Lavender Roses
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. My schedule and a case of writer's block have made writing difficult as of late. Update rates will either proceed very quickly or very slowly due the fact I have several ongoing fics at the moment and I know how I want this story to end. I also have several collaborations either in progress or planned for the future. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 12
"We're here. What are your plans, Master Itachi and Lady Hinata?" Aoda comes to a slow halt.
Just a few hundred yards away, Hinata could see dozens tents had been erected. So, that was how they did it. They could come and go as they pleased if they were detected more quickly that way.
Garuda squawks alerting them to a puff of smoke emerging near the tents. Hinata grimances as she realizes what had just happened. Someone had seen Aoda and Garuda and was trying to fight fire with fire or in this case…Summon with Summon.
It was a cobra.
Itachi's eyes narrow. "I believe it's only fitting that Aoda and Garuda handle this one. Hinata, come. It falls to us to collect the trash."
"We have help." She takes Itachi's hand and Flickers them closer. "They must have arrived shortly before us."
She could already see several members of the Rookie Nine hard at work and Hinata notices more than a few members from her own family. Naruto's shadow clones meant business, but when coupled with the other attacks from their fellow Leaf Ninja, they were even more fearsome.
"What a drag." Shikamaru yawns, using his shadow jutsu. "Naruto, you know we have to take some of these guys alive, right? There's a larger operation at work and we need answers. Also someone has to make the antidote."
"That's right, Friend Naruto!" Lee's fist goes flying into a black market dealer's face.
The earth begins to shake and had Hinata not known any better, she would have sincerely suspected it was a legitimate earthquake. That couldn't be further from the case, though.
Two massive Snake Summons were now in the midst of a clash. Aoda smacks his mighty tail into the Cobra, upsetting its balance.
His victory was short-lived as the Cobra hisses, spitting venom towards his opponent. It was all Aoda could do to duck in time.
"We've really got to do something about those snakes." Sakura rushes forward, punching the ground.
It cracks creating a rift, but both snakes were able to evade it. Still, it did grant Garuda the opening he needed. The bird of prey swoops down and slashes at his foe's eyes.
"DAMN YOU!" The cobra hisses in agony, blood pouring out of his eye.
"Byakugan." Hinata's eyes scan her surroundings. "Itachi, we need to find the one with the contract. He'll tell us what we need to know."
" You shouldn't be selling your poison to help these thugs hurt innocent people. Garuda, get his other eye." Aoda vaults over the rift, slamming his entire body into the other serpent.
The two gigantic reptiles spin around and around. A blur of fangs and thuds against the ground. Venom and blood spraying in a terrifying mosaic of primal power.
Itachi nods just as Hinata sees something out of the corner of her left eye. A man wearing a patch over his eye with a Summoning Scroll.
He was doing his best to hide, but it wasn't enough. The chaotic sounds, smells, and sights of the battle going around her ceased to matter. Her entire focus was now on one man.
Faster than she could ever recalling running before, she closes the distance between them. The man tries to dodge, but it was a futile effort. He didn't have the time.
"GENTLE FIST!" Her punches smack into him with every ounce of fury Hinata possessed.
It was hard to tell where one began and another ended. The sickening cracks tell Hinata her strikes had landed true, but it wasn't until Itachi was by her side and the man stops moving entirely that Hinata ceases her assault.
"It's alright, Hinata. I'll get us the answers we need." Itachi never breaks eye contact with the man. "In a few seconds."
"Akamaru, get him!" Kiba urges his ninja dog forward.
The canine doesn't hesitate and neither do Shino's insect. The dynamic duo rush to assist Aoda and Garuda in their battle against the cobra.
"Be careful, Masters. He has venom." Aoda's concern was palatable, but it didn't stop anyone from fighting…least of all that lovable snake.
Choji rolls over to Hinata and Itachi, after knocking some dealers unconscious. "I think they just knocked out the cobra. How's it coming on your end?"
"Good. I think." Hinata frowns, wondering what Itachi was showing the man inside his Genjutsu.
Ino forces some of the thugs to attack each other. "Alright. I think it's a clean sweep. We just have to wait for Itachi to get some answers out of that creep and then we can go home."
