Never Say Never

by One More Time

At age 23, Uchiha Sasuke returns to Konoha after he kills his brother. Now on his list: rank higher. However, will he remember an old connection with a certain Hyuuga? SasuHina

19. Chapter 18: Promises

This will be my last Naruto fanfic for a while. I am simply too busy and its not fair making you wait two months for updates. I really enjoyed writing this fanfic and I hope it was somewhat tolerable to read. Expect either an epilogue up or a short chapter after this to wrap things up. Thank you 3

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Sasuke woke up alone. His arms stretched for the woman that he fell asleep with but there was no one beside him. With a slight groan, he rolled over onto his back and yawned. He had awoken refreshed and relaxed which was unusual. There were at least a few times that he would toss and turn or wake up throughout the night. A hand ran through his hair and he remained lying there wondering where Hinata had gone.

He remembered her sleeping in his arms the night prior. He remembered smelling her lavender scent all night. He remembered feeling her head rest on his chest. It was the intimacy that he wasn't used to. Sasuke had been with women in the past but it was strictly sexual. He didn't touch them after he was finished and the whole cuddling business was usually irritating anyway—his arm would fall asleep or he would end up with a mouthful of hair. But cuddling with Hinata was different and he wasn't sure why. It was the same thing just… different. He didn't mind it. He knew exactly where she was and that she was safe.

But now… Sasuke had no idea and it made him feel out of the loop. He sat up and stretched his arms. There was a faint smell of tea that had made its way into his room and he wondered what time it was. Crawling to the end of his mattress, Sasuke stumbled at first but was able to regain his composure before face planting into the edge of the door. A few hissed 'fuck's and 'shit's later, the door was promptly shoved away. Remembering his method from yesterday on the hallway, his fingertips used the walls for reference before he felt her presence.

"Good morning, Sasuke-kun." Her voice was calm and quiet as she sat at the table with a cup of tea resting between her palms. Sasuke hesitated upon hearing her and he gave a slight nod. There were a few moments of silence until he spoke up.

"What time is it?"

"About 9 o'clock." Hinata said after taking a short sip of her tea. Her cheeks were slightly rosy as she recalled the night before. It was not like anything inappropriate had happened but it was definitely something she had never done before.

"Nn." Sasuke muttered.

"I've made some rice balls and tea if you'd like some."

There was no response from the Uchiha, but he did step forward cautiously to take a seat at the table across from Hinata. She reached over to pour some tea into an empty cup she had out for him and then slid it into his open hand. He nodded his thanks and then took a few sips. There was another pause in their conversation which neither minded. It was nice to just enjoy the warmth from the sun's rays that peered into the windows while drinking some tea. Sasuke wrinkled his nose when he realized how much he was turning into his father. This was the exact same thing he saw his father do with his mother in the mornings before he went to the Police Head Quarters.

"Have you been up long?" Sasuke asked out of curiosity. Even with their close bond, his voice still remained one flat tone but she didn't mind. It was just normal for him. Neji was the same way.

"Y-Yes, actually." Hinata admitted. "Every morning I wake up early to train. Luckily Kiba and Shino were able to meet me."

Sasuke's ears perked to hearing her team mates' names. Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino; both were men he had never really had an issue with. Sasuke recalled having a slight beef with Kiba on their mission to Suna, but he had forgotten all about him. Normally he wouldn't have given it a second glance, but there was something odd stirring in his stomach and it wasn't the tea. It almost felt like… jealousy. Not only was she able to go out and train, but it wasn't with him.

He swallowed the weird taste in his mouth and took another drink from his cup. It wasn't an overwhelming feeling, but it was just the fact that she had left him to go train. She was supposed to be there taking care of him and in his own selfish way he wanted her all to himself. On the other hand, he didn't blame her. Ninja needed constant training in order to stay sharp and strong. Besides, being stuck inside with him was probably a buzz kill anyway. A frown pulled at his lips and Hinata could see it. Her soft smile became a thin line.

"D-Don't worry. In a few days, Tsunade might let you start doing small things." Hinata paused. "You'll need to start soon, though, since the ANBU…"

Sasuke had also forgotten about that particular detail of his life. He had been so preoccupied with recovering and being with her that it was essentially filed away under 'shit I'll deal with later'. Or he was basically ignoring it. Sasuke had already come to terms that he was in love. It would be too much against his ego to say that he was also going to choose love over work.

His hand blindly patted the table top until it found the plate of rice balls and much to his surprise it tasted a bit differently than when he made it. It tasted better. The rice wasn't hard and or super chewy. It was about the only thing he knew how to make so it was nice to be eating something that wasn't just tolerable.

Hinata watched him for a few seconds before another sip to her cup. It was a nice way to get out of the house and get rid of pent up adrenaline with training. Knowing Sasuke, he was getting antsy. They had spent much of the past two days inside and that was unlike him. The problem at first was keeping him resting for his eyes, but now it was time to start incorporating normal daily activities.

"I hope you don't mind… but I brought over some stuff." Hinata announced. One of his eyebrows rose in curiosity. Some stuff…?

"Like what? Girl stuff?" Sasuke thought aloud. Hinata felt her cheeks grow warm.

"W-Well, I figured since I was going to be here a few more days… It doesn't make sense for me to keep going home just to take showers."

Sasuke was silent and the thought of a girl taking over his loft was something he had never had to experience. 'Girly stuff' didn't just stop at shampoo and soap. There were the excessive perfumes, candles, and even tampons. As much as Sasuke wanted to protest, there was a problem: he really didn't mind it. He would rather have Hinata with him as much as possible at this point as the future seemed unknown.

"I need to leave again today." Hinata said hesitantly. Sasuke swallowed his last bite of breakfast and then let his elbows rest on the table top with his fingers intertwined. Sasuke didn't mind being in a recovery mode, but he also felt like there was anchor tying him down to his loft whereas he couldn't come and go as he pleased. Sasuke was so used to doing whatever the hell he wanted with no one to consult with or get permission from.

"Where?" Sasuke probed. His voice was slightly cautious which caught her by surprise. She shouldn't have been, though, because all her life there was someone who was questioning her whether it was her strength or where she was going. Everyone was protective of the Hyuuga, but Sasuke was protective for different reasons.

"The Hyuuga district. I am almost out of eye drops for you… so I will need to make more."

Sasuke was quiet as he chewed on that thought. He would go just about anywhere to get out of his own house and breathe some fresh air. The Hyuuga mansion wasn't the first place on his list, but it certainly wasn't the last either. He recalled the last time he had been in the compounds of the Hyuugas and it was to accept a mission to find Hinata. It saved her life.

"I'm coming with you." It wasn't so much as a request or a demand. It was more of a desperate plea to 'see' the light of day. Hinata smiled and was relieved to hear that. She was going to ask if he would like to accompany her, but wasn't sure how to say it without feeling sheepish. Hinata was to the point where much of her thoughts revolved around the Uchiha and she didn't want to overwhelm him with her presence.

"O-Okay." Hinata's voice was sweet and he could sense a somewhat different tone. It wasn't her usual response which was often times generic or simply polite. This had actual happiness behind it even for a simple one-worded response. It made his stomach feel strange and it warmed his body. He wasn't used to that feeling and even though it felt blissful, it was off putting for his tastes.

"I need new bandages." Sasuke said flatly as he stood up from the table. Hinata swallowed the rest of the tea in her mouth and nodded as she rose to her feet. Even though it had only been a day or so, they fell into a nice routine of changing bandages.

Sasuke waited on the futon for her to bring the supplies and he sat still enough for her to start unraveling. Her scent crept into his nose again and it made him shift a bit. His ears picked up the faint sounds of her breathing and he noted from her chakra flow that she wasn't as nervous as she had been previously.

"Does it hurt at all?" She said quietly. The light from the room became more prominent once the last layer of gauze slipped through his hair.

"Not really." He said with his eyelids still shut. "It's not really a pain… just a little discomfort from having my eyes closed 24/7."

Hinata's finger's delicately leaned his head backwards to administer the eye drops; first in the right and lastly in the left. Sasuke could honestly do it himself, but for some reason he didn't mind being taken care of by Hinata. It was nice to sit back and not have to be so strong. There wasn't a crowd to please and he felt secure enough to let his walls down… but only a little.

As he blinked the drops into his eyes, he noticed his vision wasn't nearly as blurry as it had been the day prior. The small amount of light in the room didn't seem to bother him either, and he thought about protesting to having his eyes covered up again. But his eyes were his life and without them he wouldn't be able to continue being the elite ninja he worked so hard to be. So without saying a word, he allowed Hinata to securely wrap fresh gauze around his head.

"There we go." Hinata said with a smile. "Are you ready to go?"

"Nn."

The steps from his front door were a challenge. He had been up and down them at least a million times without realizing how many there actually were until he stumbled down the last two. Hinata was there to help him regain his balance which only caused his lips to become an even thinner line. Sasuke was still adjusting to being so accepting of her help and often times the frustration made him forget. Hinata understood, though, which made his frown only deepen. Yes, the Uchiha felt guilt for his shitty attitude on the occasion especially when it came to her.

