Siren's Call
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys. I know this chapter is "late" for me, but I got into some writer's block with this one. I do have other Hinata x Sasuke stories going for those that are interested. Anyway, let's see if we can't get this one going again. If you have anything you'd like to see for this or another story, feel free to leave your suggestion in a review or a private message. If it is for a new story, I do mention your name before the story starts, unless you don't want me to. (It's important to give credit and site your sources lol.) Please enjoy this chapter.
Chapter Six
Sasuke discovered something about himself that day. He surprisingly enjoyed cuddling. It did seem to go against his fundamental nature. Maybe he only enjoyed it with Hinata. Sasuke decided it was acceptable to do so, as long as a certain loudmouthed blonde didn't find out about his newest habit. Naruto would never let him hear the end of it, if he found out Sasuke was a cuddler.
He wasn't sure. It had been a long time since he had held anyone or been held by anyone else. The last person he could remember that had done so without it having been during or after a life or death situation, was his mother.
"I'm not going anywhere." He reassures her and runs his hands along her back soothingly.
Hinata definitely was not his mother though. There was a big difference between a familial embrace and that of your lover. Well she wasn't his lover. But close enough. They would probably be lovers soon. He hoped so anyway. He had YEARS of suppressed hormones to get out of his system.
"Good." She says and snuggles further into him.
"Where's the Princess?" He asks.
Sasuke immediately regretted it. Uh oh the Byakugan activated. Unlike the Sharingan, he was pretty sure that the Byakugan only activated when a Hyuga was pissed or preparing for battle. Shit! This was so not good. He needed to think fast.
"She's fine." Hinata says icily.
Yeah this was bad. Hinata didn't do icy. He'd walked right into that one. Damn. It was nice to know that Hinata cared about him enough to get jealous. It really was. But at the same time he wasn't all that eager to have his chakra points locked up if she really got carried away. Yeah, that definitely wasn't his idea of a good time.
"We are still on a mission. It's our job to protect her. That's the only reason I asked." Sasuke says.
"Oh I know. Can't we just toss her into the ocean and pretend she fell overboard?" Hinata asks.
"HINATA!" Sasuke says aghast.
"It happens all the time." She continues.
"Who are you and what have you done with my innocent Hinata?" He chuckles.
"I'm the same person. I just don't like her." The Hyuga replies.
Sasuke decided Hinata had her own language. When she said, I don't like this person…what she really meant is, I hate this bitch. If I am given any opportunity to scratch her eyes out, I'm going to do it. He vaguely wondered if maybe it was a Hyuga thing. He pushes that thought the side to be examined later.
"Yeah. I noticed." He chuckles.
"You're laughing at me." Hinata huffs and blushes.
"No. No. I'm not laughing at you. It's just I've never seen this side of you before. It's flattering really." He says and pulls her even closer.
"Sasuke, how are you feeling?" The Princess asks as she walks inside the room.
"Better. Dizzy. But better. How far are we from your island?" He replies.
"We should be docking in a few minutes." She answers.
Hinata was not happy to see the princess to put it mildly. But she was in Saskue's lap. If that didn't drive the message home, she didn't know what would. Hopefully the hussy would find someone else to harass.
"How long will the celebration last?" Sasuke continues.
"The entire day." She answers.
On one hand, Hinata was happy that they only had to put up with her for one day. On the other, they had come all this way just to watch her for a day?! Sasuke had nearly died for a one day celebration?! That was fucking insane. She was going to give the Hokage a piece of her mind when she got home.
"Good." He says as the ship suddenly stops moving.
"Are you well enough to walk around?" Hinata asks in concern for her boyfriend. (She really needed a better way to describe their relationship. Boyfriend still seemed so tame.)
"I'll be fine. I've suffered worse. Besides, I have you to take care of me. I'm thinking of maybe getting you one of those sexy nurse outfits." Sasuke adds with a smirk.
"SASUKE!" Hinata squeaks and blushes madly.
"You looked damn good in the apron." He continues.
"I told you that she was too vanilla to satisfy you." The Princess informs him.
"Just shut up. She could easily kill you." Sasuke warns the Princess to shut up before Hinata attacked.
"She wouldn't dare attack a Queen." She answers.
"Don't tempt her." Sasuke warns and follows the princess, while holding onto Hinata's hand.
