A/N: Hey guys! Just wanna start and say thanks for all the reviews and favorites and what not you guys are cool beans for that! Anyways i'm gonna apologize ahead of time because of any grammar mistakes. I kind of really rushed this chapter and I didn't have time to revise/edit as much as I would want to. Unfortunately I still have summer assignments and stuff to finish, and school is honestly right around the corner (totally psyched T_T) so yeah. Time is being crunched, but I really had to do get this one out for you guys.

Anyways, hope you enjoy the sixth installment!

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto

The proceeding night, Hinata found herself sleepless. As one might guess, she quickly swerved around the subject of her estranged brother (cousin), but that certainly didn't stop the ignition of enflamed curiosity combined with perpetual anxiety to stir her demons. With each question she found herself asking-how might Tenten know him? Do the others too? What of his current whereabouts?-her desire to know only escalated as her inquisition dragged on without a sign of stopping. She wanted to quit with these thoughts, she had to be resolute and maintain complete aloofness on the topic. Neji was...Neji was no longer her blood. Any sort of presence he might have had in her life was completely idle now. She knew this, and very well too, yet even so, she'd lost complete control of her thoughts. Tenten's question had been some sort of trigger-no, it was a drug in itself, throwing out of balance the very chemistry of her whole consciousness causing it to act separate from Hinata's command. Her thoughts had completely betrayed her, and she suffered as she surrendered to them.

She had been sleeping in one of the futons in Ino's room. Sakura lay across from her, and Ino in her own bed. Hinata lifts herself up, stumbling from her positiion on the floor allowing herself this once to make herself comfortable without being offered, and proceeds to Ino's personal bathroom. She sighed to herself in the mirror, and her head laid against her entwined hands.

Hinata held her sweaty hands together in a fist as she walked to the matt to face her cousin. He walks forward as well with a determined look in his eye, not too fierce, but firm all the same. She was supposed to consider him her rival, and outwardly she did. However, whenever she internalized the fact that Neji, of age eleven soon to be twelve, had already surpassed junior level, and was amongst elite competitors of ages ranging from five to seven years older than them, and winning, a young Hinata's stomach churned with turmoil. She herself was talented in her respective martial arts being Tae Kwan do, Kendo, Ju Jitsu and Kajukenbo. Though Neji was absolutely fautless at all of these as well as Akido and Shintaido.

She tried not to be dejected going up against such a powerful opponent, and tried even harder to genuinely consider him a rival, but as Hinata took her bow, dread crawled up her spine latching itself deeoer and deeper into her vertebrate bestowing a soft fear-inducing caress, until she finally couldn't move. It was ultimately a reminder-she was no match for him. Her eyes quickly dart to the eyes around the room, all of which are vaguely similar to hers, only not. Stern, ostracizing, and most common and predominant of all: cold. Things of which Hinata could not relate.

Hinata held the hem of her shirt. Not wishing to lift her head just yet. It was undoubtedly certain that to lose in general was one thing, but to lose in front of all those who made you, who scrutinize every move, every step, every breath, and regard you only by the missteps you take, the falls that hurt the most, and the lack of character in which they wish to see, well it would take no genius to understand the major disparity of what's at risk. Hinata lifts her head at once, and as her eyes immediately dodge her opponent's face, she does not miss the satisfied look on her uncle's face. She clenched her jaw with anguish so weak and pointless she dismisses it at once. Her inferiority complex had been so well beaten and engrained into her that she had not the courage to harness such an emotion into any power, will, or ambition. He must know this all too well, in fact they all knew it. How Hizashi had taken advantage of his brother's leave; to make her, his own niece, but first and foremost the rightful heiress, look...mediocre. Except with the Hyuga, there were no average joe's. Everything is black and white. You are exceptional or you are not.

On these days Hinata usually trains alone, with her instructor, Ko. Her gut had told her to stay in bed today. She'd been forced to go without dinner last night. She gulps side glancing her uncle again. Now she knows why. Rarely, was there ever a huge gathering like so with all the elders and prime board directors taking time out just to watch a simple sparring match. The Hyuga were like nobles and monarchs fighting for glory-they would grasp it at ay means.

Hinata rolls from her futon, groggy but still feeling sleepless. It was a minuscule sort of memory in comparison to others; she supposed it could be worse, but it was enough to worsen her night. She looks around squinting only to find the Yamanaka and the Haruno staring back. Tenten was on the floor chilling on her phone.

Hinata blinks a couple times still tired and confused. She'd hardly slept, but her body was exhausted, and dragging her mind into depths of fatigue as well. She didn't really know how to react or what to say. Had she been intruding? She couldn't remember a detail from the night before. Or rather was choosing not to. All she was certain of at that moment was that her futon was the only thing currently that had a definite proposition and coherent message: sleep.

She was ready to not give a damn about what was going on when Ino's loud voice penetrated the air. "Well you definitely had fun last night, right?"

Hinata gives a low hum of displeasure forgetting herself. "Huh?"

Tenten laughs at this, and Ino circles in front of her. "Was that like your first real party?"

Hinata wants to consider this, but the sunlight from the window beams against her eyes, and it stings. She rubs them, and the color in the room fades blue and violet. Quickly it returns to the normal color, and Hinata sees the time, and reality sets in. It was midday already and she was still at Ino's house in a futon, and the clothes she wore from yesterday. She rubs the area underneath her bangs adjusting her glasses.

Hinata looks around a bit. "I'm sorry. I've overstayed my welcome."

Ino and the other two look confused. "What do you mean? All you did was sleep."

"I...it's noon already. This is completely inexcusable of me." Hinata states getting up though feeling slightly dizzy. Where are her shoes? Scratch that, how is she getting home?

"Oh pish-posh! We all woke up like not even thirty minutes ago. And that's pretty damn early considering last night."

