The Day His Heart Stopped
Author Note: I was going to rant, but this chapter had me hyped up! I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 12: Midnight's Peak
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Sasuke would never say that; never hold her like that or maybe even make her feel like that.
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There was an ear-ringing silence that moved throughout the house, an eerie, creepy silence. The clock that ticked on the adjacent wall, the hum of the heater, the pained irregular heartbeats she was sure she was having, all silenced.
Was this what it felt like for time to stop? She buried her face in the soft cotton of his shirt, enjoying the coolness it gave her heated skin. His thumb soothed her back in a circular motion; his head was resting in the crook of her neck.
The normal hostility that vibrated off his skin was gone. Just having him home was enough to throw out any logic in the matter. His hands came up to her and spread over her shoulders. His onyx eyes were unbreakable in a way that made her weak.
It was stronger now, that same flame she had tried suppressing was far too great to be safe. His finger traced her jaw line. "I've missed you." He voiced.
Her eyes narrowed and just like if someone turned on a light. She pushed away from him. He blinked twice before sighing. "Are you afraid of me?"
"W-who are you?"
He appeared in front of her, cupping her cheeks gently. "I won't hurt you," He ghosted his lips over hers. Against every fiber of her being seemed to be under his control, her eyelids lowered as he took her bottom lip in his mouth, grazing dulled canines.
It made her whole body shiver. "Y-You're not Sasuke..."
He smiled against her lips before pulling away. "Correct, hime." He stepped back. "I'll be seeing you." As he faded everything started making their own noises.
She still felt him against her. She turned and hugged her rocky body, fearing she would break into a million pieces. "Hinata!"
She turned to familiar onyx eyes that instantly flickered to crimson. His teeth bared and nails curled.
She took a nervous step forward. "S-Sasuke..." She reached out only for him to snatch her wrist.
"Who was here?" He growled bring her wrist up to his eyes. He froze before catching her eyes.
"Y-You're h-hurting me!" She cried out. He loosened his grip but didn't let go. "Sa-"
His eyes scanned over her. "What did he do?" Out of instinct she touched her lip and fearfully met his eyes. They changed from crimson to black and spread over the white of his eyes then his pupils turned a glowing golden. "Where is Karin?"
Fear was banging at her skull. He was going to... "N-No! Don't hur-"
As if being called, Karin walked in. "Oi, Sa-" Before she could finished he had her pinned to the wall.
Hinata ran over. His teeth lengthened more than he'd ever seen. "I told you to watch her!"
Karin whimpered loudly as he pressed harder. Hinata shook her head. "Stop! Sasuke it was just a k-kiss! He didn't hurt me!" She tried prying his hands from her neck.
Karin's eyes were rolling back and feet dangled from the floor. He snarled at her feeble attempt. "Hinata, go away!"
She wrapped her arms around his torso. Hot tears streamed from her face. "Please... P-please, stop! She's the... She is m-my sister... Sasuke, please! I'm okay!" The room silenced again, aside from her sobs and Karin muffled cry. She heard a thud that belonged to Karin.
He waited for Hinata to let go before picking Karin up by the hair. "When I give you a job, do it." He watched her heal slowly before standing. "Next time I will show you no mercy." With that he went in the back room.
Hinata fell to the floor with the red head. "Oh, Karin." She wiped the blood off the girl's mouth.
She smiled weakly. "I... I told you." She coughed twice before pushing herself up. "Thank you - Hinata," After being fully healed they stood.
Hinata hugged herself. "I... I never saw him like that."
Karin scoffed. "He's only like that under extreme conditions," She crossed her arms. "Look, I'll leave a bottle of blood. He's going to be pretty drained after that little fit."
Hinata mouth opened. "Y-You're leaving?"
Karin walked into the kitchen. "Hell yeah, did you not just see that?" She laughed and pointed lazily to the backroom. "I am not going to provoke him."
She sat at the counter as Karin sat out a bottle with dark, almost black liquid. "H-He hurt you and you still help him."
