Shimi-chan: You know what bugs me? People who start sentences with 'I can't stand people who…' Why don't you save us all some time and just straight out tell us who you're talking about? Because we all know this: 'I can't stand people who…' leads to this: 'like that girl/guy…'
Ok, now my reviews.
Kichou, yes I put Hanabi into a sisterly role. Since there is no actual extensive reports on Hanabi's personality, I figured I could have a field day with it. She comes out later.
NinaWilliamsSilentAssassin, that sounds do-able. Actually it makes sense. See, I know nothing of that sort of thing. At all. I was raised by my brothers (practically) so it's not my forte. Thanks for your help, I'll make sure I change it!
To everyone who was wondering who the mystery kisser was: It was a rapist that just happened to be there. No, just kidding…I won't tell. Hee. It was designed to be that way. You'll all figure it out eventually.
To those of you that figured it out: You're too smart for your own good. Just don't tell anyone. You know who you are.
Oh, sorry. Nina, I tried to change that make up thing but my compuer was acting up and it wouldn't let me download another file. I'll try to do it again later, but for right now, I'll just put this.
Chapter Seven:
Her eyes were red that morning. The whole room was silent, unsure of how to comfort the broken young lady, but she ignored their silence and ate her breakfast slowly.
The party was over. The merriment was over. And Hinata was leaving today. But no one had seen her pack her bags. No one had seen her cry. No one had even seen her come home.
But she was here, her suitcase was at the door, and there were puffy red bags under her eyes. No one had seen her do anything, but everyone knew they'd been done. Finally, after having begun the morning with silence, it proved too much for Fugaku.
"Today's the last day of the Konoha carnival."
No one replied. No one even looked up.
He cleared his throat. "Why don't you all go?"
They all looked up at him with the same blank expression.
He went right on smiling, hoping his own good cheer would have some kind of effect.
"We don't feel like going," Sasuke said, in representation for all of them.
"But it may be fun! It would also be a good last day for Hinata!"
"Fugaku!" Mikoto said chastingly ( this is not a word. But it sounds like one.), before placing a comforting hand on Hinata's. "It may be fun, Hinata. I'm sure the boys would agree to go with you."
Hinata glanced down at the hand, then at Mikoto with broken eyes. She sighed, offering a weak smile, but nodded nonetheless.
Fugaku grinned. "Excellent! Boys, you wouldn't mind escorting Hinata, would you?"
Neither had an objection.
"Excellent," Fugaku repeated. "Then it's settled! Why don't you all get ready now?"
All three young shinobi pulled away from the table and sluggishly walked to their appropriate room s to get ready for the 'best day ever.'
Yip-fucking-ee.
-
Before they could lose their will, they were at the carnival in Konoha. It was packed with screaming children and the smell of food that probably wasn't even edible. Both things bothered the Uchiha brothers, but it seemed to interest Hinata, who had never before been to a carnival. Try as she might, she couldn't retain her previous feelings of depression. Didn't she have a right to enjoy herself?
Before long she was like one of the many children there, pointing at random things and staring at the attractions. The other two mostly followed behind, not finding any particularly interesting thing, but seeing no reason to stop Hinata's rampage either. That is, until they got to it.
The 'Demon Fox.'
Said to be the biggest ride in any carnival, and the moment the group saw it, they all had entirely different reactions. Sasuke and Itachi wanted to ride it. They really did. But the moment Hinata lay eyes on the screaming metal death trap, she paled.
Even so, Itachi made the dreaded suggestion. "Why don't we go on that one?"
Hinata was still staring at it wide-eyed. "W-Well…"
"We don't have to," Sasuke stated.
Itachi, noticing Hinata's discomfort, conceded. "Fine. We'll just go on it next year, I guess."
They'd both started to move on before Hinata timidly whispered, "W-Well…W-Why don't w-w-we go o-o-on it…"
The two exchanged glances, then looked at Hinata, then exchanged glances again. And unfortunately for Hinata, you didn't need to tell them twice. It was a good thing the line wasn't that long otherwise Hinata may have lost her nerve before she was even in a chair. But she had no chance, for it wasn't long before she was being strapped into the Demon Fox. The moment the little metal bar came down, Hinata gripped it so tightly her knuckles turned white…er.
"You don't have to go on this, you know…"
"N-N-No i-i-i-it's r-r-r-really ok-kay."
And that was that. The Demon Fox started up the hill slowly, painfully slowly, and when they were at the top, Hinata knew her life was over.
When the ride came to a screeching halt at the bottom -after going through many loops and dives- Hinata could be seen at the front (a position both Uchiha's had insisted upon) with her eyes tightly shut while gripping the metal bar for dear life. The ride operator that came to let her off had to pry her hands off the bar, and when he had they were shaking.
"Ma'am…? Are you alright?"
She nodded with a shocked expression on her face. He stared at her strangely before moving on to the next car.
"Maybe this wasn't such a good idea…" Sasuke started.
