Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto…
Note: I followed your suggestion guys… I put on lines/marks every after the end of a scene, so that you won't get confused. In the past chapters, I actually put lines there, dunno what happened but it did not show in the story when I uploaded it…and please excuse my errors in case of grammar. I have no time to edit the errors like those past tense and stuff (I am an engineering student so sometimes have a busy schedule). Also, I know how to write in English but there are pointers and rules that I still need to learn…hope you understand. I really tried my best though.
To those readers who give me useful suggestions…thank you. I am learning a lot of things because of it.
Chapter Eight: Gaara of the Dessert Sand
Hinata walked around the town's busy marketplace with a large paper bag in hand. The brown bag is already filled with fresh bread, curry, meat stew for dinner, and a few vegetables which she plans to cook for breakfast the next day.
Earlier, she noticed that a few locals are staring as she passed by. At first, she thought that it was because she is a traveler, and then realized that it was because of her white eyes. Not wanting to get too much attention to herself, she tried to cover them with her hair and hood, always keeping her head and eyes down.
She returned to the building where they rented a room for the night. The kunoichi gave the door of their room a knock before going inside. She saw Sasuke sitting by the window, his eyes staring at the distance as the soft late afternoon breeze plays with his dark hair.
Hinata noticed that the young Uchiha was not shirtless anymore. He has a black high collared shirt with the Uchiha clan symbol at the back. She breathes a sigh of relief. Well, that surely eased her mind somehow.
"Sasuke-san…Do you like curry?" Hinata placed the brown bag she is holding and pulled out two small bowls from the cupboard.
"Hm."
Sasuke watched as the Hyuuga girl divided the curry between the two bowls and hurried to put the bag's other contents into the kitchenette cupboard. She returned with two pairs of chopsticks and gave one to him.
"We did not have much for breakfast and no lunch… this is just to feed our stomachs for now…" Hinata handed him one bowl of curry. "We will have meat stew for dinner later." She picked a bowl for herself and sat on one of the chairs.
The two Konohans ate in silence.
-o-o-o-
"Sasuke-san." Hinata said as she returned the last of the clean bowls and utensils inside the cupboard. They have finished eating their dinner minutes ago.
"Hm." Sasuke watched the blue haired nin scurry around the kitchenette like she was used to it. For a short moment, he thought that she doesn't look like an Anbu at all, not with that purple jacket and the way she move with maternal aura. More like a housewife.
Hinata saw Sasuke's smug expression as he watched her in the corner of her eye. She raised an eyebrow questioningly but decided to let it go. Whatever that Uchiha thinks, he can keep it to himself. "You can sleep in the bed."
A mischievous smile appeared on the Uchiha's face. "We can share." He used the exact words she said to him the other night when they were in the woods. Sasuke knew that she would think that he is a pervert or something but he just can't resist teasing her, especially when she was so gallant in offering him the soft bed for the night. Honestly, he would not even care if she chooses the bed or not, he could just sleep anywhere.
The girl's mouth gaped, staring at him with those brilliant eyes of hers. "S-Sasuke-s-san?"
Hinata knew that he is messing with her again when she heard Sasuke chuckled, but this is so far the longest words he said to her all day, that's why she did not expect for him to tease. She can feel her cheeks starting to get hot and hung her head down for the sake of covering them. Where is her Anbu mask when she needs one?
"Forget it Hyuuga, you can sleep on the bed." She heard him say.
"Y-you can have it, Sasuke-san."
"I will only sleep in it if you share it with me…so if you don't want that… take the bed now without further words." Sasuke said, removing his upper clothing while looking at the flustered Hyuuga. He suddenly realized that he likes teasing the Hyuuga princess and looking at her blushing face. Such a sharp contrast from her pale skin.
He smiled when the blue haired girl silently goes to the bed and fluffs her pillows like an obedient little girl. No matter how good an Anbu she is, she still has that regal and honorable Hyuuga upbringing in her, making her quite uneasy with these green conversations.
Hinata sighed. As an Anbu that works in the shadows, this is by far the most akward mission she has ever taken. Sure she has been with Shino or Kiba in situations like this…but it never felt that weird and… different. She stole a glance at her shinobi partner and saw him lie down on the floor on a makeshift bed of blankets and sheets.
