A/N- Ovidae here! So, uhm, cough. COugh. It is probably a good indicator that after this chapter- it isn't very edited until Wicked. You might wanna come back in like two weeks. After Wicked and some of the last ten some chapters of the book, it isn't completely edited. There are still mistakes! And ugh. Yeah. 

Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 16-

Catching Feelings

Around November 20th.

DAMN IT.

Sasuke didn't quite like sleeping alone either, he would never tell.

Hinata was soft-poised. She had opal eyes, an illusory presence, and a chiming laugh. Her honeyed voice was nice to hear, even after those long nights of suffering.

He missed her lithe body and captivating aura. She was like a sunrise, a symbol of new beginning. Hinata... Don't tell but when they watch movies, he chooses her as his favorite movie and watches her instead. She's his cinema.

It feels good to know she's waiting for him to come back. And that he has someone... people to go back to.

Oh, damn it. He's catching feelings for her.

Fuck.

¤¤¤

November 23rd.

Sasuke and Suigetsu walked in absolute silence. Sasuke definitely thought that it was Suigetsu's fault.

However, Jugo seemed to believe that it was Sasuke's everlasting state of aggressive rudeness towards them.

Jugo and Suigetsu walked in front of Sasuke, chatting lightly and sharing jokes that only they knew. Sasuke never cared about when people shared jokes and talked. Now he felt like talking to them.

But... nostalgia blinds the weak. He felt strange. Was Hinata changing him?

Sasuke stayed back, slightly regretting that he hadn't bothered to check up on them in the past few years. Orochimaru thought that Sasuke would give him the sharingan. Which is wrong.

Orochimaru was planning something. That's why he forced Suigetsu into that human hunter job.

Unlike Suigetsu and Jugo, Sasuke was openly loyal to Konoha. They are solely loyal to themselves. Sasuke may be a terrible cynic but Suigetsu should deal with the hole he dug. Let him fall to hell if Sasuke cared...

It tied back to being in the bar and that idiot saying that everyone who worked with Orochimaru got plucked off one by one. This is so fucked up!

"Hey! Sasuke! I found the list- you have to see this!" called out Suigetsu, loud as shit.

"Hn," Sasuke said.

Sasuke read through the list, ignoring the looks that Suigetsu gave him. They were quiet glares and sharp grimaces Suigetsu offered when he thought that no one was watching.

"These are the people who haven't been eliminated by me or Bashimon or Yuji, Shigeko's blood relative. Their common trait; they were the crazies who were powerful but due to... Orochimaru's methods, they either went insane or they were uncooperative..." Suigetsu shifted uncomfortably.

There are many names on this list left. People are alive. A lot of them, actually. Maybe Suigetsu was a terrible human hunter.

"If you were uncooperative with Orochimaru, he would have killed them or taken you to Room 76 with the blood treatment. I hate the fire blood treatments," Jugo said.

Suigetsu echoed his disgust and shivered.

"What are fire blood treatments?" Sasuke asked, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh yeah. Orochimaru's golden boy- you've never had them. Kabuto developed an infection that was compatible with your chakra affinity and he injected it at one of your tenketsu. It reacts with your chakra for a burning effect. It feels like your blood is on fire although it's the chakra in your red blood cells killing your cells/nerves/limbs," Suigetsu said.

Sasuke paused. "Kabuto... did that to people?"

Suigetsu laughed. "Kabuto loved it. That dick sadist and he made up other ways to make you cooperate. Even with those punishments, these unqualified patients escaped. They're unstable but I never said they weren't smart. They escaped and joined up with I'm assuming the DCA. The ones that I've killed so far chanted, "Kingdom, place, part forever". It's fucked up."

"Kingdom, place, part, forever. K.P.P.F," Jugo repeated.

"Yeah. I thought it was just Orochimaru's sadists branding shinobi but I realize that it is self-inflicted with a knife. They carved it out on themselves like animals," Suigetsu shuddered.

Sasuke felt vinegar in his stomach rumbling. That's... Wow. What the hell do those ex-slaves want to do with the organization that gave them to Orochimaru? Akuma-oo was the one who burned their houses and was the bedrock for all their starting problems... Why would they go back?

"That slogan... it's their way of owning the person. The DCA probably made them do it," Jugo whispered. "None of them are going back willingly. Is that why Orochimaru is killing them?"

"They are getting kidnapped again by the DCA. It is better to get rid of evidence." Sasuke offered.

"Nah. Orochimaru wouldn't care about his failed experiments and he's not generous enough to do that... To put them out of their misery is like killing his boner..." Suigetsu sighed.

The DCA would kidnap these failed experiments and allow ex-experiements to join their ranks? Do they need numbers? They're lawless idiots trying to ravage the countryside but they need people to support their ideals.

If Orochimaru sees his ex-experiments and assigns no value, why does he need them dead? Does he want to prevent them from joining the DCA?

Either way, hundreds of people on this list are bound to die or get roped into servicing the DCA.

Fuck.

"You shouldn't have killed any of these people, Suigetsu," Sasuke grumbled. He gave Suigetsu a black look.  "You could have warned them or brought them help. Why didn't Karin help them? Heal them?"

"Karin shouldn't be involved."

"She sure as hell is! You all could have done more."

"Don't put Karin in any danger, Sasuke. You love doing that, though, right?"

Sasuke flashed back to the time when Sasuke stabbed Karin for being useless. Getting captured... "Suigetsu... Why did you put those people in danger?" Sasuke asked instead.

"I wanted my sword." said Suigetsu, like it was simple. It wasn't.

"Does a fucking sword compare to human life? A weapon?!" Sasuke looked at the list of names and those that have been crossed out. "Orochimaru manipulated you into doing his dirty job. You were his last choice since no one wanted this. They knew it was wrong."

Suigetsu bristled, fire in the purple of his eyes. He bared his sharpened teeth and clenched his fist. "You were manipulated by him too, fool. I have my priorities and I wanted Kubikiribōchō. I'm a swordsman."

"I got out. I stopped being a puppet. I got a kid too. Why are you still doing this?" Sasuke snapped.

Suigetsu had a dark look in his eye. "Don't act like you're any better than I am, Sasuke. 'Cause that's bullshit. I feel like mould about it, okay?!"

"You probably loved it! That's sick," spat Sasuke.

"So what if I used some of the experiments for torture practice? They're broken people anyway. They're weak and almost dead. Who cares if I speed it up? You always talked about sacrifice." Suigetsu shifted in place. "I'm tired of talking about this shit. Let's just figure this out."

Suigetsu trudged away, muttering and cursing Sasuke.

