Once upon a time, there was a princess who was forsaken.

The kingdom that had been celebrating her began to see her for her true personality. She was the kind of coward that would abandon her subjects, the very peasants she was supposed to protect with her life, on a silly whim. Despite her pretty manners, the princess had revealed herself to be yet another arrogant noble. Despite the dangers of the territory assigned to her, the princess viewed her duties with the carelessness of a spoiled royal.

The princess herself was largely unaware of the whisperings of the kingdom, for she had been secluded in the Moon Palace. However, she already punished herself with heavy thoughts on her inabilities. She mourned the villagers and her squad, for they had been kind and warm to her, never too busy to answer a question and help her through an exercise. They had accepted her and she had repaid by failing them.

Outside of the festering discontent within the kingdom, the Moon and Sun Kingdoms' relationship only further fragmented with each new grievance. Each day came new whispers and rumors of the ill intent from the other side of the desert border. After a while, even the princess who was isolated in the castle came to hear of these new tidings.

Nonetheless, the princess was surprised when the Sun king approached her one cold, autumn day.

"It appears that the Moon and Sun were not meant to share the Sky," the king said. The princess smiled sadly and curtsied. For all their distant manners and etiquette, the princess had enjoyed the king's sharp intelligence and scrupulous fairness. At one point, she had dreamed of leaving the shadows of the Moon Palace and basking in the warmth of the Sun Palace. She had even started to plan a life by the Sun King's side...but that was another discarded dream, small and quiet, to be brushed away under an unused baby blanket.

"I wish you the best on your journey. May I never see you again, so that our parting can remain peaceful," she replied flatly. The elders, the castle, and everyone, was watching them. It made the princess's skin crawl, because she knew that one small slip was enough to condemn them.

He took her hand and placed a polite kiss on the back. He held her hand the precise length of time that was considered appropriate, no more yet no less, and then released her.

"I wish you the same." He paused, and then said: "But there will be a day where our kingdoms can know peace. Perhaps we might be the catalysts of such an era."

"I only pray you speak the truth," she whispered. Her gaze darted towards the elders, and he noticed her nervousness.

"Prayer is no use if you do not act, Princess."

The king bowed and exited.

And so, the betrothal was broken, and similarly, the two kingdoms made their hostility official.


Prey for the Hunted

By Airyo

Chapter 17


He awoke to a green-eyed monster.

He was immobilized by a thick blanket of sand around his torso, with his legs left dangling in the air. Sasuke quickly scanned for Hinata's chakra, and was relieved to discover that she wasn't here. It was just the two of them in this vast open desert wasteland: him and his capturer.

Sasuke's headache lanced through his skull, sending sparks of white agony clashing against his eyes, and he groaned. A concussion. Using his Sharingan would be out of the question, then.

The other ninja stood unmoving, arms crossed as he faced Sasuke. He had oddly pale skin, which seemed all the more stark due to the fact that a rather tacky tattoo for "love" had replaced his eyebrows. He was clearly of the fallen Sky Kingdom, with his blood-colored hair and green eyes. Sakura's family had emigrated from the Sky Kingdom several generations ago, long before the Amaterasu War, and the residual traits of her heritage still showed. So he was a past Sky citizen, looking for revenge.

Normal enough.

But all those characteristics weren't too common in of themselves, and together with the gourd on his back, this could only be one person.

"Naruto said you died."

The other ninja's eyes widened in surprise.

"You know him?"

"My teammate," Sasuke answered shortly. The redhead was silent for a moment.

"You seem to know many people," he commented. It wasn't a compliment. The prince got the sense that he wasn't referring to Naruto.

"Most people do." Sasuke attempted a sarcastic shrug, but the sand constricted his shoulders. "But I don't know you. Generally it's considered good manners to introduce oneself."

The other ninja gave him an unamused look but humored Sasuke.

"Gaara of the Sand."

"Sasuke of the Sun," the prince replied. His vulnerable position made Sasuke defensive and cranky, and he spoke before his brain could reinforce the wisdom of "not pissing off the guy who holds you prisoner". Gaara's eyes narrowed, aware that the prince was mocking him, but did not rise to the bait. So this vessel was the complete opposite of Sasuke's more exuberant teammate. "An old citizen of the Sky Kingdom? Out for revenge?" the prince guessed nonchalantly.

"Irrelevant to you," the redhead replied, making his opinion of Sasuke's worth quite apparent. "You should be more concerned with your future than my past."

The other ninja's accent was jarring. His pronunciation oscillated wildly between the crisp syllables of nobility and the slurs of someone who grew up among a rougher crowd. Sasuke made a note of it for later.

"The past is always relevant," Sasuke shot back with a sneer.

Gaara's mortality, for example, was highly relevant. The prince had heard whisperings of dark techniques that give life. Orochimaru, a valuable genius of the Sun Kingdom, had been driven out for experiments that simply hinted at escaping death. The thought of more players who dared to tamper with the work of the Shinigami was frightening. Sasuke's mind whirled with the possibilities, but it was difficult to think through the concussion-induced lethargy.

"Perhaps," Gaara said slowly. " I will assure you that I care little for revenge. Validation of my present, of my existence, is enough. People killing people, fighting to survive like mindless animals. It is what holds us to this world, not the mess found in history books." The redhead decided that he'd spoken too freely. He waved his hand, and sand covered Sasuke's mouth and nose. The prince couldn't struggle. Darkness quickly filled his vision. "But I think regardless of our circumstances, I would have disliked you. A pity that I can't kill you."

Sasuke was certainly hated by many, but that was often due to the fact that he had an abrasive personality and he was the prince. It was rare that someone would dislike him regardless of his titles.

Before the Uchiha could ruminate further on this anomaly, however, he succumbed to unconsciousness.


Hinata stared at the ruins around her. She knelt in a field of shattered amber glass, an exhibit of beautiful, shining statues all smashed to ruin. The wind whipped the dust and sand so harshly around her it felt like knives against her skin.

She certainly deserved such agony. It was her fault. Because Sasuke had to protect her, he was distracted enough to be captured by Gaara.

She heard a sound and turned. Shikamaru struggled to a seated position. He brushed the sand away from his clothes with the ginger movements of a battered soldier unsure of how he survived. He stiffened when he tried to use his left arm - fractured, if not strained.

"Shikamaru…you…?" Given their dire situation, asking after his well-being seemed horrifically gauche. He regarded her with a narrow glare. The sun glinted off the flecks of sand still sticking to his face, like light reflecting off the edge of a blade.

"You have some explaining to do, Princess."

Hinata wasn't even that surprised he'd figured out her true identity. Everything was falling apart, and the pieces fell together too easily. She shouldn't have lingered so long in the Sun Palace.

