AN: Yep, my computer crashed and it took forever to get everything functioning again. Anyway, please, please forgive me! It's so short because I needed to get something up. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Legal: If I owned Naruto it would be really, really, really, really screwed up,

WARNING! RATING CHANGE FOR MOSTLY LANGUAGE

Hinata's POV

What was that noise? It's probably just my imagination; too tired, way hung over. Sleepily, I rolled to the side.

I opened my eyes and saw a figure coming towards my bed. It was huge, about a foot taller than me and definitely male. Whoever it was had come from the window. I started thinking of self-defense techniques I'd learned from Tsunade, my personal trainer. If they don't have a weapon, go for the eyes. At first I'd thought that was disgusting, but now I see that if it's him or me it will never be me.

I tried to keep my breathing even so he would maybe leave me alone. I had already ruled out not breathing; he had already seen me. I closed my eyes and hoped he would pass me so I could attack him from behind.

"Shit! Itachi, how many times have I told you to pick up your guns? If you hadn't had the safety on you would have blown my fucking foot off," some guy half-whispered in the dark. Why did Itachi keep his guns on his floor? The guy turned on the desk lamp on the other side of the room, and when he saw me his eyes widened. He had silver-white hair and muscles on his arms twice the size of my head. He had red eyes, but they weren't the sharingan, and he had a strange attractiveness about him.

"Either you are the new owner of this apartment or you're Itachi's new fuck buddy," the man said, eyeing me with too much interest.

"Who the hell are you?" I spat. I regretted my answer immediately. This man was probably very, very dangerous, and I had let my headache and irritations rule my mouth. To my surprise the man laughed.

"Feisty," another chuckle, "I like it. Listen, I'd love to stick around and talk but I need to speak with Itachi now."

I was getting even more irritated. This man was walking all over me and- unlike the girl I was at the start of this long day- I couldn't seem to ignore it.

"I asked for your name, you dick, and I'd appreciate it if you weren't so rude."

The man stared at me in disbelief before a smirk crossed his face.

"Damn, you've got some balls, blue-eyes. Alright, my name is Hidan. I'm a member of the Akatsuki-"a pause as he gauged my reaction. There was none; I'd expected as much, "-and I need to talk to Itachi about some business. A jinchuuriki raped a girl named Hinata at her own family's club. Can you believe the nerve of . . .?" Hidan trailed off as realization hit him. "You! You're that girl! You have the eyes and everything and the rape is why you're staying at Itachi's!"

My eyes had had gone from wide to impossibly wider.

"Rape?" Oh God. The Akatsuki would ruin Naruto's reputation by noon tomorrow if I didn't do something.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I probably shouldn't have used that word so soon," he stared at me in confusion as I still looked horrified.

"How many people have you talked to about this?" I sounded hoarse.

"Everyone in the Akatsuki except Itachi so far; I found out about thirty minutes ago."

I took a pillow and threw it at him, looking for something heavier that would be acceptable to break.

"Why'd you do that?" Hidan was giving me a confused glare.

"He didn't rape me, you idiot. He pissed me off and wouldn't leave me alone!"

"Jesus, calm down," Hidan was saying as the door was swung open and Itachi came in.

"What the hell is going on? I heard shouting." Itachi's eyes went wide. "Hidan, what are you doing in here?"

Hidan took on a seriousness I hadn't thought him capable of.

"I need to speak with you."

Itachi's POV

After Hinata had finally stopped protesting about Hidan talking to me because, 'What he says isn't true,' Hidan and I headed down to what was considered a basement/meeting place. I pulled up a chair to the small table our group had down here. Hidan pulled up a chair on the other side.

"What is it?" I said after a long silence. I was tired and really not up for dealing with Hidan.

"I originally came down here to tell you that a Jinchuuriki raped a girl at her own night club; Hinata Hyuuga. Then I find that she's staying over here. She claims that that isn't what happened," he paused, "I'm sure it was just denial. She's pretending it never happened."

I looked down at my hands and recounted the night's events in disgust.

"It happened alright. I had been talking to some girl when I saw Hinata walking off with her dress ripped up and tears in her eyes. Naruto was chasing her and when he grabbed her wrist she screamed. I decided that I wouldn't be giving him 'the benefit of the doubt' so I kicked him over and broke a couple of his ribs. Hinata had talked about fighting somebody and that he had 'used' her by making her think he cared. As soon as we got out of there she went for the first car she saw. She'd been horrified when she saw my motorcycle. She didn't even want to touch me when we had to drive. I'd pretended to laugh, thinking it may make her more comfortable.

"When she finally got on I took her here because she hadn't told me where she was staying and I'd been distracted. When we stopped Hinata started saying she was supposed to stay at someone else's house but stopped. I guess she no longer felt safe there. When I unlocked the door I turned to find Hinata an inch above the ground with my younger brother holding her up. He's upstairs on the floor by the couch, because he'd been drunk and she hadn't wanted him to get hurt. She's in a very fragile state of mind and Sasuke was behaving inappropriately towards her and wasn't helping at all," I felt my frustration leaking into my voice. I'd tried to discreetly warn him to back off, thinking I wouldn't have to explain about the rape if I pretended I held a special interest in this girl. I really didn't hold any interest in this girl. From what I've heard she's a stuttering burden, and that annoying habit is too much to deal with; even for a girl of her beauty. What was that one shadow user's favorite word? Oh, that's right.

