(A/N): I'm so sorry about the VERY long delay… I have been quite busy with school and what not… I don't have much to say… so… here's the next chapter…
Disclaimer: What? Me? Watashi? Ako? (tagalong) Ana? (Arabic) Uhh… I think those are the only I's I know… XD
Genre: Angst/ Drama/ Romance
Rating: T, for that evil tongue of Sasuke's
…Enjoy…
Chapter 8
"Behind words"
Hinata's POV
I cried… I cried all my tears out onto Neji-nii-san's chest. I didn't even know the reason why yet. I just had a bad feeling, a very bad one after all of the things I had seen that day. I wanted to find out… I wanted to know what was going on around me. But I was scared; I was terrified to find out something that I would go better without.
I lifted up my tear decorated face and looked into my cousin's eyes.
"Neji-nii-san?" I whispered out, my voice still weak from crying.
"Hm?" He inquired softly, his soft hands playing with my hair in a gesture to calm me down.
"D-do you kn-know what's g-going on?" I asked, still holding onto my older cousin's shirt.
He stayed silent for awhile then shook his head slowly.
"No, but would you like me to find out, Hinata-sama?" He was always so kind to me, so protective. But this time, I wanted to show him that I was ready to be al least somewhat independent.
I smiled kindly up to his calm face and let go of his wet shirt, shaking my head slightly.
"It's okay, nii-san. I want to do this on my own… When I am ready, I will talk to Naruto-kun." With that, I left the room, giving my cousin a small peck on his cheek as gratitude for his kindness.
I left to the safety of my room and sat on my bed solemnly. I tried to stop remembering that sudden scene, that one action that made me cry so harshly.
'People can see… Naruto-koi'
I laid my body onto my soft bed tiredly. Tomorrow, I will build enough courage to talk to him… at least ask him if he even considered my confession that other day.
I didn't want to give up… not with something this important.
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Sasuke's POV
Sleep was not easily accomplished. I don't think I even closed my eyes to keep them that way for at least 5 minutes. The reason was unknown, but I was certainly uncomfortable about something. And the fact that Hinata's sorrowful face kept on flashing into my mind was not helping at all.
So I groggily took care of my hygiene the following morning, quickly putting on some clothes carelessly. After a night of self-conflict, I decided that I could not just leave the subject alone… I would have to do something… if I wanted to keep my pride, at least what I had left of it.
I headed towards that damned ramen stand and waited for Naruto. Surely he would visit that place some time that day… I needed to talk to him.
Half an hour later, my assumption became reality as I saw the hyper ninja walk happily to the stand.
"Oi, Sasuke! I didn't know you ate ramen!"
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Out of POV
Her messily tied up midnight hair played with the wind as she made her way to the place she always thought of when the blonde ninja entered her mind.
She would talk to him, just a few questions, nothing else… all she wanted, was to make sure that she wasn't just merely jumping into conclusions.
She just couldn't interpret it. She couldn't understand what kind of gesture that was yesterday. Naruto, holding Sakura up, the pink haired girl saying something in a low voice about… 'love'. Something was not right. And being the one girl that had fallen in love with Naruto since childhood, Hinata couldn't help but panic and ask herself the dreaded question…
Was she too late?
He grinned famously at the raven haired boy beside him as he waited for his precious ramen. Naruto was generally a happy boy. But Sasuke sensed that something was different. The happiness that used to be in the boy had changed into something else, or maybe… another level.
"Aren't you going to eat, Sasuke?" He asked his rival loudly, nodding at the old man who had just served his all time favorite.
The avenger shook his head and waited for the right time to start talking about the matter that was currently invading his mind.
"Hey, guess what?" It seemed as if something was on Naruto's mind as well. His voice represented that of someone who was excited to reveal something.
"What?"
He smiled as he slurped up a noodle, something was definitely different.
She froze when she saw Naruto sitting where he would always sit. Like always, her heart skipped a few beats, her face becoming red as ever. But that wasn't why she froze. She wanted to talk to him in private, but it seemed as if now was not the right time. Sasuke was currently with him, and it didn't look like he would leave anytime soon.
So she turned left and jumped onto one of the roofs. She made her way silently to the roof of where the person she admired so much was. She closed her eyes and sat down, this might take awhile.
A slight pink color decorated the face of the Hokage obsessed boy when his best friend asked that single question.
"Well…-", he scratched his head playfully while continuing his meal, "-as you know, I have always loved Sakura… but she's never even considered me as more than a friend right?"
The raven haired prodigy nodded apathetically… he really could care less.
"On that mission, I really don't know what triggered the moment but… uhh…-", he grinned anxiously at the boy beside him, unable to complete his sentence, "-it was kind of like… umm… how do I say this…?"
