Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Who knew... ❯ 31. GOODBYE ( Chapter 31 )

31. GOODBYE

 

The girl walked out of the Yoshizumi compound sighing, waving distractedly at her cousin Ren and her little brother Shin. Her stay in her family's territory had been frustrating, more frustrating than usual, even if she had spent there less than half a hour.

 

She had been summoned by her father, who informed her the conditions of her leaving of that night. Asuka had been sad at the thought of leaving her little brother; they were used not to see each other for months, as her father and Sadako-san lived in Suna for most of the year. But now…her departure meant also that the periodical visits they paid to Konoha would be meaningless to her. She would not be in Konoha.

 

She would be miles, kilometres away, in a goddamn rainy, cold, snowy island in the middle of nowhere, where she would have to watch her back at every step she took, as Kekkai-genkai were not exactly appreciated. The Village hidden in the Bloody Mist. She had heard of a rather recent massacre, in which an entire clan had been wiped out. The Kaguya clan was wiped out after they went to war on their own village attacking their ninja village for their love of battle.Awesome. where the hell was she about to end up?! Her grandfather had a weird sense of humour.

 

Not only that! During her exile (because it was an exile) in Kirigakure, she would have to attend those goddamn geisha lessons. Shit. She was born to be a kunoichi, not certainly to dance or to please her fucking husband in bed. Eeewh.

 

The word husband reminded her of her quest.

 

Since she had left Kakashi, and before her summoning at the family compound, she had been looking for him everywhere.

 

She had looked for him in each and every corner of the Village Hidden in the Leaf, but she had found no trace of the boy.

 

`I have this strange feeling, that he's sort of…avoiding me. The teme. Avoiding me? After what he did yesterday? He should hide in fear of my rage, not avoiding me. I could kill him for that. Wait, before I kill him, I have to find him. Damned Uchiha-teme.' She thought, while walking down the path that led to the centre of the village, near the Ichiraku ramen shop. Maybe the old man or Ayame have spotted him.

 

Again, no one knew.

 

Asuka really didn't know where to look for him anymore; she had also been at the Uchiha compound, kuso! She had felt terribly out of place, and she was sure she had heard the guards at the gate of the Sharingan clan quarter muttering something to each other like `lucky boy' and `poor girl, so young and already doomed to live with that stoic brat'. Oh yeah. She was doomed. But still, she didn't like the idea of unknown Uchihas talking about her behind her back.

 

She had seen Sasuke-chan, who was playing, well, training with shuriken in front of Uchiha Fugaku's residence.

Not even the child had seen his brother, informing her that he had left early in the morning, skipping Sasuke's shuriken training. “He had promised” the child told her, rather annoyed, “Nee-chan, please, tell him that I won't accept a poke on the forehead as a payback.”

 

Sasuke's mother appeared in the courtyard, and hugged Asuka, who wasn't really expecting it. The Yoshizumi girl told her about her quest, but even Mikoto couldn't help.

 

Before the girl left, Mikoto offered her a coup of tea; during the few minutes they spent together, Mikoto told her things that Asuka would have never, ever expected to hear. So, also Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha's was an arranged wedding?

 

“Asuka-chan, I know it's hard to accept. I know it is. But I think you know that Itachi had no choice either, so please, don't blame him for what's happening to the both of you” the Uchiha woman said.

 

Asuka nodded. “I know, Mikoto-san. I have no intention to blame Itachi for that. I admit that at first I was very, very mad at him. But that was mostly because I felt betrayed…I mean, he knew, I thought that I knew him and trusted him, but he knew and said nothing! But now, now I don't blame him anymore” `yeah, except for being a jerk and embarrassing me and Kakashi that way yesterday' the girl thought, sighing.

 

The kunoichi stood up, and after bowing to Mikoto san, she approached the door.

 

“Arigato for the tea, Mikoto-san. This is the last time I'll see you for a pretty long time, so…thank you for everything” she said. Mikoto nodded.

 

Before going out of the house, Asuka stopped. “Mikoto-san” she said, voice shaking “If I don't see him…could you…could you please tell him…tell him that I will miss him?” she was nervously biting her lip, waiting for an answer.

