Thank you for the reviews! I am so sorry to be late in updating because:

I am writing a two or three-shot story for my "The Girl who Skipped Through Time" fic. It is already a completed story (as some of you may know) but I have been receiving a lot of requests about it lately.

A lot has been happening in my life. Family visits, writer's block, movie marathons, etc.

By the way, have any of you read the Naruto Gaiden manga? Damn… it states that Sasuke never saw Sarada even once in thirteen years. Lol… poor Sakura.

(A shipper's biased opinion: Hinata would have been perfect for Sasuke.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

-o-o-o-

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ino bit her lip, unease still transparent on her face as she gestured for Hinata to sit straight. Hinata followed without any word and Ino scrambled behind her, kneeling on the mattress so that she could get a secure hold of Hinata's head.

"This is going to hurt." Ino warned. "Though I still think we shouldn't be doing—"

"I know." Hinata answered softly. "But I want it."

Ino sighed again and placed her hands on each side of Hinata's head. "Okay then…" She closed her eyes, feeling the girl stiffen at her first approach to touch her mind. She could have prodded deeper if not for a new presence that made her and Hinata snapped their eyes to the direction of the chakra.

Black, electric type chakra.

Hinata knew who the chakra belongs to before she even saw him. She and Sasuke shared some kind of bond that allows her to identify him easily with just the mere aura of his presence. Strangely, it was not Sasuke's presence that made her suddenly worried; it was the unstable flicker of his chakra.

Sasuke always hides his chakra but he did not bother on hiding it this time.

He was making them know his presence on purpose.

"Sasuke-kun." Hinata wheeled around and Ino jumped from the bed.

"Doing your mind experiments on her Yamanaka?" Sasuke asked Ino, black eyes against blue. He could feel the Yamanaka's technique prodding against his mind… trying to send a silent message.

Please Sasuke… get out of this.

Ino gritted her teeth. If Sasuke has any plans of preventing Hinata's memories to resurface, it was going to be trouble. In combat skills, she could never rival his sharingan and taijutsu. "This is too early for a morning visit Sasuke." She told him, blue eyes flashing fire. "Don't you have business somewhere Anbu?"

Sasuke smirked. "I am the captain of the Anbu. I have permission to go around and…stalk."

Hinata looked down on her feet. For some reason, was afraid to look at Uchiha Sasuke. "Sasuke-kun… please—"

"You are going to get yourself hurt Hinata." He snapped and Hinata jumped back a few steps. Even Ino did. An angry Uchiha was not something to be reckoned with and anyone in their right minds knew that. Well except Naruto.

"I want it." Hinata answered softly. "I want to remember."

"You are taking it too fast."

Hinata bit her lower lip. "I said want to remember."

Sasuke blinked and a low growl was forming inside his throat. "Look at me."

Hinata did not obey.

"I said look at me Hyuga!" Sasuke's voice raised a few octaves and even against her will, Hinata's head jerked up and white eyes stared at him. In that instant, he activated his sharingan before anyone could stop him.

Hinata dropped on the floor limply.

Ino gasped. "Sasuke!"

Sasuke said nothing but picked Hinata up. The girl felt too frail in his arms and he sighed. Hinata was a foolish Hyuga…very, very foolish.

Gently, he placed her on Ino's bed.

Instantly, Ino was on him and her fist almost landed on his face if he didn't stopped it with a block of his arm. Ino shifted, planning to land him a punch for the second time.

Sasuke rolled his eyes.

Unfortunately for her, she was not Sakura and her techniques rely mostly on mind shifting and not on brute strength. He grabbed both of her fists and pushed her by the wall. He pinned her and stared at her angry face.

"Jumping to conclusions Yamanaka?" He hissed.

"I was wrong. You are not just a stalker. You are crazy." Ino hissed back. "Why won't you leave Hina alone?"

Sasuke chuckled. Being called crazy has no effects on him whatsoever. He had heard worse a few years back. Talking to Ino right now though, he was disappointed that she could not come up with more creativity when calling him names. With that mouth, he expected something original.

Ino gritted her teeth. "Sasuke you should know—"

"She is going to wake up after a few hours. I suggest you work on her fast." Sasuke said and let her hands go. "Do not try to punch me again." He warned.

"What—"

"I placed her body in an unconscious state. She won't feel any pain as long as she doesn't wake up." Sasuke gave one last look at the woman by the bed and then made his way to the window again. "Be fast Yamanaka. The Kazekage is going back to the Sand this afternoon."

