w00000t….
So the last chappie was interesting, ne? hehe.
Thank you so much for all your replies, I was giggling to myself all day long whenever I checked my email. Lol, you're all so awesome!
I got a few people to yell on the reviews, lol! That was pretty cool, some swearing too, I might add. Not at me though! Just, in general ((grin))
We're nearing the 300 mark on reviews guys !!
READ. REVIEW.
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ps. Yes, Neji is a bit of an ass in this one, I'm sorry to any Neji lovers, but he'll hopefully come around eventually.
"Oka-san?"
"Hm?"
"…I…I saw t-two people on the street t-today…"
"Oh?"
"H-hai…" Hinata's little shoes swung back and forth as she kicked her legs over the water, sitting on the bridge that crowned the pond in the middle of the Hyuuga compound.
"What were they doing?"
"Ano…t-they were k-k-kissing…"
"Really."
"Mhm…ano…Oka-san?"
"Hai?"
The little fingers of the girl twisted around a lock of dark hair, moving it in circles, twirling, her legs swinging back and forth. A soft whisper of wind passed by, setting loose a handful of Sakura blossoms, they tangled in the hair of the taller elegant woman standing behind the child, wearing a kimono of glamour which stated just how powerful her family truly was.
But that didn't register in the mind of the child sitting fidgeting near her. Only the soft eyes and sweet lips that kissed her cheek goodnight each day were good enough to make it into her memory.
"They kissed d-d-different." Hinata admitted, blushing rapidly, for some reason embarrassed by the memory of the couple she had caught sight of in the street earlier that day.
Oka-san smiled, the amusement almost tangible in the air as she gently touched Hinata's head, moving with slow grace and dignity.
"One day, you'll understand. All I can say right now, is that they probably loved each other very much."
Hinata craned her neck to look up, bland Hyuuga eyes glittering by the light of the sun.
"Ano…Oka-san?"
"Hm?"
"…Is someone going to l-l-love me?"
"One day." The sweet eyes were smiling. "You'll know when you meet him."
The wind passed by again, ruffling Hinata's hair, making her giggle and close her eyes as more cherry blossoms danced around her face. The wind tickled by one of the wind chimes, making the bells let out laughing little melodies as the sun began to set, lighting up the whole area with a flash of power and warmth…
"One day…"
The wind chimes were giggling. That was the first thought to enter her drowsy incredibly sleepy brain. The wind chimes were giggling… she used to say that to Oka-san, before… before….
The thought finally woke her, though slowly, dragging her out of the dream. That had felt almost like a memory.
Breathing out softly she lifted her hand up to her face, rubbing away sleep before blinking and freezing, breathing in sharply as she stared at Sasuke, asleep still, but right beside her.
Memories of the night before came flooding back and she felt slowly her whole body relaxing into the covers, listening to the wind chimes in the background, watching the light of the morning sun slowly stretching to reach Sasuke's face.
She knew him… the moment that sunlight touched his cheek he would wake. But for some reason she wasn't panicking. Calmly she waited, studying his face, smiling unconsciously at just how cute he was when sleeping… all the harshness of his eyes and the tenseness of his mouth vanished.
Her eyes lingered on his lips then, and some of the tension came back, crawling across her shoulders and making the butterflies dancing around in her stomach do little acrobatic twirls.
…what would he do if I kissed him?
Her face began to grow hot and she knew she was probably more pink than she had ever been before but that didn't matter, the thought still nagged and she couldn't put it down, it was as though it had decided to take refuge in her mind and there was no getting rid of it.
The sun inched closer, just at the edge of Sasuke's skin, making his dark hair reflect it's light and the varying shades of black and blue that highlighted it.
Biting her lip she watched, her hands beginning to clench uneasily as the sun finally caressed his cheek.
Holding her breath she stared down at her hands, unsure if she wanted to move despite the fact that he would probably wake soon.
