Hinata was crouched over a recently added flower bed, lips creased in a shy smile as she fingered one of the flower's fat, purple petals. Crocuses were fast becoming one of her favorite flowers. Not just because of its lavender hue, but because of what it signified. It was one of many things that reminded her of sky eyes, sunny hair, and unclouded smiles and that thought made her flush.
She was relieved of club duties, like the rest of her partners, more than thirty minutes ago, but somehow found herself wandering the flower beds, just as she'd done numerous times before. While she'd double-checked - tripled-checked, even - to make sure every plant, including the vegetables and herbs in the greenhouse, was watered and accounted for, her legs managed to carry her to a secluded area of the garden, where the sun hit at just the right angle and where students, sans the gardening club's members, never ventured.
It was like her own, personal safe haven away from the judging eyes of her peers.
Yet, it was during her quiet ministrations that she was interrupted from her train of thought, piercing squeals and high-pitched "where-are-you-Sasuke-kuns!" peeling through the scented air like a blow horn in the distance.
Hinata stood, milky eyes searching the crowd of blossoms for the source of the voices. It didn't take much effort for her to realize that they were Uchiha Sasuke's fan girls. Their cries and wails of anguish were a dead giveaway after all, but what were they doing in the garden?
She didn't like it when people ran through here; there'd been plenty cases where students, mostly the boys, crushed the flowers from their rough-housing. She had hoped the administration considered her request to move them to the school's roof, but she doubted it. No one would be willing to help move the plants, not to mention the garden itself was one of Senju High's beauties - it would, no doubt, ruin the significance of the school (at least, that was what Lee kept telling her).
Hinata heaved a sigh, not liking where her thoughts were going, and hoisted her backpack on her shoulder before setting off for home. It wasn't as if she actually had the heart to tell them not to run through the area anyway. Ino was more suited for that job, even if Hinata was 100% sure the blond would join in the girls' perilous quest for Sasuke's affection. Besides, from the sound of things, it seemed as if they were finally gone, and with no signs of -
Hinata gasped, clenching the strap of her backpack with a white fist as she scurried towards the rose bush. Petals and twigs were scattered about the ground. Even a few roses themselves managed to break off its stem, dotting the ground like blood stains on a carpet. Who would do such a thing?! As Hinata crouched to retrieve the fallen flowers, she caught sight of a black, unfamiliar object protruding from the bushes. Strange; it almost resembled a sleeve… or was that a jacket?
She made a move to reach for it, but was unable to when a prickled, bloodied hand short forth and grabbed her wrist. Petrified with fear, Hinata watched with wide, doe eyes as Uchiha Sasuke himself emerged from the bushes, much like a zombie rising from the grave, lips twisted into that terrifying scowl he always wore.
Unable to process the words flowing from his lips, Hinata did what any sane girl would do.
She screamed.
note1: Special thanks - Moonlit-Roulette.