A/N: And a special thanks to those who've been reading and commenting on my story since the first chapter. I know it's been slow going, but this story wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the fabulous feedback I received from all the fabulous readers!

Chapter 9

"Hanabi."

The younger sibling didn't respond. She continued writing, seemingly unaware of Hinata's voice.

Hinata leaned forward, whispering, "Hanabi. . . Hanabi. . . ."

Finally, Hanabi deliberately looked up. She offered a small smile and politely asked, "What?"

Hinata sat down beside her sister, already beginning to fidget anxiously. She glanced at Hanabi, noticing how her sister's smile was plastered forcefully on her face and how her eyes seemed to be guarded, staring coolly at Hinata with indifference. It was obvious Hanabi knew already what Hinata was going to say.

"Did you check a book out yesterday?" Hinata asked, delaying the real question on her mind.

Hanabi shook her head and gazed back down at what she was writing.

Hinata bit her lip, feeling guilty about questioning her sister, but she had to know what happened yesterday at the library.

"Did you see anybody you knew at the library?"

Hanabi shook her head again, but they both knew it was a lie.

"Hanabi. . . ." Hinata sighed, weariness clinging to her and her very breath. "Please don't lie."

Slowly Hanabi lifted her head, her expression remote from emotion, but her eyes looked pleadingly to her sister. As if asking her to not make her confess to her lie, but before Hinata could even say anything else, the truth came tumbling out of Hanabi's mouth.

"I saw Sasuke and told him that I hated him and that he was a heartless bastard."

Hinata didn't react. She didn't know how to. Hanabi had spoken so quickly, the words falling out of her mouth as if she could no longer contain them. It took Hinata a moment to wrap the words around her head. When it all came together she gasped.

Hanabi watched her sister carefully, waiting for more of a reaction, but there wasn't one. Hinata continued to stare at her open mouthed.

Only after a brief passing of time did Hinata manage to whisper breathlessly, "W-what?"

Hanabi couldn't help but smirk slyly, a shred of her hatred coming into view. "I called him a heartless bastard and that he couldn't possibly understand what it's like to have a sibling who you'd do anything for."

That, that was it! Hinata felt her stomach drop heavily as if weighed down by Hanabi's words. Yesterday, Sasuke's devastated look, his anger that seemed to have been born inside him. Hanabi had no idea what she had truly said to Sasuke and Hinata could only stare at her sister in horror.

"H-Hanabi, you s-shouldn't have!"

Disturbed by the look of terror on her sisters face, Hanabi looked anxiously at her for answers. "What?" she asked. "What? What did I say?"

Hinata only shook her head, her hand covering her gaping mouth. "You need to apologize to S-Sasuke."

"What?" yelled Hanabi jumping to her feet. "Why? He's just a bastard! He made you cry!"

Oh, how Hinata wanted to explain to her sister about Sasuke and Itachi, but she doubted Hanabi would keep the story quiet. And that would be the last thing Sasuke would need, he didn't need to be reminded of his own pain and his brother's death.

Gently Hinata stood up and touched Hanabi's arm. She spoke carefully and deliberately, wanting to convey the severity to Hanabi.

"I can't explain to you why Hanabi, but you should apologize to Sasuke."

Hanabi glared haughtily, her eyes fierce. "Why?"

"Hanabi. . . ."

But Hanabi didn't seem to want to hear any of it and tore viciously away from Hinata.

"Why won't you tell me?"

"I can't Hanabi," Hinata pleaded.

"No!" screamed Hanabi, running away.

Hinata watched her go. She wanted to tell her only sister, but she didn't want to hurt Sasuke.

He had been hurt enough.

The last week of autumn was fierce. The sun scorched the earth bellow, making new record heats for their town. School would be starting next week, this fact weighed heavily over Naruto, but Sasuke didn't care. He actually was remotely looking forward to his senior year of high school.

"Ie-ya," whined Naruto. "I can't believe school starts again next week. I didn't get to do half of the things I was planning to."

"That's cause you wasted most of your time sleeping," scoffed Sasuke.

Naruto stuck his tongue out childishly. "You didn't do much either."

Sasuke rolled his eyes in reply. What Naruto said was true, but he wasn't going to admit to that fact. They continued walking down the town street.

