Chapter Nineteen

The only thing between us…

This unbearable distance,

This unspeakable craving.

n.r. hart

…

They had been sparring for an hour now. This had become a constant for them. Ever since that day he offered to spar with her, Sasuke and Hinata would train together every morning.

In reality, he was doing her a favor. The woman was decent, not great by any means, but she was a good kunoichi and had excellent control of her gentle fist technique. Her only problem was her defense; she left too many openings in her defense when she fought. If this was a serious battle, Sasuke would have killed her at least 13 times already. However, he had to admit that she was determined. Always eager to practice every morning even though she knew she would never be at his level, at least not any time soon. But with a few years of rigorous training, she could become one of the best kunoichis in Konoha.

Another aspect she had to work on was her physical performance. Hinata was quick to tire out. They would never spar for more than two hours. Granted, the Uchiha wasn't an easy opponent, but she could do better. That would be something worth training.

Then maybe not. The Hyūga always managed to inflict some damage with her not so gentle fist.

The Uchiha knew that their training would soon have to come to an end. Her face was moist with sweat and flushed from exerting herself. Unlike him, Hinata was at her limit. For Sasuke, this was child play. He avoided her easily and surpassed her in speed. In fact, he wasn't even fighting at his full capacity and she was spent. He could hurt her if he fought at his full potential, so he had to be careful not to overdo it.

"We should stop," He said as he observed the kunoichi pant harder in exhaustion.

"I… want to… spar a bit… more."

"You're exhausted." He said and she pouted. He fought the tug of a smile.

"Okay," She said sitting on the floor to finish catching her breath. "Thank you, Sasuke-kun."

He froze. Since when did she call him Sasuke-kun? That was only reserved to those she trusted, like the dog and bug boys and Naruto of course.

He nodded.

"You don't have to do this… but you still do it." She said and this time she gave him a smile.

He felt something coil in his stomach. What was this feeling? He had never felt anything like this before.

"It's no problem." He said roughly and she giggled.

Her giggles sent electricity through his spine, and the Uchiha wondered if something was wrong with him. Maybe she had damaged his nervous system?

"You know" She continued. "Neji-niisan used to always spar with me." She smiled with a hint of melancholy. "I miss him dearly."

He noticed how her eyes became watery and something in his chest constricted.

"And like you," She said smiling "He always held back."

So she knows. He thought.

"I could kill you if I don't."

"Sasuke-kun," She said seriously "I'm not weak. I'm a jounin."

He smirked. "You think you can take me?"

"No," She said pausing only a second, "But it'll be good training."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"That's what Neji would say."

She looked at him and smiled sadly. Even when her eyes were pinkish from holding back her tears and her nose a little red, she was a beautiful sight to behold-

Sasuke froze.

"Is something wrong Sasuke-kun?"

Was there something wrong? Yes, yes everything was wrong. Since when did Uchiha Sasuke find a woman beautiful so openly? And what was this strange feeling in his stomach, like a tickling sensation that he couldn't control?

"Sasuke-kun" He heard Hinata called him. "Are you alright?"

"I miss my brother." He wasn't sure what had prompted his confession. Perhaps it was an attempt to distract her, or maybe it was her openness. Whatever it was, Sasuke hadn't meant to say that.

"Tell me about him," She said smiling softly, and his heart skipped a beat.

"I don't like to talk about it." He said quickly.

"Oh…" He noticed a flash of disappointed in her eyes and something in his stomach coiled again. "Neji's favorite food was soba noodle soup with herrings." She continued. "A bit strange if you ask me." She giggled. "He hated pumpkins or anything with pumpkins. He refused to try my pumpkin muffins."

"Hn"

"He would always meditate. At least three times a day for several hours. He was very strict too. When we sparred, he would correct my form until I had it right."

He could only stare at the woman before him opening her heart to him. It felt strange, he never had anyone talk to him so openly about something so intimate. The last deep conversation he ever had was with Naruto, but his best friend didn't count. Yet, he didn't mind. He liked to hear her talk about the cousin she lost and missed.

"I think I'm boring you," Hinata said blushing a light pink when he didn't say anything else.

"You're not boring me." He said before he could stop himself.

She blushed a darker pink at his admission and he smirked.

"I better get going." She said getting up from the floor. "I have to start breakfast. Would you like anything special, Sasuke-kun?"

"Onigiri filled with tomatoes." He said.

"Okay" She smiled at him and turned around to leave.

Before he could even stop himself, Sasuke grabbed Hinata by the hand and turned her to face him.

"Hinata," He said softly, surprising both Hinata and himself.

"Sasuke-kun?" She said looking at him with owlish eyes, and he couldn't stop himself from thinking how beautiful they were.

Her eyes were wide and questioning, confused even. She had a faint blush on her cheeks from blushing and exerting herself, and her lips were slightly parted. The sight was one to behold.

He didn't even know why he had stopped her. What did he want to say to her?

