I'm having fun! Writing this story! XD Before you read, here's some snickers for reviewing *hands over snickers* Okay, now enjoy!

12:00 midnight, and Hinata was FINALLY able to break away from her two newly acquired, obsessive artist teammates. As she stumbled out of the room, she let out a tired sigh and began down the hall, but stopped right in front of Itachi's bedroom door. Was he awake? Should she check on him? Was he angry with her from earlier?

Hinata nervously stood outside the door for a minute or two, then finally knocked softly on it. "I-Itachi?" she said quietly. "Are you awake?"

There was no answer. Maybe he was shunning her...?

"Well, if you are," she said, "then I'm sorry if I made you mad earlier. I-I didn't mean to, I was just curious." She paused, feeling a little dumb since it felt like she was talking to herself. However, she kept going. "And... I don't care that you killed your clan. I know that you're a good guy, and... I r-really care about you." She began to blush. "So... please, d-don't be mad at me. I would do anything for you..." she swallowed, "because I love you."

She was quiet for what seemed like forever, as if she was waiting for Itachi to open his door and let her in. She wasn't expecting that to happen, but she had a strange feeling that he was listening. So she said more. "I've n-never felt like this about anyone," she said, mostly to herself as she remembered Naruto and Kiba. "So please forgive me." She twirled her hair, hoping that Itachi would make an appearance. But, minutes passed, and Hinata realized that she couldn't just wait there all night. "Okay, goodnight, Itachi," she said softly. Then, she turned and walked down to her room without another word.

Itachi listened to Hinata walk down the hall and her door close. He was still wide awake, in the same position he had been the whole day, staring at the ceiling. He closed his eyes momentarily. To his surprise, he found himself in a deep sleep, but it didn't last long. Soon, terrible nightmares flooded his peaceful sleep. Memories from that night. Kunai and shuriken scattered everywhere, blood pooling around everyone he slaughtered, Sasuke's helpless cries and the look of horror on his innocent face, that sick, twisted feeling he got in the pit of his stomach with every new person he killed, and their shrieks of terror as they attempted in vain to defend themselves.

Then, Itachi's eyes fled open and he found himself sitting up, nearly hyperventilating and having broke out into a cold sweat. His eyes were wide open with shock.

This was pretty much how every night was for him.

This is ridiculous, he thought. I shouldn't keep lying to her like this. I should just tell her the truth. She has a right to know. Besides, she knew that he wasn't really a killer. She had to have some idea that he wasn't telling the truth. Another thing, she wouldn't be the only one that knew. Kisame also knew the whole truth.

I'll tell her tomorrow, Itachi vowed. It was all he could do not to go and talk to her that very moment, but he knew that Hinata was probably tired after a LONG day with Sasori and Deidara.

He sweatdropped. Maybe he should've rescued her...

The next morning, Itachi walked into the kitchen after not having slept the ENTIRE night, only to see that Hinata was already up, with none other than Hidan. She was sitting at the table with a pile of blueberry pancakes in front of her, along with some maple syrup, watching Hidan talk with a glazed, tired expression on her face as if she would rather be sleeping.

"Then there was the time that I had to sacrifice a LAMB to Jashin-sama, because it had been so many months that I wasn't able to- oh, look who FINALLY decided to show up," Hidan scoffed as Itachi appeared in the kitchen. "I thought you disappeared off the face of the planet."

Itachi narrowed his eyes at Hidan. "Must you keep every new member up all night talking about your silly religion?" Itachi asked, watching Hinata's eyelids droop.

"Yeah, because no one else is interested," Hidan said, as though it were common knowledge that Itachi didn't know. "I have to tell Hinata here EVERY detail before she loses interest!"

Itachi eyed the Hyuuga. I think she's lost interest a long time ago... "I actually have to talk to Hinata about something important," Itachi said politely. "Do you mind?"

"I DO mind!" Hidan said defensively. "I have plenty of other matters I have to talk about with Hinata, here. And when will I get another chance!"

"Maybe in a few years, if you're lucky. Hinata, come here."

Looking grateful, Hinata groggily, yet energetically, jumped up from the table and stood at the Uchiha's side. She turned and smiled nicely at Hidan. "Th-thanks for the pancakes, I'll be back."

"I'm counting on it!" Hidan said, shooting a glare at Itachi, who just ignored him and lead Hinata out of the room.

"He does this to all the new members," Itachi explained, putting his arm around Hinata's shoulders. "He even kept me up for nights on end. It was really annoying."

Hinata smiled. "I guess he's very religious," she commented.

"He's overly obsessed. It's all he ever talks about. Sorry you had to deal with him keeping you up all night."

Hinata yawned. "It's okay, I was awake anyways."

The two walked in silence up the stairs and then they went into Itachi's room.

"Why don't you take a seat?" Itachi said. Hinata traveled over to the bed and sat on the edge while Itachi looked both ways down the hall, as if he were about to cross a busy street. When he saw no one, he shut the door firmly and joined Hinata on the edge of his bed.

The room was silent. Itachi just stared at the floor for what seemed like ages.

Should I ask him what he wants? Hinata thought nervously. She was starting to feel a little impatient, but she kept her mouth shut.

"First off," Itachi finally spoke, "I want to apologize. About yesterday... I lied to you."

Hinata looked skeptical. "Y-you lied?" she clarified, remembering their little conversation from yesterday.

"Yes, but then I thought about it, and I decided that you had a right to know the truth. But you have to promise me something."

Hinata nodded slowly. "Okay..." she said slowly and unsure.

"You can't tell ANYONE about this. Not one word of this conversation will leave this room."

Hinata frowned. "Why not?"

"Because no one can know," he said. "The only other one that knows the truth is Kisame, but I don't want you to say anything, even to him."

