A/N: Whoops, I did not expect some to panic over GaaHina…O.o

Before we get to the story, allow me to address a few of you my readers. :) First of all, thank you for being so understanding with my situation. I'm really touched with your support, thank you all.

To random716: It's alright when you're bored, haha. And about the teaser, thank you for the honesty, I appreciate it. Reviews like yours motivate me to strive for the better next time. Regarding your suggestion for flashbacks with Hinata's feelings for Gaara, I feel the same and I've tried to think of a way to explain it before but I wasn't able to delve into that until this chapter. To be honest, I was about to leave that part untold because I was debating whether it was necessary for the story or not. So, when you pointed it out, it made me decide pushing through with the explanation. Thank you for that. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 11

Hinata reached out for his outstretched hand. It was surprising how easily the words flowed out from her lips, "Gaara-kun, I forgive you."

Relief softened his expression and a smile flickered across his face.

But instead of his open palm, she grasped for his wrist and, with her other hand, curled it into a closed fist.

Gaara looked at her with a confused frown.

Her eyes roamed around his face and she could not help but think back on the numerous times she had done the same in the past. The crimson tattoo on his left forehead which never failed to intrigue her, his jade eyes she used to never tire staring at, and his lips…those same lips she used to enjoy being kissed by.

How strange, she thought. In the past, with his look alone, he could send her heart wildly beating in her chest. She looked at the hand in her hold and placed her palm on top of his.

"I could not count the times I've wanted to keep holding this hand," she said in a whisper.

Now she knew the truth, she was unsure of what to feel. No…rather, she was surprised with herself.

When Gaara told her everything, she felt this chain in her heart—one she never thought existed—loosened and went away. She had never felt such relief for a long, long time.

A smile came over her face. Not forced and not schooled to perfection. A smile so natural she could not help but express in her happiness of being free…finally.

"I forgive you," she said. "If it's what you truly feel, I forgive you." Then, gently, she moved his hand back to his side. Her gaze met his questioning one. "To be by your side once more," here, her voice grew quieter, "That I cannot do."

A blanket of silence fell over them. Hinata watched as green eyes reflected surprise.

Gaara spoke in a whisper. "Can't or…" he left the last word hanging, like he could not bring himself to say it.

She turned her head to the window, her gaze soft and wistful. "When you broke up with me, something in me changed," she said. "I had started to think more about myself, putting more importance for my own happiness than for other people. I grew confident and I learned to regard myself higher than I ever did. I started to decide things for myself, without the fear of how others will see me. And, through it all, I had fun."

What she left unsaid, Gaara had already guessed. "Is it because of Sasuke?"

Her smile was fond when she turned back to him. "He helped." After a while, she said, "I cannot go back to how we once were, Gaara-kun. Not anymore…for my own sake."

The way Gaara's head lowered and the slight slump of his shoulders gave off a feeling of dejection. If there was ever a sliver of guilt which rose in Hinata, it was promptly stomped down by her firm decision over the matter. This had to be done, she thought. She had made up her mind, to move forward in her life without Gaara by her side.

"I…see," Gaara said, voice steady and betraying nothing of his emotions.

Hinata looked down and saw her bag on the ground. She wondered when she had dropped it but guessed she failed to notice her hold slacken because of her shock. Leaning down, she picked it up when Gaara spoke once again.

"Before you leave, tell me one more thing."

She raised her head to look at him but he turned away and walked closer to the window, his back to her.

"What was it about me?" he said. "Why had you chosen to love someone like me?"

For a second, Hinata could only blink, taken aback by the question. There was never a time Gaara had asked of her reasons in regards to her feelings. Then again, it was not like it mattered to him back then to be curious enough to ask.

She stared at his back and it was only then she saw how, at that moment, he appeared alone…and lonely.

"It's not by choice," she said and a soft smile curled her lips. "It's because, for how I was then, you were kind to me."

With that, she turned and headed for the door. There was nothing left to say between them.

She could not help but smile to herself. Gone was the heavy burden on her shoulders, the knot on her throat, and she could now breathe easy. There was a bounce to her step and it felt like she was walking on cloud nine.

She slid the door open and a gentle gust of wind blew. It was quiet. No doubt most students had already gone home. Closing the door behind her, she turned to the side and stopped. Her eyes grew wide at the figure slumped against the wall.

It was Sari.

How long had she been there?

