Chapter 21

"Taylor?"

I turned around. Hikaru was poking his head into my room. "Hey, Hikaru. What's up?"

His eyes looked at my clothes cautiously. They were the ones I had on the day I had first showed up. To him they were foreign, unfamiliar. "I'm worried about you." I could tell he'd been crying. His eyes were blood shot and swollen.

Welcoming a hug I opened my arms wide for him. He rushed into me and began sniffling. Both arms fit around him and he only came up to about my chest. "I'll be fine. Besides aren't you coming with me?" He pulled his face away from me and blinked up at me. I ran my hand over his head to assure him. "You don't expect me to be all alone in hospital, do you? Aki has to watch his shop, so who's gonna protect me?"

Hikaru seemed to liven up a bit before his eyes faltered again. "But," He nervously gripped the sides of my hoody. "What about Hidan and Itachi? Won't they be coming?" My heart squeezed tightly making me clear my throat.

"No. I don't think we'll be seeing much of the Akatsuki now a'days."

My hand just kept petting Hikaru. Hikaru went to say something but stopped. His eyes fell to my neck, which made me look too. My pendant. "You love them, don't you? So why aren't they coming too?"

A knot formed in my throat. He was so innocent. So well-meaning. I took my hands from Hikaru and to the clasp at the back of the pendant. They were shaky, but I still managed to find it and unhook it. "Sometimes Hikaru," I lifted the necklace from my neck and placed it on my bed. "People can't love you the way you love them."

Hikaru grabbed my hand tightly. I knew he didn't understand but he was trying. That's all that really mattered right? I tugged at his hand. "C'mon." My voice was a little unstable so I cleared my throat quietly. "It's time to get a move on." He looked back behind us, surely at the pendant I was leaving behind. It took everything in me not to look back as well.

Downstairs Aki stood sternly in front of the countertop. He was kneading a large ball of dough. I could smell the yeast in the air, floating around like it was trying to hide the surly mood. There was a surplus of muffins and various other pastries laying about. Much more than usual. "Aki." I smiled with a taste of confusion. He didn't stop though. If anything he only pressed harder. I held onto Hikaru's hand securely. "Aki." I said again a bit louder. Aki practically punched the dough one last time.

He looked up sharply. His mouth was in a tight line. I was touched actually. He was upset that I was leaving. I scratched my nose amusedly. "So are these for me then?"

A hand still on the dough he looked over his sea of goods. Aki licked his lips before rubbing his hand over his face. "Are you going to leave or what?"

I knew he wouldn't be straightforward about his feelings. That's just how sarcastic people are. Or at least that's how he was. "Fine. I'm leaving but, you better have some fresh doughnuts for when I come back."

Aki's hand lowered from his face. He smiled exhaustedly. "Yeah. Alright."

We both knew I wasn't coming back though.

Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Sai stood at the entrance of the bakery waiting. I felt melancholic as I left the building. I mean, maybe I would be seeing it again. But I just had a gut feeling that that was the last time I'd be in its presence. It was sad.

Taking a deep breath I walked out into the warm sun. "Alright. I'm ready." Everybody smiled back. Well that is I think Kakashi was smiling and I don't think Sai's smile was even real. Naruto wasn't even attempting to look happy. He looked like he didn't trust me. Trying to be mature in front of Hikaru I just ignored him. Alright so Sakura smiled back.

Just as I had expected, we took the road I had found across town. Kakashi explained that it would only take a couple of hours since we were actually relatively close. However by my standards that wasn't a walk. That was a hike. Even Hikaru seemed relieved that it wasn't 'long'. Bullshit!

On the way there I have to admit it was a really beautiful thing. If I had to describe it, it was like I was watching HD T.V. without the television of course. It was refreshing compared to the concrete roads and loud cars of my world.

I'm going to save you the suffering of reading two and a half hours worth of walking and get us right into the village. It had a nice warm feeling to it. Like it was made for happy people. Sasuke came to mind and I had trouble thinking of how somewhere so nice could've produced someone so dead inside. Hikaru was absolutely tickled pink. His eyes were just engulfing everything around us. The streets weren't crowded but they were full of people mingling around.

