((A/N: Yay! Next chappy! The excitement…
-sigh- okay, maybe I'm not excited… I just had a horrible, horrible weekend.
Learning math is one thing, being antagonized throughout the weekend because it'll 'fix my attitude' is another.
How the hell is antagonizing me going to fix my 'attitude problem'?
Now, if it were someone I didn't like or didn't care about, fine. But no it was my older sister, whom I actually like. I can act like a sweet little girl in front of some teacher, that's easy, however I don't like to lie through my teeth to my own damn flesh and blood.
Stress… overload…))
-Untold-
Chapter Eight:
A Scream
I usually awoke easily, despite being a heavy sleeper when I woke up, I was awake.
But I don't usually dream.
I cursed the dream while attempting to exit the groggy state I was currently undergoing. Dreams were dumb, irritating, boring and sometimes…
Sometimes they were true.
I shook it off; I really had no time to ponder such nonsense. The only reason it was even crossing my mind again was because of the blasted Uchiha…
I shook my head physically this time; I needed to concentrate on the problem at hand…
I really didn't want to go to school today. It was less I didn't want to and more that I wasn't suicidal.
After the stunt I pulled the other day my fourteen years may as well have been ended right here and now. As guilty as I would feel, I could skip school; logically it was the best move… because anything else would be suicide.
However, if I didn't go there, they would come here.
I didn't care if there came to me, it made little difference…
…except for one, itty bitty factor.
Subaku Temari.
Without a single doubt, if they came to this house it would get wrecked in the process.
This would be horribly, yes. I'd feel unlimited amounts of guilt, yes.
But, that isn't why that would be the absolute worst.
Let me bring the focus back to my land-lady.
Temari-san would do far worse than simply kill me if the house got destroyed, oh no, she knows a torment more horrific than anything the assassins could ever do to me.
Like, per say, making me pay for the repairs.
Doesn't matter that I don't have a job, am not old enough to get one and don't have a penny to my name.
She wouldn't help me find a method, oh no, she'd simply inform me of how much I owed her and her deadline.
As you might have already guessed, I've learned this from experience.
Sighing I reassigned myself to my fate. I'd go to school…
…but I would not face Hyuuga Neji.
…head on that is...
I would procastanate for now, it was well two hours before school and I had time to come up with a plan.
Meanwhile, I had waffles to make.
Gaara was already in the kitchen when I came in, glaring intently at the door I entered. I gulped, so he'd been waiting for me…
He raised his brow, the hair upon it long gone due to a cooking accident, I smiled nervously.
"O-ohayo Gaara-san…" he grunted lightly in return and I took that as my cue to begin cooking.
I'm not the best cook in existence, I only know how to make a few things and I can make them nice tasting I suppose… but not mouth watering.
I was going to try my best though. I don't want Gaara-san to be disappointed.
By-passing the instant mix that I longed to use I got out a mixing bowl and began retrieving ingredients.
Gaara hates the instant stuff, he claims it's much better when it's fresh and home-made but I can't taste the difference, possibly because I'm not much of a waffle person… I only really have a cup of juice and leave for school.
I contemplated my options while stirring the dry ingredients(though I don't understand why I must stir them separate from the wet…), I'd already ruled out skipping school entirely. Perhaps I could wear a disguise…?
No… that's ridiculous…
Many ideas ran through my head as I finally completed the batter, Kankurou entered the kitchen in his… usual around the house attire. I blushed lightly and put more concentration in the meal I was cooking.
"You're cooking breakfast…?" Kankurou yawned out from behind me, "Awesome, thanks Hinata-chan."
I nodded vaguely in return, going to the waffle maker and pouring a bit of batter in before waiting patiently.
'Even if I were to disguise myself, how…?' my eyes widened, I knew what I had to do.
I completed the waffles entirely shortly after and rushed to my room, steeling myself for what I knew I had to do.
Gulping, I hoped to give myself courage, "Te-Temari-san!" there was no other way… still as I heard her respond vaguely from the other room I felt courage flee me, "I-I need your…" sweat poured down my face, "…h-help! I-I-I… can't f-figure out w-what to we-wear t-to school!"
I'm doomed…
Temari's head peeked in my room; her eyes smiling more than the Cheshire grin on her face could ever.
