I really hope everyone is taking care of themselves during this time, please take care of your health and tend to your other responsibilities during this time of social distancing, also call those people you've been meaning to but were otherwise too busy to do, now is the perfect time to strengthen personal relationships. I myself have been spending a lot of time with my own family.

I also had the time to finish up this chapter, I've also been trying to rewatch/reread Naruto and its been really fun so far, I'm revisiting things that I forgot like Anko originally being Orochimaru's apprentice. Did you know she was Kishimoto's favourite female character? And yet her story line... Anyway that gave me an idea for my next disclaimer

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. if I did Anko would've coached Sasuke through dealing with the curse mark and controlling its chakra.

Chapter 17: Where Is Next From Here?

"It's so hard to forget pain, but it's even harder to remember sweetness. We have no scar to show for happiness. We learn so little from peace." - Chuck Palahniuk

"Sasuke!"

Kakashi showed genuine surprise as Sasuke practically pushed open his office door. The silver haired man was sitting down and actually overlooking some important documents, though the orange book that was open and laid down flat showed that he wasn't completely focused.

"Itachi used to tell me about ANBU." Sasuke said. He almost smiled as he remembered his gentler moments with his brother. "Even though it was forbidden to talk about what went on in missions, because I begged him to tell me, sometimes he would tell me things that weren't confidential. Like jutsu he'd seen you do that he wanted to learn."

Kakashi's eye crinkled as if he was recalling the distant memories, "Is that so?"

"He never had much friends." Sasuke admitted, "So I figured that if he talked about you, he must've thought of you highly. Maybe even told you some things himself."

"Not really." Kakashi was leaning back into his chair now. He looked at his student almost expectantly, knowing there was more to the conversation.

"Did my brother ever talk about me?"

Kakashi breathed out heavily like he was trying to hold in a chuckle. "He did. One day he seemed to be smiling a lot and I was curious. Turns out he was thinking about his snot-nosed little brother. I chastised him for not paying attention."

Sasuke frowned at being called snot-nosed but he watched as Kakashi shook his head with an eye closed. It was like fondness seemed to envelop him. Usually people had a look of disgust or discomfort when they talked about his brother. As far as he knew, only he, the past Hokage's, and Naruto were aware about the truth surrounding his brother's actions.

He wondered if Kakashi knew. He was sure the village elders wouldn't talk about participating in such a bloody act, but he wasn't sure if what happened was off the record or written down somewhere within the Hokage's files.

"He was never one for smiling." Kakashi lamented. "When he joined ANBU it was around the time that the Uchiha were having problems with Konoha. We were a team for a short while, so I didn't really know much about him. But still, I was shocked when I heard what someone who seemed so gentle had done."

"So, you do know." Sasuke breathed, looking at his sensei for any indication what he said was a lie.

"Only recently. Tenzo found some of Danzo's secret files earlier this year, among them was the entire details of the Uchiha massacre. I no longer feel you were wrong in killing that wretched man."

Sasuke nodded and could feel his throat constricting, but he held back whatever threatened to overcome him. For the first time in his life he felt like he and Kakashi stood eye to eye.

"Sasuke." Kakashi cleared his throat. He had his hands clasped before him, but his face was turned away in the direction of his bookshelf. "I'm sorry for how I was before. I never really tried to understand you in your own way. Truth be told you kind of reminded me of myself. I tried to help you the way I would've wanted someone to without really considering what was right for you."

Sasuke stood still as he lifted his head up to the ceiling in order to center himself. He didn't dare speak. He didn't want to threaten the little control he had at the moment. He felt a wash of emotions at his old sensei's words, anger, sadness, even relief.

There always seemed to be a distance between them, him and Kakashi. Truthfully Sasuke didn't know if it could ever be closed. So much had happened between them that it wasn't easy to just forgive and forget. Though he owed his sensei and Naruto for the freedom he enjoyed now, he found it much easier to be around the blond.

Naruto for the most part never tried to downplay Sasuke's pain, Kakashi never seemed to truly understand it. And even if he did, he never really made it known.

