Separate Worlds

Katherina

Stay calm, she thought, willing her damned heart to stop pounding in her chest. She was sure that he could hear it, what with his heightened senses.

Calm?  What an absurd thought. The man could rip my heart out before I even blink, she thought to herself. How on earth had it taken her so long to place him? Her every instinct shrieked at her to flee. To run past him through the door, screaming for dear life.

Had she not known exactly what this particular man was capable of, she would've done just that. But, as it was, escape was highly improbable. She was trapped. Trapped in the middle of nowhere, in the company of some imaginary killer come-to-life, with no escape.

Still, the prospect of showing such weakness in the face of such strength did not sit well with her. After all, her sudden change of body language was what had triggered his abrupt shift in character just moments earlier. Inhaling slowly, she raised her head to meet his gaze, just a few inches away from her, intending to explain her previous actions. He stood ramrod straight, taking her in with his startling red-

Oh fuck. His SHARINGAN!

Panic resurfaced as quickly as she had forced it down. She immediately flicked her eyes away from his intense gaze, looking instead at a point just past his left shoulder.

How could I have forgotten something so vital?  She mentally berated herself. She may not be a ninja, but she had watched enough of her favorite anime to understand the dangers of looking a dojutsu user in the eyes, especially one as deadly as the man in front of her.

Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, she knew the man wasn't the ruthless psychopath he was cracked up to be. Though that did little to ease the all consuming fear she felt at the sight of him standing in her living room, a mere foot in front of her. She watched as he studied her, taking in her every move, picking up on her obvious uneasiness at the sight of him in her tiny house.

Itachi

He moved his eyes over her slightly trembling form. He watched as she averted her eyes from his piercing gaze, but refused to so much as blink, undoubtedly afraid the move would cost her dearly. He had to commend the unknown woman for that.

There was now no doubt in his mind. This person, whomever she was, knew of him. Though, he had never met her before this day, so it must be by reputation alone.

With one sweeping gaze, he noted her defensive stance, her hands knotted into tight fists, shoulders squared. One needn't be a genius to conclude this woman not only recognized him, but feared him immensely. This did not bode well.

"Do you know who I am?" he demanded softly.

She stared at him, unmoving. Her eyes darted back and forth between him and the door at his rear. For a moment, he wondered if she would abandon all sense and bolt for the exit. He sincerely hoped she did not. He was no stranger to violence, but he did not relish in hurting others. She seemed familiar with his abilities at the very least, so he liked to think whatever knowledge she possessed would discourage any escape attempts.

She had yet to speak. Honestly, she had yet to so much as let out the breath she was holding. Idly, he wondered if she had even registered that he has spoken. She was most assuredly deep in thought.

Just how far away he was from the Uchiha hideout (where he was certain he'd died) he wasn't sure. But this...place was unfamiliar in every sense of the word. The forest the unknown woman had led him through was unlike any he'd encountered, and he had traveled the world twice over. He could detect no shinobi in the area, so at least he wasn't in any immediate danger. The woman in front of him seemed to have a fairly large amount of chakra herself, though it would seem she had never used it. She was hardly a threat to him. 

Quite suddenly the petrified female unclenched her fists and forced her gaze upward until it met his, albeit reluctantly. She once again flinched slightly upon seeing his sharingan fixed dangerously on her, but didn't allow her eyes stray from his. 

"Yes, Uchiha-san," she spoke quietly. "But perhaps the story is better left unsaid."

Better left unsaid?  He fixed her with his most impressive glare, clearly conveying that he was expecting a much more elaborate answer. She wilted slightly, but offered nothing further.

"How?" He once again questioned, channeling patience he did not possess in this moment.

Katherina

She gave him long, fearful glance. How to explain to someone that shouldn't be alive, but clearly is, that they are in an alternate dimension? One practically radiating killing intent. She had no doubt he would snap her neck if she so much as burped.

She cautiously relaxed her stance and let her gaze meet his before uttering her muted response. "Yes, Uchiha-san. But perhaps the story is better left unsaid."

This must have displeased him, for his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Who are you, woman?"

She gulped.

