My One In A Million
Chapter Twenty One:
For someone who took her off a mission by claiming she was sick, Uchiha Sasuke sure worked her like a mule.
She was in charge of his personal schedule and relaying his messages to offices on this floor. He directed her to an on-going task of crosschecking every member in the Counsel cabinet from the moment they were born till the day they were assigned in office, it was now her responsibility to bring him textbooks and references, and when he was done, return them to their proper spots on the shelves at the basement. She had her own paperwork to finish as well, there were barely enough Jounin in the village to catch up on all the activity after the war and if there was any department that needed to manage quick replies and instant responses, it was the human resources.
Every day was an occupational emergency: some shinobi injured on a mission, a kunoichi is pregnant and is requesting maternity leave, even the occasional 'I caught a cold and can't fight today' excuse that required finding a replacement. When there weren't any emergencies left, they'd catch up on the mountain of work they hadn't been able to finish all week.
The worst aspect was that it was also her job to meet whoever was displeased with their relocation or discharge, she wouldn't have minded so much if he at least mentioned why!
He was purposely shoving her in a corner because how dare she talk back to him.
It was frustrating, she barely got a chance to speak three words to him throughout the five days she's been here. When she finally got a moment to breathe she figured it was probably better this way, she'd rather run around all day under his critical gaze than be bow her head submissively, it was exactly how she'd lived her life before her relationship with father began to heal and it wasn't a fun way to live, it's only a matter of time before this one healed as well.
Maybe.
The thought of working with him –for him- had made her nervous at first, she'd read several novels in this setting and it made her wonder if being in a closed space with someone really worked that way. Now that she was getting the hang of it, she realized her worries were over nothing; he'd hired her to get her out of the way.
Even as his personal assistant, she only needed to see him first thing in the morning to give him his schedule and empty his outbox. Sasuke had a strict rule of not being bothered for all day unless it was a life or death emergency and even then, if his abilities weren't specifically required, whoever was dying needn't bother him at all.
It applied to everyone excluding Naruto, even if everyday the sound of their arguments filtered through the hardwood door and even if every day he continued to visit.
Her current post did not require her to have any verbal communication with him, her desk was far away from his door so if he needed anything he could always ask the officer whose desk is nearest. if she woke up earlier tomorrow she could finish her morning tasks in his office before he got there as a means of eliminating contact altogether.
She didn't want to, it would be easier on her heart but it would indicate that he intimidated her.
He didn't, not really, not the way he intimidated the other coworkers who were too scared to continue their chat if he as much as passed by their desks on his way to the restroom. The aura of untouchableness around him was both impressive and extremely lonesome...
It was finally lunch time, she only noticed his absence from the food court after she'd wolfed down her food. Who could blame her when the only breakfast she has time for anymore is tea and a single piece of toast?
Even Hanabi who was in charge of a team of three had time to sleep in and make a proper breakfast...
Five days in and Hinata was absolutely exhausted, not just physically; having to deal with so many people for so many hours in a claustrophobic beehive of offices was draining… Her solitude battery was running low, maybe tonight she can huddle up on the couch with a book and a cup of hot cocoa to unwind.
Deciding that maybe he wasn't kidding when he'd announced his expectations, she ordered a fresh cup of coffee and a sandwich from the cafeteria and marched up to his door to offer him lunch.
Uchiha Sasuke, director of Human Resources for the hidden village of Leaf , was sleeping face-down on his desk.
He didn't wake up when she set the cup and plate on an empty corner of his desk, or when she pulled his coat off the hanger and approached; only when the tip of fabric touched him did he snap awake with a hand on her wrist and blood-red eyes fixed on her face.
Once a shinobi, always a shinobi.
He rubbed his eyes and yawned when it was apparent no imminent danger was present, unaware of the flush his tight grip left on her thin wrist. He rolled his neck and asked a groggy "What time is it?"
Hinata set his coat back on the hanger and brought his lunch closer to where he could reach it. There wasn't any other spot on the desk anyway, the clutter would be worrisome if she stopped to think on how complicated his research was. "Fifteen to one, break is nearly over."
He looked undeniably exhausted. She'd agreed to work here thinking he'd be skipping and playing hooky and she'd show him how it's done, but he really worked hard, didn't he? She'd returned reference books to the basement at least ten times in the last five days, if he ran through them so quickly he must be working harder than the average pencil pusher.
