medical aspects were concerned, her typical distractions were reduced to a minimum as well as her inclination for constant conversation.

It was actually a rather tranquil experience, the simplicity of the task as well as the calming setting. The silence only broken by the flowing water and the subtle uprooting of the plants he and his partner would occasionally tear from the ground.

After several moments he felt a tap on his shoulder and glanced over to see Sakura. "We've gathered enough for today. Let's head back."

Itachi nodded, "Aa."

"It's nice knowing that you agree," the girl stated with a smile before turning and walking toward the collection of plants. "I'll carry half of these and you can take the rest."

The Uchiha followed with an answering smile before reaching down and proceeding to gather the collection of plants in one hand, "I've got them, Sakura-san."

The girl shrugged, "alright, if you're okay with that."

Itachi nodded as he also grabbed his bag and both books, "of course."

"Itachi," the girl arched an inquisitive brow. "I can carry something."

His eyes lowered to her bag before he returned them to her, "you still have your satchel."

With a seemingly resigned sigh, Sakura reached down and grabbed her bag before turning to face him once more. "Just let me know if you need any help, Itachi."

"Aa," he nodded with a small smile. "I will."

The girl returned his nod before abruptly spinning around and leading the way back toward the dock. Itachi followed at a more leisurely pace as the familiar creaking of the wood sounded beneath his feet. The village came into view and he noted in satisfaction that there was a small gathering of inhabitants around the well, collecting the water he and Sakura had prepared the previous evening.

Upon passing through the gate, the Uchiha caught up to his partner as her steps slowed amidst her own observation of the scene. He noted the grin that spread across her face in response to her success and the overall triumphant expression of her demeanor.

Briefly lifting his eyes to the sky then, he tilted his head slightly as he observed the considerable difference in darkness as well as the actual presence of clouds, however sparsely they were disbursed. It almost appeared as if a storm were approaching, despite his previous assumption that the climate remained constant and predictable.

He supposed he would simply have to wait and see what the shift in atmosphere meant, as mere speculation would offer nothing. Following Sakura as she continued on through the street toward the inn, he gradually acknowledged how tired he had grown as a result of the tedious day. The ordeal still served to remind him of countless hours spent studying for his classes at the ninja academy, which were times he had never imagined he could actually miss during his younger years. The thing he missed most though, and the aspect he felt most strikingly absent from he and Sakura's session was the lack of interruption from a certain, always eager to spend time together, younger sibling…

Itachi sat in his room, surrounded by several documents and pieces of parchment, a pen in one hand and his chin resting against the palm of his other. He sighed as he considered a particularly challenging piece of study material before enlightenment struck and he wrote out his observation. The process continued in an undisturbed rhythm before he heard the soft click of his door being opened.

He smiled to himself, already aware of who had entered his room before looking up to greet the boy, "Sasuke."

The child returned his smile before approaching, hands held together behind his back and eyes filled with a familiar hope. "Nii-san…" his gaze drifted to the work sheets. "…when are you going to be finished?"

Itachi tilted his head as his smile lingered, "late, I'm afraid. However," he patted the spot beside him as he offered his sibling a wink. "You can help me out, if you like."

The brief look of disappointment was instantly replaced with eagerness as the boy rushed over and fell to his knees beside him, eyes already perusing the worksheet Itachi held. "…Nii-san?"

"Hmm?"

"…this looks hard."

A soft chuckle escaped the older Uchiha before he tapped his sibling on the forehead, "let's try and figure it out together then."

Sasuke nodded, a determined expression in place before he picked up his own pen and shifted slightly closer to Itachi…

Smiling at the memory, the Uchiha entered the inn behind Sakura before nodding to the bartender, who had looked up at them in eager acknowledgement. He then returned his gaze to his partner as he reasoned that she would need a lab set-up of sorts to conduct her experiments. The image of Sasuke lingered but he forced his focus to remain on the continuation of their task.

The girl proceeded to head towards their previous table before pulling out a chair and promptly sitting. Itachi walked over and set his belongings down as well as their collection of specimens before taking the seat beside hers.

"Good, you're here," Sakura stated with a grin before pulling out her medical kit.

"Aa," Itachi replied with a nod and an answering smile before removing the notebook and pen. He again flexed his hand as he prepared to write out notes concerning the experiments.

Sakura prepared by setting out her instruments with delicacy, the Uchiha only recognizing a few of the equipment pieces. "Okay," she began after another moment. "Hand me one of the plants then find its page in the notebook."

