CCNote: I didn't expect so many people to be sad that this story is reaching its final arc. I wish I could make this story longer but it just wouldn't feel right. Don't worry though. I'll be picking 'From Here' back up when this story is complete and I have one last long-form story idea. I'll talk more about THAT one later.

This chapter takes place the evening before the fitting. Now I left a funny reference in this story that some of you may or not pick up on. It's anime (idk about manga) canon. If you forgot about it go look it up yourself. ;) Anyway, please enjoy and don't forget to REVIEW!

Becoming a Tradition II

"And with that, their love was sealed with true love's first kiss."

Sasuke felt his left eye twitch at the longing in Hinata's voice and the small sigh that escaped her lips. She always got like this whenever she read him a romance story. It wasn't as bad as when she read something sad though. The last time one of her favorite characters had died, she ran off to the bathroom and cried for the better half of the evening. He'd put his foot down after that and sad stories were no longer allowed in the house. However, that left a dearth of romance. Silly, vapid, incomprehensible romance.

"That was stupid." He grumbled and Hinata shifted to place the book on the nightstand.

"How was it stupid? It was a very sweet story and it ended in true love's kiss-" she protested but he only rolled his eyes.

"There is no such thing as 'true love's first kiss'."

"Yes, there is."

"No. There isn't. It's a lie people tell themselves to feel better for settling with whoever is convenient." He quipped.

"That's not true!"

"And how would you know?" Sasuke asked and felt Hinata shift uncomfortably next to him. "A kiss is just a kiss. There is no deeper meaning to it."

"So…" she started tentatively. "If I kissed someone else you would not care?"

Sasuke frowned and shrugged his shoulders. Past, present, or future, it didn't matter who she kissed. Not at all. It was just irksome that one of those people happened to be his forced upon best friend. Who, if he was being honest, he had also kissed. Twice. The Uchiha grimaced at the memories and shoved them aside. They weren't talking about him. They were talking about Hinata and it most certainly didn't matter who she kissed.

"You have kissed many people then?" Hinata asked, putting a bit of distance between them as she began to build her nightly wall. "You never felt anything?"

Instead of answering the woman's question, Sasuke grabbed the pillow she placed between them and tossed it over the side of the bed. He hadn't kissed many people. He'd been propositioned for much more than just kissing on several occasions but he'd turned them all down. Indulging in such frivolous pleasures was not something he'd allowed himself to engage in. Besides, he couldn't risk Uchiha bastards being manipulated and hunted down by power-hungry men. It didn't take much to turn a man into someone like Danzo.

"You would not care if I kissed someone else." Sasuke said flatly.

"Yes, I would." She replied defiantly, and although her voice was small it still caught him by surprise.

"Why?"

"I…I don't know."

"Hn." Sasuke smirked, leaning closer to the nervous woman beside him. "Then have you finally decided that you would kiss a man like me?"

He expected her to turn away from him or scurry out of his reach but she didn't. One of his hands slid from his own side to find where her hand laid in her in her lap. She didn't move. He followed up from the tips of her fingers to her wrist, up her forearm to her elbow, towards her shoulder to her neck. When he reached her neck she flinched harshly as if he'd burned her and it made him pause. Why would she have such a reaction to him touching her there? Had she gotten hurt during their spar earlier? He pressed his fingers against the side of her neck and she didn't flinch but he could feel her pulse thrumming rapidly beneath his fingertips.

"You are afraid of me." He said simply as he drew away from her.

All of that talk of not being scared had just been a farce. In reality, she was just a frightened of him as everyone else, he was just too blind and complacent to see it. What kinds of faces of disgust did she make when he touched her? He pushed down a small tug of discomfort in his chest and started to shift away. He wasn't able to get far, however before a small hand grabbed his and brought it back up to her neck. The skin was warm and soft, her pulse beating wildly just below the surface.

"You don't remember do you?" she asked as moved her hand from his own to his wrist.

Sasuke felt his brows furrow together at her words. What was he supposed to remember?

