A/N I am so sorry for the late update! I hope everyone enjoys the chapter and I love all your reviews and thoughts, thank you so much for them all. Big thank you to ZeroJackson who edited this chapter! Some NaruSaku in this chapter, I simply love this pairing! Thank you so much! Reviews and constructive criticism is always welcomed.
Chapter Ten
Dusk
Midnight seemed to arrive early to the Inaho Village. Though Hinata knew that wasn't really true, or possible. It had felt like only a matter of moments until absolute darkness had seeped over the village, coating every ugly building in an alluring dark blue light.
And with nightfall, the inhabitants of the small village seemed to awaken. Pooling out into the street, lighting paper lanterns and opening small stalls. A steady stream of food peppered the air delicately. The wind carried other heady scents like the fresh blooms on windowsills.
Apparently the Inaho Village was holding a small festival tonight to celebrate spring, and Sakura, enthralled by the sparkly lights and soothing music towed Naruto along with her. Her hand clasping around his wrist, she led him out the door of the minimalist room and down onto the main street of the village. Which left Hinata wholly and completely alone with the Uchiha.
Who had taken to ignoring her.
The night spilled in the window of the small room, and had Hinata been at home she would have reached for a light to switch it. Her silvery eyes slowly flickered towards the Uchiha who was lying on the bed, over the sheets with his arms over his eyes. Relishing in the darkness. And though he was deadly silent, she knew he was fully conscious. And though he was only across the room from her, he couldn't have felt more faraway.
Hinata had no idea where Sasuke's mind drifted to when he wasn't insulting or embarrassing her. But she had an inkling, when he got that distant and vacant look in his dark eyes and how his mouth would fall into a tight frown, his thoughts were with his deceased family.
She often wanted to ask him about them, to get him to talk about. She found talking about her mother and Neji's death had help ease the pain and the frustration, confusion and denial she felt. However she also caught herself before she allowed the words to tumble out. She knew he was a severely guarded and private person who didn't open up to anyone. Not even Naruto at times.
It was truly a lovely night tonight, Hinata thought gazing appreciatively outwards. The stars were bright and hung overhead like tiny diamonds strewn across a velvety blanket of night. Though it was cold out, she really was envious of Sakura and Naruto, both walking through the bustling street. Their proximity too close for mere friends, yet too awkward for lovers. It would have endeared Hinata if she didn't feel a small prick of envy.
Darkness pooled in their window unwarrantedly and had coated every feature and angle of the room in a spectrum of inky dusk. The room, now in almost utter darkness, could almost pass for being nice.
The obscurity of the room and brought her mind back to Sasuke, and his own unabridged darkness that both scared and allured her. Images and thoughts of Sasuke usually came to her when it was silent, and she could give herself over to it completely. And also because usually at night the Uchiha returned to his bedroom, or the top of the roof of the compound and Hinata would retire nervously to her bed. He seemed to creep into her mind with the stars. And soon it became a staple where she would think of the Uchiha right before her eyes slipped close to for sleep, and eventually the Uchiha began to even invade her dreams. And she really wasn't sure why that was surprising, given she welcomed it.
Reflectively, her lustre eyes slowly and deliberately sought out the young man lying on the bed, his arm covering his eyes and his breathing quiet and soothing. Peering almost critically at him, she realised she couldn't find a single flaw in his physical appearance. She knew his pale skin boasted a single scar that ran along his chest - a scar that was there because he protected her so selflessly that day. Peeking at him, forced Hinata to come to terms with the way she was looking at Sasuke was not entirely platonic.
"You're staring."
Hinata froze, her heart skittering into a dangerously fast rhythm, as her cheeks burned with embarrassment. Her full lips, parting and closely subjectively as they struggled to formulate out even a simple word.
It wasn't the first time he'd caught her staring at him. Caught in her contemplation, every so often she'd stare too long and his eyes flicker towards her, making her avert her gaze on reflex. But inevitably she found her eyes being drawn right back to him, admiring his quiet grace and beauty. He often singled her out on the fact, a masculine smirk gracing his features as he did so.
However, unlike before his voice was arrogant or hurtful, he didn't add a "stop staring" or "staring is rude" In fact his voice was a quiet murmuration, both velvety and lingering.
Her cheeks darkening as her foot began to nervously toe the ground to look somewhat composed, though her thrumming heart and floundering lips gave away her mortification. She knew it was foolish to so openly admire the Uchiha. He had been aware of her every breath and subtle movement since they'd entered the room.
"I-I" She tried lamely; there was little point in lying. He often called her out on that too.
"Still staring." He mused, his raised arm dropping to his chest as his head tilted to face her. His smouldering dark embers focused solely on her, and he appeared to drink in her features as she had prior.