The black market was no more. Everything had been destroyed by the time Itachi releases the man. "I know how to make the antidote. It would be best to prepare it now rather than to wait until we arrive back at the Leaf. Sakura, I will require your assistance."
The pain was lessening, but he didn't know why.
His life wasn't flashing before his eyes as it had done with Haku, so Sasuke could only assume he wasn't actually dying. Still, it was perplexing. Even with the various pain killers Tsunade had given him, the venom still burned him. It burned and burned without any sense of mercy…until now.
"Look! I think he's waking up! How are you feeling, Bastard? You really shouldn't scare us like that." Naruto's voice pierces through the haze of confusion.
Any other time, Sasuke would have scolded the idiot for being, well an idiot, but for now Naruto's loudmouth was serving as an anchor. ""W-What happened?"
That, and the scent of lavender and lilacs surrounding him was strangely soothing. He had smelled it from somewhere before, but couldn't quite put his finger on it. There was also something wet on his arm. A few droplets of…something.
"Sasuke! You're awake!" He feels someone squeeze his arm.
It takes him a moment to blink several times and slowly open his eyes only to see Hinata's tearful face. So, that's what had happened. Hinata had been crying next to him. That's why his arm was wet because she was holding his hand.
"I'm still working on that part, but you don't need to cry. I'm alright." He forces himself to smile.
Everything was so blurry, but the pain was slowly subsiding. His vision was beginning to clear.
Itachi's face comes into view. "We managed to get the antidote. Believe me when I assure you that particular black market is no more. The place was leveled. You should rest while the antidote works its way through your system more thoroughly, but you're going to be fine." He closes the distance between them and pokes Sasuke's forehead affectionately. "Foolish little brother, don't ever scare us in such a fashion again."
Kurenai shoots Hinata a sympathetic look. "I never understood the forehead poking thing either. It's just their thing."
"Yes, Kurenai Sensei." HInata nods, tilting her head. "I suppose it's like Mr. Rexy. There are some things that we'll never understand about the men we love."
"Whose Mr. Rexy?" Sakura looks utterly baffled.
Itachi glowers at her. "Never mind. That's irrelevant now. What matters is Sasuke is safe and he should get some rest. Come on. Let's give these two some privacy."
Before anyone could protest, the eldest Uchiha ushers them all out. Not that Sasuke could entirely blame them. Arguing with Itachi was a futile pursuit at the best of times, but when he was like that…it was just masochism.
"Itachi is a good Clan Head. He's already mastered one of the most important skill sets." Hinata giggles.
The sound brings a smile to Sasuke's face even as a feeling of puzzlement settles over him. "And what is that?"
"Knowing how to clear a room." Hinata smiles brightly at him, her hand still holding his, but the serenity of her expression soon fades into a gloomy display of guilt. "I'm so sorry, Sasuke. I should have noticed something was wrong sooner. It's a miracle you're alive.?"
He shakes his head. Sasuke wouldn't allow Hinata to do this. To blame herself.
"It was my lack of observational skills that caused it. Besides, in the end it's probably best I was poisoned. A black market venue was broken up because of it and I'm going to be fine. Nothing has changed. We still have a wedding to plan. Have you given any thought as to what kind you would prefer?"
Hinata shakes her head. "Well, I know that I'm going to carry a lavender rose bouquet and Ino will take care of the many, many floral arrangements, but not much beyond that. My Clan is very traditional. So, I imagine Father will take care of most the details. Are there any Uchiha traditions you'd like to incorporate?"
She was so kind. So sweet and innocent. It was more than enough to bring a smirk to Sasuke's face because he knew exactly how easy it was to make her blush. "Nothing specific comes to mind. My family's expertise is more focused on ensuring mutually enjoyable honeymoons than on the ceremony itself."
THUD.
The soft thud of Hinata's falling against the blankets covering his stomach told Sasuke all he needed to know. Hinata had fainted again. Her shyness could be adorable sometimes, but he really did have to encourage her boldness more. She'd done so wonderfully during their sensual massage encounter…