Betrothed 5

She looked around her at all the shinobi gathered around her. There were more people here than she had ever seen in her life. She looked over and Itachi was down the line from her. Her eyes softened as she stared at him. It had been almost a month since he had told her to go home that night and he spent the entire time training and avoiding her at every turn. She bit back the tears as she remembered how it felt to kiss him. She reached up and wiped her tears away gently, trying not to look weak in front of everyone around her.

She felt something was off and she glanced down the line to where Itachi had been. His eyes were locked on her. She tore her gaze from his and she bit her lip. She couldn't bear looking at him right now, no matter how much she loved him, she was still hurt by his choice to avoid her. Even after the teams had dispersed, her mind was still on him. She worried about his safety, and she couldn't bear losing him. She clenched her fists as one of the Zetsu came at her. She reared back and launched him with a chakra enhanced punch.

She didn't always use this method of fighting, but she needed to today. She was trying to clear as many of these enemies as she could. Her thoughts drifted once more as she took them out. She wondered what Itachi could be doing right now. She knew he was back at full strength, so she had nothing to worry about, but she still did worry. At the end of the first day, she couldn't sleep. She couldn't think about anything other than him. He knew she was just worried about him, but she couldn't understand why a nagging feeling was tugging at her soul. She felt like she was going to lose him, and it terrified her.

Kiba was watching her from his cot, and she glanced over at him in the dark. "Hinata... are you ok?" he asked, and Shino made a noise saying he wanted to know the same thing. "Y-yes... I'm fine..." she stammered softly in embarrassment at having been caught awake still. "You're not ok, we can tell. Tell us what's wrong, is it that bastard Itachi again?" Kiba growled and she frowned as she rolled to look at him. Her scolding glare hit him and he only frowned. "He doesn't love you like you love him, you should just let go of him already." Kiba said and she felt her anger beginning to rise.

"You don't know that." she bit out softly and he frowned at her. "Come on Hinata, if he loved you, he wouldn't have ignored you for a whole month, he sure as hell wouldn't have ignored you knowing he might lose you in a war." Kiba snapped and Hinata felt the tears prick at her eyes. "But I love him. And I always will." she hissed and Kiba's anger turned to sadness. "But you shouldn't. He gave you his answer... you should understand that much." he said softly and she frowned as she pulled the blanket up to her face. Her tears were threatening to spill over now and she couldn't stop them.

"Hinata there's no need to cry... please..." Kiba's voice drifted to her and she turned her gaze back to him. "I just want you to be happy and suffering waiting for someone to love you back is not how it needs to be for you." he said and she rubbed at her tears that were continuing to fall. She didn't want to be upset but she was so worried about him. She wondered if he was as worried about her as she was him. The door to her tent fluttered and she jumped up and looked around outside. There was no one there, but she could have sworn she felt his presence even if only for a second. She looked up and caught sight of a crow sitting in a tree.

This was odd because the bird had red eyes. She held her hand out to it and it flew down to her and landed on her wrist. She reached and ran her fingertips over its head and down its neck, watching in silent joy as the bird nuzzled her fingers. It cawed at her and she smiled at it once more and continued to rub the bird. She knew this was one of his, even if it were just a summon of his, he had sent it to her, judging by how affectionate it was with her. She scratched under its chin and it cawed once more, only to bob its head like it wanted her to hold it closer.

It then proceeded to rub its head against her cheek gently and poke at her forehead with its wing. She giggled as she carried the bird inside and set it down on the cot. It hopped out of her way as she sat down and when she lay back down it hopped up the cot to nestle in beside her face and bury its beak into the crook of her neck. Kiba and Shino were watching her intently from their cots and she peeked over to look at them without disturbing the crow. "What's with the bird?" Kiba asked and Shino chuckled softly beneath his coat.

"Perhaps we were wrong. That must be his crow." Shino said and Hinata smiled. "It is. He's looking out for me even if he is keeping his distance." She whispered, hearing the soft snores of the crow as it slept near her. "Why does he keep doing this if he is avoiding you?" Kiba growled and the bird huffed in irritation. "Shut up bird he's a bastard who doesn't care what he's doing to her. Go tell that bastard Uchiha in the morning that he's hurting her." Kiba spat and the bird pulled its head from her neck to turn to him and caw angrily at Kiba, flapping its wings in its anger.

