Oh my gosh. One of the chickens here loves to stalk me. The moment we arrived, it just won't stop following me. Lol…

I know I updated earlier than expected…I found a free time and I figure I could add a chapter.(And I received a lot of reviews so…I'm motivated! See what a simple review from readers can help boost a writer up?)…besides, I don't want to make cathyscloud9's weekend sad.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. This is just a fan made fiction.

-o-o-o-

Chapter Twenty Four

Hinata's vision was staring to clear up, although she could still feel the throbbing pain around her eyes. She felt like she just emerged from something that's deep and dark. For a moment, she thought she saw Neji—hovering over her with concern.

Then the image started to fade away.

Hinata began to panic. No…she won't let her Nii-san go. She needs him to stay. Willing herself to move—which was quite a task for her limbs felt as if they were made of rocks—Hinata grabbed him by his collar and yanked him down hard.

"Gomenasai…" She sobbed, glad that she caught him before he could drift out of her sight.

Itachi lost his composure as the girl buried her tear-stained face on his chest. He was on top of her, and for a moment, he actually doesn't know what to do but be frozen on place. He could still hear her sobs, and her hands—even though it tightly holds him by the collar—were trembling.

Beside the bed, Kisame's freak of a sword was vibrating-its violet colored spikes began to shiver as it remembered its master's orders: Guard the girl.

"Gomenasai…Neji-Nii."

Itachi's cheek twitch, realizing that his body was literally pressed on her.

In a small part of her mind, Hinata wondered why Neji's scent was different. It was still masculine, but her Nii-san always smells of mint. This time, his scent was more like of sandalwood.

It felt…wrong.

Then suddenly, her mind recalled the earlier encounter with the Konohan Anbu's—making her snap back to reality with a start. Blinking her eyes in an effort to ease the blurriness, she raised her head from "Neji's" chest in order to look at his face for the second time…

And stared straight into midnight dark eyes.

"I-Itachi-san!" She let out a startled yelp and her hands involuntarily let go of the collar she was holding so tight.

-o-

"I saw you passed by my window…I-I recognized your chakra." The Haruno answered meekly, her head bowed low. "Sasuke…you're going to destroy your body if you continue with the pace your going—"

"Hn." The sharingan user smirked as he walked to his cabinet, opened a drawer, and pulled out a black high collared shirt with the Uchiha insignia on the back. "Save your scolding for Naruto…" He told her gruffly. "I'm tired and I need rest Sakura…you better take a rest too. Your medical training with Tsunade is not easy right?"

"You never rest. You keep piling yourself up with missions…violent and bloody missions." Sakura chewed the inside of her cheek. She knew she must look and sound pathetic to Sasuke right now, but if she can't talk sense into him, she knew guilt and worry would eat her slowly from the inside. He may have his eyes set on someone else—she was fine with that—but that doesn't mean she can't worry and take care of him.

They were teammates after all…besides, no matter how many times she tried to ignore it, she still loves him.

"Sasuke…she tried again. I am not the only one who's worried. Even Naruto…Kakashi-sensei…"

"Could you just shut up Sakura?" Sasuke gritted his teeth. This woman doesn't know when to stop. He knew she means well, but it just makes things harder for him. Every time he hears someone was worried about him…every time they mentioned anything about the Jutsu…every time someone talks about the Akatsuki…

They all reminded him of Hinata—and the pain of not being able to protect her from the hands of those bloody rebel nins was more than he could bear. He may act tough and impassive, but no one can understand the excruciating pain he was feeling.

No…not fucking one of them. And what makes it worse, Hinata was in this predicament because she was saving his life. She sacrificed everything to keep him alive.

He blames himself for that.

Sakura saw the pain passed on Sasuke's face. It was brief but it was there and she saw it. Taking a step towards the Uchiha, she took his chin in her hand and tilted his head upward for him to look at her green eyes. "Sasuke-kun…I know…It's painful. That's the same feeling I felt when you left…so don't say I don't understand. I—"

"Bullshit!" Sasuke swatted her hand away from his face. "Could you just stop?" He was angry now and his voice did not hide it. He was almost yelling at her. In the back of his mind, he knew that he was angrier to himself than the pink haired medic. He was the pathetic one here…not Sakura.

And it makes him angrier all the more.

