We're back to Itachi pov again! Its not that I dont like him... its just that his chapters take so long to write. I feel like I can never really grasp Itachi's personality. At any rate, thank you Darth-Taisha (my Beta), and please enjoy!

A Scroll

His fingers quickly made a seal, undoing the curse that lay upon the scroll in his hands. There was a small 'poof' sound, signifying that it was safe to begin analysing the document. And yet, he couldn't help his eyes wandering towards the other scroll that was held in his partner's unsteady hands.

Itachi stared as Hinata activated her Byakugan, her veins sitting on top of her pale skin; somehow making her seem distant and unapproachable. Inwardly, he was feeling uneasy. Why? He couldn't sense any strange presences nearby, as they were away from civilization; he should have felt relatively safe here, with Hinata. But... he didn't.

Mirrored eyes widened to an unbelievable extent, a second before Itachi had his hands shamelessly wrapped around her, as if to steady her. He didn't quite understand. What had happened? One minute, she was reading the scroll, and the next... and then he thought about the actual name of the scroll, and its content.

The Alliance Between Hyuuga and Iwa. Itachi's eyes flickered red, his Sharingan searching through the document to see if there were any traps. Surprisingly there were none; this indicated that this scroll was not of great importance. That could only mean two things: one, that Iwa had wanted someone to find it... or two, that it was old and didn't have any relevance.

There was only one way to find out.

He ripped the seal with one hand while holding the nearly paralyzed Hinata in the other. Her Byakugan had deactivated, showcasing her vulnerable state. Itachi felt a strange feeling creep up within him; it was promptly ignored. Instead, he focused on the material at hand. "Do you want me to read it aloud for you?" He wasn't sure what had caused him to ask... he just knew that he would do anything to help ease her slight shaking that he was beginning to feel.

Hinata nodded, before closing her eyes and leaning back into his embrace. Itachi was momentarily caught off guard; the feel of her in his arms was almost too much to bear. However, he ignored the feeling, his eyes focusing on the text. "I was right... this dates back around sixty five years ago." Itachi murmured quietly to himself, his eyes continuing to scan the page. Its edges were a dull yellow; another indicator of its age. Hinata nodded in wary agreement, and silently beseeched him to continue.

"Hmm... Hitomi Hyuuga... Branch member of the Hyuuga clan has requested an alliance with us in order to thwart Konoha." Hinata stayed silent, but he could feel her body slowly starting to burn. Maybe she was accumulating a fever. She did seem rather ill.

"Yes... but Branch members had the Caged Bird Seal," Hinata muttered dizzily into his ear. Itachi ignored his out-of-place shiver. Maybe he was also getting a cold? How strange, since he never remembered having such a weak immune system. The lung disease was due to the Sharingan blood line limit, not his own physical strength, to be fair.

"What exactly is the Caged Bird Seal?" Itachi couldn't help but asking, his eyebrows furrowed. The ANBU database (all data they had being classified, and kept under lock and key) really lacked any information on the Hyuuga. Again, Itachi couldn't help but think it queer. Tiredly, Hinata sighed against his shoulder. The hairs at the back of his neck unwillingly stood up as her cool breath ghosted over his earlobe.

"The Seal was used as a way for the Main House to control the Branch House. This Seal protects the Byakugan: after a Hyuuga with a Seal dies, the Seal automatically seals away our special eye technique. But not only that." Her head had now dropped against his shoulder, and started burrowing into his neck. It was almost a subconscious movement, Itachi noticed; all that happened had emotionally exhausted her until her body was moving on auto-pilot. He supported her until she was basically spread out on his lap. Itachi had to repeatedly remind himself that she was Sasuke's age, and only fourteen years old.

"Yes?" Urging her, wanting to know, to understand. To understand her troubles, all her turmoil, and hopefully help. Somehow, as only he could.

"All Main House members are taught how to control Branch House; with only one hand sign, the Seal can activate and start destroying the cells in the brain. The pain is unbearable, and stops the Branch House member in their tracks. They're like birds in a cage... hence the name." While Itachi could not see her face, he could almost feel the small, bitter smile against his neck. Hesitantly, he soothingly started stroking her silky indigo haired locks; it felt like liquid against his hands.

