A/N: I am so so SO sorry for the late update :(( These past two months had been hell for me and gave me no time to update :( If you would like, read my oneshot Afterstory. I made it as some sort of apology (even though I know it ain't enough) for updating very late :) Hope you like it!

Thanks for the lovely reviews I keep on receiving while I lazed around :) They effectively made me jump on my bones and start writing.

This chapter contains some Sakura-bashing and evil Sasuke (in more ways than one).

Hope you like it! :D

Disclaimer: Naruto series and characters are not mine. :) But Mitsuki and Kazuo are. XD

"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

With container of her homemade ointment on hand, Hinata is currently healing the now partially gone wound on her captain's back. Which in her opinion, was a bad only won't her captain shut up, she also had the nagging feeling that his spiking chakra will come up with a not so good result. One that she knows greatly concerns their new medic teammate.

They were on their way back to Konoha village when a group of bandit ninjas ambushed them. Of course, it was nothing to the black-haired Sannin and was quickly taken care of without him needing to move an inch. Just as they were preparing to resume their journey, Sakura sensed another group of rogue ninjas heading their way and decided to act on impulse. That impulse being to punch the ground with her chakra-boosted fist, which resulted to a set of fallen ninjas, broken trees, busted ground, and a very pissed ANBU captain. Turned out, he was hit ,alarmed, by a flying debris of land on his back, which now placed Hinata in her predicament.

It's one to anger a cool and collected Sasuke, but to anger an already pissed Sasuke, is an entirely different thing. It's like the former might have only stabbed you, but the latter would have killed you immediately, or if you're lucky, you could meet his Susanoo before your untimely death. But then again, it was just an analogy to his anger, that Hinata wished was not as drastic.

Nowadays, almost nothing puts off the captain , except of course ,Naruto; more the reason for Hinata to worry for Sakura's life. If she's lucky, with the way her captain was behaving, she'll be able to escape with only a few verbal abuse and that was what Hinata feared. Being 'scolded' by Sasuke hurts as much as being punched on the face as he was frank and cold about it. Even to Hinata, he showed no mercy. But at the least, you get to go back with your limbs intact though your self-esteem empty.

"I'm sure she didn't meant to do it, Sasuke", a very desperate Hinata said.

The sudden stiffness of his back should've alerted her, but half an hour of trying to cool him off just made her sigh in defeat. She knows there was no winning once he set his mind to it.

'I told you, no. "

Knowing Hinata for almost a year would tell him that his partner is currently wearing a pout, her brows narrowed in persuation, and her cheeks blazing in annoyance. He wouldn't tell her, but he had decided half an hour later what to do to his again ex-teammate and was just enjoying how she pushes to convince him to otherwise. It was a good thing she was facing his back, she might see his amused grin and he might just give in to her.

" Sasuke, think about it. She's a very valuable-"

"No."

" She's a medic! Plus,a fighter too. You can't just-"

" No."

" Sasuke, as a ninja, Sakura-san is-"

Quite frankly, Sasuke was getting tired of hearing the same name for almost ten times in an hour.

" No, Hinata. I don't and won't give a damn if Sakura can even revive the dead. She messed up and that's not my fault. You're the medic and I'm the fighter in this team, that'll do. Just why are you so-... You didn't just close one of my tenketsu, did you?"

Hinata blinked in surprise, "Huh? No- Oh. Sorry..." She sighed as she fixed his tenketsu back. " It's just.. Give her another chance?"

Sasuke groaned inwardly. She can be very stubborn at the worst times. He tilted his face to look at her. " This, is the second chance."

"Second chance? For what? "

With equal aloofness, Sasuke shrugged his shoulders and answered as he shifted his body to face her. "I told you before, she should've killed me. She had all those chances while I was in the hospital."

...Oh...

Not this again.

No matter how infuriating her captain is, the thing that, consciously or unconsciously, makes Hinata stick to him is that he still has this tendencies of regretting and hating life. Sasuke told her once in one of their missions together that only her keeps him intact and Hinata made it as her driving force to continue supporting him as she believes he supports her.

"Sasuke, I told you not to talk that way."

They stared at each other for a moment before Sasuke decided to break it with a shrug. Damn those eyes.

" Hn. Sorry. You're unusually adamant in letting Sakura in. Why's that? "

Hinata flinched and visibly paused to deliberate her thoughts. She fought her the urge to connect her two pointer fingers but Sasuke knew better. Having an ocular advantage, he knew from the part when a slight tint of red marked her cheek.

" Uh-uhm... We-well, since we're bo-both a close friend of Sakura-san, pu-plus she's a good ni-ninja, I just thi-think it'll su-suite you better. " She ended with a smile.

Silence and unconvinced stare.

"Tha-that's all."

