Ok, so this is chapter 2. Normally I don't get chapters done this fast but I had already written this last year and I had to revise it.
I don't own Naruto, or any of the characters.
Hinata was sitting on the bench in front of the driving school alone, as she waited for the other students to arrive. Her cell phone clock read 5:54 pm. She had been sitting there for more than thirty minuets early. Her father wanted to "make sure" she was on time. Liar, she knew he wanted to hurry up and get rid of her so he could get back to work.
"Jerk." She muttered under her breath, as she rested her chin on her hands. She had to use crutches to get anywhere because of her ankle. Sitting alone on that bench, she felt very vulnerable, and honestly, she felt a little lonely just sitting there alone. She hated being lonely, but it was better than being forced to be with her father.
Hinata and her fathers' relationship were not friendly. He did this to her everyday when she had to go to drives ed, or anywhere. Drop her off early so he wouldn't have to worry about her. Being lonely was still something she struggled with, but she would much rather be alone than with people that she knew hated her. It just made her feel guilty.
"Oy! Hinata!" She looked up to see Deidara and Sasori walking over to her. Immediately that feeling of despair evaporated and she smiled.
"H-hi." she said quietly as they took a seat next to her. Sasori on her left and Deidara on her right. She felt very safe all the sudden, and relaxed a little. Deidara quickly wrapped his arm around Hinata, which earned a small squeak from Hinata, who immediately turned bright red.
"You're here early. Don't worry; we wouln't hurt you. Yeah" Deidara said evilly, sending a chill up Hinatas spine, and earning a slap across the head from Sasori. "Retard. You should listen to that head. Brat." Sasori said in his very mutual tone. Hinata couldn't help but laugh. Rubbing his head Deidara looked away pretending to not have heard Sasoris last comment. Hinata looked at him, and saw a tent of red on his pale face.
"Besides Deidara, were early too." Sasori continued. Deidara huffed in annoyance. Hinata giggled quietly as she listened to them. They were going back and forth at each other like children. "No you've got it wrong, Sasori-Danna. We're never early. We always come in late." He said cheerfully flashing a very sexy smirk. Hinata could feel her face heating up.
"I'm not even going to try and argue with that." He replied which made Deidara laugh again. Hinata smiled at his laugh. She really liked his laugh. There was something about his laugh that really seemed to really lighten up the mood. Just then a thought struck her.
"Um. D-deidara? W-who, um, who are these p-p-people, t-that you, uh put on my phone?" Hinata asked timidly as she got out her phone to show him. Deidara looked over at her phone to get a better look. Hinata blushed as Sasori leaned over as well. Deidara's face relaxed only to became more serious. He opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it, as if he wanted to say something, but was unsure what to say. Hinata immediately felt a pang of guilt and regret for even asking.
"So you know how those guys attack you yesterday?" Sasori said bring Hinatas attention back to the cell phone. She quickly nodded.
"Well these numbers are for you to call if you need any help, say if they bother you or something." Sasori said in a very business like tone. Hinata crinkled her brow slightly at the very vague answer. But she didn't question him anymore than was necessary.
"We'll explain more a little later on because there are too many people right now." Deidara said in a very low tone. Hinata looked up and saw a few people approaching them. She recognized their faces from class. They were talking loudly about who knows what.
Hinata nodded and closed her cell phone. The next half hour consisted of Deidara and Sasori going back and forth on different things, and Hinata polity listing and giggling quietly at their constant bickering. For the first time in what seemed like years, she felt truly happy and accepted in a small group. She loved listing to their points of view. And the fact that they still continued to be friends even after a huge debate round was just amazing to her. She was having a lovly time!
All too soon, Jaraya sensei's called them all inside. Deidara and Sasori went inside quickly still arguing over art, and what true art is. She sighed and grabbed her crutches and hobbled inside.
"How's your ankle?" He Jaraya sensei asked, in his normal loud tone as she crutches past him.
"Better, thank you." She replied politely, as she made her way to her seat.
