Chapter 8

Guests and Other Annoyances

"What about this one?" Hinata lifted one of the cameras from the display case and held it out towards Sasuke for his inspection. He barely glanced at it before he shook his head. Hinata sighed, placing the rejected device back onto the glass top.

They had arrived at the picturesque little boutique over an hour earlier, having stopped for a quick cup of coffee before moving on to camera shopping. Hinata had been certain that selecting a new camera wouldn't take very long, but that was before Sasuke had taken over her shopping.

Not that she didn't appreciate his advice-it was his career, after all. It was just that he was so...particular. As long as she could point it and get a decent picture, she would be content, but he had seemed almost insulted by that suggestion, so she had demurely deferred to his selection process. Besides, she was still grateful for him taking her into the village.

She had not planned on taking Temari's suggestion and asking him, instead planning to call a cab, but he had somehow heard that she was in need-Itachi, if Hinata had to guess-and he had offered to take her.

"I have my own stuff to do," he'd told her when she'd balked "It's no big deal."

So she went, and was once more surprised at how nice it was to be around him. It bothered her, more than a little, to realize that she had formed some pretty unfavorable biases towards him-without ever really knowing him.

Not that he was always pleasant, she mused, as she contemplated another camera. He switched from hot to cold so often and so quick it made her head spin, and he was less than polite to most anyone they met or that tried to speak to him.

She really couldn't pin his personality down, she realized, but she did know that she liked their time together and she wasn't sure she should. He made her want things that she hadn't wanted in a very long time.

"Oh, this one looks nice," she said, picking up another, pulling herself from her thoughts.

"Hnh." Sasuke moved closer, taking the camera from her and turning it over in his hand, hefting the weight. "It's an okay build, but not anything of quality, and the lens leaves much to be desired."

"Oh, okay." She let out another soft sigh, the strands of her dark hair billowing in front of her forehead, and resumed her perusal of the remaining cameras. The only ones left were well out of her price range, she thought, biting her lip. Maybe if she budgeted really carefully next month, she could afford one…

"Here." Sasuke picked up a display model she had been covertly eying, handed it to her. "This one." The camera was large but not heavy with a wide digital viewscreen and customizable lenses. It could be upgraded, or stand as it was. It was a model he had used before and felt confident endorsing he told her.

"Oh, uhm…" Hinata gave the price tag a look, tried to keep her mouth from dropping open. She had no idea that camera prices could be so high. " I don't think…"

Sasuke ignored her, motioning for the clerk to join them-a slim man with thinning hair that Sasuke had told to "Go away and stay away" upon their arrival. And as such, the man approached the counter with a fair amount of hesitancy, his lips twitching beneath his faint moustache. "Sir?"

"This one." He motioned to the camera in Hinata's hands. "Also that leather case," he pointed, "and two spare straps. Oh, and these." He slid additional lenses across the countertop, giving the man's name tag a look. "And quickly. Donald."

"Excellent choices." The clerk, Donald, nodded, flashing his teeth in a well practiced, plastic smile.

Sasuke rolled his eyes. The man wouldn't know excellent camera choices from a Kodak disposable.

"Sasuke," Hinata shook her head, reaching across the counter to halt the packaging of the items. "I can't afford-"

"On the Uchiha account." Sasuke ignored her again, placing his own hand atop hers, drawing it back. To her surprise he left it clasped within his own, casually threading his fingers between hers as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Hinata felt heat creep along her neck, infusing her cheeks. She gave their linked hands a glance before turning her attention back to the salesman-who was happily ignoring her protest in favor of the hefty commission. "Sir-"

"Hinata." Sasuke turned towards her, frustration evident on his face. "Do you not like the camera?"

"No, it's not that," she quickly assured him. "It's just that, well...I may not be able to pay you back for some time-"

He shrugged, some tension leaving his shoulders. "Then don't."

"Excuse me?"

"Pay me back."

"Sasuke, I can't accept such an expensive gift-"

"It's not a gift."

She blinked. "Uhm, oh?" Hadn't he just said she wouldn't be paying him back?

Sasuke sighed, tugging her a few steps away from the counter and lowering his voice. "It's not a gift, or charity, okay? Your things were ruined in the wreck, and seeing as how you saved my life, it's the least I can do." He smirked, one corner of his mouth turning up, revealing what could very well be a dimple, if he ever smiled wide enough and distracting Hinata with it. "I assure you, I find my life far more valuable than a few trinkets and some clothes."

"Oh, well, thank you." She couldn't really argue with that, she supposed. She paused. "Wait. Clothes?"

He nodded. "It's next on the list."

"There's a list?" She blinked again, her eyes luminous in the afternoon sunlight as she scrunched her nose and made a face.

She was genuinely adorable, Sasuke thought suddenly. Naruto hadn't been wrong about that. He cleared his throat, forcibly shaking away the urge to kiss her nose. Her nose, for fuck's sake.

