The smell of coffee was always strong in the cafe, but especially so while in the midst of winter.

Sasuke Uchiha, she knew, hates coffee: the smell, the taste, the mere look of it.

So …

"Why?"

Table 6 was where she often saw horns and feathers and hooves; but today, she saw sweeping bangs and grey eyes behind the black lenses of sunglasses. She, of course, was in her work uniform, a pitcher of coffee in her right hand, as she had been filling people's mugs before he had shown up. It felt heavier when she was right there, with him.

And he just leaned against the booth with a casual purse to his mouth, as if nothing was odd about the situation. "Am I not allowed to be here?"

"N … no." But it's a cafe. Sweets and coffee are mostly what we make here.

"Then give me a menu, already."

She stilled and glanced back at the ones by the register.

"The cafe doesn't have Braille ones," she whispered, "I'm sorry." There was an edge to her tone that made her sound like she wasn't exactly finished, and Sasuke simply waited for her to continue. "But … I've been trying to make one … based on the book you gave me. It's … only halfway done … but –"

"Then get it." He leaned forward and crossed his arms on top of the table. "Let's see how well you did."

Smiling, heart thrilled, she scuttled to the backroom, yanked open her locker, and dragged out the large piece of paper she's been using for the Braille menu. It was thicker and larger than regular paper, which worked well to keep the indents, and Hinata had to make sure not to bend it as she rushed back into the dining area.

And it – it was hot.

Because –

"Sas … uke?"

Satan was standing over Sasuke Uchiha, glaring down at something about him. His eyes looked the same when he would look at Neji; not at the person, but the soul.

The … soul.

"That's mine," Sasuke sneered at the Uchiha, and that face morphed into the same one she saw right before he had ripped the very life out of her cousin's corpse months ago. "Give it back."

Chapter 28

Human.

He was going to kill him.

He – Sasuke was –

…

"Sasuke, don't –"

One head snapped her way, and the other hissed and grabbed the front of the human's jacket, yanking him out of the booth and throwing him onto the floor. A skull cracked against the hard floor. Glasses went flying, skidding across the floor. The cafe went deadly silent as people watched in horror as one, mighty hoof stomped down on those glasses, shattering them, glass spewing like blood.

"O-Oh my God –"

"What the hell is that thing?"

"Is he real!?"

And it was then that Satan revealed himself to the world.

…

It was stupid to get in the middle of two people in such a dangerous, violent situation.

But her father has always confirmed that Hinata was a stupid girl.

"Stop!"

That hand of fire that went to plunge into his chest knocked into her shoulder instead at such a great force, she fell over Sasuke Uchiha and smelled vile smoke. Her sweater had been burnt. A bright red burn seared into her skin.

Sasuke's fangs flashed as he scowled, pulling his hand away from her.

"Hinata," he growled, "MOVE."

Her left hand pushed against the floor, trying to lift her torso up so she could properly face him. But it slipped and made her fall back onto Sasuke Uchiha's chest, and when she looked down, she saw her palm covered in blood. Shrieking, Hinata scrambled up, staring at the burns littering Sasuke's features, the large gash on his temple gushing blood. He was conscious, but didn't seem aware of anything. Not even her.

"Don't you dare hurt him!" She whipped back around to glare at the Devil, who stilled.

His ears pulled back, and his hand went to his chest as he peered down at Sasuke Uchiha, pain very evident in his face. It wasn't hard to understand what was happening, but now wasn't the time to focus on that. Her hands were wet and shaking, and her phone was in the back.

"Someone," she cried, staring at the crowd of terrified people in the cafe, "please, call an ambulance."

No one moved. They only stared, wide-eyed, at the Devil, as if mortified they'd be killed if they so much as lifted a finger to help.

Hinata pressed a hand on Sasuke's bleeding head, and he groaned.

"Stop," he barked. "Mikoto, stop."

