Kapitel 51: Chapter 51
-Hinata's POV-
The last day of filming went by in a blur. The only thing I can remember clearly is my panic in response to Hidan knowing the colors in my bedroom. He lied, obviously, when he said he heard it in an interview. I know that for a fact because I would've been the one to answer the question and never have. That means that at some point, either Hidan or someone he's friends with has been in my room.
To my knowledge, not a single member of Akatsuki or Konan's band has even been upstairs at our house, so I'm understandably terrified. Either he snuck up there during the Halloween party or has been in our home without our knowledge. Both possibilities are scary, but I'm hoping it was during the party because that would at least mean he didn't break in and had simply gone somewhere he shouldn't have while already inside. That doesn't make me any more comfortable with the idea, though.
At the end of our Top Tier journey, Prestige ended up in second place, just two points behind Akatsuki. Yamato told us our season would air in December, eleven months away. I wondered briefly why we filmed it so early but didn't bother focusing much on the thought. If I spend time trying to understand every little detail of the show business world, I'll drive myself crazy.
As we were told, after three consecutive days of filming, everyone involved was given a three-day weekend with no work obligations. Our last break was less than three weeks ago, but those days were long and stressful, so I'm grateful for the opportunity to relax. On Thursday night, the same night we were released from filming, all of us went to bed early. On Friday, though, we all awoke feeling rejuvenated after sleeping in our own beds for the first time in days.
Sakura left early in the morning, before eight a.m., with plans to spend the day with her mother and soon-to-be step-father since she didn't spend Christmas with them. Gaara simply left the house with no hints about his plans, borrowing one of the agency's cars rather than relying on someone else to drive him.
With nothing else to do, Sasuke and I decided to go car shopping like we discussed before Top Tier. Other than the fact that my anxiety has decreased substantially, things haven't changed between us all that much. Before, I wasn't sure exactly where he and I stood, but now that I know he feels the same way as me, any nervousness is because I like him so much and am still relatively new to dating.
Other than sleeping in his room last night, there's not much to report. We were both too tired to do anything other than rest. Sasuke and I agreed without error that we should keep it from Gaara and Sakura for at least a week or two until things aren't so brand new, that way if they (mainly Sakura…okay, only Sakura) start acting weird about it, we don't feel as awkward.
"It has a five-year warranty and comes with-"
I glanced at Sasuke's side profile as he listened to the car salesman's pitch for the random upscale car we were standing near. My face warmed slightly when I realized his eyes were brighter than usual in the unfiltered sun since there wasn't a cloud in the sky. How nice…
The Uchiha man glanced over and caught me staring before asking the salesman to give us some space to look around on our own. Once the employee was out of earshot, he opened the car's door and gestured for me to sit in the driver's seat.
When I did as requested, he leaned down with one arm on the roof and one arm lazily atop the open door as he smirked, "You're supposed to check out the cars, not me, idiot." I lightly rested my head on the steering wheel so he couldn't see my red face, too humiliated to respond. He snickered, motioning broadly to the vehicle I was sitting in, "So, do you like this one?"
Sighing, I straightened my spine and looked at the rest of the dashboard and passenger seat, "I don't know. All these cars look the same to me…."
An irritated frown met his lips as he rolled his eyes, "Why'd you even ask me to come if you don't care what kind of car you get?"
I shrugged, climbing out and gently shutting the door behind me. He moved back so I could without bumping into him. "If I recall, Sakura and Gaara are the ones who came up with the idea."
We walked casually to look at a different model as he retorted sarcastically, "And if I recall, you didn't argue." Trying not to grin, I shook my head as he opened the door to the next car.
What I said before wasn't a lie. They all really do look the same to me. As long as it gets me where I need to go, I don't have any preferences other than having an automatic transmission.
Hours later, I drove home in some kind of Porsche. I don't recall the actual model, but it's pearl white, has four doors, and is prettier than all the other ones in the lot back at the dealership. Sasuke said he talked them into giving me a great deal, too, which brought butterflies into my stomach because it seemed so out of character and sweet for him to do something like that on my behalf.