She reached and petted the bird, smoothing out its ruffled feathers. "Don't tell him that... just let him know I love him and always will." she said and Kiba grumbled under his breath once more, only to roll and face away from her. "I don't see why when all he does it hurt you." he grumbled, and she frowned as she slipped her eyes shut and tried her best to drift off and sleep. Little dd she know, Itachi heard every word that was said, another crow sitting on his shoulder, rubbing its face against his cheek as he too lay in his own tent far from hers.

When Hinata woke the next morning her crow friend didn't want to wake up. She nudged him and smiled as she planted a kiss on its tiny sleepy head. "Go tell him that I can't wait to see him again. And... that I truly love him." She said and the crow tilted its head at her, only to take off and fly away. She zoned out and skirted through the day, only coming to a halt when she saw Madara before her. His gaze landed on her, and he stepped closer to her.

She stumbled backward and he reached to grab her, but the crow from before flew in front of his face and transformed into Itachi, grabbing his wrist in the process. "Another Uchiha?" Madara seemed confused by this, having not seen any Uchiha since he had been reanimated. "Hinata, run!" itachi yelled as he and Madara were having a glaring contest. She backed away a few steps, but continued to watch him. "Hinata, please!" he was begging now. She turned and ran, only for Itachi to go flying past her. Before she knew it Madara was face to face with her, a wicked grin on his lips as he grabbed a hold of her.

"You must be very important to that Uchiha if he tried to go against me for you. Such a shame that he didn't come himself and only sent a clone." he said and her heart relaxed, seeing as Itachi wasn't hurt. He grabbed her by the chin and turned her face from side to side. "You're nothing special, so I don't understand why someone as strong as that would come for you." he mused and she frowned. "I'm glad he didn't come for me himself." she said softly and he chuckled.

"Oh, I see now... it's love... such a fickle emotion that clouds judgement. But... a much needed one." he mused and she stared at him with fear in her eyes. She had been fighting zetsu with no issue, but she had been called here for some reason. His hand dropped to her throat, and he started to squeeze. Her heart thumped in her chest as he lifted her off her feet by her neck. Her eyes widened as his hand was cut off and she was grabbed by yet another Itachi clone. This one carried her away from the fight and dropped her near Kiba and the others before it exploded into crows.

She looked back to see that Madara was fighting the five Kage now. From that point everything became a blur, she couldn't shake the fear she had felt from Madara getting a hold of her no matter what she did though. Neji almost died, she almost died... so many things happened, and she couldn't wrap her mind around it all, all she knew was that Itachi had saved the three of them. She had dove in front of Naruto to save him, and Neji had dove to save her. Itachi had swooped in on a crow and sacrificed his crow to save them from the spikes.

The ten tails jinchuriki had sealed them all within a barrier, only for Naruto and his father to teleport them all out. That was all she could remember before everything became a blur once more. There was so much fighting... So much insanity, and yet as the god tree bloomed and transformed the moon, she couldn't focus on everything that had happened. She just knew they had been fighting for their lives. Her eyes slipped shut and she felt as if she were going to sleep.

When she opened her eyes, she was standing on the bridge where she had gone fishing with Itachi and Sasuke as a kid. She glanced at the water and peered down to see her reflection shimmering back at her. She reached down and touched the surface of the water. It rippled, but her appearance was still the same. Her hair was thicker and had grown out some, but it was still her. He brushed her hair over her shoulder and smiled at her reflection. It was so peaceful here. She looked over and memories of Itachi helping her fish played out right before her eyes. She looked over at angry little Sasuke and smiled. His little cheeks flushed red with jealousy were adorable to her.

She looked over to where Itachi was looking at her, such a soft and gentle look in his eyes as he looked at her. His fingers brushing gently over the hair atop her head. She sighed and looked back to the water, tears brimming in her lavender eyes as she thought about him. She was startled by a crow landing next to her and she reached to gingerly rub a finger under the bird's beak and neck. It made a little noise of approval that vibrated against her finger and she giggled as she looked into his red eyes.

"I love your master so very much." she whispered to the bird as he hopped onto her hand and rubbed the side of his head against her forearm. She continued to run her fingers down the birds back, only for her to be jolted by a hand touching hers. The crow hopped from her hand to the one that touched her. She turned slowly to see him standing there. Tears welled up in her eyes once more as he began petting the crow as well, before he swiftly raised his arm and set the crow a flight.

