Author's Notes: Wow, um--I'm sorry for not posting this sooner. School, finals, work (evil inspectors that never bother to show up--you know what I mean, right?). Well, that's pretty much behind me. Save for the work and evil inspectors part. But as of now, I'm out of college until September and I'm going to be kicking up fanfiction dust like there's no tomorrow (which I'm going to pretend there isn't so I will actually get stuff DONE), so pity your inboxes because by the time I'm done, I'll have killed them all! Bwahaha! Uh--yeah, anyway, to see what I'm going to be working on this summer, visit my Live Journal (homepage) and check out the second post, aka: My Summer's To-Do List. It lists everything I'll be doing, will be updated frequently, and that's a promise. I just can't promise the safety of yours or my own sanity.
Further notes: This completely is Alternate Universe comparing to the current story line in the manga. It wouldn't be if we ignored the past ten chapters, but alas--it is out. So, for now, to play it safe, this doesn't follow the manga. At all.
Warnings: This is a LONG ASS story, each chapter having roughly over 10,000 words. There is OOCness, but that's because love makes people act funny. Next chapter should be uploaded whenever the hell I get my head out of...never mind. Whenever I get a chance. Enjoy.
Life's Twisted Roads
by Mint Pizza Queen
The words that left his lips made the room turn cold. It was haunting, sending goose bumps across her arms at the mere thought of being in a murderer's room.
Let alone, a bedroom.
She felt like she was intruding onto something forbidden. She wanted to leave, and now. However, Sasuke appeared to be not as ready, or willing, to leave so soon.
"Not everybody in the clan was--stuck up, to put it bluntly," he started hesitantly and she flinched inwardly. "My aunts, my uncles, my cousins--they were fairly decent and kind. My grandparents were the strict sort, but they did let it slide when I accidentally set several of their potted plants on fire, and even stood up for me when my father wanted to punish me." He let out a soft laugh that barely even came out as a chuckle.
"My father--he was one person that I hated the most. It wasn't really hate, it was--" he looked thoughtful before turning to Hinata. "--more or less like the relationship you have with your father. You yearn to be acknowledged for your strengths. I did the same with him. He ignored me, brushing me off with every little accomplishment that I made. Only once did he see me for who I was, and--" Sasuke started to move across the room, allowing a finger to trail along a dresser and stir up dust from the top. "--it was actually the very last time he took a breath."
Hinata remained silent as he approached the curtained window and fingered the hem of the dirty cloth.
"My favorite people were my brother and my mother. They saw me for who I was, and they let me be me. My mother was the one who loved me, cared for me, and generally gave me everything that I wanted." Needed remained unspoken, but heard. "Except to be a father. She couldn't do that.
"Itachi, my brother, started filling that in for me. He'd train with me, teach me techniques, and played with me. Hell, he was the one who took me to the park when I was too young to attend the Ninja Academy. He was the one who taught me to have fun. He gave me my childhood." His eyes darkened and his voice suddenly became very bitter. "He was also the one who took it away."
Hinata's eyes widened. "He--?"
"My brother killed them all." Sasuke looked up at her and his expression softened to a sadder look. "He killed them the day after I first met you."
'Wha--'
'How could he?'
'Why?'
"He's the reason why I push myself to become stronger." The Uchiha began his walk again, running the tips of his fingers against the aged wood in the room. "I have to be strong enough to kill him. I have to avenge my clan."
"So," she finally spoke, "that's why you trained with the stronger ninjas. Like Naruto."
"And Neji, and Lee, and all those who have skill."
Hinata frowned. "But--"
He turned so his back was to her. Just how worn out was he from trying to complete his purpose in life? Probably as worn as the fan that was faded on his back. "You too have skill. If you didn't, I wouldn't have tried so hard to get you to train with me."
'I--have skill?'
'What is it that I have that Sasuke sees as a skill?'
'I have none, he is mistaken.'
"Wait," she held out her hands as she tried to sort herself. "You say you wanted to train with me because of Naruto, because you don't want a love struck idiot, or an ass--Sasuke, I don't understand. I have no skill. I am weak, by everyone's standards. Why me? Please, tell me." She clasped her hands up to her chin and waited expectantly.
He remained silent once more, only to respond ever so softly. "You remind me of someone--from a long time ago."
'Huh?'
"It--it haunted me. I needed to know."
She dared to take a step towards him, watching herself and kept an eye on him with cautiousness. "W-who?"
He turned his head slightly, but his eyes were obscured by his bangs. His mouth, however, was clearly visible and she shrank back when it curled up into a smirk. "You are everyone as one embodiment. You are everyone's fears, joys, sadness, and flaws all put into one convenient little package. What was haunting about you," he turned completely, and his face became exposed, his smirk disappearing into a thin line, "was that everytime I looked at you," he started to approach her slowly. "I kept seeing the younger me. Perhaps I was trying to have that--that one last chance at being a child. I don't know, but I wanted it so bad."
Hinata remained rooted to her spot, allowing him to invade her space and place his hands on her shoulders. She could make out the worry lines that had started to form on his brow so clearly from the distance they were at, and felt a pang in her chest. "Do you still want that--that last chance at your childhood?"
He stared right into her eyes before looking away. "No. I--I found something else. Something better."
She felt her heart squeeze tightly as her lungs failed her. She pushed herself to find that air, find that damn answer to what the hell was going on.
"What did you find?"
She dared.
She hoped.
She wished.
He answered.
"You."
-x-x-x-
'Are you all right, Hinata? It's okay, mommy's here for you. Don't worry, when I leave, you will not be forgotten. There is someone out there, waiting for you. You will feel alone, abandoned, and sad, but do not fear. You will be remembered, you will be found, and you will not be lost. As long as there is love, there will be hope--there will be a light, and from that light, that someone will come with an extended hand and finally say, 'I found you. I won't be here on that day, but I promise--it will happen. So, hold on my child, for that day will surely come at last.'
