Nevermore

“Why did you do that?” Itachi asked, his curiosity flittering around him like a nervous cloud. The shy girl smiled, her eyes never leaving the flower wreath that floated atop the water like a small boat. It wasn’t just her that noticed Itachi’s voice had gotten softer, kinder. He noticed too.

“Why not?” Normally, the boy would have frowned and looked away. Embarrassed and confused by her odd answers that made no sense but this time he merely stared. Never letting his eyes stray from her face, her wispy brown hair that fluttered around her head like a halo. “We’re friends, aren’t we?”

“I suppose. But friends don’t kiss.” He said smartly, closing his eyes at her naïveté.

“Sure they do.” She replied, turning her face back towards his with a glowing smile. Strange how the light reflected off the water almost seemed to make her glow, her eyes glitter. He had to force himself to look away as he felt that heat creep up back into his cheeks. “Can we stay like this forever ‘Tachi?” She asked suddenly, leaning back on the palm of her hands. He stayed silent, not even wanting to spare an answer. Of course they couldn’t. They would grow, change as people, make new friends and maybe even fall in love with someone who wasn‘t Hinamei. It was inevitable change would come. But even he could admit, in that minute, it would have been nice to say yes. Her charcoal eyes probed his face and her smile melted away until she was staring at him with nothing but a slight frown.

“You’re mother was looking for you today, earlier.” Itachi broke in, pulling his eyes away. He made to stand up but Hinamei’s small hands brought him to a halt. Her fingers were wrapped around his shirt, shamelessly. Her eyes were lowered and for a second he sat startled, she was crying.

“I’m scared.” She said quietly, feeling partially embarrassed for revealing this soft side to Itachi. Not that he hadn’t seen it before. “Itachi-chan, I don’t want to go home.” He sighed, he always had to get stuck with the crying, sniveling Hinamei. Unlike Shisui, she always tried to stay brave in front of him. “Can’t I stay with you a little longer?” A small smile tugged at his lips and he looked down at the girl who was pressed against his arm.

“You’re lucky. When she came by looking for you I went ahead and told her you left your bag at school and were coming to the festival tonight with us. You’ll be fine.” Hinamei let out a small laugh into his shirt before sitting up and wiping away a stray tear from her cheek.

“Really?” He nodded and looked away awkwardly, his shirt was wet from her tears. “Where is your family then?” He looked behind his shoulder at the bright festival lights, people laughed from above and it carried down to the lower dock where they sat.

“I just needed some time by myself.” He finally said, turning back towards the water. But that was enough for Hinamei, her hand closed around Itachi’s and she jumped up, pulling hard on his hand so he was forced up as well. At first his eyes narrowed but when he saw the smile on her face he couldn’t help but sigh in defeat. She always won.

“Come play, I wanna see Sasuke-kun!” She yelled as she pulled him behind her, he stumbled through the rocky grass until she came to a halt, the light of the streets in her delighted face. Her hand tightened around his and he looked over. She looked so happy, he couldn’t help but force back a smile. “What do you want to do first?” She asked suddenly, turning towards him with a wide cut grin. He shrugged his shoulders and looked around.

“It doesn’t matter, do what you like.” He answered. Before he could get another word out she was hauling him right along through the mass of families gathered around for the night. They spent over an hour on the games before Itachi found himself out of the money his Tou-san had given him before they split. But he didn’t mind. He could admit he was having a better time now than he was sitting by himself. Hinamei tucked under her arm a small cat that Itachi had gotten her, she held it close and refused to let it go. Itachi stumbled into his mother not too long after.

“Hinamei, imagine seeing you here!” Mikoto said happily, waving her hand around as they advanced. Hinamei grinned and ran over, unlatching her hand from Itachi’s. She stopped in front of Mikoto and gently wiggled her fingers in front of Sasuke’s face from the stroller he was in. He giggled and waved a small hand up in the air forcing a small laugh out of Hinamei.

“Where is Tou-san?” Itachi asked as he walked forward, Mikoto broke her eyes away from her youngest and smiled sadly.

“I’m sorry Itachi, he was needed for an important council meeting not too long after you left.” Hinamei felt a small relief uncoil in her chest. Fugaku didn’t hide the fact that he thought Hinamei was nothing but a joke. Much too weak to make a fitting wife for his son, but that didn’t matter. Hinamei didn’t like him much either. Itachi shrugged again and looked at his mother expectantly, she smiled down at him and started walking again. “Let’s get something to eat and then head back home. You still have school tomorrow Itachi, and you Hinamei.” The girl looked down and made a small sound that both Uchiha’s noticed. When Hinamei glanced back up and saw both staring she grinned sheepishly and mussed her hair.

