Disclaimer: None of the characters or setting belong to me they are all the intellectual property of Masashi Kishimoto.

Author's Note: First, I would like to thank everyone that has reviewed and subscribed. It is greatly appreciated.

I am sorry that it took so long to upload this chapter. I seem to have a case of writer's block, so, it is taking me longer to write along with other problems. Also, feel free to review. I would like to hear where you think the story is going or where you want it to go or just what you like or dislike. Well, have a nice day and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Warning: Contains some explicit content and language.


The smell of astringent stung her nose as her breathing began to return to normal, with a sharp inhale before returning to the evenly paced inhale and exhale. Her ears picked up on a faint rustling, accompanied by a feminine hum of a once familiar song that she could vaguely remember. Slowly, she reached her hand out and pulled at the curtain only for it to slide open to reveal a middle-aged woman with the blackest hair and eyes she had ever seen, staring down at her with a surprised look. A jolt of shock went through Hinata's heart at the sight of the woman.

"Ano…Hinata-chan, you're finally awake. We were worried about you," she spoke, softly he works betraying something else, a different layer to the meaning of her words.

"We?" she questioned. Ino, maybe, but no one else really cared for her here. Maybe, Naruto could possibly be the second but she barely knew him besides the hour they spent together. The teacher would not care even out of obligation; Mr. Sobler wasn't that kind of person.

"Your friends Ino and Naruto," she paused for a second questioning if she should go on. She gave Hinata a weary look for a moment before continuing, "My son, Sasuke, also seemed worried about you to when he heard about what happened,"

Hinata was shocked by this news; she had yet to even speak a word to the odd boy that seemed to radiate an aura of isolation when anyone got too close for comfort. Normally she would surmise that he was simply shy, but his disposition did not seem like one of simple bashfulness, no, there was a different layer to it something that seemed almost deadly, as if you would be burned if you got too close. But, this was all simply speculation of an overactive mind that could not be trusted.

"Uchiha Sasuke?" she questioned, wondering why the dark boy she has never spoken a word to would be concerned with her.

"Yes, he finds you.." she paused searching for the right word. "Intriguing,"

Hinata pulled away from the woman and gave her a queer look, "That's strange. I don't know what I have done to give him such a concept about myself,"

The dark haired woman chuckled at this, "He was…. impassioned by your words on Hephaestus. He's always had an admiration with that particular god,"

"Is it because.." she stops considering the invasive and crude nature of her words.

"His disability, is that what you were going to say," the Uchiha questioned.

Hinata bowed her head in embarrassment and fear that she angered the woman, "I didn't mean.." the woman raised her hand stopping her.

"It's fine, you did no harm. Most people do not know how to react to my son's disability. He usually doesn't mind it, unless you treat him as if he were lesser or weak," she explained.

"I'm sorry," Hinata whispered, bowing her head lower causing the older woman to sigh and mutter something under her breath that she could barely comprehend, "She…this again," before giving her a reassuring smile.

"Hinata, could you tell me what happened," she asked, face slightly grim.

"I….I don't remember," she paused wondering she should tell her secret. Wondering how insane her thoughts would sound once they came pouring from her mouth.

"Hinata, I can't help you if you don't tell me,"

Hinata bit deeply into her bottom lip, rubbing her hands against the linen sheets beneath her deciding on whether she should trust this woman. Something told her she was safe here, safer than she had been for a long time, "I…I've been having these episodes,"

The woman raised her brow in question, "Episodes,"

"Nightmares when I'm wide awake that I can't remember afterwards, nightmares when I'm asleep that leave me in a cold sweat that I have no recollection of; but they're getting worst and coming more frequently," she explained, eyes wide with fear of her insanity.

Mikoto's eyes widened, she did not know it was this bad. He did not tell her what she was being subjected to by a plotting girl with a jealous mind. She swallowed hard before continuing, "And, the last episode was in class?"

"Yeah," she replied, voice quivering slightly.

"Is there anything you remember,"

"Just the feeling of being watched, like I am in someone's sick little game and them telling me, 'Wake up'," Hinata finished, embarrassed of having to explain such an odd thing.

"Wake up?" she questioned, "What do you think the meaning of this phrase is?"

Hinata shrugged, "I don't know, probably just telling me the dream is about to end," This is what she told herself to believe, even though deep down she knew it was a lie. But, how would it sound if she admitted that she thought they were not merely nightmares that left her shaking in her bed, heart racing as if it were about to rip from her chest in the middle of the night were created by some omnipotent being that was getting a sick thrill out of driving her mad. No, she could never reveal this. Never speak the words out loud or they would become all too real.