Karin gave a small smile. "I love him," She sighed helplessly. "And I let something happen to someone precious to him-" She poked the younger girl on the cheek. "You."
Hinata looked at her lap trying to rid the blush. "I'll miss you."
She came around the table, pulling her into a hug. "Ditto, doll." She kissed her forehead. "Have a fun life." Hinata nodded, then before she could say another thing the red haired girl was gone.
The opal eyed girl made her way to her room where Sasuke was looking out the window. Night was falling finally. "Sasuke..." He grunted in respond. "Karin l-left."
"I know." He never took his eyes off of the moon. She went to sit on the bed. "If I scared you - I apologize."
She looked down as he sat beside her. "It... Was just a kiss. I d-don't even think i-it was real."
He closed his eyes. "Hinata, nothing is just as simple as that," He turned to her. She was a fool to think that, his brother - maybe, whoever, was pretending to be him was the real Sasuke.
Sasuke would never say that, never hold her like that or maybe even make her feel like that. "But-"
"He invaded your home."
Then something snapped, "You did too!" She clenched her fist. "You... You hurt me! Whoever that was didn't!" She stood. "How do I know you aren't the bad guy!"
Karin's words echoed in her head about her twisted image of the man in front of her. Sasuke wasn't a good guy but what didn't make him the bad one? He brought out the evil in Naruto and hurt Karin. He was just using her, protecting her from something he brought here.
Tears burned her eyes. "H-How do you expect me to trust you!?"
He brought a hand to the bridge of his nose. Throbbing started at the back of his skull and her sobbing wasn't helping. He used way too much energy on Karin and he hadn't fed in two weeks.
Tsunade was right, he was being blind.
"Sasuke, a-are you l-listening?" Came her broken voice. "Sa-" She walked up to him only for him to flinch. "J-Just stop it." She took his hands.
Blue-greenish veins were protruding from his wrists. "I'm fine." He winced bringing his hands to his skull. She knelt down to eye level.
Ash onyx eyes stared back at her like he was in a daze. She brought a hand to his forehead. "I suppose it's not n-normal for you to be warm." He grunted. "You're sick."
He coughed. "I j-just need..." He stood weakly. Hinata wanted to let him struggle, he had no right treating Karin that way. He hit the door frame.
She helped him sit up. "Sasuke, listen to me!" She grabbed his cheeks. "Stop being so stubborn."
A smirk pulled at his lips. She blushed and looked away. Even sick, he was still beautiful. "I... I can't help it."
She blinked. "You rather die?"
He clutched his chest. She watched his skin pale before her eyes. "Just lay down, please?"
He gave a weak glare before obeying. "I... I got it." She watched his retreating form collapse on the bed. She shook her head and ran into the kitchen.
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Nursing was never her strong suit, but this seemed pretty straight forward. She held the bottle to his lips. How did one digest something so - disgusting? Just the sounds of him swallowing the 'Life Juice' as Karin once called it, made her want to vomit.
After he was finished he was looking healthy. His eyes were closed softly and breaths came out evenly. He was asleep. Her eyes scanned over his body - just for precautionary reasons.
His pants were surprisingly tight for an old man, she guessed it just was a forced habit living in the seventeen and eighteen hundreds. His usual shirt was something that reminded her of a pirate's shirt she seen from a movie but today was a long sleeve, black V-neck shirt. She hadn't realized how tone he was until now.
His neck held the usual two rings and fingers adorned multiple rings. His skin looked so touchable and soft. His head was slightly tilted and lips parted. Raven hair that used to reach his waist looked like it was cut to his shoulders. Bangs frames his face perfectly.
Sasuke looked like a normal twenty-three year old guy.
She almost wondered how he was as a human. Probably a total player, but those eyes probably did all the talk and-
They were staring back at her. She promptly fell off the bed. He looked over. "Must you stare?"
She blew her bang out of her face, revealing a bright pink blush. "S-Sorry."
