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Heck yeah. You guys are awesome! And cuz you're all so lovely I've decided to post the next chapter, soon followed by the next filler 'Valentine's Day'
I truly appreciate all the feedback, even if it's something as simple as 'update!' it's great to see, really helps me keep going.
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-Inky
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It was the smell that woke him. Totally different sense than the last time he had groggily opened his eyes and found himself in his living room rather than in his bed.
He actually didn't mind the living room, the couch was very comfortable, but it was a bit disorienting to wake and stare dazedly at a wall that wasn't supposed to be there.
Or in this case, a wide glass door leading to the Sakura tree he disliked so much.
But that was soon forgotten as the strong smell of something tickled his nose and he sat up, rubbing sleep away irritably and looking around in confusion until the memories of the day before came rushing back and he let his shoulders drop for a moment.
"Oh hell." He muttered, scrambling to find his shirt. It had to be around there somewhere…
"S-sasuke-kun, are you a-a-awake?" Hinata's voice called. Sasuke flinched, leaning down in an attempt to fetch his shirt from under the couch.
"Hai." He replied, clearing his throat as he straightened, unfortunately still shirtless. Hinata blinked at him, coloring so fast he was sure the blood would drain right out of her heart and she'd die.
In one smooth motion she turned around, calling out something in a very high voice about breakfast before hurrying into the kitchen, her braid flickering out of sight in her hurry.
Rolling his eyes the Uchiha leaned back down, grumbling to himself about blushing heiresses and bothersome fathers and worse, a bloody foolish Hokage determined to get him to host a girl in his house when he wasn't in the mood to-
"S-sasuke-kun?" Hinata called from the kitchen again. Said boy finally shoved himself up, having rescued his shirt from the grips of the couch. "Hai?" he grunted, slipping the cloth over his head.
"D-do you want eggs? O-or s-something l-lighter? I never- well I didn't I-I didn't know if you e-even ever e-eat- er, I mean, ate b-b-breakfast." She stuttered, her back to him as she fiddled with something that smelled wonderful cooking on the stove.
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow, eyeing the slip of bright red skin showing along her neck line.
"Hn." He replied, having understood only the jist of what she tried to say. "Whatever it is you're making."
"Oh! Hai." She meeped, nodding towards the coffee mug on the table, her eyes lowered. "T-that's for you." She mumbled, standing on her tip toes to reach the plates on the top cupboard.
He watched for a moment, hesitating to move to help her, but after a few seconds of fiddling with the breakable china she managed to get it down, letting out a sigh of relief for both of them as she put the thing down on the counter safely.
Satisfied that she knew what she was doing he sat down, pulling the mug towards him with a surprising amount of eagerness. It wasn't often he ever bothered to eat or drink anything in the morning… but this would be the second day in a row that he was offered something that didn't smell nor taste half bad.
"Ano…D-did I-I wake you, S-sasuke-kun?' Hinata mumbled, putting a plate in front of him and settling down across from him in one motion, lifting a cup of tea up to her lips as she settled down.
Sasuke shook his head, still half groggy from the disturbingly deep sleep he had had the night before. Strangely enough, he hadn't had any dreams either, and he'd forgotten to take the sleeping remedy that Sakura had given him too.
"G-good." Hinata nodded, biting timidly into her toast.
Sasuke eyed her thoughtfully as she studied her food, spreading what looked like jam on the bread. He didn't have jam… he never bought jam, he hated sweets.
She had probably gone out before he was even conscious... She was quick.
Blinking rapidly he looked down at his own plate which consisted of hash brown, an egg on a slice of toast and sliced apples.
The hell, it was simple but he didn't give a damn, it looked good. Deciding not to say anything he began to eat, glancing out the window at the bright sky and realizing that he wasn't flinching from the light.
He didn't have a hangover either, being busy with sorting out her business had left him no time to go drinking…
"G-gomen… Sasuke-kun a-about Ino-chan yesterday… I-I will ask b-before letting anyone else in f-from now on." Hinata said suddenly, cheeks lighting up rapidly at her words. She fiddled with her fingers, bumping them together in a manner he had seen her do before.
"I said it was okay." He replied lazily, popping a cube of potato into his mouth. Damned… if she kept cooking she could have a party and he wouldn't care.
