Fair warning: I've been listening to an ungodly amount of Journey lately so if it comes across as a cheesy 80's like chapter then I apologize. I know I said last time there would be one more chapter left, but expect at least one more after this. Sawree.
Light eyes peered into the rectangle window on the door that led into Uchiha Sasuke's room. It looked the same as it had the last few days following his surgery—dark and gloomy. She frowned and slowly slid open the door before stepping inside. The sounds of his breathing indicated he was asleep and she hesitated for a few seconds. Hinata eventually willed her feet forward and then sat in the chair next to his bed.
That chair had become her place to be after he was induced into a short coma. Just as with Neji's surgery, Tsunade wanted to be sure that his eyes got a full rest before allowing him to be awaken. Hinata was wary of the surgery at first mainly because she was completely unaware of it until Sasuke was brought back to Konoha. Getting him there was certainly a challenge. After his collapse, Hinata was greeted by several medical ninja of Suna who at first thought he had been wounded during the infiltration.
It was much more serious and Hinata made it clear that he needed to be returned to Konoha. Suna might have the upper hand with battle formations, but Konoha was the best place to seek medical treatment. Hinata remembered Sasuke lying unconscious in the hospital in Suna. Much to her surprise, Gaara had made an appearance to his room to offer a special team that would transport the injured Uchiha.
Tsunade had approached her shortly after the surgery and Hinata could see that it had been tedious and tiring. The blonde haired woman then told her something that was very surprising. During Sasuke's transport, Hinata had administered those special eye drops once every thirty minutes. This seemed to put a pause on the bleeding, but as soon as the thirty minutes had passed the stream of blood from his eyes would begin again.
"Those eye drops… what are they, Hinata?" Tsunade had asked while she brushed a few wrinkled from the front of her shirt. They stood just outside the ICU room where the surgery had been and she was anxious to see him, but Tsunade's stare was growing firmer each second Hinata delayed.
"T-They are a Hyuuga medicine…" She said quietly. "We do not contract this out with the hospital because it's made specifically for eye-centric Kekkei Genkai."
Tsunade crossed her arms and nodded. It made sense; why offer something that only the Hyuugas would use? She stepped forward and motioned for Hinata to walk with her down the halls.
"Those eye drops saved Sasuke's eyes." Tsunade said bluntly. Hinata felt her stomach do a few twists although she wasn't entirely surprised. She was just doing what she thought was right. Tsunade noticed a lack of response and cleared her throat.
"From what I was able to gather, the drops shrink the blood vessels which in turn helped with the inflammation and initial pressure on the chakra channels behind the eye," Tsunade said. "The surgery wasn't a walk in the park, though, that's for sure. We won't know if we were able to completely salvage his eyes until he awakes… Either way, he has a long road of recovery ahead of him and will need as much help as he can get."
Hinata's eyes had fully adjusted to the darkness in Sasuke's room and she gazed down at him. His eyes were lightly padded with a generous wrapping of gauze around his head. She reached up to gently let her hand rest upon his and she felt the warmth from his skin. It was oddly comforting; he acted as if he was immortal and sometimes inhuman but in the end, he was just as human as she was. Hinata's cheeks felt warm just thinking back to his gallant rescue and how much she had missed him.
Although there was something sitting the back of her mind that said otherwise. She had heard talk at the Hyuuga estates of Hanabi personally asking the Uchiha to come to Hinata's aid. At first there was a feeling of anger knowing that her sister underestimated her, but then she felt conflicted. Did Sasuke come to her because he wanted to or was it under direct orders?
The hand under hers moved slightly as if it was startled but after a few seconds, the tense muscles relaxed. Hinata didn't need the Byakugan to tell her that he was awake now. Sasuke stirred slightly to try to get more comfortable and he finally stopped in defeat. Hinata could feel her breakfast churning in her stomach as she suddenly felt shy. She quickly retracted her hand and let it rest in her lap.
Sasuke's expression didn't change as he was already in a frown, but if he could, he would frown even more. The warmth from her touch was gone and he didn't like it. Even though he couldn't see her, he knew that it was her. Everyone had their own presence and just by having heightened senses, he could vaguely tell how fast their chakra was moving. Hinata's was consistent, but he always felt it spike it upon uncomfortable moments.
There was a very dull ache behind his eyes and it seemed every time he woke up it slowly got better. This ache was different than the blinding pain he suffered before. It almost felt like a relief. He wasn't sure how to categorize it, but it didn't matter. The only thing he was having a hard time adjusting to was the constant darkness. He had awoken from his induced coma last evening, but he had been incredibly drowsy. In fact, Sasuke hardly remembered speaking with Tsunade who was there to help him understand where he was.
The only thing he could really remember was specifically asking for Hyuuga Hinata. Sasuke didn't care if he looked vulnerable or weak because he was already well past that point. He was vulnerable and weak lying in that hospital bed. Sasuke had been teetering on the edge of his sanity between the coma and the numbing medication. It was reminiscent of when he had been treated for burns the previous year.
As of that moment, Sasuke didn't feel as sleepy but he also wasn't very comfortable. The constant darkness was depressing to him and knowing that he couldn't see her or anything. He wondered if he should say something as she was being more quiet than usual. The words sat on his tongue but it was almost a stubborn-like quality was keeping it from coming out.
"H-How are you feeling?" Hinata asked quietly after clearing her throat. She recalled the excitement and joy of hearing that he was awake, but now she felt flustered, just like how she used to feel in front of Naruto.
Sasuke just shrugged. He had been worse off before, but he was also getting that itching feeling to flee the hospital. It wasn't his favorite place to be and he suddenly missed his own bed at home. Sasuke shifted his weight as the sound of the ticking clock was the only sound between them. He figured he should probably say something to her since they hadn't really spoken to each other in several months. Sasuke wanted to know of what happened after his collapse and the fate of Suna.
"Why are you here?" The question wasn't harsh but he noticed his tone could be misconstrued. "Why are you here in Konoha?"
Hinata was thrown off by his curiosity and she watched her fidgeting hands in her lap. She had broken her contract with the Sand, although it wasn't a negative effect upon the two villages. Gaara was the one to allow her to go. Tsunade met with Naruto to discuss the findings of the attack on Suna. The tremors were created from the underground ninja who were travelling underneath the Kazekage building. Their destination was the library which sat at the very bottom of the building. This, in turn, created a sink hole as they emerged below and the tremors were from unstable ground.
It was a disaster waiting to happen; the conditions were oddly in favor of collapse as it was a very old building. Gaara and his team were in the works of a counterattack and possible take-over of the villages to the West of Suna. No lives had been lost, but had Sasuke not have been there to rescue Hinata, there would have been one.
"Why am I here?" Hinata repeated. "Because… you needed to come back to Konoha."
"You shouldn't have left Suna." Sasuke muttered. "Not for me, at least." It was hard to speak to someone when he couldn't see, let alone observe their behavior, which was something he was so used to relying on. Hinata frowned. After all they had been through, was he still denying it?
"Sasuke-kun… Why did you come rescue me?" Hinata countered. If he was going to question her feelings, then she would question his too. Sasuke remained quiet trying to find a correct answer that would suit both his tastes and hers. There really wasn't anyway around it; he could have said no and in any other case he would have.
