Sasuke settled into the chair beside Hinata's hospital bed, his grip firm on her hand. His gaze remained fixed on her face, observing the winces and whimpers that escaped her now and then. The anger within him raged, a fierce fire fueled by the thoughts of what those perpetrators had done to her. Although they were dead now, a part of him yearned to have personally inflicted the pain they had subjected Hinata to. She was his best friend, his Hinata, and the injustice of their actions gnawed at his very core.
Involuntarily, his grip around her hand tightened, a reaction driven by a surge of emotions. The slight movement caused her to stir in her sleep, and his heart constricted at the idea of her enduring even a moment of discomfort. "Hinata," he whispered, his voice carrying a mixture of concern and a plea for her well-being.
Her eyes snapped open, and she jolted forward, rising from the bed in a burst of movement. Startled, Sasuke released her hand, his eyes wide with surprise. The sight before him took him aback – she had been asleep for days, and their hopes of her waking up had wavered. But now, she was here, before him, her eyes wide with terror.
"Hinata!" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and alarm. He moved quickly to steady her, reaching out to grab her shoulder, attempting to ground her in the present moment. "Calm down, it's me, Sasuke."
Her terror-stricken gaze met his, her scream ringing in his ears. He watched helplessly as her fear escalated, her body thrashing and struggling as if fighting against an unseen enemy. He took a step back, his hands raised to show he meant no harm, desperation etched onto his features. "Hinata, please, calm down!"
Despite his pleas, her cries only intensified, echoing off the sterile walls. "No, no, no! Don't touch me! Not again, please! I don't want any more!" Her desperate pleas tore at his heart, a knife that twisted with each word.
Nurses swarmed in, their presence intended to provide aid but only exacerbating her distress. One nurse approached with a needle, her intentions clear. Hinata's struggle became more frenzied, her attempts to escape their hold escalating. "Please, stop, Kabuto! Please, no more! Please!" Her desperate cries were unbearable, and Sasuke's own anguish was palpable.
Sasuke's nostrils flared, his voice carrying a dangerous edge. "I had it under control. I was calming her down before you all barged in." The room was charged with tension, his glare bearing witness to his anger at the intervention.
The nurse tried to justify their actions, "Sir, please calm down. We were following protocol."
Sasuke's scoff was filled with bitter sarcasm. "Protocol? Did you not see how I was handling it? I was calming her. I was helping her before you bunch of idiots stormed in."
The nurse's response held a tone of justification. "Sir, we also can't ignore when a patient clearly needs medical attention."
The nurses dispersed from the room, leaving a trail of unease in their wake. Sasuke's glare lingered on their retreating figures, a mixture of frustration and disbelief gnawing at him.
Sasuke slumped into a chair, a sense of defeat settling over him as his gaze fixed upon Hinata's form, once again enveloped in slumber. A heavy sigh escaped his lips, a mixture of worry and frustration etched into the lines of his face. With a resigned gesture, he retrieved his phone from his pocket, its cold weight familiar in his palm.
His fingers danced across the screen, navigating with practiced precision as he selected a well-known number. The phone rang, each tone a reminder of the time that had passed, the moments shared, and the countless emotions woven into every connection. After several rings, a voice finally broke through the silence, a voice he recognized all too well.
"Hiashi," Sasuke's tone carried a weight of exhaustion and concern. The name held a sense of familiarity, a bridge connecting their shared history, both turbulent and poignant. "She was awake."
Hiashi and Hanabi stood by Hinata's bedside, their concern palpable as they observed her still form. Hanabi held a lock of Hinata's hair in her hand, her fingers tracing over the rough texture that felt nothing like the softness she remembered. The tension in the room was almost suffocating, an unspoken heaviness that hung in the air.
The doctor entered, holding a piece of paper in his hand, his expression a mix of professionalism and empathy. "Mr. Hyuga, thank you for coming," he addressed Hiashi, taking a seat on the wheelie chair.
Hiashi nodded in acknowledgment, his gaze fixed on the doctor, bracing himself for the news to come.
"I have good news and bad news," the doctor began, his tone somber yet matter-of-fact. "The good news is that your daughter is out of the coma. However, the bad news is that she requires extensive medical attention." His words held a weight that couldn't be ignored, the gravity of the situation hanging over them like a dark cloud. "She's malnourished and has infections in some of the insertion sites from previous procedures. To prevent further complications, we'll need to perform surgery to remove the dead tissue and infected skin before it spreads."
Hanabi's grip on Hinata's hair slackened, her wide eyes fixed on the doctor as his words sunk in. The shock and frustration were evident in her voice as she questioned, "So she has to endure even more pain to get better? Isn't there another way?" Her outburst was a mix of desperation and anger, a reflection of the emotions that had been brewing beneath the surface.
The doctor's response was a solemn shake of his head. "If I could speak with you alone, Mr. Hyuga..." he began, hinting at a desire for a more private conversation.
"No, I'm staying," Hanabi interjected, her determination unwavering, even as Hiashi gave her a reprimanding look.
Hanabi huffed and left the room, her frustration evident. Sasuke, who had been about to exit as well, was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. "Stay, son," Hiashi requested, his tone heavy with the weight of what was to come.
