"Have you decided on what you're going to do yet?" Karin asked as she twirled a strand of her red hair around her index finger. Hinata tilted her head to the side, "What?"
"Ya' know, whether to stay or go? Sasuke said it was up to you entirely. He wouldn't really say much else when I asked him.."
"I'm not so sure yet.." The two girls stayed a good distance behind the guys so their conversation would not be heard. Hinata couldn't help but feel terrible about lying to Karin and Jugo, not so much Suigetsu, about whom she was. She had to tell her the truth in some way. Sure, Karin was annoying but she was a pretty nice girl in all.
All at once Karin's eyes lit up and she practically jumped with excitement, "Ohhh! I love this next village we are going to! They have a never ending fair all year round and there are tons of rides! We can actually have some girl time to talk."
"Talk?" Hinata arched a brow skeptically. Karin really was weird. "Yeah," She bobbed her eyebrows expressively, "I saw the way you were looking at Jugo last night. Trust me, I know how you feel! It's so hard not to jump Sasuke's bones on sight." A sudden burst of laughter erupted from Hinata's throat and she covered her mouth in an attempt to stifle the noises. "Sorry.. but," She struggled to whisper through her own laughter, "what is it you see in Sasuke, exactly?"
"I can't believe you just asked that..!" Karin gasped and whispered back, "I see hope." The laughter faded and the smile melted off of Hinata's face. She sees hope? Exactly what kind of hope was she looking for?
Karin was an easy individual to read once she had her guard down. Hinata could see it in her eyes like a set of beacons. Somehow, Sasuke gave her hope. Why she would need hope was unbeknownst to Hinata. She didn't seem like the hopeless type at all...maybe just a little crazy. Then her mind flashed back to Orochimaru, Karin was one of his toys just like Sasuke..perhaps that's what she needed hope for. Hinata remained silent in thought as they continued on.
The group arrived in the small village and immediately checked into an inn room. Sasuke then paired everyone up and sent them out to the fair like a bunch of children. Karin, of course, went with Sasuke, Suigetsu followed behind them rolling his eyes, while she was stuck with Jugo.
"So, what do you wanna do, Desi?"
"Oh about that..," Hinata swallowed hard and decided it was a good time to fess up about her fib, "Jugo, I lied. I'm sorry, Desi isn't my real name.." Jugo didn't even flinch. He shrugged and looked down at her. "Well what's your real name?"
"Hinata Hyuga." He didn't say much of anything after that. He only nodded as they continued their trek trough the fair grounds. Hinata cleared her throat awkwardly, "So, um, yeah. I'm sorry."
"I'm sure you had your reasons. It would've been stupid of you to give anyone a completely honest introduction without knowing them, especially after what you had just went through. You made a good choice so don't doubt yourself."
"Thanks, Jugo." Jugo stopped and got them both a bowl of spicy teriyaki chicken, egg rolls, and sweet buns. He handed Hinata a pair of chopsticks, which she plucked gingerly from his fingers. "Besides, I can't say we've been completely honest with you either. So don't feel so bad."
"Thanks..how do you suppose I should tell Karin?"
"Just like you told me. She's loud, but she'll understand. Chances are Suigetsu wont even care, so no worries there. The important one I guess is Sasuke and he already knows I'm assuming?" Hinata nodded and picked out a place for them to sit and eat their food. The silence was awkward. Jugo was unusually nice for someone that dealt with Orochimaru and his lot, and the entire team seemed to be a little different than what she expected.
"Is Karin...okay?" Jugo took a bite of food and glanced up at her. "She's never been okay.."
"She was talking about Sasuke and...I feel like there is something more going on besides clear infatuation."
"Out of all of us, she regrets the most. We've all done a lot of things we aren't too proud of. Karin is a great sensory ninja, however, she can be emotionally weak from time to time." With her newfound curiosity for Karin pressuring her, she began to ask questions about whom she was. Jugo could only tell her the things he had observed, after all, he wasn't really all that close to Karin.
"Why the sudden interest?"
"She said something that struck a cord with me on the way here.." It bothered her, for some odd reason, that Karin would need to idolize someone as her form of hope. Sure, everyone had a hero at one point but she just couldn't see it being Sasuke. "She said she could see hope in Sasuke, whatever that means."
Jugo nodded and took another bite, "Understandable. We all see hope in Sasuke. He has a goal in mind and right now that's all we have to live for. We aren't hanging our hopes on him to change the world or anything crazy like that. He just give us a purpose until we find our own purpose. If that meets logic.
"But, Karin is insane over Sasuke.. "
"Sure, Karin is infatuated with Sasuke, but she doesn't love him. For example, compare how she talks to Suigetsu to how she speaks to Sasuke. Complete day and night. If you pay close attention you'll be able to see which one she really cares about."
