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In the Mountains	By : Ljiljana Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 1060 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Part 14

It was early, so early the shadows in the park were still
very thick and heavy while we were crossing it. The rain was light, but there
to annoy me and to slow me down out of the fear I�ll slip.
No matter how fast I was going given the conditions, Sasuke was always a step
or two ahead, in such a frantic hurry, it made my stomach tie in knots every
time I would catch a glimpse on of his face.

Sasuke was scared.

I have no doubt he was scared before in his life � once or
twice � but I never saw him like this, and anxiety tightened around my chest.

Sakura talked to Hinata. Hinata told her that she is all
right and that she couldn�t reach Sasuke for some
reason. That reason was obviously the cut lines. Someone wanted Sasuke to
worry, but I, despite the uneasiness, thought he was overdoing it.

Sakura could
have been lying, but why? And about what?

�Someone�s just trying to scare you.� I said, voicing out my
thoughts, after a while of nothing but wet steps and some mindlessly cheerful
birds singing high in the trees. Sasuke didn�t answer;
he just sped up some more. I literally had to run a bit to catch up. �And they
are doing a good job.�

�Yes.� Sasuke admitted without slowing down. �Very good job.�

But after just a couple of steps,
he suddenly stopped.

�Tell me what she
told you, then.�

�Who?� I blinked like
I wasn�t thinking about her just moments ago.

�Sakura!�

Well, if that was going to help calm him down� I tried to
remember. She was so pretty, in her skirt ready for the date, giving me soft
smiles and the opportunity�

�She said that there was no one at the reception desk so
when the phone ringed��

Sasuke interrupted, speaking through clenched jaw.

�There is always someone
at the reception desk! You know that!�

I restrained myself from snapping back out of the
consideration, but he was right. Now when I thought about it � someone always was at the reception desk. Neji was very
strict about things like that; if a person left it without a replacement, they would probably be fired.

�I�� I stared to say, but how was I supposed to finish it? I
was too drowsy? I wasn�t thinking?
So I decided to finish what I was saying before
instead. �And when she picked it up, it was Hinata, telling her she can�t get
the connection, that there was something wrong with your phone�.�

�That bitch.� Sasuke said, furious now, just before he
turned and started walking again.

�Look�, I said, working hard again to keep up. �I don�t know
what you think it�s happening, but I�m sure Sakura is not the one that wanted
to scare you. She�s not like that.�

Sasuke didn�t answer for a moment. Then�

�What was she doing yesterday?�

What that had to do with anything I had no idea. Was he
expecting me to give her an alibi?

�I�m not sure.� I answered honestly, though I felt a little
push to protect her of his anger, just in case. �I wasn�t around much, I think
she was with your brother � I saw them together at the��

I stopped talking, because Sasuke stopped again,
half-turning to me.

�So she spent the day with Itachi? My crazy, deprived
brother, the one invited here by Neji to help in breaking up my marriage?�

I could feel the blood draining out of my face. Surely he doesn�t mean�?

�She wouldn�t help them!� I said, forcefully. But she was very convincing, wasn�t she? She knew I had
problems, that I didn�t actually want to mess up Sasuke�s marriage and that I
was messed up myself, and she came to my room, telling me there was no one
else, that I had to take the message
to Sasuke, because her date was more important. I thought she was trying to
give me what I wanted, but it was all very convenient.

Too convenient.

When I snapped out my thoughts, Sasuke was already pretty far
ahead, getting out of the park on the meadow under the hotel.

I followed, now just as afraid as Sasuke was. I tried to
convince myself she wouldn�t do it, but it wasn�t
working very well. And also, if Sasuke was right, what
was it exactly that they did to Hinata? I really hoped nothing bad happened to
her.

It was very early, so it was still the night shift working
at the hotel; they were barely awake, even after Sasuke opened the door
forcefully enough to make a little earthquake. Halting for just a moment, I
asked the tall man behind the reception desk whose name I forgot.

�Is Sakura back?� He blinked sleepily at me, as if thinking
about who could that be is too much to ask at that moment. �Tall
girl, pink hair?�

The recognition drowned in.

�Last night? Yeah.�

Sasuke stopped half way up the stairway, apparently
listening to the short exchange. When I almost caught up, he resumed his crazy
chase down the hotel hallways, obviously familiar with the location of the room
Sakura and Ino shared.

Sasuke didn�t ask how I knew she
was somewhere, and he also didn�t bothered to knock before grabbing the handle
on the door of their. It was locked, of course, but that didn�t
stop his from trying to open the door anyway and when it didn�t work, to kick
it.

