Hey! Nice to be updating again. Hmm, well I'm not sick this week with the cold or anything so it's all good- better yet, let me not jinx myself lol! Anyway, I hope you like this chapter.

Excuse any errors and R&R!!!


Chapter 26: Bird Cage

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Sasuke woke up the next feeling as though he had been hit by Sakura in the head. He was up all night thinking about the fact that his brother was in the village. Or at least he thought so, because he could no longer sense him around for some strange reason.

It was only now that he felt the presence gone that he realized that he was sensing him all along but had been ignoring it. He could not wrap his mind around that fact that Itachi was in the same room as he was the day before and he just walked away, turning his back on the revenge that he had lived for.

All for a girl who could not be honest with him and liked the same brother he had wanted to kill for years. It was not like he was being honest either, but at least he knew that he would tell her about it when he was comfortable enough.

Was that how it was with her? She said it all the time but he never really got it until he had to keep a secret from her, until the tables were turned. He guessed he would have to tell her to let her know that he trusted her with his secret and hoped that in return she would trust him with hers.

He no longer felt like lying in bed so he got up and went to the bathroom to have a bath before he went outside, planning to go to Naruto's to get a good spar out of him. Naruto met him half way though, and with him were Kiba and Neji as well as Shikamaru.

"Ohayo," they greeted and he returned it.

"What's going on?" he asked when he saw the looks on their faces.

"Hanabi's gone missing," said Kiba.

"Nani? Really?" said Sasuke. This was surely a surprise- not that he was complaining.

"Hai, she's gone," said Neji. "She was being her usual snotty self all day and then she just disappeared. I didn't see it coming."

Somehow, that last sentence and Neji did not match.

"Hiashi told me to get some friends and show this photo around to see if anyone saw her," Neji continued. Sasuke could tell that he was not willing to do it.

"I'll help you but only for an hour," said Sasuke. "Even though he didn't do this for Hinata."

"It's true, right now he's at the Hokage's demanding a reason why Hanabi isn't found. I saw him talking to one of the council members and they said it may be a kidnapping like Hinata's," said Kiba.

That made something click in Sasuke's head. What did they mean it was connected to Hinata's kidnapping? Itachi kidnapped Hinata… He now understood and he nearly fell to his knees to bang his head on the ground. He just hoped the genius that was yawning and obviously bored- Shikamaru- did not link up the connection. It was unlikely but he had to hope.

Hinata was working with Itachi because the plan was to kidnap Hanabi. That was probably why his chakra was gone now, because he had Hanabi. Why didn't he figure it out before?

"Sasuke, are you alright?" asked Naruto.

"Hai," said Sasuke. "Let's go."

They went all through the village, halfheartedly asking if anyone had seen Hanabi but it was all the same- except for the select few who were trying to be smart. He witnessed it for himself when some girls tried to be flirty with him and the others and some other occasions as well.

"Have you seen this person?" he heard Neji ask a vendor.

Sasuke looked around to see the man scratch his head and stare at the photo.

"Hai," he said.

"Really," said Neji.

"Hai, you're right there," the man replied with a toothless grin.

Sasuke was so sure Neji wanted to roll his eyes and then smack the man for his stupidity.

"Not me, you idiot, the other person in the photo obviously," said Neji. "The little girl."

"Oh! Iie, I didn't see her," the man said and Neji's nostrils flared at the waste of his time.

They all met up at the end of an hour.

"Did any of you have any luck?" asked Kiba.

"Iie, but I'm so hungry," said Naruto.

"You're always hungry, Naruto," said Sasuke.

"So what?"

Sasuke sighed. He gave Neji his photo. "I have to leave okay? Something came up."

The others said their farewells and Sasuke left to go to see Hinata. He had to talk to her about what his assumptions were and see if what he thought was right. Would Hinata really take part in helping Itachi kidnap her younger sister? He never knew Hinata could be so cold-hearted. There was only one way to find out.

He did not even wait, but appeared right in Hinata's room only to find that the girl was about to go through the door when the sound of his arrival stopped her.

"Sasuke. What brings you here?" she asked.

"I need to know something," said Sasuke.

"Ano… ok."