I wanted to explore and look around but when the boys left our group Sakura led me straight to the hospital. Hikaru barely even noticed until we were walking straight into it. Then, as if terrified, he stuck tightly to my side. Who was I kidding? I was just as scared.

The hospital had a slightly different feeling to the ones I had been in before. It wasn't made up of different shades of white, with bunch of sick people in wheel chairs, and smelled of doctors. Instead of being a place of death like I stereotyped every hospital, that place seemed to shine with life. Most of the people seemed happy to be there. Which slightly settled the nervousness building in me.

Sakura put Hikaru and me in a room that over looked the village. "We will start by running some tests to see what kind of state your body is in." She thrust open one of the windows. "After that, we'll go by ear."

I nodded a smile across to her and she left Hikaru and me. "Everybody is very nice." Hikaru sat on the bed. His words were said with a slight sense of remorse. Sitting next to him I brushed his hair back, but it just fell right back into place. He laid down on the bed. "Can we ever go back?" By the time he finished his sentence his eyelids had already drooped fully shut. That kid could never stay awake.

Some organ on my left side wrenched. I squeezed my eyes shut. How long would this go on? I looked down into my clasped hands and for the first time I realized the birthmark I usually sported on my left wrist wasn't there. I examined my arm closely, and it made me come to grips with the fact that it wasn't my body. Moving across the room to a chair in the corner I curled my legs to my chest. Would the people examining me be able to tell that my body was a fake?

I peeked down at my arm again. No birthmark. You never really liked that one anyways. I shook my head at the irony.

The village's buildings seemed to make a collage with their colorful roofs. Each one stood out only adding to the personality that the place had. I could only see a few of the streets below my room before they were hidden among the buildings. On the street in front of the hospital stood Naruto. I leaned forward for a better view. He was talking with someone who was standing out of my view. Naruto gripped his hands behind his head and started smiling like an idiot. I'm guessing who ever he was talking to left because his smile dropped and I could've sworn he glanced up to me. Surely over thinking I sat back in my seat, feeding only disinterest to him. What was he doing there anyways?

I got the sickening feeling that he was going to be paying me a visit. My feet hit the ground with dread. That was the last thing I needed, a main character picking a bone with me. I didn't take my eyes off of the door for awhile, but he didn't show up. When I looked back outside, he wasn't there either. Before I spoke my relief too soon, my door opened. Needless to say there stood Naruto.

He looked so serious. I met his unsmiling face with one of my own. "Can I help you?"

Naruto's eyes itched with wanting to say something. He looked at Hikaru, probably wondering if he would wake him, and turned his eyes back on me with determination. "I need you to tell me what you know about Itachi Uchiha."

I rolled my eyes disgustedly. "Haven't we been over this?"

"You're protecting a murderer."

"You protect a traitor." I nearly bit my tongue with regret. I should've just stuck with my denying story.

Naruto's fists gripped until I could've sworn his skin was going to tear. "Itachi and Sasuke are not the same story."

I shoved myself from my seat. "You're right. Sasuke only sees hate."

Advancing towards me he grabbed me by the front of my hoody. "Itachi is the one who made him like that!"

"He knows that!" I whined as if begging him to understand. Naruto's eyes grew wide, his lip still curled. His hand slipped off of me.

"Then you have seen Itachi."

Shit. I made some space between Naruto and I. "You wouldn't understand." There was no shame in my voice. I wasn't in the wrong, neither was Itachi.

"You don't understand! Don't you know what Itachi did?" He threw his hands in front of him like he was pleading with me to see it his way.

I nodded my head only bringing another wave of shock to Naruto. "I met Sasuke again too." From under my breath I was surprised Naruto even understood me.

"You talked to Sasuke?" He instantly brightened up. "Where? Is he close around? Did he-"

"He found out I've been in contact with his brother. And then he threatened my and Hikaru's life." Naruto's expression was like I had just thrown a baseball at a mirror.

His eyes searched mine for an ounce of untruth. When he came up dry I felt terrible. How he felt about Sasuke I knew I couldn't possibly understand. Just like how he didn't understand how I felt about Itachi. "This is what Sasuke has turned to from desperatation. I need you to tell me all you know so I can help him." He still persevered.

