Hmm... all of you that review, you are awesome. :D :D. There shall be a prize for the 200th reviewer, just saying. A scene of your choice. Well... Airyo-chan, we're back to Itachi POV again... And thank all of you, well wishers. I feel much better now :D
Mission
Itachi found Hinata wandering through the halls. She had an absent minded glaze in her eyes, which obviously explained her lack of Byakugan. That proved the fact that her mind had taken a holiday to another planet. But this wouldn't do. It wouldn't do for her to be so unguarded, because it could risk them their mission.
Ever since Itachi was young, it had been pounded into his head that failure was unacceptable. It would not do for the Uchiha heir; and he was warned, time and time again, against it. So it was no wonder that those scars still showed, even now, even though he wasn't the Uchiha heir, nor were those tormentors still alive.
And so, he tried startling her, just to warn her that for her to be off guard, was unsatisfactory. To his surprise, she jumped, and dodged his hit. Her eyes flickered to his; her eyes were blank, her body tense, but slightly blurry. This testified his deteriorating eyesight; he couldn't see as well as he used to. A cough threatened to escape, but he held it back, not wanting to show his weakness. It was bad enough that Kisame knew...
"Do not be off guard. Akatsuki is not for the weak. Tomorrow, at dawn, we leave for the mission." He informed her, desperate to get back to his room and swallow his medicine. Outwardly, however, that didn't show. But for some reason, Hinata's eyes (Byakugan and all) narrowed.
He left her standing there, at the place he more or less found her, and retreated to his room. Upon entering, he immediately broke down in a coughing fit, the blood spraying his hands. Shakily, he searched for his medicine, his eyesight blurring, as if he was about to cry. That was when he did find himself crying. Except, they weren't normal tears... no, not at all. Itachi had experienced this only once before; and he knew exactly what it was.
It was when you activate the Mangekyo... tears of blood. His hands clumsily reached for the crimson drops, smearing them off of his face. Next time, he needed to be able to get to his medicine quicker... and that was when he decided to carry it with him, at all times, consequences be damned. These tears- only he must know of them, these tears that betrayed the secrets of the Uchiha, that even he, what one might call a traitor, was forced to keep.
They would leave for the mission tomorrow. Right now... he just needed rest. And so, he fell into the bed. His eyes, although alert, closed wearily, with one hand grasping the medicine bottle, and the other clenched into a tight fist.
The next morning, Itachi awoke with the sun. His hand felt sore from clutching the medicine bottle, and his whole body hurt, a side effect of the medicine, probably. But it was time to leave for the mission, so he rose, preparing himself to go to Hinata's room, with the bathroom being his first stop. He turned on the shower, which was really a stone basin, and a stone hole that needed unplugging. He let the warm water soothe his aching body.
Half an hour later, he was on his way to Hinata's room. Like last time, he knocked, but this time, he was not surprised to find her awake. She was ready, with a backpack on her shoulders. His supplies, luckily, were at ready as well.
And so they set off, a loud silence encapturing them. They moved quickly; knowing that they needed to complete their goal. It was a good thing that the Country of Tea was not too far away... it lined the southern borders of the Country of Fire. Still, he and Hinata had a whole country to cross. Time would pass slowly, especially in this tense silence.
Normally, Itachi didn't mind the silence. In fact, he relished it. But that was before the massacre, before he found out that the too-loud silence led him into a chasm of screams, pleading cries, bloody deaths, and horror overall. In the silence, he could rerun through all of the memories of that night unhindered. And that was why he preferred some kind of background noise. That stopped his mind from running too wild.
Then again, he wasn't a fan of talking, either. Through talking, you could share your innermost secrets; the things that no one should ever know. Talking was dangerous. Sometimes you could say too much.
His thoughts wandered over to Sasuke, as they often did. Where was he? How was he doing? Has he gone to any missions? Is he hurt? Normal questions, that normal people could ask. It was such a shame, really, that he wasn't normal. That he was a ninja, and a well-renown criminal, at that.
He and Hinata didn't stop running, not until they crossed the borders of the Country of Fire. It was actually quite impressive that one so young could run all day and all night; yet, it was expected of one in Akatsuki. Itachi, himself, felt quite tense whenever he was in the Country of Fire, and relaxed when they stepped on the ground of the Country of Tea. It was then that he suggested that they found a place to spend the night, as it was evening again.
They found the nearest village, and took refuge there, in one of the stray hotels. It wasn't a hotel, really; more like a large shack, with extra rooms. Itachi paid. Pein gave them 'allowances' at the beginning of each month, that was usually used for missions. Most Akatsuki didn't use the money at all; they only terrorised the people into letting them do whatever they wanted. Hidan being a prime example. However, Itachi had more dignity than that, and refused to let himself stoop so low.
"We only have one room." the receptionist said, eyeing Itachi in a disgruntling manner. Itachi had seen in before, many times. The only way he could describe it, was hungry... but not for food. "Of course, you can always share mine..." She continued, batting her eyelashes. No matter how many times Itachi was faced with such a problem, he would never be able to get used to this: people degrading themselves in such a way.