His eyes will suffer if he kept it up.
"What do you want?"
She flinched. "I just came to see if you've had anything to eat…"
"And now you want my thanks? It's in your job description." He took a sip of coffee and made a face, "Mkkht! Why is there sugar!?"
"It's the default brew!"
"I don't like it." He set it aside and looked at the sandwich like it was made of homework. "And what's this?"
"Smoked turkey." She waited for him to eat it, or give her orders, or tell her to leave, or at least reprimand her for her bad taste.
…Like in the books.
He made to go back to work quietly as if she wasn't there, probably unaware of the pained expression on his face or the sluggish movements of his hands.
"Would you like me to bring something else?" She had to ask, he wasn't about to get up and get his own food, that much was obvious.
"Do you really have time for that right now? You'll regret working so diligently when you're working double shifts."
"I already do." She smiled politely at his surprise, "Your outbox needs to be sent out as soon as possible, and the textbooks constantly refreshed. I work for as long as you do."
"Are you b…?" He seemed to process it at a slower rate than usual, either that or the sugar was paralyzing his thoughts. "…I hadn't noticed."
The shuriken that lodged itself in her throat had to be swallowed down before she could speak again. "Is it also my job to suggest you don't work double shifts… sir?"
He looked at her, annoyed and not at all aware of how long ago it had been since they've had a private conversation. "Stop calling me sir. Get back to work."
"Right away." Her back bent just a notch, she had to physically stop herself from bowing to him. "I will bring some onigiri, then. They only have umeboshi and okaka left. Is that alright?"
His groan was deliberate and audible, "Yeah, yeah. You really like slaving away, don't you?"
"Only because you work hard, too."
"I do. Too hard, for a bunch of ingrates." He rubbed his face in exasperation, obviously planning to go back to sleep once she's gone because of the fascinated way he eyed the leather couch at the other end of the room.
"Maybe everyone is afraid to step out of line, but we appreciate your great effort. Work in the other departments is starting to catch up to your efficiency, and shuffling the employees is making everyone work harder to keep their spot. Not everyone is ungrateful, so: thank you." Her face heated up at the awkwardness she was spouting, but it needed to be said. "Well then, excuse me, Uchiha sama."
His attempt to read the text in the scroll on his desk was unsuccessful, his eyes were too blurry, his mind too loud. Just as she was about to close the door he commanded, "Why are you being formal again? It's just Sasuke."
Please, don't make this any harder than it already is…
"Neji nii, welcome back!" Hinata hugged her tired cousin lightly just as he and the rest of the convoy entered the village. Kiba and Akamaru received brief hugs of their own, and Shino whose insects buzzed loudly nodded to her from three-foot's distance. They were still high-strung from the mission as it always gets when accompanying a VIP, whether or not said VIP was capable of fighting did very little to how alert they need to be.
"Hinata sama, you look well. I'm glad you've gotten some rest because of the assigning mistake." Neji smiled, unaware of the slightly darker tone of his skin from having crossed a scorching desert.
Hinata decided it wasn't the right time to correct the misconception. "You went away without me anyway!" Her playful pout was returned with chuckles and jokes. "I'm on my way to the Hokage tower, would you like it if I accompany you?"
The three looked at each other and then nodded in agreement. It was Neji who spoke, "I guess I'm the least exhausted, I'll report to the office myself, then. Good work Inuzuka san, Aburame san."
"See ya Hinata, I'm gonna crash tonight. Tomorrow we'll have dinner and catch up, alright?" Kiba guided Akamaru in the direction of their house for some well-needed shower and rest. Shino agreed to the date and shuffled to his place as well, his bugs rioting at the depleted chakra reserve.
"Wow, everyone is really tired. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, the desert is draining, you understand." He tried to smile but could only worry about finding the nearest vending machine to rehydrate himself. After chugging down a well-needed bottle of water he seemed to be himself again, the soft crinkles around his eyes when he smiled reminded her of uncle Hizashi. "So what will you be reporting to the Hokage tower?"
"I work there now." His surprise was very much expected. "In Human Resources, they need the manpower with the elections coming up."