"Give me a pillow." Sasuke demanded when he have turned the lights off. He can see her silhouette in the darkness.
A pillow flew into the air and landed on his face, if it was intentional or not, he did not bother to ask. He stretched a bit and closed his eyes, hearing the sounds of night insects that lulled him to sleep.
-o-o-o-
Hinata opened her eyes when painful sounds filled the dark room. In her sleep-muddled brain, she thought that someone might have entered their room and strangled Sasuke or something. Instinctively, the Hyuuga Anbu activated her byakugan and reached for her kunai pouch under her pillow. She jumped out of bed and looked around.
There is no one except the two of them.
She looked at Sasuke and realized that he was the one making those weird noises like he is drowning or being strangled. Through her Byakugan she saw that his heartbeat and chakra pathways are intense. Hinata got to his side and tried to stop his struggles by holding his sweaty head in her hands.
"S-Sasuke-san?"
The Uchiha kept struggling and it was then that Hinata saw that his eyes were closed. Is he having a nightmare?
"S-sasuke-san!" The heiress tried to wake him up by shaking his shoulders. "S-sasuke-san…Ah!" She winced as strong hands found their way on her neck and in the blink of an eye; she was slammed hard on the wooden floor, Sasuke on top of her with his sharingan activated.
"Itachi…stop." He growled.
Hinata frozed. "It's me…Sasuke-san." She tried to pry his strong grip from her neck, her breathing unstable.
Sasuke's eyes grew big as his Sharingan deactivated. For a moment, he was sure that it was Itachi he was holding, trying him to stop from killing his whole clan, and wanted to hold his dear brother he have longed for so long to embrace. The Uchiha was surprised to look at the Hyuuga beneath him who looked at him with those big white eyes.
Hinata saw his face registered the shock. She can feel his heavy breathing on her face as he slowly removed his death grip from her neck. He did not moved though, he just looked at her with those intense eyes of his. It may be dark but the light of the moon is bright enough to let them see each other's faces. Hinata can feel him shaking like a leaf, his muscles tense and strained.
"S-Sasuke-san…" Hinata felt droplets of warm liquid dropped on her forehead and cheek. Her eyes widened when she smelled the metallic scent of blood. She squinted and saw that the blood came from the Uchiha's eyes. "Your eyes!" She gasped and pushed him gently off her. Hinata did not mind the ache she felt from her throat where Sasuke gripped, instead, she placed his head in her hands, concerned.
"Don't…" Sasuke muttered weakly. Sasuke felt like he has been carrying a very heavy burden. Everything in his nightmare looked real. These nightmares sometimes haunted him at night, but he did not expect that he would have a dream this intense.
The Hyuuga did not listen to his weak order. She groped for something until her hands touched his black shirt. She began to wipe his eyes free of the blood, his neck, and chest. She can feel his heart beating under the fabric. In normal days, she would have blushed upon touching the bare skin of Sasuke Uchiha, but right now, she just wanted to help him.
"Just go back to sleep." Sasuke growled, still a little bit breathless but did not move.
"Is it your brother? I heard you call his name."
"Go back to sleep."
"Sasuke-"
"Please…Hinata."
The blue haired Anbu looked at Sasuke with surprise. It was the first time that the Uchiha called her by her name. No matter how concern she is for her fellow Konohan, she can't disregard the plea in his voice. He still hurts for the brother he looked up and loves when he was still young…
She gently put down the clothing and picked the pouch filled with sharp kunai. "I will go back to sleep if you lay down and try calming yourself Sasuke-san."
"I am calm." He growled, though his voice sounded tired and husky.
"Then lie down and get some rest." Hinata fluffed his pillow to emphasize what she wanted. "Then I won't bother you." The girl knew that she must not meddle in his personal affairs, but she is not made of rock for her not to see and feel that Sasuke is suffering painfully from the inside. He may act tough, but the Hyuuga heiress knew better.
When Sasuke showed no signs of obeying the Anbu, she clicked her tongue and pulled him by the ear gently, forcing him to lie down on his makeshift bed. When Sasuke did not resist, she smiled faintly and stood up.
"Get some rest…Sasuke…kun."
-o-o-o-
"Stop rubbing your eyes." Sasuke gripped her wrist before she can rub the irritatingly painful sand from her sensitive orbs. "Do you want to rub your eyes out?"
