Naruto twirled a lock of blue-black hair.

Kiba smoothed some wrinkles in the comforter for the fourteenth time.

Chouji slowly reached into his bag of chips, wary of making rustling sounds.

Lee wrung the glass of water in his hands, black eyebrows pointed up together in distress.

Shino was…sulking.

Shikamaru gazed out through the window. Sasuke was stepping off of his bike. He was running his fingers through his hair, his face in its usual flat, disdainful expression.

Hinata was perfectly still, her hands at her sides, creepy pupil-less eyes closed.

The burnt food stench had mixed with the air freshener (linen-scented) they had sprayed frantically in the midst of cleaning up the kitchen (or what remained of it).

"Holy shit, when Sasuke gets home he's going to fucking kill you,"

"Naruto is at fault as well!"

"I was just trying to help!" Naruto ground his teeth. He stood up and pointed at Shino. "I'm not the one who creeped Hinata-chan out so bad that she passed out!"

"Don't pick on him," Kiba growled and grabbed Naruto's collar. "Only I get to make fun of the freak,"

Shikamaru drew invisible patterns on the bed sheet with his finger, wondering how they could be so unobservant. "Guys,"

"I was not aware that it was flammable!"

"This is just like the time you dropped a wasp nest on your foot,"

"Aw, shut up! I thought there would be honey in it,"

"Guys,"

The front door slammed. Shikamaru groaned.

The boys froze, heads turning slowly.

"Did…did you hear something?" Naruto scratched the back of his head and grinned nervously.

Shikamaru rubbed his forehead. "It's going to be troublesome to explain all of this,"

After making sure the sleeping girl in the guest bed was carefully tucked in, the boys trudged across the house to the foyer.

Naruto was at the front, slouching and mumbling about it not being his fault, Kiba followed, scuffing his slippers on the floor with Lee next to him, still wringing the glass in his hands. Shikamaru, Chouji, and Shino skulked along behind them.

Sasuke Uchiha stood in the foyer, his nose up. He looked at them with cold black eyes. "What is that smell?"

lll

Hinata exhaled as she silently slid the bedroom door close. She turned towards the window and frowned at the bed. She smoothed out the wrinkles in the comforter and fluffed the pillow. "There," she beamed. "Now it's time to take my leave, I think."

Hinata was conscious by the time someone had tucked the comforter up to her chin. A sly peek showed the boys huddled around her, lining the nightstand with juice and water and warm washcloths.

They were…odd. Kidnap her, cook for her, then nurse her? What kind of gang initiation, if that's what this was supposed to be, was this? In any case, Hinata thought as she slung her bag over her shoulder, she was not joining a gang. For obvious reasons, for the fact that she was a Hyuuga, for Neji-nii disemboweling her if she did anything remotely dangerous and/or involving boys, and for the sake of common sense.

Hinata liked to give people the benefit of the doubt, but there was nothing little doubt left even in her about the motives of a gang of boys trying to make a girl join. Hinata had her pride. She would not be some idol, or the group girlfriend. She was not that desperate for a community or friends that she would allow herself to be placed on a pedestal from which a group of teenage boys could look up her skirt. That she considered it at all was shameful.

Hinata slid the window open, grateful to the deities that they put her on the first floor Hinata could manage the drop to the Uchiha's beautiful front lawn. The gates would be another problem, but nonetheless a hurdle she'd have to overcome somehow, with a little luck and courage.

Hinata landed with a small "oof!" on the damp grass. Her heart raced at her daring escape from one-story window from Konoha's notorious gang. She looked over her shoulder just in case one of them had found her out. She took a deep breath and headed towards the gates. She briefly noted the gray sky and a faint rumble of thunder in the distance. Rain would be inconvenient if she was going to climb the gate.

A little luck and courage indeed.

lll

"It was Naruto and Lee," Kiba grabbed the two by the backs of their blazers and dropped them at Sasuke's feet. "They did it!"

"Traitor!"

Sasuke sniffed and rubbed his nose. "Get me a tissue,"

Lee produced a pouch of tissues and held them above his head to their leader. "If these will suffice! I will begin my road to redemption with this!"

Sasuke accepted the pouch, briefly glancing at the colorful flower pattern on it.

