Hello everyone. I really liked writing this chapter; I got so excited it was like verbal purging. I kind of get possessed when I write, so excuse any errors :T I know I do this every chapter, but I reallly REALLY want you guys to know how much your reviews mean to me. Honestly, I want to become a writer someday, and your feed back helps so much. Even if it's just one or two words, you're helping me fulfill my dreams. So thank you all, so very much. Enjoy :D
Disclaimer: Naruto Own Don't I. Er...Buh-bye?
Chapter Eleven: Your Turmoil
"Hey." They all turned around at the sound of the elder vampire's voice.
"Kakashi, where they hell were you?"
He waved his arm, gesturing towards the expensive leather luggage set. "Packing."
"You knew?"
"...Yeah pretty much."
"Why didn't-"
Kakashi stopped Sasuke with his hand. "I can only see the future; I'm not allowed to interfere. So I thought I'd get a head start on our packing. The car's out waiting, if you will."
In the midst of all the chaos and disorder, they had to admire Kakashi's control in a situation like this.
Neji put his hands on Tenten's shoulders. "You all ready to go?"
He noticed that she felt unusually tense and stiff in his grasp. Neji gave her a little shake, then turned her around to face him when he failed to answer. His widened when he saw how grave she looked. "Tenten?"
She removed his hands from her shoulders and gave them a little squeeze before letting go. "Hinata."
"Yes?"
"I need to check you for any cuts or bites."
"B-but I thought Neji already..."
"Did he strip-search you?" She looked at Hinata's beet red face. "I thought so. Come with me."
"T-Tenten, I really-"
"Hinata, trust me when I say that in a situation like this, it's better safe than sorry."
She saw Hinata hesitate.
"Hinata! I know I'm not usually such a bitch, but believe me, and you can ask your cousin, but I am not a patient woman!"
In all of their outings and social happenings, Tenten had always been the mother figure; the caring authoritative voice that kept everyone under control. But now, being the subject of Tenten's rage, Hinata was sure of one thing. No matter how kind and caring Tenten was, she was still a vampire. And it was extremely unwise to disobey her.
Naruto stopped cowering behind a throw cushion. "Tenten, I'm sure she's fine. We checked-"
"It won't hurt to check again."
This time Hinata didn't resist as Tenten dragged her into the adjacent room. Tenten worked quickly in removing Hinata's clothing. Standing in nothing but her undergarments, she felt ridiculous for feeling embarrassed. It was only Tenten, after all.
"Sorry I was so harsh with you."
"It's okay..sorry I was so difficult."
"No no! I just...can you keep a secret?"
"Uh huh."
"You know how Naruto and Gaara kept watch over me before I was attacked?"
Hinata nodded. "Well the truth is...I was infected before they knew it. One day, I was in the woods training when this strange man came near. He was wearing a cloak, so I couldn't really see his face. He...he said he needed money, for the winter, and was selling flowers. When I went over to buy one, he tripped me. I didn't know he did it on purpose, but looking back I realized it was all part of his plan. When I fell, I felt a slight sting on my wrist. I assumed it was just a vine, or a rock I had landed on. The man helped me up, then disappeared."
"I went back home, never realizing the danger I was in. The bite he had given me was so small that Gaara or Naruto never noticed it. Had they known, they would've immediately sucked the poison out of me. But it was a small cut, so it took many days before the poison took effect. I was in the woods one day when the symptoms kicked in. Hinata, it was the most unbelievable pain imaginable." She handed Hinata her shirt, smiling.
"I don't blame them for what happened, and I don't ever plan on telling them. Still I can't help but wonder...what if they had been more alert? Maybe things would've have turned out differently for me. I might have even had a few kids of my own..." she patted her flat, barren stomach. "You know, I've always wanted to have kids."
She heard sniffling and turned to Hinata, who was bawling her eyes out. "But don't feel sorry for me now! I've made the best friends, seen a lot of great things in my life, and I've also met the man of my dreams. So everything's just fine...I just don't want to live with the regret that I could've saved you."
