The Black Leaf (Part 1)

Chapter 29: Saved

I started to become conscious when the pain started to shoot from my leg to my back and my arms. I felt like if I had fallen multiple stories down on my head. Everything hurt and I started to groan in pain. It was cold and I couldn't open my eyes, I was so tired. I felt the heat coming at me from somewhere. I managed to open my eyes slightly and after blinking multiple times, I saw the Uchiha crest engraved on top of the fireplace. Suddenly it all hit me, I was held in that room, and he saved me. I was dizzy and weak, I tried to get up, but the pain was stronger than I was.

"I wouldn't move so fast if I was you," a voice said from behind me.

That was his voice, he was here, Itachi. I felt shivers go down my spine and throughout my body. I tried turning my head to look at him, but I felt everything moving so fast around me and I just closed my eyes. I probably passed out because I woke up again sometime later feeling so much pain in my leg, I groaned and whimpered lowly. There was wet cloth over my forehead that fell on the mattress when I turned my head towards the fireplace. He was seating there watching me, he looked at me with pain and worry.

"How you feeling?" he asked in a low voice.

I looked away, I wanted to answer him but I couldn't make a sound. My throat was dried and my head was burning. The sharp pain on my forehead couldn't even let me think, even breathing hurt really bad. "wa... water," I was able to mutter following by a dry cough that hurt like hell. I whimpered in pain and hugged my rib cage to prevent it from hurting even more. He immediately moved to my side and poured some water in a cup and raised my head higher so I could drink.

"Kaito did all this to you?" Itachi asked as he gently put my head down, "Izumi, tell me, I'll kill that bastard with my bare hands."

Somehow, I managed to let out a dry laugh followed by a painful groan as he just looked at me. "You think..." I gulped as I avoided breathing deeply, "you think you are the only one who can try to kill me," I whispered. His face expression went from angry to ashamed within seconds. He walked over to the fire place and pored tea on a cup and got something out of a bag.

"Here take this," he said putting some pills on my hand, "drink them with this, it will help you fight infections and the pain." I took the pills and he helped me drink the tea, I didn't care what was it as long as it helped with the pain. I just laid there in silent there were many questions I wanted to asked him but I was tired and in so much pain,  that just ended up falling asleep again.

I slept, I don't know for how long but when I woke up again, I felt like my headache was gone and I was more aware of my surroundings. I turned to face the fireplace and there he was sleeping, leaning against the wall. I stared at him for a while then moved my gaze to the ceiling. He did what my own comrades didn't, he saved my life, I thought. If there was someone who knew Itachi best, it was me, or so I thought. One thing I knew  for sure, he was hiding something, something that was eating him inside. Whatever the Uchiha were doing, he always said that he would try to stop them. He wanted nothing but peace, so why did he kill them? what drove him to kill his own clan? His parents? I looked back at him but this time he was awake staring at me.

"Feeling better?" he asked as he poured another cup of tea, "you need to drink and eat something, you've been out for a while" he said as he got closer and lifted my head so I could drink the tea.

"How long has it been?" I muttered lowly.

"More than a week now," he said as he drank some of his tea, "it looks like your leg and your ribs are healing nicely. I changed your leg bandage this morning." I looked down to my exposed leg and I could see my bare hip, I lifted the covers and I had bandages on my ribs, but other than that I was completely naked. I sighed in annoyance more than embarrassment.

"I only cleaned and treated your injuries," he said quickly. In another situation, I would have been dying of embarrassment but there was nothing else for me to protect. My virtue was gone, I felt dirty and worthless now. He seemed to have notice how I felt, because he reached for my hand and squeezed it. I just stared at the ceiling until I got tired and went to sleep again.

The next day, I was able to sit up and I could breathe much better and without pain. The injury on my leg was almost healed and my chakra felt repleted. Itachi offered to take me to the thermal waters that ran deep inside one of the caves near us. I just nodded and he gave me his cloak to cover myself since I was still completely naked. I put it on and zipped it up then when I was about to take a step, he scooped me on his arms. I flinched and immediately wanted to get away from him, the thought of someone putting their hands on me again made me shudder.

"I can take you there, it's not far" he said giving me a warm smile, that smile that I loved seeing when we were growing up. I felt a wave of peacefulness that over took my fears and discomfort and I just buried my head in his chest. I felt safe for the first time in long time. Soon we were on a small cave that had an underground river, it was warm, and I could see the steam above the water. "I'm going to leave you here for a second okay, I will get some clean clothes, bandages, and some soap," he said placing me down. I took the cloak and the bandages off as soon as he left and stepped in the warm water. I sat in the water for a while, just staring at the wall. It was when I started to see the kunai cuts all over my body and remembered everything that man did to me.

I started scrubbing my skin with a pumice rock that I picked from the bottom of the river, I scrubbed hard in my body until there was blood. I wanted to get his prints off my skin, I wanted to forget his touches, I wanted to be clean again. Tears started leaving my eyes and I couldn't hold it anymore. The sobs that I was holding since that first day finally left my chest, I cried and cried as I scrubbed my chest and neck. In that moment Itachi walked in and rushed in the water with me.

"Izumi stop, you are going to hurt yourself even more," he said taking the rock away from me, I just hugged myself and keep crying. I could see the pain in his face, he threw the rock back in the water and hugged me tight. "It wasn't your fault Izumi, don't blame yourself," he whispered, "please don't cry." I cried for what it seemed a log time and Itachi never let me go not even once. He held me tight and even kissed my forehead a couple of time.

After I had calmed down, he pulled away slightly "I have to go get clothes for me too," he said looking at me. "I brought soap, and bandages, clean up and I'll come and help you bandage your leg again," he said before pulling away and handing me the soap. I cleaned up as much as I could and got out to change. Itachi brought me a black shirt with the Uchiha crest on it and black sweats. I bandaged my chest then put the shirt on. I was bandaging my leg he walked back in. "Here let me help you," he said kneeling down. He took the bandages from my trembling hands and started passing the bandage over my thigh. He was so gentle and careful not to hurt me, I just watched him and once he was done he handed me the pants. I put them on and sat back on the rock, I notice how much the fabric of the clothes burned my skin, I guess I scrubbed way too hard I thought. 

"Okay, I'm going to dip in, we'll go back in a little bit," he took off his shirt and his pants and went inside the water in just boxers. He scrubbed quickly and washed his long hair. Then, he came out and started to change. I just looked away the whole time, but I couldn't help to noticed how long his hair was. I remembered how much I loved playing with his hair and even though he never admitted it I knew he liked it too. The thoughts of how happy we were when we were kids started coming to me as I looked at the steam on the water surface. "Izumi, are you feeling good?" he asked as laid the clothes out for them to dry.

"yes, i'm better now," I said still looking at the water. 

"we can head back now," he said offering me his hand, "let me carry you there?" he offered 

"No, I want to walk, please," I muttered, so he offered his arm instead and I took it.