- Pluck -

Part I

Chapter 9: Perplexity of Eyes

Come mid-morning, and the bustle of the castle was much more acceptable to Temari's ears. Soldiers worked on de-boarding the windows while maids threw open the doors to let in the fresh air and cool breeze. The distant hum of the city beyond the palace's walls consisted of rickety wagon wheels and the bristles of brooms on sandstone as the city folk of Sand 1 worked to make their district a little less messy. Things were going back to normal — finally — and Temari could not help the curl of a smile on her shimmering lips as she walked with Kankuro to the king's chambers to tell him the news.

The twin doors stood unguarded, as the puppeteers had taken all the puppets back to be fixed and looked at. With little effort, she pushed open the doors and strutted in, Kankuro at her heels, a bounce in his step as he looked past her towards the sunlight pouring through the now uncovered windows. Their brother, of course, was dressed in his robes, left hand rubbing at a plant's leaf as the right held his watering can. Upon the creak of the doors opening, he spared them a glance and paused in his evaluation.

"They've just left." She was the first to speak, and the words that left her lips slipped through the clean air, like a fluttering feather, so unlike the daggers that they had been for three days to cut through the dust and thickness in the air. "I saw them to the gate. Hinata told me she'd be happy to come visit more — if we'll have her, of course."

She laughed, but Gaara's expression only turned dour.

"Uh oh," Kankuro said with a snicker, "he has that expression on his face again."

That expression, of course, meaning the one Gaara always tried to hide from his siblings. The concerned, suspicious type where he considered something he did not wish to bother them with. It still surprised Temari that he thought he could hide anything from them anymore. Thus, with a hand to her hip, she narrowed her eyes and said, with a hard tone, "Talk."

Gaara stared at her, then turned and focused on watering his plants once again. "Look on my desk," he told them, left shoulder rolling back slightly. "I found it on Hinata on the day we were attacked."

Temari and Kankuro walked over and found, on the corner, a beetle. Dead, obviously. The elytra of the bug was a dark oak, not matching the beige wilderness of Sand 1, and Temari instantly recognized it was not from around here.

"Sasori put it on her." Gaara, now finished watering, pushed the plant's pot into the sunlight before turning to his siblings. "There used to be one on Matsuri — but when Hinata arrived, it disappeared." He walked over, hand sweeping along the surface of his desk. "I assumed it was the same one, so —"

"So you told us to not let Hinata see you," Kankuro finished as he picked up the beetle, eyes squinting as he analyzed it. "Now I get it. It's a tracker beetle." He held it up to Temari, who sneered and stepped away, not liking the look of the thing. "He must have planted it on her when he bumped into her that day."

Temari crossed her arms and scowled. "But why would he —" But she cut herself off when she thought back to the day the chandelier had fallen. She recalled that Matsuri had said Sasori had been injured — which was odd, because the puppeteers were supposed to be in the Puppet Room, preparing for the sandstorm. So if what Kankuro was saying was true and this really was a tracker beetle, then that meant Sasori had known exactly where Hinata was at all times and — Oh my Gods. "I should have the staff checked immediately. Who knows how many of these bastards are planted around the —"

"Just this one." Kankuro's had her stopping halfway to the doors. He still had the bug between his thumb and index, and she wished he'd just put the damn thing down already. "Tracker beetles ain't social. He'd only be able to have one here."

Glaring, Temari pointed at the doors and said, "Well, at least let me send a letter to Sasuke. He should know about this."

The purple around Kankuro's mouth stretched as he frowned with thought, and then he finally placed the beetle back on the desk.

"Sure," he said, "and also tell him it was probably supplied by the Aburame clan in Forest 6."

At that, Temari forgot about leaving completely to shoot her brother a suspicious sneer. "And how the hell do you know all this?" Seriously. This is the same man who can barely remember his own week's schedule.

Kankuro matched her sneer as his shoulders rose defensively. "Why do you gotta question me?" He snorted and glared to the side. "Can't ya just appreciate my help? Somethin' along the lines of 'Oh, Kankuro, it's so great that your grand intellect can help us track down these bastards' would be nice to hear for once."

Turning completely to him and taking a few steps forward, Temari was happy to remind her idiot brother of how his "grand intellect" has strung them down the wrong path before, but all fire and poison left her tongue upon the expression that she saw slipping on Gaara's features. She stopped and looked at him, and Kankuro, seeing her directing her attention elsewhere, followed her gaze.

"Gaara?" she asked.

They both watched their younger brother turn sullen as his eyes flashed and flickered with his own, conflicting thoughts. Then, he turned to the beetle, its elytra blending in almost perfectly with the wood desk.

"A tracker beetle," he droned, stoney tone a bit clipped. "I'm worried about the implications of that."

The universe seemed to tilt a bit as Temari tried to grasp at what her brother meant by such a thing. She thought about it — about the beetle, about how it left Matsuri the moment Hinata had arrived. About how it allowed Sasori to follow her, to know where she was at every moment of the day. About how, if circumstances had turned out differently, it could have still been on her. Sasori's body had yet to be found after he had hurled himself into the sandstorm. It was possible he was alive — but Temari was terrified that someone had gone to find him, to take him before their soldiers could. Hinata had mentioned she had a stalker to hide from. If they had some play in this, then — then —

Wouldn't that mean . . . this was all planned out from the beginning?

"They knew she was coming," she whispered, body turning cold despite her being cloaked in the hot sunshine. "The beetle — Sasori working here — it was all because they knew Hinata was coming." But how? Temari had a few suspicions, and none of them were good on Hinata's part. "I should include this in the letter to Sasuke."

"Go ahead." Gaara wisped past them to stand behind his desk. The light caught half of his face, and the shadowed part had an uneasy glint. His right hand rose to rub at his neck, fingers digging into the tender muscles beneath his pale skin. "But he already knows."

Despite herself, Temari did not bother to question Gaara, and nor did Kankuro as he settled back, thinking to himself. Instead, she eyed his rubbing hand and asked what had been on her mind for a while now.

"How, exactly, did Hinata get your voice back?"

When the tens of doctors they had called for couldn't find a source for his missing voice, Temari was sure it had been some sort of curse. A mute king; it was a sick joke to consider, but she had. And when she had looked for guidance, she was quite startled to hear Hinata's name brought up. "She's the kind to find solutions to the most impossible of circumstances," he had said, and though she had been suspicious, she had nothing else to go on. So she had sought Hinata out, not totally convinced, but still desperate. Because, well, she's known Hinata for a while — since they were kids. And Hinata has never possessed any types of magic, nor had she ever illuded to some sort of healing ability. It was all . . . so strange.

At her question, Kankuro's head snapped up as Gaara's hand paused, then lifted slightly so that only his fingers trailed the curve of his neck. Obviously, he hadn't the slightest clue.

