Sign

An alarm was ringing somewhere. Sakura's eyes twitched and she stirred herself from her dreamless sleep. Her eyes opened to find Sasuke in bed.

She gasped loud an-

Her eyes peeled open as the alarm blared to life.

So it wasn't as dreamless as she thought. She wearily looked at the time. 6 am. And then proceeded to yawn wide.

Time for school.

Sakura made her way down, still groggy from her sleep. Going Dora the Explorer wasn't a good idea as she thought. She was awake past midnight, completing her homework and slept only when it was a perfect A+ material.

She found the others down, except for Temari and, strangely, Aagwa. They were busy making themselves breakfast. Tenten chewed on her PBnJ. Karin was blankly staring at the walls while she chewed on her biscuits.

She yawned and made a beeline for the cupboards, craving for cereal. With milk. Fresh cow milk. Yum.

Hinata face cooled from the counter her head was laying sideways on. She had another one of the memory fits as a dream, and as much as she wanted to make sense of it, she couldn't. Thank goodness Temari wasn't around whenever it happened. She squeezed her eyes close and smelled coffee. Maybe it was Ino's.

A pair of flip-flops echoed outside. She got up slowly and turned her head around.

Hinata blushed hard.

And put her head back on the counter, forehead somewhat slamming onto it.

What the fuck was that scramble of a brother thinking?! Motoki walked into the kitchen, took the milk carton from Sakura's hands, moved Ino and made a grab for the glass. He poured himself a tall glass and then proceeded to drink straight out of the carton.

While being clad in nothing but boxers. And slippers. A very bright-yellowy-shade-of-green slippers.

After a few minutes of loud gulping, he kept the carton on the counter, side-down, wiped himself and shuffled out of the kitchen.

"It's the weekend, by the way. So no school today," He mentioned as he took a sip from the glass.

Karin took the carton and tossed it at his head, hard as cardboard could be.

He dodged it and quickly ran out with his flip-flops.

"Oh God. Did anyone check the timetable?" Karin said after she was sure he wasn't going to toss the carton back at her. A few rustles and snaps later, yes, it was indeed an off day for them.

"Goddamn time zones," After travelling a far distance, what was weekends there, was a working day here. So Fridays and Saturdays were off, eh?

"No wonder Temari and Aagwa aren't awake," Ino muttered as she drank the coffee in one go and made way for her room. Hinata followed her as well, intending to chit-chat instead.

Slowly, Sakura and Tenten did the same, both mostly silent except for random yawns escaping their lips.

~+o.o+~

Hinata walked through the corridors, not really expecting to do anything. Ino went to bed, to recharge herself. She seemed gloomy but wasn't privy to share. Tenten was copying Sakura's homework and the two were unusually quiet, sleepy perhaps.

Hinata was in no mood to go back to sleep though. She was trying her best to stay awake at night, running on few hours of sleep now. Her nightmares were becoming more and more pronounced, even simple everyday routines she did in them turned into horror at the end.

She was fucking scared.

The Hyuuga stared around at the corridor in front of her. It was the second floor, and more precisely, she ended up in front of the training room. Heavy beats was vibrating the door and her heart, making her even more frantic. She gulped, and turned the door knob, praying it was someone hardcore.

Nothing like good old training to knock her from her delirium.

~+o.o+~

Sakura, Tenten, and strangely, Sasuke, were walking through the forest that happened to be the mansion's backyard. The Uchiha found them while he was going out; it seemed that Sai hadn't come back since yesterday night. After the girls told him they were going Dora the Explorer, he decided to tag along with them, his look apprehensive.

But that was as objectionable as he got.

The forest was peaceful, birds twittering early in the morning while the morning dew evaporated slowly but gently. The rising sun was filtering through the branches, lighting up the leafy paths.

