When Itachi had her in his grasp, he'd stopped for a few congratulatory gasps for air, thinking the chase had been won. And then...it wasn't.
He had been half doubled over, one hand on his knee with the other wrapped in Jaela's shirt, gasping for air. And then, suddenly, his arm dropped as suddenly the figure within the shirt was no longer able there to fill it.
His eyes widened as he saw her running away, half naked and past several incredulous Craol, straight back into the citadel. He'd only seen her back, but that was enough.
He stood there stock still, her shirt loosely hanging from his grip, staring at the open doors. And then, rather rigidly, he started to move, past the cluster of wagons, past the gathered Craol talking amongst themselves about the purple haired topless maniac, and into the citadel.
Listening, he could hear - and therefore track - her footsteps. His boots, crafted specially to make as little noise as possible, afforded no such advantage to anyone. He began following her, as quietly as he could manage.
Having stopped for a moment, Itachi looked at Jaela's shirt, tangled in his fist, and then at the stairs he'd come to. Slowly, he began to ascend, mind racing as he wondered just what was going to happen.
He continued following the echoing sounds of her footsteps, past the Black-Hearth rooms with their elaborate pictures across the doorways, and up another flight of stairs into unfamiliar territory. He slowed, noticing Jaela's footsteps had stopped. He found himself in a long hallway of doors, and noted one on the end was slightly ajar.
Slowly, he stalked toward the room, and stood outside the door. He listened briefly to her movements within, before slipped inside behind her, observing his surroundings as he did.
He stood behind her just as she refastened a new shirt, and grinned.
"Personally, I liked this 'un better, even if'n it be cuz yer no' wearin' it." To her, if she hasn't been listening very hard, it would sound as if he'd literally been right behind her the entire time.