"I would have asked her," Kankuro said, "if I had any suspicions that she, herself, knew."

Ah. Right.

Because though she was still Hinata, she was . . . different. More secretive and cautious. Not to mention her lack of memory didn't helped much with anything. If they had asked, Temari was sure Hinata wouldn't have many answers herself.

Sighing, rubbing the back of her neck, she tilted her head back and let the sun warm her face. "This bites."

"Agrivatingly so," Kankuro muttered.

Gaara turned to face the rightmost window, face totally enveloped in the golden glow of the sun. "Naruto," he mused. "I wonder how much she remembers him."

A worried frown formed between Kankuro's brows as he stated, "I noticed she wasn't wearing the ring." He met eyes with her, saying the exact words she was thinking. "Do you think . . . something happened with them before all this happened?"

Temari turned to Gaara, looking for any clue in his expression that would indicate he had an idea; sadly, he looked just about as concerned as his brother, and he quickly pulled his chair back to sit behind the desk.

"Temari."

Her heart thundered at the familiarity in that tone. Strong, powerful; authoritative. Like a king. It's been a while since she's heard him sound like that.

"When you go to write Sasuke, bring me my wax and stamp." His fingers tapped lightly at the edge of the desk, and his expression cooled. "I intend to ask His Grace what, exactly, he's keeping from me."

Suigetsu wasn't totally surprised to have realized that the dinky bar in The Hall was a lot more boring when a moon-eyed witch wasn't around to tease and pick on, but it still had him grinding his sharp teeth together come the morning of Hinata's return, five days after she had originally left him. The place was nearly empty save himself and some drunk near the front. No gossiping ladies to eavesdrop on, no punk thugs who he could scare off with the mere flash of his wicked grin — nothing.

And as he guzzled down his third coffee (that damn witch got him addicted, he was sure), he couldn't help but languish in the idea that he's stooped this low in such a short amount of time.

And the cocky bar lady with her constant smirk as she eyed him every so often was not helping at all.

"Poor boy," she mused, and Suigetsu was sure that even if he was on his fifth bottle of rum he'd still be able to recognize the amusement just dancing on her tongue. It made him sick, and he glared at her. She only clucked to herself. "It seems my little Moon Witch has rubbed off on you." Her gaze flickered down to the mug in his hands, which he pushed away from himself upon her implication. But her smoldering gaze also found his tapping finger and his fleeting glances towards The Hall, and she continued. "And in more than one way, I suppose."

And despite him not exactly being on his A-game, Suigetsu was still not the type to take shit without dishing some of it out. Smirking, the corner of his lip twitching a bit (Damn that caffeine rush!), he said, "If you think this is her rubbing off on me, then you ought to see the damage I've done on the lil guppy."

Tsunade didn't say anything - didn't have to, really.

The familiar woosh of a gate's portal opening sliced through the air, and Suigetsu's head already popped up and snapped towards the Earth gate. Stepping out were three figures, neither of which being Sasuke or Hinata, and he frowned and grumbled upon Tsunade's snicker as she worked on cleaning her glasses.

"Perhaps it's more than just rubbing off," Tsunade coos with a simper, "and your lil guppy has caught your interest."

Snorting, Suigetsu rolled his eyes and quickly said, "If anything, it's the other way around. The poor thing can barely keep herself together when she's around me."

He knew he sounded certain — he was speaking the truth, after all. And yet Tsunade's only reaction was a knowing smile as she mused, "You're awfully confident for a guy who is so wrong."

Wrong? He blinked. The hell does that —

Yellows and pale oranges lit up The Hall as the Earth gate opened, and when Suigetsu looked, he saw Sasuke step out, a hooded, small figure next to him. Quickly, he shoved his hands into his pockets, pulled out a few coins, and dropped them on the bar before leaving Tsunade without another word. His eyes were first trained on Sasuke — on his blank face that told him nothing of trouble or anger. Suigetsu noticed the bandages on his hands, but nothing beyond that struck him as abnormal.

Then his gaze turned to Hinata, to her bowed eyes that he could barely see under her hood. Something churned in his stomach - concern, maybe, or fear. But he hid it well with a scoff as he asked, "What the fuck happened in Sand 1?"

...

"Tch."

Sasuke glared over Suigetsu's shoulder, towards the bar, then placed his left hand on Hinata's shoulder and gently pushed her in the direction of the Ocean gate. Gently? Suigetsu wondered, following behind them with a confused frown. When the hell did he start becoming gentle again?

"Nothing spectacular," Sasuke told him, mouth barely moving as he kept his voice low and quiet. "Everything worked out."

Suigetsu eyed Hinata, who had a very noticeable limp, and nearly had the mind to call him out on his bullshit. But he knew The Hall was no place to discuss such matters, so he kept to himself . . . for now. They reached the gate, and Sasuke turned the dial to District 11 before the portal pooled in and formed. Suigetsu had expected for him to stop there - the guy never went to any of the Ocean districts. But then he stepped in after Hinata, and Suigetsu gawked and jumped in after them.

Okay, something definitely must've happened.

The swirling blues and teals slowly evaporated into thin air, and when he stepped forward, the heel of his shoes sunk into the uneven, shifting surface of the ocean. Whatever retort or snide remark that had been forming on his tongue must have disappeared with the colors of the portal, for upon finding Sasuke there, looking so . . . unnatural on the water's choppy surface, he fell mute. It didn't look right. He's never seen Sasuke in Ocean. He didn't belong in Ocean. So why —

"Go ahead." A hand gripped Suigetsu's left elbow, but when he looked, Sasuke was facing Hinata. "He'll follow shortly. You should rest."

She blinked once, then nodded, then turned and dived below the waters. He knew she wasn't the type to complain or speak up, but she wasn't acting normal. Her cheerfulness was gone. That glow in her face was nowhere to be found.

Something happened, he realized, dread running its course through him. He turned to Sasuke, who looked back. Did he —

"We were attacked," he said, lethargically. Which was no surprise, but that still didn't calm Suigetsu's nerves. "One was a maid who had been working there for five years. She's in custody now, and I doubt she'll be killed for her treason, as she never attacked His Majesty." Sasuke's gaze narrowed, and his bandaged fingers curled. "But she attacked the Moon Witch — and the other one was a puppeteer who took an interest in her, but protected her from any of the maid's attacks. Sasori. Do you know the name?"

He did, but Suigetsu simply shook his head. "So what? She's obviously alive. What's the big —"

"They knew we were coming."

Suigetsu's tongue grazed past his teeth, and the tangy taste of blood filled his mouth. Shit.

"Everything was ready the moment we set foot there. They knew who she was despite Hinata Hyuuga never being uttered in public." Sasuke stepped closer and glared down at the water below, where, somewhere, Hinata was swimming home. "I shouldn't have to explain what that implies."

