"W-wait!" she pleaded quietly, and, against her better judgment, hurried to follow him.
She was surprised to see him waiting for her at the edge of the compound roof. She was about to stutter out a thanks, when he muttered, "Pathetic."
Hinata stood uncomfortably on the roof with her eyes down cast, shivering slightly with constant the draft. Itachi stared at her for a moment more before he began to sprint ahead at a staggering speed.
Hinata followed as fast as she could after him with a sense of desperation that made shivers go up her spine.
'What am I doing?'
Time seemed to melt together for Hinata. She didn't know how much time had passed but her legs burned painfully as she sucked in breath from her dry throat and she struggled anxiously to keep up.
She stopped abruptly on a branch and leaned heavily against it. Sweat trickled down her forehead and stung her eyes. Her burning legs unwillingly gave out beneath her and down she went, into cold wet grassy mud.
The mud coated Hinata's legs and arms. She coughed and spat, her pale skin now stained a dark disgusting color. Rain drizzled down in a fine irritating mist, making the filthy tired girl clench the mud in despair, making it squish through her fingers. Hinata was harshly annoyed. Why couldn't she keep up? Why couldn't she ever keep up? Questions upon disturbing questions played in her mind torturing her like a broken record.
It had only been just half a day?
'Damn' Hinata thought, galled, the word unknowingly coming into her normally forgiving mind.
Her hands couldn't get any whiter and her frustration couldn't run any deeper. It just hurt to breathe…to take in something that provides you life. She just couldn't stay there…But there's a big difference between knowing you have to do something and actually doing it.
As she sat there on her hands and knees…she began to think.
The only reason she was doing this…was for Sasuke. Itachi knew that, but why was he leading her so far away from civilization? Was he leading her into some kind of trap, or was she running towards her own death?
"What are you doing, sitting there like some useless thing?
She quivered before feeling the embarrassing sting of tears in the corner of her eyes. She began to stumble out apologies.
"I-I'm s-sorr-"
"This is what you wanted, right?" "Are you going to back out now?" Itachi muttered coldly to the wind.
Hinata stayed silent, trembling from fear and humiliation.
"Get up; I will not wait for you."
His words stung her sharply and she felt a cold chill run up her back and into her bones. She was failing; again, she was failing miserably.
Tears and sweat collected on her brow and dribbled into the corners of here eyes, down her cheeks, curving under until they fell.
Hinata nodded mutely and cringed when she heard the branches snap threatenily above her head. A bitter wind washed over her, and she realized it was in the middle of fall and soon it would be winter, and it would be getting colder…much colder. She had to get back home soon.
She realized she might have to fend for herself alone in the wilderness if she took too long. Of course there was the option of returning to Konoha now, but she knew she would be better off here than there, facing the wrath of her enraged Father, with no answers of Sasuke's well being show for it.
How horrid this trip was turning out to be! Though she didn't know what to expect to begin with.
Itachi was silent, unless insulting her, and he was as quick and dark as a shadow. It was hard keeping up with him even in the daylight.
Hinata, once regaining her breath, took off again. Her legs burning in agony of running so hard, and her lungs felt like they would burst. It wasn't right!
Itachi watched her from the top of the trees, feeling the burden of outright revulsion. He didn't think she was much to begin with but, this? She was becoming a hindrance, and he refused to be slowed down by her. If Konoha ANBU caught up with them, she was on her own.
Kisame idly opened his eyes as Itachi again emerged in front of him. Behind him was a girl gasping for oxygen and shaking. Kisame eyed the girl for a moment then Itachi and then his eyes traveled back to the girl. He had been delayed leaving this long… for her?
Kisame growled and Hinata shrank back, her eyes wandering everywhere but his face. She stumbled back a few steps and tried to control her breathing.
'There are two of them, so close to Konoha!
Kisame watched Hinata with cold uncaring eyes, before he spoke. "Leave her be Uchiha, she is no use to us."
"She is; she will be of use." Itachi muttered and began to walk away, he never paused in his step and Hinata took it as an indication to follow him. She shakily followed behind him desperately wanting to rest.
"W-when w-will you tell m-me w-what happed?" she asked quietly with her voice hoarse and dry. Itachi never faltered in his step, but he stiffened for a moment.
"You will know soon enough." He muttered with a hint of complacency. Hinata nodded gradually as her eyes shut and her conscience was lost.
Gaara's sprinting came to a stop and he paused for a minute looking out at the forest beneath him. He grinned slowly and began to lick the congealed blood from his fingers. It was almost comical how that Uchiha though he could take Hinata…his Hinata and get away with it. That Uchiha had to let his guard down and when he did, oh, they would have so much fun together!
Oh, I wonder which Uchiha will be more pleasurable to torture?
I would have had this out a bit sooner, but it's hard to write this and keep up with my homework at the same time... Geez... will these teachers ever learn we have lives? Okay, so maybe I don't have so much of a life as I have an obsession... hehe... oh well.
I apologize for anything bizarre, most of this was written, edited, rewritten etc... in the midst of a continuous Pixie Stix high... Quite an ingenious concoction really, the Pixie Stix. I wonder how many pixies they have to grind up for each little tube...
I'm thinking about writing a Hidan and Hinata story, any thoughts?