The choice however was not to be hers that morning…
A shout came from outside, it sounded like Naruto, though she could hardly say seeing as they were so far away from the street. Banging echoed suddenly through the house and she pushed herself up rapidly, wide eyed.
Sasuke was following her example suddenly, her eyes flickered to his hand where a kunai glittered already, his onyx eyes didn't linger on her but focused on the door of his room, wide open to the hall.
"What was that?" he whispered, moving so quietly towards the door she could hardly feel the air shift as he passed her.
Her eyes went down to her hands, where a pair of shuriken were biting cold against her warm flesh… She hadn't even realized she had taken them out of her pocket.
Startled she looked back up at him. "I-I don't know.." she whispered back, following his example and creeping over to the door.
The two shinobi stood uncertainly by the door frame, listening to the sounds of someone opening doors randomly and slamming them downstairs.
Suddenly they heard Naruto's voice calling. "Sasuke no baka! Where the hell are you?"
Startled the two hiding shinobi dropped their hands, loosening their hold on their weapons. "Nani?" Hinata blinked. "Naruto?"
"...damnit." Sasuke hissed as he started down the hall towards the stairs. You had damn well better have a good reason for being in my house, dobe, or I'm gonna carve your liver out and feed it to you…
Sasuke, was not a morning person…
Hinata didn't follow after him but glanced at the mirror in the bathroom, making sure all her clothing was on correctly, or at least not… falling off or anything…
Blushing furiously she did the first four buttons up on her blouse, glad she had a shirt underneath. Quickly combing out her hair with her hands she chased after Sasuke, skipping down the steps and stopping at the foot of the stairs uncertainly.
Naruto had flung open every single door he could get his hands on, and left the front door open too, letting the sunlight from outside flood the hall.
It was a nice day, for a Chuunin exam and possible attack.
"Ne." He blonde grunted, giving Sasuke a look of dislike that was hardly masked at all. "Tsunade wants the team to move now, Kakashi thought he saw a black cloak with red clouds in the crowd…I've got the rest of the team up already."
"Shit." Sasuke snapped, rubbing his neck irritably. "What time is it?" he grunted, turning around to head back up the stairs but froze, meeting Hinata standing there uncertainly.
"I-I'll go get Ino and meet you at the stadium." She blinked back at him, quite aware of both their faces taking on a slightly pink hue the moment they laid eyes on each other and fully focused.
"Hai." He replied shortly, hurrying up the stairs, so distracted he didn't realize he was leaving her alone with Naruto.
Hinata sighed, rubbing sleep from her eyes tiredly, about to turn around to go back upstairs to change when Naruto's hand came down on her shoulder.
"Ne… Hinata-chan… are you all right?"
The Hyuuga jumped slightly, turning around to stare at him, recalling quickly the hug he had more or less forced on her the night before. "Oh-h-hai!" she nodded, taking a step so she was slightly out of his reach. "J-just sleepy-" she began, smiling nervously.
Naruto bit his lip, watching her fidgeting… almost like old times.
"Ano… Ino is okay, you know, from yesterday?" He gave a nervous laugh. "Ne… she says she deserved it…"
Hinata stared at him for a moment, unsure of what it was he wanted. "Hai…arigato." She mumbled, turning around again to head up the stairs when his hand grabbed hers.
"Wait!" he gasped. "Just wait half a moment.." he glanced around nervously, anywhere but her.
Hinata didn't look back, staring directly at the ground in a panic.
Let go, let go of me, Naruto…
"Listen… I just… you seem almost like you're… avoiding me."
"No." she shook her head and turned to look at him, struggling to be calm and strong and decisive with her voice. "I am busy. This isn't the t-time… Naruto-kun. I need to get Ino."
He stared at her in surprise, slightly shocked that she would look at him so impassively.
It reminded him of Sasuke.
"Ne… Right." He laughed again, trying to break the awkwardness. "Go ahead." His hand finally let go of her.
Silently Hinata turned and started up the stairs, rubbing her wrist where he had held on, frowning worriedly. Something told her that would be trouble later.