"I see…" He fell into step with her and for five seconds he said nothing, "Wasn't Uchiha Sasuke the head of HR?"
Ack, he made the connection before she had time to line up the right words! "He is…"
"Is he bothering you?"
Quite the opposite. "Not at all, actually… We barely speak."
"I see." He said, but it sounded like 'oh good, or else I woulda done something about it!'
With a smile, she decided to bring the topic back to him and his travels. "How are you doing?"
The taller Hyuuga adjusted the heavy luggage on his back and breathed into the collar of his cape for warmth. "It's very cold here compared to the Sand. I'm afraid I'm coming down with fever."
"I'll make you some menthol rub and mint tea, it should fight it a little, at least." She started, "Also, please drink lots of fresh orange juice and stay warm. Is your injury flaring up again?"
"Not at all." He continued to smile and let her instruct him on how to take care of himself and his war injuries for the umpteenth time. When she was done repeating what to do and what not to do about an upcoming cold, he asked, "So when is the Akimichi's wedding?"
"It's next weekend!" she gushed, "Ino chan is very excited, she's also very anxious. I'm happy for her, I'm just worried because I don't really like the dress she chose for me…"
"So tell her now before it is too late!"
Her smile was more apology than humor. "I'll just wear something over my shoulders and pretend it's cold."
"You shouldn't pretend if she was really your friend…" It was his intention to go on a tangent on how sometimes it feels like she is being used and strung along, the strange succession of expressions he caught on her face interested him more. "You look like you have something to say to that."
"No…!"
He smiled lightly. "Tell me, I could use the distraction from the headache."
She chewed on her lip and studied how nice it felt to have her cold fingers intertwined under the edge of sleeves. "It'll increase your headache, maybe… You don't really like him."
"Who?"
He will worry, but it was the truth. "Sasuke."
Neji stopped in the middle of the street to look at her. "What did he do?"
Oh no… "Nothing! I… Well, it's easy to be myself with him, you know… You said I shouldn't pretend with friends and, well… Yeah."
"I don't understand." He blinked repeatedly, trying to read more into it. "Do you hide yourself with me? Do you pretend?"
"No! Not on purpose… I mean, you're already busy with your own life and when you're at the house you're expected to act a certain way, so…" This definitely upset him, because he didn't say anything. "It's not your fault, please don't misunderstand! Even with Kiba kun and the others there's a uhh I don't know how to say it… jump? Sometimes I don't feel like making the jump, and conversation goes well anyway, like I'm not even there, you know… Or maybe not… Maybe I'm not good in social situations. You're amazing because you do well with every team, so…"
Focused on the topic at hand, he deadpanned. "But it isn't so with Uchiha? Why?"
That was something she actually found herself considering for quite some time even after she shrugged it off. They were at the double doors by then, she had to choose her words carefully so Neji-nii didn't end up worrying himself sick over it. "He's impolite." She continued suddenly, much to her cousin's confusion. "Polite words and mind games mean nothing to him. He will say it like it is even if it wasn't nice, and if he expects certain things he will say so, and that's it. It's easy to understand."
Except for the part where he nonchalantly avoided her like the plague.
That part still didn't make much sense…
"And I don't? You can say anything to me, you know that."
She could, but it's probably not the same… "Thank you, I'll be sure to remember that." After they'd parted ways with a promise to speak longer tomorrow at the celebratory dinner, she found herself finding the thing she should have said earlier.
She liked and appreciated every single one of her friends, but the difference between them and Sasuke was seemingly simple yet incredibly vital: He talks to her for who she is now, not who she was years ago.
When she got to the office on the tenth floor, already there were three people waiting in line to talk to her about their displacement. Their body language buzzing with anxiety and faces grim with pre-prepared speeches. Being a daughter of a diplomat came in handy, she managed to convince Number One that his new post was more profitable, and Number Two that his new location was safer so he could be sure to go back to his family every day, even if it meant his pay was cut a small percentage.
The third one was moved from agriculture finance to the front lines of missions despite having a low overall battle experience, there was no convincing a middle-aged man to go into the fray when he'd spent all his adult life behind a desk.
It took forever to talk him out of seeing the crazy man in the big office, it only hit him what a dangerous situation it would be when he learned the name of the director: The crazy mass murderer Uchiha.
