~Give Me Love~

~Chapter 8~

Hinata's found herself alone in a dressing room with a wad of carefully-picked dresses hanging up next to her. It was the first time in forty-five excruciating minutes that she had a chance to take a breath and re-evaluate her position. As she stared at her odd, cloaked figure, the panic started to set in. If she tried on any of these clothes, the girls would surely see her horrible wings (or what was left of them), and then the real questions would start. Maybe she could pass them off as a birth defect, or maybe she could just run as fast as her legs could carry her back to Shino's and swear never to leave ever again.

"Did you try anything on?" asked a muffled Sakura from the other side of the door.

"Um...no...I'm...having some trouble..." Hinata squeaked.

"Oh, do you need me to help you?"

"N-n-no, I'm okay...just need a minute..."

Crap. So much for running, not with a guard outside her room. She took a long, shaky breath, and took another look at herself in the long mirror. Then, she slowly began unbuttoning and unzipping her coat. With a ruffled thump, the cloak fell to the ground all around her, revealing a dingy pair of panties and bra that were in desperate need of washing. Maybe going shopping with these two wasn't such a bad idea after all...but what about her wings? They were clearly there. Two little reddened sticks jutting out from her back,wrapped gently in gauze that was already starting to come apart. She reached up and stroked the edge of her left wing as delicately as possible, and a strong, burning sensation arose under her fingertips.

Her eyes began to swell, and she quickly wiped away at them with the heel of her palms. She couldn't cry now...she had no time. She heard a wrapping of knuckles on her door.

"You okay in there?" asked Sakura.

"I'm fine..."

"You sure? It shouldn't take that long to put on a dress."

"R-Really...I'm f-fine..."

"Aww c'mon, you don't have to be embarrassed about it...let me help."

The doorknob turned. Hinata realized that she didn't lock it.

Her eyes widened.

The door opened.

Sakura looked up at her, and gasped with horror.

"Oh my GODS!" She shrieked while clasping a hand over her mouth.

Hinata froze, cheeks flaring. Her wings...she saw her wings...

Sakura then reached out to her and embraced her tightly.

"Your underwear...you poor darling...how long have you had to wear those horrible things?!"

Hinata blinked. Suddenly it occurred to her that Sakura's arms were right around where her wings were. It was if her wings were ethereal, and Sakura had passed right through them. She peered over her shoulder, and the little gauze-wrapped sticks were still there.

She can't see them...she can see me, but she can't see my wings...

Sakura pulled away and held Hinata by her shoulders. "You should have told us! We would have gone to the lingerie store first! It should be a crime to make a woman wear the same panties for that long."

Hinata sighed in relief. Suddenly, everything seemed much easier.

"Oh...please don't blame Shino-kun. He has been so kind to me. He rescued me, when my village was burning. I lost my whole family, and my possessions as well. He's been letting me borrow his clothes, so I owe him everything."

Sakura gave her a sad smile and hugged her tightly once again.

"You poor, sweet thing. Well me and Ino will take care of you now. In Konoha, everyone is family, so if the Hokage approves of you, you're always welcome here!"

Hinata felt warm at that moment with Sakura wrapped around her like that. Maybe living as a mortal wasn't all that bad after all. Of course...the Hokage didn't actually approve of Hinata being there, but she and her family had watched over the village for generations without her knowledge, so what was the big deal, anyway?

"Thank you, Sakura-san. I think I can handle myself now, really." Hinata said with a soft smile. Sakura pulled away once again, and returned the same smile.

"Alright, if you insist. But promise you'll ask for my help if you need it, okay?"

"Promise!" Hinata replied cheerfully.

As Sakura closed the door, Hinata turned to the mirror again, and took a deep breath. This was nice...having friends. Friends that couldn't see her secrets, for that matter. Friends who would buy her clothes and food, and would treat her with adoration. Her wings burned, but she hardly noticed. Hinata's heart was too warm to worry about anything.

With that, Hinata plucked a dress from the hanger and tried it on.

~o~

A few hours went by, and Hinata now had a wardrobe of three dresses (With thin straps and a low back, as to provide an opening for her wings), a week's worth of underwear, two bras, two blouses, and some snug-fitting jeans, as well as a comfortable pair of sandals. There was a point in time where Hinata was worried about Sakura and Ino forking over so much cash just for her, but they reassured her that the thrill of shopping for a new friend was what they lived for.

