The Games We Play

As most girls do, Hinata often wondered what it was her boyfriend had seen in her. She wondered if she really matched up, she wondered if it was really what he wanted. He never pushed her, he never asked her for anything more then she was willing to give so Hinata thought she was right. She thought it was safe with Naruto. She thought Naruto liked this about her. But now that she really thought about it, was it this that had made him stray? Was it that something else so different had come up he just had to try it? Naruto was a good man, a kind man with a wonderful heart but he was not a saint. Did he stray because he needed something that wasn’t safe and predictable? Was Misako that difference he needed? What did she offer him that she couldn’t? And even so why was he so willing to accept it when he told her he would wait for her? Hinata always thought that when a boy says he would wait it really meant something. She was told boys often lie about many things, and even though Naruto had never lied before, he was still a boy.

She sat at a table that could sit four holding her complimentary glass of water. Either she was early or the girls were late but regardless she had to wait. She didn’t mind, it was a nice little tea house she came to often with Ino, Sakura, and Ten-Ten and being alone gave her time to think about the thoughts she had been neglecting. Thoughts that had not even entered her mind until seeing Misako only moments before.

“What has you in such a deep expression?”

The chairs moved out of the tables and Hinata snapped out of her thoughts. Ino and Sakura smiled at her, though Ino smiled more then Sakura, Sakura looked worried about something.

“Hello Ino, Sakura.” Hinata greeted the girls.

“So?” Ino asked after they said hello. Hinata looked at her. “What’s with the expression? What has sweet Hinata looking so perplexed about?”

“Oh I, I was just…thinking.”

“About what?” Ino persisted. Hinata looked down.

She wasn’t ready to talk about anything yet, she still had to figure out her own problems. Then it accrued to her, Ino was not like her at all. Ino was loud and brave, she was direct and sexual when it came to men a result in which caused her to be the most popular when it came to single men all around Konoha.

“Ino?” Hinata asked her voice changing.

“Hmm?” Ino said looking over the menu.

“Do guys like that you’re so…” Her voice trailed off, she didn’t really know how to put it.

“Easy?” Sakura smirked next to her getting her a hard jab in the arm by her friend.

“Bold.” Hinata finished blushing.

“What do you mean?” Ino asked.

“Well I mean…I noticed you get a lot of guys by…well…you’re very upfront about what you want. Do guys like that?” Hinata asked too embarrassed to look at her friend.

“Some do.” Ino answered honestly. “A lot actually, I learned that guys like to be told exactly what’s going on, they’re not into the games.”

“Games?” Hinata asked.

“Yeah games,” Ino continued. “You know always teasing them and stuff…no you don’t do you. Well anyway guys don’t like to be strung along thinking they’re going to get something and you just make them constantly work for it.”

Hinata caught her breath. She never thought she was playing any sort of game with Naruto. Was she and not even knowing it? Did Naruto think that and that’s why he did what he did? She didn’t think she was making Naruto work for anything but she had asked him to wait. Is that what Ino was talking about?

“But regardless all girls play games. Some are not as intense as others but we all do it and many boys get pretty annoyed with the games we play.”

Hinata didn’t say anything. She let her gaze fall out the window and the passerby’s mindlessly going about their happy lives.

“Are you okay?” Sakura asked suddenly.

“Oh yes I’m fine, why do you ask?”

“Then why are you crying?” Ino said handing Hinata her napkin.

“I…” she didn’t know what to say. All she could think about were these stupid games Ino was talking about. Maybe she had been playing games with Naruto the whole time and not known it. Maybe Naruto got fed up with it and took matters into his own hands, getting something from else where that he couldn’t get from her because of her games.

She apologized and whipped her eyes. When she looked back up her two friends were giving each other strange looks.

“What?” Hinata asked.

Ino spoke first.

“I wanted to ask you something,”

“What is it?”

“The other night I was out with Kiba and he…sort of saw Naruto and…punched him in the face.”

“Kiba did what?” Hinata asked quite astonished at her team mates action. Wait, did that mean Kiba knew? How could he know?

“Yeah pretty hard too,” Ino said here eyes wide. “All he kept saying was Naruto made you cry.”

