Begin

Hinata sat on her knees in the grass, a few tears escaping her eyes as she remembered that day from exactly one year ago as though it had only happened yesterday. She let out a soft sigh as she sat in front of her father's gravestone, pain coursing throughout her body as she thought of the past.

Back One Year

Hinata couldn't believe what she had just seen and heard. A man who once thought of her as a lowly servant had just told her he loved her and now…

"No…no…it c-can't be…Itachi!" yelled Hinata as she escaped free from Naruto and Sakura's clutches since their own hands became limp with sympathy for the sobbing girl.

She ran over to Itachi who was now lying face down on the ground, his hands still tied behind his back, and his blood spreading across the pavement. Hinata quickly untied the course rope from his hands and picked up the top half of his body and turned him with a little bit of trouble since she was weak, so that he was lying on her lap. He looked up at her, a glazed look in his eyes and a soft smile on his face.

"Hinata…" he said as he lightly brushed a cold hand against her cheek, wiping away some of her tears.

"Itachi, you c-can't die!" said Hinata as she held his head up with one hand and holding him close with her other. She looked up at the others and yelled "P-please, c-call for h-help!"

No one moved a muscle as they had accomplished what they came to do. They came to exterminate a person who threatened for world dominance and they did. Naruto looked at her with sorrowful eyes while Sakura had tears of her own spilling from her eyes. Kakashi showed only slight sympathy while Sasuke held an apathetic face towards his dying brother.

"P-please help…h-he's different n-now, he's ch-changed…" said Hinata desperately as she held Itachi's body close, his breathing becoming slower, his heartbeat becoming fainter and fainter.

Sakura couldn't take it anymore, she ran forward and started to apply pressure to his chest, where the gunshot wound was and quickly looked over at Naruto, knowing he'd be the only one who would help since he was the more emotional than the other two and yelled to him.

"Naruto, call an ambulance!" yelled Sakura as she continued to apply pressure and attempt to stop the blood from flowing out of the open wound.

Sasuke was about to object as Naruto began dialing for help with an orange cell phone but was beaten to it when a hand grabbed Sakura's wrist which pulled hers away from the wound.

"What-" began Sakura but was interrupted by the owner of the hand.

"It's too late…" said Itachi as he felt himself growing colder and weaker as his life faded.

"Itachi…I love you." said Hinata without a single stutter as more tears freed themselves from her eyes.

With the soft smile still on his lips, he reached his hand up and placed it on the nape of her neck, gently pulling. Hinata obliged and leaned down as requested. Itachi slightly lifted his head as their lips met in a passionate kiss. Stray tears fell from Hinata's eyes and landed on his cheek. He let his head drop back into her hand and rubbed her cheek with the hand that just held her neck.

"Goodbye…" said Itachi as his hand fell limp and his eyes glazed over completely.

"I-Itachi...I-Itachi?! ITACHI!" cried out Hinata as she tried shaking him awake but to no avail. "No…don't go…don't leave me…" she continued, holding him close and rocking back and forth.

An ambulance and a police car pulled into the mansion's road, causing the air to be filled with loud sirens and bright flashing lights. But Hinata knew it was too late, she knew nothing could be done.

When the paramedics filed out of the ambulance, she was reluctance to move at first but with coaxing from Deidara, she let them take Itachi from her arms and she began sobbing again. Hinata had lost her love right when she had just found it.

Forward One Year

Hinata let out a few more tears fall as she hugged her arms to herself. After Itachi had been shot, people began to come out of the mansion and immediately called for help and so the four quickly left the scene. Hinata never heard from them again.

So now here she sat, in front of her father's grave once again on this sorrowful anniversary. Without knowing it, Hinata had come to love Itachi more than she thought she ever could. She didn't even really believe that she loved him at first but thinking back on his kindness, his playful smirks, and his comforting warmth, Hinata just knew the feelings were true.

Hinata remembered that as the ambulances drove away, she would never see her beloved again. She returned home to her family that same day, even though the depression was coursing through her. The whole town was confused as to what happened since they had no memory of the party or the time they were vegetated. So scientists called it a phenomenon of epidemic amnesia because there was no other explanation that they could conjure since the formula was unknown to them.

Hinata never stepped forward with the truth since she didn't want to reveal her new friends and was also in mourning for quite a while afterwards. She spent many days in her room, just lying in bed, crying every once in a while. Her mother was concerned but thought it was a side affect from the amnesia, unaware of her daughter's broken heart.

The wind began to pick up, making her hair flutter softly and causing Hinata to shiver even though she was wearing a coat. A small smile graced her lips since she knew she had to look towards the future with a smile and let the past make her stronger.

She had decided to carry out Itachi's wishes and try to help make the world a better place. By now, Hinata had helped to organize a few charities and recycling organizations. People were surprised at her sudden boldness but with her likeable personality, a lot of people joined in helping her.

"I love you, Itachi…" whispered Hinata, her words carried away on the wind.

"I love you, too." said an all too familiar voice from behind Hinata.

Hinata's eyes widened in shock as she quickly turned and looked up to see none other than Itachi, clad in a black suit, with a blood red shirt to match his eyes and a black tie to complete the ensemble.

"I-Itachi?" asked Hinata, not believing what she saw standing before her.

"Yes?" he replied, that same smirk on his face.

Tears fell from Hinata's eyes as she jumped up and tightly wrapped her arms around his neck, his own arms holding her tightly around the waist.

"I m-missed you s-so m-much, where d-did you g-go?" asked Hinata as she sobbed into his chest.

"I had to recuperate, silly. Getting shot isn't all that healthy." said Itachi playfully as he pulled away from the hug and bent his head down, kissing her gently on the lips.

Hinata smiled and returned the kiss, truly happy for the first time in a year.

Fin

Author's Notes

Thank you all so much for your reviews, a special thanks goes to LovelyMystery, jenniebennie, KagomeMarie, HeartBrokenHinata, ginsensu, Adelaide 'Adell' Peirce, kawaiiitahina123, A Beautiful Death, Mighty Dragon, BlackDiamond07, Mimmy700, and Sincerly-MiSS J for staying with me throughout the story and encouraging me to keep going. I wouldn't have been able to complete it without your wonderful support! I hope you all enjoyed the final chapter of The Shy and The Malignant!