Late in the afternoon, the trio sat around a table munching on BBQ. Hinata kept quiet most of the time, but was perfectly content listening to Sakura and Ino bicker back and forth.

"Hey chubby-chaser, are you and your new boyfriend gonna eat here at the end of the week?" Sakura asked Ino with her taunting expression.

"I dunno teacher's pet, depends on where you and Kakashi-sensei are eating. Maybe we can go on a double-date." Ino replied with a devious grin.

"It'll have to be a triple date, with Chouji tagging along." Sakura sneered.

Hinata giggled quietly to herself, knowing full well that she was responsible for their squabble. Besides, the new insulting nicknames for each other were a nice change of pace from 'pig' and 'billboard-brow'. Then, the two turned to her.

"What about you, Hinata-chan? Who are you going to the Festival of Love with?"

Hinata froze. "I...I don't know..."

She had completely forgotten about the festival. It was only two days away, and her bow was missing, her uniform was trashed, and her wings had rotted away. She was one couple away from her goal, and she hadn't seen her family in days. Was being a cupid really worth pursuing at this point?

"Isn't she taking Shino?"

"Oh yeah, he's like the only single guy left in this town. Plus, I heard that under all those layers he's actually quite a hotty..."

She had a place to stay, clothes to wear, and friends to hang out with. Isn't that all you needed to be happy? But...how do you be a mortal? Wouldn't she need to make money? Did she need skills? She was good with a bow...

"Shino doesn't seem like the kinda guy to be in a relationship though..."

"Yeah, he's a real Sasuke-type."

She missed her father and her mother. She missed her bed, and she missed Neji. She missed the beautiful shimmering walls of Sky Castle, and she missed being able to fly. She missed her bow, and she missed training. She missed Cloud Drop Pudding, her favorite dessert. Could she really live in Shino's tiny apartment forever?

"Hey Hinata-chan, why are you crying?"

Hinata looked up. Sakura and Ino were looking at her with concern. She hadn't even noticed how hot and wet her cheeks had become.

"You okay, honey?" Ino asked quietly, resting a hand on Hinata's back.

"I just...I miss my home." Hinata whimpered.

"Awww...I'm sure you do. You know, we shinobi come across quite a lot of villagers in your situation. We've seen people lose their families, we've even lost many friends of our own."

"It's tragic, but everyone always comes out a little bit stronger."

"Yeah, it just takes a little time, Hinata-chan. You won't be able to see your family again, but you can always find a place where you belong."

Hinata couldn't tell Sakura and Ino apart. In fact, most of their words of comfort was just mumbling. Hinata pressed her face into her hands, and felt Ino wrap her arms around her.

"You know what we could use? Some hot sake."

"Yeah, that's a great idea! Hey, waiter! Waiter!"

Hinata continued to sob meekly into her hands, while Ino gave her back a brisk rub.

"It's okay, sweety. You just need some alcohol. That'll cheer you right up!"

A few moments later, and a little tray was set out on the table with three tiny cups and a neat little bottle full of potent liquid. Ino reached out to the ingredients and poured a cup full for Hinata, then set it in front of her.

"There you go, try some of that." Ino said encouragingly with an arm still wrapped around Hinata.

Hinata reached out tenderly to the cup with both hands, then brought it to her lips. She sneered at the intense odor.

"Go on, it won't kill you." Sakura quipped while pouring her own fill.

Hinata took a little sip, and immediately set the cup back down and reached for her green tea to take a good gulp and get the horrid taste from her mouth. Ino and Sakura burst into laughter.

"Yeah, it's got a kick to it. That's why you have to drink it all at once, not sip it." With that, Sakura downed her entire cup, then slammed it down while sharply exhaling. Ino quickly followed up by doing the same.

"Ahhh...that's the good stuff."

"Go on Hinata, try again. This time drink the whole thing. Pinch your nose if you have to."

Hinata did just that. With great effort, she swallowed the entire cup, then set it down and immediately went for her tea once again.

"I feel sick..." Hinata muttered.

"Just give it a minute. You'll feel a lot better." Sakura reassured her.

Sure enough, after a few minutes, Hnata started to feel very relaxed and light-headed. It was similar to the warm feeling she got when Sakura had hugged her for the first time but it was seeping through her whole body, and felt as if it was artificially placed there. Now a little less tense, she dropped her shoulders and settled into her seat.

"Ha ha, I think she's all good now." Ino giggled.

"Want another cup?" Sakura asked while already filling up Hinata's cup.

