A/N: a long-ass one-shot, but a lot of you were requesting more SasuHina so, here you are, enjoy! I MIGHT turn this into a two or three-shot if I have requests to do so. ;-) ;-
《》
Awakening
The first time it happened, was the moment he awoke; the 4th War had been won, and he and Naruto had fought nearly to the death, severing each other's limb in the process. Naturally, when they'd hauled him into the hospital, he'd been out cold, resulting from severe blood loss, as well as other injuries sustained in the fight; though Sakura had done her best out on the field to staunch the bleeding, for some reason Sasuke's life was left hanging in the balance.
Some on the medical staff concluded the Uchiha had finally, finally just suffered through too much and his body was giving out. Others thought he'd simply lost the will to live, after discovering all that had befallen his family – his brother in particular – at the hands of Konoha. Who wouldn't want to give up, at that point?
Sakura was beside herself and therefore, forcefully forbidden from overseeing Sasuke's case; that's when, at Tsunade's behest, her newest protégé stepped in.
Little was known of Hinata Hyuuga, aside from the fact that she was timid, painfully shy and kept mostly to herself. However, the woman was a totally different story when brought on the scene to perform her duties as shinobi and medic; she was calm, precise and authoritative. As the Uchiha was hauled into the operating room, it was Hinata who had to bar Sakura's entry, and the petite Hyuuga woman stood firm. "You can't come in here Sakura; your anxiousness is understandable as he's your teammate-"
"He's not just a teammate to me, I-!" the pinkette argued, but was cut off when Hinata suddenly raised her voice.
"Do you want him to die? Your emotional state is not helpful nor is it needed in my operating room. I know that you care for Sasuke, so please let me do my job, and get out of my OR so I can save him." With that, she didn't wait for a reply and promptly slammed the door in Sakura's face.
Emerald orbs were frozen in shock.
《》
When he awoke, it was to a searing phantom pain in his amputated limb, and red sharingan eyes flashed open as a scream of agony tore from his throat.
The red hue of his orbs faded after a few seconds, then he began to thrash violently when he realized restraints bound him fast to the bed frame.
Some nurses dashed into the room in an attempt to calm him, but he only lashed out more violently, jaws snapping at the hands that reached for him, like he was a wild animal backed into a corner. Even the sight of Sakura did little to sedate him, and Sasuke's screams continued to echo menacingly through the corridors, until at last,
"-at are you doing? I told you to stay out of it, Sakura!" there was a voice he didn't recognize; it pierced through the maddening, crazed red that clouded his mind, and he felt something within himself physically latch onto it.
"Look, I get that he's your patient but you can't simply forbid me from trying to help Sasuke-kun when he's in pain like this!" Sakura argued frantically; there was a hint of resentment tinged in her voice.
"I'm well aware of my patient's needs; Tsunade has entrusted him to my care and, need I remind you, that you were under obligation to recuse yourself from Sasuke's case because of your connection to him?" the strange woman's voice wasn't harsh or sharp-edged like Sakura's; in fact, there was a calm solidity to it, coupled with a softness that still remained, even beneath the weighted authority.
Why did that voice draw so keenly upon his mind? Why was he seeking to put a face to the owner if it, even amidst all the blinding agony that engulfed him?
There was a lurch, and suddenly, Sasuke was ripping one restraint from its anchor in the iron bed frame, and mindlessly lunging for Sakura, whose back was turned; there was murder in his eyes…
But then, pink and green disappeared, and suddenly violet and snow white filled his tunneling vision.
Byakugan flashed to life, and with a controlled Gentle Fist, Hinata halted the raven's momentum, and the Uchiha was sent flying back upon his bed, landing on his back with enough force that the air was knocked out of him.
"You're hurting him!" Sakura shrieked; her judgement was completely compromised, and in that moment, Hinata did the only thing she could think of, to remove the pinkette woman from the room;
She Gentle Fisted Sakura square in the stomach.
The woman went flying, out the door and into a startled Shikamaru Nara's waiting arms.
"Keep. Her. Out, Shikamaru; please!" and then, Hinata rounded on her patient, who was now fully awake, and staring at her with wide Sharingan eyes involuntarily activated.
《》
Unconsciously, his genjutsu was cast, but instead of the blood-filled horror-scape he was used to, Sasuke found himself standing in a whiteout nothingness, ankle deep in an endless lake that reflected the same whiteness back at him.
Across from him, stood the woman – the one with the soft voice, violet hair and snowy white eyes…eyes that now pulsed with a very familiar bloodline limit; Byakugan…
"Who – who are you? What is this place?" the raven asked.
"This is the neutral plane. It's a place where Byakugan and Sharingan merge; to put it plainly, I guess you could say this is where the 'nothingness' exists. As to your other question, I think you have an idea of who I am, don't you?" The violet haired woman spoke kindly as she clasped her hands behind her back, tilted her head and offered him a small smile that was more genuine than he'd seen in a long time.