Hinata's dark hair pooled over her shoulders, dark tendrils of purple glinted against the pale shadowy like of the moon behind her. She was looming nervously by the window, her hands tangled together in a simple attempt to occupy them as she stiffened underneath his intense stare. Unlike most woman he knew, she didn't attempt to adjust herself or revel haughtily under his scrutiny, if anything it looked like she wanted to back away. Her lavender eyes wide and fearful like a doe caught in an enduring stare with its predatory.
And then he looked at her. Carefully and resultantly he properly looked at her.
Puzzling little woman that she was with all her childlike qualities, up close Hinata looked nothing like a child and very much like a woman. His previous conclusions about her was utterly wrong and threw him right back to the question he'd started with.
Why did he feel so protective of her?
Her chest heaving and her breath a little heady, her eyes flickered around the room desperately. The hot and uncomfortably feeling of his gaze still lingering over her. "It's hot in here." She said, her lips curving up into a strained smile.
It wasn't a lie. The room was indeed very warm, courtesy of the Uchiha who had lit the small fireplace in the corner of the room, because Hinata's teeth were chattering and he knew she was too modest and shy to ask for it to be lit and her teeth chattering bothered him for reasons he didn't want to ponder. Though he'd spent the last hour trying not to think of her, and thus ended up thinking of her.
She was exceedingly annoying at times.
"Why don't you take you jacket off then?" He advised, his eyes still staring at her though their intensity had waned.
She froze instantly, an action that did not go amiss by the Uchiha's keen eyes. And suddenly their intensity swelled. Her cheeks blooming brighter and more furious she attempted to ease her thrumming heart and her increasing breathing. She tried to smile.
He raised an eyebrow. She'd managed to seize all his attention and interest unjustly. Gently he sat up, careful to never break eye contact with now the very frantic Hyuuga.
"What are you hiding?" A ghost of a smirk danced along the edges of his lips worsening her resolve.
"Nothing!" She said quickly. Too quickly. Her eyes painfully wide and her lips parted in a desperate curve that made her look all the more fragile. She took a step backwards, mentally wincing when her back collided against the window, her breath quickening. She needed to get some distance from those eyes that threatened to tip her over the edge. Those eyes that she realised flitted along the edges of her dreams.
He slowly stood up, his every move smooth and graceful, smirking. Reflectively she pressed herself harder against the window, her eyes widening further.
He took a step closer, her blush burned.
She didn't see him move, but he was no longer standing beside the bed, in a starless shadow he moved seamlessly through the darkness, blurring into it. He was standing directly in front of her. Just inches from her, his inky eyes locking against her starry ones. He stepped closer, closing the minuscule distance between them, his breath cooling her cheeks, he brought his fingers up the her shoulder and gently trailed them down the length of her quivering arm, and his other hand was fluttering along her collar-bone. He leaned in closer whispering: "Usually people who have nothing to hide, don't feel the need to say so."
A ripple of shivers reverberated through her quivering body as his breath, hot and dark against her cheek leaned in closer. So close, she knew if she moved her head their lips would brush gently against each other. "I-it's n-nothing - there's n-nothing."
He raised a challenging eyebrow, his interest increasing, as his slender fingers work across her collar-bone, dipping down into the plentiful fabric of her jacket, they skirted along the edges of the hood and slowly fluttered across to the zip. That alluring zipper. He briefly looks up to see Hinata's astounded expression.
Very slowly, he dragged the zipper downwards with a deliberate twirl of fingers, he smirked appraisingly. His other hand engrained small circles along the inside of her wrist, leaving a fiery trail in the wake.
Her breath halted momentarily as she watched the zipper dip lower and lower and lower revealing - her heart fluttered - a simple black t-shirt.
The Uchiha paused, his fingers still clasping the zipper; his eyes flickered up to meet her confusedly. He frowned, and then it clicked. The black t-shirt was familiar, the form-fitting material strained across her chest that became baggy and limp around her midsection. Slender fingers shot up from her hand and her zipper to clutch the collar of her jacket and jerk it down, slipping over her shoulders. He leaned forward, his smouldering eyes peering over her shoulder; she tilted her head upwards anxiously.
The Uchiha emblem. Stitched across her back stared boldly at him. He pulled marginally back, pausing. She was wearing his top and he wasn't sure why he felt some sort of pride over that claim. Hinata was wearing a Uchiha shirt.
"You're wearing my shirt."
Hinata's quivered in response, her cheeks blooming a brighter hue as her wide-eyed stare never wavered. Her lips parted however no words surfaced. The feeling of Sasuke's hand's clutching the fabric of her jacket, his fingers brushing against her collar bones was enough to cause her breathing to hitch. "I'm sorry." she whispered hotly, her voice a breathy murmur laced with embarrassment.
He'd given her the top to sleep in during the Katsumi mission, when she had been tossing uncomfortably in the tent in her baggy jacket. Mundanely he tossed her his shirt, and with a begrudging blush she'd shrugged the shirt on, marvelling the familiar scent permeating the fabric. He'd never asked for it back, and she'd been too nervous to return the shirt that had become a staple for sleeping in.
