"I hate you…" Hinata's comment caught Sasuke by surprise; never had a girl from their village disliked him. Her eyes showed not even the slightest bit of warmth in them as she stared at the campfire. She actually looked like she was imagining someone burning alive, someone she held dear.
"Two reasons to be exact," This time her hallow eyes met with his. "I bet you know what they are, and I bet that you have no intention of apologizing for it…do you?" He didn't reply. Instead he just matched her empty eyes with his, apathetic.
"Where are you going?" Sasuke had gotten up from his resting spot, and turned to face his changed companion. "If you're going to get more firewood…then why don't you just take whatever is left of the kitchen? That way you don't have to strain your fragile body with 'useless' and 'meaningless' effort." Hinata's words were harsh, with disgust emphasizing every word.
Sasuke brushed her words off with a roll of his blood-like eyes and a small scoff, leaving the room and Hinata behind. He left her to dwell on the thought of how alone she was, now that Kanoha had been destroyed along with everyone that she once cared for. And, that she was left with the one person who had caused her misery. The only thing she could do now was to survive in the dead of winter with no actual shelter, to mourn for her losses, and to make Sasuke's life even more of a living hell then it already is. After all, he was the one who brutally attacked her village with his "Hebi" group. What made him do it was unknown; it wasn't like Kanoha had anything that they could possibly want.
He managed to sneak into the village when everyone was sleeping and set fire to everything that could burn. She doubted that they found what they were looking for, and that's why they turned her home into ashes—for kicks, no doubt. But, at least his comrades where taken down along with the village, that much made her proud. She was one of the ninja who killed one of his partners, a girl. She was cocky and loud…so in Hinata's opinion she had it coming to her.
After her battle Hinata had rushed home to make sure her family was aware of the attack, but what she found would scar her until her soul perished. The Hyuuga grounds had been set aflame. She was too late, and her family was nowhere to be found. Even Neji was missing. She was horror struck and confused, so when she saw the people she knew fall around her she grew frantic and unable to comprehend anything that was happening. It was like a bad dream she would never be able to forget. And yet, through all the chaos she was able to focus on one set of eyes that would haunt her. The Sharingan.
Hinata had recognized them immediately, it was Sasuke. It had to be, Itachi was long since dead…or so people thought. No one really knows what happened to him, after the fall of his organization he vanished. Sasuke must have taken his anger out on anything close enough to feel pain. That was why he just smirked at her when she begged him—on her hands and knees—to stop this, and help her find her loved ones.
His words still echo in her head. "What does it matter to you? They never loved you. You were a broken toy to them, that's why Hanabi was crowned head after the death of your foolish father. Not you," He paused for a moment to hear Hinata's cries, it seemed to give him more strength to continue. "Dear Hinata," he mockingly stroked her head. "Searching for your family would be a meaningless task. They just don't serve any purpose, and besides…The Hyuuga's have always been a useless clan." His words were like acid to Hinata's ears, how could he be saying this?
It had been about two years since this event took place. Hinata had foolishly followed Sasuke, she felt as though there was nowhere to go. She had convinced herself—and him—that she wanted to learn how to become a great ninja like him, and that she wished to travel with him as his partner. He agreed, unaware of her true intentions, he thought she would make his journeys more entertaining. She was originally following him to find his weaknesses, so that she could kill him, but her plan was complicated. Not only was his weaknesses almost impossible to find and use against him, but he toyed with her. Emotions and all, he made her think she was crazy.
Luckily she was able to overcome this. She had to overcome every emotion in order to fulfill her destiny. What he had done to her caused her to mentally and emotionally break down. But she found that each time a tear was shed, she became smaller in his eyes. Eventually she became a walking, talking, breathing robot with only one thing in mind. Only, now she didn't care anymore.
"Hinata, it's time we leave. Are you done mourning?" Sasuke was behind her, impatient.
"Yeah, I'm ready," Hinata rose from her seat and looked at Sasuke. "Are you done with yours?" His body tensed and his jaw locked, defensively. Hinata walked past him and towards the old ruin that was once the great gates of Kanoha. "Don't be ashamed. And remember, 'to those who walk this earth impatiently…beware those who tread softly behind.'"
Sasuke stopped Hinata; he had a firm grip on her shoulder. "What are you implying, Hinata?" He was intrigued.
She turned to face him; his eyes were still that same red that she hated so much. "I'm saying that you need to look around and observe what's going on around you, otherwise…something bad might happen." She gave him a playful smile, one that hadn't been shared with anyone in years. "But, I'm sure you already knew that, right?"
