Chapter 37: Encounter

'Inner Thoughts'

Writing


Yukino's POV

Finding the time to leave the base I quickly made my way to the teashop for the meeting I had waited for six whole months. I even made something special for this day. Arriving as soon as the shop lady was done with the new batch of melon bread I bought one and sat down to wait.

Feeling someone's gaze on me I looked back seeing a tall fit young man with a girl with black hair and emerald green eyes. Their eyes were on me for a moment before they simultaneously looked away and whispered. 'Must be a date.' I smiled turning my attention elsewhere seeing the store owner leave to do something. With a sigh, I looked up at the ceiling and began to zone out.

Hearing rapid footsteps I jumped out of my seat as the boy grasped my shoulders. "We have an emergency back in the village." He said pushing me down.

'Ryota?' The name got stuck on my throat as I looked at the young man. He no longer looked like he did his soft features became more defined making him look like someone else.

Once I finished that small analysis I noticed the area around me changed. Realizing this I turned my body around and landed on my feet. "You have to help." He urgently told me as I took in what was happening.

Busily people ran around tending to people in a hurry. There was no blood so something serious couldn't have happened. Giving the white place a quick glance I realized it was a hospital. But not any hospital. This was oddly similar to a drawing I had made and left in the library months ago. A draft I never found. Shaking my head I decided to focus on the people here first, the reunion will have to hold off until later. Without missing a beat I went to ask those that were helping what was happening.


Ryota's POV

Not a moment after bringing her she grasped what was going on and took command. Her calm and affirmative voice resounded through the hospital as she gave orders. Even Emi who shyly hid from people listened to her.

Standing to the side I watched in awe as the volunteers broke up into groups and obeyed her. 'How is she so calm?' I wondered. Making my way to her side I asked just that.

"Ha. I guess I lost the ability to show fear in my time with the Akatsuki." She laughed as her hands trembled slightly. Collecting water into her palm she brought it to the person's stomach and took out something. "Thought so. Hey, one of you go and inform everyone not to drink water from the river!" She yelled.

"I'll do it!" Someone volunteered bolting out of the building.

Creating a shadow clone she pointed to me. "Ryota. Take my shadow clone and go investigate the river. There must be something that's causing the poisoning. Once I know that I can give the proper antidote sooner than if I use this." She lifted her hand showing me the thing in the water.

"Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can!" I made my way to the exit as I heard her yell, "Who knows the mystical hand technique?"

With her shadow clone in tow, we both looked down carefully at the water not having a moment to waste. She was probably going to extract the poison from their systems but that wouldn't be enough. She was only one out of the tens of volunteers who knew how to do what she did.

"How did you know it's in the water?" I asked her clone as I kept my eyes down.

"Easy the area where the sick were coming from were mostly from the river area." She responded. "The most common symptom was stomach ache so it was easy to figure out that the poison was ingested." Keeping our eyes down on the ground and water we didn't realize we left the city until we saw dirt under our feet. "Found it!" Her clone yelled pointing to the plant going by the side of the river.

"That plant caused all this?" I asked and she nodded.

"Keep looking there might be more up ahead." Her clone dug out the plant and bit onto the root.

Doing as instructed I ran upstream finding that plant growing in bunches by the side of the river. "Don't rip them out. If you leave the roots they'll just grow again!" I heard her clone yell before I heard a poof.

Left alone in the forest I looked over my shoulder from time to time making sure nothing jumped me while I removed the plants. Knowing that she was probably the only one capable of making the antidote and the only one to remove the poison like that I had a feeling that she would be the one doing most of the work today.

・・・

With my part done, I sat down in the now empty lobby waiting for Yukino and Emi to finish. The antidote had been made a couple of hours ago all that was left to do was to administer it to everyone and wait to see if nothing went wrong. That is what I picked up at least from bits of conversations here and there.

"Sigh… finally…" I heard a yawn and the sound of bones cracking.

