Chapter Two – Spark
It is indeed a someone in white that Sarutobi spotted up ahead. Someone was trying to hitch a ride.
"Young Master, someone's out there. Should I stop?"
"No. Keep going.", was the curt reply.
And so Sarutobi kept driving. The figure in white flailed its arms trying in vain to keep the car from stopping.
He hasn't gone a few meters when a sharp flash of white momentarily blinded him, making him push down on the breaks hard. The motion made both men jerk forward, both cursing.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked.
"There was a flash of bright light. I thought it was a lightning strike.", confusion evident on his voice.
Sasuke was about to say something when the car door nearest him opened.
"A-arigatou! I thought yo-you're not going to s-stop." It was the hitchhiker. A woman wearing a raincoat over a white long dress. Splashes of water hit the backseat and on Sasuke's suit. He immediately scrambled to the other side, allowing the woman to sit herself on the right side. Her head bowing in thanks to them, more water trickling on the seat and car. Sasuke's brow dipped into a heavy frown.
"What should I do, sir?",Sarutobi asked seeing Sasuke's displeasure.
"Just keep going." He looked straight ahead, not giving the person beside him another glance. Patting his right arm and shoulder dry. Sarutobi started the car.
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"Miss, what were you doing outside this late at night, it's even raining?" Sarutobi asked.
"O-oh, a lady t-told me that i-if I waited just there, I'd b-be able to get a r-ride."
"Well, she got that right, like a ghost." Sarutobi joked a bit to lighten up the atmosphere. His young master seems to be in a dark mood. Having lost his very treasured privacy.
"A-ah. H-hai, she must be a g-ghost." Hinata sent him a tremulous smile. If only you knew how right you are, Driver-san. "She s-said that e-even if you avoid the lightning, you won't be able to avoid m-me."
She pulled off her raincoat, causing more splashing of water on the backseat, and earning a glare from her companion. She squeaked a little and mumbled an apology.
"A-are you headed to T-Tokyo"?, she asked hesitantly.
"Yes."
"No."
She received two different answers. Of course the negative one coming from the man sharing the backseat with her.
"Just drop her off at the nearest intersection."
She deflated a bit at that.
She turned again to look at the man beside her. There was a frown marring his handsome face, while reading over the papers in his hands. An earphone on his left ear connected to the recorder held in his left hand.
She leaned a bit towards him to see what held his undivided attention.
"Kingdom Group of Companies", she read the topmost line. Her pointer finger tapped the logo of the Kingdom. Realizing that this man might be the owner the company she asked, "a-ano, a-are you the CEO of K-Kingdom?" she smiled up at Sasuke, who continued to glare at her.
He pushed her hands away from the documents. The moment their skin made contact, Hinata gasped loudly. Sasuke flinched. There was a tingling sensation where they touched. Something like being zapped by electricity.
"D-did you feel th-that?" Hinata clutched her hand, rubbing it slightly.
"No."
"B-but it was r-really strong. Didn't you r-really feel it?"
"I already said 'No'." Sasuke snapped at the woman. His glare intensifying.
She squeaked and lowered her head, dropping the subject. Maybe she really was the only one who felt something. She rubbed her hand repeatedly.
"Drop her off at the next intersection." Sasuke commanded Sarutobi without glancing at any of his companions.
Hinata raised her head to look at the road only to see a figure standing still up ahead.
Oh, no. Not again.
She knew what it was. Another ghost. Her face paled, she saw that it was a man with a hollowed out eye. The clothes spattered with lots of blood. She screamed.
"Ahhhhhhh!" her hands covered her face entirely.
At the sudden noise, Sarutobi slammed the breaks hard for the second time that night.
"N-no! P-please k-keep o-o-n going. Please!" she pleaded as the car stopped. She just wants to get as far away as possible from the ghost.
"Are you alright miss?" the driver turned to her and asked, concern lacing his voice. What could have frightened the woman?
Hinata slowly pried her trembling fingers from her face and slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes widened impossibly and another scream tore from her as the twisted face of the ghost was mere inches from her own. She dove to her left. Clinging tightly to Sasuke's arm, almost sitting half on his lap in her panicked state.
The ghost poofed into the air.
Sasuke dropped his recorder and files with the sudden movement. He clutched the woman's arms, trying to shake her off.
Hinata's head swung to the place where the ghost was. But there was no one there. It was as if it vanished into thin air. Her head tilted in confusion. She was sure she had seen it, just right there.
Sasuke finally managed to shove her off him. She went down with a loud plop on her previous seat.