PROUD

CHAPTER 17

Hinata could hear the staged explosions in the distance. The bruises made her sensitive to even the slightest vibrations. The medicine did help a little. She was grateful to her father for taking the trouble. The small bottle gleamed in the moonlight and she smiled at it, but even that hurt. After what she had been through, after realizing that the whole thing had been a hoax, she still felt that exquisite sensation of accomplishment fluttering in her belly. It made her giddy, a sharp contrast to the drowsy effects of the medicine.

What a rare occurrence for Hiashi Hyuga to show kindness toward any of his own family members, his children especially. Being the preferred heir did not necessarily make Hanabi the favorite. Hiashi Hyuga didn't play favorites. If it ever seemed that way, it was only because he was acting for the good of the clan.

Hiashi had told her to wait for a medic, but Hinata was anxious about Sasuke. Every attempt she'd made to rise from her position had failed. Her back still hurt, and her abdomen even more. Another fifteen minutes passed and she tried again. To be standing was a miracle. Wobbling was certainly preferably to crawling. With the help of the stone wall she was able to make her way forward.

A breeze caught the back of her neck as she went. It felt so nice. A wave of exhaustion hit her hard and she slouched to her knees. There was no way she could go searching for anyone like this. Maybe it was better to wait for a medic after all. If this invasion was only a competition in disguise, then Sasuke wasn't in any real danger. Surely he must have figured things out on his own and was no longer worry about her, if he was worrying about her, that is.

Tiny fragments of dirt and rubble poured onto her shoulder. She swept it away automatically, looking up. A roof was peaking over the stone wall, creaking under someone's weight. Her heart pounded. She cleared her throat, just barely managing a "hello." There was another creak, and then someone was swinging down from the roof. His heels landed flat against the stone wall, hand still suspending him from the roof's edge as he met her eyes. "There you are."

Sasuke!

He immediately unlatched from the roof. Hinata thought her chest might burst. She had no idea how happy she was to see him until she saw him, but a deeper look into his eyes made her throat clench. They literally were blazing, two glowing red orbs in the night. Even when the glow subsided and his eyes returned to normal, she could see the fierceness in his expression. At first she thought he was angry at her, but he only scooped her up in his arms.

For all his agitation he was surprisingly gentle. He took a moment to examine her injuries. Her lip was bleeding. There were little cuts on her face and hands, bruises on her temple, and a floss-thin trickle of blood going from the corner of her mouth to her chin. He asked to see her palms. She turned them over. His eyes narrowed when he saw them, and when he turned her toward the moonlight for a better look, his teeth bared.

She quickly folded them together with a nervous scratch of her knuckles. He focused on her eyes then, or more specifically, the area around her eyes. Hinata could feel the soreness there, like wind biting raw nerves. She blushed. "How did you do?" he asked. The question confused her for a second.

"I passed," she answered belatedly. A smiled worked its way onto her face, a beaming smile—all for him. Sasuke's eyes flashed in surprise. She covered her mouth with her hand, giggling. There was a vigorous fluttering inside her tummy, like a thousand little hummingbirds. It felt like she might start floating out of Sasuke's arms any minute. She looked at him. "Isn't that great?"

He didn't look happy. In fact, he looked just the opposite. "Good," he said softly. "I knew you would." His hands tightened round her and she winced. He didn't notice, as he was looking out over the barren square. The hole in the smithy was larger than Hinata thought, and she couldn't believe that her petite body had caused that much destruction. "Put your arms around my neck."

Hinata's eyes went wide. "What?"

"To keep steady. We're going."

"O-Oh, all right then . . ." She did as she was told. At first she hesitated, curling her hands, and when she finally latched on they were off into the air. She could feel the pulse in his neck, and the heat from his body. This was the most intimate she had been with any human being. His heart beat strongly against her chest, coinciding with her own. What a bizarre sensation. "My . . ." She gulped. "My house is that way."

"You think I'm going to deposit you back into the hands of your bastard father and that murderous lunatic?" Hinata winced at his tone.

"Where are we going, then?" She was almost afraid to ask.

"To the hospital," he answered. "Where else?" Hinata's face could have melted. She didn't say anything back.

Sasuke was pleased that the route to the hospital had been clear. With the number of people needing transportation, it was most likely designed on purpose. When the white building came into view his pace quickened. The rooftops below were only a blur. When Hinata started fidgeting he stopped for a second to haul her up comfortably against him. "Hold still," he whispered sternly. She did, looking down at her fidgeting hands. He sighed.