Knowing who it was already I looked at the only people left in the building. Yukino came into the lobby first with the face of someone who has seen worse while Emi came in stumbling after her. "Rough day?" I asked startling Yukino.

"I've been through worse situations. This day was fun." She strained the last word and forced a smile before plopping herself down on the seat across from me. "But first you have to introduce us." She gestured to herself and Emi as she took the seat beside me.

"This is Emi Ito. She was part of the people we rescued the night of the raid." I gestured to Emi as she gave one small tired nod. "She asked me to train her not long after you left."

"Oh, I didn't recognize you with your short hair." Yukino glanced at Emi and nodded. "I'm Yukino Uzumaki nice to meet you. Ryota I have to say you've done well, she is really good at chakra control." She smiled and snapped her fingers as if remembering something. "I wanted to give you this." She opened a small portal taking out two masks. A black face mask to cover the mouth and a fox mask with red markings and a red gem on the right cheek. "I was hoping that since I was in the Akatsuki you will take up the mantle and become a demon fox."

"You think I'm ready!" I took the masks and put them on at once. Looking at myself in the reflection of the glass doors I began practicing what my wanted posters would look like. "Wait why can't you just leave the Akatsuki now and be done with them?"

"There is something there that I want to investigate further. I think that I might have some clue as to who it was who killed me." She smiled kindly on the surface but her eyes revealed hidden malice.

"You really should leave as soon as you can I can see how that organization is affecting you." I kneeled before her and lifted her hands for her to see. "You've grown taller since then but you've also grown thinner."

"Ryota…" She said softly removing my hands from her arms. "Don't worry. I'll play the fool for a while longer. Once I get what's mine I'll leave." She smiled giving me an idea as to the persona she had been using in her time with the organization.

"You better." I stood up removing the masks that had become comfortable on my face. "People have been asking for you. The kids mostly but still."

"Really? Are they all alright? Are they–" Freezing she dug into her pocket and took out a rock with the word base engraved on it along with a folded up note. "I need to leave. This is for you." She handed me the note. "It's so that mask doesn't fall off easily."

Cough. Turning both of our attention to the side Emi sat patiently for us to finish. "Sorry, Emi."

"It's fine." She said surprising Yukino who probably didn't hear her utter a word the whole time they were together.

"Well, I need to leave. I will leave studying materials for both of you. Alright?" Turning to Emi she smiled. "Don't be afraid to give suggestions on what you want to study."


Yukino's POV

Creating a portal to my shower I grabbed a random book and curled up in the shower as the door opened. Jumping at the sight of Pein I looked down noticing the book in my hands Icha Icha Paradise.

"Hi." I waved.

"Go to the lounge I have a mission for you." He said leaving the room.

Doing as ordered I put away the book and went to the lounge wondering what he wanted. To my surprise, I also saw Itachi. "You two will be going to collect supplies tomorrow."

"I can do that on my own."

"I doubt it." He handed me the list.

Looking over the list I frowned. "I'm shopping on Sasori-san's behalf also?"

"You are." About to say something I shut my mouth and nodded. 'Why do I have to shop for someone else's poison ingredients.' Had it only been my stuff then I could easily buy all of it and carried it back but with this extra load, I will definitely need an extra hand.

"Don't stay up late again reading you two leave at dawn."


As ordered I got up earlier than well everyone and waited with an empty basket on my back. Seeing Itachi I got up clapping my hands, "Come on we have two days of traveling! Those herbs aren't going to wait for us!" I put on a smile and skipped ahead even with the added weight to my back.

・・・

Waking up I stared at the branches above my head with wide eyes. I had woken up from my sleep as if I snapped out of a daydream. Quick and startling.

Moving as little as possible I looked down not seeing Itachi anywhere. 'Where is he?' I wondered since there would really be no reason for him to be up at midnight.

Closing my eyes I sensed the surrounding area. Opening my eyes I looked in the direction of the singular chakra signature that could only come from one other person. 'What is he doing there?' Creating chakra chains I dug them quietly into the ground below and jumped down bringing myself into a silent landing.