"They're not bad dummies, you know? They were close to death." Jugo shrugged and went ahead, to join his murder buddy.

The vinegar invaded his mouth. Both Jugo and Suigetsu thought nothing of killing those poor souls.

Maybe Sasuke was fine without them for three years. He thought so as he sent the list to another dimension.

"Oi! Suigetsu,"

Suigetsu looked back at him. "What?"

"Don't touch Hinata. At all." His sharingan shone red and his tone was dark. Killing intent leaked out and his fist clenched. "Or you die."

Suigetsu gulped. "Fine. Whatever, man."

¤¤¤

December 2nd. Early morning.

Hinata wandered past the mirror in the corridor,froze and looked closely at her reflection.

Hinata nearly didn't recognize herself. Brown contacts. Gray eyebrows. Gray hair... Silvery gray.

Hinata carded her fingers through her hair. For once, her hair wasn't profoundly azure; it had silvery gray amidst misty navy wisps. Now the strands were at her mid thighs... 

Why does she feel and look so different? She was so different. So different.

Certain times of the day, she couldn't recognize herself.

When she's reeling when she makes a joke with Sasuke.

Whenever she laughs, touching him, a surge runs through her.

Whenever she snores on Sasuke, waking up beside him- it's just weird.

Whenever she's practicing seals and kunai throwing, she knows it's weird.

When she catches herself cleaning or gardening, it's novel.

When she rubs her stomach and talks to her baby- it's so new but normal. When she wakes up alone, it's alien.

Who is this Hinata? The one that doesn't stutter. The one that prefers swords and kunai.

The one that doesn't constantly love Naruto.

Who is Hyuuga Hinata? A mother, Sasuke's friend, a happy woman who no longer stutters. That's who is she is; a happy mother.

"Hey! Hinata- help me do your laundry," Someina called out, interrupting Hinata and her pondering.

¤¤¤

Hinata glanced out the window, all sad.

They have been gone for so long; two weeks and then some.

With Mitsuyo not there, Someina and Hinata have seized the days and cleaned the house. They folded laundry and took care of varied household chores.

They followed Mitsuyo's system though Soemina enacted more like a friend/protector than a mother.

"It's always raining these days... It makes me feel... bummed out that I am not allowed outside," Hinata smiled.

Someina shrugged, folding Hinata's clothing and placing them in a bin. "It's like that. We are known for our thunderstorms and you're just like a cat, lazing in the sun all day," Someina snorted.

"I'm not a fat cat!"

"You are pregnant." Someina shrugged.

I'm not fat, just pregnant, Someina, Hinata frowned.

"Oi, cats have their kittens. Have you been wondering the sex of your baby?" Someina asked.

"Everyday but I don't know how to tell," Hinata said, feigning nonchalance.

I would use my byakugan but I passed out the last time I used that much chakra! Why is our little miracle taking so much chakra from me? All my other chakra goes into continuously veiling my chakra signature even then, that takes up a lot of effort, Hinata thought.

Someina smiled, her tawny eyes aglow with delight. "How would us shinobi tell? They say that baby boys take more chakra than girls because girls are nicer to their moms before birth."

"I don't think that's true," Hinata objected, giving her two ryo.

"You don't know anything about chakra. I checked you- you're chakra-less," Someina argued.

Hinata laughed awkwardly because she knew all about chakra.

"It's nothing to be ashamed about! I don't prefer working with people who know how to fight anyhow. I like working with civilians. They are steadfast, simple and interesting," Someina said.

Hinata gave a weak smile. Hinata remembers Kiba being annoyed with civilians since they walked so slowly and their bones broke easily.

Someina was the opposite.

"How do you know how to... throw senbon?" Someina asked.

"Oh. Sasuke! He wants me to protect myself. He's going to teach me how to use a sword and stuff. Also how to use shuriken-jutsu. I don't know how to feel about that."

"Well... Don't worry! Fighting is easy," Someina said.

"It's snowing in Konoha, right?" Hinata sighed. "Sasuke's from Konoha and I've been doing some... research," Hinata lied. "And especially now! Kumo- it only rains and rains. I'm interested in snow. I wonder what it feels like..."

"Yes. It is snowing," Someina smiled. "Snow feels like... a brief kiss from the icy heavens themselves. I do prefer mountains, rocks, and peninsulas to... the forests and leaves of Konoha."

Hinata nodded. "Me too. I'd go with him... after the baby is born... Then maybe we'd see... snow in the winter, and cherry blossom trees. He said they were everywhere in the spring."

Someina nodded. "What happened to your parents? Mitsuyo never talks about your part of the family."

"My mother... passed away when I was young. My father and Mitsuyo do not get along. Reunions between the two make the pair regret showing up," Hinata explained. "I do love Mitsuyo. She's... very kind to me- even when everyone is turning their back on me. I have Uchiha Sasuke's child."

"Oh," Someina reverberated. "That's alright. I hope the baby isn't a crier," she said. "I have a feeling that the baby will be quiet. Very, very quiet."

Hinata reminisced about those she missed; Sakura, Ino, Neji, Hanabi, Kiba... and Naruto. Kami. These memories replayed in a loop. They're gone but the thoughts of better times linger forever. An endless flash of images in her head, that can't be erased or diluted.

Hinata was habituated to being with them and Naruto's sunshine hair, sky blue eyes, and sunny smile. She misses him, likes him but not as much as before. She doesn't imagine conversing with him during walks down an empty lane or loving... him as a wife.

She wonders what he does- just something that her mind does. But she queries what Sasuke's doing more. She felt warm with thoughts of Sasuke alone. Naruto wasn't the sun she orbited and maybe... she didn't need him.

Hinata didn't fall in love every time she looked at Naruto. She still got those tingling feelings but not butterflies. They're supposed to come alive, flapping about- they don't.

They're all dead and something-something is in a heart-shaped cocoon for Sasuke. She didn't like it- so she hid it.

And oh kami! Why couldn't she feel this way in Konoha? She's been gone from Konoha for almost four and a half months. She's is an entirely new person.

Someina marked Hinata's anguish and patted her shoulder. "Hey, since Mitsuyo isn't here... wanna take a break from this and have ice cream?"

Hinata shook away the bad thoughts. "When do I not? Also, can... you get yarn for me? I want to do a new project. Give a new gift."

"Okay. I'll find some."

Hinata sneezed while putting away the basket for later.

Someina looked beguiled. "Did you know that every time you sneeze, someone's thinking of you?"

"No way," Hinata paused, wondering how many times Sasuke sneezed a day because of her.

Butterflies?

¤¤¤

Mitsuyo was at work, as usual, but she said for them to stay in the house, there was a chance that there would be more heavy rain...

