The Cut That Always Bleeds

Summary: She will always be the cut that always bleeds. He will always let her. Hinata endures, Sasuke knows she doesn't have to. Here's why exes should remain in the past.

Pairing: Naruto x Hinata x Sakura , Eventual Sasuke x Hinata

World: Alternate Universe, Modern Era without special abilities

I own nothing.

A/N: Thank you so much for your reviews! I always feel happy whenever I see your reactions and when you give me new ideas to add!

I am aware that some of you might start to hate me for making Sakura or Naruto or any of my characters the way they are written... To be very honest, I also don't like character bashing and it is not my intention to bash any character in this story because all their feelings are valid (most times) and it's really just human nature to not be able to move on, you know!

Also, I made this chapter longer because I'm not sure when I can upload as fast again. But just the same, please enjoy!


Six.

"He's with Hinata just in case you forget, Sakura" Ino reminds her, disdain and disappointment lacing though her tone. Ino pushed her cart alongside her friend as she looks at milk brands, getting two cartons of skimmed milk and a can of chocolate drink.

"I know, Ino. I'm doing this... I'm doing this as an apology okay?" The pinkette turns, tucking a fly away hair behind her pierced right ear.

They were in the middle of the grocery store and Sakura really didn't want to talk about Hinata - not today, tomorrow, or ever. She just... she sighs and looks more eagerly at Ino who was now looking at her knowingly.

"Hinata... she likes cinnamon buns, apprently. So I'm helping Naruto bake-"

"Cut the bullshit, you can't even boil eggs what do you know about baking?"

Well what the hell does Ino know, anyway?!

Anger and embarrassment rose like bile at the back of her throat but Sakura chooses to remain silent. She's doing this as a friend. Nothing else. She just needs to get over this as an apology to Naruto, right? And after this, she'll just be another friend who helps another friend right?

"What happened anyway, what do you have to apologize for?"

Sakura feels the bile rise again

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"Hai, hai. I'll do my best, Naruto-kun!"

"Yeah, show them how great you are Hime! You really worked hard on this, you know! I'm sure you'll do really great!" Hinata giggles as she swims her bag back to her side, brushing her hair straight again. The call time is in 10 minutes and she has yet to ah - there walks the boys!

She waives at the three incoming men and glances around to look for Tent- ah there!

They're all in time!

They will just have to take a 3 minute train ride to the other campus for their report and they'll finally be done with the wretched research causing them all headache. Finally, they'll be free! Hinata offers them a smile, her hand still clasped on her phone pressing loosely on her ear.

"Hai, we'll drink after uhm the presentation. I'll try to call you"

"Oh, drink? Who's coming with you?"

Tenten asks who the caller is and Hinata mouths Naruto. Tenten smiles knowingly, taking Hinata's arm as they walk to the station.

It was a bright day but the weather forecast says there's 60% chances of raining, perhaps the Cloud weather forecast was wrong, Hinata muses remembering that she forgot her umbrella in her hotel room.

"Tenten-chan is coming, Shino-kun, Kiba-kun, Sasuke-kun and Desu-sensei and other faculty members"

"Oh, you're with the boys again? Will Tenten walk you to the hotel?"

"Yeah everything is near here in Cloud so maybe we'll just walk each other back to the hotel. I'll message you... when well, later"

"I see... Okay. Well we're about to do the drills. Ja ne! Gambatene, Hina"

The line was cut off before she could reply. Hinata blinks at her phone as they stop for the blinking street lights.

Gambatene, Naruto-kun.

She smiles at her friends who are, like her, looking forward to their freedom from research and any academic woes.

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"this is in line with the basic principle of a sound taxation system, the theoretical justice... constitutionality of taxing legislation... "

To be very very very honest and blunt - Kiba doesn't care. He cannot care anymore - for the love of mother nature let this symposium just be done! He struggled to keep a decent face as he sits straights again after slumping on his chair for the nth time for the last hour. This is the last presentation for the day and they were the first to report and it's been three, four, five! five hours too bored in this room.

He glares at his seatmate, the black haired walking model, who volunteered him to do this shit. He sighs again, well, at least they got to meet Tenten and Hinata and Shino - even if he doesn't talk too much.

Holding his might not to pop his back, he looks over again at his friend to bug him about paying for his dinner when he notices said friend look intently at his other friend. Hmmm.

"Psst man, sorry to burst your bubble but you know she has a guy right?"