Although a very pregnant Hanabi had been slightly convincing it was mainly due to his protective nature over Hinata. He hated admitting it to himself but it was all he could do on the way to Suna. Sasuke had a mental battle with himself and getting over the mountain of pride was difficult. Telling himself that he was madly in love was even more frustrating than trying to master a jutsu. Sasuke's life had changed dramatically and it would continue to with or without his consent.
"… Well, I—"
"Good morning!" Tsunade said brightly as she opened the door. Light poured into the dark room from the hallway which caused Hinata to squint. Tsunade frowned slightly before stepping into the room. "Oh. Did I interrupt?"
Hinata looked over her shoulder with bright red cheeks and quickly shook her head. Tsunade raised a slender eyebrow before slowly walking in. The darkness returned when the door shut. Sasuke could hear her heels clicking on the tile as she approached his bed.
"Pain level?" She asked nonchalantly then picked up his stats clipboard. Sasuke, who seemed used to this question, replied back dully.
"Four."
"Hmm… interesting." She murmured to herself. Tsunade looked up from the clipboard and then proceeded over towards the window. She slowly opened the curtains to get enough light within the room to see. Sasuke heard the curtains move and he braced himself for a sharp pain, but much to his surprise there was nothing. It was incredibly refreshing to not feel the constant pressure and pain behind his eyes any longer.
"When can I leave?" He asked suddenly. The sheets were itchy and his neck was stiff. Sasuke was done with the nurses gabbing back and forth in his room and he was certainly ready to get at least some of his independence back.
Hinata's gaze moved from the blonde haired woman to Sasuke and she couldn't believe he was already asking to be released. His eyes would be wrapped for at least another week, so there was no way Tsunade would allow him to go on his own. It had only been a few days since his surgery so she figured his wishes of leaving would be immediately squashed.
"I don't see why you couldn't be released today." Tsunade said with a half-smile. Hinata did a quick double-take while Sasuke remained silent.
"B-But Tsunade-sama… he cannot see!"
"I am aware. So he has a choice… be released from the hospital with an at-home nurse, or stay here in the hospital."
If he could roll his eyes, he would have. Sasuke figured she had some smart ass answer to fire back at him. There were times Sasuke would rather be blind than have the nurses help him eat and change clothes, although he very sternly cut off their 'help' when it came to the bathroom duties. Sasuke hated to be touched especially by strangers and it seemed no matter what option he took he was screwed.
After hearing this, Hinata breathed a small sigh of relief. She knew that he was antsy to leave, but if he didn't stop being stubborn he could potentially ruin the progress he made. Sakura had approached her the day before saying that Naruto was anxious to get Sasuke trained for the ANBU… the sooner he got better, the sooner he would be out in the field. Uchiha Sasuke would be living his dream and the whole reason of his return to Konoha. After the ANBU there wasn't much else he could do to rank up unless he was seeking to become Hokage.
"I'll take my chances on my own." Sasuke said and almost felt stupid. He knew that his response was laughable considering the company in the room. Tsunade did find it slightly amusing as a chuckle broke the painful silence that followed.
"Sorry, Uchiha, but I can restrain you in the bed if I need to." Tsunade's tone was awfully playful and Hinata wondered if she was much happier in the Konoha hospital. In fact, she had always wondered if Tsunade ever enjoyed being Hokage. Her gaze returned to Sasuke who looked mildly agitated. Even though she couldn't see his eyes, she could see him gritting his teeth.
Hinata thought back to Neji's same eagerness to leave the hospital. She had never spent a large amount of time confined there, but it was understandable to dislike it. Neji was able to leave earlier than usual since the Hyuuga had a few basic medical ninja within the clan, but Sasuke did not. Sasuke had… no one. Hinata was the closest thing to family… to a friend… to a wife… he had.
"Tsunade-sama…" She whispered. "I-I can take care of him."
Her cheeks were burning as she had realized what she just said. Tsunade was about to protest since the Hyuuga had little to no official medical knowledge, but her clan specialized in it as well. And somehow she had gotten Sasuke to Konoha while saving his eyes.
Sasuke was also surprised but he kept it hidden. His first initial thought was no because that was his go-to word concerning this type of situation, but in reality she would be the only person he would allow to touch him.
Tsunade opened her mouth to say something but the words seemed to have vanished. Hinata could see the astonishment on her face and she quickly felt silly.
"I-I mean until he no longer needs to be bandaged. I know I'm not a med ninja, but—"
"He doesn't need a qualified medical ninja… just someone there to change the bandages and help him get around. Also, he will be prescribed those eye drops to help with the healing process… and you've done that before."
There was a pause as Tsunade looked over to Sasuke who remained unreadable. He was unsure why she was allowing it, but he would certainly take it. His old bed was more comfortable and his loft was quiet. There weren't horrific screams that would jolt him from sleep every hour or a cackle from the overnight nurse. A long and drawn out sigh erupted from Tsunade who in the end just shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't see why not. Hinata, please make sure that he comes in for his appointment in a week. Uchiha Sasuke, you are free to go."
With that, Tsunade left the room. There was nothing said between the two and Hinata almost wondered if Sasuke would be angry. He was a very private person who insisted on being a completely independent person. She had essentially made him look weak by suggesting she help him for the week. Sasuke was quiet for a few moments until he kicked off the sheets.
"… My loft is messy." His voice had a sheepish tone as if he was embarrassed to be having company over even though she was well-aware of his messy habits. Hinata couldn't help but smile.
It was an odd adjustment but Sasuke was always up for a challenge. This challenge didn't require any intense training or countless hours of research. It was simple; walk without being able to see. Do anything without being able to see. It was easier when he was sitting idly in the hospital and he had even memorized where his bathroom was. Just five steps to the left and three forward. Sasuke wondered if his father had the same problems when he had the same surgery.
As a boy, Sasuke thought his father was someone who could do no wrong. His father was somewhat of a superhero; he felt no pain and was always able to walk away from a battle as the good guy. Seeing Itachi shatter that image of his father was another psychological issue that would visit him at night. It didn't seem so scary during the day, though.
The sun was bright and the breeze was warm as it swooped down through the bustling village of Konoha. It carried the laughter of two old men catching up and the scent of sweet rolls baking wafted through the crowd. There was always something to see, hear and smell within the market streets. Sasuke had refused to wait at home for Hinata to return from the grocery store, so he stubbornly tagged along.
He used this opportunity to heighten his hearing and follow her soft footsteps. It was easier in the store because there were hardly any other sounds except for the occasional hushed conversation. Even without being able to see faces, he could hear the words being spoken and so the gossip began. But now that they were outside and in the busy streets, Sasuke found it much more difficult to keep up. He thought about reaching out to let his hand rest on her shoulder but he decided against it. If Sasuke got lost, then he got lost.
Hinata was making sure to walk slowly in order for Sasuke to stay either next to her or behind her, but the crowd was becoming a bit much. She looked over her shoulder and could see the visible frustration on his face. Hinata stopped walking and shifted the bag of groceries. She held out her hand and grabbed his. Without letting him protest, Hinata continued walking and leading him through the people.
Sasuke normally would have ripped his hand back to his side, but he was too busy concentrating on walking blindly through a large crowd. He had really taken his sight for granted and although it was a challenge, it was also something he needed to take seriously. Sasuke was getting older and maturing; there wasn't anyone to seek out so now he was able to pay more attention to his well-being. Uchiha Sasuke was no longer a child. Somehow and someway he had found a way to grow but he still kept much of his stubborn qualities. If anything, he was becoming his father.
