Nyaa~!
So, here's the next chapter like I promised!
WARNING: This chapter contains some of my favorite fluff. (I put my own fave pairing in this chap.)
Disclaimer: No, Naruto isn't mine. Regretfully.
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Hmm?
A faint drumming filled the Hyuuga's ears as her heart pumped the blood through her frail body with all its might. Gradually she was coming back to her senses. More sounds were picked up, such as voices. They seemed to be hushed and nearby.
Hinata felt her face scrunch up slightly as she stirred, discovering a mild throbbing at the back of her cranium.
Her two colorless eyes were slowly revealed from beneath thick lashes, opening and closing a few times, sensitive to the light that was now visible above her head. As her pale orbs registered their surroundings.
A neutral gray ceiling spread out before her, a ceiling fan with a bulb centered in it, and as she blinked there was also a person there at the edge of her peripherals.
Hinata jolted upright, sending a wave of pain to the back of her head. Wincing she rubbed her scalp.
"Ow," she breathed, peering up at the face before her.
Itachi Uchiha. Patiently waiting for her to awake, he was seated on a single chair. The corners of his mouth turned up in a relieved smile.
"You're finally awake," he remarked, looking pleased by this turn of events.
Suddenly she realize that she'd been sleeping somewhere unfamiliar.
"W-where am I?" she questioned, on edge. She glanced down to find herself tucked into a plain bed with white sheets.
"The infirmary. You passed out," clarified the Uchiha, a strange tone to his voice.
That was news for her, her gaze shot back up. Itachi looked like he was stifling a laugh. Hinata had to ask,
"W-what's so f-funny, Itachi-sempai?"
He shook his head, saying distantly, "If you only knew the trouble you caused. Tobi thought you had died."
"What!?" she gasped, forlorn. "W-why? I m-mean, I'm n--"
Itachi quieted her with a wave of his hand, a signal the Hyuuga knew very well after all the tutoring sessions.
"Tobi overreacted," began the Uchiha. "According to the nurse you had a 'thinking fever'." He chuckled a bit, giving Hinata a self-conscious blush. "You fainted and everyone brought you here. They wanted to stay until you woke up, but I made sure they got to their classes."
"Oh, no!" she shrieked, flinging the sheets aside. "C-class! I'm l-late! What d-do I--"
Silenced again, Itachi calmly told her, "Calm down. I informed your teacher and this period only has about eight minutes left. It'll be sixth period soon, and I took the liberty of checking your schedule so, I know you are not up to PE just yet. There's a note here; excusing you from class. Okay?"
Hinata thought over what he'd told her. It sounded logical enough. Resolved, she gave a nod. Sighing as she settled back against the wall. Her head was aching, she guessed that it was from when she fainted.
"Arigato," the Hyuuga whispered, nervously tugging at her hair. The indigo locks had tangled up as she turned in her sleep, Hinata prayed that her bed hair wasn't that horrible. That would only prove to be further humiliating.
Another person entered the room a few minutes later. Hinata caught sight of a gorgeous shade of blue that drew her attention to the door. She was amazed to see that it was someone's hair color. The girl was short, slender, and yet she seemed older and more mature than a student. The lovely colored hair framed the girl's pale features and the rest was neatly tied in a tight bun. A paper flower was clipped into the wisps of azure. The young woman wore a short black skirt with ruffles, a dark blue scoop neck top with half-sleeves, black knee-high socks with blue Xs up the sides, and bold blue converse.
Her voice was soft and musical as she said,
"Hello, my name's Konan," she greeted, a soft translucent smile was on her visage. Hinata thought she looked beautiful as Konan strode toward her. "You must be the famous Hinata-chan everyone's been telling me about." She eyed Itachi for confirmation.
"Oh, I--uh, h-hai," replied Hinata, unable to hold Konan's gaze. "It's n-nice to m-meet you."
Silver-blue eyes trailed over the indigo haired girl, inspecting the prospect for joining their gang. Upon arriving, Konan was bombarded with pleas for Hinata's acceptance. Seeing the shy girl now, there was nothing that Konan could find wrong with her. Aside from her intensely goody-goody aura, that might be an issue. Still she was fine with Hinata-chan joining. Plus another girl would do wonders for her nerves, being in a gang entirely of guys was wearing on her health.
"You went to class, correct?" inquired Itachi, looking accusingly at the blue-haired girl now by his side.
"Yes, I managed," she dully answered, her eyes not leaving the other female. "It was boring."
"Konan, you think everything is boring," drawled Itachi, a short lived sigh following after as he turned back to Hinata. "The bell will ring soon, I suggest you go before everyone shows up."