When he left he made sure to accidentally bump into the water dispenser on his way out, mumbling incoherently under his breath as he waited for the elevator doors to shut.
That's right, the devil incarnate Uchiha was piling up enemies by the ton, it's only a matter of time before someone snapped and spit in his drink.
What a lucky coincidence that she was the one in charge of his coffee!
Naruto found himself an early chance to skip and was in the director's office for a good half hour before it was appropriate of her to interrupt. He had several secretaries and a hundred assistants and an army of lackeys to deliver his papers for him, but every day he personally came to the human resources department under the guise of delivering confidential documents.
It was sweet of him, and the Uchiha certainly needed it.
"-aying to her: But Sakura chan, instant ramen doesn't make me bloat. You know what she said?! She said that I'm always bloated so it doesn't show! Is that what I'm gonna put up with for the rest of my life?" The young man was sunk into the couch with his bare feet on the armrest, it looked like a therapy session from the movies when she walked in. "Oh, hey Hinata chan! What's up?"
"Good afternoon, Naruto kun!" She set him a cup of coffee on the coffee table –milk and two sugars- and placed the other –straight out black- on the only empty spot on the director's desk, silently congratulating herself for not stuttering in front of Naruto for what felt like the very first time in her life.
Sasuke didn't look like he was listening at all, but when it was quiet he spoke, "Your face does puff up when you have Ichiraku Ramen, maybe you should stop going there till the wedding."
The blond totally missed the sarcasm in that one. "EEH?! No way! Having their noodles is like the only me time I have left! If I knew being Hokage was so much paperwork I would've proposed after!"
"If only time would wait." Sasuke scoffed and handed her a folder. "This came in just now. These guys want someone who can sniff out a lost heirloom, you know the Inuzukas, right? Add anyone off the top of your head and send it back to local dispatch. It's not our job to tell them who to assign on stupid missions, damn it."
"Right away. Do you want me to deliver your displeasure as well?" She offered a small smile, it nearly turned into a giggle when the exasperated look on his face spoke several volumes of heck yeah.
"Hinata chan… You work here? I didn't know that! You never told me, idiot!" Naruto pointed a finger at his friend, "That's cheating! Now I want to work with Sakura chan and have booty calls, too!"
She had no idea what a booty call was, but it offended Sasuke to be accused of it. "Not everyone is desperate like you. do you know where she lives?"
"Wh- whaat… That's the biggest cheat in the history of cheating!" The boy grimaced and sat up from popping his sore toes to take a sip of coffee. "Naa, you think I should ask Sakura to come live with me? Hinata chan, you've gone drinking with her, she must have told you some secrets. Do you think she'll say yes if I ask her now? Even though we're not married yet?"
It was a little twinge of pain right between her ribs, "Umm… I can't speak in her place, but I know she misses you when you're very busy."
Strangely, having confirmed that Naruto was being affectionate to Sakura wasn't as dreadful as when she'd think of that gorgeous redhead sleeping with Sasuke just a floor below. It was easier to accept and support because at least Naruto and Sakura were properly engaged!
"Kuuuh! I want to come home and find her, too! Her parents won't like it, huh. I didn't ask, but I guess all parents are like that, right?"
Sasuke set his coffee down and offered his advice. "You're a coward."
"Wh- why whaaat?!" Naruto stood in the middle of the office, barefoot and all, and demanded a show-off. "Come here and say it to my face! I just want my girl to be happy awright! Pleasing the parents is a big deal when you're serious about a girl!"
Sasuke calmly set his pen down and walked around the table to stand toe-to-toe, "Then stop wasting time and become Hokage already!"
"I'm trying! It doesn't happen overnight! There hasn't been a peaceful turnover of power since the first! All the others keeled over before a new one showed up!"
"How convenient! Do you understand how many lives are depending on you to get it together? Already the town is chock-full of tourists waiting for your two big events! Foreigners are flooding the bar districts, bored out of their minds. I have a whole cupboard full of sentry requests to manage muggings and drunks who don't have the correct currency. They're all here because they want to see you!"
Naruto's grimace made his eyes squint shut when he was poked in the chest, the embarrassment showed on the flush in his cheeks and the sputter in the back of his throat. "I didn't ask them to come see me!"
