A/N: Miss me? Oh, yes! An update. Finally.

Defeaning Silence

Chapter 4: Missed Ceremonies Part 1

I can barely hear him knock at my door in such bad weather, the gushing of wind and heavy rain shower creates overwhelming noise outside the rooftop and windows. If I'm asleep at this hour, I wouldn't notice him at all... but I am not and I did.

As I remember correctly, we had an agreement few weeks ago that it was the last time that we'd be seeing each other. Now, he's outside, waiting for me to open. I shouldn't be surprise with his behavior. He recently lost his clan and the heiress is missing. I know I'm the only one he can trust after her. I sigh, resting my lower arm before my forehead on the opposite side of the door, having second thoughts if I should let him in. This time, there's no need to over think about it, he needs me more than ever...

My hand reached for the knob to twist it open, slowly pulling the door to give space between us. Taking enough time to step out behind the panel entrance, I kept my head lowered, moving my gaze down and catching sight of the edge of his sleeves drenched in water. I instantly looked up to see his face and saw his eyes staring blankly at the opposite end of the room, his eyes full of pain and sorrow.

"Neji..." I whispered, concerned with his unusual behavior.

Without looking at me, he step forward pushing the door open with his arms, forcing me to step back to let him in. Standing at the entrance, he gripped the doorframe and leaned closer to me, almost falling to my arms if without any support. I did not move from my position and let him rest his head on my shoulder, trying to make no attempt to touch him at all...

I closed my eyes, tempted to wrap my arms around him to give comfort.

Though I was at the funeral earlier, I refrained from any physical contact with him. My presence is enough to tell him my deepest sympathies. For me, words are not necessary to tell him how I feel; we know each other too well and each other's thoughts. However, this time, he found it necessary to speak his mind... but most importantly, how he felt while he says it.

"I need you."

My eyes snapped open, initially shock by what he said in a monotone voice. He seem to hold back his anger building up inside him, I know when he's like this... I've heard him speak this way when we were younger, when he was determined to have his revenge to the main house. Now, he speaks for them...

Breaking the wall I tried so hard to build between us, I held him tightly and let him in with no resistance.

..

...

..

Karin knew her.

She was able to identify who the Hyuuga was when Sasuke brushed his fingers against the girl's dark blue hair. She sensed her chakra during the time when Naruto's team tried to retrieve her leader, it was easy to identify and remember. Seeing her lavender eyes confirmed it all, the Byakugan user.

While walking the secluded corridors of the Taka underground hideout, Karin intentionally let the heiress walk alone forward, watching Hinata's back who was only a few feet away from her. Their footsteps echoed the dark hall where few candles are placed on the upper walls to lighten their way.

Finally breaking the silence between them, Karin asked to confirm without hesitation.

"Hinata Hyuuga, the heiress of the clan?"

Hinata ceased walking and lowered her head to neither confirm nor deny, her empty eyes stared at the ground. Karin let out a sigh in exchange of her impatient frustration towards the impassive expression that the heiress gave. Without looking at each other, Karin turned her back from Hinata and started to walk away to the opposite direction while she informed her that the next room is Sasuke's.

"Wait for me. I'll be back immediately." Karin added, not that she cares about the heiress, but the fact that Hinata will be left at Sasuke's room made her blood boil. It was jealousy and pure envy.

When Hinata reached Sasuke's room, the heiress felt nothing special. The dark room doesn't bother her while she examined the almost empty space if not for the bed located at the rear corner of the room. It has no furniture, no windows, no light illuminating inside if not for the candles outside when the door is open. When she approached the bed, she wondered how the Uchiha slept in this kind of place.

'I guess I have to get used to this...' she thought to herself as she sat on the bed's edge - hard as a rock. No mattress, no pillows or any covering, it was a comfortless bed. 'Great' she sarcastically told herself and gave a deep sigh. Does he expect her to rest in a place like this? There was so much space and yet it provides no solace.

It didn't take long when Hinata noticed Karin came back at Sasuke's room when the girl shoves some clothes to her face. She felt Karin's resentment towards her. Hinata remained impassive on how she was treated and did not fight back. She chose not to glance at Karin's face by staring at the floor.

"Choose." She ordered coldly.

Karin gave Hinata the option to select from the garments that she held in her arms. There was not much style in each clothing and all doesn't suit her taste. The most decent fit that she got was a loose outfit not suitable for a kunoichi, how the hell will she move well on a loose outfit? Hinata almost frowns at this.

However, when Karin came back at Sasuke's room, she brought more than what was needed from her. A news, an information from Jugo, something that Hinata was not willing to converse about.

"Aren't you supposed to be in that wedding day?"

Hinata did not answer, pretending to look over the garments she had on her lap. This, however, provoke Karin to ask more in mocking voice, "Why miss it?"

Her voice was starting to rise as her eyebrow is…

"Run-away from home...?" Karin playfully and judgmentally concluded.

Still, no answer was drawn out from the heiress but at this time, Hinata's eyes narrowed keeping her sight on the clothes… Hinata pay no attention to her and this made Karin twitch.

"F-! Who do you think you are?"

This really irate her, she is NOT Sasuke to treat her this way… and Sasuke was the only exception to snob her that way. Karin gave in to her temper and slaps her in the face. Finally, she got Hinata's attention who looked back provokingly and answered, "Someone important than you."

Hinata eyes showed anger not fear. She did not stutter, she did not hesitate to speak… she found no reason to fear when she lost almost every reason to live.

Hinata's confident answer infuriated her more.

When Karin was to strike again, she felt a firm grip in her arm. She was shocked to see who it was. Sasuke stared at her with blank expression. He doesn't look disappointed but his actions tells otherwise that he disapproves on what she is suppose to do.

"Leave." He ordered Karin.

A/N: Apologies for such long update. You are free to click that review button. Please, I recommend because I need motivation, inspiration and confidence to write. J