Tenten had a certain twinkle in her eyes; this was a perfect training place to hone her aim and accuracy. She wasn't gonna attack the birds as moving targets, but she could get the girls to help her out. Hit 'em with the rubber bullets or something. Other than that, the place was beautiful as it could get. She simply breathed in the fresh air and savored every feel of the sun on her face. It had been a long time since she got to see such breath-taking scenery.

Sakura was mostly quiet, her Inner doing all the talking for her. Well, mostly with herself, but she wasn't gonna reply back, lest she started talking out loud. Sasuke was quiet too, his eyes sharp and his fingers twitchy. When he realized that he was twitchy, he stuffed his hands into the black parka he wore. Mornings were still chilly up on the hill, summer's reach yet to arrive.

The pinkette couldn't see the mansion behind her. They must've ventured out far because Sasuke was literally starting to hover over the ground, his eyes shifty. Something was definitely wrong.

"Sakura, look at the owl over here!" The brunette was busy pointing at the hole at the bark of a tree, a fluffy head just peaking over the edge. The yellow eyes were wide, but after a moment or two, it shifted back deep into its nest. Tenten was busy being the kid she never got to be and tumbled over a log.

Just before a throwing knife sailed over her head and lodged itself right where the owl's head was.

Sakura's eyes widened at the attack and stared at the direction it came from. When her eyes found nothing, she quickly helped Tenten to her feet. She wanted to warn her, say her that something just went wrong, but one glance at the Uchiha and she just knew that Sasuke knew too.

It was dead calm. Suddenly, there was noise everywhere around them, the leaves crunching and the twigs snapping loud. Sakura got into a fighting stance, her eyes on Sasuke. If it were those people, she didn't want him to get hurt. Tenten seemed to think the same too, her hands pulling out a pair of daggers, discreetly hidden from him.

He was still, his onyx eyes attempting to track the movements around them. Did his eyes just flash red? Sakura blinked, shaking off the illusion.

But it all happened in the blink of an eye.

~+o.o+~

It just had to be him. Hinata thought someone really hated her up there.

Neji turned around at the sound of the door creaking open, and she was instantly met by his trademark glare.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was spitting with rage. Her heart bled to know that someone could harbor such hatred for her. But Anko taught her to be tough. Mostly tough.

No matter how hard I try,

I'm never satisfied.

This is not a home,

I think I'm better off alone.

How apt, Hinata quietly thought. She realized she was yet to reply him. Why was she here again…? Oh yes, that.

"…train with me…" At that, Neji's glare seemed to have lessened. Or did it intensify? Hinata didn't know the difference; the angry fire still burned. Instead, he turned around and continued with his katas. He must've just started training, sweat yet to break out.

"I have nothing to do with a weak person," Okay, now Hinata didn't know what to call it, but she was sure it was being pissed.

The Hyuuga didn't know what took over her, but she felt herself move and a blink later, Neji was blocking her jab with widened eyes. She felt really good that she managed to surprise him. Perhaps Hinata was sick of being assumed as the weakest of her sisters. She felt disgusted with herself that they treated her like a baby, even though they were essentially of the same age.

Hinata wanted to protect, not be protected.

But for now, working out her frustrations on him seemed good.

She brought her knee up, aiming for his stomach. Another block. Hinata rabbit-punched him, only to have it dodged. He back-flipped and took a fighting stance from his katas. It was different from the stances Anko taught them; his palm faced her while the other arm was bent at his stomach and his legs were bent and wide apart. Ninja-ish.

She dimly thought about her own stance; her fists tucked in, legs slightly part and head drooped.

Why did everyone keep thinking they were related? There was absolutely nothing similar other than the eyes.

Nothing.

Hinata moved, her speed not like Ino's but better than average. She kicked at his stomach, which he easily caught. Using his hold as support, she jumped and swiped another kick at his face. Neji blocked it but skidded to the side, his legs shifting to stop him from falling. A punch sailed towards her as she moved out of its way and grabbed it, pulling and thrusting a knee up.

