Mirror, mirror.
"Report."
"Traces of blood and poison were found at the site of the Atsuta Shrine explosion. The poison is definitely that of Akasuna no Sasori and I suspect that the blood traces are that of Reina Hitori . The amount is small so the wound isn't likely to be fatal but…"
"But what?"
"But if she was poisoned then the likelihood is that she is dead or in the possession of the Akatsuki, neither of which are the best circumstances."
Tsunade sighed wearily and leaned back into her chair, her body heavy with burdens and pressure. This was all they needed at a time like this, another shinobi taken from them and one so young and talented. Tsunade shook herself from her thoughts, she was thinking as if the girl was already dead and buried, this was merely a speculation; they would have to go looking for her who knows what the Akatsuki wanted with her or what they would do to her.
"Does her Grandmother know yet?" Tsunade mumbled as she glanced out the window, overlooking the sun as it caressed Konoha affectionately. Kakashi shook his head and murmured from beneath the fabric of his mask.
"No, it would be foolish to announce such things when we don't know the full story. It's probably best to send an Inuzuka member, see if they can pick up her scent." Tsunade nodded and turned in her chair to face him once again, lacing her fingers together and leaning her chin upon them. It was obvious that the Akatsuki were not after her as they were Naruto, but perhaps it was to do with what Reina knew, everyone in the village knew she was an old soul and practically lived in the museum and lecture halls- perhaps it had something to do with that.
"Reina Hitori was sent after the missing Kojiki wasn't she? Would the Akatsuki have needs for that maybe?" Tsunade questioned, still puzzled by the young heiress's disappearance, Kakashi quirked a silver brow pondering to himself. The Kojiki was the book of beginnings, depicting the myths and legends of the founding gods, what would the Akatsuki want with a book of bedtime stories?
But it was exactly these bedtime stories that they were interested in and Reina was the person to find the substance to those myths and make them a reality.
•●•
"Stay here, I'll be back soon. Do not leave this room, I'll know where you are remember, so stay." Itachi murmured as he buttoned up his cloak, the obsidian fabric concealing his war stricken frame. Reina simply stared at him blankly from her spot on the rickety cot bed, her hands bound by a thin rope of glowing chakra; Itachi certainly wasn't taking anything to chance even with the indenture binding them.
"You say that like I have a choice in the matter Itachi-san." Reina retorted sarcastically rolling her now ochre eyes, her previously scarlet irises having fused back to their honey like shade; Itachi merely quirked a brow returning the blank stare with one of his own, his Sharingan burning brightly once more. But things were different this time around, this time his eyes were not burdened with patches of hazy colours and blurred shapes. This time around he could make out the dust that flittered in streams of light from nearby candles and finely scribed books that inhabited the shelves.
All because of the young woman that sat before him.
Itachi supposed they were even now, he had brought her back from the brink of death and she had given him his eyes back. How Sasuke would lament if he knew she had aided him. Itachi glanced over the silent kunoichi once more before leaving the room, leaving her to realise the magnitude of her situation. Reina watched him go mutely before glancing down at her secured hands, the chakra glowing pale blue as it twisted around her slender wrists.
"Right, first thing's first…get these off." Reina muttered to herself as she sighed quietly, but then the strangest of things happened. Without even concentrating on fortifying her chakra to override the bindings, the thin lace like thread of Itachi's chakra simply dissipated with a quiet hiss; Reina blinked in awe feeling a gentle tingle envelope her wrists where the chakra had previously circled.
To be bound to someone was a huge step in anyone's life, like marriage or signing the lease to a house, both are significant turning points in a person's life. But to be physically and eternally bound to a person who you knew in what would seem a past life, and to top it off that person being a dangerous and infamous rogue ninja? Well that made marriage seem like a synch.
Itachi was not even present in the room and she could sense the beating of his heart, the calm rhythmic pulse thumping away inside his chest; it was the strangest sensation she had ever encountered in her life, it was as if she could open a map and directly pinpoint his location and record his physical condition on a chart with medical precision.
With her thoughts lingering on the effects of the indenture Reina pondered about Itachi's ailments. For just how long had he been battling the illness, conquering fits of violent, bloody coughs and the fading light that ebbed away from his eyes? Would she now suffer the same fate? Would her throat constrict and become agitated, so badly that it felt like something had clawed at her throat viciously? Or would her now crystal clear sight become hazy and clouded to a point of nothingness?
