Chapter 17

Exams were a sure way to a headache for many people. Sasuke was sure Hinata was probably having it rough. She had to get excellent grades on the end of term exams. He did too but he didn't really have to push that hard to get the kind of grades his father wanted. He was certain he had aced all the exams he had done so far. Because of the stress that Hinata was probably under to study he wanted to take her out. He wanted to remove some of that stress from her. That led to his current dilemma. He could not think of anywhere he could take her and so had ended up having to turn to the one person who would help him with only a smirk as payment. Now he stood before Itachi's door cursing his own disability to choose a place. Of course there were other people he could she but asking his mother would lead to squeals and incessant chattering, his father would have merely asked him why he would even think to ask him, Naruto would suggest ramen and Neji would question him on his reasons. A mere smirk was definitely better.

"Hello brother." Itachi said when Sasuke entered his room after knocking. He was laid out on his bed with a book before him. It was one of the rare moments he chose to revise. Having his little brother interrupt him was of no consequence to him. Sasuke looked uncomfortable though he hid it well and so he knew instantly that his brother was here to ask for something. He smiled slightly. "What can I do for you?"

"I want to take Hinata out. Where should I take her?"

"No ideas of you own. Shame." Itachi stated chuckling lightly at Sasuke's glare. "Go into the trunk and take out the yellow cylinder."

"Itachi's Trunk of Wonders." Sasuke grumbled but moved to the closet and opened the trunk. The first thing he saw was a roman warrior costume with the helmet onto. He looked over his shoulder at his brother who merely shrugged. He rolled his eyes. Things Itachi kept in his trick of wonders were early things to be wondered at. He found the cylinder next to the costume and pulled it out.

"Open it and take one." Itachi told him. Sasuke opened it and saw that it was filled with papers. He took one and read it.

"It's a coupon." he stated looking at his brother. "A coupon for free sanitary napkins."

"Ah." Itachi said thoughtfully. "Chose another one then. I know I have restaurants in there."

"You have a coupon collection." Sasuke stated after looking at a few at the top.

"Yes. They are useful for moments like this." Itachi stated with a small frown before asking. "Would you rather look at business cards or would you rather go think up your own idea?"

"I am fine with coupons." Sasuke answered and Itachi smiled at his oblivious brother when had turned back to the cylinder in his hands. He watched as Sasuke moved to sit on the end of his bed with his back to him as he busily looked at coupons. His brother was so adorable sometimes, doing something sweet for his girlfriend. Itachi wondered if he realised that he hadn't done anything like this for any of his past girlfriends. It was cute how he thought about Hinata differently and didn't even realise it. Itachi reached up to pull Sasuke's head backwards to bend him awkwardly so that he could see his brother's face. Sasuke glared at him.

"This better be good." Sasuke growled. He was not comfortable to be bent like this. Itachi opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by a loud bang downstairs.

"MIKO-MOMMY!" was clearly heard from down there causing both boys to freeze.

"Tobi." the brothers muttered with narrowed eyes. Itachi let go of Sasuke's hair and Sasuke sat up properly with a scowl on his face. He growled before replacing the lid on the cylinder and getting up to leave the room.

"I'm going to lock myself in." he told Itachi sure that the other boy did not want to see Tobi right now either. He was just three steps away from his room when Tobi suddenly popped up the stairs.

"Sasuke!" Tobi exclaimed when he saw him. Sasuke was about to make a dash for his room but Tobi was faster and quickly closed the distance to the door to stand before Sasuke blocking his path. Sasuke gave him a flat look. "Guess what? Tobi entered the school raffle and won! You wanna know what Tobi won?"

"No. Not at all."

"Tobi won tickets to play paintball!" the older Uchiha continued excitedly before Sasuke was even properly finished. "And guess what? Tobi is giving Sasuke two tickets! Take Bunny with you!"

Sasuke stared wide eyed at Tobi who held two tickets in his hands and was grinning like a loon. He took the two tickets slowly.

"...Thanks." he said finally making Tobi grin even wider.

"You're welcome!" he said before skipping off to Itachi's room.

Sasuke now had somewhere to take Hinata.

When Sasuke thought about taking Hinata to the paintball place, he didn't think they would end up going with Tobi and Zetsu and Itachi and Kisame. Apparently Tobi had won six tickets and Itachi had 'randomly' picked the date and time their group would be going. As if. He obviously I'd this on purpose but Hinata was just excited to be going so he wasn't going to say anything. At least not until he could get his hands around Itachi's neck without alerting anyone to his motives.

Hinata on the other hand was happy and smiling. It was her first time going to play paintball. He planned to make it as fun for her as possible.

"Teams!" Tobi said excitedly as they proceeded and instantly grabbed Zetsu's arm to him. "Zetsu is on Tobi's team!"

"Two teams only." Itachi said with a slight smile as they made their way to the changing area to be padded up.

"I'm with Itachi." Kisame said instantly.

