Part 10- Deadline
Hinata didn't understand what Sasuke said. Her? Precious? Only her late mother and comrades had ever thought of her as precious. How could he be so cruel to tease her like this? With that thought, she tried to wrestle herself from his grip, but he pulled her even closer, which made her stop her struggle.
His breath was on her ear, and she was sure he could hear the blood pumping in her ears. He buried his face on her shoulder, near the crook of her neck. "Don't go." Then something wet seemed to seep through the collar of her shirt, and when she turned her head to see, her heart cried and tore.
Sasuke was crying silently. Small, unwilling tears were sliding down his face as he repeated those two words. Hinata turned herself around in his arms to face him. His black ebony hair melted into the velvet night sky, and the moonlight reflected off his own pale skin. She wrapped her own arms around his neck, and returned his embrace.
"Silly…I'm not going anywhere," she managed to whisper, for she too started to cry. But she was crying from happiness for the first time in a long time. His muscular arms tightened around her thin waist, and he continued to cry quietly.
Happiness at last…Sasuke was happy at last. He had found someone to care for, someone to love. He listened to her voice and inhaled her mild scent, letting it calm him. Never again would he let her go.
They stood there together for a long while, holding each other as if they were holding onto the fragment of life. Neither seemed to notice the bitter cold wind, and harsh snow piled at their feet.
xxOOxx
There wasn't any tension between the two again. It was comfortable and not at all awkward. Even though they still continued their silent ways, they understood each other more than ever. But unlike most couples, they didn't hold hands or kiss each other teasingly. In fact, they hadn't kissed yet, since they felt it wasn't important.
No, their relationship was not like that. It was much deeper. They comforted each other when they were down, and cheered each other up. They soaked each other's pain, and held each other to fight their sorrow. It was a connection no one else could understand. Of course, it was love. But a special kind of love.
One day, Hinata suddenly brought up a difficult topic. "Will you really destroy Konoha?" Sasuke stopped what he was doing, and stared at the ground. "I…don't know anymore."
When his eyes met hers, he saw worry and apprehension. He stood and neared her slowly. He softly brushed her hair back, and rested his chin on top of her head. He whispered quietly, "What am I going to do?" Hearing his whispery laughter, Hinata closed her eyes and pressed her face into his shoulder.
Sasuke didn't know if to revenge his brother and break the heart of this girl or the other way around. Over Hinata's head, for a moment, though he thought he saw a faint image of Itachi smiling, as if approving of what he was doing then.
Maybe once he decided, there won't be any problems. But Sasuke had no idea how wrong he was.
xxOOxx
"Tsunade-sama…h-how much longer does she have?" Sai said with a foreboding sense. The blonde woman turned around to face him with a stern serious look on her face. "At the most…one year. I don't know much more than that. I'm sorry, Sai."
One year. Sai crumbled to the ground on his knees with shock evident in his eyes. He was oblivious to the sorry look on the Hokage's face. His mind was invaded with shock, pain, and sadness. It was the first time he had felt so many emotions at the same time, and it almost overwhelmed him.
Sakura burst into the room. "Tsunade-sensei! Is it…is it true? Hinata…she's-" Her voice stopped at Tsunade's nod, and the sight of Sai on his knees. "Hinata doesn't want anyone to know. Especially not her family or Sasuke. Is that understood, Sakura? You won't speak a word of this."
Speechless, the kunoichi nodded. At the same time, Sai suddenly implored, "Tsunade-sama!! Can you help her? Please tell me you can save her!! Please!! I'm begging of you! SAVE HER!!"
Tsunade and Shizune stared at the despairing boy with sadness, and turned their eyes so they could not meet his. Sai couldn't move, and bowed his head instead. Tears formed at the corner of his eyes, and Sakura tried to help him up by taking his arm, but he roughly shoved her aside and stood on his own. He strode out of the hospital, and once outside, he broke into a run.
Sai didn't know where he was going. He just ran until he was finally out of breath and energy. When he looked he was in a snow-covered park. There he stood amongst bare dark trees, and white grass. That's when he let his tears out. They came without stopping, and he didn't bother wiping them. The park was empty, so there was no one to hear him yell in frustration and pain. His yells and cries were unnoticed by everyone except one girl who was standing right behind him.