"I-I-" she tried, her voice a useless heady whisper that the Uchiha dismissed.
"You're wearing my shirt." he repeated, something dark and utterly tactful seeped into his features. His grip tightened on her jacket, the fabric inched downwards minutely. "As I own the shirt, I have every right to take it back." he smirked then, relishing in the tremulous and purely horrified expression of his captive.
"W-what?" she asked abruptly, her eyes widening further as her heart began to thrum erratically.
His tenebrous smirk answered her question. In one swift and pointed movement, he jerked her jacket downwards to hang limply at her elbows. She froze completely, her lips agape she watched his slow and taunting ministrations. She couldn't believe he was doing this. She couldn't understand why he was doing this? If he was trying to frighten her he was doing a very good job of it.
Her stomach churned and her mind whirled unable to comprehend the fact that Sasuke was attempting to undress her and the fact that his touch was sending little sparks of electricity along her body. It was amazing how terrified she felt yet somewhat alive and excited by the feel of his fingers tugging at her clothing.
Overcome by the urgent need to say something – because if she didn't, those sinful eyes would surely succeed in ripping away any restrain and composure she was still clinging to. "S-Sasuke w-we're beside a w-window!" she blurted weakly, her pale eyes flickering upwards to meet his smouldering stare that threatened to steal away the very strength from her bones. Her blush deepened. "P-people m-might see!" she continued horrified.
"Well then let's give them something to see?" his lips intoned silkily, a hint of knowing smugness in his voice. His hot breath moving against her cheeks, down her throat was enough to evoke a shudder from the Hyuuga.
Hinata's tongue had joined her traitorous heart, and her brain seemed to eagerly follow suit. Suddenly she couldn't think straight. She forgot how to speak when she felt the tip of his aristocratic nose nuzzle into the crook of her neck, parting her dark hair. She heard him inhale deeply. Slowly and deliberately, his hands trailed with near agonising pace down the prominent curve of her waist, his other hand moving lightly down arm. Hinata felt like every part of her was caught between a tremulous lightning storm and a devastating forest fire. She didn't know what to do to get away from the head spinning sensations his simple touches were eliciting. And what terrified her most of all was that a part of her, at that very moment, wasn't even fully certain that it wanted to get away.
When Sasuke's hand trailed across her arms and reached her hand, gently tracing small soothing circles across her wrist, something inside of her snapped.
Hinata's left hand - a traitor like every other part of her at this point - abruptly snapped around the Uchiha's hand, her tiny fingers digging into it, clutching it so tightly she was certain the pressure would leave a bruise. However this didn't seem to deter the unpredictable Uchiha, if anything it fuelled him further. Reflectively his hand tightened around hers and squeezed it.
He held her close - much closer than was socially acceptable for a charge - and yet Hinata was powerless to pull away. She'd never been held so possessively tight before, and she'd never stared into his eyes for this long before. His liquid darkness eyes had ensnared her once again, eyes that were as beautiful and brilliant as black diamonds. Eyes that were focused solely on her. She'd never received so much undivided attention before. She only distantly realised that Sasuke had pushed her hair to one side when she felt the tip of his nose tracing lightly over the left column of her neck. Her body was no longer just quivering on the outside. Inside her, an earthquake was shifting plates, giving way to devastating ruin.
She had no concept on these alien feelings reverberating through her body. She had no idea how she could feel so utterly terrified and consumed yet so alive and excited at the same time. She had felt similar things before whenever he had come too close and touched her – but never so profoundly. And she had always succeeded in shoving them away. Now she couldn't even grasp them.
"W-what…" she whispered thickly, unthinkingly. "What are you doing…?"
"Princess." he said simply.
"I'll tell you Sakura-chan, if he tried one more thing on with you I would have beaten his ass from here to Konoha!"
A nonsensical scoff of indignation was heard through the hallways as the door clicked pronouncedly open leaving the breathy heiress frozen in an acute state of shock. Her eyes widening in horror.
The Uchiha however remained unaffected by the arrival of his team-mates, he calmly took a step backwards, his eyes washing over her flustered and heady appearance with a knowing smugness before his eyes darkened and turned around to face his team-mates looming awkwardly in the door.
Sakura was blushing, her cheeks stained a pale skin that was almost the same shade as her hair. She took an involuntarily step back, to ease herself behind Naruto. Despite the clear embarrassment capturing her eyes there was something else lacing their jade depths. Annoyance and perhaps even jealousy.
Naruto blinked several times, taking in Hinata's bedraggled appearance her cheeks burning so hotly he could even feel their warmth. He pouted intuitively, before his eyes turned to face the Uchiha who was looming in front of the Hyuuga, carefully hiding her from direct view. Cute… "Teme just what the hell is going on in here?" he asked brashly, no awkwardness lacing his tone. Just mild amusement and confusion. He threw a worried look over the Hyuuga.