"Oh, hai." Hinata nodded, blinking back at him. He hadn't really answered the unsaid question of whether or not she was allowed to have friends enter the house, though she figured that meant it was okay, once in a while.
Deciding to stick to that theory she nodded again, biting into her toast just as the doorbell rang.
"Mmf." She said, making him look up at her, trying not to smirk as she tried to swallow her mouthful of toast. Scurrying quickly to her feet she removed the apron, which he had not noticed until then, and ran out to the door.
Sasuke cocked his head after her in confusion and blinked, sipping his coffee at the fact that she hadn't even asked if he wanted her to get the door…
Not that he cared, she was living there now, it was far more likely that the person on the other side be for her than for him. He had no visitors.
There was silence for a moment and then a deep voice, distinctly male. Smoothly Sasuke stood, stuffing his hands in his pockets as he came down the hall, looking up to meet Neji glancing up over Hinata's shoulder.
The Hyuuga swallowed and gave a short nod, looking uncomfortable despite his cold demeanor. "Uchiha."
"Neji." Sasuke replied, deciding to skip of the pleasantries of using last names. Hinata stood between the two men, looking pointedly at the ground in vague panic.
"I just came to drop off her things.' Neji replied to Sasuke's obvious question. "H-hai." Hinata said suddenly, pushing past Neji a little coldly so she could pick up one of the boxes that some of the men behind her cousin were carrying.
"Don't, Hinata…. We can carry those up to your room." Neji said slowly. The box was half her size, and though her face was impassive none of the men present would think she wasn't straining to carry it.
"No." she replied softly, pushing past him into the house and down the hall. Sasuke didn't stop her, but watched with approval.
There was at least some pride in that little bundle of trouble.
He turned slowly to look back at Neji, waiting for the pale eyed man to say something, but he didn't. He stared down at the ground for a moment and then looked up, giving Sasuke another nod.
Sighing he turned around to the servants still standing holding four other boxes. "Follow Uchiha-san to her room, gentlemen." He murmured, heading out the gate.
Sasuke watched as he disappeared, satisfied he turned back to the servants. "Come." He muttered, turning around and heading inside to find Hinata.
With a glance he told the other servants to wait as he headed up the stairs to find her standing in the hall, rubbing tears away with her palm, shaking slightly from the strain of crying quietly.
"Hn." He said softly to let her know she was there. She jumped and then blinked at him, rubbing even harder at her tears. "I-I am okay." She nodded, using her sleeve to get rid of the trails down her cheeks. Sasuke watched silently, disagreeing, but deciding not to contradict.
"Which room do you want?" He asked instead, nodding at the half dozen doors. "They're all empty."
"Ano…" Hinata sniffed, biting her lip. "I… w-which one has a window?"
"Here." He led her down the hall to the door across from his and pushed his way in. It truly was empty and dusty. Aside from a black wood bed, a mattress and a white dresser there was nothing in the room. But it was large, with wood flooring and a huge window on the left hand.
"Hai, arigato." She mumbled, rubbing at her face slightly still, fidgeting with her sleeves when she wasn't rubbing.
"Hn." Sasuke replied, turning back to tell the servants where to go. It appeared, she was there to stay.
Running rapidly, panting heavily from the strain. The weights were cutting off the circulation to her ankle and it was going numb, but she had no time to stop and adjust it. Gasping sharply she twisted, letting the shuriken flash by rapidly, digging into the bark of the tree ahead.
It was cold, she could feel the mist swirling around her as she continued to sprint, listening intently to the sound of the pursuer. He was being louder than usual, giving her a chance.
There was something wrong with that, it made the feline chained in her chest turned over in it's sleep, grumbling with irritation.
Slowing her breathing forcefully she ran towards the twisted trunk of a nearby tree, running up it's unstable surface rapidly, pumping chakra into her feet as powerfully as she could muster, ignoring the extra weight of the training weights and the pain they were drilling into her flesh with each step.
With a soft grunt she shoved off, flipping backwards in the air, the four shuriken in her hands flashing with the light of the sun pouring in through the holes in the forest canopy. She couldn't see them though, because around her eyes was a blindfold, tightly held there, stained with the ink of a seal to contain her byakugan when it activated against her will.
