Untitled
Warning: Violence, rape, drugs, alcohol, curse words and abuse.
Rating: M; well for dark, violence and sexual themes.
Pairing: No, I don't think so.
Disclaimer: No, I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 1
Flip Side
"Useless piece of shit." The man muttered as he walked away from the bruised, wounded and bleeding girl on the wooden floor.
The girl, Hinata stayed still, breathing slowly because if she did it rapidly, it would hurt her broken rib. She learned firsthand that it hurts like hell.
"Onee-chan," a smaller girl muttered from the door across her.
She smiled at her, "Don't worry, Hanabi-chan, nee-chan's just resting here," she said, with her weak voice, "Come on, get inside, I'll be there as soon as I'm done here," she tried to make her voice more cheerful and smile a little bigger (though it hurts her cheeks doing so) to reassure her scared little sister. But she thinks it didn't get the job done because her sister's eyes shined brighter with tears.
Her eleven year old little sister walked to where she is, holding on to a teddy bear. "Why does Tou-san do this?" she asked, tears threatening to drop from her beautiful lavender eyes.
Why indeed, Hinata asked herself that question many times. Her best bet is because her father hated their mother for leaving them (but it wasn't her or her mother's fault that she died of cancer, wasn't it?) and she heard a lot of times that she looks exactly like her mother, with her dark hair with the faint accent of bluish-purple while Hanabi had their father's brown hair. It started off as verbal abuse which practically killed her self-esteem but eventually evolved to physical abuse—first slaps, turned to punches and kicks to knifes and combination. She's just thankful that her father spares her little sister with his hatred for their mother.
"Don't cry, imouto. Nee-chan just slipped on the floor." She lied, "You know how clumsy I can be," she smiled again. "Go on, Hana-chan, go to sleep, I'll be there in a few," as soon as I clean the blood off the floor, she finished in her head. "We got school tomorrow,"
Her sister reluctantly walked back to their room.
She sighed. I need to get up immediately before Tou-san comes back if I want to be able to get some sleep before going to school.
School, she smiled. If most of the kids hated going to school, Hinata loved going to school. It was a place where she can pretend that her life was okay.
"So? How was your weekend?" Ino, one of her classmates and close friend asked.
"You know same old-same old." Hinata answered vaguely. Well, it's the truth.
"Spill it!" Ino demanded.
"Spill what?"
"I thought you had a date with Kiba?"
Oh, that. Ino asked her last Friday to come along with the other girls on a public bath but she refused and blurted out that she had plans with Kiba. Truth is, she's not allowed to go out of the house, except for school, especially during the weekends. She could sneak out, sure, but the thought of what could her father do to her when she returns, and she also doesn't wanna risk leaving her little sister alone with their father.
"Date with Kiba!?" Sakura, from somewhere in the room, exclaimed. "I knew you this would happen sooner or later! Oh, do tell me!"
"Well?" Ino urged.
"Well, I gotta cancel, my sister got sick," she lied smoothly, praying that she doesn't get karma for lying.
"Oh, that sucks."
"It's quantity 3x plus 4y minus 2z over x plus y."
"That's right, Hyuuga!"
Hinata smiled as she took her seat. Another thing she likes about school is teachers are generous in praising and acknowledging skills.
*Slap*
She cease the urge to groan in pain as she received a familiar slap on her wounded back, she just hopes it doesn't bleed, "Hinata-chan, that's amazing! You saved me again, dattebayo!"
She smiled at Naruto who was about to be called to answer earlier but she raised her hand and grabbed Sensei Iruka's attention.
"Now, we'll start on more challenging polynomials."
The whole class groaned except Hinata, Sakura, Shikamaru (who is sleeping) and the class Romeo, Sasuke Uchiha.
As soon as the lunch bell ringed, Hinata dashed out of the classroom to the infirmary.
"Sumimasen," she called out after sliding the door.
"Not again," she heard as soon as she walked in.
"Gomenasai, Kabuto-kun," she lower her head.
Kabuto, the school nurse just shook his head while waving his hand dismissively. "Get in here so we can start,"
"Hai," she said, "Arigatou, Kabuto-kun."
She took a seat on the bed and Kabuto followed closing the curtains after him.
