A/N Thank you so much for all the reviews for the last chapter, your reviews really inspire me to keep writing! Sorry this chapter took quite long, there's a fight scene that I included specially for a reviewer who asked for a fight scene next chapter. A lot of SasuHina in this chapter! And some Sakura and Hinata bonding. Also next chapter will be nearly solely focused on Sasuke as we don't really know what he is thinking about Hinata. So we won't see much Hinata next chapter! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
Chapter 11
Dawn
Slowly and gracefully the amethyst-haired heiress moved across the candle-lit room, the streams of flickering light shimmering against the perfectly polished marble floor. She smiled softly, admiring her surroundings.
It was beautiful, Hinata thought staring at the opulence and intricacy of the room. Everything was beautiful; the splendour of the room with the high-peaked ceilings was beautiful, the old art framed in gold was beautiful, the entrancing music was beautiful, her dress was beautiful, the starry night outside was beautiful. Everything looked beautiful. And the ethereal heiress was hopelessly in awe.
Tonight's celebrations were spread out onto two main rooms; the otherworldly, main ballroom with the flickers of dazzling firelight playing across everyone's features, and the balcony which looked over the Daimyo's opulent grounds and the dusty purple starfield.
The decisive clink of champagne flutes being thrust delicately together as a new slow stream of hypnotic music started up and couples took the centre of the ballroom. The sound of laughter matched with suggestive and fluttering eyes made Hinata's cheeks stain a delicate red that complemented her obi so well.
Hinata felt painfully out-of-place among the guests of tonight, though at a glance she fitted in perfectly against the refined himes and daughter's of noblemen. Even the Kazekage had made an appearance along with his imperial entourage which consisted of the abrasive Temari and Kankurō who looked so strange in a yukata. The latter supplying the entertainment of the night with masterful puppetry.
Temari had brashly commented on how Hinata looked right in front of her brothers. Kankuro had gruffly agreed and Gaara seemed to almost blush and smile then look away. That brief encounter with the Sand Siblings had been the only conversation she had with someone she knew so far. Sasuke had released her arm the moment they entered the ball, and she'd lost him in the crowd of dark-haired men sporting black yukata. She'd seen Naruto and Sakura briefly - it was hard to miss their bright features and the pair seemed to be one of the night's main attractions.
She didn't mind being left alone, she was thoroughly enjoying herself. She felt like someone entirely new here - someone had even mistaken her for the hime from Hoshigakure.
Someone entirely different… which made her eyes travel downwards to the champagne flute she was currently holding. Temari had thrust the glass into her hands, demanding her to drink it before she disappeared off to entertain someone else.
Hinata blinked curiously downwards at the amber liquid, and raised the glass closer to her face. It smelt rich and made her noise crinkle and her cheeks fan. She's tasted alcohol before at clan meetings. But only dainty sips at toasts for her father's speeches before some clansmen quickly yanked the glass from her hands. She'd never been drunk before, not even at the after party of the war when everyone had gotten drunk. Even Lee and Konohamaru - and she wasn't sure that was actually legal for the latter - got completely drunk, and an even drunker caretaker Shino had dragged them around Konoha for hours trying to find their houses. Naruto woke up almost a day later on top of the Hokage Monument dazed and disorientated with Sakura - of course this was just a hailed rumour. One of many about Naruto that night.
She was nearly certain one flimsy sip wouldn't get her completely drunk, so she brought the delicate flute closer to her lips, inhaling the strong scent which made her eyes sting briefly and her cheeks to flush. Squeezing her eyes shut she allowed the liquid to flow into her mouth.
"Oh," was all she said as she stared a little hazily at the now empty flute. A warm sensation flooded through her body as her face scrunched up at the bitter taste of the liquid. It burned her throat and numbed her senses - but not enough to notice a pair of eyes watching her with an intensity that caused her skin to ignite in a fiery trail. She blushed, her eyes meekly looking upwards.
Sasuke was standing across the resplendent ballroom, leaning against a white marble column, staring directly at her.
Hinata's heart quivered unexpectedly. How long had he been there, watching her? Time seemed to suspend entirely the moment black met ivory. His dark midnight yukata spun of the finest silk seemed to shimmer underneath the flickers of candlelight and his ivory pallor glowed delicately underneath the firelight. His crimson obi that matched hers so well looked the colour of fresh blood.
He looked every inch as imperial and regal as the daimyo and kings that surrounded him. He painted the very picture of sinful, sultry seduction and his attention was focused wholly on her. Time seemed to resume abruptly as at once he was moving towards her with a dangerous predatory gaze, his eyes smouldering.
The lilting music seemed to suddenly alter and its tones and moods lowering and fading alone with everything else in the room. Her heart began to pound harder and faster as her wide eyes watched him. He was moving carefully through the vibrating crowd whose faces seemed to blur and fade. Those smouldering dark eyes fixed purposefully onto her. Endless skies sucking out all the light and drawing her.
She didn't know what exactly it was about the way he was regarding her that made her feet instinctively carry her backwards in a desperate effort to retain some distance. Perhaps it was the way his burning eyes ignited a shrill coil of fear in her stomach or caused her heart to flutter. Or perhaps it was that disconcerting aura of resolve that caused ignited every nerve ending in Hinata's body.
