Complete Summary: AU They never had a healthy relationship. So when the two found love, they became clueless as what to do with it. Join Sasuhina on their love rollercoaster.
Warning: Slight Language. Television rating equivalent: TV-14: DL (again, minor). Decent comprehension skills required (or dictionary)
Read all the way for better effect.
Hush-Hush
It started off as an ordinary Saturday in October. Cool crisp fall air, crunchy fallen leaves, and the persistent smell of tea followed the young Uchiha wherever he went. Because of a certain blonde's antics, Sasuke had no choice but to walk around in his Karate attire. Luckily, he managed to get hold of some worn-out sneakers before leaving.
Literally falling apart, the shoe offered him no comfort. He had to keep an extremely low stride. Naruto was known for his pranks, so it did not come as astonishing when his casual clothes disappeared from his locker and the troublemaker was nowhere in sight. As he strode down a slope, he could hear the gawking of the scattered brain females he passed. Trying to keep his eye from twitching he kept his eavesdropping at minimum. However, he could not help it when a seventy year old woman remarked on how 'delicious' he looked. Hairs stood up on his neck.
Uzumaki Naruto would pay dearly. Self-conscious, the boy closed the front of his karate gi. What was usually a fifteen-minute walk doubled in time consumption but decreased by the same amount in tolerability. "Hey sweetheart you can grapple with me anytime." A slender arm snaked around his midsection. He did not have to look at her to know she was a bold beauty.
He simply sighed. Usually there would have been an immediate confrontation, but nowadays he didn't feel the need to put the police through any more hassle. "Sorry, but I'm already spoken for." Fortune finally smiled on him. Apparently she only had type three of the fan girl virus because she let him go without another word. As thanks to God, Buddha, and whatever other deities his mind could summon, he promised not to break Naruto's neck.
By the time, he got home, the rubber soles of the sneakers crumbled to the point it wasn't usable. One sneaker's tongue even fell out. Without a second thought, he threw them away. Those shoes had endured a lot. It was time to put them to rest.
Right away, he indulged in his studies. Throughout the afternoon Sasuke ignored the chiding of his mother for not bonding with her and the teasing of his perfect older brother who kept claiming his head would explode. Considering his mother's pursuit of bonding involved looking at naked baby pictures, soap operas, and poorly scripted 'reality' shows, he took his chances.
It was a quarter to six, meaning he had half an hour before he would be called to set the table. Just as Sasuke began to wrap up, his cell phone rang. When a picture of his adorable wallflower popped up, he smiled.
Dropping his studious and uptight demeanor, he answered, "Hanako."
Hanako, his girlfriend, represented everything he wanted. Cute, smart, and reserved, she attracted him like no other. This was why he didn't see any of the obvious signs. It took a full minute before she replied. "S-Sasuke?"
"Hm?" The boy asked.
"Can we talk?" In a quizzical tone, she continued, "Is that alright?"
For some reason his heart rate increased. He looked down at the carpeting. "We're talking now, aren't we?" He put his books back on the sloppy pile from which he had taken them. He froze when the unmistakable sounds of uneven breaths. He raised a brow. "Are you okay?" Suddenly the girl became talking one hundred words a second in a shaky hardly audible voice. Urgency ran through him, "Hanako?" She supposed obviously hearing his anxious tone. "Sasuke, can we meet somewhere?" He heard the stress on each syllable and the raw emotion gathered in her throat and could not deny her. "Where?" He asked softly.
After hanging up, Sasuke snuck out of his bedroom window and jogged to the park. When he got there, he saw Hanako on a swing. By the look of it, she had been there for quite a while. Smiling devilishly to himself, he took the back entrance. In less than a minute, he was behind her. Without fair warning, he embraced her from behind. The Uchiha felt her stiffen and heard a gasp. Before she began struggling, he bent his head and positioned his lips just above hers. Arms moved loosely around her neck as he gave the most tender kiss of his life. Despite the insensitive response received in return, he spent a few more minutes loving her mouth.
Sasuke, engrossed in his delusions, saw nothing unusual. He should have known. It had been a week since they last spoke.
"Hana-chan, I missed you." At that moment, he realized he dug in too deep. The two of them froze.