Hinata nods, and sighs into a yawn. "Where's, um..." Shit, She pauses. It's like thinking too hard was as laboring as running. She knows his name-her brain was trying to take morning off on her. "Name kinda sounds like...like snickers, but then again not really..." The three look between each other.

"Pineapple type guy."

"Oh wow, Shikamaru. Yeah, they slept on the couches downstairs. They couldn't make it up stairs last night." Sakura answers. she was in front of Ino's mirror brushing her hair already.

Hinata was rolling up her futon as neat as possible. "They?"

Ino streches her arms. "You know, Naruto, Shika, Kiba, the whole gang of them. So what are we doing about breakfast guys? I'll get the coffee, but making something sounds like a total dub."

"Don't you have an order menu downstairs? I feel like we'll crash before we make it to waffle house."

Tenten jumps from the floor (and quite literally). "I think I'll redo these knots on my head in the meanwhile." She walks past Hinata, and sends her a quick smile before treading into the bathroom.

It did not put her at ease. She's sure the chocolate-haired girl was unaware of abrupt and violent break in her heart being reminded that someone actually knows him. She clenched a jaw.

Before Hinata knows it, she is alone with Sakura. Naturally, she looks for a means of escape from this awful silence. She was no conversationalist, but she knew a thing or two about doors, and their usefulness in these situations.

"Before you go, Hinata." Sakura starts, and Hinata stops in her tracks. "Ino tells me she suspects Sasuke was talking with another girl last night. And it's completely within his right to do so...I suppose, but-" She cuts herself off, and Hinata soon figures that she is too tired for a repatative conversation, and sighs.

"Well, I did speak to the Uchiha last night, and nothing...significant really transpired. If that's what you were asking, but I do have a question for you." Hinata trails off almost as surprised by herself as Sakura. Sakura looks at her with earnest confusion. "Why do you...like the Uchiha so much?" Hinata, for the life of her, couldn't fathom why someone so rounded like the Haruno would go for the Uchiha. Maybe she didn't know either well enough, but Sakura was more than a pretty face, she could have anyone. And as far as Hinata could tell, Sasuke was stupidly leading her on, not quite interested the way she was.

Sakura looks slightly taken aback by the question. Hinata never showed interest in the topic before. "He..." and the pinkette falters. Hinata's mind soon formulates a theory without any grounds to back it upon, but just by watching the slightly panicked look in her eye, she wasn't trying to come up with an answer...she was trying to deflect it. Hinata raises an eyebrow at this. If she liked him so much shouldn't she swooning? She waits for her to speak, but Sakura's lips purse further. Though she does consider that it is personal question; she may not want to disclose such intimate feelings-she was no Ino. Even so, Hnata's theory soldifies itself. It seemed to her some sort of crush out of habit. To Hinata, Sakura's inability to answer rang childish infatuation, but Hinata did not close her mind to the fact that she could very well be wrong having a lack of information about either.

Should I not have asked?

.

.

Hinata was shifting uncomfortably at the breakfast table as everyone (minus Sasuke for some reason) ate and casually talked. She'd somehow found herself gravitating towards Shikamaru as a "safe haven" amongst the others of the club, and did not hesitate to seat herself beside him on the couch when faced with the option of sitting next to say..anyone else. To say she felt a bit out place was indeed an understatement. At the moment, she was still having trouble beliveing it was even club, or that she was even needed. Based on last night's ventures she wasn't really sure where the "work" lied that brought in their income.

"Is that bastard still on the couch?" Naruto asks.

Kiba chuckles. "What a princess."

Shikamaru calls out to him, and Hinata keeps her head down. It's then that Hinata sees the dark sullen figure lying face down on the sofa. He was a lightweight and on top of it, had the worst recovery out of most of them.

Sasuke's body seemed to have melted into the soft, lush couch. It's like the two had become one. He couldn't seem to rip himself from the fabric, but finally managed to roll just enough sideways that his right eye was visible where the rest of his face remained buried. He glares at his pineapple headed friend.

"What." He murmurs but the crispness was loud and clear.

"Food's here bro."

Sasuke sighs as he throws the small blanket from himself in a most annoyed fashion. He lifts himself up carefully as if a slow pushup, and sits back on the couch in a relaxed manner. "I'll take it on my way out. I gotta dip soon." He says glancing at his phone.

Naruto perks up. "Why?"

Sasuke rolls his eyes. "What do you mean 'why'? For what reason would I voluntarily subject myself to getting up before noon on a Saturday?"

Hinata's lips purse as she sulks. Work. "That's right." She mutters to herself, and Ino looks over at her.

"The old lady's making you work on a Saturday? Oh you're sick." Naruto laughs to himself.

"You have work too?" Ino asks, and the others are looking as if curious as well. Hinata looks at her plate of hashbrowns, nodding.

"Damn, that sucks," She hears Tenten say. "So you guys like work together?"

Hinata opens her mouth to answer but Sasuke is quick to answer. "Sort of. I'm more like her boss though." He says sitting on one of the stools.

Hinata doesn't deny this as Tenten sends him a weird look. It was true, but Hinata rolls her jaw at him. She felt weirdly bitter towards him this morning- she somehow vividly remembers speaking to the Uchiha and his racy comments around the Yamanka. It didn't sit well with her. However, other than that, concerning the events of last night, Hinata could only content herself to the blurring images of dancing, music and small talking.

"For the time being, he is." Hinata clarifies.

"Ohh, then so you're training her?" Tenten asks.

Sasuke shrugs as if disinterested, and Hinata looks away concerning herself with her hashbrowns instead. Hinata could not speak for Sasuke, but she knew the air aroound was defintely strained. On her side at least.

.

.

