Chapter 7: Negotiations
Pests just didn't know when to give it up.
With a scoff, Inuyasha shook his claws to get rid of the still dripping blood towards the clattered corpses of the insect youkais that kept hanging around the village. They weren't even strong enough to justify unsheathing his sword, though maybe he was also using them to channel his shitty mood. The hanyou knew he'd messed up when he talked to Kagome, but his mouth often worked on its own, and the words were out by the time Inuyasha realized he'd screwed up. Still, the last thing he was expecting was for the scent of the so-called warrior to vanish only a few moments after Kagome's. Miroku and Sango intercepted him, all but threatening him to stay away from the well for the week the wench asked for also wasn't something he'd been expecting. Itachi technically didn't belong to either time period, instead, whatever bond had allowed his passage had to connect him with either the Goshinboku or Kagome herself. One way or another, there was a good chance he could travel through both eras just like the girl. With that being the case, it was better to figure it out sooner rather than later, or so the perverted monk said as he explained how this was all his idea to test out this theory. As if it did anything to make things better when they remained unmoving from their decision to ban him from the area and had Shippo pull out his stupid statues in a clear threat.
They knew he and Kagome had…argued.
Miroku may be able to pull off his innocent facade, but there was no way to miss Sango's frown. The demon exterminator was always quick to take the out-of-time priestess' side and always made sure to add her own scoldings to the mix whenever the younger girl left in a huff. And yes, it was partly his fault. He'd gotten used to Sango's poorly hidden irritation, but it still made no sense to send an almost stranger with her and hold the hanyou here. That Kagome didn't kick the dark-eyed man down the well so she could focus on her stupid studies only made the bitter aftertaste become all the more poignant.
"Here I thought I'd get the chance to get some warm-up." Sango's voice behind him had his ears twitching.
"Keh, not worth it," he grunted as he turned.
"Is it me, or are they surprisingly persistent?" The woman let her hiraikotsu rest on the ground. "Kaede-sama said they've been rounding the village for over a week, right?"
"Then all we need to do is find their nest and destroy it…or do you think it's something else?"
"…well, he's been really quiet lately." Wariness enveloped the one word. There wasn't any need for them to spell it out.
Scoffing, the hanyou crossed his arms. Every time Naraku suddenly grew quiet was because the bastard was planning some new, annoying way to become even more of a thorn in their side. As much as he hated to admit it, the spider demon was growing more dangerous. That was part of why Inuyasha had been so on edge when Itachi appeared out of nowhere. Discarding the warrior's entrance, however, the only other odd situation they'd encountered so far was the consistent and pointless presence of the insect demons around the village. What could Naraku be getting out of sending a bunch of weak little beasts that didn't even have the saimyosho's poison, Inuyasha wasn't sure, but the fucker liked to go around in circles.
"Then we won't miss our chance." Finding Naraku before any plans could be set in motion. Not like it was easy to do. "As soon as the wench is back, we're moving out."
"About that, Inuyasha…I want Kagome-chan to start training," Sango said, determination set firmly on her face.
"Wha…" Confusion set in because he'd already been forced to agree to it, so there was no need for the exterminator to bring this up again. "She's already doing that."
"I don't mean spiritual training. I couldn't help her with that one if I tried; besides, Miroku-sama and Itachi-san have it covered." The woman crossed her arms, clearly getting ready for an argument. "What I meant was that I want to ask Kagome-chan to start some physical training, at the very least, she has to learn some self-defense basics. We may need to take some extra breaks after she'd back."
"Hold on…no…no way." He was shaking his head already. "It's bad enough we're already wasting time with those stupid sessions, and now we're gonna have to go even slower just because Itachi had another brilliant idea?! It's not like she could do anything with only a couple hours of training anyway! We're not losing any more time!"