"I…" He tried saying something but he didn't know what. "I'd like miso soup too." He finally said feeling ridiculous.

"Sure" She smiled and he let go of her arm. "I'll make that too."

He watched her leave through the door of the training room, and once he knew she wouldn't come back, he held his head between his hands and took a deep breath to calm down his thundering heart.

This woman was making him feel strange things and he didn't like it one bit.

He called me by my name. She thought mildly confused.

He had never done that before, yet it didn't surprise her as much as she thought it would.

The Uchiha wasn't as intimidating as he was in the beginning. Perhaps because Hinata was already used to his strange behaviors and mood swings. However, lately she had noticed a new side of him she had never seen before, and she wondered why he hid it from everybody else in the hideout.

Sasuke wasn't a kind man. He was ruthless, impatient, demanding, brusque, and at times aggressive. Yet, with her, he tried to be kind (in his own way) and patient. When they were sparring he always ensured her safety, just like her cousin used to do. Also, he took great care to make sure she felt comfortable and safe in the hideout. Hinata knew he was trying to make her stay easier.

She often wondered if this was as a result of his friend with Naruto or if there was another reason for his behavior.

She often wondered if Naruto and Sakura had seen this side of Sasuke and that's why they had been so reluctant to lose him. She could understand why they cared to save him as much as they had. This Sasuke was different, and a good different.

Was he like this when they were in the academy? She couldn't remember, for she only had eyes for Naruto.

Naruto.

She didn't think of him as much as she had in the beginning, but she still missed him and wondered if he was doing alright.

She would dream of him on some nights. She'd see him as clear as she remembered him. His sapphire blue eyes, looking back at her, and that foxy smile she adored so much. In her dreams, he waved at her and called her name. He'd run toward her but she would always wake up before he could reach her.

On other nights, she found herself unable to sleep, and her thoughts would drift to her time here with Team Taka, and often times, to her training with Sasuke. She would recount their spars in her mind.

Last night had been one of those nights. Hinata had thought about her training with Sasuke so much she had dreamed about him.

It was a strange dream. In her dream, Sasuke was only inches away from her. He looked at her with the same solemn expression, but just as she was about to say something he smiled. Not the usual smirk, but a genuine smile. The smile of a memory long forgotten, perhaps when they were children.

For the first time, Sasuke had seemed happy.

Her stomach coiled at the sight of his smile and she couldn't help to smile broadly. Hinata wasn't sure how, but in the blink of an eye, Sasuke's lips were only inches away from hers, but before he could close the space between them she woke up

Hinata blushed profusely remembering the dream, and she thanked the gods' no one was in the corridor that morning. She wouldn't know how to explain her blush.

His display of weakness this morning toward Hinata was making him go insane. He couldn't shake off the feeling of utter embarrassment.

He was going crazy, that was the only possible explanation for what he was feeling. Nothing made sense. Uchiha Sasuke was no weakling, and he definitely didn't care about other people other than Naruto. And yet… He found himself caring about her. He cared if he hurt her while training; he cared if one of the other members of Team Taka hurt her physically while training or practicing her healing; he even cared when she cried at night for her lost family and friends.

He tried to blame it on his friend Naruto. He constantly repeated himself that he was only doing these things for the former heiress as a way to repay Naruto for everything he had done for him, but he couldn't continue denying it anymore. He was doing this for Naruto, that's true, but he was also doing it because he cared for the Hyūga. How did it happen? He had no idea, but the thought terrified him. Caring for another, especially someone as vulnerable as the Hyūga, was dangerous.

What was so special about Hinata that provoked him these feelings?

As much as he wanted to pretend he didn't know, or that there wasn't anything special about her, he couldn't. Because she was special. Unlike him, or any women he had met before, she was light, unadulterated and pure.

He had witnessed it in Konoha during his time in prison.

Taking his head in his hands Sasuke tried to shake off the memory of the woman in question. Lately, all he seemed capable of doing was think about her.

"This needs to stop" He hissed, enraged with himself.

He had to do something about it. He couldn't stay close to her any longer.

"Oi Hinata-chan!" Suigetsu greeted her when she entered the kitchen. "What are you making for breakfast?"

"Good morning Suigetsu-kun," She smiled warmly. "I'm making omelets and pancakes, but for you, I made jello filled with fruits."

"You're the best!" He said noticing the onigiris on top of the dining table. "What about these- ouch!" He hissed when Karin hit him on his hand before he could grab the onigiri.

"Hinata said those are for Sasuke-kun."

"You don't have to hit me!" he said sticking his tongue out.

"I only did it because you were going to take one!" She poked his chest to prove her point.

"I was not going-"

"Cut it out you two," Sasuke said as he entered the kitchen with Jūgo tagging along.

"Good morning Sasuke-kun!" Karin chirped. "Hinata-chan made these for you." She said as she handed the onigiris.

"Hn"

"I hope you like them," Hinata said smiling at him. "I also made miso soup."

