"Y-you saw my ad?" I asked flabbergasted, having long given up on my mass-mailing scheme.
The person, who for some reason seemed to glow, continued smiling, "Yes, a few days ago when I crossed the border from Yu no Kuni. Are you still hiring, or have you found someone already?" A trace of dismay marred the end of that sentence.
"No!" I said a bit too forcefully. "I mean, I haven't hired anyone yet", I added awkwardly.
Their smile hadn't faltered. "Wonderful, shall we have a chat about the position?"
Ah! Where are my manners?
"Yes, please find a seat in the room behind the register while I prepare some tea", I quickly instructed.
Thank the heavens that the backroom is clean, I told myself. Who in their right mind would have wanted to work in a pigsty?
After brewing a teapot of green tea with a sprinkling of dried chrysanthemums, I brought the tray into the backroom and poured the concoction into two teacups. Seeing my guest savour the brew's steaming aroma affirmed that I had chosen wisely. A deep drink later, the haze clouding my vision had at last receded. With some lucidity, I finally surveyed the person facing me.
I could now confirm that this person is human, not a heavenly spirit. However, their looks were otherworldly. A set of well-defined eyebrows framed their upturned, obsidian eyes. Below them sat a rather sharp nose, it offered a stunning contrast to the softness of their lips.
With such handsome features, one would have mistaken this person as a film star. With their androgynous facial features and their dressing in thick winter garments, I couldn't be sure if I was speaking with a man or woman.
"I'm Nao. May I ask what you go by?" I asked, giving a courteous nod.
"Jun, nice to meet you". They returned my gesture and had a similar inclination of omitting their last name.
Huh. Many men and women went by Jun, this revealed nothing instructive.
"Nice to meet you too", I replied. With no further clues as to their gender, I shoved the matter to the back of my mind and shifted focus to the actual reason of Jun's visit.
In a single breath, I explained how the shop came to be in my hands while repeating the lie that Fuyuta left the shop in a hurry. I noted with some alarm that it became easier and easier to rehash the falsehood. Throughout my explanation about the shop and its local clientele, Jun listened carefully and only interrupted with a few, well-placed questions.
That was a perfect segway to ask about Jun's experience – I then found out that they had accumulated years of experience in Mizu no Kuni. Throughout our conversation, Jun only used a neutral address for themselves – it was neither overtly rough nor soft.
"May I ask why you have come all the way here?" I pushed gently. The question had been nagging me since Jun explained their qualifications. Most foreign medical professionals gave this land a wide berth, on account of its harsh climate and lacklustre medical infrastructure.
Jun's face darkened slightly, causing me to regret my question instantaneously. "It wasn't…a good idea to stay there anymore", they answered.
"Oh", I said quietly and took a sip of my tea. Jun must have sensed my reservation; their shadowed eyes flickered to my face and stared directly into my eyes, "You are wondering what happened, yes?"
I paused bringing the teacup to my lips, "M-maybe". Jun hit the nail right on the head. It would be remiss of me to not inquire about their previous place of employment.
But, then again, Risato-senpai never asked the same of you. The unwelcomed thought tugged at my conscience. True, my mentor hired me without so much as an interview and put me to work at the inn straightaway. She believed that the work of one's hands was the only proof necessary, I wasn't sure if I could have readily agreed with her.
Jun grimaced slightly at my answer. "There was a new local headman in my village, and I had some…personal difficulties with him and his faction. So, I left." They broke their intense gaze and looked down. I could wager a guess that the headman was intolerant of the way Jun looked or spoke.
Great, now we are both uncomfortable.
"You don't have to go into the details. But maybe I can ask about something else?"
Jun nodded hesitantly with a guarded expression. "Maybe you can tell me how to refer to you?" I tried to remedy the situation.
Their face relaxed into a smile, "My name or something neutral will always work".
"No problem. I'll do that then, Jun-san", I replied more confidently. Jun seemed pleased by my offer and eased into their seat again.
We spoke some more about Fuyuta's flat and Jun's possible wage. I clarified that Fuyuta's dwelling was immediately available and clean, barring a few of my personal items – all of which could be quickly stuffed in a bag and hauled away. Much to my immense relief, Jun was unperturbed by the region's lower wage. It was yet another reason why foreigners avoided travelling here for work.
