The room where we receive most of our scoldings is in the meditation room. This room is mostly empty. It would be empty if it weren't for the ancient pictures hanging on the tatami walls and the huge potted incense in the center of the room that gave this room a sense of relaxation.
The incense's worth is in vain right now because my guardian and I are receiving our scolding for what happened in the gym, although it's Sasuke's fault. I have no idea as to why I'm here.
"Furthermore…" My father continued. "You're being a bad influence on Hinata, Sasuke. Teaching her things that only a criminal would do."
Sasuke and I were sitting on cushions. We were sitting on our knees with our hands resting on our legs and with our heads facing downwards. From the corner of my eye, I saw Sasuke grin a little. He must have found it funny that he taught me how to pull a fire alarm without getting caught.
"And Hinata!" My father added on.
"Yes sir!"
"How could you be so careless as to destroy parts of the gym? I thought you were more careful."
"Sorry father. I'll try to be more cautious."
"Good. Dismissed."
My guardian let me out first. Sasuke seemed like he didn't care about anything my father said. I'm just going to let it go since he'd get mad at me for even questioning it.
Out of nowhere, Sasuke smacked me on the back of my head. It hurt badly.
"You need to get stronger!" He scolded. "If you would've gotten really hurt, I'd be in trouble and you could've gotten kidnapped. Idiot."
My eyes began to water. Was that supposed to be his way of trying to cheer me up or his way of saying he cares? Either way, that wasn't right way to express your feelings.
"Sasuke… Why are you so mean?"
"He turned around to find me crying. Sighing, he grabbed my head and pressed me against his hard body. He doesn't hug me often.
"Stop your crying. Sheesh. You'd be able to take out a horde of tainted ones with those tears."
"S-Sorry…"
My guardian smiled nervously and he looked guilty. I guess he does have compassion.
We walked around the manor for a while. My favorite area is out back.
The hallway we were walking in lead outside. There is a pond with rocks holding the water inside. About ten yards away from the pond is a bamboo fence keeping our neighbors out and so they can't see the training I'm receiving.
A lot of butterflies came out during the day in this area and at night, the lightening bugs, along with fireflies, came out. I think Sasuke likes this part of the house the best too because I always catch him smiling whenever we come across it together.
The rest of the day went by slowly. We didn't go back to school and my father ordered me not to go tomorrow too. Sasuke had the biggest grin on his face since he didn't have to go either. No obsessed fan girls for the first time this year.
Our dinner started not long after seven. This was the latest we've ever eaten and once everyone got down to the dining room, we all saw why.
Our table is approximately six feet long. The food that our chefs cooked took up the entire table. We only eat this much on special occasions. Today there wasn't anything special going on so the food surprised everyone.
While everyone was surprised, Neji looked irritated. He's not a big eater and he knew that my father wasn't going to allow anyone to leave the table until the food was finished.
The household gathered at the table, gulped, and began to eat.
About an hour had passed and my father realized that it was impossible to finish it all in one night. He decided to donate the untouched food to a shelter and the food that was touched was to be saved for leftovers.
My father dismissed everyone from the dining room. Neji appeared to be the most relieved. The most he ate was one full plate.
I let myself fall on my bed. The soft, warm blankets helped me forget about the stomach pain. The dinner seemed to have no effect on Sasuke. He ate about six plates and he's still standing.
Sasuke made his bed because he didn't have time this morning to do it.
My guardian's stuff is on the right side of the room while mine is on the left side.
He caught me staring at him, so he smirked and stuck his tongue out at me. I laughed before I returned the playful gesture.
Neji, without knocking, came into our room. I don't think he knocks because he wants to catch Sasuke in the act of doing something… inappropriate. That won't happen… Most definitely.
"Hinata." Neji said. "I'm going to help you with your light magic in the afternoon."
"A-Alright… Why so sudden?"
"Better now than later, right?"
I nodded my head in agreement.
Neji glared at Sasuke before he exited.
"He's annoying." Sasuke said not caring if Neji heard or not.
"He means no harm."
"Hmph. Maybe no harm to you but Neji is out to get me."
It sounded silly. Neji isn't the type of person to hurt anyone unless he has to… but Sasuke does have a short temper. Simply provoking my guardian can lead him to attack. If you're lucky, he'll walk away.
"I'm tired, so… good-night." He said.
"Oh, me too! Good-night."
I turned off the light since my guardian was already laying down.
