Sorry I was two days late from posting this up, but I put off writing for nearly a month because the Exit Exams were coming up and I wanted to study for it. Now that I'm over and done with it (I feel purely confident I passed both the Math and English portion), I'll start writing again.

Oh, and I'll update Rain on Friendship as soon as I revise the chapters, which will take less than a week. (I request a good, constructive Beta Reader. I'm slow when it comes to editing.)


Chapter 3- White Day

"Give whatever you are doing and whoever you are with the gift of your attention."

Jim Rohn

This was getting ridiculous.

Today's the day when I needed to return Hinata's act of kindness from Valentine's Day with a gift of my own, yet I woke up earlier than usual to take a walk for two reasons. 1) I couldn't sleep because of the indecisions swamping my mind. And 2) I had absolutely nothing to work with.

Chocolates, flowers, greeting cards, and sweets were the simple way to go. However, I absolutely refused to stoop so low in buying common, materialistic things.

I'm an Uchiha, for Kami's sake. I should be able to work on some originality here.

Absentmindedly pacing through the nearly empty streets, I failed to notice the other early morning walker until I bumped into them. Fixing a glare to the idiot who didn't even bother looking where they were going, I immediately dropped it upon seeing Hinata fidgeting under my eyes.

"O-ohayo, Sasuke."

"Hn." I didn't count on meeting Hinata so soon in the day, but there's no point in meeting up with her later.

"...what a-are you doing up so early?"

I shrugged absently. "No reason."

"Oh..." Awkwardly, I silently scratched the back of my neck while she continued to stare off at something else. Beating around the bush was never my style.

"You know today's White Day, right?" Baffled from the sudden switch of topic, she slowly nodded. I sighed, ruffling my hair distractedly. "I feel like I owe you for what you did at... Valentine's Day." My eyebrow twitched. "So... for your gift..." She looked at me expectantly and I wondered why the hell it felt so weird to say it. "You can have me for a day."

She blinked uncertainly. "Nani?"

"You heard me." Now the acursed color pink decorated my pale cheeks. "I'll do whatever you want..." I shrugged, feeling uneasy. "Anything." I watched her, subconsciously glaring at her while she tried desperately to digest the idea of my 'suggestive' gift. Hinata better take it, because it almost costed me all of my dignity.

"You d-don't have t—."

"It's rude to refuse a present someone has given to you." I retorted, rolling my eyes in exasperation. In other words; it's my pride I chose to cast aside in order to willingly offer her my trust.

"But... I don't w-want you to do anything..." Next, she raised her hands and nervously twiddled with her fingers. Her pearly iridescent eyes were enough to drop the matter altogether. Almost.

Hinata thought long and hard... really hard and silent... until a light bulb ignited above her head, signaling an idea.

"Do you want to... to..." She pursed her lips under the impatient stare of my onyx eyes. "T-train?"

I instantly deadpanned. Out of all the girls who would definitely rape/molest me the very millisecond they caught me off guard, Hinata wanted to train?

"Train."

"Yes. Train."

Finally, I scoffed in satisfaction. Then again, Hinata Hyuuga wasn't like all girls.


I usually trained by myself in the quiet stillness of the forest - without disturbance. That's how I preferred it. Although, sparring with a partner who wasn't Naruto Uzumaki's not a bad idea either.

I could easily overpower the Hyuuga heiress if I wanted to, however that's not the purpose of our training here. Strength's an important factor, yes, but not the only one.

Hinata's persistence was admirable to say the least. As we exchanged blows, she fluidly dodged my punches and blocked my kicks, sometimes even close to landing a few hits on me. However, I easily copied her Hyuuga fighting style and kept up to her level of agileness, sometimes stealing opportunities in outmatching her with my unnatural speed.

It went on like this for a couple of hours until—

Swerving around to swing a punch at her, Hinata ducked as I predicted and I smirked, twisting my body in momentum to perform an uppercut kick, sending her skidding back painfully into the dirt. Landing expertly on my feet, I stood erect and sighed, wiping the small line of sweat on my forehead.

"Enough. We're done for now." Approaching her, I watched as Hinata tried to get up, but her sore legs buckled and she stumbled on her butt. I exhaled to mask my amusement and stooped down to grasp her wrists and pull her up on her feet.

My heart secretly fluttered when she wobbled into my arms, panting in exhaustion due to our training. However, she tried to assure me she could stand on her own and attempted to distance herself from me.

"Rest for a few moments." I commanded and Hinata complied, although tentatively and held my arms loosely for balance. I almost flinched from the feel of her soft, unshinobi-like hands contrasting against my firm skin. She appeared awkward of our close proximity, her head bent down low enough for her long hair to shadow her blushing cheeks.

