Separate Worlds

Katherina

Before running upstairs to shower, she retrieved two fluffy black towels from the linen closet down the hall. She handed one to Itachi and guided him into the guest bathroom. He took it, gratefully.

"So, I'm pretty sure you want to bathe after..."

...dying.

"...waking up in a field," she finished hastily as they reached the bathroom door. "Sorry, I don't have any body wash that isn't floral scented. But you're welcome to use anything in there." He nodded in thanks, walking past her into the tiny bathroom.

She unknowingly paused just outside the door as he entered, leaning against the door frame awkwardly, a bit in awe that this was really happening. He was real. And not only that, he was about to get naked in her bathroom. Her eyes widened comically at the thought. Finally, he turned around and fixed her with a half amused, half expectant look. She jerked upright, clearing her throat sheepishly and praying he didn't know what she was just thinking. Without a single word, she turned and hauled ass up the staircase.

Walking into her own bedroom, she stopped to grab her phone off the nightstand before beginning her own much-needed shower. Disregarding the massive number of missed calls, she walked into her attached bathroom, scrolling through her contacts in search of her favorite Chinese restaurant.

As per usual, a familiar upbeat voice greeted her on the other end. She smiled fondly, "Hey, Kimiko. It's Kat." Kimiko, a student at the university, almost always worked the graveyard shift at the restaurant in town and just so happened to be Kat's favorite employee. Despite working in a Chinese themed restaurant, Kimiko was actually Japanese, ironically enough. The two women had bonded quickly over their love of the beautiful country, as Kimiko had spent every summer with her maternal grandparents in Osaka since she was five years old. Kat had visited the restaurant so often that the two were on a first name basis. Sadly, Kimiko was probably the closest thing Kat had to an actual friend these days. Well, her and the little old man who bagged her groceries every week, who also knew her by name at this point. How pathetic, she thought sourly.

"Kat! Haven't heard from you in a while! Been procrastinating on your grocery shopping, again?" She asked with a laugh.

Kat chuckled back. "You know I always put off shopping until my kitchen is totally bare."

Kimiko sighed disapprovingly. "I'm not surprised. Shall I put you down for the usual?" She asked, absently. Kat knew she was probably already ringing up the order since they both knew she only ever ordered one thing.

"Actually, could you make it two orders this time?" She could hear the other girl's movements halt suddenly at her words. Geez, was it THAT surprising that she had a friend over? She almost laughed at the thought of Uchiha Itachi referring to her as his "friend".

"A second order?" Kimiko probed, interest clearly piqued.

"Yes, actually I have a, erm....old friend who's visiting from out of town. Haven't seen him in ages, so I thought I'd offer to let him stay with me and save on a hotel," she lied, hoping Kimiko didn't ask too many questions.

"Well, good for you. I'm glad to hear it," she said after a pause. "Some company will do you good. It'll be $15.65 and it'll be ready whenever you get here!"

"Thanks, Kimi. See ya in a few," she replied, ending the call. She still was in no mood to check her voicemail or text log, choosing instead to climb into the shower.

She wondered if she should invite Itachi to come with her into town? How hysterical it would be to see Kimiko's face upon realizing this Adonis of a man was the "old friend" visiting from out of town. Smirking, she pushed the idea aside. She was almost certain he would decline the invitation. He must be exhausted what with his recent...rebirth, and all. Massaging the shampoo into her scalp, she was once again taken by the strangeness of the situation. She replayed each scenario in her head until she ran out of ideas. 

There was simply no rational explanation for a supposedly imaginary character to appear in her world. In fact, thinking about it only worsened the confusion she felt over the whole thing. Focusing on finishing up her shower and retrieving food, she rinsed the remaining conditioner from her hair and stepped out onto the mat, wrapping one towel around her midsection and another around her now dripping dark curls.

She padded barefoot out of the steamy bathroom into the bedroom and began rummaging through her drawers for clothing just presentable enough to be seen wearing in public. She settled on a pair of black yoga pants and a loose fitting grey tank top.

