Dalliance

Pairing: Sasu/Hina

《》

She'd been the first one to welcome him back; as odd as it seemed that his two teammates were in fact not the first ones to know of his return, Sasuke Uchiha had preferred a quiet homecoming, as opposed to the would-be fanfare that Sakura and most certainly, Naruto would have insisted upon…

Truthfully, the Uchiha himself wasn't altogether sure how he felt about being back in the village that had simultaneously been home, yet also the place which ultimately destroyed everything that single word had ever meant for him.

But he could never fully shake his eldest brother's dying wish; Itachi had deemed Konoha worthy of being saved – despite being betrayed by his own people – and had shared his last moments with Sasuke, upholding that desire. So, though ever at odds with his inner conflict, Sasuke stepped quietly and willingly through the gates of Konhagakure, one crisp October evening.

Kakashi of course, was aware of the raven's return, but respected his wishes that it be kept quiet.

With a hooded cloak concealing his head and most of his hair, and a bandanna pulled low over his rinnegan eye, Sasuke moved amongst the evening inhabitants, unnoticed. He was accosted once or twice by a village merchant, and despite his typical reclusive, stoic personality, the Uchiha did his best to turn them down politely, allowing the smallest of smiles to show in his visible eye; some paused, as though they may have recognized him, but the Uchiha always moved on before any could question him.

As he emerged from the thickest part of the crowd however, a young woman unintentionally brushed against him in her hurry to get by. Pale Hyuuga eyes connected with his onyx orb and he saw the instant recognition in her gaze.

For a brief moment, he panicked, thinking the girl would utter his name aloud, in surprise; then, he heard the loud voice of one Ino Yamanaka call out, "would you hurry up, Hinata? We're gonna be late for drinks with the guys if we don't get our butts moving!"

The Hyuuga woman glanced a look over her shoulder and responded, "Yes Ino, I'm coming; j-just give me a moment?"

The blonde appeared not to notice that her dark-haired friend was in the presence of a stranger (him) and simply turned her attention to the brunette at her side, continuing to chatter as they lingered near a dress boutique, presumably waiting for Hinata to join them.

In hopes of keeping his anonymity in tact for the time being, Sasuke parted his lips in preparation to speak…when the feel of a warm hand gripping his arm beneath the folds of his cloak, halted any words from tumbling forth.

One visible onyx orb darted downwards, only to be met with twin snowy white eyes that darted a furtive glance in another direction; he followed her gaze and caught sight of one spikey head of blond and one pink, headed their way.

Again, the Uchiha inwardly panicked, only to be bowled over when the tiny woman before him grasped his arm more firmly, and proceeded to drag him a little ways up their side of the street, and into a narrow space between booths. "they haven't seen you, I don't think…" She whispered by way of explanation, as she maneuvered him to lean against the side of the booth.

The Uchiha gulped when her tiny hands pressed flat against his chest as she cautiously leaned out and around the corner to get a look; suddenly, his heart was a battering ram against his ribcage, and Sasuke couldn't help but think it had nothing to do with the fact that he was playing hide and seek with his two teammates, and everything to do with the petite Hyuuga woman – whom on closer inspection was stunning – currently touching him. "okay…Naruto's just spotted Shikamaru and the others ducking into Ichiraku's…he's begging Sakura-chan, because he's hungry….aand, they're gone." She released a breath, ducking back into the shadows with him, and that was the moment she realized she'd been fully invading his personal space and willingly touching him.

Red suffused her cheeks, and she yanked her hands away, fingers curling into fists;

Part of him wanted her hands to return where they'd been.

"S-sorry, um – I apologize, Uchiha-san; I shouldn't h-have…uh, if you could wait right here for just a moment?" she peaked up at him, and he simply nodded wordlessly.

The violet beauty disappeared for a few moments, only to return with a brown paper bag which she proceeded to place in his hands.

"Here,"

He stared at her questioning, but took it nonetheless. The two moved silently out of the shadows and once their feet touched the street, she told him she was meeting with friends, and bid him a kind goodbye.

He was just turning his back, when she called after him, "Ah, Raven-san?"

He turned, an amused quirk of his brow at her endeavor to keep his true identity from being overheard by bystanders; "Hn," he waited.

She blushed, then met his eyes squarely, and her lips melted into the softest of smiles as she said sweetly, "It's good to see you; welcome home."

