High-Fantasy in a modern AU.

Calypso
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3. Recover

It had been many years since Sasuke slept without dreaming, and many more still than his first, shallow breaths of the day weren't of air thick with malevolent magics too powerful – too intoxicating – to breathe deeply. He was not jolted awake, nor did he rise with the automation born of discipline; rather, he drifted to wakefulness as a child does secure in his own bed, assured by the promises of those he loves that there is nothing to fear. He blinked lazily in the filtered sunlight, absently wondering if he was still dreaming.

And then that godforsaken rooster crowed.

The pleasant afterglow of sleep dispelled faster than a poorly set illusion, and he became aware of two things. One: there was strong argument that roosters were actually evil incarnate. Two: he was hungry. His appetite had only just returned in the last day or so, so there was a novelty to the sensation. If Hinata stayed true to schedule (and she always did) she would arrive shortly, bringing breakfast with her.

Mischief lingered in the curve of his lips as he sat on the side of the bed while sinking his bare feet into the depths of an impossibly soft rug. He reached for the warm robe hanging on the bed post – the one she'd draped across his shoulders when he'd been chilled two nights ago – and put it over and yet another set of cotton pajamas in another subtle shade of blue.

He would ask where she got the clothes she'd been lending him, had he not been so certain they belonged more to the house than to her. It was quite puzzling, really; Sasuke could detect no detail of a previous owner, and yet everything he'd been given hadn't had the stiffness of new things. It was as if everything here had been intentionally weathered to the point of offering comfort to others, without ever having had been worn at all.

With a breath and sheer determination, he stood - one hand on the heavy bedpost as he tested his ability to bear his own weight.

"Still stiff," he allowed, "but better."

Sasuke supposed he was doing rather well for someone who had come very close to dying, and had spent six days unconscious, and several more in bed while Hinata drained the remainder of the poison from him. It would take some time for everything to return to normal, but as he had always been exceptional, his abilities in recovery were still well above average.

There was no sound as he stepped from the rug onto the wood floors. Sasuke moved with the subtlety of a shadow – a skill that had saved his life more than once. Here, though, silence was incongruous. Never had Sasuke felt as conspicuous as he did at that moment, moving in between the sounds and pleasant air of the house. Everything here was love-worn and gently sloped; he was steel-cold and obsidian-sharp.

Sasuke was quite certain he did not belong here.

Something flicked across his ankle and padded by, but he'd grown used to Hex's presence by now. The cat beat him to the bottom of the stairs and sat on her haunches, looking up at him.

Sasuke arched an eyebrow at the cat.

"Where is she?" he asked, keeping his voice low.

She blinked her eyes in that off-beat-right-then-left way that cats do when asked a question they feel no need to answer. That told Sasuke she was in only one of two places: her garden or her kitchen, and as he had been expecting her with breakfast…

"How do I get to the kitchen?"

Hex gave a satisfied bob of her head and padded away. Sasuke followed, only just registering the sound of humming. There was the rapid sound of a knife on a cutting board followed by a splash as a handful of something was tossed into a pot. Hex was waiting for him at the door and hurried to Hinata's side as she pulled another root to slice.

"Good morning," Hinata smiled as the cat jumped up on to a tall, cushioned stool that Sasuke had no doubt was for her use, specifically. There was a moment where the cat strained her neck forward until Hinata leaned and pressed her forehead to the cat's. They had a silent conversation that Sasuke found himself inadvertently leaning forward to hear.

"Oh?" she asked, before turning to face where he was standing. "So, he is," her smile was kind. "Hex was just telling me that you were feeling well enough to explore. I can bring your breakfast through to the dining room, if you give me a moment."

Sasuke glanced through the archway to the formal table set with crisp linens and crystal shakers.

"It hardly seems the time to stand on formalities," he said dryly, tugging at the front of his borrowed robe as he looked around the kitchen. His eyes landed on the small, rough-hewn table and the mug of tea still steaming next to a folded newspaper.

Hinata followed his gaze, and the tops of her cheeks dusted pink.

"You are welcome to sit there, if you prefer."

Sasuke gave a single nod, and took the seat opposite hers, as she hurried to pour his tea.

"I can have your breakfast ready in just a moment," she placed the tea in front of him, but paused when he caught her gaze.

"Finish with your work first," he flicked a glance to the large stockpot on the stove, and abandoned cutting board. "I am content with a cup of tea."

"I am nearly done," she assured him, and turned back to her work. "Did you sleep well?"

