12. over her dead body

Was it morning? Was it night? How much time went by? Darkness was everywhere, surrounding and oppressing. It brought to the eerie silence an atmosphere of emptiness… void.

It was almost like she was already dead. No light, no sound, no air or scent, and with her dry tongue glued to her palate the only thing her body perceived was the hard cold floor pressed against her right side.

Delirium flashed dark ideas through her head, detached her mind from reality and carried her far away. Her body was lighter and lighter. She was okay now. She was far away and nothing could touch her.

That feeling of nothingness brought her back to old days of her teenage years.

A door creaked open but it felt so distant. A halo of light entered the room. The intrusion troubled her state of calmness. As she realized she had been staring at a wall ten inches away from her face, a rough hand pulled her up. She didn't fight it.

Hinata closed her eyes in attempt to go back to where her soul had been for the past hours. How her feet supported her body was beyond her as it felt disconnected, but maybe it was due to the hand supporting a bit of her weight. Finally her bottom landed on what seemed to be a couch. Immediately she brought her legs to her body and curled up, her face down and eyes closed.

Her situation abruptly disrupted her peace of mind, falling on her like a bucket of ice water. Why she was there, how it happened and who came to take her.

He's going to kill you

Don't stay here

He's going to torture you

She couldn't look up even if her life depended on it. What cause would it serve anyway? He hated her more than anything, probably more than Madara of all people. What would there be in his eyes besides hatred and murderous intent.

She just couldn't.

A sudden ringtone frightened her. It was without a doubt a phone -his phone. Why was he receiving phone calls?

Her mind fogged again and dizziness crawled around. When the sound of him getting up reached her ears, buds of sweats started covering her skin while her heart raced madly against its coffin.

"Come today." He said calmly, yet his tone added more to her growing terror "Around eight." She could hear the other person's voice being loud and noisy even if inaudible. "I got her."

Tingles crawled in her fingers. She squeezed them together as hard as possible. The tingling continued, washing over her fingers without a care. Her end would come soon enough. Sasuke's words came back. It could only have been Naruto on the phone. Obito had shot him too. Just like Sasuke, Naruto obviously wanted his revenge and had craved for it over the course of one year. He must have cumulated his hatred second after second, day after day like his friend…

Those two would be reunited with just her in a room far away from the world.

Sweat dropped faster. The impediment doom of death was over her head, through her chest and into her lungs. Breathing was so hard it felt like death was already taking her away. She was losing control. Hinata dug her fingers so hard into her palms, trying so hard to catch her breath but no to avail. Soon all her body was trembling with each breath she took.

Her dirty jeans-claded thighs were the last thing her eyes caught…

xxx

"There you are!"

Her eyes brusquely opened before her body connected to her mind. There was a wooden coffee table with nothing but a black ashtray. Her mind tried to make sense out of those common objects but didn't have time. Boot-cladded legs entered her vision. She was pulled roughly by her collar.

"You fucking monster!"

Sakura was before her eyes.

"After all you did to us you are finally here. You whore !Murderer! You killed our child! "

Sakura's hand landed on Hinata's cheek in a hard slap with a piercing flesh to flesh sound. Still shocked, Hinata didn't cover her face or tried to sooth her landing. Her body glided on the floor opposed to the couch.

How many are they? Hinata wondered once her body reconnected with her brain. She didn't attempt to sit down or do anything. Maybe if Sakura got it done it would be quicker than with the other two… if they were only two. Begging wasn't an option, he proved it earlier…

And she was tired of begging and crying for that matter.

"I'm gonna kill you!"

Sakura sat over her and hit her this time. As her fist went up for another hit, Hinata felt Sakura's weight shift. She stayed on her back, wishing for death to come faster, despite her nerves threatening to loosen up any time soon.

She wasn't strong. Hinata wanted to cry and beg for it.

"What are you doing?"

"Let me go! Let me go!"

"You'll only make things worse! Obito-"

"You think I'm afraid of Obito?"

"You should be."

"Why does it matter? She's gonna die anyway without him ever seeing her again. Did you forget what Sasuke said?"

"Sakura!"

"Let me go! I'm gonna kill that monster!"

"Sakura, stop it."

Hinata recognized his voice but didn't move. Her eyes were opened on the wooden celling where a white fan dangled. It was swirling and swirling, letting her get lost into the everlasting spiraling. The warm and thick liquid escaping the broken skin of her lips was barely there.

Again her illusion was broken. Someone took her off the floor. Again she closed her eyes. She was back into the darkness; the place she hated the most; the place that frightened her the most… where she would be anytime soon from then.

She was seated.

Well, in those last hours of her life she wanted to see their faces, all the faces of those that wanted her dead no matter the risks, that including prison or Obito.

Hinata didn't expect so much.

Seated around a table in the kitchen was Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke right at her opposite end. The surprise there was Kakashi and Itachi. They were related to Sasuke as his adoptive father and lately found brother respectively, but something was off.

