"To protect?" Sasuke narrowed his eyes at Neji's figure in Hinata's mindscape. He's dead, which means that—"You are her subconscious."

"I want you to stay away," the Hyuga snarled. "Stop this."

The space around him radiated in an icy light, infinite but somehow stifling. Taking some steps forward, Sasuke tried to make sense of everything. That projection seemed realistic, but it couldn't be real. If anything, it just showed Hinata's desperation. He decided to investigate. "As a part of her, shouldn't you be aware that she asked me?"

"I am." Neji folded his arms in front of his chest. "It's foolish."

"Foolish little brother." Sasuke recalled Itachi's words. A shiver ran down his spine. "What's the solution then?"

"Leave," Neji said. "And don't come back."

A stream of pictures swirled around them—images of wide rooms, screaming Hyuga clan members holding onto their foreheads, and dead shinobi on the battlefield. Hinata's mind was a stranger place than expected. Bewildered, Sasuke took a slow step back, focusing his attention on the male Hyuga again. "And what if I say 'no'?"

The frown on Neji's face deepened as he took the Hyuga fighting stance. "I will do anything to keep you away."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "Tell me then. What would you like me to do?"

"Make her accept."

"Accept?" Sasuke scowled. "How?"

Neji turned around and walked away. "Leave. Now."

The swarming pictures above him morphed, split, and faded, pushing him out until only darkness surrounded him. When Sasuke returned from her mindscape to the physical world, his glance fell on Hinata in front of him.

Eyes shut, her head rested on the table, chest slowly rising and sinking with every breath. The exertions from three genjutsu in a row would have worn down everybody. Sasuke sighed silently.

This got unexpectedly complicated.

Ready to draw back, his hand twitched at a warm sensation. Their fingers still intertwined, Hinata's calm breath stroked his skin because her face was close enough.

Her pain was palpable; perhaps that was the reason he agreed to help her in the first place. Naruto and Sakura could never grasp what it meant––but she could. Sasuke's fingers pressed softly into the back of her cold, delicate hand that appeared even tinier inside his. Even the black shirt he had given her seemed to swallow her short frame.

Sasuke took a deep breath. What would he tell her when she'd wake up? That her subconscious resembling her dead older brother didn't want to cooperate? What would you do, Itachi?

Genjutsu were his brother's special ability, his Tsukuyomi beyond comparison. Itachi would have known how to handle this situation. But you're gone.

Getting access to Hinata's memories without inflicting more mental pain on her proved to be more difficult than expected.

"Leave." Neji Hyuga's request sounded unnegotiable. Perhaps I should, so––

Soft lips grazed his skin and interrupted his train of thought for a second. Still unconscious, Hinata had pushed her face against his hand. It would be easier to stop here. Leave her alone. Wake her up and tell her. Sasuke didn't move from his position. For the first time in months, he didn't want to back down. Hinata's mind––all those pictures he caught a glimpse of—was messed up. Even her subconscious resembled her cousin instead of herself. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

But somehow… Sasuke sucked his teeth, trying to avert his glance from her. He understood. Maybe too much. Perhaps because the same storm was once raging inside him too.

The sun rays gradually slipped into his living room, landing on top of Hinata's hair. She stretched before releasing a calm yawn like a cat. As soon as she opened her eyes, she withdrew her hand from his, leaving behind a strange emptiness.

"Sas—Uh, sorry. I must have fallen asleep. I… didn't notice. What happened?"

Sasuke pinched the bridge of his nose but decided to be honest with her. "There's something wrong with you."

"Wrong?" Her eyebrows tightened in concern.

"The protective barrier of your mind is stronger than anticipated. This makes it more difficult to access. And usually, your subconscious would resemble yourself," he said. "Yours doesn't."

"My… subconscious?" White teeth pushed against that plump bottom lip. "What does it look like?"

Sasuke paused. Perhaps keeping it to himself might have been better. But would that change anything? "Neji Hyuga."

"N-Neji?" she whispered, tears welling up inside those wide eyes. "Neji was… inside my mind? But… how…?"

"No idea. The only thing that matters is that it—'He'—isn't willing to cooperate. "

"Not willing to… Still, in the end, this is my subconscious?"

"Smart, aren't we?" Sasuke's lip curled up as a small blush tinted Hinata's cheeks. "Yes, it's you, not him."

"I can change it then."