Once inside, Sasuke was surprised. The castle was rather grand for a relatively small island nation. Apparently the island was wealthy due to the valuable medicinal herbs that grew on it and a thriving seafood export business.
"There have to be hundreds of people here." Hinata muses.
"Which means there's a great chance for another attack." Sasuke says.
There was some type of incense in the air. It ensnared the senses. The music was classical, yet had an unmistakable erotic quality to it. Most of the people in the room wear wearing far less than they would have in a more conservative village like the Leaf. The women in some cases might as well have been wearing bikinis. The men weren't much better off. Sasuke felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb in his Jonin uniform. Hinata seemed to feel the same way, if her squirming was anything to go by.
"Feels like it's supposed to be an orgy." Hinata mutters to Sasuke under her breath.
"Yeah." He answers.
The Princess soon heads to the stage. There was a beautiful tiara. The crowd was watching. Sasuke and Hinata were watching like a hawk. Hinata might not like her, but they were after all still on a mission. Sasuke knew that something was going to happen. You don't send assassins on the ship and not have a backup plan if they failed.
Sasuke privately had to admit that the scene was like something straight out of a fairytale. The ceremony was beautiful and elaborate. A few hours pass and he started to think that maybe whoever was targeting the princess, really was that stupid. Maybe they didn't have a backup plan after all.
Just as everyone was about to go to bed. That's when they struck. There had to be about a dozen of them. Sasuke guessed they were at least Jonin judging by how fast they were. He to scramble to get by the princess in time and prevent an assassination.
BAM! WHAM! SMACK. CRACK! The sounds of fists meeting could be heard throughout the room. The mostly civilian crowd could only look upon in horror as Hinata and Sasuke faced off against the attackers.
"You'd think they could actually, I don't know…HELP." Sasuke says as he hurls a Chidori into one of the men.
"They know that they'd only get killed." Hinata says and goes after one of the attacks with a chakra blocking move.
That was when one of the men mounted a sneak attack on Hinata from behind. He slammed a kunai into Hinata's back and she cries out. That caused Sasuke to see red.
He snarls in rage and charges at the backstabber. Sasuke unsheathes his sword and slashes the man in half. That was…unsatisfying. He should have drawn the bastard's death out more. But he had more important things to worry about. Hinata.
"Are you okay?" He asks and rushes over to her.
"Better than he is." Hinata says dryly but winces.
"I imagine so. Come on. Let's get you to a doctor." Sasuke says and flits her off to the medical ward.
"She's lucky. The attacker missed her heart by an inch. It's deep. But it's not a mortal wound, unless it gets infected." The medic says after getting a look at Hinata's back.
"Would she be able to travel?" Sasuke asks.
"Yes. But no combat. Change these bandages regularly. Apply disinfectant. The standard things." He advises.
"Looks like I get to play doctor, this time." Sasuke says.
Hinata blushes. Her mind was now primed for innuendos after being around that slutty princess for a few days. Yeah. It was her fault. Hinata was not a pervert.
"I didn't mean it like that. But maybe after your back is better…" Sasuke says slyly.
Hinata's only response was a squeak. Yep, she was back to being a kitten. Oh well. She needed to rest anyway.
Hinata is taken to the ship and placed in one of the cabins to rest. Sasuke was speaking with the doctor, while she was settled in. He was telling Sasuke how often the bandages would need changed.
It was all fairly common sense. He'd certainly had enough kunai related injuries to know how to tend to them. But still, it was better to listen to a professional anyway. Sasuke was many things, a medic was not one of them.
"You both saved my life twice. My country will not forget this." The Princess says, as she had headed to the ship to see them off.
"It was our job. We wouldn't be very good bodyguards if we had allowed you to die." Sasuke states offhandedly.
"Well if you ever tire of her. You know where to find me. Or if you can convince her to…expand her horizons." She offers.
"That's not going to happen. But noted. You should probably go. I don't think she's feeling very…pleasantly disposed towards you." He informs the sultry princess.
"Of course. Safe journey home." She says and heads off.
Sasuke nods and heads inside the cabin once the doctor leaves. He didn't like that she had gotten injured at all. He REALLY didn't like it that it had happened while he was there. He was supposed to protect her. Well at least he had sent that fucker straight to Hell. Sasuke still was sulking a bit that he hadn't been able to give him a more painful death.
