A/N: Sorry about the late update. It's been pretty busy lately and we didn't have much time to write. We'll try to post more often in the future. Enjoy :) Don't forget to read .Rose's as well.

Vigil of Sorrows

Chapter 19

"Smooth Sailing"

….

Sakura gazed in amazement at the sea that stretched on for miles past the morning horizon. It was a beautiful shade of blue that reflect the color of the sky above. She shifted her focus to the pebbled shore beneath her feet and smiled. It was just like a beach.

The pinkette bent down and scooped up a handful of the smooth pebbles before tossing a few into the water, listening to the distinct plop each one made. She laughed then before turning to Itachi and noticed that he was smiling at her. She instantly returned it.

"Want to throw some?" Sakura asked. "It's fun," she added, casting him a wink.

The Shinobi patiently waited for him to respond as she watched him glance from the pebbles she held to the sea then back at her. He nodded before holding out a hand.

"Why not?"

Sakura smirked and placed some pebbles in his outstretched palm. "There are probably a few reasons, but I'm glad you chose to have fun instead."

Itachi simply nodded in response and returned the smirk before turning to the bay. He then grabbed one of the stones and prepared to throw it. Sakura watched him curiously, wondering if he'd ever done this sort of thing before.

The Uchiha's smirk widened then before he released the stone and it skipped across the water. The girl smiled as she returned her attention to him. He had definitely done this before. The ease he portrayed when he threw it wasn't anything new, but it also just seemed like he was used to it.

Her father always tried to teach her how to skip rocks, but she never got the hang of it. That might have something to do with the fact that she would get frustrated and just throw them into the water.

Sakura's smile widened. Was there anything Itachi wasn't good at? She tilted her head as she pondered this, but couldn't think of anything. He was just talented. After all, he was a prodigy.

Itachi looked to her then and tilted his head slightly as his smirk changed into a soft smile. Sakura stared at him silently a moment, that strange feeling returning. Once again, it seemed like something was different about him. What was it exactly?

She shook the thought aside for the moment, it would only confuse her and she could think about it later. She instead patted Itachi on the shoulder and asked, "Wasn't that fun?"

He nodded, "Aa, it was."

Sakura grinned, "good."

There was a brief silence before the fish-man left his boat and approached them, "everything is set. Set and ready."

Itachi looked to him and nodded, "thank you, Bogford-san." He then turned and Sakura followed his movement, remembering that some people had accompanied them to the sea. The fish-man had offered to take them to Kanashimi in his boat since it wasn't really out of the way as he was already heading in that direction.

Today…they were leaving Yokusei. Sakura dropped her gaze a moment before lifting it and examining the crowd, hoping it would distract her. Gregor, the crazy bastard, Fu Blood, the snake bastard and some guy with a name that reminded her of the forest and had something to do with wood had come to see them off.

Fu Blood stepped forward, but he kept glancing at Itachi's hair. Sakura smirked slightly. There was no way he could ever cut his hair. After all his attempts, he should really give up. There was no point in trying if it was impossible.

He stopped and regarded them in silence a moment before looking to his left. "Oh stop it, Manister," he stated with a shake of his head. "You're always so sentimental."

Sakura rolled her eyes at him. She was beginning to doubt that Manister even existed. That man was so crazy. Maybe even…dumb. Probably dumber than…Naruto. 'Come to think of it, Sasuke-kun could be pretty duuumb too sometimes. Especially when he and Naruto were together. They would act even dumber than usual. Even Kakashi-sensei could be dumb sometimes. I swear, sometimes it seemed like I was the only intelligent one on my team.'

The pinkette resisted the urge to shake her head. Maybe if they had listened to her sometimes, they could've avoided so many dumb situations. Like that time Naruto and Sasuke left her because they wanted that golden bear. She was taken hostage because of them. Well, they got what was coming to them when they ended up stuck together for three days. 'That was, without a doubt, the dumbest thing they've ever done. Hell yeah. Yep. It totally was, but it was sooo funny.'

