"It is time we declare her a missing nin," Naruto uttered dreaded words reluctantly and apologetically. Not a single person spoke. They all solemnly looked everywhere but each other. The failure of their searches left them weary and ashamed. Only Hanabi glared angrily at the Hokage.

"It's only been three months!" she yelled. "We haven't found a body or anything! She is still alive!" Her cousin immediately grasped her shoulder. He bent down and whispered something in her ear and the heiress bowed her head, fighting back tears.

"Does this mean you are giving up the search?" Hiashi Hyuga's voice was cold and demanding. Shino's and Kiba's killer intent flared at the question and Naruto sighed.

"I have decided to halt active searches." He held up a hand as several people burst out in objection. "But we will continue keeping our eyes and ears open. I've contacted all the other Kage letting them know Hinata Hyuga is not to be harmed or touched in any way and returned to our village immediately. I threatened war if any of those conditions were broken. The trails are cold. We've found absolutely nothing. If Sasuke Uchiha does not want to be found, he will not be."

"So you're giving her up to him, basically," the Inuzuka growled out, and Akamaru bared his fangs in agreement.

"No!" Naruto slammed his palm against his desk. "No matter what, the village has to continue running. We will start accept D and C rank missions again, and everyone will go back to their normal duties. If there is an available squad, they may be assigned to search for her. This is my final decision."

It was obvious that his fellow shinobi were not happy about this, but no one objected further. He was Hokage and his decision was law. It was a hard decision but the civilians were getting wary and disgruntled. Some could not afford to pay the fee for a B rank or higher so their requests had been being denied to their displeasure. That was when he had to end this empty hunt and regain their village's natural flow. His chest hurt at the thought of her alone and in captivity. Sasuke was not a kind person.

[break]

Hinata's breath was labored as the Uchiha once again took advantage of her body. His hips slammed into her repeatedly and he groaned on top of her. Disgust filled her but she stayed still. It was no longer excruciating as it had been the first time, but it did also not bring her any pleasure. Her eyes tightened shut as his breath tickled her ear.

"Hinata," he hissed out, grabbing her swollen breasts as he finished deep inside of her. Hinata held back the yelp that almost escaped her lips when he squeezed her breasts. They were sore and tender.

"I am already pregnant," Hinata said clearly after he pulled out of her. "You've accomplished your goal. Your roughness could damage the child inside of me." She wasn't entirely sure if sex would cause any harm to the unborn child in her womb, but there was no harm in trying. She was tired of his intrusion into her body. It made her feel filthy and impure. Hinata absolutely hated the feeling of his semen trickling out of her and onto her legs.

"We can always make another one," was his careless reply and the Hyuga turned over on the fluffy bed in disbelief. When they first discovered that she was pregnant, they had moved her to a more livable room with a desk, bed and personal bathroom. The only things that it lacked were windows.

"What if the child does not inherit your blood line?" Hinata questioned with her naked back still to him. "Hyuga blood is very dominant."

"Then I will put it out of its misery and you will stay here for another year," Sasuke snapped. He finished cleaning himself up and getting dressed. "Enough of your useless words." Hinata only cradled her tummy protectively with her tied hands. A slight bump was forming and despite her predicament, her heart flowed with love and excitement for the child. It was her only light in her dark situation. Although it had been conceived in horrendous ways, this baby was a part of her, and she would protect it with her life.

[break]

"Gaara," Temari hugged her brother tightly. She had thought living in the Leaf Village would be lively and fun… how wrong she was.

"You lost weight," the Kazekage commented. He disentangled himself from her and returned to his desk. He had been surprised to hear the knock on his office door. No one usually disturbed him when the door was shut firmly. When he told whomever it was to enter, he had almost smiled in his delight to see his older sister walk in. Now that he actually observed her, she did not carry her usual energy or sparkle in her eyes. She was thinner with sharper cheekbones than he remembered her to have. "Has he not been treating you well?"

"Oh no," Temari heard the threatening undertone and rushed to reassure him. "Shino is the perfect gentleman, Gaara." She paused and made herself comfortable in a sand colored armchair opposite him and the desk. "It's just, I was so happy on the honey moon and I thought nothing could ruin it, you know? Naruto contacted you, right? Hinata-chan is missing. Shino's been in this deep depression ever since we learned about it after the honeymoon."