Completely blind she landed at a crouch, listening to the impact of the four shuriken against bark. She had missed her target. Gasping she brought her hands up, blocking the blow that she could hear cutting the air towards her.
Unsteadily she stepped back, straining to listen, straining to hear his breathing, but it was so damned quiet!
Frustrated she let out another grunt, shoving forward through a hole in his defense landing a hard blow to his shoulder, but it slid off as he twisted out of the way, betraying his position with a soft gasp of surprise.
There you are!
Rapidly, before she could hesitate she spun around, throwing a solid back kick into what she had hoped would have been his chest, but his hands were there, catching the blow, and though he had to dig into the moss covered ground to hold his position he still had the upper hand. Roughly he threw her forward, almost sending her sprawling to the ground.
But she hadn't been training with him for months to learn nothing. Biting her lip she used the force and forced herself into an elegant flip to her feet, turning to face him again, panting heavily and though her hair was dripping with sweat she was still steady, hands up in defensive stance, turning her head this way and that to listen.
Sasuke stood solidly in the shadows, straining to contain his own panting. She was pushing him more and more each day. He had come to realize that she wore the weights at all times, the only moment he ever saw the weights laying around the house were when she said she was bathing. It had obviously paid off, her speed had greatly increased, even while wearing the weights.
He smirked, letting his hands drop to his sides. If she took those weights off, she might actually give him a run for his money…
"We'll stop for now." He called, watching her head turn sharply at the sound of his voice, blind still she nodded, straightening and bowing politely in his general direction before reaching up to undo the blindfold.
"Hai, S-sasuke-san." She mumbled, fingers fiddling with the white cloth. Sasuke watched, walking over to their water bottles sitting by a tree.
It was easier to train her when she was blindfolded, somehow knowing she couldn't see a thing he did or that his expression wouldn't betray his thoughts freed his tongue enough to speak more.
And, better yet, she blushed minimally when she had to concentrate on other senses. Though, as of late he had realized that it was generally her hearing that she was focusing on improving. Her sense of touch and smell were being ignored. He would have to change that.
Finally pulling the blindfold off, Hinata sighed, folding it carefully in her hands, which were shaking less than when she had started a few months ago. Before, when she had started the harsh training schedule that Sasuke forced himself through every day she had ended each session with such harsh trembling that she could hardly function, and a few times had had to throw up from exhaustion. Sasuke had watched and said nothing, which she had come to realize was his way of approving. She didn't complain, not once, and though a few times she passed out from exhaustion she would always get right back up, pale and obviously shaking but she would continue, albeit slower than before.
Some of the time she didn't even comprehend why she was doing it. There was no way she was going to beat Hanabi. The girl was an unspoken prodigy. She had seen her train with father before. From very young she had mastered all that was thrown at her, practicing blindly until she achieved the desired effect.
But usually, it was because Sasuke was standing there, waiting for her in complete silence. He would watch and though there was nothing expectant about his expression she knew if she said she couldn't there would be the coldness of disgust in his eyes.
Of all people, his eyes were the ones that could get the coldest. There was no pity there.
Somehow the fear of not wanting to face that had been enough. She had seen it, but not directed at her. He still trained with Sakura and Naruto from time to time, on her days off. On those day she would watch from the sidelines as the three highly achieved shinobi of her class battled it out.
Those eyes were always directed at Sakura when she fell, when she crumbled under his power or even that of a soft Naruto.
She didn't want him to look at her that.
"Here." Sasuke grunted, throwing her water bottle at her. Hinata caught it absently, studying the blindfold instead. He blinked, making a mental note to get her to use ear plugs next too. The blindfold had done it's job.
"Arigato." She mumbled, taking a long drink quietly.
Letting out a sigh the Uchiha turned around and sprinted up the tree where her shuriken and his were imbedded, tugging each one out without looking, his eyes focused mainly on her as she began to gather their things.
"Tsunade sent a scroll last night." He stated, landing at a crouch beside her. Hinata glanced up. "O-oh?" she blinked, shoving a stray lock of dark hair out of her way. "I-is it for me?"
"Hai. She requested you go see her after training today."
"Oh." Hinata blinked, standing up quickly, her bag a pile of cloth and sharp objects in her arms. "I-I see."