Yes, the girl felt guilty, and truth to be said, Inuyasha himself would be happy if the so-called warrior were to up and go back to his world so things could just go back to normal. But that didn't mean he wanted to spend more precious light time so they could go to even more shrines, and the like. It wasn't like there was any guarantee they could even find any information they could actually use. Hell, they risked losing the spider hanyou's trail chasing down old legends. The guy didn't even want to go back. The routes they took were only chosen to humor Kagome's annoying whims. The last thing they needed was to go even slower so the girl could learn the kind of basic shit that wouldn't even be useful in an actual fight. Half-learned skills could be as dangerous as total ignorance. Worse even, running away was the natural response when not knowing what to do, but thinking you knew what to do could make you stay in a battle without any real hope of winning. And even when she could barely knock back an arrow, Kagome had never been the sort to back down.
"This was my idea, Inuyasha." Sango's voice was cutting, irritation dripping from every word. "I never questioned why Kagome-chan wasn't getting any training. I mean, it looked like this was just the way things were, but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this was a mistake. We didn't know how her spiritual powers worked, so ignoring it was one thing, but disregarding her combat training too?"
"She doesn't need to know. We can keep her safe." His claws were digging into his skin.
"Can we? Look, I get it…" she sighed, letting her arms fall. "All of us, well, we're used to constant fights against one threat or the other. Things can go wrong and turn ugly in a hurry, but this is where we were born, what we're used to… And Kagome-chan didn't even need to touch a bow before falling through the well. It's so easy to tell how safe her life was. None of us could trust others the way she does, so blindly and optimistically. I'm not sure who in this time could keep that sort of innocence safe like she's done. Letting her fight in anything other than the back feels like we're failing to keep her safe… Like she could be tainted or something." The subdued tone of her voice had him biting back his protest. "But we can't let this go on; how many times has she been kidnapped?
"It's a miracle something worse hasn't happened yet." He didn't want to hear it. He didn't need to hear it. "Of course, she won't jump to the front lines swinging a sword or anything. It takes years of training and preparation to master a skill, but you said it yourself, Naraku isn't below using humans to attack us." What started as a rant became a soft admission and turned into a convincing argument. "Plus, we never know when we have to deal with bandits. This will give her one more tool to buy enough time for any of us to find her."
She wasn't…wrong.
Not about why it was important to let the futuristic priestess fight, not about why he was so set against it in the first place. But against his better reason, Inuyasha still wanted her as far from the battlefield as possible. He'd loudly proclaimed himself as her protector. And while he'd never say it out loud, the silver-haired hanyou hated how Kikyo's image seemed to overlap whenever she took up her bow. No one would ever claim Kikyo was weak. The young woman had trained since childhood, her aim was practically perfect, and she'd been beyond sharp. A perfect example of what was expected from a miko. As the guardian of the Shikon, her name was whispered with as much hatred as wariness between youkais. And yet, she'd been killed. Fooled and played with Naraku while Inuyasha unknowingly played a part in her demise. He hadn't helped keep her safe. He'd been part of the reason behind her death. Kagome could train and get better, but at the end of the day, it didn't mean a damn thing when their enemy was the same demon who killed Kikyo.
Besides, the battlefield didn't suit her. Sango said it herself, Kagome was raised in an entirely different world. At first, he hadn't paid too much attention to it, but the more he interacted with her family, the harder it became to ignore. Her kindness was unlike anything he'd ever seen, and it was likely related to the peacefulness of her original time period. Ironically, what he now looked to protect was something that once irritated him. He'd scoffed at her horrified gasp the first time she saw a corpse. Back then, he grumbled whenever she wanted to bury the decaying bodies they encountered on their journey. And now, it was that trait that he wished to protect the most.
Still, he couldn't deny Sango's words.
"Right," he grunted, the word barely slipping through his gritted teeth. "So, now we're just gonna wait and hope he knows what he is doing, is it?"
"He? You mean Itachi-san?" What little combativeness was left in the demon exterminator's stance vanished, replaced by confusion. "Why would he be the one to train her?"
"He's…not?"
