Disclaimer: Naruto & co. don't belong to me. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

AN: fluff alert, and something citrus-y. sorry that this might have taken longer than expected. it's been hectic, and now that i'm out of college, and unexpectedly looking for a job - it's going to be even more hectic. i'll try my best to get another chapter out, same day next week. thanks for staying on with me. this chapter is primarily SasuYuki-hint-hint.. just letting you know. oh, and i'll be slowly replacing the previous chapters - re-editing and stuff, nothing serious, just letting you know.

Chapter: Reconciliation

They reached the Hatake household soon enough. Yuki reluctantly invited him in for a drink, although for some reason, it was Sasuke who ended up making the tea and her simply staring at his back from the counter.

Yuki smiled gratefully as she folded up his jacket. She had been feeling a little dizzy from walking, and a little numb, because, sure enough as Sasuke said, it was cold out. She frowned inwardly, wondering why she couldn't detect the temperature correctly before. Very odd. A slight noise beside her startled her from her thoughts, and she looked up, finding Sasuke carrying a tray. Silently she followed him to the living room where she sat opposite him. The silence was oddly comfortable... for the first few moments.

"Are you still uncomfortable with it?" Sasuke asked when he couldn't handle the silence anymore. A first.

"Huh?" Yuki had been deep in her thoughts, she was very concerned about the little dysfunctions of her body. It was new. It was unsettling, and Sasuke's voice had jolted all thought of it out. In her surprise she looked up, only to find him gazing deeply at her. She was unconscious to the blush that came up.

"You've been gone for very long. We haven't really seen each other since that day... when you reinstated as anbu. I assumed that at least now, it would have been already enough time to have thought it through." Sharp. He was trying his best to be to the point. But....

"I... I don't know what you're talking about," Yuki said, though perfectly knowing it but was unwilling to talk about it.

"You know, Yuki-chan. You know what I'm talking about," Sasuke pressed. Yuki stubbornly stayed silent and began to sip on her tea. "Yuki-"

"I don't want to talk about it," she snapped, glaring at him coldly. Bad feelings were enveloping her. What odd comfort his presence had given her now turned into plain annoyance. Not to mention that dangerous glimmer in his eyes was making her subconsciously shrink away.

"Isn't it enough?" Sasuke began, just as coldly. He knew that she was going to be difficult, and was prepared for it. "You've refused to talk to me all this while. You've refused to let me visit you and all the rest of my attempts to talk to you. You've made that preference quite public enough... do you know how much embarrassment it is causing me?" Yuki did not reply but kept on glaring at him. "Do you know that you are threatening your own position, refusing to acknowledge that we are already betrothed?"

"I don't see how," she replied, giving him one of her most blatantly disdainful looks. Sasuke would have sworn that his blood was starting to boil then. Who would have ever dared to show disdain to him? He took in a deep breath before attempting to speak again.

"Yuki," he began, a little calmer this time. "This is our chance to talk this through."

"What makes you think it needs 'talking through'? The pact was never agreed upon by me in the first place. I don't know why I'm refusing even now because I believe that there is nothing to refuse!" Sasuke leaned over and looked at her squarely.

"Do you really believe that?" His gaze was sharp. Gods, those Uchiha eyes were frightening. Every single one of her nerves were screaming now. The Uchiha were known to shoot terror into a person with just a simple look, but damn it, she was an Uchiha too! Mustering up all her courage she glared right back.

"Yes I do!" she said, although her glare faltered for a second. She jerked away from the table when he shifted a little closer. It was clear that she was uncomfortable with his close proximity.

"Then why are you crying?" he asked gently. Yuki gasped when she realised it. Two warm streaks going down from her tear ducts. Oh god... the tears were stinging. She cursed her body for betraying her and hastily put down her cup and then curled herself up on the couch. With sleek movements, Sasuke closed the distance in the blink of an eye and sat beside her. Before she could react he was already had his arms around her.

Sasuke half-expected her to suddenly push him away or start trembling - he knew perfectly well what she had gone through, and the unexpected move from him would've caused her either attack him or run away. However, surprisingly, she had automatically buried her head under his neck. He could feel her warm tears through his now tear-stained shirt. But that wasn't the only thing that was surprising, she was cold.

