Chapter 7
"Sakura, I'm here." Gaara sat in his black '77 mustang, the faint scent of coffee and pencil shavings surrounding him. He pulled the lever, dropping the seat a bit to stretch his aching muscles.
"I'm not around." was the nonchalant response
Propping up in haste, he bumped his head on the open sun visor, starting the engine, "Are you at the hospital? I can come get you." he reversed out the apartment complex but parked to the side when she spoke
"I'm not in town."
A dark chuckle bubbled in his throat. Today was their two year anniversary, the longest he had ever been with anyone. And despite the weird turn their relationship was taking he was sure she'd never pull a stunt like this. Till today-
"We'll talk when I come."
"Saku-" but the line beeped and went silent, his thoughts racing miles a minute, he slammed a fist on the steering wheel, a string of colorful words escaping his lips. It wasn't that he was flabbergasted but he just believed she'd be here this time. For the past two months she seemed to always be busy, standing him up when they had dinner plans, insisting she had to work. He tried to understand but it was becoming difficult to overlook the blatant lies.
~.~.~
"Noqu Lewa!" Ino squealed as she opened the door to the hotel room, hugging her pink haired friend - causing her to stumble slightly and drop her luggage. "I missed you SO much!" she engulfed her slimmer formed friend, elbows rubbing ribs.
"What?" Sakura managed to cough out
"It means my girl," the blonde laughed, excited to show off her knowledge from her trips.
"I see." Sakura examined her friend. They went as far back as she remembered, Ino had always been there. Their lives had been so similar yet now when she looked at her friend, glowing in happiness, she realized she was so far away.
"You okay forehead?" Ino peered from the kitchen counter, pouring two glasses of her newest wine purchase, when she realized Sakura hadn't moved an inch. When Sakura still stood spaced out, Ino placed the glasses down, moving to closer inspect her friend. "Were you crying? It's that prison boyfriend of yours isn't it? Damn it Sakura! You are the number one upcoming doctor in all of Japan, I see you in magazines abroad...ABROAD! Why the hell are you still dating his dirty rat ass? Do you have some weird kinky prison fetish?"
"Ino stop."
"No you stop Sakura. He was violent and abusive towards you as far as I knew. He probably still is, isn't he? He's a delinquent and people NEVER change." The words hit Sakura like a ton of bricks. Ino's words hit so close to home yet so far away. She had met Gaara the last two months of his prison stay, he had been cold, foreboding, a mystery and she had been drawn to him like a moth to a flame. But overtime, he calmed down, he was less aggressive, less destructive and she was ashamed to say she missed the old him.
She missed when his temper was short. She missed when they'd argue and he'd lash out, blindly hitting her. It was a terrible confession but she missed him like that because when he came to, he'd always make up for it, with gifts, intense affection and they'd have the raunchiest encounters - ones that will make her mother pale and Ino jealous for miles. Now, he bored her. He was still a teacher, he smelt like children and always wanted to have conversations over food and drinks.
Was she crazy to want more? To want the adventure and unpredictability and mystery of him? Was she wrong to want that? That bad boy Sabaku?
A piercing ring erupted and Ino bounced to her phone, "Ino Yamanaka."
Sakura examined as her friend's eyes lit up, her face widening, a smile going from ear to ear. She could count every single tooth at this point as her friend giggled and turned red at what must have been a compliment. This was what she wanted, Ino always had someone different, someone exotic, and Sakura envied it greatly.
"Who was that?" She asked when her friend hung up
"Don't be mad." the blonde giggled as she bunny hopped in excitement. "We're going on a double date!"
"Ino.."
"No, no Sakura, you don't get it. These guys are HOT. I mean like greek god, chiseled chest, kissed by kami himself HOT! And they're Japanese." she winked, as though pitching a proposal.
"Ino I have a boy-"
"Yea, one you left on your anniversary to visit me. I'm not stupid billboard, prison isn't doing it for you anymore. Just try this guy, if you don't like him, I'll drop it." her voice sullened, walking into one of the bedrooms.