He could feel his mood starting to lift as they walked. The sun was warm on his cheek and the breeze was there to toss his hair when it got a bit too warm. The sounds of chatter from the village folk were abnormally comforting to him. He was used to being alone for several days without it having an effect on him, but the past year Sasuke was considered a part of society now. People no longer had hushed conversations when he walked by. His dark past had essentially been replaced with a quiet respect.

"Sasuke-kun… It is about to get a bit crowded." Hinata warned gently. Sasuke could already sense it. There was a lot of chakra flowing in front of them. If it had been a handful of people, Sasuke would have been able to avoid them by using those senses but it was a bit overwhelming. Hinata could tell he was hesitant to reach out for her help so willingly, so she took the initiative. Her arm intertwined with his and they began to walk through the morning traffic.

Sasuke could feel her taking charge of the situation which left him feeling dumb, but he knew it couldn't be helped. He was without his sight and it was certainly better than being stuck inside the damn hospital. There was always the same weird smell there that made him shudder. At least he was able to be at his own home and eat decent food, but the whole reason he was able to do that was her.

Oddly enough through the village chatter he could still hear a slight tune coming from the closed lips of the Hyuuga attached to him. Sasuke could feel her chakra was calm; he didn't detect the slightest bit of tense feelings that he always would feel otherwise. Hinata seemed perfectly content and he wasn't sure why he was taking notice. Perhaps it was because she was with him… maybe it was because she no longer worried about him. Maybe it was because their feelings for each other were slowly starting to come to light. Sasuke wasn't sure but he was also starting to feel more content than usual.

Sasuke could tell where they were in the market place from the different smells that entered his nose. The farther from his loft they got, the more savory the smells. He noted that the sweeter the smells, the closer they were to his loft. The amount of people around him had been shaved down to a normal amount, but their arms still remained the same. Hinata didn't seem to notice and as much as he hated using her for help, he didn't mind that she had forgotten to let go.

Hinata did stop upon hearing a familiar voice. Sasuke stopped as well and strained his ears to hear what she was and it didn't take long to put a face to the voice. There was some confusion in both of them but mainly Sasuke because he couldn't see. What is he doing out here?

"… Naruto-kun?" Hinata questioned as they had reached the few ramen stands in Konoha.

"Eh?" Naruto had frozen upon hearing his name and a small bead of sweat formed on his forehead. Damn… I've been caught. He twirled around on his seat while swallowing the noodles is his mouth.

"Ahhhhh, Hinata!" His voice was strained as if he was embarrassed and his hand raked through his messy blonde spikes. Hinata's wince had slowly softened into a smile upon seeing Naruto's face. There was always something inside that felt warm upon seeing him, but she knew now that it was simply admiration for his spirit. His hair had gotten slightly longer and his clothes had changed to be more fitting of a leader. Aside from that, Naruto was… Naruto. Perhaps he was just a bit more reserved than he was as a child, but the twinkle in those blue eyes had always remained.

"Naruto-kun, what are you doing here?" Hinata asked. It shouldn't have been surprising considering the person and the area, but as a newly elected Hokage, Naruto should be spending his time going over old files and familiarizing himself with his duties. But at the same time, the Hokage could really come and go as he pleased. His embarrassed grin disappeared to reveal tired look as hung his head.

"I just… needed a break. And ramen. Lots and lots of ramen." He motioned behind him to the large amount of empty bowls piled up. Hinata felt a small laugh escape her lips. Naruto's eyes moved over towards Sasuke. He could see the bandages wrapped around his eyes and for a split second, he felt a slight pang of pity for the Uchiha.

"Hey! Sasuke, I heard from the old lady that your surgery went well."

"As good as it could have been, I suppose." Sasuke's response was a surprise as Naruto hadn't expected one at all. His voice was still as dry as ever but it still caused the blonde haired man to cross his arms with a smile. There was something different in his presence but he couldn't quite figure out what it was.

"Y-Yes… He has to go in in a few days for a check-up, but I think he is recovering well." Hinata spoke happily. Her light eyes looked in the direction of Sasuke who remained unfazed by the sudden attention.

"Well, that's good. The sooner the better and then we can get you going with that pre-training for the ANBU." Naruto said as he nodded. Sasuke could feel Hinata's body stiffen next to him and he could also feel it with their arms still linked together. Even without her saying a word or even showing it on her face, really, Sasuke knew that this subject was a touchy one. Sasuke understood why so his response to Naruto was simple: a half-hearted shrug.

Naruto's grin disappeared. He was well-aware that Sasuke wasn't an enthusiastic guy, but there was something strange in his attitude towards it. In fact, his attitude to the entire thing was off ever since it had been brought up several months ago. The Uchiha Sasuke that Naruto grew up with would have pounced on this opportunity as soon as it was brought to light. It seemed that he was avoiding it. Naruto's blue eyes locked in on something he hadn't noticed before; their arms were intertwined. He recalled pushing Sasuke to give in to the Hyuuga and his own feelings, but little did Naruto know he might be preventing that.

"… Well, Hina, just make sure he doesn't do something stupid okay?" Naruto finally said after a small pause in the conversation. Hinata's cheeks brought forth some color after he eyed her and she nodded quickly.

She couldn't help but return the small smile before glancing down at her feet. It was an unwelcome blast from the past with him and she was lucky the breeze flew down to ruffle the warmth out from underneath her bangs. Sasuke could sense she was flustered and his stomach churned strangely with his second feeling of jealousy for the day. He quickly cleared his throat and shifted his weight.

"Ah…" Hinata noticed and nodded. "We should be going."

"Come see me when you're in tip top shape." Naruto said as he swiveled around on his chair to face the counter once again. "OY! One more bowl!"

"Yes, Naruto-sama!" The sounds of water rushing and pots clanking erupted from the small shop.

Hinata couldn't help but allow a slight smirk to settle onto her usually innocent lips. Even with the title of Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto would never change. Sasuke felt the exact opposite; when he had first gotten wind of him becoming the Hokage, it didn't really bother him. He had his own issues to deal with. But now that his mind had caught up to reality, this sudden power Naruto had over him was slightly irritating.

Hinata's eyes glanced over towards Sasuke, who seemed ready to go, so she pulled gently at his arm to make him aware. Their feet carried them in silence from the busy streets of the market place to the outskirts of the Hyuuga district. This was where the traffic flow of people really thinned out. Hinata's arm slipped from Sasuke's, but she remained close to his side for his own reference.

"We are almost there."

The familiarity of the district calmed her. The feeling of nostalgia also set in as she had walked down these paths over a thousand times whether it was coming home from the Academy or returning from a mission with her team… there was always something about home that warmed her. The Hyuuga mansion was now in sight and she remembered the times when Neji would wait for her to get home from class. He would stand with his arms crossed at the gate even if she was just a few minutes late.

Other times, Hinata's father would be meditating on the front porch as he would often wait for her as well. There was always an 'after-class training session' and it was dreadful. Hiashi worked Hinata to near exhaustion, but secretly she also enjoyed them. They gave her one-on-one time with her father as they were not to be bothered.

She chewed on her lip when she realized that he was no longer there to silently greet her. He was no longer there to teach her new techniques as she grew older. He was no longer there to help her evolve. In essence, Hiashi had taught Hinata everything she needed to know. It was now her turn to be an adult and create a family to keep those teachings going. A deep sigh inflated her chest and upon releasing it, she felt a little better.

"This way, Sasuke-kun." Hinata murmured gently before taking his hand in hers. Her cheeks grew slightly warm at her own gesture as his hand was soft in hers. It felt strange in her mind to be holding Uchiha Sasuke's hand as he was the exact opposite of anything touch-y feel-y. Only Hinata knew that behind closed doors, that rocky exterior would crumble away to reveal a very scared soul who just needed comfort like everyone else.

The Hyuuga gardens were directly connected with the actual mansion, but there was a gate to get to the back. It had been under construction since Kabuto's invasion as it had torn up quite a bit of the land, but it was finally finished a few months before she came back from Suna. There was also a memorial added to commemorate not only her father's death for the Hyuuga's but also her uncle.

With the warmer and humid weather in Konoha, the garden was buzzing with all sorts of insects like bumblebees and dragonflies. They all seemed to mind their own business as Hinata pulled back the large cast iron gate. The ivy and vines had re-grown around the posts while bright yellow flowers bloomed along them. She smiled as a strong whiff of flowers hit her in the face and she looked over at Sasuke, whose usual blank face seemed vaguely curious.

"It shouldn't take very long…" Hinata's voice entered his ears as she led him towards a stone bench that sat in the middle of the gardens. Her eyes looked over the shrubs and the masses of color ahead of her and she felt something inside her dwindle. It was her first time being back in the gardens since her father's death.

Of course, the land stretched for about an acre filled with not just flowers but fruits and vegetables as well. There were herbs galore and it made sense that the Hyuugas had many salves, ointments, and medicines that came from the land. As Sasuke sat down, his nose was also filled with the many different scents.

He tried to remember the feelings he had gotten the last time he stepped foot into the Hyuuga Gardens. It was a year ago. Kabuto had attacked and gotten what he had come for. It wasn't a good time for him to stop to reflect at that point in time considering the circumstances of Hiashi's death. Now that there was nothing but time Sasuke felt his shoulders relax.

