Shimi-chan: Itachi, Itachi, Itachi…why art thou so harsh? Not in this chapter… (Grins) I finally thought of a theme for this chapter, and it's good. But, believe it or not, it's not the turning point of the story. Not even close… (Grins) keep reading…

I am so evil. Can't help it.

Thank you for all who reviewed!!

The carnival thing was just this idea that kinda popped out at me…That chapter was basically a filler. For comic relief.

As for the ending, sorry! Corny-ness is not my something that I like. I actually cringe at Full House reruns. And sometimes when I watch Pokemon and a particularly corny scene comes up, I have to change. So I made Sasuke say that so that I could live with myself. Lol.

Miss0made: Wow. You pegged the characters before I had an opportunity to try. But, yes, now that I re-read my stuff, you're right! Wonder why it turned out that way…? Well, thanx for your review! Oh, and, besides Sheikra being scary, was it fun??? Cuz I was thinking that I may want to ride it…

I better wrap this up. (Looks over shoulder nervously) Those bunnies and kitty's just won't leave me alone! I'm sorry it took so long, damnit! OOOWWW! Quit biting!!! Argh…

Chapter Eight:

It seemed that finally standing up for herself gave Hinata a brand new source of confidence. She was still herself, of course, and people don't change overnight. So Hinata was still shy, and she still stuttered and paused within her conversations. But her actions were definitely more forward and she carried herself with pride.

They say pride comes before the fall.

Even though she was so obviously happier living with the Uchiha's than she had ever been at home, she was still anxiously awaiting the visit from her father she was hoping would come. He had to, just had to come. It would mean he cared just a little. But he didn't come. He didn't even re-send Neji. He just…left her.

And thus came the fall.

Itachi had not been joking when he'd said he would intensify their training. Apparently, she'd moved past the defense and went on to offense. Of course, when Hinata had first received the news she had been ecstatic. Who wouldn't be? She'd moved up! But she quickly learned that with the good there was always tenfold bad. Higher level meant higher expectations, meant higher work amount, meant higher stress factor.

On about the fourth training session since she'd 'graduated' Itachi could just about wring her precious little neck with all the progress she was making. She hadn't been able to land on punch on him, not even a skim. He didn't even have to dodge her. Just blocking was sufficient, since he had her on taijutsu. It was killing him to have to put up with her deficiencies. And when something was killing him, something had to be killed by him.

So, anyway, the fourth session. Try as she might, and she did try, Itachi was simply too fast and she couldn't even scratch him with taijutsu alone. Hell, she couldn't even tickle him (cause he'd not ticklish.) With or without her byakyugan. She'd tried with both. All her fears, like being left by her father, they were only reawakened when she failed at anything so miserably…which she always did. Itachi knew this, of course. So he thought of a little plan…

He was casually moving his arm to block her 'attacks' when the thought occurred to him, and he put it to effect immediately. "Maybe your father was right."

She stopped mid-punch, for it was not like him to speak during training sessions. "W-What do y-you m-m-mean, Itanii-san?"

He got out of his stance, seemingly lowering his guard. "He said you were un-trainable…and maybe he was right."

"N-No…I'll get it, I-I promise…"

"We've been drilling this for days, Hinata. Maybe your sister could get it faster."

"That's…that's not t-true…"

"That's assuming she doesn't already have it. I mean, she is fairly superior to you."

"S-stop it…That's not…"

"Maybe I should just go train a rock."

Hinata blindly rushed him, but he was prepared for it. Summoning her byakyugan, she attempted to punch him in the stomach, but he blocked it easily. She wasted no time in addressing her failure, instead going for a kick to the face, which marked the first time Itachi had to dodge. He smirked.

"You're going to have to do better than—"

He was caught by surprise when Hinata appeared behind him and punched his lower back, closing a chakra opening. He moved swiftly to counter her attack, but when he turned around she was blocking her head with a glassy-eyed stare. He stopped himself before he could actually hurt her, but quickly grew annoyed with at her tears. When he'd stopped his attack and actually lowered his guard Hinata uncharacteristically smiled and open-palmed his stomach, causing him to lose his breath.

"'Never lower your guard around an opponent.' Right, Itanii-san?"

He was suddenly behind her, holding a kunai to her neck, grinning. "Right."

She blanched, but he didn't hold her there long before letting her go.

"Let's take a break, Hinata. You're improving."

She didn't seem as happy as she should've been. "…Really?"

He lifted a brow. "Well, don't sound so excited.

"O-Oh, s-sorry!"

He shrugged. "Let's just go…"

Hinata went directly to her room to 'take a nap,' or so she told Itachi. He didn't think much of it, since she'd need her rest for their later session anyways. If anything, the fact that she was smart enough to get said rest meant she'd improved mentally as well as physically.