The crowd was getting sparse and after a few more seconds, they were on the quiet path back towards Sasuke's loft. Hinata could feel her heart pounding inside her chest and she almost laughed out loud when she thought of why. The adrenaline had kicked in as if she was on a mission, but the situation was different entirely. Hyuuga Hinata was holding hands with Uchiha Sasuke and that was enough to make her feel whoozy.
Sasuke felt the air around him feel less heavy and he welcomed the wind against his warm face. His eyes were beginning to throb from being out in the light and he was ready to escape to a quiet and dark room. The warmth in his hand had finally caught up to his mind and it felt strange. He didn't care much for public displays of affection as it irritated him, but this was for more important reasons. But now that they were out of the crowd, he wondered why she hadn't let go nor why he didn't mind it.
Hinata led Sasuke to the door of his loft and immediately let go of his hand. She hadn't realized she was still holding on for dear life. Even though this wasn't the first time they had been forced to confront their feelings, romance was a completely different realm for her. Hinata had read about it in novels and often wished for her to be the princess with a knight in shining armor. Now that it was a possibility, she found herself getting shy but it was also somewhat exciting.
"We're here." Hinata's voice was quiet. She turned the doorknob and entered slowly so Sasuke could follow her footsteps. The late-afternoon sun was present with lighted boxes on the floor and Hinata frowned. … It is messy. The living room seemed completely untouched, but the kitchen was mainly the eyesore. Unwashed dishes had piled up in the sink and the trash had also been neglected.
Sasuke ignored her silent gawking and slowly tried to find his way down the short hallway to his room. He needed complete darkness in order to rest his eyes. Even though they weren't technically working, they still moved automatically to different noises and such. After a few seconds of stumbling, he was able to feel his way along the wall and towards the middle of his room to the bed. It had been a while since he slept here so he allowed his body to fall into the unmade mess of blankets.
Hinata watched him struggle down the hall, but he successfully made it. She heaved a gentle sigh and walked into the kitchen. Setting down the bag of groceries, Hinata glanced around at the counter. She wasn't sure where to even begin on cleaning.
Sasuke could hear the clanking of the dishes and the water being turned on. He had already snuggled himself in under the covers and gotten comfortable. There was an unfamiliar sensation of comfort in hearing those sounds. Maybe it was because it was reminiscent of his family and hearing his mother doing those simple tasks. It was also just nice knowing there was someone there. Over the years, Sasuke had gotten accustom to being alone. It never bothered him during his quest to seek out Itachi. Ever since he returned to Konoha, it was almost painful.
The throbbing of his eyes slowly eased which was a relief. Even though he had done nothing but sleep at the hospital, just that small trip to the market was enough to make him groggy. Training would be a bitch come time to approach Naruto about the ANBU. Although… accepting that title would limit his interactions with Hinata. In fact, he would probably rarely see her.
The members of the elite team were often told to limit their time spent with friends. Most didn't have families. There was always the chance of an ANBU being gone for months for an assignment. It was hardly consistent. Sasuke was too tired to think about it any longer. He already knew that it was something he would have to come to terms with sooner or later… but for the time being, he allowed himself to slip off into a deep sleep.
Hinata didn't mind cleaning. Growing up, the Hyuugas had people designated to clean the mansion, but she always learned to clean up after herself. Living on her own had been an easy adjustment since she had been pretty independent to begin with. Besides, it was nice to see the bottom of the sink when she had finally cleaned, dried and put away all the dishes.
After that was done, she got to work on preparing a quick meal. The sun was beginning to set and the day was finishing up. It had been quite some time since she had made anyone other than herself a meal. Hinata smiled over a pot of rice cooking as she recalled the last time she had gone into Sasuke's loft to make him food. Her smile slowly faded. That had been so long ago… and here she was, again, taking care of him.
Hinata knew why she did it. It was in her nature and she felt like he needed it… but it was also because she loved him. Hinata wondered if he loved her although she was sure that Sasuke's definition of love was different than hers. They had a different way of showing it; he would choose a moment of weakness to hold her and she would clean his entire loft. He would silently watch out for her well-being and she would put in a good word for him.
She also pondered what might happen after he became a part of the ANBU. Hinata knew that it would make him happy to be such a high ranked ninja and she remembered talking highly of him to Naruto for the position. Even so, Hinata couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that he would do it. Perhaps she really was awful at the whole romance thing. Even Naruto had turned her down without even realizing it.
The aroma of rice filled the air along with some fried vegetables as she focused on that instead. She got lost in the heat waves that drifted upwards. In some strange way she felt right at home at Sasuke's loft. It was simple and plain compared to her own place, but it still had characteristics that she thought was endearing.
Sasuke didn't seem like he knew much about interior decorating, but there was a large Uchiha symbol hanging from the wall. Her gaze looked over across the room to another couple of frames. Hinata removed both pans from the heat and turned off the stove. She wiped her hands on a towel before looking down the hallway towards Sasuke's room. Silence. Pursing her lips, Hinata walked slowly from the kitchen and towards the small living area. The frames that were hung looked hand-made and Hinata was in awe. Did Sasuke-kun make these?
Inside the first frame was a photograph of a young Itachi on what looked like his first day at the Academy. His eyes were bright as it seemed he had been holding back excitement and he also stood tall. She wondered if this picture had been hanging for some time or if it was just following Itachi's death that Sasuke put it up. Her eyes hovered over to the next frame and she felt her breath hitch.
Inside was the photo that Hinata had given him long ago. It was a photograph of Sasuke's family. His mother was a beautiful woman that she had studied before giving him the picture. Her eyes were dark like Sasuke's but they had a softness to them that warmed her entire body. Sasuke's father was a stiff man from what she could remember and it showed in the photo. He had the same stoic gaze that his sons had. Itachi sported a half-grin and Sasuke was cheesing.
Her small smile disappeared. She couldn't remember the last time Sasuke smiled. He was only capable of hiding behind a smirk because that was just who he was… no, it was who he had become. It was who he chose to be in order to get to where he wanted to be. Heaving a sigh, Hinata turned from the pictures and to the hallway leading towards his room. Hinata didn't want to wake him, but a hot meal would be good for him. She had seen the food served at the hospital and it certainly wasn't anything close to a home-cooked meal.
Hinata felt like a cat slowly and cautiously slinking down the hall and she looked into the dim room. The sun was just barely peeking into the windows and for a second she wasn't even sure if he was actually on the bed. The blankets had covered him head to toe. Taking a few steps forward, Hinata then gently sat on the edge of the bed. She could hear his breathing was consistent with sleep and she reached out carefully to nudge his shoulder.
"Sasuke-kun…" Her voice was just barely above a whisper.
"Nn." Even in his sleep he was stubborn. Hinata frowned; he was ignoring her. She let her hands rest in her lap as she sat there for a while. There was no reason behind her drain in emotion. Well, there was, but she refused to think about Sasuke possibly leaving for the ANBU. After several minutes of listening to his calm breaths, she decided it was time to leave. She gently stood up from the bed when an explosion of movement behind her made her nearly wet herself. Sasuke reached out to grip her arm as he had sat up. His grasp was firm, but not enough to show aggression. Hinata looked at his expressionless face and was silent.
"Where are you going?" Sasuke asked. His voice was low and sounded sleepy.
