Well what did I say? Huh, I said and hence it's here. A Quicker update. Round of applause for me. This chapter is the longest I've written 2000 words longer than my average 6000, and as I said also on the bottom of the chapter along with my author's notes will be a small list of stories that I've been working on that might catch your interest. Enjoy the chapter. Forgive any grammer mistakes my vision isn't at it's best at the moment.

Chapter Nine: Lucid Lake


Kiba tossed in his bed profusely, his heavy breaths came out of his chest in horrible rattles, as if an archaic stone was forever entrapped there, shaking and crooning in his chest with every agonizing breath.

"Kiba…"

His brows burrowed and twitched as dews of sweat glistened in the depression between the bones protruding from his collarbone. His fret had gotten so bad that his joints jutted out in gnarly bones and the little muscle that was left was now stringy and fragile. His cheeks hollowed out and his eyes sunk in creating a heavy and droopy look to his eye lids.

"Kiba save me."

He flung his shoulder to the other side of the bed digging his whimpering face deeper into his pillow as if trying to suffocate his dream. His lips shook with tremors and his fingers twitched as if they had been shocked. He wore his old soccer shirt – though he quit the team not long after Hinata was abducted, after all if he hadn't of gone to practice that day Hinata would still be with him. His coach had pleaded him to stay, everyone on the team felt forlorn for Hinata but even they knew their pain paled in comparison to the morbid monster consuming Kiba. So he now wore the shirt not as a memoir but as a cross to always remind him of his sin as a friend.

His lips moved apart as he called out her name. "Hinata… who took you?"

Silence ensued and the dreaded moment caused him to frown.

"Who took you? Tell me"

Again he heard no response; the silence was a bleak harpy clawing his good faith, forcing him into an asylum of fret. Kiba's canine teeth peaked out from his dry lips as his cheeks continued to tremble, Akamaru who was loyally asleep at the foot of his bed whimpered in concern but stayed weary from Kiba. It seems a few nights of screaming and thrashing had taught the dog to let his master sort out his own feelings, the matters of humans have no place for a comforter such as he.

"Tell me"

"Tell me!"

"I heard your voice! Where are you?!"

Kiba flung himself up and threw himself off his bed. The blankets heating his sweaty body were ensnared around his legs preventing him from running out the door. He thrashed wildly trying to free himself all the while howling in pain. His bony hands wrapped themselves around his head grabbing a handful of his own hair as he continued screaming.

"Stop!" his voice cackled and came out in a childish cry.

He burst out in another howl as the door to his room flew open and his sister came striding in.

"Kiba!"

He began grabbing objects on the floor and transformed them into projectiles, throwing them against the wall, watching as soccer trophies and pictures smashed into pieces.

Hana who was a grown woman and much stronger than the feeble Kiba latched onto his legs and dragged him out of his room. She flinched as she heard him cry in pain for the friction between his bare back and the coarse carpet was shaving skin from his back. She bore with his screams all across the house until she came to the bathroom door. She dragged him into the bathroom and heaved him over the tub immediately turning on the cold water so that Kiba could awaken from his ravenous dream.

Soon after Kiba entered the frigid cold water his tremors stopped. Beads of water caressed his sullen face riding the curves of his cheek as they fell from his chin, his dry lips turned blue and his teeth chattered. His glossy feral eyes became tranquil as they gazed into the face looking back at him from the water.

If Kiba were to look at himself before the kidnapping he would probably get beaten up by his older self. What a disgrace he has become. The hours spent in the gym trying to tone his muscle in a frail attempt to attract Hinata were in vain as he looked at the stringy muscle pathetically attached to his bone. His once full face, complimented for its strong jaw and framed cheeks, have become nothing more than sunken eyes and hollow bones. His fierce abs, which rippled under his shirt, have lowered themselves to ribs whose only use is to protect his withering heart.

His eyes fell upon his sister who had a mix of worry and anger in her eyes; she held a soft towel in her hands and pointed to the drenched clothes that stuck to his skin.

"I'm putting the towel right here. Get out of those clothes." She snapped, she placed the towel on the floor and left closing the door with a booming thud.

Kiba removed the sticky shirt from his back and hissed as it sloshed across the carpet burn oozing maliciously. He turned his back so that it faced the mirror and groaned as he saw the battle scars from the night's war. The burn stretched from his shoulder across his torso and the sad thing about was that this wasn't his first burn. He's had several episodes where Hana has been forced to lug him across their home and has been forced to bear his howls of pain as the carpet marred his back. Yet it was the only way to calm him down, Hana was a strong woman by none the less she was still a woman and it is simply impossible for her to carry her seventeen year old brother who is in hysterics across their home in order to get to the bathroom.

He continued taking off his shorts as well as his soaking boxers until he was completely bare. His eyes drifted down to his ankles and frowned at the bruises on them. The ones from last time still hadn't of healed, he almost laughed at the bizarre colors blooming: dark purple, a sickly green, and even a black one.