Itachi nodded before grabbing one of the specimens and then referencing his notes. He angled it so that she could see what was written. Leaning over, the girl scanned the contents of the ledger before nodding and proceeding to cut a sliver of the stem and portion of the berry.

He watched as she crushed the specimen with the mortar and pestle, before a sudden look of acknowledgement crossed her features and she promptly looked to him.

"Itachi," she began thoughtfully. "I'm going to need your help restraining some people tomorrow."

He blinked before tilting his head slightly, "of course. However, I must ask what the reason is."

"Oh!" the girl exclaimed with widened eyes. "Sorry. I need blood samples to test."

"Ah," Itachi nodded. "That makes sense."

It is sure to be an interesting occasion, he could not help but reflect as he considered how paranoid and wary the inhabitants always seemed to be.

"Thank you," Sakura smiled. "Now hand me the next one, Snail."

Itachi again nodded before proceeding to do as he was instructed.


Lying on his bed, Itachi looked to nothing in particular as his mind remained acutely aware. He had aided Sakura in her experiments for nearly three hours before she declared that they could stop for the night and continue in the morning. He had agreed and helped her gather all of the materials they had used before they ascended the stairs and bid one another a good night.

Now however, within the stilled silence of the darkened room, his thoughts turned to what they had been forced to suppress all day and Itachi relented to allow them consideration. Sakura had cared, potentially even loved his younger brother and possibly continued to feel that way for him. Had Sasuke, then, been forced to give her up on account of listening to what he had said? Because of revenge? Had the girl been hurt by what he had pushed his own sibling into doing?

The thought was somewhat distressing, despite the continued acknowledgement of its necessity. In any case, he found a new resolve to return Sasuke to her. He did not know whether his brother returned those feelings but he reasoned that the boy must have at least cared for her. He was determined to set things right, for both of them.

Averting his eyes to the open window as he heard the distinct sound of thunder, the Uchiha surmised that the heavy clouds from earlier had indeed signified a storm. Slowly rising, he approached and momentarily looked out at the occasional flashes of lightning within the sky before reaching out and closing the shutters as a light descent of rain began to fall.

Returning to his bed, he lowered himself onto the mattress before pulling the comforter around him. His thoughts all receded save for a lingering and slightly unexpected realization. He thought of how the girl had responded to her own journal entry as a slight smile formed in response. In retrospect and though it had not necessarily occurred to him at the time, Sakura's reaction to what he'd seen had actually been quite…adorable. It was really the only word that came to mind as an accurate description for the embarrassment she had exhibited.

He heard another crash of thunder resound beyond the walls then, in much closer proximity than the last. The rain responded almost immediately as it began to fall heavier, enclosing him within his space of slumber. The Uchiha's smile widened as he considered another distant memory, Sasuke having always been so frightened by thunderstorms while growing up. Itachi was left to wonder if that was still the case for his younger sibling…

The walls of the house shook ever so slightly in response to the tempest and the pelting of the rain relentlessly pounded on the roof overhead. The older Uchiha merely lied within his own bed, eyes closed and an easy expression in place. He breathed softly as he pulled his blanket just slightly higher before refocusing on acquiring a few hours of elusive sleep.

It did not bother him, the rage of nature outside. Such a thing had never truly worried him or gave him any cause for unease. In fact, if he were to describe it as anything, it would be titled as almost…soothing. The gentle rhythm only served to offer a sensation of comfort, especially after a long week of surmounting responsibility and dedication.

Several moments of silence continued until he allowed his gaze to slowly shift towards the door as a very thin stream of light poured through. He knew who the small intruder was without even really needing to turn. However, he obliged the boy and looked over to see him standing awkwardly in the doorway, eyes downcast and expression uncertain.

Itachi smiled softly at the sight, "Sasuke?"

"Nii-san," the boy began as he looked to his brother, voice barely above a whisper. "…can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Aa," the older Uchiha responded as he shifted his position to allow his sibling room on the bed before motioning him over.

A small, relieved smile crossed Sasuke's face before it was replaced with an alarmed frown and widening of the eyes as a clap of thunder reverberated from outside. He quickly rushed over and jumped onto the bed before crawling under the comforter and burying his face further beneath the security of the covers.

Itachi's smile widened as he relaxed beside his brother and lifted a hand to pat his concealed head. "It's alright, Sasuke."

The boy only lowered the blanket a fraction, to reveal his concerned gaze as he regarded his sibling. "Nii-san…I really hate thunderstorms."

"I know you do," Itachi replied with a knowing nod before wrapping one arm protectively around the boy. "However, there really isn't any reason to hate them."