"If marijuana made us drive better, it would be a Federal Law to take it before we drive! But it doesn't make us drive any better at all! It makes us more unfocused than before, and it messes with your heads." Jaraya sensei boomed as he dragged on about the drugs and what they can do to your driving skills.
Hinata listened in mild interest as she sat in her double desk. She was alone because the person who normally sits next to her was absent. Again. She allowed her mind to wander slightly as Jaraya sensei start ranting again about how today's governmental system was all screwed up, because today's generation was too willing to take whatever the government threw at them. Or something of that sort. He was one of those teachers who would get so off topic and start talking about shit that no one really cared about. But he had an air of authority to him that made him seem almost unapproachable.
"Now today we are going to watch a video about what drinking and doing drugs did to these people." He announced suddenly as he threw a tape in the VCR player, and turned off the lights. She looked over at the screen, which started showing a movie done by some collage kids. They were "actors", and there were two girls on the screen dressed in skimpy reveling dressed getting ready for a party.
"Here girl, watch this." Jaraya sensei said, as he suddenly handed the remote to Hinata. He sat down in a chair in front far left corner. No less than thirty seconds gone past when suddenly she felt a tapping on her shoulder.
She turned around slightly to see Sasori, who gave her a quick nod, as he slipped a note into her hand. She hadn't realized that he had been sitting right behind her the whole time, but the thought gave her some comfort, and was pretty glad he was. Careful as to not get caught, she unfolded the note under her desk, while still looking up at the screen, which was currently showing those same girls at a party with a bunch of people. There was another girl who didn't want to do the drugs. Once she opened the note she carefully glanced down to read it. In very neat handwriting said;
'Hinata,
During break you are coming with Deidara and I to meet some people who can explain the numbers in your phone. They know your coming, so don't be nervous. Any questions?'
She glanced up at Jaraya sensei. He was still watching the video, and completely oblivious to the fact that only a handful of people were actually paying attention. She quickly wrote her response and slipped it back to Sasori. Her focus went back to the TV and the kids where getting busted by the police. The movie continued to show that everyone got busted, and the one girl who didn't do drugs got into a lot of trouble with the police too.
No sooner than the movie finish, the lights went on and Jaraya had them fill some stuff out on the page in their folders. Thankfully he then announced that it was time for their ten-minuet break. She stood up carefully, and put her jacket on, and grabbed her purse. She waited for the wall of people to thin out so she could move without falling or getting hurt. Once she had made it outside, Deidara, and Sasori, who motioned her to come with them, greeted her.
"Follow us." Sasori said as he began to walk towards the coffee shop. She followed him as fast as she could, who had walked way ahead of them. Deidara was walking more her pace, walked with her. There was an awkward silence between the two as they walked. It felt almost as if the silence was suffocating her.
"Hey Deidara?" Hinata said trying to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Yeah?" his bangs were covering part of his face and it made it difficult for her tell if he was looking at her or not, but never the less, it made her blush. She quickly looked off into the distance, as she quickly began trying to think of what to say next.
"Um, who are we meeting up with exactly?" she asked meekly as she felt very rather weary meeting up with some people she had never heard of before in her life. Hell! They didn't even give her a name!
"We3're meeting up with Pein and Konan. They will explain everything to you." Deidara said, as they got closer to the coffee shop. She noticed that Sasori had stopped and sat down at a small table with a guy with messy, dark orange hair and a girl with indigo hair and a bun with a rose holding it up. Hinata felt a wave of nervousness wash over her like a cold, frozen waterfall. She tried to stay calm, but with every step, she felt her legs get heavier, as time seemed to slow down for her.
"Hey. Don't be nervous. They don't bite. Pein may look scary, but he's a decent guy." Deidara said cheerfully, causing her façade to fall. Hinata nodded as they continued on. As they got closer, she noticed that Pein, had several big piercing all over his face. 'They mark of a true badass' Hinata thought to herself. Konan had darkly colored eye shadow, and a lip piercing. They quickly made their way over to the others, and Sasori quickly hopped up and gave Hinata his seat.
