I read the last chap and I am so sorry for the mistakes…some are typographical errors that I failed to check. It's so embarrassing. Anyways, I'm going to make it up in this chapter…Oh, and there are some issues with my grammar errors too. Sorry! I am studying about it…so maybe my next Hinata fan fiction would be much better than this error filled one.
I love my readers! So understanding…I love you guys!
-paragraphs that are written in italics are flashbacks.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…though I love the characters with all my heart.
-o-o-o-
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Raven (Last Part)
Karin's hair bristled as she eyed the blue haired Anbu with the catlike mask. That shiny blue hair reminded her of the Hyuuga girl she has fought a few days ago. Was this the same one?
A whiff of the faint scent of lavenders confirmed her question that was on her mind.
It was the same person, she was sure.
Eyeing the blue Anbu tattoo on the bluenette's firm shoulder, the Uzumaki let out a whispered "Ah.". So that's why she fought so well, and that was saying something especially when her opponent was Suigetsu. That idiot may not look like it, but he was actually one of the most dangerous experiments Orochimaru-sama has created.
But what was that arm touching with Sasuke again?
When the Anbu in question saw her, she stiffened, and Karin could not deny the obvious dislike that passed on the powerful white eyes that were the only visible features behind the mask.
Unknown to Karin, she was also giving the same look of dislike on the Hyuuga's part.
Hinata pretended not to see the red haired girl that was glaring at her behind those transparent spectacles. Instead, she followed her cousin who stood in the farthest corner of the living room, pretending to be nonexistent.
That suited her just fine.
Straightening herself by plastering her back to the wall, Hinata wondered why Itachi-san did not chose Karin to be entrust with the responsibility of watching over his younger brother. The heiress was sure that the girl would be more than willing to take on the job.
"Sasuke-kun…" Karin passed by the pouting Suigetsu and took Sasuke's arm on her own. "So are you going out now?" Even from the past, Sasuke was never bothered by her touchy-feely attitude towards him, she doesn't know the reason why, but Karin intended to show it off to everyone.
It was like letting the others know about your property.
Karin knew that she has made a vow that she would never bother Sasuke again before disappearing like a bubble with Suigetsu and Jugo. The young man would be just reminded about the past every time he was with them anyway.
But I am here now…And Sasuke-kun has changed. Karin thought. The terrifying darkness that that was inside the Uchiha has been extinguished and was replaced by something she has no words to describe. The new Sasuke shocked her at first for it was so new…so strange.
He was not a blood thirsty monster anymore…He was more human. The moment she made physical contact with him at the Hokage's office, she knew that he was the Sasuke that she has given her heart to.
And that only made her fall for him than she already was.
"No."
Karin blinked. A few minutes before the two watcher Anbu arrived, the Uchiha declared that he was going out to see some "Important-matters-that-he-only-knows." When she asked if she could go with him, though the answer was clear even before he said it, Sasuke reminded her of the rules they need to abide. Suigetsu picked that time to interrupt and told her that she was just getting her hopes up with Sasuke.
She responded with the grand declaration of having the potential of being a good mother for Sasuke's children.
Suigetsu retorted that Sasuke was just going to stab her again before she could even be his girlfriend.
She gave him a punch on the head and threw him to the nearest wall.
Her actions made Suigetsu scream bloody murder, which triggered Sasuke to give them both a glare with his activated sharingan. The angry Uchiha threatened that if they don't stop their "nonsense" that instant; he was going to kill them himself.
Karin noted that even if the boy that she loves has changed for the better, his short temper still remains. In her defense, she knew Suigetsu deserved it.
"Oh…change your mind?" Suigetsu rubbed the swollen part of his head. "And I was about to ask you to bring me some delicious food from the market when you get back." He mumbled something about people who does not know how to cook while glancing at Karin who was hugging Sasuke's arm like she was glued to it.
"I thought you said you were going out Sasuke-kun." Karin said, confused. She was starting to get suspicious that the arrival of the two watcher nins has something to do with Sasuke's change of plans. She stole a glance at the two masked nin who stood like human statues in the farthest corner of the room.
It was the first time that she came to realize it, but Karin suddenly found out that she hates the color of blue.
-o-
"Itachi-san…" Hinata bit her lip. "Th-that is one big responsibility."
The Uchiha chuckled again, catching her off guard by his deep yet smooth voice. In a small part of her mind, Hinata wondered how the Uchiha brothers are both blessed with skills and good looks. Hinata was sure that Uchiha Itachi was as famous as his brother with the ladies in his time.
