I really hope everyone likes this chapter! Thank you for all the reviews, I truly appreciate and it keeps me writing! This chapter is dedicated to kandita, because well your detailed review just made me so happy. Thank you. I hope this chapter does not disappoint.

In Acrimonious Salvation

CHAPTER II:

IN VULNERABILITY

"Lost, so small amid that dark, hands grown cold, body image fading down corridors of television sky." – William Gibson

"Quiet monsters try on our empty skins. A better fit, a swollen precision. She takes comfort in her broken gods, as powerless as they are, it's always sharp. – The end is weak, strangling under the haunt of freedom. The beginning is merciless." - Unknown

The sun had decided it would be absent today. The clouds loomed over, shrouding the school in extensive shadows, despite it being one in the afternoon. Though the weather was relatively cool and clement, most groaned at the lack of beauty.

Sasuke wrote the last of the outline in his history assignment, pretending to be concerned about his studies. Deciding it was better to look diligent and occupied so people wouldn't bother him.

When he sees a flash of pink and the scent of cherries and oranges, he reluctantly looks up in exasperation. "Sasuke-kun!" The proverbial shrill voice and adoring emerald eyes looks down at him in enthusiasm.

"Sakura." He deadpans. He wasn't really in the mood for this.

"I didn't get to thank you for coming to karaoke with us last week. Though you left early, it was really fun. You didn't get to sing." She pouted, and placed a few locks of candy colored hair behind her ears sheepishly. "Maybe next time we could sing our duet." She beamed at him that signature charming thousand watt smile.

"Hn." That little 'party' last week made him unyielding to his decision that he absolutely loathes karaoke. And not because of the awful lack of talent or the damage done to his hearing. But because he feels that he not only had he wasted his time being 'fascinated' by that bland little mouse, she made him look like a fool. He felt cheated that he had so carefully scrutinized that girl, and not only was he wrong but she was also terribly pathetic. He almost felt warranted to demand that she give back his time.

"Ah, Sasuke – kun, do you need help studying? We could swap some notes or something?" Sakura enquired; breaking him from his train of thought.

He sighs; resisting an urge to roll his eyes, and closes his book. "No. I'm fine, Sakura."

"Are you sure?" She questions, he doesn't answer. "Okay than… Uh, I could stay here if you want me too. I mean it is my free period. I wouldn't mind keeping you company."

He represses an irritated groan. "Actually, I'm leaving." Standing from his chair, he takes his bag from the chair and makes his way past the rosy – haired girl, not bothering to look back.

"Oh. Okay. Bye, Sasuke-kun!"

Making his way through the surprisingly lightly occupied hallway, he decides to go to his locker to place his heavy history book away. He feels slightly goaded at the way his week has been going.

For some atypical rationale, he can't seem to get that annoying mouse's face out of his head. It vexes him that even though he's deemed her mundane, she refuses to retreat from his mind. Though he does make it habit to completely elude her or spare her a single glance, he does find that he has become largely sentient of her existence, far more than before. The thought makes him realize that she hasn't been in study hall.

He closes his locker door with a minute grunt, and continues to make his way to wherever his feet decides to lead him.

What interrupts him his course is a resonance of a slap ricocheting from the room in front of him, accompanied by a condescending scolding saying, "You're such a little whore you know that?"

Arching an eyebrow he walks up to the door, it was slightly open and he peers in. It was a trio of girls, impending over what he could only conclude as another girl who was slumped down on her knees, holding her raw, newly bruised cheek. The victim's head was lowered; her lengthy bangs shielded her eyes. Sasuke only concluded that the three girls attacking the one girl were dismal but the dupe was even more pathetic.

"I don't know what makes you think you can act all cheeky with Sakura and Ino and than all chummy with the guys. Your cousin only hangs out with you because he has too." The girl in the middle sneered, and snorted when the girl remained silent. "I mean, at least Sakura and Ino are pretty. But you – you're useless and ugly. It's disgusting how you cling to them." The ring leader spat.

Wait.

Sasuke didn't have much time to register his thoughts when fair lavender eyes gazed up from beneath the veil of locks, surprisingly absent of tears, as if she were used to this, accustomed to it, expecting it. He realized that she was looking straight at him – she knew he was there.

One of the girls, a blonde one, gripped her by the hair and forced her head back down to look at the ground.

Sasuke felt compelled to barge in there and stop the whole mess; it was despicable, and pitiable, really. Picking on such a diminutive girl, transferring such vain insecurities and anger due to the lack of their own self worth was just plain disgusting.

But he didn't.

He wasn't her savior.

I was right, she is pathetic.

