20. To Be His
There was little peace in a ninja's existence. The fate of shinobi was to risk theit life. They derived honour from it. It was their livelihood. And that meant the acceptance of self-sacrifice and death.
The dead were duly honored. The priests prayed and the miko danced. The spirits of the fallen were eased into the afterlife. They would live on in their hearts and the will of fire would never die. Hinata prayed for their peace in the afterlife. The portraits glowing and breezing in the sky were gradually dissolving. The service was over and the daimyo took the centre again.
The memorial was not the only reason why the village assembled. They were all here to learn the course the village would take from now on. The fact that it was the daimyo, not the Hokage who led this service was telling in itself.
With just one glance Hinata saw that the daimyo was not a ninja. And yet, he was the most powerful man in all of Fire Country. That weak man that could be killed by any genin here. He of all people was the one that Hyuuga served. It was perplexing.
'As you are already aware, the Hokage lies in coma. It is as of yet not certain whether or when she will wake up. With great support of Konoha's leading clans, Danzou had been chosen as her successor. Furthermore, a Kage Summit takes place two days from now in Iron Country. Danzou shall represent Konoha at the Summit. The Great Five are heading towards dark times. It is imperative that Konohagakure no Sato rebuilds her strength as quickly as possible. Stand strong for your village and your country. May the gods of this land and the spirits of our ancestors be with us.'
The daimyo left, followed by his escorts, the priests and the maidens.
The crowd was dispersing, talking fervently. Hinata balled her fists. 'Danzou,', Tenten murmured beside her, 'Who the heck is that?'
'A creepy geezer with bandages all over the left side of his body.' Ino answered. 'He's a sensei to one of my kinsmen.' Hinata glanced at Ino. 'He is?'
'Hai. I wouldn't be surprised if my family supported his appointment.' Ino wore a simple black kimono. As always, she looked way prettier when she did not show much skin.
'One of my clan is a student of Danzou.', Shino said. 'Danzou surrounds himself with skilled people.' She couldn't read Shino's expression but she caught his message. That man would be difficult to bring down.
Hinata surpressed a shiver. Danzou had the support of Hyuuga, Yamanaka and Aburame.
'Danzou has declared Sasuke a missing nin.' Sai had not bothered to dress in a respectful manner for the memorial. Hinata always wondered why the boy insisted on wearing outfits that required him to shave his pubic hair. She had a hard time taking him seriously.
Someone grabbed her arm. 'Don't forget, Hinata-chan.', Naruto.
She pulled her arm from his grip. 'Nakano bridge.' She met his eyes. 'I won't forget.'
She saw Kikyou making her way towards her from the corner of her eyes. She couldn't afford to be seen conversing with Kikyou. There were too many Hyuuga present today. She should take her leave. 'Please excuse me, Naruto-kun.'
She made her way through the dispersing crowd. Hanabi, who saw Kikyou moving towards Hinata removed one of her hair needles and flung it with scary precision. It barely graced Kikyou's cheek. Kikyou turned around to see the threat of death in Hanabi's eyes. Go at your own peril.
In the same straight line the needle continued its path to Hinata's face with incredible speed. She caught it before it could pierce her eye.
The needle was chakra. So this is your jutsu, Hanabi-chan. Splendid! The chakra dissolved into one single kanji and flitted away.
Kikyou had silently joined the Hyuuga retinue. She was thoroughly rebuked and walked behind Neji with apparent humility. Soon all pretences will be dropped. Hinata thought. She sighed. She needed to be alone and think. It seemed the gods would not let her. Hinamori and her retainer suddenly left Hanabi's side and walked in Hinata's direction. She really could not deal with this. She looked around and spotted a tree branch. She'd leap on it and…'Hime-san!'
Hinamori had the voice of someone who would never be refused. She was an aristocrat. 'Matte! – Wait!'
Her stubborn voice cut easily through the murmurs of the crowd. Hinata had a feeling that Hinamori would order her retainer...Shinji? Renji?, to carry her and give chase if Hinata seriously went through with escaping via the trees. She sighed again.
-X-X-X-
As long as she remembered, Hinamori was called the fair one. Shirayuki - white as snow. Hinamori was only five and a half months older than Hinata. Hinagikou was one month younger. All three of them Hyuuga girls in the same age group. Only Hinamori was called fair. She was the one that fit perfectly into the Hyuuga beauty ideal. Her skin was a pure and beautiful white. Her hair jet-black, her lips a rosy pink and her eyes a silvery grey. On top of that, her features were delicate and lovely. She was slim and tall, her body had perfect ladylike proportion. She was indeed the fair one. Hinata knew she was plain, with her blue hair, lavender eyes and short plump figure. But she also knew beauty did not mean much among Hyuuga. Beauty did not always bring one any good. There were many pure-blooded Hyuuga children with unknown fathers in the branch houses. It was an accepted disgrace, hardly talked about. Hideaki had not been the first or the only one who took advantage of the subservient position of the Branch.