…she looked like a kid on Christmas morning…
I was just about to continue to describe my 'problem' when I caught sight of something in Temari's hands.
On no… she's on the phone… which could only mean one person this early in the morning…
"…yeah Ino-chan, I heard it too… You'll be here in five minutes? …yeah… okay, great!"
I changed my mind, screw the plan, I'll face a pissed beyond belief Hyuuga Neji any day if it meant I didn't have to go through a make-over with not one… but both of them.
Sabuku Temari was one thing, a generally clean, crisp and trendy person; she dressed well and always fit into whatever 'clique' she decided to join that day.
Temari's best friend, Yamanaka Ino, was a completely different story.
Always knowing exactly what was 'in fashion' daily, the women was also very intimidating along with being overly exuberant. Beautiful, perfect blond hair. Excellently applied make-up. She was the epitome of everything girlish and 'in'. She had even done a bit of modeling before shrugging off fame as if it were nothing.
She also had been trying for years to catch Hinata so she could… play dress-up, more or less.
Ino was nice, yes. Utterly terrifying? Absolutely. Especially when it was on her favorite topic; doing make-over's.
I watched as Temari slowly hung up the phone and pointed the Cheshire grin back at me.
Oh Kami-sama… what have I done?!
---
After two hours of utter and complete torture caused by the two women, they were forced to stop and decide on a look before school started.
"Perfect! She looks adorable!" Ino exclaimed happily, bouncing slightly.
I never really felt much loathing for anyone other than the Uchiha but these two…
I shook off the thought; they were doing me a favor… even if it was something I'd much rather not happen…
Temari grinned back Ino, "She'll have to look adorable. According to Gaara there are two new males in her class."
Gaara you traitor! No waffles for you!
…okay you'll get the waffles… but no blueberry jelly!
Still mortified about the last hour and a half of my life, I lowly brought my fingers to lightly brush through my now red hair.
They had been surprised when I had insisted upon none perminate hair dye, they both rather liked my natural color(as do I…) but they obliged easy enough.
After a bit more conversation that I wisely chose to tune out, Ino turned to me with an evil gleam, "You'd better get to school soon! It's getting late! Unless… of course, you wanted us to wax your eyebrows after all…"
At 'wax your-' I was already out the door.
I only slowed my running pace when I was half a block away from the horrors of their clutches. Sighing I looked down at my appearance; my nappy indigo hair was replaced with a bright red sleek style(much to my terror), I was adorning my school uniform a big bow present on the front instead of a simple knot.
I smelled like wild berries… scratch that, a bunch of odd chemicals that wanted to smell like wild berries… and failed, in my humble opinion. The light perfume that covered me also disturbed me greatly.
I showered daily, I used none-scented shampoos, I wore simple asombles(SAGE!!) that hid my curves(quite unlike what they'd managed to do to a simple standard uniform). I hardly even bothered to brush my hair half the time.
…did I forget to mention that I also hated nail-polish?
The only advantage to this… this… evil… is that there was no way Neji would recognize me. Not when all he's seen me wear is my baggy clothes and sunglasses.
To improve my chances of not dying by an exceptional amount, I had also put brown contacts in. So very far from my natural color… I smiled lightly; it's not so bad… I just had to make sure I don't act like 'me' for the rest of the day.
Now if only I was an out-going person… it would be as simple as acting shy then. But no… I have to resist all the nervous habits that made me up. The biggest problem with that is I've been trying to do that very thing for years.
I was forced to cease my contemplation when the tardy bell rang, while I was still half a city block from the school.
Shoot…
I wasn't about to start running though. Not with the knowledge of the underwear they had forced on me. Oh no. It was bad enough I was wearing a skirt with them… but risk running and flipping the skirt up?
I wished sourly for my 'granny-panties', as they had referred to them as, they were nice and comfortable. But no… they have to put me… me… in something you might find in 'Victoria Secret'! How demeaning…. It's not like anyone is going to see my underwear so why…?
I arrived at the school shortly after; despite being far too embarrassed to run I was very capable of power walking. Luckily, my homeroom teacher had yet to arrive.