The brunette slowly raised her head, like the life had been drained out of her and left with no energy to even stand up straight. The look on her face told Hinata the girl overheard her conversation with Gaara.

A small feeling of pity rose within her but her sympathy could not bring her high spirits down. Whatever happened between Sari and Gaara was only between the two of them.

Hinata paused, surprised with herself.

In the past where she would have completely felt sorry for a person's misfortune, now everything seemed different for her. It made her think back on the time Sari said if it wasn't for her, Hinata would not even have a chance with Gaara. And she was right. Because of her, she got to know Gaara more and grew to love him more.

As hard it was to believe, she felt grateful towards the brunette.

With her desire to express this gratitude, even for this brief moment, Hinata gave a nod to Sari before she went on her way, feeling lighter than she had ever been for a long while.


Brown eyes stared at the direction Hinata left in. The Hyuga did not mock her, slap her, or do anything to at least take revenge for what she did the previous time. Instead of the reactions she had thought, she received a simple nod. It left her stunned and confused. Was the Hyuga not angry with her? She gave her bruises, sneered at her, and hated her. Did she not want to at least hit her once?

But Sari supposed it was simply because she was Hinata and was either too kind or too much of a coward to do so.

She did not want to dwell more on it. Rather, she had more pressing matters at hand. Her attention shifted to the door beside her. It felt like her whole body had gone numb as she pushed herself from the wall. She stood in front of the sliding door and a hesitant hand paused on the handle.

Voices filled her head, her mind flashing her back to the words she had heard Gaara say, those same words which squeezed her heart in pain. It overlapped, one louder than the other, until it stopped, one sentence echoing around her head.

"If I am ever close to loving someone…it would be you, Hinata."

She drew in a shaky breath, feeling her eyes sting with tears.

Slowly, she withdrew her hand and clutched it close to her chest. Her lips pursed into a thin line, trying to stop it from trembling.

She cannot do it. She cannot take one step into the room. She cannot bear to see the look on Gaara's face, afraid of what she might see.

She stepped back, staring at the door like it would swallow her up anytime soon. Squeezing her eyes shut, she turned on her heel and ran away.

Gaara looked up at the sound of rushed footsteps. He thought Hinata had already left.

But then, a sneaky suspicion rose from the pit of his stomach as to who it was just now.

He let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. It did little, however, to ease the heavy weight in his chest.


It was already sunset and she should head home soon. But with her overwhelming happiness, Hinata raced to the stairs and barged into the rooftop. She breathed in the crisp air and smiled. Placing her hands over the metal railings, she gazed up at the sky painted with hues of orange and pink.

Oh, how she felt like flying and riding with the wind at this moment!

Behind her and above the roof's storage room, a pair of onyx eyes watched the newcomer settle in her spot.

Sasuke drew back in surprise, realizing it was none other than Hinata. Panic surged in him and he shot up from the ground. What was she doing here? Muttering a curse, he rubbed away the moisture left from his eyes. It was a mystery to him why his eyes suddenly watered because for sure, it's not tears. For a brief moment, he wondered if he had already told himself that a while ago.

He glanced at the ladder by his side. At any rate, he had to hide…no, sneak away and bolt while he still—

He paused, lips pulled into a frown as he backtracked on his thoughts.

Him? Run away? His brows scrunched together, eyes glinted in fury. Why the hell would he leave? It was not like he had something to run away from. If anyone had to leave, it was the one who caused him to be in his current mood in the first place.

He was not about to go and tell her to disappear though, he did not want to announce his presence, so Sasuke simply went back to lying on the ground where he was away from sight.

The silence which followed was something he was supposed to revel in. And yet, it only made his ears ring. His gaze shifted to Hinata, who he could tell was exuding an air of pure joy even with her back to him.

It did nothing but make him livid.

He shut his eyes closed. Was she here to rub in his face the fact she got what she wished for the most? Like he would give a flying fuck. Besides, it was not like he would give her the chance to gloat. There would be no talking between them any time soon.

A sigh of contentment reached his ears.

His eye twitched. "You shouldn't be here."

well, shit.

There was a gasp. A few moments later, he heard light footsteps coming closer.

His eyes popped open and his upper body sprang up. Dammit, dammit, dammit! Nothing seemed to be going his way today.

"Sasuke?" There Hinata was, climbing the last steps of the ladder, and approached him with surprise written on her face. "I thought you went home already."