Or even more so…
"I know, and it won't be an easy one." He agreed. "And I know that I am selfish in asking you that."
"Looking after your love one is not selfish." Hinata shook her head. "It is admirable…Itachi-san."
The older man smiled, his eyes wrinkling at the sides. "You have a good heart." His expression suddenly changed as he studied her once more. His lips pressed in a thoughtful manner.
Is that humor in his eyes? Hinata can't be sure…
"Hyuuga-san…do you know that our clans once arranged for the Hyuuga heiress and the Uchiha heir into a wedlock?"
That came out of nowhere.
"Wedlock? You mean…" Hinata pointed at herself, then at the person sitting opposite her. She clamped her jaw shut when she realized that it was slack. Nobody mentioned it to her that she was once arranged to marry Itachi Uchiha…
"Hai." Itachi nodded, looking amused at her stunned expression "It was before I…reduced the clan's bloodline into one person. It was an attempt to forge stronger bonds by the clan heads…and to test if a new eye would be created with the Byakugan and sharingan combined." He pointed at her face. "Base on your expression, nobody told you that information."
"Your right."
"Maybe the Hyuuga clans just don't want any more controversies about their heiress being wed locked into a traitor."
"You are not a traitor Itachi-san…everybody knows that now."
"But nobody knows that back then." He gently pointed out.
"Clans and their power…" Hinata shook her head. "I am planning to change that when I'm clan head."
Another smile and Itachi stood up. "I am sure you will."
Hinata suddenly felt like she wanted to stop time and continue their conversation. She hastily raised herself up, this time her Byakugan was deactivated. She awkwardly dusted her behind, like she usually did when sitting on grounds. She stopped when she realized that she was inside a dojutsu.
"So…would you take care of my brother for me?" He asked as the air between them started to get stronger. Hinata has to hold her long tresses with both of hands just to prevent getting a mouthful of hair. Taking a deep breath, Hinata nodded. "Hai."
She was sure that somehow, her promise to Itachi would be a very difficult one to fulfill, but deep inside her, she knew that she has to accept his request. No one could understand him better than she does.
"Arigatou…Hyuuga-san."
"Hinata." She corrected him. This time, she let a smile hover on her face. She can feel the love and kindness emitting from the Uchiha. She knows how he feels…for she would also do anything to keep her sister safe.
If only Sasuke realized sooner how his brother loved him.
"Hinata…chan." Itachi repeated, adding the honorific seconds later like he was savoring it. "Looks like whatever path any of us chose, be it on Sasuke's revenge or my clan's demise…your path will always be connected to an Uchiha."
"Connected to an Uchiha? Why do you think so, Itachi-san?"
Itachi shrugged. "In our case, connected to one of us…be it on Sasuke or mine…If I did not take the path of sacrifice…then you might have ended as my wife due to the arranged marriage our clans once proposed…and when I chose differently, you are somehow entrusted with my brother."
Hinata pondered on his words, a little bewildered at being once arranged to be Itachi Uchiha's wife. "I…guess you're right." She finally said, though a little confused at what the words really mean to her. She has spoken again without thinking much. "Will I see you again…or anyone, Itachi-san?"
The raven haired Uchiha shook his head no. "You are the last person that would ever see me…"
"Oh…" She smiled sadly. She was kind of feeling bad for Sasuke for he should be the one to have this meeting with his Nii-san. Though she also understand Itachi's reason why it won't be such a good idea. "Then…Nice meeting you for the first and the last time…Itachi-san."
With a modest smile on his face, Itachi looked at her in the eyes. "Then I will leave Sasuke to you…Hinata."
"Hai."
-o-o-o-
"Shit." Inouzuka Kiba cursed as he bounded through the ragged trail on the forest. He grasped Akamaru's white fur with both hands as the giant dog run as fast as his four legs could carry him. Glancing behind him, he saw shadow figures following him, weaving in and out of the trees.
"Shit." He cursed again. He was just returning from a mission with three other Inouzuka clan members when people with covered faces began to ambush them. He was the fastest out of the group, so he was able to escape the series of dangerous traps that the masked men have prepared for them.
The other Inouzuka's were not so lucky.
It was already dark and the people who are following him began to merge with the shadows, in and out of it as they were starting to gain on him on the chase. Kiba managed a glance on his shoulder just as Akamaru swiveled to dodge a large shuriken that was about to hit him on the chest. It landed on a trunk with a dull thud.