He was never a nature person. Flowers were just flowers and the whole process wasn't his 'thing'. Someone plants a seed then nurtures it until it grows. One basically put their heart and soul into it in hopes that it would grow to become something beautiful. Sometimes, the plants were beneficial and others were just nice to look at. Less often than not, there was both. In a way it was the perfect way to describe a village… a clan… a family.

The sound of soft humming could be heard but every so often it would get lost in the wind. Hinata was working quickly but with a sense of gentleness. She had made the eye drops at least a dozen times, so it was mindless work as she walked through the gardens collecting certain petals, herbs, and leaves to crush. Every few moments, her light eyes would gaze in Sasuke's direction. He sat with his legs crossed and in a state of what she figured was meditation.

She stopped to wipe a few beads of sweat from her forehead and inhaled the sweet scents all around her. Depositing her findings into a small leather pouch, Hinata began to approach the area where Sasuke sat. She didn't need the Byakugan to detect his stable chakra. It was easy to see from his posture and his slow breathing his mind was far from the Hyuuga Gardens. Hinata let herself down gently onto the stone bench and it was warm from the sun.

Sasuke didn't stir or even seem to know that she was there. Hinata thought about joining him for some meditating, but her heart just wouldn't be in it. There was something about being in the gardens that bothered her spirit. It brought back the memories of being a child and spending a lot of time learning of the different flowers and herbs. It brought back the memories of her father's death with quick and flashing bits of the blood and the utter destruction. Kabuto had made a place once very peaceful for her into a place she wanted to avoid.

Hinata found that one deep breath could keep the sadness at bay, but she also discovered that it was a temporary solution. Hiashi was a cold hearted man, but he only meant well for his daughters and for the clan. Sasuke, of all people, would understand that a family member could do the worst and there would still be remorse for their deaths. In Sasuke's case it was two deaths of the same person. Hinata wasn't incredibly close to her father and her depression with his absence always seemed odd.

"What is it?" Sasuke's voice interrupted her deep thoughts. She glanced over at him at her side and even though he had spoken, his body remained the same.

"Nothing."

Sasuke's eyebrows slowly furrowed as if he was losing patience. His hands, which had been folded in his lap, lifted up to rest on his knees. His shoulders relaxed ever so slightly but his frown remained.

"I know when you lie because you always twitch your nose." Sasuke muttered.

Hinata felt her cheeks grow red at his observation and she had never really noticed it herself. Of course it was deemed nearly impossible to lie in front of the Uchiha mainly because he was a walking lie detector.

"If anything good came from this surgery, it was strengthening all my other senses including chakra flow. And since I cannot see you, I can tell when you aren't being truthful." The tone of Sasuke's voice was void of anything that Hinata could use to gauge his thoughts. He didn't sound mad or irritated or happy. She chewed on her bottom lip and shrugged her petite shoulders as if he could see it. In a way, Sasuke saw all even with his eyes out of commission.

"I-I don't know why." Hinata's voice was nearly a whisper to keep her emotions from getting the best of her. She recalled the time where Sasuke forced her to cry- to rid herself of these types of feelings. It was a symptom of holding things in, but in her opinion, it was a sign of weakness that she worked so damn hard to will away. It was also a by-product of many years of being told to be strong.

Sasuke sat without saying anything. His lips were pursed as he thought about what could be running through her mind. The death of his clan haunted him every day even though they had been somewhat avenged... it didn't change the fact that he lost his family. Hinata must feel the same way with Hiashi and he knew that would probably never change.

"I was bitter for a while when I lost the right to the clan." Hinata thought aloud. "I never meant for the blame to fall upon his shoulders as I couldn't be upset with Hanabi."

Sasuke was silent. Listening to someone's problems was usually a waste of time as it had little to do with him. Just like Shikamaru would say, it was troublesome. It could create unwanted attachment but Sasuke knew that he was far from that. The attachment was there and it was strong. He was curious to get to the root her sadness that he figured she dealt with in her own solitude... when night time came around or it was a quiet afternoon to herself. Hinata was just like he was and he disliked knowing that she could potentially harm herself mentally by continuing on that path.

"If you're looking to blame yourself, you're wrong." Sasuke finally spoke.

"But that isn't even the problem any longer..." Hinata said her voice slightly louder in her own defense. "I was never..."

There was an obvious pause after her voice cracked a bit. She inhaled deeply.

"I was never what my Father would consider successful. He was never proud."

His words upon the last moments of life rang through her mind. Hinata, you impressed me the most. As much as Hinata wanted to believe his final thoughts of his daughter, she couldn't grasp the truth to it. A life of ridicule could not be mended with those phrases. The wind swooped down to bring a comforting scent of earth around them. Sasuke wasn't sure what to say. He had felt much of the same feelings growing up. Unlike her situation, he never got his closure at the end. He never got to know what his father truly thought of him. All Sasuke had to rely on was what his Mother told him as a child.

This wasn't about him, however, and for once in his life he didn't mind reaching out to someone else. Hinata had put up with his garbage decisions for the better part of two or three years. If he could do anything, it would be just to make her feel some kind of comfort as she had done with him. There was a change brewing in the lone, cold Uchiha. Part of it was from getting older as they were now in their mid to late twenties. He wasn't a naïve child or a stubborn teenager. Uchiha Sasuke was a man.

His arm blindly reached out to the woman next to him and he let it drape over her shoulders. This action caused her to lean into his chest and it also shook loose a few tears in her eyes. Her cheeks were ablaze but it was one of the sweetest things he had ever done for her. It was a simple gesture because she knew that there were few words that could sway her feelings. He didn't have to say anything. Just knowing that there was a slight bit of care in him towards her meant the world.

"Sasuke-kun?" Her voice was slightly muffled in his shirt.

"Hmm."

"H-Have you ever wondered what might have happened... if our clans would have allowed our friendship?"

This time it was his shoulders that did the shrugging although the inside of his brain was squirming with curiosity. Sasuke had never really thought of it before. Had Hyuuga Hiashi allowed the blossoming relationship between an Uchiha, what would have become of them? Would they have remained friends for their entire lives? Would a romance have started sooner? Would there have been a romance at all? Would things have been any different?

Some say that even the slightest change in the past can alter the future in a large way. Perhaps someone to lean on would have helped Sasuke through the slaying of his clan. Perhaps it would have even prevented it ultimately by some unknown reason.

All these thoughts ran through the minds of them both as they sat there confiding silently in each other. Hinata allowed her eyes to slowly close as she breathed in the scent of the man who held her close. It was strange to know that she had slept with him the night before… lying as close as they could together. Hinata felt her lips slowly form a secret smile while she nuzzled slightly into the crook of his neck.

"Things could have been different regardless." Sasuke said after quite some time. Hinata frowned as she gently pulled away to gaze up at him. She opened her mouth to inquire more of his response but it hit her then. Sasuke was taking a jab at himself for being so withdrawn from everyone… especially her. Hinata would have never ever accused him of being so rude just because he felt like it. It was so much deeper than that and everyone understood.

It was why Naruto was so keen on tracking him down for so many years. It was why Sakura confessed her feelings constantly. It was why Hinata silently stayed by his side since they were children. Everyone who came into contact with him knew of his past and often the pity for him became toleration for his attitude.

"I can never change." His voice once again broke the silence and it was enough for her to pull completely away from him. It was strange to witness the stubbornness break away from his character and for a split second she thought he might have a fever of some sort. But after a few seconds, it was apparent he was doing his best to reach out to her without ruining his reputation.

"Sasuke-kun… anything is possible. Never say never." Hinata was word for word on her mother's old saying. After several years, she wondered if her mother even said it or if she dreamt it. Either way, it helped Hinata through her years as a young ninja and as a young adult.

Hinata frowned with his lack of response. He either was ignoring her or not taking it seriously.

"Three years ago… when you arrived in Konoha, would you have ever come to my aid that was based on your own feelings? I was a no one to you then. And now, well, I mean… things have changed. You've changed."

More silence. Hinata wasn't one to feel frustrated, but she also wasn't going to deny his stubborn ways were difficult to manage. Sasuke leaned back onto his palms and he felt her get up from his side. He could sense that she wasn't going to continue with the conversation, so in a rare moment, he would.

"You've changed as well." His voice caused her to freeze and she glanced over her shoulder at him. A slender eyebrow was raised in question to his statement. Hinata tried to think if she had changed much. She wasn't any different personality wise and the only thing she could find to validate it was her strength.

"I… I don't really believe I have." Hinata's tone of voice was a mix of being quizzical and confident as if she was sure of it. Sasuke couldn't help but allow a smirk across his face just picturing her expression to go along with the words. He pushed on his knees to get to his feet before slowly walking towards her.

"Well," He started. "Three years ago you were in love with our new idiot Hokage."

With that, he walked past her a few steps towards the iron gate that surrounded the gardens. Hinata couldn't remember the last time she thought her skin might burn right off her face. Her heart rate had gone from zero to one hundred and fifty as if this was an embarrassing comment. In a way it was because she fought so hard for that to be a secret in her child hood. It was also as if he was trying to pry her true feelings out of her about him without being straight with her himself.