“Yeah, I suppose I do.” She laugh and Itachi shot her a strange look, Mikoto only laughed lightly. As Mikoto led the way towards a good food booth, Itachi fell back in line with Hinamei. “What?” She asked innocently when Itachi shot her a curious look.

“Why are you acting so strange all of a sudden. You’re going to school tomorrow right?” The small girl sighed and slumped her shoulders, puling in the small cat closer to her chest.

“I don’t want to Ita-chan,” Itachi made a face at her newest nickname but quickly shrugged it off. He had learned by now not to even mention it. “I’m not very good at it and, I really don’t think anyone likes me.” She finished sadly, lowering her eyes fully to the ground.

“You’re not there to make friends, you’re there to learn.” He said smugly. Hinamei glanced up, wondering why Itachi thought the way he did. He opened one eye and looked at her, she was still frowning. “Don’t you want to be a kunoichi like you said you’d be?” He asked, she stopped walking and looked ahead.

“I thought I wanted to be but maybe I don’t. Can’t I be one without going to school. I mean, you and Shisui could train me!” Itachi rolled his eyes at her response and shook his head.

“No, we couldn’t. After graduation, I’ll be busy furthering my training. As will Shisui. We’re not going to be there forever you know.” The girl smiled widely and shook her locks around, pulling her face up towards the now dark blue sky.

“Sure you will, you both will Ita-chan. We’re going to get married remember? You kind of have to be there, stupid.” Itachi felt at this point it was best to let her have the last word. She wouldn’t ever shut up if he didn’t. He merely shook his head and let a small smirk fall on his lips. Thinking to himself who the stupid one really was. They walked on in silence until Mikoto came to a stop and handed them both paper bowls that held hot food. They ate at a small table until both finished and Hinamei finally realized just how tired she was.

“Itachi, will you walk Hinamei home? Sasuke is starting to fuss again.” Mikoto led her dark eyes over to the young girl and gave her a warm smile. “It was nice to see you Hinamei, I’m sure Itachi appreciated it as well. Stop by soon, alright?” The small girl nodded quickly and topped it off with a grin. They said their farewells and soon it was just Itachi and Hinamei walking together side by side again.

“Can I ask you something?” She broke through the silence, Itachi glanced over and nodded once. “Are you happy?” The question caught him off guard and for a second he just stared ahead of him as he walked. Was he truly happy? Whose to say what his kind of happiness even was, he sure didn’t know. Hinamei figured he was just falling into another one of his moods again and wouldn’t answer so quietly, she wrapped her arm around his arm and cradled herself close. Itachi walked on, never minding the girl wrapped on his arm. He glanced down and noticed a small smile playing on her lips. Not because she found something funny only because she truly believed that she herself was happy. Finally he answered.

“I think I am.” And in the dark he smiled too.

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“I’m not going Kaa-san!” Hinamei yelled through her door. She frantically pushed against the door with her shoulder as her mother pressed her forehead against the other side.

“Why not Hinamei? You wanted to go yesterday.” She said, trying to reason with the six year old girl. Instead, she got a wailing no from the other side.

“Well I don’t want to go to today! Don’t you get it!” It was a difficult task, and her mother was so close to just giving up. She didn’t see reason to fight. Ever since her husband had passed things had fallen short. Simple things became extraneous, quiet things became too loud, little things became far too much. And when it came to Hinamei…well, it just didn’t seem worth it. And at times like these it seemed like Hinamei just took advantage of the situation. The small girl slumped to the floor with her back to the door, breathing heavy like she had just ran a mile. “I don’t want to be a kunoichi anymore. I just want to be me. Hinamei. Just me, Kaa-san.” She said quietly. Whether or not her mother heard, it didn’t matter. None of it did.

“Fine, you know, you can just stay in there all day until you can grow up a little bit and tough it out. I’m not going to fight you.” She heard the steps of her mother’s bare feet strike the wooden floor. It was very unlike her mother but it was becoming constant. Everything would have been fine if Tou-san would just come back home.

The day dragged on, Hinamei managed to slip out a few times to grab some food and use the bathroom but aside from that she stayed tucked into her bed. “Tou-san would understand.” She muttered to herself as she watched from her window the sun fall lower. She was sprawled out on her bed, bored and strangely tired. Her mother hadn’t spoken to her all day. Not that she really minded, conversations with her mother always seemed to lead to nothing but trouble. Just as her thought ended her bedroom door opened slowly. She cut her eyes towards the door to see her mother standing with a plate of food in front of her. The girl grunted and turned away, looking at the wall instead.

“I bet you’re hungry.” Her mother said. Unknown to her Hinamei had just eaten over a third of a loaf of bread by herself, “I brought you some dinner.” Hinamei turned on her bed and watched her mother approach, slowly with her eyes downcast. “I’ve decided something Hinamei, I’ve had a lot of time to consider.” They met eyes and a slow smile found it’s way to her mother’s pale lips. “And I’m glad.” She set the food down in front of the confused girl and leaned forward to wrap her arms around the child. “I don’t want you to be like your father, I wouldn’t be able to live if I ever lost you too. Be a florist or something like that, alright?” The girl stared absently over her mother’s shoulder before resting her head against her arm. She missed the closeness of a parent. For months now she had lived with envy, watching Mikoto fawn over Itachi and Sasuke like they were her world. Her own mother hadn’t acted like that for some time now, but she felt it then.

“Will you be a florist with me?” She asked suddenly, pulling away and looking up hopefully into her mother’s face. With her hand she ruffled her child’s hair and bent down to deliver a quick kiss on her nose.

“You know it, now eat.” She said, sitting up straighter. Hinamei glanced down at her plate and frowned. She hated vegetables, especially the green ones. She crinkled her nose but her mother refused to watch. “You’re still in trouble though so after dinner it’s bath time and then straight to bed. We can work on our flowers tomorrow.” With one last wink she left Hinamei to her plate of vegetables and shut the door. It was a funny thing having a window conveniently placed next to a bed. She pushed open the window with a loud grunt, pausing to see if her mother would come before dumping the plate of food out the window. It fell to the ground with a loud and unappealing splat. She brought the plate back in and grinned at her own cunning, she was truly a genius.

She hurried along through bath time (one of the worst times of the day in her honest opinion) and jumped into a pair of shorts and a long sleeved top. A little down dressed for the cool evening but she didn’t mind. She said her good nights and slipped into bed. It was curious, she didn’t mind going to sleep so early. The night wasn’t entirely black yet but in less than thirty minutes it would be. Sleep tugged at her eyelids and with a wide yawn she drifted off into sweet dreams.

It had to be three hours later that a sudden sound startled her out of sleep. She sat up suddenly and rubbed at her eyes, looking around the dark room. A murmur, a laugh, she turned her head towards her window and had to clap her hands to her mouth to stifle the scream. Two figures stood outside her low window, one pointed and laughed at her as she blinked away the frightened tears. The other stood with his arms crossed looking rather bored. Hurriedly, she unlatched the window and let it swing open. “You’re too funny Hinamei, really.” Shisui said with a grin. Itachi stood behind him, looking around at the yard with no interest at all.

“What are you two doing? Why aren’t you sleeping?” Shisui puffed out his chest and pointed to himself smugly.

“Real shinobi don’t need sleep, unlike civilians such as yourself.” He wanted to continue but Itachi’s dark voice quickly cut him off.

“Shisui was bored and felt it would be a good idea to go creeping around the graveyard tonight, he wouldn’t shut up until I agreed to go with him. Now he wants you to go.” Her breath caught up in her throat and she slumped back against her bed with a rather disturbed face. Shisui leaned in onto the window sill and quirked an eyebrow.

“You’re brave right? At least that’s what you’ve been telling us for that past year. Don’t tell me you’re scared.” She opened her mouth to come to her defense until Shisui cut in again. “If you don’t want to go you really don’t have to. But I hope you know that means you can’t hang out with us anymore. We don’t like chickens Right Itachi?” He said, emphasizing the last word. Itachi’s only reply was a firm, ‘hn.’ Her eyes narrowed and she slid out of bed, crouching on the ground looking for her shoes. Once she found them and put them on she threw a jacket over her shirt and made her way to climb out the window.

“Shut up. I’m not scared, I’m just tired. You woke me up.” She stepped onto her cut grass and stuffed her hands further into her pockets, mimicking Itachi. He looked at her and merely shook his head. Mumbling something that sounded like ‘let’s get this over with.’ The three kids stood close and as Shisui went over the plan with them she couldn’t help but notice that mischievous grin fighting it’s way back to the surface.

This couldn’t be good.