Slender fingers trailed effortlessly over the ivory keys of the piano, emitting the sorrow – filled notes of the 'Moonlight Sonata'. Caressing the keys smooth texture, she closed her eyes allowing herself to feel the music. She willed her fingers to try and imitate the passion Beethoven had intended, but at the same time allowing her own raw emotions to convoy the notes. The pain, the frustration, the sadness, the loneliness, and the anger overwhelmed the room along with the music.

When playing the piano, it was the only time she could feel. The only she felt as if she were allowed to convey any emotion besides the accepted content. The music permitted her the sensation of being airborne, and for that she was entirely grateful. It satiated the lull in her heart that frequently felt so bitterly vacant. It allowed her to let go - to forget.

When the song ends, she softly touches her cheek tracing over the fresh band – aid that so gracelessly brandishes her face. It's not fair that she allows herself to feel so weak, to be so weak. And the accusing look of night tinted eyes never makes it any better. After the little incident over a week, she's become conscious of the trenchant abyss colored orbs, always seemingly blaring, telling of her irrelevance.

The brusque sound of clapping emitted from behind her, snapping her briskly from her reverie.

"Hinata – chan! Shit! You're just too good!" A blush grazed the said girl's cheeks as she looked at the orange haired female, who was grinning from ear to ear. Hinata quickly shut the piano, and turned to face the woman in embarrassment.

"A-Ah…G-Gomen, Tayuya - s-sensei, I didn't m – mean to come without t-telling you."

The older attractive female waved dismissively at her apology, and just continued to grin. "I promised you can use the music room whenever you wanted."

And for that Hinata was eternally indebted, her father no longer tolerated her playing the piano. For two years now, the extravagant ebony piano in her home stayed cold, it's only use was decoration. A month ago, she had stumbled in to the rarely used music room in the farthest corner of the school. She wasn't even sure how she had staggered in to the room, but the piano had caught her attention, and before she knew it her fingers glided over the ivory keys in recollection. Even after two years, she had never forgotten how to play. Tayuya, the music teacher, had found her in there. She believed she would have gotten in to trouble, but was surprised when she was given permission to use it, before and after school, and if she had a free period. So long as she helped keep the room clean, since dust recurrently collected in the surfaces of the aged room. Hinata did not mind, it was only a small price to pay to feel again.

School had just ended about fifteen minutes ago; she had been able to slip past her friends. Though, she felt guilty about not just telling them where she was going, she had just wanted this one piece of privacy to herself.

"T-Thank y-you again, s-sensei." She lightly bowed to the older women.

"It's alright! But damn, are you sure you don't want to join the music club? We need some talent," The female teacher winked.

"A-Ano, I-I can't, I'm so-sorry."

"I know, I know." Tayuya groaned, and than smiled. "It's alright. But my offer still stands."

Hinata nodded graciously, a small smile graced her lips. "T-thank you!"

The older women quirked an eyebrow as she quickly skimmed the smaller girl's features. "What happened to your cheek?" She asked concern laced in her usually booming voice.

"A-Ah," Hinata instinctively touched her cheek. "P-Papercut.."

Tayuya's face contorted to one of understanding. "Oh, I see. Must hurt like a bitch, huh?" She questioned. Hinata's face brightened at the older woman's use of such course language. Tayuya didn't seem to notice. "So how long are you staying? I'm going to have to lock up soon."

"O-Oh! I was just about to g-go."

"Are you sure?" The red – head enquired, raising an eyebrow in doubt.

"H-Hai."

"You know, I can just make you a key."

"E-Eh? N-No, it's o-okay! I don't wish to cause i-issues."

"No, it's no problem. I'm not going to be here next week anyway. So, I'll get you a key tomorrow. So you can play whenever you want. Alright, kiddo?"

"A-Ano, are y-you sure…" Hinata poked her index fingers together lightly. "T-thank you sensei."

"No problem."

Hinata smiled, taking her russet colored backpack from the floor, and stood up. She went to the door, and gave her another smile and a pliable gesture of goodbye prior to opening the door. As soon as she stepped out of the room, her face connected with hard material. She quickly bowed when she realized she'd bumped in to someone. "G-Gomennasai!"

"Hyuga-san?"

Hinata looked up, and stared in to dark hazel eyes. "Yakushi-s-sensei! I-I'm so sorry! I-I didn't s-see you."

Kabuto smiled down at the girl, "It's alright. I was only looking for Kiba; he was supposed to help me bring some prints from the print room after school today. It's his punishment for failing that quiz yesterday. Good job on your 98 by the way."

She blushed at the praise. "T-Thank you… A-Ah, I-I can help you sensei." Hinata offered, not wanting Kiba to get in trouble for skipping out on his punishment.