"I-I-I…!" Her mouth was dry and the thought of denying it would have only made him continue to poke fun at her.

Sasuke was silent as his fingertips touched the bars of the gate. He frowned as a ripple in his memory hit him like a ton of bricks. That's okay Hinata-chan. I like telling you things. I know you can't talk so you can just listen! His own voice rang in his mind as he recalled a forgotten embarrassing moment of trying to impress the young Hyuuga heir with a kunai. You're a princess and I'm here to protect you!

He felt foolish for forgetting. He felt like an awful person for not falling through with his promise to not only her but to her father. It was a rush of hidden emotion that Sasuke was enduring at that second. The guilt of his clan and of her would always be there weighing on his shoulders. But the difference was he had a chance with Hinata whereas he did not with his family. This was an opportunity to end his twenty yearlong pity party and open his eyes to what was right in front of him.

"Hinata." His voice was strangely quiet. She had been observing him while she recovered from her intense blush earlier.

"Yes…?"

"If your father hadn't of been proud, then he wouldn't have given his life for you."

Hinata felt her entire body go numb and suddenly she felt selfish. She knew that was not his intention and in fact it was very sweet of him to say that. His father wasn't even there to give him his last words or to protect him. Sasuke had to protect himself. She simply stared at his back as he faced away from her, his hands still gripping the gate.

Her feet moved forward until she was directly behind him. Her arms slid around his belly and she leaned into him for a very gentle embrace. Hinata allowed her forehead to rest in between his shoulder blades. Sasuke almost flinched at her touch mainly because he hadn't expected it.

Both had searched high and low for their happiness. Sasuke sought for it in the revenge from his brother thinking that perhaps the blood on his hands could cure the ache in his heart. When that wasn't enough, Sasuke climbed the ranks wondering if that would help. Much to his surprise, he didn't notice a difference.

Hinata tried to find her own happiness in being useful whether it was to her clan or to her village. She once imagined herself being content in the arms of Naruto but now it seemed like it was just a disguise. Naruto would never have truly realized the deep depths of her heart—both positive and negative.

In the end, it was revealed they could both use each other's past and their grievances to comfort one another. Their sadness would never go away fully on their own but together it could be soothed. Together, they could become something great. Together, Hinata was still his princess and he was still her protector.

---

The sun had retreated for the day. Clouds had moved across the sky to block the moonlight. In the distance there were rumbles to indicate this storm wouldn't go down without a fight. The wind howled against the will of Konoha as a stray dog looked for refuge under the foundation of building. It was a typical mid-summer storm that usually arrived to keep a drought from appearing in their region.

Inside Sasuke's loft there was the sound of hissing rain as it pelted the roof and the occasional burst of lightning. They were safe from the storm and neither seemed to really notice it was there anyhow. Hinata used her palms to lift herself from the table as she gathered empty dishes from their dinner. Sasuke listened her to soft footsteps go back and forth from the table to the sink and from the stove to the refrigerator.

Just when he had finally gotten used to not having his eyesight, Sasuke had the sudden urge to rip off the bandages. He hadn't realized it until a few days ago, but he got a kick out of watching people and observing their often times odd antics. It was useless information much of the time but on the occasion, 'people watching' also helped him gather tendencies and knowing when someone was not being truthful. Ibiki would have been proud.

Back in Team Seven, Sasuke knew more of his team mates than they thought. He always knew when Naruto had something half-way witty to say: his eyebrows would shoot up as far as they could go on his forehead and lips would curl into a sly smile. It was annoying then but now it was an easy way to know when to walk away from him.

Sakura was perhaps the easiest person to read. She was your typical woman and wore her heart on her sleeve. It didn't take a genius to know when she was upset, happy, flirty or even pissed off beyond all reason. Although since being taken under Tsunade's wing, Sakura had developed a poker face which was harder to decipher… all the more since Sasuke's absence in her life. In a strange OCD way, Sasuke wanted to update his mental file on her, but the thought of it made him tired.

Kakashi was different. In battle, it was obviously hard to read the mind of the Copy Ninja… but Sasuke had the upper hand over all with his own Sharingan. It did seem that Kakashi would surprise Sasuke every time which led him to believe he probably wouldn't ever fully figure out his senshi. In casual conversation, it was easy to detect his mood: hiding his nose in a dirty book caused his forgetfulness. To some he was mysterious but to Sasuke he was bland.

Hinata was his favorite person to watch. She had the most facial expressions to accompany her behavior. He never would word it as 'cute' but it was slightly endearing. When she thought of saying something, but decided against it last second, her mouth would hang open silently. Her cheeks would get red and she would quickly turn away to not further embarrass herself. When it was clear Hinata was happy or content, her eyes would brighten and her cheeks would don a rosy color. And when upset or dare he say irritated, her lips would become tight and her eyebrows would tense up.

Needless to say, Sasuke missed seeing her. He missed peering into those light eyes and searching for her mood in them. Even though they were pupil-less, he always found them interesting even as a child. But he was perfectly fine with waiting and just knowing she was a few feet away from him made it easier.

He raised a hand to run through his messy hair and he suddenly felt scurvy. It had been at least a day since his last bath and usually it wasn't a big deal but it was different when there was a woman around. His ears picked up the sound of the sink running and dishes rattling. Sasuke didn't want to bother her with running his bath… besides, she had gotten flustered enough for the day. He slowly got to his feet from the table and quietly made his way to his bathroom.

Sasuke only stumbled a few times as he was relying more upon the walls and his surroundings. The tub was easy to find as the bathroom was small and by turning the knobs warm steamy water began to pool. The thunder shook his loft even over the sound of rushing water which caused him to pause his undressing. The walls rattled and the rain began to pick up on the roof. With a shrug, Sasuke kicked his pants and shirt into a corner. Next, he decided to take off his bandages this time.

His fingers worked the knot from the gauze around his face and he finally felt it loosen enough to pull it over his head. It felt like heaven to not feel the restraint of it against his skin, but he didn't dare open his eyes… not even just to peek. He did take notice earlier that morning that the small amount of throbbing had finally ceased and his eyes no longer watered without warning. It was thrilling to feel the results and knowing that things would get back to normal soon.

What is normal? Sasuke pondered that as he let his body sink into the hot tub. Normal… what is a normal routine for Sasuke? Well it often depended upon where he was residing and what was on his agenda. As a child, his 'normal' was attending the academy and training. Upon graduation, his normal was missions and training. As a teenager, his normal was actively seeking out Itachi with the help of Orochimaru. And now as a young adult, he struggled to find it.

His new normal was… her. Sasuke's eyebrow had a quick spasm at that weak thought. Uchiha Sasuke shouldn't rely so heavily on anyone but in a way he couldn't help it. There was no one to go after. Itachi and Kabuto both perished and he was left without a mission… without a cause… without a normal. As much as Sasuke tried to make sure he didn't rely on people, he did. Everyone does at some point. He relied on the Academy to graduate; Kakashi to train him; Orochimaru to get stronger and Itachi to solve his pain.

Sasuke let his body sink further down into the tub just to soak. His thoughts were heavy with things that needed to be addressed. What was he going to do when it came down to business? He was enjoying this week in recovery mainly because this was just a teaser on what his life could become with Hinata. Although becoming a part of the ANBU was an incredible honor not to mention flattering. Sasuke didn't give two shits about the honor or what people thought of him—it was about being in combat. It was about putting himself to the test. It was about the challenge of completing the utmost important missions.

His nose blew a few bubbles in the water and then he let his head dip back to get wet. It was a guilty pleasure of his to just sit in a hot bath until he closely resembled a prune. It was quiet, warm, and comfortable and there was no one there to gawk at him. Actually, women didn't really care for the Uchiha any longer. They knew him… his character. There was more to the tall and dark mysterious looks; he was an asshole. If only Sakura had figured it out along with all the other girls. If only she had taken the hint the first time around.

Sasuke sat up and exhaled slowly. The rain was still going at it on the roof but the kitchen sink had stopped a few minutes ago. He wondered what she was doing. His frown reappeared as he realized she was prying into (one of) his favorite past time. Bath time was always Sasuke Time. Time to relax and iron out his next move… his next technique to master… and now it had become time to think about the next time he'd see her. Or what she might be wearing. He swore he could have heard his ego laughing at him in his head.

With a silent scowl, he blindly reached over towards where his shampoo sat next to the tub. Out of sheer frustration, Sasuke wasted little time working the product into his hair. After a few seconds, however, he stopped. That smell… what the!? It smells like lavender. Idle suds began to slowly melt down his neck as he sat with a stupid look on his face. God damnit… girly stuff.

"S-Sasuke-kun?" Her muffled voice was followed by a few soft knocks on the door. "Are you all right? You've been in there for almost an hour."

"Nn." Sasuke grunted.

Hinata could hear what sounded like cursing but through the door and the thunder in the distance she couldn't really tell. Her petite fingers traced down the grooves in her braided hair before she retreated back to the kitchen table. She had engulfed herself into extracting the juices from the herbs she had collected earlier in the day.

