"Hinata?" Naruto asks in disbelief. Before him, curled into the smallest ball he'd ever seen was a trembling lavender haired female, the only female at the school with that specific hair colour was Hinata Hyuga.
Painful sobs seeped out from the girl's tightly balled up body, but she made no indication of hearing Narutos words. Slowly creeping closer, as to prevent frightening the girl who Naruto's almost positive is the young Hyuga heir, Naruto calls out to her gently once more, "Hinata?"
His voice reaches her this time, evident in the way she violently swings her head up while trying to rapidly back away, desperately trying to get away from whoever was calling out to her. Naruto was right, it was Hinata. Recognising someone was there she slurs hoarsely between her broken sobs, "he-hello?"
He was nowhere prepared for the sight of the sweet girl. The once flawless face was battered, her eyes were forming identical purple shiners, her lip busted and bloody as her jaw hung half slack, appearing broken. Hinata's blouse looked to be ripped open, the girl was straining her muscles as she hugged her knees for dear life. Even with the girl being tightly curled into herself, Naruto could see that her chest and throat were littered with dozens of red and purple bruises as well as bite marks, he was sickened by the sight. At that moment he knew exactly what had transpired, and whoever committed such an atrocity was going to pay.
Reigning in his wrath, he couldn't afford to frighten Hinata, she needed him calm and collected. Naruto slowly crouches down so he's not hunched over her in an attempt to seem none threatening. "Hinata, I'm going to get closer okay? I don't want you to try and talk because I think your jaw might be broken, if it's okay for me to come closer and you can, nod yes for me, if you don't want me to come closer shake your head no."
Looking at the blond with big hazy fear filled eyes, it almost felt like she was looking right through him, but she managed to slowly nod "yes" signifying it was okay for him to come closer.
Slowly closing the distance between them, Naruto makes sure not to draw attention to her wounds and torn clothing. "Hinata, I'm going to take my sweater off so we can get you covered up okay?" Naruto explains calmly, waiting for her response.
Sniffling between her fearful sobs, she barely nods her head. The movement was enough for Naruto. Before he took his sweater off he took the time to explain to her slowly so that she understood why he was taking his sweater off. "Don't be frightened, okay? I'm taking my sweater off for you to wear, I promise you're safe, I will not hurt you."
It broke Naruto seeing the normally shy girl tremble in pure terror, no one desserved to feel this way, especially a gentle soul like Hinata. After unzipping and slowly removing his sweater he held the sweater out to her tentatively. She made no move to grab it from him, she just stared blankly at it. "Hinata. Do you think you can put this on?" Looking down shamefully she shakes her head "no," in response.
"It's cold and we need to put something warm on you, is it okay if I help you put the sweater on?" Naruto gently asks. True he didn't want her to get cold, especially after a trauma, but he also wanted her to feel covered.
Seeing her panic at the mention of helping her, Naruto quickly tries to ease her. "Hey, look at me, it's okay, you're safe. I won't help if you don't want me to, okay?" Looking the blond in the eyes, recognition briefly flashes across her eyes, furrowing her brows she slurs, trying her best to pronounce his name without a properly functioning jaw. "Naruto?"
Gently smiling at her with kindness in his eyes he nods. "Yes Hinata, it's me doll. Your jaw is hurt so don't speak alright? We need to put this sweater on you, do you think you can put it on and I'll look away?"
Now that her traumatised mind has recognised the blond, though terrified she somehow felt a bit safer. Hinata hesitantly nods before slowly taking the sweater from Narutos extended hand. True to his words, as soon as his sweater is in her hands he turns around to offer the little privacy he could accommodate.
Feeling a gentle tap on his shoulder, Naruto slowly turns around, hesitant to look. Finally opening his eyes, he sees Hinata swimming in his large sweater, as she crouches down, hugging herself once more. Naruto frowns inwardly at the sight of the broken girl, 'who did this to you?'
"Hinata?" He gently calls out causing her to reluctantly look up at him. "You can't stay here, we need to get someone okay?" Hearing this, panic fills her immediately, she rapidly scoots backwards until she's firmly pressed against the edge of the bleachers.
Slowly closing the distance between them so he's at her side again, he notices his movements didn't seem to frighten her this time. "Hey, it's okay, you're safe, I'm not going to let anyone else hurt you okay? You're hurt, so I have to get someone okay?" Naruto knew it was imperative that the traumatised girl receive medical treatment.
As he begins to turn around she immediately latches on to his arm, sobbing as she violently shakes her head. Naruto's never comforted someone before, he could be calm and collected, but comforting was a territory he'd never approached before. He awkwardly wrapped his arms around the quivering girl, hoping not to trigger her. Feeling his embrace, she sinks heavily into his calming warmth and begins to tremble, letting out a screaming, gut wrenching cry. Naruto follows his intuition and rubs soothing circles over the girl's back and he softly whispers reassuring words letting her know she's safe now.