Sasuke suddenly appeared in the hall, wrapping up his arms, wearing all black, training equipment gone to replace battle gear.
"Hurry to the stadium." He said quickly, stopping at the stairs, as if trying to find something else to say.
Hinata looked back at him silently for a moment then smiled weakly. "I'll be there."
"…hai." He nodded, before turning and rushing out the door with Naruto.
You had better be there too…
Quickly she spun around, running into her room to find her own battle gear.
"Find them." Sasuke snapped, looking out to the stadium slowly filling with people. The entire security team except for Hinata and Ino stood behind him, fully dressed in battle outfits, looking out over the balcony at the top of the stadium. Neji stood in the shadows, he could feel the glare from across the room, but even two hormone infested young men could handle their own anger towards each other when someone as deadly as Akatsuki's team was in their midst.
"We need to find them. Set your second in command over each of your positions, I don't trust anyone else to know what to do if they bump into them." He muttered, turning around to look at the others.
Naruto nodded. "Get a handful of other Chuunin's out there as well." He added. "Spread them out, comb the crowds, do not engage them in a fight, call for aid." He tossed out headpieces as he said it.
The others nodded again. "Ne, Shikamaru, organize them." Sasuke called, searching the crowd fervently, not really paying attention to the others. Shikamaru didn't reply but turned to start figuring out where the others would be sent to search.
"Where's Hinata?" Naruto muttered to Sasuke, stepping up beside him to search the crowd, frowning.
"I don't know… She's late." He murmured slowly, glancing back at the stairs where she was supposed to appear.
He had left the house two hours ago… it only took fifteen minutes to get to the stadium.
"Send someone to find her." Naruto stated, looking at Sasuke impatiently. The Uchiha glared. "We can't afford it. She's a vice-captain anyway, she can handle herself… she's probably just having trouble finding Ino." He retorted thinly.
"There are Akatsuki walking around- your brother is walking around." Naruto snapped, finally catching Sasuke's full attention. "She's missing, and you aren't sending anyone to look for her?"
My brother…
Itachi…
Sasuke stared, fear crawling down his back, ice cold and biting like a knife. Naruto watched as all the color drained from the Uchiha, confused and a little startled. "Sasuke…?"
"Stay here!" Sasuke gasped, turning around, already sprinting down the stairs.
Naruto started. "What the hell?! Sasuke!"
"Where the hell are you two going?" Kiba snapped suddenly, "We need a captain!" Naruto froze, looking down the steps where Sasuke had disappeared. Growling in frustration he slammed his fist into the wall, turning around to face the others as captain.
There were people everywhere, crowds of smiling unaware people…
Sasuke shoved through them, earning everything from rude remarks to accusations of robbery, but he didn't stop. He could hardly hear them, his heart was beating in his ears so loud that everything else was a fading echo of itself.
Please… please be okay…
The stadium gates came into view finally and he shoved through ignoring the cries of protest from the shinobi stationed there.
He had to get home… how could he have been so foolish as to show even the slightest sign of affection with his brother around?
How could he have left her alone…
Hinata sighed, a mixture of relief and something like desire twisting within her the moment the door closed behind Sasuke and Naruto. She didn't want him to leave…
Fingers shaking in her hurry she pulled out her clothes, unbuttoning her shirt rapidly, dimly aware of the smell of Sasuke that clung to it.
The sun had risen a few hours ago, so it wasn't too late. Hopefully Ino would not have a hang over.
Biting her lip she pulled on the mesh shirt on top of the blank tank top. It was possibly the most comfortable battle outfit that she had. Ino had picked it out for her, and it matched all of her usual colors. Dark blue knee length pants and a beige tunic wrap around her hips, with torso wraps and arm guards.
Gathering her shuriken in her pouch she turned, starting out the door, pulling a hair elastic in her mouth as she slipped into the hall, fiddling with her hair as she walked.