Hinata tottered through the semi-dim house and into Someina's room.

"Someina? I got the ice cream... Wanna put on a movie?" Hinata proposed, cradling a tub of ice cream and two wooden spoons.

Something plagued Someina's mind while she nibbled on her purple lips, blinking quickly. Someina turned around to face Hinata, looking grieved.

"Tell Mitsuyo that I'm sorry," Someina confessed sternly, her golden eyes glowing like a cat's.

She quickly put on a hat and put on a raincoat.

Lightly amuaed, Hinata looked at the ice cream. "What? This isn't that bad- I mean it's just a couple of pounds! Harmless! Mitsuyo thinks that almonds are a treat and kids love ice cream. I love ice cream-"

Someina moved around her room, looking for weapons. "No. I'm sorry," she said quickly, fastening her raincoat. "I'm sorry to you. And your kid and Mitsuyo but I have to go."

"Go where?"

Someina hesitated, still trouble brewing in the yellow-brown of her eyes as she turned from Hinata again.

"Just- I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry but I have to leave," she whispered, putting shoes on.

Leave. Hinata laughed slightly, ignoring her stinging nerves. "Leave? Pfffft. Who's going to eat ice cream with me and the storm is very dangerous!-"

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm sorry?" Hinata repeated. "Where are you going?"

"Keep yourself safe!"

Hinata followed the woman who ignored her completely. Someina climbed out of the window and landed in chaos.

"Someina? Someina- what you think you're doing? Why are you... leaving?" Hinata asked.

No response.

"Someina? Someina?!" Hinata called, running to the window wherein the Ikeda escaped.

The droplets gathered in pools and trails of crystal water found a path on the window's glass.

Someina was gone.

Someina was gone. Hinata momentarily considered following but ignored the concept.

Hinata closed the window, quivering at the icy wet blades hitting her.

Why... Why did Someina leave like that? What should she...

All that is left to do is to wait.

Sasuke's gone, Mitsuyo's gone and Hinata needed a distraction.

Oh yeah- the Koi fish.

Mitsuyo warned if it poured stupendously, it floods the pond. Consequently, the Koi get shoved into the yard and fried when the sun returns.

Hinata sighed, put away the ice cream and prepared for going outside. It won't hurt to be outside for a little. She will return right away.

Hinata held an antique-patterned umbrella with knee-high shinobi rain boots. She stepped outside, hating that her flowing gray collared tunic dress was too sheer under her raincoat.

She quickly got to work, wondering why Someina would abruptly leave?

After letting her mind wander, she was almost done removing the koi from the medium sized pond.

She was nervous she'd drown, despite its shallowness.

The salty taste of rain got to her, on her clothes, in her eyes, in her mouth. She felt muddy and she did not enjoy it.

Over the hour, the lightning crackled.

The seemingly noon darkness and dirt-smelling air made her feel... unresolved. The pillow-gray clouds clumped and let fall gallons and gallons of penetrating rain. Thunder trembled and lightning burned, bequeathing a charred smell, overpowering the smell of gardens and flowers.

She was just about finished before she felt watched. She turned around, holding the pail with two calm fish. Hinata located glowing red eyes, at first she thought it was Sasuke's. It wasn't.

It wasn't him. It's better than him. Someone else. I have to get to him, Hinata thought, determined.

She stood, supported by fate, tasting the insuppressible urges. Her life's purpose was to walk over to the redness, ignore the roaring tar black skies and move towards the perfect glint. Her mind was limp and her body controlled.

"I'll be there," she whispered, in a trance.

She walked towards the man, ignoring her blurred vision and the unrelenting long whirring noise.

Those red eyes. Alcohol. Sleep. Where do I know it from?, Hinata thought.

The pail dropped and she saw red. She felt like she was being seduced, her heart raced, and she was powerless to its sweet magnetic pull.

Sasuke?

¤¤¤

Hinata woke up, asking, "Did you set the traps? Sas-"

"I did no such thing but you young lady must get ready. Up! Hinata's, wake up," someone said.

A soothing voice, familiar voice. It filled her with nostalgia.

"Hinata- you've got to wake up earlier if you're going to be working with Tsunade-sama!" The nice voice continued.

"Okasan! I needed five more minutes," Hinata begged drowsily.

"Hinata! Young lady- you've got to work! Your otousan will be upset if you don't heal anybody!" Her mother said, leaning over Hinata's bed.

"Otousan? He... doesn't care about-" Hinata protested and her head hurt.

"Yes, he most certainly loves you!" Hisana dismissed Hinata's odd words.

When has Hiashi ever cared?  No, her mind corrected her, he cared a lot.

Hinata watched Hisana a little carefully, despite the fatigue burning her eyes.

Hinata hasn't seen those lips and teeth to ask how her day went. Here comes a feeling she's come to forgotten.

"What is it, honey?" Hisana asked.

Hinata shook her head. "It's nothing important."

Hinata opened her mouth and smiled, feeling normal. She stretched got up and tried to run- to the bathroom, dashing there.

Hinata paused and felt silly. Why would she need to run to the bathroom? She didn't know.

Hinata looked down, running her hands through her hair. It was navy blue. Just like always?

Hinata felt her hair was too short and she was skinny.

Hinata felt lighter and... like she didn't need to go to the bathroom, constantly. Weird.

"Hinata? Are you feeling alright? Where's my morning hug?" Hisana... her mother, said.

Hinata smiled, nodded and slid into the hug and inhaled deeply, not remembering how it felt to hug her mother like this.

"Your perfume," Hinata said, assuming that something was off. "It's... so different."

"Yes. As always, I wear rose perfume," Hisana said, smiling broadly. "Your favorite, eh, Hinata?"

"I love roses. I like Jasmine more," Hinata nodded, suddenly remembering. She looked around, not finding any of her usual clocks. "What time is it, okasan?"

"We don't need time! As long as you get there, it'll be fine," Hisana said nicely.

Hinata nodded, gazing at her flat stomach. She was hollow and energized and that was strange.

Hinata lifted her hand to look at her palm but her mom seized her hand, grasping it and smiled.

"Your father and I are so proud of you, working!" smiled Hisana.

"Where's Hanabi?" Hinata asked.

"Hanabi? You mean your sister. She's off training with your father," Hisana said. "You know how she is! Always fooling around, not being serious."

Hinata was surprised to hear this. "Have you given her a banana smoothie? She always cooperates when those are involved," Hinata said.

Hisana laughed heartfeltly and loudly. "Hanabi hates bananas and training with your father."

