CHAPTER 2: ITACHI'S PREDICAMENT

She's having amnesia. Itachi thought to himself.

"Your name is Hinata. Don't you remember anything?" Itachi asked, with a hint of concern in his voice.

Hinata looked at him and slowly shook her head. Her expression said it all. Itachi suddenly felt helpless.

"I…I….can't…remember….anything. Do…do..you know…me?"

Itachi sighed deeply.

"Its okay, Hinata," Itachi said, putting her back onto the bed and pulled her covers. "I'll get Doctor Shizune and Ino. Don't worry."

"Ino?" Hinata asked. It was as if she recognized the name.

"Yes, a friend of mine. Yamanaka Ino. She helps me to look after you," Itachi said.

"I…I…thi…think I..I…heard her…speaking to…to….me," Hinata said, trying to recall some memories.

"Yes," Itachi said softly, ruffling her head. Hinata liked that, and she smiled at him.

Itachi felt as if he was struck by lightning. The warmth of her smile radiates through him. Her smile was so beautiful that he felt that funny tingling sensation again. He clenched his hands and looked away. "Wait here, Hinata. I need to make some calls." Before he could move, Hinata's hands grabbed his.

"No!" she exclaimed and holds him tightly. "Don't…don't leave me…alone!" Her glassy eyes held him in captive. His dark onyx eyes looked at Hinata with such intensity and he gently held her in his arms. Her head rested comfortably against his lean hard chest and he gently stroke her hair, comforting her like a child as he slowly moved onto the bed. With her upper torso hugging him close, Itachi loved the feel of her long silky indigo hair that almost reached her waistline. He continued to stroke her head gently and at a steady pace until he could felt her sleeping. Her breaths were slow yet steady, and Itachi gently lifted the young woman off his upper torso and went on to reached for his smartphone by the bedside table.

"I'll be back," Itachi whispered and kissed her on the temple before going out to make some calls.

Hinata felt content. She didn't know why. Putting her cheeks and ears over his chest just felt…..perfect. It was like she ever felt being in the arms of a man…..but, she couldn't remember anything.

She could hear the steady beating of his heart. It sounded so good, and so calming.

The resonance of heartbeat felt so reassuring and for some odd reason, she liked the sound of life. Deep down, she could hear music. A familiar rhythm that had awoken such strange sensations deep within the recesses of her memories.

Hinata…

She felt someone calling her.

Hinata…

"Ita…Ita..chi?" she asked, her eyes suddenly opened by itself.

"Wah! Hinata-chan! The first person you would look for is Itachi-kun huh? I wouldn't be surprised myself!"

Hinata fluttered her eyes a little and looked around her. Sitting right beside her bedside was a gorgeous blonde in high ponytails and sparkling blue eyes. She is probably the most beautiful woman she has ever seen!

"Hiya Hinata-chan! I'm Yamanaka Ino! You can just call me Ino," Ino introduced herself.

"And I'm Doctor Shizune," the dark haired woman said, on the other side of the bed. Hinata saw Itachi sat at the foot of her bed, smiling down at her, giving her a trusting nod.

"Alright Hinata, I'm going to do some physical examination, so…" Shizune looked at Itachi.

Itachi wasn't moving. He didn't want to move. He won't move.

Ino was glaring at him.

Ino gave him a go-outside-idiot look and at the same time, hinting him to go out by using her head and point to the door.

Itachi replied back with his I-don't-give-a-damn look at her, glaring his deep obsidian black eyes back at Ino.

Shizune raised an eyebrow and Ino finally sighed. She got up from Hinata's side and pulled Itachi away from where he was sitting. Itachi was reluctant to move.

"I'm sorry boss, but being a pervert is no way to win a girl's heart you know," Ino remarked sarcastically.

Like a little boy, Itachi looked down and said, "I'll be outside if you need anything, Hinata."

Hinata cocked her head one side and smiled gently at him. Itachi felt all gooey on the spot whenever she smiles at him like that.

Both Ino and Itachi sat at the kitchen counter where Ino poured themselves some orange juice. Smiling at Itachi, Ino liked how Itachi is right now, compared to last year.

