lovingo0Kawaii0oGirl: Not to worry!!! Just take your time and enjoy your story!!! I'm the one who should beg for forgiveness!!! I'm sorry; I never intended it to take this long for me to update your story!!! And I still have to type up that other one shot for Itachi and Hinata the one I promised you!! I promise to get to it as soon as I can, is it okay with you? By the way, do you want me to send you the file for this story like I did for chapter one or no? I understand about your family issue, I hope everything gets better, I wish you only the best!!! Is everything okay now? If you want you can send me a PM if you don't want to discuss it her, but I hope you are fine!!!
Yay, I'm glad I can make you laugh with Kisame's antics!!! Yeah, those guys probably peed their pants too!!! Yeah, I really like to use italics but sometimes there are people who find it kind of annoying like they can't really read it well but I for one really like to use them for flashbacks more than anything! I'm glad you approve of them because they come up again in this chapter!!!! Yes, I'm glad I got through to you that desire of his; yup he wants to keep her safe more than anything!
I know I too at first didn't really like Itachi at all but once I started writing Just a Betrayal I started to like him…I'm weird…I know I just plain hate Sasuke especially now!!! Ah, he aggravates me so much!!!!!! Yes, not to worry I'll continue hopefully I'll have the next chapter up by Sunday!!! I hope you enjoy this chapter!!!
Unimaginable Bliss: Not to worry! I never quit! I always continue all my stories even if they aren't good!!!
winterkaguya: Thanks! I'm glad you find it interesting! I hope you like how it develops, but this is a short story so I kind of rushed it so to say! Yeah, they won't appear at all, it's just a short story I did for lovingo0Kawaii0oGirl so no Akatsuki, just a short hopefully good story for her!
harley944: Thank you!! I really like the word cute!
Rimas: I'm sorry for taking so long to update!!! Thank you I'm glad!
minaghostwolf: Thank you I'm glad you do! Sadly this is a short story that I wrote especially for lovingo0Kawaii0oGirl so it's only three chapters long, this one and one more and that's the end of the story!
Something is wrong with my mouse…It's not functioning properly…
Chapter 2: By his side
She's acting weird almost as if she just realized something of great significance. Yeah that describes her facial expression; it shows her shock at the revelation, almost as if she never saw it coming.
The curious side in me wants me to ask what's wrong with her. But I decide against it, she is nothing to me. This girl is just someone who refuses to leave this house, yeah, that best describes Hinata to me.
She means nothing to me; if she were to die tomorrow I wouldn't care. That's how little she means to me.
It's not like I hate her or plan to kill her, I just don't care about Hinata enough to worry.
"Oww," I look across the table and she's dropped her spoon and is covering her mouth with her slender fingers.
I half stand ready to run to her side she notices and looks up to meet my eyes for the first time all evening. The look in her eyes is different; I can't put my finger on what's changed.
"It's okay Itachi, I just burned my lip with the hot soup," she tells me. I sit back down throwing daggers at her with my glare. She is an idiot! I look down at the soup, and keep my gaze down and begin to eat it, nothing has changed. She is still that defenseless girl I first saw in the rain.
I look up and find her looking at me one eyebrow is quirked up almost as if she is wondering about something; she gives her head a small shake. Then she nods bringing her bent fingers under her chin. Is she having a conversation in her mind?
Again the curious side of me wants to question this girl, she's a bit weird. Almost as if she just grasps that I've been staring at her the whole time. Her eyes grow huge and her complexion turns into a scarlet red. And just as fast she bows her head down at the table.
She brings a hand out from under the table and turns it into a fist hitting herself at the side of her head. Her bangs cover her eyes. Should I give her money to go cut her hair again?
She starts to eat once more and I keep my eyes on her; watching Hinata for some reason calms me and makes me want to know what's going on in her mind. What exactly is she thinking about?
OH MY FREAKING GOD! He was watching me the whole time?! If I could die on the spot I would my embarrassment is enough to kill me!
He probably thinks I'm a freak! Ahhhhhhhh! If I could scream without looking more like an idiot I would!
"The soup is really good," he says, I nod without looking up, I should continue the conversation but I'm scared I'll mix up my words and not get my point across. "You are a fantastic cook were you taught at your household?" he asks me softly. I nod once more and start to talk without looking up.