Shikamaru pops his head into Ino's room as Hinata is tying her drawstring. "Yo Oshiro, I'm about to be out. You comin' with me or Sasuke?"

Hinata internally sighs as she saw Sakura's head snap out of the corner of her eye. She even felt the girl's eyes on her. "I mean, it depends, how far do you live from campus, it'd be-"

"I'm heading back right now so it's not a big deal. It's up to you."

Hinata straightens her hoodie. "I have some other questions I need to ask, so I'll just go with you."

In the car Hinata sighs, and Shikamaru gives a lazy smirk. "You sound fried. Guessing you took my advice last night."

"Maybe too well..." She scratches her head. "So how many, or rather who is even inside the club."

Shikamaru sighs into a smirk. "That's sort of a complicated question. We have branches of operations. Basically us, everyone at Ino's place are the faces of the operation. Then we have people like, I dunno if you know him, but Choji, a good friend of mine, and starting linebacker, manning the door. He's our"security" if you wanna put it that way. But he's more for show or intimidation. Then we have Shino, a real magician. He knows how to cook it, is the best way to phrase it." Hinata lets out a soft laigh. "then there's the collectors-pretty self explanatory. They collect money from people-which is probably what I'll have you do next couple of parties. They do more than just take money though, they scope out the area and make sure everyone entering is...I guess, checks out. No feds, no annoying neighbors, or rival schools besides the ones we actually acknowledge. That type of shit. You seem to have a good eye, so you'll make good on that. I sometimes had Karin do it, but I'm sure you know how our ladies roll by now. They wouldn't really have it with me, especially the pink one." Shikamaru says.

hinata nods. She guessed a position like that could work for her, but it still sounded far from normal. However, she was happy that she would be occupied with something while she was in this club. She would rather relinquish the option to party like that.

"I guess, and is it safe to presume that last night was...successful?"

Shikamaru huffs a bit. "Last night was fine, but kind of like the lower end of fine." He sees Hinata's baffled eyes, and smirks. "not to say it wasn't fun. But the revenue could've been heftier."

Hinata's faces forward, but this does not rid of her bewilderment. "'Heftier'? There had to have been at least 200 people there last night."

Shikamaru shrugs a little. "It does sound sort of bizarre."

Hinata lightly scoffs. Sort of? "How much do you guys usually make then?"

"Depends how many fucntions we throw. We have around two-three a month, but sometimes that stuff always varies. On average though, combined with the sales we make outside parties like orders and shit-when everything said and done and we split the money, if I'm being modest, it's more or less 10 grand each, every month."

Hinata's eyes widen slightly. And he was being modest. "I...wouldn't it have been a better pitch to say something like that at first?" She asks referring to all their futile attempts.

"Hey I said we would pay you."

Hinata's brows knit together. "You didn't mention I'd be making a full time general practitioner's salary."

Shikamaru lightly laughs at this. "Not full time-we only work during school years. But then I guess I had some of my own reasons as well," and he doesn't explain. "I'll ask a couple questions myself too," Shikamaru glances at her. "About that friend. 'Temari with an i', I remembered her name. I think that deserves an award." He says. Hinata laughs, but she soon realizes he was being sincere.

"Well...what kind?"

"A number would be ideal," He says, and Hnata looks at him side ways. To see someone as apathetic as Shikamaru go out of his way for someone...he'd only just met her-could he really be that interested?

"I suppose, but...I-she's-well, um,-"

"Taken?"

She shakes her head. "No, it's just...she's older. I don't really think she'd be interested in a younger guy, at least from what I know of her."

Shikamaru smirks at this unfazed, "Of course she's not interested in younger guys. I was counting on it."

..

..

Sasuke was bit peeved when he saw he'd shown up before the Oshiro. Shikamaru wasn't the fastest driver, but surely a fifteen minute drive should not be extended into a thirty minute one, and that's exactly what it was about to be. He huffed in annoyance after he changed into his work clothes, making his way to the school. Sasuke hadn't realized it, but he'd become reliant on the girl. Or at the least spoiled by her presece. He hadn't been too excited about her becoming his co-worker before he realized she did most of the chores, and for the most part, compliantly so. Rather than his chores taking up to four hours they now took two.

Part of Sasuke suspected that she might be avoiding him over last night's events. True nothing happened, but even Sasuke was sure he (maybe even they?) had gone too far. His 'relationship' to Hinata was to remain entirely friendly, if that-more or less platonic. No, even professional would be a better fit. When considering this, he then knows that he'd jumped from professional to...sensual. Last night he'd acknowledged some weird attraction towards her, and was drunk enough to ultimately act on it, though subtly. In any case, being that neither were dense, he's sure, that just as he did, Hinata had felt some not quite so platonic things going on around the two.

However, Sasuke was anything but panicked, or creeped out, or things like that such. He was a more than level-headed person. It wasn't his first drunken mistake at a party, it most certainly wouldn't be his last. It wasn't even a mistake he felt was worth regretting. It seemed to not matter to the Uchiha. Which ever way he looked at it, he had a good time. If the Oshiro failed to agree, and thought it some horrible incident...well, that hardly sounded like his problem.

That was until it was a half past two o'clock, almost forty-five minutes late. She wouldn't skip out on work, or on home for that matter just to avoid him, would she? He shakes that nonsense from his head. Where would she have gone? Shikamaru's house? That sounded highly unlikely considering...considering...Sasuke rubs his chin slightly. He tries to come up with a reason as to why they wouldn't go to his house if she was indeed skipping work. Sasuke was a perceptive one, even he noticed that Hinata's friendship had escalated far more than others, that is if he left out Naruto. Now that he thinks about it, he did remember her sitting next to him at breakfast this morning. Could it be?