His would was bleeding, Kiba could feel the sting. One managed to land a kunai on him a few minutes ago and he did not appreciate the way it burns on his skin. He took a small vial from one of his vest pockets and bit off the lid. It was Hinata's homemade pain reliever. She has given it to him weeks ago and he always keeps it with him all the time.
Swallowing the contents in one gulp, he flung the small vial on the ground.
This is bad. Kiba thought as he pulled three kunai out of his pouch. He threw it behind him and heard soft cursing from his chasers. Another batch and he heard a scream.
He swallowed the disgust he was feeling as it was rising on his throat. The traps that were waiting for them are very well created and planned. Two of his clan members died in a second, while the remaining one caught a sharp shuriken on the back of his neck.
It all happened so fast everything was a series of blur, but if there was one thing that he was very sure of, he identified the ambushers to be of the same group like those who attacked Hinata and Sasuke months ago. He remembered the same black mask, the same weapons, and the same traps.
Kiba knew that he needs to get back to the village and finish the mission. If he failed now, he would also be failing his fallen clan members as well.
"Akamaru…" He leaned down and whispered on the dog's ears. "I need you to do something for me." He reached down and tied a scroll around the animal's neck using his medical bandage as Akamaru whined in protest.
The dog knew something bad was going to happen every time his master talks like that.
"Go and give this to Kaka-sensei." His master told him. "I am going to give you enough time to slip."
Akamaru answered with a feral snarl.
Kiba managed a smile. "Don't act tough on me now, big guy." He patted the large head. "You have your orders…I will see you back at Konoha, so don't you worry your furry ass off alright? Besides, Shino and Hinata would never stop looking for me if I can't get back."
With one last reassuring grip on his faithful dog's white fur, Inouzuka Kiba jumped off Akamaru's back while his hands pulled out five kunais each, disregarding the stinging pain on his shoulder as he blocked the trail that Akamaru just passed through.
His nose twitched as he sniffed for the attacker's individual scent.
-o-o-o-
The night was deep and the occupants of the Uchiha mansion were already on their individual rooms and resting except for two Anbu watch guards who were both sitting on the roof, watching the waxy moon up above their heads.
"Spending time observing the Uchiha's noisy friends made me appreciate the luxury of silence like never before." Neji grumbled. He got to admit that he almost got a headache by just listening to the bickering of the two Taka members. Those two could go on and on for hours without taking a break.
Hinata giggled behind the mask.
Neji sighed.
"They are rather…lively." Hinata choose the words carefully in case the subject of their conversation could hear. They are skilled people anyway, who knows if their hearing was as good as Kiba-kun's. Though I don't like the way the red haired girl was looking at me.
A cold wind blew past them and Hinata instinctively wrapped her arms around herself. She glanced at Neji and wondered how oblivious he was about the night's cold air. Her cousin did not even give a sign that he was feeling the way she does. Hinata's eyes lingered for a moment on his blue Anbu insignia, then she noticed Neji's firm arm. She wondered how her cousin has evolved into a scary Hyuuga genius into a handsome; hot-if she would dare say it, Anbu captain.
She was not feeling any kind of incest desire with her Nii-san, it was just the physical changes that took place was rather surprising and she cannot help herself but spot the changes. When she pondered about it, she realized that all of Konoha eleven boys are all well favored by the changes brought by Puberty.
They are a good looking bunch, she admit.
"Nii-san." She said absent mindedly. "Your muscles look good."
The Anbu captain coughed behind the ceramic mask. "W-what?" His cousin's remark caught him off guard. When did Hinata started being aware of muscles? Was it the influence of Ino? The girl was more acquainted with these kinds of things, or was it Tenten?
"I just noticed that you look so different when we were young." Hinata continued innocently. "How time flies…" she added, mostly saying the words to herself. "A few years more and we are officially adults."
"Y-yeah."
The blunette raised her chin up and frowned at the moon, the conversation forgotten. "I better do a few rounds around the district…just a perimeter run."
Neji stood up before his cousin could. He flexed his neck sideways and gestured for her to remain seated. "No…stay here. I'll do the rounds."
"You sure Nii-san?"
He shrugged. "I need a little stretch."
When Neji left, the heiress looked around the dark surrounding, listening to the melodic sounds of insects and nocturnal animals. Neji would not be back for a few minutes, since he was more meticulous on his rounds compared to her. He would never stop if he can't assure himself that the area he was guarding was safe.