"We'll share." Itachi said smoothly, before Hinata could disagree. He knew that neither of them were very keen on sharing a room... but anything to get away from that. 'That' was the woman who was giving a very angry look at Hinata, even as they both turned, and walked towards the room.
"Well... to be beaten by a little girl, why, I never... he must have a fetish..." Itachi cursed his good hearing, his eyebrow twitching. No, he didn't have a fetish!
Luckily, that particular incident was not brought up again.
Entering the room, Hinata headed for the floor, completely ignoring the bed. Itachi stared at her incredulously, a polite eyebrow raised. He was going to offer the bed... as it was safer on the ground, especially from attack. So, he too, headed for the floor, on the opposite side of the bed. In the end, they both ended up sleeping on the floor, on either sides of the bed, as if guarding the bed from attack. It was ridiculous, really, but neither of them took the much more comfortable bed, and settled for the hard wood floors. And he also doubted that either of them would get any sleep, either. If it was Kisame, they'd have no such problems, and Kisame would be on the bed...
It didn't matter, not really, anyway. Throughout the night, Itachi attempted to fall asleep, knowing that he was a light sleeper, and would awake at the slightest signs of intruders. It was an unsuccessful attempt, to say the least. His lungs felt constructed and heavy, and he kept his medicine in reach. He had a feeling that that would be happening often...
Then next morning, Itachi told the plan to Hinata (of course, placing an invisible wall jutsu, that made sure that eavesdropping would be impossible), although there really was no especial need to. Still, it was one of Itachi's quirks that still weren't completely wiped out. Itachi had always had a habit of playing the 'teacher'.
"He is located in the palace. When we find him, we wait." A ninja's job was ninety percent waiting, actually. "When he is by himself, I will attack and finish it quickly. All of the guards will be taken care of by you." She did have the Byakugan, after all. Hinata nodded in assent, and they exited the hotel/shack. It was a good thing that that wasn't on duty.
The capital, which held the palace, was another hour's run away from their current whereabouts. They would run through the forest, and even if they did encounter thugs, they would not be a threat. Very few things were threats for the Akatsuki.
It was a befitting day for the death of a Daimyo; the skies were clouded, and the air was misty. Everything was a depressing grey, as if it was already time to mourn. Time was frozen in an evanescent cavern of mortality. Itachi could smell it in the air.
They arrived at the capital, with its grand palaces and bustling tradespeople. To his surprise, Hinata took no time to admire the scenery (didn't girls do that?), and it was as if she had been here many times before. But it was obvious that she hadn't, with her tense body language. Then again, it wasn't as if he, himself, had ever stopped to admire something as trivial as scenery. It just wasn't important, not when his entire clan were buried six feet under. Also, it wasn't as if his clan ever lacked wealth...
They continued on their way, heading towards the palace. There was no need to put on disguises, since no one would know them, anyway. Hinata automatically activated Byakugan, and promptly told him were the Daimyo was. "He's currently having a luncheon with other nobles." She reported, her Byakugan fading away.
Itachi nodded thoughtfully. He wanted to get this over with, as soon as possible. In the folder, it had informed him that he usually went on evening walks in the garden; they would strike then. Now, they had to lie in wait, for a couple of hours. People were already starting to stare at them, as they were stood motionless on the streets. "We wait."
Yet again, a discomforting silence blanketed them. Hinata started to shuffle towards the nearest café, eager to escape the stares that they were getting. Itachi followed her lead. It was best for them to stay together, for the sake of the mission. Although Itachi would gladly get away from her.
It was then that he spotted a dango store. Dango was one of the few things that he allowed himself to indulge in.
When he was little, before Sasuke was born, every time that he was upset, his mother made him dango, and gave it to him to make him feel better. It didn't happen very often; he didn't allow it to happen very often. The Uchiha had already beaten all of the weakness out of him. But when he had seen the war happen, his mother gave him dango to get him out of his shock. By eating dango, he could bitterly look upon those distant memories and have no one know what he was thinking about.
Forgetting himself, he reached out and pulled Hinata's hand towards the dango store. The moment that he felt the contact, did he realise he made a mistake. He shouldn't have initiated contact. Not only did that make him feel... strange... but, it would seem terribly impulsive of him. He didn't pull away either, because that would show that he made a mistake. The only thing he could do is continue to drag her to the dango store. When Hinata shot him a curious look, he felt it necessary (although it wasn't, and it only made him look guiltier, he knew) to explain.
Giving her a disdainful look, he said, "I sensed someone suspicions observing us. It was required for us to move our locations." Hinata gave him a confused look, but seemed to have shrugged that comment off. The moment that they entered the small store, Itachi dropped her wrist as if it burned.
In a way, it did. He hadn't had human contact in years... so it made sense that his skin tingled the way it did. It was very sensitive from the deprived human contact. Itachi almost wanted to take back Hinata's hand, but immediately erased the thought, thinking about her willingly killing her family. Shaking away his thoughts and keeping up a nonchalant façade, he walked up to the cashier, and bought two sticks of dango.