Sasuke couldn't believe what just came out of his mouth. It would not sound like much to any spectator; a mere stranger could never guess the significance of his words. An 'I miss you' equated to only one thing in an Uchiha man's language.
An unspoken 'I love you' hung between them. The wetness in his girlfriend's eyes told him she knew it too. He saw a smile tug at her lips and his heart did a flip. "Hana-chan?" She questioned. He felt a blush rising to his cheeks.
Not only did he give the girl a practical love confession, but he also gave her a cutesy nickname. He couldn't deny his words. That thing in his chest wouldn't let him.
Hanako erupted in a fit of giggles. Feeling that she reciprocated the feelings through her laughter, he eased. That delicate laughter of hers was his undoing. Slipping his fingers into those midnight tresses, he leaned down for another kiss. That time, she kissed him back. A goodbye kiss, he knew now, a sweet last resort. It was a mere touching of the lips displaying the final mutual feelings between the two. He had given a few himself and he hated how much he became excited over it.
In haste, the girl broke the kiss. She jumped to her feet defensively. "H-How can you d-do that?" Her voice shook worse that it did before. "H-How c-can you suddenly say that," she asked in her confusion apparent. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"We haven't seen e-each other in a least a w-week." She clarified.
He stared at her. "I know language isn't your best subject, so I'll spare you the stress. 'I missed you' is what most people say when they haven't seen someone in a while," he teased deliberately misreading the question. Streetlights hovered over them as the last bit of daylight disappeared. She fidgeted. It had to have been after six. She always swore she had to be home by five. Why was the girl breaking her strict curfew?
"Why did you call me here Hanako?" His onyx eyes bore into the female figure in front of him. Ghost white eyes quivered. She hugged herself.
"Did you get into a fight with your dad again?" His inquiry wasn't well received. She turned away from him completely. He stepped over the swing and neared toward her. "Let me guess. You got another eighty eight on a test?" The Hyuga tensed further. Did he hit the mark? She turned back around and stepped back realizing how close they were. Hanako touched her swollen lips and another blush crept on her face. He couldn't suppress the smile creeping on his lips.
Somehow, she blossomed into a cuter version of herself.
He realized they'd accomplish nothing with her sudden roundabout manner.
Therefore, it was up to him. Brushing her cheek lightly with his pointer finger. The flirtatious gesture got him an 'eep'. He chuckled and then offered gentle words of encouragement. Sasuke didn't even know he possessed such empathy. The girl made him soft and with each kindness he gave her, he gradually absorbed it into his disposition. As she relaxed, he too unwound. When he pulled her into another hug, he realized just how much he cared for her…how much trust he offered to that slowly dying relationship.
"I won't be able to meet you," she confessed.
"Is that why you're so sad?" He asked. "Was that what you and your dad argued about?"
"Yes…no."
"We can still see one another," he told her. She gave up her spot on his shoulder to give him a disbelieving look. "You have to vent your daddy issues some kind of way." Seeing her shocked look made him give lopsided smile, "If you want, we can go and elope." He heard her giggle.
Just when he thought their jubilancy would never end, Hanako snatched away from him. "I want a divorce!"
"We're not even married," he chuckled. Then understanding caught him at full blast.
He didn't know how long he had been standing there. The girl came from behind him and pulled out a bag that seemed to materialize from nowhere.
"My things." He stated knowingly easily taking the bag from the girl's pale, trembling hand. Casually she began to walk away, but his voice surely trembling with the betrayal and fury he felt, pulled her back in. "Tell me why."
He softened when he heard a choked sob erupting from the girl's mouth. Being enveloped in the darkness gave Hanako no upper hand. Those boiling emotions subsided.
"Hanako answer me." He saw her flinch. It didn't take long for those crocodile tears to fall down her eyes. Instantly he froze. If he knew what he knew now, he would've laughed at her.
'I-I c- c- c-can't." She gasped. "N-No more. Please n-no more." Her lips quivering she looked at him again. "Nothing I can say or do can make you happy." She shut her eyes and let out a raspy breath. Before he knew it, she was in his arms again. Idiot. "Let me go." All the rage he stored evaporated. Instinctively he knelt down to kiss her. Big mistake.
Hanako did everything all his exes hadn't the gall to do.
"It's over!" Without so much as a glance, she ran.
