Disclaimer: I don’t own Naruto.

Bruised; 06

Maybe that’s why…

“Hm,” the old man briefly raised an eyebrow, moving his pucked lips as he silently counted the bills in his hands.

Uncomfortable, Hinata looked around, rubbing her left arm with her right hand. A couple of hours ago, she saw Sasuke Uchiha working in this very convenience store as a cashier. One thing immediately came up to her mind: the class field trip. The one he wouldn’t attend. Nobody really knew why he wasn’t coming, but now, she thinks she does.

The man’s eyes diverted to her.

She gulped, quickly looking back at him before blinking his gaze off.

He cleared his throat. “To set it straight… you’re paying me to pay him…” he started to recount the money, “…so he can be absent for three days?”

“No!” She looked up at him. The man raised his eyebrows. She looked down. “Y-yes,”

She didn’t like the man. His eyes were full of lust with money. But being born as a Hyuuga, she has practically lived with those kinds of people. Today is the first time she has ever done this kind of thing. After a few hours since dinner, Hinata had asked her driver to accompany her in the store to do some negotiations. Sasuke had left a couple of minutes ago. She did not see him.

“I-it’s f-for academic p-purposes.” She immediately backed.

It would be a complete shame for their top student to miss such an event because he thinks it would cost him his part-time job. She knows how it feels. Her father does it all the time—leaving them behind for work. Work, work, work.

Besides, she owes him for the bus fee.

“Alright, we’re good. I’ll tell him tomorrow afternoon.” He waved his hand to dismiss her.

“A-ano,”

The man raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“P-please don’t t-tell him.”

Walking through the dark slum streets, Sasuke clutched his backpack. Lights were all turned off, and most of the people in the area are asleep, if not doing dirty work. Yesterday, his day was rather peaceful. His father was caught in a slumber. In fact he hasn’t seen his father awake since yesterday morning.

Absently, he hoped that it would be the same for today—and the other days to come.

“Sasuke-san,” called a familiar voice.

He stopped walking and faced Lee. “What is it?”

The moment his wide-eyed acquaintance swallowed hard, he knew it wasn’t going to be good news. “H-he’s drunk, Sasuke-san.” Lee said. “Very drunk.”

He wasn’t even able to sense it, but he was staring in mid-air, frozen. The expression on his face didn’t change a bit—no fear, no anger, no nothing.

“My dad said—”

“Don’t call anyone.” Sasuke sternly said, clenching his fists. “Don’t.”

“B-but—”

“I’m warning you, Lee.” His shot the other boy a glare.

True, he was nearly used to being beaten up by his father, and it wasn’t new knowledge to anyone in the slums either. In fact, he wasn’t the only battered person there. It would kill him if his scholarship in Konoha High will be affected—and for sure it will be. The agency for peoples’ welfare is situated nearly twenty miles away from his place. It will definitely be affected.

And one thing that he wouldn’t admit: his fright of being pitied.

“I understand… but if you need a place to stay in…” Lee offered, “…you can stay here tonight.”

He merely nodded before going ahead, keeping his eyes glued on the patched walls of his house. His back still hurt from the past beating, but not as much as it had used to. Blinking, he barely caught himself standing in front of the door. He slowly heaved a sigh before pushing it open. The lights were out, and it was quiet.

He’s not asleep.

“Where’d ya…” said a raspy voice, “…come from— ”

Sasuke flicked their yellow bulb to life. His father did not know about his job, and he had no intention of telling him at all. “School—”

“—bitch.” Fugaku rose to his feet, swaying, as he carried a beer bottle in his hand. It was empty. “Why don’cha… get a job so… I can—” the man scratched the back of his head, as if looking for the right words to say. “Uh… you are such a pain.”

“…”

“Useless idiotic brat!” He launched the beer bottle at his son, the latter narrowly missing him, hitting the floor instead. It shattered to a million pieces. “I thought you study in tha… that rich school—” he grabbed Sasuke by the collar, lifting him from the ground.

Sasuke inhaled and exhaled, blankly eyeing his father, smelling his beer breath.

“You…” Fugaku’s eyebrows met. “…You look just like your fucking mother.”

He crashed on the ground, fists meeting the shattered beer bottle and head bumping ridiculously hard.

But it didin’t hurt.

Not compared to what happened after.

“Good morning, Hinata-chan.”

The white-eyed girl turned to her right, slightly pulling her locker door in, to find her blonde friend. “G-good morning, Ino-san,” she greeted back.

“I like your bag—Kate Spade.” She eyed the purple shoulder bag that rested inside Hinata’s locker. “Where’d you get it?”

She blinked. She asked Mai the exact question this morning, when her maid was handing it over to her. Hinata does not dress herself—if she does, she would end up in a baggy jacket and baggy jeans, which is why her aunts gave her Mai.

Her maid said that it came from Gaara, or Maverick Lent as she previously knew him.

“I-it’s a gift.”