For a while, Sasuke entertained the thought that her chosen maiden for his life was matching him to one of the persons Sasuke regretted ever meeting, and he wanted to show her then and there, how wrong she was. If not for those plump lips, blazing cheeks, and narrowed eyebrows he would've but but figured he needed to clean his record in her mind off of Sakura first.

"We're not close." And that pretty much summed it up.

"Tha-that's not po-possible...You've been teammates."

"How so? I didn't know being teammates immediately accorded our relationship to that extent. If anything, I would level all our interactions to just teammates. That does not mean we're close."

"Wha-what? That's how you feel all the time?! You think teams are for play and that the members are for temporary acquaintances? That's.. That's so mean, Uchiha-san." Hinata rebutted, her cheeks fuming with anger. She never felt as hurt as she is now knowing that the times being with him were for not.

Sasuke slightly winced at the mention of his surname. He knew she uses that whenever he misbehaved but it never fails to make him almost panic. Almost.

" It's a different thing, Hinata. I didn't say I apply that in general; it personally applies only to Sakura. You can take dobe for example. "

Hinata deliberated for a while and was convinced he had a point. But she can't brush off the relief and warmth but decided to ignore it.

"Fo-forgive me. i overreacted."

Sasuke sighed. " How did it come to this? As far as I knew, you were fixing my wounds."

"Sa-Sakura."

Sasuke intended a look of boredom. "Ah. Your reason."

"We-"

"And this time, I want the truth."

Hinata paused. The truth?!

" Fo-forget it the-then."

The sudden tenseness in air made Hinata's urge to go back where their teammates are, double but as she was about to stand and sprint towards them, a pair of strong arms settled themselves firmly both sides of her. Hinata inwardly gulped and felt her chin being lifted for her eyes to settle on two crimson orbs.

"You know I can always make it out of you."

Hinata pouted. " You promised you won't."

"Hn." True. Sasuke shrugged. " But if you're proving to be difficult..."

" Ha-hai!" Hinata panicked and pushed Sasuke off. " I-It's what I was always asking you about. "

Brows narrowed before a very defined scowl settled on Sasuke's face. " We have talked about this Hinata," Sasuke deactivated his sharingan and settled himself back beside Hinata, " and I know you know my answer."

Hinata sighed defeatedly and muttered a small 'hai'. Despite the growing warmth on her chest and the predictable blush on her cheeks, she wanted to lash out on how protective her captain could be even on the people she treats like brothers, them being her two genin teammates. Awkward silence enveloped them only to be broken by the very recognizable chakra headed their way.

" Tch. She's coming."

Hinata pinched him slightly on the arm, " Sasuke, behave. "

Sasuke mockingly rolled his eyes before he stood up and sat directly behind Hinata. He heard a brief complaint from the kunoichi and he chuckled in return as he pulled her to sit between his legs. His aim accomplished once the desired outcome was displayed on the medic's face once she got out of the bush. Hinata hid on her shoulder in embarrassment.

" Sa-Sasuke- kun? Hinata-chan? Wha-what are you doing?" Sakura confusedly asked. Her eyes refusing to part from the scene in front of her.

Much to her dismay, Sasuke only pulled Hinata closer, earning him a small squeak from the Hyuuga. " Hn. What do you need Sakura?"

Sakura stood dumbfounded, her arms fallen limp in her sides and her jaw slacked as she witness her supposed to be shy and composed friend share whispered conversations with her rude and collected ex-teammate. Remembering what her goal was, she shook her head and let out a not-so-silent cough, hoping to catch their attention.

Apparently, it did. To Hinata.

A smile plastered on her face as the opal orbs shifted her way and words of her intentions were about to come out when the Hinata's face abruptly turned red. Sakura was then again dumbfounded. Turned out, Sasuke yet again claimed the Hyuuga's attention by whispering something so suspicious that made Hinata lightspeed red.

She stared at them awkwardly as she flinched, and unconsciously blush, at the bits of their conversation she was able to grasped.

Sa-Sasuke!

I can't wait

You promised.

Remove them

No!

It hurts. Now, Hinata

Sakura was brought out of her stupor when a pair of shy opal white eyes and a pair of irritated obsidian eyes stared her way. She quickly scrambled backwards, her intentions forgotten.

Seeing the panic and shock in Sakura's eyes, Hinata stood forward, attempting to ease her friend's worry. " Sa-Sakura-san?"

Sakura flinched. " A-a-ahh," Her eyes shifted from Hinata to Sasuke. " I think I'll come ba-back later." She then ran towards the bush, screaming a loud sorry.

"Sakura-san!"

Hinata attempted to catch up but the sound of her captain's amused chuckle stopped her and she abruptly turned and positioned herself in front of Sasuke.

" Sasuke, that was not nice."

Displaying no regrets whatsoever, Sasuke unashamedly rose one eyebrow and let an amused grin show. " Hn."

Knowing there was no winning in him, she declared, " Well then, I'll let you deal with your predicament then."

