Hockey Trail

Hockey Trial

Summary: Sabaku no Gaara is a well-known Hockey player throughout the state; the best of the best. Hyuuga Hinata is a shy pushover who was blackmailed into becoming the manager of the Hockey team. Then the whole Hockey club falls for her innocence. This world would be the perfect romantic situation for any girl right? Not for Hinata it isn't. Especially when the very person who blackmailed her into joining, forces her to go out with him when she really obviously is not interested in him.

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HYUUGA HINATA

I ran as fast as I can; though I know it's useless, it's obvious the predator I'm running from is laughing at me right now, not the least tired of chasing me. I pushed my legs faster. But I know it was completely useless. I knew what he wanted—as much as I tried to deny that fact, I knew it was completely useless, but the childish part of me wouldn't accept that. It wasn't any use.

I didn't know where I was going, and I wasn't going to. The moonless night was so dark, it was impossible to see the difference between the sight of my eyes closed or opened. I couldn't see a thing.

I felt a hard rough surface hit me on my sweaty forehead; then I felt warm liquid falling on my face. But I couldn't feel any pain; there was too much adrenaline, too much noise, the kind of feeling you'd get if you jump off a plane without activating your parachute yet. The feeling that you know you would survive safely but couldn't keep my mind from wandering to the negative thoughts of your mind—not that I've ever skydived before. The Hyuuga household would never let me, the ex-heiress, do, or any Hyuuga at all.

"Don't worry, I ain't gonna hurt ya," my predator's voice purred, "just do as I order, and I swear you'll be as fine as if you've never met me. But of course you have, everybody knows not even the world's strongest, smartest, wisest man can defy fate. I'm sure you can relate, right, Lady Hyuuga?" He grabbed my short hair and pulled my head up to look at him. He wasn't wearing a shirt and there was a scar from between his neck and left shoulder down to his chest.

I couldn't breathe, all I could do is huff and pant, not because of the running anymore, but because I'm scared to death of the thought of me dying, and people could probably never find out the murderer.

"OK, now you are gonna go get outta that elite rich snobby school, Y-yaway high? And go to that Harukawa--Kurogawa school. Tell them that Ryo has already paid for the school fees, and be the Hockey manager. Give your spoiled parents any excuse you have to go there, I don't care what. We'll see what happens from there then." I think he winked at me, but I couldn't be sure, my eyes are still getting used to the darkness.

I tried to appear to be brave to this guy (he couldn't be any more than15-16). "Are you 'Ryo'?" What a stupid question to ask; the stupidest.

"If you like it," His hand lowered my head and kissed my bloody forehead, "how 'bout that?"

"If I go, you'll keep my family safe." I tried to keep it from a beg, but he already knew that was the only thing keeping him in control of me.

"That's right," let go of my hair and stood up, "as long as you don't mess up." And he disappeared in the darkness. How ironic.

I didn't remember what happened after this, it was too much for me; much too intense than I could take. I really am a weakling, just like Ryo said, I am spoiled. I can't even decently bring myself up and go to my nice, big, safe household.

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Something cold touched my index finger and stayed there. I tried to open my eyes, it felt like they were glued stuck by some cheap, almost gone, glue bought from a garage sale. It was pouring outside, which is where I am, the reason I was able to figure this out was because I found my whole body fully wet, not because I saw the rain pouring.

How long have I been here? I pulled my weak, frail, far-too-skinny legs up and walked to the direction of my house. I doubt if I'll ever be able call that place 'home' in my life. It's been different ever since my mother disappeared, not died. I think she ran away from the Hyuuga household because she couldn't handle the pressure or learn proper etiquette. I heard from father that she was really carefree; he met her at a business trip. And fell for her easy personality.

I reached my small hand up to ring the bell, but my hand stopped midway. What would I tell father? He would disapprove so much of my absence. But then again, if he had actually cared, he'd have called the police or something to look for me. On the other hand, there's also the problem of telling him I'm going to Harukawa High, and that I'm leaving Yondaime. Then again, who said I would go? I sighed; it was so obvious I don't have a choice. What was his motive in ruining my life?

I touched where he kissed last night, or more. The rain must've started quickly after I'd passed out, there were no dry blood on my face, and it was perfectly clean. I felt around, seeing if there was a wound there, there was a little bump there, but I couldn't feel any cut. I can't be sure, though, it could be red or purple for all I know. I'm so stupid, running into a brick wall when I could've call the police or someone when I had a chance, I could've even run back to my household. I don't need to see to walk to that household; I knew the trail too well. Nevertheless, I didn't. Where was I trying to run to yesterday anyway? The thought I had in my mind that night was anywhere, just please keep him away from me. How humiliating, even for me. What a pathetic thought; I was praying for not dying when I could escape it so easily.

