After days of deliberation, I now have decided how this story would end. So to those who might not be satisfied as to where this fanfic is going. My deepest apologies…though I might make another ending in the future because I myself am torn.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-o-o-o-

Chapter Thirty Five

(f) Sasuke leaned back on the chair, rubbing his forehead as he felt a throbbing nerve there. It was already morning but the sky was still dark and the sounds of night insects still fills the air. He was not able to get some sleep…even if he felt that his body was asking for some rest.

Groaning, he took a deep breath.

.Tap.

Sasuke lolled his head just as a frown found its way on his already disturbed face. If he heard correctly—and he knew that he did—the tapping sound came from outside his window. Standing up from the chair, he walked to the said window and pushed it open.

"Sasuke-kun." White eyes looked back at him.

"Hinata?" The Uchiha was surprised. He did not expect to see the girl hanging on the windowsill of his apartment at this untimely hour. Hyuga's are very strict when it comes to etiquette and manners, and even if he was not the best teacher for that, he was smart enough to know that Hinata came to his place without permission from anyone back in her house…And wasn't it bad manners to be found hanging on someone's window at night?

Also, was he that disturbed enough not to sense her chakra signature? Or has she improved a lot and was able to hid it from him?

"What are you doing here?" He pulled her up and closed the window. The moment he touched her hands, he noticed that they were cold and stiff. How long has she been outside? "You're hands are cold." He grabbed the blanket on his bed and threw it around the girl.

Watching Sasuke's stoic face, Hinata chew her inside cheek. It's been days since she last saw him. The last time that she did, it was inside the forest—with him putting her under the sharingan spell. "Sasuke-kun…"

"Did you come here to check on me or something else?" Sasuke eyed the Hyuga as he let her sit on the side of the bed. He was still not able to wrap his mind about his brother's capture and Hinata's unexpected "concern" for Itachi—and deep inside, he was hurting. Hurting very bad…"Or to let me hear an angry speech after putting you under the sharingan?"

He sounded rude…but he can't help it.

"Sasuke…" Hinata lowered her gaze, afraid to look at the Uchiha's eyes. She knew that he was disappointed because of her. And in truth, she really doesn't want to hurt him. Even though she lost a few of her memories, she really cares for him a lot. "I need to talk to you."

Now it was time for Sasuke to lower his head. "That's not the words I am expecting to hear." He was actually hoping that she remembered everything…remembered her lost feelings for him.

"Sasu…"

"Do you still love me Hina?"

"Sasuke-kun…everything that's happening right now…It's bigger than both of us. Please, listen to me—"

He kissed her.

Sasuke doesn't want to hear Hinata finished her words because deep in his heart, he knew that she was going to say something that will only hurt him. He saw it in her eyes. The girl that he loved…the girl that was starting to love him back—

Was no more.

So before she could finish her words, he grabbed her by the neck and pressed his lips on hers. He thought that he was going to feel better now, now that Itachi was caught for good. Now that his traitor of a brother was going to pay for everything that he has done for him…and to the village.

But he was wrong.

"I'm dying Hina…" He told her when he broke the contact. "Deep inside I'm dying." Sasuke thought that after what he experienced from the past—he would be already used to all the pain.

"We both are Sasu…I'm dying too." Hinata admitted. "But things never really go as we want them to…sometimes they are just out of our hands…out of our control." Raising her hand to touch his cheek, she felt a tear dropped onto her skin.

"And I thought I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you." Sasuke clenched his jaw. "And when I think about it, I can only picture happiness Hina…"

"And I'm sure that I'm going to be very happy with you…" Hinata felt a tear dropped from her right eye. "But it seems that fate itself has intervened Sasu…" (f)

Itachi coughed, blood oozing out of his mouth just as he saw the metal door of his prison room shut closed. The Anbu interrogation team just left and he knew that they were quite disappointed that they did not get anything out of him.

Of course, they left him a gift before leaving—and that was torture.

The night that he was captured, he knew that he can get away…but for the first time in his life, he suddenly grew tired of running away from everything. The moment that he saw the pain in his brothers' eyes, he knew that instant that he can't just get away.

He just can't.

It was a moment of weakness…and foolishness. He knew that years of hard work and sacrifice would just disappear like a bubble if he can't return to the Akatsuki…all would be just for nothing. But seeing Sasuke with all the hate—which he inflicted—Itachi decided that he has done a lot that could help Konoha in surviving Akatsuki's ultimate plan. He already knew each member's strengths…weakness. That should be enough…

But was it?

As a loyal Shinobi, he admits that he still has second thoughts. What if he was wrong? What if he was still needed for this mission that can put the leaf in danger if he made the wrong move? Would he leave and return to Akatsuki? Or stay so that Sasuke could witness him pay for killing their parents and clan—so that both of them would finally be at peace…and Hinata too. She can stop worrying about him then.

For even now, he knew that she was worrying.

He doesn't want that. He wants her to be happy.

-o-

Hinata gritted her teeth as tears began to sting her eyes. She has her Byakugan activated and at the moment, was looking at the direction of the Anbu interrogation building. Even if she was kilometers away—for she was currently inside her room at the Hyuga compound—Hinata can see everything that was happening very clearly as if she was there in person.

Especially on the lowest floor—were S-class criminals were left to be interrogated. Right now, she has her eyes set on one S-class criminal in particular.

Uchiha Itachi.

She saw his chained form sitting on the stone floor. Itachi was bleeding and bruised. She saw him being tortured earlier and it hurts her that she can do nothing to help ease his pain.

He doesn't deserve all this.