As she dressed, it occurred to her that maybe she should offer her visitor a clean change of clothes. Not that she had anything that could pass as a male's wardrobe, but surely she had some oversized sweats and a tee shirt? Sighing, she turned back to rifle through her chest of drawers once more, digging out a pair of sweats that were so long she was practically stepping on the hems and a t-shirt that could pass as a nightgown on her.

Oh, well. Not the swankiest PJ's out there, she thought with an eye roll. But this would have to do until she was able to acquire a new set of clothing for him.

Rubbing the remaining water out of her hair, she quickly folded her towels and hung them on the rack to dry and headed down the stairs, extra clothes in-tow. As she descended the staircase, she noticed Itachi was already standing in the center of her living room looking up at her expectantly.

She approached him with the bundle in her arms, noticing that he was still fully dressed, though his damp hair and floral scent told her he had indeed showered. She smirked at the realization. Uchiha Itachi-- wanted S-class criminal, ruthless murderer of countless souls--smelled like her girly shampoo. As if to rub it in, she took a long, exaggerated breath in through her nose, quirking a brow.

"Mmm, is that sweet pea?" She teased.

He gave her a bemused look. "Water lilies, actually. Superb choice, Katherina-san," he said, gracing her with that sardonic smirk of his.

She flashed him an apologetic smile and handed him the sweats in her arms. "Sorry, I don't have anything more appropriate," she said softly. "All of my dad's stuff I actually got rid of a long time ago."

He stared at her for a moment, his brows knitting together softly. He may have been waiting for her to elaborate, but she had no intention of delving into her complicated past when he surely had his own problems plaguing him. Slowly, he reached out and accepted the offered change of clothes with an almost inaudible thanks.

She nodded, looking away. "Well, I'm off to pick up the food. Um, do you wanna come with me...?"

He shook is head once, meeting her eyes once again. "I'll stay. Thank you. You've been most kind."

She smiled warmly, "Of course. You can stay as long as you wish. Just let me know if you need anything," she called, taking a step toward the door, slipping on her sandals and grabbing her keys off the table. "I'll be back in 20 minutes. Make yourself at home," she called, stepping out the door. Before shutting it behind her, she was met with the image of Itachi dripping in her hallway, dark eyes watching her with an indecipherable expression. 

Katherina

After what felt like only a few hours, Kat awoke to the morning sunlight filtering in through her sheer curtains. Upon glancing at the clock on her mom's old nightstand, she realized it was well past the time she usually rose. Groaning lightly, she sat upright, her limbs still stiff from sleep. Today was to be a busy day indeed.

The events of the night before seemed like a distant dream. In fact, she had half a mind to run down the hall and see if there was indeed a dark haired shinobi occupying her old bedroom. She smirked, picturing the Uchiha prodigy sleeping snugly in her lilac colored sheets, the same ones she'd had since she was thirteen.

Once again skimming over the texts from her very insistent ex, she logged in to check the balance of her bank account via the mobile app. Pleased that her latest paycheck had hit from her weekly column in the local newspaper, she rose to start her day.

Sliding out of her pajamas, she changed into some loose fitting joggers and a long-sleeved dry-fit top. Pulling, her long, loose curls into a tight bun, she padded down the hallway quietly, mindful of her sleeping houseguest just a few feet away.

She walked down the stairs toward her kitchen, fully intending to start a fresh pot of coffee when she froze halfway through the living room. She could smell coffee already. Surely the aroma from the previous night's brew could not still be so strong. Curious, she trekked the rest of the way across her living room and into the kitchen, almost tripping over what she saw.

There, sitting in her father's chair, once again, was Itachi, casually sipping plain black coffee from her mother's favorite coffee mug. She openly gaped at the sight. Never in her existence had she ever seen anything as amusing, shocking, and downright beautiful as the scene laid out before her.

He looked up to meet her bewildered, and somewhat dazzled gaze. His brows rose ever so slightly--at her humorous expression, no doubt. Regaining her composure, she walked past him, breaking eye contact. She paused to grab a clean mug from the cabinet, pouring the hot liquid into it and taking a seat in the chair across from him.