Troublesome. Troublesome is a word that fits the Hyuuga perfectly. She was so nice, but also so weak. And the real trouble of it is that I would really like this girl if not for her inability to take care of herself. I was too fond of her already. She didn't seem like such a burden . . . But, now that I think about it, none of the people who called her a burden seemed to mind; especially the men. That seemed to bother me a lot for someone who wasn't interested. I would have to be careful around her.

"Yeah, well I can't really blame him. That chick is one hell of a piece of work. She had the guts to throw something at me, knowing I was an Akatsuki member. If you aren't interested, I'm thinking about going after her," Hidan smiled evilly when he saw me stiffen, "Maybe it wasn't just Sasuke being inappropriate, Itachi," Hidan stood up while I glared at him. He paused at the door. "But I was serious about going after her. She's really something . . ."

I listened for his footsteps to completely fade and for the front door to shut. When it did I slammed my fist on the table. Idiot! I'd let on that I had feelings for this girl and unintentionally set a psychopathic, sadistic, masochist after Hinata. I put my head in my hands and after much mental self-abuse I went to go sleep on the couch.

Hinata's POV

The sun is really annoying when you want to sleep in until three in the afternoon. I sat up and felt the worst headache I'd ever had assault my, well, head. Dizziness also made it impossible to move easily. I got up and made my way into the Uchiha's kitchen. I needed coffee, juice, something- anything- that would kill this headache. I headed towards the door that would lead me into the kitchen and living areas when I heard Sasuke arguing with Itachi. I slowed down in an attempt to make myself as quiet as possible and pressed my ear to the door.

"Why did you let Hidan in? You are the dumbest fucking genius I've ever known!"

"I've told you already, Sasuke, that I hadn't known he was in here. You'd think that Hinata would have had the sense to scream, but she was whispering to him. It was almost like she didn't want to bother us with her life or death situation! It concerns me as much as it does you."

"I doubt that. I've liked that girl in that room downstairs for a long time now. Longer than you've even known her. If it weren't for her crush on that idiot I call my best friend I would have asked her out a long time ago. I act as if I'm not interested, but believe me, Itachi, I am."

"How is 'groping her goodnight' instead of 'hugging her goodnight' acting like you aren't interested?"

My face resembled a tomato more and more as the conversation went on.

"Well, after what Naruto did yesterday I'm sure Hinata doesn't still like him, and I can hardly consider that bastard a friend anymore-"

"No," I shouted, before I'd thought it through. I'd shoved my way passed the door and into a room with two brothers staring in shock in my direction. It took five seconds for Sasuke's face to turn a brilliant shade of red. "I mean-I-" I couldn't get the air in to speak what I was trying to say. I guess it's goodbye Uchiha, hello ungodly angry housekeeper. I'm sure I will be verbally abused before getting kicked out. For some reason that thought composed me. More than likely that was because I'm so tired of being bullied that standing up for myself would be fun.

"Hinata," Sasuke started before I interrupted; I would have a say in this fight.

"Sorry, I know it was wrong to listen in on your conversation but I couldn't help it. Normally I'm better at keeping my mouth shut," a small grin to myself, "So again, sorry. And Sasuke," I watched in amusement as his face got even darker, "Naruto didn't do anything that would require you to stop being his friend -"

"But he raped you!" Itachi screamed; the annoyance and disbelief prominent on his face. "And you keep shrugging it off! What is wrong with you? There is no one that forgiving." Itachi had stood up in his outburst and just now seemed to realize it. Slowly, he sat down, his fingers still clenching the kitchen table.

"You're right," I saw the look of revulsion on each of the Uchiha's faces and rushed to continue before Naruto was brutally murdered for just rejecting me, "I'm not that forgiving. I'm actually not as kind as my outward appearance would have you guess. I will tell you this once more, - and only once more- Naruto did not rape me."

Itachi knit his eyebrows together.

"I don't at all believe you, but I agree to not bring it up around you," and with that Itachi stood, as if to dismiss it.

"Hold on!" I cried out before he left. There was another very important thing I had to say before this conversation could be over, "You also have to agree to get the Akatsuki to stop spreading these lies and to not harm Naruto in any way."

Itachi turned to face me with a somber look etched into his eyes.

"Even if that shit's innocent, I can't control what the Akatsuki says or does," and then his eyes brightened, "Plus, I wouldn't mind ruining that aggravating grin of his."

Stunned, I just stood there as he walked passed me. The room was silent and my headache reminded me why I'd come up here in the first place. Robotically, I moved to the table.

"You don't have to worry about Itachi," Sasuke said. I jumped a little, having nearly forgotten his existence in my small personal world. Sasuke's head was on his arm and one of his hands was playing with the loose screws on his side of the table. "He, at least, won't do anything to Naruto. And he will say something to the Akatsuki, but they won't listen."