"Shut up muttface, you're getting it wrong"

"Oh.. Oh, I'm getting it wrong? You gave her refreshers first! I'm your bud and you got her drinks first! You were trying to flirt, you flirt" He whispered loudly, pinching the raven haired man's sensitive arm. Sasuke hisses and glares at his friend.

"I'm sorry you're jealous but it's the gentlemanly thing to do. Plus, she was the nearest"

"I was dying of thirst!"

The old lady next to Kiba coughed lightly, nudging the gentleman next to her with her elbows - Kiba bows apologetically before turning again to Sasuke.

"Just in case you forget, she was talking to her boyfriend this morning. Just stop whatever it is, I mean-"

"Shut up, mutt"

"She is pretty, beautiful, curvy, intelligent, nice, kind-"

"Just zip it already you're making a noise"

"But she has a boyfriend, dumbass."

Sasuke meets Kiba's brown eyes and sighs, holding the tanned man's hands gingerly. "You'll still have my heart"

Kiba blanches, catching the attention of the reporter who tries to keep a straight face - hiding her laugh at the man's antics behind her hand.

"Fuck you Sasuke" Kiba cringes, nose red from embarrassment, sinking lower in his seat.

"Hmmm, later" Sasuke hums as Kiba retreats, suddenly irritated a lot more than he already was.

Sasuke, one point.

Kiba, zero point.

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"Trouble in paradise?"

Hinata looks up at Sasuke who was peering over her phone, her call to "Naruto-kun" not going through.

"N-No! I, he's probably having an emergency. I just wanted to call him after the uhm presentation" She smiles, tucking her phone to her jacket. Finally, the dreaded day has ended. They are now walking to their dinner place with Professor Desu leading the way, telling them that tonight was on him. Kiba rejoices with Tenten as Shino silently thanks the professor.

Sasuke and Hinata were left behind the group, Sasuke being the taller is keeping a look out at which direction the happy bunch turns. "I see, is he okay with you hanging out with boys, drinking at night?"

Hinata laughs, "Of course! He's not the jealous type."

"Are you?"

Hinata beams him a smile and shakes her head, "No, not really. He.. He actually told me not to be jealous, or was it.. like a warning? He has plenty girl friends even before I came so... they have prior right"

Sasuke blew raspberries and smirks at the girl, "There's no such thing. You feel what you feel. Doesn't matter if they were there before you," he grabs her wrist absentmindedly and pulls her to the left turn where the bunch had turned, "If there's a reason for you to get jealous, then be jealous"

Sasuke doesn't let go of her wrist but she let him lead her.

"Never ever let anyone invalidate your feelings, Hinata." He tightens his hold, his warm warm hands touching her unbelievably cold skin. It's not supposed to be this cold, the weather forecast is wrong - again!

"H-hai"

"Plus, don't believe in that bull that you should not sleep when you're angry at your special other" he turns again on the other street, his neck stretching skimming through the crowds to see where the four have possibly gone, "Just feel what you have to feel until you're done feeling it - so that when you're ready to patch up, you won't bring the topic again to the table because you're done dealing with it."

He spots the four waving overhead at the other side of the street and he nods, then looks at Hinata who was now gaping at him like a fish out of her element.

"What?"

"..Nothing I've... I've never thought of it like that before.. or heard you talk this much" She mutters and giggles - his eye brow rising just enough to be covered by his bangs, "You talk a lot, Sasuke-kun. Let's go" This time, she tugs her wrist lightly as she led him to the busy street.

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Professor Desu was clearly, clearly happy with the presentation. His department was not let down this year! Thanks to his exchange students who were so diligent in their research. He claps his hands, smiling at the five.

Dinner has been superb. The sushi and sashimi were all fresh and so were the vegetables that made the broth extra refreshing - to add, the beers served were all iced. What life!

"So, Uchiha-san, Inuzuka-san you two are also from Konoha?" Professor Desu asks, pouring more liquor to their glasses. He was done interrogating Shino who is now out smoking, looking like he was done socializing for the day.

"Well, yeah we're born and raised there, Sasuke and I. But we're living in Iwa until we finish our law degree there so that's...hmm oh, one more semester" Kiba answers, bowing slightly as he accepts another cup of beer.

"Oh! You're from Konoha too! Hinata-chan and I are too!" Tenten beams, taking another plateful of sushi.

Sasuke raises his eyebrow, hmm interesting.

"Weh? You don't look like you're from Konoha, especially you Hinata-chan you look like from the Hidden Waterfalls" Kiba nudges, "So where are you in Konoha, really?"

