They Made Me
Kawaii Kabu
Chapter 11... I'm wondering why it is I can easily write about 6000 words of fanficiton and yet have such trouble writing a 4000 word essay. Remember the one I mentioned at the begining of this story? Well I have to do a second draft... and Japanese homework... biology coursework... and art homework... and get used to having lunch insanely early and 3 lessons before the end of school (it's going to be a toturous year).
Anyway, I hope that those of you who are hoping for the introduction of other characters are pleased... I've decided I needed roughly about three more... And this is the monday after the sunday- when it comes to the matching outfits of Hinata and Ino and the guys when it comes to later chapters about Ino's last week I think I'm going to keep it a lot simpler. So here's chapter 11, do enjoy.
Ino woke up. Today was her last Monday in her room. The room she'd been in since her parents had successfully kicked her out of their bed at age 2. She'd had so many experiences in this room... Her first sleepover was her favourite. It was amusing to have her parents walk past the doors every five minutes and all seven girls pretended to fall asleep until they left, only resulting in more chatter at how smart they were for fooling her parents. Her outfit was lain out on the suitcase; her possessions were already shipped off to her mother s new address.
It was another fifteen minutes before Inochi knocked on the door reminding her to get up and get ready for school- how he'd had breakfast made for her already. He was treading on eggshells around her, probably worried that she'd snap at him for sending her away... or letting her get taken away. Ino slammed the door to the bathroom and searched for a towel and a toothbrush, she jumped into the shower and as she was air drying she brushed her teeth with a brand that was supposed to whiten as well as clean your mouth of bacteria. Her hair was soaked and so she tied it up in a bun to prevent her clothes getting wet.
Grey pencil skirt and matching fitted blazer, check. Purple blouse, check. Black waist belt, check. Flesh tights, check. Beloved 'grandpa' heels, check. Ino was set for school. Hinata was going to wear a similar outfit to her, even Chouji and Shikamaru got dragged into it. The boys were told to wear grey suits with the lavender shirts and purple ties she knew that they both owned (because she'd gifted them last Christmas). They were going to look adorably sad, but Ino was going to make this a week of memories, if that meant wearing the same outfit- something she liked to avoid- to show solidarity amongst friends. When she stepped down the stairs her dad was already finishing up his breakfast. He'd cooked her scrambled eggs with bacon; it was a shared favourite in their family.
"It's my last Monday at school..." she said solemnly.
"I know piglet, I know..." he put on his blazer for his suit, "I'll wait for you in the car."
"Dad?"
"Yes baby?"
"Can we pick up Hinata and Chouji?" He chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"No Shikamaru then?"
"He get's his own lift all the time..."
"Okay then. We'll make the detour."
"Thanks." She beamed. Hey- it wasn't all doom and gloom. Inochi walked out of the door with car keys jingling in hand and Ino finished her breakfast. She grabbed the hairbrush that she and her father both used- they couldn't stand having their long blond hair looking horrible when they left the house so the hairbrush was always but the mirror. She combed out the kinks caused by her bun and tied up her locks as a ponytail.
Hinata hadn't disappointed Ino at all. She looked spectacular in their matching outfit. Ino had even stepped out of the car to take pictures- well, Inochi took the pictures, Ino and Hinata posed outside of the car. It was good that Ino always left for school early. Chouji walked past Hinata's house in a grey suit, he however was wearing a white shirt- the purple tie was there though.
"What happened to the shirt?" Ino questioned him. Chouji shrugged, he pulled a packet of crisps out of his pocket and told Ino with a full mouth that,
"It doesn't fit anymore." And then they took more pictures. No doubt Ino and Hinata's cameras would both be full at the end of the day.
It was annoying that Ino only had one class with Hinata that day, it was also the last lesson she had on the Monday. She had two lessons with Shikamaru and three with Chouji. She hadn't heard anything of Sasuke's weekend with Hinata so imagine the shock she had when she heard two girls talking at the back of the class about Hinata.
"Can you believe that she did that?"
"I totally thought she was nice, I didn't think that Hinata girl was such a slut. Taking pictures of it? I mean come on!"
"Like she didn't flaunt it around that she's sleeping with Sasuke." It was then that Ino interrupted.
"Excuse me? What were you saying about my friend?" One of the girls clamped her mouth shut but the other- a red head named Karin continued to speak as though she was challenging Ino.
"There are pictures of your 'friend' circulating the school stripping and also getting into bed with Sasuke Uchiha. It's like she took pictures and wanted the world to know."
"How did you get these pictures?"
