Chapter Six: The Wayfinder
Hinata pulled the rope through the top of the charm before tying it into a knot.
She held it up to reveal a purple star-shaped good luck charm.
It was made from a purple stained glass with silver frames, brown stitches and a brown cord tied to the topmost piece, and the token is the Mark of Mastery symbol.
Hinata smiled, happy that she finally managed to get it done.
It has taken her a while, but now she has finally made her own good luck charm.
She attached the Wayfinder to the right side of her skirt before she cleaned the mess around her.
"Yeah? I got it. If and when she finds these guys, makes sure she gets the foreigner and keeps him out of harms way." Shinra said on the phone, making Hinata pause.
"Exactly. We have no idea when they're suppose to hook up with their buyer and drop him off. So we're trying to get to them as soon as possible."
"Okay. It's a black van, right? Do you have the license plate number?"
"Yeah. You ready?"
"No, gimme a sec." Shinra went over to the notepad on the counter by the TV. "Okay."
Hinata puts the mess in the trash can.
"These guys are hired guns for some evil corporation. They're basically henchmen. They kidnap individuals who won't be tracked like foreigners then hand them over for cash. The people they take are probably being used as subjects for all kinds of ugly things." Shinra told Celty, probably thinking Hinata couldn't hear them.
But Hinata could always hear better than most people…
[It's no different than cannibalism.]
Hinata followed them out of the apartment room.
"Black van, okay?" Shinra said before taking out the piece of paper from his pocket once Celty looked at him and Hinata. "Here's the plate number for ya."
Celty took it from him before it slid under her sleeve.
"Be careful!" Shinra said while Hinata looked on in worry.
Celty waved after pushing her motorcycle into the elevator before it closed.
"…Shinra?" Hinata looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
He smiled at her. "Don't worry. Celty will be fine. She's tough."
"I hope so…" Hinata looked down.
Shinra gently ruffled her hair before walking inside with her right behind him. "Do you need anything Hinata? I'm going to take a shower before we go to the store."
"No…" She walked over to the couch to draw while she waited for Shinra to be done.
She always went with Shinra to the store incase she needed something.
Whenever Celty was back from work, she would show her her sketches since she felt like the woman would be more honest than Shinra.
The doctor would probably say that all her drawings were the best he's ever seen.
"I'm done! Are you ready, Hinata?" Shinra asked, smiling at her.
Hinata gave him a light smile. "Yeah."
The purple-haired girl followed him out of the apartment complex and through the streets, looking around in slight awe.
It was really beautiful at night especially with the lights from the buildings around them.
Shinra took out the shopping list the moment they got to the store before he gasped. "Oh, no!"
Hinata looked up at him. "Shinra? What's wrong? Did you forget something?"
The brown-haired man hesitated, looking at the purple-haired girl. "Well… I did forget something…" He signed. "This isn't the shopping list. It's the license plate number I was suppose to give Celty…" His head dropped. "Great…"
"Oh…" Then Hinata paused for a moment. "But you did write it down earlier…right?"
"Yeah…"
"Was it…tissues, light bulbs…and coffee?" Hinata asked.
Shinra looked at her in surprise. "It was! How did you know?"
"I… I remember looking at it…when you were writing it down." She lightly shuffled her feet. "I… I remember things clearly. It's… It's why I can draw…in such good detail… I can't…forget."
"That's incredible, Hinata!" Shinra crouched down to her, grabbed her hands with a wide smile. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Hinata looked at her feet, suddenly feeling smaller than she already was. "Because… I don't like being the center of attention… It isn't…as good as it sounds. I remember…but I can't ever forget. I can…move the memories around so… It's…not something Father would be proud of…"
Shinra stopped at that.
The moment Hiashi was mentioned, he knew it was personal.
He has noticed that Hinata has been subjected to verbal abuse.
Shinra knew that the Hyūga family wasn't like most families but to put down a little girl so much…
It wasn't right.
He gently squeezed her hand, making her look up at him.
Shinra softly smiled. "It doesn't matter, Hinata. Just know that Celty and I like you. Okay?"
Hinata stared at him with slightly widened eyes.
It… How could he…
Hinata slowly nodded. "Y…Yeah…"
Shinra lightly ruffled her hair. "C'mon. What do we need?"
"Tissure, light bulbs, and coffee…" Hinata listed before she paused. "I think the light bulbs were…60 watts."
"Right!" He pulled her with him. "But still. It's incredible! You can remember everything with perfect clarity. And you're still a kid. Wow!"
Hinata stared at him quietly.
She never told anyone about her memory. It just wasn't something she could easily talk about.
"By the way…" Shinra glanced at the purple charm by her side. "Where did you get that charm?"
"Huh? Oh! I didn't… I made it." Hinata paused, thinking of her words carefully. "I saw it…in a video game and I… I like the concept…"
"It's cute." Shinra smiled. "It suits you."
Hinata lightly blushed at the compliment before she smiled. "Thank you…"
This might be the last chapter for a while. I need to get back to my other stories. Anyway, I hope everyone likes it and will review. Reviews always make my day.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
