Chapter 1

Reminisce

The lights shift in rhythmic of the music with each beat. Unknown faces obscured in the shadows, almost hallow with only the dim lights that are just enough to see around the room. Bodies that are grinding with each other are synced with loud music that fills up the air. The dark corners of the room, where people drag each other to fill there desires, without even much of privacy.

The whole place was making Hinata nuisance. The stench of alcohol and sweat floating in the room was a normal thing for such activity.

She was asking herself again why she was here; the whole place was not something that complements her personality at all. She wasn't a party girl to begin with, nor was she a hooker to find some good faces to spend the night with. She wasn't much of a social person that talks non-stop just to fill the silence. If she had the choice, she wouldn't even be here at all. But there's no use in complaining now, she needed this job to support herself after demanding her freedom from her father.

"Hinata don't just stand there and serve the orders!" said Anko who was behind the counter, busy serving drinks for customers.

"H-hai!" Hinata yelled back not even sure if Anko had heard her from all the noise in the bar.

Yes, she works in a bar. Hinata needed a good pay for her everyday expenses to survive without support from her family. Now that she's all independent. Unfortunately, working as a waitress in a bar called 'Red Eyes' was too much for her shy demure.

Picking up the tray above the counter, she made her way across the room to deliver the drinks for each table. She was doing her best to balance the burden in hand while ungracefully dodging sweaty bodies in the dance floor.

This is now her second week on the job. Each day she was building up enough courage not to quit, just trying to get use to this kind of work wasn't easy for someone like her.

After serving the last table she went to help Anko in mixing drinks, it was always a full pack in weekends, and customers went in and out nonstop. Hinata could feel a head ache coming. No class today and tomorrow so at least she could get a good sleep after work.

Her shift would end at eleven in the evening, twenty minutes before getting out of this place.

"Hinata I think you can go now. Ino is here early, so you get out early m'key?"

Hinata sighed in relief, maybe tonight she could get to bed earlier than usual. "Arigato Anko-san."

"I told you not to add 'san', it's just Anko. We've known each other for about two weeks now. You're not bad you just need a little backbone."

"Hai A-anko," she said with a shy smile. Anko was intimidating and nobody would want to be in her bad side, even drunk customers are scared of her. Working under her wing wasn't bad at least you don't get harass all the time by drunken male customers. She remembers last week when a guy grope her in the rear but lucky her Anko was there to kick the bastard out of the bar.

After removing her apron Hinata went to the back were the employees' belongings are kept. Putting her coat and scarf on, she went behind the counter to say goodbye to Anko.

"Im going now, Anko." Accompanied with a small bow.

"Bye kid! good work today and be careful on your way home!" Anko waved her hand and started to shu Hinata off before serving drinks again.

Hinata took her bag, ready to go home. On her way through the back door she spotted Ino.

"Hey Hina!" Shouted the blond beauty who happened to be Hinata's classmate and also co-worker.

"Ino-chan, good-evening. I'm off early today."

Ino pated her head affectionately and the black-haired girl blushed prettily in respond.

"My cute Hina is working so hard. Now go straight home and off to bed okay?" Ino said as if talking to a five year old little girl. Considering that they both are at the same age of fifteen in high school.

Hinata giggled at Ino's way of talking to her and just gave a nod for a good bye and proceeded on her walk home.

She walks in the alley away from the noisy establishment. The streets were empty of people, save for a few people who likely live in the nighttime for fun. Peeking at her phone she noticed it was 11:50. She laced her fingers together and stretched them upward to lose some knoted muscles.

There were no stars tonight, she though and hurrying her pace while processing the event that accorded weeks ago. She recalls her argument with her father, or more likely her father berating her with disapproval while she fidgeted the whole time.

The pressure that was building up in years made her brave enough to go in her father's office, only to say what she always wanted. She said, to her stoic father, that she wanted to live separate from the family. That she didn't want to be a puppet to play the role as the future head of the Hyuuga, just to please him. For many years she've done everything she could to please her father, to prove her worth but all was at fail because whatever she accomplish wasn't enough for him. Neji tried to reason with her about her so called, 'independence' but she was a big girl now and she wanted to change herself. Hinata knew the life outside could either be sweet or better, that it wasn't a stupid decision. She loves her cousin dearly and knew Neji would worry about if she coulf survive without support from the hyuugas or not. And then there's Hanabi, her little sister, who was like a daughter to her more than a sister, after their mother had died in child birth. She was worried of her the most. Scared that her sister would hate her, that she would think she had abandoned her. But to her surprise Hanabi was okay with it, in the whole family Hanabi was always there when their father would scold her or when other people would judge her. Her sister understands the most, how important this is for her, that this was for the best. The tears were there during the farewell but at least she didn't leave home with bitterness and doubt.

After a day in her new apartment paid from her personal savings she then set out her search for a part time job while going to school. That's when Ino recommended the Bar, where she had been working in for about year now. The bar, 'Red Eyes' that her friend Anko manages across town. She didn't even consider it at first. She was a minor to begin with, minors working in a bar was a no no, but Ino said the location was across the town so no one will recognize them as long that they change from there uniform before work. The expenses for food, shelter, and tuition were something she could not afford without a good paying part time job. So lying about her age at work, and she also lied about her job at the bar when her cousin Neji asked. Her father will only scorn her even more if he knew the truth, but she needed this and besides Ino was always there to help her all the-

Her musing of the past was cut when a sound was heard. Her neck snap quickly in the direction where she heard it. It had come from a dark alley were the groaning sound originated. She thought her mind was just playing tricks on her, from exhaustion from the long day.

Hinata was contemplating on whealther to see if it was a person in pain, or some hurt stray cat or dog. She didn't want to leave if that's the case, to leave someone in pain if she could help in a way. Though she knew the danger in nights like this, but she was Hinata and her conscience would not let her be.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath and made up her mind. Just a little peek would not hurt, she thought.

The sound begun to fade and panic was creeping in her skin. She was getting worried if she was too late and rushes her steps towards the dark alley. She squints her eyes, as to see better with only little lighting from the moon. She could feel something wet in the ground cement with each step she took.

Hinata could see something, or someone, at the corner of the alley leaning against the wall. Now, not so sure if she could do this, but mentally slapping herself from backing out at the last minute.

She gripped her bag against her chest as she got closer for a better look.

She gasped in horror of what she saw.

There was a man bleeding to death, she wasn't even sure if the guy was still alive. Maybe she was too late, she could feel the tears coming in. Should she call the police first, or check for pulse? Or maybe go back at the bar to tell Anko or Ino? Whatever decision she made, she should better hurry. In any second if the guy was still alive, he could die at any moment. After her internal struggle, she ended up with 'check the pulse first'. If he was alive, then she'll just take him in the hospital and go straight home like Ino told her. "Calm down Hinata the last thing you need is to scream in panic." She murmurs to herself.

She moved closer, then she reached a shaking hand to the man, whose head was bowed, making the situation scarier. Before she could touch him, a callous, blooded hand took hold of her wrist, in a tight, almost bruising grip.

Whatever calmness Hinata had left, faded away in that very moment.

She screamed in panic, and unknowingly hit the man with her bag.

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