A/n: Yo! Bwahaha thanks for the reviews! Anyways, I think everyone knows who will be kidnaped, so what's the use of prolonging it? Ah yes, this chapter is a little longer than any of my previous ones... Hope it makes up for not updating!
There's some language in this chapter (in the spirit of rage and being a young man) and a little cameo which I couldn't resist!
Disclaimer: I don't think I'll say this again for the rest of the story...unless I feel like it.
Claim: My plot.
Hinata squeezed her eyes even more closed when she realized sun was filtering through her glass window. Her white, cotton sheets were strewn about her body in a messy manner. It was the first week of July and the weather had more than just started to take its toll. Even though she only wore a tank top and shorts for the summer, her skin felt rather sticky.
The girl's pearly gaze sleepily shifted over to the tiny calendar on her bedside table. A smile suddenly lit Hinata's face. It was July seventh–Kiba's birthday.
The Heir
Chapter Four
Wishes and Grooves
From down the hall, Sasuke could tell that Hinata was coming to his room. And this time it wasn't from the familiar tune she was humming, but from the fact that he sensed her. That's right–Uchiha Sasuke was getting his groove back. The Uchiha was becoming extremely smug with his little accomplishment when the door opened.
"Oi, where's Hinata-chan?" an obnoxious voice asked Sasuke. The man was momentarily confused at the tenor that greeted him. Where was the higher, nicer-sounding voice?
"Inuzuka?" The addressed man rolled his eyes. He looked around the room once more.
"Who else would it be, Uchiha?" Kiba asked, stopping his search. Sasuke wanted to kill himself–he knew it was the pills getting to him again.
"How the hell should I know?" he returned snappily. Kiba glared at the man sitting on the bed.
"She's always around here so I figured she'd be feeding you by now," the dog-boy said, leaning against the door frame. "It's already almost noon."
Sasuke tried not to let a little fact bother him–Hinata hadn't come to see him yet all day. The Uchiha had been up since six in the morning and he decided to wait for the girl. If she wanted to hang around, it was the least he could do. Sasuke felt another presence and finally rejoiced.
"Happy birthday, Kiba-kun!" Hinata declared. Though she meant it to be loud, with Hinata's nature it didn't sound as boisterous as it should've.
Sasuke snorted. So it's the mutt's birthday, huh? Where's the hot dog? Sasuke's thoughts were answered when Akamaru crudely landed in his lap. The Uchiha was lucky though, because this time there were no vital organs involved.
The young man wanted to swat the pest away but knew he'd probably get reprimanded or something. And as much as he hated to admit–the loser wasn't as bad as he was in the beginning.
"Sasuke-san, it's Kiba-kun's birthday today," Hinata said, addressing the angst-filled teen on the bed. He, in return, nodded.
"A bunch of us are goin' down to the Tanabata Festival. It's for my birthday. You wanna come?" Kiba asked, turning to look at the shorter Hyuga. Hinata smiled up at him.
"Of course, I would," she said. Her gaze caught Sasuke's appearance and something suddenly lit in her mind. He looked so alone and alienated that she couldn't help but want to help him. "I-Is it all right if Sasuke-san came along, too?"
"No," the men both answered. Hinata's face turned surprised and fell, slightly crestfallen.
"O-Okay then, um..." she trailed off, poking her fore-fingers together. The two men stared (as well as they could) at her own reaction.
"...Fine." Another simultaneous answer. The men glared at each other, well, Sasuke was trying but you know how that fares. Hinata shook her head.
"No, I-it's all right. Kiba-kun: you don't want him to go. And Sasuke-san: you don't want to go," she said, giving a fake smile. The Inuzuka sighed and scratched his hood-free head.
"Hinata, he can come. I want him to come," Kiba lied. The guy winced inwardly–maybe it wouldn't be as bad as he thought it would be. "Anyways, I gotta go. I couldn't get hold of Sakura or Naruto for some reason so I'm gonna head over to their places."
The Hyuga girl smiled reassuringly and nodded. Kiba placed a hand on her head and lightly ruffled her marine hair. "It's up to him if he wants to come." And with that, he exited.
Sasuke damned the master as Akamaru hopped off of his lap. Kiba had put him in an awkward position. Obviously Hinata wanted him to maybe come, but truth be told, he didn't like social gatherings. Especially when he couldn't see who was there and where he was.
"U-Um, Sasuke-san, I'm sorry for not coming earlier. I didn't kn-know you were awake," Hinata explained, sitting across from the Uchiha. She fiddled with a loose thread on her shirt. "I was getting Kiba-kun's present..."
"Doesn't matter," Sasuke replied bluntly. Liar, his conscience told him.
