Ten Days, One Hundred Smiles

chapter one; a chance meeting

It had been a while since I had been hurt so badly, but I guess it was bound to happen eventually. Though I always liked to think of myself as almighty, in some ways I was a realist- I knew I wasn't god. I knew I was capable of being injured, quite potentially killed.

I put up a fight, naturally. Who was I even up against? My whole world was so hazy, that I could hardly even recall. I laid relaxed, eyes glued to the fuzzy clouds that poured rain upon my head. They felt heavy as they pounded upon my bare skin; cut, bruised and now mostly coated in the mud I used as a bed. I was confused, and with each blink, I saw more red. I knew there was no point in trying to get up.

Am I dying? I muttered to myself, unsure of how I felt about it. I was always one to muse about death, and what may come after, but my views were pessimistic. What could possibly lay beyond? I could foresee nothing. I suppose it wouldn't be so bad, to just feel nothing. To be nothing.

A muffled sound disturbed the relaxing rain, and ever so slightly, I turned my head, trying to identify the hazy figure that approached me. As the figure became more clear, so did the voice it transmitted. It was a woman.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" She spoke, landing on her knees beside me. I squinted trying to see her face, but it was unrecognisable. I didn't know who she was. "Crap..." She said, and I turned my head back to the sky.

"Are you going... To try to save me..." I managed to speak out through a cough of blood. "I-I'm... Not sure... If you should..."

"Nonsense, of course I should." I heard her rummage through her bag, and that was when everything truly faded to black.

My eyes fluttered open to the sweet smell of a burning candle. The scenery above me had changed; I now saw a wooden ceiling. I was warm, and I could think, though my head pounded. It was still kind of hard to see, and when I attempted to roll over and take in the rest of my surroundings, I grew even more disoriented.

What the fuck happened?

I attempted to remember, but I simply couldn't. All I could recall were the moments leading up to when I passed out. I knew I had fought someone but I didn't know who, and I didn't know why. In fact, I was finding it difficult to remember a lot of things.

I was able to turn my head and saw that there was a woman sitting at the table. She hadn't noticed I was awake yet, I presumed. I remembered her vaguely; she saved me. I wished she hadn't.

"Oh!" She stood up abruptly as she noticed me and quickly ran to my side. She felt my forehead and took a sigh of relief. "I think you're going to be okay." Now that I could see her clearly, I could recognize her more. She was a Hyuuga... She was from Konoha, a girl in my class... I knew who she had but I could not recall her name. I was sure she knew who I was though, which only beckoned more questions.

"Where am I? Did you bring me back there?" I queried in a musky voice.

"Back where?" She tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Oh, well I assume you mean the Leaf... No, I didn't bring you back there." Silence. "Do you remember me?"

I coughed a few times. "I don't remember much. But... We have met before." Oddly enough, she giggled. My expression twisted. "Funny...?"

"We went to school together for a long time... I can't tell if you forget me because you were just in a slight coma, or if you truly did just forget about me."

I wanted to laugh, but I didn't have the strength. So for whatever reason myself, I smiled. "I wish I could answer that for you."

"What is the last thing you remember?"

"I remember laying in the mud, watching the rain fall. I thought I was dying... But then someone came... I guess that would be where you come in."

"Anything before that?"

"No, not really. I'm still very confused. I can hardly remember any details."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"I just... I don't know. I feel like the last memory I have is kind of old. Like I've forgotten a few weeks of my life or something."

She felt my forehead once again. "Well, you've been in a coma for about two days. I'm not a doctor, but... I think it's pretty normal for you to be suffering from a little memory loss. I'm sure they will come back."

"Why did you save me?"

"Why wouldn't I?" She asked innocently, walking to the other side of the room to fill a cup with water.

"I'm a missing-nin... You can't tell me that you don't know that. I remember that much."

"Well yes, of course I do. But leaving a man to die in the middle of a forest, when I know I can do something about it, really wouldn't sit well with me. Especially with someone who I know."

"Hmm." I grumbled. "You should have just let me die."

"Well you're welcome for saving your life." She said sarcastically, but in a joking manner. I laughed a little.

"You're awfully different from what I remember you as."

She came over and sat beside me, setting the water on the floor. "And what was that?"

"Quiet, shy girl... Yeah, I remember you. You were the cousin of Neji, who was very powerful. He was always picking on you and pushing you to your limits." I snorted. "You were weak." I recalled the memories I had of a little girl with short navy hair. She was always so shy, hiding away from everyone as often as she could. I didn't really have any sort of relationship with her other than classmates. I knew she was in love with Naruto. She really had changed; what I saw before me was an attractive woman with very long hair, who gave off a good air of confidence.

"Hmph." She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. "Yeah, that was me. But things can change." We sat in silence for a few moments before she continued. "I'm actually part of Anbu, right now... I really should be taking you back to the village and turning you in to the Hokage, but somehow, it doesn't feel like the right thing to do. It has been many years, hasn't it, Sasuke?" She paused and fiddled with her fingers nervously. So maybe she hadn't changed all that much. "You haven't done anything destructive to the Leaf that I've seen. Recently, anyway. Though, Naruto still talks about you all the time."

"Heh, does he now?"

"Yes. He still has ordered all ninja to do anything in our power to bring you back, if seen."

"So, the dobe actually became Hokage, eh? That's funny... So, Hinata... Why aren't you obeying him?"

She smiled upon hearing her name. "It's kind of a long story. Let's just say the 'Hokage' and I aren't on the best of terms at the moment. I also believe that Naruto is being selfish in demanding your return, when it would obviously be against your will. I've actually told him before that if I saw you, I wouldn't bring you to him." She laughed softly. "He told me that he'd ban me from the village if I didn't listen. Same old Naruto, still thinks that bringing you back is the most important thing in the world."

"I'm not going back." I said sternly.

"I know. I wouldn't force you to. I wouldn't force anyone to do anything against their own free will."

I didn't really know what to say. Is this girl for real? She'd really disobey the orders of the Hokage for some human rights bullshit? Well, I suppose it does work in my favour, but...

"So, where am I then?" I inquired after several moments of silence.

"This is an abandoned little house I found not too long ago. I come here a lot, usually when I'm upset. I guess I kinda claimed it as mine."

"I see." I sat up and rested my back against the wall. I was feeling a lot better. I met her eyes. "So, you really don't intend on turning me in? Or even telling anyone about this?"

"No, I don't plan on it."

I chuckled. "Well I suppose I should thank you."

"You're welcome... You should drink that water." Hinata stood up and moved toward the door. "Also, you should stay here until you recover. You were hurt pretty badly, Sasuke."

"Where are you going?"

"I have to go back to the village, I'll get you some food or something." And with that, she took off.

What an odd thing, this is. I thought, smiling in amusement to myself. To think that a woman from the Leaf would save my life.

A/N: Yaaaay, new story! Hope you like it lol! Please review and let me know what you think, and if you think this could be worth continuing :) thanks a lot!