Sakura took a moment to consider how easily she could think about Sasuke now. It was always so hard and she could never do it without crying at some point. That conversation she had with Itachi really helped…and so did her decision to move on.

The pinkette glanced at Itachi and smiled again. He was always helping her. She then noticed movement out of her peripherals so she turned her head and saw that Fu Blood was already leaving and had obviously said his farewell to Itachi.

She crossed her arms and looked away. She didn't want to say goodbye to him anyway. Not to that bastard…or his stupid imaginary friend.

"So rude," she stated angrily.

Sakura decided then that she didn't like these villagers very much. Some were nice and welcoming, like Gregor and the inhabitants of the other town, but the majority were just plain rude.

This town also had so many inconveniences. One of them, the most obvious, was the position of the well. If she strained her eyes, she might be able to see it from the bay. That's what happens when it's outside the town. They might wake up one morning and find that their water had been stolen. That's another thing that could happen because they decided to be dumb when they decided where to put the well.

It really did seem like she was surrounded by idiots. Glancing again at Itachi, she felt a small smile form. He was definitely the smartest person she'd ever met. Maybe…he wouldn't be very proud of her if he knew she was bashing on the villagers. It wasn't a very noble thing to do after all and he seemed to care about that sort of thing.

"Sakura," he said then. "Come and say good bye to Gregor."

The pinkette's gaze lowered slightly at his words. That's right, they were saying good bye. They were leaving. She had become so lost in her ridiculous thoughts that she had almost forgotten.

Sakura met his gaze and nodded slowly before looking to Gregor. Had he been crying? The Shinobi offered him a warm smile before approaching him and pulling him into an embrace.

"Good bye, Gregor."

"Good bye, miss Sakura," Gregor replied, returning the tight hug. "I'll miss both of you a great deal."

The pinkette nodded, slightly tightening her hold. She then pulled away before giving Gregor a small kiss on the cheek. "We'll miss you, too."

She heard Gregor sigh before he started to release his hold on her. He held her at arm's length another moment before stepping back.

He looked between the girl and Itachi, "good luck to both of you, and in returning home. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

"We appreciate everything you've done for us," Itachi stated.

Gregor merely replied with a smile.

Sakura glanced at her partner before returning her attention to Gregor and nodding in agreement. "Hell yeah."

After a moment passed, Itachi slowly turned and headed in the direction of the fish-man. Sakura offered Gregor one last smile before also turning to follow him. The Uchiha waited on shore and for a second she had to wonder why. 'Oh, he's waiting for me to go first. Always such a gentlemen,' she thought.

The pinkette approached him and smiled before grabbing his hand, "Come on, Snail."

"Aa," he replied before she proceeded to pull him onto the boat.

They each took a seat as the fish-man started to row them away from the shore and Sakura's gaze immediately drifted to the sea. She had been on a boat a few times when she went on missions for Tsunade, but never a small one like this where the water was so close. The Shinobi smiled as she lowered her arm and the tips of her fingers grazed the water. She grinned then as she lifted her arm and the cool water dripped off her soaked hand.

Sakura turned to the Uchiha beside her and the smile instantly faded. His gaze was lowered and there was this look on his face. She didn't know what, but something seemed to be bothering him.

"Itachi…are you alright?" she asked in concern.

The pinkette could feel his hold on her hand slightly tighten before nodding slowly. The Uchiha smiled, "Aa."

Sakura arched an inquisitive brow. "I don't completely believe that."

Itachi sighed softly before shaking his head, "I was merely thinking."

That's what he said the last time he was like that. She narrowed her eyes before glancing at the water. A small smile formed before she looked back at the Uchiha and nodded. "Alright, if you say so."

She still didn't believe that he was just thinking, but he obviously didn't want to talk about it. Still…there was something on his mind and it was bothering him.

The girl's gaze once again wandered to the water. Perhaps there was a way she could cheer him up and take his mind off it. "Hey, Snail, I have a question for you."

His eyes widened slightly in response. "…what is it, Sakura?"

Sakura shrugged as she lowered her arm into the sea once more. "I'm just curious if you like water."

"Aa, I do," he nodded. "It is a very pleasant element."