"E-mailed them, like everyone else in the year did. I'm not surprised if they're on the internet by now." Karin laughed smugly. "Guess Naruto missed out on easy pickings."
"Don't talk about her like that!" Ino had to restrain herself from slapping the girl outright. At break she and Hinata were going to have a little talk. She needed to be warned of what poison was circulating the school.
.
Suigetsu almost slapped himself in first period. Hinata walked in looking... fine. He didn't know she was in any of his classes. He almost felt kind of bad for how innocently she was acting when it came to the whispers and odd looks. She confidently walked up to him which surprised him the most.
"A-are you Suigetsu?" Did someone blab about him sending the viral?
"Yeah, what's it to ya'?" The raven haired girl pulled out a purple iPod.
"Someone told me you were good with computers... and I-uh... I was wondering if you c-could help me."
"No problem, what do you need sunshine?"
"M-my friend is leaving in half-term... s-so we got her this iPod... b-but I don't want any of the t-things we put on it to uh- be erased if she w-wants to p-put more music onto it..."
"So you just want me to tinker with the iPod?"
"P-please."
"You know I charge for this stuff right?" Hinata cast him a puppy dog face and his guilt multiplied. She didn't know he was the reason she was the talk of the school. "But for a sweet thing like you... I'll do it for free."
"T-thanks."
"No problem." he smirked. Hinata took a seat next to him, they didn't have a seating plan, and the teachers thought they were mature enough to pick seats that wouldn't inhibit their learning. "Whoa-whoa-whoa, why're you sitting here?"
"W-well... I'd feel bad i-if you did all this for f-free," Hinata bit her bottom lip nervously, "A-are you sure you d-don't want a p-payment?" Not one of the fiscal kind. He thought, especially when she bit that lip. She was a freaking seductress.
"Well if you wanted you could repay me in sexual favours," he suggested. But the shock on her face made him take it back, he was about to tell her he was kidding (no he wasn't) when a boy with dark hair turned to face them.
"If she's giving out sexual favours I want in." He stared at Hinata's cleavage which- was on show due to the lavender blouse's cut. "Wouldn't pass up a chance with those."
"Turn around turd-for-brains." Suigetsu snapped at him.
"Oh right, she belongs to Uchiha. Off limits are we?"
"Wha-what are you talking about?"
"Like you don't know..." the boy chuckled, before Hinata could question him anymore the teacher ordered him to look forward and pay attention to the lesson. Suigetsu saw the girl next to him scribbling furiously away, first he thought she was just making notes; then she slid a piece of paper onto his side of the desk.
Do you know what he's talking about? :S
'Some rumour spreading around that you and SU slept together Sat. night.'
WHAT? I'm going to kill him! :C Ha-ha, did she love using smilies?
'I don't think SU spread it. He's been beating up dudes left, right and centre for talking about you like that douche did.' Suigetsu shuddered when he thought about what Sasuke would do to him if he ever found out who the source of the leaked 'photos' was.
Well then how did the rumour spread?
'There are pictures...'
"P-pictures? O-of what?"
'You... in a bra... him getting into your bed... stuff like that.'
Hinata was shocked beyond words. Was some guy taking photos of her in her room? And how? Her curtains were shut that night, there was no way that photos could have been taken. Boy oh boy did Suigetsu feel guilty now... or maybe it was his empty stomach?
.
"Hey Sakura~" Karin sang, "I did it." She took a chug from the flavoured water bottle in Sakura's hands. Strawberry, of course.
"I know I saw the pictures. D-did they really? You know... do it?" Karin laughed.
"That prude? Please... I'd actually be surprised if she knew what sex entailed. And Ino looks like she's going to kill me, laugh out loud."
"Ino knows about it?"
"Well she knows the pictures have been sent." Sakura scouted the area, they were alone in their area of the 'sixth form centre'.
"Sasuke's been beating up guys today." She whispered, "First Sai from English said something about her boobs, then Kiba asked what she was like... they've both been sent to the nurses office. They're lucky they're his friends- they might be in hospital otherwise!"
"Let's just hope he doesn't find Suigetsu... That guy'll spew his guts."
"And then Sasuke'll know it was us?"
"Well it's most likely that Suigetsu will reveal me... but, because you put in most of the money... I'll drag you down in the dirt with me."
"You're a real bitch do you know that?"
"Yeah and so are you, so it looks like we're in the same boat. Toodles, I'm off to find Sui." Karin danced away just as Ino stormed towards Sakura.