Kiba sighed loudly and rubbed his throbbing eyes. He grabbed the towel that Hana had set for him and wrapped it around his waist securely then he opened the door and received the aftershock from his episode, which was of course a slap from Hana.

"Again! Kiba this has been going long enough", Kiba watched as she began rubbing her shoulders pacing up and down the hall, "How many times do you want me to hear you scream!"

Hana slapped him again in anger. Tears flooded her eyes but none fell off her face for she was a strong woman who didn't allow men to see her cry, not even her own brother.

"Sit on the chair so that I can disinfect your burn" she growled sheepishly. Kiba strode past her and winced as he sat down. His back went from burning to festering and the intensity of it almost caused him to go into another fit of spats.

"Be quiet Kiba before I really give you something to scream about." She threatened. She dowsed the gauze in hydrogen peroxide and patted it across the pink flesh; even though she was a tough sister her hands none the less were gentle and soft.

"Hana" he spoke in a wispy voice that sounded as if it could shatter any moment. "I'm sorry."

Kiba looked down at his hands and tightened them in a sturdy fist. "If I ever find the guy who took her…" There was no need for him to finish his sentence because his hollow eyes said it all.

Hana finished bandaging his back and shoved him off from the seat. "Revenge is an ugly thing Kiba. Don't let it devour you."

Kiba's eyes hardened as he fixed the towel hugging his waist. The only thing that ever calmed him down lately were thoughts about how he'd kill the man who took Hinata, so many methods of torture ran through his head, and occasionally one would be so good and terrible that it would bring a smile to his face.

"Hana I'm sorry for waking you up so early." Kiba bowed his head in apology and walked towards his room to change. He seemed humble today but on the contrary inside him boiled a lecherous yet noble animal. He came to the conclusion that in order for him to find Hinata he must first gain his old body back. He must replace his weary body with that of Kiba Inuzuka.

He changed into a black Misfit shirt and some jeans and then called Akamaru to him and patted his loyal friend on the head.

"Akamaru we'll find her soon."

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOoo

The scent of the moist earth infiltrated his nose with distaste. He scowled at the smell of death and quickly trotted across the brittle leaves to find a good spot. Many leaves and branches clawed his pants as if trying to take him but Itachi did not fear death. He's seen it so many times in his life that it has become more of a morbid interest than a job. It never ceases to fascinate him the ways a human can die. Strangulation, poison, bullet wound, suffocation, fire, water, torture, hacking off limbs, cannibalism, collecting body parts, hanging, electrical shocks, falling off buildings, the list can go on really.

But as for the death of Hinata a stabbing should suffice. He slashed her palm earning enough blood to drench the front of the shirt in a way that will appear as if her throat was slit. The blood formation for that is quite fascinating, the collar of the shirt is deep red and absorbs the most blood, then the rest of the blood cascades down creating a waterfall effect. That should be a proper death for her. Itachi would have to leave the clothes in an area where the blood can dry out; it would simply be absurd if the blood was fresh. No the blood should be dry so that it appears as if she had died a while ago because if the blood was fresh then that would give reason to search for a body and Itachi simply can't have his men snooping when they can be solving real crimes such as the chain of rape cases littering the ghetto parts of Konoha. Why spend man power finding a girl who is safe when there is so much of an infestation in Konoha?

With medical gloves he expertly laid the blood ridden cloths underneath several layers of dirt and leaves. It was in a flat pile that was simply text book; no one would find it unless they were trained in the field of crime. Itachi took steps back both of his hands on his waist as he observed his masterpiece. None of his foot prints were left in the fresh earth and his hair was tied back in a tight tail so that no hair would stray and betray him.

Itachi held on to the plastic bag with a fierce grip and strode back to his car quietly surveying the area on his way back. As he was just about to pass a bleeding maple –which bleed in more ways than one- his honed eyes caught sight of freshly uncovered earth. The law abiding captain in him drove him to see what was buried and he found to his utter fascination that it was a human foot.

It was swollen and blotchy. The healthy color which he was sure it once had, had morphed into a thin blue pale color that only the dead could acquire.

Itachi did not bother seeing if the foot was attached to a body. He did not doubt that this forest had so much more than one corpse slumbering in its soft grounds.

"Good bye Hinata Hyuuga, come tomorrow your pretty face will be greeting everyone in the obituaries."

Itacho bowed his head in mock respect and leisurely drove off speedily to his beloved city.

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOoo

"From now on whenever you feel the need to cook don't" barked a snappish voice. Sasuke paced to and fro across the tattooed carpet rubbing his hand against his wrist in agitation.

He walked towards Hinata and yet again held her bandaged hand in his own, cradling the limb as if it were his unborn child.

"I just don't understand why it's so deep. What the hell were you thinking? You've never cooked a thing in your life, did you think that years of watching servants cook for you would compensate for your own lack of skills. Hinata I don't want you going near the kitchen knives again! What sort of child are you to be toying with tools that you've never worked with before. Why do you think I cook all your meals, you don't need to lay a finger inside the kitchen if that knife had moved just one inch lower it could have been your wrist!"