Naruto knew that he needed to get her help immediately, he knew it was going to be hard for her, but she needed help. Running things over in his head, he tried to determine the best course of action. With Hinata not wanting him to leave her side he couldn't simply run into the school leaving her alone. Carrying her in with him might be an option but he was afraid that it would only serve to frighten her more. The last thought he determined was to phone the school and hope someone was still in the office. Being on school property he thought it might be a good idea to let them call for help, it would also allow him to stay with the broken girl, offering her what little comfort he could.
Realising his phone is in his backpack up on the bleachers he needed to either leave her to get and come back, or convince her to come out with him. "Hinata, I need to get my phone to call for help. Do you want to wait for me while I go get it?"
Holding him even tighter, it was evident she wasn't going to relinquish her grip. Naruto lets out a solemn sigh, "Okay, do you think you can come with me? It's in my bag on the other side of the bleachers, you can even hold on to me if you want."
Sniffling, she looks up into Naruto tender eyes, her once vibrant, pale eyes now dull and hollow, searching for something. Finding the comfort she desperately needed, she hesitantly nodded.
Giving her a reassuring smile he rises, crouching in the confined space between the beams of the bleachers and begins to move. Hinata's grip was like a vice around his arm as she faithfully followed him in a daze.
The two slowly made their way out from under the bleachers and over to where Naruto had deposited his backpack. "Do you think you can sit here while I try to call someone?" The blond tentatively asked.
Hinata nodded but was reluctant to let go, so Naruto chose to take a seat beside her while he rummaged through his bag, in search of his phone. After entirely way too much time, Naruto finally found his phone and immediately dialled his school.
"You've reached the automated voice messaging system for—Konoha High—to report a student absence or late press one, for other matters press two." Naruto hung up.
'Fucking automated bullshit, fuck!' Naruto internally curses.
Stealing a worried glance at the distant girl next to him he knew he couldn't get her to follow him inside, it'd been a miracle he'd convinced her to make it this far. He also knew he couldn't leave her to go inside himself, it looked like she didn't plan on letting go of his arm anytime soon, which only left him with one choice. Taking a deep breath he dials, "Hello, I'm in need of assistance. I have someone who's been attacked. We're at the track field at Konoha High."
"Just because most of us here are privileged, doesn't mean the rest of the community is. If we set up the food drive, we can allow people to choose donating non perishables, or buying raffle tickets. All proceeds will go towards the school and the food collected will go back to families in need, just think of how youthful it will be!" Explains the bushy browed teen,
"Thanks for the idea Lee, but I just don't see the point in collecting then giving away food when we can just sell tickets. The food drive would do nothing to bring money into our school." Neji states, distaste in his voice evident.
"But it would show that we as the youth of the future care about not only ourselves, but our community!" Lee defended passionately.
"Honestly, I like it." Sasuke interjects.
"Yes! See Sasuke get it!" Lee exclaims, punching his fist in the air enthusiastically.
"Sorry Lee, but it's not up to Sasuke." Neji doesn't hesitate to point out.
Looking over to the Hyuga with a face devoid of all emotion Sasuke quickly retaliates. "No, but it's not up to you either, Neji. This kind of thing will go to a vote, but we'd have to wait seeing we don't have everyone here today."
"We could get a quick count right now and wait till our next meeting to get the other party's votes." Ino offered.
"I wouldn't be opposed to that." Sakura nods in agreement.
A soft yawn draws the council's attention. "It's troublesome, but no, we'd have to wait so no outside sources try to persuade the others opinion of choice." The Nara sends a pointed look towards Neji.
"What's that supposed to mean Nara?!" Sneered Neji, not too pleased with what the lazy teen was insinuating.
Leaning over the table, Shikamaru rested his elbow on the table with his cheek leaning against his palm. "Just stating the facts, Hyuga."
"Why, yo-" Neji begins but gets interrupted as he sees an ambulance drive past.
"Hmm, wonder what's going on." Sakura, voiced as a police cruiser, made its way past soon after.
"Someone probably just got a flashback to your face ugly." Sai smiles creepily.
"SAI!" The pink haired female scolds, cracking her knuckles as a warning. The creepy teen rewards her with an infuriating chuckle.
Before Sakura gets a chance to realise her furry, Ino looks around at her peers and questions, "you think someone took Halloween a little too far?"
"Should we go check?" Lee curiously inquires.
"It's none of our business," Shino points out, this being the first time he's spoken all day.
Massaging his temples at the focus his peers lack, Sasuke sighs, "we're in a meeting right now, which I never wanted to be a part of might I add. You guys act like you've never seen emergency services before. Besides, you'd just be in the way."
Folding his arms then laying his head down, Shikamaru mumbles, "he's not wrong."
Ino automatically agrees with the raven. "Of course, you're right Sasuke-kun!"
Sai rolls his eyes, "You would have agreed to anything he said."
Turning towards him, Sasuke raises an eyebrow. "Did—did you just make a factual, non perverted comment?"
Sai shrugs before eerily grinning, "I wonder what you could get her agree to if you offered her your di-"
Sasuke lets out a disappointed sigh before internally cringing. 'And there it is.'
Sakura is quick to punch Sai in the side of the head, sending the perverted teen tumbling over. "As if Sasuke-kun would ever offer Ino that!"
Muffled mumbling from the Nara interrupts the room's train of thought. "You guys are too loud."