"You should go now." He added, reaching down to pull his own bag up onto his shoulder. Hinata nodded rapidly, turning around. "Hai!" she squeaked, nervously fiddling with her hair with one hand. "I-I'll go-"
"Give me that." Sasuke sighed, watching her almost drop half of her equipment out of the bag.
Hinata stared for a moment then nodded, knowing full well he would look impatiently at her if she didn't just hand it over. Bowing her thanks again she passed the things over onto his hands and turned around to sprint out of the training site.
"I-I'll be back b-before dinner, Sasuke-kun!" she called over her shoulder, giving a soft wave before turning and disappearing from sight. Sasuke shrugged to himself, pretending he didn't care as he threw her bag over his shoulder too.
"Ah, Hinata-chan." Tsunade smiled as the heiress was escorted into her office. "It's been so long since I've last seen you!"
Hinata bowed deeply turning a bright red at her Hokage's words. "Gomen nosai, Tsunade-sensei!" she mumbled, straightening slowly. "I-I have been very b-busy."
Tsunade smiled at her lightly, examining the new Hyuugs Heiress. The old Hinata seemed distinctly like a long forgotten memory. She had been timid and small and covered from head to toe in clothing too big for her. This Hinata was different.
Wearing a black tank top and a mesh shirt over top, with an off white tunic style vest and training wraps that curled up her forearms and thighs, she looked distinctly different.
And from the amount of muscle she could see rippling with each move she was obviously stronger as well.
"How have you been, Hinata?" Tsunade finally asked, resting her chin in her hands. Hinata blinked at her, hearing the note of soft worry and curiosity crossing her sensei's voice.
"I-I've been well, sensei." Hinata murmured, looking back at the pretty blonde face confusedly.
"Is your training helping?" The hokage asked again, hoping being more direct would get the questions and answers finally flowing. Hinata nodded rapidly. "Hai, sensei. I believe I am improving…d-demo, I-I still have a l-long ways to go."
"So the Uchiha managed to help, did he?" Tsunade smiled, half mocking already. She had known it would work, Uchiha Sasuke had been one of the few students to push himself to his limits once a goal was set. Under most circumstances he would expect the same from anyone he bothered to train as well, and seeing as he was vaguely involved with the current situation at the Hyuuga household it made sense that he would push Hinata as hard as he would push himself.
Which was exactly what Hinata needed.
"Y-yes… Sasuke-san has been very helpful." Hinata nodded rapidly, clenching her hands behind her back. "Oh- ano… Arigato, Tsunade-sensei, for the furniture you sent to the house. I-I really appreciate it… I didn't want to ask S-sasuke-san f-for it-"
Tsunade waved her hand lightly, recalling that a few days after Hinata had moved in with Sasuke she had sent several bunches of things she might need. Towels, a mirror, shelves, frames, a dresser, desk and chair, rugs and blankets. Neji had informed the Hokage that Hiashi had refused to give most of Hinata's old things away, for pride's sake. Sasuke's last words on his visit had been rough on the man's ego.
"Don't mention it. As my unofficial apprentice you deserve some pampering." Tsunade smirked, lighting up a pipe as she spoke. "You look good though, Hinata." She smiled, giving a nod of approval as she blew out the smoke absently.
The pale Hyuuga colored rapidly, looking down at herself in surprise. "Ano… arigato…"
"I just called you here because some of your colleagues have been a bit worried about you. Shino, Kiba, Ino and Naruto in particular." She admitted. "No one sees you, now days. We miss you at the clinic as well, I haven't been able to find anyone to fill your position."
Hinata's eyes widened. "Gomen nosai!" she gasped, looking startled. "I didn't m-mean to m-make everyone w-worry."
"They just want to know you're all right." Tsunade almost laughed, waving away her look of panic. "But it looks like you're still you."
"Hai, sensei." Hinata managed a shy smile. "I-I will try t-to reach them m-more often- and if you n-need me at t-the clinic I can-"
"That'd be excellent!" Tsunade smirked. "I am sure Uchiha can do without you for a few hours each day, don't you think?"
Hinata's eyes widened at the realization of what she had done. She hadn't asked him if it was okay to suddenly take a chunk of her training session right off the board.