With a heavy sigh, Hinata wiped the blood that was trickling down her lip—She bit her lip hard enough to draw blood when she saw Itachi being tortured. She wants to cry out but decided against it. It would be of no use after all…it would only confuse the people around her.

Tsunade told her a few days ago that she has to follow the standard procedure for captured S-class criminals. She was doing her best to help the Uchiha but she also needs to show that she was not biased—in case someone suspects. The man was known for killing his clan after all…people would be watching the Hokage's move very carefully about the matter.

Every action…every single step…must be thoroughly planned.

Hinata deactivated her Byakugan with a heavy heart. She was a bundle of emotions right now and was afraid that her frail mind can't take all the extreme emotions at once. She has been through a lot, yes…but not in this kind of situation where she was feeling so helpless and worthless.

With a sigh, she ran her fingers through her long blue locks. She was not able to tend to it for a few days because she was not really on the mood.

(f) "You have to do better than that Hina." Itachi calmly took a step back, avoiding a glowing blue fist. Scrutinizing the panting Hyuga who was obviously tired and disorganized, he swiftly caught her arm and wheeled her around, pinning her glowing hands behind her in the process.

Hinata tried to push him off her, hating that she can't even stand a chance when it comes to training with Itachi. She can hold her ground to Kisame sometimes…and also Deidara, but Uchiha Itachi was leagues away from her skill.

"I can't—"She grumbled, still trying to push him off. "I just…can't…match you…Itachi-san."

"Hence the training."

"Still can't…" She continued to complain…and Itachi was not even trying to be serious in training her. He was just …humoring her. "I am weak…you are—strong."

"There's no weak or strong. It depends on how you use your strength. If you wanted to protect someone…you will always be considered strong." Itachi said, still holding the girl. She still has her glowing chakra so he preferred not to be so confident in freeing her yet.

"Like what you did for…Konoha and your brother?"

It was barely a whisper yet he heard. The girl has stopped pushing him so they remained in their position for a few seconds before he slackened his hold. "You have to be careful in speaking those words…Even if there are only two of us…you have to be careful."

"I…I know." Hinata hung her head. It came out of nowhere." Gomenasai…"

"Let's stop the training for now." He told her as he let her hands go. The clearing that they chose for training was a few meters away from the hideout and he was glad that they were out of earshot. Eyeing the Hyuga subtly with the side of his eye, Itachi observed as she wiped her brow with her hands.

"Be careful of Tobi." He said.

Hinata paused and her head turned to his direction. "Why? he looks…Uhmm…not dangerous to me…Well, not that much." She was lying. She knew that anybody whot joins the Akatsuki was dangerous. Well maybe except for her…they just want her for her eyes anyway. In truth, she just wants to hear Itachi's own reason.

"You do not know him." Was the cool reply.

"Oh…" Weirdly, Hinata was expecting for something more.

"And I just don't want you getting anywhere near him." Itachi's eyes slowly lands on her. "Are we clear on that Hinata?" He dropped the Hina…that means he was dead serious.

"Why?" Hinata just can't help herself.

"It's for your own good…"

"R-Right…my own good." She repeated, casting her eyes on the ground.

"Actually for both our sake." The Uchiha raised his face and stared at the sky. It was blue and clear. "If you are in danger…then I have to interfere."

Hinata shook her head. "No…If it comes to that. You don't have to do that Itachi…you will ruin your mission. If anything happens on the way, just leave me and –"

"No."

"Wh-what?"

"I can't let that happen."

"Why?"

"You already grew on me." (f)

-o-o-o-

Ino eyed the Anbu in front of her with doubt. He was her captain and under his orders…but still…"Are you sure you're going to go inside the prison…captain?" She asked, using his title so that he will know that she was asking him in a respective way…as a fellow leaf nin.

Sasuke has his mask on, so if there was something on his expression that could give her even just the tiniest clue on what he was thinking, she can't really tell. She could mind transfer and dig inside his head—but that was only if she was having a death wish.

"I want to see the Uchiha traitor." Sasuke said coolly. Naruto and Ino have been hanging a lot lately, and he can't afford that she'll tattle about this encounter to the Uzumaki idiot—only he has no choice. She was on the interrogation team and on duty tonight. "Hokage's orders."

"O…kay." Ino dug inside her vest for a scroll. She was still doubtful but knew that she can't say no to her captain. Sasuke was the highest ranking Anbu after all. Only foolish people would want to get on his bad side. "Here's the combination of hand seals to open Itachi Uchiha's prison room."

She passed him the scroll. He took it without a word.

"Uhm…Captain?..Sasuke-kun?" Ino licked her lower lip. "Please don't kill him…if that was you're plan." There was fear in her voice. Sasuke was one hell of an unpredictable Anbu…

Sasuke looked at the Yamanaka and removed his mask. "Ino…"

"Sasuke…?" The Yamanaka waited patiently.

"Sharingan."

Sasuke walked with a grim face as he followed the narrow corridor that would lead him to where his brother was. In his mind, he knew that what he was about to do would make the Shinobi world go nuts. Stopping on a metal door, he opened the scroll and scanned it for a few moments before discarding it with fire from his Amaterasu.

He then performed the hand seals and then pressed his palms on the metal door as ink-like patterns began to appear from his hands. Seconds later, the door swung open.

He stepped in.

Itachi looked up from his binds. "Sasuke…"

The younger Uchiha's jaw clenched. Closing the metal door behind him, his right hand crept to the handle of his katana—pulling the weapon slowly from its sheath. "You look pathetic."

"You look like the grim reaper."

-o-o-o-

Here ends the chapter. I would be very happy if you could review.

Please review…whew…just a few chaps more guys!

-crazygurl12