Then the utter silence of the house was broken again, the sound of the front door opening smooth and quietly, but her trained ears could not be fooled.
Those were steps of a shinobi.
Frozen, staring at the wall, opposite the hall she listened, closing her eyes for a moment to concentrate.
There were two… two people at least.
"Is it empty?' One enquired.
Male. The voice was husky and low, rough and almost tangible.
She flinched in response, taking an uncertain step back softly.
"Hn." The familiar response came, the voice however was deeper, darker, more like the silky sensation of a cold blade against her throat.
"What are we looking for?" the first asked, the steps echoing as he stepped into the living room.
Swallowing forcefully she stepped back down the hall slowly, her body moving the way a deer hesitates after being caught in the headlights.
"Nothing in particular." The second replied calmly, the silky smooth words sliding down her back.
Clenching her jaw the young kunoichi glanced nervously at the door to one of the rooms in the hall. It was empty aside from a closet…
Forcing herself to move as quietly and lithely as a panther she slipped into the room, listening intently for the tread of the two men downstairs, opening and closing doors though far less loudly than Naruto had earlier that morning.
Breathing in and out in the fashion Sasuke had taught her she slipped into the tiny closet, closing the door enough that she couldn't be seen, but could see into the empty room with her Byakugan.
"Itachi." The first voice said suddenly, making her tense up. The fact that they had gone up the stairs without her hearing it was forgotten in comparison to the reality of what he had said.
Itachi… Itachi Uchiha… His brother…
Her eyes widened in shock and sudden fear. Oh my God…
"What is it, Raku?' the cold voice of the Uchiha Slayer stated, just on the other side of the door.
Fear like no other crawled over her, its slimy cold hands gripping her heart and throat in it's fist.
"There's another occupied room." Kisame grunted. "Look's like it's a woman."
"Hn… How about the rest of the rooms?"
The door opened and her heart felt like it stopped drumming suddenly, frozen into a painful stone in place of her heart.
Her eyes focused on the black cloak with red clouds that passed by her line of vision. Her eyes were so wide she closed them for fear of seeing more than she ever could, terrified that her Byakugan would allow her to see the face of Sasuke's nightmares.
Suddenly the stone in her chest began to beat frantically and she was sure they would hear it's beat. Shivering she closed her eyes, listening intently, praying.
Please… please…
"Nothing." Kisame muttered, closing the door with a bang that made her clench into a small ball, teeth clenched so they wouldn't chatter.
They will kill me…
The fears that had always hindered her before came flooding back, making her hands sweat and her eyes sting.
They could easily kill me… everything father has ever said about me would be proved true… they will kill Sasuke…
Her eyes opened, staring into the darkness of the room. The single thought seemed to vanquish the others, eliminating them without strain.
I have to warn him…
But the voices continued, they were talking, mainly Kisame as they rummaged through the house.
"What're we doing here anyway?" He grumbled. "It's useless."
"Curiosity's sake." Itchai replied softly. "I wondered if perhaps my little brother was old enough to receive something I have been keeping for him."
Hinata let out a breath, listening intently. Kisame too seemed curious.
"Really? What? His death?"
There was no laugh to his sour joke. "No. A necklace… his mothers."
"Wasn't she your mother as well?"
"Nightmares don't have mothers, Kisame."
His mother's… his mother's necklace? Why?
Hinata closed her eyes tightly, laying her head down on her knees as she listened to them tearing the house to bits, plates shattering, shelves falling, windows breaking. She could tell from the noise that it was mainly Kisame's doing.
Itachi had all but vanished, his presence was so quiet even her careful ears could not detect him often.
It seemed an eternity, an eternity of anguish, of waiting and wishing to run and tell him not to come.
Her terror was that the possibility of Sasuke arriving, coming back because she had not showed up with Ino at the stadium…
How long had it been? An hour? Two hours? A day?
But he didn't come, and somehow she was glad… so glad…
Even after they had left she didn't move, sitting in utter silence, staring down into the dark, her whole body shocked into stillness.
