Empty Eyes: The Sequel

Chapter 16

There were six seats in our vehicle, not counting the driver's seat where the Militia member was focusing carefully on the road. Fugaku sat up front with him while Itachi and Sai sat in the middle row, leaving me sandwiched awkwardly in between Sasuke and Madara in the back.

All of us were traveling together because we're the members of our party that the royal family of Amegakure would undoubtedly recognize on sight. The others traveled in a separate vehicle and took a different route so we wouldn't be seen together.

"It's good to see you again, brother. How was your stay in Sunagakure?" Sai addressed Itachi in his usual, almost professional way.

With nothing to entertain myself with, my head fell back against the headrest and I closed my eyes as I half-listened to their conversation. I brought along a book to pass the time, but found it hard to focus on when the men at either of my side kept shooting angry glances at one another.

"It was uneventful. Thank you for asking. How have you been? Have you adjusted well to life as a father?"

A smile tugged at my lips when Sai's tone became warmer than before, "I'm very happy."

There was a long pause before he surprisingly asked a personal question, "Have you and Temari considered having children yet?"

The air in the vehicle became quite tense, making me crack an eye open at the long pause Itachi offered. To my surprise, the sliver of his face I could see from where I was seated seemed torn. "Temari doesn't want children." My other eye opened and I sat up a bit straighter, brow furrowing.

Itachi loves kids. The adorable way he immediately took to his nephew after Ino and I's rescue was all I needed to see to come to that conclusion. He almost definitely wants to start a family and I thought that Temari would too by the soft expression she'd given while watching him with Inojin. I guess I was wrong. Temari and I haven't really talked all that much so I don't know her as well as I'd like. There must be more to her than meets the eye.

"I see. Perhaps she'll have a change of heart once a few years have passed." Itachi's face darkened slightly, but rather than seeming angry, he appeared a bit sad. A frown met my lips and I absently moved a hand to Sasuke's thigh, feeling a bit more steady when he placed his larger one atop it and interlaced our fingers.

Eager to change the topic for Itachi's sake, I piped up softly, "So, will Izumi come around more often now that she's been turned?" Both Uchiha princes in the middle row turned slightly so they could speak with me properly.

Sai smiled blankly, "I'm not sure. Truthfully, this is our first time meeting her in person. Up until now we've only received a few letters on behalf of her master."

Madara chimed in, surprising us all, "She seems quite lively. That surprises me given her master's temperance."

Itachi grinned softly, "Shisui must have something to do with that."

I wanted to ask who this "Shisui" person was because this was the first time I've heard the name, but didn't have to. Itachi tilted his head and informed me with a nostalgic look in his eye, "Shisui is our cousin. He has an aversion to diplomacy so he travels with Kagami," he paused, "and now Izumi as well, I suppose."

I laughed, "An Uchiha who's not serious? I can hardly picture it."

Madara made an unhappy sound, grinning when I looked his way, "I take offense to that."

My smile widened in amusement and I shook my head at him before focusing on the others once more. "Izumi seems nice, so I'll probably get along with Shisui as well."

Sai asked Itachi, then, "Is Kagami her sole master or did he split with Shisui just in case?"

"I believe they were both involved, but I'm not one hundred percent certain. Vampire culture outside of Konoha is always different."