He didn't. Sasuke suspected there was someone who was working for the enemy — the stalker. Someone he knew. Someone who knew enough about this trip to inform the enemies at the palace ahead of time. Suigetsu rubbed at his gills, which were suddenly sore, and hoped Sasuke didn't notice them flex with every beat of his racing pulse.

"Who?" Suigetsu finally managed. "You don't — no. You don't think it's Karin, do you? I mean — she's a literal demon spawn at times, and I wouldn't be surprised if she and that Devil were related at all — but there's no way —"

"It's not Karin," Sasuke said.

Scowling, Suigetsu ripped his hands away from his neck and snapped, "Then who?"

The cold narrow of Sasuke's peer lifted for a momentary whisper of curiosity, and Suigetsu suddenly became aware of the tension in his body, in the curl of his shoulders around his neck. He had to focus on relaxing them and unclenching his fists, and he huffed and glared at the water below his shoes.

"I don't know," Sasuke said.

"That's a puzzle," Suigetsu muttered.

"I need you to be extra cautious. Notify me if anything suspicious happens."

Finally calming down, Suigetsu tried to break free of the uncomfortably tense atmosphere surrounding them.

"Suspicious, eh? Sasuke, we both know suspicious for you is the sun risin' a few minutes earlier than normal. And I ain't about to wake up at some fuckin' forsaken hour just to keep track of every damn sunrise." Immediately, Sasuke fell back into his normal half-nonchalant half-irritated mood, and Suigetsu smirked. "If you're so up about, then maybe you should be guarding Hinata."

Sasuke breathed out a slow, low sigh that he knew well. "Suigetsu —"

"Gills will be no problem to come by, if that's what you're thinking." To prove his point, he grinned widely and showed off his sharp teeth. "I'm always happy to oblige."

After that, he waited. Though Sasuke wasn't Karin, who would have jumped at the chance to try and knock a few of those teeth out of his skull, he still did well to remind him of his duties as a Guard. Suigetsu was already planning the speech out. Not a long one, of course, as Sasuke chatted about as often as he wasted his time on trivial things like Suigetsu's constant acts of diversion. He'd say something along the lines of "Focus on your work," and leave him before he could say a word of protest, and that would be that.

But nothing came.

If anything, Sasuke seemed to . . .

Is he . . . actually considering it?

That was impossible. Sasuke never went to Ocean, never took missions in Ocean. It had always been like that.

The hell?

Suigetsu frowned. "I was just joking," he nearly said, but Sasuke already began to speak.

"I'll trust your judgment." He turned to the gate, wings already sprouting from the holes in his back. "Go. She shouldn't be alone for too long."

And like that, he was gone, and Suigetsu snorted to himself before diving into the salty waters of Ocean 11.

...

I wonder if she remembered anything.

That was one of the many thoughts that flooded his mind as he entered Hinata's house — through the door, of course. She'd been kind enough to leave it unlocked for him. Swimming into the living room, he felt a bit of nostalgia in the place, despite having been lazing around it not even a week ago. Shaking his head, he searched the kitchen, found she wasn't in there, and supposed she was in her room at the back of the home. He moved to the bedroom door, which was closed, and leaned in to see if he could hear her sleeping —

"Do you think I'm crazy, Neji?"

But she wasn't. Of course she wasn't. With the expression she had been sporting just minutes ago, he should have known she'd be awake.

"Was what I saw true? Had he . . . really done that?"

And also with that kind of expression — the pale, almost doe-eyed kind — came her private talks. To herself, he had first figured. But then, about a week ago, he started listening in and realized she'd been talking to Neji. Her cousin, if he remembered correctly.

"Was it only my imagination, or was that a memory?"

But either way, when this sort of thing happened, it could only mean so many things. She was stressed, or worried, or confused, or everything at once.

Frowning, he tapped his knuckles on the door, informing her of his presence before letting himself in. The room was dark and empty save from her sitting on her bed. Of course. But when he looked at her, he hadn't expected at all to see the smile she sent him — the kind that was absolutely glowing with the rest of her clear, flushed face.

"Oh, Suigetsu."

Fuckin' hell. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose, trying to get used to the whiplash both her and Sasuke's moods were giving him. I should've just gone with her — then maybe I'd understand what the hell is happening here.

"Just say it already."

Through the soapy suds of the shampoo coating the hair hanging over her face, Hinata watched her bodyguard — well, guard, she supposed. In the most unusual, twirly sort of ways. He circled her like a hawk, never staying in one spot for too long. He couldn't seem to make up his mind on where he was focusing his attention. At times, he looked to the blue sky, where the sun hung just a little off from its highest point; then, he got bored and watched the ripples of the waves beneath his steps. A few times, he'd get so caught up in whatever was working in his mind that he'd glance at her, realize the predicament she was in, and then quickly look off at the horizon. Hinata couldn't help but smile - she was simply washing her hair. Because there were no private airhouses, she couldn't wash her hair in peace without the fear of being seen by someone; so, usually, she came to the surface. This wasn't the first time he's been around as she did this, nor would it be the last.

So why is he so . . . .

She wasn't exactly sure what he was. Shy didn't seem like the right word — but he was acting more abashed than normal.

Humming, she scrubbed her skull and enjoyed the feeling of getting all the sand and dust out of her hair. She was already lighter, not to mention being able to fully submerge into water — cold water — felt awfully good. Giggling, she continued her cleaning with a little more vigor, aware of Suigetsu's gaze flickering once again her way before turning away.

"You're obvious in a good mood," he said, clearing his throat a bit. "And you obviously want to talk about it. So do it."

Pulling her soapy hair back to keep it from getting in her eyes, Hinata was able to see him fully. The dark stickers on his gills were in full view, and she was a little worried that, somehow, more had sprouted since she had last seen him. But he was acting himself — mostly, at least. He didn't seem overly anxious about anything.

"Good mood?" she mused. "Am I really?"

Suigetsu turned to her, and didn't immediately look away. Instead, he stared her down, a brow rising, as if questioning if she were serious or not.

"To put it lightly — if you were from Sun, I'd expect you to be glowin' right about now." Her cheeks warmed and her heart fluttered, and he rolled his eyes. "What really confuses me is that you just got back from that damn place — with those damn people. In all honesty, I was expecting a more . . . glum Hinata to be showing up."

Glum?

She thought back to how he had reacted to her leaving. He had been worried. About her. About Gaara. He had told her to not be alone with him — that he was a bloodthirsty murderer. All this time, all those days, he must have been wondering if she was alright, and Hinata felt guilt rise up in her chest.

Hair completely scrubbed and shampooed, she twirled it into a bundle at the top of her head so that it wouldn't get on her blouse.