"I'll explain," she said. With a little grunt of pain, she rose to her feet. Her ankle buckled under her weight, and she tumbled back to the ground. The sand cushioned her fall with a muted crunch of grains. She wasn't going anywhere without Shikamaru's help. "But first we need to find somewhere private."

Shikamaru shook his head and jerked his chin at the endless dunes around them. Hinata glanced at the castle none too far from them.

"They got what they wanted," was the Nara's cold reply. He wasn't going to help her until she satisfied his suspicion. Hinata sighed, a hissing, silent scream that sounded like the word 'Sasuke'. They didn't have time for this. He could be dying. Dead.

Why wasn't Shikamaru worried? He should be the most panicked, with his prince and his beloved teammate both captured. He should be trying to kill Hinata, given her seeming involvement in everything. It was her plan that had failed to protect Sasuke.

Hinata clutched her head, forcing herself to breath slowly through her nose. She was the one who was behaving irrationally. Shikamaru was right. Right now, both of them were useless individually. And whatever trust between them had already been fractured. They needed to pool their knowledge, and gather their available resources. Given how carefully Gaara had targeted Sasuke, they wanted the prince alive.

And there was the question of why Gaara was here. She'd thought that...

The ex-princess shook her head. She needed to focus. Her heart was beating like a rabbit's, but her thoughts had regained direction. She exhaled slowly and then met the lazy ninja's narrow eyes.

"What do you want to know? " she asked. Shikamaru blinked, impressed by her sudden calm.

Even a week ago, Hinata would have never given up her secrets so easily. How quickly a person can change. Her heart and mind thrummed to discordant patterns of hysteria and calm, but both centered on the same goal: saving Sasuke.

"Who are you?" Shikamaru asked.

"I was Hyuuga Hinata."

"Was?" He shot back, immediately catching the past tense.

"People call me No-Name Hinata. " Her voice faltered, and the rest came out in a whisper. "...exiled traitor of the Moon Kingdom, and hated murderer of King Hyuuga Hiashi."

Hinata braced herself for the twinge in her chest at the mention of her tainted past, but it never came. Instead, she felt oddly unaffected - just tired and hurting and almost hating Shikamaru for being so stubborn.

"What is your connection with that sand-user? You called him Gaara."

"I met him when crossing the Sky desert. Moon soldiers were chasing me, and he saved my life."

"So you owe him your life?"

Hinata shook her head, trying not to think back to the terrifying memories of being hunted down by her own countrymen. She did everything she could to forget that dark time, and she wanted nothing to do with someone who would remind her of it.

"We cut all ties the day that I set foot into the Sun Kingdom," she said firmly. It was a time in her life that Hinata did not want to revisit. The nightmares had subsided, but sometimes, she still woke in a cold sweat, straining to hear the thundering boots of Moon soldiers. "I have no connection to his actions. However, I believe that he is a neutral party."

Shikamaru was silent for a moment.

"You are wanted in both kingdoms," he said abruptly. "I should bring your head to the authorities." Judging by the frown on his face, that was what he wanted to do. To punish the traitor who brought such danger to his friends.

He didn't believe what she said about Gaara.

"You should," Hinata agreed easily, sadly. She'd let herself be deluded that she could belong somewhere. "But I only ask that you do that after Sasuke and Lady Ino are safe. Then I will go with you to the king himself if that is what you want."

Shikamaru squinted at her, making his eyes nearly disappear against the tanned skin of his face. She let him study her for any signs of duplicity - he would find none. She meant what she said.

It was odd to stand before someone so openly and allow herself to be judged and measured. Hinata felt empty, almost as if she was floating outside of her body. Her dark hair soaked in the heat of the sun, warming her scalp. She felt too still, like the calm before a storm.

"If you really wanted to, you could have sold Sasuke's life to the highest bidder long ago," Shikamaru concluded. " You really love him."

It was more accusation than disbelief.

"You love her," Hinata whispered in reply. The Nara stiffened. Then his expression became closed and threatening. Hinata knew that if she ever spoke of this realization, he would never forgive her. "I know, I know. It isn't my business," she said with a poor attempt at a smile.

Shikamaru gave her a suspicious look but shrugged. "Tch, troublesome gossip," he grumbled. "I'll contact the others."

He pulled a small bottle of liquid from his pocket. In it, Hinata could see a small tadpole swimming inside. The jounin tapped the vial, and the tadpole seemed to dance in excitement before it disappeared in a tiny underwater poof. "First time as a messenger," Shikamaru explained offhandedly. Seconds later, a toad appeared with a croak.

"You called?" he asked.

"Mission abort. Tell them to get here now. We'll meet them in that inn. Room 34"

"Roger that!" croaked the toad. It dispelled after giving them a webby salute.

"We should head back."

Shikamaru gripped her by the elbow with his good hand and hoisted her to her feet. They walked in stilted silence. Hinata gulped as she realized that she would have to answer to Sakura and Naruto. They would not be so accepting of her past connections as the cool-headed Nara.


Naruto, Sakura, and Sai were waiting for them when they stumbled back into Shikamaru's room. The three appeared rather moist, a good indication that they had transported here by way of Naruto's toads.

"What happened?" Naruto burst out as soon as the door was closed. His blue eyes darted between Shikamaru and Hinata. The blond frowned. "Where's Bastard?"

Shikamaru grimaced and released Hinata. She hobbled to the nearest chair. Sakura immediately followed and reached for her ankle. Cool green chakra flowed into the injury like a spring breeze.

"Start wrapping your ankles," she said tersely as she stood back up. Hinata thanked her sheepishly. She did seem to injure them frequently. Sakura barely seemed to notice her and turned to Shikamaru.

"Sakura! We weren't called here to fix some stupid twisted ankles!" Naruto exclaimed. He spared an apologetic glance for Hinata to show that he didn't mean it personally. Hinata couldn't muster a smile. Her stomach roiled with apprehension. Naruto and Sakura were not going to take the news well. What if they couldn't tolerate her enough to help her rescue Sasuke? She glanced at Sai, who gave her a perfectly false smile. And if she was forced to explain in detail, the Guardian would know everything. She still couldn't trust him. "We need to figure out what -"

"It's obvious what happened," Sakura snapped back, her nerves clearly worn threadbare. She was just as worried, but the medic kept an iron hold on her panic. "Sasuke is in trouble, given his absence."

"He was captured by a sand user," Shikamaru said. Hinata inhaled slowly, but couldn't bring herself to breathe it out. This was where he was going to reveal everything to them. "While our cover was never compromised, the sand user seemed to know ahead of time who he was already."

"Sand?" Sakura asked. "Those are not common. The make-up of sand makes it highly difficult to control without a bloodline limit, and even the Sky Kingdom had very few of those."

"Gaara." Everyone turned to Naruto in confusion. The hairs on the back of Hinata's neck stood on end. How would Naruto know of Gaara? "Don't mind me," the Kyuubi vessel said with a defeated expression. "That person died a long time ago."