Hinata stared at her hand with eyes of betrayal; she didn't say a word about Itachi because she wanted to forget about him completely. The bleeding cut forced on her hand was by an accident in the kitchen, it was by no means Itachi's plan to kill her. Itachi did not come to Sasuke's house. No, he is still diligently looking for her so that she could return to her family. This cut itching on her palm was a simple accident. Itachi is Konoha's most revered captain; he would never betray his village for his own family, no this cut is…

Just an accident.

"I was h-h-hungry" she moaned. She made her wounded hand into a fist and smashed it down on the table. "It was just an accident. Don't you dare yell at me when I was the one who got hurt." She opened her palm only to wince at her spontaneous self infliction.

Sasuke pouted his cheeks in his usual childish manner and lifted her hand, which began bleeding again. The cut was deep. It was definitely not an accident but he also knows that Hinata is not one to intentionally hurt herself either.

She was hiding something from him.

"I didn't mean to yell," he held her marred hand to his cheek and felt the electricity conducting between his marble skin and her amber hand. "But when you do something as stupid as this it makes me wonder whether I should have you beside me the whole time so that something as useless as a knife can't hurt you."

Sasuke tugged on her arm lulling her towards his lap. Hinata allowed herself to fall into his clutches and nuzzled her face in his black wool sweater. His scent was welcoming, a mixture of mandarin and herbal spice. Her body melted into his warm arms and she took advantage of it and snuggled into every crook on his torso so that she could absorb all his warmth. All the Uchiha's were the same, as long as they were happy it didn't matter who they hurt but Hinata could not bring herself to hate this man, it was not in her blood to hate. Even though her knuckles revealed small scars from her training with Neji and fights with Ino, not once did she ever hate her opponent.

While his gaze was distracted Hinata took the opportunity to observe his features. She has never been this close to a man before; even with Neji and her father it was only polite to keep her distance. Hinata could practically count the lashes on his eyes and she could properly examine his jaw which somehow always appeared to be clenched. The structure for his face was also quite fascinating; he was blessed with high cheeks bones which were complimented nicely with a strong jaw. His lips were just a few shades pinker than his skin and they were of moderate size as well, not too thin nor too thick, a remarkable trait that not many men can pull off. His Adam's apple jutted out from his throat and swaggered and moved with every swallow and breath he took. His skin was smooth; save for the few stubborn hairs rebelling on his jaw line, his skin also took the color of a rare ivory cream similar to that of talc.

Hinata felt the workmanship of his muscles on her back. They stretched his pale skin to an attractive size, more lean than bulky. Hinata leaned her head against his chest hushing her breathing so that she could listen to the muscle that was to blame for everything she had been put through, his heart.

Its melodic beat was no different than anyone else's. So why is it that it yearns for no one but her?

"We'll be leaving in about three days. It's not wise to stay in this place for long." Interjected Sasuke, he crushed her body towards his chest holding her as if this was their last moment. He silently pressed his lips against her forehead and began a heated trail down her cheeks to her chin, slothfully down her neck past her collar until he met the barrier of her shirt. Respectfully he stayed clear of her breasts, but the male side of him insisted on resting his head between the valley of her bosom. He could hear the rapid beating of her heart thumping fiercely like a wild rabbit. He could not help but smile at her, oh how he wished to show her how much he loved her. She has definitely grown more serene to his consorts, whenever he pulls her to him she no longer locks her legs in protest and when he wraps his wanton arms around her waist she moves ever so quietly so that his arms can hold her comfortably, and when he kissed her he could feel her once tense lips soften up making their kiss just a degree more enjoyable.

"Are we going back to your house in Konoha?" she curiously questioned.

Sasuke was about to answer but then he pondered for a moment and looked around the room as if he had just realized something. Hinata saw his eyes darken as he spoke.

"Hinata. Where is the black bag with your clothes?"

Hinata froze on the spot and groaned in her head as she too realized that that bag was missing. Itachi had taken it with him; she was so busy trying to forget about him but the plain truth was that she couldn't even if she tried. She quickly thought of a lie from the top of her head and hoped that he would believe her.

"I c-cut it into p-pieces and f-f-flushed it down the t-toilet." She stuttered, shifting her eyes to her bandage and pulling off some fuzz that was stuck on it. "Since you won't need it anyways, we made a promise remember?"

Sasuke stood up from his seat gently putting Hinata aside and looked at her straight in the eyes with a deep and dissecting stare. It was as if he were seeing right through her, delving into her fears and secrets like a demon.

Hinata dared not waver her eyes from him. She silently held her breathe as he scrutinized her.

"Are you lying to me?" he asked. There was no emotion in his voice; she would rather have him shout out accusations to her. His voice sounded almost disbelieving and hurt and she could tell by looking at the way he stood that he was suspicious.

"Why would I lie about something like that?" she murmured.

Sasuke patted his foot on the carpet for a second and suddenly burst out in a chirpy tone.

"Of course. Why would you lie to me? That's a very good plan Hinata, if the clothes are in the sewer system then there's no way anyone would recognize them let alone find them." He chuckled.