"Oh-oh… uh… ano… sensei- Sasuke-san he might-"
"How's he treating you, by the way?" Tsunade cut in, standing up and heading towards a bookshelf in the back of the room.
"…ano… well, fine." Hinata blinked at her back, confused. "I-I am not sure I u-understand-"
"Well, I was just worried is all." Tsunade admitted. "He can be rough."
"R-rough?" Hinata blinked, trying to remember a point in time when Sasuke had been rough when they weren't training.
"Yes." Tsunade laughed, turning to look at her questionably. "Have you never noticed?"
Hinata blinked back at her confusedly, blushing slightly from being so dense. Was he really rough? She didn't recall really.
"W-well… He d-doesn't l-like to t-talk much a-and he is v-very private, b-but he's very kind." She frowned confusedly at the Hokage.
Tsunade stared at the girl, who had made the longest speech she had ever heard her say before about a young man that until recently she hadn't been aware she even knew.
"Heh!" the blonde smirked. "Really."
Hinata nodded, blushing at the expression of vague disbelief on the Hokage's face. "I see." Tsunade nodded. "I see…"
"Uh…ano… about the clinic…" Hinata began again, trying to change the topic. "Yes, I suppose I'll give you your old job back then, ne?" the hokage continued, riffling through several documents. "Two hours in the afternoon I think should be good enough, and if that Sasuke has trouble with it, tell him to come over here and I'll give him a good explanation as to why I need you there. Honestly, Sakura is a brilliant med nin, but in your department she's almost useless. She worries me sometimes."
Hinata stared. "D-demo… Sakura-chan c-can do s-so much better in the-"
"No, no, Sakura's got talent, yes. Just, not with this. Anyway, I have to give Kakashi another talk to for leaving one of his stupid books in the academy library." Tsunade sighed, rubbing her face tiredly. "So, it was lovely to see you, Hinata. I'll call for you again in a few weeks. Do you think you can start at the clinic tomorrow?"
Hinata blinked at her over her shoulder as some servant she hadn't seen before led her to the door by the elbow. "Eh? Oh-I-I think m-maybe I-"
"Good! I hope to hear from you soon!" Tsunade called, signing something and waving absently at the door as it closed.
Hinata stood numbly in front of the door, blinking at her, raising her hand to her lips nervously.
Oh no! Oh no, oh no, oh no!
Already flinching at the reaction she would probably get from Sasuke she began the slow walk back home, hanging her head in defeat.
No there was no easy way out of the mess. If she said no to Tsunade it was almost as bad as facing a slightly irritated Sasuke-kun.
Sighing softly she shook her head, pulling her hair out of it's braid to redo. Hopefully he wouldn't take it too badly…
Sasuke stared at her impassively, watching her fidget uncomfortably under the constant and dark eyes, looking anywhere but his face.
"Ano… I- Gomen! S-she s-said s-she r-r-really needed m-me and I-"
"How often is it?"
Hinata froze, staring at her fingers as she bumped them together nervously in front of her. "T-two hours e-each day… i-in the afternoon." She mumbled. The only time it really cut into was dinner. But she had been making dinner since day one and he hadn't missed a single one so far, so she hadn't either. The unspoken responsibility was hers.
"It's fine." He shrugged. "You're moving to the lead weights tomorrow."
Flinching visibly Hinata colored rapidly, letting out a breath. "G-gomen, S-sasuke-kun… she s-speaks very quickly."
"Hai." He grunted, sounding half amused as he flopped down on the couch lazily, pulling up a scroll he had been studying for the past week.
Hinata blinked rapidly at him a moment. "Ano… I-I will start d-dinner in half an hour." She mumbled, bending down to remove her training weights slowly. Sasuke just nodded, focused completely on the scroll already.
Letting out a long breath of pain she pulled the weight off her ankle, flinching at the sight of the yellowing bruise forming around it's grip.
A shadow fell over her suddenly and she looked up to meet see Sasuke blinking down at the bruise thoughtfully.
"The lead weights are going around your waist, wrists and thighs." He stated impassively. "Get rid of those."
Hinata started, nodding rapidly as she picked up the old weights. "H-hai." She mumbled, turning to head up the stairs to the bath.