Akatsuki was there…
And Itachi had come. Sasuke was in danger.
She had never felt more inadequate in her life…
The door was wide open. That was the only thing he could think of. The door was wide open, and there was shattered glass across the hallway floor…
He felt it, the adrenaline start to pump to his veins.
For the longest time he had loathed the night, the full moon mainly, because it could shine high in the sky and his memory would play tricks on him, making him see the blood red sky behind it like the memory of his nightmare…
The nightmare that never ended.
And now he was terrified, terrified that he would loathe the day as well.
If she was gone… if she was gone he didn't know what he would do…
But the thought of shedding his own blood was prowling the corners of his conscious mind, whispering of the enticing relief of death. Something was disgusting about that. Disgusting in the sense that he was so weak. It was just a thought, however, just a though.
A tempting, real, thought.
His whole body was trembling, despite the fact that he was a shinobi and had faced horrors worse than a break and entry.
Breathing slowly, trying to swallow the knot tightening around his throat he stepped into the house, listening to the sound of the glass breaking under his feet and the silence.
There was an eerie stillness that hovered over the house, only the whisper of the breeze passing through the sakura tree and it's branches made any noise.
Slowly he stopped in the living room, looking around at the plates that were shattered across the ground, shelves pushed over, the books and scrolls ripped to shreds by some sort of weapon.
He couldn't speak though he wished he could call out her name. It was as though his voice had completely vanished.
Please… please… god, be all right… be all right…
He started up the stairs, not really caring how loud he was. He knew that his brother was not there… nor were the rest of Akatsuki, but if they were he wasn't sure he would mind. There was something in his chest he needed to release and only the feel of his kunai cutting flesh would release it…
Feeling the shiver run down his spine he stopped to stare at the hall where all the bedrooms were lined, each door open and the contents of both his and Hinata's room spread out, clothing, books, frames… pieces of dry flowers that Hinata collected.
Their smell was lingering over the air, mixing with the sound of the wind chimes hanging from her window.
He stood there, unsure of what to do. Nothing was moving, but there was no blood… at least not yet. He couldn't smell it either, the metallic memory made his stomach clench uncomfortably and he thought for a second he was going to be sick.
A step sounded, soft, hardly audible but in his dazed state he felt as though he had entered the heightened sense of reality, the state in which he fought battles, and won them.
Slowly he stared at the door of one of the rooms, waiting. A shadow spread across the ground in the hall, crossing over his own. The person froze, unmoving just inside of the room.
His heart leapt to his throat and he thought he would choke.
"H…Hinata?"
The door creaked open slowly and Hinata stepped out, pale, her eyes so wide in her face that he could see the shock there clearly, her lips lined blue, but there was no blood and there were no tears on her face.
"S-s-sasuke…" she began, staring at him, looking lost. Her lips formed words but they wouldn't come out.
He wasn't paying attention anymore though. The reality that she was standing there, she was there and she wasn't hurt… he had not killed her. The utter desire to hold her welled up in him, making him shake.
Before he could move she was hugging him, holding on so hard that her fingers left bruises around his neck, but he didn't care, he didn't even notice.
"T-t-they came- Akatsuki- Itachi… I-I couldn't I mean I-I didn't know what to- I hid… they looked…. S-sasuke, I'm s-sorry…I-I was a-a-afraid-"
Thoughtlessly, he pulled her back slightly to look at her face, her wide eyes starting to brim with tears. "G-gomen.." she began. "I was afraid."
I was terrified… horrified… I thought I was going to die… if I saw you… if he hurt you…
The thoughts were rushing through his head too fast to be voiced he just stared at her a moment, watching her tears start to fall. The pain in his chest was threatening to kill him…
So he kissed her.
She remembered clearly one thing about Oka-san. She remembered her smile, and her soft voice. The wise old women of her clan had always said that even if separated at birth, a child will never forget the sound of their mother's voice.
