Chapter Ten

*****

Kiba rolled over in his bed and glared out the window of his bedroom at the twinkling stars. It had been two months now that Hinata had been gone. Many of their friends had given up hope and deemed her to be dead, looking for any remains of her corpse. Shino, Kiba, and the little girl Toorima were the more and more persistent in finding her.

Toorima had her birthday last week, August ninth, making her six years old and old enough to enter the ninja academy which Kiba knew Hinata was hoping for. It took him only a few days to convince her that she would be able to rescue Hinata more if she was a ninja then just a tag along. With new determination the six year old pushed herself to great lengths to ensure she would be stronger.

Akamaru breathed deeply in his sleep and Kiba listened to it to match their breathing. He just couldn't get over what happened that night. If only he had stayed up a little longer or been more thorough on his rounds than the Hyuuga wouldn't have been kidnapped. He feared the worst, but refused to actually believe that Hinata was dead.

Tsunade sat at her desk and swallowed another swig of her sake. It had been two months now that she sent squads out to find Hinata Hyuuga. She was losing hope of ever finding her. Kiba had given her a hard time earlier that day when she ordered that he stay in the village and rest for three days. Kiba, Shino, and Naruto had been searching for a straight eight days now and she could see the effects it was having on their health.

Why Hinata though? She just couldn't answer that question. The hokage had believed the Hyuuga heiress to be a sweet frail girl, suited more to a quiet life than one of a kunoichi. So why did akatsuki take her? She downed another shot of sake. Unable to keep her eyes open anymore she stood, hiding her sake in the back of her drawer and left her office closing the door behind her with a sigh.

Toorima sat on her bed with her knees against her chest, her long black hair shielding her like a veil as she cried silently. It was like this every night. She had finally met someone who wanted her only to have her taken away, fate was cruel.

She was surprised to have received presents on her birthday which was a first. Shino, Kiba, and Kurenai all got her supplies for the academy. After Kiba told her that Hinata wanted her to be a ninja she stop her protests and tried as hard as she could. Currently first in her class she excels in ninjutsu and taijutsu and is trying to research her mother's kekkai genkai having learned about certain ones a few days before in class.

Sleep overtook her and she slid down the wall to a ball formation on the covers. Her dreams tortured her yet again as the events of that horrible night replayed in her mind and the tears fell even in sleep.

Hinata stepped out of the shower and tied her towel firmly around her chest. She stood infront of the mirror and began to brush her hair. Hidan was out on a mission leaving her alone in his room. She hated it when he was gone, she was so much more nervous when he wasn't there. In the two months she lived at the base she trained everyday with Konan and Zetsu.

Zetsu was brutal, his dark side saying that it wouldn't be paired with a weakling and the white side would say that he was helping me for my own good. Either way you put it she had to constantly watch her back as he would find opportunities to attack her around the base too. She appreciated his help very much as her skills were improving greatly and she was discovering new ways to use her bloodline.

Her hair brushed, she stepped out of the bathroom and got into her pajamas. The bed felt so big when her lover wasn't there. In the time she stayed here they had grown more as a couple. It was hard for Hidan, he didn't ever stay with a woman he slept with. It was always just a one night stand kind of thing, but just going on long missions away from her seemed to put him in a pissy mood lately. This made her try harder during mission, she wanted to feel as if she deserved him.

They haven't made love since that first night. Hidan said there was something he wanted to do before they went at it again. This didn't stop their intense kissing or heavy petting however. The kunoichi was confused as to why he wouldn't take her again, but she knew that if he was holding out it must be for a reason.

Tomorrow was going to be an important day. Pein was going to watch her spare and determine if she has the potential he wants in his organization. If she does he planned on sending a team to acquire Toorima. He was going to stick to his word to ensure that Hinata remained loyal. Her Byuakugan was a very good asset to the akatsuki and he saw the girl as a small price to keep that power. Tomorrow was also the day Hidan was to return.