"I hate that red headed bitch." Ino fumed. "You should have seen the way she was talking about Hinata! Ugh- I wanted to slap her." The blonde took a bite out of a sausage roll and the pastry stuck to her lips. "Would anyone mind if I killed her?"
"Ino, Karin's one of my friends." Sakura protested. "Even if she's a bit..."
"A bit? Sakura that bitch is crazy! If you're not careful she might drag you into something." Ino finished her sausage roll and cleared her lips. "Have you seen Hinata? I haven't seen her all break. I need to talk to her." Sakura shrugged, in reality she hadn't seen Hinata. She normally never did, they didn't have a lot of classes together. Naruto walked past them no doubt about to ask Sakura out on a date. "Naruto!"
"Ino!" he blond grinned. "How can I help ya'?"
"Have you seen Hinata? Just so you know, she looks a little different today, more fabulous... we are wearing matching outfits and we're supposed to be taking pictures right now and I hear that Sasuke or someone has been spreading pictures around about her?" The girl gasped for breath. "I'm gonna kill whoever did this." Naruto scratched his head confused, was Ino asking him if he'd seen Hinata or if Sasuke was the one who emailed everyone photos of the two of them in erm... what could be interpreted as a 'sexual' situation.
"Wha?" he weakly got out, "Ino, you're confusin' me here!"
"Have. You. Seen. Hinata? We are matching today."
"Nope."
"Well have you seen Sasuke?"
"Whoaaaaa- Ino. Before you jump the gun. Sasuke is way more mad than you are. He's beaten up two guys already." Sakura nodded, she'd seen him beat the crap out of a non-too wise Sai. "There's no way he talked about it... I mean, I'd of been first to know instead of like, the hundredth."
.
When the bell for break rang, Hinata left the room faster than she'd ever ran in heels before. Suigetsu had really opened a can of funk on her day. She ran into Sasuke by her locker.
"Did you know about these pictures?" he snarled at her.
"I just found out t-this morning! In l-lessons!" she whimpered in response. "T-that guy... he- he said t-that someone sent a viral something?"
"What guy?"
"Some guy... from Psychology. H-he was sitting i-in front of me a-and... And Suigetsu."
"If it's a viral, Suigetsu'll be able to help us. Do you even know him?"
"N-no.. .b-but he's going to h-help with Ino's going away gift."
"C'mon." Sasuke dragged her in search of the platinum haired teen. A group of their peers were watching them knowingly. They probably thought they were going to find an empty room to make out in. He had a small plan, Hinata totally wasn't going to go for it. He had found the room Suigetsu was chilling in, he was with a tall, ginger boy built like a boulder. Hinata was trying to catch her breath behind him. His hand was still firmly gripped on her forearm. "Hinata, just play along with this."
"Play along? P-play a-along with wha-" Sasuke pulled her into his arms and crushed her lips with his own. He said play along- so she did, her hands flowed through his hair and one of his arms gripped her waist and the other opened a door and pulled the two of them in. The second the door was closed they released each other and she noticed there were two other people in the room- Suigetsu and another boy who she'd never seen before. Sasuke seemed to know who they were, but she was still clueless as to who this tall, muscled stranger was. She stepped closer towards Sasuke because this boy made her uncomfortable.
"You said something to her about a viral email." Sasuke stated. "I want you to find out who did it."
"Well, I could do that..." Suigetsu started, "But I'm going to need your pretty girlfriend to leave us for a second." And Sasuke more or less sent her out into the hallway to face the wolves.
.
"Get rejected then Hyuuga?" Some girl teased. "Maybe someone should have told you Sasuke gets bored with girls who are easy." She had messy red hair and wire frame glasses, her uniform was... well, it didn't fit with the regulations for the sixth form uniform the school had set- they used to have a set uniform from the school until year eleven, in year twelve the school allowed them to wear their own clothes provided they looked suitable for work and business.
"D-did you learn that f-first hand then?" Oh goodness. Did she just say that?
.
"Okay Uchiha, I already know who sent the viral." Suigetsu said, Sasuke edged forward and so did the red headed boy. "See, but there's some terms I wanna set before I disclose the information you got it?"
"What terms?"
"You're not allowed to attack me when I tell ya'. If ya do, my pal Juugo here's gonna sort you out."
"Whatever... who sent them?"
"I did. Now before you go all crazy, I'm gonna tell you somethin', it was a job I did for someone, so I'm impartial to whatever's going on or whatever."
"Who paid you off?"
"One of my... acquaintances."
"How did you even get the images?"
