She's crying again.
Its so quiet I could have missed it for the sound of the wind outside the tent. Slowly I open my eyes and look over at her. She has her back to me. I watch as her shoulders slightly shake.
We've been traveling for about three days now. I forgot what it was like sleeping on the ground. Itachi is on her other side sleeping on top of our clothes to cushion his back.
I look back at Hinata as I hear her soft cries. I wonder what she's crying about today? It seems like each day she cries about something different. Whether it be her family or her guilt.
I wonder if she is going to leave me soon. She has her chakra back now. She can sneak away and run back to the leaf with Itachi.
I would be lying if I said the thought of her leaving didn't hurt me. I have gotten used to her warm smiles and soft laughter. I don't want her to leave but I don't think I can force her to stay anymore.
She's sad. And I don't know how to make her feel better. I don't know what words to say to her to make her feel less guilty for what she did. I already lied to her and tried to tell her she's a hero. Yet she still feels the same.
I did this to her. If I hadn't left the house that day then she wouldn't have had to be the one to kill him. I shouldn't have lost my temper and left. I shouldn't have used up all my chakra and left her in danger to the outside world. I should have protected her.
She continues to cry. And I am powerless to stop it. For the first time in my life, I wish I knew what words to say. But I don't. I don't know what to say.
So I do the only thing I could think of. I inch close to her and hesitantly rest my hand on her hair. She tenses at my sudden touch. "Don't cry" I try to command but instead it comes out in a weak whisper.
I move my hand away as she turns to face me. Her cheeks are wet and her eyes are red.
"Sasuke?"
"Hm."
"How do you sleep at night? Knowing you killed all those people?"
"..."
"Don't you feel guilty?"
"...Why would I have any reason to feel guilty?"
"...Your a monster Sasuke..."
"...I know"
I close my eyes, signaling to her that I don't want to continue the conversation.
000
I awake to something pulling my hair. I open my eyes and stare back at small black eyes. Itachi giggles at me happy at his success of waking me. He climbs on top of my chest. I try to close my eyes again still tired. But soon enough I feel his little fingers begin to poke and touch my face.
I open one eye and look at him. He giggles again. I sigh and slowly sit up. I pick him up and leave the tent. Might as well start the day since he won't let me sleep. I look back at Hinata but she's still sleeping, no point in waking her.
I step outside into the fresh air. I look down at Itachi, ironically this is the first time I have been left alone with him. It's pathetic I know but usually, Hinata doesn't even let me hold him let alone leave him with me.
"Well, I can't go training with you with me. Although your uncle always used to take me even when I was your age" I chuckle as I think back. Itachi smiles sensing my good mood. "Your mother will threaten to starve me if I did that. So we're gonna have to wait until you at least start walking."
Memories of Itachi taking me to his training sessions flash through my mind. "Your uncle really was one of a kind..." I whisper. I look down at Itachi, his huge eyes stare into mine. "One day when you grow older I'll tell you all about him. This world will try to convince you that he was nothing but a killer. But you will know the truth."
I pick up my katana and with one hand strap it around my waist. "Since we can't go training we'll just go explore the woods around here. Maybe find breakfast." With that, I walk further into the woods with Itachi.
About an hour later I walk back to the campsite with some birds eggs and freshly killed deer dragging behind me. Itachi was surprisingly well behaved. Didn't cry once and got quiet when we began stalking the deer. Now he's babbling in baby talk. I pretend to agree with whatever nonsense he says. It's hard to ignore him and not say anything.
As I enter the campsite I expect Hinata to be up and waiting for us but she isn't. I set down the food and go into the tent. She's still in bed. Itachi squirms out of my arms and goes to Hinata. He tries to wake up Hinata like he did me but she doesn't move.
I try to shake her awake. But as I touch her I notice how warm she is. I push back her hair and touch her forehead. She's burning up. "Hm... Sasuke? I'll get up right now and make breakfast..." she whispers. "Hinata, you have a fever. Go back to bed."
She doesn't protest as she turns over and goes back to sleep. I pick up Itachi and leave the tent. I step outside and look at the deer and the cooking supplies. "Well, Itachi looks like its just you and me."
(Hinata's point of view)
After a couple of hours, I wake up feeling refreshed. I sit up in the tent and notice both Sasuke and Itachi are gone. I stand up and leave the tent. As I walk outside I smile.
Sasuke is laying on a log with Itachi on his chest. They are both sleeping. I walk towards them as I near them Sasuke opens his eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asks.
"Much better than before. I just needed to catch up some sleep to replenish my energy."
"We've been traveling non stop I should have thought about how it was affecting you."
"Aren't you tired from traveling?"
"I'm used to it."
I look down at Itachi and softly pet his hair. "Did he behave himself?"
"Yes, he didn't cry once."
"Sasuke?"
"Hm?"
"What are we going to do?"
"About what?"
"We can't run from the Leaf forever..."
"I have yet to be caught."
"That's because you were by yourself. Now you have me and Itachi slowing you down."
"What are you saying Hinata?"
I sigh. "Maybe its best if Itachi and I go back to the leaf..."
He sits up careful not to wake Itachi. "What? Why would you even suggest that?"
"Sasuke if we get caught. You are going to be executed."
"..."
"Sasuke?"
"If you want to leave... Then leave..."
"Sasuke I-"
"I'm not going to keep you here anymore Hinata. In fact... I think its best if you leave..."
My mouth drys and the speech I have planned for days slips my mind. He wants me to leave?
"Fine. Ill pack Itachi and my things-"
"No."
"No?"
"You're not taking Itachi."
I look at him surprised, his eyes suddenly become cold. "You know I can't leave him! You've only taken care of him once you don't know how hard he can be and-"
"Then I will learn... He is the only thing I have left in this world. Unlike you, I don't have a family waiting for me at the leaf. If you take him then I will have nobody else..."
"That's not true Sasuke!" I feel tears sting my eyes as his words begin to sink in. "You have friends in the leaf who care about you!" I yell out to him trying to get some sort of reaction out of him instead of this blank face.
"I care about you. But that doesn't make you want to stay, does it? Just like I couldn't make you stay in that cabin... You can't make me stay in the leaf..."
He stands up and walks toward me, warmly cradling Itachi as he does. He stops a couple of inches in front of me, one small movement and we will be touching. I close my eyes as he moves forward expecting him to kiss me again but instead I feel a soft tap on my forehead. I open my eyes and he smiles sadly at me.
"...Goodbye Hinata..." he whispers. He steps past me, I look down at the ground as I hear him gather his stuff. Soon I hear him begin to jump on the trees. I listen as his steps fade away into the wind.
000
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