Chapter six
Naruto's call
A/N: You didn't really expect Sai did you? Since he's relatively new to the anime and the manga I decided to chuck him in, for the experience of going out of my comfort zone and writing about a new character. I'll try to make him as IC as possible. When I first saw him in the anime, I thought he was rather…peculiar but as time went on he became okay. In the manga, where I'm at (which is far behind; Chapter 317) he's in the process of becoming closer to people.
Also, I noticed there were some complications with chapter four? I'm not sure why but if you repeatedly try, you'll get eventually. I tried it and it worked after the fifth time.
Enjoy!
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Before I could stop her, Anemone had jumped up from her seat and ran over to Mr. Sai. With big green eyes, she looked up at him and asked if he had came to bring the portraits that he had painted a few weeks earlier.
Mr. Sai nodded. "It's being arranged to be brought in to the art room right now."
Was he the family artist? That seemed the most likely answer to my question to who he was. But Sakura had never said anything about an artist and neither had Sasuke. Why were so many things coming up that I had absolutely no clue about? What more did I not know?
I hadn't noticed that Mr. Sai had walked up to me and extended his hand. Realizing he meant it as a greeting, I shook it and looked up at him with confusion. He didn't seem bothered by it and continued what he was going to say.
"I'm Sai. It's nice to meet you." He smiled at me and I could do nothing else but try to smile back at him and tell him my name. Apparently that was enough with the greetings because directly after that he told me, while still smiling.
"This'll probably be the last time you see me, Ms. Hinata."
By that time, a few people had come in carrying about three easels. Apparently they had done this before because they knew exactly where to go and as quickly as they had come in, they exited. Sai seemed about to take his leave as well.
"They are already dry so please look as much as you want." He was speaking to Anemone, though he was looking at all of us. Suddenly his gaze turned on me and he said something that really boosted my curiosity.
"Please tell Sasuke that I will be of no other assistance. I have completed my duty that Sakura had wished me to." He nodded to all four of us before he exited the house. Just what was that about? His duty that Sakura wanted him to fulfill? Yeah, there were a lot of things I didn't know.
"We're not supposed to talk about him, either." Daisuke said, as soon as the door was closed. "Dad's not going to be happy." That was a clear sign that Sasuke didn't favor Sai. But Sakura knew him? How? She had never mentioned a Sai to me.
Anemone huffed as she sat back down between Daisuke and Kisuke. "Mom thought he was okay so he has to be okay." I heard Daisuke scoff bitterly but not say anything. Obviously, Daisuke was siding with his Dad on this one.
Kisuke didn't really seem to care. He, as always, kept to himself and looked ahead. I patted his arm, trying to awaken him from his reverie. Much to my surprise, he looked up at me with annoyance. Apparently, I had bothered him.
Not wanting to irritate him, I shook my head, indicating that it was, now, nothing. Kisuke resumed his past expression. Just what was he thinking about? I had often wondered what was going through the minds of little kids. You would think the latest video game on the market but Sasuke's kids were different. It was like they were in a league of their own and thus, were better and more intelligent then average children their age. Frankly, they would probably grow up to be more successful and would probably maintain that title until the end of their lives. It was, after all, in their blood.
"What's your favorite color, Hinata?" Anemone had stopped conversing with Daisuke and had turned to me.
"Lavender," I replied.
"That's a pretty color." Anemone said and then added. "You know when you mix pink and lavender together you get—" She was suddenly cut off by the sound of keys jerking into the keyhole of the door. Everybody's heads turned to the slowly opening door and much to my relief, this time Sasuke stepped into the house. I couldn't really tell by looking at his face, if he were in a good mood or not. I wondered whether I should tell him about Sai.
Not saying anything, Sasuke walked in and stood by the other side of the door. His gaze caught mine for a split second. Was this his way of communication? What was I supposed to do? Suddenly, I felt a hand clutch mine. Looking down, I saw that it was Anemone's hand. She didn't look at me or give any indication of what she was doing. I realized it was my turn to do something on my own. I was the adult figure, no matter what it looked like, and I should be the one leading. Anemone had given me a lot of informative help and she was a child. I should have been smart enough to do something on my own.
I suddenly felt very awkward and my mind went blank. What would Sakura do? She was the affectionate type but I wasn't exactly sure how she interacted with Sasuke. Besides, the question I should have been asking is what would Hinata do? The problem is Hinata doesn't know what she should do.
I was about to suggest Daisuke, Kisuke, and Anemone stand up because it seemed like the conventional thing to do, but my cell phone went off instead. It rang out; breaking the silence that had graced our presence and all heads turned towards me. Self-consciously, I pulled my phone out and opened it quickly, whispering a quick, "Yes, this is Hinata."
"Have you decided yet?"
Instantaneously, I knew who it was. Naruto was calling to see if I would accept the dinner date. At the moment, it seemed uncomfortable for me to answer since Sasuke was less than two feet away and he wasn't exactly on good terms with Naruto. I knew that for a fact because Sakura had told me. She had been there when it happened.