As a precaution Sasuke grabbed Hinata's wrists and pulled her close to him so that she had no room to make any form of a dangerous move, and whispered in her ear, "Be careful, Hinata. You wouldn't want to do something that you know will make me angry." She started to pull away gently, but was forced back into the same uncomfortable position.
"Sasuke," He made a noise to tell her to continue. "Did you know, that this is the very first place you told Naruto that I wasn't the person he should be concerned about?" Sasuke's breath was caught short at the realization. "Why…Why did you say that? And why did you spare me?"
Sasuke shoved Hinata away from him with disgust, and started to say something but stopped. He didn't have any cruel words prepared for this question. She gave him that feeling he didn't like, vulnerability. "I spared you because you would have been a waste of my skill. I was looking for a challenge, one that you wouldn't be capable of delivering." Hinata smirked, his voice didn't have the same security or pride that it normally did. He was weakening.
"You didn't answer my other question," she urged.
"What does it matter to you now?" he asked. "Naruto is dead."
She shrugged and said, "I guess it was a memory I couldn't let go."
The surrounding air was colder, and the wind was picking up. Hinata wrapped her arms around her waist in attempt to keep warm. Little white puffs of snow were carried all throughout the sky, violently thrashed around by the wind. It was going to be a cold and blurry night, not the kind of weather meant for traveling.
"We had better find a place to camp tonight. A steady shelter would be best. We need to get out of the storm," he nodded in agreement as they left her beloved home.
The atmosphere of the hotel room they rented was dark and crowded. Sasuke and Hinata were the only people in there, but just the feeling of being caged in by four walls was enough to shorten both of their fuses. Sasuke was sleeping, Hinata was awkwardly beside him. They only had enough money for one room…with one bed and no other furniture besides a dresser. She was tempted to sleep on the floor, but then she would be in no condition to do anything the next day. So, she was just going to suck it up and try not to make a big deal out of it when he got too close.
A couple of times Hinata could feel the hair on her body stand when Sasuke's hot breath flowed around her neck. This wasn't the first time they had to share a bed, so why was it bothering her this much? It made no sense to her. But, she was grateful that it wasn't summer. The nights during summer were always weird; he felt the need to take off his shirt so he wouldn't get 'too hot.'
As long as he kept his distance, and his shirt on, she should be able to handle the situation. The only issue was that the sheets were too thin and she was freezing. Every time a small breeze entered the room through the cracks in the walls, she would shake and curl up into a tight ball. Once while doing this she must have woken Sasuke, because he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his body. Hinata's face turned bright red under the blanket of the night and her muscles tightened. When she felt the heat radiating off of his body and onto hers, she relaxed and let it be.
Sasuke felt her reaction, smirked, and moved his mouth close to her ear. He whispered, "You see, Hinata? I'm not as bad as you think, even I have something to offer you," Intentional or not, Sasuke's voice was seductive. "Everyone deserves a second chance…"He trailed off, playfully tugging at the seams of her shirt.
Hinata scoffed and pushed his hands away. He was having another one of those teenage-boy moments. He may be a genius on and off of the battlefield, but every boy has a time where they need some positive attention from a girl…no matter who it is. But, he should know by now that she wasn't going to be the one who gave it to him. The only feeling she had toward him was pure hatred.
"If that's all you have me around for, then why didn't you just keep Saukura or Ino alive? They would have gladly accepted." He chuckled at her comment and repositioned his arm around her.
"Aw, don't be like that Hinata," She could hear him smiling as he pleaded. "Just once, and who knows…you may enjoy it."
She groaned in disapproval, "Ugh, no Sasuke. Not tonight, or any other night,"
"Hinata, only one…just one small kiss," This was going to take longer then usual. "I'm just curious, that's all!" he purred while lightly kissing the back of her ear, lowering his lips down to her neck.
She could feel her body weakening, it was working. That's a scary thought!
"Damn it, Sasuke…" Hinata's words were barely audible as they escaped her mouth.
He grew tired of waiting. Sasuke pushed himself up and hovered over Hinata, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. His aggressive movements caused Hinata to lay flat on her back, eyes skeptical, body stiff.
"Really, Sasuke," She questioned. "Are you really going to do this? Would taking advantage of me really satisfy you?" Her pail eyes bored into his, "That would end your game. After you reach the finish line…you can't go back."
Sasuke thought it over for a few moments, not so sure he should continue.
He sighed and looked at Hinata with a disappointed expression. "You sure know how to kill the mood," Hinata smiled to herself. She had won. Sasuke flopped over beside her in defeat, his ego badly wounded.