NOTE: well, this is the first chapter of that modern day SasuHina fic I was talking about. It came to me after listening to RADWIMPS' Theme of Mitsuha.
I had this up in my laptop for a while but ugh I hope you guys enjoy it.
Please leave a review of what you think about it so that I may know to continue it or not and I already have chapter two ready as well but I dont know what to feel about this. thank you all for your support and motivation.
Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine because Hinata and Sasuke would have ender up together and title came from Ed Sheeran's part in Everything Has Changed.
\Chapter One/
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The incessant beeping of the alarm clock on the bedside table woke up the young woman. She slowly sat up, her raven tresses tumbling down her slumped shoulders, and squinted at the blocky numbers blinking on the glowing red screen against the dark backdrop of her bedroom.
5:00 A.M.
Hinata Hyūga would have preferred a few more minutes of sleep. Or hours, but she could not afford it. She stretched her limbs and groaned at the pleasure that coursed through her weary bones.
Kicking off the lavender duvet, she planted her feet on the floor and stood up clumsily, still a bit disoriented from a rather difficult shift at the flower shop. A wedding party had decided to change their order last minute.
She entered the tiny bathroom and bent over the sink, studying her reflection on the cracked mirror of the medicine cabinet. Her skin was an unhealthy pallor, her red rimmed eyes and dark bags were evidences of her insomniac habits. Her face no longer resembled the wholesome roundness she had a few years ago but instead was sharper with prominent cheekbones jutting out. To add to the horror, her indigo hair stuck all over the place.
Hinata breathed out through her nose. She had stopped caring what she looked like since the move from her homeland.
She stripped off her light blue pyjamas and gingerly stepped into the bathtub.
The Pikachu clock on the kitchen mantle read 5:30 A.M.
Hinata quickly dabbed her damp hair with a fuzzy, purple towel and immediately prepared breakfast. She grabbed her white apron with forget-me-nots sown on the trim and hung it around her pale neck and tied it around her waist so she would not spill anything on her sweater.
Despite yesterday's calamities, today was a very special day and she wanted everything to go smoothly. Starting with breakfast.
She cracked two eggs and whisked with a pair of chopsticks, pale eyes darting to the clock from time to time. She then proceeded with miso soup, chopping the chives, tofu, wakame seaweed and sliding it into the vat of boiling dashi. After the scrambled eggs were grilled thoroughly, she wrapped it into a neat roll and cut it in half, carefully placing it on a plate.
As soon as the tamagoyaki, miso soup, natto, and a stack of slightly disfigured Hello Kitty-shaped pancakes were set on the table, the young woman checked the clock again and was glad to know she had been on time. She untied her apron and hung it around the side of the cupboard before walking towards a smaller bedroom next to hers.
She turned the rusty brass knob of the door and gently pushed it open. She walked in, her bare feet, pale and red, pattered on the linoleum. She checked the room and was satisfied that everything was in order as opposed to last night's jumble of clothes and books. She stalked towards the window and pushed aside the curtain. The dim light from outside's pewter skies drenched the room in a melancholic dark gray tincture.
Hinata studied the street outside, taking note of the light rain drizzling on the sidewalks. She smoothed her ankle-length, light coral skirt and lightly patted the bundle on the bed, completely covered by the baby blue blanket patterned with fluffy clouds.
"Ohayō, Ikumi-chan. It's time to get up."
Hinata gingerly pulled off the sheet and was surprised that the little person inside was already awake, large, silver eyes encased in thick lashes staring into her lavender ones, unblinking. Hinata smiled softly before pressing a kiss on the crown of her platinum hair and got up. She opened the pink bureau beside Ikumi's bed and rummaged through the clothes.
She placed the white blouse and navy blue pinafore, the standard uniform of Umino Primary, on the edge of the bed. "Get ready, I'll be waiting in the kitchen, okay?" but her daughter did not answer, still staring out of the window. Hinata sighed and bent down to kiss her daughter before retreating outside.
Today was special because not only was it Ikumi's first birthday outside of Japan, it was also her first day of school. Hinata had not wanted her to start until she found a stable foothold in their new life. Now that she held two jobs and finally found a flat, albeit a small, cheap one, it was enough for the both of them. She wanted a normal life for Ikumi again.