-x-x-x-
It was like all the air was sucked out of her. She couldn't breathe. Can't breathe, can't see, can't think, what's happening?
Sasuke was watching her with expecting eyes. He wanted a response, yet she couldn't--she tried. Her voice, it wasn't working! What was happening?
Her eyes widened as he pulled away from her, obviously stung by her lack of response. She threw her arm out and grabbed his hand before he could leave and he froze in his spot.
The anxiety in the room grew tenfold.
'It's now or never.'
"How did you find me?" She squeezed his hand gently and received the gesture back.
"You've been there all this time. I just finally opened my eyes."
"Why were your eyes closed all this time?"
"I was afraid to see what was out there."
"Why were you scared?"
"I didn't want it to happen again."
"You didn't want to lose something precious?"
"The world is unkind. I experienced it, and when I opened my eyes for the first time, I saw it. With you and your father. It tore at me." It haunted me.
She bit her lip as he released her hand, and she allowed it to drop to her side. "And your anger?"
He visibly hesitated with his mouth working, but no words leaving his mouth. He closed his eyes for a moment before speaking again. "I was angry before I tried to fix what had happened to you. But you--" He pointed at her with an angry finger. "You wanted to fight it without me. I was angry at being left out, that's why I lashed out."
She shrunk back as she stared at him in surprise. "Y-you--"
"I was angry at your father too, for making you that cowering shy girl that hides in the corner when it comes time to pick a partner. I hated how he made you into that scared, lonely child."
Sasuke was opening himself up to her through her life. He didn't want to see her scared like before because it reminded him too much of what he used to be. He didn't want to see her thrown away by her father because that was what had happened to him. He was saying so much about himself, and it--
--it scared her to death to be so free to read into this exposed Uchiha Sasuke, who had practically torn himself apart just so he could change something in the world for the better, so that someone who was like him would know that they weren't alone in this fight.
Hinata felt something pulling at her, making her feel just slightly thankful for this new exposure, and at the same time, made her feel felt sick.
She shouldn't be getting this close. Surely, Sasuke knew that they were treading in dangerous waters at this point.
At this point, there was no going back. "Sasuke," she hesitated and he waited patiently as she tried to form the words. "Why were you angry at being left out?"
He stared at her motionlessly. His eyes trailed to the floor after a moment, and just when she was expecting him to answer, he stepped around her and exited the room in a hurry.
She stared blankly into the room before she whirled around and rushed out of the room after him.
"The fight earlier, I'm sorry, Sasuke. I was foolish, I didn't know."
He stopped abruptly, Hinata halting a few feet away from him.
He didn't even turn to face her. "You know now, so it's fine."
She was afraid that what they had before couldn't be mended. It wouldn't surprise her, she had ruined plenty of friendships in the past from not thinking about the consequences. She bowed her head and twiddled her fingers desperately. Looking for an answer, waiting for one, anything.
It came.
Two hands grabbed her own and separated hers. She refused to look up as the voice spoke. "Stop that."
It was teasing.
Her head flew up and she felt her heart soar high, almost as high as the first time she saw Naruto.
Sasuke was smiling at her.
Without even forcing it, she smiled back at him.
-x-x-x-
The rest of the day was a blur to her. Time seemed to have sped up, the world flashing by her in unreadable motion as she made her way through it all at her own pace. It was as if everyone was in a rush to be here, to be there, make this appointment, see to that chore, make that task, see to these papers.
To her, it could all wait.
The training grounds were empty when she arrived later that night. The moon was out, carved smoothly into a crescent. The crickets chirped their songs softly, and the winds were rustling the leaves and the grass ever so gently.
She sat beneath a tree and made herself comfortable, watching as the wonders of night came alive at their own pace, like her.
There was a crunching noise behind her, and soon she found that she had some company.
Sasuke seated himself beside her quietly, scooting close enough so he was shoulder to shoulder with her.
A new warmth envelops her hand, and ever so slowly (she's holding her breath now), she looks down to see that her hand is being held by Sasuke's.
She looks to him questioningly, and all he does is merely squeeze her hand gently in response before nodding his head in the direction he's staring.
Her gaze wavers, and her eyes widen with delight.
There are little floating beacons of light that travel around in gentle wisps and curves, silent like wind. Hinata feels her lips curve up and knows she's smiling at the fond memory from back in her childhood.
'What are these?'
'They are fireflies, Hinata.'
'They are beautiful.'
'Indeed, they are.'
'Why do the fireflies glow?'
'The fireflies light up for several reasons. The first being to show a lost soul the way home.'
'The second?'
'The fireflies light up keep the darkness away, so no evil can come into the fields and forest.'
'Wow, they are amazing.'
'They do more than just that, Hinata.'
'Oh? What else do they do?'
'They illuminate the truth, whether that truth being feelings of hate, sadness, loneliness, or even love.'
'Even love?'
'Especially love.'
Hinata turns back to look at Sasuke and sees his calm expression. His eyes twinkle as the little insects flare up with light before darkening again.
She looks closely at him, curiously, cautiously, looking for that little thing, and aha! There it is.
She turns away and smiles to herself, knowing that she has found it.
She doesn't jump away when she feels a set of arms pull her close because she already knows that Sasuke already realizes that she saw.
He knows that she knows.
She knows that he knows.
It all works out.
-x-x-x-
She isn't all that surprised to see them sitting together under the tree, practically cuddling. She's not that surprised, either, when she sees them smile at each other in that little way that there's something more going on than what she can see right now.
Kurenai's observant, so she already knows that things have worked out in Hinata's favor. Sasuke listened, they understood, things were forgiven.
She's proud of Hinata, and is feeling a bit thankful towards Sasuke. Thankful for attempting to break the shell that Hinata had hid in for so long; the one that she herself had tried to break many times.
The red-eyed woman nods in approval and disappears into the night just as quietly as she had come.
-x-x-x-
When she finally gets home that night, the compounds are dark and everything is silent. She doesn't care for once, and doesn't even try to be quiet when she goes to her room.