"I will get out of here and when I do, I'll be sure to kill you on the way out." Hinata said.

He attempted to pull away from her as those familiar words spilled from her lips but a firm grip on his wrist kept his hand on her neck. He remembered a version of himself saying that. He knew that he was more than capable of still carrying out that desire. This pulse, this intoxicating yet fearful heartbeat, was so vulnerable underneath his fingertips. If he were to just reach out with his other hand and squeeze, he knew that her heart rate would increase wildly before stopping for good. For some reason, it did not feel as though it was the first time he felt her heart flutter in fear. This heat, this softness. He'd felt it before right as he'd gain consciousness. Through the burning and the pain, he remembered this beat and the way he squeezed to make it stop. His fingers splayed out over the soft skin of her neck, his thumb carefully tracing the gentle curve of her jaw.

"I remember." He said, his voice tight as the ghost of the electricity she'd shot through his body racked his brain. Hinata nodded and let go of his wrist.

"Attempting to kill me was the very first thing you did when you woke up. It had caught me so off guard. If…if Sakura had not stepped in when she did you might have been successful. It took a few weeks before the bruises completely healed." Hinata confirmed. "I used to be afraid. I'm not anymore."

Sasuke drew away from her, a deep frown marring his features. This woman was insane to admit in so few words that she trusted him. Yet was this not the best way for things to turn out? In a month's time she would return his sight and they would be married in accordance with the contract. She trusted him enough that it was unlikely he would have to kill her to escape. When he left she would be disgraced but that had no effect on him. Once he was through the gate…once he was gone…

"Why not? I'm not exactly harmless." Sasuke said, brushing aside thoughts that he was unable to complete.
"I know." She replied simply.

How was it possible for one woman to be this stupid?

"I could still kill you."

"I know."

"Hyuuga-" he snapped, exasperated by her subtle stubbornness but found all further argument had died on his tongue when a pair of lips pressed against his own. It was a light brush but surprising all the same. When she pulled away he found himself wishing that it had been more.

"Hinata." She said breaking the spell her brief touch had put him under. "Please…please don't call me Hyuuga. Not like that."

This woman…this ridiculous, trusting, soft woman. She was so stupid and was surely going to be the reason he lost more of his sanity than he already had. He was already holding onto his current mental capabilities by a thread, thread he hadn't realized that she was holding. This stupid, stupid woman.

"You are an idiot Hinata. " he whispered, his hand reaching out to her neck before sliding up to tangle his fingers in her hair.

She sat still but compliant as he pulled her closer, allowing him to take his time in finding his way to her lips without assistance. That small gesture assuaged his ego unconsciously when at first his lips brushed against a spot near her nose. The second attempt landed near the corner of her lips before the third finally found its goal.

Her lips were soft and smooth just like the rest of her. The feeling of her pressed so innocently against him felt sweeter than anything he'd ever tasted but he didn't dislike it. Did everything about her taste this sweet? As much as he wanted to press for more he would relish the slow, trusting way she kissed him for now. Hesitantly, small hands clutched the front of his shirt and soft lips molded themselves perfectly against his own. Inwardly he chuckled at her shy showing of hunger, not opposed to obliging to indulge further.

Tightening his grip on her hair, he placed his other hand on her hip and pulled her closer until she wormed her way into his lap and was flush against him. When her breasts pressed against him, she gasped in surprise. Sasuke took advantage of her mouth being open to deepen the kiss, thoroughly enjoying how surprised she was. He'd never kissed anyone in this way before, he wasn't even sure if he was doing it right, but Hinata didn't pull away. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed her own tongue to hesitantly meet his own. The feeling of her tongue exploring his mouth caused a delightful heat to rise within him and in the back of his mind, he wondered if he was finally going crazy. She broke away from him far too soon for his tastes. Of course, it was to breathe but he'd rather suffocate than give up this feeling.

Suffocating in this way was not a bad way to die. In fact he would prefer it.

"Hinata." He growled.

That was all he managed to say before he claimed her lips again and delighted in the way she shivered against him.

