Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything.
Notes: I apologize to Itachi x Sakura fans. Ame no Kioku will remain as a compilation of short stories so basically, no 'sequel' of the first chapter will be posted (unless I lose myself again). I did write '-owari', didn't I? Flame me for this one but I am not an Itachi x Sakura fan. I just thought that if Itachi did have sex with any female character from the whole series, it would make so much sense if he did it with Sakura. Anyway, all Ame no Kioku reviews (should I say flames?) are still accepted.
(...that was the longest note I made so far...)
Ame no Kioku: White is Purity
It's been raining.
She walked along the lonely streets of Konohagure, her colorless irises never leaving the stone pavement.
She sighed.
Where was she going again? She couldn't remember. All she knew was that she was going far, far away from the Main House and nobody would stop her. No one would go to her. No one would criticize her for her weakness. No one would compare her to her younger sister who grew stronger each day while she remained weak for the whole year.
Indeed, going to the city alone was best when it was raining. She won't hear the small sounds of bugs and she won't see the small shadow of a certain dog.
Being alone had scared her a lot of time but if it was the only thing that could save her from losing her self, then be it. It's not like someone was really there for her anyway.
Sure, Yuuhi Kurenai had been there but she was a teacher. And all teachers have limitations. Certainly, she won't be there forever.
Suddenly, the girl stopped.
Kurenai-sensei was...
She rubbed her eyes to get a clearer picture. From a few blocks away, she saw her teacher standing before another jounin's door. Her sensei, too, was soaking wet.
"Hinata-sama..." A familiar voice echoed through her head.
Fear.
A chill went down her spine.
Neji was following her again.
"Hinata-sama, you shouldn't linger around...here, especially when it's raining, Suna or Oto might try and..."
"Shut up, Neji."
The male shinobi stared in shock. What the... She became...commanding. Not that he wanted to complain since obeying her was his way of repenting but there was just something wrong with Hinata taking the lead.
Confused yet determined to give in to her request, he did not speak. He stood still, watching as his cousin laid her eyes on the scene before her.
It was Kurenai-sensei, all right. And she was before Hatake Kakashi's door.
What were the two jounins doing?
Hinata wanted to come closer but she didn't after having second thoughts. Maybe seeing her mentor at that moment was not a very good idea. Kurenai's pride would most likely be shattered if one of her students saw her crying.
The girl turned her back on her sensei and stalked off into the opposite direction. Neji followed.
"Quit following me."
"I must."
"I can hold my own."
"Can you?"
Silence.
"I hate you, Neji."
Neji swallowed hard but he still went after Hinata, knowing that she wasn't as strong as she said she was. He could just leave here right then and there but he didn't. He didn't want to. His cousin obviously wanted to be alone but it was too dangerous. The risk was just too high. So, to give her privacy, he stepped backwards until there was at least ten meters between them. Since she doesn't use her Byakugan all the time, maybe, by doing this, she'd just forget that he even existed.
Like she could.
A few more twists and turns and they saw the event of the year.
Hinata gasped as her vision darted a few feet away from her standing point.
"Uchiha Itachi..." her male counterpart mumbled.
Shocking as it was, Neji still managed to keep calm and collected. Somehow, he had taken it upon himself not to over react about something since the other were too expressive.
"Sakura- san..."
They're...making love..." Neji blushed. The walking ice block of Konoha blushed at his own statement.
No, they weren't, she shook her head.
"They're just fucking each other..."
They're not making love, she convinced herself. There was no love at all. There was just lust. Longing, perhaps. But not love. Impossible.
Hinata once again felt the urge to come closer. Maybe...little...just a little... if she could just talk to Sakura...maybe she'd be able to pull the remaining pieces of her friend's dignity together...
"I don't think it's a good idea."
"...what do you know..."
"What do YOU know? The last thing she'd want right now is to have her friend see her broken. She's a smart girl, Hinata-sama. She knows what she's doing."