Confused, so very confused, the lad stood there. The only thing that occupied his attention was the wet stain on his shirt.
Despite all that had been said, he had missed her.
Stupid….stupid!
The poor device, unused, collected dust on his nightstand.
No one called him.
Nobody dared.
Since their breakup, the Uchiha had been in a shitty mood. Even the usually audacious Naruto avoided him. He exchanged jibes with random, meek, people. Practically everyone became his prey. Vulgarities passed through his throat.
Everyday, he wallowed in self-contempt. Maybe he had been too straightforward with her. Maybe she was too scared to call him. Every time those weary eyelids finally closed, a picture of Hanako's red puffy face flashed. Soon, he became worried more than anything else. The Hyuga seemed reluctant to end the relationship. Suspicions intensified when he called her and instead of that melodious voice, he heard: This phone number has been disconnected.
Like a good, caring, boyfriend Sasuke became concerned. He neglected to accept the notion that he had been dumped. D-U-M-P-E-D.
Stupid Uchiha pride…useless Hyuga pride.
When he consulted his brother, a detective, Itachi simply shrugged. "No Hyuga has been reported missing."
"Are you sure?"
At that, Itachi raised a brow. "Is there something you'd like to confess to Sasuke?"
He glared at the older Uchiha, which only earned him a laugh. Tired of Itachi's teasing, he stood up to leave the man's bedroom. "Where are you going?"
"I'm heading over to the Hyuga complex." Sasuke stated matter a factually.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"And why not?"
"There's probably a reason why her phone is disconnected." Itachi reasoned. "Perhaps she has some family issues. You could make them worse by going there." Grunting Sasuke turned away. Outsiders were discouraged. By going there, he could get the Hyuga in a heap of trouble.
"Why don't you go out for a walk," his older brother suggested, "I'm sure she's fine."
Due to his suspension from the dojo (he broke some kid's nose), Sasuke had no way to unleash his frustration. Words could only do so much for that notorious temper the youth had inherited. Slowly, he gave in to his brother's words.
Aimlessly, Sasuke strolled. Soon evening took over and harsh bitter winds swept through the streets. A curse escaped those chapped lips.
Rubbing his arms, he looked for some shelter. The roaring of car engines and honks finally rang in his eyes. While the streets were only slightly littered, the hedonistic air exposed its urban-like qualities.
A dull ache in his heels told him how far he traveled. Weighing all his options, Sasuke believed it best to settle down in a quaint little shop to rest. From experience, he knew stressing oneself in his current condition would only complicate matters. He spotted several restaurants, small dealerships, and recreation centers most of which were closed. No soliciting signs hung all over the most relaxing establishments. He looked at the time. No buses ran at the current hour and taking the train was expensive. Clutching his cell phone, he pondered on whether to call Itachi. Finding the resolve to not swallow anymore of his pride, he continued his fruitless search.
Just as he was about to call it quits, he caught sight of a small motel. With his dashing looks, undoubtedly, he'd be able to obtain the pity of a maid or better yet a desk attendant. He was dead wrong. All the workers had been guys and the only one willing to was willing to do so for a certain exchange. "Creepy old man," Sasuke muttered leaving the warm and comfy motel.
Looking up, he noticed flashing neon colored words: Late Night Bowling Bash. Partially recalling a dopey blonde mentioning it, he went inside. The fee had been pocket change, literally. Considering Naruto's usual tastelessness, he expected it to be lame. To his surprise, the bowling alley emitted a festive air. Only a fraction of the partygoers actually bowled. Everyone else either danced, flirted, or chattered to their hearts content. However, he cared little for it. The only happiness brought on by the room was a nice, spongy, loveseat.
"I was wondering what the girls were gawking at," a familiar voice said. Sasuke opened his eyes groggily, not realizing he had been sleeping. "You nod off like that again and the girls will jump you."
Once his eyes focused, he realized it was Kiba. "Sasuke, man, I can't believe you decided to show!" The seventeen year old turned around to meet a merry Inuzuka. Okay, someone spiked the punch. Snide green-eyed Kiba happy to see any Uchiha?
"So how'd you get in?"
Sasuke blinked, "I just paid."