The two sat in silence for a while, with Hinata trying to muster up the courage to actually ask him to come. The girl was getting upset at her inability to ask a simple question. She was going to Kiba's gathering, but she didn't want to leave Sasuke alone. He seemed to have let his barrier dissipate around her–even though it was very little. It wasn't like he had any friends... Maybe it was time for him to get some real ones.
"S-Sasuke-san... I would really l-like it if you, um, came w-with me," Hinata said, stuttering terribly compared to her fixed speech. The Hyuga shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the grunted response.
The Uchiha sighed silently. He didn't know why but he felt he could pay her back by being nice to her. Sasuke knew it wasn't much but there was nothing else to give her but himself. Hinata had willingly spent time with Sasuke, even if he was a little anal in the beginning. She was understanding, patient, and everything else that Sasuke wanted to eventually become.
"...I'll go with you, Hinata," he voiced, his tenor vibrating though his throat. Hinata looked up in complete shock. Not only did he formally agree to come, but he left out the honorific as well!
"I'm happy you decided to, Sasuke-san!" she rejoiced, her voice a soft tinkling. There was no way was she mentioning the forgotten attachment–it was only a mistake after all. "Kiba's birthday is also Tanabata Festival so we'll leave around three."
"Hn," was the only answer that Sasuke gave. Hinata shook her head in a good-natured manner.
"Don't worry about you clothes either. I-I'll pick them out for you," Hinata said. She couldn't help that she stammered. And she couldn't help that she lightly blushed either.
"Do what you wish," Sasuke replied. Now that he had accepted the invitation to interact with other people, he was back mono-syllabic answers.
"Um, yes, Sasuke-san." And with that, Hinata got up from her wooden seat. The navy-haired girl smiled down at the onyx one. "Let's go eat. I think we're both hungry..."
Sasuke nodded and got up to follow her. The Uchiha had started to get used to how the furniture in the house was plotted, so he didn't need as much help as before. Sure, Hinata hummed, but he didn't rely on her as much.
Even Neji seemed to lay off, though just a little. Sasuke wondered what could've changed his mind. TenTen seemed to know the answer but she wasn't telling. What she did say, though, was how adorable he looked in his yukata.
Sasuke shuffled in his cotton robe as he felt the appraising stare of the older woman. As she gushed out pleasantries, he couldn't help but blush slightly. Though he was used to the stares or compliments before, he used to have his eyes to silent their squeals. His intense, onyx glare was enough to silence any fan.
"Oh Hinata, I must say, that is a nice yukata," TenTen smiled. Hinata blushed lightly and brushed the lavender fabric of her kimono.
"Thank you, TenTen-nee," she replied, pleasingly embarrassed. The maid grinned at her younger ward.
"Thank you," Sasuke muttered stiffly, having to reply out of gratitude. He donned a simple navy blue yukata with a quaint white sake jug on the back. On the jug, it showed the word "bad" in kanji. Hinata felt a little guilty at the words, but she immediately assured him it could mean the new sense of the word: cool. A black obi wound its way around his waist in a casual, but too-good, way.
"I-I'm sorry I picked something so dark, Sasuke-san," Hinata said hurriedly. She clenched her hands in front of her, awaiting what he'd say.
"It's fine. I'd rather wear something like this than something garish," Sasuke assured her. The girl could possibly be too apologetic for her own good.
"It's a shame you can see little Hinata-chan," TenTen remarked. Hinata looked at her with wide eyes while Sasuke raised a questioning eyebrow. "She's looking very well herself."
Hinata blushed terribly and wanted to immediately covered her own face. Though she didn't have romantic feelings towards the dark young man, she never took any compliments very well.
The Uchiha smirked at the uncomfortable feeling in the air coming from the shy girl. For some reason, she always seemed to amuse him with her fluttering antics. He knew from TenTen that the kimono was quite appealing. It was light lavender with little white flowers embroidered with seemingly iridescent threads. A pearly obi with a darker purple tie sat around her waist, which supposedly outlined her figure.
Sasuke adjusted the material which wound around his eyes. He had become a little lazy to leave his eyes closed while not sleeping but he didn't want to expose children to the horror that were his eyes. Hinata had suggested a blindfold and the Uchiha gruffly agreed.
"The blindfold gives a rogue look, Sasuke-san," TenTen offered. Sasuke replied with a stiff nod.
"Ah, TenTen-nee, I think it's time we should get going," Hinata spoke up, fumbling with an imaginary item. The maid nodded her consent.
"Alright, go on ahead you two," she said, waving her hand. The Hyuga girl gave a timid smile and nodded.
