The story is based on a movie I saw a long long time ago. I hope you enjoy it.

disclaimer: I don't own anything. I know. Shocking, right?

Betrayal.

You don't know how much a person means to you until they betray you. The pain you feel afterwards conveys the kind of hold they have on your life. The heart bleeds from it as it parades the fact that you were stupid enough to let that person close to you. But in the end we do the same thing again only to realize our mistakes when it's too late.

However, you can reach a point where the betrayal leaves a scar so deep in your heart that you never want to feel it again. Instead you lock it up and throw away the key because you will never allow anyone to get close to it ever again.

My name is Sasuke Uchiha, and never in my life have I hated myself so much as I do now.

I was familiar with betrayal from a very early age. My mother had left my father when I was seven. She had run away to be with the one she loved, apparently, more than her own family. From that day on, I despised her, and never let her get close to me, no matter how hard she tried or apologized.

But, I guess that wasn't enough for me to learn my lesson since I decided to give my heart away to a girl. Her name was Sakura Haruno. We were 19 years old at the time and I had decided that I should finally respond to my friend's feelings. We were together for three years, and I don't know when but along the way I had fallen in love with her. In the end, that wasn't enough for her, since she left me to be with my best friend, Naruto Uzumaki, who had loved her since we were children. I showed her affection in my own way, albeit it was subtle, but she had decided that she wanted to be with Naruto who had given her all his attention from day one. That had created a strain in our friendship since it was both of them, my girlfriend and my best friend, who had betrayed me. And now, three years later, seeing their wedding invitation at my doorstep only renewed the pain that I felt when I first found out about them.

If you think that I learned my lesson after that, then you are mistaken, because up until now nothing had broken my resolve in life. Nothing. Until now.

Even after being betrayed by my mother and my first love, I thought I was invincible to the kind of pain that would absolutely shatter your heart. Little did I know that it would come in the form of my brother, the last person I expected.

Itachi Uchiha was a role model to me. He was perfect in every aspect. Even my father preferred Itachi over me for almost everything, but my brother never failed to make me feel included. I always looked up to him, and he was always there in my time of need. Which is why his betrayal was the one I could not bear at all.

My brother had kicked me out of the Uchiha Company.

After my father stepped down as the CEO, he had named Itachi as his successor, and as the new CEO, Itachi's first course of action was to get rid of me from the company, completely. He had fired me, stripped me of my title, frozen my assets, and taken away all that I had earned through the Uchiha Company. Now I was jobless, and quite soon to be homeless, depending on how long my savings would last me.

I would've fought him to get back what I earned, but what he said pierced me in the most hurtful way. He was the one person who always believed in me. So to hear him say that I was always worthless and did not deserve any of it broke my resolve.

My future's outlook from now looks really bleak, in my opinion. I know there are people who are in worse positions than me but having your spirit ripped out of you makes everything worse.

For the past week since I got fired, I have been holed up in my apartment, but somehow a wedding invitation in my trashcan caught my attention. So today, dressed in the most expensive suit I owned, I was aimlessly walking around Konoha. I had been walking for a few hours now, debating whether I should go to Naruto and Sakura's wedding.

By now the ceremony would have ended so they would probably be at the reception.

Making my decision, I started heading towards the place where they were holding their reception. I don't know what kind of masochistic desire I have right now but for some reason I have to see. I have to get a point across to my heart so that it finally shuts itself off from the world.

As I walked in I was relieved that no one noticed my late arrival. Everyone was busy talking, eating or congratulating the newly wed couple, Naruto and Sakura. They seemed different from the last time I saw them three years ago. Seeing them smiling and being happy like that hurt. How could their life be perfect while I was losing everything? I had lost my mom, the girl I loved, and now my job. I hated them for what they did to me. I hated everything.

Naruto somehow noticed my presence and soon Sakura was looking in my direction too. I could see them tense up as Sakura's grip on Naruto's arm tightened. Hesitantly Naruto smiled, and then slowly made his way over to me. I could tell that they were dragging their feet, especially Sakura. She was avoiding looking in my eyes. That angered me even more.

