- Pluck -
Part I
Chapter 15: Cage of the Wingless Bird
A/N: Just something to quickly add. Someone had suggested a fabulous idea to add a recommended song or two to help you get in a specific mood for this story and/or chapter. I thought this was a brilliant idea, and if you enjoy it, as well, then you can thank Daisy for being the one to suggest it to me.
I'll add a few songs for the overall story, and then one or two for this chapter in particular. Please note these are not required to listen to, and of course you can go on your merry way through the story without listening to them. Just something fun that a few people may enjoy. Also note that I have a wide arrange of different genres of music I like, so I apologize if I give anyone whiplash, haha.
Overall:
Ghosting by TXT - The lyrics to this song aren't exactly the main draw when it comes to relations to this story. Rather, the haunting melody and background music and airy vocals of the singers is what gives me a mysterious-fantasy vibe that really helped me gain inspiration for this story.
Endless and Artifical by City Girl - I feel like this song gives a sort of futuristic, distant vibe, which I think works well with the colder scenes of the story, such as the chilly and dark Ocean 11.
Regenbogen by Yutaka Yamada - This is the song I listened to on loop when writing the chapters with similar names. It's the inspiration for the song that plays during the Regenbogen scenes.
Leaving Earth by Seven Lions - This is a very spacy and strange sort of song, which I think works well with the themes of different universes throughout the story. I also really enjoy the chorus. It's so intricate and complicated, which, again, I feel works well with Pluck.
This chapter:
First half: Something Isn't Right with the World by Jonathan Geer.
Second half: Love me or Leave me by Day6
Thank you and enjoy!
"You'll have to stay here for a while."
It was a small place, this room. Grey and bland. Dark, only lit by a single, hanging lantern near the heavy, steel door. The floor and walls were made of smoothened stone. The shadows that lined them expanded out, like reaching fingers, as the room stretched further back. It was nearly empty. The was a low table without any sitting cushions on the left-most wall, and in the very back, covered in shadows, was a tattered futon. One of the walls by the door had a small window lined with bars, which was the only other light source for the place.
Bars. Like a cage.
Why am I here?
Hinata didn't want to step into such a place, but the subtle push against the back of her shoulder from Kabuto coaxed her to do just that. With a reluctant lag in her steps, she walked inside and stood under the singular lantern. There was no color, no signs of life. The hairs on the back of her neck stood from the cold and eeriness of the place.
"This is temporary," Kabuto drawled from the doorway. Not an inch of him entered that room, and he scowled at every aspect his pointed gaze fell upon, disgusted. "For the next few days, you will not be allowed to leave without escort - this includes bathroom and washing breaks. Food will be served in the cell."
Cell. That fitted the room perfectly.
"Am I a criminal?" she asked. She took a small step closer, and her bare feet curled away from the cold floor.
"This is for your safety," was Kabuto's quick answer. When she turned to him, she saw he was eying the outside hallway, looking ready to leave. "I've assigned someone to come change your bandages daily. Be sure to let the stitches breath for at least twenty minutes before allowing them to be bandaged again."
His words fell numb on her ears, but she nodded, if only to satisfy him.
"That's all," he said as he pushed off the wall and grabbed the side of the door.
As he began to push the door shut, the light slinked away. Hinata saw the shadows creep towards her feet and backed away. She wasn't ready for this. She wanted to go back to the white medical room, no matter how blinding and icy it was. It was better than this room, this cell, this cage.
Hands curling along the collar of her new tunic, she whispered, "I don't want to be here."
Kabuto paused, frowning. "You don't have a choice. This is the Head's order, by Sasuke's request."
Sasuke wanted this?
Hinata glanced at the grey walls, at the tattered futon, at the small table. This was what he wanted. This was for her protection. She told herself that, over and over, hoping it would make things better.
But it didn't. Nothing changed.
The door slammed shut, and the click of the lock was deafening.
Shadows held onto Hinata's ankles, pulling her into the room. Her panicked breathing echoed off the stone walls as her feet padded over to the futon. She sat down on it and twisted into herself, as the thin cotton of her tunic did nothing to shield her from the cold. It was dark. It was cold. It was quiet.
And she was alone.
Stepping out of the cell, Karin was exhausted.
Two hours of interrogation and questioning, and yet here she was, leaving without a speck of information. Ino Yamanaka had barely said a word to her, and no matter what tactic she used, the woman would not answer a damn question.
Is this how my whole week is going to be? She wondered, rubbing at her temples, which already began to throb with the beginnings of a headache. Will it be this tiring and frustrating?
"I'm assuming you got nothing from her."
She didn't bother to look as Sasuke pushed off the wall to join her in the middle of the hallway. "No shit," she hissed. Not wanting to be in the damn captive wing for another second, she stormed her way to the exit, Sasuke easily keeping up with her. "I seriously tried everything on her. I would have been convinced my magic wasn't working if her cuffs weren't already draining her of hers."
Arms crossed under the fabric of his cloak, Sasuke pondered to himself for a moment. "When I continue my interrogation with Suigetsu tomorrow, I'll try to bring up Ino," he said. "He might have information that can aid you in questioning her."
Karin nodded, already making note in her head to schedule a few hours in one of the interrogation rooms for him. "Don't forget about everything else, as well," she said, heels clicking down the way as she picked up her speed. "We have two kings visiting us tomorrow. His Majesty and Kankuro are coming with the beetle that will be examined further by our team, and His Grace -"
"I know," Sasuke said.
Right. Karin decided to let it slide. "I'm only reminding you that you'll schedule is full tomorrow, Sasuke, so try not to waste too much time with Suigetsu. Be direct and precise."
They were nearing the exit, and when Karin looked over at him for confirmation, she saw that his eyes were trained on something completely different. Distracted. She's hardly ever seen him in such a state, and they both slowed.
"What is -"
"I'll leave you to it, then," he said, turning down a hallway still connected to the captive wing of the Guard.
Blinking, Karin stopped completely to watch him. "Where are you -" She thought for a moment, then realized everything. Oh. "You don't have to see her. Kabuto has already informed me that she is safe and happy."
Sasuke didn't even seem to consider stopping, and he balked.
"Safe, maybe."
Hinata supposed she must have been a people-person in the past. Or, maybe, it was just human nature to need some kind of socializing and human interaction to distract from the dull pain throbbing against her spine. But she was definitely prone to loneliness. Even in the cabin at Ocean 4, which wasn't nearly as dreadful as this dusty cell, did she feel alone and solemn. The gaping holes in her memory served no aid, either, as she had nothing to distract herself aside from the frustrated questions constantly whirling in her head. She couldn't think back to people she knew - there was no known family or close friend in her mind. There was only Kabuto, the scary doctor, and Tsunade, the strong woman who held her hands when she was in need. There was Suigetsu, the only one she remembered - the one who stole her away in the first place. There was Kisame, the man who cut holes in her back, and then there was -
Sasuke.