Rather than spend even more time out and about with just the two of us, risking getting photographed, we ordered Chinese food and ate in his room. After putting on some random action movie, Sasuke came to sit beside me, our backs to his bed like the night we kissed for the first time. I offered him a shy smile when he glanced over, and he smirked before refocusing on the screen. I clicked the chopsticks together with my fingers before awkwardly eating.
This feels so normal, like before I started dating Kiba. We used to hang out like this all the time.
Mouth full of noodles, I noticed a piece of crab meat in my bowl and made an unhappy sound since I couldn't talk as I chewed, and I held it out in his direction. He turned and snickered once he realized what I wanted, picking it up with his chopsticks as he rolled his eyes.
I'm not typically a picky eater, but I absolutely despise two things: crab and shrimp. Whether both of them being seafood is a coincidence or not, I don't know, but it's the truth. I like other fish like salmon and tuna, just not those in particular. On the other hand, Sasuke will eat almost anything so long as it's not overly sweet. It works perfectly because I eat what he doesn't like, and he eats what I don't.
After a few minutes of us eating peacefully and watching things blow up on his television, he asked as he glanced down to get another bite of his food, "So are we gonna talk about Hidan?"
I choked as I inhaled at his sudden inquiry and ended up coughing. After a couple moments and a drink of water, I gasped for breath before shooting him an embarrassed glare, "W-What's there to talk about? I don't know how he got that info, either." Cursing myself for stuttering, I hoped he didn't notice.
Alas, he did. "I mean, is there something other than the whole Masquerade thing that happened between you two?" Goosebumps rose on my arms at his tone. It sounds like he already knows the answer to that question, but I can't tell exactly how much knowledge he possesses about it.
Feeling like an awful person, I lied to him with my eyes averted down into my bowl as I pretended to struggle to get my chopsticks to function, "H-He just makes me uncomfortable, i-is all." Damn it, I have to get it together and stop stuttering, or he's never going to drop the subject!
Sasuke turned to look at me, and I met his eye as confidently as possible, "Really?" I nodded, self-disgust sinking into my stomach and making me lose my appetite. Luckily, he seemed to believe me and let it go, at least for now.
Sighing softly, I sat my half-full bowl closer to him so he knew he was welcome to eat the rest if he wished. He works out four or five times a week to eat what he wants while maintaining his incredible physique.
Lucky jerk.
Even if I don't work out quite as strenuously as him, I exercise two or three days a week and eat maybe half of what he does to do the same thing: maintain. That's not counting all the demanding dance lessons we attend. I'd hate to see what I'll have to do if I ever try to lose weight. He didn't seem up to eating more than one portion today and took all the leftovers downstairs to the refrigerator before returning upstairs.
With nothing to focus on but his warm shoulder against mine and the suddenly not-interesting movie on TV, I began to get anxious. I glanced over at him and felt a bit disappointed in myself. He's completely relaxed, of course. Sasuke hardly ever gets flustered.
"How the hell are you still nervous?" Shit, he noticed. His tone was mildly irritated, but the amusement was more prominent.
I swiftly averted my gaze from the screen and pretended to be invested in it with a small, embarrassed smile, "I-I can't help it."
Shaking his head slightly, he reached over to pull one of my hands into his, intertwining our fingers. Hesitantly, I leaned over a couple inches to rest my head against his arm. Since he's sitting up straight, his shoulder's a little too high.
Twenty minutes later, or at least that's what it felt like, he nudged me lightly in the ribs, "If you're gonna fall asleep, let's go." I blinked sleepily, unaware that I'd begun to get tired.
Groaning, I fell lifelessly onto his bed after getting to my feet, lazily pulling the blanket over me. He climbed in next to me more composedly, laying on his back with his arms behind his head as he continued to watch the movie. I turned my back to him and the tv and basked in the comfort of soft sheets and his scent.