"Did you help Itachi and Hidan kidnap Hanabi?" he asked her. There was no need to beat around the bush or butter it up.

"Iie."

He knew she was lying; she was a terrible liar. "That's not the truth, Hinata."

Hinata chewed her lip. He walked up to her and touched her shoulder.

"Hinata, I'm not mad or anything, I just want to know that truth for once," he said.

"Ok," said Hinata. "It was Itachi's mission as well as Hidan's to take Hanabi in my place since Itachi let me go against Pein's- the leader's- wishes."

Itachi let her go free?

"What does that mean 'let you go?'" asked Sasuke.

"He brought me back to Konoha without telling anyone because I told him that I would give Akatsuki my sister instead," said Hinata. "I don't think he had told the leader about it but he brought me back and I owe him a lot."

"Why would he bring you back?" asked Sasuke.

"He said that he wanted me to be happy," Hinata told him, then blushed a little. "He wanted you to be happy too."

In other words, Sasuke realized, Itachi wanted them to be together despite his feelings for her. Hinata returned to her bed to sit and Sasuke followed.

"I don't know what happened between you two when you were younger and I know that he was the reason for the massacre but he said that he did it for your own good, Sasuke," said Hinata and before he could speak she continued. "I know that it sounds mean and crazy, but it's true. Itachi did for you. I don't know exactly why, but there is no way he would do all that he's done if he was truly a bad person."

Sasuke did not know what to say so instead he kept quiet for awhile before Hinata held his hands in her own. "I agreed to help Itachi take Hanabi because I was saving my own life. I know that sounds really cruel but you have to know what it feels like to live in the shadow of a sibling, to have your father look at them with such pride but look down on you because you just were not good enough."

"Hai," said Sasuke. "I do know what that feels- felt like, but that does not mean that I would have sold off Itachi to someone to save my own life. He meant everything to me."

"What really happened, Sasuke?" Hinata asked him suddenly, catching him off guard. He took a deep breath, if he wanted Hinata to trust him with anything and tell him everything he was going to have to do this.

"I had a brother complex when I was younger," said Sasuke. He waited for Hinata to say something.

"I don't know what to say," Hinata said finally. "That was unexpected."

"I know."

"Was it hate or love," she asked.

"It was… love," said Sasuke. He was so ashamed that he just wished the whole house would cave in and cover him up for uttering what he had and would say. "I admired him so much because he was strong and, in my eyes, perfect, prettier than all the girls I ever knew- I think except you because you didn't annoy me."

"When did it start?" Hinata asked him. She seemed to want to know more. Not because she was being nosy or wanted a laugh, but because she wanted to help him, it felt nice.

"I don't really know," he said. "I didn't even know what a complex was at that age- around seven or so I think- but I knew it was wrong even though at my age it felt right. Imagine, the guy almost every female in Konoha wants was in love with his older brother."

"I think I understand what you were feeling," said Hinata. "I think I had the same problem."

"What, you liked Hanabi?" asked Sasuke with a raised eyebrow.

"Iie, I liked Neji when I was younger," she said, gaining a wide stare from Sasuke. She nodded. "Hai, I liked him a lot because he was so strong, something I never thought I could be. Even when he had started to hate me. I felt that way about Naruto as well, that was a really strong one. I admired him so much because of his strength and will that it was mistaken for love for a long time."

Sasuke now understood. "So I just felt admiration for Itachi because he was what I wanted to be?" he asked.

"Hai," said Hinata and she leaned into him, kissing him quickly on the cheek before hugging him tightly. "You know, I never thought that I'd see the day when I would see you look like this."

"Look like what?" asked Sasuke.

"So vulnerable," said Hinata. "So open… I like this side of you and I rarely see it."

How could she like him when he was showing weakness? He didn't have the time to think further on it for another minute or so because she leaned in fully, kissing him before pulling away.

"How could you like me when I show my weak side?" Sasuke asked her.

"Because you're not that person you try to be," said Hinata. "You unconsciously put up a mask, a wall, to hide the real you. The real you is not weak; the real you is just more human."

Sasuke looked away but Hinata brought him to look at her again.

"This Sasuke is the one I've fallen for… the real you."