Somehow, I didn't move from my spot. I just waited while I watched them make their way towards me. I hid all my emotions from my face because I didn't want them to see how much this was affecting me. How much they had affected me. My insides were churning with every step Naruto took towards me with Sakura right behind him, but on the outside I was calm.

They stopped when they got closer to me, and Sakura slipped out her hand from around Naruto's arm. She still couldn't look at me, while Naruto was staring right at me with a hesitant smile as if he was wary of me exploding at them or something. Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but before anything could come out, a bright light was shinning on the couple.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It is now time for the bride and groom to have their first dance," someone announced on the speakers.

Everyone started clapping as Naruto and Sakura looked at all the people starring at them now.

I couldn't take it anymore.

"Congratulations," I said quietly before I left. I knew they heard it because of the surprised and hurt expression that showed on their faces.

I have had enough with everything in my life right now. Seeing them today helped me realize that it was easier to hate than to feel the pain. I could not be stupid and weak anymore to let something like this happen again. I had to sever all the ties and distance myself from everyone in my life, but with that I knew that my heart would turn hollow.

It was easier to hate and be hollow on the inside, than to feel the pain of betrayal.

With this new found knowledge I didn't feel any better but at least I couldn't get hurt anymore.

After I left their reception, I didn't go back to my apartment. It was just another reminder of my brother's betrayal and my own failures. Instead, I chose to wander around town even more.

Soon the sun was setting and I had somehow found my way to the train station. My cufflinks were missing and so was my tie, but I didn't care. I must have thrown them somewhere.

There were lots of people on the platform right now and it felt kind of pleasant to be surrounded by so many strangers that didn't know me, that didn't know what I had gone through. I could easily pretend and they won't know the difference. Anyone could be easily fooled.

I made my way on to the train that had just arrived. Someone was announcing the destination on the speakers but I didn't pay attention. I just walked through the compartments until I found the emptiest one and sat there. I wanted to be alone and completely isolated.

The train started moving slowly and then gained momentum. After a few minutes a girl came huffing in to my compartment. She probably ran to catch the train. She was staring at me while trying to catch her breath but I didn't notice her.

Even after she stopped panting, she kept staring at me and I still hadn't noticed her presence. I was in some kind of a daze while looking into the darkness outside the window. The breeze from it was cool as it hit my face.

"Um, e-excuse me," she said but I hadn't heard her.

"E-excuse me," she said a bit louder, but I still did not notice her.

"Hey... Hellooooo," she started waving her hand in front of my face, which finally got my attention. How long has she been here?

"You're in my seat," she said after I turned to look at her.

"What?" I said as if I hadn't heard her.

"Y-you are in my seat," she said again while pointing at the seat I was sitting in. She even took out her ticket to show me her seat number. I looked around the compartment to see that there was no one on this side except for us two.

Well, what do you know. The one seat I decided to sit on in an empty compartment is taken.

But instead of moving like she wanted me to, I just stared at her. There were so many empty seats that she could choose from. It's not like it mattered at this point where you sat.

"T-this is my seat... The seat number is clearly written on my ticket, and I bought it." She waved her ticket in my face as if to make a point.

My plan for solitude went down the drain seeing how she was being stubborn. So I just moved on the opposite side of her seat.

"Thank you! I know, you're probably wondering why this girl is so stubborn about a seat when the whole compartment is practically empty. But, I just like to be careful. You never know what the train conductors could do. I even heard that someone got a hefty fine once when they weren't sitting in their seat. God, I do not have that much money to lose on a stupid fine. I'm so broke right now that it's not even funny.

"You know how people make those jokes about how they can't do something because they're broke but in reality they're not that broke. Well you don't realize how not funny that situation is when you're in it yourself," the girl kept rambling on as she placed her luggage away. I just tuned her out since she was not shutting up.

