A Possible Future by Jason Corley

Chapter Sixteen

Shikamaru woke to a knocking at his door. He got up and started walking towards the door when another series of knocks came. "Yeah yeah. I'm coming." Shikamaru said sleepily. He unlocked the door and opened it to find Temari standing there. She had a backpack on and a duffle bag by her side. Shikamaru was instantly awake. He smiled and said "won't you come in."

Temari smiled back and asked "Can you bring in my bag?"

The smile never leaving his face, Shikamaru said "How troublesome."

Temari stepped forward and kissed him. When she broke the kiss she quietly "Please."

Shikamaru's smile altered to somewhat devious then said "Only if you stay with me while you're here."

Temari held her arm off to the side and clutched at it when she said "Oww oww, you don't have to twist my arm." She then stood up strait and Shikamaru stepped out to grab her bag. Temari entered first followed by Shikamaru.

Once inside Shikamaru asked "What's in here? It's heavy."

Temari sat down on the bed and said "I couldn't leave my books."

Shikamaru gave her a somewhat questioning look and asked "How long are you going to be here?"

Temari grinned and said "As long as I can." She then scooted back on the bed and continued "Make sure the door's locked."

As Shikamaru walked to the door he said "Yeah yeah." He turned around to find that Temari had laid down on the bed with her arms stretched out over head. He smiled then walked to the bed and climbed on top of Temari. He kissed her and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Hinata came in several minutes after Sasuke had. It was the second day after the second exam that she and Sasuke had been training. And it was more intense than it had been before the first exam. It was now just over two weeks. He told her she was faster but she never saw a difference in the speed. He was always that much faster than she was. Always guarding just in time and so fast forcing her to go 100 to barely block herself. She was never a big user of the replacement technique but he was forcing her to use it often. He was also forcing her to use the techniques she used before she lost her Byakugan. She didn't understand why he wanted her to expand on that when she couldn't see the tenketsu anymore. When she would ask he would tell her to trust him. She did trust him but she still wanted to know. Raion peaked her head around the corner and said "The bath is ready. Why don't you take one before dinner." Hinata nodded and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She did not see the grin on Raion's face. Hinata opened the door and saw a head sticking out of the water. Sasuke turned his head to see her standing there.

Hinata blushed and stuttered out "Ra..Raion said that the bath was ready. She..she said to take one. I..I'll go now." Hinata had the door half closed when she heard Sasuke speak.

"Wait." was what Sasuke said. Hinata stopped and waited to hear what Sasuke had to say. When she didn't hear him she opened the door back slowly. He was grabbing a towel from beside the tub and tossed it to her. She caught it and looked at it not knowing what was going on and looked to Sasuke for instructions. He said "You can wear that around you if you want to take a bath now." She looked down at the towel with a smile then looked back to Sasuke who now had his head turned away with his eyes closed. Hinata stepped in and closed the door. She unzipped her Jacket and placed it on the floor. She untied the draw sting on her pants and was about to slip them off but looked over at Sasuke. He still had his eyes closed. She let them fall around her ankles and stood up strait to peal her shirt off. She looked over at Sasuke again then turned away and blushed. She turned with her back to Sasuke to take her bra off and quickly wrapped the towel around her. She then slipped her panties off from under the towel. She walked over to the tub and blushed deeper. While she had a towel Sasuke did not and he didn't seem bothered by that. She stepped into the tub and sat down. She could already feel the warm water soothing her sore muscles. She sat there trying not to look below the surface of the water. She wasn't succeeding very well. In the weeks she had spent with Sasuke she had reaffirmed that she thought Sasuke was a kind person. He always came off as cold but he wasn't trying to be mean. In fact he always did things for her.

A week prior Sasuke and Hinata had decided to take another walk around the village together. Hinata had once again decided to wear the blue kimono with the Uchiha clan symbol. They started out taking the same path they had the previous times but at one corner Sasuke turned to go a different way. Hinata quickly followed and found that Sasuke had lead her to a shop specializing in kimonos. She looked to him wondering why they were there. She followed him in and the shop keeper asked how she could help them. Sasuke said "Hinata needs could use an couple more kimono's."

The shop keeper turned to Hinata and asked her what type she wanted. Hinata looked to Sasuke who wasn't standing there anymore. He had walked to window watching the streets. Hinata turned to the shop keeper and quietly said "I actually like this one. Could you make some more like it?"