"S-Sasuke-kun… I am going to go home for the night." She said. His grip around her forearm remained. "I will be back first thing in the morning so we can change your bandages."
No. Why can't you stay? Why do you have to go? Those were things he thought about saying in his groggy state. Sasuke wished that he could see her. His last few images of her were blurred by blood and there was an almost pathetic desperation to just look into her eyes. This woman had done something so strange to him. She had come into his life without even being asked to and completely turned his world upside down.
It was unlike anything he excelled at. Missions were simple; one either fails or is successful. Learning jutsus were more complex, but training and hard work were key to mastering them. Hell, even cooking was easy—there were instructions to follow. Love was not simple, it was incredibly complicated and there was nothing there to give directions. Love just… is.
Sasuke didn't care about his pride at that particular moment. He wanted to pull her into his arms, pull the blanket back over them and hold her until it was uncomfortable. Sasuke had lost her a few times before due to his stupid self and due to her own matters. Now she was there taking care of him without feeling obliged or complaining. Hinata was there for him.
"Stay." Sasuke said bluntly. It wasn't the first time this scenario had happened between them and she had been reluctant each time. Hinata's facial features softened gently as her cheeks grew warmer. She had never slept in the same bed as a man before and it almost went against her moral innocence.
Hinata was torn. She was torn between giving in her to own feelings and her anxieties. She was obviously already attached to him and was terrified of it being torn from her… again. Of course, this was also one of the first times Hinata felt selfish for wanting him all to herself. His happiness was important to her, but at the same time, she wanted that happiness as well. She was so close to being completely in love and that scared her. All that could go away if he took that position.
Hinata was also scared. Partly scared because she had finally found someone to fall in love with and also scared because there was a chance it wouldn't be returned. She felt like a naïve child who was terrified of getting hurt by playing on the swings… it was thrilling, but there was always a risk of falling.
"I…" She whispered. Sasuke waited. "I will be back in the morning, Sasuke-kun. I promise."
Sasuke held onto her arm for a few seconds longer before retracting it in defeat. For some reason, he understood. Hinata was a strong woman who wasn't like any of the other women he had been with. She didn't just give into his advances even though he could tell she also wasn't ignoring them. Hinata was worth the wait. Without a word, he let his body sink back into the comfort of his bed. The silence wasn't awkward or tense; it was light and airy. Hinata closed her eyes and let go of the breath she had been holding.
"Sasuke-kun, you should eat." She insisted, but her words were either not heard or were ignored. Hinata lifted a hand to run a few fingers through her bangs and then chewed on her lip.
She walked out from the room and simply stared at the food on the stove. Walking over towards it, Hinata began to put rice and vegetables on a plate for an easy meal and then wrapped it in a towel. She set it in the fridge and proceeded to clean up again. By the time all was done, the sun had gone down completely.
Hinata then stood aimlessly in the living room wondering if maybe she should stay. She didn't need to sleep in the bed with him… there was a futon she could use. She had certainly slept on worse during missions. Even if she did stay, there were thoughts that would circle her mind and keep her awake. Hinata needed a few questions answered and bit of re-assurement.
The sun was almost fully gone so she had just enough time for a quick jog up to the hospital to see Hanabi, who had been put on immediate bed rest shortly after she had gotten back into Konoha. Soon there would be a big change for the Hyuuga clan and the excitement was bubbling in her stomach as she silently let the door to Sasuke's loft shut behind her.
"Hinata." Hanabi's voice seemed surprised. "What are you doing here?"
Neji looked up from his seat beside Hanabi's bed and stood up. Hinata, who was still attempting to catch her breath, leaned up against the closed door behind her. She reached up to smooth out her shirt and a few stray hairs from her braid.
"Nothing…!" Breath. "I just…" Breath. "I hadn't had a chance to visit…" Heavy breath. Hanabi raised an eyebrow and looked over towards Neji who seemed just as bewildered. It was late and truthfully visiting hours were over, but Hanabi smiled.
"Well, you're just in time… They've been kicking." Her gaze lowered to her large belly before letting her hand rest upon it. Hinata smiled and stepped forward towards her sister. Neji crossed his arms and began to walk towards the door.
"I'll take this opportunity to get some water." He muttered, but was widely ignored as Hinata squealed under her breath.
"Ahhh! I felt it!" She whispered with a large smile. Hanabi beamed and leaned back more into her pillow.
"Yeah… What would Father have done with two grandchildren? Twins… who'd have thought." Hanabi mused. Hinata could feel the babies inside squirming every so often and she laughed.
"Well, Father was a twin… so it was bound to pop up again in the family." Hinata said. Hanabi nodded and there was a nice silence. She slowly sat down in the chair next to her sister. It was exciting to know that Hinata would become an aunt. It was the closest thing to being at mother at this point in her life and she could hardly wait.
"So what has Sakura said then?" Hinata asked. Hanabi heaved a sigh and shifted a bit.
"Bed rest for the next week. The babies should be here any day. Sakura-san would like to keep an eye on my vitals just in case they decide to come a bit earlier than planned." Hanabi said before heaving a sigh. "One of them keeps pushing up into my ribs… makes it hard to breath!"
Hinata grinned then laughed. Although being pregnant was a dream of hers and to someday have a child, she couldn't imagine the physical stress. One baby seemed enough… Hanabi had two coming! Although she would have a lot of help with them as she was a new mother. Many of the women in the Hyuuga clan were always there to be nannies and provide care.
"Any names decided yet?"
"Well… not yet." Hanabi admitted as she stared into space. "I haven't even had time to think about it. But I guess since I'm stuck in the hospital, now is the time."
"Well, it's certainly exciting…"
"Sometimes, I can't even believe that I'm the leader of the Hyuuga, let alone married and overly pregnant." Hanabi's voice felt strained with emotion as she once again adjusted herself uncomfortably in the hospital bed.
A soft frown replaced Hinata's smile and she played with the end of her long braid. Naturally, she was jealous. There was such stability in Hanabi's life… a husband, two babies on the way, and an entire clan to keep her from harm. Hinata wasn't worried for her own safety, but the family aspect was missing from her daily routine. She had grown up with the stern but protective Hiashi and he instilled things throughout the day that revolved the clan in some way whether it was training with Neji, meditating with Hanabi or reading up on scripts… there was always someone there.
Her life now was filled with solitude and for quite some time, Hinata didn't mind. She welcomed the sweet relief of quiet evenings and training sessions in the mornings with her team. In fact, there hadn't been much training at all since she had left for Suna. Kiba was preoccupied by his own love life and Shino had been caring for his ailing mother. Change was always on the horizon and Hinata could feel it was nearing again. Now Hinata regretted moving from the Hyuuga estate.
"Hanabi." Hinata suddenly said as she lifted her gaze. "Why did you send Sasuke-kun for me?"
There was a hesitation in the youngest sibling as she closed her eyes. The response was there; it was just finding the right way to say it without it sounding… weird. The distant sound of the ticking from the wall clock was pounding in Hinata's ears as she waited patiently.
"Growing up, Father told me that you were going to be the leader for the clan. Neji and I… we just grew up and accepted that you would be far more significant in life than either of us. But then things changed; certain board members passed on which had an impact on you being the heiress." Hanabi stopped. All of this was really common knowledge. Hinata was not favored because of her quiet demeanor and lack of leadership compared to her sister.