"At first I was told by my father that I wouldn't be allowed to attend the shinobi academy and wouldn't be taught the shinobi arts. So I was taught how to do household chores, well more like how to manage 'the help.' I was given cooking lessons so I could be able to 'feed my love' to my husband. But then father changed his mind and decided that I was to be allowed to learn the arts. But by then I already enjoyed cooking…" I tell him. This time it's his turn to stay quiet, he doesn't talk further and I don't continue. I just drink my soup in silence.
We continue with our dinner in silence, usually I can't stand such 'loud' silence but for some reason this silence isn't so bad. It lets me think clearly and further examine how I feel about Itachi.
Can he tell that I'm acting differently with him or does he not notice? It's most likely that he doesn't care if I had to choose it would be the last one.
"Where is Kisame?" I ask knowing he is a safe topic between us.
"He chose to stay behind at the hideout," he starts. "Akatsuki has been wondering why we always head here instead of hanging out with the rest of the group. Kisame put it upon himself to stay behind and ordered me to come home. So you wouldn't get lonely," he finished with that I raise my head to stare at him once more. A small smile comes onto his mouth, "for a minute I forgot what your face looked like," he tells me in a light tone, I smile up at him.
"I always knew you were a good guy I really thank you for not fighting with Kisame about who got to stay and keep me company. And who got to stay with the guys of Akatsuki. I'm happy that it was you Itachi, who saved me…I never got to really thank you and I do you know…" I say what I've been holding in since he saved my life. He looks taken back, almost like he forgot what it feels like to be thanked.
He watches me for a bit kind of like he's waiting for the punch line of my joke.
"It isn't a joke," I tell him with a small smile. "Now continue being the good guy and help me with the dishes." I say pushing my chair back and standing up with dishes in my hands.
He sits there and looks up at me with a tiny grin on his lips. I'd rub my eyes to see if what I'm seeing is a mirage but that would be disrespectful.
"If I do it once you'll always ask me to do it," he says in a definite tone, I smirk and walk away towards the kitchen.
"I wouldn't because most of the time you aren't here to begin with," I say in a teasing tone, his smirk grows bigger and he gets up to follow after me. He lets out a loud whopping laugh.
I look down at the floor grinning like crazy. I made Itachi Uchiha laugh! I, the shy Hyuga heiress, made the most feared S-class criminal of Konoha to produce a laugh! If I could jump up and down and do some summersaults, I would.
But I won't instead I'll store the magical sound of his laugh in my heart. When I'm feeling sad I'll go back to this day and smile remembering this moment. We wash the dishes together not talking about much just about unimportant things.
I then serve him his share of dessert and sit with him to eat together.
"Have you always been the shy-push over? Or is this something that happened as you grew older?" he asks me returning to his former self, two can absolutely play this game; I innocently look up at him.
"Have you always been the heartless destroyer of clans?" I ask him an indifferent tone, he looks up at me. I can see a small glint in his eyes; he gives me his nod of approval. "Just as you have experienced, life shapes our future, it either makes us grow or become someone we never would've dreamed of. To me I was my father's constant disapproval that shaped me into the 'shy-pushover.' His constant glare and angry words made me speak less and try to blend in more. Staying away from the spot light and just keep to myself if I said anything wrong he'd lash out at me and I did not want that. Naturally I just decided to hide my true self." I tell him with a shrug of my shoulders.
"Who is your true self?" he asks me, I look up and meet his eyes.
"I'm not sure," I answer sincerely. I'm beginning to feel comfortable around him.
I admit I was terrified of Itachi at first I thought he was rude and mean but soon afterwards he helped me.
The first time I went to the grocery store Itachi accompanied me and helped me with the bags. When I needed a haircut or new clothes Itachi was the one who paid for everything, even though I never asked him to. He even accompanied me to the shop in town where they sell kimonos and never got mad at me; even though it takes me forever to decide on what kind of kimonos I want.
"What about you who is the real Itachi?" I ask him bringing the spoon filled of ice cream to my lips.
"The mass murder," he easily answers, I nod not wanting to tell him he's wrong.
"You know how I said I was left for dead; do you know who it was that killed my team?" I question him as I look down at my bowl of melted ice cream.
"Was it me?" he asks in an unsure voice, I shake my head.