"You're bleeding, Sasuke. Let me look at it." It looked deep, but not enough to be life-threatening. But, still, he needed to go to a hospital, and she snapped her head towards her coworkers. "Sakura, Temari – snap out of it and call someone!"

But they were in the same state as the rest of the room. Unmoving. Helpless. Terrified.

…

Her hands curled around Sasuke Uchiha's shoulders and helped him up, and his lips curled back in pain when he was sat up and leaning against her.

"Mikoto." But that name did not leave his lips, but rather drifted over her shoulders from behind. When she looked back, Sasuke had his fangs sunk into his mouth as he looked ready to tear into his own chest. "I can do it myself, Mikoto," he muttered. "Where's Hinata?"

Fear shot like electricity through her system. Itachi had said that he had been sucked into his soul when he found it – was that what was happening right now with them? But Sasuke Uchiha was bleeding badly, and right now, she needed someone's help.

"Sasuke," she whispered, grabbing one of his horns and tugging it so he looked her way. "F-Focus. Please. You need to help me."

His blurry eyes focused a tad, and he nodded, albeit barely.

This would be hard. She had to get to the back room, where her phone and a First Aid was, but leaving the two of them alone could be dangerous. What if the Devil attacked again, or what if he got sucked into that soul? But she couldn't bring him and leave Sasuke Uchiha alone, bleeding and barely understanding what was happening. And sending the Devil to get her First Aid and her phone would do no good, either, as he seemed just as much out of it.

She'd have to bring both of them to the back.

But –

"I-I have to drag him." Hinata knew she couldn't carry Sasuke, and there was no way she would risk the Devil doing it. "Open the door to the back for me, please."

Hooves plodded away as she tucked her arms under Sasuke's and pulled him across the floor. When she got to the back, she rushed to her locker and pulled out her phone, calling 9-1-1 as she grabbed the First Aid from on top of the fridge. When she told them everything and they were on their way, she focused on trying to – to do something.

"Hinata," Sasuke Uchiha whispered when she dipped a wad of paper towel into the water rushing out of the sink's faucet. "I told you … about the painting in Hell, didn't I? I don't … think I want you to be there."

"Hell?" On the counter, massaging his forehead, was Satan. "Painting? What – but I – why do I remember this?"

Hinata tried to clean up the wound on his head so she could get a better look at it, but a cool hand grabbed her wrist and pulled it away. "Don't go." Grey, sightless eyes tried to find her. "Don't go there."

"Dad is there," Sasuke groaned from the side, "and I don't want you to deal with him. Go to Heaven instead. It's better there for you."

The bandages she pulled out from the box slipped from her hands, which trembled terribly. Her breathing was hard. Her vision blurred. She couldn't focus on anything except the overwhelming panic in her chest and –

"Hinata."

Warmth and sunshine enveloped her as Naruto plucked the roll of bandages from the table and sent her an easy smile.

"I'll do it," he told her, looking down at Sasuke Uchiha. "It's okay."

Refusing to sob in front of God, Hinata nodded and squeezed her eyes shut and listened to the shared breathing of both Sasukes.

…

The doctors said that Sasuke would be fine, and that the wound on his head wasn't severe.

But his soul … was a separate issue.

Not that human doctors would know anything about that.

…

"Where is he?"

She came in with a vase of lemon balm and was met with narrow, grey eyes that glared in her direction. The glass nearly fell from her grip, and Hinata quickly hurried to the table at the side of the hospital table to place it down.

"Who –"

"Don't bullshit me," he sneered. "The other one. The other me."

He remembered. Somehow, she had hoped he wouldn't.

"Right now, a lot of shit is playing in my head. There's a place that's a million degrees, full of smoke and fire and evil, but I feel comfortable there. I know the name Naruto, and how I've been going against him for nearly all of eternity. I – " His voice was strained, and he gritted his teeth. "I can see your face. I can feel –" And his hand went to his chest, "and I can feel everything. What – what's happening?"

The heart monitor he was connected to was racing. Hinata's own pulse matched it.