He watched a few moments more before resting. "I have not rested in almost three weeks." He confessed.
She stood. "W-Why?"
He sat up. "I have been searching constantly," He looked at her. "No sleep has found me."
She frowned. "Then just rest."
"I will leave in a moment-"
"I'll just sleep in the spare room, just...umm," She paused seeing him continue his stare. "W-What?" She pushed her hair back.
He stood slowly. "I've never met a mortal such as you." She looked away as he approached her. "You asked me how I expect you to trust me."
She stepped back. "I was upset a-and I-"
"It was a needed question." He turned slightly. "I've given you no reason to trust me, no?"
She sat on the bed. "Well..."
"Do you know the tale of the scorpion and the tortoise?" She tilted her head in question. "Long story short, the scorpion asked the tortoise to carry him across the river on the agreement that he wouldn't sting the tortoise." He sat beside her and continued, "Half way across the scorpion in fact stung him, and the tortoise was of course angered and confused, he said 'you said you wouldn't sting me, now we both die, why?"
Hinata swallowed. "W-what did he say?"
"It was simply in his nature, the tortoise knew that." He looked at her. "Can you trust me? You could."
"S-should I?"
He enjoyed the way her eyes resembled two full moons, they were still innocent. He would taint her, kill off any light in her or drain her of it. "Should you? You know my nature."
He walked out of the room. She followed after him. "But that's confusing!"
He stopped abruptly causing her to hit his back. She stumbled back rubbing her nose. "It's simple, it doesn't matter if you trust me or not," His tone was calm, he was simply tell her the truth. "In the back of your head, that voice is telling you not to trust me."
She looked at the floor. "What if...if my h-heart is saying the o-opposite?"
"Then you are a fool." He continued to the kitchen.
"Promise that you won't hurt my precious people." She clenched her fist.
"If I do?" He rubbed his chin absently before checking his pockets.
"Then... Then..." She struggled with her words as a smirk tugged at his lips. "Y-you have to leave me alone for good."
"If I break one promise what makes you think I won't do it again?"
She walked over to him. "Y-you have an obligation."
He shrugged. "Fine."
In some sort of weird way, she felt him opening up more. Talking instead of grunting, smirking instead of staying emotionless and this Sasuke...seemed refreshed. She wrung her hands. "Your hair - it's cut."
He scowled. "Chi Cleansing."
"You bathed in blood?" She grimaced at the very thought.
"No, it's a sacred secret." And that was the end of the conversation. "Do you not have work in the morning?"
"I do."
He turned from her. "Rest, I will be protecting you." Before she could protest he was gone.
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"I haven't had that much fun in God knows how long!" Ino threw her shopping bag draped arms in the air. "We must do it more often!" The girls laughed as Sakura pulled up to Hinata's place.
The jade eyed girl looked over her shoulder, "I wish the evening didn't have to end." Suddenly she was swarmed by batting eyelashes from her friend. Opal eyes rested on her front door then at the girls. Sakura pouted. "Gee, I didn't know we were so bad."
A blush danced on her cheeks. "N-No!" She just had a long day at work but for some reason Neji let her come home early, which never happened. She also noticed he refused to look at her and when he did it was filled with hate.
Was she that bad?
With a tired sigh, "You can come in," she needed to be surrounded by people she loved and hopefully returned the same feeling. "Yeah, come on." She said more confident. They smiled as if like twins - they were inseparable.
Getting out on the car, she began to dig into her bag for the keys. Ino was talking about a new clothing line at a mall in the next town over. "Oi, Hina," she glanced up at Ino's voice. "You have a package!" The blonde picked up the small box.
Sakura leaned over, "What's in it!?" Hinata fished out her keys and opened the door. Her home was flawless, nothing was out the ordinary, which meant Sasuke hadn't been home. "Open it!" She squeaked as Ino gave it to Hinata.