Shikamaru's brow knotted in a frown at Naruto's declaration, as he had witnessed Gaara being very much so not dead. But he remained mute on the enormous discrepancy, and refused to meet Hinata's eye.

Sakura continued. "The person would have to be very powerful and very well trained if he was able to overpower Sasuke. My question is: how have we not heard of such a mercenary before that? We don't have any documentation of such a figure in the bingo book."

Hinata looked up. All this talk of sand demons was too much of a coincidence.

"Is he the same sand demon that has been terrorizing the border towns? He disappeared a few years back before...before I came to the area. Rumors of his return only started surfacing the past few months."

"So what happened in between?" Naruto muttered. Shikamaru raised his hand in a gesture for him to stop.

"While troublesome, that is not our immediate priority," the Nara reminded. "My best guess would be that the sand user was hired by the main faction that was targeting the prince all along. He only injured us enough to distract and subdue Sasuke. Our attacker was completely uninterested in Hinata and I."

Her real name hung in the air like an unwelcome secret. Sakura and Naruto exchanged a brief look. While all three of the decoy team were likely aware of exactly who she was, Hinata wasn't so certain if they saw her as ally or foe.

"So the attack was planned out. They were expecting him. Bastard didn't have a chance," Naruto surmised. Hinata steeled herself for the accusation to follow.

"Akatsuki is also a mercenary group who indiscriminately takes anyone so long as they are paid. They paid them to take Ino-pig, his fiance, to ultimately lure Sasuke out here," Sakura concluded.

"If the Akatsuki are involved, it's a deeper issue. My toads have been reporting sightings of a pair not a few miles north of here. One of them carries a scythe, of all things," Naruto added.

"A scythe?" Shikamaru echoed. An unnaturally hateful expression flickered across the Nara's face before his features smoothed themselves out. "Regardless, I won't be surprised if Sasuke is easy to find. He is most useful to others as a figurehead, and a kingdom is never far behind the crown prince." He glowered and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. "Troublesome, but we will need to survey the area carefully. Sai and Hinata would be our ideal choices for that role."

The Guardian remained silent and nodded. Hinata looked between the others hesitantly, wondering why they weren't demanding explanations. It was the best she could hope for, but the uncertainty of not knowing weighed just as heavily on her.

Naruto noticed her confusion and managed a half-hearted grin. "Give Bastard a little credit! He wouldn't just like any girl, so we'll put faith in his choice." He sidled up to her, cupping a hand to his mouth as he was about to divulge a bit of juicy gossip. "I thought he was gay for me for the longest time until you came along." Sakura rolled her eyes in the background but didn't disagree with any of her blond teammate's statements.

Hinata stared at them. Tears prickled her eyes and she blinked them away with a watery smile. Even with the circumstances looking so bad, they were willing to believe in her. The level of trust between these ninja was awe-inspiring. She realized that after Shikamaru had determined her trustworthiness, his simple act of bringing her back was enough of a signal to Naruto and Sakura. The Nara had known that, which was why he didn't need to accuse her of anything.

The ex-princess gave Sai a second glance and he smiled in a way that was marginally more heartfelt. If the others were trusting him, then shouldn't she give him the same benefit of the doubt?

After all, they were all together on this single goal - rescuing Sasuke.


It was too easy to find them. They only had to travel directly into what was considered the Moon Kingdom side of the desert.

Sasuke's capturers wanted to be found.

Three squads camped openly in the dip of two dunes, sheltered by the shadows. The tents were pale, but the wrong color for camouflage. The survey of the area and their group's relative position took seconds. The Sun ninja had the advantage at the top of the terrain, and there was little surrounding them but smooth sand. Even if they were patrolling, the ninja in the valley would have nowhere to run from an ambush.

Sasuke was tied to a post in the center of the makeshift camp, exposed to the harsh elements. He was forced into a kneeling position, and she silently begged him to lift his head, so she could know that he was still alive. He didn't comply, and remained limply looking down at the ground.

Hinata activated her Byakugan for a quick overview. It was just as she'd suspected.

"They have Ino, too." she reported as she quickly closed off her wavering chakra to her eyes. "She's safe, but restrained in the second tent to the left." Shikamaru's head snapped towards her and their eyes met. He'd already figured out what she'd feared. The others looked at Hinata expectantly and she continued in a dull voice. "They're all Moon Kingdom ninja," she said softly. There was a familiar pang at the reminder that she was out of place here, but she brushed it aside. These Sun ninja were her comrades in the mission to save Sasuke and Ino. "And they're all Hyuuga."

There was a stilted pause. Everyone was sharply aware that it was Hinata's family that they could be attacking.

"Sorry, Kin - I mean - Hinata, but I don't care," Naruto muttered as he stood. "My precious friends are in danger." He said it so kindly that it hurt her more. Sakura gave her an apologetic but unyielding look and adjusted her gloves.

"Stop, Naruto, Sakura. That's what they want you to do," Hinata hissed. "They want us to fight for him." Both of Sasuke's teammates looked dangerously rebellious and she gestured desperately to the scene. "We can't attack those ninja. Someone wants you to give them an excuse for war. You're too close to the Moon Kingdom border."

All the fire seemed to drain out of Sakura. "I know," the medic murmured. She turned to Shikamaru with a pleading glance.

"Is there no other way?"

The Nara was crouched, with his fingers in a strange triangular seal. His eyes were closed in concentration. After a several moments, he opened his eyes and slowly shook his head. Shikamaru looked defeated, which was all the affirmation they needed.

"Infiltration is impossible. I can't get all of them with my shadow jutsu. And even if we simply subdued them, that will still require aggression that can be interpreted as violence," he explained. "Someone wants a war between the Sun and Moon. They want us to act, because anything we do will be a breach in the status quo."

"DAM-mpph!" Sakura muffled Naruto's outburst with a fist to the mouth. The jinchuuriki barely flinched from the blow, snapping his head out of the medic's reach with icy eyes. "Ino and Bastard are already caught. They're going to declare war regardless of what we do." It was clear in Naruto's tense stance what he wished they could do. "Are we just going to leave him out there like that?"

Everyone pretended not to notice that the blond ninja's voice cracked with suppressed tears.

The question he couldn't dare to voice was the one they all silently asked with their downcast eyes: their prince or their kingdom? Because there was still a chance they could save both the Sun and Moon Kingdoms from war if Sasuke was sacrificed as a scapegoat, a rebellious wildcard. While Ino could possibly be bargained back, Sasuke was the figurehead of the power of the Uchiha. The Moon Kingdom would not spare him.

Their prince or their kingdom?

One or many?

Who were they to make such a choice?

In desperation, Hinata glanced surreptitiously at Sai, who was kneeling a few paces from them. He met her eyes with a dark, unreadable expression. He shook his head, a nearly unnoticeable movement one degree to the left and then to the right.