Smiling up at him, hoping it would give him some relief, she said, "We're friends." His eyes dimmed in confusion, and she continued. "I hadn't ever considered it before — couldn't even remember anything about Sand 1 or Temari or Kankuro. But — Gaara and I — we're friends. We have been since we were kids. Can you believe it?"

His chin dipped a bit, and his eyes nearly matched the color of his stickers. "No," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "How the hell did a monster like him ever become friends with you?"

Monster.

Hinata flinched. He might as well have spat Witch in her face. Such a horrible word that Gaara didn't even deserve in the first place.

He must have heard all the stories.

Smile falling, she motioned for him to follow her as she dived in and worked on washing the shampoo out of her hair. He floated a few feet away from her, far enough to keep away from the soap and bubbles, feet barely kicking below him.

"It may be a shock to you," Hinata said, "but Gaara is nothing like what the rumors make him out to be. He's a kind man — thoughtful and loyal." She thought of his plants, of his assurance to help her despite his own, obvious problems, and felt her smile return. "Sand is lucky to have him as their king."

"Is that why you're so happy?"

A bitterness edged Suigetsu's voice, catching Hinata off guard.

Should I . . . not be?

And perhaps that question had somehow manifested on her face, for his growing scowl paused and softened, and he muttered a quick apology and motioned for her to continue. Obviously, he did not believe her for a second, and no other words about His Majesty would convince him otherwise. Hinata knew it would do neither of them good to dwell on it, so she quickly racked her brain for something else to mention.

"I was able to see Regenbogen." Her fingers racked through her hair, making sure it was properly washed. "Have you heard of it?" Again, a slightly confused expression passed his features. "I wish you had been there to see it. There were colors everywhere, and it was so beautiful. Ah, and the song —"

"Did you remember anything?"

Her mouth hung open as every word she wanted to say piled onto her tongue. The water suddenly felt warm — hot — boiling. And if Hinata closed her eyes, maybe it would all boil away, and she'd be back on the balcony, in those colors, with — with —

Him.

Fingers shaking along with the tremble of her pulse, Hinata gulped. "Suigetsu, I —"

A muffled swoosh sounded above, and they both snapped their gazes to the surface, peering through the waves to see who had just exited the portal. And though their vision was blurry from the water, the bright red clashing with the rest of the bland background was enough to tell them exactly who it was. Kicking up, they put enough power behind them to shoot into the air and land perfectly on the surface. Hinata quickly worked on wringing her hair out, a bit embarrassed to be seen unprepared, while Suigetsu simply ran a hand through his dripping locks before flashing his normal grin.

"You can never leave me alone, can ya, Karin?"

Specks glinting in the harsh sunlight, the redhead frowned and adjusted them before crossing her arms. "Egocentric moron," she hissed, then turned to Hinata, eyeing her with a tick to her brow. Hinata blushed under such a scrutinizing glare, as if trying to pinpoint something about her. "You should've learned by now that I cannot even begin give two shits about you —"

"Keep tellin' yourself that," Suigetsu snickered.

"And," Karin bit out, "I came to deliver a message. For the Moon Witch." Wait. Hinata blinked and slowly pulled her hands from her hair. Pardon? "You're needed tomorrow morning at 10:00 sharp. Our grand Head Chief has offered you quite the generous offer."

At that, ice spilled down Hinata's spine.

"The fuck does Orochimaru want?"

Suigetsu stepped closer to her, perhaps sensing her discomfort with the news. Though she hasn't heard much about the man, the stories she had heard were quite gruesome. Several ex-Guards had come to her with shaking voices as they told stories of his merciless nature. He'd use them as pawns in his game, they'd tell her; he wouldn't have a care in the world if he needed to dispose of the weaker links. That, matched with the overall viciousness of how he acted during Sasuke and Suigetsu's public humiliations, left a nasty taste in Hinata's mouth, and she wasn't too sure how good an offer from him could be, no matter his "generosity". A part of her even feared this was him trying to get back at her for, perhaps, letting Sasuke and Suigetsu off the hook so easily; and based off the sudden paleness in her bodyguard, he surely thought the same thing.

"Watch your tongue," Karin snapped, hands gripping her hips. "If I knew, I'd tell you. Just — show up, alright? Or we'll all be in trouble."

With that and the flip of her hair, she was already back to the gate and leaving through the portal. Goosebumps littered Hinata's arms as a growl from Suigetsu hovered along her neck.

"I swear," he muttered, "if Sasuke has anything to do with this, I'm gonna properly remind him to not fuckin' underestimate me."

Like that, he was diving in, and as Hinata hurried to follow after him, she felt whatever glee she had slowly slip away.

...

They were back, and the Guard was just as busy as it ever was. The hallways were littered with passing folk, the clinking of armor and weapons shrill in the warm air. It was just as muffling as Hinata remembered it, and it did no good in calming her heart, which seemed to pick up its pace with every step they took closer to Orochimaru's office. And like everything else in that place, it was quite obvious when they came upon it. A high doorway, bronze handles, and a marble sign stationed at the top, his mighty name carved perfectly into it.

The lanterns surrounding it were dim compared to the others in the Guard. It was darker, more intimidating. Far less noise and people were surrounding this place, but Hinata still felt herself struggling to breathe.

"Tch."

And it was clear that she wasn't the only one in a bad mood.

Suigetsu looked absolutely miffed.

The stickers on his neck curled along with the twist of his scowl, and he had to stop from grabbing the door's handle to give himself time to wipe such an expression from his face. She knew he wasn't much the kind to hide what he thought, what he felt; she could only think of one other time he'd act like this. Back then, during the meeting in the trophy room, when she had first met Orochimaru.

Suigetsu must not be fond of him. She thought back to the wicked smirk of the man as he watched his own Guards struggle before him. I can understand why.

A few more seconds of twitching and huffing passed, and then his right hand finally grabbed the handle. He gave her a look over his shoulder, one that was way too complex for her to truly read in such a short time — but she managed to understand the hints of fear. For her? For him? She wasn't sure.

But then he turned, and the door wailed as it opened.

"I thought you would have been dawdling out there forever."

The first thing that met them was that slimy, all-too-familiar voice of Orochimaru. A kind that made both of their skin rise. Hinata hadn't even stepped in yet, but she could already feel his gaze on her, trailing, traveling, examining.

The next thing that came was the bright hair of Karin that, once again, clashed with the dark greys and browns of the office. She sat in a chair in front of Orochimaru's mighty, steel desk, legs crossed, hands placed atop her knee, spine straight and dignified. Her expression was calm and confident, the total opposite of how Hinata felt. And for not the first nor that last time in her life, she wished she had a speck of that power, if just to get through today alone.