His brows dipped low and he fixed his glare on the ground. Instead of answering her, he bit out, "Shouldn't you be with that Sabaku?"

Hinata sat in front of him, leaned slightly forward, and tilted her head to try to peer at him. "We were just done talking," she said.

Even without him looking, he knew there was a smile on her lips.

His teeth gritted together.

"Then, what are you doing here?" he spat, rising to a stand. When his gaze met hers, the glare he directed at her might as well incinerate her on the spot. "There's no need for you to be here, now is there? Not after what happened back there, between you and him. Once he started telling you how much he regretted doing what he did, how much you actually meant to him, you forgot about everything else. When he apologized, you didn't have a hard time making a decision, did you? You just went ahead and forgave him. What a fucking joke. You didn't at least think of the consequences of your decision to go to him. You forgot to consider the fact that the both of us are still supposed to be acting like a couple and going to that guy means you're breaking it off with me! I started this charade between us. It's not for you to decide when to end it!"

He heaved a breath…

…only to stop breathing altogether.

It was official. He was cursed. There was some sort of deity who put a spell on him so his mouth would not keep shut.

Hinata stared back at him, eyes like saucers. "You…you were there?"

Whoopee-doo…look how deep was the grave he dug for himself.

"Sasuke, you heard what we talked about?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets and looked away. "What about it?" A frown once more made its way to his face as he glared ahead. "It wasn't like something unexpected happened."

The sound of laughter caused him to whip his head back to her. Hinata had a hand to her mouth, her eyes sparkling with mirth. His brow twitched. Now, he was being laughed at like what he said was some sort of joke. What else? What more humiliation would be set upon him?

Once she had gotten control of herself, Hinata said, "Clearly, you didn't hear everything."

He scoffed. "Oh, should I have stayed for your disgusting confessions of love?"

Hinata raised a brow but her cheeks colored nonetheless. "No, not that. I refused him."

The unexpected words made him pause. He blinked at her. Once, twice, and then, "What?"

"I didn't accept Gaara-kun's offer," she said, looking down to her lap. "I turned him down."

The following seconds were filled with silence, his mind processing her words. She refused…did not accept…turned down. His eyes darted to her face. He searched for a twitch, a crease, or maybe a blink. Anything which would give him a sign and indicate she lied. But—and to his great relief—he found none.

It was like a heavy weight was lifted and he felt lighter than ever. His heart leapt in joy and raced in celebration. His lips threatened to break into a grin and it took a lot of effort on his part to suppress it.

Then, the realization came he had undeniably made a fool out of himself. His face flamed up in embarrassment and he whirled away, his back turned to Hinata.

"Oh," was all that left his lips.

This is what happens when you shoot your mouth off, Sasuke berated in his mind as he fought off the blush still in place. Earlier, he had not been sure why he was in such a foul mood. He refused to think it was because of what he had heard. But then, upon seeing Hinata, words left his mouth faster than lightning, he even grew angry over such trivial stuff. It was not like him and he had to wonder with himself.

"I was a bet."

His head snapped to the side and he looked at Hinata over his shoulder. Surprise was written on his face at the random sentence. "Huh?"

Hinata met his gaze and smiled. It was soft, wistful, and a bit apologetic.

Sasuke did not know how he knew. But he understood then she was going to give him the explanation he had been meaning to ask of her. An explanation about what really happened, why she turned up with bruises one day, why she cried, why she suddenly wanted to have a talk with Gaara.

Perhaps it could be contributed to the several months they had spent together that it was already an easy feat for him to read Hinata's thoughts through her expressions and eyes. He just was not sure how he felt about it, though mulling over it would have to wait for another time.

And so, he turned to her and sat back down with his full attention on her.

Hinata tucked her legs underneath her and proceeded to tell him everything, from her meeting with the brunette he now knew was called Sari to the truth behind her relationship with Gaara.

Sasuke was shocked, to say the least, to learn all of this rooted from a simple betting game from two people bored out of their lives with nothing better to do than involve others with their mess. It took him a while to notice his hands fisted over his black slacks, gripping them with white-knuckled force, and the fury boiling inside him.

This…all this heartbreak and misery was all because of a foolish little game? His hands shook in his anger. And then Sabaku had to go and realize he actually held some feelings for her. He scoffed in his mind and could not help the image of himself strangling the life out of the redhead. If he could not do it with the real one, then he would have to settle with the little bit of satisfaction it caused him through imagination.