He caught it with his palm and pushed her back. Hinata regained her footing while Neji aimed a high kick which she blocked and replied back with a punch of her own. He caught her fist and didn't relent when she tried to wry it free. He cocked back his own fist and threw it at her face. Hinata dodged it as she grabbed Neji's wrist. Before he could so much as react, she went horizontal, using his hand as leverage and twisting to position herself behind him.

With another beat, the hidden knife peaked out of her flowy top, very much pressed into Neji's back while her hand still gripped his wrist. His hold was slack now, curled into a tight fist of his own.

Hinata was acutely aware of how tight her hold was.

"Lady…" The resigned anger in his voice was the only thing that registered in her mind. It wasn't until she saw red pooling on his white shirt that she reeled back into reality. She took a step back and quickly checked the blade. All the poisonous blades were locked up in a briefcase, and even then she wasn't sure of the blades she hid on herself.

It was a clinical scalpel and she stared at the blood coating an inch of it. Sterilized and dipped in a mild anesthesia, probably for quick bloodletting, should the need ever arise. Neji probably felt just a prick and after that, nothing.

She looked at the still-blooming stain on his shirt.

An inch of blood. An inch deeper.

Did she loose her mind already?

"N-Neji, I'm s-sorry… Please let me tend the w-wound," She panted through the breaths, her eyes fixed on the stain. Neji turned around and Hinata had to meet his eyes, the very least. But he was staring at the floor.

"No, I cannot allow that, lady," The anger was still there, but simmered down to a mild glare. At least in her mind. She was confused; why did he keep calling her that? In fact, he was yet to call her by name. She shook her thoughts away.

"I insist…! P-please…" Manners were everything after all. He clicked his tongue and started walking away. Hinata was about to ask him again when he decided to sit down on a bench. Neji easily stripped out of his shirt, not at all flinching. He inspected his shirt, shook his head and tossed it under the bench.

"The first aid kit is in the box under the bench, lady,"

Hinata gulped and stared at him. He was lean, but not skinny. There was no fat and development was there where needed. The scar on the top of his left arm was an ugly blemish.

Neji was not out of breath, like her. Sweating, but not panting. She realized that he could've easily beaten her, just that he went easy on her.

Rather, he decided to underestimate me…

"Lady?"

Hinata shook herself from her musings. Now was not the time. The blood mostly stopped flowing but it was streaked all over his lower back. And the pain was gonna be back eventually, as soon as the anesthesia wore off.

"Y-yes, I'm coming…" She quickly shuffled over to him, crouching down to the small metal box. As soon as she snapped the latch open, she could at least say she wasn't surprised. Next to the kit, there were two Berettas, two daggers, clips of ammunition and a number of Senbon. She dumped her scalpel there; no time to strap it back in, and took out the white box.

She settled herself next to him, slightly blushing but commented no further. With a sigh, she took out the bandage rolls, cotton and the dettol from the box.

A few rustles later, she tentatively dabbed the dettol-dipped cotton at the wound.

Neji flinched, a hiss escaping his mouth.

Well, at least the anesthesia was wearing off.

~+o.o+~

Sakura dodged another blade, watching Tenten catch the blade and stash it into her pocket. So far, only three blades were thrown in quick succession and Sasuke was doing very well avoiding them. There was nothing but the sound of the wind slicing as the dagger sailed in their direction from out of nowhere.

This was simply the warm-up.

The pinkette tensed; it could be one really discreet person throwing them, or at least five people circling them right now.

She closed her eyes and concentrated, her senses flaring out around her.

Wait for it…

A crunch. And then movement.

Shannaro!

Sakura punched the ground in front of her, enough for a tremor to shake the footing of the attacker. Her eyes snapped open and found a seriously anorexic man stumbling, his eyes wide in shock. She stepped forward to beat him down, but Sasuke beat her to it.

The Uchiha got in the first punch, the target hit squarely at the jaw. He fell to the floor, but quickly rolled away as Sasuke aimed a kick at his head. He jumped back and pulled out another of his daggers, throwing it just as quickly at his opponent.