….

There weren't many words she would use to describe the Uchiha. The ones she would use were not of the variety that were considered polite in mixed company. The last thing she would ever say was that the man was vulnerable. Even in this state, unconscious and pale, the man was likely more protected now that he had been when he was awake. Hinata refused to allow anyone to touch him or move him to a room that was sprinkled with glass shards. Instead, she directed the staff to bring what she needed to the room and clean it up to make it useable.

Within a matter of minutes, the glass had been swept up and a futon was laid out for the Uchiha to rest on. Hanabi had watched unhelpfully from the corner as Hinata rolled him onto his side to place him on the thin mattress, all around her the branch members hovered in anticipation of what to do next. Once they'd fulfilled her orders, her sister had sent them all away must to their displeasure. Hanabi was pretty sure she was supposed to leave as well but she wouldn't.

Why was she so protective of this man anyway? She'd never seen her sister take such an authoritative tone before…

"Please hand me the basin of water and a rag." Hinata said, breaking the silence of the room.

Hanabi pushed off of the wall she'd been leaning on with a huff and crossed her arms over her chest.

"So now you notice me." She grumbled but swallowed all other insults when it was clear that Hinata wasn't actually listening.

Begrudgingly, she picked up the bucket of cool water that the branch members had left and tossed the rag folded next to it into its depths. She then brought the items to Hinata who didn't even look up at her approach. Instead, she blindly placed her hand into the water and rang the excess out of the rag. Hanabi rolled her eyes at how gently she wiped away the perspiration that had accumulated on the Uchiha's brow. The affection that she displayed was enough to make her want to vomit.

"Why are you so worried about him?" Hanabi asked and Hinata finally looked up at her for the first time in what felt like hours. "Don't tell me you want to marry this guy?"

Hinata tore her eyes away from Hanabi when the Uchiha made a small grunt. For a moment, both women held their breath in anticipation to see if he would wake up but he didn't. Hanabi felt relieved that his eyes didn't open but it was clear that her sister did not share that sentiment. She watched as Hinata placed her hands on either side of his head, her byakugan activated- wait she was- no!

Hanabi immediately fell to her knees and grabbed one of Hinata's wrists to keep her from completing her task.

"Hanabi-" Hinata snapped. "Let go."

"NO!"

"Hana-"

"You can't! You can't give him back his sight yet!" Hanabi protested, tightening her grip on Hinata's wrist. "You can't be foolish enough to think he'll stick around to fulfill his end of the contract to marry you once he has his sight back?"

Hinata jerked her wrist away and stared at her with wide eyes as if she hadn't thought about that outcome. How could she think that the Uchiha would be trustworthy enough to go forth with a deal he had nothing to gain from? If she was in his position she would only stick around long enough to get her eyes back. Contract or no contract, self-preservation was of the utmost importance. If Hinata hadn't thought about this outcome by now it was about damn time she did.

"Nee-chan." Hanabi started, kneeling down next to her sister whose eyes followed her every move. No matter how much Hinata had grown to care for this man she had to understand just how dangerous it was to give him his sight back, let alone marry him."The elders are going to publically announce me as heiress tomorrow. While you've been away I've already started preparing under father. If you give him back his sight now, he will leave you and you will be disgraced. You'll be made a branch member since you won't be joining another clan and have to take the seal. Hinata please think about this."

She had to listen to reason. Her sister was one of the smartest people she knew. She had to understand that this entire arrangement would be her downfall in the end. Hanabi placed a gentle hand over Hinata's, hoping desperately that she understood everything she was trying to convey.

"It doesn't have to be that way though. You can cancel the contract on the grounds that he is an unfit partner. Father would never force you or me to marry a man that we were genuinely afraid would harm us. I will step down and you can be heiress the way you were meant to be-"

"Hanabi-"

"Please just listen to me!" Hanabi snapped, uncaring if her volume made her sister's eyes glassy. She had to understand! "You are all alone there in the Uchiha district with a man that has killed more people than you or I ever will. He will never grow to care about you and you will only end up getting hurt in the end. If you cancel this marriage things can back to how they were before. You can come and live here again. You could even marry Naruto one day. Just forget about him!"