Oh thank goodness… I don't think I could survive another day of feeling nothing from my feet…
As soon as she was gone Sasuke turned around, opening the closet in the hall to pull out the training lead training weights he had had Naruto drop off earlier that day.
Without bothering to let her know he was leaving he grabbed his coat and slipped out the door. He needed to get those modified to fit around the thighs…
It wasn't rare for him to wake up to the smell of something warm and enviting coming from downstairs. It hadn't taken her long to realize what his favorite foods were, and he was particularly impressed by the fact also that she had known from day one that anything with tomatoes was accepted without even a look of complaint or hesitation.
He wasn't tired of her meals either, because despite it having been three months since she had moved in there wasn't a single one he could claim to have been repeated. Somewhere in one of the boxes brought in with Neji a few days after her arrival there had been a few cooking books with more than what he supposed were 300 recipes.
It didn't take long for him to realize she was using every single one of them. He had seen the book and at first had wondered if she was studying something outside of ninjutsu in her spare time, but upon picking it up he had come to the realization that no.
They were just recipes. No complains there.
But, this morning the smell was different, it wasn't a morning smell of eggs, or of fresh baked bread of some kind as was more common. No… this time it smelled of something vaguely sweet.
Not a good sign, sweets were not a good sign, he didn't like sweets.
Frowning slightly he stumbled out of bed and into his washroom, dunking his head in the cold water as he often did, though of late it hadn't had much of an effect on him anyway. Before it had rid of half his hangover, lately he hadn't had a hangover to get rid of in the first place.
He couldn't just go and get brutally drunk with a girl around… and mainly that one. For some reason he was more terrified of her than of any other girls. Not because she would go and do something, but because if 'he' tried something she would hesitate to fend him off. And she was one of the few that would want to fend him off in the first place.
Rubbing his face with the towel hanging around his neck he stepped into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe to watch her work. It had become his habit.
It was actually rather amazing watching her work, she moved without hesitation. She knew where everything was, without looking, reaching for the salt blindly while reading from the recipe propped up against the fridge.
"What are you doing?" he finally asked, eyeing the sleeveless white tank top she had on and the sweater hanging from her waist.
She has nice shoulders…
"Eh!" She gasped, turning around rapidly. "Sasuke-kun! Good m-morning!" she meeped, blinking at him for a moment and then turning around again. "Oh- I- making dinner, before we leave." She blinked at him again uncertainly, before turning to stir whatever was cooking on the stove.
Sasuke cocked an eyebrow, watching her neck begin to turn red slightly. He couldn't tell if it was from the heat or his staring.
Oh shit! I'm staring.
Looking away pointedly he cleared his throat, as quietly as possible and added. "Why?"
"Oh…ano.." Hinata mumbled, her back to him still, fiddling nervously with the mushrooms frying on the pan. "…I…well I-I have t-to work today i-in the afternoon…" she mumbled, glancing over her shoulder at him nervously.
"…I w-will t-talk to T-tsunade-sama t-this afternoon a-about switching m-my schedule, hai?"
Sasuke cocked his head, crossing his arms thoughtfully while looking back at her until she looked down again, bright red and a bit puzzled.
"Hai." He replied, and then froze.
I.. don't care if she's not around for dinner… do I?
"Ah, okay." Hinata nodded rapidly, turning back to the stir fry.
He frowned at himself while her back was turned and sat down, blinking at his mug of coffee on the counter just like every other morning. Maybe the reason he wanted her around for dinner was because she actually cooked. Going back to eating sushi every night and the occasional ramen bowl would be disheartening.
Yeah… that was the reason.
Hinata sat down in front of him suddenly, putting a bowl of porridge and a plate with his usual toast and egg in front of him.
"Ano… S-sasuke-kun…d-do you mind… i-if I work at the c-clinic again?" she mumbled, stirring her tea unnecessarily. Sasuke glanced up at her over the rim of his coffee cup, eyes as intense as usual.
Feeling more intimidated than the last few days Hinata looked down quickly, staring at the rippling tea in her cup.
"No." he shook his head for good measure, putting his cup down quietly, but ignoring his breakfast instead, watching to see what she would do as he obviously waited for her to say something.
Hinata fidgeted, feeling more and more like they were playing a game of chess and she didn't know the rules.
"…d-do y-you t-t-think I'm improving…enough?"