 

“Mochiron (of course) Asuka-chan. but, you see… I am sure he knows.” Mikoto said, smiling.

 

Asuka smiled lightly, still biting her lip. “Arigato” she said, and she left.

 

* * *

 

The kunoichi sighed. It was not pleasant to look for someone in that cold weather. She really couldn't stand cold, she was a summer creature, able to bask in the sun for hours and hours, like a lizard. And she was about to spend five years in the kingdom of snow, cold and water! That was just unfair. She would have liked better the option `stay in Sunagakure'. But oh, yeah, she hadn't been given a choice.

 

How funny.

 

The cold autumn wind blew in her let down hair, and she adjusted the long, red and white scarf around her neck. Why the hell she hadn't grabbed her jounin jacket before leaving? Kuso.

 

She stretched the sleeves of the black t-shirt under her short pea-coat jacket until they covered her hands like gloves, and after entangling a flying about lock of her hair back behind her ear, blocking it with her white hair-band, she thrust her hands into the pockets of her white, long pants.

 

The Uchiha-teme had better to show up quickly, or he would pay with his life. An enraged Yoshizumi wasn't really pleasant.

 

She looked at the sun, which had already began to decline. There wasn't much time left.

 

Perhaps she should give up. Renounce.

 

She had mistaken.

 

The girl sighed, and walked quickly, heading back to the Yoshizumi compound.

 

That was, until she felt someone/something grabbing the belt of her jacket. She was fuming already, ready to behave whoever had the funny idea of grabbing her that way.

 

There were behaviours that bothered her to no end, and that were a sure way to unleash her homicidal instincts, such as pats on the back (which was weird, as it was commonly interpreted as a gesture of friendship), having her hair ruffled and messed up, and more generally the touching of her hair, and, of course, those who grabbed her.

 

“Hey, little girl” a familiar voice said. And in spite of the mocking content of the greeting, she felt suddenly better, as she tried to fight back both the blush and the smile that was about to light uo her face.

 

“You are not that older, you know, Itachi-teme” she replied, a feigned smile and caring to put a particular stress on the bad word.

 

“Oh! Listen to her! Teme? I didn't even think that a girl as sweet and well-mannered as you knew this kind of words. I am disappointed, Asuka-chan.” the young Uchiha smirked.

 

Asuka was lost in the contemplation of his delicate, diaphanous features which she was sure she would have missed like…like…like air, for a couple of moments, which was the time she needed to shake and find an appropriate answer.

 

“I know how to properly define your lot, teme-chan” she smirked.

 

Itachi didn't know if embracing her and pull her into a passionate kiss or slaughter her there, in the middle of the street. Obviously, he chose the third option; he replied to fire with fire.

 

“Asuka-chan, to think that not a long time ago you used to call me Itachi-san…even Itachi-kun, once…” his smirk grew more and more evil. Asuka hated that smirk. It made him looks oh so sexy. Wait. Itachi-kun?

 

Itachi was asleep, in the bed the three of them had shared during the mission in Kiri. She touched his shoulder lightly, and whispered, careful not to scare him. “Itachi… Itachi-kun…” and she blushed when she noticed that she had used the -kun addressing to him. She hoped that it was just because she was caught in the moment…she didn't even want to think at the possibility of her calling him Itachi-kun in front of Kakashi, or of Itachi himself.

 

The girl blushed madly. Oh shit.

 

“What? You thought that I hadn't heard you?” Itachi asked, with irony. “It was one of the favorite waking ups in my whole life” he stated, still smirking.

 

“Teme” she murmured between her teeth.

 

The kunoichi was far too embarrassed to think to even think of a decent reply; with Itachi it was always like that.

 

But this time, for some strange reason, the Uchiha prodigy was kind enough to stop the teasing, and changed subject. He turned all serious, the smirk disappearing from his lips, and moved closer.

 

“I know you're leaving, Asuka-chan. Father told me.”

 

She clouded.

 

“I guess you were looking for me to say goodbye, weren't you, little girl?” he asked.

 

Asuka nodded, looking away. She felt so stupid, as the first tear rolled down her cheek. With Itachi it was always like that. She always appeared weak, a cry-baby, she always managed to make a fool of herself.