Those few words, coupled with the sincerity in her voice and the warmth in her eyes, awakened a feeling within him, and Sasuke's eyes widened, as a startling breath escaped his lips. The weight in his hands briefly drew his attention to the parcel she'd given him, and he reached in, only to stare in shock and wonder at the fresh red tomato he pulled forth from the bag.

How did she…?

Mismatched orbs darted up in search of her, but she was gone; leaving her words and a feeling of belonging echoing in his heart.

《》

The next time he saw her, it was weeks later, by chance; he'd just returned from an escort mission that had gone sour – one of his team members was mortally wounded, and his life hung in the balance – and he was trudging home after delivering his report to his Hokage.

By now, the majority of Konoha's inhabitants were aware of the Uchiha's return; most were relatively indifferent to his presence, and that suited him just fine. Some however, were more than resentful of the ex-avenger being granted clemency, and took it upon themselves to make their displeasure known.

He'd just come upon a sleepy part of town that was still mostly under post-war reconstruction, when a modest group of 3 low-ranking shinobi approached him from behind.

He sensed their ill intent before he spotted them, and cursed inwardly; he was in no mood for this tonight.

But he wouldn't run nor cower before them, so he simply faced them and held both his hands up and out in a show of non-aggression. "I don't want any trouble. If you have a complaint with me, report it to the Hokage, and I'll deal with it then."

The leader of the group stepped forward, tossing an orange up in his hand and catching it; Sasuke had a feeling the man wasn't hungry. "You'd like that, wouldn't you; but all that'd happen is your beloved Hokage giving you a slap on the wrist; everyone knows you're his former student which means you get special treatment." The man spat on the ground, then leveled Sasuke with a look of utter disgust.

"We don't want you here. You're a traitor, Orochimaru's pet, and besides that, you're a ticking time bomb; just like your brother."

Mentioning Itachi was a perilous mistake, and Sasuke's Sharingan flashed in warning. "Say whatever you like about me; but…leave my brother, out of this." He grit out, clenching his teeth, as his eyes turned menacing.

Despite his previous efforts to remain calm, a threatening aura began to surround the Uchiha and the beginnings of Chidori crackled along his arm. The three men braced to attack, when "Uchiha-san?"

That voice, smooth as a Dove's call, arrested Sasuke's attention and his mismatched eyes flickered to the end of the street that curved around the bend.

Hinata Hyuuga stood in simple attire; skinny jeans, an oversized cream sweater and a fluffy red scarf wound around her neck. She had nothing but a canvas bag of groceries slung over one shoulder, yet she approached them steadily, her eyes carefully tracking the three men who had accosted him.

"Hyuuga?" one of them whispered uncertainly to his partner; they hadn't bargained on the traitor having backup; the Hyuuga were formidable shinobi and even this tiny one, likely possessed a skill that was nothing to sneeze at.

For herself, Hinata read the tenuous situation, and placed herself between the three men and Sasuke. She faced the others and with a calm authority that Sasuke remembered witnessing from Neji Hyuuga, asked, "Is there something you gentlemen need?"

"It's nothing you need to worry about, miss; our business is with him."

"Well, considering you approached Uchiha-san, armed, I think I do needtoworry; you know he's unarmed. The Hokage won't permit him to carry any weapons unless he's on a mission, or within the Uchiha district."

Though the other two seemed less keen to attack Sasuke with Hinata present, the leader was not so easily dissuaded. "As if he'd need a kunai in order to annihilate every one of us; don't you see his eye?" The man pointed an accusing finger to Sasuke's tomoe which was now spinning as a result of his rising agitation.

Wordlessly, Hinata reached for him and laid a calming hand upon the raven's arm; his muscles tensed, then relaxed beneath her touch; his tomoe stilled, and when he dropped his gaze to hers, she offered him a small encouraging smile, before returning her attention to his accusers. "Sasuke Uchiha has taken full responsibility of his crimes. He stood trial before the council, and though he was found guilty of desertion, he was declared innocent of treason and espionage; he served 2 years in self-appointed exile as penance; surely you would agree that justice has been seen to and proper consequences, served."

"He's a murderer, just like his brother! The whole Uchiha are nothing but a curse-!" the shinob was angry, and moved to lash out, when suddenly Hinata's Chakra spiked violently as her Byakugan flared to life. "I will not allow you to speak ill of the honored dead!" the woman vehemently declared, startling the three men before her, and surprising the raven who stood stiffly at her back.

Why was she taking such pains to defend him, someone she barely knew?