"Well I'm with Hinata." Sasuke stated.

"Two teams Sasuke."

"Don't care." he said stubbornly.

Itachi and Kisame looked at each other with raised brows before looking back at the pair. "Well then," Itachi began.

"Hinata is ours!" Kisame completed for him as he threw Hinata over his shoulder and ran off with her. Sasuke stared after them in shock for a moment before he actually processed what was happening.

"Hey!" he exclaimed ready to sprint after them but suddenly Tobi was wrapped around him like a monkey and Zetsu was standing before him.

"Yay! Tobi gets Sasuke!" the elder Uchiha said happily clinging to him from behind.

"Just great." Sasuke grumbled trying to shake his cousin off of him.

Hinata was blushing deeply by the time Kisame finally put her down. He had just picked her up so easily and so suddenly and ran off with her. Itachi was following behind at a slower pace with their weapons. Kisame was grinning widely when he put her down.

"Now we have you all to ourselves." he said excitedly Itachi armed him with one of the paintball guns and handed another to Hinata. He already had his in hand.

"This is how it goes." he said looking at each of them. "We are going to end them. Shoot to kill and don't miss the target ever. Be sure to keep out of sight."

"Ok." Hinata answered before looking at the paint ball gun in her arms curiously. "One question: Do I just pull the trigger?"

"Pretty much." Kisame said while nodding before continuing. "Just take aim first but since it's your first time and you'll probably have no aim just firing in the general direction and hope you hit might work."

"Ok. I'm ready then." Hinata said determined. Both Itachi and Kisame smiled at her. There proceeded to lead her around the area. During this Itachi disappeared and Hinata was left with Kisame. They snooped along slowly, peeping around corners looking for the enemy. Soon they heard the sound of one of the guns firing and paint splattering followed by a shout a short distance away. Kisame was on the move instantly. Hinata trailed after him watching the rear. A shadow jumped across over them and Hinata only vaguely made out Itachi's pony-tail to know it was him. Soon there was move gunfire in the direction Itachi had run to. They were about to turn into another corner when Zetsu came up behind. Hinata saw him just in time to fire but missed. Zetsu immediately opened fire making Hinata and Kisame jump behind the obstacles to avoid them. Kisame aimed his gun around the corner without looking and fired away. When he peeked around they were surprised to see that he only got hit twice in one arm. Suddenly he and Kisame were having their own fire fight.

Hinata had just looked away from them when she spotted Tobi skipping towards them happily swinging his paintball gun by his side. Hinata tried to make herself smaller before even attempting to fire at him. Hinata watched in almost slow motion as he conveniently tilted his head at the last minute for the paint to narrowly miss his head.

'No way.' she thought as she watched him raise his gun with his smile still plastered on his face. When he pulled the trigger Hinata expected to be assaulted with paint even as she also pulled her trigger, eyes squeezed shut.

"Shit!" she heard Kisame curse from behind her. Then it stopped and she cracked her eyes open. She hadn't been shot. Tobi stood where he had been still smiling and with only one spot of paint on him in a non-lethal area: a finger on his free hand. He jumped over and bent to bring his face closer to hers.

"Bunnies shouldn't he shot at. They've done nothing wrong." he said with a pout as he cupped her face but avoiding touching her with the painted finger. "Guns aren't something they should play with either."

She stared after him as he skipped off calling for his Vinnie the Vine to come with him over his shoulder. Zetsu slinked around to their side treated her with a snarl and followed him away only pausing for a moment to shoot Kisame on the foot.

While Hinata had remained untouched Kisame had been shot repeatedly and had paint all over him. He smiled at her.

"No worries. It's always hard to hit Tobi even when he's not moving." he said pushing himself up from the floor. "I swear that guy uses magic or something. Or he's got super powers like intangibility. Just like I swear Itachi can read minds or mess with people's minds some times."

"Are you out of the game now?" she asked getting off the ground too.

"For now. I'll still watch your back though." he said winking at her.

"Let's end Sasuke now." she said and he stared at her.

"I would hug you right now but that would kick you out of the game too." he said brightly. "Let's go."

To say Sasuke was surprised to see a paint covered Kisame so early the game was an understatement. He had expected him to last longer. He was more surprised through when he stepped aside to reveal his girlfriend of close to three months pointing her paintball gun. He realised too late that he had lowered his defences at Kisame not being a threat but being lost. Before he could even point the gun her first shot hit. He didn't stand a chance after that. It was rapid fire from her, Kisame holding him in place and excessive laughter from both of them. When he could finally move and not cringe from hits. He looked at her smiling shyly at him with a flushed face and a half cocked gun in hand. He playfully glared at her before raising his empty arms.

"My dying wish is for your affection. Hug me and share in my paint beloved." he proclaimed and she laughed nervously as she processed what he said. The moment it clicked and she took a step back he lunged for her but was caught in a bear hug from Kisame.

"My affection will have to do mini Uchiha."

