Howdy :) Okay, I'm very aware of my short chapter, but I think that they'll start getting longer. So read and enjoy! :D
Hinata shyly peered from behind a tree. It had been so long since she had been alone with the former Konoha ninja.
"Hello, Hinata," said a familiar, empty voice. The voice startled her and she hid further behind the tree.
"Don't worry, it's just me," said the voice again. Suddenly, her hand was trapped in another, stronger hand that lead her out from behind the tree. The nervous Hyuuga found herself face to face with none other than Itachi Uchiha.
Itachi studied her nervous expression before saying, "I'm glad that you made it." He didn't look too glad about anything. Just empty and expressionless, as usual.
/3
The Hyuuga's white eyes drooped open, and she found herself back inside the tent with the boys she had set off with. It was dark, and they were all soundly sleeping. But now that she had woken, Hinata was wide awake, and it would be impossible for her to sleep now.
Quietly, she slipped out of her sleeping bag and into the cold night, leaving her comrades and the tent behind. She stood there, breathing in the fresh nighttime air when memories of that day suddenly filled her mind with remembrance of the day's events.
I'll see you tonight, Itachi had said.
Hinata looked aimlessly around. Would he see her tonight? Where? How would she find him?
As if on cue, a black crow flew from the sky and perched carefully on Hinata's shoulder, startling her.
"Caa!" it said, cocking it's head at Hinata. She just stared blankly at the black crow. "Caa!"
Suddenly, it hit her. Itachi was summoning her! The crow flapped its wings and flew off of Hinata's shoulder and into the air. Hinata turned on her Byaakugan and ran after it, so she could keep her eyes on the crow and not run into any trees. Soon, it had lead her to the nearby pond that she had gone to the previous night. That's when she had found herself hiding behind a tree, and Itachi pulling her from her hiding place.
/3
Hinata looked down, not sure of what to say. She gulped.
"Are you frightened of me?" Itachi's voice suddenly asked. Hinata looked up at his emotionless face and hastily shook her head.
"N-no! I'm not! It's just... I-I haven't seen you in a long t-time..." Hinata said, fidgeting her fingers.
Itachi seemed to ignore her. "There's no reason to be frightened," he said, touching her shoulder. She looked back down again, but soon, his thumb and index finger were gently holding her chin and tilting her head up. Hinata looked into his Sharingan eyes. They were still completely blank, vacant, but in a way, they were... soft. "Let's sit down," he suggested. Hinata nodded her head and followed him to the edge of the pond.
The two shinobi sat side by side in silence for a what seemed like an eternity. Hinata stared into the gleaming waters of the pond. Why had he wanted to see her? Was there something he wanted to say?
"You did very well today," Itachi suddenly said, as if he were reading Hinata's mind.
Hinata looked up, startled by his voice. "Oh, thanks, you too..." she said quietly, staring back into the water.
"You attacked as though you meant to kill," Itachi continued. "Although our fight didn't last long, I can tell that you've made much progress." He looked at Hinata. "I told you that you were capable."
Hinata's face flushed pink. She hid her blushing face behind a curtain of her dark hair and continued to gaze into the pond. She couldn't think of anything to say.
"According to my father, I haven't made any progress at all." Hinata's own voice shocked her. Where had these words come from?
Itachi was silent. He just stared thoughtfully into the pond.
To Hinata's surprise, she continued to talk. "He always points out my flaws like I don't know that they're there. And when I fix them, then he just goes off to find something else that's wrong with me. It's like... like I can never be good enough for him." Hinata's mouth moved and the words spilled out as though she were possessed. She finally looked up and over at Itachi. Was it him doing this to her? Pushing all this information out of her? It had to be, for she had never poured out her feelings like this to anyone. How is he doing that?
"Don't listen to your father," Itachi suddenly said.
Hinata frowned. "B-but I only want to please my father..." she said quietly.