"We didn't ask you to be here." Neji snaps.
"Neither did I." Shikamaru lazily points out.
"Come on guys, let not fight, where is your youthful spirit?!" Lee enthusiastically asks, earning him glares and irritated eyebrow raises all around.
Sasuke groans, "let's just get back on task, I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible."
Finally reigning in the chaos, the student council proceeded with their planning of the next spirit day, all while tossing around ideas for their winter dance. Almost an hour later and the meeting is finally about to come to a close, until the group gets interrupted by a certain raven's phone.
Neji raises an amused brow at his rind. "Really Sasuke?"
"Shit, sorry, give me a second." Sasuke mutters, fumbling his phone from his pocket.
Dobe:
Sasuke, I need you to tell Neji to get to the hospital right away.
Sasuke furrows his brow in both confusion and worry.
Sasuke:
Are you alright? Why do you need Neji?
Dobe:
I can't say much, but I'm on my way to the hospital with Hinata and Neji is her only family that's in town right now.
Sasuke:
What?! I'm calling you!
Dobe:
No, don't!
Just let Neji know.
If he asks why I didn't get a hold of him, tell him I only contacted you because I have your number from our project or some shit.
I'll worry about the fall out later.
Sasuke:
Is it bad?
Dobe:
Yeah, it's bad.
The whole council stares at the raven intently as they observe a mélange of facial features decorate his face they've never witnessed before.
Putting his phone away and grabbing his things, Sasuke looks over at Neji's with concern, he gently says, "Neji, you need to get to the hospital, Hinata's hurt."
"What?! How?! Who?!" Neji begins to frantically stutter as dozens of questions pass through his mind.
Sasuke rests his hand on his frantic friend's shoulder. "We'll worry about all of that later, let's just get you to the hospital. I'll take you, you're in no condition to drive."
Neji slowly nods as Sasuke collects his things for him, leading him out of the room, leaving the rest of the student council speechless.
"Sir, we're going to have to ask you to leave the room," a nurse demands, impatiently trying to rush things along.
Naruto wasn't fazed, he continued to gently rub circles over Hinata's back trying to sooth her. "Hinata, do you think you can let me leave just for a little bit? I promise I'll just be outside the door. I think you need some privacy so they can speak to you."
Hinata desperately clings onto the blonde, letting out panicked sobs that tear Narutos heart to shreds. The nurse looks at the two and frowns. "We need to examine you."
"Hinata, can you look at me, doll?" Naruto carefully asks in little more than a whisper, successfully earning him the attention of her pale lifeless eyes. "I promise you're safe, nothings going to hurt you here. Everyone here is going to help you I promise. I'll be right outside that door the whole time."
Hinata looks away, nodding hesitantly as a new batch of tears stream down from her large doe eyes.
Naruto softly smiles at the gentle girl. "Hinata, I'm so proud of you."
After a few sniffles and one final squeeze, she relinquishes her grip, allowing Naruto to give the doctors and officers some privacy with the terrified female.
Naruto slowly slides down the wall outside the hospital room. Bringing his legs up, he wraps his arms around and rests his head down on his knees, letting the day wash over him. The situation was forcing him to relive so many of his own traumas. It was something he could deal with, but seeing someone as caring as Hinata so broken was something he didn't know how he was coping with. Staying calm took everything in him, when all he wanted was to turn the world upside down and find whoever committed such an atrocity.
Feeling like he's been sitting outside forever he gets shook from his thoughts by a furious male. "What the fuck did you do to her?!"
Sasuke grabs his friends, "Neji, calm down. You're not going to do her any good acting this way."
"I don't fucking care, this fucker did something to Hinata!" Bellows the Hyuga.
Without looking up, Naruto speaks in a voice empty and devoid of anything. "I did nothing to her Neji."
"The fuck you didn't! Everyone else wasn't enough for you, you had to hurt Hinata too?!" Neji's temper begins rising further, drawing attention to himself.
"Neji." Sasuke warns dangerously low.
Highly emotional, Neji violently shoves his friends. "No Sasuke, look, see first hand what this monster does!"
"Neji, shut up before you embarrass yourself and Hinata." Naruto grumbles darkly, his patients wearing thin.
"Don't fucking tell me what to do!" Neji grabs Naruto by the hair, yanking him up.
"Neji off!" Sasuke growls, trying to talk sense into the furious teen.
"No Sasuke! How can you stand up for this thing?" Neji's shouts before slamming the blond against the wall.
Naruto groans from the sudden assault, then calmly looks down at Neji. "Hyuga, because you're upset I'm going to give you five seconds to release me before I make you. Five."
"Fuck you!" Growls the Hyuga, grabbing the collar of Naruto's shirt, slamming him against the wall once again.
"Four." Naruto calms down.
"Neji get off him! You're going to get in shit." Sasuke tries to pull him off again, wondering why with all the onlookers, no one's stepping in to help.
"Three." Neji strikes the blond in the stomach this time.
The strike causes the blond to grunt. "Two."
"Get off Neji!" Sasuke continues to try prying Neji off his blond, only to get shoved back.