All her enemies, all those ones that wanted her dead or in deep sufferance were reunited there, with looks ranging from coldness to heated anger. They all wanted a piece of her. They should certainly not go hungry.

Her surprise died away as she got imprisoned into Sasuke's cold and immobile dark eyes.

Sasuke leaned a bit forward and pushed something toward her. Yet she didn't look away. Her words were caught in her throat.

"We're here just for one thing: your cooperation. If you give us that, we'll let you be." Someone amongst them said but Hinata couldn't look away.

Silence dwelled in the small room. The more she looked, the more she saw hatred. He didn't frown or anything. He didn't have a real aggressive body language. To anyone he'd look normal, a bit too focused or stiff, but harmless. However, she recognized that look, those cold eyes, and that stiff body. Whenever she would catch a glimpse of herself in the mirror before or after dealing with Madara, she'd have the same look.

Now she had her answer.

She had his answer.

Yet that aching longing rampaged inside her mind and soul. It was a storm she couldn't halt.

When something shifted into her periphery, she turned toward her left. Her gratitude toward the diversion was short lived. Itachi was there, with the object that was once in front of her on the table. His long fingers held a small old-fashioned phone. It was black.

"Obito is still a problem to all of us here," Itachi said, his tone as smooth as it was firm "and your help will help you stay alive."

He had the same gaze as his little brother, the kind that kept you from looking away, sucking you into. Itachi looked a lot like Sasuke, except he looked like a businessman instead of someone wanting to shed her blood.

As he stared, she stared back.

"What do you want?" She asked in a dry, broken voice.

"You call him. We'll take care of the rest."

"So, you want me to set a trap… for Obito?"

Flashbacks of Obito swarmed. Obito being there when Madara was torturing her; Obito helping her getting rid of Madara; Obito committed to looking after her interests after Madara; Obito bringing a doctor for her… Obito refusing to take all of the money for himself no matter how much she tried to convince him otherwise. If she had to betray someone, it wouldn't be him.

"You want me to betray Obito."

"We want you to help keep every person in this room alive, including you."

"So, I help you kill Obito, and then you kill me later."

"You're an intelligent woman. I don't need to repeat myself."

"It's not only about yourself but every person in this room. At least two people here promised to kill me."

The memory struck her whole body. The realization that there was a way out was slowly dawning on her.

"They certainly know where their best interests lie."

"I'm not betraying Obito."

"You've actually got some notion about betrayal."

She turned to look at Sasuke. He was being sarcastic yet that expression that spiced up sarcasm lacked on his empty face. Sure his face was motionless but that quick muscle in his jaw and crisped fingers gave him away.

Hinata blinked.

"You might as well kill me. I'm not doing this to Obito."

"I can't take it! I'm out of here!" Sakura got up so quickly, her seat fell with the movement. "I'm going to the living room."

"If that's why you're keeping me alive you're wrong." Hinata added. "He's the last person I'll ever betray."

"What? He gives you more money than Madara did?"

Sasuke's words pierced her chest fiercely.

"After everything you did, you think that someone should beg you. Is money what's keeping you from selling him?"

"He's important to me -the most important one in this world. That's why."

"Listen Hi-" Kakashi started but she cut him off.

"I'm not helping any of you hurt him. You'd better kill me,"

"That's what we're going to see Hinata." Sasuke said as he got up and walked toward her.

"Kisame, watch the room." Itachi said as he looked at his partner and blocked Sasuke's way. "Come with me. We've got to talk."

"Move." He defied his big brother with a dark glare. However, he stopped moving after Itachi murmured something to him. With one last scowl at Hinata, they both left the room.

Naruto followed suit, after frowning at her and spitting on the floor. He murmured something about being unable to look at her any longer. Good.

She looked around and saw that she was left with Kisame and Kakashi. The latter looked troubled as he approached with hands in his pockets.

"If you've ever loved my boy, make sure Tobi doesn't come after him. His sense of vengeance is usually twisted and everlasting," He allowed himself a small break as he studied her, then he spoke again. "You've pretty much ruined his life. Allow him to build another one."

"Am I not the bad person anymore." She whispered. Despite her lack of energy, his strange behavior had her wondering. Where was his hatred.

"I don't know what made you hurt Sasuke like you did but he saw tobi and survived. It's got something to do with you. Hope itachi'll convince him to let it go." He said as he went away, leaving her and Kisame behind.

"It's been awhile since I've seen such drama." Kisame told her when they're finally alone. He looked friendly, with his large smile and amused gaze. Everything about him gave away a sense of familiarity, the kind you expect from a welcoming neighbor or sociable coworker –he seemed like fun to be around. That is, except his height and obvious muscles hidden behind his expensive blue suit. "I see that Tobi found himself another girlfriend. Finally."

"It isn't like that."

"Then what?" He got a little closer, displaying open curiosity and wonder. "Why are you ready to die for him?"