She watched as the ebony bird vanished into the sky and she felt the tears streak over her cheeks. "What are you crying for, my love?" he asked and she turned to look at him fully. "I just want to be with me and love me." she whispered and one of his hands found her cheek and gently started wiping away the tears that spilt over with his thumb. "I am here. I do love you... Why are you so upset?" he asked and she frowned.

"You avoided me for a month... why did you do that?" she asked, and he seemed confused. "How have I ignored you? I've been here this whole time, my love." he said and tucked her hair behind one of her ears. He weaved his fingers within those of her free hand that wasn't on the railing, and she frowned. "But we were just... in war..." she trailed off as she said this, only to see that Sasuke was running up to them. "Hinata! Itachi!" he called and Itachi turned to grin at his younger brother.

"Where have you two been, you don't want to be late to your own wedding." He bit out and she furrowed her brows at him. Itachi gripped her hand a little tighter and started to pull her along behind him. "Come on, Hinata, you have to get ready." he said and she nodded, all thoughts of the war fluttering out of her mind to be long forgotten. She rushed behind him as he took off towards one of the previously abandoned Uchiha houses.

He stopped in front of the house and released her hand. "I will be right over there at the main building when you are ready." he said and she nodded. She stepped inside and Ino and Sakura were inside and grinning at her, along with Tenten. They grabbed a hold of her and started getting her ready. She was swathed in a white ceremonial Kimono with red trimming on the sleeves, an Uchiha crest on her back and over her heart. They pulled her hair up into a loose but elegant bun, leaving some hair to frame her face.

Ino did her makeup and she smiled as she looked in the mirror. Such simplistic makeup made her so beautiful, her pink glossed lips standing out against the pale contrast of her skin. She slipped on her shoes and made her way to where she knew Itachi was waiting for her. When she approached him, he was visibly surprised. His eyes had widened just the slightest bit, and his lips were parted the slightest bit. He reached a hand out to her and she smiled as she tucked herself into his side.

This is where she wanted to be forever. Right beside him. They approached the venue where their wedding was to be held and she looked around at all the people who were there for their wedding. She saw an abundance of familiar faces, even some who she didn't know. It seemed they had come from other lands just to see them wed. They approached the altar and the stand in hokage stepped up to them and you could see his smile because it showed in his eye.

He spoke about how he was thrilled to be part of such a massive wedding, and even called the best man, Kisame, up to say a few words before he recited their vows. She turned to face Itachi and held out her left hand to meet his left hand. Kakashi reached and bound their wrists in the ceremonial ropes, meant to tie their souls together for all eternity. He began to recite their vows and she smiled at Itachi, who had a genuine smile on his lips as he looked down at her, not just the small hint of one he normally had.

When it came time for them to drink the ceremonial sake, she blushed as he reached and touched the cup to her lips. She picked her cup up and reached to do the same for him. They both gently tilted the cups up and they both drank the sake from within. They both then set down the cups and were told they could kiss. The moment her lips touched his, it lit a fire in her soul that she never wanted to be extinguished. As his lips melded with hers, his hand reached up and touched her face gently.

Although, he soon began patting her cheek. She furrowed her brows and reached up to stop him from patting her cheeks, but his lips removed themselves from hers and his image vanished into a flurry of crows. She reached out to him and all she could see was the red of his eyes as he vanished. "Wake up." he said and she frowned as she looked around at all the people vanishing from around her one by one. She reached out to them, and they just vanished as she touched them.

She gasped as a bright light filled her vision. She couldn't see so she shielded her eyes from the light. She squeezed her eyes shut, only for the light to begin to fade. She cracked her eyes open and was met with worried onyx eyes. "Hinata..." he sighed as he sat back and removed his hand from her cheek. She sat up and looked around, seeing that everyone around her was awake. "What happened?" she asked and he crossed his legs in front of him. "Infinite Tsukuyomi." was all he said as he looked up to the sky. "It puts you in a dream where you dream of the thing you want the most." he explained after a bit and she felt the tears well up in her eyes once more.