“He did?” Hinata felt embarrassed. She had just run off that day she didn’t even think anyone saw her. She didn’t see anyone.

“Well,” Ino fidgeted. “Did he?”

Hinata stared at the white table cloth.

“Hinata?”

“I haven’t spoken to Naruto.” She admitted and she felt her friends stair at her.

“Not since you got back?” Sakura asked. “But I ran into him he was looking for you.”

“No, not even then. I just…” Hinata took a deep breath. She might as well say something now. “I found out when we were away he…kissed Misako…several times.”

“He did what?” Ino and Sakura said in unison.

Hinata couldn’t find it in herself to repeat it so she stayed quiet allowing them to process the information.

“How do you know?” Ino asked but Sakura answered for her.

“Is that what Misako told you when we came to the gate?”

Hinata only nodded.

The girls went quiet for a long time, no one knowing what to say. No one able to really understand Naruto of all people would do that. It was Ino who broke the silence first.

“Just a kiss?” She asked.

“That’s what she said but she said it was more then once.”

“How do you know she’s telling the truth?” Sakura asked remembering what she saw in the hallway of the tower only yesterday.

“Because I saw his face when he saw us talking and…I just knew.”

“Have you talked to him? Asked him about it?” Ino asked.

Hinata shook her head.

“She doesn’t have to talk about it if she doesn’t want to.” Sakura defended.

“I’m just saying, maybe you should ask him about it instead of taking her word for it.”

“I know,” Hinata admitted. “I just can’t…I mean…”

“Yeah I know,” Sakura said offering her friend a weak smile.

“Hinata,” Ino spoke up again. “I saw Naruto out to dinner with Misako, did you tell him to go on a date with her?”

“What?” Hinata asked not really sure what Ino was asking.

“I saw Naruto and Misako out and when I asked him about he said you told him to; something about spending more time with her.”

“Yes, but I never said he could…” She took a breath and looked away.

“That’s what I said,” Sakura began to say. “I said to be nice I didn’t say he could fuck her.”

“Wait.” Ino sat back her mouth hanging open at the pink haired woman. “Did you just…was it…Yuna?”

Sakura nodded. Ino’s jaw was about ready to touch the table; her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head.

“When did you find this out?” Ino demanded Hinata on the other hand sat confused.

“Before I went to your house.” Sakura said.

“And you didn’t tell me?” Ino said sounding defended. “We could have been planning her death. Sakura we could have kidnapped her from her house in the middle of the night and thrown her body into a ditch.”

“Let’s say that a little louder.” Sakura said beginning to wonder were their waitress was.

“What?” Hinata asked very confused. Why did Ino want to throw Yuna in a ditch? Ino took it upon herself to inform their friend and when she did Hinata suddenly felt really bad for making such a big deal out of Naruto’s kiss in front of Sakura.

“Oh Sakura…” Hinata said.

“Yeah,” Sakura said turning to flag down a waitress but when she saw out the window she quickly turned back around.

“What?” Ino asked looking after her. “Is chicken butt hair out there?”

“No not him,” Sakura said and now Hinata was looking to wishing she hadn’t.

Only five feet from the window stood Naruto and he was not alone. Misako was there too. She looked like she was trying to grab his hand, he looked like he was resisting but Naruto being Naruto he wasn’t doing a good job avoiding her advances. Hinata felt her stomach boil. Her legs stood for her and she was out of her chair and out of the restaurant in less then a minute.

Behind her Sakura and Ino continued to look out the window. They saw Naruto look behind his left shoulder and saw him mouth her name. He gave one last feeble attempt to get away from Misako before running after Hinata.

“There is something not right about those two.” Ino mused and Sakura laughed.

“You are just figuring that out?”

“No, there’s something else.” Ino said quietly watching as Misako smirked looking after Naruto chase Hinata.

Outside Hinata made a special point not to run into Naruto. When she ran out of the restaurant she took a sharp left hoping to duck into the crowds and he wouldn’t see her. But when she heard him call her name she almost stumbled. She tried to dive away but she knew he was chasing her. She managed to run out of the crowded area they were in before he caught up to her. He made a grab for her wrist causing her almost to trip before turning her around. She tried to get a way but he wouldn’t let her go.

“Hinata please I need to talk to you.”