During our entire exchange, my repeated, nervous glances towards the pharmacy's front door did not escape Jun's keen eyes. "Are you expecting someone, Nao-san?"
"Yes, actually. A hardly pleasant fellow is going to come through that door for a prescription that I have yet to figure out", I answered honestly.
"Oh, could I take a look?" Jun offered without hesitation. Their smile grew wider while their eyes sparkled with excitement. Mirroring their enthusiasm, my own eyes brightened while I fought the urge to yell, Of course you can! Instead, I nodded and left in a hurry to fetch my notes. In record time, I laid them out on the table for inspection.
This was the first time that they dropped their smile entirely. Their attentive eyes scanned the pages intently, determined to miss not a single detail. After several moments of complete silence and concentration, Jun made a noise in the back of their throat.
"What is it? Did you spot a mistake?" I voiced anxiously, trying to peek at their current page.
"No, your prescription and rationale should be correct. Yet he said the medicine tasted wrong?" I confirmed their statement of facts with a nod.
"Then we have a bona fide mystery on our hands. In that case, I should examine him to confirm my suspicion", Jun replied self-assuredly.
"Do you care to share it?" I inquired.
Jun shook their head. "Not until I confirm my findings. It would be reckless to do otherwise", they gently let me down before changing the subject.
"Could you show me where you keep the medicinal ingredients, Nao-san?"
I perked up at the chance to be useful, "Certainly, come with me".
We perused the apothecary cabinets for a while, with Jun selecting a medley of herbs and retreating into the backroom. Putting my curiosity aside, I stayed behind and gave them space to work. An incense time or so later, the bell chimed again.
Backpain-san had arrived.
"So, did you manage to do it?" He asked gruffly, unbothered to engage in pleasantries.
I forced a smile and was about to reply before Jun emerged from the backroom. "Are you Iga-san? Iga Takeru?"
'That was his name!' I exclaimed to myself. It must have been in one of the earlier pages in my notes.
"Just call me Takeru. Who are you?" He questioned pointedly with a shrewd gaze, decidedly wary of any stranger who knew his full name.
"I am Jun, a pharmacist who has been reviewing your case".
"Huh, so this one couldn't make it after all", he bluntly stated without much surprise. I bristled at being referred to so carelessly but managed to school my discontent.
"I would like to perform an exam if you are willing", Jun offered, choosing not to pick up on his jab.
"Fine", he said flatly. Jun took his pulse, writing down the vitals on a blank piece of paper. They then asked to examine Takeru's tongue and similarly made a note of their findings.
"Have you been experiencing more fatigue or weakness than usual?"
"Of course, my back is bothering me a lot lately. It is worse in the morning", he huffed.
"Did you recently have a fever?"
He glanced suspiciously at Jun, "Yes, how did you know?"
Well, that is news to me! I voiced heatedly to myself. My shock didn't escape Jun's attention.
"I assume you didn't share that with Nao-san?" Jun sidestepped his question.
"N-no…because it went away on its own", he replied defensively.
"I see…One last thing, could you drink this and tell me what it is?" Jun handed him an opaque cup of liquid.
He reached for the glass with an unsteady hand before taking a cautious sip. "It's sweet, is it water with honey?"
"No, there are several ingredients, but you only detected the sweet ingredient. It augurs that your sense of taste has been damaged".
"What?!" He spluttered.
"Your recent fever was likely an infection. It impaired your sense of taste and that is why Nao-san's prescription tasted wrong", Jun expanded.
"So, I can't taste now?!" He exclaimed, his face turning a fierce shade of crimson.
"It is temporary", Jun assured him. Reaching into the pocket of their jacket, they retrieved carefully sealed sachets of powder. I immediately recognised the packaging material as belonging to the shop. So that was what they were making in the backroom before Backpain – I mean, Takeru – had arrived.
"Take this medicine three times a day till it runs out. It should aid the return of your sense of taste", Jun continued.
"You should also come back in a day or two for some acupuncture. In the meantime, take your usual backpain medication. If you experience any new symptoms, please tell us immediately", Jun warned.
Takeru was slightly overwhelmed but nodded anyway. "I'll do that then, Mist-", he didn't finish his sentence and squinted hard at Jun.
"Eh. One last question. This is bothering me, but are you a lad or a lady?"
My jaw nearly dropped at his sheer audacity. If that was even remotely proper or polite, surely, I would have done the same as well!