When Ikumi walked into the kitchen, Hinata had previously placed six pink candles on the stack of Hello Kitty pancakes and said in her gentle voice, "Happy birthday, Ikumi-chan!" Ikumi's eyes widened. Hinata fidgeted, afraid that she may have overdone it. Ikumi hated anything too loud or extravagant. The little girl preferred to stay in the quiet and seclusion, which worried her mother greatly. But a smile appeared on her pale face and that familiar blush contoured her cherubic cheeks.
Hinata mentally sighed in relief and sat her daughter down. She wanted Ikumi to feel at home again with the breakfast she usually had back in Japan. Ever since they moved here, all she and Ikumi ate were bowls of cereals that tasted like the cardboard boxes they came from.
After Ikumi blew out her candles, they ate heartily and Hinata was happy that her daughter seemed at ease. She was afraid of letting Ikumi go to school in a foreign land, so as soon as she found a primary school owned by a Japanese family, she did not care for the added cost of uniforms or books, she just wanted her daughter to fit in. Hinata glanced at her daughter who returned to her pensive mood, drinking her bowl of soup.
She placed a hand on her daughter's arm.
"Ikumi-chan, are you ready for school?"
Ikumi shrugged but did not meet her eyes.
"Did you love breakfast, Ikumi-chan?"
Ikumi, standing by the door in front of her mother, beamed up at her and nodded enthusiastically. Hinata grabbed a small, dark blue coat from the wrack and handed it to her daughter who in turn took it and put it on. Hinata wrapped a woolly light blue scarf around her daughter and helped her put on her matching gloves. After slipping into her own lavender trench coat, dark gloves, and putting crocheted beanie, she made sure her daughter had on her backpack and wellies before locking the door to their flat.
She took her daughter's hands into hers and tried not to show the fear bubbling in the pit of her stomach. But Ikumi held that all-knowing expression on her young face. It frightened Hinata just how wise and older Ikumi sometimes looked. "Ne, let's get going. We don't want you to be late on your first day!" she said excitedly, feeling foolish.
It was the Christmas season and the weather was as gray as Ikumi's eyes. The only difference was the festive look decorating every corner, making the weather seem warm and jolly; Ikumi's eyes were empty and cold. Hinata's heart ache at the thought and she forced herself to look ahead instead of studying her daughter's dead gaze. She wanted nothing more than to rip out the throat of the man who caused this, but that would do no good. Besides, he was already behind bars.
They took the tube towards the city. An older gentleman had given up his seat for them which Hinata hesitatingly took with a faint blush on her cheeks. Ikumi had her face buried on her mother's chest and slept the whole time. Hinata hummed under her breath and stroke Ikumi's hair while her thoughts were on a certain doll she knew Ikumi had been eyeing for quite a while now. Hinata felt a genuine smile come across her cold lips.
She had been saving enough from the tips she receives from the restaurant and part of the wages from the flower shop just to buy that doll on Ikumi's birthday. She had planned it out perfectly. Before she would pick up Ikumi from the primary, she would go and buy it and surprise her. Maybe Hinata would even have enough for ice cream.
They got off the tube but not before Hinata bowed to the gentleman in gratitude who blushed and smiled nervously, claiming it was no trouble. Then she remembered bowing was not very common in this country and she blushed herself in embarrassment and hurried after her daughter who had been waiting on the platform.
They clambered into a bus and after a few minutes reached their stop. Hinata hurriedly paid the fare and the duo walked the few blocks to Umino Primary school. The school was a red brick building with a playground situated on the front yard, complete with a swing set, see-saw, monkey bars, and a sandlot. Hinata hoped in her hearts of heart that her daughter could start anew.
Until she felt a slight quivering in the hand she was holding. Hinata tightened her grip around her daughter's and was afraid that she could feel how cold and clammy it was despite their gloves. She immediately looked down at her daughter and found her snuggling behind her skirt.
She was afraid. Of course she would be! I am so stupid, Hinata thought, angry with herself.
"Ikumi?" she whispered and knelt down on the cold ground. She took ahold of her daughter's arms, hoping to ground her. Ikumi's silver eyes darted to and fro like a deer caught in headlights.
She's not ready.
Hinata was reminded of her promise that they would try to settle down first before Ikumi went to school. So as soon as she landed a part time job in the Yamanaka's flower shop, thanks to her cousin's former fiancé and her dear friend who referred her to the bubbly Ino Yamanaka, the daughter of the owner and rented a flat, she finally decided it was time to scavenge for school.
The perfect school.
She feared Ikumi would be bullied by the other kids and disparaged by her teachers but Headmaster Iruka quelled her thoughts by promising that in his school, no such thing would happen and if it did, severe and quick action will take place. There was something about the man that made Hinata trust him. Perhaps it was because of his sincere and kind chocolate, brown eyes.