And perhaps that was the reason why she could never forget all the things her mother said. Sometimes she thought it was every single one. Every conversation they had ever had. She could always look back; always remember each word, each childish intonation in her own voice and each soft sentence uttered by her mother's lips.
And at that moment she could only think of how she had asked what it felt like, to be kissed…
"Oka-san…what's it like?"
"Nani, Hinata?"
"T-to be kissed…"
There was a moment's pause, the amused smile of someone who knew, someone who despite it all knew…
"It feels like…a snowflake on a sunburned nose…warm hands over freezing fingers… it feels like flying, like the world doesn't hold you in it's grasp anymore…it feels like love, little one."
Hinata stared, her eyes widening, imagining the feeling of flying, the comfort of her mother's hands over her sore, freezing fingers after playing in the snow…
"…Oka-san…I think I will like k-kisses." She admitted shyly, blushing.
There was that smile, small, amused, elegant, loving.
"Yes, probably."
It felt like all those things… like holding a rose without any thorns to bite her, like tasting the very essence of a person, reaching a point where you knew them. You didn't just know about them, you knew them.
She knew him…
He tasted of honey, strawberries and honey, despite his dislike of them. That's what it was like, butterflies caressing as they took flight, the wind between the wind chime bells.
Ne… I know you…
She hadn't even realized when he had pushed her against the wall, holding her there and yet so gently there wasn't even a thought towards panic. A million years ago she had been afraid of his touch, afraid of his nearness, certain the results would be bad.
Slowly he pulled back, and they stood in silence, leaning their foreheads against one another, trembling, but no longer from fear.
"…you didn't come." His voice was the same deep tone, the same resonating authority, power, reminding her of the elegance of a panther, the rippling muscles of a hunter, but it was softer, his breath caressing her cheek as he spoke.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, her voice shaking, and she felt his lips against her neck, sending sweet shivers down her back.
He didn't reply, he didn't know what to say. The truth was he had nothing to say, her being there was enough. She wasn't on the ground… bleeding, lifeless…
"They're here for me." He finally murmured, pulling back to look at her. Her cheeks were pink, but there was none of the uncertainty of before in her eyes as she stared back at him, nodding. "Hai."
"…please stay here."
Her eyes widened, staring at him in disbelieve. "What? N..no…"
"Please." He stated again, searching her face. "Stay here. They won't come back-"
"No." she shook her head, burying her face in his chest. "No, I have to come with you-please, let me come with you."
"I can't." he said suddenly, and there was a sudden weakness in his tone that made her look up at him, not caring that her eyes were filling with frustrated tears again.
"Why? Why can't I come with you? Please don't make me stay…"
He took her face in his hands suddenly, staring at her intently. "Promise me."
Hinata shook her head slightly, feeling her tears running down her cheeks. "No. No, I won't… I can't stay."
"Hinata." He breathed, searching her face desperately, the fear was there, she could see it in his eyes. Fear for her.
"Please."
Her body was shivering, defeated she looked down, closing her eyes tight, the tears leaving trails on her cheeks. Letting out a sigh of relief he took her chin, forcing her to look at him again, searching her face.
"I'll come back."
She didn't reply, but looked back at him, trembling slightly, all her own fears and worries clearly marked in her pale eyes.
Gently he kissed her again, letting go of her and already regretting it.
"Get to the stadium if you can, find the others, tell them what's happening." He murmured, taking a step back.
She looked back at him, hands hanging uselessly by her sides, unsure of what to do. "H-hai."
He nodded, letting out another uncertain breath before turning around and starting down the steps.
Hinata forced herself forward, stopping at the turn in the steps, watching as he glanced back once at her before running on ahead.
Her knees gave way beneath her and she hit the ground, staring at the open door and the light pouring in, the sound of a happy crowd on the street heading towards the stadium contrasting sharply with her utter reality.
Get to the stadium… get to the stadium… get help for him…
Taking a deep breath she forced herself up to her feet, holding on to the wall for support, frowning down at the steps and her shaking legs.