He guessed the same could be said for himself as well. It wasn't like he tried to understand his sensei's pain either.

"I now could see how wrong I was." Kakashi paused. He closed his eyes as he tried to formulate his words, and then pushed himself away from his desk to move and stand beside his old student. "I've been trying to be more understanding this time. Less pushy."

"Is that why you told me to join ANBU?"

"Part of it." He admitted. He leaned against his desk with his arms crossed and regarded Sasuke with a serious look. "I supported you on your journey outside the village hoping that it would help you readjust, do it on your terms. But when that didn't work, I remembered your brother telling me how you wished to join ANBU. So, I recommended you."

Sasuke regarded him with surprise. "You did? What about Naruto and Sakura?"

"That was Tenzo. I thought Sakura would be better off working with the hospital and training future medical shinobi. Naruto, well I planned to have him study under me as Hokage to prepare him. For you specifically I thought ANBU would be a good way to get you to become more integrated into the village again. Show you there were other ways of making change."

He never really thought about who recommended him. It was even more surprising that it was Kakashi, if anything he thought it was Tenzo wanting more manpower.

Sasuke couldn't deny the irritation he felt at the blatant dismissal Kakashi had for him as a potential Hokage. He also didn't know what to feel at him admitting that ANBU was supposed to deter him from his goals. Though he was confused about what he wanted at the moment, he knew that becoming Hokage was something that he couldn't just easily let go of. He didn't care if his teacher understood it or not.

On the other hand, he was also grateful to his teacher. Though it was hard for him to admit it, being a part of ANBU was opening his eyes to things he never would have thought possible.

Goals he had long forgotten.

He remembered why he came here. Looking at his old Sensei, Sasuke regarded him seriously. "I think I know now…what you wanted from me."

Kakashi's brow rose as his eye widened almost comically. He shifted the other side of his hitai-ate to reveal the now sharingan-less eye he always hid away.

"Really?" he said. Looking at his student like his breath was bated. Sasuke wondered then just how long Kakashi had really been waiting.

"I want to try," Sasuke looked away then. Trying to get the embarrassing words out. "To change."

"I'm happy to hear that Sasuke. Seriously." Kakashi said. Seeing both of his eyes made Sasuke uncomfortable. Though he had lost his sharingan during the war he always wore his hitai-ate the same way. Now in both of them Sasuke could see the emotion that ran across his teachers face clearly.

He was proud.

The Uchiha felt himself still. He had never received that look much from his old sensei. He was always doing something the man disapproved of. Now that he was getting it Sasuke couldn't deny how vindicated it made him feel. Though he would never tell him that.

"Don't look so eager." Sasuke said, crossing his arms as he glowered at Kakashi.

The Hokage laughed at his student's countenance. "No need to get shy Sasuke."

"I'm not." He mumbled back, though he couldn't stop the slight grin from reaching his lips. His smile left as soon as it came as his mind wandered off to the one thing always on his mind. Hinata. "That goal I told you that day, I think I want it."

If he already knew Kakashi made no indication. He simply propped an arm against his desk, leaning his weight on it. "And you're sure?"

Sasuke nodded his head. "More than anything. I just don't know how to…put it away." He admitted, averting his gaze so he wouldn't have to show just how much this conversation was uncomfortable for him.

"Your pride?" Kakashi said aloud. He didn't bother skating around the word, as he was always a blunt man. "You'll just have to swallow it I'm afraid. I've learned that lesson the hard way many times."

Sasuke's eyes moved around the room as he sighed. "You make it seem so easy."

"It's never going to be. But have you even tried?"

Sasuke shoved the immediate action of being mildly offended out of the way. He took in his teacher's words with care.

Did he ever try?

He thought back to when he first got his chance of redemption. It was after he had served his sentence and wanted to explore a bit more, clear his head and get things in order. He had left to do some soul-searching but along the way he found himself helping others he saw in need.

He didn't ask for pay, it was mainly just to get through the little bit of guilt he had left, but it was also something that made him feel good. Whenever he would come to the aid of a village, or some family, he felt as if he was finally on the right path. He found himself shedding his jaded view of the world with every self-imposed mission.

