AnimeCrasherz: I'm so sorry... I haven't posted a new chapter in forever! How long has it been, months? I'm sorry!
It seems that although most of you guys don't review, you still read the story... -glare-
Well, some people do review and are very kind so I am continuing reposting this story.
On a final note.. HAPPY THANKSGIVING! (to those of you that don't celebrate thanksgiving, just ignore that then.)
Chapter 7, Eleison
(Now Sasuke's P.O.V.)
Hinata's body was limp in my arms as Sakura laid her palms on the wound in Hinata's stomach, expelling chakra to heal it. The whimpers that came from this almost motionless being made me cringe, as they tugged at my heartstrings a little too hard...
I glanced at Hinata's eyes, shut tightly due to the pain.
Naruto stood a couple feet away, next to Akiko who looked like she would be emotionally scarred for the rest of her life. Naruto looked like he was debating on whether to come up and do something or just stand there. His features looked strained, and he rose a hand up, as if he could touch hinata from where he was stading. I looked at him, confused.
Weren't they going out?
The confusion didn't show up on my face but I was bewildered at the fact that they hadn't spoken or even looked at eachother in the eye this whole time. It would have been rude of me to say anything and butt in, it wasn't my place. It still feels like something is wrong though...
Hinata's features twisted in pain for a split second before going back to normal again.
... but that isn't my problem right now.
( Back to Hinata's P.O.V.)
In pure bliss I closed my eyes and listened to the soothing violins...
Where am I...?
Opening my eyes, I looked around. There were rows of people, all dressed in black. Most were deathly quiet, other's had tear-streaked faces and gave small sniffles while some were even broken down crying.
I walked past the long rows of solemn humans, none seemed to notice me.
As I looked up, there was a small quartet of violinists and a woman in the middle began to sing, her smooth, sweet voice tugging at the hearts of all of the people.
Finally, I walked up to the first row of people and stood, looking forward. There was a large, black coffin reflecting the sunlight.
Hundreds and hundreds of large, beautiful, serenely white flowers, glowing almost angelically, adorned the large black coffin.
I heard a someone clear their throat beside me. When I turned, I almost choked.
Neji. He was dressed all in black, standing solemnly. While I couldn't read his expression, I saw that his eyes were focused on the coffin.
That's when I truly began to search the crowd. With my keen vision I spotted the crying faces of my teammates, Sakura, Ino, and many other people who had been in the academy with me. I saw Hanabi, too, as well as the entire Main House and Branch House.
A funeral...
I gasped. Walking up to the coffin, I saw the small photo framed in the middle of the bunches of lilies.
I froze, my mouth went dry, and my heart sank to the very pit of my stomach.
In the frame was a picture of me. I stared at it in sheer terror while it smiled back at me, taunting me.
Half of the coffin was open, and I looked in it. I lay there, or at least, someone who looked and awful lot like me lay there. The persons eyes were closed and she was death-pale.
My hand reached out to touch her face. It got closer and closer until...
"Ouch!" I pulled my hand back, feeling pain as if I had touched fire. But the body was lifeless and cold.
Closing my eyes I shook my heard hard, trying to rid myself of the scene before me, the sounds of crying behind me, the singing woman's sweet, haunting voice and the hypnotizing violins...
"Hinata!" a voice called out to me. It was familiar, but I couldn't recognize it.
"N-no..." I sank to the ground, grabbing onto the coffin for support. Some lilies rained upon me, their petals brushing my face.
"Hinata!" the same voice called out, more desparately. "Wake up!"
I opened my eyes, expecting to see the black coffin.
But I was looking into a pair of black eyes.
"Sasuke?" I sat up, felt a sharp pain in my stomach, and lied back down. My stomach had been bandaged in red-stained gauze.
Sakura heaved a sigh of relief and fell back on her haunches. She gave a soft smile.
I heard a nervous laugh and looked over at Akiko, who had finally been brave enough to walk up to me.
Where was Naruto?
"Can you get up now?" Sakura asked.
Sasuke helped me stand up, I hobbled a little bit until I was able to stand on my own and look around.
Where had Naruto gone to?
"Ano..." I looked at Sakura and Sasuke, "Where's... where is..."
Sakura cringed and answered before I could say his name. "He went off somewhere in the woods to be alone."
"I'll go find him if you want..." Akiko said, seeming as if she wanted to do something to help since she hadn't done anything but cause trouble, in her opinion.
"I'll go!" Sakura and I said at the same time. We looked at eachother, then looked away.
"I-I'll go, S-Sakura-chan..." I began walking away slowly towards the woods.
There was a pause.
"What was that all about?" Sasuke looked over at Sakura, expecting and answer or at least mutual confusion.
But instead she only clenched her fists, avoiding his eyes and announcing quietly that she was going to get their stuff together so they could keep going.
Akiko and Sasuke shared a look of confusion. (AWWW! That would be a cute scene.) They shrugged and went to help Sakura.
I trudged through the forest, following the trail of broken twigs and branches that Naruto undoubtedly -and unknowigly- left behind.
The sun was barely beginning to come up, turning the sky a temporary butter-yellow.
Like his hair...
Until it turned a brighter blue.
Like his eyes...
Until the blue mixed with a soft pastel pink that allowed to change my thoughts for a moment.
But not for long, as I spotted a flash of bright orange. My heart started beating wildly.
What would I say? I had volunteered to go look for him because I felt I owed him an apology for slapping him (and saying those horrible things, though I meant them), and more so because I felt HE owed ME an apology too.
I approached the rock he was sitting on, came up behind him and poked his shoulder softly.
"Naruto-kun?"
He turned around reluctantly, surprised to see me.
I was shocked at his watery eyes, but dismissed it as allergies or something.
He looked at me for a moment, and I saw the hurt in his face until he turned around and asked, "What do you want?"
"W-well... we have t-t-to be getting b-back..." I looked at the trees, the sky, the rock, anything but those blue eyes.
"..." he got up. "Fine."
We walked back in silence. He seemed angry to me, but I couldn't be sure.
"N-Naruto..." I began. I pushed my pointer fingers together like I do whenever I'm nervous.
"What?" He kept walking, looking straight forward.
"I...I"m sorry..." the tears welled up in my eyes at the shameful memory. "F-for... sla-slapping..." I choked out theword."...y-y-you... and saying th-those horrible things..."
He continued walking forward, silent. I waited for a moment until he spoke.
"I'm sorry, too."
And that was it. We were back at the cave with Akiko, Sasuke, and Sakura.
"Well, I-"
"Naruto." Sasuke called his name, and Naruto looked up. He walked over to Sasuke, and they started talking together.
"Ah..." And that's that... I guess...
"Everyone!" Akiko shouted. She was smiling like an idiot. (As always.) "I have something to say!"
When she was sure everyone was listening she stated, "As of now you're all invited to my wedding!
AnimeCrasherz: Chapter 8 might take even longer than chapter 7 did... I saved all of the deleted chapters (luckily), except chapter 8! Somehow it got lost somewhere... hopefully I can find it, ne?
NOW REVIEW! Will you please be kind and just push that purple button, type out a few words and click enter? It doesn't take that long!