The one who was in love with her. The one she had loved, perhaps in the recent past.
The warm one. The strong one. The one who brought static when he entered a room. He'd barely said three words to her, and yet she was so enraptured by him. There was an aura of mystery about him, from the distinct glow of his left eye to the stickers adorning his face to the small scars on his hands. Curiosity struck her like a tsunami whenever she'd look at him.
Who was he?
Why does he have stickers?
How did they . . . ?
But no answers came. Because she was alone in a stone birdcage, sitting atop a stiff futon with bandages wrapped around the length of her torso. Minutes or hours or days passed, and it was just her.
Just Hinata and the walls -
"Is he really in love with me?"
And when she spoke, the walls didn't speak back. There was no conversation. No social interaction. Nothing to quench the thirst of basic, human needs.
She was safe. Her back was stitched and bandages, and she wasn't on the brink of death. Things could be worse. It was best to think that way.
"If he is, then why does he run from me?"
But it was hard when all she saw was darkness and cold emptiness.
"Why won't he look me in the eye?"
Nothing. Her world was nothing. This cell was nothing.
"Does he -"
Movement. Small, barely caught in the corner of her eye, but still there.
Hinata's head flew to the side, hair whipping in her face. It was the Moon Man. He was back, hardly visible. She could see the wall behind him, bringing an eerie tint to his whole person, but his eyes still glowed, white and flawless.
Like always, he watched. Like always, he was quiet.
Hinata leaned a bit from the futon, blinking. She remembered Suigetsu's warning quite clearly. Ignore him, he had told her. His voice had been so low and desperate, and were it any other situation, she would have followed the order without question.
But -
"I, um, know I'm not supposed to talk to you," she whispered, turning on the futon to face him. "I know I'm supposed to ignore you, but I can't. I have so many questions." She paused for a moment, collecting herself. Not an inch of the Moon Man's face changed. "Why are you following me?"
Silence followed as those glowing eyes sunk to the side, peering off at nothing.
"Why did Suigetsu warn me about you?" she asked.
Nothing, aside from the pinching of his lips.
"Are you bad? Are you trying to hurt me?"
Hinata doubted that was the case. If he was after her, he would have tried something by now. The silence stretched on as he stood still and tall, like the walls surrounding her. Maybe she needed to ask more specific questions. She thought back to where she had first seen him at the bottom of the ocean. He had appeared out of the inky depths, floating close to her. He'd been breathing underwater, and when she asked about him, no one could give her a clear answer.
As if -
"Am I the only one who can see you?"
A shift came to the air as the bones in his hands pressed against his skin, creating bold hills upon the transparent back. Hinata waited with bated breaths.
"Yes," was the muted response that matched the muted walls. But the Moon Man wasn't the walls. Walls don't speak. "In this place, at least."
Assuming he meant the entire Guard and not just the cell, Hinata nodded, soaking up the information. "How?"
He looked at her. There was a force behind his gaze that seemed so familiar. "Because of your eyes."
Again, her eyes were brought up, and Hinata wished there was some sort of mirror around. What was so special about them that she was allowed to see not only this mysterious Moon Man, but these infamous stickers, as well? Rubbing her arm, she asked, "Do I know you?"
"Yes." No hesitancy in that answer.
"How?"
But it returned with that question. He frowned, eyes wavering, as if considering whether or not to answer. That only made Hinata more curious. She leaned further off her futon, staring, praying he wouldn't disappear or fall back into silence. She needed this. If she was forced to go back to that cold, empty feeling that rattled deep in her bones, she didn't know what she'd do.
"My name is Neji Hyuuga." Hyuuga. Hinata's heard that name before. Wait. "I'm your cousin."
Cousin.
Cousin . . . ?
Her body went as cold as the room from the sheer sadness of the revelation. Because he was that family she wondered about, hoped for, longed for. He was one of the people she was most likely stolen from. He was someone who surely cared for her and loved her and wished her well, and he had been there since day one of her waking up. But she hadn't recognized him. He was only Moon Man to her. Not Neji, not her cousin - just this odd anomaly that followed her around.
Followed her - of course!
Because he was her family, not some monster, not some freak.
She had been scared of him.
Why?
He'd done nothing but watch over her and help her in times of need. He told her what to do with the strange man at the cabin. He kept her awake while she was on Suigetsu's back. He worried about her.
And when Suigetsu told her to ignore him -
She did, and he had been devastated.
Why?
Why!?
He was her family! Her cousin! How could she not know him? Remember him?
"I'm sorry."
His whisper made her realize she was sobbing, and when she looked up, he was gone.
"Don't!"
And she was alone.
...
She hated it here.
She wanted to leave.
She wanted people. She wanted light. She wanted warmth.
She wanted answers and her memory back and to be with her family. She wanted to remember Neji and Tsuande and Sasuke -
"Moon Witch."
Huh? What?
Moon Witch?
Wiping at her eyes, she saw light spilling into the room as the heavy door of the cell was pushed open. The hairs on her arms stood. That could only mean -
"S-Sasuke."
He walked in, light pouring over his broad shoulders, shadows covering his face, yet unable to overcome the pure darkness of his eyes, which burrowed straight into her. She shivered under their weight, and his face tightened as he pressed a hand on the wall, then against the length of her arm.
"Bastard," he muttered, pulling back to undo the two buttons on the front of his cloak.
There was a swish of fabric. Air brushed against her face, coaxing more tears from her, and as she wiped them away, something fell on her shoulders. Warm and soft and heavy and the total opposite of everything else in that damn cell. His cloak rested against her body, instantly sending heat into her. It smelled like a million things and was torn and rugged in some spots, but it was something.
"Arms down," he ordered, taking her wrists with gentle precision and moving them away from her face. She forced them at her side as he worked on the buttons, fastening the cloak to her.
He was so close, she just realized. On his knees, bent over to get better leverage on the thin buttons. His eyes were narrow in concentration, but his fingers were stiff. His clothes underneath were dark like his cloak. A black tunic with a turtleneck collar and buttoned cuffs. There was a rattle, and when she looked down, she saw his belt, and connected to it, a scabbard of some kind of sword. So much of him was revealed to her without his cloak, and Hinata felt tense and overwhelmed.
This is Sasuke Uchiha.
The one she was stolen from.
The one she held onto as her back was being stitched up.
The one that saved her.
The one that loved her.
He loves me.
It was silly. It was just a cloak. That didn't mean anything. But Hinata grabbed at it and held it close and gawked at something so beautiful and there.
He loves me.
It was true. Suigetsu was right. It had to be true.
Her shoulders trembled as a new round of sobs wracked her entire being. Sasuke sat back on his heels, eyes wide and startled, and with a hiccup, she dived in and hugged him.
...
"Hin -"
Almost immediately, his hands grabbed hers and unwrapped her arms from him. He was on his feet and towering and stepping away, glowering at her, at the wall, at everything. He kept inching away. He wasn't stopping.
"W-Wait." He didn't. "Sasuke, please!"