So he somewhat understood now. How could a mere branch member form such a powerful alliance? The consequences were too grave to take such a chance... unless... "Hinata, when was the Caged Bird Seal created?" His voice was serious, dragging Hinata out of her dreary thoughts.

"I remember reading in one of the archives... it had never really made a lasting impression... but the Caged Bird Seal was created around the time that my grandfather was born." Hinata mumbled, lifting herself up off his arms, her eyes alight with understanding. "These two things are somehow connected." Was her conclusion. Itachi agreed.

Hinata's face now was mere centimetres away from his. Itachi's eyes sought her, which were cloudy. As her face came nearer, her eyes started closing, and a strange anticipation arose within him. What were they doing? Vaguely, he couldn't help but wonder. It was then Hinata let her forehead drop against his, their breaths mingling.

Itachi got the shock of his life. Her forehead was positively burning... and not in a good way. With one trembling hand, he reached to feel Hinata's temple. His other hand smoothed her silky hair back, and she had long since fallen limp against him.

Since his element was fire, he had an uncanny ability to be able to feel the temperatures of... things. And Hinata had a temperature of at least forty degrees centigrade. Itachi couldn't help but feel worry. Hinata... she had no right to die. No right to leave him alone. Not after she accepted him for who he was, not after she had healed his treacherous being. Not after he admitted to being in love with her (if only to himself).

Summoning one of his more intelligent ravens, he handed it both the scrolls for safekeeping. The raven cawed in greeting, and mutely took the scrolls under its wing. Reassured that the scrolls would be safest with his summoning animal, he dismissed it casually. It disappeared exactly as it had appeared: in grey timbers of smoke.

Itachi picked her up in his hands, carrying her as if she was a newlywed bride. Her shimmering hair was hanging from the side of his arm (it was shoulder length), and her head was nestled comfortably into his chest. She had started shivering uncontrollably, so he hugged her closer to absorb his body warmth.

Itachi needed to find shelter. Glancing around, he observed the rocky landscape. There was bound to be a furrow or cave of some sort around. With his sharp eyesight, he was able to spot a crevice in the earth a far way from their current position. Two seconds later, he was running at the speed of light towards it, Hinata still in his arms.

It was only a small whole in the ground, but it would have to do. It was the only shelter that Itachi could find, and there wasn't any time to search for anything else. Entering it, he laid Hinata gently on the ground. It wasn't the ideal idea, however, as she clung to him and his warmth. Closing his eyes in frustration, Itachi reopened them and created a fire.

The dancing red flames heated the room, and made Hinata slightly relax. Still, her grip on him stayed firm. While Itachi was no medic (evidently, as he was unable to heal himself when he still had the lung disease), he knew the basics, along with the fundamental herbs that would help in such cases. Or could've, at any rate.

In this dry and rocky area, there were no plants (known to him) that could help ease her fever, and besides; she wouldn't have let him go, and he couldn't allow himself to leave her alone, be it for a couple of minutes. Discreetly, he sent a couple of clones to search, although he knew it would be unproductive.

The only way he could help her was through absorbing her ailment. A necessary evil. Grimacing, and trying not to feel like a pedophile, he stripped her of her cloak. Averting his eyes away from her body, he slid off her shirt, and then her trousers. Hinata's trembling increased, and he fruitlessly tried not to feel guilty. It was for the best, Itachi reminded himself, eyes on the ceiling, as he started taking off his own garments.

Itachi felt a chilly breeze cool his body, even with the blazing fire only steps away. With an objective in mind, he sat down placing Hinata onto his lap, and covered them with a cloak in order to keep away the cold. Hinata's skin felt heated against his, and he felt a strange burning sensation at the tips of his ears as her naked body burrowed deeper into his. It was a good thing she wore bandages... Itachi silently swallowed.

It was the first time ever where someone has been so close to him since he was a toddler. It was the first time he had allowed someone to be so close to him. It was the first time he had trusted someone enough to be able to share a blanket with them, without fearing that they would - for some reason or another - stab him in the back and kill him. Not that he was afraid of death; but it had to be Sasuke who killed him, in order for him to compensate for his mistakes (never mind the fact that he was ready to die by Hinata's hand). The very first time.