"In theory, yes. In practice, I have no clue how to do that. "

Hinata closed her eyes, turning her head towards a sun ray. "Mmm… Ino might know."

Asking the Yamanaka for help? "She'll sense that we're up to something." Sasuke shook his head.

"B-But maybe she won't get suspicious if I try?"

"You?" Sasuke lifted an eyebrow.

"I'll be careful," Hinata said, clenching her fists. "I can do it."

Sasuke was about to retort but paused. There was this glint of stubbornness in her eyes again, so much determination that it made him smirk. He shrugged. "She trusts you more than me. It would be less suspicious."

"Right."

They talked through what she was about to ask and how she would approach Ino. They would need to find out how to make the subconscious cooperate and solve that issue inside of her.

As Hinata's soft voice recited the questions for Ino, Sasuke's thoughts trailed off. Working with her was tolerable. Having somebody else in his apartment didn't feel that odd but also tolerable because her presence was calm—peaceful. His black shirt on her, framed by her messy blue locks, appeared to have found purpose.

Hinata's request made him recap his own situation. He also tried to cut his own memories to a minimum, and now he couldn't help but see himself in her. There was a sudden wish to tell her he felt the same.

But he had never been good with words.

"Maybe we don't need Ino," Sasuke said instead. Indeed, there was a possibility he had heard about but didn't try.

"Hm?" Hinata threw him a curious glance.

He stood up. "Let me show you something."

Hinata tensed before she rose to her feet. His Rinnegan opened another portal, and he stepped out, followed by her. The morning sun enlightened the destroyed stone remains that used to be the Uchiha Hideout. The place he and Itachi had fought. The place where Itachi had died.

"This place," Hinata said as she took some steps towards the ruin. "I was nearby once. We were searching for you."

Feeling his tongue getting heavier, Sasuke bit the inside of his cheek. What would have happened if Naruto had found him before Itachi broke down? "I haven't visited this place since back then," Sasuke said. "This is the place my brother died."

Hinata walked behind him as he made his way to that particular stone where he had stood.

"My brother acted like he hated me," Sasuke mumbled as he stopped in front of the piece of broken wall and leaned down. Their fight had destroyed the whole Uchiha hideout, but no blood stains remained. The rain must have washed it all away. Sasuke's hand reached out to touch the hard ground. "This is where he died."

Hinata remained silent, and he was grateful for it.

Sasuke recalled Itachi's last words. Somehow coming here felt different from what he imagined. Calmer, somehow, and thankful. Loved. Itachi's last words echoed in his head. It has been his will.

"Itachi smiled when he died," Sasuke said. Somehow that fact never appeared to him.

"He… smiled?" Hinata didn't move; their eyes locked for a while before she lowered hers.

"He did." Sasuke remembered standing between the waves later––crying when he found out the truth about his brother. All those years, his brother didn't hate him. The grief of Itachi's sacrifice still pressed against his chest, but Itachi's smile meant more. A warm breeze rushed through Sasuke's hair, a feeling of peace settling in. This place showed him something else besides the everlasting pain. All the pictures from his past––them training, laughing together, hunting cats––flashed before his eyes. He sighed as the corner of his lip curled.

"Neji… also smiled." Hinata's voice was so quiet he almost didn't catch it.

Sasuke turned his head to her. "He did?"

"Hm?" Her fingers clenched around the hem of the black shirt he had given her.

"Why did he smile?"

"I think he said something… that made him smile." Tears reflected the sun in the corners of her lashes. Her hands fidgeted slightly.

Sasuke furrowed his brows. "You said you were there. But you don't remember?"

"No, I… maybe it's just that…I stuffed it away… somewhere. I remember him saying something but not the exact wording." She bit into her bottom lip, shutting her eyes.

"I recall every word Itachi said." Sasuke crouched down at the place his brother had fallen onto. His hand softly stroked over the ground. It felt peaceful now. Like clarity. His brother's last words were important because they were full of love. Warmth flooded his chest as he relived the memory of Itachi poking his forehead. Sasuke's glance lifted to Hinata. "Come. I have an idea."

"Huh? An idea?"

"We'll visit the battlefield."

Hinata slowly shook her head. "I'm not sure that… would be good."

Sasuke scoffed. "You don't get it, Hyuga. This place"—his hand pointed at the ruins around them—"it haunted me in my dreams until today. But standing here now gives me peace."