Finally, nearly at the door, he stopped.
Still on the ground, fingers pressed against the dusty, stone floor littered with tears, Hinata stared at him, like that would keep him from leaving.
He didn't stare back. "Moon Witch."
That again. Was he calling her that? Why?
"My name is Hinata," she whispered, elbows shaking, barely keeping her upright. "Please don't leave. Not yet. I don't want to be here."
"You have to be." He shifted, looking ready to head out the door, but then stopped himself. "And I have to go."
She shattered. The whole room shattered and collapsed on her. Her back was bleeding again, and her heart was about to give out. "Why?" she choked. "Why do you always leave?"
The crack in the air was sudden and violent, like lightning. Her ears rang and her gills trembled, but Hinata didn't curl in a ball and hide. She watched closely as Sasuke's left eye glowed, then flickered, then dimmed. His fingers flexed and popped. His entire body seemed to fight against something, and when the seconds ticked by and the air settled, he took one, cautious step forward and said, "Sit on the futon. The floor will hurt your knees."
Hinata did so. She pushed her hands off the floor and wobbled on the heels of her feet before falling onto the futon without much grace. Sasuke's cloak bunched up around her legs as she moved into a comfortable position, eyes never leaving him. As she settled, he came closer. When the toe of his boots skimmed the side of the futon, he stopped and looked down from her.
"You have to be here," he said. "You're not a criminal, but until things settle, this is the safest place to be."
Hinata nodded, knowing well what he said was the truth. "Can you sit down, please? You standing there makes me anxious."
Nothing about him moved aside from the slight tilt of his head. "Why?"
Teeth grazing her bottom lip, she murmured, "Because it means you could leave at any second."
This time, not a single sign of reluctance or rebuttal came as he sighed and sunk down to sit next to her on the futon. His legs were long, and his knees pointed to the ceiling as he settled. Hinata pulled the cloak out of the way, smiling.
"It's not that bad in here," he said.
Her face heated up a bit. He must think her so immature. "It's worse when you can barely remember anything beyond it."
No answer. His eyes were planted on the door, but he didn't move from the futon. Hinata watched him for a moment, tracing her eyes over him again and again. The lantern's light hanging from the ceiling caught his eye, but the stickers on his face were completely unaffected.
Suigetsu's words echoed in her head. Stickers meant problems, and he was right when he said Sasuke had a lot. But nothing she did so far created more, and she made sure to keep an eye on that as she slowly leaned forward to press her nose against the side of his right shoulder.
No stickers.
His eye narrowed and a strange buzz came to the air, but no stickers.
Relaxing, Hinata rested her forehead against him, arms wrapping lightly around the length of his arm. Like his cloak, Sasuke was warm, and she hoped to soak up as much as she could before he left.
"It's getting late," he said after a minute. "You need to rest."
Upon his words, Hinata became aware of the exhaustion nipping at her body. Her shoulders sagged and her eyelids grew heavy, but she didn't let go. Not yet. "Thank you," she said. "This is all I wanted. You saved me again."
Sasuke shifted, but his arm barely moved, like he was putting in an effort to not disturb her. "I'll come back."
Her smile stretched as she held back a laugh. "Thank you."
"Go to sleep, Moon Witch."
He gave her a small nudge, and she finally let go to lay down on the futon. He stood to give her room, watching her as she moved the cloak around her to act as a blanket. Darkness crept in the corners of her vision as she began to drift off. It wasn't as scary as she thought it would be. She knew when she woke up tomorrow, he'd be gone. But he said he'd come back, and she believed him without a doubt in her mind.
"Hinata," she whispered. "That's my name."
Her eyes closed as shadows danced over her face. Sasuke's steady footsteps matched the beat in her chest as he went to the door, slowly, quietly opening it.
"I know."
And when he left, Hinata dreamed of being in the middle of a hurricane, protected from the winds and rains and lightning by none other than Sasuke Uchiha.
"You look different."
Despite the beating he had to endure yesterday, Suigetsu seemed quite like himself that morning. His arms were crossed on the table's surface, chin resting upon them, eyes lidded with unconcerned fatigue. His nose was lopsided and purple, a bit of dried blood still staining his upper lip, which he didn't seem too worried about. When Sasuke entered, he wasn't sure if he should be irritated or not.
But he wasn't surprised. Definitely not.
"How's my Guppy?"
"We already went over this," Sasuke said as he pulled out the free chair and sat down. Those hooded eyes barely focused on him, and he sighed. "She's fine."
The corner of Suigetsu's lip lifted, revealing a glimpse of his teeth. "Let's make a deal. If I can guess where she is right now, you'll swear to put in a word to His Grace to make my death not totally painful."
Sasuke didn't even bother to react. "You're not in the position to make such wagers."
Ignoring him, Suiegstu sat up and rested his chin on his propped chin. He hummed, tilt of his lips morphing into a full smirk, as his eyes lit up with realization. "If I know anything about you, you put her in one of the cells." Sasuke kept his face neutral as Suigetsu looked at him to confirm his answer. "And if I know anything about her, she hates it."
Patience growing thin, Sasuke sat forward in his chair. "Let's end the absurdity here. Unless you want this interrogation to be anything like yesterday, of course."
Suigetsu chuckled, not at all threatened. "Don't worry, Sasuke. I'll talk. No need to go psycho interrogator on me. " Pushing back, he sat fully against the chair, which rocked with his shift in weight. "Or, well, I'll say as much as I can, at least."
"What do you mean by that?"
Smirking, he said, "Well, I can't just give up all the details. There has to be some suspense. Unless you fancy being bored out of your mind." His right hand moved to rub at his neck. "I know you like a challenge."
Electricity cracked against his knuckles, but Sasuke kept it at bay. Cocky, for someone who has nowhere to go. But he wasn't concerned. He's made hundreds of people spill their entire life story without so much as the narrow of his eye. If SUigetsu was willing to talk, he wasn't going to stop him. But he'd know if he was hiding anything, and Sasuke wasn't the kind to let bastards off the hook so easily.
"Then let's start from the beginning."
Suigetsu's lips stretched, and his teeth shined in the light of the room.
...
"Explain in detail how it started."
The purples of his eyes darkened as his head lolled back and forth in thought. "That's tricky. I think it started eight or nine months ago. I had been getting off a mission - ah, the one in Forest 8. You remember, right? The pots."
He did. It had been a tedious job regarding the Inuzuka clan, who they had suspected were dealing out illegal items in disguise of pottery. Which was bullshit, obviously. Inuzukas didn't have the patience or finesse required in making and carrying pottery, and the Guard had sent in a few members to act undercover to get one of these pots in their possession. Suigetsu had been one of them, and Sasuke had been working on the paperwork as the whole thing happened. Nothing came from it. They only managed to get a single piece of pottery in hand, which was wiped clean of anything. Suigetsu had taken on most of the blame for it. He'd been struggling to stay at his best the entire mission, and if Sasuke recalled correctly, it had something to do with some personal issues.