His face glowed five times the shade it was before and it almost seemed as if he were floating on air.

"How about we go outside? To tell you the truth there are only country folk here and very few of them keep up with the news. Also if we change your look a bit there's no way any outsiders will tell that you're from Konoha."

He snatched her hand and flung her on the bed throwing clothes at her.

"You'll need something baggy to wear a lot of the old geezers like to leer if you know what I mean so we got to cover you up."

Sasuke threw a blue and silver sweat shirt that was three times her size and some shorts that were so large that she and Sasuke could probably use it as a snug sleeping bag. Hinata sized up the clothes to her body and shook her head in dissatisfaction.

"These are way too large Sasuke. I'd be tripping and falling the whole time." She complained.

Sasuke mumbled something under his breath and dropped the clothes he had in his hand scrutinizing her body; he rubbed his hand on his chin and gazed back at his wardrobe, then he reached in and took out a belt.

"This should fix it"

He tossed it to Hinata and returned to his search for clothes. Meanwhile Hinata hissed at his insensitive remarks and huffed as she lugged the clothes into the bathroom so that she could dress in humiliation.

Hinata of course was right for even with the belt she still stumbled and fell.

"Sasuke I look ridiculous. I look like a boy wearing hand-me-downs."

Sasuke, who was dressed in a green long sleeve and jeans, glanced at her and smiled happily.

"Good that's the look I was aiming for. The old people around here know that I have a brother but they've never met Itachi, this is a good chance to let you catch some sun without raising suspicion."

Hinata looked at herself in the mirror and frowned at the genius of his plan. Her skin color was just a shade lighter than his and if she wore glasses their faces, though way different, could be pulled off as siblings. Her chest was hidden nicely within the folds of the sweater and her hips would no doubt be concealed by the exaggerated size of her shorts. Save the fact that her hair was long Hinata really did look like a young boy.

"You'll be wearing a beanie to hide your hair and as for your eyes I'll give you some glasses so that they can't be seen. We won't be talking to any people but if we happen to meet someone on the way you'll at least be safe."

Hinata nodded in understanding and walked towards his closet picking out the smallest pair of shoes that he had, which weren't small to begin with then Sasuke grabbed her uninjured hand and almost dragged her out the door.

They rushed out so fast that Hinata didn't even have time to soak in all of nature's glory, she had been captive for a whole month without sunlight and now was her chance to appreciate it after all she didn't know when would be the next time we would ever be given the privilege of going outside.

"A few miles down is a trial will lead us to a lake. No one ever goes there so we can take our time." He smugly grinned.

Hinata gazed through the clouded vision of the glasses and took in all of her surroundings. Even though everything was the same shade behind the glasses Hinata could tell the different tones of the leaves, it was already fall. The leaves that held on so vigorously during the summer now had to rest their weary struggle and glide to the ground where every animal eventually meets its end. The ground had become brittle and caused so much dust to be distributed in the air that there was almost a fog of dirt. It was even to the point where Hinata could practically taste all the flavors of the earth.

Her feet made a healthy crunch sound as she heard every grain of dirt being compressed together creating a symphony of music while she walked. The wind caressed her skin lightly as it passed her, as if welcoming her return to the outside world, the trees themselves seemed to sway in joy by her presence, even the horrible bleeding maple tree groaned in respect as she went by it.

Black ravens circled with cardinals cawing and chirping an unfamiliar tune. Being outside had never felt so alive.

"It seems like really good weather today. I just hope it doesn't rain." He mentioned. Sasuke held onto her hand without warning and entwined his fingers with hers.

Hinata paid no attention to his small gesture of love as she merrily strode on the path to this so called lake. To her it didn't really matter where they were going as long as she could stretch her legs and take in as much of the earth scented goodness as she could.

"Is the lake real?" she suddenly asked.

Sasuke squeezed her hand and bit his lip holding back an outburst of a laugh.

"Of course it's real what kind of lake do you think I'm taking you to?" he snorted.

Hinata looked ahead curiously as if expecting the lake to pop out then she mentioned.

"Well it's just that I've never seen a real lake. I've been to artificial ones but to me they basically look like swimming pools with plants around them."

Sasuke took well to note that Hinata has lived a rich girl's life. He should not have expected her to know how a real lake looks like, heck he shouldn't have expected her to know what any body of water should be other than an expensive pool. Her father has blinded her from much of the world.

"Well we're here." He chirped.

Hinata walked around a tree that was blocking her view and gazed at the wonder of a natural lake. The artificial one she had seen paled in comparison to this one. Whereas the fake lake had clear crystal waters this one had mysterious murky depths that harmonized like aqua glass, whereas the fake lake had trees of the same species around its borders this one had water grass and ferns and logs floating in its region, whereas the fake lake had imported fish from the Netherlands this one had numerous breeds of fish which all seemed to camouflage with the water and the lake floor.

Sasuke led her to the edge of the lake where the water seemed deeper than the rest and pointed to the surface.

"Do you see that?"