It was evident Sasuke was closing the distance with very specific actions in mind. His eyes unwavering he moved closer as she reflect clutched tightly, nervously onto the flowing skirt of her gown. And Hinata felt that her heart was ready to leap straight out of her mouth when, abruptly, someone's finger slid around her wrist.
Emitting a small gasps she whirled around with wide, confused eyes to stare into the pale blue depths of Gaara - the Kazekage.
"K-Kazekage-sama!" she squealed questioningly as she stared deep into those whirling pools of the palest shade of blue.
He smiled fondly, peering a little inquisitively down at the startled heiress. "I'm sorry Hinata-san, I did not mean to scare you." he said honestly, as he watched minor confusion blink over her features.
Her lips parted and her cheeks stained she briefly glanced over her shoulder at where the Uchiha had been seconds before.
He was no longer there. Her confusion ebbed as she quickly returned her attention to the Kazekage who was patiently awaiting an answer. His small smile ignited her own flushed and barely there smile. "I-I'm sorry Kazekage-sama I w-was just-" staring at Sasuke "looking out f-for any threats. I-I'm on guard tonight." she said unevenly, her blush darkening.
"Yes I heard that from Naruto earlier." Gaara nodded softly, his voice quiet and lilting, his blooded spikes fell across his pale eyes that were staring directly at her.
Pausing, Hinata's heart tittered along an uneven rhythm as her eyes fell down to his grip on her wrist. His skin several shades darker than hers, his gentle hands were still holding her wrist lightly. She blushed confusedly, her lips floundering as she cautiously looked up to meet his fond, unnerving gaze.
The was an air of wavering resolve radiating from his arresting form as he smiled downwards at her, almost in askance of their joined hands. She peered slowly downwards at his clutch on her wrist pondering why his touch sent icy flames across her wrist. His hold was gentle and yielding and she knew if she tried he would allow her to retrieve her hand back. She was also surprised as to why her mind reflectively thought back to Sasuke's touch when he clutched her wrist. His touch was dark, possessive and utterly terrifying.
She expected him to move away, but to her utter mortification, Gaara remained holding her wrist lightly, and she swore he took a step closer. His face tilting to the see as he regarded her calmly and fondly. His gaze sweeping over her kimono up to her face, he smiled slightly. Her pulsed halted in response as she felt another tingle of icy flames invade her body. She fidgeted uncomfortably.
Her efforts to ask him just what he thought he was doing by taking the liberty to touch her so freely were foiled by the fact he was Gaara - one of the kindest men she knew. And of course he was the Kazekage and she a mere Hyuuga.
She was also acutely aware of how envious the woman and indeed some of the men around her were. Gaara was renown for his imposing looks, his crimson hair and his soft, knowing eyes. Ino had even thought he was cute back when they were genin and he was a deranged and sadistic lunatic. The same blonde-haired kunoichi had also been envious when it was Hinata who accompanied Naruto to Suna to visit the Kazekage.
A sadistic psycho so alike her bodyguard and the fact she felt safer with Sasuke oppose to the honourable Gaara was severely troubling.
"I also heard you've become a target of a serious of attacks." his tone dipped into something darker and he frowned. "I hope you're okay Hinata-san, has there been any word on who is targeting you?"
She blinked blankly, a coil twisting in her stomach. "T-they're from Sound." she admitted quietly her cheeks burning. "W-we think."
"I also heard about the death of your bodyguard Hinata-san. You have my condolences. He died an honourable death of a true shinobi and will not be forgotten."
Hinata froze, her whole body tensing as her eyes widened. She recoiled back from Gaara. Something inside of her snapping - her carefully built barriers and walls in which she kept emotions behind seemed to suddenly recede and images of Kō flooded through her mind.
She couldn't shake the sight of that forest clearing. It was seared so deeply into her memory she swore it was the only thing she saw when her eyes closed. The blood, the indifference of the dark strangers and Kō's limp body, jaw slack, eyes blankly staring, face covered in blood. Her helplessness.
Will not be forgotten? The image of Kō's death was so poignant in her memory she could still smell the scent of freshly spilled blood, she could still hear the indifferent breathing of her captors.
"Have you acquired a new bodyguard Hinata-san? I worry for your safety and if you like you could come to Suna-"
"She has." a voice seethed directly behind her.
She froze, her whole body assaulted by a wave of a slowly, unfurling, hot and all-consuming fire that crept along her entire body.
Say something, she ordered herself frantically. His voice had been low and so utterly menacing and familiar. It was the same tone he used when regarding opponents. She could feel those liquid fire eyes staring directly at Gaara. He didn't even seem to be blinking. Gaara seemed to stiffen before impassively returning a look verging on its own coldness, hidden behind an imperial nod. It was unnerving and unsettling, and her heart just wouldn't stop pounding.
"Uchiha-san." Gaara said evenly, his eyes flickering accusingly to Hinata whose expression was startled and frantic. Her lips parted and floundering, waves of anxiety radiating off her.
"Gaara." Sasuke stated blankly, smoky grey eyes regarding the red-haired Kage with disgust and something else completely malevolent.
The whole atmosphere pullulated by something wholly cold with chagrin lacing the tension as the two shinobi stared. Black meeting pale blue. Hinata, the small heiress standing confounded in the middle of the battlefield, her own heart racing.