"We don't always get asked what we want." He gripped his shirt front and hissed through clenched teeth, allowing the boy to do the same. "You're the leader now, you can't afford childish excuses. If you promise to do something, do it or I will take it from you."
"You can't take anything from me, I'll beat you senseless you little brat!"
"Funny you'd say that if I'm the one who always kicks your ass! If I wanted to be stuck in this dump until I keel over, I'd fight you for it! But it's too much work for a bunch of ignorant meat sacks, and I don't intend to stick around here forever, so set a date for one thing or the other, give them a deadline to look forward to!"
"Who said you ever kicked any- wait…" Naruto stopped screaming in his face to rewind the last part. "What do you mean you're not sticking around?"
"I only promised to be here until you're Hokage. Stop dragging your feet, I'm not an idiot, I know it's what you're doing."
"It's not! The hell, man." He slapped the arms away and dropped into the couch to aggressively pull his sandals on. "What's the hurry? Where are you going?"
Sasuke adjusted his shirt and exhaled in triumph. "Who cares, I'm a stranger everywhere I go."
"Oi…" The blond motioned with his chin for him to glance back.
Hinata wasn't aware of the face she was making until their attention was turned to her. She wanted to deny her discomfort or tell them it was time for her to go back to work or some other detached excuse, her throat was too tight for words, and if she blinked the barrier of moisture between her lashes might just collapse.
Exactly like that day he'd told her of his traveling prospects, only now there was no room for childish requests.
She would miss him, probably.
Definitely.
She will miss herself, too, the her who comes out when she doesn't censor her thoughts or line up her words.
Sasuke didn't address her when he spoke, instead he settled behind his desk to get back to work. "If she has something to say she'll say it."
Naruto gasped, "You're heartless! Hinata chan is too shy to say something like that!"
"No." He shot her a knowing look that was oddly uplifting. "You're an idiot, always will be. She's not ten years old anymore, and neither are you. Parents and guardians and rules, aren't they limitations for kids? Sakura and everyone else are depending on you to take the lead, stop sucking your thumb and get to work."
Royally pissed off, Naruto stormed out of the office and only stopped grumbling incoherently when he was behind his desk pouring over boring paperwork.
The Hokage's office had never seen so much work get done since the Fourth.
Maybe it's time to seriously consider Plan B...
About an hour later, Hinata knocked on the open door to deliver some mission cancellation scrolls with an uncertain voice and ears red with suppressed embarrassment, only to find the third unhappy ninja of the day had come back and had mustered the courage to see the crazy Uchiha in person. Her interruption ended what looked like a staring contest between the two, one undeniably shaken, the other passively leaned back in his chair with his fingers crossed. The shinobi left with a sealed scroll in his hand which was made of durable material, definitely the kind used for high-level delivery missions.
Sasuke went to stand at the window behind his desk when she set the folders on the high tower in his inbox, observing the world below with an overall irritated air that ran so thick she thought he would snap at the slightest attempt at conversation.
"These are the missions cancelled today." Her voice didn't alarm him at all, he must be trying hard to ignore her very existence. If she were someone else, she'd probably take that as a cue to leave, but if there was one thing she doing this thankless job for, it was to prove he could depend on her no matter what sour mood he was in. "Would you like me to empty the outbox now?"
"Close the door."
Oh, it must be one of the really bad days. "Sorry to disturb you…"
"Close it and come here." He clarified with a quick glance, and waited until she did as ordered to touch the thick glass with the tip of his finger. "Watch that man."
The angry shinobi who'd walked out just now was walking out the double doors of the building, heading straight to meet with a bland-looking civilian two streets away. "What about them?"
"What can you see? With your eyes?"
Byakugan! "They're talking… They look quite upset, the civilian is pointing on the mission scroll to where it needs to be delivered… Isn't that classified? Also, the one on the left is wearing glasses to read, he has a spot on his right brow that looks like a scar or a burn mark. His dominant hand seems to be the left…"
"I don't care what they look like, just tell me where they go."
"They're walking away from each other now, ninja san stopped at an Udon stand to eat."
"Follow the one with the glasses."
She was silent for as long as the target walked through the town seemingly randomly, probably lost in thought. With her ears she heard her superior take two steps away and seat himself on the leather chair, and only spoke when the man in question entered an estate ten minutes later. "I think he went home. It is the Yamada's green mansion at the district by the marshes, I'm sworn not to invade a home's privacy, so…"
"Keep watching."