"Ino…" Itachi asked, without looking at one of his closest friend and secretary. "You've been staring at me for more than ten minutes or is there something on my face which amuses you?"

"Hmm….you've changed a lot now, I-ta-chi," Ino said all-knowingly, putting her elbows up on the black marble kitchen counter.

Itachi didn't want to further comment. He knew that he has changed, and it was all because of Hinata. He didn't know how to explain why he was willing to take care of her in the first place. At the beginning, he'd thought it was just some kind of self-redemption for what he had been doing for the family. Itachi was not a firm believer in karma, but for the past year with Hinata, Itachi changed. It was change for the better.

"What do you mean? Isn't it plainly obvious that I'm still with the Akatsuki?"

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Yeah right, you know darn well that I'm not talking about the Akatsuki. Your family, Itachi. What if they found out about Hinata? Your family do not treat outsiders well as I recalled."

Itachi looked down into his glass of orange juice and swirl the contents in his glass like it was some kind of toy. "Hn."

"Your family will not entertain someone not from Uchiha bloodline for their heir, Itachi." Ino knew when there was a long silence with Itachi, he is always deep in his thoughts. "What are you going to do with Hinata?"

"I won't let them find out about her," Itachi said finally. "They have no business with what I choose to do with my life now."

"Eventually they'll know Itachi. You can't hide her forever. What will you do when she finds out? She's been calling the office like mad since you were on long leave the other time and we were at our wits end if it wasn't for your uncle's intervention."

"Just tell her that I don't wish to see her again."

Ino was irritated. She crossed her arms across her chest. "Yeah, easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to face her. Thanks a lot, Uchiha-sama."

Then her looks softened a little, looking at the bedroom with the door closed. "What will happen to Hinata-chan? She looked so….lost."

Itachi looked at the same direction. "Nothing bad is going to happen to her, Ino. She is safe here." He looked at her. "I'll take care of her."

"I know you will Itachi. I know you will." She gave him a reassuring smile. Itachi has never failed Ino when it comes to his commitment in keeping his word as she had known him for many years, since her school days with Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke. Ino had a major crush on Sasuke and after Sasuke broke her heart, she had learned to move on with another childhood friend, Shikamaru. But that also did not end well when she caught him with another woman in bed, whilst she made a surprise visit to Suna. It was not long after that, her father and only parent left, died in an accident as he was on his way back home, leaving Ino all alone.

After her father's death, Ino took over her family's florist business and applied for a part-time secretarial course at the same time. It was not long after she completed her secretarial course, when she met Itachi in her flower shop that he offered her a position as his private secretary. Three months into the job, Ino met Sasori. The rest is history.

Soon, the bedroom door was opened and both Ino and Itachi walked in to see Hinata sat up on the bed, looking a little apprehensive.

"Can I have a word with you, Itachi-sama?" Shizune whispered to him and he nodded. From outside, Itachi could hear Ino busy fussing around Hinata. He was glad that there was someone like Ino he could depend on.

Itachi looked at Shizune. His arms crossed across his expansive chest and his long ponytail hanging at his back.

"Speak." It was like Itachi giving clear orders for the Shizune to speak first.

"I'm going to need to check on her from time to time and see how is she doing, and you're right. She is suffering from retrograde amnesia, but it is not too bad considering that she seemed to recognize some things from her past. And not all are forgotten."

Itachi's eyes darkened at the mentioned of Hinata's memory.

"What do you mean?"

"She remembers your voice and Ino-san's as well. This means, she has active brain activity whilst in a comatose. After asking some questions, it seems that somewhere in her deep subconscious mind, she seemed to be bothered by a particular detail."

"What is it?"

"Music."

"Music?"

"Yes," Shizune looked at him. "She remembers notes quite well and hummed a certain tune. Perhaps we can introduce some musical instruments that she might be familiar with."

"Hn."

"Her amnesia isn't that serious Itachi-sama and my best estimates is that she'll regain her memories as early as from a few months to a few years but that can be quite subjective." Shizune reassured him. "Don't worry, physically she has a clean bill of health but we'll continue to monitor her progress."