But before the dagger could hit its target, it was intercepted by another, the two clanging. The man was surprised and then turned to see the girls, as if just remembering that they were there.

For a second there was no movement, as they all contemplated the next move.

Until Tenten threw the remaining of his daggers, in an arc.

Then, all hell broke loose.

The Uchiha attacked relentlessly, dodging the counterattacks while Tenten and Sakura attempted to hit his unprotected side. In a sudden move, the brunette was knocked aside, her back skidding across the ground. Sasuke turned away his eyes just for a second and that was all the man needed. A punch flew to Sasuke's temple, an instant knockout guaranteed. He smacked into a tree and slid down, unresponsive.

Sakura had only a moment's reprieve before the attacker was intent on getting her knocked out as well. She matched his punches and kicks with blocks and dodges, his offense not letting up at all.

But he hurt Sasuke who was looking out for her sister. And he was going to pay in blood.

She let herself be hit by one of his attacks, the punch blasting pain through her stomach. She tasted blood. There was no way she would get the opening she needed. Instead of falling as expected, she back-flipped and punched the ground, an earthquake shaking out. Cracks split the earth as he slipped on the now-loose ground. Just as he was about to recover from the fall, Sakura cocked back her fist, mustered her strength and punched his stomach as payback.

Blood spurted from his mouth and just as he curled into a ball, she broke his nose just because he hurt Tenten too.

BOO YEAH!

That had him out cold like a candle. Sakura stared at the man's limp form, rubbing her bruised knuckles. She needed to catch up with her training. Tenten was already standing, warily watching the man with his own daggers back in her hands.

"Should we go call for help?" The brunette asked.

"We don't how far away we are. Might take ages by the time we call them. We'll take him hostage instead," Sakura returned, her eyes searching around the scenery. The brunette chewed her lips in thought; what if there was more of him? "Tenten, search for some vines to tie him up with,"

"Okay," And she took off in a jog, the daggers clutched tightly in her hand.

Sakura stared at the man; what to do for the time being? She had to check whether Sasuke was alright and turning her back didn't seem appealing. Neither did waiting.

"…I got some trip wire in my pockets," A quiet voice mumbled. Startled, she looked at Sasuke, his hands already digging through the pockets. After a minute, he held them out, obviously not getting up anytime soon.

With a glance down below, she retrieved the item and quickly starting wounding it around his shins and hands, not at all sorry that it was slicing in. The bastard deserved the extra pain.

It wouldn't hold for long, but for now it would do.

"Was it that bad?" She questioned, walking to him.

"You weren't on the receiving end of it," Point. Even though she was hit as well. Sakura held out a hand to him, which he accepted after a minute. He stood up without much effort and then proceeded to blink. "Goddamn stars…"

Sasuke didn't seem so intent on releasing her hand, so Sakura started analyzing the situation. Inner Sakura wasn't helping her much with that thought though.

One unknown half-dead man, hell-bend on hurting them, out-cold on the ground. One Sasuke who really knew how to fight, how to throw his fists and seemed well-seasoned with these types of ambushes. And he didn't seem so disoriented anymore.

One very confused Sakura here.

"I found some!" Tenten ran into the clearing with the vines twisted into a make-shift rope. Sasuke let go of her hand and the red flushed even the tip of his ears. Sakura stared at his bruised knuckles.

"You're getting a first-aid from me as soon as we're back,"

"Tie him before he wakes up," Sasuke said, pointedly ignoring the statement. "Start moving. I'll be circling around for more," And before the pinkette could say further, he ran off in a random direction.

"…probably just to get away from me," Sakura sulked as she turned towards Tenten. "What?"

The brunette in question smirked. "Nothing,"

She glared hard, until she heard someone moaning. Sakura quickly picked up the man by the collar and punched him at the temple again.

Even Tenten winced.

"He'll live,"

And with a sigh, she started tying the man.