The shop keeper nodded asked "How many would you like?"

Hinata turned to look at Sasuke who held up three fingers. She turned back to the shop keeper and said "I would like three please." The shop keeper nodded and asked Hinata to stand still while she took some measurements. When the shop keeper walked behind the counter to write down something she started nodding and talked in a conversation voice to herself. Hinata didn't quite hear because she was walking towards Sasuke. Hinata stood next to Sasuke looking out the window. A moment later the shop keeper walked up to them and told them the kimono's would be ready in a week and a half. Sasuke and Hinata walked out and continued on their walk.

Hinata remembered the memory fondly. She hadn't gotten the kimono's yet but it was Sasuke's idea and he was getting them for it. So it was a nice gesture. Hinata glanced at Sasuke who still had his eyes closed. Her thoughts returned to the past two weeks. The arrival of Raion and Tora defiantly added a twist to things. Hinata would often see the two of them striating up around Uchiha manor. Tora especially. She seemed to favor gardening over the others chores that she did. It was adding a nice look for all the plants to be trimmed. Raion was cooking most of the meals now and acted somewhat normal when she knew she was going to be around Hinata but if Hinata found her with Sasuke it was unusual indeed. It seemed that for some reason Raion enjoyed moving about naked. The one day that Sasuke wasn't there because he was meeting with his team, Raion still moved about the house naked. And often she would cook with only an apron on. Hinata was getting use to it because it seemed that was just the way Raion was. What Hinata was having a hard time getting use to was knowing that Raion would sneak into the bathroom while Sasuke was in there. Sasuke didn't seem to mind. Hinata didn't know if Raion was sneaking into Sasuke's room at night or not because she never heard anything else. Guessing at what happened that night between Sasuke and Raion was still bothering her. Hinata found it strange that Raion would let go from clinging to Sasuke whenever she looked like she was going to sit near Sasuke but if she was just passing by then Raion would stay where she was. It bothered her less now when she found Raion naked and clinging to Sasuke. That was just how Raion acted. A few times Hinata found Tora leaning against Sasuke's arm but would immediately sit up strait whenever she entered the room. Hinata said "Raion's been doing stuff like this a lot lately." She looked over at Sasuke and saw him open his eyes.

He replied with a grin "She really is just like a cat. Always getting into mischief."

Hinata giggled and said "Yeah. I've seen her digging through the cabinets. And the way she moves about."

Sasuke nodded then said "It amazes me at how silently she can move. And with such fluidity."