With a small bowl and a pestle, Hinata was able to grind into the leaves and petals to get their liquid which would then be transferred into the eye drop bottle. From there, it was shaken for a few minutes and then left to sit for another few minutes as well. In the Hyuuga household, nothing went wasted. What remained in the bowl was then used in ointments and salves. The same chemicals for the eye drops also helped with inflammation from burns.

The bathroom door ripped open and she glanced over to see a dripping wet Sasuke with a towel being held at his waist. Hinata immediately looked away and swallowed hard. Her modest tendencies still remained even though she had slept in his arms the night prior. She heard his footsteps approach her and she hoped to the heavens she wouldn't have to look at him.

"I need new bandages." Sasuke said simply. Hinata nodded with her gaze planted firmly on her fidgeting fingers.

"I-I will put some on after you've gotten dressed…!"

"I don't want to wait." Sasuke was still gripping the towel around his waist while he cautiously moved across the room to the futon. He sat down and let his fingers run through his damp hair. Hinata's cheeks remained colored as she dared to look up to his now distant voice.

"But…!"

"What is it?" Sasuke's tone seemed impatient yet again and Hinata hung her head slightly. If only he knew exactly what he was doing to her- or maybe he did and this was just his way of teasing her.

"… Nothing."

If anything, it would be a good way to put those new drops to use. Hinata slowly got to her feet from the table and cautiously walked towards the occupied futon. Her heart was racing. The only thing Sasuke had on was a flimsy towel. It was long enough that it went down passed his knees, but the off chance that it became loose, she might have a heart attack.

"Um… how are your eyes feeling?" Hinata murmured while taking a seat on the edge of the futon. Sasuke shrugged his broad and bare shoulders.

"Better. Ready for this to be over."

Hinata lips turned downwards and her eyes lowered slightly to look at the drops in her hands. In a way, she was enjoying herself. The past few days had been a roller-coaster of emotion and hormones but it had been such a long time that she felt perfectly content. Despite all the time she had been out of her comfort zone, Hinata was happy to be by Sasuke's side.

"Lean your head back, please."

Sasuke did as he was told and he felt her body up against his to administer the eye drops. One hand was placed gently on his bare chest while she hovered over him. His eye lids slowly peeled open and for the first time in over a week, he saw her crystal clear. Her face was just inches from his and the light from the room caused a twinkle in her eyes to gleam. Sasuke wasn't surprised to see rosy cheeks.

Hinata caught him looking at her and she felt frozen. His arms came up to wrap securely around her waist which caused her breath to hitch. He seemed to be pulling her even closer to his body and she couldn't deny his advancements. Her heart was fluttering fast in her chest as she stared into his eyes. She noticed something different in them… they were usually dull and dark, but now they were bright and full of life. Hinata wasn't sure if it was the surgery or the lust causing them to be that way, but she couldn't tear her own gaze from his.

"Sasuke-kun…" Hinata breathed. "Y-You really shouldn't have your eyes open."

Sasuke couldn't help it. He loved her. He loved everything about her—the wisps of hair that frayed from her braid, the smooth pale skin, her kind eyes, and the fact that she cared enough to stick around for him. Her lips were full and glistening and… he wondered if maybe now was the right time to see what it was like to kiss the Hyuuga. She wasn't trembling. Her chakra was oddly calm. There was no struggle.

He ignored her request and leaned forward. Hinata thought she could have passed out because this was every girl's dream… a first kiss. Yes, Hinata was not only a virgin, but she had never been kissed either. She grew up fantasizing all sorts of different scenarios with the blonde-haired ninja and always hoped that he would be the one to be her first kiss.

Instead, it was the man who no one else was allowed to have. It was the man who pushed every girl imaginable away. It was the man who was incredibly rude, cold, and usually misunderstood. It was the boy she met over twenty years ago who promised for her protection. It was the boy she never thought would ever remember. Her mother was right—one shouldn't say never.

Sasuke lifted his head to very softly press his lips onto hers. Suddenly all her surroundings melted away. Hinata no longer noticed her frantic heartbeat or the burning sensation on her cheeks. She felt lost in a moment. It was sweeter than she originally thought it would be. It only heightened the feelings inside of her that she associated with love. Hinata wasn't sure that she could have loved the Uchiha anymore than she already did.

The kiss only lasted a few seconds and before she knew it, Sasuke pulled back to let his head rest backwards again. Hinata hadn't realized her eyes had closed so she opened them slowly to stare back down at him.

Much to her surprise there was a very slight smile on his face. It wasn't his usual smirk dripping with sarcasm… it was a genuine smile. A smile that Hinata had taken a mental picture of because she knew she would probably wouldn't see it again for another three years. She couldn't help but feel the muscles behind her lips turning into a smile herself.

There was a sliver of disappointment that the kiss had been so short and for a moment, Hinata wanted to just go crazy. The hormones had taken over her usual self and everything was so new and exciting. Sasuke had been there and done that with women but Hinata was just beginning. Her brain was screaming at her to resume the kiss, but her body was frozen with uncertainty.

Sasuke could sense it without even having to look at her. The lust was high between them, but he knew better. Had this situation arose a few years ago when she was nothing more than a girl to him, he would have pressed on. Sasuke was being careful. Moving too fast was always a mistake or so he noticed from past experiences. As much as he would love to run his fingers across her bare skin and show her just how much he felt for her… now was not the right time. Sasuke did not want her to feel like she was being taken advantage of.

Hinata breathed in deep, but her smile remained. She felt light as a feather, but something had been bothering her ever since he left the bathroom.

"S-Sasuke-kun…?"

"Nn."

"… Did you use my shampoo?"

---

The week progressed. In the mornings, Hinata got up to train with her team. She came back with enough time to fix breakfast. When Sasuke woke, she administered more drops and replaced his bandages. Depending upon the day, sometimes their afternoons were quiet. Other times, they needed to venture out to get groceries or just get some fresh air. In the evenings, Hinata would settle down with a book and Sasuke started to do some light stretching in order to keep his muscles from getting stiff from inactivity.

It was peaceful. There was no conflict or arguments. There wasn't a worry in the world about if an enemy might invade the village. In fact, Hinata couldn't recall the last time Konoha had been so quiet. There was just something in the air that left residents feeling at ease including both Sasuke and Hinata. Of course, they were in their own little world not really paying much attention to the outside. They were both ignoring the inevitable.

Hinata never said anything to Sasuke about what was on her mind. When they lay down to go to sleep at night, she would cozy up in his arms. Long after he had fallen asleep, Hinata was still awake worrying about what would become of them once their week was over. There was no way she would tell Sasuke to choose her over his dream. Hinata felt guilty for even thinking about it. Who was she to be priority over that?

They were both highly ranked ninja and that was how it would remain. Hinata remembered a secret conversation she heard between her father and Neji when he had gotten into his early teens. It was back when Neji held his grudges against not only Hiashi, but the girls as well, so the words only went in one ear and out the other.

"Neji, remember, becoming a ninja comes first before anything else."

"… Yes sir."

"That includes relationships outside of the Main House."

It was her father's way of dancing around the subject of girls and not pursuing anything but becoming a strong ninja. Everyone grew up and got married whether that was out of love or out of arrangements. Hanabi lucked out to have both in her favor. Hinata didn't dare bring up her admiration for someone outside of the clan because that was out of the question—especially after the first run in with Sasuke as children.

It was also why she was surprised her father was so keen on her and Sasuke continuing their friendship even after his death. Perhaps he had felt some guilt or he knew that the times were changing. It wasn't nearly as common to marry within the clan now as it was when he was growing up. So in the end, Hiashi's words stuck in her mind the past few weeks knowing that their relationship shouldn't come between Sasuke becoming a part of the ANBU.

She knew the dangers of it. She knew that there was a chance that Sasuke could be gone on missions for several months to a year at a time. In fact, it was encouraged that ninja who did qualify to be on the team didn't have much family because of that. At the end of the day, Hinata was the one who nominated the Uchiha for it as well so it would be selfish for her to withdraw that just because she had fallen in love.

The day did finally come where it was time for Sasuke to return to the hospital for a check-up from Tsunade. It was the day where he would no longer have to have his eyes wrapped or be stuck inside. He could finally have the go-ahead to start (light) training. They would have to return to their normal routines. Hinata would go back to the library as she was needed there. Sasuke would do his thing. They might interact; they might not. That was what she worried about.

That morning, Hinata's eyes had fluttered open tiredly after feeling Sasuke's weight shift behind her. His arm was draped over her stomach. His forehead was nuzzled on the back of her head. Her stomach had the butterflies as the anxiety took over. She began to feel fidgety and didn't want to wake him, so Hinata was able to wiggle out of his arms.

Hinata let her feet touch the ground as she sat on the edge of the bed. The sun was happily shining into the bedroom from the windows and a few birds chirped in the branches of the trees to the west of the loft. Everything was happy except for her. She gazed down at her fingers in her lap and her usual deep breath did not deter away her worries.

"What's wrong?" His voice was groggy as it broke the morning silence. Hinata looked at him over her shoulder and she provided a faint smile.