"Nothing really." Sasuke replied blankly, his face an expression mask apart from the churning irritation emitting from his glare.
Naruto paused, nodding and considering that poor excuse. His focus turned back on Hinata. A slow, sly grin crept into his features. "Teme, why is Hinata's jacket and top almost pulled off?" he inquired deftly, arching a suggestive eyebrow. Distantly Sakura choked back a cough.
"She had something I wanted."
"Her virginity?"
No one saw him move. But instantly the Uchiha was in front of the blonde his arm wrenched backwards he aimed a punch into the blonde's stomach sending him flying down the hallway with a steady stream of curses and coughs.
Reflectively the blonde jumped to his feet, ignoring the acute ache lancing across his midsection his eyes narrowed as he launched himself forward landing a kick across the Uchiha's chest he followed through with a punch that missed the dark-haired man's temple by an inch. Curtly the Uchiha pushed the blonde off him, skidding backwards black clashed with blue and the duo began to perform a series of hand seals.
"What do to think you're doing!?" Sakura cried, her mild embarrassment forgotten as she jumped in front of the two, her eyes narrow and dangerous. "In the inn room!?" she snapped irritably, her cold gaze turning to face the blonde. "Rasengan?" she whirled around to face the Uchiha. "Chidori?" her temper flaring dangerously, Naruto dropped his hands and the Uchiha stiffened.
Hinata's eyes widened fearfully as she took a step forward, her hand tentatively reaching forward to put a restraining hold on the Uchiha's arm. "Both of y-you should stop before something gets hurt." her quite, soothing voice murmured she briefly met Naruto's icy blue eyes before her attention focused wholly on the tense Uchiha.
"I'll break every bone in both your bodies if you fight once more on this mission." Sakura said coldly, her green eyes darkening into an icy emerald. She smoothly adjusted her gloves, eyeing Naruto and watching him shrink backwards, nervously grinning.
"S-sorry Sakura-san!" Naruto grinned quickly, flashing an apologetic smile at the Uchiha, who simply shrugged. "We won't fight again." he promised badly, looking guilty he flashed another foxy grin which nearly earned him a punch from the woman in question, her eyes narrowing.
The pink-haired kunoichi's eyes darkening a fiery emerald before she averted her attention from the blonde and his lying towards another annoying aspect. "There's only one bed."
The quiet Hyuuga blushed, retracting her arm from the Uchiha whose eyes sliced into her nervous stature clearing saying this isn't over, making her to blush more. Idly he turned his attention to the more pressing matter.
One bed. One couch.
Two woman. Two men.
Such possibilities.
"I was thinking that perhaps Sakura-chan and I could share-" Naruto tried to explain his eyes staring at the best admirably when Sakura's tensed, throwing him a simple look that cut him off.
He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. "I was joking Sakura-chan."
He wasn't. And they all knew it.
Sakura's cheek twitched as she reverted her eyes from the maniac grinning blonde towards the sole bed and the couch. Her expression sullied furthered.
"Well I'll take one for the team here; I'll share the bed with whoever." Naruto suggested, throwing a sly and purely shrewd smirk towards Sasuke. "So Sakura-chan, Sasuke and Hinata you're all welcome to spend the night with me." his grin widened.
"No." Sasuke and Sakura both said firmly, their eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Fine then!" Naruto lamented, glaring at his traitorous team-mates. Before he paused, a sinisterly coy looked dancing across his eyes he stepped forward and looped his arm loosely around the already blushing Hyuuga. "Hinata and I will sleep on the bed."
On cue a fiery blush darkened across her cheeks, as she began to mindlessly interlock her fingers together tightly, her eyes widening as she attempted to ignore the arm wrapped around her shoulder, pulling her against his side.
"No." Sasuke and Sakura repeated again coldly. Something dark moved across the Uchiha's dark eyes as he stared at her.
She fidgeted further in the Uzumaki's grip, her heart thrumming underneath the intensity of the glower she was receiving from Sasuke.
"I think we'll let Hinata make her own decisions?" Naruto replied cleanly, his grinning widening and his eyes darkening as he titled his downwards to regard the fidgeting heiress in his arms. She was blushing so furiously he wondered was she about to faint.
She blinked owlishly upwards at him trying to ignore how close their faces were and how tightly she was pressed against the hard planes of his chest. "U-um well…" her eyes seeking out the Uchiha's imploringly.
Something snapped within the Uchiha and he walked up and physically separated the two, his hand gripping her wrist and pulling her behind him, he glared darkly at the blonde. "I'd prefer if you didn't molest my charge tonight." he seethed, his voice a low and clinical warning, his dark eyes flickering from the confused blonde to the girl behind him who was smiling worriedly upwards at him.