It was Ino who opened, sleepy and
confused. Sasuke pushed her out of the way without a word.

�Hey!� She said, much more awake now.
�You can�t barge in like that!�

I also tried to walk in, but Ino glared and stood on the
door. I could see over her shoulder Sasuke approaching sleeping Sakura.

�When did you get back last night?� I asked.

Ino repeated, confused: �Last night? From where?�

Behind her, Sakura was awake and looking up at Sasuke with a
grimace that could have been from the pain of his grip on her arm, or from
fear. Pretty sure I will otherwise have to move her by force, I gestured Ino at
the scene in the room, asking:

�Weren�t you out last night?�

Ino looked back first, frowned and walked back in the room,
leaving me to follow her.

�Just to the parking lot, to see off Sai and Itachi. What�s
going on?��

We were both inside now, and Sasuke and Sakura both stopped
to listen.

�No idea. Sakura?�

She looked from Sasuke to me, keeping the same disoriented
expression on her face.

�Why are you asking me?� She said, in a squeaky tone of
voice that was not convincing anyone she�s innocent. I knew how to deal with
Sakura when she was like that � just pat her a bit and she would sing � but Sasuke
was not exactly known for his patience, so I hadn�t had the time to ask him to
step away and let me handle this.

Sakura squeaked again, but nothing understandable, so I knew
Sasuke�s grip on her arm tightened.

�You talked to my wife last night?� He hissed at her.

�What?� Ino said on my left, but we all ignored her.

Sakura glanced at me for a moment, and then settled to look
somewhere behind my shoulder, �Y-yeah.�

�And she said what?�

Sakura was quiet, looking stubbornly at the same spot.

�Sakura,� I tried, with an effort to keep my voice soft.
With the way she was acting, I had a little hope left that Sasuke was paranoid.
�Phone cables at their house are cut. If you know what�s up, please tell us.�

But she wouldn�t budge, not to speak and not to look at me.
Sasuke was still holding her quite forcefully, so I walked to them and tugged
on his shirt. He gave me an annoyed, impatient glare but moved a bit. I kneeled
next to Sakura.

�Sakura.� I cajoled, taking her hand. Sasuke growled lowly
above me, and stepped closer, until his legs were touching my back. It gave me
a start � was he staking claims in a moment like this?� I shook my head, I was probably imagining it
anyway, and went to Sakura, who was frowning up at Sasuke. �Please. Is she okay?�

Sakura looked down at me, and I saw that her eyes were full
of tears. I couldn�t say if they were from guilt or because we were demanding
something from her she couldn�t give, but the brightness on her eyes sent a
stab of pain through my chest, and I was willing to give up, just so she
wouldn�t cry. Then she whispered:

�She�s fine.�

�Where?� Sasuke asked from above me. Sakura turned her head
away, and I barely managed not to elbow Sasuke�s knee for butting in. He didn�t
care, obviously, and he pushed further: �Is she back home?�

It was a useless question at this point; it was very clear
from Sakura�s behavior that she lied to me last night. And if she could claim
Hinata was fine anyway�

I thought she wouldn�t answer, but she did, after a couple
of seconds.

�I was to pick her up first thing this morning. She�s fine.�

�How do you know she�s fine?� Sasuke snapped. �Where is
she?�

When Sakura once again failed to answer, Sasuke grabbed her
sleeping shirt over my head and yanked her on her feet, snarling:

�Take me to her. Right now!�

I stood up, placing myself conveniently between the two of
them, though Sasuke was still holding her over my shoulder, and Sakura was
griping my hand tightly, like it was giving her some comfort. I turned
slightly, just enough to see Sasuke.

�That won�t help, stop yanking her.� He was not letting go,
so I added, trying to make him understand that I needed some time with her
alone, �Why don�t you go find Neji or something?�

�No. I want to know where my wife is.�

And then, Sakura decided to make things worse, �Were you
wondering last night where she was?�

I was afraid Sasuke would snap completely right then, try to
strangle her or something. Sakura said that with a sneer I hated on her face,
provoking him on purpose. And if I felt so horrible, so guilty, then how it
must have been for him?

He surprised me, though, and let go of her.

�No, I didn�t. Your little scheme worked perfectly, though I
have no idea what your gain is in all this. Now tell me where she is.�

A moment passed. Then another one. I was sure she wouldn�t
answer, too busy watching her own hands with some unhealthy fixation.�

�The cave.� Sakura then whispered.

I was so relieved she actually gave an answer; it felt like
I could breathe again.

