Five hours had already passed.
Kiba Inuzuka's canine companion Akamaru had tracked down the Hyuga heiress's scent, then found the discreetly covered sewer drain that it led to, that must have been how they managed to 'vanish' along with all that money. There must have been at least five people working together. Four after Sasori was taken out, who knew what the accurate number was.
Itachi's team was still scouring the sewers but the perps had a good one hour start by the time they found the escape route. Never before did he feel that his team lacked the skills while working a case, they were always efficient and got the job done. But now he was thinking that maybe they just were not competent enough. He felt rushed to find her, he had to get to her, he felt it in his very being, every fiber in his body screamed at him to get that girl.
All he could picture were her pale lilac eyes so focused on him.
Only a few people were still on scene, Sasuke was talking with Hiashi Hyuga's nephew and the chauffeur. Apparently, the two of them were ultimately responsible for the well-being of the heiresses and their security. The nephew Neji was responsible for Hinata's safety more so than anyone else. Sasuke shared with him that the boy seemed intelligent enough to actually provide some assistance.
According to Neji, who had been in contact with his uncle, no phone call had come through yet. So what were they waiting for?
The academy students were let go once the area was cleared and considered safe. The younger heiress; Hanabi, was at home with her father, Sakura reported that she didn't know anything. Just that she was upset at hearing the news about her sister. Hell, she was probably in the safest place right now being at home. Or the most dangerous, if someone was working on the inside. He'd seen far too many corrupt families to believe anyone at face value. Besides, you can't spell families without the word lies.
Sasuke and the young Hyuga male approached him, "We're going to the Hyuga estate to look through Hinata's desktop computer, then Hiashi's. I'll take it to Nara and see what he can find."
"Just let Nara take over control remotely; call him when you get there." Anything to save time.
Five hours had passed since that last bomb. Who knows what they have done to her, at this point he could care less about the money from the bank as it compared little to the life of the Hyuga girl.
-halo-
She was humiliated, she felt utterly defiled and tainted. Sick to her stomach, but she would not give in. She would stay strong, she had to. They were coming for her, she just knew it. That man with the stoic face, he was going to save her from all of this.
As she stood there naked, Tobi slowly dried her off from the sponge bath he had just given her. She was so cold, her body was shivering, and he just kept rubbing the towel and his hands all over, lingering over her breasts and neck. His voice kept differing from serious to the happy childish lilt. Back and forth, his personality kept changing, as he constantly doted on her and complimented her body. It was sickening.
"Tobi loves you! Tobi thinks pretty girl is so beautiful!" he hugged her tightly around the waist, sighing deeply.
Her jaw trembled and her eyes remained closed. She kept her eyes shut to block out what she could. When they were closed, she found herself looking into black eyes. Her every thought stayed with those dark endless orbs as this insane man moved his hands over her flesh.
The man pulled back from his hug on her, his masked face again so close to her own, her eyes remained closed but she could feel it, she could feel him.
Tobi went back to the serious side, "Hmm, I wonder how those full lips taste."
Then she felt the cold hard ceramic of his mask pressing against her mouth. She was still standing and it took nearly everything she could do not to faint or throw up. His still gloved hands held her at bay by holding onto her shoulders.
So cold, it was so cold.
Thoughts of deep lines on an aristocratic face and intelligent onyx eyes, slightly tanned skin, a thin mouth and narrow nose, a face that held the epitome of strength and will immediately invaded her mind. So long had she pictured the image of this strange man she began to fantasize about him, picturing his face against the gorgeous sunrise she remembered from this morning, she could see the gentle breeze flowing through long dark hair in her mind's eye.
A part of her wondered at the sudden fascination and focus on him, she figured it was because it was the last thing she remembered, he was the last one she saw before waking up in this foul-smelling place. She tried thinking of her sister, hoping the thought of keeping her safe and protected would lend her strength.
But she felt so fragile, she feared that she would slip up and they would go after Hanabi instead.
She tried to think of her cousin, the boy she grew up with as her own sibling, Neji. His very presence demanded order most of the time; she wanted to be like him, to have his natural intelligence and talents.
The only solace and peace she found, the only thing she could think of to block out the things that were happening, was to focus solely on a man she had never seen before today.
Tobi lifted his masked face away from her lips and breathed out contentedly, "Pretty girl smells so good, Tobi is a good boy! But he has to go now…" his voice turned into the terrifying calm tone as he slapped her face hard, "…open your eyes."
Shaking uncontrollably, she obeyed him immediately, her teeth ground together in her wide-eyed look of absolute terror. Red, there was only red!
He leaned in closer to her face, "Look at me when I talk to you," then back again to the childish voice, "Tobi loves you, do you love Tobi too?"
Tears sprang from her eyes, not only from the pain of his hit, but the fact that if she said no, he would probably strike her again if not worse.
"Why don't you answer Tobi, pretty girl? Tobi loves you and is taking care of you, don't you love Tobi?"
"T-T-Tobi-Tobi," she whispered out, her voice sounding strange and foreign to her, "is a g-good boy."
"Tobi loves the way you say his name pretty girl! Say it again, please, please please!" he said clapping and jumping up and down.
"To-Tobi."
"Again, again, again!"
"Tobi," her voice trembled as more tears leaked down to drip from her chin. The word burned on her tongue as she spoke it. It felt bitter in her mouth and in her mind. Black eyes. Focus on black eyes. He will come!
-halo-
Itachi was mildly surprised to find the young Hyuga heiress waiting for him at the station. The girl stomped her foot and demanded to know where they were in finding her sister. Then she broke down crying and asked for a mocha frappacino and the softest tissue available. This was all before she dramatically opened the door with his name on it and sat down in his chair.
Heiresses.
"You are Hanabi, I presume," Itachi said, walking over to her, making sure to leave his door open and practiced patience while waiting for her to get out of his seat.
She pouted and then moved out of his way to sit in one of the two chairs opposite him, where she belonged. "You presume correctly, Captain Uchiha. Where's my frap?" she asked while crossing her legs after propping her feet up on the other chair.
He mentally sighed before speaking calmly, "Your beverage is at a local café, say what you want and you can go retrieve it." He had reports to analyze; there was no time to waste on spoiled little brats.
"Well aren't we just sunshine and roses." she smiled sarcastically, before her entire face changed to show him that she was still just a teenage girl who wanted her sister. Her lips trembled just the slightest before she spoke again, "Here is a recent picture, I took it over the weekend," she started sobbing again, "I don't know if it will help but…but I wanted to do something."
Itachi watched the young girl as she stood, her grip firmly holding onto the picture before she handed it to him. He took his time to study the missing heiress. Flawless pale skin and a button nose, cheeks that carried a natural blush. Her hair was long, straight and so black that it seemed to shine glints of blue. Thin, delicate eyebrows shaped large happy pale lilac eyes. Those eyes that seemed to haunt him now were staring at him once again, The older heiress was hugging herself, but smiling fondly at the person snapping the picture, he knew that…but if felt like she was there smiling at him.
He avoided the urge to swallow as he laid the picture gently across his desk.
With teary pale eyes, the girl spoke up again, "My sister never does anything wrong, she's perfect." She wiped a few tears away, "She is, she's nice to everyone she meets. She's really shy, but she has the biggest heart I've ever seen. She…I just…I don't know what I would do without her. She's my angel."
Itachi sat back in his seat just the slightest. All the while thinking, 'Hinata Hyuga, where are you?'