Obviously I won't tell Sasuke because he has too much pride, but Neji's distrust upsets Sasuke. I think my guardian wants Neji to accept him, although, he doesn't show it at all. That stubbornness will not get him anywhere if he wants to grow closer to Neji.
-x-
I hit the ground hard from blinding light. My cousin, Neji, offered and smiled brightly. Returning the smile, I accepted his hand. I had almost forgotten how strong he is. The power of light is no joke, especially when Neji is the one using it to his full potential.
Sasuke watched Neji and I practice from the pond with his arms crossed. His eyebrows furrowed as Neji's palms glowed brightly as we started the session again.
My cousin's palms came at me mercilessly. I am not permitted to use any other element but light because the one training me is a wielder of light. The only things I can do against his blindingly fast palms are block and dodge.
There is an opening every so often but it's still difficult to strike. I decided to go for it anyway though.
I leaned backward slightly and launched my hands towards Neji's torso. From there, I was able to push my cousin down with a blast of light.
Sasuke was surprised by my progress because a few days ago, I wasn't even able to touch him. It made me happy to see that look of amazement on my guardian's face.
From the ground, Neji smiled at me and said with pride "Good."
I think I had to goofiest grin on my face because Sasuke's amazed expression turned to a frown.
"You've worked hard Hinata." Neji praised. "Go take a little break."
"Okay."
My guardian was about to come along with me but he was halted by my cousin's voice calling him. Sasuke remained outside as I went off to the kitchen for some water.
From the outside of the kitchen, I heard the sound of plates crashing and clanking together and also the sound of metal pots and pans hitting the wooden floor.
I peered around the corner and saw a large man eating our leftovers in one gulp. He licked the plates clean once he finished a meal. Once he licked the plate clean, he tossed the dish across the room. It is a mess in the kitchen. The staff is nowhere in sight either. Hopefully they ran to go tell someone about the intruder.
The floorboard I stood on made a creaking sound. The sound wasn't even louder but the man turned around to see me staring from the doorway.
He sniffed with his big nose and licked his lips with his long, thick tongue. His eyes shined with happiness when he noticed me. It was as if I was his next meal…
"Wh-Who are you?" I asked. My legs trembled with fear. They were paralyzed from the fear of death.
"Gluttony… Say… You smell delicious."
I flinched. No way could he be serious.
"Would you mind if I eat you!"
My legs gained mobility as I ran down the hallway back to where Sasuke and Neji were. For a large man, he ran pretty fast. Gluttony destroyed everything in his path just to get to me. Is he really going to eat a human?
The trembling on the floor stopped. I looked back and Gluttony wasn't there anymore. I didn't even notice that he changed direction. What made him leave?
From where I stood, I was able to hear Neji and Sasuke's conversation. It sounded like an argument.
Neji said "Do you think you are a good influence for Hinata? You are terribly disrespectful and violent."
"So? You think you're any better? Ever since I became Hinata's guardian, you've been watching me all of the time. Is it because I have dark magic? I may be dark but I am not evil."
"That's not what I am trying to say."
"Then what is it! Why are you always on my case! What are you so afraid of?"
The conversation ended and the tension rose. I decided to step out before things got physical.
"Why are you arguing again?" I asked.
Neji and Sasuke darted their attention to me. I suppose the conversation was something I wasn't allowed to hear.
"Let's get back to practicing." Neji said to avoid the question.
"We can't. There's a tainted one named Gluttony wandering around the manor who likes to eat people."
"Eat people?" Sasuke repeated. "I've never heard of one like that. Maybe none of us should go alone."
"Are you scared?" Neji mocked. "I thought you were a guardian."
Sasuke rolled his eyes to avoid another argument. To get away from my cousin as soon as possible, my guardian grabbed my hand and tugged me inside. Neji went to the other side of the manor where all of the lesser Hyugas stayed.
Sasuke and I walked stealthily through the rooms and halls of the manor. There is no sound, no hostility, no disruption… Sasuke began to have doubts about the tainted one's intrusion. He looked at me as if I told a lie.
"Hinata…" He huffed.
"I swear he's in here… somewhere."
Just then, Sasuke's eyes were engulfed by darkness. He faced behind me. It faded and let him go back to his normal appearance. My guardian stood like a stone wall in front of me. I suppose Gluttony is on his way.
"Don't Sasuke! You'll get injured. He's huge."