Neji was right and she knew it. Hinata turned to a corner again.
Two hours...
Everything was quiet. Nothing but the sound of raindrops filled the entire village.
It was lonely not having anyone around, she figured after another hour. She didn't want this anymore. She wanted company.
Hinata looked around.
No one was there.
No one but Neji.
Recent memories replayed continuously on her mind, scene after scene, minute by agonizing minute.
Kurenai-sensei was there...
And Hatake Kakashi...
And Uchiha Itachi was...
...with Sakura-san...
And Hinata wonders.
Did sex really feel good? Was it so damn good that Sakura didn't mind doing it with an S-ranked criminal? Did it offer her an undeniable pleasure that she allowed herself to be stained just for the mere contact itself?
A drop of her own sweat ran down her forehead as she tangled with the long dark locks her partner always had.
"Neji," she breathed, "...maybe you ought to cut you hair sometime..."
The other genin just moaned, placing his throat above hers so that any sound he'd make would vibrate in both their vocal chords.
Silence.
What was Sakura thinking at that time? Hinata continued to ask herself.
"You're still worried about Haruno, Hinata-sama." Neji pushed himself upward at an arm's length , his eyes drilling their way in inside the same orbs the girl had.
"Hinata-sama, if you didn't want this...then you should've said so...there's no rewinding to anything we've-I'm sorry, I've- done..."
Hinata softened her eyes and shook her head. If only he was Naruto, then maybe she's done a lot more than just lying around and holding on to the sheets...
By the look on her face, he had an idea of what went on her mind. It was that Na-na-na-naruto-kun again.
Damn.
Now that he thinks about it, he still can't get why Naruto doesn't see her.
She's pretty, practical, and she's academically intelligent. And she's part of the Hyuga clan, so she has this bloodline limit that not everyone else possesses.
On the same note, why, in all Konoha, did she pick Uzumaki? He is a blond mindless idiot who doesn't seem to know anything but to boast about his not- so-great abilities and eat ramen 24/7 at Ichiraku. To top it all off, his I.Q. is way below that of an average shinobi.
Every male Neji knows is just so much better than him. Akimichi eats a lot but at least his brain is not as dead as Uzumaki's. Nara is lazy but when it comes to intelligence, his is all their I.Q.s combined. Lee isn't so great. He may only know taijutsu but he is one heck of a workhorse. Aburame and Inuzuka are equally competent. They have exceptional talents and one won't be surprised if they pass the succeeding chuunin exams easily. And Uchiha...what can one say? He has the looks, he has the brains and since he's an Uchiha, he has the Sharingan. He could understand why if Hinata falls for Uchiha....
...but Uzumaki?
Neji sighed inwardly. Love. Hmph.
Probably when hell freezes over.
Besides, Neji is so much better than Naruto. The blond was able to beat him, but that doesn't mean anything since Neji was only defeated because of the kyubi inside Naruto. The battle wasn't fair, no, it was two against one.
The girl kissed her partner's cheeks hastily and with a free hand, she guided his lips on the nape of her neck, urging him to go further.
Everything went blank.
Then, there were thoughts again. Hinata wandered on to how she was going to regret her current actions. Maybe she'd hate herself in the morning...or maybe she'd just feel dirty. Dirty that she was just tainted by an incestuous relationship with her own first cousin, Neji.
Hinata wore her hooded cloak and closed her eyes as Neji paid their stay in that cheap looking motel.
Slowly, she peered into the window. It was still raining yet Neji insisted on going since that would reduce the possibility that they'd be recognized.
As they exited the small inn, Neji leaned closer, whispering in her ear.
"Hinata-sama, please...do not open you're eyes while we're still in this district...uh...let me walk with you until we reach the Main House. From there, use the back door."
From the tension in his voice, she knew he was at the verge of panicking. It was obvious that Neji didn't want Hinata or himself in a mess he thinks he created. He seemed guilty for what Hinata allowed him to do.