"He is putting his friend before you?" Gaara raised an eyebrow. After taking Temari away from her home, he neglected her? Unforgivable.

"No, no, I'm worried too. It's more like, wouldn't you be upset if someone kidnapped me?" She saw his jaw twitch and she smiled wearily. "Exactly. Hina-chan was a sister to him, and now she's suddenly kidnapped by that fucker Uchiha…"

"I understand." He would be more than depressed if Temari or Kankuro disappeared without a trace. "What brings you here to Suna?"

"Naruto stopped all active searches… and has declared Hinata Hyuga a missing ninja" his sister answered. "As ambassador, I am to inform you that if Hinata Hyuga is found on your lands, to provide her with protection and return her to Konohagakure as soon as she is able and that all information on her whereabouts would be rewarded if proven accurate."

"I see. I will make this known to the council of elders and alert my shinobi straight afterwards." Gaara scrawled himself a note with a quill pen. "Go rest." Temari nodded and left the office to freshen up in her room before dinner in a few hours. He tried to remember the Hyuga that had caused the Leaf Village to be in a state of panic and urgency. She looked very elegant with her long neck and traditional hime hair style, and held herself with a warm, observant aura. If he did not know that Naruto was fond of her, he might have even tried to engage her in conversation. He did not know for sure but she had seemed intelligent and wise, or maybe that was because she wasn't yakking her mouth off like some people he knew. It was a pity that she of all people was gone.

[break]

"You're leaving," Karin stormed into the room where the prisoner was kept. "Put on these shoes and this jacket." Widened lavender eyes met angry red ones. "Hurry up!" The Hyuga bent over and slipped the sandals over her feet and waited as the red head unbound her so she could shrug into her jacket.

"Where am I leaving?" Hinata murmured, a bit dazed. She was dozing off as it was almost 11 at night.

"You're only an hour walk to the Suna border." Karin informed her as they started making their way through the winding hallways. "Just go in the direction from where the wind blows."

"You're… releasing me?" Hinata couldn't understand why this woman would help her after months of assisting the Uchiha in hurting her. "Why?"

"It's not for your sake, believe me." Karin snapped as she pulled the Hyuga down a dark corridor. "I thought he loved me. Sasuke-kun said that he would only fuck you until you got pregnant, but he hasn't touched me ever since you arrived here."

Hinata could not respond. She pitied the other woman but hated her too. She just quietly followed her out, slightly dumbfounded at her luck.

"Before you go, promise me this." Karin suddenly grabbed Hinata's shoulders and glared at her. "Don't speak of this hideout, or you'll regret it. Sasuke is gone for the night so no one will be chasing you."

"I will not." Hinata replied and added, "thank you." Karin's eyes didn't soften and only pushed the black haired woman out the door. The cold night air freshened her lungs and Hinata hurriedly got into a jog. Her legs were weak and she was out of shape from being confined to one room for so many days, but she wanted to get away as fast as she could. The feeling of the wind blowing in her hair was amazing and her breathing was deeper than necessary, relieved to finally be outdoors again. Hinata smiled; she had never felt more alive than she did now, with the adrenaline running through her veins and the chill from the desert night air. As she made her way toward the direction of the wind, the trees started thinning and sand started to replace dirt. Activating her byakugan, she could see people patrolling the border and slowed her pace. She didn't know who they were, and they could possibly take her as a threat.

"Who are you?" Hinata could only see the shine of the Suna forehead protector as they turned their light towards her. She immediately raised her hands to show she wasn't armed.

"I am… a refugee. Please, I ask for protection," Hinata's voice was slightly hoarse from her run, but she continued to speak. "I am acquainted with Kazekage-sama. I must speak with him."

Her heart was pounding as the guards muttered among themselves before a slenderer figure pushed her way through the group of men. "This woman is no harm to us! She is an old friend of our dear Kazekage. Someone run ahead and send him word."

Hinata squinted and felt warmth flooding her body as she recognized the Kazekage's pupil and trusted kunoichi. "Matsuri-san," she murmured gratefully as the kunoichi put an arm around the Hyuga's waist to help support her.

