Recovering Sands

The second night was the roughest he had yet. The previous day no shelter could be found, and he was forced to drape his coat over his head to keep the sun from mercilessly beating down on him. The black coat seemed to suck in the heat, causing him to sweat heavily. Even the need for warmth from his fevered body was overwhelmed by the smoldering heat of the desert day. Rest wasn’t an option either; not when he was so close to his goal. He spent the day trudging forward, the infected wound on his leg stinging with every movement.

The night held no rest as well. His coat was soaked and now chilling in the night air so he rolled it up and tucked it under his good arm. The other hung limp at his side, pulsing now and then with random excruciating bursts of pain. Itachi gritted his teeth and walked on, resisting the urge to tear his arm from his body. It almost seemed like doing such would hurt less in the long run. The tips of his fingers were starting to deaden, a subtle numbness spreading through the skin of his arm. He was so close to finding someone to take care of it...

His vision suddenly blurred and he lurched to a stop as all sense of balance fled him. Darkness started creeping into his vision when he heard the clomping of hoof against stone. Itachi knew that he would soon be unconscious and hopefully those passing by would see him and at least rouse him before moving on. Removing the forehead protector from his brow, he stuck it into the bundle he had made of his coat then tossed it behind a rocky out cropping. Those of the sand would know the meaning behind his coat; if he wanted to live, it’d be best to hide it. Seconds later the darkness claimed him, quickly enough that he didn’t feel his body hit the sand.


Settling to the floor, Itachi let Kisame report their recent mission to the others. The day had tired him and all he wanted was a warm bath then to sleep. He half listened to the others, his mind wandering over his brief encounter with his little brother. Sasuke had grown much since he last saw him. The persistence in which he attacked Itachi proved that his influence over his little brother had indeed worked. That trusting smile... those warm eyes... he’d never see them again; and he made damn sure no one else would either. Those memories were his and his alone. Anyone else who shared them was now dead; though the reason they laid deceased wasn’t over something so petty.

His body felt icy, as though the air around him sucked the warmth from his skin. The coat they all wore didn’t help relieve his chill, it seemed at the moment too thin. His head felt clouded and his stomach churned. Calmly he came to the conclusion that his recent activities had drained not only his chakra, but his immune system as well. It couldn’t be helped; their escape from Jiraiya’s cursed frog gullet was a necessity, while he knew he’d be prodded by Kisame later for torturing his brother and using further chakra. This was his fault, he’d deal with his sickness quietly.

“Ne, Itachi?” Kisame said, turning to his partner.

Having no clue what Kisame had just mentioned, Itachi silently nodded, eyes closed from weariness. Kisame could have been considered a friend, if Itachi bothered with labeling those around him. He’d ask later what he had missed while his attention had wandered. They were dismissed, the others mumbling about Jiraiya’s untimely involvement in their object of acquisition’s life. Itachi sniffled, wrinkling his nose at the wet sound. Damn sickness, stupid perverted frog hermit... Ignoring Kisame’s questioning glance, Itachi wandered from the room, removing his coat. The cold air prickled his skin, causing him to shiver. If it was actually cold or hot in the room, he couldn’t tell. He knew a fever was the reason behind his annoying coldness.

The bathing area wasn’t far; a few doors down from his room. Tossing his coat onto his bed then grabbing a towel, Itachi made his way there. Not bothering with the customary shower before the bath, Itachi sunk into the steaming hot water, sighing despite himself. He leaned his head back against the edge, nose clearing as he inhaled the steam.


Disturbed out of a sound sleep, Itachi looked down at what had just jumped into his bed. The small and shivering body of his little brother laid curled against him, face hidden against the older Uchiha’s bare chest. “Go back to your own bed, chibi,” he mumbled sleepily, closing his eyes again.

“Nuh uh... I had a bad dream...” Sasuke continued to shiver, despite the summer air. Sighing a bit, Itachi kicked the sheet a restless sleep had pushed around his shins, then pulled it up over them both, loosely hugging his little brother. “In my dream I woke up... and you weren’t here... no one was... I don’t want to be alone! I don’t like it...”

