Author's Note: Chapter Two! Yay :D
Disclaimer: Not mine
Flashback
"Hey, Hina-chan. . . What do you think if we got married?"
The question hung in the air like an echo. Sasuke immediately regretted asking, assuming that he had crossed a line neither of them were prepared for. But when he looked at his friend for a reaction, a blushing Hinata had a smile on her lips.
"I think that'd be enjoyable, too," she managed to say. "And I'm sure it's something I won't regret." She whispered the last part.
Sasuke semi-grinned and an idea formed in his mind. "Then, how 'bout we make a promise?"
"A promise?"
"Yea!" He looked off into the orange-pink sky once again. "Look! When we're really old and we still haven't found the one person we want to spend the rest of our lives with. You and me: we'll get married!"
Hinata made a choking sound, like a cross between laughter and a cough. "Well?" Sasuke looked in her eyes and raised his eyebrows. The Hyuuga heiress couldn't possibly deny that innocent face, no matter how silly or improbable his idea was.
"Uhh . . . why not?" This would ensure they wouldn't spend the rest of their lives alone, right? Besides, this was just a promise between friends; they cared for each other, too, didn't they? And this wouldn't count as being selfish on her part if Sasuke wanted it, too, correct?
"Then it's settled! And. . ." Sasuke produced a kunai from the pack on his hip. He positioned the object on his hand and dragged the blade across his right palm. He then grabbed Hinata's hand. "This'll hurt a bit," he whispered.
Hinata only nodded and the Uchiha slid the blade over her skin. She winced and bit her lip, then opened her eyes and looked at Sasuke questioningly.
"There. Now for the promise." Sasuke grinned again. He positioned his wounded hand against hers, then said, "I, Uchiha Sasuke, promise to take Hyuuga Hinata as my wife if we haven't found the love of our life by the time we've reached . . . uhh . . . twenty."
Hinata thought twenty was a bit too young, but decided to brush it off when Sasuke told her it was her turn. Besides, who's to say they'll even live until that age? Didn't shinobi have shorter life spans than most people?
Hinata started off in a shaky whisper, but managed to complete the pact without stuttering.
Silence reigned over the children once again save for their occasional breathing.
"Shouldn't we put medicine on the wound, Sasuke-kun?" said Hinata, breaking the stillness.
"Oh, right." He watched as Hinata dug inside her pack and take out a bottle.
"This should keep it from getting infected." Hinata opened the canister and dipped her finger in the dark green mixture. She lightly traced the medicine-laced finger across his wound, then bandaged it with a white cloth from her pack. She did the same to her own palm.
When Itachi killed the Uchiha Clan (save for his little brother) later that week, Sasuke gradually turned into an arrogant, cold-hearted boy. The promise made that day was eventually forgotten, along with his friendship with a certain Hyuuga.
End Flashback
Sasuke sprinted along Konoha's border walls at incredible speed, pausing only at the assigned checkpoints. He had 30 minutes left until his shift would be over, and the Uchiha longed to curl up in his bed even for just a few hours. Needless to say, it had been a long day.
"Hey Uchiha, is your hand okay?"
He faltered and turned his head towards the speaker, another ANBU squad member. "Huh?"
"Your hand. Is it okay?"
"Eh?"
"Your. Right. Hand. Is. Bleeding. Are. You. Okay." There was a hint of annoyance in his voice now.
Sasuke lifted a hand from his side and examined it. No blood.
"Your other right," the ANBU member said. You could've seen him roll his eyes had he not been wearing a mask.
"Oh."
The ANBU member sighed. "You should clean it before it gets infected," he said before running off and leaving a slightly confused Sasuke staring at his palm.
"I bet you can't catch me!" Hinata said as she dashed off deeper into the woods.
"We'll see!" Naruto screamed after her. He jumped up a tree and chased his fiancée (who was running- on foot) by leaping from branch to branch. Her midnight blue hair was too easy to discern against the forest's lush green plants.
Hinata turned her head to determine the distance between her and her pursuer, but was surprised to find that he wasn't there. Hah, I must be going too fast for him! Hinata thought with a giggle. She suddenly collided with someone, causing both of them to fall over.
"Gotcha!" Naruto, who was currently pinned under Hinata, said with a grin.
The Hyuuga pouted then started to push herself off of him. But Naruto wrapped his arms around her and pulled her down, so her head was on his chest. "Just a little longer." His voice was deeper and more serious. He felt Hinata nod her head, and silence overcame the two.
Sasuke cleared his throat.
The blonde-haired boy opened his eyes and glared at the Uchiha. "You're too early Sasuke bastard!"
"Che," the other boy scoffed.
"I'm sorry, Hinata-chan. I promised to train with Sasuke (another glare) this morning," he said, scratching the back of his head and an apologetic smile graced his features.
"It's alright Naruto-kun. I have to go to work anyway," Hinata said, pushing herself off the boy and brushing off the dust on her shirt.
"Hey, you're injured," said Naruto, in a worried tone, taking note of her bandaged hand. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at this, but decided against saying anything.
"Iie, it's nothing. Uhm. . . I'll be going now. Naruto-kun, I'll see you at the picnic this afternoon? Oh, and Uchiha-san can come, too, if he wants." She smiled, waved at the two and started walking towards Konoha Hospital.
"Ja, Hinata-chan! Don't forget the ramen!" the Kyuubi boy screamed happily.
"Tch."
A/N: See? Didn't I say it'll start making more sense? Ok, I know it's still a little confusing, but it should all get clearer in the following chapters.
Please review! I live for them! (Not really, but they motivate me considerably) :D And no flames, please.
