The Time of the Butterfly
Hinata was sitting in the middle of the dark forest, crying. Her knees were drawn up to her chin, and she had her arms crossed on them, with her head down. The only light was from the full moon and the glittering fireflies. The pale light made her alabaster face ghostly, and the tears on her cheeks shone in the moonlight. She cried harder; she didn't even have a place to go.
Flashback
Hinata was walking through the compound to meet her father. As she rounded a corner. The frightened scream of a small girl caught her attention. She ran in the direction of the yell, and cams across two Hyuugas, one an elder and the other no more than a child. The elder male was kicking the girl harshly, without restraint.
"Wretched girl, you should know better than to get in the way of the Main Branch. Look where you're going."
The girl only cried harder. She turned her head, and Hinata saw the curse seal etched into her forehead. This was so wrong. Before Hinata could think, she raced into the scene, getting between the two and blocking the incoming kick. She lashed back out at the elder, knocking him down. He hadn't been expecting her, or he would have blocked.
"Why, you wench. Filthy scum…you aren't even fit to be heir.
Hiashi, looking for Hinata, walked in on the scene. He saw a small Branch member, behind his daughter, an elder council member on the ground, and Hinata in the Jyuuken stance, breathing hard.
"HINATA!" he screamed, storming forward and taking hold of his seventeen year old daughter by her hair.
"How dare you attack a member of the council, you little bitch."
He lifted the girl off the ground by a fistful of hair, making her elicit a scream. He punched Hinata in the shoulder, causing her to yelp again.
"You are done here. I never want to see your wretched face again."
Lifting the young heir higher, he pulled his fist back and punched her right in the face, never letting go of her hair. She flew back, his fist ripping the handful of hair out, and she hit the side of a building. She slid down the wall and slumped on the ground, whimpering.
"And don't you ever show your face here again." Hiashi spat at her, throwing the fistful of waist-length hair at her.
Getting up, she ran as fast as her injuries would allow, the last thing she saw was the look on that girl's face, a mix of gratitude and horror. She ran through the gates of the village and deep into the woods. It was already nightfall, and she slammed her back against a tree, sliding down it and sobbing.
End flashback
Hinata cried softly now, the bruises already forming, fingering the patch where her hair had been ripped out. She shivered, she had left with only the clothes on her back, and she had chosen not to wear her jacket tonight. The night chill made her skin tingle. A new wave of tears came, and she sobbed quietly in the night.
-
Shino couldn't sleep. So he did the one thing that could calm him, he took a nighttime stroll out into the woods. Slipping on his shoes, he grabbed his green hoodie, putting it on over his black shirt. He left the hood down, yawning slightly behind his collar. Taking to the trees, he headed to the outskirts of the village, for the forest where the fireflies glittered.
-
Hinata feebly tried to stop crying, sitting in patch of bright moonlight, watching the fireflies around her. She shivered again, and rubbed her arms up and down. She winced when she hit the fresh bruise. Her attempts failed, and new tears formed. She sunk lower, feeling the fireflies float around her, the dim green lights shining off her tears. A twig cracking causes her to snap her head up, scanning the darkness, not bothering to use her eyes. At first she saw nothing, but something caught the moonlight, and she saw too circular flashes. She wiped her eyes and looked again.
"Shino?"
Shino stepped into the clearing.
"Hinata? What happened?" he said, walking towards her.
Hinata just shuddered, new sobs forming in her throat. She hid her face as the sobs racked her body. Shino went over to her, taking a seat on the ground. He then noticed she wore no jacket, and in the pale moonlight, he could see a dark bruise forming on her porcelain skin. He knew it was a cold night.
Hinata looked up at Shino when she felt his arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her against him. She saw herself reflected in his dark lenses, her paleness amplified by the moon's glow.
"Hinata? Are you alright?" he asked softly.
"Oh, Shino." She cried, before burying her face in his shirt. He listened as she recounted what happened. He took off his green hoodie and draped it over her shoulders. Hinata wrapped the garment around her tightly, taking in the scent of Shino, a moist earthy smell.
"Hinata, you can stay with me tonight. We don't have an extra bed, but it's better than sleeping out here."
Shino stood up, turning to her. Hinata nodded, getting up, Her legs gave out underneath her, sending her hurtling back down. She screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the impact that never came. She felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist, and Shino pulled her to him. Without thinking twice about it, he scooped the weary girl into his arms, and she fisted her hand into his shirt. He carried her home.
When he had gotten there, the girl, wrapped in the ridiculously oversized sweatshirt, had fallen asleep. He called upon his insects, having them open the door. Walking in, he quietly nudged it shut with his foot. Turning around, he came face-to-face with his father.
Shibi had about to make a comment about Shino sneaking in with a girl, but he quickly registered the worried look on his face, and recognized who the girl in his arms was.
"Go put her in bed," he whispered, "and then you can explain what happened."
Shino nodded, taking her to his room. Laying her in his bed, he dug up some clothes for her to wear. He laid them on the bed and gently awoke her.
"Hinata? I have some clothes for you to change into. I'll be back soon."
Hinata nodded, and he left.
-
Shino went back out to his father, and they spoke in hushed whispers.
"What happened?" Shibi asked.
Shino growled in his distaste. "Her father threw her out, disowned her."
"Why was she so beat up?"
"Her father. He beat on her before throwing her into a wall. He ripped out her hair. There are large bruises on her arms."
"Why? I knew Hiashi was a little…well…unstable…but what , pray tell, did she do that sent him over the edge?"
"She protected a young Branch girl from being beat my a council elder. She defended herself and the child, and Hiashi took it out on her. She has nothing with her. She may have to stay here for a while."
"That's fine. As long if it's alright with her."
Shino nodded. "Goodnight, father."
"Goodnight, Shino."
-
Hinata rubbed her eyes, sitting up after Shino shut the door. She looked at the clothes laid out for her; an oversized t-shirt with a washed out beetle, resembling a kikai, on the front. The sweatpants looked big, but she could roll them. Getting off the bed, she slipped off her clothes, removing her chest bindings so she could examine the bruises underneath in the mirror. She winced. She got dressed as quickly as her sore body would allow. Hinata was just finishing rolling the waistline of the pants when Shino knocked at the door.
"Hinata? Can I come in?"
"Yes."
She had her clothes in a neat pile on top of the dresser, and crawled back into the large bed. Shino came in.
"My father said that it is alright if you stay here. You don't have to if you don't want to."
Hinata was sitting up in the bed, and Shino could see how his huge shirt dwarfed Hinata. He could also see that she had her chest unbound. He quickly averted his gaze.
"Shino?" she asked tentatively.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
He watched her lay down, and sat in silence for a moment. He then went over to the bed, taking an extra pillow.
"I'll be out on the couch. Don't hesitate to come get me if you need me."
He turned to leave, but stopped when she touched his hand.
"Please," she whispered, "Will you stay with me?"
Shino gulped. If only she knew how much he wanted to.
" I don't think that would be a good idea…"
"Please Shino? I'm scared."
Shino couldn't say no after that. He replaced the pillow and crawled under the blanket with Hinata. He put his arms behind his head, watching the girl doze off.
"Shino?" she whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you." she curled against him slightly, putting a hand on his arm. He watched her sleep for a while, then removed his glasses, folding them and putting the on the nightstand, and let sleep overcome him, as well.