"Spit it out, Naruto." Although he really didn't want to know, he was getting annoyed with the fact that Naruto, of all people, was nervous.
"Fine… Fine… Anyways, Sakura confessed to me. She said that she loved me and we even shared our first kiss. She started crying, saying that she was sorry about treating me like nothing those years ago… and that she was over you a year after you left." He sighed out, glad that he had finally shared his happiness with someone, his best friend and rival.
The raven haired survivor stayed silent as he registered what his friend had just told him.
Things were obviously, not going as planned.
She ran, ran as far as she could to nowhere in particular. She just wanted to get away, to be unable to see the face the one she loved so happy for someone else instead of her.
She never knew it would end up like this in the end. She knew that he had always loved Sakura, but never in her right mind did she think that the love the pink haired kunoichi once had for the most popular guy in Konoha would change target… would change for the most unpopular guy in Konoha... Naruto.
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Hinata's POV
I didn't know where I was going and I didn't care. I had heard too much and I just wanted to get rid of it all… all of my memories that I treasured dearly, and all of the night mares which made me gain courage.
I was never selfish in my entire life. I never asked for anything. Every time my father would ask me to do something, I would do it with no question. I followed my team and tried my best in every mission I did. I accepted the fact that my sister was much stronger than I, and I even let her boss me around when she felt like it.
But there was just one thing I wanted. Just one simple thing…
Love.
I wanted HIM to feel for me what I had felt for so long. And if not, at least a good friendship, one like where one would never leave the other alone. But just recently, when I found out that he was finally with the love of his life, I looked back at the relationship between myself and him… and quite frankly… we aren't even friends.
And to add to my pain, I was played with. I did not know by whom… but my feelings were played with between someone's hands. I had confessed to the outlook of Naruto… not to him himself. Currently, I did not want to find out whom, but I was sure that one day, my rage would take over and I would demand who had uncaringly took the place of the boy I loved and let me confess to him.
But now, I just wanted to cry, to let the tears fall and land onto the warm soil beneath me. I sat myself down sadly, taking my knees into my arms, and burying my head into them.
It would be an understatement to say that I was happy for Naruto. I might be kind… but this was something I just couldn't be myself with…
I cursed her… so many foul words I had never used, suddenly all spilled out of my mouth, and every single one of them was directed to HER. The spotlight of HIS affection… Haruno Sakura.
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Sasuke's POV
I cursed myself beneath my breath as I watched the trembling figure quickly run away. She had heard everything and I was sure that it was not all good to her ears. And I really could not blame her… not this time…
I left the loud shinobi to boast about his new girl friend by himself, quickly making my way to wherever the Hyuuga heiress was planning to go to. I shouldn't have thought of anything from the beginning. I shouldn't have bored myself, I shouldn't have thought of an idea to entertain myself, and I really shouldn't have acted like Naruto in front of Hinata. Of all people, why HER?!
She was a fast runner… THAT I could admit. All I remembered those years ago before I left to Orochimaru was that she was shy, sensitive… and on some level, weak. I didn't bother myself to criticize her since I really didn't care but I could see that she wasn't as weak as people gossiped. Yes, she wasn't as smart as Sakura and yes she wasn't as strong as her cousin, but how like every strength has its weakness, every weakness had its strength.
I guess hers was that she could reach into even the deepest of hearts. Her white eyes were always so pure and honest, even though I haven't looked into them except for maybe once or twice, but I remember the feeling that flew into me once I did. She was neither harsh nor rude, but her eyes… were different. They were captivating and demanding… and in someway… confident.
So maybe that's why I am currently trying to follow her crying form, hoping that she wouldn't look up at me with eyes full of sadness when I finally told her the truth. I may be clueless about emotions, but I knew one thing… Hinata had captured me… with naught but a few words and kind glances. I really couldn't help but feel that I wanted her to feel for me the same way she felt for Naruto. But still… being Sasuke, the same saying kept on repeating itself over and over again while I followed her…
I must be out of my mind…
I made a quick right turn, unaware that the sight I was about to see would cause my heart to jump to my throat…
May: Yes, bad chapter… This is more like a filler… I haven't written for quite sometime now, and I haven't gone over this fanfic so I kind of lost the plot. So I wrote this chapter to just set things on track… Don't worry. The next chappie shall be the last. Most replies were 'happy endings' so I guess that's how this story will end .
I used my own twisted imagination to write this story. I apologize if the plot is any similar to anyone else's out there. I didn't mean to copy if that's what anyone thinks.
Reviews are motivating and they bring a smile to my face… flames however will be disregarded and uncared for…
Take care