Just Because.

Hinata sat on one of the two chairs that were in his apartment. She came in late today. It was not because she overslept or because she had something to attend to. Even if she were late, she would usually report it to someone that could deliver the message to the Hokage as well as Sasuke.

She took her book and started reading it though she knew that her mind was not focusing on the book but was on the Uchiha instead. Both of them did not talk ever since the encounter in the middle of the night. She still did her usual greeting to him but he ignored everything she said.

Hinata never got the chance to know Sasuke. For all she knew, he was a handsome ex missing nin (which she had to take care of) that had returned about three months ago. He stayed really low ever since his return and rarely exited his apartment when the sun was up.

He was too quiet. Hinata always thought she was the quiet one and decided to pluck up her courage to initiate a conversation with the stoic Uchiha only to fail countless of times. She decided to give up and only gave greetings now and then.

Ever since their encounter in the middle of the night, Sasuke seemed like he had turned a little colder towards her. She had no idea why but she knew that she disliked the fact that two people were treating each other like as if they were invisible.

"Uchiha-san," she called.

Maybe I was too soft. Hinata thought when the Uchiha did not reply.

"Uchiha-san," she called a little louder this time round.

He never turned to glare at her or snapped at her, which she had expected.

"Uchiha-san, did I annoy you again?"

There was no reply and when the female Hyuuga had almost decided to give up again, a soft grunt was heard from the stoic male. "No."

"I'm sorry if I've done anything wrong." Hinata apologized.

"Don't apologized when you've done nothing wrong. You're just annoying. That's it." Sasuke stood up and made his way towards his kitchen. "People like you shouldn't even exist."

Hinata felt a heavy load dropped on her when she heard him. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head a little. "I'm sorry."

She had gotten used to her father's words and she thought she was immune to it.

He stopped in his tracks, sipping onto his water and looked at her. "I already said, don't apologize when you've done nothing wrong."

She nodded her head, not even bothering to argue back with him because she had no idea why but she knew herself that she was in fact agreeing to his words.

"You are a hindrance." Sasuke said nonchalantly. "You caused that Aburame to be injured during that short mission, isn't it?"

Hinata looked away from him, not wanting to acknowledge his words.

"Your father was right. You don't deserve anything."

There was no more talking between the both of them right after Sasuke finished his last sentence. Hinata knew that if she were to continue talking to that Uchiha, she would definitely receive even more hurtful facts about her. Sasuke was right indeed. She was just a coward; she did not want to admit to everything.

Sasuke turned to look at her; she sat there quietly, her eyes half closed. He knew he hit her right on the spot. He mentally shrugged and returned back to his kotatsu and watched the sun. It was still far from sunset, which only meant that the Hyuuga still had to stay with him for quite some time. The snow had gotten lighter ever since the day he threatened to kill her.

It had been weeks since the last time they briefly shared a conversation. She did attempt to initiate a few but he simply ignored every single one of the, to the point where she decided to give up. It was only when Naruto came then he would reply some of her questions or that blonde idiot would go all over saying he was a mean ass for being so rude to Hinata.

His thoughts immediately cut off by the knocking on the door. He stood up and made his way towards the wooden door, thinking who would it be for he knew it would not be the loud dobe because there would not even be knocking he would simply just barged into his apartment.

He opened the door slowly, only to be greeted by a pink haired kunoichi.

"Sakura," he opened the door wider for her to enter.

"Sasuke-kun, " a smile was plastered on her face. " How are you? I've bought some tomatoes for you."

"Thanks."

The two female then shared their greetings together and Sakura started her stories telling. She never stopped talking. She then started sniveling about her recent mission and Hinata seemed to be paying her full attention by consistently nodding her head even though some of her stories were repeated twice.

Hinata was a good listener.

"Ne Sasuke-kun." Sakura made her way towards him and sat beside him. "I heard from Tsunade-sama that you might get a mission."

Sasuke glanced at her before shrugging it off. "That woman trusts me?"

Sakura shrugged. "I overheard her conversation. Would you take it?"

"Depends on what the mission is." Sasuke replied while having his eyes close. "Now shut up if you've nothing more to say."

Sakura lightly punched him in his arms. Everyone knew that Sakura once had a crazy big crush on the Uchiha. She mentioned it a couple of times that the feeling she had for him now was simply just her good comrade that she could not bear to lose and nothing more than that. Hinata still wondered how she got over her crazy crush and hoped one day she would be able to get over Naruto just like Sakura.

When she finally left, Hinata decided to make tea for the both of them. She opened the cupboard where she had placed her tea and realized that the sweet potatoes that she had given to him were gone.

"I ate those sweet potatoes." It was as if the Uchiha had just read her mind.

Hinata turned to look at the Uchiha, her face filled with confusion with the fact that the Uchiha had finally talked to her frist and taken sweet potatoes when everybody knew he hated sweet things. She blinked a few times, trying to absorb as much as she could about that current situation that the Uchiha was perhaps waiting for a reply from her.

"Are they sweet?"

Sasuke nodded.

He drank the tea she made and when it was time for her to go, he stood up this time round to send her off. "Bring some sweet potatoes next time."

Hinata nodded her head slowly, still confused.

"Hai," she mumbled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"I'll be training tomorrow." Sasuke said offhandedly, his eyes focusing on her.

It took a few seconds for Hinata to process his words. "Alright," she nodded. "I'll just drop by to place those sweet potatoes."

"As you wish."

She bid her goodbye before exiting his apartment. The winter was ending soon and the cold was tolerable at the moment. Her oversize jacket was enough to keep her warm. She placed her hands into the pockets of her jacket and made her way home, only to realize half way through that Sasuke had actually called her to train with him tomorrow.

The Uchiha was never direct. He always beat around the bushes. Hinata could not help but let out a soft sigh and looked back towards the seemingly disappearing building where he was staying.

"Telling me to speak my own mind and you don't."


AU: another update! do review and tell me how is it! been so busy these few weeks with project and writing sasuhina fanfics simply just lighten up the load on my shoulder.. Cheers!