"But, you have these dreams while awake," she intoned, voice strong with intent.

Hinata ruffles her hands in her hair before griping her scalp in her pain and anger wanting these confusing thoughts to rid themselves from her head, "I know that," she nearly growled, voice shaking with agitation.

Mikoto backed down, giving a calming smile of resignation, "It's ok, Hinata, its normal to have dreams like this every once in a while. Sasuke, had them often as a young boy,"

"Why am I not surprised," she muttered under her breath, tired of hearing of the strange boy that seemed to be the catalyst in her most recent psychological break. Why did it have to be him, why did it have to be her? She wished to be taken with those REM waves and vines that dragged her drown and robbed her of breath in hours of wake and sleep. Part of her would rather be gone than crazy.

A fleeting smile passed on Mikoto's lips as she looked at the girl with a mixture of sympathy and amusement wishing to tell her nothing and all. The nosy scarlet girl, wished to shake the poor girl awake in pools of blood and horror while her dark ward wished for her to remain asleep immersed in the joy and chaos of the shattering world around them, never to know the horror that people called so earnestly the truth. But, Moirai had already cast her die and it had fallen into the earths crushing embrace never to know the true warmth of fire.

"Hina…." the woman began extending her hand towards the girl only to stop halfway through as the girl stared into her with shocking multi-color eyes that swirled wildly like the unrelenting sea.

"Can I go," the girl asked, eyes boring into the woman that only wished to aid her. Spurning her attempts to bond with the girl.

A hurt look crossed Mikoto's face as she looked at the girl's whose face was too harsh, too unfamiliar while her soul called to her, "Am…" she paused schooling her face into a nonchalant expression, burying down long dead feeling that were beginning to awaken once more as the old soul within called to her so desperately, "I'll give you my number all me whenever you need me," she said, writing her number on a slip of paper before handing it to Hinata.

Hinata just stared at the paper before ripping it from the woman's hands muttering, "Aren't you taking your job a little too seriously," before storming out of the room, slamming the door behind her wishing to rid herself of such a strange day.

Mikoto bows her head in defeat, her heart beating painfully within her chest as she stared after the girl who fractured her heart into pieces with simple words and uncaring looks, "Whatever happened to that cute little girl,"

Hallway

Ino Yamanaka is leaning against the wall outside the infirmary eyes glancing towards the floor but seeing nothing, all she can see is the image of her friend splayed on the floor struggling for breath as her own imagination seems to strangle her. The girl's forever-calm eyes now stained with fear that drained the color from her face as her hands went to her throat pulling viciously at something that wasn't there. She couldn't seem to understand her, in English or Japanese, as the class gathered around her screaming and watching, feeding their voyeuristic habits. Her father would tell her it was natural, an internal instinct to watch others as if they were stalking for prey before asking her how that made her feel, always trying to psychoanalysis everyone except the one who seemed to need it the most.

The door suddenly slammed beside her causing her to jump then look at the shaking person beside her, "Hinata, what's wrong," she asked the girl whose whole body shook, agitation rolling off her in waves.

Hinata looked at her eyes wild before schooling themselves in that ever calm expression that always unnerved and fascinated the blonde, "I don't want to talk about it," bit out the brunette.

Ino nodded her head in understanding, a forced smile on her face, "Maybe, later then," before they began walking.

Hinata knotted her hand in her hair before groaning, "Maybe,"

The two walked through the halls in silence making their way towards the soccer field for a practice that Ino was already late for, internally moaning about all the laps she would have to run as punishment while her companion fumed about her odd day. Both enjoyed the silence, unlike with others they did not feel the nagging need to fill the air and their minds with disconnected and unimportant chatter that served no purpose beyond comforting noise. This was why they worked: the forever, busy blonde girl that would never shut up and the quiet brunette who let the world pass. They did not have to wear these masks anymore once it was just them, together they could curse the world as it fell around them without a single care.

"What the fuck was that!" a deep voice roared through the empty halls as they approached the lockers.