"Let's go S-Sasuke-san. We're supposed to meet at, um, three." Hinata walked a few steps and smiled when she saw that the Uchiha knew to follow.
Neji came out from behind a corner and watched the two depart, arms crossed over his strong chest. A minuscule gash adorned his right cheek and his knuckles showed signs of a fight.
"Just come back from a mission?"
The Hyuga male looked down at TenTen and nodded. His steely glare only fit to show how much he didn't approve of small talk at the moment. The maid rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
"Where are they going?" Neji asked. TenTen looked up at him, still wondering why he had such a problem with Sasuke.
"It's Kiba's birthday today so they're going out for Tanabata Festival," she explained levelly. Neji seemed to regard this information for a moment. "You trust she'll be all right, don't you?"
"Of course," Neji answered after some time. He disappeared behind another corner and TenTen put a hand to her forehead.
When will he understand?
"Hey, Hinata-chan!" a young man greeted cheerfully. Hinata tried to hide the blush as she approached the saluting blonde.
"H-Hello, Naruto-kun," she said shyly. Naruto smiled at her and Kiba came out of nowhere to greet his good friend.
"Oi, Hinata-chan. Glad you could make it," he said. The dog-man shifted his glance over to Sasuke. "Sasuke-san, too."
"Hn," was the reply he received from the Uchiha.
It was another beautiful day in Konoha – the month was apparently July. The weather had a lazy, yet jovial, air to it while children in their colorful yukatas ran around in a hyper manner. The booths for the festival were already set up, ready to take the money of the unsuspecting strangers.
Hinata looked over at the friends Kiba had decided to invite. Sakura was present. The three of them had known each other for a few years now, high school introducing them. Ino was more of Kiba's friend, especially with her owning a pet shop and Kiba owning Akamaru. The Yamanaka was currently berating a pineapple-headed young man, who Hinata came to know as Shikamaru. And Kiba's other good friend, Shino, had just come out of the ramen shop.
"Hey, let's go grub, you guys!" Everyone's heads turned to Kiba who ushered them back inside the ramen shop. Naruto whooped in childish glee.
"Oh, yeah! Ichiraku!" he rejoiced. Hinata laughed quietly at his antics as Sakura smacked him upside the head. "Ow! Sakura-chan, why do you have to hurt me so much?"
"I'm hoping I'll knock some sense into you."
"...That's not very nice."
"Forehead-girl, will you just shut up and get inside?" Ino demanded teasingly. The young doctor rounded on the blonde girl.
"Ino-pig, you got somethin' else to say!" she demanded, fire blazing in her jade eyes. Ino laughed at the girl condescendingly as she walked in. "HEY! I'm not through with you yet!"
Hinata looked back at Sasuke who simply remained in the spot he had been when they arrived. A concerned look overtook her countenance as she quietly approached him. "Sasuke-san, why don't you come in with us?"
"I'm not hungry," he simply replied. Hinata poked her fingers together timidly as she tried to interpret the answer.
Oh, I see... He doesn't want me to help him eat..., Hinata thought, coming to an epiphany. She wanted to flutter her hands about, unsure of what to do.
"Ah, Sasuke-san, it's...all right if you c-come in with us," she said shakily. Hinata didn't want to press him, but she did want him to enjoy the fun like everyone else.
Sasuke was quiet for a long while. He was sure as hell hungry, but his pride was getting in the way. The Uchiha thought that his pride had ebbed away when his sight did, but apparently not. He didn't want to be fed in front of those people–especially that Uzumaki guy. He was emanating the whole potential-rival-but-annoyingly-good-friend-for-life feeling.
But Hinata wanted him to go in. What else could he do to show his gratitude by complying? "Alright."
A light smile danced its way across Hinata's dainty lips. She was really glad he had accepted.
"Hinata-chan, that's so sweet what you're doing!" Sakura squealed. The girls were giggling while the guys were staring at them very weirdly.
Sasuke was acting very much like a small child would – he would stubbornly turn his head away each time Hinata would try and feed him. Even a tiny scowl cutely adorned his mouth. Eventually though, he'd have to open his mouth because he could feel how disappointed Hinata was. He wanted to cry.
"Eheheh... Widdle Sasuke-kun has to get fed," Naruto teased. Throughout the time he had known Sasuke, it was always fun to poke fun at the young man. The Uchiha would often throw one of Naruto's own tools at him, which always almost hit their target.
"Shut up, you imbecile," Sasuke retorted, gritting his teeth. The Uchiha clenched his fists in his lap. "Once I get my vision back, you're going to die."