"It was my idea," Sango huffed. "Besides, even if Itachi-san is stronger than me and can adapt his style to go against youkais, he's probably used to fighting others on a level playing field. Whenever he didn't have a physical advantage. That's something Kagome won't have. Since we're only covering the basics, I'm the best one to teach her."
"O-oh, that…makes sense, I guess." Heat was rushing to his face. Now that he thought about it, the woman never mentioned their newest addition's name.
"You know jealousy can turn from flattering to annoying really fast." Now, the exterminator was smirking. "And I really don't think Kagome-chan has much patience left."
"W-who the hell is jealous?!"
"Sure, sure." This time, Sango outright laughed. "I'll check the south border before going back if you want to take over the north side?"
Not giving him any time to yell a response, the woman had already jumped up the fire nekomata and left him with nothing but the grass to listen to his reply. Admittedly, he really didn't have a good one anyway, but it was the principle of the thing that was annoying.
For the last five days, Shippo hadn't shut up. Constantly saying the hanyou's bad mood was because of jealousy, and the last thing he needed was for the other two to join in with the stupid accusations. Because he was not jealous, he was just being cautious. Or so he'd spent almost every day since the otherworldly warrior barged into their lives. Kagome promised to stay at his side, asking for nothing in return, and he had no right to make any more demands of her. It would be too much even for him, to pretend not to notice how unfair it would be for him to ask her not to talk to other males.
Not when he still couldn't make a decision of his own.
Grumbling under his breath, the hanyou took off north.
This announcement was probably why his annoyingly caring friends went so far to keep him away from the well. They'd waited a handful of days before dropping the news on him, and they likely hoped Inuyasha would use the next handful of days for him to let out his annoyance on the pests rounding the village.
Maybe it was because the sharingan evolved specifically to detect how chakra was used so the users could copy other jutsus, but even now, his eyes failed to fully dissect the shimmering pink energy surrounding Kagome's form. And yet, as much as it frustrated his attempts to understand how her particular version of spiritual energy worked, Itachi couldn't help but think it was fitting, somehow. After so many years shrouded in mystery, it felt fair that even on this side of the glass, he remained unable to figure her out the way he could with most people.
If there was one thing the Uchiha was sure of, however, was that the young, untrained priestess clearly showed far more promise than what her companions gave her credit for.
Watching as the girl sat under the moonlight with her still wavering barrier was definitely a sight to admire. And while he'd like to claim it was just because it represented just how much growth the girl was accomplishing in so little time, but that would be a lie. For most of his life, he hadn't even had the chance to pay attention to the appearance of others, and even if he had, he was sure he would've still found himself cherishing the image. While he'd always been able to see her, there was a big difference now that he could appreciate what was around her as well. There was more than one advantage to taking their training sessions outside.
At first, they'd simply used the living room as their setting, now that her family was here, Kagome hadn't wanted to inconvenience the others and decided to move their training to the area surrounding the Goshinboku. It was a place that held some sort of energy he also couldn't quite read, and the girl was already used to this kind of environment. There was no way to know if this could help her progress, though it likely wouldn't hurt either.
Only two weeks of training, and she was already capable of producing a visible shield. The thing was thin, and it almost looked like it was wobbling, but from what Itachi had been able to gather from his conversation with Miroku-san, her progress was far beyond what was considered average. Some of it was probably related to what made her reiki different from the rest. Unlike regular reiki (that was controlled by prayers), Kagome only needed to will it. As long as she could find a reason to desire her power to obey her orders, that was all she'd ever need. Emotions like fear and worry could become weak points to aim at. But with her determination and resilience, she should be able to use some other, more positive emotions to overcome the disadvantage without struggling too much. Despite his conflicting feelings about it, having the young priestess become more capable in combat was a net positive. Besides, this would only be necessary for the worst-case scenarios.
Slowly, he lifted his hand to tap the soft pink dome surrounding his butterfly, not exactly surprised when it seemed to shatter as the girl got startled, azure eyes opening wide.
