Chapter 17: Love Blossoms (Part 2)
After chasing for a long time, the chasers still gave no signs of giving up.
"What are we going to do? They're still chasing us and we're getting closer and closer to the headquarters." Rebecca asked.
"We'll have to finish them off. We can't let them get near the headquarters." Regina answered.
"No, we can't." Jonathan hissed.
"Why? You want to lead them to the headquarters, let the hideout be discovered and then be killed by the Akatsuki?"
"No, I think I'm in love."
"Are you gay?"
"No, I like Hinata."
"Hinata's in the chase?"
"Yes!"
"Fine then, we'll not harm her since she's kind enough to heal your wounds which saved us the trouble." Regina faced Jonathan and instructed, "You go ahead and don't stop to help. You're already wounded and would only bring us down by staying to 'help'."
"... Fine, but don't harm Hinata." Jonathan went ahead while Regina and Rebecca turned back to strike a sudden attack at the ANBUleaving Hinata unhurt.
They finished off the ANBU, and knocked Hinata unconscious. Regina placed Hianta over her shoulders and headed off for the headquarters after Jonathan.
When they reached the headquarters, they could see Jonathan pacing up and down in front of the headquarters looking very worried.
"Why are you carrying Hinata like that?" Jonathan questioned.
"Why aren't you going in?" Rebecca asked.
"Why are you carrying her like that?" Jonathan repeated.
"How else do you want me to carry her?" Regina rebutted and walked past him into the headquarters.
"You could have carried her in your arms!" Jonathan tried to get Hinata off Regina's shoulders to hold her himself.
"Fat hope."
"Where exactly did you kids head of to this time?" Pein questioned furiously when they entered.
"Great, we're done for this time." Rebecca mumbled.
"I just asked, where have you three been?" Pein shouted.
"We were just out training in the forest when a bunch of ANBUs were near the headquarters and we were left with no choice but to kill them. Their bodies are still there 10 miles from here."
"And where did this girl fit in your story?"
"She was with the ANBU and we took her back for questioning since even if we were to bring back any of the ANBU, the possibility of them telling us anything is smaller compared to this girl." Regina explained.
"Itachi, I put you in charge of questioning this girl." Pein ordered.
"That will not do!" Jonathan protested.
"Why?"
"Itachi will scare her to death."
"And do you care?"
"Love at first sight." Regina and Rebecca replied.
"..." The silence went on forever till Jonathan broke it, "Ah, ah, ah..." Jonathan imitated the crow's caw.
"Are you a crow?" Rebecca said sarcastically.
"I can be one!"
"Sure... A dying one." Regina interrupted.
"Forget about everything, it's getting late. Lock the girl up in the unused room." Pein ordered.
"There's an unused room?! Then why don't we get to use it?" Regina shouted.
"Shut up. Head off to sleep. We'll discuss more about this tomorrow."
"So where do we put her?" Jonathan asked.
"Oh, I know, I know! Your bed!" Regina suggested.
"Then where do I sleep?"
"You shall be a gentleman and sleep on the floor while she takes your bed. Let us wake up in the morning and step all over you."
"But, but, but..."
"No buts. That's final. Let's go back to our room."
Jonathan carried Hinata in the bride style and laid her gently on his bed.
"She's gonna get a GREAT shock when she wakes up and see us sleeping in the same room. Poor girl." Rebecca commented.
"Well there's nothing we can do about it." Regina yawned and went to bed.
"Wait, where am I going to sleep again?" Jonathan asked.
"On the floor, duh-uh." Rebecca answered.
The next morning
"Ouch, ouch, OUCH! Stop stepping on me!" Jonathan shouted.
"Never..!" Regina and Rebecca replied cheerfully.
"I'm getting out of here." Jonathan shook off Regina and Rebecca and stormed out of the room.
"What about Hinata? Aren't you going to check on her first?" Rebecca asked.
Jonathan stopped dead in his track, turned around and dashed to Hinata's side to check on her. To his surprise, Hinata was no longer in his bed.
"Where did she go?" Jonathan shouted.
"Maybe the Akatsuki took her in the middle of the night." Rebecca suggested.
"NOO... Hinata!!!" Jonathan screamed and dashed out of the room to search for her. He was shocked when he found her in the kitchen, wearing a white apron making breakfast.
"What are you doing?" Jonathan asked.
"Making breakfast." Hinata replied.
"Why are you making breakfast?"
"Breakfast is the most important meal for the day."
Everybody stared at her, and stare, and stare, and stare even more.
"Woof, woof, woof!" Jonathan imitated a dog's bark.
"Okay... That was so random and dumb." Kisame said.
"Whoa, for someone who has seen her teammates die in front of her, aren't you a little too calm un." Deidara said.