~.~.~
Hinata's fingers flew across the keys, mild caresses with perfect sound as she poured her heart into the song. She had always been grateful for music but even more so now in her blindness. When she played certain songs, she could vividly visualize her life prior to all this. Prior till it went pitch dark.
(In my head, she's playing Scarlet by Brooke Fraser if you're interested.)
With music she could see, in music she could remember, remember all the memories and events that made her who she was.
She saw when he first walked onto campus grounds…
Sasuke spotted his signature rolled up navy button up and black slacks. His rectangular glasses elevating the whole pretty boy nerd look. His book bag hang off one of his shoulders as he crossed the length of the campus fields. All eyes on him, in awe and wonder.
She saw when they were placed together for an English project…
"Look Sasuke-san," Hinata sighed for the umpteenth, "I suggest we write this paper on Jane Austen. She has a plethora of work on a woman's perspective and will help us push our feminist theme."
"And I suggest, Hyuuga," his tone mocking, "Louisa May Alcott. Joe in Little Women is the perfect example and character to base the book on. It will be more focused than thrown between various female characters."
"Even with that logic," she continued through gritted teeth, "Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice fits the bill. Her speech and thinking was very opposed to society's norms then.
"But she was a gold digger. That helps no one."
"A gold digger?" her eyes bugged out incredulously as she caught the glimmer in his eyes. "You're impossible." she stood, frustratedly packing her bag up.
She giggled as memories continued to dance in her mind. But their relationship improved over time, even to the point he asked for her help in preparing for his official welcome into Uchiha Corps.
She saw him taking her sledding on her first birthday as his girlfriend. Or when they slid down the smooth rocks of a shallow water passage, jumping off the waterfall because "you only live once."
She saw when they both graduated and rented their apartments. Nights when he'd walk in hers, a ghastly image, from frustration, anger. He'd never speak, just bury himself in her lap. He was such a hard personality and she had taken pleasure in being the one to pick him up when he crumbled,to be the open arms for him. Tears rolled onto her fingertip, causing a momentary jolt as she hit a sour note on the ending.
Flashback to few hours ago:
"Itachi." she had spoken up as he put the tupperware in the fridge.
"Hime,"
"I think I want to go back to school." a sad smile lined her lips, "I want to have value too. I too, want him to be proud of me." she whispered, voice slightly shaken
"Hime." the older man's voice broke the silence.
"I know I don't need to. That as long as the Uchiha live, I need not lift a finger." she mocked their words before turning serious. "But I feel as though, and do tell me the truth. Is Sasuke ashamed of me?"
~.~.~.~
"I still can't believe you broke up with her." Naruto muttered, seeing Sasuke glance at a picture of Hinata on his phone with his peripheral vision. It was Hinata clad in his shirt, Uchiha emblem proud, long hair tied up in a messy bun, bangs askew, her eyes closed as she laughed, the night before the incident.
"Hn."
"She was such a nice girl too." he continued, poking at his sour friend.
As far as the world knew, Hinata Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha were not a couple. The former heiress of Hyuga Corps had stepped down to pursue a career in music which had been a blow to Hiashi but even more so a career choice the ever pompous Uchiha clan couldn't get behind. He was supposed to break up with her, he had meant to break up with her. But now, the situation was complicated, messy and downright overwhelming.
He turned to the fizzing coke beside him, eyeing the rusty bubbles as they made tiny wind sounds with each pop. Downing down the soda he excused himself and called her phone.
"Hello." her voice came on the other end, sleepy, tired
"Hinata."
"Sasuke-kun," a small yawn escaped her lips, "did you arrive?"
A faint smile surfaced. "Hn. Sleep Hinata."
"Okay," she mumbled, leaving the phone on. He sat on the pavement outside, listening to her quiet breathing, counting her even breaths. Reminding himself that she was there, and he couldn't leave her. A quiet snore escaped her lips and his smile widened. Why had he been keen to?
"Oi Teme," Naruto walked outside the building, dumping Sasuke's bags on the floor. "I'm hungry. Let's go!"
"Hn." he responded, listening to her a little longer as he picked his stuff - reluctant to hung up.