"Steady, filled with my precious creatures, the most effective means of travel, refreshing, mysterious, the best vision at any of the day's times, and a necessary means of hydration," the fish-man nodded, not removing his eyes from the gulf.

Sakura smiled. Though he was crazy, what he said made sense. The water was wonderful.

"I could not have said it better myself," Itachi agreed with a widening smile.

The Shinobi nodded, "well, it's good that you like it."

"Like it?" The fish-man seemed to consider this. "Like it, eh? That is certainly a curious aspect. An aspect that instills curiosity."

Sakura shook her head at him. He always spoke in riddles and they usually confused her. She shrugged before returning her attention to the water. As the boat moved along, the girl moved her hand around to make different shapes and to watch the various ripples that were created.

The sun had recently set and she eventually grew bored playing with the water so she resumed her previous position in her seat and yawned. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the fish-man also yawn.

The girl turned to him and narrowed her eyes. Was he really tired? If so, he'd better not fall asleep or there would be problems.

The man simply returned the action.

Sakura gaped. Was he mocking her now?

He also gaped.

'Hell no!' The pinkette glared at him and crossed her arms, but he simply mirrored it.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she stuck her tongue out at him. He did the same.

The Shinobi's glare intensified then and she pounded her fist against her opposite palm.

The fish-man removed his hands from the oar to copy this action before replacing them upon it.

Sakura growled.

He growled.

She reached down and splashed water in his face. He did the same.

The girl turned her head away from him, determined to ignore his childish antics, but out of her peripheral vision, she saw him look in the same direction.

Sakura abruptly turned her head back to him and hardened her glare, but he, of course, did the same. She held her glare for several moments until the sound of Itachi's voice interrupted her.

"Are you currently engaged in a staring contest, by chance?"

"Hell no! I wouldn't be so mad if it was just a staring contest," she replied, turning to him.

The Uchiha blinked before looking to the fish-man, but he was staring out at the sea, pretending nothing had happened. That was so rude. "Bogford-san, have you been provoking Sakura?"

He didn't respond and Sakura glared. "Hell yeah! He sure did! Yep!"

"Row, row, row along," the fish-man began to sing, still acting like he had done nothing. "Along the ever-drifting rivers and changing the tides; the tides that guide us to our destiny and brings us face-to-face with the thing we all must face. Row, row, row along."

"You fish bastard!" she shouted. "You totally started it and now you're lying!"

"Lying she says," he stated as he shook his head. "How can one lie without having said anything at all? Does she understand what it means to be a liar? I think not. Certainly not."

"I know what it means. I'm not dumb! You're lying because you're not telling the truth. You're just pretending you didn't do anything," Sakura retorted angrily.

"Pretending now, is it?" he said to himself. "Did I ever say such a thing? Do such a thing? Think such a thing? I think not. Certainly not.

"You just lied! Just now. You're totally pretending and you lied about it."

The fish-man remained silent and didn't offer a response. Sakura smirked. She had won and he knew it.

"Fish bastard, eh?" Itachi asked. "I certainly miss the times when that was all you would address me as."

Sakura looked to him and glared. "Keep it up and I'll go back to calling you that," she warned.

Itachi tilted his head, "is that meant to be a threat?" He lifted his free hand and tapped her forehead. "Because I do believe that I just stated how partial I am to that particular term of endearment."

The Shinobi felt her face heat up and she looked away from him. "It wasn't meant as a compliment. It was supposed to be insulting."

"Was it?" he asked. "All this time, I've never realized that. I suppose that can simply be attributed to the fact that no one has ever really addressed me that way on a regular basis."

"Well, that was your mistake," she replied before quietly adding, "Bastard."

"Hm…somehow, I still enjoy the sound of that."

She then heard the fish-man laugh at his statement before Itachi started to chuckle. Sakura returned her attention to them and glared. "You bastards are totally making fun of me."

The Uchiha looked to her, a smile still on his face. After a moment, he stated, "You're always…so very amusing, Sakura."

"Is that supposed to be an insult?"

Itachi shook his head, "No, it most certainly isn't."

