Chapter 4

Hinata awoke the next morning, her head throbbing. Despite the fog of sleep, the events of the day prior were still vividly present in her mind. Slowly she pulled herself from the bed, bare feet pressing against the cold floor as her legs wobbled under her weight. Her captivity had weakened her body, leaving her frailer than before. As she stood she realized she was also wearing clothes that were not hers. In the haze of the memories she couldn't recall that she'd been wearing them when she'd first awoke.

Aside from her boots, her belt was all that she found of her original tattered outfit. Slipping the piece around her waist, she grabbed the stone weapon she'd made and slipped it into the pouch along the belt strap. With a heavy breath she decided to venture from the room, intent to figure out just what kind of place she'd found herself in.

It wasn't long after leaving her room, however, that she came face to face with the light blonde haired man from before. Knives. As they nearly collided into one another the two reacted in unison, the stone weapon pulled from her pouch and leveled at his throat as the gun was drawn into hand, the metal pressing against her forehead.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Knives sneered.

Hinata glared at him with a displeased expression of her own, her dark features and messy hair giving her room to almost match the menacing look the blond was giving her. "That's none of your business. Move."

"My home. Stranger."

Like oil and fire the two remained at a silent standstill, neither moving from their edged attack nor did either make for a new verbal jab. The only sound that echoed around them was the footfalls that came as Vash appeared at the bottom of the stairway. His gaze settled on the two who looked as though they'd go into all-out war at any moment. "Knives!"

"Tch." The blonde glared at the spiky headed moron, his arm remaining ever still even as his twin began to approach. Unlike Knives, however, Hinata lowered her weapon as the broom head got closer, Knives eventually conceding and lowering his gun.

Turning, the raven haired girl offered a smile towards Vash as she stowed away the stone blade she was carrying. Vash and Meryl seemed trustworthy enough, at least for the time being. Unlike Knives. That man was a whole different story. "Can you tell me which way to go to get something to eat?"

Vash gave a wide toothed grin. "Sure. Kitchen is downstairs."

"You don't need to go out of your way-"

"Nonsense. You're our guest. Meryl is already making breakfast."

Hinata gave a baffled stutter before speaking. "Th-thank you."

Ignoring Knives, raven black hair bounced as the girl started down the stairway, Vash lingering as he gave his twin a warning stare. The silent warning was like a whole conversation between the two, Vash eventually following the new guest and heading down to the kitchen. Knives did not follow, his cold blue eyes full of anger and rage as he watched his brother's back. The stranger had only been away for a few hours and yet already in that short period of time she had managed to piss him off more than any other human had in a very long time. Well- With the exception of Meryl that is. Fuming over the encounter Knives stalked back to his room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Downstairs, Meryl shuffled about in the kitchen, still working on finishing breakfast when Hinata and Vash slipped into the room. Turning around to place the plates on the table she jumped, the plates nearly flying into the wall behind her. "I hate it when you sneak up on me!"

The blond plopped down into the chair, an awkward grin on his face. "Sorry Meryl. I didn't mean to."

With a small chuckle Hinata took a seat next to Vash as Meryl severed them both breakfast. It was somewhat different than what she was used to, but practically a feast compared to what she'd been eating over the last several months. She was on her thirds when she froze mid bite, eyes looking up to see Meryl was watching her intently.

"What?"

"Have your eyes always been like that?"

Hinata set down her fork, a finger lifting up to press against her temple at the odd question. "Yes. This is my natural eye color."

"Really? I've never seen eyes like yours before." Vash commented with amazement, though his back stiffened at the glare that seemed to come from Meryl.

"Different can be- useful."

Both Meryl and Vash glanced between each other, questioning looks crossing their expressions. There was more meaning to the comment, though neither seemed daring enough to ask what that meaning was. After breakfast Hinata left to see the town, assuring the two that she'd return before dark.

Knives watched from the window above as the raven haired woman departed into the city. To him she was nothing more than an added annoyance. Something else that he had to put up with thanks to his idiot brother. Turning from the view Knives picked up his gun from the side table, taking the opportunity to slip out to his personal practice range. After all, he had a new face to add to the target sign.

While Knives was counting the number of ways he could kill the new guest, Hinata trekked across the city landscape. The place seemed ordinary enough, people in the streets with their daily activity, some not so savvy looking as others, structures condensed and packed together much like any city would be. What baffled her the most, was the giant bulb on the other side of town.

Making her way out towards the rocky cliffs at the edge of the town Hinata looked out upon the city, veins bulging around her temples with eyes that seemed capable of peering into a person's very soul. Her vision stretched out passed the city in a three hundred and sixty diameter, searching for anything of use, something familiar enough to point her in the direction she needed. Even with her improved distance she found nothing but more sand and desert. With a heavy sigh she fell down against the hard ground, unsure where she should go from there.

The wind whipped around her body, long raven black hair blowing forward into her face. A hand lifting up to catch several strands, examining the split ends of the matted mess. It wasn't like she'd had time to groom her hair while sitting in a dirty cell for months at a time. Defeated and with no idea where she was Hinata just sat against the ledge, staring off into the distance.

Hours passed before she eventually returned to the house, slipping in during the dusk hours. The house was oddly quiet, Knives seeming to be nowhere in sight, and she was grateful for his absence. She didn't like that man one bit. He was rude, arrogant, and just plain annoying.

Finding a pair of scissors in one of the kitchen drawers Hinata retreated to her room. With the door locked she stood in front of one of the dressers, staring at the mirror that sat atop, her reflection staring back at her. She couldn't even recognize the reflection that stared back at her. She looked more like an old witch, matted hair falling down around her face and clumped at the top like birds had built a nest out of it. The ends were horribly split and her face easily showed the darkness and hardships of her time as Orrochimaru's prisoner.

Taking the metal scissors to her matted mess Hinata began to cut the strands, letting them fall to the floor like she was removing weights. Each snip was a relief from her mind, washing away as much of the past year as she could. Once her hair was evened out she picked up a brush, working her way through the tangles at the crown. Lavender eyes looked back into the mirror with a small smile, more satisfied with the person that stared back at her. Raven black hair sat at mid-length, framing around a face that seemed less harsh than before. Placing the brush back on the dresser, Hinata cleaned up the hair clippings.

Finally finished she left the room at last, making her way downstairs for dinner, the smile still lingering on her lips. Although she was in a better mood her luck was not what she hoped. Walking out into the hallway she found herself heading straight towards Knives as the blond was climbing the stairs. Her smile faded as she made to pass Knives, waiting for the confrontation that was sure to come. Unexpectedly, blue eyes merely stared as she passed him, mouth hanging open.

Knives had spent most of the evening in the practice range, blowing off all the steam he had over the new house guest. Having run through enough death scenario's he found himself in a better mood when he returned to the house. Feet hit the wood steps with a small creak, eyes lifting to catch sight of the girl as she left her room. His mouth opened to make a rude comment to the vagabond, though for some reason he found himself frozen when he saw her face.

Cut and groomed hair flowed and framed the heart shaped face, and for a brief moment a smile had settled over her features. For a human she was exceptionally beautiful, like a butterfly had fluttered past him. Almost instantaneously he mentally slapped himself for the thought, and nearly did the same physically. All humans were insects. There were no exceptions. Averting his gaze away from the girl he retired to his room, leaving nothing but silence between him and the new guest.

The confrontations! Haha. Thanks for reading guys. Please R&R