What was it again?
It didn't matter, and he shook his head. "Continue."
"Well, I was on my way home when someone approached me."
"Who?"
Suigetsu frowned. "The stalker."
So he met the bastard. "You know their identity, then."
"Yes." That word came out strained, and the muscles in his neck flexed. "But that's not the problem." Sasuke watched him, not looking away, and a bit of moisture began to form on Suigetsu's temple. "I'd tell you, but I can't."
Ah. That must have been one of the things he was hiding. Sasuke had the mind to press further, but decided it was best to get as much from him as he could before he started to push harder.
"So you met them."
"Yes, and they gave me an offer -"
"What kind?"
"One I couldn't refuse," he bit out, voice tight and choked. "They told me a woman from Moon would be coming to The Hall, and that I would have to take her away and keep her in Ocean before anyone else got to her. A few weeks later, she came, and I did as I was told. Then, the next day, she went back to The Hall and saw Tsunade, so Ino had to come and wipe as much of her memory as she could."
Ino. Without even trying, she was brought up in the interrogation, and Sasuke wasn't about to let the moment pass. "Ino had been a part of this back then, as well?"
Suigetsu's gaze fell as he gave a sad smile. "She's been a part of it long before me. When Sakura got sick, she had to stay in Forest 3 to not accumulate any suspicions, but she's been pulling strings in the background for this whole operation."
"Which is what, exactly?" Sasuke asked.
Suigetsu swallowed. His gills shivered. "To . . . get Hinata back to Moon."
Sasuke frowned and folded his arms. That seemed like a far too simple answer. He was sure there was far more to it than just getting her back to Moon. Again, he was coaxed to push more, but held back until more information was revealed. "Her wings are gone."
Suigetsu nodded. "Yeah. That wasn't a part of the plan."
So they weren't the cause of it. "So this whole time, you've been following the orders of this stalker."
"It all went according to plan, mostly. When Tamaki failed to get Hinata to Ino, we knew to play the long run. You'd order for me to be her bodyguard because we don't have many from Ocean, and once I got her trust, I'd take her to Ino and get her memory completely wiped." He scratched the back of his head, gaze flickering around, unable to stay still. "There were bumps along the way. I was supposed to meet up with Kisame earlier in Ocean 4, but he wasn't there and some bastards had gone and attacked her. She wasn't supposed to go to Sand 1, either, but Matsuri and Sasori were already stationed there just in case it happened. They caused as much havoc as they could, but she still -"
"The Moon Witch still remembered Naruto." Sasuke was beginning to catch on now. Actually, it was pretty obvious now that he had some of the information. The whole plan was to erase her memory and get her back to Moon, so anything that she could remember would not be a hefty obstacle in their scheme. Naruto was one of those things. For obvious reasons. "You didn't want her to remember their engagement."
Suigetsu laughed bitterly. "That was the main problem. Remembering that would cause an entire rabbit hole that we wanted to avoid. But she still went, and she still remembered."
"So this stalker panicked," Sasuke mused. "They ordered Ino to make Sakura's condition worse so the Moon Witch would come to help her. When the time was right, you washed her memory and kidnapped her and tried to get her wings back."
"You pick up fast, huh?" Suigetsu lips curled a bit as he took on a little of his normal, untroubled self.
The pieces were falling together as Sasuke looked back on things. The dread Suigetsu had when they had returned from Sand 1. At first, he thought it was a concern for Hinata, but now he knew he was scared for his life that he had been figured out and she had learned too much. At the beginning, when he had gone from completely unbothered with Hinata to more considerate and kind, it was to gain her trust for the long run. His bouts of laziness on the job at Sakura's manor were due to him trying to get Ino and Hinata alone. This was all a part of a larger plan. He never cared about her. It was all a facade to get her trust.
Sasuke understood that now and was peeved he hadn't seen it before. And yet, there was still something he couldn't understand.
"You had her where you wanted her," he said, catching Suigetsu's eye. "She had no memory. You had cut into her back to get her wings. The Guard had no idea where you were. Why did you bring her back?"
The chair creaked as Suigetsu leaned forward, fingers drilling into the side of the table. "She would have died, Sasuke."
He knew. "Why do you care?"
Huffing, Suigetsu muttered, "Why do I care? Why am I telling you all of this so easily? Why did I put my life on the line to bring her back? What do you think, Sasuke? I'm not heartless!"
Not heartless? Sasuke couldn't help the grim smile spreading across his face. That's rich.
"No, of course not. You're only a backstabber, a manipulator, a kidnapper. You're only selfish and apathetic and conceited, but not heartless. Of course not."
Suigetsu's chest pressed against the edge of the table. "I had a reason to do it!" he hissed. "You know I did, Sasuke, you know."
"No, I don't," he drawled.
"I wasn't happy about doing this. I didn't want to use her like I was, but I had to."
"Why?" Patience, again, at their limit, Sasuke stood and glared down at Suigetsu. "What offer could this stalker possibly have made to make you go this far?"
Suigetsu's eyes were wide and boiling. "I can't -"
But just as it started, it stopped. He wheezed and sunk into himself, cursing under his breath. Sasuke wasn't buying it. He clicked his tongue and kicked the chair in before going to the door. There was doing nothing but getting him pissed again, and he'd have to come back more calm and prepared.
"Sasuke, wait."
Lightning licked at the metal handle he clutched tightly. Taking in a deep breath, he turned back to Suigetsu, who watched him, eyes dim and desperate.
"I would if I -" He stopped, eyes swimming. "I don't know how to -" Again, he trailed off, sneering.
I don't have time for this. "When I'm back, we'll pick this up, and you're going to tell me what you're hiding."
Suigetsu's fingers were white, knuckles jagged like mountains. But when something flashed over his eyes, his head snapped up, and his hands fell to his lap. "Itachi," he sputtered. Sasuke's spine went straight. "Let's talk about Itachi."
Why the hell -
Beyond the door came a ruckus, and Sasuke took that as his sign to leave before he fried Suigetsu.
...
Outside of the room were hoards of people gathered along the walls, and when Sasuke moved into the main hallway, he saw why.
The Sand King had just arrived.
People whispered and babbled to themselves, as if they've never seen a king before. Through the crowd, Karin pushed through and made her way. She bowed to the king, then to Kankuro, who was at his side. As she stood and adjusted her glasses, she caught sight of him and waved him over.
"Thank you for coming at your earliest convenience," he heard her say as he approached. "I apologize for keeping you both from your duties. Sending the beetle via letter would have been perfectly fine."
Kankuro laughed, the purple lines on his face moving with his cheeks as he grinned. "Oh, please. We both had reasons to come." In his hands was an envelope, seemingly empty, but Sasuke knew it held the tracker beetle in question. "I wish to overview the examination procedure. Who will be in charge."