Hinata's Chakra pulsed strongly in their midst, as did her Byakugan, but the woman spoke calmly, "Itachi Uchiha was a hero to Konoha, and payed the ultimate sacrifice, all for the precious life of his brother, whom he loved above all else. If you insist upon a confrontation with Sasuke, " and then the woman rendered them speechless, when she slid into Gentle Fist stance, leveling the 3 chunin with an icy glare. "You'll have to go through me."

"Hinata…!" It was the first time the raven spoke since her arrival, and she could feel the rigidity in his body, and hear the disbelief laced with warning in his voice. He likely, disfavored anyone inserting themselves into his personal battles, but Hinata knew these men had no intentions of fighting fair; they sought to bait Sasuke by riling up his anger; he'd lash out and with no witnesses to back him, the 3 could claim he attacked them, unprovoked. It was the quickest way to get the Uchiha booted from Konoha permanently, or worse, land him in prison for an undetermined amount of time…

Hinata wasn't about to let that happen. She'd stand firm and defend Uchiha Sasuke, without question.

"H-hey man, she's looking serious; I didn't sign up to fight a Hyuuga, when we set out for this…" one of the three seemed ready to give up their foolish plight, altogether; "…yeah, come on, Kenshin; we'll get him next time, alright?" they were pulling their friend by the arm, coaxing him away.

"If you're wise enough, there won't be a 'next time. '" Hinata warned, as she disengaged her Byakugan and straightened. Reluctantly, the 3 chunin vanished, and she turned her head when Sasuke finally spoke, "That was incredibly stupid if you. " the dark eyed man stated flatly; he didn't look happy she'd interfered.

But she just smiled at him – stirring up that feeling again – and murmured, "I don't think so; I doubt they would've attacked you seriously, and even if they had, I wasn't about to stand by and just let them."

The raven tilted his head, eyes focusing in on her for a long, drawn out moment. "You don't even know me," he stated matter-of-fact. "How can you be so sure I'm not everything they said I am?"

She was silent for a moment as she stared back into his bottomless mismatched eyes; his bared rinnegan should have frightened her, but it didn't. "Because you're Itachi's brother; and he always believed in you. Why wouldn't I?"

Her answer completely floored him; honestly, he'd been expecting the typical 'because Naruto believes in you, so I trust his judgement' blah blah blah…he never would've guessed she'd place her faith in him, based on the word of his brother.

The simple fact that she'd already defended Itachi without even knowing him, spoke volumes, and now…

She'd pretty much gone and made it 'public' so to speak, that she was on Sasuke'sside.

Sasuke Uchiha.

Ex-avenger,

Murderer,

Traitor to Konoha.

She may as well have shouted from the rooftops, that she was engaging in a dalliance with the last remaining Uchiha! Once word of this got out, there'd be a proverbial target on her back; who knows what her friends and family – her clan – would have to say. . .

The woman bent to retrieve her bag of groceries, when Sasuke's deep voice rumbled, "I don't – see why you would even bother, Hyuuga."

She caught a split-second look I'm his eyes, just before be turned his face away to hide his expression…but his ears were pink, and Hinata could only deduce the introverted man was feeling embarrassed by the whole affair that had just transpired.

A bashful Sasuke?

Hinata couldn't help but find it adorable, and she barely managed to smother a giggle. "W-Well don't worry, Uchiha-San; if it bothers you that much, I promise I w-won't tell anyone."

He cut a sidelong glance at her, noting that the moonlight cast her face in an ethereal shadow that, quite frankly, should should've been illegal. How the hell did she go around looking that fucking angelic?!

"…Whatever. Just-" SHING!

"-Hyuuga!"

The kunai was doubtlessly meant for him, but the assassin wanna-be had terrible aim.

In this case, 'terrible aim' also meant the perpetrator missed just as bad; Sasuke managed to get ahold of Hinata by the arm and yank her back against him, just before the kunai embedded itself in his raised forearm.

"S-Sasuke!" the Hyuuga woman gasped in horror as the raven curled his body around her, shielding her from further onslaught.

"Keep your head down." The raven commanded, then wordlessly swept Hinata up into his arms and took off for his home at blinding speed.

《》

Upon reaching the Uchiha district, Sasuke scribbled a quick note to Kakashi, detailing the night's incident, and sent it off with one of his snake summons. The raven then insisted on escorting Hinata home, but the violet beauty had refused, stating she wouldn't leave until she'd gotten a look at the gash in his arm.

From the determined set of her eyes, Sasuke knew refusing her would've been far more troublesome, so he grudgingly relented.

