An UPDATE! And, I shall give you some warning that this chapter is not beta-ed since my dear friend, SHaPbY is currently unwell. I've been waiting for her beta but she told me to post the story, incase there are people who is waiting for this chap (Really? –twitches an eyebrow-). And sheesh, life in university is tough, so many assignments T-T.
Oh well, you know Naruto is not mine right? The only thing I own is this story. Let's read!
What Are We?
Of Questions
Hinata had managed to carry Sasuke from the training ground to the house. She brought him to her room, since it was closer to reach from the front door. She laid him on the futon, he was unconscious. She went to the kitchen and boiled water in the kettle. As soon as the water was hot enough she poured it into a plastic bowl and draped a small towel on the side. Without slowing her pace, she returned to the room where Sasuke was and sat beside him. She examined her husband's condition in a glance, then she placed a hand on his forehead. He was cold, and was shivering. She would need to tend his injuries first. In swift and careful movements as a medic nin, she removed his wet clothes and saw the injuries all over his body. She dried him off carefully, especially around the injuries, and then she started to heal his injuries after cleaning the area around it with damp towel. Green glow appeared from her hands, slowly but surely the injuries were healing until there was no sign of injuries left.
Hinata wiped the sweat from her brow as her first task was finished. She swiftly changed his clothes into warm and dry clothes she could find. She checked his temperature once again and found the cold had turned into a fever. She pulled the cover up to his chest and saw his body was still shivering slightly. Changing the water, she returned to Sasuke's side and put the damp cloth on his forehead. She let out a relieved sigh, she could calm down for now. She feared he had been longer in the rain or he would have caught pneumonia other than high fever. She felt truly glad that she decided to follow her intuition to check the training ground. She looked sadly at Sasuke, if he was in better state, he would be fine. But he wasn't and due to the untreated injuries and the previous battle fatigue, he was weakened.
Hinata was truly concerned about Sasuke, she had checked the storage and found they had run out of medicine. Looking at the state Sasuke was in, she didn't dare to leave his side. She sighed, feeling a little helpless. For now, she would only watch over him.
I
I
I
Naruto yawned and stretched himself outside the Hokage office after giving his reports. He was still wearing his ANBU attire, his fox mask hung securely on his belt.
"So much for maintaining an image of strong and serious ANBU," a feminine voice spoke. Naruto knew whose voice it was, he smiled as he turned to the direction of the person. It was his former teammate, Sakura. There was an amused smile etched on her pretty face, and a glint in her eyes that accompanied the smile. Somehow, in his eyes, he always found his female former teammate beautiful. The years only seemed to make her beauty more. He returned her smile with his trademark grin.
"Should I?" he asked innocently, putting both of his hands at the back of his head.
"At least I think you should," Sakura crossed her arms, "The children nowadays don't find ANBUs scary or even worth to look up to"
Naruto felt that the remark was not only directed at him, he glanced at his fellow ANBUs.
"Tch, so troublesome," a familiar line from a certain lazy ANBU captain.
"Hello, Sakura-chan! You look as lovely as ever today!" And another familiar energetic greeting, Sakura restrained herself from rolling her eyes.
"Hello, Shikamaru-kun, Lee-kun," Sakura greeted the two who happened to be with Naruto. Both of them had grown in stature but still… some things didn't change. Only that Lee was no longer had a crush toward Sakura and less weird poses.
"So, what brings you here?" Naruto changed the topic smoothly. Even though he must admit, she had a point, but he couldn't help it though, he added to himself in amusement.
She waved a map of documents on her right hand, "As usual, some reports from the hospital and…"
Naruto could easily figure out why she left her sentence hanging. He casually walked to her who was waiting for some talk with him. Before they went to search a place to talk comfortably, Sakura sent a meaningful glance toward Shikamaru,
"Don't forget the promised dinner at 8, Shikamaru!"