He could do nothing.

Would do nothing, perhaps.

Hinata turned back to the crowd in the valley, her gaze immediately finding Sasuke's hunched figure. They hadn't treated him gently, and the red-tinted patches over his torso were worrying. With a half-activated Byakugan, Hinata could see that his breathing was ragged. They'd purposely done this, so that his medic teammate would rush to his side while his hot-headed teammate would try to extract revenge.

She watched one of the Hyuuga approach and "accidentally" kick Sasuke. The prince spat at the bully and then was promptly backhanded for his defiance. The force of the blow was so great that Sasuke's face snapped to the side, and the pale expanse of his neck and jaw were exposed. Red dripped down from his face, beading on the sand like polished rubies under the harsh sunlight. She saw the Hyuuga laugh, teeth and eyes hatefully bright. Sasuke's blood soaked into the ground, leaving black blemishes on the smooth, gold sand like disease-mottled skin.

For the first time, Hinata found herself grateful that her Byakugan wasn't stronger. She didn't need to see them hurting Sasuke with even more clarity.

The truth was that Sasuke might not survive the time lag of a proper rescue mission. The desert killed quickly, so "forgetting" to give him water for a day or two was all it took. Right now, it was just the five of them facing three teams of ninja that they could do nothing to. And even if they killed him, the Moon Kingdom was in an advantageous position because he was caught so close to the Moon border.

Sun Kingdom citizens had no good reason to be there.

But she wasn't of the Sun Kingdom.

The sun beat down on her like a fire jutsu, but she felt so cold. Her veins had frozen. Sweat prickled her forehead - it was like she was bleeding with Sasuke.

And Hinata was fucking terrified. Because she knew her comfortable anonymity could shatter if she dared to question fate. Her past welled inside her like pus, an old injury infected with all the toxic wrongs and evils, a disease that hissed terrible things to her. It was her fault this was happening. The people around her always fall to horrific ends, and the one constant was her presence. She wasn't the hero. She was the omen, the catalyst for destruction, the axis of a storm.

These moments of self-doubt and incrimination were normal, but this time there was one key difference. Over all the voices of doubt, a smooth tone stood out like a thread of light embroidered in dark fabric - Sasuke's challenge.

Armor up, Hinata.

She already knew what she had to do. It was only a matter of if she would.

A raven's call sounded in the air, harsh and grating like mocking laughter. Hinata looked up, and saw two ravens lazily winging circles in the sky.

Seeing the king's trademark summon reminded her of Itachi's dispassionate eyes on her, judging her for her flaws. She wondered if he knew...

It was a little known fact that there were actually multiple functions to the Caged-Bird seal, for the four arms of the sign. The Wings of the seal were simply anchors, and only worked upon death to lock away all Hyuuga abilities so enemies couldn't steal them.

The first function, Beak, was a punishment seal that amounted to little more than a glorified migraine. That was taught to all members of the Main family[1]. But the other three functions - Eye, Talon, Tail - were taught only to those of immediate relation to the Moon King, the royal family. Unlike Beak, the other three could be utilized without any awareness of the target Branch member.

Eye enabled the user to see through the select person's sight, enabling a new dimension of surveillance. Talon was the most devastating, as it will render the target comatose, or even dead. Tail was the most powerful. Like how the tail feathers of bird in flight steered its path, Tail enabled subtle control over the target's very thoughts and subsequent actions.

A whole other lifetime ago, her father had taught her those seals in the faint hope that one day Hinata might have the chakra to use them. These were techniques that required far more energy than a simple Byakugan, even for one target. For a crowd, she would need perfect eye contact. Every last one of them must be looking at her.

It was a gamble even Lady Tsunade wouldn't take.

Hinata let out a soft whimper as the doubt and fear threatened to crush her. What if she failed? What if she couldn't use the seals? What if she just made it worse? She was never meant to be a hero, even for the one she loved. She always, always ruined -

"They're hurting him, aren't they?" Sakura asked. Her enormous jade eyes shone with tears. Naruto punched the ground beside her in frustration, his face marred with helpless agony.

They were willing to give their lives for Sasuke. It was clear in every fiber of their being and they couldn't do anything when caught between the choices of their kingdom and their friend.

But Hinata could do something.

Armor up, Hinata.

The final links of fear and doubt fell away like rusted shackles, revealing the shine of armor lovingly buffed bright. The prisoner wasn't a wretched coward but a knight, ready to battle. And really, titles like 'princess' or 'warrior' or 'coward' faded to pale nothingness before the stark lines of purpose.

Hinata knew what she had to do.

"If something happens, use me as the distraction. Remember, you are not connected to me in any way," she warned her confused comrades. "This is personal." The last part came out as a growl.

Hinata stood up as she checked to make sure her hip pouch was full of chakra pills. She began walking down towards camp, leaving the others in shocked silence.

For him, she will fight.


Sasuke had trouble focusing his sight. In addition to a rather annoying concussion, his sweat stung his eyes, causing them to blur further with tears. No wonder the people out here hated him. The namesake of his kingdom was relentless out here. The sun blistered his pale complexion. It was like setting someone on fire, only in slow motion. His hair irritated the burnt skin on the back of his neck, like prodding little fingers.

The prince's head lolled down against his chest. The metallic taste on his tongue got stronger as more blood pooled in his mouth. A few drops leaked out, falling on the dark fabric of his pants. He swallowed the rest and licked his chapped lips. They felt like sandpaper. The last time he'd had water was before his capture. The injuries they dealt him were nothing, but at this rate, Sasuke knew he was going to die of dehydration. He was starting to wish that Gaara had simply killed him outright rather than giving his unconscious body to the Hyuuga.

He already couldn't feel his hands, though that was mainly because his wrists were tied so tightly together above his head. However, they must have been overconfident with the presence of the Moon Kingdom chakra cuffs, since they'd left his feet free.

Those Hyuuga bastards really gave him a warm welcome. It would be rude not to return such hospitality. He already knew how to break these cuffs, thanks to the little trick Hinata showed him back when they'd just met. After that, a few simple fire jutsus and he was leaving this place. However, it was a time-consuming process and since he was tied out in the open, he will have to wait until the cover of night to figure out how to escape.

Sasuke smirked, and then winced when the taut, dry skin of his lips split open. A warm trail of blood traced his chin. It was rather worrying that his first thought was to mourn the loss of additional liquids.

It took him a few moments to notice the change in atmosphere. The people in camp were getting agitated. Everyone was rushing to look at something in the direction of the tall dunes, whispering like angry bees.

Sasuke wrenched his head up with some effort. Shaking his hair out of his field of vision, the prince squinted out towards the wide wash of tawny sand. The sunlight glared off the pale grains, making it difficult to pinpoint what was making the Mooners so nervous.

