Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

A/N: This is a series of SasuHina drabbles. There is no set story for any of these as of yet. But should one develop you will be notified. ^_^

Ichi-go, Ichi-e

(One Time, One Meeting)

Hand

A hand. His hand. Outstretched in offering. It was…hard to focus on anything outside of the absurd notion that he would offer such a simple thing to someone like her. It was so out of the ordinary and uncharacteristic of someone like him. Still it stayed there in her field of vision like a viper ready to strike her just because it could.

"It's not going to bite you!" He snapped at her, drawing her attention up to his face. Dark eyes with just as dark brows drew together in annoyance. A hint of anger sparked in their depths as she continued to study him, not bothering to acknowledge the hand still held out to her.

His dark hair bristled in the breeze. A growl, soft but growing in volume, rumbled from his throat. The stupid girl just kept looking at him. Not in an adoring way, as the others did, but like he was an oddity that she couldn't understand. Her white eyes stared at him, glazed over in confusion and fear. However, he really couldn't blame her. Considering how they'd found her, it was little wonder that she hadn't succumbed to hysterics by now.

"Sasu…ke…kun?" She whispered. Her voice was soft and mystified, barely carrying in the breeze to his ears. At least she knew who he was. Shame he couldn't say the same. However, it wasn't surprising. When someone saw an Uchiha there was little doubt now on who it was. Being the only one left, it was hard to get confused on the matter. However, as far as Hyuuga went, it was hard to distinguished one from another. They all had long hair, pale skin, and white eyes. They were serious and stern and grim. He flinched inwardly just thinking about all the Hyuuga he'd met in his life.

Except, maybe this one. She seemed…odd. Her eyes were too soft. Her face too round. Her voice too quiet and uncommanding. He felt his face contort in his exasperation. She had to be some kind of castoff or something. Because Hyuuga weren't supposed to be soft and meek. Or scared.

He pulled his hand back since it looked like she wasn't going to accept it. "Well since you know who I am, why don't you do us all a service and tell us who you are?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion. 'Us' he said. What 'Us'? All she saw was him. Then she heard a snickering behind her. Turning her head slowly, she saw what he was talking about. Two men, one so much taller than the rest of them. The other shorter, but with pale hair and sharp teeth gleaming at her in light filtering from the thick canopy of trees overhead. He was the one snickering at her. And a girl, with red hair and glasses. Her eyes studied Hinata with a hint of malice and ill intent.

Hinata shivered as she turned her attention back to the one before her. He looked even more annoyed than before.

"Your name," he commanded. "Now!"

"H-Hyuuga…" She stammered, shifting uneasily under his direct gaze. "…Hinata…" His eyes sparked in recognition.

"Hinata…" He whispered, his voice almost breathless as he drew upon the memories he'd locked away so long ago.

Hyuuga Hinata. A shy girl. Introverted and weak. Also prone to fainting. Especially when the Dobe was around. Unlike most of the other girls he remembered, she wasn't trouble. Quiet and eager to help when given the chance. He smirked, deciding how best to use this to his advantage.

"Hinata." Her body jerk as his voice rang sharp in the space between them. His annoyance with her did not go unnoticed, nor did the hint of a smirk tilting the edges of his mouth. "We are in need of your help. If you do what I ask of you, I can promise no harm will come to you." He paused, his dark eyes considering her before continuing. "Will you help us?"

A moment passed as she weighed his offer carefully. What sort of help could she provide him? Very little from her own experience. But how could she refuse? Such a genuine request wasn't one she could rightly ignore. Especially from him. Naruto would never forgive her for denying him.

Narrowing her eyes, her gaze dropping to the ground, she nodded. "Hai!" She declared softly. "I will help you."

His lips curled in satisfaction. "Good."

He held his hand out to her once again and felt her own soft hand taking it in acceptance. Something passed from her to him in that brief moment. A burning. A spark. It traveled up his arm, radiating up his arm and out through his body. It was…odd. Like a moment he could never take back. A sealing, maybe, just by them joining hands.

Then the moment, however brief, passed and all he could identify was the unsettled feeling unfurling in his chest. He glanced at her hand and frowned. What sort of fate awaited him just from that touch of a hand?