"Thank you," Itachi murmured his thanks as they went back into the bedroom, still wondering about 'music'.

It was almost midnight when Itachi still stayed up late in his study room, going through some papers and files brought over by Ino.

Wearing a traditional black haori jacket and matching black linen drawstring pants, Itachi stretched and then remembered about Hinata. He strode over to the bedroom and leaned against the white wooden doorframe and looked at the sleeping figure. Barefooted, he walked towards the bed and sat carefully by the bedside. A few strands of her hair fell loose in front of her face. He pulled it away and tucked them behind her ear.

Slowly caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, "I wonder, who are you Hinata?"

Itachi can't help but gaze at her. He touched her cheek again. He has never touched anyone so delicate before. It is true that he had his fair share of women before, but all his relationships were very brief, and none lasted more than a week, thus earning him the 'playboy' tag.

Itachi quickly retracted his hand when he saw Hinata whimpered in her sleep. Her long lashes fluttered slightly and it still amazes him at how long her eye lashes were. At that brief moment, he could feel his heart beating rapidly.

Smiling softly to himself, he stared at Hinata's slightly puckered lips. Touching them softly, he drew his head a little closer, letting his lips slowly brushing over hers in light feathery strokes. It was a soft lingering kiss.

Their second kiss together. But what happened after that completely took Itachi by surprise.

"Ita...chi?" Hinata's large pearly eyes looked into his. Itachi didn't know how to respond, only that their faces were merely half an inch away and their noses almost touched! For the first time, he realised. He didn't know anyone with eyes like hers.

Hinata burst into a million shades of red with eyes Itachi did not realised how adorably cute she was until her cheeks were flaming red.

Hinata's heart fluttered like a million wings flying all around. She slowly touched her lips and asked softly, "Wha…what….were you…doing, Itachi?"

"I was…," before Itachi could finish his sentence, he heard some sound at the outside and saw a flash of movement by the glass panes. Hinata noticed it too.

He narrowed his eyes and said grimly, "Stay here and don't go anywhere."

Hinata felt that it was something dangerous, but she knew can trust him. She nodded her head and gripped her blanket tightly.

Itachi dashed out of the room in lightning speed through the glass door that leads to the patio. He activated his bloodline and his specialty – the Mangekyou Sharingan.

He could sense several presence but they weren't moving until somebody made a dastardly bad move. Immediately Itachi sensed it and move in to pin the black clad figure to the tree and using his hand to jab him at the throat until blood spluttered out to him. Two more figures clad in black rushed and knelt before him.

"Itachi-dono," both said.

Itachi halted from killing them. His eyes were evil looking red in colour. His expression was icy and stony.

"What are you doing here?"

"By the orders of Fugaku-dono and the Council of Uchiha Elders, your actions have been filled with suspicion that we were assigned to investigate what is happening," one of them explained. "It seemed your absence from several meetings has caught the attention of the Council and we are certain you are harbouring someone in your vicinity, Itachi-dono."

The other figure nudged his friend not to say anything and Itachi looked at the both of them. Scouts sent by his father and the elders. Itachi was contemplating the inevitable.

"What else do you know?" Itachi asked, still coldly glaring at them with his deadly eyes.

Both black clad figures looked at one another.

The talkative one replied, "The Council has sent another team to investigate the TNHI."

It was enough for Itachi. He knew how meddlesome his family was especially these bunch of old crones. And this has reached his limit. Without saying anything, he gave them their death sentence because they saw Hinata in his house.

"Tsukiyomi," he breathed the deadly words. "Enjoy the World of the Grasping Moon."

And he left them to die.

Itachi quickly moved towards the bathroom before sneaking a glance at the bedroom. Hinata was still conscious.

Itachi jumped up to his balcony from where he stood and strode into his room towards his bathroom. After a short shower, he hurriedly dressed in a black linen shirt and black cotton pants. He didn't even bothered to dry his long raven black hair but was left loose behind his back. By the time he reached Hinata's bedroom, he was surprised that she was still awake.