"What're you gonna do? Make us spar in the dar–?" Naruto's insult was cut short as a blunt chopstick immediately embedded itself in the wooden head rest behind the blonde. Wide-eyed spectators switched their glance from the eating utensil to the one who threw it.
"Don't underestimate me. You forget I was a top SHINOBI," Sasuke warned. Naruto's good-tempered laugh broke the tense air around the friends.
"Of course, of course. Sorry I doubted ya, Sasuke-kun," the blonde said, blue eyes shut from mirth. Everyone else followed suit, glad that the little squall was over.
Sasuke relaxed and blew out a breath. He was lucky that he didn't miss the wall with the chopstick. But something else caught his acute senses.
"There's something we both have in common."
Sasuke's eyebrow twitched toward the nurse across from him. Obviously, the statement was meant to be said in a whisper, but the Uchiha's senses were heightened enough to pick it up.
The dark man furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as everyone started to get up out of the booths in jovial manners. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
A latch on his arm and a whiff of vanilla and lavender made Sasuke come back to reality. Hinata had actually grabbed his arm?
"Come on, Sasuke-san," she said. There was something different about her tone of voice. It was actually happy and showing it. The weird thing was, Sasuke was wishing he could see how she looked at that very moment.
Hinata took Sasuke out to the festival to see the soon-to-be-twilight sky. Since Naruto had ordered so many rounds for himself, the group had stayed in the Ichiraku for an hour – maybe even a little more. The heat of July was gradually subsiding, though a hint of it still lingered. There were even more people around now than there were earlier since the lovers of Tanabata Festival would be appearing in a few hours or so.
"Hinata, do you want to play any games?" Hinata turned to Shino and lightly smiled. She made sure that Sasuke was comfortably beside her.
"S-Sure, Shino," she said, laughing nicely. Something in Sasuke tweaked a little bit. The Uchiha wanted to punch himself.
Hinata followed Shino and the others as they spread themselves around the games. Naruto chomped on something like a kabob while he made Sakura lose the goldfish she'd been trying to catch. Sakura leapt up in rage and ran past Shikamaru to chase the blonde one. Ino took her anger out on bottles with a baseball that she fervently threw, imagining the mail-man's face on all five.
Sasuke stood aloof from the group, feeling very stupid. Even when he wasn't blind, he was alone. When he was a child he'd be separated from the rest of the SHINOBI candidates his age because of his skill. He remembered something his very beloved (note the sarcasm) older brother had told him before:
'Power makes you aloof and arrogant.'
Sasuke had no idea how right his brother was. He had to hand it to Itachi: if there was something the bastard knew about, it was power. The older brother was the former head of the Konoha branch SHINOBI. But Sasuke put up a facetiously convivial facade to the world, which he considered better than having people pity him.
A watery plop and small sound of indignation made Sasuke turn his head slightly to his left. Unknown to him, he was facing the little fish stand. A man with silver hair smiled behind a strange mask he wore.
"Sorry, miss, but looks like it got away," he lamented, half-apologetic. The vendor whipped out some kind of pocket book and proceeded to read the pages, a small laugh on the corner of his hidden mouth.
Hinata looked down sadly. She had tried eight times already, but she still couldn't capture the little sucker. A crunch in the dirt next to her crouched form turned her own attention to her right. She saw a pair of sandals and, looking up slightly, saw the navy blue fabric of a yukata. When she brought her gaze fully up, she saw Uchiha Sasuke standing there, head tilted down towards the little aquarium.
The vendor watched a young man with canines and marks on his face engage in some kind of loud drinking competition, before he saw the Uchiha in front of him. His eyes showed surprise, then settled down in silent mirth.
"Interesting fashion statement," he commented, looking Sasuke up and down. "Kind of matches my own."
Sasuke stayed silent but offered the vender the money it took for three tries. The other man blinked down at it before taking it in his own. "Are you sure that's enough for you?"
"Just give the damn catcher. I won't need any more tries," Sasuke said impatiently. He really didn't like the way this guy was being so patronizing. It was annoying as hell.
"If you're sure," the silver-haired man said, handing him the first one. Sasuke kneeled down and thankfully he was right in front of the aquarium.
Hinata was now standing up, but she watched with a nervous feeling in her stomach. Her fingers were timidly poking together like magnets while she stuttered a few words. "S-Sasuke-san, you don't have to. I don't really need a gol–!"
"But do you want one?" Sasuke asked, calmly interrupting her. Hinata looked down in an ashamed manner.
"I don't want it badly..."
"But you want it, right? Even if it's a little, you want it," Sasuke insisted. Hinata's breath caught in her throat – she had never heard Sasuke really talk to her like that before.
