The mist of the Aqua Veil Caverns lingered long after the trio made their way out. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the cool whispers of the wind, carrying the echoes of their footsteps. But the cavern's secrets had been unearthed, and their journey now took on a different weight.
Itachi, still clutching the newly awakened Abyssal Edge, led the way with a focused expression. His mind, sharp as ever, was already miles ahead. He hadn't yet spoken of his plan, but there was something urgent, something personal driving him. It wasn't just the promise to Akari—it was something deeper, something he couldn't explain.
Hana walked next to him, her eyes narrowed, watching him closely. Shusui, ever the easy-going companion, trailed behind, his hands tucked casually behind his head. Yet the silence that hung between them felt thick and suffocating. It wasn't the usual silence of camaraderie; it was strained, laden with unsaid words.
Finally, after several hours of navigating through the lush forests surrounding the caverns, Itachi broke the silence.
"We'll need to split up here."
Hana's eyes flickered with confusion. "Split up? Why?"
Itachi's pace didn't falter. He spoke with a cold decisiveness that left little room for debate. "I need to keep my promise to Akari. You two need to go north. There's a village called Dawnspire up ahead. Stay there until I return."
The words landed with a thud. Hana stopped in her tracks, a flicker of disbelief in her eyes. "What are you talking about, Itachi? No. We're in this together. We've been through this entire ordeal side by side. You think we're just going to... wait while you handle something alone?"
Shusui, sensing the rising tension, slowed his steps, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a hint of wariness. "Itachi's right," he said, his voice a mix of firm conviction and an underlying calm. "He made a promise. We need to let him handle this on his own."
Hana's eyes widened, her gaze darting between Shusui and Itachi. "You're agreeing with him?" she asked, her voice rising in disbelief. "After everything we've been through together, you're just going to... leave me to wait around?"
Shusui's shoulders shrugged nonchalantly, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Itachi's got his reasons. Besides, Dawnspire's a good place to lay low for a while. We can take a break. It's not like we're abandoning him. Just giving him the space to do what he needs to do."
The words stung more than Hana had anticipated. The familiar comfort of Shusui's playful nature seemed to evaporate, replaced by a cold practicality that sent a chill through her. She took a step back, her arms crossed tightly against her chest, eyes narrowing as she studied Shusui. "Just like that?" she muttered, the hurt barely contained in her tone. "You're really going to just follow Itachi's orders?"
Shusui paused, his expression momentarily unreadable. Then, with a deep breath, he turned toward her. "It's not about orders, Hana. Itachi has his reasons, and I trust him. It's not about us, it's about him. Sometimes... sometimes you need to step back and give people space to handle things their way."
Hana stared at him, her heart heavy. It wasn't just the situation; it was the sudden distance between them. She felt as though she were being left behind, as though Shusui, for the first time, was putting something else above their bond.
"Fine," Hana said, her voice tight with frustration. "If you want to play the obedient sidekick, go ahead. But I won't just sit back and wait."
Itachi's eyes flicked briefly to her, the shadows beneath them deepening. "Hana, this is something I need to do. You can't be involved in this part. I'm asking you to trust me."
"I do trust you!" Hana's voice cracked with a mix of anger and pain. "But you're treating me like I'm a child. You don't get to decide who's involved in this! We're a team!"
Itachi turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. "I'm not treating you like a child. I'm trying to protect you. Akari isn't someone you can just walk into a room with. There are... dangers involved."
Shusui leaned against a tree, folding his arms across his chest. "I think what Itachi means is... you're not supposed to be part of this. It's his responsibility."
Hana's eyes widened, disbelief clear in them. "And you? You're just going to let him push us away like that?"
Shusui winced slightly, but his voice remained steady. "Sometimes, you have to let people do things on their own. If Itachi says this is something he needs to do alone, then... maybe we should respect that."
Hana turned away, a flash of pain crossing her features. Her mind whirled with confusion and frustration. Why? Why now? Why this secrecy? Why push them away?
"This is ridiculous," Hana muttered, her voice barely a whisper. "I'm not some fragile thing that needs protecting, Itachi. I don't understand why you're treating me this way."
Her words hung in the air, and for a moment, neither Itachi nor Shusui spoke. The wind rustled through the leaves, filling the silence between them.
Finally, Itachi sighed deeply, his gaze distant. "I'm doing this because I promised Akari. I made a vow to her, and I will keep it. But... I don't want you two to be involved in this. It's too dangerous."
Hana felt her heart tighten, the weight of his words sinking into her chest like an anchor. She shook her head, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "I see," she muttered bitterly. "It's not about us, is it? It's about her."
There it was. The truth. The rawness of it. Hana felt her chest constrict, the realization cutting deeper than she'd expected.
Itachi didn't respond. His silence spoke volumes.
Shusui shifted uncomfortably, his eyes flicking to Itachi, then to Hana. "Maybe... maybe this is the best way, Hana. We don't know what he's going to face. Let him go do this on his own."
"Why?" Hana snapped, spinning to face Shusui. "Why are you just agreeing with him? Don't you care? This doesn't feel right. I can't just sit here and pretend everything's okay. You and I—don't you remember what we've been through?"
Shusui sighed, his expression softening. "I do, Hana. But sometimes... sometimes the right thing to do is to step back. If we go north to Dawnspire, we'll be able to rest. It's not that we're abandoning him. We're just giving him the space he needs."
"You're giving him the space to lie to us, to shut us out!" Hana's voice wavered, but her anger was undeniable. "This isn't about protection or promises. This is about him wanting to handle things by himself. And you're okay with that?"
Shusui didn't answer immediately, his eyes clouded with thought. After a long moment, he spoke softly, "It's not about being okay with it, Hana. It's about understanding it. Sometimes people need to face their battles alone. We can't always walk in their shoes."
Hana's eyes narrowed as the realization hit her. She wasn't just angry at Itachi anymore; she was angry at herself for trusting so blindly. She had thought they were all in this together, but now, the cracks were too deep to ignore.
"You're both just... giving up," she muttered. "You're letting him do this to us. And I... I don't know if I can do that."
Shusui hesitated, then gave her a sad smile. "We're not giving up. We're just... letting him be the person he needs to be, Hana. Let's go to Dawnspire. Maybe we'll find some answers there."
Hana's heart wrenched, but she nodded reluctantly, turning away. She wasn't sure she believed what Shusui said, but for now, there was no other choice. She had to let it go.
Without another word, Hana walked away, her steps heavy with doubt. Shusui followed, his expression unreadable. The weight of the situation was clear—no matter what he said, this wasn't something that could be easily brushed off.