𝙏𝙄𝙍𝙀𝘿 𝙊𝙁 𝙈𝙀 / 𝗜𝗧★𝗖𝙃𝙄 𝗨𝗖𝗛𝗜𝙃𝘼 [SEMI-HIATUS/ ON HOLD]

xxvii.

THE AIR WAS TENSE between the three adults while the toddler's eyes glimmers with curiosity. What is this man doing? Why is he stopping her mother and auntie from buying some of her favorite food? It feels weird, even for a toddler who loves nothing but food and her mum. 

Who knew a mere child can feel that sort of stuff? Isn't it amazing to share a connection between a child who's barely 3? 

Anrie gently tilts her head to the side, a questioning look on her face while she stares at Itachi. It was as if she was analyzing him. Dropping her head on her mother's shoulder, the daughter gave up as she feels sleepy once again not giving a care about the man. 

To Itachi, it was like he was seeing the behaviors of [name] all over again. With the way this child is processing the people and her surroundings, the pattern of being sleepy, and the reasoning to just lean on someone's shoulder when she's sleepy- it was a little [name] all over again, the one Itachi misses. 

The patriarch could see Izumi trying to pry the child away from the mother to make things less complicated for the matriarch yet the child clings on to [name] for dear life. Anrie was too attached to her mother, just like [name] was when she was a child.

"Hey Anrie, auntie Izumi has to take you from mama for a bit. Come on now, sweetie." Itachi hears Izumi whisper again to the small girl who only buried her face deeper on the crook of [name]'s neck, shaking her head. Izumi let's out a defeated sigh, giving up on it, otherwise the child might throw a tantrum.

So that was her name, Anrie. Many meanings, yet the most beautiful one is "Gift from God."

It was beautiful. 

But the anxiety finally drapes on Itachi's shoulder the moment shock is gone, [name] hasn't said a thing neither does Itachi. Everything was tense, the crowd was so noisy that it only added to [name]'s headache. One question rings between Itachi's line of thoughts, one that he's all too scared to find out about. 

Who's the father of this child?

It sends a chill down the male Uchiha's spine with the mere thought that the woman who sent him on edge for 3 years to find another man. 

There's a part of him that knows he's wronged her for almost a year, yet he feels possessive of what he lost. It's like a dragon who lost it's gems only to gain a few more to be selfish.

"Let's take this somewhere else." [name] finally spoke out, quickly turning her back and moving ahead of them with the child still burying her face on her mother's neck. Izumi soon followed, jerking her head to where the matriarch was going as a sign to follow. 

Itachi could tell they were being cautious. They blended more in the crowded places, making it hard to spot them if you didn't look properly. It clicked in the male's mind that they thought he brought someone along, which wasn't true.

Sasuke wasn't in Konoha anymore, Naruto was out training with Jiraiya, Shisui said he had somewhere to be, Kakashi is dealing with something and the other genins were training. Izumi was "out for a mission", when in fact she was here with [name].

Itachi didn't even feel the betrayal awhile ago because of the shock, but as it died down he started to. The raven haired male looked at Izumi who was a few distance ahead of him, in disbelief. No wonder she was away for many days.

Somehow in his head, he starts to think whether Shisui betrayed him too, or maybe even Sasuke. 

He can't be too sure with those two duo, it was like they knew it all along.

It's been 3 years, and he didn't find a single clue in where the matriarch could've been. If it ever comes down to the two duo doing the same as what Izumi did, did they meet [name] by chance or did they know beforehand? Everything was a mess right now.