"You. You're Hyuuga, obviously. Your bloodline limit is pretty well-known…" he eyed her curiously, if not a bit warily; Hinata took no offense though. She knew why Sasuke was distrustful and she honestly couldn't blame him.
Every page of his life it seemed, was drenched in betrayal, lies and blood.
She felt her heart tug painfully in sympathy.
"Mmm." She nodded, her hands falling to her sides as she took a few ambling steps in his direction and then plopped down to sit. After a few moments, she lightly patted the space beside her - now void of the reflective water – in invitation for him to join her.
He didn't know why, but Sasuke found himself settling at her side without so much as a moment's hesitation, and reclined with an arm propped upon one knee while his other leg stretched out before him.
There was a stretch of meaningful silence; Sasuke took this time to gaze about him at the empty, ethereal plane that surrounded them. Once again, his curiosity was piqued to the point that he spoke, "What is this place? How are you even doing this?"
His gaze darted aside to the woman that sat beside him, and he was startled by the softened expression that continued to linger upon her face. "honestly, it was completely by accident; awhile ago, I approached Kakashi-sama about training with me with his Sharingan; I wanted another strong bloodline limit to test my own abilities against. But I wanted to push my limits, and I knew if I trained with another Byakugan user, that wouldn't happen. So, we trained, and one afternoon this…we were in a deadlock; I was frustrated because I felt like my skills weren't expanding even by microsteps…Kakashi sensei bared his Sharingan and my Byakugan just…activated in that moment. It completely canceled out the genjutsu he had been casting, and…honestly, I don't even remember consciously calling upon it." She mused thoughtfully, recalling the incident with residual wonder, as the memory of the raw power and synced connection between the two bloodlines, flashed in her mind.
Sasuke pondered this for a long moment; then something occurred to him. "The Sharingan was birthed from the Byakugan; at least, that's what I understand from the few texts I've read on it. But I've never heard of anything like…this." He gestured to their surroundings, a look of wonder crossing his stoic features before it disappeared in the next instant. "…my mindscapes have always been – dark and blood-soaked within genjutsu."
"Mm, well, I hope this is something of a nice change then." She offered easily, not put off by his mention of the ugliness of Sharingan genjutsu. She leaned back upon her hands, letting her eyes roam freely, undirected in the empty space, until at last, the words that would shock Sasuke the most, tumbled from her lips. "It feels nice to be sitting with you again; like this. We used to do this a lot as children…though you probably don't remember much of that."
Her sincerity jarred him, and the raven swung his head around, onyx eyes clashing with hers as a look of complete confusion and disbelief crossed his features.
"I beg your pardon?" the man was looking at her like she'd grown a second head, and it tinged Hinata's expression with a bit of sadness.
At one point in time, this man…this boy beside her, had been a dear friend. Before the complications of familial ties and duty had ruined her, and before clan politics, strife and tragedy had broken him; they'd been nothing but a boy and a girl, seated side by side as they tossed pebbles into a koi pond, while their parents took tea and discussed a future for their two children, that never came to be.
In a different life – if Fate had dealt with them more kindly, Sasuke and Hinata would likely have been betrothed. Perhaps even now, they would have been joined and sharing a life together, a future that looked so vastly different from the shattered past and broken present in which they now resided.
"…there was a time when we were friends, Sasuke. It…was a long time ago, yet not so long that I've forgotten. I know what happened when you were so young; even since then, there's been s-so much that's happened, I don't expect you to remember, I just…" at this, the woman's voice tapered off and she finally brought her eyes to his and he was astonished by the look of fondness mixed with sadness and grief reflected in her eyes as they welled with tears. "I just wanted to tell you that. I wanted you to know that we were friends, and – despite everything, I s-still remember you, and think of you as my friend." A sweet, watery smile was offered then, and Hinata felt a weight of long held regret, lift from her shoulders.
For himself, the raven stared thunderstruck.
Her expression, her words, it was all too much. His throat closed up – a piece of his soul dislodged from some place within him; a place it had been forced into, yet hadn't belonged. That piece of himself was an empty slate, as far as he knew, yet the more he looked at this girl, and the longer he spent talking to her…or listening, more aptly, the more that blank part of his soul began to awaken and pulse with an unseen life force; a force that vibrated one thought – she meant more – means more – than he consciously realized.
"…Hyuuga," Sasuke gulped around the dry lump in his throat.
But the girl only smiled; sweetness in spite of her tears, and she stood to her feet and held out her hand to him. "It's alright, Sasuke; just come home. No one will ever hurt you again; I promise. Come home, Sasuke,"
His fingertips touched hers, and like a gust of wind stealing all the breath from his lungs, memories rushed back to the fore.
《》
She'd been such a tiny little thing, but strong and eager to play just as rough as he and his brother. After a time, Itachi was called away on duty – like always – and the two had been left to themselves. Hinata had been shy, almost painfully, yet it hadn't stopped her from giving Sasuke the biggest smile, even when he himself was determined to keep this 'weird little girl' away with that infamous Uchiha glare.