When all of her words had tumbled out and there was nothing left to say, Hanabi was only able to take a single shaky breath before warm arms enveloped her in a warm hug.

"This has been difficult for you hasn't it?" Hinata said as she gently patted her back. "I know what Sasuke is capable of Hanabi. I have no illusions of otherwise."

Hanabi felt her shoulders begin to shake as soon as Hinata let her go. A cold sense of dread flushed through her body as she watched her sister smile and placed her hands on either side of the Uchiha's head. Small veins bulged at her temples and chakra began to pool into her palms, sealing her fate and gently unclogging the remaining build up in the Uchiha's system.

"Hana. " she said without looking up from her task. "Thank you for worrying about me."

….

"Hinata-sama." Two gravelly voices chorused respectfully in unison. "Uh…um. Uchiha…san-sama."

Sasuke rolled his eyes at their reluctant acknowledgment of his presence. He could almost feel their uncertainty radiating off of them in waves as they tried to figure out the proper way to address him. San. Sama. Traitor. What they decided to call him didn't matter. For all intents and purposes, he'd rather not be in a situation where his name crossed their lips at all. Beside him, Hinata squeezed his hand and led him forward, sparing a passing greeting to the Hyuuga guards.

"Let's hurry up and get this over with." He grumbled under his breath. Hinata gave their intertwined fingers another squeeze as they slowly walked through the front courtyard of the compound.

"I can't promise that it will be fast." She said, her voice light and slightly amused. "My clan is not known to rush and it is traditional for the bride to have several fittings instead of just one. They will likely want us to stay for dinner too."

"I'm not hungry."

Hinata muffled a giggle behind her free hand but Sasuke felt his upper lip curl at the prospect of staying for dinner. The last time he was here he didn't eat a bite. He didn't plan on starting now. Besides, he didn't want anything they made. They wouldn't separate his food the way he preferred and that little sister of hers would probably spit in it before his plate reached the table. He wouldn't even be able to retaliate either because that would likely make Hinata unhappy. Not that he cared but Kakashi's words of 'happy wife, happy life' kept him from entertaining his vengeful daydreams against the girl.

"You should try to eat at least one bite of something." Hinata said.

Sasuke pressed his lips together into a tight line. Would him eating whatever mystery dish- something that may or may not have been tampered with- these people served him make Hinata happy? He still wasn't quite sure what made this woman happy. All he knew was that she wasn't unhappy.

"Would that make you happy?" he asked and Hinata stopped their forward progression. He felt her body turn to face him with what he could only assume to be a confused expression. He frowned and ran his free hand through his hair. He wasn't very good with words.

"Would you…be…happy if I ate." He said through a jaw that was much tighter than it needed to be. Why was this so fucking difficult?

Hinata didn't reply to his question. Instead, her feet shuffled closer to him as she tugged a bit at his hand.

"Hinata-" he started but whatever he might have said was cut off by a sharp tug and her lips pressing against his.

'I could only assume that means yes.' Sasuke thought to himself, releasing her hand from his own.

When Hinata pulled away from him, in what he could only assume was surprise, he grabbed her upper arms and pressed her close. After all of the 'practice' from the night before it was not so difficult to find her lips. A small sense of pride welled within him when he was able to capture her slightly agape mouth on his very first attempt. His effort was rewarded with the Hyuuga women kissing him back shyly. If making her happy meant more kisses he wouldn't mind making more attempts…

"Hinata-sama!" a tiny female voice squeaked in surprise and the woman in question immediately pushed him away.

"Oh! Hiromi-" Hinata replied breathlessly.

"I-I-I'm sorry to interrupt!"

She most definitely should be sorry.

"No, no it's okay! I wasn't thinking."

No, it was not okay.

"Please, um, follow me. I'm so sorry!"