Sighing in resignation, she contemplated just how to relay her knowledge to him, or if she should at all. She was starting to think herself crazy. If fact, she began to wonder if she was not having some vivid dream as she slept against the oak tree. To test her theory, she bit down on her tongue until she tasted blood. Wincing, she decided that she was indeed conscious.

In front of her, the man's weight shifted impatiently. It was then she realized he was still awaiting her response to his earlier question.

"There are more pressing matters at hand, such as the incident surrounding your impromptu arrival to my...world." She wasn't even sure what could've happened to land him here.

"Your world?" He repeated, obviously confused by her choice of words. "Explain."

She let out a deep, drawn out sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don't really know where to begin. I guess I should start by saying that I mean you no harm, so please don't attack me."

He watched her silently, listening. Waiting.

"I'm also very surprised you're here. In my world, your very existence is nothing more than...well, fiction."

He gave her peculiar look, clearly questioning her sanity. Head cocked to the side, he spoke softly. "...fiction?"

She bit her lip nervously, handing him the small comic book in her hand. He took it hesitantly, eyes glaring at her suspiciously before turning to inspect the picture. He instantly froze, blinking disbelievingly at the picture (of his cartoon-self) in his hand. His eyes shot back to her at once. 

"Yep," she said dryly. "For the record, are you, in fact, Uchiha Itachi?"

He gave a single nod, the poor man. As lost as she felt at the moment, she knew it was nothing compared to how he must be feeling. "So, I-everyone from my universe does not exist in this realm?" He asked with obviously difficulty.

"No disrespect, but in this world, nearly every aspect of your life is a comic book. And also a cartoon series meant for...entertainment," she explained slowly, praying he didn't think her insane and attack. 

He didn't, thankfully. Or at the very least he didn't murder her even if he did suspect she was a few sandwiches sort of a picnic. 

Seeing is believing, she thought sardonically. She turned her back to him, albeit cautiously, and walked past his discarded cloak to a small desk situated in the far corner. "Let me show you."

She took a seat in the large chair in front of her computer, entering her user password upon request. She glanced briefly at the picture in the background, a young child sitting contently between a grey-haired man and a kind looking woman with beautiful dark features. Her eyes lingered as she settled herself with the task before her.

She opened Hulu and began scrolling through her recently watched shows. Finding what she was looking for, she immediately clicked on her favorite anime series.

She turned her head, to make sure her visitor had followed, only to be met with the sight of two onyx orbs startlingly close to her face, studying her, almost as if gauging her reaction to their close proximity.

Gathering her composure, she forced her jaw shut, and let out the breath that had caught in her chest at the sight of the S-ranked nukenin inches from her face.

At least he deactivated the sharingan, she thought gratefully, standing to give him her seat. "Here, have a seat," she whispered, gesturing to her battered office chair. He stared back at her suspiciously.

"I'll stand." He stated firmly, without room for any objections. Clearly he didn't fancy the idea of her standing behind him.

If not for the circumstances, she would've rolled her eyes at his attitude. But who was she to judge him? He was taking the situation with much more finesse that she could have ever hoped to had the situation have been reversed and SHE were the one plunged into some strange land.

Nodding, she reclaimed her chair and began searching for a suitable episode. In her peripheral, she noticed Itachi leaning closer to the screen, obviously studying the animated faces on the page as she scrolled.

So he recognizes the others, too, she thought as his eyes widened slightly. She guessed that this was as close as any noble Uchiha came to expressing their alarm. Absently, she wondered what her other favorite characters would look like in this world?

Scrolling through the long list of episodes, her eyes scanned the page for a suitable starting point. As she found what she was searching for, she turned to face him. His eyes were glued to the monitor, and though outwardly he was handling the shock extremely well, she noted the telltale furrow of his brows, conveying his discomfort. Slowly, he turned to face her, eyes full of unspoken questions.

"This may be…confusing for you," she said quietly. With that, she started Naruto episode 81, Itachi's first official appearance in the anime. She fast forwarded to the appropriate time frame within the episode, leaning away to give him a better view of the screen.

She watched him intently, waiting for the look of horror, or disbelief perhaps. But it never came. He watched with such intensity as his cartoon self prepared to face off against Kurenai and Asuma, along with Hoshigaki Kisame. He watched with interest as the scene played out, seemingly recounting the experience as it was engrained in his own memory.

