Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ A Red Rose ❯ Chapter 5 ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

IMPORATANT NOTE FOR PAST READERS!
A/N (06-27-13): Please see the A/N in the Prologue.

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I walked beside my personal guard in silence. What more was there to say?

Though the meeting between the village leader and myself had gone better than expected (especially considering the scene he had walked in on), it was evident that nothing could be done to make this situation any less confusing than it already was. I was stuck here until either my memories came back or my family (if I had any) was found.

In either case, it was going to be a long wait.

I glanced over at Itachi, equally silent in his effort to keep me from causing trouble.

We were just walking down the street and already he was stressing over possible threats. He wouldn’t say anything of course, but his steps were quick, his movements were sharp, and he never stopped glancing around like everything was out to get him – or get me.

Not that I blamed him. The villagers we passed stared constantly and started gossiping between themselves the second they were out of our direct line of sight. Obviously they didn’t care if we overheard every word they whispered behind our backs.

In the few minutes since I had walked out of the Hokage Tower, I had learnt more about Itachi and his family than I had in the few days I had known him.

As we had passed a pair of women, one blonde and the other a brunette, I had listened in on their conversation, gathering what information I could. The blonde had been babbling excitedly while the brunette had looked slightly confused though still obviously interested.

“I thought Uchiha Itachi was going on another mission?” The brunette said as the blonde took a moment to breathe.

“Didn’t you hear?”

“Hear what?”

“Apparently his ANBU team found some strange girl in the Forest of Death a couple days back and she’s been staying at the Uchiha compound.”

“Really? Do you think that’s the girl?”

I had felt myself tense as I became the subject of their gossiping.

“I don’t know. I’ve never seen her around Konoha before.”

“Must be her then…”

I had lost the rest of what the women were saying as we passed out of hearing range. I filed away Itachi’s alleged mission, the Forest of Death where I was apparently found, and the fact that Itachi’s house seemed commonly known. I didn’t bother working around the knowledge that the women had never seen me before. I already knew I wasn’t from around here…

Pushing aside that slightly depressing thought, I zeroed in on an older husband and wife pair. The man was glancing over a stall offering strange fruits that I didn’t recognize. The woman, however, had just caught a glimpse of Itachi and I out of the corner of her eye and after staring for a second too long, had turned to her husband, whispering excitedly in his ear. The husband attempted to swat her away, complaining loudly about the fact the he had to ‘actually eat this supposedly healthy garbage’, but she was persistent.

Looking away as we passed, I listened in, which wasn’t hard to do as the husband’s voice easily rose above the others in the busy street.

“Quit yellin’, woman. It’s bad enough you’re makin’ me buy this crap without you hollerin’ in m’ear as well.”

“But look, Ryu! It’s that Uchiha boy, and he’s got a girl with him.”

“What? Where?”

“There! Just down the street.”

I could almost feel the finger I knew was pointing directly at my retreating back and I unconsciously quickened my pace, trying to escape the uncomfortable feeling of being watched. Itachi’s swiftly darting eyes moved their sights to me as I pulled slightly ahead of him. When he continued walking normally, however, I forced myself to slow down. His seeming unconcern with the talk centered upon us was comforting in a way that was surprising to me.

Ignoring the pestering comments as best I could, I reflected back on the conversation I had just heard. It then occurred to me that I wasn’t the one being pointed out and targeted here – it was Itachi. I was only being identified by being by his side and the rumors that were already flying around about my sudden and strange appearance in the village.

None of them identified me as being an outsider just from looking at me and I took a little comfort in that fact. Absently, I wondered who had let it slip that I was here.

“Itachi!”

The loud, male voice overpowered all others in the vicinity of about five blocks.

“Itachi! Hey, wait up!”

I stopped out of polite instinct and then realized that Itachi had not stopped with me. Watching him continue down the road alone, I stood rooted to the spot.

Would this be all it took to get away? I didn’t have the tracking bracelet on yet – it still had to be made. Could I do it now? Should I run?

Run.

My flight instinct took over and I spun to bolt in the opposite direction of the assumed threat –

-and walked right into another one.

I took one step and collided with a wall of solid muscle. Still running on instinct, I backed up a step and turned to run in another direction but this time a strong hand closed around my wrist, preventing me from sprinting away and closing off my best chance of escape.

“Whoa there,” I heard the voice that had been yelling at Itachi say.

I glared up at the man holding my arm captive, adrenaline still pumping in overdrive through my veins. He was taller than Itachi and obviously older, with the highly muscled body of someone who worked out a lot. His black, sleeveless shirt drew attention to that fact. Yet, despite that hard-earned muscle, he still looked as lean as Itachi did. He had short, spiky hair and wore the same high-collared shirt as Itachi. His hair and eyes were the same black as Itachi’s, but lines of his face were not as sharp and those eyes shone with youthful exuberance along with the steely intelligence I had come to recognize in my personal bodyguard.

They must be related, I deduced, and that deduction did not win him any points with me.

Smiling at me as I did my best to skewer him with my glare, he held out his free hand. The other was still busy keeping me from running.

“Uchiha Shisui,” he said, introducing himself.