The final thing that caught their attention five seconds into their entrance was the gleam of something on the other side of Karin. The door closed behind them, and Hinata pressed her back against it as she followed that light in the corner of her eye. There was another person. She remembered him from that day in the Trophy Room; he was the man in the back, writing down everything that had transpired in the room. But with him just a few feet away from her, she could see his narrow specks and long, silver hair pulled back, but no scroll or pen was in hand.

A low, bubbling chuckle snapped her musing thoughts away from the man, and she finally turned to face Orochimaru. Despite the dimness in the room, his skin was white and almost glowing, and his eyes shimmered with a fire somewhere inside him. He leaned into his desk, fingers folding before his jaw, and cooed, "I don't recall hiring a coward, Suigestu."

Suigetsu, settled next to her, did not react how he would to anyone else calling him such a name. He didn't even move. "My apologies."

"Mmn." Orochimaru smirked, tilting his head so that a bit of his long, black hair fell over his relaxed shoulders. "This new habit of yours — apologizing so easily — I hope it doesn't play a part in the field." His index tapped his chin as he mocked a curious look. "Though I do suppose it would be awfully entertaining to see such a proud man on his knees before his enemies. Wouldn't you agree —" His gaze slithered to her, "Moon Witch?"

Her mouth went dry. She felt like she was back in Sand 1, hot and melting. Dehydrating. Not having a clue on how to respond, she just curled her fingers into her cloak and pursed her lips.

Chuckling again, Orochimaru brushed his hair back and leaned away from the desk.

"But that's not why I've called you here." He unhooked his hands to gesture to her, who stood, awkwardly, in the middle of the room. "It has come to my attention, Moon Witch, that you have a certain gift upon your eyes. A gift that I've become quite curious about. And I've never been the type to simply let opportunities slip through my fingers." His smirk turned a bit lighter as he motioned his left shoulder to the man. "And so I propose to you an offer. Under my Head Therapist, Kabuto, you will be trained thoroughly and properly to become a certified therapist for the Guard. Karin, here, will be in charge of your schedule, but I'd suggest you use her guidance well, as she used to be a therapist, herself."

Almost all of Hinata's fears of being humiliated or punished flew out the window. Therapist? she thought. Me? Her eyes flew about the room, wondering if there was something that would reveal this to be an elaborate scheme of his. Her head buzzed and swarmed, and she could barely think straight from the shock rolling through her body. When she looked to Suigetsu to see what he thought of the offer, he still stood silently beside her. But there was a twitch to his lips that made his displeasure apparent.

Movement came past him as Karin uncrossed her legs. "You should thank our Head for his generous offering," she said. "And I can't think of a safer place to be stationed than in the middle of the Guard."

Hinata hadn't even considered that, but now she couldn't stop thinking about it.

It was true. Being here would be a lot safer than staying at the bar. She knew that.

But . . .

Somehow, she hated the idea of it. Of leaving Tsunade and Kakashi and Jiraiya. Of leaving all those people who have sought, and keep seeking, her out. If she took this offer, would she be betraying them?

Heart aching and thundering in her chest, she bowed her chin, and said, "Th-Thank you for the offer, sir, but, um, would you please give me time to think this offer over?"

A quiet settled in the room, weighing down her shoulders. When she peeked through her bangs, he only had his simper, and nothing outwardly expressed his disapproval of her answer.

"One day," he answered, "and I expect you here at the same time tomorrow. The only thing I hate more than people making me wait is people who are untimely."

Biting her lips together, Hinata nodded and thanked him again. By the time she turned to leave, Suigetsu was already opening the door, and they both left quickly.

...

"What the fuck!?"

They were barely down the hallway, and Suigetsu seemed unable to keep his voice down any longer. That blank facade of his slipped the second the door shut behind them, now replaced with red cheeks and furrowed brows as his eyes boiled and smoked.

"Who the hell does he think he is, acting so suave and arrogant, like he's the next fuckin' god comin' to offer his precious jobs to us lowly bastards? Gah!" His right fist slammed into the wall, which vibrated from the power behind his arm. "I can't believe this for even a second. That guy's a creep — and Kabuto — oh, don't get me started on that shiteater! You know, for the Head Therapist and all, you think there'd be an ounce of trustworthiness in him!"

Despite it all, hearing him talk and act normally gave Hinata some relief, and she was finally able to find her voice when —

"Suigetsu."

The door closed, and heels clicked to them, becoming louder and, somehow, angrier through their fast approach. Karin marched to him and grabbed his right ear, yanking him down to her level so she could properly meet his eye.

"The hell is wrong with you?" she hissed, then turned her sharp gaze to Hinata. "With both of you. Orochimaru has offered an amazing opportunity: not only a grand job, but safety. You cannot seriously be considering not taking it!" Suigetsu sneered and tried to remove her grip from him, but it only tightened as her face turned redder. "I swear — your pathetic fear of the guy better not be what's making Hinata second guess this —"

"Fuck's sake — shut your damn —"

Giving up on getting free of her clutches, he instead placed a hand over her mouth as he looked up and down the hall, searching for anyone who might have overheard them.

"I'm not scared of anything," he grounded out, "I'm just . . . cautious."

Karin's hand left his ear to grab his wrist and pull it away. His palm shimmered with her lip gloss, and he frowned and wiped it on his slacks as she smirked at him.

"Cautious?" she snickered, placing a hand on her hip. "Is that what you call nearly pissin' yourself whenever you go into his —"

"Will you cut it out?" Huffing, he grabbed Hinata's arm, and started walking, hoping to leave Karin in their dust. But she just followed, still giggling, and his frown deepened. "I ain't scared of him, and I wasn't pissing myself! Also, you have no right to say that when you're practically suckin' his —"

"Finish that sentence." A sharp yank came to the back of his collar, making him choke and almost lose his balance. Hinata yelped and stepped away as Karin wrapped an arm around Suigetsu's neck. "Go ahead. See what it does for you."

Suigetsu struggled for a moment, then turned his upper body into water to slip out of her hold. When he solidified himself a good foot away from her, his eyes dimmed and glowered, and his lips turned into a nasty grin. "I'm going to kill you."

"Try it, you damn —"

"Are you done yet?"

Both of them, preparing to lunge at each other, paused upon the third voice, and Hinata turned her head to find that Sasuke had rounded the corner with an obvious scowl in his eyes. Karin instantly stepped away from Suigetsu, hands rushing to her hair, patting it down and messing with the ends. Suigetsu, however, kept every fiber of his anger intact as he whirled around and grabbed Sasuke's collar.