And now she has nothing to do but sit and wait for her shift to end.
While she was biting the inside of her cheek out of boredom, a black beetle landed on her shoulder and rested there. She could feel the very faint flicker of Shino's chakra on its shiny little body and a smile found its way on her lips as she looked at the bug, feeling a little better all of a sudden.
A subtle sound from behind made her jump to her feet, hands instinctively rose in a defensive stance as she eyed the source of her sudden alertness.
"Sasuke-kun, what are you doing up here?" Hinata asked, relaxing her posture but her face remained into a frown.
Sasuke smirked. "This is my roof." Pocketing his hands inside his side pockets, he took a few steps and stood beside her. In truth, he actually can't sleep. It was not because of his nightmares…it was because he just can't. He lay on his bed for a few minutes and decided to come up to the roof when he felt Neji's chakra starting to fade, it indicated that the male Hyuuga left.
He observed the masked nin in the corner of his eye as made a pretense of looking on the ground below. "Where is the other one?" He asked.
"He was doing a perimeter check on the compound."
"Hm."
"Y-you should be in bed." She pointed out, her masked face facing him. "Or you will not get the right energy you need." Hinata continued. She was actually trying to humor her promise to Itachi by starting on reminding his little brother that sleep is a must. "It will also affect your chakra."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "You're serious?" Of all the things to say, he never thought that she would tell him to sleep and lecture her about its positive effects of it on his body. He actually expected her to tell him to get lost or something.
"I am…dead serious." She responded, clicking her tongue disapprovingly like a mother to a stubborn child. "You better get down there Sasuke-kun. You need your sleep."
That was just cute.
"You know what?"
"What?" Her head lolled to the side while she was waiting for his next words. It looks like he has something important to say.
"I could just kiss you right now." The Uchiha said, his eyes reflecting the moon's light, making them look more intense and deep that they already are.
Hinata blinked and she warily took one step away from the young man. She cleared her throat nervously. "Y-you don't have to." You have already done it many times before…
As if reading what's inside her mind, Sasuke gave her a shrug. "What? It's not like we haven't kissed before."
Hinata can feel the heat rising up on her cheeks.
Sasuke smiled deviously.
"I…" Hinata squeezed her brains for a way out. "I need to check something behind the house." She can't stand talks like this…it was just too unsettling and awkward for her. "Goodnight…Sasuke-kun." She should have told Itachi how difficult it was to deal with his brother.
"You are not going anywhere." Sasuke said grimly as he grabbed her gray vest before she could leap away from him. As he was pulling her closer to him, he noticed the small beetle on her shoulder. The bloody bug was staring at him with those ugly black eyes. Sasuke never realized how he hated insects until now.
That Aburame again…
First the sand kage, then the bug weilder…Sasuke grimaced as he realized that Shino would be harder to deal with. He was Hinata's teammate and childhood friend after all.
He removed the offensive bug on her vest, intending to kill it in his palms. Hinata however did her best to remove it from his hands like it was a person's life that was on the line. He raised his hand up, the one that was holding the bug.
"Do you have something going on with Aburame Shino?" He asked her all of a sudden.
The question made the girl stopped from struggling. "What?"
"Did you two already kissed?" He asked, eyes narrowed as he waited for her reply. Out of pure irritation, he threw the bug away. He wished a bird would find and eat it up.
Behind the mask, Sasuke heard the heiress squeaked. He removed her catlike mask with a swift movement of his free hand, the one that was not holding the vest into a death lock and dropped it on the roof. They are now facing each other and he studied her face.
The moon's light was enough to see her tomato red face.
He waited for a proper answer, for the Hyuuga princess looked nothing but stunned for the moment, looking at him with those white disbelieving eyes. "Well?"
"Why are you asking me that?" She managed.
He does not like that answer.
"Yes or No."
"Sasu-"
"Yes or No?" He growled, and it was anything but feral. An image of the girl and that creepy Shino kissing under moonlight flashed inside his mind and stirred something dangerous inside him. The feeling was so intense that he could feel his cursed mark tingling.
"Sasu…" She tried again, this time, raising her slender arms to place it between them, as he has already pulled her too close to even feel her every inhalation of air.
"You are really not good in diver-"
"No."
The Uchiha closed his mouth and stared at her face. If she was tomato red a few seconds ago, it just turned ten shades darker. Sasuke could feel the heat radiating from her cheeks. "No?"