She looked up to him. Her eyes were full of concern. Secretly, Itachi liked that. He slowly strode over to her, still barefooted and sat by her bed. She quickly put her arms over his neck. He could feel her heart beating rapidly against his chest. Then, Itachi slowly wrapped his strong arms over her small waist.

"There, there," Itachi tried to calm her down. "I'm alright. Why are you not asleep yet?"

"I…I….was…worried. I…I…can't sleep. Who…was it…outside?" she asked innocently.

"It was just some….wild…racoon dogs. I've chased them away now. Don't worry, I'm here," Itachi said, stroking her soft hair, almost biting his tongue for lying to her.

"Wha…what happened?" she asked, breaking away from their hug. She touched his wet hair.

"I fell into a puddle of mud and didn't want to scare you so I went straight to the bathroom." He lied again.

Hinata smiled gently and took a towel from the table beside the bed and looked at Itachi. "Turn around, I'll dry your hair for you."

Itachi was caught by surprise. He knew better than to argue when he saw a hint of steel within that beautiful lilac tinted orb of hers. Automatically, he turned around for her to dry his hair. Strangely, he liked the feeling and he couldn't help but smile with his eyes closed and listening to her humming a tune.

Though it was already late into the night, but time meant nothing to the both of them.


Uchiha Family Residence:

The Uchiha Family Residence is located on Uchiha Hills with magnificent top view. Acres and acres of sprawling green covered the area. It was like a medieval castle hidden amongst the leaves.

Itachi swerved his car into the driveway after passing through the Uchiha family archway. There were a few men dressed in dark blue coloured yukata with the Uchiha family symbol behind their back while others were simply dressed in black suits, tie and shades. They looked like some secret service agents with the earphones stuck to their right ears.

"Itachi-sama," an old man in dark blue kimono with the Uchiha family crest emblazoned at his back said, greeting Itachi at the driveway.

"Good evening, Kaito-sensei," Itachi bowed in front of the old man.

The old man helped to carry his coat of black with red swirls that resembled mostly like clouds.

"Fugaku-dono is waiting for you at the Koi Pavilion, Itachi-sama," Kaito said, leading Itachi inside the traditional looking building that was fully equipped with modern facilities.

Dressed elegantly in his black silk shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and matching black pants, Itachi strode with silent elegance. Once reaching the gardens, he was surprised to see his mother there as well. Usually when his father 'demands' his presence, it was usually something not to be spoken in front of his tender-hearted mother.

"Good afternoon," Itachi greeted. "Father," he bowed to his father and then turned to his mother and smiled gently. "Mama."

"Oh, my son!" Mikoto put down her knitting and went directly to her son and hugged him. "You've been away for a very long time and I hardly see you anymore. Aren't you staying in your apartment in the city?"

"No Mama, I'm staying somewhere else at the moment. The city life depresses me and I'd like to spend some quiet time by myself. Besides, I do my work better at my villa rather than being in the stifling city."

"Very well, come and have some tea and dumplings," Mikoto led her son to the marble garden table and seats. Fugaku was standing by the pond. Initially, he was admiring his prized koi fishes until Itachi arrived. His dark eyes looked penetratingly at his eldest son.

Among his two sons, Fugaku was more rigid with his eldest son since he is the heir to the Uchiha clan. Ever since Itachi was young, he had mastered their family's bloodline, the Sharingan at a mere age of six compared to other normal Uchiha children and he was also the brightest in the family. Completed his high school by the age of fourteen and admitted to the university at fifteen doing medicine but when he was eighteen, he changed his major to business. By twenty, he had completed triple degree in finance, business and political science. By the age of twenty-two, he'd already completed his double masters in corporate finance and actuarial science with first-class honours. In essence, Itachi is a born prodigy and the pride of the Uchiha Clan.

"What pleasure do I owe you for having you come back to your own home?" Fugaku asked sarcastically, feeding his prized fishes.

"Darling," Mikoto chided her husband. "Our eldest son rarely comes home and if he did, it was most likely once or twice a year and I'm glad he's taking the time off to visit us."