"She was supposed to wake up," a female voice yelled in reply

As they turned the corner they saw Sasuke Uchiha caging Haruno against the locker, teeth gritted and eyes on fire, while Naruto stood back watching the show with a nonchalant look on his face. Uzumaki looked up at them and smiled before whispering something to his quarrelling companions that Hinata thought vaguely sounded like, "Better put your mask on, Princess," Sasuke looked to her, eyes going wide in shock as he quickly pulled himself away from the redheaded girl who suddenly began to tear up, face becoming scrunched. Heart breaking sobs began to rattail from the girl as she pulled into herself trying to get away from the hovering boys who seemed to pay no attention to her wordless pleas, the only sign of comfort coming from Naruto who momentarily rubbed her shoulder whispering a soft "It's alright," in her ear. But, to Ino the whole scene seemed fake as if they were putting on a show for their audience, wanting to seem innocent and bland to draw eyes away from them. Her father once told her that these tactics were often used by his patients with sociopathic personality disorder; hiding in plain sight, seen but unseen.

Before she could continue her thought, Hinata was tugging harshly on her arm trying to get away from the scene as fast as she could, "Let's go. I'm sick of this," she groaned as she fast walked towards the exit, never glancing back at the trio even as Naruto called, "Aw, but the show is just starting, Hina," resulting in a jab in the ribs from Sasuke who stared after the girl who kept escaping him.

Soccer Field

Ino felt as if her lungs were on fire as she made her thirty-eighth lap around the track Coach Asuma shouting for her to pick it up every time she started to slow in pace or drag her knees. Sometimes she thought that he enjoyed the days she was late so he could abuse her with laps and making her run useless errands for him that she was pretty sure was against school rules, but he was one of her father's close friends and he gave him permission to use her as a pack mule. Part of her thought that they were in on it together, trying to deter her "sassy ways" by use of cruel and unusual punishment. He told her to run sixty laps without stopping, but she was sure her heart would stop before she did if she didn't take a break.

"Screw you, Coach. I'm getting some water," she hoarse at him as she made her way up the bleachers to where Hinata was sitting, their jackets pulled over her head trying to protect her from the harsh rays of the late summer sun. She sat quietly, looking at her Greek and Roman book with a pen in mouth but she was not taking anything in. The words were jumbled and made no sense to her as her mind continued to drift, never stopping on a concrete thought. Her brow creased deeply as she bent towards the book trying to force the words to speak to her but this only caused her head to throb.

"You know," Ino drawled pushing her friend's head further into the book causing the Hyuuga to grunt in mild shock and discomfort, "I don't think that's that right way to do things,"

Hinata bats her hands away, slapping at wrists and fingers as Ino laughs before falling down beside her, "I know, I know. I'm just hoping I could absorb it somehow,"

Ino grins stupidly at her, "Become one with the book, Hinata," she jested.

Hinata shoved her, causing the girl to fall to her side and go into another round of giggles as her friend glared at her. "Yeah, yeah. Shut it, Piggy,"

"Whatever you say, Gray," the girl replied, wrapping her arms around the girl's neck from behind. She looked down at the book and saw that it was the legend of Hephaestus and not Hamlet as she originally thought. This was not an unusual occurrence for the solemn girl, she could often be found reading stories of the gods trying to find a deeper meaning, cursing at the pages when they made her unhappy with their lies as she called them, though she herself did not know why. Most of the time she would claim it was because of the bastardization of myths through the ages while other times she would grasp for an answer before finally mumbling she was unsure.

Ino huffed, giving her friend a plaintive look, concern beginning to swell in her stomach as she watched the girl draw herself into the book trying to become one with the words, "What's bothering you? You always read his story when you're worried,"

She did not look up, she spoke with a somber tone, "I think I'm going crazy,"

The blonde girls eyes went wide, all she could do was hug her friend tightly and whisper comforting words in her ear. How she wished she could go into the girl's mind and solve all her problems, to get rid of her senseless fears of insanity and loneliness. But, all she could do was cry she wasn't crazy and pray her words rung true as crushing madness threatened to take them at any moment.

"What's wrong? Please, tell me Hina," she begged, voice sounding so very weak in her own ears.

She stalled, eyes looking everywhere but her friend's arms that were still wrapped tightly around her trying to imbibe her with a sense of calm, "You know my dreams, the ones I can't remember,"

She replied, hesitantly pulling her arms away, "Yeah," the question heard in her voice.

Hinata bit her lip and cupped her hands in a praying motion, "They're getting worst. I cannot even escape them when I'm awake. The rob me of every sense of security and sanity, part of me wants to rip myself open and exam the pieces," she paused, "Fix what is broken before it breaks me,"

"Hina," Ino nearly cried, looking at her friend's slowly crumbling face, "Do you want to talk to my dad? He can help with these things,"

"In.." Ino stopped her mid-syllable.

"I know, he's not the best. The man can't even see his own problem half the time. Not since Mom….went away, but he can help you at least somewhat," she said, stumbling through her words.