But then it became more than just helping to eat away at the guilt. Eventually he did it just because. It was like he was finally sure of what he was meant to do. He liked helping out the more forgotten parts of the shinobi world, he felt a sense of camaraderie with the people who lived there, Sasuke was sure they shared some similar feelings.

When he came back to Konoha he intended to once again try to become Hokage, but this time for a better reason, he wanted to make sure there wasn't anyone forgotten within the Land of Fire's borders, there were plenty of smaller villages Konoha could easily help but hadn't. He wanted to change that, after all their village was created to be the protector of the Land of Fire, but it seemed to only focus on the issues of other borders instead of its own.

He slowly came to realize, however, that in the grand scheme of things no one cared about his goals or whether or not he had finally changed, they only saw people as they wanted to, which meant him being Hokage would be a hard task to manage.

Eventually that led to Sasuke becoming even more bitter than before, his pride couldn't let him continue to run around the village like everything was back to what it once was, to allow them to treat him as they wanted.

No one ever let him forget his mistakes despite conveniently forgetting their roles in it all. He felt angry then, like nothing he ever did would be worth it, and soon that anger crept into his goal, he wanted to make sure that the voices of those forgotten would be heard, he wanted the village to finally acknowledge its fault in things as well. His pride then became his shield.

Sasuke frowned as he answered the Hokage's question. "I did. Once."

"And?" Kakashi rose a brow at him expectantly.

Sasuke glanced down and said nothing. If Kakashi wanted to pretend as if his village had nothing to do with anything then he would let him. He knew his teacher already knew the answer to his question.

"Sasuke," Kakashi spoke after a pause, kissing his teeth and shifting back to his seat. "Even after all this time you still let people have the final say."

"Is that what you think?"

The Uchiha looked up at his teacher with a heavy glance, Kakashi met his own gaze with lowered grey brows.

"It's what I know." The older man said. He shook his head and Sasuke took that as his cue that their conversation was ending. "In the end everything is up to you. I told you I won't try to impose myself anymore."

The Uchiha clenched his fists at his side.

Just when it felt like they were finally reaching an understanding.

Turning around, Sasuke didn't even know why he bothered.

"Whatever." He bitterly mumbled over his shoulder. He didn't need his help anyway. He would figure it out by himself, like he always had.

He had been wandering the streets for a while still trying to cool down from his conversation with Kakashi. He didn't know why but this one in particular bothered him the most. Even if his teacher was always frustrating, he had never gotten so open with him before, now the old pervert had gotten underneath his skin.

Sasuke wondered if there was a lesson in there somewhere.

He had passed by the usual merchants he always did on his way home when he felt the warm presence of her chakra near-by. He moved his head searching until he finally caught Hinata. She was sitting alone on a bench near an unlit streetlamp.

His breath stilled as he caught her sitting there underneath the moonlight, which seemed to envelop her beauty within its glow. Even though she was dressed down she still looked breath-taking. She was always mesmerizing to him.

With her hands neatly folded in her lap she absentmindedly prodded her fingers together deep in thought. He wondered what she was thinking about. The look on her face hinted that it wasn't something that made her happy.

His feet were moving of their own volition toward her before he realized and came to a stop. He wasn't sure if he should approach. Clearly, she wanted to be alone, no one else would sit there if they didn't.

She looked so visibly sad that it was weird. Usually, she always pretended not to be when everyone was around but Sasuke knew better. He could spot the insincerity in her smile from the moment he knew who she was.

In the end he decided to approach her. He wasn't surprised when she looked up startled at him, and then put on the same plastic smile she always wore.

"Sasuke-kun!" She breathlessly greeted him. The new familiarity in his name causing his heart race as he willed it to settle down. He still had things to ask her.

"Do you only smile like that when people can see you?" He asked, staring at her intently.

Hinata at least looked somewhat shameful as she blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

"Why do you do it?" He had sat down beside her, turning toward her with a dark brow.