“Let me go.” She said weakly struggling against him and failing.

“Please Hinata; I need to tell you the truth!” He began and this caught her attention.

“What is the truth Naruto?” She asked quietly not looking at him stopping her struggling. He held her arm tight enough she knew she wouldn’t be able to get away with out a serious struggle.

“Is the truth that nothing happened? Did she lie to me?” She asked her voice still soft and sad.

He didn’t say anything and she swallowed her fear to meet his eyes. He looked down at her with an unreadable expression.

“Did she?”

“No.” He said emotionless.

“No.” Hinata repeated looking away. “So then what do you have to say?”

“What did she tell you?”

“She told me you kissed her.” Hinata’s emotions were suddenly fueled not by her heartbreak and misery, but her anger. Her anger at Naruto for doing what he did. Her anger at Misako for doing what she did.

“She told me you kissed her more then once…”

“Yeah but it was just a kiss.” Naruto interrupted and Hinata’s eye’s widened.

“Just a kiss?” She asked. “Just a kiss you repeated more then once?”

He looked away his emotionless face was replaced with what she saw as a mix between anger and regret.

“I don’t know how you can say it was just a kiss when…” Her voice cracked. “When it took me so long to get the courage just to kiss you once, it was so special for me. It was something I always…and you just do it with her like that? And more then once?”

“Hinata-”

“It really hurts.” She felt tears burn her eyes. Her anger was mixing with her heartbreak; it was beginning to tell which was which. “I trusted you, and… I never thought you would ever hurt me…”

“I’m sorry.” Naruto said making a movie to hold her but she dived away. “Hinata?”

“I can’t…not now…” Hinata choked out turning to leave.

“Hinata wait!”

“Please, just leave me alone.” She said putting a hand out to stop him and stop he did. He let her walk away with out attempting to stop her. Hinata waited until she was several blocks away from him before diving into an ally way and breaking down.

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Sakura shut her door with a heavy sigh. It was a busy and exhausting day. From the hangover, to lunch with Hinata, to working over time at the hospital, Sakura was ready to call it a day and just go into a hibernation sleep.

She threw her keys onto her counter ignoring getting something to eat in her kitchen and went strait to the bathroom. She let the water run to get it hot making her way to bedroom to get her pajamas ready. She hadn’t even touched the door knob when her senses went on high alert. That familiar chill ran down her spine and the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She made a move to grab her weapon when she remembered she didn’t have any because she didn’t carry deadly weapons at the hospital.

She made a move to leave her apartment when the door swung open and his monstrous figure grabbed hold of her. Sakura kicked and tried to free herself but he held her down strong.

“Don’t run.” He said in her ear. “Don’t run.”

“Let go of me!” She demanded in her struggle but his once protective arms held her firm. She tried to summon her chakra but somewhere in the struggle Sasuke had hit her nerve points to dim them.

“Only if you don’t run!” He said.

“Are you fucking crazy?” She asked and was able to get one arm free to push against his chest. “What the hell are you doing breaking into my house and then attacking me! And you’re asking me not to run?” She was able to get him to ease his grip on her but he still held her arms.

“Sakura please,” That was a first, Sasuke never said ‘please’. “Stop running from me and let me explain-”

“Explain what?” She spat back. “Explain to me how you just happen to fall in between her legs?”

“Sakura,”

“Don’t ‘Sakura’ me. I am not the one at fault here! And what the hell is your problem! You break into my house and all out assult me?”

“You’ve been avoiding me what did you expect me to do?”

“Of course I’ve been avoiding you!” She yelled. “I don’t want to see you Sasuke!”

“Sakura please calm down, let me explain things.”

Frustrated, angry, and still jumpy from being attacked in her own home Sakura was not in the mood to put up with any ‘explaining’ he might have.

“Do not tell me to calm down!” She yelled. “You hurt me Sasuke! Do not tell me to calm down after what you did!”

“I never wanted to,”

“I don’t care!” she interrupted pushing him, but in her small hallway he didn’t go far. “I don’t care what you didn’t want to do because you did it Sasuke! You did! You slept with her behind my back! You didn’t say no you went a head and fucked her!”

