Aishteru…?
Hinata woke up earlier than she had expected, after all the work that she's done yesterday, she didn't even expect to survive the night. She turned to Sasuke, who was half naked, and neatly patched up. She can clearly see Sasuke's well-developed, young body. She noticed that Sasuke wasn't wearing any blanket, which made her think of what happened that night. So she quickly looked under the covers while shaking madly.
I-i t-thought…Iie, it can't be…
Hinata was relieved to see that she still had her shorts and black shirt on. She glanced at Sasuke's sleeping face every now and then. Come to think of it, why can't she stop looking at him?
-X-X-
Naruto woke up. He had this strange dream of him kissing Sakura, but then again, he always does have dreams of him and Sakura kissing. He grinned maniacally as his head was filled with things that he dreamt of doing to Sakura. But he found it strange why something soft is cuddling against his arm. He figured it must be his jacket, but it was beating. So Naruto looked to his right, only to find his one and only fantasy, sleeping beside him.
She was sweating, but boy, the sweat made her look hotter than the usual. Her red sleeveless outfit stuck to her skin in an unusually erotic way. Naruto would've molested her then and there, but he first thought of the consequences, and for once, he didn't do it his way. So he just lied there, beside her; looking at her white skin.
-X-X-
"Uhhnn…"
………
"H-hinata…"
When she heard him whisper his name, her white skin instantaneously turned to red. In a matter of seconds she was really on the verge of mental breakdown from what she has just heard. I-is he d-dreaming about m-m-me? She thought as she frisked her surroundings for her jacket.
Sasuke tossed and turned, annoyed by the cicada's insolent buzzing. Though it was relaxing when you're awake, it annoys the hell out of every other person when they're sleeping and currently having the best dream ever. Having enough of his futile attempts to sleep, he opens his eyes, only to see Hinata right on his face, barely an inch separating their noses from hitting.
Hinata, of course, blushed like there was no more tomorrow. She, the Hyuuga heiress, was in on a very awkward position with the infamous Uchiha survivor. His pitch black pupils met her white ones.
Time stood still.
They stood still.
"G-gomen..."
As she told him those words, she picked up her things and opened the tent. "Sasuke-kun, I'll be out to wash my clothes." Hinata stated with a smile, as she closed down the zipper. Sasuke sighed in relief. He thought that what happened a while ago would change the way they treat each other.
"Aishteru…"
-X-X-
As Hinata closed the tent zipper, she thought she heard someone say 'I love you'. Deciding it was just her imagination; she donned her jacket and started to walk towards the river. The forest seemed to burst to life as the sun made its full appearance. The forest floor was still moist because of the dew. She hummed a merry tune as she traversed the forest. When she arrived, she took her clothes off, setting them aside. The water was soothing, it was cool. The river was clear, and fishes can bee seen swimming.
-X-X-
Sakura woke up beside Naruto, which she was cuddling with. His blonde hair was a bit messier than usual. She smiled a bit and looked at Naruto who seems to have slept again. He looked calm. Sakura was happy, and for the first time, it's not because of Sasuke, it's because of Naruto. Sakura noticed that the sun was up, so it was best to prepare the meals for the whole team. So she stood up, moving Naruto's arm that was across her waist, and went outside the hot tent. She then proceeded to the woods to gather dead branches for the fire. Shino and Shikamaru were again talking to each other. It seemed weird that both of them talked, since they rarely even talk to other persons. Shino only talks when necessary while Shikamaru talks when he feels like it, being the lazy bum that he is.
Ino was nowhere to be found, maybe she's still dozing off in their tent, Sakura assumed as she passed by Shikamaru and Shino. Kiba was out guarding the campsite, probably up the small cliff. Sakura was looking at Shino in a very weird way, although she doesn't see it, she thinks Shino is looking at her from his sunglasses. "S-sakura?" Shino stammered, apparently surprised by her sudden decrease of her gloomy mood.
"Nani?" Sakura replied cheerfully, pulling a smile across her thin lips. "Oh, by the way. Shino, Shikamaru, I'm going to the woods and get the stuff we need for the fire and some fruits for our journey back home." She stated, as she walked off. Both were dumbfounded, since they were not used to Sakura being that happy.