"Y-Yes...," Hinata stammered, nodding her head only to add emphasis for herself to believe it.
The vendor watched the exchange of dialogue, amused. The only eye he allowed to show, he closed in contemplation. Yeah, this guy really is an Uchiha...
"Whenever you want something, Hinata, no matter how much...you have to go for it," Sasuke said to her, gripping the catcher. The girl's eyes widened at his neglect of an attachment – twice in one day. "There's no other way you're going to get it."
Sasuke calmly dipped his catcher into the cool water and waited. All he needed was a small brush against the film and it would be his. As he waited, he couldn't help but wonder why he suddenly said what he did to Hinata.
A brush was felt and Sasuke was about to catch the envious fish – if Naruto and Kiba hadn't burst out of nowhere. The boisterous youths had arms around each other's shoulders and were singing a verse of God-knows-what.
Sasuke threw down the broken catcher as the vendor laughed at the situation. Naruto caught a glimpse of him and blinked.
"Kakashi? What the hell are you doing here?" he asked childishly. The vender blinked at the blonde then put up a hand in salutation.
"Yo!" he said. The would-have-been-elite ninja scratched his cheek. "Just a little...job I got here."
"...Oh...," Naruto said, trailing off. "Well, gotta go!" And with that the eccentric, animalistic pals went off on their merry way. Hinata and Kakashi stared at the departing two with strange looks on their faces.
Sasuke's harsh grip on the catcher made the bamboo crack. Those damn bastards messed up the whole point of my speech!
"Calm down and focus on what you want," someone said to him. Sasuke supposed it was that weird vendor, Kakashi. "If your mind is over-populated with any kind emotion, it won't get you the fish."
Sasuke wanted to scoff – the man had weird ways to mentor.
But he dropped the broken catcher and reached forward to take hold of another one Kakashi had offered. The Uchiha blew out a slightly calmed breath and dipped it into the water once more.
"The fish feel your anger. They won't go near you."
Sasuke wanted to slap the man. Couldn't he understand that he was trying to prove something here! Sadly, his anger wasn't contained inside, and the catcher ripped from being thrashed in the water.
Hinata watched with horrified eyes. Not only did she feel emphatic for Sasuke, but she also felt sorry for the poor fish.
"One more time. Remember, you can't overload yourself," Kakashi said, handing him the last catcher. Sasuke nodded, completely set on catching that damn fish.
Sasuke let his breathing steady a bit before very slowly dipping the third catcher into the aquarium. He let his body relax and let his senses take over.
Shikamaru eyed the scene before him with annoyed disbelief, as Shino watched as well. "All that for just a stupid fish."
A smack upside the head made the mail-man lurch forward. "Who the hell–! Oh, hi, Ino."
"What he's doing for her is sweet – especially considering his condition!" the Yamanaka yelled. "But of course someone so callous as you could probably never understand."
Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head as Ino stormed off, Sakura with her. He leaned on a post and crossed his arm, a little scowl on his features. Damn, she always defends him...
That's it, you little bitch, come closer, Sasuke thought. He knew the fish was close and it would only take a little while longer for it to be his – well, Hinata's. And it did come.
With just the right force, he brought the catcher up, and with it: the coveted fish. Hinata smiled happily and clasped her fingers together. She knew she was acting like a child, but with no one to reprimand her, she frankly didn't care.
"Ah!" Kakashi laughed and quickly captured the fish in its new home: a plastic bag. Sasuke allowed himself to don a satisfied smirk as he felt the bag plop into his hand. Kakashi grinned at the younger man. "Good job, Uchiha. Looks like you finally did it."
How did he–!
"A-Ah, th-thank you, S-Sasuke...san," Hinata said, faltering slightly. She wasn't sure as to whether or not she should've let the honorific drop. She had no idea why her face was getting all hot around Sasuke at the moment, but she just shook it off.
Kakashi smirked at the pair. Just what is happening between those two? I don't think a certain person is going to like it. But despite the doubting thought, he laughed silently.
"Oi, Hinata!" someone called. The feral voice just happened to belong to a certain birthday boy. The two turned the direction it came from, two different reactions. "We're going to the shrine to make wishes!"
"Alright!" the timid girl called, her voice barely carrying over the distance. Sasuke's eyebrows furrowed once more.
"Wishes?" he asked, slightly curious but not wanting to admit it. Hinata turned to Sasuke, somewhat surprised he didn't know what Kiba meant.
"Um, it's Tanabata Festival so that means we write our wishes down...then hang them on bamboo," she explained nicely, taking Sasuke's arm and walking where the rest of their friends were.
"...Oh," Sasuke replied articulately. Wish? What the hell did he have to wish for in life? Sasuke resisted the urge to scoff since he felt that Hinata really liked this part of the festival.