Sasuke frowned, "they…scare me." He shook his head. "And I don't like it."

"That's understandable," the older Uchiha agreed with a nod. "No one likes to be scared."

The boy appeared to ponder something a moment before returning his attention to his brother, "...does anything ever frighten you, Nii-san?"

"Aa," Itachi responded sincerely. "There are many things that frighten me."

"There are?" Sasuke asked then, seemingly astonished by the admission. "Like what?"

"Well," the older Uchiha sighed as he considered. Fear, was a rather prevalent emotion in most and, though he was one who was not constantly plagued by it, he nonetheless felt its subtle presence. Most especially where matters of his family were concerned.

He smiled and tapped the boy on the forehead, "I fear for you. As your older brother I will do anything I can to protect you. I also fear for the safety of our family and for Konoha."

"Oh…" the boy smiled slightly before it slowly faded. "Are you also…afraid of dying?"

"Of course," the older Uchiha responded softly before shrugging. "It's supposed to be that way though."

"It is?"

"Aa," Itachi smiled, "and it's because we fear death that we are able to appreciate our lives to a fuller extent."

Sasuke appeared to consider the response before snuggling closer to his brother and only stiffening slightly when another crash of thunder sounded. Itachi patted his back comfortingly, before closing his eyes and readjusting his own position on the pillow.

"…Nii-san?" the boy asked after several moments.

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"I don't feel as scared when you're around."

Itachi looked to his brother before slowly nodding, "Aa, same here."

.

Itachi's eyes closed and, though his smile remained, his hand clenched ever so slightly on the case of his pillow. His brother…had been terrified of him that night. That look of fear had nearly broken his resolve at the time. However, he had somehow managed to pull through the ordeal and accomplish his task with only the single exception of allowing his sibling to live.

Still, it was always difficult to mentally envision the shift from complete trust to horror and confusion. The Uchiha relaxed his fist however, and cast his recollections aside. He would see his sibling revert back to a state of happiness, and he would grant Sakura another opportunity to stand beside his brother.

However, his eyes reopened and immediately shifted to the door as he heard a series of sudden, loud knocks. His mind immediately questioned whether it was the bartender or possibly even the fish-beater coming to collect his records. Withholding a sigh, he again rose and walked to his nightstand, retrieving a kunai from within his cloak before tentatively placing a hand on the door handle.

"Who's there?" he asked simply.

"It's me, Snail," a quiet voice replied.

Itachi furrowed his brows slightly before returning the kunai to the folds of his cloak and unlocking the door. He opened it to see a slightly distressed Sakura standing there, an unfamiliar expression on her face. Tilting his head, the Uchiha continued to search her demeanor for an explanation.

"Are you alright, Sakura-san?"

"Not really," she responded as she purposefully appeared to avoid his eyes, opting to gaze at the wall instead.

Itachi was instantly revisited with the image of his younger brother standing in the doorway of his room, an anxious expression in place and seeking refuge from his own fears.

Was Sakura also frightened of thunderstorms?

Another crash of thunder was emitted and he analyzed her face for any change. He thought it strange however, that none was exhibited before considering a possible solution to the problem. It was apparent that, even if not due to the storm itself, something was troubling her and that she had sought him out for a reason.

"Would you like some tea?" he offered the girl a smile.

Sakura met his gaze and nodded slowly, "yeah."

Itachi nodded before stepping aside and allowing her to enter. He reached over to turn on the light and then moved to the small stove in the corner, his tea equipment already set out and prepared for the following morning. He poured some water into the kettle before turning on the burner and patiently waiting for the liquid to reach an appropriate temperature.

After several moments he then proceeded to pour the contents into one cup and steep a portion of the tea before refilling the kettle for his own serving. Again he awaited the appropriate allotment of time with practiced patience before repeating the process of pouring and steeping. He turned off the stove and then turned to see Sakura sitting idly on the bed.

He offered the girl one of the cups as he reached her, which she accepted with a smile before he sat beside her and merely allowed the warmth of his own tea to permeate through his hands. He wondered if he should perhaps say anything to alleviate her possible anxiety, reasoning that she might be desiring to speak of whatever plagued her.

Glancing over at Sakura, he tilted his head before beginning softly. "Are you frightened of the storm?"

He watched as her eyes lowered in response, her focus set absently on the tea within her hands. However, after a moment she returned her attention to him with a small nod. "Y-yeah. They always scare me."