“I don’t care who you are,” I snarled, ignoring his offered hand. “Let me go!”

I yanked at my arm knowing it was futile.

“Don’t you remember me?” He faked a hurt look.

My heart skipped a beat. He knew me?

“I was there when Itachi found you, remember?”

My knees went weak with disappointment so heavy it nearly pushed me to the ground.

So close…

Shisui mistook my black stare as confirmation that I didn’t remember.

“Well, I was wearing my mask so-” he started to explain.

“Shisui.”

I didn’t bother to turn around at Itachi’s voice. It’s not like it mattered anyway. I had felt so close – so close to finding out who I was, and then it had been ripped away in matter of seconds. It was cruel, the way life seemed to enjoy tormenting me.

“Oh, hey Itachi,” Shisui said cheerfully, not at all daunted by my depressive silence.

“Seems your little Kitten managed to get away from you,” he teased.

Itachi just pinned him with a silent glare.

“Kitten?” I scoffed.

Shisui turned his undiminished smile on me.

“Yeah,” he said. “Kitten.”

Then he reached out and ruffled my hair before I had a chance to react.

“Hey!” I yelled, scowling at my abuser.

Shisui just smiled at me before turning back to Itachi.

“I guess you’re going to be off regular missions for awhile then.”

Itachi nodded solemnly.

“I bet your father isn’t happy about that.”

Twin coals narrowed.

“What he wants doesn’t matter. It’s the Hokage’s decision to make, not his.”

Shisui’s open smile disappeared as he frowned at Itachi.

“You should be more careful with what you say,” he warned.

The sudden tense atmosphere between the two males as they stared at each other was a palpable thing, and it made my instincts twitchy. I hesitantly took a step back, trying to make myself as small as possible. The second I went to take another step, however, both of them directed their stares on me.

“Um…” For a couple of seconds there, they had seemed… truly dangerous. Dangerous like when I had first met them.

“Weren’t we going somewhere?”

“Yes,” Itachi answered.

“Well, then,” I continued. “Let’s get going.”

Itachi frowned. Shisui blinked. Then the older shinobi began laughing.

He laughed even harder when Itachi glared at him, exasperation in his expression. Shisui’s laughter was contagious and I soon found myself chuckling along with him for no reason at all other than for the enjoyment of a good laugh.

The ease of the laughter surprised me; I had not expected to be able to do such a thing so freely and so soon after everything that had happened, and for that, I was grateful. Tenseness and anger temporarily forgotten, I gave Shisui a hesitant, yet friendly smile; I was not used to being happy in these unfamiliar surroundings.

“Look at that. She smiles,” he teased.

I stuck my tongue out at him.

Shisui’s friendly banter was comforting. And that made me wary of him. With Itachi, I knew where I stood: he was a loyal soldier and I was an unknown variable that he dealt with as necessary. But Shisui was an enigma. Like Itachi, he was a soldier and easily fell into that role, if what I saw in the forest was any indication. Yet, he was also able to shed that military persona just as easily. This ability of his to shift from one state of mind to another had me wondering which state was real and which was really a mask.

In any case, I would be cautious around them both. I had already seen enough during my short time in this village to connect the leaf-markings with ‘threat’.

So, instead of continuing the disarming chat with Shisui, I turned in the direction which Itachi and I had been heading in before and started walking. The boys let me get ahead of them and I was quickly out of earshot. Glancing, I could see that they were talking but I couldn’t make out their conversation.

After a minute or two, Itachi came up beside me. Shisui wasn’t with him but I didn’t bother asking where he went. I knew I wouldn’t get an answer.

“Here,” Itachi said, holding out a small brown bag, secured with a pull string. Something clinked inside as I took it.

“Money?” I questioned.

The young ANBU nodded. I looked at the innocuous bag, slightly confused.

“Why are you giving me money?”

“It’s not much. Just enough to buy a few essentials: clothing, toiletries, and the like.”

“Oh.”

Itachi’s eyes moved my way briefly before returning to scouting the passersby.

“My mother is the only female living in our family residence. Her clothes would be too big for you and you require other essentials of your own as well. It is only logical for the Hokage to provide these necessities for you while you remain with us.”

“Ah. It’s the old man’s money.” Well, he was more thoughtful than I had given him credit for.

“So, you’re taking me on a shopping trip?” I smirked at my guard and guide.

“No,” he replied briskly. “I will keep watch from a distance. Do as you wish until it is time to return to the compound.”

Strangely, I felt sort of disappointed. Maybe it was just the missed opportunity to torture the guy who seemed to enjoy making my life more difficult than necessary.

I opened the bag to find a decent number of coins nestled within it. Maybe this shopping trip wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Half the day, five large bags, and a great meal at Ichiraku later, I started looking for a place to sit down and rest. Eventually, I passed by a large tree with an old swing hanging down from its branches. Collapsing into it, I looked around curiously.

Just then a bunch of children streamed out of the building in front of me, all of them running and full of excitement. I was observing the mass of tiny bodies when I recognized a face moving along with the rest.

Sasuke.