I thought I'd fall asleep quickly, but out of nowhere, I remembered his love language is touch. Should I roll over and cuddle him, or would that be too forward? Until now, every time we sleep in the same bed, we haven't faced one another, so it's like we also haven't had to face the intimacy of it yet. …But I know he likes physical affection, and I do too.
For a couple minutes, I lay there and argued with myself, back and forth, before giving up and rolling over so I could toss an arm across his stomach with a bright red face. As smooth as can be, his arm came down to guide me closer without him looking at me or saying a word. Feeling bashful and giddy, I snuggled into his chest, my head on his shoulder, with one of my legs loosely tangled between his. His hand met my lower back, and he absently moved his fingers occasionally, and it felt so good.
I fell asleep again at some point, but then I woke back up. The credits were playing on the screen when my eyes fluttered open, so I just stared at my hand as it relaxed against his hip. I don't know that I've ever been quite this comfortable.
Ino told Sakura and me once when she was dating Kankuro that she likes cuddling him because she feels all safe and secure since she's so much smaller than him, and I never quite grasped that concept until now. I completely get it. There's some kind of protective aura about how his arm was around me, like a shield.
Sasuke's quite fit, as I've mentioned a few times in the past, and I'll go as far as saying he has above-average muscle mass while also not coming off as too terribly intimidating. I'll also add that it's hard not to see him for what he is: a man. That being said, he's never seemed quite so rugged before now. What changed? Is it because we've both finally relaxed and accepted this? Maybe.
"Hyuuga."
I jolted slightly in shock, having not been aware that he was awake since he's remained so still and silent, "Hm?"
"Hit me if I do something you don't like."
I lifted my head a bit, intending to look at his face to try and better understand his words, but he rolled on top of me, and then warm lips were pressed against mine. A squeak got lost between us as I closed my eyes and did my best to follow the flow. His hands and knees are on either side of my body, and he isn't pressing against me, but it's still so warm underneath him.
Since I'm well aware of his affinity for these things, I half-expected him to come on too strong, but he surprised me by taking his time and going slow.
His lips moved against mine in the middle of our kissing, the words leaving his mouth in an attractive and breathy whisper, "I mean it."
My eyes crept open to lock onto his, and a heavy wave of arousal dropped in my stomach when I recognized the dark, heated expression I'd only seen a handful of times in the past, every instance occurring while we were dancing together. His hand moved from the bed, and I felt his fingers run up my neck and to my jaw before he slid his tongue into my mouth like he had that night when we were locked out of the Top Tier building.
My gaze danced quickly over his as I waited for him to close his eyes again, but he didn't, so I felt like I couldn't either. His thumb brushed the corner of my bottom lip, making me gasp at the unexpected wave of excitement and nervousness it shot through me. Just a little touch could make me feel like that…
Sasuke's eyes finally closed, his brow furrowing slightly, and I followed his lead once more, but then he suddenly pulled away to speak against my lips like before, "I'm surprised you haven't passed out yet." He was trying to come off as casual, but there was a slight rasp to his tone that wasn't there previously, and it made me struggle not to smile.
When I didn't verbally respond, he pulled away further so I'd open my eyes again. With a smirk, he tilted his head, "Touch me if you're so brave."
My voice surprised me when I retorted nervously, "I-I've touched you a hundred times. What's so different about now?"
His breath hitched, and he pressed a few soft kisses into my lips before pulling away again, this time actually grinning, "Go ahead, then."
I'm sure he meant to touch his chest or shoulders, but all I wanted to do right now was touch his face, so that's what I did. Fingers trembling nervously, I lifted my hand and hesitantly cupped his cheek, gently brushing my thumb across his cheekbone as a warm feeling came to my chest. He doesn't like it when people touch his face, so he hates getting his makeup done by strangers.