"H-How?" she whispered.

"I understood his last words," Sasuke said. "And if that's what visiting that place did to me, it will help you as well."

She mustered him for some time before nodding. "Okay."

Swiftly his Rinnegan opened another portal, and she marched after him.

Thick clouds covered the sky when they stepped out of the portal. The former battlefield lay broad and calm, some patches of grass growing in some places. All the dead bodies were gone, but the sky remained almost as dark as it had been that day.

If the place where Itachi died offered him peace, he expected that to work for Hinata as well. It would help her gain control over her subconscious. After that, they would proceed with their task. Sasuke turned around to look at her.

She stood still, arms hanging by her sides, fingers twitching nervously. "This… place."

Stepping closer to her, he noticed the horror in her wide eyes and her quivering full lips.

Maybe it was a mistake to bring her here. Sasuke swallowed, his hand quickly reaching for her shoulder, but she sank down to her knees. "Hey, are you—"

"Should have been me," Hinata murmured shakily as thick tears streamed down her cheeks.

"What?"

"Neji died for me. Jumped… in front of me. It was m-m-my f-fault." Gasping for breath, she started panting. "It was wrong. This wasn't meant to be."

"Your fault?" Sasuke's mouth suddenly felt dry. He hadn't been on the battlefield when Neji died. The Hyuga died protecting Hinata? Shit. This wasn't just trauma but also guilt. Guilt to be the cause of his death. This changes everything.

"Shouldn't," she said so quietly he almost didn't catch it, "be him... but me."

"Hinata. Hey." Sasuke crouched down next to her, trying to catch her attention. "Breathe."

She nodded, but her breathing was only picking up pace. Her eyebrows drew together, lashes fluttering desperately like an injured crow. "I k-k-killed him. It's my fault."

"That's absurd." Sasuke clenched his teeth. A shiver ran across his skin. He remembered having similar thoughts once but always managed to leave them behind. "Concentrate on the facts. Neji wanted to protect—"

"H-He sh-shouldn't have died… for me."

"Listen." Sasuke tried to sound as soothing as possible. "He knew exactly what he was doing. This was what he wanted."

But the words didn't seem to reach her as her eyes roamed around frantically. During the war, the adrenaline must have had her in survival mode. She didn't have to concentrate on fighting anymore. Now the pain hit even harder.

"Fuck." This wasn't good. His plan had been idiotic; instead of helping her, it only re-opened her wounds. For a second, he considered the forceful erasure of this memory, but he couldn't risk it since he had already put her under several genjutsu during the last hours. Too many could harm her nervous system and result in a coma or worse.

Sasuke stepped in front of her, hand squeezing her shoulder so she would look at him. "Hinata."

She stared right through him, mumbling again and again, "N-Neji... My fault. "

"We should go now."

"My fault." She shook her head frantically. "N-Naruto."

Sasuke blinked. "Hm?"

"Have to… protect Naruto."

Sasuke's eyes widened. Protect Naruto? So not only Neji had died for her, she had tried to protect Naruto? This must have been what Naruto had tried to tell him before. "The same thing happened on the battlefield."

Quiet sobs from Hinata punched into his chest. Light wide eyes focused on one particular spot on the ground as her shaky fingers reached out. "Here… It was here. W-What did he s-say… Should have been me––"

"We're leaving." Sasuke's Rinnegan opened another portal. "Come."

She shook her head. "My fault…"

Doesn't work. He took some steps towards her, quickly slung his arm around her waist. She didn't even fight it. Then he stepped in.

They landed in his apartment again. Sasuke dropped her carefully off on his tatami floor. "Hinata?"

Eyes shut firmly, face covered by tears, her teeth clattered as her whole body was trembling. Sasuke cursed internally. He had fucked up. Bringing her back to the scene wasn't the same for her as it was for him. Pained sobs echoed inside his flat.

"Focus on me." He leaned down and lifted her chin to make her look into his eyes. When it didn't work, he slung his arm around her and pressed her against his chest. "We're not there anymore. We're not there."

Her nails buried themselves into his shirt. Finally, she stopped shaking. There was a long silence before raised her head again. "We… are not… S-S-Sorry." She drew back from that embrace.

"Don't be."

"I… d-didn't know that…" She lowered her head.

"We should abort the plan. Come. I'll bring you home." He reached out his hand to her, but she shook her head firmly.