She nodded and sat on the couch, she frowned seeing the unfamiliar mailing address, "Weird..." The sender was from out of town.
Before the girls could whine anymore she opened it. There, just being able to fit into the small of her palm laid a black and blue rose pedant with simple silver chain hanging from it.
"That's cute." Ino grinned. "Do you have any ideas who it's from?"
While shrugging, she looked in the box but there was no name, no card, no fancy colorful tissue just a black leathery box with a beautiful necklace in it.
The gems glistening even in the dim light of her living room. It was hypnotizing in every way, simple yet enchanting and it made her heart pound.
"It's a mistake." She concluded softly. There was no one this special in her life to even think to buy this for her. "It can't... It's probably fro-"
Sakura scoffed unclipping the gift. "Why can't you deserve something pretty?" She placed it around her neck. "Fits snug."
Hinata let a giggle bubble up because of Ino's puppy dog face. "It's so cute," she crossed her arms with a pout. "Serious, you better keep it!" She nodded as the door rang.
Sakura said she'll get it. Hinata traced the shape again feeling completely relaxed until hearing yelling. "Go away Naruto!" Sakura tried slamming the door.
He squeezed through laughing before getting hit. "Sheesh, Sakura-chan! You're more hostile than..." He trailed off looking at the mesmerized Hyuuga. "...Hinata?"
She blinked and looked up. "Naruto-kun!" A smile presented itself as she stood to hug him but he took a step back.
"Where'd you get that...necklace?"
She realized her fingers hadn't moved from it. "It was at my door step! Isn't it b-beautiful?"
His lips curved into a frown before noticing the girls were glaring daggers in his head. Azure eyes met hopeful opal eyes and soften incredibly, "Who's it from?" He muttered.
"We don't know." Ino cut in.
Sakura nodded wrapping her arm around Hinata's shoulder, "I think it's from a secret admirer and this is their Christmas present."
"Un," Naruto grunted seeing the smaller girl's face brightened. "I'll have to give mine early too."
Hinata shook her head feeling a rather abnormal amount of anger thickening around the three. She clutched the necklace. "N-No I-"
"Naruto, don be such a baka - wait like everyone else!" Sakura snarled.
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Come on, we can go now. It'll be quick."
Ino smacked her teeth. "Then it can wait."
Hinata squeaked. "I-I'll go! Please," she rubbed her temples. "Stop it."
Naruto smiled, lacing their hands. "Great, we'll wait outside." She nodded as the three walked out.
She looked at the door and just hoped she could come home and sleep. Grabbing her keys, she walked outside into the freezing air with her friends still tracing the rose.
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Saying she was scared was an understatement. Last time she was here, they kissed and he tried killing her...well, his demon.
She stood awkwardly by the couch as he closed the door. His back heaved a few times before, "Take it off."
She froze and clutched her scarf. "W-What?"
He turned around to her. "Take off the necklace," he clarified almost upset that she still in some way didn't trust him. "Hinata, take that off."
Lilac eyes narrowed at him. "Why!? Why must," she groaned. "Why can't I have anything?"
Why couldn't she just have something special?
"Look," He took a caution step forward. "I'll buy you som-"
"I don't want anything." Her fingers clenched the necklace.
He bit his lip. "That's not a normal necklace, it's cursed."
At that her eyes widened. Was this seriously her life now? One filled with supernatural things and creatures? What happened to being able to curl on the couch and watch scary movies.
Now, she was living one.
"...cursed." She repeated quietly. "H-How?"
"You like flowers, when are black roses ever a good luck charm?" He replied slowly. His eyes were fluctuating between scarlet and azure, "It weakens those around you," He opened the window.
She clutched the necklace. "E-Everyone?"
He rubbed his chest. "People l-like me." She took a step back. "S-Sasuke and that girl you were with."
She watched the blond pale slightly and wonder why did he even bring her so close with it if it would hurt him. She looked at the necklace then at her friend before trying to snatch it off. "I c-can't!" She pulled at it again with no avail.
