Hi Readers! Sorry about the wait between chapters, like I said in my last chapter I've been diagnosed with a rare illness and it takes me a lot more time than normal to write. But I'm gonna finish this story cos not only do I love both Beauty and the Beast and Sasuke and Hinata, I hate to leave things unfinished!
Anyway I have the story all figured out now at least so hopefully chapters should be released quicker (fingers crossed!)
Let me know what you think, would love to hear your feedback on this chapters!
Kim xxx
His Beauty and Her Beast
Chapter 7
"Come on Hinata, get up!"
Hinata lay flat on the ground for what felt like the 100th time. Sasuke had yet again found an opening and knocked her to the ground.
"Sasuke don't you think you're being too harsh -" She heard Naruto protest.
"She has to learn-"
"But this is just torture." Sakura interjected.
Hinata pushed herself slowly up off the grass to standing.
"Good." Sasuke smirked at her, "Again?"
Hinata nodded her head in response and they both moved into their stance. In an instant Sasuke was in front of her again and they were back to sparring. She was able to block his first and second attempts but Sasuke was much faster than her and with the many hits she'd already taken this morning she was feeling disorientated. Feeling his kick to her side Hinata fell to the ground letting out a squeal of pain.
"That's it!" Naruto stood in front of Hinata, shielding her from Sasuke's sight, "Enough! Can't you see you've hurting her." He shouted.
"I'm not trying to hurt her, I'm training her. Something Hinata is more than aware of if you just open your eyes."
"How? You're beating her to the ground not teaching her anything!"
"Hinata is learning from her mistakes and if you and everyone else stands in her way and protects her she'll never learn! Look at her Naruto, she's not as delicate as you think!" Naruto looked behind him to see Hinata standing yet again, she had a busted lip and was clutching her left side but her face showed her determination.
"She's a trained shinobi, just like you and me so give her the respect she deserves to prove to you and herself she can do this. How many times have we been beaten to the ground? And how many times did that beating make us stronger?" Sasuke urged his friend. "You think I want to hurt her on purpose? I'm teaching her her limits!"
Naruto glanced from Sasuke to Hinata still unsure of what to do. His gut was telling him to listen to Sasuke, he had a very valid point after all, but his heart hated to see a friend in pain.
"Naruto-Kun, please." Hinata asked him quietly, "I'm ok I promise. Sasuke is right I need to figure this out." She smiled at him softly. Hearing Hinata call him Naruto-Kun once more broke the fight within him. She hadn't called him that since they arrived back to the village after the war, he hoped it was a sign they were friends once again. Not that they'd ever stopped being friends, but with Hinata distancing herself since their return from the battlefield it had felt like they'd lost Hinata as well as Neji. So reluctantly he went to stand by Sakura again, giving one of his dearest friends the chance to prove herself like she so desperately wanted.
"Ready?" Sasuke asked Hinata.
"I'm ready." Hinata told him and stood in her stance once again. As they came together Hinata felt more determined than her previous attempts. Sasuke had faith in her to figure out how to improve and with stand his attacks, so she should have faith in her own abilities too. Yes he was much stronger but Hinata was smaller meaning she could be faster than him, she just had to push herself like Sasuke said.
Hinata could barely move, her whole body ached, bruises scattered all up her arms and legs; some more fresh than others. For a whole week Sasuke had pushed her during training, each morning they would spar till Hinata could take no more. As the week progressed she had noticed she was becoming faster and able to read his moves more clearly; however Sasuke was still a formidable opponent, he was still able to win each spar but not as easily as he had at the beginning of the week.
Easing herself out of bed she gingerly made her way around her bedroom. A warm shower would ease her body at least for a little while, she thought to herself as she quickly dressed. There was no point in having a long shower or washing her hair after all, a training session with Sasuke is likely to make her sweat from ever pore.
While brushing her hair, after having a quick shower, Hinata walked to the window and smiled seeing the sun low in the sky to welcome her as her day started. Seeing a figure move at the corner of her eye, she looked away from the sun and watched as Sasuke began to warm up in the garden. Hinata couldn't fathom how Sasuke had so much endurance and resilience to pain, her body was crying in pain after each session, and Sasuke would just continue sparing by himself or with Naruto. And here he was again, waking before anyone else to train.
Seeing this resolve to still become strong, even though he was known as one of the strongest shinobi in the world still, Hinata turned from the window with determination in her steps. She would become just as strong, with or without anyone's help just as Sasuke had. She would train with or without someone else; just as Sasuke had.
Heading out the house and in to the garden where Sasuke was Hinata quickly braided her hair while she watched Sasuke continue his warm up. He knew she was there, she hadn't exactly hidden her arrival after all.