"Sai-kun?"
He spun around and found himself staring at Hinata. The sight of her made him cry even more, and he averted his eyes. She reached out and took his hand. She pulled him over to a bench, and had him sit down beside her.
"Sai-kun…please don't be upset. I know I'm very sick. Tsunade-sama told me everything and that you were upset. I'm sorry I made you upset-"
He cut her as he gazed at her intensely with his tear-stained eyes. "No, that's not it! You don't deserve this fate! Why did it have to be you? Why-"
She smiled a terribly sad smile. "I think I do deserve it. I've been a terrible person. I've known of your feelings for a while…but I didn't want to say anything. I was afraid of ruining our friendship. Isn't that selfish?" A single drop of water slid down from her eye.
Sai opened his mouth to say something but she continued, "And I've also fallen in love with a person who wants revenge. I've neglected my family too. But Sai-kun," her eye caught his eye, "please don't tell anyone. I don't want to burden them with another problem. Please…I beg you to not say anything. And…I have another request."
The pale boy listened intently as she said with streams of tears from her eyes, "Please stay as my friend. My closest friend."
He was stunned for a moment. It was like the snow and ice had covered every joint and bone in his body, seeping through his skin, and freezing his brain. But at her begging eyes, he had to agree. With his nod, Hinata smiled another sad smile, and faced the sky.
xxOOxx
Sakura was worried about the way Sai had run out. He didn't notice that he almost ran into Naruto. The loud blonde was extremely surprised and worried for you never see Sai in such distress. When Naruto asked Sakura what had happened, her throat burned to tell him the truth, but remembering her promise, she just shrugged her shoulders with concern.
Naruto, being completely oblivious, took her word for it, which made guilt spill all over her. What would he do if he knew that his friend would die within a year? He'd throw a fit. And what's worse, he'd tell Sasuke. She knew that Sasuke had every right to know, but she wondered what would happen if he knew.
So many choices, so many decisions and dilemmas. She hoped she'd be able to keep it secret long enough as a last request to her friend.
xxOOxx
Sasuke had decided to change his mind. If he killed Konoha, he would kill Hinata. He knew her dedication to the village, and didn't want her heart broken. But it just wasn't Hinata. It was Itachi too. Lately, he had been hearing his brother's voice.
Don't do it, Sasuke.
Revenge solves nothing.
Have you learned nothing?
That voice haunted him, and he longed for it to stop. He had the feeling that it wouldn't stop until he called off the attack. Itachi didn't want Konoha dead. It was too obvious. Especially at night when he slept. Images of burning houses and trees, ash-covered grass, and the smell of blood everywhere. And in the mist of it was Itachi glaring at Sasuke with sheer intensity.
He'd wake up sweating insanely, and with every limb in his body trembling madly. His blood would feel as if it were on fire, and his teeth would chatter from the cold outside. He was afraid that he'd wake Hinata up with his tossing and turning in bed.
Sasuke had to end this. He couldn't do it.
Finally Eagle and Madara appeared. "Why the sudden meeting?" Suigetsu asked with a sour look as if he woke up on the wrong side of bed. Karin threw a glare at him and Juugo said, "He just woke up on the wrong side of bed." Sasuke sometimes wondered if Juugo had special abilities that Orochimaru took interest in, like mind-reading.
With a breath, he bluntly said, "We're calling it off. The attack." Everyone froze. It was like they thought Sasuke was speaking gibberish. With impatience, Sasuke repeated what he said with more power and firmness, proving his final decision. Madara, furious, demanded, "What are you saying?!"
"You heard me clearly. We're calling it off. I know how much you want to see Konoha in flames, but I won't be the one to do your dirty work. Do it yourself." Sasuke said this bravely, without a hint of fear or submission. Karin's eyes flickered between the two Uchiha, feeling overpowered by the intense chakra in the air.
Madara stood there for a while, fists clenched, and dangerous eyes flickering with terrible fury. Then he relaxed and let out a small forced laugh. "Itachi still finds a way to fight me even when he's dead. Fine, have it your way, Sasuke. I'll find a way someday, when you're long gone, dead and out of the way." With those words, his dark cloak wrapped around him and he disappeared as if he melted into the shadows.