"C'mon Sasuke. Don't insult my intelligence. I was taught by Kisame, you know I'm just as good a hacker as he is... if not better. Controlling someone else s computer isn't something that's hard to do at my level." Suigetsu pulled out a lollipop and chewed on it.
"So what- you didn't want Hinata to find out or what?"
"Well... yeah- besides, I'm doing her a favour."
"By posting virals."
"By helping her out for free actually." A shrill scream made them stop their meeting, Juugo was the first one outside and he pulled a raging Karin off of Hinata.
.
"You're such a whore! How dare you talk to me like that? I don't care if Sasuke likes you I'm gonna skin ya' alive!" Hinata didn't look that worse for wear, just a few ladders on her tights, a missing school badge and a rip in one of the seams of her skirt. "I'm glad I got those pictures of you around the school- now everyone knows what a slut you are!" Hinata just stared in horrific amazement at her peer. Why would someone do anything like that? Over a boy! A boy who Hinata wasn't even sure she liked! If this is how other females acted Hinata was glad she had befriended righteous Ino before some harpy like this had gotten their claws into her.
"It was you?" Sasuke yelled, he turned to Suigetsu who looked away so as not to incriminate his friend, "It was her wasn't it?" The malice in his voice had scared Hinata.
"S-sasuke leave it! P-please." But by now he had already ripped Karin from Juugo's arms and was starting down the hallway. "Sasuke!" The dark haired girl watched in vain as Sasuke ignored her request, she'd never seen anyone so angry before. Suigetsu beside her sighed.
"Fucking feeding the real-life trolls." He turned to Hinata, "If he listened to you... she probably would've tried to do something worse." Hinata looked back through the past three weeks... little things had happened, things that she had ignored because they really weren't important, her locker being defaced, things going missing, calls from anonymous people that lasted a few seconds and were often silent.
"W-why? I d-didn't do anything..."
"Karin is jealous... and crazy. Come on, I'll help clean you up but keep your mouth shut about it, what have you got next?"
"E-English."
"Dilzoe's class?"
"Yes... O-oh I-Ino's going to be s-so mad. She r-really doesn't l-like Karin."
"Bare people don't." Juugo nodded in agreement, helped Hinata up and left before she could say 'thank you' "He's not a people person, don't worry about it." Suigetsu reassured her as they walked down to their next lesson.
.
Karin sat in the head teacher's waiting room. Suigetsu and Juugo had left her fate in Sasuke's hands and he was pissed. The boy she held such high respect for had frog marched her to the office and demanded that she be seen by the head teacher. The poor receptionist didn't know what to do- it was her first day at the sixth form centre so she allowed them through without first gaining the consent of the two head of years- like they were available anyway. And it was all that stupid Hinata girl's fault. Karin crossed her legs and shot a glare at their year photo where she could instantly make out the face of Hinata in the front row- even without her glasses which were abandoned somewhere on the floor snapped into three pieces.
"Sasuke, the head will see you now."
.
"Sakura! Didja hear what happened?" Naruto yelled in her ear.
"No. What?"
"Well, you know those pictures of Hinata? Karin was the one who spread them about!"
"People know? Does Sasuke know?"
"Dude Sasuke's out for blood. And then she attacked Hinata! Can you believe it? Like Sasuke didn't already hate her..." That's right, Sasuke would hate her if he ever found out she was part of this... he told her to leave it and she just didn't. Why? "Man, I wish I was there?"
"Naruto!"
"What- everyone's talking about it... I thought you'd be the one interested."
"You wanted to see Hinata get attacked? Naruto that's not right!" She was one to talk, the second those words came out of her mouth Sakura felt like a hypocrite. Here she was scolding Naruto over an occurrence that she had added fuel to... if she hadn't gone and ranted to Karin, maybe this wouldn't have happened. She was going to get dragged into the dirt for the second time that time, again because of Sasuke Uchiha and her unhealthy fascination with him.
"Hey I didn't mean like that but... word is Hinata can actually fight... and then Karin's crazy and well... we haven't had a catfight recently."
"I can't believe you just said that! That's my friend you're talking about you idiot!" Sakura was about to pound him when Ino pulled the blond boy down.
"Who's your friend Sakura? Hinata or Karin? Because I heard about what happened too... totally ruined my last Monday at school."
"W-well, they're both my friends." Sakura stammered. Ino had that look in her eye, no doubt she was suspicious. "What do you mean last Monday? It's only half term! We'll see each other the week after."
"No actually, that's not what I meant. Forehead I thought you'd remember the news I gave you three weeks ago." Ino stormed off, obviously not wanting to talk to her pink haired friend.
"Naruto... what's she on about."