As the scene came to a close, he tore his eyes away from the screen abruptly, rising to his full height. Which surprisingly, was quite a bit taller than she would have imagined. According to the data book, Itachi stood at around five feet, eight inches. Which was her own height, as it so happened. He stood several inches taller than her, therefore she estimated his height to be just over six feet.

Hm, taller than I figured, she thought absently, studying him.

For the first time since she encountered him, he smirked. "Is that so?"

She looked up, aghast, feeling the familiar heat of a blush creeping onto her cheeks. Had she REALLY said that out loud? One look at his face told her that yes, yes she had.

Great, she thought, utterly humiliated. She'd only just met the man and already she had managed to make a complete and total ass of herself in front of him. She hastily averted her eyes, exiting the browser window.

Clearing her throat, she rose from her creaky chair. "I, uh...imagine you have questions for me?" She asked, still failing to meet his gaze.

"Aa," he confirmed. "Exactly how knowledgeable are you of the events currently unfolding where I am from?"

"I know some things. Why do you ask?"

"You are wary of me, though you do not seem as...frightened of me as one might expect, given my past actions," he said carefully, searching her face for any hint of apprehension.

She met his eyes then, carefully choosing her next words. She gave a wry smile, "Unfortunately, I'm very much aware of how things…ended for you."

She recalled all too clearly how her favorite character had met his bittersweet end. It had upset her, no matter the reason behind his actions. And now that he was standing in front of her, she couldn't help but think that she may very well have more questions for him than he had for her, but she would do her best to refrain from overwhelming him with any so soon after meeting him. First and foremost, he deserved to have his questions answered.

He inclined his head in understanding, eyes glazed over, obviously lost in his thoughts.

"Would you like a cup of coffee? Umm…or tea, maybe? I'll explain things as best I can…though I will admit, I have no idea how you came to be here, of all places…" she trailed off, taking a step toward her kitchen.

He gave a single nod and motioned for her to lead the way. She smiled politely and led him to her kitchen. As she flicked on the light, she sensed more than heard his nearly silent footfalls as he entered the kitchen and glanced around.

"Do you have a preference?" She called over her shoulder as she spooned coffee grinds into the filter and pressed the "brew" button on her outdated coffee maker. She shuffled over to the cabinets opposite the stove, opening one of the upper ones. "I have blueberry tea, peppermint, and jasmine. Take your pick," she said tentatively, glancing back at the man as he lowered himself to one of her mother's antique wooden chairs. Idly, she wondered if anyone had sat in that particular chair since her father last occupied it.

"Blueberry would be satisfactory." A pause. "Thank you," he finished politely.

She nodded, grabbing a blueberry teabag from the box before replacing it on the shelf. "Hmm, so tell me, how is it that you're able to communicate with me?" she asked, not bothering to hide her curiosity. She made her way to the sink, filling the tea kettle with water, placing it on the stove to heat up before turning to face him.

He watched her as she moved, meeting her gaze as she turned toward him. "I'm not sure what you mean," he answered simply, eyes following her movements as she propped her elbows up on the counter behind her. He truly missed nothing. Still wary of me, she concluded.

"What I mean is…the series I showed you originated in Japan. The characters themselves speak Japanese. I am not speaking Japanese to you, yet you can understand me and carry on a conversation with me in perfect English. Do you know why that is?"

He kept quiet for a few minutes, most likely pondering her words. As she waited, she retrieved two mugs from the cabinet, placing a bag of tea in one, a scoop of sugar in the other. As late as it was getting, it was highly unlikely that she would get a decent amount of sleep at this rate, anyhow. She grinned, already anticipating arrival of her second wind from the sugar and caffeine combo.

"I suppose I do not know why I understand you, or vice versa" he answered, calling her attention back to him. "But it is fortunate that we are able to communicate." He fixed her with his questioning gaze. "You address me traditionally, with honorifics. Are you able to understand Japanese?"

"Mhm," she answered with a grin. "I wouldn't say I'm fluent, but I do know some...what I've picked up from my time in Japan, and from watching anime. Naruto is actually my favorite show, and all you guys tend to use a lot of....repeat phrases."

