Chapter twelve
After
It felt like being cradled back in forth in a hammock, lightweight and no sense of time or place. It felt nice, it felt secure, the one feeling anyone yearns for. That was exactly how Hinata felt that moment, the dream-nightmares were ever so present reminding her that her safe haven was not as secure as she felt. The sound of voices woke Hinata up from her slumber, all her sense flooded her in an instant. She kept her eyes closed and ears open ready to listen to any information.
" We found them near the Hyuga grounds." It sounded like her father, unconsciously her small fingers wrapped around her father clothes.
" How's the Uchiha child?" Another said. Sasuke?
"Out cold, we're taking them back to the compound."
"But his brother wa-"
"It's and order!" Hiashi commanded. The Hyuga member could only follow. As much as Hinata wanted to hear more, to know what happened but she couldn't, sleep took over her sending her back to a timeless slumber. Hiashi stared down at his daughter, her chest rising up with each breath she took. He noticed how she leaned into him ,see her hand snaked around the fabric of his clothes. The head of the Hyuga clan held his daughter closer to his person, relishing in the feel of having his daughter safe and sound in his arms. He still couldn't shake the feeling that took over to him when he told about the Uchiha massacre. Without a second thought he rushed to his daughter's bed chambers only to find his oldest was nowhere to be found. That's when he remembered his oldest was with Sasuke at the Uchiha compound. He thought the worst. Hiashi frowned, he knew there was something going on with his friend, Fugaku, a while back he started acting strange and instead of listening to his senses he didn't. Now, with Hinata in his arms he could rest and thank that his daughter was alive and well, On other thoughts he wondered what would be of the last Uchiha?
A scream erupted out of Hinata, her hands scrambled to take off her blanket and layers of clothing trying to reach her chest. All the young girl could do was stare in confusion as she looked and touched her pale skin, there was no wound no blade sticking out. Nothing. Panicking she began hyperventilating, feel the walls close in, shaking Hinata ran to her door and slid it open running out into the dark corridors. Her feet padded down the wooden floor, running to who knows where. She came to a stop when she bumped into a body and fell backwards. Something about it seemed familiar. With little light from the moon Hinata made out a shape then slowly her eyesight sharpened and the figure turned out to be Sasuke. "Sasuke..." Her arms reached out and wrapped themselves around the younger boy's body. You're alive. she chanted mentally, the shaking had not stopped it only increased. Meanwhile Sasuke just stood still not bothering to hug Hinata back. His eyes held nothing, no emotion, just utter emptiness. But inside he was a mess, a broken child who was tortured immensely by his own brother. He could still see how his brother murdered in front of him, showed him images of things he will never unsee or forget. Hinata pulled back noticing no reaction from her friend, his face was emotionless and his eyes were glazed over. "Sasuke look at me! you're not there, it's not real." Hinata said while she placed her hands on either side of his face, eyebrows knitted in worry. Hinata thought she saw a slight movement coming from his eyes but it soon disappeared, No. Knowing she was still weak Hinata managed to activate her byakugan, it only lasted a few seconds but it was enough for her to see his chakra network was damaged. Using her fingers Hinata expelled chakra off and directed them to where the damage was held. Sensing Sasuke come back to reality she smiled at him, he looked around confused asking himself where he was. He then looked down at the girl who barely held him, Hinata.
"You came back." Her arms dropped to her sides, she was so so tired, she could feel the effects of her using that technique, the last time she used it was on Ino and that was with Sakura's help.
"Hey? Are you okay?"
"Hm...yes, I j-just need to rest...don't move." Sasuke was confused but then realized what Hinata was doing, she positioned herself so she could rest her head on his lap and fell asleep instantly. Sasuke had no time to ponder on anything, he stiffened when he heard footsteps behind him, he didn't want to turn around afraid who it could be, afraid it was Itachi. Staring ahead he could only watch out of the corner of his eyes a figure step beside him then turn and stand right infront of him. Hiashi Hyuga stood above him, he crouched so he could be on Sasuke's eye level. Sasuke could not say anything, he was too shocked , seeing Hiashi in front of him made him nervous and confused, How did I end up in the Hyuuga compound?, he managed to ask himself. Hiashi spared one glance at the young boy before his eyes took in his daughter's form. She had her head resting on Sasuke's lap, her eyes were closed and by the look of it she would be out cold for a while. Hiashi began questioning some things, things he saw not too long ago. Where did you learn that technique? It was something he had never seen before, not even some of the hidden Hyuga scrolls contained such complex Jutsu's. He figured his daughter had something up her sleeve, his right hand reached for her daughter he couldn't help but notice how the young Uchiha flinched at his proximity. He continued either way, his hand rested on Hinata's head, his fingers gliding through her dark tresses that were just like her mother's.
"Now that you are awake, you'll will be remaining with us until the Hokage deems otherwise." Hiashi waited for no reply he gathered his daughter into his arms, stood up and motioned for the boy to follow him. Sasuke hesitantly got up, he wasn't too sure if he wanted to follow him but he could only think that if he went he wouldn't be surrounded by his thoughts. Thoughts that would surely plague him to no end, plus Hiashi wouldnt do anything right? On the other side his young mind just wanted to rest, to be protected so he followed Hiashi to a room where he finally was able to rest but his nightmares would not leave him be.
A Week Later;
"Shh! you're going to wake them up!"
"Choji stop munching so hard."