But all Hinata had done was plop herself down beside the pouting little boy – tugging impatiently at his little formal kimono that his mother had practically threatened him into that evening – and smoothed the pad of a chubby little thumb over where his brows creased. "Don't frown so s-sternly, Sa'uke-kun; momma always says it gives you wrinkles!" he'd just gaped at her then, his chubby cheeks reddening as her soft little hand dropped away and settled unconsciously in his lap, "That's better, see?" and she pointed to her own reddening cheeks that were puffed into a sweet smile that, even at such a tender age, had kicked Sasuke's heart into high gear. "it's best when you smile! 'specially you; you always look s-so happy when you do."
.
.
Then, the massacre had happened just a few short months later; after that, Sasuke never smiled again, even when a little Hinata fought her way free of her daddy's hold, long enough to reach the boy who stood alone at his clan's funeral; she'd thrown her arms around him then, squeezing him, though he never squeezed back, and repeated the trembling words, "Your n-n-not alone Sa'uke!" she'd cried. Even then, he did not smile. Only stood soundless in the rain as the tiny girl's bodyguard came to fetch her and hurriedly dragged her away with hushed warnings to 'keep away from the poisonous Uchiha'. . .
All he'd felt in that moment was nothingness. Emptiness as bottomless as the whites of her eyes, and when he turned toward home that night, he put all that had ever mattered, in the past. Including Hinata Hyuuga. The first and only friend who had truly seen him deep down to his heart.
《》
A ragged gasp tore from his throat as Sasuke was ripped from the ethereal plane, back to the present. His eyes bulged open, and again, he found himself heavily restrained – pinned to the floor – by burly orderlies. But the sight above his face rendered the Uchiha unwilling to fight back; she was bent over him, her hands pressing reassuringly into his shoulders and her gloriously white eyes tinged with deep concern.
It was her voice that rattled him to his core yet again, causing his Sharingan to ignite, unbidden; red eyes now zeroed in upon her, yet Hinata did not flinch or shy away. She met him head-on; "Sasuke, calm." She coaxed him softly, and suddenly, his reddened gaze was heated in a way that had the Hyuuga woman's orbs widening, and a tiny gasp falling from her lips.
That look.
It wasn't murderous, nor threatening;
It was possessive and promising in a way that had Hinata feeling as though she'd been laid bare before the gaping jaws of a hungry, feral wolf. . . A wolf whose hunger was desire and passion, unhinged.
She gulped. Frozen.
"S-Sasuke isn't a threat; remove the restraints, they're doing more harm then good at this point." She directed her command to the orderlies, but they hesitated; "Hyuuga-sama, surely you don't think that's wise? He's been a danger to Konoha until just recently, a-and he was violent and combative earlier: besides that, his Sharingan is activated!"
"…I understand," she responded calmly, Byakugan eyes never leaving his, though her cheeks were well and truly flooded with pink. "But he is my patient, and his wellbeing comes first; his earlier combativeness was a result of said restraints and besides that – his Sharingan can't affect me as it is. It's an u-unconscious activation."
From the stutter in her voice, Sasuke was left to wonder if the tiny Hyuuga was aware of exactly what an 'unconscious activation' indicated; had she studied any of the Uchiha's bloodline history in an endeavor to better understand her training with Kakashi? If so, it wasn't far fetched that she could've come upon the bit of information that talked about Sharingan activations and how certain emotions affected when and why the activations took place.
The thought that the blossoming blush upon her cheeks, was indeed caused by her well and truly knowing exactly what he was thinking in that moment, caused Sasuke's body to clench, and when the orderlies at last lifted themselves from off his limbs, he flexed his fingers into fists; red eyes flickering as the Hyuuga now stood fully before him, her form open to his perusing eyes.
"Thank you; if you could lift him up and return him to the bed, I need to examine him."
He was lofted off the floor, then set sturdily upon the hospital bed, before the burly men filed out, and Hinata at last approached him.
She was back to professional mode; precise and authoritative as she donned her gloves and proceeded to examine him with practiced, confident hands; still, her voice held that ever-present softness beneath the layers of firm, and Sasuke relaxed as her dulcet tones thrummed through his body.
"What are you looking for?" the dark raven asked at length.
Hinata kept her eyes upon the task at hand – she was never fully without the knowledge of his heated gaze upon her. "The sight of your bleeding; you were unconscious when first brought in; blood loss from your amputated arm, but thankfully, Sakura's field work held long enough for me to finish the repair. You have deep gashes and bruising though, here," she pressed the flat of her fingers gently along his stomach and ribs, checking for contusions or bulging beneath the skin that could indicate internal bleeding. "I need to make sure it's not as bad as it looks-"
Her words cut short when Sasuke suddenly snatched up her prodding hand in his. Opal orbs snapped to his face, expecting to see it drawn in pain, but instead she was met with an intense look and a guttural utterance of, "It's not as bad as it looks. But if you keep touching me like that, things might get – heated…" he let the word hang on its end, between them and was rewarded with another gush of color spreading through Hinata's cheeks.