Her heart is still light and she can still smell him in her clothes, bringing her pleasant thoughts of wonderful days of being together in the future.
When she closes her eyes, she falls into that familiar slumber and is brought back to the dream from before. The gray room, the trapped figure, and the one who ran away are there again.
This time, the leaving figure is slightly clearer, but the face is still hazed out. The hand, a masculine hand, reaches the handle of the door that kept the other locked in and turns it, pulling it, throwing it aside.
Light floods into the room, and the trapped figure, feminine yet unrecognizable, raises her head and seemingly stares.
The man reaches in, holding out a hand as he hovers in the doorway. "I'm here."
The woman approaches him and takes the hand without a second thought. "I know."
As he pulls her into the light, there are droplets that fall to the ground as they embrace, and the gray prison closes in on itself.
-x-x-x-
She's up at six, and out the door by six-thirty. She skipped breakfast and the morning meetings with the elders, and she knows they will be furious, but lately, that's all they been to her. Angry. Unreasonable. Determined to push her down and lock her away.
She's escaping her cage, or at least, that's what she's trying to do. She flees, and knows it's wrong, but at this point, that's all she can do until she comes up with a plan. She needs a plan, she needs a way, and she needs the time.
So for now she runs, trains, and hides as she plans. She promises herself (promises Sasuke) that she will be better than the rest of them.
She swears it the very kunai she keeps stashed in her pack that has the emblem of the Uchiha fan on it.
No one knows about the kunai, and she's happy to keep it that way.
-x-x-x-
His mouth is flapping, and it reminds her of a fish.
She lets out a soft giggle, and he's got an eyebrow raised, yet he's still trying to latch onto a few words.
"Is there something wrong, Sasuke?"
"Nyee--"
"Is it that shocking for me to request to merely hang out instead of doing some training?" She makes a shrug to show her indifference. "I see, if it's that difficult for you to answer, perhaps I'll just--"
He grabs her shoulder and spins her around, making her an easy prey to pin to the tree. His eyes gleam deviously when his fingers tickle her neck as he holds her in place. "And where--do you think--you are going?"
She tries to hide her nervousness by grinning and narrowing her eyes in a cheeky way. "No where in particular."
"Really?"
"Mmhm."
His nose is brushing up against hers now, and this is when the butterflies start to swarm in her stomach. She's feeling the pressure now, and now she's feeling a little too close to him for comfort. Thank god nobody was around.
"I do believe I already have plans for what we're going to do today."
Her mouth opens in a 'oh' as her eyes widen in mock confusion. She knows he's only playing. He's teasing, like always.
"We're going to the park."
And that's when she finally realizes that Sasuke doesn't joke about everything.
-x-x-x-
Her heart is pounding over a million miles an hour. It's going to pound right through her chest, she just knows it.
She dared to venture to the training grounds with him, she dared to go to breakfast with him, but to the park--in the middle of the village--where everybody goes?
She never even went there as a kid!
She knows she's panicking over something so silly, but--no. This is not silly. What is somebody saw? What is something made an assumption--a bad one?
What if somebody told her father?
Oh what would he think? Nay, what would he do? He'd lock her up, that's what he'd do. No, he'd lock her up, strip her of her Hyuuga name, and then throw her to the hounds. By hounds, she meant those girls that stalked him throughout ninja academy and after graduation. They were vicious, just ask Naruto. He knew first hand what sort of power they had.
She began to pluck at her shirt nervously, eyes wide and alert. She didn't want to get hurt by any jealous ladies at the moment, so--
"Hinata, calm down. We're supposed to be relaxing."
His voice was strung out with a lazy drawl to it. He was stretched out like a cat under a shady tree, head resting on his folded arms as he lounged with his eyes closed. She stared at him before twiddling her fingers.
"But Sasuke, I--"
"You better not be doing what I think you're doing."
She instantly pulled her hands apart and started to play with the grass. "D-doing what? I don't know what you're talking about."
He allowed one eye to open and stare at her. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"No, I don't."
He opened his other eye. "Yes, you do. Don't lie, it's very unbecoming."
Her mouth flew open. "It wasn't a bad lie, it was a fib. I was teasing, you know!"
He smirked at her knowingly and she flushed at the realization that she had just been had.
"You--you tricked me!"
"Nn, not really."
"Yes you did! You--"
"You have a guilt complex that's running overtime. Shut it off once in a while, and maybe you can get away with a little fib here and there." He closed his eyes again and resumed back to his lounging, leaving Hinata to fume within herself.
'He tricked me!'
'Get even with him.'
'That would be fun.'
'Mean?'
'Depends on what it is.'
'Don't hurt him.'
'Just play.'
She watched him silently as she contemplated her next move. Carefully, she plucked a large blade of grass and held it out over his nose. Gently, she lowered it so it was a mere hair's width away before moving it.
Twitch. Twitch.
His nose twitched in a bunny-like fashion, and she resisted the urge to coo. She tickled his nose again, and a hand flew up to brush away the offending blade.
When his allowed his hand to fall back to the ground, the tickling became more insistent.
SNORT.
At least until Sasuke accidentally inhaled the blade of grass.
He shot up from his spot and rubbed viciously at his noise, spluttering and coughing. He glared at her. "What was that?!"
She put on an aura of innocence. "Grass."
"NEH?"
"Sasuke, you shouldn't inhale grass like that. Think of what the people will say." She shook her head while making tisking noises. "People will start to wonder, Sasuke."
He stared at her wordlessly before a smirk started to crawl onto his face. "Really?"
Hinata found herself becoming very nervous at this point. "Y-yes..."
"Don't stutter, it doesn't suit you." He adjusted his body so he was on his hands and knees and crawled towards her predatorily.
She backed away, ignoring the impending grass stains on her behind. "S-Sasuke?"
"Don't you listen to me at all?" He chastised her before pushing her to the ground with a smirk. Hinata fell back into the soft grass and found herself staring up into black eyes and white teeth that were exposed from his grin. "You shouldn't stutter."