"Sasuke it's no-"
"Watch him."
Begrudgingly, she continued to focus her eyes until she could penetrate the walls, paper-thin from this distance and difficult to peek through with steady accuracy. "I guess it's not his house, he's waiting in a receiving room for someone… Ah, he seems to have taken the scroll with him!"
"That's what I thought, someone dressed like that isn't fit to live in that mansion. You can stop now, I get what's going on."
Hinata rubbed her eyes after the release of her bloodline limit and looked at the man in the chair. "I don't understand…"
"Maybe that's better." His fingers pinched his nose from the tip to the brow bone in little circular motions, customary congestion amongst dojutsu users. "That'll be it, you can go."
She wanted to go, but her mind was quick at work to figure out the situation. "Some wealthy member of the village council needed to be immediately informed about the relocation of a nameless finance calculator, but only through a proxy… Political corruption?"
"Hmm? You're not as simpleminded as you claim to be." The astonishment in his voice was genuine, his eyes gleamed a little, or maybe it was the overhead lights. "It's a whole network, what else do you think I'm doing here day in and day out."
"But I thought there will be elections, like in the Rain?"
"There will be, it's why the rotten ones need to be picked out before they get any public support."
"Is that why you relocate seemingly random people?" Her smile wavered, "Is that why you switched me?"
He rolled up his sleeves and pulled a folder from the inbox to read through. this conversation was over to him.
Oh god… "Is there someone in my family you needed to fish out?"
"That's confidential. You can go now, don't speak of this to anyone."
Her heart sunk. "Is it my father?"
"Confidential."
That's not an answer! "… At least my father?" she watched his every move like her life depended on it, the annoyed purse of his lips, the tightness with which he held the pen, the deep breath he had to take in before showing her the tiniest shake of the head.
Relief and immense gratitude washed over her like a warm waterfall. It could be a random spasm in his neck, it could be a lie; she believed him for her own sanity.
The conversation was now really over. There was a lot of work to do on her desk, another mountain of reference books to take to the basement archives, two people to inform of their relocation and the comparing of five medical reports long overdue. What she had to say sounded more important than that. "Also… I had Byakugan on so I couldn't help but notice that um… Your chakra flow is really poor at the base of the neck."
He groaned in annoyance and dropped the pen in frustration, "Wow, you think? Not like it's sore or anything."
It wasn't polite to smile, it wasn't polite to smile. "Would you like me to maybe… Unblock them?"
Sasuke turned on his swivel chair, looking up at her with a face that was both humored and suspicious. "It's not an assassination attempt on my core chakra point, is it? You already know too much information. What makes you think I'll trust you with the nape of my neck?"
Oh, she'd forgotten how much he hated being touched. "You don't, I guess… Maybe your girlfriend is better suited for the task. I'm sorry for the intrusion."
"Girlfriend?!"
Oh no, she hadn't meant to say it out loud! "I- I mean, the nice red-haired girl that lives with you…?" he couldn't deny it, she'd heard the woman's voice behind his door several nights in a row…
It bothered her on a moral level, it wasn't right to sleep with someone casually.
What kind of experienced war veteran let a stranger get that close, anyway…
What if they were dangerous murderers, right?
"Karin? Pff, she's not my anything. It's a give and take of favors, nothing more."
Favors, huh? Why was he treating her like a clueless child? "I see, well… I have… important papers. Yes, so."
The chair creaked as he leaned back with a scowl he didn't even attempt to hide. "Are you jealous?"
Well if it disgusts him that much! "No!"
She was jealous.
She was jealous and she knew it, and he knew that she was, and he made sure she knew that he knew; that pissed off scowl burned under her eyelids like a bright summer sun.
With a resigned hum, he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees to expose the back of his neck. "Do it, I can take you."
"MMaybe you should seek the help of a certified medic." Her knees went soft, her shoulders squared, her whole body wanted to leave except for her hands that itched for contact. "I'm aware that you hate it when I get too close, so I'll… Stay away."
"I don't remember asking you to stay away, you're making up excuses to go back on your word."
The accusation offended her on several levels and before she could rationalize it, she was standing right between his knees with her sleeves rolled up.
