F O U R

The clearing is beautiful in the day, and absolutely ethereal at night. The sound of crickets chirping is real and grounding, but with the sights of fireflies dancing around their heads like halos and him sitting next to her, it's hard to believe that this isn't a dream. Hisano's knees are tucked under her chin, Itachi sitting cross legged with shoulders brushing against hers. Tonight, he came as simply Itachi. Not Uchiha Itachi, not the prodigy, not the heir of the clan. Just Itachi.

"Remember the first time we met?"

She turn to face him, surprised. Usually she's the openly sentimental one, not him. "A little. It's been a long time."

"You were taller than me back then."

Hisano doesn't ask what brings on this nostalgia and simply allows Itachi to continue his train of thought.

"You remember?" He presses.

"Of course I remember, stupid face. We met at my cake store. Like, when I was seven, maybe?"

"Yeah and you were so curious you ran towards me and tripped over your own feet."

"I don't remember that part," she rolls her eyes in embarrassment. "Never happened. Nuh-uh."

The fireflies perform an entrancing dance. Itachi turns his dark, dark eyes onto her as she picks at some grass absentmindedly and asks, "what brought this on?"

"...Nothing," he replies. "Just tired."

"Oh," she startles, "but don't you have that Uchiha meeting tonight? That might be extra tiring as well."

"I'm not going."

"Eh? Why? But-"

"I'm not pleased with my clan right now, that's all."

"Oh." She looks at him quietly. "You do seem to be getting stressed. Are you okay?"

He gives a stiff nod, shrivelling back into his usual guarded walls. Hisano sighs and changes the subject yet again. It feels like nowadays she must tread carefully around Itachi. Not that she is irritated, moreso that she is becoming increasingly worried for him. It's not like such an independent and mature warrior to struggle with the usual responsibilities.

"My mum wants me to pack and deliver stuff for the shop tomorrow. Can you come? There's so much walking and I want to hitch a ride off a super speedy ninja man."

"Sorry. I'm busy tomorrow." Uncharacteristically, Itachi leans forward and leaves a gentle kiss on her hair. She stiffens up completely, then tries to play it off cool.

"Right, yeah, that's cool, you know," she clears her throat and finally manages to regain her dignity with a pout and a small chuckle from him. "Who could possibly be more important that your dear Hisa-chan?"

A soft smile. "You, Sasuke, Shisui and Izumi are all important to me."

"Izumi?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"...An Uchiha my family knows."

.•° ✿ °•.

Itachi is busy today, so Shisui, who recently returned from a mission, offers to keep her company. Hisano greedily takes the offer, wanting to get to know Itachi's best friend.

Shisui seems to be a reliable brother figure with kind eyes and a sunny smile. She notices that in all their conversations, Shisui is respectful and never belittles her despite their obvious gap in both status and age. Puffing out her chest a little, she tries to act more adult-y, much to his gentle amusement.

Hisano's mother tells the two to deliver a few orders directly to the customer's houses, handing her several slips of paper with messy directions scribbled on them.

"Four passionfruit and lemon cakes, fifty cherry tarts with meringue special topping, package deal for dango and two mochi packages for the Akimichi clan, West wing of their compound," she reads the first slip of paper. "Woo, that's alot of food."

"I'm not surprised," Shisui chuckles as they begin taking the specified food out of the fridges in the back. "Their clan is known for eating alot. It's to do with their way of fighting."

"Ooh, really? That's pretty interesting. Do Uchiha have to eat special stuff too?"

"Nope. But I'm not opposed to having these delicious desserts in my stomach though." He glances at the increasing pile of prettily packaged boxes. Each contain a meticulously decorated dessert on a porcelain plate. "And how will you deliver all of these?"

"A wagon, probably," she says. "This is only the first delivery of the day, too. Although I suppose the other orders won't be as big."

"Alright, direct me to the wagon, boss!" He salutes her and chuckles as she saunters over with a cocky attitude coming from a barely-teen.

They chatter amiably as they load the wagon and set off to the Akimichi compound. It's no surprise that the subject of their conversation would turn to a certain Uchiha sooner or later.

"How did you meet him?" Asks Shisui as he pulls the wagon. The two wheels trundle as he easily navigated through the cobbled streets of the suburbs with strength that only a trained nin could possibly have. Even in the small things in life, Hisano can see his dignity and prowess. It's no wonder Itachi is associated with the likes of him; only the best for the best.

She snorts as she boosts her own ego. "We were just talking about this yesterday, actually. We met at my family's store!"

"Did you?" He laughs. Hisano wonders if he is considered an oddball in his clan, to be able to freely express himself. "Itachi has always had a sweet tooth, it would seem."

"Rivaled by no other," she giggles. "Oh, we're here."

They manage to unload the Akimichi's order at the designated location with little difficulty as Shisui easily uses chakra enhanced strength and flexibility. Collecting the tips and waving goodbye, the two set off back towards the bakery.

"Chakra is so cool," Hisano coos.

"I haven't seen Ita-chan in a while, actually," he muses. "You said you saw him yesterday?"

"Yes, but only for a moment. He's been telling me that he has a lot going on."

CAMELLIA, LOTUS ROOTS AND ROSEHIP.

"Smells nice," Shisui comments as they pass by a flower shop. "Sorry. You were saying?"

"Itachi seems really busy nowadays. He's told me that he's unhappy with the Uchiha," she says quietly. Shisui's expression doesn't change, but she can tell that he's rather surprised that Itachi would confide to her about such a sensitive topic. She was, too.

"Mhm," he merely agrees. "There's just been a few family arguments, that's all."

"Oh." When he doesn't say anymore, she drops the subject despite her pressing curiosities. For a long while, the only sound are the two wheels trundling along cobbled roads and the odd voice from a house here and there. Hisano quietly wonders if she said a little too much. Did she get Itachi in trouble by accident?

"It still smells like flowers," Shisui finally breaks the silence.

"Really?" She looks around. "Maybe you got pollen stuck up your nose."

"Or it's just a booger."

"Pfft." She relaxes as the tenseness eases.

"Did you want to ask me something?"

"Am I that obvious?" She chuckles sheepishly. Indeed, a question has been lingering for a while, and she's afraid to know the answer. Although, she supposes, perhaps asking Shisui can lessen the pain. Maybe.

"Do you know Uchiha Izumi?"

"Not personally. Isn't she Itachi's current interest, though?"

"What?"

"They've been on a few dates, I think. Why, hasn't he told you about it?"

Her ears are ringing. A high pitched noise, unfocused vision. Hisano doesn't realise that she's been choking until Shisui roughly smacks her back with a worried look on his face.

"Damn, you okay?" Shisui hurriedly rummages through his bag and pulls out a flask. "Drink some water."

"Yeah," she manages to say between coughs. "Think I choked on saliva."

Her eyes widen when she feels something rising up from her throat. She leans over the side, praying that she doesn't vomit. That would be embarrassing. She coughs and coughs, feeling things come out.

When her trembling fingers leave her face, she grits her teeth as the horror of it settles in.

In her saliva-coated palms lie three red camellia petals and a single leaf, crinkled and crushed from their scratchy journey up her throat.

-

sorry, I will edit this i promise it's kinda bad oops