Sasuke swallowed whatever retort he wanted to say to their intruder and allowed Hinata to grab his hand again. He didn't appreciate the interruption but he was sure there would be more moments like before later. When they returned to the Uchiha district he would have her all to himself. At that point, he could figure out what exactly made this strange woman happy and of course reap the reward. All he had to do was get through this asinine fitting.

….

When he awoke he found that opening his eyes was more of a struggle than it should have been. His entire body felt similar to the times he'd pushed himself to the point of no return, fully accepting the fact that he was on the cusp of death. Yet instead of feeling replete of chakra, his veins felt as if they were buzzing. He'd become used to being damn near a civilian and now he had too much chakra coursing through him, chakra that was his own but not quite. There was something else mixed in with it that felt familiar but he couldn't quite put a word to it. Pushing through the pain, he opened his eyes and was greeted with a familiar darkness.

" Good. You're finally awake." A female voice sneered, alerting him to the fact that he was not alone. "I was getting sick of watching you sleep."

Sasuke closed his eyes again at the sound of the voice. It sounded like she was yelling but he knew that she wasn't. Why did he feel like he'd been trampled by an angry mob? He took a deep breath and tried his best to push all thoughts of discomfort out of his mind so that he could focus. He had to in the Hyuuga compound but where he was within its walls was a mystery. The woman watching over him was not Hinata. If he focused hard enough he would have been able to place who the voice belonged to but his brain was refusing to cooperate.

"Hinata." He said, his throat slightly sore and foreign. "Where is Hinata?"

"Wouldn't you like to know." The voice sneered.

Sasuke felt his upper lip curl at his current companions uncooperativeness. He did not need this kind of backtalk right now. He was in a vulnerable position as much as he hated to admit it. He needed Hinata and the fact that she was nowhere to be found filled him with a mild sense of alarm. Grunting, he tried his best to sit upright but a not so gentle hand pushed him back down.

"After that little stunt you pulled earlier I hope you don't think you can just get up and walk away?"

Stunt? What stunt? The last thing he remembered was the feeling of his head exploding.

"Where is Hinata?" he growled.

"Why do you care? You've already gotten what you wanted."

What was she talking about? How the hell would she know what he wanted? Suddenly there was a slight click and the darkness he'd once been surrounded by turned from pitch black to a muted dark gray. His breath hitched in his throat at the shift, unable to hide his surprise. He sat up, despite the change in position causing him to become nauseous, and looked around the room. He still couldn't tell where he was but there were eery monochromatic outlines of everything.

There wasn't much detail, however, after being surrounded by darkness for months on end it was a rather refreshing sight. Sight. He could see. If he could see that had to mean that Hinata had to be somewhere near. Where was she now? Why did she leave?

"Lay down before you stress yourself out and ruin everything." His companion quipped and pushed his weakened body back down onto his futon.

He didn't put up much of a resistance to her. Hinata had already told him that if he pushed himself too much then he could cause damage that would be irreversible. The last thing he wanted to be was permanently blind. Speaking of which, where was Hinata? Why wasn't she here with him? Why couldn't he remember anything? What the hell was going on?

"You're still not relaxing. I swear to fucking Kami if you make this a waste of Hinata-nee-chan's time and effort I will kill you myself!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes at his companion and the memory of a spitfire returned to him as soon as a grey blob entered his vision. Hyuuga Hanabi. The girl who proclaimed so boldly that he was unworthy of her sister. How fucking convenient.

"Where is Hinata?" he asked and the girl scoffed.

"You sure do have a one-track mind." She said, shifting over the tatami to sit near the edge of his futon. Sasuke winced at the sound. Why did everything sound so painfully loud? "If I tell you where she is will you be still?"

Sasuke paused and blinked up into the warped field of grey that now encompassed his vision. He would comply with the girl…for now. Beside him, Hanabi snorted and shifted uncomfortably.

"Right now Hinata is speaking with the elders to fix your mistake. You'll be lucky if they don't decide to wash their hands of you and leave you at the mercy of the council. I for one hope that they do."

To be continued… Becoming Enamoured