"Why-.... I know that them forcing up the pact was sudden, but why are you so against it?" Yuki went still and did not respond. "It takes two to make this pact real-"

"It's getting late," Yuki interrupted, pushing him a little away.

"It's my life too!" he pressed.

"So why did you agree to it?!" she snapped suddenly. Sasuke stilled, realising that her eyes were slightly blood-shot now, though she hadn't been crying for too long. "If you didn't want to be tied down, why did you agree to the engagement?" Yuki bit on her tongue and looked away. She felt that maybe her tone was a little too harsh. But god, he was making her act like... like some girl! Like one of those girls falling out of a relationship.

Sasuke wasn't affected much by her tone and he understood her anxiety. So he put up his hand to cup her face and slowly made her turn to him, his eyes gazing steadily on her face. Yuki trembled slightly as she saw the mysterious look in his eyes. "Do you really have to ask?" he said in a low, deep voice. Yuki felt herself transported away from reality. His voice was making her feel sinful all the way underneath her skin. Quickly, as she felt a blush rising, she looked away, while berating herself for acting meek.

"I don't need an engagement or even a marriage for that matter to keep me safe. I'm alright on my own," she said, attempting to sound defiant but was only successful in making herself sound more timid. All at once she realised her position. She was still being held, with a firm grip for that matter, by Sasuke and they were practically hip to hip on the couch. The position was not comfortable. She could feel bile rise up her throat at the sudden intrusion of the nauseating memories.

"Shh..." he said soothingly when he noticed her trembling start up once more. "Yuki-chan, please calm down," he said gently as he loosened his grip. "I know they tried to do something to you while you were in the Hidden Sand Village." Yuki froze.

"There you see..." she choked. "Even news of the engagement didn't work. Unlike what Kakashi-niichan said, they did dare harm me even though they've heard news of the engagement. It didn't work. If your name can't keep me safe even before the marriage then I doubt that your name can keep me safe after the marriage. I'm better off on my own-"

"The only reason," Sasuke began with a steely tone, "that you were attacked was because you left the safety of the village! You were on your ownoutside and look what almost happened!" At that Yuki started tearing up again and tried to push him away, but Sasuke stopped her. "Our wedding was supposed to have been held months ago - some weeks after you left the Hyuuga's. If you hadn't run away, nothing would have happened! You would have been with me." Sasuke ended with an emphasis on his last sentence. He joined their foreheads together and forced her to keep eye contact with him, though he could see that it did nothing to calm her.

"That doesn't change-"

"It changes everything," he whispered sternly. He could see the fear in her eyes and hated himself for it. But that fear had to be broken. It had to break. "I would never have left you alone. I would have always been with you."

Yuki couldn't understand what she was feeling right then. It was something of a mixture of fear and happiness. She was helpless to stop her tears from rushing out again.

"I lost sight of you once before," he said in a low voice. "Back in the forest... before I knew you as Hatake Yuki, when you were just that stranger, Fuyu Yuki... I lost sight of you. I regretted it. I lost sight of you again after that, when you went away. Now that you're here, I'm not going to let you out of my sight again."

Yuki found herself being pushed back slightly and then... a sudden warmth on her lips. The kiss was brief but he was so sweet. Suddenly he pulled her into a deeper embrace, but not before kissing over both her eyes and then rubbing her back a bit in an effort to calm her. Sasuke found himself blushing hotly but felt determined to make sure that his point was taken across this time, and that Yuki would understand just... exactly what he felt for her. A feeling... that he himself had only truly understood right then.

"Sasuke-kun," she whispered. Sasuke responded to it by nuzzling on her neck, which only made her forget what she was going to say. Sasuke was making her feel all too much in pleasure for her to acknowledge that it was real, and yet... it was real.

"Why do you make me feel this way?" he whispered back as he place his lips on her neck, causing her to jump a little. Making a trail of kisses to her jaw, and then finally placing another kiss on her lips, not once breaking contact with her eyes until he left her lips. "Do you know how mad it makes me that you would speak to anyone but me?" Yuki shivered a little at the slight anger in his tone but didn't move away. She allowed him to push her a little deeper in to the couch. "That you would look at Kakashi but not me? Sakura but not me. Naruto. But not me."