Hinata arched a brow, "I mean, I'm pretty sure she's mentioned having kids with Sasuke and all that crap so.."
"You just need to take a step back and understand where she's coming from. Sasuke is the survivor of a great clan and Karin looks up to him because she herself is from a very thinly spread clan. Though there are more of her family members than their are Sasuke's, it isn't by much. She's an Uzumaki so she has survivors guilt even though she wasn't directly involved. She sees Sasuke as someone strong enough to carry his clan's name and reclaim it. Karin wants his strength for her own sake, to restore her own clan. She's infatuated with him because of that." Hinata nodded in understanding of the new information, "So you think she loves Suigetsu?" Jugo smirked and plucked some chicken around with his chopsticks, "Well I know he loves her."
"You're so observant. Is it because you're quiet? And very easy to talk to.."
"I've been with this lot for a while." He remarked and took another bite of food, "So, you did know Sasuke?"
"Not personally. I was...infatuated ...with his... best friend.." She watched him nod in understanding as she continued to stuff her face. He didn't ask any further questions on the matter, which relieved her. She really wasn't up for explaining her once unhealthy obsession with Naruto. Jugo was a very easy person to talk to even though she didn't completely trust him. It was good to keep her guard up and keep in mind that these people only viewed her as a nuisance or a convenience depending on the situation. It wasn't good to get attached.
The group reunited at the hotel later that evening. Sasuke seemed to be off in his own world while Jugo and Suigetsu stared at each other out of boredom.
Hinata, of course, was stuck with Karin, whom was painting her nails. "So, Sasuke said we will be here until tomorrow. Sorry for ditching earlier, we can go out tomorrow while the guys stay here!"
"Oh, sure, and it's okay." She smiled and allowed her to finish painting before waving her arms frantically to dry them.
"So, did you have a boyfriend back in the Leaf?" Hinata couldn't help but notice all the heads, including Sasuke's, turn at the question.
"Umm, actually, to be honest, Karin. The reason I left was to avoid an arranged marriage.."
"Whoa, really? Was he ugly or something?" Hinata took a deep breath and continued, "Karin, I lied to you. My real name is Hinata, but I am from the Hyuga clan."
"I knew there was something off about you when we first met."
"Sorry."
"Ehh, no hard feelings, besides, you had your reasons. Tell me more about this arranged marriage stuff." Hinata bit the inside of her lip, "Well, it's a really long story. Basically, I didn't want to marry inside of my family. I wanted to marry for love." Hinata faked a smile, which didn't go unnoticed. However, no one said anything.
Maybe Hinata was wrong to have thought Karin was just like Sakura. Sure she was loud, maybe even louder than Naruto. However, she seemed a lot more understanding than Sakura. As a matter of fact, the only thing the two seemed to have in common was their infatuation with Sasuke.
"Was the man really that bad? The one you were supposed to marry?" Karin prodded. Hinata ceased the movement of her arms and checked her freshly dried nails. "Well, no, but he is my cousin Neji Hyuga. Father told me I was selfish to deny the engagement. However, I just can't bring myself to marry someone I don't love."
"Who do you love?"
Hinata chuckled nervously, "Well, no one." Out of the corner of her eye she saw a knowing smirk glide across Sasuke's face and she arched a brow before rolling her eyes and scoffing at him. He turned his attention to her with both brows raised in a look of amusement. "I don't have to say anything, it's written all over your face. You still love that -"
"Shut up, Sasuke.." Hinata warned rather loudly at first but said his name with a gentler tone. He smirked, absolutely enjoying himself at this point. "Why don't you make me, Hyuga." That was more of a dare than a suggestion.
"I will."
Sasuke stood and cracked his neck, "You're on." Suigetu looked more excited than usual as he jumped up claiming his spot as referee. "Okay, I want a good clean match! Winner gets-"
"Shut up Suigetsu." Sasuke interrupted, "If I'm wrestling anyone it will be on my own terms."
"Alright, I'm waiting." Hinata, slightly irked, stood with her hands behind her back. "If I lose, Hinata, you get bragging rights, of course, and you can pick our neck vacation spot." Hinata could almost jump at that oppurtunity, especially if she planned on staying with this bunch. "Alright, I agree to that!"
"..Hinata!" Karin gasped, "He hasn't said what will happen if he wins yet... you already agreed." In realization, Hinata swallowed hard. She had gotten ahead of herself for the last time. "Crap.."
"If you lose, you will have to do my laundry for a week-" Hinata nodded "AND-" There was an and? She arched a brow, "And?"
"You must help me restore my clan." Hinata stared up at him in disbelief and anger. If she hadn't been ready to throw down before, she was now. What kind of sick joke was that supposed to be? Like she would ever sleep with him...
The worst part of the situation was that she had gotten ahead of herself and already agreed to it before hearing everything he had to say. Now she really couldn't afford to lose.