The raw winter winds show no signs of easing. It flails unevenly across trees and sends a tidal wave of young branches into the air.
That burrowed resentment is a mimic of such atrocious weather, and tonight, it escalates to a burning rage that is forcefully suppressed in the form of a polite bow.
Uchiha Fugaku had confronted Itachi with the same set of doubt and dissatisfaction. And though Itachi did not speak, the resounding feelings of tension and tentativeness saturated the air.
In the outside world, the biting wind stifles him. The impact is phenomenal, with its mounting ferociousness and piercing sounds. The wails do not deter him from hiking across the wet grounds and towards the dimming glow of the village.
Izumi had earlier pressed for a social gathering, yet the growing concerns of his clan's impending actions had plagued his mind into withdrawal. But following his father's warning, Itachi decided to escape the suffocating atmosphere of discontentment within the walls of home.
A quarter way through, he sees her - Izumi, equally stunned by the heinous elements as it puts up an almighty fight against her resistance.
When Itachi nears, she does not notice him, and for a split second he thought it may not have been her.
His instinct tells him otherwise. For some inexplicable reason, he is always aware of her presence. It rarely sends a flurry of questions, but this evening, when he attempts to walk beside her and count how long it would take for her to notice, something unexpected surfaces.
He watches her for superficial signs of acknowledgement, but his mind is processing the warmth and serenity of her nearness. Perhaps the negativity from earlier tonight is affecting his thoughts?
And only moments later, she suddenly stops in her tracks and sharply glances sideways. For a brief moment, there is a look of abject terror in her gaze, as if she is seeing something unpleasant.
But her reverie does not last. Her features lighten and she lets out a reproachful sigh.
"Itachi, don't sneak up on me," she says.
"I wasn't," he answers.
She frowns but lets the comment go.
"I thought you wouldn't come out," she says quietly.
The comment reverberates in deep disappointment. His excuses to withdraw from social situations are normally out of necessity than anything remotely to do with his mood. However, his emotions are often dictated by disconcerting events preceding the social event. And it happens in the majority of cases when Izumi is the lead organiser.
"Sorry Izumi that you have that impression of me," he replies.
She is momentarily silent.
"I know you have your reasons. If it so happens by coincidence that your absence during my social events are not in your control, I can understand that. I guess I don't want it to be anything related to me. I mean, if I did something wrong, I feel like I have, please tell me, I don't want-"
"Izumi," Itachi interjects.
He takes her arm and halts her.
"Please don't draw your own conclusions on this matter. There is nothing against you," he says firmly.
"I'm sorry, Itachi, I just…"
She stops abruptly, as if the truth lingers and she is forcibly suppressing the urge to speak it.
In the seconds that passes, the quietude is deafening. As if the winds, rain and the biting elements have all suddenly paused to reinforce the apprehensiveness of their conversation.
"There is nothing against you," Itachi repeats.
At the comment, he sees the submissive component of despondency grazing her features.
Itachi is unsure whether he had done something to aggravate the situation. However, Izumi does not appear exasperated.
The passive sadness leaves a discomforting sensation he cannot fathom. It goes beyond sympathy for a friend, as if she is family and he has the intense need to protect.
"Izumi," he says.
She halts but does not look at him. That same vacant stare, until he puts his scarf around her shoulders and she turns to him in astonishment.
"You will catch a cold in your state," he says to her baffled silence.
When she seemingly processes the situation, the blank expression turns marginally content.
"Thank you, Itachi."