So I politely excused myself. Retreating to the kitchen, I said in a higher voice, "Um, well…Naruto—"
He cut me off, "It's a yes or no question, Hinata." For a moment he paused. He started to laugh. "I'm putting you on the spot aren't I?" He continued to laugh and that, somewhat, made me feel more at ease.
"Naruto, I would really like to, but right now it's going to be…a little…" I stopped for a second as I tried to find the right word; a word that wouldn't sound like I was trying to make up an excuse.
"Difficult? Oh, I understand Hinata, especially since you're working for Sasuke now…" Whatever was left of his sentence, I didn't hear because my eyes had widened and I blocked out all other senses. I hadn't told anybody but Hanabi and my Father…so how did Naruto know?
"Naruto, h-how did you know that?" I asked him in a shaky voice. For some reason, I was bothered by the fact that he knew. Maybe it was because the person I was currently living with (under appropriate circumstances only) didn't exactly like Naruto and in a way it was like I was sneaking behind his back and associating with Naruto, who, apparently, was not supposed to be talked to.
"Things like that get out," Naruto chuckled, "Apparently Sasuke Uchiha was back on the market but that Hyuga girl already got her hands on him. That was said and some other things that I shouldn't mention."
"Where did you hear that?"
"In various places…and in various ways, you were even considered a female dog."
It had only been a day, one day and I was already being associated with a female dog. Why did everybody always have to assume the worse? Was it so hard just to think, "Oh she's helping out the family, how considerate? Rather than, "Oh, really? She's just trying to get knocked up." That was not my intention. For Sakura. That was why I had said yes. For Sakura. Everything I was doing was for Sakura.
"Are you sure you should go through with this? Can you handle it?"
For Sakura, Hinata.
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "Naruto, I have no choice. I have to do this. What would it seem like if I backed out because I wasn't good enough, because I couldn't handle it? I certainly would seem like a female dog. I really appreciate your concern, though."
I heard Naruto sigh in relief. "I had hoped you would say that. You know, you're stronger than you look."
Unexpectedly, a smile tugged at my lips. "I'm going to take that as a compliment." It wouldn't leave me alone.
"Good, because that's what it was meant to be." I could tell that Naruto was grinning. I wanted to smile, really I did, but something was holding me back. Guilt, maybe? Smiling would mean that I had moved on, but that's what I wanted to do. Why was it so hard to move on? I wanted to move on but not forget. That was easier said than done.
Looking towards the closed kitchen door, I wondered whether they were still waiting for me. It hadn't occurred to me that I had been talking for quite some time. "Naruto, I have to go."
"Hmm? Oh okay. But one more question first: do you like ramen?"
That was a peculiar question. "A little, I guess…I don't eat it much."
"Okay, that's all I wanted to know. Bye, Hinata." I could tell he was grinning the entire time. What exactly was he thinking? Sakura had told me that Naruto could come up with the most ridiculous, but amusing things ever. She also told me he had been gifted with the gift to make you smile, excluding Sasuke. "He won't smile…not for me or anybody." Those were Sakura's words.
I clicked my cell phone off so I would get no more unexpected calls. When I walked back into the living room, I wasn't surprised when I found nobody except Sasuke. He had comfortable settled himself on the couch; the house keys in his hands.
He made no comment on why I was in the kitchen for so long or who I was talking to. He merely nodded at me and stood up. I walked towards the door and opened it, walking outside I stood at the beginning of the steps that lead downwards. A gust of wind blew through the area and my hair flowed in its rhythmic pattern. Moving strands out of my face, I heard Sasuke lock the door. Not wanting to be rude, I waited until I saw his shadow. We proceeded down the steps.
I figured since he wasn't the talkative type under normal circumstances, I didn't have to say much unless he addressed me first. "Too much talking annoys him." Sakura had told me. At least I didn't have to worry about making conversation.
"They haven't bloomed yet."
I didn't noticed that Sasuke had stopped walking and had reverted his gave towards the barren Sakura trees. Was he thinking about Sakura? Was he suddenly starting to feel guilty for the way he had treated her?
I stopped to and looked at the Sakura trees. "Shouldn't they be in bloom?" I asked. I hadn't noticed that they didn't have any flowers on them.
Sasuke shook his head and started to walk again. He stopped and stood right beside me. "They won't bloom because she's not here and they won't ever bloom again. I'll have to have them removed." They won't bloom ever again?
"They'll never bloom?"
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For some reason I wasn't really feeling Hinata in this chapter. I don't know why…anyway I hoped this chapter was to your liking! I was a little distracted while writing this, which is not a good thing to be while writing anything, especially for me.
Also, the next chapter might take a while for me to get out. Not because I'm stumped on what to write, but because it's the start of a new quarter and I'm trying to overcome my second goal: make that 3.0 average into a 3.5. Actually, it's the last quarter and that means summer!! I get out in May, so since I'll be free, chapters will be more plentiful! Hopefully, :P!