"We're going to be doing something different today." Sasuke told her, his voice was still gruff from the early morning Hinata noted. "We're going to meditate."
"Meditate?" Hinata questioned, how would that help her become strong?
"It's important to rest as well as train." Sasuke explained, "However this meditation will be different. I've been researching on your Byakugan; it's strengths and weaknesses. You have many abilities at your disposal for one-on-one attacks at closer range. But few I have come across are able to attack a group of enemies at once. If you do as I say maybe we could rectify that."
"I will do all I can to become stronger, so people will acknowledge I don't need to be protected." Sasuke smirked at her words and nodded his head in agreement.
"You know how to meditate?"
"Of course." Hinata answered confidently.
Sitting herself on the ground Hinata crossed her legs and closed her eyes.
"Now listen to nature around you, feel it, become one with it." Sasuke's voice spoke above her. Forcing herself to take a deep breath she tried to relax herself. She listened. She waited. And... nothing. Instead her mind filled with random thoughts; 'really need a trip to hot spring, then I can relax my aching muscles in the hot water.' She could just imagine herself submerged in the water and...No! Hinata thought to herself, I can't think of that right now! Shaking her head in the hopes of clearing away her scattered thoughts, she tried again, this time urging herself to listen. However her subconscious mind had other ideas and random thoughts, musing and questions bombarded Hinata one after another.
"Harder than you think isn't it?" Sasuke spoke causing Hinata to open her eyes. Sasuke was sat on the ground at the base of a near by tree and told her to come and sit by him and they can try again.
"First of all you need to take this off." Sasuke pointed to her purple and cream jacket.
"B-But I..I..." Hinata couldn't bring herself to talk she was so nervous. Her purple jacket was like a comfort blanket to a baby. Her jacket hid her, let her not feel self-conscious about her body. She had always felt her body was too curvy, her hips too wide, her breasts too big. Why couldn't she have a body like Ino's or Tenten's?
Sasuke sighed at her reluctance and took a step towards her. Hinata's eyes widened as Sasuke took hold of the zip on her jacket and began pulling it down slowly.
"How do you expect to become one with nature when you can't feel it?" Sasuke asked her. Hinata gripped Sasuke's wrists stopping his movements any further as his fingers (although still on the zip) were about to travel down her cleavage.
"I-I am very capable of undressing myself." She couldn't help but stammer.
Sasuke removed his fingers and as Hinata took over undoing her jacket he moved behind her and began to unravel her hair.
"You're too...restricted and stiff." Sasuke spoke behind her, "Typical Hyuga." He teased her trying to ease some of her tension. "Your jacket."
Hinata let out a breath that shook with her nervousness, her jacket was now undone but her hands gripped on to either side wrapping it around herself still.
"Hinata?" Sasuke questioned. Moving in front of her again he took in her reluctance and the fear in her eyes. "You can do this, it's just a jacket. It's just you and me. I promise this will make you stronger." He spoke calmly to her.
The breeze rustled Hinata's long hair making it swish and flick with the winds power now it was free to move. Noticing Hinata closing her eyes and moving her head to a different angle to feel the wind on her face, Sasuke began to talk again. "You feel that?" He asked her, "The wind gliding through you hair, feel it's force, it's power against your face. That's what all this is about." Hinata nodded her head at his words and calmed herself. Sasuke probably thought she was being ridiculous clinging to her jacket like this, she thought to herself. She told him only 15 minutes ago she would do all she could to become stronger and here she was at the first hurdle stumbling. Letting go of all reluctance Hinata took her jacket off and threw it on to the ground.
Feeling self-conscious at the fact she was now showing her black crop top and sports bra Hinata tried to cover her stomach by crossing her arms over her waist. Sasuke rolled his eyes at her but otherwise didn't comment on the fact and gestured with his hands for them both to sit down at the base of the tree.
"Let's start with the basics." Sasuke suggested, "First close your eyes and allow your mind to go blank." Hinata did as he asked, but making her mind go blank was the issue though. Hinata shook her as if that would help her to think of nothing. "Ok, ok stop, what's that about?" Hinata's eyes opened and looked to Sasuke smirking at her.
"My mind won't go blank, it won't...let me." She tried to explain.
"I see, so that's why women never shut up."
"Sasuke!" Hinata could tell he was being playful and teasing so leaned over and shoved him, not hard but enough to rock him sideways.
Hearing Sasuke chuckle beside her Hinata folded her arms in an attempt to look annoyed, but he knew her too well to know she wasn't offended in any way. Sasuke asked her to try again, which she did and for a while she felt her head clear.
"I see what you're doing wrong you're not breathing right." Sasuke explained.