"Fast enough." Sasuke replied, relieved that she was forcing herself to ask the questions he knew had been heavy on her mind since day one.
"Oh!" she replied, daring to glance up at him quickly in surprise. Obviously she hadn't expected that reply. Sasuke blinked back at her patiently.
"You have a long ways to go, however you have time." He nodded, finally turning to stir his porridge quietly.
Hinata felt a smile tug at her lips. "Hai." She nodded, biting into her apple happily.
"Your new weights are in the living room." Sasuke added, making her look up in surprise, having not expected him to say anything else all morning. Their small conversations usually had to last until midday when they stopped for a break while training.
"Oh… arigato." Hinata blinked.
"Check to see if they fit." He muttered. "If not, we'll have to stop at the armourer to get them refitted."
"Oh, hai." Hinata nodded, eyes widening with interest. Downing the rest of her tea quickly she ran out with the apple in her mouth, pulling her hair into a braid as she walked. Sasuke watched out of the corner of his eye, noting that she was as excited about the new weights as Sakura usually was about a new dress.
She was one strange girl.
Hinata munched on her apple quietly, strapping the weights around her leg with difficulty, the apple firmly lodged in her mouth because she need both hands.
The weight there was uncomfortable, but because the material was lead it was thin enough and equally spread to wrap all the way around her thigh without adding too much volume and making it hard to walk.
The trouble was… that it was too small.
"Uh oh…" she sighed softly, her voice rising and falling in though. It wouldn't go around her leg.
"Am I really that big?" she blinked, lifting her leg up on the step by the front door and cocking her head at herself.
"Not fitting?" Sasuke's voice enquired.
Letting out the customary 'meep' sound she always did when surprised she turned, feeling the weight slip.
Without even thinking about it she caught the material before it hit the floor. "Eh… well…no.." she admitted sheepishly, feeling heat rush up into her face.
Sasuke didn't reply but stepped down to her level, blinking in the bright morning sun. "Let me see." He sighed, extending his hand for the weight.
Hinata stared, hesitating for a moment before handing it over, feeling even more blood rush to her face rapidly as he fiddled with the straps and then crouched down.
Oh my God!
"You okay?" he asked, not looking up as he fit the material around her leg, his cool fingers tickling the inside of her thigh as he slipped it into place.
Hinata stared on straight ahead, blinking rapidly to clear her vision, taking a deep breath slowly before replying as calmly as she could.
"Mhm." She squeaked, nodding quickly.
Knowing full well now that she wasn't as okay as she was saying she was, Sasuke smirked, looking down at the ground pointedly for the sake of both their prides. Though, he couldn't help but feel the skin under his fingers…
It was very soft skin…
Finally feeling the heat start to creep up on him too he straightened, pulling the weight along with him.
"It's too small."
"Hai." She squeaked again, bending down to gather her things, looking anywhere but him.
"Let's go." He added, thanking whatever God was looking down on him for the fact that she was refusing to look at his face.
Because it was burning.
"Ah, back again, Sasuke-san." The rough looking man nodded. The blacksmith's shop was dark and gloomy, with a huge fire burning at it's center and black soot covered tools hanging off of black soot covered timber that made up the wide canopy blocking out the bright sun.
It was early in the morning but he was already covered in sweat, the glistening muscles rippling under the shirt that Hinata supposed had once been white but the soot had claimed long ago.
He had a handle bar mustache, bright red like a carrot and a bald head, but his eyes were small and friendly looking, and his voice deep, like a grandfathers.
"Hai." Sasuke replied in a bored tone, lifting up the training weights. "They didn't fit."
"Oh indeed." The armourer laughed, a booming sound bouncing off the metal all over and making the sound of the roaring fire sound small.
"Well, without the trainee here to get them fitted it would be hard to say just by your roundabout assumption."
"She's here." Sasuke replied calmly. This particular armourer was one of the few people in the world that didn't annoy him… much.
Hinata peeked from behind Sasuke then, her long braid swinging at her movement, red cheeked, hands up to her lips timidly.
"…Hello…"
"Heh!" the big man started in surprise, blinking at the cute little thing that had suddenly appeared from behind the broad shoulders of the younger man. "Who's that right there? Come out here, sweetie, I don't bite." He nodded, and he seemed to mean it too.