Sakura's eyes snapped abruptly away from the blonde's seeking gaze. Her exterior hard and wholly dangerous, she idly began to adjust her gloves. "I don't care, Naruto you can have the bed and either Sasuke or Hinata you can have the couch. I'll sleep on the floor." her voice like venom, she started to roll out her mat on the floor, stealing a pillow from the bed.
Naruto frowned subtly, and went after the pinkette. Sasuke shook his head, he didn't get unrequited love. It was a completely foolish thing in his opinion, to continue pinning after someone who didn't return your affections. And in the strange case of Sakura and Naruto he wasn't sure who was in love with whom. Watching their constant arguments and their silent jealousy he vowed never to be so idiotic and retain feelings after someone who would never return them.
His eyes turned back to the Hyuuga who was curiously peeking after Naruto and Sakura, her expression sullen and her lips curved downward she blinked owlishly. She seemed to forget his grip on her wrist until he released it sharply, causing her to stiffen in surprise. "Sasuke?" she murmured quietly, her eyes peering at him.
"Get some sleep. Take the couch." he offered blankly, sidestepping the heiress to roll out his own mat adjacent to the couch.
"N-no you can take the couch I'll-" she started, scurrying after him with her wide childish eyes.
"Don't argue Hyuuga." he said lowly.
"I-" she cut herself off, knowing Sasuke pestering him to take the couch would only annoy him further as when Sasuke made a decision he did not like to be swayed. Stubbornness was another one of his rather annoying traits along with impatience, cruelness, coldness, darkness, possessiveness maliciousness… and yet she found herself unable to count all his redeemable qualities on her hands. She nodded; frowning as she slowly curled along the couch, nestling into its plush cushions she watched the Uchiha's ministrations.
She wasn't sure how long she spent staring at the back of the Sasuke who was turned away from her, proudly showing his Uchiha emblem stitched across his shirt which stirred not entirely unpleasant memories and caused her to blush.
The moonlight streamed into the room, flickering across the Uchiha's, highlighting the midnight blush that lanced through his inky spikes. She wasn't sure whether he was asleep or awake, his breathing was even and he lay deathly still.
"Stop staring and get some rest princess." he scolded quietly, his tone cold but there was amusement lacing his murmurs.
Her heart thrummed faster. "I-I can't." she admitted honestly, her eyes never wavering from his form. "M-maybe you should take the couch?" she suggested, her cheeks blossoming into a dark pink.
"No." he replied curtly. "You take the couch Hinata and get some rest." he chided lightly, in a tone reprimanding tone as if he was talking to a stubborn child. Her blush flared as did her hindering confidence.
"Uchiha-san please take the couch. I-I want you to, I don't need it." she tried again, her voice low and soothing her eyes continued to watch him. She knew the Uchiha often suffered from violent nightmares of his past and whatever sleep he could get helped. She didn't mind sleeping on the floor; she never got nightmares in the presence of others. "Please."
He snapped around to face her. Her eyes widened for a moment as his dark depths stared into hers without murmuring a word. They were like that for a while, remaining in utter silence save for the drumming of her heart. Dark eyes looking into white ones. Hinata couldn't tell what he was thinking, his expression was so guarded. "I'm not letting you sleep on the floor Hinata." he admitted softly, so softly it send her heart aflutter.
Her hands balling into tiny fists. "Why?"
"Because you're my charge, and it's my duty to protect and care for you."
She hadn't expected a sharp pain to lance across her chest, or how unbridled tears prickled along her waterline. She shrank away from him, turning over to face the back of the couch; she nuzzled in further to her blankets and closed her eyes.
I'm a job.
She also hadn't expected to feel someone suddenly lying behind her, peeling back her blankets they slipped soundlessly in, they moved closer to her. Their face buried deep in the darkness of her hair she felt them quietly inhale. She tensed.
"Thank you for the offer hime." a velvety voice whispered behind her, the smooth lilting tenor of their voice caused her stomach to churn and twist.
She shrank further away, her voice peppered with coldness. "If you didn't notice I revoked my offer." she murmured sadly, her lips moving against the pillows of the couch, she flinched when she felt him move closer. Tiny sparks of electricity reverberating through her body where he brushed lightly against.
When he didn't leave, she scowled pondering how his velvety voice thoroughly irritated her. She began to brush herself up, in an effort to slip off the couch and also the stupid Uchiha to monopolise it. She didn't really care; she might even take Naruto up on the offer to share the bed.
His hand splayed across the prominent curve of her waist to hold her firmly but softly down. "Where are you going?"
"To share with Naruto." she replied back.
Abruptly his grip on her waist tightened, effectively jerking her downwards and flush against his chest, he wounded his arms around her, his face tilted forward to rest in the crook of her neck. "Go to sleep." he growled at the insufferable woman.