They have been traveling in the dessert now, away from the cool shadow of trees or woods. The wind was strong and makes it harder for them to see as it blows sand and dust into their eyes. The two Konohans can see the great dirt and sand wall that protects the village of Suna in a distance.
The Blue haired Anbu looked at Sasuke who is trying to get something out from his pocket, the events from last night flashing inside her head. Why is it that this Uchiha acts different during night time? It is as if all his toughness is just an act to hide his real sorrow and pain.
Sasuke-kun…she played the new honorific that she addressed him last night in her head. It sounded strange but she knew she will get used to it. After all, the Uchiha did not protest when she called him that earlier.
"Here." He passed her his konohan forhead protector. He was given one, the day when he was told about the mission. He just kept it in his pocket because he did not to wear one yet. "Wrap it around your eyes."
The Hyuuga accepted it gratefully. She rubbed her eyes one more time, just to ease the pain and itch, not minding his partner's killer glare. She wrapped it in her eyes like a blindfold. Activating her Byakugan so that she could see, she gave Sasuke a nod.
When they were about to continue, Hinata saw two chakra signatures coming their way. She signaled Sasuke to stop and few seconds later, two men wearing the sand's Shinobi uniforms are standing in front of them. They are also wearing forehead protectors with Suna's mark engraved on the metal.
"State your business." One of them said.
"We are the Hidden Leaf's emissaries for the peace treaty." Hinata answered, pointing at the symbol in her forehead protector.
The two sand ninja's exchange knowing glances. "Follow us then."
They followed the two ninjas and were led inside the village. All houses are made of sand, most of the houses looked like giant bowls and bottles because of its spherical structure and style. They stopped in front of the spherical structure with the hidden sand's mark on it.
I'm going to see that Kazekage kid again. Sasuke thought as they were ushered into a room. He glanced at Hinata and saw that she has already removed the bind from her eyes. The hidden looks that the two Suna ninjas gave the girl did not miss his eyes either. Just like the town guards yesterday.
"The Kazekage is inside." One of them pointed at the room. "Please wait here." He knocked on the door and entered. After a few minutes, he pokes his head and gestured for them to enter. " The Kazekage request for you to come inside."
The two Konohans entered the room silently and found themselves staring at the brick haired boy sitting on a desk. There's a hay blonde girl with a giant fan attached to her back that looked at them with raised eyebrows.
"Is that…" The blonde girl's eyes locked into Sasuke's.
Hinata bowed in front of the sand siblings, Temari and Gaara. She has seen them before during the fourth Shinobi war, when they tried to defeat the Juubi and Madara Uchiha.
"Uchiha Sasuke…" Gaara rested his chin on the back of his hands. "So the Hokage sent you in my territory."
"Yes. He assigned me in your sandy little domain." The Uchiha answered, with the cold voice the Kazekage used to address him.
"But my territory nonetheless…"
Hinata, seeing that tension is already building up between the two, started to dig into her pack and pulled out a scroll that Kakashi has given her before the mission. She was instructed to give it to the Kazekage. "Kazekage-sama, the Hokage wants you to have this." She showed him the scroll and placed in on his desk.
"I take it that you are tired." Gaara of the dessert sand looked at the Hyuuga, he recognized her as Naruto's comrade during the war. "I will read the scroll and see if the Hokage's conditions for future peace treaty are approvable by the elders and me."
Hinata nodded, noticing that she is the only one he is talking to. It is like he did not see Sasuke all of a sudden. "Hai."
"For the meantime, you can and rest inside the room prepared for you. You will join me for dinner along with the other emissaries from the other villages later."
"Hai."
Gaara looked at his sister. "Temari, can you please escort the Kunoichi to her room?"
Kunoichi? Hinata frowned. Her eyes darting back to the Kazekage and Sasuke. Did Gaara just tell her to leave? "Sasuke-kun-"
Temari placed her hand gently on the Konohan's shoulder. She have seen this girl in the past, even exchanged a few smiles and conversations with her. "Come."
"But..." Her eyes darted to Sasuke again. He just stood there, hands in his pocket. She caught his black eyes and she raised her eyebrows in question.
"Go Hinata." Sasuke's eyes assured her. He gestured for her to follow the fan woman.
"Come Hinata-chan." Temari said, pulling the blue haired girl with her. She remembered her name for Shikamaru have mentioned it once. She just could not remember what they are talking about at that time.
