Itachi's erraticism may have stabilised in the next several weeks, but Izumi gets the odd sensation he is forcefully composing himself in her presence.
Today on a brighter time of autumn, Izumi isolates him on his walk.
"What a coincidence," Itachi says suspiciously.
Izumi gestures airily, "Don't make it sound like I ambushed you," she answers.
He gives a brief look of sarcasm, then turns away in resignation.
"You easily relent," she continues thoughtfully.
"No harm in letting you win," he replies insouciantly.
The brazen comment is cleverly hidden beneath his polite mannerism. But Izumi knows him, and though it takes her several seconds to read through his response, she nevertheless attempts to trod on him for the impudent remark.
"I see through that," Itachi says, and he manoeuvres expertly without so much as a natural gait.
She stares disapprovingly at him.
"At least pretend to let me win," she says grumpily, "Guess I'll have to eat all this dango to make myself feel better," she continues dramatically.
"Why would you bring that with you?" Itachi asks interestedly.
His gaze flickers briefly between the coloured sweets in Izumi's hand and their surroundings.
"Eh? I made these for us, a nice walk around the village eating sweets, but you know, since I am feeling down, I would have to eat this all on my own."
She turns her back and smirks.
"If that makes you feel better," he concurs.
"Heh?" She turns, "You're not going to ask for any?"
This time, Itachi is looking thoroughly confused.
"You said you were going to eat them all because you are feeling down."
She sighs loudly, then hands one to him.
"I don't understand," Itachi says.
And Izumi inhales deep, a futile attempt not to laugh at the serious perplexed expression on his face.
"Of course you don't. Men by nature seem quite oblivious to situations like this," she mutters, "Go on, just take it. I'm offering."
And with radiating levels of uncertainty, he tentatively takes it from her.
"I feel like I am missing something," he mumbles.
But his gaze speaks otherwise. It stares unwaveringly at the colourful sweet, as if there is an element of passive triumph surfacing beneath.
When Izumi turns her back, she lets out a great sigh of surrender.
"Oh yes, the great Itachi. Excellent ninja, superior in intelligence, yet obviously lacking in reading basic social situations."
There is no answer to her mocking comment, so when she checks, Itachi is busily eating the dango as if he did not hear a word she said.
"Hey! Are you even listening?"
x
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to impede on your date, but my mission got moved to tomorrow so I cannot do training with Itachi then, it would have to be tonight," he says.
"That is fine," Itachi answers.
("It is not a date!" Izumi flusters).
Shisui approaches them with a twinge of apprehension and hastiness lining his tired features. And though he appears to be asking permission for Itachi's training, it is more of a statement that he requires Itachi's presence, no matter the objection.
"I'm sure," Shisui answers, "Itachi, meet me at the training grounds in fifteen minutes."
At his comment, there is a sudden surge of energy that swells from the recess of Izumi's stomach.
In the past few weeks, she has attempted to master her weak spots in between mission hours. And though she is sure of her development, she is uncertain as to how much she has improved.
Being jounins, Shisui and Itachi are often on missions, leaving a very disgruntled Izumi with minimal peer practice.
But this sudden proposal from Shisui presents the perfect opportunity. She is on mission tomorrow, an assignment that would render her absence from training with them had Shisui's mission not been postponed.
"Shisui, can I train too?" Izumi asks tentatively, "I haven't been able to practice with anyone lately so I am not sure how much I've improved."
Shisui and Itachi exchange glances.
"Sorry, Izumi, maybe another time," Itachi says.
She stares disappointedly at the ground. Too many rejections it seems, and perhaps made worst by the majority being from Itachi.
"Hey Itachi, that isn't nice," Shisui says quickly, "we all have a responsibility to assist with each other's training."
Izumi perks.
"Oh no…I don't mean to be an inconvenience or anything, only if you have time, I mean, my skills are nowhere near as superior as the two of you and I might just hold you two back," she says hastily.
Shisui makes a brief nonchalant gesture.
"Don't be silly, we are happy to train with you," he glances at Itachi for reassurance, but there is a glassy, unfocused expression to his face, "If you feel uncomfortable, why don't we do a little compromise. How about you come train with us halfway through? That way we could get some of our training done and then train together with you on other things."
This captures both Izumi and Itachi's interest.
"That is a good idea, I mean," Izumi flickers uncertainly in Itachi's direction, "if that is okay with you?"
"That would be a good compromise," Itachi agrees.
The jubilant feelings flood through. Perhaps it is the compromise, or the fact that she can finally train with someone, or maybe, just maybe Itachi's agreement?
When they part ways, there is a sudden rush of movement followed by the sounds of collision.
Someone has attempted to squeeze in the gap between Izumi and Shisui. But the two have unknowingly stepped forwards and closed the opening before the person can get through.
Books, scrolls, the shattering of glass and the sounds of flying paper intermeshes with the thud of a body to the ground.
Someone, a girl, slightly older than Izumi, is furiously scrambling to her knees and picking at the fallen items. Her face, framed by her straight fringe and buried in dirty brown-coloured shoulder length hair, is severely flushed from the commotion.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry," she mutters disjointedly.
Her voice is oddly high pitched, as if there is an element of hysteria intermixed with fruitless self-control.
Shisui is the first to assist, handing her a stack of blank scrolls and scribbled notebooks. She is exuberantly fast at gathering the items, and by the time Izumi and Itachi begin their help, she is already piling the entire contents into a paper box.
"Sorry, I'm so sorry, sorry," she stammers.
"That's okay, it was just an accident," Shisui says kindly.
"I am sorry. I must apologise. I must watch where I am going and not impede on other people's boundaries."
The tone is bizarrely robotic, as if she has rehearsed the same lines over and over.
"You don't have to keep apologising, it's okay," Shisui frowns.
At his words, the girl briefly stares at him with a petrified expression. Then she swiftly bows in apology, throwing terrified glances in Izumi and Itachi's direction before sidling out their way and vanishing from view.
"What a strange person," Izumi says in puzzlement.
"Must not be used to social situations," Shisui says.
Meanwhile, Itachi is watching the girl's disappearing back with a peculiar look, as if there is a heavy component of doubt and suspicion.
"Itachi?" Izumi queries.
"Never mind," he replies.
"He's contemplating her," Shisui says.
Izumi turns sharply.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Shisui returns her response with a bewildered frown. And it takes several seconds for him to comprehend the question.
"Oh," he lets out a short uncertain laugh, "that's not what I meant. You don't get too many people like that around here. Itachi is always vigilant."
There is a sudden deflation of edginess in her chest. The instant relief disturbs her, as if she is afraid of decrypting its meaning.
"Right. Well that does not deter from the fact that she is cute," Izumi answers dismally.
She is, though I can't seem to disregard her creepy demeanour.
Izumi looks to Itachi, who is still staring vacantly at some point in the distance.
Somehow, the action evokes another bout of uncontrollable annoyance.
"What has that got to do with anything?" Shisui asks curiously.
"Never mind," she answers briskly, "Anyway, see you at training later tonight."