Ino's angry face turned into stunned realization and then grew softer. "Sasuke-kun…"

"Time is ticking."

"Thank you."

Sasuke placed a foot on the window's edge but he tilted his head back.

"I'm sorry… I did not know…. I…" Ino never felt so embarrassed in her life. "I'm so sorry." Sasuke was actually helping and both of them knew that he has feelings for the Hyuga. It was actually a sacrifice for him. "Hinata is going to be happy…"

Sasuke smirked. "Do not mention this to anyone. Or at least make me look like a badass still."

-o-

Gaara's face was impassive when he shrugged and assured Hiashi that he was fine. "It is alright Otou-san. I understand. Hinata must have her reasons."

Hiashi frowned. "I didn't see Hinata the whole day. Until now, Neji is looking for her with a few others. I apologize for my daughter's behavior. She is still in a state in which she is still confused with her relationship with you."

"I know." Gaara said and looked at Temari. "You will stay here with her until she gets well."

"Yeah." Temari answered with a wave of her hand. As if she has a choice. Besides, there was no way would she allow Uchiha to get his hands on her brother's wife when everyone wasn't looking. "But really… you could spend a few days in here Gaara. Kankuro got you covered anyway."

"I agree." Hiashi told his son-in-law. "Consider this clan your second home Gaara. This is after all your wife's clan."

Gaara shook his head. "I'm sorry… I have to decline. My kage duties are not something that I could leave behind. I have to leave before the sun sets."

"Hokage-sama knows about this?"

"Yes. We talked and she agreed."

"Hinata?"

Gaara was silent for a moment, eyes hardening but not enough to make the others ask if something was wrong. "I failed to mention it to her last night… but she will understand."

Gaara said the words with finality and even the clan head did not press his suggestion of him staying for a few more days. After the small 'family' talk, a few servants were tasked to fix him a few provisions on the way and also other things that Hiashi saw fit for him to bring.

Late afternoon came and Hinata still failed to show up. Gaara wanted to see her one last time but he suspected that his little 'slipped' last night made the girl wary of him. She might think of him as a pervert or someone who takes advantage of her… state.

He told himself that he will try to visit again soon, but as for now, he has to return to his village and see if Kankuro was fine taking care of Suna alone. Then maybe he could stay for a few days on his next visit and try to spend some time with his wife.

Hopefully, she will be more open to him when the moment comes.

That was why when he set foot outside the village, he felt a little heavy in the inside. The feeling of not seeing Hinata before going away was having a huge effect on him—mentally and physically.

His reasons for returning to Suna were actually not for village matters alone—because unknown to everyone—it was also partly because of his wife. If his presence makes Hinata nervous, her presence on the other hand makes him feel pain…

It was like his chest was being pierced by a kunai or being punched in the gut. The pain was very intense last night when she was so near and it brought tears on his eyes.

I just want my wife back.

::

Hinata opened her eyes.

Ino covered her mouth. "Hinata…" After trying to unlock her memories, the Hyuga didn't wake up. Sasuke said that Hinata's unconscious state was just going to last for a few hours but it took the whole afternoon for Hinata to wake up.

Ino was getting nervous.

"Are you okay?" She helped the bluenette up who groaned and rubbed her head. Trying to restore Hinata's memories were not easy, it was actually the hardest thing Ino have ever done in her life as a medic and of course, being a Yamanaka who can pry people's minds. "Gosh. I am so worried."

Hinata blinked. "Ino-chan?"

"Hinata… are you okay?"

Hinata continued to rub her head. It felt heavy and some veins near her eyes were throbbing. It was the same feeling that she feels when coming home from a mission very tired or oversleeping too much. "My head feels heavy."

Ino frowned. "Normal… I guess?"

"Hmm."

"Do you…?" Now Ino's heart was pounding hard again. If she messed Hinata's mind instead of making her better, it was going to be a huge disaster. It doesn't mean that she has no skill but Hinata's decision took her by surprise and she got no time to prepare.

Even Hinata was not prepared.

Hinata bit her lip. "I have to go to my husband Ino-chan…"

-o-o-o-

Please review!

The chapter is not much but I'll try to make it longer when I update next. I am just having writer issues right now.

Please motivate me.

-crazychaneatingchocolates