I know it is hard to trust another when you have been hurt,
You're protecting your heart, keeping it close to you.
So close you won't let anyone in
-Jenny Aaskov
Hinata.
Hinata!
That's Neji's voice...Was she dead?
Hinata...
Hinata-sama, please wake up!
Neji nee-sama?
...
Opening her eyes, Hinata woke up to an unfamiliar dark-lit room. Rubbing her eyes, she tried to sit up but felt blood rush into her head, causing her to crash back into the pillow. After not feeling so lightheaded anymore, she rolled to her side, trying to figure where she was. Did..Did they capture her? No...they would have tied her or...
Hinata slid her sore legs to the side of the bed, forcing herself to sit up. Balancing herself, she stood up, her bare feet sinking into the carpet spread on the floor below. The room was empty except for a closed closet, a bed, and an arm chair beside the door of the room. Looking down, she noticed that she was wearing nothing but a long-sleeve shirt that was long enough to reach her knees. Frantically, Hinata touched her chest.
She sighed out in relief. At least her underwear was still on.
Realization struck her. Someone had rescued her and took care of her. It was the most reasonable explanation to explain why she wasn't dead and why she was in warm clothes, in a warm room without being restrained or hurt.
But who could have saw her? In the middle of the night, during the thunderstorm?
Walking around the room, she glanced at the mirror behind the dresser. Her hair was a mess. In terrible need for a brush, she ran her fingers through her hair. Trying to undo the knots in hair, she eventually gave up. Sighing, she continued her search. Opening the closet door, she twisted the knob. It was an obviously room for a male, looking at the clothes hung inside. Closing the closet door after finding nothing helpful, she moved to the door of the room. Cracking it open quietly, she leaned out.
There was no one. The hall led to a room in what seemed to be a living room, the lights in the apartment turned off.
Tip toeing, Hinata curiously walked toward the room. The place was small, with barely any furniture. Whoever lived here must not have been planning on staying long.
Reaching the living room, Hinata froze in shock. Quickly, she hid behind the wall.
It was him.
She groaned inwardly, why him? Okay, maybe she should be grateful that he always seemed at the right moment there to save her from such dire situations, but by now it felt that it was more than just luck. Her back against the wall, she peeked her head.
Sasuke was sitting on an arm chair beside a couch. His head was titled back, his eyes closed. He was sleeping, his cloak, which she realized was now colored red, thrown on the couch beside him. Hinata noticed that his shirt was damp, sticking to his muscular chest. She could see that he was wearing a necklace beneath his shirt,the indentations of the black shirt around the chain.
She noticed that there were traces of dry blood on his exposed throat, causing her to become concerned. He saved her again, and gotten hurt because of her?
Hinata crept closer now with determination, removing herself from behind the wall.
Sasuke had been falling asleep and waking several times already. It didn't help that every time he tried falling asleep, the damn thunder outside woke him back up. He thought that it must be around four in the morning now. As soon as he brought the Hyuuga to his place, he removed her soaked upper clothing. Stuffing her into one of his shirts, he threw her in his bed, covering her before coming into the living room and crashing, not bothering to change himself.
It was around four that he was startled awake again, hearing the sound of his bedroom door cracking open. Thinking that the girl must have woken up, he kept his eyes closed. The last thing he needed was to freak her out. Let her discover him herself, and then she'll do whatever she wanted.
Listening, he could feel her standing, possibly detecting him. She'd probably try to run away, especially since their last encounter, she did not seem too fond of him. He wouldn't blame her, how could he? She's fine now, so his job was done. However, much to his surprise then, he heard her detach herself from the wall, inching closer instead of away.
Sasuke kept his head rested against the arm chair, completely still.
He could feel her stop in front of him.
Was she going to wake him? Slap him? Again? For some reason she liked doing that.
Unexpectedly, he sensed her bend in front of him, her fingers delicately pressing into his throat.
What was she..?
Oh.
Sasuke knew that he had blood on his throat. It wasn't his of course, but from the man he killed. The dry blood formed cracks on his throat, drying up on his skin. It was disgusting. He knew he should have cleaned up when he came home. But wouldn't it be convenient if he went to take one, in the bathroom in his room, and came out creeping the fuck out of the kitty, if she woke? Yeah, no.
He could feel her gentle fingers slide down his throat, the tips of her fingers barely hovering over his throat.
Ah, hell.
After a quick inspection, Hinata realized that he was not hurt, since no wound was visible. The thought that he may have gotten injured because of her unnerved her. Her caring side taking over, Hinata's eyes slid down to his chest. His shirt was damp, from afar it looked like it was because of water. But up close? She realized that it may not be the case. He was wearing a dark black shirt, traces of reddish color was soaked into the upper part of the shirt. Looking at his bloody throat, she bit her lip worriedly. Was injured somewhere else?
Staring at the neck of the shirt, where the blood seeped through, Hinata exhaled. Mustering up strength, she shifted much closer, one knee on the sofa of the arm chair, planting it between his thighs. Careful not to wake him, she touched the top of his shirt, pulling it down slightly. Peering in, she decided that blood at his throat must slid down his throat and that he was not injured.
Relaxing, she moved to push herself away and maybe run back into the room, when his eyes shot open.