"I seem to be quite alive and well so how am I breathing wrong?"
"Such a smart arse now Hyuga." He smiled at her. He asked her to sit in front of him so he could show her because explaining it to her obviously wasn't working.
"No, back towards me." Hinata looked questionably at Sasuke but did as he asked. She could help the little 'eep' escape when she felt his hands on her hips as he pulled her back so her back was pressed up against his chest and stomach. He then kept one hand on her hip and the other he rested on her stomach.
"Can you feel the pace of my breathing?" Sasuke whispered against her neck. Hinata's eyes closed at the sensation of feeling his breath tickling the side of her neck making goosebumps appear and her body involuntarily shiver. "That as I inhale my stomach expands and when I exhale my stomach goes flat." Hinata could only nod her head, yes she could feel it! She could also feel the muscles on his chest she thought to herself. "Now you try do it with me." Hinata willed herself to just concentrate on Sasuke's breathing pattern and on nothing else, not his scent, not his tickling breath and certainly not his hand on her bare stomach. After a couple of shaky breaths soon she was able to breath along him, they were at one with each other.
"Good. Now, feel nature." Sasuke moved the hand he had resting on her hip and interlocked her hand with his with her palm facing down. He guided her hand to the grass where he slowly moved it from side to side so she could feel each and every strand. "Feel the earth's energy, how each blade of grass moves." Sasuke's voice seemed so far away now, but she was amazed to find that she now understood Sasuke's words. She could feel it, not just because she was physically touching the grass but there was something deeper there. She could feel an energy, almost like each glade of grass was it's own being. The energy had been hidden from her because she'd never taken the time to just sit and listen.
Next he slowly turned her hand and pulled her arm up above their heads and glided her hand down the rough bark of the tree behind them. In this position Hinata was now lent right back against Sasuke with his hand still on her stomach seemingly pushing her into him all the more. There was no words needed now between them, she could feel nature around her as Sasuke had wanted. She could hear the scurry of a beetles feet making its way up the tree, in the woods the sounds of an animal moving away leaves on the ground and birds in the sky flapping their wings as they searched for prey.
"Hi-nata!" A broken female voice called out. Hinata's concentration on meditating and Sasuke broke the second she heard the voice. Leaping up, with an enormous smile on her face Hinata quickly activated her Byakugan. She couldn't control her excitement at seeing her little sister alive and well running up the deserted streets of the Uchiha district.
Not being able to stand the wait any longer she ran in the direction of the gates to the mansion, Sasuke right on her heels calling after her. Each sister let out their out a squeal of excitement as they both saw one another face to face as they rounded a corner of the wall surrounding the mansion.
"Hanabi." Hinata whispered. She'd been trying not to think of the dangers, if a puppet might be out to catch Hanabi too as she was called back from her first mission. She'd been praying to all the Gods just in case one wouldn't hear her plea to bring all Hyuga back from their missions safe and selfishly (Hinata thought) she prayed most of all for Hanabi's safe arrival. Hinata promised with herself she would visit the Hyuga temple and thank any God who would listen!
In her moment of sure relief at seeing Hanabi Hinata had stopped running, Hanabi however was running towards her still. Knowing exactly what Hanabi was planning on doing Hinata held out her arms and caught Hanabi as she jumped at her, from the force of the jump and Hanabi's speed Hinata went falling to the ground. But the Hyuga sisters clung on to one another as if they hadn't felt the earth, they were together again and that's all that mattered.
"Oh I've missed you so much-"
"Me too-"
"You're never going away on a mission again-"
"I have to if I want to be strong like you-"
"No I can't loose you. Are you hurt?" Hinata gripped Hanabi's arms to push her back so she could get a closer look at her, "Did anything happen on your way back? Where were you?-"
"Which question do you want me to answer first?" Hanabi giggled. "I'm not hurt, but if you keep squeezing me so tight then that might change." She teased.
Sasuke kept to himself the rest of the day, allowing the two Hyuga sisters to catch up in private. He knew Hinata's chakra signature now like the back of his hand so at all times he was able to sense her now meaning just because he was ordered to protect her, didn't mean he had to be by her side 24/7.
While Hinata spoke with Hanabi, Sasuke was able to do some more research on helping Hinata. He had come realise last week the amount of guilt Hinata carried around with her. He felt he was probably one of (if not the only person) in the village who knew what it was like to feel guilty about killing a beloved sibling. However, in Hinata's case it truly wasn't her fault! He'd read many reports on how Neji had died thanks to Naruto bringing them back with him from the achieve in the Hokage tower. Naruto had also told him what Neji had told him before he passed away too. Sasuke just had to figure out a way to make Hinata understand that she had no reason to feel guilty.