"Have fun, you two lovebirds!" Kakashi called, waving happily after him. Sasuke was about to jump the guy but Hinata stopped him, a blush left unseen on her cheeks.
People sat in various spots all around the shrine. School girls giggled about their own foolish wishes while serious ones sat in silence. Sasuke held the paper in his hands, unsure of what to wish for.
Hinata was beside him, apparently writing some wish of her own down. Somewhere not too far off he could hear Naruto idiotically laughing: "What kind of wish is that?"
"Oh yeah? Well, let's see yours," Kiba growled, snatching the small slip out of Naruto's hands. His blue eyes widened as he reached for it to gain it back.
"...This is shit," Kiba said, throwing the paper aside. Naruto scrambled to catch his paper before if fell to the ground and clutched it protectively to his chest.
"It is NOT shit," he said pouting. "A crate full of ramen falling out of the sky is completely possible.."
Sasuke rubbed his face. There wasn't really anything else he wanted in the world. Well, besides his sight back. But was this really the time to be selfish? Sasuke listened to Hinata silently.
"Hinata-san?" he asked her. The girl beside him jumped a little and she looked at him, secretly noting the honorific he put back. "What're you wishing for?"
Sasuke knew it was a little forward to ask, but hell, he wanted to know. And yes, it wasn't in his nature to be so damn nosy but Sasuke was blaming it on the pills.
Unknown to Sasuke, his little inquiry had made little Hinata blush terribly. The girl began to get very nervous but she tried not to let it seep into her voice. "N-Nothing i-I-important."
Sasuke snorted and Hinata winced. Oh yeah, he knew what she was probably wishing for. It was for that damned idiot, Naruto. He would've bet on it. Naruto truly is a freaking idiot. How could he not notice Hinata's affections? She's much better than that annoying Dr. What's-Her-Name. She takes whatever chance she can to grope me.
"Hm," he simply replied. A thought suddenly struck him: Why was he so protective over his new friend? Hinata watched him as he 'looked down' at his own slip of paper.
"What are you wishing for?"
Sasuke was silent for a moment. What did he want? "I'm not sure."
There was rustling around him as Hinata stood up. "Um...Sasuke-san, is it all r-right if I go and hang my wish? I mean, is it all right if I leave you for a m-minute or two?"
Sasuke nodded, dismissing her worries. "Go on ahead. I'll be fine."
Hinata hovered a moment before smiling and nodding, hurriedly walking off. "Don't worry! I'll be right back!"
The Uchiha looked down at his paper again. An idea – a ridiculous one at that – popped into his mind. But, that was the only thing he could think of to use the paper, so he went with it. Sasuke whipped out the pen Hinata had offered him and, using his amazing skills which he acquired from various tutors, scribbled something down on the paper.
"Is everything all set to go?" Someone in the dark rustled, though the action made no sound at all.
"Yeah. All we need is for the comets to fucking come already. I'm bored out of my damn mind!"
"Tayuya, you should learn how to be patient...and watch your mouth."
"Shut the hell up, Jiroubu."
"Quiet," a sharp voice commanded. They did as ordered and sat still. Orders were being waited for as they watched the scene underneath them.
"We'll strike when the clouds come."
"Hurry up, Uchiha," Kiba said, looking back at the younger man. Sasuke grumbled some obscenities but made sure the birthday didn't hear.
A few more hours of happiness had passed – Sasuke had walked into two poles and tripped over three little children. The Uchiha hated his life at the present time. Not only did he feel people stare, but he heard Naruto guffawing like a donkey. Sasuke had been thinking a little too much again, and now it was making him into a laughing-stock.
His little trip-ups didn't stop girls from giggling at him. They whispered things along the lines of, "Aw, that's so cute! He trips like a boy," and, "Really? I think he's more of a debonaire guy 'cause of the blindfold." Sasuke grimaced at the new comments he was hearing about him. A little more than a month ago, he would've heard much better feedback than that.
Long story short, his pride was just a little bit castrated.
"S-Sasuke-san, I'm so sorry," Hinata apologized, coming up from behind. Instead of doing what Hinata asked of him, Sasuke had wandered around, ghost of the man he once was. "I must've taken so long and that's why you left..."
Sasuke was silent as she caught her breath – he could tell she had been running. "No, I'm just stubborn at times."
Hinata looked at Sasuke out of the corner of her eye. For the first time, she noticed what the blindfold did to his appearance. "Oh, it's all right. ...Why would you wait for me anyway?"