Jun didn't even bat an eye and smoothly replied, "Neither. Just call me, Jun".
"How can you be neither?" He demanded, perplexed by the answer. Though less crudely, I was similarly intrigued.
"I don't belong in either category", Jun replied simply. I supposed they were no stranger to this boorish line of interrogation.
"H-huh? How is that possible?" Takeru stammered, visibly taken aback.
"Anything is possible", Jun replied serenely.
Takeru sighed loudly in the face of Jun's unencumbered replies. "Whatever. I will come back for the procedure in three days". The last sentence came out more as a grumble.
"We look forward to seeing you again", Jun replied with an easy smile and small bow.
Takeru was taking out his wallet before I interrupted him. "You can just pay for your usual medication. Consider the rest from today as an apology for the delay", I answered in a pleasant tone, managing to hide my disdain for his presence.
He grunted something unintelligible and swiftly left with his tail between his legs. Perhaps he was embarrassed after being caught hiding important symptoms, or losing the row with Jun. Either way, I welcomed his departure.
Once the door closed, Jun turned to me and sighed, "I hope you didn't find my answers too offensive".
"You could have thrown that cup at him, and I would have thanked you", I frankly replied to which Jun quietly chuckled.
"How did you solve it?" I asked earnestly, desperate to peer into the mind that solved a puzzle that I spent three weeks trying to unravel.
"I had an inkling from your notes and your predecessor's treatment protocols. This man is more likely suffer from Qi deficiencies with his chronic back problems. My physical examination merely confirmed my suspicions". Jun went on to describe things like weak stomach pulses and pale tongues, most of which went over my head. While I came across such terms in my frantic study of Fuyuta's books, I lacked any practical training to apply them.
Moreover, I was floored by the speed at which Jun could quickly discern patterns and assemble pieces of a puzzle. Clearly, they had gleaned a wealth of knowledge and skill in the Southeast.
"The position is yours if you want it", I quickly threw my hat into the ring. It was easy to venture that no one half as qualified as Jun was ever likely to step foot in our town.
Jun's mouth opened slightly in surprise, "You want to hire me?"
"I would be a fool not to".
Jun pursed their lips; this was the first time that I saw a hint of self-doubt and apprehension. "Will it bother you when other customers ask those questions?" I knew that they were referring to Takeru's lad-or-lady fiasco.
"Seeing how you handled Takeru, I can at least do the same", I reassured them in a gentler tone. Even if I didn't entirely understand Jun's answers on their gender, it was only right that I treated them with the same level of respect that they had shown me.
I was on pins and needles waiting for their reply. To my immense relief, Jun's easy-going smile returned, "Then, I suppose I will stay".
Jun's arrival caused a discernible stir in our sleepy, small town. It was not often that a foreigner lingered here, let alone take up employment. It was unheard of that now two foreigners were running the town's sole medical establishment. Despite residing since a decade here, my olive skin and strange irises were enduring reminders that I too was a non-native.
In the early days after hiring Jun, I frequently overheard whispers among the villagers in the main square's shops and teahouse. Many fervently debated which honorifics, -kun or -chan, should be paired with Jun's name. Others were more vulgar and wondered out loud if Jun was a man, woman, or hermaphrodite.
Naturally, I didn't participate in the rumour mill and only gently reminded them that -san was markedly more appropriate. Upon my light admonishments, they shot me dirty looks and disappeared as quickly as embarrassed school children caught making mischief. Risato–senpai would have been proud of my restraint.
To Takeru's credit, he spoke highly of Jun's skill while omitting the heated exchange. After hearing of Jun's beauty and genius, many decided to personally visit the shop to speak with the mysterious newcomer – including those who hadn't stepped into the establishment for years or even decades!
Whether they found the answers to their questions or not, no one could fault Jun's incredible diagnostic talent and medical knowledge. Those with genuine ailments left our pharmacy thoroughly impressed – I could scarcely remember if Fuyuta ever received such rave reviews.
With the heightened foot traffic, business was doing far better than before. However, this was hardly reason enough to run down the street in celebration. Jun's position added to overhead costs and the shop was still running in the red. There were still some ways to go till we turned a profit, but I was at long last making some headway.
That was until I received a devastating notice from our main supplier.