-X-X-
Sasuke didn't have the courage to stand up and go out of his tent. He didn't know how to act in front of Hinata. Wait, why am I here? What's stopping me to go out there and rub my 'greatness' to everyone's faces? He asked himself blankly. After realizing that there was really nothing that's stopping him, he grabbed his bloody, ripped-apart, black shirt. He felt a little bit dizzy; probably the side effects of some medicine that Hinata made him take. He looked at Shikamaru and Shino, who were now playing rock, paper, scissors. When the two noticed Sasuke staring at them blankly, Shikamaru managed to sputter "S-sasuke… W-we were just trying to decide which plan to use; his or mine."
"Yeah, right. Shikamaru, I'll just pretend I didn't see you playing a childish game." Sasuke said sarcastically. He turned his back on them and went straight to the river.
"Sasuke! Be back before sundown!" Kiba said from the cliff.
He paid no heed to Kiba's reminder as he walked off. He forgot that Hinata was at the river.
Taking a bath…
Naked…
Sexy…
Sasuke smiled as these thoughts entered his peculiarly disturbed mind. His hair was a mess, since he didn't have the luxury of time to fix it. His eyes wandered the forest tree tops. They were green. The clearing ahead of him has to be the river, yet there was something amiss. There was a small, perfectly curved figure. This intrigued the Uchiha, tempting him to go nearer to the creature that lies on the riverbank.
-X-X-
Hinata bathed on the cool water, the current was flowing against her hips. Her hair was a bit messier than usual though, since it had been watered. She listened to the soothing sound of the water rushing. It was relaxing, it made her forget that the problems that she encountered. It made her forget how her father tells her that she was a great dishonor to them, a spitting image of her mother. She resented her father and all the social gratification that she receives. Although she IS the heir, it doesn't mean she can't be replaced. Hanabi, of course, would be the likely candidate. The elders speak neither lies nor the truth.
Hinata was too deep in thought while she sat down in the river. She didn't notice Sasuke approaching the river. Sasuke's intent was without malice, for who can resist someone as perfectly beautiful from afar as Hinata? Though he didn't have the liberty to identify that it was her, it was enough to draw him nearer to Hinata.
She looked up the sky, her back next to the riverbed. Oh, how she wished to be a simple, humble cloud. No rules, no problems, their just there; floating carelessly midair, covering the grounds with their outlined shadows. Hinata closed her eyes, the water drifted through her pale, curved body. Sasuke, who was in deep thought, trying to fathom who the lady in water was, he never had the chance to move once he had laid his eyes on the seemingly sleeping beauty of the river.
Mere thought or coincidence made their eyes meet at a single given second. The white pair portrayed confusion and panic; the other stared in awe and delight. His eyes feasted on her every curve. It took a while to sink in before Hinata yelped and ran for her clothes. Sasuke was speechless, only staring at Hinata's back as she darted from the river to the pile of rocks which held her clothes.
Neither of them spoke a word as Hinata emerged from behind the rocks, fully dressed but still soaked in water. Not sparing a mere glance to Sasuke; she walked past him with her head hung low. S-sasuke saw m-me… a-and I w-was n-naked… she thought, feeling ashamed and violated. Her skin turned from white to pink as the summer heat intensified. Sasuke just followed Hinata. He didn't want to break the silence between them, though the cicadas chorused all day as they walked through the path towards their camp.
-X-X-
Kiba stared at the couples in envy. He was one of the single, left-out men in Konoha. He was giving some thought about asking Hinata on a date, since he's taken to like her more than a friend. But fear always jams his tongue, preventing him from saying his intent. He also feared that he might be given 'The Line' that girls give to guys when they don't want to go out. He remembered this one time when Chouji nearly died when he heard Ino say that 'Sorry, but I only treat you as a friend.' Yet there was Chouji, still standing beside Ino, only with a broken heart this time, since Shikamaru now has Ino by his side. Kiba wondered what Shikamaru had that Chouji didn't. He was lazy, thin, bony, and most of all, he looks like a flesh wrapped zombie. Lines from under his eyes were proof that he often stayed up late, probably from working.