Itachi had never seen the girl exhibit fear before but when she had first avoided his scrutiny he could not help but detect a slight hesitance in her countenance. However, if she did not want to completely disclose her reasons than he would not press her to reveal them.

After taking a sip of his tea he considered revealing something of his brother with a distant smile. "Sasuke…was always afraid of them too."

"He was?" he watched her eyes widen in response.

Itachi nodded, "Aa." He then debated asking her to confirm one of the things he had wondered about before deciding that no harm could possibly come from it. "Is he," he met her gaze. "Still afraid of them? Do you know?"

"I'm not entirely certain," the girl replied. "I never knew he was afraid of them before, but now that you told me I think there were always subtle hints."

The Uchiha again nodded as he silently considered her response. He smiled and was somewhat comforted by the fact that his younger brother still possessed some traits he was familiar with, despite the major changes that had taken place in the boy's life.

"Did he…" the girl began and he looked to her as she continued. "Always come to you when he was scared?"

Considering her question, Itachi thought back to all the times the boy had sought him out for solace. There were far too many to count and he slowly nodded, "Aa, he did."

The girl smiled before seeming to contemplate something in response to his answer. Her smile widened and she observed him thoughtfully. "You're the perfect person to come to when someone is scared…or otherwise."

Itachi smiled slightly in response before nodding and pointedly analyzing her expression, "…or otherwise."

He supposed the reason most people he was close to sought him out for comfort was simply due to the fact that he was primarily stable and composed. It was a trait he was aware of and accepted as an undeniable part of his nature.

Sakura's smile faltered slightly before it was replaced with a warmer one as she met his eyes. "I, umm, lied earlier," she stated. "Thunderstorms don't actually frighten me."

Itachi nodded as his smile remained, "I thought as much."

"'Of course you did," the girl laughed in response. "I can't keep anything from you, can I?"

The Uchiha shrugged, before casting her a wink, "I suppose not." It was nice to see her demeanor reclaim normalcy.

Shaking her head, Sakura took another sip of tea. However, she lowered the cup, she again looked to him curiously. "Don't you want to know the real reason I came here?"

"Only if you want to tell me," Itachi replied.

The girl nodded before beginning. "I feel sad and lonely whenever it rains and I needed to be around someone. That's why."

The Uchiha tilted his head as he wondered how the rain itself could inflict those feelings within the girl. However, she seemed intent to keep her response simple and so he immediately withdrew any question on the matter. Still, the fact remained that she had specifically sought him out, despite the very obvious fact that he was the only option as it were.

"I see," he returned the nod before smiling. "Are you feeling any better, then?"

"Yes," she replied before yawning. "Thanks to you, Itachi." He then felt as she leaned her head onto his shoulder. "You're a good friend."

There it was, that word. Once again, however, he acknowledged it as being entirely applicable.

Itachi glanced down at the girl with a small smile, before glancing to her tea. "Have you finished your tea, Sakura-san?"

She responded by way of lifting the cup and taking a final sip before holding it out to him. "Now I have."

He took it from her before finishing off his own cup of tea and leaning forward to set both on the night stand. He straightened, glanced down at the girl, and then simply gazed absently about the room. The thunder sounded and he again thought of Sasuke with a smile.

Feeling the girl snuggle closer, Itachi again looked to her and saw that her eyes were closed and that her breaths were steady, implying that she had most likely fallen asleep. He reasoned that she was undoubtedly worn out from the day's events as well, all of her energy having been spent mentally perusing her categories of knowledge and obtaining any possible links to the foreign medications of the strange land.

Itachi shifted slightly as he carefully maneuvered his shoulder from underneath her and held one supporting hand beneath her head before standing and gently lying her down on one of the pillows. He then readjusted the comforter over her before straightening and grabbing both mugs from the nightstand and carrying them to the sink. He washed those as well as the kettle before setting everything out for the morning.

Returning to the bed, he reached over and grabbed the other pillow before grabbing his cloak and setting up a make-shift sleeping arrangement on the floor. Switching off the light, he noted the continuous flashes of lighting before looking to Sakura a final time and smiling. She appeared so much less troubled while sleeping, the change of her features severely less animated.

"Goodnight, Sakura-san," he whispered as he swept her bangs across her forehead.

Lowering himself to the floor then, he positioned his cloak over himself and merely listened contentedly to the sound of the rain and occasional greeting of thunder. His hand still ached, he noted absently before again recalling the look on the little Shinobi's face when she discovered what he had seen in the notebook.

Another smile lingered on his face as he drifted to sleep. 'Goodnight…Sasuke.'