"I-" "I know what you dreamt of Hinata, you don't have to tell me." he whispered and she felt the tears begin to fall as he stood and offered her a hand. She took it gently and he pulled her to him in a hug. "What was yours?" she asked and he frowned. "I'm not at liberty to tell you that. I just know what yours was." he said coldly and she frowned. He never spoke to her like this. She wondered what was wrong with him. "Sasuke's missing, along with Naruto." he said and she frowned once more, only to follow him to see where he was going.

:-:-:-:-:

His eyes slipped shut and he took a deep breath. He knew this was just a Tsukuyomi. He wasn't going to be fooled by it. Her gentle hands wrapped around his wrist and pulled him to her. "I love you." she whispered and he slipped his eyes shut once more, trying to break out of the genjutsu, but struggling. "I love you so much it hurts..." she whispered and he felt her pull his hand to her cheek, her leaning to press her cheek flush against his palm.

"No you don't, you only think you do." he said and she smiled at him softly. "How would you know what I feel?" she asked and he frowned. She was right, he didn't know what she felt, he wasn't her. "I... I love you too... but I want you to be happy." he whispered and she smiled at him. "Then be with me." she said and he shook his head. "I cant. You're too young to choose this from me. You need to grow up and experience life before you decide you want me. I'm a monster." he said and she reached up and touched his face.

"You've never been a monster in my eyes. I worshipped the very ground you walked on when I was little." she said softly and he leaned into her touch. Perhaps he could just... enjoy this while he could. It wasn't real after all. "I've killed people." he said and she placed her other hand on his other cheek. "I have too." she said and he frowned. "I am not worthy of love." he whispered, his voice wavering as he spoke. This is what he felt deep down. He wasn't worthy of her love, so he wanted to push her away. But... he wanted to be with her too.

"You are worthy of love. You are worthy of having someone by your side to care for and love you with everything they have." she said as she pressed her lips to his. His eyes fluttered shut once more, taking in the feeling of her lips against his once more. The more their lips moved against each other, the more he lost himself in this genjutsu. He snapped out of it and pulled away from her, he couldn't be having these thoughts. "You are worthy of me." She said and his heart started to race, he was never going to let the real her know why he was running from her.

He couldn't afford to, because she was so damn stubborn, she would definitely chase him until the end of time. He looked down at the woman before him, deciding that if he couldn't have her in real life... he might as well give in until someone woke him up from this dream. He could be a little selfish every now and then. He reached out to her, and she sank into his embrace, pressing her cheek against his chest.

He ran his finger through her hair and held her as close as he could get her. She eventually pulled away the slightest bit and pressed her lips to his once more. He could feel himself getting lost in the genjutsu once more, but he decided not to fight it yet. He placed a hand on the back of her neck and deepened their kiss. When he opened his eyes once more, they were in the Uchiha compound.

She reached up and pulled him down closer to her. His hand slipped from behind her neck to her cheek as he continued to kiss her. He reached to pull her up into his arms, but he felt a tugging on his pants leg. "Daddy." His eyes widened as he released her and looked down. The small child was watching him intently with onyx eyes. Hinata reached down and picked up the child, burying her nose into their neck, causing the boy to giggle. Another child appeared and his eyes welled with tears as this one was older. She looked up at him with onyx eyes as well, but she looked just like Hinata, with her round face and gentle eyes.

"Itachi!" he heard Sasuke's voice call out to him. He looked over and Sasuke was making his way over to them, carrying a bundle in his arms. He stepped up to him and pulled the baby blanket back the slightest bit. Onyx eyes stared up at him, but this child didn't look like him. It looked like Sasuke and someone else. Who that could have been he had no idea. But it wasn't Hinata either. He jerked his gaze back to his brother, who was holding onto the tiny infant and poking their cheek with a lone finger, as if he didn't know what to do with them.

Typical of his foolish younger brother after all.

He slipped the infant from his brother's grasp and held them to his chest. That was when he looked back over to Hinata and noticed her very swollen stomach. She was very much pregnant, and the tears started to spill over. "Itachi, what's wrong?" Sasuke asked and he handed him back his child. He hit his knees and the tears continued, there was no stopping them now. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed softly. This wasn't real and it never would be because he refused to allow her to desecrate herself in such a manner.