Her drumming pulse accelerated into even further agitation and anxiety when Sasuke's hand trailed forward to brush against her bicep, digging deeply into the material of her kimono, her breath hitched.
She had no idea what the Uchiha was going to do. He was illogical, unpredictable and dangerous to everyone around him and suddenly she was terrified for everyone in the room apart from herself. Sasuke exuded an air of something, something that made her stomach feel as though it were knotting in a thousand places.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." Sasuke said lightly, his lilting tone playfully laced with a dark malice. Gaara stared curiously as the Uchiha's clutch on Hinata's bicep tightened as he moved his arm down her arm.
"I-I was just t-talking t-to K-Kazekage-sama." she explained weakly. She had no idea why she felt the need to explain herself to him.
A disconcerting aura of masked irritation emitting from the cold, dark depths of the Uchiha's eyes. His grip tightened, absently noting her exhilarating pulse and the uneven breathings of her heart. It was wavering in that pattern it often did before she fainted, and the Uchiha had no idea how he came to know such a piece of useless information. His temper flaring as his hands formed manacles around her wrist, and he stared blankly at her other hand - the hand which Gaara was holding onto.
Gaara was known for his patience and intellect; he could wait hours for his friends and could formulate strategic plans on the battlefield in seconds. But both of those attributes were distinctly absent. He wasn't sure why the Uchiha was acting so hostile and his patience with the situation was wearing thin. He returned his eyes back to the nervous Hyuuga, his smile returned. "Hinata-san as I was saying," he started lightly, "you are always welcomed to visit Suna and I know my brother and my sister are both fond of you from your last visit."
She blushed demurely recalling the absurdity of the last time she and Naruto visited Suna. Naruto had been so persisted on her accompanied him she hadn't the heart to decline the offer, though the sun's intense rays burned her delicate skin.
"Your safety would be confirmed in Suna too. You would be assigned a bodyguard if that made you feel safer Hinata-san."
"K-Kazekage-"
"She already has one." Sasuke replied flatly, his hands tightened around Hinata's wrist. She was sure his grip would leave an imprint.
Questioning sky-blue eyes flickered up to meet Hinata, as did midnight eyes. Both awaiting her answer impatiently. "Sasuke is my new bodyguard since…" her voice trailing off as hands balled into small fists. Neither man released their grip of her wrist. She tensed awkwardly. "K-Kazekage-sama-"
"We're leaving." Sasuke said abruptly, his tone holding no indication of his thoughts or opinions. His eyes briefly glanced over the other hand holding her wrist, and without a second thought he pulled her firmly back. Jerking her back against his chest, he severed Gaara's grasp and Hinata's apathetic frown does not go unmissed by the Uchiha. However her horror does, or rather he ignores it.
The Kazekage blinks blankly for a moment, his confusion and shock evident through his narrowed eyes. He opens his mouth to say something - but Sasuke promptly evades his response by turned quickly on his heels, his hand clutching Hinata's wrist so possessively he half-expected her to yelp in pain.
Her eyes widening to reveal more of those milky-white and all-seeing coveted orbs as watches herself being towed into the crowd by Sasuke. Somehow, between the menacing pace of her heart and her utter shock she finds her voice. "S-Sasuke s-stop."
"I'd rather not." he snapped dryly, his tone giving no indication of what illogical thoughts he was thinking.
She stared incredulously at him. That was all he was going to offer her? After ripping her away from the Kazekage that was all he was going supply. She had no idea where he was dragging her as he weaved her through the crowd who scarcely noticed her terrified expression and the fact it looked like he was kidnapping her - which he was.
"Where are we going?" Hinata could feel her body shaking. Part of her, she realised, didn't want to know, dreaded finding out. Sasuke was thoroughly annoyed over something, his coldness wafting off him in waves that caused her blood to run cold. Sparing a look behind her, she was they'd lost Gaara in the crowd. Turning back to face the back of Sasuke she noticed his yukata had a tiny Uchiha emblem stitched on the back. "W-why did you take me away from Gaara?" she pleaded as he dragged her further.
Tilting his head back slightly to eye her, he answered coldly, "Because I wish it."
Hinata's eyes widened. Her mouth parted delicately in disbelief. She wasn't certain she had heard correctly. He couldn't possibly have said that - and yet, she knew that he had.
Because he wished it? She was being dragged violently away from the Kazekage as if a moment longer in his presence would cease both their existences. Hinata bit her lower lips. She wasn't sure what he was doing but she didn't like it. There was no need to be so rude. Anger burned in her throat, triggering her voice to return. "Please let go of me," she finally managed to utter stiffly. His presence was overwhelming. She could scarcely draw breath. And his desperation was unnerving.
His grip flexed around her wrist.
"Let me go." she professed, her voice shaky and fragile.
"I can't." It was so quiet.
He stopped in the middle of the ballroom, vibrant dresses whirling into blurry images.
"I don't understand." she admitted softly, her eyes wide and cheeks stained as her hands knotted furiously into her sleeves.
That made two of them, he thought corrosively. Slowly and deliberately he turned to face her: her eyes wide and imploring were focused wholly on him and her accusatory blush was the same shade as her dress. Dark, sooty eyelashes fanned across her cheeks as she peeked meekly upwards.