A pale-cloaked figure was approaching the camp.

It was clearly provocation. Sasuke had to laugh. What kind of idiot took on an entire camp of ninja in broad daylight?

A cluster of Hyuuga near him had activated their Byakugan. But rather than the expected reaction of amusement or preparation, they appeared confused.

"Hyuuga...the eyes..." he caught one of them muttering.

"But who?...can't tell...she's not one of..."

"Eye...strange...like silver?"

Hyuuga. Female. Silver eyes.

Hinata.

Sasuke no longer felt the sun. It was like someone had dumped ice water down his back, and it was so shockingly cold that his heart had stopped.

The whole point of his capture had been so Hinata would remain safe. He was aware that his teammates were likely in a difficult bind due to their location, but Sasuke was confident that he'll find a way to escape. There was no need for a rescue, so what was she doing?

And what the hell were Sakura and Naruto thinking letting her do that?

"Quiet, Uchiha," snapped one of his guards when Sasuke began to struggle against his bonds in earnest.

"Fuck you," Sasuke bit right back. He was rewarded with a half-hearted kick to the ribs before everyone turned their attention back to the brazen figure approaching them.

She descended the slope like a queen. Her posture tall and regal, as if she were gliding down the velvet steps of a ballroom instead of the gritty dunes of sand. The wind tugged at her hair, sending it writhing around her like violet snakes. Pale, silvery eyes seemed to glow under the shade of her hood.

"Halt!" one of the guards called. "Who are you? What is your business?"

"How dare you ask me such a question?" Her voice was quiet, but certainly not soft. This wasn't the voice of a shy princess. This was the voice of an enraged queen, exuding the deceptive calm before the storm. She didn't need to yell, because everyone was already straining to catch her words like sharp-edged jewels falling from the sky. "Do you really not know who I am?"

The Mooners became confused and glanced at each other uncertainly. Hinata continued to stride towards them.

"Regardless, you are not to take a further step until you've identified yourself," the guard said. "We did not request further aid."

"Invite the entire kingdom for all I care," Hinata replied evenly. "That is irrelevant to me." Sasuke stared at her in awe, even as he struggled to contain his anger over her recent bout of insanity. This was a side of Hinata he'd never seen before. "My only business is with the Hyuuga."

"I will only ask one more time before we attack. State your identity and your business."

She sighed and pushed back her hood.

"How sad that even with the lofty Byakugan, the Hyuuga are so blind," she said with a sigh. The sneer on her face was so foreign against her kind features that even Sasuke had a hard time recognizing her. But that was no excuse for her clan.

The Hyuuga guard bristled at the condescending tone and he assumed a ready stance, Byakugan already activated. "You will-"

"How could you already forget me? I still remember you," Hinata smiled in a parody of kindness. She looked more like herself, but something was still disturbingly off. "It wasn't that long ago when I defeated you in a spar without any chakra."

The guard turned ashen gray.

"Hin...Princess Hinata?" he stuttered. All the Hyuuga quieted in shock. Many seemed to stop breathing. "But you're -"

"Dead?" she finished for him. Hinata flicked her hair back in a motion that was a perfect imitation of Ino at her vainest. "True, but I have unfinished business. For example...some spring cleaning is in order." She pointed at them with one thin finger. Several Hyuuga dropped to the ground without making any sound of pain. Their bodies hit the sand with dull thuds. Everyone froze, caught in a shocked silence that was so perfect that the sound of sand being thrown against their skin could be heard. The surrounding dropped into uneasy stances, clearly beginning to panic.

Sasuke stared. What kind of strange technique was she doing? But even in the throes of confusion, he knew that Hinata was trying to distract them. No one was looking at him, giving him the perfect cover to work at his bonds.

"But...you can't..." one of the Mooner's muttered. "No chakra..."

"That wasn't the seal for for the submission..." another mumbled.

They were becoming agitated and panicked.

"What did you do to us?" one of the Mooners howled. The sharp cry seemed to break the spell over them. Several charged for her, like crazed wolves converging on a doe.

"The better question is what you did to me," Hinata corrected harshly, taking no notice of her attackers. "You have shamed me and driven me out like a common peasant, a worthless cur. Death is not strong enough to contain my anger." She formed a seal. They convulsed and seemed to freeze mid-leap like forgotten puppets.

Her face seemed bone white against her dark hair, and the strong sunlight cast an otherworldly hue to her pupils. The wind moved her cloak and robes around her, blurring everything with soft sand, making it appear as if she were floating.

Suddenly, a wave of ravens filled the sky, until day seemed to turn into pitch black night. Itachi's trademark animals remained deathly silent, an ominous symbol made all the more striking by the unnatural quiet of their passing. His brother was involved. An unknown part of him sighed a small breath of relief. For all his blustering of independence and capability, it was undeniable that things would turn out much better if Itachi was watching over them.

Fortunately, the people that witnessed Itachi's genjutsu rarely survived to tell of it. The connection between a raven and ill tidings was far more pervasive.

"Onryo..." one of the nearby ninja muttered fearfully. [2]

Sasuke understood. Using some sort of technique exclusive to the Mooners, Hinata was convincing them that she was a ghost of vengeance. It was almost humorous how unwilling they were to accept the simple fact that Hinata could use more chakra now. The Uchiha felt the first embers of a cold rage for the ex-princess's sake. These idiots were willing to believe in even the supernatural before the possibility of her strength. But their close-mindedness was to her advantage.

Even if her strategy was utterly ridiculous.

And that was why it might actually work. Because what kingdom would try to declare war over a ghost? The Moon Kingdom would become the laughing stock of the world.

That was something he was all too happy to help perpetuate.

"Hey," he called to the nearest Hyuuga. "What are you guys attacking? There's nothing there."

The Mooner regarded him for a moment, battling apprehension and disgust.

"What do you mean?" he sneered. Sasuke looked towards Hinata, eyes flickering over her as if he couldn't see her. "Answer me!" The prince bit back a groan of pain when the Hyuuga's kick landed against his ribs.

"I mean you're all going crazy. You're all talking to thin air, for kami's sake," Sasuke spat back. "Must have never had a mission in the desert, if you're all succumbing to desert mirages."

Given their stricken expressions, he was right. Though, it was a testament to how shaken they all were that they actually seemed to consider such a suggestion of Hinata's nonexistence. All he needed was to plant such an idea.

The Hyuuga he spoke with turned back to the crowd, whispering the revelation that Sasuke couldn't see Hinata. The tiny seed Sasuke tossed out had branched out into an enormous poison oak within moments.

Such was the festering power of fear and doubt.

"The Sun brat can't see her!"

"It's genjutsu. Sharingan probably cancelled whatever cheap illusion is over us."

Hinata pinpointed the person who spoke the last theory. He dropped to his knees with a groan.