The moment Sakura spoke that, the dark-haired ANBU's eyes widened as realization hit him,
"Kso! Ino's gonna kill me!" it was already a quarter past eight.
Naruto and Sakura watched as he dashed down to the stairs and stopped in the middle of his descent. Smacking his head for his foolishness, he made a simple hand seal and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Naruto whistled to see how panicked the ANBU captain was,
"Ino surely could be frightening in some times"
"Oh yes she could. It's the only way to make Shikamaru on his feet," Sakura chuckled. They found a comfortable place to talk without any interruption and both settled on the sofa.
"What's up?" Naruto asked lightly.
"It's Sasuke," Sakura's face was serious and soon Naruto's face changed. Sakura told him everything from what happened to Sasuke and his subordinates to Sasuke's leave without treating the injuries first.
"…I've asked Hinata to watch over him, but…"
"But?"
"I notice a slight doubt in her, somehow… So, could you check on them?"
"Why should I? Why don't you do that?"
"You know Sasuke better than anyone, and I cannot give any help regarding him. My advice wouldn't be helpful enough," she sighed rather sorrowfully. Naruto's face turned serious, his mouth set in a firm straight line. He closed his eyes in thoughtfulness, and placed a comforting hand on Sakura's.
"I'll check on them," he stood up from his seat, "Probably after a quick dinner at the Ichiraku's. If that's fine for you..."
"Oh no, of course it is," Sakura blinked in surprise, "…Sorry for bothering you"
Naruto waved his hand in the air lightly, "Nope, you're never be a bother for me. It's not I can refuse a friend's ask for help. Besides, I'm also worried for my best friends"
Unfortunately, or probably fortunately for Sakura, Naruto didn't notice how Sakura's face fell when he mentioned her as a friend. Before Naruto could notice it though, she had already composed herself.
"Okay, see ya later!" he grinned good-naturedly, then in a puff a smoke he disappeared, leaving a sad looking Sakura.
"…Just a friend, huh?" she looked sadly at the empty seat where Naruto had sat, "I suppose I'm expecting too much." She stood up and walked to the Hokage office where she was supposed to be.
I
I
I
Hinata was by Sasuke's side, tending her husband. There was no sign that he was about to regain consciousness anytime soon and the fever didn't seem to subside. Her face was filled with concern to her husband, he was breathing heavily and twitching and talking restlessly in his sleep. She couldn't do anything to help him, the only help she could give was to stay by his side. Then she felt an all too familiar presence outside the door, she merely smiled in amusement,
"Don't ever bother to knock the door, Naruto-kun? Or does it occur to you enter from the front door as any other civilized people do?"
The room's paper door slid open, revealing Naruto who was grinning sheepishly, a hand on the back of his head.
"Well, that thought does occur to me. You sounded like Sakura that way"
"It can't be helped, considering we're working together in the same field," Hinata realized that Naruto probably was here because of Sakura.
At last Naruto noticed the person who was lying motionless on the futon. He approached Hinata's side and examined his friend's condition in a glance,
"How is he?" Hinata could sense concern in his voice.
"The fever hasn't subsided and it seems he's not going to regain consciousness anytime soon"
"I see…" Naruto sensed the Uchiha heir's chakra signature was rather hectic and he suspected it was not only caused by the injuries, "Can I do anything?"
"Well, if you don't mind, you can buy some medicines, we ran out of medicines supply here," Hinata reached for a paper and scribbled a list of medicines needed to buy. She handed the list to Naruto.
"I'll be back," then he disappeared in a puff of smoke only to appear ten minutes later.
"Here," he handed a plastic bag with the ordered medicines.
"Thank you," Hinata took the plastic bag gratefully.
"You're welcome," then he sat cross-legged on across Hinata, right beside Sasuke enough to have a good look on him.
"So, what did he do until he ends like this?"
"He trained himself under the rain without treating his injuries first," somehow Hinata managed to explain it in a single sentence and without looking at Naruto as she brewed the medicines into right dose.
