Disclaimer: (does anyone NOT know this?!) I own none of the Naruto characters. End of story.
Chapter 8 Through the wind and the rain, she stands hard as a stone…
Sasuke's P.O.V.
While I walk down the street of the old town that has been here for as long as I can remember, my mind drifts off to Hinata. She was acting extremely strange today. And she looked hurt for some reason. She was leaning against the wall a lot. And even though it is summer and extremely warm, she was wearing that heavy jacket and her long pants. I was getting hot just looking at her.
Also, I think that she was hiding something under that big jacket. But what could it be? What could shy, quiet Hinata be hiding from me? From everyone really.
As I continue to think of all the possible reasons that Hinata could want to hide something, I remember how she acted in school. She looked like she didn't want to see me. Hinata did try to run away from me when I was in her sight. Also, she flinched when I touched her arm. Could she be hurt? She didn't look as hurt when I first met her in the forest yesterday. How could she get hurt within a 24 hour time period?
I snap out of my reverie as my feet stop at the doorway of the town shop. I shake my head and go inside. Right away I walk toward the medical center to pick up some things that I know I will never have to use in my lifetime, but since I have money to waste and it might be a good idea to have them around. I reach out to grab some anyway. When I find what I need, Yeah right, I turn to leave. But someone stops me. Well, it isn't so much the person, but the condition she is in.
Hinata is standing a few feet away from me, and she looks worse for wear. Her clothes are ripped, she has dead pale skin, and there are blood stains all over her.
When she finally realizes that I am here, her eyes widen and she quickly turns to leave. Luckily, I'm faster then she is, and I manage to grab her wrist. She roughly takes back her arm and starts walking backwards. Her eyes are pleading with mine as she says,
"Sasuke, please don't tell anyone you saw me here."
Her voice is full out begging and her eyes turn glossy as unshed tear become visible in them. I can feel my eyes go hard as I grab her by the arm and lead her out of the store.
As I quickly and carefully drag Hinata to the alley behind us, I see that her eyes are shut, and her mouth is clenched tightly. I loosen my grip on her as we entered the abandoned, yet still slightly lighted, alley. I release my grip on her entirely, and her face becomes less tense.
When she seems calm, I ask the question that's been bugging me all day.
"What is wrong with you? Why are you like this?"
She stares at the ground, refusing to meet my gaze, and once I think that she isn't going to answer, she says,
"Sasuke, this is none of your business. Now please let me get what I came here for and forget that you ever saw me here."
Hinata turns around to try to leave, but I recapture her arm and she flinches at my touch.
"Why are you hurt?" I ground out. When she doesn't answer, I pull up her sleeve to reveal her once hidden arm.
My breath catches as I see many white and pink slashes running all over her exposed flesh. Forgetting that Hinata is still in my grasp for the moment, I gently run my fingers over her wounds. I see her grimace as I touch a bright pink slash that is obviously new.
"Some of these are fresh," I say as I pull on her arm gently. When Hinata opens her eyes, she has tears in them. Whether from pain, or something else, I do not know.
Well another chapter is done. Really badly, but it's done. Thank you to all the people who had reviewed and I hope that you will hold onto your unending patience for a little longer, and I promise that the story will get better. Ja ne!