Relax guys… No SasuSaku in this fic. I just need that for other purposes that I assure you would be a very important part of the story. Sorry for stressing most of my dear readers out there…Lol…I have been receiving anti sasusaku pleads and angry rants all day. Don't worry…I am not a SasuSaku fan…and never will be. (But I like them separately.)
Evil .1: Lol…the "stalking chicken" is so weird. Hahaha…I have fun with it though. It's funny being followed by a chicken all around the farm.
Puffy Gold: Great advice! I will never trust this chicken…I dunno, maybe she thinks I'm a giant worm or something…
Oh…I'm going to create a poll about the next Hinata fanfic I'm going to write about. Please vote for your favorite pairing. (The male character will be Hinata's next pair.)
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
-o-o-o-
With a tired sigh, Hinata opened her eyes. It was hot inside the cave hideout and she realized that she was almost panting from the lack of oxygen. After spending months on breezy old houses, this sudden change of atmosphere was a little hard for her body to adapt.
Her brows were dripping with sweat so she wiped it with her hands. It should be almost midnight—based on the sounds of the night insects she could hear from outside. Shino taught her once how to guess the time depending on the sounds of the night bugs—she never realized how useful it was until now.
She needs fresh air…
Hinata rose from the wooden bed and grimaced when she felt the sweat forming on the hollow of her back. It drenches her shirt and made the material stick to her skin. If not for the small candle placed on the stone floor, the room she was in should be pitch dark. One hand rubbing her still-throbbing temple, Hinata walk to the door and pushed it open.
Only to be surprised.
"Kisame-Niisan!" The Hyuga gasped when she saw the shark-like man lying just outside her door. He was snoring softly and his hands were crossed over his chest. Samehada was placed beside him, leaning on the narrow passage way. Shaking her head, Hinata kneeled beside the Akatsuki just when he opened his marble-like eyes to look at her. "Nii-san. Why are you sleeping outside of my room?"
Kisame yawned, showing Hinata his sharp teeth. "How are your eyes?" He asked, subtly changing the subject. "Pein would not let it pass if something happened to his beloved Byakugan."
"Deidara-san told you something about me and Itachi…am I right? That's why you're sleeping here outside my room Nii-san?" Hinata guessed, suddenly realizing that he was actually guarding her door from "unwelcomed night visitors". She tugged at his hard shoulder. "You know Itachi-san is not like that…" She unconsciously blushed upon remembering the 'accident' with Itachi. "It's not on purpose. I think I'm dreaming and I pulled him dow—"
"He's a man." Kisame answered simply. "That's reason enough."
The Hyuga can't help but smile. When she first came into the Akatsuki, Kisame was actually one of the members who were very vocal about his perverted thoughts and remarks about her…and look how the cards have turned. He was actually acting more like her Neji-Niisan as they spend more time together.
She pulled his arm up. "Get up Nii-san."
"Eh? I still wanted to sleep."
"You can sleep on my bed. I'm going outside for fresh air. Come on, get up and please go sleep on my bed, I will return shortly. It's cold in here and I can't allow you to sleep on the cold ground." Hinata tugged again, this time, a little harder. Kisame is a largely built Shinobi, a simple pull won't work on him.
"I'm fine…just leave the handsome guy alone to sleep."
"Nii-san!"
"Fine. Geez woman." With a grunt, the shark-man raised himself up and scratched his head. He took Samehada and yawned again—weirdly; the sword opened its mouth and yawned too. Shaking his head, he gave her an annoyed glare.
"Go." Hinata commanded.
"Yes mum." Kisame mumbled as he padded his way into her bed and dropped on it rather grumpily. Hinata suppressed a giggle, honestly glad that their early dispute about her helping the two Konohan Anbu was forgotten. Sometimes, the ex-Kiri nin was just a big baby…
And she was starting to love the man like a real older brother.
In the back of her mind, Hinata knew that bonds like this could become a problem in the future. No one can predict what might happen. Maybe…maybe she could still return back to Konoha…It's been a year now, but Hinata knew her friends well enough to know that they would never give up on her until they could bring her back.
And when that time comes…
She honestly doesn't know what to do.