"Excuse me, but are you both all right?"
The deep voice startled her from her thoughts and she looked up from the watery depths of Ikumi's eyes and was met with a pair of the bluest eyes she had ever seen.
The man was quite a looker. He was broad shouldered with a sculpted tanned face. He wore a loud orange sweatshirt, a green scarf wrapped around his sturdy neck, and a pair of cargo shorts. His yellow hair was a stark contrast to the gray skies and dark pavements. Hinata blushed. She had never gotten used to good looking men interacting with her.
"O—oh, w—we are fine. Thank you," Hinata muttered shyly, hoping he would move on and leave them alone. He seemed really nice but wanted to give her daughter the space she needed.
The man raised an eyebrow but nonetheless flashed her a blinding grin. "Would your daughter like to tag along with my son to school? He's really very friendly," he said.
"I—I don't really—
"C'mon! It'll be fine. The name's Naruto Uzumaki, by the way," the man cajoled, pushing his son towards Ikumi. The little boy had sea green eyes and loud blonde hair, like his father. Hinata smiled at the boy and at Naruto. "Hinata Hyūga," she said.
Naruto's son's eyes widened at the sight of the trembling little girl.
He stalked towards her and stuck out his hand in greeting. "Hi! My name's Haru Uzumaki! Nice to meet ya!" he bellowed. Hinata found the boy adorable and she knew he meant well and his father did not know any better but she hoped it would not scare Ikumi into hiding.
Instead of taking his hand, Ikumi shook her head and hid behind her mother, little gloved fingers holding on tightly to the soft material of Hinata's coat. Hinata casted an apologetic glance at the boy and his father but turned around to wrap her arms around Ikumi.
"I—I'm very sorry, Uzumaki-san. She's extremely shy," Hinata explained as vaguely as possible. Naruto scratched the back of his head, abashed. "Yeah, Haru can be loud but he means no harm. Maybe we can just walk together then," he offered. Hinata nodded in agreement and blushed again at his kind consideration.
She gently clasped Ikumi's hand again and they walked side-by-side Haru and Naruto who was keeping a tight hold onto his son's hand to keep him from running off and playing at the playground so early in the morning. "So, I couldn't help but notice you called me 'Uzumaki-san.' Are you from Japan, perhaps?" Naruto asked, turning his head to her. Hinata nodded. "Yes, I am." "Oh! I should have known when you said your last name was Hyūga. Doesn't your family own a huge corporation there?" Hinata bowed her head, hiding her eyes behind her bangs.
"Mhm," she answered noncommittally.
Naruto, sensing her discomfort, changed the course of the conversation. "Well, I think it's awesome you're from Japan! My wife and I also come from there. We got married there and had Haru here. I miss it a lot though. My mother's been pestering us to visit because she haven't even seen Haru yet." Hinata could sympathize with that. Her father had not met Ikumi since he threw Hinata out of the estate. Hinata doubted her father, Hiashi Hyūga, a business tycoon, would even want to meet his granddaughter.
"That is sad," Hinata commented quietly, pushing her old family in the back of her mind.
They entered the building, glad to be out of the cold. Their shoes and the children's wellies squeaked on the linoleum as they all trudged down the hallway.
"Aha! Here it is!" Naruto said, his eyes gleaming as they all stopped in front of a door.
"Don't worry about your daughter. The teacher may look…uh…," Naruto scratched his head, trying to find the words to describe the man behind the doors. "Cold—yeah, that's the word—but he really is nice, to the children at least and polite to the parents. He's really a great guy, believe it!" Hinata raised an eyebrow. She would always worry about her daughter even if this stranger was kind. "You know the teacher?" she asked, pressing for more.
Iruka had not introduced her to the primary teacher but he had assured her of the man's credibility.
Naruto chuckled and brought his arm behind his head again, "Yeah. He's a good friend."
The door suddenly opens and standing on the threshold was probably the handsomest man Hinata had ever come across. He was tall and lean with broad shoulders and narrow hips. His eyes differ from Naruto's wide, bright, cerulean ones with a sharp, calculating look and the color of graphite.
But what surprised her the most was how young he looked. He looked about the same age as her and Naruto.
She frowned. He was the primary teacher?
NOTE: I know this is shorter than the chapters I'm used to but bear with me, this an introductory chapter. tell me what y'all think? :) xx