"And what the hell is wrong with you?" he snapped, teeth clenched and bared. "If you were just gonna go back on it all, then why the fuck did you tell me all that shit yesterday? Damn it all, Sasuke — of all the people, Orochimaru? You went to him!? What happened to trustin' my judgment, you two-faced, backstabbin' —"

With the flick of his wrist, Sasuke freed himself of Suigetsu's hold. "I've said nothing to him," he droned, turning to Karin. "What is this about?"

She blinked, then gave a weak laugh. "Our Head has offered Hin — ah, the Moon Witch, a position as one of the Guard's therapists."

The moment those words hit the air, static came to the air, and Sasuke's dark eye drilled into Hinata. She tensed, and his gaze flashed.

"You're not considering it," he muttered, voice hoarse and gravel, but definitely not weak, "are you?"

H-Huh? He was also disapproving of it?

Karin seemed to also be in the same boat as Hinata, for her brows dipped in confusion.

"You, too?" Her nostrils flared, and she crossed her arms. "Why the hell is everyone so against this? Orochimaru is aware of her abilities — she'll do good in helping the Guard. I can't possibly understand why . . . ." Her voice trailed and quieted as her eyes swam with wonder. She blinked, and realization hit her. "Wait . . . this isn't because of . . . . But Hinata isn't . . . you don't actually . . . ."

Scoffing, Suigetsu leaned over and grabbed Karin's hand, yanking her with him as he led her down the hall. The air in the hall was hot and electrifying and messy, and Hinata followed, if only to get out of such an atmosphere. But Sasuke, of course, also followed, and if the air surrounding him wasn't enough to tip off Hinata on the kind of mood he had, then surely his smoldering, wavering gaze did.

Soon, they were all back in Karin's office, and Suigetsu locked the door before turning the redhead.

"This isn't about Sakura," he said. Karin's shoulders jumped, and her eyes flew to Sasuke, who didn't move a muscle.

Who? Hinata had never heard that name mentioned. But based off of the overall reaction in the room, it must have been someone important.

"Look — Sasuke and I — we're thinking there's a double agent here who's working for the enemy." Suigetsu rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "We don't know who it is — that's why this all seems too . . . coincidental."

"Double agent . . ." Karin's voice dipped, and she didn't sound totally convinced. "Who have you checked off?" But she played along with it, it seemed, and the room relaxed.

Suigetsu motioned his shoulder to everyone. "Only the people in this room."

Humming, Karin moved behind her desk and settled in her chair, adjusting the specks on her nose before pulling out a few files from one of the drawers. "I'll look into it — see if anyone's schedule matches up — recheck records." She squinted at something, then sighed and rubbed her temples. Hinata saw a few of the stickers behind her specks tighten. "And to think I was going to have an easy day, today."

Despite the exhaustion in her words, she smiled, and waved Suigetsu off.

"Go on, now. I don't need your ugly face distracting me." She turned to Hinata, who bit her lips together. "Remember to come back tomorrow. He wasn't lying when he said he hates people being late."

Hinata nodded. "Thank you, Karin."

Crimson eyes rolled and sagged. Hinata and Suigetsu turned to leave, and as the door opened, they heard her say, "Stay for a bit, Sasuke. I need you to catch me up on everything."

And despite the door closing behind them and being halfway out of the Guard, Hinata could still feel that heavy, buzzing gaze on her back, lodged between her shoulders, searching for something.

About an hour later, Hinata was on her third glass of water, still failing to get the dryness out of her mouth. Tsunade had a rather amused look on her face as she watched from across the bartop, flipping through a book, checking things off between her sips of wine and her entertained glances. Suigetsu's only indication of his equal amusement was a snort here and there, but he must have been in one of those uncharacteristically quiet moods, for he said nothing as he sat back and watched the room.

And for a while, Hinata basked in her wonders and questions, her worries and thoughts.

"Y'know, whenever one of your customers has the look you have right now, you tell them to talk."

But she should have guessed Tsunade would have piped up, eventually. She always did. It was never in her nature to go about things obliviously. Smiling, laughing against the rim of her glass, Hinata took another sip of water before settling back into the stool.

"I was offered a job at the Guard." She didn't have to preface what position. It was pretty obvious.

Tsuande hummed and licked at the wine staining her lips. "Congratulations."

Hinata tried to smile.

"I'm not sure if I should take it." Her fingertips danced along her glass as she dropped her chin and bowed her head sheepishly. "Actually, I can't even understand why I'm so off about it. It would just be what I have been doing, only in a . . . safer place."

There was a shuffle of cloth, and then the sound of water being poured into Hinata's glass. For a moment, Tsunade kept to herself. Hinata wasn't unused to it. Whenever she came to her for help or guidance, she'd often take her time in answering, thinking up a proper response before spewing it out. Hinata had always admired her for that, and tried to follow her example when she was plucking faces.

Finally, after a few more moments, Tsunade leaned in, right hand twirling her glass of wine, and said, "Well, since you're more aware of things, I suppose I can reveal a few things."

Not totally sure what that meant, Hinata nodded and gave her time to speak. Even Suigetsu seemed interested, based on the subtle leaning in of his body. He must have been bored. The bar was nearly empty, and anyone inside was too far away to hear anything they said.

"Your eyes," Tsunade began, nodding to them, making Hinata feel a bit embarrassed as she tugged at her hood, "have always had that gift to see people's worries and anxieties. You were born with it. You grew up with it. But the thing is — you haven't always been as fond of it as you are now." Hinata blinked, unable to recall such a time, and leaned a bit further into the bar. "For the longest time, you hid the fact you could see things that most others couldn't, like you were ashamed of it. Your father and cousin wanted you to perfect it, to use it to your advantage, so they came to find me. Back then, I was the Head Therapist at the Guard, and we'd work on helping you become more in tune with your gift. Of course, you weren't too keen on the idea, but even back then, you weren't the kind to complain."

To hear this story about herself — it was somehow an out-of-body experience. Like she was a ghost, watching herself, watching her go to sessions and work on her eyes. It was such a strange phenomenon, and Hinata was left breathless as she thought about it.

"But . . ." Then Tsunade's tone turned dour, and Hinata blinked and tried to understand the change in moods, "the more we worked on it, the more you became aware of your gift, and you began to see more and more of people's worries and anxieties. They terrified you back then, so after I had quit the Guard, you stopped coming altogether. And for a while, I didn't hear anything about it."

Heart fluttering in her stomach, Hinata gulped and asked, "How long was this?"

Tsunade's gaze darkened with thought. "About a year ago."

Not too long before she had fled, Hinata realized.

So Tsunade knew her, even before she had fled and come to the bar. But if that were the case, then . . .

"Wh-Why did you take so long to tell me all this?"

Again, that elongated pause took over the atmosphere as Tsuande's eyes danced with thought. Her lips pinched together, and she downed the rest of her wine to calm her nerves.