"Oh?"

She laughed then. "Oh yes." She cleared her throat pointedly. "Yuruse, Sasuke. Mata kondo da," she intoned in her best Itachi voice.

At his incredulous expression, she could only continue laughing, wiping tears of mirth from her cheeks. His own lips quirked upward in amusement after some time. "Very good. Though I fail to see how that particular phrase would get you far in a foreign land," he commented sensibly. 

She nodded, sobering somewhat. "True enough. For that, I bought a book filled with commonly used Japanese phrases and their meanings until I got the hang of conversing with people. I got by easily enough, though. Pretty much everyone I encountered spoke some English, so I had it great. But I did my best to learn the language and customs out of respect during my time there," she shared. He nodded his understanding.

She paused, drinking in the sight of the Uchiha Itachi, sitting at her kitchen table, awaiting the tea she was preparing. Her eyes dropped to the floor, lest he think she was rude for staring. "It's so strange to have you here…" she commented, mostly to herself.

"Indeed."

She waited quietly, expecting him to question her on the latest happenings in his world. Maybe to even inquire about hers. But he stayed silent and still. She couldn't help but to sneak quick glances at him seated before her. He looked very out of place in her shabby little kitchen. The man was exquisite, to say the very least, with his long, raven hair, however disheveled. Now that it was pulled back into his signature low ponytail, she noticed it reached to the small of his back. Was it that long in the anime, she wondered? It was hard to tell the exact length when it was always tucked into that wretched Akatsuki cloak.

Then there was his face. His sharp, onyx eyes, framed by unnaturally thick, dark lashes. Couple that with his perfect complexion and prominent facial structure and he was…utterly breathtaking. Dirt and all.

It was not like watching him on a screen, for no pen or any amount of digital animation could duplicate the regal beauty of the man she saw in front of her. Though there was no question in her mind as she watched him watching her, this was Uchiha Itachi. Secret hero of Konohagakure. The former heir to the prestigious Uchiha Clan. His village's deepest, darkest secret. The feared killer of each and every one of his own blood relatives.

Except for one, of course.

Uchiha Sasuke. The only remaining Uchiha, or so he thought. Of course, there's still Obito masquerading as the infamous Uchiha Madara. She wondered if Itachi figured out his true identity before his death? If not, how much knowledge should she drop on him at once? Itachi was a very strong-minded individual, but there was only so much one could take. Especially when it came to his precious little brother, for whom he sacrificed everything. Including his own life.

He would clearly be disappointed to know that Sasuke had gone against his wishes and planned to attack and destroy Konoha and all its inhabitants. Especially with the knowledge that there is nothing he can do at this point to prevent it, seeing as he's dead…and somehow in her kitchen. She snickered at the thought. 

He looked up at her questioningly, eliciting yet another blush. She never had people over and her hospitality skills were sorely lacking. She could only be thankful that she didn't leave anything overly personal lying around to catch his attention.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly, suddenly very interested in the tile pattern that made up her kitchen floor. "I, uh, don't get many guests out here, as I'm sure you've already gathered. I haven't had company in quite some time. And to have you here…well, it's a bit of a shock." She paused, looking away from the floor to glance at his face. She was met with the trademark Uchiha smirk.

She froze, feeling her jaw going slack. He's just a man…just a man, like all others you've met before him, she told herself. Though she knew that to be a lie. He had said very few words to her since his unexpected arrival, yet she knew him to be…different. Different from anyone she'd ever known. He moved with a grace no other could hope to imitate. True, he was not friendly in the traditional sense, but he was indeed kind. Though he regarded her with suspicion, she was certain he meant her no harm, now that he was sure she had no ill intentions.

He watched in silence for a long moment as she began to fidget before finally speaking.

"Aa," came his simple response.

She opened her mouth to respond just as the kettle began to whistle. She turned and removed it from the heat, stopping the noise. All was quiet again.

Grabbing the freshly brewed pot of coffee, she filled the sugary mug with the fragrant, dark elixir. After filling the tea cup meant for Itachi with the hot water, she grabbed both cups and approached the table, setting one in front of him before returning to the cabinet to fetch the sugar jar and bottle of honey for his tea. She had once read somewhere that he liked sweet foods.