Itachi sighed. "Listen, Hinata," he began. "In this world that we live in, there are very few compassionate, supportive parents. Many are hard, and only care about their children getting stronger with every waking moment. Sometimes you can never impress them, no matter how hard you try." Itachi's eyes were filling with the ghost of his past. He looked up at the full moon and closed his Sharingan eyes. "Sasuke was once in the same boat as you, Hinata. Father paid little attention to him, but all little Sasuke wanted was to be seen by him. He trained his hardest and did everything he could to impress Father." Itachi paused to open his eyes. "It's hard to grow up without a father always at your side. Instead, you seem to get a man that only looks at you as his powerful weapon. And if you're not good enough for him..." Itachi stopped.
Hinata stared at Itachi. His story sounded like the exact same case with her, Neji, and Hiashi. Neji was the one that always got the attention and pride, while Hinata struggled to compete with his greatness.
"It was difficult to see Sasuke without Father ever even looking at him," Itachi stated. He narrowed his eyes. "He was so... pitiful. The look on his face every time Father passed by him carelessly..." Itachi left his sentence hanging as his eyes replayed his past life in the village.
"I remember when I was a genin," Hinata suddenly said. "My father would always pester me about missions, telling me not to be a burden on my team. Whenever we failed a mission, he would blame me." The words were still just jumping out of her mouth. "He still does. Nothing has changed since I became a chuunin. Every day I go into the woods and train. But he still doesn't seem to care that I'm working my hardest." Had she ever said this aloud to anyone? He's doing it again... Hinata thought as she looked up at Itachi, who was looking calmly down at her. Suddenly, Hinata asked a very unexpected question. "Itachi-san, did you care about Sasuke?" The question was followed by the Hyuuga's pale hand flying to cover her mouth as she widened her white eyes. "I-I'm sorry, you told me not to mention Sasuke..." she said apologetically.
However, Itachi didn't seem to care. He just looked back up at the sky and said, "Hinata, my story is a long, complicated one. One that I can't ever explain to anyone." He looked back down at Hinata. "That is why, Hinata, this shall be the last time I visit with you."
Hinata widened her eyes even more. "R-really? Do you mean I'll n-never see you again?"
Itachi closed his eyes and solemnly nodded his head once. "Unless we cross paths on a mission again. But I won't have any one on one conversations with you again."
Hinata turned away from him. She didn't want him to see the sudden tears that had welled up in her eyes and were now spilling down her cheeks. Why was she so upset? This is ridiculous, she tried to tell herself, but it didn't help her much at all.
"Hey, are you alright?" Itachi's voice said gently from behind her.
Hinata tried to respond, but her mouth wouldn't open.
Suddenly, she felt his warm hand on her face, and she was staring into his eyes. Itachi ran his thumbs along the bottom of her eyes, wiping the ongoing waterfall away. "Hinata," he said quietly. He stared down at her flawless, sad face for a while before cradling her head in one hand, and holding the other on her back and pulling her into his chest.
Hinata stopped, noticing how tight he was squeezing her. Like he had needed a hug all these years, but never got one. She rested her weary head on his shoulder and let him squeeze the daylights out of her. Considering it was her sensei that she would probably never see again, she decided to enjoy every second of it. But soon, she found herself growing drowsy, and her large eyes began to droop shut. Soon, reality around her was disappearing, and she fell into a calm, purple haze...
/3
The next thing she knew, the Hyuuga was in her sleeping bag, being violently shaken awake by an over-excited Naruto.
"C'mon, Hinata! We gotta go deliver the scroll! Wake up, Hinata!" Then he ran outside, joining the rest of the group.
She sat up and rubbed her eyes, which were dry and swollen, before slipping out of her sleeping bag. As she slipped out, a folded sheet of paper came along with her from inside the pouch. She picked it up and unfolded it to examine the fancy writing.
I've enjoyed my time knowing you. I look forward to facing you in combat if we happen to cross paths.
Hinata sighed, folding it back up and stuffing it in her pocket. She felt like breaking down into a whole new fit of tears. But at the same time, she had a strong feeling that this wouldn't be the last time she would spend with Itachi.
If you review, I'll give you some candy! Yum! ;D