He spoke first, bidding her good morning with a ghost of a smile. She met his smile with one of her own, infinitely less subtle, of course. "Good morning. I was trying not to wake you. I figured you were still sleeping," she explained, taking a grateful swig of her coffee.

"I find it hard to sleep more than four hours at a time," he said, nodding out the window, at the growing sunlight, she assumed.

She nodded in understanding. "Force of habit, I suppose?"

"Yes."

"Thanks for the coffee. You've saved me the trouble of brewing it myself. I had you pegged as more of a tea person," she said, nodding toward his half-empty cup, taking another long swig of her own.

"Coffee is also satisfactory."

"Amen," she said in wholehearted agreement, walking to the sink and placing her empty mug inside. "How are you feeling? Last night, I wasn't able to find any injuries, but when I found you, your clothes were bloody..." she started, leaning against the counter.

"The pain felt much like the injuries I acquired in my final battle. Though, as you stated, there are no physical wounds," he said, placing a hand to his chest to emphasize his words.

"It's peculiar. Almost as if you were...reborn into this dimension after your death in your own world. Like-like reincarnation? But you've kept the memories you made in your world. Your personality. Your physical body, even. I cant make any sense of it. You weren't reincarnated, its like...like you fell out of the sky. Literally," she added, dryly. "But why here...?" she mused.

"That's a very good question, Katherina-san," he said quietly. Did he ever raise his voice, she wondered? It didn't seem so. "We may never know. And there is nothing that either of us can do about it now apart from waiting for things to revealed to us," he finished with a small shrug.

Her eyes widened slightly at his attitude. Of course she was nearly beside herself with elation that she was in the presence of a ninja. And not just ANY ninja. This man was one of the elite. There were so many things she wanted to ask him, to learn from him even-should he allow her to.

But she imagined that he must be beside himself with worry for his home village, for Sasuke. Grief for the life he lost so young. Though she knew he was a shinobi, and the life expectancy for a one of his caliber was considered about one-third of a normal human's lifespan. But it continued to eat at her. The fact that had he chosen to live differently, to make just one less sacrifice for others, he could still be alive.

Her blood ran cold at her next thought.

What of the mysterious illness he had contracted in his own time? The one that had ultimately killed him?

Looking at him, now that he was clean and fed, he seemed to be the epitome of health. His color has improved after she'd gotten him out of the cold night air. His dark circles had all but disappeared after a good night's sleep and food. Though, she was not a doctor and had no idea how to check for symptoms. Short of him having a spastic coughing fit right there at her kitchen table, she wasn't sure there was anything the man could do that would convince her that he had even had a mild case of the sniffles. He seemed infallible.

She watched him, studying the steady rise and fall of his shoulders as he drew and released each breath. He seemed well enough. Though she knew he had successfully hidden the illness from practically everyone. Not even his partner, who accompanied him nearly everywhere he traveled for years, had any clue he had been sick.

She flashed a small smile before speaking. "You're right. If there is anything I can do to help you, please tell me," she said seriously.

Looking away before she made a fool of herself in front of him yet again, she pushed off the counter and headed toward the door, slipping on her bright red running shoes on the porch and grabbing her stopwatch from the hook she had nailed to the wall. The mid-morning sun kissed her skin as she walked toward her old oak tree and began stretching her limbs against it.

Another nice day for running, she thought with a satisfied smile, tossing her stopwatch into the grass a few feet away. As if to emphasize her thoughts, a crisp breeze blew past her as she shifted positions to touch her toes.

As she stretched her muscles, her eyes strayed back to the porch. To her immense surprise, there sat Itachi on the porch steps, looking extremely out of place and dare she say it--watching her? She looked away, immediately embarrassed. Was he going to observe her while she ran, as well? She hoped not, for she would surely trip and eat dirt if she had him staring at her back the whole time. She took in a deep breath through her nose and held it, trying her best to seem unaffected. She had never liked to be watched while running or playing sports.

Chancing a quick look in the direction of the house a second time, expecting to be met with the sight of him there, sitting silently on the steps like before, she was startled to find the spot vacant. Relaxing, she assumed maybe he had returned back into the house. Switching legs, she leaned in the opposite direction, closing her eyes as she bent to touch the ground. She held the stretch for a while, enjoying the resistance against her hamstrings.