Hinata chewed her lip, probably debating on how to best refuse without sounding ungrateful.

"I'm afraid I have to insist, Hyuuga." Sasuke said solemnly, cutting off the protest before it began. "Refuse and you risk hurting my feelings."

Hinata slanted him a look, trying to determine if he was serious or teasing, and a brief flicker of...something...passed between them when their eyes met, neither looking away for the span of several heartbeats.

Sasuke felt static charged, in a way he never had before. He practically thrummed, but was also oddly soothed at the same time. She was an odd cocktail on his senses, that was for damn sure, and he was far from comfortable with it, but he was also pretty helpless to stop it, apparently. It wasn't until the clerk cleared his throat that the moment was broken. Sasuke wasn't sure if he wanted to thank the man or punch him.

"Well?" Sasuke prodded, giving her fingers a light squeeze.

"All right," she agreed slowly, apparently deciding that it would just be easier than arguing. He was quite stubborn. She smiled politely at the clerk, then brightly at him. "Thank you, Sasuke."

He shrugged, taking the bags. "Don't mention it." He leaned down, giving up any pretense of fighting with his urges where she was concerned, and pressed a quick kiss to the tip of her nose before turning his gaze to his watch, ignoring the flush on both of their faces. "Ready?"

Wide-eyed, she nodded, following him out.

Clothes shopping was far quicker. Hinata had simple tastes and Sasuke had opted out of helping with her wardrobe selections, declaring it tedious. Instead, he gave her his credit card, demanded that she use it, and went off to run his own errands, agreeing to meet her back at the corner in two hours.

As much as she was actually enjoying his company she was grateful for some time alone. The past couple of days had been nothing shy of chaotic and she was still a bit shaken by everything. The wedding, the accident, Sasuke- especially Sasuke.

She shook her head at her reflection in the shop window and let out a breath that plumed white. Never in her wildest, most secret imaginings, had she ever even considered Sasuke Uchiha as anything other than Naruto's best friend. But after a mere two days she was...she was...another sigh. She didn't know what she was. Over her head, that was for sure.

Not since Naruto had anyone made her face flame or her pulse pound so hard it hurt to breathe. If she was honest with herself, no one had ever captured her interest with conversation like Sasuke did, not even Naruto. He spoke without a lot of flourish, but intelligently and with detail, and he listened when she spoke-asked questions and engaged her.

Of course, as scintillating as his conversation was, there was also the way he felt herself flush just recalling the silky heat of his lips-the way he slanted his mouth-the fever he raised with the skillful stroke of his tongue.

Gods above, she was in so much trouble. She needed to take a step back; focus. The last thing she needed to do was to fall too fast and too deep for Sasuke Uchiha. She would be polite. She would be a friend. But that was as far as it would go. No more kissing and holding hands. She nodded her head at her reflection.

Newly resolved she straightened her shoulders and resumed her shopping.

Precisely two hours from the time she was dropped off Hinata stood beneath a lamppost with fat snowflakes falling in her hair and her shopping bags at her feet. Sasuke arrived within minutes and when she slid into the passenger seat he greeted her with hot cocoa and a kiss on the cheek, and all of her carefully constructed resolve crumbled to the ground.

Back at the estate, Sasuke noticed that several expensive cars were now parked in the large circular driveway. He let out a long breath, fingers flexing on the steering wheel as they approached the main gate. He had known more guests were do to arrive-family and close friends-but that didn't mean he was eager to mingle with any of them.

He sent a sideways glance towards Hinata, who was worrying her bottom lip with her front teeth, her pale gaze also settled on the influx of new cars. Sasuke strongly debated swinging around and driving as far away as he could-but then he'd be disappointing Itachi, and that was simply out of the question. He also briefly considered how much of an ass would he be if he just dropped Hinata at the doors and drove off-leaving her to carry her bags and face the newcomers on her own while he drank himself into a suitable stupor to deal with this shit.

Well, not on her own...Temari would be there… His grip tightened again, and he found himself strongly considering it...but then another glance at Hinata revealed her lips pressed tight now and a pinched look of determination on her face. Sasuke sighed. Well, shit. If she could face them, then he supposed he could too.

They had barely pulled up to the steps when Hinata's door was pulled open and a handsome young man with a red vest offered his hand.

Sasuke snorted, rolling his eyes. He knew Itachi hadn't hired valets, so that left his father. The man was nothing if not showy with their wealth.

"Oh, uhm, th-thank you." Hinata took the proffered hand, slipping from the car.

Sasuke exited the vehicle, almost amused by the second valet's expression the moment he recognized him.

"Oh, Mr. Uchiha, sir. Didn't realize it was you…" He trailed off, gaze darting to the silver BMW. Though dressy, it was definitely not Sasuke's style of car.

Sasuke ignored the man, moving around the car towards Hinata. The first valet had yet to let go of her hand, and for some reason that irritated Sasuke. "She has items in the trunk. See that they're delivered to her room."