"Wha-" He stopped her words by placing another kiss. The sensation was new. He'd... never thought a kiss would feel so good. Mutually pleasuring. And the way his kiss would get her cheeks to blush redder was particularly attractive.

He was hurt. Everything about Yuki she'd given to everyone. But she closed herself only to him. The one person he'd... felt such a connection to, and she'd closed herself to him. Never mind that asshole that was his brother (Itachi), Yuki could make him feel much more special in her own eyes that in anyone else's. So why wouldn't she look at him? Why did she willingly close herself to him? He gripped her a little tighter and delivered a punishing kiss. He could feel her gasp and try to fight it for a second but then submitted. Oh, she submitted and even kissed him back. It brought out a flurry of emotions, maybe a little surprise even. She was kissing him back.

Opening his eyes, he saw that beautiful way her blush was making her eyes look lustful. Maybe it was the heat they were generating from sitting so close together. Oh, her eyes were glazed over now, and she was looking at his lips. Her own were a little swollen now. So red against her pale skin. But god she was so cold. Her skin was icy to touch - like she had just come from a cold place. It didn't help that the hair that so fascinatingly framed her face was white. It could have been icicles. Sasuke noticed her blink several times quickly as his silence brought her back to reality. He touched a lock of her silver-white hair and looked at her questioningly. She looked fearfully at him for a moment, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She shook her head and then tried to push him away.

"Come morning and the Hyuuga elders will come here," he said - the thought escaped his mouth as soon as it entered his mind. At that Yuki jerked away. Now the moment was completely lost. Sasuke felt a jolt of irritation in the back of his mind.

"Why would they?" she asked incredulously.

"They feel that they've been too lenient with you."

"What!" Sasuke winced. She was getting to be as loud as Naruto. The blonde... he was definitely bad influence on her.

"Listen to me, Yuki," he said slowly, pulling her closer and then smiling a little. She stopped immediately. It was so rare to see him smile like that. So shyly and so sincerely. "I don't want them to force you to do anything," he said. At his pause, Yuki nodded to show him that he got her attention. "So before they come, I'll be asking you now...."

"... ... ... ... What?" The silence was deafening, and it was unlike Sasuke to hesitate.

"Live with me." Three words. Shyly spoken. Was that a blush creeping up his cheeks? Oh god. Shaken, Yuki brought her hands in front of her and tried to push him away, her mind reeling in surprise and shock - but those arms around her, Sasuke was stopping her from moving away. He was stopping her from moving at all. Oh god.

"W-why?" she stuttered. Her mind had gone on overdrive and was now, basically dead. Nothing was making sense.

"I believe it's either that or marry me straight away," he said simply. Oh god. Her nerves were starting to scream again.

"Let me go," she said, rapidly taking in short breaths. The flesh was jumping out of her skin. Her heart... well she didn't know whether it stopped or was running a million miles per second. "Let me go, Sasuke."

Sasuke was thinking of something entirely different. At first it was how pained it was to see that she looked so panicked at the idea. Then how much, at that point, he found that he wanted to protect her. And then the final strike.... Sasuke, she said. Sasuke. Not Sasuke-kun, or Uchiha-san, just Sasuke.

All of a sudden he was pressing her to the couch again, kissing her feverishly and greedily accepting her returns.

"Look at what you do to me," he murmured between breaths. "You've noticed right?" Yuki looked slightly perplexed and very out of breath. "You've noticed. This feels right doesn't it?" He looked at her, as if daring her to deny it and then swooped down for another kiss. "Feels natural, doesn't it, Yuki?"

"S-stop!" she gasped when Sasuke wouldn't allow her to regain her breath. Beads of sweat lined their faces. Sasuke wouldn't have stopped for the world, but he did it at her word. Panting heavily too, he rested his forehead on hers.