“Wow,” the blonde’s eyes glittered. “Whoever gave that to you really likes you, Hinata-chan. I’m jealous.”

She turned from her to hide her blush, quickly shoveling her books into her arms before placing the bag on her shoulder. Ino walked with her, mostly talking about what she was wearing, and then dragging her into the bathroom the moment the bell rang.

“W-wait, I-Ino-san it’s time!”

“It’s okay! This’d be quick.” She locked the door behind them and ran in front of the mirror. “I haven’t eaten in two full days!” She shoved her hand into her pocket and took out a bar of chocolate. “My mom found this… low-fat chocolate in the grocery yesterday.” She then looked at Hinata. “I adore chocolates. I haven’t eaten one since last month so I couldn’t help but—” she took another bite “—get five of them. God, it’s so good.” She rolled her eyes heavenwards, taking another bite. “Besides I have… I have gym class today, I’ll just burn it off, right?”

Hinata stared at her friend, biting her lower lip.

“I was just… I was just really, really hungry!”

She blinked, not exactly knowing what to say. Ino looked like she was ready to devour an entire platter of food.

Ino threw the wrapper away and washed her face, looking back at the mirror. “I’m so fat.”

“You’re not!” The words just came out of her mouth. The blonde eyed her, lips curled into a frown. Hinata clutched her bag. “Y-you look great, Ino-san… d-don’t starve yourself.”

“Yeah? Well, you’re the only one who says that, Hinata-chan. I honestly have no idea what you’re seeing.”

Before Hinata could say anything else, Ino grabbed her bag from the floor and walked towards the door, tagging the white-eyed girl.

“Thanks for everything, Hinata-chan.” She smiled. “But I’m sorry that we’re running late.” She looked at her watch. “Iruka-sensei will kill us! Let’s go!”

Sasuke held the backrest of the chair to support himself as he stood up. His right knee feels numb from last night, and his left fist was covered with cloth. Silently, he let all the other students pass before he took a seat himself. He looked around—the teacher wasn’t around yet. All but three of his classmates are there.

“Sakura-chan! Is this seat taken?”

On reflex, his head immediately turned to the blond speaker.

“Yes.”

Naruto glided to her other side. “What about this one?”

“Yes.”

The blond frowned.

“Baka,” Sasuke shook his head and sighed.

This didn’t go unheard by the blue-eyed teenager. “Sasuke-teme!” He marched toward the raven, a vein popping in his head. “What did you just call me?!”

He turned to Naruto. “Ba-ka,”

“You teme!”

“Alright, that’s it, children, children,” Iruka Umino clapped his hands as he entered the room. “That’s enough, you two.” He sighed. “Sasuke, Naruto, you’re the highest ranking students in the school, don’t be so childish now.”

“He started it!” Naruto pouted, dropping his books on the desk beside Sasuke’s and taking a seat there.

“Hn,” Sasuke grunted.

“Sasuke,” Iruka called. The raven faced him. “Have you changed your mind about the field trip?”

He shook his head.

“Boo,” Naruto huffed. “Missing the class trip is a stupid decision indeed.” He said.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you’re only second place.”

“What the—you teme!”

“Who are missing?” The teacher touched his chin as he examined the room, clicking his tongue. “Shikamaru again?” He sighed. “Is he hanging out with Kakashi nowadays?” He whispered to himself. “Ino, Chouji, where is Shikamaru?” He scanned the room for Shikamaru’s close friends.

“Ino’s not here either, Iruka-sensei.” Chouji replied.

Iruka lifted an eyebrow. “Oh, really? Those two… so who else is missing?”

“Hinata-chan isn’t here either.”

“WHAT?!” Naruto exploded in his seat. “Hinata-chan?! That’s impossible!”

“Stop being so noisy, baka.” Sasuke rolled his eyes before looking around. It’s true—Hinata Hyuuga isn’t there.

Dismayed, Iruka gave a last sigh. “Very strange,” he noted before taking his seat.

Ino and Hinata came a minute after that. Ino took a seat beside Sakura, and when Hinata was going to take the other one, Ino immediately dragged her to the empty chair beside her. Shikamaru came five minutes after that.

“Where did you come from?” were Iruka’s first words the moment he entered the classroom.

He halted halfway through the door. “Overslept,” he simply said.

The teacher frowned. “Do you oversleep before every subject, Shikamaru-san?” He asked.

Shikamaru simply sighed, looking around. There was one empty seat left—the one beside Sakura. He blinked, secretly expecting that Naruto would take that chair. He looked at Ino, but she wasn’t looking at him at all.

Troublesome, he thought. “Well… can I go in?”

“I’m sorry, Nara-san, but you would have to get a tardy slip this time.”

He sighed, taking two steps back and closing the door. He leaned on the wall, shoving his pocket. Pen, pen, pen, pen—paper, he sighed as he took the tardy slip. He had prepared an entire set of tardy slips before the school began. It was troublesome to go to the other side of the building to get one and delay himself more to class.

