"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
A/N: My dear readers, here's the next installment for the story. Please enjoy!
The Caged Raven
Chapter 13: Captured
The grey blankets of the sky flashed with shocking white with its low predatory rumbles echoing through the howling wind. He could smell the earth wafting in the air, a tell tale sign that it was going to rain very soon. Red angry eyes which was once a beautiful and cheerful azure gazed menacingly at the heavens. He never liked the rain. Luckily he is wearing his travelling coat, which is rather durable and convenient for any weather.
"It hasn't rained in a while," he hummed.
He is a man bound as a slave to another. Yet, he continued to disobey and spite his master deliberately. Like a wolf that is owned, yet cannot be tamed, he wandered off at times and only return to his master at his own whim. The silhouette of trees sped past him in a blur as he jumped from braches to branches until he came to a silent halt. A group of five from what he could decipher as bandits, were carrying a mysterious box large enough to fit in a person. They seemed to be making a big fuss about something, but it was none of his business anyway. He decided to continue on with his own way until he heard the woman mention something, which caught his attention.
"We're getting a hefty amount of money with this alright!"
'Money?'
"Damn it I'm tired of having to carry this thing all over the place…"
He snorted at her long ramble of complaints. The broad is not even carrying the box herself for heaven's sake!
One of her lackeys, who is carrying the box interjected.
"…Leader, It's been two days and there seems to be no trace of the Uchiha coming after us yet."
"Of course not you fool! What do you expect from one of the best trackers in our village? I know everything about tracking down and covering up tracks like the front and back of my hand."
Money and Uchiha? This is getting intriguing. Whatever they have is obviously something which belonged to an Uchiha and they were planning to sell it for a large amount of money. It must be something valuable. But something didn't quite fit; there was only one Uchiha whom he knew of and it is his master. From what he knew, he is the only survivor left of his kind. Is there another Uchiha survivor as well; one that his master is not aware of? Whatever the case, perhaps he would find his answers in that box they are carrying.
'Master would be pleased with the gift I'll bring him.'
It has been two days since Hinata went missing. He has searched desperately everywhere for her. The other day when he arrived home after cooling off, he was greeted with silence. It was expected that she would give him the silent treatment like she normally does when she's mad at him. He made his way to their kitchen, expecting to see her familiar small back while preparing a meal behind the kitchen counter. She wasn't there. Baffled, he went to their bedroom to check; again, she is not there. Unbeknown, the soft padding of his feet gradually became a tread of heavy frantic footsteps. He couldn't find her anywhere around the premises of their home.
"Could she be in town?" he mumbled to himself.
That aside, where is Midori? They should be together right? His blood boiled with rage at the thought that the wench has dared to take his wife out without his permission. He swore that if anything were to happen to Hinata, Midori would have to face the bloody consequences.
The vendors told him that they saw the two women heading towards the direction of the clinic a little while ago. He went to check at the register.
"We're sorry sir, but it seems like the patient had left."
"Do you know what time they left?"
"About an hour ago…"
An hour ago? Yet they haven't gone home? He thanked the nurse before rushing out.
"Well if it isn't Mrs. Mikoto's husband! How are you young man?" Sasuke didn't have time to have an idle chat with the old man. He needed to find Hinata.
"I'm sorry-"
"Are you looking for your wife?"
That shut him up.
"Yes," he nodded slowly. "Have you seen her and her…companion?" Calling Midori her companion left a sour taste in his mouth.
"So my suspicions were right…"
Sasuke's eyes widened as he grabbed the man's shoulders.
"Please tell me where they are. Did something happen?"
The old man rested a gentle hand on Sasuke's firm grip.
"Now, now...I don't know whether something happened or not. But I thought it was rather strange to see your wife without you as her escort. You were always with her whenever I see you two around town. It was unusual for me to see her with another other than yourself."
"Do you know where they went?"
The old man narrowed his eyes and faced towards the east side of the town, where the open forest is.
"I saw them heading towards the direction of the forest. I thought they were going home, but I assume that is not the case since you are looking for her?"
'That damn lying sneaky bitch!'
Sasuke's hands shook and he chewed his bottom lip until it bled.
After a quick thank you he made a dash towards the forest.
He is already on his second day of search. The first day has been frustrating for him since he could not find any traces of them. He has to admit that Midori is good at covering her tracks. Almost too good. If she's this good at covering up her tracks, there's no doubt that she is a high-ranking ninja who has everything planned from the beginning. But that didn't stop the Uchiha. By the dawn of the second day, he managed to get a small lead to his prey with the help of his summons.
'I have to hurry.'
He didn't know what was going on, and what Midori wanted with Hinata but that is the least of his worries for now. All he cared about is to get Hinata back under his safe wings before anything bad happens.
"Pick up your slack boys! We're almost at the rendezvous point with our dealer. The faster we get there, the sooner we can get our money," Midori growled. She's beginning to get impatient.
"I can't wait to get a rich bath and-who are you!" she yelped in surprised when a mysteriously cloaked man jumped in front of her.
She could tell that he was a lean man with a well built body of a shinobi.
"What the hell do you want? You're in our way."
He didn't budge. The soft patter of gentle rain became a heavy pour, almost making it difficult to see their opponent.
Midori motioned her men to get into their fighting positions.
"Get him."
The cloaked man pulled down his hood. Unruly black hair nearly matted half his face, but the deadly look of his red eyes made his opponents freeze.
"Impossible how could there be—"
The red tomoe of his eyes span hypnotically and everything ended in a blink of an eye.
"What a bunch of weaklings."
He walked towards the box and inspected it carefully for any damages. Curious to see the contents of the box, he lifted the lid.
His eyes widened at the treasure he managed to get his hands on. 'What the hell is this?'
As he was nearing his destination, a strong metallic smell mixed with earth assaulted his nose. By the time Sasuke arrived at where the scent have led him, he was faced with a huge bloody mess, literally. The victims were maimed to a point where they could not even be recognized anymore.
"What the hell happened…" he whispered. His mind froze for a moment before fearing for the worst.
Thick crimson splashed beneath his sandals, soaking and staining his feet. He inspected whatever remains he could find to see if any of them were hers. His breathing became shallow as his hands shook with each limb he picked up. There seemed to by only a few of the body parts that belonged to a certain woman. Luckily it was only one woman, Midori. Relief flushed over his mind. Right now, he has several mixed feelings; relief, frustration, disappointment and worry. He wanted to finish off Midori with a slow and painful death but it seems that someone has beaten him to it. Now someone else has gotten their hands on Hinata. The perpetrator made him more worried compared to Midori because the way he killed these people is monstrous, brutal, inhumane, and so much like…him.