Hinata smiles, wiping the foam of beer from her lips, "Far East Leaf...Uhm near the Kosi Mountains"

"Oh far far" Kiba blanches, "Here I thought you would be in the center... but I guess rich people live at the sides and away from the crowd huh?"

Hinata flushes shaking her hands and her head 'no', "No! My... my father is quite anti-social so he'd rather be away from the city"

"That's way too far from the city even for an anti-social. That's like 5 hour drive to the center!" Kiba laughs, "How about you Tenten?" He turns, this time downing the beer in his throat.

"Oh we're in the center! The heart of the city itself" Tenten says, showing Kiba her family's business stores and whatnots in the city map. "So you know, if you need weapons, ammunitions, go to us. Well before, we used to live in the Far East Leaf too but yeah, business happened so we had to move. How about you guys?"

"Sasuke and I, well.. we used to live in the West Leaf so we're within the civilization," he teases the now blushing girl as he pours more beer, "But yeah well we have a semester left in Iwa then maybe go back? Or stay? It depends, really. Both our families have businesses to take care of in Konoha and Iwa so, living anywhere is okay"

"Kiba, you make us sound like we're married couple" Sasuke smirks, earning another middle finger from the Inuzuka.

"How about you, Sasuke? Do you know where you'll settle after graduation?" Desu-sensei asks again, the younger man shakes his head, "No. I haven't decided yet, maybe after I graduate I can think about it more"

Yeap. Yeah. Actually, Konoha. 70%

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His apartment has not changed, Sakura muses. Same wall colors, same furniture - same same, but different. Save of course for the new picture frames and the new picture in it that adorned his coffee table, the lively kitchen that was years ago left unused save for the microwave and the refrigerator...

His refrigerator now is littered with polaroid pictures of him and Hinata, letters of reminders, grocery list, post its of sweet nothings..

A paper on the wall catches her attention, "Hey" she mutters, fingering the sides of the crumpled paper plastered on the wall. She rests her shopping bag on the table, disregarding the cluttering of cans.

"You kept it!"

"Hmm?"

"You kept my drawing for you!" Naruto blinks and smiles, "Oh yeah, yeah. I well, yeah"

"I'm happy you kept it... at least you know, at least this"

Naruto chews on his lower lip, "I kept all your letters you know. They're in a box somewhere"

Sakura blinks and smiles, a sudden tug in her chest pulls too much for comfort.

"I'm glad"

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He's still busy? It's only a two hour difference from Konoha and Cloud so it must be around 12 midnight there in Konoha, he should be home since he's not on duty tonight.

Hinata stares again at her phone. Calling... calling... calling...

Kiba waves his long arms over his head as he goes the other direction, his arm tucked between Tenten's side as she struggles to balance her footing. Drunk, Hinata giggles. Tenten drank so much tonight she will probably have a bad hangover when she wakes up. She mentally took note that she will bring Tenten some tea and fresh bagels in the morning before they go around the city. She happily sighs, it's finally weekend. They can finally go around Cloud without thinking of deadlines, lectures and reports!

Shino taps her shoulder, also tucking an arm around their now asleep professor who he had yet to bring home.

"Good bye, Sino-kun. Please take care and uhm.. thank you for uhm taking care of Desu-sensei!" Hinata bows, waving her cold cold hands.

Calling... calling... calling...

Hinata looks around and sees Sasuke putting on his shoes, his eyes focuses on her again. "I'll walk you to your hotel, it's quite late"

She nods her thanks and puts her phone again in her pocket. He's probably asleep..

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"A-ano, Sasuke are you pursuing law cause you like it?" She asks randomly hoping to break the ice, rubbing her hands together as they walked slowly through slippery streets. She mentally hits herself - what kind of question is that?!

He clears his throat, beer and sushi mixing in an awful after burp, "Not really. It's just something I was expected to do. My brother is also a lawyer so yeah."

"Oh you're family of lawyers then, Sasuke-kun?"

"Not really, just me and my brother. My mom is quite known for her Uchiha fans, you know those uh traditional fans? She makes those, it's her hobby turned business. As for my father," he clears his throat again "He uh and my uncle they have this private security group. Itachi-my brother, he helps there. He's trying to expand the business now in Konoha"

"Oh, do you go home to Konoha?"

"Hmm no, not really. It's a 10 hour flight from Iwa and I don't really have much to go home to since we're now all based in Iwa"

"I see. You and Kiba-kun seem really close eh?"