"I'm not going to force you into anything. Say 'stop' and I will. I won't even touch you if you say not to," he said heavily, keeping their gazes locked. In that position, Yuki couldn't find the heart or reasoning to doubt him. "Live with me." Again he said it; it was different from the way he said it before. Before it sounded more... commanding and now... it was more of a request. And with this request he was making himself bare to her. It was astonishing. Uchiha Sasuke showing his bare self to her. It was then she knew that it was sincere. His request was so sincere she knew she would scar his heart if she let him down now.

And he was right. It did feel natural. More than that, it felt right. So right that it was painful.

"Promise?" she said, without thinking. "Not to force-"

"I promise." Sasuke felt his hopes soar, but Yuki still looked troubled.

"Those Hyuuga elders..."

"Won't stop until you show a positive inclination towards the pact." She still looked unconvinced. Their perspiration did not feel as troubling to him as it did then. It was plain agony jus waiting for her next words.

"And staying with you will..."

"Keep them off your back." Slowly he rubbed her back, enjoying the comforted look on her face as he did it. A few moments passed before her eyes suddenly snapped up at him.

"You're doing that on purpose," she said through gritted teeth. He smirked back.

"If it will help to get you to agree."

"Your offer sounds suspicious."

"So what? You can cut me, but if that's what it takes to get you closer to me-" He stopped right there and blushed. Yuki blushed too when she saw his cheeks redden. "I... So...."

"M-maybe- well... okay." A nervous chuckle escaped from his lips. At that they both showed identical baffled expressions. Upon looking at each others faces they burst out in laughter.

"I didn't know you could laugh, Sasuke," Yuki giggled. God, what was wrong with her? Sasuke was right to question. How could he make her feel like so? He smirked at her and then held her closer, planting a kiss on her nose as he cuddled her. "Or that you were such a good kisser."

"Was that a request?"

That night was unusual and morning a little too bright. She could see the sunlight through her eyelids. Her sleep was dreamless. It hadn't been for so long. For too long. And it wasn't just that. For some reason unclear to her it was warm. It was warm, but her skin was still cold. So cold. It was odd to feel that her skin was cold. But what she was in contact with was warm. It was skin. Cloth. Skin. Fingers gently rubbing the chill off her exposed arm. The gentle rhythm of breath tickling her neck. Wait. Fingers. Breath? ...

Slowly she opened her eyes. Within her sight was a body. With a jounin uniform. So it was... Kakashi? No... she remembered that her brother wasn't as lean as... her heart skipped a beat. The rate that the chest she was leaning on currently rising and falling, indicated that the person was awake. The fingers over her arm stopped for a second, and then resumed with slower pace. The person's head shifted away from her own. Yuki was flabbergasted. Just how the hell did she end up sleeping next to someone who wasn't her brother!

"Good morning." The voice reverberated in her mind as she tensed. She looked up slowly, only to meet the deep gaze of obsidian eyes. Sasuke?

"What!" she raised her voice as she jumped off the couch. Sasuke looked up at her, confused. A flurry of activity caught her attention, Kakashi had run out of his room.

"Yuki-chan?" There was a towel covering his face. Sasuke turned around and felt a slight irritation with him. Not only was Kakashi there, he'd managed to cover his face as well (he and the rest of his team were still trying to get to see him without the mask).

"Niichan! How did you- When did you get home?" Sasuke felt like agreeing to her tone of voice. Yes, it was too early for an interruption to their-

"Pretty late," Kakashi said with a hint of a sheepish smile. Yuki gave him a glare and then turned her gaze to Sasuke.

Just why the heck- oh. Oh.

"And just what are you still doing here?" she said sternly, although she looked more flustered than stern. Sasuke smirked mischievously and stood up to whisper next to her ear.

"I was just thinking that it would be nice to wake up to you everyday," he said, thinking it was low enough for Kakashi not to hear. The flustered girl jerked away and blushed.

"Yuki-chan?" Kakashi repeated. As low as the Uchiha's voice was, he still managed to catch it. Kakashi didn't particularly know what to feel about his student hitting on his sister... especially since he'd taken part of the plan to leave them alone together just the night before.... Come to think of it, Yuki would give him an earful later.

"I'm going to shower," she said resolutely as she started to walk away.