Her face felt hot. In fact, she knew it was hot. She knew it was bright red, probably turning purple at this point. Oh god, she was probably suffocating and nobody knew it. Oh god, she was going to die. Oh lord, and she didn't even get her first kiss yet--
"What in the world?"
Both heads shot up to see Sakura looking down at them, wide eyed in shock.
Hinata pushed Sasuke off and attempted to make herself appear decent once more. "S-S-Sakura! H-Hello, what b-brings you h-h-here?"
She could just feel Sasuke glaring at her for her stuttering, but paid no heed.
Sakura brushed a strand of pink hair behind an ear before her green eyes looked back to the girl. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Hinata heard Sasuke make a snorting noise. "Fine," was his gruff response.
Sakura flushed. "N-no, I mean--speak with Hinata. Privately."
He growled again and Hinata felt her personal bubble being invaded again. "If you need to talk to Hinata, you can talk to me--"
"N-no, Sasuke, it's o-okay." Hinata smiled reassuringly at him before rising to her feet to brush off stray grass blades.
"Okay, come with me Hinata."
Hinata reluctantly followed, turning once to see Sasuke watching her with a hurt expression.
Her stomach coiled.
-x-x-x-
"Are you mad at me?"
Hinata was taken back by this question. "Huh?"
Sakura fidgeted. "Are you mad at me--you know, for--"
"No." Hinata twiddled her fingers, ignoring the mental outcries telling her to stop that sounded an awful lot like Sasuke.
Sakura looked surprised. "Oh, I thought you would--but--okay. That's great." She made a smile that was weak, almost forced. "Are we--still friends?"
Were we even friends?
Hinata shrugged. "Yes."
Sakura's eyes lit up. "Ah, thank you!" She flushed. "Can I ask you something?"
Hinata stared impassively so the other took that as a yes.
"Are you and Sasuke-kun--you know, together?"
Hinata was surprised at this, but found herself unable to form an answer right away. Were they? Were they just friends? Acquaintances? They were beyond that part now, so they had to be really good friends. She knew Sasuke cared a lot for her, from the past few days anyway.
But he didn't say anything.
The girl looked up at Sakura and weakly smiled at her almost apologetically.
"No."
-x-x-x-
She didn't go back to Sasuke after she and Sakura had their talk. In fact, she headed home. What for, she had no clue, but she needed to think about something.
'Are you and Sasuke-kun--you know, together?'
Hinata didn't know. She honestly didn't know. She had seen the kindness and affection in his eyes, but that didn't mean anything. She saw that in Neji's eyes, Kiba's eyes, Naruto's eyes, heck even Sakura's eyes. Seeing that in his eyes didn't mean anything special, right?
Right?
Hinata ignored the scowl her sister gave her as she passed Hanabi on her way to her room.
Sometimes, people's eyes didn't hold anything but hate and jealousy.
-x-x-x-
He snuck up on her just as she stepped out of the Hyuuga grounds later that day, practically right on top of her. She eeped when he grabbed her around the stomach and pulled her back towards the woods.
He may have meant well, but that had not only startled her, it also caused a slight pain with the abrupt yank.
"Sasuke, let go." She demanded, and he did so immediately, watching her cautiously.
"You didn't come back."
She sighed. She should've seen this coming.
"I know."
"What happened?"
Despite being persistent and all, his voice was calm and patient.
Hinata shrugged it off and put on a smile. "Nothing, really." She turned to head towards the village but a hand clamped onto her shoulder and she found herself turning back around and forced to look at him.
He looked right at her, but didn't say anything. He didn't need to.
"We merely talked, Sasuke. Sakura—she gave me a lot to think about, and I'm glad she did." Hinata smiled. "Don't worry, she didn't hurt me or anything. She—just asked me something that even I didn't know the answer to."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow as Hinata brushed off his hand. "What was the question?"
The girl froze, mentally debating with herself whether she should or shouldn't.
Give it time.
She grinned. "You know, I can't remember what it was." She knocked a knuckle against her forehead gently. "Silly me, so forgetful, you know?"
He didn't seem convinced at all, but fortunately, he didn't say anything. Instead, he merely brushed a shoulder against her arm. "Come on, I want to show you something."
He started down the path towards his home and Hinata followed him without hesitation.
-x-x-x-
"I hadn't been back here in years, but I looked through it last night. It doesn't seem to be in that bad of condition, but with some cleaning and sprucing, it may look nice again." He led her through his house and towards the back entrance. With ease, he pulled the door open and ushered her out.
She stepped out and felt like she stepped into a jungle. Vines were growing thick, and there were large flowers that lay scattered everywhere.
Not that bad? Understatement of the year.
She turned to him questioningly. "What is this?"
He tucked his hands into his pockets and kicked at a persistent weed that had begun to crawl up the wood towards the porch. "This used to be my mother's garden. I didn't come back here since then."
She didn't say anything, knowing exactly what Sasuke was referring to. Instead, she stepped off the porch and ran a hand over a large red flower that had sprung up beneath a window. "What room does this window lead to?"
"The kitchen," Sasuke replied without moving.
She smiled. 'It must have been wonderful to stand in the window and look at your work. Lady Uchiha, how you must have loved it here.'
"Sasuke," she moved away from the plant to see him watching her. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Because—"
What's mine is yours.
It'll be your escape.
Take it as you will.
"I don't want it to lay in ruins. Perhaps—you could make it—nice again," he hesitated. "Like she had it."
'Do you mind Lady Uchiha?'
'May I repair what was broken?'
A blue bird flew out of a lilac tree within the yard and chirped happily as it ascended towards the clouds.
Hinata nodded and Sasuke let a smile appear.
-x-x-x-
"There used to be a pond in here. I think it filled with leaves and dirt." Sasuke crouched as he poked at the ground with a stick. "Anyhow, be careful where you walk. There may be snakes and stuff."
Hinata twitched but didn't say anything.