Not being able to handle letting her touch him and forcing himself to keep still, Sasuke opened his eyes and found her shocked face inches away from him.
"What are you doing?" He only told her, sitting up straight.
She yelped, jumping back violently.
Sasuke watched her, awaiting her explanation for her irrational behavior.
"I-I...um...I was trying to see if you were hurt."She defended herself, anxiously.
She was worried about his condition? Huh.
"I'm fine. This blood isn't mine." He assured her.
Her eyes widened. He could see her pulling at base of his shirt she was wearing, nervously.
"Then..who?"She cranked her head to the side. Her messy ball of purple of hair and white eyes glowing in the dark made her look almost like an actual kitty.
He was such an idiot for not noticing her before when he was younger, back when he was still living in Konoha.
"I think the real question here is what happened to you?"Sasuke pointed out, looking up at her. He probably shouldn't tell her that he sliced her attacker's head off.
"Uh.."She began, meeting his eyes. "I think there is a group of people after me who are trying to avenge one of the targets I captured before."
Sasuke frowned, thoughtfully. "Do you know them?"
"I didn't recognize the men who attacked me, but they kept going on how their master wanted to talk to me."The girl looked down at her bare feet. "I don't think they intended to hurt me at first."
Sasuke listened to her story, already knowing what is going on. Someone who has some relation to one of her targets is trying to avenge and maybe get information so he could get back this target. And the Hyuuga was unfortunate enough to get on that someone's bad side.
"They never expected you to fight back." Sasuke remarked.
The girl nodded.
Silence.
And then.
"Thank you...for saving me." He heard her say softly.
"Just consider it a way for me saying sorry for kissing you." He replied, coolly.
Sasuke watched her began to squirm where she stood, darting her eyes away from his. Even in the dark, he could see her blushing.
Interesting...
It was exceedingly satisfying to know that he had that effect on her.
Feeling a bit tired and awfully sticky, he stood up from the arm chair. Her eyes at his chest as he drew, he stood in front of her. Memories of their "kiss" before resurfaced. Recalling her last words after the kiss "Please leave me alone", he realized he might as well clear things up between them, sensing that she is trying to distance from him again.
"Hinata."
Her head shot up, hearing her name. It felt surprisingly unusual pronouncing her name on his lips. It was simple but suitable for such a timid, kind-hearted girl.
"I know that you probably hate me." Sasuke began, feeling suddenly awkward. "I don't blame you. And i'm not talking only because I made you kiss me. I basically dragged you across the world, and i'm
not going to lie, I don't regret it. The fact that I had someone like you on my tail, it was almost like second chance at life. It was like something was telling me that I could not escape my past life, no matter how much I wanted but if I did, there was still someone who didn't give up on me. I know I may have been...forward with you lately, it is just that you intrigue me greatly." He confessed, watching her every reaction.
She twitched at his last sentence, but remained silent. Okay, maybe that last sentence wasn't exactly a good excuse.
"Ever since we began this mission, I came to realize that I'm tired of running. I still hate Konoha, but I don't want my hatred of that village destroy your life." He looked at her, trying to make her understand.
Swallowing, she gave him a perplexed look. "What are you trying to say, Sasuke-san?"
"I won't try anything "inappropriate" toward any more, not unless you let me. I'll focus on aiding you on your mission only." He said, reassuring her.
The girl returned to playing with his shirt, abruptly becoming uncomfortable with his words. Did she not expect him to say this?
"I actually...," She gulped, refusing to meet his eyes. "I was thinking that maybe we shouldn't work together on this mission anymore."
What? He was not expecting her to say this at all.
"What do mean?" Sasuke quickly replied, utterly confused.
The girl shifted her head to the side.
Grabbing her chin, he forced her to look at him. He was not letting her to say something like this and go silent on him.
"I said, what do you mean?" He repeated, peering into her moon eyes.
"This is what I mean."She whispered, gesturing to his hand on her chin.
Leaning back, he released her chin, still confused. "Hinata...tell me."
"It's because of how you comfortable you are around me." She revealed, looking suddenly depressed. "I...I didn't want us to become friends."
She thought they were friends? And so what if they were?
"So?"He pressed.
She gave him a tired, sad look. "Sasuke-san, we are enemies. I only agreed to let you help me with my mission because I thought I needed your help...but instead, we got close." She sighed,exasperated, her words shocking him into silence. "I knew it was a bad idea agreeing to let you help me. I am thankful
for all you've done, but I think it's better...it's better if I finish my mission alone. And then..."She trailed off, biting her lip.
And then she could go back to being enemies with him?
Sasuke could feel his dark ball of anger inside surging. She was basically telling him that despite how he felt terrible for making her chase after him away from her home, that he wanted to repay her by aiding her with this mission, that she did not want his help? Even after his confession that he basically needed her?
He stared at her, feeling pissed off. "Fine."
She didn't want his help because they were enemies? She seriously thought that they were still enemies?
Did she even consider for a moment that he never thought of her as an enemy?
Moving toward his bedroom, he pulled off his dirty shirt, letting it fall to the floor. "I'm going to take a shower. When I come out, I want you gone." She wanted to be play Miss Heartless? Two can play that game. "And if something happens to you next time, don't fucking think I'm saving your ass again." He slammed his bedroom door shut.