"Are you stupid?" I snapped. "When are you going to realize that no matter what you say, things must run their own course. Without my interference.

Naruto's face hardened. He hated me for protecting the situation. But that's what I could do. I could be the person to let things pan out like they should, I could shoulder the hate.

"What the hell do you mean gone?"

Aki set the glass he had been polishing down. "Some Konoha shinobi came and she told them she was sick, so they took her back with them."

Hidan stood, fuming, in Aki's kitchen. "How could she have just left? And with some Leaf Village fucks?" His body huffed and puffed, not knowing what else to do. He pinpointed Aki again. "Did she leave a note? Anything at all?"

The baker winced. He had been wishing Hidan wasn't going to ask that. He held up his hand, telling Hidan to wait there. After that he went up to Taylor's room. Sliding the door open he found her necklace laying on her bed. Aki picked up the Jashinist pendant. Originally he had intended on not telling Hidan, but he deserved to know whatever Aki could show him. When he came down he laid it in Hidan's hand cautiously.

"That was the only thing in her room I found." Aki said regretfully. "Did something happen? She was a mess when she came back."

Looking pained Hidan ensnared the silver necklace in his fist. "Fuck." His eyes were a clear screen to the inner turmoil gushing in him. She told me she was okay.

When a Jashinist gives a pendant to another Jashinist, it's as if he's asking her to marry him on a less significant level of course. When that person accepts the pendant one could say that a bond is created between the two people, a close tie that nobody else could sever. Hidan had assumed she was a fellow Jashinist because she too had a pendant, and it isn't as if they are the easiest things to obtain. He had assumed that she understood what he was conveying when he had given her that pendant. And he had assumed that she accepted his feelings when she told him she loved him.

A bitter taste arose in Hidan's mouth. If the person who had received the pendant ever took it off willingly, it meant that they were severing that close bond the two Jashinists had shared. It also meant they were denouncing their faith. That in itself is an act worthy of shunning from every other follower.

That was the only time in his life that Hidan had ever questioned his faith.

Outside stood Itachi. He had decided it was the right decision to follow Hidan. If anything he thought that maybe Hidan would apologize and Taylor would run to him. Or perhaps she'd ramble on in her own way. Itachi had to be honest with himself though, he had never really seen Hidan as much of an obstacle. So when Itachi found Taylor and Hidan embracing each other in the elevator he was furious. Although it didn't really seem like the right mood for romance.

Hidan looked like he was going to rip someone in half and Taylor looked devastated. Not just by whatever Hidan had done, maybe by something a little heavier. Either way when she saw Itachi surveying her and Hidan she just tore off.

Before she was out of anyone's sight Hidan lunged at Itachi. "You arrogant little shit!"

Itachi made little effort to dodge him. For people like Hidan it was better to just let them get it all out of their system. "You did that to her!" He lashed out a kunai and started stabbing it at Itachi. "Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Although he wasn't entirely sure what his counterpart was talking about Itachi just stared on at him. "Taylor doesn't need you fucking around with her!" Noticing he wasn't getting very close to his opponent, Hidan chucked the kunai at Itachi. He was so hopping mad that his aim was far from spot on, making the kunai stray off into a tree.

"You're letting yourself become too emotionally involved." At that point Itachi had no intention of dueling it out with him. He wanted to piss Hidan off to the point where he made himself vulnerable.

From thin air Hidan summoned his scythe with an angry yell. He twirled the weapon through the air and whipped it towards Itachi. The thing was so large it made it easy to avoid. Hidan landed roughly on the ground and yanked the scythe back to him. He was far from settled down. "Burn in the pits of hell!" Again he propelled himself and his weapon towards Itachi.

Finally at the end of his patience, Itachi easily shirked the fuming Hidan and got him from behind. He pressed a kunai to Hidan's throat. "If you honestly think that I would hurt Taylor, then you are stupider than you sound." Itachi thrust Hidan hard enough so that he stumbled ahead of him. "I am not positive as to what is going on between you two, but it's my opinion that we both have misjudged the situation."

