Sorry for the short chapter, but I promise you from here on out, it will get awfully interesting and intense.

Enjoy!

Chapter 21

He didn't know how he made his way out of the hospital, let alone to the Subaku mansion.

Sasuke turned his head to the streets and eyes the bright decorations displayed in the village. The festival was around the corner, as he viewed the setting sun.

He walked into his room, tossing his equipment carelessly on the bed. It was soaked with blood, but most of it dried off, leaving it covered in a smelly brown layer.

His left hand unhooked his pouch and was about to throw it to the equipment before he froze. An uneasy hand popped it open and it pulled out a piece of paper, rolled up and secured with a red thread.

He stood there for a moment, deciding whether to open it or not. His brain ordered to stop but his heart didn't.

The Uchiha placed the pouch down and pulled the red rope and the paper unraveled the secret document. His obsidian eyes drifted over the words, paying no attention until he reached the two brown marks on the bottom.

Near the marks were two names, written perfectly on the line...

Sasuke Uchiha and Hinata Uchiha.

He smiled softly at her name. It...suited her.

"Hinata Uchiha," he spoke softy to himself. The way it rolled of his tongue made a swelled feeling in his gut.

It was a name that he wouldn't use often, he feared. He rolled the scroll up harshly and tied the knot, placing it back into his pouch, inserting it next to the map of Hiruku's hideout, which also was wrapped in a red thread.

He harshly tossed the pouch of the bed and entered the bathroom, bursting the water on maximum heat.

He stripped out of his clothes and stepped in the boiling water, spraying his body like sharp senbons. His wound stung from the water but he paid no mind.

His left hand was on the wall in front of him, and his head lowered, water dripping down to the floor.

He was stuck in a decision he never thought he would have faced. He could imagine her face when he told her the truth, shattered and filled with horror.

His right hand curled into a fist. And to make matters worse, he kissed her. It wasn't just a peck on the lips, it was a full kiss that made all his build emotions crumble with the walls he kept up so long. And she kissed him back with the same emotions.

Sasuke would have been thrilled with it, but instead, dread covered him fully. He knew he started to fill her empty heart, that her long lost love couldn't fill in.

It wasn't fair. She was suffering on unreachable love. First Naruto, now him? But was it even love at all? He shut his eyes. I shouldn't have interfered with the mission.

Instantly his conscious burst in his head.

No, he doesn't regret meeting her. If it wasn't for her, he would have been walking aimlessly throughout the world, cold and empty hearted. He wouldn't know the real meaning of having a second partner, or the feeling of hope and peace filling the empty shallow void of his heart.

But in the end, he'll end up just like before.

His body grew numb from the water so he turned it off. He tossed on a towel around his waist and grabbed another one to dry his hair.

He decided. He was going to make tonight the best evening he ever had with her, and he'll break the news after the night was over.

His right hand scrubbed his untamable hair as he walked to the closet and opened it, revealing the black kimono with the blue flames.

He watched it with his onyx eyes before pulling it off the hanger, slowly putting it on. He tied the obi around his waist, and placed his pouch underneath. He was still on a mission, and he needed to be prepared at any second. Sasuke took a deep breath and took a step forward to see his reflection in the mirror.

He froze at what he saw.

He saw a young man, standing pride and tall, like a leader. The kimono squared his shoulders and reached to the bottom of his feet. The flames completed the natural color of his hair, as if it was specifically made for him.

He turned his back to see a blood red and white fan, sewn perfectly on. It contrasted incredibly with the black and blue. He returned to his original position and looked up to see his face.

His face was a true Uchiha's. It was hard, confident, emotionless. His eyes were like bottomless pits, empty, nothing to fill them.

His eyes landed to his lips. His memories flew to the hospital, and a small sensation filled his lips as he remembered hers.

What a fool he was.

He heard the door open but he kept looking at the mirror. He knew who it was and she knew he was in there as well.

She slowly took off her sandals and made her way to her bags. He saw her pull out some necessities and walked to the bathroom. She hesitated for a second before walking in the room, not even sparing a glance at him.

Sasuke sighed and ran a firm hand through his hair. It was going to be impossible to have a good evening with her, seeing she was still shaken up from the hospital.

Hell, he was too. But in order for it to be a good night, they'll both have to put it aside. The mission was still unfinished and earlier during the day, he decided to finish it himself. He dragged her into enough trouble. As soon as the festival would end, he'd vanish, like nothing ever happened.

After a couple long minutes, the door to the bathroom opened and he lifted his head from his hands and froze at the woman in front of him.

She wore a dark lavender kimono and a white obi circled her stomach, revealing her amazing curves. On the bottom of the robe, dark blue flames swirled and he couldn't help but widen his eyes. They were wearing identical kimonos, just the colors were different. But from the blue flames to the...

He stood and walked to her, stopping behind her. He saw her lower her head slightly and he hesitantly moved her dark indigo hair from her back.

He said nothing, only watching the blood red and white fan etched on her back. She stood still, as if she wasn't breathing.

