"Don't try to wake me in the morning 'cause I will be gone."
- The Smiths -
They had hurt her.
They saw her as nothing but a body to host their ultimate weapon to rid the lands of the demons.
They wanted to get rid of his people. His family.
The Uchiha clan was a threat to the humans; he had heard all the lies that those humans had spread. The lies that her family believed.
Hinata believed differently; he had known this since he met her when she was just a meek and small child. Unlike the rest of the Hyuuga family whom harbored an unparalleled resentment for all things relating to demons, she had never let what he was cloud her judgement.
It was rare when a demon and a priestess could be friends. Although, this would certainly not be the first time for him.
She was a priestess that only wished to protect those who could not protect themselves. Never once had she let her family's rigid mentality taint her heart.
Not even now as Itachi watched in frustrated silence as Hinata fought for control over her own body. She was losing this battle and there was absolutely nothing that either of them could do.
They had used her. Her family had used her to harbor the soul of a priestess long dead so that they could use the priestess' power to exterminate his family. Hinata would be lost because of her family's blind ambition and most of them hadn't cared.
Her siblings were innocent of this, she had claimed. They had had no idea what the clan had done to her.
Regardless, her clan had let this happen all in the name of power and Itachi swore that he would do whatever he had to to protect her.
He would keep her hidden away from her family and his to keep her safe. He would allow neither to use her.
Hinata trembled fiercely in his lap, clutching onto the fabric of his shirt in one hand while cradling her head in the other. She had been like this for the last hour and he knew well enough that she was trying to stay. However, the soul of the late priestess was strong and would soon consume her.
She didn't want to go yet.
Itachi wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closely and humming a tune Hinata sang to him so long ago. It seemed to soothe her if only a little. Her trembling lessened marginally and she seemed to be more aware that she was still there and that he was with her.
A shift in movement proceeded as she hummed along with him, lifting her head and giving him a frail smile. It was strained and weary, and just by the look in her pearl-like eyes, it seemed like she was trying even harder to hold the control.
Even so, the result would be inevitable. Tomorrow she would be gone.
"Itachi," the young priestess murmured, trying her best to smile like she normally would just for him. "Thank you."
Many things were left unsaid as they took a moment to simply observe the other, but they both understood. Actions had always spoken for them more than words had ever done.
His hold on her tightened as she buried her face into his chest, his ears instantly picking up the sounds of muffled sobs. Hinata was trying to be strong for the both of them and it made his heart ache.
Why had they done this to her?
"Hinata," he called to her in a hushed tone, receiving only a hum as acknowledgement. "Would you sing for me before you go?"
And so she sang.