Sasuke banishes that possibility. That girl just didn't seem like the type to blatantly disregard her duties-she was early for work, ready before him every morning. There had to be some explanation...Although, if it is true, Sasuke couldn't imagine it being anything other one-sided. Knowing Shikamaru, he'll only ever stick around for the blondes.

"Sorry, I'm late." His thoughts are interrupted by said bluenette. She'd changed her outfit into old clothes for cleaning just like him. "I let the time get away from me." She states grabbing a soap from the bucket.

"That's unlike you. Shikamaru didn't just drop you off late?" She doesn't answer right away as if shuffling for words.

Sasuke sighs. "You would've been better coming with me." He watches her reaction to this, and there hardly is one.

"That might've been the case had I not anything to speak with Shikamaru about."

Sasuke turns his head to her. 'Shikamaru'? That was especially strange. She called nearly everyone by their last name. He could understand saying Naruto instead of 'Uzumaki' or Ino instead of 'Yamanka'. For convenience only, one might use the two interchangeably like he's heard her do. But 'Shikamaru' instead of 'Nara'? Maybe his imagination wasn't so outlandish after all.

Sasuke inquires, digging in for further analysis. "So..you what, you went to his house?"

Hinata raises a brow at this, but turns away tugging on her one of her french braids. "No, actually...I,uh, fell asleep." She admits guiltily. Sasuke nods at this accepting it as far more...sensible and realistic. He couldn't really imagine the Oshiro getting too close to Shikamaru or anyone for that matter.

"Mm, Tsunade won't really like that excuse. Got a better one for me?" Sasuke flatly says.

Hinata blinks at him trying to decipher the statement. Was it a tease or was he actually being sincere. Hinata finally turns to him, and she is slightly taken aback at his hair. Not only was his forehead completely exposed, but his bangs were completely pinned back-almost in a feminine manner. She believes had regular eyes, not predisposed to the Uchiha's personality, set eyes on him, they might've actually found him darling in a way. Hinata herself on the other hand, completely restored to her old self could not concur. Though she would admit the hairstyle in combination with that disinterested look on his face-now that she found amusing. The flat and stoic expression he wore also indicated he was most likely being serious.

"Uh...then tell her Shikamaru needed last minute help with the club."

Again? He thinks. So this was a consistent and regular thing now. Clearly the first time was no fluke. He sighs scrubbing at the dirt. "Hn."

Hinata glances at him. "I'm surprised you're not just gonna tell her I'm late."

Sasuke scoffs. "As if I'd go through that amount of work just for that. Chances are she'll find a way to drag me in with you, and punish us both." He glances back at her to observe and 'measure diligence' as Kakashi had put it. Her skills had improved (indeed there is technique in this sort of thing),but she was still somewhat lacking. And he realized it wasn't because her technique sucked, but because her shoulder had a weird disability. Either she was trying to hard to cover for it, or the nerves in that part of her body were totally out of whack. Her shoulder was awkwardly wincing every couple of brushes and strokes. It's then he remembers how she looked about two weeks before this. She'd been covered in bruises, and they were nasty looking. He also remembers the size of them, and how there was no way she'd fought a person of her build, age or even gender.

It's also now, that Sasuke remembers: he doesn't know a damn thing about this girl.

Hinata feels Sasuke's cool gaze on her back. She could determine the difference between one that held hostility and one that didn't without even turning around. Based off his commentary and inquiry, she had mind that he was being analytical as if to figure something out, though she couldn't be entirely sure. She tries to complete her duties without minding the pain in her shoulder or Sasuke's stares. There was something about the latter that was far more laboring. After about nearly thirty minutes of acting like she didn't notice or care, she gives up.

"You're staring...a lot." She finally remarks.

"You didn't seem to mind last night." Sasuke inwardly face palms. It was a slip of the tongue. All within .5 seconds his mind had thought it funny in a clever way, and agreed to say it without Sasuke's full awareness. He sees her flinch, just slightly, at the comment. She wasn't aware that they'd be acknowledging last night at all; so it certainly came as a bit of shock for him to say it so...casually.

"I was...largely impaired-intoxication wise." She couldn't keep the jolting nerves from her throat. Really? She had thought to herself.

"I can concur. Anyways, is that a birth defect or should you just take a break?" Sasuke asks nonchalant, but eager to switch subjects.

Hinata was very confused at this question. He rolls his eyes slightly and pats his shoulder. She nods to herself. "Oh..." She was slightly shocked he'd noticed it. She was sure she'd done a good job making sure no one caught on to her vulnerability. "it's not...it's just slightly burdensome from time to time."

Sasuke nods. "Break it is then."

Hinata shakes her head. "No, it's fine-"

Sasuke grunts. "Way to only think about yourself. I'm still shit tired too."

.

"So how'd you get 'em?" He asks breaking the silence. They were sitting in the hallway of the west wing. Sasuke was munching on some rice and and chopped tomatoes. Hinata, a cliff bar. She looks across at him, but her eyes lacked surprise. He was being somewhat talkative today, as well as unpredictable.

"I didn't think you'd be interested." She says knowing that he was referring to her wounds.

"I didn't think you'd be so quick to avert the question."

Her head involuntarily falls. "I told you, fight."

Sasuke nods. "Did you win?"

Hinata smirks to herself, the question was amusingly unexpected. "I guess you could say..."

Sasuke gives her a weird look conveying skepticism. Hinata returns a brash look. "What's that look?" She asks.

Sasuke chomps at his rice. "I'm just thinking those were some pretty bad bruises." He says thinking back to his previous analysis of who she'd actually fought. Underneath those clothes might be someone stronger than he'd first suspected, but still, he couldn't see her taking on anyone bigger than say...Tenten. But then again, he could be prejudice-he only saw her as a puny girl after all.