That is, before Hinata broke out into a shy grin. "N-No…That was actually fun! In a suicidal kind of way…"
Sasuke chuckled. Itachi smirked. Hinata smiled timidly.
The next thing on the list was some games. But that quickly got boring, and the game directors had to keep kicking them out, for with their superior shinobi skill they were clearing out the prize wall. So they began walking around aimlessly, chatting casually, before they spotted the fun house. Or, some might call it, house of mirrors.
"Wh-What's that?"
Sasuke glanced at it. "Oh, that's the fun house. It's kind of boring."
She looked disappointed. "Oh…"
"…But I guess we could go on it."
She smiled. "Really?!"
"Hell no," Itachi said. "That shit is boring as hell. Trust me, you're not missing out on anything. Besides, it's closed."
"We could make it more interesting," Sasuke said.
"Really, smartass? Like how?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe we could…"
"…p-play…hide and seek?"
The looked at her with eyebrows raised.
She blushed. "I-I'm sorry! Th-that was a s-s-stupid idea! It's just…I never played that before…"
Really, how do you say no to that?
So they all snuck on it. And it did get a lot more interesting when the three shinobi started to use their ninjutsu to aid their game. It was a test of skill, and we all know how the Uchiha brothers just love showing off their skill.
Almost needless to say, Hinata was the first on found in their game. Sasuke had snuck up behind her and tapped her on the waist, where she unexpectedly laughed.
He lifted a brow.
"S-Sorry, Sasuke-kun…b-b-but I'm really ticklish…"
He smirked slowly. "Is that so?"
"Sasuke-kun…d-don't…"
But that kind of knowledge is too hard to pass up. He poked her again casually, though amusement flickered in his eyes when she giggled while trying unsuccessfully to put distance between herself and him. In a matter of seconds, she was laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
All this noise made them easy enough to find for Itachi. When he came upon the scene, he lifted a brow.
"What the hell are you two doing?"
Hinata was laughing too hard to reply, and Sasuke just too indifferent to his brother.
"Someone answer me."
No reply, just Hinata's laughter.
He was growing annoyed. "Cut it out, you two, right now."
Not going to happen.
Itachi, in his blind rage, slammed the wall beside him in emphasis. "Shut the hell up!"
Now, for those of you who don't remember, they're in the house of mirrors. The house of very fragile mirrors. The impact of his hit made a chain reaction occur that started with a loud crack. That shut Hinata from her laughter immediately. Still in shock, they watched the crack spread like leprosy throughout the rest of the mirrors.
"Oh shit let's get the hell out of here!"
The three disappeared in a puff of smoke, landing far enough where they could see the entire house crumble as a bunch of people stood around it and stared. Hinata couldn't help but gape, but the two Uchiha men exchanged amused glances.
Such sadistic bastards…
-
When they finally arrived back at the house, long after the house of mirrors incident, Neji was in the living room with Mikoto and Fugaku, practically pulling his hair out from irritation. Hinata saw him first and smiled.
"N-Neji-kun!"
Upon the sound of his cousin's voice, Neji's face lit up. He immediately excused himself from the endless conversation and went to hug his cousin in gratitude. He noticed he things in her arms.
"What the hells all this?"
"I went to the carnival!" she said, sounding like a little girl bragging about getting a gold start on a test.
He smiled at his cousin's excitement. "That's good. We have to go now, Hinata."
Her face turned solemn. "Actually…I'm n-not going."
The whole room was surprised.
"What do you mean you're not going?"
"I…I th-though about it a-a lot…He's never s-s-satisfied. When I didn't…know how to fight, he w-w-was mad…and when I l-learned, h-he's still mad…I can't take it. I'm not going until I'm the b-b-best there is…"
Neji gave her a pitying stare. "Hinata…I'm sorry, but—"
"No. I-I'm sorry, Neji-kun, b-but…I have to…stand up for myself."
He fell silent.
"I'm not going," she repeated with finality.
Sighing, he nodded. "You're going to get me in deep shit for this, Hinata."
"I-I'm sorry…"
He smiled. "Don't be. It's about time you learned to defend yourself."
She smiled and nodded.
Neji turned politely to the elders of the house. He bowed. "I hope you don't mind. Hinata would like to stay."
Fugaku nodded with a serious expression. "Okay."
Neji gave his cousin a hug good-bye and left.
Hinata hugged her bear to herself silently before sighing. "M-my father's going to come…"
Fugaku nodded again. "I know. It doesn't matter; I have no intention of putting you out in the street."
She smiled gratefully. "Thank you."
Itachi came and patted her affectionately on the head. "So you're staying for good?"
She nodded.
"You know that means I'm intensifying your training."
She nodded smilingly.
He smirked. "Good. Let's all get some sleep."
"What a corny way to end the chapter…" Sasuke muttered.
Itachi turned irately to his brother. "What'd you say?!"
He shrugged. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
Shimi-chan: It took me two days to write this chapter…Sigh Oh well, it doesn't matter. I only just posted chapter one before finishing this, so whatever.