"This is your last chance Hyuga." Naruto sighs, prolonging his countdown in hopes of reaching the furious teen, he wasn't in the mood for an altercation.
"You don't fucking tell me what to do Uzumaki!" Neji cries out, somewhere in between fear and rage.
"One." Naruto received another hit, he wanted to be angry, he wanted to hate the Hyuga at that moment, but he couldn't bring himself to after seeing the fear in the pale eyed teens eyes.
Before another hit could be delivered, Naruto had blocked, then turned the emotional teen around, pinning his stomach to the floor. "Neji." Naruto gently warns, using the teens first name in a tone Neji wasn't used to hearing.
"Get off Uzumaki!" Neji tried to thrash around unsuccessfully.
"Neji, you're going to lay here and calm down. I am not your enemy. Had it been any other day and I would have followed through with my promise. Right now, Hinata need you, and you aren't going to do either of you any good if you can't calm the fuck down."
Standing behind Naruto, Sasuke looks at him with admiration, he knew Naruto had every reason to hate Neji, every reason to retaliate, but here he was trying to calm the violent teen down. "Neji, I think you should listen to him."
"How can you side with him?!" Bellows Neji's, quickly tiring himself out with his useless struggling.
"Naruto Uzumaki? Hinata's asking for yo-" The doctor cuts herself off upon witnessing the scenes outside their door. "What's going on here?!"
"This freak Naruto, hurt my cousin!" Neji yells, trying to crane his neck around to look at the doctor.
"And you are?" The doctor questions, her eyebrow raised clearly unimpressed.
"I'm Neji Hyuga!" He irritatedly grunts.
"Well Mr. Hyuga, I can assure you Mr. Uzumaki isn't responsible for your cousin's injuries. Mr. Uzumaki?"
"Just Naruto's fine" the blond politely informs, slowly releasing the Hyuga as he rises to his feet.
The doctor curtly nods, "Naruto, Hinata is requesting you. We need to get a feel for the severity of the damage to her jaw but she won't let us take her unless you're with her."
Standing and brushing the dirt off himself Neji childishly mutters, "why are you talking to him? I'm her family."
Not pleased with having her choices questioned, the doctor glares at the brunette. "Because Mr. Hyuga, Naruto is the only one who that girl in there feels safe with right now, and I for one am all for making my patient feel as comfortable as I can given the situation."
"And what is the situation? I'm her family and you have yet to tell me anything! I was told my cousin was sent to the hospital, but no one has been able to tell me a damn thing!" Neji shouts, fists trembling.
Sasuke sighs, "Neji's, just breathe. You need to calm down, you're making a scene."
"I don't care, Sasuke! No one will tell me what's going on!" Neji exclaims, making no attempt to quiet himself.
"If you want to see Hinata you're going to have to tone it down, she doesn't need this right now." Naruto warns in a gentle tone he's never thought he's used with the Hyuga.
"Your friends are right, you need to calm down or I'll have you escorted from the building. You're doing no one any good acting like this." The doctor warns.
Pointing at the blond, Neji growls, "he is not, and never will be, my friend."
Naruto draws in a deep breath to centre himself. "Doctor?"
"Dr. Cautes." She immediately offers.
"Dr. Cautes, maybe it'd be a good idea to let him know what's going on. Has she already been...examined?" Naruto slowly asks, hanging his head low in hopes of hiding his own overflowing emotions.
Smiling sadly at the blond, Dr. Cautes nods, "yes, she has been. She won't answer any question, seeing as you're the one who found her, she seems to have associated you with safety and won't so much as write anything except your name down. We really need to see the damage to her jaw but she won't allow us to sedate her. I, we were hoping you could help convince her."
Narutos solemn eyes meet the doctor's concerned orbs, sharing a brief nod. "I'll see what I can do."
Naruto walks into the hospital leaving behind the doctor and two frozen teens. Neji couldn't comprehend what he was hearing, he didn't understand how Hinata felt safe with the blond after everything he's done. None of it made sense. Sasuke couldn't get that heart wrenching look Naruto was trying to hide out of his head. He knew whatever happened somehow felt personal to the blond and that did nothing to ease his own nerves.
Looking between the two teenage boys, the Doctor clears her throat, "Mr. Hyuga, would you like to speak privately?"
Neji slowly shakes his head, "No, it's okay if he hears."
"Alright, this isn't something that's going to be easy to hear." She informs him.
After filling the older Hyuga in on everything they've learned the doctor informs the teens that under these circumstances she can't allow them in to see Hinata right now. Between the stress of the girl's trauma and the animosity Neji has toward the blond, it simply wouldn't be a calm safe environment for the assaulted female.
Neji sinks to the floor once the doctor returns to Hinata's room. He didn't understand he felt sick, he didn't understand how someone as kind and pure as Hinata could be put through something like this.
"Neji, should you let Kiba know?" Sasuke cautiously asks.
Looking at his friends, half dazed, Neji nods, "yeah, do you think you can call him for me? My phone's in your car."
Sasuke nods, "sure thing."
Pulling out his phone he unlocks it before searching their group chat for Kibas number. Once finding it he's quick to dial only to receive no answer. After his third attempt Sasuke deeply sighs. "He's not picking up."