"Sasuke," I simply tell him, I keep my gaze down, and I don't hear a response or anything. I look up unsure and I find a surprised Itachi staring at me.
"He takes after me doesn't he?" he asks me in a funny tone with a smile on his lips. He stands with his bowl and walks towards the kitchen. I watch his back wondering if I mentioned something I shouldn't have.
After a few minutes he walks out of the kitchen and doesn't look over at me as he walks to his room and closes himself off in his bedroom.
What did that smile mean?
That very same night as I drift off and begin to sleep I hear something that causes my eyes to open and for me to sit up on my bed.
What was that? It heard like some kind of animal screaming out. My whole body begins to shake; I'm scared did a wild animal break into the house?
That same cry is let out I rub my arms trying to make the goose bumps disappear off my arms. Chills run up my spine, I jump out of my bed and land on my wobbly feet, I run out of my door and go to Itachi's door. He doesn't lock his door so I open it and stand inside his dark-plain room.
I see Itachi's body as he tosses and turns, his forehead is drenched in sweat and I see blood coming out of the sides of his mouth, what could he be…but before I can finish what I was going to think that scream I thought to be an animal's comes out of Itachi's open mouth. He was the one letting out that blood curdling scream.
My whole body shakes…that isn't normal…it hears as if 'something' has come over him…a demon maybe…?
I'm scared but my feet move by themselves and walk over to Itachi's unstill body, he's shaking and clutching onto the sheets, his knuckles are white. I slowly make my way to him; I can barely make out his pain-filled expression in this darkness.
"I-Itachi-i?" I whisper his name as I stand next to his bed.
I get no reaction from him and without even realizing it I hug him. I lean down and put my arms around his violently moving body, the tears that formed in my eyes fall out of the corners.
"E-everthing-g i-is f-fine-e," I whisper in a broken voice. Poor Itachi, he must suffer a lot and deal with it alone; he has no one to talk to or understand him. He is like a small child that needs comfort and love.
His whole body stops its movements and then I listen as he whispers, my eyes grow huge realizing what he's talking about. My fingers feel as if they've been dipped in ice water, no my whole body does. I rest my face in his neck as he continues whispering in his sleep. My sobs make his neck watery, how could I not see this? How is it that I who have said that I love Itachi…yet believed what I was told of him! I'm a foolish girl who believed I knew the man I loved…I'm an idiot…
I wake up feeling like I got a very good night sleep which is weird considering the nightmare I had last night. I put one arm over my eyes and throw my arm to my right side only to have it bounce back up, what? That felt like two…I quickly remove my arm from my eyes and find Hinata has moved to her side and is watching me with her eyes red and puffy; almost like she's been crying the whole night.
Why is it that it has taken me a full year to just notice that this Hinata is really a girl…I mean a women.
I feel my face turn bright red; I look away not wanting Hinata to figure out how embarrassed I really am.
"What are you doing in my room?" I question the girl in the meanest voice I've got. I expect her to run away saying she's sorry but instead I feel her hug me from behind, I look at her and she rubs her face on my back.
Her movements have left me without a breath and words to express my surprise.
I hear her low mouse like voice speak to me.
"I finally see the real Itachi," she starts, "the protective older brother that loves his younger brother more than anything in the world." She whispers softly, what? Where is all of this coming from? "I'm so sorry for doubting you! Forgive me for thinking that Konoha was the greatest village! I'm just so sorry!" she tells me in the most sincere voice I've heard anyone use.
There's something warm in my heart…but I push away that feeling. I pull her arms off of me.
"Mind your own business, leave; I never want to see you again. If you speak about what you heard then I'll kill you and the person you informed." I warn her keeping my voice emotionally detached. I should let her leave because she'll be in danger even more if the village was to find out. I can't protect her though…its better that she leaves.
"Please, don't push me away!" she shouts in a pleading voice. "I want to stay by your side! Let me be a part of your life!" she shouts at me in a voice that makes my heart beat accelerate. Her words are reaching the heart I thought I threw away that night I killed my fellow Uchiha's. I close my eyes letting the guilt and regret wash over me. Then I turn around and open my eyes to stare at her crying eyes with my Sharingan activated. I create the hand seals and begin to cast my Genjutsu, the tears fall faster out of the corner of her eyes as her eyes grow big realizing what I intend to do to her. Hinata's lips move and I listen to her words.