Not to say he took a nap. He didn't need one, he was Itachi. He was like a demon that never slept, and never ate, and never…oh wait, that might be exaggerating a little. He ate and slept. Oh, but he really is a demon.

By the time afternoon rolled around (Their first training session is early in the morning) he went over to wake Hinata. He stopped in front of the room to knock on her door, but paused when he heard sniffles coming from within. He sighed, aggravated. Did she ever stop complaining? He was about to barge in when he heard her talking to herself.

"H-He didn't even come…"

He lifted a brow before pressing his ear to the door to hear better.

"I-I-Itanii-san w-w-was r-right," she said sobbingly, "m-my sister i-is better…"

His heart lurched. Um, I mean, it didn't lurch. It couldn't have, Itachi has no feelings! But whatever it did or did not do, it was because of her words. Normally, when Hinata cried he'd get pissed at her for resorting to such weakness. But this time was different, because this time he'd been the cause.

He really had meant well when he'd said those things to her, really he had. But now it didn't seem like such a good idea. God, he's never actually made her cry before. He'd come close a lot of times, but the one thing he'd never done is compare her to her sister. How could he not have known that was her biggest fear?

Sighing roughly while raking a hand through his hair, he entered the room.

Hinata gasped as she looked up with swelled eyes. "I-I-Itanii-san!"

He was going to apologize, but seeing her like that…actually, it reminded him of Sakura's slumber party. Her face glowing from the trail of tears she'd left, looking at him with such an innocent look. It was bugging the hell out of him, and yet…well, in a way, it was like trying to get mad a baby for crying.

That's right, it was hopeless.

He didn't even try to talk; they just stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity before the silence proved to be too much for Hinata.

"I-Itanii-san! I-I'm sorry, is it time t-t-to train??" She wiped her eyes and smiled bogusly. "U-Um, I g-g-guess I should…"

He didn't say anything. Just stared in that way that was becoming so common. Damn Sakura and her stupid party.

Hinata started fidgeting with herself for a while, waiting for him to say anything, do anything, but he didn't. "I-I-Itanii-san?"

No reaction, which only made Hinata even more nervous. Eventually, she took his silence as her cue to leave. Standing up ever so cautiously, she made her way to the door in a way that made it seem like he would attack her if she went too fast. With reason. When she'd stepped past him, he grabbed her arm and yanked her back.

But he didn't yell at her, hit her, or even scold her, the things Hinata had expected him to do. Instead he pulled her to himself and crushed her in a hug that rivaled his fathers. She blinked in complete shock, not able to believe that this was Itachi. She didn't try to fight him off; she was too surprised to do much of anything.

"…I-Itanii-san…?"

He growled angrily, squeezing her for a moment. "Stop calling me that."

"B-But…I've always c-called you that…"

"That was before. That was different. Things are different now…"

"Ita…Itachi…?"

God, why did his name sound so much more melodic when she said it? What the hell was wrong with him? Did he even really care?

"I…Ita…um, I don't…understand…a-are you…mad at me…?"

Much to even his own surprise, he began stroking her head affectionately. "No, I'm not."

She almost wanted to cry. But if he wasn't mad at her now, crying would surely change that. "T-Then…?"

He pulled her away from him gently and lowered his face so it was inches away from hers. "Hinata…"

Her heart skipped a beat. Then another.

"We're not really related, Hinata. You know that."

She grew disheartened. "…I know…"

"That's not what I meant," he amended quickly when he noticed her mood change. "I just meant…"

"Itanii-s—um, I m-mean, Itachi—"

"We're not tied by blood." He said, effectively cutting her off.

Hinata blinked, too shocked to finish her sentence. Too shocked to remember her sentence. "I…Itachi…what do y-you m-m-mean?"

He stared at her a moment. "…Nothing. No more training today. Sorry I said all those things, I didn't think you'd cry about it."

He released her and walked casually out of the room, as if he'd done nothing. But the moment he left her room and the door was closed, he sighed heavily. He was so messed up. He raked a hand tiredly through his hair, and walked to his room in a way that made Shikamaru look like the most active person in the world.

--

Hinata thought over his words, looking for the loophole that would make it make sense. There was none. No matter how many times she went over it in her head, it still had the same effect. Her heart would quicken, her face would heat up, and thinking of anything else would become as impossible as trying to commit suicide by jumping out of a one-story window.

What had he meant? He couldn't possibly have meant what she thought he had. No, not Itachi. Not possible. Not even remotely possible. But he'd said it.

Itachi… she mused in her head.

It suddenly did sound much better than 'Itanii-san.'

Shimi-chan: Sup, all? Hope you enjoyed this little episode. (Grins) More action is to come…(Cackles evilly)