disclaimer: I do not own Naruto~
summary: This is not a love story, but it is a story about love. —Sasuke/Hinata
notes: I'm currently doing requests! If you PM me a pairing from Bleach, Naruto or Death Note, I'll write you a multi-chapter fic or one-shot in return~ :)
Days pass, and Sasuke does not see Hinata again.
Actually, he doesn't see much of anyone—not even his brother, because Itachi is too busy; he appears briefly, for at least half an hour in the mornings, and then he goes again, with a small smile on his face and a flick to Sasuke's forehead. He doesn't say what he's doing or where he's going, but Fugaku frowns lots when he's gone and Sasuke is a little bit lost; his Ma wasn't at all happy about the state of his clothes, and so he's not allowed to go out and play. He has to finish up on his studies, first, anyhow. He's borrowed this book out of Itachi's room—it's thick and brown and dusty, and each page smells like a time gone by—and he's been reading up on chakra uses; he doesn't think his Ma knows he has it, but both Itachi and his Pa do, and they keep asking him questions about it. At first, he used to flounder and stutter through his answers, and Itachi used to ruffle his hair fondly; now, he's read the entire book five times through and he's confident. When Fugaku quizzes him in the mornings, stern-faced and quiet, Sasuke answers confidently, easily, and he beams when he's finished, because he knows every answer is right.
It happens again that morning.
He finishes up his breakfast, answers all of the questions, and then Itachi asks, from his position by the kitchen sink, "Why haven't you enrolled him at the Academy, yet?"
"He's not ready," Fugaku dismisses.
"That is a lie," Itachi says, "And you know it."
There is silence.
Sasuke fidgets in his seat.
Fugaku watches him through narrow eyes.
Then—
"We shall see."