Itachi was sure that Hidan saw him as condescending, and he was okay with that. As long as he didn't see it as the jealousy it was.

After saying that Hidan refused to listen to anymore, and told of his plans to go straighten things out with Taylor before heading towards town, making it all the easier for Itachi to follow. But Itachi never thought she'd choose to completely sever the bonds she had with either of them. That's what going to Konoha did. It put a fence up around her that warded off people like him and Hidan.

Itachi knew he should've never let it get this far. He had let himself revel in the feeling Taylor gave him. Now his feelings had gotten ahead of him and he had hurt Taylor. In his own way, he had sent Taylor to the Leaf Village. He had gotten used to feeling guilt long before he had met back up with her, but he felt stupid knowing he had ignored her symptoms.

After she had woken up, she was clearly in pain. Always stopping and wincing at random moments. He had experienced them on his own, so why had he been so oblivious to them? Perhaps because if he had acknowledged them earlier it meant that he would've had to realize that the little happiness he had left was dying.

Konoha was no obstacle for him. Itachi had bypassed their security many times before. He wondered though, what was the point? From what he had come to know, she was probably dying. After that, there would be no more worrying about her. He could fully devote himself to fulfilling his duty to Sasuke.

Just one more time. I need to see her one last time.

Then there was no stopping him. Itachi had many things he regretted. Many of his decisions he had made haunted him every day. He couldn't not see Taylor before it was too late. That was one thing he wasn't going to regret.

Because he loved her.

The sun was just beginning to set when Itachi arrived, meaning the security was a little more guarded than it would've been in the middle of the day. The hospital was on the eastern edge of the village which made it easier to get to then the Hokage's mansion would be. There were two men idly chatting, Itachi jumped from the tree he was perched in to the roof of the hospital. With his sharingan he picked the least guarded entrance. Before he jumped to a door he heard Taylor's elevated voice.

Itachi hung his head over the edge and saw a window several floors below him hanging open. Through the wind he could make out her muffled voice. She sounded like she was fighting with someone. It wasn't long before she couldn't be heard anymore. There was the possibility that there was still someone with her, and he wouldn't have cared if someone wasn't behind him.

He quickly flew around and blocked an attack. Kakashi Hatake jumped backwards. Itachi quickly glanced around, it didn't seem like anyone else was around. "What are you doing here, Itachi?"

"Kakashi, there is no need to beat around the bush."

"You're here to see that girl?"

Itachi dropped his defensive position. "I won't let her die without seeing her face once more."

Kakashi lowered his head. "I can't let you just walk in." Itachi was slightly surprised, even as an enemy he truly was too sympathetic sometimes. "If you don't leave now," He gripped his hand, in preparation to start a jutsu. "I won't go easy on you."

"I'll leave as soon as I see Taylor." The two ninjas locked eyes. "After that, I will leave the village without a fight." Suspicion nagged at Kakashi still, quite visibly. "You have my word."

The white haired ninja shook his head. He knew he shouldn't be allowing this. Lady Tsunade would have his head if she found out. That's why she wouldn't. "Hurry then. Before someone else sees you." That was Itachi's green light. In a flash Itachi was gone from Kakashi's sight.

"Please, Naruto. You need to trust me." I clasped my hands together. He had started insisting even more annoyingly that I tell him 'what I know' but there was nothing I could. I regretted ever saying anything. "The things that I know, I can't tell you. They would mess with the way things are supposed to happen."

Naruto shook his head. "I've already dealt with this destiny thing! It's a load of-"

"I'm not talking about destiny!" Suddenly my voice rang in impatience. "Naruto. I can't tell you!" I shook my head pleadingly. "I-" I sunk back down into my chair. "I'm dying. Just please leave me be."

I think he felt slightly guilty. So did I. Naruto was finally leaving when I decided to tell him one thing. "Naruto." He stopped but didn't turn. "You are going to do great things. Things are going to work out, I promise." His head slightly moved so I could tell he heard me before he kept walking.

I watched him shove the door open, he stopped suddenly as if he had met a brick wall. His mouth moved and he jerked his head in my direction. Who was he talking to now? When he left, in came a familiar brunette.