�Which cave?�

Only when Sasuke asked that in clipped, edgy tone I realized
two things � it was cold and raining most of the night, even if lightly, and
Hinata spent it outside, in a cave.
And Sakura was � what? � sleeping in her bed knowing that?� Almost without thinking, I snatched my hand
out of her hold. Sakura let out a small sound, but Sasuke repeated, thank God,
so determined to find out Hinata first and then ask questions.

�There are three caves nearby, as far as I know. In which one is Hinata in?�

Sakura lifted her bright, gob smacked eyes over my shoulder
to fix them on Sasuke, breathing out: �I don�t know.�

�What do you mean, you don�t know?� I asked, after
physically stopping Sasuke from stepping closer to her with my shoulder. �You
just said you were supposed to pick her up this morning!�

�But I didn�t know there were more caves than one!� She
almost yelled in response. �We went to it last night, so I could see, but��

She trailed off and I could not help but think: Date, she said she�s going out on a date and
she wore her best skirt and she was going to see where a kidnapped girl was
going to spend the night��

�Good morning!� An irksomely chipper voice greeted form the
doorstep, breaking my train of thought. �What�s going on here?�

Sasuke used the moment I got sidetracked to look at Lee who
was giving us a slightly insecure but still very wide and bright smile and when
I turned back, he was gripping Sakura by her shoulders, like he was about to
start shaking her. She was openly crying now.�

�How does it look like? Were you inside?�

�No,� She answered, and let out a small, wet half-choke. �I
was outside; I just saw the entrance��

�Entrance to what?� I heard Lee ask in the background, and
Ino whispering something, probably explanations, as much as she picked up.

In front of me, Sasuke really shook Sakura a bit.

�Describe it!�

Sakura swallowed, taking a moment to sniff and think.

�Low, the entrance was really low. I know I thought a person
had to almost crouch to get into the cave��

�Mouth.� Two voices said at the same time, but Sasuke
ignored Lee yet again. �Was it shaped like a mouth?�

Sakura managed to barely nod when Sasuke let her go. He
didn�t say a word to anyone, just turned away from her and strode through the
door. I wanted to follow, but a warm hand grasped mine again. I looked down
where Sakura was sitting on a bed.

�Hinata�s fine.� She said, with a conviction I felt she had
no right to feel and show.

�When was the last time you saw her?� I asked anyway, hoping
against the all the indications she went to check on Hinata during the night,
making sure she was all right.�

Sakura, once again, averted her eyes from me, licking her
lips, and told me:

�Yesterday, around noon.�

I yanked my arm so she had to let go. I wasn�t really angry
at her, maybe because of the fear of all the horrible thoughts about all the
things that could have happened between noon yesterday and now. But the
disappointment I was feeling was really painful.

�Then how can you claim she�s fine?�

There was something, some spite and some odd light in
Sakura�s eyes when she fixed them to mine, that made me, for the first time, wonder
about her sanity. Then Sakura smiled, still bright eyed, with her cheeks
smeared with tears and her hair uncombed, and it was one of those smiles, so
beautiful that you can never forget them.

�I did it for you. So you can be happy.�

She did it for me?

Itachi helped Neji for some reason to destroy Sasuke�s
marriage and she helped because she wanted me
to be happy? And if Hinata died, where would that leave me? I couldn�t be happy
� I wouldn�t be happy, even if Sasuke got a divorce after all this, guilt about
what happened up here while Hinata was in some cave would always be like a
shadow over us.

�For me? I repeated, dumbly. �You helped kidnap girl and
keep her in some cave, high in the mountains where is freezing cold at night
and where there are wild animals for me?
Is she tied up?�

Sakura shook her head that no, she doesn�t know, but Hinata
must have been either tied up, or drugged or she would have find her own way
back.

�It�s just one night. Itachi said�� But then she fell quiet.

I was tired of this. I was worried, for Hinata and Sasuke
both, and I wanted, and badly, to go and follow Sasuke. So I shook my head no,
don�t bother, �We�ll talk later� and walked out without looking behind.

Sasuke was, fortunately, still in the hallway because Neji,
pale and afraid, was asking questions and literally holding his arm to stop him
from moving on without an explanation. Maybe the reception worker woke him up,
I don�t know. I ran down the stairs, and they both looked at me.

�Are we going? Is that Mouth cave far?�

Sasuke tugged his arm free, and gave Neji one final loathing
look before turning to the door. It wasn�t exactly an invitation, but I
followed anyway.

�Wait, I want to come!� Neji called after us. But just in
front of me, Sasuke gave a low growl, so I waved back.