"Are you sure? Aren't you occupied?" He said looking at Tayuya, who was walking up to them. He pushed his glasses back on to the rim of his nose with his index finger. "I don't want to get you in to trouble."

"Oh no, she's fine. We're done here." Tayuya answered, while putting on her coat. "Hinata just likes to use the music room sometimes after school." She shooed them from the door and locked it.

Kabuto looked back down at the girl. "Well, if you aren't busy, I would really appreciate you're help, Hyuga-san."

Hinata softly nodded, "I don't m-mind."

"Well I'll see you tomorrow, Hinata! Bye, Kabuto!" The red – headed teacher waved to the duo, they waved back. She walked the opposite of them, turned a corner, and disappeared, though her steps still echoed in the dark hallway.

"I guess we should get started, I don't want to keep you." He offered a diminutive smile, while once again shifting his glasses on the rim of his nose. She nodded in response.

It didn't take long to get to the printing room, though it was on the second floor. Kabuto shifted through his pocket in search of the keys and took out a big band filled with numerous keys. He laughed nervously. "Ah, sorry Hyuga-san, this might take awhile."

"I-It's alright." She reassured him.

After a couple tries at finding the right key, he finally found the one that fit. He opened the door, and motioned for her to go in, after repeating something about 'ladies go first', and walked in after her, shutting the door. The room was rather small, and the big printer took much of the space.

"I only need to print the 300 copies, back and front; I don't want to use too much paper. And than stamp them, than bring them back to the class." Hinata nodded. "Thank you, this would take much longer if I had to do them by myself." Kabuto went over to the pile of clean white papers; he took a thick cluster of them, and went over to the machine. He filled in the paper holder, placed in the original dissertation, and put in the combination to print in the amount he wanted.

Hinata shifted nervously in the corner, unsure of what to do. She nervously toyed with the hem of her skirt.

"Would you mind getting me that brown container?" Hinata looked up quickly breaking from her blank thought haze.

"H-Hai." She located the carton, and handed it to him. His hands glazed over her's, causing the small girl to stiffen. She looked at him, and noticed him staring at her. She didn't know why, but a cold tremor overwhelmed her body. She didn't like this. Not one bit.

His gaze held the similar intensity in class, every time she caught him staring at her... She didn't know if it was just her imagination or not, but it made her anxious. She quickly retreated back to her corner, and went back to dubiously staring at her feet.

"You are very helpful, Hyuga-san. Thank you." She looked up, and nodded. "Do you mind if I call you Hinata-chan? I know it'd be terribly unprofessional of me, but I'd like to be friends with my students."

"Ya-Yakushi-se-sensei…" Her face reddened.

"You can call me Kabuto, I don't wish for you to be so formal with me. It makes me feel old." He chuckled, what would seem nervously to seem, but it echoed only with predatory intent to Hinata. This was all too familiar.

She felt her heart palpating intensely in her chest. She couldn't make out his eyes, due to the light from outside that danced on his glasses producing a gleam of radiance that played over them. The ambiance in the room shifted unnervingly, becoming almost unbearable. She couldn't breathe; the oxygen seemed to almost completely evaporate.

"A-Ano…"

"You know, Hinata-chan, you're very pretty, if you don't mind me saying." It didn't take much for him to be next to her since the room was already quite small. He was staring down at her. Hinata noticed he was almost a full head taller than her. She could almost feel the sensation of his breath on her face. An unreadable emotion danced in his hazel eyes that made her stomach churn painfully. "Do you find me attractive, Hinata-chan?" She really didn't like the way her name sounded on his lips, it sounded sullied, almost vile. She gripped the hem of her skirt tightly, and darted her opal eyes away from him, and closed them firmly. She felt the coolness of his fingers softly trail down her cheek.

She really regretted coming. She felt so powerless, so vulnerable.

Was she always meant to be this way?

She hadn't even noticed that he'd detached himself from her space; she was too focused on the rapid beating of her heart.

"I'm sorry if I've made you uneasy." He quelled, he was back to the printing machine.

Hinata quickly looked at him, unsure of what to say. "…its okay, y-you… didn't." She lied. She turned away from him, uncertain of what to do.

She hated this.

She really did.

"Yo!"

"You're late." Letting out a growl of frustration, Sasuke turned to the fair haired man who stood over him. The older man took a seat across from him, a mischievous glint in his dark colored eyes. Sasuke thinned his eyes at the man's carless shrug. "I'm leaving."

"Oh, c'mon Sasuke, don't be so sour. I just had some business that needed to be taken care of."