His eyes were open wide as if he had just discovered lost treasure. The tips of his fingers were mere centimeters from the cool surface.

"Look"

Hinata curiously drew her face closer to the edge scrutinizing the water looking for the object that caused him so much fascination.

"I can't find it. What do you see?" she whispered, dead serious, her brows were burrowing together and her lips thinned as she tried to look at what was hiding under the opaque depths of the lake.

"I see… a girl falling into the water!"

Hinata had barely realized what he said when suddenly she was shoved into the icy cold lake gasping for breath trying to find the lake floor to steady herself. She screamed as the cold water broke through the baggy sweatshirt and went all the way to her undergarments soaking her completely. She wobbly stood up trying feebly to hold her ground and not fall back in, the frigid cold water went up to her waist and the gushy lake floor ensnared her feet making it extremely difficult to move.

Her clothes stuck to her skin giving her a Sharpei look. She stood up furiously in the lake glaring at Sasuke with all the heat left inside her body.

"It's c-c-cold" she stammered holding out her hand so that Sasuke could help her out. But Sasuke backed away from the edge all the while holding a mischievous grin on his face, refusing to lend out his hand to the poor soaking girl.

"Aren't you going to help me out? It's hard to walk with all the mud."

Sasuke paced happily around the edge shaking his head.

"If you want me to help you out you have to give me a kiss in return." He bargained, hesitantly holding out his hand with a childish crooked smile.

Hinata growled in frustration and splashed the cold water towards his direction hoping to see him squirm, but instead he simply backed away from the splash range and shook his head as if scolding her.

"Ah, ah. Getting me wet won't make you drier." He cooed, swaying his feet over the surface of the lake in mockery.

"But it will me make happy" she hissed quietly to herself away from Sasuke's ears.

Hinata got down on all fours careful to keep her injured hand from getting any wetter than it already was and crawled to the edge of the lake where Sasuke had pushed her. The mud was making it very difficult but with great toil and sweat she managed to push herself to the edge. Once there she rested her head on the grassy bay panting to catch her breath.

"I can't believe you pushed me in. Now we have to go back and bandage my hand again." She groaned, mourning over the fact that she will have to go back indoors only hours after she was allowed outside.

Sasuke held his stomach as he walked towards her laughing his delicate little head off.

"You look so adorable" he gasped, bending over as he tried catching his breath. "I can't believe you fell in like that, and the way you screamed." He yet again fell into another fit of laughs.

Hinata sloshed towards him lunging towards his body soaking him with her wet clothes.

"Ahh! You're cold"

He playfully tried getting her off of him but Hinata held on vigorously forcing all the excess water onto his clothes. She sat on his waist and strained all the water from her sweatshirt over his chest and face until he too was just as wet as she was. Even though Sasuke was allowing her to pin him down he was beginning to regret it when all of the water set in on his clothes creating a chill in his skin.

"I brought an extra set of bandages for your cut, but as for our clothes we'll have to sit in the sun for a while before it sets."

Sasuke reached into his pocket taking out a zip locked bag containing gauzes and antibacterial cream. He skillfully treated her hand, which yet again opened up dripping blood. Then Sasuke walked to the sunniest part of the bay and removed his shirt revealing rare white skin yearning for sunlight and vitamin D.

Hinata, who had more manners than just removing all her clothes, sat a few feet from him and trembled as the cold lake water settled on her skin causing her teeth to chatter.

"You can sit closer to me if you want." He patted the patch of pasture next to him and waved for her to get closer.

Hinata, whose lips had already begun taking a blue hue, resentfully came close to him and allowed him to put his arm around her shoulders in an effort to warm her body.

"You can go ahead and take off your clothes if you want; no one is going to see you in your underwear. Well except me but I don't really count."

Hinata snorted quietly and responded. "I'm fine like this. I'm already starting to feel warm again."

But it was obvious to both her and Sasuke that she was lying, the soft chattering in her teeth gave her away.

Hinata scooted closer to him trying as much as she could to feel the heat radiating off his exposed torso, but the cold water still lodged in her clothes prevent little if any heat to warm her.

"Don't worry I'm not going to ravish you if you take off your clothes, give me some credit I may be a guy but I do have some self control. I am an Uchiha after all."

Hinata quietly growled as he said that, that utter arrogance was all too similar to Itachi just the memory of that man caused her temperature to lower several degrees.

"Turn around" she commanded, nervously tugging the sides of the sweatshirt feeling it slosh across the ground as she threw it down. Then she removed her shorts which seemed to retain more water than the lake itself. She stripped down until she was left in her underwear, which were technically boxers that Sasuke let her have, and her bra.

As she was finally regaining the feel in her toes a soft breeze suddenly whished by and caused her to fly into a series of shivers as she grabbed the nearest warmest object, which of course was Sasuke who was still obediently turned so that she could undress.

"If you're still cold I can think of a few ways that can warm us up." He suggest, looking suggestively at her undergarments as if they were hindering band-aids that needed to be ripped off.

Hinata instinctively shielded her chest from his lecherous stare and blushed at the idea that he was implying.

