I had so much trouble with this one! The only facts I knew couldn't even have me type up a section of this chapter. It's finally out and done, that's all there is to it. Some of the things that happened I wanted to later on but...it works out nicely. Read and review as always! I'm kind of iffy on Kinmotsu...he's the guy who your not too sure about. The guy you don't know if you can trust yet. I still don't and it's changing my plot down the line. Well anyway I'm going to see what's on T.V. I'm out, peace! Oh and one more thing I want to apologize to all those Sakura/Kiba fans early on! But I've set something else in motion! Read and you will see.
You try and save yourself from falling. Don't you know by now that you can't save yourself? Throw your hands out and they'll save you if they care. You should know by now...only a few can save themselves.
Twenty minutes passed, maybe twenty-three but no more than twenty-five of that Kinmotsu was sure. Sakura stepped out of Tenten's room, her face slightly sweaty from the healing.
"How is she?" Hinata spoke up first before Kinmotsu could get to talking.
"She's got a slight fever but nothing to worry about, just keep the window closed in there. She's going to need some space, so just step back and let her cope. This is a lot to handle: her marriage and stress on the baby. Everything, and she's coping the way she probably knows best. There's nothing you can do at this point but let her be, she'll recover in time."
Hinata nodded and the spiky haired man shifted from foot to foot.
"So does this cancel our date?" Sakura shook her head, wiping away sweat from her brow.
"She'll be fine it was just early contractions..nothing to worry over."
"Should they be this early? She's only four months along." Sakura grinned but it was nowhere near sweet. The men in the hallway took a cautious step back.
"Well, let's just say if Neji wasn't such an ass Tenten wouldn't be in this predicament." Hinata nodded and both men stayed still not wanting to become the punching bag of her choice. "Come on Kiba we'll go on that date. What did you have in mind?"
The medic and dog nin left together leaving Hinata and Kinmotsu alone. She turned to him and gave a bow.
"Thank you for saving Tenten." Not wanting to insult the young Hyuga, Kinmotsu bowed back.
"It's fine I'm just glad she's okay." Hinata nodded and Kinmotsu motioned towards the door. "I ordered flowers and shrubbery this morning. Ino-san should be here soon to deliver them."
"You got them from the Yamanaka flower shop? I hear they have a lovely selection."
"They do, you should be in there more often." Hinata smiled kindly not knowing what else to say. She excused herself from his presence and retreated back to her studies. When the door closed safely behind her she sighed audibly.
Something is off with that man. Too many secrets behind those navy eyes. Better make sure he doesn't do anything volatile.
"Hmm...so much paperwork." She reclined behind her desk and sorted the papers Tenten had been kind enough to go through. Momentarily her brows furrowed and she was struck by how much damage Neji had done.
He's stupid to not see it himself but if he comes back and Tenten doesn't beat some sense into him..I certainly will. Which is odd because I detest violent actions, but I know for a fact Sakura has it out for him. Cousin better be careful on how he acts when he gets back.
While distracted by her thoughts her pen had scrawled over the new expansion project. Looking down caused a blush to surface before she crumbled the paper up. It was only after the paper was a ruined ball did she realize that it was important.
Unfolding the paper Hinata reached for the white out, a fond smile softening her dove features. "Speaking of Uzumaki Hinata...I wonder how Naruto is doing?"
Diving into her work she made plans of having Sakura help her with the relationship-stunted knuckle head. Tsunade's birthday was coming up in two months maybe that would be a good cover-up to ask him on a date.
"Scratch that he'd never even guess if I really wanted to go on a date with him. Maybe I'll just have Sakura help me make a big flashing sign that says 'Hinata wants to date you!'" The room filled with giggles and Hinata went to work.
The two branch members walking by the study door heard the sound and gave one questioning look before hurrying on ahead. If being a ninja taught you anything it was that some things were better left unknown.
--
Kiba adjusted his headband and Sakura fidgeted in her seat. To an onlooker they would have pity on the awkward situation but it was Sakura who envied them.
"So...um..what's it like to have a very sensitive nose?" Kiba took a swig of sake and Sakura was tempted to repeat the action.
"It has it's perks in tracking and...uh finding good places to eat." He gave a toothy grin but it didn't cover up the fact that he was nervous as hell. Sakura didn't need a superior nose to tell that, she just read his habits.
The waiter came to the table with the food in one hand and a full sake bottle in his other. Both mentally cheered at the disruption in their date.
"Here is your food and if you need anything just let me know." Sakura was seriously tempted to just ask for the check but knew that wouldn't go over well. Awkward silences followed and pitied conversations lead to the end of the date.
Finally! It's been so long since I've been on a date I just don't remember how to act!
Which Sakura found in and of itself, a depressing thought. Outside the restaurant both stood there just trying to figure out what to do. Normally Kiba would kiss his date good bye and then invite her out again but.. Deciding to go on gut instinct, Kiba took her hands in his.