"Oh...o-okay." Hinata replied softly, not even sure if that's what she really meant to say.

After a few drinks, Hinata felt very, very strange, and Ino and Sakura didn't seem far off. They had had twice as much as Hinata had, and even ordered a couple more bottles of the stuff. For the most part, they remained the same, except for their flushed cheeks, their increased hostility toward each other, and their relentless giggling.

"Hiiiiiinaaaaaaataaaaaaa-chaaaaaannnnnnn..."Sakura slurred while leaning her whole body onto the table.

"Huh?" Hinata asked slowly, her head wavering back and forth.

"What's Shino's...hick...apartment like? I don't think anyone's ever been inside of it."

Hinata closed her eyes and rested her head against the back of the bench.

"Cramped...full of bugs...and notebooks..."

"Where do you sleep?" Ino asked while resting her head on Hinata's shoulder.

"On his...ugh...on his futon."

"Ew, with him next to you?" Sakura asked, her head leaning resting in her palm.

"No...he...uh...he doesn't sleep. He just watches over me."

"That's fucking creepy." Ino said, attempting to sit up, but failing.

They were silent for a moment, then Sakura asked. "Have you seen him naked?"

"Sakura, why the fuck would she have seen him naked?"

"I dunno, some people are naked when they're at home by themselves."

"Are you naked when you're at home by yourself?"

"Sometimes..."

"You're definitely naked when Kakashi-sensei is over."

Sakura snorted. "Well you're definitely naked when you're being suffocated in Chouji's rolls..."

"I haven't seen him naked..." Hinata murmured before the two could start their bitching, "but I've seen his eyes."

"OOoooooo..." Sakura and Ino replied almost in unison, "What do they look like?"

"Black. Solid...black...and..." Hinata tilted her face away, feeling like she was going to pass out.

"And?" Ino and Sakura asked.

"...beautiful..." Hinata whispered, giving up on her consciousness.

~o~

The next thing she knew, Hinata was waking up in a bed she had never been in before. The room was quaint and roomy, and decorated like a woman who was somewhere between being a child and being a teenager. She sat up and stretched, then climbed out of bed and looked at herself in the long mirror in the corner of the room. She was still wearing the same simple lilac dress that her friends had purchased her earlier that day, but it was a bit on the wrinkled side and her hair was all tangled. Suddenly, the door on the opposing corner opened up, and Sakura peeked her head in.

"Hinata-chan? Are you awake?"

Hinata nodded while attempting to flatten her hair out.

"Where am I?" she asked with a groggy tone in her voice.

"Oh, you passed out smooth at the restaurant, so I brought you back to my place to rest. This is my old room, but it's now the guest room. Do you need a brush?"

"Um...yes, please."

"There's an extra one in the bathroom. Just come straight down this hall, and turn left at the end of it. Shino's here to get you, so I figured you'd want to look nice for him."

"Sh...Shino-kun is here?" Hinata asked, her heart now beginning to race.

"Yeah, I told him that you're perfectly welcome to stay here 'cause I have the extra room and all, but he insists that you're 'under his protection' or whatever. I told him I'd let you decide where you wanna go, so why don't you take some time to freshen up, then talk to him about it? He's out in the living room when you're ready."

With that, Sakura closed the door. Hinata could hear her footsteps grow quieter, so she took a moment to gather her thoughts. She looked around the room and considered Sakura's offer. It was quite a nice little room...small, but not nearly as suffocating as Shino's studio. Plus, she'd have her privacy, and the bed was exceedingly comfy.

She continued to ponder her situation as she followed Sakura's instructions to the bathroom. It was clean and organized, and smelled of the little basket of potpourri on the counter. A brush had been sat out on the counter, so Hinata took to straightening out her tangled mop of hair. She'd even have this clean bathroom nearby, and she certainly appreciated the girly atmosphere as opposed to Shino's musty little bachelor pad. It was probably the closest thing to Sky Castle she had encountered since this whole fiasco began. She knew in her heart that Sakura would be more than happy to take care of her, so staying with her seemed like the obvious choice...

...Until she walked into the living room and found Shino sitting on the couch by himself. His hood was down, revealing his mass of messy, spiked hair. As soon as Hinata entered his sight, his face was instantly graced with a warm, welcoming smile.

"That might be the first time I have ever seen a smile on your face, Shino Aburame." Sakura remarked.

