Ch.9 Please Stay

"But…is it true?" she asked him softly. He stopped moving, but kept his back to her. He didn't want to tell her, he didn't want to tell her that he loved her. He didn't want to tell her and have her reject him or have her brush aside his words of love like she did the first night they were together.

"Believe what you want Hinata."

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Hot tears slowly began to gather in her pale eyes as her mind was flung into a deep dark crevice. He didn't deny that he was just using her for sex nor did he confirm it, but to Hinata it was obvious. The tryst at the river, their kiss at night and then in the morning. How he was always pulling her back to be well kissed by him when she was leaving his apartment. She didn't know why it pained her heart to know that he just wanted her for sex. It's not like she was in love with him, but she did care for him. At first because he meant so much to Naruto, but later because he was a good man. But maybe she was wrong. She had let her defenses down, she trusted him, she was once again fooled by her naivety.

Hinata closed her eyes against the pain, trying desperately not to let the tears fall. She turned her head away, feeling the tears slowly fall anyways, sliding down her cheeks. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She didn't want to show him how much his indifferent answer to her question hurt her. She had thought that he had cared for her, but she was wrong. How did she ever delude herself into thinking that such a strong shinobi who could have his pick of women would ever befriend her, ever care for her? How could she think that he would help her ease her heartache and the pain of her loneliness?

With her heart shattered earlier by Naruto's accusations, she trying once again to pick up the pieces to her broken heart, hoping that someone would help. Hoping that Sasuke would help, only to have a cold wind blow the pieces of her heart away by the realization of his intensions towards her. So now her heart was gone, she had nothing left; alone, forgotten, unloved, hopeless.

So, slowly turning away, Hinata walked out of his room, heading for the door. Her mind numb, her soul destroyed. Sasuke had turned to watch her leave, seeing the sad and hopeless expression on her face. His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. Why did he always have to say the wrong things? Why were his words always covered with thorns to hurt those he wanted to protect, those he loved?

Before Hinata could reach the door, she could feel Sasuke's strong arms wrap around her from behind, pulling her close to his body. She could feel him resting his head upon her shoulder and his warm breath on her neck. She shut her eyes tightly, trying desperately to ignore the warmth of his body that enveloped her, trying to ignore the feelings and sensations of being in his arms.

"Please…" he whispered against her shoulder, tightening his hold on her. "Please…don't leave."

Hinata's body trembled as she fought the urge to allow more tears to fall. How could he do this to her? Did he enjoy playing with her emotions? How could he act so cold before hand and now act so kind? Why did he have to ask her to stay? Why did he have to make it sound like he would die if she left?

"Stop." She begged in a ragged whisper. "Please, stop. I…I can't…" Sasuke shut his eyes tightly, he hadn't meant to hurt her. He never wanted to hurt her, that was never his intension.

"I do…care for you, Hinata." He said softly, he could feel her body quivering, shaking her head side to side, trying to deny what he had said.

"I do…more…" he gulped against the lump that he could feel in his throat, "more, than you'll ever know." Slowly he turned her in his arms, her face downcast. Gently he put his fingers under her chin, lifting her face to see his. His black eyes stared into her white ones.

"Please…stay." He watched as her lips trembled and her eyes show him her inner turmoil. Just when he was about to let her go, he felt her arms slowly lift and wrap around his middle, burying her face in his chest while she held him tightly. Breathing a silent sigh of relief, he buried his face in her hair. Inhaling deeply, he could smell her sweet scent. Kissing her hair, he began to stroke her back, trying to calm her down.

"Ssshhh, come on…you're getting my shirt soaked." He said softly. Hinata weakly smiled through her tears, her face still buried in his chest. How like him. No, 'it'll be alright', 'it'll be okay', or other comforting words. When Hinata was finally able to compose herself, she lifted her head to look at him.

"There, now how about showing me one of your beautiful smiles." The corners of her mouth lifted slightly, finding it difficult at the moment to really smile.

"Come on, I know you can do better than that." Sasuke jokingly scolded her, but the kindness, the warmth she could hear in his voice made her truly smile.