Suppressing my chakra I quietly walked towards where the signature was. Approaching the place I looked around finding signs of someone here. Finding clues I followed them reaching the edge of a town. 'This isn't the town we were heading to…'

Snap! "Sorry." I heard someone whisper. Curious I sneakily made my way to where I heard the voice making sure to watch my step.

Practically crawling on the ground I looked up seeing not that far away stood Itachi and a boy. The boy rummaged through his bag and handed Itachi a small pouch. "Here, bought what you asked."

Opening the bag I watched as Itachi looked through it. "Everythings here." Taking out a pouch he placed it on the boy's hand allowing me to hear the sound of coins inside.

"Thanks!" The boy ran off with the sack of money.

Seeing no point in hiding I stood up not caring about the amount of sound I would make.

Suddenly from the corner of my eye, I saw the glint of a kunai headed in the direction of my neck. Taking out Nagareboshi from my stomach I blocked the kunai staring at red eyes. "Yukino?" He asked as he relaxed.

"Yeah," I put Nagareboshi back on its sheath and attached it to my side. "What is that?" I asked looking at the bag that the boy gave him.

"Nekobaa gave me a private mission to collect this." He held up the bag.

Crossing my arms I sighed. "You should've just said so we could've taken the detour." Thinking of Nekobaa I smiled nostalgically, 'I should visit her sometime.' I yawned feeling a cold pang near my heart. 'It must be because I woke up so suddenly.' I reasoned shivering lightly. "I'm going back." I yawned again as I headed back to the forest. "Don't take too long."

・・・

After the small incident, we were a days walk away from the town but that trip was filled with silence as I could sense the clouds surrounding the air around Itachi. 'Maybe I should ask.' I told myself to do but didn't.

Arriving at the inn of the town I looked at reception seeing no one there. 'Where is she?' I looked at the lobby not seeing her but something else that was just as important. Walking up to the poster I noticed that it was a wanted poster someone had made. About me. Not me exactly but of my other job.

Quickly removing the thumbtack I took down the poster and folded it up just as the inn owner came into the room. "Oh, darling you're back! It's been so long!" She hugged me.

"I'm sorry for not being in the area." I laughed, returning the hug and kissing her cheek.

Letting go she looked behind me and looked at me questioningly. "Where's the other young man you were with?"

"He's doing his own thing."

"Ah, I see. The boy was really nice." She sighed and muttered something about her wishing her son was more helpful as she made her way to the reception desk. "Are you going to be staying or leaving him here?" She motioned to Itachi.

"Staying here. I came to buy a couple of things so I need him to carry them back."

"If that's your story." She shrugged and handed me the keys.

Eyeing her old figure with suspicion, we went to the room to find nothing odd with it. 'That's good.' I thought as I was looking around for any bugs just in case. "Why are you so invested in this?" Itachi asked catching me off guard.

'I knew something was bugging him. Is it about me being in the Akatsuki?' I wondered. "Curiosity," I shrugged as I finished examining the room.

"Why don't you leave while you can?"

"I died once. I'll leave when I'm killed. They can't look for someone that's dead." I looked at him like it was the most logical thing. "It will hurt and I will remember it sometimes when I close my eyes but that is a small price for their safety," I added but before he could ask more I opened a small portal and I took out some guy clothes I had and threw them on his lap. "Put those on we're going shopping."

・・・

Waiting for a while he came out of the bedroom wearing the clothes I was going to gift Ryota as a disguise. "Hm… it's good enough just take off the headband and tie your hair up. No one will recognize you." Standing up I brushed my clothes and left the room with empty bags in my hands.


Going to the familiar market place I walked around people and made my way to an herb shop I knew. Looking behind me I noted the absence of one raven haired nin. 'I'm sure he'll find me.' With that thought, I entered the familiar shop.