"Y-you sound a bit…delirious, Sasuke; I need to check you for a concussion." Her uncaptured hand reached for his head, only to be snagged as well, as the raven folded both her hands in his and held them against his chest. "If you're gonna check my head, might as well check my heart while you're at it." He murmured with a touch of humor to his voice, and Hinata thought she might've entered a parallel universe; Sasuke Uchiha, teasing her. "Whatever are you o-on about, Sasuke? Honestly, s-stop being foolish, I need to-" she began to tug her hands free, but then his hold tightened, and he spoke firmly, expression serious. "Hinata. I remember."
She stilled, staring at him with confusion writ in her eyes. "You remember…? What?"
His answer was unflinching. "You. Us as children. Everything."
Deafening silence reigned; Hinata's lips parted in an 'o' as understanding slowly dawned upon her. . . But something held her back from fully expressing how she felt at his admission. So, she simply replied, "I see… you should rest now, Sasuke; I'll be back to check on you later."
Dazed by her lack of response, Sasuke's grip slackened enough for her to slip one hand free, but then it seemed that single movement, shook the raven enough to tighten his grip upon her remaining hand. His brows furrowed in confusion, "that's all you have to say?"
Her eyes found his and she was torn to find them returned to their bottomless black; torn between relief and disappointment that is, though she'd never admit the latter. "I don't - it's not – I guess I don't quite know what to say…it's been so many years, and you-"
Thinking she meant to scorn him because of his fall from grace, the Uchiha dropped her hand and turned his face away from her; somehow, he didn't have the heart to see the rejection in her eyes, though it was an emotion he was more than used to being directed at him. "and I've changed. I get it." He muttered curtly. "You don't – need to explain, I already…I know what I've done."
With that, the Uchiha fell silent, and Hinata felt that all too familiar barrier rising up between them again. He'd clearly misinterpreted her words – he hadn't let her finish what she'd meant to say – and now it seemed, he had no further desire to entertain conversation. With that in mind, Hinata felt it was best to leave him alone for now.
However, as she quietly moved towards the door, she halted and spoke these last words to him, "You're wrong, you know; yes, you've done terrible things. But I know you are so much more than your mistakes. Much more, Sasuke…"
Though facing the wall, his eyes caught hers, and her smile was just as soft and accepting as it had been in the ethereal plane; just as it had always been.
"I believe in you." She whispered, just as her feet carried her across the threshold and out of his sight.
As the door slid closed, her words echoed in his ears long after she'd gone, and Sasuke clutched the fabric of his hospital gown where it covered his heart, and raised a shaking hand to cover his eyes; his throat constricted with sudden emotion.
"What am I doing?"
《》
True to her word, Hinata returned that evening to check in on Sasuke's condition; however, the Uchiha was fast asleep, and she hadn't the heart to wake him so she'd left him alone until the following morning.
When she entered his room, she found the raven seated upright in bed, dressed in a fresh white yukata, and looking much more rested.
For Sasuke, the sight of Hinata entering his room, brought keen alertness to all of his senses, and his back straightened as she approached. His eyes swept her form, taking in every detail, and the sudden impulse – touch her – pressed at the fore of his mind.
The raven clenched his fists in his lap.
This was all so…new to him. For years, Sasuke had spent his time completely alone, isolated in his grief and with nothing but the thought of revenge nurturing his every impulse and desire. Hatred, anger pain; these three had been the sole driving forces behind anything and everything he did. Things like companionship, desire for connection, longing…all of that had been put aside or forced out of his mind; he had no room, no time for such frivolous, inconsequential matters…
…until now.
Now, it seemed all the feelings and emotions he'd repressed for so long, were breaking out of prison and surging to the surface, unbidden; his Sharingan flickered as the Hyuuga heiress drew nearer, reaching his bedside and gracing him with a warm greeting and a smile to match.
Sasuke willed himself to calm, and a mask of cool indifference settled in place over his features; but inside, every inch of the Uchiha's body was humming with her presence, feeding off of her nearness like its owner was starved...
Maybe, he was.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Hinata checked his vitals, comparing her findings to the notes left on his chart by the night shift nurse.
"Better." He replied, dark eyes tracking her every move.
The pretty Hyuuga smiled at his response, "I'm glad to hear it; any tiredness? Dizziness, or headaches? How's your pain level?"
"I slept fine last night. Better than fine, actually. No dizziness or headaches; pain is a consistent throb, but it ebbs and flows so, manageable."
"Well I must say, that's probably the best detailed response I've ever gotten! sometimes it's hard to accurately evaluate my patients, because they tend to not be precise or gloss over their symptoms; thank you." She offered him a pleasing smile, and the next words that tumbled out of Sasuke's mouth, nearly embarrassed them both; "No need to thank me; the pleasure is all mine."