"Ugh, I…shoot." Kagome frowned for just a second before sighing. "Sorry, I'll focus more."
"Miroku-san mentioned it might take a month of constant practice or more for a barrier to become tangible, yet yours already is. There's no need to rush. You could say you're already ahead of schedule," he smiled at her.
"But it's shattering whenever anything touches it."
"That's because you can feel whenever things come in contact with it, correct?"
"It's really weird. As if something is poking into my thoughts. And my concentration just crumbles." Kagome struggled to describe her experience before dropping it. "Is that how things are supposed to feel in the first place?"
"Hmm, I fear I can't say in this case. With chakra, it all depends on the sort of barrier used. But either way, I'd say your current pace is more than we'd expected. With a bit of training, you'll get used to the feeling." No matter how weird something was, humans could get used to anything.
Her shoulders lifted a little at his words, but not enough to dispel what he knew to be disappointment in her own abilities. Back when their bond was mostly one-sided, Itachi had been shown small snippets of his butterfly's life with no rhyme or reason. Because of the randomness with which their paths crossed, there were still quite a number of things he knew little or close to nothing about. Still, the Uchiha prodigy felt confident he'd gotten an accurate reading on her general character. Higurashi Kagome was usually a friendly and open person. Unafraid to stick to her morals and defend what she thought was right. And so far, he'd been right about it. Even being thrown to the front lines like this hadn't broken her. Self-doubt wasn't something Itachi had seen plaguing her, and yet it was very much present in her stance every so often when the topic of her abilities was brought up. He was still missing pieces of the puzzle. Something had to have happened to chip away at her self-confidence. Pushing for such sensitive information wasn't what he wished to do, though, for now, the Uchiha would play it by ear.
"I…suppose," his butterfly conceded with a wry smile.
"Kagome, you…" he hesitated for a second before sitting down in front of her. "You were never interested in actually becoming a miko, were you?"
"Ahahaha, is it that easy to tell?"
"But why would you?" he followed, not giving her a chance to become self-deprecating. "In this era, there's no need for it. No one could've foreseen what happened, and no one would've been prepared to face what were never meant to be anything other than myths. Yet, here you are, breathing and fighting. Juggling two completely different lives. You're more than making up for lost time with your training too. I don't think most people would've fared as well as you've done. That's something you should take pride in." He could see some of her doubt leave the deep oceans of her eyes. "And in the time it takes you to gain experience, you won't be alone on the battlefield."
"R-right…I, well…" Now, her stutter seemed to be spurred on by embarrassment as a shade of red dusted her cheeks.
"Let's go then," he said with another soft smile. "This should be enough for today."
"Huh? But I don't feel that tired."
"Proper rest is just as important, right?" he asked, making her remember her own words before showing the small alarm clock they'd taken out of her room. "Besides, dinner will probably be ready soon."
Standing up, the Uchiha offered his hand to her. Tainted with blood as his hands were, he probably should try to keep more distance between them, but his butterfly had gotten into the habit of grabbing his hand at somewhat random intervals. He shouldn't risk getting so close, but the young priestess only smiled as their fingers intertwined so they could go back to the house. All the while sharing a few inconsequential details about her day. When he first woke up on this side of the glass, being able to touch even a strand of her hair was what really allowed the reality that he'd crossed over to sink in. There wasn't any need for him to encourage this contact, but he couldn't help but seek her warmth even if it did nothing to help him stop the feelings that were born because of their (at the time) one-way bond.
"Oh, I was about to call you." The door opened to show Mrs. Higurashi, apron still on. The woman's eyes fell on their intertwined hands, but much like the first day, said nothing about the fact that her daughter kept pulling a stranger along. "Dinner's ready. I also bought some extra desserts since you mentioned you liked sweets."
"Really, please don't worry too much on my behalf," he said, not really expecting his words to be taken to heart.
