Hinata stepped into the kitchen and was greeted by the sight of her cat, Simba, perched on the countertop, meticulously grooming his paw. She couldn't help but smile at the sight of him. "Good morning, Simba," she cooed softly, reaching out to stroke his fur. Simba responded with a contented meow, arching his back and nuzzling into her hand.
After a moment of enjoying the affectionate exchange with her furry friend, Hinata's smile faded as she realized she needed to go grocery shopping. With a sigh, she walked over to the fridge and opened it, surveying its contents. Seeing that she was running low on supplies, she grabbed her keys and headed to the front door, determined to get her errands done.
As Hinata stepped outside, she felt a shiver run down her spine. She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Brushing it off as just her imagination, she walked down the street towards the nearest grocery store.
But as she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed. She quickened her pace, glancing over her shoulder every few seconds. She saw a figure in the distance, shrouded in a dark hoodie, but couldn't make out their face.
Her heart pounding, Hinata tried to shake off the feeling of unease that was creeping up on her. But no matter how fast she walked or how many turns she took, the shadowy figure seemed to keep pace with her.
As Hinata made her way to the grocery store, she turned around to take a quick glance and saw the figure disappear around the corner, causing her heart to race. She let out a shaky breath, relieved that the person was gone, but the experience had left her shaken and on edge.
Just as she was trying to calm herself down, she felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump in surprise. "Oh, sorry I didn't mean to scare you," Kakashi said, offering her a reassuring smile. "Are you okay?" he asked, noticing the fear etched on her face.
Hinata slowly nodded, not wanting to burden her teacher with her problems. "Oh, uh, hi Kakashi-sensei," she greeted him quietly, looking up at his face. She put on a fake smile, trying to appear composed. "Sorry, I thought I forgot my card, but I remembered I put it in the wrong pocket," she lied, hoping to brush off her unease.
Kakashi observed Hinata carefully, noticing her forced smile and the way her hands trembled slightly. He knew something was wrong, but he also knew that Hinata was a private person who often kept her feelings to herself. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, his voice soft and concerned.
Hinata nodded again, avoiding eye contact with her teacher. "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you for asking, Kakashi-sensei," she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.
Kakashi wasn't convinced, but he also didn't want to push Hinata if she wasn't ready to talk about it. "Alright, well if you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out," he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before turning to leave.
As he walked away, Hinata couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. She knew she should have opened up to Kakashi and told him about the figure following her, but the fear of being a burden held her back.
As Hinata walked through the aisles, she carefully collected all the groceries she needed and placed them in her cart. She took her time, wanting to make sure she didn't forget anything. Sasuke was coming back tomorrow night, and she wanted to have a nice meal prepared for him when he arrived.
As she approached the produce section, Hinata made sure to grab Sasuke's favorite tomatoes, a small smile gracing her lips as she imagined the look of delight on his face when he saw them.
However, her thoughts were interrupted when she reached the aisle containing the condoms. Hinata felt her cheeks flush as she nervously picked up a box, trying to act casual as she placed it in her cart. She had always been too shy to buy them herself, usually relying on Sasuke to do it for them. But this time, she wanted to surprise him and show him that she could be confident and assertive too. With a deep breath, Hinata continued down the aisle, determined to finish her shopping and get home.
As Hinata made her way out of the store with her grocery bags in hand, she caught a glimpse of the shadowy figure waiting by the entrance. Her heart raced in her chest as she tried to ignore him, but he cleared his throat, drawing her attention. "Pretty rude to ignore people, wouldn't you say, Ms. Hyuga?" he said in a deep voice. Hinata froze in fear. How did this stranger know her maiden name? Who was he and why was he following her? A million thoughts raced through her mind.
Suddenly, she heard a dark chuckle come from the figure as he leaned in close to her ear. "Boo!" he exclaimed, causing her to flinch. The figure laughed more before stepping in front of her. His hood did well to conceal his face, but his lips were visible. Hinata's eyes widened when he gave her a smirk, revealing a set of sharp teeth that resembled those of a shark.
Hinata took a step back, dropping one of her grocery bags as she did. The figure chuckled again, the sound sending shivers down her spine. "Don't be afraid, Ms. Hyuga. I'm not here to hurt you…yet," he said, his voice deep and menacing.
Hinata's heart was pounding in her chest as she picked up her bag and stepped back again. "W-who are you?" she stammered, her eyes darting around the empty street, looking for any sign of help.
The figure merely tilted his head, his smirk growing wider. "Oh, I'm no one of consequence," he said cryptically. "Just someone who's been keeping an eye on you, Ms. Hyuga."
Hinata's fear turned into anger. "Why have you been following me?" she demanded, clenching her fists.
The figure chuckled again. "All in good time, my dear," he said, his voice sending chills down her spine. "All in good time." With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows once more. Hinata was left standing there, her mind reeling with questions and fear.
Mikoto beamed at her son, the corners of her eyes crinkling with warmth. "So Sasuke, any plans for little ones to come?" she asked, her voice laced with anticipation. Sasuke looked up from his thoughts, his expression stern. "Really, Mom? With Dad in the hospital?" he retorted. Mikoto's face fell slightly, but she quickly recovered. "I just wanted to brighten the mood. Fugaku has been asking for a grandchild before he passes," she said softly, her eyes turning misty. The doctors had given him only two more years to live. Sasuke sighed heavily, his gaze fixed on his father's sleeping form through the glass window. "I'll talk to Hinata about it," he said finally. Mikoto's face lit up with hope once more.
Mikoto nodded, happy to hear that Sasuke was open to the idea. "I'm glad to hear it, Sasuke. Hinata is a lovely girl, and I think she would make a wonderful mother," she said, placing a hand on her son's shoulder.
Sasuke smiled at his mother's words. He knew that Hinata would make an amazing mother too. They had talked about having kids once before, and while they weren't quite ready yet, they both knew it was something they wanted in the future.
Just then, Sasuke's phone rang. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was Hinata. "Excuse me, Mom," he said before answering the call. "Hey, Hinata. Is everything okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Hinata spoke up. "S-sasuke," she said, her voice trembling.
Sasuke's heart skipped a beat. "What wrong?," he said, already reaching for his car keys.
"I'm scared," Hinata said, her voice barely above a whisper.