"My name is Hinata, by the way," she said when she finally sat down in her seat.

I just ignored her, but that didn't stop her.

"Wow, this is the first time I'm leaving Konoha in two years! Last time was when I was still in college. I used to live here when I was young but my family moved to Suna. I missed Konoha so much when I was there, so I decided to go to college here, and when I graduated I didn't want to leave so I took a job offer here. My dad was so mad about that," she giggled, "but he came around.

"I got so busy when my job started so I couldn't go back to visit my family. I miss them so much. I miss my big room at home especially. You know the apartments in Konoha are so expensive and so tiny! When I was in college, my father paid for me to live in a hostel. I had to share a room with two girls! But after graduation I had to pay for my own apartment. My father said something about learning to be independent," she shook her head at that, "he's strict like that with his tough love and all, but behind all of that tough exterior, he is just a big soft teddy bear. He used to be an even bigger softie when I was a little girl.

"Oh, I remember this one time I got lost in our backyard and he got so worried that he sent everyone in the house to look for me. This wasn't some ordinary backyard, mind you. We have a huge house in Suna, like a compound, because everyone in the family lives together. I'm the only one, except for my cousin Neji, who moved out of the compound to Konoha.

"Did I tell you that my cousin Neji lives in Konoha too? He got into the same college as I did so we went together and then he found a girl he wanted to marry so he decided to stay in Konoha too!"

Oh my god! This girl kept going on and on and on. She wasn't shutting up! Her voice was quite soft and soothing to listen to at some point, but her rambling was getting on my nerve. I just wanted it to be quiet. She was either too naive or too stupid to just ramble on about her life to a complete stranger.

My left eye started to twitch by this point. I tried everything, from ignoring her to glaring at her but it didn't work. I started to rub my temples to help subside an oncoming headache. She could not take the hint that,

"I DO NOT GIVE A SINGLE FUCK ABOUT YOU!"

Oh shit. Did I say that out loud? From the look of her mouth hanging open and the slight heat rising on her cheeks, I think I did. But now I couldn't stop.

"I don't care if you're from Konoha or Mars, or the fact that you're visiting your family, or that your dad is some kind of a teddy bear in disguise, or that you used to live in a hostel or a brothel! I don't care, so just shut up!" I yelled before I turned to stare out the window.

That shut her up, but now it was too quiet. The only sound that was left for the next few minutes was the sound of the train moving on its tracks.

I could feel the guilt building up in my gut. From the corner of my eyes I saw that she was pouting in her seat as her arms were crossed against her chest.

I sighed and decided to apologize. She didn't deserve my anger, even if she was being annoying. She hadn't done anything wrong to me. She hadn't hurt me.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that," I said.

"That comment about the b-brothel was rude and inappropriate," she said timidly.

"I know and I'm sorry."

After that it had been quiet. She didn't say anything anymore and I was more than fine with that. But in the silence I couldn't stop myself from thinking about all that had happened so far in my life. I was beginning to get depressed, and angry. Angry with the people that had hurt me, and angry with myself for letting that happen. I couldn't take the silence anymore. My thoughts felt like they were drowning me, overwhelming me.

I stood up and went towards the end of the compartment and since this was the last train box there was a door that led you outside when open.

I hadn't noticed the conductor that was approaching our seats, asking people to show him their tickets. He saw me leave and tried calling out to me but I didn't notice. Instead, the girl, Hinata, showed him her ticket.

For a few minutes, I stood by the door. Surprisingly, it wasn't locked so I opened it, and began staring at the disappearing tracks underneath the train. I could feel myself leaning forward mindlessly, without thinking of the consequences. It was so loud outside, and the breeze felt nice on my face.

Before I could go any further, someone had grabbed the back of my suit and jerked me inside. The conductor closed the door as Hinata spoke to me, but I couldn't hear a single word she was saying at first.

