Chapter Eight

"I'll visit her tonight…" Hidan kept the paper flower inside his cloak, careful as to not crumple it.

Konan sat down on a chair and stared at the man before her with a small smile.

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After she had gathered all the legends in the archives, Hinata returned to the palace and headed straight towards her room to put all the scrolls she was carrying earlier on the bedside cabinet, after that she went towards Hanabi's room.

Upon reaching her sister's room, Hinata gently knocked on the wooden door.

"Wait nee-chan! I'll be there in a jiffy!" few shuffles, rustles of scrolls and clattering of paint brushes can be heard inside the room before the door opened, revealing a relieved, ink blotted, Hanabi. "Ah! Finally! Come in Hinata-nee!"

"How did you know that I was the one knocking on your door?" Hinata asked curiously.

"I know the sound of your knocks, or would you rather like me to say that I have this sister connection thingy?" Hanabi chuckled as well as Hinata.

"Perhaps."

Hinata entered the room and was just slightly surprised by what she saw, various scrolls and brushes littered the floor and ink stains were everywhere even up on the ceiling.

"Did fireworks explode in your room, Hanabi-chan?" Hinata chuckled softly.

Hanabi wiped the side of her face, making the ink spread there more, before closing the door.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny nee-chan! Can't you see I decided to 'decorate' my room?"

"Well, you better redecorate your room again before Father sees this." Hinata pointed up the ceiling.

Hanabi snickered. "Fine nee-chan."

Hinata sat on her sister's bed and made a motion of letting her sister sit beside her as well.

"How was calligraphy?" Hinata smiled when her sister sat beside her.

Hanabi scowled.

"Boring, I've been doing it since I was five!"

"Hey, I did calligraphy too you know, but much younger than you…"

Hanabi plopped herself on the bed. The mattress bouncing for a few seconds before it stopped.

"Fine, we both did it at a younger age! As if I'd need that when I'm practica-"

Her sister had a pained look on her face that caused Hanabi to stop what she was about to say.

"Sorry Hinata-nee…I was just caught in my rambling…" Hanabi had sat up and took hold of her sister's hands.

There was a slight awkward silence before Hinata gently squeezed her sister's hands in a reassuring manner.

"Uhm, so, what did you do today?" Hanabi smiled.

"Just went out for a walk, I visited Ino-san's flower shop," Hinata chuckled a bit. " she held me up for a bit of gossips as usual."

"Let me guess, Ino-nee-chan talked about boys, the current relationships in town, boys and hmmm…let me think…oh! And more boys." Hanabi laughed.

Hinata playfully poked her sister's side. "Hanabi-chan."

"I'm just kidding! Or is it really what you two talked about? Hmm"

Hinata smiled. "Well, kind of. But it's okay, Ino-san's a nice person and that's how she is."

The two sisters talked about random things for some time before a growl of hunger pervaded in their rambles.

"Gosh! I'm hungry and I haven't noticed it yet." Hanabi laughed.

Hinata sat up and extended a hand for her sister. "Then we'll have some snacks for ourselves, I'll whip up something nice."

"Teehee! But you always make something nice, nee-chan! You're the best cook you know!" Hanabi reached for her sister's hand and stood.

"Thank you Hanabi-chan," Hinata ruffled her sister's brown locks playfully and smiled. "but you should wash your face and change some clothes first, you look like a walking charcoal you know."

Hanabi grinned before going to the bathroom clutching a change of clothes. "Sure thing nee-san!"

When the two Hyuuga women were done, they both went downstairs in the kitchen. Hinata had began preparing the necessary ingredients while Hanabi helped her sister sort through the many stocks inside their food storage.

"I never knew there were so many stuffs in here, Hinata-nee!"

"Well, that's because you rarely cook." Hinata smiled, taking out some pots and other utensils to be used.

Hanabi grinned. "Heh, that's because I suck at cooking! Unlike you nee-chan, all your cooking tastes awesome!"

Hinata laughed.

After a few minutes, Hinata had served in a plate various snacks from cinnamon rollsin a plate various snacks from dangos, onigiris, mochis and Hinata's favorite cinnamon rolls.

"Wow. Are you trying to feed a platoon Hinata-nee?" Hanabi stared at the snacks prepared.

Hinata gently tapped her sister's nose. "I might as well be, considering your large appetite."

"Hinata-nee!" Hanabi blushed.

The older Hyuuga laughed. "Well, let's eat then I'm kinda hungry myself."

The two began eating the hearty snacks in front of them. Hinata poured green tea on each of their cups.

"Oh, Hanabi-chan, I met Konohamaru-kun on my way home. He asked me to ask you if your available for some taijutsu practices…" Hinata stared at her sister while slowly drinking her tea.

The younger Hyuuga huffed and took a bite on the onigiri she was holding.

"But I always beat him in taijutsu! when will he ever learn?!" Hanabi munched on, an annoyed look on her face but there was a slight blush that Hinata unmistakably saw.