"I … d-don't know how to explain it," she whispered.

"Then don't." His face was stern and twisted with anger, but that couldn't be heard in his voice. Desperation was all there was. "Bring him here. Bring Sasuke here."

…

"He wants –"

"I know."

When she left the hospital, he was there, staring up at the building. He hadn't come in with her because he knew if he did, something would happen. Hinata knew it, too. And, again, she didn't know how to feel.

"W-Will you?"

Maybe an hour passed. Or a year. The seasons changed, and they were back in spring, sakura trees sprinkling their pink blossoms over their figures. He didn't sneer like he had the first time, and when his hand lifted to catch one, it didn't burst into flames. And in the summer, his skin shined with sweat, and he didn't bathe in the heat like he once had. And when people danced in celebration as the leaves turned colors, he didn't frown in wonder, in confusion, mocking their human ways.

And when it was winter –

"Yes."

She was cold next to him.

That soul reminded him of himself – strong, unyielding, stubborn, passionate.

But then again, it should.

Because it was his.

And even in a place of sickness and death, with a bandaged head and a Devil stood right before it, it did not simmer and hide, but rather flash in challenge.

He couldn't help but smirk.

Prideful bastard.

…

"When I leave this room," Sasuke said, "it won't be in this form. You know that, yes?"

And the human's lips tilted. "Somehow."

"That soul is mine."

"You mentioned that."

"Even if I didn't want it, I have to take it."

Huffing, the human thumped his chest, where his soul buzzed and his heart drummed. Sasuke could feel it all in his own chest, and no longer did it hurt so much. Maybe because now, he understood.

"Do we really want this?" His hand gestured his way as his grey eyes stared into the white sheets of the bed. "Devil. We could still be that. The power, the control; why would we want to give it up? We've lived like that for millions of years. What's another million more?"

Sasuke snorted, amused. The human knew enough about the basics of things, but not the true depth between the words. Chaos was splendid. Pain was fabulous. Bringing it onto the human world and watching them suffer was once the most pleasing thing in the world to him.

But that's changed.

"If we live a million years more," he said, "then Hinata will die without us. We may never find her again." Grey, unfocused eyes widened and lifted from the sheets. "Isn't it better to die with her? To hold her without hurting her? Even if it is with human weakness, isn't it worth it?"

At that, tears slipped down the human's face.

"Sadness," Sasuke acknowledged, "and frustration. Right?"

He knew he was. He could feel it all humming in his chest.

"You don't understand," the human muttered, wiping at his face. "These aren't easy to deal with. We'll suffer with them."

"But not nearly as greatly with Hinata."

No words were said to that, but when the human crossed his arms in defeat, Sasuke knew he won.

…

"I still don't understand it all."

"And I don't understand humans perfectly."

The human rubbed the side of his head, then frowned at him. "Will you stop calling me that?"

Sasuke blinked. "What?"

"Human. I'm you. And we're about to both be human."

Ah. At that, Sasuke couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe," he mused, "but as of right now, I'm still a great being, and you're still in that pathetic, mortal body."

He clicked his tongue. "You're so annoying."

"We're the same thing."

"Then I'm so annoying."

…

"Then I guess we should get this over with."

The soul was pulling Sasuke in, calling for him, coaxing him. He stepped closer to the bed and brushed his hand against the sheets, scorching them. The last thing he would ever scorch, he supposed, and that didn't make him feel totally upset.

"It's odd how this all worked out."

Sasuke looked down at his soul, then at him. "Hn."

"My brother died in an accident, then was reincarnated into my step-brother, who shared the same soul with your brother." He smiled, and they both felt warmth rise inside of them. "No matter what, we're stuck with him."

"You're right."

"And Hinata … We –"

"Mmm." Sasuke laughed. "Yes, but I was the one she came to."

Sasuke Uchiha frowned for a moment, then smirked.

"Then I guess I have a lot of catching up to do."

Chapter 28 - End