"Please don't forget me, please I love-" but she doesn't get to finish her sentence because my Genjutsu has been cast. She falls back her eyes closing and I just watch.
"I do too…my only regret is that I won't see you happy…" I whisper leaning over her motionless body, her eyes are close, I kiss her lips softly and say the word I've never felt until now…
"Sorry…"
I was found lying unconscious in front of Konoha gates. I was brought in and I woke up in the hospital.
I was asked what I have been doing for the past year and a half. But my mind is blank, I don't remember what has happened in the year…I only told them that my team mates were killed and I was left for dead by the killer but I couldn't remember who it was that killed them…
"She must have suffered greatly and chose to forget what happened to her in the time she was away." The Hokage Tsunade tells my dad as I sit here pretending not to listen, I glance down at my fidgeting fingers.
"She looks fine though, healthy and functions properly. No signs of torture, so what could've been so bad that she'd force herself to forget?" my dad asks in a worried tone.
Then the Hokage turns to look at me and I nervously smile at her.
"Don't worry about it Lady Hinata, with time all your wounds will heal and who knows maybe you'll get all your memories you forgot," the Hokage tells me in a motherly voice.
"Yes, I'll try!" I say to her, she shakes her head.
"Don't try they'll come to you in no time," she responds, I nod.
"Lady Hokage thank you, we'll return if anything occurs," my father says standing. I stand before he orders me to and follow him; I bow at the Hokage whom smiles kindly at me.
A week passes by before my father permits me to leave the compound. Every one of the rookies came to see me, even Shikamaru made an effort, I thought I would faint at the sight of Naruto but I didn't. Instead I was happy and not nervous at all. My father then required me to sit as all the Hyuga higher-ups came and visited me; thankfully Neji was allowed to stay by my side. He helped me when I was too nervous to talk to those powerful Hyuga clan's men and women.
After a whole day of forced smiles and bowing, my dad permitted my friends to visit me once more.
Hanabi sits next to me the whole time and holds my hand while the over protective Neji keeps watch for any hidden danger.
Sakura and Ino stare at me with tears shining in their eyes, Naruto is eating with Chouji, Lee is dancing and TenTen is watching him, Shikamaru is yawning.
"Hinata my very-best-friend-and-rival Neji has been searching for you non-stop this whole time! My dear team mate Neji was in the dumps-" but Shikamaru's voice stops Lee.
"Are you saying you don't remember anything?" he asks me once more.
"Do you doubt Lady Hinata?" Neji questions Shikamaru in a low-threatening tone, I reach up and touch Neji gently on his arm.
"It's alright," I whisper, and then I look over at Shikamaru, "no, I can honestly say I don't, there's…this dense dark fog that is covering my mind."
"She's got scars to prove she almost died," Sakura speaks up, "I examined her along with the Hokage and I can vouch that she was really left for dead."
"Do you remember what happened in the fight?" he continues to ask.
"Are you a part of the interrogation squad?" Hanabi questions him in a snobby tone.
"Yeah, what is wrong with you? Shouldn't you just be happy that Hinata is alive?" Ino asks.
"Of course but I'm also sad about my friends Shino and Kiba, haven't you seen how depressed Asuma-sensei is by Kurenai-sensei's death?" Shikamaru quietly asks. This causes Naruto and Chouji to stop eating to look down at the floor with a sad expression on their faces.
Just thinking about my two team mates and sensei's death causes this pang of guilt because I survived the ugly fate and they didn't! The tears start to overflow, why can't I remember the killer?! What's blocking my memory?! Am I that useless that I can't even remember a stupid face?
"Hinata calm down, take a deep breath," Sakura instructs me, "Everyone leave, she's having a panic attack!" she yells out.
I feel the room cave in, I'm in a dark place, and my breaths are coming out shallow. My lungs won't fill I'm not breathing in enough air.
"You are fine, just think of something pleasant, a good memory," Sakura instructs me. I look around and see myself in a house that's in the middle of nowhere. I hear the door open and I look over at the door, this feeling…could it be called happiness? "There see everything is fine," I hear Sakura's soft and kind voice whisper to me.
I throw myself at her and hug Sakura; she runs her hands up and down my back.
"I was happy…" I murmur.
"I know you are," she whispers.