Hinata gasped; Hanabi could drink wine and pass off for an adult. She likes fancy things and bananas. She was always serious and calculating. My, what was Hinata thinking? Hanabi couldn't take anything seriously! She was a jokester.

Hinata smiled, marveling. "Did the servants bring any ginger?"

"Why would they do that?" Hisana asked. "You're not sick, are you? Honey, did you get sick?"

Hinata shook her head, "No- no! I- don't need it. I feel like I'm missing something. Are you sure you don't know the time?"

"Positive. Come on," Her kind mother said. "Let's go get dressed."

With her mother as a guide, Hinata wheeled through the Hyuuga Manor. Why was this place to new to her? She smiled at her mom chatting lightly.

"Oh- have you seen Sasuke yet? He was supposed to walk you to the hospital," Hisana asked.

"Really? He hates hospitals..." Hinata said.

Hisana offered Hinata a winning smile and Hinata felt at home. Really. She didn't need to worry. Nothing was wrong.

¤¤¤

Hinata split off from her mom and met Sasuke... He was different. His hair wasn't as long. He gave a nod of acknowledgment and Hinata smiled.

This felt normal. Very normal. She could breathe a little.

They met outside in the yards of the Hyuuga district and the sky was gray. Odd. The buildings were clean and traditional and the gardens they were about to enter reminded her of a certain cottage house.

"Where is your sword?" Hinata asked, walking with Sasuke.

He looked at her. "Left it at the house."

"Did Mitsuyo do something to it?" Hinata asked.

"Who's Mitsuyo?" he asked.

"Uhm, no... Ignore me, I'm so illogical today! I feel like I'm forgetting something! My mom's in my room, my father's proud of me?! My sister fools around and you-you are the only thing that I think is real right now!" Hinata freaked out.

"I'm your boyfriend, I'm supposed to make the best impression," he smirked. "You big dope."

"Hey! I realized that... I'm standing on the... left side of you!" Hinata remarked.

Why do their arms bump and touch every now and then? This is so weird?

"What's so big about it?" he asked, looking smug. "You're always beside me."

Hinata laughed. "You are a charmer, first and foremost."

Sasuke tugged her closer. With that arm, his left one.

She nodded to him and looked around. The garden was filled with snow! Piles of it.

"It's snowing!" Hinata jumped around, smiling. "Don't you just love it?"

"Hn. It's not too bad," he hummed.

Hinata frowned. "You like something?"

"I like a lot of things." Sasuke huffed.

"You... do?" Hinaya couldn't help herself so she asked, "Do you like me?"

"Yeah. A lot. But it's not the night when I confess everything..."

"Can... C-can you just say it again?"

Hinata felt so warm, igniting.

"We're passed that. Maybe later on, without shirts and all your clansmen's eyes." Sasuke leaned in, smiling at her.

It made her stomach roll happily. She didn't understand.

He looked around, suddenly dissatisfied. "Can we leave now? I want to get to the hospital on time. Sakura'll bitch about us not on time," Sasuke grumped.

"Okay? Sakura would never... yell at you," Hinata responded, pausing a bit.

"She's a spaz who yells even more than Ino. What can you do?"  sighed Sasuke.

Hinata watched him for two more seconds. The snow flakes twitched and fell with the breeze that swept through her.

Hinata sneezed and Sasuke looked concerned, took off his hat and put it on her. With both hands!

"If you stay in this place for too long, you'll catch a damn cold. I can't have that happening," Sasuke said. "You get hurt. Falling in empty rooms- that's more your style..."

"I'm the one who heals, you know?" Hinata protested. "I've only fallen once! You saw me in the library-right?"

"Forget about that. You're just clumsy," he said.

She nodded in defeat, kept quiet and he used both hands to warm up her fingers.

"We should get tea after this to warm you up. I know you don't like it but yeah, we say we will but we never do," he smiled.

Her head throbbed again. "We always- always... forget," she said, her smile faltering.

He handed her a book, her fingers running over the cover. Where did he get the book from? What was going on?

"Speaking of books, I read what you told me to. It blows. I'm not gonna read anymore..." Sasuke commented sourly.

"Take a chance on literature, come on," she laughed, waving the book around.

The first edition. Hachimistu Shinichi! She memorized this part! She loves it.

The first words she said aloud, "You cannot establish a society based on prejudiced ideals, only with the vigor of togetherness and strength to set aside differences."

What she read;

Uoy Connet saetblish ą ocietys sbeda no dhepriad ldeais! Luonu hwit het orvigr fi nestogehts nad thstrgne ot tes desia diferencess.

Hinata flipped through all the chapters and it was all the same mindless gibberish.

"Oh cheese and crackers?!" Hinata squawked, despite herself.

Hinata jumped away from him and dropped the book.

"Calm down. We've never had tea together, right?" he claimed. "Or my memory's shit. Shit. I was wrong."

"Say that again!"

"Huh?" Sasuke eyed her weirdly. "Are you alright? You sick or something?"

He reached out to touch her forehead but she dodged his touch.

"Hey... Are you okay?" asked the confused man.

"The last sentence. Ju-just say it again..." Hinata repeated, stepping away.

"We never had tea?"

"No. The other one!"

"I was wrong?" he winced. "What's the big idea?"

Hinata gasped, smiling sadly. This was fake. The snow was fake. She can't read in genjutsus... Nobody can.

Even this Sasuke was so awesome and compliant. He didn't carry his swords and he was affectionate. He didn't tease her too badly and- sigh. Could she keep this imitation?

"I-I... you're... so like him. Same hair. Same 'Hn,' and sweet eyes but you're not... my Sasuke," Hinata sighed.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he cried.

"I'd follow you anywhere but you're not the one I want."

"You're freaking me out. What the hell are you talking about?"

"This... This is a genjutsu, isn't it?" she sighed. "It's pretty good! Until I realized that Sasuke would never, never admit he's wrong and you can't read in genjustus and I cannot look at my palms."

"This isn't a genjutsu," he protested, stepping closer to her. She let him.

She grabbed his hand and said, "This is what it feels like to hold your left hand. I like it, I'll miss it," She squeezed it. "All the things my hands have held the best by far is your warm one."

"What are- you can't leave me," Sasuke complained.

"I'm not. I told you that you don't ever have to worry about that. No. I told my Sasuke that not you," she smiled.

Sasuke- the fake actually held on tightly. "Don't say that shit!"

"Stay safe, Sasuke," she whispered before letting go. She stepped back and smiled. "I miss my baby! Time to go back!"

She activated her byakugan. And the pain of not having enough chakra to perform the jutsu hit her.

Hard.

¤¤¤

Hinata was back- but there was the pain of using too much chakra. Her lower back stung. 