He didn't understand why the very thought of another man, Kage or civilian, or otherwise, touching Hinata was enough to simmer the blood in his veins. It wasn't as if he particularly liked her… she was okay he supposed. During their time together he had become almost possessively protective of her. And it was obvious she did not want Gaara holding her wrist - he had her aversions to his touch and he had acted accordingly. Ripping her from the object of her discomfort and monopolising her for himself.
"Stop staring at me like that." he snapped quietly, eyeing her deftly, she quickly shook herself and looked away. Blushing madly. "Idiot." he told her lightly.
She wasn't sure why she smiled at his abrasive comment. It was an offence name he had called her, and yet it send flutters across her skin, warming her tingling heart. He said it so much to her it had become almost like a name of endearment. She wasn't sure if he even meant it as an insult anymore.
He took a step closer, his grip on her right hand flexing. And Hinata felt that her heart was ready to thrum straight out of her chest when, abruptly, with a merciless force, Sasuke's left arm snaked around her waist and jerked her forward against him.
Her breathing hitched as she stifled a heady gasp as the front of her body collided into his, and his hand trailed up her arm, dancing lightly across the fabric of her kimono. His other hand embedded tightly into the fabric around her waist to hold her closely in position.
Midnight eyes flickered to meet her pale eyes that resembled tiny stars so much. Flickers from the candlelight played across their features, softening all it touched.
"Sasuke," she murmured hesitantly, her starry-eyed expression softening as his hand trailed down her arm once more to grab hold of right hand, cool fingers intertwining firmly between hers. "W-what?" she breathed, unable to keep up with his mercurial shifts in his violate mood.
His eyes smouldering like a black fire that threatened to consume every inch of her. "Posing as partygoers." his lips intoned silkily, as he stepped closer moulding their bodies together before he stepped back moving her with him in time to the music. Reflectively Hinata's left hand rose to tightly hold into his right shoulder to steady herself, as her blurry thoughts registered what he was doing between those heavy-lashed glances and lingering touches.
Dancing. Hinata was dancing with Sasuke. Her left hand digging tightly into his shoulder for reassurance and to keep her from completely succumbing to this inane idea. The Uchiha didn't seem to mind her fingers digging into his shoulder, he continued to swirl and move her into his waltz.
Between the beatings of her heart and the trailing music lilting the air softly, Hinata's senses seemed to ignite into a smouldering fire. Her heart and mind skittering along the edges of insanity she allowed him to hold her close - much closer than what was socially acceptable - and yet Hinata was powerless to pull away. His dark eyes had ensnared her once again, gentle hues of white shimmered reflectively across his eyes as her white ones stared transfixed. She could feel her thoughts coming undone. His gaze was so swelteringly intense and the swirling music and other couples dancing blended into a dizzying blur or bright, amazing colours that faded and resurfaced. It was difficult to remember being frustrated with him before, when he was looking at her like that now.
Their faces were so close, she could feel his hot breath float across her cheeks, and silkily fluttered down across her throat. Her heart racing she vaguely realised she was no longer locked in a swelteringly intense gaze, no, she was looking at his lips that were curved up into a cruel smile.
Everything was coming undone, her feelings, her thoughts, her memories, his past, his coldness, her shyness, his darkness, her darkness, until it was just Sasuke and Hinata. Alone in a world made purely of light.
"Sasuke!" a voice hissed. "Hinata!"
Blearily Hinata snapped out of her dizzying haze and exhaled in alarm, her eyes tearing from Sasuke's face to man standing beside them. He was glaring and his sky-blue eyes were pointed fully on her. As if this was her fault. She blinked confusedly.
"What do you want." Sasuke seethed lowly, his eyes never leaving her face. Black seemed to flicker crimson for a moment, but perhaps she imagined it.
"I'm sorry I interrupted your nice little dance Sasuke, but we have bigger problems than your laughable attempt at dancing." Naruto bristled icily, his eyes darkening.
Sasuke's cheek twitched and his eyes fluttered shut. Envisions of a broken jaw Naruto seemed to calm his flaring temper, that and the anxious looks Hinata was throwing him.
"W-what's going on N-Naruto-kun?" she whispered.
Sakura stepped forward, her features delicate and lovely underneath the golden glow of the candlelight. Her emeralds eyes looked almost black, she blinked worriedly. "There's been a warning of an unknown presence sensed in the forest. They've been there too long to be shinobi simply passing through. We think they're targeting the part."
Reflectively Sasuke's grip on Hinata loosened, and he stepped back. His eyes snapping open. "That's fine." he replied coldly. "We'll just kill them, it isn't a big problem." he looked pointedly at Hinata as if reminded her this is who he was. A murder. A traitor. Someone who went hand-in-hand with death and darkness.
"We can't all go and leave the party unprotected." Sakura pointed out.
"That's fine-" Sasuke started.
"I'll go." Hinata replied quickly. She shrank back slightly when all eyes turned to her. "I-I have the Byakugan so I-I'll be able to find the threat the easiest." she didn't like how she sounded as if she was bragging. Wielding the Byakugan was the source to many of her problems.
"That's reasonable." Naruto admitted.
"I'll go too." Sakura chimed in. "Sasuke and you can both guard the party, more people will notice if you two have gone." green eyes meeting Naruto's concerned pools of blue. He was suddenly frowning protectively.