He held it out, and Karin took it with both of hands. "Oh, of course," she said. "We have a Guard from the Aburame clan who will be in charge of examination and identification. He'll be able to give us the most information, I assure you." Her eyes went from Kankuro's pleased expression to the Sand King, who looked distracted, head turning this way and that. "And you, Your Majesty? How may I aid you?"
"Ah," Kankuro piped in, "he's actually here for . . ." His voice fell. "Moon."
Karin gawked, but Sasuke wasn't surprised in the slightest. "I-I pardon my intrusive question, but how do you know about -"
"Naruto," was all that Gaara said before he looked to Sasuke. "Where is she?"
Karin laughed nervously. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but no one is allowed to see -"
"I'll take you to her."
Sasuke was already on his way down the hallway that led to the captivity wing. A short, few words passed between Gaara and his brother before he followed him, robes swishing by his ankles. People pressed their backs against the walls as they passed, no one daring to speak a word in their powerful presences that made the entire Guard suffocating.
"You may sit up now."
The room was a little less frigid when someone else was in it, Hinata observed. When Sasuke had been around last night, it wasn't as cold, and at first, she had assumed it was because of the cloak he gave her. But as she lay, cloakless and shirtless, chest-down on the rough fabric of the futon to allow the stitched wounds on her back to breathe, she didn't tremble and shiver like she thought she would.
Because there was someone else in the room.
Palms against the futon, Hinata pushed herself up carefully, making sure to keep her head bowed to keep any hair from slipping over her shoulder and onto her bare back. There was a shift to the side, and she turned slightly to look at the other person in the cell.
She had introduced herself as Shizune, the one Kabuto had ordered to come and replace her bandages. The first thing Hinata noticed about her were the dark weeds on the underside of her cheeks and along the curve of her ears. It looked like a lot of people in the Guard had them, which Hinata supposed was normal. It seemed like a stressful place to be. But Shizune did good in not letting a sliver of whatever worries or anxieties she had bother her as she examined Hinata's back.
"It seems to be doing fine," she mused, taking a bit of Hinata's hair and pushing it more over her shoulder. "Are you experiencing any pain? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
Hinata flashed a small smile. "No. Thank you."
Shizune nodded and motioned a shoulder at her. Understanding, Hinata faced her and raised her arms over her head. Shizune unwrapped the bandages and leaned in to start wrapping them around her back and chest. The woman wasn't much of a talker, but Hinata didn't mind. It was nice that someone was there, and she could tell Shizune was a good person. There was precision in her wrapping. Her touch was gentle, making sure not to hurt her accidentally. Those twenty minutes of letting her stitches breathe were spent patiently, without complaint from either party. It helped Hinata relax a bit. She was glad she wasn't anything like the doctor.
A rip sounded, and then a few tugs as Shizune tied the bandages. When she was finished, she stood and nodded to herself again. "Is it too tight?"
"It's fine," Hinata said, reaching over for her shirt, which laid, folded, at the other end of the futon. "Thank you."
Shizune opened her mouth, as if to speak, but it snapped shut as a rattle came to the door. She stepped in front of Hinata, a hand held out, telling her to stay back. Hinata peeked past her, heart jumping in her chest.
What's happening?
The door creaked open, allowing light to spill in.
Is it Sasuke?
Shizune gave a small gasp, and her head bowed. "Your Majesty?"
H-Huh?
Gripping her shirt against her chest, Hinata bent to the side more to get a better look at the figure entering the cell. The most noticeable thing was his silk, immaculate robes that contrasted so wildly with the filth of the cell. He had a mighty stature, and his hair was bright red and nearly luminous in the light. But when he looked down at her, Hinata was stuck on his eyes. Turquoise and clashing with the dark rings surrounding them that were made entirely out of stickers.
It seemed even kings had worries.
But . . . why is he here?
"Shizune."
That was Sasuke's voice. Hinata tilted her head and saw him by the doorway, nodding Shizune over to him. The woman blinked, stared more at the king stationed quite oddly in the middle of a Guard's cell, then bowed her head further before hurrying to Sasuke. After that, the door closed, and it was just her and the king.
Unease was heavy on Hinata's body as she watched him. The room went from tepid to sweltering with his mere presence, and Hinata didn't realize she would ever miss the cold. Her mouth was dry. Her gills curled in agitation. She folded into herself, wondering who he was and why he was there, but not having the courage to ask such things aloud.
He was quiet and unmoving, like - like -
Like the walls. Like Neji.
Did she know him?
Her lungs began to ache from the pressure in the air.
"How do you feel?" And when he finally spoke, something trembled through his entire body. Not his muscles, not his skin. Something else. Something different from him, but still him.
Hinata squinted through the dim light, looking closer, trailing every inch of him.
"Hinata?"
And with her name in the air, she saw it.
Sand.
It danced along his skin and dripped to the ground from his fingers, like it had a mind of its own. As it collected at his feet, it slithered and slouched, and Hinata leaned as far back as she could, gulping.
"Wh-What is that?"
Eyes staring out from darkness blinked and fell, slowly, to the sand by him. The straight line of his lips turned dour, but that was all that escaped him. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, taking a small step in her direction. "It won't hurt you. I promise."
His voice was void of everything. Hinata wasn't sure if she could trust him. He seemed to realize this, and with a wave of his left hand, it slinked behind him. He took another step to her, then another, each one more cautious than the previous as her body stayed in its tense position. Eventually, he stopped trying to reach her completely and turned to the sand.
"I used to be afraid of it, too," he said. His left hand flicked, and the sand stood and morphed into something. Something short and round, with legs and arms and wide eyes. "But I have complete control of it now. It's safe."
Hinata looked at the sand figure, shoulders slowly relaxing. "Who is that?"
He looked at her, lips turning upwards. "That's you, Hinata."
It was? She didn't recognize it at all. Lips pinching together, she unfolded herself and looked at him. "Y-You're the Sand King."
He nodded. "My name is Gaara."
That's right. Suigetsu had mentioned she knew the Sand King, and here he was.
"If anything, Sand will be coming to you, now."
He was right. Without even realizing it, Sand had come to her, and Hinata was stunned. She looked at her sand copy, then back at the king. "How do we know each other?"
"We're friends." The sand fell and morphed into two, smaller figures. Children who resembled her and him. They looked happy, like they were laughing, and she couldn't help but smile. "We've been friends for a long time. Just a few weeks ago, you helped me get my voice back."
Hinata's brows furrowed. "How did I do that?"
He walked over and bent down in front of her. "I don't know." The sand behind him morphed once again, turning into an adult her and him. Her sandy fingers brushed his sandy neck, and she was wearing a cloak with a hood. It didn't look like the one Sasuke gave her. "Even back then, you didn't remember me, but you still helped me." His eyes narrowed and smoldered with wonder. "Have you seen Naruto yet?"
"I don't know who that is," she said.
"He's the Sun King."
Suigetsu had mentioned him, too. "No. I'm sorry."
Gaara looked down at her left hand clutching her shirt, blinked, then stood. "I'm sorry. You must be cold."
