Ch 123

I woke to the gentle warmth of sunlight on my face. For a moment, I stayed still, letting the quiet hum of the room settle into my bones. 

It was still comfortable, it was still slightly familiar, it was still the same bed that I passed out in. 

I wasn't kidnapped in my sleep. 

I wasn't betrayed. 

I opened my eyes to the quiet room, not a soul in sight, only my lonesome. They weren't here, did they leave? 

I sat up in my bed, leaning against the wall like I did only a few hours earlier. I rubbed my eyes, which were sore, as I felt a small smile rise. 

It felt... nice. Having people in the room with me, even though the situation was completely not in my favour. 

They were telling the truth, at least in that moment. But even so, I still felt safe somehow. Like I had people watching over me. I didn't have to put my guard up, I didn't have to sleep tense. 

I just... let go. Let go of control. What little of it I had. 

I was about to get up before I felt two people coming to me. Ah, so they didn't leave. Where did they go? 

They walked through the doors and I raised a brow in confusion with what they were holding. The two men, who had once been my captors, were now standing there with food, looking strangely casual. 

While it wasn't a threateningly tense atmosphere, it was still far from comfortable. I felt surprisingly awkward. 

Kisame raised an eyebrow, glancing at Itachi from my reaction. 

"We brought food," he said, his voice unusually light. "Figured you could use something to eat." 

His grin was absent, almost neutral, but there was something in his tone that softened the edge of the words. 

Itachi didn't speak, but his eyes flickered over to me, and for once, I didn't feel his stare pressing down on me. 

He set the tray down on the bedside table with deliberate care before straightening up and looking around the room, like he was making sure there was no danger in sight. 

As if we hadn't had the most chaotic encounters only yesterday. I almost felt a chuckle bubble up my throat but I pushed it down. 

But I was touched. 

They didn't have to do this, but here they were, making the effort. Despite everything, despite the harsh words and the lingering tension between us, they had come back with food. 

"I didn't ask for this," I said quietly, glancing at the food they'd set down, but the words didn't come out the way I intended. 

They were more like a question—why? 

Kisame just chuckled lightly and nudged Itachi's arm with his elbow, like he was poking fun at him. Itachi didn't flinch, but there was something almost... subtle in the way his lips twitched. 

"You didn't have to," I added, a little sharper, trying to keep my cool despite the warmth creeping into my chest. 

I wasn't sure why it was affecting me. Maybe I hadn't expected this. Maybe I was so used to the cold, emotionless interactions that the slightest hint of kindness made me feel a little off balance. 

"But we did," Kisame's smile made mine come out, it was almost contagious. I opened it up and almost felt my emotions choke me up. 

Oh my goodness... 

I haven't... 

This was my favourite food when I was younger. I used to eat this all the time. But the only way Kisame would know this is with... Itachi. 

I raised a hand to my mouth, shocked and almost ready to cry. He remembers, even after all this time, he remembers what I liked. 

"Well then, I'll gladly eat this. Thank you." 

The moment my favorite food touches my tongue after so long, it's like a flood of memories rushing back. 

The taste, so familiar yet almost foreign, fills me with a warmth I didn't know I missed so much. Every bite brings comfort, nostalgia, and a deep longing for the times I had it so often. 

It's as though my senses are overwhelmed, and my heart aches with how much I've missed this simple pleasure. 

I can feel the tears welling up, not from sadness, but from the overwhelming relief of finally having it again after all this time. 

But I don't let them flow. 

The meal is gone within minutes, not a single crumb uneaten. I scarfed it down like I haven't had food in weeks. 

I almost felt embarrassed that I did that in front of them. But I am happier now than I had been in years. 

"So..." I started, my voice tentative, unsure if I really wanted to get a conversation going. "Is this... how things are now?" 

Kisame took a bite of his food and shrugged. 

"What do you mean?" he asked around a mouthful, his tone light but still testing the waters. 

"You bring me food. Is this some sort of... truce? Or is it just that you're hungry?" 

Itachi's gaze shifted to me, the slightest glimmer of amusement flashing in his eyes. 

"I don't expect you to understand," he said, his tone measured, "but there are things more complicated than what you see." 

I let out a little scoff, almost like a child who is being told it's the adults talking and to go away. 

"You and I both know that-" 

"Don't overthink it," he said simply, "Not everything needs to make sense. Not right now." 

I wasn't sure whether that made things better or worse. But the conversation, despite how little it revealed, felt like progress. And in a strange way, I was almost grateful for it. 

"Fine," I gave a little pout, before realizing how childish I was acting. 

Then I started to giggle from how weird this was. Soon I was joined with Kisame and even Itachi. And for once, everything felt like it did before everything was wrong. 

A/n I know this is a short chapter as compared to the others and I know I promised you guys 10 big chapters but I am working on others that will be big before I go back to 1000 words. Or maybe I should just do whatever the chapters needs like this one. Who knows! All I know is that I have done all I said I would and everything is going back to normal. I am so happy for all of you reading this and enjoying my writing so much, you have no idea how this makes me feel! Enjoy~