Hinata must have pulled a muscle. Hinata fell to her knees, wet and panting. 

Everything was a blur as she held her stomach. "I'm so sorry baby! So sorry! I'm sorry for putting you through that! I'll give you anything you want! A dog, toys, explosive tags?! Whatever. I'm sorry! That was a close one! I'm sorry!-"

Hinata was swiftly interrupted, her shoulders being jostled and shaken.

"What are you doing?! There's heavy rain, a huge mudslide and you're stupid-ass stays in the middle of the mud road?! What are you doing?!" The man yelled.

Hinata was an icicle; she's freezing. 

Heavy rain. Mud road? Mudslide?! 

Why was she in the middle of a road?! Why isn't she at home?! And what about those red eyes?! Reality was off.

She witnessed the view, struck at the heart of a hectic street. Screams of horror and rocks crunching and people rushed in all directions, adding to the chaos. 

People were injured and there was vast panic. They were all emotionally shattered. She slipped into the suggestions of what the genjustu caster wanted her to do.

First and foremost, Hinata needed to get out of here!

"There's a hospital near here! We're at the bottom of the valley! We need to get to higher ground!" he yelled. 

Hinata looked back at the roaring man. The man touched her forehead. 

"You're bleeding! We have to go to the hospital! Help me get these people there," the man said. 

"Sir! I'm pregnant and I can't lift these people but I can diagnose them!" informed Hinata.

"Then shit! You're a priority! Let's get to safety! I can barely see! Dammit!"

Through the furor, she noted most of the injuries were due to human thugs. 

Hinata gritted her teeth, enraged. 

She would go fight them, protecting Kumo and these innocent people! She was still weak from the byakugan. Her baby took all the chakra! Why now?! When she literally required her chakra?

The man pulled her up. "Come on! We have to get you to safety!"

She reluctantly went and there was blood running into her eyes.

¤¤¤

Like 10 o'clock in the morning.

Hinata reached the hospital, she heard arguing at the OR board. 

Hinata paused, thinking she saw someone like Mitsuyo. She was tall and lithe like Mitsuyo but she had blue eyes instead of gray. The Mitsuyo-clone ran off with the same silver hair and Hinata looked away.

"Just cooperate! We have a massive influx of patients and I don't need your Konohagakure opinion harming my patients." A doctor yelled. 

"Just because I am from Konoha- doesn't mean that my opinion is wrong! We don't have enough resources!"

"Wake up! Wake up, Konoha-doctor! There has been a gang ravaging the streets of Kumo and on top of that, the heavy rain's ruining lives and the mud slide is CRUSHING inhabitant's homes. Stop whining- you're staying until Chief Junko gets word of this disaster."

"Fine- we'll stay!" the doctor with a nasal voice gibbed.

"Thank you, now go save some people," the other doctor ordered.

"Why are there so many patients?! I thought we were only here for an assignment?" she bemoaned. "If I'd known that this was happening- I would have let Miss Princess Ino take the case. These are too many patients!"

Hinata would recognize that snarky, obnoxious nasal voice anywhere across the five nations. Domen Hana. Hinata sighed, remembering just how annoyed Hinata was with Hana.

The man who brought her to the hospital called out to Hana. 

"Hey! Ma'am? Please, help her! She's pregnant and bleeding!"

Domen Hana took one look at Hinata, scoffing. "No. I'm gonna look for real challenges," she said. "You're getting blood on the floor. Heal her, Keisuke, it's more your speed."

Hinata frowned. Hana was so disrespectful, ultra-selfish battle-axe without the age! 

Keisuke looked just as unimpressed of Hana as Hinata was.

Keisuke! His Titian locks still cinnamon colored, sincere chocolate-brown eyes and a tall form. Hinata refrained from acting like she recognized him.

"What a bitch," The man lamented. Hinata nodded along with him.

"What did you call me?" Hana asked.

The man nodded. "Thanks for the switch. We needed help," the man sneered. 

Hinata turned to the man and offered a shaky smile.

Keisuke turned to Hinata and discarded of his old gloves and smiled at Hinata. "Do I know you?" asked Keisuke. 

Hinata shook her head, feeling nervous. "Were you at the last council party? It's not often... I see redheads," she asked, laughing lightly.

"That party was good, no?" The man who saved her asked conversationally.

Hinata nodded, smiling. "Wish I was there but I missed the live version. My partner doesn't like politics or parties so we missed it."

"Let's just get that stitched up," Keisuke said, breaking through their conversation.

"Do you need someone to stay with you?" The concerned man asked. "Where is your husband?"

"No... my partner is out of town," Hinata informed him, blushing slightly. 

"You don't need to stay. Do not trouble yourself for me," Hinata nervously nodded to Keisuke and the man who saved her. "Either of you." 

The man ran off. 

"Go. Please. Save those who need it." Hinata said to Keisuke. 

Keisuke shook his head and observed Hinata's wound. He sat her down on a bed against the hallway. 

"It looks like it's a superficial laceration. Just a couple of stitches and a checkup a couple days later," Keisuke said and came back to clean to stitch her up.

She nodded. "Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere else?" he asked. 

Hinata said she wasn't injured. 

"Are you sure you're not who I know? You act just like her; a sweet girl named Hinata." Keisuke smiled. 

Hinata sighed when she noticed the downcast look in his eye. 

"Hinata is a pretty name. My name's Momo," she said. "My mom went crazy for peaches during her pregnancy and my last name; Natsukawa! From the summer clan!" Hinata called out loudly. 

Keisuke nodded, eyes darting across her face critically. "You're not Hyuuga Hinata. She would never yell or be out in this storm..."

"Did you know her well?" Hinata asked.

Keisuke chuckled, stroking his goatee. "I don't think anyone knew her that much but she was kind, and attentive and very good with her byakugan?"

"What's a byakugan? The Hyuuga? What are they, too?"  Hinata asked, carefully curious.  

Keisuke shook his head as if telling her not to worry about it. 

Hinata gave up and asked, "Is this Hinanoe-

"Hinata," he corrected.

"Oh! Hinata special to you?"

"Her enthusiasm alone could keep me warm throughout the winter. She's already warm in Konoha's winter- sun in the inside," he said, dodging the question. "She left for a five-month mission, at least that's what her sister said. Why the Rokudaime would let her be gone for that long," he faltered off. 

Hinata's heart sighed. Why couldn't she just adore him like Ino said she might? He was... already smitten with her... But she had Sasuke and... a baby and Keisuke wouldn't like her- there is a thing about single mothers and- 

Hinata shut her mind off and focused on the sighing Keisuke.  