The day had started out well. There was even a line in the morning, all were anxiously waiting to consult Jun about real or imagined ailments. When the mailman delivered the letter, we were on the precipice of clearing the morning rush. I opened it while Jun clarified the treatment for the last patient.
My heart sank when I read the contents. It announced a forthcoming price hike – by an outrageous thirty percent! To justify the increase, the supplier vaguely described a series of natural disasters in the agricultural fields.
As the frigid and dry terrain was inhospitable to the cultivation of most herbs and spices, the pharmacy relied on intermediaries to source our ingredients from warmer climates. Contrary to the phrase, Fuyuta ardently practiced putting most of his eggs in one basket – this lone supplier sold nearly three-quarters of our medicinal ingredients.
A series of figures flashed through my mind. No matter how I played with or stretched these numbers, it was impossible to simply accommodate the price difference.
"Nao-san, is everything alright?" A concerned voice snapped me back to reality.
I immediately untensed my hands around the letter, which was now decorated with several glaring wrinkles. Rubbing my forehead in exasperation, I explained, "My apologies for worrying you, Jun-san. I just received some concerning news from our supplier".
After filling them in on the debacle, Jun heaved a distressed sigh. "That is very troubling indeed". They were privy to the shop's financial woes and understood the steep ramifications of this price hike. One of which included their employment at the shop.
I pursed my lips in thought. "I hate to suggest this since you only just arrived, but could you mind the pharmacy for the next few days on your own? The situation demands an in-person negotiation". If I couldn't straighten this mess out, the shop could ill-afford shutting its doors for any length of time.
"That's not a problem. Although shouldn't you write ahead and announce your arrival?" A touch of worry clouded Jun's eyes.
I shook my head. Jun's concern was reasonable as that was the proper etiquette, but an unease had settled in my gut. "It might be better to show up, or else they might try to ply you with excuses to not come. Anyway, they should know that Fuyuta is not currently managing the pharmacy. It's a perfect opportunity to introduce myself".
The tension between Jun's eyebrows eased slightly, I was glad to have their support. "Then, please go ahead with your journey. Where will you travel to?"
I flipped over the envelope to reveal the postmark, "It says, Shimogakure no Sato".
After replaying our past conversations, I came upon the realisation that we never discussed travelling outside of the village. Rather than risk drawing Kakuzu's wrath, I journeyed to the subterranean base on that very evening to directly inform him about my spontaneous trip to the capital.
Upon entering the labyrinth, two things stood out – the first was the chakra of another person. It was surprising but not nearly as earth-shattering as the next piece of information.
Is that the sound of running water? No, I must be hallucinating…
That notion was soon dispelled as the sound only grew louder. Before I knew it, I had followed it right up to its source. Both observations had formed into one glaring truth. This stranger was washing up in what I presumed to be the base's new bathroom.
"You actually did it…" I breathed in amazement.
"Did what?" An irritated voice asked barely a second later. It would take zero guesses to identify who was behind me.
"When was this built?" I gestured to the bathroom.
"A few days ago", he answered curtly.
"Well…Thank you", I said sincerely.
My gratitude unsettled him. He chose to respond with a most backhanded comment, "Thank yourself for being annoyingly persuasive". I frowned, unsure if I should laugh or cry.
"Why are you here?" He pressed, a furrow already embedding itself in his brow.
Ah right!
"I need to travel to the capital immediately and I wasn't sure if your seal tracks my whereabouts…"
"Shimogakure no Sato?"
I nodded. There was only one capital in this land.
"You aren't the only one, I have business there as well", he replied unexpectedly.
I quirked an eyebrow, "Are you coming along with me?"
His dual-coloured eyes narrowed, "I'm not coming along with you. I have my own trip to make there as well".
Trust you to pick on the semantics…
Before I could return with a quip, the bathroom door abruptly opened. A raven-haired youth with eyes the colour of charcoal stepped out, fully clothed in an unremarkable shirt and long pants. The only evidence of his shower was his still-damp hair, a moist towel slung around his shoulders, and the rush of accumulated steam from behind him.
Ah, there is hot water, my eyes suddenly watered at the prospect of taking a shower here. Hot water was never a surety this far out, not even in my own home. There were instances where I had to boil water for the bathtub and that took a fair bit of effort.
Building a supply of hot water was a luxury that seemed out-of-character for the typically miserly Kakuzu. I briefly wondered what possessed him to take on the extra hassle.