"If your small minds are so needy..." She flicked her fingers at Sasuke. He immediately understood and startled in fake surprise. He stared at her, as if only seeing her just now. The prince had already rid himself of his cuffs and ties, but kept his arms positioned as if he were still tied.

Hinata rushed at Sasuke with cold eyes and gripped him by his throat.

"Is this the kind of trash you've let into Moon borders?" she hissed as she leaned in. The veins fanning out from her eyes made her look demonic and insane, nothing like the shy, lovely girl he'd known.. Hinata pinned the other Hyuuga with a disgusted glare. "Your standards have deteriorated." Sasuke's eyes widened when she suddenly lashed out with her naginata, knocking down the post he was supposed to tied to with the blunt end of the weapon. The force knocked Sasuke flat on his back.

Maybe it was sluggishness from his injuries, maybe it was the speed of her attack. Either way, it took him several moments before the pain registered. He looked down, and realized that she'd actually cut him. Blood was everywhere.

"Wha..." he gurgled. He thought this was supposed to be a ruse.

"There will be no witnesses," she said with a sneer. She stepped over him with a sniff and turned to face the others. "Leave."

"But..."

Hinata formed another seal. She nudged Sasuke's form with the toe of her boot. "The desert will take his body. You will give me my peace or I will take it. Leave!"

To Sasuke's surprise, the Hyuuga lurched like puppets attached to strings. And then they began to walk away, several pausing only to gather the limp figures of their comrades. What was going on? He tried to crane his head, only to have Hinata push him back down with a gentle foot.

"Stay down. Trust me."

The wound across his chest stung, but despite the heat of their surroundings, the blood flow was already slowing. She had aimed to injure for minimal damage.

They stayed like that for several long minutes: Sasuke on his back, and Hinata standing over him with a foot carefully placed on his shoulder. The sun burned them, but they stood as still as statues.

Then Hinata gingerly removed her foot. "They're finally gone," she breathed. "Thank kami."

Her knees bent under her and she started to fall. Somehow, Sasuke pushed himself up to his feet and caught her. Even in his weakened state, it took little effort to hold her. This didn't feel like the build of the woman who'd stood against an entire army of ninja and came out the clear victor. In his mind, it only emphasized just how frail and tiny she really was, how easily those Mooners could have killed her.

And most of all, how much of a badass his girl really was.

She was avoiding his gaze, staring guiltily at the blood soaking his shirt. "I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm so sorry."

"You did what you had to, you idiot," he sneered hoarsely. Hinata looked at him, and realizing that he didn't fault her, smiled brilliantly up at him. Sasuke's legs felt weak, and he kneeled so she leaned against his bent knees.

"An idiot whose love is still alive," she corrected softly as she reached up to brush his hair out of his eyes.

They both paused.

It was the first either one of them had put their affection in finite words. Sasuke was speechless. Her smile faltered, and uncertainly, she began to withdraw her hand.

At a loss, Sasuke caught her hand and placed a lingering kiss to her palm. Then he pressed their intertwined hands to his cheek. There was so much he wanted to tell her - you're beautiful even with sand in your hair, don't ever make me worry you stupid girl, don't you dare scare me like that again, I think I might love you - and it was all stuck in his throat like dust. He was left simply staring at her like a fool.

But she understood, because then Hinata stroked his cheek with her thumb reassuringly and she was smiling again.

It was like a balm for all of his hurts. Even though he was so thirsty that drowning would be a luxury, he didn't want this moment to end.

Naturally, that was when he saw Naruto running towards them out of the corner of his eye. If he didn't slow down his approach to give them a little more time alone, Sasuke was going to fucking punch his stomach through his spine.

Unfortunately, Hinata noticed the direction of his glare, and struggled out of his arms. They realized that neither would be able to stand without the other's help, and leaned against each other. A small consolation prize, in Sasuke's opinion.

Naruto ran towards them, skidding to a stop and sending sand everywhere. The others followed not far behind. Naruto looked at them, showing uncharacteristic restraint. Normally, he would be yelling about some idiotic thing by now. Instead, his blue eyes flickered to Hinata questioningly. Sasuke realized with some shock that Naruto was actually unconsciously looking to Hinata for guidance.

"All clear," she said softly.

Naruto inhaled before he started. "Bastard! You're so weak! How the hell could you let yourself get captured like that?" Sasuke gave his teammate an unamused look, even though he knew it was how the blond showed his concern. And apparently, Hinata had given Naruto permission to scream like they were on opposing sides of the desert, not a mere arm's span away.

Sasuke took the chance to reach over and swat Naruto over the head.

All three of them pretended to ignore how even that minute movement had him fighting for balance.

"Dead-Last. Get me some water before I die," the prince rasped. "Otherwise you're really in trouble."

"Trouble for what?" Sakura questioned. Along with Sai and Shikamaru, they approached the group. The medic's worried green eyes scanned Hinata and Sasuke.

"For trying to kill me," Sasuke complained. "Seriously, someone give me some water." His throat was beginning to feel like someone had force fed him a cactus.

It was a mark on how shaken Sakura was when she didn't yell at him. She handed him her waterskin and mutely began scanning for the worst injuries to heal. While she fussed over Sasuke, Shikamaru turned a questioning eye to Hinata.

"What happened?"

It was the question that everyone wanted to know the answer to. Even Sasuke wasn't too certain on what exactly happened.

Hinata just shook her head. "Nothing important. Absolutely nothing for you to worry about. It's all over now." A faint alarm sounded in Sasuke's head at the strange choice of words, but she was smiling so sweetly that he quickly forgot about his misgivings. Hinata pointed to one of the abandoned tents. "Lady Ino is in there."

There was a pause, and then Shikamaru was walking - no, almost running - for the indicated tent. He entered, and minutes later, reappeared with Ino leaning on his arm. Other than looking a little worse for wear, she seemed perfectly healthy.

A heavy sort of silence descended on the group as Shikamaru and Ino approached them. Hinata turned to them, and then pushed away from Sasuke. She wavered but stood firm before the pair. Despite the Yamanaka's ragged appearance, a closed expression hid all her thoughts as she swept icy blue eyes over the Hyuuga's exhausted visage.

They stared at each other. It was almost more uncomfortable than Sasuke's injuries. The prince had sensed the drastic change in their relationship, and it was all too obvious it had to do with his betrothal. Only consideration of Hinata's part in this kept him from barking out a sharp command to fill the awkward tension.

"Lady Yamanaka," Hinata finally greeted with polite half-smile. "I am glad you are safe."

An odd emotion flashed through Ino's eyes before she pursed her lips. She merely nodded and looked away. She seemed in a trance until she forced her gaze to Sakura.

"Well?" she asked, cocking her hip to the side and crossing her arms. One elegant eyebrow lifted in question. "Forehead, you're not even going to say anything? I almost died and the best you can do is goggle at me." Ino sniffed and brushed the dust from her arm. "I know how beautiful I am, but the staring is getting a m-"

Sakura tackled her with a hug.