I mentally cursed for my arms to stay put, because they were itching to hold her small, delicate frame tight against my own. Hinata was so unbearably close... To the average onlooker, the two of us looked like a young and loving couple. If only that could be true.

"Would you l-like... to take a walk?"

I quirked an eyebrow. "Where to?"

Hinata suggested we go spend our leisurely time at the park. She insisted on visiting the bookstore to buy a novel and an afternoon snack (sushi as my recommendation). Thus having us exiting the training area and walking side by side in the market streets. People eyed us curiously, others doing so wearily as the two of us engaged in idle and pleasant chitchat.

Soon, buying what we wanted, made our way to our destination. We arrived at a secluded area of the park where not many people roamed and seated ourselves quietly on a bench.

Setting the tray of sushi between us, I crossed my legs and wordlessly ate on a piece while Hinata, just as wordlessly, propped open her book and began reading.

I hated to admit it, but the afternoon scenery of the lukewarm sun heating our pale skin, the shrubbery and trees rocking in the breeze, and the petite birds twittering their songs... it was all pleasant.

Slouching in relaxation, I nibbled slowly on the delectable snack as I lazily draped my right arm over the bench, barely touching her lithe shoulders. She leaned back subconsciously in response to my innocent gesture, not once ripping her attention away from the story.

A ghost of a smile wisped my lips. The peaceful silence fully embraced us, as if protecting us from any outside disturbances.

However, the heavy trod of footsteps weren't so merciful, nor was the overly exuberant voice belonging to the green spandex suit cladded man.

"Good afternoon, brilliant youth!" I scowled, detesting this man's poetic/dramatic dialogue straight to the heart. Hinata looked up and smiled politely.

"Good afternoon, Gai-sensei."

"Ah, as lovely and kind as always, ravishing cousin of Neji." She blushed and murmured a squeaky thanks. Though his nose crinkled in acknowledgment at me, Gai grinned ecstatically much to my chagrin.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you handsome devil. You've caught yourself quite a catch!" I blanched the moment he gave me the infamous two thumbs up, his teeth sparkling a powerful blaze. "Many youthful men have tried in vain to woo and claim this angelic maiden's heart, yet none was able to grasp her innocence until today!"

My free hand instantaneously flew to slap my head, and I grumbled obscenities under my breath from an emotion very close to embarrassment. The most lethal blush ensnared Hinata's face and she struggled with the willpower to prevent herself from fainting.

Did that moronic imbecile have any idea what he just insinuated?

Gai sighed wistfully, seemingly lost in thought at the sky. "Young love... Carry on now! Have a tremendous, merry White Day!"

...and then the green monstrosity finally waved and jogged away, unfortunately leaving us self-conscious. I lost my appetite... yet, food's the only distraction in mind from that mortifying experience.

Nervously clearing her throat, Hinata forced herself back into the comfort of her novel, gradually easing her way into serenity. I did the same as silence returned, much to our relief.

When my hand dropped to grab another sushi, it collided onto her hand that reached for the same one. Hinata stammered in apology and hastily stole her hand back. Impassively, I took the sushi and held it out to her.

"Here. Take a bite." She first shook her head, but then complied under my demanding glare. I watched as she briefly nibbled it, the faint blush adorning her face. When she drew back, I lifted it to my mouth and took a bigger bite, internally pleased with her reaction.

For once, having the Hyuuga heiress smile and blush at me instead of the dobe elated my already smitten heart. I liked it.

Soon, the two of us finished off the remainder of the snack and I stifled a sloppy yawn behind the back of my hand.

"Are you sleepy?"

"No, not really." I lied.

"Earlier... you fought kind of sluggishly d-during our spar." I felt touched she noticed my inconspicuous weary state of health.

"...didn't get much sleep." I blinked rapidly, my eyes yearning to close and rest. Contemplating my next course action, I lowered my head for it to lean on her shoulder. She flinched, slightly fidgeting, but didn't say anything. I could feel the slight tremors of tension in her body, but from what? Maybe Hinata was debating within herself what to say.

"Y-you sh-should... l-lay on my lap..." Raising my head in surprise, I gazed at her inquiringly. She met my eyes and blushed, nibbling on her bottom lip. "I-it's more comfortable..." I'd be more than happy to oblige to that.

Removing my arm from its comfortable spot behind her shoulders, I pushed the empty tray aside and leaned down to position my head on her lap. Soft... my eyes drifted closed on its own accord and I placed a hand over my chest, my heart pumping loudly in my ears.

I took a deep and steady breath to calm my nerves, yet the cardiac muscle I thought was supposed to be dead continued to pulsate wildly. The sudden rush of warmth felt foreign, yet pleasurable.