Before my imagination ran wild with the reasons, I took stock of the striking stranger before me. He must have been a teenager with such supple skin. Maybe only fourteen or fifteen years of age? I found it disconcerting that Kakuzu had such a young colleague, then again, the shinobi world had its own set of cruel rules for younglings.
The only thing that distracted from his youth were his eyes. His tear-troughs were oddly deep while his stare contained a disquieting vacancy that seemed beyond his years. I buried any postulations about what might have caused such solemness.
I must have been ogling at him for some time because Kakuzu started to impatiently clear his throat.
Shit!
"Um, I'm Nao", I spoke quickly with a polite bow, trying to hide my embarrassment.
The stranger nodded. "Itachi". Hm, no last name?
"Nice to meet you", I replied cautiously, silently omitting that calling him by name would only cripple my ability to speak. That was the central feature of the highly inconvenient seal plastered on my forehead.
"How lovely", Kakuzu flatly observed, his tone was thick with sarcasm.
Ignoring the jab, I turned to him and cleared my throat, "Anyway, I am leaving tomorrow morning and shall return in a few days, of course".
"It wouldn't be the worst idea for us to travel with your subordinate", Itachi spoke up out of the blue.
"What?" Kakuzu fixed the younger man with a piercing glare. I also whipped around to look at him, stunned by his suggestion.
"It might be less suspicious if we travel with a woman. Being her bodyguards would be a convincing cover", his colleague elaborated, retaining an unfazed expression. It was hard to believe that someone so young could be this undaunted.
It became very quiet. The tunnel was charged with friction as the two men locked eyes in a staring contest. It was a battle without words and neither wanted to give in to the other. Despite the fierce atmosphere, I felt a peculiar sense of pleasure. It was sublime to not be the sole subject of Kakuzu's ire.
"Fine", Kakuzu spat out, a visible vein was now protruding from his temple. Despite his best efforts, he could not circumvent Itachi's iron-clad logic. Dragging out the argument any longer would have been embarrassing, especially in front of his subordinate who was already grinning like a fool.
Guess you are coming with me, thought the grinning fool, who didn't bother to wipe the satisfaction off her face. Never mind that Kakuzu resembled an angry ox that was ready to run her over.
It was worth it.
Kakuzu was uncharacteristically considerate and gave me a full day to prepare for the trip. At daybreak on the following day, we had set off to the capital. I knew from experience (albeit a distant memory) that the journey ahead was going to be challenge, perhaps not for a shinobi, but any civilian would have their work cut out for them. As the trail crisscrossed the mountains, there were plenty of sharp inclines and declines. Since we were travelling by foot, I anticipated only reaching the capital by nightfall.
The oppressive silence hardly helped the situation. Hours later and both men had barely uttered a word to each other. The few times when they did share a sentence or two only intensified the already uncomfortable atmosphere. From their strained interactions, I deduced that Itachi-san was the nicknamed genius. And every word that came out his mouth somehow got on Kakuzu's nerves. Their ongoing tiff meant that both ignored my presence entirely. Such awful travel companions.
Never mind. While the men fought their silent war, I silently strategized for my meeting with the supplier. After a deep dive into Fuyuta's accounts, formerly an abysmal pile in the corner of the backroom, I managed to find the original contract with the supplier. To my dismay, the contract was vague without many concrete figures. One could hardly believe that it served as a business agreement.
On the other hand, the clause on price hikes was not a total disappointment. Since a natural disaster constituted an exigent circumstance, prices could be increased after a discussion between both parties. Since sending an impersonal letter hardly counted as a discussion, I fully intended to show up and debate the hell out of the matter.
Halfway through our journey, the weather gradually took a turn for the worse. The once clear sky became marred with wisps of cloud. It was not long before those small wisps thickened and formed a solid, grey mass. The first snowflakes left a gentle dusting of soft, powdery snow. But it soon morphed into a steady pelting that completely enshrouded the ground.
Since the earth beneath the snow was already uneven with hidden rocks and roots, travelling was becoming fraught with even greater danger. Noticing the deteriorating situation, the youngest of our trio proposed finding shelter and waiting out the weather.
Kakuzu quickly dismissed the suggestion, saying that we should not add any unnecessary delays. That seemed reasonable at face value. But I wagered that he couldn't stand to follow Itachi's directions. It was a ridiculously plain case of when one wanted to go right, the other was adamant on veering a hard left.