"Ah, I see. Typical Sasuke," Naruto commented lightly.
Hinata raised her head to look at Naruto, a single brow was raised in question to the comment. Naruto shrugged slightly, his eyes were on his best friend.
"I suppose you've seen how much that day affects him," Naruto saw Hinata nodded, "How it affects him and shapes him into what he is now. And one of the things it caused to him is fear… fear of losing his precious people.
"That's why he unconsciously builds a distance to others, why he could hardly trust others. Not only because he's afraid to be hurt and betrayed again but also because he's afraid to lose them. But things didn't go that way for him, unfortunately for him, with the arrangement of team 7. We managed to get under his skin, gaining his trust and becoming his closest people. I learned that once Sasuke has found someone precious to him, he will give anything to protect them even his life. He could hardly forgive himself to what he did in the Valley of End though I have. His subordinates in his division are among the few he trusts. At first, things aren't very well, just imagine having a former traitor and missing nin as your captain.
"But slowly, Sasuke earned what he deserves, respect… and trust. He could be a cold-hearted bastard in some times, but it is simply because he is supposed to be, as a leader and as a shinobi. Under that façade, he cares to his comrades and they see it. A very reliable comrade, he is." Naruto had his chin held by his hand that was cropped on his leg.
"…He can't afford to lose his precious people, or else, he'll blame himself for it"
Silence fell between them, the only source of the noise was coming from the pouring rain outside along with the roaring thunder. Hinata didn't know what to say, it was a bit too much to take for her. She pushed strands of hair behind her ear,
"…I see, I suppose it's still a long way for me to fully understand him"
Naruto had a slight surprised look crossed his features as Hinata spoke her thoughts. Then he spoke in stern voice, "No, don't ever think that way, Hinata-chan"
Hinata's eyes widened slightly to Naruto's reaction, she didn't expect him to be angered by her statement.
"It may be hard for Sasuke to open up to you. But I'm sure he would eventually, I'm sure of it. Because… like every other people does, he wishes to be understood and… to be loved," he looked at Sasuke sadly, "Even though he wouldn't admit it"
Hinata was totally silenced with his words, and felt a bit ashamed of her previous thoughts. She shouldn't have thought that way to her husband, what a great wife she was. She couldn't help to admire how much Naruto understood Sasuke. Now he saw, how much they meant to each other, they were more than comrades, teammates, or friends, they were more, they were brothers, bound by trust and understanding.
"Ah! It was late already!" Naruto broke the silence when he saw it was already past nine, then lowered his voice, "Sorry. I suppose I'll leave so I won't disturb you"
"It's okay, Naruto-kun," Hinata smiled, "You can stay if you want"
"Naah," Naruto waved his hand nonchalantly, "You already have your hands full, it'll be better for you to take care of Sasuke. I'll visit when I have time"
"Alright," Hinata didn't mind. Naruto stood up and before he made a hand seal to transport himself, Hinata called him, "Naruto-kun"
"Hai?" Naruto titled his head a little.
"Thank you," it was a sincere gratitude.
"You're welcome," he gave his well-known grin before he disappeared, leaving puff of smoke.
I
I
I
Sasuke felt himself surrounded by darkness, everywhere all he saw was darkness. The darkness he had grown to hate. He tried to look at his hand within the darkness and clenched it, but he felt nothing. He didn't feel anything, he felt numb. There was no fear. There was no anger. Yet there was no peace. There was simply… nothing.
Void.
He thought he saw a flicker of light, he ignored it, thinking the void was better. Then he heard voices, it was distant at first but then it was getting clearer and louder. Familiar voices…
"You're a coward, don't you know that?"
"…Stop dwelling in the past and stop swallowing yourself in self-pity!"
"-No, you're not. You're running away from it!"