Shikamaru raised a brow at Sasuke. "You alright?"

The youngest son of the Uchiha clan blew his nose and grimaced. "I think I'm catching a cold,"

"I will make you some tea!" Lee scrambled to his feet and saluted.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "With what kitchen?"

Both offenders blanched.

Sasuke scoffed and took of his blazer. He rolled up his shirt sleeves and crossed his arms as he stood before the blonde and the bowlcut. He leveled them with a piercing glare.

"How will you pay for this? I offered my home as a gathering place and second home for all of you and this is how you treat my kindness?"

The innocent four exchanged looks. If Sasuke was going to launch into an overdramatic spiel, then they were going to sit this one out on the couch.

"I'm sorry, teme! It was an accident, I swear," Naruto cried and planted his face to the floor. "It's because of-"

"Hinata?" Kiba gaped and pointed at the surveillance camera. "Hinata's outside!"

"What?" Sasuke stared at the surveillance video of the Uchiha front yard on the panel by the door. They all gathered at the panel to watch the long-haired figure in a sailor uniform dart across the lawn.

Sasuke gritted his teeth and punched a button on the panel. Another fangirl and she'd made it that far without these idiots noticing?

"What did you just press?" Naruto asked, blue eyes wide. "Sasuke, wait, that's Hinata!"

"Whatever her name is, I hope she learns her lesson not to trespass on my property," The Uchiha said coldly.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Kiba stopped him. "We invited her!"

"She is our sister!"

He raised a dark brow. "That's not my problem,"

A high-pitched scream came from the video.

Comprehension struck the boys.

Naruto grabbed Sasuke by the lapels. "You didn't,"

Sasuke shoved him off and smirked. "So what if I did?"

lll

A wet drop fell on her nose. Hinata wiped it. She only had a little way to the gates left. If it started raining, then it'd be to slippery to try to hop the gate. Why was the front yard so big?

Huffing, she sprinted towards the rose bushes. She looked over her shoulder, paranoid as ever that they had caught her and were coming for her. So far, it seemed to good to be true. She felt something brush past her ankle. Grass, probably. She felt it again, this time something cold and definitely not just grass. She looked down.

Then she screamed.

lll

"Snakes? What is wrong with you?" Naruto screeched and yanked the front door open.

"I hope they're not the venomous ones," Shikamaru remarked as he leaned against the pillars on the porch.

Sasuke shook his bangs from his eyes as he tracked the girl's progress and his comrades racing towards her. "Garter snakes for first-time offenders. They're harmless,"

"Ah, from your exotic pet collection. That's a bit much," Shikamaru said. "It was Naruto's idea to get a girl, as a mascot or something. I don't know," He scratched his nose. "I didn't think any girl would be dumb enough to come. The application made it pretty obvious that it wasn't cooking club or whatever,"

"Regardless, I don't want to see her here again," Sasuke turned and stepped back into the house.

"Sure," Shikamaru sat down on the front steps and watched the boys make a fuss. He rolled his eyes. "What a bother."

lll

"HINATA-CHAN, DON'T WORRY! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!"

"Stay back!" Hinata shrieked as she felt one curling around her arm, with another one slithering up her black stockings.

"Sister!"

Shino was squatting down and studying the snakes. "Hm,"

"Well?" Kiba anxiously looked between Shino and the distressed Hinata. "Are they poisonous or not?"

"Snakes are not in my area of expertise but no, they're not venomous," Shino declared.

Kiba shouted, "It's okay, they won't kill you!"

"Really?" Tears streamed down Naruto's face. All he got for his efforts to rescue Hinata was a snake in his hair and a snake curling around his hand. He fell on his back. And then he fainted.

Lee smiled as he pulled the snakes off of Hinata, who had dropped next to Naruto, her lips parted in an "o." She watched warily at the green snakes as they slithered away. She lowered her hand slowly onto one of snake's scaly back and marveled at the feeling. It hissed and disappeared through the matching green grass

"Sister really is aligned with nature," Lee beamed and joined her on the grass.

Kiba let out a heavy sigh of relief. "Sasuke is such an ass," He patted Shino on the back and grinned. "At least your creepy hobby was useful for once,"

Shino frowned. "I resent that,"

They all looked up at the sound of shuffling feet. "Yo," Shikamaru said.