"Ticket? Where's your ticket? He needs to see it." She was sounding out the words now but I could hear her perfectly fine by then.

"I don't have it," I replied.

Hinata's eyes widened a little and she leaned in to whisper,

"You don't have it, or you didn't buy it?" In response I just shook my head.

"Young man, I need to see your ticket," said the old conductor as he held out his hand.

Hinata turned to look at the conductor behind her in panic.

"Uhh… umm, y-you see...haha," she laughed nervously.

After a few minutes, we were back in our seats while Hinata was pleading my case to the conductor to convince him to not give me a fine.

"L-look, sir, t-this man is going through a lot in his life right n-now," she lied. She couldn't have known what was going on in my life. "He j-just lost his job," or did she?

"Hmm," was all that the conductor said, but it did not seem like he was changing his mind since he kept searching his bag for a fine to write up.

"A-and his g-girlfriend left him because of that… For his b-best friend!" She was good. Even if the timeline wasn't right, how did she know?

Funny how even strangers can guess what's wrong when they don't even know the situation. How could I be so stupid to not notice it before it even happened to me?

"Alright, I'll let him go this time," Hinata let out a 'whew', "But he still needs to have a ticket. I'll just have to give him one now," said the conductor.

"Great!" exclaimed Hinata.

"Where to?" the conductor asked me.

"What?" I asked.

"Till where do you want me to write the ticket for? What's your destination?" asked the conductor again.

"Uh… Where does this train go until?" was my genius response.

The man gave me a skeptical look, while Hinata just slapped her palm to her forehead.

"O…K… I'm writing the ticket for Hidden Mist village, the last stop on this train." He ripped out the ticket and gave it to me before saying, "Take care of yourself, alright?" He patted my back when I took the ticket from him. "And be careful on the next stop. It's in the Sound village. It'll be late when the train makes a stop there so I suggest both of you guys stay inside. It's a pretty shady area, especially at night."

"Thank you so much! We'll keep that in mind when we get there. Good night!" said Hinata. The conductor only nodded in reply and left.

As soon as the conductor was far away, Hinata turned in her seat to look at me with wide eyes.

"Hey, so is something going on?" she asked, almost as a whisper.

I just kept looking at her without giving a response.

"If you need to talk, I'm here," I rolled my eyes at this. Yeah, only if she could shut her mouth every once in a while, I might get a chance to say something.

"H-hey! I'm a very good listener!" she said when she saw me roll my eyes. "I usually don't talk that much. I was just so excited to go home. All of my friends always confide in me because I listen. And I'll listen to you too. That is, if you want to share with me."

I looked at her for a while when she stopped talking. For some reason, in my head, I was actually contemplating her offer. And somehow she knew this since she just stared at me, anticipating my answer.

She seemed genuine in her offer, but in the end I decided against it. It was probably better if I kept to myself. If I involve any more people, they'll just deceive and betray me too. How could this girl be any different?

I looked away from her towards the window as a sign of me rejecting her offer. She sighed and leaned back into her seat.

It was quiet again, but this time I refrained from thinking about anything. I just stared out into the darkness trying to make out any shapes in the shadow.

After an hour or so Hinata went in to the restroom to change into her sleeping attire, which was just some sweats and an oversized t-shirt. She made her bed that was above her seat on her side.

Soon after saying goodnight, she was asleep with a blanket from home on top of her. After a little while I could hear her talking in her sleep. It was kind of funny listening in on the nonsense she was saying. She seemed friendly and she was considerate enough to not make a conversation after I harshly told her that I did not want to.

In about an hour or so, the train stopped at the station for Sound village.

I hadn't slept at all. I couldn't sleep. Even though I had stopped myself from thinking about Naruto, Sakura or my brother, I still could not relax enough to sleep.

When the train stopped at the station, I decided to head out for a walk. I took off my coat and swung it over my shoulder as I walked away from the train.

After a few minutes, the train let out a noise to signify that it was going to leave the station soon. As soon as that happened, someone grabbed my arm and tried to spin me around.