When she was out of the cave, Hinata smiled faintly when she saw that the sky was filled with stars. The moon was actually quite bright tonight. It was enough to make her see around without using her kekkei genkai. Choosing a nice, airy spot, she seated herself on the grass.
"The moon matches the color of your eyes."
Hinata's head jerked to her right and gasped when she saw that Itachi was sitting just an arm's reach away from her. How did he do that? She never heard or felt anything—which was quite odd since her senses improved a lot after training with a few members of the Akatsuki.
And she was very sure that he was not there when she seated herself.
"W-when did you…"
"A second ago."
A second ago… Hinata almost grimaced at the thought. Itachi's skills as a ninja are not something to be taken lightly. "I'm very far from being a decent nin. I c-can't even feel you when you seated yourself beside me."
Itachi's head tilted ever so slightly to her direction. "You have skills. Your chakra is still messed up so you can't really feel any hint of chakra signature."
Hinata nodded meekly, knowing that he was just saying it for consolation. Deep inside, she knew that no matter how hard they train her; Itachi's skills were just out of her reach. The Uchiha was just on an entirely different level. Glancing at the man, she wondered why he was out here—he was supposed to be resting.
Then a flashback about Konoha's messenger hawk entered inside her mind—making her frown and chew the inside of her cheek. She really needs to know what that was about. She has her suspicions, yes, but she needs to find a solid reason to believe it. "Why are you out here Itachi-san?"
"Air."
Hinata was unconvinced. The last time she saw him awake during midnight was the time he was receiving some sort of message that came from Konoha. Gathering her courage, the Hyuga forced her eyes to meet Itachi's dark orbs. "Itachi-san…"
"Hn."
"Did you…Ano…receive any kind of message from anyone lately?" She asked, wanting to know if he was going to mention anything about the messenger hawk. "From Pein-san? Or Zetsu?...anything?"
"No…I never received any kind of message. Why?"
"Oh…" Hinata bit her lip. The man was lying. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ease her heart beat. This matter has been bothering her night and say. It was not only that she was curious; it was because Konohagakure has something to do with it.
What if Konoha is in danger? Hinata decided that she's going to get answers tonight. "C-can you look at me Itachi-san?"
When Itachi did, Hinata activated her Byakugan.
Itachi suddenly leaped back a step.
With that one glance—even though her cheeks were burning at what she might see behind the thick cloak—she looked at the rebel nin and studied his whole appearance. The man looks bewildered and for a moment, he just stared at her with his dark, cold eyes.
Bingo.
On Itachi's right side pocket, she saw a small scroll with the same Konoha insignia marked on it. She was right…the older man was not out for fresh air. He was out here because another message was sent to him. Maybe he felt her presence and was not able to read and burn the small scroll yet…
"Hyuga-san…" There was a subtle growl in his silky smooth voice. Mentally, it made her flinch. Sometimes, making an S-class missing nin angry at you was not really the nicest feeling. "What are you doing?"
Hinata was feeling a little frantic now. She needs to see that scroll no matter what. This may not be a good time for her to act a little rebellious—her eyes were still painful and her chakra unstable, making even the slightest chance of besting Itachi impossible—but she figured that there was no turning back now.
She needs to know…for the sake of the village she needs to know.
Hinata lounged at the Uchiha, who just easily side-stepped away from her grasp. Wheeling around, she tried another assault but it seems that even if Itachi was caught a little off guard—he would always be faster. "Hyuga-san….what are you doing?" He asked—but in the back of his mind, Itachi knew that the girl was already suspecting him.
The moment she activated her Byakugan, it was clear enough for him that Hinata has been suspecting him for days. The girl is sharp…and not discarding the scroll was really stupid of him. He should have discarded it when he had the time…In truth, Itachi was a little confident that Hinata can't use the Byakugan yet—it would no doubt hurt her eyes and head.
A small miscalculation on his part.
"There's a Konohan scroll hidden inside your cloak…on a secret pocket under your vest." Hinata stated, almost panting. Her messed up chakra was getting the best of her. "Are you really an Akatsuki….Itachi-san?"
Before the sharingan user could say anything, Hinata launched herself forward—with the intention of possessing the scroll—and raised her palms to disable a few chakra passageways if she needs to. Itachi back stepped, just in time to grabbed her arm and turn it behind her.