"Nonsense, there's nothing wrong with spoiling my daughter and her friends from time to time." The smile on the woman's face was just as convincing as a strict order. "I help buy the food. I know what you're eating when you're traveling."
"Mama's right. We should absolutely take advantage of being here." With a grin, his butterfly pulled on his hand.
"I…" the Uchiha sighed, giving up. "I really appreciate it, then."
"Much better, young man. Now go and wash your hands, both of you. And don't hesitate to ask for seconds," Mrs. Higurashi said while going back to the kitchen.
"No one can ever win an argument against Mama once she's decided on something," Kagome laughed before guiding him upstairs.
That was a trait that could easily be shared between both Higurashi women.
Despite all of Kagome's reassurances, a part of him still found the idea of such an easy acceptance to be almost impossible. Most mothers should be concerned if an unknown man had been living under the same roof as their teenage daughter. But Mrs. Higurashi simply listened to the young priestess' explanation before nodding and offering him some food. It wasn't just a combination of naivete and a neglectful attitude either. He'd seen the understanding that settled in her eyes when his butterfly retold their first encounter. His confirmation that Kagome truly saved his life likely cemented any suspicions the older woman held. No, if he had to guess from her quiet smile, the Higurashi Nodoka based her judgment on her complete trust in her daughter. The woman was probably aware that the tales shared during family dinner were embellished but believed Kagome would open up if things got really bad. Perhaps the one thing Mrs. Higurashi was being a little naive, though Itachi could hardly blame her. This place was so peaceful that the violence that came with the battlefield was likely unthinkable for her.
Knowing what the words meant could never compare to experiencing the meaning itself.
Unguarded, the woman didn't pause for a second before opening her home to the Uchiha prodigy with almost as much enthusiasm as the time-traveling priestess. Money had been shoved into his hands for anything he might need, with the reassurance that the shrine, while not one of the big ones was more than old and respectable to let them live leisurely so Itachi shouldn't worry and short of placing a compulsion on the older woman, the rogue nin hadn't found any way to give the money back. Add to that the interrogation about his likes and dislikes and how the woman did her best to accommodate him, and Itachi couldn't help but think of the words kill them with kindness might have an interpretation he hadn't spared a thought to. It was easy to tell she'd set the example for Kagome's behavior. Although, by now, his butterfly's kindness was a force in its own right.
Where her mother was soft-spoken and calm, Kagome was high-spirited and freely expressed her feelings. His butterfly was vivid colors in the middle of an amity void, bursting with energy and never being afraid of expressing whatever emotion she was feeling, and it could be clearly seen in the way the girl carefully pushed for him to open up. And really, at this point, Itachi wasn't sure there was any way for him to keep the distance between them.
There should be an ocean of differences between myth and reality, but life really refused to be easy.
After learning how the old stories from Konoha the Uchiha prodigy ended up more than a little paranoid over old legends. Finding out all the mythical beings that were on the other side of the well did nothing for him. The vast difference between the abilities youkais could sport was certainly irritating, but dealing with unknown enemies was a staple in the life of any shinobi so he really wasn't complaining about it. What made the frustration within him rise was how confusing identifying what the 'holy people' of old were truly capable of and embellished stories, but according to the monk, the personal abilities that sacred people held could vary from person to person. While they all shared the same bases, the specifics changed depending on whatever god was being worshiped. As nonsensical as it felt for someone who came from a world where bloodlines defined almost anything, this was just the way things worked here, and if he wanted to be able to help Kagome to explore the extent of her abilities, then he had to figure out what of all this would be real. Extrapolating how they could work for the young priestess since worship didn't factor at all was sure to be a pain.
Flipping the page of one of the many books he'd taken out, the Uchiha did his best to focus on the text, half paying attention to what he'd come to associate with the common goings of the family. Not wanting to intrude on what had to be one of the few normal interactions the girl had left, Itachi insisted on going back to the guest room and picking up one of the many books he'd borrowed. Within the privacy of his own mind, he could also acknowledge that the sort of interaction he could see within the Higurashi family almost felt surreal.
