Remember, the pain of Rejection is nothing compared to the pain of Regret.

-Matthew Hussey

Itachi cradled her face in his hands, moving the hair from her eyes. He tucked the strands behind her ear, letting his hands linger in a soft caress.

"No, it's me."

Her eyebrows furrowed, before she opened her eyes slightly.

She saw red and black.

"I-Itachi?"

She heard another exhale.

"Yes."

A heartbeat passed.

Then, Hinata felt all her sorrow, all her anger and all her longing crash down at her all at once. She remembered all her thoughts as she was about to die.

Despite Kurenai being her mother figure for years, despite her considering Kiba and Shino as her brothers, the face she'd seen in her last seconds had been Itachi's.

A man she'd barely known for a more than a month, and the last thoughts she'd had were his.

Why was he this important to her? Why did she care about him so much?

She wondered why she was asking such questions to herself in the first place. Why did it matter how much he meant to her?

She felt the whisper of her subconscious crawl quietly into her head.

Because you should not be with him, it murmured, Because he is an enemy.

And then, Hinata remembered.

She opened her eyes fully, her vision clearing just in time to see Itachi reaching out for her.

She remembered the decision she had made on the escort mission regarding her feelings.

And though it was against her better judgment, though her body was exhausted and mind disoriented, though her chest hurt and not because of her injuries, though she herself didn't want to, Hinata forced herself to recoil away from him.

She saw his hand halt its movement, as he froze. He was close enough for her to catch the change in his breathing, as his hand stopped mid-air.

Hinata had made herself a vow. And now was a good time as any to start acting on it.

If she went with him now...there would really be no hope for either of them.

The silence that followed was tense, as Itachi slowly turned to meet her eyes.

Slowly, almost experimentally, he extended his hand towards her again, the beginnings of desperation in his eyes.

Again, she moved away.

And though her throat was hoarse, and by all gods it hurt to speak, she forced the words past the lump in her throat.

"What are you doing here?"

There was silence as he said nothing, eyes still watching her quietly. The desperateness in them increased.

Something in his eyes cracked.

Then, as if a button had been pressed, his shoulders straightened, walls immediately going up. His emotions were, once again, hidden behind his blank mask as he pulled away from her.

Hinata found herself missing his warmth.

"You called for me." He replied coolly.

Hinata barely managed to shake her head, eyes feeling the familiar burn of tears.

"I called for Naruto." She swallowed, having to force the words out.

Itachi didn't know what to do with the sudden stab of jealousy that erupted.

He was surprised when his tone came out bitter.

"Well, he's not here, is he?"

The 'I am', was left unsaid, but heavily implied.

As if guessing his thoughts, Hinata looked away, eyes clenching shut, not wanting to look into those elegant, beautiful pained eyes.

The pain she herself felt was almost unbearable, the burn behind her eyes growing harsher, as she resisted from simply throwing herself at him and melting in his arms.

Pressing her arms against herself, she took a deep, shuddering breath.

"Go home, Itachi." She whispered, a shadow of the words he'd once told her in the forest. She silently wondered how things would have gone had she just listened to him at that time.

At once his mask came off, face twisting, all his frustration, irritation, desperateness on display.

He leaned away from her, looking at he as is she was a completely different being entirely.

He couldn't believe it. He was being rejected.

Now, of all times.

The day couldn't get any worse.

But, a part of him realized that it made complete sense.

He was the bad guy. He didn't save the day, he didn't fly into the sunset, and he didn't get the girl.

(Get the reference!?)

But, he pushed the painful thought out of his mind. His feelings didn't matter right now.

Her condition did.

Once again, he extended his hands towards her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders before she stopped him, clutching at his hands.

"What are you doing?"

He didn't--couldn't-- meet her eyes after everything.

"You're hurt." He bit out, "I'm trying to help."

Hinata gritted her teeth, pushing his hands away.

"I don't need your help. I don't want your help!" Her voice cracked.

He scowled.

"I didn't travel hours to get here, just to have you die on me."

She turned to him, eyes glassy with tears, her hands going to her chest.

"I didn't ask for you to come! Just...please go away."

He gritted his teeth.

"Why?"

She looked away again, focusing to something.

"You know exactly why."

And, he did.

How could he not?

He knew that it was hurting her to be this close to him, but not draw any closer.

He knew she loved her village, and how painful it was for her to still look at him the way she did.

He knew she was pushing him away now, because it would too hard to do so later on.

He knew, at some level, she was afraid of how out of hand the both of them were going, and wanted to stop before they went too out of hand.

They had been interrupted the last time, but he knew that if the Haruno had not come, there had been nothing stopping him from taking her there and then.

He knew, but he still didn't want to pull away. He didn't know how to make her understand either.

Because how could he ever explain to her all that he had done--had been made to do--for the sake of the village she loved so dearly?

The village she was currently choosing over him.

How could he ever explain to her that he understood her pain, knew it better than anyone else, but couldn't bear the thought of living the way he used to?

How could he ever explain to her how miserable he had been before she'd come, and how miserable he would be if she left?

He didn't know how to make her understand, didn't know what reason he could give her to stay.

Tell her, The desperate, lonely part of him whispered, Tell her everything. About the Massacre, about the village. Everything.

It was either that, or he took her hands in his, and begged her not to push him away. He felt the helplessness claw at his chest, breath labouring, as he swallowed.

If he told her right now, it would be nothing more than blackmail.

Hinata coughed again, breaking him out of his thoughts. He was suddenly reminded of how beaten up she was.

Ignoring her previous protests, Itachi swiftly slipped his arms around her, and pulled her into his chest.

He heard her choke out a sob against the crook of his neck, as her nails dug into his arm.

"D-Don't." She was crying openly now, "Don't do this. Just leave me here. Itachi, please."

Why didn't he understand?

Couldn't be see just how much pain he was causing her?

Didn't he realize that if he persisted, she might end up giving in to him?

She didn't want to betray her village. She didn't want to betray her loved ones. She didn't want any of them to hate her.

But, she understood his persistence at some level.

Just like she had been unable to abandon him in the forest, his worry for her far exceeded his self-measured worth of his feelings.

He would rather suffer rejection than regret for not saving her.

As he slowly stood up, adjusting her in his arms, Itachi looked down at her.

"The last time we met, you spared my life." He said tonelessly, "I am simply repaying what I owe you."

An excuse, a pathetic attempt to reassure the both of them.

It didn't work.

And with that, he took off, just as she passed out, face still tear-stained.

Damn...

That was pretty sad to write.

Poor both of them, suffering the dilemma of choosing between each other and the village.

Either way, how was it?? Did you like it?? What do you think will happen next?? Will this be the stepping stone in their relationship?? Will Hinata continue to push Itachi away??

Gotta wait to find out!!

I know I'm really dragging this out, and I really wish I had more time to get this over with. I'm trying my best but sorry if this is taking too long. :'(

But, I hope you like it!!

Until next Monday, ENJOY!!

-Your witty author.