Neji would be fine, he was from the Branch House. But Hinata...he wasn't sure. He just knew she'd take the greater blame if they were found out.
The question would be: Why didn't Hinata activate the seal if he used violence against her?
And that question, he can't afford to be asked. No one-no one- must know about what had happened.
It was complicated...but maybe he did have feelings for her...everyone's got to have their own love interests, right? It was just a matter of who tells who.
Neji smiled at his own thoughts.
"Neji?"
"Nothing. Let's get going."
The boy walked ahead, activating his 360-degree vision. They should avoid all suspicious looks as much as possible to leer the crowd away.
Neji scanned his surroundings.
Scanning...
Scanning...
Then, his eyes snapped open. Hinata, what are you doing?! He turned. What was she doing, lowering her cloak like that? Everybody would...!
"They won't care. No one cares." Her timid voice echoed as he realized that it was true.
Indeed, the world continued to revolve like nothing happened. The people just walked past them as if they were invisible.
Neji was surprised but he didn't let it show. Instead, he started his journey back to the Main House, grabbing his cousin's forearm all the way.
It was a good couple of hours of continued running that they finally reached the Hyuga Main House Manor. As with the plan, Hinata headed for the back door.
"So...I guess this is goodbye, Hinata-sama..."
His lips trembled at the number of things that kept on clinging to his mind. What was he thinking? Did he really suppose that Hinata would give him a token of approval before he leaves? Was he out of his mind? Of course Hinata wouldn't. They were just playing a while ago. Besides, she would only give her consent to Uzumaki Naruto.
...wait.
As quick as any other genius genin would do, his hands performed a hand seal.
"...or perhaps it would be better if..."
He cursed himself mentally for even trying.
Hinata didn't look back. She simply opened the door and went in, her last word suspended in the air.
"Sayonara."
Poof.
The genin began his walk home.
Break, Neji.
Break.
-owari.
Notes: I apologize to Itachi x Sakura fans. Ame no Kioku will remain as a compilation of short stories so basically, no 'sequel' of the first chapter will be posted (unless I lose myself again). I did write '-owari', didn't I? Flame me for this one but I am not an Itachi x Sakura fan. I just thought that if Itachi did have sex with any female character from the whole series, it would make so much sense if he did it with Sakura. Anyway, all Ame no Kioku reviews (should I say flames?) are still accepted.
(...that was the longest note I made so far...)
Ame no Kioku: White is Purity
It's been raining.
She walked along the lonely streets of Konohagure, her colorless irises never leaving the stone pavement.
She sighed.
Where was she going again? She couldn't remember. All she knew was that she was going far, far away from the Main House and nobody would stop her. No one would go to her. No one would criticize her for her weakness. No one would compare her to her younger sister who grew stronger each day while she remained weak for the whole year.
Indeed, going to the city alone was best when it was raining. She won't hear the small sounds of bugs and she won't see the small shadow of a certain dog.
Being alone had scared her a lot of time but if it was the only thing that could save her from losing her self, then be it. It's not like someone was really there for her anyway.
Sure, Yuuhi Kurenai had been there but she was a teacher. And all teachers have limitations. Certainly, she won't be there forever.
Suddenly, the girl stopped.
Kurenai-sensei was...
She rubbed her eyes to get a clearer picture. From a few blocks away, she saw her teacher standing before another jounin's door. Her sensei, too, was soaking wet.
"Hinata-sama..." A familiar voice echoed through her head.
Fear.
A chill went down her spine.
Neji was following her again.
"Hinata-sama, you shouldn't linger around...here, especially when it's raining, Suna or Oto might try and..."
"Shut up, Neji."
The male shinobi stared in shock. What the... She became...commanding. Not that he wanted to complain since obeying her was his way of repenting but there was just something wrong with Hinata taking the lead.