He looked up at her, suddenly, as if remembering she were there. "Ah. That's not important."

"Do people miss her?" Hinata asked.

"Not really," he shrugged. "I mean, she was sweet but not... memorable. She is a good doctor but not great."

"Nobody at all?" Hinata sputtered. "I thought they liked-  you know, liked her."

"Yes. They do. Everyone does. She just wasn't the best. It's no problem. People didn't notice she was gone until her sister looked around and bothered the Chief of Surgery enough. People thought she dropped out of the program since Chief Junko recommended it so many times, so no one noticed," Keisuke said, sounding indifferent.

"Chief Junko or whatever wanted her out of the programs," Hinata gasped. "Oh." 

That hurt! Screw you, Keisuke!

"Mhm. Now if Sakura or Ino went missing, the loud ones, people would notice. You don't really need to know that stuff, huh?" he said. "Despite all that, I'm glad she ditched me for a married man. Heard she loved him. Now... Now I don't care if she's gone. She's got too much baggage and she cried a lot. I'm better off."

"You're better off. Seems normal," Hinata said. "Are you finished with your stitches?"

"No," he said.

"Well, I'm finished with this," she announced, standing up, pushing away from him.

"Ma'am! You can't just-" he protested.

"I can- and will. Goodbye doctor," she huffed. 

Hinata pushed him away, ignoring his scowl, tottering a bit. She boiled, she saw red! 

She walked away before turning on her heel to jab a finger at him. "By the way! Hinata seems- no, is an amazing person. It's I bet she's way more than unremarkable or baggage-filled," she hollered. 

Keisuke opened his mouth and closed it like a fish out of water. "Miss-" 

"No! I don't know her but she deserves more than being forgotten in three months or less," Hinata snapped. "And getting bad-mouthed by someone to a stranger over three-hundred-thousand miles away! Kami, have some decency."

"Miss Momo-"

"Be quiet! Have. Some. Decency."

Hinata stormed off, muttering to herself.

¤¤¤

Hinata is not memorable. She is good but not great. Chief Junko wanted Hinata out of the damn program? The woman! Oh, dear Kami- Chief Junko never liked Hinata?

Hinata wanted to go to a corner and sigh. Then again, Hinata wanted to hit Keisuke and Ino and Sakura and everyone in the hospital! 

Hinata was furious, huffing like a bull and stomping with closed fists. 

Not memorable?!

Why is she out of luck?! 

Hinata was abandoned by Someina, put under a genjutsu, unaware of the mudslide that befell and now she found that no one missed her! Kami-forsaken people!

Hinata marched into a supply closet, spotting ultrasound machine. She needed to see her baby. If she could check up on the state of her baby, she could tell the sex. 

Hinata was drenched, her rain jacket was gone and her clothes were muddy. Maybe her mild frostbite and her head wound wouldn't feel unwelcome.

Hinata went up to the machine. 

Hinata pressed the start button, saw the grainy screen connected to the monitor and the light, constant sound of the ultrasound gun. 

The door was slightly ajar and fear clutched at her heart. She grabbed for her senbon under her sleeves but they were left at the house. She grabbed petri dishes and fired them at the entrance.

"Hey- hey! Stop! Momo! It's me, Keisuke," Keisuke called out. 

Hinata threw three more just because. 

Keisuke flinched. "You know it's me- Hinata..."

"I'm throwing more because it's you," she yelled. "My name isn't Hinata. It's Natsukawa Momo and you spilled your baggage on me because you lost her. Not cool or professional!"

"What are you doing in here? You're a civilian!"

"I'm trying to find people to help and this isn't what I need. I don't want you following me," She launched more petri dishes. "Let me be. I'm a doctor! I'm a doctor and I need to help people!"

"You're not a doctor."

"I don't need to waste my time on you! Scum, leave me alone!"

"Why do you have such good aim? Kami," he cried.

She went to the door and pushed past him. "Because when I aim and throw- I hit the target. Now excuse me, I've got people to save. We're not helping anyone by just standing here so let's go. And while we're doing our jobs- stay the hell away from me."

"You're definitely not a Hinata," Keisuke said but got out of her way.

¤¤¤

Around 5 o'clock.

Hinata spent the last seven hours healing all those that she could. She completely ignored Keisuke and Hana. She wondered about Sasuke and Mitsuyo. 

Hinata needed to get back home. She was annoyed enough to turn to one of the nurses who followed her.

The nurse rushed off and Hinata signed some charts, her signature being someone else's. Hinata sighed, talking to some nurses. 

The nurses nodded to her. "And what should I give him?" 

"You... You need..."

These two men watched her. They looked amused. They brought out a knife and smiled. She looked around- there were at least five or six different men routinely following her.

They've gotten too impatient and obvious... Tch. Now she has to deal with them. Honestly, she'd rather be a doctor than a shinobi. 

"Natsukawa-sensei," the nurse said. "Natsukawa-san? Are you listening?"

"Uhm. Please.... Refer his case to Keisuke-san or Domen Hana. They will... accomplish this better. Get me scalpels, all sharpened," Hinata ordered, talking another nurse. 

The nurse remained. "Why?" 

Hinata snapped, "Don't ask why, just please do it." 

The nurse ran off.

"Natsukawa-san are you alright?" Another nurse asked. 

Hinata looked to the three nurses standing there. 

Hinata nodded. "Yes. Just- please, call a shinobi to observe the hospital. Leave everything to me. Listen to me very carefully, one of you talk to your chief of surgery. Another one of you take out the children and patients in a critical state to a safer place. Call any shinobi. When the shinobi arrive, say there are threatening shinobi in the hospital wanting to cause harm." 

The nurses scanned the room, panicking. 

Hinata shook her head. "Focus. No need to compose a mass panic. Stay calm. It's me or them."

"Natsukawa-san, they don't want you- they're just sickos!" One of the four nurses protested.

"They... do want me. The same two men walked past this room every five minutes. One man shadowed all of my movements for twenty minutes. Three men have been in the OR gallery that is now in this room. One man signaled for him to talk to me fourteen times," Hinata whispered. 

She nodded then turned around. 

One nurse reached out to her, to stop her, to do whatever but Hinata shook her head.  "They want me, so I'll go. You can't stop me."

"Natsukawa- please. I'm just saying thank you. You're brave," the nurse said.

The nurse returned with scalpels. 

"Do you have my scalpels? Only four?" Hinata questioned. 

The nurses didn't look happy about it but nodded. 

Hinata smiled a bit. "It's alright. If a man comes in with scalpel's stab wounds, he's the evil. Notify the shinobi about him and the men who bring him in. I need for you all to...smile and act like it's alright and go."