Only time would tell.
Instinctively and unknowingly Reina rubbed her wrists as if they had been bound for days on end; she knew Itachi could have been cruel to her, acting without mercy or any sort of empathy, but the thing she found was that he retained some shred of human compassion towards her.
It was probably out of pity but she was grateful none the less.
Reina knew it was pointless attempting to escape, the moment she left the room Itachi would know and would be on her like a tonne of bricks, she dared not think of the consequences the wrath of the eldest Uchiha would ensue. Did anyone in Konoha know she was missing? Would they send someone to try and find her? Did Neji make it home safely as the Leader promised he would?
Reina hung her head in her hands, her eyes wide in distress as her thoughts continued to race around her head like a perpetual spinning top that refused to end. Then another thing hit her.
Did her Grandmother know she was missing?
"Baa-chan…" Reina whispered, her eyes tearing up slightly at the scenarios that flooded her thoughts. Her Grandmother meant everything to her, to think what the stress of her only granddaughter being taken hostage by the Akatsuki would do to her. Tomo's heart was frail enough as it was without that sort of burden laying heavy on it.
I have to get out of here.
Reina wiped her eyes with her sleeves, sniffling ever so slightly as she found the will to carry on and return home in one piece. If the Akatsuki wanted the Yata no Kagami then they would get it, perhaps not in one piece but they would get it none the less. Reina reached for the Kojiki and placed it on her lap briefly admiring the aged cover before flicking through each individual ripened page as her eyes scanned the all too familiar information that occupied the pages.
The mirror and the Yasakani no magatama were hung from a tree to lure out Amaterasu from a cave. They were given, with the sword Kusanagi, to Amaterasu's grandson, Ninigi no Mikoto, when he went to pacify the lands and from then on they resided with the Imperial House. But the lands were torn apart with war and the mirror and jewel were lost over time; the one place that would possibly shine light upon the whereabouts of the mirror was the Grand Ise Shrine- the shrine of Amaterasu-ōmikami.
Reina's head shot up from the comforts of the book as the doorknob rattled; her heart skipped a beat as the door swung open only it wasn't Itachi that stood at the other side.
Deidara.
"So from prisoner to the personal whore of Uchiha un. You didn't strike me as the whore type Reina un." Deidara smirked, entering the already cramped room and closing the only means of escape behind him; Reina narrowed her amber eyes and glared dangerously at the blue eyed blonde. "Aww did I hit a sore spot un? It's okay un, some kunoichi pose as whores I believe un." His lips twisted into a wider smirk; it almost resembled that of a Cheshire cat except his smirk was wicked and twisted.
"Is that what you're doing then? Posing as a shinobi in the Akatsuki? It's alright someone told me that ninja often pose as whores…" Reina retorted, placing the Kojiki back on the bed and eyeing the blonde suspiciously; Deidara grit his teeth together having expected the brunette's will to have been broken in by now, not flaring up and biting back.
"You'll pay for that and for almost killing me with my own art un." Deidara paced towards her, the animosity loud and clear in his expression. Reina stood and backed away from the storming blonde feeling her back meet the hard, cold wall, this made Deidara's smirk widen even further.
"Has the whore ran out of places to run un?" He dove for the collar of her shirt only to be pushed away forcefully, the clear determination and fire burning in her eyes. "You're feisty un. Good un. It'll make this all the more satisfying un." Deidara spat and he lunged towards her once more, this time more ferociously.
Reina inhaled sharply as she miscalculated his speed, his hand making contact with her pale skin; she winced for a nanosecond ignoring her now throbbing split lip. She could feel the scarlet liquid begin to ooze and trickle from the tender abrasion, the lack of iron in her blood standing out to attention. Deidara let out a small chuckle of accomplishment, flexing his hand in victory. Reina glared darkly and quickly ducked beneath his arm and reached into his back, her hand disappearing beneath layers of flesh and bone before it found the pumping muscle in his chest.
"Run yes. Fight, no." Reina hissed into his ear giving his heart a slight squeeze, the results proving quite effective; Deidara coughed violently, his eye wide as he clawed at his chest to stop the excruciating pain.