By his unilateral decision, we surged ahead. Well, the two shinobi surged ahead while the plucky and less-seasoned hiker, yes that's me, plodded along with immense difficulty. As more time elapsed, I fell further behind.
It didn't help that we were going up an incline on the side of a mountain. Any longer and the duo ahead would appear as two misshapen dots amidst a flurry of snowflakes. My pride and ox-like stubbornness belied any desire to ask the men for leeway, so I quickened my pace.
Big mistake.
After a few minutes of managing to close some of the gaping distance, I lost focus. We were nearing the top of the mountain when my foot caught an uneven patch in the path. There wouldn't have been an issue if I had landed flat on my face. But no, my brilliant mind decided to try and right myself.
I only succeeded in tripping over my own two feet. Silent panic seized my chest as I flailed like a fool, trying to hold on to anything. With my surroundings slick with snow, it was a spectacular failure. Only a terrified shriek managed to escape my near-frozen lips as I tumbled right over the side of a freaking mountain.
I heard that your life is supposed to flash before your eyes during near-death experiences. Despairingly, the only image that flared in my mind was the figure of 800,000. The outrageous debt that I owed to Kakuzu, I didn't factor in whatever meager headway I made grinding away in the base.
Damn it all to hell.
I clenched my eyes shut, the wind roaring past my ears. On the way down, the sharp shrubbery that jutted from the side of the mountain mercilessly lashed at my face. Out of instinct, I raised my hands to protect myself. I continued to fall to my death until something impacted my midriff and stopped my descent.
I was perplexed but was too frightened to open my eyes. It was at this point that I realised that something firm was wrapped around my waist. Was I entangled in a tree branch? No, it was too large and had far more give than a branch…was it an arm then? Doesn't matter. Without sparing another thought, I grabbed large handfuls of whatever was keeping me from certain death.
After a few moments, I felt my feet return to the snow-covered ground. With the danger having passed, I dared to peek at my surroundings. My vision was flooded with an expansive, dark cloak that had a scattering of red clouds.
My chakra sensing kicked in, albeit belatedly, and I knew who my saviour was. Of course, it had to be him. But how did he reach me so quickly from that distance? I could have sworn that he was much further away.
More importantly, I noticed how close we were. Our bodies were flush against each other, on account of my hands staying entangled in his cloak. Despite the thick outer garments, I could feel the contour of his sturdy, muscled build. My mind went blank at our sudden proximity and I didn't dare to meet his gaze. The world around us had melted away while the relentless thudding of my heartbeat echoed loudly in my ears.
"Let go of me", a deep voice commanded with no small degree of annoyance. I looked up, seeing that the bicoloured orbs bore a mixture of irritation and resignation.
My face grew hot with mortification before I urgently extricated myself. "Sorry", I mumbled, also noticing that his arm had long detached itself from my body.
If he had heard me, he made no note of it. His mysterious threads untwined themselves from a nearby rock, the anchor I presumed, and wound their way back into his expansive cloak. I stared in wonder, pondering how they could withstand the weight of two people without breaking.
"We will resume our journey once the weather improves", he announced with a strained voice. I silently nodded, thoroughly ashamed from my ungracious fall and rescue.
Itachi was the most unfazed. Afterall, the young prodigy was too mature and cognizant of the dangers with saying, I told you so.
On their descent, the trio found a small cavern embedded in the side of the mountain. The cold stone walls offered scant comfort or space, but they provided the essential shelter the group needed. The howl of the blizzard outside was a stark reminder of the danger outside.
The youngest lit a miniature fire with his breath, after judging it too damp and cold to use a flint. After making it, his attention shifted towards the outside, waiting to catch any signs of a break in the storm. His colleague sat quietly with his back against the cave wall, his posture fraught with tension at the turn of events. The lone civilian stared intently at the flickering flames of the improvised fire, staying close to try to draw as much warmth as possible.
An hour passed, then two…yet the storm refused to let up. Not a single person uttered a word in the entire length of time, it was uncomfortable enough that there was barely a metre of space separating each huddled figure. By the third hour, the civilian grew restless.
"Quit it", the masked companion ordered. Her ceaseless thumb-twiddling and hair-twirling were grating on his frayed nerves. Nao froze with her fingers touching the tips of her dark hair. After her untimely rescue, her propensity to dish out a witty retort had waned.