I stared at him for a bit, until he turned to look me in the eyes, with his head still flat on the table. I felt a small smile creep up as I remembered what he'd said about me earlier. I decided to give him a little hope; probably not a good idea, but I was going with it anyway.

"Jesus, the Akatsuki has blown things so out of proportion, and your brother doesn't believe a word I say. The only thing right in this whole conversation is when you said I don't like Naruto in that way anymore. I guess he could still be considered a really good guy, but-"

I was startled when I felt Sasuke's hand on mine. He wouldn't face me. His head was buried in his arm, enough to slightly muffle his next words.

"Hinata," Sasuke whispered softly.

"Yes?" I felt the heat rising quite quickly to my cheeks.

"Did he?"

"Did who what?" I asked, dazed. I felt so light headed. I'd never had someone come on to me so strongly. Sure, I kissed Naruto in the parking lot, but it was me being wildly out of control. I'd just obtained freedom, so you can't really blame me.

"Did Naruto rape you?"

And with that my soaring spirits crashed and burned. I felt my eyes narrow and I drew my hand back slightly. Sasuke noticed, and then looked up to see my stone-cold, angry face. He stiffened and lifted his head off the table.

"I could quite literally break your legs for that. I'm not answering that question."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at me. Maybe it was because I was so unthreatening.

"Then what did happen?"

I guess I could tell this story. It would maybe make some things click in place.

xXx

Sasuke's POV

"So, in the end, it was a mix of Sakura and the hypnotist's fault."

"Yeah, you would believe it was her fault, though. I need an unbiased opinion if I am to justify hating her."

It was quiet, but it was a comfortable sort of silence.

"Hey, Hinata?"

"Hm?"

"Do you really believe in that hypnotist shit?"

"It's worked for me so far."

"I don't think so. I think you looked for a loophole in the last thing he said so you could defend your 'undisciplined behavior.' I think you convinced yourself to do what you like because you've been so restrained your entire life."

"I can't acknowledge that," Hinata said, looking infinitely sad.

"What do you mean by 'I can't acknowledge that'? "

"What I mean is, you're right. But if I let myself know that's it's me in control and not something higher than me, I will go back to how I was before. I wouldn't be able to sit out here with you. I wouldn't have the guts to lie on the old stone railing of an eighth story apartment just to watch the sunset. I wouldn't even be able to talk to you without biting my tongue on enough stutters to make me bleed."

"But didn't you just admit to it not being real?"

"No. On a deep down level I'm sure you're right, but on the outer levels I believe it's out of my hands so I get to do whatever I want."

"Your dad's going to flip shit when he gets home. Do you really think it's a good idea to do whatever you feel like?"

"Who says flip shit?" she rolled her head away from the sunset to look at me, making the faint light cast an orange glow to her pale face and give a red tint to her hair. The shadows emphasized the well developed body of the Hyuuga. I made a valid point, because if I could do what I wanted to do right now. . . "But, anyway, back to what you were saying. The thing is I no longer care. I don't care if my dad gets mad or calls me a disappointment. I can never make him approve of me, I see that now that my minds cleared of all the thoughts begging me not to disappoint or burden anyone else. It's finally about me. I'm sure that sounds selfish."

"Yeah, super selfish, your life being about you; ridiculous." I rolled my eyes at her and she smiled; making my heart thud erratically.

"Smart ass," Hinata said, and then she started to laugh. Have I ever heard her laugh before? I've heard from someone else that she laughs; I think I heard it from that kid with the huge dog he takes with him everywhere. I started to laugh with her, just from the joy of making her laugh.

At the end of it Hinata swung the leg she had had dangling off the other side of the rail onto the balcony where her other foot rested lightly on the wood floor of the balcony. She pushed herself up to where she was leaning with her back against the rail and her elbows resting on top of the rail. She was facing me, still smiling.

"But, yeah, I'm pretty sure Hiashi's just a narcissist." Hinata's face was dead serious. I couldn't help the laughter that escaped. Soon we were both doubled over laughing and anything we said just made it worse. I was starting to really like this girl. Hinata had made this complicated; taking a simple 'I think you're hot' to an 'I must have her.'

I heard the door open in the background. There stood Itachi, looking more miserable than usual.

"What's wrong?" I asked, before Hinata had a chance to say anything.

"It's Naruto."

"What about him?" Hinata seemed irritated, as if expecting another 'did he rape you' question. I could tell it was something worse.

"He's gone missing and the Akatsuki members insist that I don't need to know about it. I'm sure they have him, which means . . .," with that he stopped. I cringed. Which meant he'd be dead if we didn't do something within the next twenty four hours.

"Means what?" Hinata asked. Her face as white as her eyes.

"We will have to get going, now, if you want him to live."

Decent? Lotsa SasuHina here, I'll work on ItaHina next chapter. Sorry for the cliffy. Please R&R. Feel free to scream at me for not posting in months. Uber sorry for that.