Hinata gasped when she felt her arms trapped in a death grip. Itachi's one hand was keeping them on place, while the other slowly encircles her neck. She could feel him breathing slowly—her back was on his chest and she can feel the warm air he exhales on the skin of her neck.
"I am Akatsuki." He told her.
"Is that all?" She asked back, a little giddy at the thought of standing her ground up to the great Uchiha rebel. "It seems you are more than that…Akatsuki should not be receiving any message from the Kage. That insignia…It's the sign of the Hokage, am I right?"
Itachi felt her squirm and tried to wriggle herself free. The girl's training for the past year really did help improved skills; she was able to push him back and slackened his grip on her hands. He should put an end to this right now. If the other members inside could hear what they were talking …
It would be serious trouble.
He has no choice but to tackle her onto the ground when his she finally freed herself from his grip. He heard her gasped when she felt his weight land on top of her. Pinning her hands beside her to prevent her from using her paralysis technique, Itachi looked straight into her frightened white eyes—identical orbs that beautifully matches the moon. Somehow, he admitted silently that the girl was mesmerizing. "I am more than that." He said, voice low with a hint of serious warning. Since the Konohan already suspects, there was no use in hiding it. If she continues to be suspicious of him—it might only bring unexpected dangers."You should not act harshly…It's for your own good…Hinata."
"What are you…Itachi?" She let out a small groan when her eyes suddenly became blurry. "I…I don't believe you're just a missing nin. What are you really?"
"It seems you already know the answer. You won't attack me like that if you have no answers of your own."
"Are you still Konokagure's Shinobi?" She whispered, disbelieving her own words. Now that she mentioned it, it really sounded so...ridiculous. "But you killed your clan…you are a rebel…you kidnapped me…"
"We have our reasons."
"How about Sasuke…does he know your reasons?"
Itachi was about to open his mouth when he felt another source of active chakra. It belonged to someone inside the house. For a split second of contemplation, he lowered his head and whispered on the girl's ear. "There are things far darker than the village you loved so much…but right now…I want you to trust me and everything that I'm going to do from now on."
"I don't know who to trust anymore…"
The sharingan user raised his head up a little to just in time to see Deidara peeping from the window. With a defeated sigh, he returned his eye to the girl. "You have no choice. You just stepped into one of Konoha's darkest secrets Hinata…"
"What are you—"Hinata was about to asked the older Uchiha a question when half of her words were trapped inside of her mouth. Itachi prevented them from getting out—and he did it with a rather unexpected way.
Using his lips.
Hinata's eyes widened—though she was still unmoving for her hands were still pinned beside her. Inside the house, they heard Deidara's voice screaming Kisame's name like a little kid that just found his favorite toy. "Hey Kisame…Itachi's doing something to your little Hyuga. They are actually making out!"
"Starting now…you have to pretend as my lover." Itachi whispered when he broke the kiss. "We should have a reason to stay together…the knowledge you hold is too much for your own good. I can't let you disappear from my watch."
"Itachi-san…"
-o-
Sasuke wiped his lips hard with the back of his hand. He was feeling disgusted with himself. Gritting his teeth, he flexed his bloody knuckles as he berated himself for hurting Sakura. The girl was just being worried about him—like all good friends do.
But he acted like an idiot who let his fury and disappointments trigger him to do foolish things. And what's worse, he was feeling like a traitor…As if he just betrayed Hinata and Naruto in some way. "Shit." He muttered, taking a deep breath as he slipped in his black shirt and gray pants. Naruto loves Sakura…what would his best friend say when he finds out about what he did?
It would be just an additional burden to the heavy load he was carrying…and he was already on his knees as it was.
"I need you right now…" He murmured, collapsing on the bed and covered half of his face with one arm. "I need you right now Hina…You always makes things a lot easier for me when you're here."
-o-o-o-
Here ends the chapter. A little bit occupied so it's all that I could come up for now… ( Sorry…I promise to make it all for you on the next chapter. I'm still a little busy so please be patient with me.)
By the way…since some of you are wondering, I think this story is running for 35 to 40 chaps max…is it okay? Or maybe it's too long?
Oh…don't forget to vote on the poll on my profile…
-crazygurl12