~I own nothing~
Rain poured down hard. Dark clouds shown deep purple when lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled continually. The wind was gaining speed; blowing the rain in a heavy slant, whipping tress around. A tree groaned as the wind brought it down with a deafening boom causing the ground to shake. A lone figure ran through the very trees that the wind was treating like rag dolls occasionally jumping down to a void a lightning strike.
Mud coated his knees, down, his dark cloak hung on him in tatters, dark hair hung heavy and wet whipping around his pale face; crimson eyes glowed ominously in the dark stormy night. His blood pumped fast in his veins as he raced through the storm. The figure draped over his arms breathed shallowly as her life blood drained from her body. Her once tan skin deathly pale, making her red tattoos stand out on her pale cheeks. Through the heavy rain he could see the dull lights of the village drawling near. About to jump down from the last tree that signified the end of the forest the woman in his arms stirred "Itachi…." She moaned softly.
Itachi looked down at her. Hana's deep brown eyes half laden, her small pale hand slowly rose up to touch his cheek. "You're almost home," he jumped down and raced to the gates
"I was already home," she whispered. She kissed her index finger and placed it on his frozen lips. He glanced down in time to see her close her eyes for the last time, shallow ragged breath escaped her wet lips to be replaced no more. A foot away from reaching the gates of safety Itachi stopped.
"Hana," he shook her "Hana," she was nothing more than a wet doll gone limp in his arms. His crimson eyes turned to jet black. For once in his life he had failed. Failed when it had mattered the most.
"I see you finally came back to finish the job," Itachi snapped his head up to see the matriarch of the Inuzuka clan standing in front of the gates in the pouring rain, her large wolf beside her. His cold black eyes locked on to her sharp ones. "As much as I want to hate you, you actually did her a favor. To keep her alive would have been worse,"
Itachi's eyes narrowed. He didn't understand why a mother would say that about their child. His own mother begged to keep his younger brother alive; willing gave her life so Sasuke could live. As if reading his mind Tsume answered him "We Inuzuka unlike Uchiha are loyal to the ones we decide to give our hearts to. Very much like the canines do with their master. There are only few that are strong enough to pick up the pieces once our mate or someone special leaves us," she sighed, her eyes sadly looked down upon her daughter laying in the arms of the man she had given herself to.
"Even after that fateful night she remained loyal to you, though she was slowly dying from the inside out," she looked back up at the Uchiha "I have no daughter thanks to you; you stole her," Itachi tensed at the bitter words, readying for a fight but instead Tsume turned and started walking back. She paused "You're still considered a missing Nin don't forget what will happen to you once you pass the gate. Don't waste her love by being stupid now," with that they left. Itachi stared after the woman a few seconds before turning back into the forest.
The storm showed no lightening up. Its rage was in equivalent balance with his emotions yet he still wore his impassive mask. His arms numb by the dead weight he carried. He's movements stiff and robotic. Finding a clearing he looked around. Hard icy rain hitting his face. Black, gray, and deep purple storm clouds swirled over head. The rumble of thunder now became background noise. Lightening flickered here and there. He set Hana gently down not too far from a tree. He wrapped her up in his left over cloak so the rain wouldn't hit her beautiful face.
Searching for a moment he found what he was looking for; a sharp flat stone. He set to digging. The storm seemed to be passing by the time Itachi was finally done digging the grave. Rain lightly sprinkled down, the gray false dawn barely lit the dark sky, the raging wind now a soft caressing breeze. Wincing as he moved to get up; his muscles sore from the fight, the running, and the digging.
He gently pealed back the cloak. She looked peaceful like she had just gone to sleep. Using the cloak he wiped some mud from her cheek and then gently lifted her back up. Slowly very slowly he laid her down in her final resting spot. "I'm sorry," he's dry voice whispered. With his hands he pushed back the dug up dirt, wincing at the hollow sound the dirt made as it covered the body. He packed the earth down with his rock and then started placing stones on top so nothing would disturb the grave.
Gold and pink dawn shone over head. The suns golden rays slowly coming up over the horizon. Itachi was now physically and emotionally drained though he would never look it. He stood over the grave for a few more minutes in a silent prayer. Before leaving he placed one more stone at the head. On it was craved her name; Uchiha Hana.
~Enjoy~