"Gaara-kun apologized," Hinata's soft voice snapped him out of his reverie. "He asked for a second chance, for me to be together with him again. And, as you've heard, I forgave him. I never thought I'd be able to…after everything that's happened." She looked at him dead in the eye, as if to make sure he understood it well. "I forgave him but it didn't mean I went with him. I just…had to turn him down."

Sasuke stared at her, studying her expression. No traces of regret, there was only resolve. With the sight of her so determined, he found his anger ebb a little. At least, she was not a crying mess as he would have expected.

"What made you refuse?" he had to ask.

"I changed," she said, tucking a strand behind her ear. "And I thought if I were to be with Gaara-kun once again, I fear this change would be reversed and I'd turn back to how I once was. I didn't want that. Knowing Gaara-kun, he might want the old Hinata back." She shook her head. "But I just couldn't be that anymore."

Sasuke looked off in the distance, letting every word sink in. He had to agree. She did change. Of course she would, he thought to himself, pride swelling in his chest. After all, one should expect nothing less from Uchiha Sasuke.

He gazed at Hinata and a soft but small smile curled his lips. She did her best, didn't she? Then, the smile faded from his face. Hinata may have turned Sabaku down but he was sure there were still her lingering feelings. The thought made him uneasy but there was a little bit of something else he could not name.

Hope?

He almost snorted. Right…

Then, a question popped into his mind. He tried to shake it away to no avail. He wanted to ask but his pride stopped him. What did it have to do with him anyway? It was out of his character to meddle with matters which did not concern him.

Sasuke shook his head. This again, he groaned. Why did he have to keep on repeating the same thought over and over again? Was he not already concerning himself with Hinata more than he should? So, why should he hold back now?

In the end, after much inner debate, Sasuke asked, "Why him?"

It appeared he did not need to elaborate on his question for Hinata to know what he meant. The girl clasped her hands together on her lap. With a small amused smile, she said, "Gaara-kun asked me the same question a while ago."

She looked up at the sky, seeming to ponder on her answer. "Now that I had more time to think about it, I first noticed Gaara-kun when he reminded me of someone who was very close to me. They both have this lonely air about them, although they cover it up so well it's hard to notice. Gaara-kun, to others, was aloof and cold. But in truth, he's just alone with no one to depend on."

She continued, "I'm not sure when I started to have feelings for him but he was one of the few people who actually…noticed I existed. Other people usually do not give me a second glance. But Gaara-kun…seemed different."


Adjusting her glasses for a clearer view, pale lavender eyes panned around the vastness of the school yard. Hinata gulped and fiddled with the cover of the book she held close to her. It was hard enough to be on unfamiliar grounds, much more with no one she knew. It had been two weeks since she transferred but everyone remained a stranger.

She headed to one corner where she could read her book in peace when she was suddenly shoved to the side. She fell to the ground, a yelp escaping her. Looking up, she saw a guy catch a ball with the baseball mitt in his hand. A proud smirk lit up his face, directed to someone across him, before he jogged away without so much of a glance at her.

Hinata let out a sigh and picked herself up. She was used to this, though it did not mean it hurt less to be ignored. She dusted her skirt and took off her glasses to wipe the small specks of dirt stuck on the lenses.

Sometimes, she would find herself wishing someone would look her way and at least offer her a smile, no matter how small. That way, if anything, she could adjust to this new country and school better than she did now.

She examined her glasses from one angle to another before she quickly slid it back to her eyes. She once more swept her gaze over the place, and then to the students, until it landed on one redhead in the distance. Even though surrounded by a crowd, he looked detached and out of the conversation going on around him.

Sabaku Gaara, she thought. She first saw him through a passing glance, and then later learned he was popular among the students. Part of it had to do with him being the school director's son.

She picked up the book she dropped and spared one last curious glance at him when a pair of green eyes shifted to her.

She stopped. His expression was impassive, his gaze unreadable. But after what felt like hours, he left her stunned when he nodded at her before looking away. She stared after him even when he was long gone from sight.

He nodded at her. He acknowledged she was there. He knew she existed.

Her lips stretched into a wide smile.

It may not have been a smile she had received but it was more than what she had hoped for.


Her brows scrunched together. With the book in both hands, she studied the pages in slight confusion. She borrowed two books yesterday but one got mixed up with another. Now, she made her way to the library to fix it and borrow the book she had intended. She could not begin to think how the mistake happened. Regardless, she was curious enough to check out the book.

