Branded

Chapter 9

Hinata wandered lazily about the market place of Konoha, grocery shopping with her lazy right arm. He was quiet, obviously in deep thought as Hinata purchased a sack of rice.

" Shika, Temari isn't going to be pleased with you if you don't at least buy some of the items she's requested," Hinata commented in her uniquely low voice, the only tone Shikamaru has associated with the young girl from his graduating class at the academy.

" It's troublesome, but I suppose you are right. And I would rather not have that woman yell at me. How was your mission?" Shikamaru questioned his captain as he glanced at the list his wife had given him before he left their house. Hinata shrugged her shoulders, moving onto the next vendor.

" It was boring, the types of missions Ino is more cut out for. However the ranking was to high considering Ino is rather new to Anbu," Hinata answered easily, watching as her right arm grabbed four apples placing them in Hinata's basket and paying the vendor.

" You had to dress as a geisha?" he questioned, watching as his captain nodded her head in answer, using one of her hands to tousle her indigo locks easily.

" I really need to cut my hair soon, I forgot how…troublesome long hair could be," Hinata commented absently, missing the smirk that graced her teammate's lips at her utterance of his favorite word.

" I believe you and I have been spending to much time together Captain," Shikamaru commented, shaking his head in a lazy fashion. Hinata only chuckled, pausing in her step as she felt a light tug on her loose strands.

" Don't cut them, I like your hair long," Sasuke's rough voice drifted quietly to her ears, causing her to turn her head to meet his intense gaze. Shikamaru only smirked at the Uchiha's sudden apppearance.

" I'll see you for dinner Hinata, unless you plan on canceling ahead," Shikamaru masked his question, watching as his captain shook her head.

" No, I'll make it to dinner Shika, don't worry," she answered, allowing him to leave so he could finish his shopping alone.

" Care you join me, Sasuke?" Hinata questioned the Uchiha, watching as he maintained a lock of her hair as he fell into step beside her.

" Don't cut your hair," he stated once again, watching as pale lavender orbs watched him for the corner her eyes.

" Long hair is turning into a problem. It keeps getting in my face on a mission. I was only planning on cutting it to my shoulders," she defended, watching as he shook his head, pulling the silky strands to his lips.

" I like them this length. You're the only one in the village with hair this color. It looks beautiful when it's long," Sasuke commented, watching as she moved to another stall, buying some fish.

" Please don't cut it," he whispered, watching her purse her lips in thought as she moved onto the next item she had written down.

" Fine, I'll keep my hair where it is for now," she finally consented, ignoring the smirk that graced his lips as he released the lock, allowing th silky strands to slip through his fingers.

" You're making dinner?" he questioned, glancing at the items in her basket. She glanced up, chewing her bottom lip between her teeth as she shook her head in answer.

" Not tonight, maybe tomorrow if I don't have a mission. I promised Temari and Kenji that I would make dessert. However I am still undecided about what it should be," she mused, a graceful smile curving her lips. Sasuke draped an arm over her shoulders, easily tugging her into his side as he walked with her. Hinata was to tired to actually struggle with the man today, so she allowed him to lead her around the village's market place.

" Make a cake or cookies. I'm sure Temari and Kenji would appreciate either," Sasuke murmured watching the Hyuuga's brow furrow in thought.

" I wanted to something a bit more special than a cake or cookies. Maybe cinnamon rolls? Those are always good," Hinata commented, watching Sasuke shake his dark head.

" There's an idea. Are you finished?" he questioned, watching her nod her head.

" Good, I'm taking you to lunch. Let's go drop off your groceries," Sasuke spoke, watching the nineteen year old press her lips into a thin line.

" Sasuke, I need to bake the Cinnamon Rolls for Temari and Kenji," Hinata argued, watching the former Avenger sigh.

" I'll make sure to bring you home with enough time to spare, I promise," he informed her, watching her narrow her pale eyes suspiciously.

" Fine. I'll go to lunch," she consented, allowing the Uchiha to guide her in the direction of her home.

The stop was rather quick as she put her items away before allowing Sasuke to lead her out of the apartment. They were almost to the restaurant when Sasuke placed his hands over her eyes.

" Sasuke?" she wouldn't show it, however his actions did startle her. She could practically hear the smirk in his voice as he answered her.

" I want it to be a surprise. Just relax. Do you trust me?" He questioned, refusing to move, to guide her, until she answered him. She hesitated, something he noted as an emotion he couldn't name stung his heart.

"…I suppose I do…" she answered, chewing her bottom lip between her blunt teeth out of nervousness. Sasuke nodded, even though he knew she wouldn't be able to see it as he easily guided her in the direction.

However instead of a restaurant, Sasuke guided her through the forest. He had made lunch, decided to take her for a picnic rather than some boisterous restaurant where and annoying waitress would be vying for his attention and shooting hateful glares in Hinata's direction. He stopped once they reached the checkered blanket he had set out, his smirk remained in place as he dropped his hands from her eyes, slowly trailing his fingers down her arms, encircling her wrists and finally wrapping around her narrow waist. He rested his chin on her shoulder, watching her reaction from the corner of his storm colored eyes.

" What do you think?" he questioned, his voice a low rumble.

" Did you honestly do all of this?" she spoke, her voice a little awed at the sweet gesture.

Sasuke shrugged his shoulders in answer, knowing she would feel the gesture. Slowly he removed his arms, straightening his posture as he moved around her smaller body before collapsing ungracefully onto the blanket.