"They just let you in?" Kiba asked. When he nodded, the boy surprisingly laughed. Not liking the sight of Kiba hovered over him bellowing, he rose to his feet. "Man, we spent weeks working on those fake Ids and they just let you in, wait 'till we tell Naruto this!" Uncomfortably he allowed the doggish youth to pull him to the group.
Unlike Kiba, the blonde hadn't been shocked. "It's 'cause he's a pretty boy," Naruto grumbled. Aside from those two dopes, he wasn't acquainted with any one else in the group. Even with his status as junior president, he couldn't place any of them. They probably couldn't get anyone else in their school to come; only respectable people would decline.
It was a school night and those two were out partying. If he had even an ounce of his normal disposition, he threaten to rat them out. All that anxiousness in him had been blown out from his long hours of walking. He looked at his cell phone again. It was a quarter to twelve. He left his home nearly six hours ago.
"It might not look like it, but this party had been a real downer when we got here," Kiba's voice broke through the music. "A wonderful flower and her crew came in and spiced up the joint."
"Those chicks sure are pretty," a boy said, "I came only because I heard they'd be here."
"This guy," the Inuzuka claimed, "Was about to start a fight with the janitor 'cause he stepped in a puddle. Then realized he made it!"
"Those four are mouth watering," another one said, "I heard they stirred up some trouble at a few clubs northeast."
"What kinda trouble," Naruto asked.
"All the guys dropped dead," he answered sipping his drink.
Kiba howled. "Must've been old," Sasuke quipped.
"You're blind." They had no idea.
Naruto had been pretty quiet throughout the whole affair. He kept giving him unsure looks in the corner of his eye. "He just too lazy to look."
"I'm going to introduce you to them." Kiba said as he began pulling him along. Sasuke pulled himself out the boy's grasp. Dang it, could he just mope like any normal teenager for once? All he wanted to do was to drink his coca-cola in peace, sit down in a comfy seat, and take a bucket worth of aspirin. Or better yet, where the heck was the booze?
Being around blissful and hair-brained college students made him feel sluggish and miserable. He aged one hundred years in just the twenty minutes he had been there. Little did he know, lady luck hadn't enough of her Uchiha Sasuke roast fest.
"Don't do that," Naruto said.
"Why not?" Kiba asked.
"He might get his heart broken." Some random guy answered, "Those girls really are gorgeous even Sasuke won't stand a chance."
The boy snorted, "All the more reason to get them acquainted."
"I'm not in the mood," Sasuke hissed. "You will be when you see them!" Kiba countered.
"I doubt it," the boy groaned, "The last girl you 'acquainted' me with turned out to be nuts." His thoughts lingered to another ex of his. The teenager had been a disciple to Saint Neurotic. She had been baptized by the priest, Bizarre, a patron to the house Insalubrious. (that's a result of taking Kakashi's Advanced English Class) He let her know it too. Just thinking about it made him age yet another century. By the kindness of someone up there being sensible, the delusional chit drew her attentions to some other poor sap. Every time Kiba 'spread the wealth' and displayed some sort of decency, calamity struck.
"I'm not setting you up; I just want you to meet them that's all."
"That's all," he asked doubt underlying each word, "You won't leave me to get guzzled by any beastly tart?"
"I have no idea what you just said," Kiba said scratching his head. "But if you're in trouble, I'll distract them with my charms." That wasn't comforting at all. If it hadn't been by the coaxing(mocking) he received by other guys, he wouldn't have so much as given them a glance. When he did, he heard Kiba's laugh. His mouth fell open.
Through the chaos the strangers around him created, he spotted her.
Wearing tight black jeans and a white tank top was Hanako, his supposedly coy ex, dancing up a storm in the midst of horny teenagers. She grinned. She laughed. No giggles just whole-hearted laughter. That time she turned all the way around, eyes glittering and posture erect. Just then, she exposed that 'upper crust' side to her. She exhibited all that a Hyuga should be. When their eyes met, his heart began to beat wildly. Outraged and betrayed, he stood there gapping. A small smirk rose on her lips as she twirled around and showed off her curves.
She-Devil.
Cool as ice, he speed-walked out of there.
A lie, the whole relationship had been a lie. As his ego crumbled, his thoughts had been of how stupid he had been. He sympathized toward that…that man eater!
Unbeknownst to him, Naruto had followed him. "I'm sorry."
