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Day 21 Prompt: Sillage(French)
"The wake of someone's perfume; the trail of someone's scent in a room they used before you."
When they finally had to part, she stood in a way that blocked them from the rest of the group as they backed into a slightly darkened corner. She brought up her palm, kissed the inside of it, then pressed their hands together. He could feel the lip imprint of the sticky gloss stick to his skin. Sasuke tried to clasp her fingers in his. But she did not let him. Instead, she slowly and gently, gently ran the tips of her fingers up his forearm, leaving goosebumps in her wake, never really disturbing his sleeve.
She stopped at his elbow, before softly running her thumb back and forth over the sensitive skin there.
The whole time, she kept steady eye contact. Her red cheeks and shaky breaths betrayed her nerves. The set of her jaw told him how determined she was.
Hidden by his other sleeve, he dug his fingernails into the meat of his thigh. He clenched his teeth against a building groan. His blood had been replaced with honey, flowing sluggishly through his veins, hypersensitizing his skin and warming him from the inside out. His heartbeat increased, as if it had to work harder to keep him upright.
How did she do that ?
What the hell was she doing to him? Why did that feel so good?
"I'm leaving tomorrow," she breathed, still staring into his eyes. He could not look away. "I'll be back in a week. Don't forget me again."
His free hand trembled. He really wanted her to stop touching him. He never wanted her to stop touching him.
"I-I'm sorry," he gritted out. "I'm done with this phase of training. I won't forget."
Her face brightened, the intensity in her gaze giving way to pride. "Oh, that's right! Congrats, Surgeon Uchiha."
Her thumbnail just very slightly scratched over his skin. It addled his brain so much he could not even explain he was only qualified for one simple surgery, and it would take years to finish all his qualifications. How could he describe anything when he clenched his jaw so hard to keep from fucking drooling?
He could have cried. "Did… did you learn how to do this? As a kunoichi?" he asked desperately.
Hinata's fingers traveled even higher up his arm, before sweeping back down to his wrist. He did his best not to shiver.
"No," she said. Her smile turned bashful. "I've just always wanted to try it."
He looked heavenwards. "You came up with this on your own?" he whined.
"It's my goodbye."
She finally let him go. Before she could step back, he caught her hand. His whole body felt like it was experiencing little shivers.
"Hinata," his voice held a rasp of emotion. "Be safe on your mission."
Feeling petty, and excited, and a whole list of other things, he kept his dark gaze on hers as he lifted her palm to his face. He pressed a long, lingering kiss to the spot where her lip-gloss still glittered in the low light.
He watched as her eyes became impossibly wide and her breath caught.
He smirked. Fair is fair. He let her go and watched her leave.
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"How was your time with your friends?" Itachi asked quietly as a group of Uchiha cousins walked back to the compound.
The men and boys followed the women and girls, carousing and telling each other of their exploits.
"Fine." Sasuke scratched his cheek but paused when he smelled something sweet.
He paused and tried to surreptitiously sniff his hand. His spine shivered straight when he realized it was the dried lip gloss. He bit his bottom lip and his tongue slipped over it.
It tasted sweet.
Sasuke stopped there, in the middle of the dirt road to his house, and folded forward, leaning his hands on his knees. He laughed but also wanted to cry a bit.
How could he accuse Hinata of using childish tactics on him when she had thoroughly proven him wrong earlier? Especially when a taste of her gloss was enough to have him thinking about licking it off her?
Licking everything, really.
His clansmen halted and stared at him awkwardly.
"What's wrong with him?" a little boy asked, holding Shisui's hand.
"Uh…" Shisui said. He then slipped his hand to cover the boy's eyes. "He's had a lot of grown-up juice. Let's go home."
The group moved off to catch up with the ladies, who had not stopped.
Itachi stayed and raised a brow at Sasuke when he straightened.
"Do you have something to tell me?" Itachi asked dryly.
Sasuke sighed and threw his head back, covering his face with his hands. Every breath reminded him of Hinata. "Big brother," he whined. "I'm so in love."
Itachi laughed and patted Sasuke's shoulder. He gently pushed his brother forward.
"I'm glad you finally realize it."
Sasuke groaned in embarrassment.
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Finally home as dawn loomed grey and anticipatory over the horizon, Sasuke unraveled his obi. A white paper packet fell to the floor.
Sasuke picked it up. Oh. He forgot. Bringing the sachet up to his nose, he caught a whiff of lavender and vetiver. It smelled like Hinata's hair, when he leaned towards her, and she pressed the side of her body to his.
"That fucking dog," he chuckled ruefully. "He knew."
Sasuke thought himself a cat person. He could make an exception this one time. He owed the dog at least a couple of bones.
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Coming up: Sasuke figures out the mystery.