During the earlier days of his childhood, the main Uchiha house felt…warm.
Sure, there was always a bit of uncertainty inside him because of his idealistic pacifism, but the pressure on his shoulders hadn't felt as asphyxiating until a couple of years after the Kyuubi attack. And yet, even then, things were considerably subdued. His mother tried her best to show him affection, but it wasn't hard to notice Uchiha Mikoto wasn't really a happy person, and she struggled even more with Sasuke. And his father had been even worse. The man's obsession with power turned what was an already distant house into a day and icy wasteland. That was part of the reason he'd been so willing to do anything to protect his younger brother. After leaving the village, he'd always been surrounded by insane killers. His social skills had never been stellar unless he was actively putting up an act, and now he wasn't certain how to act when he was in such a lively and peaceful environment.
Before he could flip to the next page, a knock had him looking up.
"Come on in."
Itachi tilted his head to the side as the youngest Higurashi peeked into the bedroom for a second before stepping in and closing the door behind him, a conflicted expression on his face. So far, the boy had shown his curiosity and sent a barrage of questions, but overall, he'd remained in the background.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" he asked, trying not to sound too dry.
"You…"Souta started before changing his mind and rewording his phrase. "When you got here, you said you were a warrior, right?"
"I am."
"In your world…are you strong?" Despite his initial hesitation, the boy was clearly determined to keep going.
Understanding downed on the shinobi, Kagome did mention the boy was more aware of the dangerous reality his sister had to face, so it made sense he'd been concerned every time the young priestess traveled through the well. He could understand what his butterfly meant when they talked after that first battle. Compared to the sort of lives children were forced to live in his world and those who lived during the Sengoku era, Higurashi Souta lived a charmed life where there was no need to fear wars and starvation or being pushed into a life steeped in violence. But the worry and stress constricted around the boy's words were very much real. Misery wasn't a competition.
Biting back a sigh, the Uchiha pondered his answer.
Ever since his early childhood, Itachi was lauded as a prodigy, first respected and then feared because of his strength. He was one of the few who could confront and potentially win against a jinchuuriki. He had to in order to join the Akatsuki. Back in the Elemental Nations, the question itself would be considered ludicrous. Now that his sight was back and there was no debilitating illness slowly killing him from the inside, Itachi was likely in the best condition he'd ever been since he left the village. But none of his achievements (as twisted as many of them were) meant absolutely nothing in this world, and bluntly claiming what he was capable of, it could easily come off as boasting which would do nothing to help measure his butterfly's little brother.
"Hmm… I was trained to fight from a very young age." Itachi waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit on the bed. "I've been in battles for most of my life, and while I'm not the strongest in my world, I'm not easy to take down."
"And you said my sister saved your life before." It was a statement, not a question.
"Itachi nodded, "More than once, and in more ways than one."
"Then…then you owe her your life, correct?" And now, the boy was more defiant than anything else. "Several times others."
"I'm not sure your sister would appreciate hearing it phrased that way, but yes," Itachi said, patiently waiting for Souta to get to the point.
"So you have to protect her!" Panic was mixed in with the demand, and the kid wasn't looking at him. "It's only fair."
"Do you not..trust in her friends?"
"That's not it. I know Inuyasha is really strong. It's just…" Souta trailed off. "Nee-chan has been getting hurt more often lately. She's trying to hide it even though I'm the one helping with her chores."
"You really like your sister, don't you?" Itachi couldn't really help but smile.
"W-what's that have to do with anything?!"
"Apologies, I was just thinking out loud. But Kagome worries about you too." With that, the boy seemed to calm down.
"Hmph, of course, she does, even tho she's the one fighting monsters…" Souta huffed. "When we were little, mom was way busier, and Jii-chan was more active as the head priest, but I never felt lonely because she was always there…ah! But if you ever tell her I said this, I…I…!"