He was going to bring her in for a kiss but someone cleared their throat to his left stopping him. Sakura gave him a confused look before pulling her hands back.
"Sai what are you doing here?" The root nin plastered on a smirk and said in all his false cheeriness.
"It's mission time and the captain asked me to tell you." Sakura hid her sigh very well. By the look on Kiba's face she could easily guess he was going to try and kiss her. Which just wouldn't have made her day, he was nice and all but certainly not her type.
You mean he's not Uchiha Sasuke?
A sneering part of her mind added, she ignored it completely. Seriously, she needed to really find a hobby that had nothing to do with Sharingan eyes or an asshole aura.
Which reminds me I should really check on Tenten in the meantime. Wouldn't want her to fall into a depression like I almost had. I had thrown myself into my work but in her condition that option is closed to her.
"Thank you Sai and..um..Kiba? Thanks for the lunch I...maybe we can do this again sometime?" Even though they both knew that, that probably wasn't going to happen anytime soon.
"No problem see you around." With a wave of his hand he was gone down the street, destination unknown. Turning to her teammate she let the sigh on her lips finally go.
"All right let's go meet captain Yamato." Sai gave another of his quirked smirks causing a pink eyebrow to lift.
"I made it up. Now would you describe your date as boring, unnaturally awkward or just plan a waste of time?" From out of nowhere he pulled out a little flip-open notebook with pen in hand. His words digested right there in her stomach right along with her udon soup and dumplings.
"You made it up? Why on earth? My date for your information is none of your business." He frowned a little bit before writing and narrating what he wrote.
"The hag has become defensive, she obviously doesn't like mutt man but still feels as though she shouldn't talk bad about him. Is this due to her own ignorance?" Before he could continue a swift punch delivered him straight through a fence.
Storming away, Sakura was heading home wanting to put some major distance between her and anything remotely male. Meanwhile Sai dusted himself off continuing to narrate as passer-bys left him alone. "It seems the hag hates me more than she lets on. I should proceed with caution. Securing dating information part one has officially failed. Note to self I think she broke my nose."
With that written and narrated, Sai was off to the library to scour through dating manuals. Maybe he should find a different source of information...he didn't exactly trust Ino's advice. An image of a chibi blonde popped into his head.
"Now listen Sai the most important thing about dating is flirting. Flirting makes anyone feel attractive even if their not! That can include: checking them out, teasing them, complimenting them or even giving their behind a good smack! Some people like that!"
She had giggled madly after that and Sai had gotten out of there. Ino was a little too much to handle at times. He flipped open a book and perused the table of contents. A week ago he had been feeling odd around Sakura and decided to look up the feeling.
Attraction: The emotion of interest or desire to something or someone.
That had been a little unexpected but ever since then he's been reading up on how to date. Finding the right page he turned to it and read the title of the chapter: "How to flirt."
With pen and paper in hand he studied, the ache in his face a reminder of failure.
Maybe the dickless one will have an idea about this?
Immediately he shook the thought away. Naruto had quite a fan base but was oblivious to anything besides ramen and Sakura. At the mention of her name a small smirk showed itself. Leaning back in the chair, one hand to his bruised cheek, he let his mind wander.
Aw..it was worth it. All though I honestly have no idea what I said to make her hit me... Women can be so strange.
With that he got to work clearly with a goal in mind. His teammates would have no idea what he was planning and that...was going to make this priceless.
--
It was dark, wherever she was, there was no light before her eyes. It was dark so very dark but there was no pain. Vaguely she had wondered what had woken her then. Maybe it was because she had slept to long earlier that pulled her from sleep.
Groggy eyes lifted viewing the room but having nothing revealed. She shifted and the crinkle of crisp sheets spoke more of her current residing. That and the IV sticking in her arm.
Her body felt fine...healed and all though she couldn't remember much she knew who had done it. Maybe it was the dream that she kept seeing flashes of: Burning houses, bloody grounds and even the screams were alive.
It was if it was a premonition sent down by God but a part of her wanted to doubt. He had left her to rot in her marriage why would he deliver news during her divorce? Sitting up quick a new idea came to mind.
What if this happened because of so much stress? The way Neji was acting and the thoughts that plagued her nightly? There was no way to know but if it were true then she'd have proof that Neji was an undeserving husband.
She could get a divorce by Hinata and be free. Free...it was the thing she craved most of all. She thought..convinced herself that Neji could do this for her.
At the beginning he made her heart flutter, her body heat..even her soul had grown wings! That was when they were still dating, when she had to do so little too get his attention. There had been no top secret missions and nothing stood as a rival to her.
Her eyes adjusted minutely to the dark and found her first assumption wrong. She must not have been severely injured if she was still in her own room.