Sasuke chuckles, combing his hair with his fingers noting that he would need to shower thoroughly to wash off the oil and the cigarette smoke. "Yeah we've been friends since we're kids. Funny how our families moved to Iwa almost at the same time. It seems like we both can't shake each other off. Both of us went to the same high school, university and now in the same law program, he said something about wanting to be a detective - but you really don't need to be a lawyer for that you know.. Sometimes I think he uses his 'I'm a law student' line just to impress girls"

Hinata laughs, imagining the suave pick up lines Kiba would have used.

"Do you use that too? To uh attract girls?" She turns, casually outlining how tall Sasuke is - how his now oily hair falls on his face, pale skin flushed from alcohol, his tall nose and slightly chapped lips. She's about sure he didn't need a pass to attract girls. She smiles, feeling funny that she even asked.

In half a second, she was grabbed to her side, turning and bumping her face on a not-so-soft leather bound chest - suddenly hearing a loud, angry and long horn from a very very fast car. BEEEEEEEEP!

"Fucker" she hears someone curse. Her heart stopped for a long time, eyes open wide. That could have been her! Stilling for a few seconds from the scare, her eyes turned to Sasuke's wide ones which were not really focused on her but on the road, cursing under his breath. "Are you okay?" His breath ghosted her eyes making her blink fast, he smelled like cigarettes and beer, sweet beer and grilled fish. Oh and he has a really pointy adam's apple too.

Hinata blinks.

Is she okay?

Her heart fails to steady, her hands holding his arms for a grip.

"Y-y-yeah"

He doesn't let go until she felt her legs again, feeling colder than she already was.

"And no, no I don't use that line"

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They were near her hotel when Sasuke asked her to stop by a convenience store to get something warm to drink. Hinata fished her phone again, maybe this time he can pick up. Rattled from her near death experience, she dials his number.

Please pick up Naruto-kun, pick up...

Calling... calling... connecting...video call is requested...

"He-hey, Naruto-kun" Hinata smiles, waving her hands and then tucking them back in her pockets

"Hinata, hey, are you back yet?" Hinata shakes her head, legs squeezing tight as she tried to warm herself. Why is it so damn cold?

"Not-not yet, almost at my hotel. Just uhm, we're just getting something warm. It's.. very very cold here"

"I see, it's very late here. I'm about to sleep. I'll prolly just shower first. You look shaken up, you okay?" He says, adjusting his seat by the edge of his bed. He was just in his sweatpants and a necklace and he looks so warm.

Hinata sighs, she wants some warm. She shakes again, praying to the wind to stop harassing her.

She blows through the wind, her breath fogging... and then... Eh?

Shadow?

"Oh..Naruto-kun, you have a visitor?"

"Ah- huh? No! I don't. I'm just alone why?"

As if on cue, a pinkette stepping out of the yellow light lit room appears on his background. In his Konoha Fire Department shirt, her favorite shirt, nonetheless. A pinkette. No.

In her mid gasp, the call disconnected.

Without releasing a breath, she blinks.

What just happened?

Why was she there?

Why did he lie?

What are they - what were they doing?

No.

Naruto: Sorry the line got disconnected. Message me when you get back? Love you!

No.

For someone who was saved from a rushing car, she felt like she was hit by a fast train.

Warm hands pulled on her wrist again - what's with the pushing, pulling, grabbing today? - this time gentle, turning her to the source.

The weather forecast was not wrong.

"It's raining" she says, releasing the shaky breath she held for what felt like hours, exhaling as if she would break - eyes locked to black orbs.

Then time seemed to stop, she couldn't move. Her phone remained idle in her cold cold hands. Buzzing with messages.

The weather forecast was not wrong, after all.

Hinata blinks, "It's raining" she repeats, feeling the warm droplets from the sky.

Large pale hands lifted to her face, a thumb on her cheek and she finds herself drowning in the coldness of the night, slightly hypnotized by those dark dark eyes.

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"It's not. You're crying"

Oh.


A/N: I'm not sure if I can update soon after this chapter, I am getting very busy already and it seems as if my two month hiatus is coming close! Please don't hate me yet, I promise character development and all will be explained soon. For spoilers, I just want to say... it's really not what you think! Next chapter is Sakura focused, so there will be a lot of raw feelings and explanations! Can't wait to hear from you!

For now, savor my heartaches. All my love, xoxo.