She felt his large warm hand on the hook of her strap, rubbing his fingers on her spine as if easing her nervousness. But Hinata knew what he was trying to do, he was an incubus trying to lull her into fantasy, a starving demon yearning for soft skin and lush lips, and though she knew these things quite well her wretched heart insisted on allowing his touch. The miserable beating thing swayed only for him and Hinata despised it.

"Don't" she mumbled as she felt his skilled hands fingering the hook of her strap teasingly.

Sasuke wrapped an arm around her bare legs and scooted her towards him while his other arm tangled itself around her shoulder pushing her torso closer to his. The heat radiating off his body was vicious and in a few minutes Hinata gained back the warm temperature that she had before she was pushed into the lake.

It felt nice.

"I won't do anything don't worry." He sealed his word by kissing her forehead and rubbing her shoulder in caress.

Hinata searched around the scenery and admired the exotic flavor of the lake. Across its briny shores were trees with a few late bloomers that didn't quite make it with the rest of its kin. The flowers were magenta with a hue of amber dripping from its borders. A soft powder of pollen filled its hollow womb and gave it a serene motherly look. The grass around the tree hugged its bark with an infant glow and danced ever so softly when the wind kissed its leafy tips. Behind the tree were myriad bushes yielding multicolored leaves, it shook violently and caused Hinata to raise her brow with suspicion. The wind wouldn't cause such uproar in the leaves so the only other explanation would be that there is someone hiding there.

"Sasuke I think there's someone watching us." She whispered quietly. But Sasuke was already steps ahead as he snatched her clothes and flung them on top of her along with himself.

"Hey what are you doing?!" she cried as Sasuke completely pushed himself on top of her encasing her body with all the splendor of his rigid muscles.

"We're just a couple making out on the lake. Nothing suspicious about that right?" he chuckled, kissing her lips frivolously and cradling her head, smoothing her hair.

Hinata tried to mumble in retort but fell ill to his lips and decided it was better to go along with his wild scheme.

After minutes of heavy kissing, Sasuke lifted himself off of her giving her just a little space to look behind him.

"Do you still see him?" he whispered hotly.

Hinata used his neck as leverage and lifted her head to a higher elevation, she peered over the nape of his neck shielding as much of her revealing body under his torso so that the mysterious intruder wouldn't get anything to look at. She saw a trimming of white hair at the very edge of bushes and came to the conclusion that it was a peeping old man.

"I just see some white hair, do you think it's one of the old people that live around here?" she murmured in his ear. As soon as she mentioned the white hair he immediately tensed up and pushed her down under him completely shielding her from any view at all.

"White hair? Are you sure, did you see his face? Does he have tribal marks under his eyes?"

Hinata responded saying that all she saw was white hair.

"Damn. I think I know who it is; I want you to put on your glasses and not say a word. That old man is a huge peeping tom so find your clothes and put them on."

Hinata sensed the danger in Sasuke's voice and obediently obeyed. She reached for her clothes and awkwardly put them on even though they were still somewhat wet. She got her glasses and put on the dark shades just as Sasuke was shouting something over the lake.

"Alright Jiraiya come on out. My fiancé's body is for my own eyes only." Snapped Sasuke, with a feral frown.

Hinata snuck behind Sasuke like a child and peered over his shoulder to see the bushes move wildly as a large and burly man jumped out hiding a small telescope in his back pocket.

"Sasuke old sport, I'm so sorry. I thought one of my precious lambs got loose and was being devoured by a wild wolf, but I see that it was simply you and your … fiancé" The old man said the final word scrutinizing Hinata with an extremely lecherous eye, he didn't even try to hide the fact that his eyes were glued on her breasts and the sweater sticking tightly to her body didn't quite help either.

"I feel so foolish old boy, we haven't seen each other in so long. How long have you been engaged. The last time I saw you, you were still being weaned by that gorgeous mother of yours and look at you now, so young and already engaged. You haven't made any little Uchiha's yet now have you?" The boisterous man winked at Hinata and laughed rashly as he seized Sasuke's shoulder.

Sasuke looked stumped for a moment and joined the old man in merriment.

"Oh don't worry about that, we'll be working on that part real soon." Howled Sasuke, taking Hinata from behind him and rubbing her flat belly.

Hinata hid her head in utter embarrassment and felt her face get five times pinker. These two men were complete fools.

"Oh forgive me little lady, I haven't introduced myself," the man bowed his head and flicked his hand in respect. "The name is Jiraiya, if I may ask your name"

Sasuke immediately interjected with a cool unwavering voice.

"Her name is Sumire, she's a bit shy, go ahead and introduce yourself to him."

Sasuke grabbed her shoulder and pushed her towards Jiraiya. Hinata looked at the old man in the eye for a few moments and quickly hid them from his view. She realized that she could probably scream out that her name wasn't Sumire, it was Hinata Hyuuga, she could yell how Sasuke kidnapped her and forced her to stay locked up in his house. She could even rat out Itachi and cry about how Konoha's captain had ultimately betrayed her for his own family. Yes, she could have told Jiraiya many things but instead she bowed and politely spoke.