My instincts kicked in, and I was about to punch the person behind me. But then I recognized the person as the girl from the train, Hinata. She was pointing at the train frantically.

"Come on! We have to go! The train is about to leave!" She pulled at my arm but I pulled back. She stared at me when I did that but I just shook my head. Her eyes widened at my response, and she let out a frustrated groan.

"Oh my god!" she yelled as she ran back towards the train hoping that she would make it back in time before the doors closed and the train left.

I couldn't care less about her so I continued walking around the station aimlessly. It was past midnight by now, everything seemed so quiet.

Soon enough, it wasn't quiet anymore as a loud crash echoed in the empty station. I tried looking for the source of the sound.

There, about 50 feet away, at one of the vendor's stall, a man was yelling at someone who had just knocked down a shelf outside his store. The person who knocked his shelf was… Hinata. Oh shit! She missed her train didn't she? She looked like she was about to cry.

As soon as I realized who it was, Hinata found me and started running towards me while the man kept yelling at her to come back. Her face changed from scared to pissed but I didn't wait for her come any closer. Instead I started running too, until I reached a dead end.

"This is all your fault!" yelled Hinata when she caught up to me.

"How is this my fault? I didn't ask you to get off the train. You should've just left me alone," I casually replied.

"W-wha... I was trying to help you!"

"Well, nobody asked you to," I said as I glared at her.

She threw her hands up in defeat at my response and started to walk away. "I'll have to wait for the next train to arrive then." I just shrugged and went the opposite way towards the exit.

As I was walking away, I saw some random guys that were roaming around the station. Some of them started staring at her while the others were throwing lewd comments at her. It didn't help that she was alone and in her sleeping clothes even if they were modest.

I lingered around a little bit just to make sure they didn't do anything to her. I didn't want to be held responsible if something did happen to her.

She ignored all of the guys who were saying crude things around her but she could still hear them. She blushed madly at what they were saying, but tried to keep a scowl on her face to not let them see how terrified she was on the inside.

"Oh, look, the kitty is blushing!" said one of the guys as they were standing by her side at a distance. No one dared to go near her, but that didn't stop them from having their fun.

"Aww, you scared? You want me to pet you to make you feel better. Hey, you guys bet me to pet the pussy here? I wonder what her fur is like. Maybe it's wet." The guys chortled at this and some even snorted, but Hinata had had enough.

She tried giving them a glare to shut them up and then stormed out of the station. She even bumped into me when she passed by me. I guess she was upset that I didn't help her.

I smirked as I followed her, but when we got out, Hinata stormed off to a bus stop on the corner of the sidewalk where there were some women standing around, waiting for whatever reason at 1am.

I started walking on the sidewalk away from the station. She wasn't my responsibility so I don't need to worry about her. She's big enough to handle herself.

Surely, not even five minutes after I left her, I see her speed walking towards me. There was a man on a motorbike that was slowly following her as she kept walking away from him.

"Come on, sweetheart, get on. It's just one night. I'll pay you well," said the man.

"N-no, you're m-mistaken! I'm not t-that!" said Hinata to the man as she furiously made her way towards me.

I had stopped and waited for her to catch up. I cannot get rid of this girl can I? And how come I leave her for five minutes and she's already gotten herself in trouble.

"What're you talking about?" said the man as he drove his bike slowly to keep up with Hinata.

"Please, l-leave me alone. I'm n-not what you're thinking," she said.

"Oh," said the man as he stopped his bike, "You're a dude?" he asked with an incredulous look on his face.

Hinata only blushed at that but made her way faster towards me, and when she did reach me, she hugged me until the other guy left.

"What're you doing here?" I asked as I pushed her off of me, "Aren't you waiting for the next train? You're gonna miss it if you stay out here."

"It's not c-coming until the morning, and this p-place is too scary," whined Hinata as her bottom lip quivered. Don't tell me she's going to start crying now.

