Chapter 7

Emotions

The sun shone between the parted curtains, against her pale face. Sweat trickled down her face and she subconsciously wiped it with the back of her hand.

"Hinata-sama, it's time to wake up."

The lilac-haired girl stirred but did not respond to the call.

"Hinata-sama…" the maid called, moving towards her master.

A patch of dried blood that has covered a good portion of the blankets and half of Hinata's face streaked with blood earned an ear-splitting scream from the maid, which in turn, made everybody near the area come rushing to the room.

Sai's POV

I rubbed my swollen cheek and recalled the events last night. Many thoughts hung in my head and robbed me of sleep. As I lay on my bed I devised a few plans to eradicate those that stand in Hinata's happiness. I imagined myself first destroying Sasuke's wife in many different methods. Living in the streets had earned me many friends on whom I could entrust the dirty work, but the thought of slaying my brother's wife with my own hands enthuse me.

Remembering every plan, I clutched my shaking hands. They tingle by the mere thought of having them upon Sakura's slender neck. I closed my eyes and imagine myself squeezing the life out of her. I see her green eyes wide in fear. I continue to squeeze, until I heard something snap. Her eyes turn lifeless. I let her go and she falls dead on the floor.

I opened my eyes to see that I had crushed the apple I was holding. I chuckled and then leaned against an oak tree which was nearest to my dearest princess's room. I whistled in tune with the birds singing atop the branches of the tree. Like pieces of a puzzle falling in place, I start to plan Naruto's unfortunate 'accident'. But I was brought back to reality when I heard a scream.

My head turned towards it source and I held my breath as my world seemed to stop.

Hinata.

My chest suddenly felt constricted and my knees wobbly. Different thoughts ran through my head and I can't summon the courage to run towards the room.

What happened? Did she -? NO! She couldn't.

That single thought made me sprint like I was running for dear life.

Yes. I am running for dear life. My life is nothing compared to her precious one.

Utensils clinked against plates as six people ate their breakfast. They enjoyed a hearty meal of French toasts, bacons, eggs, and hot drinks.

"Hinata's not up yet?" the emperor asked the person at his right.

Itachi only managed to shrug as he continued on munching his toast.

Mikoto placed her hand on top of her husband's. "I think she's still tired from what happened last night."

"You should be more tired than her, mother." Itachi uttered.

Sasuke glared at his brother, his obsidian eyes full of anger.

"What?" the older man asked.

The young man's mouth seemed to turn into a thin pale line. "Stop poking on your food." He pronounced through gritted teeth.

Itachi grinned at his brother and continued playing with his food. "Does this annoy you, little brother?"

Sasuke opened his mouth to throw a cruel retort but was cut short by his father.

"Stop it." Fugaku commanded.

Immediately, the brothers stopped their quarrels and continued eating like nothing happened.

The two audience of the daily family quarrel only stood gaping at the scene.

Suddenly, the silence was replaced by an ear-splitting scream.

Sasuke's POV

Without any plans to savor breakfast, I put a spoonful of the contents of my plate into my mouth. My thoughts were on Hinata.

I was so furious last night that I left the room abruptly without even inquiring about how she felt nor taking her to back to her room.

"Hinata's not up yet?" I heard Father ask.

She must be very upset.

I heard a faint rustling of cloth against the wooden table. "I think she's still tired from what happened last night." Mother said.

I looked up at them to see my parents exchange sad glances to each other.

"You should be more tired than her, mother." Itachi interjected.

I glared at my older brother.

How dare he compare Hinata's condition to Mother's? He clearly doesn't know the difference.

"What?" he asked.

Stupid.

"Stop poking on your food." Damn you, you bastard! Stop giving me that shit poker face.

He continued playing with his food. The annoying clink of his fork against the porcelain plate infuriates me.

"Does this annoy you, little brother?" Yes it fucking does you idiot~! I clutched my knife tightly in my hands, restraining myself from throwing it at his face.

"Stop it." Father suddenly cut-off.

I gave my brother one meaningful glance before turning back to my food.

We continued eating in silence, when we were suddenly alarmed by a scream.

My head automatically whipped towards its source, and air seemed to have left my lungs.

Hinata.

Sakura's POV

I was busy pretending to be enjoying my meal and wasn't paying much attention to the conversation.

My mind was at home where my parents are. I silently wondered what they are eating for breakfast now.

Is it as delicious as what I am eating? It has been a month since I've been home. Are they alright? Do they miss me?

Different questions stirred in my mind, but my silent reverie was then interrupted by Sasuke's hissing between gritted teeth.

"Stop poking on your food." He said.

I looked up at him and saw his eyes aflame.

I looked at the person to whom his deadly glare was upon. Then I saw Itachi grinning.

"Does this annoy you, little brother?"

My eyes widened at Itachi's retort. He didn't!

My head turned to Sasuke's direction and I saw his mouth turn into a thin pale line.

He's very angry.

I thought of a clever joke to ease the burning tension between the two when the emperor suddenly spoke.

"Stop it." He said.

I closed my parted mouth and then turned to my food and ate in silence.

My thoughts swam back to my family, but then again, I was interrupted, this time by a scream.

A scream which sent chills down my spine.

I heard someone mutter, "Hinata" which was followed by the startling crash of porcelain against the marble floor.

My head instantly turned towards Sasuke's direction but I only caught sight of his back for he was already on his heels, running towards the source of the scream.

My heart pounded with great pace that it felt like it would jump right out of my chest. I gripped the arm of my seat and fought tears back.

He loves her.

Hinata's POV

I felt heat against my face but didn't bother to turn against it. I feel sweat trickle down my face and I absentmindedly wiped it.

"Hinata-sama, it's time to wake up." I heard my maid call.

