Hey so I've been avoiding this for a while but I am determined to finish this thing. It's kinda got a little depressing and I'm afraid there will be a bit more but hey not everything can be perfect. Otherwise that's just some make believe fairytale. Life is about struggles and getting through them. I have a vague idea on how I want this to go but there's still a lot of blanks. If it wouldn't trouble you too much I'd appreciate some advise for further developments in the story and so on. With all that over with I present to you chapter 10.
"I'm sorry you had to see that...but it's better not to be left in the dark." Itachi spoke, passing Hinata a cup of tea. Her head hung low, hair obscuring her distorted face. It took both hands to grasp the fragile cup and saucer. She slumped in the little garden chair. Opposite her proudly sat the older of the Uchihas, hands crossed along with his perfect slender legs. "Is...there something wrong...with me?" She croaked. A trickle slid down her porcelain cheek and engraved a splotch on her jeans. A rattling noise diverted Itachi's gaze to the cup. Hinata's hands shook violently as she attempted to bring the fine pottery to her lips. Half of the hot substance was on the floor by the time she took her first sip.
Itachi cringed at the sight of such an overwhelmed woman. He leaned forward and extended an arm that approached her fragile state. She was like a china doll who's fine skin had been abused and cracked. The softest of touches would cause her to smash. But he couldn't help it. How could a gentleman such as himself just sit by and do nothing?
His hand abruptly halted. Hinata's head ever so slightly raised revealing her glass eyes. They only reflected hopelessness and despair. However, those roses lips portrayed something else entirely. The little cup hung carelessly on her loose finger then slipped away exploding into a thousand pieces on the marble floor. Her mouth curved into a satanic smile. Tears flowed uncontrollably. For once in his life, the supposed perfect Itachi, the one who had an answer for everything, could not think a single syllable.
"You know..." Hinata began, sweetness decayed with absolute honesty. "I came here today to give him this back" she said fumbling with the bracelet, "...I thought...I was the one who was being selfish. Heh...but...that wasn't all. I got a letter yesterday." She searched through her navy coat pocket and revealed a letter smothered in stamps. Slowly, the Uchiha took it and slid the paper from it's already torn envelope. It read as followed:
Hinata you need to come home. Father and I have received your report. Is this meant to be some sort of joke? You promised to study hard but this is even worse than then before. After all the effort we went to get you into a school abroad this is the thanks we get. I was aware of it's standards but still I thought maybe this will be what you need after the bullying. We wanted to give you a fresh start and let you even choose the school. Clearly your failure is no one else's fault but your own. The decision had already been made and we have both agreed some change is required. We've already arranged for you to attend a boarding school for girls in London. You will be starting next term so get your act together and come home. We are expecting you back in the UK no longer than next Friday.
Neji.
Without a word Itachi put the paper back into its sleeve then placed the bundle on the table. Hinata got up slowly, eyes plastered to the ground and sloppily picked it up. She slowly made her way to the door and paused, "I'll be taking my leave now." Her voice was dull and barely a whisper but still the loudest sound in the tiny room. "Allow me to escort you out." Is what he would have said but not even after his lips parted did he get his answer. He knew there was no use so he simply leaned into the back of his chair and emerged himself in deep thought.
In the evening:
Hinata sat comfortably rolled in a dozen or so blankets on the tiny leather sofa. She resembled a piece sushi but the layers more of a mess than a delicacy. The dim lights flickered from the screen and danced on the plain walls. It was her favourite film. Not because it had a good story or actors. It far from it. The reason was because it was the one thing that used to bring her family together. Although she struggled to remember her mother's face she could always recall the warm feeling of cuddling up to her. It's still hazy but that was her first real memory. Neji would sit next to her with her father on the edge, squishing them all together. Only now it was just her. With no one to fill in the sides; Hinata felt that little more...empty.
Tap tap!...Tap tap tap! The strange noise took the girl a few seconds to fully register. "Wha?" She mumbled, still distracted from the events of the past few days to fully formulate a singular word. Her mind was fuzzy making her doubt the sound heard as reality. THUD THUD! It was real alright. She paused the movie and wriggled free of the blanket's grasp. Sluggishly, Hinata stooped down the corridor and towards the narrow white washed door. THUD THUD THUD! "Hinata! I know you're in there so open the door alread-" boomed a feminine voice, violently hammering on the wood "Oh." The voice said surprised with a hint of delight.