And it effectively, wiped the grin off Sasuke's face.

Hinata sighed.

They had been walking the whole way and not even a time did she attempted to go near her captain. She was not entirely mad at their.. er.. his display of.. affection in front of Sakura, nonetheless. If at most, she was disappointed. He was playing with Sakura's feelings using her and it pained Hinata that he was so utterly blind.

Experiencing Sasuke's not-so-innocent tease everyday somehow deluded Hinata in a fantasy that the last Uchiha somehow liked her. But once Sakura was in the equation, Hinata began to doubt that. She began to think that maybe, he was using her to make Sakura somewhat jealous ( if being with her can possibly do that). Or that, as she feared, he was playing with her feelings too.

She groaned lowly at the conversation they had while Sakura was there, watching on all her glory. Apparently, Sasuke wanted Hinata to remove the bandages she put around Sasuke chest. Even though he promised not to remove them and Hinata saying no, she submitted once she heard the desperate plea he asked. She was confused though when she saw Sakura looking very embarrassed and flew quickly away.

But what was not missed by her eyes was the slight hurt in Sakura's eyes, directed at her direction. That one single emotion made the very controlled and composed emotions inside Hinata to flutter in every direction.

A hand unconsciously made its way to her mouth as her thoughts flew back to the kisses they shared. Kisses, that unfailingly, gave her sleepless nights. She smiled solemnly as she remembered their first; one that Sasuke called as 'stolen'.

They were close friends then and Hinata was newly appointed as his vice captain or partner, no thanks to his fangirls. As part of decorum, Hinata was engaged to an interview with Sasuke that somehow led to more personal questions as Sasuke, who was then laid back comfortably on his chair, now leaned on his table, smirking. She was then blushing really madly when she heard the two words 'first kiss'. To avoid unnecessary statements she answered with a brief 'no' which made the Uchiha's grin widen. She was able to pass the very uncomfortable interview and make it to ANBU with her 'first kiss' stolen and a smirking Uchiha stuck in her mind.

That day brought her hopes up, being that he was the one who initiated the kiss, and until now, it keeps their relationship stable. And then a dreading thought made Hinata pause.

What relationship?

She must not have noticed that not only her mind but also her body stopped so she gasped when she noticed eyes were on her. She blushed at Sasuke's questioning gaze and slightly frowned at the cold stare Sakura was giving her.

She didn't know what to do!

Hinata knew she had to fix this somehow, knowing that her captain won't, but what would she say? As much as Sakura likes Sasuke, she does too. She can not give the reassurance Sakura needs if she, herself, does not know as to what she and Sasuke are currently into. But she does not want their friendship to break so with a clench of her fist, she decided to confront Sasuke.

A little later. That was.

But Sasuke had others thoughts as he, yet again, pulled her to sit on a log a little farther than their other teammates once they stopped for a rest. Hinata desperately wanted to let go, getting as far as pleading to Kazuo and Mitsuki with her eyes only to receive apologizing smiles from them. She winced as her eyes stray at two emerald ones, boring her with stare so heated Hinata almost felt she might burn right there and then. She didn't want to add fuel to fire so she considered asking Sasuke kindly but it expectedly fell on deaf ears.

" You're distracted."

Hinata flinched at the cold tone but kept silent, nevertheless.

" Is it Sakura?"

With no avail, Hinata didn't reply.

Sasuke was getting irritated at the attitude Hinata was displaying so he placed himself in front of her and whispered on her ears, " I don't like being ignored, hime. You answer or-"

He stopped once he heard Hinata's low voice ask, " Sasuke, what are we?"

It was his turn to keep silent as he stared at Hinata's two wondering eyes.

What were they?

As soon as Hinata saw the sudden serious expression Sasuke had, she abruptly stood up and apologized.

" Yo-you do-don't have to a-answer that, re-really! I'm sorry I even-"

Both of their attentions were caught once Mitsuki called their 5-minute break to be over and they had to continue moving.

Sasuke gave out a brief nod but as he turned to answer Hinata, she sprinted back to where their other teammates were, not giving him any chance to explain. Sasuke shrugged but a slight pang in his chest hit him as a tear on Hinata's cheek didn't missed his eyes. He sighed tiredly and decided to blame it to Orochimaru, that maybe this was a karma of a sort. But once his eyes settled on the smiling pink-haired kunoichi, he had to fight the sudden urge for Amaterasu.

Hinata was right, he'll give Sakura another chance. He will make sure that while she has her 'second chance', she won't be able to make even the slightest twitch on her lips.

He will play with her and drop her.

This time, he will be the one smiling.

A\N: Forgive the sudden evil Sasuke at the end :) Plus, the super impromptu characters Kazuo and Mitsuki. XD

The next chapters will direct on Sakura's experience with Hinata and Sasuke so it may appear slightly Sakura bashing but their will be a rainbow at the end for Sakura. :)

Till then! :D