"I've had wor-" Hinata purses her lips at that. Maybe she shouldn't...

''Worse than those? You must've been as bad as me from back in the day," He chuckles lightly sipping on water.

Hinata tilts her head at him. "Oh yeah?," She asks challenging tone. "what's your backstory?"

Sasuke looks at her funny. "Hn, you didn't even tell me yours."

"True," she says, and they both sit there for a moment contemplating the other. Sasuke had become somewhat of a maze to her. Or maybe it's just that he was moody, or maybe he had multi-personality syndrome. Or maybe...he just did whatever he preferred to do, regardless of image. She couldn't be sure, but no matter which way she rationalized it, she didn't actually...mind this Sasuke. The calm and aloof one that seemed wrapped up in his own world, but was carefully studying the one around him. Last night, she'd wondered into the maze accidentally. The outcome? A turn of weird and unexpected "events". She reprimanded herself for it, and took some weird vow that morning(she was still very hungover at that point) to make it so it didn't happen again. Her experience with the Uchiha, would stay just that an experience of course. She'd never think about it again, and grow uncommunicative towards him. But that wasn't the reality of the situation. In fact she'd been kidding herself all morning and afternoon long because the truth was she didn't make it out of the maze last night.

She still hasn't.

"I used to...street fight. For money." She blurted it out after swallowing a bite of her cliff bar.

Sasuke looks over at her, and smirks. She is slightly taken aback. Could it be..she amused him? "You? A fighter? Well I guess that explains that."

Hinata's mouth slightly parts. She was awe-struck at the arrogance of this guy, and naturally, annoyed as well. "What are you trying to say, Uchiha? I'm not suitable for it?"

He lifts his hands at his sides trying exude innocence. "I'm just saying, it explains all the black and blue. I used to do my bit of street fighting back in the day, and it never turns out well for people who weren't built for it."

Hinata couldn't help but huff with entertainment. "Really? Uchiha, you used to fight?"

Sasuke gives her look as if she were being bizarrely stupid. "Of course, if there's one thing that kept a meal on my plate everyday, that would be it."

Hinata shakes her head at him with a look that said he was full of shit. "At least you had plates. Your old life doesn't sound half bad." She smirks.

Sasuke scoffs. "Shared a room seven other kids at one point. Nothing not bad about that."

"You had a room too? Oh, you were definitely spoiled." She deadpans. She sips her water before looking at him. "Been on my own since I was eleven."

"Try nine." He responds.

She couldn't help chuckling at this. "Became a drug mule."

Sasuke looks away unimpressed. "Tell me which unadopted orphan wasn't at some point?"

Hinata leans a nod at him. "That's true. I couldn't sleep in my room for the first couple of nights because I'm too used to sleeping outside or in loud places."

Sasuke nods at her as if beat, but then replies,"Hn, least you can sleep-that's a rarity for me. My mind is nosy."

Hinata feigns a confused look. "Wait so...you're not friends with your voices?"

Sasuke smirks. "They prefer the term 'demons' actually." Sasuke lets out a stretch. "I didn't receive a cent of child welfare. Foster mom stole it all from and left me to starve."

"My uncle stole my inheritance." Her chin automatically goes north as if she one-up'd him.

"My uncle's dead." He flattens face stoic, and Hinata sighs with a small smile.

The two stare at each other for a short moment before looking away. They were dealing with completely different people now. A short conversation that just lightly tapped the surface of their struggles, and yet the high tide suddenly felt very low, the docks are promptly exposed. They were too familiar with these stories for it to hurt like they were fresh. Now as they were conveying bits and pieces of their stories

"My brother hates me."

"I hate my brother."

"Mom died when I was nine."

Sasuke cranes his neck pursing his lips. "Shit."

"Yours?"

"Not even sure where mine is."

Hinata nodded. "Damn."

"Right?" He says looking up from his tomato at her.

Hinata chuckles at him. "Dad?"

Sasuke let out a defeated grin. "Hated him-Kicked me out. You?"

Hinata sighs. "Hated me. Yours dead?"

Sasuke gives a long sigh. "No.."

"Damn, you win."

Sasuke shakes his head at himself as he couldn't contain a smirk. It was a darkly humorous thing-to find any sort of death amusing. He glances down at her as she drinks her water, and her eyes mull over her food, but even he could see she was looking through it. She surprises him when she suddenly speaks not facing him.

"I didn't think we had so much in common." She slowly looks at him, and suddenly...something about her seems very familiar.

He supposed it was weird thing, foreign really, to know someone who much like him, had a shitty backstory. In this school it was rare for anyone to have it tough, like he had it. He spent his whole high school career thus far realizing that. Two parent, functioning home, with the simple and occasional bickering, but ultimately stable environments. Sasuke knows his life mirrored things of that nature, but he doesn't very well remember it. Or at the very least it felt too far away to even consider his own experience. It seemed more like his past had to have been a set up for the story of his life which he now knows. there was no one on campus who'd truly understood this. So at first, he'd been bitter. Very bitter. Angry at everyone and everything. He'd gotten away with not speaking to anyone his first year given everyone in his year was new to the school. Many came from different middle schools, but according to Naruto, after two months of not uttering a single word "enough is enough". Since then, he'd broken him out of his shell, but in doing so, he'd assimilated into the society of others rather, and more so...left his past behind, even though it's a major contributing factor in what he is, and where he is today, much like every other human being on the earth. He conducted himself with normalcy thereafter; he'd unknowingly lost some of his identity in attending this school here. Regular routine and life had soon taken priority over his substantial past of violence,delinquency, etc., and soon it hardly mattered to him. Just distant memories he would work away from because the world is still spinning, and life would still be fucked whether he pitied himself or not. Around this time, he thought himself too grown to sulk anymore. 'It still matters' is what he would sometimes hear in the back of his mind when he was starting to become too involved in things not pertaining to his unfortunate situation. He shushed them for awhile not seeing the point in going backwards (as much as he had fought himself not to). 'It doesn't anymore' he would chant to himself as he became accustomed to average life-still fighting off the parts of him that disagreed at the time. However it got the point where, he didn't really need to tell himself anymore.