Sasuke frowned, preparing to protest when Naruto beat him to it. "No I can go with Hinata, it's too…" he trailed abruptly off, knowing the vicious kunoichi would punch him if he finished that sentence.
"Hinata and I aren't simple girls Naruto. We're capable kunoichi and we can do this. And we're both going out regardless of either of your opinions." she snapped, glancing up to Hinata and smiling.
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees, as the violent breeze caught the end's of Hinata's hair as she bounded through the trees. Her kimono a brilliant ribbon of lavender that gleamed underneath the moonlight as she pushed forward faster. She just needed a little longer…
Too late.
She raised her hands, effectively blocking the foot threatening to crush her skull and deflected the blow to her right, she followed through with a hit to their chest and carefully aim low-kick for the ankles in an effort to unbalance the. They leapt backwards, evading her kick and absently threw an explosive tag at her.
Reflectively she dived sideways, ignoring how the jagged edges of branches caught in her kimono and tore the silk. She spun off the moonlit branch in favour of a lower one, almost covered in shadows and threw her own kunai which sufficiently landed as the shrill cry reverberating through the forest.
Spinning around, white eyes assessed the surrounding area quickly before she leapt forward, continuing her pace through the trees. The sounding of approaching nin closing in she pushed harder. Where is she?
She had no idea where Sakura was, she'd lost sight of the girl the second they were ambushed. Sakura aptly leaped upwards before she plummeted downwards creating a fissure on the forest floor dispersing the two groups. A series of nin were chasing Hinata and the other were somewhere with Sakura.
Bathed in the moonlight among the treetops, an icy chill ran down along her spine wondering if separating them was their plan.
Executing seals in rapid succession, her pale eyes darkened as rocked up onto her toes and spun, taking deep breath. Hakkesho Kaiten…
The swirl of chakra erupted from her whole body drowned out even the words in her thoughts, as she spun with deadly precision and accuracy as the world blurred out of focus. It was effective, blasting the fleet of kunai hailing over her, another nin followed through by attempted to kick through the chakra wall and failing.
Screeching to a stop Hinata's chest heaved, as she leapt back dodging jutsu barely. Her movements no longer fluid and energised. She was not going to be able to keep this up for much longer. Five against one weren't good odds.
Hinata acted swiftly and a little shakily. She threw a kunai forward, unfazed as the dark-haired man caught the blade and placed it in his mouth his eyes narrowing he began to start a series of hand seals in rapid succession. She lunched blindly forward, her palms out stretched she aimed a strike to both his arms.
Through the shadows another nin slunk forward to catch Hinata's arm and swing her away, straight into the trunk of a tree.
Stunned, she only had enough time scramble up the tree trunk and into a branch before a katana sliced an enormous gash out of the tree trunk where she'd landed.
The assailants were relentless. No sooner had Hinata's foot touched across the branch of the tree than he had to spin to avoid another slash of a katana. Stifling back a cry she leapt forward only to be caught by a blow mid-flight towards another branch.
They roughly caught her before she could fall into the depths of the forest. Cold arms dug deeply into her kimono, searing and tearing through the silk they swung her back onto the branch, landing neatly in front of her crumpled form they approached her quietly.
Her heart pounded loudly in her ears, her midsection ached painfully and her breath was coming in shallow gasps. She wheezed and choked up a clot of blood before she pushed herself onto her knees.
Thirty seconds.
Pale eyes meet light grey, and they smiled. Their face streaked with tendrils of blood that dripped onto the branch with even taps. "A Hyuuga." he admired, grinning salaciously as he stepped forward. "And an unbranded one at that. Must be my lucky day." he mused lightly, his own voice course and raspy as remembered landing a hit on his arm when they first ambushed her.
Fifteen seconds.
They stalked closer, their pace unhurried and that of a predatory closing in on its prey. She tensed, her heart drumming louder and louder.
Her fingers embedded into the grainy wood of the branch as she belatedly searched for some weapon. Her gaze never leaving his.
Ten seconds.
"I was going to kill you," he told her casually, almost light-heartedly as he twirled the blade in his hands, allowing it to catch the glint of the moonlight. She saw her reflection. Frightened, wounded and trapped. "But you're a Hyuuga," his slimy grin grew, "and I know just the place to deliver you to." he chuckled, whipping his blade upwards he pointed it at her almost humorously. "And I'll receive a very generous reward for presenting you." he lunged.
Zero.
Sakura slammed into the ground seconds after the dark-haired assailant, landing on him so hard there was so no need to add chakra to create a crater. The whirlwind of pink curls and billowing fabric loomed dangerously over him, kunai poised in hand she leaned over him, trails of pink dancing across the breeze.
Slowly he cracked an eye open, pain booming through his hand and most of his body. He wasn't exactly sure where was wounded, but it was excruciatingly painful. He let out a lewd curse as visions of pink and green filled his vision. "Who the f-"
"It's not polite to curse around a lady." Sakura replied evenly, her chest heaving as dirt and blood coated her skin like a second layer. Her attire was ripped and torn and with a little imagination could have once resembled a silk-woven masterpiece.
