The Quest [ Sasuhina Fanfic ]

Chapter 10 •Red Apple?•

Sasuke

With one hand on my sword and another holding a bloody red apple I stared at Hinata who was staring at me with hope filling her eyes, and that's when I took a bite of the damned fruit dropping my sword at the same time,
"Sasuke!" Hinata shouted looking surprised,
"How could you..." with a brittle tone her expression was of that who has been betrayed but I couldn't say anything as the fruit's effect began,
the air around me thickened and wind circled me until i was in the air trapped in a transparent with a tint of red bubble,
"Congratulations! young lady you may continue your journey!" The old man announced in an excited tone,
"what...do you mean.." Hinata asked completely shocked,
"The young lad choose to save himself instead of his companion which was an act of greed ! thus he failed" The elderly said in an exaggerated gesture,
"But i don't understand...you said the fruit was our way out of here.."
"No young lady what I said was Take it or leave it, it's your only way out of here meaning your choice is your only way out of here, if you take it you get trapped and if you leave it you get to leave, easy!" He laughed clearly enjoying his mischief,
"Well? go ahead young lady, your journey awaits." He moves to the side making way,
from up i could see Hinata looking down hesitating but also being engulfed with hatred and anger,
"Take my sword Hinata and leave!" I shouted but it was useless for the bubble blocked my voice from getting out,
"I left it there for you...Hinata...take this chance and continue the journey....look up! look at me!" "I banged my fists on the bubble trying to get Hinata's attention but she payed me no mind,
"I refuse..." Hinata slowly raised her head looking at the old man while clenching her fists,
"I refuse to leave without him." Hinata said with a firm tone,
I couldn't help but be surprised after all I did betray her....at least that's what she believes,
"How interesting..." The old man grinned,
"but why would you do that to someone who betrayed you?" he asked looking interested in what she has to say next,
"It's not for him...It's for me, I promised myself not to let Neji's effort in brining peace go to waste....I have to go back to the village with him alive in order to stop the war between both clans...that's why I won't give up on him..even if I'll have to fight you." Hinata declared in a calm and detriment voice,
I couldn't help but admire her persistence,
"Hmmm, very well I'll make an exception," The old man said in a honeyed voice,
"what...you..will?"
"On one condition..."
Hinata breathed in and embraced herself as she waited for the old man to speak again,
"In order to save that little brat you need to bring me a red ball of thread from the labyrinth which the Minotaur dwells in."
He said,
"...If i bring it to you..you promise to let us both continue our journey ?"
"I promise. But! I'll give you only 3 days."
"...Deal." Hinata replied with fire in her eyes she looked ready to burn down all that's in her way,
"Then here," The old man reached into his inner pocket bringing out a small map,
"take this map it will lead you to the labyrinth, don't worry it's not that far." he smirked,
"...it really isn't that far!" Hinata said in surprise; she placed the map in her pocket and walked towards my sword and before picking it up she looked up at me,
"Take it, I left it there for you" I sighed knowing that my voice wouldn't reach her, without any words she took my sword and looked at me one more time before leaving for the labyrinth, her expression..i couldn't read it..
"what are you thinking about....not that I care" I sighed at my pathetic excuse.

After half an hour Hinata was completely out of sight and I was still stuck in that bubble,
"well, well, well..another Uchiha has stumbled upon my trap." Suddenly the old hunched back man had his back straightened and his gray hair turned black as well as his white devil beard except for his eyes, they remained gray,
"An Uchiha? Itachi..."I couldn't hide my surprise but I had to play it cool if I wanted some answers,
"I know who you are," I acted confident and continued,
"your Loki the trickster and I know that you make everyone who cross this path make a choice and no matter what that choice is someone will get trapped and if a choice was not made they both get trapped." I said what my brother once told me about Loki,
"impressive, you've done your research indeed, just like that Uchiha lad." Loki said looking genuinely impressed,
"That Uchiha, what happened to him?"
"wouldn't you like to know.."
"no not really, I know Itachi wouldn't fall for a simple trick like this one, I just wanted to see if my guess was right but seeing you trying to avoid my question proves my point." I said trying to provoke him,
"I'm sorry to disappoint you lad..but that Uchiha was indeed as simple as this "Trick" he did the exact same thing you did..he tried to save himself." The trickster smiled mischievously waiting to see my disappointment but to his surprise I was smiling;
"Itachi...wait for me."