Chapter Four –The Gauche Reunion -

Never in her life had Hinata felt this naked.

She just stepped one foot to the hall, and already all eyes were on her. Both boys and girls, freshmen until seniors, everyone was looking at her. Most of them searched for her neck, where they thought Sasuke had marked her there. The reddish bruise was still there, but lucky Hinata, she had armed herself. She wrapped a scarf around her neck so the pseudo-hickey was covered.

But somehow Hinata also had thought that they were searching for her neck so they could strangle her, or better, decapitate her.

And the though sent quiver to her spine.

As if the event weren't chaotic enough, her 'boyfriend' made it worse. He approached her when Hinata was taking her books from her locker. His action obviously drew angry hisses from some group of girls.

"Hey, babe." He called, voice loud enough for people in 2 metre radius oculd hear.

"Hey.." she replied softly, she was too afraid to draw even more attention.

Hinata expected Sasuke to just walk pass her, but it seemed that it'd never happen. He leaned on the locker beside her, his eyes fixed on her. Then he did nothing for a long time aside from drumming his foot on the floor continuously, as if he was waiting.

"Wh-what are you d-doing?" Hinata asked before she had chance to stop herself.

His orbs rolled. "Waiting for my girlfriend, of course." Sasuke didn't notice Hinata's sudden blush and continued coolly. "That's what boyfriends do, right?"

Not trusting her voice, Hinata only nodded.

A long, awkward pause lingered in the air for a while before he spoke again "The result for our little acting yesterday is impressive." A ghost of smile appeared on his lips as he glanced at the waffling girls near them. "Most of them have known about us."

Hinata also smiled rather forcibly. "K-Kin's… a good g-g-gossiper.."

For a moment there, Sasuke pursed his lips then tilted his head down, after exhaling sharply for a few times he hissed. "I told you to not smile if you don't want to."

Her lower lip caught between her teeth as she fidgeted.

"Sorry." She said.

Sasuke didn't reply.

Hinata couldn't help lowering her head more. She'd never good at having conversations, but having a mere talk with this particular guy made her inability seemed even poorer than the usual. From her corner eye, she could see Sasuke was still beside her, and worse, he was looking at her. No one ever looked at her more than ten seconds, and the fact that Sasuke had been watching her for more than thirty seconds distracted her badly. It made her took a lot longer time fumbling in front of her locker.

Sasuke finally couldn't take it anymore and sighed. "Did you lose your books or what? What makes you so long?"

Surprised, Hinata quickly took any book that was in her reach and slammed the locker shut. "I'm done..!"

He surveyed her for a second before he briskly took her hand and drag her into a fast-walk.

"What'll you have in your next period?" he said without looking.

"Uuugggh… g-geography.." she hesitated, especially after seeing their linked hands. His hand was so big it enclosed hers almost completely. Truth to be told, for a second or two there she felt protected, especially the fact that Sasuke walked in front of her and practically used his broad back to avoid her from stumbling into some big guys. But when they passed Sakura and her girl friends, the protections seemed evaporated as Hinata heard whispers from the pink haired girl's glossy mouth.

It was ironic, Sakura always had expensive and exclusive lipsticks applied on her mouth, but still she wasn't capable on whispering anything good; and in this point, somehow Hinata felt that the pink-haired girl was badmouthing her exceptionally badly. Of course, because the least girl Sakura expected had snatched away the most desirable guy she'd been expected.

Hinata looked at Sasuke, hoping for him to give her some reassuring words, but he seemed untouched by Sakura's presence. He was looking at his schedule instead. He might be looked grim at most times, but there were times when he was so composed and ignorant. And somehow nearly all eons when Sasuke was in his 'cool-cool' term were the bad-timing ones.

Like this.

"Good, mine's geography too." He said shortly and fastened his walk.

They reached the class and Sasuke chose the seats on the very back for both of them. He didn't ask for Hinata's permission and just stuffed her beside him. Currently feeling both half-pissed and ungenerous, she wanted to protest, but right when she was preparing the words, Prof Anko broke into the class. She was curvaceous, had average-height, and one of the youngest teacher Konoha High ever had, but the class watched her in horror as the teacher made her helluva entrance.

She strutted into her desk and tapped her hard-covered books several times into it, making a loud sound so that the students' attentions were completely for her.

"I hope everyone brings their textbooks, because we'll have an open-book quiz." She announced, and the bad news got greeted by cries of dismay from the youngsters.