I don't have a choice anyway, I have to do what he says, or the high status of the Hyuuga clan will be destroyed. So for now, I'll just follow his orders. I'm so pitiful.

"Onee-chan?" A young girl's voice behind me called; I knew the voice too well. I heard it ever since I was 4 years old.

I turned around to face my sister, "Hi, Hanabi," Hyuuga girls were not allowed to say 'hey', it was informal. I scoffed; how stupid. They're so strict it reached the point of absurdity.

"Were you somewhere last night? I told father you weren't home . . . that you could be in trouble. But he just said," She mimicked his deep voice, "'whatever Hinata is up to, she should be responsible for what happens to her. She should know not to stay up so late outside.' Father really is too hardheaded," she said this word extra loudly, daring that Father would hear on the other side of the wall. I didn't stop her, Father is hardheaded. "The strict Hyuuga laws should be ignored when it comes to a family or any loved ones safety."

I smiled at her. I was extremely touched by her words. But I corrected, "'the strict Hyuuga laws should be ignored when it comes to anyone's safety. In fact, it should just be ignored."

"Yeah," Hanabi agreed, "you must be so relieved now that Father said you don't have to the heiress. One day, I'm gonna stand up to Father and tell him straight in his big squared face that I will not accept to bear that title!" She said confidently. "Then I'll be free to live however I wish." She smiled with her eyes and mouth closed.

"Hanabi, you know it can't be that easily passed. Sometimes I even regret having the name 'Hyuuga' written besides my beautiful name 'Hinata'." I said Hyuuga as if it sounded like an insult, and some passersby who heard my conversation gave me a strange look. Of course it would be nice to live in a big mansion with more than 100 servants to serve you. Of course it's heavenly to have so much money, to not need to care about the price of the things you want. Of course it would be the perfect life . . . if it weren't for the stupid extra tiny things you gotta learn: etiquette, traditional dancing, speech, manners, how to hold a cup, how to sit ladylike etc. All those things make me sick. Why do those things matter just because your family's rich? "Besides, I wasn't actually relieved that I'm no longer the heiress. I was actually kinda sad," Hanabi gaped at me, as if I just puffed out of flames in front of her, "not because of that heiress thing, but because it feels like Father has no pride in me. He thinks more highly of you than of me. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, it just feels discouraging." I sighed a sigh of relief; it was great to have someone you can express truthfully of your own emotion.

Hanabi didn't say anything, which means that she agrees with me. Then she shrugged, "it can't be helped though. Remember, Onee-chan, it's just what some guy thinks. You shouldn't worry about petty stuff like that." Hyuuga Hiashi is not 'some guy', he's the man who is currently arranging the businesses of the Hyuuga clan, doing all the work that is needed. He is currently the head of the clan; he has the power to throw anyone out of the house if he wants to. It is because of him that the Hyuuga clan is one of the richest business family in the world. Someone like that is not 'some guy', someone like that is an important man that everybody would know. "What's important right now, is what you are doing standing in the rain. First you disappear, and now I find you standing with your finger pointing to out doorbell like some mute beggar. Not to mention that big purple bruise on your forehead. What'd you do? Bang you head against a brick wall?"

I turned fully around to look at her. My arms lay limply at my side and my head hung low. "Don't say it like that Hanabi, you sound like a Hyuuga elder." I don't like names such as 'homeless', 'beggars', or even 'street rats' to be used like that. I think it's rude; it should be profanity to use those names in such ways.

"Sorry," Hanabi sighed, "I'm just worried, that's all." She ran to me and held her black umbrella over my head to keep out the rain on me. My body suddenly felt cold, as if all my body heat had disappeared. I didn't notice Hanabi's school uniform, and when I notice now, my mood darkened.

He had said his name was 'Ryo', no, he had said to call him 'Ryo'.

Hanabi's warm fingers pushed me closer to the door. "The important thing right now is to get you warmed up inside, you need to tell Father what happened last night." The very thought of that horrified me.

"No!!" I screamed, "I don't want to face that man! I'd rather stay in the rain. . . ." Warm moisture filled my eyes as I began to think through the possibilities of my punishments. "Please, don't. . . ."