"I have been busy, Father," Itachi replied grimly, still staring darkly at his father. "And I'm not a child anymore."

"Really, Itachi? Yes, I know. Dear Kin have been looking all over for you. You shouldn't treat your girlfriend that way, Itachi," Mikoto said, taking some dumplings and putting them on Itachi's plate.

Itachi groaned to himself. "Mama, Kin is not my girlfriend. Never ever, not in this life time or the next for all eternity," Itachi muttered darkly. Not wanting to associate himself with that loud, annoying, clingy woman. "Wasn't she one of Sasuke's fangirls before?"

"Hmph!" Mikoto looked frustrated, giving Fugaku 'the look'.

Itachi caught the look between his parents.

"What happened this time?" Itachi finally asked, and secretly glad that the subject of his ex-girlfriend went down the drain.

"I guess you didn't know," Mikoto murmured. "He skipped school again and we don't know what happened to him lately. He was such a good boy and did so well in school." Itachi looked at his mother. Like every mollycoddling mothers, all their sons are two years old forever in their mind.

"So, what do you want me to do about it?" Itachi finally asked. Knowing well what his parents were asking of him.

"Itachi, we know how close the two of you were and we'd want you to talk to him. Please see what is bothering your brother? And is there anything we can do to help? He is not doing well in school and this is the fifth university we're sending him to," Mikoto pleaded her eldest son. "He just doesn't listen to me anymore, and its breaking my heart to see your brother like this."

Itachi sighed. "Fine. I'll talk to him. Where is he now?" Leisurely taking a piece of dumpling before drowning it down with some green tea.

"He has just got back last night and is out at the training grounds, and with some friends as well. I think you might remember them?"

"Uzumaki and Nara?" Itachi asked.

"Yes, even Naruto-kun tried his best to help but nothing seem to work," Mikoto looked sad before turning to her husband. "Aren't you going to say anything, Fugaku?"

"What is there to say? If Sasuke wants to be a failure, let him be. Itachi is enough to lead the Clan," he replied.

"Fugaku!" Mikoto gasped in horror. "How could you say that! He's your son!"

Itachi glared at his father. "As far as I am concerned, Sasuke is and still my brother."

"How dare you Fugaku..." Mikoto slumped on her chair, clutching on one of her embroidered handkerchiefs. "You can't treat your son like this…"

Fugaku returned the heated glare with equal ferocity. "Look what you have done to your mother!"

Itachi took a step closer towards his father, both men of equivalent power, Fugaku though he might be the Clan Head and Leader of the Uchiha Family but Itachi is the wielder of the Uchiha's ultimate powers – the Mangekyou. "Admitting your own failure has never been your forte, Father."

"You are still my flesh and blood."

Itachi hated that tone of voice from his father. And he has never approved of the favouritism that his father practiced on him and his brother. That was probably why both brothers were slowly drifting apart. Creating that huge gap between them, Itachi felt remorsefully guilty.

When they were very young, Itachi and Sasuke had been very close together. Itachi would teach Sasuke everything and Sasuke adored, even idolizes his older brother like a hero. Up until Itachi left for university, Sasuke was all alone. Facing the psychological battle of being compared with his more talented older brother, Sasuke began to loath the clan ways and he started to rebel. And even after university, Itachi slowly distanced himself from the clan and was more active with the Akatsuki, a group of companies which Itachi helped to form with friends he knew back in his schooling days. By breaking away from his clan, Itachi left Sasuke all alone and that began the resentment of the younger sibling against the older one.

After taking another piece of the dumpling, he kissed his mother on the brow, "Don't be upset Mama. I will see you later."

"Stay for dinner?"

"Yes, of course. I will be staying for the night as well."

That put a warm smile on Mikoto's face. "I will prepare everything!"

Walking around the spacious Uchiha complex, Itachi found himself missing home. It was the place where he was born and grew up. The swaying of bamboos in the bamboo groves and tall majestic pine trees surrounding the Uchiha land. He is sure that Hinata would love it around here. Caught smiling to himself, he suddenly missed the indigo haired girl, the foreign feeling kept fluttering his insides.

I miss you...

-TBC-