"Why's th-that?" asked the Hyuuga, perplexed.
Itachi pondered the thought, everyone crowding into the nurses office and all desiring the poor girl's attention. He knew Hinata couldn't handle it.
Finally he settled with a simple smile and a, "Trust me."
The Hyuuga's brows drew together, her expression clearly questioning her sempai's elusive behavior. Though she would obeyed. Hinata shifted in the bed, sliding her legs off the edge. Her toes brushed the cool tile as she did so, before standing up fully.
After getting her flip flops back on, snatching up her backpack, and examining her reflection in the mirror on the opposite wall Hinata felt ready to go.
"I'll walk you to your next class," offered Konan, appearing in the mirror behind the Hyuuga. The blue haired girl wasn't smiling, but Hinata could almost sense that she was being friendly. There was a subtle way that Konan's eyes glinted as she spoke.
"A-arigato," she thanked her, spinning away from the mirror. Itachi handed the Hyuuga a slip of yellow paper she recognized as her note to get out of class.
"I have business with the principal," remarked Itachi, seemingly absentminded. "Take care of her, Konan. Bye, Hinata-san."
The Uchiha waved as they parted ways outside the door.
Hinata was left in Konan's care and they headed silently down the empty corridors. The Hyuuga was too nervous to force any words from her mouth hence she remained mute. The claps of the white flip flops smacking against her heels was the solitary sound between them. Konan was gratefully relaxed by the silence. It was like God --or as Hidan insisted possibly Jashin-sama-- was giving her a break. The first day of anything was always tiresome for her, particularly school.
The bell reached their ears as they headed down a roughly paved sidewalk pathway behind the school's gardening club. It was the quickest way to the gym, rather than go through the mess of hallways in the school.
Half way down the path, feeling semi obligated Konan offered,
"If you have any questions, I could answer them for you."
"Oh?" the Hyuuga squeaked, she hadn't thought of anything that required answering. Except. . . " W-well, um, wh-what is 'A-Akatsuki'?"
Konan shot her the strangest look.
It must have been a dumb question, Hinata reasoned, feeling more insecure than she had been a second ago.
"Akatsuki is like our gang," explained the blue-haired girl, her gaze focused ahead. "You see, a lot of us have problems. . .therefore it's easier to get along with each other rather than everyone else. Akatsuki is our family." Her tone was unusually bright as she said this, a smile itching to emerge, but it remained dormant. "You should be happy. The others want you to join our family."
"R-really?" breathed Hinata, her hand flying to her mouth.
It all sounded so exciting. Family. Her own family wasn't horrible, though they weren't the most understanding either. It would be nice to have a family of friends. Plus, a hell of a lot of things suddenly made sense to her about the table discussion at lunch. At lunch everyone was talking about her joining and then. . .
Hinata's signature blush crept to her skin as she recalled the reason why she passed out. Zetsu had called her 'hot'! Oh, lord. How was she supposed to face him after that!?
Wrapped up in her thoughts, the indigo-haired girl didn't even realize she walked into a chain link fence. It wasn't like she bumped it with her shoulder, no, it was a head-on collision. Her forehead hit metal and the rest of her came soon after, knocking her off her feet and onto her bottom.
"Ow," she whined, rubbing her forehead.
How could things be going so well and so horribly wrong at the same time? Making friends, passing out, joining a family gang, running into a fence. . . She unconsciously sighed aloud, hoping nothing else happened that day.
"Daijoubu?" asked Konan, unfazed by the girl's blunder. Her head inclined to her right, the blue haired woman peered down at the Hyuuga.
Hinata nodded, humiliated by her own idiocy. Before she managed to get on her feet someone was calling her name. As she searched for the addressing her, without even bother to stand first, Hinata found her cousin headed her way.
Neji had broken from his group of friends and raced to her side. His hair was disheveled, loose strands falling from his ponytail and a light pink color was brushed over his features. The Hyuuga boy was returning from a horrible PE lesson with the second year sensei, Gai. It was going to be a long year.
"Hinata-chan, what happened?" he asked calmly, extending his hand. As he pulled her upright Hinata desperately stammered,
"I-I, um, well. . .th-there was. . .a-and then. . .fence."
The girl's cousin took her mumbles in stride, comprehending exactly what Hinata had said. Not everyone had the gift to do that, even the girl's own father was bewildered at times. Sometimes, Neji feared his cousin was hopeless.