Hinata blinked, glancing nervously at Sasuke who looked back at her calmly, waiting patiently for whatever reaction she chose to give.
Slowly she stepped out from behind him, bowing quickly.
"G-good morning, Swordsmith-san."
The armourer smiled, glancing over at Sasuke with a big grin. "She's cute as a flower that one. The name's Taichou, sweetheart." He winked. "I'm assuming you're here to get those weights fitted, then?"
Hinata nodded quickly. "Hai, Taichou-san!"
"Well let's see then." He muttered, picking up the weights Sasuke had put down on one of the counters not covered completely in soot. "Hm… looks like you need bigger straps is all. You're a tiny lil' thing." He added, glancing at the girl and making the comparison to Sasuke, who stood a head and a half taller than her.
"Is there anyway that could be done quickly?" Sasuke enquired, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "We're already late for training."
Hinata glanced at him thoughtfully, wondering just what they were late for. Usually they just trained on their own.
"Hm, well, you can't leave till I measure the little one." Taichou shrugged, nodding at Hinata. "And it'll take me a good half day if you want it done properly. Modifying ankle weights to thigh weights is harder than it sounds, you're lucky I managed to get it done last night in such a hurry."
Hinata blinked, startled by his sentence, eyes slowly shifting to Sasuke in surprise.
Avoiding her gaze purposefully he shrugged. "Fine."
"Here….er… what's your name, darling?" he added, rummaging in his pockets for a measuring tape. Hinata lifted her hands to her lips nervously, not wanting anyone touching her after the little incident at the doorstep. Taichou looked like a nice man… but…
"Hinata." Sasuke answered for her, glancing at the girl with a bit of a puzzled look. "Her name's Hinata."
Said girl blinked, realizing she had completely missed a question. "Gomen." She mumbled softly.
"Hehe, a dreamer, I see." Taichou muttered absently while unraveling the measuring tape. "It's no problem, sweetie, people never take the time to think now days."
"H-hai." Hinata answered, unsure if what the right answer or not.
"Here then, Sasuke-san." Taichou said suddenly, handing the measuring tape to the young man. "I'll go get these ready then, while you measure the cutie pie right there." He muttered, picking up the training weights. "Just let me know the size and you can both be on your way."
Sasuke took a deep breath, fiddling idly with the tape in his hands, sensing the very negative vibes practically rolling out of Hinata in waves.
This was one of the most awkward things he had ever been asked to do, and he was feeling it very acutely.
"Hn." He said, turning to look at her calmly. Before he realized he was going to say anything the words were coming out of his mouth.
"Is it okay?"
Hinata blinked back at him, mouth open slightly in surprise. Between them there was the unsaid agreement… that all awkward things would remain unsaid.
This was a break in the protocol… it felt…good.
Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding she nodded. "…Hai."
Without another word Sasuke crouched down, wrapping the tape around her leg quietly, blushing furiously and this time in clear view of Hinata's pale eyes, watching him work with a look of puzzled surprise.
His face was almost as red as hers! And his ears! She lifted her hand up, in case she actually giggled out loud.
His ears were so red!
Finally after what seemed like an eternity he stood up, pressing his lips in a thin line and looking anywhere but her.
"Taichou!" he called, walking towards the man on the other side of the room, peeling apart the training weights.
While he was gone Hinata looked down at her legs, still feeling the places where his fingers had pressed against her skin.
Wrinkling her nose thoughtfully she smoothed her hand over it, as if erasing the touch.
It's so… strange.
"Hinata." Sasuke stated suddenly, walking towards her quickly but looking pointedly past her. "Let's go."
"Hai!" Hinata nodded, stopping to bow at Taichou who was waving at them. "Arigato, Taichou-san!"
"See ya later, sweetheart!" He waved back before turning to fiddle with the weights again.
Hinata smiled, running to catch up to Sasuke's quick steps.
Things…were looking up.
Awww, she's SO cute!
WHOA! Guys this was a loooong chapter! ((gasp)) hehe, anyway, I hope you guys like it. The beginning felt a bit strained, ne?
Well, please leave a message, it'd be lovely to know what you think.
AND filler number 2 is ON the way!
Read. Review.
-Inky