Chapter Five - Kiss Me, Kiss Me
A Cold Dose of Reality
Um...I don't know if I should continue. I'm sort of losing interest and I was practicing to write in another narrative and it's much easier.
But please tell me if I should!
Either way, enjoy! (,"),
P.S. This little guy (,"), is totally my-i-ine! Lol.
Oh...P.P.S I changed the summary! You'll see XD
- From before -
The next day he is gone.
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I can't believe he's gone.
Just here he's kissed me. Just here I've experienced a sweet, loving...nothing.
I lay on the ground, where the snow has melted into light green grass. I place my hands across my chest, freezing, and cry silently. I'm alone. He's gone. He never liked me in the first place.
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February...March.
They all pass. And? The funny thing is, I don't care.
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April 5, Year of the Koi Pond
Naruto and the others arrive today. I have to say I'm not excited in seeing them at all. The mission was a failure. No sign of Sasuke. No sign of him...
- 8:31 morning -
"Hinata!" says a voice behind me. I don't turn around, half expecting the person to be calling another Hinata besides me. "Hinata!"
Ino huffs, running up next to me. She has pink splotches on her face. "Crap, Hinata! What's freaking wrong with you?" Her eyes are shining, her mouth opens in disapproval. "I can't believe they're back!"
She hugs me and squeals. I push her away. "Leave me alone." Kudos to my voice. It's strong for once.
She eyes me. "What's wrong with you? Aren't you the tiniest bit glad?!"
I don't face her, don't make eye contact. I don't talk at all, but keep walking. Aimlessly.
"Dang. You can be such a bitch sometimes."
She goes away in search of someone who can relate to her feelings. I don't move. I'm ice.
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- 8:53 morning -
I eat breakfast at Ichiraku's Ramen Bar. It's peaceful and quiet. Just the way I like it.
"Hinata!" says a voice, familiar. It's brash, bold. Naruto. He appears from under the cloth that's draped at the entrance and runs up to me, sporting various injuries, but nothing too serious. "I - I'm back."
He's glad to be back, that's for sure. Relief and sadness are in his eyes.
"You didn't bring him back?"
All of a sudden that relief crumples and his face twists grimly. "N-no." It's the first time I've seen him stutter. Hah. Welcome to the club, Naruto.
"I was too l-late."
I finish my ramen, tasting bitter in my mouth, and push my money to the counter. "Failure," I mutter, not knowing what to feel inside.
"Wh-what?"
Just my luck, I see the two scars on his face. I wince at my crudeness. Heartless. "N-nothing."
I slip out of the flaps, certain that nothing will ever be the same again.
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- 10:23 Konoha Hospital -
Sakura stands by the door looking visibly upset. Without pausing for a second she confronts me, her face torn. "Do you think they'll be okay?" she asks. She's usually outgoing and sure of herself.
Oh well. Another edition where someone loses her surety.
Welcome to the club.
I ignore her, but then my conscience opens up. "Who?"
"Neji...Kiba...Chouji! You didn't hear?" Worry is flecked in her pale green eyes. They are dark circles under them.
"They deserve to die," I utter. Shock stands in her eyes. She almost staggers back.
"What?!"
"They're idiots thinking they could bring Sasuke back!" I say, loudly, a hitch coming in my voice, and then her fist connects solidely with my collarbone. She holds me against the wall. I stare back at her, unflinching.
"Don't you ever say that about the shinobi of Konoha."
What's become of me?
I cough, and she lets me loose, back to her own grieving world.
- 10:32 hospital -
There's a crowd of the Inuzuka clan around Kiba's room. The same room where Sasuke had been in.
I slip in, shy once more in his gaze. But I don't know what to expect. Honestly, honestly? I didn't miss him one small bit. Call me callous!
"H-hinata?" he croaks. The whole group turns around to stare at me.
His sister's eyes wi-i-iden. "Hey, you're that girl!" she says in a not-so-quiet voice.
No blush comes to my cheeks. "I want to talk to him."
"That's okay," she amends, and then turns to the group with a look in her eyes. They nod and scamper off. (actually...)
When we're alone I feel the blood suddenly pound in my heart. I cough. "You okay, Hinata?" he asks.
"I'm fine."