The only warning he got was the tentative 'Excuse me.' before his breath hitched in his throat, her cold hands had slipped under his shirt through the collar as if she'd done it a hundred times, they were like popsicles on his feverish skin, drawing pinpricks across his whole back. Her thumbs and forefingers did something to that tight spot just between his shoulder blades and the base of his neck, something so painful and satisfying that even the stoic Uchiha Sasuke couldn't hold back his moan. She did it again two inches lower, and then two inches lower than that, without once addressing the groans he poorly attempted to muffle into her sweater. His lungs filled with her smell, of flowers and vanilla, his hands gripped her sides to keep himself steady through the head rush. The slowly clearing paths in his body reminded him of those precious days when he rested well, when his body was young and energetic without seals and tattoos and chronic injuries... The growing drowsiness threatened to lull him to sleep right there in her arms, with memories of a sunny field in the company of a kind stranger.
After wringing loose two more knots and warming open the chakra pores on his upper back, her hands slipped out of his shirt and ran their thin fingers through his hair so settle on the top of his head. She didn't do anything there, just let her chilled skin cool down the flush that was well expected after the unblocking of core energy pathways.
He did very little but breathe into her shirt, it alarmed her to the possibility that this disruption in flow had lingered longer than he let on. That, along with the dark rims around his eyes, his breathless words whenever he spoke, the obvious exhaustion in everything he did; he was obviously abusing his body and maybe it was time to seriously suggest a break.
"Ne, how are you these days?" She smiled to the messy hair between her fingers.
"Alive..." Dazed and undeniably euphoric, Sasuke could only blink up at her like she was bright as the sun. "What devil can I contract to have you come do this every two days?"
Shy and relieved, she found herself fighting back a giggle. "You probably wouldn't need it that often."
"I do, I definitely do." With some effort, he pulled away to melt into the embrace of his cold leather seat. "I owe you."
Her smile faded off the longer he stared, aware that he might never accept unconditional concern, that he will always attempt to payback every kindness she offered him for free. "Are you eating well?"
"Well enough."
She knew that answer well, and knew that if she pressed him about it he will make that bothered face again. She went for it, because he can intimidate her, but he can't scare her. "You're not depending on cold packed lunches from the supermarket, are you?"
Just as expected he was annoyed, but the expression that followed that bitter twist of the lips wasn't anger, it was amusement. "What will you do about it, force feed me something homemade?"
Heat in her face stopped her from saying yes. "That would be pushy, wouldn't it…"
"Not like it stopped you before."
On one hand it was a relief that he could talk to her casually again, on the other… "I won't make your choices for you anymore."
"That's a choice too, though, isn't it." He pushed away from the chair to his full height, just like that day he commanded her to be his assistant. "What if I don't mind if you do? What if I'm doing the same?"
He was a head taller than her, she had to lean back a fraction to find his eyes. "You mean about assigning me here? Wasn't it because Human Resources was underemployed?"
"No." He admitted simply, "I did it to keep you safe."
"I don't need protecting!" Every ounce of patience she had in her small body gathered in her throat, struggling not to scream it out loud. "Because a desert is no place for a woman, is that it?"
"Because you're a Hyuuga." He smirked, hands released from behind his back to land on his hips. He stopped amusing himself with her flustered confusion to speak quietly, seriously. "Tonight, three ambassadors from the Cloud will attempt to kidnap one of you. Your sister is attending someone's birthday party in the district, isn't she? Chances are she will be snatched on the road." The wide eyes that looked up at him were big and innocent, unsure if this was a joke or a warning. "Nara Shikamaru, Naruto and the whole of intelligence had been preparing for this for weeks, I'm surprised none of it leaked out to you yet."
"We don't live in the big house anymore…" Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Hinata started to consider her role because whether they liked it or not, no one plots to touch Hyuuga Hanabi without going through her first. "What can I do?"
"Nothing. You're not supposed to know about it, I just told you to clear my debt." The look of sheer horror that crossed her face spurred him into offering some relief. "But you... I've been out drinking with those Cloud guys for a while, it's actually you they want. I've made it impossible for them to get to you without running into me. If you want, if you're alright with screwing up Naruto's plans, tonight they have me on schedule for an entertainment event so they can plead drunkenness if they get caught. You can come with me and I'll pretend to leave early for one reason or the other. They'll not miss the chance, they suspect there'll be eyes on them for the shrimp, but you? No one expects you to be there, not even ANBU, you'll be out of these walls before the clock strikes twelve, I'm sure of it."