"Me too," Sasuke murmured. Unfortunately for Yuki she caught his mischievous smirk and his meaning, and so caused her to turn bright red in a mixture of embarrassment and anger. "I should go home and do the same," Sasuke said quickly as he sauntered over towards the exit. Yuki looked like she was debating on whether to attack him or to just leave it. She chose the latter and promptly left to her room, without even saying goodbye.

"You've got a lot more spunk today," Kakashi commented, crossing his arms in front of him and letting his gaze settle on the younger man. When Sasuke didn't respond he sighed irritably. "I'm supposing that everything went well last night?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" the Uchiha answered tauntingly with a superior smirk. It pricked him. Kakashi felt now exactly why Naruto had always wanted to pick and throw something at that prick or just hit him because of that smirk. This was his sister for god's sake. If he was messing with her- but this is Sasuke. Kakashi was seriously at a loss and didn't know exactly what to feel. That smirk of his was grinding his patience. A definite first. ... That smirk!! "I'll be back later."

Kakashi breathed out loudly in relief when the front door clicked shut. Maybe letting the pact go along was a bad idea after all. Sasuke could protect her, sure but... the older man shook his head violently, letting the towel fall limply to the floor. Big brother feelings that's all. That's what he was feeling right? It was reasonable for an elder brother to feel a little threatened when some guy was about to take away his sister. Take away Yuki.

Kakashi looked down to his feet sadly. Well... it wasn't like they could go on forever. Even as siblings under the same roof they barely saw each other. ... Maybe he should have pushed for her to spend more time with him. Or for himself to spend more time with her. He slumped his shoulders and then turned around to look in the direction of her bedroom. It couldn't have gone on forever. It couldn't have. She's an adult now. An adult. Kakashi laughed nervously. It was too early in the morning to be acting like a sap. Anyway, even if she would leave, it wasn't as if she's be leaving to another country. It wouldn't be so different since they barely got to see each other anyway. Life wouldn't be so different.

And yet he could feel a pang of regret for not having done more for her. Chuckling helplessly as he wandered back to his room he thought about all the other parents/guardians who have or would go through this stage. It sure felt nice, somehow, to know that someone you've raised would now be able to go off on their own. Yeah, it was nice to know.

Later in the morning, Kakashi opened the doors of his home to the two Hyuugas, Neji and Hinata. Identical eyes looked up at him questioningly.

"She's inside," he said, showing them in before they could say anything. After all, they weren't the first guests he'd opened the doors for this morning. Their normally quiet home was very full, and noisy, today. The guests could practically hear Yuki raising her voice to give direction from her room. Kakashi pointed it out to the two more guests and then turned to living room where his medic packs were looking for attention.

"Naruto-kun! Be careful! Don't play with that-" There was a loud ripping sound. Neji opened the door (without knocking) and was only partly surprised to see the curtains falling apart and Naruto, standing close by with an exceptionally sharp sword in his hands. Naruto's mouth was wide open in shock. Yuki sighed in exasperation and gently took it from his hands. "The sword is really sharp and light."

"I'm so sorry!!!!" he wailed, as he got on his knees and begged. "I'll get it replaced! I'll-"

"It's okay Naruto-kun," she said, laughing it off. "I won't be using this room again anyway." Neji rolled his eyes. It was typical of a Naruto-situation. He looked around the room, and found Sakura and - surprisingly - Sasuke. He cleared his throat as he let himself and Hinata in to announce their presence. Yuki took one look at them and smiled cheerfully in greeting.

"You are moving your things," he stated simply - a question as to why and where under the tone of his voice. Sasuke picked up a box and looked directly at him.

"She'll be staying with me."

"Yup!" Naruto jumped happily. "We were just packing her stuff. Come help, Neji? Hinata-chan?"

The two Hyuugas looked from Sasuke's easy lift on the corner of his lip - it was neither a smirk or a smile, to the box he was carrying and then looked at each other. It seemed that their objective had been achieved without their intervention; it was the elder's idea to send them there to... persuade Yuki to live with Sasuke, one way or another. Did Sasuke have something to do with it? Obviously so, he was standing within three feet of Yuki and she was neither asleep, angry or ignoring him, so they must have reconciled?

"Where do we start, Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, returning his eager expression with an easy, relieved smile of her own.