Now, seated on a chair at his kitchen table, decloaked and with half his shirt hanging off the shoulder with the injured arm, the Uchiha began to ponder the likely possibility that the tiny Hyuuga woman was attempting to seduce him.

The soft, fleeting touches of her fingers skating across his skin, were absolute torture as she attended to his injury; once she'd cleansed the wound, she'd poured disinfectant upon it that stung, and had thoughtlessly bent to feather her breath across the cut to soothe the sting...Sasuke had nearly lost his mind right then, and had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep himself from groaning; her nearness was driving the raven mad with want, and he could only deduce his 2-year stint in utter solitude, as the culprit.

Though, he hadn't been altogether without options; Sasuke was a sinfully handsome man, and despite his attempts to remain unnoticed through his plain choice of clothing and introverted nature, the Uchiha was never able to fully escape attention. Numerous women he'd encountered in his travels – as well as a fair share since he'd returned to Konoha – had propositioned him on various occasions. He'd had one or two temporary encounters in his adolescence but overall, at eighteen, his experience was limited, and Sasuke simply never had had the time to give such matters as carnal desire and companionship, serious thought.

…Opportunity seemed to be knocking at this moment, however, and it was evidenced by his physical reaction, that his body as well as his mind, were more than a little attracted to the stunningly graceful Hyuuga princess, who carried herself with a confident, yet unassuming self-awareness. Despite her apparent ease within her own skin, she seemed altogether unaware that she'd garnered the Uchiha's growing attentions and interest…he'd have to show her, if he hoped to take this thing between them, any further.

The question was, how to go about it?

"I still can't believe they just – blatantly attacked you like that. " still reeling from the night's earlier events, Hinata shook her head for what felt like the millionth time, as she scooped up a bit of salve onto her fingers and carefully applied it to his wound.

"I mean, they c-could have killed you," she went on in disbelief.

"I'm pretty sure that was the point, Hyuuga; they may have had terrible aim – lucky for us – but they wanted to kill me."

Her hands paused in their ministration, and she sought out his face.

The Uchiha was facing straight ahead, eyes fastened to the back wall; his expression was stoic and void of emotion.

"…maybe so," she sighed disappointedly, then resumed treating the cut. "S-Still, it's appalling they even tried."

"Why? It's not like it's the first time someone's wanted me dead. I guarantee you, it won't be the last." The raven scoffed indifferently, glancing down to where Hinata's hands were now carefully wrapping his forearm in long linen strips.

His callous response had a dejected sigh escaping her, and her shoulders drooped. "…I get why you're used to it; I just. . .w-wish it wasn't the case."

Again, her response baffled him, and his brows screwed together as he cocked his head, catching her eyes, "Why? You say that like it's some great atrocity; people hunting each other is commonplace in our world."

"I know that," the woman shot back, exasperated. Raising her eyes to his, her expression was weary. "I'm just so tired of this cycle of hatred towards someone who never asked for it to begin with. You. You didn't c-cause any of this; your family may have made some b-bad choices, but who hasn't! Frankly, the way the Third handled it, wasn't any better. A coup was still staged that night; but instead of a clan against injustice it was an e-entire village against a child."

She hadn't realized it, but a few tears had welled in Hinata's eyes and escaped down her cheeks; Sasuke's onyx orbs zeroed in on them, and he wordlessly leaned into her space, flicking the tears away with his thumb. His eyes lingered on the trails left behind, before he swept the wetness up and away with his knuckle, before looking into her startled gaze.

"You make quite a scene over something that happened so long ago…" he observed quietly. Another tear slipped down her cheek, and he brushed that one away too, before dropping his hand to rest in the narrow space between them.

Focused mismatched eyes, searched every detail of her face, before coming to rest upon wide open snowy orbs still glistening with tears; "…I never would've thought you of all people, would shed tears for me; a man you hardly even know. " in that moment, Sasuke's stoic expression cracked into the barest of smiles, and he shook his head, snorting humorously when yet another tear slipped down her cheek. He caught it with the backs of his fingers and declared dryly, "Only our second meeting, and I've already made the precious Hyuuga princess, cry; whatever will I do?" he finished mockingly, but his malice was half-hearted at best, beneath the smirk that still tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Something about that smile, tugged on Hinata's heart; she'd seen that look only once before, and it had been on the battlefield during the 4th War; he and Naruto had joined forces, and once their unmatched skills banded together, both boys had tasted their inevitable victory then. The smirk on Sasuke's lips then, was the same as it was now - boyish and arrogant – and for some unexplainable reason, the Hyuuga heiress found herself desperately wanting to kiss that smile.