Dark eyes widened slightly, obviously surprised I chose to do what I did, and it made the tiniest bit of courage burst through me. Blushing, I tried to vocalize my emotions, "T-Thank you for going slow like this. I really appreciate it." He searched my face in silence, and I continued, closing my eyes so I could get the words out without losing my nerve, "I promise to try my best not to be shy."
And I mean it, too. This is Sasuke, and I trust him. If anyone's going to get me to do something I'm usually too nervous about, it's going to be him. Since I signed on at Evolution, it's always been him there, refusing to watch my anxiety get the best of me.
"Hyuuga."
I opened my eyes to see a warmth in his expression I was unfamiliar with as he leaned slightly into my touch.
"I'm gonna remember that."
A week passed with everyone falling back into their usual routines and focusing on work. Things were normal until early Saturday morning, around one or two a.m. My phone began ringing loudly on my nightstand, startling me awake. Sasuke let out an annoyed groan before rolling over to his other side with his back to me.
I groggily reached over to answer it, only to have every bit of sleepiness evaporate when Matsuri's name showed on my screen. If she's calling me, it can't be anything good at a time like this. Please, God, don't let Hidan have gotten his hands on her again.
Careful not to wake the Uchiha man in my bed, I hurried into the bathroom and closed the door behind me, "Hello? Matsuri?"
The line was completely silent for a few moments, and I almost hung up under the impression it ended up being an accidental call from her pocket or something, but then she spoke in a soft and shaky voice, "Hinata, I'm…I'm so sorry for calling but can you come get me? Please, I-I'm in trouble."
I glanced at the closed bathroom door to double-check that Sasuke wasn't standing there glaring at me like he so often is, "Where are you?"
After getting the address, I snuck back into my room for clothes before leaving the house and hitting the road. I've begun to realize something about myself these past few weeks. Something about knowing a person is in danger and relying on me makes almost every bit of my nervousness hit the backburner. A slight frown tugged at my lips as I drove and confirmed that I was feeling almost no anxiety. Instead, I'm so angry and worked up that it's almost overwhelming.
Matsuri wouldn't tell me anything about what was happening other than that she was stuck at a stranger's house with no way to get home. Before pulling into the driveway of the house she gave me the address for, I turned my headlights off. Since she couldn't say much over the phone, there's a chance she might be sneaking out, and I'd hate to be the reason someone dangerous was woken up. The windows were dark except for one upstairs, but every surrounding house in this upscale neighborhood was entirely still and silent.
As I exited the car, I slid a few of my keys between my fingers and formed a fist, like Neji showed me how to do a long time ago if I'm ever alone and feel like my safety's at risk. If I'm forced to defend myself, even if I'm not strong, I'll leave some noticeable marks.
Before I could even knock on the front door, it opened, and Matsuri stepped out, her appearance more than a little battered. She nearly tripped, and I caught her with my hands on her shoulders, her crying into my shoulder softly. My eyes widened when I caught just a glimpse of Sasori's face before he realized it was me and froze in the process of closing the door.
"You've got a bad habit of putting your nose in places it doesn't belong, Hinata."
I whispered to Matsuri, "Go sit in the car." She shook her head and started wiping at her eyes.
With no choice but to ignore her, I hardened my glare on the redhead before me, "What's wrong with you?"
His brow quirked, and he reopened the door to face me fully, "If I were you, I'd leave before you piss me off."
Matsuri seemed to gather herself and stood beside me, but she still trembled with tears. A breath stuck in my throat when I saw bruises around her neck and the right side of her face.
Fire shot through my veins, my fist tightening around my keys, "Why do you keep doing this kind of thing!" My voice rose more than a little, surprising even me.
Before anyone could respond, a familiar voice sounded behind Sasori and made the heat in my blood turn to ice. "I thought that was you, Hina! What a pleasant surprise." It's Hidan. My confidence disappeared in a snap of my fingers, and I stepped back when the man appeared in the doorway; Sasori stepped out of the way so he could come outside.