Upon opening her eyes, she was met with the sight of a large foot. Jumping back a few feet, her eyes shot up to the owner of the appendage, staring into his calm, dark eyes. Breathing heavily, she placed one hand over her now racing heart, and one on her hip.

"When did you...?" she questioned breathlessly. "God, you scare me!" She flushed with the embarrassment of being so obviously caught off guard.

He smiled wryly at her antics. "I apologize, it was not my intention to frighten you," he said innocently, sinking into a sitting position against the tree.

She glared at the ground, already continuing her stretches, grumbling something under her breath sounding suspiciously along the lines of "the hell he didn't...," earning a small sound of amusement from the man beside her. Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, past the flustered anger she was feeling, it occurred to her that in all of the anime episodes she had seen, never had she heard him make such a sound. Perhaps it was because he had no reputation to uphold around her, or in this world in general. No one here, except her, knew who he was or the things he'd done. He could be anyone he wanted to be here. He could have a life that was his own. Or perhaps he saw it as a wasted effort to keep up the charade around her, seeing as she already knew the truth about him.

"What exactly are you preparing for?" He asked her, still looking slightly amused. And why wouldn't he? She could sprint her little heart out and next to this man, with his enormous chakra, she would be put to shame. Like a tortoise racing a hare. She nearly groaned at the metaphor. It was pathetic, really. How she wished she could use chakra. Damn shinobi, she thought with a shake of her head.

"I'm stretching before I run so that I don't pull anything, Uchiha-san," she informed him as she sat on the ground, continuing to stretch. "And I'm not preparing for anything in particular, I just like to run. Mostly distance. Sometimes I like to see how much I can improve my times." She paused, looking over at him. "Hey, this may sound strange, but since you're able to activate your sharingan in this realm, that must mean you have access to your chakra here?"

He nodded once, eyes bleeding red as his sharingan activated in front of her for the second time. Her breath hitched in her throat, eyes shifting to her lap instinctively. As she finished her last stretch, she rose to her feet, tentatively looking down to meet his gaze.

Onyx.

She exhaled with relief. She wasn't sure why she was on edge, because clearly the man had no intentions of harming her, or he could've done so a thousand times over by now. But she knew enough about those eyes and their capabilities to harbor a healthy dose of fear and respect for the visual prowess. And the wielder.

He regarded her quietly, watching her movements once again, it seemed. She knew he hadn't missed her fearful reaction to his gaze.

"I'm sorry, I don't know why I keep doing that. I'm really not afraid you'll hurt me. This is all just very new to me. You see, in this world, there is no such thing as chakra. Well, most people don't think so, anyway. And even if there is, we still are unaware how to use it. So this situation is very-you're very...fascinating to me," she said, meeting his gaze once again.

He watched her for a moment without moving. He held her gaze with such intensity she had to fight the urge to fidget and look away. Is he this intense around everyone, or is he messingwith me? Just when she thought he was going to ignore her statement, he spoke.

"I will not harm you. Please remain still," he instructed.

For what?  She thought, a confused frown tugging at her brows. Before she could ask him to elaborate, however, she felt a shift in the air. Her eyes shot to his in confusion.

Crimson. 

He stood there, unmoving, in front of her. He seemed to be looking straight through her. But for what?

She decided to wait it out and let him tell her what he saw, or what he was looking for, rather. Finally, after several tense seconds of prolonged silence, he deactivated his sharingan. Kat was met once again with the unfathomable black of his orbs. She tilted her head to the side, silently questioning his actions.

He watched her for a moment longer. "You do indeed possess chakra, Katherina-san," he told her calmly.

Her eyes widened. Chakra? No way.

He seemed to notice the disbelief in her expression. "Quite a large amount for your size, as well," he added, sounding mildly surprised. "You were truly unaware of it?"