Hinata stayed silent and looked at him for a long while, her pearl eyes seemingly seeing right through him. Sasuke remained still as she did so, until she finally sighed and stopped smiling.

"It's easier that way." Was all she said. And he felt like he understood.

The two of them sat there for a however long, just staring out at the rest of the villagers on the street before them, going about their day as usual.

At her shifting Sasuke glanced down at her, waiting for her to say something. She clutched her hands so tightly in her lap that he was worried, but then when she opened her mouth the worry turned into surprise.

"Why do you even like me?"

Sasuke blinked lamely as her question hung heavy in the air. He didn't even know how to answer it or if he even had one. He just knew that he liked her.

"Do I need a reason?" He asked, genuinely wondering if he did. At his words she seemed to grow even more upset, making him wonder what he said wrong. "Look, I don't understand it either." He admitted, "This is all new to me."

Hinata nodded, as she brought her face down to stare at her lap, her river-like dark hair following as it formed around her perfect face like a curtain.

The conversation wasn't going so well. Sasuke tapped his foot awkwardly as he tried to think of a way to be around her longer. Suddenly he got an idea and stood up. Hinata looked up at him with puzzled reflective eyes as he offered her his hand.

"Wh-"

"Let's get out of here," He said, cutting her off. He emphasized his hand as he looked away in embarrassment.

The seconds seemed to stretch into minutes as he waited on her to take his lead until finally, he felt her dainty hand slip into his. He was thankful that they stood in a darkly lit area as he could feel the tip of his ears heating up. He pulled her closer to his side and then started walking without a word.

Sasuke ignored the whispers of those who recognized them as he continued leading Hinata through the streets and deeper into the lesser populated parts of Konoha. After a little stroll they finally made it to the place.

It was a little bar where he sometimes went when he didn't want to be bothered. It sat closer to the outskirts of Konoha's market center, and so it wasn't overly crowded with shinobi or villagers who would either bother him or make him feel uncomfortable.

Entering with the ding of the bell Sasuke nodded his head at the owner Yuki who looked up from behind the bar. He was a quiet older man who didn't speak and took orders, he also didn't seem to mind him coming in and drinking there. For the most part Sasuke didn't mind him either. He appreciated the way the man ran his business.

Sitting down at one of the empty tables, Sasuke spared a glance at Hinata, sat opposite him, who had taken to looking around the wooden place with wide eyes.

"I come here sometimes…when I can't sleep." Sasuke said. It felt easy speaking to her now that he had laid himself out there. He didn't have to hold back anything now that she knew how much of him he had given to her.

"It's a nice place." Hinata gave him a small but genuine smile to which he found himself smirking back.

In no time at all they had gotten their drinks and some side dishes that he wasn't particularly hungry for. They hadn't said anything in that bit of time and Sasuke could feel the need to confront her gnawing at him.

What Naruto told him earlier was ringing in his head loudly. He knew that there were missing parts in his story that he didn't say. Whether the blond was trying to keep it private or protect someone he didn't know. But she did.

Sasuke waited until she met his eyes once more before speaking.

"I spoke to Naruto."

That sentence seemed to still the air around them.

A beat.

Hinata laughed but it wasn't humorous. "Is that so."

"I asked him to tell me about what happened," Sasuke examined Hinata as she bit at her bottom lip. "Between you two."

Her eyes widened at him, almost fearfully. Despite the strong urge he had to comfort her, Sasuke stood still. His sharp eyes took in every small detail in her face, the way her pale eyes flittered about, to the way she begun to shift uncomfortably in her seat. She was definitely hiding something.

He knew he wasn't entitled to know anything, but it seemed as if she pulled him in just to run away when he finally gave in. None of it was fair to him either.

"Was he mad?" Her mouth was slightly pouty then as she looked ready to cry.

Sasuke bit back his jealousy at her reaction and spared her a pitiful glance. "What do you think?" He leaned back into the wooden booth. "He told me."

Her breathing was shaky now, as her long eyelashes fluttered with each blink.

"What did he tell you?" Hinata asked, she was leaning in closer to him now as her hands on the table turned stark white from the grip she tightly had.

