Chapter 05

Once they got to the front of the house, Hinata knelt down to the doormat and reached under it. Her fingers searched around until finally she felt something cold. Hinata fished out her house key successfully and unlocked the door with it. She made her way inside the house with Sasuke following her trail.

The two of them walked down the dim lit hallway, Hinata felt a stinging sensation from her leg which reduced her to limping. The girl assumed that she injured herself somehow, she made a mental note to herself that she would tend to it later, because as of now its Sasuke that needs more attention.

They were now in front of another entrance, the girl's hand blindly touched around the wall for the light switch. Once she found it, the kitchen lights illuminated the room in a flash, everything came into full view. Now that Hinata could see, she then turned around to examine Sasuke's state under the help of the light bulb. She easily noticed the three large marks on his torso, the blood that seeped around the mouths of the freshly cut openings of the jacket dried to the point where they looked rather brown. Hinata detected something red glimmering underneath the ruined fabric.

Sasuke followed the girl's gaze. He too realized the scratch marks on the jacket, he remembered it clearly as to how he received the wound before he lost himself into his strange animalistic state. Sasuke wanted to say sorry to the girl about the clothing, but before he could even say his apology, the girl spoke in a quiet tone.

"Sasuke... you go and sit d-down on the stool while I look for something."

After that said, she immediately scurried around the kitchen opening cabinets, Sasuke stood there for just a couple of seconds before he could control his legs again. He made his way to the stool as told and obediently sat down with his arms resting on the counter. He ended up observing the girl as she searched for whatever she was looking for.

Sasuke's mind began to wonder as he stared at the girl, he couldn't help but replay those words that she said back then...

"Why?" His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "Aren't you scared?"

Hinata couldn't help but nod hesitantly, "A-actually yes... I a-am."

Sasuke's eyes casted downwards. Ashamed to look back at her, but Hinata's hands twitched against his cheeks, bringing his attention back at the Hyuuga.

"But... That doesn't mean that, I'm fully afraid of you."

He didn't quite understand the true meaning behind those words.

"Got it..." She made her way to the counter and opened up the first aid-kit container. She rummaged inside the case and brought out one green bottle with a label that said 'Alcohol', along with a bag filled with puffy white cotton balls. Sasuke tilted his head and wondered what she was going to do with the strange objects.

The girl sanitized her hand and pulled up her sleeves as she readied herself for the procedure. Hinata cautiously poured a little amount of alcohol on the cotton ball, she then faced Sasuke and bravely stuttered out, "S-sasuke, can you please give me the j-jacket?"

He took off the ruined clothing with no struggle and gave the thing back to her as told. She looked down at the sad clothing, she simply placed the jacket on a nearby stool after neatly folding it. The Hyuuga then turned to her patient, she caught sight of it, the large three slanted scratch marks that sent a wave of discomfort through her body.

But she bottled her feelings up and resumed with her little procedure. Hinata then gently rubbed the wettened cotton ball near around the wound, Sasuke felt a little burning sensation when the odd ball of fluff contacted his scratches.

Hinata later then brought out this small bottle and poured out the substance onto her palm. She gently applied it on Sasuke's skin and made circular motions with her forefingers near and around the open wounds. Next she took out a long thin fabric like tape. She positioned herself in front of the boy and carefully wrapped the dressing around his torso... Both of them sat on a stool, facing one another. Both mere inches apart, neither words nor conversations were made between the two so far.

Hinata was far too busy tending his wound that she didn't even notice Sasuke watching her at work in awe, he took note that she was very cautious at what she was doing. It bothered him to see her with such a serious look, he wanted to reach out to her and see that familiar blush appear on her face that he felt so amused and accustomed to... but the heavy quietness that filled the air prevented him to do so. He tilted his head, trying to think on what question would be best to break the ice. Now was the time to ask.

"Hinata... what did you mean back then?"

The girl was in daze, so she didn't capture a single word he said, Sasuke pouted and leaned closer to Hinata's face and called out her name in a low tone. The girl stopped before she could put the adhesive tape to secure the dressing, she instantly jolted her head upward and blinked,

"I-i'm sorry... what?"

"I said... what did you mean back then? I didn't really understand..."

Hinata was silent, not catching what he was trying to say, but Sasuke went on.

"You are afraid of me." He didn't bother turning it into a question, it's a fact.

There was a long pause, she gave a hesitant, slow nod to his boy felt something build up inside his gut much like before, it wasn't a good feeling. His body unknowingly went rigid, it wasn't the first he heard her admit it, but Sasuke disliked it nonetheless.

"Yes, I-I am afraid. But for s-some reason, I just d-don't seem to know why but–"

She struggled on what to say, she stuttered uncontrollably which was kind of hard to make out every word that came out from her lips. The boy was getting rather impatient, right now he was at the end of his stool. Waiting for an answer... He found himself close to her face, but he didn't mind. Well except for Hinata that is, she tried to lean away but Sasuke's eye seemed to anchor her from moving.

"What is it?" he said with a small hint anticipation.

"W-well, you s-see...It's really h-hard to explain so umm, p-please bear with me." Sasuke gave a positive nod and allowed the girl a moment to recollect her thoughts.

"O-okay, I remembered clearly what happened b-back at the rooftop. The w-way you acted, the way y-you looked. It w-was so unlike you. That was when I-I knew that you weren't th-the real you..."

The boy froze, "The real... me?"

Hinata gave a quick nod, "F-forgive me if I-I don't m-make since. I just-" She was interrupted when Sasuke placed his index finger on her lips.

Hinata noticed that he had an unsure look in his eyes,

"So you do... accept me right? I won't get thrown out?" He slowly brought his hand away from her lips after that.

Hinata's eyes widen at his question, "Why would I do th-that? I can't just-"

"So, I can stay?" he asked.

Hinata gave a nod, "Of course, b-but there's a c-catch. You have a-a lot of explaining to do so–"

A knock was heard down the corridor, a familiar voice entered the girl's ears.

"Oi, Hinataaaa! Are you in there?"

Sasuke quickly faced at the direction from where the knocking was heard, he then turned to the Hyuuga with a questioning look. Hinata let out a gasp and hushly uttered out in despair and panick, "Oh n-no, Kiba!" The girl hopped out of her stool much too hastily making her lose her footing. She clumsily knocked Sasuke off the stool, making both him and the girl stumble on the floor with a loud 'thump'.

The sudden sound caused Kiba to tense, "Hinata, is everything okay in there?" he asked in a concerned tone.

The girl blushed in embarrassment at yet another awkward position that she got herself into again with the boy. Before Sasuke could utter a word of concern over the situation, Hinata's hand covered his lips as she gave Sasuke a silent gesture to stay silent. The girl then lifted her head and forced herself to speak up loud enough for Kiba to hear from the outside, "Y-yeah, I'll be th-there in a minute!"

"Alright, but hurry up. I got something for ya!"

Hinata panicked, she had to hide Sasuke. Fast.

outside the house...

Kiba tapped his feet in slight annoyance, it was obvious that the boy isn't really a patient person. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, he came to a decision to enter the house by using the hidden house key. The boy bent down in search for the key under the doormat, only to find it gone. So Kiba assumed that the door must be open.

He eagerly reached for the doorknob and twisted it. There was a rattling sound, Hinata bit the bottom of her lip as it finally occurred to the girl.

She forgot to lock the door.

to be continued...