He relished the human contact, even though he knew he was supposed to be on guard against any enemy ninja that might be approaching. Not knowing how he had forgotten, he then quickly and mentally set up a genjutsu that would keep their crevice invisible to onlookers. Had Hinata's illness shaken him up that badly for him to neglect such an imperative thing? Apparently so.

The hours slipped without his notice, or his permission, even though he stayed awake. It was early in the morning - dawn - by the time Hinata had woken up. Her body temperature had returned to normal, and she was sweaty; proof that her fever had undeniably broken. Itachi held back a sigh of pleased relief.

Her eyes blinked open, and her cute yawn was hidden by her hand; it was the first time he had seen her so unguarded. Alas, that was when her body tensed, as if she had just now noticed their situation. Unwrapping herself from the cloak, she got on her hands and knees, towering above him, an austere expression on her normally blank face. Her palms were leaning against his bare, muscled chest; Itachi suppressed a groan. His skin, never being touched, was hypersensitive. Bad thoughts, he sternly told himself, his eyes pointedly focused on Hinata's face, and not anything else.

"Explain." Even though she had whispered the word, he could feel the bite of her voice. Itachi raised an eyebrow at her, expertly hiding the slight (and very irrational) hurt he felt at her lack of trust. He trusted her more than anyone or anything in the world... couldn't she, at the very least, return the favour?

"I didn't do anything indecent to you, if that is what you meant," Itachi said dryly, his eyes still focused on her face, and not anything else. That was when her expression softened, and she raised one of her hands away from his chest to cup his cheek.

"Don't misunderstand. What happened to me? How did we get here? Of course I don't think you did anything indecent to me, Itachi. You aren't capable of that." He felt insurmountable happiness at hearing how she trusted him, but then felt a pang of anger at his own reaction. Were the years he had spent hiding his emotions all for nothing?

He flipped them over, his figure looming threateningly above her. Itachi felt confused at his own conflicted feelings... but that was when another thought prevailed over his mind. If she trusted him so easily, would she trust others? Other males? No, he had to show her... that she couldn't trust any male, even himself.

Itachi had her hands held back over her head, and his face was menacingly close to hers. "I am capable of many things, Hinata. I am male."

Then Hinata snorted, surprising him out of his informational speech. Her fingers pulled against his hair, as she yet again flipped them over with herself on top. "Yes, and I am female. Itachi, during the year I have been with you, I have learned and acknowledged you avoid women as much as possible. And besides... after I dealt with the betrayal with my family, it's become unbearably difficult to earn my trust. And still, you managed to do so. Now, can you answer my questions?"

Now they were back to their original positions. "You had a very high fever, and passed out." Itachi answered truthfully, his fists clenching as he recalled how utterly helpless he was against her sickness. "I brought you here for shelter, and absorbed your fever. That is why our current state of dress is... rather questionable."

"Thank you." Hinata's face was solemn, and not at all accusing. Itachi, again, was overwhelmed with alleviation. That feeling was becoming a common occurrence, he mused. "What happened to the scrolls?" She looked calm. Yet again, Itachi was astounded by her trust in him.

"They're safe." He didn't bother to provide a more detailed explanation. Instead, he deviated from the subject. "While you may be comfortable with your nudity, I am not. I garner we should get dressed?" His voice was light, and slightly teasing. Itachi could hardly believe how nonchalant he acted about the whole situation.

He saw the tips of her ears turn crimson, and an almost-smile slipped by. It was hardly believable that she had only now noticed their apparel... but it was also so very Hinata. She jumped off him, and swiftly walked over to her neat piles of clothes (that Itachi dropped) quickly slipping them on. Itachi followed in her example, and in a couple of seconds, they were both fully clothed.

The atmosphere had turned somewhat awkward, especially as both of them reflected the recent events. Finally, Hinata decided to interrupt the tense silence. "Maybe we could read the rest of the scrolls now? Both of them." Itachi murmured an agreement, instantly moving to summon the raven that he had bestowed with the duty of guarding the precarious documents.

In no time at all, he held both scrolls in his firm grip. "I already know what's written in the scroll," she paused. While Hinata had not verified exactly the scroll which she was talking about, Itachi simply knew. "At least parts of it. But I would still prefer for you to read some parts of it, outloud."