"If you see one, please don't scream loudly." Sasuke made a face as if he were remembering something. "Oh god, Sakura shrieks whenever one even stares at her. Naruto thinks it's funny, but I swear, I lose more hearing every time we come across one."
The pale-eyed girl giggled and quickly stopped when his eyes snapped to her. After a moment of him just watching her, he spoke.
"Why did you do that?"
She must have made a confused face because he continued.
"Why did you stop laughing?"
There was an awkward silence between them.
Sasuke rose from his spot and approached her. "Around here, you don't need to stop being yourself. You act as you wish, you do as you wish, and never stop being happy." He dropped the stick beside them and gently grabbed her shoulders. "Don't lock yourself away like you do at your home."
Why is he all touchy-feely?
Why is he saying this?
Why…?
Why?
No, I know.
Her heart soared higher when he brushed a hand against her cheek.
"Sasuke, I—"
"It's okay."
"HEY SASUKE!"
The two cringed and flew apart when the familiar outburst became louder.
"HEY ASSHOLE, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Naruto leaped down from the roof and grinned. "Oh, hey Hinata! Sasuke! I've been looking for you! We're supposed to train together, you know!"
Hinata peered at Sasuke who made a stern face. "No, we don't."
Naruto blinked then smirked. "Oh, I see. You're too busy hanging with your own girlfriend to spend training time with me, eh? Trying to get the best of me, huh? Too bad! I still win!" Naruto shoved a thumb towards himself to suggest his dominance in the situation.
Sasuke flared and snapped. "This isn't a game, Naruto! Don't be toying with people's emotions. Stuff it and get lost. We're busy." With that, he sniffed and turned so his back was to Naruto.
Hinata watched the two nervously, her index fingers pressed against each other as she held them still to avoid twiddling them.
The blonde merely blinked. "Jeese, Sasuke. I was only joking. Anyway, see you around." With that, he leapt back to the rooftop and took off into the forest.
"Tch, idiot." The girl turned her head to see Sasuke shaking his head distastefully. "He's such an idiot. Anyway, let's go inside. I'll fix us something to eat." With that, he headed into the house.
Hinata was about to follow him inside when she stopped in mid-step, frozen when a wave of realization crashed down on her.
'You're too busy hanging with your own girlfriend to spend training time with me, eh?'
'Don't be toying with people's emotions.'
She felt lighter than air.
He never denied it.
-x-x-x-
The meal was simple-- heated up leftover rice from what was probably one of his dinners from the week, with some fish.
Hinata plucked at the rice carefully to keep herself neat and be perfect with her manners. Daintily, she'd lift the chopsticks to her mouth and nibble on some fish after dunking a piece into a sweet sauce that he brought to the table in a bowl.
It was simple, and it was fine.
And she liked it that way.
"I can't cook to save my life," she looked up to see him spinning a piece of fish in the sauce bowl with one chopstick. "Most of this is leftovers from restaurants I go to, but the rice I made myself. I can make that much, but nothing else, really."
She smiled. "That's fine. This is good as it is." To prove she was enjoying herself, she inhaled a larger amount of rice and chewed with a content expression.
He just eyed her for a second before looking away towards the stove, appearing deep in thought.
She swallowed slowly, watching him as he continued to remain lost in his thoughts. She unconsciously laid the chopsticks onto her plate, which let out a slight noise that caught his attention.
"Told you it wasn't good."
She made a startled noise and quickly pick up her eating utensils. "N-no! I was--I mean--I like it. There is nothing wrong with your cooking!" She flailed her hands around and he merely shook his head with a quirked lip.
"You don't have to lie."
She gasped in surprise before glaring. "I'm not lying! This is very good. Honest! I've had horrible cooking, and I've had good cooking, and this is good cooking."
He made a soft noise in the back of his throat. "It's not as good as hers."
Hinata felt the sadness roll off him and laid the chopsticks down. Extending her hands, she wrapped her own around his free hand and patted it assuringly. "I am sorry, but I never had her cooking so I would not know. Although from what you say, it--must have been incredible."
Sasuke's gaze jerked up from the contact spot to her eyes. "It was. There were things she made that nobody could ever dream of." He paused. "She had a cookbook--of everything that my grandmother taught her when she was a little girl. She had it--with her other precious items."
With that he jumped up from the table and dashed out of sight, leaving Hinata perplexed at the table.
-x-x-x-
After listening to five minutes of crashes and loud cursing, Hinata dared to trek through the house and find Sasuke. The darkness from the lack in windows in the hallway pervaded and she felt her way through the shadows, arriving outside a door where the cussing started.
"Sasuke? Are you okay?" She gently pushed the door open and peeked inside and nearly let out a laugh.
Sasuke turned a cobweb-covered head towards her and flushed. "It--it's not what--"
"Is that it?" Hinata pointed to the book in his hands and he made a noise.
"Y-yeah." He brushed a hand across it and red checkerboard print appeared under the dust. "It's kind of dirty, but it's not something that can't be fixed." He stares at it for a moment before handing it to her. "I want you to have it."
She makes a startled expression. "But that belonged to your mother!"
"I know, but I think--she would rather have it being used by someone who would care for it, rather than collect dust and age in the closet, you know?" He shifts and looks nervous. "But if you don't want it, you know--"
She holds it close to her chest and smiles. "No, I'll take it. I'll take good care of it, I promise."
He turned away, but isn't fast enough to hide the smile that breaks out on his face.
Hinata pretends she didn't see.
-x-x-x-
The day flies by as they work on clearing out the immense jungle growth that takes up what Sasuke likes to call 'a backyard'. The knees of her pants are grass stained and brown by the time dinner rolls around, and her hands don't fare any better--covered in a dark, dusty brown from the dirt and mud, and there is green under her nails from where she practically clawed at the vines to get them out.
She doesn't even notice the time until Sasuke sets another dead stump ablaze and pats his hands on his shorts. "It's towards the evening. We should call it a night."
She stared at the sky before turning to look at their work and gives him a nod. "I agree, we can continue tomorrow."