The nurses nodded. "Good luck."

"I don't need it." Hinata said. 

Hinata left the building. 

The same seven stalking men followed her into the woods. Hinata prayed, hoping Sasuke forgave her. 

Things went out of hand. She didn't have a plan. She... didn't know where she was going... and were there more goons in the hospital?

They were deep in the humid, packed woods. 

Hinata feared as they gained speed on her. The goons were mountainous, buff and dangerous. 

The one they followed had fox-ish features, chin-length washed hair and long limbs. Slender, thin, looking clinically insane. Air of instability surrounded him. His eyes were red and bluish veins jumped out on his skin.

They caught up and trapped her, looking especially menacing in the shadows. 

She sliced the air, "Stay away! I'll kill you!"

The men circled around her, creating a fence. 

The leader chuckled. "Look what we have here? Another fresh not turned ingenue. I think a girl like you'd look good in my kitchen. Even better in my bed," he said smoothly, voice like caramel. 

Hinata gagged. No woman belongs in the kitchen.

The man laughed after seeing how disgusted she was. 

"Sorry honey, I can't control what I'm into. My name's Bunya Jimpachi, your highly esteemed serial killer," Jimpachi introduced himself, bowing. 

Jimpachi looked considerably cleaner than his men and he was neat and immaculately dressed. They looked like dogs waiting to be loose to hunt.

He smirked at her. Ants crept under her skin. 

"And you've got that hospital smell on you! My new favorite perfume. I've never killed a doctor," Jimpachi laughed. Again. "Nothing this sophisticated."

"Boss- never someone this sophisticated," one goon repeated. 

The rest nodded in unison, grinning, maliciousness discharging out of their pores.

"You'll never have me. If anyone touches me- I'll kill you all!" Jimpachi stepped closer and reached out to touch her. 

As soon as the hand neared, she sliced his palm, a clean 'x' on it. 

"Not one step closer!" she shouted.

Jimpachi held his palm, giving her a black look. "If you don't cooperate, my king'll make the whole hospital go bye-bye all for you and him," Jimpachi snapped, sultry voice was gone.

Hinata glowering at the polished man. "Why does he want me?! I'm a nobody! A random doctor you monsters decided to hurt or worse!"

He licked his bloodied palm, teeth dyed by the red. "Baby doll, you're more than you think. Fuck what Akuma-oo-sama wants! I'm taking you for my own and maybe my boys'll have the scraps of you. Tasty!"

"Yeah. We're gonna have fun," one goon growled. They all cheered in agreement.

"Touch me and someone'll lose an arm or an eye. I promise you that," Hinata snapped, jumping away.

"No. I'll hurt you cause if you're not screaming, I'm not doing it right," Jimpachi said. 

Two men got close to her and one man tried to grope her. 

"I've just gotten a free holiday. I haven't gotten my daily kills in, something's missing hun, you're my balance," Jimpachi murmured, trying to reach for her shoulders. 

She stepped back, a shark's glare on her face.

"Sorry, just can't keep my hands to myself," a man said, pinching her.

"And we're gon get our licks in, boss," a man said.

To her sick surprise, Jimpachi didn't look gratified. "My victim! My kill! My privacy!" he managed, growling a bit. Jimpachi's eyebrows furrowed together. "Do you know how sacred the bond between murderer and victim; it's second to none. This is too much company. She's mine. The ladies are always mine. We are sinners but we are blessed by this encounter so be a gentlemen!"

"Gentlemen never have fun. We're having all the fun!" a man snarled, driven by lust.

Jimpachi snapped and they all collapsed. They fell one by one, plummeting like flies.

"What did you do to them!?" Hinata yelled. "You're as sick as a dog!"

"Honey, I don't- but you care about 'em?" Jimpachi asked. "You're a real darling like the boss man said. It'll be a pleasure to break you. 'Cause like a light, I lured you in. I want to have so much fun with you... your cold dead body."

Hinata was disgusted, not scared. She recuperated some chakra since the morning but it wasn't enough.

What a weird, misplaced sentiment. She could hit him but he... He knows she's pregnant. She can't hurt her baby by going all out. She can't even go all out! Damn it! 

"Show emotion before I stab you 'cause I can't feel any of them. A facial expression changes so beautifully when a heart knows fear." Jimpachi grinned and killing intent oozed out of him. 

"I'm not scared of you! And you're not killing me," Hinata seethed. 

She saw a man, stocky, a little gray with a scowled face edging towards her.

Jimpachi let out a husky chuckle, smiling thinly. "I can smell your anxiety. It's orgasmic, really. I draw energy from your fear. You're broadcasting your heart beat. Count with me," he rasped. "Boom. Boom. Boom. Beautiful, you are. Imagine how lovely you'll be when it stops."

He grabbed for a lock of her hair, lunging at her. 

"Don't struggle- too much. Or struggle a lot, turns me on!" Jimpachi laughed. 

She thrust him away, stabbing his hand. A blade through the flesh... She blew crushed pill powder into his eyes and punched his nose. 

He screamed, his eyes red and his hand bloody. He was still reaching! She needed to change that! 

Hinata cut two of the seven scapulohumeral muscles with her chakra scalpel. She attacked his now dislocated shoulder with three punches.  

He was still standing though gobs of blood fell to the ground, dripping down his arm like a stream of chaos. 

This... man doesn't use chakra, at all. It's so weird. He also wasn't a good fighter. He just kept on grabbing for her like a genin would. 

He was an easy kill. 

Hinata kicked his knee and turned on her heel, her leg extending. Just as her finishing move was in motion- 

The previously seen man snuck behind Jimpachi and punched his head. Jimpachi lost blood and his sense.

Hinata jumped away from the two. What... What just happened?  

He was slowly falling but the man grabbed Jimpachi's flailing arms. He yanked Jimpachi forward, jutting his knee into the base of Jimpachi's spine. Jimpachi spat a spray of blood. 

The man hooked his arms under Jimpachi's armpits to lock him him a hold.  "Do something!" 

Hinata kicked Jimpachi's neck. Hard. 

Jimpachi fell. His neck... was supposed to be crushed but seconds later, Jimpachi scraped himself off the muddy ground.

Hinata was... slightly horrified. The man knew almost nothing about fighting yet he could take this much damage and still move? Like a zombie from old japanese stories. Jimpachi dove forward.  

He tried grabbing Hinata's leg with his other uninjured hand. "You can't escape, the king'll need you!"

She kicked his shoulder three times. "Don't touch me! Stay down." 

Hinata launched two scalpels at his eye, hoping to kill him but Jimpachi dodged one of them. 