"That's better." He said softly, as his eyes stared down at her smiling lips. One of his hands slowly lifted, his thumb lightly caressing her bottom lip. He was always amazed at how lovely her smile was. Hinata started to blush when she felt his thumb brush across her lips, she could see through his hooded gaze, a fire in his eyes slowly began to burn. She could feel her heart beat a little faster as she watched him lower his head and his lips covering her own.

Hinata could feel her body beginning to warm up, feeling him nibbling at her lips. And she could feel her bones melt when he took her bottom lip in his mouth and gently tugged on it with his teeth. Breathing a ragged sigh, she opened her mouth at the insistence of his seeking tongue. Feeling her heart pounding in her ears when his hot tongue plunged into her mouth and wrapped itself around her own tongue. Her arms tightened around him as she pulled herself closer to him, she could feel his beating heart against her chest, it was beating in time with her own.

Feeling her respond to his kiss, feeling her tongue beginning to duel with his, sent a shiver down his spine. How she tasted so sweet and smelled so good, his arm wrapped around her waist, pressing himself against her intimately. He could feel her body quivering against his, making him remember how her quivering body felt under his. Feeling himself becoming aroused by the memory, Sasuke quickly broke the kiss and gently pushed her away from him, putting her at an arm's distance. He didn't want her believing again that he was only using her for her body.

She looked away from him, a blush staining her cheeks. He lifted his hand once again, and softly brushed his fingers along the soft skin of her face. He bit his tongue to stop himself from telling her how much he loved her, how much he adored her, how beautiful he thought she was. The words, the feelings bubbling to the surface, making them difficult to suppress. He watched as her ivory eyes slowly trailed up to meet his black ones. He could see the confusion in her gaze and the fires of lust he had ignited in her, his heartbeat quickened, knowing that she desired him. He didn't say anything to her though, for he truly had no idea what to say. He had treated her coldly then kissed her with passion. He had asked her to stay, and she did, but he didn't know what else to say or do without revealing his feelings to her, which was certainly out of the question.

"Sauke-kun?" Hinata's soft voice reached out to grasp his attention. He looked at her expectantly.

"You…never answered…my question." She said quietly. Sasuke's eyes shifted away from hers while he squirmed inside.

"Yes I did." He said, his voice clear and even, exactly opposite to how he was feeling. Did she realize it, does she know I love her?

"No…you didn't." she argued lightly. Sasuke's gaze looked back at her, a frown beginning to form upon his handsome face.

"Yes, I"

"You never told me…if you were okay." Hinata said, interrupting him. She knew that he though she was talking about her 'are you just using me for sex' question. And, by judging by what he said and did, she was hoping once again that he cared for her, like he said. Yet she had not forgotten what Naruto had said in his anger or Sasuke's response to it.

"Oh." Sasuke was hoping she had forgot about that, it was kind of a touchy subject. He was stupid and rash in his youth, memories he did not enjoy remembering. He knew that he really didn't deserve the second chance that was given to him, that he didn't deserve to be holding such a woman in his arms right now, and that he didn't deserve the feelings he had for her. He knew that the blond had not meant what he had said, but it did still hurt all the same, always having that doubt deep down in his heart, wondering if anyone regretted him coming back to Konaha.

"Sasuke-kun?" Hinata watched his dark distant gaze turn to her pale eyes. She wished she knew what he was thinking, but he kept his emotions shuttered, hidden. Though she did know Naruto's words hurt him, she just wondered how deep it cut him.

"I'm fine Hinata." Sasuke said with his cool and unemotional voice dropping his arms away from her body and turning to walk away from her. Hinata bit her lip, debating on whether she should speak her mind or not. She followed him slowly, feeling uncomfortable and awkward just standing in front of his door. She found him leaning on a counter in the kitchen and staring out a window with that distant gaze of his. Gulping down her fear, she hesitantly walked up to him. Taking a deep breath she slowly wrapped her arms around him from behind and buried her face into his back.

Sasuke closed his eyes, feeling her small arms snake around him and feeling her burrow her face into his back. She was so sweet, so caring, and her embrace was so soothing. The warmth of her body comforted him and soothed his wounded heart.