"Now get out." Reina grabbed a fistful of his cloak continuing to keep a hold of his heart, a mere precaution as she dragged him towards the door quickly opening it and throwing him into the not so vacant hallway. Deidara staggered and balanced himself opposite the doorway, his chest heaving heavily to regulate his breathing and erratic pulse. But it wasn't merely Reina and Deidara that inhabited the hallway, there standing in the darkened hallway was Kisame, his cerulean face plastered with a toothy smile.
"Did I just miss out on some girl on girl action? Well damn." Kisame mused, leaning against the wall eyeing a fuming Deidara amusedly; Deidara grit his teeth once more, the calcium grinding dully and almost yelping out in pain.
"That stupid bitch almost killed me, you Baka un!" Deidara spat, the saliva sprouting into the air. Reina scoffed and leaned against the door, wiping her bleeding lip silently noting how the ostentatious blonde had a flair for drama. Her scoff earned her both a vicious glare and an amused grin; but her scoff also earned her another look, but this look was from neither male that stood in the hall.
Itachi entered the dim passage his ruby eyes adding to the rising tension; Kisame quirked a brow curious as to how the young Sharingan master would take to the situation. Reina glanced up at the dark haired shinobi briefly before slinking away back into the room.
"Leave us Kisame." Itachi murmured, his voice muffled from behind his high collar, Kisame sighed softly and nodded, pushing himself off of the wall and disappeared from sight knowing all too well to act out against his partner. Deidara scowled at Itachi as he stepped forward invading any personal space that had previously existed; Itachi leaned closer whispering darkly into the blonde's ear.
"Touch her again and I'll slit open your abdomen and wear your entrails as jewellery." Deidara's single blue orb widened slightly, feeling a tremor of pure fear run down his spine; he knew of Itachi's past and knew that despite his cool façade that he would prove true to his words.
He was blonde, but he wasn't a complete fool.
Itachi, satisfied that the blonde had heeded his words turned swiftly and returned to his quarters, only after sending a sharp look at Deidara once more emphasising his promise. Reina glanced up at the stern looking Uchiha expecting a lecture or a cold glare of indignation but she didn't receive that.
"Did he…" Itachi asked, taking the small spot beside her, Reina shook her head and stared at her folded hands briefly before looking up at the poker faced Uchiha.
"What did you say to him?" Reina asked, curiosity lingering in her words; Itachi glanced over at her, crimson meeting gold.
"Nothing, simply reminded him of something." She nodded and averted her eyes from his feeling uneasy simply staring into the seemingly ebbing Sharingan. Itachi however did not avert his eyes, he studied the silent the kunoichi closely, noting how she had changed from their younger years. Now she had become a hardened shinobi yet compared to him she was still sheltered by the comforts of her family; they were both different and similar in their ways, she was a warm and cheerful person in comparison to his reserved and cool persona.
If things had ever been different Itachi could have imagined that they would have kept good company together or at least have been close acquaintances as the situation at hand was not the best of circumstances, even he could admit that. If only the Uchiha clan had not been so pretentious and power hungry, then neither of them would be here and Sasuke would have his elder brother there to show him the ways of the world…and not that serpentine sannin.
"What are you so regretful about Itachi-san?" Reina whispered hesitantly as she gazed up at him, he hadn't realised she had returned his look for had been too lost in thought. He frowned ever so slightly, quirking a brow at her question.
"Why do you ask that Reina-chan?" He asked studying her paler than usual features as they flooded with hesitant inquisitiveness: she was afraid of him in other words. Reina paused before giving her response feeling rather foolish for asking such a thing, but she couldn't help it, it felt like she had been washed with a tsunami of regret, the feeling having appeared from absolute nothingness to pure repentance.
"I…I can feel your remorse. It feels like dull emptiness blooming in my chest and the feeling has something to do with Sasuke…Do…do you miss him Itachi-san?" It was then that Itachi's expression hardened, his jaw tightening with her words; this indenture could prove hazardous if their bond was not simply a physical one. If she could feel his inhibitions, then he would have to be even more careful around this young woman.
Things were most definitely working out differently than they were intended to be.
"Of course not, he is weak, pathetic and lacks hatred." Itachi replied curtly as he stood and dusted off the imaginary flecks of dirt from his cloak; Reina flinched a little with his sudden change in tone, closing her eyes half expecting to be struck for her insolence, but again, no such thing occurred, instead Itachi merely spoke again, his usual stern and solemn voice present once more. "Now gather your things we leave for the mission now. Do you have any leads on where the mirror could be?"