Making my way to the counter in hopes of seeing the usual owner I instead found a young man reading a book in disinterest.

"Excuse me," I spoke up making him flinch.

Looking up he stumbled with his book and said. "Oh, sorry didn't see you."

"Where is the man that's always here?" I asked looking around.

"My dad? He left me in charge. What do you need?"

"Well…" Looking down at the list I picked two herbs. "These two. I really don't use them but I need them." I showed him the two items on the list.

"Hm. Sure." Getting out from his seat he walked around the store looking for the herbs. "How much do you need?"

"One pound." I shrugged picking up the herbs I needed as I followed him.


Itachi's POV

'I lost her.' I looked around me not seeing her anywhere. She was in front of me just a moment ago going to a shop that she knew sold the herbs on the list. I had taken my eyes off her for just a second and she was gone. A clear indicator of where she was would have been the white dress she was wearing but even that was gone.

Stopping in front of a wanted poster Yukino had stopped to look at earlier I noticed the drawing someone had made of the Sapphire demon fox. The bounty was high and the details of this mysterious nin were vague. 'Why would she be interested in this?' Catching the scent of spices I looked around spotting a shop she could've gone into.

The moment I entered I heard her soft laughter coming from somewhere inside. Following the voices, I came up to a dark aisle seeing Yukino and a man. "If you have time," he wrapped his hand around her shoulder. "I can show you how to properly make it–"

"Well here's the money." She placed down the money in front of him and turned away causing his arm to fall off her shoulder. "Don't do that again or I WILL tell your father. If he loses one of his valued customers I'm sure he will be very upset."

"Yuki, there you are we are going to be late for our dinner reservation." I interrupted.

"Oh, right!" She gasped.

"Dear," I picked up her bag. "Let's enjoy our evening together like we agreed to."

Her face flushed and she nodded slowly. "Uh-huh," she picked up another bag and ran out of the store before me.

・・・

Wobbling slightly to the side I watched as her strength faded with every minute that we kept walking. "Do you need help with that?"

"No." Her voice came out strained. "We're close to the inn I can handle it."

Reaching the room she happily sighed placing her bag down and shoved to some corner. Looking down at the bag I was holding I placed it down and placed it beside hers. "W-we both have free time so I will go to a bookstore." She crawled away and jumped up to a stand before running out of the room.


Store clerk's POV

Sitting at my boring job I glanced at the clock counting down the minutes before closing time. 'Ugh! Why am I still working here!' I pulled my hair and banged my head against the counter.

Hearing the bells chime my head bolted up and I saw a petite girl in a white dress enter the store. Nervously she looked around before freezing. Her attention was grabbed by something as she swiftly moved to it.

Not knowing what book caught her interest due to the bookshelves obstructing my view, I turned to the labels on the bookshelves. Squinting slightly I read the label surprised to see that it was the erotics isle. 'A cute girl like her reading books like that.' Proud I tapped my chest remembering how I was around her age when I read my first erotica. 'Man… that brings me back.'

"Excuse me."

"Yes?" I snapped out of it seeing her place her book choices on the counter. The Icha Icha series and Love Among the Camelia series were both on my counter. Both pretty graphic and intense in more ways than one.

"Can I buy this?" She asked with a pure smile. 'Does she know the intensity of the content within the books?'

"First time reading it?" I laughed smiling in return trying to learn the truth.

"No. I only read a couple of pages of this one." She tapped the Love among the Camellias series. "And someone I know really likes this series so I'm curious." She tapped the Icha Icha series.

"How old are you?"

"15."

"Well," I pulled the books towards me. "These books are rated 18+. Do you know what that means?" With an uncertain shake of her head, I continued. "It's for those who are 18 years and above."

"Oh, well… Uhm… I guess I'll wait then." She scratched her blonde hair sort of saddened by the fact she couldn't read it.