"Please…please don't shut me out…" he could hear her whisper behind him. "Why won't you tell me what you are feeling?" she asked him. He opened his eyes, and stared down at the arms around him.

"Why didn't you trust me?" he asked her, referring to how she immediately suspected the worse from him in terms of his intentions towards her. He could tell he had struck a nerve by how her body stiffened behind him, but she didn't let go.

"I…promise to trust you…if you promise…to open up to me." She said softly after a few moments of silence. Sasuke sighed deeply, did she realize how much power over him she would have if he agreed? But if he didn't agree she would probably always think he would be using her for her body, and the relationship or whatever they were beginning to have together, would die a quick death. His pride, which pretty much ruled his life, wanted to refuse her offer yet his heart cried out to not ever really having her. He would be terribly vulnerable if he accepted, and he hated being vulnerable, but how can he throw away this chance to be with her, to make her his, to heal her heart and win her love?

"Sometimes…sometimes I…" he stumbled, unused to opening up to anyone but making an effort for her, "wonder if…he or anyone really regrets…my coming back." He said quietly. Hinata shut her eyes tightly as she continued to hold him close and shook her head.

"He didn't mean that." She told him.

"I know."

"And I…I don't regret him bringing you back…especially…especially not now." She told him softly, a light blush coloring her cheeks. Sasuke smiled softly at her words. Turning in her arms, he wanted to ask her if her words were true, but as her light eyes looked up into his, he could see that they were true.

"Thank you." he said softly, once again cupping her cheek. Loving the freedom to touch her however and whenever he wanted. Hinata lowered her eyes and nodded her head, still getting use to the idea of being in Sasuke's arms instead of Naruto's. She still missed him, even after all the pain he caused her, she still missed him. He had brought so much happiness to her life, it was hard to forget about it all and move on.

"…first place?" Hinata's mind snapped back the present time and place.

"Huh?" she asked, not catching his whole question.

"I asked what you were doing here in the first place?" Sasuke repeated, and smirked. "That eager to see me?" Hinata blushed.

"Oh well I…" how could she tell him now that she had came to put an end to whatever was happening between them?

"I…I just…" did she still want to end this? Did she really want to stop the feelings he was beginning to awaken in her?

"Wanted to…" would this really heal her heart and teach her to move on? She prayed that she wouldn't regret the decision she had made.

"Teach you how to cook." She finally finished. His smirk vanished at hearing her words. A small smile tugged at the corner of Hinata's mouth at seeing how thrilled Sasuke…wasn't…at learning how to cook.

"But…I guess I could always leave…" she teased him.

"No!...I…if it'll keep you here…with me…" Sasuke looked at the evil stove not far from them, "then I guess I could learn." He finished feeling a little dejected. Hinata smiled widely, at him. He was acting like a reluctant little boy, it was kind of cute.

She pulled away from his embrace to grab some food from the refrigerator and the pantry. Sasuke watched with apprehension as she laid out all the ingredients to whatever she was going to teach him how to cook. Once she had everything all set, she turned back to him and smiled, seeing him look uneasy.

"Try thinking of this as…ninjutsu." She said with a smile. Sasuke looked at her like she was crazy, how the hell could cooking be like ninjutsu! Hinata giggled softly at his skeptical look.

"The food or the ingredients are your chakra…cooking it would be like your hand signs and focusing the chakra…and your result would be the jutsu." Hinata explained happily, but hoping he would buy it. She watched him blink a few times at what she said, but his expression stayed the same. The happiness and excitement that was beginning to fill her, slowly started to fade away, failing to get him to understand. Turning back to the food, she started to cut and slice the vegetables and meat.

"Never mind…I guess I'll just do it." She murmured to herself. However, before long, she felt Sasuke walk up to her from behind and gently take the knife from her and finishing the half cut and sliced vegetables and meat.

"Like this?" he asked her, keeping his eyes on what he was doing and not on her. A smile started to form once again on her face.

"Yes, just like that." She said softly. While she continued to show him how to prepare the food, she could find herself becoming more and more comfortable in his presence…more than she ever felt before. Once the food was prepared, they decided it was time to tackle the stove and actually cooking part, together.