"My name is Sumire Tsume, it's nice to meet a friend of Sasuke's"

Sasuke seemed pleased that she went along because his grip on her shoulder loosened and he released her completely from his range. Jiraiya, however, took this as a sign for him to freely hug her and as quick as a flash he wrapped his massive bear arms around her petite frame, feeling no need to keep his hands to himself either as she felt a large hand grope her rump.

"You are one lucky sport Sasuke, this pretty lady looks like one swell dream."

Hinata tried releasing herself from him but only ended up reopening her wounded hand. She yelped as she pulled herself away from him wincing as blood seeped through the gauze.

"Oh my, that looks like a nasty little scratch right there. How did that happen little Sumire?"

Sasuke quickly stepped beside her and examined her hand with concerned eyes.

"It opened up again. It seems it's deeper than I thought we might have to put something else."

Sasuke rubbed his temples and held her hand in disappointment.

"She had a bad accident in the kitchen with one of the cutting knives, Sumire was being very careless."

Jiraiya gazed seriously at her hand and snatched it from Sasuke's gentle grasp.

"This boy, needs some stitches that what it needs. You don't want to let one of these cuts open up so much, it's bad for the body old sport. I can take the little lady to a clinic if you want Sasuke. It's about an hour down the road, shouldn't take long."

Hinata looked at Sasuke's face hoping to see some sort of nervousness or fear in his eyes, this situation must be making him so nervous. But instead he was as cool as ever, his opaque eyes raised a brow at Jiraiya as he nestled Hinata back under his wing.

"I don't need your hick doctor looking at her cut. If you hadn't of smashed your body against her, her cut wouldn't have opened up." His response to Jiraiya's hospitable request was as frigid as the water in the lake, Hinata almost lost the feel in her toes again just from the tone of his voice. The Uchiha's could probably create the next ice age if they wanted to; all of them seem to be gifted with a voice that can freeze hell over.

Jiraiya seemed immune to Sasuke's frosty retort and cheerfully smashed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder almost causing him to topple over.

"You're just an old hound aren't you boy, your clan never wants help from anyone do they." Jiraiya barked loudly in a brash laugh. "Just like your brother aren't you, that boy is some big shot in the city isn't he. Solving all of those cases, hell just the other day I heard that he found the corpse of that heiress down in that forest, you know the one that went missing, and he also found the serial rapist, seems the guy was a school teacher. Glad that weirdo is off the streets."

Hinata covered her mouth in shock, she couldn't believe that Itachi actually killed her, he took her blood and used it in a fake death. She looked up at Sasuke and saw that his icy face still continued its façade, he even managed a smile as he said something to Jiraiya.

"The only weirdo that needs to be put away is you Jiraiya, do you usually come here hoping to catch girls in the water?"

Jiraiya smiled smugly and swayed his hand in a gaudy manner.

"It's all research my boy. I'm at the peak of finishing my novel and speaking of which I really must be going, the ladies usually go to the town pool for an afternoon swim around this time and I can't be late."

Jiraiya winked exaggeratedly at Sasuke and gave them both a crushing hug, getting one last feel of her rump in the process.

"Don't be a stranger now." He waved, and walked back into the bushes leaving them both alone at the bay of the lake.

It was immensely quiet.

"It seems that Itachi solved your case didn't he." He murmured coldly.

Hinata shuddered and took a few steps away from him in utter fear.

"I can't believe he killed me." She gasped covering her mouth with trembling hands.

"You lied to me" he hissed. Sasuke grabbed her shoulder with vicious hands and seized her jaw forcing her to look at him. "What the hell happened while I was gone yesterday!? Did Itachi give you that cut?! That fucking bastard I'll chop off his hands for doing that. Did he do anything else to you, what the fuck did he say?"

Hinata fell on the grassy floor in shock. "He killed me. He really killed me."

Hinata looked at Sasuke with glossy eyes that stabbed his heart with hurt. "My family thinks I'm dead. My friends think I got stabbed to death. He k-killed me."

She sat there looking at her wounded hand with trembling eyes.

"Itachi killed me."

OooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOooOoo

"No! That's bullshit Hinata can't die!"

Kiba was tackled to the floor by Shino and Naruto as Neji told them the news.

"Captain Uchiha just got word from the forensics lab…"

"No!"

"…they found her clothes…"

"They're lying!"

"… caked in her blood…"

"It's not true!"

"… her throat was slit."

"Shut the hell up Neji. That fucking captain is a liar! The only thing coming out of his mouth is shit. Hinata can't be dead; they can't just find her clothes a month after her kidnapping."

Kiba's wild eyes were blurry and his feeble body was fighting against two strong men who were trying to cope with the news as much as he was.

"I'm sorry Neji" choked Naruto. He turned his head as sobs broke out within their group of friends.

Neji who had been locked up on the Hyuuga mansion looked unfazed. His once white eyes seemed to have grown so much darker.