The doctor's gaze shifted between Hiashi and Sasuke, his expression grave as he delivered the next piece of information. "She was subjected to sexual assault. Her injuries are severe, with tears and damage that required surgical intervention. I'm afraid I have to inform you that she underwent a hysterectomy, rendering her unable to bear children."
Sasuke's fists clenched at his sides, his emotions a tumultuous mix of anger and sorrow. In a surge of frustration, he slammed his hand against the wall, the impact echoing the turmoil within him. Hiashi's silence was telling, his stoic demeanor unable to hide the anguish that the news brought.
Desperation colored Sasuke's voice as he asked, "Is there any way to..." He couldn't bring himself to finish the question.
The doctor's response was a solemn shake of his head, his gaze conveying a deep empathy. "I'm sorry. There's nothing that can be done to reverse it."
The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of the revelations settling over them. The reality of what Hinata had endured was a harsh reminder of the brutality she had suffered.
His hands were buried in his hair as he grappled with the reality of their situation as he sat beside her hospital bed. The thought of Hinata's shattered dreams, her yearning for children and the opportunity to watch them flourish, tormented him. The sheer audacity of those responsible for robbing her of this chance fueled his anger. Inwardly, he seethed, vengeful thoughts flickering through his mind like a tempestuous storm. Piss on their graves? A mere start.
Hiashi and Hanabi had left the room earlier, finding it too painful to witness Hinata's current state. The air was heavy with the aftermath of anguish and despair, and Sasuke couldn't help but feel engulfed in a suffocating cloud of helplessness. His gaze lifted from his hands to meet the dulled lavender eyes that focused on him. A tentative hand reached out towards him, and despite the weight of his own turmoil, he forced a hint of reassurance into his gaze.
He shifted to sit up, a slight movement that caused Hinata to flinch momentarily before relaxing again.
Her voice, hoarse and fragile, broke the silence. "S-Sasuke?"
Sasuke's heart ached at the sound of her voice, his own fingers extending to reach for hers. However, she withdrew her hand before he could make contact. "Hinata..." He said softly, the sadness in his voice an echo of the pain he felt for her.
The quiet moment stretched, and her eyes remained locked onto his, uncertainty and disbelief evident in her gaze. "Is this a dream?" She asked hesitantly.
Sasuke shook his head slowly, his expression a blend of sincerity and empathy. "I'm real, Hinata."
She reached out tentatively again, her hand inching closer to him, but she would flinch every time he moved, as if expecting the illusion to shatter. He understood her wariness and remained as still as possible, his need to comfort and reassure her outweighing his own impulse to touch.
Her hand finally cupped his cheek, and a small, genuine smile formed on his lips at the contact. "I'm here. I'm real. You're safe," he assured her, his voice a gentle whisper.
The skepticism in her eyes persisted. "This is just a dream," she murmured, a hint of sadness tainting her words. "Sasuke's not this nice," she added, a tinge of her old self coming through in her attempt at teasing.
Sasuke's eyes softened as he looked at her, his heart aching at her perception of him. "Hinata, you've been through so much. I'm not going to be a jerk to you, especially not now."
A fragile smile played on her lips. "I'm not safe yet," she replied, her arms folding around her legs as she rocked gently, a defense mechanism against the trauma she had endured.
He couldn't bear to see her like this, to watch her falter and doubt even the genuine emotions he was trying to convey. "Hinata, I am real. Look at me," he implored, his gaze locking onto hers with unwavering determination. Slowly, her eyes shifted, meeting his, and he held her gaze with an intensity that sought to break through the walls she had erected.
"That's what all the other Sasukes said, and they felt real too," she admitted with a bittersweet smile. "But they only ended up being Kabuto... I'm fine."
Sasuke's heart ached at the hurt and skepticism in her voice. He took a deep breath, willing his eyes to convey the truth. "Hinata, I know you've been through unimaginable pain. I can't erase that, but I can promise you that I'm real. I'm here, and I won't let anyone hurt you again."
She studied his face, searching for any hint of deception. Her heart ached for the familiar warmth she had once felt when she looked into those onyx eyes, a connection that had given her solace in the past. "But how can I be sure?" She whispered, her vulnerability exposed.
"I'm not going to push you to believe me, Hinata. I understand that trust has been broken. All I can do is show you, over time, that I'm here to support you, to help you heal."
Tears welled up in her eyes as she listened to his words. The pain of her past, the rawness of her emotions, and the yearning for safety and love collided within her. "I want to believe you, Sasuke," she confessed, her voice barely audible.
He reached out with his free hand to gently wipe away a tear that had escaped down her cheek. "I'll be patient, Hinata. I'll be here whenever you're ready. And I'll do everything in my power to show you that I'm real."
Hinata's gaze softened, her hand finally relaxing in his. She could feel his sincerity, the unwavering strength of his presence. It was a beacon of hope in the midst of her turmoil. "Can you stay with me?" She asked, her voice small but filled with longing.
Sasuke nodded, his thumb brushing gently over her hand. "Of course, I'll stay right here."