Reina stood and nodded weakly as she fastened her own dark cloak making sure that the Kojiki was safe at her side, hidden beneath the black fabric.
"Hai, I believe we have a chance of finding it or at least clues to its whereabouts in the Grand Ise Shrine." Reina replied, looking up at him as she attempted to shake off the feeling of regret and the lack of energy that overwhelmed her; she hadn't eaten in goodness knows how long and it was beginning to take its toll on her. Itachi sighed softly as he too began to feel his own energy slipping away from him as if it was being sapped away greedily.
"You're anaemic aren't you?" He murmured eyeing her weary frame, his eyes settling on her bloodied lip, her pallid skin emphasising the inflamed cut and the shadowy bags that had accumulated under her eyes. Itachi felt a pang of anger bubbling away in his stomach dreading to think what Deidara would have done if Reina had not been able to hold her own.
"Hai, I have blood infusions to correct it." Reina replied nonchalantly, twisting her hair into a low chignon at the nape of her neck, awaiting orders obediently; she ignored the rumble in her stomach unsure whether it was hunger calling out to her or another side effect of the indenture. Reina was determined to get out of this alive, she would lead them to the mirror and escape, preferably she would escape before they found the mirror, if it even existed that was.
"We'll stop at the kitchen before we leave, Kisame is there anyway." He murmured motioning her to follow with a mere inclination of his head as he stood at the doorway, his presence forever looming.
"What about my katana?" Reina asked spontaneously having completely forgotten about then confiscated blade. Silently Itachi peeled away the opening of his cloak, revealing the adorned scabbard slung neatly around his hips; wordlessly he quirked a brow in answer to her question, neatly redoing the clasps prior to turning on his heels and leaving the room. Reina nodded following him into the eerie hallways once more, the maze of corridors able of confusing even the most astute of people. Reina eyed the back of Itachi idly as they walked noting how his lowly slung ponytail would swish and sway almost rhythmically like a pendulum.
She supposed that she had been lucky so far; she had avoided torture and evaded death…for the time being that was. One false move and she could end up in the gutter and her Grandmother wouldn't be any the wiser. With her head so far in the clouds and lost in thought Reina failed to realise that Itachi had halted in his tracks, she walked straight into him receiving a chest full of fabric in her face.
"Ah g-gomenasai Itachi-san." Reina stuttered, bowing slightly in apology, her own bangs swaying as she inclined her head lowly; Itachi merely quirked a brow at the quieter than usual kunoichi shrugging it off until a later time as now they had a mission to carry out as preposterous as it may be.
"Kisame we're leaving." Itachi murmured, his tone firm and regaining its authority as he entered the kitchen and walked straight past the grinning shark-man. Kisame grinned over at Reina who had peeped her head into the room; she glanced about at the other member who sat at a large wooden table, the grain heavily worn and tattered.
The table was ladened with piled coins, each pile assembled with regimental accuracy. This person was either the treasurer or simply meticulous with his pocket money. Her eyes met with the mysterious money-counting member's who stared at her indifferently, Reina shifted on the spot feeling uneasy being scrutinised, after what seemed like an eternity the green eyed male turned back to Kisame and muttered casually.
"Good thing Deidara didn't have his way, this one looks expensive and I'm not paying for the idiot's pastime of whores." Kisame glimpsed over at Reina briefly before glancing at Itachi who seemed oblivious to their conversation.
"He didn't get the chance Kakuzu! She had him quivering like a little girl, tougher than she looks this one." Kisame's beady eyes met Reina's gold ones, the pair exchanging a small smile, Kisame's sharpened teeth gleaming in the dim light whilst Reina's lips twitched into a faint smile. Kisame held his gaze for a few moments more pondering to himself silently. This girl had managed to hold off two infamous Akatsuki members by herself, not crumble into a thousand pieces after meeting the leader and disrupted the advances of a dramatic adolescent- the mission could definitely prove interesting.
"I'm still not paying for her, easy on the eyes or not." Kakuzu muttered continuing to pile his coins and jot down his findings in a scatty looking notebook, the pages torn and stained from years of heavy handed use and abuse.
