Chapter 4: A Bond that Connects

The two glanced at each other in school, but there was no more connection. The girls kept hogging at Hinata what had happened, but Hinata only replied, "Nothing." And when the guys asked if Hinata was really as quiet as she was, Sasuke didn't even reply. He was too cool.

"Listen here, Hinata! If you think you're so cool as not to tell us what happened on that date—you SURELY are NOT!" Sakura Haruno screeched. The slight pang hit Hinata's heart. Nobody likes being insulted. The shy girl heard all the other girls nod and agree with Sakura and that made her feel even worse.

"And don't even make me get started on your looks—oh, Sasuke! Hello!"

Hinata looked upward, just slightly. The girls parted like the Red Sea as Sasuke moved towards Hinata's desk. Slowly, he said, "If there's anything I hate more than people… it's people that can't shut up when it comes to things that don't matter. Isn't that right… billboard brow?"

Sakura felt her overly large forehead and dashed away, tears in her eyes. The other girls backed away and left the room as well. There was silence, but a grateful silence. Hinata sighed and laid her head onto the table and covered her face with her arms.

"I want to hear your story."

Hinata looked up. "Excuse me?"

"You owe me. I want to hear your story."

Sasuke left and Hinata stared confusedly as he walked away. Now she had to tell her own story as well?

'Meet me at the park. You can tell me in private.'

Hinata found that note on her desk that afternoon while she was eating. She got up and started to leave when Sakura interrupted her halfway. The pink-haired girl slammed her hand down on the desk. "You must think you're SO cool, having Sasuke protect you like that! Trust me—it's only out of pity!"

Hinata didn't look up, but scurried around and ran. Before she knew it, she was in the park and Sasuke was there, leaning against a tree. Coolly, he turned his head towards her. "I knew you wouldn't ditch me."

"D-did you want me to?" Hinata asked, confusedly. She bowed. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to bow."

Hinata stood straight again and cocked her head to the side. She followed Sasuke's motion to sit down. "Where do you want me to start my story?"

"I don't care. Just start it before those stupid girls come back," Sasuke replied.

"W-well… I suppose I could start when I first met Neji…"

"Who?"

"Umm… h-he's my cousin. He's h-here to protect me," she replied shyly. She took a small breath and started her story. "When I met Neji, we were very young. His father was my uncle and…"

Hinata continued her story about how the spy kidnapped her and how it turned out to be whom they signed the contract with. She told about the agreement that her father had to die—but they had used Neji's father instead and she knew it was all her fault. She spoke of the high expectations and how no matter how hard she tried, she didn't make them… so Hanabi could possibly be the heir. Everything that happened that was important, she told—everything except Naruto.

"And so… that is my story," Hinata finished softly. Sasuke was silent, but he turned to Hinata with an improving nod.

"So, your story… is about weakness too," he mumbled. The two held a single glance, and then both turned and left in opposite directions… Although, the bond they had suddenly created made their hearts open only slightly more.

End of Chapter 4: A Bond that Connects

Author's Note: "FINALLY, SHE DID IT!" is what you people are probably thinking right now. Yay! I made a little HinaSasu fluffishy stuff! Yes, it was the last paragraph and YES, Hinata is a little OOC and YES Sasuke is a little OOC too (but how could they not? They're not a canon pairing.) So, yeah. I'm working on the next chapter right now. XD

Until then,

Sammy