Hinata tried to sleep but her nervousness wouldn't allow it. She had to do her best in order to get Toorima to be able to live with her. Rolling over she looked down at the pendant around her neck. Hidan had got her a Jashin pendant. Every night he would tell her about his god and she would listen. Her faith was mixed as she thought about what he would tell her, but he didn't pressure her which she was grateful for. He wanted her to come to serve Jashin willingly like him than forced.

Her mind wandered until she finally greeted the back of her eyelids. She slept like a fish out of water. Tossing and turning all night, waking up several times to scan the room, something wasn't right, something was keeping her from sleeping. Four hours after she first tried to sleep she sat up in bed and growled. There was a presence that was not supposed to be there, she was sure of it.

She activated her Byuakugan and scanned the room. There in the shadows someone was hiding. She threw a kunai hidden under her pillow at the figure. It moved, dodging the weapon. The form moved closer to her in a threatening position, as if to attack her. Speed had been when of her strong points. In a blur she got out of the bad and made it to the dresser where more kunai were hidden and grabbed two throwing them immediately and grabbing a third when her hands were empty. The figure side stepped the kunai again and advanced further. It was still too dark to see who it was and Hinata tried not to panic.

The shadows are raised and brought down a kunai. Hinata blocked it with the weapon she had in her hand and pushed against the arm. They pushed back and were much stronger. The blade of the attacker got closer and closer to her throat as she fought to push it back to no avail. Her idea hit like a bolt of lightning and she had to mentally thank Hidan, if not for him she would never have known about her new ability.

Focusing as much as she could she released a pulse of her chakra from her body forcing the man back. Then her flexibility took over as she moved her way around the figure to stand behind it her kunai at its' throat. Konan stood in the doorway to Hidans' room having just turned on the light. Hinata let her eyes adjust and looked in front of her. He was only a little taller than her and he had bright orange hair. "PEIN-S-SAMA!" She squeaked and dropped her kunai to the floor. Konan smiled at her and she moved back to bow at the akatsuki leader.

"We didn't say when tomorrow your test would happen." Konan said pointing at the clock which indicated that it was 3:20a.m. Hinata punched herself inwardly at her stupidity. If she was going to be tested by the leader of the akatsuki of course it wasn't going to be like in Konoha were it is all set up, prepared, and monitored.

"You were too apprehensive to acknowledge my presence at first, but your progress is impressive. I will keep my word." Pein said before leaving the room. He whispered something to Konan as he passed. The blue haired woman gave Hinata a genuine smile, "keep it up and you could be made an official member. Oh, and Zetsu is on a mission tomorrow so you are off for the day." She said and left closing the door behind her.

Now Hinata stood there, baffled, and utterly tired. With no further a due she walked over to the bed and flopped down on it falling to sleep almost instantly.

~*~*~

"God damn it, hurry the fuck up man!" Hidan yelled looking back at his partner. It was dark out and he didn't want to stop till they got back to the base. Their mission had been a piece of cake and he was ready to get back to base where he knew she would be waiting for him. Kakuzu just glared at the impatient man and made no effort to quicken his pace.

"Mother fucker." Hidan muttered turning back around to watch where he was walking. "I really will kill you one day." Kakuzu finally said after Hidan sighed again. "Go ahead and fucking try." The immortal said angrily. Kakuzu still disproved of his relationship saying it was just a fling and wasn't going to have anything to do with the consequences when she died. He even found it to be a waste. Hidan was the only true immortal, nothing could kill him, he knew that he could himself die, no matter how difficult it may be, he could be killed. Quickening his pace slightly Kakuzu caught up to Hidan just to shut him up.

A few more hours and they would be back in Iwagakure, back at the base, and Hinata in his arms.

~*~*~

"I thought you were going to have breakfast ready for me." Said a voice in Hinatas' ear as she lay there sleeping. She gave a huff and rolled over until the realization hit and she sprung out of bed and into Hidans' awaiting arms. She looked at the clock on the wall, she really slept in it was almost noon. "When did you get back? I'm sorry, I can make you lunch." She was stopped as his lips smothered hers. "I just got back. Pein told me about last night and has asked Kakuzu and me to be the ones to retrieve the bitch." He said braking away from her mouth. Hinata glared at the word bitch but still hugged the man that had a hold over her heart.