"So, am I...?"
"You're fine." She ruffled Hinata's soft black hair. "Ready to go?"
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"We'll go to Sai's coven, up in France! I love the French!"
Naruto glared at the thought of the artistic vamp. "No way! That boy has an extremely unhealthy infatuation with my genitals!"
"You can't blame him; you're always running around the house naked."
"Would you all SHUT UP!" ...UP...UP...UP...
Tenten's voice continued to echo into the background. "We're going to stay with Shikamaru and Temari's coven in Greenland. There are plenty of vampires there; we'll be able to blend in easily."
Gaara's spring green eyes brightened in a rare moment of excitement. "My sister's coven?"
She nuggied him, much to his annoyance. "That's right, GaaGaa!" Tenten turned to Hinata, who was sitting behind her next to Sasuke. "You'll love Greenland. The name's still deceiving, but it's absolutely beautiful! And you can meet Temari and Shikamaru. He's totally whipped, but he's good people all the same."
Hinata nodded. She turned to her left, where Sasuke was sitting beside her. Ever since their surprise guest visitor, Sasuke had been quiet. Well, quieter. He had hardly said a word all day. Currently, he had his forehead resting against the window, staring at the road ahead.
They had spent all morning together, but it seemed so vague and far away after all of the havoc and disorder. She just wanted to feel the coldness of his skin, running along the surface of her neck. It had happened so often that Hinata took it for granted, the way his fingers tiptoed thirstily along the nape of her neck. Staring out the window, she felt ignored and discarded. It felt like he was growing tired of her. She sighed; after all, she wasn't worth all of the trouble she was putting them through.
Unbeknownst to her, Sasuke was well aware of her presence. In fact, ever since their surprise visitor, Sasuke had focused every ounce of his concentration towards detecting any potential threats. How badly he wanted to spent more lazy afternoons with her, simply sitting under a tree and looking at the moon. But it didn't matter what he wanted, or how she felt at the moment. He had his priorities, and it was keeping her alive. Even now, his eyes would check on her every few seconds, just to be sure.
Hinata's thoughts were interrupted as the car rolled to a stop. She looked at the clock; four hours already? It felt like all of her thoughts, these emotional roller coasters, had flown her through the hours in a matter of minutes. A valet opened their door.
"Welcome to the Grands Hotel! Allow me to take your bags." If Hinata had not been so distraught, she would've marveled at the sight of the extravagant hotel.
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The nine of them were gathered in a huge suite, all circled around the coven head. Kakashi sighed, once again reminding Hinata of how old he actually was. He laced his fingers together, tucked them under his chin.
"As you probably figured out, it's too risky for us to travel together. We'll split up into two groups, then meet again when we're in Greenland. I've already contacted Shikamaru; he'll be in the shadow of the clock tower, ready to conceal all of us. Remember: be at the tower by 3 p.m. in a week."
Now the question that everyone was really dying to know. One group would have no trouble at all; the other, on high alert. Hinata gave up waiting - "What are the groups?"
Kakashi looked at Sasuke; he clenched his fists. The air in the room became heavy with tension. Sasuke looked at Kakashi head on. "What's the groups?" he murmured in a dark, quiet voice.
"Group one...Tenten, Kiba, Gaara, Naruto, and...Sasuke."
Sasuke looked indignant. "Keep going."
"...And group two, Shino, Neji, myself, and Hinata-"
"Kakashi."
The softness of his voice was incredibly unnerving.
"Sasuke, try to understand. They know you'll tryto protect her. We need to split you-"
"Can't do it."
The poor white haired was prepared for the battle that he knew would ensue.
"Think about it Sasuke."
"Okay. Can't do it."
Even Hinata was shocked at his degree of insistence. It was extremely selfish of her to feel this way, but the idea of being separated from him frightened her. But what could she do? She couldn't disagree with everything that Kakashi had said so far. It wasn't her place to.