For Hinata to become stronger, not just physically but mentally too he had to make her see she wasn't guilty of anything. If it wasn't for the threat of this 'master' the puppet spoke about Sasuke could find a way in his own time and there wouldn't be such a rush. Especially now he knew for certain the 'master' only wanted Hinata. For if they were after the Byakugan, then logic plan would have been to attack the weakest of the Hyuga. Hanabi is the youngest a Genin and only on her first mission; a mission she has returned from unscratched with no dangerous encounters to speak of. Nothing was seemingly out to get her or her Byakugan. Yes, Sasuke was 100% certain the 'master' wanted Hinata. But what this 'master' had failed to factor in to their plan was him. He was her protection detail now an order given to him by Kakashi his Hokage (not that he needed the order!) and he will be there for Hinata, supporting her and aiding her every step of the way.
Sasuke lay in bed with his eyes closed waiting for the sweet allure of sleep to take him, when he heard a heart wrenching scream coming from Hinata's bedroom. In a second he was pulling open his door and running down the corridor as fast as his legs would allow him. Bursting in to her bedroom he took in the cleanliness of the room and no sign of an intruder. What he did see, was Hinata thrashing about in the bed crying out in pain at the top of her lungs.
Cursing to himself Sasuke covered the gap between them and tried to pin her arms down to stop them from hitting herself, instead her back arched off the bed so high Sasuke was worried she might break in two. Straddling her and keeping her arms flat on the bed at the side of her head Sasuke leaned down and tried to coax her out of her nightmare, through her screaming though she was unable to hear.
"Come on Hyuga! - wake up!" He shouted frantically.
Hinata suddenly stopped all her movements and at the same time drew a loud in take of breath, like she'd been drowning under water and coming up for air. Even in the dark, in the middle of the night he could still make out her eyes bursting open, the pain from the nightmare flooding in to them and then the tears pouring uncontrollably down her face.
Ever so gently he moved to her side and pulled her in to his arms allowing her to cry on him. He tried to sooth her by trailing circles on her back, desperately wanting to tell her she was ok but it was clear she wasn't. So instead he told her he was here, he'd always be here for her and he wouldn't go anywhere until she asked him too. As he'd said about leaving he felt Hinata grip on to his shirt tighter, telling him without words she didn't want him to go.
After an hour or so Hinata's crying died down to hiccups and sobs. He moved on to his side so he was able to see her face once more. What he saw made his heart throb even harder, he hated to see her in so much pain especially when she didn't need to be.
"Talk to me, Hinata." He urged her, "Was this about Neji?" He felt her nod and bury her head back to his chest. "I hope you don't mind but I've read up about what happened." He spoke gently to her while cuddling her tighter. "From everything I've read and heard Neji blocked that attack by choice because he cared for you. What happened isn't your fault-"
"It is! He wouldn't have-" Hinata lifted her head towards him.
"No it isn't!" Sasuke told her more sternly, looking at her in the eyes. "You never asked him to jump in front of that attack. He did so on his own free will because he didn't want to see you die." He could feel her crying against him again and he hated that what he was saying was making her do so, but he knew he had to carry on. "When I spoke to Naruto about what happened, he told me your words saved him that day. That if it wasn't for you he would have followed Obito. That you made him realise that not only did he see everyone as his comrade and didn't want them to die, Neji and everyone else believed in those words too. Neji believed in them so much he willingly died for you. Hinata, don't disrespect his sacrifice for you by living your life in the past and letting it go by. It's not your fault, you know."
"I know." She answered almost automatically.
"No Hinata, you're not listening, it's not your fault." He repeated.
"I-I know." Hinata's gaze shifted from his, looking unsure of her own words.
Rolling over so he was now above her on the bed, he looked her directly in the eyes.
"No Hinata," He tilted her face once more to him, "It's not your fault."
"Sasuke don't-" She tried to move from under him but with him above her she could only wiggle from one side to the other.
"Hinata listen to me, it's not your fault." He told her more sternly.
"Please don't-" She pleaded at him.
"It's not your fault."
Hinata began to sob and she flung her arms around his shoulder's pulling him down on top her. With Hinata back in his arms Sasuke lay back on the bed and let Hinata cry it out. He realised that she'd never heard those words before which had all the more firmly established her guilt. He only hoped that hearing them now would allow her to see reason.
He didn't know when he'd fallen asleep, he hadn't meant to at least. But he stirred when he felt the most delicate of kisses on his cheek. In his half asleep state he knew it was Hinata just by the way she smelt and without opening his eyes moved his head to the side and kissed her fore head.
"Thank you." He heard her whisper, as she lent her head on him and they both drifted to sleep.