"Kakashi, you told me to meet you here an hour ago. I don't have time for this. I'm tired. I just came from basketball practice."

"So you're doing well?" The older man acquired. Sasuke just rolled his eyes. "I'm glad; I thought you would have a hard time adjusting to that school like the previous ones. You're even doing a sport." Kakashi wiped a faux tear from his eyes.

"Whatever. I was just getting sick of moving around." Sasuke retorted.

"Well, as long as you're fitting in well. Naruto goes there too, right?"

"Is that all you wanted?" The ebony – haired male narrowed his eyes at the man in front of him in annoyance.

"Oh Sasuke, I'm just trying to be a good guardian." Kakashi feigned hurt. "How's the apartment? I wish I could come there more often, but you know too many enemies, and all that." Sasuke just rolled his eyes. It's not like he was an idiot. Since Kakashi was a government agent, his job not only contained him to either the inner city or frequent travel, but he was also a danger to those close to him since throughout his career he's obtained many that wanted to, well, kill him. Kakashi had been his guardian for quite some time, though throughout most of it he remembers being by himself.

"Whatever. Is that it? I want to go home."

"Oh c'mon Sasuke, you just got here." The older man waved off his announcement of departure.

"Well some of us have things to do."

"Would you like to order anything?" A young attractive girl with short blonde hair came to their table. She blushed when both good-looking males turned their interest to her.

"Yes."

"No."

Sasuke bit back a growl at the older man. Kakashi just grinned. "Don't mind him. My brother's just a bit cranky. Isn't that right Sasuke – chan?" He leaned over to ruffle the younger, brooding male's mane. The blonde waitress blushed even redder at this; the scene was just too unbearably cute. "I'll just take a coffee, with extra cream and sugar."

"W-Would that be all?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

The girl looked like her face could possibly explode from his comment. "I-I,"

"Don't you have a job to do?" Sasuke barked irritated. The girl quickly snapped out of her discomfiture and bowed before scurrying away to complete the order.

"Aw, c'mon, Sasuke. That was mean." The said boy just snarled in response.

"You're a pervert; she's way too young for you."

"Age is nothing but a number, don't you know?"

"If that's true then a cell is nothing but a room."

Kakashi shook his head at the boy's petulance, and than his eyes softened.

He's always felt culpable when it came to Sasuke. He regrets that he couldn't – and can't be there for Sasuke as much as he would have liked. The teenager had gone through so much, especially for one so young. Though he's pleased Sasuke seems to be maturing and expanding out of his 'shell'.

He's had his own fair share of an onerous life, but he knew he could hardly comprehend the extent of Sasuke's hurt that was competently hid behind a dexterous veil of apathy.

He remembers the first five years of what seemed like pure hell for Sasuke. He would go through the house not uttering a single word, his dark eyes vacant; closed off to the world. He would seldom eat, he had to regrettably, forcefully place food and vitamin tablets in the boy's water.

Than at nighttime, his screams would pierce the house in such terrorizing shrieks that it caused even him to turn cold. He internally shudders at the memory. He didn't blame Sasuke; in fact it was very understandable that he would be plagued with such nightmares. Especially concerning what had happened…

"Are you okay?"

He noticed the sharp turn of the boy's head at his query. His obscure eyes narrowed in masked contempt, though his face remained fiercely impassive.

"I'm leaving." This time Kakashi didn't stop him.

He knew he couldn't.

As always, entering her abode felt so bitterly cold, even though the heating worked perfectly. She takes a big breath, sighs, and closes the door behind her. Her house was impractically large, big enough four at least four families, though it only housed her, her father, Hanabi, and Neji. Though at times, thankfully, the servants made it seem much livelier than it really was. It was beautifully decorated, combining conventional Japanese architecture and design with European proposes. All the artifacts that resided in the mansion were costly, the paintings were professionally made, and the vases were specially imported. In short it wasn't a home. It hadn't been for three years.

After making her way up the flight of stairs, Hinata notices Neji isn't there yet. He must still be in basketball practice. She idly thinks.

Making her way to her room, she closes the large door with a soft click, and softly drops her bag on the floor. She picks up the photo of a woman with navy colored tresses combed up in a bun, and waned pale eyes. Softly, she traces the woman's features.

She starts to wonder if it's her fault everything has gone this way. If every bad thing that ever happens them, to her, is her own fault, and that she deserves it. She's retreated even deeper in to her shell, learning well to hide herself. She no longer cries when ill things happen to her, because she knows she deserves it. Tears are only for the innocent.

Three rigid knocks compel her from her reverie. She quickly places the portrait back on the auburn tinted bureau and makes her way to the door. "I-I'm coming." She opens the door, and her eyes softly widen in familiarity. "H-Hanabi."