When they were outside the Kazekage's quarters, Temari smiled at an old friend from Konoha. "Good to see you here."
Hinata smiled at her too. "Same here, Temari-chan…"
"So…" Temari said as they walked in a long corridor. "You came here with the Uchiha…"
"Hai…Uhm…Temari-chan, Is Sasuke going to be alright? I know that Gaara-san does not like him…"
The blonde looked at the Kunoichi beside her and laughed, unable to restrain herself. "Are you serious? You are worried for that Uchiha?" She shook her spikey do. "This is a peaceful mission Hinata, Gaara knows that. He won't do anything even if he wants to. KOnoha is an important friend of the sand after all."
"Peaceful mission…right." Hinata breathed a sigh of relief.
Temari's eyebrows raised. "And even if something happens, and I doubt something ever will, we are talking about Uchiha Sasuke here. You know what he is capable of. So you don't need to worry." Both girls stopped in front of a door where a symbol of Konoha has been engraved. "This will be your room during your stay Hinata."
"Arigato."
"You must be tired so I will leave you to rest. Food and drinks will be brought here." Temari eyed her dusty Anbu uniform. "I'll come by later to bring you fresh clothes…and tomorrow, I will give you a tour in our place after our meeting with the other emissaries… those from far off villages hasn't arrived yet."
"That sounds good." Hinata smiled gratefully. "This is my first visit to Suna, it would be nice if I can see the village."
"Good. See you later then.
"Hai."
-o-o-o-
Hinata was surprised when she discovered that dessert nights are really, really, cold. She was thankful that Temari have loaned her thick clothes for the night. She studied the clothes that are made of comfortable material and reddish in color.
I never thought dessert nights are cold. The heiress mentally mumbled as she hugged herself. Such a contrast for hot mornings…
They have dinner earlier, with the sand siblings and the other emissaries. It was a hearty meal of smiles and kind words. It seems that everyone is happy to participate in a mission that is a key to another peaceful living and unity. Hinata even recognized some Shinobis from the different villages, she have the chance to meet them during the war.
Temari told her that Sasuke wanted to eat inside the room that has been assigned to him and doesn't want to join the dinner with the rest; she also told her that it is actually better that Sasuke chose that way. The other Shinobis are still doubtful about the young Uchiha.
Hinata decided that she will see Sasuke after dinner, so she wandered around the sand building looking for his room. It is not an easy task for the building is big and long. Temari told her the directions to his room earlier but it seem like she was confused and the identical doors and corridors did not help either.
He must not be in this corridor for I cannot sense his chakra. The Hyuuga thought as she wondered around place. She was tempted to use her Byakugan for a moment to see where Sasuke is, but stopped herself, she did not want to see what the other occupants of the room might be doing.
The flickering lights from torches and lamps attached to the walls made the room looked reddish. As she turned into a corner, she saw an open terrace and decided to check it out, wanting to see a view of Suna.
She was surprised to see the Kazekage standing there, looking at the stars. "G-gomenasai Kazakage-sama…" She bowed her head low. "I did not mean to…"
"You are Naruto's comrade…" Gaara said, cutting her excuse. "You are free to wander and explore."
"Arigato."
Hinata stared at the Kazakage while he was busy looking at the night sky. Gaara of the sand have this certain air of seriousness in him, like he has no time for smiles and laughter. During dinner, she just saw him nod every time he was asked a question. She got to admit that this guy scares her, not in a bad way but more like because of his seriousness and straight to the point personality.
"How is Naruto?" Gaara looked at the blue haired girl who he caught looking at him like he was some kind of boy wonder. The Konohan is beautiful, even Kankuro cannot take his eyes of her when they are having dinner.
"H-he is fine." She looks kind of surprise that she was having this kind of conversation with him at all. Her eyes darted at his face then down to the floor. "He is on his way to another village as an emissary."
The once Jinchuriki nodded thoughtfully. "It would have been nice to see him again."
Hinata took a few steps to the railing and looked at the view before her as cold wind brush her hair back. She gasped when she saw how beautiful Suna is at night. What she can't appreciate in morning, took her breath away. The place sparkles like diamonds. She guessed that it was the small crystals from the sand.