He smiles weakly, a large, bandaged wound on his chest, and rests back, his head sinking into the soft pillows. "That's good."
A burst of thought; "Why couldn't I have gone?!" I nearly yell.
"Huh?" He stares at me, stunned. "Gone where?"
I pace up and down for a few seconds before answering. I point to him, shaking all over. "Why couldn't I have rescued Sasuke? I could have brought him back! I could have rescued him! I could have - "
"Relax, Hinata." He's tense and his eyes are tired. "It's over. There's not more anyone can do about it."
"Oh, shut up!" I snap, and then regain my lofty composure. "I - I could have done better than any of you worthless idiots."
Before I see the look in his eyes I run out the room, past his watching clan, and rush out the hospital. I'd had enough of meeting my former friends again. It's much better to be secluded. I run out of the hospital, desperate to get out of there, anywhere.
"You have a problem."
I don't bother to answer. I don't know and care who it is. I just continue to walk along.
"You weren't like this before."
Ignore. Ignore the penetrating stare.
Suddenly I imagine it's Sasuke and I -
whip around only to discover -
it's Shikamaru.
Welcome to reality, Hi-na-ta.
My shoulders drop in disappointment. I stare at the ground where his sandals connect with the rough terrain. If he painted his nails purple...
"There's something wrong with you."
My voice trembles. "Oh, really."
He sighs and lifts my chin up so I can face him. "How troublesome," he mutters. "And what happened to the bravery after my pep talk a few months ago?"
"That bravery d-disappeared," I say with a sarcastic spin on it, and my eyes burst into tears. Listlessly words escape my mouth. Funny...I remember feeling sad about Sasuke? But now the feeling's gone and only words rise.
Words with no meanings.
He clasps my head to his shoulder where I, embarrassingly, dry my eyes.
I've never felt so helpless before. Even after Hiashi's heart attack. I still had Hanabi and her money. Now...I still do. But Sasuke...Sasuke's really gone...
Sasuke...
"Sasuke," I murmur. What's wrong with me!? I never really liked hiim - no - no, HE never really liked ME!!
Sasuke...
SASUKE!
It's like I can reach him my telepathy or whatever.
But no.
Just another disappointment I can add to my collection.
"What a drag," I hear Shikamaru mutter under his breath, as his shirt gets wetter and wetter. Instantly I pull myself away from him.
"S-sorry. G-gomenas-sai."
My stutter has returned.
"That's fi - " He stops. "Where are you going, Hinata?"
But it's too late for his call. I've already ran away.
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- By the lake -
I stumble on a sharp rock, bringing a deep gash into the heel of my foot. I ignore it, like I have ignored so many people today, and continue blindly.
This is where he and I were partners.
Staggering, I balance myself on the highest rock. It's huge and intimidating.
This is where...he saved my life.
I'd like to believe that. Crying, I look up into the sky.
Months of pursuing a dream.
I drop to my knees on the rock, and it cuts my palm.
Months of blinding running to him.
I glance into the murky black waters, near the middle.
I can't reconsider. I shan't. I've got to do this.
Tears stream down my face, drip into the lake.
Who cares, anyway?
I lift my shivering body off the edge and plummel down into the water. Just then I hear a voice screaming, "HINATA!"
And then a deafening, watery grave sweeps me up and carries me away.
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Shikamaru
KUSO!
I lead my small rescue squad to the edge of the lake. Sakura has tears treaming down her face, and Ino's trembling like a leaf.
Taking a branch and aiming it, I cast my shadow into the waves. It's impossible to grab her at this distance, yet I still vainly try. The shadow snaps back, defeated by the lake.
"Sh-shikamaru," stammers Ino. "She's g-gone." Ino looks into the waters, her face stricken. "I can't b-believe H-hinata's g - "
"Don't say that!" I snap tersely, trying to think.
The wind brushes past lightly but it brings shivers up my arms. "We'll go in after her."
"What?" says Sakura angrily, making me jump. "What are you thinking? We can't all go in! It's too dangerous! What if! - "
I cut her off and stare at her. She flinches. "This is Hinata. We've got to do everything to get her back."
They nod, silently. Without another work I force myself to stay calm and dive into the waves. In an instant I'm swallowed up in black.
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Okay. I admit. I hated it myself. Well, I don't know. What do you think?
Please review.