Not at all. But she still pulled on her shirt as he looked away, sand falling down to swirl around his feet.
"They haven't told me who hurt you," he said, "or who took your memory from you."
"There's a reason for that." The door opened once again, and in stepped Sasuke. He took a few steps inside, then turned to face the Sand King with more moxie that Shizune had mustered. "We haven't told Naruto either. No need to send the most powerful people in the universes after them. We can't interrogate the dead."
Gaara's face didn't change, but the room got hotter. "Smart," he murmured. "But I doubt you can keep it hidden for long. Words have no wings, but they can fly a thousand miles."
"Then we'll see how long we can make this last."
They both looked down at her. Gaara stepped over and reached down for her, and when she took his hand, he squeezed it and smiled.
"I'm glad you're okay, Hinata," he said. "We'll see each other again."
He's already going? She had the mind to ask him to stay, but she knew he must have been a busy man. Nodding, squeezing his hand back, Hinata smiled. His gaze grew soft as a few weeds fluttered around his eyes. Somehow, tension came to fingers, but before she could ponder on it for long, he let go of her hand and turned to the door.
Sasuke stepped back to let him pass, gaze turning to her. She expected him to stay, as he had said he'd come to visit her again and this was hardly a visit, but as Gaara reached the door, he turned to follow the Sand King out of the cell.
The door closed, and echoing with the sound was her heart falling to the pit of her stomach.
...
Ten minutes later, Hinata worked on fastening the buttons on the front of Sasuke's cloak when footsteps approached the door. Sitting up on the futon, she waited for the door to open. It did, as expected, but she was surprised to see it was Sasuke again, a glass of water in his right hand and something shoved under his left arm. Without looking at her, he went over to the table to the side, placed the glass down, then pulled out the things under his arm, revealing them to be two, navy sitting cushions.
"Come and drink this," he told her as he dropped the cushions on either side of the table before sitting on the one nearest to the door. Hinata scampered over, rubbed her finger along the cushion, pleased to find it was much softer than futon, and sat. "But not all of it. Save some to run over your gills, as well."
She gulped down a little more than half of the water before dipping in her fingers to rub them along her gills. Finally feeling like she was cooling down, Hinata sighed and smiled. "Thank you."
His only response was a huff.
"I didn't think you'd be back," she said.
"Thought I was gone forever?"
"No, but . . . I just assumed you were busy."
"I am busy," he asserted.
And yet you're here. Hinata smiled against the rim of her glass. "Can I ask you something about Suigetsu?" His dark eyes narrowed, but didn't deny it, so she continued. "Is he okay? I haven't seen him since I came here."
"He's alive," Sasuke droned.
Well, that was good. "Where is he?"
"That's not important. He's not here, and that's all that matters."
Hinata blinked and placed her glass down. "I want to go see him."
"No." An immediate, harsh answer. The scowl she could not see was present in every aspect of him. "That could be dangerous."
Dangerous? She couldn't even begin to understand what that was supposed to mean. "He's never hurt me," she whispered. "Why would he be dangerous? He saved my life, like you did."
He didn't say anything, only stared off to the side. Hinata poured the rest of the water into her palms and padded them against her gills, then dropped her hands to the plush cushions below. It was a small thing, she knew. But ever since waking up days ago, she's known nothing but rough sand or stiff examination tables or hard floors. This was different, and she was so grateful to have it.
I hope Suigetsu has something like this, wherever he is.
"Did he say anything to you?" Sasuke's sudden question made her pulse leap, and when she looked up, he was looking back. "When he was bringing you here, what did he say to you?"
She thought back. "He told me he stole me away from people and that I shouldn't have gone to Sand. That . . . I should be careful around him, but he never did anything to me." She recalled the stickers on his gills that nearly drowned him and shivered, pulling the cloak closer to her body. "He told me there's a lock that's keeping him from talking about certain subjects, and that you -"
"A lock?" Sasuke's entire body straightened, and he gave her his full attention. The room was getting hot again. "Those were his exact words?"
Hinata nodded, and added, "He also mentioned that m-my stalker had the key."
She wasn't sure what it meant, exactly, but Sasuke seemed to understand it perfectly. He stood from the table and wiped the front of his pants, eyes narrow and hard. Not with anger. He didn't look angry. Rather, it was as if he was considering something - something her words had just made him realize.
"I need to go now."
He turned to the door as Hinata stood, as well. "U-Um" Her face went warm as her fingers pushed against each other. "You'll come back, right?"
His right shoulder shoved into the door, pushing it open, as his eyes flickered her way over his left. "Yes. Tomorrow."
Hinata sighed and smiled, nodding. "Then I'll wait for you, Sasuke."
Down the way, a few hallways down, was Suigestu's cell. Similar to all the other ones, yet Sasuke knew the exact one, and he stopped right in front of it to pull out the key and unlock the door. The lock clicked, and when he entered, he saw him lying against the futon in the back, arms crossed behind his head and eyes on the ceiling.
"Alright, Suigetsu," he said, stepping in, closing the door behind him, "let's talk about Itachi."
Purple eyes danced as he sat up, a relieved smile on his lips.
...
A lock.
Now that Sasuke thought about it, it made sense. Of course there would be a curse on Suigetsu, and most likely on Ino, as well. That's why they weren't spilling the important information - they couldn't. But while Ino may not have found any way around such a puzzle, Suigetsu figured something out. He was stubborn like that. If the door of a house was locked, he'd go straight to the windows.
"Itachi" was that window, and Sasuke finally understood why he had brought him up in the first place.
"What about Itachi?"
The chain on his cuffs rattled at Suigetsu fumbled with it. "It's a tragedy," he murmured, eyes darkening, "what happened to him. It must have really upset you."
"Enough to fail a mission," Sasuke played along, arms crossed. "I wasn't stable after what happened, and if something came up about him, I would have been desperate enough to take it."
"Because he's your brother." Suigetsu's smile was sad again, which didn't match him at all. "And you'd do anything for your brother. Even if it meant dragging someone down with you."
Even he couldn't deny that. "Is he alive?" he asked.
The muscles in Suigetsu's neck flexed once more, indicating he was struggling against the curse. He scowled, then said, in a strained voice, "Yes."
That wasn't the whole answer, but Sasuke knew he couldn't push.
"Ino doesn't have a brother."
"You're right." Scratching at his gills, Suigetsu thought for a moment. "She has a . . . well . . . ." And, strangely enough, that tension in his face slipped away as light flashed across his eyes. He smirked, clearly amused with whatever he had come up with, and Sasuke frowned. "A Hinata, I suppose."
Hell Almighty.
Swallowing back a wad of lightning stuck in his throat, Sasuke shot him an annoyed glare. "I'm following, but I don't approve your insinuation."
"As long as you understand, that's enough for me," Suigetsu cackled.
Sasuke tried to think back to anyone who Ino could have been interested in. They've known each other for years, but that was never a priority of his to discuss with her. Sakura could know someone, and Sasuke made note to ask her about it in the near future.
