Not long after the Council's Mission announcement, Itachi had briefly informed Izumi of an upcoming mission. Though it does not involve escorting an important figure across countries, it nevertheless requires a high level of vigilance and tactic.
In two weeks time, they are to deliver a special message to a small village that borders the Fire and Wind countries. Upon delivering the scroll, they are to follow specific instructions given by the message recipient. A report is to follow thereafter on return to the village.
The sum of money, in exchange for the successful completion of the mission, is more than ten times that of what a chunnin would make during a B-rank mission. And with Itachi's generosity, or perhaps direct approval, Izumi takes a share.
But she has never been on a mission with Itachi before, let alone just the two of them. The prize may be the uncertainty of what would happen when the two are alone together for several days. It does not stir her the slightest, considering the surrealistic feeling of such situation.
Itachi ensures that she is briefed on the technicality of the mission, and because they are splitting the award, the responsibility sits at fifty-fifty. There will be no leader, just two village comrades working together to complete the assigned task.
"Izumi, meet me at the village gates tonight. It's better if we leave in the evening, considering the direction we are heading," Itachi says.
"You mean increasing enemy presence?" She asks.
"Yes, tensions are mounting between villages," he briefly glances past her shoulder, then returns his gaze in perturbation, "Izumi, you are going to the meeting are you not?"
He is looking grave, a hint of forcefulness she cannot fathom.
"You are going are you?" She replies quickly.
Her evasive answer accelerates the solemn expression that is embedded across his features.
"I have other errands. It'll raise suspicions if you don't go."
"How is that? The son of the Uchiha leader is avoiding a crucial meeting-"
Her sentence is muffled by a rigid hand to her mouth.
"Lower your voice when you speak of these matters," Itachi whispers, "Don't you worry about me, you go on ahead. Shisui will be there. The worst thing you can do is rouse suspicion."
She does not understand his explanation, but she reluctantly nods.
Without a spoken word, Itachi gestures for her to leave.
She will not attempt to pry in his business, but that does not stop the tumultuous feeling of discomfort that ransacks her stomach. Though she has made the temporary decision to drop Itachi's changing demeanour, she will not stand by and watch him suffer in silence.
And whether he recognises his own feelings or not, Izumi sees the gnawing pain that is escalating.
x
Even amongst the congested streets of a vibrant market, Honoka stands out. It may be the episodic acquaintance she gets from seeing her at times, but Izumi gets a radiating level of oddity that hangs heavy in Honoka's surrounding presence.
Though she is sitting by the park bench with no more than a mere glance from a small percentage of passersby, Honoka's blandness beckons her attention. For a brief moment, Izumi observes from afar. She is slightly troubled by her inexplicable fascination with a boring, monotonous girl who's face mimics that of those tedious clothes.
But she tracks Honoka's gaze towards two familiar people - Shisui and Nanami. Closed to the world around them, they converse animatedly from afar. Nanami's unwavering gaze is heavily focused on Shisui as he speaks.
Even to Izumi's naive eyes, the distance between them is unusually close. Shisui is giving Nanami a smile she has never seen before. And in the many years Izumi has known him, Shisui rarely shows a differing side to his usual kindness. His treatment of everyone in that same polite manner sends speculation amongst some that he may be difficult to provoke or truly please.
For Shisui's current expression, it is not forced, rather, a smile that perhaps conceal affection.
On Honoka's end, there is a strange manifestation of what appears to be resentment embedded between her frown. Almost like tinted glass, Izumi barely makes out the despondent emotions that are sitting comfortably beneath the surface of her skin.
Perhaps her monotonous personality plays to her advantage? That poker face rarely gives away her emotional state - a feature many people would never hope to obtain.
When Honoka stands, she clutches her chest and swivels in the opposite direction.
Izumi proceeds thereafter, coincidentally in the same direction as her.
But as Honoka steps into the gaps of a dark alleyway and disappears behind a grand sliding door, Izumi halts at the disbelieving sight.
Without further speculation, she backs away. For someone as stoic as Honoka, Izumi is surprised by the sudden discovery. She may have her reasons, but there are doubts Honoka is unaware of what she is doing.
For all it is worth, Izumi's level of pity escalates, yet a nagging side disproves of such thoughts. Nevertheless, she will ensure one thing. She will not speak of where Honoka has gone.