"G-Good morning. I just didn't sleep very well." Her voice was pleasant to mask any negative emotion. She braced herself for the accusations of lying even though she was halfway telling the truth. That night Hinata woke up every hour to re-position herself and nothing felt comfortable. Her fingers rubbed the back of her neck where a knot had formed overnight.

"Well then sleep." Sasuke grumbled into his pillow. Hinata smiled again and rolled over to lie back down. She stared at him for a few seconds before reaching up to poke him gently on the tip of his nose. His eyebrows narrowed and Hinata bit her lip to stifle a laugh.

"I guess sleep is more important than seeing Tsunade-sama, huh?" She said with an attempt to be humorous. Sasuke responded with a low growl.

"She is the last person I'd like to see today. Or ever." He muttered, but he could tell where she was going with the conversation. Sasuke thought she knew better than to try to get him excited for something… at least excited on the outside anyway. He was mildly interested in getting his check up in since having eye sight was important. Sasuke had just gotten used to the gauze around his head, though, so he felt slightly grumpy about that.

Sasuke also wondered what they would do next. Hinata didn't live there even though he kind of wanted her too. They had pretty much given in to the feelings… now they just had to say it out loud. Things needed to be somewhat official but he wasn't about to open his mouth. He didn't know how to comfortably say nice things without feeling out of character or stupid. Hey, Hinata, I love you. Move in with me.

A silent scowl crept onto his lips when Sasuke said those phrases in his mind. It left a sour taste in his mouth when he thought further about it. Naruto would have little to no problems saying such things. He had always been the village idiot that anything he ever said couldn't make him look any worse. Even though Sasuke was sometimes a pompous and prideful guy, he was also incredibly self-conscious. He blamed the constant pressure put onto him ever since he was a child. Konoha always had high expectations for him.

"What uh…" Sasuke paused as he tried to pry into the heart of the Hyuuga without sounding dumb. "What made you fall for him?"

Hinata's heart skipped a beat as he brought up an awkward topic. She was silent for a long time as different explanations swirled her brain. There was a very large difference between the two: Uzumaki Naruto wanted to help those around him for no greater reason than to be good. Uchiha Sasuke only wanted to help those if it benefited him in some way. Naruto could easily make friends with everyone. Sasuke didn't want to make friends. It was rare to see Naruto without a smile on his face. It was rare to see a smile on Sasuke's face.

Aside from those, Hinata recalled her first few times meeting Naruto. They were very young children and her father had warned her of him. Everyone warned her of him. She could see he was not the blood-thirsty beast that lived inside him. He was kind and his acting out was a cry for help. Memories of Naruto sticking up for her flashed before her.

Sasuke's throat clearing was an indication of impatience as it also broke her from a trance of the past. She smiled a little, as if he could see it, and slipped a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"N-Naruto-kun… He always intrigued me. I guess as a child, I thought he was silly." Hinata began. "In the Academy, I always felt myself gravitating towards him. I admired his courage and—"

"Courage for what?" Sasuke's bitter tone interrupted her. Hinata narrowed her eyes slightly as if insulted.

"… courage to smile when there was no one there to return one! And having the strength to graduate with no one there to cheer him on." Hinata stopped.

Sasuke was quiet as he listened. Of course, he knew of the sappy story: no family and no love. And yet there he was leading the village that used to despise him. His pathetic life wasn't of any interest to him and it wasn't where the conversation was supposed to lead to.

"So you did love him then."

"Well, I…" Hinata said quietly. She really wasn't sure how to say it. Ever since Sasuke came back to Konoha and they were forced to be in each other's lives, things did change.

"He reminded me of you."

Sasuke felt a hollow laugh escape his throat. They couldn't have been more opposite and she had to be aware of it. In fact it was a miracle that the two were even still friends considering how much they disagreed with each other. Sasuke didn't hate the man—he was just an idiot.

"He reminded me of you when we first met." Her voice was airy but it hit him like a ton of bricks. As a young child he was rambunctious, mouthy, and even got himself into trouble now and again. Once he grew older, even before his clan's demise, his focus was entirely on living up to the expectation of being an Uchiha. Especially having to live in the shadow of his brother.

There was a long silence between them. The only sound was the happy chirping of birds and the occasional distant laughter from the market place. Hinata wasn't sure if she had upset him because he hadn't said much so she rolled over to get up. She would make a quick breakfast before they headed up to see Tsunade. Getting to her feet, Hinata stretched a bit.

"What made you change your mind?" Sasuke was hesitant to ask.

Hinata was surprised to hear him say that. Her lips were a thin line as her muscles relaxed and she turned to look at him. Her arms tightened across her chest and a small sigh filled the air.

"I-I didn't." She said. "I just came to realize… it had always been you all along."

---

"Uchiha Sasuke!" Tsunade's boisterous voice came into the room and it was reminiscent of nails on a chalk board. His eyebrow twitched in distaste as he sat on the hospital bed. That damn smell of bleach and death was really disgusting to him even though Hinata claimed she couldn't smell anything. She was sitting just next to him in a chair patiently.

"What the hell took so long?"

"I know you're used to the world revolving around you, but I do have other important things going on." Tsunade snapped as the clicking of her heels echoed in the room. Hinata cringed slightly as the tension began to intensify.

"H-Hello, Tsunade-sama." She said politely. Tsunade nodded in her direction with a smile.

"And how did the week go? Are you ready to rid yourself of him yet?" She asked while flipping through his charts. Hinata's cheeks warmed up with a quick shake of her head. Even though no one really knew the specifics of their relationship, Hinata knew that she always made it pretty obvious. She tried not to look embarrassed.

"N-No… the week went fine. I really think he's improved."

"Well, I guess we'll find out." Tsunade mused. She approached a chair with wheels and swiveled over towards Sasuke who sat perfectly still. "Any pain?"

"No."

"Any discomfort?"

"No."

"Notice anything different?"

"Just a lack of sight. Get on with it." Sasuke muttered and Tsunade rolled her eyes. She reached up to unravel the gauze and Hinata watched feeling somewhat nervous. There was no reason… just her normal anxiety. Of course there was always a constant worry even when she felt confident. Sasuke felt the gauze slipping through his hair and he felt like there should be a choir in the background providing some eureka moment. It was the moment he had been waiting for all week and it seemed lackluster.

"Well then… open your eyes, Uchiha."

Sasuke said a few choice words under his breath and slowly allowed his eye lids to flutter open. He saw Tsunade's smug grin which he ignored before settling his gaze upon Hinata who seemed relieved. Sasuke blinked a few times as he was getting used to all the air hitting his retinas when all of a sudden a bright light was shone into his right eye.

"Agh! What the hell!?"

"Don't move." Tsunade said sternly. "I'm just checking to see if they're still clouded."

"A little warning next time would be—"

"They look fine. Actually they look great." Tsunade said triumphantly before clicking off the flash light. Sasuke had a few complaints but he figured getting on the bad side of the med-ninja wasn't on his list of things to do. He did notice there wasn't a single feeling of pressure behind his eyes which was a godsend. Now he wouldn't have to worry about getting a piercing eye ache just from the sun shine.

"So…" Sasuke's voice trailed off. "I'm as good as new?"

"Well, not entirely." Tsunade said as she pushed back her chair from the bed. "Obviously you've been out of commission for a little under two weeks. And just to be safe, you should take your training for the ANBU slowly. Naruto knows that."

Hinata's jaw clenched a bit at the reminder. Sasuke's eyes looked past Tsunade and at the tense Hyuuga. She was staring at her hands and trying her best to avoid him. His blank face seemed to be a normal thing for him, but Tsunade paused to see that there was something different about it. She couldn't figure out what it was, but her gut told her it was something sweet. The stubborn Uchiha asshole was finding his way in life after several years of walking blindly. Tsunade secretly smiled by hiding it with her index finger.

"And Uchiha, when I say slowly, I really mean it. Even though the surgery was a success, it doesn't mean you can just push yourself past your limits again. One part of being a great ninja is knowing when enough is enough. There isn't any urgency in this matter so for the good of yourself just listen to me for once."

Sasuke wasn't listening as his fingers traveled through his hair as he ruffled it back to its normal shape. He wondered at what point would the lecturing end and when his seniority would begin. The prideful thoughts began to fill his head as he figured he had been through more than Tsunade had.

"Tsunade-sama!" The door burst open and she glanced over her shoulder. "We need you in the maternity ward."

She instantly stood up with a puzzled look on her face. It wasn't a place she was normally called to unless there was something wrong.

"What is it?"

"It's Hyuuga Hanabi… she has gone into labor." The nurse paused seeing Hinata in the room. Her voice lowered. "… There are complications delivering the twins."

Tsunade looked back to Hinata who had already stood up. She frowned. This wasn't good. Twins weren't very common in Konoha—in fact, many of the twin cases they had were from the Hyuuga clan alone and each of them came with complications. They had consulted the risks and decided from the way the babies were positioned in the belly a C-section was necessary. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger until the child birth had begun.

