A/N: Relationship development will take time.

Unwind

Cycle II

A knife plunges into her chest, and for a moment, Hinata feels betrayed by Neji, by Hanabi, by her clan, by her entire village. She hoped that something would have been different, that the person who was controlling reality would have spared her. But the pain is shockingly real, and her heart beats around the knife for a few moments before the councilman twists the blade out. The blood spurts out from the gash in her chest and stains her dress. There's a terrible, terrible screaming, and it takes her a while to realize that it's ripping from her own throat. Her vision blurs slowly; soon, all she is aware of is her dim pulse echoing in her mind.

Then, all fades white.

…

…

The whiteness… is comfortable.

…

It's almost as if she's floating in this whiteness.

…

Almost.

…

Is she lying down or is she standing up? She can't tell.

…

…

And though it's a strange feeling, for some reason, she can't help but feel that the whiteness is a room…

…

…

Something nudges her awake.

"Itachi, it's another one."

Her eyes stir open. There's a pale slipper near her face.

"Another?" A sigh. "The storm was supposed to be foreboding. Aren't humans supposed to be good at reading signs?"

"You should send a clearer message."

"How are howling winds and needle-like rain not a clear message?"

"Clearer then. Humans are stupid." The owner of the slipper squats down and looks at her. His eyes are pitch-black. "Oh, she's awake."

"Bring her up. Might as well find a place for her."

The gods are real? Hinata wonders dizzily. Two hands help her up, and she stumbles to her feet. When she looks down, the bloodstain is still on her dress, but her wound is gone.

Looking around, she sees a boy with elegant features on her left who observes with a vaguely bored expression. In front, there is a man who resembles him and whose features are sharper and more defined. He at least looks a little bit curious, his cheek leaning against his fist from his spot on an ebony throne.

"They sent such a young girl this time," he tuts. "How brutal."

"Are you going to make her a servant this time?" asks the boy at her side. "I might need someone to polish my shoes."

"You already have eight servants for that," the man says amusedly.

The boy shrugs. "Wouldn't hurt to have another. Though it's getting kind of annoying having to keep track of all of them."

"Um," Hinata interjects. She falters slightly at the sudden attention, then continues, "Is this… the afterlife?"

"Of sorts. My name is Itachi. That's my younger brother Sasuke. And you are?"

"My name is Hinata. Hinata Hyuuga."

"Welcome, Hinata, to the Uchiha Palace. Though, I'm sorry to say that you weren't exactly welcome in the first place."

"Er, sorry?"

"No, no, it's not really your fault. I can't imagine you wanted to be murdered in front of your friends and family like that. Goddamn mortals don't get the hint that we're getting full here."

Hinata bites her lip. So if there were gods…

"Just curious, but," Hinata pauses as she tries to phrase this in a way that doesn't make her sound crazy, "have you ever heard my cousin Neji and me talking about pomegranates?"

"Can't say I have," says Itachi blandly. "We immortals don't look at the mortal world all the time, you know. We have our own tasks to take care of."

"Oh," says Hinata. She tries again. "So then… what do you guys actually do?"

Itachi chuckles. "What a straightforward girl."

Hinata flushes. That must have sounded ungrateful. She hopes they won't strike lightning down on her village or anything like that.

"Er, sorry, I didn't mean for that to have sounded rude—"

Sasuke huffs impateintly. "The Uchihas send rain. The other families do other things. The Inuzakas and Aburames take care of the wildlife; the Uzumakis, sunshine; and so on."

"And… that's it?"

"Sorry, was that not powerful enough for you?" Sasuke drawls.

"It's not that," says Hinata, shaking her head. "What about… putting things that weren't originally there? Or taking things away?"

There's a charged pause in the air. The brothers' eyes narrow on her.

"No god can do that," says Sasuke. "It's pointless asking."

"You mortals have forgetful memories," Itachi reasons. "You probably just forgot you put that object somewhere else."

"I see," says Hinata simply, though she can't help but wonder if there's something that they're not telling her. "I apologize for making a commotion of it."

"Mm," says Itachi neutrally, observing her with renewed interest. "I think I know the perfect spot for you here."

"Itachi," Sasuke bristles. "You can't be serious. Her?"

"Why not," says Itachi with a small smile. "Hinata, you can get settled for today. Tomorrow, you'll begin your new duties as a helper in the Celestial Archives. Sasuke, make sure to thoroughly go over the rules."

"I don't have time for this," mutters Sasuke. "Can't I pass her over to Sakura?"

"You know why you can't," says Itachi sternly. They share a long look before Sasuke finally gives in and grumbles, "Fine. You, come along. I'll give you the grand tour."

Hinata winces at his sarcasm but does as she is told.

The halls of the palace are grand in a way Hinata has never seen before. As they exit what she assumes was the throne room, they cross an outside corridor lined with stretching columns and made of weathered stone, and ascends a long granite staircase with no railings that seems to lead higher and higher into the clouds. When Hinata peeks over the steps, she sees that the Uchiha palace too lies ensconced in a giant cloud.