Hinata closed her eyes remembering Raion moving around on all fours, of course naked because that was how she acted. She also remembered some of the more specific example of Raion's mischief. Hinata would start to sit down at the table across from Sasuke but Raion would push her around the table to sit next to Sasuke. Raion would often time then sit on the other side of Sasuke. Raion would often tell her to take some tea to Sasuke. Raion did other little things of a similar nature. It was like she was pushing Hinata towards Sasuke. But Sasuke never indicated that he liked her. He just accepted her like he did Raion and Tora. He allowed Raion and Tora to do a lot. But then again he allowed her to do a lot. Like the current situation she was in. He didn't even seem to mind. Hinata started rubbing her shoulders sore from the days training. Hinata's thoughts were interrupted when Sasuke said "Turn around." She opened her eyes and looked at Sasuke. He was serious so she did. Hinata was surprised and crossed her arms across her chest when he pulled her close to him. He took his hands off of her hips and moved them to her shoulders. He then started massaging her shoulders. Hinata closed her eyes and lowered her arms relaxing. It felt heavenly to her. When Sasuke whispered in her ear "This would be easier without the towel." She opened the towel and pulled it off from around her to rest in her lap. Sasuke glided his hands across her back massaging the muscles. He ran his hands up her back, across the shoulders, and down her arms to start massaging them. The soreness in her arms evaporated away. When he moved his hands up her arms, along her shoulders, down her sides, and forward to her thighs she felt lightning run threw her entire body. As he massaged her thighs the sensation increased. He whispered into her ear "If you scoot back I can get to your calves." She slid back without hesitation till she felt Sasuke's body. Her breathing picked up at how close they were. Sasuke slid his hands down her legs to her calves and started massaged them. While Hinata enjoyed that she was still to preoccupied thinking about their closeness. As Sasuke moved his hands back up her legs she knew he was done and would push her away soon. When Hinata felt Sasuke's hands leaving her sides she reached back and grabbed his hands. He stopped moving and she pulled his arms around her waist. Sasuke didn't move his hands from where Hinata put them, in fact he didn't move at all. Hinata leaned back so her back was against his chest. Sasuke pulled her closer to him and she felt him rest his cheek on her head. Hinata was enjoying there closeness. She knew this was the feeling she longed for. In that moment her thoughts wandered to Naruto. Normally she would have pulled away from Sasuke if she thought about Naruto but this time was different. She thought about what it would be like if it was with Naruto. If it was Naruto it wouldn't happen. He was too immature. In that moment Hinata realized her feelings for Naruto for what they were. Just admiration to how hard he worked and feeling of closeness because of similarities between them. Those being not many friends and needing to work hard to accomplish what needed to be done instead of doing it easily. In that moment Hinata realized that she couldn't see herself with Naruto. She could only see herself as a friend to him. Hinata's thoughts drifted to Sasuke, the person holding her the way she wanted to be held. To her Sasuke had been a friend, a teacher, and a source of stability. As a child they had been friends even if only for a short time. Recently he had given her a home and a place she felt welcome. He had saved her life and supported her emotionally when she needed it. He had been her teacher, bettering her in the ways of the ninja. She pictured in her mind what life would be like with Sasuke. She picture them as being happy together. She could see them sharing moments like this one. Hinata moved her hand up to her shoulder and back till her hand touched Sasuke's chest. She then moved her hand up his chest and along his neck to come to rest on his cheek. He leaned his chin into her touch but still had his cheek to her head. Hinata leaned to the side some as she turned slightly so she could see Sasuke's face. She tilted her chin up and closed her eyes as she guided his face to hers. He kissed her lightly sending lightning through her. They parted from their first kiss with only a few inches parting them. They both opened there eyes and smiled at each other warmly. They kissed again and again it was light but it was enough. They parted again and Sasuke opened his mouth to speak but Hinata spoke first "I love you."

She then looked on nervously when Sasuke responded "If what I am feeling is love then I love you too." Hinata smiled and tilted her chin up to kiss Sasuke but he continued "But I need to tell you something first." Hinata reacquired a nervous expression. Sasuke explain "You should know that both Tora and Raion love me. And I them. I can't turn them away. Because...I'm their master." Hinata nodded understanding then turned away. She knew he would choose them. Sasuke placed his hand to her cheek and guided her to look him in the eyes then said "But I can't turn you away because I truly love you. I knew I liked you back when we were children. If it was anyone other than you I would turn them away because Raion and Tora. But even before I meet them I would have turned away anyone else because I liked you. I only accepted them because I didn't expect to come back." Tears formed in Hinata's eyes and they started to trickle out of the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks. She tilted her chin up and they kissed. This one was deeper than the others. As they kissed Hinata turned to face him more and slid her arms around his torso. Sasuke kept one hand at her waist and placed his other hand on her back. As he pulled her closer she pressed up against him leaning him backwards. Unfortunately they seemed to have forgot they were in a bathtub filled with water. They both slipped plunging them beneath the surface of the water. They both came up for air. Then they looked at each other and started laughing. Hinata leaned over and kissed Sasuke lightly before climbing out of the tub. She pulled a towel down and faced Sasuke as she dried off. They both smiled warmly to each other. Sasuke watched her letting his eyes wonder her body for the first time. Every other time he had been too focused to really appreciate the beauty of Hinata's naked body. She put on her kimono that she had brought in with her. When she finished tying her obi she walked over to him and leaned over for him to kiss her. When they parted Hinata smiled and walked out of the bathroom. Sasuke climbed out of the tub and stepped over to the shower head that was over a drain. He turned the water on cold. He shivered slightly but he needed it. He didn't want to drain the bath just to run some cold water over himself. This shower head was rarely used because it was harder to clean up the water than in the tub. He noticed that the only dry towel in there was the one Hinata had used. So he used it to dry off as well. He put on a clean pair of clothes before leaving the bathroom himself.