Happy to see the kid again, I got up moved towards the young child, lugging my purchases with me. As I did so, one of my oversized bags accidently knocked over a little, blond haired boy as he headed for the swing that I had been sitting on. Absently I recognized him as the blonde from that first time at the ramen shop.

“Sorry,” I apologized, but the boy just picked himself up, brushed himself off and continued on over to the swing where he sat down but did not swing. I watched him go with concern but didn’t interfere. I had no place in this village to enter into the lives of its children.

When I reached Sasuke, two girls were talking at him while he looked like he desperately needed to escape from their chatter. One had blonde hair while the other had hair that was bright pink. I marveled over the color of the second girl’s hair for a second before I interrupted, hoping to free Sasuke from the obviously one-sided conversation.

“Hey there, Sasuke,” I greeted.

Relief washed over his face when he spotted me but then he started fidgeting. Obviously he still wasn’t completely comfortable around me yet, or at least he wasn’t when his brother wasn’t around.

“Hi,” he responded quietly.

“Who are your friends?” I asked, smirking a little and teasing the kid.

Sasuke hesitated and the blonde took the chance to jump right in.

“I’m Yamanaka Ino,” she exclaimed with all the pride of a six year-old.

The pink-haired one added only slightly more neutrally, “Haruno Sakura.”

“Hello Yamanaka-chan, Haruno-chan. My name is…” I hesitated a second, still unwilling to use my newly appointed name. Realizing I had no choice though, I took a breath and said it.

“Amaya.”

The two girls shared a look with each other at my hesitation.

“Did you remember your name?” Sasuke piped up. I had forgotten Sasuke didn’t know about my official naming earlier that day so I opened my mouth to explain it to him when I was interrupted.

“Why don’t you have a family name?” It was the blonde, curiosity getting the better of her manners.

My cheeks reddened slightly in embarrassment.

“Um… Well… You see…” I struggled with how I was going to explain the concept of amnesia to the child but was saved by the arrival of my appointed guardian.

“Time to go,” was his version of a greeting. Although, I suppose he never did really leave me.

“Alright,” I said. I had accepted that it would probably be best for me to comply with everything I was told (within reason, of course) until I knew more about myself. As long as they kept up their promise to help me, I would up hold my promise to not get into trouble.

The two little girls took this time to wave goodbye to Sasuke and move off down the street. I could hear them arguing loudly as they marched away.

Amused at their young theatrics, I reached to pick up the bags that I had placed on the ground as I spoke with the children. Before my hand could grab the handles, however, Itachi had lifted the heavy bags himself and was starting to walk away without saying a word.

“Uh… thanks?” Shaking my head, I turned to Sasuke.

“Do you want a ride?” I said, reaching down to pick him up.

Sasuke didn’t say anything for a second but then he gave a slight nod. Smiling, I picked him up and moved after Itachi with Sasuke in my arms. I had to jog for a couple minuted just to catch up with his brisk pace.

The entire way back to the Uchiha compound was silent. Itachi did say a word and I didn’t bother attempting to start a futile conversation. Sasuke didn’t last five minutes before he fell asleep, head resting on my shoulder.

By the time we arrived at the door to the compound, my arms were ready to lay down and die.

Once we were inside, Itachi set my purchases by the entrance and reached out for Sasuke. I gratefully passed off my unconscious bundle, rubbing my arms to get the circulation going again.

Moving down the hallway, Itachi took the lead. In my head I told myself that it was only because I didn’t know my way around yet. My body argued that I just wanted to stare at him. I was inclined to agree with the later.

On our way Itachi stopped at an unfamiliar room and I waited outside as he put Sasuke into bed. Coming out a minute later, he didn’t even look at me, just continued down the hall. I shook my head, brushing it off. I was used to Itachi’s unemotional, yet effective attitude towards tasks.

When he continued past the room I had woken up in, however, I paused, suddenly unsure.

What, I didn’t even get a ‘goodnight’? I scoffed at myself for even thinking of the idea that Itachi would ever do such a thing. Slinking dejectedly into my room, I despaired at how hospital like it seemed with its white walls and absolutely no color. No, scratch that, even hospitals had more color than this.

A knock at the door that I had closed behind me startled me. I opened it and was surprised to see Itachi standing there with his arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his face.

“What are you doing?” he demanded.

I blinked. “Uh, going to sleep?”

I swear he nearly rolled his eyes.

“Not here.”

“What?” I squawked. He couldn’t seriously be throwing me out. Could he?

“Follow me,” he said and then turned and walked away.

Confused, and more than a little suspicious, I followed him down the hall, down a couple more, then into a more familiar one. I stared at him when he stopped in front of a door I instantly recognized.

“Here?” I asked, disbelieving.

He nodded and opened the door.

“It is the only way I can watch you adequately until the bracelet is made,” he explained. Then he went in, leaving the door open behind him.

I stood there in shock. He couldn’t be serious. He had to be joking. He couldn’t possibly want me to sleep here of all places. Not a fucking chance in hell.

“Come in or I will make you.”

Gulping in nervousness, I knew that he was serious and that I had no choice. It was going to be a long night. Then I walked through the door into Itachi’s room.