Hinata hadn't even noticed Sakura sitting across from Shino, but she could hardly pay that much attention to her. Something about Shino's smile just broke Hinata in half, and she knew right then and there that she couldn't leave him. She knew that if the choice was between Sakura's comfy bed and Shino in that dark, dusty cave, she would pick Shino without so much as a blink.

She slowly paced over to him, and reached out her hand to him, which Shino promptly grasped in his own. Hinata turned to Sakura.

"Sakura-san, thank you so much for today. You and Ino-san have made me feel so welcome here...so thank you. For the clothes...for the food...everything...but..."

"But...?" Sakura asked, as if she hadn't heard anything but that word.

Hinata turned to Shino. "But, I belong with Shino. He rescued me, and...he...he makes me feel safe, so...I want to stay with him."

Sakura shrugged and smiled at her. "Alright, if that's what you really want, Hinata. But if his bugs are ever driving you crazy, you're always welcome to stay here for the night."

Hinata giggled. "Okay, thank you Sakura-san."

~o~

It was nearing midnight when Shino and Hinata arrived at his apartment. As the familiar buzz of his overhead light flickered on, Hinata sat her shopping bags down, and took her place on the futon. Shino looked at her from the entrance and smiled.

"I suppose it wasn't such a bad idea to leave you in the care of those two."

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked quietly.

"You look far more beautiful in that dress than in my trench coat."

Hinata flared red and hunched over, pressing her fingers together. "Th...thank you."

"I have a gift for you, Ga-chan."

Hinata looked up and watched as Shino wandered over to a lone insect box that was sitting on the kitchen counter. When he brought it over to her, Hinata looked inside to find a stunningly beautiful, vibrantly colored creature.

"What is it?" Hinata asked gingerly.

"It's called a Luna moth. They're very rare, and only come out at night. I stumbled across it while taking a walk, and it reminded me of you."

"It's beautiful..." Hinata whispered while gazing upon the lovely insect.

"I'm happy you like it."

"But...isn't it sad all locked up in that box? It's so big, it looks like it needs room to fly."

"You want to let it go? But its such a rare specimen."

"All the more reason to let it go and let it be happy."

Hinata looked into Shino's goggles. Even without his eyes, he looked disappointed. In fact, he seemed a lot more disappointed than one would be if they simply had to let a bug they caught go. Hinata set the bug box in her lap and tilted her head.

"What's wrong, Shino-kun?"

Shino reached a hand out and held his gloved palm against her cheek.

"Do you want me to let you go...?" he whispered, barely audible.

"What? What do you mean?" Hinata asked, feeling a twinge of panic in her heart. Shino backed off and let go of her face.

"Nevermind. You can let the moth go if you really want to."

Hinata looked at the box in her lap, then set it up on the windowsill above the bed.

"Maybe it can spend a couple nights here just for now...where its safe," she said softly.

She looked back to Shino, who was looking at her with the same befuddled expression he had given her after she had cleaned his room. A moment passed by...

...and then his lips were pressed deeply into hers. She let out a muffled squeak of shock as he wove his arms around her back and her head, firmly holding her to him. He was overwhelmingly warm. It was such an intense feeling...even more than what the sake had done to her. After what seemed like an eternity passed, her broke away from her to look into her eyes. Hinata took the opportunity to pull his goggles off, and stare deep into his abysmal, infinite eyes. She could feel her weight leaning back towards the bed as Shino lowered her down onto the futon, before placing his lips back on hers.

Several thoughts were swarming through Hinata's head like an angry hive of wasps. The biggest and loudest thought was how she hadn't expected this, or how this could have occurred in the first place. As his lips moved to her chin and back toward her ear, she wondered if, along with her wings, her cupid powers were fading. Why couldn't she have seen that he had developed such strong feelings for her? Had he been struck with her arrow after all?

She felt his fingers trail down her shoulders and slip off the straps of her dress. Had some other cupid gotten to him first? Shino was the most stubbornly anti-romance individual she had ever encountered. Did he have some kind of special power?

She watched him sit up and remove his coat, revealing the tight, sleeveless fabric that had once enticed her that night in the woods. She reached her fingertips toward his stomach, and traced the muscular curves of his abdomen. Was he some kind of demon? Why was she feeling this way towards him?

His lips touched her neck. Her arms climbed to his back, her fingertips tracing each tendon. No, he was human...but what a human. How had this connection between them developed so fast? Was he under a spell?

Her dress was pulled over her arms, her new bra along with it. Wait, don't you want to see the new bra that Sakura-san and Ino-san picked out for me? His lips caressed her exposed skin, and she quickly forgot about the shopping trip all together.