He accepted it graciously as she retreated back into the front of the house, grabbing his cloak and returning to hang it on the back of an empty chair to dry.

She took the seat opposite him and began to nurse her coffee gingerly, careful not to burn her tongue, watching as he too began sipping his drink.

"What should I call you?" Itachi asked after a long moment had passed in silence.

She looked up at him through her lashes, forehead creasing in mild confusion. "Hmm?"

A single eyebrow arched as he studied her face. "It would seem that you never gave me your name."

She mentally cringed at her own idiocy. Here she was, serving him tea, inviting the man to sit at her table, and yet she hadn't felt it necessary to share her name. She sat her mug down softly, hands unconsciously tugging at the ends of her hair.

"My name--oh, I'm sorry! How rude of me. I'm Katherina," she answered quietly, abashed. "Kat, for short."

"On the contrary, you've been very hospitable, Katherina-san. I merely wish to know your name so that I may thank you properly," he said in his smooth baritone voice.

She nodded. "Of course. Erm....Uchiha-san, what is the last thing you remember?"

He pondered over that for a moment, as if unsure. Setting his cup down, he met her gaze evenly.

"Dying.." He said simply. "I was there with Sasuke one moment…and then I wasn't. Everything was fading very quickly, but I still had one last thing to do, one last goal to fulfill. He needed more power to protect himself. Madara was- "

He stopped suddenly, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. "Katherina-san," he began carefully. "What has occurred since my death?"

"Where do I begin? With Sasuke, I suppose. I'll begin by saying, all of your careful planning was thwarted by that damned masked man. By the way, are you aware of his true identity?"

"He claimed to be Uchiha Madara."

"He is an Uchiha, but not Madara. Madara himself has been pulling the strings from behind the scenes for quite sometime, but he is not the masked man who helped you take out the Uchiha clan. We later find out his identity is Uchiha Obito."

If Itachi was surprised by this revelation, he certainly didn't show it. His expression remained unchanged, one of mild curiosity. She had to hand it to the man, he had impeccable self control. 

"Directly after the battle, Obito showed up. Sasuke was unconscious and you were...well, he collected you both and teleported away. I'm...not entirely sure what he did with you, but he took Sasuke to a hideout and told him the truth behind the Uchiha massacre. He really went off the deep end. It was actually very hard to watch, as a fan." She finished quietly.

He gave her a peculiar look, probably still trying to wrap his head around the fact that in this universe, the tragedy of his life was nothing more than entertainment for the people here.

"I'm sorry that you're hearing this information from someone you've never met," she told him sadly. Truly, she hated being the bearer of bad news. And thus far, she's had nothing positive to tell him about what was going on since his demise.

Wrapping his long fingers around his teacup, he looked up at her, giving her a single nod. "Continue."

Kat took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts, trying to recall anything and everything of importance since the brothers' battle.

"Konoha was invaded shortly after your battle with Sasuke. By Pein himself, along with his all paths and his partner, Konan..."

Itachi stiffened across from her, almost imperceptibly. Had she not been watching for such a reaction, she probably wouldn't have noticed. She grimaced in sympathy, knowing precisely the strides he had taken to ensure no harm befell his homeland. He was a true Konoha shinobi, right up until the bitter end. This information definitely impacted him greatly, whether or not he was willing to react as such in front of her. He of all people understood the unimaginable devastation the Akatsuki leader was capable of inflicting.

"Lives were lost," she continued somberly, recalling the Invasion of Pein arc. "Even Hatake Kakashi...which shocked everyone, really. The Hokage herself fell into a coma while working to protect the villagers. Naruto showed up eventually and somehow defeated all of Pein's bodies and went after the real one. In the end, he was able to get through to Nagato and Konan," she recalled, musing over just how charismatic the young jinchuriki was, able to get through to even the most lost of souls.

"Everyone who died that day was resurrected using his Rinne Rebirth Jutsu, though Konoha was still lying in shambles with the Hokage in critical condition. Danzo somehow managed to weasel Tsunade's position out from under her, the sneaky bastard," she spat with malice.

"Danzo? Hokage?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Could Jiraya-sama not assume the position in her absence? Surely he's a suitable enough candidate."