Red shot straight up to Hinata's hairline, and she darted a dumbfounded look in Sasuke's direction.
Had he just…purred at her?! She could've sworn there was something in his voice just now. An undertone that insinuated a deeper meaning to his words.
Sasuke did his best to hold her gaze, but inwardly, he was mortified and fought not to show it.
How could he have said that to her?! What the hell had possessed him to go off insinuating something like –
'Gods, she must think I'm a fucking creeper!'
Hinata ducked her head a bit, a wobbly smile indicating she had noticed the double-meaning in his words, but was trying to ignore it.
The Uchiha breathed an inward sigh of relief and his tense shoulders relaxed; thank God for Hyuuga Hinata's limitless well of grace. She was giving him the benefit of the doubt, and Sasuke was more than determined to correct his blunder.
'you're supposed to be a genius; don't, don't screw this up. ' he chided inwardly, then cleared his throat, and redirected the conversation back to his condition. "So, what's the verdict, doc?"
The nickname drop elicited a bubbly little giggle from the heiress, dissolving any remaining awkwardness between them. "Well, Uchiha-san; considering everything you've been through the last 3 years – not only your injuries sustained during the war - you're pretty much fit as a fiddle. Though, I don't know how you manage it." Setting his chart aside, she settled in a chair beside his bed, and loosened the tie on his Yukata just enough to get a look at his ribs. The bruising had begun to fade, and when she gently prodded the area with her fingers, she discovered the swelling had too. "Your arm's healing, and it looks like – your ribs are doing a marvelous job as well-"
As she glanced over her shoulder to reference his chart, Hinata's hand shifted and mistakenly brushed against Sasuke's chest, grazing his nipple.
Onyx orbs rounded in surprise, and he snatched her wrist as he inhaled sharply at the unexpected sensation.
Hinata knew the moment her touch unintentionally strayed, and she recoiled, horrified beyond belief as red flooded her cheeks and hot tears of embarrassment began to well in her eyes.
Clapping a hand over her mouth, the Hyuuga was practically trembling as she stuttered out, "I-I'm s-s-so s-sorry! I didn't realize-! O-oh-!" Fight or Flight kicked in, and Hinata shot up from her seat, whirling swiftly on her heel, with every intention of fleeing fast and far…when a strong hand clapped around her wrist and pulled as the raven's arm slipped around her waist, foiling her would-be escape. She was now captive to one Sasuke Uchiha, and the only small comfort she took in that moment, was that he could not see the dreadful red spreading through her cheeks and down her neck, as her back was pressed firmly into his chest, her face concealed from his eyes.
Trembling fingers pressed against her lips; her eyes were reddening with the tears that had yet to fall; the shock of his embrace leaving her previous embarrassment all but forgotten.
"Is it that embarrassing for you to touch someone?" he murmured quietly against her temple.
She could feel his warm breath fanning her cheek, and her eyes widened further as her breathing hitched. "I – I'm a medic. T-touching my patients is n-necessary, but-!" her words stilled when she felt his fingers curl around the hand he held captive, drawing it back to his chest. She was powerless to the strong, steady beating of his heart, felt beneath that hand.
What was he rendering her to?!
Her knees felt like jello, and then the arm that held her waist shifted, and suddenly his hand splayed flat against her belly, and pressed her flush against his body.
She bit her lip hard, forbidding the whimper that clawed its way up her throat, from breaking free.
She would not be weakened like this!
"Sasuke, I think you should-"
"What if I told you I didn't care that you touched me, by accident?" he cut in.
The answering gasp from the tiny woman in his arms spurred him on further, and he unconsciously pressed closer, "What if…I told you I like that you touched me? And what if – I want you to do it again?"
For that nail-biting, breathless second, Hinata blacked out, only to come to herself in the next instant when she felt his lips pressing tenderly – achingly so – to the side of her wrist.
Breath caught in her lungs, Hinata's head dipped back against his shoulder and upwards, until she was met with the expression of aching want upon his face, as his lips lingered against her skin. His eyes were closed, and unexpectedly, she found herself longing to gaze into their depths, that she might discover the secrets there.
As if of one and the same mind, Sasuke's eyelids fluttered open, and Hinata held her breath when she was once again met with blood red Sharingan piercing into her soul; she couldn't tear her eyes from his, drawn to his tomoe like a veritable magnet; she breathed, "Y-your eyes…"
Catching the unspoken question, Sasuke supplied her with the straightforward answer, heart hammering in his chest. "Sharingan activates unconsciously, when the bearer is set upon by a strong emotion; anger, hatred, fear for one's life…desire," he paused on the last word, letting the weight of it settle upon the heiress before he continued, "It is said that an Uchiha's desire is strongest and superior to all else. It's why some say an Uchiha's love is a curse; it's something that can drive us to madness…"
His hold upon Hinata had only strengthened, and in that moment, Sasuke's face was mere centimeters from hers as he towered over her, intensity and resolve solidified in his onyx orbs.
