Hiya! Here's the ninth chapter. FINALLY! It took long for me to update because I had actually wrote two chapter nines because I couldn't decide what to write. The first one that I wrote was time-skipped to one year but then I didn't like how I couldn't show Hinata's character grow. Also, I didn't know how much Hidan's and Hinata's relationship would grow in one year and then there's all these deaths... so I decided to rewrite chapter nine and here it is!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the Naruto characters.

Chapter Nine: Sorry

Hinata stared at Itachi's sleeping face with a small frown on her pale face. It was dark since the sun had not risen yet but even if it did, the great trees of the forest that surrounded the Akatsuki's base wouldn't allow the sun to shine down on them. Yet, she could still clearly see the outline of her bedding partner's face. His calm expression reminded her of Neji's and it pained her because Itachi didn't look like Neji at all. Hinata was becoming homesick and tired. It had been almost a week since her initiation and it made her wonder if anyone back home was searching for her. Pein had told her that Hiashi didn't want her and that was that but what about her loyal friends, her protective cousin, and her beloved prince?

You mustn't give up, Hinata! Naruto-kun promised to get you back and Naruto-kun never breaks his promises! Have faith, Hinata!

After her little pep-talk, Hinata carefully and slowly got off of the bed so she would not wake up Itachi. However, she knew he would wake up because he always did but sometimes, he didn't get out of bed right away. Today was one of those days. Hinata gathered some neatly folded clothes from his wooden drawer and went to the bathroom to freshen up.

Once out of the bathroom and of Itachi's room, Hinata headed for the kitchen in her new black coat. It was just a day ago when Pein and Konan had presented the infamous Akatsuki uniform to her and was told to where it at all times when she was out of the house. She was wearing it now because once the sun was up, the Akatsuki were leaving Konoha.

When she entered the kitchen, she let out a tiny squeak and immediately cast her lilac eyes to the tiled floor. "H-Hidan-kun… Wh-Why are you a-awake? S-Shouldn't you be r-resting? W-We're l-leaving in a f-few…"

"Shut up, you fuckin talk too much." Hidan was at the counter, chugging down a bottle of milk and eating Tobi's snacks. He was shirtless as always but Hinata didn't think she could ever get used to seeing a man without his shirt. Hidan licked his milk mustache away and set the empty bottle of milk down on the counter before watching Hinata scurry around the kitchen to make breakfast and lunch. He observed her, knowing that she knew he was staring due to her stiff movements. He wondered what made her good enough to stay with the Akatsuki and why, despite her annoying unnecessary stuttering and stupid manners, did almost everyone get along with her except for him. Well… For one thing I know for sure, that bitch Konan has another bitch to talk to about their damn girly feelings… Tobi's reason to stick with Hinata was pretty obvious as well; he had someone who was actually willing to give their time and attention to him. He wasn't so sure about the others and it sort of pissed him off that he couldn't find any use for Hinata except to take his anger out on her but then there was Kisame and Itachi who would do freaky stuff to him if she came crying to them.

Hidan was so deep in thought that he hadn't notice Hinata standing right in front of him until she lightly poked him on the chest. "What?" He lazily looked down at her, noticing that she was doing that stupid pushing her fingers together again. "I-I'm sorry, H-Hidan-kun-"

"Hidan." He fuckin hated whenever she called him that. It was stupid and unnecessary, just like her consistent worthless apologies.

"I-I mean H-Hidan b-but I n-need to g-get something from the cabinet please…"

He sighed and moved away slowly, taking a step aside. He wasn't going to completely move away from his spot, he didn't feel like moving around much at the moment. His amethyst eyes were glued onto her again as she opened the top cabinet and reached for a can at the very top. Hinata stood on the very tip of her toes and stretched her arm out as far as she could but she couldn't get a hold of the can without pushing it back farther. She was starting to become embarrass and her face grew warm when a hand much bigger than hers pushed her hand away and grabbed the can.

"Dammit, you're gonna get fuckin breakfast burnt. If you need help, just fuckin say it, you dumb woman." Hidan closed the cabinet and handed her the can, sensing that she had became a little depressed. She softly apologized and he wanted to strangle her. Well, he actually wanted to strangle her father but he wasn't around for him to do so. "Woman, quit saying that you're sorry because you don't even fuckin mean it. If you fuckin keep saying it, no one's gonna believe that you're being fuckin sincere about it. Take me for example, I never say sorry because I don't fuckin mean it." Hinata opened her mouth and he immediately threw his hand over her lips, keeping her from saying "I'm sorry". "Just go back to your fuckin cooking before everyone wakes up."

