Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
The Price of a Secret - 7
"Release her. That is the last time I ask this."
Itachi frowned as Hiyoshi tightened his hold on Hinata. The old man had Hinata propped up against his shoulder, kunai pressed to the fragile flesh of her neck. Her head lolled to the side, and long strands of hair fell across her face. She was still caught up in her own battle, unaware of the dangers of reality. Hiyoshi dug the blade in until blood beaded at the tip. Pain squeezed her features.
Itachi's eyes were dark and narrow with disgust. He glanced at Hizashi next to him. The Hyuuga clan head gave him a slightly nod.
Hiyoshi sneered as he stared down both Itachi and Hizashi. His activated Byakugan kept track of them as well as the three ANBU hiding on the ceiling. "I'm not stupid Uchiha. I don't know how you found me in this Hyuuga hideout, but now that you have, Hinata will only live if you let me leave Konoha."
Itachi glanced at Hikaru, who was slumped on the ground behind them. He remained motionless, perhaps even apathetic.
"Well? What's your choice?" Hiyoshi asked. "Your precious Hinata-sama or clan business that you have no part of?"
"And," Itachi corrected. "I choose both, you fool."
Then his body scattered into a flock of ravens. Only when Hinata was safely in his arms did Itachi let the genjutsu unravel. A moment later, the three ANBU had Hiyoshi restrained.
"But the Byakugan can pierce all genjutsu…" Hiyoshi looked visibly shaken as the ANBU Hawk roughly pushed him to the knees.
"Most genjutsu," Itachi said. "Hinata's apprenticeship to me was not only for her benefit."
Hawk gestured and Itachi nodded for his subordinate to speak. "They've just apprehended the Cloud nin just outside the village walls," he reported. "Godaime-sama is aware of the situation and Ibiki has confirmed her orders. We are authorized to bring in the targets for questioning."
Then the Uchiha heir smiled, and it was the most terrifying thing any occupant of the room had ever witnessed. "Hiyoshi-san, the only reason I have yet to snap your neck like a twig is because I want you to be tried before the village, so that everyone will know of your shameful misdeeds. So that all the people you've let judge Hinata so harshly will understand just exactly how proud the Hyuuga and Konoha should be to have her loyalty...not that you would understand anything of that, now would you?"
He didn't expect an answer. Not when his killer intent coagulated the blood in Hiyoshi's veins and left the man a gibbering puddle of fear. Itachi spared him no further attention and turned to Hizashi.
"Thank you for trusting me on when I barged into your office, Hyuuga-sama. You as well, Hawk." They nodded. Itachi almost smiled at how their mannerisms echoed each other's.
"I also trust you can bring Hinata to the hospital while we bring these prisoners to Interrogation," Hizashi said with a faint smirk. Itachi fought the flush on his face.
"Of course. I take my duties seriously."
Hawk shook his head mockingly, sending long brown hair swaying around his shoulders. He picked up Hikaru and accompanied the others out the cavern exit. Itachi followed, squinting against the sudden wash of sunlight. The trees of the Hyuuga forest did little to filter out the sudden brightness.
"See you at the Hokage's Tower after this," Hawk said. Then he teleported away with a swirl of leaves, presumably to relegate Hikaru to Ibiki's tender care.
Itachi readjusted Hinata in his arms so she might be a little more comfortable leaning against his chest and headed in the opposite direction for the hospital. He barely cleared the Hyuuga walls when a shudder ran through Hinata's slim form.
Itachi slowed to a stop. He stood at the peak of a house, backlit against a sky of fire and ashy clouds. A strong gust of wind caught their hair and clothes, though Itachi paid little attention to his surroundings as he watched Hinata.
She opened her eyes and blinked in confusion. Pale eyes brushed over their surroundings. Then she looked back him, lavender eyes wide in the frame of her dark lashes.
"Hiyoshi had taken you hostage while you were fighting Hikaru. I am currently taking you to the hospital."
She gave no reaction but a quiet 'oh'.
A rare moment of quiet settled over the constant hum of questions and theories at the back of his mind. Those did not hold weight against the one answer that concerned to him.
Was she still Hinata?
The possibility that Hikaru could have taken over made him sick. But a small, lopsided smile curled her mouth and she reached up with one hand to cup his jaw. "Don't worry, Itachi. I won. I am still me."
And he knew it was his Hinata, whole-souled, beautiful, and blushing faintly. Because no one else outside of his closest family could have guessed his concern, his worst nightmare.
"Thank Kami," he breathed. The knot of worry in his stomach loosened. His shoulders relaxed, even though he had not even realized that they had been tense. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Hinata's, their faces so close he could feel the soft puff of her breath.
"A-ano..." she whispered, sounding endearingly embarrassed. "Don't you want to know what happened?"
He had always asked for the why and the how and all the details in between. Itachi chuckled, eyes still closed as he reveled in the feel of her soft body against his. It was a reminder he needed that she was here with him. Her very presence could render his mind still and blank. Even worse, the idea of her absence could do the same with a cruel, cold silence.
What power she had, and she likely had no clue.
"You can tell me later if you wish it so. All that matters is that you are safe," he murmured.
He felt her shift and wrap her arms around his neck for better leverage. Then, soft lips pressed against his. Itachi's eyes opened in shock, staring at her closed eyes and inky lashes. He couldn't quite gather the words nor the will to protest her poor timing, so his eyelids drifted back shut in acquiesce to the heady warmth of her hand, her mouth. The warmth of all of her.
She kissed him so sweetly every nerve in his body sparked and sang.
He gladly returned the favor.
AN: Shoutout to Aurora0914 who submitted something like 95 reviews in the course of a ridiculously small timeframe. Thank you. I'm choking and spitting quite a bit of coffee due to you.