I stirred but didn't bother to answer her.

She called my name once more and what followed brought me to my senses. She screamed.

I threw the covers off my body and was about to reprimand the maid when I saw a patch of dried blood on my blanket.

My stomach lurched and I felt dizzy.

My arm suddenly felt burning. I took of the blankets from it and winced when I discovered that the gauze was soaked in blood.

I opened my mouth to tell my maid that it was nothing when the doors to my room suddenly burst open.

Sai went running and tripped over the maid. His face was ashen and his eyes wild.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

I was about to reply when I heard more running footsteps arrive.

Sasuke then appeared by the door.

"Are you okay? What happened?" he asked, his face and eyes the same as his twin's.

I chuckled inwardly as I looked at them. They look so much alike yet so different.

"It's nothing." I said. "Tenten just happened to find me soaked in blood." I shrugged.

The brothers suddenly leapt towards me and pulled me towards them. In those split of seconds I felt like I was a ragdoll about to be torn apart.

The sudden movement caused my head to spin, and I felt my stomach lurch. I realized that it was actually a good thing that I haven't taken any solid meal yet, or else I could have thrown up there and then.

Upon realizing that they were pulling me into different directions, Sasuke and Sai immediately let my arms go.

I looked up at them and saw their eyes dance in panic.

"Please get Karin-san." I said, trying my best to compose myself with little motion.

Neither of the brothers move and so I dropped my gaze upon Tenten, my maid.

She nodded and then scurried out of the room.

Sasuke was the first to come back to his senses. He stood up and looked around the room. He then opened some of the small drawers around. From one, he produced a small clean towel. He went to the sink and soaked it. Sasuke then sat beside me and was about to wipe my face with the towel when it was swiped away from his hand.

I followed the pale brown blur and saw Sai holding the towel. He pulled me towards him and wiped the side of my face gently.

I caught his hands and looked into his eyes.

"I could manage." I said.

It was pure stubbornness that made me say that. My head was spinning wildly that I wonder how I could still keep myself in a sitting position.

I took the cloth from his hand and wiped the side of my face.

I was about to remove the soaked bandage when Karin appeared.

The orange-haired nurse entered the room and went straight towards her patient.

Sai moved out of her way and stood beside Hinata's bed. Sasuke continued to sit beside the pale girl.

Karin took out a clean cloth from her bag and then soaked it with antiseptic. She then took the girl's arm and removed the soaked bandage.

"I told you to drink your medicine." She said while busying herself cleaning the wound.

The young woman only frowned at her and then winced as alcohol was poured onto her injury.

"Where did you get that?" Sasuke asked as he cleared his throat.

The lilac-haired girl looked up to him and gaped. "I—I-"

"She lost her footing on her way to my clinic to get her medicine last night." Karin answered.

Sai's lip turned into a thin white line. "Are you sure?"

The nurse looked up at the young man. "Why do you sound like you doubt what I just said, boy?" She asked, her eyes holding the young man's.

"She's right, Sai. I tripped on my way to her clinic last night. I wasn't looking at where I was going." Hinata rattled on.

Karin grunted. "This needs stitches Lady Hinata. Could you please lie down at your side for awhile?"

"O-okay… I guess." The girl slowly turned to her side. After which she tightly closed her eyes and bit her lower lip.

Karin gazed down at Sai and said, "Could you please hold her arm down so that it won't move?"

Sai opened his mouth to respond but found nothing to say, and then he did her bidding.

Sasuke sat down near Hinata's bed and held her hand, thus earning him a smile from the young woman.

As the operation went, the lilac-haired girl squeezed Sasuke's hand.

Naruto's POV

I thought it would take forever.

No. I wish it would take forever.

I sat down on a bench with Sakura, holding her hand in mine.

I do not understand what she's mumbling under her breath as she cried on my shoulder. I only knew that it was about Sasuke, and that she's very much in pain.

We went to see what happened to Hinata earlier this morning.

When we arrived at the doorstep, we saw them huddled together on Hinata's bed: Karin busy with stitching Hinata's injury, Sai holding down Hinata's arm and Sasuke holding her hand.

Everything could have been alright with that scene if only Sasuke did not hold Hinata's hand and did not look at her like he'd die the moment she let go of his hand.

That event opened my eyes to the truth.

Sasuke loves Hinata.

And it seems like he loves no one else. Couldn't love anyone else.

I squeezed Sakura's hand a bit. I gazed at her. I badly want to run my hand against her crimson hair but braced myself.

She's just like him. She can't love anyone else.

She looks up at me and smiles wanly. "Would Hinata be alright?" she asked.

I sqeezed her hand for the last time, let go and then sighed. I glanced at the doors leading to Hinata's room. "I don't know."

"Would you like to go see her?"

I turned my head to her. "Do you?"

"Yes. I want to know how she's doing right now. That wound must be really serious to need some stitches."

Listening to her say those words tightened my chest.

I was the reason why Hinata was injured.

How could I do such a thing?

My jaw tightened as I was flooded in shame. I itch to bang my head against a wall. I began to hate every fiber of my being. I wanted to scream.

A/N: waahh! it has been too long since I last updated this fic~! I'm soooooo soorrryyyy~!

If ever you notice that some parts of this chapter don't really feel good, that's because (I fear) I'm losing my touch in the story. I tried my best to make it as angsty as I want to, but I know the readers would be the better judge.

I'm also sorry for the lousy title of this chapter. I really can't think of a better one. But I guess it fits somehow because of the different emotions presented by each character.

Thank you for continuing to follow this fanfic, I wouldn't have had the guts to continue this fanfic if it weren't for you readers.

(As always, I would like to thank my lovable editor, muffles-kun)

Happy Holidays people~!

And don't forget to Review~! *hugs*