Sakura could tell he was being sincere. She smiled then before leaning forward and giving him a kiss on the cheek. "It seems I can never stay mad at you, Itachi."

She then pulled away and noticed his smile widen before he winked. "That's a good thing."

"And I've suddenly noticed something," the fish-beater announced then.

Sakura looked to him and tilted her head. What did he mean? Was there something to notice?

"…what is it you've noticed?"

The fish-beater smiled slyly, his eyes squinting as he did so. "It is something…interesting. Definitely interesting. Care to venture a guess?"

Itachi didn't respond and Sakura was confused by this. He was usually pretty adept at figuring things out. Was something wrong with him?

The fish-man looked to Sakura instead. "How about you? Care to guess the interesting thing I have noticed? You'll want to know what it is. Need a hint? Alright, I'll give you a hint. It has been right in front of you for quite some time and yet you don't seem to see it."

Sakura tapped her finger against her chin thoughtfully. Something that has been in front of her…for a while. What could that be? What did he mean by a while? If he meant a short while, then he could be referring to the ocean, but she had noticed that. Perhaps it was the fact that he was insane, but she already knew that. Did he know, though?

No, that didn't make any sense. He didn't have a reason to suddenly to bring that up and he probably wouldn't want to anyway. It was something he only recently noticed…and it was interesting.

She gasped, "Are you serious? You noticed it, too?"

"What is your guess? I long to hear the guess. I certainly do," the fish-man announced.

Sakura held up a finger, "Can I ask you one question first?"

"Yes, yes. Ask away. Ask now."

She cast a small smirk to the Uchiha before asking, "It has something to do with Itachi, doesn't it?"

He chuckled, "it has everything to do with him and also, everything to do with you."

The pinkette nodded, "that's what I thought."

"Now, now, no more stalling. Stalling must be gone. What is the guess?"

"Alright, sorry," Sakura stated before clearing her throat. "Actually, I did notice. I'm not completely sure what you mean, but something is definitely different about Itachi. Not only the way he looks, but sometimes how he acts. Do you mean…it's my fault he's like that?"

The fish-man didn't reply, only smiled at Itachi. She wondered if that meant she right, but if she was she still didn't know what it meant. Maybe she was onto something.

The man looked to Sakura before setting the oar down in the boat and gesturing to the shore behind him. "Land. We have reached land. That is the answer. You can both reach the cold place from here."

Sakura furrowed her brows. Was that really the answer? For some reason, she got the feeling that it wasn't, but it made perfect sense. He obviously had seen the land and they hadn't so he decided to mess with them. Or it was just her who hadn't. That could be why Itachi didn't guess, he already knew.

The Uchiha stood then and tightened his hold on her hand before gently prompting her to do the same. She stood beside her partner and looked to him curiously. Even if that wasn't the answer, it seemed like she was onto something. What was the reason Itachi sometimes acted strange around her? Why did some of the things he say make her blush when nothing ever embarrassed her?

Something had definitely changed about Itachi, at least in regards to her, and likewise for how she felt about him. She didn't know, though. What was it, exactly?

Itachi guided her out of the boat and she glanced up at the trees. The girl remembered when she was first in Kanashimi. She had run through a forest before finding…one of those beasts. The memory of it still sent a chill down her spine. Hopefully, they wouldn't come across any of them this time.

Sakura suddenly snapped her fingers as she remembered something. She proceeded to take off her bag and rummaged in it for a moment before finding the desired item. She pulled out her cream-colored cloak and slipped it on, noticing the considerable difference in warmth. When she had adjusted it to a comfortable position, she placed the bag around her shoulders once more.

"Ready?" Itachi asked simply.

"I am now," she nodded.

He returned the nod before making his way towards the forest. Sakura soon followed and quickly fell in step beside him. She gazed up at the trees and smiled, remembering when she first met Itachi. It seemed like so long ago when that happened. It just…seemed like he was always there. In her life.