He took the small bowl of soup she handed him, the onigiris, and began to eat.

Breakfast was eventful as always, with Karin and Suigetsu arguing about petty things. Like every morning, Sasuke ended with a headache he wished he could have prevented.

When they had finished eating, Hinata stood up and removed all the plates from the table. She then began to wash them. Team Taka said their goodbyes and left the kitchen to start their chores for the day, except for one member. Uchiha Sasuke found himself watching Hinata as she did the dishes.

"Do you need anything, Sasuke-kun?"

He didn't, but if he said that she would surely think him weird.

"Do you need help?" He asked her before he could stop himself.

Why couldn't he keep his mouth shut!?

She looked at him a little surprised and he cursed himself for asking such a stupid question. Of course she didn't need help! Besides, Uchihas didn't offer their assistance in such mundane chores.

He noticed the blush in her cheeks before she nodded an affirmation and smiled at him.

His heart skipped a beat.

She made space for him to stand next to her and handed him a towel.

"You can dry them as I hand them to you." She said softly, and he nodded. He could do that.

They worked in silence until the last dish was washed, rinsed, and dried. After they were done, they took a seat at the table and Hinata served them both tea.

"It's chamomile tea." She explained when she noticed him sniffing it.

"It's good," He said after taking a sip and she smiled.

They drank tea in silence.

"Sasuke-kun" Hinata began saying after a while "in the Hyūga compound I had a gardening plot."

When he didn't say anything, she continued.

"I liked t-to plant different kinds of p-plants." She said avoiding his eyes. "I would t-then harvest them and consume them or m-make healing balms with them." She said taking a deep breath. He knew she was on to something and he wasn't sure if he wanted to hear it. "I would l-like to have one of t-those… here."

He waited for her to continue, but when she didn't say anything else he understood. She was waiting for him to give her an answer or say something. She wanted a plot for gardening.

"You can't get out of the hideout." He said simply.

"I see," She said lowering her head.

"They could find you."

They stayed in silence for a while until Hinata broke it.

"Maybe if J-Jūgo would come out with m-me then-"

"No!"

Hinata flinched at his violent reaction.

"I didn't mean to scare you." He found himself saying. "Jūgo is dangerous."

"B-Because he loses c-control and becomes violent?" She asked softly.

"How do you know that?" He narrowed his eyes.

"The other d-day he got a little out of c-control and b-became a bit violent." She began to explain. "I had to block s-some of his chakra pathways to p-prevent him from h-hurting Karin-san."

He stared at the small woman before him, and he found himself unable to utter a single word. This woman, this small kunoichi... she had stopped Jūgo from losing control. That was something only he could do.

"Are y-you mad at me?" She asked carefully.

"No" He answered honestly.

How could he be mad? Not even Suigetsu was able to stop Jūgo from losing control. No, he wasn't mad; he was impressed by her strength and will.

"O-Okay." She smiled.

"I'll think about it, Hinata."

He knew he was becoming weak when it came to this woman, for Sasuke would have never agreed to consider her ridiculous request.

No, he couldn't stay in the hideout a minute longer.

Author's Note: You guys are incredible! Thank you so much for all the wonderful support.

I brought you awkward Sasuke. I hope you like it. It is becoming increasingly difficult to write a Sasuke falling for Hinata, but I'm not giving up!

Also, I editted as best as possible, but there might be some errors.

Little update: My mother is doing a lot better, thank you for your kind words and get well wishes. I like my new job a lot. It's super easy and I get paid weekly! Also, chapters updates will continue to slow and chapters will continue to be short.

Important: Updates will be slower because I'm participating in an event for another fandom. I apologize for that, but I really want to participate. The event starts the first day of July and will only last a week.

Answer to Reviews:

(SPANISH COMMENT AHEAD)

Hinata-Ares: Aprecio infinitamente tus comentarios y el que continúes apoyando la historia. Entiendo que no ha todo el mundo le guste mi historia o la forma en la que he creado la trama. Pero realmente, la historia es para mi. Es mi historia y me gusta lo que he hecho hasta ahora y no voy a cambiar el rumbo de la historia por nada ni nadie. Hay demasiados fanfics que traen una Hinata fuerte y segura de si misma, y no es por nada, pero esa no es y nunca será la Hinata que conozco. Lo que hace grande a Hinata es que a pesar de no creer en si misma como debiese, nunca se dio por vencida. Por otra parte, Naruto es un personaje al que adoro y mi intención no es ponerlo como el villano por no amar a Hinata como ella desea. Siempre será mi héroe. Se que hubo escenas que no te parecieron buenas, y aunque no estoy de acuerdo entiendo, respeto y agradezco tu sinceridad. Esto me ayuda a crecer como escritora que es la intención. Aun así, gracias por leer y espero que continúes la historia y que sea de tu agrado. ¡Saludos para ti también desde EEUU!

See you guys soon!