Slightly disappointed that it was just Aki I still smiled. "Couldn't bare it without me?"

Aki smiled, catching me off guard. He glanced at Hikaru who was still soundly asleep. Assured he strode over to me. "I thought you'd be Itachi or Hidan." I looked at my hands laying motionless in my lap. "I guess I was just being a stupid girl. I just am scared." Aki stood in front of me. Feeling slightly odd I squeezed my eyebrows to him. "What do you think?"

His smile was still there, now making the atmosphere weird. He hadn't really smiled that much to me. The smile contorted slightly. Aki leaned down, placing a hand on each armrest. With our faces barely a foot apart I stared into his eyes as they morphed from a hazel to a blood red. "I think you are very clever."

My eyes widened as they voice threw red flags into the air. "What are you doing here, Madara?"

The imposter pinched my chin. "Just checking in on my experiment." He jerked my head from side to side. "I see you refused the medicine."

I held my breath as he yanked away from me. Leering over me in the form of a dark Aki, I waited for him to do something. "Then die." His voice became dark as well, mirroring his expression. "But know this- this is not the end. You will pay for this."

At that point I couldn't help my sneer. "What can you do once I'm good and dead."

Madara bent over once again, making himself eyelevel with me. "Do not make the mistake of underestimating me." As he stood he looked to the room's window. "This is where we part I believe. For now I bid you a safe trip." I was surprised when he left without causing anymore damage.

I clutched my chest. Just from holding up a couple of conversations I was out of breath. This must be how it starts.

Eventually I saw Hikaru sitting up in bed. He told me he had to go to the bathroom, but I think he knew I wanted to be alone. He must've heard some of my conversations.

That's a lie. I didn't want to be alone. I wanted someone to console me and tell me that everything was going to be alright. Because I wasn't sure that it was. I was dying, and I'm pretty sure that meant both of my bodies were. What was going to happen next?

"Taylor."

Breathlessly I turned. There by the window was Itachi. My eyes welled up immediately. "Itachi." I finally broke.

He came to my side and lifted me from the chair. I clutched his chest as he carried me to my bed. By the time he laid down with me I was a sobbing mess. Itachi wrapped himself around me and set his lips to the top of my head.

Even as my neck screamed in protest I craned my neck so I could kiss him. Through tears and aching pain I didn't let myself stop. I thought about how right it felt to kiss Itachi, how horrible it felt to know I was leaving him, and I even thought about what Hidan was doing instead of being where Itachi was.

Itachi pulled back. He slid a hand over my head. "Why didn't you tell me?"

I didn't dare break eye contact. "I just wanted to be happy. My health should be the least of your worries."

A light smile graced his lips. "You may be the only person in this entire world who worries about my happiness." A sadness ran through his eyes. "And you're leaving."

It made me feel happy that he had sad 'leaving' instead of 'dying'.

"Itachi." I gripped the front of his shirt as hard as I could. "I love you."

He set his forehead against mine. "In another world I could've loved you like you deserve."

Tears came to my eyes again. "Tell me." I laid in his arms so perfectly, like we were a perfect match.

Itachi kept the blankets snug around us. "Well," The way he started made it sound as if he was telling a child a nighttime story. "You and I were together every moment. Although I tried to talk you out of it you insisted on becoming a shinobi as well. Sasuke always got angry because you were always trying to set him up with one of your friends.

As soon as you took the Jōnin exams, you demanded we move in together. Mother and Father weren't so happy, but we managed. One night when I came home, you sat on the couch just as you did most night. This time though I was returning from a mission which you had worried so much about me that you had been sick. That was the night I promised to stay by your side until we died old and grey.

"Our home sat beside the creek that ran through the clan boundaries. That's where you told me you were pregnant. We had three children, Hana, Yoru, and you had insisted on naming one Itachi. You always said that Itachi looked exactly like me, but he had your eyes. Hana was the only girl and she was so beautiful, like her mother. When we were-"

I don't know at what point his story started becoming more of a lullaby to me, but soon I couldn't feel his arms around me anymore. All I watched were his lips as he told me the story of how we were supposed to have turned out. Then it was just movements, no sound at all. I think I tried to grip him harder, as if holding on for dear life because Itachi stopped moving his lips and just held my hand.