"It's okay, Hanabi…" She whispered. Hanabi opened her eyes as a small tear slipped down her cheek.
"But it's not!" Hanabi argued. "I feel like I owe you… like I should help fix the mess I made. I want you to be happy and I can see it in your eyes when you talk about him."
Hinata's cheeks flared up and she began to fidget. This was the uncomfortable conversation she had asked for. She reached up and held onto Hanabi's idle hand that lay beside her.
"I know you won't say it because you'd feel like it would be a betrayal to Father… or maybe it's just because it's not Naruto-sama. I don't know what goes on in that head of yours but…" Hanabi swallowed. "He won't say it either. You're both stubborn and someone needed a push."
Hinata's brain was swarming. There was just too much and it was hard to focus. There was one thing that she had been wondering about and there really wasn't anyone around who had a great opinion on it.
"How do you know?" She whispered almost hoping Hanabi didn't hear. "How do you know you're in love? Weren't you scared?"
Hanabi smiled shyly and for once, it was her cheeks that donned color. She reached up to slip a loose lock of hair behind her ear and then gave a squeeze to Hinata's hand.
"Yeah… truthfully, I was terrified. Even though it was an arranged marriage, I had known Hayato-kun for a while. His father was on the elder board and from there we had talked." Hanabi pursed her lips. "I guess it was just one day. We were sitting in the back and he put his arm around me. It wasn't anything extravagant like in the books where a princess runs off with her prince. But it was just that moment where there was no other place I'd rather be. I would do anything for him and he would do anything for me. That was when I knew…"
Hinata's eyebrows curved upwards and she looked down. Love wasn't anything to run from or be scared of. It was something to just let… happen. It was something to trust. Hinata trusted Uchiha Sasuke more than Neji. Hinata wanted to feel needed and loved and that was just what she would get by just giving in. Not even a thousand Naruto's could make her feel that way.
"I just don't want to get hurt." Hinata's shy voice interrupted the silence. Hanabi glanced over and her smile had disappeared. She was aware of the circumstances of Sasuke and what might happen after his recovery.
"Hinata," Hanabi said through a wince as the babies in her belly squirmed. "Heart break is better than heart ache. Just let it happen. Your heart is capable of a lot of things… it can break into a thousand little pieces and it looks hopeless. It can also be heavy with hurt and regret not knowing what love could be."
Hanabi paused to give another squeeze to Hinata's hand. She glanced over at her older sister and could see the sparkles of tears that sat stubbornly in her eyes.
"… but your heart can also feel light. It can feel so light and beat so fast that it makes you wonder if happiness could feel any better. And in your case, Hinata, I feel like you would experience the latter."
Hinata was silent as her sister spoon fed her advice. It was what she had been seeking and it was the answer that she was looking for. There was a fear that swirled in her brain and in her stomach which made her feel silly. She was a high rank ninja who had faced some of the world's most powerful villains and yet here she was fretting over the act of love.
It was something Hinata hadn't realized would be such a big deal. She had always been more than willing to give Naruto her heart and would have if he ever realized it. The admiration of his strength was the basis for that 'love'. The close bond that was formed was the basis for her love for Sasuke. It was a completely different situation that called for different feelings. This love was real and it was indeed scary, but it was also somewhat exciting. Just like Hanabi said, it made her heart flutter and her stomach churn as she thought of the unknown.
"I know Father wouldn't have approved… nor does Neji, but give it a chance. Who knows… maybe Sasuke will change his mind." Hanabi said with a slight twinkle in her eye. Hinata felt her cheeks go red just thinking about the Uchiha choosing her over his dreams.
Normally, it would have been unlikely. Now, it felt probable.
Sasuke's first night alone was oddly thrilling. He found it to be somewhat of a game or challenge to familiarize himself with his own loft, but without his eyesight. With a few stubbed toes and several curse words, he was able to master the hallway very late in the night. Sasuke imagined he would have slept through the night as he did during his stay at the hospital, but there was no pain medicine pumping through his veins to keep him out. It was hard to figure out what time of day it was without his eyes, but from the quiet breeze and distant crickets, he guessed it was late.
It took him several minutes to figure out when the hallway ended and the kitchen began until he ran straight into a table. At that point, he was going to be more injured from running into shit than his original surgery. Eventually Sasuke discovered the fridge and the food that had been prepared. Sasuke ate his cold food in silence and in solitude.
Normally, this didn't bother him. In fact, the last time being alone truly bothered him was his first few weeks after his family had perished. Sasuke hated the ringing in his ears from the silence. He couldn't stand having no one around to talk to. He had been a young boy who always had something to do whether it was training or doing house work. Sasuke had arrived back into that same situation whereas he had nothing to do except… recover blindly. Literally. It was a simple and mundane task he already found irritating the first day in.
Even though Hinata was as quiet as he was, he missed having her there. Sasuke had come to terms that he had grown attached to the woman and her frail frame. It was hard to ignore so he just decided to deal with it. Her presence was soothing and comforting and in the end, that was what he so dearly needed. His lifestyle said otherwise, but she knew deep down his needs and his fears. She didn't have to rub them in his face or lecture him—she just understood.
That was what Uchiha Sasuke needed; someone to truly understand. Sakura claimed she understood, but he knew better. Even if she was unaware, Sakura only looked out for herself and her own feelings. She was human and that was common. It was unfortunate that he needed a strong woman who would put him first, but it wasn't like he would allow it go unnoticed. Sasuke was someone special and required more patience than anyone else. For some reason, Hyuuga Hinata had that patience to deal with his emotions quietly and soothe the psychological damage he suffered.
He knew that he was difficult. He knew he was an asshole. It couldn't be helped, though, and Sasuke learned to find ways to make up for that. Often times, those things were subtle and not always noticed as something special. Sasuke nearly had to break off his own thumb going against his own nature to approach Hinata at times, or break the silence between them. Uchiha Sasuke's character didn't have romance written into it, but he was forcing it in. That was his way of showing the gratitude and affection.
After he ate, Sasuke sat back and he realized something. The food, although cold, was delicious. It was better than anything he'd make right off the stove. Hinata really was something—she could fight, cook, clean, and put up with his sorry ass. He got a headache just thinking about it. Sasuke could feel a frown weighing down his lips. Am I scowling at myself? It seemed like an odd thing to do so he ignored himself.
Sasuke slowly stood up and grabbed his dishes cautiously. He made sure to carefully maneuver around the table in order to reach the sink. Sasuke was accustomed to piles of dishes that were caked with remnants mainly because he couldn't be bothered by housework. It was almost calming to know that there wasn't a mess or clutter. Sasuke leaned up against the counter and blindly fumbled around in the cupboards for a glass. His fingertips grazed exactly what he was searching for and a soft smirk appeared. This whole blind thing is easier than I thought.
Certain that he had a firm grip, Sasuke pulled the glass down and was horrified to feel it come loose in his fingers. His ninja reflects kicked in and he tried his best to predict where it would fall. Sasuke reached out in a slight panic to try and recover the glass, but much to his dismay, the sound of glass shattering broke the silence. It also shattered any confidence he had with being unable to see.