Sensing their encounter was seconds from climaxing, Hinata grappled for anything that might gain her distance from the Uchiha. She was powerless in the wake of the tumultuous feelings he evoked in her, and the unbridled heat of the moment was suffocating her. "U-Uchiha-san, p-please st-"
"Don't finish that sentence. " he pleaded, breathless as her smell began to fill his senses; she was so close now. Her clothes, her hair, her skin was saturating his body and mind with all kinds of thoughts, desires and impulsive wants; Sasuke couldn't really remember the last time he'd truly desired something that hadn't been otherwise forced or imposed upon him by Fate or circumstance.
This though…this tasted of pure, unfiltered desire that tempted his tongue with just enough to make him crave for more; more of her was the endgame, he decided. Unless she explicitly made it clear she felt nothing between them, he wasn't going to back down.
"And I'm only 'Sasuke' to you."
"Sas-Sasuke, please-"
"Hinata…touch me." His husky whisper was dizzying, and she balked in the face of his heated, imploring stare.
"W-What?!" she squeaked, lips parted on a gasp and cheeks flaming. There was a pregnant pause; then Sasuke's lips parted, he inhaled, and dropped his mouth to whisper against the shell of her ear, breath hot, and voice dipped deep and promising, "I said… touch. Me." He answered, nose nuzzling at the soft spot just behind her ear, and that was the last straw for the trembling heiress.
She mewled, then shuddered when Sasuke's answering groan vibrated her down to the bone.
"O-oh Sasuke please sssstop!" She gasped, gathering enough strength to push against him; black eyes blown wide with passion, met hers and she shook her head vigorously, voice shaking, "We c- can't be doing this, I – th-this is; you're my patient, you can't ask – I could never take advantage and act i-inappropriately!" She managed to push passed him, but his body followed hers and he caught her wrist for what seemed like the thousandth time; he was stubborn and persistent in his pursuit. "How are you being inappropriate, when I am the one asking? Can you honestly tell me you feel nothing between us?"
The Hyuuga woman's free hand shook as she shakily smoothed out the invisible wrinkles in her pristine white blouse and black knee-length A-line skirt; she needed a moment to collect herself before attempting to answer him.
"I – I h-honestly don't know…what this is. I - e-even if I wanted to, I can't explore it, I'm not supposed-"
"You do feel something." He insisted, the hand securing her wrist, tugged her to a stop and the Uchiha moved to stand before her. Her head was bowed, opal orbs firmly fixed to the floor between them, but he wouldn't have it; hooking a finger under her chin, the dark-eyed man tilted her head up, willing her to meet his gaze.
What he found was surprise, fear, and a distinct flash of want lurking just beneath the surface of her hesitant stare; she was possibly more terrified by her own response to his advances, than she was of the pursuit itself. He had to wonder then, if any man had ever given Hyuuga Hinata the notice and attention she clearly deserved; if any had, it clearly didn't last long, ended very badly, or both.
The face of a certain blond idiot passed through his mind, but Sasuke shook it off, knowing that Naruto had had more than his fair share of chances, as Hinata's affections had focused on him for a good deal of their childhood…
…or maybe that was the issue? Maybe her affections for Naruto still lingered? He had to know.
"Hinata…is it me that scares you? Is it your reaction to my confession? Or…are you still waiting for…" Suddenly, the possibility that the young heiress was still holding a candle for his idiotic best friend, churned Sasuke's stomach and he felt a sliver of rage lance through him.
His inner conflict became visible to the pretty heiress as the emotions flashed plainly in his eyes; his open-ended question was no mystery to her, and she felt an unexplainable urge – need – to quell his misconceptions. "You're wrong, it has nothingto do with Naruto; nothing…" her fingers squeezed his, bringing the raven's eyes down to their now-entwined fingers; his expression went from surprised to hopeful; her gesture further solidified his belief that he couldn't be the only one who felt this connection between them. "Then tell me…" he pleaded, drawing the woman's eyes back to his; he could see some of the uncertainty clearing; her eyes were deep and thoughtful, and he drew himself ever closer, powerless to the affect she had upon him. "…Tell me then, that you feel something; this," bringing her hand to rest over his heart, Sasuke's face hovered a breath above hers, "tell me truthfully that you can't feel this." As if in answer, his heart thundered beneath her fingers and he knew she'd felt it when her snow white eyes blew wide; she gulped audibly, gazing up at him glassy-eyed, "You – you k-know I can't tell you; it would - I'd only be lying to you, and to myself."
