Thank you all, so much. I mean…good golly, are those reviews all mine? 300!? You're shtting me! I really appreciate it, everyone. Honestly. Thank you so, so much. I have no words to express my gratitude… I think the next chapter's the epilogue. But fear not, my faithful readers! I have another storyline in the works :D I want to thank you all for reading. It's been lots of fun, and it was nice hearing from you nice people. I'll shut up and let you read now 

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Twilight. So don't…start a fight?

Yeah…I need caffeine

Chapter Two: Your words: what you said to me that day

All of the disturbing, gruesome, macabre scenes you could imagine were condensed into the small cave she was being pulled through. Witnessing all of the hideous creatures writhing in the murk would be enough for any normal human to sign up for their very own mattress-decked room.

Lucky for Hinata, she had lost one of the the key component of life; hope. Her death was inevitable; she expected it. So as they dragged her dead weight deeper into the dark cavern, she didn't resist. The sooner the better; maybe in death she could waste her days with thoughts and dreams of Sasuke.

When she blinked, Hinata found herself strapped to a chair, with leather binds snaked around her wrists. In the small dingy room, Hinata could feel all of the hungry eyes leering at her pale, naked neck. She felt like an animal: constrained and helpless.

The vampires came forward and gave her their version of the Hollywood hookup: they brushed her midnight hair until it shined even in the dim lights of the cave, washed her feet, dressed her in a billowy black satin dress, and tucked a single Gardenia bloom into her hair.

You'd think she was going to her own wedding rather than her death. She felt like laughing at the irony of it all; laughing, and crying.

Before, she had felt guilty that maybe she had loved Sasuke because he was a vampire. As she sat there, strapped to a chair and being victim to all of their bizarre ritualistic ways, she saw how wrong she was. All along she loved vampires because Sasuke was one.

She became aware of the morbid silence that filled the air. Before he entered the room, she could feel his presence. It was like a million needles prickling the surface of her skin. Her stomach squeemed, and she was filled with the overwhelming urge to throw up everything in her body; anything to get his stench out of her system.

His voice was gravelly and uneven. He wore a dark cloak, the one Tenten had described, which fell into his eyes. The rest of his face was shielded by a curtain of slick black hair. "I am Orochimaru. And…my my, aren't we rude. Our guest is strapped to a chair. Can't have that, can we?" He snapped his pale, knobby fingers.

Two of his minions sprang forth and undid the binds. She didn't move.

"Hinata, my dear, don't be bashful. Come, why don't you stretch out your limbs?"

Still, nothing.

In a flash of cold wind Kabuto was behind her, breathing down her neck. "It's unwise to disobey him, Hinata."

Death had given her some courage. She blandly replied, "What does it matter? I'll die either way."

Out of nowhere, she found herself, standing, in the middle of the room. Orochimaru began to circle her from where he stood, getting closer and closer to her with every revolution. Before long, his nose was running along the surface of her skin. The contact left a stinging pain in its leave.

He laughed that eerie, bone chilling laugh. "I thought you smelled delicious from afar, but up close…" his gleaming amber eyes finished his sentence for him.

And then she saw it; the murderous intent in his eyes. His face was so bleak and bland that it was clear why hardly anyone saw it. His face was little more than the two yellow eyes leering at her. His nose was flat, like a snake's, and his thin thread of a mouth camoflaged with the rest of his face.

She understood; it hit her like a ton of bricks. He didn't free for out of decency, etiquette, or even pity. He did it to watch her run.

All bullies thought alike. The same things ticked them; the same things excited them. They liked the chase. It was like they were on a hunt, and she was the prey.

If she stayed still, they still attacked, but run and they'll chase you. Every step they took would be another reason to hit you; you were teasing them. Making them work for their food.

Despite all of her worldly wisdom, and everything she had just said, no one could blame her when she took off as soon as his scaly hand found its way to her neck.

He growled in delight as he ran after her. As she ran, her silky tresses fluttered behind her; he grabbed a fistful of it, pulling her back. She came tumbling into his lap. It was like touching a hot stove; she instinctively jumped back, clawing at the ground as she struggled to get away.

She knew it was futile, but fear consumed all of her previous reasoning.

Orochimaru grabbed on of her pale legs and tugged on them. He dragged her this way before throwing her against the cold bricks walls. A pool of darkness haloed around her head.

The intoxicating smell of her blood convinced him that playtime was over. Orochimaru took slow, steady steps toward his immobile prey, victory resounding in every step. He leaned in close so that her unmarred skin was within reach. Then, just as he was about to sink his teeth into her, he was sent flying.