Sasuke felt his hands curl into tight fists and he slammed one down on the counter from frustration. He turned angrily to head back to his room and a shard of glass wedged itself into his bare foot. Several more explicits were added to the list as he stumbled to get his balance, but alas, the table snuck up on him. In defeat, Sasuke allowed his body to crash to the floor. He could have straightened himself up from the fall, but he was fuming as a slight throb returned behind his eyes. A trickle of blood was tickling his foot and his toe was beyond stubbed.
A groan spilled from his lips as he rolled over onto his back. The cool ground was strangely refreshing so Sasuke remained there. The pressure behind his eyes started to ease and the relief was overwhelming. He had feared he might have further damaged his eyes from the fall, but it was just the adrenaline causing his blood to pump. A heavy sigh inflated his chest as he rested there on the floor, halfway in the kitchen and halfway in his living room. Sasuke suddenly felt exhausted from his nightly shenanigans and a full tummy. Eventually, he felt sleep pulling him away from reality.
It was a few hours later when there was a soft knock at the door. Sasuke wondered if he heard it in his dreams, but the second knock was a little louder. He felt his body twitch groggily; he knew who it was and he wasn't getting up to open the door. There was a hesitation before the door slowly opened. He could tell that a stream of light pierced through the darkness even with his eyes wrapped.
"Sasuke-kun…! What happened!?" Her voice of concern was what really jolted him from his sleep, but he remained where he was lying. He could hear her feet shuffle towards him and then her scent hit him like a ton of bricks. It was always something he enjoyed.
Hinata knelt down next to him and her fingers pressed up against his cheeks and then his forehead to check for any signs of a fever. Her eyes glanced over her shoulder at the shards of glass all over the floor and a few areas of smeared blood. … He can't be left alone during the night.
"… Let's get you cleaned up, Sasuke-kun."
"I'm fine." He protested even though he knew she was right. Hinata frowned and ignored him. Hinata grabbed his arm gently and eased him to his feet while he used her to balance himself. She helped him over towards the futon in the living room and she was surprised that he was allowing her full access to his body.
Sasuke could feel her presence leave the room and he remained still lying on the futon. His spirit felt diminished in his moments of weakness and he knew that there were many more to come within this week of his eyes wrapped. Her footsteps returned as she gently eased herself down with his wounded foot in her lap.
She was relieved that the shard of glass lodged in his heel wasn't too deep. Reaching over, Hinata grabbed some gauze and then began to try to very gently pull the glass out. Sasuke could deal with the pain; he could feel the blood beginning to trickle again the more Hinata pulled at it. The one thing he never really realized before was how ticklish her touch was against his foot.
He was unable to stand it any longer and he jerked his foot back from her fingers. It sent a jolt of pain from his heel but the ticklish feeling was gone. Hinata looked over at him bewildered while trying to catch droplets of blood with the gauze.
"Sasuke-kun, I know it must be painful, but you will need to sit still so I can get it out." She said patiently.
"It doesn't hurt." Sasuke hissed as he lowered his foot cautiously back into her lap. "It's just…" His voice trailed off and Hinata felt a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"… Oh. I-I'm sorry. I didn't realize you were ticklish." There was an odd tone to her voice he didn't care for. It almost seemed like she was amused by it which only made him feel even more stupid. Sasuke forced himself not to jerk back his foot again while her fingertips began to work at the shard of glass again. He could feel it being slowly pulled out which he did his best not to wince at.
"Ahh, there we go." Hinata whispered and applied pressure to get the blood to stop. There was a bit of a silence as she began to apply a bandage. "Um… I was thinking of staying the night."
Sasuke felt his stomach churn a bit at that as any woman spending the night at his place usually meant naughty things. He knew better though and remained quiet. It was because he couldn't take care of himself without his sight—essentially he needed a babysitter.
"It would just be easier. Naruto-kun is letting me take some time off since I've returned, so… um, if that's all right with you."
Sasuke sat up and gingerly placed his feet flat on the floor. He wasn't ignoring her; of course he wanted her to stay. Sasuke wanted her to stay in the first place. The problem was finding the right way to say 'yes' without sounding soft.
"Only if you change these damn bandages." Sasuke's voice was monotone while his fingers pulled at the old gauze around his face. Hinata smiled gently and nodded. She stood up to walk across the room and then pulled back the drapes to keep the light out.
"Your eyes are still quite sensitive, I imagine, so the less light the better." Hinata's voice had trailed off as she walked away, but he could tell she was returning when the volume got louder. The cushions next to him moved and her hand enveloped over his that was already removing the bandages.
"Slowly…" Her voice was soft and he could smell the sweetness of her breath. It sent a shiver down his spine and for a quick moment he almost felt the urge to groan. Her touch was light as a feather but it still had an intense effect on him. Sasuke remained awkwardly silent while the bandages unraveled but he soon forgot his own hormones.
Even with the lights out in his loft, he could still tell that it was daylight with each layer of gauze that piled on his leg. It hadn't even been that long that he had been without sight, but it was slowly eating away at his sanity. It was temporary and he kept reminding himself of it. Just the simple task of opening his eyelids was something he had been craving. Who knew anyone would want to stretch their eyelids?
"There we go." Hinata mused. "I need to apply those special drops and then we will wrap it back up. Lean back."
Sasuke did as he was instructed and let his head rest at the top of the futon. Hinata lifted herself to her knees to be on a higher level than Sasuke and her fingertips gently rested on the sides of his eyes.
"Alright, slowly open your left eye." Hinata whispered. Sasuke was happy to oblige and allowed his left eyelid to open. His sight was blurry, but he didn't have time to focus on Hinata's face as she had already administered the first drop.
"Blink, blink, blink." She paused. "And the next one."
They repeated the process with the right as well. Sasuke couldn't quite put his finger on how the drops made him feel… but it almost felt like he had given his eyeballs a bath. They felt refreshed, clean and somewhat numb. Sasuke felt ten times better than he had just a few moments ago when he was sprawled upon the floor with a piece of glass sticking out of his foot.
Hinata was silent as she started to wrap fresh gauze around his eyes, but he could feel the fabric of her sleeves brush up against his cheek. Her lavender scent was enough to make him shift a few times. But most of all, Sasuke was just happy she was there. Even though he didn't show it, she brought a sense of comfort and relief to his days.
Her hands returned to her own lap after she felt satisfied that the gauze was nice and snug. Aside from the broken glass on the ground and the dirty dishes, the loft had remained fairly clean. She stood up from the couch and reached for the broom in the closet when his voice caused her to stop.
"Hinata." He said. She felt her heart flutter as he rarely said her name. Looking back towards him, he had stood from the couch and was slowly stepping forward. Sasuke now had a mental picture of his kitchen and where the table was so he stopped just short of running into it.
"… Yes?"
"Er…" Sasuke paused to scratch the back of his neck as if he was embarrassed. "It's been a while since I've cleaned up… so."
Hinata felt her cheeks go from completely normal to bright red in a matter of seconds, although she was grateful that he was unable to see her so flustered. At first, she was unsure of what to say. What could she say?
"Oh. U-Um… well." Hinata attempted to form a sentence.
"I just need the tub filled." Sasuke interrupted her sensing her nervousness. He thought about smirking at her reaction, but his infamous poker face remained. Hinata felt a relief washing over her and she nodded using the broom for some support.
"Ah… Y-Yes." Hinata said breathlessly. Leaving the broom in the kitchen, she walked slowly towards Sasuke's bathroom and flipped the light on. It was a typical bathroom without much luxury—perfect for a guy. It was a surreal moment for her as she had never drawn a bath for anyone let alone a man.
