Chapter 36: Love and Loss

…………….

Love is redemption

Love is sin

Love is destruction

Love is life

…..

Alternate Universe

Then so be it

With those words he and Hinata had sealed an agreement, one that was to solely remain between the two of them. He glanced at her; she was sitting beside Kiba, showing him once again how to wrap wounds.

Kiba-kun will not be a part of this

He was slightly taken aback at her words, no, the meaning behind her words. She had made it clear that this was their mission.

It was their burden, not his, not the one she had been unconsciously protecting. With that in mind, Shino understood he had discovered her weakness and his advantage. He glanced away when he realized that she was now looking at him.

"Madara." Shino repeated.

Hinata nodded, as she stared out the window, waiting for Kiba and Akamaru to return.

"He'll be going after Sasuke..." she turned now fully facing him; he raised an eyebrow at her. "And I'm the one who's supposed to protect Sasuke." She tilted her head in the same manner she would to Kiba when she'd fake embarrassment.

…Present

"You loved him didn't you?" Kiba asked her again, she hadn't moved or spoken since he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I think I loved him the most of all."

"You had to; all that stuff that happened…it wouldn't make sense to believe that you didn't." Kiba heard Shino laugh, the deep laugh he had only heard once. It wasn't a time that he had wanted to remember. "You didn't love him at all..."

Even if he didn't hear it, he felt her exhale the breath that she had been holding.

"I never did."

He wanted to pull his hand away, he wanted to walk away from her, but he couldn't. He had always believed that they were close, she wouldn't lie to him. It was that belief that kept him rooted there.

"Then, why?" he questioned.

"Madness needs not a reason." Shino answered Kiba.

"Just go, don't put yourself through this..." Hinata pleaded.

She simply placed her hand on his, as she shook her head. "Don't." she replied. "Get involved in this."

……..

He had the advantage.

He knew her limitations.

Compared to him, she was powerless.

She would have to return here, no doubt to face him with a bombardment of questions. Then attempt to harm him, though she couldn't. He did admit to himself, he would find her attempt to be amusing.

…..

"Hate to fucking break it to you, but I think I'm involved!" Kiba reminded her.

She tilted her head as she stared at him, a sign he knew meant she was thinking. Thinking thoughts, not of the happiest and nicest quality at the moment, which involved him.

"Now who's Madara?" he question.

Her chin slightly raised, she decided to answer him. "The corpse I'll deliver Sasuke to."

…..

He had spent years after her death learning, thinking and reviewing. He would need to think like her, in case the worst case scenario happened, and his second chance was spoiled.

Spoiled by the reappearance of that sweet psychotic he had been unaware of. That darling sweet girl who wanted nothing more than his brother's love, the love she had decided to substitute for her deceased whore of a mothers.

"All she touches she taints...soon you too will be like her." Shino smiled from behind his collar as he offered Sasuke another drink.

Sasuke only stared at him. "She spoke to you, you were her teammate, and you know more about her than me. I need to know everything, I have to be ready."

Shino's eyebrow rose slightly. "She's dead; you killed her along with Kiba. Though I should congratulate you, neither I was attached to." The corner of his lips curled in a smile, Shino refrained from reacting. "Is she still buried, or should I expect a molested corpse."

Thankfully Shino had informed him of everything he knew. Including a seal, Itachi had placed, in case she broke free of her leash.

………..

"Monster, it is fitting."

Shino might have been right, they way Kiba was staring at her, she actually felt guilt. She looked away from him; she wanted to get away now.

"There is always Kiba."

Her eyebrow twitched. He was actually threatening her. She was slightly amused, the uptight pawn had balls.

"Maybe." She kept supposed eye contact with him. "Though I will kill him, the moment he no longer interests me."

"This isn't that time, you can change it!" he was growing frustrated with her, she felt guilt again, she was upsetting him.

"Kiba-kun! Can't you see it's not me!" Hinata flinched; the screaming was impossibly getting louder. Her hands clenched tightly together as she brought them up against her chest. Then something she hadn't been expecting occurred, the girl screamed using her voice.

"It's not me!! Can't you see there's something in me!!" she screamed.

Kiba's eyes widened, that wasn't Hinata. That was the Hinata from this time. Her eyes widened then closed as she hunched foreword before collapsing.

…..