Previously on Tainted Black
"Hi-na-ta-sen-paiiii!," I heard from the hallway. Suddenly Bunko burst into the room adorned in a floral dress with ribbons in her hair. She skipped over to the futon and hugged me tightly.
I felt odd, to say the least. She released me and stood with both hands on her hips proudly.
"Ohayou," she said with a grin. I returned her greeting with a small smile. She skipped out of the room singing loudly.
Everything seemed still after that and for a while I felt at-peace.
The old man suddenly walked into the room, with a tray in his hands. He sat it on the table in the middle of the room and moved the table so it was next to the futon. At first, I refused the food he tried to feed me, but when my stomach began to growl, I couldn't help but accept.
"Why are you helping me?," I asked discontentedly.
"Because it's the right thing to do," he smiled warmly and fed me another spoonful.
I felt a strange, warm feeling in my chest. I didn't understand these people, and I didn't know if I ever would.
He was staring at her. The woman in front of him was swaying, even though she was sitting. Despite seeing this for more than a few days, he was still floored at how dumb she was. The boy was completely baffled by the sight in front of him. His hands were shoved in his pockets, balled into fists. He had the urge to do something; what it was, he didn't know.
"Hey, k-kid, c'mere," she slurred, pointing a shaky finger at the confused teen. He looked around, as if making sure she was talking to him. Slowly walking towards her, he made sure to keep his distance from the intoxicated idiot. She took note of this and beckoned for him to come closer, curling her index finger.
Placing a hand on her hip, she pounded the ground with her other hand, yelling.
"I need more sake, get me some, m'kay?" the blunette demanded, her voice dangerously low. If the boy was completely shaken up, he'd rush to fetch her more liquid spirits, but he'd seen this kind of behavior too much at this point. He shook his head, disappointment and irritation creeping onto his features.
"Anything for you, Hinata-sama," he gritted his teeth at the forced honorific, and stomped his way back into the small shop.
…
"No, Bunko, put that down, it's an ancient artifact," the brittle old man grasped the piece of pottery carefully from the kid's hands, a frustrated groan coming from the other.
"Oi, gramps! Hinata is on another stupid rampage," said a highly annoyed Michi. He walked into the large room which held all of the weaponry that not many customers purchased. The toothpick that was sticking out of his mouth wobbled as he spoke. The older male in his presence looked from the pouting 9 year old in front of him to the fed up teenager. He wiped his face with a frail hand and turned to address the matter at hand.
"What exactly are you referring to, Michi?" Ichiro questioned the boy tiredly.
"I'm talking about the drunk idiot outside the back of the shop," he stated, his face tensed in anger.
"How in the world did she get to the sake this time..I thought my hiding place was impregnable ," the geezer spoke to himself, placing a finger on his chin in deep thought.
"Where exactly did you hide it?" said the teen. The look he received from his grandfather made him widen his eyes in fear and surprise.
"W-With that thing?!," Michi nearly yelled, his toothpick falling out of his wide mouth.
"He's not a thing, he's a dog, Michi."
"A monstrous beast is closer in definition."
…
"What's a girl gotta do 'ta get some sake 'round h-here?!" Hinata yelled at no one in particular. She was laid out on her back, picking her teeth in a bored manner. Her bandaged form was loose and relaxed.
If the three empty sake bottles were any clue, then the raging woman was beyond drunk at this point.
A stream of hiccups escaped her, and she rolled over onto her stomach, her head lolling.
"Hinata," said a stern voice. She turned her head as quickly as she could, which wasn't very quick at this point. "Yah, what's up 'ole geezer?" she responded, her neck struggling to balance her head. Her eyes were low, barely open, in fact.
The short man made his way towards the sloppy drunk, his black cane in hand. As he stopped in front of her, he lifted his cane above her. In one instant, he slammed the cane against the younger's back. A loud yelp fumbled from her mouth and she squirmed on her back in agony.
"What the hell?!" Hinata screamed. The older man merely gave a throaty laugh, smiled, and walked away, commenting one last thing.
"That's what you get for stealing my sake, Miss Hyuga."
After a few moments of cursing and holding her back as if to repress the pain, the bluenette slowly got up and huffed in frustration. She began walking to the run-down blacksmith's shop, knocking over the empty bottles in the process.