“Tch...” Itachi shifted a little touching his chin to the top of Sasuke’s head. As he tightened his arms around Sasuke, the shaking lessened then stopped altogether. “You’re not alone... Baka, why would you be scared of a dream like that? You know I wouldn’t leave you, even if you are annoying and wake me up when I have a mission early in the morning...”

“Gomen...”

“Don’t worry about it this time. If you promise to be quiet, you can stay...” He could feel his little brother grin against his chest, some how snuggling closer than before. Sleep quickly came to Itachi, a more restful sleep than he had before Sasuke wandered into his bed...

“Daydreaming?”

Itachi opened his eyes, seeing Kisame’s face hovering above his own. With a frown he pushed his partner away. “What do you want?”

“Nothing really, just checking up on you.” Kisame slid into the bath as well, swimming to the opposite side. “Aaaaah..... You didn’t miss anything, by the way.”

He stared at him blankly. “What?”

“The meeting? I doubt the others noticed how out of it you were, but since we spend more time together...” Kisame let his voice trail off, frowning as Itachi closed his eyes again. “Are you okay?”

“Don’t worry about it.” He winced a little at his choice of words, reminded of better times.

Kisame edged closer, examining Itachi’s face. “Seeing your old home town bring back some bad memories?” His partner ignored him and Kisame pressed on. “Or was it seeing Sasuke...” There, a small twitch at his brother’s name. It was the same way in Konoha, when Kakashi mentioned his name.

“Leave it be Kisame...”

“Fine, fine... I was just worried you might have some regrets after what you did to him.”

Itachi opened his eyes, face devoid of emotion. “I don’t have regrets for anything I’ve ever done in my life.” To regret was to doubt himself; no matter what, he wouldn’t regret the actions that had propelled him into his current life. Regretting wouldn’t bring him or the people he slaughtered any peace; they and he felt nothing anymore.

“Feh, keep saying that and it might come true.” Kisame sunk lower into the water, everything below his chin underwater. “I know you better than you think.”

“You probably do... you’re more observant than you should be.”

“I’ve had to be, you’re not the easiest person to talk to.”

“Hn.” Itachi smiled a little at that.

“Ha, see! Quit being such a hard ass around me. You can trust me Itachi, anything you say stays between us.”

Itachi slid forward then stood, bracing himself on the edge of the tub. “I am who I am, though...” He glanced over his shoulder, “I’m more of myself around you than anyone.” Turning back he got out of the tub, reaching for the towel. “If that’s not good enough for you, then it’s your problem, not mine.” A sudden numbing wave came over him, accompanied by such a bought of light headed-ness that a white flare filled his vision.

“Shit,” Kisame mumbled as he jumped from the tub, steadying his friend. “I knew it! You’re coming down with something.” He lifted Itachi’s arm and threw it over his shoulders, letting his friend lean against him. “Bah... let me guess, you were going to see the medical nin after your bath?”

Itachi straightened, most of his vision returning. “Hai...”

“Figured... you’re stubborn, but not stupid.” Itachi wouldn’t have let his health decline in a bravo excuse of fighting it off himself; he was calculating, and being sick put a damper on their organization’s freedom of movement. If he was needed for a mission, and he wasn’t in top shape, then he might put them all at risk of exposure. “Can you walk?” Itachi nodded. “Then get your ass into bed, I’ll get the med nin.”

Sliding away from Kisame, Itachi left the room. The comfort brought on by the warm water was fleeing him quickly; all he wanted was to crawl into bed and be warm once again. Kisame must have been worried about his ability to travel the few doors to his bed, he followed behind him mutely. Ignoring the slight act of kindness, Itachi entered his room, dropping the towel immediately and opening a near by dresser drawer to pull on some warmer pants. As soon as he had pulled them up he stumbled toward bed, pulling back the sheets. After he laid down, Kisame quickly threw the sheets over him.