She struggled to find words to convey her shock. Her disbelief. Her ELATION! She had CHAKRA?! Did that mean she could tap into that unseen power? Was it possible for someone her age to learn how? Most shinobi were taught from a young age how to do these things, and usually had parents or a sensei to observe as an example. Or could she be like Rock Lee? So much willpower, so much stamina, but no ability to perform ninjutsu.

Feeling hope swell in her chest at the news, she forced it back down. No need to get her hopes up just to be told it was indeed impossible for someone like her, with no shinobi background. She looked up at him seriously, "No. I had no idea. But where you come from, even non-shinobi have chakra signatures. All living things possess it, but not everyone is able to mold chakra," she said with a shrug. "I probably fit into that category," she muttered dejectedly, more to herself than to Itachi.

She felt his eyes on her as she took her stopwatch in her hand, adjusting the settings. She bent to touch her toes one last time before lurching forward into a brisk run.

She tried not to think of the man standing underneath her finish line. She chose to pretend she was alone in the middle of nowhere, once again. That she hadn't just been told she had an impressive chakra container, lest she completely mess up all her hard-earned progress while thinking of it all. She turned it all off and just ran.

Katherina

Twenty minutes later found her resting in the shade of the old oak tree, gingerly sipping from her water bottle and stretching her muscles. She glanced down at her stopwatch once again, reveling in the fact that she had shaved another forty-seconds off her run time. She leaned back against the trunk of the tree, closing her eyes blissfully. She may not know how to tap into her chakra recesses, but how many people could run three miles in seventeen minutes? Not that many, she thought with pride. She chose to stop obsessing over chakra and just feel good about herself for the time being. She deserved it, damnit.

Feeling the telltale pinprick of awareness, she opened her eyes, knowing she was no longer alone underneath the tree. Sure enough, she saw a dark figure in the corner of her eye, also leaning against the tree.

"You're back," she said, stating the obvious.

His head tilted slightly in her direction. "Quite a run," he said. She turned her head to fully face him, unsure whether or not he was giving a backhanded compliment or teasing her. Of course, seeing him changed nothing. His expression, as always, was inscrutable. She laughed quietly, staring up into the canopy of leaves above her.

"Something funny?"

She considered his question for a moment. "It's just, I can't ever tell when you're being serious and when you're teasing," she said, waving a hand in dismissal. "You're a very difficult person to perceive, Uchiha-san."

"Hn."

She grinned, watching him as he stood and began making his way toward the house. He paused as he reached the steps, tilting his head slightly in her direction, though not facing her completely.

"It was impressive, Katherina-san," he said just loud enough for her to make out his words, before disappearing through the door.

Her grin faded, replaced by a look of surprise. He was serious. His tone had left no room for doubts in the matter. Swallowing thickly, she rose and began to follow him inside. She found him standing by her mother's favorite armchair, quietly folding his cloak. She paused in the doorway, unsure what to say, but wishing to break the silence.

"Do you want to come with me into town in a bit? I need to restock on food and cleaning supplies. I thought maybe you'd like to get out of this house for a while? I bet you're feeling a bit stir crazy," she said, smiling awkwardly. "This place is situated without much of anything for about 10 miles in either direction," she added. "It's nice at times, but it gets quiet. I'm sure you understand," she finished quietly, looking away.

"I would like that."

She nodded in understanding, heading for the stairs. "Give me twenty minutes," she called over her shoulder, hurrying up the stairs. She entered her bedroom, closing the door behind her. It felt a bit stuffy inside after her run just a few minutes earlier. After selecting clothing appropriate for the current weather, light wash jeans and a white Yosemite sweatshirt, she shuffled over to the window, opening it to allow the room time to cool as she showered. 

She walked into her bathroom, turning on the shower. She adjusted the knobs to the preferred temperature, allowing the water time to warm up as she peeled off her sweaty clothing, chucking it into the hamper in the corner of the room. She brushed her teeth in the meantime, inspecting her appearance in the mirror.

Her skin was flushed from her earlier exercise, hair still sticking to her face. What a mess, she thought.