Though, after seeing her earlier, he was fully surprised at her choice of apparel. He'd never known Hinata to dress so boldly, yet she stood before him in a miniskirt. What possessed her to begin clothing in this slutty style, the Hyuuga boy must have over looked during their years living together.
"You need to be more careful," ordered Neji, flicking a stray leaf from her shoulder and tending to a stray hair clinging to her glossed lower lip. Once he deemed her appearance suitable, he nodded.
"A-arigato, Neji-niisan," she muttered, looking wholeheartedly humiliated. It wasn't that often that she walked into fences in front of her older cousin after all. Her fingers tugged at the fabric of her skirt, noticing that it had rise with her fall.
"After lunch I presumed you'd be taking better care of yourself," muttered Neji, looking frustrated with her outright clumsiness and carefree personality. Especially since he'd seen her unconscious in another guy's arms.
"Wh-what?" she asked, not hearing his words.
Neji dismissed her question, curiously staring passed Hinata. Spotting his cousin's escort he questioned,
"Konan-san?"
He hadn't expected to see the blue haired girl with his cousin of all people.
"Hello, Hyuuga-san," she returned, her tone almost bright. "I was showing Hinata-chan to her next class."
Neji had not missed the informal way she had addressed Hinata, something was up. He couldn't do a thing about it though, seeing as Lee impatiently hollered,
"Neji, we're going to be late for class! We're wasting our precious youth over here!"
The Hyuuga knew without sparing a glance back, what his friends were doing. TenTen was standing in a huff with her arms crossed over her chest and Lee was stamping his foot while waving his arms manically to get his attention. Typical.
"See you, Hinata-chan, Konan-san." Then he briskly turned to catch up with his crowd.
Hinata could see that he was being scolded by the two as they headed down the other pathway. She had always questioned how her stuck up, prissy cousin had become friends with a sweet guy like Lee and a strong willed girl like TenTen.
Konan brought the Hyuuga in resumed silence, waving her off before departing herself.
Hinata made her way into the gym, finding Asuma-sensei smoking a cigarette out the backdoor.
"S-sensei!" she reprimanded. Asuma was taken off guard, not expecting students so soon. Hinata looked appalled as she stammered out in a harsh tone, "Th-that's against th-the rules!"
Asuma smiled sheepishly, dropping the deathstick onto the ground and crushing the flame of life from it.
"Gomen," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. Hinata's glower resided, he was a teacher and deserved some respect. "And you would be...?"
"Hinata H-Hyuuga."
"Right," he said, dully noting who to look out for during his smoking breaks. "You should be dressing down for class."
"I, um, I'm n-not t-today," she replied, passing him the note. She hadn't even looked at it so she was staring in wonder as Asuma's expressions twisted as his eyes skimmed over the words.
"I see," he said, glancing around uncomfortably. "Well, you can just sit on the bleachers today."
"H-hai," she quietly agreed, heading to the rows of benches escalating upwards. She settled into the fifth row up, left of the middle.
It was a minute or so before more students began entering the gym. They were wearing the school colors: green and white. Forest green basketball shorts and white T-shirts with the Leaf emblem on the chest. Rather than stare, Hinata began mindlessly digging through her bag. She wasn't looking for anything, but she hoped people thought she was.
"Hinata-san!"
The Hyuuga raised her gaze, finding the dark eyes of an Uchiha. Sasuke raced over to her, not dressed down as the others were. He climbed the bleachers purposefully and in long strides, reaching her side in moments. There was an unusual emotion playing on his face that Hinata could not read, it wasn't unpleasant at least.
When Hinata said nothing, Sasuke noted with some relief,
"You look alright. I was worried." He watched her brow furrow, not understanding the need for concern. "After you fainted and all."
Her mouth formed an, "Oh." Then she slowly her features pulled downwards, contracting into a perplexed frown. "H-how did you know th-that?"
The Uchiha paused, looking a bit distracted by a thought.
"Well, uh, I came into the caf' and those guys were carrying you. That one. . .uh, Tobi? Said something about you dying." Hinata sighed, poor Tobi. "Well, anyway, Itachi-niisan sorta' explained. Then Kiba and I ended up helping get you to the nurses office. Neji too."
"E-even Neji-niisan?" the Hyuuga breathed, paling at the thought. Everyone had seen her unconscious, great. That was like social suicide, wasn't it? So much for a new year. . .
"So, are you sitting out?" asked the boy, obsidian eyes questioning her.
Hinata nodded, complacent while she was wrenching away from pessimistic thoughts.
"Mind if I sit with you?" he pressed, motioning to the bench space beside the Hyuuga.