"I am so happy to see you alive," Matsuri stated. "Temari-san's been very worried about you as well as all of your friends from your village." The two made their way through the sand to the buildings following a couple of other Suna shinobi.

"Please, Matsuri-san. Could you not disclose my identity to those around us?" Hinata requested quietly. She needed to speak to Gaara before anyone or anything created a scene.

"Of course." The rest of the journey was in silence and Hinata welcomed the warmth the Kazekage's home provided her. She placed a hand on her tummy. The jacket was loose and hid her showing bump. Taking a deep breath, Matsuri lead her to Gaara's office and knocked.

"Come in." Matsuri entered and Hinata followed behind her. She pulled the jacket tighter over herself, naked underneath. She raised her face to meet piercing aqua eyes, and his eyes widened a fraction in recognition.

"Matsuri, leave us," Gaara ordered and the brown haired girl stiffened in surprise before bowing quickly and leaving, shutting the door firmly behind her. Hinata was grateful for the action and stepped closer. He stood and gestured for the unexpected guest toward the set of couches and arm chairs around a small table. Hinata sat with a smile in thanks.

"Kazekage-sama, thank you for meeting with me," Hinata dipped her head graciously before meeting his eyes again.

"Shouldn't you have first visited the infirmary?" Gaara was concerned. She looked fine outwardly, but she had been Sasuke Uchiha's prisoner for the last three months. When Hinata shook her head no, he took a seat across from her. "In that case, we can provide you with an escort back to Konoha as soon as you are able."

"I… I can't go back, Kazekage-sama," Hinata murmured, breaking eye contact. She fidgeted with her hands, a habit she had broken a couple years ago but the urge to fiddle came back a hundredfold at this very moment.

"Gaara, just Gaara," the red haired man corrected briskly. "What do you mean you can't go back?"

"My identity…" Hinata whispered, closing her eyes in pain. "I wish to erase it and be accepted here as a refugee." When he raised a hairless eye brow, she continued. "I was defiled in my time at the Uchiha's mercy. He wished to use me to create an heir." She gulped as his eyes never left her face. "I am three months pregnant with Sasuke Uchiha's child. I do not wish for anyone to know of this fact and put the child in danger due to the name of the sire."

"I accept all refugees and will accept your requests," Gaara said solemnly and Hinata bowed her head in thanks. "but you have family and friends that are still frantically searching for you."

"I- I am aware…" Hinata's voice dropped. "However, I am sure in time, they will believe that I am dead." Her lips curled bitterly. "I am considered weak, you see. I am sure they believe me to be dead already." Gaara did not respond to that.

"My one condition is that I wish for you to remain in my home and reside here," Gaara proposed thoughtfully. "You will be well guarded and foreign people in my home is nothing suspicious."

"I am so thankful." Hinata clutched her belly and finally let her fear drain away. Gaara nodded curtly.

"I will have Matsuri bring you to your room, and tomorrow we can sort out the technicalities." With that he called in his former student who appeared immediately, and after letting her know that Hinata's name was not to be spread around, the two left and went up the stairs to a guest bedroom. Hinata sat on the edge of her new bed and touched her swollen tummy, finally feeling alright for the first time in a while.

[break]

"What do you mean she's not Hinata Hyuga anymore?" Kankuro wrinkled his nose in confusion. "She got freaky with the Uchiha, is carrying his little demon, and wants to stay in Suna?" Gaara just looked at his older brother, barely concealing his exasperation.

"She declared herself a refugee. She is no longer associated with Konoha." Gaara said for the fifth time. He really did not understand what was so hard to understand.

"Didn't Naruto threaten war…"

"Yes…" Gaara nodded. "I wrote to him saying she was found and safe but that she would be staying in Suna until she wished to return."

"You think he's going to accept that?"

"Yes." The Kazekage nodded once, done with the conversation.

Naruto read the letter sent by Gaara, his hands shook involuntarily. She was safe. The message was only a few sentences long and very vague. Why wouldn't she want to return home? Naruto was overjoyed to know she was in good hands but at the same time, he wanted to go personally to Suna and bring her back.

Naruto,

We have found Hinata Hyuga. She is unharmed, and I promise she will be taken care of. She will return to you when she is ready. Do not inform anyone that she has been found.

Gaara