"Then stop pushing away like you're committing some crime, in accepting how you feel. I told you, I remember everything from before. You, us…our connection isn't 'past' Hina…"
Hinata's breath hitched; the nickname he'd given her in their childhood, had been a long-ago memory – one that she'd been heartbroken to part from. Now, with that name falling from his lips – the endearment no other soul on this earth had ever used – she felt that dark, withered part of her heart swell to life, anew and tears again welled in her eyes. Lip trembling, she inhaled shakily, grasping his hand she held and cradling it to her cheek; it was like that sweet little boy she'd befriended and loved as a little girl…her best friend had come back to life again. But she was still afraid, and it showed in the sad furrow between her eyes. "…Sasuke,"
He knew she felt as he did; she could not deny the connection that still pulsed between them all these years later, but he sensed the lingering doubt within her hesitation; her fears were understandable, but unseeded in his eyes; she need only reciprocate his affection, and he would never leave her side.
"You feel as I do." He stated firmly. "I hear it in your voice; your eyes tell me you do. . ." in that moment, he was barely holding himself back from tasting her, and he hoped to the gods, all it'd take was just a little more.
"You – I can't – even after all these years, " she began at last, and the fight drained from her body as she at last relinquished fearful reticence in favor of a fond smile directed upon the sole remaining Uchiha "you still manage to know me better than I know myself." Her words were the gavel striking upon the hardened stone of his heart; Sasuke's entire being burst free and he surged down to catch Hinata's mouth in a fiery kiss that held nearly a lifetime's worth of suppressed longing.
Hinata's body shook from the force of his passion crashing into her, and her hands clenched into the material of his yukata – one braced against his chest, the other upon his shoulder – as he bodily moved her across the room to the wall, never once breaking their kiss.
Hinata felt grounded with the wall at her back, yet the heated solidity of his body pressing into her front, left her heady and winded; the heiress gasped wetly against Sasuke's mouth, eliciting a surprised groan from the dark-eyed man, who parted his lips and delved his tongue in for a taste.
The first hint of her flavor had him shaking. His mouth parted from hers, panting, "fuck, you taste so good, so sweet…" tremors rippled up his back and the Uchiha laced the fingers of both hands, with hers, sweeping her hands against the wall in an upwards arc, until they met above her head where he pinned them in his strong, unyielding grasp. His eyes never left her face; he took in every turn in her expression. The deep blush in her cheeks that seemed to spread to every place he touched her, the widening of her snowy eyes when his hands touched her more confidently; only to darken to a liquid lavender when his touches grew more intimate, desperate. Her eyes told him she craved his passion, even though her lips would not; but it was all the assurance he needed.
Breast heaving against him, as she fought to for breath, for sanity, she could only gasp one word, over and over, "S-Sasuke…Sasuke…"
The raven allowed a triumphant smirk to curl his mouth upwards as he panted against her lips; his breaths were ragged and hot as they mixed with her own stuttered attempts to gain oxygen. "You can't deny yourself anymore," he said at last, dropping just one of his hands to curve against her hip; holding her like this…it felt more right than anything he'd ever done in his life. "You can't – deny this anymore, Hina."
"Sasuke, you've spent – so much time seeking revenge, then justice, then redemption, I – I don't deny what I feel, b-but I don't want – " she bit her lip, worry seeping into her eyes, before she gathered enough courage and spoke quietly, "…I d-don't want to be just another 'goal' for you to accomplish…I don't want to be one of your ambitions that you m-mark off your list," Her eyes turned sad and hopeless then as they dropped away from his face; her words hurt him much more than they stung his pride; the Uchiha's expression was shock, mixed with incredulous indignation. "…Hinata!"
"I'm sorry, but I," she pushed out of his grasp, putting space between them before she felt confident enough to face him again, and she did her best to keep the emotion from her voice, as she spoke. "I can't understand where all of this p-passion of yours comes from, all of a sudden. We lost touch for years, and in that time you forgot all about me – understandably – and now you're back, suddenly you – what, just decided you w-want me? Is that all it is? I'm not judging you, Sasuke, I just – I don't understand any of this! Your goal to restore your clan, m-maybe t-that's what's d-driving this-"
"You really believe I'm looking at you as some kind of – brood mare?!" He exclaimed incredulously; Sasuke couldn't quite put a word to what he was feeling in that moment; anger just didn't seem to cut it. The combination of shock, hurt and frustration felt too close, too raw to reduce it to an emotion as uncomplicated as mere anger. This was something that ran much deeper and it was because the woman before him – despite all her compassion, kindness and intelligence - couldn't help but reduce his apparent affection towards her, to nothing more than a means to fulfill his goal of restoration to the Uchiha.
She was willfully blind to everything else his confession spoke of; in three simplest terms, Sasuke simply wanted her.
Yes, fulfillment of his clan's restoration was a likely possibility if they continued forward and entered a serious relationship, and Sasuke would not deny the prospect appealed to him…but the fact that she was the one whom he wished to fulfill his life with, was what made the difference. In Hinata's mind, she likely assumed the Uchiha would be satisfied with anyone, provided there was a decent amount of interest and willingness on both sides…what she failed to realize apparently, was the raven's determination that she be the one and the only one with whom he sold bind himself to; Sasuke's confession and demonstration of his feelings, had all been in an effort to make this known to her, despite his limited-to-none experience with matters of the heart. He'd only wanted this, whatever this was that surged so strongly between them, and he was ready to grasp it with both hands and never let go.