"Well enough," he wrapped his fingers around the ceramic mug. "I bet a bit of rooster would liven up that soup."

Hinata tossed him a half smile over her shoulder; she knew how he felt about that bird, and he knew she'd do nothing of the sort. For whatever reason the irritating creature was dear to the Little Rabbit, and therefore under her protection.

He settled for sipping at his tea, letting its warmth slide down his throat and spread throughout his chest.

Whatever he could say about his situation, he had to admit that Hinata made an unparalleled cup of tea. Whether it was one of her blends, or just something he suspected was from a mortal shop somewhere in her small village, whenever she handed him a cup, the contents were outstanding.

His current selection was no exception; an oolong base with a few hints of things brewed that were not for mortal consumption. Absently, his eyes traced to her wrist where he spotted bright red of jequirity. The memory of that same wrist against his lips and tongue as his over-heightened senses filled with her was sudden and sharp. He had been drunk on her scent – something he was certain was now ingrained in his permanent recall.

He took a slow, purposeful drink of the tea and inhaled its fragrance, forcing is senses to return to the present. When he was assured that the delicate scent of her was being detected in real time, he turned his attention back to the sound of her friendly hum. She was washing the knife and cutting board as Hex stared back at him, her tail twitching lazily.

It was a heartbeat before he realized she was speaking to him.

"I think you have progressed to where you can handle something more substantial for breakfast," she ventured. "Is there something you'd like?" At his arched eyebrow, she added, "Other than rooster?"

Sasuke gave a feigned snort of displeasure. "Whatever you have on hand is fine."

"Mm," she sized him up with a look as she pressed her hands into a towel to dry them. Coming to some conclusion, she nodded her head and set to work. He hadn't noticed the smaller pots on the stovetop, but she was soon stirring them, and adding a frying pan to the free burner. For a horrifying moment, he thought of the breakfasts commonly served in this part of the world (or at least in the part of the world where he suspected he had arrived) but his fears were soon assuaged. The smells in the kitchen shifted, and suddenly there were new memories in the air.

His mother humming while she cooked the soup.

The precise, methodical way in which his father ate that had convinced Sasuke was the only proper way to consume a meal.

His brother's kind smiles and light teasing, and gentle encouragement, and shoulders burdened with secrets.

Hinata quietly brought the tray to the table and placed it in front of him, along with utensils he was certain were not from this part of the world.

There was one notable exception from the traditional dishes of salmon and miso soup and rice and various sides.

"No natto…"

"I thought it might not be to your taste," she hesitated, "but if you would care for some-"

"No," he interrupted softly. "It is not missed."

"Good," she smiled her relief. "I'll warm your tea."

Something warm and strange settled over him, as he watched the natural way she refilled his cup and encouraged with gentle smiles and gestures.

He was silent for a moment before he allowed himself to speak the words so long unused.

"Itadakimasu."

It hung between them – half of a ritual from another time and place he instinctively knew she had been raised to honor.

"Douzo meshiagare," she replied quietly, and Sasuke felt weight drop from his soul.

He had not been back to his homeland in quite some time, and had no doubt that it was any less than a hemisphere away… but in that instant, he had felt closer to home than he had in longer than he cared to admit.

And that was, perhaps, both the simplest and greatest kindness she had yet to pay him.

He was in her debt.

Sasuke hated to be in debt.

Moreover, he was in debt to someone he was fairly certain had all of her needs met by an enchanted house and garden - that didn't leave much room for repayment.

His eyes skated over her profile, and it struck him, then, that there was a lingering sadness about her.

And it came to him suddenly:

"The Little Rabbit is lonely."

That resonated with him, although he would never admit it.

Instead, Sasuke swallowed his misgivings with a chaser of resolve. He'd simply have to stay until he knew why she lived among mortals, as their local stray-tending spinster. Perhaps, then, he could suss out a way to repay her kindness.

"And enjoy her tea," he hid his smile behind his teacup, and allowed himself to enjoy the first hints of drowsiness that follow a good meal and a warm drink.

He soon heeded her advice to retire to bed, but decided he would begin spending more time belowstairs.

He'd have to, if he didn't want her to be lonely...and if it kept him from feeling lonely as well...well. Then that was not such a bad thing.

"Tomorrow," he thought. "Tomorrow we shall see what we can learn about the Little Rabbit."

Sasuke fell asleep with a satisfied grin on his lips, and a contented cat on his bed.

And there is the 3rd installment! More to come!