Hinata felt her blood run cold when she heard the hushed whispers between Tsunade and the nurse. She then watched the former Hokage leave the room in a hurry. Sasuke had also stood up trying to decipher the emotion spewing silently from Hinata. She stood with a fist balled up at her chest and it seemed she was frozen just standing there.

"Hinata." Sasuke said urgently. It was a trance she was in as she the single thought of losing another family member had engulfed her, but Sasuke's voice was enough to remember to breath again. She whipped her head around to look at him and there was a look of terror on her face.

"I-If you need to see Naruto-kun then you should go… I must stay here." Hinata turned to leave when he reached out to grab her wrist. She looked at him and into those eyes she had missed so much. They weren't dull and the hatred that used to swim in them had calmed. In fact, they even seemed a bit sympathetic.

"It can wait."

The run down the hall was a blur. Hinata could feel her heart beating fast in her chest, but Sasuke's hand in hers helped keep her focused. There was a sense of panic in her body because there was a chance that she could lose her sister. There was also a chance the babies wouldn't make it either. Tears were forming in her eyes as Hinata thought of the worst.

By the time they had reached the maternity ward, Hinata's eyes locked upon a sight she wasn't ready to see. Nurses were already wheeling out Hanabi on her bed down the hallway in such a frenzy that it made Hinata stop dead in her tracks. There was blood on the sheets and her sister was not responsive. Her husband and Neji were following behind and the sound of Sasuke's voice was distant. Looking at him, she could see the urgency in his expression but the immediate fear of the situation was taking over again.

Closing her eyes, Hinata tried to take a deep breath but it was interrupted by a soft sob. Be strong… Her father's voice echoed in her mind from a memory that was deep inside her mind. Be strong. Hinata opened her eyes slowly which allowed tears to flow downwards on her cheeks. She returned her gaze to Sasuke and with a quick nod.

Sasuke could see the panic was overwhelming her. As much as he disliked Tsunade, the hospital and the awful smell it gave out, Konoha was the best place to receive medical care. If they couldn't save Hanabi, then perhaps she wasn't meant to be saved. Sasuke would never say this thought aloud, of course, but there wasn't much they could do until they knew more of Hanabi's condition.

Their hurried footsteps resumed down the hallway and towards the Intensive Care Unit. There they were met by Sakura who already had an open room available for the emergency procedure. They wheeled the bed in through the doors and Tsunade stopped short to meet with Sakura.

"We need more help!" Tsunade barked and Sakura narrowed her eyes.

"This is all we have. There was a small landslide just on the outskirts of the village. We have at least ten wounded who are being cared for with life threatening injuries." Sakura replied. Tsunade scowled to herself and her eyes turned to settle upon Hinata who had just arrived.

"Hinata. Hayato. I am fully aware you are not licensed medical ninjas but this is important." Tsunade said as she approached them both. Hinata could feel her knees beginning to tremble but she stood up straighter to try to put strength into herself.

Her gaze shifted towards Hayato, who had taken a few steps forward to stand next to her. Hinata had never really noticed much of the man. He was tall, muscular, and his long brown hair was wrapped tightly into a bun. In an odd way, Hayato resembled Neji in the fact that he was quiet and his expression was always sour. But his personality was actually quite different from any other male in the Hyuuga clan. He was kind to all, but when it came down to being a ninja, it was all business from there. It was plain to see why Hanabi had taken a liking to him.

Now, when faced with the possibility of losing his wife and children, Hayato was struggling to hide his emotions. Hinata reached out and let her hand rest on his broad shoulder. He looked at her and she could see the fear in his pupil-less eyes. It was a quick but soft moment.

"I will need both of your help delivering these babies. As of right now… they are top priority. Do you understand?" Tsunade asked firmly. Hinata looked back towards the blonde haired woman and she nodded.

"… And if Hanabi-san can be saved?" Hayato said after a brief moment.

"We will do our best to make sure all three come out just fine, but I will not sugar coat this for you: there is a big chance that she will not make it." Tsunade said. Sakura, who was standing just behind Tsunade, kept her eyes to the ground.

"There must be something more you can do!"

Sasuke had his arms crossed this entire time and his patience was beginning to wane. He didn't know jack shit about babies, the surgeries, or anything else medical except how to make wounds exceptionally worse. But Sasuke had common sense—not everyone can be saved and while it was sad, often times there isn't much one can do. Even though his character had softened around the edges, he could still be what some might consider cold hearted.

"Enough." Sasuke hissed. This caused everyone's attention to land upon him. "The more you bicker, the less time you have with all three of them. Go."

Hinata stared at the man behind her. It might not have seemed like much to anyone else, but the fact that he was there meant the world. Her knees stopped shaking and the adrenaline began to take over.

"He's right. Let's go." Hinata said with a boost of confidence. Neji stepped forward to her and he reached to grasp her hand.

"I trust that you will do the right thing." Neji's voice was quiet but firm. She chewed on her lip quickly as it reminded her of when she had the opportunity to save her father.

"This time I won't fail you." She whispered before turning to follow Tsunade into the operating room. And just like that, the Intensive Care Unit waiting room became quiet. The only two that remained were Sasuke and Neji. The only thing they could do was… wait.

Sasuke wasn't used to being the one on the other end of the spectrum in the hospital. He was always the one others waited on. It was something he decided he didn't like. He had the patience, but there was something about having to wait with Neji that he also didn't care for. They had never come out to discuss their disinterest with each other even though there really wasn't any reason as to why they didn't get along.

Shoving his hands into his pockets, Sasuke walked a few feet to lean up against the wall. Neji's eyes watched him like a hawk as he slowly eased himself down onto a chair. His arms curled up across his chest.

"Why are you here?" Neji asked. Sasuke closed his eyes to let them rest. In a strange way, he felt like Neji was looking for the latest gossip in the relationship between him and Hinata. But on the other hand, he didn't blame his curiosity.

"I told her I would wait." His response was brief and lacking emotion. Neji scoffed under his breath, but after a few moments of awkward silence, his maturity kicked in.

"Not really sure where this relationship you guys have came from." Neji thought aloud.

Sasuke was quiet. He didn't like talking his personal life and it was especially not going to be discussed with someone like Neji. Now was not the time or the place. In fact, there wouldn't ever be a time or place. His gaze settled upon the clock that sat up on the opposite wall from him. So far, they had been in surgery for ten minutes. How long would it exactly take?

He wasn't very fond of the down time. This gave him an opportunity to think of how his meeting with Naruto might go. If Sasuke didn't accept it, then he was an idiot for passing up a fantastic offer. If he did accept it, he'd be miserable without seeing Hinata. Of course he had been without her for extended periods of time before, and he didn't feel like he could go through with it again.

The loneliness was more unbearable than he remembered from just a few years ago. The act of finally letting someone get close would have normally been a huge mistake but now it felt like a no-brainer. Uchiha Sasuke was not a child seeking revenge. He was a man looking for a family.

"It is nice seeing Hinata-sama happy for a change." Neji said after quite some time. Sasuke's eyes remained closed and he ignored that statement. The last thing he wanted was a heartfelt conversation.

"That could change given the circumstances of whatever happens in that room." Sasuke said. Neji looked at the Uchiha with disdain.

"I trust Tsunade-sama." Neji said. "She corrected my eyesight and has saved countless lives."

"I never said she wasn't going to save lives." Sasuke retorted. He opened his eyes to catch a stare from Neji. "At least one of the three will survive."

A cry in the distance caused both of their heads to turn. It was the cry of a newborn. Neji got to his feet cautiously and then suddenly there was another cry that joined in unison. Sasuke watched Neji reach out to touch the wall as if a sudden wave of relief had washed over him. Sasuke would be lying if he didn't even feel his shoulders relax a tad either.

The door opened and Tsunade emerged while wiping the sweat off of her forehead. Neji simply stared at her until she let a hand rest upon her hip.

"Two healthy baby boys." She said with a small smile. "As for Hanabi… we were able to get the bleeding to stop. At the moment, she is currently unconscious but we expect her to make a full recovery."

"Can I see her?"

"Yes…" Tsunade held open the door for Neji who wasted little time. Sasuke stayed put and crossed his arms. The blonde haired woman heaved a stress-relieving sigh and looked at him.

"Not going to go in?"

"It's not my place."

"Oh? Could be you some day." Tsunade said with a smirk. Sasuke looked at her as if she was crazy.

"Children, especially babies, are loud." Sasuke muttered. She chuckled lightly as he didn't even make an effort to deny what she had just said.

"Uchiha." Tsunade said softly. "There is something you should see."

At first he didn't move mainly because that would mean he had given in to his curiosity, but after a few seconds of her just staring at him Sasuke pushed off the wall. For some reason, his nerves were kicking in as he slowly followed Tsunade into the room.

Sasuke had been around babies and kids before, obviously, but newborns were a completely different territory. They were small, pink, and often times crying for no apparent reason but just to tell everyone they were alive. But once he was in the room, all the nerves went away. It was quiet; Hanabi was resting on her bed while Sakura patted her forehead with a damp cloth.