On the porch stood Konan with a large denim rucksack slung over her shoulders. "Hey... can I come in?" Rubbing her reddened eyes, Hinata stared at her for a few seconds with a puzzled expression on her face. "I heard about Sasuke... Itachi told me. Can I just come in already? We need to talk." Without uttering a single word, the Hyuga heiress undid the door's chain and allowed the blunette into her small flat. "I'll make some tea where's the kitchen." "Second door to right." Hinata mumbled.
"Here." Konan said passing Hinata a smoking mug. The girl clasped it with both hands, avoiding the handle and gently sipped as, her friend took a seat next to her. The older teen lowered her own mug so it rested on her lap, "You know bottling thing up won't do you any good." Hinata sighed in annoyance then in a low voice stated, "so what do you suggest I do? Go and scream out my problems to the world?" " You should have just come to me. I'm here ready to listen. You just need to ask for help when you need it. There's no shame in that."
The sulking girl just continued sipping the warm liquid and shifted her body on the softness of the sofa's fabric. "Itachi also told me about the letter. You really going to leave?" "Mm." Hinata hummed but then turned to her elder and admitted, "it's not like there's much I can do... It might actually be better this way." Immediately Konan stated "How can you say that of corse you can. It's your life so live it how you want to." Hinata chuckled at the remark, "I wish that were true... But it's not. Every time I try do something the way I want things get all messed up. It's kinda funny now that I think about it."
"So you're really gonna go?" "Mmm." "And there's nothing I can do to persuading you to stay." "No." Konan sighed, smiling, "well then. I guess the only thing to we can do is make the best of the time we've got left." The woman got up and pulled a sleeping bag from her bulging rucksack. "What are you doing?" Asked the Hyuga. "Isn't it obvious? I'm staying the night." She placed the bedding on the floor. "You can't sleep on the floor! Hang on." Hinata rushed upstairs leaving Konan in the cosy room. She sat cross legged and mumbled, "even when you're like this you still care about your friends. Your a weird girl Hinata Hyuga. But a good weird."
A strange shifting noise echoed through the hallway followed by a series of thumps and a squeal. Immediately Konan rushed out to investigate. Sprawled on the floor was Hinata untangled in a futon and blanket. "Honestly." Konan smiled, arms crossed. She helped her friend up and the two manoeuvred the make shift bed into the living room and tossed it onto the floor with a thump. They huffed and flopped onto the mattress exhausted. "Konan." "Yea?" "Why did you go through the effort to come here? I mean you live miles away." Her friend smiled. Konan's face lit up with delight as if she knew the answer to a question on some quiz show. "What kind of question is that. It only makes sense that I want to make sure my best friend is ok. After all you've been through a lot. And..." She said positioning herself more comfortably, "it's not like we have long before you go. I wanted to get you to stay but, it's selfish of me to not let you go. I'm glad I met you. Even if it's only been for a few weeks."
Tears began to flow from Hinata's violet eyes. "Wha?! Did I say something wrong!? Ah sorry I didn't mean to make you cry!" "Oh no! No. I'm not sad. It's just I've never had someone call me a best friend. You're a good person Konan." Hinata smiled. Konan did the same and added, "Hey you're freaking me out." She joked, "I can't believe you're crying over this." "But it's true. I've never met anyone like you. You're so confident and positive. And You always know what to say."
"Really, I'm not that great. But, please keep up the complements." They continued chatting through the night about their experiences. Some of which were deep and meaningful others less so. It went on for hours until the clock read 04:00 am. By then they both struggled to form sentences thay were slow and lacked the passion of those at the start of the evening.
"I (yawn) ah... I think we should... Sleep now..." Yawned Konan. Hinata sluggishly complained, "noooooo... Gotta stay... Awa..." The fight for conscience was vainly lost as those large purple pupils grew weary and hid away behind tired lids. Softly Konan smiled and stroke Hianta's long hair. She fumbled for the light switch and snuggled up to the warmth of her friend.
"Thank you."