"She's moving to Korea next week, come on! Even I knew that and I was the last to find out Hinata liked me!" Of course... Ino was leaving... how could she forget? What kind of friend was she? She was so busy giving Hinata the cold shoulder she'd completely blocked from her mind the fact that her best friend was leaving the country, there was no use running after her now. Ino was protective of Hinata, ever since Sasuke explained his interest in the smaller girl Ino had gotten ever so more protective, she threatened Sakura once for hurting her and that was just a small unintentional emotional strike. Ino'd destroy her if she knew that Sakura had plotted against Hinata. "Sakura? Sakura are you ok? Do you want me to get you anything? I mean anything- anything you want." Naruto was so sweet to offer that. She didn't deserve him, why did he like her in the first place? She was a horrible person... helping the hoard of girls get 'revenge' on Hinata simply because they wanted to be in her position... Ino would hate to know that one of her best friends was one of the generals of the army against her other.
"No... I'm fine..." she looked longingly at the direction Ino had left in, still hearing her friends heels clicking on the hall floor she apologised for leaving him standing there and headed towards her. But the bell rang. Break was over... And she didn't have any classes with Ino that day. Their friendship was screwed... wasn't it?
.
The head teacher sighed as he observed the dark haired boy in front of him.
"Are you telling me... that Karin, one of your peers, is bullying Hinata?"
"Physically, about three minutes ago." he replied bluntly.
"Then why hasn't Hinata come forward?"
"She doesn't like causing trouble, and she always feels like she's bothering someone. There's no way Hinata'd grass up Karin. Plus she's quiet as a freaking mouse."
"And what role do you play in this?" The head teacher stroked his beard in thought, "You're not one to meddle in the affairs of girls, could it be that Hinata-"
"I like her. The girls that like me are bothering her, it's my problem because it's my fault."
"Aah! So it's out of guilt you come here?" he chuckled, "As well as love." Sasuke just stared at the old man. Was he nuts? He said he liked the girl- there was nothing mentioned about love- yeah... he liked her more than he would a friend or a best friend but he was a teenager, like he knew what love was. The coot was definitely putting pieces of a puzzle together that didn't quite fit.
"I said like, not love."
"So we're referring to the primary school definition of 'like' then? Karin 'likes' you- so she's bothering the girl you 'like'..."
"No, Karin is a psycho bitch who is obsessed with me and she's trying to tear apart the girl I like because she's jealous."
"Sasuke mind your language. I still find it hard to believe such a sweet girl would do anything like that-"
"Then call in Hinata and ask her how Karin attacked her while she was in the corridors. Juugo in the year above had to pry her off of Hinata."
"Very well, stay outside, I want to speak to Karin, please send her in."
.
All eyes were on Hinata as she walked to class accompanied by Suigetsu. They sat down in the only two seats available- coincidently next to each other. She searched for Sasuke but to no avail, he wasn't in the room. She shrugged off her blazer, it was too obviously linked to the incident with Karin, her school pin was torn off of the lapel and it left a horrid gash in the material... her mother was going to kill her- this was a new suit.
'Sorry about Karin, she's crazy' Suigetsu slid the note across her table. Was this make a new friend day?
Don't worry about it... I just hope Sasuke doesn't make a big deal out of it...
'U n me both know he will :P'
Yeah... that's sad u.u'
'When do u need the iPod for?'
When can you have it ready for me?
'I could do it tonight.'
A knock at the door made everyone look up from their work. The teacher stopped reading 'Chronicles of a Death Foretold' out loud and told the visitor to come in. The receptionist from the main school office popped her head around the door.
"Could we borrow Hinata for a while?" While Hinata put her blazer back on, code of conduct had to be followed when you see the head teacher or even the assistant heads, that meant proper uniform- and although Hinata couldn't find her pin that marked her as a member of the sixth form, she wanted to fulfil that code she had signed at the beginning of the year in her student planner as best she could. Students were 'ooh'ing jokingly, suspecting that this was due to her and Karin's clash and that the Hyuuga girl might get punished for being in a fight.
They made another stop on the way to the office; the receptionist collected Juugo from an Ecosystems lesson and told them to carry on towards the main office while she collected the other student. Hinata and the tall Juugo walked in silence for a moment.
"T-thank you for e-earlier." She managed to say. Juugo shrugged.
"Sometimes Karin needs to remember where she is." he acted as though it was more an action of putting Karin in her place than protecting Hinata, this disheartened her slightly... "O-oh... B-but still... Thanks."
.
