Ikigai

Chapter 22: Just a Moment

It wasn't hard to imagine what could be coursing through his mind.

Sometimes when she would bother to sense him near, she reminded herself of the inevitable conversation that would need to take place.

And while she would sleep, she thought of what she could say or what she wished she could do to make it all go away.

Seven days had come and gone, but Kakashi had yet to ask a single question about what they had both seen and about what she had done to help Aang as he sunk into the dark water.

She herself wasn't even sure why she had done what she had done. She wasn't sure how she felt about any of it.

"Morning."

He would nod in her direction, lead her to the mines, observe her progress for a little while, and then be on his way.

Dread wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, but perhaps the fact that she felt something unfamiliar about him was what unhinged her and made her feel bare.

He had now become the only person to see her side of the world, a world where shadows were more familiar to her than any visual memory.

"Are you paying attention?"

"Mhmm, " she hummed out as she continued to throw the shuriken at the target Itachi had placed earlier.

Her aim had improved significantly over the past few days and though both Itachi and Kintsugi did not express it, their time together had become a much-needed break from the harsh reality they were finding harder and harder to escape.

Itachi stared at her glazed-over eyes, knowing full well she was not paying attention.

"Stop."

"What?"

"Being distracted."

"He's right you know," Kisame muttered from where he sat, arms crossed and eyes closed as he tried to rest against a tree.

Kintsugi grunted in response as she stretched out her limbs, suddenly flicking a shuriken in Itachi's direction. She figured he would dodge it either way but she hadn't expected him to return the gesture.

Just as quick, he ended up cutting her arm in the same place as before.

"You're clearly not paying attention and if you're going to bleed, bleed for better reasons than trying to fool around."

"That sounds cheesy," she snorted as she wiped the growing pool of blood off, ignoring the sting of the torn, dry fabric against the wet wound.

"If you-," he had started to say before both Akatsuki turned their heads to something in the distance.

The look Kisame pointed in Itachi's direction didn't go unnoticed. 

"You should go," Kisame suddenly said, quickly standing to his feet as he gave a knowing glance.

"Why?" she paused as she felt the ground further out beneath her feet, stopping once she could faintly hear the names of those that had just returned in the front gates.

"Uzumaki," Itachi stated.

----

Re: Peace of Konoha

H-,

Tsuande is en route and should reach our village within the next few hours of having written this letter.

I do not think I need to stress the importance of what this coming change will do to our efforts. It would be in all of our interests to prepare what we need as soon as possible. I would have volunteered for the position myself if it weren't for the obstacles, but we will see. Perhaps we'll get rid of the hag if she proves worthless.