"You're bleeding," he noted. She started to take off her purple jacket and she saw the red patch on the back side of the left shoulder.
"Gomenasai,"
He shook his head, "You don't have to apologize," and started to wipe the blood off her skin, seeing old and new cuts and bruises. "I don't get why you put up with this."
She lowered her head but didn't answer; she knows that he's just thinking out loud. He knows why she's putting up with this. This conversation happened way too many times.
It was in PE class that Hinata's body first gave up. She collapsed to the ground and was barely conscious. Her classmates think that it's just because of the heat; especially she's wearing a jacket though it's too hot. So they tried to pull her jacket off which she refused with passion. Good thing Kiba was there and told everyone to back off. She asked to be brought to the infirmary instead.
Kiba volunteered giving her a weary look.
"Are you sure about this?" he asked.
Kiba knows her secret. They've known each other since preschool so he noticed the change in her personality after her mother's death. He thought it was just a phase but one day his sensitive nose smelled blood on her, no it was not the girls' monthly blood—because they were only ten years old at that time. She didn't act out of the ordinary that day but the smell of blood is there; which is weirder. But more days after that, the blood seemed to be part of her smell.
Finally, he asked her about it, she looked shocked when he mentioned it. He just looked and she started tearing up, muttering sorry's. It broke his heart. He wanted to tell someone, anyone. But Hinata passionately refused. She said she didn't want to be parted with Hanabi when social services intervene. Running away is out of the question since she can't run away by herself and leave Hanabi alone with their father; nor she's capable enough to fend for the both of them. She just needs to put up with everything until she turns eighteen, so she can find a job and take her sister with her. "As long as Tou-san doesn't hurt Hanabi-chan, I can bear with it." is what she said.
"I'll just tell him I fell somewhere." Hinata said, trying not to wince in pain.
Kiba just shook his head and silently escorted his limping friend.
"Sumimasen," Kiba called out.
"What's wrong?" a bespectacled young man asked. Judging by his long white coat, they guess he's the school nurse. It was weird since he seems to be just a few years older than they are.
"She almost passed out during PE. I think she's running for a cold." Kiba explained, Hinata is too occupied, trying to stay upright standing. "Aren't you a little young to be the nurse?"
He smiled a little, "Aah." He said, "That's true," he confirmed vaguely. "Alright, just lay her on the bed." The boy silently complied, "You can return to your class, Inuzuka-san," said the gray-haired nurse.
"But," Kiba reluctantly looked at Hinata.
"Daijoubu, Kiba-kun," Hinata said, reassuringly, as well as trying not to look suspicious to the young nurse, "I'll see you later, okay?"
"O..kay." he gave his friend one last look before walking to the sliding door.
"So, what seems to be the problem?" the young nurse said as soon as the door slid close.
"Uh, just that time of the month, you see." she lied, lying down so she could look at the ceiling instead of the curious nurse next to her, making her miss the skeptical look in his face.
"Are you sure?" he asked when she nodded, shifting on the bed, still trying not to look at him, he said, "I see you're bleeding but I don't think it's that kind of bleeding,"
Hinata's panic was visible, "I'm sorry!" she said, standing up—making her wince with the sudden action. "I'm sorry, please don't tell anyone!" she begged, bowing her head, ignoring the pain in her shoulder where she was bleeding.
"Tell me why I shouldn't." he demanded.
She looked at him though tears were blurring her vision. She told him what she told Kiba. "It's just for two more years," she said, "Maybe one, if I can find a decent job that could feed both me and my sister after I graduate next year, we could go away earlier." her eyes wandered elsewhere, probably visualizing how better life could be.
"Kabuto," the young nurse said.
"Huh?" her questioning eyes found his bespectacled ones.
"That's my name," he said, "Come, we need to clean your wounds." the pale-eyed teen looked a bit reluctant but he just gave her a hard stare and she started to silently unzip her jacket, revealing her black netted shirt. She blushed to herself when he lifted it up exposing her bare back, but she kept her mouth shut.
"Your sister is lucky to have you." Kabuto said after minutes of silence. She hmm-ed but didn't comment on it. "My experience is not as bad as yours but I wish I had someone like you when I was on that road."
Hinata's eyes widen comprehending Kabuto's words. "You—?" she tried to say, now looking at him directly.