Dark grey eyes stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, considering quietly he grimaced before he began to thrash violently underneath her. Biting her lip, she pushed the tip of her kunai to his throat. A trickle of blood seeped out of the wound, trailing across his pale skin she saw him wince. However she didn't see his hand reached for his sword, dirty hands clutching the hilt he cleaved the blade upwards to slice through the air and the unsuspecting kunoichi's face.
Her eyes widened.
A loud clang of metal rang through her ears. Sakura stiffened.
Gritting her teeth as the powerful momentum shuddered through Hinata's entire body, pale eyes narrowed as the blunt force of the assailants resistance to her kunai brought her to her knees. Seeping into the muddy forest floor, Hinata's clutched her kunai tighter as she attempted to push her kunai harder again the katana destined to cleave through Sakura's head. Letting out a shrill gasp as the katana broke through her kunai, she swing back barely shielding herself in time from lethal blade that came swinging towards.
Emerald eyes widening Sakura jumped off the dark-haired man, in a pink hued blur she skidded backwards several feet behind him. Her breathing jagged and hard she wiped her hand across her face, flecking the blood off her mouth. He lunged for Sakura again. His face a mask of concentration as his blade slashed through the air in hopes of severing a limb. He chose the more exotic of the two: with the pale pink hair and the attack which had bruised his whole body. He could kill her, he needed to keep the other dark-haired female alive.
Sakura ducked beneath each slash easily and though she couldn't get close enough to land a hit herself, she was already rapidly formulating a strategy to become the victor of this battle. Cursing he sliced his blade curtly forward so Sakura was forced to throw her chest and head backwards to avoid an uppercut. However she hadn't expected him to follow through with a kick to her midsection which send her careering back.
His relentless did not cease, he lurched forward, dragging his fist back he wrenched it forward in an effort to connect with her forehead. Twirling midair, Sakura caught his fist with general ease, and with momentum used it to send him flying against the trunk of a tree.
Sinking down the tree trunk, he wiped his mouth, his eyes darkening his retrieved two kunai from his pouch and flung them at her.
Breathing heavily he rose to his feet, grey eyes wide and maniacal as he grinned, his torso heavily bruised and his legs wobbly slightly, his hands began to form hand seals. Lifting his hand to his mouth he blew out a series of fire in her direction.
Groaning, she rolled her ache form sideways missing the licks of flames by a second. Ignoring how mud seeped into her dress and coated her hair, or how she was possibly seconds away from dying, emerald eyes snapped shut as she awaited the final blow. She ignored most things at that moment, apart from the image of Naruto she conjured up.
A guttural moan echoed through the clearing, as the moonlight filtering through thin, long leafs played across the crimson liquid turning it black.
Ivory eyes swirling with veins flanking her temples and her palms outstretched Hinata launched herself forward, sufficiently landing several series of blows on the assailant. Before she spun around to block and deflect a kick and an uppercut that threatened to smash her jaw. However his katana managed to evade her arm, but caught jaggedly on a long strip of material from her loose sleeves. Gritting his teeth, he used the embedded blade to reel her in and flick his katana across her chest brutally, causing a trickle of blood to drip from her stunned lips. She stumbled backwards from the blade.
However he was not merciful, he charged towards her again, his blade slicing through the air she raised her hands limply. Evading slashes coming closer than what she wanted, Hinata could taste the cruel intent in the air, the scent of damp forest foliage and fresh blood permeating the air. The icy breeze swirled the ends of her hair and her frayed dress, as her hands crackling with tangible energy lashed forward, blindly deflecting and aiming blows, attempting to ignore the pain that coursed throughout her body. It thundered all her senses and she could feel her movements grow sluggish as her form swayed, his blade caught her shoulder and she jerked back.
A blunt curse seethed through his dry lips and echoed through the night, as his lithe form moved through the shadows and landed so close to her, she could smell the stench of drying blood and maddening bloodlust as his swung his blade upwards, blackening the block of white moon.
If this hit, she was going to lose her arm.
His weary grimace, turned into a half-smile, as he sauntered forward after her, his own arm raising to sooth his throbbing chest.
Blood pounding in her ears, a constant throbbing rolling over her entire form, Sakura watched the grey-eyed man swing his blade high, catching the reflection of the waning moon.
I need to save her - now.
Her breathing jagged and her muscles screaming as she tried to keep herself from collapsing, she lunged forward. If this blow didn't land on time, Hinata's arm was going to be severed.
The satisfying crunch of bone splintered as the assailants head swung back from the force, he stumbled blindly back. Swearing and cursing vaguely. Eyes wide and unruly Hinata's uninjured arm shot forward to connected firmly with his heart and with a burst of chakra he crumbled to his feet. His knees sinking into the muddy crowd, eyes blank and unseeing he stared upwards at the two breathless kunoichi.
Her whole form aching, Hinata absently realised she had sustained a broken rib and her wound across her chest was bleeding heavily. The whole front of her kimono stained a crimson colour, that matched her intact obi so well. Her own vision a little hazy, she stepped forward. Swaying slightly. "W-what do you know about someone trying to kidnap me?"
Confused jaded eyes flickered to her, but said nothing. Sakura had a throbbing concussion and if she didn't heal herself soon she faced the prospect of collapsing. And that would not be favourable especially if the remainder of his team arrived for backup.
"Nothing." he rasped coarsely, his whole body a burning inferno of pain. It was agony to talk, his broken jaw hanging open and bruised. Sakura had knocked out several of his teeth.
