What awoke Sasuke from his deep slumber was the slight tickle he felt near his chin. It was still dawn, he noticed. He was completely surprised that for once he was not awakened from his usual nightmares. He knew he had a dream last night but couldn't quite remember what it was about. He always remembers his nightmares. Regaining clarity on his surroundings, he looked up at the sky and blinked a few times before giving a relieved sigh, yet failing to see a sleeping female Hyuga next to him, one of his arms was wound around her side.

He tried moving his leg but was unable to do so when he felt something above it. Finally, he understood just how awkward the current situation he is in. Glancing down at the tangle of legs, he noiselessly groaned. He tried not to think about how they ended up in this situation. Groaning some more as he found out one of her arms was clutching tightly at his sleeve. Finally looking at where his head rested at the moment, he slightly moved away from the heiress, the faint lavender scent of her hair still lingering through his nose. Deciding it's best to slowly remove his appendages from the still sleeping Hyuga one by one, he unwound his arm first and firmly settled it on his side.

It took quite a few minutes before he was able to completely remove his self from his companion. Glad that she didn't stir from her slumber, he silently thanked Kami for little mercies in life. He seriously didn't want anyone to see that. He may be an avenger but he's still a teenage boy, unfortunately. Waking up next to a female, an attractive one at that if he was to be honest with himself, would likely result in not-so-innocent thoughts forming in his mind. Thus, he couldn't help the slight reddening of his cheeks at the moment. He really wanted to clear his head.

Sasuke abruptly stood up and glanced down at the person still lying on the mat, hair splayed around her pale face. In that instant, he caught her mumbling something, inaudibly at first. Curious, he focused his hearing while trying to read through her lips. What he heard next made him scowl.

Deciding it's best to let her sleep for a few minutes just so he could compose himself and vanish those unwanted thoughts running rampant in his head, he walked a few paces away from the sleeping Hyuga. He sat down from where he settled last night, just before the Hyuga invited him to share her sleeping mat. Collecting his thoughts, he closed his eyes to meditate.

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Hinata awoke to the sounds of birds chirping above her, at the tree where she settled her sleeping mat last night. She smiled lazily and looked at the trees surrounding her and marveled at the promise of a beautiful morning. In times like this, she gets to appreciate just how beautiful the world truly is. Living life as a kunoichi would often make her forget to stop and smell the flowers. The simple joys the world is able to provide are often overshadowed by painful events that every shinobi and kunoichi would often experience for most of their lives.

Sighing and turning around, she was met with Uchiha Sasuke's back who was probably meditating just a few steps away from where she is. Her eyes widened as she gave a loud intake of breath as last night's events came at the forefront of her mind. Sasuke must have heard her gasp as he turned around and faced her with that same cold expression she knew now so well, often directed at her lately. She sat up abruptly as he started collecting a few of his things lying near him on the ground.

"Good morning, S-Sakuke-kun," she looked up at him and offered him a brief smile, cheeks reddening a bit; thoughts about last night still lingering on her mind.

"Hyuga," he simply nodded at her.

Coming to a decision that it's best to stand up when it comes to facing the Uchiha, Hinata rearranged her limbs from their current position and shakily stood up. To ease the awkward aura between them, she resolved on starting a small talk with him.

"H-How was your sleep? Um, I hope I wasn't a bother to you last n-night…"she stammered. She remembered Hanabi once telling her that she won't ever sleep next to her again. It was a few years ago when Hanabi went inside her room asking if she could sleep beside her after suffering the after effects of a nightmare. She agreed, of course. But the following morning, she found an irate Hanabi glaring down at her scornfully. Not giving her the chance to let her speak, she heard her younger sister's long tirade directed solely at her; that she was a cuddly sleeper, that her legs were all over the bed all through the night, and with a glare, she told her she was punched in the face twice that night, and blah, blah blah. She didn't hear the rest as she felt dumbfounded. She could still remember Hanabi's rage quite well. It was a few years ago though, so I must have already lost that unconscious habit by now.

For the briefest moment, his left eye twitched but aside from that, his face remained expressionless. What does that mean? He isn't raging like a bull though, unlike Hanabi, so I must have behaved well last night. Clearing her throat, she waited for his answer, hoping he could add something to their conversation.

She heard his familiar reply of "Hn" without giving anything else that would satisfy her curiosity. She mentally huffed at him. Outwardly, she only nodded as if she understood what he meant all along. She paused as if to contemplate on something. Finally, she gathered her courage to ask him once more. Something that's been nagging on her mind on more than one occasion ever since the Uchiha decided to bring her along for this journey but never once had she dared to ask, until now.

"I'm curious Sasuke-kun, b-but when are we returning back to Naruto-kun and the o-others?"

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So she's done with the awkward questions. Glad that it's over, Sasuke mentally sighed as he really didn't want to tell her the truth. Hearing her last question though made him swore silently. He couldn't really decide what to do with her for now. He knew that she will be a useful ally, but at to what extent would she help him? I'm quite sure she's doing this charity for the sake of his former teammate. He could still remember her mumble the dobe's name early this morning. His mood unconsciously started to darken. But she could easily help me locate Suigetsu though.

"Not at the moment," he replied vaguely.

"W-what do you mean, Sasuke-kun?" He could already hear a slight agitation to her voice. You are too easy to read Hyuga. All these good deeds you were doing to me were for the dobe's sake after all.

Deciding she deserves at least a partially honest answer from him, he told her while studying her profile, curious at her next reaction. "I need to find a few people. I need your help looking for the two of them."

"But I t-thought…" her voice wavered at the end. He could sense that she wanted to say more but his sharp glare silenced her.

"You think I would return now just when I'm about to accomplish my goal?" he asked her menacingly. He took a step towards her and activated his Sharingan, tomoes spinning rapidly. His anger was quite obvious now. It took some effort on his part not to let the curse seal activate without his consent.

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Feeling the sudden change of the atmosphere, Hinata took a step backwards. She really didn't expect for him to change his mood in such a short time. This person in front of her was scary. She truly didn't know why her question received such a negative reaction from him. As if on cue upon staring at his red irises, she clearly understood now what he meant by his goal. To kill his brother Uchiha Itachi, once and for all. She shuddered a little. The thought of killing a family member is so foreign to her and downright cruel. But the memory of the Uchiha massacre lingered on her mind and she's starting to see how that event would always come knocking at Sasuke's door. Always reminding him of what he once had and what he lost in a blink of an eye.

"I-I understand Sasuke-kun. Forgive me. I hadn't really thought about your plans because of my selfish wish… and that i-is to see my team as soon as possible." She looked down at the ground mournfully.

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He was stunned at her reply. He thanked Kami that she didn't look at his reaction after that little declaration of hers. You continue to be a puzzle to me, Hyuga.

Still trying to understand how her mind works, what she said next made him speechless for quite a bit.

"I wish to help you find these p-people Sasuke-kun."

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As always, thanks for your reviews!