"Shut it, Ino-Pig! Clearly you're okay if you can still spout that crap!"

Sasuke stopped paying attention. The same bundle of pity and anger rose in his throat, buzzing like a hive of wasps. Hinata deserved far better than apathy from Ino, especially after the ex-princess had risked her life.

But even the prince knew better than to pick a fight with the damsel-in-distress of the group out in the open. He swallowed his disapproval. The others swept the Hyuuga camp of any Sun Kingdom presence while Sakura healed his wounds. When the medic was satisfied that none of the members of the party were going to immediately keel over and die, she gave the okay for them to start heading out.


Night was falling fast, but all of them bursting into Sado would be far too suspicious. Instead, the group agreed to camp overnight. The main priority was getting away from the Moon Kingdom. The high concentration of jounin in the group was more than sufficient to handle any maneuver away from bandits.

Hinata directed them to a more secluded set of rock formations where only a few coyotes would likely discover them. Even the more gregarious members of the group were subdued, leaving everyone in a silence punctuated only by the noises of setting up camp. But there was only so much to do for the camp, and Sasuke found himself staring at Hinata across the low fire, simply waiting for something. Everyone could sense that they had been part of a pivotal event, but no one could tell if things were turning for better or for worse.

Sakura took it upon herself to finish patching up the minor injuries incurred by the group, a sign of her anxiety. No one had missed the alarming redness on Hinata's hands. While she refused to divulge what she'd done back there with the Hyuuga, the chakra burns told no lies. Hinata had risked her entire chakra system to save Sasuke. Especially given the delicate condition of hers, chakra exhaustion was doubly dangerous.

The lump in Sasuke's throat made it hard to breathe. While his life was threatened often, he'd grown used to it. But the endless worry for a far more fragile life was a new feeling for the prince, and he disliked the sensation immensely.

Long blond hair caught his eye, and he looked up to see Ino walking across camp. At least he'd been grateful.

"Yamanaka." Ino turned and upon seeing who was calling her, smiled flirtatiously.

"Prince Sasuke," she said with a titter. "I'm so grateful to my hero."

"Drop the act," he ordered. "You may have your betrothal but I will feel no affection for you. And Hinata had a far greater part in your rescue than I did."

The blond blinked, shocked beyond words. She attempted a coy smile, but it only manifested into a grimace. Then her shoulders slumped in defeat, and she obeyed. The vacant shine to her eyes faded, replaced by agonized anger.

Ino looked like her heart had been breaking for a long, long time.

"Yes, we are betrothed. Do you understand what that means, your highness?" Ino pressed on before Sasuke could snap out another bad-tempered barb. "Your current situation is dire enough that the king was forced to agree to the strongest alliance he could find. And he didn't pick the first airhead he saw, Prince Sasuke." She converged on him, looking like she was torn between tears or a tantrum. The Uchiha found himself resisting the urge to step back.

"All these years, I've sacrificed everything that I am to be worthy as a bride to the crown prince. Even my life. After all that, do you think I care that you don't like me?" She shook her head, as if trying to shake all the thoughts from her mind. Ino pinned him with a haunted look. Her voice had been getting progressively louder, but her next words came out in a barely audible whisper. "And I'm only the symptom, not the disease" Her eyes flicked towards Hinata, and his gaze followed.

Sakura was healing Hinata's hand, likely chakra burns from overuse. Hinata had rolled up her sleeves, revealing slim, pale forearms. Even by the faint glow of Sakura's medical chakra, the star-shaped scar from her time in the Sun Palace dungeons was too easy to see. She would have to had bled a lot to get that kind of mark. How many more marred her?

The feeling of uncomfortable pity and restless discontent was back. Seeing Hinata hurt again and again despite his best efforts to protect her was beginning to wear on his stubborn pride. The insult of Ino reminding him of his responsibility was almost insignificant.

"Keeping Hinata will kill her, if not everyone else as well. I hope you realize that, Sasuke," Ino added gently. He was still staring at Hinata's arm. When he glanced back at the Yamanaka, the blond had already left.


There was no rush to return to Ganpon after Sasuke sent a report with Mozou. With all of them safe and relatively unharmed, the group opted on getting a few full night's sleep at the various inns set aside especially for traveling Sun soldiers. Every member of the group, to some degree, sensed the anxiety of impending events. The facts were there, regardless of how the matter was viewed. When the Moon Kingdom put the pieces together, they would not be able to avoid a war. Hinata's show minimized nearly all casualties, but ultimately, it only worked to buy them time to prepare.

Hinata laid in her bed, hands clasped over her stomach, and staring up at the blue-black darkness of the ceiling of her room at the inn. She was relieved that Ino had insisted on separate rooms. The noblewoman still refused to speak more than the most basic niceties to her. While Ino's distance stung, she was thankful for the obvious maneuver to keep Sasuke and her apart. Hinata knew she needed the chance to think clearly and she needed to do so alone. Sharing the room with anyone would muddle her thoughts. Especially Sasuke.

Not that she nor Ino needed to be worried about him. Sasuke had been avoiding her since Ino's rescue a few days ago. While the prince seemed to act no differently, Hinata could sense his subtle signals for her to stay away. It was in the way his eyes didn't warm when their gazes met, and the way his shoulders angled slightly away from her when she walked near him, and a hundred little signs in his body language.

That was the smart thing for Sasuke to do. Hinata could understand such logic. She'd made the promise to fight for him, and she will, always and always. But only if he wanted her to. If the prince had come to his senses and decided he no longer wanted her, Hinata would not bother him. She would not be the obstacle.

But that didn't stop the hurt from digging into her chest like claws each time she noticed it. A dark, possessive voice noted resentfully how unfair it was that he would discard her like this after she'd risked so much for him. And each time after she'd think that, Hinata would quash that voice ruthlessly, berating herself for being so unreasonable.

She shouldn't even be going back with the group, not after the fiasco of Ino's rescue mission. And Itachi had seen it all too, if his ravens were any indication. But Hinata was beginning to discover the selfish part of herself, and couldn't help but hope that there was some way to see her happy ending. It was a foolish way of thinking.

Hinata was exhausted, but sleep would not take her easily. She sat up with a great inhale and kicked backed her covers with a little growl of frustration. No one was around to be impressed by her little tantrum. With a small sigh, Hinata put on her slippers and padded to the window. She slid it open, letting the chilly breeze wash over her face.

The moon hung low and bright over the horizon, spilling light over the floorboards of her room. Everything had a blue-tinged cast, as if she were looking far into the past. Hinata looked out to the dark outlines of the trees around the inn, feeling old and tired despite the smell of newness and life in the spring air. A movement caught her eye.

"Please be careful," she called. "The rest of us will make sure she's safe."