He had never been so glad to return to this place, he got rid of Hidan and it felt like he was finally able to experience peace again. He carried Hanabi to the darkest cell and Itachi all but threw the girl to the floor and chained her to the stone floor of her cell. There will be no room for her like Hinata had had; no special treatment or training either. She was going to suffer for making Hinata suffer all these years.

He dragged her in a corner and got some newspaper, spreading it across the floor and then left to come back with something for her to eat- in another three days or so.

When he came back, Hanabi was awake, looking livid; he would definitely have to break her more. He watched as she pulled her sore limbs across the newspaper on the floor, smudging her skin.

"What do you want from us!" she asked not too nicely. That's right, she thought Hinata was at the hideout as well.

"We'll be taking your eyes," Itachi said simply. He estimated the length of the chain and put the tray of food down to suit. Hanabi looked at it warily but then slowly made her way to it, reaching for it. He could tell she was hungry and tired but was trying to look strong in front of him. He could see that she had been trying to pry her foot from the shackles and the effort had left nasty welts on her ankle.

Her fingers stretched at the tray, amusing Itachi how she tried not to act so desperate for the food.

"You're going to have to try harder than that if you want something to eat," he told her.

Hanabi glared at him and straightened herself out, reaching for all she was worth until she caught the edge, grabbing the tray. She looked at what she had been given in disgust, poking the contents in the bowl.

"Cold porridge and… what's this? Rusty tap water?"

Well she needed all the strength he could allow her; porridge for strength, rusty tap water for… he guessed a little iron.

"I suggest you accept what I've given you or I'll leave and come a week from now," said Itachi, and he meant it.

Hanabi's nostrils flared as she glared at him before sipping the murky water and grimacing. She then took the spoon and grazed the top of the cold, lumpy food, taking it to her mouth and swallowing thickly. When she was done, Itachi called her to him but she refused.

"I said come here," he repeated. He stepped closer so that she could be in front of him and he tugged her chin to look at her eyes. So different from Hinata's, they were. Cold and hard, hate rippling behind the irises… disgusting. All his life, this was what he wanted Sasuke to believe he wanted from him and he regretted it, but this girl had no reason to be what she was. He studied her eyes closely with his Sharingan. Her eyes were not developed enough yet; he would have to talk to Pein about that. Het then suddenly flicked her forehead, causing her to step back.

"I didn't tell you to move," he said. "Come back here."

"Fuck you."

Itachi backhanded her across the face. It was one thing to have a filthy mouth, but no one spoke to him like that, female or not.

"You won't ever speak that way to me again, do you understand?"

Hanabi wiped her cheek that was not bleeding and bruised from his ring. "I speak to who I want, however I want? Do you know who I am?" asked Hanabi.

"You're a dirty little girl."

Hanabi smirked. "My excuse for a sister is always telling me that. How's she doing? Crying, is she? Or is the slut asking to do 'favors' so you'll let her go?"

Itachi slapped her again. It was never a habit to let someone get to him, and Hanabi wasn't, but there was such a thing as a limit and after knowing Hinata for so long and holding such strong feelings for her, it was irking beyond belief to here this snotty little girl use such a nasty mouth against her.

"Watch your language around me," he told her. He could not let her know he was attached to Hinata for it would cause problems.

"Didn't your mother ever tell you not to hit girls?" asked Hanabi.

"I killed her so it doesn't matter, does it?" Itachi replied, gaining wide eyes from the girl. He really needed to shut her up, she was talking too much and making him do it too. The faster her eyes were taken and she was dead, the better.

"What's with the newspaper?" she asked him suddenly.

"This represents what you were supposed to be, a caged bird," said Itachi.

"This is your cage."

And that's where I end the chapter. I hope you liked it. It' s amazing how most of the time I don't have a clue what I'm going to write until my fingers hit the keyboard lol! Sorry if there are lots of errors but I wanted to get this out as soon as possible and I have something to do that's really important so don't be mad. Also, I no longer have a beta. I don't think I'll get another one though, after this chapter, I'll look over them like I used to before I got lazy.

If you have not read Hinata the Vamp or A Happy Ending (Feel free to look up the pic I drew for that on my deviantart . com account-search xXxItaHinaSasuXxX), please do.

Until next update…

Ja ne!

Please review, I love it when you do!