"Onee-chan, you know you were gonna have to do this sooner or later, better to get it done and over with than afraid of the time to come." No, I did not know. I did not know I would have to go through the wrath of those evil Hyuuga. I did not know I was ever going to come here. I did not know I was going to see Hanabi right now. I thought I was going to die. I thought I could go to heaven. I wasn't even close to right

"No!" I screamed; the thought of this is scarier than death itself.

"Hinata! Quit screaming and get inside! Now!!" It was deeper alto voice now. Oh, no. Father had heard me

My head hung lower and I followed Hanabi to the house.

Once I got inside, Father ordered Hanabi to go to her room to do her homework. Then he told me to wait for him in one of our guest rooms (he occupies all of them, many as there are). And once I was fully seated on the pillow/ puffy blanket, he began yelling. I tried to not listen to his harsh words, so my tears wouldn't come. It's very rude to cry when someone's talking to you. If that someone if he great Hyuuga Hiashi.

"Look at yourself!" He slapped my wet hair. "You look horrible! What's wrong with you? Presenting yourself like this? Have you no decency!" I glared at him; he was the one who told me to come here. Always blaming things on me, what kind of business man is he? Everybody says he's really cool and successful, but they've never seen him indoors! I wanted to scream at them for their naïve view of him.

"Are you finished?" I whispered; I couldn't sand anymore of this. I shouldn't be treated this way. And now that I have the perfect chance and is in the perfect mood to stand up to this man, I wasn't going to pass down this chance.

He stopped talking and stared at me incredulously, as if I just slapped him with an overheated spatula I picked up from a bucket of boiling oil. So I continued, "don't you care the least bit of what news I've come to bring you? Or why I haven't returned home for nearly a whole day? Or why I was completely soaked in rain? It didn't even crossed your mind last night to call the police—you only had to dial 3 buttons (not including the call one)!—because I wasn't home? That I could have not been here today? I was in a serious dangerous situation! And all you thought was that I was just fooling around at night. Because of this, you shouldn't blame me for what's going to happen soon." He still didn't talk, completely speechless. I breathed a sigh of relief; I never knew I had such bold potential in me. But before I could be proud or guilty of what I just did, the image of Ryo's smile flashed into my head again, those very lips smeared with my blood that have touched me. I touched my forehead again. This time not looking for any evidence of damage, but reminiscing last night.

His eyes flashed to my action, "How'd you get that?"

I kept my answer short and curt; I just wanted to tell him of what I was going to do, take a nice warm shower, and then lie in my bed pretending nothing has ever happened. "I ran into a wall." At first his reaction was of disapproval and disappointment, and then his mind went back to what I have said, and, for a minute of a second, I saw worry in his impression.

"Why? What happened?" His voice was of the voice I remembered as a child, before Hanabi was born and before Mother ran away and disappeared. It was soft, and it wasn't talking about business or the family name, but the safety for the family.

"Father, I can't attend Yondaime High anymore, I have to go to Harukawa High. You shouldn't worry about the money though, he'd said he'd take care of it." I explained politely. I would not be able to do what I just had done now; now that he had shown sincerity a normal parent should.

"Absolutely not!!" He stormed, "I demand to know what makes you have to do this!"

I couldn't recognize his current mood. It was anger, but over my safety. This is the first time I've seen this mood in action. My eyes watched him in awe, knowing that this image of him could never happen again.

"He knows some information on the Hyuuga clan, and he threatened to reveal them to public," I said quietly.

His emotion changed immediately to empathy, "I see, then there's no help then. Since our house is not in their area, I will rent you an apartment and you will live there. I'll send someone to pick you up tomorrow after school. All of your necessary things will already be there," He paused, thinking of the possibilities of avoiding this outcome. I've been thinking of this longer than him, and I know it was inevitable. "You are dismissed." His last three words were back to his business man voice again, the voice that I hated. Now that I know this other side of him isn't so far away, I wanted to bring out this side of him; I wanted the Father who loved Mother more than anything, even more than the Hyuuga clan, was willing to give everything up for her.

I left the guest room. How wonderful the feeling of love must feel, to only see that one love one in your eyes and nothing else. Only caring about that one love, and willing to sacrifice everything that person.

I walked upstairs to my personal bathroom and took a warm shower and changed into my pajamas. The A/C in my room was very refreshing, and it wasn't long when, after I lied on my back on my queen sized bed—my air still wet, spread all around my pillow, that I drifted into a deep sleep.

I was way more exhausted than I thought. The encounter last night was truly frightening. And now that I've met him, Ryo is the scariest person in my life that I'm sure I will ever meet.