"I promise," she said.

"I'm serious, Hinata," he said, shooting a deadly serious look towards her. "No one can know about this. Ever."

"I'm serious too," she said nervously.

Itachi looked back at the wall ahead of him. "Good. Okay." Once again, it was silent as he just stared ahead. Hinata glanced over, only to see the familiar, emotionless expression on Itachi's face, with that trace of tiredness. It was as though his past was flashing regretfully in his eyes.

"I didn't want to kill my clan," he said finally. "I had to do it to prevent another ninja war from happening. ANBU told me to. It was the only way to stop the war from happening."

Hinata felt as though she had been stabbed. Was he really telling the truth! "You mean... you did it against your will?" she asked incredulously.

Itachi solemnly nodded. "Yes. I wasn't supposed to keep Sasuke alive, but when I saw him..." he trailed off momentarily. "... I just couldn't do it. And since I couldn't kill him, I had to pretend to hate him, my clan, Konoha. I had to abandon Sasuke and was ordered to leave the village. They didn't want Sasuke to know anything about it."

Hinata gaped at the older Uchiha. "Itachi..." She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She couldn't possibly imagine what that had been like, and what it was like still living with that fact.

"That's why I'm here," Itachi said, monotone. "All because I couldn't destroy my foolish little brother like I could the rest of my family."

There was a long silence. "I... I don't know what to say..." Hinata said honestly.

"You don't have to say anything," Itachi said. "I just thought that you had a right to know."

Hinata looked down. "I c-could never imagine killing my clan... Neji, Hanabi, o-or even my father..."

"Well, I wouldn't recommend it," Itachi said casually. "It won't ever leave you. Not one day will pass where you don't think about it."

Itachi soon found himself lost in his thoughts in the silent room. He hated talking about it, but what could he do? It was impossible to just forget about it, whether he said anything about it or not.

Suddenly, he felt something on his hand. He looked down to see Hinata's pale hand on top of his. She held a warm expression on her face. "That must've been hard, and I know I can never understand how it is to be forced to kill your comrades," she said. "And I'm really sorry that you had to do this. It's not what you deserve."

Itachi just stared at her. She squeezed his hand in hers. Much to his surprise, he felt himself turning red. In return, Hinata began to blush. She looked down at the ground, but didn't let go of Itachi's hand.

"I've always known that you were good. I don't know, I just... knew." She looked back at him and smiled, her eyes closing to crescents.

Itachi felt a million emotions at once. Sadness and sorrow, happiness and joy, love for Sasuke and Hinata, homesick for Konoha, and tons of other ones that he couldn't exactly tell. One thing he did know was that he wanted to squeeze Hinata and never let her go. He had never had anyone try and comfort him like this. She really was very special.

Suddenly and very unexpectedly, Itachi had embraced Hinata and was hugging her tight. It was unexpected for both of them.

"Hinata," Itachi said, very quietly yet meaningfully. "Thank you."

Hinata's eyes were now wide open, and she slowly hugged Itachi back. Then, she felt something warm and wet drop on her neck.

Neji sighed in frustration. "I told you, I've looked everywhere for any traces of Hinata!" he said, exasperated. "These Akatsuki freaks are very good at covering their tracks."

Hiashi eyed his nephew. "When I get my hands on that girl, I swear-"

"Father, please," Hanabi said, running her hand through her dark hair in exasperation. She looked older and more mature. "Just because she couldn't fight off two Akatsuki members all by herself-"

"Well, that's the point, Hanabi," Hiashi said. "There was no sign of struggling. Could they really have taken her that easily?"

Neji looked down. Should I say anything? About her and Itachi?

Hiashi seemed to notice that Neji was deep in thought. "Do you know something?" Hiashi asked suspiciously.

Neji looked up. "I know nothing," he said. I can't keep covering for her!

There was silence as Hiashi analyzed his nephew's hard expression. "I see," he said, closing his white eyes and sighing in frustration. "Well, if you happen to know anything, then it would be smart to tell," he said.

Kiba was also there in their kitchen, fuming angrily. "I'll kill them all," he said, mostly to himself. He glanced over at Neji. He looked just as expressionless as ever. Hmm... a ninja must be very good at lying. But they also must be good at knowing when someone is lying. Neji just looks like he always does. He just might know something... but if he did, then why would he be hiding it?

Kiba quickly shook the thought off. Neji wouldn't lie about such a thing. It was his COUSIN they had taken, for heaven's sake! If he knew something, he would say it... right?

"Hiashi, do you think that I helped kidnap her or something?" Neji asked, daring Hiashi to say 'yes.' "I want to find her just as much as all of you do! I want to get her away from those filthy Akatsuki freaks!"

Hiashi looked at his nephew, pleased with his answer. "Very well, Neji. Let's not give up."

Neji stood up, looking as though he had been greatly upset. "May I go?" he asked rudely.

Hiashi nodded his head once, and Neji stormed out of the room and slammed the door. "Hanabi, Kiba, you may also go."

"Thank you, Hiashi," Kiba bowed. "I'll do whatever it takes to find Hinata."

"Good. Hanabi, I want you to go and train. You will NOT let yourself get kidnapped as easily as your sister has."

"Yes, sir," Hanabi said obediently before exiting the room beside Kiba and Akamaru.

"Hey, is everything alright?" the youngest Hyuuga asked a smoldering Kiba.

"Hardly," he replied.

"We'll find her," Hanabi reassured Kiba.

Kiba looked into the determined face of Hanabi. She looked so much like Hinata. All he could do was nod once. Then she walked out the door. When Kiba got outside after her, she had already gone to train.

Hehe... Sorry about the abrupt ending... I just didn't know how to end it good, I guess. So... as always, review! And I'll upload ASAP! You guys are great! XD