"Please," Hinata said. "I'd give… everything to… forget and––"

"I don't need anything from you." Sasuke groaned, running his hand through his hair. He had made it worse and she still thought he could help her? "You still want to go on?"

"I do." She wiped away the remains of her tears. Her breathing slowly calmed down.

"I shouldn't have taken you there. I thought it would have the same effect as… for me."

"It's all right," Hinata said softly. "It was worth… a try. You said it would hurt."

"Yeah, but I didn't mean to…" He swallowed at the thought, concentrating on a solution. Again he opened a portal.

She blinked slowly. "Where––?"

"I won't repeat my mistake. Let's go."

With a small nod, Hinata stood up and entered the portal. He followed, teleporting them to a rooftop right in the center of Konoha.

Hinata's head turned left and right. She jumped after him and they landed on the street. It wasn't crowded yet, since it was still early in the morning. Only few people would go out that early.

"Where are we?"

"We should eat. And talk," Sasuke said, pointing at the cafe in front of them. "I realized that not talking only leads to more pain." Maybe Naruto wasn't all wrong in the end.

"Uh… okay." She followed him inside the empty cafe and they sat down at a table near the window.

The old cafe owner brought over their teas, a small breakfast, and some complimentary dango.

Sasuke leaned forward to Hinata and asked quietly, "You still want me to erase that memory?"

She nodded.

"Fine." He still wasn't sure, though. That whole day had gone totally out of control. He felt like he had traumatized her even more instead of helping her.

"Thank you." Hinata's soft smile brought him back out of his dark thoughts. "I have a question."

"Hn?"

"Your brother… how was he like?"

"Itachi was a genius. And also smart, strong and smart."

"A genius," she whispered, nibbling on her lip. Then she took a sip of tea.

Sasuke waited for her to ask about Itachi's abilities, his strength, his rank. Because that was what always counted for the Uchiha. Surely for the Hyuga and––

"What was his favorite food?" Hinata asked.

Sasuke's eyes widened. It was the first time somebody asked a genuine question about his brother outside of ninja duties. His glance fell on the table in front of him, and he swallowed. "Dango."

Suddenly her face lightened up. She giggled quietly, reaching for the dango. "Actually that's… an exquisite taste."

"Not really." Sasuke wrinkled his nose. "That was his flaw."

"No, I don't think so." Hinata shook her head firmly, a bright smile flashing on her cheeks as she put another dango in her mouth. "They're… delicious."

"Itachi would have liked you." Sasuke sniffed at the dango in his hand before laying it down again.

Reddened, puffy eyes widened. "Huh?"

"You both have terrible taste." And a kind smile.

With a tiny pout, Hinata reached for her tea.

"Right after my brother died, I also broke down."

Her attentive glance lifted to focus on him. As usual, she didn't probe but waited in case he wanted to elaborate.

"When you're under adrenaline, everything's different," Sasuke said. "We're trained to function. As soon as we're released from it, it crashes upon us."

"I… yes."

"It was stupid to assume you'd be further… in whole the process. The war was already one year ago. But you didn't speak to anybody about it?"

"No," she whispered, reaching for another dango.

Are we that different? Sasuke's lips quivered at the sight of her chewing face. "You aren't supposed to stuff everything in your mouth at once. It's not like I'm not going to steal them."

A blush rose on her cheeks, light eyes squinting at him.

"I'll just throw them away." He reached for the last stick, and she instantly reached for it as well. He froze when their fingers met; this time it didn't feel odd but—She quickly pulled her hand away before he could finish his thought. He scoffed. "I was joking. Eat up."

Hinata didn't avert her eyes. "Thank you… for your help."

He shrugged, turning the warm cup in his hand. He didn't even know how he was supposed to help. Usually, his abilities would be used differently. For killing or securing but not for––

"Can I ask you… why are you helping me?"

He sighed. "Want me to stop?"

"No," she said, waving her hands in front of her. "I-I just… would like to know."

"I want to atone," he said. "But the council doesn't let me go."

"But… with your ability… you could go anywhere. Anytime."

"It's not the same." Sasuke placed the cup on the table. "I don't want to proceed like that. This village meant something to my brother."

There was a silence.

"Sasuke… You miss him."

He froze, his fingers digging into his palm.

"I-I'm sorry. It's just… It's in your eyes. You come to the cemetery every day."