"Never." She confirmed.
He thought for a moment, biting the inside of his cheek. "Anyone aside from the Aburame?" He asked, cautiously. His grip on the vest somehow slackened, though the distance between them did not.
"Just one." She said in a low voice, eyes downcast.
"Tell me." His eyes narrowed again, whoever that guy was, he just have a death wish. Nobody touches what belongs to him. Even as a kid, that is one of his greatest flaws…He never like to share what was his. Especially if was very fond of it.
"Ano…" Hinata could feel her face on fire. She should have kept her mouth shut the moment Sasuke appeared up here. It could have kept her away from encounters like this. Foolish Hyuuga mouth…
Sasuke rolled his eyes. Hinata was using her useless diversion technique again. "Breath Hinata." He told her when she stiffened. When she followed his order, he resumed his interrogation. "Now tell me."
The girl bit her lip for a few seconds, then opened them as if she was about to say something, then closed them again firmly. Finally, she managed a determined look on her face and mustered her courage to tilt her head up and meet his eyes. "You Sasuke…kun."
Uchiha Sasuke felt like he just won the village lottery.
"C-could you let me go now?" She asked, hopefully. She was on Anbu duty for heaven's sake. She should act tough and in control like every member of the elite squad should be, not like a damsel in distress who cannot even speak what's inside of her mind properly.
The Uchiha sure knows how to mess with her emotionally and mentally.
"Yeah…you should let her go Sasuke."
Both Hyuuga and Uchiha froze. Hinata tilted her head to the side just in time to see Karin straightened herself up on the roof. The Uzumaki woman was breathing heavily; Hinata could hear every intake of breath. Out of instinct, Hinata hastily pushed Sasuke away from her.
Sasuke's hands fell on his sides as he looked at the redhead who was emitting a very dangerous killing aura. "Karin, What are you doing up here?" He asked calmly. The glares that the girl was throwing at him were left unnoticed.
Uzumaki Karin straightened her crumpled pajamas with her trembling hands. She woke up in the middle of the night and decided to check on Sasuke, for she loves looking at his sleeping face. It was a hobby of her in the past when they were still active Taka members. She knows Sasuke was aware of her "night stalking", but he never reprimanded her even once.
Suigetsu once told her that it was a sign that Sasuke was ignoring her.
She believed that he being nice.
When she tiptoed to his room, he was not there, so she followed his faint electric-typed chakra signature.
And now, she found him under the moonlight, holding someone like the way she wanted him to hold her.
"I came to see you sleep but you were not there." She admitted. "Like I usually do…" She was feeling feisty, like she wanted to get into a fight with that blue haired bitch…and she wanted her to take the bait she was going to lay out.
Hinata blinked at the bespectacled girl's revelation…or to make it proper, revelation to her. So they were together most nights? The girl said it was "usual."
"Go back and sleep Karin." Sasuke did not even show a single emotion. "It's late."
"No."
"Go inside." His voice was beginning to be tinted with annoyance and anger, thought his face remained stoic.
There was a warning hidden in those words.
"Only if you go back inside with me, Sasuke-kun." Karin said, determined.
That made Hinata looked up to stare at Sasuke's face. She suddenly felt betrayed and toyed with. She really could not explain even to herself why she was feeling those kinds of emotions and she did not like it. It was like being vulnerable from the inside.
Sasuke frowned at the Uzumaki. He was actually being easy on her, for he was honoring their past lives as a team, not to mention the evil things he has done to her despite of her valiant efforts to keep him safe.
He was compensating.
He was about to open his mouth in an attempt to speak some sense into her when he felt two hands pushed him gently forward. He looked behind and saw Hinata's hands dropped to her sides. "Go inside with her Sasuke…" she said, not looking at him for her eyes where downcast, apparently, the roof was more interesting compared him. "Gomen…I need to make a short perimeter check."
Before he could stop her, Hinata grabbed her mask and leaped into the darkness, vanishing from view as she was hidden behind the covers of thick leaves and trees.
"Crap." He muttered, looking at the foliage where Hinata disappeared. "Crap."
-o-o-o-
Oh…Hinata-chan is getting a little jelly…lol.
Oh…Thanks to people who read my work…and also to those who take time to review…I am so happy every time you let me know of your comments and suggestions. It fuels me up to get my laptop and continue.
It's exam week so wish me luck…
Until next chapter!
-crazygurl12