"You wouldn't understand." Hinata finally said, despite wanting to preserve the little strength she'd left. His energy was infectious though.

"Come on girl! Don't keep all the details to yourself." He chuckled, baring all his teeth. Hinata couldn't believe she was having this conversation with him. He acted like she wasn't their prisoner with her hands bound behind her back.

"What's going on here?" She coughed, and then breathed heavily. "What does Itachi want?"

"It's what you saw. Sasuke and co' want you death. Seriously. He couldn't hold a conversation that didn't involve catching you. As for Itachi, he wants to keep you alive."

"What?"

"Yeah, he'd rather not get Sasuke in trouble with Tobi -that guy's a pitbull." Kisame looked up at the sky as he said that. "I get it to be honest… but if I was him, I'd rather let my lil' bro have his fun, you know, to bond with him buuuut here's Tobi."

"R-right now… He's tr-"

"He's trying to convince his baby brother. Let's see if you get lucky today." Then he opened his eyes wide as if he remembered something. "In the meantime let's get to know each other, okay?" He looked at her expectantly but she stayed silent. He looked crazy to her, it was visible on her face but that didn't deter him. "Ok, ok! I'll start. I'm Kisame, 32 years old, I've got a girlfriend. Her name's Mei. Let me tell you, that woman's something else." He chuckled to himself. "I'm Itachi's business partner. Just between us: He's lucky to have me. That guy knows nothing about networking. At least one thing he sucks at. Probably the only thing though." He laughed ruefully at that. Hinata was still perplex. "Now, your turn."

"Why are you asking?"

"Uh? You're a celebrity in our circle now. I mean, you've killed Madara of all people and you're involved with Tobi. You've got a reputation. People talk about you. They call you the black widow." He shook his head. "Now you've got yourself not only Madara's enemies but those who actually worked with him or even liked him. Yeah, you're kinda in deep shit right now." He got closer. "Excuse me to be this crude, but I think it's kinda stupid of you to walk around alone. I don't even know why Tobi let you do that."

He wanted to say something more when his phone rang. He went to the kitchen leaving her alone in the living room.

Her mind was a jumble of thoughts she couldn't dissociate at the moment. Kisame's confused her, Itachi's confused her and Sasuke was both hurting and frightening her. Several minutes, maybe hours went by as she lied down on the couch with headaches but with peace in her heart. She had the certainty that she's getting out there alive. Once again thanks to Obito, even though he wasn't there. Tobi. She was both grateful and ashamed. He had warned her and yet she found herself in such a position. Apparently leaving the money behind wouldn't solve the problem. She was indeed too involved. Obito cared though. She imaged their reunion when Itachi would bring her back. She invisionned how she'd explain what the man did to bring her back, maybe she'd lie so that Obito didn't do anything to them, and then she'd do what he had wanted her to- see the psychologist and getting her life together. There was no way for her to touch that money but she'd find a cleverer way to leave everything behind. She couldn't stay –she'd rather die than stay here.

She startled awake. When her eyes opened and finally focused they met with Sasuke's face a breath away from hers. He was so close she could see his iris, their noses could touch. A sharp pain made her whimper as she realized that his fingers were digging into her arms that were still tied behind her back.

"Don't think it's over. Once he's done with you, I'll comeback for you." He hissed sharply as her eyes fell on his lips. She couldn't look him in the eyes, even though it didn't diminish her pain. She wanted to tell him to let go, to stop hurting her but instead she tried to fight his hands. That made him tightened his grip on her and pulled him to her. Their body was almost touching as his breath fanned her cheek. She looked at the other side of the room. "You won't run away this time."

He held onto her for some time, his breath still erratic then he suddenly let go. She felt to the floor, unable to stand up on her own. Few seconds later another hand grabbed her arm pulling her back to her feet.

"Let's go." It was Kisame.

One moment they were walking, another she was on his shoulder as she couldn't keep up with him. Everything was going so fast, she barely had time to catch up until she found herself in the back of a car parked in front of the building. Kisame and another man were in the front seats. Itachi was sitting beside her in the back. He nodded to his partner.

"Come here." Kisame said in a neutral tone. All of his friendliness had disappeared. The sight of the blindfold in his hand made Hinata flinch away. She turned promptly to Itachi.

"Are… we… g-going back… to Obito?" She forced her voice to come out despite her throat protesting.

"No."

"W-where… are you… taking me?"

"You'll see."

They weren't going back to Obito.

She was still tied up.

"We've… got no business together." It was so hard for her to talk but she couldn't help it. "I've left… the m-money… behind me."

"If you want to ever see Obito alive again, you'd better cooperate without acting up." He gave her one last blank look, then he glanced at Kisame before looking outside his window.

Kisame tried to blindfold her but she started begging, hoping he'd listen to her. "If you keep talking, I'll gag you too."

It was all a lie. They had been lying to her and she was going to suffer.

END OF PART ONE