"Just so you know, training will be on the field." Hinata happily munched on some cinnamon rolls. "So, are you going to accept?"

There was a brief pause in which Hanabi slowly drank her tea before answering her sister.

"Sure, it's better than being cooped inside this place. I'll probably beat Konohamaru-kun black and blue again and let him buy me an icecream!" Hanabi chuckled, reaching for some dangos.

Hinata smiled at her sister. "Poor Konohamaru-kun."

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The two parted for awhile after they had taken their fill of delicious snacks and heartwarming conversations. Hinata accompanied Hanabi to her room before returning to her own to tidy up some of her things (which didn't need any tidying because it was practically well organized and clean, it was a habit of hers.).

It was almost dinnertime when Hinata decided to read her research but was stopped when a knock came from outside her door. She kept the scrolls again on her bedside cabinet and went to answer the door.

"W-what is it?"

A servant from the branch family bowed before her. "Dinner is served Hinata-sama, Hiashi-sama is waiting at the dining hall already."

"W-what about Hanabi-chan? Is s-she already downstairs?"

"Hanabi-sama is waiting for you near the staircase."

"Thank you very much, you may go now."

The servant gave another bow before leaving the lavender eyed girl on her own.

Hinata walked a bit faster towards the stairs. She found Hanabi blowing a strand of her hair from her face, Hinata chuckled.

The younger girl looked up when she heard her sister chuckle, she smiled and took hold of her sister's arm.

"Hanabi-chan, you waited for me…"

"Of course!," Hanabi smile. "Let's go down together."

"So Hanabi-chan, have you already cleaned your room?" Hinata asked.

Hanabi grinned and scratched the back of her head. "Uhm, well, kinda…ahehe~"

Hinata sighed and patted her sister's hands.

Upon reaching the dining hall, the two girls quietly went to their seats while their father looked at them with a frown.

"You're both late… I don't want this to happen again, understood?"

"Sorry Father…" both girls apologized.

No one spoke all through out dinner, only the sound of clinking glass and chopsticks were heard in the dining hall. After the meal, Hiashi stood up from his seat and went to his study; leaving his two daughters on their own while servants began to clean up the table.

"Heh. So much for family bonding during mealtimes" Hanabi huffed and got two pears from a basket laden with different kinds of fruits, giving the other one to Hinata.

The two went in Hinata's room where they chatted while eating their pears. Eventually, Hinata gave her sister a peck on her cheek before wishing her goodnight.

After washing and getting dressed in her pink silken pajamas, Hinata took out one of her research scrolls she kept, sat on the bed and began to read.

The scroll containing her handwritten research on various lore and legends about demons would constantly bring chills and prickles on her skin. She continued to read for a few more hours until sleep began to settle in, slowly taking her to the land of dreams.

Because she had already succumbed to a peaceful slumber, Hinata never saw the shadow near the window, half covered by the curtains billowing in the wind.

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The cold night air blew the curtains in the room, a figure of a man with silver hair and great, red tinted amethyst eyes, stood beside the sleeping girl.

Hidan stared at the angelic face before him then decided to sit on the chair beside her bed. He stroked Hinata's face gently as If afraid that she would break under his touch like some porcelain doll.

Bending forward, he cupped Hinata's face in his hands and slowly brushed her lips with the pad of his thumb before planting a small kiss on the soft, pink tissue.

Hidan had wanted to taste the same sweetness he had been intoxicated since their first encounter.

He gently and slowly traced Hinata's lips with his tongue, savoring the luscious feel of it, drowning him in a need that was slowly consuming him.

Before he could delve the kiss deeper, Hinata stirred from her sleep, causing the scroll she was slightly holding now, roll down to the floor and stop at Hidan's feet.

The silver haired man bent down to pick up the item intending to place it at the bedside table before he caught a glimpse of what was inscribed inside in a soft looking writing style he assumed was Hinata's. Out of curiosity, he began to read the text.

His eyes widened as realization donned on him as to what the scroll contained.

Here, written in Hinata's own handwriting, were the different legends about demons and how to…exorcise…eradicate them.

Eradicate demons.

Unearthly beings, fiends, monsters which slaughter humans either for enjoyment, revenge or power.

He was one of them

Hidan stared at the still sleeping figure on the bed. He didn't know if he should feel angry or amused so he just chose to smirk.

"She's got guts to go meddling with these kinds of things… she's really quite something…"

The immortal chuckled quietly and decided to give the girl a kiss on her forehead.

He took out a paper rose and placed it on the glass bowl of potpourri, Hidan gazed at Hinata for a few more minutes and in an instant he was gone.

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A/N: Hi guys! took me a long time to update, I really do try not to procrastinate myself...much!~ lolz! Anyways thanks for reading and reviewing this story! We just finished our prelim exams this week and boy am I glad to take a rest even if it's for a few days only (projects and activities lurk in every corner!). I've decided to postpone any anime convention activities for now because I would like to do my grades this year some justice LoL! and might as well save some for the next cons. Well, see you guys again in the next chappie~ *hugs Gaara plushie*