The girl shook her head at the thought of when she hated him. That didn't seem real either. It was so strange to think about the fact that she once hated Itachi. Now, she held no contempt for him at all. How, exactly, did she feel about him? He was an important friend, right? Somehow, that didn't describe it. She said that's how she regarded him, but it didn't seem like that anymore. Was it ever?

Sakura shook her head again and relented to worry about it later. She wasn't going to figure it out while they were walking through a forest. Instead, she should focus on what they needed to do in Kanashimi.

She noticed Itachi stop and turn to her before smiling. At first she was confused by this, but then she looked around and noticed they were in a clearing. Was this the same one where they first met? No, it was probably just another clearing in a forest.

"We're half-way there. It won't be much longer," she watched as his eyes lowered slightly. "Until we can return to where we came from."

The pinkette suddenly felt a sense of dread. They were almost done. After they completed the task in Kanashimi, they would return home and…they would be enemies again. It was like they would go back to the real world and this wasn't even real. She didn't care, though. No matter what, she wouldn't forget their time together. Would he?

"You're right," she nodded. "We'll leave this place soon."

After a moment, Itachi grasped her hand gently, "no matter what happens after we go back…I won't forget."

Sakura slowly smiled before wrapping her arms around his waist. "Neither will I."

He returned the action and familiarly placed his arms around her shoulders. Several moments passed before he withdrew his hold and stepped back. He then looked to the opposite path and sighed softly.

The Uchiha then glanced to her. "Do you have any idea of where you want to start?" he began. "Once we arrive in Kanashimi."

"Well, the first place I was at will be a good start," Sakura replied.

He smirked before a small smirk crossed his face. "Is it impossible for you to give me a straight answer?"

Sakura tilted her head. That was a strange thing for him to say. He sounded impatient, which wasn't like him. Then she remembered…that was something she had said when they first met.

She returned the smirk as she remembered what his response had been. "Impossible? Hardly," the girl replied. "I merely word things in such a way as to allow the receiver to interpret them in any way they choose." The pinkette's smirk widened when she thought about what she said next.

"Well, little Shinobi, this receiver thinks it's very amusing and it only makes me li…" he trailed off and looked away.

"What?" Sakura asked. He had clearly changed it, but what was he about to say?

After a moment, the Uchiha returned his attention to her and smiled, but it didn't look like his usual smile. "It is no matter," he shook his head before continuing towards the path. "We should go."

That didn't convince her, but she decided against asking again. She instead sighed and followed him onto the path. She wasn't even going to try thinking about that right now. It was obvious that she needed to at some point, but right now there were more important things to do then interpret the meaning behind everything.

As they walked further down the path, she started to recognize the effects of the area. The air was cold, the trees were dead and without leaves, the sky was considerably darker. The only thing missing was a red moon, which she knew they could come across soon.

Just as the Shinobi thought it, she noticed the red hue of the sky and the surrounding area. There were several small white objects drifting through the air and she wondered what they could be. One piece landed upon her cheek and it became considerably colder.

Snow. That was what was falling from the sky. Cold, white snow. She didn't recall it snowing last time she was in Kanashimi. Maybe it just got colder since that time.

Sakura followed Itachi past the tree line and into the open land beyond. She gasped quietly. Snow covered the entire ground and more was falling from the crimson sky above. How did this place look so ominous and yet so peaceful at the same time? It's like it was constantly at war with itself.

She scanned the area and noted that it looked exactly the same, with the exception of the snow. She was relieved that they didn't come across a Jisatsu. Even though it was still a little ways to the town, there was still the chance of them meeting one, but it seemed like they were safe.

Itachi looked to her then and asked, "Which direction is it?"

"Well, when I first arrived I wasn't conscious, but Nobu told me there were markers that could safely lead us to the town. He said they started from the point you leave the trees and continue along a path," she explained.

"I see," he looked down at the several inches of snow beneath them and shook his head. "Whatever they were have most likely been buried already."

Sakura frowned. If they were placed on the ground, but what if they were higher up, somewhere the snow couldn't cover? She nodded and looked around for something that stood above the ground, but the only thing that did were the trees. She decided then that the marker must be on one of the trees.