Neji pinches the bridge of his nose then sighs, "It's Halloween, he's probably fucked up and scaring children somewhere. Text the group and see if anyone's seen him, he's going to be pissed once he finds out about Hinata."
"Hn." Sasuke obliged, though he was annoyed that he couldn't get a hold of the one who should have protected the female.
Sasuke:
Anyone know where Kiba is?
Ino:
Last time I saw him was when he left at lunch.
Shino:
He wasn't in English today.
Sakura:
Maybe he left to start celebrating early?
Try calling him.
Sasuke:
I did...
Several times.
Ino:
Ask Hinata maybe?
Sasuke:
That's actually why I need to talk to him.
Sakura:
Did something happen to Hinata?
Sasuke:
Not my place to say, just if you see him tell him to call me.
Sai:
He started celebrating before lunch, he might be home.
Shino:
I'll check, I'm close to his palace.
Sasuke:
Thanks.
Sasuke locks his phone, placing it back in his pocket. "No one seems to know where he is, Shinos going to check his home."
Before Neji gets a chance to respond, a sedated female's wheeled out of the room next to him. The state Hinata was in made the two teens do a double take, if it weren't for her lilac hair they wouldn't have even recognised her. The doctor quickly wheeled her away and out of sight before a word could be uttered.
Assuming Naruto remained alone, both Sasuke and Neji began walking into Hinata's vacant room only to see Naruto talking to another doctor. "Are you going to wait here for her? She'll be gone for a while."
"I think I'll stay here if it's alright? I promised her I'd be here when she gets back." Naruto quietly answers.
"Of course. Visiting hours are almost up but we've arranged for you to stay with her the night. They'll probably take her directly to surgery after assessing the damage to her jaw, so when she's back she'll probably remain sleeping for a while." The doctor informed him benevolently.
Naruto doesn't make a sound, he nodded unambiguously then turned around taking a seat on the heinously, awkward hospital chair. The pensive blond didn't notice the two standing in the doorway as he anatomized his acuity. His thoughts seldom escape him, but today had uprooted something in him he didn't care to acknowledge, making it unusually arduous to think clearly. He needed to keep that piece of him buried deep, it was the only way he believed to stand a chance at helping the timid, affrighted girl get through this.
On her way out, the doctor's quick to let the two gawking teens standing in the doorway know that visiting hours are just about up and they should be leaving. The dour look she gave them was meant to leave no room for argument, but given who she was trying to shake down, it didn't work in her favour. Neji was quick to shamelessly drop his name, he didn't want the blond to have any privilege he himself didn't. Sasuke absently listened to Neji bicker back and forth with the doctor while he stared over at the contemplative blond, willing him to look his way.
Even Narutos distracted mind couldn't drown out the arguing that was echoing through the hospital room. Turning around his eyes met with midnight orbs, a secret exchange was made between the two without needing any verbal articulation. Nodding his head, Naruto gets up, abandoning the treacherous seat and makes his way over to the hall.
Walking past all three bodies, Naruto was confident Sasuke would follow him and in turn, Neji would follow the raven. Naruto could see in the raven's eyes that he wasn't enjoying the attention Neji was drawing, Naruto couldn't blame him. He also felt bad for the doctor who was trying to peacefully do her job, she didn't need some entitled priss telling her what to do. Luckily, him leaving the hospital room went according to plan, Sasuke followed him, and the Hyuga huffily followed Sasuke leaving the doctor to regain a semblance of peace.
Sasuke didn't know where the blond was leading them but he followed faithfully behind, grateful to be away from the scrutiny Neji's arrogance caused him. The atmosphere was heavy as the trio rode the elevator down to ground level, neither speaking a single word to the other. Both Sasuke and Naruto were shocked and elated that the Hyuga was managing to hold his tongue, even if only for the time being. Exiting the elevator, Naruto leads the group outside into the cool autumn night. Once outside he walked a few yards away from the entrance and leaned against the wall, waiting for the onslaught of whatever was about to be thrown at him, but it never came. The three stood there in utter silence with nothing but the sound of the world passing them by.
Neji didn't know what he wanted to say, he had so much to say, to shout, and yet at the same time he didn't, it was the ultimate contradiction. Even without a formulated thought process he decided to speak, interrupting Sasuke's silence. "Have you heard from Kiba yet?"
"Let me check." Sasuke mutters, pulling out his phone and checking their group chat once again.
Shino:
Just left Kibas, his sister says he's sick.
Sasuke:
Thanks.
"Apparently he's sick," scoffs Sasuke.
Neji hangs his head, heaving a sigh as he pinches the bridge of his nose. "So that's Kiba talk for getting too fucked up to comprehend life." Naruto side-eyed the two teens, curious about their take on Kibas absence..
"If that's the case, it's probably better he's not here. He still should have answered though, shouldn't Hinata be a top priority?" the raven rhetorically asks, clearly irritated.
Neji clicks his tongue in annoyance, "tch, you would think, wouldn't you?" Knowing Kiba was blowing off his Hinata in her current state didn't bode well with him in the slightest. Kiba promised Neji that he would care and protect his cousin at all costs, he's failed both of those today.