It only gave her a headache.

Chewing on her lip, she concentrated on one sentence. "Let's see…how…it all depends on…quantity of…" she mumbled on. Her nose was practically stuck on her book she failed to see the pillar she walked straight into.

"Oof!"

Pushed a few steps back, she swayed for a moment but managed to find her balance to stay upright. However, her misfortune earned a few chuckles and her face burned in embarrassment. Ducking her head in a poor attempt to hide her face, she straightened her clothes and grabbed the book from the ground. She hugged it close to her chest and brisk-walked away from the laughing crowd. It was not until she neared the library did she slow down.

It was then she saw Gaara. He was alone, walking towards her with his gaze straight ahead. Further slowing her pace, her eyes observed him. His facial features, the curious tattoo on his forehead, the almost regal way he walked and, most especially, the faint melancholic air about him.

He drew closer and his head turned to her. She watched his green orbs move down and settle on the book in her arms.

Then, he averted his gaze and passed by her. But she did not miss the slight upturn of his lips and the faint chuckle she heard. Bewildered, she looked at him over her shoulder. What made him so amused?

She looked down to her book and felt her cheeks warm up. There, for all to see was the cover title written in golden bold letters.

'How to make the Perfect Sandcastle'

She flipped the book over and made a beeline for the library.

Of all the hundreds of books to end up in her hands, it had to be this book.


She stepped out of the classroom, searching through her bag for her pen. Her patience was running thin. She had been searching for it since morning to no avail. The heavens seemed to play games with her when, with all her rummaging, her eraser dropped to the floor and rolled away.

She suppressed a groan and gave chase to the accursed white rubber. It rolled further and further away until it came to a stop by someone's shoes. In her haste to reach it faster, Hinata lost her footing. She felt herself fall back, the contents of her opened bag went flying and in a blink, she hit the ground with a loud thud.

Everything went quiet.

She stared at the ceiling. Pain was the last thing to come across as her mind tried to cope up with what just happened.

Suddenly, there was an outburst of laughter around her.

She pushed herself off the ground and sat up. Fighting off the blush which slowly crept up her face, she busied herself with picking up what she could of her stuff from the ground.

A hand came into her view, palm held out to her.

She stared at the hand. Then, her gaze travelled up. An angel, she was sure of it. This person must be an angel to show someone like her a little kindness and help her.

Her eyes almost popped out of their sockets in her surprise when she came across red hair, red tattoo and jade eyes. Those same eyes stared down at her with not an ounce of emotion. But when she looked more closely, she could see it—a flicker of uncertainty and a little bit of something else she could not read.

She heard her heart thump in her ears, drowning away everything else. As if on autopilot, she took his hand in hers and allowed him to pull her up.

Then, she felt something placed on her hand before Gaara released her. She looked down. On her palm was the cause of her current embarrassment…her eraser.

"Thank—" her head shot up only to see Gaara already walking away, a brunette she came to know as Sari shot her a glare before following behind him.

The glare failed to scare Hinata off, her thoughts still clung to the redhead who willingly gave her his help. She clutched the eraser to her chest, feeling her heart hammer against her hand. This time, when her blush once again made its way to her cheeks, Hinata knew it was no longer from embarrassment.

His hand was warm, she thought before she went back to collect her scattered belongings.

Later, when she went home, she found the pen she so painstakingly searched for lay neatly at the top of her study desk. There was no frustration or anger, no desire to throw the pen across the room for taking up most of her day.

Instead, she even wished for the events to happen again—sans the embarrassment—so she could feel Gaara's hand on hers once more.


Hinata closed her eyes, recalling the past. "Gaara-kun may not have been aware of it but I greatly appreciated the times he acknowledged my presence. Perhaps it was simply some form of intellectual respect, though I couldn't be too sure. It may have meant nothing to him, but to me it was everything."

"I was used to people showing me with little to no attention," she said. "So, Gaara-kun's actions came as a shock to me. In fact, it scared me a little. Among everyone, he was kind enough to at least…see me. It is what moved me, I suppose."

It's as they say. It's always on the smallest of things, she thought as a contented sigh escaped her lips. "Before I knew it, my appreciation turned to attraction. I grew more and more curious about him, wanted to get to know him more…" then, she whispered, "even the part he tried so hard to hide."

A snort made her look to Sasuke.

