Hinata's Glasses
Chapter 5: Sad Ending?
Hinata and co had to sneak into the movie theater, which did make her uncomfortable but as Ino had reasoned with her, there was no way they could have got in otherwise. A, the group didn't want to pay for the movie, and B, no one would buy that they were old enough to be out of school where they belonged. They slipped up to the front row in the dark, Hinata tripped up a little and Kiba caught her from behind to help her catch her footing. Meanwhile Ino attempted to trip up Mitsuo but failed and Mitsuo pushed Ino into her seat snickering. Once the group stopped goofing off and settled into their seats Hinata slipped her sunglasses off to see better in the dim theater. She sat wedged between Ino and Kiba, and with Ino to her left sat Mitsuo.
Not interested in the screen proclaiming ads for the theater's concessions, Ino and Mitsuo were engaged in an intense conversation, only a few giggles were what Hinata could hear. When she felt a soft tap on her shoulder she jumped involuntarily.
"Oh, sorry didn't mean to scare you." Kiba mumbled softly. Had they not had been sitting so close; Hinata wouldn't have heard him over the sudden blaring announcement on the screen about this theater having the best nachos around. Hinata turned to look at him her heart's pounding slowing to calm. She saw Akamaru had settled himself on Kiba's lap, doing a quick triple turn before settling himself. Kiba pet Akamaru somewhat nervously. "So, uhh," Hinata never heard Kiba stumble over his own words so much before "I was wondering, uh, why did you want to see this movie?"
"Eden Earth?" Hinata asked, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Well, I heard about it and was curious. I did hear it had a sad ending though. Maybe I'm just in the mood for sad." Hinata smiled a little, it was the truth, and what with her mood of the late she probably wouldn't be able to handle a happy ending.
"I never understood that." Kiba sighed and rest his back in the chair and set his hands behind his head. He then fiddled with the sunglasses he had set upon his head causing a stray strand of hair to slip and end up before his face.
Before Hinata could stop herself she had pushed the stray strand of hair back under the sunglasses, leaving his face clear. "Oh!" she sudden said in shock and tried to pull her hand away as though she scalded herself but was stopped by Kiba's hand suddenly gripping her wrist to hold her still. She began to turn red when Kiba's face began to swim before her eyes.
"Aww, how cute! You guys make a sweet couple." Ino giggled and bat her eyes happily as Mitsuo peered around her.
Hinata and Kiba both jumped and quickly faced in opposite directions. But Hinata could see his face before he turned away and noticed that the red markings on his cheeks seemed to disappear in the blood rush of his face.
"Don't stop on account of us." Ino giggled again. Hinata felt that if the sticky dirty floor of the theater could eat her up, she wouldn't mind the stickiness if she could just stop the embarrassment from flooding her face.
Luckily the theater darkened and previews began flashing on the screen. Unfortunately she couldn't see the screen due to the steamy film on her glasses. She pulled them off and reached for the hem of the skirt and lifted it to start cleaning. If she could have seen she would have saw Kiba's eyes bug out of his head when he snuck a glance back at her.
"Err, Hinata, let me do that." He mumbled and reached for her glasses.
"Huh, why?"
"Um, just 'cause." He kept his hand out resolutely. Hinata didn't realize that the skirt was so short that when she pulled it up to wipe her glasses she was revealing far too much thigh. Kiba kept his eyes averted and waited for the waited of plastic and glass in his hand. Once he had them he pulled up his shirt and began to wipe them with vigor. And then…
"Oops…"
"Eh, 'oops' what?" Hinata asked nervously.
"N-nothing!" Kiba smiled unreassuringly and went back to the frames frantically. He had accidently popped out a lens and was now trying to figure out how to get the darn thing back into the frame. After a moment he sighed in relief when the glass slipped back into place. "Heh, all better." It was hard to do it in the dark but he felt relieved. He turned in his seat and smiled genuinely now. "Here you go Hinata." He delicately slipped the glasses back on her face.
"Oh, thank you Kiba." She then turned to watch the previews clearly now.
After nearly twenty minutes of previews to movie started. The opening scene of space was breathtakingly beautiful. All the sparkling stars…
The story revolved around a girl who joined the military to fly a star fighters met up with an officer who mentored her through the course till they became very close. However once the woman recognized her feelings as love she became frightened knowing that punishment was severe between romances between enlisted and officers so she resigned from her post and changed her career option to work in engineering to be as far away from the man she desired. Of course there was a huge space battle and due to her heroic actions during the battle she was congratulated and felt the confidence then to join the officer training corp. after she achieved the rank of First Lieutenant she decided that then was the perfect time to find her love again.
Before the big BUT could continue Hinata got up and left the show as quickly as she could. Maybe a sad movie wasn't the best idea after all. She didn't want to continue the story because she feared what was waiting for the fresh Lieutenant on her path back to her love. It wasn't going to be anything good. She felt the flutter of butterflies in her stomach feeling close to the girl in the movie. Of course her decision wasn't as noble to never see that boy again but- the butterflies stirred faster reaching her head- she didn't want to see what sad ending had reached the woman because part of her feared that maybe she was quickly approaching her own sad ending.