"Hey, I don't appreciate you breaking my goddamned bac-
"This is stupid, she doesn't deserve it," came an annoyed remark from the tall, blue-eyed boy. He received an unapproving look from the smaller human sitting next to him. He wouldn't admit to anyone but himself that he wasn't really angry at Hinata anymore, but being too prideful got the best of him. Sighing in defeat, he faked a smile just for the sake of his sister's happiness.
"Hinata, after spending only two, short weeks with you, I decided to give you this as a form of forgiveness and thanks. Not only me, but Bunko was excited about the idea, as well," the balding man was sitting on his knees, speaking with a broad smile. The slurring girl stood in front of the group, scratching her head, clearly confused.
"Old man, I can't-
"I insist," he interrupted her, holding a gleaming sword up for her to take. "You may feel you do not deserve it, but your help around the shop throughout this time we've known you is greatly appreciated," he continued, pulsing a regretful feeling inside of the woman.
She took a seat and did what she knew best, be angry.
"Give me the damn thing," she stated as the old man placed the heavy weapon in her shaking hands. She didn't know why she was shaking. She had no idea why these people accepted her so kindly into their home for two weeks, fed her, clothed her, and forgave her for breaking in and almost killing them. And she certainly didn't know why she had a tear running down her cheek.
As she unsheathed the beautifully designed blade, a soft hand touched her warm cheek. When she raised her head, her slate eyes were met with charming blue ones. "Tears don't suit your eyes, Hinata-senpai," a cheerful voice rang through her ears. Bunko's small hand wiped her tear away and the child happily took a seat next to the swaying woman.
She brushed her pale fingers across the sharp side of the sword, testing how easily it cut. She was pleased to find that blood came rushing out of the incision quickly, without much pressure.
The scabbard was woven over amazingly with rough fabric, and the ornaments imbedded inside the fabric was the family crest of the proud bunch looking at her patiently. Meeting eyes with the old man, he didn't even have to ask to know that she was content with his product.
He stood up and placed his hands in his long, flowing sleeves. He took his leave, the two others following him out shortly after. Hinata was left with her continuous doubts and thoughts that only proved her madness further.
...
The moonlight bled onto the man's wrinkled features as he poured another refill of smooth sake into the petite guinomi. "Ah, what a beautiful night~" Ichiro exclaimed happily, his cheeks bruised a light pink from drinking more than half of a bottle of sake.
"You shouldn't drink so much, ojii-san," a deep voice reverberated behind the senior. He smirked and pat the mat next to him, inviting his eldest grandchild into his company.
Taking a seat with a deep sigh, the auburn-haired juvenile spoke with a calm tone, "That crazy woman, she's definitely gonna cause some kind of havoc wherever she goes." The man to his right chuckled heartily, slugging another shot of sake down his throat.
The boy's grandfather slapped him on the back, speaking proudly of the "crazy woman" mentioned.
"She has a heavy burden that she's carrying, Michi. Remember not to judge others too quickly, son. She may not look it, but she was as shriveled and weak as a mouse before she gained her strength."
Playing with the small chain that hung around his neck idly, the teen stared at the geezer with an eyebrow raised.
"And how do you know all of this, gramps?" he questioned.
"Just from observation, young one. It comes naturally with age," he laughed. Looking from his cup to the almost empty bottle of sake, a frown formed on his creased face. His tiny, brown eye peeked inside of the bottle curiously as he sloshed the inconsequential amount of liquid back and forth. A sigh left his thin lips.
"Well, as the day is gone, so is my beloved sake," Ichiro breathed out heavily, clearly disappointed that his fun was now over.
Returning a back pat to his grandfather, Michi stood chuckling to himself and mumbling something about drunk people being amusing.
Resting his hands on his lap, the delicate man looked up to the bright stars in the spacious sky.
"She will leave us soon. This is just the beginning of her tale."
A/N; Hey guys! It's been a while, huh? I hope you're all enjoying the chapters I'm pushing out. I know for the perspective of this chapter, I switched to third-person instead of sticking to first-person like usual. Just thought I'd try something new. Let me know how you liked it! Interesting things are coming Hinata's way, too. Until next time~