With a sigh, I scanned the books. "You're 15 almost 18." I hummed. "My boss isn't here right now so you know what I'll sell them. Just don't go spreading the word okay?" I held a finger up to my lips and she nodded. Ringing the last books. I placed each series into separate bags and handed both bags to her. She handed the money and I handed the receipt. "Remember." I placed my finger to my lips again.

With one nod she turned towards the door with a small skip to her step. 'Even if someone had told me not to I would have eventually read the book even if I wasn't old enough.' I sighed feeling better about what I did. 'I hope you enjoy those books…'


Yukino's POV

Returning to the room I glanced once at the room not seeing Itachi anywhere somehow making me relieved. Opening a portal I put the Icha Icha series away and I sat down on the floor opening the first book of Love Among the Camellias.

The moment I opened the cover everything I read up to the chapter I was on came flooding back. After years of not reading this, the first question that came to mind was: 'What will his choice be? I bet it won't be the samurai.'

Going to the page I went back a couple of pages and I began to read to make my transitions into this fictional world smoother. Not even a page after the one that I left at I nearly gasped as to how it advanced into a makeout session in the woods. 'W-what!' My face flamed up as I read what was happening they both chose to split yet the reserved samurai decided to initiate the kiss so the other would question his decision. Clutching my necklace I held it close as a tight feeling bloomed within my heart.

This rush. The rapid palpitations of excitement both familiar and foreign to me just urged me to continue reading this novel. About to turn the page the words slipped from my view literally as the book was snatched from my hands. "Wha–?" Looking up, Itachi now held the book reading over the pages I was reading. "Itachi. Please return it. I was getting to something interesting." I asked feeling my face heat up and my hands shake in the direction of the book.

Not noticing his state of dress he flipped a couple of pages back and began to read. Confused I just looked at him as he sat down and read. Noticing his half-naked body I looked at his hair noticing the wet strands. "Hey, Itachi, leave the book here and change." I tried moving his attention to himself. Concerned about the new book I glanced at the small droplets growing bigger at the ends of his hair. 'If one drop falls then my book will…'

Looking around I found the towel on the chair and quickly grabbed it. Dropping it on his head I pulled back on it catching his wet strands of hair before any of the water could fall on my book. Relieved I tied the towel around his head. "Itachi–" Noticing the page he was on I leaned over his shoulder to read the part where I was up to. 'No… he's turning him in.' I stared in disbelief but still really intrigued on what was going on I kept reading, that it took a while for me to notice the warm feeling on my lips. As if on reflex I returned the action before returning to the book.

The moment I realized what I did I stopped and backed away immediately before running to the bedroom and shutting the door behind me. Hitting my head against the mat covered floor I felt my heart speed up and my face flame up. 'I kissed someone on the lips…' I silently screamed ashamed that deep within I liked the feeling.

Hearing a soft knock I heard my name being said softly on the other side. 'We shouldn't do this… he's in Akatsuki. I'm in Akatsuki. How would that even work? But then again I can't really have relationships anywhere.' I shrugged realizing how I will remain alone as long as I was a shinobi.

Opening the door a crack I responded. "If you want to forget I can do it."

"And if I don't want to forget?"

'… Now what?' Opening the door I saw him kneeled on the other side of the door. 'That was my only resort.' Not knowing what to say next all I did was gestures as I tried making something out of those words.

He listened and watched with a smile until I overheated and just covered my face with my hair. "Do you want me to forget?"

"No…."

"What do you want to do?" He asked moving one of my hands so I could see him. 'Why does this remind of something I read?'

Not being able to formulate anything to say my mind. I activated my eyes and took out a book on the meanings of flowers and plucked a red and white spotted tulip from my garden. "Here." I handed both items to him while It took out two other flowers. A yellow carnation for rejection and pink carnation if he decided to accept.

"It's better to think without pressure so I will be going to the brothel! Don't follow." I yelled and ran out when in reality I just needed an excuse to leave.

"What?" I heard him say by the time I closed the door behind me.