Guilt was plaguing Sakura. She was a 'goody two shoes', this whole drama was way more than anything she was used to. She couldn't even take proper notes or listen to the teacher. She'd began to doodle on her lab coat- everyone who had one did so, mainly so that they wouldn't get stolen.
"Sakura?"
"Yes Mrs Mayrs?"
"You've been called to the head teachers office," the teacher turned to the receptionist- when did she get there? I must really be out of it if I didn't notice that she came in. Sakura thought. "Will she be gone for the rest of the lesson? I'm talking about their coursework requirements."
"No, shouldn't take long at all." The receptionist assured her.
The head teacher's office was yet another new experience for Sakura. Why so much in such a small amount of time?
.
"Karin... I've heard some disheartening things about you. That you've been bullying another student."
"I have done nothing of the sort." the red headed girl haughtily replied.
"Then what about this incident involving Hinata?"
"A small misunderstanding."
"A physical 'misunderstanding', I doubt that Karin."
"Ok fine, so I hit her, but she called me a whore."
"Again, I highly doubt that Karin."
"Doubt it all you want, it's my story."
"Very well..."
.
Hinata had only just sat down when Sasuke and Karin exchanged places- the Uchiha had just walked out of the small office and Karin was entering. She was too unnerved to look him in the eye so she just stared at her hands until she was called into the same office.
"H-hello Mr. Ha-Harrington."
"Hinata, please sit. Why didn't you come to someone over your bullying?"
"I-I didn't think i-it was so b-bad... I-I had other things o-on my mind, I-Ino's leaving next week a-and... I guess I just b-blocked it o-out."
"Regardless, this is a very serious issue. We like to believe that our school is a safe environment. You should have reported it to a senior member of staff."
"I-I really didn't notice a-anything... J-just some t-things missing from m-my locker or-or my bag."
"And today's event?"
"I really w-wasn't hurt... I-it was sort o-of my fault a-anyway."
"How so?"
"W-when Karin approached me... I-uh... retaliated."
"Go on..."
"S-she told me that S-sasuke got bored of... I-I don't want to say what she said..."
"I need to know the details Hinata, the sooner I figure out what to do about this the sooner you can go back to class."
"S-she said he was e-easily bored by easy girls... a-and I a-asked if she knew from personal e-experience."
"I see, and then?"
"W-well... Juugo pulled her o-off of me. I-I'm really fine."
"But your uniform is damaged."
"I-ah, I can f-fix it... really."
"Okay you may leave for your class."
.
The head teacher observed the last student waiting to see him. Juugo was a quiet boy, very engrossed in animals and science, most of the teachers assumed he wanted to be a vet. Despite his sweet inner nature, the boy was physically daunting, his insane height and broad shoulders, not to mention his nonchalant view on human life made him a sort of... frightening.
"Juugo."
"Sir."
"What happened today?"
"Karin started a fight with Hinata, I do not know or care why she did, but I pulled her off of the girl."
"Why?"
"She needed to be reminded where she was. There are rules. If she broke them she'd be gone."
"Well, does it matter?"
"Not to me, Suigetsu is friends with her, and she makes him happy. If she's gone, he's not fun to be around."
"So Karin did physically-"
"Yes she was on her, can I go? I'm missing my test results."
"Yes Juugo you can leave now. Tell Karin and Sasuke I want to speak to them."
.
"See Sakura, we need to talk about the marks you received in Biology."
"Okay, what about them?"
"Well, you've gotten one hundred percent in the mock exams, we were thinking that if you apply yourself during half term and the rest of the school year that you could take the whole A-level this year."
"Really? That's it?"
"Yes, but we'd need your parents permission, so here's a letter to hand to them. It has all the details."
"Thanks." the pink haired girl beamed. She wasn't in trouble at all. Karin totally bluffed. She was safe!
The girl all but skipped back down to her science lab. She saw the threatening upperclassman Juugo was on his way to the labs also; it wasn't a secret that he excelled in the knowledge and physical strength departments, a shame his looks and behaviour didn't match else he'd be one of those more 'desirable' boys. He brushed past her and she all but flew into the wall.
"Karin says to watch out. And that what was said stands."
Maybe she wasn't so safe after all...
.
Again, for the umpteenth time in a row this term, Sasuke was the talk of the year. His actions concerning Hinata and Karin had placed him as the character of 'Knight in shining amour', Hinata as the 'damsel in distress' and Karin as the 'jealous hag'. And yet... Hinata seemed miffed that he had gone to the office, did she really hate confrontation that much? Then again, she probably preferred to live in her own imaginative bubble where the only big change was Ino moving country. In English when he walked in halfway through the lesson she didn't even look up from her conversation with that Suigetsu, Sasuke wondered if she'd still ignore him for Suigetsu if she knew he was the one who had spread the scandalous photos- even if he was 'hired'. At the lunch bell Suigetsu left "Hinata are we going for lun-"
"I'm spending the day with I-Ino."