He kicks some dirt at the stump before grabbing a shovel. "I'll be right in. Get yourself cleaned up."
She watched him for a moment as he started to pile dirt onto the flames before she heads in to do as she was told.
-x-x-x-
"I'm not all that hungry," is the first words that come out of their mouths just as she leaves the bathroom and he nearly walks into her. They stared at each other, completely at a loss for words before Hinata grins.
"That's a good thing then, right? We can relax or something."
Sasuke shifted before he shrugged. "Yeah, sure." His gaze suddenly focuses to the towel in her hand.
Uncomfortable and just a little confused, she holds it out to him. "I--cleaned up. With your sink!" She flushed. "I-I didn't use your shower, if that's what you think! I don't shower in other people's homes without their permission, so--"
"You have my permission to use the shower."
There's an awkward silence between the two and Hinata stared at the Uchiha in clouded confusion.
He jerked from his daze. "Er--that was a bit blunt, wasn't it?"
She nodded slowly.
"Well, you can. Just er--lock the door or something. I have a tendency to barge in closed rooms on the compound and--well--" For the first time he blushes, and Hinata already has a word for it springing from her tongue.
"Beautiful."
He jerks again. "W-what?" His face is a darker red and she's feeling light as air again.
She smiles at him, pulling the towel close. "Your blush. It's beautiful."
His dark eyes are watching her--full of curiosity, wonder, and aw--and she suddenly feels him brush past her with a gentle hum, and the door closes behind her.
It's not until she hears the water starts running does she realize that he never stopped humming his little tune.
-x-x-x-
He smells of fresh laundry, and his skin is soft to the touch. It's so familiar, but she just can't place his face. It's there, and then again, it's not.
She watches as he lets her ghost her fingers up his forearm and his eyes are laughing. "What are you doing?"
"I'm touching you," is her simple reply and he lets out a gentle, deep laugh.
"Why?"
"I have never had the freedom to touch someone before, so this is new for me."
He smiles. "Well, I'm not stopping you."
Her lilac colored eyes watch him curiously as she pulls her hand back in embarrassment only to find her hands held in his--fingers intertwined.
"Don't go, Hinata."
"I'm not going anywhere," she replies in a confused tone. "Why would I go anywhere?" She's confused. Why is she saying this to a stranger? Better yet, what is she doing with this man?
He leans in and she can feel his breath on her neck, sending goose bumps up her spine. He starts to speak.
"You..."
-x-x-x-
There's a loud crash and she jolts awake, finding herself jumping up, Byakugan activated. "W-who's there?"
Then she realizes she's not in her room, and she's not even in her house. She's still at Sasuke's, and he's standing before her rubbing his foot with a grimace.
"Aah--" He makes an awkward sound. "Stubbed my toe."
She blinks, allowing the Byakugan to deactivate. "You stub your toes loudly."
He snorts with a forced back smile and he tries to recompose himself. Only then does she notice there's a mess of food on the floor, along with a tray and some spilled tea cups.
Her gaze crawls up to him and he's appearing sheepish.
"...it's not what it looks like..."
"Oh?" She finds that she can't resist teasing and allows a smirk to crawl on her face. "What is it supposed to look like?"
He purses his lips and pouts. "Never mind, I'll clean it up."
He leaves the room, and only then does she realize that it's dawn and she's clad in an overly baggy tee-shirt.
And she doesn't see her clothes anywhere in the room.
-x-x-x-
"Okay, let's try this again." He pulls out a chair and makes a swift sweeping gesture. "Hopefully this time I won't make a mess."
Hinata takes the offered seat and allows him to push her in and she smells the fresh food coming from the counter behind her. Several plates appeared in front of her, and she sees the stack of pancakes nestled beside the glass of syrup.
"If there was anything that I do remember learning to make from my mother, it was pancakes. I think the eggs are all right, I had some and I'm not dead yet, so that's a good sign." He takes his own spot across from her and eyes her. "Well?"
She stares at him. "Well, what?"
He smacks his forehead with the palm of his hand and she grins at him.
"I'm joking, I know, I know." She stabs a few pancakes with a fork and piles them onto her own plate, then scoops several spoonfuls of eggs beside them. Only after getting what she wanted, she took the glass of syrup and poured it onto the pancakes. "They smell delicious. I didn't know anybody around Konoha that made them."
"Mom's recipe," Sasuke announced proudly through a mouthful of eggs. "She taught me when I was five."
She smiled as she cut through a pancake. "You learn well."
"Well, she made pancakes every morning. I was always with her, so it was kind of hard not to." She catches his eye as she takes a bite. "Well? How do they rate?"
Oh my GOD, they're--
"I like them."
--like little discs of heaven.
"You like them?"
She pats his hand and his cheeks suddenly tinge pink. "I love them."
-x-x-x-
It's only after breakfast does she finally find her clothes, stuffed into an empty basket in the closet in the bathroom. She purses her lips as she retrieves them, marching out to find the culprit.
Sasuke looks up innocently as he finishes his task of cleaning up the plates. "What?"
"Why did you hide my clothes?"
"I didn't hide them, per say, more like--" he made a thoughtful face. "Put them in the dirty laundry basket. They are dirty, aren't they?"
"Well, yeah."
"Then they go into the laundry basket." He grabs them with sudsy hands and starts for the bathroom. "Back to the basket they go."
"What am I going to wear home?" She panics, and only then does she realize that it's been over twenty-four hours since she's been home, and somebody at the Hyuuga compound has to have noticed by now.
He stares at her hard before looking away. "Stay here, I'll get them washed for you."
"But--"
"An hour at the maximum. You can--do whatever." His changes direction, and is out the door in an instant, leaving Hinata standing bewildered in the living room.
Why did his mood suddenly sour?
Was it something I said?
I'm sorry, Sasuke.
-x-x-x-
He's back twenty minutes early, wielding her clothes in a small paper bag. "Your clothes." His attitude hasn't seemed to have changed, and his tongue snaps like a whip.
She frowns and shakes her head, refusing to take the clothes. "No."
His eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets and he finds himself staring at her with a dropped bag. "N-No? What do you mean no?"
"I will not accept them until I get an explanation." She wants answers for his sudden change in attitude, why she's still here, and damn, breakfast.
His eyes narrow. "And--if I refuse?"
"Then I will leave for home, without my clothes."
"But your father--"
"I will say you had your way with me." Sasuke chokes and he starts to turn purple in the face. "You do know what the Hyuuga elders would do to you, yes?"
She watches with satisfaction as his hands unconsciously travel for his pants and he covers himself. "You wouldn't do that to me, would you?"
She smirks, and then he subconsciously gulps.
"You would?!"
"You have taught me well, Master Sasuke," she smiles, waving a hand happily and he groans loudly as he picks up her bag.
He stuffs it into her chest and narrows his eyes. "You're lucky that I like you because had you been anyone else, I'd have kicked your ass by now."
She blushes at his admittance and finds herself being dragged into the living room where she's forced onto the couch.
"You're still here because when I got out of the shower, you had passed out on the couch. I started carrying you for one of the rooms when you woke up. I got you to change into something clean in my room, and when I checked on you, you had crawled into my bed." She's blushing again and apparently, he doesn't notice. "I didn't wake you after that, and let you sleep there. I slept out here."
She's silent and doesn't know what to say.
Sasuke--
Sasuke let me
I SLEPT IN SASUKE'S BED!
"I slept in your bed?"
Sasuke wasn't paying attention. Hinata felt light-headed, almost like she was going to pass out.
"Yeah, but it was no big deal--"
"I-I s-s-slept in y-your b-bed?"
He finally looked up. "Hey, you don't look so good." He scrutinized her. "Are you going to be sick? Was it breakfast?!"
She grabbed at her chest as she fought for air. "I--slept--in--" The last word didn't come out because then she passed out.
-x-x-x-
The mysterious stranger is there again. She knows this because she sees him and smells the scent of fresh laundry.
She watches as he approaches her, smiling. "I thought you left me."
"I'll never leave you; I have no reason to." She instinctively guides her hand to his and tangles her fingers with his.
He brings her hands to his lips and kisses them tenderly. "Don't go, Hinata." "I'm not going anywhere," she replies in that same confused tone. "Why would I go anywhere?"
He leans in and she can feel his breath on her neck, sending goose bumps up her spine. It's just like before, and she knows he's going to start speaking again, but he won't get to finish. He opens his mouth and she can hear him form the words on her skin.
"You...me."
-x-x-x-
Her eyes open and finds a cool cloth placed on her forehead. Sasuke is sitting on the floor beside the couch and instantly has his eyes on her. "Hey, are you okay?"
She blinks. "Yeah."
He lets out a sigh. "You scared me. I thought I killed you."
She smiles. "With pancakes?"
"Hey, it could happen. It almost did when Sakura stayed home on one mission and Naruto attempted to fill in her place as the team cook. Nearly killed us all."
She let's out a soft laugh. "That sounds like something he would do."
Sasuke nods before removing the cloth. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm positive. I was just--startled by the idea of being in your bed." He raises an eyebrow and she flushes. "I mean--being a-allowed to s-s-sleep in it, you know, it's not like every one does, oh, I-I m-mean..."
"Stop stuttering." She jumped and looked up to see meet him smiling at her. "Stuttering is very unbecoming of you."
She flushed and pushed herself up. "I--I should be going."
Don't you want to know why he made breakfast?
I'm a guest, right?
Well, it makes sense...
Don't push it, Hinata.
What about his attitude change?
He's Sasuke, does it need a further explanation?
Not really, but...
But what?
I'd still like to know.
"Um, Sasuke?" He tilted his head and she continued. "Are you mad at me?"
He made a face. "Mad at you, why would I be mad at you?"
She was about to twiddle her fingers but stopped when she remembered how he used to grab her hands and make her stop. "Well, earlier when I asked about my clothes, you sounded angry. I didn't mean to offend you, if that is what I did."
She refused to make eye contact with him. When he rose suddenly, she got scared that he would be angry again. That's when she finally looked at him. "Sasuke?"
"It wasn't the clothes, so don't worry about it."
"Then wha--" She started but he cut her off.
"I said," he lowered his voice when he caught himself. "You don't have to worry about it; it's nothing. Really." With that, he headed into the backyard.
She watched as he slid the door shut and sighed. At that moment, she caught sight of her clothes--neatly folded at the end of the couch.
She sighed again and retrieved them, heading into the bathroom once again.
-x-x-x-
A few minutes later, she comes out and Sasuke still isn't inside. She lays the tee-shirt he had let her use on his bed and heads out to the backyard in hopes of saying goodbye to him before heading home.
He's fighting with a vine that almost comically appears to be fighting back with a stick. "You DAMN thing! Don't make me flame your ass!"
The vine acts almost snake-like, if possible, and tangles around Sasuke's arm and pulls him to the ground. The Uchiha glares at it venomously before making the signs with his free hand. "All right, you asked for it."
Before he does it though, Hinata cuts in--literally. With a shovel, she slams it down onto the vine and frees Sasuke from the brunt of the grip, allowing him to merely tug off the remainder from his arm. "I could have handled it."
She smiles at him. "I know you could, but I wanted to help anyway. I came out to tell you that I'll be heading home."
He's good mood sours and he's frowning. "Oh."
She eyes his body language and it hits her like a ton of bricks.
He gets angry every time I even mention going home!
She jumps back and points at him. "You get angry every time I say something about going home!"
He blinks at her owlishly. "Wha--"
"Earlier you got annoyed after I asked 'what was I going to wear home', and countless times before you got annoyed with me." She froze. "Is this still about my father? Sasuke, I promised that I'd tell you if he did anything, and that I'd let you help me."
He frowns and looks away. "I know, but I still dislike the idea of you being there."
She stares at him and slowly, it dawns on her. "That's why you didn't take me home last night."