She remained stiff and tense in his arms for several moments, her frown burning along with her alit cheeks and her racing heart. He slowly started to trace soothing circles along the inside of her wrist as he patiently waited for her breathing to even, his mouth inches from her cheek.
Her eyes fluttered shut and allowed the darkness to consume her and the Uchiha quickly followed.
Tiny drops of sunlight filtered into the drab room, tingeing all it touched in a golden halo that was strangely likened to Naruto's hair. His eyes flickered open to behold the blinding light of the early morning sun that happened to shine right into his eyes.
Quietly he grumbled, blinking repeatedly as he adjusted the streams of sunlight illuminating the bright room. He normally liked the mornings, but currently all the sun was doing was annoying him. All he really wanted to do was close his eyes and sleep for several more hours.
It was in those bleary states of consciousness he registered a weight across him. A soft curving object that was wounded expertly around him, spreading their weight evenly as they clung lethargically to him.
He would have been mildly startled - as it was not the norm for someone like him to wake up to someone near him; and he certainly didn't remember falling asleep with anyone last and he wasn't that drunk to black out - yet their form was soft and moulded against his so perfectly at this point he didn't really care who it was.
Slowly dazed eyes cracked further open and eyed the person who was using his chest as a pillow.
Sakura was draped across him like a particularly beautiful blanket. Her face resting lightly on his chest, just over his heart and her legs managed to wind themselves around him during unconsciousness, and somehow he found his own arm resting softly on the curve of her waist.
He blinked once. Twice. Thrice.
Repeatedly - because this must be some fabrication of his mind because there was no way Haruno Sakura was curled up next to him like a kitten. Because the girl was no kitten she was a violent tigress who would rather tear out chunks of her hair than allow herself to nuzzle into him.
He stared down at her incredulously. Though Sakura had insisted on sleeping on the floor and for him to take the bed there was no way he would allow her to sleep on the floor. So he slipped into her mat on the floor and didn't utter word though he felt her staring at him pensively for an hour. She didn't protest, she slipped into the bed… which brought him as to why she was currently on the floor, with him, snuggling!
Which also brought him to the more imposing thought: what she would do when she awoke? He gulped lightly, careful not to make too much noise because he most definitely did not want to ruin a second of this perfect moment.
Painfully slowly he moved his hand from her waist with such precision his hand glided lightly over her waist, biting his lip he waited for her to wake up. For her to think he was trying to feel her up instead of extracting his hand away. Callous fingers brushed against the wispy tendrils of pink and she stiffened.
"Stay."
He tensed, his whole body seizing up into a frozen stature, his eyes wide and dubious. She moved again, her lips ghosting against his chest he felt her stir into the first stages of consciousness, her pale eye lashes fanning against his chest and her dusty cheeks he felt her stiffen further.
He closed his eyes, awaiting the inevitable smack!
"Oh." was all she murmured, her large forest-hue blinking owlishly as she tried to ignore his accusing stare and their entangled bodies she pulled back, careful to retrieve her legs from his, she sat beside him staring so intently at him he felt the backs of his ear redden. They stayed like for a while, blue meeting green. But soon full consciousness lulled away Sakura's sensitivity and she adverted her eyes meekly, a soft blush dusted her cheeks she ran her fingers through her hair.
"What did you mean stay?" he blurted out, watching her closely.
She stared at him, for a long strange moment before she looked away blushing. "I was dreaming. It's nothing," she admitted flippantly, standing up she walked away from him, her eyes assessing the morning-lit room and their team-mates. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened.
Hinata's dark hair mixed chaotically with Sasuke's as she nuzzled into the back of his shirt, her nose pressed against his neck, her lips against the Uchiha emblem and her eyes tightly shut.
The weirdest part of it was Sasuke looked…happy? Well as close to happy as the Uchiha ever looked, a softness graced his usual sharp features.
Naruto cussed and shook his head, this morning… "Am I awake?" he muttered lowly to himself as he ran a hair through his blonde spikes before he shrugged on his shirt.
The kunoichi silently agreed, as she busied herself in violently brushing out her own tangles.
It was half seven now and they had four and a half hours of travelling through an elusive forest ahead of them before they reached the Daimyo's palace.
The Fire Daimyō's palace was an example of the finest grandeur and opulence the quartet had ever feasted their eyes upon. Naruto of course was more vocal with his opinions of the buildings architect and splendour. His eyes, wide open pools of sea stared with an open mouth at the entrance hall.
A colossal golden chandelier with crimson crystal droplets - with a strange likeness to flickers of fire - adorned the ceiling, throwing red, shimmering reflections of light upon the polished floor. Arched openings lined the far left and right ends of the space, leading off to unknown paths. And directly opposite the staircase were two of the largest and most imposing double-doors she had ever seen. They formed an arch shape and appeared to be moulded from what could only speculate was red marble. Neither of the quartet looked like they possessed the arms to open them, apart from maybe Sakura who was busy eyeing Naruto carefully. Awaiting for him to say something stupid to the Daimyō.