 

“Nakanaide (don't cry), Asuka-chan” he muttered simply, a hand on her cheek, drying the tears with his delicate fingertips. The hell?! What the hell was he doing?!? He really didn't know how to act.

 

But that surely was not what he had come for.

 

“Itachi…?” the girl said, sniffing.

 

“Mmh?”

 

“You're a bastard.” She stated.

 

The boy froze. What?! He looked at the crying girl he was almost embracing, and broke into laughter. No, he didn't. Itachi never laughs. He just wore a smirk, a smirk that looked more heartfelt than usual.

 

“I know, Asuka-chan, I know” he replied, still smirking.

 

The girl sighed; she didn't seem satisfied with the reply, at all. “Why did you do that, yesterday?”

 

He feigned ignorance and surprise. “Do what? Did I do something wrong?”

 

The kunoichi pushed him away. “You perfectly know what you did, Itachi. And what you did is the reason why I am mad at you, Itachi-teme.”

 

He sighed. “You won't be mad at me for too long, Asuka-chan.”

 

She was genuinely surprised. “Oh? And why?”

 

“Because you love me too much to stay mad at me before leaving.” He stated simply.

 

Asuka became thoughtful. He wasn't really mistaking. Her eyes widened. She seemed to realise only a few seconds later what he had just said. And what she had just thought!

 

“You…you…teme!” she said, angry with the boy and herself. She moved to slap him, but he blocked her wrist in mid air.

 

“Now, now, Asuka-chan; aren't we abusing this bad little word? Besides, if you really want to hit me, I know you can do much better than that, can't you, little kunoichi?” he said, mockingly.

 

“Is that a challenge?” the girl hissed.

 

“Yes…but no.” he said, smirking.

 

Itachi moved quickly his hands and removed the scarf on the girl's neck, and before Asuka could say anything, he was smirking, holding her hitai-ate (which she usually wore around her neck) in his hand.

 

“Hei!” she protested.

 

“What?” he said distractingly, contemplating the forehead protector in his hands.

 

“Give me my hitai-ate back, teme!” she cried. Oh Kami. She had sounded like a little girl. No wonder the boy seemed so fond of the new nickname he had found for her…little girl.

 

The Uchiha prodigy brought the forehead protector to his nostrils and inhaled deeply.

 

“Mmh.” He said. “Smells like peaches. Like you, Asuka-chan.” and he thrust it into his pocket.

 

Asuka gasped. “Hei hei hei, that's not fair!” the girl protested. “Now I am without hitai-ate!” she complained.

 

“Liar” Itachi said, amused. He was clearly having fun.

 

“Pardon?”

 

“That's a lie. Sandaime has made new forehead protectors for you and Ren. That means, Asuka-chan, that you are not lacking hitai-ate.” The raven haired boy explained.

 

“You…you are partially truth. But see, I wouldn't be lacking a forehead protector. But I would be lacking my forehead protector. And to be more specific, my Konoha forehead protector.” If he was a genius on the battlefield and with words, Asuka was surely not inferior.

 

He searched in his pockets, and he nonchalantly threw something at her.

 

She grabbed the object, staring at Itachi. How…how did he do it? How could he do something as simple as throwing something, and managing to look like…like a prince? With that grace, that way of moving that only the Uchiha had.

 

Asuka looked into her hands.

 

“What's that?” she asked him.

 

“A forehead protector, genius-chan. I think it's rather obvious.” He replied smirking, coming close to the girl once again.

 

“Ha ha. I know it's a hitai-ate. But…” she began, but he cut her off.

 

“You were complaining about me having your forehead protector. Now you got mine. So now you have to stop complaining.” He said, looking away. Asuka smiled.

 

Was that…a farewell present?

 

Without thinking she threw herself at him, hands around his neck.

 

“Hei!” he complained.

 

“Arigatou, teme-chan!” she said, placing boldly a kiss on his cheek.

 

“Yes, yes, now move” he said, without really doing something to push her away.

 

“You really should do something to change this shitty side of you. Why are you so frustrating?” she said, loosing the embrace.

 

“Because I can. Besides, that's the way I am. And you love me like that. You wouldn't want me any other way” he said, whispering huskily.

