Ashes (A Naruto Fanfic Book 6)

Chapter 21

I was explicitly told to remain in the apartment until everything was prepared and I was restless.  I paced the floor fidgeting with whatever happened to be in my hands at the time.  The door opened, and I scowled as Itachi hugged me.  "Impatient..."

I shook my head.  "No, something... something's wrong,  Itachi..."

He looked at me before mindlessly scanning the room.  "Maybe you're just nervous."

I frowned and pushed him away to pace more.  "How long before I get out of this prison?"

He sighed.  "A few more hours..."  I glared at him and started repacking for the fifth time.  He leaned against the door as I began pulling everything out.  "Kunoichi..."

I looked at him.  "Are you... having second thoughts about all of this?"

I raised an eyebrow.  "About what?"

I saw him relax a bit at my question.  "The engagement..."

I rolled my eyes.  "No... but something is off, and I don't like it."

"How do you know?"

I met his eyes.  "I'm rarely wrong when I feel this way."

He nodded.  "Maybe it's the people around you... we are all excited..."

I shook my head and started reorganizing all of my clothes.  "No... I can't explain it to you, Itachi, but I felt the same when we were going to battle with the Uchiha.  The feeling disappeared when we decided to slaughter them all before."

He pulled me away from what I was doing, making me face him.  "I'll see what I can find, okay?"

I pursed my lips. "You don't believe me."

He kissed my forehead.  "I do, and I trust what you feel... let me look into it.  They would kill us both if I let you escape."

I let out a sigh.  "Thank you, Itachi..."  He kissed me and then left again.  I set to finish packing before going to scrub the kitchen down again.  By the time Chihiro, Aya, and Hinata returned, the apartment was better than spotless.

Hinata grabbed my wrist as I was unzipping my bag again.  "Sensei... what's wrong?"

I looked into calm grey eyes and frowned.  "You've held me captive all day."

She shook her head, looking worried.  "Tha-"

Chihiro grabbed me up.  "Well, let's get you ready, and you'll be free!"

I rolled my eyes.  "Why not just go?"

She got the dress for the night.  "No, that simply won't do."  She pulled it out of the bag.  "What do you think?"

It was white with silver flowers woven in it, and my frown deepened.  "No."

Aya gasped.  "But it's beautiful!"  I side-eyed her, and she threw her hands up.

Chihiro rolled her eyes.  "Fine..."  She disappeared and came back with 3 more dresses.  "Why we have backups."

She pulled out a baby blue dress with black embroidery, and I shook my head again.  She sighed and pulled out the 3rd dress, a forest green with gold leaves imprinted into it, and I rolled my eyes before shaking my head again.

A vein popped in her forehead.  "Last one..."  She lifted it from its bag, and I was sold.  It was midnight blue and velvet.  Depending on how the light struck it, it could look black.  The thin silver designs shimmered as I took it.  "Dammit... he's good..."

I looked at her curiously.  "Who?"

She glowered at me.  "Itachi... we poured over every dress for hours, and he pops up and picks this in seconds.  Even his mom said it was perfect when he asked her to tailor it."

I blushed.  "They have too much time on their hands."

Aya giggled.  "No, they make time for you."

I sighed and looked out the window.  "Okay, let's get ready."

It took two hours total for us to get ready. A majority of it was spent arguing with me on how to dress up.  I was satisfied with the result, elegant, but simple.  I had black tights, though they argued I didn't need them.  Black boots in place of the high heels they wanted.  The locket we were given for our birthday years ago, I was impressed another had been made for Chihiro because she was wearing hers as well.  I refused the makeup and settled for lip gloss.

I slipped on my bracelets and called it a done deal.  "Are you ready?"  They both nodded, and when we came out of the room, Itachi and Ryo were waiting for us.  I side-eyed Chihiro.  "Still a secret?"

She blushed slightly.  "Yes."

I nodded.  "As you wish."  I looked back at Itachi and admired how he looked in his black pants and midnight blue dress shirt.  He allowed his hair to hang loose behind him, and I went and pulled it.  "You clean up well, Uchiha."

He smirked and did the same to mine.  "As do you."  We watched as Aya fussed with Ryo's tie, and then we left.

The air felt clear as we emerged, I almost began to doubt my gut feeling, but it was still strong.  "Where are we going?"

Chihiro smirked.  "You'll see."

I rolled my eyes.  "Whatever..."

Aya giggled.  "Since you didn't want to help plan, it's a surprise."

When we passed the village and went down a familiar path, I knew where we were going.  "The lake..."  Everyone exchanged glances but said nothing.

The scene was breath taking, red and orange decorations hung from the trees, cherry blossom petals littered the ground, and some how they managed to arrange the tables in such a way the everything was facing the lake, a small stage in the center.  I looked up at Itachi, who was watching my reaction.  "They did an amazing job..."

He chuckled.  "Just wait..."