"It's beautiful!" The blue haired nin looked around, but before she could appreciate the view more,she remembered her real intention of why she strolling the corridor by herself. I need to see Sasuke!
"I just remembered something…I better go." Hinata bowed before Suna's leader. "Excuse me Kazekage-sama."
The white eyed Hyuuga darted off the corridor, leaving the eyes of the youngest Kazekage trailing behind her as she hurried her steps.
After a few more turns, Hinata found the young Uchiha's chakra signature which becomes more familiar to her as the days passed. She knocked and entered when no one bothered to answer. She pushed the door closed behind her as she looked around the room. "Sasuke-kun?"
Black eyes looked at her from the bed placed at the left most part of the room. "Hm."
He was lying on the bed, resting his head on both of his arms. Hinata noticed that he too, was wearing different clothing, a Suna clothing style. Hinata saw a chair near his bed and sat on it.
For a moment, the two of them did not speak; they just sat there and listened to the silence that engulfed the room. The silence is not an awkward one, it is more like they know that they don't need to speak. They are the silent types of people after all.
Sasuke inhaled the calming scent of lavender and his eyes looked at the girl sitting quietly near his head. "Why did you come here?"
"I am just checking to see if you're alright."
Sasuke snorted. "Why would not I be?" The young Uchiha looked at his partner and remembered the feeling of being on top of her last night. He frowned at the flashback inside his head, a bit surprised that he found her presence soothing.
Hinata did not answer. She just shrugged and rested her chin in her hands like she was thinking something. Sasuke noticed that her white eyes were unfocused, staring at nothing in particular. Without thinking, he inhaled deeply; the scent of lavenders filled his nose in a soothing way.
After a few more moments of silence, Hinata was the first one to break it. "I am worried for you before the Kazekage earlier."
Sasuke raised his eyebrows. The statement actually caught him off guard. He scoffed and looked at the white eyes staring at the window. "You? worried about me? I thought you were only worried about Naruto."
Sasuke saw the Hyuuga looked down and her face became tomato red. He was not surprised, he actually expected this kind of reaction from her.
"N-Naruto-kun is with Sakura-chan at the moment, he will be fine. I am talking about you."
"Why do you like that dobe anyway?"
"W-what?"
Sasuke snorted. No matter how poise she is, all her regal demeanor just evaporates the moment Naruto's name is involved. The Uchiha stretched a bit and stood up from the bed. He did not look at the still flustered Hyuuga, He has no time for girlish heartaches. He took a few steps to the window, feeling the cold night breeze in his face.
In a blur of red and black, Sasuke Uchiha easily leapt from where he stood to the window, and then disappeared from sight.
Hinata frowned. Where is he going?
The heiress stood up and poke her head outside the window to see where Sasuke went, he should know better than wander around Suna, especially when the people around here are still doubtful about him.
"Sasuke-kun…I don't think that this is a good idea." She tried to lower her voice but still loud enough for him to hear. His chakra signature tells her that he is just standing on the window top.
"I'm not going anywhere."
"Then come back inside."
"No."
Hinata almost rolled her eyes. Sasuke and his hard headedness! Good thing he was not paired with Neji-nii or Naruto-kun. It would have been a disaster. She could just imagine how catastrophic it would be for she was sure that they would have been on each other's throats the whole journey.
Without much of a choice, she too followed the Uchiha outside and saw him sitting quietly, eyes closed as the air ruffles his dark hair. Such scene could have taken any girl's breath away from their lungs.
"Sasu-"
"Don't make a noise."
'Wha-"
Sasuke's eyes opened and flashed her warning. "If you wanted to make sure I don't go berserk or something then just stay, but shut it."
Hinata looked at the Uchiha with a sigh. Do I have a choice?
-o-o-o-
So here ends my chapter…this is longer than the others because I got bored during a two hour class and decided to continue the chapter (our calculus teacher is sooo boring.)
- To RikuDai: Thank you for the offer of drawing a SasuHina pic…you're so kind
To the Guest Readers: Even if I did not know your pennames…you still gave me reviews with lots of useful information and suggestions…Thank you guys!
To cooper80: a longer chapter for you.
Ps: I realized that with the pace and plot I'm creating…this is going to be a long story. Are you okay with that guys? Or should I change the pace? Please let me know…oh, and there would be more action for the next chapter of the story, I have the scene in my head now…
-crazygurl12