"I am not a mini Uchiha." Sasuke growled trying to get away from Kisame.

"You're right. You're the Uchiha mini." Kisame told him and he glared as best he could from that odd angle at the larger male. Hinata giggled from a few steps away.

"No! Little cuz!" Tobi's voice called from behind the group of them. They spun to see him standing not far off with Zetsu.

"Where were they when I needed them?" Sasuke growled just as Kisame muttered: "What could they have been off doing now?"

They looked at each other thoughtfully before Sasuke pushed away and Kisame let him go. "I don't want to know." they agree.

Hinata looked at them quizzically having missed what was said before. Sasuke waved it off and Kisame smiled at her.

"Sorry Bunny but it looks like I'm going to have to end you." Tobi said with a sigh and a shrug. He raised his paintball gun at her with a smile. "No hard feelings."

At that moment four persons opened fire and four persons got shot. Hinata and Kisame were shot across the chest by Tobi. Hinata and Kisame fired on Tobi and Zetsu and Zetsu was hit. Tobi was shot by Itachi who had suddenly appeared standing above Tobi and Zetsu on the wall structures. He smirked down at them.

"My team wins." he said with a victorious smile. He was still paint free while everyone else had some splattered on them. Kisame cheered loudly and Zetsu saw fit to execute retribution. From there the game became a free-for-all.

Sasuke took it upon himself while they were finally changing out of the gear to help Hinata out of hers a little away from the group of them. He helped her to keep any paint that had not yet dried away from her hair before running his fingers through it to make sure. She was blushing at him slightly through her lashes.

"Thank you." she said doing away at his latches. He raised a questioning brow at her giving her hair one more comb through because it was soft and she was beautiful. He couldn't help it. "For trying to take my mind of exams and school for a bit. I really had fun even if you hadn't planned for them to come along it was still fun."

"You're welcome. I had fun too even if you shot me. Repeatedly." he told her pulling off the last of the gear. She was really blushing now. She had been very vicious when there were no longer any teams. She had shot him the most out of everyone else.

"Sorry." she said nervously fiddling with her fingers a little. He cupped her cheek in a hand lightly making her raise her eyes to his. He smiled softly at her.

"It's alright. I can handle it." he said comfortingly before leaning forward to kiss her. Their eyes closed they missed the quick picture Itachi snapped with his phone from beside a smirking Kisame. He captured perfectly the sweet sincerity of it including the soft blush still present on Hinata and lovingly soft hold Sasuke had on her. It was perfect.

Hinata couldn't help thinking at that moment that maybe she didn't just like Sasuke a lot. That maybe it was something more than that.

Several days later found Hinata smiling brightly as she stepped out of her final exam for the term. They were final over now and the school trip the next day would be the last day before holidays. The whole day had been good. She had woken up in a good mood, had a good lunch and happily hung out with Temari and Ten-ten. She was actually excited to see Sasuke. She only had a few more minutes to wait before seeing him. He didn't have exams today and so would be coming from him.

Usually he was early so it was a little odd that his car wasn't already parked outside or that he wasn't there leaning on it as he waited. She brushed it off as the anomaly to prove the point, maybe he was busy or got side tracked. He had been at home all day. She went to sit on a bench under a tree near the parking lot in front of the school.

She didn't have much longer to wait because soon she saw his car enter the school grounds. She smiled brightly as it approached and stopped close to her. She was just rising up her feet when she saw Sasuke get out of the car and approach her.

"Hey Sasuke." she greeted him happily with a smile.

"Hinata." he said coolly causing Hinata to raise a brow at him. She hadn't heard that tone on him for a while now. "We're breaking up."

"What?" she asked almost stumbling. She couldn't have heard right. There was no way.

"Really Hinata? I know you're not deaf." he said folding his arms and almost rolling his eyes.

"Wha-Why?" she asked. Her confusing was evident on her face. This was the least of all the things she had expected to hear this day. This could not be happening.

"Don't tell me you didn't expect this?" Sasuke said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. At her still confused look he smirked at her sadistically. "You didn't? How could you not. I mean, look how Naruto turned out. Dumped after three months. We didn't quite make it to three but oh well. Don't think I could go much longer."

Hinata stared horrified at him. Beneath the tightness of her chest she could feel the sharp stab of emotional agony pierce her heart creating one big crack in her just finally fully healed heart.

"Lost your voice now? Well no problem. I don't really want to hear anything from you on this." he said seemingly losing interesting the whole thing. A look of distaste underlay this bored look. Just this look and the fact that he wasn't even looking at her anymore brought tears to her eyes even as the words sunk in. When he turned those disgusted eyes on her, her heart finally cracked in two driving a rift in her chest like to other. "Avoid me."

With those parting words he spun away from her got in his car and left leaving her soulless and empty at the front on the school.

"Don't. Cry." she muttered to herself trying to hold in the rears as her trebling hands tried to call her driver.

It was quick and painful. That's what it was.