Hinata didn't participate in the class' cry, she actually had a half-smile on her lips when she groped her bag. Geography was one of her favorite subject, she aced the lesson somehow. But even after a few times browsing her bag, she still couldn't find her textbook. She hung the bag upside down and let her books fell down to her table.

And still she couldn't find it.

Sweat came to her face as she started to panic. She just remembered that she took any book she found when she was before her locker. Maybe the book she took wasn't Geography.

Had God gifted her with crude mouth, she'll be cursing right now. But unfortunately, crude-mouthed she was not.

Hinata took a glance to the purple-haired woman, she was tapping her fingers to the table, waiting for everyone to take out their books. When her opaque eyes browsed the class, she found out that she was the only one who hadn't had the book on her table. Hinata swallowed, she once had seen what Anko Mitarashi could do if she finds student who doesn't do what she says, and things that the teacher would do were certainly UN-nice.

Sasuke surprisingly seemed to notice her panic and leaned over.

"What happened?" he wanted to know.

Hinata didn't know if telling that to Sasuke was the best thing to do. She spent five seconds nibbled on her quivering lower lip before she finally answered:

"I-I mistook my b-book.."

His perfectly lined eyebrow rose as he digested her words. Shortly thereafter, he swept his eyelashes down as a respond, sighing deeply as he shook his head slightly. Both amusement and pity crept to his face.

"Jeez.." he breathed. "You're clumsy."

Hinata only could fidget.

Another deep sigh from the albino, and she barely saw his pale hand went to her table, giving her his textbook.

His tone was still as flat as ever. "Use it. It was my fault anyway."

She gaped at him, not knowing how to respond it. She wanted to give it back to him, but that's mean she'd threw herself into a sea with sharks. Her family wouldn't like it if they knew their heiress actually had detention because of such a simple task. But if she didn't give it back to him, that's mean she'd taking advantage of his generosity, and it would make guilt feelings rampantly ravaging her mind. She didn't like the outcome for the option two either.

"Uchiha..Uchiha-san..?" that's all she could manage to say.

There was faint smile appeared fleetly on his lips when he gave her a lopsided glance. But this smile was different; it almost made him looked more beautiful than Naruto. Then just abruptly, he rose from his seat, enticing everyone's attention to him. After he'd got the stride, he sucked a breath and declared loudly.

"I didn't bring my book, Professor."

There were some gasps came from the girls' mouth.

Prof. Anko stood still in her place, studying the new student's face before she yelled that he would have a three hours detention in library and wouldn't attend her class twice. Hinata saw Sasuke's eyes got dominated with red-color again; she actually had qualms Sasuke would go berserk, then the class would be in an apocalypse. But he only nodded and walked out the door submissively.

After he slammed the door shut, the teacher hit the white-board hard. "Who else didn't bring the book?.!"

A long pause lingered in the air before—

"Professor!" A soft voice came from the very back.

Hinata stood and had her eyes locked straight on the older woman's. Her body was trembling when she spoke:

"I-I d-d-didn't bring my my book either!"

'I really am an idiot..'

"You really are an idiot." Were Sasuke's first words when he saw his 'girlfriend' entered the library. He tried to keep his countenance cool, but the smile kept creeping up to his lips, it took him every ounce of his willpower to suppress the smile. Usually, normal people would only use his book and then smile a simple thanks. This girl had proven herself anomalous by trying to throw herself to the same boat he was in.

He appreciated it.

The librarian told them not to talk anymore, Hinata obeyed the skank by promptly shut her mouth and approached him. But she stumbled upon a fallen book and flew upfront, he took advantage of his reflex to catch her before her lithe body met by the icy floor, and before she could toss him any 'thanks' he had spoken first:

"-And extremely clumsy too."

"You're…" Hinata shifted her weight on his arms as blush suffused on her cheek. "You're not t-the first p-person to tell me t-that.."

Finally he couldn't take it anymore and let a smile escaped his mouth.

"Thank you." He said. "For being in my company."

Her blush deepened. "I.." she halted. "T-thank you too."

The faint smile was still attached on Sasuke's lips when he released her from his hold; he was uncharacteristically amused with her stuttering and hesitated words. "Normal people would say 'you're welcome'." He paused as a mischief glint came to his eyes. "And normal girlfriends would kiss my lips"

And as he expected, now the blush had reached her ears.