"What about tomorrow?"
"I-we... we have half days t-tomorrow."
"Then you can come to my house."
"T-that's not h-happening. I-I'm picking u-up my cousin."
"Can't that wait?"
"I h-haven't seen him a-all year... a-and I-I'm really busy t-this week."
"So you're just going to avoid me this week... I thought we were past that."
"I-I asked you t-to leave it a-alone and y-you ignored me." Hinata accused, "I-if we d-didn't make a big deal o-out of it they'll g-get bored a-and.. a-and they'll s-stop."
"That's bullshi-"
"I-I've been bullied before, I t-think I'd know what w-works..." Well Hinata was definitely getting colder towards him. She left him in her search for Ino so that they could take pictures or whatever the hell it was Ino and Hinata wanted to do together.
.
The signal for the end of school was met with graciousness from all the students; Sakura was glad that she was finally out of the confines of the school walls and the gazes she kept imagining from red-headed classmates, Sasuke was relieved that he could finally escape the whispers of the nosey parkers who kept intruding on his personal life. Hinata walked out of one of the many school entrances with Ino on one arm and Chouji on the other. Shikamaru had his arm around Ino's waist and both of their bags on his shoulder. As the group spilt up for the way home Ino declared that they all were to wear blue shirts the next day.
Ino and Shikamaru headed to his father's car and they drove off, then Chouji and Hinata headed down the school road. They got honked a couple times by someone in a olive green Ford Ka but ignored it as it was likely to be some obnoxious teenager. The car drove around the corner and stopped at the pavement crossing. A male and female got out, they both had brown hair. The girl wore green Capris and a pink shirt and her hair were dressed in an adorable bun fashion, the male wore brown shorts and a plain beige T-shirt with long sleeves. His hair was longer than Hinata's and was tied in a low ponytail down his back. Hinata recognised him at once and her face lit up.
"Neji!" Chouji smiled at his friends child-like enthusiasm. Hinata had sped up her pace and ran straight into the male's arms. "I-I missed you s-so~ much!" Neji patted his younger cousin's head and hugged her back with just as much enthusiasm. "A-aren't you s-supposed to b-be here tomorrow?"
"Didn't you miss me?" he teased. "Lee was driving... and he's a maniac behind the wheel... so we got here earlier."
"I-ah, Neji t-this is C-Chouji. H-he's o-one of my best friends." The two boys nodded in acknowledgement to Hinata's introduction, the girl to his side smiled and introduced herself.
"Hey, I'm Tenten, I don't think we've met before."
"I guess not." Chouji replied blushing, other than Ino and Hinata a lot of girls didn't really take the time of day to talk to him just for the sake of conversation- they certainly weren't as nice to him- just because he was a bit bigger than the desired boys... and Tenten was cute... in a tomboyish way. "Ah, Hinata I'll leave you with your cousin then... Peace."
"B-bye Chouji, I'll s-see you tomorrow."
.
Hinata and Tenten pulled out the mattress under the bed in the spare room. Apparently Hiashi had said Tenten and Lee could stay along with Neji for the half term, Tenten would be sleeping in Hanabi's room and Neji and Lee would be spending their stay in the only spare room in the house. At the moment the two boys were playing a videogame downstairs with Hanabi.
"So uh... has Neji said anything about me?..." Tenten asked shyly. "Since the last visit I mean..."
"N-not really... s-sorry." Hinata knew that Tenten had secretly harboured a crush on her older cousin, Neji of course didn't even think of his best friend in that way... then again maybe they were going to be new Ino and Shikamaru.
"Aw, don't be!" Tenten exclaimed, "Besides, I think it's starting to fade anyway..."
"W-what? But you'd b-be so g-good together!" Hinata protested, "A-and... a-and we all l-like you h-here."
"Yeah... but you know it'd just be weird if I told him-" Tenten sought for a way to divert the conversation. "How's your love life?" she asked and pulled out her twin buns. "Hanabi sent Neji an email about a boy spending the night and he made us leave earlier."
"H-he knows?"