 

The girl sighed. “Since when did you become this overconfident with me?”

 

Itachi became thoughtful. Around them the street was empty. The sun was setting, and some street lamps were already on. Asuka couldn't help but think that time was running out too fast for her likings.

 

“Well, since I got the reply I wanted” he said, breaking his silence.

 

Asuka studied the expression of the handsome Uchiha, and was not surprised when she could read no feelings in those delicate features. “Reply?”

 

“Actually, a silence.” He said smirking.

 

Asuka was confused. Her eyes narrowed, and she said nothing.

 

“Come on, Asuka-chan; you didn't reply. In fact, you ran away. Yes” he interrupted her, as he saw that she was about to speak “I know that you had been summoned by the Hokage. But the fact that now you're with me, well, is another sign, a clear sign, I might add, in favour of m theory.”

 

“Theory? Which theory?” she asked.

 

“Oh, Asuka-chan. Quit pretending.”

 

“Pretending?” she asked, getting more and more confused.

 

“You don't love him.” He stated, looking deeply into her brown eyes.

 

The girl became all red in face. Red with anger. She clutched her fists. “That's none of your business. Goodbye, Itachi.” She said bitterly, turning away to leave.

 

Itachi appeared in front of her. `Damn ninja skills' she thought.

 

The boy was silent, still, and cold.

 

“Kuso.” He muttered to himself.

 

Without thinking the Uchiha closed the distance between them, and captured her mouth in a chaste, yet forceful and passionate kiss, which seemed to last hours, days, moments, centuries.

 

She closed her eyes and let her arms embrace him, while he was keeping his right arm on her hip, and the left one on the girl's neck, his fingers caressing her softly.

 

He was caressing her mouth with his, biting her lips, burning in his mind the taste of them mixed with the light and sweet peach flavour of her gloss. Itachi always knew that Asuka would taste like peaches, but now that he had a confirmation he was almost surprised.

 

When he had gained enough confidence, he let his tongue lick the pink and soft lips of hers, begging for entrance. She parted them allowing him to continue to play his game, not really knowing what she was doing.

 

It was warm, it was delightful, it sent shivers down her spine.

 

It was paradise.

 

They didn't know when they parted, nor why. All the two shinobi knew was that one moment they were kissing like there was no tomorrow, and next thing they knew they were standing in front of each other, staring, black into brown.

 

Itachi hadn't planned it.

 

Kuso. Kuso kuso kuso! Dammit, that wasn't how it was supposed to be.

 

He had let his idiocy take control.

 

Moron!

 

The Uchiha boy wasn't able to look away. After the…the kiss, or whatever that was, she had changed. She looked softer.

 

The light scent of peaches coming from the Yoshizumi girl was distracting him.

 

Shisui had been right. He wasn't the right one for her. Actually, he wasn't the right one for anybody. He just loved to much knowing he could handle her, make her smile, make her angry, make her cry.

 

He just loved to make her cry.

 

Besides, she soon would have a lot to cry about.

 

He remembered what he had thought when he had been told about his Asuka leaving. He had been pissed off. Actually, he had been very sad about it, for a few moments. He couldn't think of a day without seeing her, without knowing that, if he wanted, he could see her.

 

But then he had thought: this is for the best.

 

He had more important things to do.

 

When he had accomplished them, then, maybe, just maybe he…

 

Asuka smiled, not really knowing why. This wasn't the reaction she had expected from herself. She hadn't cried, screamed, slapped, pushed, blushed…she didn't feel ashamed and she didn't feel guilty. That had felt so good.

 

Itachi smiled tenderly at her. No, there was really no hope. He was enjoying the moment. He really was. He was wicked. He was loving every second of it. Not even Asuka could do something, he was what he was. And he was oh so proud of it.

 

It was with the sweetest voice she had ever heard coming from the Uchiha that he spoke, a strange light in his eyes.

 

“Matanaide” he said, caressing her cheek. (don't wait)

 

Asuka was abruptly brought back to reality. “Wh…what?”

 

“Don't wait for me. Because, my foolish little girl, I will not wait for you. Never.”

 

A swirl of wind, and the girl was left alone.

 

Bleeding.