Confused yet determined to give in to her request, he did not speak. He stood still, watching as his cousin laid her eyes on the scene before her.
It was Kurenai-sensei, all right. And she was before Hatake Kakashi's door.
What were the two jounins doing?
Hinata wanted to come closer but she didn't after having second thoughts. Maybe seeing her mentor at that moment was not a very good idea. Kurenai's pride would most likely be shattered if one of her students saw her crying.
The girl turned her back on her sensei and stalked off into the opposite direction. Neji followed.
"Quit following me."
"I must."
"I can hold my own."
"Can you?"
Silence.
"I hate you, Neji."
Neji swallowed hard but he still went after Hinata, knowing that she wasn't as strong as she said she was. He could just leave here right then and there but he didn't. He didn't want to. His cousin obviously wanted to be alone but it was too dangerous. The risk was just too high. So, to give her privacy, he stepped backwards until there was at least ten meters between them. Since she doesn't use her Byakugan all the time, maybe, by doing this, she'd just forget that he even existed.
Like she could.
A few more twists and turns and they saw the event of the year.
Hinata gasped as her vision darted a few feet away from her standing point.
"Uchiha Itachi..." her male counterpart mumbled.
Shocking as it was, Neji still managed to keep calm and collected. Somehow, he had taken it upon himself not to over react about something since the other were too expressive.
"Sakura- san..."
They're...making love..." Neji blushed. The walking ice block of Konoha blushed at his own statement.
No, they weren't, she shook her head.
"They're just fucking each other..."
They're not making love, she convinced herself. There was no love at all. There was just lust. Longing, perhaps. But not love. Impossible.
Hinata once again felt the urge to come closer. Maybe...little...just a little... if she could just talk to Sakura...maybe she'd be able to pull the remaining pieces of her friend's dignity together...
"I don't think it's a good idea."
"...what do you know..."
"What do YOU know? The last thing she'd want right now is to have her friend see her broken. She's a smart girl, Hinata-sama. She knows what she's doing."
Neji was right and she knew it. Hinata turned to a corner again.
Two hours...
Everything was quiet. Nothing but the sound of raindrops filled the entire village.
It was lonely not having anyone around, she figured after another hour. She didn't want this anymore. She wanted company.
Hinata looked around.
No one was there.
No one but Neji.
Recent memories replayed continuously on her mind, scene after scene, minute by agonizing minute.
Kurenai-sensei was there...
And Hatake Kakashi...
And Uchiha Itachi was...
...with Sakura-san...
And Hinata wonders.
Did sex really feel good? Was it so damn good that Sakura didn't mind doing it with an S-ranked criminal? Did it offer her an undeniable pleasure that she allowed herself to be stained just for the mere contact itself?
A drop of her own sweat ran down her forehead as she tangled with the long dark locks her partner always had.
"Neji," she breathed, "...maybe you ought to cut you hair sometime..."
The other genin just moaned, placing his throat above hers so that any sound he'd make would vibrate in both their vocal chords.
Silence.
What was Sakura thinking at that time? Hinata continued to ask herself.
"You're still worried about Haruno, Hinata-sama." Neji pushed himself upward at an arm's length , his eyes drilling their way in inside the same orbs the girl had.
"Hinata-sama, if you didn't want this...then you should've said so...there's no rewinding to anything we've-I'm sorry, I've- done..."
Hinata softened her eyes and shook her head. If only he was Naruto, then maybe she's done a lot more than just lying around and holding on to the sheets...
By the look on her face, he had an idea of what went on her mind. It was that Na-na-na-naruto-kun again.
Damn.
Now that he thinks about it, he still can't get why Naruto doesn't see her.
She's pretty, practical, and she's academically intelligent. And she's part of the Hyuga clan, so she has this bloodline limit that not everyone else possesses.