"About six months ago, when you had first shown up here, you recognized me. Barely, but it was enough for you to come to me and ask for help." Neck beginning to ache, Hinata drank the rest of her water, and Tsunade smiled and filled both of their glasses with wine. "I knew immediately you had lost a lot of your memories, and when I tried to fill in the gaps, it backfired."

She stopped to drink, and Hinata, feeling the tension creeping up, followed suit. Suigetsu, completely forgetting his job for a moment, turned to them completely, eyes dark and focused.

Clearing her throat, Tsunade's gaze fell to the side, focusing on something, remembering something, probably.

"You had collapsed," she said, voice cracking a bit, "from the stress and confusion of it all. And when you recovered, you had forgotten even more. I didn't want to risk you forgetting everything, so until now, I've been careful with what I revealed and how I did it." And despite the seriousness of the conversation, she grinned to herself and gave a light laugh. "But I suspect you've learned a lot in the past few weeks — about yourself, about the people around you. And the fact that you haven't reacted negatively to the overload of information is a good sign that things are getting easier for you."

Chest filling up with hope, Hinata sighed and smiled. The mood turned light and easy, and she was able to relax the muscles in her shoulders. But another curiosity still clung to the back of her brain, and after a while, she asked, "How long have I known you, then?"

"Mmm? About six years, I'd say."

And like clockwork, Hinata thought back to all the people she'd forgotten. About Gaara, who she's been friends with since they were kids; about Naruto, who, she suspects, she's been in love with for most of her life. It was all so odd. She still had memories of Moon 2, of her home, of the gardens. But when it came to the people she loved dearly, it was like she had forgotten them completely. She couldn't even recognize them if they so much as passed her in the hall.

So why them? she wondered. Why have I mostly forgotten them, but can still remember other things?

Fingers dropping to her lap, she gripped the soft cloth of her cloak and said, shakily, "B-But what if I do forget again?" All this progress — gone. The thought of it made ice slide down her spine. "You, and my family — everyone. I don't want that to happen."

Tsunade frowned, looking ready to say something, but Suigetsu, seeming to find his voice again, piped in before she could mention a word.

"Maybe that will happen," he mused, leaning back into the bar, arms folded under his head as he lay against the bartop. "Maybe you'll forget Sasuke and the Devil and your family — but I can tell you somethin' right now. I'm stuck with you. You ain't never gonna forget me." In the corner of her eye, he saw him grin and snicker. "Even if you want to forget me, you can't. I'm just that special."

He was trying to cheer her up, and that subtlety from before where he'd accidentally open the door for her or unintentionally leave her some leftover dinner was out the window. Her eyes fell on his gills, and she pressed her small, warm hand against the cold skin of his neck and whispered, "Thank you."

He stared at her, and a few stickers toppled under her fingers. "For what? I'm just tellin' the truth."

And even though the subtlety was nowhere to be found, he still refused to acknowledge his own kindness. Smiling, she pulled away and asked Tsunade to make some coffee — and to top it with whipped cream. Exactly how Suigetsu liked it.

And Tsunade, amused smile returning to her features, did just that.

...

"Can I ask another question?"

"Go ahead."

"You mentioned I was uncomfortable about my ability." The gurgle of the coffee maker distracted Hinata for a moment as she smelled that sweet, familiar smell. Nostalgia filled her to the brim, and she hoped, if she did lose her memory again, she'd not completely forget this, either. "Why?"

Tsunade's back moved this way and that as she prepared Suigetsu's drink, movements smooth and fluid, as she has probably done this a million times by now. But the question made her stop for a moment, and Hinata caught a glance of her wondering expression before she turned away once more.

"I recall you mentioning something about the fear of not being able to see other's faces."

Before Hinata could ponder more on that, Tsunade turned, rag in hand, wiping her hands, which had gathered some whipped cream accidentally. She had the most brilliant smirk on her face as her glittering, oak eyes looked over her shoulder.

"But I've always believed there are a few things out there that you are better off not seeing." Hands clean, she snapped the rag over her shoulder, and placed her hands on her hips. "Eh, Sasuke?"

The stool to her right was pulled back, and a tall, dark figure sat, barely making a noise. So, utterly like him.

And he didn't even bat an eye at Tsunade's implication as he said, "I came for the notes."

Hinata looked at him, then Tsunade. "N-Notes?" What notes?

Humming for a moment, Tsunade pushed Suigetsu his now complete coffee before turning to her. "We've been asked by the Guard to write down any observations of suspicious activities. Y'know, in case this lug misses something."

Suigetsu, already going at his beverage despite the steam rolling off it, glared at her over the foamy whipped cream. "Which, obviously, never happens."

Snorting, the blonde turned back to Sasuke. "I could have just given it to him."

Sasuke leaned his chin into his palm. "Karin wanted it as soon as possible for something she's working on."

Tsunade's gaze twinged with doubt, but with a silent nod, she left for the back room.

Without her around, Hinata began to feel herself sink and shy away once again. Why does this always happen when he's around? Even after spending five days together, with him following her and protecting her and flying her about and tasting her food, she still felt small compared to him. Weak. Uncomfortable. Perhaps it had to do with Tsunade's prior words, which still rang in her ears. For even though not being able to see his face and expressions had been stressful, she was now even more aware of his sharp, intimidating glare. It was impossible to ignore, as lightning was practically dripping off of him. It was a curious thing. The more stickers she pulled from his face, the more electricity seemed to vibrate off of him.

What is that supposed to mean?

She pondered on it for a moment, nothing but buzzing air and Suigetsu's slurping taking up the room. Then —

"Are you going to take his offer?"

A quiet question. Barely audible. Barely said, really. And somehow, the way Sasuke said it made her feel like all of this was a rouse. Like he had come just for that question, and nothing else.

Not a word came to her mind. Her brain had frozen up, as had her tongue.

But Suigetsu, scoffing and just finishing his coffee, seemed to understand the predicament she was in, and answered for her.

"She must have been asked that a thousand times already. It's her choice, y'know." He wiped a digit along the rim of his mug, sucked the remaining cream off of it, and mused, "But . . . I will admit the timing of it all is weird. And that bastard has never cared about the mentality of his Guards, so I dunno why he's startin' now."

Hinata blinked. He doesn't care? It shouldn't be that much of a surprise to her. Many ex-Guards have come to her with PTSD and horrible paranoia, all of which had been untreated for far too long. If what Suigetsu said was true, then no wonder they had come to her for help.

"So that's why you're so opposed to it."

They had mentioned before their suspicions of everything, but now that she heard more solid reasons than simply 'He's creepy' or 'He's untrustworthy', it all began to make more sense to her.

"I'm not opposed," Sasuke muttered, fists grabbing at his sleeves as he crossed his arms, "just cautious."