"Sorry, can't help it"
"Ugh...I could be cloud watching by now."
the voices soon quieted down, Hinata stirred and awoke with a jolt. Right beside her was Akamaru with his tongue sticking out licking her cheek. Unfortunately it immediately stopped, Hinata gently pushed him away and smiled down at the dog. Her smile grew wider upon seeing the faces of her friends all bundled up to her bed trying to get a look at her. "Oi, Hinata she's awake!" Lee Shouted . He got a glare from Kiba telling him to quiet down which Lee followed but still couldn't contain his excitement. "Flower blossom! you're awake!" Lee said in a less softer tone but excitement still visible.
"Hi Lee." Hinata managed to reply over the voices of her friends.
"How are you feeling?" Kiba asked.
"I'm okay…' Hinata looked at her friends faces, every single one held concern and sadness in their eyes."Where's Sasuke? Is he okay?" Vaguely the young Hyuga was able to recall the past few days events. Itachi, the massacre...What happened?
"He's at the hospital...he suffered mental damage, they are checking him over." Shino replied in his low tone of voice. Mental damage? No, it couldn't be, he suffered through the genjutsu he was placed under, Hinata concluded. What Hinata could not shake was that Itachi still hurt Sasuke after she told him not too. She wondered if the technique she used on him helped at all? she hoped that that in some way it helped him, that he would not become the vengeful person he would be in the future. But, she knew in some way or another that would not happen, he would be that person she came to know in her time, in her future.
Naruto looked at his first friend and decided to let her know about the Uchiha."Hinata, you should know something...Sasuke's whole clan was slaughtered by his brother."
So, it did happen.
That day Hinata found out that she had been asleep for almost a week and that Sasuke had wanted no visitors, not even his friends. It was hard, Sasuke decisions affected everyone, they wanted to be beside him to help him, but he refused. Naruto especially was getting tired and annoyed, Hinata was able to tell by the way Naruto twitched every time at the mention of Sasuke name. From the look in his eyes he was planning something and she was getting excited to know what it was. Sooner or later Sasuke would give in and she would be there to help him cope. The villagers gossiped, the name of the Uchiha were in there mouths the whole time, especially Itachi's and Sasuke's. Every day there was a new story on what exactly happened, at time they were to unrealistic while others were just blown out of proportion. She shook her head every time, so, instead of hearing different tales she decided to take time to be with her little sister. Hinata loved to be with her sibling, the last time she saw her sister was when she was taken away from her, she was too young. Protecting her would be her utmost priority, she would be there for her she would prepare her for anything, although she had training with her father she would try harder to be with Hanabi, lately she's been making too many promises and she could not stop because if she made they it made her feel that she was trying to fix things. Shisui, her mind would wonder to him, what happened to him? she heard that he committed suicide, his body was never found. Are you alive? and you Itachi, what are you doing?
He was desperate for escape, escape where? No where, just make a run for it and never look back. He wanted to forget... to forget all those things his brother showed him. His child mind could not comprehend what caused his brother to do such a thing. It was out of character , but then he asked himself. Did he truly know his own brother ? Since Itachi became anbu, Sasuke saw him less and less. Maybe around that time was when his brother changed, something changed or maybe even someone changed him? Sasuke mentally and emotionally pushed away his friends, they would visit him but he didn't have the strength or time to talk to them. He decided not to face them and for that he felt like a coward. Would they understand me? No! No one could, Sasuke concluded on his own. All he had now was himself and no one else. But his young heart that was filled with hope and the hurt child inside him tried yelling at him, to see the wrong in his decisions. To let his friends in. That part of him that wanted love wanted comfort but it wasn't strong enough to act upon it. The white walls of the hospital room furthered his depression, the feeling of dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Not even the light streaming through the window could bring him any type of happiness. Sasuke was startled, spiky blond hair appeared in his window then a face that held blue piercing eyes and whiskers on each side of their cheeks. Naruto. Sasuke Immediately scowled, his mood ever changing. He patiently waited as Naruto climbed through the window with sticks and dirt marring his face and clothes. Sasuke's eyes followed Naruto's from until it stopped right in front of his bed."What are you doing here?" Sasuke said in a bored tone. Naruto wasn't one bit fazed he just kept staring at the boy he came to call friend, maybe even a brother.
"Came to see how you were doing."
"I don't want any visitors"
"That's not happening."
"Fine." Sasuke took the covers turned around and covered himself with them ignoring Naruto. Talk to him! Sasuke screamed, he really wanted to turn around and speak his mind to a person who in some way may understand him just a little bit, but he didn't, he didn't turn around and ask for comfort. "That's it!? That's all you're going to do all day? Mope around and not speak to your friends." Naruto fisted his his hands and screamed. "I know how you feel...you're hurting inside, thinking that there is no one there to help you to make you feel better. I felt that way once, but it all changed because of you and Hinata...and the many more we've encountered." Sasuke heard footsteps approaching, so he clutched the blanket harder awaiting for anything, it truly hurt what his friend had said, he was right in everything but it was hard. He wasn't like Naruto who could more or so speak out how he felt, he was quieter more reserved. After thinking about that he noticed that Naruto never approached his side, it was too quiet, hesitantly he pulled the covers away, then turned around. It would be something he would regret immensely. He was assaulted by a group of children his age, they all jumped in the bed and tackled him. "We are not leaving until you speak to us!" All his friends said in unison, Sasuke could only frown but slightly calmed down at seeing Hinata holding a vase with fresh flowers.
Author's Note: Hey guys, hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Its pretty simple, not much action happening, I thought it be best to just have a laid back chapter. Many characters will change so it will be slight ooc, since a few things are happening , have a happy day, until next update. Adios.