"Leader-sama, this is Hyuuga, Hinata. She is the latest would be victim of the Sound 5." Sasori said as he quickly introduced each other. Peins abnormally ringed eyes, made Hinata feel as if he could see into her soul.
Judging by his stature, he looked to be about six feet tall, and fairly muscular. He was lightly tanned, with three heavy rods through his nose, two fang-like spikes through his lower lip and several piercings on his ears, and his spiky hair was deep shade of orange. While these features were all very eye catching to begin with, it was his unusual gray ringed eyes that captivated her the most. That was saying a lot, because her whole family had unusual white colored eyes.
"Ah. A Hyuuga. I never thought I would me one of you in this kind of situation." Pein replied smoothly, as he rose gracefully from his seat to reach out to shake her hand. Hinata shook it, with a quiet "Pleased to meet you." Before taking her seat.
"And this is my dear friend Konan." He said gesturing to Konan who also stood up and shook Hinatas hand as well. Konan's hand was very soft and tiny. In fact, she looked to be only a few inches taller than Hinata. But she felt very intimidated by her. Konan was incredibly beautiful. Her hair was up in a half bun with a white paper rose holding it up. Her skin was very pail, and she suspected that her hair was originally light brown when she was younger. Her eyes were a deep shade of blue, and a lip pricing.
"I take it you know my cousin Neji." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. Her cousin Neji went to Konoha High, and from what she knew, he was fairly well known. Pein chuckled as he returned to his seat. "We've talked a few times. I don't know him very well personally; but yes, I do know Neji." Was his response, as he intertwined his fingers as he rested his chin on his hands.
"Before we continue, I must ask; Did Deidara or Sasori explain why you are to meet us here?" He asked, his eyes shifting from her, to Sasori and Deidara, who were standing on either side of her.
"We didn't have a chance. There were too many people and we thought it would be best to explain the situation face to face rather than by text message, or phone call. Yeah." Deidara said in a very matter of fact tone.
"I see… Well I guess we'll explain it to her now." Pein said as he sat back into his chair. As I'm sure you are aware, last night five guys attempted to lure you away, but when that didn't work, they tried to take you by force, am I correct?" Pein said in a very business like manner. She nodded timidly, as she mentally embraced herself for what she might hear.
"Well those guys call themselves the Sound 5. Those guys are notorious for causing problems at Konoha High. They steal, they do drugs, drink, and have sex with any girl they feel like." Konan nodded in agreement. Hinata's eyes widened slightly.
"One of the things that they enjoy doing is luring unsuspecting girls to come with them, to drug and rape them. That would have been you if Deidara and Sasori hadn't been there." Pein finished darkly. Hinata couldn't help but notice a flicker of rage skim across his face.
"Oh… W-what about, t-the numbers on my phone?" she asked cautiously.
"I'm getting to that part. I founded this gang in order to stop them. We are called The Akatsuki. We are long time rivals with them. Akatsuki are the most feared gang in our school. The Sound 5 are the second most feared gang. People don't mess with Akatsuki, and we don't mess with other people." Hinata felt her face go pale at that news. She knew it was going to be shocking, but…gangs? She had heard from several of Neji's friends mentioning Akatsuki, and how ruthless they were, but this was the last thing, she thought she'd get into. This could get her into so much trouble with her family, more specifically her father.
"Hinata-san. Are you ok?" Konan's soft voice asked, breaking her train of thought. Hinata looked at the other girl, as calmly as possible, before nodding, quickly.
"I'm sorry… The idea of being involved with a gang is a l-little um, u-unnerving… I'm sorry." Hinata murmured, looking away, trying to take it all in. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up, and saw it was Deidara. This only made her even tenser. He just didn't seem like the type to be in a gang.