With a careful hand she removed the needle from her arm. It was when she slipped out from the covers did she notice the body. Someone was sleeping next to her and she didn't even notice.
Have my senses dulled due to this pregnancy?
It was still too dark to notice anything besides the long hair which only had her treacherous hope jump to life.
Neji won't be back until after my baby is born. There's no way he can be sleeping next to me.
Still her hope persisted and with a solid resolve her hand...that steady hand began to shake. She didn't have to touch him for he all ready rolled over to face her. What she saw shattered her once solid resolve.
Indeed it was Neji but...she could feel bile rise in the back of her throat. She leaned over the side of the bed and dry heaved. It was Neji but...his once stoic face was open..such an open expression of horror.
Half of his pale face was ripped open showing his exposed jaw muscles. A voice whispered in her ear, one she would have died to not hear.
"Atonement...atonement." She didn't have to turn to confirm anything. His icy fingers gripped her shoulder turning her. Her chestnut eyes were wide open as she met him face to face. His lips were pulled back and a look of pure madness was on his face.
Blood splatters everywhere and those navy eyes were fulled of insanity.
"No." Her voice was nothing on the wind as Kinmotsu showed her a bloody knife. Everything slid into place like a puzzle with the final pieces. Neji was dead and he..this man..would kill her as well.
Just as he brought the knife up, licked the blood from his lips. Just as the tip of the knife bit into her flesh...she screamed.
The scream itself woke her up and several minutes passed before she could catch her breath. Sweat poured down her body and her stomach churned in protest. There was no IV in her arm, no corpse in her bed and no sign of Kinmotsu anywhere near.
Her skin was hotter than ever and the fever itself must have caused her to hallucinate.
Great! On top of everything I've not only become hysterical I'm also delusional.
The door to her room slid open and in stepped Hinata. Her doe eyes were worried and Tenten shrunk away from the wet towel pressed to her forehead.
"Your fever has gotten worse. I'll run your bath with luke warm water, see if that helps." She made to get up but Tenten wasn't ready for that, wasn't having any of that.
She snatched Hinata's hands and only had a slim idea of how pleading her expression was.
"Hinata I have to get out of here. I don't know how much longer I can hold it together...but please! Please don't go...not yet. I...I don't want to be alone anymore."
The tears blurred her vision to the point that she completely missed the sympathy. Instead of speaking, Hinata wrapped the weapons mistress in her arms as she sobbed to her heart's content.
Tomorrow, Tsunade-sama will know of this. I'll make her listen to what I have to say.
A maid had been intercepted and sent off before Hinata had made it halfway here. For this Hinata was grateful as a sleep weary Sakura stepped into the room. Immediately all pretense of sleep melted away as medic mode kicked in.
Tenten pulled away, her eyes red and puffy from the tears. She felt and looked a mess but neither Hyuga or Haruno were going to mention it. The woman had the right to break down.
Sakura stepped forward and helped Hinata lay Tenten back down. When Tenten was relaxed her chakra surfed through her locating injuries and healing them. Hinata vanished from the room and the sound of running water can be heard.
"I don't want to go back in there." Sakura nodded, she wouldn't want to go back to a place she almost died in either. "Sakura-sama.." That was a tone the medic was all to accustomed with, the tone people used when asking a favor.
"Just call me Sakura. It makes me feel way to old when anyone calls me that." She gave a smile but didn't hold a grudge when it wasn't returned.
"I want to get out of here and I was hoping for the time being...if I can stay with you." A comforting hand was put on her shoulder and Tenten turned into it.
"That's fine Tenten, my apartment is big enough for me. If you're there it'll be filled up nicely. I'm sure someone can bring your things with over there." A smile was her answer and it was the most grateful, thankful expression Tenten ever blessed anyone with.
With some help both Sakura and Tenten made it to her apartment. Sakura held the door open as Tenten used the doorframe for support. It was a huge apartment but being in the Hyuga complex she could only make an unfair judgement.
"This is the way to the guest room. The previous owner only had left a bed in here while I half turned it into an office." Tenten followed after Sakura, quite impressed with her surroundings. It was so colorful, vivacious, so full of life that Tenten wanted to laugh out loud.
This is the kind of place she'd rather live in! There were paintings on the walls, small statues everywhere and Tenten drank in the color coordinated walls and floors.
"You like it? Ino helped me out a bit. She went a little crazy with the living room but I like what she did." Tenten nodded dumbly sliding beneath the covers. "Sorry the room's such a mess I usually don't get company." Too tired to fight sleep Tenten gave in with a brighter hope for a future.
Tomorrow she'd worry about Neji, her marriage and all the things that can pull her down. Tonight was her night to rest and build up strength. And Tenten knew she'd do just that and in the future she'd repay those kind enough to help her out.
The light turned off and Sakura left, making the light blue door shut behind her.