"She is not a prostitute; she is to aid us on a mission." Itachi cut in abruptly, turning and facing the intimidating pair; despite his smaller and calmer stature Itachi was up there with the best of them and could silence a room with a single glare. Reina shuddered inwardly, his eyes meeting hers; it felt like he was staring straight through her, burning a hole in her flesh as if he were using his Amaterasu technique.
Kakuzu shrugged unfazed and obviously disinterested in the young Uchiha's words and continued to log his winnings; by this time Kisame was standing to attention, the legendary sword strapped to his back making him seemingly taller and more menacing. Itachi left the room once more silently handing Reina a small wrapped bundle; she looked from the linen bundle back to him with a wash of gratitude on her freckled features.
"Arigatou Itachi-san." She whispered almost silently, stepping aside as Kisame stepped into the hallway, giving Reina a once over look before walking ahead alongside his partner, his arms folded behind his head in a relaxed manner.
"Ne Itachi-san what's the mission then?" Kisame asked, his broad frame towering over both Itachi and Reina. She had heard rumours of when the pair had first come into contact with Naruto and how Jiraiya had managed to fend them off, Naruto was lucky to say the least, Sasuke however was not, having had a rather nasty clash with his elder brother.
As Itachi began to explain the details of the mission to his blue skinned partner, Reina pondered silently to herself as she unwrapped the bundle and eyed its contents. It was sad to see such a relationship between the two brothers go so sour; they were almost inseparable in their younger years, the talk of the town. Now? Now the youngest had a vendetta against his last of kin; how would Sasuke feel if he were to claim his revenge?
To have absolutely no family left to console him, to be completely and utterly alone.
It was him she truly pitied.
They left the dreary shadows of the lair, the sun grazing over the lands once more; Reina had almost forgotten what the smell of fresh air was like or to have the sun caress her tired and washed out skin. Occasionally the villainous duo would glance back at Reina, sometimes motioning her to hurry up or ask minor details about the mission. Reina knew Itachi was acquainted with the tale of the mythical mirror and could probably find it himself as he was no illiterate fool so why the Akatsuki sort her out specifically was beyond her reasoning.
If indeed they were to come across a trail of breadcrumbs that led to mirror, it would be no minor task in fact she was unsure whether they would believe her if she told them half of the things she expected to encounter on this journey. If her readings were correct then what lay ahead was completely unheard of and out of this world, quite literally in fact. Reina paused from her thoughts and unravelled the bundle, her eyes lighting up a little as she spotted a dark red apple amongst the few items; packing the rest away she admired the blood coloured flesh momentarily.
Itachi deterred his eyes from the dust of the pebble laden road temporarily to glance back at the silent kunoichi only to smile ever so slightly from behind the comforts of his collar. Reina despite her split lip and reddened skin had the softest of smiles dancing on her lips. It had been years since he had seen her smile; she was known in the village for being such a smiley and cheerful person even despite her youth she portrayed a sense of wisdom beyond her years, something he could relate to.
His gaze lingered on silently content heiress, watching as she studied the fleshy fruit as if calculating where to take her first bite; she brought the apple to her mouth and took a dainty bite, her lips brushing over the skin as she did. A soft, barely present chuckle rumbled in her throat as fruit juice sprayed from the bite, it clinging to her lips as she chewed delicately.
Women were curious creatures, they could perform the simplest of tasks and ooze seduction; it was innate in men no matter their occupation or upbringing to find sexuality in the meekest of actions when it came to women. Most women were blessed with poise and grace, the air would be sporadically filled with them and only certain people would appreciate the humble traits.
Reina feeling the nectar beginning the drip from her lips quickly licked it away, savouring its momentary sweetness before feeling a conversant set of eyes upon her. She looked up to where the gaze was coming from only to meet a familiar pair of rubicund orbs gazing back at her; she felt her cheeks flush faintly wondering if he had been staring all this time? Did she eat in an odd way or something?
Unsure as to just what the dark haired male wanted from her, she held out the apple wordlessly receiving an arched brow in return, but he did not refuse her offer. Silently the broody Uchiha took the dark fruit from her hand and took a bite, his lips smacking together to catch the rebellious sap, his eyes still locked with hers before handing the apple back.
She had fallen from grace, stained with sin and was now sharing forbidden fruit with the devil himself.
He and she were damned.