"Had he been alive, I'm sure he would have. However..." she trailed off, meeting his questioning gaze sadly. "He was lost before the invasion ever took place. He traveled to Amegakure in order to gather information about Akatsuki's leader. At the time, we didn't know it was two of his former students heading the organization. He put up a good fight, and he relayed all he had learnt during his last battle to Konoha via his toad summons, who got the information back to Tsunade and Naruto. He used the last of his energy to embed clues onto the back of his toad, rather than taking the opportunity to escape. Those clues were what helped Naruto unearth the secret of Pein, and contributed greatly to his victory."

"Meanwhile, Sasuke and this team of renegades joined forces with 'Madara' and were sent to capture the Hachibi jinchuriki..." she paused, letting him digest the information he had been hit with. He had visibly flinched at the mention of Sasuke and Akatsuki used in the same sentence. She knew it was the last thing he would have wanted.

"Unbeknownst to everyone at the time, they failed. Killer Bee, the Hachibi vessel, succeeded in tricking them at the last second. But after word got out that he had willing joined Akatsuki and attacked the Raikage's younger sibling, Sasuke became an internationally wanted criminal. Bee-san's older brother practically demanded his head on a stick. Naruto, of course, pleaded with all five Kage to not judge Sasuke too harshly. But in the end, Sasuke's criminal status remained unchanged."

"As the situation with Akatsuki grew more dire, the five nations decided to come together to try and eliminate the remaining members. As of right now, there are only two bijuu that have not been captured, the Hachibi and the Kyuubi. Sasuke attacked and killed Danzo at the Kage summit, nearly killing his red-haired teammate, though she was saved and taken back to Konoha for interrogation. He also fought with the other villages' Kage, costing the Raikage one of his arms."

"His old genin team has tried countless times to stop him, including Kakashi. No one is able to get through to him. He almost killed his female teammate, Sakura...twice. I've lost count of how many times he tried to kill Naruto. The truth was too much for him."

"Also, the five great nations have formed an alliance, with the Raikage as the supreme commander. Kakashi was very nearly crowned Hokage but was saved when Tsunade-sama made a last minute recovery. Hmm, what else...oh! Sorry to tell you, your partner, Kisame-san died as well. Konan-san, too," she finished quietly.

Giving him a minute to let the knowledge sink in, she took a long swig of her coffee, mulling over the night's events. It was then she realized she was still in the same sweaty, dirt covered clothes from her earlier workout and had yet to eat dinner. She stood, heading to the refrigerator.

"So," she called over her shoulder. "When did you last eat? Are you hungry?"

His eyes met hers from across the table. "I'm not certain. I usually survived on field rations and soldier pills," he informed her. "I cannot remember when I last had a meal."

Her heart sank at hearing these words, but she shook off her sympathy and outrage. She could not change how he was treated, but she could make sure he was taken care of going forward.

"Well, she began, carefully masking her emotions. "I haven't eaten since after my morning workout. That was...." she glanced at the clock on the far wall, "fifteen hours ago. And I don't even want to consider how long you've been without nourishment. We should eat, I'll make something for us both."

He nodded, "I appreciate your efforts, Katherina-san. I apologize for earlier. I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's okay," she assured him, now feeling quite ridiculous for having feared him to begin with. He had been treated like that in his own world, as a murderer, a soulless killer. She would not act the same toward him, not when he was given a second chance. "I know you aren't really the emotionless monster you've been made out to be."

"On the contrary, I am a monster," he said, his voice barely audible. "Everything that has happened to Sasuke is a result of my actions."

"You did what you had to," she stated firmly. "Everything was for Sasuke. For Konoha," she paused, walking back over to the table. "Every step you took, every breath, it was all for them."

She leaned over the table, holding his gaze. "You're the most selfless person I've ever known," she smiled. "Even if I didn't think you were real until about an hour ago."

He said nothing to that, only staring at her for a long while. Flashing a shy smile, she turned and resumed her search for food, this time in the cabinets.

After a few minutes of rummaging through the bare cabinets, she gave up, turning to face him once more with a sheepish grin.

"So uh...how do you feel about take-out...?" She asked brightly.

"...take-out?"