Hinata nodded and scurried back over to the stove while Hidan reached for another bag that had a piece of paper attached to it. The paper said "Property of Tobi" but he ignored it and continued munching away as he kept watching Hinata. It was silent for a good twenty minutes but Hidan never left the kitchen since there was nothing else to do but watch Hinata cook and help her reach for the things that were too high for her to grab. He could've pointed out that she could've just used the chair to stand on but he decided to tease her in a way that Hinata could not think that it was harassment but just an accident. Whenever she reached for something, he would purposely brush his fingers against hers and then hand her the object while looking straight into her eyes if she wasn't looking away. He liked the result of doing that, she would become more nervous and jumpy like a terrified mouse.

"Ow…" Hinata was holding a finger in front of her face and Hidan immediately became attracted to the crimson liquid slowly flowing out of a cut. She brought the finger to her lips and she sucked on it but then quickly pulled her finger away, disgusted by the taste. Before she could put her cut finger under running cold water, her wrist was caught by Hidan. She looked up at him and turned bright red when he began sucking on her finger. She felt his warm wet tongue rub against her finger and the gentle tug of his sucking, making her heart flutter. "H-Hidan…kun…" He ignored her and soon pulled her finger out of his mouth to see that her finger had turned slightly red. There was a tiny bead of blood squeezing for its freedom and was about to suck on her finger again when he heard a shrill cry.

"HIDAN IS GOING TO EAT HINATA-CHAN!"

The two immediately jumped away from each other as if they just got caught in a naughty act. They stared at the orange masked man who had his gloved hands on top of his head and tried to calm the child-like man down. "N-No! T-Tobi-kun! He was j-just…" Tobi screamed again and made a run for it, screaming for Itachi and Kisame for help. However, Tobi ended up waking all the members and the Akatsuki hideout was full of chaos.

After breakfast, the Akatsuki gathered their necessary belongings and met outside. Hinata looked around, wondering if this would be the last time she would be in Konoha. Her family and friends flashed into her mind and she gently bit her lower lip, wishing that she could see them before she left because only God knew if she would ever see her loved ones again.

"Alright. Remember, we all meet at Iwagakure and do not do anything foolish," Pein said before leaving with Konan. The members began to walk away, going their own separated ways but Hinata just stood there, holding the bag that carried some clothes and her lunch. Who was she suppose to go with? Everyone seemed to be in pairs except for her and she wondered if the Leader had forgot about her or he simply just wanted her to go alone. I don't kn-know where I-Iwagakure is…

Hidan turned his head and looked over his shoulder, seeing the ex-princess just standing there. He rolled his eyes and turned to Kakuzu. "Yo. We're leaving the girl." Kakuzu let out a grunt. "Thanks for stating the obvious, Hidan…" Hidan growled and folded his arms across his chest to keep himself from punching Kakuzu. "Fucktard, ain't she a part of the group now? You'd think that Itachi or fuckin Kisame would bring her along… Shouldn't we get her?"

"Why do you care?" the taller man asked as they kept walking. "I fuckin don't but she's the one who does the cooking. Your food tastes like shit." Kakuzu's eye twitched but before he could knock Hidan's head off of his shoulders, his partner ran back to the base where Hinata was still.

He stood in front of her and frowned while she looked up at him with confusion and lost eyes. "C'mon, just don't get in the fuckin way and don't get Kakuzu fuckin angry if you want to live." Hinata nodded and quietly followed him and Kakuzu, hoping that she would reach Iwagakure safely. As the trio traveled together, Hidan and Kakuzu often argued with each other and whenever they did, Hidan would bring Hinata into the conversation. However, not wanting to feel the wrath of both of them, she replied that she either had no comments or tried to agree with both of them.

Night fall quickly fell upon them and after hearing Hidan complain about being tired all day, Kakuzu finally allowed the group to stop and set up camp. "What? Why can't we fuckin go back to the town we fuckin passed twenty minutes ago and find an inn?" Hidan asked as he dropped his belongs to the ground. Kakuzu found a rather large rock and sat on it, taking a map out of his pockets. "Because, Hidan, that would be wasting time and money. Now you and Hinata go find some fire wood." Hinata obeyed and did what she was told while Hidan stayed to argue some more, making Hinata do all the work but she didn't mind. It gave her some time alone and it gave her a smaller chance of making Kakuzu angry.

Once camp was set up, Hinata sat beside the fire and stared at it, wanting to go home where it was warm and where she felt safe. She then began to giggle, thinking of all the funny things Kiba-kun and Shino-kun would do when the three of them were together and when Neji-kun would tease her about Naruto-kun… Hinata brought her knees to her chest and she hugged her legs, feeling miserable again.

