It took a while and this chapter is not my favorite, but it's out. Finally.

"Hinata…" Sasuke started, reaching out to touch the pale girl's cheek. Her usual pastel skin was taking on a sickly shade of ashy-white. She was silent throughout the long walk back to the human world and Sasuke couldn't help but worry about her – even if it was just a little.

The tips of Sasuke's fingers barely brushed her skin before she suddenly dropped down, crouching low to the ground. Her head was in her thin arms as she rocked on the balls of her feet. A cascade of dark blue hair touched the ground, practically shielding her entire body from the musician's view.

Even with his anger at the god of the underworld threatening to bubble over, Sasuke sat down and waited next to Hinata. They stayed that way for an hour – neither making a sound. The wind was blowing wildly and the trees howled, but Hinata didn't move a muscle.

Finally, she stood up and dusted her already ruined tunic.

"I…I think I'm going to go to Suna for a little while." She whispered as she looked up at the dark night sky. Stars sprinkled the darkness beautifully, but Hinata was looking past them. She felt blind to all beauty at the moment and wanted nothing more but to run away and hide.

Sasuke could read her emotions the moment she turned to look at him with her pale eyes. He had seen that look in his own eyes many times, but never on the small girl before him. Even when he mocked her for her sordid past she never looked so downtrodden. The musician felt a pang in his chest he had only felt once – when his wife died so long ago…

"Don't go." He whispered, suddenly grabbing her hand from his sitting position. His fingers tightened around her frail hand softly, but Hinata didn't move. "You don't need a god's permission to find love." His voice was still soft, but Hinata could hear it clear even over the wind.

Her hand tightened around his before she let go and slipped it from his grip. The answer was clear to Sasuke, who stood up and wiped the dust from his clothes.

"Then at least let me help you." He said, his voice back to its cold nature. The rejection stung, but he understood her reason. She didn't want his love if it was offered out of pity.

"No." Her voice was weak and almost failed. "I'll…I-I can f-fi-find i-it on m-my…my-my o-own."

Sasuke nodded. There was nothing he could do to help her at this point even though it hurt him to watch her frail body shake and sway with the wind. She looked even worse than the first time he had met her, many, many years. Back then she was quiet, mousy, but healthy looking with fine jewels draped around her neck and wrists. Now she wore a dirty tunic and cape that looked more brown than the original colors of purple and white. Before, when she looked at something her eyes were fearful, as if the object or person would hurt her without a second thought. Now, her eyes were lifeless. No longer was she fearful because she had nothing to be taken away.

"I own a small house in Suna. Just go east from the main city and you'll find a small town. There, you'll see my secret home – it'll have my name engraved on the front so it should be easy to find. Stay there for as long as you need." He turned to leave.

"Where w-will yo-you go?" She asked, not turning to watch him walk away.

Sasuke thought about it for a while. "I need to talk to Naruto about a few things first and then I'll head over to my oracle. There are some things I need to sort out within myself." He said before walking off.

Hinata stayed still until she couldn't hear him anymore. She knew, deep down, that she would never see him again.

She took a deep breath and, then, she began walking towards Suna. Thoughts assaulted her as she slowly began her trek towards the sand city. Her first thoughts were about Itachi and his cold, dark red eyes. Even though he showed no emotion, Hinata felt that he took joy out of turning down her simple request. The feeling of anger rose in her chest as she continued her long journey. It was not a very common feeling in the girl, but nonetheless she forced herself to stop walking and take another deep breath. Tears threatened to fall from her pale eyes as she thought about her "adventure". However, she kept them at bay and continued to walk.

She walked until the sun rose. She walked until her worn out sandals ripped apart. She walked until her feet bled. Finally, she walked up to the small cottage that had the name "Orpheus" engraved on the door.

A small smile lit up her dirty face at the musician's rarely used name and she hesitantly opened the door. She ignored the thick layer of dust and walked up the wooden stairs. Her body seemed to move on its own once she found the small, straw bed and she collapsed on it with a sigh.

--

Hinata spent the next day in the public baths. She met some of the female villagers and talked pleasantly. After months of a journey full of men it was odd to speak to so many women. It was especially awkward after she took off her tunic and revealed her now emaciated body. Her ribs and hips were visible underneath her white skin. It was something that had started near the end of her journey, but worsened drastically over the months that took her to walk back. She had easily hid her thinning body from Sasuke and the other men with her large tunic and thick cape, but here, in a public bath, she had little to hide herself behind. None of the women said anything, not even to each other, while she washed her bloodied feet or thin body. No one said anything until she left.

Once in her temporary home, Hinata began cleaning. It took the rest of the day and most of the night, stopping only to eat, for her to finish, but once she did the home looked respectable. There was only a table with two chairs, a small rug, a fireplace, and a bed upstairs, but compared to the outdoors it was a welcomed sight.

Over the next week Hinata was given various gifts from the women villagers. She was given three chickens, food, and even a few marriage offers for the women's sons. Hinata only turned down the offers and accepted the other gifts. Within four weeks she had a small farm going. She sold eggs to the villagers and began planting fruits and vegetables. On some days the men or women of the town would come up and visit her. It was a quaint existence.

But there was a feeling of dread building up in her chest as the weeks passed. She was waiting for something and, finally, after eight weeks something happened.

I actually looked up whether or not Romans ate eggs. Weird.

And the next chapter will technically be the finale/epilogue.