…Yet, despite all indications that she felt just as strongly for him as he did, for her, Hinata, it seemed, feared the risk of yielding her heart on account of a mere handful of words spoken between them.
"Do you really think so little of yourself, that you'll deny what I feel for you, and what you feel for me?" he asked plainly.
He was disappointed.
But even in the face of this barricade, the Uchiha would not relent. Not yet. The deepest desire of his life, had finally been realized, and at Seventeen, he'd already lived through three lifetimes worth of suffering, loss and regret. With Fate smiling upon him in the form of this compassionate and bewitching slip of a girl, he refused to back down and vowed to at last take hold of the happiness he'd sought after for so long.
She was his endgame. He won't give her up so easily.
"It's all just so sudden…" she admitted timidly, wringing her hands before her with her brows furrowed in anxiety.
Fists clenching at his sides, the raven rolled his lips together to keep from shouting at her; his patience only went so far and he was well-known for his temper. "Hinata," his voice was even and firm, drawing her eyes to lock with his, and he continued, "You said that you believed in me; I trust that you meant those words, even though it's been years since you and I were close." Seeing he had her full attention once more, the Uchiha took a step towards her, emboldened by the glimmer of hope returning to her eyes. "You know I don't trust easily; I never let people get too close, even as a child. But you, I've always trusted you, Hina…so, trust me. Believe in me, and I will prove to you, there is only one thing on this earth that I want…" his statement hung open-ended between them; he held her eyes, snowy white orbs now swimming with hope that the heiress couldn't conceal, while his own onyx orbs remained dark and promising.
"You." He finished passionately, and Hinata was frozen on the spot, even as the PA system above their heads crackled to life; 'Doctor Hyuuga, please report to OR 4; Hinata Hyuuga to OR 4, please.'
The PA system replayed the message a second time, yet the heiress found she could not move, for she was spell-bound within the Uchiha's dark dark eyes.
At last, it was Sasuke's voice that brought her back the present. "You should go, they need you." He said at length, though he was exceedingly reluctant to let her go at that moment; there was so much more he wanted to say, but it would have to wait for a later time.
And that time would come again, he would make sure of it.
Hinata complied, her movements stilted as she attempted to come back to herself and resurface from the heated moment between them. "From what I can tell, you're healing is – progressing w-well so, you could likely be discharged from the hospital as early as this afternoon."
"I understand."
She stole a final glance in his direction, but the Uchiha's expression was already shuttered and unreadable.
"…r-right, of course. W-well then, I need to get back to my other patients, s-so if you'll excuse me…"
Her hand was poised upon the door handle when there was a sudden rush of air at her back, and Sasuke was there, bending to whispered against the shell of her ear, "Just so you know…I haven't changed my mind. Even if you think denying your own heart makes you noble…I won't be letting you off that easily; you can't escape me forever, Hina… that's a promise."
She bit her lip against the whine his words wrought from the back of her throat, turning towards him, even when she new it was against her better judgment.
She found him close, his eyes centimeters from hers and his mouth barely a breath away, and she could not withhold the tremulous gasp that fell from her own lips. "Sasuke…" Her breath feathered against his lips, and the man pressed closer, parting his mouth to murmur heatedly, "Your mouth may dent it. But your eyes are screaming for me to kiss you-"
He had no chance to finish; there was a noisy clatter as clipboard and patient chart hit the floor seconds before the tiny woman fisted the collar of his yukata in shaking hands and yanked him down for a bruising kiss.
Though surprised by her aggression, the raven was far from disappointed and braced his hands on either side of the doorway so he could push back into the kiss as hard as Hinata would let him. Before long, fingers had clamored around his neck and twined into his hair, tugging hard, as she practically fought him in her efforts to take as much of him as she could; the woman practically devoured his mouth with a fervor that left him breathless and elated. There could be no doubt regarding the strength of her feelings for him; the evidence was a veritable tidal wave that swept them both away in its undefeatable current.
"If wanted to taste me," he panted Hinata at last parted her mouth from his, "all you had to do, was ask Hina. I won't ever deny you. Even when you deny me." He declared strongly. He pressed an open-mouthed kiss over her racing pulse, pulling a surprised gasp from the heiress lips from the action; lastly, he whispered against the skin, his words laced with certainty and promises that fed her desire for him, "You can deny me to a point. But we both know, that won't last. Proving it's you I want, will be all too easy, Darling; you're only a step away – from being completely mine."
Unable to help herself, Hinata yanked him by the collar, and seared his lips with one final kiss – his vow to attain her heart echoing in the space between them – before tearing herself from his grasp and hurrying down the hall, to attend to the other patients.
Despite her numerous fears and uncertainties regarding her budding relationship with the Uchiha, Hinata knew she couldn't bring herself to wholly deny it; Sasuke had been her past, but he could also be her future... and the woman couldn't wait for the moment she'd see him again.
《》