The Hyuga slowed and stopped in mid-stride and started to poke her fingers together. Sasuke stopped when he didn't feel her yukata against her arm, and turned around to find her. The masses of people walked by them like water as the two acted as rocks.
The young man didn't know particularly why, but this girl was actually making him feel guilty. There was seldom a time when the Uchiha Sasuke felt that feeling – sincerely, at least. Sasuke didn't know what to do – he had no idea how to comfort a melancholy woman!
His movements were awkward and jerky as he put a strong hand on her shoulder. When it came to physical contact involving anything but lust or anger, Sasuke was not an expert. He himself didn't like being touched on a regular basis. But Hinata was a friend, and those were more rare and important than women.
"...I would wait for you," he said to Hinata. The girl looked up in shock to find Sasuke's face tilted down, how it would be if he was looking right in her eyes. "I'm just... It's hard for me to, uh..."
Sasuke felt like slapping himself, now. What the hell am I doing! Faltering in speech! What happened to the articulate sonuvabitch I used to know!
"I don't wait very often...for many people...so I'm not used to it," he said, redeeming himself. "But...I think...I think..."
Oh, just fucking say it already!
"I think I could get used to waiting... For you, at least."
There – he said it. Now all that was left to do was to wait for her reaction. Hell yeah – score! Uchiha Sasuke is getting his groove back! Sasuke resisted the urge to smirk in satisfaction. He wasn't glad at the fact that he was saying to Hinata per say, it was more the fact that he was pulling lines off. But, maybe she'll stay silent and I won't have to explain myself. How could I explain myself when I'm not even sure what I mean?
Hinata simply felt weird. There was no other way to really describe it. Why was Sasuke saying this to her? Sure, she had kind of meant what she said about people waiting, but...he didn't have to say all those things. What did he mean, "For you, at least?" And why was it making her heart go all crazy?
Sasuke could be casually acknowledged as a good-looking young man by any woman, but that was as far as her affection in that way went. Hinata knew her heart really belonged to Naruto, so why was it disagreeing with her at the moment?
It's all this...romantic Tanabata celebration, that's it. He's in a funny mood because of pills and I'm just dying of heart failure because the romance is choking me. Romance from other people and the story of Tanabata, of course!
People watched the 'couple' as they stood in almost self-induced shock. They shared concise looks with one another as children giggled and pointed cutely.
"Oh honey, that's so sweet. Look at their faces," a lady said to her husband. The man smiled at his wife and squeezed her hand for emphasis.
Sasuke snapped out of his statuette reverie and focused his senses back on Hinata. She was still standing completely stiff, trying to figure out their situation. The young man tried to hide his embarrassment from being seemingly brushed off.
"Come on, Hinata," he muttered, and taking her hand, he followed the rest of the crowd. He really hadn't meant to grab her hand, but it was just his luck he miscalculated. The lack of eyesight can do that.
Hinata shakily stared at the large hand which was clasped around her smaller one. The grip was somewhat cold, and she couldn't help but wonder why.
Somewhere along the line she took charge again, but with just light tugs on the sleeves of Sasuke's yukata. They caught up to where the rest of the group was and were greeted with curious faces.
"The comets are about to meet. Where have you guys been?" Kiba asked, concerned about one of his best friends. Hinata gave him a smile of her own kind.
"We had t-to, um, go to the r-restroom," she replied. Oh dear, that didn't sound too safe. And apparently, the friends didn't think so either.
"Hinata-chan, you lucky girl," Sakura whispered, nudging the slightly younger girl. Though the doctor was a little jealous, she couldn't help but find the situation a little humorous. Ino joined in on Sakura's healthy teasing but sending Hinata a sly grin.
"D-Don't say things I-in such a s-suggestive way!" Hinata cried, fighting the urge to blush completely. Sadly, she was losing. Sasuke merely scoffed at the jealous women bust felt sympathetic for his friend.
"It's cloudy," Shikamaru said, looking up at the night sky. "...Good."
"What do you mean, 'good!' What if we don't get to see the comet?" Ino demanded, smacking the Nara lightly. The young man scowled and rubbed his abused arm.
"Don't worry!" he exclaimed, backing away from the blonde female. "If it covers anything, it'll mostly be the moon..."
Shino looked up at the sky, sun-glasses ever in tact. His own eyebrows furrowed slightly at the peculiarity.
"Ready to go, Tayuya?" a male's voice asked. The girl smirked evilly and shifted her glance over to the other three.
"Hell yeah," she said, adjusting her clothes. "You got the girl sighted?"
"Yes. She's down there with a group... What a loser – that guy has a blindfold," another named Kidoumaru laughed. He flexed his many arms in anticipation. "It'd be fun to play with him."