He turned around, "What?"
"I knew she was going to be here," the blonde confessed.
Surprisingly, he didn't yell. He offered no more indication he was upset. If he hadn't been so emotionally diluted, he would've given himself a standing ovation.
"Tell me more." For the sake of his pride, he needed to fill in the blanks. He needed to feel it hadn't been his fault. In the darkest crevasses of his mind, a voice begged him not to ask. However, that voice could no longer be trusted so he pushed it back.
The Uchiha listened to his friend's tales of the infamous Toxic Blossom also known as the Thorny Flower, Baby-faced brute, number one party enthusiast, and white-eyed wizard. All of which were behind her back. To her face they called her either by her given name or Hana-chan.
Despite her reputation as both a heartbreaker and an imp, she and her hot posse were well received. While Hanako wasn't the prettiest, she was the most flexible and honeyed of the bunch. Apparently, she also had a mystery around her. Naruto saw her only once before the Uchiha introduced them (reluctantly) two months ago. Hearing the misdeeds of past sweethearts might cheer some guys up, but it didn't faze Sasuke in the slightest.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Sasuke asked smoothly.
"Well, you looked so happy," Naruto explained, "I didn't want to ruin it for ya. Hanako didn't seem that way. I thought all the rumors were lies."
"We broke up three days ago." Sasuke stated bluntly.
"Ouch." Naruto winced. "And you've been dating for a year too, right?"
Hot and heavy make out sessions turned into light pecks on the cheek. Declarations of adoration became noncommittal conversations. Slowly, she slipped away from him and he, oblivious, did nothing to stop it. He couldn't do anything. The girl had plotted their breakup for weeks. Yes, the heartthrob realized, he had been blind.
Naruto called his godfather to come and pick them up. When he got home, he figured his mom would be up waiting for him.
To his surprise, he found Itachi sitting on the couch watching a game show. "He covered for me," He mused as he took off his shoes.
"Want to talk about it?" His sibling asked looking over his shoulder.
"I'm alright." Strangely, he had been telling the truth. He slipped under the covers and continued the next day in a typical Sasuke fashion. With every hour, it seemed his affection for the Hyuga dwindled. When he finally settled into a Hanako-less lifestyle, two weeks later, he spotted a furry purple shoulder bag near his closet. It took him a while to find a conceivable reason as to why a bag, stolen from Barbie's magical kingdom, was in his room.
Needless to say, when he did he wasn't at all happy. Picking it up like it was a used napkin, he went downstairs to the kitchen. Mikoto had finished cooking and had put the food on the counters to cool. Without a second thought, he put the bag in the oven and set it to three hundred degrees. Silently, he set the table.
By the time anyone noticed, dinner had been served.
"Do you smell something burning?" Mikoto inquired.
"Nothing," Sasuke stated before taking a small sip of his water. At that time, Itachi had come back from work. He gave them both a small smile, which they both returned. Just as he was about to sit down and join them he cocked his head toward the kitchen. "Do you smell something?" His older brother asked. Disinterested, Sasuke continued to pile food into his mouth.
Just then, the fire alarm kicked in. Itachi and their mother bolted to the kitchen.
"What the hell!" Mikoto never cursed. Still too numb to be impressed, Sasuke took another bite of his fish. "Delicious," he mumbled.
"S-S-Sasuke!" Upon hearing his mother's scream, he too went to the kitchen. He raised a brow. Apparently, his antics had broken the stove. Big deal. That thing had been around since old man Sarutobi's inauguration. Like Tsunade said, "in with the out, and old with the new." Ah, scandalous community conferences. Have to love them.
He eyed the shriveled thing in her hand. Everything inside of it had melted. Cheap trinkets.
"Are you insane?" Mikoto asked. She looked like she was about to strangle him. It had obviously been him so he confessed. "Why'd you do it?"
He contemplated for a moment. Earnestly trying to come up with a decent reason. Alas he found none, so he shrugged, "Teenage Hormones."
0000-
I learned a few things while writing this chapter.
1. Knowledge is medicine.
2. Reviews are like money.
And Less poetically:
3. I want them
Don't be a Kiba and "spread the wealth" nicely.
Got my profile to see about the future of this fic and what the heck I was thinking when creating it.