"That you were having nightmares. Ones so real you began to hurt yourself."

His company's cheeks went red, but not out of embarrassment or anger. The Uchiha ran a hand through his hair as he let out a sigh at her more than usual quietness.

"You don't know everything." Hinata said, she seemed to relax as she realized the fact.

"I know that." Sasuke admitted, "So tell me."

At that Hinata let out a small gasp. "I-I can't…"

"You realize how you've involved me in this don't you?" Sasuke couldn't hid his anger, he glowered at Hinata despite what he felt for her. She was making it harder than it had to be.

Hinata nodded her head weakly at him, as his eyes softened despite himself. "I know. I'm sorry."

"Stop saying that. Stop pushing me away after everything."

A tear managed to finally escape her, which she hurriedly wiped away. The Uchiha couldn't help but feel like this scene was familiar. It reminded him of the time they were in the Land of Tea. He felt bitter at the realization.

His fists clenched from where they sat by his sides. She was always crying over that idiot. Always doing something to draw him in and then pushing him away.

He pulled out his wallet and paid for the bill before getting up. He stopped to look over his shoulder, raising a brow to signal his companion should join him. She complied and followed soon after.

As they walked back Sasuke couldn't help but feel like she was getting further away from him. He stuffed his hands into his pockets for warmth as a small wind began to circulate outside.

"If I tell you, you won't look at me the same." Hinata whispered, her voice almost inaudible. They were walking for a while and he had figured she wouldn't say anything for the rest of the night. "I don't think I want that."

Sasuke took that as a small confirmation that she might feel the same. He felt the tension in his shoulders release at the little bit of hopefulness he was desperately holding onto.

"I promise I won't."

"You will." Her voice was louder then, more confident. She looked like her mind was somewhere far away, as a wistful expression crossed her normally straight face. "I'm an awful person."

Sasuke halted his steps and held her arm to get her to stop walking. He noticed a small public garden to the left of them where a small pot of tall sunflowers amongst them caught his eye.

He looked down at the shorter woman beside him, finding her beauty even more enchanting in the glow of the night. He couldn't understand how she could ever think that would be true. Didn't she know how long it had taken him to finally admit what he felt? What it meant when he finally accepted it?

"I highly doubt that." And he meant every word.

She looked up at him with small doe eyes and a frown. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he just settled on memorizing every detail of her face. He noticed the way her straight brows tended to lift upwards whenever she was frustrated.

"You don't understand," She shook her head at him, "Sometimes I feel as though I have blood on my hands."

Sasuke gave her a stern face, unable to shake off his annoyance. "That's the life of shinobi."

"But this blood won't wash off," She wasn't looking at him anymore, but instead at the garden he had noticed earlier. "No matter how hard I try."

Not being able to take anymore of her self-pity, Sasuke titled Hinata's chin to look at him and then reached down to hold her hands. He ran his calloused fingers across the new scars that sat in the center of them, it felt deep, and unlike the rest of her hands which were soft despite her occupation.

His thumbs ran across the scars as he looked at their intertwined hands absentmindedly. He looked up to catch Hinata peering up at him, almost apprehensive.

"You can't just take a sword for me, beg me to pay attention, and then treat me coldly."

He ran his thumb in circles in the palm of her hands, wanting to pull her closer, but keeping a respectful distance.

Hinata gave him a small smile. "It's better this way."

Pulling her hands away she moved to walk away until his voice filled the silence between them.

"There's no amount of pain I can't understand." He focused his attention on the sunflowers and then turned to look at her as she remained faced away from him.

Despite his words she didn't turn around.

"I know, that's why I approached you." Even in the dim light he could see how her back grew rigid. She was bracing herself to hurt him. "But I was being selfish, so just forget about me."

He kept his features still as she continued walking but as soon as her silhouette slipped further away from his view, he allowed the grimace he was holding back to form. He felt as if his chest was constricting.

Why?

Why couldn't she see, that for him it wasn't that easy?

He walked in his house to find Suigetsu sprawled on the floor with heaps of paper around him. Not in the mood to see his place messy Sasuke let out an irritated sigh.