"If I remember correctly," he said with a dark brow raised at her, "you told me it did not go well for you."

Her lips slid into a sad smile. "Unfortunately so," she said. "He did not open up to me like I had hoped. At the least, I wanted to help him. But as it turned out, that place was not meant for me." Never was, she added in her head and lapsed into silence.

It was a long moment before Sasuke broke the stillness. "It's not kindness, you know."

Snapped out of her thoughts, Hinata looked at him and blinked. "What isn't?"

For a second, Sasuke shot her an annoyed look before he elaborated. "How Sabaku had treated you isn't kindness. It's called acting like how a normal human should."

An image of her father appeared in her mind, causing her to recall the past where she was a failure in his eyes. He wanted her to be perfect in everything she did, always comparing her to her younger sister. But every time, she would fall short of his expectations and the disappointment would roll off of him in waves whenever he looked at her. A Hyuga defect.

It was a matter of the past but the wounds in her heart had yet to completely heal.

She looked off to the side, her lips a melancholic smile. "Maybe so," she said. "But I myself wasn't treated like a normal person. Even my own father once called me worthless."

Sasuke fell silent and Hinata turned back to him, sensing the guilt from his tense posture. His face was tight, dark brows scrunched up, lips pursed into a straight line, shoulders rigid and back ramrod straight.

She had seen it before, his guilt-ridden expression, whenever he said something out of line. It practically read, 'I shouldn't have said that.'

At the sight, her depressed mood faded away and almost made her laugh in amusement. Picking up the conversation from where they left it, Hinata said, "Gaara-kun may have no special reason behind what he did but it made me very happy."

Sasuke could not help the incredulous look on his face. "It made you happy? Even without him being aware of it?" She could not possibly be serious, could she? It was naïve of her.

It only annoyed him when her smile grew.

"It didn't matter," she said. "I loved him all the same."

Somehow, that did not sit right with him. He stared at her with furrowed brows. Her expression was serene, like she was free of her worries, and her gaze was faraway.

Before he could stop himself, the words were already out, "Did you regret it? Loving him?"

Her gaze shifted to him and she blinked, as if saying, did you even have to ask?

The softening of her expression and the small smile on her lips sent a stab to his chest.

"No, I don't," she said. "Loving Gaara-kun gave me happiness but it also gave me pain. The things that happened, the things he did, were something I could have done without. But what's done is done. And the more I think about it, if not for what happened, I wouldn't be the person I am now."

"So, I don't regret it, because I am happy as I am now. And also," she gave him a wide grin, "because I got to know you, Sasuke." Her eyes sparkled like diamonds reflecting off light from the sunset. As if on cue, the wind blew and made her long indigo tresses dance with the breeze.

His heart got stuck in his throat.

Beautiful. Captivating. Words he would never say out loud but nevertheless crossed his mind in that instant. Unable to get a word out, he was reduced to staring at Hinata like the idiot he felt he was at the moment.

Hinata closed her eyes, like she was relishing the moment. "I might not have told you this before but…thank you, Sasuke," she said. "It was thanks to you I even got this far. You made me realize a lot of things which I had forgotten when I left Fire country, like what's more important than other people's opinions. It was thanks to you for helping me throughout, for staying by my side, and for being someone I could trust."

It was like a heavy boulder got dumped on him and his posture slumped a bit. Guilt gripped at his conscience at the last word and he suddenly could not look her in the eye.

"You approached her because you have an ulterior motive," Gaara words resonated in his head.

Despite himself, he chuckled. No wonder, he thought with a light shake of his head. No wonder the Sabaku had been able to say those words to him. All along, they had been on the same boat, deceiving the person who placed her trust on them.

He blamed Hinata for being too gullible. But, mostly, he blamed himself.

"Trust," he let the word roll off his tongue as his lips stretched into a wry grin. "Are you even certain I am someone who you could easily put your trust on? How do you even know I won't betray that trust?"

He glanced to Hinata. Confusion was written on her face.

"What do you mean?" she said.

He sat up, straightening his shoulders. She might as well hear the truth here and now. He was tired of prolonging the inevitable, tired of keeping something from her. He might as well hurt her now than any later where it would be more difficult.

His voice was rough and low, "Would you still trust me even after I tell you I'm not as different as Sabaku?"

It was a question he already knew the answer to.


A/N: Here I thought I could post this after a month. Nothing ever goes as planned…as usual. (._.)