"No, wherever I was…I was living with someone, that person got back and I felt really happy, like I was waiting for his return."
"It was a guy? You lived with a guy this whole time? I never…" she says in a disbelieving voice.
"It was in the middle of nowhere," I respond.
"Do you think you were in love?" she continues her questions.
"I'm not sure…I still don't remember," I tell her growing confused.
"Don't think too hard, your memories will return don't worry about them. For now just live, Hinata continue the life you lead before all those bad things happened," Sakura instructs me.
I pull away and nod. "Thank you," I sincerely say to her, she brushes away my thanks then turns her head to the door.
"You all better keep what you heard a secret!" she shouts and the doors open, Hanabi runs to me.
"Hinata does that mean I'll have a brother?" she asks me as she holds me in a tight hug; I become red and look away.
"Lady Hanabi don't ask such questions!" Neji says Hanabi sticks out her tongue at him.
"Hanabi behave, and I really don't know," I answer truthfully.
"I only asked because I know Neji wouldn't ask, he's too shy," Hanabi says in a innocent tone but I know better.
"That's true! He is!" Lee agrees with my sister; Naruto, Chouji, TenTen and Ino all chuckle. Neji glares at them but keeps his mouth shut.
"You should all leave Lady Hinata is tired and wishes to rest," Neji tells the group.
"Now you are a mind reader?" TenTen questions Neji, he turns his deadly glare at her.
"But I wanted to ask Hinata about her boyfriend! Is he hot? Did you guys do it? What was it like-" but Sakura's hand covers Ino's mouth.
"I'll visit tomorrow," she says and pulls Ino along with her.
"We'll be going too, I didn't mean for you to have-" but I stop Shikamaru from going on.
"I know, I understand don't worry, it's not like I'm going to send a team of Hyuga's to go to your house at night to kill you," I say with a smile. He looks at me wondering if I'm serious or what. "Was that a bad joke?" I ask him feeling insecure.
"No, it was funny! Didn't you see Shikamaru's expression? He was scared out of his mind! I thought he would piss his pants! Who knew you were so funny!" Naruto shouts while laughing and not being able to stop.
"What a drag," Shikamaru says walking away and waves at me, I smile at his back.
"Wait up Shikamaru!" Chouji shouts chasing after him. "Bye Hinata, I'll come back soon," he informs me.
"Tell me a day ahead so that I can bake those cookies you like!" I shout.
"Will do!"
"So Hinata, I'll see you around too! I got to practice my jutsu's actually Kakashi-sensei promised to teach me one on one again! I'll get strong enough to bring Sasuke back!" he proclaims loudly, I grin but react to Sasuke's name.
The wound across my stomach to my chest begins to hurt. Neji kneels in front of me.
"Hinata-sama! Is something wrong?" he shouts, I shake my head and weakly smile at him.
"No, Neji, I just…I need some air, I'll return in a bit," I announce walking away. I expect him to follow me but TenTen and Hanabi stop him.
Good I want to be alone and think.
I walk around Konoha and try to consider things over but as I do I walk by the abandon part of the city, isn't this where the Uchiha's lived?
"I was ordered I never wanted to but I had to…to protect Konoha…" whose voice is this? Why am I crying, this pang in my heart is bring me pain.
What is the cause?
"But I couldn't…not…Sasuke…I couldn't kill him…the Third Hokage promised to protect Sasuke for me, but Orochimaru got to him…I'm sorry father…mother…I couldn't let you, my family kill all those innocent people in the village. They had nothing to do with it…I couldn't permit your coup d'état," his voice brings the same warmth and happiness as the house did…If I close my eyes…
"Do you wish to live?" his voice hears so far away."Did I save you for nothing? I put a lot of effort in curing you; don't I deserve at least to hear your voice once? That night I saved you, your voice was a whisper and I couldn't hear it over the rain. You must continue to fight, for me."
"Itachi the Leader is calling us!"
My eyes open realizing what I just remembered! That was when I was unconscious after Sasuke tried to kill me! No, before I think further about it I run to the Hokage's office. By this time he should've already planned his death! I must prevent it before Itachi dies!
I can't have the man I love die like that! I want my happily ever after!
That'll only happen if Itachi is by my side!
I must become strong, I have to hold on to my dream and not let it go!
I have to save Itachi!