Author's Note: Okie…well, I wasn't really expecting people to read this, because I figured they wouldn't because it's connected to another story to read….and I was just basing the decision on my own self….laziness and procrastination. But no, I actually began thinking of ideas for this chapter….it may not be as impressive as my first chapter, but it will do for now.

Also, I would like thank Scented Candles and Random Person, just cus their reviews somehow inspired me, and set me to thinking of other moments between the two shinobi, Hinata and Sasuke. Also, this fic was somewhat difficult to write, because it was from Sasuke's point of view….and just trying to understand him, was kinda hard, well more difficult than understanding Hinata. Welp, now on with the fic….after I get done with the annoying disclaimer… grumbles

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Fanning the Flames

Sasuke's Point of View

The soft crunching of the newly fallen snow beneath my feet was the only sound within the walls of the Uchiha compound. I kept my eyes on the ground in front of me, not wanting nor desiring to look upon the empty buildings of my home. It may have been only a small section of Konohagakure, but to me, it was my life; the one place of my family.

Training seemed to occupy my days, it was the only thing that I committed myself to doing, besides missions or being called in to the academy. I sure didn't want to get stuck instructing little brats about how to be a shinobi. Let somebody else do that kind of work, I have my other ambitions to reach. I just want to become more powerful.

A cold wind kept pushing at my back, as if escorting me out of the compound, a ghostly hand leading me away from the memories. I would not forget those memories. Never. Nor would I ever forgive him. The thought of my brother boiled my blood. I would do anything, and give up everything just to kill him. But, I also had my other solemn promise to myself to fulfill: restoring my clan. Until I knew I was strong to face Uchiha Itachi, I would not go after him again. Not after my second defeat to him.

Powder snow blew off a nearby roof, hitting me in the face. I turned my head away from the source, and shut my eyes. Winter. There was something about it that was calming. I looked up to the bleak sky, then down to the white snow. As I looked at the snow on the ground, my thoughts were diverted to an image of a white-eyed girl. Hyuuga Hinata.

Now that I thought about, her eyes did seem calming. Our paths don't cross often, but when they do, it seems as though something is bothering her. She won't speak unless spoken to, or at least that's the impression I usually get. A smirk came to my lips without my noticing at first. Just thinking about her shy personality was amusing. Especially, if she tried to speak aloud, but then recoiled back to her quite self just as quickly, maybe noticing that she was being assertive frightened her.

At times, I tried to be more considerate to her, but her personality…as much as it's cute, it can be annoying. Yet, it was also humorous in a few ways. With a sigh, I kept on walking. Today was not going to be a day of training. No, today was going to be another get together, another one of Sakura's bright ideas. No doubt, Ino also had a hand in this. Naruto would just come for Sakura, but the others for the food or whatever Ino managed to come up with to convince her old team mates to show. Shino would come for Hinata. As a matter of fact, I had no real clue who really was going to be there.

Well, whoever was going to be there did not matter. It was a late birthday party for Hinata. I kept telling myself not to go, but for some reason, I kept walking despite my wishes to keep away from the whole thing all together. I had not noticed when I left the compound, but it just occurred to me now that I was walking the streets of Konoha. I glanced back, looking at my footsteps. They weren't the only ones anymore.

A slight sigh escaped my lips as I turned back to my path, and kept walking. I held the present I was going to give to Hinata in my hand. It wasn't the most extravagant gift ever, just a simple folding fan, with carved bamboo and floral designs painted on the silk. Well, I'm not trying to impress the girl, so this is the best choice I could come up with. It didn't take long making it either, but they don't have to know that I made it. And if, for some odd reason, she isn't satisfied, then I even came up with another idea…as a gift. I would a play a song for her on my flute, as much as I hated the idea.

I had been gone from Konoha for so long…and when I did return, I looked at differently. Naruto carried his goal to "save" me. I didn't need anybody to help me, and definitely not Naruto. As much as I tried to settle back into my old life, so much had happened that it seemed almost impossible to do so. When I was at the little reunion, I had been thinking of the same thing. What would have happened if I stayed with Orochimaru? They would still be committed to getting me back, that much I knew.

I was just a block away from Naruto's place, since that was where they decided to hold this birthday bash. I saw nothing special about turning eighteen, and now that I thought about it, if anything, Hinata would not want to be celebrating. She had already celebrated with her family, and now she would be celebrating again with friends. She was to be the heir to the Hyuuga Clan, and turning eighteen just meant she was closer to succeeding that position. I never knew Hinata too well before, but I can understand her predicament.

Being forced to accept a responsibility she had no real choice in, then being outclassed by everybody around her. Then having your family pressure you into being the best. The thought of my father crossed my mind. Just remembering the day he acknowledged me as being worthy of bearing the Uchiha Clan symbol on my back brought some peace to my soul; but not enough, not after all these years of anger and hate. To have to amount to expectations that were not mine to begin with, yes, this is also another aspect that must trouble her. She must hate her own weakness, I thought to myself. 'Cause I know I hated my own weaknesses…and still do.

I came around the corner, and stopped when I saw Naruto's apartment. I suddenly, did not feel like going to this. Yes, I would be disappointing Sakura. And yes, I would be disappointing everybody else. I stood there for a moment, looking up to the door. I finally decided to leave, before anybody spotted me. Taking a step backward, I turned to go around the corner. Before I could bump into her, I stopped. Her eyes did not look up at me, and her hand held the wall, as if bracing herself, while her other hand was touching her lip. I just looked down at her. Damn, I thought to myself.

"Oh…s-sorry," she apologized quickly, yet quietly.

"It's okay," I replied impassively, as I motioned to walk past her.