Then his eyes turned to Sakura and Naruto, who were probably together now. They were probably the most expected couple in Konoha. Kiba was green in envy for all of them, how they acted, how they did things with each other. Oh how he despised them all for leaving him in the dark. Akamaru was snoozing soundly on his lap as he eyed the couples. Shino was nowhere to be found, though he can most likely be found near the trees or on the ground, observing some insect behavior of some sort… His thoughts wandered off, as he tried to find other ways to tell Hinata what he truly feels.
-X-X-
Hinata arrived at the campsite, only to be shocked yet again to the sight that she has seen. Sakura and Naruto we're eating off from each other's plates and feeding each other. She would've gone unnoticed if it weren't for Sasuke's delinquent cursing for hitting Hinata, who was frozen solid on the ground. Naruto and Sakura looked at Sasuke and Hinata's direction with their spoon on each other's mouth. Naruto quickly stood up, Please don't come near me Naruto-kun, please…Hinata thought weakly as she covered her face with her petite hands. "H-hinata-chan? Are you alright?" Naruto asked indifferently. There was no response, she only sobbed.
The pain only worsened as Naruto came to her aid. Sorrow and Pain filled her entire being. Her loyalty; shattered. She felt her knees failing her. She felt cold though her jacket gave her warmth and the sun blazed from above them. It seemed like an eternity of torment for Hinata to see Naruto with Sakura, whom she despised for reasons unknown to her as well. Without saying a word, neither sparing a glance, she ran back from where she and Sasuke came from. "H-hinata-chan!" Naruto yelled, though his efforts had fallen on deaf ears.
"I'll go after her." Sasuke immediately said as Hinata disappeared from their line of sight. Naruto and Sakura gave him curious looks, then nodded in unison.
"Naruto, you idiot." Sakura said as she landed her chakra-empowered punch to his face. "You just really had to do that in front of me, didn't you? You know she saw us kissing. Yet you still go about asking her if she's okay." lectured the pink-haired one. Sasuke was frantically searching the forest for Hinata. He didn't know her all to well to predict where she'd be going, especially after what happened.
-X-X-
Hinata ran to some bushes, scathed her fair skin with stray branches, yet she continued escaping the bitter truth that haunts her mind. She didn't notice that she was being followed. She was too far busy trying to rebuild her walls again, they falter all too easily. Maybe that was the reason why everyone from her family thinks she is a disgrace. Feeling tired as her knees gave in, she sat under a tree. She curled up into a ball and cried, not even stopping to catch her breath. She realized that she made a fool out of herself. She could've had someone else instead of Naruto, who only treats her as a friend.
She looked up, eyes sore from crying. She saw an unfamiliar silhouette standing directly in front of her; the sun was behind his head, making it hard for her to see who he was. "Hinata, are you okay?" the silhouette asked in a gentle manner. She shook her head. As wind blew through the tree tops, she saw a face she wouldn't expect. In fact, it was the face of the person she least expected to follow her.
The silhouette was Sasuke
Something was amiss though. His voice, his demeanor, why all to light? Questions flooded Hinata, though her confused look wasn't visible from all the crying that she had been doing. "Hinata…" Sasuke started, moving down to Hinata's level. Once Sasuke sat down on the forest floor with Hinata, he was surprised. Hinata couldn't help but lunge at Sasuke and cry. Sasuke did what he could so he held her close.
The warm feeling, the feeling of someone holding you close and not caring who you are. That was what Hinata felt in Sasuke's arms. He held her close, which she didn't resist. She embraced Sasuke, she longed to be in someone's arms, to be able to be taken care of. Oh how she yearned for someone to hold her close.
And there it was…
For the first time in her life…
She felt safe…
She felt wanted…
She felt loved…
xx
A/N: Okay, since one of my readers are afraid of the "END" word, I removed it… lol and I don't know if my spelling for "aishteru" is correct… sorry guys for the late update… I've been doing a lot of stuff lately, so I promise to update as soon as I can. This concludes chapter 4… See yah on the next one…!
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