SweetStealer: SasukeHinata moment right here...short chappie...

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Chapter 8

Mornings were the same. There was always the subtle bickering over tea and fish, and someone storming out of the room, usually Naruto or Sasuke or Neji. Afternoons were more lazy. People tended to train, read, or sleep, depending on what they felt like. The weather was usually warm, breezy and sometimes, people wandered around, slightly dazed.

Nights were fun and wild, with games, ghost stories or...fighting. Some things didn't change.

However, it occasionally rained. Rain always brought people's spirits down, but Kakashi and Gai suggested that they take that time to meditate and be quiet for a few peaceful hours. (Naruto muttered that all Kakashi wanted was quiet so he could jerk off in peace, but that amounted to nothing except a very large black eye and cleaning punishments from his sensei.)

This day, the rain didn't seem to stop. Just drop after cool liquid drop seemed to fall to earth, quenching its thirst. People had taken Kakashi and Gai's advice and gone off in separate directions to meditate in silence.

Shino was seen sitting in the hollow of a tree, quietly conversing with his bugs. They buzzed and murmured and flew around his head, trying to find out what the he was thinking of...

Kiba was in one corner of the training fields, coat off, looking up at the sky, thinking hard. His sharp eyes probed the darkened sky and Akamaru slept soundly next to him.

Shikamaru was lying down on the front porch, presumably asleep. However, his breath was irregular and you could tell he was thinking hard.

Choji was in the kitchen, drinking a glass of milk quietly, his legs crosses and his eyes closed. He reminded one of a small lonely child. His memory reached back to when he was alone and teased but then Shikamaru stepped into the picture, he was happy to have found a true friend at long last.

Lee was sitting upside down on a tree branch, seriously meditating and delving deep into the corners of his unusual, but sage mind.

Neji could be found on the rooftop, cross legged and eyes closed. He sank into his thoughts and began to search for one in particular. It had to do with a little girl about three years old, who hid behind her father shyly while she met her cousin whose first words out were,

"Isn't she cute, Father?"

Naruto was on another part of the training field, lying on the ground, not giving a damn if he got wet. Memories flashed throughout his head like little jolts of electricity, sending him deeper and deeper into his past.

Sasuke sat on the back porch, looking out toward the gardens. Bits and pieces of Itachi crept in and as Sasuke went deeper into his mind, the pain in his heart increased. Hot tears of rage began to form and he clenched his hands in pain.

Gaara was found at the very top of a tree, resting there, a piece of grass in his mouth. He too, was meditating. He saw himself when he was very young, a small boy all alone and scared. Then he saw Naruto, yelling at him and bringing him out of his darkness. Then there was Hinata, smiling at him, Temari hugging him tears of worry in her eyes because he had come home later then usual...Kankuro patting his back...sad memories turned to the bittersweet and hopeful.

Hinata was meditating in the back gardens. She sat with her hands in her lap, wondering about Naruto. Was it really love? Was it just a crush? What about Kiba? Neji? Sasuke?...What about Gaara? How did she feel about them? They were friends, right? But was it just friendship? No. But...she still liked Naruto, right? Now, she didn't know anymore.

Getting up, Hinata walked out of the gardens and back up to the house. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Sasuke, leaning against the support beam of the house and crying. He didn't seem to notice her until she touched his shoulder lightly.

"S-Sasuke-kun?" she whispered, a little afraid.

He looked at her. The pain in his eyes was evident and she quickly sat down next to him. This was the first time she had ever seen Sasuke cry. Hesitantly, she brought him into a shy hug. Sasuke stiffened at the sudden touch but relaxed and rested his head on her shoulder. Tears fell fast and hard, and it was his turn to hug her. He gripped her tightly and pulled her toward him, whispering hoarsely,

"Please don't leave me..."

"Does it hurt?" she asked quietly.

Sasuke nodded and for a moment, he was reminded of his mother. When he was younger, he had fallen down and scraped his knee. He had run teary-eyed to his mother who asked,

"Does it hurt?"

He nodded and she put some first aid cream and a band-aid on it. Sasuke smiled brightly and thanked her...

Returning to the present, Sasuke pulled away from Hinata.

"You remind me of my mother." he said at last.

Hinata looked up. She vaguely remembered meeting them when she was very, very young. She had also met Sasuke for the first time, along with Itachi. She remember that Itachi had pinched her cheek and called her cute. She had giggled.

Now, Hinata shuddered and whispered,

"Is that good or bad?"

"Good." Sasuke finally decided.

They sat in silence for a long time, watching the rain collect and fall to the ground.

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SS: short...but sweet...REVIEW!