"Y-you said previously-"
"I don't know anything about them." he seethed, the pale-eyed woman's form swaying out of focus, his eyes felt heavy. "It's common knowledge in Sound that someone…" he trailed dumbly off, his eyes snapping shut.
"Someone what?" Sakura hissed.
"Someone's…" his mind dipping in and out of consciousness. "Wants the… Hyuuga heiress… they want her for some… experiment or something." his form slouched forward, coldly Sakura caught him before he could crash to the ground. Trails of his warm blood coating her fingers, she flinched.
"Experiment?"
"Something like that." he nodded dumbly. "T-they want to… follow in someone's footsteps or something… they're scary looking anyway… they were once in-"
"In what?" Hinata cried, leaning forward.
"He's completely unconscious Hinata. His pulse just dropped dramatically down. I don't have enough chakra to heal us and him." Sakura said softly, gently placing his limp body on the muddy ground.
Hinata continued to stare at the man in horror, as Sakura took to ripping the two embedded kunai in her thighs out. Gritting her teeth, Sakura tore two long strips of material from the sides of her dress to form as a bandage around her thighs. She moved on to Hinata then, the girl's expression completely stunned and devoid of emotion she stared blankly forward at the unconscious form at their feet.
Frowning Sakura used what little chakra she had to partially heal the potentially fatal wound lacerating across the Hyuuga's chest. Using the bloodies kunai she sliced through the front of Hinata's kimono to gain access to the wound. Palms illuminating with a warm green light she stopped the bleeding and eased the pain.
Hinata appeared to be in a form of shock, her whole form deathly still and her pale eyes staring upwards at the waning moon that peeked through the overhanging branches of the trees. Frowning Sakura attentive hands danced across Hinata's form, checking for any other serious injuries.
Hinata had two broken ribs and internal blood. Pursing her lips in consideration Sakura's mind raced for possible options to heal the heiress. The procedure of mending a broken rib was a long and enduring one, that could not be carried out in the middle of a forest where there was sightings of a group of nins. Also Sakura was nearly out of chakra after fending off a small battalions of nins and facing their leader she simply didn't have the energy for mending Hinata.
Sending small sharp burst into Hinata's midsection which caused the wide-eyed heiress to snap out of whatever trance she had been in and flinch from the warm chakra flooding her system. "I'm numbing your broken ribs so you will be able to travel back to the palace with little pain. I can't reset your ribs out here as there's a chance the rest of his team will stumble upon us." she jerked a thumb in the direction of the unconscious assailant.
"O-okay." Hinata's soft and lilting voice peeped shyly. "Thank you Sakura-san." she added, blushing and redirecting her eyes from the medic's hands that were prodding her midsection.
"Call me Sakura, Hinata." Sakura said, emerald eyes flashing upwards to meet Hinata's. "I think this is a start of a very long friendship as I imagine I'll see you a lot more in the future.." Sakura admitted honestly.
Confusion ebbed Hinata's features as she peered at the withdrawing kunoichi who was slowly standing up, loosening her aching muscles. She wasn't sure what Sakura meant about the two seeing each other more in the future, but she certainly had no aversions to it. She had always liked Sakura, and even when she loved Naruto she could never bring herself to dislike someone as understanding and determent as Haruno. "Yes I'd like that," Hinata paused, blushing furiously, "Sakura."
The forest that night was deathly still, an unearthly tranquillity coated every feature of the night as the two kunoichi walked along the narrow, meandering path that wove in the direction of the Daimyo's palace. Neither of them talked, both girls in deep thought and their bodies aching as the moved underneath the shades of shadows of the darkness of the forest.
Halfway to the palace Sakura glanced up. Hemmed by the treetops, glittering lights scattered across the night sky that was painted in a deep blue that reminded her so much of Naruto's eyes during the day night and Sasuke's eyes under sunlight.
She frowned thoughtfully, a cold breeze chilling her exposed skin and fluttering through the ends of her blood-clotted hair. She tilted her head sideways to peer at her companion who seemed oblivious to everything.
The meek Hyuuga's usual refined and primed exterior of a heiress was crudely replaced with that of a kunoichi where death and beauty walked hand in hand sinisterly. Various lacerations covered nearly every inch of her milky skin that glowed hauntingly underneath the silver threads of moonlight. Her kimono was shredded and torn, the most obvious rip went across her chest revealing a healing laceration that had seeped the front of her dress in tendrils of crimson. However, she didn't look concerned or worried about her injuries, she was focusing downwards solemnly.
Wants the… Hyuuga heiress… they want her for some… experiment or something. His haunting words repeated and repeatedly through her head, causing her heart to skitter. Someone wanted her for an experiment or something - both options chilled her to the bone.
They were coming closer to the identity of her cruel assailant and Hinata wasn't quite sure how to react to the recent development. It terrified her frankly, and yet she knew she couldn't shy or run away from this problem - because this problem would chase her, track her down and take her somewhere.
"Hinata?" Sakura's voice, clear and cutting as glass shattered Hinata's frantic thoughts, much to her relief.
Pale eyes flickered upwards to meet the steady gaze of Sakura whose own expression looked worried and haggard. "Y-yes Sakura?" her voice faltering a little underneath the intensity of Haruno's gaze.