Looking up from whatever he was reading Suigetsu gave him a nod, "Hey."

Sasuke motioned toward the mess on his floor, with a scowl. "What's all this?"

"Your Hokage sent it over," The swordsman explained. He dumbly smiled at his host as if sensing the lecture he was about it get. "It's all the information the village has on The Abyss, so far."

With his interest piqued Sasuke redirected his energy and sat down beside Suigetsu who handed him a drink.

"Where'd you go?" He asked.

Taking a long sip of the alcohol, the Uchiha reached for one of the papers. "Doesn't matter."

They split the documents between them and read over them for well over two hours, barely making a dent. Sasuke made sure to gather as much information as he needed to. From what he could find, The Abyss were once a mercenary group who took on…unsavoury missions from the shinobi villages. He wondered what that had to do with Taka as it seemed they halted all operations to focus on taking him and them down.

Suigetsu frowned as he read over a file, his already tired eyes seemed to droop even more than usual as he caught himself from swaying into the coffee table positioned at his back.

Looking at the man Sasuke rolled his eyes and poked him none too kindly. "You should get some rest."

"No way!" The white-haired nin shook his head, his unnecessarily loud voice causing Sasuke to wince in irritation. "We've got to get through this pile."

"I can do it."

"So can I."

Glaring at the aggravating shinobi Sasuke spared himself the argument and picked up another folder from his pile. He didn't particularly care for any of the files he read through, most of them were full of trivial information that he could do nothing with. He was half-way bored out of his mind until his eyes came across a picture that triggered his sense of recognition. It was a man with lilac hair and a scar that sat on his right cheek. Though the photo was blurry Sasuke couldn't recall having ever met the person even though the face looked somewhat familiar.

He searched the back and front of the photo for any explanation as to who it was but could find nothing at all. Sparing another glance at Suigetsu he could see that the man was too preoccupied reading through his own pile to notice his fixation.

Swiftly, he pocketed the photo before the swordsman noticed, determined to figure out how he knew the man in it on his own.

Sasuke realized that this was now two pieces of information he kept for himself, including the demon sword he hadn't bothered to give Kakashi. He didn't know why but his intuition was telling him there was more to The Abyss' goals than just destroying Taka. Sometimes he felt as though they were solely targeting him.

He didn't know why, but he felt as if he'd find himself in a situation where he'd need that evidence. It wasn't wrong if he turned out to be right, and for the most part he always was. Mostly.

They had read a few more before calling it a night, Suigetsu heading straight to bed and Sasuke, of course, staying downstairs to clean up the mess. He couldn't even find it in himself to be mad at the man, instead he was more annoyed with himself for not seeing it coming.

Finished, he made his way to the kitchen for a drink of water when Karin entered with a yawn.

"Sasuke…" She stretched out her arms and blinked slowly. It was one of those few times when she wasn't wearing her glasses, sometimes they appeared to be glued to her face. "Did you just come back?"

Though it wasn't her business he spared her an answer, "No."

"Oh." She replied. She stood there with messy red hair as her crimson eyes scrutinized him for a while before shaking her head. "Anyway I left some food for you in case you hadn't eaten."

"Thanks."

"Uhm."

Sasuke let out a cautionary breath through his nose. He knew that she was dying to say something, which if she was, he'd rather she'd just do it then beat around the bush. His black eyes pinned her own as a wash of colour came over her.

"Spit it out Karin."

"I just…" Clearing her throat the kunoichi darted her focus to the ceiling before continuing. "I know. About your teammate."

He took a slow, deliberate drink. He wasn't exactly what to say. He tried to avoid a conversation like this between them for weeks.

In the end he settled on a murmured, "Is that so?"

"I didn't mean to," Karin's voice was higher now, as she found herself clearly in a panic. "It's just that the first time she had come over I noticed a difference in your chakra, usually it's…heavier, but that day, it became warm."

"My chakra?"

She shook her hands in front of herself as the colour in her face grew as deep as her hair.