"Not now," someone said to the spider-guy. They turned to a pale man with light hair to his shoulders.
"Aw, Sakon, why can't we have a little fun?" Kidoumaru asked. He was silenced with a terrible glare.
"Business now, play later." And with that, they began their hunt.
"Here it comes!" Sakura cried, looking happily up toward the heavens. She was one of the first to spot the lovers, and everyone else's gazes went to copy her's.
There were to magnificent bodies of heaven coming towards each other. They gave off an ethereal light, providing that they really weren't of Earth. The Earth-bound people stared up in complete awe and glee.
"Sasuke-san, it's wonderful," Hinata said to her patient. The Uchiha stayed silent since he had no input to reply with.
"Aw, man!" he heard Naruto cry. Sasuke furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. He thought this was supposed to be fun.
"The clouds are starting to block our view," Hinata said quietly. Others pouted while Shikamaru smirked. He'd rather look at clouds than stars any day.
Sasuke heard murmurs of disdain and crossed his arms, tired from today's events. He really needed to get his muscles back – tired only from playing catching games and walking into hard things. That's baby stuff compared to what used to make him tired. Not only was he tired, but he wasted a day waiting for damn comets to come when he couldn't even see them!
Well, he didn't completely waste it... Sasuke had been able to spend a day with his friend, and share a bonding moment with her. Yeah, bonding, that's all it really was.
"S-Sasuke-san, it just suddenly became dark," Hinata said. Sasuke tried not to stiffen up as he felt Hinata instinctively come closer to him. He made no move to push her away, but he didn't make any move to comfort her either.
Kiba looked around him and smelled a strange scent floating about the clearing. His eyebrows furrowed and his nose sniffed the air suspiciously. Something wasn't right about the whole setting...and why was he the only one noticed it?
A vicious creature sprung out of the trees – are those four arms! – and Kiba's eyes widened. It was headed straight for Hinata.
"Hinata!" the aforementioned girl turned around and a shocked look overtook her countenance. Sasuke's eyebrows shot up as he finally felt the chakra coming near – it was the same as one of the Four!
Screams ring out through the place as Kidoumaru neared his target, a greedy look on his face. Kiba was already it the air, springing to save his best friend. He watched as he himself drew near, and so did the kunai that the creature clasped.
Hinata screamed as Kiba appeared before her. Kidoumaru's kunai had struck a shallow blow in his side while Kiba's normally docile claws sunk into the former man's shoulders. Sasuke covered Hinata as Kidoumaru cried out in rage.
"You insolent little fly! How dare you get in my way?" he shouted, making to hit the dog-boy. Kiba looked up at him – there was no way he was letting go until the other was dead.
"Kidoumaru!" someone called. He turned and saw Tayuya who was being countered by...Shikamaru! "Let's go! Our covers blown!" The tomboy looked VERY angry. Kidoumaru had to leave...NOW.
Naruto skid to a halt as a pale guy pushed him away. Why the hell were there arms and legs coming out of places they weren't supposed to be? The blonde grit his teeth as Sakura and Ino hid behind a stand. He was lucky no one was paying attention to him as he did weird things with his hands – people were running everywhere, trying to avoid the chaos but making some of their own.
"Let's go, Jiroubu! We won't need you this time," Sakon announced, jumping out of the way of Naruto's attack.
The four fled quickly, barely leaving a trace of them ever being there. Hinata came out from under Sasuke, looking for her other savior. Her eyes widened as the only thing she saw of him was a few droplets of blood.
Tears came from her eyes and Sasuke stopped, again lost as to what he should do. "Hinata-san, what happened?"
"K-Kiba-kun...," she cried, "He's gone..!"
This time, Sasuke put a another stiff hand on her shaking shoulder. He hung his head in shame – once again he was helpless, but this time he wasn't the only one involved. Just what the hell did they want?
A cold wind had taken over the shrine, blowing various wishes off of the bamboo. An attendant looked at two closest to the bamboo, and picked them up. One was written in a woman's writing:
"I wish for someone to make me truly happy."
The other one was written with a man's penmanship:
"I don't wish for anything else but Hinata's happiness."
Author's Note: Well, what did you guys think? This chapter was a lot longer than I thought it was going to be... Too much fluff? ...I was feeling in a slightly romantic mood, but I'm not sure if you readers like it. You guys are probably thinking it's too early, huh? ...I'm sorry!
And contrary to popular belief: I LOVE Sasuke-kun! I don't know...maybe...it's just fun using him lol.
As of now, I don't know what's coming next in this story. I have an idea of something happening in the future...but for the next chapter...?
Anyways, thanks for reading and please don't forget to review!