"Hinata," she stated again, her voice hesitantly almost fearfully in a way that looked so foreign on her features. "Can I ask you… a question?" she asked finally, struggling to word it properly.
Nervous eyes widened expectantly as she peeked curiously upwards at the medic who saved her life just moments ago. Her lips floundered delicately as she watched the girl for a long moment, trying to decipher what was that emotion hidden thickly behind jaded eyes. She felt her stomach churned and twist in a motion that made her anxiety build. She had no idea what Sakura was going to ask. She also had no idea why she was suddenly so anxious.
This was the kunoichi who had declared them friends because their paths would cross frequently. Regardless, their relationship had always been… strained, awkward even. At first it had been over Naruto's favour for Sakura, though Hinata had a monumental crush on him and Sakura always felt awkward and bad around the quiet heiress knowing she held Naruto's heart. Then their relationship altered again, because of the dark-haired traitor with matching eyes. Only this time it was Sakura whose emotions were prickling on jealousy. Abruptly and unusually it was the pale-eyed heiress who Sasuke now devoted his near entire attention to.
"O-okay Sakura-san!" Hinata peeped quietly, a blush adorning her cheeks that matched her kimono so well. She took to idly pressing her fingers together in an effort to even her erratic heartbeat. Her anxiety was ridiculous - this was Sakura, the medic who she had fought alongside.
"Do you like Sasuke?" Sakura blurted out bluntly, she too even looked confused by bold question. Sakura vaguely wondered what Hinata's inane reaction was going to be. Would she faint? She peered worriedly at the heiress.
To Sakura's surprise though, the chary accustomed blush was not staining Hinata's cheeks. Nor was her nervousness and anxiety prevent anymore. She looked confronted, confused, unsure and uncomfortable. Her opaque eyes staring deep into Sakura's, she pondered that question.
"W-what kind of like Sakura?" she mumbled lowly, pressing her fingers together. "Like like?"
Sakura almost snorted at Hinata's innocent question and the chaste way she worded it. "Whichever." Sakura admitted honestly.
There was a small pause and Sakura didn't feel like Hinata was really seeing her anymore, though her gaze remained on her. Which was partially true because Hinata wasn't really seeing Sakura anymore, her mind was no longer with the medic in the middle of the forest but with the dark-haired traitor who she'd been dancing with a few hours prior.
His cold persona, his insults, his protectiveness, his eyes that were the colour of midnight, his darkness, his rudeness, his smirk that always made her heart flutter, his impatience, his hostility, his musky smell, his everything, and Hinata was quite fond of it all for reasons she didn't really understand.
"He's nice." she admitted biting her lips, her cheeks burning so furiously
Sakura mouth parted, her confusion completely evident on her features. The medic had never been good at hiding her emotions and reactions and Hinata's simple, soft-spoken murmur had been surprising.
Nice? She'd never heard the word nice and Sasuke in the same sentence, because the Uchiha wasn't. He was cold, devoid of emotions and hostile towards even her. But… emerald eyes flickering ahead to peer at the approaching lights of the Daimyo's palace, he wasn't like that to Hinata, was he? And she hated how her heart wavered and stung slightly.
"I-I don't mind Hinata." she said slowly, as her eyes focused downwards on the winding, forest path that slowly weaved and bled into the primed mown lawn of the palace. "I-I don't love him." not anymore, not who he has become. She didn't known who this Uchiha Sasuke was anymore.
"Sakura-chan! Hinata!" a voice yelled worriedly, and a blonde-haired boy dressed formally in a sunset yukata was suddenly bounded towards them, flanked silently by another dark figure.
Naruto lunged at Sakura, large hands gripping her shoulders as he stared with narrow eyes at her wounds. His blonde hair looking strangely translucent underneath the silvery moonlight, he seemed to completely forget about everything else apart from Sakura and her safety.
She, for once, allowed him to check her wounds, to fuss over the dirt and blood coating her skin and hair, how her kimono was ripped. How cold she was. "I'm fine." she muttered blandly, a demure blush flitting across her features as his hands traced over the wound across her upper leg. It was deep and heavily bleeding. He frowned.
Hinata's eyes widened as a hand reached over to clasp around her wrist, tugging her forward, crimson eyes spinning stared at her broken ribs and then up to the large gash lancing across her chest.
Pale eyes blearily flicker upwards to meet the intensive stare of Uchiha, and only when his hands move to accommodate her approaching form did she finally realise the exhaustion she had been battling. Stumbling forward, she succumbed the darkness ebbing the line of her vision, as she felt Sasuke's fingers trail along her injuries. "You're wounded." he commented quietly.
The world seemed to lurch out of focus. She nodded lamely.
He wasn't sure whether he drew her there, or whether she stumbled forward, but suddenly she was in his arms. Pale eyes dripping closed, her bloodied cheek smearing mud and blood against his chest, though he knew the material is too fine and old to deal with her fingers digging so tightly into its collar.
"You're an idiot princess."
She smiled intelligently against his blood-stained yukata, before unconsciousness finally claimed her. Slowly he scooped up her form, his fingers gentle and careful so not to hurt her wounds, his crimson eyes stare at the wounds marring her body. He ignored the brief glance his team-mates spared him before they return their attention to each other.