~+o.o+~

Neji was walking down the stairs, a fidgeting Hinata following him as well. Hinata simply didn't know what to do next; she was too pumped up to fall asleep and didn't trust herself alone with her thoughts. And the other Hyuuga didn't seem to mind her company. She sighed.

Hyuuga.

Hinata knew that there is a prestigious family residing in Konoha with the same name, but she was pretty sure she had nothing to do with them. Random people tend to share their first names, so it applied to last names too.

What put her on shackles was that Neji kept calling her 'lady' which certainly had something to do with the family. Did he actually think she was related to him? Even if so, why the formality?

The male Hyuuga was in the kitchen, shifting through the cupboards in search for a snack or two.

"Would you like anything, lady?" Neji asked, as if out of obligation. Hinata still didn't understand where she went wrong.

"…it's Hinata…," She quietly murmured, staring at the green and white checkered tiles.

"Excuse me, lady?" Neji actually turned around with a sandwich in his hand.

"My name is…Hinata… Please refrain from calling me lady…," Hinata said, her voice stronger now. Confusion clouded Neji's eyes for a moment, smoothly replaced by the ever-present glare.

"I am to address you as lady at all times. It's required by the branch members to do so," Neji frowned.

"But I am not from the Hyuuga family…! I may share the last name, but I am certainly not related to them," Hinata was well aware of the family's branch members, who serve the Main house for the complete period of their lifetime. The fact that Neji even implied her association with the main house disturbed her; she could never let another do her work while she lazed around.

It was simply a waste of time. Anko taught them to be self-reliant.

"Are you not Hinata Hyuuga?" Neji simply questioned, his posture annoyed at the childishness of being referred to as lady.

"…I am," Hinata simply answered.

"Then are you not the daughter of the main house?"

"No…! I am-" She stopped midway. Hinata's parentage was unknown to her. Anko might've freed kids that day, but she had freed strangers she knew nothing about.

For all she knew, the female Hyuuga might've been born into the main house.

She became quiet, as Neji took a bite of his sandwich. It was a long while before she could come up with anything.

"…how do you know I am from the main house…?"

"Because Hiashi had lost you that day,"

Hinata didn't believe reality anymore.

It was starting to make sense.

...

...

...

I will not even begin to apologize because that'll take up add up a useless 1,00 words to this already very short chapter.

:(

Sorry. Yeah. Sorry. ;_;

So all these months have been spent in living life, however horrible and decrepit it is.

In short, a utterly unreasonable Writer's Block.

It's also because we were a bit demotivated. You see, when you attempt to write a plot-thickened fic for the first time, shifting from one-shots, it ends up being, well, a bit unstable.

Bluntly put, we feel like rewriting this again.Mainly because it's too comedic in some parts and feels more like fillers, rather than being important to the plot.

Now then, the questions we need answers to;

More comedy or more plot?

More romance, or seriously more advancements with plotline?

More clear words to explain the situation or actually, less wordiness of sentences, thanks to the fact that English is not our native language?

More day-to-day-based scenes or day-skips to move the plot?

More school scenes or more home scenes?

Which character you wanna see more of?

Which plotlines need to be advanced further, instead of introducing new ones? Currently, seeing as we are a bit...double-minded here, you should've guessed by now I tried to do the impossible and make layers upon layers of plot. So the main plot is 'girls kill snake bitch.' And the subplots are dayum long.

That's about it for questions.

We won't be asking whether we should continue or not. Wasting almost two years worth of writing, only for it to stop gets sad. ;_;

PS: We actually beg. REVIEW FOR MORE CRAZY SUIKA TIME. :'D Or at least for more SasuSaku.

PPS: This chapter is not proofed. Other than reading it a few hundred times to continue writing... Please feel free to correct us. :)

PPPS: SOMEBODY FLAMED ME CAUSE OF LANGUAGE. Achievement unlocked. It's T-rated, calm thy kits, plz. :'D