"B-but.. Uchiha-san!"

He saw a look of disapproval as if she tried to deny that she was his girlfriend. And just suddenly, his temper flared despite his earlier good mood.

"Do you dislike me that much?" before he knew he had spoken it.

His demand was followed by a flinch from the petite girl.

"U-Uchiha-san.."

Sasuke blew air to his bangs. Feeling ridiculous.

"Stupid question. You're absolutely disgusted with me." he flung his arms into the air and cursed under his breath. That girl had been looked uncomfortable when he's around since the first place. He almost forgot that he wasn't like any people. His pupils were red and the skin was abnormally pale, he should have known that not every people would accept him that way. Heck, he even doubted he would have any friends if he didn't come from the Uchiha family and he wasn't good-looking.

She was working on her mouth several times, trying to speak something, but he had interrupted her first. "When will you 'dump' me? If possible, do it in front of that loud-blonde."

"No.." she said softly. He just was about to explode when she quickly added. "I-I mean.. n-no.. I-I'm not disgusted with y-you.. and.. and.. I w-won't dump you.." she gulped and fidgeted again. "I-I mean… at least.. not now…."

Her words made Sasuke's eyes widened.

"I-I just.. kinda afraid of you. You.. always look mad.." she expanded her enlightenment. "And…"

A glance to his eyes explained everything.

"I have red- colored eyes." Sasuke finished for her.

She nodded apprehensively.

"Well.." it hurt him a bit but he still could manage it. Beside, the girl didn't try to offend him intentionally. She actually tried to hide her anxiousness and that was the most important thing. "I'm wearing black colored contact, aren't I?"

"Yes.." she said anxiously.

His smile was rueful. "But you still don't like it and want me to stay away from you?"

There was a long pause.

"When will you two start to work?.! Stop chatting and rearrange the books, understood?.!" finally the librarian broke the awkward silence.

"Crystal clear." Sasuke answered.

He took a quick glance to the girl beside her before he inhaled sharply and began to work.

After they'd done with their detention, they still had three periods. Strange, Sasuke didn't stick with her when she walked to the Spanish class. He even gazed at the empty chair beside Hinata's first before he –rather hesitantly- sat down.

"Ne, Sasuke-kun!" Ino called from the middle of the class. "I can't speak Spanish, please help me with this book!" she screeched to Sasuke while waving a Spanish language novel.

Hinata knew it was wrong to think about it, but she kind of expecting Sasuke to just yell to Ino and ignored the blonde. Besides, those were things he did –to the girls- yesterday, right?

However, the expectations didn't come true. Sasuke got up from his chair and took his bag, then he sat next to Ino. Even though he didn't let the blonde to touch him, but he let her to had only a few inches gap between them.

Now that was super strange.

Hinata didn't know if she had to feel happy or guilty for that. In one side, she felt relieved she didn't need to see his grim-looking face all the time, but in the other side, she felt guilt for saying those nasty things to him. Now for the remaining school-time, Sasuke never went any nearer than three meters from her.

He wasn't a bad guy, she knew. Sometimes she saw him walking three meters behind her, and shot any girls that tried to snap Hinata his infamous dagger glare. Even sometimes Sasuke walk before her and made the way through for her. It made her bit her lip in guilt to see that Sasuke was acting very sweet. He even offered himself to drive her home; after all she had done to him.

Thus, while he was driving her home, she intended to apologize.

"U-Uchiha-san.."

He didn't look to her and kept his eyes locked to the street. "Hn?"

"I… umm.." just suddenly, the words she'd arranged evaporated from her mind. "I just… said… I mean… I—want to… uhh, offended you…-"

Sasuke stopped the car and looked at her. After a while, and after Hinata's words became more and more illegible, he put a hand on her shoulder as a gesture to stop.

"Hold your breath, strengthen your feet, and had your chin high. Then spit it out fast. The method always works for me." he instructed.

She held her breath, and balled her fists, but when she tried to speak again, her words were still cluttered. His hand rose and it cautiously came to her chin, gingerly lifting Hinata's chin up so their gazes were in same level.

"Now say it." He ordered.

Despite she felt chaotic to feel his fingers, she said it well. "I'm sorry I said those to you in the library."

She felt a weird combination of peculiarity and proud to hear that her words weren't shaky when she said that.

He raised a brow as his hand curled into the steer again. "Apology accepted." He said shortly and began to drive again.

