Yo yo

hey guys, i just felt like i was dragging this part out too much, i need some new spicy excitement. so i will be posting the filler right after this, and it is just a flash back. this is the end of part two, part three will be a few months later.

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-ink

Morning came, bright and shinning, Hinata rolled over in bed, staring up at the ceiling, which was made up of distinct rafters and shadows caused by the cool morning light.

She had had that same nightmare again, the one she had assumed would fade when she came to the realization that she no longer felt anything for Naruto.

Sighing softly she closed her eyes, day dreaming about the nightmare again, trying to see more clues that might explain why she was still having the torture come every few nights.

Throughout her childhood the dream had developed each year a new piece was added, like a puzzle whose pieces she had to locate.

Frustration gnawed at her mind for a moment before she finally shoved off the covers, pushing herself out of bed irritably.

She was tired, though she wasn't going to let herself admit it without a good solid struggle through the day. The night before at the clinic had been murderous and even Sasuke had enquired as to whether or not she was all right when she came back home, looking worn out.

She had been too tired to notice that the pale boy was possibly more pale than usual, and the fact that his voice was rough, as though he had coughed earlier. Absent mindedly she had headed up the stairs to change and crawl into bed, passing out within a few minutes.

Humming softly she opened the door, glancing across at Sasuke's room, and surprised to find the door wide open she stepped out, pulling her baggy t-shirt up on her shoulder.

A little worried and curious despite herself she stopped at the doorway, leaning in slightly, as if determined not to let her feet cross the barrier of the hall and his room.

The bed was unmade and messy, she couldn't see him but there were so many piles of blankets that he might be there anyway. The window was closed, though a crack in it's material allowed the sun to pass by, lighting up the mop of black hair that could be seen between the dark covers.

Stunned at the fact that the cold avenger was not up already doing push ups as was his usual routine, Hinata stepped in awkwardly, unsure if she should or not.

She often came into his room, to wash his laundry. The first time she did she asked him if it was okay, and looking at her with something like puzzled curiosity he had nodded.

But it was odd that she would be in 'his' room with him in it. The atmosphere was suffocating, even though she wasn't even sure as to why. It was just a room, after all.

She looked around as she approached the bed. There were several cups of water sitting around on the nightstand beside him, and tissues tossed in a garbage bin. She blinked repeatedly and then realized suddenly that he was sick.

Wide eyed and surprised that she hadn't thought of that on her own she turned around and began to slip out of his room wondering how she'd tell the others on the security team why neither of them had showed up at the meeting, then froze, staring at the crack of light coming in through the window and the fact that he was hiding his face under the covers.

Hm.

Biting her lip she turned to look at the situation in hand. Sasuke was sick, apparently very sick considering he hadn't even been able to get up. She was quite willing to stay home again and do nothing. Her body was still sore from the work at the clinic the night before and sure enough she didn't want him to get any worse than he already was.

But the light coming in through the window would soon intensify as the sun rose to a peak, finally flooding the room in enough light to wake the sleeping shinobi.

She would have to close the curtains. Which sounded easy, certainly.

If only the window wasn't directly above the bed and where he lay.

Clutching at her thin strands of courage she slipped closer to the bed again, using the nightstand to keep her balance as she leaned over him, gripping the curtain and tugging the thick material so as to pull it across.

Sasuke shifted under the covers slowly, making her freeze. The light was cut off suddenly and she blinked in the near dark, looking down at the bundle that was her unlikely sensei.

However he had not moved again, after a soft sound like a sigh. Swallowing the knot of nerves she crouched, picking up the garbage bin of crumpled tissue and the half empty glasses of water, taking three with one hand. She stopped, glancing back at him thoughtfully.

She could see part of his cheek, and his brows, relaxed and certainly sleeping, judging by the steady rhythm of his breathing. The darkness of his ink black hair fell, outlining the contrast between his ivory skin and the darkness of his hair.

Biting her lip she turned away, puzzled by her own actions. Shoving the thought aside she slipped out the door quietly and down the stairs getting ready to tackle the list of things to do that had come up in the last few minutes. She had to get to the rest of the security team to let them know where they were, and she had to make something to eat.

Chicken soup was on the menu.

Sasuke woke to the sound of water rushing, from what he assumed was his bathroom. His thoughts were like giant slugs in his head, moving at a crawling slow pace.

Slowly and forcefully he focused on the one that had woken him, pissed off by the noise. Okay… someone is 'in' 'my' bathroom…

He frowned, rubbing his face with one hand, feeling his tongue in his mouth thick and dry, his throat clogged with the virus that had taken over his body.