Hidan rubbed the base of his neck, irritated that Kakuzu had sliced off his head in purpose and then wouldn't sew it back on until Hidan had to admit that Kakuzu was right about some fuckin thing that Hidan couldn't even remember what it was now. He headed towards Hinata and sat down beside her, finding her more tolerable than that dickhead Kakuzu. "What's with the long face, princess?" he asked, wondering how she would react if he lit her hair on fire. Hinata shook her head and forced a smile at Hidan, which bugged him a little. "N-Nothing, Hidan-kun… Hidan," she quickly corrected herself. "I was just thinking… about m-my family and f-friends." Hidan snorted and stared into the fire until he heard a small gasp. He turned his head to see Hinata covering her eyes and her shoulders heaving up and down. "I-I'm sorry f-for crying," she whispered, thinking that he was finding her extremely annoying at the moment.

"It's fuckin fine…" he muttered. It was best to let her cry for now instead of later when some unexpected things might happen or when they're in public. He watched her, almost feeling sorry for the pathetic girl. She had been taken from the world where she was sheltered and loved by everyone and dumped into a world where it was survival of the fittest and no one really cared who she was. She wasn't criminal material, she was too polite, shy, caring, and innocent. Those were all the things that Hidan disliked but in a way, it made him feel innocent just to be around her. "H-hidan? C-Can I talk to you?" She was still crying and by the looks of it, she would not stop until she poured all of her feelings out. Damn Konan for not being here at the fuckin moment…. "Whatever… You already are but just d-don't take fuckin too long. I wanna sleep."

Hinata told him the things she once told Itachi when she was still a hostage. It was a bit of a bore for Hidan but he listened anyways. "I-Itachi-kun told me t-to g-give up on returning h-home and I-I w-want to but I just can't. N-Naruto-kun p-promised t-to find m-me and t-take me back s-so I can't help b-but wait for him." Hidan felt his gut twist into a knot when she mentioned the prince's promise. He rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the night sky. "No matter how much I fuckin hate to agree with that damn weasel, he's right… You can't go back and that blond kid can't take you back." Hinata wished she had some napkins to wipe her face but all she had were her hands and her cloak to wipe her tears away. "B-Because y-you'll k-kill N-Naruto-kun if h-he tries r-right?"

Hidan looked at her seriously with a frown. "No… It's… It's because I already killed him. Hinata… Naruto is dead, seriously." Hinata stared at him with disbelief. He was lying, Hidan was lying about Naruto being dead. Yet there was a tiny voice in her head trying to make her realize that he wasn't. He had used her name instead of calling her woman, princess, or bitch and he hadn't cursed at all. Hidan always had to swear and he never called her by her name when she was conscious before. "H-how?" she asked, her voice weak and whispery. Hidan let out a deep and heavy sigh. He always hated having to explain himself. "Remember when we were at that one fuckin village where he found ya and I beat him up? Well, yeah… When Kakuzu and I were trying to give you back to that one other guy while you were sleeping, that damn bastard told us that your prince fuckin died from the injuries that I fuckin gave him." Hinata stared at Hidan and then laid down, closing her eyes. A new grief overcame her heart and she silently cried herself to sleep, wishing that Hidan was lying.

The albino man remained sitting beside her and turned his gaze to Kakuzu who was busy counting the money he had brought. Greedy bastard… he thought before looking down at Hinata. He wondered what it was like for her at the moment and began thinking back to when he wasn't immortal, when his life and everything else mattered. He never really had these feelings of love so he couldn't imagine how it felt to lose someone you love but it really did hurt him when his village turned into a no good tourist-site so Hinata must be feeling like shit at the moment. He sighed and notice Hinata shiver a little. He wasn't sure if it was the wind or she was shivering because she was crying but either way, he stood up and removed his cloak, dumping it over her body. "You better not fuckin cry all night and you better fuckin use that cloak as a blanket because if you fuckin get sick, I'm going to be pissed, seriously. There's no way I want to get fuckin sick by you or eat diseased food." She didn't say anything which was okay because he walked to the other side of the fire and laid down, grumbling about how the rocks were scratching up his skin.

Kakuzu turned his attention to his partner and rolled his eyes. "Is food all you ever think about? And it's you who better not get sick, Hidan." His partner flipped him off and then scratched the side of his belly before bidding good night to Kakuzu.

There you go! Now that Naruto is out of Hinata's life, for now that is, Hinata might be able to move on and be happy with Hidan!

School starts tomorrow so I might not be able to update until the weekends. D= Darn school. Well, until next time! Mwha! ^o^