Raion had prepared dinner and the four of them sat at the table eating. Hinata and Raion were flanking Sasuke with Tora across from him. Raion kept a little extra distance noticing that Hinata was sitting closer to Sasuke than she usually did. Raion smiled to herself pleased that her plan had worked. She had been pushing Hinata at Sasuke every chance she got. She wasn't going to push Sasuke because he was her master.

Naruto and Sakura were having dinner with Kiba, Chouji, and Ino. Naruto and Kiba kept talking about who was going to win their fight. Chouji ate happily, oblivious to the world. Ino and Sakura we discussing everyone's love life. The topic of Shikamaru and Temari was avoided. When Sakura inquired about Ino and Chouji, Ino blushed and changed the subject to Sakura and Naruto. Sakura looked over at Naruto and punched strait down on top of his head. Kiba stared at had had transpired and Naruto whined "What did I do?"

Sakura replied "That was for two days ago." She then turned back to face Ino who giggled. Sakura said "And what are laughing at?" Ino waved her hand indicating it was nothing. The two of them discussed the rumors of their friends back from the academy which brought them to the rumors about Sasuke and Hinata. Kiba's attention left Naruto to Ino and Sakura.

Ino said "I've heard that the two of them are living together."

Sakura said "I heard that but I don't really believe it."

Ino said "What would you do if they were living together?"

Sakura said "Even as long as we were after Sasuke we never did learn where he lived."

Naruto said "I would see him around that deserted part of the village. I would see him enter and leave there."

Kiba said "You idiot, that's the Uchiha manor."

Chouji said "Shikamaru said he read a report saying that Sasuke and Hinata had been seen entering and exiting the Uchiha manor."

Sakura asked "Why would they have a report on that."

Chouji answered "Shikamaru said that there was a standing order to report on Sasuke's movements when he was outside his home."

Sakura asked "Why haven't we heard this?"

Chouji answered "Only Chuunin and higher were given the order."

Ino asked "Then why do you know?"

Chouji realized he had said too much "Shikamaru told me. But I wasn't suppose to tell anyone else."

Naruto said "Don't worry we won't tell anyone."

Shikamaru walked in and sat down on the bench to take off his footwear. He stood up and hung his Chuunin jacket on the coat hanger. He walked up behind Temari, who was cooking, and wrapped his arms around her waist. He kissed her on the cheek and said "That smells good."

Temari said "No matter how much sweet talking you do you aren't getting any till it's done. Now go shower."

Shikamaru stepped back from Temari and said "yeah yeah."

Neji was walking back from the main office after pulling a guard duty shift. He usually went on patrols but he had been pulling more and more guard duty shifts lately. He opened the gate to the Hyuuga manor and walked along a path leading to the house he stayed in. He could see Hiashi and Hanabi threw the window of the head house having dinner. Neji then thought about what Hiashi did to Hinata. He had done everything to push that from his mind. The idea of having his Byakugan sealed, scared him. He wondered what had become of his cousin.

Lee for his part was not that welcome in the country of sand but he didn't care that much because he didn't have that many friends back in the county of fire either. He trained everyday and the country of sand learned nothing from him other than his ability to perform taijutsu. The only one who showed any kind of interest in him was Gaara. Lee didn't know if this was a good or bad thing. He also felt he was being watched.

That night after Hinata had gone to sleep Raion creep into Sasuke's room and climbed under the covers. Sasuke felt her press up against him and nibble on his ear. He rolled over to face her and she kissed him. Raion parted Sasuke's lips with her exploring tongue. Sasuke fought her tongue with his own and after they parted Raion kissed him again quickly. When she broke that one she pressed against him and whispered in his ear "Master and Hinata are getting along well."

Sasuke nipped at Raion's ear then whispered "I'll have to thank you for that." Sasuke then kissed her and rolled her on her back. He broke the kiss then started kissing down along her neck to her one of her breasts. He put his mouth over her nipple and sucked on it gently. With is mouth still over it he used his tongue to flick it when he felt that it had hardened slightly he nibble on it gently. Raion let out a quiet moan and tweaked he other nipple. Sasuke then switch over to it electing a slightly louder moan from Raion. He then started kissing back up Raion's neck to her lips. He kissed her deeply. That was the start of a rather satisfying night for Raion.

Author's Notes

I had actually intended to drag out the building tension between Hinata and Sasuke till after the end of the Chuunin exam but it just seemed to fit here. Chuunin Exam finals probably end of chapter 17 and into chapter 18.