The human mind is a brilliant thing; it can adjust, adapt, and meander as needed all in the name of survival. His priorities took a massive shift; within two years he'd went from doubting he would make it to age twenty to busting his ass for a scholarship, working towards a self-made future. He believes the way the school would view it is 'mission successful'-the former delinquent has been tamed, and when Sasuke thought about it that way, he felt a great disdain but toward no one in particular. He understood the purpose of the school's program-they were only trying to 'help' them, take some kids off the street; nothing evil about that. Their only fault is, conventionalism. They sprouted it on him without hesitation. Being conventional shouldn't be some magic ticket, he'd said it a long time ago however. As well as to write something caging like that off forever, thinking a stagnant life wasn't for him anyways, he'd find a way to be something like a drifter, and rich too...somehow. It's true, he wasn't sure what drugs he'd been on (if any) at that ignorant age of twelve, but there was something he could respect in his younger self's words: to hell with conformity. Did he agree now? Not necessarily. He wondered if his younger self said that just as a way to console the feeling of a damaged pride he acted like wasn't totally squashed after making searching local parks a habit just in order to find any sort of money for food. Though he honestly couldn't say, it's been a long time. What he was sure of however, is that angry kid from all those years ago would surely spit at his polished sneakers now.

Sasuke bit into his second tomato. "I'm not so surprised."

Hinata looks over at him, but he was in deep thought. It was clear to her, he didn't often think of these things. At least not anymore. Sasuke always seemed on alert to her. Now he looked to be in a daze. She sat back against the wall, and wondered if something like that might happen to her. Choosing to totally abandon the past. She can't imagine how that could happen, but she had an inkling it already had to Sasuke.

"So you did a real 180, I'm guessing."

Sasuke sighs into a shrug. He tosses his container to the side. "That's what I've been told."

"Hard to believe the 'Dark King' as they call you had only been just dark before coming here. Or maybe 'ghastly peasant', is more appropriate."

Sasuke's lips twitch at the strange nicknames. "It kind of fits, I think." She says.

Sasuke lightly taps his chin. "Am I still dark? I thought 'golden man' was more appropriate."

"Isn't it golden boy?" Her eyebrows bank in confusion.

His brows knit at her question. "Oshiro, do I even have to explain why that's incorrect?"

Hinata shakes her head at his conceit, even though a small smile emerges anyway. She messes with the ends of her shirt, as she usually does when nervous. Though it was anticipating nervousness. She actually felt strangely comforted in the Uchiha's presence as of current, peculiar as it was. She grabs the fabric of her sweatpants, and leans her head against the wall looking at nothing in particular. In that short moment, where she realized she and the Uhiha were not so unalike, the stone cold floor beneath her felt plush, and the high air conditioning right above was like a warm summer's breeze. In that fleeting moment, Hinata felt comforted and relief, and it was for the simple fact that they were more alike than not. She didn't like the Uchiha, but she couldn't imagine a more gracious feeling than that. The nervousness was attributed to the idea of her feeling too comfortable-that she might accidentally say things she mustn't.

Like now, for instance.

Words and thought were swirling, and suddenly: "You know, my...my last na-"

"So are you gonna-"

They'd spoken simultaneously, and stopped at the same time as well. Sasuke waved a hand towards her. "Go ahead."

Hinata shakes her head, and almost too eagerly. She didn't even realize what she was about to say until she almost had. "No, it's okay. It doesn't even matter."

Sasuke rose a brow. "I feel like you were saying something important."

Hinata gave a knowing huff before sipping her water. "It is important, but...it can wait."

Sasuke doesn't press the matter further finishes the last of his tomato. He wipes his face, and puts his hands on his knees. He turns to her. "Ready?"

She nods.

..

-Two Weeks Later-

..

"Yo, if I had a sister, I would honestly-like bro, I dunno." Naruto starts as he takes a shot at the pool ball. "Like I would honestly lock her away in a cage or something."

Kiba sighs. "Tell me about it. That's the absolute best and only protocol. Hana's lucky she away at college, but Ima get Shino to bug her dorm for me. No exceptions." He takes a shot that entirely misses his goal ball.

Sai's turn is next. "I'm not quite understanding." His technique is perfect, and the striped ball falls in the hole. Kiba sighs as Naruto swats him on the back proudly.

"Dammit Sai," Kiba holds his stick as his chin leans uponb it.

"That's my boy!" Naruto gushes.

Sai offers a well-constructed smile that creeped out the two males. "But why the cage again?"

Naruto gives him a disapproving look and shakes his head at the man's tact. "Anyway, I think it's a pretty obvious conclusion; guys are just total shit bags at our age. Well I honestly think it's 19-25 that's really bad. But," Naruto grins cheekily at Kiba who scratches his head with a guilty grin. "-consider us premature. No remorse whatsoever-one track minded at this point. If you know what I mean." Naruto grins. Kiba smirks sly.

"I suppose I do, but what's this to do with cages and sisters."

Kiba sighs, and Naruto groans. The guy could be so slow at times. "It's more a exaggeration than anything. You don't want anyone disrespecting your own sister, do you now? So in effort to protect them, it's best to...keep them away from the frontlines."

The black haired male nods. "Then why not just be gentlemanly?"

Kiba and Naruto both exchange looks. "Hey, hey, don't just pin it all on the guys here." Kiba says.

Naruto nods, closing his eyes and nodding in agreement. "Yep. Girls can be just as bad-"

"If not worse."