Kat had never been one to care much about her appearance, though she didn't like to think of herself as being ugly. If she had to judge, she'd probably consider herself average looking. Not breathtaking, but not hideous. Her bright grayish-green eyes and long dark curls gave her a bit of a unique look. She was neither pale, nor tanned. Neither fat, nor skinny. She had an athletic build to her tall frame. She was thin, but muscled. She didn't boast as voluptuous a figure as most women her age, but she chalked that up to all the cardio. She was fine with that. After all, it wasn't like she had anyone special to impress these days.

Once in the shower, she went through her routine quickly, not wanting to keep Itachi waiting. Rinsing the excess suds from her body and hair, she shut off the water, stepping out of the tub. She wrapped a towel around her body and walked out of the steamy bathroom into her bedroom. A slight breeze blew through the room, giving it a more open feel. She dressed quickly, inspecting her appearance in the mirror while towel drying her hair. She glanced at her clock. 10:45. It had been roughly 10 minutes since she excused herself to shower. She figured she had time to blow-dry her hair a bit. She wasn't a fan of leaving the house with wet hair.

Plugging the appliance into the outlet by the window, she quickly began drying her damp locks. Sitting in the same window seat she sat at with her mother years ago, she peered outside at the leaves that had long changed color, but had refused to fall despite it being so late in the year. How beautiful the seasons were in this part of the world.

Memories she had stored away long ago began to resurface in her mind's eye. Images of herself, as a child, raking the fallings leaves into a pile only to ruin all her work and dive into them after gathering a large enough stack. Her father, smiling as he pushed a wheel barrel full of colorful leaves down the hill to dump by the tree line. Her mother, exasperated and impatiently waving them both in to eat dinner and warm up before they "died of pneumonia".

She smiled at the hazy memories. How long had it been since she truly felt content? She wasn't at all sure anymore. Her happiest memories seemed a lifetime away, fading further and further from her as each day passed. The pain, as always, hit her sharp and hard. A hot knife twisting around in her already battered heart. She shook her head, pushing away the overwhelming emotions. Reminiscing would do nothing for her at this point. It was simple. They were gone, and they wouldn't be coming back to her.

Not in this lifetime.

Swallowing thickly, she shut off the dryer and reached for the brush in her lap. She walked back to her vanity, starting to separate her long curls into sections and braiding them together hastily. She tied them back with a small black rubber band, bangs still sweeping over her forehead. Glancing at her reflection, she grabbed her tinted chap stick, quickly applying a thin coat as well as a single layer of black mascara, giving her already large eyes a brighter look. With a satisfied smile, she turned to leave the room.

As she reached the staircase, the familiar smell of cherry blossoms mingled in the air, eliciting a small laugh from Kat. As she stepped into the living room, she caught sight of Itachi walking down the hallway, already dressed in the clothes he arrived in, which Kat had washed and dried the night before. Though his clothes were not clean, they were a bit cut up in some places. He made for a striking figure, dressed all in black, hair tied back neatly at the nape of his neck. 

She smirked. "Experimenting with a new fragrance, Uchiha?" She teased.

He eyed her calmly. "I've found I'm partial to the blossoms," he replied smoothly, without so much as a smirk. Her eyes widened. She had to laugh at his subtle teasing. Who would've thought the man would have a sense of humor?

"It suits you well," she agreed. "That happens to be my favorite conditioner. No wonder you have such silky locks," she added with a wink, enjoying their playful banter.

At this he froze. "...Silky?" He repeated. 

She rejoiced silently, understanding she'd struck a nerve. "Indeed. I'm sure women everywhere are jealous of your perfect mane." She barely managed to get out the last word before bursting into a fit of giggles, inwardly imagining the Uchiha giving the other Akatsuki members hair advice. 

She looked up to see him shooting a very watered-down version of the infamous Uchiha death glare in her direction. She sobered up quickly, clearing her throat and wiping the tears from her eyes, still shaking her head at his touchiness. "Shall we go?"

He gave a curt nod, seemingly relieved her fit of laughter at his expense had subsided. She walked past him to retrieve her keys from the hook in the hallway, along with her small wallet containing her cash and cards. He waited for her by the door as she gathered her belongings and slipped on a pair of grey Converse.