I glanced around for an empty seat and quickly sat somewhere in the center of the room, far from my usual spot and well hidden from getting spotted immediately. Neither Neji nor Uchiha had arrived yet and Gaara hadn't even shown up this morning, though he did seem to be enjoying his waffles…
Shortly after I found a seat the door opened again and welcomed the one and only… Yamada Ichiru, a classmate of mine. I mentally sighed in relief that it hadn't been Neji.
My relief was short lived(as it always seems to be) as Neji was right behind him.
His eyes narrowed he immediately looked at my normal seat. He was mildly confused to find it empty and quickly went to scanning the room with his eyes to make sure I wasn't present.
I quickly turned to Yamada-san, who had taken a seat beside me, and started engaging in conversation.
"O-ohayo Ya-Y-Yamada-san…" my voice was soft; I was hoping low enough that Neji wouldn't hear me. My cursed stutter would ruin everything.
He blinked at me in confusion, smiling weakly he replied, "Ohayo…" I could practically hear his brain attempting to find a name to match my face. It made me happy that he didn't recognize me, gave a far larger chance that Neji wouldn't either.
I smiled lightly and commented on the pleasantly sunny weather, I needed to detain him in conversation long enough for Neji to take his seat and assume I was late today.
I felt eyes lingering on me and curiously turned my head to find Neji sending me a slightly suspicious look; eventually however, he shook his head and went to his seat.
I resisted the sigh of relief that built in my chest, he was suspicious of me, I had to make absolutely positive I did nothing to tip him off.
As I went back to my conversation with Yamada I was sincerely scared out of my wits when a voice came from right by my ear.
"A good attempt, Hinata-sama."
I whirled around only to see Neji heading back to his seat.
Yamada questioned it but I merely shrugged, putting a bewildered face on "I-I'm not sure…"
Even though he was practically on to me I couldn't let things die this easily…
...most certainly not when I could still smell those damned chemicals that people seemed to enjoy spraying on themselves, lathered onto me in layers.
I'm not a perfume person.
I had to wonder how he knew though, I looked nothing like I had previously and putting my oversized sunglasses into consideration he shouldn't know the shape of my face well enough to distinguish me in a crowd.
Does this guy see through everything?
A sudden recollection of the under garments that were forced upon me made me, I sincerely hoped not.
I'd have to have missed something huge. Something that could have easily tipped him off. I racked my brain but I came up with nothing, but there just has to be something I'm missing…
Uchiha came in a little later, his eyes also darting to my usual spot, when he didn't see me it was near amusing to see him to the same sort of scan Neji had down only a few moments prior.
Eventually, however, he shrugged and took his seat.
I was slightly irritated to realize he hadn't even recognized me at all, Neji seemed to have thought me suspicious even at first glance and he doesn't…
…know the…
A shiver ran down my spine, no, I have to stop thinking. Thinking is bad.
I can't… think about it… that would only have bad results…
I paid little attention to the teacher when he walked into the room, apologizing profusely about being late.
Following after him was someone that made my breath catch in my throat.
Hyuuga Hanabi stood in front of the classroom with a highly bored expression.
My heart clenched and visions of blood crashed in front of my eyes, a distinct shiver ran down my spine.
Blood… so much blood…
My eye twitched and my heart-rate increased, mind scattering to that house in Azumo…
Oh Kami-sama…
My body was frozen, sweat dripped down my brow, I couldn't comprehend whatever was going on, my heart rate increased and I swear I felt like I was going to faint.
Too much…
As tears formed at the corners of my eyes from the agonizing, soul ripping pain I felt a sudden jolt.
"No…"
"Stay asleep…"
"Never awake…"
"So tired…"
"Can't win…"
"Don't…!"
Another jolt ran through me and the pace of my heart-rate decreased…
…my eyes drifted shut and I found myself falling slightly…
…fainting…
I couldn't hold onto consciousness… it was slipping out of my hands…
My vision swimming, I was finally able to concentrate on some of my fellow students.
They were all staring at me.
My throat felt parched, perhaps I had screamed…?
All I knew for sure was I was falling side-ways; I briefly wondered how horribly it would hurt when my head connected viciously with the floor.
I felt calm though…
And I succumbed to the darkness that unconsciousness brought upon me.