"How are you feeling?" He asks and sits on the bed by her.
"A bit sore. But I'll be fine." She reassures him.
"Good. I'm sorry. I should have protected you, better." Sasuke says and rests his head on her shoulder.
"Sasuke, it wasn't your fault. These things happen on missions. Besides, I'm fine. The man who attacked me…isn't." She smiles at him.
"Yeah." He says and inhales her scent.
"What did you mean earlier? When you were talking about rocks." She asks.
"Oh that. I'm not sure if it was just the poison that caused me to hallucinate or if I actually saw them." He answers.
He bites his lower lip. Had it really happened? Had he inadvertently crossed over into the realm of the dead? Or was it all just the product of the poison in his system and his subconscious latching onto comforting images while his brain shut down? He didn't know.
"Saw who?" She asks innocently.
"My family." He replied simply.
"Sasuke, your family is dead. You couldn't have seen them." The bluenette states logically.
"I know. But I think I was dead too. That or close enough too it. I don't know if it was just the drug or not. But I saw them. I was a kid again Hinata." He tells her.
"Did they say anything to you?" She asks curiously.
"Yes. Mostly that they missed me. My father said I was taller than him." Sasuke smirks at this.
' "Were you?" She asks with a laugh.
"Once I was back in my current body, a little yeah. Only an inch or two. He noticed though. Itachi said it wasn't my time. I heard you. I felt you. That's why I came back. I probably would have stayed if it wasn't for you." He tells her.
Sasuke decided to keep the whole grandchildren comment away from Hinata for the time being. Their relationship was so new. She was easily embarrassed.
He might follow his mother's advice though. Maybe he should get her flowers or something. At the very least, it could be a reward for not killing the Princess.
"I'm glad you got to see them again, whether it was real or not. It doesn't matter if it brought you some peace." She says with a smile and kisses his cheek.
"Yeah. At least I know they are happy, wherever they are." He answers and kisses the top of her head.
"That's what is important." She agrees.
"Speaking of happy…" Sasuke trails off.
"What is it?" She questions.
"After you are better of course…but about that sexy nurse outfit." Sasuke begins.
"You are unbelievable!" Hinata blushes scarlet and hurls a pillow at him.
"So is that a no then?" He asks, laughing.
"Who knew you were such, such a pervert?!" Hinata squeaks.
"You bring it out in me." Sasuke says with a shrug.
A few days later, they were back in the Leaf. Sasuke escorts Hinata back to the Hyuga Estate. He didn't really like the thought of letting her out of his sight. But he reasoned that no one would take better care of her than her own family. (Except for him of course, but let's not quibble.)
"Thank you for bringing her back to us." Hiashi says.
Sasuke nods. He assumed that Hiashi wasn't up to date on the local gossip. If he was, the last Uchiha figured that Hiashi would have had something to say about the Kiss Assault that he'd launched on Hinata during the Rookie Nine Vacation.
"It's doing much better than it was. But the medic says to change the bandages twice daily for another week and to use disinfectant." Sasuke tells him.
"Of course. Thank you." Hiashi says in a way that informs Sasuke, You are dismissed.
Sasuke took one last glance at Hinata and heads off. He knew better than to stay after such a dismissal. It would make Hiashi suspicious. He'd rather not have to force Hinata to deal with an overprotective father while she was recovering from her injury.
Hiashi raises an eyebrow at Sasuke's retreating back. He had seen that. That look was unmistakable.
The dark haired man had looked back at Hinata in concern. More concern than he would have expected Sasuke to have for an injured comrade. Hiashi was of the opinion that if Sasuke felt any concern for a comrade on the battlefield, it would be minimal.
"I do believe that you must have had quite the eventful trip. Come. We shall have tea and discuss what unfolded." Hiashi says and his kimono billows around him regally as he heads to the dojo.
"Come we shall have tea," was Hiashiese for, "We need to talk." Her father was never one just to socialize. If he asked you, no demanded, that you join him for tea. It was for good reason. Hinata gulps. She was in trouble. Big trouble.
She follows her father. The Hyuga Heiress couldn't help but wonder just how badly she was screwed. More importantly, how badly was Sasuke screwed. Hiashi Hyuga was not a man to be taken lightly.