"I'm assuming they're also alive."
"Yes." Again, his voice was strained, and Sasuke had an idea of what that implied.
"So the stalker is using them as leverage? Is that why Ino is playing along?"
Suigetsu nodded. "Wouldn't you, if Hinata was kidnapped and used against you?"
Sasuke sighed. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."
At that, Suigetsu laughed and fell back on the futon. "Oh, just wait until you find out what else I did."
When the door opened that morning and Shizune shuffled in for the daily bandage changing, there was a bustle in the air that Hinata automatically noticed. It was hard to describe. The atmosphere in the cell was stuffy and dusty, but when that door opened, it was like everything was completely wiped from it. It was suddenly busy and noisy and fizzy. Hinata had to rub her eyes to make sure she hadn't somehow missed Sasuke coming in.
"Is something the matter?" Shizune asked.
"O-Oh. No, sorry." Hinata pulled her shirt over her head and turned so Shizune had access to the bandages on her back. "I just . . . . well, did something happen today?"
Cool fingers worked on the knot, loosening it up and unwrapping it from her body. "Well, yes, actually."
Hinata looked at her over her shoulder. "It must be big. I could feel it from here."
Shizune stayed quiet as she concentrated on the bandages. When they were off, she gestured for Hinata to lay down on the futon. "We had two kings visit us yesterday, which doesn't happen often at the Guard."
Folding her arms on her pillow to perch her chin upon, Hinata stared at the grey wall right before her eyes. She knew Gaara was one of them, as he had come to see her just yesterday. "Who is the other one?"
"His Grace, the Sun King."
For some reason, Hinata's chest fluttered whenever she heard that name. Strange. "And the Guard is still excited about it?"
Shizune traced her fingers along the muscles of her back, making sure they weren't tense during the healing process of her back. Humming, satisfied, she rocked on her heels, then stood. "Well, yesterday, His Grace and our Head held a trial pertaining to Suigetsu's sentencing."
At that, Hinata jolted in the futon. "A-And?"
"The announcement was made an hour ago," Shizune continued, voice trailing off. When she stopped talking, Hinata's heart cracked.
Oh no. Don't tell me -
"H-He . . . was found guilty, wasn't he?"
Shizune didn't have to say anything. She already knew. Without a warning, panic shot through her system. Fire coursed down her back, slipping between the seams of her stitches, and she hissed and choked. Shizune leaned forward, whispering for her to calm down - but there was no way she could.
What was going to happen to Suigetsu?
What did guilty imply? Would he be held in a place like this for the rest of his life? Would he ever see the outside world again?
So caught up in her worry and questions, Hinata didn't notice the shift in the air or the noise of the door screeching open. It was only when static filled her head to the point of blocking out any other thought did she finally notice Sasuke had come into the room. The scabbard of his sword blazed through the dark of the room, shedding light on every nook and cranny. He glided to the table, placed down a few plates of something, then turned to run his gaze over her face.
"You told her, didn't you?" The scowl was apparent in his voice.
Shizune slipped to her feet. "I hadn't realized I was supposed to keep it from her."
Keep it from her? Was something worse going to happen?
Shivering from the raw anxiety pulsing through every vein in her body, Hinata saw the corners of her vision blur. "What happened to Suigetsu?"
Clicking his tongue, Sasuke stepped away from the table. "He was found guilty."
"Wh-What will happen -"
"It doesn't matter," he affirmed, leaving no room in his tone for doubt. "He'll be punished for his crimes, and Suigetsu will have to deal with the consequences of his actions. That's all, Moon Witch. Don't bother yourself with this."
It was so easy to say that, but not an inch of her relaxed. "He won't be hurt, will he?"
An irritated sigh hissed through his lips as he settled his back against the wall. He nodded towards the door, and Shizune understood and whispered to Hinata she'll return to bandage her up before leaving the room. His right hand pinched the bridge of his nose, which was partially hidden under a dark mass of weeds, and his brows twisted with displeasure.
"You need to calm down."
"I'm worried about him, Sasuke," she whispered into her pillow. "Can't you take me to him?"
"No," he said. A short, tense pause, then he added, "But I'll see what I can do for him."
"You will?"
"So relax before you hurt yourself."
That gave her some relief. She couldn't remember anything about him, but from what she's observed, he stuck to his word. He's come to see her when he said he would, despite how busy he must be. When she asked for him, he came. He was a loyal man. Suigetsu said they knew each other well, so Sasuke would surely work with him the best he could.
Pressing her left cheek to the pillow so she could watch him, she said, "I'll try."
A black eye slid her way, then flashed back to the opposite wall. His hands curled and uncurled at his side. "The . . . weather is nice today."
That was the most uncomfortable she's ever heard him sound, and Hinata had to bite her lips together to keep from laughing. "How so?"
"It isn't too hot or cold," he said. "The wind isn't bad, and the . . . sky is nice, I guess."
"The night sky in Ocean was beautiful when I saw it." Despite having been bleeding out of her captor's back, but that didn't need to be mentioned. "Have you ever seen it, Sasuke?"
His hands stilled. "Yes. Once."
Her lashes curled from the power ricocheting off the walls, and Hinata supposed that was her cue to change topics. Her gaze dipped to the plate on the table. A faint smell wafted through the room, and her mouth watered. "What is that?" she asked.
"Breakfast," was, of course, his short answer.
"Did you pick it up for me?"
"The chef asked me to bring it for you."
She pushed her face in her pillow to block out her giggles, not wanting to embarrass him. "When I can leave here," she said, smiling, "I want to go back to Ocean to see the night sky again."
Another short pause. "You'll have to go with someone. You can't be alone when you leave here." But he talked. It was so different from when she first met him. He had barely said a word, and yet here he was now, keeping the conversation running.
"That's good." When she looked at him again, she looked him right in the eye. "Because I'd want to go there with you."
His eye narrowed and the static in the air was almost unbearable, but nothing could wash that smile from Hinata's face.
...
When Shizune came back in to rewrap Hinata, she told Sasuke to wait in the hallway until she was done.
"He can stay," Hinata said as she sat up, a bit confused when Sasuke's face snapped in the opposite direction of her. "I don't mind."
Shizune's eyes widened with awe as she unrolled the bandages. "How bold you are," she mused with a smile. "And here I was warned you were shy."
Hinata blinked, but still smiled. "Shy? It's just Sasuke."
A startled sort of choked noise tumbled from Sasuke's mouth. He hacked, back arching off the wall, before pushing off to march towards the door. Without a word, he left, and Hinata turned to Shizune, even more confused.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Still smiling, Shizune began to bandage her up. "It depends. What's your relationship with him?"
Hinata patted a hand on the cloak folded neatly next to her shirt. "He's in love with me."
That made Shizune pause. "Really? Tsunade didn't mention that to me."
"You know Tsunade?" Hinata's head was beginning to hurt. It was like everyone knew everyone in this place.