I groaned as I brought my hand to my face and then ran my fingers through my hair.

"What's the next station the train is supposed to stop at?" I asked.

"Land of Iron!" she beamed at what I was about to suggest.

"If we drive right now, we might be able to reach the next stop before the train leaves the station."

"Yes, you're right! Let's go!"

We ran back to the station where there had been some taxis waiting. Soon we found one and knocked on its window. The driver had been asleep, probably waiting to catch business early morning.

"Hello," yawned the driver as he unlocked the doors. Hinata sat in the backseat while I quickly made my way to the passenger seat. "Where to?" he asked.

"Land of Iron," I replied.

"That's a three hour journey. You sure? You can just wait for the train –"

"We don't have time, that's why we're here. Now will you drive us?"

"Sure, as long as you pay me," said the driver as he buckled his seatbelt and took out his keys.

After starting the car, the man lit up an incense as he began making a praying for five minutes to all the gods and goddesses for giving him a business and for a safe journey.

"We don't have time for this. Hurry up!" groaned Hinata from the backseat.

"I will, but I need to make a prayer for a safe drive. I have never been in a single accident, and it's all because of the gods and goddesses that have shown me mercy and grace."

"Yes, yes, we get it. Drive safe, but please start driving, at least," said Hinata.

"Ok, lets go," said the driver.

About 20 minutes had passed and the driver was driving. Oh, he was driving. But he was going more than 10 below the speed limit.

"This is going so slow! Can't you hurry up?" asked Hinata.

"No ma'am! I have never been in an accident. How do you think that happened? Well, because I was such a safe driver. I always drive below the speed limit to prevent any harm to this car, and I'm not planning on breaking my rule just for you. If you wanted to hurry up then you should've been at the station on time," chided the driver.

"But this is way too slow! You can actually get a ticket for going too slow," said Hinata.

"Stop the car," I said.

"Ok," said the driver.

"What!? No we still have a long way to go. You can't stop here," said Hinata.

"Get out," I said.

"Yeah lady, you heard him. Get out. Even he knows the importance of safe driv –"

"Not her. You," I pointed right in his face as I cut him off. He gulped and got out of the car, while I did the same. "We're switching," I said as I sat in the driver's seat. The driver was now in the passenger seat panicking.

I started the car and drove faster, way faster than what he had been driving at before.

"Yes! Now see, this is how you drive a car!" said Hinata.

"B-but what if he gets in an accident," whimpered the driver at the speed I was driving the car at. I was well over the speed limit now.

"Don't worry about that! This guy right here, he'll cover for everything. If you get any kind of damage just bill him. He will take full responsibility of it," said Hinata a bit too eagerly.

I glared at her through the rearview mirror, but she paid no attention to it. Who does she think she is making claims like that?

I drove the taxi as fast as it allowed until we reached the land of Iron. The air was slightly chilly since it snows here heavily during winter, but right now it was June, so it was bearable.

Hinata and I both jumped out of the car as soon as it was parked. We ran inside the station to make sure we had made it on time. Luckily we did!

The driver had run after us too since we, no I, forgot to pay him. He was desperately demanding for his money so he could leave us as soon as possible.

"I'll pay him," I said to Hinata as I pointed to the driver, "Now, please, go to the train before you miss this one too."

"Ok… Ok," she panted, " I just need some water. Can I borrow some money?"

I just rolled my eyes at her but I still gave her some cash.

"Now, go!"

"Ok, bye!" she rushed off but abruptly stopped to look at me again. "Thank you," she said with a smile, and then she ran towards the train. I stared at her retreating form for a few minutes but then just shook my head and went back to pay the driver who was waiting outside the station.

After paying him, I started wandering the streets again. I had never been to this place before but somehow it felt the same as walking through the empty streets of Konoha. Soon my thoughts were threatening to go back to a dark place where it was just an endless cycle of hate and depression.