Sakura was taken aback from the sudden outburst. He was not expecting Sasuke to yell at her. Eyes wide with painful surprise, she began to take little intakes of air and her shoulders began to shake as she tried her best not to cry in front of him. She stared at him, green eyes against midnight black. The Uchiha was hurting, she could see that—but so was she. He was not the only one with problems and pains. He should know better than to act like this. He should know better…

Sakura's control wavered.

"You baka!" She yelled, matching his angry look. "I don't know why the hell do I still love you...you are just a self centered bastard! Why can't you see that people care for you? We all care and worry for you! Damn it Sasuke… You're so oblivious I can't believe that you are a bloody genius!"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"

"I love you…I love you like hell…Sasuke. You hear that? I love you…I love you so much I am so pathetic!" The Haruno jabbed at him on the chest, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I tried….believe me I tried but I just can't stop being worried about you… And I hate to see you like this! We all care for you but—oohmp!"

Sasuke suddenly grabbed her by the neck and pushed her back into the wall rather gruffly. He heard her sharp intake of breath as her back hit the cold concrete. Sakura gasped in pain and surprise, but before she could recover, he pinned her with his body, took her hands in his strong grip and leaned down on her ear. "You just won't shut up...won't you Sakura?"

"Sasu—"

Then he kissed her hard.

Sakura's eyes widened in shock and a whimper came out of her lips as Sasuke ravage them harshly. He pressed her hard on the wall and she can't help but closed her eyes and cry. She should have pushed him away…or even punch him on the face to show him that he was such a jerk—she knew she was capable of doing that—she was strong after all, even stronger than him by means of physical strength…

But right now, her mind just doesn't seem to cooperate with her body. Sakura felt him bite her lower lip and she yelped in pain as she tasted the saltiness of her own blood. He felt one of his hand—the one that was not holding her wrists—slipped under her shirt.

Then Sasuke paused.

The Uchiha's crazed black eyes focused and he stared at the pink haired girl. Sakura's cheeks were wet with tears, her lips swollen and blood was trickling from her lower lip down to her chin. "Shit." He suddenly cursed as he regained his senses. What the fuck was he doing? The moment of blind furry was too intense he just lost control of himself.

Letting her hands go, he punched the wall behind her. "Shit!"

"S-Sasuke-kun…"

"Sakura…please…just leave me alone."

-o-o-o-

"Itachi-san!"

"I'm not Neji." Was the stoic reply. "You pulled the wrong person down." He studied her flushed face for a moment, wondering how could she turn herself in that shade of red—it's inhuman.

"My c-cousin." Hinata felt her cheeks burn to the highest degree as Itachi propped himself up by the elbows. With a grunt, the older Uchiha raised himself up. He could feel the heat radiating from her face and she was looking like she was on the verge of fainting again.

But before he could get himself entirely off her—the door opened.

Revealing a very surprised Deidara.

"Aha!" The blonde pointed an accusatory finger at the two people who were frozen on the bed. "I caught you two again!"

"Deidara-san!"

After looking like he just won a big prize, the blonde began to look uncomfortable. He scratched his head—looking like he was contemplating of what was the right thing to do next. "Uhm…so you want me to leave again or something?"

Hinata blushed even harder.

Itachi raised himself up, and helped the girl into a sitting position. He saw Hinata flinched a bit and her hands shot to her temples, pressing them with a groan. He knew she was still feeling the result of her hasty use of chakra. She's lucky her chakra passageways were not messed up.

"Ow…" Hinata grumbled, embarrassment forgotten when she felt the stinging pain on her eyes.

Deidara smirked as he gave the sharingan user a look—that kind of look which was usually given to those people who were caught red-handed. So Itachi likes the Hyuga girl neh? Hell…Pein and Tobi would be happy uncles for a future baby who bears the sharingan and Byakugan at the same time. "So that's what that nose-kissing was all about."

"Don't make assumptions Deidara." Itachi's voice was cold, but the warning in it was evident. "Don't wait for me to cut out that tongue."

"I'll tell Kisame. Let's see what the papa shark's got to say when he finds out." The blonde teased, loving the sight of an annoyed Uchiha. It's rare for Itachi to be caught off guard like this—and Deidara won't let this one pass.

He was going to make the most of it.

With an annoyed grunt, Itachi glanced at the Hyuga. She was still holding her head in her hands, jaw clenched and eyes shut. "I'll come back to check on you later. I want you to rest. It will help the pain in your eyes. "

"H-hai."