�Better talk to Sakura, make some tea�� I trailed off. What
I wanted to say was that he maybe should call a doctor just in case, because
who knows if this one we had will be useful once we find Hinata - I wouldn�t be
surprised if he came apart and start killing off everyone involved.

No one else came with us � either they needed to be more
awake to realize how dangerous the situation was or we ran down the meadow to
the edge of the forest too quickly, I have no idea. But we were all alone,
Sasuke ahead again, leading the way, and me, walking as fast as I had to so I
could keep up.

The forest was wet, dewdrops everywhere, so we were soaked
very soon more from it then from the light rain that was barely getting through
to us from the thick leafed branches above our heads. The only sound were the
sounds of the forest and our steps, the snapping of the stiffer plants under my
feet � Sasuke was too far ahead to hear what was he doing; I could only see
him.

The cave was not very far away, but the ascent was heavy and
slippery; it took a while, and we both looked like happy pigs by the time I
realized exactly why they called the cave Mouth. The entrance was oval and low,
with rocks outlining it on the upped side, so it looked like lips.

Hinata was in there. She was laying on the floor of the
cave, not far from the opening, with a gray blanket over her. I was right; she was tied up.

She was turned so she could see us the moment we walked in,
and she lifted her head a little �the relief was so obvious, it made me want to
go back so I could hit Sakura as hard as I could.

Sasuke walked to her first, and I understood it wasn�t Neji
who held him long enough for me to catch up with him; it was him picking up a
knife from the kitchen. He obviously had the same thought as me, about how
Hinata must have been somehow disabled to return.

He cut off the rope on her arm behind her back and only when
Hinata grabbed her wrists to rub at the sore spots did she start crying.

�Are you hurt?� Sasuke asked her.

She shook her head with a sob. Sasuke didn�t look convinced,
and as soon as he cut off the rope on her legs he started checking her out for
wounds, touching her arms, looking down at her body. Hinata tried to stand up,
and I helped her, wrapping my arm around her, so Sasuke could examine her
without fearing she would fall.

She was cold and she curled against me, needing the warmth.
After a couple of minutes, while Sasuke was still checking her up, with her
tears still wet on her face, she lifted her head to give me a smile.

�Thank you.�

It wasn�t the breathtaking sort of smile Sakura gave me
earlier. It was just as memorable, though.

�I�m sorry.� I said, because I was; I was so very sorry I
was used and stupid and then used again, and that it all went so out of the
hand, and that she got hurt. Hinata looked confused.

�Why? It was Itachi.�

I never managed to answer her, because the moment Sasuke
finished he took her from me in his arms. She went easily, small and appearing
even lighter from the shock and the cold.

It took us much longer to get back; I was going ahead,
though not by much because I wasn�t sure about the way, trying to clear the
path as much as I could for them. Lee met us on the half way, looking serious
and angry for the first time since I met him. He took over from me, so I
lingered behind; relived Hinata is okay, and wondering what I should do about
Sakura.

Neji was in front of the hotel, still in his robe over the
pajamas and Ino and Iruka were with him. I don�t know if I was disappointed or
relived Sakura was not among them, probably a little bit of both.

�I didn�t have anything to do with this!� Ino told me as
soon as I was close enough so she wouldn�t have to yell, while Iruka was giving
his deepest frown to my � Sasuke�s -
wet clothes.

�Okay.� I answered. At the moment I didn�t care if she was.
I was wet, I was feeling guilty and cold, and used and unreasonably rejected
watching Sasuke taking Hinata in through the entrance of the hotel. At the
moment, all I wanted was to go back home were everything was familiar, sane and
happy.

�Pack your bags.� Iruka ordered, more to Ino than to me, �As
soon as Naruto changes his clothes, we�re leaving.�

He wasn�t asking any questions, so I assumed Ino informed him
about what happened. I was very grateful when she turned with a weak smile to
do what Iruka said.

Iruka put a hand on my shoulder, and guided me to follow
her, because I was oddly numb now when the adrenalin from the fear was fading.

I saw neither Hinata nor Sasuke before the taxi arrived, but
Tenten, Lee and even Neji came to see us off. Neji looked like he learned an
important lesson, but he didn�t say anything, just kept shooting looks at
Sakura that were not exactly anger, more like� disbelief.

The goodbyes were short, and soon enough we were on our way
home.

A/N: There is only one chapter to go!

After I�m done, I will go over the fic once more, to make sure everything is okay (plotholephobia), so if there is anything that is bugging
you, please tell me, so I can fix it, and make it more enjoyable experience for
some future readers!
- 13
- 14
- 15
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In the Mountains