So she did.

It was a split second's decision; the space between them was narrow as they sat side by side, so the heiress only leaned just a bit forward to bridge the gap – it was like the moment she'd made the decision, her brain had shut down and she was 'gone' the length of time it took for her lips to meet and press against the corner of his mouth.

Unfortunately, her action had the exact opposite affect upon the unsuspecting Uchiha, and he gasped against her mouth – eyes widening in unveiled shock.

The sensation of his breath feathering against her lips, was all it took to rip Hinata from her hazed stupor, and the woman reeled back in equal surprise.

Surprise, and horror at herself; what had she done? What was she even thinking?! There'd been that surreal moment when his mouth had lifted into that smile – her cognitive senses had glazed over with a strong sense of déjà vu, and then… it was like she'd dreamed the moment, only to realize with a plunging regret, it had happened, as the sensation of his startled breath fanned across her lips, all too real.

Even now, she could say nothing as she stared back it him; equal shock and amazement mirrored in their gazes which were locked in a painful standoff.

Then, the most mortifying thing happened; Hinata hiccuped, then squeaked…and a startling gush of arousal burned between her thighs, right as her cheeks burst into flames.

"EEP!" The next second, she was on her feet, and scrambling from the room.

Unfortunately, her sudden movement was all it took to rouse the Uchiha from his own gobsmacked stupor, and the raven shot to his feet and chased after her.

It wasn't a lengthy pursuit; he gained ground on her in the hall, and when she'd almost rounded the corner to make it to the entryway, Sasuke managed to snag the edge of her sweater sleeve. His fingertips barely brushed hers, but it was enough to spur the man into using a burst of chakra in his feet to gain the upper hand. He caught her just shy of reaching the door, and his hand curled around her wrist, spinning her towards him so he could capture her free hand in the other.

Her left palm came at him, doubtlessly charged with chakra in an attempt to shut down a tenketsu, but the raven was prepared, and swung his head back, dodging the incoming sweep.

"Not getting away that easy," he rumbled darkly, and just like that, Hinata was backed against a wall, both wrists captured in the Uchiha's iron hold, trembling from head to toe.

He m-must be s-so a-a-angry! She thought mournfully; while she knew Sasuke wasn't likely to harm someone on account of an ill-advised kiss, the man was known for loathing any kind of unsolicited physical contact, especially from the opposite sex.

In all likelihood, the raven was disgusted by what she'd done and intended to give her one good tongue lashing.

Instinctively, she raised her captive hands to shield her face, bracing for his verbal onslaught…

"Did you – really think – you could just do that, run off – and get away with it?" He panted lightly. Her escape had been in vain, but Hinata had surprising speed, and Sasuke was winded.

"Eep! S-S-Sorry….U-Uchiha-sssan, p-please believe m-m-meididn't-"

"Sh." He cut her off. Then, he bent so he was more or less at her level, and gently lowered her hands, "…at least look at me." He scolded; when she allowed him to lower her hands, he was met with her face flooded red, and wide, frightened white eyes gazing back at him.

The picture she made – was irresistible, and again, that little ghost of a smirk appeared on his lips, sparkling in his eyes.

"Don't hide." He said firmly, but lowly. Then, ever so slowly, the Uchiha closed the distance between them, until the tip of his nose bumped hers.

The woman was positively shaking in his grasp, but her eyes never once strayed from his penetrating stare. "You're shaking." He murmured, watching her closely.

"…Are you afraid of me?" He asked tentatively; her answer would decide whether he pushed this further.

For a brief moment, Hinata's tremors ceased, and her fearful eyes stilled, fixing him with a look of certainty as she shook her head, no.

Her response dissolved the tension in his shoulders that had begun to solidify, and Sasuke nodded in acknowledgement. "Then breathe," he commanded softly, and Hinata released a shuddering breath, followed by a nervous bubble of laughter; she hadn't realized how 'serious' she'd made the moment, to the point that her body was reacting with a stereotypical life-or-death response. Reigning in her Fight or Flight instincts, the heiress once again met his eyes, her own a little less wary, though her cheeks were still suffused with a heavy blush that showed no signs of abating.

Sasuke had no definite plans beyond this point, save that he wanted to kiss her.

So, he did.

But unlike the first, he aimed straight for her mouth and his lips pressed firmly against her trembling ones, wanting her to feel the full weight of the sensation; she'd left him with barely a hint, before endeavoring to escape – Sasuke had every intention of prolonging the moment.