Suddenly, his throat itched, drier than a desert, making swallowing painful. Usually, nobody ever talked about Itachi to him. "Indeed."

They ate and drank silently. Sasuke's thoughts ran wild. She understood, but their methods to deal with their situations were different. Who was wrong or right?

When they were done, he teleported her into her room so she could finally change into her own clothes again. If Ino would spot his shirt on her, it would blow their cover.

"You know the plan?" he asked.

Hinata gave him an affirmative nod.

"We'll meet there then." He threw her one last glance, taking in that strange picture of her in his T-shirt. Then, he teleported away near the flower shop.

Only some minutes later, silky dark hair flew in the warm wind as Hinata's hips swayed in motion. Sasuke walked some steps behind her.

When she entered the flower shop, he stopped by the door to listen.

"Oh, Hinata, you're early!"

"Good afternoon, Ino. I––"

"On it!" There was a rustling, indicating that Ino was picking up the flowers.

"Thank you. They are beautiful," Hinata said, voice a bit shaky. "So I wondered…"

"Wait, did he give you your flowers the other day?"

"Hm?"

"Sasuke, of course! Remember, tall, somber, handsome?"

"Um. Y-Yes. He did. Thank you. So, I thought —"

Ino's loud squeal interrupted Hinata's soft voice. "Ohh. Seriously, I never thought a girl could make Sasuke Uchiha weak!"

"Huh? It's not… I wanted to ask you if–"

"You should have seen the way he looked when I spoke to him about you. Tender eyes and everything."

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched, endless annoyance warming up his ears. Damn. This wasn't good. The plan was failing.

"N-No, it's just–"

"But you were out on a date yet, weren't you?"

"D-date? No, no! You misunderstood, it's—"

"Come on, tell me about it. How is he? Quiet, yes, but he doesn't seem like a—"

Deciding to end this mess, Sasuke teleported into the shop, right next to Hinata. Even the large white bouquet in her hands couldn't hide her scarlet red face. She looked so uncomfortable, like she was about to faint. Sasuke shot a glare at the Yamanaka.

"Hey, Sasuke! You're also here early." Ino blinked sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, now I get it. You two are meeting at my store. This is adorable!"

Hinata looked at him with wide eyes. "Sas-Sasuke?"

"The usual," Sasuke snarled quietly at Ino.

She shrugged. "I gave Hinata the flowers. I thought since you see each other anyways."

Slapping the money on the table, Sasuke growled, "We're leaving."

"Uh… yes." Hinata bowed, the blush now reaching her neck.

Wiggling her eyebrows, Ino stuck out her tongue before her laughter filled the room. "Am I the only one who knows—"

When Hinata didn't move, Sasuke grasped her hand and pulled her after him.

"G-Goodbye, Ino… thank you."

"No worries. Have fun, you two!" Ino chirped behind them as Sasuke stomped out. Finally, they left the shop.

"Sasuke…" Hinata hurried after him, lowering her head when their eyes met. Even the sole thought of Ino's accusations of dating him seemed to terrify her. "I-I'm sorry."

Sasuke's frown continued to grow as he let go of her hand. "For what?"

"I… couldn't ask her about the subconscious."

Right. He completely forgot about that for a moment. "Doesn't matter. I'll teleport into the interrogation archives and get the protocols." That would prove easier than asking Yamanaka. Sasuke scoffed. "I'll bring them back afterward."

She nibbled on her lower lip before lifting her glance to meet his. "T-Tonight?"

"Tonight."

"But…" she halted when he clenched his jaw. "Right."

Sommer: Thank you for reading. Hm, so this chapter took a bit longer... for a list of reasons (e.g. me agreeing to do volunteer work besides my normal job, a vacation, me writing an one-shot for the upcoming SasuHina month). I often experience a little publishing anxiety, so I really have to push myself right now to publish this. Thank you to my fellow writer motroshell, who gave me a very soft and appreciative kick in my ass asking me to continue this story. It helped me :)

If you're interested in a story with more on the subconscious, I recommend my other story (Looking at the Ghost of me) because this story is supposed rather focus on the Sasuke/Hinata interactions. The subconscious still plays a part, but it's not as prominent as it could be. I felt bad for the two in this chapter. People deal differently with trauma. Revisiting the place of the traumatic incident can help one person while retraumatizing the other. It really depends on so many things...

As always, I'm happy to read your thoughts. Have a nice weekend.