Her emotions always got the best of her. She had never been one to hide them like a real ninja should. Sasuke was the opposite; he hid every emotion the human brain was capable of. Even now as he said he didn’t want to hurt her, his voice was robotic like a well rehearsed line.

“Why are you here?” She asked after he allowed her to calm down enough to reach a normal voice.

“I want to explain.” He said again and she gave a hallow laugh.

“What is there to explain?” she asked again. “You slept with Yuna and you hurt me.”

“How did you know I slept with Yuna?” He asked his voice dark but Sakura knew it wasn’t malicious as it was trying to hide emotion.

“I saw you two,” She said. “I saw you and I knew. God Sasuke out of everyone around you do it with her? Do you have any idea…” She took a deep breath; she was loosing her temper again. “Did you even consider me for even a second?”

He didn’t answer.

“Did you ever think of the ramifications of not only me but of what you were doing? Did you even think of who she was? Did you even care?”

Sasuke said nothing for a long time. He stood against the wall avoiding her gaze clenching his jaw. After what felt forever Sasuke finally spoke.

“Why are you making this about her?” he asked and Sakura gaped at him.

“What?”

“The first thing you say is about her? This isn’t about her Sakura; it’s about me and you.”

“You want to make this just about you and me?” Sakura began to scream again. “Do you have any idea how much you hurt me? Do you have any idea how stupid you made me feel? Everyone told me to stay away from you, everyone said you would hurt me but I ignored them because I love you and then you go and do this!” Sakura had done a good job of not crying in front of him but once she said that “L” word she broke.

She broke and she cried. Her stomach hurt and she doubled over sinking on to the floor of the carpeted hallway.

“Sakura,” She heard him say and felt his large hand touch her shoulder.

“I… want you…to leave.” She voiced trying to calm her crying.

“Sakura don’t kick me out.” His voice was softer then before and if Sakura had been in any other state she might have noticed it more. She might have looked up and saw the regret and equal pain in his eyes. But she was too hurt and betrayed to even consider it.

“You have nothing to say! Just get out!” Sakura yelled making a move to push him away.

“I’m not-”

“GET OUT!”

After what for too long he turned and left slamming the door behind him. Sakura was left alone in her apartment crying on the floor of her hallway while her shower ran out of hot water but wasn’t turned off.
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Hinata sat in her room whipping her eyes. She was getting really sick and tired of crying. Why was she crying so much? She was never one to really cry before but it seemed now she couldn’t really stop. Did she even have a right to be acting this way? She thought back to her lunch with her friends, compared to Sakura it seemed that she got the better end of the deal but it still hurt. Naruto still went behind her back, he was still with another girl.

Two weeks ago she couldn’t fathom the idea of Naruto being disloyal she couldn’t even put the two together. Disloyal and Naruto were like oil and water they never mixed. Now she was thinking of the possibility of him doing more? What if she was gone longer? What if she was gone for three weeks or four or over a month? Would she be coming home to news that he did more then kiss her?

It wasn’t just a kiss to Hinata. It wasn’t just a slip she could ignore and pretend that it didn’t happen because Naruto had his faults and this was one of them. To her, it was the issue of her trust. Her trust that she gave him completely had been hurt. She had heard once trust took years to build and only a moment to break. Was her trust in Naruto gone? Would it ever return? Would she ever go on a mission again and not worry about what he was doing, or who he was with? If he left her back at home would she constantly be on edge about if he would ever see her again?

As much as she loved him and as much as she didn’t know about boys and relationships Hinata knew enough to know a relationship with doubt and suspicion was no relationship at all.

Her head started to hurt and her stomach turned. She shouldn’t be thinking about this right now. She couldn’t. She needed to clear her head. Maybe take a walk or something? She looked outside it was dark out, she did like the night. Maybe a walk wouldn’t be so bad.
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Hours after Sasuke had left Sakura had managed to shower and crawl into bed. Still feeling physically weak from her encounter with Sasuke she could only muster enough energy to make it to her bed and flop down under the covers.

Doing her best to make her mind and blank and possible she tossed and turned until she found a comfortable position to fall asleep. She had tossed and turned several times before she noticed she had a message on her phone. She had been so preoccupied with everything else she had completely forgotten her message checking ritual.