Hinata would show him how high the flame should be, how long everything should be cooked, how to check it ever now and then. It always made her smile seeing him studying everything she did with such intensity, like she was teaching him some fighting style that she had mastered and he had wanted to learn. For some reason it tugged her heart at watching his serious face, for her cooking was always a fun thing to do, but he made it seem like it was a very important mission.

Once the dish was almost done, Hinata carefully spooned some out of the pot and blew on it gently, cooling it. Holding it out to him with a smile.

"Here taste it, see how we did." She told him. His heart pounded and desire once again ran through his veins as his black eyes held hers, while his hand gently grabbed her wrist and brought the spoon into his mouth. He watched as her eyes flicked to his mouth and blushed, the cheerful and innocent air from before becoming hotter. She could see the flame in his eyes, and it made her insides turn to mush,

"Delicious." He said softly, his voice thick with desire. "Try some." He said, taking the spoon from her hand and getting a little food from the pot. Blowing on it like she did, he held it out to her like she did. Blushing madly, Hinata hesitantly brought her mouth to it, taking a small taste. However the spoon was quickly replace by his lips as he leaned down and kissed her passionately.

"But you taste better." He said with a smirk when he finally pulled away from her. Hinata blushed a pretty pink, her mind dizzy from his kiss.

"Do you think it's done?" she heard him ask.

"Think what's done?" she asked him, somehow that kissed had killed a lot of her brain cells. She watched him smile wider, seeing how much his kiss had affected her.

"The food." He reminded her. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to shake off the effects of his kiss.

"Um yeah I think so." She answered lightly, still trying to clear her head. She needed to put some distance between them if she wanted to think straight.

"I…uh…I need to go." she said. "I…promised Hanabi I'd train with her today." Hinata lied, her eyes trailing to the floor. Sasuke looked at her intently, he didn't want her to leave, but he didn't want her feeling uncomfortable around him. Was it because I kissed her? Was it because of what I said? Did I come onto her too fast?

"Look Hinata, if you're leaving because…because I…kissed you…I…won't." Sasuke said slowly, not looking at her. But Hinata snapped her head up at what he said.

"No, it's not that." She said softly. "It's…it's just been a long day." She confessed, dropping the white lie she told earlier. Sasuke nodded his head, understanding what she was saying. What with Naruto barging in and saying a lot of shit because he was mad, then his own stupid mouth has said things that had hurt her, and then the whole deal thing she made with him, it was proving to be a very emotionally high strung day.

"I'll walk you." he said, but lifted his brown when she shook her head no.

"Thank you, but no. I need to do somethings first before I go home." She said as she watched his gaze harden.

"Don't care, I'm walking you." he said stubbornly. Hinata lowered her eyes and slowly reached out to touch his arm.

"Please, I…I need to sort somethings out first." she said, trying to get him to understand that though she was enjoying his company, she needed, wanted to be alone right now.

Sasuke sighed deeply, thinking about her words. He knew what she meant, he knew that she was confused about what she was feeling about him and wasn't quite sure where or how to place him in her life now. She had to admit, they were more than friends, especially with the kisses they had shared, but he wanted more. And if she needed more time, well he's waited this long, he guessed he could wait a little while longer.

"Alright." He said, turning his head back to look at her. She smiled gently at him before rising on her tip toes and closing her eyes, kissing him sweetly, softly. He held her to him for a little while before watching her back away from him slowly.

"Goodbye…Sasuke." She said softly. He nodded his head towards her and she slowly smiled again before turning around.

"We'll cook something else next week!" she called to him before closing his door, making him smile.

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AN: Cha! For some reason, this was a bit difficult for me to write, so sorry if it's not all that great. I got stuck in some places, so if it doesn't flow exactly right, it's probably because I just stuck there. But at least it's longer, lol. And if you guys are wondering what exactly Sasuke and Hinata cooked, I do not have a clue. They just cooked something, something with vegetables and meat and stirred in a pot, lol. Thanks to everyone who reviewed for me! Love you guys so much…please keep the reviews coming and I will definitely work harder at getting chapters to you guys faster. I'll try and update at least once a week and no longer…but that's all I can promise. Anyways, enjoy and see you next chappie!