“I’ll be right back.” Kisame touched his shoulder briefly, the comforting gesture almost lost on the half asleep Uchiha. He hated having to depend on other people, he hated having to let someone else take care of him. Being sick was rare for him in his close to adult age, and he was thankful for the blessing.

“Do you know who he could be?” A wizened voice murmured.

“No... but he looks like a ninja doesn’t he?” An equally older sounding voice replied, this one more feminine than the other. “We should alert the Kazakage, maybe he’ll recognize him.”

Itachi stirred, then found he could barely move. The thought was unwelcome to him and he tested his bonds. Thick sheets were tucked under him, nothing he couldn’t easily move from. Usually... but now his strength fled him, the mere effort he had used to check how easily he could escape took a heavy toll on him. Cracking open one eye he found that he was clean; no more gritty sand on his face, nor hiding in the creases. Obviously the older man and woman that had found him had kindly tended to him, he felt bandages wrapped over his wounds.

“Oi, I think he’s waking up.” The older man said, followed by the swish of fabric that grew closer.

“Are you alright, boy?” The older woman said, laying a cool and smooth hand on his forehead. “Your fever has lessened some... what on earth happened to you?” Itachi grunted, shaking his head a little.

“Where... am... I?” He was annoyed at how hard the words came to him, as if that part of his brain had ceased to function.

“You’re safe with us for now, until we can get you back to the village. Then we’ll get a proper healer for you.”

“Tch, don’t belittle yourself Kanata. You did an excellent job taking care of him.” The older man chided the older woman.

“Just to make sure...” Itachi opened his eyes, vision swimming in front of him. He could make out her tanned face and white hair, kind smile gracing her lips, wrinkles on her face creasing from the smile. “It’s a good thing we happened across you, boy.”

“Boy...” The older man with similar features pointed to Itachi. “He’s no boy, he’s man. Quit calling him that.”

“Well he’s a boy compared to us, Yoji.” She sniffed then winked at her patient. “Crazy old fart.”

“Stupid old hag!” He threw back a heavy curtain and hopped outside. Itachi heard him click his tongue a few times then the cart he apparently was in jerked forward. It was a decent sized room, walls of the tent a sturdy weather resistant fabric.

“Please excuse my husband, traveling doesn’t sit well with him.” She smiled and moved out of his line of vision. He turned his head, eyes focusing and un-focusing uncontrollably. Itachi blinked a few times, trying to control his usually dependable eyes. “I know you must be cold, but I don’t want you frying in here.” She pulled on a rope which lifted a flap, sandy road visible as well as the head of an animal. It brayed and struggled to keep up with the cart. Leaning forward she reached out to pull open the other flap, a sudden cool breeze sweeping through the room. “We’ll be within the village in a couple of hours. Rest and get better.” She patted his blanket smothered body then hopped from the cart as well, calling softly to the animals that would now and then peek into the cart.

His discomfort kept him from sleeping, body aching and aflame in the areas he had gashes and chilled every where else. His head throbbed in time with each heartbeat, which thankfully beat slowly. The fever induced dream he had tugged at his mind and he forcefully shoved the memory away, not wanting to think of his brother just yet. “I’m sorry Kisame,” he mumbled to himself, “I can’t go back.” He knew his friend would worry, but it couldn’t be helped. Hopefully the observant ex-mist ninja would know enough about him to not come looking. He doubted the others wouldn’t, but he could hide his presence easily from them. If he didn’t want to be found, no one would be able to.... Just as soon as his damn injuries would heal. Sleep finally claimed him after that bitter thought, face paled severely.

Kanata peeked her head in, smiling. “He’s finally asleep.”

“Good... I wonder if that boy knows just how lucky he is.”

“Aye, if we hadn’t have found him when we did... he probably would have died. I hope I did a good enough job in tending to him. He still might loose his arm, possibly his leg...”