He had also written his name and excuse on almost all of the slips. A good quarter of it had another name—it was good to be prepared. All that was left to write was the date—which he did.

After he counted to ten, he turned the doorknob and walked inside again. The class was silent—they didn’t do anything while waiting for him at all, he figured. Except maybe Naruto and Sasuke, who, for some bizarre reason, are seated next to each other on a day that’s supposedly not the end of the world yet.

The brunet handed his tardy slip to his teacher.

“Take your seat, Nara-san,” he instructed. “And don’t do this again.”

He nodded and took the seat beside Sakura, his arm was immediately injured by Sakura’s fist. He flinched. The pink-haired girl is not weak. In fact she’s very strong. “What is it, geez?” He muttered in protest.

“Where did you go?” She asked him.

“Shikamaru!”

In his peripheral vision, he saw Ino’s eyebrows curled. He sighed. “I overslept.”

“Right, as if I’d fall for that, Nara.”

“Pssst, Shikamaru! Oi! Oi! Oi!”

He shrugged. “It’s up to you if you to believe me or not,”

“I don’t.”

“Oy, Shikamaru!”

He just shrugged again, not thinking about whatever that happened in the past hour. He turned to Naruto, who had been chanting his name, with an arched eyebrow.

“Let’s exchange seats!”

He quickly eyed Sakura before looking back at Naruto.

“Don’t.” Sakura mouthed, but never fell for the idea that they, too, were in some sort of a fight.

Of course, he thought. Of course, she sat beside Ino to comfort her. Of course, if Naruto sat beside Sakura, she wouldn’t be able to deal with Ino. Of course, Sakura can deal with Ino more if he sat beside her. Of course.

Fuck, what a troublesome life.

“Nah.” He turned his back on Naruto.

“It’s a paid holiday.” Trey said.

“Normal pay?” He had to wonder. He’s had various other jobs before, but this is the first time he’s been offered a paid holiday.

The older man rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes,” he told him, before leaving.

Plopping back on the counter seat, Sasuke contemplated on a three-day job.

Sasuke flipped the tabloid page, looking at the wide variety of jobs that were posted. His father had been in a rather ‘good’ mood today, not throwing or breaking anything, or anyone.

“If you’re looking for a job, then go to that club on the other side of the slum.” Fugaku suddenly spoke. “I heard you earn a lot of money there. I’ll sign you up myself.”

Immediately, he shot his head up, looking for the words to day. I don’t want to dance, or, No, I don’t want to do that. But that would most likely ruin his father’s ‘good’ mood. “I can’t.” The words just left his mouth. Fugaku slowly glared at him. “I’m going out for three days.” He said, “for school.”

Hinata clutched a box in her hands, biting her lips as she rested her back on the wall beside the door of the basketball court. The team still isn’t finish with their training inside, and she chose to wait outside.

Naruto-kun,

Finally, the doors open, and team members were starting to leave the court. Hinata’s back left the wall, anticipating for a certain blond… a certain blond…

“If it isn’t my cousin,”

Hinata froze. Slowly, she turned around to meet the same lavender orbs that she has. “N-Neji-niisan…”

“I completely forgot to commend you for your speech the other day.” He said. “Short but pleasant—I’m surprised that you know your father well.”

She opened her mouth to reply, but a streak of blond hair stopped her. Turning her head, she found no other than Naruto Uzumaki running towards somewhere—someone… was that pink hair?

“It is really rude to not look at the person you are talking to.” He shook his head. “Shame,”

She quickly shot him an anxious look. “A-ah…”

“You’re not ready, Hinata. You will never be.”

“Wrong,”

Hinata closed her eyes shut as she heard the voice speak.

“If it isn’t Sasuke Uchiha—ranked first in your batch, am I correct?”

She opened them. Sasuke?

Sasuke rolled his eyes subtly before eyeing Hinata for a brief moment. He then turned to Neji. “Who’re you?”

The older guy chuckled. “My, my, some memory gap?” He said in between, extending his arms for Sasuke to shake. “Neji Hyuuga—first rank in the fourth year. We’ve met before, on awarding ceremonies, seeing as we both are consistently on top.”

Ignoring the hand that he offered, Sasuke grunted. “Is that so? I really don’t remember.”

She absently gaped—did he just say that to Neji-niisan? She watched them for a few more seconds before Neji politely walked out of the small group. Hinata faced Sasuke. He had a triumphant smirk on his face. Should I thank him…?

“I don’t like talking.” He said straightforwardly. “But it’s an eyesore when you let him shut your mouth.”

She bit her lip and looked down. “Th-thank you,”

“You can’t stay like that forever.” He said in a straight, nearly uninterested voice. “Show him who you are.” He quietly added before walking away, leaving Hinata almost dumbfounded.

Terribly sorry for the late update. I didn't expect summer to be so... busy .___. Nevertheless, you have my word that this fic will NEVER be abandoned, given that you guys will give your feedback (reviews) ;)