I'm really busy and I have to write and post another chapter for my ItaHina ongoing story for Monday. So, I'm posting this one today. Happy weekend? (If I haven't responded to your reviews; I love them, I cherish them, and I'll get to them on Monday. *kiss kiss*)

Enjoy.

oOo

Prompt Day 14: Meraki (Greek)

"To put a little of your heart and soul in the things you do."

Something occurred to Sasuke. "Weren't you going on missions? Were you having these problems before this?"

"…No," Hinata admitted after a pause. "It's getting worse. Hence, the conversation with Kakashi. I was hoping he could help."

Sasuke carefully lifted the towel from her eyes so he could visually inspect them. His gaze slipped to her forehead. Any talk about seals led his mind immediately to the infamous Hyuga seal. The skin lay bare and unmarred.

Did Kakashi also have experience with seals? Or did he have another specialty that Sasuke did not remember in the moment?

Before he could stop himself, he ran his thumb over her carefully shaped eyebrow. Her eyes stayed closed, but her eyelids flickered, briefly. Goosebumps rose on his skin.

She blindly reached up and Sasuke grasped her hand. He did not want to notice how small her fingers were compared to his. He knew she could kill someone with those hands. But her grip was soft and sent shivers throughout his body as their palms slid together.

"I asked permission to tell you," Hinata said quietly. "I still didn't get approval from my father. But… he's worried. He might let me soon."

His hand spasmed as a brief bolt of fear lanced through him. If such a cold man as Hiashi felt worried, this must be a dire situation.

Sasuke licked his lips. "Is it something that will impact your health long term?"

"I… I don't know."

He found himself cradling her hand against his chest. Against his heart. He only wore his navy undershirt and it almost felt like she was touching bare skin. He suppressed a shudder.

"That's not very comforting, Hyuga," he rumbled.

She hiccupped a laugh, a lone tear sliding down her cheek. He watched it raptly.

She opened her mouth to say something, but both nin paused as they sensed someone in the hallway.

"Hinata-sama," a female voice said on the other side of the door inside the house. "I've brought some tea."

Hinata withdrew her hand and Sasuke let it go reluctantly. He helped her sit up.

"Come in."

The Hyuga clanswoman shuffled in, carrying a tray of two teacups and one steaming teapot. Sasuke barely paid attention to her. He focused solely on Hinata while she slowly opened her eyes. She squinted, as if afraid of the light, but soon blinked and opened her them fully. He watched the tiny teardrops on her wet lashes.

"Are you okay, Hinata-sama?" the clanswoman asked, wringing her hands together.

Sasuke idly noted she did not have a Cursed Seal either.

Hinata nodded. "I'm okay. Thanks to Sasuke-san."

The use of his first name jarred him so much that his teeth clacked together as his jaw clenched. The clanswoman turned to him and proffered him a bow.

"Thank you, Uchiha-san."

Uncomfortable at the deference, he waved her off. "Just doing what I can. Thanks for the tea."

The woman served the drinks and left the tray next to Hinata's bed. Sasuke picked up a cup to give Hinata time to gather herself. She dabbed at her eyes with her fingertips. He observed her carefully. She did not display any signs of pain.

Finally, he made it a point to meet her gaze. Her lavender irises shone in the dim light of the sole lit lantern.

"Are we going to have to do something about your eyes? If they're getting worse," he asked quietly.

Hinata looked down and picked at the lint on her bedspread. "I talked to Kakashi-san, and he's meeting with our elders later. Everything should be resolved soon."

His eyes narrowed. "I don't like these riddles. Also, why does Kakashi get to know while I don't?"

She shook her head. "Kakashi-san owed my father a favor."

"A favor?"

"Um…" She bit her lip. "Kakashi-san had some questions about dojutsu. And uh… my father gave him some books with relevant diagrams and explained the chakra pathways."

Sasuke almost spit out his tea. In what world would the Hyuga ever give up information to an outsider?

"Was he possessed?" Sasuke wheezed, before realizing his faux pas.

Shit. He did not mean to make a tactless joke about someone's father in front of their daughter. How stupid could Sasuke get? Fugaku might have been right, Naruto was a bad influence.

Instead of looking offended, Hinata covered her lips with a palm. Her eyes danced with laughter even if no sound escaped her mouth.

She continued. "I think my father did it because the Uchiha wouldn't."

Sasuke wanted to slump to the floor. Of course. He felt dumb. That stupid hatred Fugaku had towards Kakashi even though Obito's own family did not hold any hard feelings. Even though Kakashi had been Sasuke's jonin-sensei. Even though Kakashi could not even use the Sharingan as easily as an Uchiha.

"Ah…" Sasuke sighed.

Hinata pressed her lips together in an effort to suppress her grin. It did not work and only served to showcase the tiny dimples in her cheeks.

Oh, he found that too cute for words.

She picked up her own teacup, brought it up to her mouth, but did not drink. She lowered it to her lap.

"I don't have permission from the elders to tell you. Mostly because you're from a different clan."

A rival clan, she meant. He huffed out a sharp breath through his nose.

She laid a hand on his knee. He froze, hyper aware of the warmth of her skin sinking past the cloth of his pants.

"I'm really sorry," she said earnestly, leaning forward. "I've tried to assure them that you're trustworthy, and that you want to help."

He wanted nothing more than to take her hand in his. To link their fingers and close the gap between their mouths. But he could not. He could not talk about being her impartial medical professional while also trying to initiate a romantic relationship with her.

Wait. When did he want to try for a romantic relationship with her?

Mentally, he groaned. "Hyuga-"

She cut him off. "Call me, Hinata. Please. And, please, tell me how I can pay you back?"

He very intentionally leaned back so he did not tempt himself into doing something really stupid. She also withdrew. In the brief silence, she took a sip of tea.

The tea must be lukewarm by now. Gross.

He inwardly grimaced. Could he entertain thoughts of this woman who drank tepid tea?

She peered up at him from beneath thick lashes. It cut to the core of him.

Shit. Maybe he could.

He cleared his throat and set down his now empty cup. "You don't have to pay me back. We've talked about this Hyu-Hinata-san." He stood and adjusted his sleeves. "Just… be careful. Don't let Kakashi's new harebrained scheme make things worse for you, okay?"

She smiled. "Okay."

He waved her off when she moved to stand. "I'll show myself out. Don't forget your glasses."

"Thank you."

He nodded and headed out the door leading to the garden. Neji leaned on the porch railing directly across. He raised an eyebrow and made a show of looking Sasuke up and down. The tiny curl of his lip indicated he was not impressed with what he saw.

What an absolute fuckhead. How did Hinata turn out so nice? Honestly.

Doing his best to stay polite, Sasuke nodded and slipped into his sandals. He headed down the stairs. Once in the garden proper, he Body Flickered away.

He needed a drink.

oOo

Coming up: Sasuke confers (read: gossips) with his family about Kakashi. Before that, he gets his drink.