"Shut up and find Neji! He'll protect you." He suddenly became angry.
"No! I'm not leaving you with-"
Out of nowhere, Gluttony came charging into Sasuke. I was most certainly caught off guard but my guardian wasn't.
He held Gluttony firmly in place even though Gluttony charged like a wild bull with only one thing set in mind. The death of anyone who gets in his way.
My guardian knew there was no way to get him off of him with strength, so Sasuke's eyes turned black from darkness. Streams of black smoke came out of Sasuke's arms and into Gluttony's nose and mouth. Moments later, the large man collapsed onto the floor. Some of the floorboard broke and sent fragments of wood flying at my guardian's legs. It tore his skin open a little and blood flowed out but not much.
Sasuke rubbed his shoulders from holding the heavy tainted one for so long. It put a strain on him.
"Th-Thank you so much" I said. "Are you okay?" I was trembling since I was so worried about Sasuke.
"Whatever. I'm fine."
We heard a deep inhale, then exhale. Gluttony looked up from the floor with eyes hungrier than I have ever seen. He stared intently at my guardian's bleeding leg. His thick tongue flopped wildly as he charged for Sasuke. His large, thick teeth sunk into Sasuke's leg. My guardian cried out in pain. I have never heard him make a sound like that before. It made me sick to my stomach. I never want to hear that noise again.
My instinct kicked in when my white palms collided with Gluttony's head. I had to protect Sasuke. His leg is beyond recognition with all of the blood cloaking it and his pants were ruined. He held his injury with his teeth clenched and his face scrunched up from the excruciating pain. I know he wants me to run but that isn't an option. All I have to worry about is bleeding. If I do then we won't be able to escape and it's over for the both of us.
I stood firmly in front of my guardian. He can't speak but I know that he is cursing at me through his clenched teeth.
Gluttony readied his thick legs. Saliva came out of his mouth like a waterfall. His tiny eyes glistened.
Suddenly, with hesitation, Gluttony came at me with full force. I didn't realize how strong he truly is when I got thrown across the hallway and ended up by the pond. Before I landed, the large man grabbed me by the arm and slammed my body on the ground. The impact left me temporarily paralyzed from the neck down.
Gluttony hovered over me with the saliva flowing out of his mouth.
He licked his lips and leaned in close, getting ready to take a bite out of my neck. Sasuke called my name a couple of times before I gained the ability to move again.
I slammed my elbows into the ground. Two masses of earth lifted up and smacked Gluttony in the head and torso. He stumbled off of me. It seemed to take a toll on his body.
"Hinata!" Sasuke called. "Hit in the head as hard as you can. He seems to be weak there."
My palms glowed white. Gluttony is left wide open since he became dizzy from the earth I hit him with. I mercilessly attacked his head. The large man yelped from the pain. He was unable to do anything as I stroke his skull with consecutive thrusts.
As I attacked the tainted one, my palms became darker as the desire to kill the tainted one became stronger. The goal is to kill the tainted ones but even this is too brutal for me. I would never attempt to make anyone die slowly no matter if they were evil or not. In this case, I really wanted Gluttony to suffer.
His cries got louder as I pounded on the same spot over and over again. The screams satisfied me. The urge to murder the enemy got stronger and stronger. I heard Gluttony's skull crack but I kept going.
"Stop!" Sasuke shouted. It sounded more like a plea. He looked shock at how I handled Gluttony. When I saw him make that face, the urge disappeared.
Gluttony pushed me away and sunk into the earth. Another tainted one escaped.
That didn't matter right now. I rushed by my guardian's side. I healed his injury with the power of water. His face softened and his muscles relaxed. His legs looked good as new.
I braced myself for a scolding or for Sasuke to hit me. Instead, I received a warm hug. He buried his face into my neck. I noticed his body was hot from angry like it always gets when I do something stupid. Why isn't he punishing me?
I rubbed my guardian's back. I can't think of anything to say to comfort him at the moment. He's never gotten this upset with me before.
"S-Sorry…" I said. It's the only thing to come to my mind right now.
He responded. "Don't use dark magic. I'll help you tame it."
"Okay. I'm so sorry."
My guardian held on tighter. I didn't mind. I actually liked the hug. It's been so long since I've had a hug from him.
Neji came soon after the fight to find Sasuke holding me. He said nothing. The field is evidence enough.
Neji scoffed and said with a snarl "The tainted ones, huh? What are we getting into?"
To be continued…