Neji and Hayato were standing with their backs towards Sasuke essentially blocking his view of Hinata, which was the only person he really cared to see anyway. There were hushed whispers until Neji glanced over his shoulder at Sasuke. There was something that had changed in the eyes of the Hyuuga. Just a few minutes ago there was a feeling of hate and dislike in them. Now they were soft and almost inviting. He took a step back and something caught Sasuke's breath.

Hinata stood with a blanket cradled in her arms. Her cheeks were stained with dried tears, but her lips had formed a gentle smile at Sasuke as if asking him to come further. Sasuke's mouth was dry and his leg was cramping from the strain of his slow steps.

"Sasuke-kun…" Her voice was softer than a whisper as her gaze left him to the baby in her arms. "This is Hikaru and Hotaka."

He had never felt something so strange. His belly was squirming, his cheeks were warm, and he felt fidgety. Each of those things felt positive, though, and Sasuke finally figured that he felt an enormous wave of… awe. Of course, he couldn't show it in front of the entire room but Sasuke felt the urge to put his arm around Hinata and gaze down at the child as if it was theirs. He had seen her motherly instincts before in taking care of him, but this was different. This was the real thing.

The baby was tiny, just as he expected, and sleeping peacefully in her arms. The other baby was safely in the arms of Hanabi's husband. Sasuke had been wrong about all three of their lives being saved because the odds were not favorable. Neji used to talk of fate and that everyone had a life that was already written out for them. Perhaps there were miracles that were often talked about. It was refreshing for the positives in Sasuke's life to outweigh the negatives.

"Would you like to hold him?" Hayato asked suddenly. Sasuke was about to shake his head 'no' when the bundle of joy was already being shifted into his awkward arms. He copied how Hinata was holding the other one to ensure that the head was being supported.

Hinata watched him silently and the entire time her smile had not faltered. The surgery was a blur of blood, adrenaline, and commands that were given and were followed. It was during that when Hinata realized how much she enjoyed her job down in the library. She could never do what Sakura or Tsunade did—too many lives would rest on her conscious.

Hinata looked over towards her sister, who was still being tended to by Sakura. She couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness and relief. Her father would have been so proud and so excited. She hoped that when Hanabi would awaken, she could be there. Hanabi would be a very good mother. Although, she couldn't help but feel slightly jealous knowing that her sister now had a complete family and an entire clan and Hinata had neither.

But... at least for those few moments, the warm feeling of the love in the room was enough to keep her monsters at bay. Everyone she cared about was there with her. Hinata looked back over at Sasuke who seemed less uncomfortable than he did just a few seconds ago. Much to his surprise, the baby didn't do much except squirm every so often. Sakura had walked over towards them with a smile.

Of course the babies needed to be thoroughly looked over to make sure they were completely healthy and then they needed their rest. But the sight was a strange one and Hinata couldn't help but take another mental picture of Sasuke. Who'd have thought that Sasuke would be so enthralled with something so innocent and small?

---

Sasuke awoke the next morning alone. He hated it. Hinata had been spending much of her time up at the hospital with her sister who was still recovering. After a full week of having her there, it had now become quiet and lonesome in his loft. There was no delicious smells wafting into his room. There was no soft humming. There wasn't much of anything except the sound of his heart beating steadily.

Today, he figured that he would give Hinata some space. As much as he wanted her all to himself, she had selflessly taken care of him for seven days. Now, her sister had narrowly escaped death to deliver two babies. He thought back to Tsunade giving him the green light to begin training and a frown remained on his lips. Usually training was his number one go-to therapy, but for whatever reason, he just didn't feel like it.

Perhaps it was laziness from being out of commission for two weeks or maybe it was because there really wasn't anything to take his frustrations out on. Either way, it wasn't like Uchiha Sasuke to opt for lying in bed versus gaining his strength back. Maybe it was also because he was trying to figure out how to tell Naruto 'no'.

He had decided the other day that he did not want to become a part of the ANBU. Sasuke wanted something more to life than the day-in and day-out mission and mindless tasks. He still wanted to be a ninja, of course, but its importance had dropped. There was an urge to laugh for a quick moment as there was a realization of how a simple woman could completely change him. She did it without even lifting a finger.

Sasuke was quick to get ready and upon walking down his hallway, he stopped to stare at his former nemesis: the kitchen table. It was strange to know that just a day earlier he had to actually think about where he was going. And as he walked down his steps, Sasuke also took note that there were exactly five stairs. His eye surgery made him even more observant and aware of his surroundings than he already was.

A silent scowl replaced his usual frown as Sasuke stopped himself from thinking of such petty things. Who cares? It was simply just a front for himself to make him feel like he hadn't completely changed. He wasn't going to admit to himself or to anyone that Tsunade had been right or that he had ever been wrong. In a way, it was her doing that got him and Hinata close in the first place.

The walk through the village was less time consuming now that he could move on his own without having to consult with his chakra senses. His gaze would catch a glimpse of a father and his daughter walking hand in hand down the road which Sasuke never would have noticed just a few years ago.

"Papa, over here!" She squeaked and pointed to the sweets vendor.

"We just had breakfast!"

"I know, but…"

"Alright… don't tell your mother."

Sasuke forced a smirk away and put his hands into his pockets. His stroll through the village was coming to an end as the Hokage building came into view. The stairs seemed more abundant than usual as he slowly climbed them as if he hadn't ever climbed them before. Once inside it felt nostalgic of his days when working it the library. He always hated it but at the same time he missed it. It was at least quiet and he always kept busy.

People hustled and bustled around him as he walked down the hallways until he had reached his destination. Sasuke paused at the door leading in to Naruto's office. His hand hesitated upon the doorknob as he thought over what he would say without sounding stupid. Hey thanks for the best offer in the world but no thanks. His own sarcasm kind of irritated him. Before he could even turn the knob, the door opened.

"Ahhh, Sasuke!" Naruto's voice still held that slightly irritating tone, but it had gotten better over the years. "I was just gonna go look for you."

"… Why?"

"Come in, come in." He held open the door. Sasuke simply stared at him before eventually moving forward. Inside, there were papers every which way. Scrolls were strewn on his desk and there were countless empty ramen cups that had overflowed his trash bin.

Sasuke tried to think back to how Tsunade kept her office… or even how the Third Hokage had his. They were mostly organized but this… this was basically what his apartment looked like. Somehow Naruto had managed to survive in his life without contracting some strange disease from too much sodium in his diet or even the fact that filthy living situations could be harmful. Sasuke didn't have much room to judge as Hinata had basically turned his loft into something sanitary.

"Sorry about the mess. Who knew that the Old Lady had so much crap going on!" Naruto said as he slumped into his chair. Sasuke raised his eyebrow as he slowly sat down across from his desk.

"Weren't you an intern for her?"

"… Well, yeah, but she just had me doing useless stuff like filing."

"And have you forgotten how to do that?" Sasuke asked while he watched the man before him attempt to tidy up.

"No!" He retorted in defense. With a sigh, Naruto leaned forward. "How are the eyes?"

"Fine."

There was a long pause between them which was odd. Naruto wasn't one to let the silence multiply, but he sat staring hard at his folded hands that were on his desk. Sasuke was going to wait for him to ask him about his position but it seemed like he was avoiding that particular subject. With a frown, Sasuke decided to break the almost awkward silence.

"I've decided—"

"Your position on the ANBU team has already been filled." Naruto interrupted as he looked up to his friend. His blue eyes seemed to be void of any emotion which was another odd sign. But Sasuke could feel his jaw hanging open and a rush of anger swept through him.

"What the hell are you talking about!?" Sasuke stood up so suddenly that the chair knocked over. "You told me that it was no problem waiting for me to recover!"

"I know and… I'm sorry." He said quietly. Sasuke wasn't sure why he was angry. How could it have been taken away so nonchalantly when that was all that was talked about between them? Sasuke could be an asshole sometimes, but when it all came down to it Naruto was his best friend.

"… So that's it!?" Sasuke seethed. "You gave away my position to someone else? The position you promised me?"

"I don't know what else to say, Sasuke." Naruto said. He leaned backward in his chair and Sasuke just stood there staring. There really was no reason to be upset—he was going to decline the position anyway.

Naruto could feel the icy glare from his friend. The truth was (and he would never tell him this) that the position was still there. Seeing him with Hinata was something good and god knows that Sasuke needs something good in his life. For some reason she was the only one who could reach out and really get to the Uchiha. Naruto and Sakura tried for so many years but with little success.

Giving him the opportunity to be happy was the least he could do even if he didn't realize it. Naruto could also see the happiness in the Hyuuga as well which was something he always thought lacked in her character through the years. Naruto might be known as the local idiot, but he was also the Hokage and doing what was best for his people was what his job was.

Naruto looked up into the cold eyes of the Uchiha and he offered a grin. Sasuke didn't return it. He turned his back and began to walk away from Naruto.

"I do have something else in mind for you."

"Forget it."

"This is better. It will keep you in Konoha, but still gives you the adventure. I dunno. Kakashi-sensei seemed to enjoy it."

Sasuke stopped once he got to the door and glanced behind him over his shoulder. Kakashi-sensei seemed to enjoy it? He frowned and turned around to look at Naruto.

"I'm listening."