The Hyuuga's slouch vanished, back shooting straight up, jolted by this sudden occurrence. Sasuke Uchiha, the most popular freshman alive, actually wanted to sit with her, again.
"I-if y-you want!" the tomato red girl shrieked, flattered and mystified. She moved her book bag from her left side and dropped it upon the next row.
Amused, Sasuke smirked at the crumbling Hyuuga. The Uchiha seated his butt on the bench, a good half foot from the blushing girl. Leaning back against the row behind him, Sasuke continued to marvel at how red Hinata was getting. She fell to pieces so easily. It was comically entertaining. He recalled why everyone teased her immensely. The little Hyuuga was defenseless against mockery or unkind words.
It was effortless to make her shatter. To make her embarrassed. To make her afraid. To make her cry.
An unintentional scowl formed on his face. Kids were cruel. Himself included.
"Um," squeaked Hinata, catching Sasuke's inky black eyes with her colorless ones. She had a question plain on her face and Sasuke rose his brows inquiringly.
"M-may I a-ask why y-you're s-sitting out?"
Sasuke breathed an, "Oh." His hand involuntarily inched to his knee, finger tips digging into the fabric of his jeans. "I screwed up my knee over the summer. It's not fully healed yet. I just got out of my cast last Wednesday."
Hinata looked worried, hurriedly questioning, "Wh-what happened?"
He paused. A sheepish grin flashed over the Uchiha's visage, answering, "I fell off a roof."
The milky eyes before him widened in horror. She was speechless.
Sasuke chuckled, launching into his tale of unknown-clumsiness. He swore if it was anyone else, he'd never tell. It was a kind of idiocy he liked avoiding, but Hinata wasn't the type to judge people or put them down. She was safe to confide in. Besides it would be a long period if they didn't talk about something.
The Hyuuga could not believe her ears were functioning properly as she listened attentively. The story occupied the two for quite a while and when he finished, Sasuke was sure to make her swear to secrecy. The innocent girl agreed, giggling slightly. It had been quite a story. One that would be kept under wraps.
It would be their little secret.
No one aside from Hinata and Itachi would know the real incident. The incident where the Sasuke Uchiha fell off his roof because he'd accidentally lit his pants on fire playing with matches. Why he'd had said matches was not given and Hinata was too naïve to ask. The Hyuuga was far more interested in the fact Sasuke had chosen to tell her about it to begin with. That meant there was some trust between them, no matter how small. That blossomed an appreciative smile from the indigo-haired girl.
The last bell of the day sounded. Dismissing all the students from their classes.
The two made there way from the bleachers, reaching the basketball court floor to have a brunette approached them from the retreating crowd.
"'Sup guys?" greeted a slightly panting Inuzuka, clad in the PE uniform. A wry grin was stretching his mouth in opposing directions.
"H-hey," returned Hinata, smiling kindly. "I d-didn't know y-you were in this cl-class."
"Yep," he said, still smiling. "Glad you're doing better, Hinata-chan." She blushed at his consideration.
"A-arigato, I sh-should be on m-my way n-now," the pink tinted girl announced. "I h-have to g-go to th-the middle sc-school to p-pick up Hanabi-ch-chan."
"Alright, see you tomorrow," cheerfully said Kiba, a tiny glint of disappointment in his eyes. "I gotta go change." He waved at Sasuke and Hinata, turning for the guys' locker room.
"S-so, I-I guess--"
"I'll walk you back to the school building," cut off the Uchiha, he wasn't looking at her and his expression was blank. His hands stuffed calmly into his pockets, looking reasonably cool. Pushing open the door to reveal their exit, the gaze of charcoal orbs linked with questioning alabaster pools.
The two didn't chance another word. Hinata passed under the doorway into the sparkling light of the sun, her hair trailing behind her as a gentle gust blew at her straight on.
Sasuke smiled as his nose picked up the scent of vanilla.
They walked back to the main building, in a peaceful silence. Both harboring mirrored smiles. They didn't look at each other because they didn't have to.
After knowing each other almost all their lives, this day made them it feel as if they were meeting for the first time.
High school really changes everything.
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Arigato for reading!
I've been itching to write something SasuHina, so it helped this chapter flow. I tried to keep it to a minimum in case you don't like them together. BUT if you like this pairing tell me, I'll gladly write more.
Pein is entering in the next chapter. (I wanted to hold back on his character entrance)
REVIEW --so you can express your views and tell me what you all want to see in future chapters. Like for the couples situation. Do you think in later chapters I should hold a poll? Like everyone votes for their favorites?
[Since I actually like this story it'll go on for a while.]
TTFN.