Despite the shock of what he was offering, her mind worked out the kinks quickly. "Would that keep Hanabi safe? Won't they try to have both of us?"
A strange look crossed his face, like he didn't expect that to be the first question. "There's five ANBU teams with eyes on her and only three kidnappers, you're less important to the clan since she's the heir, i don't think they'll bother with her if they have you in the bag."
"Why isn't someone stopping them, if they already know?" she didn't mind if it was her they take or kill, but to put her baby sister in needless danger was reckless even from Shikamaru…
"Nara's plan was to expose them when they go in for the snatch, but I don't see a point in repeating the past. Even if he was a genius he can only work with so many variables, and he doesn't know what it's like to aim for the eyes. It could backfire if she put up a fight, and if I know her at all, she will. The Cloud are aware of it, they're depending on it, if they succeed they'll have a pair of Byakugan, if they don't, they'll have something to whine about just like they did with your uncle."
Hinata had a hundred questions to ask, a thousand possibilities to explore; the brightest thought that filled her head at that last comment was: he remembers!
"So when they strike I call for help?"
"No. Let them take you, if they get caught with a live Hyuuga at the border it'll be an international event. They couldn't weasel their way out of it by lining a few pockets, it'll be Land of Hot Springs territory and those guys take their peace seriously. I'll make sure you're switched out with a decoy just in case, Karin is without a checkpoint pass, she's willing play your part to cross the border. Just wait it out until her Henge no Jutsu is exposed, there's bound to be news or rumors, it shouldn't take longer than three days."
His words were calm and his eyes focused; he'd given this a lot of thought considering it was a back up plan to something the town genius already polished to perfection.
Was that why he's been ignoring her? He didn't want to talk to her long enough to spill it?
Was it why he was missing out on sleep?
Sasuke wasn't aware of the twinkle in her eyes, too busy explaining his theory. "A scandal like that should be enough to keep the Cloud from messing with us for a while, hopefully forever. Too many people died for peace, I don't care who I have to manipulate to keep it that way."
Seeing this detached social reject put so much thought into the safety of her village made her hands itch for a hug, for her lips to speak the gratitude bubbling in her throat. It didn't feel like the kind of situation that allowed such distractions, she had to focus. "Did you tell Naruto kun? I'm sure he trusts you enough to go for it! I'll help, too, if it's me they want!"
With a quiet exhale he leaned against the side of the table to cross his arms, deep in thought. "Naruto trusts me to do what's right even if it's behind his back, even if it pissed him off; but there's only so much he can do to keep the casualty rate down." He mistook her absentmindedness for reluctance and eased himself into the chair to casually flip through C-rank mission requests. "I wouldn't blame you if you decide to trust the original plan, up until five minutes ago i didn't want to let you in on it. It could go horribly wrong and you'll be decapitated on a spike with your eyeballs in some peasant's face."
If she knew Sasuke at all, she would know he calculated it to bits. And if she knew Shikamaru at all, he would put into consideration an interruption like this and plan accordingly.
"What's your role?"
He stamped a 'rejected' seal on the bottom of the scroll and tossed it aside. "Sit here and make sure a team makes it to you in time. I'm still not allowed to leave the village without permission, parole and all."
"Still?"
"Hmh." The smile that tugged on the corner of his mouth was curious, "The agriculture department alone was full of crop reports layered with genjutsu. Demands for abductions and bribery and gifts. I need to be here to do rounds every night, a bunch of strawberries seem to carry the evidence off somewhere when I don't, they care more about interrupting those demands than courtroom logistics and it's just ridiculous." If he noticed the grateful smile warming her face, he didn't address it. "You have until this shift's over to decide, but know that whatever you choose, you're on your own."
She didn't need the shift to be over to know that she would happily have her head mounted on a spike to protect Hanabi. "I'm in. If it works out, if I'm out there all alone… How do I know when to come back? When is the deadline?"
"There isn't one. Just don't die."
I just want to give the little singing bird wings, even if she will fly away and never look back.