・・・

"So that's what happened," I told the ladies on break making sure not to say his name. Being situated on the last table in the back of the brothel hidden from view I had some privacy to vent out.

"Well, that's one way to do it." one of them said before digging into caramel ice cream.

"Yes, normally one would ask. Hey, is this your first time?" Another asked.

"Yes," I responded, taking one of the ice creams.

"Oh, dear." One turned to the others who just shared a look of sympathy.

"Don't be like that. The first relationship is the most troublesome." someone sighed and shook her head.

"You never forget your first love." One shook her head. "In most cases, the first relationship ends in heartbreak. Either you drift apart, or one cheats on the other or just finds someone else that they feel strongly for. It never ends well. Well there are those cases where it works out but those are few." She sighed as if reflecting on her first love life. "The bastard I fell for had the balls to go behind my back and sleep with my best friend at the time." She hissed cracking the glass of water in her hand.

Shrinking into the cushion of the seat I stared wide-eyed at the cracked glass. 'She isn't a shinobi. So how did she...'

"If he ever comes by we will rip make sure to crush his jewels." Another soothed her by rubbing her shoulder.

"Yeah, we will even tie him up and leave him to the wolves." Another suggested and soon they all gathered around giving gruesome suggestions to how they could end him painfully for the betrayal. The one with the heartbreak began to tear up at the amount of support they were giving her.

Watching her fix her makeup she snapped her fingers. "Ladies lets celebrate her first possible relationship. Bring out the sake!" She called the boy at the bar.

"Should I really be–"

"You're almost old enough! Drink!"


Kamen's POV

Writing down the report for Haruko-sama I froze looking up at the moon through my window. Clutching my heart I could feel something off. Without hesitation, I stopped what I was doing and followed the feeling to the foggy woods.

Emerging into the forest of a nearby town. I walked mindlessly until I stopped in front of a brothel. 'There is only one person who would walk in here without a care.' Sighing I walked in making sure to only look at the faces of the people inside and nothing else. Thump! Going to the last table where a crowd was gathering I saw Yukino face down on the table mumbling.

Every one of the women near the table turned around and looked at the girl. One approached the table and lifted the bottle. "She finished it."

"Yukino." I tapped her shoulder and she just "hm?" in response.

"Otou-san?" She asked, making the women around her look up in surprise.

Tiptoeing over one of the women whispered. "We only gave her amazake. You know sweet but has very low alcohol."

"Yeah, we only gave her one cup we didn't think that she would drink the whole bottle." Another added before grabbing the bottle that Yukino attempted to reach for.

Sighing I patted Yukino's shoulder and waved my hand to get her attention. "Yukino, tell me where you are staying tonight."

・・・

Carrying her on my back she started telling me about the plot of the book she read it seemed interesting but her drunken state worried me. '"Then he sucked. He sucked because he betrayed him and turned him in. But he escaped." She whispered. "His clothes were torn but that's an inconvenience that can be easily solved. Also, that's where I left off." she shrugged.

"Well tell me what happens after that when you're feeling better." I fumbled with the keys for a moment and opened the door.

Freezing for just a moment I saw a ghost of the past. "I'm back…" Yukino jumped off my back before I could ask Itachi what he was doing here. Walking past him she kneeled in front of the table and began laying out pencils and paper from her storage space with the tranquility of a monk.

"Itachi." I greeted simply.

"Kamen-san." He kept a straight face on but glanced at Yukino with worry.

Turning my head I saw Yukino drawing feverishly on a piece of paper before going to another one. "What are you doing?" I asked picking up the paper and seeing the word Greenery written on it. Looking down at the drawing itself I saw concepts of just buildings.

"Ryota and Nori-san used my plans so I'm making more." She smiled finishing another drawing.

Placing the paper down I glanced at Itachi through the edge of my mask. Looking slightly hurt the emotion was replaced with a small glimmer of happiness. Keeping silent about it I picked the ones she finished. Looking them over I saw the words orphanage and school. "Can I help?" I asked her. Keeping her eyes down she nodded.

