Hinata viewed the bruises formed on her neck and loosely secured it with her headband.

"'I'll be ok," she whispered to herself.

—

The first stage of the exams was surprisingly easy. It was just a simple written test for knowledge that Hinata already knew about from her home's library. Of course, there was also the 10th question Ibiki had asked that tested their psychology but she haven't even thought about leaving. She can't wait next year. She needed to pass the exams now or surely she would bring upon disgrace to the Hyuuga name. Hinata shivered as she could already see her father's glare.

Though the possible outcome she imagined she would get still didn't stop her from feeling glee when she managed to sit next to Naruto. She greatly praised herself that she was even able to speak to him, much less offer him her help with the test! Yet even if he was visibly nervous, he proudly declined saying that a ninja would never cheat. Within her mind, Hinata squealed in awe. He was just. So. Cool! Even under pressure, Naruto is able to stay confident and not break down as she would usually do. The everlasting feeling of joy managed to last till the evening and would have lasted for days. That is if Sasuke hadn't scolded her later after their training.

"Just why on earth would you try to help that idiot?" He grumbled with annoyance as she felt his hand that interlocked with hers briefly tighten.

"N-Naruto looked like he needed help… that's all…"

Sasuke sharply turned his head to look at her. "So you just risk yourself? Just because it 'looked' like he needed help?"

Hinata lowered her eyes. She realized what she may have done was stupid, especially when she determined that she was going to successfully pass the exams without fail. But seeing Naruto's panicked expression, she just had to do what her heart wanted her to do. "Sorry…"

"Believe me, Naruto does not need your help. No one does." He tried to reassure her when he noticed her saddened state by saying she doesn't always need to help anyone. Though naturally, anyone could crumble when it is stated as he had. Her mood had only fallen as she started to enter a turmoil of regret.

'Oh you stupid, stupid girl! Dammit, it would have been better if I had gotten your help!' he begrudgingly thought. Sasuke tugged her hand so she would look at him again. 'What good is that brain of yours if you don't understand what I mean!'

He sighed, "Look, what I'm saying is, focus only on yourself. Don't think too much for others."

'Especially Naruto!'

By then she must have realized what he meant as she gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Uchiha-san." She relaxed the tenseness in her body and unconsciously leaned closer towards him.

Lately, it seemed every moment he had with her now involved some sort of physical contact. Though it only happens when he knows there are completely alone. It just so happened that the short after sparring breaks they have which now occurs late at night is the perfect moment to do so. The touches ranged from something small like their shoulders, knees, or legs bumping and touching, to then hand-holding, or a hand on her shoulder, or just generally anything similar of the sort.

Hinata had to admit, at first, she did feel a bit uncomfortable, unused to the idea that someone would intentionally reach out to touch her without the thought of hurting her. For as long as she could remember, the only physical contact she gets is the punches and kicks from training or the punishments she receives from Neji and her father. Afraid that Sasuke will hurt her too, she tried to avoid his touch but then she stopped when she noticed something similar about Sasuke to Hanabi.

During the rare moments her younger sister had time, she would always ask Hinata to play with her. And of course, Hinata accepted with no hesitance. Because of her incompetence, the elders have now forced Hanabi to receive even more training to prepare her to replace Hinata's place as heiress. Because she is weak, Hanabi, her sister that is five years younger than her, has to already face the same pressure Hinata herself breaks down from. The least she can do for her younger sister- to try and save her from thinking the same thoughts she regularly does- is to be there for her. To provide her comfort, love, happiness, and long away from the thought that she isn't loved, or useless, or pathetic like her. Every time Hinata came inside Hanabi's room to play, the little girl would leap up in joy and hug her, giggles filling the mood that made even Hinata giggle herself too. For most of the duration they played together, she would always stick right beside her like glue and give one of the biggest, purest of smiles she had to hide during the day. This was when Hanabi actually looked like a child her age and when Hinata can finally act like an older sister. It was through Hanabi that Hinata learned that not all physical contacts were bad and that it is one of the most effective ways to show that you trust them.

Perhaps that's why Hinata let Sasuke continue touching her. For some reason, he reminded her of Hanabi. Maybe this is how he manages himself; through contact. She understands it gives one the feeling of security and comfort just like it does for Hanabi, and if this is something she can do for Sasuke, then she will gladly lend him her touch. This is also the least she can do.

Who knows, maybe Sasuke was helping her too.

—

Sasuke felt his face heat up when he noticed she was closer than before. Unknowingly or not by her end, it made him feel oddly light but suffocated at the same time. He thought that maybe the feeling would pass through but it only seemed to have worsened each moment he had with her. It was strange- he wanted to get away as far as possible from her but then at the same time he wanted to get closer. Sasuke had already tried the first option long before when he first discovered this feeling so maybe the second option was really the right choice…? He peeked at Hinata who was occupied by the sight of the stars now shining brightly because of the late time. Sasuke gulped, daring if he should do what he was currently thinking of doing. Screw it. He is Sasuke Uchiha and he will do whatever the hell he wants.

Quickly, before she could even realize he had closed in their distance, he gave a kiss on the corner of her mouth. The spot had become slightly wet when he had unconsciously licked his lips while he was only imagining the scene before. However, this was reality and whatever he imagined he would feel was just a hundred times better. That suffocating feeling he had now disappeared, leaving only the lightness he felt in his heart. He felt his body shiver from the freeing feeling of heaviness that greatly annoyed him before.