"Over here," Itachi announced. She looked to him and he offered her a small smile before trudging towards the end of the forest. Sakura followed, but the snow slowed her progress. She met the Uchiha by one of the trees, which had a piece of cloth tied to it.

"Good, you found it."

"Aa," he nodded before starting across the path. Sakura followed closely behind him, but noted that walking was so much easier. The snow wasn't as deep. 'Good, I was worried that it would really bother me.'

They walked in silence for a while and it was fine at first, but it eventually got to the point where the pinkette couldn't stand it anymore. "So…have you ever been in a snowball fight before?"

Itachi looked over at her and smiled, "Aa, almost every winter I spent in Konoha." He tilted his head then, "And once with…the Akatsuki."

Sakura tried to imagine a group of highly-skilled and dangerous S-rank criminals having a childish snowball fight. She laughed, "that's hilarious, Snail."

"Aa," he chuckled softly. "I suppose it is."

"I've been in a few with my daddy," she stated. "He always lets me win, though."

"I see," he replied, glancing down at her. "Perhaps I will challenge you to one while we are here. However," he winked, "I may not be as easy going as your father."

Sakura punched her fist against her palm, "And I'm harder to beat than I look."

Itachi nodded, "I am well aware of that."

"Hell yeah!" she exclaimed. "It'd be crazy if you weren't, but anyway, regular snowball fights are different from training. They're so much easier."

The Uchiha raised a brow, "not the way I play."

Sakura smirked, "I doubt that. In comparison to Tsunade-sama's training, it's going to be easier, no matter who it is."

He shrugged, "the training for ANBU initiation is considerably difficult and strenuous as well."

"Well," she began, "we'll just have to test that when we have our match."

"Aa, so we will," he nodded before looking towards the path once more. "In any case, what sort of people are your informants?"

"Hm…well, Nobu, the father, is a very smart man. I think you'll get along with him really well. Koyori is really nice and she is a wonderful cook. She made some delicious cookies the first night I was there," Sakura explained. "And Yorito is just adorable. He's their son."

"Sounds pleasant," he smiled at her. "I really look forward to meeting them. It seems as if you're all rather fond of one another."

"Yeah," she nodded. "They're really close and Yorito mistook me for his sister while I was there."

"His sister, eh?" Itachi inquired. "Well, I suppose that must have been nice. How old is he?"

"He's four, but…" Sakura shook her head. "It was fun, but the situation wasn't nice at all."

"Oh?"

"His sister had committed suicide a few months ago," she replied.

"I see," the Uchiha responded, his eyes lowering.

"But," she began. "They didn't tell him."

He returned his attention to her, "Where does he think she is, then?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "They only told him she wasn't coming back, but he didn't believe them. I guess my appearance made it easier for him to still think that."

Itachi merely nodded and remained silent. Sakura followed his example and quietly continued down the path beside him. When they rounded a bend, the landscape suddenly became very familiar. She knew exactly where this was because she had taken several morning walks this way. She proceeded to inform her partner that they were close and the town wasn't much further.

Sakura was actually excited to get there. She still didn't really like Kanashimi, but she loved the time she spent with the Tachikawa's and was eagerly anticipating it. She could let Yori win at tree climbing again and help Nobu in the garden. Maybe Koyori could give her some cooking lessons. Apparently, she wasn't very good, but that was just Hinata's opinion. She had some nerve insulting her pastries when they were perfectly fine. Not that she ever tasted them, but she just knew they were good.

Itachi suddenly started walking a little faster than normal and Sakura had to pick up her pace to keep up with him. Something was wrong or troubling him. What was it?

They turned another bend and Sakura's eyes widened as she paused in her steps. Smoke was rising above the treetops and into the sky. It was coming in the direction of the village.

"Itachi, that's the town," she said hurriedly. "There's a fire in the town."

He didn't respond, but there wasn't any time she could waste waiting for him to say something so she immediately ran in the direction of the town. People could be hurt or worse and they had to do something.

She headed for the Tachikawa's house. If they weren't hurt then they could help get people out of there or tell them what was going on, but if they were…she didn't even want to consider that possibility.