Hinata weakly opened her eyes and saw his perfect face. With a quivering blood-stained hand, she reached out for it. She thought heaven wouldn't be so dark, but she wasn't complaining. He was there, she was free from that Snake creep, and, again, he was here with her.

But her brow furrowed with distaste as she saw the angry expression on his face. She wanted him to make that calm, rare face of his that she loved so much.

Then she heard his sickening voice and felt her perfect dream crumble beneath her. She cried with mixed feelings of sadness and bittersweet bliss as the realization dawned on her. Hinata was torn between conflicting feelings of happiness and remorse. So close to death, only to be revived by the mere sight of him. It was really enough.

"Why!"

He was too preoccupied making sure she was unscathed.

"Why did you come!?"

Naruto emerged from the shadows with Gaara right behind him. He looked exasperatedly at Sasuke. "You were supposed to wait for the signal. You've given us away." Somehow, he didn't sound as stern as he should've. After all, who would want that sick bastard sinking his teeth into her.

As he scooped her up into his arms, cringing at the alluring scent of her spilled blood, she pounded her fists against her chest. He crushed her against him and let her weep bitterly into his chest.

"Sasuke, you can't stay here!"

Kabuto seized the distraction and made to tear the couple apart. But halfway there he was stopped by Naruto and Gaara.

The fierry red head's mint green eyes flooded with hate. On the other side of the glasses-clad vampire, Naruto growled with disgust. "Your ass is mine, you sick bitch."

Before he had time to say any smart-ass comments Gaara backhanded him, sending him flying towards the bricks. He landed on his feet and pivoted himself towards his two feral opponents.

Orochimaru was pissed. No one dare interrupt his rituals! He stalked towards his prey with an unconvincing grin on his face.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, and he got up. He was stopped, however, by Hinata's hand clasped tightly onto his wrist. Frowning, he peeled her fingers off with a regretful smile on his face.

"I miss you."

She screamed as he took off, clashing head first with Orochimaru. It was just as Kakashi had said; the legendary Snake was truly a sight to behold. If Sasuke's movements were a slideshow, Orochimaru's was a still life portrait. He was moving so fast that it looked like he was rooted to where he stood. Occasional, his body would flicker like a candlelight, indicating his movements.

With Naruto and Gaara holding their own against Kabuto and Sasuke taking on the viper himself, it was a worse case scenario for Hinata. She could only look on helplessly while her friends risked their lives to save her.

Why did she always have to turn out to be the walking disaster?

Her screams went unheard; Sasuke's eyes were determined and focused. But more so, they were full of hate. Hinata couldn't see when it happened, but every so often a spray of blood would gush from Sasuke, leaving a large gash behind. Seeing his perfect, opalescent complexion tainted this way inflicted her with the same amount of pain he was going through.

His quick regenerating abilities quickly stemmed the flow of blood, but she couldn't bear to see him this way; not for her. Never for her.

Closing her eyes, she ran; now was as good a time as any. Like she could see what was going on. You could say it was like that leap of faith people speak of so often; she dove towards him, gasping softly as his sharp nails scathed her black, tearing the black satin.

Sasuke and Hinata went tumbling to the ground. Somewhere along the line, in the midst of their tumbling, their arms had found their way around each other. As they rolled to a stop, they stayed like that, on the cold hard floors, lost in each other's presence.

Orochimaru mourned the loss of her spilt blood, and angrily charged towards them. He was stopped, however, by a flash of white and black. Kakashi and Neji, both sporting a few of their own battle wounds, restrained the seething vampire.

Hinata grabbed fistfuls of his shirt, praying that somehow, they could stay like this. Nevermind the burning pain in her back, or the blood stains on his face. This, it was okay. "I won't let him get you."

He let out a small laugh. "You, protect me?"

"I'm sick you always dragging you down…"

"Is that why you left me?"

She frowned at the faint sadness in his voice. "I didn't leave you….I freed you."

She could feel the corners of his lips smiling against her forehead. "I need you to live. That's all."

Hinata shook her head. "I won't let him near you, Sasuke. I won't let go."

Sasuke stroked her hair softly, with an air of foreboding conclusiveness. "Remember that day…when you told me?"

She bit her lip. "Told you what?"

"That if I wanted you to leave, I'd asked you?" He coughed. "And you said you would?"

Her face twisted in pain as the tears trailed out of her crestfallen eyes. It became apparent that she wouldn't answer. He held her close with an air of finality before he loosened his hold on her.

"Leave me."

She couldn't help but feel betrayed as she felt Neji's hands pry her off of him.

And there he goes…away.