On the same note, why, in all Konoha, did she pick Uzumaki? He is a blond mindless idiot who doesn't seem to know anything but to boast about his not- so-great abilities and eat ramen 24/7 at Ichiraku. To top it all off, his I.Q. is way below that of an average shinobi.
Every male Neji knows is just so much better than him. Akimichi eats a lot but at least his brain is not as dead as Uzumaki's. Nara is lazy but when it comes to intelligence, his is all their I.Q.s combined. Lee isn't so great. He may only know taijutsu but he is one heck of a workhorse. Aburame and Inuzuka are equally competent. They have exceptional talents and one won't be surprised if they pass the succeeding chuunin exams easily. And Uchiha...what can one say? He has the looks, he has the brains and since he's an Uchiha, he has the Sharingan. He could understand why if Hinata falls for Uchiha....
...but Uzumaki?
Neji sighed inwardly. Love. Hmph.
Probably when hell freezes over.
Besides, Neji is so much better than Naruto. The blond was able to beat him, but that doesn't mean anything since Neji was only defeated because of the kyubi inside Naruto. The battle wasn't fair, no, it was two against one.
The girl kissed her partner's cheeks hastily and with a free hand, she guided his lips on the nape of her neck, urging him to go further.
Everything went blank.
Then, there were thoughts again. Hinata wandered on to how she was going to regret her current actions. Maybe she'd hate herself in the morning...or maybe she'd just feel dirty. Dirty that she was just tainted by an incestuous relationship with her own first cousin, Neji.
Hinata wore her hooded cloak and closed her eyes as Neji paid their stay in that cheap looking motel.
Slowly, she peered into the window. It was still raining yet Neji insisted on going since that would reduce the possibility that they'd be recognized.
As they exited the small inn, Neji leaned closer, whispering in her ear.
"Hinata-sama, please...do not open you're eyes while we're still in this district...uh...let me walk with you until we reach the Main House. From there, use the back door."
From the tension in his voice, she knew he was at the verge of panicking. It was obvious that Neji didn't want Hinata or himself in a mess he thinks he created. He seemed guilty for what Hinata allowed him to do.
Neji would be fine, he was from the Branch House. But Hinata...he wasn't sure. He just knew she'd take the greater blame if they were found out.
The question would be: Why didn't Hinata activate the seal if he used violence against her?
And that question, he can't afford to be asked. No one-no one- must know about what had happened.
It was complicated...but maybe he did have feelings for her...everyone's got to have their own love interests, right? It was just a matter of who tells who.
Neji smiled at his own thoughts.
"Neji?"
"Nothing. Let's get going."
The boy walked ahead, activating his 360-degree vision. They should avoid all suspicious looks as much as possible to leer the crowd away.
Neji scanned his surroundings.
Scanning...
Scanning...
Then, his eyes snapped open. Hinata, what are you doing?! He turned. What was she doing, lowering her cloak like that? Everybody would...!
"They won't care. No one cares." Her timid voice echoed as he realized that it was true.
Indeed, the world continued to revolve like nothing happened. The people just walked past them as if they were invisible.
Neji was surprised but he didn't let it show. Instead, he started his journey back to the Main House, grabbing his cousin's forearm all the way.
It was a good couple of hours of continued running that they finally reached the Hyuga Main House Manor. As with the plan, Hinata headed for the back door.
"So...I guess this is goodbye, Hinata-sama..."
His lips trembled at the number of things that kept on clinging to his mind. What was he thinking? Did he really suppose that Hinata would give him a token of approval before he leaves? Was he out of his mind? Of course Hinata wouldn't. They were just playing a while ago. Besides, she would only give her consent to Uzumaki Naruto.
...wait.
As quick as any other genius genin would do, his hands performed a hand seal.
"...or perhaps it would be better if..."
He cursed himself mentally for even trying.
Hinata didn't look back. She simply opened the door and went in, her last word suspended in the air.
"Sayonara."
Poof.
The genin began his walk home.
Break, Neji.
Break.
-owari.