"Can I... touch you?"

"...hn." Honestly, I wouldn't mind at all. I moaned sleepily when a cool, gentle hand touched my forehead, sliding down to smooth my long bangs out of my face, caressing my cheek and tracing the bridge of my nose.

A new faint blush of my own seeped into my face, the tingles left behind from her affectionate touches tickled my face.

Hinata hummed to mask her giggle as she alternated in stroking both of my cheeks. For once, I didn't fear the darkness when it enveloped me, beguiling me to fall asleep. No nightmares greeted me from the other side.


By the time dusk fell, I continued to snooze away for the hours to come. Not until Hinata finished her book and gently shook me awake. Then, she asked if I wouldn't mind having her over for dinner. So when I scoffed in reply, she dragged me to buy groceries.

In the end, we settled for tuna curry and left with groceries in hand, arriving at the Uchiha compounds before it became dark. We prepared dinner together (since I didn't want the guest to do it and Hinata thought it impolite if she didn't help), and eventually sat down together in mild silence, enjoying each other's company, unknowingly thinking of the other.

Once we finished dinner, I offered to clean the dirty dishes as Hinata curiously surveyed the house.

"...d-doesn't it feel lonely living here by yourself?" she hesitantly asked.

I didn't turn around to acknowledge her question, but quietly continued to scrub the plates clean.

Always, I wanted to say.

I grew to abhor the deathly silence existing within every house, behind all the walls, and inside every nook and crany of the compounds, producing hallucinations and images of my dead clan and beloved family as it once was...

Nobody here to fix me breakfast when I woke up, nobody here to greet me happily when I came back home from school and missions, nobody here to see me off to sleep and say 'good night'...

Living life here alone was unbearable. It almost broke me apart.

"Would you like for me to... stay overnight?"

I paused, pondering on her companiable offer. "I... I'd like that." Damn heart. Double-tasking on throbbing in grief and pounding in elation.

Then, a thought occured to me. "Wouldn't they get worried?"

"Who?"

"Your family."

"O-oh... Neji-nii-san will and I think Hanabi..."

"Why decide to stay here then?" My breath caught from anticipation.

"...i-it's hard to explain, but..." I stood still, gripping the sodden plate tensely while my eyes were fixated on the wall. My ears picked up the sound of her light footsteps and then she gently gripped my arm, surprising me with the warmth protruding from her elfin hand. I threw a passing glance to express my wordless thanks, yet peering in her compassionate eyes melted all my anxiety away.

"...Is there..." I shifted my eyes and dried my hands off. "Anything else you want?" The absence of her warmth ached my heart as she pondered, biting her lips timidly. When silence stretched on, I turned away to leave the kitchen.

"If not, then feel free to take a shower. I'll lend you some of my clothes." I missed the look when she dipped her head low in solemnity. And she missed the look on my face when I scowled from the lost opportunity.

The unspoken question: Can I sleep beside you?


I laid on my side stiff, unmoving, and drowsy, staring blankly at the wall even though the darkness shrouded my room and prevented further sight.

There's no sensible reason why I should sleep when Hinata resided in a guest room separate from mine. It made the distance feel all the more worse.

The blanket did little for warmth when I felt so rigidly cold. It must be from the stress, yes. The stress, the negativity, and the depression always made me feel cold. Now thinking about the what-if; instead of lying on a bed all by myself...

I closed my eyes, trying to block out the wistful throbbing in my heart. It's... slightly suffocating.

The door carefully squeaked open and I disregarded the noise. My back was to the approaching figure, and she nervously touched the bedspread before lifting it to climb in.

I feigned sleep and felt the mattress sink when she shifted closer, curling her delicate fingers along the fabric of my shirt. "A-are you awake...?"

"...hn."

"...c-can I stay here?" I smirked crookedly. Why did she have to ask when she's already in the bed?

Taking my silence as a 'yes', she slid her arms around my torso. My heart leapt when Hinata boldly rested her head on my shoulder.

Her warmth, slowly spreading throughout my cold body...

"...sweet dreams, Sasuke." she murmured, her tone wavering as if expecting a rejection. I blinked rapidly, my heart thumping, and I draped an arm over her embracing arms in order to keep her there.

"Arigatou."

The next morning, Neji Hyuuga and Kiba Inuzuka almost bashed my front door open and throttled me for adbucting their dear Hinata when really... it was the other way around.


(A/N): The more I write these chapters, the more I like them.

Lucky Hinata. She stole Sasuke's heart way before he stole hers. I definitely see their relationship going pretty silent and profound. Though it's not really rushed since the story's timeskip always jumps from weeks to months.

Next Update: March 28 (presumably which is Easter)

Comment on how you like it. -smiles-