Just cautious. When he said that, he sounded just like Suigetsu, and if Karin were here, Hinata wondered if she'd meet that statement with just as much skepticism.

Tsunade finally arrived with the papers, and as she handed them to Sasuke, she gave them both a glare and told them to stop bothering her. Sasuke flipped through the notes, and after a crackling minute, he stood from the stool, hovered, wafted, and, finally, left.

"Poseidon Almighty," Suigetsu said with a snort, "when did he become such a shit liar?"

"Lying?" Hinata tore her gaze away from Sasuke's fading back to regard him. "About what?"

"Eh? It wasn't obvious?" He gestured to the stool Sasuke had been sitting on. "Well, let's just say he ain't been too fond of the therapists at work. Not for a while, now."

And Hinata knew well what he meant by that, only she didn't have the courage to ask more about it.

...

That night, they had curry and tuna for dinner, and as Hinata worked on scrubbing the plates clean, Suigetsu was busy getting the sofa in the living room ready. He was still trying to earn enough money to get his house back, and they both had figured it was easier for him to guard her if he just slept in the next room, so this had been the situation for them for a while now.

But despite him having stayed at her place for over two weeks now, he seemed to have just become aware of the little bookshelf in the corner, by her bedroom's door.

"The hell?" he spoke up, and Hinata paused in her cleaning to find him holding up a few books with a frown upon his features. "I was expectin' romance novels and shit — but all of these are just boring, old psychology books."

Smiling, she turned back to her plates, and said, "I brought them with me from Moon 2. I suppose I must have waterproofed them before bringing them here." She wasn't totally sure why she would bring them, or why she had them in the first place; but based off of Tsunade's story from before, she must have been the one who had given them to her.

Over her scrubbing, she heard Suigetsu flipping through a few of the books. "Have you read these?"

"Yes, of course." When she didn't have much to do, those books were the only things to entertain her.

He hummed, then snapped them shut and put them back on the bookshelf. "Then I guess you really have changed." Plates and silverware now finished, she sorted them back in their spots. When she was totally done, she turned to leave, only to find him in the doorway, leaning against it. "What that hag said — about you not liking your gift all that much — it really has changed, huh?"

Not sure what he was getting at, Hinata nodded.

He smirked. "Well — then no matter what you choose, at least you'll still be helping people, right?" He moved out of the way to let her pass, his smirk turning into a mischievous grin. "Though I guess you won't be able to see whoever you've been drooling over if you leave the bar, now will you?"

He was teasing her. It was a joke. She knew it was, but she still felt herself turn red and hot within the second. Suigetsu swam in front of her, gauging her reaction, and he was so close, she was scared he could hear her racing pulse.

"I've seen that face before," he said, grin simmering down. "You had it yesterday, when you got home." She watched his face relax and cool, nothing but his eyes moving along with his swimming thoughts. "I'll ask again. Did you remember something?"

He kept on asking her that. She couldn't understand why. Teeth sinking into her bottom lip, she played with the hem of her shirt, dancing on the line of whether to tell him or not. He'd surely tease her if she did.

But —

"I-I remembered Naruto," she sputtered, staring at the floor, feeling like her entire body was on fire despite the cold water surrounding her. "When I was in Sand 1, I remembered him ki — k-kissing me." Her heart roared in her skull, and that was all she heard for a while. No teasing voice. No laugh. And when she chanced a glance at his face, it was completely serious, and she gasped and stammered with her words. "A-And, um, he's been so nice to me. So kind — and he's working hard to make sure I'm safe. So I-I can't help but wonder . . . if we're in l-love. Dating, maybe. And he just hasn't said anything yet . . . because of what Tsunade . . . had . . . said . . . ."

She trailed off upon his face turning more and more dour. And for the first time since meeting him, she wished he'd just make fun of her. Anything but that serious, almost bleak expression on his face.

He didn't say anything, only stared. Feeling uncomfortable and ashamed and ready to just melt away, she stepped back, and whispered, "S-Sorry." I must sound crazy. Oh, Hinata, why —

"He doesn't."

Suigetsu's sudden exclamation made her jump. "P-Pardon?"

Suigetsu frowned and put a distance between them as he rubbed, agitatedly, at his gills.

"He doesn't love you," he said, "and he's not dating you. Because . . ." And when his eyes finally meet hers, they are shadowed with nothing but pity, and Hinata feels herself turn pale and sick. ". . . Because he's currently engaged to someone else."

9:58 the next morning. At the Guard, in front of Orochimaru's office door once again, Hinata found herself without the will to open it and step inside. For the same reason as before, she supposed, but, well . . .

She wasn't in the mood for much of anything, really. Except, maybe, to stay at her home and wallow.

"Lady Hinata."

But she couldn't do that. He wouldn't let her.

Sighing, she looked down the hallway, at Suigetsu, who stayed back to watch the crowd, before turning to her figment. He hadn't been showing up nearly as often as before, probably due to the fact that she wasn't alone nearly as much as she used to be. But her imagination still managed to shove his head into her thoughts when she least wanted him to.

"You need to stop thinking about it, Lady Hinata," he said for maybe the tenth time that morning, and it only drained her more.

"Please, Neji," she begged, quietly, as to not be heard by anyone, "not right now."

He frowned, eyes turning cloudy, before he turned to the door.

"It will be a lot easier if you stopped."

She nodded, but couldn't find the will to follow his orders. Arm feeling like it weighed a ton, she grabbed the golden handle, pulled it down, and opened the door.

"Ah, there she is — right on time."

And this time, it wasn't Orochimaru's slithering voice that met her first, but rather the sheer brightness of the room, so unlike how it had been yesterday. Eyes blinking, adjusting to the light, she shut the door behind her and stepped in the relative direction of where she had stood previously. A presence was next to her, and she didn't think much of it until she realized that Suigetsu hadn't entered with her.

Gasping, she snapped her head up, and through the warmth and light, saw him.

Nar . . . uto.

He wore his hood, as per usual, and the bottom half of his face was completely covered in a thick layer of stickers. She couldn't see an inch of his skin. It looked so . . . sickening.

"I'm sure you've come with your answer," Orochimaru, behind his desk, said. "But I'm afraid that will have to wait. After all, the Sun King has requested your presence personally."

And Hinata — well, all her life, she's sure she's been looking at people's faces. At their stickers, at their expressions, at their eyes, at their smiles. But . . . today, that was impossible. So, instead, she looked at hands — at Naruto's hands. At the one that had held hers, at the one that had kept her close. They had always been there, but she had always been so distracted by his face.

But now, she looked. Looked, and saw the simple, silver ring on his left hand.

"Hinata," he whispered in a voice so totally unlike him, and were she not so distracted, she would have seen the blue eyes under a hood that stared, desperately, at her, "I need your help."

Chapter 9 - End