"Yeah. If I didn't know him any better... well, if I didn't restrain him as well this 'Sasuke' guy would be dead right now." Hinata was gobsmacked, why did everyone feel like that? Did she emit some sort of scent that caused others to want to protect her? Then again, she was probably reading too much Perfume: Story of a murderer, where the protagonist Jean-Baptiste Grenouille was a master of the olfactory sense; apparently the smell of humans caused them to react in certain ways- it was a very interesting read... if not freaky when she read the scene where the townsfolk- no... That was a weird section of the book that she really ought not to be thinking about because it always made her blush.
"H-he doesn't need to do anything a-about that..."
"Hmm, but maybe I should warn this Sasuke-guy? Neji is going to seek him out."
"N-not if I t-talk to him..."
"Come on, give me your phone! I promise I won't embarrass your or anything." Hinata handed the other girl her phone and told her what ridiculous name Sasuke had put his number under.
Hello?
"Hi. This is Sasuke right?"
Yes. Who's this and why are you calling me on Hinata's phone?
"Friend of Hinata's cousin- anyway just wanted to warn you that Neji may or may not want to hunt you down and castrate you with a rusty knife for staying the night in Hinata's room- Hinata don't blush! You're seventeen please don't tell me this is embarrassing for you?"
Right... can I talk to Hinata? Tenten asked the girl who then shook her head.
"Well why not? Oh you're mad at him. Sorry Sasuke, looks like our conversation is over." with that Tenten hung up. Hinata pouted, Tenten grinned.
"He sounds really hot... like in that manly sort of way hot not skinny teenager hot. You did good kid." The phone in her hand lit up and vibrated, 'Incoming Call: Sex God' the screen read. Before Hinata could lunge for the phone Tenten had picked it up and was keeping Hinata at arm's distance from the phone.
Tell Hinata she's invited to a party at my house on Friday. She can bring Ino and her slaves.
"Oh so I'm not invited?"
I don't even know you. Why would I invite you?
"Because it's either me, Neji or Lee... and you don't want Neji or Lee to uh- supervise her."
Fine. Just make sure she comes.
Sasuke hung up and Tenten pouted.
"So that's what it feels like getting hung up on. Hinata are you free on Friday?"
"W-well... we we're going to d-do something with I-Ino and S-sakura..."
"Change of plans... He said 'Ino and her slaves' could come too, so we're going to a party!"
"B-but!" Hinata was silenced by Tenten's fingers on her lips.
"Look, a guy likes you, and you like him- so you and your little in denial butt are going to his party and resolve why you guys are so mad at each other." Hinata tried to give Tenten a glare, the older girl laughed. "Are you seriously glaring at me? I'm Neji's best friend. Nothing you can do will intimidate me."
.
Tenten pulled on the pair of shorts for her pajamas and was searching for the matching top... she was already undressed when she realised that she hadn't packed it. None of her shirts were meant to be slept in, they creased easily... this meant she had to do one thing. She strode from Hanabi's room to the opposite spare room. Neji and Lee were still playing that videogame; they'd moved the console up to the spare room. She coughed in order to get their attention.
"Lee, do you have a T-shirt I could borrow?" Neji turned his attention from the screen and was lost his lead on Lee. Tenten was in a bra and shorts- not like he hadn't seen her in a bikini or anything.. But her hair was down too. The brunette snapped her fingers in front of his white eyes.
"Tenten I'm afraid I cannot provide you with a T-shirt to hide your divinity!" Lee exclaimed in anguish. He was so dramatic that most people didn't like hanging out with him, but since they were twelve they formed a special sort of friendship and Tenten was often the peacekeeper... or disciplinary.
"That's cool Lee. So... Neji?"
"Wha- oh right yeah." The Hyuuga male pulled out a T-shirt from his suitcase and was hugged by Tenten.
"Thanks Neji. Oh... Me and Hinata are going out on Friday."
"Can I-"
"No. Girls only. I'll fill you in on the details when we get back okay?"
"Fine." Tenten let go of Neji and joined Hanabi in her room, she wanted to make sure that she had something party worthy... if not... well... Hinata's wardrobe might get raided- for one night that is.
So I've introduced Team Guy! Oh I love them so... mostly Lee because trying to put his speech together is just hilarious... and a reason to bust out a thesaurus. As you can see... there will be plotty-plotness as well as scheming. Oh scheming. But other than Lee there is one reason I wanted to put Tenten in the story- Ino's leaving... which would leave Hinata with only Sakura as a female 'friend' and I want Tenten to help Hinata through it- of course she's going to be a lot less girly about it... her two friends are boys- it's obvious that she's going to be tomboy, and because of that... she could erm... well, she's going to be very useful for me in later chapters... Constructive criticism please.