The woman nodded and went back to work. "She was the one who convinced Kabuto to have me help you. She's told me much about you, but that tidbit was left out, oddly."
Hinata hummed. "Perhaps she didn't know."
"Perhaps. Is this relationship a secret?"
That made Hinata pause. Was it? Suigetsu knew, sure, but it seemed that multiple people were unaware of her and Sasuke's relationship. She wasn't totally sure how well these people knew her, so maybe some of them didn't know simply because they weren't close enough to know. But Tsunade had said they had been friends for a few years . . . .
"I . . . don't know," she mumbled, eyes falling onto the door. Should I ask? Would that be weird of me to do?
"Finished," Shizune said, rotating her wrists as she surveyed her work. "Does it feel alright?"
Hinata nodded as she pulled on her shirt. "Thank you, Shizune. You've been very kind to me."
Shizune smiled as she stood and made her way to the door, pausing with her hand on the latch. "Shall I bring the lover boy back in?"
Hinata grinned. "Please!"
...
She didn't know what the breakfast was, but it tasted good.
But when she got to the small side plate afterward and took her first bite, she could have died happily.
"What is this?" she asked.
Sasuke, sat on the cushion across from her with his jaw resting in his hand, watched her for a moment before looking away. "Om Ali. Probably."
Om Ali.
It was sweet and had a nice, soft texture that she liked, and before she knew it, she had eaten the entire thing. Smiling, she asked him, "Did you also know I liked sweets?" Suigetsu, again, had mentioned it before, but she hadn't realized how accurate that statement was until she had tried it.
"You do?" Sasuke droned. "I hadn't realized."
She wasn't fooled at all, and her heart got caught in her throat. He really loves me. She knew he did. She's known for a while. But still, the realization of it made her warm and light and shaking from the sheer power of it.
Standing, she moved to his side of the table, reached out, remembered his reaction two nights ago, and reluctantly pulled her arms back to her side. "Sasuke." He looked up at her with a quizzical tightness to his eyes, then stood to meet her. That startled her a bit, and her face went hot. "U-Um. Can I hug you, please?"
Nothing. Not a blink, a twitch, a move. He only stared and said one, simple word.
"What."
Which was not the answer she was looking for at all, and Hinata felt her courage dwindle down. Head bowing, she tried to hide herself in his cloak. "Sorry. I just, um - well, I've wanted to ever since yesterday, when you brought the sitting cushions. But, well, I didn't because . . . because the last time I did, you hated it."
"I didn't -" He stopped himself, eyes flickering like fire. "It's . . . dangerous."
"Dangerous?" How can a hug be dangerous?
"I'm not going into detail."
Stumped, she pondered for a moment, wondering what could possibly give him that idea. "Nothing happened that day."
Sasuke sighed. "You're making this difficult."
"Can't you make it . . . not dangerous?"
His eyes smoldered, then squinted, then closed. Her eyes trailed the stickers on his face, guilt now accumulating on her shoulders, making her heavy. She probably was being difficult and stubborn. She shouldn't push him into something he didn't want. People in love didn't do that.
But when she stepped back, she realized the absolute silence in the room. No buzzing. No static. Nothing. It was cold and normal, like she was the only one in the room.
"There," Sasuke muttered, "not dangerous."
But Hinata felt like her entire body was buzzing as she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. He didn't move an inch. Not into her, but also not away from her, and that was good enough for her.
...
"Your . . . eyes are really pretty."
It slipped unconsciously from her mouth, those words, but they were true. When she looked up at him, they were always the things she saw first. Maybe it was because it was really the only thing on his face that wasn't totally covered, but Hinata was sure it was because they were so captivating.
His hands grip the fabric of the cloak and pull her away, though not completely. Her gills coiled as a bit of electricity zapped past them. She waited for the buzzing to come back, but it didn't.
For a while, it was quiet.
Then -
"Should I take that as a compliment?"
What's that supposed to mean? "O-Of course," she said. "Is there a reason . . . you shouldn't?"
He looked down at her with an amused twinge to his gaze. "Well, a few weeks ago, you told me I wasn't exactly your type."
What!? "I said that?"
He huffed and tilted his chin to the side. "Something along that line."
Hinata frowned. What could have possibly prompted her to say something like that? She hadn't realized she was so cruel in the past. "I'm sorry. I'm sure I didn't mean it."
His eyes widened a centimeter, and he looked a little shocked.
"That's . . . good . . . ." he breathed.
Releasing him from her hold, she took a small step back to think. If she had said something like that to him a mere few weeks ago, that must have meant this relationship was relatively new. That explained the awkwardness and the fact that very few people knew about them, she supposed.
When she looked back up at his face, some stickers on his jaw fluttered, and her fingers subconsciously popped. "Those things on your face - the stickers - will you ever get them off?"
His shoulders rolled as he yanked at his cuffs, trying to pull them further down his arm. "I can't," he said after a while. "Only you can."
It was the same as Suigetsu's answer, and she didn't feel any less confused. It didn't help that he didn't seem totally convinced, either. But still -
"I wonder if the rest of your face is as pretty as your eyes." She stepped close to him once again, and he didn't move. "I'm so curious." Because she's been thinking about it for a while now - if there were any ways to get her memories back. Of herself, of her life, of him. And if she saw his face - his whole face - then maybe, maybe, she'd remember him. "Sasuke."
A tentative hand raised and touched the side of his face, those once fluttering stickers now dancing under the pad of her thumb. They weren't going away or falling or leaving. Did that mean he was troubled? Was she troubling him?
He had to be. It made sense, now that she thought about it. She had been stolen away, captured and hurt and away from him. He must have been worried. She must have worried him. And all that worry must still be in there, boiling up more and more - because Suigetsu had told her he held back, and if he didn't get some sort of closure, he'd snap. Was that what was happening? Was he about to break?
And, sure, Hinata couldn't remember him. She couldn't remember that love she must have had for him. But she still felt something for him - she had a heart, and she cared about him. It hurt - thinking he was holding all of this in. She just wanted him to let go, to know she was alright, because she was.
Because of him.
And with all of that whirling and howling in her head, she stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against that spot on his jaw. Hands jumped to her shoulders, but she was too distracted by the stickers that fell and hissed at her feet.
That . . . worked?
Her heart had completely left the cage of her chest and was now flying loops above her head. She ran her hand over the mass of remaining stickers, feeling for his lips, and when she found them -
"Don't."
Her hand was pulled away, and his eyes, hard and crackling with the lightning that sizzled in the air, stared through her.
"D-Don't?" she repeated, too shocked to really keep up with what was happening.
He let go of her and stepped back, like he had the night she had first hugged him. Only . . . this was different, somehow. She couldn't put her finger on it.
"Not yet," he told her, picking up the plates from the table before moving to the door. "Let's focus on bringing your memory back first."
He was gone by the time she found her words.
Probably because the lightning in the air had been thick, loud, and dangerous.
End - Chapter 15