"U-Uchiha-san, wait!" she grabbed his shoulder and shook him, although it didn't make him shake due to massive weight and height difference between them.

He stopped his car again then leaned his head on the steer. "What again?"

"I-I meant it!" she cried. "I'm r-really.. sorry.."

His long, heavy eyelashes swept down slightly. "Oh. Good."

Even though his tone was still like the usual Sasuke she'd known, his expression was slightly colder than usual that it still didn't pacify her. So she tried again.

"Uchiha-san..?" Sasuke didn't answered and only look at her. Hinata took it as a 'continue' and spoke again.

"Would you… t-tomorrow.. sit beside me again?"

Instead of answering, he only looked at her. His black-reddish eyes were wide, and the pinkish mouth parted.

"T-that's what boy-boyfriends do, right?" the words flew before Hinata could think.

She couldn't believe she just said that.

For a moment, Sasuke seemed utterly gobsmacked with what she had said. Then he started the engine and rode even faster than before.

"Sure." He said.

Against her will, Hinata smiled.

It was a good feeling.

They reached Hinata's house a few minutes later, this time, Sasuke came with her until the little porch, since Hinata insisted Sasuke to have a little snack in her house. She rang her doorbell and waited.

It didn't take a long time before the door opened.

But what's inside the door made Hinata gasped.

A guy, tall, fairly-pale, and white-eyed was standing before it. His hair was long and drew back into a loose pigtail, and there were bandages wrapped around his left arm.

"Neji-nii!" Hinata cried out.

That was right, it was her bodyguard. He was standing unsteadily on his place; glints of happiness were in his eyes when he saw her. But when his eyes accidentally strayed to the other guy next to her, it became sharp and just suddenly, a few veins popped out around those.

O'o..

He concentrated his eyes-power to throe dagger glares to Sasuke, as if telling the younger guy who's the boss. His mouth twitched for a few times before he opened it to speak:

"May I know who is this guy, Hinata-san?" his noble accent was still there, but there was no longer gentleness in his voice, it was uncharacteristically cold and deep.

It wasn't good to hear that …

Most guys would undergo a temporary mental-confidence-disorder just by hearing Neji's intimidating voice, and learning from experience, Hinata knew after they see Neji's muscles, it only took a few seconds to for them go to the fazing phase, then the fidgeting phase and finally, the running away for life phase.

But unfortunately, Sasuke's massive loads of testosterone hormones made him didn't get intimidated easily." Tell me your name first." He demanded.

So wasn't good to hear that…

Black-reddish eyes and opaque-white eyes showed their goodness in nerve-racking on an impromptu glaring-contest before a nasal sound of snorts came from the white-eyed one.

"I am Neji." He said proudly, seemed really sure that the raven-haired bastard wouldn't mean anything to his dear lady. "Neji Hyuuga, it is my honorable duty to be Hinata-san's bodyguard."

"Bodyguard, huh?" Sasuke said, a mocking-smirk was adopted in his lips when he –rather intentionally- slung an arm around Hinata's shoulder, drawing her closer to him. Oh, Christ.. it was the first time Hinata had a guy this near and intimate with her.. and worse, the guy wasn't Naruto…

It wasn't good to feel this…

"I am Sasuke." the raven-haired guy announced, his triumph was obvious when he –much to Neji's horror- rested his filthy chin to Hinata's head and continued: "Sasuke Uchiha, it is my honorable pleasure to be your Hinata-san's boyfriend." He finished, his accent insolently oozed Neji's.

If only Sasuke's arms didn't support her, Hinata would likely collapse.

It appeared that Sasuke realized Hinata's sudden failing, and now he had both his arms around her shoulder, hugged her to his chest tightly. It gave him double benefit, because aside from he could avoid the girl from collapsing, he also could drew even more veins to pop out around that Neji guy's eyes.

Sasuke's expectations came true, Neji's nostril flared as he tried to kept his countenance. He failed miserably by having both his cheek red due to anger, but he managed to kept his voice cool and steady: "Come on in, Hinata-san.. Uchiha-san.."

The Uchiha heir half-shrugged then, still having Hinata in his arms, strutted in.

Hinata thought she saw homicidal intentions in her cousin's expression when her eyes dropped to him. And when she looked up at Sasuke, she also thought she saw the identical expression.

Somehow she felt this would go disastrous..

Chapter four ended