I'm a shinobi of the Hyuuga Clan… I'm heiress of the Hyuuga Clan… Chuunin of Konoha Village Hidden in the Leaves. What am I doing here, trembling like a child?
Swallowing forcefully she let go of the wall, licking her lips nervously as she steeled herself, feeling her heart and blood begin to pump at a regular rhythm.
Slowly she closed her eyes, standing loosely at the steps, concentrating on unleashing the adrenaline caged in her body.
I can't be afraid… I won't.
She opened her eyes again, feeling the adrenaline in her veins, pumping like liquid steel through her body. Fire igniting within her.
Letting out a breath the Heiress of the Hyuuga Clan jumped down the steps, taking off at a run the moment she stepped outside into the bright light of the day.
She hadn't promised him anything…
And… she had something she had to get from Itachi.
He's right… nightmares don't have mothers.
Pacing back and forth across the balcony was all he could do and he was feeling more and more like the fox within him would shred through his body because of their combined impatience and frustration.
The crowds were thickening, any minute the first match would begin at the stadium and he would be chained to the command post…
Frowning irritably he stopped at the railing, looking out over the stadium with a frown, swallowing his nerves forcefully.
Suddenly the headphone around his ear gave a crackle. "Naruto!" Shikamaru's voice called suddenly through the device.
"What? What's going on?" Naruto asked, starting his pacing again.
"We found Ino." Shikamaru muttered, sounding more concentrated than usual. "She says Hinata never showed up…"
Naruto froze, staring at the blue sky and the city beyond the stadium walls.
"Shit!" he gasped, reaching up to his ninja headband, blue eyes wide with panic. "Have any of you seen Sasuke?" he snapped suddenly, opening up all channels.
There was a chorus of negatives.
"Do we look for them?" Tenten's voice called through, sounding worried.
Naruto frowned down at the ground, clenching and unclenching his fist repeatedly, damning the whole situation repeatedly in his head.
"No.." he began slowly, recalling the truth behind Sasuke's sharp reply earlier.
"Concentrate on finding Akatsuki." He began, and then froze staring at Hinata who was standing behind him, panting slightly her eyes narrowed, lips pressed into a thin line.
"Naruto." She stated, her voice low. "Akatsuki-they went to Sasuke's house…" she began, catching her breath slowly. "He went after them."
There was something utterly different about her, the way she was standing, her fingers lingering near the kunai strapped to her thigh, her head turning to tune in to all the sounds around her, and her eyes, they were the same bland off-white shade of purple, but this time they were narrowed, they were eyes that knew things...
Naruto snapped out of it suddenly, reaching up to tap the mic. "Hinata is here, do you all hear me? Akatsuki was at Sasuke's house, he's gone after them-" he stopped, watching Hinata turn around, starting down the steps again.
"Hinata- wait!" he gasped, running after her. "Where are you going?"
"After them!" she snapped, jumping down the steps rapidly.
"What? Are you crazy?' Naruto snapped back, jumping down beside her and grabbing her arm to hold her back. "You're no match for Akatsuki!"
She didn't know what made her do it, whether the frustration or the panic, the sheer need to get away, the need to get his hands off of her…but she slapped him, not caring at all what it was.
Naruto stumbled back, holding a hand up to his cheek, staring at the girl in front of him, knowing he had no idea who she was.
"They're heading towards the forest." She stated, looking at him with impassive lavender eyes. "Send the team there."
Without another word she ran, one thing in mind and that was to get to Sasuke.
Oh lordy, I'm evil evil evil.
I happen to detest cliffhangers with an utter passion, but there was just NO way I could keep going without shooting myself on the head… it HAD to be a cliffhanger.
Oh lordy lordy lordy.
((grins at you all innocently))
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Hey, keep in mind, if I was REALLY evil I would say that I wont post the new chappie until we hit 300 reviews…
((shifty eyes)) …which, I'm still considering. ((evil grin))
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