" Come on, let's eat before the smell of food attracts animals," Sasuke commented opening the picnic basket he had packed. Hinata slid gracefully into a sitting position, conscious of Sasuke's eyes which seemed to always be watching her.

" When did you and Nara become so close?" he questioned, nonchalance radiating off his body as he took a bite of the pasta he had made. Hinata shrugged her shoulders, chewing her food before she answered.

" We were assigned to the same squad frequently, worked a lot of joint missions together as well. We were fifteen when one mission went from bad to horrible. I'm still convinced to this day if it hadn't been for Shika's genius plan I would have died. He saved my life when the mission we were on, both of us chuunin, was under ranked once again. However this C ranked mission jumped quickly to S ranked after we were attacked by one member of the Akatsuki. We were lucky he was just doing surveillance and not looking for a fight. A week after that mission Asuma-sensei was murdered by two members of the Akatsuki. Shikamaru claims working missions with me strengthened him because I wouldn't let him be lazy like he usually tended to be. He claimed I was a small girl, I needed protection and even though I thought his way of thinking was very old world, much like Neji and Hiashi's, I was glad as well.

" He killed the Akatsuki member that murdered Asuma-sensei. He managed it by himself," Hinata paused, taking another bite. Sasuke was watching her intently, truly impressed by the lazy Shadow manipulator.

" After that, he wasn't exactly stable. Tsunade worried frequently about his state of mind. He closed himself up, would hardly speak to any one. Both of us made Jounin and Temari was coming around more. Than one day when I was ambushed, when I received the scars on my lower body he and Temari looked after me until I healed properly. He became very protective of me after that," she glanced up, cocking her head to the side as Sasuke furrowed his brows.

" I understand teammates being protective, by why the sudden need?" he questioned, watching the fain, ghost like smiel play on her lips.

" I never did tell you, did I?" she mused quietly to herself before she shook her head. " Shika was the one who suggested I visit the compound that day, suggested I should prove to my father and the elders just how strong I had gotten. He blamed himself for the longest time. He was convinced that if he hadn't of pushed me I would have never run into those rogues," she explained, watching Sasuke nod his head as he set his finished dish aside.

" So after that the old hag just kept pairing you and Nara together?" Sasuke questioned, watching Hinata as she swallowed the bite she had taken.

" Kind of. Shikamaru and I worked well together, we still do. We both applied to Anbu when we were sixteen and a half, we wanted to do more for the village, Shikamaru said he was tired of all the easy missions he was receiving, they weren't challenging him enough. And he had vowed to Asuma-sensei that he would become stronger, that he would take responsibility and do more. He promised he would become the best Shinobi the village saw.

" And he is. I was surprised by his motivation, but I went with it. We were both accepted and we both advanced. By seventeen, Tsunade wanted to promote both of us to captain, but Shikamaru and I had come to rely a lot on each other. The first six months in Anbu are the hardest. The first year is when the new recruits tend to drop from the program all together. Shika and I helped each other through those times. He didn't want the added responsibility of paperwork so I was promoted," Hinata explained, watching Sasuke nod as he listened intently to the woman sitting across from him.

" But he's more than just a subordinate. I can only presume he was the one in charge while you were acting as my probationary officer," Sasuke commented, amused by the smirk on her lips.

" Yes. I named Shika my right arm, the second in command. He accepted it, so there really isn't much of an issue. We have a strong bond Sasuke, but that is just because we are each other's rocks. I feel nothing for Shikamaru that wouldn't for a brother," Hinata explained, watching the Uchiha nod as he slowly moved towards the former Heiress.

He had crawled over the blanket until he was only centimeters away from the girl, moving his hand to her shoulder. Gently, using his other hand he pushed her half eaten plate away from her as he lightly pressed on her shoulder until she leaned back. She chuckled lightly as the Uchiha pressed his lips to hers, his hands on either side of her head as he straddled her hips. Slowly Hinata twined her arms around his neck, enjoying the kiss until he pulled back to allow them to breath. He rested his forehead against her own, his eyes closed as he showed the strength of his restraint.

" Marry me," he pleaded, his warm breath ghosting over her lips. Her faint smile painted her lips as she closed her own eyes, knowing his stormy grey ones would open.

" Why should I?" she questioned, knowing he would answer her, knowing his pride would try to appease her.

" Because I hate the thought of you around other men. I want to be the only one you think about. Knowing you took my surname, wore my ring, I wouldn't worry," he answered, listening to her chuckle, feeling the vibrations of the action.

" No," she whispered, feeling his sigh, his breath ghost over her bare shoulder before he decided to pull away from her.

" Why must you be so difficult woman?" he questioned as he pushed himself into a sitting position. Hinata kept her eyes closed as she answered him.

" Those are interesting reasons, Sasuke. But those aren't the reasons that will woo me. I'm not like Sakura who needs insurance of a home. I'm not like Ino who enjoys being a man's possession. Those sound nice, but those aren't me. Those aren't for me. I'll wait until you can figure out the right reason, but I want you to truly think about it," she answered, finally opening her eyes. The Uchiha possessed a thoughtful look as she pushed herself to her feet. She bent at her waist to kiss him gently, only a brief touch of lips before she straightened her body.

" Thank you for lunch, it was delicious. I'll see you later Sasuke," she whispered, turning on her heel and leaving him alone to his thoughts.

She had already decided what she felt for the brooding Uchiha, had come to terms with it after speaking to Temari. Until he could realize he felt the same for her, until he could admit his feeling to her, she wouldn't accept his proposal, would not carry his surname. She refused…