He threw Hinata one, as he was always one to be polite. Itachi was keeping out of his way to avoid any possible contact with Hinata. They wandered around the shops until the sun started to set, creating a picturesque scene for murder. Itachi signalled that it was time to go, and Hinata nodded in agreement.
It was absurdly easy to infiltrate the palace. The guards were normal civilians, none being ninja. Even if they did catch them (which they wouldn't), it would be exasperatingly easy to kill them all. But still, no one could know that it was Akatsuki that did this, so they continued sneaking in. Hinata had her Byakugan activated, keeping a steady look out.
She also took the lead, already seeing where the Daimyo was. "He is exiting the building, heading towards the eastern sector of the garden." Itachi nodded, taking the information in.
"Opposition?"
"None."
"Excellent." Itachi praised, feeling pleased (although keeping his face blank, per usual) that there would be no unnecessary slaughtering done today. Hinata gave him a strange look, but didn't disagree with the comment. They stealthily made their way towards the Daimyo, who, they learnt, thought that safety was a laughable concept, as there were no guards stationed around the garden.
But, there was something else there. "There is a woman, accompanying him." Hinata reported, her veins bulging. Itach could have laughed at the irony the world was presenting to him. A man became susceptible to assassination because of his infidelity towards his wife. How crude, but strangely fitting.
Itachi told Hinata stop when they were a hundred metres away. She asked to questions. Itachi took out a kunai, and concentrated. Even though his eyesight was failing him, it didn't hinder his abilities. He was easily adaptable, and even without his eyesight, he would be able to retain 80% of his power.
Closing his eyes in concentration, he focused on the chakras in front of him. They were intertwined, but he could distinguish the male one from the female. In one fluid motion, he let his kunai fly, letting it sail straight to the target: the Daimyo.
In a flash, he and Hinata were running away from the wretched screams the woman was emitting. Itachi tuned them out, as he always did, and increased his speed, Hinata at his heels. They left, even before the guards had the chance to find out of the cruel murder that had just happened.
Neither of them were out of breath, but the moment they left the premises, they slowed down their pace to a steady walk, not wanting to seem suspicious. They captured no more attention than the usual; the usual being the women who always stared hungrily at Itachi. And like usual, they went on ignored.
Hinata gave Itachi a confused look as he walked towards a hotel. Really, Itachi was planning to spend a few more days here, to make sure that it was the Daimyo that they had killed, and not an imposter. It seemed easier than it should have been. When word got out, they'd be on their way. But this time, Itachi felt no need to explain this, deciding that Hinata should be able to figure it out on her own.
This time, getting a bedroom went smoothly, as that wasn't on the scene. They slept in a similar fashion as before: Itachi on one side of the bed, on the floor, while Hinata, on the other side of the bed, on the floor. The bed stayed uninhabited.
After a few days of leaving Hinata to her own devices, word got out that the Daimyo was dead, and Itachi told Hinata that they could now leave. She only nodded, her mirrored eyes focused somewhere in the distance. They quickly took off, completing their mission.
Itahi couldn't help but wonder why they were given such a mission. Then again, it was probably because Hinata was the new recruit, and they wanted to test her mental and physical strength. But how could they do that, when Itachi was here, as well? Unless they were trying to test Hinata with his presence... a laughable concept... he wasn't that scary (women could testify that), or a female...
They travelled, yet again, in silence. This time, it was not a suffocating silence, but a comforting one. Itachi didn't understand, but he knew now that he didn't mind the presence of her as much as he thought he would. Although he still had prejudice that he doubted would ever leave him, she really didn't irritate him in any way.
They got back to base with no casualties, and once Itachi was there, he left Hinata, and went on his own. He needed to report to Pein; and so he twisted his ring, transporting a holographic image of himself to Pein, wherever he might be. Sadly, though, he did this at the worst of times.
For his holographic image was left staring at a dead Pein and a stoic Konan making out on a bed, probably in Pein's room. He immediately averted his eyes, and wondered if it would be polite to cough. But wouldn't that make Pein angry...? Konan started making moaning noises. Scratch that, wasn't Pein, dead? And why weren't they noticing him, his obvious presence? Were they that enamoured with each other's lips?
Itachi really wasn't in the mood for watching this (he never was), and instead, coughed into his hands. There was an instantaneous reaction; Konan and Pein ripped apart, both of them glaring at him angrily. Itachi rolled his eyes, and glared back. "You really can't do anything to me. Technically, it is I who posses the black mail." He explained truthfully, not caring about the angry flush in Konan's cheeks, or Pein's stony expression. And anyway, they really couldn't defeat him in battle... not that he would tell them that.
"Anyway, what I have just had the pleasure of discovering aside, I came to report the mission..."
First time for me to end it at a sentence. I'm sorry it took so long for me to write this. :(. I have a hard time writing ItaHina, you know, since I've never been in love. I hope you were satisfied with this chapter. There was a few more things I wanted to say, but now I can't remember them. Wait. Now I do. I have published a SIDE STORY: OBSESSIONS that is Sasuke pov.
Review, Review, Revieeew,
Aurora-chan!