"Ah," said Naruto, looking towards the Java Coffee shop, or rather the shop beside it.

"They sell ice cream here," he commented. "Do you want some?"

Sasuke shook his head in reply and Naruto shrugged and went on inside by himself. Leaving Sasuke to stand alone outside, but he wasn't alone for long.

"S-Sasuke?" called a timid voice. The Hyuga. He knew who it was before even turning around, but he did anyways.

The Hyuga stood a few feet away, she wasn't alone. Sasuke recognized the two males with her, Kiba and Shino. Both nodded toward Sasuke in greeting, but the Hyuga stepped closer. In response Sasuke nearly stepped back. He glanced around for Hanabi, for it seemed when one Hyuga was present more were to show.

Hanabi didn't appear though. Only the one Hyuga approached and before he could think much of it, she was bowing before him, exclaiming, "I'm sorry!"

"What?" he scoffed. Why was she apologizing?

The Hyuga raised her had, looking very sincere and afraid.

"A-About Hanabi," she whispered.

All Sasuke's anger from that day loudly paraded back to him. Yes. Hanabi. Hanabi yelling and calling him a bastard. His anger reared up and greeted him like a fresh memory.

The anger must of shown on his face, because the Hyuga bowed again, apologizing profusely.

Sasuke felt himself stiffen, realizing that the Hyuga knew what her sister had said and also what Itachi had done. Something dark and cold clamped down on that thought and sealed itself within Sasuke.

She knew. The Hyuga knew.

But how?

Sasuke didn't even hear himself ask the question. He wasn't even aware of himself saying anything until the Hyuga began replying. He knew what he had asked though, he had asked his thought aloud, how.

The Hyuga was looking at him with her pale eyes, a slight tremble passing through her hands as she began to explain.

"H-Hanabi told m-me," she said at first, but she trailed off. He wasn't asking how she knew what Hanabi had done, but rather about what Itachi had done.

"W-we went to the same m-middle school. E-Everyone knew. It's n-not s-something you easily f-forget."

Sasuke instantly glanced at Shino and Kiba who were standing in the distance. That meant they remembered as well. His whole class remembered undoubtedly. A part of him wanted to accept this fact, of course they would remember, but the coldness clung onto his anger.

The Hyuga was staring at him anxiously. She looked very unsure, her eyes pleading with him to forgive her sister. To think she found the courage. Sasuke scoffed angrily at that thought. She wasn't brave, she was stupid. Why should he forgive Hanabi anyways, she wasn't the one apologizing.

His anger was building, but the thought that everyone knew about his past was what made Sasuke boil over the edge. He turned away and began walking, forgetting about Naruto who was still getting ice cream and even about the Hyuga. His thoughts were led by Itachi and he had to run away from them.

"I-I'm sorry!"

Sasuke stopped walking, small, trembling hands were holding him back. When he turned to look at the face that was staring desperately at him, the first thing he noticed were tears. They filled the corners of her eyes and they filled Sasuke with confusion. And a tiny part of him was fascinated and all his anger was pushed away from his thoughts.

She was crying for him.

The Hyuga, Hinata, was crying for him.

She slowly let go of his arm and looked down, hiding her eyes. "Please f-forgive H-Hanabi, she doesn't k-know w-what she said."

With a slow, deliberate movement, Sasuke nodded. Accepting the apology with slight hesitation and confusion.

Relief flooded into Hinata's face and she sighed gratefully.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Sasuke nodded again. He noticed Kiba and Shino staring at him wearily, but Hinata did not seem afraid any longer.

"Thank you Sasuke," she said politely once more before waving and walking away.

Kiba raised a hand in farewell as well and Shino nodded. The trio walked away together, leaving Sasuke alone once more.

For a minute, Sasuke was immobile, still trying to understand everything that had just happen. The Hyuga, he told himself, the Hyuga, but already the name was falling away.

Hinata, he thought. And to his surprise he no longer minded her real name.

When Naruto finally came out of the ice cream shop with his cold treat, Hinata was already long gone and Sasuke was calm as a breeze.

Thoughts of the love note were far from his mind.

A/N: Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Chapter 10 everyone will be back in school! I have a poll on my profile asking which character you find to be "most in character." If you have time I would love to have feedback on everyone's opinion. Please and thank you!