Chapter 10: Comfort

Hibiki sat straight up, gasping for air. She was drowning, she needed air. Her throat felt thick, closed. Ghosts of the cuts stung all over her. So many cuts.

"Hibiki!" a voice screamed in her ear.

Dark, why was it so dark? Where was the light?

"Hibiki!" a voice screamed again.

Then suddenly in the darkness came another body. Hugging her, pulling her in, cradling her…..

Why was it so dark?

"Hibiki!" Suigetsu called.

I'm Hibiki she thought.

And slowly she calmed down, her eyes poured water. The feeling of tears foreign and uncomfortable.

Her head was heavy, she leaned it into the body. A heartbeat? Fast but soothing.

She closed her eyes and sobbed, listening to the heartbeat, being held tight, hearing soft hushes.

"Suigetsu?" Hibiki asked she looked bad. Her eyes red from her crying, shaking, quivering,

"Hibiki?" Suigetsu asked. "Are you ok?"

Hibiki's brows furrowed in confusion and fear.

"Hibiki?" Suigetsu asked again, His voice straining.

"I'm," Hibiki whispered. Her throat sore.

"Ok." Hibiki finished.

"What can I do for you?" Suigetsu begged, petting her head with his hand.

"A bath, I need a bath, I need to wash it off." Hibiki croaked out, tears pouring from her eyes again. Suigetsu looked around, Karin isn't back yet, he thought, and Hibiki was shaking bad.

"Alright." He agreed, determination in his voice.

Standing up with Hibiki in his arms, curled against him, clinging to him, Suigetsu walked down the hall and into the men's communal bath. He slowly put Hibiki on the bench in the changing room. He looked around the bath for any sign of another person, it was clear. He returned to the door and locked it.

"Suigetsu?" Hibiki squeaked.

He rushed back to her side, she grabbed onto his shirt and quivered more. With a deep breathe, and a slow exhale Suigetsu began to help her undress. Working slowly to not frighten her or startle her. Once she was completely undressed, Suigetsu gently picked her back up, then carried her to a washing station and began to wash her.

Hibiki sat still, in shock, but she was here with him. Once he finished rinsing her off, he took her to the bath, sitting her inside.

She was gaining her color back, and the fear, the terror in her eyes faded into exhaustion. Suigetsu sighed, she was doing better.

He left her in the bath while he got towels and a robe.

Hibiki felt the hot water against her skin. The air was steamy but clear, clean. Slowly guiding her back to reality,

Or her reality.

Suigetsu returned and let her soak for a few minutes more before taking her out and bringing her back to the changing room. He dried her and helped her put her robe on. By the time he unlocked the door again and was carrying Hibiki back to the room, she had lulled into a peaceful doze. He tucked her into his futon and was about to go look for Karin when Hibiki grabbed onto him.

"Don't leave. Just in case." She begged. Taking her hand Suigetsu sat back down and watched Hibiki fall asleep.

…

Karin entered the room but stayed quiet. She walked over and sat across from Suigetsu, who had dozed off while in his sitting position, Hibiki holding his hand tight in her sleep. Karin turned to where Hibiki's bed was, it was ruined. Soaked in sweat and piss. She must have woken up while Karin was out. The door was broken from when Suigetsu must have busted the door down.

There was a lot Karin wanted to say about how Hibiki had wet hair and was in a robe, but that would have to wait.

Whatever happened to Hibiki, was bad.

After Karin woke up the next day she found Hibiki in the same state. Sasuke knocked on the door and called for Karin to come out. She happily (but regretfully) rushed to Sasuke. He looked normal, but his chakra, it felt menacing.

"Come with me," he said.

So she followed Sasuke out, (but not before locking that pervert out of the room.) and down the road. Sasuke Handed Karin a cloth,

"I need you to find him." He ordered. Karin did as he asked. They found the man, and Things became clear. What happened to Hibiki became clear.

...

Hibiki slept a dreamless empty sleep all that night and into the morning. As she woke up, Hibiki's ears filled with a light snore. She sat up and felt her hand being held, or was she holding his? Suigetsu was next to her, asleep still. Gently she laid him down and stood up. Found her way to the door and stepped out.

"Hibiki!" Karin called from down the hall, She ran and hugged Hibiki tight. "Thank God you are ok!"

Karin's perfume was familiar and grounded Hibiki more.

"How late are we, For getting Jugo?" Hibiki asked, concern covering her face.

"Don't worry, it's been a little over two days."

Hibiki sighed in relief, she hadn't lost time…

"We need to get going then, Sasuke must be unhappy," Hibiki said.

"A little, but he was worried too. Are you sure your ok? Do you want to eat?" Karin asked.

"Yeah food sounds good," Hibiki said, forcing a soft smile. Karin led Hibiki to a small room and brought her a plateful of food and a glass of water. Hibiki ate as slowly as she could, but she was starving.

"I'll get your clothes and we can head out as soon as your ready," Karin said. Standing and leaving the room, Karin knew what happened to her, What really happened, But she didn't ask question Hibiki wasn't ready to answer.