"If not worse."

They both say it simultaneously. Sai rose a brow of interest at this, and shot the next ball. He made it again while looking up at Naruto questioningly. "How so?"

Kiba groans in defeat, and Naruto laughs vivaciously while holding Sai's shoulder.

Kiba ran a hand through his hair letting out a loud sigh.

"I'll tell you how, in a way girls are more dangerous than boys. Dating wise at the very least. First of all, they tend to be smarter than us guys. They understand feelings so they can manipulate how you think. It be some crafty shit bro. On some Greek mythology shit, if you can infulence the mind of a man, you're home free. From there, you're just running the game, those girls. It's fucking war out there man."

"Yup, yup." Kiba says nodding. "They be good at lying too, can't tell left from right sometimes."

Naruto points at him with earnest. "Exactly."

"So then...why bother?" Sai asks, and Kiba and Naruto groan into their pool sticks.

"Just shoot the damn ball already."

Sai takes aim, and Kiba tries to distract him using dirty insults and loud noises. Even after Sai shoots it, Kiba tries to blow at the white ball just as it collides with the striped green ball..right into the hole.

"Yes!"

"God dammit Sai!"

.

Hinata hurriedly makes her way up the stairs. She just got back from her daily run (she made them a habit now as a way to get back into shape, for what? She didn't know yet). However, she'd almost forgotten about her duties at the cheer comp the school would be hosting in-Hinata blanches at the clock. It starts in an hour and half. She has to report within thirty minutes, and there would be no lying out of this one. Tsunade and Kakashi themselves would be attending.

After dropping her small duffel on the floor of her room, she wastes no time making her way into the bathroom. She falters midway noticing the Uchiha at one of the sinks. He was already almost done getting ready. This makes her even more unsettled. She always ready before the Uchiha.

She straightens out her shirt, and clears her throat waiting for him to acknowledge her. "Uchiha, excuse me." She says clearly. He briskly turns to her, still fiddling with his hair.

Their relationship had changed over these two weeks-

"I need to shower." She explains, and he turns back to the mirror.

"I don't mind." His face void of emotion.

She places a hand on her hip. "We gotta leave in less than thirty minutes. We really don't have time."

He rose a brow at her. "I mean, I wasn't suggesting all that." He says finishing the last of his pins.

"Wow," Hinata eyes roll back with a defeated sigh. "I'll have to undress in the shower at this point." She mutters.

"No need, underling." Sasuke ties his bandana neatly around his pinned back hair, and nods to her. "I'm finished."

Quite really things were different, but not exactly improved, Hinata had noticed. However, it still might be a stretch to call it "friendship".

.

"Sakura..." Ino addresses her friend. Her pink haired friends ponytail wasn't done tightly, and her ribbon was fatally lopsided. She looked a mess really to the blond.

"Sakura." She calls again.

The pinkette looks up sullen. "Huh?"

Ino looks at her in surprise. "You're not...nervous are you?" Sakura had been the strong leader holding the team up in these past few weeks. She'd been an unwavering force, she hadn't faltered not once even when Ino had a mind to doubt her. She was like stock of wood-she remained planted where she stood. Sturdy and unmoving. Now Ino stares at a fallen branch shriveling up in the cold. What changed?

"I'm panicking Ino."

Said blond sits next to her. "Why." She demands.

"My parents are coming. I hope," She purses her lips, and Ino understands her predicament immediately. "I hope Sasuke doesn't have time to see me."

The Haruno household was made up of a powerful couple and their bright young daughter. The lawyer and C.E.O duo had both came from money, clean records both of them, but were in their own right self-made. Even so, they held themselves above those of the working class. They did not condone the intermixing of economic classes. Being involved in money matters all the time, they held that lower classes almost always at one point or another have ulterior motive to hanging with those clearly richer. It's one of the core reasons Sakura was at the academy anyway. Also why most of her friends were her friends. Sasuke had been the only thing their strainer could not catch when all was said and done.

"Sakura, are you playing me for a fool?"

She looks at the girl in surpirse. "What? I...no-"

"Did we not train like beasts for a month just for today?"

sakura turns sheepish seeing where she was going with this. "We did."

"Do we not have a competition right now?"

"We do."

Ino hits Sakura's back. Hard. "Then get your ribbon together and pull your spanks up. Lets win this bitch, the hell? C'mon, girl! As if I'm gonna let our own captain falter because of something not even associated with the cheer comp. The faster you win, the quicker we avoid our problems. Plain and simple."

Sakura lets out a deep sigh. Ino was right. She's almost never wrong really. She turns to her with hardened resolve. "You're right."

Ino straightens her uniform. "Even I'm getting tired of hearing you say it."

.

For Sasuke, snack vending wasn't the most dignifying job. Quite frankly actually, he hated it the most out of his many duties. He hated it more than scrubbing mold out of the locker rooms, or cleaning the cafeteria after the day was finished. This is mainly due to-

"Hey snack boy! Over here! Get me a Cheetos, will ya?"

-well, yeah.

It had been some kid from another school. He knew because, although the kids at Konoha were indeed venturous, they knew how to conduct themselves in public. Sasuke winces as others begin to follow suit, yellowing out orders as if he were in fact a snack or vending machine. He squishes a bag of Doritos throwing it with much vigor at the customer. He stomps off acting as though he can't hear a remaining two requests as well as said customer's curses.

So far, he was ready for this competition to be over, and it had yet to even begin.

"Done already?" He hears a voice say, and turns to the Oshiro.

He places his chin in his palm leaing up on his knee. "This is just a strategic break in my services. Nothing you need to partake in." He says as she sits down as well.

"Might've been true if all my snacks weren't sold already. Though, for a strategic break, yours looks conveniently...full."