Sweat formed at his brow. "H-Hinata!"
Opal eyes widened when Sasuke appeared in the apartment. He looked too nonchalant. He was wearing a dark gray long sleeve shirt and his hands were stuffed in his black pants. "S-Sasuke."
He watched Naruto tremble paying no mind to the frantic girl. "Kyuubi I-" He paused before turning to her. "What are you wearing?" His whole expression read boredom.
Naruto coughed. "Why aren't you freaking out?"
He sighed. "Why would I?"
"The necklace," Hinata pointed to the rose. "It's tainted or c-cursed."
He nodded. "Ay, it is." He walked over to her only for her to step back.
"It could kill you!" She extended her hands. "Stand back."
He looked to the weak blond to the hysteric girl. "It could kill me, if I was a New Blood or," He looked at Naruto. "A demon host." His nails sharpened before breaking the chain from her neck.
She gasped catching the pedant. "W-what?"
He took the pedant and tossed it towards Naruto, who crumbled on the floor. "Remember the tale I told you," he asked Hinata as he walked to the whimpering blond.
"Y-yes."
He crouched down and picked up the pedant. "Never trust witches," He turned to her. "They weren't trying to kill me." He traced the rose. "But they were trying to kill him."
Naruto body glowed and hair spiked. "Whores," Kyuubi growled standing tall. "I don't trust women in general, mortal or not."
Sasuke tossed the pedant at him. "You will do well to find the witches who sent this."
Hinata shook her head. "W-who? It c-came anonymously."
Sasuke put his hands back in his pockets rudely ignoring her infomation. "It's witchcraft, though not of Konoha." She touched her bare neck.
Kyuubi crushed the necklace. "I'll do more than find them." Letting the dust fly out the window.
"B-But-!" She stepped forward.
Kyuubi laughed. "Sasuke, this girl is a fool." Onyx eyes rolled from her to the man. "She must believe in World Peace too?"
Hinata blushed and hid behind the stoic male. "B-bring Naruto-kun back."
He snickered. "Foolish mortal, you do. The innocent that surrounds you is almost enough for me to want to become an angel - almost."
Opal eyes narrowed. "I'm not foolish!"
Kyuubi chuckled, placing his hand at his hip. "Sasuke, isn't she such a pretty mortal. Far too untouched for this world-"
"That is enough, Kyuubi." Sasuke frowned.
"What? I'll have first go at her of course," He licked his lips. "Hey, mortal, how would you like it if two supernatural creatures fuc-"
Sasuke had his throat. "I said-," he squeezed harder, "-that is enough."
Kyuubi rolled his eyes. "Fi-Fine."
Sasuke squeezed until he felt his blood thumping. "I trust you'll take care of that."
His scarlet eyes glared at onyx ones but nodded. Sasuke let go and walked to the trembling girl. "It is time to go." She nodded quickly as Kyuubi blew a kiss. "Kurama, I will castrate you."
The fox demon hissed before allowing Naruto to take over. "S-Sorry."
Sasuke grabbed Hinata's wrist. "Thank you, boy."
He rubbed his neck. "Uh... Y-You're welcome." He looked at Hinata. "I'm sorry, Hina."
She smiled. "I love you, Naruto-kun."
Sasuke glanced at her to Naruto before both disappearing. Naruto sighed and leaned against the window. "Bitches..." He snarled before seeing two hooded figures walk out of the shadows.
"Kurama, it is time you've repaid your debts." One spoke.
Naruto's eyes glowed against the night's sky. "I'm not repaying shit,"
There was a laugh from the second figure. "It is time."
"I said I ain't repay-" Before he could finish his vision blurred and the world around him turned black.
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Author Note: BOOM. I'll let that sink in.
P.S.: I make up most of the stuff in here from Vampire habits, Chi Cleansing and that black rose stuff so don't take me seriously, I have no idea what a black rose means but in the story its BAD, partna. Bad Cheese.