"You're late," Kiba said. "Where's Chou?"

"Watching TV," Shikamaru said. "Sasuke wants her gone,"

"He can go fuck himself," Kiba grumbled. "He's the leader because we let him. He doesn't control us,"

"He gets the last say," Shikamaru sat down next to a fainted Naruto. He looked up."It's going to rain soon,"

"I-I think I'm going to go home now," Hinata stood slowly, brushing the grass from her skirt. She bowed her head. "Um, I'm sorry for all the trouble,"

"No more trouble than usual. Hey, Hinata," Kiba stood up, ruffling his hair. "Do you want in or not? If you want to be part of the gang, then we can fight for you,"

Hinata pulled at her sweater sleeves and paused to consider, wondering why anyone would want to go so far for her. "No thank you,"

"You wanted to join a club, right?" Kiba rubbed his chin. "I don't see how clubs are that much different from our gang,"

Hinata looked at him in disbelief. "N-Not that much different…?"

"Where's your cellphone?" Kiba asked.

He found her cellphone in her sweater pocket and took it before she could answer. He punched in some keys and handed it back to her. "My number. Call when you make up your mind, yeah?"

Hinata looked at him blankly and then at her phone, which was warm from his hands. "Um-"

Kiba toed Naruto's limp leg. "Don't worry about Sasuke. He was born with a dick up his ass, so don't mind him,"

Hinata lifted her white eyes to Shikamaru, Shino and Lee. Lee was pulling Naruto onto his back to carry the unconscious blonde.

Lee caught her eye and gave her a thumbs up. "Hinata-chan is already a part of our family in my eyes,"

Shino nodded. "I would be pleased to have you join us,"

Shikamaru shrugged. "I don't really care,"

Hinata could think of more people who would care if she joined a gang. She shook her head. "I-"

"Why is she still here?"

Hinata paled at the sight of Sasuke Uchiha standing in front of her with his arms crossed. Black eyes stared directly at her. "Leave,"

"Chill, man. She was just going," Kiba shoved past Sasuke, roughly bumping his shoulder with his. A muscle twitched on the impassive Uchiha's face.

Kiba bared his sharp canines at Hinata in a wolfish grin. "Call me!"

Shino gave her a quiet farewell while Lee raced off with Naruto's limp head bouncing and arms flailing as Lee ran. All the while, Sasuke watched her, face expressionless and eyes hard.

Hinata folded her hands in front of her, avoiding Sasuke's harsh dark eyes. Shikamaru pulled at some blades of grass, ignoring the two. She blinked when she saw feet approaching her.

She looked up quickly, catching the pale handsome face that had singlehandedly ruined most of Konoha's female population for all other men. Sasuke was the younger brother of the Uchiha heir, Itachi Uchiha. He was not to be outdone and matched Itachi's legacy as a prodigy with an almost desperate effort and intensity in academics and athletics. This had earned him considerable regard, including that of the girls.

A forked tongue flicked out at her. Sasuke was dangling a snake in front of her face.

His voice was low enough that only she could hear him."This time they were harmless," He dropped it at her feet. Hinata bit the inside of her cheek. She braved a look and froze. He was studying her face, brows furrowing slightly when she met his eyes. Hinata dropped her eyes and clasped her hands.

"I apologize for entering your home without your permission," Hinata breathed out slowly. "I d-don't intend to return,"

"I wasn't giving you a choice," He said. Sasuke pulled his phone out and pressed a key.

The enormous gates opened. Sasuke gave her a mocking bow.

Hinata's face burned with humiliation. She adjusted the strap of her bag and went through the gates. She ignored the feeling of black eyes watching her back.

Sasuke scoffed. A drop of rain fell on his forehead. He wiped it absently. "What the hell were you idiots thinking trying to recruit the Hyuuga heiress?"

lll

Hinata's pulse drummed in her ears as she ran. The thunder sounded closer and louder. It was the only warning she had before a drop of rain plopped onto her head.

"Oh!" Hinata exclaimed."Oh no, oh no! Please wait, I need to get my bike!"

The rain didn't wait; it poured.

Her bag swung at her side as she pumped her legs. The rain soaked her to the bone. "Why," she wheezed. "is the school so far?"