"Come Deidara. Let's leave the Hyuga to rest." The Uchiha said, walking out of the door. When Hinata looked up from her hands, she saw Itachi's back disappeared from the entrance of the room. He did not even bother to look at his fellow member who was busy taunting him with his teasing remarks.

Deidara followed him out too, but not before giving her a sly smile that Hinata suspects was supposed to be a teasing one. He was wiggling her eyebrows at her, and for a moment, the Hyuga was tempted to giggle. Sometimes, she just forgets that they were Akatsuki…

And treats them as normal people.

When both men left, Hinata decided to return to her lying position. Her headache was starting again and she rather take the pain while lying down.

Hinata closed her eyes in an effort to ease the pain…Never suspecting that a few hours more, and she's going to learn Uchiha Itachi's darkest secret.

Konoha's darkest secret.

-o-

(f)Hinata gasped.

"S-Sasuke-kun…" She dropped to her knees and removed his Anbu mask. She studied his face. He was groaning, and when she looked down, she saw kunai blades where embedded on his right leg—six to be exact—and they were all embedded deep.

It's their first mission together…and while the mission went well, their way back to Konoha was another matter.

They were ambushed by a bunch of Kumo nins. Sasuke managed to maim them all, but when one Kumo Shinobi aimed at Hinata using the last of his strength, Sasuke leaped to where she was and picked her up—an effort to save her from the sharp weapons.

And the blades caught him on the leg.

"I'll live." He assured her, gritting his teeth as he sat up. The blood from the wounds was starting to make a puddle on the ground and Hinata paled just by looking at it. "Are you alright?" He asked her—which was a little bit ironic since he was the one who was wounded.

"I'm unscathed…" Hinata answered. "You did not have to do that you know…" She told him softly. "I…I could have avoided it."

"I know. But I still did it."

"Why?"

"I don't want them hurting you…since I still want to see your ugly cat drawings and stuff."

"Oh…" Even though they just passed by a dangerous situation, Hinata can't help but feel both of her cheeks heat up at Sasuke's words. It was the first time that they have talked like this again—since she has been avoiding him after the kiss-in-the-alley event. Lowering her head a little, she focused her attention on the Anbu's wounds. "I have to take them out…Ano…a-are you ready? "

He scoffed at her. "Are you kidding me?"

She pulled three kunais at a time. Sasuke's jaw was set but no words came out of his mouth. Blood spurted out from the open wounds. Looking at him reassuringly, she pulled another batch off his leg and dropped them on the ground beside them.

Good thing the weapons were not dipped in poison. That would have been a different matter entirely.

"I'm going to close the wounds with my chakra…It would just stitch it up but not entirely heal it." She told him as her bloody fingers glowed blue. "I'm not good like Sakura-chan in this kinds of things...Gomenasai."

"Why are you always apologizing?" He sounded annoyed. "You're good enough for me." She felt her cheeks burn again and she heard him chuckle soflty. "I could get use to the blush thing."

The heiress looked at the Uchiha in serious wonder. Seriously, what did Sasuke saw in her? She was not as beautiful as Ino…and her skills from Sakura were far from even reaching half of the pinkette's level. She maybe the heiress of the most powerful clan in Konoha…but even inside her own clan, many doubted her ability for being a future leader and wanted her sister on her place instead.

Even the guy she likes doesn't like her enough to return her feelings back.

"Arigatou…Sasuke-kun." She murmured. "A-arigatou."

The Uchiha Anbu looked at her face—still lowered because she was still treating his wounds. The Hyuga was beautiful…

In his eyes, she was beautiful. "Hn." (f)

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter. Please review…If there are grammar corrections and other stuff that bothers you…feel free to let me know. ; )

By the way. OMG…I just saw the latest Naruto the last movie trailer and it's confirmed guys….Hinata finally got her man. I mean. The trailer is literally full of NaruHina…I'm so happy I just might die. The feels… (Oh, and I have a feeling…since Kishi loves to shock us with unexpected twists…that there's something big to be watched out for.)

Shout outs for : Tamani, Kibachow, Bluesmilez, kimmibers, CharNinja lol, 60, and Seven Deadly.

Oh…any suggestions on what fanfic I might write next? Though I'm leaning towards GaaHina or NejiHIna…I don't know. Help me out guys.

-crazygurl12