"Hinata, are you okay?" Kiba came from the double doors, concern on his face.
Hinata mumbled, "… too late for a happy ending…"
"H-hey are you alright, seriously?" he reached out and wiped away the tear that she didn't notice were slipping down her cheeks. "Why don't we sit this movie out?" he took her by the shoulders and led her to a set of benches just outside of the theater showing their film.
Once they were seated they both remain in silence, Kiba not wanting to pry and Hinata not wanting to confide her feelings. After about ten minutes Ino and Mitsuo came out both wiping tears from their eyes.
"That was just the saddest movie I've seen in a long time." Ino bawled wiping her tears on Mitsu's jacket.
"Hey, hey, hey! Just because it was sad doesn't mean you can wipe yourself on my clothes!" he wiped away a tear furtively.
Then the couple noticed Kiba and Hinata. "You picked a good movie Hinata. Was it too depressing for you two though?" Ino asked curiously.
"Yeah, I didn't want you guys to catch me crying so Hinata came to sit out with me." Kiba said smiling.
"Hmm. Yeah good thing, there isn't anything more pathetic than a boy crying in a movie." Ino laughed pointing at Mitsuo.
"Hey, I told you I just got dust in my eyes is all!" Mitsuo shoved his hands in his sweater's pockets defiantly. Ino then pulled his arm out of its pocket and glanced at the wrist.
"Hmm, class is out. Maybe we should go our separate ways, eh?" Ino smiled at Hinata. "Well, I'll see you around." She began to head off when Mitsuo called out for her to hold up so he could walk her home. It was probably the first time Hinata saw Ino blush.
"Hmm. That's a good idea; you want me to walk you home too?" Kiba asked turning to the quiet Hyuuga girl next to him.
"Yeah, why not." Hinata conceded and stood delicately.
The walk home was uneventful and Kiba said his parting goodbye before her household's door and walked away, glancing back at her a little.
Once indoors Hinata made the quick decision that the rock garden would be the best place to cool her overworked and heated mind. The route to the rock garden took her through the lower-class Hyuuga halls and not paying any attention she bumped into something hard and slick with water.
"Watch yourself, Miss Hinata." Hinata then looked up to see Neji before her looking rather annoyed to have been bumped into. "What are you doing stalking the halls of the cadet branch housing?"
Hinata quickly took in that the other Hyuuga stood confidently rubbing a towel through his damp hair. He was topless and slick with water as though he'd just taken a shower after perhaps an intense training session or mission with his team. This was one of the few times Hinata could clearly see the curse seal on his forehead. She quickly averted her eyes from both Neji's angry eyes and seal mark. So instead she stared at the space beneath the neck between the collarbones.
"I'm very sorry brother Neji." She tried to sidestep her cousin for him to block her by moving in front of her. She tried to head left then only for him to step before her again. They repeated this once more then Hinata, frustrated just stopped. "What do you want?"
"Where are you going?" he stopped wiping his hair and calmly wiped his wet arms with his towel.
"None of your business." Hinata tried once more to sidestep her taller cousin.
Neji calmly continued to wipe himself off. Hinata noticed that he was also eyeing her up and down. That was when she realized how uncomfortably short the skirt of the dress was. She tried to push the bottom of the dress down with her fists unsuccessfully.
"I haven't seen you in a dress in a long time." Hinata glanced back at Neji's face. There was something besides anger or hate in his eyes for once. He seemed to be reminiscing something intensely. "Have you been crying?"
"Eh?" she glanced down her dress and saw some stains from where tears hit the lavender turning it a dark orchid. "N-none of your business." She repeated not quite as confidently.
When Neji took a step forward, she involuntarily took a step back. He stopped and set the towel over his shoulder. This time he slowly extended his hand and Hinata this time froze. He set his fingers under her chin turning her face upwards so she'd meet his eyes; he frowned when Hinata instead stared at his curse seal instead. The gentleness of his face was quickly replaced by his typical anger and he roughly shoved away from him into the wall at his left. Hinata hit the wall but stayed standing, and stared blankly at him as he turned and stomped away. After he turned a corner and was out of her sight, she turned herself and also walked away, continuing to head to the rock garden. Now she really did have to meditate.
Shizuru speaks: It took me forever to bring my fingers to my computer to type this chapter and it's apparent as to how long I've been away by the poor quality of this chapter, but all well, at least it's been typed. And in case it was confusing about Neji's attitude I'll explain. When he saw Hinata in the pretty purple dress he flashbacked to when they had first been introduced and how he thought she was pretty in her kimono dress. He also remembered the feeling of wanting to be protective of her when he saw her tear stains. When he approached he might have hugged if she didn't step away, and then when he just wanted her to look at his eyes for sincerity she stared at his curse seal which brought him back to earth roughly and violently, reminding him of his anger revolving around the way the family was set up and he was also angry at himself for his moment of weakness. Hinata just brings out the interesting part of everybody around her. Sorry about not revealing the part at the beginning of the last chapter, that'll come soon. I love you my readers and I'm sorry I took so long took write this chapter. Forgive me!