"This place… wow!" Naruto breathed loudly, his coy eyes turning to face the owner of the establishment who was smiling fondly at the youths. "Who do you have to kill around here to get a place like this!?"
Instantly Sakura stomped discreetly on the blonde's foot, her smile strained and her eye apologetic. "He's joking!" she laughed nervously, pressing her foot harder causing the blonde to bite back a wince.
The Daimyō simply smiled politely, nodding slightly as his cool brown eyes assessed the four shinobi in front of them. The Uchiha was looming on the outskirts of the group, keeping a watchful eye on the trained guards who lined most entrances of the hallway. He seemed unaffected by the grandeur of the palace, if anything he looked a little disgusted by the over lavished room. The dark Uchiha looked completely out of place against the excellence of the room. In fact all them did.
Hinata, however, fitted in perfectly. With such delicate and soft features she resembled more of a hime than a simple kunoichi. Her white eyes cautiously flitted around the room, admiring the beautiful painting that adorned the wall and the intricate gilding of the ceiling. "Your house is so beautiful Daimyo-sama." her voice calm and full of clarity she smiled.
The Daimyō bristled humbly. "Thank you Hyuuga-san, I have heard many things about your own home." he admitted, turning to behold all of his newly appointed guards. "I would like to thank you all for coming on such short notices."
Sasuke briefly recalled how they didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. It was a direct request from a Daimyō and their opinions on the matter were not needed or warranted.
"I have heard such great things about your team and all your triumphs." he continued earnestly, casting approving glances at Naruto and Sakura, his smile faltered only briefly when his gaze slide over the Uchiha, but blossomed again when his eyes landed on the Hyuuga. "It's such an honour to be guarded by the Hyuuga heiress."
Something cold flooded into the Uchiha's dark eyes, as he stared almost confusedly at the Daimyō. Was he flirting with Hinata? The whole concept was rather disgusting as he was nearly three times older than her and married. He promptly decided he did not like this man, and the satisfying image of him crumpled on the floor in pain made him smile darkly.
Perhaps Hinata noted the subtle shifts in his mood because she flashed him a worried look, full of questions and thoughts yet she didn't voice any aloud. She frowned attentively before her gaze flickered towards the Lord once more.
"The party starts at six, so you have until then to retire to your rooms and get ready for tonight's entertainment. Clothes have been supplied as have all your other necessities." his dark eyes seemed to linger longer on the two females of the group longer than needed. "You will pose as party guests, join in with the entertainment of dancing and eating - yet, of course," he smiled coyly, "you must remember to watch out for any signs of danger."
"Thank you Daimyō-sama." Sakura said stiffly, noting his eyes were looking intently at her legs.
He shook himself. "Mayumi will show you to your rooms. I expect to see you tonight." he smiled towards the approaching girl.
She was tanned with long dark hair and decisive eyes. She looked no older than the shinobi whom she would attending too, yet she looked painful fragile. Even more so than Hinata. Her sharp eyes fluttered bashfully between her charges, and she bowed respectively. "Follow me please." she whispered softly, bowing towards the Daimyō before she scuttled off towards the staircase, Naruto eagerly following her while towing Sakura behind him.
Hinata hurried after Mayumi, her eyes fluttering up to meet the cold gaze of the Uchiha. Begrudgingly he followed after her, frowning as the damned maid led them up stairs, down stairs, through arches, down hallways, up hallways… His patience was currently non-existent, and he wasn't really sure why he was so annoyed at everything he saw.
Perhaps maybe it was the discreet glances Hinata often took, as she peeked meekly through her bangs. The pair hadn't really spoken since Naruto had loudly awoken them, proclaiming their suggestive sleeping positions. He was so very near to causing a fissure in the skull of the blonde, until Sakura and all her imposing violence threatened to get violent if they fought again.
It was strange how much she changed and matured from the blushing fan girl who had been in love with him in his youth. Of course she was still annoying, he was grateful for her maturing demeanour and her regular beatings of the Uzumaki were refreshing and amusing.
Dark eyes snapped sideways to catch the meek maid staring admiringly at him. Her light blue eyes widening instantly with mortification as she quickly reverted her gaze. "H-here is your r-room S-Sakura-sama, and next door is yours Hinata-sama. A lady will be up shortly to help you dress." Mayumi spluttered, her cheeks darkening as she felt the icy stare of the Uchiha. "D-down the hallway is yours Sasuke-sama and Naruto-sama." she explained breathily, her voice harsh and course.
Naruto eyed her confusedly. Her voice was even softer and lower than Hinata's – and that was really saying something.
"A-are you sure S-Sakura-san?" Hinata's soft voice asked again.