"What's the point of worrying? They are dead." Hinata said with a sad face.
"Oh, then how about the fact that you are kidnapped by S-rank criminal?" Rebecca asked.
"I don't think you're going to let me go anyway, so I might as well try to make myself at home."
"Excellent! That's a great idea!" Jonathan agreed with a grin on his face.
"So you're going to corporate with us?" Pein asked.
"No."
"Well miss, I'm giving you two choices here. One is to cooperate with us. Two, is to not cooperate with us and we'll deal with you appropriately."
"... I guess I have no choice but to go with option one isn't it?"
"Alright, alright, that's enough with the serious talk. Let's sit down and have breakfast!" Jonathan interrupted.
After breakfast, Jonathan went off to train with Regina and Rebecca while Hinata cleared up.
"Aren't you going to stay and help her out?" Rebecca asked Jonathan.
"No." Jonathan replied.
"Why?" Jonathan's reply made Regina puzzled.
"Because I'm lazy."
"...Right, but shouldn't you make a good impression of yourself?"
"Nah, that's okay. I've already thought of a way to win her heart over." Jonathan grinned.
"How?"
"I'm not going to tell."
"Hmpf, we'll just question her in the end."
"Don't you dare bully her!"
"Sure, we won't." Regina and Rebecca smiled slyly.
That evening, Regina went off to a date with Itachi while Rebecca was resting in her room. Only Jonathan only stayed back to practice.
"You wanted to me meet you?" Hinata suddenly said from behind.
"Ah, that's right." Jonathan turned round and faced her.
"For..?"
"Are you free? I wanna show you this place."
"Er... Okay, are your sisters coming along?"
"No, they aren't. Nee-chan went on a date with Itachi and Rebecca... Well let's say she's not interested."
"So it's just us?"
"That's right, but you don't have to feel awkward with me, just relax and enjoy yourself."
"...Okay." Hinata blushed and followed him.
Jonathan walked alongside with Hinata and brought her to a lake sunset. Hinata was awed by the view in front of her.
"Where did you find this place?" Hinata was absorbed in the view in front of her.
"Ha-ha, I came upon it when I was running away from my sisters for some reason a few years back."
"For what reasons?"
"Hmm... I can't remember."
They stayed motionless staring at the view in front of them till Jonathan broke the silence.
"I feel cold."
"Oh, you wanna head back now?"
"No, I'll feel better if we stand closer to each other."
"Oh...Okay." Hinata blushed and Jonathan moved closer to Hinata.
"You know, I've always been searching for that one person in my life that I'll always adore and love. And I have just found that one and only girl recently."
"And, who is that one and only girl?" Hinata felt her heart thumping harder each harder.
"You, Hinata." Jonathan spoke clearly in the silence.
"That was so cheesy, nii-chan!" Rebecca said.
"Since when were you here?"
"Before you got here, you idiot." Regina added.
"Nee-chan! Why are you here? I thought you were on a date with Itachi?"
"I ran away."
"Rebecca, I thought you weren't interested?" Hinata asked.
"Nii-chan never asked if I wanted to come." Rebecca glared at Jonathan.
Jonathan ignored Rebecca and continued asking Regina, "So how did you run away from Itachi?"
"We were at another festival," Regina rolled her eyes, "then he couldn't get the thing I wanted and kept trying and trying so I lied saying that I'm going to the restroom and I ran away from there."
"Oh...Right."
"It's getting late and I'm hungry. Let's go back now." Rebecca whined.
On the way back, Rebecca and Regina in the front while Hinata and Jonathan were at the back taking their time. No one said anything on the way back till Hinata said, "Do you mean what you said just now?"
"What did I say?" Jonathan questioned back.
"...You said that I was that one and only girl you've been searching for."
"Yes, that was from the bottom of my heart."
Another long silence continued and this time, Jonathan broke the silence asking, "I may not be the most skilled ninja in Akatsuki, but I promise with my life that I will use whatever skills I have to treasure and protect you. Are you willing to be that one and only one for me?"
"...I'm sorry but can I have a few days to think about it?"
"Why? Because you have someone you like or is it because I'm from Akatsuki?"
"..."
"It's okay you don't have to give me your answer now. But could you please give me you reply in three days?"
"Thanks for understanding."
Three days later
Hinata asked to meet Jonathan by the lake by sunset. Jonathan was full of anxiety and anticipation when he was going to the lake to meet Hinata.
"So..." Jonathan and Hinata spoke at the same time when they see each other.
"You speak first." Hinata said.
"Have you think carefully about what I asked you three days ago?"
"Yes."
"So are you willing?"
"...Yes." Hinata blushed and look down at her feet all the time.
"Thanks for willing to be that girl for me!" Jonathan jumped for joy.