I ignored what felt like someone catching me, it was my imagination… either that or Yamada had good reflexes(I was falling in his direction).
---
I don't know why I caught her.
I really can't find a reason.
But… the way she had been falling…
I felt as if she wouldn't wake up.
I'd moved seconds after her ear-piercing scream had assaulted the room.
With the way I saw her eyes drifting shut I knew she was fainting.
There was silence in the classroom before the teacher(Genma, I think his name was) cleared his throat.
"Well… since you seem to have caught her so efficiently, why don't you be the one to carry…" he trailed off, trying to place a name to her face, "…her to the infirmary, Uchiha-san."
I nodded slowly, only a little embarrassed at the stairs I was receiving.
I had crossed the room in mere rather too quickly.
I groused slightly at what that damned Hyuuga must think of me now…
…no, not the one in my arms, the one glaring at me from across the room.
I quickly exited the classroom but didn't head to the nurse's office.
I climbed the now familiar stairs that led to the roof.
She didn't stir even when I dropped her on the floor of said roof.
I glared darkly at her slowly breathing form.
I didn't recognize her when I entered the classroom, not even my brief scan of the class brought any form of recognition.
It was her scream.
I can't forget what it sounds like… not after…
I am slightly amazed that even after all these years her scream sounds exactly the same.
But I'm utterly horrified that it has the same exact effect on me. Why? Why does it still make me…
…so very scared…?
Terrified is a better word.
Damn her…
I stopped dead in my thoughts when she finally stirred, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of her waking. Oh how I hate myself for it…
I disliked her now red-hair though, it disturbed me greatly and just didn't… suit her.
I was even more horrified to realize that I was hoping it was only temporary dye.
I set aside trivial matters for a moment and set my thought to the question at hand.
Why had she screamed? Fainted even?
"But… Hanabi's dead…"
Was it true that the girl who appeared in front of the class was 'dead'? If so, why the screaming? I'm sure she knows enough about what goes on to know that zombies are nothing new…
What happened…?
I was brought out of my thoughts when I saw her stir again.
She wasn't waking up any time soon…
I sighed and rested my forehead on hers.
Why does she make me ponder things…? I've had one goal my entire life… nothing has gotten in my way previously… I've killed plenty before…
Yet… she… she… it was why I made the unspoken agreement to begin with.
I…
I shook my head; I was giving her unnecessary control over me. I need to calm down. I should kill her right now…
I should…
'But didn't you want to make her suffer…? You can't if she's not even awake…'
Even though it was logic, I felt as if I was just coming up with excuses.
I really should kill her right here and now. A quick cut to the throat and she's dead.
Gone…
…again…
Something clenched and I ignored it, Kunai already in hand.
I can't let this continue. I can't.
She needs to die.
I pressed the Kunai lightly against the skin of her neck.
No reaction.
Her life is so trivial. Of no importance.
A small sliver of red substance slid down her skin.
I jumped away startled.
It's not that I can't kill her.
It's not.
And no, I don't live by the Nile.
I'm not scared to watch her die; I'm perfectly prepared for this. It's why I came to Kyoto.
Just to kill her.
I heard her make a vague sound and peeked at her, only now realizing I was glaring at the sky evilly.
Her eyes open just slightly she brought a finger to the paper thin slit on her neck.
I blinked once.
So briefly, so quickly.
When my eyes opened again it became apparent she had never moved to begin with, all her fingers were clean of the blood, her eyes shut in rest and the blood undisturbed on her neck.
Great… now I'm hallucinating.
Glancing down at her again I sighed, I can't kill her when she's unconscious. I'd have to wait till she woke up.
…sure, I could just let the other Hyuuga do it… but I don't like him and quite honestly I'd rather kill her myself if she must die.
((Ending Notes: …but then the monkey said, "No! Don't throw me off a building!" and I was like, "But you're on fire! This is what we do to flaming monkeys! Throw them off buildings!" and then Mort was all like, "I am the bunny-shizzel." And we were like, "Shut up Mort!" and Mort went like, "B-but…" and the monkey was all like, "Dude, no wonder they almost named you 'Dinner'!" and I went like, "BURN!"
…and then the monkey remembered it was on fire and swiftly jumped off the building. The End.
Mus-chan stressing and writing random things.))