Groaning, despite his best intentions to remain quiet, like a good shinobi should, he turned, reaching for any given glass of water by his bedside.

To his surprise there was only one, filled mostly. And his mess of tissues were gone, cleaned up and replaced by another box of tissues, unopened and an empty garbage bin.

Totally confused he sat up slowly, lest he move to fast and make his head ring horribly. Groggily he sat there, tangled in his own blankets, wearing more clothes than he ever did when sleeping. Sweat pants, a sweat shirt, a shirt underneath-he'd even be wearing gloves if he could, he was that cold.

The sound of the water in the bathroom stopped, and he could suddenly hear the humming that gave away the identity of the person. It was quiet, she was unaware of doing so, obviously.

He wasn't sure what to think. His first instinct was to be pissed off and ready to bark at her, for being in his room and for waking him up. But his head was pounding and instead he leaned over and grabbed the cup of water downing it all almost in one gulp, ignoring the fact that his throat was having a lot of problems doing so.

Hinata finally entered the room as he put the cup back, returning with an armful of towels- his towels, freezing at the sight of him sitting up.

"Oh!" she let out, the recognizable noise she made when she was surprised and didn't have a clue as to what to say.

Sasuke looked back at her for a moment, feeling odd in his rumpled and obviously ill condition.

"What-" he began and stopped, clearing his throat painfully, frowning as he did so, rubbing his face in the process.

"Oh geez." He sighed instead, his voice hoarse.

Hinata's small steps sounded and she was suddenly putting the towels down on his bed, walking over calmly. She took a small object out of her pocket- which he noticed belonged to the skirt she was wearing. He didn't think he'd ever seen her wearing a skirt before.

"H-here." She mumbled, extending her hand to him. He blinked, looking down at the little object in her palm. It looked like candy.

"It'll help." She added, noting the way he was eyeing it doubtfully. Not in any mood to complain or whine he took it, popping it in his mouth without another word, rubbing the sleep from his eyes warily.

Smiling, satisfied Hinata headed back to the pile of towels, picking it up smoothly. "I-I'm just washing t-these." She added, as she walked out the door. "T-they probably h-have the virus o-on them." And then she was gone.

Sasuke stared after her, completely confused. Sighing he pushed himself reluctantly out of bed, shivering despite himself as the covers fell away and he was wrapped in the coldness of his room.

He had thought that would be the last of her, but Hinata was suddenly back, stopping at his doorway, looking in cautiously.

"Nn… Sasuke-kun.. I m-made some s-soup." She mumbled, tapping her fingers together nervously. "Ano… I-I just f-finished so it's warm…"

The mention of food suddenly made him realize how hungry he was. He hadn't eaten dinner the night before… again.

"Hai." He forced out, nodding. Hinata brightened; giving him a smile she turned around and headed back down.

Licking his dry cracking lips he headed to the bathroom, determined to wash some of his fever, sweat and sleepiness off.

Of course he forgot completely that there were no towels.

(a/n: I am ridiculously evil…XD)

It wasn't long before Hinata noted that he hadn't come down, and a few minutes later she was back up the stairs, though hesitantly that time. She was almost sure that he had fallen asleep again, he had looked very tired, with dark circles under his eyes and cracking dry lips.

But when she entered the room he was nowhere to be found, though she could hear the water pouring in the bathroom, and thoroughly startled she realized he was showering.

The familiar heat washed over her as she stood there numbly, totally confused as to what to do.

All of the towels were being washed.

Fidgeting nervously she twisted her hands in her lap, biting her lips.

Now what do I do? He must have forgotten… oh dangit…

Nearing a moment of almost near panic an idea suddenly struck her and she turned to run to her room, still tense beyond reason and unsure of how exactly she would give him the towel.

She had half a mind to just leave her own towel at the door when she heard the sound of the water shutting off and then his slightly less hoarse voice stating quite irritably.

"…oh shoot."

The tension seemed to dissolve and suddenly Hinata was laughing, giggling so loud that Sasuke froze on the other side of the door, biting the inside of his cheek, but smirking anyway.

They were both red, but luckily there was a door in the way to keep either of them from knowing.

"Just hand over the towel." Sasuke called, but his voice sounded both irritated and amused.

Still laughing slightly Hinata faced the door, twisting her towel in her hands. "H-h-how?" she dared to ask, suddenly blushing harder than she ever had before.

There was silence as both of them tried to figure a way that wouldn't involve much awkwardness.

"I'll leave it here!" Hinata chirped suddenly, dropping the thing like a hot coal and rushing out the door before he came out so she could go wash her face and get rid of some of the pink.