When they were safely on hospital grounds he lagged into a jog. The closer they got the slower he became, until he was barely walking. Hinata had been so quiet. She was very still. "Hinata?"

She mumbled something incoherent. Relief cut through him, seeing that she was still conscious. "What?"

"You can put me down now, Sasuke-san," she said politely. It wasn't a suggestion, but a request. He did as she asked, making sure to keep his hand to her shoulder in case she fell. "Thank you."

"Come on." He continued to support her even though she seemed to be walking fine. Slowly, but fine. Carrying her had offered her body time to relax, to get back a little of the chakra she'd lost in battle. Injured students and chuunins, and even some jonins were being transported into the ER around the side. Every medic in the village had to know the truth behind the invasion, which was a comfort to Sasuke.

Sakura trees fenced the path to the front door. They were in bloom this time of year, shedding beautiful petals onto the ground. Hinata admired them as they walked, inhaling the sweet scents of poesies and nectar. It was good to see her at ease, but Sasuke couldn't seem to let his guard down. He stuck close to Hinata, wanting to snatch her up and spring into the Hospital. The itch of battle was still fierce in him. His eyes scanned every walkway, every tree.

That's why Neji didn't take him by surprise. He seemed to be waiting for them, and was standing leisurely under a Sakura tree staring in their direction. His help with Gaara was (somewhat) appreciated, and he obviously posed no threat, but Sasuke couldn't help drawing Hinata behind him.

"Niisan!" she cried, poking her head from behind his back. Sasuke rolled his eyes. Neji's eyes fell directly on his cousin, running over her injuries and dissecting her limp. She moved to greet him, but Sasuke kept her from advancing. Neji saw.

"I see you found her," he said coldly.

"I thought you went back to the estate," Sasuke returned.

"They have no need of me there, so I'm free to roam where I wish."

"So you roamed to the hospital? You weren't injured that badly."

"I wasn't injured at all. Hinata-sama." He sidestepped Sasuke. "Are your injuries severe?" She looked down instinctively at her hands, folded them together, frowned, and then looked up at him with an awkward smile.

"Well I . . . father—"

"Hiashi-sama?" Neji's surprise was genuine, and the flash of anger that followed was not lost on Sasuke. He felt it too. Hinata started fumbling with her words, something he hadn't heard her do in a long time. She stopped when he laid a hand to her shoulder.

"You fought your father?" Sasuke asked. She pressed her lips together, nodding.

"And you passed?" Neji didn't sound hopeful. When Hinata smiled at him he blinked once, but otherwise gave no reaction. Sasuke didn't quite have Neji's control. Thoughts of Hinata being pummeled by her own father had him steaming. His hands were shaking. He had to bite down on his lip to keep from scowling. The last thing he wanted to do now was frighten her. Taking her to the hospital had definitely been a good idea.

"I can take her from here," Neji said. His tone didn't leave room for argument. Sasuke shot him a look. His jaw locked.

"She hasn't needed you this far and she doesn't need you now." Hinata tensed beside him—he felt it like a poker to his backside. The rage flattened out of him like a balloon, and for a moment he had to close his eyes. It had been a long day.

"I'll be okay, Sasuke-san." Hinata put her little hand on his upper arm, smiling reassuringly. The urge to protest, to outright reject, did not strike him like it did with Neji. When he looked at her, really looked at her, and saw how different she'd become in the last few months, he couldn't fight her. She was rapidly blossoming into someone who could take care of herself, with or without him. If tonight didn't prove it, nothing would.

It sickened him how reluctant he was to admit it. Eventually there would come a time when she wouldn't need him as a teacher anymore. He wondered then, if not a teacher than what? "You'll be fine here?" he asked her. She nodded at once.

"I will." Sasuke studied her for a moment, trying to pry away from the numb feeling he was having. He turned to Neji with a flick of his bangs.

"Don't bring her back there."

"Only if that's what she wants." Sasuke looked at her expectantly.

"I'll let the hospital treat me," she promised him. So he had no choice but to watch her take her place beside Neji. When he touched her upper back as they went along, Sasuke actually felt a prick of anger. Were they always so familiar with each other? Hinata looked over her shoulder. "Where will you go, Sasuke-san? Back to the academy?" Sasuke pushed his knuckles together and rolled his shoulder.

"No. Somewhere else."

"Where?" Neji asked.

"To a certain browless freak. We have something to discuss." Hinata looked like she wanted to stop him, but Neji cut her off abruptly.

"Just don't get yourself killed. That'll be my job."

*AN*

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