PART 15

No…Hinata…NO!! I won't lose you again…not again!! Wait…just wait…

Sasuke groped for his katana blindly, and upon touching it, he grabbed it and ran it through Itachi.

Itachi spluttered blood, and looked back. His eyes lost the red glare of the Sharingan, and his eyes returned to cold black empty ones.

Sasuke ripped the blade out, and Itachi fell to the ground, and didn't move anymore.

Sasuke stared at the dead body and a feeling of relief washed over him. Itachi was finally dead, and Sasuke had completed his revenge. Suddenly he remembered.

He spun around and saw Hinata lying on the ground in a pool of blood. He ran to her side, and lifted her gently.

"S-sasuke…" she mouthed weakly.

"Hinata, please no. I won't lose you again! Hinata!!" He willed her eyes to stop closing. Tears welled up in his eyes, and his heart ached with great pain.

"S-sasuke…I don't fear death…I knew this would happen…gomen." she whispered in his ear.

Sasuke let the tears fall, and held her up close to him tightly. He wouldn't let go. He felt the life slowly slip out of her. He laid her back down, and formed seals, summoning a great white snake.

"Who disssturbesss me?"

"Heal her. Save her life." Sasuke ordered.

The snake eyed him carefully, but Sasuke didn't care. "Why ssshould I?"

"Please, just please. I love her, I lost her once, I won't watch her die again."

The snake sighed, "Very well," and slithered over to her to examine her. It looked back at Sasuke and commented, "There is great damage. The only way to save her is if I bite her, and if I do so, she will forever have healing abilities just like you. But as she once controlled three elements, she will lose 1: water. She also won't be able to use the summoning jutsu."

Sasuke didn't care, and said, "Just do it."

The snake sank its fangs into her neck, and poofed away. Sasuke lifted her up again, and her body seemed to glow faintly. Color returned to her skin, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"S-Sasuke?"

"Hinata!" He held her tightly and silently thanked the white snake.

"What happened? I thought I was dead." Huge confused eyes stared at him.

"I summoned the white snake to heal you. But I'm afraid you can't use the water element and summoning jutsu." He felt guilty for telling her this.

Her eyes softened, and she spoke, "It's ok. I'm glad to be with you right now."

Sasuke's heart melted and he leaned down to kiss her. The familiar taste he had longed for so long…he could taste it again.

When they broke apart, she smiled at him again, and wrapped her arms around his neck, and embraced him tightly.

They looked back at each other, and whispered to each other, "My pain is gone now. Thankyou."

EPILOGUE

"Hinata, I'm home." Sasuke appeared behind Hinata as she was washing the dishes.

"How was the mission?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"It was boring, but it's good to be home." He leaned down, and kissed her gently.

"Aww, how sweet," a voice suddenly came.

Sasuke and Hinata jumped and turned to see Sakura and Naruto. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked annoyed.

"Well, the door was open, so we thought we'd drop by. We have good news!"

Hinata dried her hands with a towel, and turned to Sakura and Naruto. "What's the good news?"

"We're getting married!!"

"Finally, after seeing how many times you guys broke up and got together." Sasuke grumbled. Hinata elbowed Sasuke, and congratulated them.

"So, Sasuke, did you get Hinata pregnant yet? I mean you guys have been married for 2 months!" Sakura punched Naruto in the stomach for his loud mouth.

Sasuke rolled his eyes, and Hinata chuckled. "No, we're going to wait."

After Naruto and Sakura left, Sasuke turned to Hinata, cupped her chin, and said, "Should we really wait?" He kissed her passionately. Hinata smiled, and replied, "Yes, treasure the time we have together while we're still alone. Knowing you, kids would drive you mad."

Sasuke wrapped his arm around her thin waist. And rested his forehead against hers, and muttered, "Very well." He kissed her again, and held her tightly.

THE END