"Tell me what happened between you and him." Hiashi says as he pours the tea.
"What do you mean?" Hinata asks and thanks her father for the tea.
"I saw that look Hinata. I recognize it. I used to be the one who gave it. I worried greatly for your mother while she was on missions. Every cut she received, I fussed over in a manner which was…ill befitting of my station." He informs her.
"Father, please don't interrogate him." Hinata whines.
"Ah ha! So is there is something that happened which would be worthy of interrogation." He states, pleased with himself.
"A few stolen kisses." She answered.
Stolen had been right. Sasuke had just taken what she wanted. She felt her face heat up at the memory of what happened at that resort. She really should have asked what kind of wine he had been drinking that night. But it had slipped her mind.
"This is most unexpected. I would have thought carnal desires were now beneath him. He has certainly never seemed interested in anyone in the village. And these kisses, you were…they were consensual?" He demands to know. (Ninja god or not, if he forced his daughter into anything against her will, he was a dead Uchiha walking!)
"Yes, they were." She answers blushing.
Blushing meant they were consensual. If she had been forced into it, a blush would not be the proper response to such a situation. Well that was a relief at least.
"And do you plan to continue this…relationship?" He asks.
"Yes." She answers.
"Well Hinata, you are a grown woman now. If you desire to be with him and it is mutual, I won't oppose it. I would urge caution. He is very dangerous. Uchiha men are also…how do I put this delicately?" Hiashi muses.
"Uchiha men are also what?" Hinata asks.
"Notoriously possessive lovers. Play with fire and sometimes you will get burned. Then there is the matter of physical capability. He might be more…rough than he should. Sasuke might not even intentionally set out to hurt you. But his default method of being is lethal. I am not entirely certain that he would even know how to be gentle at this point. Are you certain that you know what you are getting yourself into?" Her father asks.
Hinata was about to say that she liked possessive. It meant that he cared. That he wanted her. But she manages to stop herself. She definitely wasn't going to reveal that to her father.
"He wouldn't hurt me and I know him. I understand what it means to be with him. He's not…like what he portrays himself as. He can be gentle. The anger is just how he protects himself. On the inside, he's just sad. He lost everything." Hinata says.
"Very well. Do not say that I didn't warn you." Hiashi tells her.
"I won't." She reassures him.
Sasuke meanwhile decides to stretch his legs. He walked around the village. Normally, the villagers were torn between awe and fear of him.
Today though, they were whispering. These weren't the usual whispers though. Normally those consisted of whether or not the villagers thought Sasuke might snap and become the next Madara. These were more…speculative.
"Do you really think it's true?" One of the civilians ask.
"That they were found in a lovers' embrace at the resort? I don't know. They are so different and Sasuke Uchiha doesn't strike me as a man who would engage in such displays." Another answers.
"He might. The Uchiha Clan used to be known as being rather affectionate in public with each other. I remember when he was a boy and would ride on his brother's back." An elderly civilian chimes in. (Sasuke thought he recognized him as the candy shop owner.)
"It's one thing to be affectionate with a sibling. It's another to get caught up with your lover while in public." A different civilian adds in.
"But Lady Hinata though? Could they be more different?" The original civilian muses.
"They say opposites attract. Besides, maybe he is interested to see what would happen if the Byakugan and Sharingan were mixed." A final one weighs in.
That was something that hadn't crossed Sasuke's mind actually. But now that it was brought up. It would be interesting.
He wondered if the Sharingan was dominant or recessive? Would some of their children have the Sharingan and others the Byakugan? Perhaps their children one had one Sharingan eye and one Byakugan eye? Maybe an entirely new bloodline would be created. It was…an interesting thought.
He decided to shove it to the side though. While he definitely wanted a family, he and Hinata had barely gotten together. He probably should wait awhile before springing the whole topic of kids on her seriously.
He had already told her that he wanted a family. She knew it. There was no reason to push it. At least not now.
"Might as well give them something to talk about," he murmurs and heads into the flower shop.
Sasuke contrary to popular belief, also had a streak of mischief in him. He didn't do nearly as many pranks as Naruto. But he had his moments. Buying flowers, he knew what that would cause. Absolute chaos. That would send the Leaf's gossip mill in overdrive. He couldn't help but smirk at the thought.