She sat on the edge of the tub and watched the water fill up as if she were in a daze. There were several times throughout the past 24 hours where she wondered what she was doing and why. But then the answer would smack her straight in the face: he was why. Her light eyes watched the steam float upwards and then allowed her fingertips to graze the top of the rising water.
Hinata noticed a bottle of shampoo and soap on the other ledge of the tub and she curiously reached over to pick up one. As the lid came open, Sasuke's familiar scent filled her nose. It was what she smelled every time he had gotten too close for comfort or sometimes just when he walked by when they were stuck in the library. Her cheeks were rosy from the heat of the water, but they intensified as if she had stumbled upon a very intimate detail of him.
Maybe she was thinking too much into it, but it was as if she was peering into A Day in the Life of Sasuke. Hinata was watching him live which was something she had never seen before. She was finding out what made him smell so good, how he 'folded' his clothes, which brand of milk he purchased. In a way, it was sweet. In another aspect, it was heart wrenching to know he had been doing all of this alone for the better half of his life.
"Well?" His voice startled her enough that the bottle slipped from her hands and into the cascading water below.
"Oh…!" Hinata watched in horror as an intense amount of suds began to multiple, but she was quick to shut the water off before the tub became one giant bubble. Sasuke allowed his hand to rest on his hip as the smell from his shampoo filled the air.
"Sasuke-kun… I am s-so sorry." She whispered then stood up. He shrugged his shoulders and he could hear her feet shuffling nervously around the bathroom. He didn't really care; it was just soap. If he wasn't so stubborn, he might have cracked a smile.
Hinata was in the process of attempting to save the rest of his shampoo as she pulled the bottle from the warm water. She had gotten up to grab a towel when Sasuke began to pull his shirt over his head. A small 'eep!' escaped her lips as she turned away. It wasn't as if she hadn't seen the bare upper half of a man before. Kiba, in particular, came to mind when the thought arose and it just seemed so private. Even if it was normal for a man to take off his shirt in front of others, it was still something she found to be embarrassing.
"W-Well. I will just be out in the kitchen then. Please try not to get the bandages wet." She whispered before folding up the towel and letting it sit on a lone chair in the corner of the bathroom. Sasuke felt a puff of air blast by him as Hinata had made a bee-line for the door. The sound the door shutting behind him was his signal that he had some privacy.
The hospital smell was always hard to get rid of so in the end he didn't mind the bubbles that engulfed his body. The water was the perfect temperature—hot but not unbearable. It soothed his stiff muscles but it did burn the new wound on his foot. That was the last of his worries. He let his head rest against the edge of the tub and fought the urge to rip off the bandages around his head. If he was pre-occupied it didn't bother him so much but he also just wanted to sink to the bottom.
Hinata's body temperature had finally returned to normal as sweeping had become the task at hand. But after that was finished and the dishes in the sink had been cleaned and put away, Hinata was at a loss. There was a certain silence that blanketed the loft and she wasn't sure what to do with herself. There was always something to be done… whether it was her own daily chores or something at the library, Hinata never had down-time.
Breathing in, she began to pace between the kitchen and the living room looking for little things to re-arrange or fix. Every so often there was a muffled slosh of the water in the bathroom and it only reminded her that Uchiha Sasuke was naked. Her cheeks got warm once again and she gently sat down onto the futon. Hinata let her head rest against the back of the cushions and she closed her eyes.
Even though Neji didn't technically live in the same building as Hinata had growing up, he might as well have. Hinata had to constantly watch her back with her privacy especially being in a district full of people who could damn well violate it. This was completely different; she felt as if she was invading on Sasuke's personal space even though he hadn't shown any emotion about it. She knew that he tended to be an enigma with his own personal matters. In fact, he didn't reveal much of himself at all to her. The extent of what she knew of Sasuke's past was what had been whispered throughout the village for all those years. Hinata wasn't expecting him to ever say much of anything. Sometimes, the past is better left as the past.
For several minutes, Hinata remained on the futon in a dream-like daze. Her body was so comfortable and there was a chance she was half asleep. Everything was heavy as if it was coaxing her to sleep. Hinata was a millisecond away from giving in when a loud noise jerked her awake.
"Sasuke-kun?!" Hinata felt her stomach drop just picturing him slipping and cracking open his skull. She scrambled to her feet and was at the bathroom door within in seconds.
"Sasuke-kun!? Are you okay?" Her small fist was knocking fervently on the wood when all of a sudden she was hit in the face with steam. Hinata froze when Uchiha Sasuke stood before her half naked with only a towel wrapped around his waist. This time she was forced to look.
It was a given that Sasuke was muscular. Every ninja was (with the exception of Chouji) and she had never doubted it or thought about it really. His arms weren't incredibly buff, but the muscle was there from the constant training. His stomach was well-toned and she watched breathlessly as several water droplets trailed down his chest. His skin looked soft, smooth and strangely enticing. Her lips trembled as she tried to squeak out words.
"I'm fine." His dry voice shook her from her daze and she turned around so quick she thought she gave herself whiplash. Her fingers shook as they were brought to her chest; her mouth was dry. Suddenly the loft felt incredibly small and clustered.
"I-I see… I was just worried, that's all."
Sasuke could hear her steps start to fade away and he could sense her modesty. In a way, it was making it even harder to not just pull her into an embrace. A set of goose bumps traveled down his spine as he thought of her up against his bare chest. Sasuke cleared his throat and slowly turned to venture down the hall.
It was easier this time because he had timed it in his head just how many steps were between each room just as he did at the hospital: five medium strides from his room to the bathroom, eight from his room to the kitchen, etc. Sasuke scoffed lightly to himself as he recalled Tsunade threatening him to remain in the hospital. Truthfully, he only needed Hinata around to help him with his bandages. And in the end, he probably could have figured out how to do it on his own as well.
Allowing someone else to help him was a very rare thing for Sasuke to do. It went against his characteristics, but it never struck him as odd until then. The little voice in his head began to squirm with reminders on how letting anyone in would only be extra baggage. Sasuke had found a way to ignore it with training, but alas that wasn't allowed and even he would abide by those rules. He wanted to make a full recovery.
Sasuke wasn't sure what the hell he had put on, but he assumed it would look fine. Even if it didn't, he didn't really care. Using the wall as reference, Sasuke walked himself down the hall and everything was quiet. He stood still and frowned. Her presence was still there, but he wasn't sure what she was doing. After another few seconds of mentally investigating, there was a familiar feeling in the air- the feeling of a heavy amount of chakra circulating. … She must be meditating.
And he was right. Hinata was sitting on the floor in the living room with her hands together in the form to meditate. It would probably serve him well to join and regulate his own chakra. It would have to replace his usual distraction of training. So that was just what they did.
Sasuke had found his way to sit just across from her and he, too, sat in his own stance. It had been several years since he had meditated with anyone else present. Back at the Academy, Iruka had revealed that meditating with comrades and team mates increased the closeness between them. After a few moments, their chakra rates would synch up and it was also another way to sense them in cases where sight was not always an option.
The rest of their day was quiet. Meditation was the one thing that took up most of their time. Neither had ever really had the time to focus on it before so it seemed long overdue. Sasuke felt incredibly relaxed that evening as Hinata started to cook their dinner. The delicious smells of rice cooking and fish frying wafted around him while he lounged on the futon.