Hinata had also shivered but for the exact opposite reason. She jolted when she felt something wet touch the side of her lips. When she turned to look, she saw Sasuke receding back to his spot with a smirk that was enough to tell her he purposely did it and it wasn't just her imagination or her overthinking.

"U-U-Uchiha-san?! What was that?!"

The only answer she received was the same grin that graced upon his lips in satisfaction. He relished in the instantaneous feeling of her soft cheeks that released the constant pressure he felt inside of him. Seriously, just how on earth can her cheeks be so soft? He was almost tempted to nip on them! Though no matter how blissful it felt to feel her soft cheeks, the only regret he had was missing her lips. He decided since he had done it already, he might as well do it again but properly.

Sasuke leaned in once again with the full intention of aiming for her lips, one of his hands guiding her reluctant face to look at him. If just kissing her on the side made him feel this good, surely the lips would be way better. In fact, the books Kakashi-sensei reads state that multiple times. He had never openly read it but sometimes his pervert sensei would leave the book wide open which left the Uchiha to catch a few sentences here and there.

Just before he was able to reach her lips, he felt her falling back to avoid it. However, this only lead him to follow so. Instead of creating space between them, the closeness only seemed to have increased. Her back, which was pushed down by the weight of his body, hit the seating of the bench while he hovered over her.

"P-please stop Uchiha-san… please stop!" With her hands on his chest, she tried to push him off, forgetting all knowledge she had of the gentle fists because of the panic. The struggle only seemed to have brought him closer. When she realized he wouldn't budge, Hinata broke down in tears as she was scared for her life of what was going to happen next.

While tears were something that would make one feel empathetic for, Sasuke seemed to be unaffected. In fact, it seemed it only strengthened the foreign delight he was feeling that began bubbling down in his stomach. As he gazed upon her panicked face, his blush deepened, now maybe even noticeable to the third person if others were to see him. The same cheeks he thought were cute were now sullied with salty tears from her star-reflecting eyes. Just what was this feeling? He felt himself wanting to go further to explore this new discovery of feelings but stopped knowing full well it only break the trust Hinata had in him even more. Any more of 'this,' well whatever he was doing, was going to be hard to be played as a joke that he would usually excuse something as when he sometimes goes too far.

Slowly, he brought himself back up, never leaving his gaze off of her. Just as she noticed this, she quickly did the same and slowly scooted to the furthest side of the bench. During this process, small sniffles and whimpers could be heard from her which he listened with a strange satisfaction. Despite his blissful mood, he pretended to feel sorry for his actions in an attempt to at least preserve some of her trust. "Maybe I went too far. Sorry." He ignored the slight flinch she had when he put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Is this…Are you teasing me again, Uchiha-san?"

"... More or less."

Hinata let out a shuddered sigh. "It's alright…" She quickly wiped away her tears and gave him a strained smile to show she forgave him. "P-please don't do it anymore."

"Alright." He easily agreed as he knew he wasn't going to stop. No, he just discovered this gratifying feeling from 'teasing' Hinata and he's going to keep doing it until he's damn well sick of it. Which will probably be in a very, very long time.

—

Everything that Sasuke did to her was deemed as a joke. Sometimes he would go too far with sparring and sometimes he would even humiliate her in front of Naruto! Anything he did would make her into a shy, stuttering, crying mess! No matter how much she asked him to stop, the 'teasings' in each passing day seem to only worsen. Yet no matter how much they worsen she always forgave him. Even if Hinata couldn't even fathom how much Sasuke had to-and still is- suffer through, she can understand his pain as the pain she felt when she lost her uncle and mother, both of which that was the most kindest to her, was excruciating. Teasing and physical contact was just his way of getting through it, and if she can provide that for him then she will. She just hoped that kissing won't become such a regular occurrence between them like the constant touching he first played off as teasing. That is something only lovers should do and the two of them were definitely not a couple.

No, no, absolutely not.

Hinata needed to fill Sasuke in about Sakura and fast.

A/N: Hi. hope you enjoyed this one! Idk why I want to write more but I feel like my limit for writing a chapter is 2000 words max lol. I really hope you liked this chapter because I feel this was kind of meh. You can really tell I don't beta read my stuff oopsy.

Anyway thank u guys for the reviews and the angsty recommendations I read it all. Im pretty sure my favourite's list has all the angsty fics now but if u any more don't be scared to share :))))))))))). Like it doesn't have to be just sasuhina :). I love hinata getting hurt HAHAHAHA

To Guest: Thank you for the naruhina story omg... when Naruto started yelling at hinata that got my heart thumping god I love stuff like that. Bro honestly neji's death was kinda wack. HONESTLY, i would have liked to see hinata dying instead lol and you're right i can't believe sasuke and hinata and no interaction at all. also yeah all the hyuuga's are so beautiful i cry because of that. Anyway, thank you for the review. like you give me some eye opening, mind blowing, reviews and i live for that

Thank you everyone for the reviews! If there is anything you would like me to improve on (characterization, pacing, etc) then don't hesitate to tell me, sometimes i need people doing the critical thinking for me LOL.

Also i want to write another fanfic and you guys get to choose:

- sasuhina but one of them is blind (tell me who you want blind)

- gaara x hinata (hinata blind, i just love blind hinata)

- SASORI X HINATA (sorry i love him)

ya choose whatever.

also guys we all gotta admit sasuke is touch starved (and MAYBE HAS MOMMY ISSUES) and I'm gonna do something about that period

Once again, thanks for reading! Please review!