"Hinata-san, I understand why you may be feeling so hesitant to be here." Pein said, straightening up in his seat, and in a more business like fashion. "But there is a reason why we need to talk, and since time is limited, I'll just cut to the chase. The Sound 5 if they don't get what they want they'll go to almost any lengths to get it. Including rape. The Akatsuki, as a whole dose not agree with the rapes and so we go out of our way to help any of these girls, and prevent it from even happening. Sadly as we have seen in the past, once we're not there, they will go after her again, and rape her anyways. That is why we put all of our numbers in her cell, and we all put her number in all of ours. Basically it is like a nine-one-one." He paused for a second to let it all sink in. Hinata tried to let it sink in completely, but it was was a lot. She nodded and he continued; "So if for any reason you get cornered, you just need to call one of us and they'll run like little girls. And once they know you are under our protection they usually back off. Do you understand?"
"Yes. I understand that part, b-but what i-if they knock my phone out of my hand or if my phones out of juice?" Hinata asked furrowing her brow slightly. Pein chuckled again, and this time Konan stood up.
"We mark you. So they know to back off." Her voice was a soft contralto, as she walked over to Hinata and stood next to her; "With a necklace." Hinata looked up at her, and saw she had a necklace with a small, metallic red cloud pendant hanging off it.
Hinata lifted her hair, as Konan quickly put the necklace on her. "The red cloud is the Akatsuki sign. They wouldn't go anywhere near you if they see that." Pein explained as Konan clasped it on.
"It looks like it's time for you three to be getting back to class. You break is almost over." Konan said gently as Hinata let her hair down again. Hinata stood up carefully and gingerly placed her sore foot on the pavement, while Deidara handed her the crutches.
"It was a pleasure meeting you Hyuuga-san." Pein said he shook her hand again. Hinata smiled, "Please, call me Hinata. I don't bite like Neji, or my father." Pein smiled a little and bid the three of them goodbye as Sasori, Deidara and Hinata made their way back to the driving school.
They were almost halfway there when Deidara told her to hide her necklace in her shirt, because apparently Jaraya had a thing against the Akatsuki, which she quickly did. They barely made it back before the doors closed.
Hinata always thought gang leaders to be ruthless and more concerned about getting revenge more than anything. Not some fiery haired teen that could barely over the age of eighteen! No! Pein was too smart, sophisticated and well rounded to be a gang leader!
The rest of the day's lesson passed slowly, and Hinata found it increasingly hard to focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the Akatsuki, and the Sound 5, and the little metallic pendant resting on her chest. Once the lesson was over, Hinata gratefully got up and managed to escape through the crowed before the sea of people got too intense.
She made her way outside and sat down on the bench where she quickly opened her phone to see she had gotten a voicemail. She listened to it only to learn it was from her father. "Hinata, it's your father. I need to work late, so you need to find a ride or call Neji. I need to get back to work, and I'm really sorry."
Rage began bubbling up inside and she had this sudden urge to kill something. "Fucking bastard! I hate you!" she spat at her phone after the message was over. It's true Neji could drive, but he was usually too busy having fun with his girlfriend Tenten, to give a ride home. She groaned in annoyance.
"Who's a fucking bastard?" Deidara asked as he walked up to a very pissed Hinata Hyuuga. She glanced up at Deidara and then suddenly felt like she was going to cry. She willed herself not to because that is a pathetic reason to start crying.
"My dad." she sighed as she started dialing Neji's number. "What did he do?" the blond asked innocently.
"He's too busy working and exepects me to try and get Neji to come pick me up." she replied as she heard the phone ring a few times.
"What?!" Neji snapped irritably on the other end.
"F-f-father is t-to busy w-with work t-to p-pick me up. Can you give m-me a ride?" Hinata asked timidy.
"I'm rather busy right now!" in the background Hinata heard an unmistakable "Yeah! OH Neji!" in the background. The rage bubbled up past her boiling point.
"Goddamn it! Neji-kun! P-please I really don't have a ride and I need to finish m-my homework!" she pleaded getting more desperate by the second.
"Nope. Find a way home. Quite depending on me to save you!" he snapped as he hung up on her. "But Neji!" she started. "Damnit." Hinata mumbled, as that feeling of rage threatened to show itself with tears.