"That's apart of the strategy."

"Conveniently." Hinata adds.

"Coincidentally." Sasuke corrects.

"Whatever. So is Konoha gonna win?" Hinata asks outrightly.

"Shit, I hope. Or it'll be the only thing I hear about for the next three weeks."

"I've heard good things about this cheer squad."

Sasuke smirks. "Mm, Sakura is an accomplished captain." Hinata takes note of this, and looks at him as if strange, but comes to the sudden conclusion, deep down Sasuke respected her, if not romantically, then certainly on a friend level. Her face relaxes slightly at this. Maybe their 'relationship' wasn't so bizarre.

"I think she'd be glad to hear that." She murmurs.

For a moment he doesn't respond, but his smirk does not fade. "Hn."

Suddenly horns are raging, and colorful lights are flashing. Hinata had a mind to panic, and even jumped slightly at the abruptness of it. Sasuke looked at her from the corner of his eye. The comp had finally started.

"My bad."

Sasuke just shrugs this off, and looks over the stadium. "I think they go sixth."

Hinata nods, and he had been right. Before them went Kumo, and some other school after. Hinata found herself biting a nail at how high the girls had been thrown in the air. This couldn't possibly be safe, or legal for that matter. But all around her people cheered, and the judges observed silently grading performances. She had to hand it to any team there-putting their precious necks on the line like that. Though Kumo's performance was especially great compared to the second school. They had unique choreography, and their jumps were higher and their chants louder. Hinata later earned the second school had been a public one-well that figures. At any rate, Hinata was semi-captivated by the multitude of activity in the dances. They were very impressive to her.

Then came Konoha, and they'd completely swept the floor with anyone beforehand. Hinata hadn't really thought it possible to be so exceedingly great in an already, what seemed to her, exceedingly outstanding sport. It was obvious they put their heart into it, and hard work. Every crazy stunt Hinata couldn't stop herself from flinching or looking away only to see it'd been executed perfectly.

"Tch," Sasuke rolls his eyes at her. He'd gotten used to the 'please-don't-break-your-neck-in-front-of-me' feeling, and didn't even worry when it came to Konoha. There might be a misstep every now and then, but a full on accident? The team was too expert for that.

Hinata narrows her glance at his obvious contempt. "What? It's-that's...that's something."

The routine ended with all six flyers doing some perfect twist or rotation move in the air, being caught by their respective bases only to be tossed back into the air to hold and balance on a single foot with the hands of others supporting you. The amount of trust these girls had in each other was palpable. Indeed, not the sport for her.

Sasuke, for the first time that night, clapped for a performance joining Hinata who was still slightly awe-stricken.

By the end of the whole thing, Hinata had felt only a little better about the neck situation, able to keep herself from visibly flinching. Surprisingly there were other performances that rivaled even Konoha's, and Hinata just wasn't sure what the outcome might be.

"Can I get an Oreos?" She hears low voice behind them ask.

Hinata's eyes widen for a moment, and Sasuke glares.

"Sabaku." Sasuke greets.

"Oreos." The red haired male insists. Sasuke looks displeased when he disregards him. Hinata smirks seeing him distressed. She also notices he's failed to recognize her or in the least acknowledge her presence. The Uchiha didn't even bother to dig out an bag for him yet. Hinata has a mind turn around and leave it be, but she could tell, from their rivalry on the field, this was no regular stand off. They might be the most stubborn people in the whole building. Hinata takes a small package from the box, and hands it to him.

"That'll be a $1.50." She holds out a hand at him.

His black rimmed eyes land on her for a moment before rummaging through his pocket handing her two dollars. "Keep the change," He'd said turning to walk away.

Hinata's eyes twitch at this, slightly. She quickly gets out fifty cents. "Not necessary. We're not fans of metal coinage anyway."

He rose a hairless brow at this although it was hardly noticeable, she considered herself acquainted with it. He shrugged, and took it with another glance. "Hinata, right?" He asks looking her up and down. It was a cool and unsettling thing being under his scope. He was tall and seemingly brooding like an Uchiha she knows. His red hair remained spiky and just barely longer-and he was still sporting his favorite color red, but his build was manly, and demeanor chilling. Truly, he had...aged.

She gives a curt nod, and he walks off tearing open his snack.

She turns to find Sasuke looking between her (up and down and calculatingly) and the protruding back of Gaara. "You know him?"

"Not really. He's my friend's brother."

"So you know him."

She shrugs. "I guess."

He huffs at this, and turns to face the stadium as they announce the winners. As it would turn out, just as Sasuke hoped Konoha won a first place victory. The stands of course could not be any louder. Sakura and Ino accept their trophy excitedly.

Sasuke and Hinata get up first. Sasuke steps down a couple steps, and Sakura comes closer into view. He sees her speaking with two adults. They looked roughly similar to her, and Sasuke can only conclude they're her parents. After lifting the box, He makes eye contact with the pinkette. He hesitates doing anything in front of her parents at first, but figures there's no way they could really suspect a thing. Not to mention, above all else, she deserved it. He gives a smirk just barely visible to the eye with a small clapping gesture.

Her parents follow her line of sight, and his hands fall when she looks away without so much as batting an eye. He then, instinctively clenches his hands when he notices their attitude changed. as if his congratulations had changed the whole tide of their conversation. They were obviously reprimanding her, and had to have been about him seeing how they kept a pattern of glancing in his direction every so often. Sasuke looked on, amazed almost. What had truly boiled his blood to a brew was seeing how she quickly shook her head, putting her hands up in some sort of defense. He was taken aback. Astounded.

Hinata looks on in surprise. "Ouch." She mutters.

A/N: Dun, dun, dun~

Lol-That's it from me! Anyways hope you guys enjoyed!

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