"If you fall, I'm not going to catch you."

Hinata startles and squeaks. She almost loses her balance.

"It's just so – so amazing," she remarks honestly. "I wasn't sure the gods actually existed, but seeing it all now…"

"You'll get used to it," Sasuke mutters. A dark expression clouds his face. "You mortals and your inane customs – how old are you?"

"Almost thirteen."

"Hm. So I'm still older."

"How old are you?" Hinata asks to be polite.

"Thirteen." He almost sounds… triumphant.

Hinata's jaw drops. "Aren't gods supposed to be much older?"

"This body is thirteen," Sasuke clarifies. "Have you ever heard about the legend of the phoenix?"

Hinata nods.

"Immortals age like regular humans. And when we're old and about ready to die, we burn up and are reborn elsewhere."

By now, they've reached the top of the staircase. Hinata gasps. Above the fog, the sky is teeming with floating castles, palaces, and temples all connected by thin silvery paths like threads. The buildings are an eclectic mishmash of different architectural styles from all over the world.

"Stop gaping."

"It's as if I've entered a storybook…" Hinata says dreamily. Hanabi would have loved this place. Thinking about her family suddenly takes away much of the glimmer of her new surroundings. She wonders how they're doing, and if she's truly dead or if she's dreaming something strange and marvelous while in a coma.

"Come on. We don't have time for this." Sasuke grabs her upper arm and hoists her along the edge of the road. Before Hinata can so much as squeak a syllable, he steps off the path, and they're suddenly floating up higher and higher.

"Wh – what—"

"Walking takes too long."

They approach a mass of giant cylindrical towers with gleaming white walls and golden domed roofs all linked by marble bridges.

"These are the Celestial Archives."

Ω

"You called for me, your grace?" Sakura bows her head.

"You may rise," says Itachi, observing his fingernails nonchalantly. "We have a new inhabitant in the palace."

"I see. Where is he? Or she? If I may ask." Sakura stretches her neck as she looks around the room.

"I sent her with Sasuke to the Celestial Archives. We needed a new helper there, you see."

Sakura's eyes narrow. "Are you sure, your grace? The last time I checked, we had enough helpers."

Itachi subtly shakes his head and glowers. "She has a keen mind. She will greatly assist in whatever we require of her."

The pink-haired girl clenches her fists worriedly. Usually, she trusts Itachi's opinions on matters like this, but for him to trust a stranger so suddenly…

"Please do not worry, Sakura. If you'd like, I will introduce you to her later."

"I would appreciate that, your grace."

"For now, please get her quarters ready. You are dismissed."

Sakura bows again and exits the throne room into a narrow servants' hall from the corner by Itachi's throne. As she ascends a spiraling flight of stairs, she clamps down on the front of her apron with sweaty hands. Lately, she's been getting better at knowing when she's being watched, and it always makes her nervous.

When she finally enters an unused room in the servants' hall, she fingers a vial of colorless liquid hidden in her sleeve and tucks it into a corner of an empty wardrobe. She hopes she knows what Itachi is doing because the girl will never know what hit her.

Ω

The bodies of sacrifices are usually thrown into the lake, but Hiashi Hyuuga has pulled enough strings to ensure a proper burial for his daughter. On the day of Hinata's funeral, the Hyuugas dress in somber black capes and veils and make their way to the traditional burial site. Their sorrow is kept quiet. There are no angry sobs, no fainting relatives. Even Hanabi's grief is contained within trembling fists, though not for long, if she can help it.

Hinata's casket is left open. Her face is somehow serene in death, though it had been twisted in horror and anguish when the councilmember stabbed her chest. She is dressed in traditional robes with the Hyuuga clan symbol stitched above her right breast. Any trace of a wound in her chest has been disguised well.

Right before they are about to close the lid of the casket, Hanabi breaks down. It will be her last tantrum, she vows. Then, she must grow up.

But for now, she unleashes her pain in a furious scream and flings herself to Hinata's side. She clasps her sister's limp hand and strokes her bloodless cheek. Neji and one of the priests try to pull her away. Hanabi clings stubbornly.

"Hanabi, let go," Neji growls through gritted teeth. "Don't be such a child. It's too late."

Hanabi suddenly turns on her cousin. She buries her face in his stomach, grabs the corner of his jacket, and tugs hard.

"Neji, will you bring her back?" Her wailing is muffled. She slips a lock of Hinata's hair into his jacket pocket. "Neji, don't you love her too?"

Hanabi's mother steps forward and gently pries her daughter from a bewildered Neji's arms.

"Hush, sweetie," she says comfortingly. "You know what Hinata would have wanted."

Hanabi bites her lip angrily but keeps her protests inside. Hinata would have wanted her death to have meant something. If Neji can find a way to get that lock of hair to Ino and confirm their suspicions once and for all…

The priest gently closes the lid of the casket. Every turn of the key in the lock grates on Hanabi's nerves. She glowers at it all.

Don't worry, Hinata, she thinks determinedly. We'll find out what's going on. The people who manipulated all of us to your death will pay.

chapter two fin