Even though he technically caused it, she thought quietly to herself. The irony was not lost on her.
Sensing the budding friction, Itachi decided to defuse the situation and distract Nao from her restiveness, "Are sudden onsets of storms common in this region?" He knew the answer but offered the conversation topic anyhow.
Surprised by his sudden chattiness, Nao stared at him for a moment before murmuring, "Yes, especially during this season and at these altitudes".
She looked pensively at the storm outside and said quietly, "I suspect this will end very soon".
Now, Itachi was curious, "How can you tell?"
Spurred by his prodding, Nao explained how the terrain and pre-existing humidity couldn't sustain a long, drawn-out blizzard. One couldn't live here for so long and not pick up a thing or two. While the younger man learnt a new nugget of information, his original purpose had been achieved. Nao was more at ease and stopped fidgeting. They would all live another day, despite Kakuzu's explosive temper.
True to her prediction, the storm ceased in an hour and the trio immediately resumed their journey. The delay meant that the sun dipped before they arrived in the capital, casting long, gentle shadows across the pristine white blanket of snow. As nightfall descended, a profound silence enveloped the landscape. In this tranquil and silent nightscape, the cold only seemed to intensify, and the vast expanse of snow gleamed under the full moon.
Having never travelled to the capital this late, Nao stayed close behind the men. The worst thing that could happen was losing sight of them in this chilling and unfamiliar darkness. Once she spotted the shimmering lights of the bustling capital, a heavy sigh of relief crossed her lips.
After this prolonged journey, she was utterly exhausted. By the end, her movements had grown sluggish and unsteady while a dull ache radiated from her muscles with each movement. Unbeknownst to her, another member of their travelling group was assuaged by the sight of their destination.
The whole journey was contemptuous. Not only did he have to control his temper towards his younger colleague at their leader's behest, but he was forced to deal with his subordinate.
After rescuing her from certain death, he was faced with a series of uncomfortable questions. Why did he jump over the mountain's edge after her? Surely, he could have sent a hand to catch the back of her jacket instead. No, there must have been a reason. What was it again? Ah right. The jacket could have torn from her body, or her neck could have snapped from the sudden halt in her freefall. And he need to keep her alive until her debt was cleared.
As if his heroics weren't disconcerting enough, the woman's reaction muddled things further. After causing many more deaths than preventing them during his long life, he couldn't remember when someone had embraced him so tightly with such relief and gratitude. The sensation of her heart beating rapidly against his body and the scent of her hair under his nose lingered in his mind long afterwards. The cramped cave merely incensed him further. Being so close to her, he noticed everything. Every movement, shift in posture, and change in her expression. Why did he even care? Fuck if he knew.
The mental fog, which he worked so hard to dispel by hunting down a bounty for weeks, was returning and growing thicker with the more time spent together. It was infuriating, so much so that he wanted to destroy something. Crush whatever was eating at him under his fist.
But he didn't want to do that. His next course of action was clear in that moment. He needed to shut himself away, far from her and the Uchiha brat. A night by himself, only surrounded by four walls, would be enough. It would drive away the fog and subdue his murderous inclinations. Yes, that was all he needed.
Whether or not he would obtain it was a separate matter entirely.
A/N:
Mizu no Kuni - Land of Water
Shimogakure no Sato - Village Hidden in Frost
A note about Jun: Unless it is a formal conversation, one does not usually reference a person's gender in the Japanese language. How roughly or softly a person refers to themselves or another, usually indicates their gender. Hope this clears up any confusion. Do read up about it if you are curious. However, as I am writing in English (and am non-binary myself), I will be using them/them pronouns for Jun in this fic. Is Jun non-binary, agender, or something else? Well, I will leave it up to you to decide!
Also, I apologise for taking two-ish months to update this fic. Whenever I had a moment to spare AKA writing time, I kept rewriting existing paragraphs, adding and then cutting away scenes. Pretty soon, my dedicated writing time was over and I had to wait for several days till the next free period :'-( Forgive me! Also imposter syndrome was extra strong during this chapter, questioning and criticising your writing doesn't always help. Who knew? :3
As always, thank you for taking a gander at this story and I hope you enjoyed the chapter. If you have thoughts on it or feedback, I am happy to hear them ^.^