The young man smiled faintly and slightly shook his head dismissively. "You can count on me, Hinata-san, I'll keep your secret and help you deal with these," he said, touching her bruised upper arm. Then he turned away, tending back to her wound on her shoulder.
"Arigatou, Kabuto-kun," she said after a moment of silence.
He smiled at her choice of honorific.
"Arigatou, Kabuto-kun." Hinata said as soon as she was all wrapped up.
Kabuto waved his hand dismissively and walked to his table. She was about to step out of the infirmary when he called her name. She looked at him curiously as he opened his drawer, "Here," he said, tossing something at her.
She blindly caught it and when she got a good look on it, she blushed seeing it was cinnamon rolls. She loves it so much, it could make her blush (not that she doesn't blush with practically anything), she beamed at the young nurse, yelling "Thanks!" then turned to the sliding door, "See you when I see you!"
Kabuto nodded and waved her dismissively.
Thanks to Kabuto-kun, I can save my lunch money again today. She headed to the cafeteria to have lunch with her friends.
On her last turn to reach the cafeteria, she almost bumped into someone. Luckily, they both caught their footing before slamming to each other.
She looked at the person to apologize when she realized who it was, "U-Uchiha-san! Gomenasai!"
Sasuke and her have the same group of friends but they don't socialize much, truth be told, she doesn't feel at ease with the boy, he has the same aura as her father and it doesn't make her very comfortable.
"Hn."
He doesn't seem to be angry so she dismissed herself, "Well, I better go, lunch is almost over,"
Hinata arrived at their usual table seeing Sakura and Ino bantering with each other—normal; Shino and Chouji eating quietly—normal. Naruto and Kiba trying to beat each other with something—normal; Shikamaru taking a nap—normal. But Tenten and Lee without her cousin-?
"Where's Neji-niisan?" she asked, trying not to panic with her cousin's absence. Could it be he somehow knew about it?
"Oh, he left during third period, someone called him and I think it was an emergency because he looked a bit panicked," Tenten said, "But she told me to tell you that he needs to talk to you,"
Hinata paled, her mind rushing with the possibilities of what could've happened. Who could've called Neji-niisan? Could it be Hanabi-chan? No, I told her to call me first before Nii-san about everything. She unconsciously fished out her phone to see it was dead.
"Darn," she said under her breath, biting her thumb nail.
"Is everything alright?" Tenten asked worriedly looking at Hinata who just cussed uncharacteristically and looks so anxious right now.
Hinata tried and failed to smile at her friend reassuringly when she saw that everyone was looking at her worriedly and weirdly.
"I—" she started, but lies didn't came as fast in her head this time, "I gotta go!"
Hinata wasn't even that far from the cafeteria when she heard "Hey, Hina, wait up!" she wasn't surprised to hear Kiba's voice. She slowed down, but didn't stop. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked jogging with her.
"I.." she trailed off, "I don't know.." she said, willing herself not to start crying, "I think something happened and Hana was trying to reach me but I was in the infirmary and my phone died I think she was panicking and had no choice but to call Nii-san because we both agreed not to ask him since, you know,"
"Hey," Kiba said in a soothing voice, "Hey, Hinata, don't cry," he said, making her realize that she was indeed crying, "Calm down,"
"What if.." she asked, breathless, "..what if he knows?" she asked, panicking.
"Look," he stopped and held her gently but firmly in place to stop her from walking anxiously, "I don't think he knows," he said, "I know for sure that Neji would flip if he knew,"
Hinata looked gratefully at her friend, "Arigatou, Kiba-kun."
"Now, take my phone and text Shino if whatever happens," he said, smiling a bit seeing her less anxious face, "You know he worries more than I do."
She managed a small smile and nodded her head, "Tell everyone not to worry, especially Shino-kun,"
She never really discussed anything about her home life with Shino, but somehow, she feels like he knows something. She never really asked for sure and he doesn't offer anything either. They just have this harmony and mutual respect and understanding with each other.
She was about to walk out when Kiba said, "Just be okay, okay?" she smiled at him and he walked back to the cafeteria.
She started walking on her way. When someone said, "What are you hiding, Hyuuga?"
She froze in place, recognizing that voice. Uchiha-san.