It was a strong reminder of better times… happier times… when his family was alive. His mother would cook around this time while his Father would study scrolls at the table. Itachi would be sharpening his kunai for the next day. Sasuke breathed in the comfort of this feeling and it was something that he hadn't felt in a very very long time. His entire body was loose; every muscle was relaxed. There was no deafening silence. There was no stress like he had been used to before.
This was also another reminder that he didn't have to continue to live as he did. His revenge had come and gone. What was there to be stubborn about now? He was lined up to become a part of the ANBU and Naruto was no longer pissing him off. Life was awfully good for him aside from the week of being blind.
They ate in silence, but it still wasn't completely silent. The birds chirped happily outside in the late summer evening. Every so often, Sasuke would hear her sip on her tea and as she began to clean up, he swore he could have heard a soft humming from her at the sink. It seemed perfect from the outside, but when it came down to the facts, they were just playing house- it was all pretend. Hinata didn't live there. Soon, her presence would be gone along with her humming, her perfume and her touch. There would be no more delicious smells in the air and the silence would return. Sasuke frowned heavily at this as he put down his chopsticks.
"Why are you doing this?" His words caused her to pause, but she quickly resumed scrubbing her dish. Even though he couldn't see her, Hinata still felt better with her back towards him.
"I knew you didn't want to remain in the hospital." Her voice was always so quiet.
"No," Sasuke said firmly. "Why are you doing this?"
At this point, he had stood up from the table. He was getting better at recognizing his surroundings but it wasn't the first thing on his mind. The sound of the water from the sink stopped and Hinata sighed gently.
"R-Really, Sasuke-kun, it's because I knew that you hated the hospital." Hinata repeated while she wiped her hands dry. "And I figured you would want someone trustworthy making sure you were taken care of."
She watched him stand there and his expression remained the same, but he was not satisfied with her answer. Naturally, he was hoping for a confession because he wasn't going to be the first to say it. Both stood stubbornly in silence. Breathing in, Sasuke was about to turn to head to his bedroom when something felt wet underneath his foot.
"… Oh, you're bleeding again." Hinata murmured. Sasuke almost felt like a child who was constantly making a mess, but the tone of her voice was anything but irritated.
"The bandage must have come off when I took a bath."
"Well, if you can make it your bed, I will come in and re-wrap it."
Sasuke wondered how much gauze he had gone through in his lifetime as he hobbled down the hall. It was probably a disgusting amount considering all the injuries he had sustained even in just his childhood. Gauze was just as important in the Uchiha household as water was. If it wasn't his father coming up with gashes it was Itachi or Sasuke.
He wasted little time plopping into his bed but he was careful to not get blood all over his sheets. Within a few seconds, Hinata was at the foot of his bed. This time he wasn't as ticklish and she was able to gently apply ointment and bandages without any problems.
The sun was providing very little light, but the job had been done. Her eyes glanced around his room and it was just as messy as his kitchen had been. This was the only room Hinata refused to enter and clean. It was where he slept and it was a little more personal than his kitchen.
"Alright… Well, good-night." Hinata eventually said after a few moments of no conversation. He thought about asking her to sit with him until he fell asleep, but that was immediately dismissed. Stupid. There was nothing more to keep her here, so Sasuke was about ready to roll over and pass out when he felt the bandages around his eyes loosen.
"Damnit…" He breathed and sat up to try to fix them. Hinata looked up with a frown and she stood up to go around to him on the mattress.
"Here," Hinata offered after she watched Sasuke struggle with it. "… You are just making it worse, Sasuke-kun."
Out of frustration, Sasuke let his arms fall obnoxiously to his side while she sat on the edge of the bed. Once again, her lavender scent swirled around him almost tauntingly. This time it was incredibly intense and perhaps it was because their chakra flow was in synch from their meditation earlier. It took every fiber in his body not to pull her into his arms.
Her fingers gently tightened the gauze and to finish it off, she moved a few strands of hair from within the layers so it wouldn't snag. This sent a semi-violent shudder down his spine to which she took notice.
"… Oh. I'm s-sorry." She whispered. Sasuke didn't say anything. Even though the bandages were fine now and there was no other reason for Hinata to stay, she did anyway. He could hear her soft breathing and he could feel her chakra rate speed up. Other times that Sasuke had attempted to advance on her felt weird and even wrong, but this moment felt just right. His hand reached up to graze her cheek and he was relieved that he was able to find it without touching anything else.
Hinata's heart was racing in her chest; it felt light and quick just like Hanabi had mentioned. Even though she was terrified, there was also a sense of excitement with a rush of hormones. Any other time, Hinata would have refused to even allow it to get this far. It was reminiscent of when Kiba attempted to get close to her, but it was different now. This was a much different and more intense feeling. It was... love. Sasuke's face was inches from hers and Hinata felt like it shouldn't be put off any longer... so she allowed her eyelids to slide shut for her first kiss.
"Sleep with me." Sasuke's husky voice caused her eyes to shoot back open. Normally, Hinata would have jerked back from his touch and then go sweat profusely somewhere far far from there. But she was essentially frozen in time with that phrase playing on a loop in her brain.
Sex. That was something that Hanabi never mentioned and Hinata was a virgin of course. She knew that Sasuke was not so there was another wave of terror rippling through her body. The Hyuuga tradition was to always wait until marriage which almost made her laugh out loud. Get married… when? She was completely unsure how to respond as either answer of 'yes' and 'no' didn't sit right with her.
"Sleep with me tonight… not on the futon." Sasuke reiterated. Hinata felt her entire body go numb and she was somewhat relieved at his words. She leaned into his touch before he moved over to make room.
Hinata hesitated at first when his hand disappeared from her cheek and he waited for her to lay down. All the terror went away as soon as she crawled under the covers. With her back to him, Sasuke rolled over to let his arm drape over her. His chin came to rest on her shoulder and she heard a satisfied sigh whiz past her ear.
At first, her entire body was tense as she got used to the intimate touch. But after a few minutes, Hinata began to feel more and more comfortable. It was warm and it was sweet. Her heart was still racing light and fast in her chest but it wasn't scary any longer. Hinata had dreamt about this moment her entire life with Naruto although recently, those thoughts shifted to Sasuke. They were secret thoughts that she knew no one could get a hold of.
She had envisioned their first kiss and even embarrassingly engaging in other activities as well. Hinata was human and shy, but at least there was no one to worry about inside her head. This feeling she felt was amazing. It heightened her senses and now she understood what Hanabi was talking about. Now she understood why people fell in love.
Hinata allowed her entire body to relax which made Sasuke's arm tighten around her as if he was afraid she would leave. His breaths were consistent but she knew that he was still awake. Anyone on the outside would have cried blasphemy at this as Hinata was a modest Hyuuga with a name to uphold and Sasuke was a lone wolf only worrying of himself. They were able to completely allow each other to give in to the human feelings of needing someone. It didn't need to be anything... just comfort. Just love. Just simplicity.
After several minutes, Hinata began to feel sleepy. Sasuke shifted and let his forehead rest up against her back. His arm was still innocently draped over her and much to her surprise, Sasuke only held her. He didn't try anything sexual or even attempt to kiss her. Hinata felt her pink lips curve into a soft smile, but she would be lying to herself if there was a part of her that felt a bit disappointed.