He refuses to look at her and she approaches him hesitantly. "Sasuke, you--" She lets out a soft laugh. "--I would have never thought you would be so protective like that. You don't need to be."
He frowns and drags a toe along the ground. "But still--"
She shakes her head. "You don't need to be. I promise, if anything happens, you'll be the first to know. But my teacher also gets involved, okay? I trust Kurenai-sensei, and she's like a mother to me."
His eyes glide to her and he's piercing her now, hard, scrutinizing her. "Do you trust me?"
She sighs. "Of course I do, I--"
"No, don't answer right off. Think about it--do you trust me?" He steps towards her and she is silent. "Would you trust me if you were trapped and I was your only help? Would you trust me if we were the only ones to fight a losing war? Would you trust me to your secrets?"
She blinks at him rapidly. "Wha--I trust you, Sasuke. Really, I do!"
He continues to approach her until he's a breath away and he's looking down at her. "Do you really?"
"Yes!" No hesitation. She trusts him, but--
Should she really?
I don't even really know him.
Can I trust him?
Why is he asking?
Because you said you trust Kurenai-sensei!
Well, yeah, I lived with her at one point. I knew her longer than Sasuke.
So...
Do I really?
He leans in and she feels her heart start to race. Am I awake?
She can feel his breath on her cheek and he speaks. "Don't go just yet, Hinata."
Her eyes widen and she jumps back. He's watching her curiously at she backs away. "Uh--I--"
"Please, not yet. I want you to come with me."
She blinks. "What?"
"Down street. I need you to pick out a few things with me."
Oh.
She's crestfallen at the turn out, but follows him nonetheless.
-x-x-x-
They've arrived in a shop in the village, and all the different scents of fresh spices and herbs strike her nose at once. It's fresh, spicy, and sweet, all at once, and it's making her mouth water with delight at the thoughts of all the different dishes that could be made with them.
"So, what do you need?" She picks up a jar and eyes the label before replacing it on the shelf.
"I'm making a soup that I found on a label," he pulls it out of his pocket and hands it to her. "I want to make sure I get the right kind of spices and herbs."
She reads over the ingredients carefully before nodding. "Okay, you wait here. This will only take me a second." She goes to head inside but he grabs her arm.
"Wait, you'll need this." He hands her some money and he ushers her on her way.
She stares at the wad of cash before stuffing it into her pocket and starts her hunt.
-x-x-x-
It's ten minutes later when she finally checks out and comes back with a bag of the right items. She hands the remainder of the money to Sasuke and smiles. "I got all the spices and herbs that was on the recipe. The meats and vegetables you'll have to get elsewhere."
He nods before opening the bag. "Interesting. Thank you."
"No problem." Now she doesn't want to go home. She's interested in what he is going to make, and wants to be there to taste it with him.
"I already have the meat, the vegetables I should have plenty of. Well, thank you for your time." He turns to leave and she races up beside him.
They walk in silence before he finally speaks. "I thought you were going home?"
She beams. "I was, but now I'm curious as the what Sasuke, World Chef is going to make."
"I'm practicing. I have never made anything like this in my life."
"It's good to practice," she assured and they are already heading out to the dirt road leading to his home. "I had to practice a lot with many things. Some things will fail, some will pass. It will all turn out in the end though, and you'll find your strengths through that."
"Wow, Master Hinata, I'm intrigued by your knowledge," he's teasing, and she knows it, so she elbows him in his side. He grunts and rubs at the tender spot and she merely smirks at him.
"Do not mock me, Mr. Sasuke. That's not a proper thing to do to a lady who just helped you with your groceries."
"It was not groceries."
"Was too."
"Fine, it was."
-x-x-x-
They were halfway to the compound when a familiar face comes out from behind a tree. They continue to walk and the figure finally speaks to her in a deep tone.
"Hinata."
She stops to turn and finds that it's Neji. Sasuke's already started to bristle like a cat, and the other Hyuuga pays no heed. That or he does and just doesn't acknowledge it.
"Your father wants you home."
She frowns, but doesn't argue. She merely turns to Sasuke and gives him an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I must go. I will see you tomorrow, right?"
He nods but doesn't say a word. Instead, he flings his arm around in a show of his irritation and marches away, ignoring them both. Hinata is hurt, but knows it's only because of Neji's presence he does this. Instead of doing anything more, she starts her walk for home with Neji following her from behind in complete silence.
-x-x-x-
She doesn't go to see her father right away. She's hoping she can go right to bed without having to speak to him or see anyone else.
She passes Hanabi on her way to her sanctuary when she hears the soft giggle under her sister's breath and already knows that something is wrong--dreadfully wrong.
She slides open the door to her room and gasped at what she found.
Her room was in total disarray.
Clothes were thrown out of the closet, drawers pulled out the dressers, her bed was mused and flipped, as if searched. Everything that was shut and organized was thrown open and messed up.
She has never felt so violated.
-x-x-x-
"Your sister did not go into your room, I did."
Hinata stared wide-eyed at her father as he stared down at her hard.
"W-why?"
"I wanted answers. I wanted to see what you had been up to these past weeks."
She remained silent, staring at him.
"You have failed to take part in your duties as heiress. You do realize that, right?" His voice was stern and angry.
She nodded timidly.
"What is it that is so important that you miss all the important meetings and factors that relate to your duties? Tell me, I am--interested." He leaned forward, and stared hard. "Better yet, tell me where you were last night? You failed to come home."
Hinata swallowed.
'I was angry at your father too, for making you that cowering shy girl that hides in the corner... I hated how he made you into that scared, lonely child.'
'The world is unkind. I experienced it... I saw it. With you and your father.'
'You wanted to fight it without me.'
'I wanted to help you.'
The pale-eyed girl bunched up her hands at her sides, allowing them to shake. She was scared, scared out of her mind. But she had help, he was there. With her. Always.
With newfound determination, she raised her gaze to her father and snapped her tongue.
"You don't need to know."
-x-x-x-
To be continued.
-x-x-x-