His fingers lingered on her back, holding her hair, before slowly dropping the hair, falling back into place.

The dark shinobi stood behind her, his obsidian eyes watching her. Minutes passed and no one spoke, until she turned her head. His eyes darted immediately to her face, though her eyes were not looking up at him. "I...I thought-" She sighed slowly. "It seemed like a good idea back then, but I didn't ask you and-"

The Uchiha saw her eyes close and drop her head. They opened again as she played with the ring on her finger. A feeling surged inside of him, indescribable to him. "It's alright," he spoke softly.

She smiled sadly at her hands. "Since we're married..." She froze at her words but composed herself, "I thought it would have been necessary to add it. Seeing it blank, it seemed rather bland."

He smiled softly at her choice of words to explain her actions. "Of course."

He didn't say anything else to her but wanted to say many things. His feelings, the weird electric-like current running through him. He wanted to punch a wall, break something, ANYTHING to get rid of the feeling. It was like poison, running through him. And he even wondered if she has the same feeling too.

"I thought you wanted to keep it a secret. I'm sure word would go around if they saw a Hyuga wearing the wrong symbol to her back."

Her hands squeezed each other and she turned her face completely away from him. "Well, I thought..."

"What?"

"You...you made it pretty clear at the hospital."

Sasuke looked at her blue silky hair. "What about you?"

"What about me?" She whispered softly.

"I wasn't the only one making it clear at the hospital."

"You started it," she muttered.

"You let me."

The Hyuga turned fully to him, and hesitantly raised her head to him. For a second, her eyes landed on his but looked away seconds later. She must've saw raw emotion in my eyes...

"We both know you won't forget what happened."

"And you won't either."

She shut her eyes and looked away. "You can't block me now, Hinata."

"I, I don't know what came of me. "

He reached for her face and his thumb grabbed ahold of her chin, pulling her to face him. Her eyes fluttered open and this time he knew she wasn't going to look away. "You know who I am Hinata. You know my ambition left in life, yet I don't know how I'll fulfill it yet." He swallowed harshly. "And you know my weakness, and I can't stand it. I hate it. I don't know what's going on with me. It's like I'm getting suffocated, slowly dying inside from an incurable disease but why does it feel like I'll take it in willingly. Like I...enjoy it?"

He lowered his head to hers, foreheads touching. He saw her shut her eyes and lean back to him as well. "I don't deserve...this."

"Don't say that," a soft voice spoke.

He startled at the words. "Don't say that,"she repeated. Her head lifted and her eyes searched in his, and he searched in hers. "Everyone deserves...something. Everyone deserves second chances."

His lips rose into a sad smile. "I'm starting to wonder if you're talking about me or yourself."

"I'm talking about the both of us." She grabbed ahold of his left hand with her own. He looked down and saw both Uchiha rings as she touched the one on his finger. "When we agreed on getting married, it was the biggest decision in our lives. Well, it was for me. I was pulled away for burdens and I entered freedom. I couldn't believe it and still can't." She traced her thumb across his ring. "I got a second chance to prove my father I was worthy when I'll get ANBU."

She looked up to his eyes and he stared back. "I don't know if this is a burden to you, if I'M a burden to you. But...maybe this marriage will let yourself to get a second chance, a second chance in life."

Her face grew serious. "I'll help you if you want, you don't need to block yourself off in the darkness anymore. You don't have to be the Uchiha Avenger anymore. You can just be Sasuke."

She watched him, looking for any sign of recognition. Sadly, only a blank look was drawn on his face. Her face softened to a frown and she returned her gaze to their hands.

"If might seem almost impossible, since you lived almost your whole life as an avenger. But people can change."

"I know I've changed but I don't...I can't except it."

Her eyes widened. "Why not?"

Obsidian eyes landed on lavender. "Because I'll be bringing in more pain by this change. I'll be causing you pain."

"H-how? I think you've brought me more happiness than in my entire life."

"No, I haven't. This...this won't work out."

He saw her face fall, and he turned away, releasing her hands from his. The Uchiha took a step forward but his hand was caught instantly with another's.

"I won't...I won't let you," she spoke out slowly. Her head turned to his direction and she walked to him, and grabbed his hands, fingers encircling. "Let me show you. Let me show you that your change is the greatest thing that has happened for you." Her hand squeezed his lightly. "For me."

Sasuke watched her before he sighed and smiled tiny. "Alright," he said quietly.

He saw her face grow into a wide smile and began tugging him to the door. "Come on. Temari and Shikamaru are waiting."

"Right..." He answered as he began walking side by side by her, hand in hand.

At least they won't have a tensed evening together...yet.

Thank you for reading! I love all your reviews to the fullest!

Lots of kisses to UndercoverBarbie, narutofreak23, StopTeasing, Sadie321 and Bashybunny for the reviews!

And a huge shout out for the people who favorited me, favorited the story and began following! Thank you!

StopTeasing: I WAS planning for him to tell her after the festival BUT I had a better idea. Ill keep the story updating. Hope you'll like it!

Love and Farewell,

NarutoImagine01