Taking a pencil I sat down across from her. "You visited Ryota, right? How did it go?" I asked, throwing a glance at the raven-haired boy. His eyes looked questioningly between us before he sat down next to Yukino.

Holding his hand closed he held it out. Curious she opened his hand and took the lilac rose eraser. Stopping momentarily her face flushed, "Thank you." She nodded and glanced at me before lowering her head down. "Oh, the visit was terrible. Everyone was poisoned and we didn't get to talk much and then I was told to buy herbs." She sighed as I questioned the whole poisoned part but before I could even ask for the story she added. "But it wasn't bad." Placing the pencil down she held the drawing in front of Itachi's face. "What do you think?"

Blinking in surprise he angled the paper and stared at it for a moment before giving her an answer. "It's a nice house."

"I knew it." She nodded and handed me the paper to see. House was written at the top like all the others.

"Yukino are you planning on living there?"

"Yep. Once I turn seventeen I'll want to live there with Ryota and Emi. I'm sure I can teach them. If I don't then I'll learn something." She smiled gathering all of her plans. "I want to live in the place I helped build." Dropping them all into her library she crossed her arms leaning half of her body into the library.

'Emi?' Not recognizing this name I made sure to look into it later. "Yukino. Don't hang there you may end up cutting yourself in half."

"Will I?" she asked as if wanting to try it out to find out for sure.

"Don't." I stood up and pulled her back into the room.

"Okay…"

"Itachi a moment." I waved him towards the balcony. Once he was inside I slid the glass doors closed and waved at Yukino as she waved back. Turning my focus back at the boy I looked at him up and down.

"Kamen-san." He greeted me again.

"Itachi… it's been some time since I last saw you. You have the same look you did then. I bet she never even noticed."

"What do you mean?"

"Yukino really liked you three. But I want to talk to you about something else you know that since Yukino joined this organization a lot of her time has been devoted here." I glanced back at Yukino making sure she didn't do something that would kill her. Luckily she wasn't and she was just leaning on the table playing with the eraser. "She may find a way to leave soon after all she has found her place to call home."

"I know."

"If possible don't cover for her it will only complicate things when she tries to leave. Her methods are odd but they work." I shrugged, "I'll be leaving for now. Itachi, I trust that you won't do anything while she's drunk." I smiled under my mask staring at the boy's soul. He was kind and gentle when he was a boy but now he was a young man. Was he still as kind and gentle as back then? I couldn't be sure. "I doubt she will stay still tonight so I suggest putting her on the futon and adding weight."

Opening the glass doors I kneeled next to Yukino and kissed her forehead. She smiled and kissed the top of my mask in return."Yukino I will return home so take care and don't do anything reckless. Alright?"

"Yep." She nodded.

"I mean it. I want you alive and aware tomorrow." I warned.

"I know… I will visit tomorrow." She guided me to the door. "Bye." She waved and goodbye before closing the door slowly.


Ryota's POV

Things returned to their usual calm around the island almost as if the poisoning was just a terrible dream.

Looking over the map in the library I compared them to the list Yukino had developed of future heists. Picking a small place I opened a book gathering as much information as I could before deciding to go there.

"Preparing?"

Jumping I turned around seeing Emi with her own books. "Uh. Yes, this will be my first solo mission so I need to be careful."

"Can I come along?" She asked placing down the books. Anatomy. Mystical hand technique. Were the few titles I was able to glance at before she moved them behind her.

"Sure, you can learn about intel gathering and fieldwork." I closed the books with a smile. "You seem happy. I assume Yukino must've caught your interest."

"Yeah, that thing she did with the water seemed incredible. Also how she was able to find the antidote and make it." She gushed opening the book and going to something she found. "She mentioned this but no one knew it."

"Yeah, there aren't any healers on this island so Yukino being here was new for you. I'm not good with the whole mystical hand technique but I can help you with the poison area."

"I would like that."