Initially, it was awkward; there was no movement or engagement, beyond the meshing of lips, until Sasuke was seized by the urge to experiment. The flavor of lightly sweetened green tea had ghosted his lips when she'd kissed him earlier…but it was gone before he'd fully even processed what had happened. Now, with her fixed firmly in his grasp, the Uchiha couldn't help but wonder if that flavor had been a mere figment of his imagination…or…

The tip of his tongue darted out for a fleeting taste – there was a shock of electricity when the distinctive tang of green tea greeted his tongue…heat seared his insides, and instinct drove him to part his lips so he could fit his mouth openly over hers.

The moment she fully registered that she was in a full on makeout session – with Sasuke Uchiha – part of Hinata's brain short circuited, and she uttered a muffled 'EEP!' followed by a helpless mewl, which the raven returned in an answering groan that vibrated between them.

"Ssssasukewaitwe – we sh-shouldnt-"

"Don't finish that thought. And yes, we should." The raven insisted between harried kisses that grew more and more feverish by the minute.

Helpless against his passion, Hinata found no recourse, but to shakily gain purchase by clutching to his shoulders; the man was a good deal taller than her, the crown of her head barely reaching his shoulder, and she found herself pinned bodily to the wall, her neck forced back at a sharp continued slaying her mouth with a hot open-mouthed kiss.

His fervor had her gasping and burning at her core; she only mildly registered a hope that he couldn't sense her arousal, before her hazed mind was brought to a screeching halt at the sight of black tomoe spinning in vivid red.

"…Y-Your Sharingan …" she breathed uncertaintly.

The man squeezed his eyes shut, dropping his forehead to hers, "I'm fine. It's – just you."

"Me? I don't - w-what does that m-mean exactly…? She asked timidly; his face had dipped to nuzzle against the side of her neck, and she unconsciously arched, giving him better access.

"It means that it's reacting to the way my body – and my emotions are reacting to you."

She dragged his lips across the juncture of her neck and shoulder, raising goosebumps across her skin.

"…You – your e-emotions…?"

He could hear the hesitation in her voice; though she was intelligent and likely had a rough idea of what he meant, it was only logical that Hinata didn't want to show all her cards yet; she and Sasuke had only just begun to know each other beyond passing acknowledgement. Sure, tonight, things were happening rather quickly, but that still didn't paint a definite picture I'd what they were…she was looking for a clear concise explanation of his intentions, and he had no qualms with giving her precisely that.

…he only hoped, she wouldn't turn tail and run again.

"It means that I want you, Hinata; and not just – that casual kind. My Sharingan only reacts to extreme, deeply rooted emotions."

She was silent, and it piqued his curiosity so he withdrew enough to cast his eyes down into her face.

What he saw, was naked wonder in her eyes as they stared up at him, genuine curiosity, and guarded hope.

"So then – I mean – you w-wouldn't j-j-just want-"

On impulse, he swooped down and captured her lips in a kiss that was dizzying for them both; when they parted, her mouth hung open as she panted for air, her forehead pressing against the bridge of his nose.

"This is – anything. Everything, but 'temporary', Princess." He breathed against her, and at last, he was rewarded with a complete smile, as all further hesitation drained from her eyes.

Hinata was breathless and overwhelmed, with all that had happened – was happening – between them; logic cautioned he as it always did, that moments like this were rare and not likely to last…but Sasuke was Uchiha. And if there was one thing Hinata had learned since long long ago, though it had been spoken in warning – it was to never underestimate the passion of an Uchiha.

For his part, Sasuke couldn't think any further beyond this moment with her; Hinata had been a fleeting thought, a blip on his radar; now she was a full-blown consuming focus, filling every corner and crevice of his senses. It was illogical. Irrational, and likely to drive him to insanity, if he let it.

But that was okay, he decided; for the first time in his life, he didn't need all the answers, and as his arms tightened upon the woman and his hands snaked up her back to twine into her silky violet tresses, Sasuke decided he only needed one answer:

This encounter would be anything but temporary.

《》

A/N: Another fluffy/steamy bit of SasuHina! Now, Some of you have commented you don't care for thr ooc; well SasuHina ship ISN'T OC ANYWAYS! So a bit of goodness is kinda unavoidable – don't like? Read something else! I'm also experimenting on what sasuke's 'passionate side' would be like, since we mainly see him as either raging or stoic/suppressed!