Chapter 6

"How come you never tried this with your boyfriend?" he blushed at the softness of her fingers in his hair, very thankful she was blind

"Hm, I tried it with his brother once. I already know what he looks like though so I don't think my brain was taking in information, just imposing what it already knew."

"His brother?"

"Yeah, Sasuke is" she hesitated, "very busy."

"Hm, I know what that's like." he mumbled sadly

"What do you mean?" her hands traced the lines of his kanji head tattoo

"My girlfriend is a doctor." he let a proud small smile frame his face, "one of the best. But sometimes," his smile fell

"You feel left out." she completed, he looked in her eyes, the sincerity strong, he almost forgot she couldn't see him. "This is a tattoo? Thought teachers weren't allowed to have these?"

"Long story. But I guess someone liked me enough to pardon me." he cleared his throat, not ready to speak about his past.

"Love? Right?" her voice excited, glad to have figured it out. His heart thumped, it had been a while since he had seen someone smile so happily at him with childlike abandonment.

"Hai. You got it." he took her right index finger, closing his eyes as he traced his lids. She jolted temporarily from the queasy feel of his eyeball.

"Never realized how weird they feel. Ew." she groaned and he let out a small laugh at her surprise before trying again.

"Everywhere your finger feels, is black. I have dark hooded lids."

"Like pandas?" he twitched,

"I guess." he relented and she laughed at his tone of voice as he placed her hands back down on her lap. Excited for her progress, she hastily lifted her hands to continue but mistakenly lodged her right index in his nostril. His eyes bugged out as he choked, brushing her hands off. Horror filled her bones as it began to register.

"I'M SO SORRY!" she bowed, only to head bump him. Horror turned to embarrassment, which led to a chuckle then laughter so much she began to tear up. "Well that's enough for today." he patted his legs, stretching his back, and getting up. She followed suit, leaning on the couch for help.

"I'm really sorry." she covered her lips to keep from laughing, only to fail.

"Yeah, sure you are."

"Thank you! Um… ano…?

"Hm?"

Her face began to burn red as she played with her long strands. "Ano, I never asked your name…"

"Gaara. Gaara no Sabaku."

"I'm Hinata. Hinata Hyuga."

"Well Hinata, it was a pleasure."

"Hai." she smiled, listening to his footsteps fade, the door open and close. The silence settled again and she never realized how lonely she had become. And as he opened the door to his apartment, the feeling sank in too.

~.~.~.~

"You really are a bastard." was Itachi's tired voice over the phone as Sasuke called him from the airport

"Take care of her." he ignored the insult

"Sasuke. Have you ever considered her feelings? Her blindness is a result of her protecting you. You owe her as much of a sacrifice!" his brother's usually calm voice took a pitched tone

"Stop it Itachi. You know,"

"I know that you are still a child. A selfish and ungrateful child." and the line went silent

He threw the phone into his bag, frustrated with the accusations of his brother. It bothered him that Itachi was so opinionated on his relationship. He knew what he was doing. He could make his own decision.

"Flight AK 3400 is ready for boarding at gate C." the soft voice rang through the intercom and repeated several times. The raven haired sighed, this trip would be a month long, and Hinata hadn't called him back like she had promised last night. It was too early to call her, he'd have to wait till he landed.

Getting up, he slang his bag over his shoulders, suitcases already checked in. Walking up to the boarding gate, he took his sweet time. When he arrived, there was no line, just his blond asshole flirting with an air hostess.

"Dobe." he knocked the blond who ignored him, exchanging numbers with the hostess. After she boarded he turned to his best friend.

"Teme! Did you see that, that hot hostess gave me her number. Her name is Ino, isn't she amazing?" he sighed, love struck

"Tch," ignoring him, Sasuke got his pass checked and began to go down the tunnel.

"Oi! Wait up bastard!"