I stopped when I felt a slight pressure on my arm. Looking down, I saw that she grabbed my arm, as if to stop me from going. Just as quickly, she let go. I looked at her, and I could tell she did not seem comfortable. I had not thought she would meet my gaze, but she did.

"A-are you not staying, Uchiha-san?" she inquired softly.

"No," I replied, "I was just coming to drop this off." I showed her the gift I held in my hand, it was in a slender box, with the name Hyuuga carved into the top left hand corner. I saw Hinata's face light up a bit, and then a flash of pink crossed over her cheeks. I was not sure what to do, so I just held out the gift to her. "Here, I have to get going now."

With that, I turned and started walking. Who knows what Hinata was doing just then, but I wanted to leave before anybody else spotted me. Mostly for the reason that I did not want to be playing my flute, but if it was just Hinata there, then I'm sure I would have done so.

As I kept walking, I could the soft sound of crunching snow behind me. For some odd reason, I thought it would be Hinata, but I never bothered to turn around and look. But whoever it was, it sure sounded like they were in a hurry.

"Wait! Please, wait," a voice began to plead.

I recognized the voice almost instantly. Hyuuga Hinata.

"Sasuke-san!" I stopped, and turning, my guess was correct. It was Hinata. I had been walking against the wind, so I began to wonder just how long she had been calling me. I hadn't noticed the wind pick up, until just now. As snow blew off a roof, I saw her raise a hand up to block the snow from hitting her face. "I'm sorry."

I rose a brow. What is she apologizing for, I wondered to myself.

"Did you just start running after me?" I inquired out of curiosity.

She nodded, as tried to steady her breathing. "I t-told Naruto-kun t-that I forgot something," she admitted. "I f-forgot to thank you, Sasuke-san." She kept walking towards me.

I was going to tell her not to worry about it. But before I could say anything, she was already pulling a small bundle out of her jacket pocket. It sure didn't take her long to make a thank-you gift, I thought to myself. She was just handing it to me, when she slipped. Her eyes went wide with surprise, and there was a genuine shocked look on her face. Without really having time to think, I reached out to try and stop her, but to no avail. She was lying on her back, pushing herself up to a sitting position. Once again, I could see that she red with embarrassment.

"I would never imagine a shinobi slipping on ice," I began to say, as I offered her a hand of help. I smiled, finding it rather amusing. "That was certainly graceful."

She brushed some snow away from the ground, to reveal ice beneath the snow. "This ice must have been polished by the wind," she explained. However, as she did so, I couldn't help but notice a look of hurt on her features.

Yet, I was also impressed. She didn't even studder. In fact, she sounded adorable without the studder. Hinata took my hand, and I helped her up. She held up the small little bundle. A look of disappointment came to her face, when she saw the wrapping was disheveled.

"I t-thought you m-might use this in your t-training," Hinata said as she offered the little bundle to me. Still, she never met my dark eyes. It was obvious she was having difficulties in approaching me, and even talking to me. "It's some m-medicines."

I looked down at the bundle, then to her. I couldn't understand why she was offering me these creams and stuff. Raising my hand to take the gifts, I paused for a brief moment. I took her hand into mine, and closed her fingers around the little bundle.

"You keep it," I said unemotionally.

Finally, she looked up to meet my eyes. Hurt was evident in her eyes. It didn't look like she would say anything. "You'll need it more," I told her, and with that I turned to leave. I don't know why I did what I did. I just couldn't bring myself to accept her gift. I know I could have taken it, and not use it, but that would be worse than not accepting it from the beginning. It would have been lying, and I could not bring myself to doing that to Hinata, at least not then and there.

I left Hinata, standing there, in the winter winds and cold. I had nothing left to say. I had nothing to do that would make it better, because I knew that it would not help Hinata the least to know me. She suffered enough from her family, and her old team. Just looking at her, it was easy to tell from her timid ness just how much her friends and family influenced her, affected her. I just didn't want to hurt her.

She is different from me. Despite everything that has happened to her, and all the pressures and abuse, she still remained kind and gentle. It was the one thing about her that I admired, and just started to notice.

I wouldn't know how long Hinata stood there, or how long she remained hurt by my actions. However, as far as I can figure, it was the best for her. Another favor I would be doing for her. As a shinobi, she has to understand that your own person is just as important as others. Even if I wanted to look back, I couldn't bring myself to see her, maybe she was crying. I wouldn't know what to do to comfort her. Suddenly, I felt so terrible, and it was an awful feeling.

The cold winds were comforting to me. Feeling the coldness reminded me that I was alive, and the wind hitting my face left a slight stinging feeling. I wanted to go back, and make sure she was okay. I wanted to ensure she was someplace warm. The look on her eyes kept haunting my mind, even by the time I got back to the empty Uchiha compound. As much as I tried to forget about her, I couldn't help but think about her.

It began to snow. I sat outside my home for a while, just watching the snow fall gently to the ground. I sat outside until I began to lose feeling in my legs, and the chill of the air could be felt through my jacket. Sliding the shojo door open, I stepped into my empty and quiet home.

Hinata, I acknowledge you. The family she has does not appreciate her, the way she needs to be appreciated. You deserve to express yourself freely. You deserve to smile and laugh.

A/N: well, that went a different direction than I thought my chapter was going lol I wanted to focus on what Sasuke was thinking all those times…but this is only a glimpse…and what I was capable of writing at the moment. Actually, this took me quite a long time to write hahahaha

But just the same, I would like to get feedback…and also some suggestions. Also, I would like to clarify something…that may be confusing, well I find it confusing, in Embers of Ambition I wrote that the reunion thinger happened when they were 18, but Hinata is actually 17, cuz her birthday is like in December….and this fic takes place like almost a week or so after she turned 18…just to state lol

Well, thankies for reading.