"Ino," she said, silencing her friend's fevered mumbling.

"Hmm," she hummed, ears perked at attention.

"Thanks," she replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

They faded back into silence, both lost in thought, as the world seemed to shift. The world of them was slowly drifting away into a place they could not reach for their minds were clouded with lies and disbelief that stained their eyes rose, but the glass was slowly crumbling and soon they would be bare to this new world that would either embrace or destroy them until the die was cast once more.

Outside the Stoker Residence

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," cautioned a familiar voice as Hinata reached for the doorknob, ready to enter into the house.

She turned to see Kiba Inuzuka, a wild boy with two strawberry birth marks in the shape of fangs on his cheeks, his eyes a glare with a constant look of mischief that hid everything else that might bubble to the surface. He wore blue hospital scrubs with a loose fitting leather jacket covered in buckles and zippers giving him a certain devil-may-care appearance that betrayed none of his ever-growing self-doubt. Hinata liked him like this, though she would never admit to him how attractive she found him like this for it might ruin the nonchalant repertoire they had built with one another over the four years they have lived beside each other. Besides Hanabi, he seemed to be the only comfort see had in this place she was forced to call home that only granted her scathing looks and muttered insults about her "dirty blood," in passing. Another year, she would whisper.

"Why," she said out of obligation rather than interest.

The boy's face turned grim, mischief filled eyes staring up at her as his hand fumbled in his pocket for something, "The fucker's angry again, throwing insults this way and that. I love being called a gook as much as the next man," he breathed, sarcasm dripping from every word as the look in his eye seemed to grow weaker, "but the next time I see that little old moneyed twat, he's gonna get it," he paused trying to find the right words. "What I'm trying ta say is…..Just be careful, Kitten. He looks like he's ready to bite,"

"Anyways, I need to get to the hospital or else Elsa's gonna throw a fit. The Ice Queen likes to be punctual," he said, throwing a wave over his shoulder.

"Kiba," she called, causing him to turn around to look at her with those unchanging eyes. "Thanks," this caused him to give her one of those knowing smiles that almost reached his eyes.

With that he left and she entered into her doom. The house was too quite, too still as she made her way through the halls each step heavier than the lost to the point she wasn't sure what was footfall and what was heartbeat. Shadows were cast against the walls from the early sunset that seeped through the windows, giving the house an eerie glow that made her heart drop into her stomach, never once stopping its intense rhythm, only to shoot into her throat as she was forced against the wall arms pinned above her head and a set of narrow hips grinding against her own.

"You like this don't you, you dirty whore," a voice hissed in her ear, spittle spilling from his mouth. "Or else, you would keep making me angry,"

Lilac met ember, as she glanced to look at the face buried in her shoulder nearly salivating as he increased his pace. Times, like this she wondered if she were truly human because she no longer felt fear, anger or sadness when the act was occurring, she just let him finish listening to his insults and barely caged groans of pleasure. She wondered, if he realized that he was the real monster committing the crime of lusting after someone that shared his own blood, punishing them for his barely caged desire that must have drove him wild for he was searching for a reason every second he was around her and at times when he wasn't. Sure, she felt disgusted when she had time to think but she couldn't risk the punishment she would get from Uncle Jonathan if she told him lies about his precious child. No, she had to remain silent until the time was right.

"Did you really think I wouldn't hear," thrust.

"Why did you have to spaz out, couldn't you have waited another hour," thrust.

"Oh god," thrust.

He came down from his high, gripping her wrist tightly with one hand as his other played with the waistband of her underwear wishing to dive in but too afraid to go that far. In his mind it wasn't a sin unless the clothing was off and he spilled his seed inside her playing a game with fate. He looked at her with half lidded eyes, hoping to see her panting, begging for more only to be enraged by her ever calm face and in the first time in two years he hit her. He loved the gorgeous echo of skin against skin as he hit anything he could reach.

"You're a whore, just like your race trading mother," he yelled, in her face; spittle coating her face as she just stared at him, cold fire building in her veins as he continued to yell insults about her mother and her mixed heritage.

She lashed out striking his face causing the boy to let out a high-pitched yelp as he clutched his cheek. She looked to him in horror, seeing four deep gashes decorating his face as he glared to her, continually touching his cheek to feel the oozing blood coat his hand. He looks at her for a long second before storming off claiming he would alert his father to this. Hinata glanced down at her hand, and to her horror it was coated in ice with the fingertips in claws and thick blood that ran down to her wrist.

Am I human?