Matsuri followed my lead and stayed by my side. Shakily, I handed her the keys, "G-Go start the car." She nodded and listened with haste this time. Hidan and Sasori, thankfully, didn't move to stop her.
"You must like me more than you let on since we keep running into one another like this."
I shook my head and glared hard at him, "D-Don't come near, or I'll scream, I swear it."
He took another step toward me, and I took another back, "What's the matter? Don't you wanna come inside for a drink? I'll be nice, I promise."
In a blink of an eye, he was rushing me, and I panicked, kicking him between the legs as hard as I possibly could. He cursed loudly, stumbling down onto one knee. Suddenly, I was shoved to the ground by Sasori, who I didn't realize had been behind his friend. A strangled scream tried to pass my lips, but his hand clamped over my mouth and muffled it.
I struggled against his hold and was able to free one of my arms. In my panic, adrenaline pumping, I punched him with all the power I could muster. A sharp pain ran through my wrist when my fist connected with his face, and we both gasped. He flinched just long enough that I could pull myself out from under him and hurry toward my running car, heavy tears running down my face.
Matsuri opened the front door from the passenger seat, but one of the two men tackled me to the ground before I could reach it. My knees hit the pavement hard, making me cry as I caught myself with my hands. Hidan's voice hissed angrily in my ear, "Now you've gone and fucked up. I've had enough of this." Strong hands grabbed my wrists and pulled my arms behind my back, making me fall forward. My cheek hit the pavement next, and I felt my chest tighten as I struggled to overcome my terror and breathe.
"9-1-1, what is your emergency?"
Everyone looked up to see Matsuri holding her cell phone up, it being on speaker, with a stern glare on her face to threaten the two men attacking me to back off or she'll start talking. To my surprise, I was let go, and they took several steps away.
With one hand, Matsuri grabbed my arm and helped me to my feet, "Let's go." Gasping and trying to stop my crying, I entered the driver's seat. The moment she was inside, I took off quickly so neither of the awful men could try to stop us.
She immediately apologized, "I shouldn't have called you."
The heightened emotions finally began to calm, and I took stock of all the little injuries I was just given. My knees, hands, and the right side of my face were scraped and bleeding from hitting the concrete. My right hand and wrist are also throbbing heavily, appearing to have already begun swelling and bruising.
Moments later, I responded, "N-No, I'm glad you did. Especially if you had no one else. This is my f-fault for losing my temper like that."
Matsuri was quiet for a long time, maybe five minutes, before speaking barely audibly, "I'll do it. I'll do whatever you need me to do." I glanced over at her to see she was wiping at her still-heavily-falling tears, "You were right about Sasori. I can't believe it took all this for me to…."
Before I could find a response, my phone began ringing. Dread settled into my skin for the second time of the night when Sasuke's name came across the screen, but I answered because ignoring him would only make things worse, "H-Hello?"
His tone was angry, and he spoke so quickly that he nearly cut me off, "Where the hell are you?"
Glancing at my battered passenger, I focused back on the road, "A-A friend needed me to pick her up. I-I-I didn't want to wake you." Cringing, I could've cussed at how obvious my distress was in my voice.
The line was silent momentarily before he replied in a much calmer voice, "What happened?"
Confliction plagued me. I think I have to tell him, finally. If I lie to him one more time, it's going to begin eating me alive. He might never forgive me for all the fibs I've offered to this point, but when he sees my condition…. If I don't tell him the truth about this, I don't doubt he'll lose all respect and trust in me.
"Hinata?" I grit my teeth at the obvious concern in his tone.
"I-I'll be h-home soon. I'll explain then, okay?"
He made some sort of noise that confirmed my question before hanging up without another word. Me leaving in the middle of the night obviously rubbed him the wrong way.
"Are you going to tell him?"
I nodded, no longer in the mood to talk. I might've just ruined something extraordinary before even having a chance to properly appreciate it.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein