Log: Complete

[crimsonmangekyo.livejournal.com]

When; December 18th, Evening
Rating; G-PG
Characters; Uchiha Itachicrimsonmangekyo, Tomoe Hotarusilence_bringer, Hoshigaki Kisameomgashark
Summary; Hotaru sneaks out of her home to meet the rogue Uchiha, who has called for her aid.
Log;
Hotaru shifted slightly, opening violet eyes a bit. Those same eyes shot open wide at Archer's even gaze. She gulped and managed a strained laugh. THAT was definitely not something she was used to; waking up with someone watching her. She slid out of the bed, glancing up at the tall man nervously. "A..Archer-san. I..I'm just going to go get something for dinner. I'll be back soon, ok?" Without really waiting for his answer, she slipped out of the door, velvet shawl wrapped around her shoulders.
As she walked, she was vaguely aware of someone following her. She assumed it was Archer. It felt,/i> like him, yet when she turned her head, there was no one in sight. Shivering slightly in the snow, she headed to the ruined building that had once been a hospital. Stepping carefully over bits of rubble, she called softly for the one she was supposed to meet. "Itachi-sama?"

Kisame had been charged with searching out this girl, and making sure she came back. And Kisame wasn't one to fail. A voice called out from the darkness, as a form slowly made itself known from it. "Ah, Miss Hotaru. I see you've made your decision? Please, Itachi-san will be glad to know you're hear. Follow me."

She swallowed hard, nodding. Decision, yes. But what decision had she really made? Truthfully, she didn't really care what he wanted from her. She just wanted to comfort of someone who didn't question the choices she made, the things she believed. Someone who thought no less of her, no more of her regardless of the circumstances. Uchiha Itachi could give her that, would give her that. At least she believed he would. She wasn't stupid. The words of the other people had made an impact on her. But...could she really believe them? Afterall, they had so vehemently tried to poison her against the crimson-eyed man, who had done nothing at all. Nothing against her, nothing to turn her against anyone else. Who had been nothing but kind to her. She followed the strange shark-like man into the darkness, glancing over her shoulder one last time to see if there was anyone following.

As Kisame walked farther into the darkness, he couldnt help to wonder what kinds of gifts that this timid girl had. What kind of healing could this girl do that no one else in the city could be coerced into? They reached a back room, Kisame undid a large padlock, and held the door open for Hotaru. "Thank you, again, Hotaru-san. You have our gratitude."

She bowed slightly and stepped through the door. It was...disconcerting in a way, but the shark-man was surprisingly polite. And he hadn't made any moves to harm her. She didn't really know whether he was truly a comrade of Itachi-sama's or not, but he did wear the same black and red cloak, so either they were indeed partners or they simply shopped at the same stores.

Once Hotaru was in the room, Kisame let the door close with a heavy clang, before creating a mizu bunshin to guard said door. "Please, don't be alarmed. As you have noticed, several people here do not think as highly of Itachi-san. This guard is to make sure we aren't caught in a surprise attack. This way, please." Kisame began to walk again, before coming to a makeshift chair, very simple, upon which the Uchiha was sitting.

Itachi had heard the door shut, and felt both his partner's chakra and the strange chakra/energy signature that was the girl's. He could also feel a third signature, but it seemed to bear him no ill will. Her guardian, perhaps? He sat in the chair, strips of bandage wrapped around his face and obscuring his ruined optics. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly at the soft sound of her footsteps. "Hotaru-san. I knew you'd come."

Her violet eyes widened at the state he was in. She couldn't see his eyes, bandaged as they were, but there were numerous bruises and cuts, and he looked tired. She could tell from the tenseness in his muscles that he was in a great deal of pain. Biting her lip, she dropped to her knees in front of his chair, reaching a small hand up to gently touch the bandages over his eyes. "What...what happened?"

Kisame cringed. He'd killed several people. Hundreds even. Maimed them beyond recognition. But seeing Itachi's eyes like that sent chills down his spine. But even more... strange, for lack of a better word, was the reaction that the girl had given. Not one of shock, but of pity. And understanding. Coupled with her gentle touch of Itachi-san, and Itachi's allowing of it..this girl must be something special indeed.

Itachi allowed what could almost pass as a smile to faintly curve the corners of his lips. "One of my enemies. He blinded me. With an explosion." Slowly, he reached up and untied the bandages, letting the strips of linen slip down off of his face, exposing the charred remains of what had once been his eyes.

And again, the sight put before him was not quite something that the swordsman was accustomed to. This was, in fact, the first time that Kisame had gotten a good look at Itachi's eyes... and hopefully the last in their current condition.

She bit her lip, eyes threatening to tear up. Regardless of how evil or good the man might be, she couldn't understand how someone could do this sort of thing to someone. "Itachi...sama." Eyes narrowing in determination, she reached up again to gently ghost her fingertips over ruined flesh and scorched optics. There was no pain, the nerves had been burned away as well. "Let me fix it?"

The Uchiha simply nodded slightly. Though he didn't let it show, he was holding his breath. This had to work. If it didn't...then he had lost the gamble.

Kisame took a small step forward, unsure of the girl's actions or intentions. "Hotaru-san.. may I ask what you are preparing to do?"

She didn't look at Kisame, her attention focused instead on the man seated in front of her. The man whose eyes and face had swallowed up her mind for the last few days and refused to let go. "Heal his eyes."

"Miss, excuse my interruption. But I'm quite aware that there are no jutsu's capable of repairing that sort of damage..." Kisame took a step closer to the Uchiha and the healer. "May I ask what kind of technique's you are learned in?"

She shook her head, turning to look at him with a confused look. "Jutsu? I..I don't know what you mean. It's...not a technique..." Sensing that he was wary of her, she chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip for a moment. "Do..do you have any wounds, Shark-san? If..if it makes you feel better, I can show you..."

Kisame looked down at the girl, as she looked up thoughtfully at him."Yes, I do. I've still not fully recovered from the ambush of myself and Itachi-san." Kisame sat down slowly, lifting his robe to show a mangled ankle, twisted and torn.

She nodded, holding one hand over the torn flesh. As he watched, her hand began to glow with a soft pale light. A warm tingling suffused his ankle as the torn flesh seemed to knit back together, the bones moving into alignment, muscle reattaching and skin regrowing where it had been rent.

It was a warm feeling, as the flesh mended itself, the muscle and bone reattaching, before becoming as good as knew. "Ah... quite gifted, Hotaru-san. Forgive my doubt. Please, continue with Itachi-san."

She smiled at him slightly, then turned her attention back to the dark-haired man. Letting gentle fingertips run delicately over his eyes, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Feeling the energy well up, willing it to spread over his eyes and repair the damage.

Under her touch, the torn and burned tissue began to reknit itself, crushed lenses and scarred corneas returning to their natural state. Singed eyelids reverted to their flesh tones, their sunken appearance fading as the eyes themselves reformed their shapes behind their coverings. After a few moments, she pulled her hand away, swaying slightly.

There was a slight pause, and then healed lids slid up to reveal crimson and black, unscarred and pristine as they had been prior to his fight with Arashi. The tomoe spun once and Itachi smiled.

Kisame looked on in awe as he watched the girl's gift take effect again. It was the most amazing act of resoration he'd ever witnessed, and he'd seen quite a few things in his lifetime. Seeing his partner's tomoe spin once again, he couldn't help but smile. Revenge was going to be beautiful.

Seeing his eyes restored, Hotaru sat back on her heels, eyelids fluttering slightly. She was tired. Healing always sapped so much of her energy, nearly as much as the Saturn power did. "Can...can you see alright, Itachi...sama?"

Itachi blinked a few times, then nodded. "I can see perfectly. Words cannot express my gratitude towards you, Hotaru-san." He glanced up at Kisame and nodded. "Kisame, get her a chair. She looks tired."

Kisame obliged, pulling up a chair for the rather dazed looking girl, helping her down into it before squatting to the ground himself.

She glanced up at the blue-skinned man with a grateful sigh. "Thank you, Shark-san"

"You're quite welcome, Hotaru-san. And consider myself in your debt concerning what you've done for Itachi-san and myself." Kisame bowed a bit, before looking back to Itachi. "And what comes next, Itachi-san?"

The Sharingan-user picked up the strips of bandaging and rewrapped them around his healed eyes with a small smirk. "Now, we let our enemies think that nothing has happened. Afterall, I wouldn't want them to attack poor Hotaru-chan over it. Kisame, can you escort her back to her apartment? I believe her guardian will be getting worried, as it's getting late." Standing up, he reached out a hand and rested it softly on the top of her head for a moment before rummaging in a drawer. Pulling out a thick black cloak, he draped it around her shoulders. "Here. This will keep you warmer then that shawl."

She took the cloak, pulling it tightly around her shoulders and nodding to him. "Thank you, Itachi-sama. But..I'll be alright to leave by myself. I wouldn't want any of your enemies to see me and know where you are. If Shark-san can just show me the right way?"

Kisame shook his head. "Think nothing of it, Hotaru-san. If someone would be fool enough to attack either of us, I will defend you." Kisame started for the door, looking back to Itachi, and nodded.

She headed after him, bowing slightly to Itachi. As she followed Kisame, she tried to keep from looking around too much. If Itachi-sama had enemies, it would be better for him if she knew as little as possible about where he stayed. She glanced up at the man in front of her. He was tall, even taller then Archer, and a good deal broader and more imposing. And then, there was the fact that he was blue. And had gills. And fangs. She chewed her lip for a moment, before speaking up. "Ne, Shark-san? Are...are Itachi-sama's enemies really as bad as they seem?"

Kisame grinned to himself. This is almost easier than I had thought it would be. He nodded a bit, slowing his walk down a tad to allow himself to get in all the blows he could. "Mm. The Konoha-nin. They are notorious liars, you know. They will tell you anything to pull you to their side. Don't believe their lies, Hotaru-san. I shudder thinking what they may do to you..." And with baited breath, Kisame hoped that she would bite the line.

Her violet eyes widened and she swallowed. Now she was even more confused. She knew that there had to be both good and bad points on both sides. But...did that mean that one side was good and the other bad? Hotaru didn't know. But she DID know that Itachi-sama and the shark-man had so far been kind and cordial to her. They hadn't badgered her or gone out of their way to tell her of the evils of their enemies. In fact, they had been more concerned with helping each other. And that didn't seem all that bad. She nodded slightly. "So they're....bad people? But...they seemed as though they were worried about me..."

Kisame nodded slightly, his wide brimmed hat jingling. "I'm not sure about evil... but most certainly self-centered. And dangerous to those they dislike for whatever reason... people who are different then themselves. Like myself, or Itachi-san... and you, from what I've seen and been told. Please, be very cautious around them, Hotaru-san."

"H..hai...thank you for warning me, Shark-san. I...I'll be careful." She paused for a moment to think. She certainly couldn't discount his words. Afterall, he knew these people better then she did. But still....that one blonde boy's words had seemed to genuine.."There was a boy. A blonde-haired boy. He said that Itachi-sama hurt his friend. Is...is that true? Itachi-sama wouldn't hurt someone if they didn't attack him first, would he?"

"Ah... that would be Sasuke-san. Sasuke-san is Itachi-san's brother... and would like nothing mroe to kill Itachi-san. Itachi-san was merely defending himself."
Ahzeli: "But...why does his brother want to kill him?"

Kisame stopped at the intersection, and looked for any oncoming citizens, before continuing their journey back. "Mm. Sasuke-san... murdered his parents. And all of his family. Luckily, Itachi-san was able to escape. Sasuke-san has hunted him down to this very day, even in this city. Sasuke is a person you should most certainly stay away from."

She felt her blood run cold at his words. Murdered...his entire family? But...they had told her that Itachi-sama was the murderer... "How..how could someone do something so awful?"

"One would certainly have to be a terrible person to do such a thing, wouldn't you agree? Sasuke-kun is dangerous, Hotaru-san, and his friend's are as well."

The girl nodded. She couldn't help but feel unnerved, afterall, she had almost believed the words the others had told her. She managed a small smile. "Thank you, Shark-san. I...If it wasn't for you and Itachi-sama, I might have believed them.."

Kisame nodded once again, as they approached Hotaru's apartment. "I'm just thankful that we were able to talk to you before they got their hands on you, Hotaru-san."

She nodded, and turned to him with a smile. "Hai. Thank you, Shark-san" Bowing, she turned and headed back up to her apartment. Drained and tired, the last thing she remembered before her vision blacked out was the shaft of light from the door and the feeling of strong arms catching her. Archer-san...