The warmth in my body slowly shrunk upwards. First leaving my toes and inching it's way up to my torso. I knew that when it closed in on my heart, that'd be the end. My breaths were shallow. I looked up at Itachi almost pleadingly. Don't let me leave.

Why was it then as I was finally closing in on an end that I realized how much I had left unsaid? Hidan hated me for all I knew. There was a part of me that felt that I needed to help Sasuke a bit too. What was going to happen to Hikaru? I was leaving him too, all alone again. The only good coming from my death was running from Madara.

Itachi swept his hand over my cheek. If I wasn't already dying my heart would have stopped. His face was pinched in pain. I watched a silent tear run along his nose. Was he crying for me?

I tried to lift my hand to his face but found it rather difficult. This was so sudden, my lack of strength and all. It made me panic. Itachi brought my hand to his face. He pressed into it like he was the one needing consoling. Shakily I smiled at him and mouthed, "I love you."

Itachi squeezed my hand and nodded slowly. "I love you too." His lips were the last thing I saw before I realized it was the only thing I could see.

And although he held me so tight, I was gone.

Itachi found it hard to leave her side. He had seen so many people die. He had even killed many of those he had seen die by his own hand. This was different. Her death was digging at him. Itachi soon realized he was clinging to her when the door opened. He jumped away from her but it was only Hikaru.

He had completely forgotten about the boy. "Taylor!" Hikaru blasted to Taylor, grabbing her hand. "Taylor wake up!" With his small hands he shook her entire body like Itachi had wanted to. He begged her to wake up for a long time before Itachi pulled him away.

Hikaru ripped away from Itachi. "No! I didn't say good-bye!" He shoved his hands into Itachi stomach. "She wanted you people! She loved you! And you made her wait!" Itachi was slightly taken back. "Now she's gone. She's gone." Hikaru stood by the girl he had hoped would stand in as his mother. "She's gone." Before him Itachi saw a boy forced to mature again. He had the same eyes Sasuke had. Dead inside.

The Uchiha man rounded the bed and reached out to say his final good-byes to the last chance he had at a normal life. Hikaru territorially smacked his hand away. "Don't touch her." He looked up Itachi with such hatred.

Itachi saw red and grabbed the boy by his wrist. Taylor had believed he was better than what people made him, he wasn't going to take the unnecessary person yet again. He was going to say his part.

"You may have loved her as a mother but I loved her as a woman." He clutched Hikaru's wrist harder making him flinch. "Learn your place." When he let go Hikaru shirked away from the bed reluctantly.

Letting his eyes linger for a moment he slid them to Taylor. His anger fled. Pretending as if a hair needed put back into place Itachi glided his fingers down the side of her face. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Good-bye."

His time was up. He couldn't dawdle any longer. Dragging himself from her side he reached the roof. Just because he was mourning didn't mean he was stupid enough to think that Kakashi would just let him leave. So he ran. He dashed through the trees until he was back on track to the hideout. Itachi stopped.

"She's gone." Itachi croaked to the man perched on the branch beside him.

Hidan clutched Taylor's pendant in his hand. He brought it to his lips with an angry expression.

"She went peacefully." Itachi didn't know why he was telling his adversary such things. They sounded like words of comfort.

For once Hidan said not a word of squabble or cursing. Itachi jumped from his side. They had no more business together.

As he sat alone Hidan asked one question. Why? Out of all the people who had died, it had to be the one he had fallen in love with. Jashin-sama gave Taylor to Hidan, so why did he have to take her away?

Hidan jumped to the forest floor and dug a small hole about a foot into the ground. Gently he set the pendant in the whole and watched it disappear under soil. It was the hardest thing Hidan had ever done.

God willing, I will see her again.

The long awaited update. El fin. No kidding. I'm so sorry if it wasn't what you expected. But it had to end. It's the only way I can start the sequel! Please be on the look out for it my generous reviewers 3

Thank you so much to all that reviewed and viewed alike~ NSR