Concurring with her wishes, Itachi dexterously opened the scroll, and began to read from where he had left off. "We have consented. That is when we were told that the Main House members had yet to agree with this improbable alliance." Hinata's face paled further, as her mind started formulating various theories. Just as she was about to intervene, Itachi continued reading in his smooth and velvety voice.

"Hitomi Hyuuga has travelled to ensure the deal has been made, and signed the lease." Underneath this text, Itachi hazily noted, was a document with a neat and fluid signature, distinctly Hyuuga. H. H., the characters that Hinata had told him about. Skimming through the writing, Itachi read aloud the next important fact. "The attack on Konoha has been scheduled for September 13th"

Towards the end of the scroll, there was a single, conclusive line. "This treaty has collapsed. Attack against Konoha unsuccessful. Konoha has agreed to never speak of this particular event again."

A heavy silence reined in the small, underground crevice. Itachi rolled up the scroll, his eyes finding Hinata's murky ones, glad that she was healthy this time around. "The format was in bullet-proof points, just stating what had happened. Like a book or archive. A regular account of the things that happened at the time." Hinata nodded, her gaze thoughtful, her mind a million miles away.

"The Seal and this alliance are definitely interconnected." Her voice was soft, and it almost seemed vulnerable. Listlessly, she turned her head to face him.

"There's only one way to find out." Itachi stated his voice clear. His head was beginning to acquire a migraine, and he wasn't particularly sure why. Maybe the general stress of the past two days? It certainly was not due to his non-existent illness. "We must go to Konoha."

"But before that, we must complete our mission first," Hinata said, agreeing with the words that he had left unsaid. She gestured to the other scroll in his hands, and turned her disinterested gaze elsewhere as he began to analyse the information written.

"There's no need to read aloud. I'm sure you will be able to extract the data needed for us to complete our mission swiftly and efficiently." Itachi refrained from saying that he wasn't about to do so, instead focusing on the script in his hands. Roshi... became the vessel of Son Gokuu (Four Tails) at the age of seven... he skipped over the unneeded information, zeroing on his location... in fear of having the Four Tails captured, Son Gokuu has been moved towards the South-Eastern outskirts of the Country of Earth. Itachi ignored all the other information regarding the other Jinchuuriki, deciding that he would give this valuable scroll to Pein (maybe).

Feeling slightly dizzy, Itachi summoned the raven, and stored the scrolls. "We have a destination." His voice caused Hinata to turn and look at him peculiarly. Itachi raised a quizzical eyebrow, but ignored her strange views. "Let's go."

He was about to step out of the underground cave, but Hinata had appeared in front of him, stopping him. "I knew it," she exclaimed, shaking her head. "You're not going anywhere today, Itachi."

Itachi repressed himself from rolling his eyes, but couldn't halt himself from asking, "Why?" Pausing, he noticed that his voice sounded a bit slurred, but he easily dismissed the notion.

"By absorbing my fever, Itachi, you have ineluctably gained a fever of your own." She placed a hand on his forehead, feeling his temple. Itachi tried swatting her hand away, but couldn't deny that her cool skin felt... nice. How did he not notice his own rising temperature? No matter.

"I'm fine." Itachi insisted, but did not attempt to move her hand away. "Besides, if it puts you at ease, you could always heal my fever." It was a logical conclusion.

Hinata seemed slightly apologetic. "My chakra levels are low." Of course. Itachi vacantly wondered how he could forget the fever she had earlier this morning. "You shall rest today, Itachi."

Looking at her persistent stance, Itachi felt that arguing was futile. "Do I have a choice?" Came his resigned tone.

"No."

Usually, she was much more compliant. When it came to matters such as his own health, however, it became obvious that changing her mind was irrevocably impossible. Besides, resting did sound rather becoming; to think that so much chaos and drama could be caused from a scroll.

Eh. That last sentence so Does Not fit with the paragraph... but... eh. The 300th Review Shall Get a Reward! Honestly! It's either a spoiler, or I can incorporate some kind of scene of their choice. At any rate. Chapter was pretty fluffy, by my standards, lol.

Thank you for reading, Please, Please Review (they garner faster updates),

Aurora-chan!