She should never be willing to lie with him no matter how much she loved him, and he loved her. He couldn't allow this. He would just hurt her more. He slammed his fist into the ground and cursed himself. He knew what this was... it wasn't just the genjutsu, it was ruminations of a lonely mind. Of a weary one. He knew it would never happen because he had much more self-control in real life. The images before him shattered and he felt the warmth of the sun on his eyelids.

He cracked his eyes open, and he saw the early morning sun peeking out over the horizon. He began tearing away at the odd material wrapping him up, setting himself free. He looked around and frowned, he couldn't feel his brother's chakra, nor Naruto's chakra anywhere. He wondered where they were, but he had other people to tend to before he went looking for them. When he felt her chakra, he crouched down beside the cocoon she was in and started to unwrap her. She was mumbling and he frowned as he leaned closer to hear her speak.

It was his name she was mumbling repeatedly. "I love you." she whispered, and he frowned as he cracked one of her eyes open and delved into her mind. He witnessed it all, from the moment on the bridge all the way out to where he had married her. He allowed her eyelid to fall back into place and he frowned. The tears threatening to start in real life this time. She truly wanted him with everything she had. She reached and touched her cheek, gently patting it to try and wake her up.

Her eyes fluttered open and she locked eyes with him. "Hinata..." he sighed as he sat back and removed his hand from her cheek. She sat up and looked around, he looked around to see more people were already awake and were dusting themselves off. "What happened?" she asked and he crossed his legs in front of him to sit comfortably as he explained what had happened to her. "Infinite Tsukuyomi." was all he said as he looked up to the sky. He didn't want her trying to see the emotions he was feeling in his eyes. Saddened because what he dreamt of, he wanted more than anything. "It puts you in a dream where you dream of the thing you want the most." he explained after a bit and he watched as tears welled up in her eyes.

"I-" "I know what you dreamt of Hinata, you don't have to tell me." he whispered, and he watched as the tears begin to fall from her beautiful eyes as he stood. He offered her a hand and she took it. So, he pulled her to him in a hug. "What was yours?" she asked, and he frowned. "I'm not at liberty to tell you that. I just know what yours was." he said coldly, colder than he meant to be, quite honestly. "Sasuke's missing, along with Naruto." he said, changing the subject. She frowned once more, only to follow him to see where he was going.

He sent out his crows to search for them, only for them to be coming their way. His eyes widened the moment he saw them, both Naruto and Sasuke were missing the opposite arms. Hinata released a pained yell and rushed over to them and tossed her arms around their necks. "What happened to you?" she sobbed as she hugged the two of them closer to her. Sasuke wrapped his lone arm around her and smiled softly. Itachi couldn't find the words to say, he didn't understand what had happened to them.

Hinata released them both and he stepped up to his brother and took in the damage to his arm. That was when Hinata seemed to take a closer look at him. "Itachi... what happened to your eye?" she asked and he sighed as she turned to him fully and reached for his cheeks. He turned his face away from her hands so she couldn't touch his cheeks. She stepped closer to him and frowned as she grabbed his face anyways.

"I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me, Sasuke is in much worse condition than I am. Please tend to him." he said, pulling away from her hands once more. He said, only to turn and see Sasuke kissing the pink haired woman. His heart sank as he watched Hinata turn and see the same thing he was seeing. Seemed Sasuke had been caught between two women this whole time. His eyes darted to Hinata's face and he frowned. He could see it in her eyes, the joy that Sasuke had found someone, but also the pain that lay there right under the surface.

He knew she loved his brother too, but he also knew she loved him more. This changed nothing, he was going to keep his distance because the way he felt about her, he wasn't allowed to feel this way for anyone. He then watched as Naruto tossed his remaining arm around her shoulders and tucked her into his side. He hoped sincerely that Hinata could grow to love Naruto. He tore his gaze from her and looked around at everyone. He was exhausted completely, and he just wanted to go home and lay in his bed.

He turned to where everyone was gathering to head home, or so he thought. Sasuke and Naruto were hefted into the air and tossed into the air in celebration. He slipped his eyes shut and made his way out of the crowd, but he wasn't alone. Small hands gripped his wrist, and he frowned as he turned to face her once more. "Let me go, Hinata. You shouldn't be chasing me." he said and ripped his wrist from her grasp. He figured if she couldn't get the hint nicely, he was going to be cold towards her until she did. She didn't reach for him again, and his heart was saddened by this.

He knew it needed to be done though. For her sake, not his.