Sasuke steals a quick glance over at his blond before looking back at Neji. "Does he make a habit of this?"
Neji raises his head to meet Sasukes gaze before asking, "habit of what?"
The rave shrugs phlegmatically, "getting so high he forgets the world."
Looking at the brunette, Sasuke could see he wanted to defend Kiba, but after today he was having difficulty rationalising it. Not wanting to draw attention to his own turmoil, Neji answers tersely. "He likes his drugs, yes, but he's never been so inebriated that he blows everyone off."
"Hn." Sasuke didn't really know how else to reply.
Chatter between the two had ceased after that, nothing but the hum from the building and the bustling of traffic around the hospital could be heard. Being around the Hyuga without the usual animosity was awkward, he could still feel it, but the lack of verbal abuse made the blond feel anxious. It was like a dormant volcano building for years just waiting for the right time to erupt and take everything in its path with it.
Naruto would rather not be in the wake of this metaphorical volcano when it erupted, so he decided it was time he hightailed it out of there. Pushing himself off the wall, he begins to walk towards the entrance, only to be stopped by his impending doom.
"Where was she?" Neji mutters uncharacteristically softly, the bite was still there, but it wasn't near the degree Naruto had been expecting.
Naruto stops dead in his tracks, but makes no move to turn around as he answers. "She was under the bleachers." The blond was about to start walking when he remembered something. "Your uncle will be here sometime tomorrow, he's getting the first flight out." Without giving the Hyuga a chance to respond, Naruto continued walking, determined to be in the room when Hinata returns. He didn't care if she would still be under when she returned and wouldn't know if he kept his promise or not, he would know, and whatever promise Naruto Uzumaki makes, Naruto Uzumaki keeps.
Sasuke internally sulked as he watched his blond retreat back into the hospital. It felt like Naruto was always wrapped up in something. The raven wanted to be able to offer support to his boyfriend, but also to Hinata. After hearing what had happened to Hinata, Sasuke felt appalled, who could do something so despicable, so heinous to such a pure pusillanimous soul, for the first time in his life Sasuke felt inept.
With visiting hours being officially over, the two teens weren't allowed past the waiting room, so there was no point in either staying at the hospital. They wouldn't be doing Hinata nor themselves any good. Sasuke brought Neji back to the school so he could collect his car that was hastily left behind not too many hours ago. The night had been so mind numbing, Neji didn't even bother raging at the fact that Naruto still had Sasukes number, he only requested Sasuke text him if the blond had any information on Hinata.
Bidding farewell to his friends, Sasuke pulls his phone out to send a quick text to his boyfriend.
Sasuke:
How are you holding up?
Sasuke waited a few minutes for a response but received none. With no one being around Sasuke made no attempt to hide his frown. Trying not to trouble his mind, he reminded himself Naruto will text back when he has a moment, there were things that currently took precedence over his text response time. Finally pulling out of the school's parking lot, that familiar buzz sounds and Sasuke curses himself, of course he would get a text just as he starts driving away.
Every stop light tempted the raven, he wanted nothing more than to unlock his phone and read, hopefully, Narutos text. Sasuke resigned himself, knowing how monumentally asinine it would be to try and read a text while behind the wheel, at a stop light or not. Finally pulling up to the gate, Tenzo waves him in. Once parked he allows himself to indulge in sneaking a glance at his phone before shutting his car off.
Dobe:
Honestly, I'm not sure.
Sasuke frowns, just the image of Naruto feeling helpless didn't sit well with him. He wanted to wrap his arms around him and shower him with sweet reassuring kisses. The thought of not only being the person who found Hinata, but the person who has to stay level headed about the whole situation was immensely overwhelming.
Sasuke:
I wish I could help somehow.
Dobe:
You and I both.
Sasuke:
Dobe, you're helping her more than anybody.
Dobe:
Sure doesn't feel like it.
Anyways, I think I'm going to try and get some rest on this odious pull out chair.
Sasuke:
Alright, Hinata back yet?
Dobe:
No.
Sasuke:
Oh.
Dobe:
Yeah. Anyways I'm going to try and get some sleep, I'll text you when she's back.
Sasuke:
Alright dobe, rest well.
Dobe:
Thanks teme.
Somehow Naruto managed to fall asleep on the god awful hospital chair. He didn't know how long he'd been out for, but he was quickly alerted when the still anaesthetised female was proficiently rolled back into the room. Naruto felt significantly out of place being the one who's being informed of Hinata's medical status, but apparently the doctors felt they could put their trust in him after observing his calm, patient demeanour with the frightened female.
Hinata ended up with two broken ribs, a sprained wrist, multiple bruises and a broken jaw. Surgery went well for her, but the timorous girl's jaw was now held firmly together by metal wires thread around her jaw for stability. Her face had morphed into a wider array of blues, purples and reds and there was significantly more swelling after surgery. The pressure wrap that bound her jaw did nothing to hide her traumatised face and Narutos heart broke for her. Having been there himself, the thought of her having to live with tangible proof of her trauma flooded him with dejection.