She pressed the play button with what fell like too much energy to move.

“Hello Sakura its Tsunade. I know you’re still busy at the hospital but I really need you to come tomorrow. There are some things we have to go over with Yuna and I would like it for you to be here. Thank you and I’ll see you tomorrow morning at eight.”

Sakura stared at the machine for a long still moment.

She couldn’t deny Tsunade calling her personally. She was her master after all. And she didn’t really believe she could think up a good enough excuse to get out of it considering Tsunade probably already excused her from the hospital until further notice.

Sighing in her defeat Sakura set her alarm for seven. She got up out of bed going to her sock drawer. She reached in fumbling around the drawer for a forgotten small bottle. Once several years ago Sakura had a nasty case of insomnia and as a nurse she was able to have access to the entire medical supply. She had only used the sleeping pills a few times since then, and only for what she felt were emergencies. She had eight hours before she had to be up at eleven and with her restless mind after everything that had happened she was sure she wasn’t going to get to sleep soon. She needed her sleep, when she didn’t sleep she could get snappy and if she was going to be around that woman tomorrow and Tsunade she couldn’t afford to let her temper slip.

With out bothering to get a glass of water Sakura put the small pill to the back of her throat and swallowed. By the time she had reached her bed again her room was loosing its strait lines. She was asleep in less then five minutes, a peaceful dreamless sleep.

It was only eleven. Hinata took her normal rout to walk, she liked walking and she liked the night and it was helping her. She thought about Naruto she thought about what to say to him. She thought about listening to him again. On her walk she decided she should talk to him again. He did try to speak to her and maybe he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

She found herself at the water something she always found herself doing. She was attracted to water she liked it, it was always so beautiful and calm but if disturbed it could be a deadly force.

She walked to the banks and sat down letting the water soak into the toes of her shoes. The cooling sensation felt good and she was almost ready to just go for a swim when she heard commotion in the small shrub of trees behind her.

Hinata turned around trying to get a good look at it. Was it an animal? She didn’t get the sensation of an animal, but there was something there. She didn’t get a negative vibe from it so she figured whatever it was it wasn’t a threat so she ignored it turning her attention back to the calm water.

After a few moments she heard someone giggle. She turned seeing two figures step out from the trees, it was too dark to tell who it was but she could see one was a man and one was a woman. Realizing she may be interrupting some intimate moment, she got up to leave in the opposite direction.

She got back to the town walking back to her house when someone stepped in front of her.

“Hello Hinata,” She said her voice smooth but it made Hinata’s ears want to bleed.

“Hello Misako.”

“You’re out rather later aren’t you?” She asked. Under the mix of the dark night and the small street lamps from a nearby restaurant the normally cheerful looking girl looked quiet different. Here eyes were a bit glazed and there was a strange smell coming from her. Hinata figured she must have been drinking there was certainly some sort influence going on.

“So are you.” Hinata said.

“I had a date,” the girl said smiling leaning on her hip.

“How lovely,” Hinata said beginning to fight the urge to leave. “I think it’s about time for me to be heading home, good night Miss Tanako.” Hinata said side stepping to leave.

She felt green eyes follower as walked past. She had only gotten a few steps behind her when Misako turned and spoke again.

“I do hope you and Naruto can work things out Hinata, it would be such a shame to let a man like that go to waist.”

Hinata stopped in her tracks tilting her head toward the girl. Her face was unusually dark for the sweet Hyuuga but Misako seemed to fail to notice this.

“A man who can kiss like that is bound to find someone else if you let him go. Maybe I should stay in town a bit longer just in case.”

Hinata stared they’re eyes matching. Misako had a cruel twisted smile on. Hinata tried to hide her fear with her anger, it was easier then she expected.

“Naruto and I will work things out our way.” Hinata said her light voice betraying her dark glair.

“I do hope so.” Misako said turning to leave. “See you around Hinata.”

Her heels clicked down the street into the distance as Hinata remained still trying to calm her breathing and her clenched fists. When Hinata was left alone in the quiet dark she continued her way home doing her best to let go of what just happened it was never a good think to sleep when you were angry. However that night Hinata didn’t sleep at all.

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TBC - Sakura and Yuna meet for the first time since it all happened. What's going to happen?