"The memorial is going to be held tomorrow at dawn. It's a private setting but all of you all may come if you please. I have to go now; Uncle needs to speak with me about some family business." Neji gazed down at the floor as a few rebellious tears escaped the brim of his eye. "See you all tomorrow."

Everyone watched with forlorn as he left, however Kiba sat there on the floor trembling ferociously, his eyes switched to everyone's faces as if foretelling which ones still had good faith. He stood up with tremors running up and down his legs and broke out in a mad howl.

"I don't believe anything that Uchiha says. All I heard was that they found her clothes with blood on it. Hinata is still alive, she's somewhere out there hoping for us to still believe in her. I'm going down to that forest and I'm going to look for her."

Everyone stared at him with large pearly eyes, they pitied him. He was taking the harshest blow and it seemed that denial was his only escape.

"Kiba please." Pleaded Ten Ten wiping her cheek.

"Don't 'Kiba please' me" he snarled.

Shikamaru hid his head with a disappointing shake.

"Kiba, it's time to give up. You can't bring the dead back to life, the only thing left in that forest are her remains. Just let her rest."

Kiba grabbed a nearby cup and flung it full force at Shikamaru who barely dodged it by the nape of his neck.

"Screw you Shikamaru! If you all want to run home and cry with your tail between your legs then don't let me stop you. I'll look for her myself." Choked Kiba.

He rushed outside their meeting place and seized the leash that was attached to Akamaru. Naruto and Shino followed him out warning him not to go.

"Kiba don't be doing anything stupid. The last thing that Hinata would have wanted would be to see you get hurt over her." Threatened Shino.

Kiba turned around and threw Shino a very offensive sign with his hand. "Don't talk about her in past tense you freak. I swear when I find her I'm going to kick all your asses starting with that bastard Shikamaru."

Naruto rushed behind him in worry. "Kiba it's not safe around that forest. You can't just go striding in. Some of the sickest bad guys like to hang there."

Kiba tightened his hold on Akamaru and flung his shoulder around facing Naruto.

"Then that's the more reason to go and find her."

Naruto bit his lip in ponder and interfered in front of Kiba.

"You're right Kiba. I'll go with you, I know an old man near that part that can give us a place to stay for a while."

Shino quickly stepped in also. "I'll be going as well. I'm curious to see the place where Captain Uchiha sent his men to search."

Kiba stared at the two men with hard eyes and dissected them harshly. They looked at him with determined eyes, glossy eyes that were red from tears. But he could tell that they were just worried over him, they wanted to make sure that he didn't get himself killed in that eerie forest. Kiba had no time for babysitters.

"I don't need cowards following me so that I don't die."

Naruto and Shino looked at each other unfazed by his warning. Then Naruto stepped in grabbing Kiba by his bony shoulder.

"Good, lets get going we should get there by tomorrow. There's a hermit I know that can take care of us for a while. He won't bother us either. He's always peeping on girls so we can rest in peace too."

Both men looked at Naruto with raised brows.

"Well if you say this man is okay I'll go." Muttered Shino.

Kiba looked at Akamaru then at both his friends.

"Let's get the hell out of here then"


I admit it wasn't the most exciting chapter but it helps the story move along. So anyways down below are a list of stories that I've been working on and their summaries. The summaries aren't the real deal but basically they give you a little insight on the story. The titles might change as well. The majority of them are SasuXHina but if you feel that one of them simply MUST be another pairing go ahead and tell me and I'll see what I can do. (If you are going to mention another pairing it has to be Hinata centric. I tolerate Sakura, Ten Ten, Temari and all of the other girls but I won't write a pairing for them.)

Lead Me Not into Temptation – Having Uchiha sensei for a teacher sure isn't easy, he demands fear from his students and simply adores the quiet ones, yes especially the ones who don't say a word no matter what.

White Wool for Scarlet Sins – He goes by many names: Lucifer, the Dark Angel, a Devil, but for now call him Sasuke. It seems Sasuke has gotten in a dangerous spot, he needs more souls or hell will freeze over. So now which white eyed fool will fall into sin?

Hungry like a wolf – The beast demanded a woman every new moon. It started off as a betrayal however Hinata discovered that there was actually a man behind those morbid tawny eyes. But even the beast must run, for its hide is wanted by a cruel prince.

So yeah, just drop a small hint in your review if you like any of them and if you think they're all crap well yea, at least you reviewed. But I will tally the votes and post up the story as soon as I can. I've already written the first chapter for two of the stories so I'm somewhat prepared.

THANK YOU so much for reviewing! I know I hardly if ever reply to your reviews but rest assured they are all read and have been taken into consideration.

P.S. I'm so happy there are Twilight fans out there. Yay! I don't know about anyone here but I've been checking her website everyday to see if Jacob's actor has been released. It's been gnawing at my head. Edward was a let down but lets all pray that Jacob is a hot wolf man that we all know he is! And Doctor Cullen as well! The suspense is killing me XD

-misery.loves.black.sheep-

PLEASE REVIEW ("Heav'n hath no rage like love to hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd." - William Congreve (1670-1729))