That feeling was the same all over again. The same feeling of despair that had led me to wander around Konoha until I ended up in a train station. I wonder where I'll end up here.

I wasn't able to think much on it since someone started yelling at me. I looked around to see who it was.

"HEY! WAIT! STOP!"

I could feel my eyes widen as I gaped at the girl who was frantically waving her hand and yelling. She was running towards me and since I was stuck to the ground at the moment, all I could do was stare while she caught up to me. When she did, she hugged me. This time it was different. She hugged me really tight as if I was her lifeline. Also, there was no one around to see, so she wasn't doing it to get rid of someone.

I was too shocked to react so I just let her hug me until she let me go.

"Thank you god! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Never have I ever been so happy to see a stranger before."

"You missed the train! Again!? After all the trouble we went through!" I yelled at her.

"Ehehe…uhh," she laughed nervously while scratching her cheek. I could see that she was crying before she found me since her eyes were still wet.

"What happened?" I sighed.

"W-well… after you left, I went to by a water bottle, since the train was still there. The guy was charging me way too m-much for it. Everywhere it's only dollar but he was charging me a dollar and 25 cents! I told him to pay me back but he wasn't so it was his fault."

"You could've just left the 25 cents."

"N-no! It's the principle of the matter. He shouldn't be charging so m-much at a train station because people there are then forced to buy it at such an overcharged price. He's t-taking advantage of these people."

"So you basically missed the train for 25 cents," I stated with no hint of amusement.

"Oh, uhh… well if you p-put it that way…" Hinata laughed nervously again while I just rolled my eyes at her.

There was no point in arguing and making this situation any worse than it was. I could tell she was terrified of the circumstances she was in and somehow it was kind of satisfying to see that I wasn't the only one whose life wasn't going perfectly, even if hers wasn't as bad as mine.

"Let's go. We need to inform someone at the station to take off your luggage at the next stop, and keep it somewhere safe there," I said while figuring out how to help her. To be honest, I did feel guilty about the ordeal she was in since she was here because she had only tried helping me.

"And then we'll go there to get them? And from there you'll take me all the way to my home in Suna?" said Hinata excitedly. The tears had dried but her eyes were still a little red.

"Hold on. Who said anything about 'we'? You are going to do that. I'm just helping you figure out what to do."

"You would leave a girl alone this late at night in a strange town? Do you know how dangerous that is? A girl alone in the middle of the night is like an open treasure chest. It could tempt anyone, and you are going to leave me alone knowing this. You might as well just throw me to the wolves to end my misery." I winced at her dramatics.

"Who the hell told you this?"

"Oh... a guard at the station... He seemed a bit drunk when he was saying that. I just asked him for help and he started saying all this stuff... But it's still doesn't make it any less true. This is all your fault, so why shouldn't you take responsibility for it?"

I thought about what I should do next as I heard her talk. Should I help her? But I don't know her. We're complete strangers. I don't have any obligations to her. Well she did get in this situation because she was trying to help me, but I didn't ask her to. But, I can't really leave her in some random town at 4am.

"Fine! I'll help you get your luggage and then take you to Suna," I relented in the end.

"Thank you so much!" she said with such a bright smile that I wondered if it could blind me if I kept staring.

To be honest, I was helping her not just because I felt obliged to, but also that I was too afraid to let my emotions engulf me in my loneliness. I needed something to keep my mind busy, so what better way than this.

"Oh, by the way, you never told me your name. You know mine. It's Hinata, just in case you forgot," I didn't, I just chose not to call her that, "but this entire time I didn't know yours." She waited for me to answer, and eventually I told her, but I decided to keep my last name hidden. I didn't know hers, and if she knew mine then it would only make things complicated. It's not everyday that you get to meet an Uchiha that inherited half the Uchiha Company. Well not anymore, I guess, since I don't own anything in the company.

"Sasuke."

"Nice to meet you, Sasuke." It sounded nice hearing her say my name so softly.

I didn't know it then, but this girl was going to change my life.