Hello again! Here's the next chappie! Something's gonna happen in this chapter! Then, again, maybe not. We'll see…Thanks for your reviews once again. It means a lot to me. School holidays start this week!! Whoot!! Now I'll have more time than ever!! So you'll be seeing this story get updated quite soon!! Now, onto with the story!

Hinata sighed. It had been a week since she and Haku followed Orochimaru to his lair and she didn't like it here. She didn't mind sparring with Sasuke. She didn't mind the simple room that they provided either. What she didn't like were the screaming and the moaning of all the victims when Orochimaru conducted his horrible experiments.

" Are you OK? " Haku appeared.

" Fine... " Hinata's voice trailed off.

" Liar. " Haku said.

" Why must it be like this? People everywhere are always getting hurt. I know you can't prevent it but... " Hinata ran a hand through her hair softly, " I just wish there wouldn't be anymore of- "

Another bloodcurdling scream echoed through the hallways for the third time.

" -this. " Hinata shuddered.

" The hideout is so complex. I still haven't found a single chamber that houses those heads. " Haku whispered.

Ever since they arrived at the hideout, they had been looking for the heads of Orochi but to no avail. Orochimaru's hideout proved to be much more complex than they thought. Not only that, Kabuto told them that every three weeks they must move on to another hideout. At first, Haku tried to argue, why couldn't they stay here? Kabuto scoffed that Hinata was supposed to be for Sasuke's training so she had to follow and wherever she went Haku would go too, except to the bathroom.

" Mmm... " Hinata pondered, " Do you think that they might be kept in scrolls? "

" There's always that problem. " Haku sighed.

" Well, I'm going to see if there's any info I can get. It's my turn to look for those foul heads tonight. " Hinata got up.

" Hey, you got that apple? Can I have it? I'm so hungry. " Haku complained.

" Take it. " Hinata tossed it at him.

The apple sailed through the air and landed right in the middle of a puddle on the window ledge.

Haku sighed, " I said I wanted an apple, but not a wet and dented one. "

Hinata giggled and left the room leaving Haku to clean his apple. She scanned the halls one after another, taking great care not to look suspicious. After she reached the tenth hall or so, she heard a faint voice. As she went closer, she recognized the voice. Eyes wide, she crept through the door. She saw Sasuke cursing.

" Who's there? " Sasuke spoke, drawing his katana.

" Gomen, Uchiha-san. I-I...Um...Ano... " Hinata stammered for the first time in two years, trying to find an excuse.

" Why are you here? Shouldn't you be in your room? " he asked.

" I overheard you cursing. Um...Haku-nii-san and Neji-nii-san says that it's not good to... " her voice trailed off as she looked at her feet.

Sasuke waited.

" To keep all your feelings bottled up inside you. You can tell someone you really trust. Ano...I don't mean me but- "

" Who do I have? " he asked no one in particular, laughing bitterly.

Hinata looked up.

" My whole family was killed, no, slaughtered in one night. This was done by the person whom I trusted most since birth. He will never be forgiven by me. Never. He's a bloodthirsty murderer, that's all. I will kill him to make him pay. I will do anything to achieve it, even if it means to have to train with Orochimaru and give up my body. " Sasuke said, eyes closed.

" I'm-I'm so sorry. " Hinata murmured softly, " Who is he? " she asked, fearing she already knew.

" My brother, Itachi. " Sasuke answered.

Hinata slowly lowered her eyes. Itachi was her teacher. And Sasuke said all of this as if it were just facts of life. His voice didn't show any emotion. At all...

" Uchiha-san? " Hinata began nervously, " Do you- " she gulped, " Do you love your family? "

The teenager was rather thrown off guard by this question. However, he recovered his composure quickly.

" Why do you want to know? " Sasuke questioned her back.

" Because I-I-I- " Hinata mentally slapped herself for stuttering and looked straight into Sasuke's eyes, even though she knew it might bring her certain death, " I care about you! " she squeaked, eyes shut tightly.

Sasuke looked puzzled.

" Uchiha-san doesn't have any friends here, ne? I thought it must be lonesome...It's not fun being alone you know? " Hinata stated with a sad smile, " I never had anyone with me from the start, not even my own family supported me, well, except for Hanabi-chan. Before the Chuunin exams and the time I was kidnapped, Neji-nii-san hated me. I don't think he has stopped but I cared for him. It was unfair the way he got treated just because he was from the Branch family. I tried to talk to him but- "

" Why bother when he hates you? " Sasuke scoffed.

" I didn't need him to like me. I cared for him because I wanted to. It doesn't matter if other people don't like me, I can still care for them and be their friend, ne? " Hinata looked away and fidgeted with her fingers, something she never could stop doing.

Sasuke frowned. This girl's actions puzzled him.

" I never-Otou-san and Okaa-san, they-they thought I was useless, weak and cowardly. They never trusted me in anything. I'm so pathetic and I hate myself for it. " Hinata turned away as a lone tear slid down her cheek.

Sasuke saw that tear. He thought, Crying? Hmph. Crying is for weaklings. Hinata slowly exited the room.

" I said too much already. " Hinata whispered, not noticing that Sasuke had heard what she said, " Well, goodnight, Uchiha-san. I won't disturb you anymore. Gomenasai. "

The door closed with a thud, leaving Sasuke alone once more.

Done for the meanwhile! Thanks for the reviews and votes. See you guys soon!