"Hinata-chan, are you ok?" Deidara asked cautiously. "No. I don't have a ride." She muttered.
"If you need a ride home, we can help. Would that be ok?" Sasori asked as he flopped down next to her on the bench. Hinata looked over at the red head in surprise. They had only met yesterday, and they were already offering her rides. It's not that Hinata didn't enjoy hanging out with them it, but she still barely knew them. And after learning that they were in a gang, she was a little worried to trust them.
"How are you getting home?" She asked tentative, quickly looking away as she felt another blush creep up her face. Sasori smiled slightly at her.
"We're getting a ride from Itachi. He's a junior and he has his own car." Sasori explained. Deidara rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms across his chest. "And don't worry about getting raped by him. He has the libido of a carrot." Deidara added his tone thick with sarcasm. Hinata smiled as she felt the lump in her throat disappear.
Hinata thought about it. If she stayed who knows what would happen. But if she went then she risked getting kidnapped, or worse. Pein sounded very serious when he said that none of them would hurt her. But she still had lingering thoughts about it. After weighing the pros and cons she made her choice.
"I'll go with you guys if you don't mind-" she started.
"It's no problem at all. It is our duty to keep an eye on you anyways." Deidara said in a silky tone that gave Hinata chills. She nodded in agreement and it was settled.
About a minuet later a sleek dark crimson Mini Cooper pulled up, that Hinata presumed was Itachis. They climbed in carefully, Sasori calling shotgun, and Deidara and Hinata and her crutches in the back.
"Hey Itachi this is Hinata. Her asshole dad couldn't pick her up, and she needs a ride." Deidara explained bluntly to the dark hair, pale man in the front seat. He looked at Deidara through the rearview mirror.
"Next time you invite guests, let me know before hand. Got it?" He snapped at blonde, who just rolled his eyes. "Excuse my manners. My name is Uchiha Itachi." He said in a calm deep voice to the blushing Hyuuga, as they pulled out of the parking lot.
"Hyuuga Hinata." She said softly. The car came to a jerky halt. "Fuck! Deidara! What are you doing messing with her!" He snapped.
"She's the latest victim of the Sound 5 assholes!" Sasori snaped irritably. "Now drive. You're holding up traffic!" Itachi started driving again. Hinata was deeply confused now. What is it about her that made her seem so bad and taboo?
"If you're wondering why I'm here, it's because my c-cousin couldn't pick me up." She said quickly. Itachi raised an eyebrow at her. "Tenten?" he asked bluntly. "Yeah…" She muttered her face turning pink.
"So it's true? He has been fucking Tenten?!" Deidara asked excitedly as he regained his composure. Hinata nodded.
"Hah! I told you so Konan!" Deidara shouted suddenly as he whipped out his phone and started texting very rapidly.
"Please don't talk about him like that!" She pleaded in alarm. She didn't like him, but she couldn't do this to him. That's just appalling to do that to family.
"Why? He's too busy fucking a slut to come and help you out!" Deidara asked.
"If you mean Tenten, then no! I mean. I don't know…" Hinata said quickly. She had met Tenten a few times, and she was very nice.
"Brat! Show some manners!" Sasori snapped at the blonde irritably. The blonde looked out the window into the darkness.
"Hinata, where is your house?" Itachi asked suddenly. Hinata pointed the way to her house. They got to her house in the next minuet. Hinata quickly thanked them, as she crutched her way to her house. As she entered the house was it's usually quiet self.
She quickly crutched her way up to her room to finish doing her homework. Hanabi was already finished and talking loudly on her phone to some new boyfriend.
The homework was fairly easy because she got the large difficult part done before her father abandoned her at drivers ed. However once she finished, couldn't help but feel very paranoid, that her father would find out about the Akatsuki.
She drifted off into a restless sleep. Her dreams invaded by flash backs of the night before, and her meeting with Pein and Konan.
Please review! Constructive criticism is welcome.