As he heard those voices, he felt a sudden pain in his head. When he looked at the direction of the flicker of the light, the light was getting brighter. Slowly, he walked toward the light, and every step he took, memories returned to him unbidden. He was no longer numb. Emotions and pain returned along with the memories. He remembered everything, included his last fight… his subordinates… his comrades. How they were wounded severely after the battle…
How he failed them.
Suddenly his eyes pried open, his hands were clutching the cover tightly. He was breathing labouredly and he could feel his heart beating rapidly. He took few steady breaths to calm himself. He felt his head light and his body was burning with fever. He tried to focus his surroundings. He frowned as he realized that he wasn't in his usual room. He caught a faint scent of lavender and jasmine, when he was about to examine more his head felt hurt. His hand automatically reached for his head, he let out a silent cry of pain. But the sudden movement caught Hinata awake, who was sleeping by Sasuke's side, but not in the same futon.
"Sasuke?" she quickly moved closer to Sasuke's side. Sasuke needed sometime to realize that Hinata had been by his side all the time when he was unconscious. He felt cool hand was pressed to his warm forehead. The close contact reminded him of his mother who did the same when he was sick.
"You have a high fever," Hinata spoke softly, though she didn't really intend to tell Sasuke. Hinata went to the kitchen to change the water and took a glass of water. She knelt beside Sasuke and offered him the glass that had been added medicine,
"Drink, you need it," Hinata told him gently. Sasuke took the glass, Hinata helped him to drink it though with difficulty. Hinata put the damp cloth on her husband's forehead. The medicine should start working by now, she thought. She was about to return to the kitchen to refill the empty glass, when a warm hand grabbed hers, stopping her from leaving. She was taken aback to the sudden action.
"Stay," it came the weak voice, in a way it sounded like a command but in other way… it sounded like a plea. Hinata hid her surprise and didn't have the heart to refuse. She returned to his side hesitantly, not knowing exactly what to do. Sasuke had his eyes closed, never had she seen him so weak and fragile, it pained her inside. Gingerly, she placed her hand on his. She felt him tensed for a moment for the sudden contact but it disappeared as fast as it appeared. She gave him a gentle squeeze, as if trying to tell him that she wouldn't leave and stay by his side. It seemed he understood as he seemed calmer and slowly he drifted to sleep once again.
Hinata watched the young yet seemed so tired face and understood for once, he had truly slipped off his cold façade and how true Naruto's words were. Sasuke wasn't much different with any other people, he was longing to be understood… to be loved. She couldn't help but to feel a bit sad, she was still no one to him… She wasn't his friend, even though they weren't strangers anymore.
She moved her gaze to the window where the rain was still falling from the sky, washing everything away on its path. She could feel Sasuke's warm hand on and under hers, not bothered with such close contact. It was the closest contact they had ever had during their marriage life. Her thoughts made her ponder of their relationship.
They were married, they were husband and wife, yet they didn't seem or act like one.
They used to be strangers. They had accepted each other's company, yet they weren't friends.
There was some understanding between them, but there was not much of trust.
They were two different people.
Uchiha and Hyuuga.
They were complete opposites, yet they were together right now.
Hinata closed her eyes for a brief moment and whispered the question that had been plaguing her mind,
"…What are we?"
Author's Note: Oh-kaay… Don't tell me if it's lame… I'm doing this chapter the best that I could between all the assignments. I could understand though if it was rather confusing, my mind's been a little disorganized these days. Have I told you there are always assignments every week? And if the lecturers are kind enough, not every week, every day. How generous. It's kinda short but an important chapter. Hinata had doubts in their relationship, which was understandable, it seemed they weren't moving anywhere. Sasuke didn't seem to open up anytime. It was hard to understand him. They were not strangers, nor Friends, nor husband and wife. What are we? That's how the title was made. Since I can't make long responses to your wonderful reviews, I wrote the responses in my blog instead, through my profile, click the homepage.You can check it only in ONE condition, don't forget to leave REVIEWS! That's all. Just wait patiently for my next chapter. See ya!
