Redemption In Your Eyes

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Warmth trickled through her fingers as she curled them in the dirt, trying to rid herself of its feeling. Then there was more; it was inescapable. Aster heaved, trying to right her breathing and properly discern the world around her. Even the sky was bleeding now, and she felt the pulsing crimson pooling around her knees. As gruesome as it was, she could have survived, could have persevered. But as her gaze trailed across the scarred earth, it showed her hell. Bile rose in the back of her throat and she teetered. Her eyes locked with her demon. Bright green pierced her as a smile curled the other's lips. Aster crumbled, howling in agony.

"Wake up- Aster!" Itachi stifled a gasp as he dodged her foot. "Get up...!" Her eyes flipped open as she stared at him, mouth drawn in horror.

"Itachi!" Sweat beaded on her forehead as she noted blood from the corner of his mouth. "What-?!" Her voice was becoming shrill. "You're bleeding!"

He paused, letting go of one of her wrists to wipe it away. Giving her a sullen look, "You hit me... Really hard... While I was still asleep."

She stared for moment, her eyes going wide. Still careful to keep a hold on her, Itachi waited, measuring her shock. "That's all?" She breathed. He nodded, warily of her question. There was a momentary pause, then she burst into laughter.

He clamped a hand over her mouth as fast as he could. "What the hell? There's nothing funny about this!" Anger rose up in him as Aster wiggled out of his grip. She continued to laugh, and in vain, he tried to quiet her again. "Be quiet! You're going to wake up Sasuke!"

That appeared to settle her slightly. Even more to his confusion, she turned and hugged him. He froze. Aster hung on him for a while before speaking, when she did, it was softly, almost a whisper. "You're right... There's nothing funny about it..." Itachi tried to ask about her crazed laughing fit, but she continued over him in answer. "I wasn't laughing because I found anything here humorous... I'm just glad you were bleeding because I hit you in my sleep and nothing else happened..."

He narrowed his eyes. "It's alright for to me to bleed as long as you're the one injuring me... Is that what you're saying?" A smirk curled the corner of his mouth.

Aster looked horrorified. "No! I just... I..!"

"Calm down..." He mumbled, sitting upright and removing her weight from him. Taking a small breath, Itachi gave her a side-long look. "What was it about?" He watched her face go blank before registering that he was referring to what had so obviously been her first nightmare in a long time. Fighting the urge to prod her more, he waited, hoping their earlier exchange would have made her more talkative.

Her thought process played over her face at first, slowly fading behind an indifferent mask; it was a habit she'd acquired from her time with him. Finally at a decision, she met his gaze completely. "You remember... Sakura..." He bit his lip, all this time for her to sort her words and she chose not to finish her sentences. It frustrated him. "I had a feeling about her before..." Her lips tightened and she straightened her spine rigidly. "I don't like her... I think she poses a threat to us..." Upon seeing Itachi's befuddled look become an expression set to argue, she added quickly, "An unwitting threat, of course, but still... Her presence isn't something to be taken lightly." Aster paused. "This... This nightmare," She stumbled over the word. "It only confirms what I first thought..."

Itachi shook his head. "She's a sixteen year old girl... I doubt she's anything more ominous than a spy for Tsunade to make sure we behave." He gave her a serious stare. "Don't worry about her... We have more pressing problems."

Anxiety rose up in her, and Aster was nearly ready to recount the entire night terror, but the absurdity of it suddenly struck her. He was right. Not only was Sakura barely more than a child, there was no way she could directly harm them, especially as she had in Aster's dream. A knot sank her stomach and she felt foolish. "You're right..." she nodded and agreed reluctantly.