"I can get-" Her words were cut off when Sasuke placed his hand in the small of her back, ushering her towards the front doors and away from the moon-eyed valet.

Hinata took a deep breath-her nerves were already in shambles at the idea of conversing with so many strangers, but they went completely haywire the moment she felt the heat of Sasuke's hand, even through her thick jacket.

"Don't think I'm letting you skip out on this under the pretense of taking care of your stuff," Sasuke said in a manner that she had come to recognize as him teasing, striding them through the threshold.

"Ah! There he is now!" Mikoto's voice sang out from the long corridor, her gaze sweeping over him and lighting up when she spotted Hinata. Hinata blinked at the radiant smile in confusion, but before she could question it, Sasuke had them moving towards the duo near the large stairwell.

"Let the circus begin," Sasuke muttered. Straightening he inclined his head. "I wasn't aware you were expecting me, Mother."

Mikoto flashed him a smile that held an edge of warning, but it loosened a bit when she looked at Hinata. "It's good to see that you take your mother's advice every once in awhile," she murmured. Then, "Sasuke, you remember your cousin Shisui." Mikoto gestured.

Hinata turned and found herself staring at a very handsome man with a kind smile. He wasn't much older than she was, she surmised, but he held himself with a casual ease that spoke of maturity, responsibility, and power.

Sasuke nodded, removing his hand from Hinata's back to extend forward.

"It's been awhile," Shisui said, clasping Sasuke's hand. "Itachi says you've been traveling."

Sasuke nodded, his posture relaxing. Whoever this Shisui was, Sasuke liked him. Almost as much as Itachi. "I get around," Sasuke replied.

"I know. I've heard the rumors," Shisui chuckled, earning a slight narrowing of eyes from Mikoto.

Peering past Sasuke, and deftly ignoring the warning glare, Shisui noticed Hinata for the first time. He gave her a once over, causing her to become acutely aware that she was still wearing ill fitting borrowed clothes and an oversized jacket. She sighed inwardly, almost amused, because what else had she really expected? Being around the Uchihas was like being surrounded by stark perfection, and well...she wasn't perfect, and she was never going to be. Tilting her chin, she met Shisui's eyes squarely and held out her own hand. "Hinata Hyuuga," she introduced.

Shisui blinked once at the name, but otherwise his expression didn't change from open and friendly. "Your date?" He asked Sasuke, as he took her hand.

"N-no," Hinata answered for him, shaking her head, a bright blush staining her cheeks. "I'm Temari's Maid of Honor."

"Well, in that case, it is indeed a pleasure," Shisui murmured, giving her a wink, and with flourish turned her hand palm up and placed a kiss dead center.

"Shameless," Mikoto swatted his shoulder.

"Guilty." Shisui, smirked, dropping her hand and glancing at Sasuke. Whatever he saw caused his smirk to widen to a full grin. He turned back to Hinata. "Oh, darling, you are so mistaken…"

"If you're done flirting," Sasuke cut in. "We've just returned from town. I'm sure Hinata would like to freshen up-"

"She looks delightfully fresh to me-"

"Shisui," A new voice called from the stairs.

"Ah…" Shisui straightened, flashed a grin at Hinata again before turning towards the new arrival. "Here would be my date. Sasuke, I believe you've met Mei before?"

On the stairs, a woman dressed in a long dark blue dress paused, her vibrant green gaze sweeping over them. She was stunning, Hinata thought. Tall and poised, the woman looked like she'd just stepped out of a fashion magazine.

Beside Hinata, Sasuke let out a small groan, that distinctly sounded like the word 'fuck' before answering, "We've met," his voice inflectionless.

Mei smiled at that, sharp, and pointed. "Met is one way to put it."

Sasuke sighed, hand carding his hair, his attention reverting to his mother. "Like I said, we've just got back-if you'll excuse us."

Sasuke turned, catching Hinata's hand in his own. "Yes, us," he snapped over his shoulder, tugging her along behind him. Confused, she could do nothing but follow as Mikoto called after them not to take too long and Shisui burst into laughter.

"Sasuke?"

He kept right on marching. Out the front door, down the stairs, across the drive, towards the path to the cottages.

"Sasuke."

Nothing.

Hinata dug her heels in. "Sasuke!"

He turned, eyes snapping. "What?"

She swallowed. He looked pissed...but also really handsome, with his cheeks flushed and eyes sparking. She cleared her throat, gestured back towards the main house with her free hand. "Uhm, my room is in there…"

At this he seemed to deflate a bit, and then, "Well, shit."

Gently, but deftly, Hinata removed her hand from his. As much as she would love to run away and not go back in there with all those flawless people, she knew Temari would be finished with the florist soon. "I...I'll see you later." She turned and jogged back the way they'd left.

Sasuke watched her go inside before he turned on his heel to continue his trek-deliberately ignoring how cold and empty his hand felt without hers in it.

Fuck, he was pathetic.