The other one docked... in the ocular flesh. 

Jimpachi gasped and let out two demonic screams. "You bitch!" 

Hinata kicked him in the face and Jimpachi fell back, unmoving. It hurt too much to scream. 

Jimpachi will die. He lost almost three pints of blood.

She didn't have time for this! 

That's what made Hinata move forward, discarding the senbon and running. 

Hinata was far enough to forget Jinpachi's moans of pain. "I hate you! He'll kill me! You'll rue this day, Kaiya! You'll regret this! I will-"

He stopped, suddenly. Jimpachi probably died from the pain. But... who is Kaiya?!

The man who helped her in combat ran by her side, keeping up.  When they stopped near a river, he regarded her with a little bit of odd hope and respect. After leaping within the woodlands with her to safety and killing Jimpachi, that's mandatory.

"Kaiya? Your name is Kaiya?" The man asked. "Did you get the money yet?"

Money?!

"Uh-yeah! I got the money... Those men- they tried to... to and I and you- and I... I am just so happy to be alive," Hinata panted, happy for her baby to be okay.

They calmed down.

Hinata buzzed with adrenaline, trauma and a sprinkle of disorientation and hate. She sweat profusely, feeling so fulfilled.

Yosh! She escaped! 

The man vilified, outraged on her behalf. "Those men are nothing close to honorable. Praying on an easy target in the middle of the woods!" he spat. 

"Yeah. Cowards..." Hinata sighed. 

They sat there, in the moment of escaping. 

Hinata ultimately was prepared to look at him. "What were you doing in the woods? Those men wanted me to... uh... yeah, " she trailed off.  

Sweat and grime seeped in her wound. It stung... burned but her baby was alive and that was wonderful.

She belatedly noticed a woman appearing from the tree's shadows, with a bundle; a child. The child had pale sun-kissed white beige-taupe skin. He had dusty teal, misty blue hair with gray undertones.

"Would you like me to take a look at him?" Hinata asked.

The mother nodded, probably his wife. 

Hinata took the bundle, he was lighter than she thought. She caressed his cheek and as a standard reaction, she smiled. They exchanged looks. Even though it hurt, she pressed an index finger to one of his tenketsu, sending warm chakra through him, healing bruises that happened during the mudslide. 

Hinata finished and returned the child. 

"He's better. He does have some fractures that didn't heal properly. You might want to take your son to the doctor. What is his name?" Hinata asked, being pleasant.

"Uh... He doesn't have one. His old man never got to name him," the father said. "I thought you knew that."

Hinata bristled. "I think... I forgot you... What is your name again?"  

"My name's Tadashi and her name's Yoki," Tadashi said. 

Hinata looked down to the child... What... is going on? He doesn't have a name and these two, Tadashi and Yoki, have the kid? 

"He's a smart kid but he doesn't talk. We don't have time for him in our bar. Our bar is crushed and we don't have the money- another mouth to feed," Tadashi finished.

Yoki jutted her hands out, offering Hinata the baby. "Here ya go." 

"Your baby- you can't just give away your baby!" Hinata shrieked.

Yoki shook her head, laughing a bit. "Before you say, oh the humanity, he isn't ours. Remember, he's my sister's baby. She died; cancer and the father ran. Keep him safe and inspired. Make sure he is the sun, fire... everything you revolve around." 

"Are you saying... suggesting that I take that baby?!" Hinata cried. "Oh- Oh my Kami! You terrible people!"

"We saved you so you owe me," Tadashi said.

"You wouldn't dare leave us with him. His life is already traumatic enough. Spare him some more and love him. Even if you have no money- why not make the best of the situation and' take him in," Yoki urged, encouragingly.

Hinata said firmly, "I'm not taking that baby. There are lots of lovely orphanages-"

Tadashi said, "He's no use. He'll probably end up like a damn failure like her red-light sister. You're in charge of this baby from now on."

"Excuse me," Hinata said, backing away. "I'm not doing that. Take him to an orphanage or another family. But please- do not give him to me. How old is he?" 

They took a long time to answer, eyeballing each other like they didn't know the right age. 

"You both can't tell... How neglectful are you guys?! That's perturbing to know that there are people like you."

"She won't take him. I guess saving lives don't mean anything anymore, huh," Tadashi whispered.

Yoki sighed and looked at Hinata one more time. "Time for plan B. It's your fault- whatever happens to this child is your fault."

They shuffled off, into the woods and Hinata sighed. What the hell?

What was... plan B. All those fractures... and the bruises. The child was in a bar with people who were drunk and probably as volatile as them. 

She gulped. 

Those bruises weren't from the mudslide. They were from them and the sticky fingers of men like Jimpachi. She should... check on them! Plan B was sinister! Hinata followed them, hearing what they were saying. 

She shadowed their moves until she heard them chuckling. "Get the basket, Yoki. If she won't take him, then we won't either," he said.

What?! 

Hinata finally got a good look at what they were doing. 

They were beside a slippery strand of chaos. A river. A basket. A child. Two people who didn't care about the child. No, no, no. They're definitely not doing what she thought they were doing. 

They wouldn't. They wouldn't dare.

She was near enough, watching them race off, whoops of supremacy coming from the wretched personages. Hinata's guts converted to water and heart to ice. 

A child's screams pierced her ears.

They would.

She raced through the green, branches slapping her legs and cutting her face. The river. A slippery strip of chaos. 

Oh, dear Kami. 

The child floated in a worn down picnic basket, red-faced from the exertion of crying and screaming. She paused, hesitating. Just standing under the shower head makes her hyperventilate. Imagine that.

He was about to drown. Hinata froze, not all bravado when it came to water. But she couldn't just stand here! He was... The child was... 

She dove into the water, jumping out of her skin to get him. She swam to him, a panic attack building. The water killed her but she kept on swimming to get him. She grabbed the edge of the basket, conquering her fear and swam against the current. 

She pulled him onto the shore, coughing and flailing.

"I got you. I got you. I have you," she whispered. 

The boy sobbed, sobbed and then some. He wrestled to get out of the blanket. The boy stopped crying and he was cold. 

She curled around him, taking him in her arms, rocking back and forth until he calmed down.

She laid down on the muddy bank, not minding the smell or how cold she was. Pebbles burrowed into her skin. The sun blinded her. 

But the child laid on her chest. It was okay when they stayed there, just breathing.

She almost drowned. The three of them almost died.

Someina abandoned her. She was put under a genjustu. She is lost. She almost got raped. She has another child right here... And oh, kami. 

Hinata passed out, rightly so.

¤¤¤

-End Chapter-