She finally reached the bike racks. Thankfully there was an awning over them. She took a moment to sweep wet locks of hair from her face. Shaky hands fished out her lock key and unlocked her bike.

"Hinata-sama,"

Hinata screamed.

"Oh," She pressed her hand to her pounding chest and giggled nervously. "N-Neji-nii! How strange of you to be here at a time like this! What a strange coincidence,"

Neji stood with a large black umbrella, scowling. He crossed over to her and put the umbrella over the two of them.

"Hinata-sama, it is almost 7:30 PM. You were not at school nor did you inform me of any after school activities. Where did you go?"

"B-But I did have an afterschool activity! I even have the application, see?" Hinata managed to pull out the wet sheet and presented it to him.

"You didn't call home," He pulled her coat out of a bag and put it over her shoulders. "You forgot your coat and umbrella at home too. Come,"

Hinata checked her skirt and blazer pockets and rustled her bag as they hurried to the car. After a few futile pats to her pockets, she said in a quiet voice, "I think I lost my phone,"

"You acted irresponsibly today," Neji opened the car door and ushered her in. He got into the driver's seat and exhaled heavily, white eyes showing concern. "Hinata-sama, please don't do this again. I thought the worst had happened to you,"

Hinata squeezed some water out of her long hair, her fingers ice cold. Her teeth were chattering. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I got swept up today, I guess," If he knew half the things that had happened…

Neji asked if she felt the heater and adjusted the vents until Hinata admonished him to stop fussing. The drive home was quiet and warm. It was April, but it was still cool in the evenings and when especially so when it rained. The rain and the drive were making her drowsy.

"Nej-nii, what about my bike?" Hinata asked sleepily.

"I'll drive you to school tomorrow," Neji's expression turned dark. "I still don't think you should have to ride that thing to school,"

She frowned. "Father says it would help if I was more physically active,"

"Help with what?" He tapped the wheel impatiently and scowled. "Hinata-sama is perfect,"

She blushed and waved her hand at that. "He thinks I'll be stronger if I biked every day,"

"If our schedules didn't conflict, I would have been able pick you up every day," he grumbled.

Hinata pressed her fingertips to the heater. The car rolled up to the Hyuuga manor.

She patted her face with her warm hands. "Is Father home?"

"He had business with the council today,"

Neji grabbed her bag and the umbrella from the backseat. He opened the door and the umbrella and went around to her door. "I already asked for a bath to be prepared,"

Hinata ducked under the umbrella. She pressed her bag to her chest and smiled at the thought of a warm bath after a long day. Neji spoiled her an awful lot, but she couldn't say she didn't enjoy it.

The house was dim and quiet. There was only the sound of the rain and soft movement from the housekeepers. Hinata slid open the bathroom door and almost swooned at the scent of the freshly cut flowers placed on the counters, the warm steam, and her fluffy towels and robe. She was all too happy indulge her senses. The water warmed her cool skin and the scented bathwater made sure that she left smelling like a field of wildflowers and sugary pastries once she got out.

Hinata was humming, hugging her soft robe and touching her face, post-sheet mask and chamomile-infused moisturizer for her sensitive skin. Indulgence at its finest!

Once dressed and dried, she curled up in her bed, the sheer lavender canopy down and the lamp on her nightstand lit. She felt like she was missing something. Her eyes widened and she slapped her forehead.

"My phone," she griped and flopped onto her stomach. "I wanted to call Ino-chan but," she frowned. "I don't have her number memorized,"

Her stomach clenched at the idea of her phone being in the hands of Sasuke Uchiha of all people. Would they try to return it to her? She could only imagine the horror that would unfold if one of them tried to come to her school to give her phone back. Her Senju school uniform was easily recognizable and it was forbidden for Senju girls to date openly. The girls would crucify her if their coveted Sasuke-kun tried to talk to her in public. She grimly recalled his fanclub's slogan: Sasuke-kun belongs to everyone.

Though considering they were a gang, it was more likely that they would sell her phone for a gun or something.

It had been such a strange encounter, like the story of the girl who had fallen into a rabbit hole. Except she'd been kidnapped. But that strange story had ended. There was no way she was going to join a gang. She had common sense!