Sasuke listened attentively until he was sure she was gone and then opened the door a crack, noting miserably that she had left the bedroom door open.

Mentally complaining to himself he snatched the towel and stepped back into the steam filled washroom, bring the cloth up to his face before realizing it wasn't one of his. This one was white…

He froze, looking at it thoughtfully. Her smell was all over it, and, biting his lip so hard he was sure it would bleed he looked side ways thoughtfully, clenching his jaw.

Being a boy… was hard…

Resisting the urge to 'think' too much he dried himself (faster than he ever had before) and changed into his clothes, shaking out the warm water from his hair.

He didn't have a clue as to what to do with the towel now, but the smell of soup distracted him.

Dropping it carelessly on his bed he started down the stairs, pulling a long sleeved black shirt over his head as he headed towards the kitchen.

The little nymph that had been making his life so hard of late appeared rather abruptly in the hall as she stepped out of the bathroom from having washed her face and the result was a very unlikely collision.

Hinata stepped backwards, feeling herself hit the wall behind her, closing her eyes tight she lifted her hands up to her face, something equivalent of misery washing over her in a big wave…. Along with the smell of Sasuke which she now knew so well, for he had her almost pinned to the wall, having caught himself last minute.

Trembling slightly, from the contact and the fact that neither of them were moving she looked up, freezing as his dark eyes caught her and held her. It wasn't about whether or not she had a choice to look away. It didn't feel like there was any such thing as choice.

Sasuke stared back, completely frozen in place. Everything about her being right there was making him hurt, from the fact that she was so small to the lavender and jasmine that lingered over her and her wide eyes staring at him with something like a mixture of confusion and surprise.

But he was surprised too, because he was having a very hard time pulling back.

A breath escaped him, letting the shock of the moment be both accented and shattered sharply.

He took a step back, shoving his sleeves up to his elbows from lack of anything else to do. Hinata stared at the ground, mouth open slightly, trying to form words.

Finally the beginning of the sentence finally reached her lips and she pushed away from the wall, walking down the hall as she said it.

"G-g-gomen- ano- the soup is on the kitchen t-t-table…"

…he pulled away- but of course- what else did I expect him to…

She stepped into the kitchen, her domain, despite it being his house. Touches of her were everywhere, the way the towels were folded, the handful of daffodils by the window, the cooking books piled on the counter, the soup simmering on the stove.

Letting out a breath to calm herself, and determined to pretend as though nothing had happened Because nothing 'has' happened, come on…Hinata-get a grip... she reached for a bowl, hands shaking, blinking rapidly at the movement.

Slowly she put it down, staring at the thick liquid of the soup, feeling his presence finally enter the room.

Biting her lip she turned around, setting the bowl there with a spoon, her eyes lowered, looking at anything but him.

Clearing her throat nervously she noted that he didn't sit, but stood, leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, as if waiting.

Finally, once she had ran out of things to put away and there was no escaping it she turned around, leaning against the counter opposite him, hands clenched in front of her. For a moment she just looked down at the ground, waiting for him to say something.

Frustration built up in her chest at his utter silence. Swallowing forcefully she looked up at him, her nails digging half moons into her palms.

"Nani?" she asked, sounding soft despite the fact that she was frustrated and confused and irritated, but somehow looking up at him made her feel better… it made her feel less like she had done something wrong, because he was looking to the side, lips pressed together into a thin line.

"Gomen." He stated suddenly, ruffling his hair lamely, licking his dry lips.

There was silence for a moment and she let her hands drop to her sides as she faced the next choice. She had to either ask 'for what' or say 'it's okay'.

Choosing neither she sighed, watching him look up slowly at her, still his same old confident self, same old cold avenger.

Except he was saying sorry, for something she didn't even understand.

Smiling weakly she shrugged, the motion feeling a little odd on her shoulders, but she couldn't take it back once it was done. Nodding slowly he sat down, watching her relax slightly.

"Ano… do you want t-tea? Or coffee?" She asked, cocking her head at him. He glanced up at her then, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.

So it was okay… at least for now.

"Tea… I think." He replied, watching her surprise. He never drank tea, he liked coffee, it's dark rich bitter taste. But today he was in the mood to try something else.

Smiling again she turned and began to prepare it with steady hands, shrugging off the odd upset sensation that had been hanging over her head. Things were okay… if only for now.

"Ano…" she began, crushing the tea leaves in her bare hands, working them until they were very fine. "Why tea?"

Sasuke shrugged, even though she couldn't see, savoring each spoonful of hot soup.

"It's something new."

Hinata nodded, pouring the hot liquid. "Hai." That was enough of an answer for her.

laaaame ending i think!

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