Once the doctor gave him the run down they were all quick to leave, persistently reminding him to use the call button should Hinata or him need anything. Dragging his chair over to the sleeping female, he places it so he can hold her uninjured hand. This placement was also granting him ample view of the door.
Perched on the edge of the torture device the hospital deemed a chair, Naruto leans over, gently grasping Hinatas hand. Her soft delicate hands felt frigid, causing Naruto to unconsciously rub them gently, trying to warm them with friction. The room was still, nothing but the murmur from the hall, the persistent beeping on machines and the soft breath of the girl lying in the hospital bed.
Naruto hated hospitals, even the air inside them somehow felt weighted and thick, the antiseptic smell that engulfed the whole building never seemed to convey soothing thoughts either. However, for some strange reason, be it the soft consistent sounds, the emotional weight of the day or tying into his own emotional wreckage, Naruto found himself resting his head and drifting off into nightmarish sleep.
Panicked cries filled the room, Naruto couldn't be sure who or what it was. Was it him? Or somebody else? Was he still dreaming? Forgetting where he was, he began to sit up, immediately bombarded with the tight aching of his joints and muscles. His joints crack and pop as he straightens up from his uncomfortable leaning position, rubbing the sleep from his eyes he realises the cries are female, and he is definitely not in his room. It finally all clicked...Hinata.
Looking over at the girl, the first thing he does is press the call button, he wasn't sure if it was pain, fear, or a combination of both, but he wanted to get someone here to let them know she was awake at the very least.
In his drowsy, dazed state, Naruto gently squeezes her hand. "Hey, Hinata, look at me, It's me, Naruto. You're okay, you're okay, shhh." Sniffles and hiccups were heard coming from her, but looking at the blond seemed to have brought her out of her panic.
"Na-naruto?" she cringed, at the pain shooting through her jaw as she tried to move her sealed, swollen mouth. Another wave of panic hit her as she realised she couldn't open her jaw. Recognising the flash of horror pass Hinata's pale eyes, he grabs her hand as he begins to feel her muscles tense as if she were about to claw her own mouth open.
"Hinata, look at me." he demanded gently. Receiving no response he tried again. "Hinata, doll can you please look at me?" Naruto had nicknamed her "doll" when her family first moved to town because she looked like a living doll to him. With the large opal eyes, the pale flawless skin and the long, silky lilac hair, she was the epitome of one. Hearing this familiar, affection, laced nickname caused something to click, calming her down enough to look at the blond again.
"Good job doll, you're doing so well, I'm so proud of you." Naruto soothingly praises Hinata, releasing her hands before continuing with relaying important information to her.
"You're in the hospital, you just had surgery so I need you to try and calm down okay? I just called the nurses and they should be here any moment." Naruto carefully explains, rubbing gentle circles over the top of her hand.
"O-okay." She painfully mumbles through swollen lips, trying to control her breathing.
Naruto gives Hinata a tender look, conveying how strong he believed her to be. "Good. Now don't try to speak, I'll let the doctors explain to you about your jaw, just nod for me if you're in any pain so we can let them know."
Given the swelling coupled with the thick pressure wrapping restricting her jaws movements, Hinata nods as best she can. On cue, a nurse came sprinting in, she ended up being extremely attentive which Naruto was grateful for, Hinata deserved a doting nurse.
Time passed rapidly, after the nurse came in it wasn't long after Hinata's group of doctors came in as well, they did their utmost to cram her with the bare minimum of information as to not overwhelm her. The lone male doctor of the group made the trembling female uneasy, so somewhere along the way she had unconsciously convinced Naruto to sit alongside her in her bed, gently holding her as he carded his finger soothingly through her lilac locks.
All the doctors filed out by the time 3am rolled around. Hinata had drifted into slumber from the strong pain medication that had been administered to her. Left in nothing but silence once again, Naruto realised he hadn't texted Sasuke when she woke, though he can't be blamed, it was kind of a stressful situation. Trying his best not to disturb her, Naruto gently reaches into his pocket to procure his phone. Successfully achieving his task, Naruto sent a quick text to Sasuke not expecting a response given the time. Sliding his phone back into his pocket, he lets his eyelids slowly droop, and he too was once again in the begging throws of sleep.
Naruto woke up to a soft brushing through his hair which immediately sent alarms though his mind. Slowly opening his eyes he met two opals staring back at him, and an oddly endearing "eep" sound escaped the startled female lips. Realising who the battered looking girl was, and the location he was in, he concurred that yesterday was unfortunately not a dream, it was in fact a living nightmare.
Naruto forces a smile, trying to pacify the girl's nerves. "Morning Hinata."
"G-good morning, Na-naruto." She nervously mumbles, her words come out slightly muffled, but better than a few hours prior.
"How is your mouth feeling?" he curiously asked, not wanting her to injure herself just so she can speak to him.
"A-a little sore, b-but not to-too bad." She shyly stutters.
Naruto smiled brightly at her. "That's good, you already sound better."
If her face wasn't already the colours of the rainbow, she would have been a deep shade of red. Hinata looks at her lap, poking her two index fingers together. "Th-thank you, Naruto."
The blond furrows his brows in confusion. "For what?"