As she approached, he opened the door and held it for her, a gesture she wasn't at all used to. She walked past him toward her dark grey car, opening up the driver's side. She paused, glancing across the roof of the car taking in his reaction to the vehicle. He looked perfectly at ease, but she knew the confusion must be nagging at him.

"It's a car. We use this for transportation here," she explained. "It's relatively safe," she added as an afterthought, slipping behind the wheel and closing the door behind her. From the corner of her eye she saw him fluidly slide into the passenger seat, closing his door as well.

She gave him a reassuring glance as the engine turned over. He watched her actions with a detached kind of interest, not showing show any outward signs of discomfort. Slowly, she reached up to grab her seatbelt and fasten it across her chest. Itachi quickly followed suit, buckling his own belt.

She nodded in approval, shifting the car into reverse. As they pulled out of the driveway, the man beside her sat perfectly still, seemingly at ease. She accelerated bit by bit, not wanting to alarm him, until the car reached 50mph. She drove steadily down the winding old back road that she knew like the back of her hand.

She looked over at him as they drew closer to the main road that would lead into the city. "What's it like?" She asked suddenly.

Taking his eyes off the scenery the passenger window offered, he looked over at her. "What's what like?"

She shrugged. "Being a shinobi. Leaping through the trees. Being able to jump several stories into the air. Moving so fast that you're no more than a blur. What's it like?"

He didn't answer right away, though his lips twitched into a small smirk. He turned his head to observe the trees they passed as she drove down the curvy road. "Invigorating. It's the speed that excites me the most. The wind on my face. The freedom," he explained, looking back in her direction. She nodded in comprehension. Yes, she of all people could understand that. What she wouldn't give just to have his speed, forget the ninjutsu and strength.

"I suppose that makes sense. I envy you," she stated, simply. "Though I suppose it comes at a price, huh?"

He watched her silently as they drove around a particularly sharp curve. She smiled, knowing he must be reminiscing about his own world where it wasn't anything unusual to encounter shinobi in passing. "It does," he spoke quietly.

She chuckled. "So. How are you enjoying your first car ride?" She questioned with a wink, turning her attention back to the road before she accidentally drove them up a tree.

He shifted slightly to her right and she saw him turn his focus outside once again. "It's much like running, I suppose. Though, there is no wind."

She laughed out loud. "Well, why didn't you say so?" she asked as they neared a stop sign. He looked over at her in confusion as she slowed the car to a complete stop. "See the button on the door panel, the one on the far left? Press down on it," she instructed with a grin of anticipation.

He fixed her with a suspicious look, but slowly complied with her request, extending his arm until his fingers covered the small switch. She nodded encouragingly at him. He pushed down on the button firmly, watching in surprise as the window eased halfway down before letting go. He tilted his head to the side curiously, eliciting an amused chuckle from Kat.

"Lower it all the way," she suggested as she reached over and opened her own window. He turned to watch her actions before focusing on the switch once again. She looked up to see him press the button again, this time with less reluctance. As the glass disappeared, he leaned closer to the open window, pushing his forearm through the space that just moments before had been closed off.

She smiled deviously, knowing the road she was about to turn onto was always empty and had hardly any sharp curves, perfect for speed. Time to really wow him.

"Here we go," she said, flooring the accelerator suddenly. The burst of speed forced both Kat and her passenger back against their seats, wind blowing wildly through their hair. She smiled in delight, chancing a brief glace in Itachi's direction. His eyes were slightly wider than usual and a look of slight anxiety replaced his normally deadpan expression. Arms stiffly outstretched to the dash, he looked over at her, clearly questioning her sanity.

"You requested wind, Uchiha-san," she reminded him smugly.

"...thank you," he said with some difficulty, keeping his eyes glued to the road as she accelerated to well over 80mph. He was clearly hoping she'd slow down since she'd proved her point.

Not a chance.

She tossed back her head and laughed wickedly. After all, it wasn't everyday one had the opportunity to scare the pants off an S-ranked nukenin and live to tell the tale. With that in mind, she pressed her right foot down even lower onto the gas pedal. She could've sworn she heard a grunt of protest from the man next to her. I could get used to this, she thought gleefully.