He sucked, he nibbled, he pulled at her. She was quickly losing grasp on her thoughts. No...she had to figure this out. He...how...umf...how could a human fall in love with a cupid? How...oh...how could...a cupid...fall in love...unnng...with a human?

Her panties were slipped down her legs. The kisses trailed down her stomach. They turned into gentle bites when they reached the inside of her thighs.

"How do you know...oh...how to...do all this?" she gasped between panting. Shino looked at her with a single obsidian eye.

"I hunger for you...Hinata Hyuga. I can't help it."

Her name...Hyuga...the cupid...the defender and creator of love...the winged guardian of Konoha. No...he was turning her into something else entirely. He was ripping her apart and putting her back together, his way. She felt a pressure between her legs, and she was overwhelmed. Her head dissolved into the pillows underneath her. Thoughts were hanging in front of her like glass wind chimes, tinkling and glittering, just out of reach. Who was she?

Hinata...

She squirmed as he tasted her. What was happening? Why doesn't she just fly away? Can she do this? Is this allowed?

Was anyone coming to get her?

A sensation was building...tightening...just a little more...something's going to happen...something marvelous...please...don't...stop...

His hands gripped into her hips. Her hands wove and yanked through his messy hair. So silky...don't stop...

What about her wings? Stop...don't stop...they'll fall off if you...no, don't stop...you're almost there.

A lightening bolt shot through her. She twitched and heaved, and cried out. Shino sat up, towering over her, hands placed gently on her knees. He watched over her as she violently thrashed about herself, like she was some kind of experiment of his. It angered her, it made her want to rip him apart, but oh...the feeling.

After a moment, she finally relaxed...and felt calmer than any state she remembered being in. She looked at Shino, with beads of sweat dotting her brow.

"What...what just happened to me?"

Shino wiped his arm across his mouth. "Did you like it?"

Hinata closed her eyes and took a breath. "It was...new."

He chuckled, then climbed over her until his face was hovering over hers.

"Well, I'm not done with you yet," he whispered, placing his moistened lips on hers once again. The taste was different...bittersweet...

Oh...it was her...how...interesting.

She heard the sound of unbuckling. She guessed she was going to get to see him naked after all? How odd...how peculiar...what a strange feeling.

The pressure returned. It was different this time...warmer...more full.

His face was in the nook of her neck. His weight was pressing her against the futon. The pressure was building...then it broke through. In one fell swoop, it was within her. Filling her...taking her over. His breath was deep. She wasn't sure about her own...she was too busy being in outer space.

As his rhythm began, she melted into him. Her thoughts were nothing but abstracts...nothing but burning memories...vague. Like wisps of smoke. She felt smooth and thick, like blood flowing. Oh how it burned...it really...really...burned...

No...something was wrong. It was hurting. She tried to say it was hurting, but she was too dizzy...too dizzy...too...weak...

No...she couldn't...it was burning...burning so bad...so bad! SO BADLY!

"STOP! IT HURTS!" She shrieked with all her might. Shino instantly lept off of her and looked over her with concern.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to...oh no..Hinata...no...your wings!"

Hinata gasped and looked over her shoulder. The little red sprigs that were once her wings were now rotting and crumbling away like a burning stick of incense.

"No..." she whimpered, reaching for her wings.

Within seconds, the wings completely crumbled away into dust. There was no blood, no more pain...they were simply...gone. Great, gelatinous tears swelled in the corners of her eyes.

Before she screamed, Shino wrapped her in a blanket, and squeezed her tight. Her wails were muffled in his warmth.

"I'm so sorry, Hinata...I'm so sorry..."

Hinata looked up over his shoulder, sobbing away. She looked at the beautiful Luna moth, with its wonderful wings. How much they had in common...the moth could still fly,but was trapped in a box. Hinata still had her freedom, but had lost her wings. But not just her wings...everything. Her home, her purpose, her family...her father, her mother...Neji.

In that moment, she could practically see Neji's face, smiling at her...welcoming her home. No...it wasn't a welcoming smile. It was a sinister smile...

.

.

.

Wait...she wasn't just imagining things...that was really Neji!

~End of Chapter 8~

Author's Note: As it turns out, my e-mail was sorting all my notifications into spam, so I had no idea you lovelies were still reading this thing. I apologize for the delay, and will ensure that this fic gets finished. Thank you for reading!