Shikamaru froze. Then he stood from his crouch while grumbling something that sounded suspiciously like "troublesome woman". He'd been in the process of slinking away.

"You aren't going to ask where I'm going?"

Hinata bit her lip. But her previous conversation with him was still vivid in her mind. "It's not really my business." She had an idea. The strange gleam in the Nara's eyes during their discussion of the Akatsuki had frightened her. But even though she was an outsider, she would grieve for the lazy ninja if anything happened to him. And she knew that Ino would cry.

Shikamaru huffed. Then to her surprise, he stepped out of the shadows of the surrounding trees.

"Would you confirm something for me? That day Asuma was killed...it was you who helped us, wasn't it?" Hinata tensed and the other shook his head. "We've got this building to ourselves. Anyone who can overhear already knows who you are."

Hinata gripped the windowsill. Then she nodded.

"Yes, that was me."

"I see." Shikamaru averted his eyes in thought. He looked up after a short while, with a shockingly closed expression. "Thank you. But you should disappear."

Hinata gaped at him, shocked at his sudden coldness.

"That day you found us," Shikamaru said slowly. "It was after a battle against an Akatsuki member named Hidan. Not the bandits the recently closed records claimed. Lord Sarutobi Asuma did not die by accident."

Sarutobi...The family name was hauntingly familiar. The face of the plucky stable boy came to Hinata's mind. Sarutobi Konohamaru. That would mean that he was of noble birth. A noble born did not work and sleep in the palace stables for fun.

"Is he the only one left?"

Shikamaru's dark expression was all the answer she needed.

"Historically, the Sarutobi were one of the greatest supporters of the Uchiha, and vice versa," the jounin added. "Do you understand?"

She understood all too well. Hinata wouldn't be surprised if the same faction that was targeting Sasuke was behind the decline of the Sarutobi as well.

"I think I do," she replied. A Hyuuga was already barely tolerable, but a traitorous princess would be disastrous given the Uchiha's position. Her Sun Kingdom friends were embroiled neck deep in political turmoil, and her presence was the chakra spark to detonate the explosion tag. She wasn't welcome here. "But I think you're the one who doesn't understand." Hinata continued before Shikamaru could reply. "You know your friends will grieve for you. She'll cry."

Shikamaru stared. He blinked for a few moments. Then he snorted and shook his head.

"She would, wouldn't she? Troublesome woman," he agreed fondly.

"Good luck," she whispered. He headed back to his side of the inn, and then turned back to peruse her.

"You too," he said. Shikamaru looked like he wanted to say something more, but he only twisted his mouth into an annoyed expression and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets.

"You should get going if you plan to return before morning," a voice noted. Both Hinata and Shikamaru whipped their heads in the direction of the newcomer, ready to fight. Sasuke stepped into the clearing, smirking slightly at their inability to detect him.

"Your highness," Shikamaru acknowledged almost guiltily. He'd been caught sneaking off, after.

"Dead-Last and Sakura are waiting for you," the prince said offhandedly. "Don't die."

Shikamaru's lips quirked. "I won't." He bowed, lower than necessary, and then he disappeared in a swirl of leaves.

Hinata stared, determined, at the spot where Shikamaru had been, watching the last leaf float down to the ground. She was sharply aware of the fact that Sasuke was there, looking up at her, studying her.

Slowly, reluctantly, Hinata let her eyes meet his. He stood in the middle of the clearing with his hands in his pockets. The wind played in his hair, tugging his bangs into the paleness of his face like slashes of ink on paper. Despite the camouflage of his dark uniform, she could tell that his shoulders were relaxed and turned to her. His gaze was warm. Hinata found herself forgiving him instantly, with little regard to her hurt feminine dignity. That was the effect of Uchiha Sasuke.

"Hi," he said softly, almost shyly.

"Hi," Hinata replied. She leaned forward on her elbows, and the breeze caught the long locks of her dark hair. The strands reached out, as if straining towards the prince standing beneath her window. "You should be resting," she added, at a loss for other words.

Sasuke shrugged.

"Couldn't sleep." More silence.

"Me too," she agreed needlessly. The awkwardness was making her teeth curl. While she wanted nothing more than to leap out of the window and fall into Sasuke's arms without a worry in the world, Hinata knew she could never have that luxury. Despite that her heart was full enough to burst, she could never accept him if he was here by some twisted sense of duty. She had her pride too.

"Do you remember what you promised me back in Sado?" he asked.

"Yes," she agreed.

"I will hold you to th-"

A loud knock behind her interrupted him. Hinata motioned for Sasuke to wait before she went to the door. It was Sai, accompanied by the expressionless face of the Guardian Cat.

"His royal highness, King Uchiha Itachi, has personally arrived," Cat informed her. "He requires your presence at once."

A thousand thoughts clanged in her skull. Hinata steadied her shaking hands on the doorknob and nodded.

"Please let me change." She shut the door and turned around. Sasuke had taken the liberty to climb in through the window. He'd heard everything. "Itachi's here," she whispered.

Hinata could not think of one good reason why the king himself would travel to greet them.

But they both could think of far too many bad ones.


[1] I'm going with the assumption that the Main Family doesn't just include the immediate family of Hiashi. If that were the case, given the fact that Branch children are Branch, they'd die out in...one generation. If not...ew. My understanding is: Hizashi was Branched because otherwise there would be conflict, so they have to make sure the younger twin knows his place. Also, I'm going with the understanding that there is a LOT of Hyuuga.

[2] Onryo are apparently Japanese ghosts of vengeance. All my knowledge if internet based, fyi.

AN:

-Thanks to the wonderful Rhinst, my ever-patient and hard-working beta-reader!

-Oops. Did not mean to disappear for so long. Real Life's like a hungry, indignant cat - can't ignore it when it demands that you feed it. Unfortunately, Real Life has much bigger claws and a more painful bite. :P Hopefully, I'm back in the game.

-My most difficult chapter to date. I had only a very vague idea of how I was going to make happen the things I wanted to make happen. For example, the entirety of my notes for the rescue scene was: "Hinata somehow pwns them. Somehow? " Past-Airyo is so helpful, isn't she? If things are stretching the seams of believability...well, you are reading the fanfic of a series about a boy with a demon in his belly...so teehee?

-Btw, I've received notice of lovely (fan)fanart! (Cue long fangirl scream here) The wonderful Warrior-of-Ruin drew some gorgeous concept art of Itachi and Sasuke in armor. Go shower her with love and praise! Links are in my profile.

-I'm thinking of posting a timeline of Hinata's past soon. Watch out for that. :D

-Not much to say, since I'm trying this new thing where I put what I want to say in the actually story itself rather than dumping all my thoughts in the AN. But do tell me what you think! This is a learning experience for me and your reviews are how I can tell if I'm completely insane or just enough to tell a good story. :P