Pausing, Sakura looked away from her own reflection towards Hinata. "Of course Hinata, you look beautiful." the cherry blossom admitted earnestly, her forest-hued eyes assessing the meek heiress' appearance. Sakura wasn't really sure why Hinata was so nervous about her appearance, of course the girl was nervous and anxious about everything. But tonight she seemed noticeably more nervous. Almost like she had someone she wanted to impress.
Sakura arched a delicate eyebrow at the heiress. "Trying to impress anyone tonight Hinata?" she asked. Things between the two kunoichi were strained to say the least, but for the mission they put aside their awkwardness and helped each other get ready for the party.
Mayumi's knowing fingers were busying trailing through Sakura's short locks, weaving and twirling them in elegant twists. Sakura assessed her own appearance with mild vanity. The pink swaths of silk of her kimono complemented her natural colourings and the white and golden hues brought out her eyes. She smiled, smoothing down her skirt.
Assessing green eyes turned to Hinata. The pinkette was stunned. Really, really stunned. She'd seen Hinata nearly every day for most of her life, she'd seen her various states of attire, and seen her in a pale yukata a year ago for the War festival, but she'd never seen her look quite like this. Never had she seen shy Hinata look so exquisite. The kimono wrapped around her body elegant, the different hues of pink and dusky lavenders complemented her pale colouring and the expensive material clung to her figure like no other article of clothing she owned. A rich red obi with delicate detailing wounded around her waist. Her hair was down, dark pools of trailing amethyst cascading down her back and framing the sides of her face in long wispy tendrils. Sakura had always known Hinata was lovely, but knowing the fact and actually noticing it were two completely different things.
Her and Ino had never understood why Kiba and Shino boasted about her beauty and her figure… until now.
"Y-your kimono is beautiful Sakura. I-I love the flower detailing." Hinata's soft voice murmured, her pale eyes raking over her extensive folds of fabric depicting pink flowers petals bellowing in the breeze across a pale lavender sky.
Sakura awkwardly nodded, returning her gaze to her own reflection. Mayumi had lightly curled her hair and soft tresses of rose coloured hair framed her cheeks, verdant green eyes stared boldly forward.
"You both look so beautiful and harmless, no one would notice the kunai and shuriken hidden beneath your dresses." Mayumi chartered idly, giggling to herself as she admired her two beautiful creations.
All was perfectly serene and soothing for a moment until the door crashed open.
Naruto bounded in, sporting his own traditional attire. He wore a dark orange yukata that seamlessly darkened into inky blues and purples - depicting the sunset. He seemed a little lost within the long, loose sleeves yet he marched forward towards the girls, ignoring Mayumi's squeal of terror.
She wasn't used to Naruto.
"Wow Sakura-chan you look amazing!" Naruto admired, walking closer to analyse the detailing of her kimono and how green her eyes looked. "And Hinata… you look so different!" he admitted, blinking blankly at the blushing Hinata.
A pale rose blush seeping on her cheeks as she idly played with the ends of her long sleeves.
Naruto coughed grimily as he received a sharp elbow to the ribs by a suddenly glaring Sakura. "You look amazing!" he assured which only caused her to blush further. "A good different." he promised, grinning madly at Sasuke who also seemed to be assessing the indigo-haired woman's appearance. "Who's the lucky guy Hinata?" he waggled an eyebrow, as he looped his arm in Sakura's.
"I-I…" Hinata stammered her voice reckless and breathy. She wondered why she looked over to the Uchiha.
He loomed in the doorway. His arms folded across his chest, his dark eyes boring deep into hers. She flushed at his appearance. She'd never seen him in a yukata before. She wasn't sure why she was so surprised at how attractive he looked. The midnight blues of his yukata matched his hair and complemented his flawless skin. He wore a red obi similar to hers. However it was his face that was breathtaking. His dark eyes, like beautiful black diamonds that gave away nothing as they stared solely at her. His attention focused wholly on her was too overwhelming; he often sent her mind spiralling in confusion, and she had never felt so perturbed, anxious and allured in her life. Goose-pimples had surfaced on her arms, as if in response to the invisible, crackling current that was hanging heavily in the space between them.
He seemed to be awaiting her answer to Naruto's question.
"N-no one." she admitted shakily, her eyes flickering away from the Uchiha's gaze to favour the delicate silk of her kimono.
"Well you're in with a chance with the Daimyo - hey!" Naruto growled as Sasuke absently flung a kunai at him, whizzing past the blonde's cheek it indented itself conveniently in a painting of the Daimyo.
Absently the Uchiha strode towards the heiress and grasped her arm and looped it seamlessly with his. His smouldering eyes focused on the door, he was oblivious to her suddenly tense form and her darkening blush as their proximity. He seemed hauntingly unaffected.
"Let's get this over with. There's been sightings of unknown nin in the area and for their sake I hope they don't try target this gathering because I'm not in a forgiving mood." he stated blandly, smirking darkly downwards at Hinata, he gestured to doorway. "After you princess."