"I'm glad your back Hidan-sama." She whispered as he set her back on her feet. He nuzzled her hair breathing in her sweet scent again. How he missed it. "So how about that fucking lunch?" He asked after a moment. Hinata nodded and they left the room in the direction of the kitchen.

~*~*~

Toorima watched as the sun began to rise. She had been awake and studying for some time now. That was all she could do, she wasn't good enough to sneak out of the house yet so she resorted to studying and researching her kekkai genkai. She thought she had found and was looking more into it. She only had the name of her mother and grandfather to go off of.

A knock on her door brought her out of her thoughts. "Toorima-chan, it's time to get up for school." Kurenai-sensei called through the door. "I'm up." Toorima replied and headed into the bathroom to wash up before leaving. Kurenai left to go fix breakfast.

***

Kiba didn't know when he actually fell asleep. Last thing he remembered was thinking about the last time he saw Hinata. The more he thought about it the sadder it made him and he realized that he wsa the same for her as she was for Naruto. He had the biggest crush on her but she only had eyes for the oaf Naruto and on the other hand he only had eyes for Sakura.

He sat up in bed, not in a hurry to do anything. Tsunade had ordered that he and Shino rest for a few days and he had no choice in the matter. The bathroom was screaming for him to clean up, but he just had no motivation at the moment. Every second he wasn't out looking for Hinata was another moment that he lost that much more hope. Because he was forced to stay here every moment seemed that way, but he figured it might be a good idea to clean up and maybe talk to Shikamaru. If anyone had any ideas, it would be him.

~*~*~

The rest of the day was the same as usual at the akatsuki base. Hinata cooked everyone lunch, did everyone's laundry (seeing as everyone just started taking it to the laundry room themselves), and then Hidan wanted to tell her more about his god. She sat and listened, and slowly she could feel herself conform to his beliefs.

It was starting to get dark now and the rain had picked up. Hinata and Hinata were on the couch and Hidan was talking to Kisame about his latest mission while Hinata sat quietly by his side thinking about tomorrow. "HINATA-CHAN!!!" Tobi said and everyone looked at him in annoyance as he entered the room. "Tobi is a good boy and came to tell you that Leader-sama wants to see you." He sang out and came over to tug on her arm. Hidan growled at the masked idiot who immediately let go. "Tobi is a good boy!" He chided and turned to leave the room.

Hinata stood up was about to kiss her love but stopped remembering the others in the room. She blushed and gave a small wave instead and also turned to leave. "Oh no you fucking don't." Hidan said grabbing her wrist and yanking her into his lap, kissing her fiercely. Hinata wasn't sure what was making her blush more, the intense kiss, or the fact that Kisame had started a wolf whistle.

Finally in Pein-samas' office and blushing furiously Hinata looked at him nervously. She had managed to stop her nervous fidgeting and almost stopped her stuttering, but in result her blushing problem had intensified. "You wanted t-to see me Pein-sama?"

He looked her over and let out a deep breath. "I have a mission for you tomorrow and when you return Hidan should be back with the girl so don't worry. This mission will take approximately two days and only you can do this, well, you and Zetsu. We think we have found one of Orochimarus' bases. He has an akatsuki ring hidden within one of these bases. You are to scope it out, if you think you have found the ring you must bring it back, only then can you hope to join the akatsuki as there are only a number of available rings and we don't die easily." He informed her.

Hinata was confident for once. Just an information gathering mission would be simple for her since Konan pushed her to sharpen her byuakugan. If the ring was there, THAT would be the challenge, getting it back.

The kunoichi pushed the thoughts from her mind and focused on what was important. She had to complete this mission without fail, her life and that of Toorimas' may depend on it. She couldn't see Leader-sama keeping the girl around if Hinata wasn't there. So now she had her motivation. Success in this mission will ensure that she would be able to stay by Hidans' side, and have Toorima with her as well. Failure would not be tolerated by her, of the akatsuki.