Hinata could feel many eyes on her. Why here, of all places. I could make a run for it. That would look even more stupid, with Hinamori standing before her.
'I heard you left Hyuuga.'
Hinamori conversational tone caught her off guard. Hinata did not answer since it wasn't a question.
'And yet, you still respond to the title of hime. You brandish the flame on your fan, as if our crest is your birthright. You Hinata, should be ashamed of yourself.'
Hinata chose to remain quiet. The edge in Hinamori's voice was a warning. If she did not want this situation to become more of a scene than it already was, she should keep her mouth shut. 'The only reason you were heir once, was because Nanaji-seisai took pity on your mother who was originally from the Branch. You have always been unfit. But instead of taking your proper place in the Branch, you run and kill my fiancé. How dare you? How dare you come here, acting like a princess with the flame on your fan? How dare you act as if nothing happened? Hinata, you are nothing but a murderer.' Hinamori's perfect face was creased in a scowl.
The girl had always had a nasty personality. She was rude for the sake of it and said hurtful things out of cruel curiosity. As one of Hyuuga's great ladies, Hinamori's life was carved out for her. Hinata doubted the girl truly loved Hideaki. It had been an arranged betrothal and Hideaki had not been the most pleasant of persons. Unlike Hinata, who was able to defend herself and went on missions, Hinamori had never truly been alone. The fair one was spoiled and admired for her beauty. Hinata would not be happy with such a life. She was quite certain that Hinamori was unhappy as well. She could feel it. Hinamori was mean as always, but something was different. And Hinata knew that her Hyuuga insight rang true.
'What is wrong with you, Hinamori-jouchan?'
She really had no time to listen to insults any longer and simply cut to the chase. If this would invite more insult, she would leave. Hinamori and that retainer of hers would be no threat.
Hinamori looked taken aback. In a small moment her eyed flitted to the man next to her. It was a look filled with hopelessness. And Hinata could see him strain himself not to…what exactly? And then realization struck. They're lovers. Hinata sighed and promptly decided not to see anymore.
'It can be difficult...', Hinata said. Her voice so soft none but the three of them could hear. 'We lead lives of duty. That is clan…I admit. We should not make things more difficult than they have to be. I hope that one day Seals will become things of the past. I work towards that day.'
She turned and left, hoping no one would fling a dagger at her back.
'Hime-sama!' Hinamori's voice rang with the clarity of one who knew how to make herself heard.
Gods, what now. Hinata turned.
They both bowed deeply for her. She sighed and bowed back. This is going to get the fair one in trouble. Within hours the whole clan would know about her obeisance to the defector who killed her fiancé.
She straightened and met Hanabi's eyes. Tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow they would talk.
-X-X-X-
She walked in the opposite direction of the Nakano river. With that gaze on her she could not go in good conscience to meet Naruto. She would apologize later. She just needed to get as far as possible from people. She took to the trees and fled into the forest. Leaping from branch to branch she tried to collect her thoughts and told herself to calm down. If it truly was Sasuke, he would be on his way to the Summit right? Since his main target was Danzou. He would not waste his time with someone like her. She activated her Byakugan and scanned her surroundings. She was indeed being followed. And with a sigh of relief she saw that her follower was not Sasuke. It was a young man, with green eyes and black hair. He wore a brown summer yukata and wooden geta sandals. His obi held the tools of a carpenter. He didn't look like a ninja at all. Then why was he leaping from branch to branch at incredible speed. Why was he overtaking her? She took a closer look at his chakra signature and felt the color drain from her face when she recognized it. She felt weak. There was no use in running. She would face him. She dropped to the ground and drew her swords. This time she would not give in to him. Her hands shook as she thought about his kisses on her skin. You're mine, Hinata. This time, she would not falter. He was approaching her now and stopped ten feet away from her. He was staring. She stared back. Even in this civilian form he was quite attractive. Was it borrowed? Or one he created himself? She supposed he did not know how to be plain. She gathered her resolve and stood with back straight.
'Why did you come here, Uchiha-san?'
That man looked as if he was considering a serious reply. His gaze was burning a hole through her soul. How could it be that no one else could sense his presence?
'I've been watching, I've been waiting…In the shadows, all this time.'
His voice. No denying it.
Hinata strengthened the grip on her swords. 'Your target isn't here. What do you want from me.'
'Che.' He was mocking her. He looked at her as if she was an idiot for asking. He walked up to her, shedding his disguise in the process.
'What do I want from you?' He was undeniably Sasuke now. Black bangs framing his face, pale skin and blood red eyes. 'I want everything.'
If she could cut the velvet out of his voice she would.
He was watching her closely, her eyes, her lips, her chest. He continued to close in.
'Stay back!', she said, silently thanking the gods her voice was not shaking.