"Father wishes to see you." A young girl with silky coffee colored tresses, and a navy colored middle - school uniform spoke.

"O-Oh, y-yes." Hinata clumsily exits her room and closes the door.

As she makes her way to her father's courters on the far left of the hallway, the sound of Hanabi's voice hinder her in her tracks. "Nee-chan."

Hinata looks back at her younger sister, "Y-Yes?"

She is almost thrown off by the potent look of disdain her sister's gaze possesses in her beautifully wintry eyes.

"I hate you, you know?"

I know.

He was floating in an abyss of fathomless darkness, he felt light as if weighing less than a dove's feather, yet at the same a growing pain rested upon the pits of his stomach weighing him down in intense pressure. He wonders if he has died. He wasn't anywhere, and it had already felt like he had been trapped there for an eternity.

If this was death, he wonders, what were so many people afraid of? It was an eerily tranquil sort of stillness. He felt nothing, absolutely nothing; simply lost in his own thoughts. He could not remember his name, who he was, where he was from, it was like he was a nonentity.

Cold dread swept through his entire being, at the sudden shift of strain in the darkness. It left him struggling to breathe.

The gravity in the realm seemed to have turned on; so he fell and fell.

As he descended, the world around him began to taint dark crimson; it began to reek like blood and putrid flesh.

He did not expect his landing to be soft, but his lungs still felt constricted and the fetid smell did not make it any better. A bitter gargle escaped his arid throat.

Finally getting used to the stench of this new dominion, he stood fully upright.

What in the world was going on? Was this hell? If it was, where was the inferno, the wailing spirits of the damned? Satan? He looks down at his hand, and notices the large imprints of blood on them. He notices that everything was saturated with it; he was no longer the exception because it completely coated his clothing.

A dark, bitter laugh filled the dimension; it caused his skin to erupt in tight goose bumps. The laughter held a cynical familiarity to it that wholly chilled him.

A piercing sensation ran through his stomach, his eyes widened. He looked down, it was a dagger; it had been deeply rooted in to his abdomen. It was too late when he realizes he was now bound to a wooden post, harsh ropes scathed his skin implacably.

A second dagger was plunged in to his chest, an inch near his heart. He coughed out blood, and the sticky substance mixed with his saliva uncouthly trails down his chin. That was when he heard the unrelenting screams of people in pain, crying, praying for salvation, to be rescued. Mixed with the taunting laugher, the cries made him feel as if his mind was edging to madness; he wonders if he was not already there.

The third dagger, this time, was plummeted in to his heart, twists and he screams. And he remembers.

He remembers.

Author's Note: Sorry for the wait guys! I've just finished midterms, and yadayada, I failed. Mostly, probably precalculus. And in Japanese I got a 71! Because I am in idiot, I missed a compel of questions. And for some peculiar reason I truly believed I could study for each exam the day before. NEVER EVER DO THAT OKAY GUYS? Ms GPA is going to be killed. Even worse I am taking three fucking APs, and those aren't the classes I am doing bad in, it's my regular courses (Japanese and PreCalculus). Oh, god. I've never failed, I am so scared that I might get a D for Precalculus, the 71 is actually my lowest final grade, and well I want to cry. Though I did get a 100 on an essay for AP English – woot, woot!

Anyway, I'm going to try and explain some things that might be confusing for some people.

Well, Sasuke's attraction to Hinata is complicated. He also has some physcological issues that will be unraveled throughout the story. That's pretty much what this is going to be about, a façade wearing physco who has complicated attractions to a broken girl, with violence, blood, possible sexual things thrown in there.. So this will kinda be like a mystery too ~ Oh and I hoped I answered to why Sasuke's been living alone. Isn't Kakashi funny? Oh, and btw, Kabuto plays a much larger role than just Hinata's , er, molester. Lol. I picked Kabuto because, honestly, I'm still confused to this day on why he saved her during the chunin exams. Damn, she's always getting spared by villains, lol.

I would love to hear what people think is going to happen, I want to try to make this as unpredictable as I can, though there might be some clichés, I am trying to take a new spin on SasuHina highschool fanfics. I hope people enjoyed this, and it was worth the wait! Review ;D Constructive or Praise, or yeah~ Hehe.

Btw, I am still upset about Neji's death, VERY VERY UPSET. I'm a broken girl guys. I just love the Hyuga's so much. But I feel like Hinata and Sasuke both now have even more in common. Siblings (Neji is like Hinata's bro!) who would die for them without a second thought, and sacrificial for Konoha. Sigh. I have an idea for this, but my heart is going to hurt throughout it.