"It wasn't on purpose! I swear! You know I can't control sensing chakra. Usually I'll just ignore it but recognizing yours…is an old habit of mine, that sometimes I'll still do it absentmindedly."

Sasuke knew she was telling the truth. He could see how it was somewhat his fault, he always did make her use the ability during that time.

"I see."

"I didn't understand it then, but…" She pursed her lips. "It started becoming a normal thing whenever you would go on missions. I thought that maybe your chakra was just changing, then that day you returned from that recon mission your charka was back to normal. I knew she was in the hospital that time. That's when I knew."

Dark brows furrowed as Sasuke took in her words. She knew for that long?

"Why didn't you say anything?" He was frowning now.

"I knew you felt uncomfortable talking about it with me."

"So then why tell me this now?"

She turned her face away, "I know you saw her today." She admitted. "You always feel different when you do. I don't mean to pry, but did something happen?"

His face lit up in surprise at her question. Dumbly he tried to regain his composure as she watched him with those knowing eyes of hers.

"Why?"

"It's just…you felt different this time, like something did."

The Uchiha cursed her sensory abilities then as he knew he wouldn't be able to deny it, she would just know he was lying. It was funny, the very same ability he used to use for his own benefit was now giving him a hard time.

"It doesn't matter."

"Sasuke, you've helped me a lot. If there's anything I can do to help just let me know. I know sometimes you can be a little…"

He glared at her daring her to finish her sentence and causing her to trail off her original thought.

"...A little guarded. Maybe try being nicer."

Shutting his eyes tightly Sasuke's entire chest puffed upward in annoyance. He didn't feel like talking about it at all, especially not with her. Also, he was somewhat insulted that she just assumed whatever happened was his fault.

"I don't need your help Karin." He grimaced, not thankful in the least for her so called 'helpfulness'. "You should focus on yourself. Like figuring out where you'll be staying when this is over."

"Sas-"

"I'm serious."

"But's that's not what I-"

"Take the hint."

He reached over to clean his cup, ignoring the hurt and look of concern that flashed on Karin's face, before taking his exit to his room. Before he could reach the stairs however the knocking on his door halted his footsteps.

With a snarl he stalked towards his door, prepared to let whoever dared to not only cross his property, but also disturb him this late at night have it. His anger dissipated however as soon as he saw who it was.

Standing there looking just as pained as she did earlier, was Hinata.

He turned behind him to see Karin emerging from the kitchen not the least bit surprised. Was she trying to warn him earlier?

Hinata curious, tried to peer over his shoulder. Quickly he gave Karin a look and closed the door behind him. Stepping out on his front porch he crossed his arms as he regarded the woman before him with slight dissatisfaction.

"What're you doing here?" he asked, watching as she shuffled her feet around before daring to look at him.

"I…I didn't like the way our conversation ended." She looked up at him apologetically with those opaline eyes of hers and he felt himself giving into her once more. He wondered then, if he would ever be able to stay mad at her.

"Hinata…" he whispered her name so gently, so delicately as he looked at her. It wasn't a good idea for her to come there so late, he felt the pull to move in closer toward her.

"Sasuke-kun," she voiced. Her eyelashes fanned her cheek as she looked down at the ground. "You're right. I do owe you an explanation." She faced him then, it was a cautious but sure expression.

His heart spurred at her words, the beat of it increasing.

"Then…"

She nodded her head. "I'll tell you. Everything." Her lips pursed as she seemed to grow more nervous. Sasuke wasn't sure what to expect. "This is the only way. In the end, you won't want me anyway."

He felt indignation at the thought. Was she only doing this to push him away?

"I already told you." He reiterated, wondering when she was finally going to believe him. "I won't."

"Are you sure you can promise that?"

She was fragile right then. He could tell. Her mouth quivered as she regarded him with a hopefulness that he was sure she tried so desperately to hide.

He didn't hesitate then, he moved closer toward her and finally gave into his instincts to pull her close. As they stood there underneath the night sky, her breathing growing shallow in his arms and their hearts beating loudly across their chests, Sasuke hummed deep in his throat.

"Yes."