"You have my word."
Pointless as it may be, the shinobi couldn't help but wonder if there was any way he and his family could've ever turned out like this. Truly caring about one another and unafraid to show it, a family where their parents would've loved both of their children equally because Sasuke shouldn't have ever had to feel unwanted, or pressured to live up to such strict expectations. But as long as chakra and bloodlines continued to give shinobi a reason to exist, that was likely nothing but a hopeless dream. He'd done all he could for those in the Elemental Nations. Now, he had to do the best he could to ensure his butterfly's safety and happiness.
"During a battle, there are no guarantees," Itachi started, carefully choosing his words. "Strength and experience can be overcome by luck and ingenuity. There will always be a risk, and it only gets more dangerous if you need to rely on someone else for protection since they can always be forced away from you. The best way for anyone to stay safe is to learn to protect themselves." It wasn't a reassuring promise, but if the Uchiha had to guess, then the boy was mature enough to understand what he was saying. "But Kagome is quite strong, and with enough training, I'm sure your sister won't need any protectors. It will take some time for her to reach that level, but she isn't alone on the battlefield. And she won't ever be. I can't promise nothing bad will ever happen, but I can promise to do anything and everything in my power to keep her safe."
His life was hers to use as she pleased.
Although the girl would likely balk at the idea, it was the truth, and it always made him smile when thinking about it. Where so many people would love to get power over him, Kagome went out of her way to claim there were no more debts between them. His determination wouldn't change, no matter what, but it was endearing to see either way.
"That's…"
"Itachi, can I bother you a bit before…" Kagome's cheerful voice cut whatever her brother was about to say off. The door didn't creak as she peeked inside and took in his other visitor. "Souta? What's going on?"
"Huh?…uhmmm.."
"Souta-kun came to ask if I needed anything, but I fear I had one too many questions." The Uchiha lifted the book that was still in his hand before turning to look at the boy. "Sorry for taking up so much of your time."
"Oh, ahem, right. No problems here!" With a forced laugh, the kid ran out of the room.
With a raised brow, the priestess fully entered, arms crossed. Clearly unconvinced by the young man's stuttered response. The whole of the Higurashi family may have gotten used to lying in order to explain away the young priestess' constant absences, though the boy still struggled to make something on the fly when taken off guard. Then again, the girl was probably quite used to her brother's antics. "Alright…so, what was that all about?"
"I gave my word not to tell." He didn't even try to keep up the ruse. "He's just concerned."
"Cheeky brat, trying to keep secrets from his sister…well, I guess that's fine." He must've looked confused because the girl added. "Oh, I don't mean it's fine that he's worried. But if he came to talk to you, then it's alright. I'll trust you did your best to reassure him, since you're a kind person." Letting out a soft laugh, the girl showed her the book she'd been carrying around. "I mean, you'll help me with one last study session, right?"
The impish smile on her lips made him think he caught his light startle, but once more decided to give him an out. Taking the offered book with a smile of his own, Itachi could only shake his head. Those words would likely change if she were to know the sins he'd committed. He wouldn't lie to her. No matter what, he refused to lie, but he had to make sure his butterfly reached the point where she wouldn't need to rely so much on her teammates before risking the details that could make her push him away come to light.
A/N: And here we are, next chapter we're back to the feudal era but for now I wanted to show a bit of the training and set up a couple of things.
Someone mentioned in the last chapter how the way Itachi thinks about Kagome as 'his butterfly' could feel kinda creepy, and that's probably because the original one shot had a bit of a darker/more possessive undertones right at the end and some of it remained. I mean, he is definitely making the healthy decisions but his reasoning is still a bit skewed which I think is only fair because there's no way anyone could remain sane after going through what he went through and doing what he thought needed to be done. Lets just say he's trying his best.
As always, thank you guys so much for reading and any and all review/comments/criticism are greatly, greatly appreciated.