He took in her stance and swords and finally her face.
'You've got to be kidding me.'
'If you come closer I'll cut you down.', her tone was cold.
He drew his own sword. 'I fought a demon who wields eight swords, eight fucking swords at the same time. I defeated him.' Tomoe were spiraling in his red pupils. 'Yet you, Hinata…', and the way he stretched her name set her body on fire. 'You Hinata, are invincible.'
She came at him seriously. No Byakugan. It would be a waste of chakra in this fight.
He blocked her easily, but was breathing heavily.
'I came to this cursed place,', he said slowly and clearly, 'to have you.' The grip on her swords weakened.
He went into the offensive with incredible speed. It took everything she had to keep up. He was furious. 'Can you imagine!' His blade crackled with lightning. 'I've been searching and listening…and all I think about is you! I should kill you!'
The lightning in his blade was met by a cutting wind channeled through her swords. Effectively nullifying his element, but not his superior strength. He was pushing her backwards. Her hold was seeping away, because looking into his black eyes was so damn fatal. Her swords clattered on the ground. For the second time in her life she was held at his swords' point.
'You're invincible, Hinata.' He was backing her against a tree, and she as if hypnotized made no effort to run.
'Instead of killing you, I want to have you.', he dropped his sword, his eyes never leaving hers.
'You're mine.' He kissed her. And then stopped. Staring at her.
She realized what he was doing. He was giving her a chance to run. To push him away. She couldn't do it. Because in this moment in time, she wanted him very, very badly. She did not care if this was a betrayal to her friends, her village or her clan.
He untied her sash and pulled open her kimono. He did it slowly, breathing in her neck. He kissed it, while cupping one of her breasts.
'Will you tell me to stop now, Hinata?'
She held herself from crying out when his thumb flitted over her nipple. He kissed her again. She kissed him back. He picked her up and laid her on the ground. The expensive kimono she inherited from her mother was reduced to a blanket.
Her hands were betraying her. Untying his hakama, pulling open his shirt.
He watched her as he lay on top of her. Locking his eyes with hers, he allowed her to see how much he wanted her. He pulled down her panties. He slid his hands over her thighs and pulled open her legs. A soft moan escaped her.
'You are beautiful.', he said simply. His voice was breaking. This position between her legs was taking a toll on him.
But he must ask.
'Do you want me, Hinata?'
His questions were robbing her of every excuse.
'H-Hai.', she whispered. He kissed her mouth, her neck, her breasts.
'Say it.'
And at that moment she knew she had fallen.
'I want you, Sasuke.'
He entered. 'I'm yours.'
-X-X-X-
Sasuke has been officially declared a missing nin. He was a person living outside of the law, without allegiance to a village or a nation. Anyone was allowed to kill such a person on sight. To do so was not murder. Naruto was shaking all over even though he knew Sasuke would not be so easily killed. Why had Sasuke made things so difficult? Up until yesterday Naruto's simple plan was to beat sense into Sasuke and bring him back to Konoha. He had not thought any further than that, other than vague ideas of him becoming Hokage and Sasuke reviving his clan and eventually the village forgiving Sasuke's defection and all of them coexisting peacefully.
What would beating Sasuke accomplish now? Team 7 would never go back to the way it was before Sasuke left. With the crimes he committed, the village would not welcome Sasuke. The only purpose beating Sasuke would serve, was to give him a chance to redeem himself. Well, to Naruto that was good enough reason. He would not allow Sasuke to remain the criminal he now was.
If he remembered correctly that Danzou guy was one of Sasuke's targets. Nagato also spoke of a Konoha ninja named Danzou. If they were the same person, that Danzou guy was ruthless.
Naruto banged his fist against the stone wall of the bridge and winced in pain.
'Damn it Sasuke bastard! You're going to disrupt the Summit aren't ya.'
And where the hell was Hinata-chan?
-X-X-X-
She was lying on top of him. Her face pressed against his throat, their legs intertwined. Both naked. Both breathing heavy breaths of satisfaction. One of his hands was stroking her back, the other one occasionally squeezing her bottom. And every time he did she could feel a slight hardening against her belly and a slippery wetness gathering between her legs.
All coherent thoughts slowly disappeared with the buildup of desire. And this moment was all the more bittersweet because they both knew it would not last. She sat up straddling his waist. She needed to see his face. They both stared. And again she marveled at his beauty. The intensity in his eyes was still there. Sasuke was an avenger. He was a criminal and a missing nin. This thing between them was impossible.
'You're going to the Summit aren't you.' She did not realize she was crying until she saw a tear falling on his chest.
He took in his hand a lock of her hair and gently pulled down her face to kiss her. His hands slid down to her waist.
'Come with me, Hinata.'
He lifted her up and slid inside. Her sense disappeared with the rhythm of their lovemaking.
She might have said yes.
She might have gasped his name.