"Sorry Sasuke. You're split." He was done arguing with Sasuke. He knew that this would improve her chance of survival; the last time he had given Sasuke freedom, he had ran away to get himself bitten. It was hard to tell sometimes, because of Kakashi's upbeat nature, but he was still the guardian figure. Such decisions had to be made.
Kakashi didn't even flinch when he heard the sound of shattered glass. Didn't even turn around to tabulate how much the shattered TV, broken bed frame, and punctured wall would cost him.
Naruto scratched his head in fustration and exhaustion. "Why don't we all just, like...get some sleep, we have a big day tomorrow -...fuck it. I'm out."
He disappeared down the hallway and collapsed on to one of the beds. He simply lay there, staring up at the stucco ceilings.
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Morning had come too soon. It was slightly unnerving to wake up to eight people staring at her. She combed her hands through her hair and sat up unhappily. Today was the day.
But today had come too soon...
While the others were busy packing, she slipped away from them and stalked off to where Sasuke was, sitting in a corner in the shadows.
He looked up when she approached him, but averted his eyes. It was too painful to look at her.
"Sasuke..." what could she possibly say to remedy this situation?
Apparently, nothing as he snaked an arm around her waist and drew her in, crushing her. He leaned his chin against the top of her head, running her hands over her silky hair. "We don't have to." part this way...
She reluctantly clutched the sides of his jacket with her hands; touching him would make it all the more harder to let go. "I...I don't know..."
"We don't have to," he assured her once again.
His proposition was tempting; runaway with him, and be with him? Forever? Where was the harm in that?
Ah...right. Running away, forever, living like someone's always just around the corner, and having to watch your back with every step you took? She couldn't do that to him; wouldn't.
"Sasuke...just...kiss me!" She had a pleading look in her eyes. "Please..." she breathed. Sasuke tightened his hold on her; he knew what a kiss meant. A kiss meant god bye.
"I can protect you."
Why did he have to make this so hard for her? How could she possibly leave him after he told her something like that? It was the closest he had ever come, maybe the closest he would ever come, to saying what he felt for her. And could she pass that up?
"Won't you leave...for love, tonight?"
She released her hold on him. "Yes."
Sasuke loosened his arms; with understanding in his eyes, he leaned down so they were face to face and kissed her.
He kissed her forehead, trailing down to her eyes. He kissed first her right one, then her left. She loved the way his nose brushed over her face as he kissed every inch of her; her nose, cheeks, chin, and finally her lips. As his tongue gently traced her lips, she allowed herself to run her fingers through his hair, one last time, before he broke away.
And he left, no point in wasting idle time. It was easier this way...right?"
She tapped Naruto on the shoulder. "C-Can I get something from the vending machine?"
He smacked himself in the face. "I totally forgot you had to eat! Yeah sure. I'll tell the others."
Hinata wanted to cry; this was too easy. They would hate him, but it was better this way.
She casually walked out of the room and, after closing the door, made a mad dash for the elevator. No, no! The elevator would take too long. She wrenched open the staircase and threw herself down the fights of stairs. She could feel the bruises forming in her arms, her legs, her head. But her urgency nullified the pain as she jumped down entire flights of stairs; it was now or never. They would know any minute.
As she sprinted her heart out towards the main lobby, she felt herself suffocating, and it had nothing to do with the running.
It was so hard for her. The pain was excruciating; to know she was giving it all away.
All of those beatings she had suffered through, the taunting, the loneliness: that, she could endure. But this...this was simply other-worldly pain. As she ran through the lobby, towards the doors, she knew that this was it. Her inner turmoil pressed against her chest like an anvil; the tears poured out. She didn't slow. Even as the guests and hotel staff tried to stop her, to help her. She felt like laughing; there was no helping her now. "Good bye everyone...Sasuke. Maybe...if you hate me so much...you'll forget me."
Bursting through the double doors, she jumped into the cab that was already waiting for her. The driver turned around, his glasses glinting menacingly in the morning sun.
"Morning, Miss Hinata. Ready to visit our Snake-san?"