Hinata takes a deep, mind settling breath. "For yesterday, thank you for helping me."
"Hinata, you don't have to thank me for that." he responds in bewilderment. In her condition, she shouldn't have to thank anyone.
Hinata stayed quiet, Naruto used this time to build up his nerve. Regardless of how much he wished to protect her, the police would be back today, so she was going to have to talk about it. Naruto was going to use her trust in him to ease the pain associated with yanking the band aid off. "Hinata...who did this to you? I don't blame you for not wanting to speak about this, but we need to make sure we get whoever did this to you off the streets."
"Na-naruto, I-I-I can't." Hinata says despondently, sounding too small and broken.
"I know it's hard to talk about, and I can't force you but would you want this guy doing the same thing to someone else?" Naruto dolefully responds. He felt like a bag of shit guilting her, but seeing her broken, somehow wounded him deeper than any injury he'd ever received. Naruto wanted the threat to be removed, but he would be a hypocrite to demand this of her when he himself never spoke up for himself. Naruto had a hunch on who was responsible for the heinous crime committed on such a pure soul but couldn't go off on a whim. No, he needed tangible proof.
She panics, trying to shake her head and arms as tears pooled in her doe eyes. "N-no, I don't! B-b-but I can't Naruto!"
Hinata's body convulses into sobs, Naruto's quick to wrap his arm gently round her, cradling her against his chest. Using his hand to gently comb through her soft hair, he whispers soft reassurances to her.
Once the girl's sobs turn into a faint sniffle, Naruto carefully whispers, "It was Kiba wasn't it?" The violent clutching, and returning cries told him everything he needed to know. The question now was what was he going to do with his new found information?
"Shhh, shhh. It's okay Hinata." He cooes, rubbing gentle strokes over her arm.
"Pl-please, don't say anything!" she begs, fear and betrayal seeping through her voice.
Using every ounce of self control not to growl at her request, there was no way she thought of the consequences of this decision. Not wanting to be a hypocrite, he tersely nodded. "Of course, I told you I won't force you. But what are you going to do seeing him at school everyday? I mean, he's Neji's best friend."
Hinata must have been holding her breath because upon hear Narutos acquiescence, she let out a deep, harsh exhale. Hesitantly, she looks up into the sapphire pits burrowing holes into her. "I-I think I'm going to h-have my father send m-me to Hanabi's school."
Making no attempt to hide his slight frown, Naruto skewers his face despondent. "Are you sure that's what you want?"
With her limited range of motion she gently nods her head, he opals never wavering from his sapphires as she pitifully tries to smile. "Yes it is. B-beside, I need a ch-change of scenery anyways."
This did not convince Naruto, but he couldn't stop her. Regardless, he could at least find some solace in knowing she'd be far away from Kiba. Leaning down, Naruto places a sorrowful kiss atop her beautiful lilac hair. "Then who am I to try and stop you?"
The rest of the day went by quickly, Naruto didn't find any comfort in Hinata lying to the police about forgetting who attacked her, but let it go...for now. By mid day both Hiashi and Hanabi showed up relieving Naruto of Hinata duties. The blond insisted it was no trouble to stay. Hinata had to reassure him she would be fine now that her family was there. Hanabi showing up with Hiashi was a surprise that visibly lightened Hinata's mood which in turn lightens Narutos, making it easier to relinquish his self appointed responsibilities to watch over and protect the timid female.
By the time he left the hospital school was just about over and Naruto had half a dozen texts from Sasuke but couldn't bring himself to respond right away. He was filthy, and tired, wanting nothing more than to shower and sleep until tomorrow. The guilt of ignoring his boyfriend hit him as he strode through the front door, he figured he ought to at least let him know he just got home and was heading to bed.
Teme:
How's she doing?
Are you coming to school today?
You're not here, guess that answers my question.
Dobe, are you alright?
Neji and I are heading over to the hospital after school.
Text back when you can, miss you.
Naruto lets out a deep guilt filled breath before texting his worrisome boyfriend back.
Naruto:
Hey, sorry, it's kind of been a day. Hinata's father and sister arrived so I was able to leave. I just got home and I'm about to shower and sleep the sleep of the dead. I miss you too though, teme.
Smiling to himself he sets about heading upstairs for his well deserved shower. After showering and brushing his teeth he clambered into bed, allowing exhaustion to take over his body.
Naruto gets startled awake by his phone incessantly ringing. He wasn't sure what time it was, but given his room was devoid of light it was safe to assume night time.
Assuming it was Sasuke, he doesn't bother keeping his sleep laced eyes open as he answers. "Hello."
"Hello, is this Naruto Uzumaki?" Naruto's eyes fly open at the unknown male on the other end.
"Who wants to know?" he huffs, his deep voice still grainy from sleeping.
The smooth voiced male lets out a hearty, good humoured chuckle. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Why?" Naruto grunts, not pleased that some stranger not only got his number, but interrupted his dreamless sleep.
The stranger's voice shifts from carefree to serious. "Because we have much to discuss, Naruto." There was a pregnant pause until the man's smooth steely voice triumphantly utters, " or should I say Kurama?"
