Empire Fall

Chapter Three

UNEDITED. I'll get to it when I can.

"Satoshi! Left!" warned Sakura while still locked in combat.

Without turning, Sasuke pulled the knife tucked at his side and stabbed the incoming attacker. He mentally cursed himself for not taking into account a trap. He could already imagine Father's disapproving stare.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Hayate and Akio sword to sword with two men. He pushed the man he was battling off him and snatching the collar of the man Sakura was fighting, hauled him into the air.

THUD!

He got slammed into the ground. Sakura gasped. "How did you - You are supposed to be a common trader.." He could discern the confusion behind her eyes. He would have some explaining to do later. For now -

Sakura's hand was urgently over his and he felt himself being pulled to her.

CLUNK!

Sasuke stared at the woman who just saved him. He could feel an admiration for her bubbling beneath the surface of his impassiveness. The moment passed. They were surrounded by seven or so odd men. The prince of the Fire country barely held back his smirk.

Sakura and him were now back to back. He could feel her heaving against him. For the very first time in his life, Sasuke was impressed by a woman. She wasn't only skilled with a sword, but her hand to hand combat was also very commendable. As they clashed with the opponents, he couldn't help but watch her moving back and forth between two of them, mesmerized. The delicate looking woman with pink hair had proved herself to be a strong-willed fighter - a testament that appearances can be very deceptive.

*

Itachi stared intently at his scribbling. The random pattern on the serene sand resonated with his mind. Just as the senseless scrawling on the sand, his mind too, was lost and confused. He heard it as it came and then, just like that, the scribbling was gone with the wave. How wonderful it would be if all the thoughts in his mind also went away with those waves! He would be a clean slate. He could start over.

Life is never so simple though.

He had seen too much. He had hurt and gotten hurt. He couldn't be a clean slate anymore. Sometimes, when he saw his palm, he could swear it was red. He had tried to make their deaths painless even if they were enemy soldiers in a war, but -

"Something the matter, your highness?"

Yes, everything, said his mind. But, he shook his head.

"You appear melancholy," said she. What could he say to that? After a bit, sensing that perhaps he did not wish to communicate, she took a step back and politely excused herself. "Forgive me if I overstepped, my lord. I shall take my leave."

Her steps receded. She always seemed so happy - like sunshine - free of everything that ailed him and stole his sleep. She was pure and him, he was .. tainted - or he felt tainted sometimes, as if his very portrait had been painted into darkness.

"Izumi," he called quietly, unsure if she could even hear him anymore, but then he could distinctly hear two feet stop. "Stay, please," he requested her.

After a quiet beat, small footsteps began approaching again. Itachi stood up from where he was squatting. She stopped some distance away, lingering uncertainly behind him.

"Do you come here often?" he softly asked.

"I sometimes come to collect shells," answered she, her voice nervous for some reason.